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Combating a long run of insecurity

By IfeanyiChukwu Afuba

Col Ben Odogwu, Biafra’s Director of Military Intelligence, titled his war memoir, No Place to Hide. I guess that can be said of Nigeria of the present. North, south, east, west, every part of the country is reeling from an upsurge in violent criminality. Bandits continue to wreak havoc in parts of the north. On January 16, 2025, news broke of the shocking abduction of wife of a retired AIG, Mrs Hakeem Odumosu at the gate of her residence by heavily armed gunmen. And still on very daring assaults by criminal gangs this January, thirty – six passengers, including three soldiers were said to have been abducted from a passenger bus in Enugu State.

Then, with an unmistakable flash of deja vu, a trader, Mr Sunday Okafor was reported to have been killed with a parcel bomb at Onitsha. Given the alarming scale of crime for some time now, it’s not surprising that extreme, nay, dangerous measures are being proposed as solutions. One of such controversial proposals came from the Human Rights Writers Association (Huriwa), which canvassed the return of Bakassi Boys in Anambra State. Coming from an enlightened organisation, and a known voice in civil society, there’s the likelihood that sections of society may waive necessary scrutiny of the seemingly attractive call to embrace it readily. Often, there’s a heavy price to pay when populism is the major consideration in statecraft. So, let’s put the matter in context.

Under the headline “Huriwa Seeks Return of Dreaded Bakassi Boys to Tackle Insecurity in Southeast”, ThisDay, January 17, 2025, reported that National Coordinator of the body, Emmanuel Onwubiko made the proposal at Abuja.

“We suggest that since the existing security measures in place, including the establishment of state-wide vigilantes, have proven insufficient to bring about the defeat of these armed terrorists, there is now the need for the governments of the South-East of Nigeria to consider re-introducing the dreaded Bakassi Boys, train them, arm them, provide strict regulations with adherence to the Rule of Law, so these armed but regulated Bakassi Boys can be authorised to confront the South East based terror gangs.

We call on the governor of Anambra State, Mr. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, to consult the defunct leadership of old Bakassi Boys in Anambra State, to provide strategic guidelines for the new Bakassi Boys to adhere to so as to degrade, decimate and liquidate these armed terrorists, kidnappers and hoodlums unleashing violence of massive scales in all of South East of Nigeria. but more especially in Anambra State.”

Notwithstanding that the Anambra State Homeland Security Law 2025 has just come into effect, a broader view of the insecurity problem is necessary for better understanding of underlying issues. This appreciation will subsequently aid the recommendation of effective strategies and tactics for containing the situation, including the possible connection with Bakassi Boys and other formulas. It’s to be noted that Nigeria’s security challenge is a mixed bag. While they all pose threats to lives, property, political as well as socio-economic stability, there are differences in type and space of occurrence.

Boko Haram is conceived in the mould of the Taliban and ISIS and so presents a caliphate threat to Nigeria’s sovereignty. For now, the group’s operation is located mainly in parts of the northwest and northeast. This is to be differentiated from the onslaught of killer herdsmen pushing to appropriate grazing land in the middle belt, southwest and southeast. Separatist agitation produced its own brand of militancy in the southeast. Theirs is a campaign to coerce support for power ambitions using the secessionist framework. Then, of course, there is criminality common to all parts of Nigeria, exemplified by armed robbery, kidnapping, cannibalisation of public infrastructure and so on.

From this outlay of crime nature, we can distil their sources – a vital requirement for projecting panacea. Interestingly, there is a convergence on the motivation for much of the violence the country is facing. There is a common foundation in ideology. Thus, the insurgency in the north borders on extremist religious ideology; the bloody attacks misleadingly labelled farmers-herders clash, is also driven by ideology, belief in ethnic superiority and expansionism. Likewise, separatist movements in the southeast are rooted in perceptions of discrimination and suppression of the region. For all of these campaigns, the very task of asserting their respective missions creates violent conflicts.
These violent movements irrespective of their orientation, realise that they are up against the power of a State; of constituted authority.

They realise that their organisations are burdened by both illegitimacy and lack of resources. A critical reading of their operations suggests that the entities have placed financial capacity ahead of legitimacy. It should suffice that demonstration of their power ultimately accords them recognition as stakeholders to be negotiated with. But the demand of keeping their machinery running had to be immediately met. This rationale most probably gave rise to the wider reign of kidnapping as it provides funds for the prosecution of the organisations’ agenda. Some terrorist groups also go as far as imposing taxes on communities at their mercy.

As already noted, there are other shades of criminality. In this regard, we talk about crime influenced by purely economic consideration and criminality as a function of health cum personality disorder. Certainly, robbery and kidnapping are strictly business ventures for many gangs. Economic reasons would also account for oil bunkering, pipelines theft, cannibalisation of transformers and cables, ritual killings, human trafficking and a host of other vices. On the other hand, psychology tends to view extreme abhorrent behaviour such as those exhibited in cult killings and senseless gang wars as incidents of health disorder. Given the varied character of criminality ravaging the country, it follows that effective managing of the crises must reflect both the general and specific causes.

This discourse does not intend to address the former beyond the common thread of arms proliferation. The need to tackle the easy acquisition of firearms cannot be overemphasized. How do the gangs – big and small, organised and loose – how do these gangs terrorising Nigerians procure their assault weapons? Are they smuggled into the country or manufactured locally? Are there security breaches of institutions lawfully permitted to bear arms that provides a conduit for arms transfers? Confiscation and control of illegal arms trafficking must be the starting point of a war against insecurity. If the government puts a strong check on the illicit flow of arms, many criminal groups would be incapacitated.

Aside the military operations against insurgency, the situation in the northwest and northeast calls for educational campaign. For decades, the north has been at the bottom of pupil school enrollment statistics. This numerical relegation is a major reason behind the concept of “educationally disadvantaged states”. The significant population of out-of-school children are vulnerable to the indoctrination of religious terror cells. As the saying goes, an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. The body of illiterate and unemployed youths presents recruitment pool for terrorist militias.

The government should stave off this danger by ensuring that school-age children are not left to roam the streets. They need access to quality education as well as orientation on citizenship. It’s good that History is back in the curriculum. The study of Nigerian history will help promote the cause of citizenship consciousness. However, it needs to be emphasised that orientations on national values should be accompanied by state empowerment programmes. A felt impression of the government’s concern for her citizens is necessary to ward off anti-State activism.

Relatedly, the execution of anti-crime strategies across the country will achieve little without attention to the dire socio-economic condition of the average Nigerian. Governments at all levels need to remember the maxim that a hungry man is an angry man. Nigeria’s underdeveloped status poses enough social challenges for the citizenry. Added to that is the bandwagon effect of withdrawn subsidy in Nigeria’s fuel economy. Even the middle class can barely afford the high cost of food today. As it were, the threat of starvation alone is a powerful motivation to crime. At no other time has the case for welfarism been so forceful as now. Considerable funds will be freed up for public service if there’s strong crackdown on corruption. Even when government pleads lack of funds to operate a welfare system, government will still spend money to feed prison inmates and run correctional services. As De Courson puts it, “more unequal societies tend to have higher crime as well as lower social trust.” From the perspectives of sociology, psychology and criminology, Nigeria’s current crime situation is probably a rebellion against the injustice of our system.

And what solutions can the Bakassi Boys bring in Anambra State; in the southeast? Although the advocacy for the Bakassi Boys did not spell out their superior mechanism in crime fighting, the takeaway from their previous outing between 2000 and 2002 was summary “trial” and execution of suspects. The purported trial of arrested suspects was nothing more than the hunches of the interrogators. However, many held the belief that the conviction of suspects was by fetish means. To complete the circle of barbarity, condemned suspects were allegedly mowed down with matchet cuts. It was a dark period of savagery when Anambra State’s landscape was painted red with blood. One therefore finds it shocking that a human rights community, of all constituencies, is recommending the very antithesis of human rights and due process. What contributions did the Bakassi outfit make to crime investigation analysis? What value did the body add to crime detection methods? What trail did it blaze in crime prevention strategies?

What legacy did the gun and machete-totting militia leave except that of cheapening human life and dignity? The clause of “providing strict regulations under the rule of way” does not take away the danger posed by such militia. Emergency vigilantes are often under pressure of expectation; and not being organic bodies, and without the conditioning of self-regulation, tend to put result before rules. And this is the challenge the Agunaechemba Security Service recently launched in Anambra State is likely to have. The haste to deliver in the face of massive outcry against insecurity usually pulls unorthodox security outfits on the slippery road of excesses.

A proactive approach to crime fighting, and one with emphasis on intelligence gathering, offers higher dividend than reliance on physical prowess, however intimidating. In the long run, a professionally-driven, permanent and civic-oriented security service holds out better prospects for protection of the public space. That qualification lies in State Police.

A writer, societal values and burden of history

By Richard Odusanya

Writing and reading play crucial societal roles, impacting various aspects of life, culture, and communication. Having the skills to communicate, read, and write is vital for social and economic development. It allows individuals to expand their knowledge and understanding of society. … In modern society and our globalized world, literacy is far more diverse than simply reading a book and understanding what we have read.

Put succinctly, I am persuaded by the culture of writing and reading which is so important right now not only in books but also in what is written in posts. Writing conveys ideas that others can read, concepts readers may never have thought about before. At its core, Herodotus a Greek historian and geographer from the Greek city of Halicarnassus was the first writer to systematically investigate historical events. He is referred to as “The Father of History”, a title conferred by the ancient Roman orator Cicero.

Suffice it to say that, historians are the writers of history. They are responsible for researching, analyzing, and interpreting past events, people, and societies, and then presenting their findings in writing. Historians use a variety of sources, including written documents, archaeological artifacts, and oral histories, to construct a narrative of the past.

From a philosophical stance, this contribution critically examines writing and reading culture in the third-world countries particularly Nigeria. Writing and reading play crucial societal roles, impacting various aspects of life, culture, and communication. As such, writing makes a difference in a society that read.

Generally, Nigerians prefer to be entertained rather than enlightened. A highly CERTIFICATED but poorly EDUCATED country/society when compared to some African countries, especially the eastern and southern African countries! I think it’s a fundamental issue that we must begin to tackle from the grassroots – we value certificates more than actual knowledge. That’s one of the reasons craft doesn’t thrive here.

Sadly, a society that prioritizes certificates over actual knowledge may hinder the thriving of crafts and other practical expertise. In many societies I know, including some parts of Nigeria, there is often a heavy emphasis on formal education and obtaining certificates, particularly from universities and other institutions. This creates a mindset where academic qualifications are seen as the primary means to success, while practical skills, craftsmanship, or vocational knowledge might be undervalued or overlooked.

Following from the above, this tends to stifle the development of crafts for several reasons:

1) Lack of recognition and support: Craftsmanship and skills acquired outside formal educational institutions may not receive the same recognition or prestige. If society places more value on certificates, people may be DISCOURAGED from pursuing crafts, thinking they are less valuable or legitimate. I guess it might have been a key reason why Craft Schools don’t survive in our part of the world particularly Nigeria.

2) Limited opportunity: People may feel pressured to pursue degrees or certifications instead of apprenticeships or hands-on training in trades. This results in a gap between what people learn in schools and the practical skills needed to succeed in industries like craftsmanship, which rely on hands-on experience rather than academic qualifications.

3) Economic Focus: In societies (like Nigeria), where formal certificates are more highly prized, there may be fewer opportunities for people in the craft industry to receive financial support, mentorship, or infrastructure to scale their work. This limits the growth of craft industries, which can thrive with proper investment and market support.

However, it’s also important to recognize that some societies are slowly shifting toward valuing practical skills, and initiatives are promoting vocational training and crafts. These industries are increasingly seen as vital to economic diversification and the development of local economies.

So, on balance, while certificates hold value in many sectors, a society that only values them at the expense of practical knowledge and craftsmanship may limit the growth and recognition of those skilled in trades or crafts. Balancing academic learning and practical skill development can lead to a more holistic and dynamic society.

In conclusion, I’d like to share with our esteemed readers one of the feedback received:

“Oga Richard, thanks for sharing this thoughtful snippet.

*The referenced statement touches on a significant issue regarding the relationship between literacy, societal progress, and cultural priorities.

“Writing indeed plays a crucial role in shaping and reflecting society, but the readership often determines the effectiveness of writing. In societies where reading is not widespread or prioritized, the impact of written works may be limited.

*In the context of Nigeria, while it is true that many people may not engage in reading as much due to economic struggles, lack of access to books, or cultural factors, it’s also important to recognize that writing—whether in literature, journalism, or academia—has a profound potential to influence social change. However, writing must find its way to the people to have a meaningful impact. This can be challenging when other factors, such as religious or economic pressures, dominate daily life.

*The idea that Nigerians are “chasing shadows and praying for miracles” can be interpreted as a critique of societal tendencies to seek quick, often unattainable solutions rather than engaging with practical, systematic change. This is not unique to Nigeria, but it highlights the difficulty of transforming a culture of hope into one of critical thought, planning, and action.

*That said, countless Nigerians are dedicated to reading, writing, and using their intellectual abilities to promote change. However, fostering a reading culture and bridging the gap between literature and everyday life remains an ongoing challenge. Empowering more people through education, access to information, and encouraging reading as both a form of empowerment and entertainment could drive societal progress more sustainably.” (adeABANIDA)

Finally, as we search for a better country and seek to build a golden monument from the ruins of yesteryears and the anguish of today, let us reconnect with the realities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution as we march forward with grace. God bless Nigeria.

Richard Odusanya
[email protected]

What if a DNA test showed you weren’t really the father?

By Chad Skelton

I’ve been meaning to blog for awhile now about an article I read in last week’s Sunday New York Times Magazine about dads who find out through DNA tests that they aren’t the real father. The main thing holding me back: I couldn’t figure out what I thought about it.

While I usually have a pretty clear idea where I stand on most parenting issues (see vaccines, co-sleeping, or religion, just to name a few) I had difficulty figuring out where I stood on this one — or, for that matter, what I would do if put in the same situation.

The article navigates the complex legal issues that arise when someone who always thought they were a child’s father finds out that, in fact, they are not.

The article notes that, much to many “duped dads” surprise, a DNA test confirming they aren’t a child’s biological father usually has no impact on their legal obligations to the child, such as paying child support if they split with the child’s mother.

Indeed, the article is centred around the story of one man — identified only as Mike L. — who found out through DNA tests that the daughter he’d raised for years was not really his.

After getting divorced, his ex-wife then married the man who was the child’s actual biological father — yet Mike is still legally obligated to pay child support:

“I pay child support to a biologically intact family,” Mike told me, his voice cracking with incredulity. “A father and mother, married, who live with their own child. And I pay support for that child. How ridiculous is that?”

As the article explains, the legal principle that requires fathers in these situations to keep on paying child support is that the best interests of the child come first, that children shouldn’t be punished financially for the deceptions of their mother. In general, this seems like a fair principle — it would seem wrong for children to be plunged into poverty because their mother had an affair years ago.

It also seems to make logical sense when you look at it in the context of child custody. If a man loved and raised a child as his own for years and then found out the child wasn’t biologically his, most of us would think it unjust and cruel if the mother could then deny him access to the child based simply on a DNA test.

So if a DNA test isn’t enough to sever a man’s parental rights, it seems somewhat logical that it’s not enough to get him out of his responsibilities, either.

But cases like Mike’s raise an interesting moral question. In theory, there’s no reason the child has to suffer financially in his case. The girl’s biological dad is living with her and could easily step up. Indeed, it seems unjust that her biological father is able to weasel out of his responsibilities because of the way the law recognizes parental rights.

While I can’t decide what I think about how the law should deal with cases like Mike’s, there’s one thing I am clear about: There is something seriously wrong about men who, upon learning a child isn’t biologically theirs, abandon them completely.

Ironically, some courts actually reward this morally abhorrent behaviour — because a father who abandons his child when he learns it’s not genetically his can make a stronger case later on that DNA was all that ever linked him to the kid.

There was something deeply sad about reading in the story about cases of fathers who completely stopped seeing their children upon learning they weren’t biologically linked:

The last time [Carnell] Smith saw his one-time daughter was nine years ago, when she was 11. His outrage at Chandria’s mother and the system remains close to the surface. “We’re penalized for trusting our wives or girlfriends!” Smith seethed to me. He has long since lost track of Chandria. It is as if she ceased to exist once their biological connection evaporated.

Chandria, however, has not forgotten Smith. Her memories of her 11 years with him are happy ones, which makes what happened afterward so hard for her to grasp. As Chandria, who is now 20, remembers it, Smith just disappeared from her life. “I was just a kid, so I didn’t really understand what happened or why,” she said. “He never did explain why he didn’t want anything to do with me anymore.” Chandria says he wouldn’t answer when she called him at home, or he would promise to call back but never did.

I know that — from a strictly evolutionary perspective — it makes no sense for a man to take care of a child who isn’t biologically his (indeed, as I’ve written before, that partly explains why everyone always says babies look so much like their dad).

But even a believer in evolution has to concede that we are more than just gene machines — how else to explain adoptive parents who devote so much time and money to raising and loving children they know aren’t biologically their own?

I’ve often thought that parenting is an interesting balance between selfishness and selflessness. In many ways, we invest in our children for selfish reasons — they carry our genes into the next generation and their success reflects back on us as parents.

Yet much of what we do as parents is about selflessly putting our children’s needs above our own.

It seems to me that men who completely abandon a child because a DNA test says they aren’t biologically linked reveals that, for them, parenting was only ever a selfish pursuit.

If a child isn’t going to pass on their genes, they see investing any time in the relationship as a complete waste of time.

It’s hard not to read an article like this and wonder what you would do if you found out your child wasn’t biologically yours. (This is also, I’ve learned, the kind of thing that — even when posed as a purely hypothetical question — can offend your wife.)

I know I can’t imagine abandoning The Boy in such a situation — both because it would be an act of cruelty against a child I love but also because the emotional bond I have with him is about more than simple biology.

I’d be interested to know what other dads out there think. Please post a comment and let me know.

Also, the examples in the article are, of course, all American. I’m not sure if Canadian courts deal with these situations in the same way (though this 1998 Supreme Court of Canada case on the responsibilities of step-parents suggests they do). If anyone knows more, please leave a comment and/or a link.

Culled from Vancouver Sun

Supreme Court rules that husband remains legal father of child born out of wife’s adultery in valid marriage despite biological evidence

In a groundbreaking judgment on Tuesday, India’s Supreme Court addressed a complex conflict between paternity and legitimacy, arising from the birth of a child to a woman and a man who is not her husband. 

The Court ruled that if a marriage remains valid and the spouses have had access to each other, the husband is considered the legal father of the child, even if he is not the biological parent.

The case, originating from Kerala, brought forth the intricate debate of paternity versus legitimacy, which prompted Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan to examine family law precedents in the UK, US, and Malaysia. All these jurisdictions tend to presume legitimacy while allowing for DNA tests if legitimacy is contested.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (January 28), in a landmark ruling, addressed a complex conflict between paternity and legitimacy, arising from the birth of a child to an adulterous woman and a man other than her husband. 

The Court ruled that if a marriage remains valid and the spouses have had access to each other, the husband is considered the legal father of the child, even if he is not the biological parent.

The case, originating from Kerala, brought forth the intricate debate of paternity versus legitimacy, which prompted Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan to examine family law precedents in the UK, US, and Malaysia. All these jurisdictions tend to presume legitimacy while allowing for DNA tests if legitimacy is contested.

Husband’s fatherhood maintained over biological evidence

Justice Surya Kant, writing the judgment, referred to Section 112 of the Indian Evidence Act, which establishes a strong presumption that a husband is the father of a child born to his wife during the subsistence of their marriage. Justice Kant emphasised that the purpose of this presumption is to prevent unwarranted inquiries into a child’s parentage. 

According to the judgment, the burden of proof falls on those who assert a child’s illegitimacy, and it can only be proved through the assertion of “non-access,” meaning that the husband can challenge the legitimacy of the child only if he can prove that he had no access to his wife at the time of conception.

The Court further clarified that “non-access” means the impossibility of marital relations between the spouses, not just an inability. To rebut the presumption of legitimacy, one must assert non-access and substantiate it with evidence.

“Non-access means the impossibility, not merely inability, of the spouses to have marital relations with each other. For a person to rebut presumption of legitimacy, they must first assert non-access which, in turn, must be substantiated by evidence,” the court said.

What was the case about?

The case in question involved a woman who admitted to conceiving a child with a man other than her husband while still married.  In 1991, the woman gave birth to a daughter, and in 2001, she had a son. The husband’s name was recorded as the “father” of the boy in the Municipal Corporation of Cochin’s birth register. 

However, due to marital differences, the couple began living separately in 2003 and later filed a joint divorce application, which was granted by the family court in 2006. After the divorce, the woman approached the municipal corporation, requesting that the name of another man be entered as the child’s “father.” 

She claimed that the other man was the biological father of the boy, following an extramarital affair. The corporation, however, stated that it could only make such a change if ordered by a court.

The Kerala courts had ordered a DNA test for the man, but he challenged this decision in the Supreme Court. Senior advocate Romy Chacko argued that forcing the man to undergo a DNA test would violate the provisions of Section 112 of the Evidence Act, which presumes the husband to be the father unless proven otherwise.

SC rejects plea for DNA test

In its judgment, the Supreme Court weighed the right to privacy and dignity against the child’s legitimate interest in knowing their biological father. The Court noted that compelling an individual to undergo a DNA test could subject his private life to public scrutiny, which could harm his reputation and dignity. 

Recognising the importance of privacy, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the man, allowing his appeal and setting aside the order for the DNA test.

“When dealing with the eminent need for a DNA test to prove paternity, this court balances the interests of those involved and must consider whether it is possible to reach the truth without the use of such a test. First and foremost, the courts must, therefore, consider the existing evidence to assess the presumption of legitimacy. If that evidence is insufficient to come to a finding, only then should the court consider ordering a DNA test. Once the insufficiency of evidence is established, the court must consider whether ordering a DNA test is in the best interests of the parties involved and must ensure that it does not cause undue harm to the parties…,” the judgment said.

This story originally titled Husband remains legal father of child born out of wife’s adultery in valid marriage despite biological evidence: Supreme Court was first published on Thursday, 30 January 2025, by Financialexpress.com

Peterside mourns with Sundiata Post CEO Max Amuchie on father’s death

Dr Dakuku Peterside, former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has sent a message of condolence to Dr Max Amuchie, CEO, Sundiata Post Media Ltd, on the death of High Chief Emmanuel Ikonne Amuchie, father of Dr Amuchie.

In the message he personally signed on Tuesday, Peterside, a former Member of the House of Representatives, described the late High Chief Amuchie as a man who believed in education and raising others, adding that the deceased was selfless in community service and loved God deeply.

The message reads in full:

Dr Max Amuchie
Aboh Mbaise LGA Imo State.

“My dear brother,
CONDOLENCE ON THE PASSAGE OF YOUR FATHER, HIGH CHIEF EMMANUEL IKONNE AMUCHIE

“I was sad to hear about the passing of your beloved father, High Chief Emmanuel Ikonne Amuchie, an accomplished community leader and father to many. Please accept my deepest condolences during this incredibly difficult time. We will always be affected by the deep void left by Papa’s exit, even though he passed away after a long and fulfilled life.
“I got to know your father from the account of many of our common friends. The impression I got is that of a man who devoted his whole life to the service of humanity. He was a man who believed in education and raising others. He was selfless in community service and loved God deeply.
“By his words and action, he earned his place as a role model, mentor and a statesman to many. His impact in Amaisii Uvuru and the entire Aboh Mbaise is well known. He gave me the gift of brothers and sisters in his biological children, especially you, Dr Max Amuchie.
“As you navigate through this period of grief, be consoled by the quality-of-life papa lived and his abiding faith in Jesus Christ. As you celebrate his life, know it that he will remain an inspiration to all of us and to countless Christians all over the globe.
“May God accept his soul in heaven and may his memory be a source of comfort and strength in the days ahead.”

Aged 86, High Chief Amuchie fought in the Nigerian Civil War as a Biafran soldier and after the end of the war he joined the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), where he served in the medical corps in Makurdi, Benue State.
In 1978 he resigned from NAF and got admitted into the defunct Murtala College of Arts, Science Technology, Makurdi, which later became Benue Polytechnic, Ugbokolo, where he read business administration. He did the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at Olokin Grammar School, Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State, passing out in 1983.
He joined the Imo State Teaching Service and earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE). He taught in many schools before retiring as a vice principal.

He was a member of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (IPMN), Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA), London.
High Chief Amuchie was earlier in his career a dispensary and community health professional. He passed the Dispensary/Health Attendants’ Certificate with Distinction and as the best graduating student in defunct East Central State (comprising the current South-East states of Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi, Enugu and Abia) in 1971.

A reverred community leader, he was conferred with the chieftaincy title of ‘Ugo Eji Ejemba Mba I of Uvuru on 30 December 2002 by the late Eze Reuben Mbalewe.
He is survived by his wife, Lolo Angela Amuchie, eight children and grandchildren.
High Chief Amuchie will be buried on 25 April 2025.

How DCP Lough, others resigned as Constables, re-joined the Police in 1992 as Cadet Officers

  • Refutes falsifying police records, demands retraction

“The facts are that they joined the Police Force as constables, some in about 1986. In 1992 the Police Force Management Team advertised for those who had become graduates after joining the Police Force up to that 1992 to resign and rejoin the Police Force and train afresh as ASP graduate cadets.”

Following the report that over 300 police officers including DCP Simon Asamber Lough (SAN); AIG Abdul Yari; AIG Idowu Owohunwa; AIG Ben Igwe; CP Peter Ukachi Opara; CP Obo Obo Ukani; and ACP Akpan Brown have been linked to an age falsification scandal within the Nigeria Police Force, Lough, the Head of Chambers, Legal Section of the Nigeria Police Force and the force first Senior Advocate as denied the allegation of backdating his police records to delay his retirement levelled against him by a civil society group, The Integrity Youth Alliance.

He has also demanded a retraction of the libellous report.

Prior to his demand, a source close to the officers named in the scandal described the publications about age falsification as false.

The source who does not want his name in print said: “Both the issue of falsification and retirement are false. None Of the officers forged or backdated his age. I know most of them.

“The facts are that they joined the Police Force as constables, some in about 1986. In 1992 the Police Force Management Team advertised for those who had become graduates after joining the Police Force up to that 1992 to resign and rejoin the Police Force and train afresh as ASP graduate cadets.

“All of them mentioned there among others resigned and rejoined as ASP Cadets, went through the required training and at the end were issued new employment letters and redeployed to serve at various formations and units.

“Before the 35-year due date for their retirement from the 1992 date, a new set of Police Management team asked them to retire from service based on the earlier 1986 date that they joined the Police Force as Constables. They refused since that no longer counted. When the Police Authorities insisted and tried to force them out, they went to Court and won.

“The Police Authorities had no choice but to implement the Court’s judgment and uphold a terminal date for their retirement from 1992.”

Counsel to DCP Lough, SAN, Adeleke Agboola, SAN in a 24 January 2025 letter, addressed to The Integrity Youth Alliance, Trojan Insight News and Sahara Reporters said: “We are instructed by DCP Simon Lough, SAN, the first police officer in Nigeria elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2021, and we have his instructions to write this letter.

‘’Our client’s attention has been drawn to the above-referenced story which has been published by different online media houses, like the TROJAN INSIGHT which tagged the defamatory statement thus:“SIMON LOUGH, NIGERIA POLICE LEGAL HEAD, OTHERS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR BACKDATING RECORDS TO DELAY RETIREMENT.

“Published online on the 19th January 2025 via https:/trojaninsights.com/simon-lough-nigeria-police-legal-head-others: under-investigation-for-backdating-records-to-delay-retirement.

“The Sahara Reporters also headlined the defamatory statement as: ‘Simon Lough, Nigeria Police Legal Head, Others Under Investigation For Backdating records To Delay Retirement’ via https://saharareporters.com/2025/01/19/simon-lough-nigeria-police-legal-head-others-under-investigation-backdating-records.

“It is our client’s express instruction that the above-captioned story as it relates to him at the material time is false. Our client was born on 14th May 1969 and joined the Police as a Cadet ASP on the 1st of May, 2000.

“Our client was never enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on January 8, 1987, and therefore could not have retired on January 8, 2022, as maliciously published by you, with the intention to besmirch his reputation.

“You published the defamatory and injurious story against our client without seeking his side of the story in accordance with the media principle and ethical responsibility of news balancing.

‘’Thus, DCP Simon Lough has requested a retraction of the defamatory statement made against him wherein he was listed among the police personnel engaged in the unethical practice of backdating their history records.’’

NBA AGC 2025 Early Bird registration, 30 more days to go!

30 more days and it will close! The Early bird registration for the 65th NBA AGC which began on January 1, 2025, will end on February 28, 2025.

When it closes, regular registration will commence on March 1, 2025, and run through May 31, 2025.

This year’s conference will take place in the Garden City of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The NBA AGC is an annual event dedicated to exploring the latest developments in law and providing participants with the highest-level insights from leading experts in the field.

How to Register:
To register for the conference, please follow the simple step-by-step guide below:

  1. Visit the registration portal at https://agc.nigerianbar.org.ng/register/event.
  2. Click on “Register”.
  3. Select the “Individual” option.
  4. Input your details as prompted.
  5. Preview your details for accuracy.
  6. An email verification link will be sent to your registered email address (please check your spam folder if you do not see the email in your inbox).
  7. Proceed to login using the verified details.
  8. Click on “Make Payment” to complete your registration.
  9. Once payment is made, you will receive a receipt and a confirmation email.

Important Notes:
• Your Supreme Court Number (SCN) will serve as your unique identifier throughout the registration and conference process.
• QR codes will also be utilized for verification purposes during the event.
• We urge all registrants to ensure their email details are correctly entered to avoid delays in receiving verification and confirmation emails.

The NBA looks forward to welcoming you to this prestigious event, where critical legal issues and innovations will be discussed, and networking opportunities will abound. Act promptly to secure your participation at early bird rates, which will only be available until February 28, 2025. 

For registration inquiries or further assistance, please contact Sadeeq at: [email protected] or 09129209903(Strictly on Whatsapp).
Register today and join us for an unforgettable 2025 Annual General Conference!
Signed;
Chief Emeka Obegolu SAN, Chairman, AGCPC

Barbara Omosun, Esq.
Secretary AGCPC

General Agwai, Odinkalu, Okutepa, others call for accountability, merit and transparency recruitment process for security agents

  • Task NJC and citizens to hold the judiciary to account

The call for merit and transparency in the recruitment process for security agents, institutional accountability, accountability for perpetrators of insecurity, punishment for electoral crimes and more were part of the resolutions at the annual House of Justice Summit held recently in Kaduna.

In the communiqué signed by the CEO of House of Justice, Gloria Ballason, and Luka Ashafa Odita, Lecturer in Criminology and Security Studies at Kaduna State University, the summit condemned the government’s policy of rehabilitation, recovery, and reintegration programs for offenders while abandoning victims in internally displaced persons camps, which are sometimes re-attacked by terrorists.

The summit urged that: “Border communities should be enlightened on national consciousness. Proper advocacy on national identity will strengthen community-based border security which will enhance intelligence gathering, natural surveillance and will stifle the influx of weapons upon which non-state actors rely on”

They also asserted that government and security agencies should go after the sponsors of terrorism in the country while expressing concern that over the years, the government has not deployed concerted efforts towards tackling insecurity and its financiers.

On Nigeria’s justice system, it was resolved that: “There is need for judicial reforms and systematic and timely justice delivery. The justice system in Nigeria and Africa should dispense justice according to law.

“The National Judicial Council and citizens shall hold the judiciary to account. Judicial appointments should be apolitical and shall not devolve by ‘inheritance’ family or filial ties or through any primordial sentiments. The Justice sector shall be independent and shall be the pivotal institution that holds all other institutions accountable.”

Meanwhile, they counselled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should constitute persons who are above board.

Again, the summit in the communique charged the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the Ministry of Information to ensure civic spaces and platforms where citizens engage public office holders for greater accountability.

“Advocacy through skits on national ethics and principles should be used to enhance integrity, honesty, truth, justice, dignity of labor, love for neighbor and country and respect for ethics, values, rules and regulations.

“Family and community values and etiquettes that are in tandem with national culture should become part of our education curriculum. Student should be publicly awarded in both character and learning,” they urged.

In addition, the summit which had General Martin Luther Agwai (Rtd), Professor Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, Professor Chris Kwaja, Honorable Sarah Reng Ochekpe, and Group Captain Sadeeq Garba Shehu (Rtd) as participants charged that:

“Community-based and structured reconciliation forum should be initiated to push for restorative justice in communities that are experiencing both intercommunal and ethno-religious conflicts.

“There should be more focus on programs for victims than perpetrators. The Government shall ensure security and welfare is primary in line with Section 14 2 (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

“Psycho-social healing for primary and secondary victims should be prioritized as material palliation. There is the need to set up trauma response centres across communities that have suffered terror and in places of worship. It is imperative to disaggregate trauma-healing nuggets in easily understood and used formats so victims can have access to the information and tools for their healing.”

Other participants at the event included: Dr. Mike Omeri, Mr. Chima Christian, Audu Adamu Maikori, Jibrin Samuel Okutepa, SAN, and Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State, Muhammad Rabiu, represented by ACP Badamasi Musa.

DigiCivic Initiative, Accountability Lab and National Human Rights Commission host digital rights workshop for judicial officers in Abuja

The place of digital rights— those human rights that apply to the digital world, including security, freedom of expression, privacy, access to information, and more — came to the fore between 27 to 28 January 2025 when DigiCivic Initiative, in partnership with Accountability Lab and the National Human Rights Commission trained judicial officers in the Federal Capital Territory.

The training was on digital rights, data privacy and data protection at the Digital Rights Innovation Lab Workshop. The program was an initiative to increase digital literacy within the justice sector so as to improve knowledge and the capacity of Judges and Magistrates on digital rights, privacy and emerging issues.

The 2-day event had in attendance, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Judges from the Federal High Court, Judges from the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, and the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

Participants at the event

The feedback from the exercise revealed the importance of digital literacy in Nigeria especially within the justice sector.

At the workshop, participants learnt technical terms, and salient principles on digital rights, such as Net Neutrality, access to the Internet, encryption, information technologies, censorship Prior Restraint, Cross-border transfer of data, Internet shutdowns, Network blocking and emerging issues like the right to the Internet.

The facilitator, Mojirayo Ogunlana, a Digital Rights expert in the West African region, took participants on the importance of the digital environment and the role of the Judiciary in interpreting and upholding existing laws related to online freedoms, reviewing government actions that might infringe on digital rights and hold tech companies responsible for digital rights violations.

The training objective was to increase awareness and understanding of digital rights among members of the judiciary, enhance their capacity to adjudicate digital rights cases and reinforce commitment to ethical data practices, to enhance their capacity for delivering rulings that protect access to information, privacy and freedom of expression in the digital space, and actively educate themselves on emerging digital technologies and their implications for human rights in the digital space.

The Honourable Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Honourable Justice JT Tsoho while commending the Facilitator for the rich discourse on digital rights, observed that the right to be forgotten as a concept under the Nigerian Data Protection Act was quite intriguing and asked how one would know that their data has been removed as requested when dealing with data controllers and processors in a country like Nigeria where there are more 200 Million people to administer.

He emphasized the importance of creating awareness on digital rights for the masses so that they can better be positioned to protect their rights.

Man who voted for Trump cries out as immigration officers for take his wife for deportation (video)

A man who supported and voted for Donald Trump to be the President of the United State of America is crying out for help after his Venezuelan wife was picked up by immigration officers. 

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids were reportedly conducted across South Florida on Sunday, Jan. 26, as President Trump begins to make good on his promise to increase the deportation of undocumented migrants. 

One husband exclusively told CBS News Miami that his wife was taken during one of these raids in the Miami neighbourhood of Brownsville. 

“It’s despicable what they’re doing right now,” he said. “It’s very embarrassing.” 

The man told CBS News Miami that he wanted Mr. Trump to let his wife stay in the U.S., as their 11th anniversary is on Friday. 

When asked if she was in the process of getting her U.S. citizenship, the man told CBS News Miami that she was right in the middle of it. 

The man’s wife, who’s Venezuelan and has lived in the U.S. for a few years, had a court date set up and “everything was good” until that moment. 

“They just came and they snatched her,” the man said. 

The husband begged president Trump for mercmercy, saying: “If I get a chance to talk to you, man — please, man — let’s work something out. Let me keep my wife here in the United States. She deserves to be here.” 

Meanwhile, Americans on X are laughing at the man. 

"Let

Watch the video below.

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