Iheanacho Leaves Leicester

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September 26, 2019

By Uche Mbah

One month after the closure of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, work is yet to start on the rehabilitation of the runway.

Recall that the Airport was closed down about a month ago due to what the Aviation ministry called security concerns. This magazine found out that the concerns were genuine and that the repairs needed to be effected to reduce the dangers posed to travelers. Already, before the closure, the main International Airline, Ethiopian Airways, had given notice that it will stop flying the route if nothing is done in connection to the repairs of the airport runways. Even the major local airline, Air Peace, shared the same opinion.

The Federal government closed the Airport.

But the Airport was closed without making any arrangements for repairs, according to the Magazine findings.

Industry sources lamented that the government is deliberately using the closure-which, incidentally is indefinite, “as part of the ongoing punishment of the south east for not voting the APC government”, said an industry source. “This is the first line that a government is closing an airport without fixing a timeline for repairs. Do you know that it was after the closure that government said they will start searching for contractors to do the job? I am not even sure they have started searching”.

Though the political coloration seems far fetched, government activities appear to fuel the belief that it is deliberately doing that against the igbos, as this is the only international Airport in the East.

Before the closure, Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika met with Igbo leaders at Enugu where he allegedly briefed them of plans to close the Airport. He did not give an indication of how long it will be closed.

When Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja was closed and International Flights were diverted to Kaduna, a timeline was given for the repairs. Government adhered to that timeline.

Moreover, they first rehabilitated the Kaduna Airport and environs before beginning the Abuja Airport rehabilitation. And contractors were on ground before the announcement of the rehabilitation process.

In the case of Enugu, local flights are being diverted to Owerri, Port Harcourt and Asaba, while international flights are diverted to Port Harcourt.

None of these has undergone rehabilitation to accommodate increased traffic.

Osinbajo vs Timi Frank: Threats, Counter Threats, With The Press Caught In The Middle

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September 26, 2019

By Uche Mbah

The recent alleged apologies of Vanguard Newspapers to the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo indicates the precarious position that the Nigerian Press has found itself in the present dispensation, particularly with the advent of Online Media.

Recall that Timi Frank, former spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress, APC, had released statements indicating that the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was involved in a financial scandal which is causing his present travails with the presidency. Although many media houses picked on the issue, the Vanguard Newspapers published it on their front page.

The vice president, through his verified twitter handle,
@ProfOsinbajo, had threatened to waive his constitutional rights to see the end of the case. “In the past few days, a spate of reckless and malicious falsehoods have been peddled in the media against me by a group of malicious individuals”, he said.

“The defamatory and misleading assertions invented by this clique had mostly been making the social media rounds anonymously.

“I have today instructed the commencement of legal action against two individuals, one Timi Frank and another Katch Ononuju, who have put their names to these odious falsehoods.

“I will waive my constitutional immunity to enable the most robust adjudication of these claims of libel and malicious falsehood.”

As the Vice President, he has constitutional immunity, meaning that he can not be sued, nor can he sue. Basically, for he to waive his immunity, he will have to resign his position as the Vice president first, according to some lawyers. It is not clear whether he can unilaterally waive his immunity.

He had instructed his Lawyer, Femi Falana, to write the Vanguard Newspapers on the issue.

“We are solicitors to Professor Yemi Osinbanjo SAN, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (hereinafter referred to as “our client”) on whose behalf and instructions we write this letter”, the letter said.

“Our client’s attention has been drawn to your highly libelous story entitled “N90 bn FIRS election fund, Osinbanjo’s problem, not 2023 politics-Frank” recklessly published in the Vanguard newspaper edition of September 23, 2019.

In the story credited to one Comrade Timi Frank, your newspaper informed your large readership that our client’s travail “has nothing to do with 2023 but alleged mismanagement of about N90 Billion Naira (sic) released by the Federal Inland Revenue Inland Service (FIRS) to prosecute the last general elections in favour of the APC”.

The false contextual background and specific untrue and defamatory statement include the following:

“The presidency discovered how Osinbajo allegedly mismanaged N90billion from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

When confronted by the presidency, he confirmed to General Buhari that he indeed allegedly took N90billion from FIRS but it was used for the 2019 presidential election campaign in strategic states of the South-west.

Gen Buhari asked for a breakdown of how the money was spent and he said he gave N11 billion to Lagos state APC leader but when the said national leader and one former APC chairman were invited for an explanation, it was confirmed that Osinbajo gave only N5billion and not N11billion to Lagos state.

‘The cabal is asking to know how come they beat PDP in the South-west with less than 60,000 votes if the money was actually spent in the strategic states of the South-west as allegedly claimed.’

The activist insisted that if the information is true, Osinbajo must resign his position as Vice President, adding that such is akin to the characteristics of ‘yahoo boys.”

“It is clear that the entire publication was a vicious, wicked and reckless ploy to impugn the reputation of our client and lower him in the estimation of right thinking members of the public. Without any scintilla of evidence you deliberately gave the dubious impression that our client colluded with the Federal Inland Revenue Service to divert public funds to the tune of N90 billion to prosecute the 2019 general elections in the South west region.

‘In view of the foregoing we have our client’s firm instructions to request for the immediate retraction of the offensive and derogatory publication coupled with apology prominently published in your newspaper.

‘Take notice that if we do not receive your formal retraction and apology within 24 hours of the receipt of this letter, we shall proceed with our client’s instructions to seek legal remedies including aggravated damages in the appropriate High Court.”

But Timi Frank insisted that he is the one to be sued and not the Media house. In a release by him, he also urged the Economic and Financial crimes commission to “quickly release the reports of its earlier investigation of the activities of the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) under the current leadership.”

“I understand Prof. Osinbajo, through Femi Falana has written Vanguard Newspaper, demanding for a retraction. It is a move to silence the media and those of us speaking for Nigerians. I challenge Osinbajo to sue me and not Vanguard Newspaper. I’m prepared to meet him in court whenever he is ready to do so”, he said.

“The VP should know that I can not be intimidated by his threat. We shall meet in court
“The VP is trying to intimidate everyone including the media but he has forgotten how he accused others like former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Senate President Bukola Saraki without any evidence,” Frank stated.

While urging Vanguard and other newspapers to stand firm, Frank called on the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Director of the State Security Service (DSS), Independent Corrupt Practices Offenses Commission (ICPC) to investigate his claims objectively.

“Osinbajo is trying to use his position as Vice President to intimidate me and especially the Vanguard Newspaper but he won’t succeed.
“I have also spoken with Femi Falana, the VP’s lawyer who has confirmed that he has a letter from the Vice President for me but I’m yet to receive the letter,” he stated.

The federal Inland revenue service, the organization through which the Vice President allegedly took the N90 billion in question, has already denied the story, claiming they have no such money in their account.

Meanwhile, vanguard Newspapers have retracted the story and published an appology to the Vice President as required by Femi Falana. Osinbajo allegedly also threatened to sue Google, a Social media facilitating platform.

Ihedioha Goes To The United Nations

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September 25, 2019

Along with a couple of his colleagues, Imo State Governor, The Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, was one of the privileged high profile guests at the 74th United Nations General Assembly. Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, like other world leaders, was a key participant. See, accompanying photos

L-R; President Muhammadu Buhari, Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire launches the SDG Model during the high-level Side event of the United Nations General Assembly taking Place in New York. Wednesday, September 25, 2019

**President Muhammadu Buhari, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development**

**L-R; Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, Nigerian Ambassador to US, Justice Sylvanus Nsofor, Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihefioha,**

Banking Fraud: Customers Lament, Indict GTB, Polaris, ECOBank, Others

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September 25, 2019

To further promote a cash-less economy and enhance the collection of applicable government revenues, the Central Bank of Nigeria, last Tuesday, announced a review of the process for merchant settlement.

With effect from September 17, 2019, the CBN approved for banks to unbundle merchant settlement amounts, and charge applicable taxes and duties on individual transactions as stipulated by regulations.

The CBN, in a circular also announced the commencement of charges on deposits in addition to already existing charges on withdrawals.

According to the circular, the charges, which took effect from September 18, 2019, will attract 3 per cent processing fees for withdrawals and 2 per cent processing fees for lodgements of amounts above N500, 000 for individual accounts.

Similarly, corporate accounts will attract 5 per cent processing fees for withdrawals and 3 per cent processing fee for lodgements of amounts above N3 million.

The statement, however, disclosed that the charge on deposits shall apply in Lagos, Ogun, Kano, Abia, Anambra, and Rivers States as well as the Federal Capital Territory, while the implementation of the cash-less policy would take effect from March 31, 2020 nationwide.

The Dilemma
To Olusegun Aremu, this directive by the CBN is akin to a double jeopardy of rubbing salt to a fresh wound. Their recent experience with internet transaction with Guaranty Trust Bank, GTB, is still haunting his memory, and that of his daughter, Mary Taiwo.

While Taiwo was looking forward to her admission at a Federal University in one of the states in the South West, her father, had deposited N250, 000 in her savings account with GTB, domiciled at Ikotun-Egbe, Lagos State, to take care of necessary admission/resumption formalities.

Sorrow and Tears
While Taiwo was waiting for her admission letter, she did not anticipate that tragedy was also lurking in the corner. Precisely on Saturday, 20th of July, 2019, she received a text message supposedly from the bank on her phone to “upgrade some information on her account.” She innocently obliged and that was the genesis of a nightmare for the family. Within 18 hours, the entire N250, 000 in the account was transferred to various accounts.

A statement of account she obtained from the bank showed that on 20th July, the sum of N80, 000 was yanked off the account via POS/WEB Purchase Transaction 766634-134659-CASABELLA INTERNATIONAL. The next day, 21st July, there was an NIBSS Instant Payment of N5, 000 Outward to a First Bank of Nigeria, FBN Leramo AKinwumi Olamide. This was followed immediately of another N5, 000 to the same account.

The third transaction of the day was a double transfer of N50, 000 each NIBSS Instant Payment Outward to UBA/ Agbokun Ayoka. This was followed by another transfer of N20, 000; and N10, 000 respectively to the same UBA account of Agbokun Ayoka.

The last tranch of the fraud was a USSD transfer of N20, 000 to Amuokuyo Success Imengowen, leaving a paltry N2, 500 in the account before she actually realized what had hit her.

She and the family are yet to get over the trauma as the resumption time at the school draws closer. Her complaint at the bank merely received an email sympathizing with her and claiming the account will, from now, be put on extra security.

“You can see that the announcement by the CBN last Tuesday is just nothing but a sham. How can you say you are encouraging cashless banking when the process is riddled with fraud and scams?” Taiwo’s father told our correspondent last week.

Taiwo’s case is similar to the case of a Pastor in Sango-Ota, Ogun State, who lost about N180, 000 in his account with Polaris Bank in the same manner as Taiwo’s. The case of a young man whose $5,000 was sniffed from his account with a first generation bank in Ikorodu, Lagos State, was not less dramatic.

It actually took an invasion of the bank by hired thugs from the young man, which disrupted the operations in the bank, before the scam was reversed.

Banking on Fraud
According to the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation, the insurer of all Deposit Money Banks in the country, a total of 37,817 fraud cases were reported in 2018 against 26,182 in 2017. The amount involved stood at ₦38.93 billion in 2018 compared to ₦12.01 billion in 2017.

The actual amount lost to fraud incidences in 2018, according to the NDIC stood at ₦15.15 billion as against ₦2.37 billion and ₦2.40 billion in 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The rising fraud incidences, investigation revealed, could be attributed to the increase in the sophistication of fraud related techniques such as hacking, cybercrime as well as increase in I.T related products and usage, fraudulent withdrawals and unauthorised credit.

The channels and instruments through which the reported frauds and forgeries were perpetrated indicated that Internet and technology-based sources of fraud had the highest frequency, accounting for 59.2% of fraud cases, and 42.83% of the actual total loss suffered.

Meanwhile, the number of ATM/Card-related fraud cases declined from 16,397 in 2017 to 10,063 in 2018. That may be attributed to improved security features of the card as well as security awareness on the part of users. Web-based fraud cases, however, increased from 7,869 in 2017 to 12,343 in 2018.

Enemy Within
Investigation also revealed that a total of 899 staff were involved in frauds and forgery cases in 2018 compared with 320 in 2017. The number of temporary staff involved in fraud was 394, accounting for 43.83% of the total number of staff involved in frauds.

This was followed by Officers and Executive Assistants’ cadre with 206 or 22.91%. Supervisors and Managers accounted for 119 or 13.24% of the total fraud cases.

Other Legs of Fraud
Not a few Nigerians also believe that the Card Maintenance Fee charged by banks is fraud in another name. In the first six months of this year alone, 13 banks raked in 39.5 billion naira from the exercise.

There are currently 27 banks in Nigeria with government licenses, harbouring 112,005,516 accounts as at 31st December, 2018, through recent drive to enhance financial inclusion as well as other social welfare schemes.

As at December 2018, Nigeria’s Total Deposits was reported at 28.7 trillion naira out of which FUGAZ (which is an acronym for FBNH, UBA, GT Bank, Access Bank and Zenith Bank) now have a cumulative total customer deposit of N14.1 trillion.

Remedies
The number of temporary staff involved in fraud and forgery cases has consistently been on the increase. Forensic and security experts agree that the banks and regulators need to address the problem of contract/temporary staff in terms of welfare and permanent employment in view of the risk their current status poses to banks operations. Furthermore, they advise that banks should strengthen their internal controls and validate their recruitment process.

Long Arm of the Law
The Act establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC mandates it to combat financial and economic crimes. The Commission is empowered to prevent, investigate, prosecute and penalise economic and financial crimes and is charged with the responsibility of enforcing the provisions of other laws and regulations relating to economic and financial crimes including:

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment act (2004); The Money Laundering Act 1995;The Money Laundering (Prohibition) act 2004; The Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 1995;

The Failed Banks (Recovery of Debts) and Financial Malpractices in Banks Act1994;The Banks and other Financial Institutions Act 1991; and

Miscellaneous Offences Act
In 2016 alone, the EFCC secured the convictions of 182 fraudsters as follows: Abuja, 38; Lagos, 62; Kano, 34; Enugu, 15; and Port Harcourt, 33

Defending the Rot
Despite Nigerian banks’ huge investment on technology, it is alarming that most banks are still very vulnerable to attacks and financial frauds. None of the banks is ready to admit that customers’ money in their custody is not safe. When confronted by our team on what their banks are doing to secure their customers savings, they tried to dodge the question either by out rightly failed to pick calls or respond to messages sent to their phones.

Some of them also do not want to be quoted claiming that there are “fraudsters everywhere and no matter how hard bankers tried, criminals will always find a way to perpetuate financial crimes”.

For instance, Idoko Negedu, who is said to be the Head of Media, Guaranty Trust, after series of failed attempts to seek his views finally agreed to meet NGIJ team last Friday.

However, when the team got to his Lagos Island office, he said he was not willing to meet more than one person who had earlier called to schedule the appointment with him. All efforts to convince him that two others are members of the team on the assignment, proved abortive as he maintained that he was not willing to grant media interviews, claiming not to be the spokesman of the bank.

Idoko who wears an apparently arrogant look, frowned at some of the questions posed to him, claiming that the journalists “seem to be interested in publishing the report rather than cooperating with the bank.”

However, a top official of Ecobank who would not like his name to be mentioned stated that “technology is evolving and as the banks device new technology, the criminals create new ways to beat it”.

The Ecobank official told NGIJ team that “I’m surprised hearing two people can be receiving alerts from a single account.”

Keyamo Moved to The Ministry Of Labour

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September 24, 2019

By Uche Mbah

Festus Keyamo, until recently the Minister of State for Niger Delta, has been moved by the Presidency to the Ministry of Labor and Employment. With this he moves from working under Godswill Akpabio to working under Senator Chris Ngige.

There has been speculations on the working relationship that will be between Akpabio and Keyamo, given that Keyamo was the Lawyer that prosecuted Akpabio when he was still in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at the instance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Akpabio never took the issue lightly.

It appears that the working relationship was not as smooth as their initial photo ops suggested.

Keyamo himself has reacted by thanking the presidency for finding him “versatile enough” to be moved around.

In a short letter, signed by the secretary to the Government, Boss Mustapha, made available to this Magazine, the appointment took effect Tuesday.

Keyamo had allegedly hoped to be appointed as Attorney General.

Brazil Names Strong 23-Man Squad For Super Eagles

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September 24, 2019

By Akinwale Kasali

Brazil coach, Tite, has named a 23-man team that will play the Super Eagles of Nigeria in Singapore on October 13, 2019, in an international friendly.

The invited players for the encounter are mostly Europe based, with just few players plying their trade in the Brazilian league.

The team consists of players that featured for the ‘Selecao’ as the Brazil National team is called in the Copa America Championship hosted by the country in June.

Brazil went ahead to win the competition, brushing away bitter rivals, Argentina, and Chile enroute to their success.

The squad are: Ederson (Manchester City), Santos (Athletico-PR), and Weverton (Palmeiras) are the goalkeepers invited.

In the defense are Eder Militão (Real Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), Rodrigo Caio (Flamengo), Thiago Silva (PSG), Alex Sandro (Juventus), Daniel Alves (São Paulo), Danilo and (Juventus), Renan Lodi (Atlético de Madrid).

In the midfield are: Arthur (Barcelona), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Fabinho (Liverpool), Lucas Paquetá (Milan), Matheus Henrique (Grêmio) and Philippe Coutinho (Bayern)

The strikers invited by coach Tite include: Everton (Grêmio), Gabigol (Flamengo), Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City), Neymar (PSG), Richarlison (Everton) and Roberto Firmino (Liverpool).

Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr, has submitted the list of players invited to the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, with the list to be unveiled tomorrow.

Court Orders DSS to Release Sowore

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September 24, 2019

By Oji Odu

The Federal High Court, Abuja has ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to release Human Rights Activist and convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore from its custody after being detained for 52 days without bail.

Denying DSS application to further hold Sowore for 20 days, Justice Taiwo Taiwo ordered the release on the grounds that there is no order still in court and, on the condition that he must deposit all travel documents within 48 hours of the ruling.

He also ordered that Sowore’s lawyer, Femi Falana, must produce him whenever the court needs him. Earlier, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), had urged the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to enter a nolle prosequi to terminate the charges filed against the convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore, and Olawale Bakare.

In a letter by the group’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oludare, SERAP urged the AGF to save the nations judiciary from further embarrassment and disrespect by dropping the charges which centre on insulting President Muhammadu Buhari because it would further make a mockery of the Nigerian criminal justice system.

SERAP advised Malami to activate his power of nolle prosequi under Section 174 of the constitution to terminate the charges against Sowore and Mandate “and, several other similar trumped-up cases going on in several states.

“Sowore’s case and several similar cases instigated/brought by state governors make a hideous mockery of Nigeria’s criminal justice system, rule of law, freedom of expression and media freedom.

“These cases are persecution and not prosecution. As a guardian of the public interest, you (Malami) have a role to end this travesty now, and to maintain the sanctity and integrity of Nigeria’s justice system.

“These cases set a dangerous precedent for the misuse and subversion of the justice system, which may lead to the politicisation of the judiciary. This will be bad for everyone – ordinary citizens, journalists and even the politicians in power, as they may themselves become targets of these repressive and abusive tactics when they are out of power/imposition”, the anti-graft and human rights group stated. The group, however, opines that while the Federal Government has the right to prosecute and prevent criminal offences, it is also duty bound to do so as laid down by the laws of the land.

SERAP’s call comes on the heels of the beginning of the legal process against Sowore, today, September 24, 2019.

He has been charged with treason, money laundering and “insulting the President”, a charge many insist is laughable, and which can only obtain in an autocratic system.

Sowore has been in detention without trial or bail for 52 days. Lending its voice, the Yoruba Solidarity Forum (YSF) has urged the Federal Government to drop all charges against Omoyele Sowore and release him immediately.

Olajde Odumosu, who is the group’s Publicity Secretary, described the detention and trial of Sowore as a dangerous precedent and subversion of Nigeria’s judicial system. He said that the DSS did not act in line with the constitution. Urging all Yoruba leaders to speak up against Sowore’s prolonged detention, Odumosu said they should not abandon the activist alone at this critical period. “Nigerians are entitled to express their feelings. They should give him bail, he is entitled to temporary freedom.

“What Sowore did through the botched protest was to express the feelings of Nigerians and in as much as the protest was peaceful and violent-free, there is no point putting him behind bars for that long period of time. It is time for our leaders to learn to be accommodating.

It is time for our political class to learn about the best way to handle varying views, especially, that of the opposition.“Democracy thrives when opposition’s views are accommodated and handled maturely. So, President Buhari must doff the robe of a former military man and put on an attire of a democrat.

We are not in a military regime where peoples’ rights to freedom and other fundamental human rights were alien.“Nigeria is a democratic republic, therefore, unlawful detention of people can lead to further crisis and the government must try as much as possible to avoid this by listening to the cries of Nigerians”.

The Source Magazine’s findings reveal that some of those against Sowore’s detention by the Buhari government fear that history may be repeating itself as the case is similar to the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s case in the 1960s. Awolowo (Yoruba) and a leader of opposition Action Group (AG) in the federal parliament was arrested, detained, by Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, then Prime Minister of Nigeria.

Awolowo was charged along with others with treasonable felony and was jailed 10 years. Nigeria, under President Buhari, charged Sowore (Yoruba) with treason. As Sowore goes to court, the outcome of the case is somewhat predictable.

Will Buhari appoint an Egba man (from Abeokuta) as presiding judge to handle Sowore’s case like Justice Sowemimo (Egba man) from Abeokuta was the judge who tried Awolowo? Awo was not granted bail during his trial same way as Sowore was denied bail during proceedings of his case.

Leonard Ezenwa, the expelled former treasurer and secretary of AAC, will be the government’s chief witness against Sowore.

Sowore: DSS Plot To Kill Me In Detention

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Bayo Bernard

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September 24, 2019

By Fola James

Sahara Reporters publisher and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Omoyele Sowore has accused the DSS of plot to kill him.

In a rare confession since he was arrested and detained by Nigeria’s secret police, the journalist cum politician disclosed that the manner he was tortured in detention could only mean that they were after his life.

The co-convener of #RevolutionNow protest, who has been in the detention of the Department of State Services since August 3, 2019, said the DSS has been maltreating him.

The confession was shared by the National legal adviser of the party under which Sowore contested the presidential election, Inibehe Effiong on his social media page.

According to the tape shared by Effiong titled “Transcript from DSS Interrogation of Sowore Upon Abduction – Excerpt 1,” on his Facebook page on Monday, Sowore said his life was in danger.

Sowore “I was abducted in the middle of the night. I was taken to one of your facilities in Lagos. I was beaten up, rough-handled on my way to the facility in the car.

And my cousin, who was in the room with me, was also beaten and handcuffed, and my properties were forcefully seized. And when I got there, of course, the maltreatment continued, they threw me on a cold floor and locked the door.

I was abducted in the middle of the night. I was taken to one of your facilities in Lagos. I was beaten up, rough-handled on my way to the facility in the car.

And my cousin, who was in the room with me, was also beaten and handcuffed, and my properties were forcefully seized. And when I got there, of course, the maltreatment continued, they threw me on a cold floor and locked the door.”

According to the transcript, Sowore was interrogated by five DSS operatives in the presence of his lawyer, one “Barrister Sam.”

Usman Usman, a DSS operative, who led the interrogation, was said to have told Sowore that, “We’ll be asking you questions and our advice is for you to be truthful to the best of your knowledge.

We’ll not force you to say anything. Whatever question we ask and you have a problem with or you don’t have an answer to or you don’t want to answer, there is no compulsion, you simply tell us you’re not going to answer these questions.”

When asked by Usman to say “If in the course of your being here anybody has molested you in any way or maltreated you?” Sowore said, “Yes.”

On whether he was denied food, the detainee said, “While in your facility in Lagos, yes, but I decided that because of their hostility I won’t take any food until I am allowed to talk to a lawyer.

I continued to refuse food; until I was allowed to speak with a lawyer, and I have seen my lawyer, but I am still being denied access to my immediate family.”

On whether he was allowed to make calls to his family members, Sowore replied his interrogator, “I’ve not made any calls to them. My brother is outside; he wasn’t allowed to see me as we speak.

“No, I’ve not made any call to my family members, I only made calls to people I remember their numbers to bring me food and asked them to call my brother.

My brother came in today. But he was denied access to me, so I haven’t been able to see him and as a result, speak with my mum, wife and kids,” Sowore said.

Finally, Atiku Appeals To Supreme Court

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September 24, 2019