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Keren: HURIWA Urges House Of Reps To Probe Alleged Rape

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Late Keren Happuch Aondodoo Akpagher

By Akinwale Kasali

There have been public outcry, protest and demonstrations over the delay in the investigation into the alleged rape of 14-Year Old Keren Happuch Aondodoo Akphagher, a boarding school student of Premiere Academy, Lugbe, Abuja.

Rights Group, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has decried the delay in the commencement of the  public hearing by the House of Representatives. It is urging the House to unravel the circumstances that led to her alleged rape and eventual death.

It was gathered from a medical report issued by Queen Clinic where Keren died on the 22nd of June 2021 after the condom left inside her by a “killer-rapist” resulted in a sepsis, which spiked her blood sugar, compromised her immunity, and led to her death by hyperglycemia.

In a motion presented by Hon. Mark Gbilah on the floor of the House of Representatives on  December  7, 2021, the House resolved to conduct an Investigative public hearing into the rape and death of Keren.

It also directed the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba to conduct DNA test for all male staff of the said school in Lugbe, Abuja, and march it with the dead spermatozoa found in Keren’s urine.

Though the School denied allegations that the teenage- student was raped by anyone within their school premises, sadly, over two months after the far reaching resolutions were made, the case is gradually becoming a forgotten issue.

However, HURIWA, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator,  Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, lamented that the House of Representatives seem to have developed  cold feet about enforcing, or implementing its own resolutions.

The Human Rights Advocacy Group affirmed thus: “We appreciate the far-reaching resolutions of the House of Representatives to uncover the alleged rape and death of Keren-Happuch.

“But the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) is concerned that eight weeks after these resolutions were made, the House of Representatives seem to have developed a cold feet.

“This is surely not good for the image of the green chambers. This seeming reluctance and delay can only achieve one thing – help the alleged killer-rapist to buy more time and evade justice”, the rights group stated.

It continued:

“In case the import of their resolution to conduct investigative public hearing on the matter is lost on the lawmakers, HURIWA wishes to point out that a public hearing will go along way in reminding management of schools all across Nigeria and beyond  that they are accountable for whatever happens to a child entrusted in their care in line with the principle of in loco parentis.

“It will further clean up the aegean stable and the oozing odour in the global community that Nigeria as a Sovereign nation does not care about her Children.

“The public investigative hearing by the House of Representatives will also demonstrate the resolve of the green chambers to help curtail the alarming rise in sexual violence and particularly child sexual abuse in Nigeria.

“They cannot afford to delay anymore as this will send a wrong message to the Nigerian people as to their seriousness to address this societal malaise”, HURIWA stated.

The Advocacy Group called on the House to urge the Inspector General of Police to protect the Executive Director of Men Against Rape Foundation and Leader of the Coalition of Gender Based Violence Responders, Lemmy Ughegbe, whose life it alleges, has been under  threat for seeking justice for Keren-Happuch.

“All Security Agencies and people of good will must continually support the work Ughegbe has been doing to address Sexual and Gender Based Violence generally and provide access to justice for victims, survivors and their families.”

HURIWA said it was perturbed by the neglect the issue is facing as the Ministers of the Federal Capital Territory, Women Affairs and Education, Pauline Tallen and Adamu Adamu, have neither spoken nor taken any action to ensure that the culprit is found, brought to book and the school is investigated over its complicity leading to Keren’s rape and death.

It would be recalled that the Coalition of Gender Based Violence Responders led by the Executive Director of Men Against Rape Foundation (MARF), Lemmy Ughegbe embarked on a protest walk to the National Assmebly with Keren’s mother, Vivien Vihimga Akphagher and other family members.

Ughegbe had accused the Ministers of FCT, Education and Women Affairs of a conspiracy of silence and inaction, which he said “incentivises rape and pedophilia, emboldens rapists and pedophiles and make schools and the society unsafe for our children and the vulnerable.”

“When the grandson of a political elite was allegedly beaten to death by his teacher in a school in Kwali, all these indolent Ministers picked up the story from social media within minutes and took some steps immediately, but five months after Keren died following health complications and despite our correspondences to them, they have been in a conspiracy of silence and inaction”, Ughegbe lamented.

He said by their inaction, “they have shown that all they are interested in is servicing of the political elites and their families. They have acted as though Keren’s life doesn’t matter.

“But we shall continue to call them out for the ineffectual and hypocritical public officers that they are”, he said.

In his address to the protesters, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila who was represented by Hon. Mark Gbilah, said the entire parliament was pained by the sad circumstances leading to the death of Keren, declaring that no school was above the law.

According to Gbilah, ”The House is in session, but when we were notified that you people were here on a peaceful protest, the Speaker asked me to come and address you people.

“I am, therefore, here at his instance. Yesterday, I was able to table the motion on the floor of the house and I made very far-reaching demands and what you said about DNA test is specifically indicated as a requirement and the police have been mandated to initiate an investigation through Inspector General of Police on this matter.

“They have been told to carry out a DNA test on everybody in that school. They have informed me that the spermatozoa have been preserved so that we will know who is responsible for this act.

“Also we are going to have public investigative hearing and the Minister of Women Affairs, Minister of FCT, The Inspector General of Police, Minister of Education and the school authority will be invited.

“It is a shame that our children can no longer be safe and this is totally unacceptable. But let me assure you that for some of us, when we start something, we follow it to the end. So, please, we will need the news report where the police confirmed that Keren was raped.

“This will be useful for the investigative panel. I assure you justice shall be done and we will find the culprit.”

On Tuesday, December 7th, 2021, Hon Gbilah moved a motion to investigate the school, which was adopted by the House of Representatives.

The motion titled “Suspected Rape and Murder of 14–Years Old Miss Keren–Happuch Aondodoo Akpagher: Hon. Mark Terseer Gbillah:

“The House Notes the reported death of Miss Keren–Happuch Aondodoo Akpagher, a 14–year old SS1 boarding student of Premiere Academy, Lugbe, Abuja, who was allegedly raped and eventually died on 22 June 2021 from medical complications as a result of rape; Also notes that Keren was reported to have taken ill on 16 June 2021, without adequate medical care by Premiere Academy, until the mother took her to a hospital in Wuse Zone 6 Abuja on 19 June 2021 where she eventually died three days later;

“Worried that the Medical examination before her death revealed a condom lodged in her private part which had a milky effusion with the presence of dead spermatozoa within the fluid which had caused an infection that developed into sepsis;

“Alarmed at the unwillingness of Premiere Academy to uncover the truth behind Keren’s death and the management media denial of previous cases of sexual harassment of students in the institution contrary to documentary evidence;

“Also alarmed at the lack of proactive and thorough investigation by the Nigeria Police Force even after formal correspondence to the police by the deceased family’s lawyers and the allegations by Amnesty International of harassment and threat to the lives of Keren’s mother, Vivien Akpagher, her family and the leader of the Coalition of Gender–Based Violence Responders and his family over their public campaigns and advocacy demanding justice for Keren;

“Disturbed that while the world recently observed the United Nations International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November 2021 with the theme “Orange the World:

“End Violence against Women Now! which marked the launch of the 16–day campaign “Unite to End Violence against Women” from 25 November 2021 to 10 December 2021, Nigerian Authorities do not appear to recognize its obligation to adopt and implement appropriate measures to ensure women and girls are protected from all forms of violence including rape and sexual harassment considering the nation’s ratification of several Domestic, Regional And International Protocols and Charters on Women’s rights, ending Violence against Women and other Human rights laws including Section 34 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) which guarantees that no Nigerian shall be subjected to torture or inhuman or degrading treatment.

“Resolves to: (i) Urge the Nigeria Police Force to thoroughly investigate mysteries surrounding the death of Keren, allegations of harassment and threat to the life of Keren’s family and the leader of a Coalition of Gender–Based Violence and his family and carry out a DNA test, recover spermatozoa and test Premiere Academy staff to identify anyone liable and bring him to justice;

“(ii) mandate the Committees on Woman Affairs, Human Rights and Police Affairs to invite stakeholders to investigate the following :

(a) Circumstances surrounding the death of Keren–Happuch Aondodoo Akpagher; (b) allegations of the unwillingness of the Nigeria Police Force to initiate an investigation into the death of Keren; (c) allegations of harassment and threat to the life of Keren’s family and the leader of an NGO and his family; (d) Previous cases of sexual harassment at Premiere Academy Abuja; (e) Other incidents of Violence against Women in Nigeria; (f) probable lapses by other relevant agencies handling the incident and report back within six (6) weeks for further legislative action;

“(iii) observe a minute of silence in honour of Miss Keren–Happuch Aondodoo Akpagher and other victims of violence against women in Nigeria.”

2023: “I will Not Run For Presidency; There Is Trouble Ahead – Fmr. Emir of Kano, Sanusi

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

The deposed Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, has said that the Nigeria would face deeper challenges than it is already facing, as it goes into the electioneering process to elect a President in 2023.

He made this statement in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, at a reception marking the 80th birthday of Babanla Adinni of Egbaland, Chief Tayo Sowunmi. The former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor warned Presidential aspirants that have thrown their hats in the ring for the Presidential race to be prepared for the onerous task of the country.

He said that the nation’s political landscape will further plunge into a deeper hole than it experienced in 2015.

“To be honest, we are living on extra time. In 2015, we were in a deep hole. In 2023, we will be in an even much deeper hole than in 2015.

“The challenges facing all those people who are struggling to be President, I hope they understand that the problems that they are going to face are multiples of the problems that were faced in 2015 and all of us have to be ready for difficult decisions and if they are taken, we are all going to pay for it.

“But the solution is not for all of us to jump into politics, this country needs good politicians, it needs Imams and pastors and bishops who are going to stand up and remind them (politicians) of the fear of God. It needs technocrats who are going to critique their policies, it needs traditional rulers who are going to speak as the conscience of the people, everyone has a role to play and we should try to play that role to the best of our ability.”

Sanusi also denied eyeing Presidential seat in 2023, saying he’s contented being the spiritual leader of the Tijaniyyah.

He noted that he had served in various capacities both in past and present “and I will forever be grateful to Allah.”

The celebrant. Sowunmi, a former spokesman for former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, asked Sanusi whether he has aspirations to become the President of the nation, but he declined, saying he was contented in been the Spiritual Leader of Tijaniyyah.

“People who are Khalifa of your quality must never ever be relinquished or extinguished. So, they (people) asked me to ask you, are we going to be looking for a president in future? Do I even have the answer? I do not know. But one thing I have said to them is that, for as long as you live, I have taken the liberty to say, you will always be a Nigerian patriot, a detribalised Nigerian, a leader of leaders, a holder of Ummah of Islam, the spiritual leader of the Tijanniya and the leading light of everything beautiful”, Sowunmi told Sanusi.

2023: Group Urges Fashola To Run For Presidency, Collects Signatures

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

As the 2023 Presidential Election draws closer, many aspirants have indicated interest in running for the nation’s top seat. Now,  the name of the Minister for Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, has popped up.

A Group under the aegis of Pro Democracy and Human Rights Group, and the Nigeria Advocacy Group, NPAG,  has commenced the collection of signatures from those urging the  former Lagos State Governor to throw his hat into the ring.

The convener of the group, Omolola Olukayode, said: “We are targeting up to five million signatures, at least, from Nigerian youths of voting age and from the elders too.

“Fashola would not be allowed to deny the 220 million Nigerians his services from 2023 as President.”

Olukayode said that the hunt for signatures that commenced on Monday, February 7, would last till February ending when the public would be given the update, explaining that, “after that, the signatories would pick a date when the compiled stuff would be presented to Fashola with a covering letter inviting him to come out and agree to contest for president next year.”

He added that, “This BRF project is a National one,  all patriotic citizens to get involved, it is for the good of the generality of the entire citizens of the country irrespective of their social standing, political leaning or religious affiliation.”

He disclosed that several organizations have bought into the idea and “already putting machinery in place to get involved in the signature collection exercise”.

Some of the groups’ representatives who volunteered comments on the issue were, Comrades Adewale Oladipupo Epe Youth Forum. Omobanke Razak, Labour & Workers Welfare Advocacy Centre, Prince Dare Aladekoba, Royal Peoples Platform, MacDonald Onuoha of Igbo in Active Politics, Hauwa Garba Magaji of North Youth Coalition for Fashola and Buhari Abdulkareem Haroon of North Central Alliance for BRF disclosed that some organizations across the country have keyed into the awareness campaign of the initiative and are keying into it.

It was gathered this development is in addition to a planned rally to be coordinated by a non-governmental coalition of Concerned Citizens for Nigeria’s Better Future (CCBF), that is already loading.

Fashola has been silent over the rumoured Presidential ambition, but the agitation for Fashola to become the next President is borne out of the belief that he can do it better than some of those already declaring  considering their conviction on Fashola’s pedigree and antecedents.

Osinbajo Denies 2023 Intentions

By
Uche Mbah
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By Uche Mbah

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has vehemently denied reports that he intends to make his intentions known pertaining his 2023 Presidential ambition after the All Progressives Congress slated for February 26, 2021.

Just twenty four hours earlier, reports were awash on social media that Osinbajo would announce his Presidential bid for 2023 after the convention.

The report was widely circulated.

But the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, in a tweet, described the report as false and speculative.

According to him, any information on the action of the Vice President will come directly from his office and not the Press.

Akande twitted:

“I’ve seen “news” that VP’ll announce Presidential bid after APC’s convention. Anyone reading the story‘ll know it’s all false and speculative snippets.”

“Any information on activities and actions of the VP will come directly from his office and not sponsored speculations in the press.”

Various groups have been formed for the purported campaign of the Vice President, with reports that be has been embarking on consultation tours.

Lagos: Muri-Okunola Clears Way For Sanwo-olu Second Term

By
Bayo Bernard
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By Akinwale Kasali
The Lagos State Head of Service, HoS Hakeem Muri-Okunola has cleared the way for Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu second term. The HoS who has been rumoured to be interested in occupying Alausa Government House, said he doesn’t want to be governor.
Muri- Okunola said he would rather support Governor Sanwo-olu to deliver on his agenda for the people of the state.
He said his speculated governorship ambition is a plot by mischief makers, reiterating his support for the Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo Olu’s administration.
In a statement personally signed by the 50-Year old lawyer and Administrator, he said several publications linking him with the race for Lagos State Governor in order to stop Governor Sanwo-Olu’s second term bid is false, stressing that becoming governor is not his immediate priority.
“I hereby dissociate myself from all publications and innuendoes conveying such plots,” the Lagos number one civil servant said.
“I reiterate my support for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and and his administration’s THEMES Agenda – the six-pillar development plan that is the compass for his projects and policies.
According to him, “the objective of those behind these publications is obviously to plant a seed of discord between Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and me. Contrary to the statements being published by mischief makers, who are also trying to play the religion card, I am fully focused on carrying out my duties as Head of Service of the Lagos State Government and taking the Public Service to greater heights”. Muri-Okunola said.
Hakeem, the Son of the late Justice Muritala Okunola was made the Lagos State Head of Service in 2018, taking over from Folashade Adesoye.
He joined the Lagos state civil service in 2001, and  between 2003 and 2005, he was made the personal assistant to the All Progressives Congress National Leader, Bola Tinubu, when he was then governor of Lagos State.

NIN Portal Shuts Down, Sim Swaps Suspended

By
Uche Mbah
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NIMC

By Uche Mbah

The large crowds noticed at Mobile subscription centers have been ascribed to non availability of National Identity Numbers which is putting Sim Swaps on hold.

Reports of the crash of the National Identity Management Commission database had filtered in last month.

A hacker had claimed to have breached the database and accessed millions of data.

Government has, however, denied that the NIMC data was breached.

But responding to complaints from users, MTN Nigeria confirmed the unavailability of the data link.

“NIMC application is currently unavailable. Please bear with us as we are unable to process SIM swap and upgrade requests at the moment. Feedback will be shared as soon as the issue is resolved. Apologies for the inconvenience this may cause you”, the Telecom giant said.

In response to the incessant queries, the NIMC on Saturday, confirmed the problem which it attributed to ongoing maintenance.

“The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) wishes to inform the general public that its NIN verification Service (NVS) is temporarily unavailable due to the maintenance service being carried out by one of the Commission’s Network Service Providers,” the statement said.

“The NIMC wants to assure the public that verification and authentication services would be restored once the maintenance is concluded.

“The Commission apologises for any inconvenience this might cause our esteemed customers, as all hands are on deck to ensure speedy restoration.

“Meanwhile, the public can make use of the alternative Tokenisation verification platform”, it concluded.

Treasury Single Account Takes Off In Ondo

By
Ayodele Oni
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Ondo State Government Officials Retreat

By Ayodele Oni

As part of measures to keep them abreast of Government policies and programmes, Commissioners, other Political office holders and top Government officials in Ondo State, have attended a three-day retreat programme.

The retreat exposed participants to the concepts of the administration with Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government mandated to institutionalize the concept of “One administration.”

Fourteen Commissioners and Special Advisers were sworn-in by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu last December, while his son, Babajide was appointed as Director General in charge of Due Process.

They were also directed to implement the mandates in line with the REDEEMED Agenda of the Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu-led administration.

Other resolutions  reached at the end of the Retreat, which was also attended by Accounting Officers in Ondo state public service, held at Owo was full implementation of Treasury Single Account, (TSA) in the state.

While declaring open the programme, the State Governor Akeredolu, explained that the retreat was necessary to ensure that all MDAs key into the REDEEMED Agenda of the Administration; entrench the culture of One administration; improve their revenue generation and upscale their productivity.

Participants agreed among other things, that Ondo State must fully automate revenue collection, expand the revenue sources and block revenue leakages; while MDAs must prioritize and align capital projects with realistic budgetary provisions to ensure timely completion of key developmental projects.

In the communique signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Princess Oladunni Odu and the Head of Service, Pastor John Adeyemo, all MDAs are to adhere strictly to the provisions of Ondo State’s Public Procurement Law (2017), and also engage in peer review with sister agencies both within and outside the State for better performance.

“Multilateral and bilateral funding opportunities are to be fully explored for the benefit of the State, even as synergy between political heads and technocrats are to be fostered and adherence to provisions of the regulatory books observed in all official actions.

“State’s Bureau of Statistics should be repositioned for data-driven development of all sectors;

“Public servants should undergo regular capacity building to enable them cascade knowledge gained to their subordinates while ICT competence be made a key qualification for new entrants into the State Public Service;

“Government to sustain its current security effort, particularly the operation of the Ondo State Security Network (Amotekun Corps), for continued protection of lives and properties in the State;

“Government to continue to press for the actualization of the exploration of its vast bitumen reserve, other mineral resources and the development of Port Ondo.

“Parts of the degraded forest reserves in the State are to be utilized for cash crops for economic benefits, just as Gender mainstreaming and related matters to be continually prioritized by Government.

“Government to institutionalise citizenship engagement and sustain good labour/association relations.”

CBN: Disquiet After Apex Bank Hammers 13 Banks With N350bn CRR

By
Bayo Bernard
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0
Godwin Emefiele

By Tosin Olatokunbo

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN has wielded the big stick on some commercial banks in the country in its quest to enforce its Cash Reserve Requirement, CRR. As a pointer that the  Godwin Emefile-led apex bank will continue to breathe down on financial institutions to meet their obligations, a whopping N350 billion has been deducted from the accounts of some banks for the month of January.

According to Thisday, the CBN deducted N356.1 billion from 13 commercial banks last Friday, the very first time in the new year 2022.

This is in spite of feelings in the financial sector that the deduction is stifling banks’ capacity to expand credit to the productive sector.

This is even more so considering the fact that the current CBN 27.5 per cent CRR is above the threshold in other financial climes. Analysts in the sector disclosed that the CRR has risen to as much as 50 per cent in the past few years when it’s no more than seven per cent in order developing economies.

But CBN insiders told the magazine that the apex bank must control inflation by controlling excess cash in circulation, apart from checking bank’s appetite for roundtripping.

“Excessive cash in banks aids forex racketeering. Considering the current forex shortage facing the country, the CBN cannot afford to take a gamble,” a source said on Monday.

Emefiele had at the end of the monthly MPR meeting in January said its decision to directly deduct funds from banks failing in their CRR obligations has paid off in ensuring healthy monetary policy.

“The committee is confident that increasing the CRR at this time is fortuitous as it will help address monetary-induced inflation whilst retaining the benefits from the Bank’s LDR policy, which has been successful in significantly increasing credit to the private sector as well as pushing market interest rates downwards.,” Emefiele said after the MPC voted to retain existing monetary parameters at the end of its meeting last month.

The breakdown of the deductions indicates that Zenith Bank and Providus were debited N170 billion, N40 billion respectively. Others are: FCMB N39 billion, First Bank of Nigeria Limited N27 billion, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc N20 billion and Citibank N12 billion.

Others are Stanbic IBTC bank, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and Polaris Banks which were debited N10 billion each, Keystone Bank N6 billion, Ecobank Nigeria N5 billion, Sterling Bank Plc, N3.6 billion, Fidelity Bank N2 billion and Nova merchant bank N1.5 billion.

Last December, the CBN debited 16 banks and two merchant banks N175 billion. The breakdown of the figure showed that, Zenith bank was debitted N90 billion, Access bank-N25 billion, Unity Bank Plc- N500 million, FCMB Limited- N5 billion. Others are Stanbic Bank- N4 billion, Polaris- N3billion and UBA- N25billion.

N13bn Fraud: FG Says Gen. Minimah Can’t Travel Abroad

By
Bayo Bernard
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0
Kenneth Minimah

By James Orji

General Kenneth Minimah (rtd.), a former Chief of Army Staff, COAS  would not be allowed to leave the country except he clears his name  over alleged involvement in a N13.8 billion defence equipment procurement fraud, the federal government has said.

This was disclosed by the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS in its response to a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Minimah before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/561/2021, the retired four-star Army General said he was stopped from travelling abroad after the NIS seized his passport at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

According to Minimah, in the suit filed by his lawyer, Mahmud Magaji, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN his travel documents were seized without good explanations, asking the court to declare the action of NIS as violation of his fundamental rights, demanding that his passports be returned to him.

He said “on the 19th of April, 2021, the applicant (Minimah) was scheduled to travel to Poland sequel to a letter of invitation sent to him inviting him to attend the AIBA Youths Men’s and Women’s World Championship 2021.

“To the greatest shock and dismay of the applicant, on approaching the clearance desk at the international wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, he was stopped by agents of the Nigerian Immigration Service and prevented from boarding.

“The agents of the first respondent (NIS) informed him that he was not permitted to travel out of the country pursuant to the directives of the second respondent (CIS Umar) who seized his international passport.

“No reason was given to the applicant by the second respondent with regards to the unlawful seizure of his passport”.

But, in its response to the suit, NIS said its action was based on a directive by the federal government, adding that the agency did not violate Minimah’s rights as being claimed. NIS said the General’s problem has to do with his investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

“The withdrawal of the applicant’s international passport by the respondents is lawful, legal, constitutional and valid.

“The withdrawal of the applicant’s passport by the respondents does not amount to a violation of the applicant’s fundamental right.

“The EFCC had on two different occasions in the past requested that the applicant be watch-listed by the respondents and when the applicant reported to the EFCC on those two occasions, the EFCC again requested that the applicant be de-listed from the respondents’ watch-list which was done,” the NIS said.

Last December, Minimah was charged alongside an erstwhile Chief of Accounts and Budget of the Nigerian Army, A. O. Adetayo, a major-general, and the former Director, Finance and Accounts of the Nigerian Army, R. I. Odi, a brigadier-general, at the Federal Capital Territory High in Abuja, over an alleged arms procurement fraud of over N13 billion.

IPOB: Controversy Over Kanu’s Role In Sit-at-home Order

By
The Source
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0

By Charles Igbo

Who exactly gave the order for an every Monday Sit-at-home in Igboland? The immediate answer will be Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the Leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB. However, there is a new song now. It is that the no movement restriction order imposed on the South-east Zone, by IPOB, did not emanate from Kanu.

This came as the full extent of the damage done to Igbo people and the South-east Zone by the Sit-at-home policy imposed by IPOB, began to dawn on everybody.  Controversy has arisen over who exactly initiated it.

Many months ago, IPOB had suddenly imposed the order to protest the rearrest, detention and prosecution of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu by the Federal Government. They said it was to pressurize the FG into releasing Kanu.

When it imposed the policy, IPOB said it must be observed every Monday of every week. It was enforced ferociously, and to the letter, in a most brutish manner.

Every Monday, Igboland was reduced to a ghost land, a dead zone. No movement. Nothing. It was so enforced that students of the Zone, missed National and West African Regional examinations. They were chased out of examination halls, and their teachers beaten up.

In Imo State, for example, an Anglican Priest, who was a Principal of a school, was butchered to death for daring to protect his students to take their West African Examination Council  Examination.

In the South-east, properties worth hundreds of millions of Naira were destroyed. Businesses worth billions of Naira were destroyed. Innocent lives, including those of children were  cut down in a most brutish manner. The once ever-booming economy of the zone nose-dived.

Onitsha and Aba, regarded as the economic hub centers in West Africa, in terms of trading; lost that status. Hundreds of people from West African countries who usually converged on the two towns every Monday, especially, to trade, stopped and looked for some other States. People began to relocate their businesses out of Igboland.

As these went on, a number of the Igbo elite who should have intervened, preferred cheap popularity to speaking up to save the Zone, to save the people. They played to the gallery so  they would be clapped for, and called courageous. They decided to be making a political capital out of it. Now, thinking they have really become popular on that basis, they want to be Governors and National Assembly Members, hoping that based on the deliberate ill-advised support they were giving to the youths, they have become the leaders, the spokespersons of the Zone. The only courageous ones

Those who spoke up were dubbed saboteurs. They were called cowards, and their lives and businesses threatened and/or destroyed. Others kept quiet to save their heads. The Governors were helpless.

As this went on, other Zones laughed at the Igbo. When they dared invite the South-West and the North to join them in the Sit-at-home policy to protest bad governance, the North wished the Igbo “10 more years of sitting at home.”

The Yoruba asked them to forget it. They will not destroy their Zone, was the reply.

However, at some point, sanity set in a little. IPOB restricted the policy to only the days Kanu would appear in Court. Yet, it didn’t quite remedy the situation. Some rogue elements continued as usual. To destroy. To maim and kill  people for daring to disobey the Sit-at-home order on Mondays.

It was always taken for granted that the order for Sit-at-home came from the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

Bu there is, now, a twist.

Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, who has declared interest in the Governorship seat of Abia State in 2023, has revealed something he never revealed before now.

Speaking in Enugu on  Saturday,  at the Investiture ceremony of the 16th President of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, (ECCIMA), Abaribe said Kanu did not issue the every Monday Sit-at-home order. And, Abaribe was quoting Kanu.

He said on a visit to Kanu at his detention center, in the company of Senator Ike Ekweremadu and a couple of other, Kanu said he was not the one who issued the Sit-at-home order.

Abaribe said this while recounting the damage done to Igbo land by the order.

His words: “What  is happening in the South-east is a tragedy. Every Monday, people sit at home in what they call ‘holy Monday.’ What is holy in making people suffer like this?

“IPOB has said countless times that they are not the ones enforcing it, neither does it seem like we have a way to solve it.

“I went with Ike Ekweremadu and two Bishops to the DSS to see Nnamdi Kanu and he told us he did not issue the order.”

Abaribe bemoaned the State of the  South-east economy, no thanks to the order, and said people were relocating their businesses out of the South-east.

But that is where the controversy starts.

The questions people are asking now are:

If Kanu did not issue the order, then who did? Is there a higher authority in IPOB than Kanu? If he did not issue the order, why did IPOB not deny it as soon as it was issued in IPOB’s name? Why did Kanu not condemn it immediately it was issued, knowing fully well he would have been obeyed.

Records show that the order was given by IPOB, in a number of statements issued by its Spokesman, Emma Powerful. When it was reduced to only the days Kanu would appear in Court, it was Powerful who also informed the public as such. When IPOB threatened to shutdown Igboland for a month if Kanu was not produced in Court, the announcement also came from Powerful.

However, opinion is that rogue elements have infiltrated IPOB. And, it is these rogue elements who have continued to insist on the every Monday Sit-at-home order, even when IPOB has restricted it to only the days Kanu would appear in Court.

Opinion, however, is that IPOB has lost control of the implementation of the policy it started to rogue elements.

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