₦airaland Forum

A group known as the Save Nigeria Movement(SNM) has reiterated its call for the sack of a commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Okey Ibeanu.

This was contained in a statement sent to POLITICS NIGERIA signed by the group’s convener, Rev. Solomon Semanka. The group alleged that Prof. Ibeanu and Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano are in cahoots to manipulate the electoral exercise in favour of the preferred candidate.

The statement read; “You will recall that a forthnite ago precisely on sunday October 17, 2021, the Save Nigeria Movement (SNM) addressed you and made one outstanding disclosure as well as two specific demands. We made reference to a media allegation that a South East governor bribed some INEC officials with $4m and that another senior INEC National Commissioner from the same region facilitated that illegitimate process.”

“Based on the media report, we quickly identified Gov Obiano and Prof Okey Ibeanu as those responsible. Weeks after we called for the sack or suspension of Ibeanu from INEC, it is disheartening to note that he is still in the Commission playing very unsavoury roles aimed at compromising the process.”

“Just this weekend, Prof Ibeanu travelled to Awka to mobilise support for his paymaster. We understand that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Nwachukwu Orji was his research assistant at UNN where he first helped him secure employment and later appointed REC. This means that the REC is at the beck and call of the Prof.”

“The attention of the public and indeed all stakeholders is once again drawn to the unprofessional conduct of Ibeanu and his determination to not only skew the process in favour of Obiano but use his office to stampede the REC and the LG electoral officers do his bidding. Information at our disposal also revealed that the Prof has collected more funds and was in Anambra State during the weekend to distribute same.”

“While security agencies and INEC are yet to commence the investigation of the Professor, we demand that such enquiry is begun immediately. We also demand that:

A. Prof Ibeanu be suspended from INEC;

B. Prof Ibeanu be sacked, investigated and prosecuted for falling short of standards expected of a public official of his class

C. No sensitive duty be assigned to Ibeanu in the entire period of the Anambra Governorship election considering his compromised dispositions

D. All NGOs and critical stakeholders should look into the allegations against Prof Ibeanu and advise him to recuse himself from the election in Anambra State.

Professor Charles Soludo, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has accused the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Andy Ubah of forging his Secondary School Certificate.

Soludo, Ubah and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Valentine Ozigbo debated live on Arise Television on Monday afternoon.

POLITICS NIGERIA gathered that while fielding a question on Education, Soludo stated that Ubah had no school certificate adding that he forged his. He went ahead to query Ubah who replied that he possesses a certificate and finished secondary school in 1974.

The exchange became heated with Ubah saying that Soludo did nothing as the governor of the central bank of Nigeria adding that he was the one who made the popular banker attain the position.

The Nigerian Bar Association has condemned the raid on the home of Supreme Court Justice, Mary Odili on Friday night by security operatives.

The association, in a statement on Saturday, signed by its President, Olumide Akpata, described the development as an 'orchestrated attempt against the Judiciary'.

The statement, made available to POLITICS NIGERIA, read in part: "The Nigerian Bar Association ("NBA" received with grave concern the news of the unlawful siege on the Abuja residence of a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, last night by officers of one or more of the Nigerian security agencies."

"Almost 24 hours later, information concerning the basis of the siege remains hazy and the subject of
speculation, apart from reports that the invasion was pursuant to a search warrant issued by a
Magistrate Court in Abuja, which search warrant has now been revoked."

"The Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation under whose office the team that purportedly
carried out the raid is allegedly domiciled has also denounced the team, which suggests the inference
that the residence of the second most senior judicial officer in Nigeria was raided by rogue security
agencies. The grave implications of this possibility leave a lot to be desired."

"When viewed in the context of a similar raid on the premises of Supreme Court Justices in 2016, the
rationale of which was never fully explained or indeed justified, the NBA interprets last night's
incident as a part of an orchestrated affront on the Judiciary, designed to intimidate and ridicule the
Judiciary. The NBA will no longer allow this to continue."

Akpata revealed that he has had a conversation with Justice Odili on the matter. "i have spoken with My Lord, Peter-Odili (JSC) and i am happy to report that she is alive and well. Beyond that however, It is my pledge to Nigerians that the NBA will get to the root of this matter."

"To be clear, last night's event ls an affront on the Judiciary and grossly undermines the democracy that
we profess to practise. In line with the aims and objectives of the NBA which include the protection
and defence of the independence of the Judiciary and the Rube of Law in Nigeria, we will be convening
an emergency meeting of the NBA National Executive Committee solely to discuss this issue and take
a definitive stand on behalf of the NBA."

Former Chairman of Nigeria's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chidi Odinkalu says the status quo style of leadership that exists within the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has “broken down”.

Odinkalu said this during a recent interview on Arise TV. He was speaking on the insecurity in the Southeast region and separatism.

According to Odinkalu, IPOB today is not limited to Nnamdi Kanu’s.

“The IPOB command-and-control structure — if it existed — is broken down. So there isn’t one IPOB. There are multiple IPOBs. And you’ve got political IPOB,” Odinkalu, a Professor said.

“In Anambra State for instance, I think one of the challenges in the election is knowing which IPOB you are talking about.

“There are political IPOB owned by partisan political actors in Anambra State. There is a faction in Anambra Central who are masquerading as IPOB. You’ve got a set of cults that are from somewhere in Ebonyi State and parts of Abia State as part of the political IPOB in Anambra State for instance. And then, you’ve got the Nnamdi Kanu’s IPOB. All of them are competing for space. And there is a commercial dimension to this, because people are making money of this stuff. It’s totally messed up, that’s the truth.

“But the reality also is the incapacity of leadership, both from the federal level and from the political elites of the Southeast.”

POLITICS NIGERIA reports that last week, IPOB vowed to observe a seven-day lockdown as from November 5 in support of its detained Leader, Nnamdi Kanu, unless he is released by the Federal Government on or before November 4.

Disturbed by the negative implications of the seven-day sit-at-home directive by IPOB for the Anambra governorship election, the state and the South-East zone, and Nigeria, Ohanaeze Ndigbo had begged the separatist group to reconsider the stand.

Chidi Odinkalu, a former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has criticised Abubakar Malami, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice of Nigeria, ‘for choosing some separatism as tolerable’.

Odinkalu says he finds it “troubling” that Malami (SAN) is “acting as the Senior Advocate of bandits, rather than the Senior Advocate of Nigeria”.

He argued that bandits and killer herdsmen ought to have been officially declared terrorists by Nigerian authorities — if truly they are impartial.

“There isn’t one separatism in Nigeria. There are separatisms,” Odinkalu, a professor, said while sharing his thoughts on separatist agitations in Nigeria via Arise TV recently.

“President Buhari, sadly, aided and abetted by the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has chosen some separatism as tolerable. If you remember, Boko Haram declared a caliphate. That’s separatism. The bandits are not exactly seeking to accept the unity of Nigeria.

“So you’ve got the attorney general of the Federation acting as the Senior Advocate of bandits, rather than the Senior Advocate of Nigeria. That is troubling.”

Many critics of the Muhammadu Buhari administration often condemn Malami, saying he is “incompetent”.

POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Malami had been accused of professional misconduct. In June 2019, he appeared before a disciplinary panel of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee to face the petitioners seeking the stripping of his Senior Advocate of Nigeria rank for alleged misconduct. The case was dismissed due to procedural issues on the part of the claimant.

In 2020, a lawyer, Izu Aniagu, submitted a new petition to the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) to remove Malami’s Senior Advocate of Nigeria rank. Aniagu’s petition, which received over 10,000 online signatures, was based on the claim that Malami unilaterally deleted certain provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners in violation of the law. Later in 2020, Aniagu accused the LPPC and Chief Justice Tanko Muhammad of purposeful inaction on his petition.

Convener of The Concerned Nigerians Group, Deji Adeyanju, says separatist leaders, Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho “will soon be free”.

Adeyanju hinged his assertion on the basis of the freedom enjoyed by Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, who he largely describes as a "bandit sympathizer".

The government critic also said since President Muhammadu Buhari pardons terrorists, there should be no “justification” for his ‘contempt’ for separatists.

“Nnamdi Kanu & Sunday Igboho will soon be free. If the Minister of Banditry, Gumi can be free, why should people demanding for self determination be locked up? If Buhari can forgive terrorists weekly, what is his justification for the hatred for agitators?” Adeyanju wrote on his known Twitter handle on Tuesday.

Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is currently facing trial on a seven-count amended charge bordering on treason and terrorism. The Federal Government had blamed him for the murder of Dr. Chike Akunyili, the husband of a former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), late Prof. Dora Akunyili.

A Presidential committee set up by President Muhammadu Buhari, had also accused Kanu of being responsible for the murder of a former presidential aide, Ahmad Gulak, and over 184 others in the South-East.

On the other hand, Igboho is currently in a detention facility in Benin Republic after he was arrested in Cotonou on July 16, 2021, with his wife, while trying to flee to Germany.

Former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has filed a counter-affidavit to a Fundamental human rights lawsuit(SUIT NO. FHC/ABJ/CS/428/2021) filed against him by his Ex-wife, Precious Chikwendu.

Precious and FFK's marriage has since hit the rocks over accusations of Domestic Violence and Infidelity. In the counter-affidavit exclusively gotten by POLITICS NIGERIA, FFK discloses has his ex-wife attacked him with two knives and threatened to kill him and their 4 sons.

The Affidavit read in part; "That on 23/11/2019, at about 1120 hrs, a distress call was received from one Insp Bako Maina “m” attached to Special Protection Unit Base seven FHQ posted to the Residence of Chief Femi Fani Kayode ‘’m’” of No. 5, Zuma Close, off Udi Hill Street Aso Drive Asokoro involving his wife one Precious Chikwendu “f” of the same address"

"That on same date at about 1130 hours, the suspect became hostile and aggressive holding two knives and block at the entrance to the bedrooms upstairs and knocking at the doors of the children and threatening to kill anybody that come [sic] close to her."

"That this persisted for an hour before the inspector could made [make] the distress call and the DPO responded in affirmative to arrest the situation on ground."

"That when the DP arrives with her men, it took almost 3 hrs to deserted [sic] from her act but she could not listen until a minimal force was applied before she was dispossessed of her dangerous weapon."

"That after dispossession, she was handed over to psychiatric doctor that took her to the hospital to ascertain her mental status as she bite [sic] and injured three persons in the process."

The popular politician also claimed that he has caught her pants down with several men adding that she was never stopped from seeing her kids. He disclosed that she denied the kids breast milk because she wanted to 'preserve her body shape'.

He added that Miss Chikwendu suffered from an undisclosed mental ailment. He described the suit as a 'smokescreen' designed to malign him and  prayed the court to dismiss the suit because it lacked merit.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has issued an update on the ongoing fraud case against music star, Naira Marley.

POLITICS NIGERIA gathered that the second prosecution witness, PW2, Augustine Anosike, a forensic expert with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the case of the musician whose real names are Afeez Adeshina Fashola, also , on Tuesday, October 26, 2021, told Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, how several credit card numbers were extracted while analyzing the contents of a total of 2,410 messages found in the defendant’s mobile phone.

Naira Marley was arraigned by the EFCC on May 20, 2019 on an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, possession of counterfeit credit cards and fraud, to which he pleaded not guilty.

At the resumed sitting today, Anosike, who continued his examination in chief, told the court that Exhibit F was a conclusion of his analysis of the defendant’s iPhone X version 10.6, model A 1901, with number 07427343432 and an email, naimarley@icloud.com.

He also gave the IMEL number of the iPhone as: 35304509527532 as well as the SIM ICCID number as 8923420035948359826. Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, he also told the court that “The apple iPhone is a sophisticated device capable of storing a large volume of information.

"It is the SIM card that basically identifies users of applications like WhatsApp.It, therefore, means that as long as a number has already been registered with a particular WhatsApp account, it matters less if such a user leaves the country."

In his further testimony, the PW2 said: "There are cases where a WhatsApp application can still be used even though the registered SIM card is not inserted in the phone. The chatting app used in the analysed device was WhatsApp."

When asked to talk about his findings while analyzing the phone, he told the court that a “ total of 977 Short Message Service (SMS) and 1433 chat messages were discovered.

"We also discovered seven pending status update messages."

“On November 26, 2018, there was an outgoing message registered about 3.32 p.m., with a credit card number 5264711020433662.

“This message was sent to one Yadd. On December 11, 2018, there was an incoming message to the defendant's device which read: " Your One Time Passcode (OTP) to verify your mobile number is 248716; wasn't you, please call us on 63450808500."

According to him, another message was sent at 5.06pm by one Hiya Bayi to a recipient with the name Raze on the same say.

The content of the message, he told the court, was another credit card number 42658840359132.

“The number of the sender is +447426343432, while that of the receiver is +447365280441.

“The incoming message reflected at 6.18p.m. showed " Not recognized".

“Other messages received on the same date include:” due to try in 20 minutes," he added.

The prosecution witness, while giving further evidence, told the court that there was an incoming message which read: "Tried and it was unsuccessful; sure you are not rinsing it out then giving it to me to try.” On December 12, 2018 at 10.16p.m.

During the proceedings, the PW2 also revealed several credit card numbers sent on different dates and time as well as OTP codes sent found in the defendant’s phone. The prosecution counsel, thereafter, told the court that all the analysed texts were fully contained in a Compact Disc (CD).

He, however, told the court that the prosecution had only printed out those portions it considered material to its case.

Consequently, he asked both the court and the defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, if the prosecution could bring a projector to play the CD in the open court or not. Justice Oweibo granted his prayer.

The United Nations has demanded an explanation on the alleged abduction, torture and detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, from the Kenyan and Nigerian Governments.

POLITICS NIGERIA gathered that the UN received information on allegations of enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention, torture, and ill-treatment of Kanu by Kenyan Security Officials, as well as his illegal rendition to Nigeria to face trial for terrorism-related charges.

Nnamdi Kanu was arraigned in court in July by the Department of State Security Services, DSS after bringing him back to the country from Kenya. He was remanded in the custody of the secret police. His case will be coming up in court again in November.

The embattled pro-secessionist is facing several charges ranging from Terrorism to Treasonable Felony. The latter carries the death penalty.

UN demands information on Kanu's arrest, Trial

A statement by the UN read: “While we do not prejudge the accuracy of these allegations, we would like to express our concern in relation to the enforced disappearance of Nnamdi Kanu from June 19, 2021, until his reappearance at Nigerian Federal High Court in Abuja on June 29, 2021, and his reported illegal rendition from Nairobi to Abuja without judicial process.”, a statement from the UN read.

The UN also pointed out that the  alleged torture and ill-treatment of Kanu as alarming, saying these constitute a violation of fundamental human rights.

"We are further alarmed by the alleged torture and ill-treatment Mr Kanu has been subjected to during his detention by the DSS in Nigeria. If confirmed, these allegations would constitute prima facie violations of fundamental human rights, including the right not to be arbitrarily deprived of liberty and the absolute and non-derogable prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment under the International Covenant on Political and Civil Rights."

"The Committee against Torture and the UN Human Rights Committee has repeatedly concluded that enforced disappearances may amount to torture and other forms of ill-treatment both with regard to the disappeared and with regard to their family members, due to the anguish and uncertainty concerning the date and whereabouts of loved ones."

"As it is our responsibility under the mandates provided to us by the Human Rights Council to seek to clarify all cases brought to our attention, we would be grateful for your observations on the following matters: any additional information and any comment you may have on the above-mentioned allegations."

"Please provide detailed information on the current state of health of Mr Kanu and the measures undertaken, or foreseen, to prevent any irreparable damage to his life and personal integrity and to ensure that he has access to the medications and medical treatment required by his health conditions."

"Please provide detailed information on the circumstances in which Mr Kanu was arrested, forcibly disappeared before being handed over to Nigerian authorities and transferred from Nairobi to Abuja. Also provide any international arrest warrant that may have been issued against him, prior to his arrest."

The National Security Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari, Babagana Monguno has issued a stern warning to the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and other who plan to disrupt the upcoming elections in Anambra state.

Monguno, during an inter-agency consultative committee on Election Security(ICCES) meeting organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Monday disclosed that security agencies will do everything within their power to ensure that the exercise goes smoothly.

POLITICS NIGERIA earlier reported that IPOB and its leader, Nnamdi Kanu has held a strong stance against participating in the upcoming elections threatening to order  'sit-at-home' on the day of the election. Furthermore, members of the group have been issuing threats to state indigenes not to participate in the exercise.

However, speaking at the meeting, Monguno said; "I want to reassure the general public that the security agencies are going to do everything within their power to ensure that the people of Anambra State undergo this exercise without any incident."

"In the same vein, I want to offer a word of brotherly advice to our brothers and sisters in Anambra State who may want to use means, methods that are unorthodox and that are unusual to destabilise an already delicate situation, to please, think again."

"We are all eager to achieve results in this election that will be acceptable to everybody. I don’t think it will be helpful for anyone to go out and ignite something that might cause pain for the good people of Anambra State, under whatever disguise. Please think again."

"The law enforcement agencies, in as much as they have agreed to operate in accordance with the requirements of their profession, will not sit by idle."

Popular Islamic Cleric, Shiekh Gumi has criticised the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and Yoruba activist, Sunday Igboho over what they have done to Southern Nigeria.

Gumi, a controversial figure, in a statement on Monday disclosed that IPOB was gradually destroying the South-East and Igboho has introduced confusion to the South-West.

He claims that both figures need to be engaged and encouraged to quit their agitations.

“NE is already and is still devastated by this madness for over 12 years. If we allow, terror, to set in into these raw naïve unexposed bandits, NW will be in ruins sooner than later. Already IPOB is destroying SE, and Igboho has set the ball of confusion rolling in SW. For those who want to destroy the NW, it’s a good recipe. Turn bandits into religious zealots. Tell me, what then remains of Nigeria?”

“I have started to get these raw bandits out of their misadventure but unfortunately, I have few helpers and a mountain of antagonists. The psychology in fighting natives is to induce a motive for their struggle if they don’t have one already, a motive that is manageable, and it is so managed. Unfortunately, reactions to threat in our nation are always slow and incoherent.”

“I hope another Igbo clergy goes into the IPOB militants likewise and talk sense into them, and another Pastor of Oduduwa land talks against the Igboho secessionist tribal movement by way of sensitising people to the values of a cohesive nationalism that will guaranty freedom, equality, and justice for all. Religious forces can permeate hardened hearts where secular forces cannot.”

Nigeria’s music sensations, Iheanacho Onuoha aka Acho, a Kora award nominee and brand ambassador to Vegahs real estate company in Lagos Nigeria , Timi Dakolo and Grammy nominee, Cameroonian international producer, Salatiel have been selected among other 21musicians whose countries qualified for the forthcoming African Football Cup Of Nations (AFCON) in a music project called: Sing For Africa.

The idea of ‘Sing For Africa’ according to the organisers is to take advantage of the platform offered by the African Cup of Nations of Football (AFCON 2021) under the African Football Confederation billed for Cameroon between January 9 and February 6 2022 to bring together under the humanitarian banner, the voices and the expertise of the African music, through the contribution of artistes from the 24 countries qualified for this event, in order to communicate to Africa and the world, a message of hope in a thematic song spreading peace, unity, concord, love and solidarity. The project site is www.sing4africa.org.

Acho

AFCON attracts among others, more than a billion viewers, two billion listeners, three million spectators, more than five thousand journalists and two hundred and fifty media. The 52 matches that make up its framework are broadcast on five continents and in more than 150 countries. The African Nations Cup of Football therefore offers unique moments of exchange, conviviality, meetings, solidarity and fulfillment through Sport and Culture.

This special production is about showing a joyful and more optimistic Africa. Expected countries are: Senegal, Ivory Coast, Algeria, Nigeria, Gabon, Mali, Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Guinea, Gambia, Morocco, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Comores, Malawi, Ethiopia, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, South
Sudan, Cape verde and Ghana.

Timi Dakolo

Artistes invited to the ‘Sing For Africa’ project are from Central Africa to North Africa, West Africa and Southern Africa.

They are: Tukkiman – Sénégal; Cremilda Medina – Cabo Verde; Mylmo – Mali; Teddy – yo Ethiopia; Imilo lechanceux- Burkina Faso; Lord Ekomi – Gabon; Jaylann – Morocco; Timi Dakolo – Nigeria; Jah Prayzah – Zimbabwe; Dadiposlim- Comores; Hakim – Egypt; Samini – Ghana; Assia – Algeria; Emmerson Bockarie – Sierra Leone; Georges Kalukusha – Malawi; Peque Jazz – Equatorial Guinea; WJ De King – South Sudan; Rayen Youssef -Tunisia; Lesme Minteiro – Guinea; BissauRinyu – Cameroon; Texvor – Ivory Coast; Fame Sane – Cameroon; Salatiel –Cameroon and Acho – Nigeria.

As gathered, release date for the song is for October 30th 2021 as the production location is Douala and Yaounde.

This exceptional blend of 24 different cultures is led by internationally renowned Cameroonian producer Salatiel, a multi- faceted artist, under the direction of the international artistic representation and communication agency ARUSA Music and Entertainment which commissioned BIFTY, an acronym for Be Involved For The Youth to coordinate the project.

An Uber Driver, Adedotun Clement, has dragged the Lagos state government to Court for N500 million in Damages after he was gruesomely assaulted and beaten by Police officers and officials of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Watch(LSNC).

Clement was seen in already viral footage, wailing and crying as police officers pepper sprayed and beat him up before forcefully hauling him into a waiting van. Below is a full statement from Clement’s lawyer, Inibehe Effiong;

“UBER DRIVER ASSAULTED DURING ENDSARS MEMORIAL PROTEST DEMANDS N500M COMPENSATION FOR VIOLATION OF HIS RIGHTS, SEIZURE AND DESTRUCTION OF HIS VEHICLE AND PROSECUTION OF CULPRITS”

“We have written to the Lagos State Government through the Attorney General of Lagos State to demand payment of the sum of N500,000,000 (Five Hundred Million Naira) as compensation to Mr. Adedotun Clement for the gross violation of his fundamental rights to dignity of the human person, personal liberty and property and for the deprivation of his source of livelihood and the destruction of his vehicle.”

“Adedotun Clement is the innocent Uber driver that was assaulted by some officers of the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Corps (LNSC) and Nigeria Police Force during the first anniversary of the #EndSARS protest at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos.”

“In addition to payment of monetary compensation, we also demanded that disciplinary measures be taken against the culprits who assaulted Adedotun, and that they should be prosecuted in court in line with the Anti-Torture Act and the Criminal Law of Lagos State.”



“Also, we are equally demanding a written apology from the state government.”

“It should be noted that the vehicle of Mr. Adedotun has been returned but in a bad condition. The agents of the state government broke and damaged the front windscreen of his Toyota Corolla. The vehicle was in good condition before it was towed away on Wednesday, 20th October, 2021. But upon reaching where the vehicle was taken to on Friday, 22nd October, 2021, Adedotun saw the destruction done to his vehicle by agents of the state government.”

“The implication is that he cannot use the vehicle to earn a living until it is repaired.”

“My attention has been drawn to the public statement by the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Agency (LNSA) wherein it is stated that two officers of the agency were subjected to orderly room trial, found guilty of assault and general unruly behaviour and suspended for two months.”

“While we commend the Lagos State Government for admitting that the conduct of its agents was criminal and unprofessional, we find the two months suspension meted on the two officers grossly insufficient and unacceptable. It is not a deterrence. The officers should be dismissed and diligently prosecuted in a court of law to serve as a deterrence to others.”

“Finally, we are expecting the Lagos State Government to respond to our modest demands within 48 hours or we will have no other option but to commence legal proceedings to seek redress for Adedotun.”

The Federal Government of Nigeria has accused that leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu of ordering the burning of a house belonging to Imo state governor, Hope Uzodinma and instigating the looting of the Oba of Lagos Palace during the #EndSARS protests.

This was contained in a statement on Friday by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami. The government claims that Kanu hijacked the #EndSARS protests and used inciting statements to compel members of his group, IPOB to attack security agents and destroy public property.

The statement, sent to POLITICS NIGERIA, read in part; "The destructive activities of IPOB/ESN pose serious threat to Nigeria's National Security and its corporate existence, which resulted into re-arrest of Nnamdi Kanu and members of his group."

"The eventual re-arrest of Nnamdi Kanu in June 2021, and some members of his group led to the inauguration of a Presidential Ad-hoc Committee, comprising twenty-four (24) members drawn from:
1. Federal Ministry of Justice (MoJ),
2. Federal Ministry of Information (MoI),
3. Nigeria Police Force (NPF),
4. Department of State Services (DSS),
5. National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and
6. Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA),

"The Committee, inaugurated by the President, and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), was headed by the Honorable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice."

"The Committee finds as a fact, that consequent upon the instigating directives of Nnamdi Kanu, members of IPOB/ESN carried out massive attacks on democratic institutions especially INEC Facilities with a view to hampering democratic process in Nigeria. These attacks that were carried out between October 2020 and June 2021 include the following:

"That the Headquarters of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Umuahia, Abia State was also attacked by IPOB/ESN leading to the death of one (1) officer;"

"That there were several IPOB/ESN attacks and destruction (arson) of public and private properties during the EndSARS and Biafra agitations across the country, especially in the South-East and South-South regions, notably the Palace of the Oba of Lagos where twelve (12) flats were completely looted and vandalized, the country home of the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, was burnt, over one hundred and fifty (150) buses burnt at the Lagos Bus Terminal, Sen. Ndoma Egba's home in Calabar Municipal, Cross River State, was completely looted and vandalized, Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, City Hall Race Course, First Bank Branch Lagos, Lagos State Public Works Commission, Nigeria Port Authority (NPA), Marina, Lagos, High Court Igbosere, Lagos, were all burnt, amongst other heinous crimes committed."

Popular Activist and Convener of the Concerned Nigerians group, Deji Adeyanju has carpeted Nigeria's Attorney-General, Abubakar Malami over a recent statement linking activist, Sunday Igboho to terrorism.

On Friday, the AGF in a statement titled, "Investigation Reports On Acts Of Terrorism And Allied Offences Perpetrated By Nnamdi Kanu And Report On the Sponsors And Financiers Of Sunday Igboho And Associates", Igboho was linked to a Boko Haram financier, Abubakar Muhammad Surajo.

"Investigation reveals that Adesun International Concept Ltd (belonging to Igboho) transferred the sum of twelve million seven hundred and fifty thousand naira (N12, 750,000) to Abbal Bako & Sons."

"It might be recalled that Abbal Bako & Sons and its promoter Abdullahi Umar Usman are suspects in the on-going Joint Terrorist Financing Investigation. Abdullahi Umar Usman is by way of financial transaction connected to SURAJO ABUBAKAR MUHAMMAD (who was sentenced to life imprisonment in UAE on charges of financing terrorism [Boko Haram])."

"This report shows the nexus between separatists’ agitation, terrorism financing and disruptions of peace in the country. The report found connections of financial transaction between Adesun International Concept Ltd (belonging to Igboho) and some construction companies and businesses among others."

Reacting to the report, Adeyanju wrote; "AGF Malami says Sunday Igboho may be linked to terrorism financing because he did a N12m transfer to a Bureau De Change."

"This man should be selling recharge card in Kebbi."

The federal government has said that its investigation has established a link between Sunday Adeyemo ‘Igboho’ and a suspected financier of terrorism, POLITICS NIGERIA has learned.

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, said this in a statement on Friday.

Igboho is a lead separatist in Nigeria, seeking for the sovereignty of the Southwest region.

According to Malami, the Muhammadu Buhari administration’s findings show that a company controlled by Igboho transferred N12.75 million to another owned by Abdullahi Usman, who is suspected of financing terrorism in Nigeria.

The statement also revealed that Igboho was being funded by a Serving Nigerian Lawmaker and has received over N127 million.

The Nigerian Army has handed over Nollywood Veteran actor, Chinwetalu Agu to the Department of State Security Services, DSS for further investigation.

Agu was arrested in Upper-Iweka, Onitsha, Anambra state on Thursday after he was seen soliciting support for the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. He was also wearing an outfit made from the Biafran Flag.

Military Spokesman, Onyema Nwachukwu, In a statement on Thursday night revealed that Agu resisted arrest and was not brutalised as widely reported.

"Chinwetalu Agu was picked up for questioning while inciting members of the public to join the proscribed group. Though he attempted puting up some resistance when troops made effort to take him into custody, he was not assaulted or subjected to brutalization."

"While the NA recognizes the inalienable rights of the citizenry to freedom of movement and expression as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is apparently a violation for any individual or group to incite the public to cause mayhem or break down of law and order. It is therefore pertinent to state that while exercising such freedoms, it must be done within the confines of the law, bearing in mind the imperative for peace, and national security."

However, on Friday afternoon, reports filtered in that the Army had released Chinwetalu Agu but findings by this newspaper reveal otherwise.

The comic actor was instead handed over to the Department of State Security Service, DSS.

When contacted, the spokesperson of the Secret police, Dr. Peter Afunanya(PhD.), confirmed that the Army handed Agu over to the service.

Five kidnapped students of the Baptist High school, Maraban Damishi, in Chikun Local Government Area in Kaduna have been released by Bandits.

POLITICS NIGERIA learned that the the students alongside a matron were released on Friday evening.

A statement signed by the Rev. Dr. Israel Adelani Akanji, President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention confirmed the development.

"Five of our Bethel Baptist High School students and the Matron (Making 6) have just been released to us this evening, October 8. We thank God and trust that the remaining four students will also be released."

Former Deputy CBN governor, Kingsley Moghalu has pitched his tent with the Action Democratic Congress, ADC ahead of the 2023 Presidential Elections.

Moghalu announced on Friday that he is now a member of the ADC after leaving his former Party, the YPP in 2019. He aims to clinch the party's ticket as its Presidential candidate.

POLITICS NIGERIA recalls that in June 2021, Moghalu announced his intentions to content for the Nation's top seat in the 2023 Elections. Moghalu contested as the presidential candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP) in 2019 and lost to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari. He finished 14th on the election log with just 26,039 to Buhari’s 15.1 million votes.

How much money, property does a man need? I am compelled to believe that the faculty for primitive accumulation is a pre-historic flaw of the African species. From Mobutu Sese Seko, former president of the Democratic Republic of Congo; General Sani Abacha of Nigeria, to Teodorin Obiang, vice-president of Equatorial Guinea; Jacob Zuma of South Africa, and many others in the corruption phylum, African leaders and public officers appear to be the most afflicted by the midge of acquisitiveness.

Why would any normal human entrusted with public funds, stash away millions of dollars in tax havens and buy sprawling estates in foreign countries? And most times, they do not live in these houses. I think there is a design flaw with the African public officer; I mean, with the Nigerian public officer.

Diezani Alison-Madueke, former minister of petroleum resources, is reported to have pilfered over $153 million, bought N14 billion worth of jewellery and acquired over 90 properties in Nigeria – according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). This clearly shows a psychological kink. It is mindboggling. The longest anyone can live on earth is 120 years, but why the rapacity and predilection for irrational accumulation?

Another former minister is reported to have bought £6.7m London properties while she was in office. When we colligate over 100 million Nigerians stratified as poorest of the poor, decayed health infrastructure and parlous roads with the ghastly and ravenous pursuits of Nigerian public officers, it is even more exasperating. Nigerians slip below the threshold of poverty every minute and Nigeria keeps borrowing religiously to fund its budget, but the country’s wealth is squandered and scattered abroad. It is very vexing.

I think, if possible, there should be some evaluation to check the ‘’greed quotient’’ of people taking up public office in Nigeria. The average Nigerian public officer has shown himself to be a parasitic organism that keeps sucking the national treasury with a proboscis.

Not surprising, Nigerians are ‘’well-represented’’ in the Pandora Papers. The Pandora Papers Project is led by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) – which Nigeria’s Premium Times is a part of. The project sieved through and analysed as much as 12 million leaked files retrieved from offshore service firms from around the world. And Nigerian public officers featured prominently in this investigation.
Nigerians, both current and former public officers, have been named ignominiously in reports revealing how the Nigerian elite evade tax, perjure, loot, and shore up questionable wealth in tax havens.

For instance, a certain former governor who had cut for himself an ascetic image in the public eye was reported not to have declared a bulk of his wealth when he assumed office – and he even avoided tax. This politician seeks to lead Nigeria some day. Also, a serving governor is said to have amassed dirty billions stashed away in tax havens.

This governor is said to have been ‘’involved with all the offshore front companies and bank accounts – from the British Virgin Islands to Ireland, Switzerland, England, Guernsey, and Jersey – used to steal and launder billions of dollars belonging to Nigeria under the Abacha regime as a director, signatory on accounts or prime beneficiary, according to US court documents and incorporation filings from the Pandora Papers leaks’’.

A public servant who was recently appointed as the head of a critical government agency was reported to have purchased a piece of property worth 475,000 pounds in London, UK, after he was appointed as an executive director at the agency in 2017. The asset is said to be his largest single investment in the UK property market.

The uncanny thing about the Pandora Papers is that Nigeria’s geographical character is well-captured on the corruption lamina. The federal character of corruption. Public officers from the north, south, east and west have been named on that inglorious list.

Nigeria’s corruption respects diversity and federal character. Resources and public goods may not be equitably distributed among all Nigerians, and even political offices could be sectionalised, but on corruption, there is always a geographical balance. Yes, there is always a perfect ethnic representation at the table of loot.

Where true democracy is at play among the Nigerian elite is on corruption. On corruption, there is common ground. Corruption is the centrifugal force pulling all together in the council of interest.

Really, Nigeria’s problem is an elite problem -- conscienceless people who stack up wealth in foreign countries while the country they represent is cannibalised. To this class, Nigeria is only fit for milking, but for healthcare they go abroad; for education for their children, they go abroad, and for other basics, they jet out.

As I said in ‘The colonialists never left – they are Nigerian politicians’ of October 1, 2020,’ impunity and corruption, which reigned under British colonialism, are ensconced solidly in Nigeria’s cosmology today, and are even considered as start-up packages for elitism under Nigeria’s ‘’elite colonialism’’.

Nigeria’s problem is an elite affliction.

We are bleeding Nigeria softly, softly.

Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity has lashed out at Enyinnaya Abaribe, the Senator representing Abia-South Senatorial District of Abia State for ‘exacerbating the security challenges’ Nigeria is currently faced with.

In a post titled: WEIGHTY MATTERS ABOUT OUR COUNTRY, published on his known Facebook page on Thursday night, Adesina berated Abaribe, saying the senate minority leader should be cooling off in jail.

“Some people incite violence through words or actions, thus exacerbating the security challenges we have. You wonder where they are from, and why they would further stoke a burning fire with incendiary materials,” Adesina wrote.

“There is one funny Senator who talks about the mismanagement of our diversity as a country, yet he daily uses foul language against those in leadership. He stood surety for someone bent on dismemberment of the country, and when that one vanished, and he should have been cooling his feet in prison, the Senator still spews rubbish. Chief ‘mismanager’ of our diversity. And the President had words for him and his ilk, who exist round the country: ‘We are ready to arrest and prosecute all persons inciting violence through words or action. Our resolve for a peaceful, united and one Nigeria remains resolute and unwavering. The seeds of violence are planted in people’s heads through words. Reckless utterances of a few have led to losses of many innocent lives and destruction of properties.’”

POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Abaribe stood as surety for Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who who jumped bail some few years back.

Kanu was granted bail in April 2017 after 18 months in detention, but he fled Nigeria later that year after soldiers invaded his residence in Abia state during a military clampdown on IPOB members.

He was, however, re-arrested in June and extradited to Nigeria to face trial for treasonable felony.

The IPOB leader has since been remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) pending the continuation of his trial.

The Nigerian Army has released a statement on the arrest of popular Nollywood actor, Chinwetalu Agu by soldiers in Upper Iweka area of Onitsha, Anambra State on Thursday.

Agu was manhandled and forcefully arrested by fierce-looking soldiers. Below is a statement made available to POLITICS NIGERIA, signed by army media chief, Onyema Nwachukwu;

"Troops of Nigerian Army(NA) have arrested one Chiwetalu Agu while inciting members of the public and soliciting for support for the proscribed Indegenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Dressed in a very well known attire of the proscribed group, Chiwetalu Agu was picked up for questioning while inciting members of the public to join the proscribed group. Though he attempted puting up some resistance when troops made effort to take him into custody, he was not assaulted or subjected to brutalization."

"While the NA recognizes the inalienable rights of the citizenry to freedom of movement and expression as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is apparently a violation for any individual or group to incite the public to cause mayhem or break down of law and order. It is therefore pertinent to state that while exercising such freedoms, it must be done within the confines of the law, bearing in mind the imperative for peace, and national security."

"For the avoidance of doubt and emphasis, the Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB) remains proscribed . Therefore, any individual or group seen to be projecting and advancing the cause or activities of the group is viewed as brazenly challenging the constitutionality of Federal Republic of Nigeria. More worrisome, was the fact that considering the prevailing security situation of the region, coupled with the ongoing Exercise GOLDEN DAWN , his action could be a tacit endorsement and support for the proscribed group. We have all witnessed the activities of the group take a violent dimension in recent times."

"Chinwetalu Agu has clearly demonstrated uncharitable disposition to negate peace and security in the region, hence, he is taken into custody for preliminary investigation. It is important to once again place on record that the allegation that he was brutalized is false and should be disregarded accordingly."

"While the NA would not allow IPOB and its sponsors to hold the region captive and allow the security situation to degenerate, it is instructive to restate that national interest supercedes any parochial consideration. Individuals or groups who fan the embers of violence are warned to desist or face the consequences of their actions. The ongoing Exercises are on course and will rid the region of all forms of criminality."

"The peace loving and law abiding people of the South East are enjoined to please go about their normal activities, as efforts are ongoing to bring perpetrators of violence to book. They are equally urged to continue to support the security agencies to restore normalcy to the region in furtherance of peace."

Nigerian Soldiers have reportedly arrested popular Nollywood Actor, Chinwetalu Agu in Upper Iweka area of Anambra state for putting on an outfit with colours of the Biafran Flag.

Agu's vehicle was stopped by soldiers who wasted no time to bring him out of his bus.

In footage seen by POLITICS NIGERIA, Agu was dragged and manhandled by the Soldiers. It can be recalled that the Nigerian Government has banned the display of the Biafran Flag in any part of the country.

Last Month, Agu went viral on social media after wearing an outfit made of the Biafran Flag with many Nigerians stating on social media that 'nothing must happen' to the popular thespian.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9o7BtQaaaQ

The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC has stated that a section of Nigerians are disqualified from owning Subscriber Identity Module, SIM.

This is contrary to a report by Punch on Wednesday. The commission made this clarification in a statement made available to POLITICS NIGERIA on Thursday morning signed by its Public Affairs Director, Ikechukwu Adinde.

"The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) would like to draw the attention of the public to a publication in a section of the media, purporting that the Commission is developing a regulation to disqualify Nigerians below 18 years of age from getting Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)."

"For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission wishes to categorically state that the said report is not only misleading and inaccurate; but a misinformation and mischaracterisation of the proceedings of the Public Inquiry on the Reviewed/Draft Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations, which took place on Tuesday, October 6, 2021."

"The Commission considers it necessary to set the record straight for the purpose of serving existing and potential telecom subscribers , investors and other stakeholders in the industry accurate information for making informed decisions."

"In accordance with sections 70 and 71 of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA), 2003 and the Commission’s consultative engagement process, which define its rule-making process, the public inquiry was held for all relevant stakeholders to provide input on the draft regulatory instrument."

"The age of 18 years for SIM acquisition proposed in the draft regulation is contingent on the constitutional provision, which makes 18 years the age of consent in Nigeria. Also, SIM acquisition is a contract between service providers and their subscribers, which requires the subscriber to have proper legal status, be of matured mind and rational enough to bear certain responsibilities, obligations and liabilities imposed by a contract."

"The proposal is, therefore, to protect minors. Parents and guardians can acquire SIMs in their names on behalf of their children and wards in which case they assume whatever responsibilities or liabilities that arise from the usage of such SIMs, a measure expected to also strengthen national security."

"While the Commission is progressively pursuing digital inclusion for all, the draft proposal is intended to guarantee increased monitoring of children and shield the minors from undue liabilities in line with NCC’s Child Online Protection drive."

"However, the consultative engagement process is still ongoing, as the Commission is reviewing all input from relevant stakeholders in this regard and will consider and deliberate on all comments before issuing a final regulatory instrument."

"We appeal to our media stakeholders to always fact-check their stories pertaining to telecoms regulatory issues and seek necessary clarifications for informed and accurate reporting as the Commission runs an open-house system."

The Nigerian Communications Commission has announced the disqualification of anyone below the age of 18 from registering and owning a SIM in Nigeria, POLITICS NIGERIA has learned.

This is according to the draft copy of the modified registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations published on the commission’s website.

The commission in modified regulations only allowed subscribers above the age of 18 to haves SIMs. The regulation was made in line with the powers conferred upon the commission by section 70 of the Nigerian Communications Act,2003.

In accordance with Section 57 of the Act, the NCC conducted a Public Inquiry on the Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations, alongside the draft SIM Replacement Guidelines and the draft Spectrum Trading Guidelines at its head office in Abuja on Tuesday.

At the Public Inquiry, Telecoms giant, MTN voiced opposition to the directive adding that the age limit should be 14 years. The NCC maintained its stance adding that the age limit remains 18 years.

Nigeria's independence clocked 61 years on October 1, 2021. Sadly, the country has been battling with the Boko Haram insurgency for one-quarter of six decades. Three weeks before the latest anniversary, something phenomenal that got everybody talking happened: an early gift from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The Emirates won the hearts of millions of Nigerians with the revelation of Boko Haram sponsors. Many are disappointed that the United States of America (USA) remains indecisive on this important matter. I salute the UAE for stepping up and showing leadership while others dilly-dally. Their action was not only unprecedented, it will remain indelible. The UAE deserves more accolades.

The Emirates could have deflected but took the path of courage and honour. They are pained by what is going on in Nigeria and fulfilled what their conscience dictated. It should ring loud in our ears and stick to our heads that the UAE cried more than the bereaved, exposing some of the evildoers in Nigeria while the leaders who begged for votes remain silent.

Is it not amazing that security, anti-corruption and anti-narcotics agencies arrest, parade and prosecute sex workers, rapists, drug peddlers, petty thieves, rogues in public and private sectors, armed robbers, kidnappers, internet fraudsters a.k.a. 'Yahoo boys', but find it somewhat difficult to mete out the same treatment to terrorists' godfathers? What is going on might actually be deeper than what we thought.

In case America does not perfectly decipher, we are pressurizing them to unseal the identities of Boko Haram funders due to the insistence of the Buhari administration that there is no need for unmasking. The presidency made its position known through spokespersons, Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu. Likewise the Attorney General and Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami. Let it be on record that Nigeria is concealing the names of terror financiers.

Messrs Adesina and Garba strongly defended the non-disclosure, just like in the case of Twitter ban. He who pays the piper truly dictates the tune. These are senior colleagues we admired for their definite stance on issues and leadership failure before they were appointed into the ruling government. I have no doubt in my mind that the aides would hold a different view if they were not in power; they would have joined the clamour for divulgence.

Boko Haram was founded by Mohammed Yusuf in Maiduguri, the Borno capital in 2002. He successfully radicalised thousands of youths, preached hostility toward secular education and promoted jihad. His sermons spread like wildfire as adherents stored different recordings on their phones like playlists. Federal and state authorities became agitated. "Who is this young man that has attained authority, status and influence within a short period of time?".

In July 2009, Yusuf reportedly died in the custody of the police after the military-led Joint Task Force (JTF) handed him over. Around the time, soldiers and policemen raided communities, picked out suspected Boko Haram members and executed them on the streets! These events infuriated staunch followers of Yusuf who took up arms and manufactured Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). They bombed security facilities and killed many security personnel in retaliation. I vividly recall the photos and gory videos. Since then, the fundamentalist group has been on a rampage, exporting its fury to neighbouring countries.

Cameroon, Chad and Niger have their own tales of Boko Haram ruthlessness. The insurgency actually led to the strengthening of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), headquartered in N'Djamena. Although the force had been in existence since the 1990s, its mandate was expanded in April 2012 to encompass counter-terrorism operations to suppress Boko Haram and Ansaru. The sects swelled in size and strength in the early 2010s, infiltrating the BAY States - Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

In September 2011, former President Olusegun Obasanjo sought to broker ceasefire after he was contacted by a group of pacifists including activist and former Kaduna Senator, Shehu Sani. After conferring with ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, 'Obj', as fondly called, flew to Borno secretly. Within hours, the media got the scoop that the erstwhile military Head of State travelled to the State to meet Yusuf's family. Not many were taken aback. Obasanjo is largely a fearless man, a reason some believes he possesses 'traditional powers'.

Arbitration is one of his talents and to date, the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and West countries routinely engage the Prime Minister of Owu. At Yusuf's household, Obasanjo, who spoke in Hausa, appealed to the relations to allow him mediate between and the government. Yusuf's brother-in-law, Babakura Fugu, whose father was also slain in 2009, said it was the first time a high-profile figure would meet them.

Fugu was frank at the parley, hinting that 30 to 40 percent of Boko Haram fighters were in Cameroon, Chad and Niger. He presented a list of demands to Obasanjo. Although the requests were never made public, they reportedly included the reconstruction of demolished properties, the trial of government agents for extra-judicial killings, compensation for affected families and the release of incarcerated members.

Before the meeting, Obasanjo was in Jos, the Plateau capital, for peace talks with Christian and Muslim leaders over the ethno-religious conflict that claimed - and still claim - several lives. I know about and witnessed some of the atrocities that occurred. I was in the State as a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Batch C 2010. It was scary. Anytime violence erupted, Christians were usually at risk on Northerners-dominated Bauchi Road, while the safety of Muslims could not be guaranteed on Southerners-dominated Bauchi Ring Road. My apartment was in between.

I remember how the NYSC repeatedly appeal that we always stay safe and avoid interstate trips except when necessary. Once clashes start, the thought of death and my body transported to my parents, Pastor and Mrs Odunsi (both passed on in 2019) in our village in Igbesa, Ogun State, filled me with dread. I never traveled during service year. I was security conscious too and often stayed indoors in my abode inside the University of Jos (UNIJOS) Senior Staff Quarters. Luckily, my Place of Primary Assignment (PPA) provided accommodation.

The crisis caused the cancellation of my set's Passing Out Parade (POP) as the State and corps management feared for our safety. Grateful that I and hundreds of colleagues completed service unscathed. Not only did I serve my fatherland, I received NYSC State Honours Award for humanitarian efforts that touched orphanages and schools, and a Letter of Commendation by the Plateau Government for the facelift of a reformatory in Jos. The State is blessed with great people, food and weather. This is why the recrruing incidences of massacre makes my skin prickle.

I mentioned Obasanjo's trip to Borno and Plateau because ten years after his endeavours and those of the government, religious, traditional leaders and other stakeholders, Nigeria is still wrestling with the Boko Haram warfare and Plateau catastrophe. Even President Muhammadu Buhari, who identified the cause(s) of Plateau problems during a televised debate before the 2011 general elections and proffered solutions, seems confused. It is now less than two years to the end of his second term in office.

According to a June 2021 report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), by the end of 2020, the conflict in North-East Nigeria had resulted "in nearly 350,000 deaths, with 314,000 of those from indirect causes". About 1.8 million students are out of school. Similarly, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) declared approximately 2.5 million Nigerian refugees/internally displaced persons (IDPs). There are 780,000 such persons in Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

Despite these pitiful statistics, America's bureaucratic foot-dragging has continued. In September 2021, the UAE publised the names of six Nigerians apprehended for funding Boko Haram - Abdurrahaman Ado Musa, Salihu Yusuf Adamu, Bashir Ali Yusuf, Muhammed Ibrahim Isa, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan and Surajo Abubakar Muhammad. The announcement followed their indictment and prosecution in 2020 by the National Security Bureau (NSB) years after their April 2017 arrest.

I covered the story and it raises one's spirit that the UAE listed the devilish men among 53 individuals and entities (allegedly) playing a role in inducing agony and taking lives they cannot give. Court documents showed how the convicted Nigerians, between 2015 and 2016, wired $782,000 to Boko Haram in violation of Article 29, Clause 3 of UAE’s Federal Anti-Terrorism Law No 7 of 2017. The transactions were facilitated by two fellow countrymen the NSB named 'Alhaji Sa’idu' and 'Alhaji Ashiru', described as 'a government official'.

The government and most people in America honour God. In fact, "In God we trust" is the country's official motto. Does the US government think God is happy with them for shielding the identity of terror financiers in Nigeria? Is America at ease with how pregnant women, nursing mothers, the young and elderly are grisly decimated by terrorists? Are the number of deaths, total permanent disability, and homes, livelihoods, communities destroyed not enough? Galatians, chapter 6 verse 2 urges those who can, to carry the burden of others. Hebrews chapter 13 verse 16 advises the sharing of what you have.

The people of Nigeria want the details of the information America has on this satanic insurgency and the masterminds. Rather than name and shame, the US is delaying even as lives are wasted night and day. In late August, the US government, for the umpteenth time, assured it would identify sponsors of terrorism in Africa's most populous State. Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard said talks are ongoing.

“That is something we are very eager to partner Nigeria on. I have had at least three conversations in the last two months on this subject", the envoy told reporters. For how long are we going to hear and endure promises from the nation widely regarded as the most powerful on earth? Why is the US failing to prove the title by refusing to de-classify intel on the bastards fuelling the murder of hundreds of thousands of civilians? What are they afraid of? Thank God for UAE.

In early August, the State Department, supervised by Secretary Antony Blinken, added the names of five terrorist leaders in Africa to the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs). Abubakar Shekau and Musab Al-Barnawi (both reportedly dead) are/were veterans on the register. The latter was Yusuf's son and leader of the ISIS-affiliated Islamic State's West Africa Province (ISWAP). Al-Barnawi was only 15 years old when his father and mentor died.

My argument: There is not much difference between militants and those who bankroll their activities; every single one should be brought to light. In March 2020, the State Department, led by Secretary Mike Pompeo, placed a $15million bounty on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro for alleged drug trafficking to the US. Maduro, the head of a country, was named! The US government must devote such energy to Boko Haram sponsors and stop making it look as if it cares less since Americans in Nigeria are rarely targeted.

Also during Ambassador Leonard's chat with the press, she assuaged the fear that Nigeria might end up like Afghanistan: “I hear people making the analogy with Afghanistan a lot, it does not match up. When you listen to what President Biden said on how troops went to Afghanistan in the first place, it was because they were in a horrible tragedy, over 3,000 Americans were killed. That is a different construct." My response: The 350,000 Nigerians dead had blood running in their veins too!

In mid-August, two weeks before the 'assurance', the Taliban chased out the Aghan government after a spirited 20-year battle with Aghan and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces. In an interview with CNN after the overrun, a commander Muhammed Afri Mustafa noted that even with the helicopters, weapons and tanks deployed against the Islamist movement, "the Mujahideen resisted very well".

"It is our belief that one day, Mujahideen will have victory. Islamic law will come not just to Afghanistan but all over the world. We are not in a hurry, we believe it will come. Jihad will not end until the last day", Mustafa sworn. Ambassador Leonard is aware that Boko Haram's primary objective is the establishment of an Islamic State; the secondary objective is the wider imposition of Islamic rule beyond Nigeria. Simple maths: Taliban's vow plus Boko Haram's adjunct ambition may be equal to Nigeria takeover if not effectively and timely checked.

The US should never again tell us to stay calm; we never want to hear comments like "What happened in Afghanistan cannot happen in Nigeria". Bandits/terrorists shot down military planes; bandits/terrorists assassinated Major General Hassan Ahmed; bandits/terrorists killed officers during an invasion of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA); bandits/terrorists have attacked schools, communities, military and paramilitary bases, UN and aid agencies' buildings/facilities. They are not relenting yet.

Matthew T. Page, an Associate Fellow at Chatham House told me that though he is not knowledgeable enough to explain why the US has not taken the same measures as the UAE, the US military and intelligence assistance to Nigeria is a challenging proposition for several reasons.

"First, the Nigerian military has been a difficult and unpredictable partner over the years, even at the best of times. It is inherently suspicious of outside help and unwilling to acknowledge its shortcomings.

"Second, it routinely commits gross human rights violations which - under US law - preclude it from receiving many types of training and assistance. The military is unwilling to recognize that it has an appalling human rights record and to take meaningful steps to correct it moving forward and hold its personnel accountable for past abuses.

"Third, intelligence sharing has been challenging because the military has not always used shared information in a timely or responsible way. My understanding is, however, that intelligence sharing is the bedrock of US-Nigeria counterterrorism cooperation and continues to take place as needed.

"It is my view that the notion that Nigeria needs more hardware to "crush" Boko Haram is flawed. Nigeria faces a complex range of security threats that include (but are not limited to) insurgency in the northeast. Military force is just one tool in the government's toolbox: it needs to use a variety of others to get the job done."

The former US intelligence expert on Nigeria said international training and assistance can be helpful, but real security sector reform, professionalization, reinvestment and recapitalization, a crackdown on rampant security sector corruption, and respect for civil liberties and human rights are all part of the equation.

"Branding every troublemaker as a "terrorist" and "enemy of the state" will not deescalate the cycles of violence and insecurity that are destabilizing Nigeria at the moment. Until Nigeria's national, state, and local leaders begin addressing the causes of conflict - and stop, in many cases, making them worse - any effort to "crush" Boko Haram and other deadly threats will have limited impact", Page added.

Notwithstanding my grouse, I commend the US for development assistance to Nigeria, interventions on the COVID-19 pandemic and the largest African defense deal (approx. $500million) covering the 12 A-29 Super Tucano, extra weapons, spare parts and contract logistics aid. Nigerian Air Force (NAF) pilots and maintainers were trained with the US Air Force 81st Fighter Squadron at Moody Air Force Base (AFB) in Georgia.

The US Army Corps of Engineers is also providing $36million in infrastructure support to the A-29s’ home - Kainji Air Base: earth-covered magazines and aircraft sunshades; flight annex wing building for simulator training; ammunition depot and small arms storage; perimeter and security fencing; airfield hot cargo pad, lights and apron; parking, hangar and entry control point enhancements.

Additionally, Navy officers completed a drill conducted by US Coast Guard officers. The capacity builder will strengthen maritime law enforcement competence in Nigerian waters, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea. The trainees were tutored in techniques on the threat of piracy and oil infrastructure insecurity; perseverance during operations; scenarios and tactics in the use of force; evidence processing and arrest procedures; countering illegal fishing, trafficking of weapons, narcotics and people.

The USS Hershel “Woody” Williams too was in Lagos for an at-sea training exercise with Nigerian offshore patrol vessels. Again, the Navy Special Boat Service (SBS) and the US Army Special Forces completed a five-week Joint Combined Exchange Training (J-CET). It is good to know that Nigeria and America engage in military exercises - African Lion, Flintlock and Obangame Express.

In conclusion, two adages are germane: 'You don't go to bed when there is fire on the roof'; 'Only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches'. Nigerians are sick and tired of this terrorism madness. I am adding my voice and urging America to blow the whistle on Boko Haram sponsors. The US should act without further procrastination. The time is now, we await. To serving and fallen personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces, I Salute and Thank You for your service.

Wale Odunsi tweets from @WaleOdunsi; email: wodunsi@yahoo.com

The insistence of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to proceed with the adoption of an electronic voting system ahead of rounds of elections, despite the unaddressed legal, logistics and constitutional constraints, has raised curious concerns of many Nigerians, this newspaper can report.

Also, the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is in sync with the INEC’s position and has urged the electoral body to use the electronic direct transmission of results in the 2023 general elections and other future polls regardless of the visible constraints and landmines identified.

There is a growing concern among key stakeholders over what is turning to be a a 'strange alliance' between Mahmood and the PDP on electronic voting/transmission. Sources reveal that the chair who reportedly being suspected of being sympathetic to the party is pushing for its stand on the matter. This development has pitted majority of the stakeholders against one another.

Senate, House of Reps, others debate

Electronic voting, which involves the deployment of technology in the conduct of elections, generated renewed clamour after the 2019 general elections and this made the current 9th National Assembly to expedite action on the amendment of the Electoral Act.

With almost all the stakeholders evenly disposed to adopting such a voting method if the extant laws are put in place, the proposed electronic reform which is expected to reduce glaring manipulation, irregularities, falsification of results, hijack of ballot boxes, intimidation, thuggery, and other fraudulent tendencies in the voting process, however, suffered an impediment when the transmission of election results electronically and spending limits for candidates of political parties became contentious.

In the Senate, during the clause-by-clause consideration of the bill, deputy senate whip, Sabi Abdullahi, prayed the Senate to amend the section to read, “The commission may consider the electronic transmission of election results provided the network coverage in the area concerned is adjudged to be conducive for the transmission of results by the National Communication Commission.”

Speaking in a similar tone, the Majority Whip, Orji Kalu, stated, “I am voting ‘no’ because there is no telecommunications network in my village and I will not want my people to be disenfranchised.”

Also before heading for its annual vacation in July, it took the House of Representatives two days to consider the report on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, or better still, to consider the controversial section 52(3) of the bill.

After the impasse, the House passed the majority of the 158 clauses of the bill intact including Clause 52 (2), which provides that the INEC shall determine the mode of voting/transmission of election results.

Meanwhile, upon resumption from their annual recess, both the Senate and the House of Representatives have set up a 14-member Conference Committee on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill to achieve concurrence, harmonise and resolve gray areas of the bill.

The bill will be transmitted to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent after the harmonisation of the two versions by the conference committee of both chambers.

Reinforcing the reservations of the lawmakers urging for a second look, an Executive Commissioner at the NCC, Barr. Adeleke Adewolu, who briefed lawmakers at the House of Representatives during the debate, said that only 50 percent of the country has the 3G coverage required for transmission.

Justifying the stance of his colleagues especially APC senators, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said the senate voted the way it did during the consideration of the Electoral Act 2010 Amendment Bill, in defence of about half of the Nigerian voters whose votes may not be counted with immediate deployment or application of electronic transmission of election results.

He said, “When you have not reached that stage where you could deploy the electronic transmission from every part of the country, then you have to be very careful. And no matter what anybody may say, you cannot have about 50 percent of Nigerian voters not participating or not getting their votes counted in elections and say it doesn’t matter, that we have to start the electronic transmission.

“We know the evils of not transmitting results electronically but compare the evils of electronically transmitting just half of the electoral votes from Nigerians and say you have elected a President with 50 percent only.”

However, the PDP insisted that since INEC is in the position to deploy technology to conduct online registration of voters, which entails electronic transmission of voter’s data to its central server, the commission can also conduct an electronic transmission of results directly from the polling unit to its central server.

“Our party calls the attention of the commission to the fact that it no longer has any excuse not to employ the direct transmission of results from polling units, which will ensure credible elections by eliminating manipulations, alterations, switching, and disappearance of election results during manual collation processes.

“The PDP will take all necessary legal steps to ensure that this APC scam is not allowed to stand in any way. We, therefore, call on all lovers of democracy who see the free, fair and transparent election as vital, to stand up against this fraud.”

But the Commission at the centre of it all, the INEC, suggested it has the capacity to transmit election results electronically from remote areas across the country, adding that its technology capacity had uploaded results from very remote areas in previous elections.

With the NASS harmonization committee on the amendment still working on an acceptable middle ground, many Nigerians have been surprised with the several eruptions of INEC chairman, Prof Yakubu, on the controversial reform.

At a workshop for journalists covering the commission with the theme: “Inclusive Elections in Anambra State and Beyond”, Yakubu, who was represented by INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of publicity and Chairman, Voter Education, Festus Okoye, said the November 6 governorship election result would be transmitted electronically real time.

“The Commission will also use its new technological device to upload polling unit level results to its central result viewing portal. Nigerians that have access to internet facilities can log in and view the results as they are being uploaded.”

However, a former minority whip in the House of Representatives, disclosed that the INEC chairman is acting out of the stipulated rules that sets up the Commission.

“I really don’t understand the reason for the haste on the part of the INEC chair to quickly enforce what has not been made a law. Is there something we are not being told because this appears to be love for a particular party, rather than love the country.

“I also found it befuddling that INEC is claiming that it has the capacity for electronic voting even in remote areas when the NCC, which is responsible for the provision of qualitative and efficient telecommunications services throughout the country, already highlighted the limitations. Is INEC a network provider or PHCN who gives power supply?”

A Troubling 'Alliance'?

Also speaking, a social commentator, Comrade Tunji Adele, said it is curious that an election umpire and the main opposition party are on the same unwavering page over an amendment that has to do with over 200 million Nigerians.

While calling for merit in the discussion of the electoral law, he said Yakubu, who was selected by former President Goodluck Jonathan to serve as Asst. Secretary, Finance and Administration during the 2014 National Confab, has to be above board to prove his non-partisanship to any party, individuals and groups.

“I was first opposed to the action of the senate but when I recalled the incidents around the infamous Dubai Server in 2019, I had a rethink because some of those shouting to high heavens may have one or two manipulations tendencies.

“People think Lagos or Abuja are the only places that made up Nigeria. But they are limited in scope because most other places do not have the facilities for electronic voting, and this would lead to the disenfranchisement of eligible voters."

"Electronic voting is futuristic, but not realistic for the north at a time like this. particularly. Is it possible to have electronic voting or transmission of results without electricity? The answer is no."

"The PDP conducted election general elections four times, why didn’t they introduce electronic voting since them? Why are they ganging up now on what they failed to do."

While raising the alarm that the INEC chairman may probably be under pressure especially from the opposition, he said the subject of conversation should be on how to see to the harmonization and subsequent signing of the law.

“I think the disposition of the INEC chairman to anything PDP should change because it appears they (PDP)want real chaotic system that will just ignite like fire.”

With alleged insinuation that the Professor is still keen on seeing the report of the national conference being adopted after nearly 7 years. It is left to be seen what may become of the seemingly soft spot the INEC chair has for the opposition that actually brought about a similar way of reasoning, especially on the electoral voting system.

The Department of State Security Services, DSS has denied any involvement in the murder of Dr. Chike Akunyili, the husband of late NAFDAC DG, Dora Akunyili.

The secret police in a statement made available to POLITICS NIGERIA, signed by its spokesman, Dr. Peter Afunanya, called on the general public to disregard such rumours.

The statement read in full; "The attention of the Department of State Services (DSS) has been drawn to an allegation that its operatives killed Dr. Chike Akunyili. Also, the Service was alerted to a social media video claiming that the “Nigerian DSS” murdered security escorts at Nkpor, Anambra State on 28th September, 2021."

"The Service hereby denies these allegations and wishes to clearly state that they are spurious and illogical. There was no basis for the DSS to kill the Medical Doctor and/or fellow law enforcement agents. The Service cherishes life and believes in the rule of law."

"The public should therefore be wary of the false narratives by those desirous of using it (the Service) to cover up their heinous acts. The operations of these hostile elements are already well known in the public space and to the discerning. Moreover, their desperate effort to divert attention or deploy reverse psychology to deceive unsuspecting members of the public has become a stock in trade that has defined their patterns and trends. It is a matter of time before the law will catch up with them."

"Meanwhile, the Service and sister agencies will not relent in tracking down those behind the breakdown of law and order in parts of the country with a view to bringing them to justice."