₦airaland Forum

An Abia-based journalist, Norah Okafor has sued the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC over the invasion of her home at Ehimiri housing estate Umuahia, Abia State on September 23, 2021, ABN TV reports.

Okafor is seeking compensation of N20m for Exemplary and General damage caused by this alleged invasion as well as a public apology for violation of her fundamental human rights from the anti-graft agency.

She insists that the invasion of her home by masked EFCC operatives on the 23 day of September, 2021 at about 1:36am without any notice or invitation by the EFCC for any investigation, violates her right to dignity of human person, personal liberty, and freedom of movement as guaranteed by Sections 34, 35, 37 &41 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.

ABN TV had brought you a report that Okafor's home was broken, doors and fences allegedly damaged by the EFCC operatives who forced their way into her apartment.

It was however discovered that they were in the wrong venue for what appears to be a sting operation.

Abia State Chapter of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has expressed concern over the invasion of home of Norah Okafor, a member of the union on Wednesday (22/09/2021) by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Port Harcourt zone,saying it is a national embarrassment, ABN TV reports.

The union in a statement on Saturday titled 'EFCC ON A WRONG MISSION IN A JOURNALIST'S HOME, A NATIONAL EMBARRASSMENT' expressed sadness dead of the night sting operation in which the EFCC officials allegedly busted into Norah's apartment after disconnecting the wire used to electrify the fence, scaled the wall and broke the gate key to gain unfettered access into the building.

Describing the incident as a depiction of a horror 'scene from a hit office box' in the victim’s account, Comrade Victor Ndukwe, Chairman of NUJ Abia State Chapter took a swipe at the EFCC officials over what turned out to be a wrong mission.

The union says, "After subjecting the poor lady and other occupants of the building to over two hours of grueling physical stress, emotional trauma and destruction of their properties in the name of searching for non-existent incriminating evidence, the operatives declared "we have just wasted our time."

"The declaration, in clear language, is a wholehearted, voluntary expression and admission of a disastrous omission of a mission; that they were in in the wrong place clearly for the wrong reason and at the wrong time. This leaves a sour taste in the mouth, to say the least.

"It is evident that this Gestapo-style invasion by the EFCC operatives was shy of due diligence and betrays the agency's claim that it arrested about 21 suspected Yahoo boys in Umuahia during that operation without any incident because it was preceded by due diligence and verified intelligence! Nothing could be farther from the truth.
You can't subject an innocent and a decent citizen to such horrifying, life-shortening, unforgettable experience and claim to have carried out due diligence based on excellent intelligence.

"It is common knowledge that in every of this kind of EFCC operation, nay any other security arm in Nigeria, is fraught with visiting a very high degree of both mental and physical torture on their targets who, oftentimes are innocent, as exemplified in the case of Norah.

"May we remind EFCC that it was this form of brutality visited on Nigerians, especially the youths and innocent, that birthed the nationwide #ENDSARS protest and we cannot forget the dire consequences in a hurry.

"It is trite that no society is without criminal elements. But in hunting down these criminal elements, the security agents must, as a matter of the rules of engagement, employ utmost discretion and apply a high degree of caution in tracking their targets as invading the homes of the innocent constitutes the worst form of violation of the fundamental human rights of citizens.

"The Council condemns in totality the midnight invasion of Norah's residence which amounts to a brazen violation of her fundamental human rights, a naked display, and awfully wrong application of power by the EFCC.

"The Council demands an immediate unreserved apology from the EFCC for this inexplicable wrong mission and remedy for all damages.

"In this digital age, it is high time the EFCC reviewed its modus operandi by deploying technology in its operations of tracking suspects, to end its constant picking on wrong targets and subjecting innocent citizens to untold torture and national embarrassment."

Abia State governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu on Thursday signed into law the anti open grazing bill recently passed by the State House of Assembly, ABN TV reports.

The state joins other states in the Southern region of the country to have enacted the law prohibiting open grazing in the region.

Southern governors had earlier in the year resolved to enact the law after a meeting, as a means to protect livelihood in the region and mitigate the incessant clashes between herders and farmers in the region.

Southeast caucus of the National Assembly has condemned the killings and destruction of property in the region by some criminal elements, calling on the security forces to fish out perpetrators and persecute them, ABN TV reports.

This was part of resolutions reached on Wednesday after an extraordinary meeting of the caucus which took place at the residence of former Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu in Apo Legislative quarters Abuja.

The caucus while expressing solidarity with the people of the region over marginalization in the Nigerian nation, it condemned in strong terms the incessant killings in the region, decrying mayhem being perpetrated on businesses and property of individuals by unscrupulous elements who hide under the IPOB sit-at-home order to commit criminality.

In a communique issued at the end of the extraordinary meeting and signed by all Members of the South East Caucus, it frowned at the recent disruption of Senior Secondary School Certificate examination in parts of the region, particularly at the Comprehensive Secondary School, Nkume, Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State, where property was burnt after the candidates and teachers were forcefully dispersed.

"The South East Caucus of the National Assembly held an extraordinary session on Wednesday, September 15, 2021, to review developments in the South East, particularly (a) The security situation in the region vis-à-vis the sit-at-home orders and (b) The detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

"Rising from the meeting, the Caucus:

"Expressed solidarity with our people of the South East over the marginalisation of the region in the scheme of things within the Nigerian commonwealth. The Caucus feels the pains of our people and their quest for equity, justice, and protection of their lives and property in every part of the country. The Caucus, therefore, resolved to continue to fight for a level-playing ground and an enabling federal system where Ndigbo are able to develop their homeland at their own pace and equally pursue their happiness and actaulise their enormous potentials in every part of the country, unmolested.

"Reviewed the sit-at-home orders by the IPOB and the mayhem some nefarious elements have seized the opportunity to visit on the lives, properties, and psyche of our people. The Caucus equally reviewed and rued the incalculable economic losses and hardships these have brought upon our region.

"Resolved to condemn in strongest terms the disruption of the ongoing Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination in some parts of the South East, particularly the incident at Comprehensive Secondary School, Nkume, Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State, where the English examination organised by the West Africa Examination Council, WAEC, on Monday, September 13, 2021, was ruthlessly scuttled by armed men, who chased away the students, teachers, and examiners before setting ablaze motorcycles belonging to the teachers. This is certainly not who we are as a people. On the contrary, we are a people, who have always cherished and encouraged learning from the ages. We are a people that fully appreciate the place of education in the liberation and enlightenment of the human mind and the socio-economic and political emancipation of a people.

"Equally condemned in strongest terms the incessant killings in the South East. This must stop immediately. We call on the security agencies to unravel the culprits behind these wicked acts and ensure that they are brought to book to serve as a deterrent to others" it says.

The lawmakers also says it noted with delight that IPOB has called off the Monday sit-at-home order and resolved to ensure that nobody uses them as façades to bring ruination on Igbo land.

The caucus therefore called on the people of the region to go about their lawful businesses, calling on governors and the security agencies to rebuild confidence in the people by not only ensuring the security of their lives and properties, but also ensuring that they feel safe as they undertake their legitimate businesses.

The caucus further noted that it, "Elaborately discussed the issue of Mazi Nnamdi and resolved to intervene. To this end we resolved to set up a committee to constructively interface with relevant stakeholders, the Federal Government and its relevant agencies towards finding a political solution. We will keep Ndigbo abreast of developments in regard.

"Appeal to our people not to allow anyone to destroy the South East region. The post-war South East was not built through government patronage, but largely by the sheer determination and sacrifices of our people, who refused to resign to fate or bow their heads in defeat. It is in Igbo land that you easily find hospitals, schools, roads, and other social amenities built by individual or communal efforts of the people, home and abroad, through the instruments of the town unions and other community organisations such as the age grades, Umuada, etc. The result is the comparative transformation witnessed in every nook and cranny of Igbo land post-civil war. Therefore, as a people, we cannot begin to undermine ourselves or become our own nemesis.

"Times like these call for introspection. We must also always bear in mind that our people thrive on industry, commerce, and the informal sector. Importantly, most of our people depend on daily income. Therefore, while we must fight for our rights and legitimately express our displeasures over every form of mistreatment, injustice, and inequity, we certainly cannot afford to be the proverbial lizard that ruined his mother’s funeral. Anything that threatens Igbo businesses, the peace, security, and stability of the South East threatens our very existence as a people. Consequently, bearing in mind that if we allow cracks in the wall, lizards will invade our home, we must all pull together as one people to discourage and resist any tendencies and actions, within or without, which pollute our business environments or encourages anarchy and instability in our region.

The Chief Medical Officer of Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Umuahia, Abia State, Dr Udo Orji Nnorom has died, ABN TV reports.

He died in the early hours of Sunday, an anonymous hospital source told our correspondent.

ABN TV gathered that Dr. Nnorom, a native of Nde Owuu, Ibom compound Arochukwu LGA, Abia State died after a brief illness.

All efforts by our correspondent to obtain further information from the hospital authorities proved abortive.

The late Nnorom who died 1:15 am Sunday has since been deposited at the morgue.

ABN TV reports that Resident doctors under the aegis of National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD have in the past 2 months embarked on a strike over issues bordering on their welfare.

Several interventions by the federal government to have the doctors back to work have not yielded results.

There are reports that a large number of doctors in the country are in a desperate quest for jobs overseas, especially UK, Saudi Arabia, and others where they believe their services are more valued.

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, former governor of Abia state and Chief Whip of the Senate is reportedly holding talks with Northern leaders and key political figures in Washington, United States of America, seeking amnesty for detained members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), ABN TV reports.

A Northern leader who did not want his identity disclosed said Kalu has been talking to him and several other Northern leaders on the need to grant amnesty to detained members of the IPOB.

The same source also revealed that it was the former Governor and former Director-General of Department of State Security, Lawan Daura with the full consent of the Federal government that secured the release of the Leader of the IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu during his first arrest and detention.  But Kanu could not keep to the terms of the release as he jumped bail and has been rearrested.

Another source revealed that Kalu has been in Washington in the past three weeks where he is holding different meetings with top officials of the United States on issues concerning IPOB. Attempts to unravel the discussions with US officials was unsuccessful as lips were sealed on the issue.

Sources at the presidential villa told our correspondent that the Federal Government is considering making the intelligence gathered on Sponsorship of IPOB open. The publication of the lists which have all the transaction details between the sponsors and the IPOB  was earlier discouraged as it may further heighten tension in the already tensioned  South East. 

Recall that the Nigerian Government had through the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said that France was the headquarters of IPOB’s funding. But the European country said it had no knowledge of IPOB’s presence in France.

The Federal Government later reached out to France, explaining that it did not accuse the country of being the sponsors of Biafra but that a large transfer of funds were made regularly from France to IPOB in Nigeria.

It was learnt that the Federal Government had asked the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit and the Central Bank of Nigeria to compile the needed information on the sponsors and hand it over to the French government.

The government will also write the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, which is tasked with the mandate of supervising, monitoring, and regulating Designated Non-Financial Institutions as regards compliance to Nigeria’s Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism.

The source, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised by the government to speak on the issue yet, said, “The French Government has reached out to us over the IPOB matter. It said we should give it account details and any other evidence showing that France was where the majority of the money was coming from.