Ondo State Police Command has announced the arrest of a man found in possession of some human parts.
The arrest was effected by operatives of the Anti- crime section attached to Funmbi-Fagun police Station, Ondo town at the weekend.
The suspect, a 24-year-old boutique owner and suspected “Yahoo boy” was found with human parts at Ondo, headquarters of Ondo West local government area of Ondo State.
The suspect, whose name was given as Franklyn Akinyosuyi, is currently detained at the station undergoing interrogations by the anti-crime section.
The incident, which occurred at Elewuro area of the community had resulted into panic and apprehension, as the head of a human was discovered in a sack inside the room of the suspect in a rented apartment located in the area.
It was learnt that the human head was first discovered in a black sack inside the compound by some children of the landlord, who later raised an alarm before the matter was reported by the landlord at the station.
It was further learnt that when a search operation was conducted by the police in the rented apartment of the suspected Yahoo boy, several human parts and other items suspected to cham, human blood was also discovered by the police.
When interrogated by the police at the station, the suspect who exonerated his landlord, confirmed the ownership of all the items found in his possession.
He further explained that he brought all the items from his herbalist who resides in Ikirun, Ifelodun local government area of Osun State.
Speaking on the matter, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the station, said the matter would be transferred to headquarters in Akure, as soon as investigation is completed.
Confirming the incident, the State Police Command Spokesperson, Mrs Funmi Odunlami, said “ONE FRANKLIN AKINYOSUYI , male, 26 years who claimed to be a photographer and own a boutique in ondo town was challenged by his landlord for keeping a bag in a corner of the compound.
“The landlord became suspicious and asked the young man to open the bag, when he did, a human skull was found in the bag.
“After he was arrested, he claimed it was given to him by a Native Doctor in Osun State to enhance his Business. Investigation is on going and the suspect is in custody.”
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), an arm of Transparency International (TI) has observed that appointments made so far by the administration of President Bola Tinubu are compensation for corrupt leaders.
It also frowned at what it called “recycling of former governors and Ministers” that failed the people on their previous duty posts.
A statement by Auwal Ibrahim Musa Executive Director, CISLAC in Abuja states that the body “would like to use this medium to express our total disappointment over the appointment and nomination of some people believed to be corrupt and with questionable integrity into leadership positions at political party level, the executive and the legislative arms of government.
“We are worried about the effect that such ill-thought actions will have on the morale of anti-corruption agencies in the country.”
Reacting to selection of former Kano State Governor Ganduje to lead the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) CISLAC said “A scenario where an individual who has very substantial corruption allegation against him is made to lead the ruling political party is worrisome.
“For example, the list has an ex-governor internationally accused of aiding a former military ruler to launder Nigeria’s wealth abroad.
“It is also disturbing that a politician who has a case to answer with the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is at the leadership of the National Assembly and will be conducting oversight duties on anti-graft agencies, including the EFCC.
“We equally frown at the recycling of some ex-governors and ex-minsters who glaringly failed to perform in their previous assignments.
“With the assemblage of these alleged corrupt individuals with integrity deficit, it is clear, therefore, that the President has no regard or concern for the public demand to have a sane and responsible government.
“Nigeria’s reputation in the global community is going to suffer negative consequences with the incredible damage the acts like money laundering, drugs trafficking , merchant of violence and illegal proliferation of arms have done to our country, which has contributed and will continue widening insecurity, poverty, collapse of education, health care infrastructural development and ethnics and value system.
“We find it very sad that young Nigerians will have no positive lesson to learn from these corrupt leaders.
“Citizens and well-meaning Nigerians must continue to demand that transparency, accountability and responsible leadership be institutionalized in our public offices.”
A suspect has been nabbed by the Ondo state police command for an alleged killing of his 45 years ex lover.
The incident, according to police report happened at Oke Aro area of the state capital.
Mrs Funmi Odunlami, command spokesperson, explained that “A lady reported at the station that her mother’s ex lover, Bankole Oginni called and invited her over to his place at Oke Aro area of Akure.
“After the mother left for the lover’s house, she did not return and her phone was switched off.
“She traced her mother to the house, only to find her lifeless body in the room of the ex lover, with her legs and hands tied and her body opened with intestines removed.
“The Suspect, who claims to be a footballer, is in custody while the body of the deceased has been deposited at the morgue.”
I don’t believe that Tinubu does not know the implications of his warmongering stance against Niger Republic.
If he does not know, at least the Realists in his team must have worked out the implications by now. It has grave religious and ethnic downside.
There is a school of thought encouraging him to go on this warmongering stance.
These people including the Oduduwa Republic adherents, the Biafrans, Asari Dokubo and the Ijaw nation, the Bokists, and many other inchoate splinter groups who would move ‘ to their tents’ and declare their own nations when the Tinubu cataclysm erupts.
No nation goes to war on behalf of Neocolonialists and other parasitic world powers to enforce democracy. What happened to the principle of ‘Non interference in the internal affairs of other nations’ which the Western nations studiously adhere to.
Why is Mr President crying louder than the bereaved?
The other tactics to secure votes and win an election not the same or even worse than a coup d etat?
I think the usual platitudes should just have been mouthed by our President and then leave the people of Niger to sort themselves out.
He has stopped electricity flow to Niger.
Does he know that we supply electric power to Niger Republic in exchange for their not constructing a Dam on their own end of the River Niger, which would have completely ruined the lives of millions of Nigerians and which will put the Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro dams out of business.
The electricity we supply is a small price we pay for the Nigerienes not to dam the said River.
He should have consulted with General Gowon who would have explained the depth of Nigeria’s relationship with Niger starting with the reign of President Hamani Diori.
Finally, the arms dealers like vultures are locked in on this threat of war. The biggest arms dealers are the same countries encouraging ECOWAS to go to war on behalf of democracy that they do not practice. They are yearning for a large scale war in Africa, which will depopulate us and hand the region over to them FOC without the rigours of colonisation.
The President should not start what he cannot finish.
Apparently gauging the mood of the nation and mixed reactions which have been trailing President Bola Tinubu’s request for senate approval to send troops to Niger Republic, there are indications that the Senators have rejected the request.
President Tinubu had on Friday sought for permission of the green chamber to deploy Nigerian troops to Niger Republic as part of an ECOWAS force to reinstate the democratically elected president of the country.
Considering the urgency of the request, members of the green chamber sat at an executive session on Saturday, during which they rejected the request by the President.
Although, executive session is held behind closed door, sources revealed that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, reportedly tried unsuccessfully to rally the Senators to support the President’s request.
A group of Northern Senators had, on Friday, resolved not to support the request considering the closeness of their states to Niger Republic. Some of them share boundaries.
Quoting one of those at the meeting, Senators agreed to pass a resolution condemning the coup and to commend ECOWAS leaders on their efforts to restore constitutional order in Niger, but they ruled out military options.
“Almost all the Senators spoke and totally ruled out the military options because of many factors and also because of the harmonious relationship that Nigeria and Niger has always enjoyed.
“Senators instead urged President Tinubu to intensify negotiation with the coup leaders by again sending a high-powered delegation to Niamey.
Those that were opposed to forceful action pointed out that our military is highly ill-equipped and not prepared to fight any war.
They said that we have fragile peace in Nigeria and that Niger is the highest arms market in Africa.
The PDP Governors’ Forum has called on President Bola Tinubu to reduce the cost of governance by downsizing the number of his would-be- Ministers.
The PDP Governors held a meeting under the leadership of Governor Bala Mohammed, in Abuja on Saturday, with PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and Party Leaders in attendance.
In a communique, the opposition Governors advised the “Federal Government to show leadership in curtailing the cost of Governance. 48 Ministers and several Special Advisers and Assistants should be reduced to ensure the health of our economy.
The Communiqué signed by Bala Mohammed, Chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum stated that “The meeting emphasized the need for party discipline and re-iterated zero tolerance for anti-party activities and sabotage.
“No individual or group of individuals will be allowed to undermine the unity of the party and its processes.
“The meeting committed to repositioning and stabilizing the party. To this end, the healing and reconciliation process are in progress and yielding results.
“The meeting signalled that unity and loyalty are still core values of the PDP and would be rewarded.
“All the Governors and organs of the party solidly support the PDP Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON, and the PDP Vice Presidential Candidate, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, to rescue the stolen mandate in the tribunal and would do everything lawful towards achieving this.
“The Governors will work in partnership with the party at the states and national level to ensure good governance, transparency and accountability.
“The meeting congratulated the party for empanelling the Campaign Councils for the off-session elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States and urged the Campaign Councils to ensure victory for the party in the three States.
“The meeting advised the President, Commander in Chief and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria not to go into any form of war with the Republic of Niger over the recent military coup in the country, rather all tools of dialogue and diplomacy should be further employed.”
Nine Governors attended the meeting alongside National Assembly Leaders.
The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the February 25, Presidential election, Peter Obi has described as saddening the exit of the Pharmaceutical giant, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), from Nigeria after 51 years of operations.
Obi, in a series of tweets, Saturday morning said that their reason for leaving portends a gloomy future for the country’s investment climate.
“Today, I was saddened to hear that GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), is exiting Nigeria after 51 years of operations.
“Their reason for leaving Nigeria is even more disheartening, that they are no longer perceiving any future growth of the country, which will be anchored on productivity.
The former Anambra state governor, noted painfully that we’re at the point in our nation’s journey where multinationals are leaving the country and the local ones are closing down all consequences of poor management of our economy, as a result, millions are losing their jobs and our poverty index is worsening despite our already being the world poverty capital.
“These multinationals leaving our country, not only create jobs but create immeasurable training that contributes immensely to our human capital development.
“GSK which has a manufacturing facility set up in Agbara, on over 25 hectares of land in Agbara, had directly employed over 400 highly technical workers like pharmacists, microbiologists, biochemists, chemists, dentists, doctors etc, and also employed over 1000 other staff. It indirectly provided jobs and business opportunities for thousands of Nigerians across the nation. They are now leaving all these behind, and pushing more people back into unemployment”
The LP standard bearer recalled his consistent position that “in turning our nation around, we must move the economy from consumption to production, part of which included encouraging and supporting local and foreign investments, like GSK, in the country.
Obi finally stressed the importance of creating an environment that creates and sustains multinationals to invest in our country is key to our dream of greatness. In the new Nigeria that we seek to create, the emphasis on production will encourage investors to stay and expand on our shores.
Embattled Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shuaibu, has said his decision to succeed Governor Godwin Obaseki next year is the cause of the strained relationship between the two of them.
Shuaibu, who got a relief from the Court on Friday which restrained the State House of Assembly and others from carrying out any impeachment against him, gave the genesis of the friction between him and his principal :
The Deputy Governor disclosed that despite interventions by prominent indigenes’ of the State including the Benin monarch, the Governor has vowed to remove him from office.
“Sometime this year, I made clearly known my intention to contest for the post of Governor of Edo State upon the expiration of the tenure of the Governor Obaseki tenure in the year 2024 with my experience as the Deputy Governor of the State for eight years.
“Ever since I made known my intention, the Governor was not pleased and openly told me to jettison any idea of succeeding him in office, to which I refused and has since then become his enemy.
“The Governor has been doing all he can to prevent me from carrying out my official functions as the Deputy Governor of the State and has ever since refused to involve me in all matters pertaining to the State administration of which I hitherto participated and acted creditably with commendation.”
Shuaibu listed instances when Obaseki and his agents prevented him from performing his official functions.
“On Thursday, 13th July, 2023, a circular (letter) emanated from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to all MDAs that all Ministries, MDAs including Local Government Councils should henceforth deal with Mr. Governor, saddled with the responsibility of Internally Generated Revenue, which used to come through my office.
“The office of the governor posted, as usual, the schedule of meetings of the Governor for Monday, 17th July 2023.
“Amongst the meetings for that day was the one scheduled for 11:00am with HOLGAs, bankers, tech partners, EIRS and Edo-GIS – which was to hold at the State Executive Chambers.
“Before the appointed time at the Exco Chambers, all the named persons and bodies, including the Deputy Governor and the SSG, were all seated.
“The said meeting for 11:00am at the State Executive Council Chambers however never held as Obaseki did not come to the Chambers for the meeting, but the attendees, except the Deputy Governor, were invited into the Governor’s Office by the Chief of Staff to Mr. Governor for discussion and dispersed from there.
“Since that day, the Office of the Deputy Governor has not been receiving any schedule of the meetings and events of the governor contrary to the existing practice and procedure in Government House.
“On Wednesday, 19th July, 2023 it was when briefs for the State Executive Council Meetings were forwarded to my (Personal Private Secretary) that I knew that there would be Exco meeting that day at 11:00am for the meeting at 10:00am as no schedule of Mr, Governor was sent to my office as it used to be.
“On Friday, 21st July, 2023 at about 3:45pm, I was going for an engagement outside the office when my Protocol Officer called the Chief Detail to inform him that there was going to be Security Meeting at 4:00pm as I saw Security Officers and Commanders in the Government House premises which placed me on enquiry and I got to know of it.
“On 15th June, 2023, I was informed that there was going to be a meeting at the governor’s house to determine the leadership of the House of Assembly, but when I got to the gate of the house, the State Security personnel informed me that I was not invited to the meeting and would not be allowed into the meeting.
“I called the governor over eight times on the phone, but he refused to pick my calls.
“The following day, the 16th of June, 2023 when I was to go to the Governor’s office, I met the gate between the two offices locked and on enquiry, the DSS personnel from the Governor’s office told my DSS personnel that they were under instruction not to allow me in or open the gate for me.
“While trying to know what happened, there was a meeting at the instance of the former Deputy Governor, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, between the governor, myself and Chief Mike Oghiadomhe.
“At the meeting the governor alleged that the reasons for his actions were that I was dinning with his enemies and that the only way our relationship can come back to what it used to be was for me to go to the public space (media) to renounce my interest for Governorship of the state.
“In spite of the intervention of well-meaning stakeholders in Edo State, including the Oba of Benin, Obaseki is hell bent on dealing with me and has vowed to use all machineries in his power to remove me from office as the Deputy Governor of Edo State.
“The governor has been holding meetings with key actors and players in Edo State Government, including the Speaker and other members of the Edo State House of Assembly, with a view to coming up with spurious allegations against me and using unconstitutional means to remove me as the Deputy Governor of Edo State by way of illegal impeachment.”
I write to you as a Nigerian, a retired General in the Nigerian military, a patriot and a war tactician.
On July 26, 2023, the Commander of the Presidential Guard in Niger Republic, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum, seized power and is now the new strongman of the Nigerien Armed Forces.
As the leader of ECOWAS, you immediately invited other West African leaders and an ultimatum was given to Tchiani that Bazoum must be reinstated or else, a strong military force (just like ECOMOG in Liberia and Sierra Leone) will invade Niger Republic and forcefully reinstate him.
The population of Niger Republic is 27,294,785 (just like Lagos State). Niamey is the capital and the population is 1,437,000 (not up to Alimosho Council in Lagos) and as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who gets security briefings everyday since you were sworn in on May 29, 2023, you may have been told that even a Brigade of the Nigerian Army, commanded by a Colonel, can crush the soldiers in Niger Republic.
Now, my observations:
First of all, you have done the right thing by sending a delegation consisting of former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), and Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Saad Abubakar, a retired Brigadier-General, to meet the Military High Command in Niger.
It is okay to send a delegation. Diplomacy is always a better option to war. To jaw jaw is better than war war. But, I believe, it would have been better if the full Nigerian colouration was reflected in that delegation. Some diplomats (serving or retired) should have been included in the delegation. Diplomats are trained for a situation like this. What is happening in Niger right now is not only for the military.
Number two, when you have a crisis within, you solve that first before going international with a ‘Big Brother’ posture. In your last national broadcast, you even admitted that Nigerians are going through a lot and everything is being done to alleviate their suffering.
In Nigeria today, there is no food, no financial power to buy fuel, no light, no money. Nigerians are psychologically stranded and people are really going through a lot. So, I don’t know what our going to Niger Republic with full military power will achieve.
If you remember, Nigeria, almost singularly, financed ECOMOG military operations and that was when our economy was better. Which economy are we going to use now to finance a full military operation in Niger Republic, when Mali and Burkina Faso have threatened to take sides with Niger Republic?
Will this not lead to the collapse of ECOWAS? Do we really know the type of partisan game Western Powers, on one hand, Russia and China, on another hand, and some other African countries, are playing behind the scene? Can we really trust any one of them? Should Nigeria’s interest not play a major role before taking any decision of this gargantuan dimension which can lead to loss of lives and destruction of properties?
I saw a video today of some Nigeriens, on a road show, backing Tchiani and abusing you.
That may have been arranged by the coupists quite alright but do we need that type of distraction now when everything is being done to ensure that Nigeria moves its economy to the next level?
Do we know the involvement of Russians because of the Uranium in Niger? In Nigeria, the electoral process is yet to be concluded, the palliatives you promised because of the removal of fuel subsidy payment are still in the air, so why do we want to send our soldiers to engage in a needless war?
In ECOMOG, Nigeria paid for almost everything. But the economy then was different from what we have now.
We all know that Nigeriens, directly or indirectly, are fighting the French because of Assimilation Policy which has affected the Francophone speaking countries, unlike what we have in English speaking countries, like Nigeria. We should think twice before entering another country militarily. Don’t start what you cannot finish.
Niger is one of the largest (land border) countries in the world and also one of the poorest. What exactly do we gain if we go to war in Niger? What? So that people can praise us as a defender of democracy? When people are dying at home, do we need that type of commendation from anybody?
I am a retired General. So, I know that war is not easy. Please, don’t force Nigerians to engage in an endless war.
Despite its mineral wealth, Niger Republic has been held down by its leadership for decades. More than 75 per cent of Nigeriens are poor and uneducated. At the right time, if they don’t want Tchiani, they will get rid of him. Let Nigeriens deal with their rot and let us focus on how to save our own situation back home.
I am sure you know that seven Northern states – Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe and Borno – share a 1,608 kilometres long border with five regions in Niger Republic.
In case of any war, residents of these states will be direct targets of bullets and missiles. This can also lead to a resurgence of criminal activities in the border areas.
Also, some countries, such as Algeria, Libya, Chad, Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali share borders with Niger Republic. Can we trust these countries to support us militarily and otherwise in case of a war with Niger Republic?
In all of these, we should ask ourselves, why did we finance a rail line to Maradi during the President Muhammadu Buhari administration?
Russia invaded Ukraine over a year ago. Thousands of people – soldiers and civilians – have been killed, billions of dollars worth of properties have been destroyed and there is still no end in sight.
In International Relations and Politics, you protect your national interest first. Burkina Faso and Mali openly declared that they would support Niger. Can we also trust Chad which has been under military rule since April 2021? Are we sure this move to invade Niger Republic will not affect ECOWAS? Is this the right time to spend the money Nigeria doesn’t have to fight in another country?
Politically, economically, socially, we are still in a quagmire. Then you want to add the fourth one: Warfare.
Anybody who has been in the military will tell you war is not an easy thing. We must be careful.
Thank God you have started the diplomatic move
Let the envoys continue the diplomatic discussion in Niger.
War is not a tea party.
Chief Olabode Ibiyinka George, the Atona Oodua of Yorubaland, wrote this on August 4, 2023
Life is funny. I am trying not to say it is a b**ch. But its twists and turns, often times, leave one breathless. And wondering. And asking questions which answers leave one more confused.
Or, how does one explain and/or understand the story of the immediate past Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle and the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa? It is unprecedented. And makes any Nollywood block buster green with envy.
Their story, known to Nigerians, still needs retelling because it passes all understanding. By retelling it, perhaps, one would manage to make a head and a tail out of it. For me, it took time to sink. And since it sunk, I have been singing my late mother’s favorite song. Literally translated from Igbo to English it says: “Nobody should boast with the World. Don’t boast with the world because it could suddenly turn upside down, and leave one confused.”
The song tells the story of Matawalle and Bawa. For, honestly, not a few Nigerians are confused. Both men, prominent Nigerians. Powerful. Members of Nigeria’s powers-that-be.
Abdulrasheed BawaBello Matawalle
A couple of months ago, precisely in the month of May, both men were in the news, flaunting their powers. Bawa seemed more powerful and more sure-footed than Matawalle. It didn’t matter that, at the time, Matawalle was a State Governor, with Executive powers. The guys love to be called Executive Governors. But power pass power. Bawa was in a position to make Matawalle shake and cringe. He was in a position to scare him. He was in a position to lock him up. And Bawa never hid it. He flaunted it. And taunted Matawalle with it.
Matawalle was in a disadvantaged position. He had just lost his second term bid to Zamfara State’s Governorship seat. Big deal. To lose all that executive power. The loss not only embarrassed him, it hit him hard and left him confused. So confused and uncoordinated was Matawalle after his loss that he held everybody, but himself, responsible.
He even neither spared then President Muhammadu Buhari nor the whole of the Presidency. Matawalle pointedly held both responsible for his misfortune.
He said the Presidency worked against his re-election bid. Meaning that even though he is of the APC, the Presidency worked with the opposition to defeat him, to reduce him to the unenviable status of a one-term Governor. He said his sin was joining two other others – immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai and incumbent Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello – to take Buhari’s Government to the Supreme Court over the Naira redesign and the unprecedented cash crunch and suffering that came with it.
Not a few people dismissed him as a drowning man, clinging to any straw to survive, especially, with the EFCC on his neck. Others said his statement was to curry the favour of then President-elect, Bola Tinubu, who like Matawalle and his two colleagues, was against the Naira redesign and the declaration of the old Naira notes as illegal tender.
It was at that most frustrating period of Matawalle’s life, when he was at his most vulnerable, that the EFCC, under Bawa struck. While Matawalle was lamenting his loss at the Governorship polls, EFCC accused him of monumental corruption. The Commission gave him the treatment it gave former Governors Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State and Willie Obiano of Anambra State.
While both Fayose and Obiano still had some weeks to stay in office, the EFCC gave them notice that they would be guests in their cells as soon they leave office. Meaning: Exiting from the luxurious life in Government House to the EFCC cell. Seems like descending from Heaven to hell.
However, Fayose did not give the Commission the joy to hunt him down and arrest him. As “crazy” and defiant as ever, he packed a bag, and the minute he handed over to his successor, he headed to the EFCC Head Office in Abuja, donned a T-shirt on which was written – “EFCC here I come.” He pulled the rug off EFCC’s feet. And made his ordeal very ordinary. The story the next day was Fayose’s “EFCC here I come” t-shirt.
Obiano was not as smart as Fayose. He gave the Commission the joy to embarrass and arrest him at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, on his way to the United States of America, the very day he handed over to his successor.
So, it was the same treatment the Commission promised Matawalle. It gave the then Governor notice of his would-be arrest, notice that he would be its guest as soon as he hands over to his successor. But the Commission did not reckon with Matawalle’s state of mind at the time. For, him, it was like a case of “he that is down needs fear no fall.” Or even more appropriately put: “If I have to go down, I will not go down alone.”
So, he faced the Commission head-long. He fought back in a most vicious unexpected manner. He went for the Commission’s jugular. He, frontally, attacked its Chairman, Bawa, and put him on the defensive.
Matawalle revealed he had been discussing some untidy business with Bawa. The contents of his alleged discussion with Bawa were unsavory. He accused Bawa of corruption. Proof: He revealed that Bawa, allegedly, asked him for bribe to the tune of two million US Dollars so as to stop his (Matawalle’s) investigation by the EFCC. Meaning that Bawa asked Matawalle to buy his “freedom” and a clean record from the EFCC.
When an obviously embarrassed Bawa recovered from the weight of the allegation and challenged him to show proof, Matawalle, with no blink of the eyes, said he had evidence to prove his allegation against Bawa. Case closed!
Then, Bawa took a second hit. About the same time, a group addressed a Press Conference, and alleged that Bawa went on a religious pilgrimage to Saudi with about 18 members of his family and that all basked in luxury. The group alleged that the 18 family menvers stayed at the luxurious Sheraton Hotel which cost it put at 1,500 US Dollars per room, per night. Many people alleged the group was sponsored by Matawalle.
Yours sincerely did not believe any of the allegations against Bawa. I had argued then that Bawa, considering the office he held, would be dumb to ask a Governor, under his investigation, for a two-million US Dollars bribe. I, also, doubted that Bawa would pay such a huge amount of money for 18 members of his family on a religious pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. Whatever, the damage had been done.
Bawa became so weakened by Matawalle’s unexpected hit that he did not make a go at Matawalle, as promised, when Matawalle lost his immunity on handing over to his successor. Opinion was that Bawa was busy trying to extricate himself from Matawalle’s weighty below- the- belt bribery allegation.
Unless I missed it, I never really read where Bawa seriously denied the allegations by putting his job on the line. In some climes, he would have stepped down from office and offered himself for investigation, over such embarrarrassing allegation. That’s taking one’s credibility serious.
In same manner, I neither saw, nor read any proof/ evidence against Bawa from Matawalle. In other climes, he would have been made to make public such evidence given the seriousness of the allegation which shook the foundation of the Federal Government’s fight against corruption. The allegation shook the credibility of the EFCC and the people’s trust in the Commission.
Or, did Matawalle present his alleged damning evidence/proof, against Bawa, privately, to the appropriate authorities?
That would still not be right. He did not make his allegation privately. He dumped it on the public, in the public arena. So, the public deserves the right to know the details.
I may be wrong, but it must be why we are witnessing this bizarre twist of fate in the case of Matawalle and Bawa where the later has been given a golden handshake, and the former kept in the custody of Security Agents, uncomfortably lying down in the bed he had prepared for the former Governor.
Such drastic change of fate.
Bawa, Matawalle’s hunter, is now the hunted. Bawa has been suspended from office by President Bola Tinubu, and Matawalle, nominated a Minister in Tinubu’s Cabinet. Bawa has been in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS, for eight weeks and counting, and Matawalle, free as air, preparing to move into a Minister’s office.Does anybody still remember he was under EFCC’s investigation? Soon, he will be addressed as His Excellency, the Honourable Minister. And Bawa? The sacked Chairman of the EFCC. That Commission has gradually become the nemesis of its Chairmen. They never leave the seat in a tidy manner.
I cannot begin to imagine what Bawa, wherever he is now, is thinking, or doing, since after Matawalle’s nomination as a Minister. In his shoes, many would walk the wall. Many would curse the day they met a Matawalle and accused him of corruption.
Speculation is strong that one of the reasons Bawa was suspended from office and put in custody, is Matawalle’s bribery allegation against him. True?
Whatever, what has happened, in a layman’s interpretation, is that Matawalle is clean, and innocent of the allegations against him by the EFCC under Bawa. Otherwise, why was he cleared for a Ministerial appointed by both the DSS and the same EFCC? Or, are there more to all these than the public is allowed to know? Is this a case of “the more you look, the less you see?” Nigeria! The joke is on us!!
