By Adewole Kehinde

“Kindness is precious to a person, but to the world, it is justice that has higher spiritual value. In most cases, what people lack is not kindness but justice.”

On September 22, 2022, one Prof. Zainab Duke Abiola was arrested for assaulting her police orderly.

I remembered tweeting the picture of the assault, which later went viral.

I think the tweet brought the attention of the former Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, who strongly condemned the grievous assault of a female police officer, Inspector Teju Moses, by Prof. Zainab Duke Abiola and her domestic staff, comprising the housemaid, one Rebecca Enechido, and a male suspect currently at large.

The assault by Zainab Duke on her orderly was in the company of some accomplices on September 20, 2022, at her residence in Garki, Abuja, due to the refusal of the orderly to breach professional ethics by carrying out menial and domestic chores at her house.

I was in court to witness her prosecution after the directive of the former IGP, who directed the express prosecution of the arrested suspects, as the preliminary investigation showed overwhelming evidence of culpability on the part of the professor and her domestic staff.

I also recalled that the police clarified then that the suspect, Prof. Zainab, who name-drops the IGP, his family members, and other officers in the top hierarchy of the force, has no acquaintance with the police in any form, as erroneously peddled on social media.

On September 30, 2022, Prof. Zainab was denied bail by the presiding magistrate, and the matter was adjourned until October 5, 2022.

I was shocked to read in the dailies on Friday, January 19, 2024, that a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Gudu, Abuja, has ordered the inspector-general of police (IGP) to pay N50 million in damages to Prof. Zainab Duke Abiola, widow of the former philanthropist and winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, the late Chief MKO Abiola.

The court made the order following the violation of her fundamental human rights.

A so-called professor who violated the fundamental human rights of Inspector Teju Moses is now claiming a violation of her fundamental human rights. What a calamity!

This is a professor who has been involved in so many controversial cases to the extent that the members of the Abiola family have disowned the alleged policewoman-beater, Professor Zainab Duke, who is said to be their late patriarch’s widow.

No fewer than three of the children of the late winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election have expressed dissatisfaction with the woman’s link to the family, including by the media, following her alleged assault of a policewoman.

An investigation even showed that she allegedly claimed she had a copy of Abiola’s will that was signed in 1994.

The issue of the 1994 will of MKO Abiola came up in a London court after the businessman died; however, the family said it highlighted Zainab’s fraudulent and deceitful nature.

While many family members, including the scions of the family, were aware of the 1991 will, Zainab Duke took the family to court in London after Abiola’s demise and claimed that the earlier will was not the authentic one and that she had a will deposed to by Abiola in 1994. The said person recognised her as the wife of the late billionaire, while the earlier one didn’t.

After a series of forensic analyses that took about two years, the London court declared the will presented by Zainab as forged. She was subsequently ‘derobed’ by the English court, which meant she could no longer practice law in England. She also lost her job at Middlesex University in the UK, where she lectured law.

The Abiola family was even at a loss for how someone who was ‘derobed’ in the UK and lost her position as a lecturer came to be a professor in Nigeria.

I even recalled that on January 23, 2023, The Law Firm of Tawo E. Tawo, SAN & Co. issued a disclaimer to the widely circulated news item making the rounds in both the electronic and print media, particularly the said news captioned “Abiola’s widow drags IGP, others to court, seeks N100bn damages,” and purported that they filed the suit for and on behalf of one Prof. Zainab Duke Abiola.

In a disclaimer signed by Tawo E. Tawo, SAN, on Monday, January 23, 2023, he stated unequivocally that his firm did not file the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2370/2022 or any suit at that per the subject matter.

“We also wish to state that we have commenced a full investigation to unravel those behind this embarrassing and dastardly act, the statement said.
“We will not fold our hands and watch mischief makers drag our name into a matter about which we have not been briefed by anyone, the statement concluded.

No wonder the Nigeria Police issued a statement saying that diligent investigations were conducted into the incident, resulting in the professor being charged in court.

Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement, “The Nigeria Police Force wishes to state emphatically that Prof. Zainab Duke Abiola, who was accused of complicity in the grievous assault of a female police officer, Inspector Teju Moses, on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, at her residence in Garki, Abuja, along with her domestic staff, including the housemaid, one Rebecca Enechido, and a male suspect currently at large, has a case to answer with respect to the allegations.

“The FCT Police Command, under whose jurisdiction the matter transpired, has charged the suspects to court upon diligent investigation, and the case with charge no. CR/544/22 is ongoing. The next hearing will be on February 1, 2023, at High Court 16, Zuba, FCT Abuja.

“The suspects have been charged with the offences of criminal conspiracy, attempt to commit culpable homicide, voluntarily causing hurt without provocation, and assault to deter a public servant from discharge of his duty, amongst others.

“The recent media row by the suspect is therefore unnecessary as the matter has not been concluded in court.

“It is similarly pertinent to note that the spurious allegations recently made in the news hold no water.

“The Nigeria Police reposes confidence in the judiciary, believing that the courts will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that justice is done in the extant case.

“The Police equally appreciate Nigerians and concerned individuals, groups, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), who have shown interest in the matter and severally called for justice for the grievously injured police inspector.”

When Teju presented her side of the story, the police inspector’s testimony was graphic, detailed, and captured on camera.

According to Teju, she said: “I am Inspector Teju Moses, attached to Professor Duke Zainab around Area 11. Yesterday, after I helped her take her things to the car, she told me to open the gate. But I told her that I could not open the gate because it was raining, and I was in uniform.

“She told me to go assist a staff to open the gate, but I repeated the fact that I was in uniform, and it was raining. She then asked why would I answer her that way, that it was a query, in her words. So, I kept quiet.”

In a sane country, someone like Prof. Zainab Duke Abiola should be in jail for forgery and attempted murder.

I am calling on the Nigeria Police to quickly appeal the Federal Capital Territory High Court judgement, Gudu, Abuja.

It is a case of “bushmeat arresting the hunter,” and this must be addressed urgently.

● Adewole Kehinde is the publisher of Swift Reporters and can be reached at 08166240846. E-mail: [email protected]

35-year-old man, Hoya Abraham (alias star boy) will spend 14 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 12-year old girl.

He was sentenced by an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court presided by Justice Rahman Oshodi on Thursday.

This was following his guilty plea to an amended charge of attempted sexual assault by penetration.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oshodi said that he was satisfied that Abraham understood the nature of plea bargain and the gravity of the charge against him.

Oshodi noted that Abraham pleaded not guilty to a charge of defilement, on arraignment on Aug. 8, 2021, adding that three prosecution witnesses had testified against him.

He said that the victim/survivor, her mother and an investigative police officer testified against Abraham.

“Her (victim/survivor) evidence was corroborated by the confessional statement of Abraham to have committed the offence.

“The victim in her testimony said that the defendant asked her to come over to his house to fry eggs for him and he ended up having sex with her which resulted in bleeding.

“However, when the case was called today, the prosecution informed the court that that defendant had opted for a plea bargain and he was re-arraigned on an amended information dated Jan. 18th the judge said.

Oshodi added that evidence presented by prosecution established an attempt to commit sexual assault by penetration.

“I hereby find the defendant guilty as charged.

“However, I have considered the plea bargain that you signed and the allocutus from your counsel.

“I hereby sentence you to 14 years’ imprisonment which will start from the day of your remand,” the judge said.

Oshodi directed that Abraham’s name should be put in the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register.

Defence counsel, Mr Nelson Onyejaka had in his allocutus (plea for leniency), prayed the court to temper justice with mercy.

State counsel, Ms Bukola Okeowo, submitted that the convict committed the offence sometime in July 2019, on Mowo Kekere Elepe in Ikorodu, Lagos.

She said that the convict attempted to have sexual intercourse with the minor in contravention of Section 262 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

NAN

It was with immense delight that FIDA Nigeria received the news of the constitution of an all-female Planning Committee for the 64^th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association by the President of the Nigerian Bar Association Mr. Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, OON, SAN.

This is the first time in the history of the Nigerian Bar Association that an all-female team is put in place to spearhead the planning and execution of a General Conference of this magnitude. All thanks to the progressive and forward-thinking President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). There is no gainsaying that this development will augur well for the entire Bar as the President’s penchant for putting round pegs into round holes in clear recognition of the inherent capacity of our female members is one that has certainly not gone unnoticed. The Nigerian Bar Association as a professional Body with members having various skillsets and capabilities needs to be an association founded on inclusivity and diversity.

We at FIDA Nigeria, an association of professional women lawyers called to the practice of law with the core mandate of protecting, promoting and preserving the rights of women and children through the instrumentality of law via the provision of pro-bono legal services, heartily applaud and commend this giant stride of the NBA President, Mr. Y.C Maikyau SAN, as it resonates deeply with FIDA’s vision and sets an impressive precedent signaling progressive advancement for gender representation within the Nigerian Bar Association and the legal profession in its entirety.

We join other well-meaning members of the profession to heartily congratulate these women charged with executing the planning of the 64th Annual General Conference (AGC) of the Nigerian Bar Association and urge them to put in their best in ensuring that the 2024 General Conference  of the Bar is a stellar one in terms of a seamless conference delivery.

FIDA Nigeria shall continue to collaborate with the Nigerian Bar Association and other like-minded associations in ensuring that our mandate which is the promotion of the rights of women; including gender equity, participation and inclusion in all processes of governance is achieved.

Long live the Nigerian Bar Association,

Long live the International Federation of Women Lawyers- FIDA Nigeria,

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

FOR: FIDA NIGERIA

Signed

Amina Suzanah Agbaje, (Mrs.)

Country Vice President/National President

#inclusivity   #diversity   #genderparity  #genderrepresentation   #FIDANigeria

A Nigerian civil rights advocacy group-Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA)- has called on the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, to promptly order the release from illegal arrest and arbitrary detention of a young female soldier Miss. Ruth Ogunleye over her public statement protesting her alleged serial sexual harassment, intimidation, dehumanisation and false imprisonment by some highly placed senior officers of the Nigerian Army for rejecting their sexual gratification demands.

See also: Activist calls for probe, denounces arrest of Nigerian female soldier who rail at sexual harassment by top military officers in viral video

HURIWA in a statement condemning the reported arrest of this victim of severe human rights violations which are highly egregious and offends salient fundamental provisions of the Nigerian Constitution guaranteeing respect for human rights of every person irrespective of status, including numerous universal, global-wide human rights laws and treaties entered into by Nigeria as a member of the United Nations, HURIWA said her arrest if confirmed as reported, is not only unconstitutional and primitive but runs contrary to the image being created by the hierarchy of the military in the last few years regarding the mainstreaming of adherence to the constitutional provisions protecting and promoting human rights. “Does this mean that all the resources both human and Financial, committed by the military institutions towards driving the process of establishing functional human rights desks and a full fledged department for Civil and military Relations are now being thrown to the winds or to the dogs?”

See also: Nowhere is safe in Nigeria —Joy Ezeilo, As Nigeria grapples mass kidnappings

The group in the release signed by Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, National Coordinator said it is unnatural and indeed strange, that the Army is now trying to employ crude means to suppress the human rights of Ruth Ogunleye who is a victim of human rights violations committed by some senior officers and this primitive methodology of the Nigerian Army in this 21st century world depicts the Nigerian Army as not telling the World the truth when it claimed on many occasions that the military institution has set up the mechanisms and department for the resolution of issues arising from human rights abuses and cases either between the military operatives or civilians.

HURIWA listed out the constitutional provisions violated by the arrest of Ruth Ogunleye by the hierarchy of the Nigerian Army thus: Sections 34. (1) Every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person, and accordingly –
(a) no person shall be subject to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment.
(b) no person shall he held in slavery or servitude: and
(c) no person shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour. 39. (1) Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom, to hold opinions and I receive and impart ideas and information without interference.

HURIWA listed other constitutional provisions being flagrantly violated by the action of arresting a junior female soldier who is complaining of serial sexual harassment, to include: Section 41. (1) Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any par thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereby or exit therefrom.

Citing Section 42 of the Constitution, HURIWA said: “A citizen of Nigeria of a particular community , ethnic group, place of origin , sex , religion or political opinion shall not by reason only that he is such a person:
(a) be subjected either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any executive or administrative action or the government, to disabilities or restrictions to which citizens of Nigeria of other communities. ethnic groups, places of origin sex, religious or political opinions are nor made subject; or
(b) be accorded either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any such executive or administrative action. any privilege or advantage that is not
accorded to citizens of Nigeria of or the communities, ethnic groups. places of origin.
sex, religions or political opinions.”

Ogunleye was reportedly arrested and flown to Abuja from Lagos on Tuesday.

“The lady who complained in the viral video about sexual harassment in the military has been arrested and moved to Abuja by air this morning. She was flown out accompanied by military police in mufti from Lagos to Abuja,” a top military source disclosed.

The soldier serving in Lagos State, who did not disclose her name, raised the alarm in the trending video that some senior army officers were threatening her life for rejecting their sexual advances.

She lamented how the senior army officers had been oppressing her since she was posted to Cantonment Medical Centre, Ojo, Lagos in 2022, for refusing their sexual advances. She said she had been locked up several times for no reason, ejected from her apartment, and put in a psychiatric hospital for a month without any medication based on a false claim that she had a mental illness.

According to her, her bank account had been frozen since February 2023 and she had not been paid salary for no reason.

She further alleged that one of her alleged oppressors had attempted to rape her on multiple occasions. The female soldier said the army officer later claimed that she had a mental illness, adding that she had made several efforts including writing a petition and getting some senior and junior officers to intervene but that all was to no avail.

She also said that the same senior army officer who she claimed wanted to rape her had denied her access to every army course and passes to see her parents. According to her, her father contacted the officer over her issues, but the officer told her father to inform her to obey the last order.

She said, “I know definitely they will come for me. They will lock me up and they will dismiss me but I don’t care. I can’t endure it again. Before coming out to make this video, I can’t endure again. I don’t want to die young.

HURIWA recalled that the army through Major-General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations stated that the female soldier did not inform relevant bodies and institutions about her predicament before releasing the video. On another breath, the Army said the allegations will be probed.

HURIWA however described the arrest and possible detention of the victim of human rights violations by senior members of the Army as a brazen attempt to muzzle this girl and to prevent her from seeking redress.

The Rights group is calling on World leaders including President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the United States based Human Rights Watch, the Nigerian office of the London based Amnesty International, to intervene swiftly to ensure that the junior female soldier is not physically, psychologically or emotionally harmed by the desperate military officers seeking to cover the tracks of the sexual predators wearing higher ranks.

HURIWA stated that the female junior soldier as a citizen of Nigeria is entitled to all the human rights provisions guaranteed by the constitution which is the Grund Norm just as the group said the Nigerian Army is not higher than the Nigerian Constitution that created it in the first place.

While the Plateau State Governor, Celeb Mutfwang, has raised the alarm, expressing concerns that security agencies have been infiltrated by criminal elements, alleging that some officers are working as agents for criminals, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has stated that the policy of the Kano state government to convert repentant criminals into constabularies is not a bad idea. 

Governor Mutfwang stressed the need for a critical review of the recruitment process to weed out “bad eggs” and ensure greater accountability and control over firearms possession.

He also addressed issues of overzealousness by security forces, citing instances where common tools like machetes were confiscated from locals. He stressed the importance of boosting the morale of those defending their communities instead of arresting them.

Adding that a mechanism to identify and remove compromised individuals within the security services, is crucial for maintaining professionalism and discipline, the governor urged President Tinubu to issue a firm directive to ensure diligence in the ongoing recruitment processes, preventing the inclusion of wrong elements in the security agencies.

Read also: 50 ‘repentant’ criminals become police constables in Kano

Justifying the recruitment of ‘repentant’ criminal elements however, the Nigeria Police Spokesman in a tweet exchange with some Nigerians who were opposed to the policy, said it is not a bad idea for Kano state government to convert the repentant criminals into useful security agents.

He went on to state that if a hardened criminal who was condemned gets pardoned and turns a new leaf, they can be incorporated into the constabulary programme.

Below are his posts and replies…

Kidnappers on Thursday night, stormed the Nigerian Army Post Housing Scheme in the Kurudu area of Abuja, abducting two residents.

The abductees include the wife and one of the in-laws of a lawyer, Cyril Adikwu.

The incident, according to a neighbour of the victims, occurred around 10:00 pm in the Phase 2 area of the estate.

The neighbour, Austine John, who spoke to journalists, recounted the harrowing experience, stating that the kidnappers entered the estate, shooting sporadically, and abducted the two while the Adikwu managed to escape.

See also: Nowhere is safe in Nigeria —Joy Ezeilo, As Nigeria grapples mass kidnappings

This is coming barely after the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, said the Federal government would not condone any form of bandit attack in Abuja

John described the event as traumatic while stressing the fear amongst residents throughout the night, with security measures being taken by the estate’s management and the subsequent arrival of army personnel.

John notes, “It all started at about 10:00. We suddenly started hearing gunshots, and immediately we knew something was wrong. I quickly went out to make sure my gate was well locked.

“Then we heard the gunshot in the barrister’s house, and then we alerted the estate’s management, who immediately swung into action. In a short time, army people came around and started shooting too, but before they came, the kidnappers had taken the wife and one of the in-laws of the barrister.

“This is really traumatising because we could not sleep throughout the night due to fear of the kidnappers coming back. President Tinubu should please help Nigerians put an end to this barbaric act by the kidnappers.”

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command was yet to make an official comment concerning the development as of press time.

Kidnapping in recent times has become rampant in the Federal Capital territory with dozens of residents being abducted almost daily.

Recently, a 13-year-old teenager, Folashade Ariyo, was kidnapped alongside 10 residents of the Sagwari Estate Layout in Dutse-Alhaji Area of Abuja, and Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar, a 400-level student of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, who was kidnapped alongside 22 other in Bwari.

This has, however, led to outrage among Nigerians calling for an end to the act by concerned stakeholders.

Punch

As Oyo state counts its losses with some Malian illegal miners alleged to be responsible for the explosion that rocked the ancient city of Ibadan on Tuesday night, a former Attorney General of Nigeria, Chief Bola Ige, SAN, the late Chief Bandele Aiku SAN, and Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN are among the many that lost their properties.

While the homes of late Bola Ige, Bandele Aiku with that an 80 year old University Professor and his 75year old wife were destroyed, Niyi Akintola and the recently deceased Governor of Ondo state, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN lost their hospitality facilities.

Displaying photos of his ruined hotel in a WhatsApp chat, Chief Akintola said: “This is what remains of my modest contributions to hospitality businesses in Ibadan and just after the explosions of last night in Bodija. It is a posh hotel in a posh area known as ‘House 40” on Dejo Oyelese Street, Bodiam.

“I recall that some of our colleagues on this platform who had at one time enjoyed the hospitality of the modest 24 beds which include 8 suites, 3 chalets and 13 standard rooms are Alariwo, Wole Iyamu SAN, H,E. Iyiola Oladokun (whose residence) that shared a fence with my house 40 was completely destroyed.

“Other members of the Bar whose properties were destroyed on the street include the Late Chief Bola Ige SAN, the late Chief Bandele Aiku SAN, and an hospitality building said to belong to the late Governor of Ondo state, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN..

“My 3 Other properties on Alabiamo Street, Adeyi Street and Adenuga Street were also slightly damaged with removed roof, removed POP ceilings, sliding doors, air-conditionals and several electrical applications. Oh my God, it is terrible. As I write this with my hands trembling, some guests and 3 hotel staff are in the hospital but we thank God that no casualty was recorded. What a way to start a new year? I need your prayers please.”

The explosion left persons dead, scores others injured, and property worth billions of naira destroyed.

A resident of Adeyi Avenue, who simply identified himself as Apa, in an interview with journalists in Ibadan on Wednesday, said there were no illegal mining sites in the area.

He, however, blamed illegal miners from the West African country, Mali, who lived in the area for the explosion, adding that the Federal Government should send illegal miners out of the country.

Apa said his neighbour agreed with him that the explosion was caused by explosive materials, which the Malians used for illegal mining.

Recounting his experience, he said, “When I called my neighbour, she said, ‘You remember those Malians?’ There must be equipment they’re using for doing their mining work that must have exploded, and that equipment is not a cheap material. It’s something that’s very heavy.

“If the explosion had happened in Odogbo barracks, then one would say yes, they have all sorts of things there. That thing is not supposed to be kept in this type of environment. And wherever such equipment is kept, it must be under-regulated humidity. Maybe the temperature would have triggered it, and that’s my own suspicion.

“There is nothing like illegal mining here. It’s miners that live here that brought the equipment and they are Malians.

“This is a lesson for the Nigerian government to decide whether we still want to keep such people in our country. Malians do a lot of things apart from this; they cause a lot of havoc. The government should start thinking about what to do with them, and if you find out they don’t have documents to live in this country, you know what to do.”

Speaking to journalists on the explosion, another Bodija resident, Taiwo Salami, said, “Many have died. We saw corpses all over the street last night (Tuesday). It just has to stop. Not only in Ibadan, in Niger, in Sokoto, in Abuja, everywhere.

“There is chaos and disorder in this country. This is not the country everybody wants to live in. This is not the country of our dreams. It’s just ridiculous. Where do people start from? Lives have been lost. Can they be gained back? They cannot! Everybody woke up yesterday, thinking this is 2024.

“This is January for goodness sake. Is this how we are going to start the year? How many more of such do we have in other neighbourhood that we are not even sure of? I’m tired.”

On the scale of damage, he said, “Everything is gone, everything. The whole house is gone. All the vehicles, all the properties, everything is gone. In fact, this whole area, all the houses would have to be demolished. Every single house must be demolished because their structural defects are evident; there are cracks everywhere. Everything has to be demolished and probably rebuilt. You’re talking about billions here.”

Other resident allege that there is active mining of gemstones in Ibadan although none if it is official. They note that though Ibadan is not listed as a mining city, large scale mining takes place everyday with government officials turning blind eye.