By Malachy Uzendu (Sunday Editor)


Hon Austine Ifedinezi, was the
Deputy President of Ohaneze
Ndigbo eleven years ago when the
extrajudicial murder of five Igbo
traders and a girl from Edo state
took place in Abuja. He was the one
that the traders in Apo ran to, to lay
their grievances when they saw
Policemen trying to bury their
relations at a local cemetery in Jabi.
He shared his feelings with Malachy
Uzendu on the unresolved murder
eleven years after.

Eleven years ago, Igbo traders
reported to you the case of
extrajudicial murder of five Igbo
traders and a girl who were returning from a night club off Gimbya Street, Abuja by a police squad led by then
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Danjuma Ibrahim. Why has the trial of
the suspects lingered so long?

It’s quite unfortunate. A lot of things
have come into play. The DCP,
Danjuma Ibrahim has some cabal
behind him in the then FCT admin­
istration, allegedly headed by the then minister of FCT, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, who made sure that Danjuma Ibrahim didn’t lack anything even when he was
in detention in Kuje prison.
We discovered that Danjuma’s people
mobilised human, financial, logistics
and infrastructural support for him.
They Made sure that Danjuma
Ibrahim destroyed his confessional
statement at the 6th floor of Louis
Edet House and replaced it with in­
coherent cooked up story.
We also discovered that they bought
some hitherto government houses for him even when he was in detention in prison, etc. All these were to frustrate the case and make the families of the deceased appreciate that Nigerian justice is for a privileged few and we
have seen that, that is exactly what it
is.

Remember that the federal govern­
ment took over the case soon after
the Judicial Commission of Enquiry on Apo 6 headed by Justice Olasumbo Goodluck of the FCT High Court submitted it’s report to the government. This was also after the then DIG
Mike Okiro also indicted Danjuma and other Police officers and
recommended their dismissal and
trial. By this, the case became FG’s
case and so, government hired law­
yers and provided attendant logistics.

This weakened the initial steam and
momentum which the case gathered when it was in the hands of those directly concerned. This case is as good as abandoned because of the FG’s lack of interest and external influence
of the high and mighty from
Adamawa state some of who now
occupy top government executive
portfolio.

One of the suspected killers, then DPO Garki Village police station, DSP
Abdulsalami Othman, allegedly
escaped from custody at FHQ. Eleven years down the line, he is yet to be traced or arrested.

Do you believe the Police are actually looking for him?

The police cannot be looking for the
DSP Abdulsalami Othman, because, it was the same police that aided him to escape from the 6th floor of the Louis Edet House, police headquarters, where they claimed he was detained.
The same people plotted at that same time to help Danjuma Ibrahim escape
but luck ran out against him and he
was re-arrested. In fact, we had
received a report which informed us
that DSP Abdulsalami Othman is
somewhere in the north still serving in the police force. We can’t doubt this information, especially in the light of what is happening in the country, particularly where law enforcement
agencies brazenly break the law,
including traffic offence. Though we
can’t confirm this, with what we have seen of this case, anything and
everything is possible.

What have become of the family of
the deceased? Have they lost hope in Nigeria being able to protect lives and property?

The families of the Apo 6 victims have been extremely frustrated as a result of government’s refusal to relate with them at all levels inspite of all their efforts to know how far the case has gone and what they are expected to do.

The FG’s counsel used to be Chief
Chris Uche, SAN. The information
reaching us is that government is no
longer interested in letting the matter be heard and concluded even after eleven years and has stopped funding it in order to let it die a natural death.
Meanwhile, Danjuma Ibrahim has
been on bail for about eight years
now, freely moving about on the
streets with convoy.

What lessons do we learn of Nigerian judiciary given the ‘extraordinary’ delay in this case. You think justice still
exist in the matter or has been
frustrated?,

Well, the judiciary has no blames so
far. The federal government has not
been serious with the case. They are
not forthcoming. Every action of
government proves it is not interested again in getting the culprits punished and therefore, frustrates any idea or
action towards effective follow-up on the case.
The families of the victims have been tremendously discouraged as a result of the extraordinary delays by the Federal Ministry of Justice that has demonstrated absolute lack of interest again.

From what you see of Police attitude
to citizens, do you think there are
lessons learnt from Police extra
judicial killings?

The Nigerian police would have
learned a lot if this case was pursued with the required vigour, attention and urgency. Truly, the attitude of the police on the Nigerian citizens would have improved. Now, the increased
recklessness and impunity with which the police unleash extrajudicial killings
of Nigerian citizens are
unprecedented. In fact, there is a
competition amongst law enforce­
ment agencies on which is more
reckless and has higher impunity in
doing evil to the citizens.


Does this portend any implication for security in our country?

This calls for a serious concern when your life and property are not secure.
When you are afraid of government
security agents more than the
kidnappers, armed robbers, assassins, etc. This is a total confirmation that security has turned to insecurity in
Nigeria.
There is extreme loss of hope and
trust on government. The first law of
nature is the security of life. There is
no government without security and
every government is committed to the first oath of office which is to secure life and property of her citizens.
Failure of this is a complete failure of
government and governance.


authorityngr.com/2016/06/Powerful-northern-cabal-frustrated-the-trial-of-Apo-six-killers/

Everyone lives in fear in Nigeria.

Flexherbal:
Everyone lives in fear in Nigeria.

not fear per-se But the power to Twist issues!

Lalasticlala

Nigeria has many blood crying against her as a nation

Zoo police is not the answer to the increasing insecurity in Nigeria. State police is th way to go and we all know it.

may God help this country

So the apo six traders still haven't gotten justice?
The country is a sick joke

Nigeria is cursed

Can somebody tell me how u can move forward with so much innocent citizens blood in ur hands?

Just imagine being a father but feeds on the flesh of ur children.....



Dre is too many injustice in this country.


May be breaking up this country will break the curses.

Please divide this country for peace sake.