₦airaland Forum

FirstPower’s Credibility Crisis Won’t Be Investigated Away

Titus Eleweke


FirstPower Electricity Distribution Company’s response to the Amudo controversy is telling ,not because it resolves the issue, but because it exposes a deeper problem the company appears unwilling to confront.
At face value, the company’s position is straightforward. It denies levying residents ₦2.1 million. It insists it spent ₦4 million to repair the vandalized transformer. It points to community leaders who now support its version of events. It highlights the journalist’s refusal to provide evidence.
On paper, that should settle the matter.
But in reality, it does not.
This is not simply a dispute between FirstPower and a journalist. It is a credibility test , one that goes beyond statements, meetings, and official denials. Because in Nigeria’s electricity sector, trust is not built on what companies say; it is shaped by what communities experience.
And those experiences tell a far more complicated story.
Across the country, there is a well-known, if rarely documented, pattern: when electricity infrastructure fails, communities often find themselves contributing money , directly or indirectly to restore power. These payments may not always be officially sanctioned, but they exist in practice. They thrive in the gap between policy and reality.
That is the context in which the Amudo allegation must be understood.
Residents had reportedly discussed contributing money for repairs even before any publication was made. There were cost estimates. There were suspicions of internal collusion following repeated vandalism. These are not details that emerge from nowhere.
Yet, after FirstPower’s intervention and notably, after a power outage that compelled the community to engage with the company the narrative appears to shift. The payments are reclassified as “voluntary,” now meant for security measures rather than repairs.
Such a sudden reframing does not inspire confidence. It raises a fundamental question: what changed the facts, or the pressure?
Equally troubling is the company’s handling of the journalist at the center of the story. Demanding that a reporter disclose sources is not accountability; it is a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of how journalism works. Source protection is a cornerstone of credible reporting, especially in cases involving potential wrongdoing.
More concerning are the allegations of intimidation.
Claims that power was cut to compel attendance at a meeting, that community leaders were pressured to deny earlier positions, and that the journalist was threatened and asked to retract his story paint a picture that goes far beyond a simple fact-finding exercise. Even if FirstPower disputes these claims, the perception alone is damaging.
Because perception, in this sector, is everything.
For many Nigerians, the idea that a community could be asked to contribute money to fix a transformer is not shocking — it is familiar. That familiarity is what makes this case so serious. It aligns too easily with what people already believe about how electricity distribution operates.
This is where FirstPower is missing a crucial opportunity.
Instead of approaching the issue as a reputational threat to be contained, the company should see it as a systemic problem to be exposed and addressed. If it truly did not authorize any levy, then the possibility remains that such practices could be happening informally within its operational environment.
And if that is the case, internal denial will not solve it.
What is needed is radical transparency.
FirstPower should go beyond internal investigations and open its processes to public scrutiny. Publish repair timelines. Disclose contractor engagements. Provide verifiable records of who pays for what. Invite customers across Anambra State to report similar experiences without fear of retaliation.
Such an approach would do more to restore credibility than any number of press statements.
Because the truth is simple: trust in electricity distribution companies is already dangerously low. Years of estimated billing, erratic supply, and opaque operations have created a deep well of public skepticism.
Responding to allegations with defensiveness — or worse, perceived intimidation — only deepens that distrust.
FirstPower now stands at a crossroads. It can continue to challenge the messenger and control the narrative, or it can confront the uncomfortable possibility that something within its system is broken whether acknowledged or not.
If communities are indeed contributing money to fix infrastructure that companies claim is their responsibility, then this is not just a misunderstanding.
It is a systemic failure.
And no investigation, however thorough, will restore public confidence unless it is matched by openness, accountability, and a genuine willingness to listen to the people the company exists to serve.

Nigerian Army Brings Smiles to Ihiala Pupils with Books, School Bags

Titus Eleweke

The Nigerian Army has distributed school bags and exercise books to pupils of Ogwumabiri Primary School, Lilu, in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The initiative is aimed at giving the pupils a sense of belonging, inspiring them to pursue academic excellence, and fostering an atmosphere of camaraderie between the Army and the host community.
According to a statement issued by the military the gesture forms part of the Army’s Civil-Military Relations (CMR) activities.
He explained that, in line with its tradition of promoting academic excellence and strengthening civil-military cooperation, the Nigerian Army decided to put smiles on the faces of the pupils by distributing quality school bags and exercise books. The aim, he noted, is to encourage the children academically while deepening the bond between the military and the community.
Presenting the items on behalf of the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu, Brigadier General S.A. Jimoh described the gesture as an act motivated by the Army’s belief that education is a lasting legacy and a vital tool for social engineering, economic well-being, and overall development.
He encouraged the staff and pupils of the school to make good use of the materials to improve their academic performance.
Furthermore, he assured the community that the Nigerian Army remains committed to providing maximum security—not only for the pupils but also for the entire community and the state at large.
Speaking to newsmen, the Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu, Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Ayeni, emphasized that children represent the future of any society.
He noted that without development, there can be no lasting peace, which underscores the Army’s decision to invest in the education of the younger generation as future leaders.
He added that peace is gradually returning to the community and encouraged those who had fled due to insecurity to return to their homes.
In her response, the headteacher of the school, Mrs. Grace Nnubia, expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Army for the kind gesture and pledged to maintain high academic standards in line with the values associated with the Army.
The joyful expressions on the faces of the children as they received the items served as a clear indication of their appreciation.
The community also expressed gratitude, noting that the Army’s presence has revived social interaction and activities in what was previously a deserted area.
The event was marked by an atmosphere of joy, camaraderie, and celebration among the people of Lilu community, particularly the management, teachers, and pupils of Ogwumabiri Primary School.
Among the officers present at the event were Colonel Madaki Yakubu, Commander of the 302 Artillery Regiment (General Support), Onitsha, along with other senior officers from the 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu.

Nigeria’s Legal Profession Slipping, Says Ejiofor

Titus Eleweke


Human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has raised alarm over the declining moral, ethical, and professional standards within Nigeria’s legal profession.
Ejiofor, in a statement issued on Wednesday titled “Midweek Musing: When Nobility Ebbs and the Bar Descends A Clarion Call to Rescue the Soul of the Legal Profession in Nigeria,” urged the Nigerian Bar Association, the Body of Benchers, and other relevant institutions to take urgent steps to salvage the noble profession.
Ejiofor, who holds the traditional title of Dunu-Ezeugosinachi, stated that not too long ago, there existed a defining era in Nigeria’s jurisprudential history when the legal profession stood not merely as a vocation, but as a sacred trust an honourable calling anchored in dignity, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to justice.
Regrettably, he said, that era has receded into memory and now remains only a shining benchmark in the annals of Nigeria’s legal heritage.
“It was, indeed, the age of giants an age exemplified by Chief Frederick Rotimi Alade Williams, the first indigenous Senior Advocate of Nigeria, whose forensic brilliance and courtly elegance set enduring standards. It was also the era of Chief Abdul-Ganiyu Oyesola Fawehinmi, whose courage and principled resistance to tyranny elevated the moral authority of the Bar and inspired generations.
“On the Bench, the judiciary was graced by intellectual titans: Justice Chukwudifu Akunne Oputa, revered as the ‘Socrates of the Supreme Court’ for his philosophical depth; Justice Adolphus Godwin Karibi-Whyte, known for the clarity and precision of his judgments; Justice Kayode Eso, a fearless guardian of constitutionalism; and Justice Muhammadu Lawal Uwais, whose tenure exemplified integrity and institutional strength.
“The profession has also been enriched, in its continuing evolution, by distinguished living legends such as Chief Afe Babalola, SAN; Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN; Chief Olisa Agbakoba, SAN; and Chief Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN,figures whose contributions have helped sustain the nobility and relevance of the Bar.
“In those halcyon days, the nobility of the legal profession was not symbolic; it was lived. Advocacy was an art, ethics a creed, and the courtroom a temple of justice where decorum, learning, and integrity were non-negotiable,” he said.

According to him, that noble standard now appears to be eroding at an alarming rate.
He noted that admission into the profession,once a rigorous process that tested both intellect and character risks becoming predominantly academic, with insufficient emphasis on moral and ethical grounding.
He said the consequences are both visible and troubling.
Ejiofor observed that a growing number of practitioners demonstrate diminishing familiarity with the refined language and discipline of the courtroom, replacing erudition with crudeness and precision with mediocrity.
“In some instances, courtrooms,once sanctuaries of reason have devolved into arenas of disorder, where conduct unbecoming of the profession occurs with little restraint.
“Even more concerning is the gradual reflection of these deficiencies within the judiciary itself. When individuals insufficiently grounded in the ethos of the Bar ascend to the Bench, the very foundation of justice is placed at risk. Inevitably, this raises a critical question: what quality of justice can emerge from such a system?
“A recent incident further underscores this concern. The exercise of judicial authority in ways that appear arbitrary,such as directing a legal practitioner to kneel in open court ,signals a troubling erosion of institutional decorum. While discipline in the courtroom is essential, it must always align with established legal standards and respect for professional dignity.
“Equally disconcerting is the increasing normalization of sharp practices within the profession. Procedural ambush, ethical compromise, and deliberate obstruction are, in some quarters, being deployed as litigation strategies.
“There are instances where even senior members of the Bar engage in conduct that undermines justice. Such conduct includes the filing of court processes and the deliberate removal to one’s chambers of all service copies intended for opposing counsel months in advance of the adjourned date, only to return to court on the day the matter is scheduled for hearing to effect service in open court,thereby frustrating and truncating the proceedings of the day.
“When objection is raised by opposing counsel, such a practitioner brazenly contends that the said counsel ought to have attended his chambers to collect the processes, and, in such circumstances, he regrettably enjoys the protection of the court. This is a personal experience.
“Such actions, whether isolated or systemic, represent not only professional misconduct but a direct affront to the administration of justice. When such behaviour is tolerated, or worse, shielded by rank, it fosters a dangerous culture where accountability becomes selective, eroding the moral fabric of the profession,” he stated.
According to him, this trend is unsustainable and, if left unchecked, threatens a systemic erosion of public confidence in the legal system,a consequence far more damaging than individual acts of misconduct.
The human rights lawyer stressed that the legitimacy of the law ultimately rests on trust, and once that trust is compromised, the very foundation of civil society is endangered.
The IPOB therefore called on the custodians of the profession to rise to the challenge.
“The Nigerian Bar Association, the Body of Benchers, the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, and the Council of Legal Education must take decisive steps to restore ethical standards, reinforce discipline, and uphold merit in the training, admission, and regulation of legal practitioners.
“The time has come to move beyond rhetoric to meaningful reform to recalibrate entry standards, enforce discipline without fear or favour, and revive the culture of excellence that once defined the Nigerian Bar.
“If the current decline is allowed to persist, history will render a harsh verdict: that a noble profession, once the conscience of the nation and a bastion of justice, was diminished through complacency and neglect,” he added.
He added that what is required to rescue the legal profession in Nigeria is courage,the courage to confront uncomfortable truths, enforce standards impartially, and insist that the legal profession must not merely exist, but must earn and sustain its revered place in society.

Why Nigerian Youths Are Turning Away From the Military — Ejiofor


Renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has stated that Nigerian youths are unlikely to respond to calls by the military to enlist unless they are assured that their lives will be adequately protected while serving the nation.

Ejiofor made this known in a statement titled “Monday Musing: Recruitment by Compulsion or Reform by Conviction? Why Nigeria’s Youths Are Reluctant to Enlist in a War They Fear Is Already Compromised.”
According to him, young Nigerians will only begin to see military enlistment as a noble and meaningful path of national service when they are convinced that their lives will not be casually jeopardized by internal betrayal within the system.
He argued that when a young man watches news reports of soldiers,often newly recruited and barely trained being killed in ambushes before they can even defend themselves, such a person cannot be blamed for pausing to reconsider the wisdom of joining the military.
Ejiofor who is Dunu-Ezeugosinachi further stated that the reluctance of many youths to enlist in the army does not merely stem from indifference or a lack of patriotism. Rather, he said it reflects a lingering climate of fear, uncertainty, and distrust sentiments largely shaped by the disturbing realities unfolding within Nigeria’s various theatres of conflict.
He maintained that patriotism should not demand blind sacrifice in circumstances where systemic vulnerabilities remain unresolved.
“Across Africa, and even within the West African sub-region, many countries face insurgencies of varying degrees. Yet, the frequency with which Nigerian troops appear to fall victim to devastating ambushes raises legitimate concerns that cannot simply be dismissed as the inevitable cost of warfare,” he added.

The statement reads in full :
In recent days, statements emanating from the military high command have suggested a renewed determination to significantly increase recruitment into the Nigerian Army. Particular emphasis appears to have been placed on encouraging, and in some quarters almost compelling, young men from the South-East to present themselves for enlistment in the armed forces.

Ordinarily, the defence of one’s country ought to command the spontaneous patriotism of every able-bodied citizen. The military institution, in every civilised society should represent honour, sacrifice, and the noblest form of national service. Yet, in Nigeria today, the enthusiasm that should ordinarily accompany such calls to duty appears curiously muted among many youths.

Why?

The answer lies not merely in indifference, nor in a deficit of patriotism, but in a lingering climate of fear, uncertainty, and distrust, sentiments shaped largely by the disturbing realities currently unfolding within Nigeria’s theatres of conflict.

Across several regions of the country, jihadist insurgents and armed terrorist groups continue to prosecute a relentless and ferocious campaign of violence. From the forests of the North-East to the volatile plains of the North-Central, these non-state actors have demonstrated a capacity for sustained assaults against communities and, increasingly, against the very security forces charged with confronting them.

One of the most devastating features of this conflict has been the growing frequency of military ambushes.

Indeed, ambush attacks, once considered exceptional occurrences within the theatre of war, now appear alarmingly routine. Reports of soldiers and security operatives being caught in meticulously orchestrated traps have become distressingly familiar headlines.

Only two days ago, in Plateau state, more than thirty security personnel, including local vigilantes assisting the military, were reportedly killed when their convoy fell into a deadly ambush by armed insurgents. Sadly, this incident is far from isolated. The catalogue of similar tragedies continues to lengthen with unsettling regularity.

It is important to appreciate the nature of an ambush in military operations.

An ambush is not merely a chance encounter between opposing forces. It is a calculated and deliberate tactic. It occurs when hostile forces, armed with prior intelligence regarding troop movement, position themselves strategically along the anticipated route of their adversary, striking suddenly and with overwhelming surprise. In such situations, the element of surprise, rather than sheer firepower, often determines the outcome.

While soldiers may occasionally fall in open confrontation during exchanges of gunfire, it is frequently during these ambush scenarios that casualties become most devastating. Entire patrol units may be wiped out before they are even able to properly engage their attackers.
This raises a profoundly troubling question.
How do insurgent groups repeatedly obtain such precise information regarding troop movements?

Military analysts across the world will attest that successful ambushes are rarely accidental. They are almost always preceded by actionable intelligence, intelligence that must originate from somewhere.

It is therefore difficult to dismiss the growing suspicion among the public that internal compromise and information leakage within the security architecture may be contributing to these tragic outcomes.

If hostile elements consistently know when troops are moving, where they are headed, and which routes they intend to take, then it suggests that the problem may not lie solely in the forests where insurgents hide, but perhaps also within the very institutions tasked with confronting them.

And herein lies the psychological dilemma confronting Nigeria’s youths.

When a young man watches news reports of soldiers, often newly recruited and barely trained, being cut down in ambushes before they can even defend themselves, he cannot be blamed for pausing to reconsider the wisdom of enlistment.

Patriotism, after all, should not demand blind sacrifice in circumstances where systemic vulnerabilities remain unresolved.

Across Africa and even within the West African sub-region, many countries face insurgencies of varying degrees. Yet, the frequency with which Nigerian troops appear to fall victim to devastating ambushes raises legitimate concerns that cannot simply be dismissed as the inevitable cost of warfare.

For the average Nigerian youth contemplating enlistment, the question is painfully simple:

Will I be fighting the enemy alone, or will the enemy already know I am coming?

This crisis of confidence is perhaps the greatest recruitment challenge confronting the Nigerian military today.

The issue therefore extends beyond recruitment campaigns, public appeals, or rhetorical calls to patriotism. Trust cannot be commanded; it must be earned.

If the Nigerian state truly desires to attract the brightest and most capable youths into military service, then it must first address the perception, and perhaps the reality, that internal sabotage continues to undermine military operations.

Those who betray troop movements, leak operational intelligence, or compromise strategic plans are not merely disloyal officers. They are, in the truest sense of the word, the most dangerous terrorists within the system.

For an enemy outside the gates can be confronted in battle.
But an enemy hidden within the walls is infinitely more destructive.

The military high command must urgently embark upon a comprehensive sanitisation of its ranks, strengthening internal intelligence, rooting out compromised personnel, and restoring operational secrecy within the command structure.

Only when young Nigerians are convinced that their lives will not be casually jeopardised by internal betrayal will they begin to view enlistment once again as a noble and meaningful path of national service.

Until then, recruitment campaigns may continue to be announced with great enthusiasm.

But the silence of reluctant Nigerian youths will continue to speak louder than the bugle calls of enlistment.

Inside Police College Oji River: A Training Institution Left to Decay

Titus Maduako Eleweke

Police College Oji River in Enugu State is one of Nigeria’s ten major police training institutions. Established in 1972, the college specializes in the training of recruit constables for the Nigeria Police Force. Over the years, it has remained a critical center for producing officers expected to confront the country’s numerous security challenges.
The college trains recruit constables and contributes significantly to the manpower needs of the Nigeria Police Force. Ideally, such an institution should be modern, well-equipped, and maintained to a high standard, with an environment conducive to learning and professional development. Regrettably, the reality on ground suggests otherwise, as the college now resembles more of a punishment camp for trainees and instructors than a national training institution.
A recent visit to the college during the passing-out parade of 100 police personnel trained for the Anambra State Police Command would give any concerned observer sleepless nights. The college lacks many of the modern facilities expected in a public training institution. Numerous abandoned buildings and non-functional facilities dot the premises, reflecting years of neglect.
The state of the environment raises serious questions about whether the Federal Government fully appreciates the importance of the institution in shaping the mindset and professionalism of police officers who will confront the nation’s security challenges.
It is often said that a person is as good as the environment in which he or she is trained. If this maxim holds true, Nigerians should not expect anything exceptional from an institution operating under such deplorable conditions.
For instance, the lawn tennis court within the college has been overtaken by weeds. The squash court building is deroofed and surrounded by overgrown trees and grasses. Even the field where police trainees conduct drills and physical exercises is untidy and poorly maintained. It is difficult to imagine a training ground where even the football pitch is overgrown with weeds during the dry season.
Ordinarily, one would expect that, for the sake of training activities, the dry grasses would be trimmed and the field properly maintained to ensure a safe and suitable environment for physical exercises.
The Mammy Market within the college, which is expected to serve as a basic commercial and social center for trainees and residents, leaves much to be desired. Its condition hardly reflects what should be found in a modern training institution.
By every standard, Police College Oji River is a neglected institution and unfit for the training of police officers who bear the national badge and shoulder critical national responsibilities.
The roads within the college are hardly better than village farm roads, yet many families, including children, reside within the premises. The level of decay and dilapidation in the college is so alarming that it would not be unreasonable to close the institution temporarily for a comprehensive rehabilitation before reopening it for such an important national purpose as police training.
In many respects, the college resembles an abandoned Federal Government institution occupied by squatters, although the residents themselves are legitimate occupants.
Honestly, it is difficult to expect officers trained in such an environment to develop modern professional perspectives. The influence of the environment on trainees is unlikely to be positive.
No matter how much is invested in the curriculum or training programs, if the environment is not conducive, the likelihood of producing poorly prepared personnel for the Police Force increases.
However, there is some encouraging news. Reports indicate that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has set up a committee headed by the Governor of Enugu State to oversee the rehabilitation of the college. This development offers a glimmer of hope that the institution may soon receive the attention it urgently requires.
It is therefore important for the committee to step up action immediately in order to rescue the college from total collapse.
Investigations by our reporter also revealed that snakes and other reptiles are commonly sighted within the college, especially during the rainy season.
Disturbed by the level of decay and dilapidation, the Deputy Commandant of the college, CP Uduak Out Ita, called on the Anambra State Government and other governors in the South-East to come to the aid of the institution.
She urged them to assist the college in the rehabilitation of roads and other critical infrastructure.
Reiterating the Deputy Commandant’s appeal, the Commandant of the college, Assistant Inspector-General of Police Emmanuel Simon, also urged the Executive Governor of Anambra State and other South-East governors to take a special interest in the institution.
According to him:“It is our sincere appeal that the regional police college responsible for the training of police personnel who contribute to the safety of this region should be given urgent structural attention.”
He noted that the condition of the roads and other structures within the college requires immediate intervention to create a better learning environment and boost the morale of trainees.
When asked by our reporter what specific areas he would like the governors to focus on, he responded that they should first visit the college and assess the situation themselves.
“The governors should come and look at the structures first and know where to start. My speech is explicit on that,” he said.
The Anambra State Police Command spokesperson, SP Ikenga Tochukwu, in his opening remarks as Master of Ceremony during the passing-out parade, also called for improvements at the college.
According to him, the institution faces numerous challenges.
“We want to use Oji River as an opportunity to reach out to other authorities regarding the welfare of personnel and the condition of the college,” he said.
The Special Adviser to Governor Charles Soludo on Security, Air Vice Marshal Ben Chiobi (rtd), who represented the governor at the parade, expressed concern over the condition of the college.
Clearly disturbed by the environment, he reiterated the importance of a conducive training environment.
“The quality of the environment has a lot to do with the quality of the people trained there. You are as good as the environment where you are trained,” he said.
He commended the Commandant and Deputy Commandant for their efforts despite the difficult circumstances.
“I appreciate the Commandant and the Deputy Commandant. I know you are not swimming in wealth and riches here. It takes resilience and patience to continue working under these conditions,” he added.
If you want, I can also upgrade this into a stronger newspaper opinion/feature article version (more powerful, investigative, and publication-ready).

Human Rights Lawyer Ejiofor Nominated for Law Personality of the Year 2026

Renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has been nominated for the Law Personality of the Year 2026 award.
The award ceremony is scheduled to take place on June 28 in Lagos State.
The honour is being conferred on him by the Organising Committee of the Eminent Man of the Year Awards & Fashion Show in recognition of his outstanding performance and contributions to legal practice.
In a statement issued by Ejiofor on Wednesday titled “Midweek Musing: Nomination , Law Personality of the Year 2026,” he described the honour as a recognition of his distinguished and unwavering commitment to the rule of law and the pursuit of justice in the country.
He stated:“As clearly indicated in their official letter of nomination, this honour is conferred in recognition of my distinction at the Bar, unwavering professional integrity, and notable contributions to the advancement of justice, the rule of law, and the growth of legal practice in Nigeria.”
According to Ejiofor, the nomination is both humbling and inspiring, and serves as a renewed call to greater service and deeper commitment to the noble ideals that define the legal profession.
Ejiofor, who holds the traditional title Dunu-Ezeugosinachi, further said:
“It is with a heart profoundly filled with gratitude and quiet joy that I respectfully notify my friends, admirers, Ezigbo Umuchineke, colleagues at the Bar, and my esteemed supporters of yet another humbling and superlative recognition.
I am pleased to announce that the Organising Committee of the Eminent Man of the Year Awards & Fashion Show 2026 has formally nominated me for the prestigious honour of Law Personality of the Year 2026.
June will soon be upon us, and preparations have already commenced. I therefore invite friends, associates, and well-wishers to begin getting ready, as all roads shall lead to Lagos on that special day for what promises to be a memorable and celebratory occasion.
Indeed, it can only be the grace of God. Without your unwavering encouragement, goodwill, and steadfast support, this recognition would not have been possible.
I remain profoundly grateful to you all for your continued support as we prepare to storm Lagos in grand style. Kindly take this as sufficient notice.
We continue to move forward.”

Mistaken $19,000 Payment Returned to Owner on Nnamdi Kanu’s Order,Ejiofor


The former lawyer to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and the lead counsel to IPOB, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has stated that it is mischievous for anyone to claim that he was paid to defend Kanu.
Ejiofor explained that the purported $19,000 paid into his account was credited in error and was immediately transferred to the person for whom it was intended, based on the direct instruction of Nnamdi Kanu.
He further stated that on Monday he would publicly disclose full details regarding the $19,000 that was mistakenly paid into his account.
According to him, immediately the money was credited to his account, Nnamdi Kanu contacted him and informed him that the payment had been made in error.
Kanu subsequently instructed him on the account to which the money should be transferred, and he complied immediately.
On Saturday, a woman identified as Madam Nnennaya Anya, who claimed to be the Head of the Directorate of Finance of IPOB, said she paid $19,000 to Ifeanyi Ejiofor for his services to Nnamdi Kanu.
In a publication by the Daily Post online platform, the pro-Biafra organization dismissed Ejiofor’s claim that he did not receive payment for representing Kanu during his trial.
According to Madam Nnennaya Anya, she had earlier disclosed on Thursday that $100,000 was paid to Mike Ozekhome, SAN, and Ifeanyi Ejiofor while they served as Kanu’s lawyers.
Anya also released details on Friday of a ₦10 million payment allegedly made to Ejiofor through an “Office Manager.”
Again on Saturday, IPOB, through Anya, issued another statement titled: “Further Clarification on Financial Transaction: Confirmation of $19,000.00 USD Payment to Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor for Humanitarian and Advocacy Purposes.”
The statement read:
“In continuation of our commitment to transparency and accountability regarding financial matters related to the legal defense and advocacy for our Supreme Leader, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, I, Madam Nnennaya Anya, in my official capacity as the Head of the Directorate of Finance for the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) worldwide, wish to provide this additional confirmation of a specific transaction.
“On the 9th of August 2021, shortly after the unlawful kidnap, torture, and extraordinary rendition of Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from Kenya to Nigeria, he directly instructed me to effect a transfer of Nineteen Thousand United States Dollars ($19,000.00 USD) to Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor. This payment was duly executed as directed, for humanitarian and advocacy purposes in support of his legal representation and related efforts.
“The funds were wired from our account at Chase Bank in the United States directly into Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor’s USD domiciliary account at Fidelity Bank Plc, Lagos, Nigeria, under the beneficiary name ‘Ben I. Ejiofor & Company.’ The transaction reference included details for ‘Humanitarian And Advocacy Pymt’ with the reason stated as ‘Business.’
“Attached herewith is the authentic bank statement from Chase Bank, serving as irrefutable proof of this transfer, including the date, amount, beneficiary details, and the associated wire fee of $50.00 USD.
“This disclosure is made in the public interest to address and refute any assertions or denials regarding the receipt of professional fees or payments for services rendered in connection with Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case. IPOB remains steadfast in ensuring that all facts are laid bare, countering misinformation, and upholding the integrity of our movement.
“We urge all stakeholders, supporters, and the general public to disregard any contrary claims and rely on these documented facts.”
However, Ejiofor has consistently maintained that his legal services to Nnamdi Kanu were rendered on a pro bono basis, stating that he neither requested nor received payment.
Reacting to the claims, Ejiofor issued a statement on Sunday titled “Important Clarification to Discerning Minds.” In the statement, he said that, for the sake of clarity and in deference to the truth, it had become necessary to place certain facts on record.
According to him, the payment in question was immediately retrieved by Nnamdi Kanu through a formal correspondence addressed to him, in which Kanu insisted that the payment had been made in error and was not for the purpose it was later alleged to represent.
He stated:
“Consequently, and strictly in compliance with his express instruction, the funds were returned on the very same day they were credited to my account. The account details of the proxy designated by him to receive the said sum were promptly provided, and the money was accordingly transferred back without delay.
“Furthermore, the instruction authorising the retrieval of the funds was expressly issued by Nnamdi Kanu through a communication that remains in my possession.
“For the avoidance of doubt and in the interest of complete transparency, I shall, on Monday, publish both the transaction receipt evidencing the return of the funds and the account details of the proxy to whom the money was transferred. These documents will speak eloquently for themselves.”
Ejiofor also alleged that those making the insinuations against him are individuals who are corruptly enriching themselves through the Biafra agitation.
He assured the public that he would make available the instruction letter from Nnamdi Kanu directing him to transfer the money to the person for whom it was originally intended.
He reiterated that he never charged or received any payment to represent Nnamdi Kanu in court.

27 Dead:Ejiofor Warns of Alleged Forced Islamization,Levies in Adamawa

Titus Eleweke

Nigerian human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has expressed deep concern over reports that armed jihadist militants descended on villages in Adamawa State in a brutal nocturnal assault that left no fewer than twenty-seven Christians dead.
In a statement titled “Weekend Musing: ‘Convert to Islam, Pay the Levy, or Abandon Your Ancestral Land’: Jihadist Terrorists Declare in Adamawa When Terrorists Issue Tax Notices and the State Appears on Administrative Leave,” Ejiofor lamented what he described as a disturbing situation in which terrorism appears to be assuming the role of a tax authority in some parts of Nigeria.
He described it as deeply troubling that bandits could reportedly issue ultimatums to indigenous Christian communities in Adamawa State, demanding that they convert to Islam, pay a religious levy imposed by the militants, or vacate their ancestral lands.
According to him, the Christian inhabitants were warned that they must either convert to Islam, comply with the imposed levy, or permanently abandon the communities their forefathers had inhabited for generations.
Ejiofor further stated that, most worrisome was the fact that the terrorists allegedly carried out their threats barely two nights ago, killing several residents as well as military personnel.
He noted that the incident represents yet another grim chapter in the unfolding tragedy across Nigeria’s North-East, where insurgent groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, jihadist bandits, and other allied militant factions continue to expand their theatre of terror with alarming boldness.
“Residents and soldiers were killed. Homes were set ablaze. More than one hundred civilians, mostly women and children, were abducted,” he said.
He added that as traumatised survivors in Madagali fled their homes and began counting their human and material losses, another disturbing report emerged almost simultaneously from Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
Ejiofor who is Dunu-Ezeugosinachi also pointed to another dimension of the unfolding crisis, noting that the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria recently alleged that Iran plays a significant role in the proliferation of arms and the sponsorship of jihadist terrorist activities in parts of Africa.
According to him, if such intelligence carries even a fraction of truth, Nigeria’s security establishment must treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves.

The statement reads in full:

WEEKEND MUSING

“CONVERT TO ISLAM,
PAY THE LEVY,
OR ABANDON YOUR ANCESTRAL LAND”:
JIHADIST TERRORISTS DECLARE IN ADAMAWA

WHEN TERRORISTS ISSUE TAX NOTICES AND THE STATE APPEARS ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE

Such was the chilling ultimatum delivered to Christian residents of Kirchinga and Garaha communities in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State, shortly before armed jihadist militants descended upon the villages in a brutal nocturnal assault that left not fewer than twenty-seven Christians slaughtered.

It would appear that, in certain parts of our republic, terrorism has now acquired the bureaucratic elegance of a tax authority. One merely receives a notice: convert, pay, or vacate. Compliance is optional; survival, unfortunately, is not.

The attack, which occurred barely two nights ago, marks yet another grim chapter in the steadily unfolding tragedy across Nigeria’s North-East, where insurgent groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, jihadist bandits, and allied militant factions continue to expand their theatre of terror with alarming audacity.

Residents recount that the terrorists did not merely attack; they issued instructions.

The Christian inhabitants were warned that they must either convert to Islam, pay a religious levy imposed by the militants, or permanently abandon the communities their forefathers had inhabited for generations.

In other words, the victims were courteously offered three choices: apostasy, taxation, or exile.
The language may differ, but history recognises this script all too well.

As the traumatised survivors of Madagali fled their homes and counted their losses, both human and material, another disturbing report emerged almost simultaneously from Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

There, armed fighters linked to Boko Haram and ISWAP reportedly stormed the settlement in large numbers, overwhelming a military position before sweeping into the town. The consequences were devastating.

Residents and soldiers were killed.
Homes were set ablaze.
And over one hundred civilians, mostly women and children, were abducted.

Thousands fled in terror, seeking refuge in neighbouring communities such as Pulka.

One must pause here to ask a question that has become painfully routine in Nigeria:

How does such a large force of insurgents mobilise, travel across territories, overwhelm a military position, abduct over one hundred civilians, and disappear into the night, apparently without prior detection?

This is not merely a tactical question.
It is a national one.

What makes these attacks particularly disturbing is not only their brutality but their scale, coordination, and confidence. Large columns of armed fighters move across vast terrains. Entire communities are invaded. Civilians are abducted in their hundreds. Yet the attacks often appear to occur with a curious degree of operational freedom.

It is a paradox Nigerians have grown accustomed to witnessing: the insurgents seem to possess remarkable mobility, while the state appears perpetually engaged in the post-event ritual of condemnation.

The question therefore persists:
How do these large armed formations assemble and move across vulnerable communities without early interception?

Until this question is confronted with sincerity and urgency, the nation may continue to witness tragedies that have become disturbingly predictable.

AN INTERNATIONAL WARNING

Adding another dimension to the unfolding crisis, the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria recently revealed that Iran plays a significant role in the proliferation of arms and the sponsorship of jihadist terrorist activities across parts of Africa.

If such intelligence carries even a fraction of truth, then Nigeria’s security establishment must treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves.

Because if external actors are indeed fuelling insurgent violence within our borders, then the challenge confronting Nigeria is not merely insurgency. It is proxy warfare by other means.

What was once described as sporadic insurgency now increasingly resembles territorial intimidation and ideological domination.

For the communities of the North-East, the crisis has moved far beyond a security problem. It has become a daily test of the fundamental purpose of the state: the protection of its citizens.

Until that duty is discharged with clarity, competence, and resolve, Nigerians will continue to ask a question that grows louder with each tragedy:

Who truly controls the night in these territories: the state, or the insurgents?

Ejiofor Welcomes Egbetokun’s Exit, Calls It a New Dawn for Nigeria Police

Titus Maduako Eleweke

Renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has described the departure of Kayode Egbetokun from the Nigeria Police Force as “the close of a chapter many would rather forget than footnote.”
In a statement issued on Wednesday and titled “Midweek Musing: When Tenure Outlives Trust — Egbetokun Years and the Crisis of Command,” Ejiofor offered a sweeping critique of the former Inspector-General’s leadership, arguing that his tenure was defined by deepening institutional distrust and unresolved structural deficiencies within the Force.
According to Ejiofor, the Police under Egbetokun’s watch grappled with persistent allegations of entrenched petty corruption, often rationalized as “field exigencies.”
He further alleged patterns of operational recklessness in crowd control and civil engagement, alongside what he described as a disciplinary architecture that appeared ornamental rather than functional.
He also pointed to opaque promotion and posting systems that, in his view, fueled perceptions of patronage over merit.
Such practices, he argued, weakened morale and undermined institutional credibility.
Ejiofor described Egbetokun’s extended tenure as controversial in both optics and internal morale, creating what he termed a “peculiar paradox” within the Force.
“Senior officers retired in sequence; contemporaries stepped aside; yet the apex remained immovable,” he noted.
He argued that in a disciplined hierarchy where progression is considered sacrosanct, such asymmetry inevitably breeds quiet resentment and suppressed morale among officers.
The human rights lawyer further observed that public commentary throughout Egbetokun’s tenure frequently lamented the persistence of “roadside taxation” under official uniforms, investigations allegedly susceptible to inducement, and selective enforcement in politically sensitive matters. He also criticized what he described as the inadequacy of transparent and independently verifiable accountability mechanisms.
“Such perceptions, whether universally fair or not, shape public trust. And in policing, perception is as consequential as performance,” he stated.
Looking ahead, Ejiofor urged the incoming leadership of the Police Force to resist cosmetic reforms and instead pursue substantive institutional rebuilding anchored on public trust.
He called for the publication of disciplinary outcomes, promotion criteria, and operational standards in accessible formats to enhance transparency.
He further advocated for a decisive end to what he described as an opaque patronage culture that corrodes morale and erodes professionalism within the Force.




The full statement reads:
MIDWEEK MUSING: WHEN TENURE OUTLIVES TRUST: EGBETOKUN YEARS AND CRISIS OF COMMAND.

The departure of Kayode Egbetokun from the helm of the Nigeria Police Force marks not merely the end of a tenure, but the close of a chapter many would rather forget than footnote. History, however, is rarely so indulgent.

His stewardship, prolonged beyond conventional expectations and defended with bureaucratic elasticity, unfolded against a backdrop of mounting public distrust, deepening institutional malaise, and a corrosion of professional ethos that had long been simmering beneath the surface. What was inherited as a fragile institution was not so much repaired as revarnished; and varnish, however glossy, cannot indefinitely conceal structural rot.

A Tenure Overshadowed by Institutional Fatigue

The Nigerian Police Force, even before this era, was no stranger to criticism. Allegations of bribery at checkpoints, investigative lethargy, politicised deployments, and opaque disciplinary mechanisms predated any single Inspector-General. Yet, leadership defines direction , and direction defines destiny.

Under Egbetokun’s watch, the Force grappled with persistent accusations of: Entrenched petty corruption masquerading as “field exigencies”; Operational recklessness in crowd control and civil engagement; A disciplinary architecture that often appeared ornamental rather than functional; and Opaque promotion and posting systems, which fuelled perceptions of patronage over merit.

One must ask , with no small measure of professional candour, whether institutional continuity was mistaken for stability, and longevity for legitimacy.
The extended tenure, controversial in both optics and morale, created a peculiar paradox. Senior officers retired in sequence; contemporaries stepped aside; yet the apex remained immovable. In a disciplined hierarchy where progression is sacrosanct, such asymmetry inevitably breeds quiet resentment and muted morale.

Institutional vitality thrives on renewal. When the upper echelons stagnate, initiative calcifies. Policy begins to wobble under its own weight. Innovation yields to caution; caution to inertia.

It would be historically incomplete, however, to suggest that decay was born in this era. The Nigerian Police Force has, for decades, wrestled with inadequate funding, welfare deficits, political interference, and inconsistent training standards. But leadership is measured not by the absence of inherited problems, but by the clarity and courage with which they are confronted.

Corruption within policing structures is not merely an administrative flaw; it is a constitutional contradiction. A Force empowered to enforce the law cannot be seen to commodify it. Where bail becomes negotiable currency, where investigation bends before influence, and where enforcement fluctuates with pecuniary persuasion, public confidence retreats into cynicism.

During this tenure, public commentary frequently lamented; The persistence of “roadside taxation” under official uniforms; Investigations susceptible to inducement; Selective enforcement in politically sensitive matters; The inadequacy of transparent, independently verifiable accountability mechanisms.

Such perceptions, whether universally fair or not , shape public trust. And in policing, perception is as consequential as performance.

With the reported appointment of Olatunji Disu as the incoming Inspector-General, the Force stands at a delicate inflection point. Inheriting a structure described by many as fatigued and reputationally bruised is no enviable task. Yet crisis, properly confronted, can become catalyst.

The incoming leadership must resist cosmetic reform. What is required is structural recalibration:
1. Radical Transparency
Publication of disciplinary outcomes, promotion criteria, and operational standards in accessible formats.
2. Merit-Driven Advancement
An end to the opaque patronage culture that corrodes morale.
3. Technological Accountability
Digital tracking of complaints, body, worn camera expansion, and independent audit frameworks.
4. Welfare Reforms
A demoralised constable cannot inspire public respect. Adequate remuneration, housing, and psychological support are not luxuries, they are safeguards against corruption.
5. Civic Re-orientation
The Force must re-learn that authority without courtesy is intimidation, and intimidation without legitimacy is instability.

Nigeria does not need a police force that salutes power and lectures the powerless. It needs one that understands that the uniform is not a costume of privilege but a covenant of service.

If the previous era taught us anything, it is that extended tenure does not equate to extended trust. Stability that does not produce reform merely stabilises dysfunction.

The Nigerian Police Force must decide whether it wishes to be feared, tolerated, or respected. Only one of these choices is compatible with democracy.

History will record the Egbetokun years. The question is whether the Disu years will merely annotate them or courageously depart from them.

Controversy Trails Akwa Ibom APC Congresses as Chairman,Party Chieftains Accused


But for the timely intervention of security agencies, bloodshed would have characterised the just concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) chapter congresses in some local government areas including Mkpat Enin, Esit Eket and other other LGAs, our Correspondent gathered at the weekend.

At the centre of the dispute, our Correspondent learnt, is the refusal of some key stakeholders in Mkpat Enin LGA, including the State APC Chairman, Obong Stephen Ntukekpo; the commissioner for works and political leader of the the zone, Prof. Eno Ibanga, and the House of Assembly member for the area, Hon. Uwem Imo Ita, who have been accused of failing to implement the party resolutions, because of allged vested interests.

"The decision from the party at the centre was that the former chapter Executive members should be returned, but the State Chairman of the APC, Stephen Ntukekpo; the Commissioner for Works, Prof. Eno Ibanga, and House of Assembly member, Hon. Uwem Imo Ita, met in Uyo to draw up a fresh list of executives without consulting critical stakeholders from Mkpat Enin," Comrade Ukpong Akpan, a youths' activist explained.

"The move has contradicted an earlier resolution reached by party leaders in the area to retain existing ward and chapter executives for another four-year term, because of their tested loyalty and performance," he recalled.

Sources within the party disclosed that prior to the February 18 and 21, 2026 congresses, an enlarged stakeholders’ meeting held on February 14 in Uyo had overwhelmingly endorsed the continuity of the current party structures.

The meeting, convened by the Executive Chairman of Mkpat Enin LGA and Local Government Coordinator of Party Affairs, Hon. Emmanuel Inyang, reportedly adopted a vote of confidence on the existing executives.

Prominent figures who endorsed the resolution of the meeting, it was learnt, included; Senator Ekong Sampson, Rt. Hon. Bernard Udoh, Hon. Otobong Ndem, Hon. Victor Ekwere, and council Chairman, Hon. Emmanuel Inyang.

Others were; former council chairmen; Hon. (Elder) Akparawa Udosam Umoatan, Hon. Ekanem Brown, Aniekpon Ekpo; South South Representative, North Central Development Commission, Obonganwan Rachael KufreAbasi Nse and Stakeholder and BoT Chairman, OML13, Mkpat Enin, Prince Nseobong Essien.

However, the alleged absence of Ntukekpo, Ibanga and Ita from that stakeholders’ meeting, and reports that they later compiled separate new lists in Uyo, ignited outrage among party faithful in Mkpat Enin, when stakeholders had agreed at a meeting that the current structures of the party, as duly constituted is tested, trusted, united and should be retained except, where there is need for changes or addition in the composition of the Excos at the congresses.

They further maintained that, the trio did not even adhere to the decision of the party that seven from the already existing 27 member party structures should be re-jigged with new members to accommodate the new entrants for equity, while 20 from the old Exco remained.

Party insiders claimed that as tension mounted at the congress venue, the trio hurriedly left the area and could not publicly present the purported list to the aggrieved members, thereby preventing what many feared could have degenerated into a violent confrontation.

Some party members accused Prof. Ibanga of introducing clannish considerations into party affairs, alleging that his actions were capable of destabilising the APC in Mkpat Enin barely months after joining the party.

Others argued that sidelining certain clans, including Ibiaku, in the distribution of party offices would amount to political injustice and exclusion.

And as such, Ikpa Ikono Clan has currently produced a senator; Ikpa Ibom Clan, the Local Government Chairman; Ukpum Minya has the State Chairman of APC, Commissioner for Works and Fire Service and House Member, while Ibiaku is zero, and it would be expedient for the position of Chapter Chairman of the party to be retained in Ibiaku Clan for equity and balance.

The fallout led to a boycott of the Saturday congress by several high-profile stakeholders, including former Deputy Governor Lady Valerie Ebe, former council chairmen and other senior party figures.

Amid the tension, Senator Sampson reportedly intervened to calm frayed nerves, assuring party members that their grievances would be addressed through appropriate channels.

He also commended Godswill Akpabio and Governor Umo Eno for their broader efforts at stabilising party structures across the state.

In contrast, party congresses in Ikot Abasi and Eastern Obolo LGAs, checks revealed, were conducted peacefully, with existing executives returned unopposed to serve another four-year term.

However, the protesters who stormed the Senate President Godswill Akpabio's Shelter Afrique, Uyo residence with their grievances were told to remain calm as their grievances would be communicated to the Senate President, who, according to his Personal Aide on Political Matters, was still in bed, but with a word of assurances that the anomalies would be corrected.

Cubana Group’s Delta Acquisition Not Under Litigation, Community Clarifies

Titus Eleweke

Members of the Ogbe-Ozoma Community in Delta State have dismissed as “laughable and misleading” a viral video circulating online in which certain individuals, claiming to be indigenes of Issele-Asagba, accused the community of unlawfully selling their land to Cubana Group.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the community’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor (KSC), the Ogbe-Ozoma Community maintained that the land currently under development by Cubana Group is legally owned, validly transferred, and free from any encumbrance, lien, or adverse claim under Nigerian land laws.
The community described attempts to link the property to unrelated litigation or an alleged consent judgment as misleading, defamatory, and calculated to create confusion.
It urged members of the public to disregard what it termed orchestrated statements driven by ulterior motives.
According to the statement, the land in question is not the subject of any pending litigation or consent judgment.


Clarification on Viral Video

“A few days ago, a viral video surfaced in which certain individuals, who purportedly claim to be indigenes of Issele-Asagba, accused our client, the Ogbe-Ozoma Community, of unlawfully selling their land to Cubana Group.
“In the course of the evident misrepresentations and misleading rhetoric that characterized the speeches in the said video, one Barrister Larry Oliseh, who now purports to act for the Issele-Asagba Community, asserted that the land in question is the subject of a consent judgment.
“This assertion, like the other statements made therein, warrants careful scrutiny in light of the facts and the applicable law,” the statement read.
Ejiofor noted that, given the speed at which unverified information spreads on social media, it had become necessary to issue a formal clarification.
He stated that his firm has acted as solicitors to the Ogbe-Ozoma Community, Okpanam Quarters, for over five years and is fully conversant with the history and facts surrounding the land. He said it was imperative to correct false and misleading narratives being circulated among the public.


The statement reads;

For the avoidance of doubt, we state as follows:

1. Ownership and Title:
The land upon which Cubana Group is currently undertaking development in Asaba, Delta State, forms part of the ancestral inheritance of the Ogbe-Ozoma Community, Okpanam Quarters, held by them from time immemorial. The said land was validly, lawfully, and legitimately sold by the community to Cubana Group, and title was duly transferred in accordance with all applicable laws.

2. No History of Litigation:
The said land has never been the subject of any dispute, litigation, or court proceedings before any court in Delta State or elsewhere.

3. Public Development:
It is to be observed that the flag-off of development activities by Cubana Group was conducted openly and was widely covered by members of the press, underscoring the transparency of the transaction and the ongoing development.

4. No Pending Action and Statutory Compliance:
There was no pending legal action before, during, or after the acquisition of the land by Cubana Group. Indeed, upon fulfilling all statutory requirements under the Land Use Act, Cubana Group was duly granted a Certificate of Occupancy in respect of the said land.

5. Distinction from Pending Suit:
The land purportedly referred to in the alleged consent judgment by counsel to Issele Azagba relates to an entirely different parcel of land, which remains the subject of litigation in Suit No. HCI/23/2021 pending before Onicha Ukpo High court, Issele-Uku Judicial Division,. We are counsel in that matter and can unequivocally confirm that it concerns a separate and distinct property.

6. Circumstances Surrounding the Alleged Consent Judgment:
It is particularly instructive that the same counsel now publicly asserting the existence of a consent judgment in favour of Issele Azagba, with respect to a property whose particulars and location are known to him to be entirely different in size and description, had previously acted for our client, the Ogbe-Ozoma Community, as defence counsel in the same matter wherein that purported consent judgment was procured.

During the pendency of Suit No. HCI/5/2012, the said counsel ostensibly connived with the then counsel for Issele Azagba to fabricate and file purported terms of settlement which were never brought to the attention of, nor authorized by, our client- the Ogbe-Ozoma Community, whom he represented at the time. It is our client’s position that certain signatures of persons unknown to the community, and in some instances not even parties to the suit, were forged, and that the document was surreptitiously filed and pronounced upon with unusual speed on the same morning it was filed in court as a consent judgment, without our client’s knowledge, consent, or participation in the proceedings of that day.

7. Steps Taken to Challenge the Judgment:
Upon discovery of the circumstances under which the said consent judgment was obtained, on land entirely different from the one presently sold to Cubana Group, our client promptly initiated appropriate legal processes to have the judgment set aside on grounds of fraud and fundamental procedural irregularities.

8. Subsequent Conduct:
It is equally noteworthy that upon being debriefed by the Ogbe-Ozoma Community, the same counsel, Bar. Larry Olise, proceeded almost immediately to institute further civil action on behalf of Issele Azagba seeking to enforce the said disputed consent judgment against our client. Our client has since taken decisive steps to report this conduct, considered unprofessional and unbecoming of a legal practitioner, to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for appropriate investigation and disciplinary action.

9. Conclusion:
In summary, the land presently being developed by Cubana Group is free from any encumbrance, lien, or adverse claim. The attempt to associate it with unrelated litigation or a disputed consent judgment is misleading, defamatory, and calculated to cause confusion.

Members of the public are therefore advised to disregard such statements, which appear to be orchestrated in furtherance of ulterior motives.

The facts remain clear, verifiable, and legally defensible"

FG Urged to Reveal Names of Citizens in Detention

Titus Eleweke

Renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has challenged the Federal Government to publish a comprehensive list of Nigerians currently held in detention across the country.

In a statement issued on Wednesday and titled “Midweek Musing: The Arithmetic of Abandonment ,Can the Government Still Count Its Captives? A Call for Candour on Nigerians Still in Kidnappers’ Dens,” Ejiofor called on the Federal Government, through the Office of the National Security Adviser and relevant security agencies, to release a detailed and verifiable statistical account of Nigerians presently held in captivity nationwide.

He urged the government to provide clear records indicating :The total number of persons currently in kidnappers’ dens;The number rescued within the past year;
The number confirmed deceased;
The number whose status remains unknown;The states and localities most affected; andThe operational measures currently being deployed to secure their release.

Ejiofor who is Dunu–Ezeugosinachi noted that transparency is not a sign of weakness but a fundamental instrument of accountability in a democratic society.
According to him, families of victims deserve the dignity of official acknowledgment and consistent updates regarding the fate of their loved ones.
“Even if their loved ones remain in captivity, they must at least know that the State has not consigned them to bureaucratic oblivion,” he stated.

He further argued that while government may face enormous security challenges, it owes citizens a minimum obligation of documentation and disclosure.
“A government that cannot protect every citizen must, at the very least, be able to count them. If we cannot secure them, can we not at least number them? Or has the arithmetic of governance also become a casualty of insecurity?” he asked.
Ejiofor’s call comes amid growing public concern over rising cases of abductions and insecurity across various parts of the country, with many families reportedly left without reliable information about the status of abducted relatives.


Read the full statement:


MIDWEEK MUSING THE ARITHMETIC OF ABANDONMENT:CAN THE GOVERNMENT STILL COUNT ITS CAPTIVES ?
A Call for Candour on Nigerians Still in Kidnappers’ Dens

Is it now heretical to enquire whether the Government has lost count of the very citizens it is constitutionally bound to protect? Or are we to assume that statistics, like the victims themselves, have simply vanished into the forests?

Under the grundnorm of our country, the sacred foundation upon which our constitutional democracy rests, the raison d’être of government is unmistakably clear. The social contract between the State and the citizen is not ornamental prose; it is a solemn covenant. Citizens surrender certain freedoms and entrust sovereign authority to government in exchange for security, order, and protection. Of these obligations, none is more pivotal than the protection of life and property.

Yet, across the length and breadth of the Federation, kidnapping has metastasised into a grotesque industry. From agrarian communities to bustling townships, no demography is spared. Only yesterday, reports emerged of another brazen attack in Abia State, where jihadist terrorist reportedly abducted residents and razed property. A fortnight ago, the nation recoiled at a chilling video displaying over 170 captives said to have been taken from Woro community in Kwara State , their abductors not merely committing crime, but curating theatre.

The audacity is as disturbing as the violence. These criminals do not merely operate in shadows; they taunt, they publicise, and they mock. They release videos as though issuing quarterly performance reports, while the State appears content to issue press statements of “ongoing efforts.” One is tempted , albeit reluctantly, to ask whether the kidnappers now possess a more reliable database of Nigerians in captivity than the institutions funded to prevent such captivity.

Consider the sequence in Kaduna State: after the ceremonious reception of 183 worshippers who regained their freedom, relief and applause briefly filled the air. Yet scarcely had the echoes of celebration faded before fresh abductions were reported in the same state. In Enugu, Katsina, Benue, Adamawa, Niger, and Borno, similar narratives persist, communities attacked, families shattered, numbers announced, numbers forgotten. The list grows; the accounting appears not to.

This is not a partisan lamentation. It is a constitutional enquiry.

I therefore respectfully call upon the Federal Government of Nigeria, particularly through the Office of the National Security Adviser and the relevant security agencies, to publish a comprehensive and verifiable statistical account of Nigerians presently held in captivity across the Federation.

Let the nation know: the total number of persons currently in kidnappers’ dens; the number rescued within the past year; the number confirmed deceased; the number whose status remains unknown; the states and localities most affected; the operational measures presently deployed for recovery.

Transparency is not an act of weakness; it is an instrument of accountability. Families of victims deserve the dignity of acknowledgment. Even if their loved ones remain in captivity, they must at least know that the State has not consigned them to bureaucratic oblivion.

A government that cannot protect every citizen must, at the very least, be able to count them.

If we cannot secure them, can we not at least number them? Or has the arithmetic of governance also become a casualty of insecurity?

History will judge not merely the ferocity of criminal gangs, but the fortitude, or otherwise , of those entrusted with sovereign power. Silence is not strategy. Opacity is not security. And statistics withheld are trust eroded.

The Nigerian people do not ask for rhetoric. They ask for truth.

And truth, like security, is not optional in a constitutional democracy.

Ejiofor Defends U.S. Troop Presence in Nigeria, Says Critics Fear Exposure

Titus Eleweke South East Editor

Renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has described the recent deployment of United States troops to Nigeria following bilateral security engagements with the Federal Government as a positive development for the country.
In a statement issued on Monday and titled “MONDAY MUSING: WHEN ALLIES ARRIVE — WHY THE DEPLOYMENT OF UNITED STATES TROOPS SIGNALS A TURNING POINT IN NIGERIA’S WAR AGAINST TERROR,” Ejiofor said the engagement represents a significant step in the right direction.

He criticised individuals opposing the Nigeria–United States security collaboration, expressing hope that the partnership would help expose those responsible for the spate of killings across the country.
According to him, if the deployment of foreign ground forces serves as a deterrent against terrorist networks, then it is a welcome and necessary intervention.
Ejiofor who is Dunu–Ezeugosinachi noted that the reported arrival of experienced American troops,supported by advanced logistical capabilities and operational resources,signals not merely military reinforcement but a demonstration of strategic seriousness. He added that the move indicates that insecurity in Nigeria is no longer viewed as a domestic challenge alone, but as a destabilising phenomenon with regional and global implications.
“Security collaboration between sovereign nations is neither novel nor sinister,” “It forms the foundation of contemporary counter-terrorism operations. The alliance between the United States and several African nations in confronting insurgent networks is well documented. Why, then, should Nigeria be treated as an exception, particularly when the scale of bloodshed has reached intolerable proportions?”he stated.
The human rights lawyer further argued that the collaboration has the potential to strengthen intelligence gathering and operational precision; disrupt terror-financing networks; expose enablers and logistical backers operating behind carefully curated façades; curb incessant attacks on defenceless worshippers and rural communities; and restore confidence in the State’s monopoly on the legitimate use of force.

He observed that the swift and vocal objections from certain ideological quarters have been particularly revealing.
According to Ejiofor, some fundamentalist voices,whose doctrinal rigidity, he suggested, has often coincided with escalating insecurity are now demanding exhaustive details of bilateral security arrangements and, in some instances, declaring the collaboration “unacceptable.”

He maintained that Nigeria’s prolonged insecurity has regrettably been exploited for political gain.
“Fear has been monetised. Outrage has been curated. Tragedy has been rehearsed,” he said.
According to him, the time has come to end the cynical weaponisation of bloodshed for sectarian advantage or ideological posturing.

Ejiofor added that if the collaboration with the United States succeeds in exposing not only the foot soldiers of terror but also their financiers, recruiters, propagandists, and ideological incubators, it will amount to far more than a military intervention. Rather, he argued, it would signify the dismantling of an entrenched ecosystem of violence,an outcome he suggested may explain the discomfort in certain quarters.
He added that if the deployment contributes to reducing incessant attacks on vulnerable communities, securing citizens of all faiths, and restoring deterrence against terrorist networks, it will indeed mark a decisive and commendable step forward.
“History,” he said, “will not remember those who issued the loudest objections, but those who stood firmly for the protection of human life.”


The full statement reads:

There are moments in the life of a nation when rhetoric must finally give way to resolve. The recent deployment of troops from the United States of America, following bilateral security engagements with the Federal Government of Nigeria, appears to mark one such moment.

For years, Nigerians, particularly vulnerable Christian communities in parts of Kaduna, Plateau, Benue, Niger and other affected states , have endured a cycle of carnage so relentless that it risks becoming normalised. Churches attacked during worship. Villages razed in the dead of night. Innocent citizens abducted and paraded in macabre propaganda videos by marauding extremists. And yet, in the face of this grim reality, we have often been treated to familiar refrains: “The situation is under control.” One is tempted to ask — under whose control?

The reported arrival of experienced American ground troops, supported by logistical capabilities and operational resources, signals not merely military reinforcement but strategic seriousness. It suggests that insecurity in Nigeria is no longer to be viewed as an unfortunate domestic inconvenience, but as a destabilising phenomenon with regional and global implications.

Security collaboration between sovereign nations is neither novel nor sinister. It is the very architecture upon which contemporary counter-terrorism operations are built. The alliance between the United States and various nations across Africa in confronting insurgent networks is well documented. Why then should Nigeria be treated as an exception, particularly when the scale of bloodshed has reached intolerable proportions?

If anything, this collaboration has the capacity to:Strengthen intelligence gathering and operational precision;Disrupt terror financing networks;Expose enablers and logistical backers operating behind carefully curated façades; Curtail incessant attacks on defenceless worshippers and rural communities; and Restore confidence in the State’s monopoly of legitimate force.

What has proved particularly revealing, however, is the swift and animated objection from certain ideological quarters. Some fundamentalist voices, whose doctrinal rigidity has too often coincided with escalating insecurity, now demand exhaustive details of bilateral security arrangements and, in some instances, declare the collaboration “unacceptable.”

Unacceptable?

One must admire the audacity. For years, innocent Nigerians have been unacceptable collateral. Worshippers have been unacceptable targets. Entire communities have been unacceptable casualties. Yet it is the prospect of international cooperation to curb these atrocities that suddenly triggers constitutional purism and procedural anxiety.
It is legitimate to scrutinise foreign military presence. It is prudent to insist upon sovereignty safeguards. But it is disingenuous to weaponise sovereignty as a shield for impunity, or worse, as a bargaining chip for political relevance.

Nigeria’s prolonged insecurity has, regrettably, been exploited as political capital. Fear has been monetised. Outrage has been curated. Tragedy has been rehearsed. The time has come to halt the cynical weaponisation of bloodshed for sectarian leverage or ideological posturing.

If the collaboration with the United States succeeds in exposing not only the foot soldiers of terror but also the financiers, recruiters, propagandists and ideological incubators behind them, then it will represent far more than a military intervention. It will mark the dismantling of an ecosystem of death.

And perhaps that prospect explains the discomfort in certain circles.

If this deployment contributes to minimising incessant attacks on Christian communities, securing vulnerable populations of all faiths, and restoring deterrence against terror networks, then it is indeed a step in the right direction.

History will not remember who issued the loudest objections. It will remember who stood for the protection of human life.

Power Over People: Nigerian Politicians Ignore 400 Deaths in a Week ,Ejiofor



Titus Eleweke


Renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer and Lead Counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has expressed deep concern over the killing of more than 400 Nigerians within a single week, lamenting what he described as the political leadership’s alarming indifference to the scale of the tragedy.
Ejiofor decried the fact that, rather than urgently addressing the worsening insecurity responsible for these deaths, Nigeria’s political class appears preoccupied with strategising for victory in the 2027 general elections.
The lawyer made these remarks in a statement released on Saturday, titled “Weekend Musing: When the State Negotiates with Terror and Campaigns on Corpses.”
“Nigeria has lost well over 400 prospective voters in a single week,” “Four hundred citizens who might have queued peacefully in 2027 now lie in shallow graves. As the attacks continue, one is compelled to ask: how many Nigerians will still be alive to exercise their franchise by 2027, if death continues to enjoy such unfettered electoral advantage?”Ejiofor stated.
He recalled that only days earlier, the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, was broadcast nationally welcoming and celebrating the “release” of 183 abducted worshippers.
According to Ejiofor, the public might be forgiven for mistaking the spectacle for a diplomatic triumph, until it is remembered that the abductors’ initial demand was a relatively modest ₦28 million, reportedly claimed as compensation for damaged motorcycles, before negotiations progressed to what was described as “serious business.”
“Today, we are told—without explanation—that the captives regained their freedom through the ‘efforts’ of the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services,” “How many terrorists were neutralised in this operation? None are named. None are paraded. None are prosecuted.”he said.
He added that the captives returned “newly clothed, well presented,” while Nigerians were subtly cautioned against asking what sums may have exchanged hands.
“One suspects,” Ejiofor continued, “that the truth will only surface when these merchants of terror decide to weaponise it.”
The human rights lawyer further argued that there has been no moment in Nigeria’s political history when the sovereignty of the state has been subjected to such a sustained, organised, and unapologetically destructive assault as the one currently unfolding.
“What distinguishes this moment,” he said, “is not merely the scale of the carnage, but the chilling predictability of the state’s response—or, more accurately, its ritualised indifference.”
While insecurity ravages the North-West, North-Central, and North-East, Ejiofor noted that Nigeria’s political elite appears engrossed in an entirely different project.
According to him, the Senate is preoccupied with “brazen and diversionary manoeuvres” designed to undermine the Electoral Act, rehearse the choreography of electoral manipulation ahead of 2027, and facilitate mass defections into what increasingly resembles a one-party state
The time for euphemisms is over. Nigeria requires an immediate, uncompromising national security emergency declaration, followed by decisive, transparent, and ruthless dismantling of these terror networks. Not tomorrow. Now. Because death has become so routine that it is now reduced to statistics, and statistics, as history teaches us, are the final stage before conscience collapses.

Read parts of the statement:

"The pattern is now tediously familiar. Terror strikes. Lives are extinguished. Communities are erased. The Presidency issues a solemnly worded press statement, condemning the attack, sympathising with the bereaved, mourning the voiceless dead, and, as if by incantation, announces the “deployment of security forces.” The curtain then falls. The cycle ends. Until the next massacre.

While Nigeria bleeds under a coordinated onslaught by bandit–jihadist terror networks, its political leadership appears curiously preoccupied, not with saving lives, but with perfecting defections, rehearsing electoral manipulations, and choreographing a glide into a one-party state. This is not merely a failure of governance; it is a masterclass in state acquiescence to mass death.

One is compelled to ask: if the Nigerian state is not complicit by conduct, omission, or deliberate acquiescence, what becomes of the intelligence warnings routinely issued ahead of these attacks? Why are the monsters not intercepted before they strike? Why do they move with uncanny precision, unchallenged and unhindered, save perhaps by those within the security architecture whose silence is more eloquent than words?

Pause, truly pause, and consider this: how is it that nearly every major terrorist operation succeeds, cleanly and conclusively, without resistance, interception, or consequence? Is this operational genius, or institutional connivance?

Yet, even as jihadist terror sweeps through the North-West, North-Central, and North-East, Nigeria’s political class appears enthralled by a different project altogether. The Senate busies itself with brazen, diversionary manoeuvres aimed at subverting the Electoral Act, rehearsing the choreography for the rigging of the 2027 general elections, and perfecting a mass defection into what increasingly resembles a one-party state.

For context, lest we forget priorities; Nigeria has lost well over 400 prospective voters in a single week. Four hundred citizens who might have queued peacefully in 2027 now lie in shallow graves. And as the attacks continue, one wonders,how many Nigerians will still be alive to exercise their franchise by 2027, if death continues to enjoy such unfettered electoral advantage?

Only days ago, the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, was broadcast nationally welcoming and celebrating the “release” of 183 abducted worshippers. One might be forgiven for mistaking the spectacle for a diplomatic triumph, until one recalls that the abductors’ initial demand was a modest ₦28 million, ostensibly compensation for damaged motorcycles, before negotiations could proceed to “serious business.”

Today, we are told, without explanation, that the captives have regained freedom through the “efforts” of the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services. How many terrorists were neutralised in this operation? None are named. None are paraded. None are prosecuted. The captives return, newly clothed, well-presented, and we are politely advised not to ask what sums may have changed hands. One suspects that the truth will only surface when these terror merchants decide to weaponise it.

Meanwhile, the people of Woro Community in Kwara State announce, publicly and desperately, that they are exhausted from burying their dead. Community figures place the death toll at over 300, a figure far removed from the sanitised arithmetic of officialdom. These were Nigerians. Indigenous people. Christians and Muslims alike. Voters, many, perhaps, loyal affiliates of the ruling party. Their crime was existing.

Almost concurrently, Benue State burns. In Gwer West Local Government, government sources timidly admit to 20 lives lost in a market shooting. Twenty voters whose PVCs will never again be required. While the dead are still being counted in Benue, Katsina erupts, with over twenty more citizens slaughtered, triggering public protests that speak louder than any official condolence.

And through it all, the political elite remain steadfastly focused, receiving defectors, manipulating statutes, and plotting electoral dominance, as though governance were a private inheritance rather than a public trust.

So, one must ask: with this velocity of killing, is the survival of Nigerians now subordinate to the survival of political ambition? Is the primary duty of the state; security of life, now a negotiable afterthought?

Why, for instance, does the Federal Government deploy battalions of soldiers to Woro community after they have been decimated? Why is protection retroactive? If intelligence existed, as we are repeatedly told, would a fraction of those troops not have saved hundreds of lives before the bloodletting?
Are soldiers now assigned to guard graveyards and deserted villages, offering security to silence?
Has the Nigerian state, perhaps subconsciously, accepted the superior firepower of bandit-jihadist networks, now financially fortified by ransoms, often paid, directly or indirectly, by the same government sworn to defeat them?
Today, Nigeria sleeps with one eye closed, not from caution, but from exhaustion.

Ejiofor: Killing of 162 Civilians in Kwara Was a Calculated, Ideological Attack





Titus Eleweke



Renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer and Lead Counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has described the killing of over 162 innocent Nigerians in Woro Village, Kwara State, as not merely a tragedy but a monumental moral collapse of the Nigerian state.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Thursday and titled “A Nation Bleeding: The Genocidal Massacre of Over 162 Innocent Citizens in Kwara State and the Urgent Need for Immediate State Action,” Ejiofor said Nigeria must confront the disturbing question of whether the lives of its citizens still hold any value within the corridors of power.
According to him, when death on such a massive scale becomes possible, predictable, and recurrent, the failure can no longer be described as accidental. Rather, it is systemic, profound, and deeply shameful.
Ejiofor condemned, in the strongest and most unequivocal terms, what he described as the barbaric and genocidal massacre of over one hundred and sixty-two innocent Nigerians in Woro Village, allegedly carried out by armed bandits and jihadist terrorists.
Ejiofor who is Dunu-Ezeugosinachi, Oraifite stressed that the atrocity represents far more than a breakdown of Nigeria’s security architecture.
“The incident constitutes a crime against humanity, an unambiguous act of terrorism, and a damning indictment of the Nigerian state’s inability or worse, unwillingness to safeguard human life,” he said.
The human rights lawyer called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently invoke his constitutional powers to declare a state of emergency in Kwara State, arguing that the gravity of the situation leaves no room for hesitation.
“The delay in taking decisive action is long overdue. This is not a political manoeuvre, but a moral, constitutional, and existential necessity,” “The scale, coordination, and sheer savagery of this massacre incontrovertibly demonstrate that conventional security responses have failed. Extraordinary threats demand extraordinary action.”Ejiofor stated.
He further rejected any attempt to characterise the killings as random or spontaneous criminal violence, insisting that the attack was deliberate, calculated, ideologically driven, and terror-induced.
“This massacre bears the unmistakable hallmarks of jihadist expansionism steadily encroaching upon western Nigeria and other parts of the country,” “To trivialise or sanitise such horrors under the convenient label of ‘banditry’ is to insult the memory of the dead and embolden the perpetrators of these crimes.”Ejiofor warned.


The statement reads:

There comes a moment when casualty figures cease to be statistics and become an indictment. Woro Village marks such a moment. The killing of over 162 innocent Nigerians is not merely a tragedy; it is a moral collapse. It is the point at which a nation must confront the unbearable question of whether the lives of its citizens still carry weight in the councils of power. When death on this scale becomes possible, predictable, and recurrent, the failure is no longer accidental, it is systemic, profound, and shameful.

I condemn, in the strongest, clearest, and most unequivocal terms, the barbaric and genocidal massacre of over one hundred and sixty-two innocent Nigerians in Woro Village, Kwara State, carried out by armed bandits and jihadist terrorists. This heinous atrocity goes far beyond a failure of security architecture; it constitutes a crime against humanity, an unambiguous act of terrorism, and a damning indictment of the state’s inability, indeed, unwillingness, to safeguard human life.

That defenceless men, women, and children could be methodically slaughtered in such staggering numbers within a sovereign republic ought to jolt the conscience of the nation to its very foundations. We have crossed a perilous moral threshold. The grim arithmetic of death has become routine. The counting of corpses is now treated as an administrative exercise. What was once shocking has become familiar. This is a national tragedy of the highest order, and it is wholly unacceptable.

Let it be stated plainly and without euphemism: this was neither random violence nor a spontaneous outbreak of criminality. It was calculated, ideologically driven, and terror-induced. It bears the unmistakable hallmarks of jihadist expansionism steadily encroaching upon western Nigeria other parts of the country. To trivialise or sanitise such massacres under the convenient label of “banditry” is to insult the memory of the dead and embolden those who perpetrate these crimes.

Nigeria now stands accused, not merely by its citizens, but by history itself, of counting the deaths of its own people through denial, inertia, and fatal hesitation. When more than 160 lives can be extinguished in a single community and the nations responds with bureaucratic platitudes, and weary resignation, then the sanctity of human life has been dangerously devalued.

This moment calls not for rhetoric, but for resolve; not for condolences, but for courage; not for routine responses, but for decisive and extraordinary measures.

Accordingly, I call upon the President to urgently invoke his relevant constitutional powers to declare a state of emergency in Kwara State. The gravity of the situation unmistakably demands such decisive action, and the delay in doing so is now long overdue, though not as a political manoeuvre, but as a moral, constitutional, and existential necessity. The scale, coordination, and savagery of this massacre incontrovertibly demonstrate that ordinary security responses have failed. Extraordinary threats demand extraordinary action.

Furthermore:
1. There must be an urgent and reinforced deployment of security and intelligence assets to Kwara State and its adjoining regions.
2. A transparent, independent, and time-bound investigation must be conducted, with its findings made public.
3.The Federal Government must abandon evasive language and formally acknowledge the terrorist and ideological character of these attacks, confronting them with the seriousness they demand.
4.The families of the victims must receive immediate humanitarian relief, adequate compensation, and sustained long-term support, far beyond perfunctory expressions of sympathy.

Let it be understood: silence in the face of mass slaughter is no longer neutrality. Minimisation is no longer caution. Bureaucratic language is no longer restraint. They have all become forms of complicity.

Nigeria must now decide, urgently, clearly, and without moral ambiguity, whether the lives of its citizens still matter. History will show no mercy to indifference, and posterity will not absolve excuses.

The dead of Woro Village demand more than tears.
They demand truth.
They demand courage.
They demand action—now.

Onitsha South Councillors,Stakeholders Endorse Emeka Orji for Second Term

Titus Eleweke

The councillors and critical stakeholders of Onitsha South Local Government Area have unanimously adopted and endorsed the Mayor of the Council, Hon. Emeka Joseph Orji, for a second term in office.
This collective decision followed a comprehensive review of his performance in office and a broad consensus that he should be given the opportunity to consolidate and complete the numerous people-oriented projects and reforms initiated under his administration.
In a communiqué issued by the Onitsha South Congress of Councillors after its meeting held on January 31, 2025, the councillors formally announced the adoption of Hon. Emeka Joseph Orji for a second term, citing his outstanding leadership, competence, and track record of service delivery.
The councillors and other stakeholders clarified that there is no established zoning arrangement or political formula governing the office of the Mayor or any other political position within Onitsha South Local Government Area. Consequently, the emergence of the incumbent Mayor followed a transparent, competitive, and merit-based nomination process.
They noted that Hon. Emeka Joseph Orji was duly nominated by party stakeholders and accredited delegates, alongside other qualified aspirants including the current Deputy Mayor purely on the basis of merit, capacity, and popular support, rather than zoning, sectional interests, or political sentiment.
According to the communiqué, the endorsement of the Mayor for a second term is neither sectional nor exclusionary, but rather a reflection of the collective will of the people.
“For the avoidance of doubt, individuals from all parts of Onitsha South Local Government Area, including all urban council areas, freely and actively participated in the nomination process under fair, open, and transparent conditions,” the councillors stated.

The Congress further explained that it had objectively reviewed the performance of the current administration over the past years and found Hon. Emeka Joseph Orji eminently qualified and deserving of a second term.
The assessment revealed notable and measurable achievements, particularly in the areas of:
Infrastructure development,
Urban regeneration and renewal,
Environmental sanitation,
Enhancement of security,
Recovery and protection of public and council properties,
Preservation of open spaces,
Firm enforcement of law, order, and civic responsibility
The councillors emphasized that these achievements have positively impacted governance, service delivery, and public order across the local government area.
In view of these accomplishments, the Congress unanimously affirmed its unalloyed and unequivocal support for the continuity of the present administration for at least the next two years, in the overriding interest of stability, sustained development, and good governance in Onitsha South Local Government Area.
They further commended the strength of character, resolve, and political will demonstrated by the current administration, particularly in matters of law enforcement and maintenance of public order, describing it as exceptional and second to none.
The Congress warned that any proposed departure from, or abrupt change to, the current administration—as being advocated by a few individuals—would be counterproductive and capable of undermining the stability and progress recorded so far.
Such actions, they noted, would neither serve the best interests of Onitsha South Local Government Area nor those of its peace-loving and law-abiding residents.
The councillors and stakeholders also expressed their deep appreciation to the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, for his numerous laudable projects within and around Onitsha South Local Government Area, as well as for his consistent support to the Council.
They acknowledged and commended the Governor’s unwavering commitment to grassroots development and respectfully called for continued collaboration and partnership between the state government and the local government for the overall benefit of the people.

IPOB Lawyer Ejiofor Demands Release of Igbo Youths Held at Wawa Barracks

Titus Eleweke

Renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Attorney-General of the Federation to urgently intervene and order the immediate release of hundreds of Igbo youths being unlawfully detained at the Wawa Barracks.


Ejiofor made the call in a statement issued on Wednesday titled “Midweek Musing: When Justice Looks North and Blinks South — The Irony of Selective Prosecution and the Silent Suffering of a People.”

He lamented that the detained youths have spent an unreasonably long time in custody without trial,describing their continued detention as a grave violation of their constitutional rights.

According to the human rights lawyer, there appears to be a disturbing disparity in the application of justice between Nigeria’s regions, particularly between the South-East and the North.
He alleged that individuals from the North who were implicated in acts of banditry and terrorism during the tenure of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, were never prosecuted, while Igbo youths are routinely arrested, blindfolded, and consigned to prolonged detention.

Ejiofor stated that Nigeria has tested the patience of the Igbo people for far too long and that the continued detention of these youths lacks any legal or moral justification.
He further referenced recent revelations from the Department of State Services (DSS) that emerged during the ongoing prosecution of the former Attorney-General, noting that these disclosures have shocked many Nigerians. According to him, during Malami’s tenure, the former Attorney-General allegedly failed, refused, or neglected to prosecute individuals predominantly of northern extraction whose names had been publicly listed years earlier by security agencies as alleged financiers of terrorism.
“These were not mere rumours or street gossip,” “They were conclusions reportedly reached through extensive intelligence investigations.” Ejiofor stated.

He noted that the irony of the situation is impossible to ignore.
He explained that those individuals were accused of funding some of the most violent non-state actors destabilising Nigeria, including Boko Haram, ISWAP, armed bandit groups, and allied jihadist networks.

Despite claims that their activities were supported by credible and verifiable intelligence, Ejiofor said prosecutions were mysteriously abandoned, investigative files were closed, and some of the suspects were quietly cleared.
“One is compelled to ask,” he queried, “was terrorism suddenly eradicated, or was it simply forgiven?”

A Different Standard in the South-East
Ejiofor contrasted this situation with developments in the South-East, where, he said, young people are routinely arrested and detained for extended periods based on mere suspicion, association, or profiling. While acknowledging the importance of allowing judicial processes to run their full course and avoiding premature conclusions, he maintained that the nature and content of the charges disclosed so far raise deeply troubling questions about fairness, equity, and the impartial application of justice in Nigeria.
He urged the Federal Government to act decisively, restore public confidence in the justice system, and end what he described as the selective prosecution and systemic injustice suffered by the Igbo people—beginning with the immediate release of all unlawfully detained youths at the Wawa Barracks.



Read the full statement:


MIDWEEK MUSING

WHEN JUSTICE LOOKS NORTH AND BLINKS SOUTH

The Irony of Selective Prosecution and the Silent Suffering of a People

There are moments in a nation’s history when the law, instead of standing tall as the blind guardian of justice, appears to tilt, ever so subtly towards convenience, geography, or ethnicity. Nigeria, regrettably, seems to be living through one such moment.

Recent revelations emanating from the Department of State Services (DSS), in the course of the ongoing prosecution of a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, have startled many Nigerians. While it is both prudent and responsible to refrain from drawing premature conclusions, given that judicial processes are still unfolding, the content of the charges so far disclosed, raises deeply troubling questions. Questions not merely of legality, but of conscience, consistency, and credibility.

Terror Financiers Known; Yet Untouched
One limb of the allegations reportedly suggests that, during his tenure, the former Attorney-General failed, refused, or neglected to prosecute individuals whose names, obviously, predominantly of northern extraction, had been published years earlier by security agencies as financiers of terrorism. These were not whispers from street corners, but conclusions reportedly drawn from extensive intelligence investigations. The irony is difficult to ignore.
These individuals were alleged to have funded some of the most vicious non-state actors tormenting the Nigerian state: Boko Haram, ISWAP, armed bandit groups, and allied jihadist networks. Their alleged activities were said to be backed by verifiable intelligence. Yet, prosecutions were abandoned, files closed, and clean bills of health quietly issued. One might ask: was terrorism suddenly cured, or merely forgiven?

A Different Standard in the South-East
Now, let us juxtapose this with what transpired in the South-East.


Speaking not from hearsay but from direct professional experience, I can state, without fear of contradiction, that my law office personally defended hundreds of Igbo youths, fathers, mothers, and breadwinners who were arbitrarily arrested across the South-East. Some were seized on their way to burials, others at their workplaces, and a few; only the “fortunate” ones, were eventually brought before the courts.

They were charged with offences grandly labelled as terrorism, membership of terrorist organisations, illegal possession of firearms, and other elaborately framed but manifestly unfounded allegations. Some of these charges were instituted before the Federal High Court in Abuja, at the instance and upon the advice of the very office of the former Attorney-General of the Federation, now under scrutiny.

After full trials, every one of those cases collapsed. The accused persons were discharged and acquitted. No evidence. No links. No crimes known to law.

Yet the damage had been done.

Some of the accused died in custody. Others spent months and years incarcerated, their lives and livelihoods destroyed; only to be told, belatedly, that they had committed no offence at all.

Meanwhile, the alleged real sponsors of terror, those whose activities shook the nation, remained free, visible, and curiously untouched.

Wawa Barracks: Detention Without End
Even more disturbing is the fate of hundreds of Igbo youths who have now spent four to six years in detention at the notorious Wawa Barracks, Niger State.

Their “offence”?

Some of them travelled to Abuja in 2021 to observe court proceedings relating to the trial of Nnamdi Kanu. They were not arrested at the court premises. Their vehicle was trailed to Lokoja, where they were apprehended while returning home to the East.

To this day, they remain in detention, without trial, without conviction, without justification known to law.

In a country governed by a Constitution, one struggles to understand how solidarity became a crime, or how spectatorship in a courtroom mutated into terrorism.

Justice Must Not Wear Regional Glasses
It bears repeating: this commentary is not an attempt to prejudge ongoing proceedings. Rather, it is a call to national memory in a country that too often forgets yesterday’s truths by tomorrow morning.

Selective justice is not justice.
Delayed justice is not justice.
Ethnic justice is a contradiction in terms.

A system that prosecutes the weak with enthusiasm while shielding the powerful with silence does not fight terrorism; it rebrands it.

A Final Appeal

I therefore, respectfully but firmly call on the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Attorney-General of the Federation to urgently intervene and order the immediate release of the hundreds of Igbo youths still languishing in unlawful detention at Wawa Barracks.

They have waited long enough.
Nigeria has tested their patience long enough.
The law has no justification left

BREAKING:Sit-at-Home Storm: Emma Powerful Steps Down as IPOB Spokesperson


Titus Eleweke

Comrade Emma Powerful, the Spokesperson, Media, and Publicity Secretary of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has formally resigned from his position.
His resignation followed the controversial sit-at-home order issued for Monday, February 2, 2026, which the leadership of IPOB reportedly considered detrimental to the development of the South-East region.
As a result of the directive, the IPOB leadership barred him from further speaking on behalf of the organization.
In his resignation letter, released on Saturday night, Emma Powerful stated that after deep reflection, consultation with his conscience, and careful consideration of recent developments within the movement, he had decided to step down from his role, effective Friday, January 31, 2026.
He said that the decision was not taken lightly.
“I have served with commitment, discipline, and loyalty, believing strongly in the ideals of justice, equity, and truth that originally inspired my involvement,” “However, the unfolding realities, internal contradictions, and emerging approaches being adopted in recent times have made it increasingly difficult for me to continue in this capacity in good conscience.”he said.
He further noted that continuing in silence or acting as though everything was normal would amount to a betrayal of his principles.

“It has become clear to me that remaining silent or proceeding as though all is well would constitute self-betrayal and a departure from the values I stand for. I believe that every individual must know when to step aside rather than compromise deeply held convictions,” he stated.
Emma Powerful announced that January 31, 2026, marked his final day of issuing any statements or press releases in any capacity connected to IPOB, warning that any publication or communication bearing his name after that date should not be attributed to him.
He expressed gratitude to those who supported his work and stood by him throughout his tenure.
“I remain grateful to all who believed in my work, supported my efforts, and stood for truth at various times. I wish everyone well as they navigate the path ahead. History will judge us all,” he added.

BREAKING: IPOB Bans “Emma Powerful,” Goes Fully Official


Titus Eleweke

The Directorate of State (DOS) of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has formally disbanded the use of the pseudonym “Emma Powerful”, directing that all official IPOB press releases must henceforth be issued only on the organisation’s official letterheaded paper.

This decision was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by Mazi Chukwukadibia Edoziem, Head of the Directorate of State of the Indigenous People of Biafra.

According to the statement, the DOS explained that the pseudonym Emma Powerful, which had been operationally used by the IPOB Publicity Secretary for disseminating press releases, has been abused, misused, and compromised, thereby posing serious risks to the movement.

The statement noted that IPOB considers it critically imperative to make these clarifications as part of its commitment to ensuring that the global IPOB movement operates in line with globally recognised and accepted institutional best practices.

The DOS outlined the following considerations:That Emma Powerful was originally an operational pseudonym used for IPOB press releases.
That any statement issued under the name of the Indigenous People of Biafra carries enormous responsibility for IPOB and its leadership.
That the pseudonym has been abused, misused, and compromised.

That the continued use of the pseudonym presents clear and present dangers to IPOB as a movement and to the Biafran self-determination struggle.
That certain individuals and groups have subtly deployed the pseudonym as a tool to disrupt the prevailing peace and security currently enjoyed by both Biafrans and visitors in Biafraland.

Consequently, the Directorate of State of the Indigenous People of Biafra resolved as follows:
In line with organisational standards, all press statements representing the official position of IPOB must henceforth be released exclusively on IPOB’s official letterheaded paper.

Arising from the abuse, misuse, and compromise of the pseudonym Emma Powerful, IPOB shall no longer use this name in issuing its press statements.

For the avoidance of doubt and in the interest of clarity, any press statement released under the pseudonym “Emma Powerful” going forward does not emanate from IPOB leadership and does not represent the position of the IPOB Directorate of State (DOS).

Furthermore, the Directorate of State categorically stated that it did not authorise any individual or group whatsoever to issue a lockdown or sit-at-home order across Biafraland on Monday, 2 February 2026

IPOB Lawyer Ejiofor:Feb 2 Sit-at-Home Order Fake,Emma Powerful Platform Breached




Renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has urged Ndi-Igbo to completely ignore what he described as a fraudulent sit-at-home order allegedly scheduled for Monday, 2 February 2026.

Ejiofor who is Dunu-Ezeugosinachi stated that the source behind the directive, operating under the alias “Emma Powerful,” has been compromised and is now acting against the collective interest of Ndi-Igbo.

He said that IPOB had long denounced all sit-at-home orders and has no connection whatsoever with the purported directive.

In a strongly worded statement titled:
“WEEKEND MUSING: A PHANTOM COMMAND, A HIJACKED MEGAPHONE, AND THE FINAL UNMASKING OF PURVEYORS OF FAKE NEWS UNDER CORRUPTED ALIASES – ‘EMMA POWERFUL on Saturday’,”Ejiofor addressed a publication that circulated widely, alleging that a total lockdown of Ala-Igbo had been ordered under the guise of a sit-at-home directive purportedly issued by “Emma Powerful.”

“Let it be stated clearly, unequivocally, and without ambiguity: this directive is fake—a phantom, a calculated falsehood,” Ejiofor declared.

According to him, following careful inquiry and diligent verification,particularly in light of the fragile but hard-won calm gradually returning to the region it became glaringly evident that the so-called “Emma Powerful” platform has been fatally compromised.

Ejiofor revealed that the peaceful global movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has formally and decisively disowned the fabricated publication. IPOB, he said, has categorically distanced itself from the false sit-at-home order and has directed Ndi-Igbo to go about their lawful and normal activities without fear or intimidation.
He further warned that any publication attributed to “Emma Powerful” should henceforth be treated with extreme suspicion, if not outright contempt.

“It is no longer sufficient to merely advise our people to ‘ignore’ publications from this source,” “The time has come for clarity and firmness.”Ejiofor stressed.
He stated that the platform known as “Emma Powerful,” in its present corrupted state, has positioned itself as an adversary to the peace, progress, and collective well-being of Ala-Igbo.
Ejiofor urged IPOB, as a peaceful global movement, to go further by publicly and definitively explaining to Ndi-Igbo why the platform has become unreliable, compromised, and hostile to the collective interest of the people.
“Silence, ambiguity, or polite distancing only leaves room for continued abuse and misinformation,” he warned.


The statement reads in full

Why Ndi-Igbo Must Ignore This Fraudulent “February 2nd Sit-at-Home” Order

Once again, the well-worn theatre of misinformation has opened its curtains, this time with a particularly lazy script and an insultingly predictable cast.

It is no longer news that certain segments of the Nigerian media have perfected the unedifying art of publishing first and verifying later, if at all. So long as a headline screams, trends, and generates clicks, accuracy becomes an inconvenient afterthought. Truth, it appears, is optional; virality is king.

Predictably, these outlets recoil in visible excitement whenever any information, real, recycled, or recklessly fabricated, is loosely attributed to “Emma Powerful.” The mere scent of that name, regardless of authenticity, is enough to guarantee instant circulation, feverish readership, and uncritical acceptance. One might almost admire the efficiency, if it were not so dangerous.

Late yesterday, a report was widely circulated alleging that a total lockdown of Ala-Igbo had been ordered under the guise of a sit-at-home directive purportedly issued by “Emma Powerful,” slated for Monday, 2 February 2026.

Let it be stated clearly, unequivocally, and without ambiguity: this directive is fake, a phantom, a calculated falsehood.

Upon careful inquiry and diligent verification, especially considering the delicate and hard-won calm presently returning to our homeland, it became glaringly obvious that the so-called “Emma Powerful” platform has been fatally compromised. It has been hijacked by vested interests whose business model thrives on fear, disruption, extortion, and the cynical exploitation of vulnerable communities.

The peaceful global movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has formally and decisively disowned this fabricated publication, categorically distancing itself from the false sit-at-home order and directing Ndi-Igbo to go about their lawful and normal activities without fear.

Going forward, the message from IPOB is unmistakable:
Any publication attributed to “Emma Powerful” should be treated with extreme suspicion, if not outright contempt.

Frankly, one cannot but express astonishment, bordering on disbelief, that at such a critical juncture, when relative peace is cautiously resurfacing in Ala-Igbo, anyone would recklessly circulate information capable of reopening wounds and inviting criminal infiltration. History has taught us, at unbearable cost, what happens when fake directives fall into the hands of violent opportunists masquerading as enforcers.

It is therefore no longer sufficient to merely advise our people to “ignore” publications from this source. The time has come for greater clarity and firmness. The platform known as “Emma Powerful,” in its current corrupted state, has positioned itself as an adversary to Ala-Igbo’s peace, progress, and collective well-being.

The peaceful global movement must go further by publicly and definitively explaining to our people why this source has become unreliable, compromised, and hostile to our collective interest. Silence, ambiguity, or polite distancing only leaves room for further abuse.

A masquerade that dances with fire should not be mistaken for a messenger of truth.

AlaIgboFirst

FG Charges Ozekhome: The Cost of Conscience in Nigeria — Ejiofor

Titus Eleweke

Renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has described the charges brought by the Federal Government against Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, as part of the heavy price activists often pay for strengthening democratic institutions and standing firmly on the side of justice.
Ejiofor made this assertion in a statement titled “Wednesday Musing: Activism, the Price of Conscience, and the Theatre of Persecution — When a State Puts History on Trial and Calls It Justice,” in reference to the case Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN.
He stated unequivocally that human rights activism has never been a “tea party.”
According to Ejiofor, the charges against Chief Ozekhome are born out of orchestrated hostility and represent yet another manifestation of the burdens human rights defenders are compelled to bear in the course of their work.
He noted that since the gravamen of the present charge traces its origin to the judgment of the United Kingdom First-Tier Tribunal concerning No. 79 Randall Avenue, London, it is both necessary and instructive,particularly for readers unfamiliar with the decision to highlight its most salient findings.
He lamented that certain actors have deliberately skewed the narrative surrounding the case in order to mislead the public.
Ejiofor further observed that activism, by its very nature, is an inconvenient vocation—one that unsettles entrenched power, interrogates authority, and steadfastly refuses to genuflect when the State chooses impunity over justice.
“Across jurisdictions and generations, history records a consistent pattern: those who insist on holding governments accountable are rarely thanked. Instead, they are repaid with suspicion, vilification, and, more often than not, persecution carefully camouflaged as lawful scrutiny,” he said.
He explained that from the grim era of military absolutism to Nigeria’s present, fragile democratic experiment, the nation’s political evolution has been shaped and at critical moments rescued—by men and women courageous enough to resist arbitrary power.
Ejiofor recalled that during the pro-democracy struggles of the 1980s and 1990s, a constellation of resolute voices rose in opposition to decrees, edicts, unlawful detentions, and the violent subversion of the people’s mandate.
“Among them were individuals who would later ascend to the highest offices of the land, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who himself paid dearly through forced exile, persistent harassment, and profound political sacrifice,” he stated.
Standing shoulder to shoulder with such political actors, Ejiofor said, were uncompromising legal sentinels—Gani Fawehinmi, Beko Ransome-Kuti, Olisa Agbakoba, Mike Ozekhome, Femi Falana, and numerous others—who weaponised the law itself against tyranny and dictatorship.
He emphasized that this was an era when activism was neither fashionable nor monetised; it was not curated for social media applause. It was costly. It was dangerous. And it was real. Some activists paid with their lives. Some were driven into exile. Others were maimed, detained, or imprisoned after deeply questionable trials.
Ejiofor further highlighted that Gani Fawehinmi, of blessed memory, went even further by challenging not only military juntas but, whenever conscience demanded, the Nigerian Bar Association itself—whenever he perceived a departure from its foundational ideals. That, he said, represented activism in its purest form: principled, solitary, and unyielding.
It is against this historical canvas, Ejiofor said that the present ordeal of Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, must be situated and properly understood.
He described Ozekhome as one of the trailblazers of Nigeria’s human rights movement, noting that he was a co-founder of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) in 1987 and has remained steadfast in the defence of civil liberties ever since.



Read parts of the statement:

THE FALSE NARATIVE ABOUT THE LONDON TRIBUNAL JUDGMENT

Since the gravamen of the present charge traces its origin to the judgment of the United Kingdom First-Tier Tribunal concerning No. 79 Randall Avenue, London, it is both necessary and instructive, particularly for readers unfamiliar with that decision, to draw attention to its most salient findings. Some people deliberately skewed the narrative.

The dispute before the Tribunal arose from an objection to the registration of the property by Chief Ozekhome and Mr Tali Shani who had given it to him for legal services rendered for him and General J.T. Useni (of blessed memory) , purportedly raised on behalf of a phantom individual styled “Ms. Tani Shali.”( the Applicant). Chief Ozekhome was the Respondent.

At page 33, paragraph 123 of the judgment, the Tribunal completely trashed Ms Tali Shani's case and false evidence against Ozekhome and held:

“In short, I believe barely a word of the documentary and oral evidence which has been put forward on behalf of the alleged Applicant (Ms Tani Shali). I do not accept that ‘she’ was ever a real living person. I do not accept that ‘she’ therefore died, whether in hospital or in a mysterious car accident on the road to Abuja. I certainly do not accept that ‘she’ purchased this property in London in 1993 in her ‘hey days’.”

The Tribunal went further. At paragraph 125, it found that:

“A large number of documents in this case purportedly establishing the identity of Ms Tami Shani , have been produced or procured by forgery or deception", including all identity documents, witness statements purportedly made by her and General Useni; fabricated medical letters, a fraudulent death certificate, and even a fictitious notice of her funeral and burial rites. They also included false identity documents, NIN, and ECOWAS Travel document.These findings were made against the Applicant, a fanthom not existent woman,and not against Ozekhome or his witness, a living man who testified before the Tribunal. Indeed, it was Ozekhome who wrote to various government agencies which held these documents to be fake and forged.

Crucially, and fatally for the false narrative undertaken by Ozekhome’s haters and traducers, the Tribunal made a clear and unequivocal distinction between the fictitious Ms.Tani Shali who purported to be General Useni’s mistress so as to make false ownership claim of the property, and the real Mr. Tali Shani who duly gave evidence of ownership on behalf of Ozekhome ( the Respondent).

At paragraph 168, the Tribunal tellingly held:

“Unlike the fictitious ‘Ms. Tali Shani’, a man going by the name of Mr. Tali Shani exists and gave evidence before me in that name.A certified copy of an official Nigerian passport was produced both to the Land Registry and this Tribunal, stating that Mr Tali Shani was born on 2nd April 1973.I do not have the evidence, or any sufficient basis, to find that this document - unlike the poor and pitiful forgeries on the side of the "Applicant"….is forged, and I do not do so.”
It is therefore unfortunate that inspite of these clear findings, some people still deliberately twist this particular finding to impute forgery of the passport on Ozekhome, when ownership of same was claimed by a living person who gave evidence and was believed by the Tribunal.

Indeed,the Tribunal completely exonerated Chief Ozekhome of any wrongdoing when it further found, at paragraph 200, that:

“There is no question of this being some sort of attempt by the Respondent ( Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN) to steal the General’s property without his knowledge.”
It further found that General Useni indeed owned the property,albeit registered in a false name of Mr Tali Shani; and that Useni obviously desired to and indeed transferred it to Ozekhome using the name Tali Shani ( par 202). It also found that Ozekhome’s knowledge as regards ownership of the property through the title deeds only commenced in 2019,and not 1993 when it was first bought.

THE MOST REVEALING IRONY

I recall vividly the only occasion Chief Ozekhome was invited by the ICPC, an invitation he dutifully honoured. He was informed categorically that the Commission’s initial position was that no such human being as Tali Shani existed at all. That illusion is instantly shattered by the fact that the said Mr Tali Shani who is a breathing living individual gave evidence before the London Tribunal on June 11,2024,and also made statement before the EFCC which had actually detained and interviewed him before the sudden emergence of the the ICPC on the scene.

One would reasonably expect that a serious investigative body would have referred to its sister agency and not commenced another fresh investigation probably to "shine".

Instead, in what can only be described as prosecutorial haste bordering on institutional embarrassment, the ICPC sprinted to court clutching a charge founded upon a premise already disproved by the findings of the London Tribunal.

One is tempted to ask, with measured sarcasm: was the investigation concluded before it began?


CONCLUSION: A CALL FOR SOBRIETY, NOT SENTIMENT

Against this overwhelming factual and judicial backdrop, the present prosecution appears less a quest for justice than an unfortunate misadventure in optics and reputational attrition against Ozekhome.

It is my firm, considered, and dispassionate view that this is precisely the type of case the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation would be well advised to urgently review and withdraw the charge from court.This would serve the public interest far better than persevering in a cause targeted at an individual.

Justice is not served by insisting on attempts at deliberately damaging Ozekhome’s high reputation and towering image.
The rule of law is not strengthened by vendetta.
And history is rarely kind to institutions that mistake persecution for prosecution.

This is my humble view

Monday Sit-at-Home Has No Legitimacy, Authority Today, IPOB Lawyer Ejiofor

Titus Eleweke


The lead counsel of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has declared that the Monday sit-at-home enjoys no legitimacy, commands no authority, and has no justification—legal, moral, or otherwise today.
In a statement on Tuesday, responding to the closure of Onitsha Main Market, Ejiofor described the sit-at-home as a “parasitic enterprise” that thrives on intimidation, coercion, and the deliberate instillation of fear among innocent citizens.
According to Ejiofor, “for the avoidance of doubt, and for the benefit of those who persist in convenient amnesia, the sit-at-home was formally, expressly, and unequivocally cancelled by the global peaceful movement, IPOB.

This cancellation was neither implied nor tentative, it was categorical. From that moment, the directive ceased to exist—in law, in logic, and in moral persuasion.”
“What followed thereafter was neither civil disobedience, nor political protest, nor ideological resistance. Instead, it was a criminal resurrection of a dead directive, hijacked, grotesquely distorted, and violently enforced by lawless elements led by Simon Ekpa, who thrive not on principle but on fear, extortion, and bloodshed. I have consistently maintained that the continued ‘enforcement’ of a directive that no longer exists kept alive solely through threats rests on no ideological premise, no legal footing, and certainly no moral authority.”
Ejiofor noted that this violence does not represent any IPOB policy.
“It is a parasitic enterprise, feeding on intimidation, coercion, and the deliberate manufacture of terror among innocent citizens,” he added.

The statement reads in full:
My position on the so-called Monday sit-at-home has been unambiguous, consistent, and a matter of public record from the very outset.

For the avoidance of doubt, and for the benefit of those who persist in convenient amnesia, the sit-at-home was formally, expressly, and unequivocally cancelled by the global peaceful movement - Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). That cancellation was neither implied nor tentative; it was categorical. From that moment, the directive ceased to exist in law, in logic, and in moral persuasion.

What followed thereafter was not civil disobedience, not political protest, and certainly not ideological resistance. What followed was a criminal resurrection of a dead directive, hijacked, grotesquely distorted, and violently enforced by lawless elements, ably led by Simon Ekpa , who thrive not on principle but on fear, extortion, and bloodletting.

It bears repeating: this violence is not a continuation of any IPOB policy. It is a parasitic enterprise, feeding off intimidation, coercion, and the deliberate manufacture of terror among innocent citizens.

My position has therefore never wavered.

I have consistently maintained that the continued “enforcement” of a directive that no longer exists, kept alive solely through threats , rests on no ideological premise, no legal footing, and certainly no moral authority.

It is against this backdrop that the decision to shut down the Onitsha Main Market must be interrogated with sobriety, proportionality, and an unflinching fidelity to the rule of law. Collective punishment of traders and law-abiding citizens, who are themselves hostages of fear, cannot, and must not, masquerade as security policy. It is neither strategic nor just.

Security governance, if it is to deserve the name, must be precise, intelligence-driven, and squarely targeted at the actual architects and executors of violence. To shutter an entire economic nerve centre in response to criminal threats is to punish productivity while emboldening lawlessness.

Any response that collapses the distinction between criminality and commerce risks achieving the perverse: legitimising the tactics of violent actors while penalising innocent enterprise.

My position, therefore, remains firmly and irrevocably unchanged:

The Monday sit-at-home enjoys no legitimacy, commands no authority, and possesses no justification whatsoever, legal, moral, or otherwise.

Why Abia Is Better Under Dr. Alex Otti

By Titus Eleweke

Recent comments credited to a former governor of Abia State and current senator representing Abia North, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, have once again brought public attention to the leadership of Governor Alex Otti. Speaking from his Igbere hometown, the former governor claimed that Governor Otti is “doing nothing” in Abia State and that he is merely painting roads allegedly constructed during his own tenure in 2007, asroads he could not specifically name.
Such statements, coming from a ranking senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, deserve scrutiny not emotion.
Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu further argued that the funds received by Governor Otti within four months exceed what he himself received in eight years as governor. This comparison is not only misleading but economically flawed. Anyone with a basic understanding of inflation and economic realities knows that money has no static value across time.
In 2007,One million naira had far greater purchasing power than it does today.
A golf car cost about ₦200,000 then ; today it sells for over ₦8 million.
A bag of cement was under ₦1,000; today it hovers around ₦11,000.
A tricycle (Keke Napep) cost less than ₦500,000; today it is above ₦4 million.
So where exactly lies the basis for such comparison?
This kind of rhetoric is unfortunate, especially from a senator expected to elevate national discourse. Even more puzzling was the claim that he worked for Governor Otti’s victory in 2023 but would no longer do so, preferring instead to work “for his party.” One must ask: what kind of interest drives a senator Orji to openly speak against the success of a sitting governor from his own state? Is governance now a partisan vendetta rather than a collective responsibility?
The truth remains clear to Ndi Abia: Dr. Alex Otti’s victory was divinely ordained. It was a mandate to reclaim the lost glory of Abia State,glory that had been systematically eroded by years of governance driven by personal enterprise rather than public good.
Today, Abia belongs to Ndi Abia, not to a privileged few.
Governor Otti came to power without the traditional political baggage—no godfather, no entrenched party machinery, no burden of maintaining questionable political chieftains. Against all odds, he emerged under the Labour Party, propelled by the will of the people and, many believe, by divine intervention.
For the first time since the return of democracy in 1999, Abians are witnessing governance that is inclusive, purposeful, and people-centered. The dividends of democracy are no longer restricted to political elites; they are reaching the streets, the markets, and the ordinary citizens.
Umuahia is wearing a new look,one befitting a state capital,Aba the same. Across Abia, there is visible evidence of planning, execution, and accountability. This is not accidental governance; this is leadership driven by vision.
Indeed, Dr. Alex Otti is arguably the only governor in Abia State who consciously dreamed of leadership, worked towards it, and now governs with a clear understanding of why he is in office. Others stumbled into power by political accident and used it mainly for wealth accumulation, leaving the masses to suffer.
It is therefore understandable why some former power brokers are uncomfortable. When a system built on personal gain is dismantled, resistance is inevitable. But Abia is God’s own state, and history shows that when the time comes, God raises leaders without apology.
The true Ndi Abia stand solidly behind Governor Alex Otti. Those attacking him most loudly are those whose interests are purely self-serving.
Let it be said clearly: Alex Otti will win Abia again, even without a political party,if such were allowed. Abians are wiser now. They can no longer be induced with a 20kg bag of rice to mortgage their future.
Abia has seen the difference.
Abia has tasted governance.
And Abia will not go back.


Titus Eleweke
Journalist, based in Anambra State

Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor at 51: A Relentless Voice for Justice and Human Dignity


By Titus Eleweke

At 51, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor stands as a compelling testament to the enduring power of conscience, courage, and fidelity to the rule of law.
By the immeasurable and unfailing grace of God, we mark the birthday of a friend, a comrade, and one of Nigeria’s most resolute human rights advocates,a man whose life’s work has been consistently defined by service to the oppressed, the neglected, and the voiceless.
Sir Ejiofor’s legal career is not merely a profession, it is a vocation grounded in moral conviction and public duty. For decades, he has devoted his intellect, time, and personal safety to the defence of fundamental human rights, frequently offering pro bono legal representation to the poor and marginalized individuals who would otherwise be excluded from access to justice in a deeply unequal legal system.
In a society where legal redress often remains elusive to the powerless, he has served as a steadfast bridge between the law and the people it was designed to protect.
His role as lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) exemplifies his unwavering commitment to principle over convenience.
He assumed this responsibility without financial consideration and sustained years of arduous legal battles anchored in constitutionalism, due process, and the supremacy of the law.
Through his persistent advocacy, numerous individuals,both members of IPOB and other Nigerians subjected to unlawful detention have regained their freedom. In doing so, he has reaffirmed the law as an instrument of liberty rather than repression, and as a safeguard against executive arbitrariness.
What truly distinguishes Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor is the universality of his struggle. His pursuit of justice is devoid of ethnic, religious, or political bias. It is firmly rooted in equity, fairness, and the inherent dignity of the human person. In courtrooms and public discourse alike, he has consistently deployed the law as a tool for restoring hope where despair once reigned, insisting that no citizen should be silenced by fear, intimidation, or state overreach.
A dogged and fearless advocate, Sir Ejiofor has repeatedly placed himself in harm’s way in defence of a more rational, humane, and just society. His sacrifices reflect a profound belief that the law must function as a shield for the weak and a restraint on the abuse of power. In an era marked by shrinking civic space and mounting assaults on civil liberties, his courage serves as both a rebuke to impunity and an inspiration to principled resistance.
As Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor marks his 51st birthday, we honour not merely the passage of years, but the enduring impact of a life committed to justice. We wish him continued strength, sound health, and renewed courage to persevere in the noble struggle for a Nigeria where justice is not selective; where citizenship carries equal worth; and where all people can live freely without fear, without intimidation, and without the indignity of being treated as lesser citizens.
At 51, his legacy continues to inspire. His struggle endures. And the cause of justice is stronger because of it.

Titus Eleweke is the Publisher of Insideoutnews Online Publication in Nigeria.

Northern Killings: Ejiofor Condemns Attack on Intersociety Boss


Titus Eleweke South East Editor


Renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has condemned recent attacks on Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi, Chairman of the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety).

The attacks accuse Umeagbalasi of allegedly exaggerating documentary evidence of persecution and terrorism in Northern Nigeria.
Ejiofor described the attacks as unacceptable, stating that they represent a further descent into what he termed “the theatre of the absurd.”
He noted that some overzealous propagandists have gone as far as suggesting without evidence, logic, or even minimal restraint,that Umeagbalasi’s documentary work formed the exclusive basis for recent policy actions allegedly attributed to the President of the United States, Donald Trump.
Ejiofor made these remarks in a statement titled “Monday Musing: When Power Confuses Noise for Truth — Paid Lobbyists, Media Charlatans, and the Futile Hunt for Journalistic Sources in a World at War with Terror,” which was issued on Monday.
According to him, such claims raise serious questions about the integrity of public discourse.
He asked pointedly: when did advocacy degenerate into farce, and when did journalism become answerable to lobbyists rather than facts?
He further queried:“Are we seriously being invited to believe that the President of the United States,presiding over the most sophisticated intelligence architecture in human history, encompassing the CIA, FBI, NSA, DIA, satellite surveillance systems, human intelligence networks, and allied security apparatuses across continents—would predicate consequential military or diplomatic decisions on a single documentary or civil society report originating from Nigeria?”
Ejiofor also posed a fundamental question to critics: whether there is, or is not, documented and ongoing persecution and mass killing of Christians in Northern Nigeria.
According to him, this reality has been independently reported and corroborated by reputable international bodies, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), and multiple United Nations agencies.

The statement reads in full:

There is a peculiar arrogance that often accompanies paid advocacy when it strays beyond its lawful and ethical brief. It is the arrogance that assumes repetition can transmute falsehood into fact, that intimidation may substitute for reason, and that the ancient and jealously guarded protections of journalistic independence can be suspended at the whim of power brokers masquerading as moral arbiters.

Over the past twenty-four hours, Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi, Chairman of Intersociety and a longstanding civil society advocate, has found himself at the centre of a carefully choreographed media lynching. His alleged offence is the claim that he exaggerated documentary evidence concerning the scale of Christian persecution and terrorism in Northern Nigeria. In a further descent into the theatre of the absurd, some overzealous propagandists have even suggested, without evidence, logic, or the faintest blush of restraint, that his documentary work constituted the exclusive basis for recent policy actions attributed to the President of the United States, Donald Trump.

One is compelled to ask: when did advocacy degenerate into farce, and when did journalism become answerable to lobbyists?

THE THEATRE OF THE ABSURD
Are we seriously being invited to believe that the President of the United States, presiding over the most sophisticated intelligence architecture in human history, encompassing the CIA, FBI, NSA, DIA, satellite surveillance systems, human intelligence networks, and allied security apparatus across continents, would predicate consequential military or diplomatic decisions on a single documentary or civil society report originating from Nigeria?

If this proposition were to be taken seriously, one might reasonably wonder why trillions of dollars are expended annually on intelligence gathering, when apparently a Google search and a Nigerian documentary would suffice.
Sarcasm aside, the suggestion is an insult not only to intelligence institutions, but to elementary common sense.
Let us, therefore, return to facts, those inconvenient intruders into propaganda.
1. Is there documented, ongoing persecution and mass killing of Christians in Northern Nigeria?
Yes. This reality has been independently reported by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), and multiple United Nations agencies.
2. Is Northern Nigeria afflicted by Boko Haram, ISWAP, jihadist bandits, and insurgent networks?
Yes. The North-East, North-Central, and North-West remain theatres of sustained asymmetric warfare.
3. Has Nigeria cooperated with the United States and other foreign partners in counter-terrorism operations?
Yes. This cooperation is neither clandestine nor controversial; it is acknowledged state policy.
4. Does Nigeria require foreign intelligence, logistics, and military assistance to combat terrorism effectively?
Again, yes.
These are not opinions. They are empirical realities.

SO, WHY THE NOISE?
Why, then, the orchestrated outrage?
Why the sudden hostility toward an Onitsha-based activist?
Why the manufactured controversy?

The answer, though uncomfortable, is painfully obvious.
Those who profit, financially, politically, or strategically, from insecurity will always resent transparency. Those whose relevance depends on controlled narratives will instinctively recoil when external scrutiny threatens to expose domestic complicity, incompetence, or collusion.

To such actors, foreign collaboration is dangerous, not because it destabilises Nigeria, but because it destabilises their revenue streams, influence networks, and carefully curated falsehoods.

Terrorism is inherently transnational. Its funding, ideology, logistics, and recruitment pipelines do not respect borders. To insist that Nigeria must confront such a hydra alone is either naïve patriotism or calculated dishonesty.

International collaboration in intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism training, surveillance, and targeted operations is not a surrender of sovereignty; it is an assertion of survival. Those who oppose it without offering credible alternatives are not patriots, they are enablers by omission.

LET JOURNALISM BREATHE

Journalists are not court clerks for lobbyists.
Civil society advocates are not foot soldiers for propaganda houses.
And the law does not contort itself to accommodate intellectual laziness or paid indignation.

The attempt to trivialise the legitimate investigative work and documented successes of Emeka Umeagbalasi is an assault not merely on one advocate/activist, but on the very oxygen of democracy. Today it is Emeka Umeagbalasi; tomorrow it will be any voice deemed inconvenient to entrenched power.

History is rarely kind to those who choose silence in the face of terror, or complicity in the presence of truth.

Let journalism breathe.
Let the law speak.
And let those who profit from chaos tremble at the prospect of light.

IPOB Lawyer Slams Former Governors Over Otti Attacks, Says Plot Won’t Fly



Renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has strongly condemned recent attacks on Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, by former governors of the state, describing their actions as the desperate manoeuvres of a failed political class and a strategy dead on arrival.
Ejiofor described the critics as a coalition of former devourers of Abia’s common patrimony, illusionarily assembled in a bid to wrest power from a performing incumbent.
According to him, their campaign is not only hollow but fundamentally disconnected from the political reality in Abia State.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Ejiofor declared that Abians are, for the first time in decades, tasting the true sweetness of democracy not as rhetoric, but as a live reality.
He warned that anyone plotting to reverse the gains recorded under Governor Otti’s administration should “submit himself to medical, if not moral, examination.”
The human rights lawyer stated that if Dr. Alex Otti were to contest an election today even as an independent candidate he would still be running against no one but himself, given the vacuum of credibility on the opposing side.
According to Ejiofor, many of those attacking Governor Otti are failed leaders whose records, in a just society, would place them behind bars rather than on political podiums.
He further warned Abians not to allow former governors,some of whom defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a bid to dodge accountability and imprisonment to derail the good work currently underway in the state.
“I recall predicting, with clinical precision, the outcome of the Anambra State gubernatorial election, noting that Governor Chukwuma Soludo campaigned not on promises but on visible performance. That election was, in effect, a referendum. The same logic applies in Abia today.
Having tasted deliverance, Abians will not return to Egypt. They have moved on.” he added.
Ejiofor said it would take either a complete stranger to Abia State or a wilful amnesiac to be unfamiliar with the state’s chequered and regrettable political history in the not-too-distant past.
For decades, he noted, Abia,aptly called God’s Own State was governed less as a commonwealth and more as a private estate, carved up among successive administrations whose legacies were defined not by development, but by plunder.

According to him, a disturbing pattern emerged,officials who served under successive PDP administrations,many of whom later sought ideological refuge in the APC for political oxygen and judicial soft-landing were repeatedly hauled before Nigeria’s most relentless anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
What continues to perplex Nigerians, and Abians in particular, he said, is not merely the monumental scale of the looting, but the astonishing audacity with which many of these individuals still roam freely, strutting through public spaces as though immunity were a birthright.
Even more troubling is their ability to secure elective offices, where flamboyance often substitutes for accountability.
Even more perplexing, Ejiofor argued, is the brazenness with which these same political relics now challenge an administration whose performance has been openly acknowledged even by the President and Commander-in-Chief as exceptional in the delivery of democratic dividends.
“One is compelled to ask: is this courage, or simply the desperation of men whose political pensions and relevance are under existential threat?” he asked.
Ejiofor recalled that under previous administrations, Abia consistently ranked among the worst-performing states in the federation, collapsed infrastructure, unpaid salaries and pensions, decayed healthcare systems, moribund educational institutions, and an economy hovering near rigor mortis.
Today, however, under the leadership of Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, Abia State is witnessing what Ejiofor described as a renaissance so profound that observers have half-jokingly referred to it as the Dubai of the South-East.
Roads long abandoned, he said, have been resurrected, Aba,the commercial heartbeat of the South-East has been reclaimed, re-engineered, and restored to productive life.
"Economic confidence has surged. Security has improved measurably. Civil servants now receive their salaries promptly. Contractors are held to standards, not sentiments. For the first time in a long while, Abians are witnessing governance at its peak.
Ejiofor posed a simple but troubling question for critics:“Is Dr. Alex Otti achieving what his predecessors swore was impossible?” he stated.
According to him, the answer though inconvenient for detractors is straightforward,prudence, transparency, discipline, and vision.
Yet, in what he described as a tragicomic twist, a handful of political fossils men whose public records read like draft charge sheets have summoned the audacity to threaten this progress.
They forget, he noted, that Nigeria’s current President has repeatedly affirmed that development is non-negotiable, regardless of party affiliation, with Anambra State standing as living proof.
Ejiofor lamented that today, political hirelings and charlatans,individuals who ought, by every moral and judicial reckoning, to be answering sterner questions have rediscovered their voices, chanting the hollow chorus of “change” as though Abians suffer from collective amnesia.
To imagine, he said, that the people of Abia will quietly surrender their reclaimed future to predators who once mortgaged it is not only insulting but delusional.
As the Igbo wisely say:“Ihe eji n’aka ejighi ugegbe enyo ya.”

Ejiofor asked pointedly:“On what platform, with what record, and by what moral authority do these former governors seek a ‘change’ in the status quo, after plunging Abia into suffocating debt and institutional decay?”
He listed some of the unprecedented achievements recorded under Governor Alex Chioma Otti’s administration to include:Massive road reconstruction across Aba, Umuahia, and major arterial routes,
Restoration of Aba as a functional industrial and commercial hub,
Prompt and consistent payment of workers’ salaries and pensions,
Transparent budgeting and strict fiscal discipline,Revitalisation of healthcare facilities and public schools,
Improved security architecture and community-based policing
Renewed investor confidence and private-sector participation,
Zero tolerance for fiscal recklessness and opaque governance.

“The list is long,” Ejiofor said, “and it is visible for all Abians to see.”
He called on Abians and the Nigerian public to continue to rise against corruption, speak against it, and condemn it wherever it appears and whoever wears its mask.
According to him, those who once served Abia and failed it together with their fellow travellers,must understand one thing clearly, the era of impunity is over.
“Progress has found a governor.
Abia has found its feet.
There shall be no retreat.” h added

Ocha Brigade Weighs Launch of NANS Units in Anambra Higher Institutions

Titus Maduako Eleweke

The Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (Ocha Brigade) has indicated plans to establish National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)–Ocha Brigade units in various higher institutions across Anambra State.
This was disclosed on Friday when a delegation of NANS, led by the National Clerk of the Senate, Comrade Daniel Vyonku, paid a courtesy visit to the Managing Director of the Ocha Brigade, Comrade Celestine Anere. During the visit, the delegation conferred on Anere the prestigious honour of Lifetime Membership and Patron of NANS.
Anere, who expressed delight over the recognition, thanked the students’ body for finding him worthy of the award.
He assured the delegation that the Ocha Brigade would intensify efforts to address the poor welfare and environmental conditions prevalent in private students’ hostels across the state.
According to him, poor sanitation in student areas is not just a students’ problem but a broader public health concern affecting the entire Anambra State.
“I have heard your concerns, and they are not new to the Ocha Brigade. We are already working on them. Unfortunately, some students’ union leaders are not serious about achieving a livable and healthy environment for students,” Anere said.
He revealed that the agency had previously attempted to establish NANS–Ocha Brigade units in higher institutions across the state but met with little cooperation from some NANS officials.
“We visited several institutions, but the response from NANS officials was discouraging. I want to see a situation where we partner effectively with students in various schools to achieve a clean and healthy environment for everyone in the state,” he added.
Anere agreed with the student leaders that many house agents and landlords are more interested in increasing rents and levies than maintaining proper drainage systems and healthy living environments.
“They do not care about the environment where students live. Unfortunately, students themselves are often docile and fail to report or complain about the poor conditions of their hostels,” he noted.
He stressed the need for collaboration between the Ocha Brigade and students to ensure habitable environments, especially in private hostels.
“Many people build hostels without understanding how to maintain them; their only interest is collecting money. Students must be responsible enough to alert the agency so that appropriate action can be taken,” he said.
Anere further stated that NANS leadership must be proactive in championing students’ welfare and protecting them from hazardous living conditions.
“As comrades, NANS leaders must be ready to truly work for the welfare of students. You must genuinely represent their interests,” he stated.
The Ocha Brigade Managing Director expressed regret that environmental hazards are more prevalent in student communities largely because students are reluctant to speak out about their plight.
He disclosed that Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo is deeply committed to students’ welfare, particularly regarding the environments in which the students live.
He also noted that the governor is resolute in eradicating not only cultism but other criminal activities within higher institutions across the state.
Anere announced that the Ocha Brigade would soon write to the heads of all higher institutions in Anambra State to reintroduce the NANS–Ocha Brigade initiative.
“We want to make hostel environments more habitable, especially those located off-campus,” he added.
Earlier in his remarks, the leader of the NANS delegation, Comrade Daniel Vyonku, while presenting the award to Anere, appealed to the agency to intervene more decisively in students’ welfare across the state.
He lamented the deplorable condition of many students’ hostels, noting that students cannot live in such unhealthy environments and still perform effectively academically.
Vyonku urged the Managing Director to extend the mandate of the Ocha Brigade beyond urban areas to student communities.
According to him, the two most critical challenges confronting students are poor public health hygiene and the exploitation of students by landlords and house agents who fail to provide basic facilities and welfare.
He stated that since the primary mandate of the Ocha Brigade is to ensure a clean and healthy Anambra, its enforcement should be extended to student-populated areas such as Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, and other higher institutions across the state.
Vyonku called on the agency to ensure that hostel managers provide standard waste bins and designated waste disposal points, warning that poor waste management could lead to serious health challenges among students.
He also urged the Ocha Brigade to regulate the activities of house agents in student communities to curb exploitation.
“We plead that the Ocha Brigade works with local students’ unions to register and vet agents operating within student zones to prevent fraud and double letting. We also want the agency to act as a mediator between students and landlords when hostels are delivered in poor and uninhabitable conditions despite full payment,” he said.
He further appealed for the recruitment of students as health ambassadors within their hostels to report environmental violations directly to the agency.
Vyonku also called on the Ocha Brigade to deploy its mobile court system to swiftly penalize landlords who ignore health warnings or agents who defraud students.
According to him, the initiative aligns with the vision of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo for a livable and prosperous Anambra State.
He stressed that by sanitizing hostels and regulating agents, the state would ensure that students can focus on their studies in a safe, healthy, and affordable environment.
The NANS Clerk explained that the National Service and Security Award is not given lightly but reserved for individuals who view security not merely as a job but as a foundation for national development.
He stated that under Anere’s leadership, the Ocha Brigade has restored order by transforming chaotic public spaces into organized and productive environments.
Vyonku further noted that the agency has fostered strong synergy between security agencies and the civilian population, setting a standard of discipline that serves as a blueprint for young leaders nationwide.
“To the National Association of Nigerian Students, Chief Celestine Anere represents the ‘Senior Advocate of the Youth.’ By accepting this lifetime membership and the role of patron, he is bridging the gap between the current administration and the leaders of tomorrow,” he said.
He described a patron as a father, guide, and protector, adding that by embracing Anere, Nigerian students are aligning themselves with a leader who understands that without security, education cannot thrive, and without discipline, dreams cannot be realized

Oil Community Stakeholders Flay Arrest Of Gov Eno's Critic, Demand Justice


Torrents of condemnations from a coalition of youth groups, civil society and socio-cultural organisations have condemned the arrest Wednesday of one of the fiercest critics of Governor Umo Eno's style of governace, Princess Godknows Udoito, a lone protester who had been accusing the administration of discrimination in the spread of development projects across the State.

The suspect, our Correspondent learnt, had been invoking curses on the Governor on social media for allegedly neglecting the Ekid land where he (the governor) lived and established businesses in the hospitality industry and other ventures before becoming Governor in 2023.

However, her arrest, according to community stakeholders including the Ekid People's Union (EPU) led by the National President, Dr. Samuel Udonsak; the Secretary -General, Bassey Dan Abia Jnr; the Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman and former minister of Lands Housing and Urban Development, Chief Nduese Essien, followed her disagreement with the Governor, for alleged seizure of the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, without compensation.

Also, calling for her immediate release, the EPU, the Network Advancement Program for Poverty and Disaster Risk Reduction (NAPPDRR) led by it founder and Executive Director, Alhaji Emem Edoho, and other community stakeholders condemned the arrest.

While describing it as an unfair treatment devoid of the due process of law, as according to them, everybody has right to hold opinion on public issues, the leaders called for immediate release of Lady Udoito, for onward prosecution in the law court.

"Princess Godsown Udoito, is a courageous advocate for land rights and environmental justice. Her detention embodies the struggle against oppressive rule and the fight for freedom.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that," the group quoted the late Martin Luther king in his advocacy for justice and freedom for human rights.

"We stand with Princess Udoito, shining a light on the injustices surrounding the Stubbs Creek forest Reserves," they affirmed, and quoted Frantz Fanon's disposition that - "Each generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfill it, or betray it," to back up their stance.

"We, therefore, strongly demand immediate release of Princess Udoito and arraignment before a court of law for fair trial, if charges exist," Edoho stressed, citing Article 9, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Section 34, Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights to buttressed his position.

Outrage as IPOB Lawyer Condemns Release of Confirmed Bandits





Renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer and Lead Counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has strongly condemned the recent release of 70 confirmed bandits and jihadist terrorists by the Katsina State Government, describing the action carried out under the euphemistic guise of a so-called “peace accord” as a dangerous encouragement of crime and criminality.
In a statement titled “MIDWEEK MUSING: WHEN TERRORISTS ARE NEGOTIATED WITH AND THE INNOCENT ARE IMPRISONED—KATSINA STATE GOVERNMENT AND THE TRAGIC INVERSION OF JUSTICE, MORALITY, AND SOVEREIGNTY,” issued on Wednesday, Ejiofor said the development ought to send “cold shivers down the spine of every conscientious Nigerian.”
According to him, the action is not merely troubling but represents an ominous signal of a perilous policy direction,one which, if left unchecked, is capable of igniting widespread instability across the entire Northern region and, by extension, imperilling the already fragile cohesion of the Nigerian state.
Ejiofor argued that any government which elects to negotiate with terrorists, reward violence with legitimacy, and replace justice with political expediency is not brokering peace but rather institutionalising insecurity.
“The message being conveyed is unmistakable,” “Arms, bloodshed, and lawlessness have now become viable bargaining tools in engagements with the Nigerian state.”he stated.
He further noted that Nigerians are not only entitled, but morally compelled, to ask,loudly and persistently whether this disturbing action enjoys the tacit approval or silent acquiescence of the Federal Government and the nation’s security agencies.
According to him, the absence of a firm, unequivocal repudiation of the policy lends disturbing credibility to the inference that an official imprimatur may hover over this reckless and dangerous enterprise.
Ejiofor maintained that the Federal Government owes Nigerians not hollow platitudes, but a clear, candid, and constitutionally grounded explanation for this alarming contradiction in security governance.
He lamented that, while armed insurgents whose hands are stained with the blood of security personnel and defenceless civilians are courted with negotiations and reintegrated into society, thousands of innocent Igbo youths, mothers, and sisters continue to languish in unlawful detention across Nigeria.
According to him, the so-called “offences” attributed to these detained Igbo citizens are unknown to any law, save for the misfortune of wrongful ethnic profiling and prejudicial categorisation.
Ejiofor further recalled that only days ago, it was officially reported that the State Security Service (SSS) confirmed the death of one Mrs. Calista Ifedi while in detention at the notorious Wawa Barracks detention facility in Niger State.
Mrs. Ifedi, he stated, was arrested on 23 November 2021 alongside her husband not for any offence recognised by law, but merely on the allegation that they sold food to individuals labelled as IPOB members.
Regrettably, throughout the entirety of their unlawful detention, neither Mrs. Ifedi nor her husband was ever arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction. He said instead, they were detained at the unfettered discretion of one of the most notoriously brutal Directors-General the Service has known, Alhaji Yusuf Magaji Bichi, alongside numerous other innocent Igbo citizens.

The statement reads in full:

The recent release of seventy (70) confirmed bandits and jihadist terrorists by the Katsina State Government, under the euphemistic cloak of a so-called “peace accord,” ought to send cold shivers down the spine of every conscientious Nigerian. This development is not merely troubling; it is an ominous signal of a perilous policy trajectory, one that, if unchecked, is capable of igniting the entire Northern region and, by extension, imperilling the already fragile stability of the Nigerian state.

A government that elects to negotiate with terror, reward violence with legitimacy, and substitute justice with expediency is not brokering peace; it is institutionalising insecurity. The message is unmistakable: arms, bloodshed, and lawlessness have now become viable bargaining instruments in dealings with the Nigerian state.

Nigerians are therefore entitled, indeed compelled, to ask, and to ask loudly, whether this aberration enjoys the tacit blessing or silent acquiescence of the Federal Government and the national security agencies. The absence of a firm and unequivocal repudiation lends disturbing credence to the inference that an official imprimatur may well hover over this reckless enterprise. The Federal Government owes Nigerians not platitudes, but a clear, candid, and constitutionally grounded explanation.

THE CRUEL IRONY: FREEDOM FOR BANDITS, CHAINS FOR THE INNOCENT

While armed insurgents, whose hands drip with the blood of security personnel and defenceless civilians, are serenaded with negotiations and ushered back into society, thousands of innocent Igbo youths, mothers, and sisters remain unlawfully detained across Nigeria.

Their crime? None known to law, save for the misfortune of wrongful ethnic labelling and prejudicial categorisation.

Only days ago, it was officially reported that the State Security Services confirmed the death of Mrs. Calista Ifedi, while in detention at the notorious Wawa Barracks detention facility in Niger State. She had been arrested on 23rd November 2021, alongside her husband, not for any offence known to law, but merely on the allegation that they sold food to persons labelled as IPOB members.

Throughout the entirety of their unlawful detention, neither Mrs. Ifedi nor her husband was ever arraigned before any court of competent jurisdiction. Instead, they were detained at the unfettered discretion of one of the most notoriously brutal Directors-General the Service has known, Alhaji Yusuf Magaji Bichi, alongside numerous other innocent Igbo citizens.

This egregious violation of human rights was conceived, endorsed, and executed under the despotic regime of the late Muhammadu Buhari, whose state governor is today, ironically, unleashing deadly jihadists onto the streets of Nigeria under the guise of a “peace deal.” It was further consummated by the former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, who is now confronting allegations of monumental corruption he perpetrated during that infamous era.

It took the more humane and enlightened administrative reforms of the current Director-General of the State Security Service, Mr. Tosin A. Ajayi, particularly the initiative to profile detainees with a view to releasing those illegally held without trial, before Mr. Ifedi eventually regained his freedom. Tragically, he was informed only two days ago that his wife had died during their incarceration. One can scarcely imagine a more harrowing injustice, nor a more broken man.

For years, I have persistently raised alarm over the fate of hundreds of innocent Igbo citizens incarcerated at Wawa Barracks, Kainji, Niger State, subjected not to open and transparent trials, but to secretive, pseudo-judicial processes that mock every tenet of constitutional democracy and the rule of law.

Yet, in the face of this manifest injustice, a deafening silence prevails.
Our so-called political leaders from the South-East appear far more animated by the permutations of 2027 electoral arithmetic than by the immediate agony of their unlawfully detained kinsmen. While they calculate future ambitions, the architects and sponsors of real terror are rewarded with peace deals, handshakes, and freedom.
I hereby call, with utmost urgency, on Igbo political leaders, particularly the Governors of the South-East states, to rise above lethargy and the complicity of silence. They must investigate, interrogate, and demand accountability concerning the continued detention of their people: men and women whose only offence is wrongful labelling, unlawful detention, and punishment without trial.
Let it be stated without equivocation: where culpability is established, prosecution must follow; openly, transparently, and before a duly constituted court of law. Anything short of this amounts to executive lawlessness thinly disguised as security policy.

THE IMPLICATIONS: A STATE SURRENDERING ITSELF

The implications of the Katsina State Government’s actions are stark and deeply unsettling. A state that negotiates with terrorists from a posture of fear rather than authority is conceding its sovereignty. It signals an effective surrender of governance to marauders and indicts the capacity of the national security architecture to safeguard lives, property, and democratic order.

History teaches, often cruelly, that appeasement of terror does not extinguish it; it emboldens it. A day may come, sooner than anticipated, when these same terrorists, having tasted power and legitimacy, will overrun state institutions and assume de facto control of governance. When that day arrives, no peace accord will save us.

Most chillingly, reports now suggest that further negotiations are underway for the release of additional incarcerated terrorists. As the elders would say: “Ụka agwụla.”

Nigeria today sits precariously upon a keg of gunpowder. If this perilous initiative is not promptly halted by the Federal Government, the grim prospect looms of entire swathes of the federation being ceded, piecemeal, to jihadist terror.

Time, as ever, will be the final arbiter.

CSO Demands Transparency In Mgt Of A/Ibom Oil Community Funds



A Civil Society Organisation (CSO) committed to poverty and disaster management in the Niger Delta oil bearing communities has underscored the importance of effective management of the oil resources accruable to the region by the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) set up to custody the cash for development purposes.

Though the Network Advancement Program for Poverty & Disaster Risk Reduction (NAPPDRR) has expressed its unwavering support for the management team named - EMOIMEE, an acronym representing the oil local government areas of Eket, Mbo, Onna, Ikot Abasi Mkpat Enin and Esit Eket, it stressed the need for financial transparency to douse the prevailing tension.

A communique by leaders of the CSO signed by Hon. Emem Edoho, founder and Executive Director; Otuekong Ime Robson, Manager, PIA Monitoring/Accountability and Prince Uwem Edukere, Manager, Community Development, commended the commitment to transparency and accountability in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and NUPRC Regulations.

"After reviewing the 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) report, NAPPDRR applauds the achievements of EMOIMEE HCDT, including the establishment of ICT centres, solar-powered water projects, medical facility upgrades, oil palm processing mills, and various training programes benefiting women, youths, and persons with disabilities.

"We condemn attempts by influential individuals and traditional rulers to hijack the HCDT for selfish interests, undermining the progress made.

"We urge all stakeholders to support Mkpisong Sir Bassey Dan Abia, Unwana Evans Ekwere, and Engr. Emmanuel Sam, who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to transparency."

"NAPPDRR warns those seeking to derail the HCDT's development initiatives to desist, emphasizing its commitment to holding leaders accountable and ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks," the communique stated.

He listed other achievements of the HCDT to include; ICT centres in the three geo-political zones, solar-powered water projects in all Esit Eket communities, medical facility upgrade at Polyclinic at Uquo community, oil palm processing mills in three zones, manpower training in oil and gas fields
entrepreneurship training for PWDs, women, and youths
as well as cholarship awards to postgraduate students