Nigerian millionaire blogger, Linda Ikeji is set to marry her former boyfriend as reports say her ex-boyfriend recently relocated to Nigeria where the lovebirds decided to rekindled their love affair.

Sandra, Linda’s sister confirmed the good news on her Instagram handle on Wednesday, saying @sandra_Ikeji: "Congratulations @officiallindaikeji So happy sweet sis! This tells me that sometimes the wait is worth it.

“Can’t wait to plan your special day @eventsbysi are you readyyyy #itsagetaway."

The news was also confirmed by another sister of hers, Laura, @lauraikeji who wrote, “Congrats Linlin @officiallindaikeji.”

Also, Nollywood actress, Toyin Aimakhu has already taken to Instagram to congratulate her, saying,  “Congratulations to our very own Linda Ikeji for ticking one of the important boxes every woman has piled up on her list; as she got engaged to her heartthrob!

"I can’t wait to fill my tummy up with the rice o, so don’t keep us waiting too long… We just can’t wait!!!NB:FAM I’m next”

The 37 year old has been under pressure from fans to get married. She has been earlier linked to Don Jazzy, MAVINS record boss.

Ikeji was born and raised in a Catholic family from Nkwerre, Imo State. She is the second child. She began writing at the age of 10.

She finished secondary school at the age of 17 and, at 18, enrolled at the University of Lagos, where she studied English language.

To assist her family and support herself through school, she had part-time jobs as a waitress, model and writer.

Ikeji graduated from the University in 2004. In 2006, she started blogging as a hobby. At that time, the internet was not as prominent in Nigeria and she had to make her posts at a cybercafé.

Linda Ikeji's blog is apparently her biggest venture. After graduation, Ikeji started blogging in 2006.

She became an active blogger 2007, using a blogger sub-domain lindaikeji..com and later obtained her domain www.lindaikejisblog.com.

However, on August 22, 2016, on her blog, she announced the creation her online TV network, Linda Ikeji TV alongside other brands she was establishing.

Linda Ikeji TV airs a variety of programmes ranging from talk shows, reality shows, TV series to Movies. The Network both produces some of its programmes and also buys TV contents.

Linda Ikejia also ventured into online radio broadcasting. The station is operated from the Linda Ikeji Media Office. Some of its programmes are broadcast live on Linda Ikeji TV.

She recently launched a social networking platform named Linda Ikeji Social on the domain name

Source: [url]StreetReporters.ng [/url]

Frontline politician and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Hajiya Najatu Muhammad said President Muhammadu Buhari must assert his powers in the crisis rocking the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to save his anti-graft war.
 
In a statement weekend, the Kano-based politician wondered why a former acting director general of the NIA, Ambassador Muhammed Dauda who exposed corruption at the agency was sacked, while his predecessor Mr Ayodele Oke who was indicted was only retired and never prosecuted.
 
She said while Mr Oke who was indicted over the Ikoyi Towers N14 billion was only retired and even prevented by the DSS from being arrested by the EFCC, his successor was being hunted and humiliated.
 
She said a report of the committee set up by the President and headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to probe Mr Oke has long been swept under the carpet.
 
“Yet another committee was inaugurated and presided over by Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, while the incumbent DG of the NIA, Amb. Ahmed Rufa'i Abubakar was appointed as the secretary. The same Ahmed Rufa'i Abubakar, who was Kingibe’s personal assistant for several years while serving in Dafur,” she said.
 
Najatu said “the Kingibe committee recommended in part that for an officer to qualify as DG of the agency he has to be serving officer not below the rank of a director. Currently in the NIA there are five directors who must be retired from service following the appointment of Ahmed Rufa'i who retired five years ago as a deputy director.
 
“Records showed that the current DG failed promotion exams to the rank of director three consecutive times which led to his untimely retirement,” the APC chieftain said.
 
“The question that every discerning Nigerian would ask here is why was Amb. Dauda dismissed from service? What has he done to warrant out right dismissal? Was the $44 million in question stolen or pilfered? The answer is No. The  funds were in fact evacuated to the office of the NSA for protection and safe custody against the preying eyes of those individuals hell bent on looting it. The President was adequately briefed on this development by the NSA,” she said.
 
Najatu added however that “the height of persecution, victimization and injustice was unfortunately exercised with the dismissal of Amb. Dauda who was never found guilty of any wrongdoing, while Amb. Oke who was found guilty of embezzlement of public funds only got his job terminated.”
 
She said while Amb. Dauda was chased out from his official residence and dismissed for his whistle blowing role, “ Amb. Oke is still occupying the official residence of the DG, moving about freely, and enjoying state protection with all paraphernalia of the office as if nothing had happened.
 
“Indeed due process, rule of law was not followed in the way the two matters were handled. One was found guilty and retired, while the other who exposed corruption was summarily and unlawfully dismissed from service on a baseless allegation of leaking state secret, without giving him any opportunity to be heard in a fair and transparent manner,” the APC chieftain said.
 
She said “it’s really unfortunate that its becoming a pattern in this regime to shield corruption and punish those that refuse to be roped into it.”
 
On the allegations that Ambassador Babagana Kingibe serially requested and received money from Dauda while heading the presidential committee in NIA, Najatu said “what I expect from Mr Kingibe is to deny these allegations long before the invitation from the House of Representatives committee or the EFCC, in the very same way he denied ever wanting to contest against President Buhari when his posters flooded streets of Kaduna.”
 
She said but the “attempt to make the victim (Dauda) a culprit cannot hold, its too little too late. I want to advise those close to the President to all tell him the truth and correct him whenever he erred so that he succeeds, for every wrong decision taken affects the country as a whole like in this situation.”
 
She lamented that “Nigeria is a country unfortunately run by individuals who by share luck happened to be within the corridors of power always appearing to be fighting corruption while they have stolen millions of public funds, others with God fathers are simply shielded from trial or prosecution, while the innocent are chased, haunted and persecuted.”
 
Najatu advised that  “this attitude must change if our dear country is to move forward.”
 
She said she’s advising the president because of her zeal for him to succeed and Nigeria to be better.
 
“I have been with President Muhammadu Buhari politically for quite a long time, and I want those close to him to tell him I would continue to say the truth and maintain my stance on national issues whenever the need arises. It is my inalienable right to speak the truth.
 
“When I was imprisoned, beaten, poisoned by previous government for criticizing them must of you eating from the crumps of those govts were against me, so I still don't expect you to be with me on this one,” she said.
 
“You can keep your choice, but never interfere with mine. When I was in the political trenches fighting to make this government a reality where were you? In Kano we call people like you ‘yan munga ta fadi gayyar tsiya’ that's what you are,” she said.

It appears that erstwhile Defence minister, Gen. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (retd.), who yesterday accused the armed forces of colluding with bandits killing Nigerians, is living in a glass house yet chose to throw stones daming the repercautions. This is in view of allegations that he "leads the militia wreaking killings in Mabilla Plateau and provides cover for them in such atrocious activities".
 
Speaking on Saturday at the maiden convocation of the Taraba State University in Jalingo, the state capital, Danjuma, a former chief of army staff, said, “The armed forces are not neutral. They collude with the armed bandits to kill people, kill Nigerians.”
 
The Nigerian Army, in its reaction, described the above statement as most unfortunate, noting that the elder statesman went as far as calling on the people of Taraba state to take up arms and defend themselves. It pointed out that a gallant non-commission officer of the Nigerian Army was beheaded on March 16, 2018 in Takum, Taraba state by criminal elements.
 
This reaction was contained in a statement issued by the Army spokesman, Texas Chukwu, who pointed out that "the Taraba State Government, did not cooperate with the Nigerian Army due to the Army’s stance to remain absolutely neutral in the herdsmen-farmers crisis. The Nigerian Army will continue to remain as such."
 
The highly-influential Danjuma is believed to be the godfather of Taraba politics and has the ears of the state government. As Defence minister, he was alleged to have compromised troops to massacre innocent women and children at Zaki Biam, Benue state in 2001.
 
He has a history of brutality in his heydays as a military officer. As Rudolf Okonkwo wrote, "Captain Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma came into prominence when he led a group of soldiers to abduct the former head of state, Gen. Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi and his host, the military governor of Western region, Lieutenant Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, from government house Ibadan on the night of July 29, 1966.
 
"Under Danjuma’s orders, Gen. Aguiyi-Ironsi was spat on, slapped, kicked and punched. With Ironsi’s hands tied behind his back with telephone cord, Danjuma’s soldiers crushed his testicles with their military boots. Ironsi was then dragged on the ground from a moving military Range Rover, skin torn by gravels on the road, blood oozed from his mouth, face swelled, bones cracked and body parts dismembered. And finally he was shot several times and his bullet-ridden, mangled body was dumped in a forest near Iwo road. And so saw his host, Fajuyi."
 
It is ironic that it is man with this kind of history is now claiming moral high ground to accuse troops on Exercise AYEM AKPATUMA of conniving with marauders to kill innocent Nigerians.
 
A community leader in Taraba state, who did not want his name in print, told TheNigerian, "I didn't trust TY Danjuma. I cannot trust him now. He is an enemy.
 
"TY Danjuma, a Jukun man, as Minister of Defence coordinated the operation that led to what is Zaki-Biam massacre. He ill-informed President Obasanjo about the true situation.
 
"Yes, there was crisis in Taraba State between the farming Tiv communities and the Jukuns...and that wasn't the first time but the Nigerian Military had never been directly involved in communal dispute at that magnitude. Never!
 
"At about the same time, there was, again, a communal dispute between the Tiv people of Moon District in Kwande LGA and Jukuns of Kashimbilah, Takun LGA. Danjuma fueled the crisis by drafting a military detachment to Kashimbilah, a very insignificant border town in Taraba.
 
"They came with armoured tanks and all sorts of weapons. The detachment remains to this minute...and the Jukuns had severally used them against us. The military detachment there is now in the hands of fulanis.
 
"When we (The people of Moon District) petitioned the Federal Government through the Presidential Panel on Right Abuses by the Nigerian Military which recently ended their findings, TY Danjuma's name was mentioned. We presented undisputable facts including the picture of the sub-machine gun our people recovered and handed over to the DPO at Adikpo. The army representatives at the hearing couldn't deny the facts.
 
"TY Danjuma is directly responsible for the sacking of the Tiv communities in Taraba and parts of Benue. He is an enemy."

Following his declaration, urging Nigerians to take up arms and defend themselves against those he described as bandits who have been carrying out what some regard as ethnic cleansing, a socio-political group, Middle Belt Conscience Guard has accused the former Chief of Army Staff, General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) of fuelling armed conflicts in Taraba State and its environs.

Also fingered in their allegation on Sunday at a Press conference in Abuja was the state governor, Arc. Diarus Ishaku.

According to the national President of the Middle Belt group, Prince Raymond Enero, who was responding to the reported call by the Gen. Danjuma on citizens of Taraba State to defend themselves against armed bandits, the comment was unfortunate.

The group equally described the declaration by the former Army chief as unbecoming of a supposedly elder statesman who should commit to peace and unity of the nation rather than using his experience to fuel communal and ethnic crisis.

"Prior to the issuance of Danjuma's poisonous directive, the Taraba state governor, Mr. Darius Ishaku has been fingered in the escalation of the crisis between the farming and pastoral communities in Taraba state, especially on the Mambila Plateau.

"The governor reportedly armed ethnic militias to carry out attacks on other ethnic groups, which consequently fueled reprisals in other states of the Middle-Belt and beyond. A couple of other states copied the Taraba example and armed militias with the same consequence of endless reprisals that have seen the circle of violence enter a continuous loop and spiraling across the country", the group stated.

It further alleged that the former Army Chief was using his international connections in collaboration with some governors in the region to import weapons and arm local militia that have been perpetrating mayhem in the region.

"TY Danjuma has revealed himself as the godfather of the militias and the governors are merely field commanders. The godfather has the international connections to procure black market weapons, the limitless resources to procure the arms and the incentive to distribute them.

"His call is just an attempt to project an argument for the weapons to get on our streets", the group maintained.

The group while insisting that the unity and peace of the country should not be sacrificed for whatever reason called on the military to ensure that weapons are taken off the hands of militia and ensure that peace thrives in the land.

It further expressed dissatisfaction that more than 24 hours after TY Danjuma made such heinous remarks, he has not yielded to reason to retrace his steps adding that he will be dragged before the competent legal authorities - domestic and international – for any life lost because of his declaration of war.

"Danjuma’s call for people to “defend yourselves” is in no way to be taken lightly. He made that call only because he has the arsenal to deploy by way of providing weapons to his ethnic group to kill others.

“It has happened before during the Jukun/Tiv clashes. There is no guarantee that the geo-political zone can survive another round of crisis fuelled by TY Danjuma supplied weapons.

"The call made to the people to defend themselves is apparently out of frustration because the governors he uses as his field commanders have been stumped with the launch of Operation Ayem Akpatuma (Cat Race) by the Nigerian Army.

"The operation had led to the uncovering of the militias that were armed under different and different names but all aimed at perpetrating genocide", the group further alleges.

Source: http://www.streetreporters.ng/group-accuses-ty-danjuma-ishaku-of-instigation-armed-conflict-in-taraba/

A group committed to national career development and empowerment for young Nigerians, the Career and Youth Development Initiative (CYDI), has endorsed Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State for a second term in office, describing him as a promise keeper. 

The group at a media briefing by its Director-General, Pharm. Henry Ejiofor Asogwa in Abuja noted that the Governor has shown commitment to job creation and poverty alleviation programmes, leading to increased economic activities in the state in the last three years. 

He said, "The Enugu State Government under the administration of Governor Ugwuanyi has in no small measure demonstrated that wealth creation, poverty eradication, employment generation, and sustainable economic growth and development are achieveable. 

"Through guided entrepreneurship programmes, provision of soft loans in partnership with Micro Finance Banks (MFBs) as well as targeted capacity building, particularly for micro, small and medium enterprises, the government in three years has proven  its commitment to the stimulation of economic activities in Enugu State. 

"This is in keeping with his administration’s commitment to embark on programmes that would develop and empower youths with entrepreneurial skills for wealth creation and self-sufficiency.

"Governor Ugwuanyi  administration has demonstrated that with conscious and continuous empowerment of youths in the country, it will engender development and wealth creation. 

"Today, the drive by the government of Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to ensure the acquisition and deployment of requisite entrepreneurial skills by the youth to manage their own businesses is paying off. 

"The state government under the current administration has also increased economic prosperity of the people by opening up rural communities with good network of new roads.   

"These we have seen so far in Enugu State. And beyond them, Governor Ugwuanyi, as a promise keeper, has shown uncommon commitment to the welfare of workers in the state with prompt payment of workers' salaries and allowances. 

"Just recently,  in line with the approval by the Enugu State Executive Council for the engagement of 1,000 youths to clean up the state under the “Enugu Clean Team Project”, interested candidates between the age bracket of 18 to 35 were called to submit their application for employment in the state. 

"Even in recession, Governor Ugwuanyi is not only employing young people but have also never failed to pay salaries but instead paid the much celebrated thirteenth month salary last December. 

"As a nongovernmental organization committed to career and youth development, CYDI cannot but endorse such administration to continue to offer good governance to the people of Enugu State after next year's general elections. 

"We therefore urge the good people of Enugu State to take advantage of the ongoing Continuous Voters' Registration exercise to troop out in their numbers to register and return the people's Governor to office in 2019 to finish the good work he has started", the group said.

Following a Supreme Court order, the retrial of the pre-election dispute bothering on the conduct of the 2014 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election for the purpose of nominating a candidate for the Senate to represent Taraba South Senatorial District of Taraba State, for the 2015 general elections, the court on February 22, 2018, adjourned the resumed retrial of the matter to March 22.

The plaintiff, Mr. Rimande Bitrus Nuhu had filed the suit challenging the election of Mr. Emmanuel Bwacha as the Senator representing Taraba South on the platform of the PDP.

A Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, commenced the retrial of the suit filled by the plaintiff, on January 30.

The matter had gone from the lower court to the Court of Appeal and later the Supreme Court, which ordered a retrial by the Federal High Court.

According to the originating summons dated December 31, 2014, in the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1124/2014, the defendants include Senator Emmanuel Bwacha (1st defendant), the PDP (2nd defendant) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the 3rd defendant.
‎
Section 50(5) of the PDP constitution stated that "In conduct of primaries for the party's candidate for the post of Senators, the primary shall be held at the senatorial constituency headquarters", while section 87(4)(c)(I)&(II) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as Amended) for the purpose of selecting candidate for Senate to Represent Taraba South Senatorial District in Taraba State for the 2015 general election provides that:
"(1) A political party seeking to nominate candidates for elections under this Act shall hold primaries for aspirants to all elective positions.

(2) The procedure for nomination of candidates by political parties for the various elective positions shall be by direct or indirect primaries.

(3) A political party that adopts the direct primaries procedure shall ensure that all aspirants are given equal opportunity of being voted for by members of the parties.

(4)(c) In the case of nomination to the position of Senatorial Candidate, Senate and State House of Assembly, a political party shall, where they intend to sponsor candidates -
(i) Hold special congresses, in the Senatorial District, Federal Constituency and the State Assembly Constituency respectively with delegates voting for each of the aspirants in the designated centres on specified dates and an order directing the PDP to conduct fresh primary in accordance with the party's Electoral Guidelines for Primary Elections, 2014 in compliance with the PDP constitution 2012 (as amended) and the provision of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) for the purpose of nominating a Senate Candidate for the party to represent Taraba South Senatorial District in Taraba State.

(7) A political party that adopts the system of indirect primaries for the choice of its candidates shall clearly outline in its constitution and the rules the procedure for the democratic election of delegates to vote at the convention, congress or meeting".

In his originating summons, the plaintiff had argued that the combined effect of sort a declaration that the Peoples Democratic Party, the 2nd defendant, having not complied with its own Electoral Quidelines for Primary Elections 2014, section 50(5) of the party's constitution 2012 (as amended) and Section 87(4)(c)(I)&(II) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) has not validly conduct primary election for the purpose of nominating a candidate for the Senate to represent Taraba South Senatorial District in Taraba State, for the 2015 general elections.

Relying upon the fact that contrary to the provisions of Section 87 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), the PDP moved the primary election for the purpose of nominating its candidates to its headquarters in Abuja and that none of the previously elected ad hoc delegates at its congresses in Taraba South Senatorial District were allowed by the PDP to participate at the primary, the plaintiff is seeking, among others, urged the court to nullify the PDP primary election that produce the seating Senator on December 11, 2014.

In a similar pre-election matter involving a Senator representing Taraba North, the Supreme Court had sacked Senator Sani Abubakar Danladi and ordered his replacement with Senator Shuaibu Lau, however, the Supreme Court ordered a retrial of the case between Mr. Nuhu and Mr. Bwacha.

In an effort to find ways to ameliorate the humanitarian crisis in the North East and parts of North West Nigeria , some executives of the Joint Action Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria sojourned in the Katsina State to make an assessment of its findings.


By a twist of events, the unusual developmental and entrepreneurial improvements in the state caught the attention of the organisation, which lead to the discovery of some citizens who has contributed and still contributing to the entrepreneurial revolution. While others are political appointees, others are not. The attention of our crew was caught one man who stands out in the North West of Nigeria, and Katsina in particular.


He is no doubt a political appointee but choose to be honorary, who from our investigation before this honorary appointment has in no small measure contributed to the upliftment of his people especially the youths.


He is currently the Honorary Special Adviser to the Katsina State Governor on international relations and investment Alhaji Ibrahim Zakari Ibrahim.

Findings by our team reveal that one striking quality of Hon. Zakari is his refusal to receive salaries and allowances statutorily due for his office from the Katsina State Government as a Special Adviser to the state Governor.

This made his position honourary. Since his assumption of office, he has transversed the length and the breathe of the international community, using his personal funds and contacts to attract a number of foreign entrepreneurs and investors to the state.

According to some youths we interacted with and our findings the Executive Coordinator of the civil society coalition, Comrade Isaac Ikpa who spoke to our correspondent said, a background check on this rare personality revealed that Hon. Zakari, is seen by the ordinary citizens of the state as a "true son of the soil" due to his humility and service to humanity .

Further findings by the non-governmental coalition, the Executive Coordinator revealed, shows that his appointment did not come as a surprise to the people of the state "due to his track record of love for humanity and readiness to make necessary sacrifices for a better society through job creation and humanitarian services and has since his assumption of office proven that he is in office to serve the people and not for the pecks of office.


"This is an uncommon trait at a time public officers are distinguished by how much loot they have carted away from the public treasury.


"There are few leaders in the country that have exhibited this level of patriotism in Nigeria of our time and someone may ask why we are making an issue out of this?


"It is not difficult to understand why. First, we did not visit Katsina State to look for who to praise.

"This young Nigerian's story, was not part of our brief but it must be noted that until Nigeria and Nigerians begin to reward and honour people who have sacrificed their comfort for the rest of us, the country will continue to celebrate the corrupt and the looters", he said.

On the numerous achievements of Hon. Zakari in office, Comrade Ikpa noted that from their findings, Hon. Zakari influenced the siting of Black oil refinery in Mashi Local Government of the state by Lakoi Energy Limited.

This led to the signing of an agreement between between Nigeria and Niger for the construction of the refinery in the border town between Republic of Niger and Katsina State, Nigeria and a crude oil pipeline from Republic of Niger to the new refinary which will be benifitial to both countries.

"Today, moribund industries are being handed over to technically competent firms by the state Governor and his Special Adviser on International Relations and Investment, have spearheaded the handing over of Kankara Kaolin and Neem Processing factory to BILAL GROUP U.A.E.


"This will, in no small measure, boost the state's Internal Generated Revenue (IGR), create much needed skilled and unskilled employment opportunities for the people of the the state, amongst others secondary employment generation as a result of the activities of businessmen who would do patronize the company and from our findings the Honorary Special Adviser Investment traveled all the way to Dubai and brought Bilal Group to Invest in katsina State.


He also brought into the state Ampri Group, to whom the state government has handed over the Management of the Kankia Metal Works.

"Ampri Group, with the Signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). As we understand, 400 people are expected to get direct employment and also thousands of indirect jobs will be provided to the teaming youth of the state", the group's Executive Coordinator observed.


A check by our correspondent shows, that nails production has resumed with expansion of three more lines i.e assembling of motorcycles and tricycles, PVC pipes and tubes in the state as a result of the MoU.


"Our findings also reveal that Hon. Zakari has been able to attract investors from Canada, China, India, England and USA, while targeting jobs creation in Agriculture and Mining"



"Also, through his initiative and cooperation of Governor Bello Masari, over 25000 women have been empowered for Dry season farming across the 34 local government areas.

"The efficiency of the Organic Fertilizer has shown positive impact in the state such that organic fertilizer re-packaging plant will be built in Funtua by a Canadian firm As I talk to you, Salad Greenhouse of Canada in Partnership with Katsina State Government the group's Executive Coordinator revealed.


According to the coalition, "Katsina State now targets substantial increase in food production to enhance food and nutrition security by using 100% organic bio-fertilizers, which among other investments by foreign companies, will provide several employment opportunities to youths and farmers through improved production just because a rare Nigerian opted to do things differently and Hon. Ibrahim Zakari recently led a delegation of foreign investors from Holland and Pakistan on a courtesy call to the Executive Governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari in their efforts to establish a textile factory, Vlisco Holland company.

Their visit was to formalise arrangement to establish a textile factory in Malumfashi which will boost cotton production in the state as before the oil boom Katsina State was responsible for 60% of cotton being produced in Nigeria".

Nigeria indeed needs such men with vision, mordern ideas, wealth of experience, selfless personaity and exposure to also run for elective positions at all levels of government to bring about the desired change and speedy development of our great Nation Nigeria.

A group, which describes itself as the true Coalition For Nigeria has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of rushing to town with his "Clarion Call" christen "Coalition for Nigeria" without "due diligence to realize that such coalition already exists".

The orgnisation therefore alerted Nigeria of "the re-emergence of a force that had always mitigated against the wellbeing of the country even while masquerading as good intentions", arguing that "the name of that threat is Olusegun Obasanjo, who has an history of regarding Nigeria as his fiefdom from which he and his offspring are entitled to pillage at every turn."

At a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the National President of the group, Patriot Sabo Odeh accused the former President of spending eight years as a democratically elected president building strong individuals are today at the "core of undermining institutions and the democratic structures" in the county.

The group regretted that the former President was unable to "focused on building strong institutions and enduring systems as opposed to the strong individuals created by his regime".

According to Patriot Odeh, "Obasanjo's recent stint in the classroom, which has earned him a PhD, has proven beneficial in that he has marginally learnt to summarize his rambling thoughts and stream of consciousness in fewer words. He castigated the present government in his 13-page statement, an improvement on the 18-page attack on former President Goodluck Jonathan.

"His supposedly improved intellect however failed him as he did not succeed in hoodwinking Nigerians as to his true intentions. Far from making interventions that will help stabilize the nation, his true intention, revealed at the end of his statement, is to re-launch himself into politics.

"He desires to walk back his brash decision to quit politics by exploiting the current situations in the land and ride on the wave of populism.

"We realize that some of those peddling Obasanjo's statement as the holy grail are trying to desensitize people to its impropriety by claiming that Nigerians should consider the message and not the messenger. But to us, a people who do not see in Obasanjo a messenger that should be disregarded are set for doom because nothing honourable has ever come out this vessel.

"Even worse than the messenger is the toxic message that was crafted only to satisfy his own agenda of continuing to hold Nigeria in servitude", he observed.

Arguing that ex-president Obasanjo did well to anticipate in his statement that "discerning Nigerians will ask "what does Obasanjo want again?", he however "shied from the truth in the answers he provided when he claimed to have the best interest of Nigeria at heart.

"If he truly does, in the eight years he spent as a democratically elected president, he would have focused on building strong institutions and enduring systems as opposed to the strong individuals created by his regime, who today are at the core of undermining institutions and the democratic structures. What does Obasanjo want again? Coalition for Nigeria says Obasanjo wants to fraudulently recover at a roundabout what he carelessly lost at an intersection.

"Obasanjo's god-self-delusion might have started at the very start of his career in the military but he took it to the limit when against common sense and the provision of the 1999 Constitution attempted to impose himself on Nigerians in his infamous Third Term Bid, which experts rightly interpreted as a shot at life presidency since he would have begun a fresh rule had he succeeded", he noted.

Further taking Obasanjo to the cleaners, the group added that "The failure of his tenure elongation bid left Obasanjo a bitter old man, who has since that time harbored animosity towards all Nigerians – he sees in all of us enemies that must be punished hence his constant interjections once he sees the country slipping out of the traps and pitfalls he had craftily orchestrated before he grudgingly left office in 2007.

"Such life of tantrum and indiscretion led to him writing off former President Goodluck Jonathan – even though Nigerians had become sufficiently tired of Jonathan continuing with Obasanjo's legacy of corruption. It is therefore comical that Obasanjo regards himself as the oracle of Nigerian politics, whose pronouncement dictates the direction of things.

"The dismal outcome that awaits his latest escapade would definitely be a lesson to him in how not to meddle with national affairs when citizens have made up their mind about their destinies.

"Ordinarily we would have disregarded Obasanjo's latest outburst but for a series of other happenstances that suggest that his letter is part of a larger plot to mislead and destabilize the country. In this regard, the former president appears to be the elder statesmen's wing of a malcontent rabble that is determined to return Nigeria back to the days of kleptocracy founded by him.

"Just a few hours before he sent out his cantankerous statement, the street gang called Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group had sullied the streets with its Red Card campaign. We have wondered if it a mere coincidence that a convener of BBOG, Oby Ezekwesili, was a minister in Obasanjo's cabinet. This is a group that is known to be on the payroll of neocon entities that are committed to destroying Nigeria.

"By his own admission, Obasanjo has been undertaking many foreign trips, which we understand are covers for scheming with foreign interests that are closet enemies of our country. It is not farfetched it turns out that he is the conduit that ships in funds for BBOG and other anti-Nigeria groups.

"We continue to wonder how lower Obasanjo can sink in exacting vengeance against those he thought denied him of a third term in office, which he loosely interprets as all Nigerians. We do not in any way deserve the crisis he is preparing to launch.

"We however agree with Obasanjo that the journey for a new Nigeria starts now but it is a trip that the country will make without him since he has shown in his eight-year tenure that he is a blind man who has no business leading a people talk less of leading them to the promised land.

"He created the template that made the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into a witch hunt machine, which President Buhari's administration is working hard to reposition as an institution that fights crime with due process.

"His lies were exposed when he reminded us that he quit active politics and even tore his PDP membership card but yet he wants to lead Coalition for Nigeria (CN). This is criminally dubious to say the least. Obasanjo does not belong to the league of true Patriotic Nigerians but has rather repeatedly proven himself to be a mere psychopath who thinks all his predecessor must do his biddings. The world has run out of patience with demagogues and Nigerians want none of Obasanjo's megalomaniac disposition.

"We, the Coalition for Nigeria, agree that there is need to move from our current state of affairs in Nigeria but those that will lead us do not belong to Obasanjo's circle and certainly not Obasanjo himself. We see President Buhari as having fulfilled his place and mission in history, which is to disrupt and overturn the status quo such that his successors, when the time comes, will build on his works to give us the Nigeria of our vision.

"If the Obasanjo government was half as sincere as the present administration, the troubles of today would have not cropped up in the first place. It is most insulting that the same man is today bragging about assembling teams of experts when his terms in office were spent in partitioning the country and allocating huge chunks to his cronies including initiating privatization programmes that simply gifted the country to a mafia", the Coalition maintained.

For them, "the hidden call for street protests and civil disobedience in Obasanjo's statement is not lost on us. Protests are needed against the vampiric leaders that have refused to allow the country work and Obasanjo is among such people so we urge that he should be careful what he is wishing and calling for because while we want his likes to let the polity be we have no intention of descending into violence to achieve this.

"Peaceful engagement remains our choice approach so we urge Nigerians not to allow themselves to be misled into taking actions that would jeopardize our democratic institutions.

"Unlike Obasanjo and his BBOG foot soldiers, who rushed to the streets without the benefit of information and focused deliberations, the Coalition for Nigeria has continued to fine tune its strategies for engaging Nigerians and will intimate Nigerians of its plans at the right time.

"This plan will be geared towards Nigerians genuinely recovering the country from political vampires that were first empowered under the government of Obasanjo. They have been doing everything to retain the criminal influence and wealth they have gathered under him and will stop at nothing to cripple the country if they do not have their way in national matters.

"We nonetheless have our positions on certain issues that the likes of Obasanjo have exploited. On the clashes between farmers and herdsmen, our position is that the federal government immediately investigate the roles of all stakeholders in the crisis including governors that have been accused of arming ethnic militias and associations that have held press briefings to justify reprisal attacks.

"We however submit that the government looks beyond ethnic, religious and political undertone of the crisis to address issues like cultural attachment, climate change, and the possible connection with international terrorism if any. Our demand for immediate action on this crisis is premised on the risk of politicians further using the farmers/herders' crisis to commit mischief ahead of the 2019 General Elections", the group demanded.

The Coalition for Nigeria further tasked the government to broaden its search for solutions to Nigeria's myriad problem "given the ignoble roles being played by saboteurs who pretend to be activists.

"A lot of the problems the country faces are hatched abroad and executed by these so call activists who would rather sell their country down the river for a mess of pottage. The government must identify the international financing of such groups and disrupt same in the interest of the majority of innocent citizens whose lives would be jeopardized if these fifth columnists are allowed to have their way.

"We therefore wish to alert law enforcement agencies to the plots by criminal elements to unleash violence on the streets of our cities using violent protests as the catalysts to provoke security personnel into clashing with them.

"May we point out that the first phase of the protests failed to gain traction as Nigerians refused to be used by the commercial activists paid to staged such event. Obasanjo's statement was mean to be a morale booster for these groups and now that the statement too has spectacularly failed to provoke the kind of unrest they have in mind they are likely to move into another facet that involves causing confusion during one of their outing, shoot at their own members and blame security agencies for injuring or killing them.

"Some of the leaders of this protest movement have held meetings with those used for staging the Arab Spring in the Middle East and North Africa with a view to replicating the strategy of provoking security operatives to clamp down on violent protesters and then invite the intervention of the international community.

"Since Obasanjo has declared himself the defacto leader of this destabilization movement, which is not to be confused with the authentic Coalition for Nigeria, we hereby put him on notice that the patriotic citizens of this nation shall hold him accountable for any resulting breach of the peace arising from the activities of his followers.

"He completed his tenure without meddling from anyone and we expect that he will allow Nigeria to run smoothly without him poisoning our land with his unguarded statements" the coalition concluded.

Source: StreetReporters.ng

Former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Dr Abdulrasheed Maina may have aided the discovery of missing $44 million belonging to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), PENSION COMM, HEAD OF SERVICE UNREMMITTED TSA FUNDS etc.

This is even as he also assisted in the discovery of another N486bn belonging to the Nigerian Pension Commission with Pension Custodians.

Nigerian government, in an effort to add impetus to its anti graft war, began a whistleblower policy, which has helped the government recover trillions of stolen federal government funds.

The former presidential task force boss who pledged to assist the President Muhammadu Buhari administration in recovery of over N3 trillion trapped pension funds in 97 outfits in the country is said to have commenced tracking the funds.

Recently, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federation Mr Abubakar Malami broke the news to the sitting Senate Committee on how Dr Maina gave intelligence which led to the recovery and savings of N1.3 trillion for the federal government in early 2017. Also in the news was the plan by the President to reassign him with a view to recovering trapped funds across different sectors of the economy. Insiders disclosed that Maina is already on track.

It was reported that he is also to assist in recovery of other funds trapped in different agencies like the recently reported unaccounted funds lodged in Banks under the office of the Head of Service of the Federation, which has not been remitted into the Treasury Single Account (TSA) of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the NNPC, PENCOMM and the NIA funds.

The newest development is said to have excited the Presidency, which is not leaving any stone unturned in the efforts to recover all looted funds by public officials.

Sources from the presidency had disclosed that Mr President is interested not only in the recovery of the trapped N3 trillion pension funds which is said to be stashed in different places but the credible intelligence he already provided which has yielded results and is continuing to yield more positive results.

These funds will be used by the Government to ensure that Nigerians have a taste of Democracy dividends beginning 2018. Government is said to be highly interested and want the funds urgently recovered.

The source had disclosed that “The new coming of Mr Maina has started rattling Heads of agencies but as indicated by our source that “it will be more interesting in the coming months, as his sole responsibility will be to recover not only the N3tr but other government funds being siphoned by some greedy Nigerians to the detriment of the economy in all MDA’s.”

The source further revealed that, Mr. Maina has compiled list of all those involved and those still keeping some funds and will soon be released especially those involved in the pension scam, NIA, PENCOMM and NNPC hidden funds and would further give more insight into those former Heads of Services and Top Officials both within and outside Government who took so much funds and are hidding them. Maina is said to have compiled with supporting documents on how his led PRTT was able to recover the N282 billion and N1.6 trillion between 2010 and 2013, and how these funds were shared.

Our source further disclosed that the EFCC under Magu may be belittled to realize that what Maina recovered is 100 times more than what they have been chasing since the inception of the Asministration.

He has also given unrefutable evidences on how the 222 Pension properties were shared and those involved.

Government is said to have been working with Maina on these funds without the Anti graft agencies involved so that the facts and full details could be seen from a different angle.

Sources at the presidency indicated that Maina has been operating under the radar to be able to get all the facts without any interfereance. “so much unaccounted and unremitted funds are still being used and siphoned by some Heads of MDAs including Anti graft agencies.

A pro-health civil society group, the Health Watch Initiative has urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to yield to mounting pressure for the removal of the Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) in Federal Medical Centres (FMCs) across the country, arguing that the CMDs are professionals, not politicians.


This was contained in a letter to the President dated January 9, 2017 and signed by the Executive Director of Health Watch Initiative, Hon. Bulawayo Suleiman, insisting that the clamour was instigated by greed and quest for office as part of a ploy to distract the Buhari administration.


According to the group, in the letter titled "Ignore the Sevent Force, CMDs Are Not Politicians But Professional Medical Doctors Enhancing the Health Sector of Your Administation", politically exposed persons were behind a petition urging Mr. President to fire CMDs appointed by previous administration.


The letter reads,"We bring greetings from the good people of Nigeria, the poor masses whom your administrative policy affect directly.


"Sir, since the beginning of your administration, there have being one or two distractions caused by greed and quest for public office as so many of your trusted cabinet members were blackmailed.

"To a large extent, you were forced to suspend and sack the former SGF Babachir Lawal who was one of the strongest pillars of your administration.


"Today, the maradona has changed the attention to statutory bodies with professional intelligence just to rubbish your perceived 2019 re-election bid. This is so, because, in a petition signed by one John Folarin Odusota date 8th January, 2018, alleged that, CMDs of Federal Medical Centres who were appointed by the Previous administration should be immediately sacked, claiming that they don't share in your vision. This is a blatant lie that must not be allowed to survive an hour.

"Your Excellency Sir, the petitioner failed to understand that, these crop of CMDs were appointed from the service of the same hospital where they work and know the terrain thus improving the services of the hospital.


"Most of them like the FMC Makurdi has worked so hard to improve the hospital which is evident on the improved services acknowledged by Benue community in recent time.


"It is believed that, some politically exposed persons are pushing through Odusota and his group of The Seventh Force to dissolve the working team of Federal Medical Centers across the country to fix themselves into the offices.


"You must not blackmail to earn public office as the underscore of the heads is generally unacceptable especially the use of FMC Makurdi as a case study.


"Your Excellency, we must not allow sentiment or politics to affect our critical sector such as health, as we recommend that, the said petition be ignored and warn politicians to stay away from professional services especially in the health sector" the group stated.

Dear Abubakar Shekau,

NOW THAT IT IS FINISHED

I want to use this special season of the 2018 New Year to write this open letter to you and the few adherents, you are still brainwashing, shielding and hypnotizing to feebly sustain the visit on humanity with erratic insurgency atrocities in some obscure communities in Nigeria’s Northeast. The image your supporters proclaim on cyber space is far from reality and hence the need to write you this medium.

I have spent the best part of my adult life in Borno state and the Northeast generally. I am aware of the evolution of Boko Haram terrorism, a resentful, aberrant and inhuman religious sect, you have led for years. I am also aware of Boko Haram insurgency’s various stages of metamorphosis; from a small sect to when it enlarged and became untamable or very wild and the ghost of its formal self now.

I equally know of the period when you blossomed in atrocities; recklessly bombing public places, security formations, schools and marketplaces etc. There was a time your gang victoriously held Nigerians captive, by invading communities and villages, killing and abducting innocent citizens unhindered. I know of when you captured swathes of territories or communities in Nigeria; deposed traditional rulers, appointed your own Emirs and foisted your flags in conspicuous places.

Dear Shekau, that was time then, when you publicly boasted of invincible might and strength. The reality now is quite different, since President Muhammadu Buhari became the leader of our great country, Nigeria. His appointment of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai as leader of the Counter-insurgency war has been your greatest setback and nemesis.

A courageous, disciplined, patriotic and outstanding soldier, Gen. Buratai instantly changed the face of the anti-terrorism war. He took the war to you in the forests, mountains, caves and to your Camp Zero in Sambisa Forest in he Northeast. You were lucky enough to escape, but abandoned your copy of the Holy Koran and the Boko Haram insignia , which you cherish so much, symbolizing your defeat and surrender. May I remind you that scores of your fighters were not as lucky as you, as they were consumed in the inferno of this encounter with Nigerian troops.; many surrendered thereafter and have kept surrendering to the Nigerian Army.

Shekau, even a blind man knows you are now a spent force and the sect, a shadow of itself . You have been depleted; you have suffered in irrecoverable damages. That’s why you have been on the run. Its even difficult for you to appear in recorded videos and brag like before. You neither have physical nor mental stability, to co-ordinate and execute the heinous atrocities on Nigerians and humanity anymore. This reality is clear enough to discern.

As Boko Haram’s factional leader, Abubakar Shekau, you are now unarguably the most flustered and distressed leader of a rebel sect anywhere in the world today. You have lost the capacity to execute your habituated brutality, satanic and vicious brand of terrorism, recklessly bombing, killing and abducting Nigerians as was the experience in the past.

Shekau, you once declared in one of your numerous videos that the Boko Haram battle is finished. It means invariably that you bowed to the supremacy of the Nigerian state and its security forces. In August 2017, your rival leader, Abu Musad Al-Barnawi, had predicted that the Nigerian military will defeat you and your Mujahiddeen (Commanders) who believe in the violent application of Islamic doctrines adopted by your sect. This prediction has come to pass.

It is senseless for you to continue to allow your followers to meet untimely deaths in the hands of the Nigerian military. You have against all sound reasoning continued to feign might and preaching to the remaining few commanders not to surrender. Death has been their reward in the hands of the military and this cruelty to your foot soldiers is very ungodly.

I elect upon myself to counsel you that no wise fighter continues with a losing battle. You are losing Commanders and foot soldiers almost daily in the hands of the Nigerian security forces. It is extremely ridiculous and the earlier, you retrace your steps, the better for you and the few surviving Commanders.

Please save yourself from this discomfort and impending disgrace as the manhunt for you is very strong and widespread. Why deprive yourself and followers who desperately want to renounce your violent ideologies and turn to God? It is never too late, as with genuine repentance, God will forgive your sins and make you appreciate the value of humanity. God has this power and He can even turn them into His messengers in spreading the light of truth and love for humanity.

Let me assure you that you don’t have to be scared to take this move or decision. I trust that the Federal Government and some international organizations will arrange for exit programs for you and your gang of reprobates. This is the most viable option at your disposal now and the earlier you take full advantage of it, the better.

Don’t be misled by any false illusion that the Federal Government and the world are interested in negotiating with your team any longer. This possibility does not exist anymore, as the Nigerian military has taken over the game and are fully in charge.

I wish to reassure you and your few supporters that if you desire to surrender and disappear into exile anytime soon, some humanitarian organizations are willing to assist you with conditions that may be different from your mindset. Be aware that accepting defeat on its strength alone is another sign of your own victory, as I believe it is completely needless to sustain the losing of more foot soldiers in the hands of the Nigerian military.

This is my New Year message to you and your supporters. And I pray you to harken to the voice of reason, as regret is the last wailing of an obstinate fly.

Yours ever,

Mustapha Ali

An amalgamation of civil society groups under the aegis of the Stand Up for Nigeria Coalition (SUN-CO) has called foe the immediate resignation of the Group Managing Director of Nigerian NationalPetroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Maikanti Baru or be immediately shown the way out by President Muhammadu Buhari over the lingering fuel scarcity in the country.

The coalition noted that the continued scarcity of petroleum products in the country it's an economic terrorism which has caused Nigerians untold pains.

According to its Convener, Comrade Philip Agbese, at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, the only thing Nigerians can understand "after series of meetings and Consultations is for fuel to immediately return to the filling stations and let us end this suffering and pains caused by the ineptitude of one man who is abusing his rights and privileges."

The coalition noted that it has watched worsening fuel crisis "with alarm and concern as Nigerians are coerced into wasting useful man-hours queuing for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise called petrol, while almost half of the country's population are denied the most important religious holiday having been prevented from spending Christmas holidays with families as they would have wished to."

He revealed that "Having taken time to understand the underlying causes of the scarcity and the resulting hardship visited on Nigerians, SUN-CO, came to the irreversible conclusion that the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, is complicit in the ugly situation the country has been plunged into.

"SUN-CO therefore call on Mr. Maikanti Baru to immediately resign as NNPC GMD since he has totally lost the confidence of Nigerians after proving that his loyalty lies with the industry canal and not for the well-being of the common man. This act of wickedness and callousness exhibited by the GMD and his cronies at the NNPC is a further proof that some highly placed persons are deliberately sabotaging the efforts of the President.

"We therefore urge President Muhammadu Buhari to save his government from further incurring the anger of Nigerians by ensuring that Baru is shown the way out if he lacks the decorum to fall on his own sword after the punishment he has imposed on the country at a time when all citizens should be joyous.

"SUN-CO further urges Mr President to immediately name a new leader for NNPC so that Nigerians would not have a repeat of the 2012 scenario when they had to rise up against the government over the handling of fuel issues", the coalition counselled.

Arguing that "this is not the best of times for anyone as a patriot to sit on the fence as the situation is at variance with the welfare policies of the Buhari administration, the Convener maintained that "Anyone that prophesses to love the country must first love the President and at all times be supportive of his well articulated programs and policies in line with this vision.

"It’s unfortunate that the enemies within have had a field day in the last few days and do not care about what happens to the image and personality of President Buhari whom Nigerians have trusted with the mandate to redeem them from sufferings and pains inflicted on us by past leaders of this country", SUN-CO stated.

The former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Taskforce Team, PRTT, Dr Abdulrasheed Maina has debunked the publication on a section of the media, which claimed that he is in court with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over it's composition.

The publication claimed that the former PRTT boss is asking the court to disband the anti-graft Agency. "This is mix-up because I am aware that Honestly Ngozika Ihuoma of the Legislative watch had sued the Government and EFCC over the Constitutionality of the existence of the present EFCC

In a statement signed by his spokesman, Mohammad Sabo, Maina maintained that, he is not the person in court challenging the composition of the EFCC nor calling for its disbandment.

He said, the existence of the EFCC is to rid Nigeria of corruption, stressing that himself, as an anti-corruption crusader who has recovered over N2.9tr for the Federal Government, would rather continue to work for a strengthened, credible and result oriented EFCC devoid of Corrupt tendencies, political persecution and whitch-hunt.

Maina insisted that, he did not brief any lawyer to institute a legal suit against the existence of the EFCC, saying that "Only those whose hands are stained with palm oil are scared of the establishment of a credible EFCC, and I am not one of them"

He added that, if assured of a tightened security protection by the government, he is ready and willing to any credible panel of enquiry to spill the beans.

He maintained that if given the opportunity, N3tr Naira shall be recovered in 9 months in addition to the N2.9tr recovered earlier through his painstaking efforts.

He urged the general public to disregard the report, describing it as a mix-up which in his word is definitely not aimed at blindfolding the people from seeing the truth.

A fresh twist has emerged in the royalty crisis rocking the Umu-Omohunsi Nwoko family in Idumuje-Ugboko, Aniocha North Local Government Area, Delta State, where the entire Nwoko family have risen to support the claims of Prince Solomon Nwabuokei as the rightful heir to the throne. 

Before now, Prince Nonso Nwoko, the heir to the late monarch, HRM Obi Albert Nwoko 111, who had assumed the throne in controversial circumstance, upon the demise of his father early this year, was being challenged by one Prince Uche Stephen Nwoko, also a first son born by another woman, who is a bona fide daughter of the town.

However, the oldest member of the Umu Nwoko Royal family, Diokpa Onwuamaonyeukwu Esuzor Nwoko, 90, chaired a meeting with representatives of the eight royal houses in attendance in Idumuje Ugboko, where it was resolved that Nwabuokei, being the first known son and also survived his father, Nwoko, should be installed the king and his children kings after him. 

The Umu-Nwoko family, made up of Nwabuokei, Amoje, Biose, Bidokwu, Elumelu, Ujomor, Paul, Esuzor and Nwaobe, held that though Justin Nkeze and his son Albert Okwuwadiegwu had ruled as Obi Nwoko II and Obi Nwoko III of Idumuje-Ugboko, they were not qualified to be kings in the first place, adding that their kingship was an error and against the Native laws, tradition and culture of the people of Idumuje-Ugboko.

Diokpa Onwuamaonyeukwu, who was born on 23rd day of January, 1927, had earlier drew the attention of the members present to the crisis rocking the community, especially,  the desecration of the royal family name of Nwoko by some ambitious persons as the reason to tell the history of the royal family.  

He informed the House that Obi Nwoko I, first Obi and founder of Idumuje-Ugboko had eight sons and that Solomon Eziokwubundun Nwabuokei is the only surviving son of Nkanya, the only son of Nwabuokei, the first son of Obi Nwoko I, and should be presented by Umu-Nwoko Royal family as Obi of Idumuje-Ugboko designate and to the larger Umu-Ologbo family and the people of Idumuje-Ugboko for recognition and coronation as the next obi.

He went further to present copies of the affidavit that he has deposed with the judicial authorities to back up historical facts on the subject.

The Diokpa recalled that the process of succession was aborted when the crown prince was arrested by the white Colonial Army and taken to Calabar over involvement in organising the local warriors to fight in the Ekumeku, adding that in his absence, Omorhusi Nwoko took the Obi title.

He said the ascension of the throne by Omorhusi Nkeze-Nwoko as the second monarch was an aberration that continued during the reign of the last monarch Obi Albert Nwoko III.

The diokpa posited that Omorhusi who became the king after the death of Obi Nwoko 1, usurped the throne and neither him nor his children or descendants "has claims to the throne of Idumuje-Ugboko as propagated in some quarters."

The meeting resolved that all machineries should be put in place, including, if need be, going to seek legal redress from a court of competent jurisdiction, to restore the crown back to the legitimate owners, that is, family of Nwabuokei the first son of Obi Nwabuokei in line with the Native laws, customs and tradition of Idumuje clan.

The Executive Secretary Arewa Integrity Association, Alhaji Kamsalem Bulama, has accused the Acting Chairman of Economic Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu of purchasing properties abroad using his brother Mr B. Mustapha through a London based businessman, Arthur Francis, whose brother is facing corruption charges in Nigeria. 

In another swift,  Alhaji Kamsaleem described as a compendium of lies, the allegation that  Abdulrasheed Maina's son has an account with a balance of N1.7bn. 

He described it as a cheap blackmail which is clearly intended to divert the attention of the public from the fundamental issue of the challenge by Maina that EFCC should account for the N1.63tr worth of properties and cash recovered as a result of the work of the Maina led Pension Reform Taskforce Team (PRTT). 

He described the N1.7bn allegation as a perpetual lie which has no substance.

He added that why would a person who has N1.7bn be scampering to be reinstated back to work of civil service?

Mr Bulama said "I happen to come from the same State and Local Government Area as Mr Magu.

I know his extended family but that not withstanding, my candid advice will be for him to stop the lies and face the corruption allegations against him, especially the N1.63tr, 222 houses,  investments,  money and the issue relating to the purchase of the 3 houses abroad by his younger brother.

"You may recall that Magu was earlier accused of purchasing some houses in two countries but in his reaction after the deal was exposed, Magu said  "people have been buying properties using my name".

According to Bulama,  "which mad man will purchase property in someone else's name.  Let's call a spade a spade.

"While it is on record that the Maina led PRTT had EFCC personnels embedded.

"This is the committee  that was responsible for fishing out the 43 pension suspects while EFCC  effected the recoveries of the funds, and properties", he stressed.

He further maintained that, Magu received N19.8 bn and $5m from some pension suspects with the promise never to convict them.

"It is clear that after  6 years, there is no hope of conviction of the 43 pension thieves, some EFCC staff had written a petition against Magu, accusing him of stealing their N750m allowances. This is corruption of the highest order".

In another development, he charged Mr Magu to make public the said balance in that account which he alledged is owned by Maina's son where N1.7bn is said to have been lodged.


PHOTO:
An alleged house belonging to Ibrahim Magu, located at Road R 514 Number 186, Johan Du Toit Avenue, Andeon AH, Pretoria South Africa

Maina: Family Members Warn Political Gladiators to Tread Cautiously

The Maina Royal family of Borno State have warned political gladiators to keep off their son, Alhaji AbdulRasheed Maina who was recently reinstated by the Federal Government back to the Civil Service in order to carryout his duties without distractions.

It may be recalled that AbdulRasheed Maina was suspended by the Jonathan administration after his special task force on recovery of pension fund uncovered monumental fraud perpetuated by a certain cabal in the sector backed by people at the top.

The family in a reaction to Maina's reinstatement by the Federal Government, specially thanked the Almighty God that their son, Maina has lived to eventually be reinstated after several officially documented assassination attempts on his life, and series of investigations by the Federal Government that eventually cleared him of any complicity at the course of his duties.

In a statement signed by Hauwa Maina, an Actress of International repute, and Aliyu Maina, an Investment Banker, Political Strategist and writer, who are members of the family they said, "We owe our gratitude to God the Almighty.

"We want to send our special appreciation to our amiable President and Father, Gen Muhammadu Buhari for following due process in the reinstatement of our son.

"AbdulRasheed Maina is well known to all Nigerians for being patriotic, and fearless in the recovery of funds stolen by thieves in the pension industry, working always hard to ensure that he gives maximum service to the country in all his dealings as a civil servant.

"It is unfortunate that former President Goodluck Jonathan who found Maina worthy of the assignment after perusing his antecedents and credentials, to lead the Presidential TaskForce on Pension Fund, couldn't protect him after the Pension fraud cabal went for Maina's jugular, just to punish him for exposing their dubuous and reckless stealing and for saving the country of large sums of money that were hitherto stolen by a few.

"We are however grateful to God that despite all the trials and tribulations that our son went through in this dark period, God still kept him strong and healthy to the point that he is able to resume work.

"The President who in his fair and transparent nature, saw the need to ensure that justice is a actually seen to be done at the end of the day", the family stated.

Whilst thanking Nigerians and all those who stood by Maina and his family throughout the period, the family equally urged civil Servants, alike, to remain committed to the service of humanity and continue to support President Muhammadu Buhari for being a just leader, who would ensure that every single Nigerian who has found him/herself in a similar situation gets justice and fair hearing irrespective of their religion, tribe or political affiliations.

According to the statement, "it has become imperative to also warn politicians and their cronies who may want to use the opportunity to distract Maina to desist from doing so as the family would seek redress where applicable.

"We have taken his odeal as an act of God and any attempt to drag his name in the mud for personal reasons, or to settle political scores with people will totally be rejected and confronted.

"This is not the right time for political engagement, we urge all the good citizens of Borno State pressurizing him to contest the Governorship of the state to exercise some patience and allow him to heal from the wounds inflicted on him by the last administration, it is on record that the government abandoned him when the political interests of their friends eventually clashed with the duties which he was commissioned to deliver.

"We are Muslims and believe that the Almighty God in his wisdom has taken Maina through this phase of life as part of the journey to greater assignments and service to the nation.

"To that end, We as a Family have forgiven his traducers and urge everyone to join hands with him as he resumes work to contiinue with high level Fund RECOVERY and blocking leakages in the system, this he knows best.

"He should at least be allowed to further contribute his quota to the Buhari Administrations corruption fight as he demonstrated during the Last Administration.

"We are therefore unequivocal in our demand that Maina should be left alone, excused from every political imagination of any member of the public so as to be able to concentrate more on his duties as his inputs to the system have greatly been missed," the statement also added.

Revelations have began to emerge on the real reasons the recent reinstatement of the former Chairman of Presidential Committee on Pension Reform Taskforce Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, into the federal civil service is generating a lot of dusts.

The Federal Government may have brought him to Nigeria to help fight corruption.

It has also been disclosed that he has spent over a year in the country and have been responsible for the whistle blowing policy of the Nigerian government.

He has as well help the President Muhammadu Buhari's administration to recover several looted funds.

"The treasury looters don't want to hear of his name as they are afraid", source told The Street Reporters.

Unknown to many Nigerians, Maina has being working with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, the attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) in recovering looted funds.

Buhari and MainaThe former PRTT boss, it was also revealed, has been sighted in the Presidential Villa for more than 10 times.

A Federal government Delegation had at a meeting held at Emirate Grand Hotel, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, promised him security cover ahead of his return to Nigeria.

It was disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari was at the said meeting in person.

A close source to the President Buhari administration, who would not want to be named as he was not authorised to speak on the issue, made the revelations saying, that the "EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu has been seeing Maina as they have been working together.

"Those afraid of Abdulraseed Maina should begin to return their loot as Nigerians want Maina to expose the remaining ones.

"Though the promoters of the anti-Maina campaign are implementing a well written script, aimed at reducing President Buhari and his administration to nothing.

"A man who has been working with you for over a year, is here being disengaged to serve the interest of Falana, Sagay and Fayose or that of the criminally minded PDP people, whose tenure Maina is currently helping the federal government in recovering the looted funds?

"Are you not aware that Ibrahim Lamorde, who was accused of stealing one trillion Naira as EFCC chairman, was declared wanted and he later went into hiding?

"He is now heading the Police Special Fraud Unit in Lagos. As we speak, he's there and nobody is talking about it.

"But because of Maina's anti corruption stance, thieves who are jittery have continued to sponsor smear campaign against Maina", he observed.

An amalgamation of coalition of civil society organisations has urged the publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, to first finish his many defamation legal battles in courts before opening a new legal war front with Nigerian oil magnate, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist, Sir Emeka Offor.

The groups, under the Joint Action Coalition of Civil Society Groups in Nigeria, at a press briefing in Abuja while urging the Sowore to leave Chief Offor alone, said Sahara Reporters has transformed from a media outfit to a professional blackmailing house for pecuniary gains.

Members of the Coalition include Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group, Nigerians Unites Against Corruption, I Belong To One Nigeria Initiative, Northern Inter-Faith and Religious Organization for Peace, Igbo Nation Youths Union (INYOU), Correspondent Without Borders, Peoples Parliament, African Arise for Change Network, Lawyers of Hope Network, Coalition for Change, Congress for Conscience, and Conference of Minority Tribes in Nigeria.

Others are Free Education Movement, Stand up for Nigeria, National Democratic Front, Global Amnesty Foundation, and Save Humanity Advocacy Center.

According to the organisations, “the Business man has been the subject of attacks by the online medium in recent times to the extent that it had gone as far as publishing that the marine mogul was broke after the antics for extortion of highly placed individuals fail to yield fruit”.

The spokesman of the coalition, Comrade Kingsley Ola said, “what Sahara Reporters have perfected is loathsome use of the online platform to blackmail highly placed individuals in the society, with the aim of extorting huge sums of money from them.

“If you refuse to yield to his antics, more attacks in the name of exposing corruption will be launched by Sahara Reporters against you.

“For those who don’t know Omoyele Sowore and why he is into his thriving blackmailing trade, he never had a proper journalism background.

“Sowore was only a leader of the Students Union Government at University of Lagos from where he left Nigeria for the United States on the pretence that he was traveling for proper treatment after the cultists’ attacks, which we believe was prearranged for his exit.

“Rather than finish his so-called treatment and return home, Sowore founded Sahara Reporters in a small room in Manhattan, which he has used over the years as a tool of blackmail and extortion of African leaders and well-meaning citizens.

“We advise Sowore to pay the N4 billion judgment obtained as damages against him for false stories by Dr. Bukola Saraki, the President of the Senate of the federal republic of Nigeria and face the N5bn libel suit filed against him by Senator Dino Melaye over false publication, which led to his certificate issue that eventually turned out to be a mere fabrication by Sahara Reporters publisher.

“Sahara Reporters has been used to blackmail journalists, civil society groups and organisations for mere plate of portage.

“So, we are not surprised that a new target, Chief Emeka Offor, who is a known Philanthropist, at home and abroad, was selected by Sahara Reporters Publisher for smear campaign and blackmail for cash settlement.

“We have watched with dismay the continued publication of defaming articles and fake news against Chief Emeka Offor, who have distinguished himself as an entrepreneur. Because the oil mogul has ignored these publications, more and more defaming stories are being concocted by Sahara Reporters.

“While not holding brief for the business man, Sowore should leave Emeka Offor alone to have enough time to face his many libel suits in Nigeria and in the Diaspora”, the group counselled him.

The coalition added that “Sir Emeka Offor, as the Chairman of the Chrome Group, has extensive domestic and international business experience in numerous sectors of the economy.

“He is a dynamic and hard-charging entrepreneur, who exhibits the strength of character, vision and dedication required to be successful in an often challenging and demanding environment like ours.”

Governorship candidate of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria in Anambra Sate(ACPN), Akunwata Ejoh Ojiba has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to withdraw "Operation Egwu Eke II" and the troops deployed in Abia and South Eastern States in the guise of dealing with the agitation of IPOB for a referendum for self determination.

"Operation Egwu Eke II" is the translation of the Nigerian military's "Operation Python Dance II" in the native language of South Easterners.

Akunwata Ojiba who issued a statement in Awka yesterday said the Federal Government is in a better position to know that dialogue is the best option to conflict resolution instead of aggressive and offensive military action against unarmed and a non combatant group expressing their democratic right.

Ojiba said the deployment of troops to South Eastern states when there is no state of emergency and threat to peace from IPOB is worrisome because it has come at a time the Igbos living in the North and other parts of Nigeria are being threatened with Quit notices and those in their home states are living under military occupation.

Said Ojiba "these are sad times for the Igbo man who is now confronted with major leadership challenge" He said "What is the reason for this military deployment when IPOB is not using violence to pursue its demand? Why are the leaders in South Eastern states watching this violation of our democratic freedom with sealed lips?

Ojiba said "President Muhammadu Buhari should address the root cause of the agitation of IPOB rather than embark on a scotched earth policy as exemplified by operation Egwu Eke II, which is "offensive and provocative".

He said the time has come for the international community to show greater interest in the situation in the South East where people are no longer safe in their homes, placces of worship or where they conduct their economic activities.

He urged the military high command to respect the sanctity of life in their operations, "even as they keep denying the loss of lives in their activities.

"What will be the major achievement for the military if it succeeds in taking out Mazi Nnamdi Kanu while leaving the entire nation in turmoil?", he queried.
Akunwata Ojiba also advised the IPOB agitators to trade with caution in exercising their democratic rights, bearing in mind that the Igbos in diaspora will be in for the worst should there be crisis in the region.

Fresh twist has been introduced into the trial of the self proclaimed monarch of Idumuje-Ugboko, Prince Justin Chukwunonso Nwoko, who has gone to Effurun High Court, to obtain human rights order to stop all court trials and Police probe into the death of his father.

Prince Justin C. Nwoko has through his counsel, Mbanefo Nwoko, approached Justice William Jalogho, of High Court 3, in the Effurun judicial division in Delta Central Senatorial District, to halt the Police probe into the suspicious circumstance of the death of his late father, Obi Albert Agbogidi Nwoko III, as contained in the petition to the Inspector General of Police, by the two surviving wives of the departed king.

Informed sources told The Street Reporters that the latest move by Prince Nwoko’s counsel and brother, Mr. Mbanefo Nwoko, is a last minute effort to revive an earlier petition that was thrown out by the Chief Judge of Delta State as lacking in merit.

But Barr. Mbanefo Nwoko who was arraigned in High Court, in Asaba last month on charges of perjury and forgery, went to Justice William Jalogho in Effurun, to obtain an order to stop the trial of his client and police investigation into the death of the late monarch on grounds of infringement of the human rights of his client.

“It is a puzzle why Justice Jalogho of High Court of Justice No.3, in the Effurun Judicial Division of Delta state, should should entertain the case which the CJS described as judicial ambush and rascality”, a source told The Street Reporters.

Apart from the Police investigation of the cause of death of HRM Albert Nwoko III, there are other cases against Prince Justin Chukwunonso Nwoko ranging from conspiracy, forgery, stealing, felony among others.

Prince Nonso Nwoko could not appear in court on August 24 as expected, to defend himself in case of forgery, conspiracy because the judiciary is on vacation.

There is a bench warrant for his arrest issued by Chief magistrate Mr. F. I. Dike for producing forged medical report to justify his absenting himself from appearing in the case against him that has been on since March 2016.

Mr. Dike was compelled to order the police to investigate the authenticity of the medical report which the Medical Director at the Hospital in Owa Oyibo, Ika North East Local Government, disclaimed, “as forged” because he did not author the purported “medical report” and there was no evidence that Prince Nonso Nwoko was in the hospital for treatment on the days stated in the medical report.

Consequently, a bench warrant of arrest was issued against Prince Mbanefo Nwoko who was arrested by the Police in Auchi and brought to Asaba where he was charged on August 14, with a two-count charge of perjury and forgery.

He is expected to appear in court again on September 12 for continuation of his trial.

Efforts by our reporter to speak with Prince Nonso Nwoko on his cell phone proved futile.

His lawyer, Prince Mbanefo Nwoko was also unreachable on phone which was switched off at the time of this report. Counsel to Prince Walter O. Eziashi, Barr. M. O . Umukoro said “this is another desperate move by the Nwoko brothers to avoid justice.”

He added, “This issue of violation of human rights in Idumuje-Ugboko, in Delta north, should not be a ground to stop on going criminal trials in court and Police investigations into serious crime of murder.”

“Their failed act to use medical report to avoid appearing in court has been shown to the character of the personalities involved in this matter.

“What could be worse than using a forged medical report to cover a matter in court where your client was already facing charges of forgery committed four years ago?

“We believe that judges in Delta State have reputation and integrity to maintain so we are not worried about where they want to go.”

Prince Eziashi who initiated the action against Prince Nonso Nwoko said “this latest desperate move to commence a human rights action at Effurun High Court to stop court trials already in progress and police from probing into the atrocities committed in Idumuje Ugboko on grounds of enforcing his Fundamental Human rights rather than appear in court to clear his name suggests that he may have something to hide.”

Source: www.TheStreetReporters.com

Former President General of Idumuje Ugboko Development Union ( IUDU), Prince Walter Eziashi has called on Prince Justin Chukwunonso Nwoko to stop parading himself as the king of Idumuje Ugboko kingdom and threatening the peace of the community.

Prince Eziashi who made the statement in Idumuje Ugboko at the weekend said" the people of the town have a process of selecting their monarch, which is not the exclusive right of the first son of the king and a few members of the royal family but that of the entire Umu-Ologbo royal family comprising of both Nwoko's children as well as his brothers in consultation with the Iyese and the Obi in council. 
 
He said "Prince Justin Chukwunonso Nwoko must respect the tradition and institutions of the people by subjecting himself to the due process of selecting of the king in Idumuje Ugboko kingdom "
 
Said Eziashi:"our position is consistent with that of the Aniocha North Council of Traditional Rules which refused to admit Prince Nonso Nwoko to its meeting in Issele-Uku last week when he appeared fully dressed as a king.
 
"The state government has not given him the staff of office, on what basis is he carrying on as the king,?"
 
According to Prince Eziashi, the culture of Idumuje Ugboko kingdom requires that when a King joins his ancestors, "he must be interred within 24 hours of his passage but the rites must be initiated by the Iyase.
 
"He alone has the power to summon the council of chiefs, consisting of the Iyase, the Odogwu, the Isama and the Uwolor.
 
"These are four high ranking Chiefs who oversee their various four quarters of the town namely Atuma, Ogbe Ofu, Ogbe Obi and Onicha Uku respectively. "
 
Making a New King
 
He said "during this period, the administration of the kingdom falls into the hands of the Iyase for a period of three months, being the next most powerful chief after the monarch.
 
Traditionally, the Iyase is the first person to be contacted when the Obi, joins his ancestors. Thereafter," the Iyase will inform the Diokpas  in the four quarters when he  invites  them to the palace to meet and perform the necessary rites as well as pay their last respect.
 
It is after this that the death of the Obi is made official to the entire town. His burial rites will then commence immediately."
 
The Iyase presides over the meetings in the palace and directs the Onotu and/or the Omu to ensure that the town’s market is closed when required, and that the men shave their hair as a mark of respect to the departed Obi. It is only after the burial ceremonies that the process for the coronation of a new Obi commences.
 
After the burial, the Iyase holds his first meeting with the Council of Chief to announce the process period to select a new king. This must be religiously followed as the culture and tradition clearly demand.
 
He said "from all available records, Prince Nonso has circumvented the due process.We are opposed to Palace coup in Idumuje Ugboko."
 
Eligibility
 
He said Prince Nonso Nwoko with a few of his supporters crowned himself king and expect the entire Idumuje Ugboko people to accept that. He has been threatening those who oppose his usurpation plan with sanctions, fines, banishment and ostracison.
 
He has made the allocation of land for the Star University project his propaganda tool while he conveniently ignores the fact that the tradition of Idumuje Ugboko requires that the person who is to be the king is someone whose mother is an indigene of the town.
 
He said " there is the issue of Prince Uche Stephen Nwoko whose mother is from Idumuje Ugboko and was born after late Obi Albert Nwoko III was coronated.
 
"Prince Nonso Nwoko was advise in 1981 to marry from Idumuje Ugboko since to enhance his prospects of becoming the king since his mother is from Ubulu Uku, but he refused.
 
"His father whose mother was from Ugbodu, was given a similar advise and he accepted.
 
"This was condition that made it possible for him to be king in the first place. Prince Uche Stephen Nwoko is a product of this arrangement which the elders contrived then to end a 26 year reign of regency in the kingdom."
 
The former IUDU president said Prince Nonso Nwoko's attempt to impose himself on the people has created an atmosphere of insecurity and uncertainty in the kingdom.

The Coalition of Civil Societies on Human Rights and Anti-Corruption in Nigeria has described the closure of Queen College Lagos by the school management over water shortage as shocking.

It would be recalled that the college's management had on August 3, 2017 ordered students to vacate the school on account of the water shortage.

The water crisis and subsequent closure came barely two weeks after an assemblage of six non-governmental and civil society organisations under the aegis of the Coalition of Civil Societies on Human Rights and Anti-Corruption in Nigeria wrote to the Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education exonerating the former Director/Principal of Queen College Lagos, Dr (Mrs) Lami Amodu, over deaths of some students.

Addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday, the group's Director of Public Affairs, Comrade James Ezema, said the coalition carried out another fact finding mission after the water shortage crisis and discovered what he described as "worrisome events" at the college.

"We are shocked that because of water problems in Queens Collage Lagos, examinations were aborted, all students promoted to the next class and school closed indefinitely.

"Besides pumping machine, the girls have alerted us of persisting coloured water, shortage water flow and inability to bath.

"It is time to face the facts in Nigeria's unity schools and confront the challenges rather than resorting to blackmail to bring down patriotic individuals.

"From our investigations we found out that the only source of clean water which is safe for drinking and now the saving grace of the institution is the solar powered water system donated by the Australian High Commission and Hermitage consults in 2016 when Dr. Mrs Lami Amodu was principal".

"For us in the Coalition of Civil Societies on Human Rights and Anti-Corruption in Nigeria, citizens should rise and face the facts, the Federal Ministry of Education should up to its responsibility and not being political about issues.

"From our findings, the water problem in the college dated back to the time of Kumbi Ogunaike and the Ministry of Education is still silent on it till date.

"We also learnt that in recent occurrence in a northern unity school, lives were lost as a result of Lassa Fever and how maturely it was handled without indicting the school principal.

"We therefore call on the Queens College Lagos Old Girls Association to sort out their personal differences, bury their faces in shame because their so called new borehole is worse than the old ones and stop diverting attention in the face of daunting challenges.

The old girls should be part of the solution, not a complication to an already bad situation.

"The ministry of education should for once rise up to their duties and stop giving in to cheap propaganda.

"Is it not becoming obvious that an untouchable cabals are instigating the petitions and allegations against the former principal just to get back at her for daring to resist them?

"How long will the education ministry give in to this cheap game at the detriment of innocent girls entrusted in their care?

"Now that water has become an issue again in the college, who is to be blamed this time?", the coalition queried.

The Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, under the anti-corruption administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, has been caught in the web of a contract scam.

Ogbeh, through his Personal Assistant on Special Duties, Mr Johnson Agada, has been fingered in several cases of fraud involving unsuspecting traders and intending contractors running between three hundred to four million naira respectively.

Agada, whose activities has been confirmed by some victims, is alleged to be in possession of over a hundred million Naira of intending contractors, a act he engages in on daily basis.

The Honourable Minister's special duty P.A. hails from same Ogbadibo Local government Area of Benue State with the Minister, he had worked briefly in Lagos and Enugu States where he was alleged to have been on the wanted list before relocating to Abuja.

Though he is a very close personal aid to the Minister, sources close to the Agric Ministry, however, disclosed that the minister may be unaware of Agada's dealings.

However, three persons of high target has threaten to report to the police if their money is not refunded and the contract or Agric loan do not locate them as Agada promised them, within the next two weeks.

Effort to get the Minister's response proved abortive before press time.

Source: http://thestreetreporters.com/agric-minister-ogbeh-in-multimillion-naira-contract-scam/

The South East Revival Group (SERG) has accused the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, of “engaging in political bazaar and patronage rather than working to stabilise Igbo land in the face of growing marginalization and killing of Ndigbo which has resulted to separatist agitations”.

The socio-political pressure organisation in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Barrister Benedict Ezeagu observed that it was unfortunate that rather than defend and promote the overall interest of Igbos, the President General has turned himself into a political tool.

“It is very unfortunate that the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, rather than defend and promote the interest of Igbos, has made himself an available tool in the hands of Igbo detractors and non-Igbos, especially the Arewa irredentists, to denigrate Igbo nation, our sacred traditional institutions and prominent Igbo sons and daughters.

“Such despicable cases in recent time were when he decided to attack Nnamdi Kanu and his Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) agitators, a deviation from his earlier declaration as a father to the young Igbo people, who would have called his erring children into his bedchamber and counseled them, if he believed that they have missed the mark in their strategy for Igbo self-determination.

“Having forgotten so soon the apolitical nature of his office, in his bid to impress his newly found political allies, the Ohanaeze President General chose to openly castigate his acclaimed children after he has descended so low to represent a former military ruler at a book launch.

“Rather than stay in his office to attend to challenges facing Ndigbo in Igbo land in Nigeria, which has metamorphosed to an international separatist agitations for Igbo self-determination, he abandoned his duties to go hunting for northern politicians.

“It is becoming more and more obvious from emerging facts that Chief John Nnia Nwodo may have, with a sugar coated tongue, hoodwinked prominent Igbo leaders into supporting his then ambition to clinch the Ohanaeze Presidency for ulterior political motive.

“Or, why did he, on assumption of office, quickly dash to the north to meet politicians and have continued in the same voyage ever since?

“Why is it a bit difficult for him to sit down in his office to coordinate the efforts to liberate Ndigbo from their oppressors in Nigeria by bringing together the Igbo self-determination agitators and other Igbo sons and daughters to find a common solution to the Igbo Question in Nigeria?

“Is he not worried to see how the northern youths that issued quit notice to Ndigbo are being pampered and caressed by their northern leaders while their counterparts in the Eastern region are being hunted down daily?

“We are indeed surprised that after starting well as Ohanaeze leader, his recent utterances, visits and reciprocating visits by northern politicians have created serious doubt about the image of an apolitical organisation that should be led by a brave Igbo with impeccable integrity.

“His initial statements and positions may have been mere appearance put forward to get Igbo support to feather his personal political nest to the detriment of the larger Igbo interest.

“We therefore call on the Ohanaeze President General to retreat and sit down at the Ohanaeze Secretariat in Enugu and attend to myriads of socio-political and economic challenges confronting Igbo people and receive anyone on a courtesy call as a leader of a prominent Igbo socio-cultural organization, rather than cheapen his position by joining political entourage and gallivanting all over the eastern region as a mere 'political errand boy”, the group said.

The Diamond Modelling Agency (DMA) has commended Mike Okiro Foundation, for supporting project called ‘Next Model to Stardom Reality TV Project’.

The commendation was made by the DMA Manager, Prince Thomas, while explaining that the reality TV show aims to change the perception of people about the modelling industry.

Thomas said the Foundation has enormously supported DMA’s initiative to repackage the modelling industry and make it responsible through the ‘Next Model to Stardom Reality TV Project’ that would soon be on air.

According to him DMA tends to add more value to the life of people and correct the wrong impression people have about models and the modelling industry following wrong impression by majority of Nigerians, but argued that models are not prostitutes, but ‘public figures’ that promote brands and fashion with their concept and creative ability.

He said, “The Mike Okiro Foundation has been helpful and supportive to ensure that the ‘Next Model To Stardom Reality TV Project’ becomes a success, ensuring that the positive reason for the project is achieved.

“The former Inspector General of Police and Chairman of the Foundation, Sir Mike Okiro, has demonstrated and acted to ensure young Nigerians are made productive and contribute to the development of the country. We appreciate his support and we will not disappoint him.

“He has been on the crusade to ensure young people in the country become useful to themselves and we in DMA have received his support to revolutionise the modelling industry in Nigeria and Africa.

“We have also commenced the campaign against immoral lifestyle and trafficking in the modelling industry, and we have started educational classes and skill acquisition training for the models under our training, and this would soon be on our reality TV show.”

He also expressed optimism that every model in Nigeria will soon feel the positive impact in the industry with good welfare packages and payment, and added that they should also change their lifestyle and attitude as things will soon get better.

“The industry would soon be galvanised for better because well spirited personalities and organisations are fully supporting the new vision and initiative DMA is taking. We appreciate the support of Senator Magnus Abe, representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District.

“Senator Magnus Abe has a vision for adding value to the life of young people and he has giving his support to the revolution DMA has started in the modelling industry, and we appreciate him for that.

"Also Rev. Joseph Omegbu, who has been a pillar behind developing young people’s talent and assisting them to be worthy citizens and assets of the country, and we appreciate his effort for keying into the vision of DMA, and we make him one of our patrons, and we believe in him because he supports what is genuine and for positive change, and with all these personalities and others that will support us this initiative to sanitise the modelling industry in this country is achievable”, he stated.
Attachments area

Source: [url]TheStreetReporters.com[/url]

A nongovernmental, Nation First Foundation (NFF), at the weekend urged media organisations in the country to avoid using their platforms to promote hate speeches.

Expressing dismay on the ongoing war of hate speeches from personalities, socio-political leaders, politicians, groups, religious and regional leaders, the National Coordinator of the foundation, Onianwa Elidad, also acknowledged the role played by media organisations in shaping the destiny of the country during and after colonialism, struggle for restoration of democracy on May 29, 1999, checking politicians, and protecting the downtrodden Nigerians.

However, he counselled them to shut their doors against those who spread hatred and marshal out divisive speeches that unnecessarily overheat the polity.

“We in Nation 1st Foundation has become very concerned with the speedy hate speeches are moving on media platforms following agitations calling for secession and quit notice.

“We are urging media organisations to avoid these hate speakers and writers under any organisation to promote division and acrimony in the name of activism and struggle.

“We know they bring money to pay for adverts and sponsor special publications and productions on hate speeches, but we are appealing that such hate speeches should be taken off the list of adverts and news items for publication for the sake of national interest.”

Meanwhile, the National Public Relations Officer of the NFF, Mohammed Ali, disclosed that the Foundation has concluded plans to begin regional integration within the country based on dialogue and much understanding to create a strong bond among young people, religious and regional leaders, socio-cultural and political organisations that would foster peace, unity, equity and justice.

“We have deemed it necessary to put together various linkages that would project national interest based on regional integration cutting across various views, interests, organisations, regions and religions. We want to ensure that the long standing sentiments and barriers that have stunted the progress of our country are weeded out completely through values rebirth and restoration of patriotism.

“We also believe in the strength and impact of genuine dialogue. We will use this bridge to link and cement the proposed integration moves we are talking about because the people have to sit and speak out their differences and settle amicably on lasting solution that would protect the integrity of our sovereignty and nationhood.

“This would be all encompassing basically by the ‘common people’ whose interest has been hijacked by some few elites who pretend to represent the people but unfortunately have used that top project and negotiate basically about themselves and continue to suppress the voice of the majority.

“We are going to start this national assignment by ourselves without any sponsorship from anybody, and we believe it would further strengthen our unity and propel our progress as a country, which all would have access to the common good of our blessed nation endowed by God”, Ali stated.

Following increasing agitations and hate speeches across the country, a nono-governmental organisation, the Nation First Foundation (NFF), has called on Nigerians to mind their utterances in the interest of national unity and cohesion.

The group charged socio-political organisations across the country to promote national interest instead of overheating the polity through imprudent agitations that raise unnecessary tension.

The advise was given in Abuja by the National Coordinator of the foundation, Onianwa Elidad, after assessing the speeches as a result of agitations from some socio-political groups, which has increased disaffection among various tribes and geopolitical zones in the country.

Elidad said when such organisations jettison national interest at the detriment of the people and their future that indicates self interest and relevance based on unwarranted ego without considering the consequences of such statements.

He said: “We in Nation First Foundation (NFF) sees Nigeria and Nigerians as above our personal interest, and including all other Nigerians, no matter highly placed they are.

“We have decided to stand with the masses, and stand to condemn anybody, group, organisation, region, religion, party, and others whose actions, activities and moves are against national interest.

“Our vision, mission and movement is to re-enact the dreams of the founding fathers of our nation and to instill the tent of nation first before any other ambition.

“We want to make it clear to all socio-political groups based on religion, politics and beliefs that Nigeria’s interest must be promoted and protected no matter what.

“It is also imperative to state that Nigeria and Nigerians are inseparable, therefore should be upheld above individual interest. It is not good for socio-political or socio-cultural groups to be used by some selfish politicians, religious and tribal leaders to promote disunity and disaffection in the country.”

He further stated that now it has become important for the various nongovernmental organisations to embark on the mission to propagate messages and sensitisations that would promote peace, justice, and unity.

In similar vein, the National Secretary, NFF, Adekunle John, acknowledged and stressed that Nigeria’s unity has been strengthened and sustained by her diversity over the years.

“It is important to make it here at this point that every tribe, ethnic group, region, and individuals are important, and nobody is a slave or servant to the other. Rather we are to complement each other and consolidate on our diversity instead to allow persons and groups that not mean well for the future of this country to push and hit the heads of youth to favour their personal interest.

“We the young people should wise up because when the trouble gets heated by these people who are beating drums of hate and calling for violence they would leave the country with their families in seconds. Let us continue to uphold our unity”, John stated.

In his advice, the National Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Ali, cautioned that the leaders when talking about the way out of the issues of threat to national unity the youth should be carried along and made to participate actively, because they will be the ones those who are against national interest would use to promote their interest.

“We want the well meaning leaders show are for nation first to involve and engage the youth in discussing how to preserve and protect  national unity, and we advice that they should be carried along because those against national interest could used them to achieve their own interest at the detriment of other Nigerians”, Ali said.

An assemblage of six non-governmental and civil society organisations, the Coalition of Civil Societies on Human Rights and Anti-Corruption in Nigeria has written to the Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education probing the recent deaths at one of the Federal Government’s Unity School, Queens College Lagos.



The group, in a letter address to the chairman of the committee and jointly signed by its Chief Convener, Alhaji Sabo Ode and the Director of Public Affairs, Comrade James Ezema, urged the Senate “to ensure that justice is done and that the innocent is not punished for doing that which is right and insisting that the right thing be done in the right way.”



The former Director/Principal of the College, Dr (Mrs) Lami Amodu, has been accused of culpability in the death of some of the students.



The groups that constitute the coalition include Professional Women League, Africa Women Network, Centre for Social Justice Equity and Transparency, Save Humanity Advocacy Centre, Stand Up Nigeria, and Conference of Minority Tribes in Nigeria.



According to the Coalition that is primarily committed to ensuring justice and peaceful coexistence among the various people that make up the Nigerian society with a view to making the society better for development and engender speedy national growth, “over time, as we found out, a cartel has been operating within the Queens College Old Girls Association of the school, who always dictated to the management and found for the first time a woman who stood against them.”





Spelling out it findings, after an independent investigation carried out by the Coalition, the group said: “Mr Chairman and members, we found out that within her 18 months stay on the saddle in the college, Dr Lami Amodu did all things within her power and within the ambit of bureaucracy to effect long lasting changes that were geared towards improving facilities on ground.



“The shocker, for us, was that the incident of stooling and subsequent casualties did not occur in the college until after a meeting held on January 22, 2017, by the Queens College Old Girls Association.



“Our findings showed that while the meeting held in the college hall, some old girls found their way into the hostels and the kitchen areas without authorisation of proper permission.



“A week later, specifically on January 31, 2017, some students were reported to have started stooling and vomiting but luckily the college and health officials promptly managed and contained the menace.



“All of these points to the fact that Dr Lami Amodu understood both the challenges at hand when she assumed office and made efforts to ensure they were addressed”, the group observed.





According to them, “One other striking finding was that fact that Dr Amodu was seen as “very strict”, “very hash” and “rude” by certain persons.



“On attempt to find out why, we discovered that it was her uncompromising recourse to due process and her resolve that the right thing must be done the right way were the virtues that earned her those tags.



“We believe that the old girls and other collaborators, who have resorted to frivolous petition writing, may have played a role, resulting to the stooling and vomiting incident in the college and the subsequent deaths.



“More so, some of the deaths occurred after the former Principal had been transferred.



“For instance, the death of Sodipo Praise, an Orphan who died on March 30, 2017 occurred nearly two months after Dr Amodu had been transferred.



“Our findings equally showed that the young Praise reported to the clinic on 20th February 20, after Dr Amodu had left the school, with feverish condition and was placed on anti-malaria drugs, with follow up treatment until the college went on midterm break.



“From home, Miss Praise was referred to the Lagos State University Hospital after her ailment continued at home”, the group revealed.



“We gathered that she was diagnosed of liver enlargement and perforation of intestine and later died after surgery, even when she was never treated for stooling and vomiting previously at the college.



“Mr Chairman and members, there is more to the issues being raised and allegations being levelled against Dr Amodu. For instance, she was recently accused in a petition of buying an SUV for 17 million, an allegation we have also investigated and found to be false.

“The SUV, which was not for personal use was left in the school after her redeployment. Its purchase, we also found, went through due process and had board approval after the board decided it was very necessary because of the state of the old bus the school had, which was in a very bad condition.



“From our investigations we also found out facts on  the allegation of 17 million naira on SUV, which is  also not  true as the findings of the investigation have proved contrary in which the purchase of the SUV went through due process and had board approval after the board decided it was very necessary because of the state of the old bus the school had which was in a bad condition and the Sport Utility Vehicle is still used at Queens College Lagos  by the principal till date and not a private property of Dr. Mrs Lami Amodu”, the group noted.

The Center for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency, CESJET, has described report of the panel of inquiry set up by the Nigerian Army to investigate alleged human rights violations by army personnel in the counter-terrorism war in Nigeria as impartial, neutral and most professional.

Recall that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, had announced that officers of the Nigerian Army who are found guilty of Human Rights abuses, especially in connection with arrested Boko Haram terrorists and members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) will not go unpunished.

The report was submitted to the Chief of Army Staff on May 18, 2017 and due for gazette by the Army Council for posterity.

Speaking on the development, CESJET Executive Director, Joyce Ogwu, said the centre was pleased with release of the anticipated report of the Nigerian Army Board of Inquiry (BOI) inaugurated by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), describing it ?most neutral and professionally done.?

Ogwu, who addressed newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, commended the six-member panel chaired by Major General A.T.Jibril for expeditiously investigating and prodding deep into the alleged human rights violations by some army personnel.

She said, CESJET was, "equally pleased that despite the frightening and highly scandalous figures of claims of extra-judicial killings of Boko Haram suspects in Army detention facilities in Borno state and some members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), the panel diligently conducted a detailed, faultless and splendid inquiry by meeting all the different stakeholders covered by the alleged human rights abuses and found the claims by AI very spurious and patently false.

"The published report of the Army BOI embodied a thorough, impartial and neutral inquest into the allegations gleaned from the tissue of evidences and testimonies by victims and non-victims alike.

"The exoneration of the Amy personnel of culpability or complexity in its anti-terrorism campaigns is indication of Nigerian Army?s unflinching commitment and adherence to the highest ethical standards of professionalism and discipline in the execution of its assignments.

"This is a fact abundantly buttressed by the COAS, Gen. Buratai, as signposted by the setting up of the Human Rights Desk at the Nigerian Army Headquarters (AHQs) Abuja," he said.

According to her, by this development, ?we dare to frown, restate and reaffirm our objection at the suspiciously covert role of Amnesty International as terrorism mongers in Nigeria and the promotion of same with such false reports to the detriment of Nigerians and security forces battling to tame the monster of terrorism in Nigeria.

The recent repudiation of AI's claims of human rights violations as contained in its report on army personnel tallies with the proof of emptiness of previous similar reports from the organization conducted by other independent bodies. We therefore call on the Nigerian Government, Civil Society Organizations? (CSOs) and the International community among others, to take a critical interest in the conspicuously biased and anti-Nigerian posture of Amnesty International in the country."

The centre further appealed to the Army Council to consider reviewing the subsisting sanctions and punishments on Army Personnel, in the event a prima facie case of human rights abuses has been established against any officer.

She said the measure became imperative in view of the contemporary reality of terrorism and the delicate nature of the prosecution of anti-terrorism war by troops, which often involve the risk of life and death of victims they are constrained to rescue, vis-a-vis safeguarding their own lives.

"British Prime Minister, Theresa May has provided insight into the delicateness of the terrorism combat war and the human rights protection laws that appear to embolden terrorists and already thinking of tinkering with UK human rights laws that provide shield for terrorists. It is our thinking that military personnel engaged in terrorism combat wars should also be entitled to some measure of relief on the strictness of the application of human rights abuses laws", she added.

As a follow up to our public statement of 16th June 2017, we the International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law (Intersociety) have resolved to release the following statement containing graphic accounts of incessant massacre and injuring by Lt Gen Tukur Buratai led Nigerian Army and other security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, of defenseless pro-Biafra activists in Southeast and parts of South-south Nigeria.

This statement of ours is in further response to the Nigerian Army’s armada of lies contained in its recent report following its kangaroo Special Board of Inquiry set up on 8th March 2017 to look into allegations of gross rights abuses by its key personnel and commanders in Northeast, Southeast and parts of South-south Nigeria in the course of its counter insurgency operations and undemocratic and unconstitutional involvement in nonviolent public assemblies in Nigeria.

The Nigerian Army had in its recent report claimed that “no single citizen was killed during its violent crackdowns on innocent and nonviolent pro Biafra campaigns and campaigners”.

The said massacre and maiming took place in not less than ten different occasions and locations leading to  total death of not less than 270 citizens and injuring of over 370 others. We make bold to say that we will sit by or say or do nothing when litany or armada of lies is heartlessly told against the murdered and the maimed innocent citizens of Nigeria who got massacred in the course of assertion of their democratic and constitutional free speech nonviolently and peacefully.

As severally stated and contained in our previous public statements, the referenced massacre was a result of violent military and police crackdowns on pro Biafra agitators who strictly applied locally, nationally, regionally and internationally recognized or sanctioned nonviolent methods by way of night vigil, prayer/singing rallies and crusades, open street protests and processions as well as ghost street or sit-at-home protests for the purpose of compelling the Nigerian authorities to holistically address the age long three hydra headed monsters of structural, direct and cultural violence against the Igbo Ethnic Nationality in Nigeria which started way back in 1945.

Totality of these international best practices of democratic free speech is called nonviolent self determination agitations or campaigns;recognized and legalized by AU and the UN and laid in existing and legally binding treaties or conventions which the Federal Republic of Nigeria willingly, obligatorily and dutifully acceded to and retained till date.

Also as severally observed and stated in our previous statements, the Nigerian Army headed by Lt Gen Tukur Buratai is solely responsible for 75% of the killings and maiming while the Nigeria Police through its SARS and Anti Riot or Mobile Police units is responsible for 20%; with the Nigerian Navy, SSS and others accounting for the remaining 5%.

The worst of it all is that the Nigerian Army particularly its present command structure is ethnically and religiously lopsided including its formations and command structures in Southeast and South-south Nigeria; making it a willing tool for the ethnic cleansing operations under reference.

During the 29th and 30th May 2016 pro Biafra heroes day massacre at Onitsha Army Barracks, for instance, some survivors interviewed, who were taken to Onitsha Barracks and held for over a week without charge; narrated how soldiers and civilians of the northern Muslim background jubilated noisily and reigned curses on Igbo People on sighting military truck-loads of slain and injured pro Biafra activists while their Southern counterparts of Southeast and South-south background broke down tears and cried uncontrollably.

Instances also abound where the operational commanders of the Nigerian Army and Police Force made several attempts to turn such nonviolent and peaceful rallies, processions and protests into violence by provocatively opening fire with live bullets on them at the middle of the protests so as to find grounds to inflict heavy fatalities or casualties and justify their murderous actions. Yet despite the refusal of the peaceful protesters to be provoked, the soldiers and police still went ahead and killed them in their dozens in each of the protests.

Graphic Accounts:

Onitsha, Awka and Nnewi: 30th August 2015: Several peaceful street protests were held and soldiers and Police SARS and Mobile Police responded violently by opening fire at the peaceful protesters with live bullets leading to instant death of at least six citizens. Similar protests took place in Asaba, Delta State, Enugu, Enugu State, Yenegoa, Bayelsa State, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Igweocha or Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Aba, Abia State. The protests recorded scores of death and dozens of injuries.

30th August 2015 Death Toll:  Among the six citizens that were shot dead by soldiers and police are Citizens Ebuka Nnorom of Ufuma in Anambra State and Obasi Maduka of Oshiri-Ebonyi State. The bodies of four others were recovered and taken away by soldiers and police. Over ten persons were injured in the protests. Among those that were killed in Yenegoa and Igweocha or Port Harcourt protests are late Citizens Christian Okechukwu and Daniel Chukwualue.

2nd December 2015 IPOB Mega Protest in Onitsha and its Environs: The peaceful protest started in the evening of 1st December 2015 and was tagged “IPOB vigil/occupy Niger Bridge Road sides”. The protest continued on 2nd December 2015 and extended to Onitsha Upper Iweka, Owerri Road and Obodoukwu Road, etc. The protest, observed by the leadership of our organization, was peaceful and well organized with leaders of IPOB hand-walling themselves by the road sides ensuring free flow of vehicular and human movements.

Hours later signals and killer instructions were given to the soldiers of the 302 Artillery Regiment Onitsha by the then GOC of the Enugu 82nd Division and the Army headquarters in Abuja as well as by the then Inspector General of Police (Solomon Arase) for the protesters to be violently crushed or quelled; leading to instant death of at least 13 persons and injuring of not less than 30 others. The then Inspector General of Police specifically directed the senior police commanders in the Southeast and South-south zones to “apply maximum force and quell the protesters”.

2nd December 2015 Death Toll:  A total of not less than 13 persons were killed and among them are: Miss Anthonia Nkiruka Ikeanyionwu (a student of the Federal College of Education (Technical) at Umunze in Anambra State); Kenneth Ogadinma ( from Abia State), Chima Onoh ( from Enugu State), Angus Chikwado ( from Anambra State) and Miss Felicia Egwuatu ( from Anambra State). The remaining eight citizens shot and killed by soldiers of the Onitsha Military Cantonment led by Col Isa Abdullahi Maigari were taken away  to undisclosed locations till date.

17th December 2015 Post Court Judgment Jubilation Massacre at Onitsha Niger Bridgehead: Hours after an Abuja Federal High Court presided over by Hon Justice Ademola Adeniji delivered a ruling ordering for unconditional release of Citizen Nnamdi Kanu, jubilant IPOB members numbering between 60 and 100 or more went into spontaneous celebration and matched from Nkpor to Ojukwu Statue at Onitsha Niger Bridgehead where they met some soldiers of northern Muslim extraction who opened fire on them, killing not less than 12 of them and injuring at least 15 others. All the dead bodies of those killed and some injured ones were taken away by soldiers to Onitsha Army Barrack while others were rescued and saved by friends and relatives. They were later taken to or  deposited at some private hospital including the Multicare Hospital at Nkpor.

The murderous soldiers later traced the Multicare Hospital where the injured were taken to for treatment and raided it around 10.8pm in the late night od 17th December 2015 and abducted 17 persons including the injured, their friends and relatives. Those abducted included those the soldiers arrested at the scene of the massacre.

The killer soldiers under their commander then (Col Isah Abdullahi Maigari) later returned 11 of those they abducted to the hospital. The returned were those at the point of death requiring urgent life saving treatments before they were abducted by soldiers.

Sadly, four of them later died in the hospital due to loss of so much blood and their abduction by soldiers. Those held at the Barracks were detained for days until we intervened leading to their release at the State CID where they were later taken to and dumped. Three out of those killed and taken away by soldiers were later dumped at the Onitsha General Hospital on 21stDecember 2015.

Their corpses were recovered and moved to their families in February 2016 through the joint efforts of our leadership, IPOB officials and their families, leading to their interment in their respective communities in Ebonyi and Abia State sometime in February and March 2016.

17th December 2015 Death Toll: Not less than 12 persons were killed and among them are Citizens Okwu Friday, Michael Nweke (37) (from Ezza North LGA)  in Ebonyi State;  buried on 11th of March 2016;  Peter Chukwuma Nwankwo (26) (from  Ezza South LGA) in Ebonyi State;  buried on 11th of March 2016, Mathew Ndukwe Kanu (25) (from Akanu-Ohafia LGA) in Abia State; buried on 12th of March 2016 and Chigozie Ezeji (32) (from Idemmili North LGA) in Anambra State.

The names above mentioned did not include three others that died in the hospital during treatments. A total of 27 persons with terminal bullet wounds were taken to the Multicare Hospital alone for treatment following the 2nd and 17th December 2015 massacre; out of which 4 died. Several others with terminal bullet wounds also ran away from hospitals to their private homes for self medications fearing their abductions by soldiers.

9th February 2016 Massacre at Aba: Members of IPOB in their hundreds had gathered in the premises of former Igbo National College now renamed National High School. The gathering was for prayers and singing rally for the release of Citizen Nnamdi Kanu and ors. Few hours before noon of 9th February 2016, the Abia State Police Command and its Aba Area Command then headed by CP (now DIG) Habila Hosea and ACP Peter Nwagbara respectively ordered their personnel to storm the place; saying they received a distress call and matching order from then IGP, Solomon Arase.

About thirty minutes later soldiers of 144 Battalion at Ukwa Ngwa near Aba, then commanded by Lt Col Sidi Umar Kasim, SSS and naval personnel and other members of the Abia State Joint Security Taskforce mobilized by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu stormed the place. Moments after their arrival, soldiers took battle positions and corked their rifles loaded with live bullets and seconds later, they opened fire at the IPOB crowd, killing dozens instantly and injuring over 30 others.

As the survivors were scampering for safety and jumping the School’s perimeter fence, soldiers again opened fire on them and gunned down some of them. Police personnel also joined them in the shooting spree; leading to at least 22 of them excluding 16 members of the group whose lifeless bodies were later dumped in two burrow pits along Aba Port Harcourt Road on 12thFebruary 2016.

Thirteen of the dumped corpses were discovered on 12th February by local whistle blowers while three were found days later in another burrow pit behind a Mosque near Aba. The thirteen corpses were set ablaze on 1st March 2016 by suspected agents of the State Government or the culpable soldiers of the nearby 144 Battalion.

Amnesty International later had during their visit to the burrow pit on 18th February 2016 discovered that the lifeless bodies of the slain IPOB members were tied with cut pieces of Biafra flags. The corpses went up in suspicious flames 48hrs after we wrote and delivered a letter to the Government of Abia State over the public health hazard, etc of the dumped corpses.

9th February 2016 Death Toll:  Not less than 30 persons were killed in the Aba prayer/singing rally and among them are: Citizens Uche Friday (30yrs) Abia State, Emeka Ekpemandu (35yrs) Imo State, Chiavoghlefu Chibuikem Abia State, Nzubechi Onwumere Imo State, Peter Chinecherem Ukasoanya (27yrs) Abia State, Chigozie Cyril Nwoye (23yrs) Enugu State, Chukwudi Onyekwere (26yrs) Imo State and Uchechukwu Nwachukwu Abia State. Scores of defenseless citizens numbering about 15 were also shot and killed in Aba during similar street protests of 18th and 29th January 2016 and one of those killed is Citizen Chibuzor Maduagwu Paul (28yrs) from Imo State.

That is to say that out of the 8 slain citizens identified or mentioned above, when added to 16 lifeless bodies of IPOB members dumped in two burrow pits, will bring the total number of recovered or seen bodies killed to 24. The rest were taken away by soldiers till date.

Those slain and dumped bodies who had their hands tied behind their backs with cut pieces of Biafra flags technically suggest that they were taken to the burrow alive before being killed while those that have their eyes tied may most likely have been killed elsewhere before being dumped in the burrow. It is also likely that the former were forced to carry the lifeless bodies of the latter to the burrow pits after which they were tied and shot dead.

29th and 30th May 2016 Major Massacre in Onitsha, Nkpor And Asaba: Of all the massacres under reference, those of Nkpor, Onitsha and Asaba were the most bloody and recorded the highest number of fatalities or casualties.

The IPOB leadership and other leading pro Biafra campaigners had chosen Nkpor part of Anambra State as the venue for their 2016 Biafra Heroes Day Anniversary; having nonviolently and successfully marked same in Enugu and Umuahia in 2015 and 2014 respectively.

The leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra had on 24th of May 2016, addressed a letter to the Government of Anambra State through then State Commissioner of Police, CP (now AIG) Mr. Hosea Karma.

The letter was dated 23rdand signed on 24th of May 2016 by Mr. Uchenna Asiegbu; the group’s head of the Directorate of State.

The CP was constitutionally charged in the letter to ensure that anniversary was hitch free and the event venue provided with security. The said letter was successfully couriered to the CP four days to the anniversary.

Shockingly, the then CP and the Government of Anambra State, on receipt of the letter, neither invited the signatories to the letter/their representatives, nor made any public pronouncement concerning the status of the letter; and unknown to organizers of the event including the IPOB, the letter became a counter measure and  an instrument  for perfection of plans for unspeakable State violence and crackdown that were unleashed on organizers, their supporters and other innocent members of the public including early morning travelers and church service returnees on 29th and 30th May 2016.

The letter was used as counter measures leading to maximum mobilization of the State Joint Security Taskforce and deployment of more military reinforcements from the 82nd Division of the Nigerian Army in Enugu.

Signed:

For: International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law (Intersociety)

Emeka Umeagbalasi, Board Chairman
Mobile Line: +2348174090052

Obianuju Joy Igboeli, Esq.
Head, Civil Liberties & Rule of Law Program

Chinwe Umeche, Esq.
Head, Democracy & Good Governance Program

Florence C. Akubilo, Esq.
Head, Campaign & Publicity Department

Email: info@intersociety-ng.org

Source: http://thestreetreporters.com/intersociety-releases-shocking-accounts-of-alleged-massacre-of-pro-biafra-activists-by-nigerian-army/

The Global Amnesty Watch, an international humanitarian organization has endorsed the report of the Special Board of Inquiry (SBOI), which investigated the alleged war crimes man by the Nigerian Army personnel in the fight against insurgency in the North East and Internal Security Operations in the South Eastern part of the country.

Recall that the Nigerian Army had said on Thursday that it was studying the report of a special panel that investigated allegations of human rights abuses against the army.

The panel headed by a retired major general, A.T. Jibrin, submitted its report to the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai last week at the army headquarters in Abuja.

Mrs Helen Adesola, Nigerian Representative of GAW, said it was clearly established that all the allegations of rights abuses, extra-judicial killings, forced disappearances were mere concoctions from the imaginations of those of those that have been issuing inaccurate reports.

According to her, "Other instances of documented abuses were transposed from a previous era to give the impression that the cases in question were recently committed.

She added, "The report, which should be given the widest publicity possible, should now put to rest the controversies that had raged around the efforts by Nigerian military authorities to secure the country and keep citizens safe from terrorists and other life threatening criminals.

"The revelations that certain unauthorized organizations were able to obtain classified military documents and signals through leaks is one that should keep the world worried as it implies staffers of such organizations could have been engaged in passing vital Army strategies and troop movement to terrorists, making it difficult to protect civilians.

"We have noted calls for independent investigation and further probes suggested by certain organizations.

"The Global Amnesty Watch however wishes to caution the Nigerian Army and the Federal Government of Nigeria to resist the temptation of being drawn into a popularity contest of pleasing smaller groups to the detriment of the larger population," her statement added.

The GAW urged the military authority not compromise the interest of the people in the areas affected by terrorism, insurgency and other crimes because they want to be compliant with the request of a narrow spectrum of activists.

She added, "The response for an independent investigation or commission of inquiry must be realistically balanced with the safety and security of citizens since such exercise can compromise national security.

"Nigeria must never lose sight of the fact that the Army is its institution as a sovereign nation and no amount of blackmail should force it to surrender state institutions to fifth columnists especially in this era that terrorists have infiltrated the ranks and file of various military which the Nigerian Army has successfully insulated itself against."

There are multiple federal agencies and parastaltals in Nigeria to the extent, many consider some of them duplicitous. This presumption is greased by the inactivity of most of these agencies, which are empowered by law, with clearly defined mandates, but have sank into obscurity because of succeeding  weak leaderships.

That was the fate of the National Biotechnology Development Agency, (NABDA) until an amazon, a tested scientist/ academic, and a pioneer staff of the agency, Professor Mrs. Lucy Jumeyi Ogbadu was elevated to the position of Director General/Chief Executive Officer (DG/CEO)  in November, 2013.

The Professor of Microbiology, a visionary of a rare breed, assessed the vast mandate of NABDA and the gulf in the unfulfilled dreams, as reflected in its mandate and vision. She immediately elected upon herself, to positively alter the equation in Biotechnology application and utilization in Nigeria.

And barely four years on the saddle, Ogbadu has advertised a clear difference and departure from the culture of previous indolent leaderships of the agency. She has not only increased the visibility of NABDA in the areas of agriculture, medical, environment and genomics; but opened the agency’s doors for multifarious partnerships with institutions and countries.

NABDA has now initiated unprecedented researches and development   in various fields to provide solutions to the ever-afflicting problems of Nigerians which biotechnology aims to resolve.

The DG/CEO’s knowledge and privileged position as a pioneering staff of the agency compelled a deep appreciation of the core mandate of NABDA, which is the “Promotion, coordination and deployment of cutting-edge biotechnology research & development, processes and products for the socio-economic well-being of the nation.”

And her desire to fully consummate the agency’s vision in promoting biotechnology activities that positively respond to national aspirations on food security, job/wealth creation, affordable healthcare delivery and sustainable environment, Professor Ogbadu ventured into a scientific arena seemingly reserved for men. She has successfully proven that women are sometimes more competent than men, with her accomplishments at NABDA. This is in spite prejudices against leadership of women in Africa, which erects a psychological inferiority complex in them, coupled with some religious inhibitions.

The bio-technologist and innovator of towering credentials and the Vice President of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) has gripped  the Biotechnological  space  for Nigerians beneficially in  agriculture, medicine, the environment and genomics.

NABDA is in the process of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal University, Otuoke (FUO) for a Biotechnology Resources Centre  in the varsity intended  for  use as hub in  developing research and manpower in biotechnology to service the agency and Nigerians.

At the familiarity visit, the Director, Bioresources Development Centre, Odi, Mr. Habu Josiah who doubles as Coordinating Director of the Bioresources Development Centres  in  the six Geo-ecological Zones in Nigeria, also  introduced to FUO  its products,  developed through biotechnology techniques , which have the potency to generate more jobs for Nigerians.

NABDA under Professor has delved into medical research on very disturbing and debilitating public ailments prevalent in Nigeria and Africa generally.  The agency’s scientists in partnership with the private sector and Nigerian medical experts in diaspora have dabbled into research on finding a permanent cure for Sickle Cell Anaemia. It is also; set to produce drugs for the treatment of the age-long affliction of Nigerians by cancer.

These are novel technological thoughts in Nigeria and the agency is optimistic of positive indicators in the development of such medical remedies in the nearest future. The agency has devoted time, committed resources and energy to deliver this technological breakthrough to Nigerians, which she believes is a problem of the black people and only the same people can rescue themselves.

And her desperation to resurrect the hitherto suppressed potentials of NABDA, the DG also conscripted the agency into partnership with the African University of Science and Technology, which has reached impressive levels in producing drugs for the treatment of cancer ailments in patients.

And all Nigerians are aware, cancer has remained an incurable ailment since its discovery.

In addition, Professor Ogbadu, famed as a workaholic has spread  the agencies  tentacles to Cuba, where it has signed a partnership agreement with that South American country for technology-transfer for  the  production of  vaccines against other  killer diseases, such as typhoid and  the likes.  And innovatively, Nigerian scientists are poised to produce vaccines that are “thermo-durable”, or “thermo-resistant” to ensure effective storage even without electricity.

She is concerned about the sudden stoppage of the production of human vaccines in Nigeria. She is on the neck of all stakeholders; with pleas to enable the agency revive this culture, which was very pronounced in the 1960s.

It was based on this conviction and the competence of NABDA  to achieve this feat that  when she appeared for 2017 budget defence, she  made a passionate plea to  the House of Reps  to assist the agency in reviving  the  Bioresource development centres,  through allocation of funds for their  development across the country .

She hopes that with this done, the medicinal value crop species viable for vaccine production, lying waste in the laboratories for over 15 years would be   utilized through cultivation to support the project of revitalization of vaccine production in Nigeria.

Having foresighted the severe shortfall in the production of fish for domestic consumption, NABDA has set out to bridge the gap. While Nigeria produces a mere 1.1 million metric tons of fish yearly, its consumption rate stands at about 3.2 million metric tons within the same period.

Therefore, in conjunction with Bayero University Centre for Dryland Agriculture in Kano state, NABDA trained and graduated 38 females on capacity in fish spawning and breeding.

And there are plans to extend more of such training to other viable areas in order to meet Nigeria’s domestic demands of fresh and clean fish for consumption.

Similarly, NABDA is also in partnership with a private agro- solution provider company,  CONTEC Global Agro Limited (CGAL), and currently, various ways are being explored in the  partnership to launch  Nigeria as  the hub of improved agro-inputs for better  productivity of  multiple  crops in Nigeria. NABDA is digging into CGAL?s Tissue Culture Laboratories at Abuja to harness its   Tissue Culture (TC) technology for multiplication of quality seeds and plants for food security.

And when Professor Ogbadu hosted the Portuguese Minister of Science, Technology and Education, Professor Manuel Heitor, in Abuja, talks were entered on the interest of Portuguese government to partner with NABDA  to magnify technologies  towards improving  tropical agriculture.  Portugal has offered to assist NABDA’s scientific officers in manpower training, as it explored various areas of competence of the Portuguese to profitably collaborate with Nigeria, through NABDA.

Therefore, the likes of Professor Ogbadu are the few Nigerians who share the same vision with President Muhammedu Buhari’s “Change agenda” and deserves the support of the private sector, wealthy individuals and governments at all levels to explore greater depths of biotechnology at NABDA, especially in funding.

Scientific researchers are capital intensive, if the desired results must be achieved.  Precisely, and despite the economic recession, allocating  a paltry N2.2 billion to a viable,  and profit-oriented agency like NABDA as done in 2016  budget for both its  recurrent and capital expenditure  is  an unkind-cut and grossly insufficient to say the least.

The DG is patriotically driving the “change agenda” by blazing the trail in this uncommon field and the agency deserves a better funding support. Professor Ogbadu thinks talks and walks the Nigerian dream of a prosperous land and she deserves encouragement.

Odoma, is President of Africa Arise for Change Network and contributed this piece from Abuja