Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Monday 13th January 2020
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 13/01/20
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DSS Embarks On Smear Campaign Against Man Unlawfully Detained For Using SIM Card Previously Owned By President Buhari’s Daughter
Rather than issue a public apology to Mr Anthony Okolie, an Asaba, Delta State-based businessman, unlawfully detained for 10 weeks for purchasing and using a SIM card previously used by daughter of President Muhammadu Buhari, Hanan, the Department of State Services, Nigeria’s ruthless secret police, has embarked on a campaign to tarnish the victim’s image in a bid to justify their heinous act.
Okolie was arrested in September 2019, cuffed with chains and ferried to Abuja from Asaba where he was held for 10 weeks without a court order for using the SIM card in question.
He had purchased the item in December 2018 from an MTN outlet in Asaba for N2,000 and had used it up until September last year when he was suddenly arrested by the DSS on the orders of Hanan.
After subjecting him to physical and psychological torture for 10 weeks and with President Buhari’s daughter failing to show up at the DSS headquarters to testify if Okolie had used the telephone number for any illegal or criminal act, the secret police eventually released the young man, telling him that his “sins had been forgiven”.
Speaking with SaharaReporters earlier in the week, Okolie said that he was treated like a criminal for committing no offence.
He said, “I was seized like a criminal and subjected to threats by DSS officers and transferred to Abuja, chained in the legs and handcuffed from Asaba to their headquarters.
“After my statement, I was abandoned in custody. They said I was making use of a SIM card previously used by Hanan Buhari, that I am a criminal and that the President wanted to see me.
“I bought the SIM card legally and committed no offence by so doing. It was however, surprising to see myself being detained for 10 weeks.”
The young man went on to narrate how his unlawful arrest and detention had destroyed his fish farm investment worth N5m, shattered his relationship with his fiancée, who he was about getting married to before the incident, and escalated his mother’s health condition.
However, in a report in its Sunday edition, a national newspaper, apparently doing the bidding of the DSS, turned logic on its head by offering a counter and uninspiring narrative of the entire event and facts surrounding Okolie’s illegal arrest.
In the story written by its Regional Editor, Northern Operation, and titled: I’m labourer, not fish farm investor, Anthony Okolie, man who used Buhari’s daughter’s number, the newspaper and especially the writer not only shamelessly tried to criminalise the Delta State-based businessman but also failed to support its claim of him carrying out criminal activities with the SIM card in question without any sort of evidence.
Alleging that Okolie used the SIM to swindle unsuspecting members of the public especially those, who knew Hanan with the telephone number, the newspaper’s story failed to mention names of those it claimed were defrauded by the young man and how much was involved on each occasion.
Apart from citing exclusive documents seen by it, the newspaper and writer of the story didn’t make any attempt to convince readers with its own version of events by tabling some proof.
Throughout the story by the national daily, there was no attempt by the newspaper or the writer to contact Okolie to get his own side of the story as good journalism practice stipulates.
Instead, the publication ran wholly with what the ‘exclusive document’ it claimed to have sighted outlined.
Describing the story as a deliberate attempt by the DSS to use the media outfit and the journalist behind the story to defame Okolie and cover its criminal act, legal representative of the victim, Tope Akinyode, said that they will take the matter to court in the coming days in order to get justice for the young man.
He said, “Our attention has been drawn to a poorly-written propaganda on a national newspaper in which the media outfit made spurious allegations against our client, claiming the allegations are the outcome of its investigations.
“In the publication, even though the newspaper admits that our client lawfully bought the SIM in question without having any knowledge that the phone number was once used by Hanan Buhari; President Buhari’s daughter, the newspaper howbeit disgracefully proceeded to turn logic on its head by alleging that our client used the SIM card to perpetrate fraud and illegal activities.
“The newspaper alleged that our client discovered that the name Hanan Buhari was registered against the phone line on a mobile App; True Caller, and our client should have complained to the network provider as a result.
“The publication further stated that rather than complain, our client disguised as a lady to defraud people of money.
“The publication did not state the names of the persons defrauded or the amount received out of fraud.
“For the records sake, it is important we draw the attention of the public to the fact that our client was illegally detained for 10 weeks at the SSS facility without a detention order and was not charged to court all through.
“Instead, having discovered that any case against our client would head for the rock, the SSS cowardly released our client after 10 weeks of detention claiming he had been forgiven.
“We make bold to state that if it were true indeed that our client actually perpetrated fraud, it would have been illegal, immoral and outrageously insensitive for the SSS not to have charged him to court.
“The refusal to charge him to court is due to the fact that there is absolutely no case against him because he has not committed any offence.
“We are sorry for the newspaper for deliberately shattering its own integrity by such a distasteful publication.
“As earlier noted, we have concluded plans to file a lawsuit against Hanan Buhari, SSS, and MTN Nigeria and the lawsuit shall be filed shortly. We shall not allow lawlessness to thrive.”
Okolie’s ordeal is indeed an insignificant fraction of the violation of rights of citizens perpetrated by the DSS in recent times.
In September 2019, the Nigeria Bar Association said the DSS was carving a notorious image for itself by constantly disobeying court orders.
In a statement by the association’s National Publicity Secretary, Kunle Edun, at the time, the NBA described the agency’s attitude towards court orders as unfortunate and unacceptable.
“The NBA notes that the Department of State Security is cutting for herself the notorious image of an agency that enjoys treating judicial process with disdain, particularly as it pertains to obeying orders of courts enforcing the fundamental rights of Nigerians,” the statement reads in part.
Fearing what the DSS could be up to next, Okolie told SaharaReporters that he has since switched off the telephone number in question.
“I’ve switched off the line ever since that bizarre incident because I’m still scared and don’t know what their next plan may be,” he said.
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Kaduna Governor, El-Rufai, Says He’ll Forgive Critics Of His Administration
Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, has informed critics that he will forgive them for criticising his administration.
El-Rufai was responding to a Twitter USER, who slammed him for not responding to a question raised by Aisha Yesufu, a rights activist.
Yesufu had quoted a 2014 tweet by el-Rufai commenting on the use of the presidential jet.
She tweeted, “Who is now breaking the implication of Buhari’s N8.5bn 2020 budget to maintain presidential fleet?
“Please tell me I am wrong about the figure!” Her post was in reference to the use of a presidential jet by Hanan, daughter of Muhammadu Buhari.
In his initial reponse, el-Rufai said he does not respond to people that don’t vote in Kaduna, adding that he is focused on governing the state rather than exchanging words with people looking for cheap publicity.
The Kaduna governor then said he will ignore and also forgive them.
“Once and final response: I do not respond to every dimwit who never voted in Kaduna State on my TL.
“I am trying to govern our state and disinterested in being a public commentator/responder to publicity/follower-seeking, anonymous and jobless clowns with neither credentials nor address.
“Afterword: The most efficient and effective way to hurt those seeking unearned attention, cheap retweets and Twitter following is to ignore them.
“Depression and sychosis set in for ignored inanities and non-entities, manifesting into anger, insults and fabrications. I will forgive you!,” el-Rufai tweeted.
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Group Asks Nigeria’s Anti-graft Agencies To Investigate Edo Governor, Obaseki, For Money Laundering
Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki
Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki
The Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission to investigate the administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State for money laundering.
The coalition said the investigation must be done to save the country from international embarrassment following the arrest of Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Osaze Osemwingie-Ero, by the Interpol in France for being in possession of $2m.
Addressing journalists on Sunday, Country Director of the coalition, John Mayaki, an ex- spokesperson for Obaseki, said the administration had damaged public trust, adding that Edo State was trying to steer clear the matter.
He said, “The EFCC has to immediately intervene to save the country and the administration of President Muhammad Buhari from looming international embarrassment since major national newspapers already reported the discovery of the dirty money allegedly amounting to $2m.
“The poor response from the Edo State Government over this humongous scandal and the attempt to conceal the dirty money while also denying the victim (Mr Osaze Osewingie Ero), is an indication that Governor Godwin Obaseki has inadvertently owned up to the crime and must be brought to book.”
He posited that the EFCC had an obligation to bring under scrutiny the financial records and dealings of the Edo State Government, particularly as it concerns the singing of MOUs and partnership with some foreign bodies.
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SERAP Drags State Governors To Court Over Payment Of Life Pensions To Former Governors
SERAP Logo
SERAP Logo
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court, Abuja, asking the court to order the 36 state governors to publish a breakdown of pensions being paid to former governors and other ex-officials under their respective state pension laws between 1999 and 2019.
SERAP is also asking the court to grant an order for leave to apply for judicial review and an order of mandamus to direct and/or comply with the order.
SERAP is also seeking a declaration that “the failure of the 36 state governors to provide SERAP with the requested information on pension law in their respective states as requested constitutes a breach of SERAP’s right under the FoI Act, 2011, and for such further order(s) the court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.”
SERAP, in the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/19/2020, had written a Freedom of Information letter to all state governments requesting for details of the pensions paid to their ex-governors.
The rights organisation revealed that only two governors—Delta State governor, Mr Ifeanyi Okowa and Kwara State governor, Mr Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq—have responded to its FoI requests.
“Governor Abdulrazaq provided a copy of the pension law and list of former governors and ex-officials receiving pensions in Kwara State under the state’s Governor and Deputy Governor (Payment of Pension) Law, 2010, naming Cornelius O. Adebayo; Mohammed Shaaba Lafiagi; Sayomi Simon Adediji; Bukola Saraki; and Ogundeji Joel Afolabi as recipients of life pensions in the state.
“However, the governor did not state the amounts that have so far been collected, and whether the state would pursue recovery of the pensions paid.
“Both Okowa and Abdulrazaq did not in their responses make any commitment to repeal the pension laws in their states and to seek refund of the pensions already collected by former governors and other ex-officials.”
SERAP said that the suit is in the national interest, public welfare, public interest, social justice, good governance, transparency and accountability, adding that there is no justifiable reason for the governors to refuse to provide SERAP with the details of payment of pensions and other related information requested.
“Public officials should not encourage, sustain, or implement jumbo pension laws that show an appearance of conflict of interest, impropriety or create situation of personal enrichment.
“The pension law negates the duty to act honestly and to represent the needs and concerns of the people, and to refrain from activities, which interfere with the proper discharge of public functions.”
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
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Buharism And Third Term Gambit By Ozodinukwe Okenwa
SOC Okenwa
SOC Okenwa
Hypocrisy and sycophancy are part of the social problems associated with our decadent society. Apart from pretending shamelessly to ‘love’ God or Jesus Christ more than the Jews or the prophets of yore, we have turned worshipping the immortal one into a billion-dollar spinning business venture week in week out! Our so-called bishops are riding in private jets, ranked among the richest in the world! Alas, despite this affliction of the syndrome of ‘godliness’ in the midst of immorality and corruption, Nigeria remains a basket case of hopelessness.
While nations with dreadful history of atheism (China, Japan etc) are making steady progress towards greatness in all spheres of human endeavors, we are stuck in the developmental mess for decades. Our leadership lot since independence had been one of mediocrity and idiocy all along. Yet we are a happy people suffering and smiling and hoping for divine intervention somehow, someday.
Our leaders at the federal and state levels lie to us daily about improvements in our living conditions yet things are getting worse. They swindle us, the politicians, by looting the treasury with impunity and serving themselves instead of ‘we the people’ that put them to power and authority in the first place.The followers are glorified ‘mumus’ who glorify political abominations as long as they benefit from same!Olusegun ‘Baba’ Obasanjo presided over Nigeria from 1999-2007. Since he was ‘coronated’ post-Abacha, he had established ‘Babacracy’ in the stead of democracy – a vainglorious system fraught with vindictiveness and pettiness. OBJ, in spite of some flashes of achievements here and there, failed generally to take Nigeria to the next level she was supposed to be by now. The ‘Babacratic’ politics played with little or no patriotism led to the ‘disappearance’ of $16bn which he claimed his administration poured into the power sector without any corresponding power to show for it!
Overwhelmed by the spirit of omnipotence, OBJ had desperately sought to do another four-year (third) term after the expiration of his second term as approved by the constitution of the Federal Republic. Billions of dollars were invested into the project but it was fortunately ‘killed’ in the Senate! Obasanjo and his gang had wanted to modify the constitution to legitimise and legalise the third term but the senators led by one Ken Nnamani had patriotically thought otherwise in the superior interest of the nation’s democracy.
Given the failure of the gambit, ‘Baba’ reluctantly handed over power to the late Umaru Yar’Adua. Not long after his departure from Aso Rock, evidence upon evidence began to emerge of millions and billions (sometimes packed in Ghana-must-go bags) distributed among legislators to ‘buy’ them over.Today, the nauseating politics of third term is here with us – even timidly. President Muhammadu Buhari, still basking in the euphoria of a rigged presidential poll of last year in his favour, is being rumoured to be secretly nursing the ambition of a third stint of four years in power beyond 2023! The campaign for this absurd scheme has commenced in earnest if what we read online are anything to hold on to. Whilst we acknowledge the fact that the presidency has since debunked the rumours distancing itself from the political jobbers pushing for Buharism post-2023, we hold nonetheless that there is no smoke without fire emanating from somewhere. Despite the plethora of evidence linking ‘Baba’ to the third term brouhaha, OBJ still conveniently lives in denial – even today!But what befuddles the sound mind remains the real reason behind any idea of four more extra-constitutional years for Buhari. Should the Buharists not be praying fervently for their champion to see 2023 hale and hearty given his fragile health profile? Besides, what has Buhari achieved extra-ordinarily to warrant third term in power? Closing the borders for months at a time of national peace? ‘Technically’ defeating Boko Haram yet counting dead bodies of soldiers and civilians wasted on a daily basis at the different fronts? Tactically aiding and abetting Fulani herdsmen terrorists in their murderous armed campaign for pastural dominion?The APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, a diminutive man known for his garrulous hubristic style of leadership, had accused the opposition PDP of being behind the third term campaign in order to discredit the image of the APC! Whatever is wrong with the ruling party then the PDP must be blamed for that!
West Africa had lately been insulated from the strong-man weak-institutions syndrome post-Kerekou, Eyadema and Jammeh. Today the Biya-Museveni-Mbasogo longevity-in-power syndrome however, seems to be spreading fast like malaria.
In Guinea, Prof Alpha Conde, an historic opposition figure elected President close to a decade ago, is seeking a third term in office unconstitutionally. And it is now official. To achieve the feat, Conde has been mobilising his ‘troops’ and the constitution is set to be amended. From Conakry to Labe, the vibrant opposition are up in ‘arms’ against the diabolical scheme. Demonstrations had rocked cities and towns turning often bloody and casualties are mounting weekly and monthly. The polity remains charged and over-heated in a poor country struggling with a dictatorial past and institutional corruption.In the Ivory Coast, President Alassane Ouattara, a septuagenarian much like Buhari and Conde, has suddenly been bitten by the third-term power bug. His third term bid is no longer rumour but a project with a huge budget! The constitution is about to be tinkered with soon in order to remove the age limit associated with qualification for the presidency. Though Ouattara is a good President with great accomplishments, opposition is mounting in Abidjan and elsewhere over this inordinate ambition of his to do another five years after 10 eventful years in the saddle.
President Buhari cannot boast of being a good leader from every stretch of imagination. His leadership style gives him away as a potentate unaware of what true democracy really represents. Given his Islamic superiority complex coupled with his presidential aloofness, Nigeria cannot possibly make any meaningful progress politically and econo-socially. Against this backdrop, therefore, the third term gambit, whether true or false, is nothing but an insult to our collective sensibilities and intelligence. It must be halted fortwith!Nigeria deserves better and Nigerians deserve a better leader come 2023.SOC Okenwasoco_abj_2006_rci@hotmail.fr
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E2%80%99s-appeal-against-kogi-sdp-candidate-akpoti Court Dismisses INEC’s Appeal Against Kogi SDP Candidate, Akpoti
natasha Akpoti
natasha Akpoti
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed the case filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission challenging the inclusion of the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Natasha Akpoti, in the November 16 election in Kogi State.
On November 7, 2019, a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered INEC to restore Akpoti as candidate of the SDP in the governorship election.
Following the directive, the electoral body appealed against the ruling on the ground that the lower court erred in law by a miscarriage of justice.
However, before the case with suit number CA/A/1123/2019 between INEC and Akpoti was dismissed, counsel to INEC, Alhassan Umar (SAN), pleaded that the case be withdrawn since the election had been concluded.
He said, “We respectfully apply that the appeal is withdrawn since the election which is the subject of the matter had been conducted.”
In his response, counsel to the respondent, Mr A.S Oguajamma, conceded to the request.
In the certified copy of the judgment made available on January 10, 2020, Justices Stephen Adah, Emmanuel Agim and Mohammed Idris dismissed the appeal after the appellant had withdrawn the matter.
They held, “The appeal, having been withdrawn by the appellant is hereby dismissed under Order 11, rule five of the rules of this court.”
In her reaction to the dismissal, Akpoti said her unjust disqualification by the electoral body on September 24, 2019, caused her great loss of followership and voters in the election.
She added that despite the order by the lower court on November 9, 2019, the name of her party, SDP, was hand-written on the result sheets in some areas while in other areas it was not reflected.
She said, “On November 7, 2019, which was nine days to the election and seven days to the close of campaigning, the Federal High Court granted me the judgment and I had a chance to campaign for only five days.
“The unjust disqualification of my party cost me a great loss of followers who assumed my party wasn’t going to be on the ballot. It also caused a lot of physical and emotional stress to my person.
“Some polling units recorded the SDP’s result with pencils, some pens, and crayons, while many failed to record scores for SDP as the INEC officers forgot in the heat of crisis thereby costing me a lot of votes.”
Akpoti has however, filed a petition at the Kogi Governorship Elections Tribunal to challenge the outcome of the November 16, 2019, election.
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Does GEJ Nurse A Comeback Ambition? By Tony Ademiluyi
Goodluck Jonathan
Goodluck Jonathan
Power is an elixir that is highly intoxicating especially in the African continent where in most countries politics is the most lucrative business. The continent sometimes referred to as the ‘Dark Continent’ has the highest number of sit-tight leaders in the globe. These leaders having tasted the trappings and lure of power find it an impossible mission to groom successors to hand over to. The likes of Paul Biya, Yoweri Museveni, Robert Mugabe, Mobutu Sese Seko etc are examples that readily come to mind.
The peculiar structure of Nigeria with over 250 ethnic groups has made it impossible for a sit-tight leader to emerge though some have nursed the ambition to overstay their welcome in office. Recall that General Yakubu Gowon postponed the hand over date which led to his overthrow from office by the Late General Murtala Ramat Mohammed in 1975. General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida surreptitiously planned to stay in office beyond 1993 after the June 12 annulment but was forced to step aside.
Former President, Goodluck Jonathan, was in the news recently when he vehemently denied that he planned to contest the 2023 presidential elections in a bid to return back to power. His spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze, issued a statement on his principal’s behalf where he was quoted to have said, “There was nothing like that. The former President has not made any comments nor spoken to anyone on the coming elections.
“He is busy concentrating on his foundation, The Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, and its work of promoting peace, sustainable democracy and youth empowerment in Africa.”
Describing the reports as stale and fake, he added, “If you check online, you will discover that a story with similar headline had been published in the past by few shady online sources.
“The last time this same story circulated online was before the 2019 presidential elections. It has now come up again.
“The good thing is that Nigerians already know this to be fake. That is why Nigerian newspapers and serious online news media will not publish such falsehood.”
One wonders why he has to respond to every ‘market gossip’ by obscure bloggers, who desperately want to trend so that they can attract traffic to their platforms! Is that how he is going to do? If indeed he had no interest, wouldn’t it have been better he let sleeping dogs lie and not bother with issuing an official response? As we say in Nigerian parlance ‘There is no smoke without fire.’
Goodluck Jonathan may have had a lacklustre performance while in office as there were mind-boggling allegations of corruption against some of his key appointees but his decision to hand over power peacefully to the then opposition leader, Muhammadu Buhari, made him an instant hero. He was hailed as a defender of democracy and has been active in the international speaking circuit as well as becoming an ambassador for peace where the African Union has made him an envoy in some troubled regions in Africa. Contesting the next elections will greatly belittle his stature and reduce him to a mere power monger, who is unnecessarily attached to power.
Africa needs more statesmen than politicians and he will do his brand and reputation a lot of good if he sticks to his current statesmanlike role. We know he may be under some form of pressure to return back to Aso Rock as some of his hangers on and sycophants may be working day and night to goad him back to power but he should resist it with all his might and not fall into temptation like the Biblical Adam or the Shakespearean Macbeth.
Jonathan is rather unpopular in his native Bayelsa State as the All Progressive Congress Candidate, David Lyon, carried the day in the last elections. The former President is accused of not doing enough for the state while he was in power and of backing the serial aspirant, Timi Alaibe, who in the view of the youth did little to alleviate their plight while he was in charge of the Niger Delta Development Commission. He failed to metamorphose into a godfather there and at the moment has no political base. Charity they say begins at home, if he is so unpopular in his state, how will he win the next elections?
There is an unwritten rule of power rotation between the North and South and by 2023 it will be the turn of the South to produce the next president. This probably explains why he is being convinced to give it another shot. “He whom the gods want to destroy will first make deaf”, goes an Igbo adage. He should be sensitive to his current unpopularity and refrain from joining the fray. He should rather act as one of the fathers of the nation and be in the background working for the nation’s interest.
Former leaders coming back or attempting to return to power is now a trend – the likes of Matthew Kerekou, Nicophore Soglo did it in the Republic of Benin with the former staging a successful comeback. Mahathir Mohammed, who revolutionised Malaysia, came back recently at the age of 92. Jonathan should heed the eternal words of William Shakespeare, who said that “A good actor leaves the stage while the ovation is loudest.”
2023 promises to be interesting as we will see whether Jonathan’s denial was in good faith. Can we still trust some of our politicians?
Tony Ademiluyi writes from Lagos
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E2%80%99s-children-not-authorised-use-presidential-jets-%E2%80%93falana President Buhari’s Children Not Authorised To Use Presidential Jets –Falana
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has said that contrary to claims by President Muhammadu Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the Nigerian constitution does not permit children of the president to embark on private trips using a presidential jet.
Falana was reacting to use of one of the jets in the presidential fleet by Buhari’s daughter, Hanan, for a trip to Bauchi State on Thursday.
The young lady, who holds a degree in Photography from Ravensbourne University, London, had flown into Bauchi to photograph a Durbar by Emir of Bauchi, Rilwanu Adamu, that fateful day.
The incident, which has since left many Nigerians especially social media users enraged, has remained a topical issue with some defending and condemning the move.
Adding his voice to the matter on Sunday, Falana said it was not allowed under Nigerian law for the president’s children to fly around in a presidential jet while on private trips.
According to the respected lawyer, Shehu’s defense runs contrary to the dictates of Nigeria’s constitution and therefore cannot stand.
He said, “On October 27, 2016, the Presidency confirmed newspaper reports of the planned sale of two presidential aircraft, a Falcon 7x executive jet and Hawker 4000.
“In a press statement issued by the Presidency through the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the Nigerian people were informed that President Buhari had directed that the aircraft in the presidential air fleet be reduced to cut down on waste.
“Shehu reminded Nigerians that President Buhari was elected in 2015 on a commitment to crack down on the country’s systemic corruption, hence downsizing the outlandish presidential fleet had been among his campaign pledges.
“President Buhari’s directive on the use of the presidential fleet which was adopted by the Federal Government was popularly acclaimed by Nigerians.
“However, on January 10, 2020, one of the daughters of President Buhari was reported to have travelled from Abuja to Bauchi in a presidential jet for a private engagement in utter breach of the official policy of the Federal Government.
“Instead of apologising for the breach of the official policy, the Presidency has defended the use of the presidential jet for the private visit of a member of the first family.
“The Presidency is incorrect as it is at variance with the official policy of the Federal Government.
“In other words, the official policy does not authorise the children of the President to use the presidential jets to attend to private social functions.
“In fact, there is no precedent whatsoever for such privatisation of the presidency of Nigeria.
“Using of the aircraft in the presidential fleet by members of the first family to attend to private engagements is not backed by any extant law or official policy.
“In view of the foregoing, we call on President Buhari to stop members of his family from using any of the aircraft in the presidential fleet.”
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My Detention Story By Fegalo Nsuke
It was Thursday, January 2, 2020, at about 2:30pm, I had met with the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Bori Division and later with the Area Command in Bori. I needed to brief them on the planned Ogoni Day activities and assure them the event will be peaceful as usual.
Thereafter, I left for Port Harcourt. At the police checkpoint at Akpajo, Eleme Local Government Area, we suddenly heard several gunshots. Some indecently dressed police officers came to my car, forced me out. In that terribly confused state, I introduced myself, that earned me heavy punches in my face. Immediately, I was handcuffed.
I was pushed into another car, a Toyota Camry. The same officer then handcuffed me to my back. The handcuffs on my hand was so painful that I pleaded with the officers to relax it a bit. One of them responded thus: “you stubborn trouble maker, we were supposed to shoot you”.
I was in company with two boys from my community, Monday Barigbon and Dumlebabari Doode. Those two were taken in my car. The men now drove us to Port Harcourt. On our way, some five minutes later, calls started pouring into my phone. My captors then realised that the Ogoni people have become aware of my abduction.
They drove down to their office near Choba, Port Harcourt. It was the office of the Inspector-General of Police, Special Tactical Squad where I was detained till the following morning without food. My right hand was handcuffed to the burglar proof of one of the windows until morning and so there was no way I could sleep.
Early Friday morning, at about 8:00am, one of the police officers came to me to come get some food. My two hands were now handcuffed. We both went outside and I was put into the same Toyota Camry, taken to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Rukpokwu, Port Harcourt.
There I was striped and left in boxer shorts. I was put into the cell with a large number of detainees.
Later that day (Friday, January 3, 2020), I was taken from Rukpokwu and moved to another detention center in Borokiri, Port Harcourt. At Borokiri, I was put into a dark cell without lights and ventilation. I understand the Borokiri facility had been built for armed robbers. The journey from SARS, Rukpokwu to Borokiri was painful and traumatic. I was taken without clothes and thrown into a very cold air conditioned vehicle. I had only my boxer shorts on me. We arrived Borokiri like condemned criminals with no value.
An interesting conversation ensued with the police officers as we drove to Borokiri. One of them asked if I knew Senator Barry Mpigi, “yes”, I replied. “Do you have issues with him,” he asked. “I don’t have problems with anybody,” I responded. “You must die in detention,” he then told me.
On arrival at the Borokiri IGP Unit, I and the two Ogoni youths detained with me were placed in three different cells and the officers were instructed not to allow anyone gain access to us. I slept on the bare floor and when I needed to urinate, it has to be in a bottle. It was a real torture chamber. I was left there that night on bare floor until the following day when the IPO, Inspector Victor of the IGP Special Tactical Squad and two others arrived. They moved me in handcuffs back to the IGP Tactical Squad office near Choba. This time, I was allowed to wear my cloths before I was taken out. The other two arrested with me were left in Borokiri and brought much later.
On getting to the office of the IGP Special Tactical Squad, I was put in leg-cuffs and locked up in the detention chamber.
When the commander arrived, he ordered the leg-cuffs be removed. He later called me into his office and the handcuffs were also taken off. There he informed me that I will be bailed and my bail bond will be signed by Senator Barry Mpigi. I was later to learn that the instruction was that the person who arrested me should be the one to bail me.
Senator Mpigi did not turn up. He sent one Barr. Gwezia who signed the bail bond along with my friend, Mr Success Kpobari Penu, who was on standby to sign the bail bond should Mpigi fail to show up.
All three of us were released that night, Saturday January 4, 2020 at about 7:00pm.
The reason I was held
This narrative will be incomplete without touching on what I was accused of. Shortly after we arrived the IGP office, the IPO called my attention to an order from an Abuja court and signed by a high ranking police officer. I asked for the substantive suit and questioned why a court will give an order without a substantive suit and signed by a police officer. I also noticed that the so-called order did not indicate the parties to the suit nor did it have the seal of a judge or magistrate.
The IPO asked me to only respond to the petition which had been written by Legborsi Pyagbara though not signed by him. I knew this was a gang-up, a frame up by hatters of MOSOP and our struggle to get me incarcerated ahead of the Ogoni Day I was to address on January 4. The petition stated that I invaded the MOSOP Secretariat in Bori on January 7, 2019 and in August 2019, I burnt down Legborsi Pyagbara’s house in Nyokuru, Khana Local Government Area.
I told them I was at the MOSOP Secretariat because I won the MOSOP election held on December 19, 2018 and not that I just woke up to claim the residency of MOSOP.
It was shocking to learn how people whom we look up to as custodians of social values, those who should maintain high standards could become helplessly and miserably ridiculous simply for personal gains. In any case, I responded to the petition ridden with lies.
You may want to read some reports on the burning of Pyagbara”s house in Nyokuru including what Pyagbara said after the incident.
PUNCH newspaper report on Pyagbara’s response: br />
BBC report on the incidence: br />
My response to the incidences: br />
Despite being the petitioner, Pyagbara in his usual hypocrisy denied knowledge and any links to my arrest. See br />
The BBC report above is very revealing. An armed robbery gang had launched the attacks over the detention of their leader.
Well, I told them the allegation were all lies and have since provided evidence to substantiate my representations.
That was it. It was a connivance between Saro-Wiwa’s enemies struggling to diminish his sacrifices and those of thousands of other Ogonis, who paid the supreme sacrifice for Ogoni freedom. Our struggle is just, we are committed to it and cannot be intimidated. It is a simple demand for justice and we are confident justice will come to Ogoni sooner than later.
I thank all of you, my family, individuals, groups the media and all men of goodwill whose efforts secured my release. Ken Saro-Wiwa was also framed up and lost his life in the process. I am grateful that I can still pursue the cause of freedom for the Ogoni people. God bless you all.
Fegalo Nsuke is President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP)
Opinion
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Fegalo Nsuke
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United Kingdom Government Set To Return $9.6m Ibori Loot To Nigeria, Delta Authorities Allegedly Unaware Of Move
James Ibori
James Ibori
UK Mets handout
The United Kingdom Government is currently concluding the process of returning $9.6m allegedly looted by former Delta State governor, James Ibori, to Nigeria.
The move follows months of pushing by the Nigerian Government, who have already submitted three proposals to UK authorities on how the money would be spent.
According to findings by SaharaReporters, the Delta State Government is unaware of the situation and all three proposals submitted by Nigeria to the UK will have no direct benefit for the state and its people.
Shedding light into the matter, Chairman of Delta State Civil Society Roundtable on Grand Corruption, Pastor Innocent Adjenughure, said that it was wrong for the Delta State Government not to be carried along in the recovery of the said fund since it was stolen from its coffers.
He said the DSCSRGC will ensure that a framework was set up for the judicial utilisation of the money for developmental projects in Delta.
He stated, “Information reaching us at Delta State Civil Society Roundtable on Grand Corruption is that the UK Government is in the process of returning $9.6m of Ibori money to Nigeria.
“Unfortunately, the Nigerian Government is not sharing this information with Delta State Government on how to use the money.
“We are happy to work with the Delta State Government to set up a framework to convince the UK Government to use the money for sustainable development projects in Delta.
“The Nigerian Government has submitted three projects proposal to UK Government which will not benefit Delta State people and without the knowledge of Delta State who are the beneficial owners of the said money. We will vehemently resist this injustice as the money belongs to Delta State.
“We urge Delta State Government to consult and collaborate with the Nigerian Government to set up a transparent and accountable framework for the utilisation of all recoverable stolen assets from UK and other jurisdictions.
“DCSRGC is calling on both UK and Nigerian governments to be transparent on the transfer of Ibori assets to Nigeria.
“We urge the UK Government to honour their international commitment on the Global Forum on Asset Recovery Principles and the MOU signed with Nigerian Government on asset recovery.
“We call on the Attorney-General of the Federation to invite the Delta State Government to discuss how to use the Ibori assets from UK Government immediately.
“The said Ibori looted assets can and should be used for social investment program as part of Nigeria and UK support to help the poor of the poorest in Delta State who are the true beneficial owners of the money.”
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SaharaReporters, New York
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