President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration appears more determined than ever to rely on repression as a means of responding to dissent and public criticism. Its record of failure to uphold human rights and the rule of law has been too consistent: empty promises, more excuses, ambivalence, intolerance, and state-sanctioned brutality.
Last week, the administration yet again unleashed its security forces in riot gear on #RevolutionNow protesters who were simply calling on the government to respect human rights, obey the rule of law, and address heightened insecurity, poverty, corruption, and poor infrastructure in the country.
The peaceful protests took place in several parts of Nigeria, including Abuja, Lagos and Osogbo.
This is not the first time Mr Buhari and his administration have brutally attacked peaceful protesters. But no security agents have ever been held to account for abuses against protesters.
This state-sanctioned brutality is entirely inconsistent with the attitude of a government supposedly committed to transparency and accountability, and the fight against corruption.
Rather than addressing the concerns of the protesters, the Buhari administration would seem to trivialize their demands when it called the protests “a child’s play” and “an irritation.” The implicit message is that the administration is insensitive to people’s opinions and concerns.
To be clear: it’s neither a child’s play nor an irritation to demand an end to corruption, which is clearly contributing to serious human rights violations, fuelling injustice, inequality and deprivation, and allowing politicians to profit from their crimes.
It’s unfortunate that the Buhari administration is sending security forces not after those who commit acts of grand corruption and appalling abuses, but after those who call for human rights and rule of law reforms.
For example, while his administration treats protesters with overt hostility, it seems to revere ‘repentant Boko Haram militants’, including by granting them “amnesty” and accepting them “unconditionally”.
Under Mr Buhari’s watch, a bill is being pushed in the National Assembly full of members from his ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) to use funds from the Universal Basic Education Commission and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund to give the militants “foreign education.”
This is even as millions of Nigerian children and youth are out of school and roaming the streets.
The right to freedom of peaceful assembly is central to human rights law, but it’s one right the Buhari administration flagrantly violates as a matter of routine. The administration’s bad faith is underlined by its smearing of protesters.
The attack that the Buhari administration has consistently launched on protesters is not merely an attack on the right to protest and Nigeria’s constitutional foundation. It is an attack on the rule of law, and on Nigeria’s voluntary international human rights obligations.
The administration continues to violate human rights with impunity. Omoyele Sowore, leader of the #RevolutionNow movement, and Amnesty International’s prisoner of conscience, is facing severe restrictions on his rights and can’t travel outside Abuja.
Mr Buhari and his administration are treating dissent and public criticism as “insult”, and adopting probably the most repressive laws in Nigeria’s history, such as the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020 that give officials massive discretion to further restrict human rights and undermine the operations of religious, community and civil society organizations.
Mr Buhari and his administration are punishing journalists for their reporting, silencing individuals for posting opinions on social media, shutting down debate and the flow of information on flimsy grounds. This prevailing impunity is allowing and emboldening many states governors to adopt similar repressive tactics, and undermine people’s access to justice.
Mr Buhari and his administration have shown hostility to Nigerian judges and indifference to court judgments and orders, thereby seriously undermining their standing and authority, and the notion of access to justice. His administration simply ignores court judgments and orders.
Mr Buhari has literally normalized disobedience to court orders, and state-sanctioned brutality against peaceful protesters. That’s why his administration has been unable to deliver on his oft-repeated anti-corruption promises.
It’s facile for the administration to claim to be committed to the rule of law and the fight against corruption while it is routinely stopping people from freely expressing themselves, including through peaceful protests.
The Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) guarantees human rights, including the right to protest. Nigeria has also ratified most of the major human rights treaties like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The administration has three core obligations regarding human rights: namely, the obligation to respect, to protect, and to fulfill them. It has an obligation to take positive measures to establish and maintain an enabling environment for the exercise of human rights, including the right to protest.
It is crucial that individuals exercising this right be able to operate freely without fearing that they will be subjected to threats, intimidation, or violence, including arbitrary arrest or detention, or torture and other ill-treatment.
What matters is not the rights that exist on paper in the constitution or treaties, but whether they can be exercised and enforced in practice.
It is up to Mr Buhari and his administration to recognize this and to make it happen. A good starting point would be to stop witch-hunting protesters, see protests as a powerful mechanism of public accountability and engagement, allow Mr Sowore to enjoy his human rights and reunite with his family; and repeal the CAMA 2020 and bring it in conformity with the country’s international obligations.
As for the people, this isn’t the time to give up. There is a bumpy road ahead, and as such, they should continue to speak truth to power. They should defend and claim their rights, if they are ever going to be able to stop their government and politicians behaving with impunity.
The country stands at a crossroads. The international community should do all it can to support and show active solidarity with the people’s demand for human rights and the rule of law.
Olaniyan is author of Corruption and Human Rights Law in Africa and legal adviser at Amnesty International’s International Secretariat, London.
In what has been described as a notable achievement, Nigeria’s foremost legal technologies company, LawPavilion Business Solutions Limited, in collaboration with Telnet Group recently concluded a 2-day virtual conference. The conference which had the keynote speech delivered by His Excellency, Prof Yemi Osinbajo SAN, GCON, with goodwill messages from His Lordship, Hon. Justice Tanko Muhammad CFR, Chief Justice of Nigeria and Paul Usoro SAN, outgoing President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has been praised as a timely conference about the important role that technology now occupies in provision of legal services and administration of justice in Nigeria.
One of the highpoints of the conference was the unveiling and launching of the E-Library of the Laws of Lagos State on the LawPavilion platform by His Excellency, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Executive Governor of Lagos State, represented by Mr. Moyo Onigbanjo SAN, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State. Working in collaboration with the Law Reform Commission of Lagos State, the e-library platform will make the Laws of Lagos State easily accessible and relevant for the use of Lagosians and the public. The Annotated e-laws of Lagos State on platform will also highlight how the courts and populace interact with the laws, leveraging on machine learning and artificial intelligence. This approach will ensure that new laws and decisions of court are data-driven, with its finger on the pulse of the general citizenry.
Another noteworthy highlight of the conference was the unveiling of the LawRights App, a solution from the stables of LawPavilion, for the use of the general public to know and understand their constitutional rights, have access to lawyers and law firms from within the app and where necessary, initiate the process of adjudication where rights have been abused or trampled upon.
In his remarks, the Honourable CJN alluded to the giant strides that had been taken by the apex court in recent years by adopting the use of court management software, demonstrating a marked departure from the analogue system of adjudication. He reiterated the support of the Judiciary in adopting new technologies that accelerate the delivery of justice to Nigerians.
In a related vein, the NBA President pointed out that access to justice and upholding rule of law will remain a mirage where the average citizen is ignorant of his rights under the law or is deprived of widespread access to regulatory bodies and government agencies that can ensure that citizens’ rights are not trampled upon and commended the LawRights App that had just being unveiled by LawPavilion, as a ground-breaking solution for Nigerians, including stakeholders in the administration of justice and legal services industries.
Consolidating on the remarks of the CJN and NBA President, the Vice President, Prof Osinbajo, SAN, GCON expressed his elation at the willingness and rapid adoption of technology exemplified by the Supreme Court in giving its stamp of approval to virtual court sittings. he also drew attention to the fact that technology has aided the democratization of law and justice in Nigeria and called for purpose-built solutions for the administration of justice in Nigeria by local legal and technology companies in the country, pledging the Federal Government’s commitment to support tech companies Nigerians adapt to the new global realities powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and sophisticated technology solutions.
Speaking in another vein, with focus on young Nigerians, Gbenga Sesan, CEO of Paradigm Initiatives, pointed out there was the need to use technology to accelerate access to justice, especially as the country adjusts to the realities of the pandemic, citing several examples of interaction with law enforcement agencies which ended in wanton abuse of the human rights and dignity of the affected victims. He advocated for a rapid adoption of a law that enshrines the digital rights of citizens and pointed out that Nigeria could become a leader among to other African countries in this regard. He concluded that innovation cannot thrive in an environment where justice is stifled and rights trampled upon with impunity and no redress, calling for practical demonstration of justice in the protection of rights, especially digital rights.
During panel discussion, in response to the question about the readiness of the Nigerian judiciary to adapt technology as needed in a post COVID-19 environment, his Lordship, Hon Justice Olukayode Ariwoola JSC submitted that the Nigerian judiciary has demonstrated and continues to demonstrate a willingness to adopt technologies and adapt court processes, in a bid to ensure that delivery of justice is not delayed or hampered.
Dr Babatunde Ajibade remarked that while there isn’t yet a national consensus about the adoption of technology, there needs to be more thinking about how technology can be harnessed to facilitate the delivery of justice, with the corresponding financial and human resources investments required. He pointed out that there are still significant pockets of technologically challenged members of the Bar and the Bench.
In terms of whether the legal service and judiciary are walking the talk when it comes to using technology to enhance and improve delivery of services, Mr. Folorunsho Aliu, MD of Telnet Group took an optimistic view that the sector and Nigeria is on a journey to getting better in how technology is used and harnessed for justice and economic growth. He was of the opinion that lessons and ideas that will emerge from the conference will be instrumental towards more widespread adoption and use of legal technology in Nigeria.
During the breakout session on managing law firms and legal departments, members of the panel demonstrated extensive understanding in articulating the solutions their law firms or legal departments had utilized to improve efficiency. Sesan Sobowale of Union Bank Legal Department and his counterpart, Raymond Mgbeokwere of First Bank shared unique insights about the deployment of bespoke LawPavilion Case Management Solution for Legal Departments, to automate the administration and coordination of their legal teams while Mr Seun Abimbola, former Attorney General of Oyo State shared insights of his experience in running a government department and urged that bespoke legal technologies solutions were the way forward to meet the competing demands on the legal department or law office, particularly in this pandemic.
Speaking on whether the legal ecosystem is an evolution or a revolution, Lere Fashola, publisher of ESQ Magazine contributed that the eco-system is both an evolution, looking at how far the legal services industry had come in Nigeria and also a revolution, because COVID-19 has altered how people interact and do businesses, thereby necessitating the adoption of virtual court hearings and progressive use of several technology platform to provide services to clients.
There were several engaging discussion and panel sessions, including a session displaying e-filing and court management processes and solutions, aimed at accelerating case management of the entire court system from end to end as well. The private sector was not left out as the Conference featured showcase pieces of new and existing solutions within the legal services industry and in the areas of digital transformation and indeed opened a new vista in the annals of law and technology innovation in Nigeria.
The Nigerian Military has cautioned Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, against making public remarks about what it described as unverified allegations against its personnel in the theatre of operations.
This formed part of the recommendations of an investigative team set up to verify the allegations that soldiers in the war front have been engaging in farming and fishing activities.
The team lead, Major General Felix Omoigui, who is also the Deputy Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Dole, briefed reporters on the findings of the team on Friday in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
He revealed that the allegations emanated from personnel of some security agencies, which were neither investigated nor verified before reporting same to the governor.
Omoigui who described the allegations as false and malicious explained that when the team visited Baga town, there were no records of fishing or farming by the troops as alleged.
“The prohibition of troops from engaging in farming and fishing activities in Area of Responsibility is contained in the Standing Operative Procedures,” he stated.
The deputy theatre commander insisted that soldiers have been constantly warned not to get involved in any farming and fishing activities.
He stressed that the investigative team also found that the entire area of Baga was too heavily mined with Improvised Explosive Device (IED) to encourage any farming activity, adding that 55 mines have so far been detonated since the town was reclaimed.
Overzealous Security Agencies? “The allegations were conjured by some overzealous security agencies who for personal glory and without recourse for the tenets of inter-agency cooperation decided to propagate falsehood.
“The Governor of Borno State believed these allegations levelled against troops of the 19 Brigade in Baga given his recent utterances,” Omoigui said.
He added, “Remarks of highly placed persons is capable of demoralising the troops which would negatively impact on operations and the confidence of the locals in the military.”
The major general said the report faulted the governor has been in constant touch with the Theatre Commander and the Sector 3 Commander for not reporting the allegation for investigation.
He decried, “Allegations of such nature could be avoided if the military authority was contacted on issues concerning troops activities before going public.
“The realisations that the allegation emanated from security agencies could trigger reactions and animosity among troops and attendant negative consequences.”
According to him, the report recommends that Governor Zulum should be advised on the need to contact the Headquarters of the Theatre Command to verify any allegation against troops in Operation Lafiya Dole.
While declining to name the supposed security outfit responsible for the allegations, Omoigui advised security agencies to educate their personnel on the need to verify issues before disseminating same as intelligent reports.
When contacted, the governor’s aide on media and strategy, Isa Gusau, stated that his principal had gone beyond that.
He said, “He (Zulum) made his point which was not personal, and has moved forward.
“The governor has throughout this week, been engaged with high-level meetings at the Presidency and with the military’s service chiefs whom he visited in Abuja, to enhance collaboration on the more urgent issue of reclaiming peace in Borno.”
FORMER Nigerian Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, has asked a London court to order redaction of witness statements attributed to him by his successor, Abubaker Malami in the P&ID trial.
Filing an application of defamation at the Commercial Court of the Property and Business Courts of England and Wales in London stating some referenced portions of Malami’s witness statements filed in defence of Nigeria’s case at the court as defamatory and malicious against him.
He also urged the court to delete the alleged “offensive” portions of the said statements.
The nine-page application, titled, ‘False evidence about Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, in the P&ID case being heard in England’, stated that Malami in the statements filed at the London court “repeatedly described” Adoke “as corrupt”.
Delivered by his lawyer, Paul Erokoro (SAN), Adoke asked Malami to retract some referenced portions of his statements, tender an apology for the alleged damage done to his name by the claims, and pay monetary compensation for the alleged harm, which should be done within seven days.
His letter cited multiple portions of Malami’s witness statements, where the former AGF was accused of “thinly” defending Nigerian interest at the P&ID arbitration hearing “with a view to ensuring an award in P&ID’s favour”.
Malami had filed the two statements as a witness in defence of the Federal Government at the London court on December 5, 2019, and March 6, 2020, seeking to have the $9.6 billion arbitral award issued against Nigeria and in favour of a British Virgin Island firm, Process and Industrial Development.
He denied all the corruption allegations including the one in which he was accused of benefitting from the alleged fraudulent Malabu Oil deals.
Adoke who described Malami’s statements as constituting an act of abuse of his office informed the London court that the allegedly offending comments would lead to a miscarriage of justice in his defence of the criminal charged preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC in Nigeria.
“That the conduct of the Honourable Abubakar Malami as HAGF in submitting the offending statements contained in the fourth and sixth witness statements will result in a miscarriage of justice.
“In my defence of the criminal charges filed against me in Nigeria as the conduct of the HAGF clearly an abuse of office by his breach of section 36(6) of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria in breach of his oath of office,” a section of the application reads.
He also denied all the corruption allegations including the one in which he was accused of benefitting from the alleged fraudulent Malabu Oil deals.
“The N300 million that is alleged that I have received from Malabu Oil was, in fact, a mortgage loan that I took from Unity Bank Plc in Nigeria to buy a house in Abuja with the purchase price of N500 million, and that when I could not raise the balance of the purchase price of N200 million after the initial payment of N300 million with the mortgage advance secured from Unity Bank Plc.
“The vendor sold the property to the Central Bank of Nigeria for N500 million and refunded part payment of the purchase price of the property paid with the mortgage advance of N300 million secured by from the Unity Bank Plc in the discharge of my mortgage,” the application read.
The P&ID case attained crisis levels for Nigeria last year when a UK judge ruled that P&ID could enforce an arbitration tribunal’s 2017 ruling, now adding $9.6 billion including interest, which found the country breached the agreement.
Nigeria’s chances of annulling the giant penalty lie on proving the 2010 gas supply arrangement was a sham designed to fail by P&ID and government officials.
THE University of Lagos Alumni Association has urged all parties in the controversies trailing the removal of the Vice-Chancellor to maintain status-quo existing before the removal process.
This is contained in a statement issued by the President of the Association, Mr. John Momoh, OON which was made available to TheNigeriaLawyer, titled “STATEMENT FROM UNILAG ALUMNI”.
“At its emergency meeting held on Friday, 14th August, 2020, the Alumni Association of the University of Lagos deliberated on the ongoing imbroglio at the University leading to the decision of the University Governing Council to remove the Vice Chancellor on Wednesday, 12th August, 2020”. He said.
Meanwhile, the statement noted that three resolutions were reached at the meeting.
However, it was noted that the laid down procedures were not followed in the removal process.
“Without prejudice to the general powers of the University Governing Council to appoint and remove a Vice-Chancellor under the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act 2003 (No. 1 2007), and without apportioning any blame to either the Governing Council or the Vice Chancellor, the University of Lagos Alumni is of the view that before the Council can exercise such powers, it must follow due process, particularly as mandatorily provided under section 3(8), (9) and (10) of the Act in the removal of the Vice Chancellor and Section 3(13) in the appointment of an acting Vice Chancellor.”
Furthermore, the Association charges that status quo that existed prior to the removal be maintained.
“Therefore, the Alumni counsels the Governing Council that the status quo ante the Council meeting of Wednesday, 12th August, 2020, be restored while the Alumni continues with its efforts at ensuring that lasting peace and harmony reign on the Campus as between the Council and the University Management in particular, and all sections of the University community in general, including the Senate, students, staff, all Associations, particularly ASUU, NASU, SSANU, NAAT, etc.”
Finally, it was noted that the Alumni Association will not relent in an effort to bring lasting solutions to the misunderstanding.
“Meanwhile, the Alumni Association recalls all its assiduous efforts in the past two years to bring about an amicable resolution of the misunderstandings between the Council and the University Management, and promises all and sundry that it will not relent in its efforts at mediation.” The statement concluded.
The Rivers State Judiciary has introduced E-Affidavit Initiative aimed at efficient and effective administration of justice and to ease the stress of litigants and others.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Rivers State Judiciary dated 12th day of August, 2020 which was made available to TheNigeriaLawyer, titled “RIVERS STATE JUDICIARY INTRODUCES E-AFFIDAVIT”.
“The Rivers State Judiciary in an effort to ensure speedy dispensation of justice, more efficient and effective service delivery and as part of its RIVCOMIS initiative announces the introduction of her E-AFFIDAVIT INITIATIVE.”
In addition, it was noted that this is necessitated as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic ravaging the world that requires observing the social distancing protocols.
“Managing courts and Justice proceedings in these times of highly sophisticated technology for enhancing today’s organisation and coupled with the present pandemic called COVID 19 with its precautionary measures of social distancing has necessitated and driven the idea behind the Court management information system (COMIS).”
In addition, it was stated that the initiative provides six benefits.
“Here is introducing the electronic Affidavit in Rivers State with the following benefits.
•It is verifiable (you can always check for originality and it is authentic)
•It is accessible (you can apply for affidavit from anywhere in the world)
•It is secure (your personal data/information is safe and saved in the cloud)
•Easy and fast to use (it is automated and consumes less time unlike the manual method)
•Eradication of middle-men (you do not need help as it is easy and you can do it yourself)
•It is unique (your code is unique to you)”
Meanwhile, in order to process this, there are six steps that must be taken which are stated to be user friendly.
“Getting an affidavit just got better, stress-free and faster. With this new e-affidavit initiative, you can now file affidavits from the comfort of your homes and offices. It is easy and user friendly.”
A constitutional lawyer and principal partner, Mackay Chambers and Associates, Daniel D. Makolo, has been remanded in prison for allegedly petitioning the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, faulting the tenure extension granted to one of the Nigerian Immigration top shots.
TheNigerianLawyer (TNL) learnt that the Makolo, a former NIS officer, was arrested on Monday at the Garki police station where he had gone to represent a client and was severally moved from the SARS cell in Guzape, to Garki police cell, then to Asokoro police cell and to Nyanya police cell.
Finally, an ex parte order was obtained from an Abuja Magistrates court to remand him in police cell for two weeks.
Makolo, who is pursuing his Ph.D in law, is allegedly suffering from high blood pressure and his life may be in danger if nothing urgent is done to save him from his tormentors.
It was also learnt that Makolo said that he was brutalized by the criminals he shared the cells with.
TNL recalls that Makolo had asked the Minister of Interior and Chairman, Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board (CDFIPB), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, not to compromise his office by extending the tenure of office of the Comptroller General of Immigration Service (CGIS), Muhammed Babandede, whose statutory tenure came to an end recently.
Makolo, in a 17-paragrapgh letter dated June 25, 2020, said the CDFIPB has no legal powers under the laws of Nigeria to recommend or extend the statutory tenure of any public servant in the same capacity, no matter and however industrious such officer may be.
According to him, “Babandede’s tenure as a public servant, employed by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 1985 to work as an Immigration Officer, has come to an end and his further stay in that office is arbitrary, immoral, wrongful and unlawful.”
He noted that the practice of extending the statutory tenure of office of any public officer is counter-productive, demoralizing and detrimental to the career progression of officers in public service, with dangerous consequences.
“Mr. Muhammed Babandede should and must proceed on his pre-retirement leave immediately like all other Nigerian civil servants employed at the same time, by the same organization, under the same condition of service like him as public servants in 1985.
“Whatever action taken in office after the 13th day of June 2020 by Mr. Muhammed Babandede is null and void; not even the deployment of his driver or any of his personal staff. Any like action is arbitrary, illegal, null and void in the eyes of our laws in Nigeria today,” Makolo argued.
He prayed the Minister to order Babandede to proceed on his pre-retirement leave forthwith and nullify any action taken by him after June 13, 2020.
“Honourable Minister Sir, your failure to abide by the constitutional provisions and the Public Service Rules of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, regarding the continuous stay in office, especially of Mr. Muhammed Babandede, CGIS, will compel us to seek a legal interpretation of this illegality without further recourse to you.
“Honourable Minister Sir, your past antecedent speaks volumes about you. Herein, remember that, you are appointed as a Minister of the Federation of Nigeria with the responsibility to administer the business of the government of the Federation in the Ministry of Interior assigned to you by the democratically elected President of the Federation of Nigeria.
“Also remember that, you were given the supreme and binding law; the constitution, to guide you for the purposes of promoting the good government and welfare of all persons in our country without discrimination on the principles of Freedom, Equality and Justice and for the purpose of consolidating the unity of all authorities and persons throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the lawyer wrote.
Copies of the letter were also sent to the Director/ Secretary, Federal Ministry of Interior; Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service; Head of Service of the Federation; Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission; Mr. Mohammed Babandede and the National Security Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari.
From Bama to Brass, Nigeria has millions of children and youths roaming the streets of every town, village and community. You see them at traffic lights struggling to clean windscreens that have wipers, or plainly begging for a little money to feed.
They are around motor parks, markets, city centres, or wherever else takes their fancy, milling around aimlessly, hopelessly, and sometimes menacingly. They invade our ceremonies looking for food to eat, pockets to pick and so on. They are known to perpetually patronize or break into pharmacy stores, for cough syrups, and whatever gives them momentary highs and escapes. They also find these escapes in dangerously unhealthy substances. They are almost always fingered in criminal activities such as thefts, kidnappings, rapes, killings among others.
They are obviously a ready source of manpower for militants and terrorist groups such boko haram and ISWAP, which we hear is making some inroads into Nigeria.
We all see them, and know that they constitute social and security challenges for us. Many of us fear that they are a time bomb just waiting to explode, with consequences that will certainly devastate Nigeria.
These youths are (mostly) Nigerians, from our communities, villages, towns and cities. Many of them are brilliant and gifted children who have are helpless because they come from underprivileged backgrounds. They hate their stations in life, and hate even more, the choice options life throws at them. Many of them nurse hopes for change of fortunes. They have dreams and aspirations that die a little with each passing day until they are completely dashed, and then they turn to crime. They are children of our relatives, neighbours and fellow citizens.
Yet we are all largely looking away. Our religious bodies that preach peace and love largely look away, preferring to profiteer from phantom promises for those who can pay.
The Government that should take care of these youths, even if it is just to nip crime in the bud and forestall the eminent danger that they portend, has also chosen to turn a blind eye to this situation.
But can we afford to ignore these youths, their situation or the consequences of a huge population of unemployed, uneducated, disenchanted youths? I don’t think so.
As individuals, groups and as a country, we must take action.
As individuals, we must give thought to these youths. Adopting and training one in your neighbourhood, is minus one street kid. It also makes you and your neighbourhood safer.
Our religious bodies must live their message of love by lending a helping hand in this situation. They can rehabilitate and empower some of them with skills, and engage them in appropriate paying jobs when and where they have openings.
The Government must act. In fact, it is obligated to act. And it has the instrument or organ that can take ownership of the situation and initiate steps to mitigate it. The Government has a Ministry of Youths and Sports. If a situation such as this, does not pre-occupy the youths component of that Ministry, then what would?
Let us agree that government cannot afford to rehabilitate and give all these youths free education. Indeed not all of us will have the benefit of formal education, especially college education. (Though the exceptionally brilliant ones could be assisted to attain formal education anyway) But these youths can be taken off the streets and empowered with functional skills in diverse areas.
Though the structures which should anchor the skills training, the technical schools that produced great artisans and craftsmen in Nigeria are almost moribund now (Subject for another day), empowering these youths for gainful purposes is a proactive step that must be taken. And it will be a win-win situation for all.
The country will have needed manpower at various segments of the agribusiness chain, skilled artisans, (so that rich Nigerians will no longer have to bring in masons, carpenters and other craftsmen from neighbouring countries), technicians to service our increasingly technology dependent world, etc. In fact, they will become responsible, productive citizens, useful to themselves and the country. On the other hand, there will be a dramatic drop in our crime rate, the manpower warehouse for terrorists organisations will run dry, and whatever future danger we fear they could bring upon the country will be averted. Whatever we do, ignoring the situation is not an option.
▪︎ Ms. Adamu, based in Lafia, sent this piece via WhatsApp
The story of Fabian Obioha, 60, and his family, from Ogamma Awara Ohaji in Egbema local government area of Imo State, reads like that of Pablo Escobar, the ruthless Colombian drug lord of the notorious Medellin cocaine cartel whose entire family – wife, son and daughter – were said to be involved in the illicit drug trade until the long arm of the law caught up with them.
In Obioha’s case, it is not the drug but kidnapping that is the source of their inspiration. Himself, his wife, sons, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, just name it, are all united by this criminal enterprise.
In fact, never in the history of kidnapping either in Nigeria or in the wider world has a whole family been so deeply involved and so united by one criminal trade! From the letter “M” standing for the man, the patriarch of the family, to the letter “I” standing for his in-laws, kidnapping seems to be one opium from which a long line of his offspring and descendants had refused to be weaned, no matter what law enforcement and anti-crime strategy that was applied to make them do so.
Kidnapping runs in their blood
But like in all criminal cases, whatever has a beginning always ends up having an end. For Obioha’s family, the beginning of the end started for their criminal career when his first son, David, was arrested, charged to court, tried and sentenced to prison. At the moment, he is serving out his term at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos.
Not long after his incarceration, his immediate younger brother, 28, picked up the gauntlet. Having learned fairly well from David, the rope of kidnapping, the intrigues and intricacies involved, and armed with sophisticated guns, arms and ammunition, a bit of luck, charms and prayers, Ebenezer and his gang went into it headlong. In their outings, they terrorized residents of Imo, Abia, Rivers, Ebonyi, Anambra and Enugu states at will and with uncanny impunity. Facts unearthed by police investigations so far about their criminal activities are said to be mind-boggling.
The organised gang
Revelations from the police show that the gang is well-organised. While Ebenezer and members of his gang roamed the streets seeking whom to kidnap and ask for huge sum of ransom from, thereafter, his father, Fabian, and mother, Happiness, served as their armourers, who kept their weapons from time to time, to stave off suspicion and prying eyes. The arrangement was such that their weapons for operations were never kept in one place or in one basket at the same time. Their calculation was that if some of them were confiscated at any given time, they could still have some left with which to continue their operations until they are back into shape, arms and ammunition-wise, one way or the other.
Fabian’s younger son Victor, 18, served as their most trusted and dutiful courier who helped to transport the arms and ammunition from one place to another, without raising eyebrows. Ogechi, Ebenezer’s wife served as their accountant and cashier who collected, kept and distributed the ransom cash, according to directives given to her. Kennedy Okwuonu, their son-in-law, provided the gang with the hard drug as well as other logistics.https://www.youtube.com/embed/Th4qAkjSEX8?autoplay=1&controls=1
Besides these are other characters who played one or two roles to oil the wheel of the criminal enterprise and kept it going. They include Pastor Caleb Agu, said to be the “spiritual director” of the gang. He provided them with prayers, luck charms and “bulletproof” that make it difficult for bullets to penetrate their bodies whenever they were shot at by the police or other law enforcement agents, during a shootout. One of the suspects who simply identified himself as Ikechukwu Njoku and “a protocol officer” to Pastor Agu said he used his motorbike to convey victims to pick up points while another suspect, Chief Andrew Okweregbuwa provided his ash-coloured RX300 Jeep for all the operations.
The police raid that ended their career
But they were all rounded up recently when a security operation led by Linus Nwaiwu (Superintendent of Police) and Commander of Imo State’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad burst the kidnap gang’s activities. The Igbo say that what a bird sang while it was out there in the air enjoying its freedom is not what it will sing when it is caged in captivity. So, it is with Ebenezer and his gang. Now in police custody, following the raid and arrest, and under investigations, they have all began to sing like canary, to explain how culpable or otherwise they are in the things they are being accused of.
The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Isaac Akinmoyede told Saturday Sun that Ebenezer and his gang members kidnapped over 40 victims in the course of their criminal career said to have spanned about two years. Some of their victims include Dr Lewis Nonye Obodo, 50, of Mgbala Agwa Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State; Inspector Oscar Mbaeri, 40, of Agwa Oguta LGA, Imo State; Chigozirrn Festus Nneji, 39, of Egwelu Atta Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State; Anyanwu Amarachi, 30, of No. 76 Lobo Street Owerri, and Desmond Okonkwo, 38, of Nnempi Oru West Local Government Area of Imo State.
He explained that they came forward to identify the notorious kidnapper, after he was arrested by Nwaiwu and his operatives, on July 28, 2020, in his house in Owerri. During the operation, the operatives recovered N4.2 million cash from him and his wife, right in their house. They also recovered four AK-47 rifles, 120 rounds of 7.6mm live ammunition, and Lexus 330 SUV with Reg No EDO URM 404 EL. One of the most celebrated of the cases in which they were involved was the killing of a Nigerian Drug and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) officer in Imo State, Uwakwe Celestine Amauche Chukwu, 34, on May 15, 2020. They gunned him down in cold-blood and severely wounded his colleague, during a shootout.
But when operatives stormed their camp located in a thick forest in Omoku, Rivers State, they recovered the gun snatched from the slain NDLEA officer. In all, the hull of recovered arms includes four AK-47 rifles, one light assault rifle (LAR) and one submachine gun belonging to NDLEA. They reportedly combed the forest for four days and it led to the arrest of the other gang members.
Ebenezer’s account of involvement
In a chat with Saturday Sun, Ebenezer said: “I attended Central School Awara, I dropped out in Primary 3. Thereafter I learnt electrical work. My elder brother, David, was an armed robber/kidnapper. I joined his gang until he was arrested in Lagos State. He is currently serving prison terms at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison. He handed over the leadership to me and I formed my own gang and served as the operational commander and an executor for the gang. I started operation in September 2019. Since then, I have kidnapped over 40 victims.
“I kidnapped victims even on Sundays. On May 13, 2020, we kidnapped two victims, husband and wife at Amakohia flyover in Owerri. The wife raised alarm. At Orji road junction, we saw two NDLEA officials. I killed one of them and seriously injured the other. He dropped his gun and ran. We carted away the rifles – a submachine gun and one light assault rifle. We escaped with the kidnapped couple and took them to our camp. We collected N1.8m ransom.”
On how his wife, Ogechi, got involved in the kidnapping business, he said: “I got married to my wife, a graduate, by lying to her that I am a banker and oil dealer. It was in April 2020 that my wife discovered that I am a kidnapper. All the same, she joined me in the operation. The ransom we collected from victims ranged from N1.5m to N3m. It was my wife’s duty to come to our camp in Omoku to collect the ransom and share the money to my gang members and use the remaining for our capital projects. We are building a house in Awara Ohaji in Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.
“My father, Fabian, is my armourer who kept for me some of my AK-47 rifles. Any time, I went to the village, I do give him between N20, 000 and N30, 000. My younger brother Victor, always receives two guns to take to the village and he would hand them over to my mother, Happiness, who was also my arms keeper.”
The chat swings to the role of Pastor Agu and he confessed that he always prayed for them whenever they went for operations. “He gives us drinks to take in his shrine and after taking the water drawn from his shrine, no bullet would penetrate us. Whenever we collected any ransom like N7 million, the Pastor would come to our camp to collect his share – sometimes N500, 000 and sometimes N900, 000, depending on the amount of money we collected from victims. Pastor Caleb visited us at Omoku to motivate and give us some charms to help us overcome our enemies. I was arrested when operatives stormed my house at Work Layout, Owerri. They arrested me and my wife who is currently seven months pregnant. I have confessed to police detectives my criminal activities in various states.”
His wife’s account of participation
His wife, Ogechi, 30, took over the narrative as she told Saturday Sun her life history: “I attended Community Primary School, Naze, and from there proceeded to Community Secondary School, Naze in 2009. I read Accounting at Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri, Imo State. I graduated in 2018. But for COVID-19, I was supposed to go for NYSC in August 2020. I met my husband, Ebenezer and we had courtship for about two months. We got married in 2019. He told me that he was a banker and also engaged in oil deals. I didn’t know he is a kidnapper until April this year when I listened carefully during his discussion with his gang members. I confronted him afterwards. I moved my luggage out of his house and went to stay in my sister’s place in Owerri. I didn’t tell my parents what I was passing through. He came and pleaded with me and my sisters. I am already pregnant for him. I moved back to the house and we started living as husband and wife.https://www.youtube.com/embed/KDb6_tU7f-4?autoplay=1&controls=1
“I didn’t inform my father-in-law too that his son is a kidnapper. But I didn’t know that everybody in my husband’s family is a kidnapper until we were all arrested on July 28, 2020. It was a big shame for me. I cannot even understand the mystery of life. I started to visit my husband in the camp at Omoku in Rivers State and collected ransoms like N2m, N3m, N7m and shared the money to other gang members and used the remainder to continue the project we are doing in our village My husband spends two weeks and sometimes, two months in the camp at Omoku depending on the activities going on.”
Giving further insight into her life, she said: “I attend Winners Chapel on Port-Harcourt Road, Owerri. I am a protocol officer/usher. I hail from Ogamma Awara Ohaji Egbema. I listen to the word of God in church. I never thought my husband and I can be arrested, until July 28, when we were both arrested in the house. I am seven-months pregnant.”
A father’s part in the infamy
Fabian, said: “I am a farmer by profession. I have eight children, my first son, David, is an armed robber and a kidnapper. But he is currently in Kirikiri Prison, Lagos. My second son, Ebenezer is a kidnapper who always keeps his AK-47rifles in my custody. My wife, Happiness, also keeps guns for my son. He used to give us N20, 000, N30, 000 depending on his capacity. My fourth son Victor, is an errand boy who collects the gun from Ebenezer and brings it to the village for my wife to keep. Police detectives arrested and recovered from us some rifles which prompted my wife to run away from the house. It a shame that all my family members are kidnappers including, my daughter-in-law. We thought we were enjoying the money until we were arrested.”
How I became a gun courier – younger brother
Victor, 18, said: “I attended Central School, Awara, and proceeded to Great King and Queen International School, Orji, Owerri. I am in JSS3. It was my brother, Ebenezer who is sponsoring my education. I know that he is a kidnapper. He always gave me AK-47 rifles to take to the village and I usually hand them over to my mother to keep for him.”
Agu, 42, the “anointed” Pastor, told Saturday Sun: “I hail from Umuoni Agwa in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State. I am the Founder of Excellent Jesus Ministry. I attended Umuoni Primary School and later proceeded to Agwa Secondary School. I attended School of Theology but I didn’t finish. I am a prayer warrior. I met and knew Ebenezer where he used to sell Indian hemp and one day he told me that his business was not making much progress. I prayed for him. Later, I got to know that he is a kidnapper. I became his spiritual leader and director of the gang.
“I do visit them in their camp in Rivers State. I used to pray for them and often go there to collect my own share of ransom; sometimes N350, 000, N900, 000 or N700, 000. I do give them charms and hot drinks to take so that whenever policemen shot at them, they would not die. I always took them to my shrine inside my church where I live and do some incantations for them to succeed. Immediately they come back after the operation I would collect my own share. My wife, Favour, is an evangelist in the Apostolic Church in Anambra State. I have seven children.”
But he narrowly escaped death when the youths of his area got to learn about his true identity, a man they had supposed to be a man of God and respected as such. “The youths in Agwa wanted to mob me when the Anti-Kidnapping operatives arrested me in my shrine,” he said. “They know me as a pastor; it was when the youths learnt that I am part of the kidnappers that they became angry.”
More suspects’ confessions
Another suspect, Ikechukwu Njoku, said: “I am the protocol officer and a boy to Pastor Caleb Agu. I used to “bike” (transport) victims through the track road to the point of pick-up at the creek. I didn’t know Pastor Caleb was a member of the kidnap gang until he sent me to give fuel to Ebenezer and his gang members. That time they were stranded along Port-Harcourt Road, with kidnapped victims inside their car. I gave them the fuel and it was that day that I knew that Pastor Caleb is a member of the gang. He didn’t give me kobo (a dime).”
Kennedy Okwuonu, 40, who hails from Onicha in Obingwa Local Government Atea of Abia State explained: “I am Ebenezer’s-in-law. I do provide the gang with hard drugs as well as other logistics at the camp in Omoku, Rivers State.”
Victims’ accounts of ordeals
All said and done, people, especially the victims, are happy, that, at last, nemesis has caught up with this gang which once made their lives miserable. In interactions with Saturday Sun, they heaved a sigh of relief at the development. When our reporter visited the NDLEA office in Owerri and spoke with its state commander, Mr Jack Inam, he did not hide this fact: “I and the entire command are in happy mood over the arrest of the killer of our staff. He was killed on May 15, 2020, during an official assignment with the Imo State “Operation Search and Flush” team. He was killed by Ebenezer and his gang members. When the incident happened, I visited the Commissioner of Police, Mr Isaac Akinmoyede. He gave me the assurance that they would arrest the perpetrators.
“On July 28, 2020, the members who were arrested confessed to having killed an NDLEA official during their operation. The Anti-kidnapping Commander and his operatives recovered the officers’ rifles from them. I realized that the death of my gallant officer was not in vain. I want to thank the Nigerian Police. We will continue to partner them, being the mother of all the security agencies. The deceased officer was buried on June 13, 2020, in Enugu Ezike, Igbo Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State. We are grateful to God.”
A kidnap victim, Dr Lewis Nonye Obodo, 50, who hails from Mgbala Agwa Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State is also happy over their arrest. His testimony: “I attended Central School for my primary school education, Holy Ghost Juniorate, Ihiala, for my secondary school and Abia State University Uturu, for my university education. I graduated in 1996 in Optometry. I am an accomplished medical practitioner, businessman, politician and philanthropist. At present, I am on the governing board of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
“On July 19, 2020, I was kidnapped at the inland Road Akanchawa at about 7:45pm. I was in the company of friends when we ran into the kidnappers. They shot into the air to scare away people and used the opportunity to kidnap me and my friends. They took us to an unknown destination. After we got to their camp, they tied me up and beat me to the state of coma. It was Ebenezer and his gang members that kidnapped us. They started calling my relations to bring two hundred thousand dollars. Later they insisted on them bringing the money in naira. They collected N7.5 million from my relations. They picked up the money in the bush where they asked them to drop it. They threatened to kill me. I spent nine days in their captivity. I was panicking as to whether I would be allowed to come out alive after the ransom had been paid. But as God would have it, they later released me.”
Saturday Sun gathered that Ebenezer and his gang members had been terrorizing people for some time now. At a time, their activities prompted the immediate past governor of Imo State, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, to launch “Operation Iron Gate” to go after them. But when Governor Hope Uzodinma came in, he gave a marching order to the Commissioner of Police, Mr Isaac Akinmoyede, to go after the kidnappers. It was Operation ‘Search and Flush” which was launched after the marching order that led to the arrest of the notorious gang which will soon be charged to court after the police investigation.
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