The Katsina State branch of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) has accused the State Government of frustrating operation of private schools, following series of new policies introduced by the government.
It warned that the measures could cripple private education and jeopardise the future of thousands of pupils.
Katsina State, government had announced the revocation of the operational licences of all private and community schools across the state with immediate effect.
This was contained in a circular issued by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Zainab Musa-Musawa, and released to newsmen in Katsina on Saturday by the Ministry ’s Public Relations Officer, Sani Danjuma.
“The ministry hereby notifies the public, proprietors and administrators of all private and community schools that all previously issued licences have been terminated effective August 13, 2025,” she stated.
According to the Commissioner, the decision followed the approval of the State Executive Council as part of ongoing reforms in the education sector.
The commissioner explained that the reforms were aimed at ensuring quality assurance, standardization and effective regulation of teaching and learning across the state.
Speaking during a press briefing on Monday at the in Katsina, the Chairman of NAPPS, Sani Jibiya, described the government’s new regulations as “harsh, discriminatory and catastrophic.”
Mr. Jibiya highlighted at least six contentious provisions in the new education policy, which are detrimental to smooth operation of private schools in the state.
According to him, Private schools that had previously bought registration forms from past administrations are being compelled to buy new ones, effectively nullifying earlier payments while already licensed schools are being forced to undergo fresh registration, a process Jibiya likened to “asking a university student to re-register midway through their degree.”
“Annual Levy on School Fees: The policy demands that schools remit 3% of every child’s annual school fees to government coffers. Proprietors argue this is unfair, as no other private sector in the state, including hospitals, restaurants or petrol stations, faces such levies.”
On hike in License Fees, he pointed out that “Registration fees have been categorised into ₦250,000 for urban schools, ₦175,000 for semi-urban, and ₦100,000 for rural schools, in addition to a controversial ₦200,000 ‘upgrade fee.’
“Five-Year License Expiry: Licenses of private schools will now expire every five years, forcing institutions to reapply or risk operating illegally—even while students are still enrolled.
“Ban on Tuition Fee Increase: Schools are forbidden from increasing fees by a kobo without explicit approval from the Commissioner of Education, a directive Jibiya described as ‘a draconian order not seen even under military rule.’
Jibiya said the measures would devastate private schools, many of which are already struggling under harsh economic conditions, insecurity and inflation.
“As I speak, many of our schools could not pay July salaries. We employ over 14,000 teaching and non-teaching staff and educate more than 500,000 pupils across 1,400 schools. Forcing us to pay these levies without allowing us to adjust fees means certain collapse,” he warned.
He further alleged that the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Hajiya Zainab Musa Musawa, had consistently refused to meet with the association and instead resorted to intimidation.
“We call her ‘Her Majesty’ because she shouts and dictates. She never granted us an audience despite several letters and reminders. At one point, she threatened to shut down our schools, accusing us of being money-makers and even non-indigenes,” Jibiya claimed.
“The association has called on Governor Mallam Dikko Umaru Radda, PhD, CON to urgently intervene and save the sector from collapse.
“If private schools shut down, over half a million children will suffer and their academic records may be lost forever. This is not just about proprietors, it is about the future of Katsina’s children.
“We are not bandits. We carry chalk, not guns. We support government by reducing insecurity through education and creating jobs. All we ask for is fairness and dialogue, not intimidation.”
NAPPS revealed that its national leadership has been briefed and is considering legal redress if the state government insists on enforcing the policy within the 29-day deadline.
Barely a few days after they were suspended from office, Governor Hyacinth Alia has recalled three Government officials to their duty posts.
The Source reports that the Governor had on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, suspended the trio of Maxwell Ogiri, the Executive Chairman of Otukpo Local Council, Mrs Grace Adagba, the chairman person of the State Basic Education Board SUBEB, and the Executive Secretary of the Benue state Lottery Commission Michael Uper for a period of one month.
The suspension was sequel to the State House of Assembly’s insistence on Governor Alia sanctioning the officials in line with its earlier resolution .
The Assembly led by the former Speaker Rt Hon Aondona Dajoh, had paused action on the screening of eight Commissioner-nominees, pending when Governor Alia would implement its resolution for the affected appointees to be suspended for a period of six months.
Although, the Governor was to reluctantly bow to the Lawmakers’ demand, the development, however, precipitated a chain of reactions that ultimately swept Dajoh out of office as the Speaker.
A statement on Tuesday from Yersoo Kula, the Governor’s spokesperson, informed that the lifting of the suspension followed a counter resolution from the Legislators calling for the recall of the affected Government officials.
According to the statement, the suspended officials are to resume immediately at their duty posts .
Governor Alia, however, durged the recalled officials to rededicate themselves to their responsibilities, maintain accountability and work assiduously for the people’s welfare.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has reaffirmed his decision not to contest the Presidential election in 2027.
Speaking during his monthly media chat in Abuja on Monday , September 1, 2025, the immediate past Rivers State Governor , insisted that despite his beleaguered party, the Peoples Democratic party, PDP, zoning its Presidential ticket to the Southern part of the country, he will not run against his benefactor, President Tinubu, who will be seeking a second term in office.
According to him , being a man of proven integrity ,he would not return to his vomit, having severally made it known that he will prefer to support the ambition of the president, rather than throwing his hat into the ring.
” I will not contest . I have integrity ; I have character . There is no way my boss will be there ,and we are saying he should ,and then I will turn around ,to contest also”, Wike stated .
He emphasized that his decision is informed and strongly guided by his deep sense of loyalty to the President, as well as his personal principles.
He, therefore, vowed that no amount of political expediency or pressure will make him renege on his decision to support the second term ambition of the president.
This is as he strangely professed his unflinching loyalty and love to the PDP which he, in no small measure, contributed in dismembering .
He described the festering crisis within the PDP as self-inflicted.
” I have said it repeatedly, that if we don’t love PDP, by now you will not be hearing about that name . I don’t need to be a Governor for me to do what I want to do .
” One thing people don’t understand is that if you have a problem, don’t continue to give yourself more problems. Try to restrict yourself to the small one you have, rather than adding other problems .
“No opposition party can survive when it has a serious crisis. The duty of the opposition party is to see how it can manage its problems, and not by being arrogant”, the FCT Minister stated.
The Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB), has accused the Nigerian Government of trying to blackmail its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu using the case of Simon Ekpa who was on Monday sentenced to six years imprisonment by Finland court for terrorism.
IPOB maintained that it has nothing to do with the recent conviction of Simon Ekpa in Finland, stressing that its activities have no connection with the group.
The group accused the Nigerian government of launching a smear campaign to discredit its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, IPOB described the reported attempt to link Ekpa to its movement as “a brazen fraud against truth and justice.
“The world must know that the question of Simon Ekpa’s non-membership in IPOB is already judicially settled in Finland.”
According to the group, it had, alongside Simon Ekpa, testified in a Finnish court where it was made clear that it had no ties to the organization.
“IPOB under oath in a Finnish court testified that Simon Ekpa has never held any position in IPOB or ESN. Ekpa himself under oath described himself merely as a ‘content creator,’ admitted he disowned IPOB, and boasted that he would destroy IPOB.”
The group further accused Ekpa of creating parallel structures in contradiction to IPOB’s ideology.
“Ekpa created his own contraptions: ‘Biafra Government in Exile,’ ‘Biafra Liberation Army (BLA),’ and ‘Biafra Defence Force, BDF,’ all of which, IPOB repudiated and condemned,” it added.
It insisted that any attempt to associate Ekpa’s conviction with IPOB amounted to “deliberate misinformation — a calculated lie, knowingly repeated to deceive.”
IPOB alleged that the Federal Government was deliberately using Ekpa’s case as a diversionary tactic to influence judicial proceedings in the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, whose no-case submission ruling before Justice James Omotosho has been adjourned until October 10, 2025.
“The Nigerian state is orchestrating this smear campaign as a diversionary tactic, timed precisely to contaminate the upcoming ruling on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s no-case submission.
“Why the unexplained delay in delivering judgment when the Federal Government has failed to establish even a prima facie case?
“The answer is obvious: they are buying time to inject irrelevant and extraneous narratives like Ekpa’s conviction, in a bid to corrupt judicial reasoning,” IPOB alleged.
It described the adjournment as “judicial hostage-taking, a weaponization of the courts to sustain persecution.”
The group also appealed to foreign governments and institutions, including the European Union, Finland, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the United Nations, to intervene in the matter.
“The Finnish court exonerated IPOB of any link to Simon Ekpa. We demand clarity be issued to Nigeria to stop this malicious misuse,” the group urged.
Addressing Western nations, IPOB said: “You have both condemned Nigeria’s extraordinary rendition of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from Kenya. If you are true to your principles, you must also condemn this latest charade — an attempt to derail a fair trial by importing lies.”
It further called on the United Nations to act, warning that “the Nigerian government is persecuting a self-determination leader in violation of the UN Charter. Silence in the face of a weaponized judiciary is complicity.”
Reaffirming its position, IPOB insisted that Simon Ekpa must bear his own burden.
“Simon Ekpa’s conviction is his burden and his alone. IPOB will never carry it. IPOB is a peaceful movement registered under international law, committed to lawful self-determination.
“This case in Abuja is not about IPOB’s legitimacy; it is about the persecution of one man — Mazi Nnamdi Kanu — for daring to demand freedom through peaceful means,” the group declared.
IPOB said Nigeria risked further damage to its image if it continued to misrepresent facts.
“Nigeria stands today at the bar of world opinion. Persist in this fraud, and you confirm yourselves a rogue state where the rule of law is dead,” it added.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan says if he decides not to contest the 2027 presidential election, it’s not because of the discouragement by Festus Keyamo, the minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development and Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, a former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC.
The duo has cited some constitutional constraints for Jonathan, who left power in 2015 not to run for the presidency again,
saying his return bid would face legal challenge as Jonathan had already been sworn in as president twice.
But his brother, Azibola Robert, in a statement on Monday urged both Keyamo and Odinkalu to keep their advise to themselves as Jonathan does not need them to decide whether he would run or not, adding that the former president is as eligible as other presidential aspirants, to run for the nation’s highest office.
He said Jonathan has many competent lawyers, including Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, to advise him on the issue, saying he doesn’t need unsolicited advise from any quarter.
Part of the statement: “Rule No. 1: Do not offer legal advice where none is solicited. GEJ (PDP) has numerous, more cerebral, more experienced SANs at his disposal who give him sound, unblemished professional legal advice.
“Please note: GEJ is 100% constitutionally and legally qualified to contest, if he chooses to. If he decides not to yield to the overwhelming calls to run, it will not be because he is unqualified.
“Your unsolicited legal view is not of any concern to him and will never be. Don’t waste your precious time dwelling on this.
“Or should I schedule a meeting so you can be properly educated on the subsisting court judgments on the matter — one of which your party, APC, was a party to?”
Recall that Robert had last week said Jonathan cannot be blackmailed from contesting the next presidential election.
The Federal Government has hailed the judgement of a Finland court which jailed Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa for terrorism.
Ekpa was convicted for six years on Monday for terrorism in Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland.
Reacting, the Federal government, through a statement by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, hailed the judgment, saying the Finnish government has disrupted the havoc that Ekpa and his collaborators caused the country.
He added that Ekpa’s reckless incitement and orchestration of violence through IPOB terror activities unleashed unspeakable pain on Nigeria.
”Families shattered, businesses destroyed, children orphaned, and entire communities forced to live under fear. Hundreds of lives were lost, and many more maimed, in pursuit of a destructive and unlawful agenda that sought to undermine the peace, unity, and sovereignty of our nation.
“By upholding the rule of law and ensuring that justice is served, the Finnish judiciary has not only vindicated Nigeria’s consistent position on this matter, but also sent a clear signal to extremists everywhere that the world is watching, and justice will catch up with those who seek to destabilize societies through terror.
“We will continue to mobilize every resource, diplomatic, military, and judicial, to preserve the peace, unity, and territorial integrity of our country.
“We urge all those who, under the misguidance of Simon Ekpa and others, have taken up arms against their fatherland to immediately lay them down and embrace the path of peace.
“Nigeria is big enough for all its people, but there can be no progress where violence and division prevail.
“The Federal Government also extends its profound gratitude to the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigerian Armed Forces, the security and intelligence agencies, and the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Nigeria Police, whose sacrifices, courage, and commitment continue to secure our homeland in the face of daunting challenges.
“Their service and the resilience of the Nigerian people remain the backbone of our enduring unity.
“As we mark this turning point, the Federal Government enjoins all Nigerians, at home and abroad, to work together for national unity, peace, and security of the country.”
The time was 5.25 am this Sunday where I am. Sleep had eluded me all night. My Doctors attribute that to a couple of my medications. Smallish, tiny things, so very effective, but for the sleep they deny me every now and then.
So, tired of tossing about and around the bed, arranging and rearranging the pillows as advised, since 1.30 am, I picked up my phone. It was 11.25 am in my beloved country, Nigeria, to which I can’t wait to go back.
Loneliness is definitely a terrible illness. These guys here work unbelievably hard – 24/7, almost. So, when they “dash” you $20, appreciate it. It didn’t come easy. When they go to work, I just stay with my medications, and this big, lovely, playful cat as company. Then, of course, books, television, my phone. It can be boring. Atimes, I talk to the cat, and try to interpret every of its moves. His name is Jasper. I call him Jappy.
So, this 5.25am, Sunday, hungry for home news, especially from Rivers State, after the Council Polls of Saturday, August 30, I began to go through my WhatsApp messages.
The first one I, regrettably, read was from a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police. I say regrettably because, from the moment I read it, my day was ruined. I lost myself. I couldn’t coordinate. Confusion set in. My throat became tight. Began to hurt. And so did my eyes. The tears streamed down my cheeks uncontrollably. By 3.30pm, I was still in the room. In bed. Staring at nothing. No breakfast. So, none of my morning medications taken – something I should have taken since 7.00am. But where was the strength to do that? My mouth had turned dry. I was too depressed to think straight. And I was very angry, angry at the world. Hardly knew what to think, or believe.
The WhatsApp message was a one-liner. “My sister, Arase is dead!” I quickly sat up, robbed my eyes with my right hand, to make sure I was not “seeing double”. Then I spoke, to nobody in particular: ‘Arase, you? How could you?’ And I began to sweat. Profusely. Two hours later, I was still sitting up. Then the calls started coming. I couldn’t talk. I tearfully answered some. Others I ignored. I am a Journalist. They were breaking the news to me to write. But this was one story I refused to break. I was in self-denial! How will I refer to Solomon Arase in the past? How?
I first met Arase, retired Inspector General of Police, in 2008. I had just been inaugurated as a Federal Commissioner on the Board of the Police Service Commission, PSC. Retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, the irrepressible Parry Osayande was the Chairman. We were appointed by the President Olusegun Obasanjo Government, but were eventually inaugurated during the late President Umaru Yar’adua’s Government.
It was two days after our inauguration, and first day we had a meeting with the Police Management Team and very senior Police Officers – (I think it was from the rank of AIGs and above. I forget now exactly) at Force Headquarters.
They welcomed us with full baskets of complaints. Marginalization. Favoritism. Irregular promotions. Illegal promotions. Promotions that neither passed through the PSC, nor approved by it. We were overwhelmed. What to do? One by one, those who spoke asked for a reversal because, they insisted, it was affecting the moral of officers whose juniors were suddenly promoted above them, and became their seniors and so, were compelled to first pay them compliments. Uniformed services take that seriously.
It happens. When an officer stands out and performs exceptionally well, in such cases, special promotions are allowed. Problem is that atimes, it is annoyingly abused. I remember insisting, and fighting for such promotions in favour of the gallant officers who arrested billionaire kidnapper, Evans. When the name of one of the officers, in fact, the one who took the most risk, Philip, was inexplicably omitted, I hit the roof. The name finally was included. In that operation, he was the star.
But the complainants during that our first meeting insisted merit was not the case. They said it was favoritism. However, what eventually counted against a couple of the promoted officers was that their promotions did not pass through the PSC. In one case, in particular, the PSC, before we assumed office, had, through the Permanent Secretary, rejected his promotion twice, and dismissed it as illegal.
I don’t quite remember the names of the Officers now, but I remember Solomon Arase and the now National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. Brilliant, gallant Officers, both. But Ribadu’s promotions, as explained to us by both the PSC Permanent Secretary, and Force Headquarters came from the Presidency. Not his fault. Ribadu was the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, then, and was doing one hell of a great job. He, obviously, deserved the promotion. But it was done illegally, they pointed out. Why not pass it through the PSC? Why not get approval from the PSC? Why not pass it through the right channel – from Force Headquarters (IGP’s office, to PSC, which will either reject or endorse?
In my unprecedented 10 years on the Board of the PSC, only two times did it reject such requests from the Presidency. Incidentally, both happened during Osayande’s leadership of the PSC. And, guess what: it came from a former First Lady who wanted her Aide de Camp, ADC, promoted. Only an Osayande could reject such a request in the manner he did. He used his red pen to run across the list, which was, insultingly, signed by the ADC. Then, he sent across a strong warning, in writing, which a couple of us took away, and aborted its delivery. But he insisted on inviting the ADC, through the then IGP, for disciplinary actions. Again, a couple of us intervened to “cool temper.”
Sorry I digressed.
But while Ribadu’s case became public because of the position he held at the time, that of Arase and others were not. There about 22 of them. They took their fate calmly. Very calmly. They may have cried in the rain. But, a few days after the reversal, Osayande sent for Arase, spoke to him, advised him not to be dispirited; urged him to keep his head and shoulders high; told him to continue with the good job he was doing; be the disciplined officer he was and, predicted rightly, “You will get to the very top of your career!” That was prophetic. Arase rose to become the Inspector General of Police, and capped it with the leadership of the PSC.
Late Solomon Arase
His tenure as both the IGP and the PSC Chair was short compared to the others who had occupied such positions. What many did not know, however, was that but for former President Goodluck Jonathan’s spirit of fairness, Arase would have succeeded MD Abubakar as the IGP, and could have served for about five years. Behind Arase, many people recommended him for the office. He stood out. But Jonathan, some said naive, others said patriotic, yet some said, a man desirous of unity, refused Arase’s elevation to the IGP. Reason: He said the Director General of the Department of State Services, DSS, then, Ekpenyong Ita, was from the South-south. He, reasoned, therefore, that he would be accused of nepotism if he appointed Arase, also, from same zone, the IGP. I wonder if Jonathan regrets that now, seeing that such appointments from same Zone meant nothing, mean nothing, to both his successors – former President Muhammadu Buhari and the incumbent President Bola Tinubu. In such sensitive offices, they added competence to loyalty. And Arase was very competent to have been appointed the IGP at the time, irrespective of his region of origin.
Jonathan, finally, settled for Suleiman Abba, then Assistant Inspector General Zone 7. He (Jonathan) sent somebody he trusted to discreetly talk with Suleiman and size him up.
Jonathan said he was looking for loyalty, an IGP who would face terrorists without considering religious leanings. “When you size him up, tell him I’m not going to ask for anything illegal from him; tell him I don’t want him to rig for me during the 2015 election; tell him all I want is a level playing ground.” Jonathan is that “ordinary”. He very rarely flaunted his powers as a President. Suleiman told a bit of his story. His wife, the number of children he has (about eight, or so), one of his daughters was studying medicine in one Middle East Country then. He told other stories to prove he was not a religion extremist. But what sold him to Jonathan, aside other things, was his close relationship with the family of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha. Suleiman had worked in the Villa as the ADC to the First Lady. Jonathan was impressed that years after Abacha’s death, years after his wife was no longer the First Lady and, with all that was going on with, and around the Abacha family, Suleiman still was very much in touch with them.That’s loyalty, Jonathan thought. But when it mattered most, Jonathan felt he did not quite see that loyalty. Did he get a level playing ground in 2015, especially, in the North? I cannot tell. But Jonathan felt the loyalty was withdrawn too soon – as soon as he lost the 2015 Presidential election to General Muhammadu Buhari. That loyalty was transferred to the incoming President. The incumbent no longer mattered. His IGP, it was said, and noticed, concentrated on the incoming President. He would, personally, go to the Airport to receive him without the knowledge of the incumbent President. Police officers were sent to escort, to Abuja, one guy, who trekked from wherever, to meet Buhari and celebrate his victory.
Well, I think somebody forgot that Jonathan was still the President and still had executive powers until about 12 midnight of May 28th. So, to show that he was not powerless, and wouldn’t tolerate such brazen disrespect to the office of the President, even though he had, calmly, accepted defeat without making any “pim”, Jonathan fired Suleiman and, finally appointed Arase. Better late than never.
And, what a terrific IGP Arase was. A brilliant officer, urbane, respectful, focused, polished, academically solid, detriballized, intellectually sharp as a razor, heart as clean as a whistle, integrity personified, Arase had no airs around him. He headed the Police with compassion. He had a very smooth relationship with the PSC.
As PSC member for ten years, I met dedicated, brilliant and patriotic officers. Officers one would be proud of anywhere in the world. I remember MD Abubakar, IGP rtd, Marvel Akpoyibo, DIG, rtd, Taiwo Lakanu, DIG retired (now on the PSC) the beautiful Ivy Okoronkwo, DIG rtd, the no-nonsense Joseph Mbu, AIG rtd, Imohimi Edgar, AIG, rtd, still serving DIG (Training) Frank Mba, first class brain, one of the best NPF Spokespersons when he was there,(whose deserved promotion I successfully fought for twice), current Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Moshood Jimoh, unassuming, competent, following DIG Mba’s track when he was Force Spokesperson, good operations officer. And hundreds more, especially, among other ranks.
The NPF has fantastic personnel but its image is usually soiled by a few rogue officers.
Yet, Arase was in a class of his own. In local parlance, Arase had no photocopy.
He was a thorough-bred officer. Patriotic in every way one looked at it. Held very sensitive positions and was never found wanting. He had a PhD in Law which he never flaunted, just like current IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has a PhD in Mathematics which he never flaunts. I love it when I read about such Police officers because so many ignorant Nigerians think NPF personnel are dumb and illiterate. Unknown to them, a good percentage of them, over 60 percent, are some of the best educated and exposed.
For the period Arase was IGP, he changed the face of the NPF. He led with dignity and integrity. You couldn’t fault him. Which was why, even though Buhari inherited him from Jonathan, he retained him in office. He was full of regrets when Arase retired from Service on turning 60. I wonder why he didn’t think of an extension for him, something that has become the in-thing now. But when the opportunity arose, Buhari appointed Arase the Chairman of the PSC. He was there for about one year or so. The day he was suddenly removed from office by President Bola Tinubu, we spoke when a mutual friend visited him and called me from there. He quite didn’t know what happened. He couldn’t put a finger on it. I was relieved when he told me he was guilty of nothing being alleged. His brief stay was so positively impactful that on that day of his removal, a high level PSC staff told me in tears: “Here is like a graveyard. We are in shock. He was a good man.”
Arase took it calmly, like it was nothing. He concentrated on his Law firm and a number of other things. He was a member of the Body of Benchers
And, he was a brilliant author.
I remember the day he presented one of his books at the Abuja Hilton Hotels. He and his lovely wife arrived early, stood by the entrance door to the hall, and personally welcomed their guests, one by one, with a handshake. That was unNigerian. But that was Solomon Arase, polished. Decent.
Now, all that polish is gone. All that brilliance is gone. All that intelligence is gone. All that brain is gone. All that good manners are gone All that integrity. Chai!!
My dear brother! IGP Arase, how could you? You didn’t even say goodbye. Not to the many you mentored. Not to the many who looked up to you. Not to the many you offered a lifetime opportunity to get education through your Foundation in different spheres of life – especially in medicine and engineering and the sciences. How could you? Whatever happened? This was all so sudden, for, when did we speak last? About a month ago when a mutual friend who was with you called to ask after my health. I don’t even have a copy of your latest book. You promised to deliver it once I got back. And now this!
The applause will remain. But the clock stopped so suddenly. The bells too. And the infectious smiles. The laughter!!!! A good man, you exited just like that. At 69, dear brother. What went wrong?
Fare thee well great patriot, fare thee well good officer. I weep. I mourn with your family and the NPF. Good trip. Rest well in the Lord. Intercede on behalf of your shattered and devasted family. They are not alone. And they are not the only ones whose hearts are broken. It has not quite sank in. It is like a bad dream. I wish it were! But, we take solace in our belief that God knows best. Some consolation!!
Simon Ekpa, the dreaded separatist factional leader has been convicted and sentenced to six years jail term by a Finnish court.
The three-man panel of Jurists at the Paitat-Hame District Court, Finland, on Monday found Ekpa ,the founder of the murderous Auto-Pilots militia guilty of terrorism-related charges,and other criminal activities including tax fraud and jailed him.
The Source reports that the Ebonyi state born Finish national was, in December 2024, arrested by Finish authorities over alleged involvement in terrorist financing and promotion in the South East region of Nigeria.
He was however formally arraigned before the Piajat-Hame District Court in May 2025 on charges bordering on terrorism, inciting people to commit crimes with terrorism intent, and spreading of separatist propaganda through the social media.
Most of the offences listed against him were committed between August 2021 and November 2024 while residing in Lahti , Finland .
Although Ekpa had pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against him by the Finish National Bureau of Investigation ,the trial Judges unanimously found him guilty of actively participating ,and sponsoring the activities of terrorist groups , inciting the public to commit crimes for terrorist purposes, engaging in aggravated tax fraud ,and violating the provisions the Finish Lawyers Act .
According to the prosecution , between August 2021 and November 2024, the Auto-Pilots militia leader sought, among other things, to promote the Independence of Biafra region in South East region of Nigeria through illegal and violent means.
“He used social media to gain a politically influential position and exploited the crisis within a key separatist movement in Nigeria to assume a significant role in it”, the prosecution argued .
Similarly, Ekpa was accused of playing a central role in organizing and transforming the separatist movement into an increasingly structured entity.
They argued that several armed groups were established under the movement controlled by Ekpa.
” Ekpa equipped these groups with weapons, explosives and ammunition through his network of contacts. He was also considered to have encouraged and incited his followers on X( formally Twitter ) to commit crimes in Nigeria”, the prosecution
noted.
Ekpa came to national consciousness after the Nigerian Government renditioned Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, from Nairobi, Kenya, to Abuja, Nigeria. On Kanu’s arrest, Ekpa introduced himself as his disciple and gave the impression he has stepped into Kanu’s shoes.
However, he fell bitterly out with IPOB when members of the group accused him of going contrary to their rules and protocols. He refused to fall in line, and flouted even Kanu’s orders especially, as it concerns the sit-at-home order, inflicted on the South East by IPOB to put pressure on the Federal Government to release Kanu.
The Group did away with the every-Monday order which took many lives violently, destroyed businesses and properties and the economy of the Region. But Ekpa insisted on the order and atimes, stretched it to one month.
The auto-pilot group, which he formed as a rival group to IPOB, in order carry out his activities, is allegedly, mainly responsible for the continued blood shed in the South-east.
Neither IPOB nor the FG has reacted to the conviction of Simon Ekpa.
A district court in Finland has sentenced a kingpin of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Simon Ekpa, to six years in prison for terrorism.
Ekpa was arrested by Finnish authorities on 21 November 2024, following an investigation by the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation into allegations of inciting terrorism and promoting violence through social media, an activity that was believed to have contributed to unrest in southeastern Nigeria.
Following his arrest, Ekpa was remanded in custody by the Päijät-Häme District Court, which determined that the charge was based on “public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent”, dating from August 2021 to November 2024.
During the trial, the NBI froze Ekpa’s financial assets, as well as those of his associates and related companies.
Back home in Nigeria, another leader and founder of the proscribed IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, is detained in the custody of the State Security Service over terrorism charges brought against him by the Nigerian government.
Recall that the Chief of General Staff, Gen Christopher Musa had recently stated that the arrest of Ekpa has brought peace to south east Nigeria.
The federal government has dismissed the allegation to the effect that it’s inducing bandits by paying them money and supplying in them food.
According to the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, which debunked the claim by a former governor of Kaduna state, said the allegation was not in tandem with what is actually happening in the country.
The former governor had on Sunday accused the Tinubu administration of inducing bandits with money, and supplying them with food, in order to keep them calm from attacking communities in the country.
He said the action is part of the kinetic measures by the administration, which he added will backfire, because that is not the language that the bandits understand.
El rufai state, Kaduna has been one of the epicentres of banditry and terrorism in the country.
In its reaction, ONSA said in a statement said the federal government has never engaged in ransom payment to the criminals, stressing that it has indeed adopted non-kinematic measures to ensure that peace reigns, adding that the results of the steps taken so far by the government is very evident to see.
ONSA: “At no time has the ONSA, or any arm of government under this administration, engaged in ransom payments or inducements to criminals.
“On the contrary, we have consistently warned Nigerians against paying ransom. El-Rufai’s allegations are not only false but also contradict verifiable facts on ground.
“The result is evident in areas such as Igabi, Birnin Gwari, Giwa, and other parts of Kaduna that once suffered untold terror in Kaduna state but are now experiencing relative peace.”
El rufai had claimed that the federal government is empowering the bandits by inducing them with money and food.
“What I will not do is to pay bandits, give them a monthly allowance, or send food to them in the name of non-kinetic. It’s nonsense; we’re empowering bandits,” the former governor said.
He argued that such measures only embolden the criminals and worsen insecurity.
“You don’t empower your enemy; you don’t give him money to go and buy sophisticated weapons. That is why the insecurity problem has not gone away and will not go away as long as this policy continues,” El-Rufai added.
The former governor insisted that no serious government must negotiate with bandits, they must be crushed , he said.
“My position has always been that the only repentant bandit is a dead one. Let’s kill them all. Let’s bomb them until they are reduced to nothing, and then the five per cent that still want to be rehabilitated can be rehabilitated,” he stated.
