DATA gleaned from Dubai’s land registry has helped unveil prominent Nigerian investors, especially politicians, senior government officials, businessmen and their families who are currently taking a slice of Dubai’s lucrative real estate market.
The list features notable Nigerians such as Mike Ozekhome, SAN, a lawyer and human rights activist, and James Ebiowou Manager, a senator in the 9th Assembly currently serving his 5th term.
A trove of data obtained by the The ICIR from the Center for Advanced Defense Studies, C4ADS, a US-based nonprofit, also showed that over 800 Dubai properties estimated at N146 billion are linked to Nigerians.
This amount could fund two-thirds of the Nigerian Army’s annual budget and is three times more than the annual budget of the country’s electoral body the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, according to a Carnegie report.
Mike Ozekhome, SAN
In 1987, Ozekhome co-founded the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), arguably the first human rights organisation in Nigeria, where he was the pioneer director of Legal Services and member of its governing board.
Records by The ICIR show that Ozekhome owns three apartments/flats at the Lago Vista C, one of the three residential tower buildings in the Lago Vista complex, and located in Dubai Production City.
A standard studio flat for rent at Lago Vista costs between $8,167 to $10,890 per annum while a 2-bedroom apartment is available for rent at $17,696 annually, according to Bayut, an apartment rental agency based in Dubai.
Ozekhome built his reputation as a human rights lawyer, having worked with the late Gani Fawehinmi, who was branded as the “Peoples Lawyer”, first as a junior counsel before rising through the ranks as a senior counsel and to the Deputy Head of Chambers of Gani Fawehinmi, Chambers.
In 2010, he was one of 19 senior legal practitioners conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, but his astute reputation as an activist lawyer suffered a blow when he started representing politically exposed persons who were being prosecuted by Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies.
Ozekhome is a counsel to former First Lady, Patience Jonathan, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and Ayodele Fayose, former Governor of Ekiti State, all who have faced corruption charges in court.
In 2018, protesters mobbed Ozekhome and tried to stop him from mounting the podium to speak at the 14th Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture as they accused him of defending corrupt individuals in court and shielding them from justice.
James Ebiowou Manager
In 2003, Manager was first elected to the Senate on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, representing Delta South Senatorial District where he was appointed to the Works Committee, Niger Delta Committee, Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters Committee.
He has been re-elected for four terms consecutively since then. However, Manager’s name was also listed as a property owner in Dubai, which has been referred to as the ‘Money Laundering Paradise’ according to a published C4ADS report named Sandcastles.
Manager was listed to be the owner of two apartments/flats at the First Central Hotel, Dubai, reputed to be equipped with 524 modern apartments that boast contemporary finishes and an enticing cosy ambience which was stated on the hotel’s website.
In May 2009, he raised the issue of the damage caused by the continued military bombardment of communities in the oil-rich Gbaramatu clan, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, leading to a senate resolution urging the Committee on Defence and Army to take action.
Osita Ben Chidoka and wife, Chidinma Imaga Chidoka
Chidoka was appointed Corps Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, in 2007 where he spearheaded the agency’s good fortunes until he was appointed Minister of Aviation in July 2014 by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The ICIR records show that Chidoka owns two apartments/flats at Azizi Feirouz, a mid-rise residential building by Azizi Developments in Al Furjan, Dubai.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2018 questioned Chidoka over his alleged involvement in a N3.9 billion fraud where part of the contract sum was fraudulently diverted to shady companies rather than to execute the project under his watch as a minister.
Investigations by the anti graft agency revealed that various payments were made to the former minister and some of his family members, including his younger brother, Obinna Chidoka, who is a member of the House of Representatives.
Chidoka was also accused of diverting part of the contract sum for the use of the company and his cronies rather than the execution of the project.
Chidinma is currently the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of Images Nigeria, a photography agency where, according to her LinkedIn Page, she leads a dynamic team who “love the idea of taking a story, retelling it in pictures and making it part of history”.
A lawyer, she graduated from the University of Ibadan and the Nigerian Law School before delving into the business after her study at the Harvard Business School.
Osita Responds
In an interview with The ICIR, Chidoka explained that he did not buy the properties while he was in office.
“I started the project with my partners in 2015 and completed it in 2018 after I had left office. It was our desire to hedge foreign exchange fall that we had anticipated,” he said.
“I don’t mind the story because the properties were bought in my name and my wife’s name but your story has to be factually correct. I would have provided definitive proof of the land documents but I am currently out of the country. If I can’t get them I’ll refer you to Dubai’s registry which is open to the public,” he said.
The former minister also told The ICIR that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had wrongfully invited him for questions in 2018 because he did not play any role in the disbursement of the alleged sum of N3.9 billion fraudulently diverted by the aviation ministry to shady companies.
“I went to the office of the EFCC because I was invited, the case was dismissed because I was not in office when the monies were disbursed. In 2015, while I was leaving office because we didn’t win the election I put every contract on hold until my successor took office, so I was not charged to court by the EFFC neither was I detained,” he said.
He said he voluntarily presented himself to the EFCC for interrogation after he was invited by the anti-graft agency for his alleged involvement with the procurement and installation of sensitive security cameras/ infrastructure in five international airports.
NOTE: The ICIR previously reported that Chidoka and his wife own six properties. A further check revealed that the couple only owns two-properties on the third and the tenth floor at Azizi Feirouz building, Dubai.
Ozekhome owns three, not seven properties while Manager owns two, and not four properties.
The error is regretted.
Chikwe Iheakwazu, the director-general of the NCDC, stated this while speaking at the weekly briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 in Abuja on Monday.
While stating that the new variant dubbed B.1.525 was first discovered in a sample collected on November 23 from a patient in Lagos State, he added that it has only been found in fewer countries.
Iheakwazu also stated that it has not been classified as a variant of concern.
“So far, this has been detected among cases in five states in Nigeria. B.1.525 cases have also been reported in other countries in travellers from Nigeria,” he said.
“The ‘B.1.525 is yet to be classified as a variant of concern until it is associated with any significant clinical impact.”
He said Nigeria is scaling up its sequencing capacity to help it understand the ongoing transmission of the new variants.
He said about 100 samples will be sent to the Africa Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), at the Redeemers University in Ede, Osun State for sequencing every week.
In December, The United Kingdom variant (B.1.1.7) of the virus announced in September was reportedly discovered in Nigeria by scientists at the Africa Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), at the Redeemers University in Ede, Osun state.
Reacting, Iheakwazu said Nigeria has now confirmed 54 cases of the variant within its borders.
He noted that scientists are monitoring the strain to understand its circulation rates in the country.
“We have confirmed 54 cases of the B.1.1.7 COVID-19 variant between November 2020 and February 2021,” He said.
“That is a significant number out of the 400 we have sequenced since the beginning of the outbreak.”
The NCDC boss urged the public to continue to adhere to all non-pharmaceutical measures put in place to limit the spread of the virus.
“While sequencing is important for us to understand the situation, handwashing, physical distancing and the proper use of face masks are very important to prevent the spread of the virus.”
Since its outbreak, Nigeria has recorded over 150,000 COVID-19 cases and over 1,800 deaths with 129,391 recoveries from the virus.
THE Kwara State government has said that the 10 schools involved in Muslim headgear controversy are to remain shut until further notice.
According to NAN, the directive was contained in a statement signed by Mamman Jibril, secretary to the state government, on Monday.
Jibril said the schools were to remain shut until the government concluded and made its position known to the public.
The affected schools were: Cherubim and Seraphim (C&S) College, Sabo Oke; St. Anthony College, Offa Road; ECWA School, Oja Iya; Surulere Baptist Secondary School, and Bishop Smith Secondary School, Agba Dam.
Others are Christ Apostolic Church Secondary School, Asa Dam; St. Barnabas Secondary School, Sabo Oke; St. John School, Maraba; St. Williams Secondary School, Taiwo Isale; and St. James Secondary School, Maraba.
He added that the official pronouncement of the Kwara State government was likely to be made known this week.
“The government urges parents, officials and authorities at the affected schools to maintain peace and avoid making comments or doing anything that could cause further misunderstanding and heat up the polity,” Jibril said.
The Kwara State government had Friday directed the immediate closure of some missionary schools in Ilorin pending the resolution of issues surrounding the use of Muslim headgear, otherwise known as Hijab, in the schools.
Kemi Adeosun, permanent secretary, Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, said a government committee comprising of Muslima and Christians had met Friday towards resolving the matter.
“Government calls for calm and urges parents and religious leaders to avoid actions or comments that may further split the two communities,’’ Adeosun stated.
A video seen by The ICIR shows how some students in uniforms and hijab were prevented from entering the school premises.
Victor Dada, proprietor of Baptist Senior Secondary School, Surulere, said the use of the Hijab would not be allowed because it was a missionary school.
“It is not a matter about this morning alone, it is a matter of about two to three days ago. They said that Muslim students in our school must wear Hijab, we made it clear that that is not possible because this is a mission school,” Dada said.
He added that although the school was run by the government, the Baptist owned it and whatever was not in line with the principle of the Baptist church would not be allowed.
A civil society organisation, Media Rights Agenda (MRA), has called on Abubakar Sani Bello, Niger State governor, to investigate reports that his chief press secretary, Mary Noel-Barje, ordered the arrest of Adebayo Ayinde, a reporter with The Punch.
This is contained in a statement signed by Segun Fatuase, MRA’s project director, and made available to The ICIR on Monday.
According to MRA, Noel-Barje also directed security personnel to bar the journalist from the Niger State Government House for undisclosed reasons.
MRA charged the governor to immediately relieve Noel-Barje of her office if it was established that she engaged in using law enforcement agents to intimidate, harass and prevent the journalist from carrying out his professional duties.
The group said Noel-Barje was also harassing other journalists and antagonising the Government House Press Corps instead of supporting them and facilitating their work of giving effective coverage to the programmes and activities of the state government.
“It is obvious that she is not serving the best interest of the Governor or the State Government but pursuing other agendas that are clearly inimical to government’s success,” the statement read in part.
The group further said that Noel-Barje was reported to have sent The PUNCH correspondent’s pictures to some security men in the state and instructed security operatives at the government house to bar him from entering the premises.
MRA noted that security men at the government house confirmed that the chief press secretary had told them to arrest Ayinde but did not provide any reason for the directive.
“It is certainly not the role or function of a Chief Press Secretary, who should facilitate good relations between the government she is serving and the media, to be ordering the arrest of journalists or obstructing the performance of their professional duties.
“It is apparent from her actions that Ms Noel-Barje either does not know her job or is too incompetent to carry out her duties properly,” Fatuse added.
The Punch had reported that its journalist was harassed by Noel-Barje in an attempt to ‘coerce’ him into writing stories from her point of view.
Ayinde, who is a Niger State House correspondent, told The Punch that one of the security operatives attempted to evacuate him from the government house.
“The man beckoned on me and when I approached him, he wanted to take me out of the government house. He said I must follow him. When other colleagues saw his move, they rallied around and insisted that I would not follow him.
“It was during the argument that we got to know that the CPS told the security aide to arrest me. Many of the security officers confirmed it,” said Ayinde.
THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Stephen Oshinowo, former executive secretary of Lagos State Scholarship Board, for an alleged 127 million naira fraud.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), he was arraigned on Thursday on an amended eight-count charge brought before Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offences Court sitting in the Ikeja area of Lagos.
In one of the counts, Oshinowo was alleged to have converted the sum of 30 million naira belonging to the state government.
“That you, Stephen Osinowo, sometime in 2018, in Lagos and within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a civil servant, dishonourably converted to the use of Oshinowo Adenike the total sum of N30 million (Thirty Million Naira), property of Lagos State Board,” the count read,
“That you, Stephen Oshinowo, between 8th day of February, 2016 and 30th day of December in Lagos and within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being the Secretary of Lagos State Scholarship Board, dishonestly converted to your own use, through Julikam International Limited, the sum of N39, 934,919 (Thirty -nine Million Nine Hundred and Thirty-four Thousand Nine Hundred and Nineteen Naira) property of Lagos State Board,” another count read.
The EFFC said its investigation showed that Oshinowo, at various times, allegedly diverted, to his personal use, the sum of 127.164 million naira meant for the board.
The charge was read to the defendant and he pleaded “not guilty.”
In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Usman Buhari, asked the court for a trial date and prayed that the defendant be remanded.
The defence counsel, Lawal Pedro, on his part, urged the court to grant a short adjournment to enable it hear the bail application of his client.
The judge thereafter adjourned until Friday for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in the EFCC custody.
ROCHAS Okorocha, incumbent senator representing Imo North and former governor of Imo State, was arrested by the police on Sunday for allegedly trying to unseal Royal Spring Palm Hotel in Owerri, the state capital. The ICIR takes a look at the issues surrounding his arrest and release.
In a viral video that surfaced online Sunday, the two-term governor was seen being led into a police van at his wife’s hotel in Owerri. The sealed property, Royal Spring Palm Estate, is said to be owned by Okorocha’s wife.
Okorocha was said to have breached the government’s directive by “forcefully breaking into the property alongside some thugs.”
After the former governor was taken to Imo State Police Command, he was eventually released but could be charged to court over breach of government directive.
Confirming the arrest, Orlando Ikeokwu, police public relations officer, said the command received a distress call from residents of the community.
“We discovered that Senator Okorocha allegedly led some people to the place sealed by the state government. This generated unrest and some youths from Owerri stormed the place,” Ikeokwu said.
“Right now, he is in our custody and the commissioner of police has directed a full-scale investigation into the incident.
“If found culpable, he would be prosecuted according to the provision of the law,” he said.
Okorocha, while addressing his supporters at the Imo State Police headquarters, Owerri, said he was released after the Presidency intervened in the matter.
“They kept me there (police headquarters) and about 11:30 pm they asked me to go. I want to thank the Presidency for intervening in the matter. Governor Hope Uzodinma should not take my peaceful disposition for granted.
“He should remember that he will not be remembered by how many people he fought, but by how many projects he built.”
Enyinnaya Onuegbu, Imo State commissioner for lands, had sealed the Royal Spring Palm Estate in compliance with a government directive on the recovery of public property and land.
Okorocha, Alleged Corruption
A probe panel set up by the short-term governor of the state, Emeka Ihedioha, to investigate the treasury of Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC) had indicted Okorocha of spending the state’s money on vehicles and campaigns.
This is contained in the report of the panel chaired by Romanus Ezeogu which disclosed that the senator also used ISOPADEC’s fund for campaign activities. The report also alleged that the senator diverted over 311 billion naira allocated to ISOPADEC from the bailout fund, Paris Club refund, local governments’ joint labour salary/pension, and Secondary Education Management Board Account, among others.
Two other commissioners who served under Okorocha, now members of the House of Representatives, Chike Okafor and Paschal Obi, were also indicted for misappropriation of the ISOPADEC’s fund.
It could also be recalled that the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had said it was investigating Okorocha after the end of his tenure as governor of the state.
Some Imo citizens accuse Okorocha of forcefully taking over private property without compensation and converting public property to personal use.
Former commissioner for information and strategy under Emeka Ihedioha, Declan Emelumba, had accused Okorocha of forcefully taking over people’s property, stressing that many of his victims would like him thrown into jail.
THE Lagos State government has introduced a verification mobile platform to validate the authenticity of COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests done within the private laboratory consortium and all state public laboratories for outbound flights.
This was contained in a statement issued by Akin Abayomi, state’s commissioner of health, on Sunday.
The statement, which was seen by The ICIR, stated that the platform could be accessed through an app and the use of unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) codes.
The USSD option, available on all networks in Nigeria, could also be accessed outside of Nigeria as long as the mobile line was on a Nigerian telecommunications network, the statement said.
“The USSD option can be accessed by dialling 3513119# on the 9mobile network and 5550019# on all other networks and following the onscreen prompts to verify results. The first 30,000 result verification will be free – courtesy of the Lagos State Government. Subsequent verification will attract N50 per usage for the user/client.
“The Lagos State COVID-19 Result Verification App can be downloaded through Google Store, Apple Store or directly through the internet, using the link.
“It will utilise the laboratory reference number to verify the COVID-19 PCR test, validating the result real-time and passengers can download their result sheets, which can be shown to anyone requiring it.
“The App version can be used and accessed within and outside of Nigeria but unlike the USSD, does not require a Nigerian telecommunications network,” the statement noted.
“It is available once it is downloaded and the internet is available. It is noteworthy to mention that verification through the app is free at all times.
“The process can be used by all clients who require the validation of COVID-19 PCR results, such as Airports, Airlines, Work-related processes and passengers themselves.
“The Lagos State Government would also be placing personnel at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport to assist in the verification process of the COVID-19 PCR results for all outbound passengers.”
“Following the re-opening of the economy, and the airport borders, it has become increasingly necessary for outbound passengers to take COVID-19 PCR tests before departing Nigeria as a prerequisite for travel to specific destinations.
“Unfortunately, some unscrupulous elements have taken advantage of the situation to enrich themselves by falsifying COVID-19 PCR results and selling them to passengers,” it further noted.
The statement added that the state government continued to frown at the falsification of COVID-19 PCR test results, and anyone caught in this illegal practice would be prosecuted.
“The State Government will continue to strengthen its response against this pandemic to protect the lives and livelihood of all Lagosians and residents,” it said.
Additional report by Damilola Ojetunde, Samson Samuel and Isah Abdul Azeez
SOME of the prominent Nigerians found to have owned properties in Dubai, a city in United Arab Emirate (UAE), also include Kanayo Olisa Metuh, the wife of former Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party; Umma Kalsum Turkur Buratai, wife of Tukur Buratai, the immediate Chief of Army State; Ibrahim Jimoh Folorunsho, the chairman and chief executive officer of Global Fleet Group and Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, founder and Pro-chancellor of the Baze University.
The ICIR had earlier published a report about properties belonging to Mustafa Balogun, a former Inspector General of Police, Olisa Metuh, Attahiru Bafarawa, former governor of Sokoto State as well as Orji Uzor Kalu, the former governor of Abia State and senator in the 9th Assembly.
Centre for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS), a US-based nonprofit newsroom, shared a dataset with The ICIR which was first published Saturday, February 20.
Kanayo Olisa Metuh is the wife of the jailed former PDP Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh. She owns two properties including hotel apartments located at Fakhrudeen Hotel Apartment and the Summit in Dubai.
Metuh, her husband was convicted on February 25, 2020, by Okon Abang, a judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Metuh was found guilty among others to have fraudulently received N400 million from the Office of the National Security Adviser in November 2014.
Following a review of the High Court’s judgement by the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, Metuh was discharged of the sentence.
On December 16, 2020, the Appeal ruled set aside the conviction handed down on him by Abang citing bias, without considering the merits in the money laundering case.
He was later sentenced to seven years in jail.
According to the judge, Metuh’s wife was among the recipients of the N400 million taken from the Office of the former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki.
She was reported to have been giving N50 million.
Umma Kalsum Turkur Buratai
Umma Kalsum Turkur Buratai is the wife of the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, lieutenant-general Tukur Buratai.
According to C4ADS’s database, Burataiowns one apartments at Wyndham Hotel Dubai Marina Tfg.
The former COAS in defending his family ownership of luxurious properties in Dubai during an interview with BBC HARDtalk interview with Stephen Sackur in 2017 said his family made an investment in properties in the Middle East city in 2013 after details of the properties became public leading to a scandal surrounding his asset declaration.
According to him, “Substantial property is just an investment, my family do their own private business they should afford to have such property in Dubai.”
When pressed during the interview about the type of property, he said, “The type of property you are talking about is not the ones people are talking about. The property I invested was far back as 2013 before I became the chief of army staff, I never dreamt of becoming the chief of army staff and people are accusing me as if it is today.”
Ibrahim Jimoh Folorunsho
Ibrahim Jimoh Folorunsho is a lawyer, businessman and Chief Executive officer of Global Fleet Oil and Gas Limited.
In November 2020, the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) froze the bank accounts of the controversial businessman and also took over some of his assets over his N69 billion debts.
AMCON took over the properties from the businessman following an order granted by Justice R.M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The properties seized from the businessman by the agency include the building housing NICON Investment Limited at Plot 242, Muhammadu Buhari Way, Central Business District, Abuja; NICON Hotels Limited building at Plot 557, Port-Harcourt Crescent, off Gimbiya Street, Abuja and the building of NICON Lekki Limited also at No. 5, Customs Street, Lagos.
Others are the building of Abuja International Hotels Limited located at No. 3, Hospital Road, Lagos; another property at Plot 242, Muhammadu Buhari Way, Abuja; the former Allied Bank Building on Mile 2, Oshodi Expressway, Apapa Road, Lagos; Energy House located on No. 94, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos; NICON Building at No. 40, Madeira Street, Maitama, Abuja; a residential apartment at Road 2, House A14, Victoria Garden City, Lagos; NICON Hotels Building at Plot 3, Road 3, Victoria Garden City, Lagos as well as the NICON Luxury Hotel’s Building, Garki I, FCT, Abuja.
In response to AMCON action, Jimoh Ibrahim in a press statement alleged that the agency obtained by deceit the interim court order of injunction it got in respect of some properties, majority of which did not belong to him.
He also went to the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court urging it to set aside the order for non-disclosure and misrepresentation of material facts.
He further urged the court to order AMCON to pay N50 billion indemnity for its alleged failure to conduct due diligence before obtaining the said order and for misrepresentation and concealment of fact.
But the Lagos Court in its ruling on the 16th of February, 2021 declined the application to vacate the interim order used by the AMCON to seize the properties belonging to him for an alleged N69.4 billion debts.
The ICIR records show that Ibrahim currently owns 22 apartments/flat, amongst the highest at Ocean Heights in Dubai, UAE capital.
Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed
Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed is a politician, founder of Baze University Abuja and a former member of Nigeria’s National Assembly.
The Kaduna State former house of representative and senate member was also a former staff at the Security Printing and Minting before entering politics.
He was also one of those who opposed Former President Olusegun Obasanjo third term bid agenda at the National Assembly.
According to the records available to The ICIR, Datti owns the highest number of properties at 22.
A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) says President Muhammadu Buhari has abdicated his constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property of Nigerians due to his poor handling of rising insecurity in some parts of the country.
The coalition has also condemned the use of taxpayers’ money to pay ransom to criminal elements terrorising school children in the North-West part of the country.
These were contained in a statement made available by the CSOs to The ICIR on Sunday.
“Nigeria is in dire straits. All over the country, Nigerian citizens, including children, are killed daily by terrorists and criminals as well as in extra-judicial killings by state actors with the government doing little or nothing about it. The government, through the Minister of Defence, has instead callously abdicated its responsibility and called Nigerian citizens ‘cowards’ and urged Nigerians to defend themselves.’
“Kidnapping for ransom has assumed an industrial and deadly scale never witnessed on the African continent. Our children are no longer safe in schools and Nigerian citizens and communities are now pauperised by terrorists who extort huge ransoms while murdering their hostages. We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, what has now become the government’s standard state policy of using taxpayers’ money to pay terrorists thereby funding and encouraging terrorism and criminality,” the CSOs said.
“President Buhari and his government have failed in their primary duty under Section 14 2(b) of the 1999 Constitution which is ensuring the security and welfare of the Nigerian people.”
They alleged that the Buhari’s administration had left Nigerian troops fighting the menace of Boko Haram in the North-East to bear the brunt of his government’s security failures.
“Gross injustices by President Buhari’sgovernment against the Nigerian people such that peaceful protesters are threatened and attacked by the government’s security agents while terrorists carrying out mass murder, rape, maiming and kidnapping of Nigerians including women and children are feted, mollycoddled, granted ‘amnesty’ and paid by the government,” parts of the statement read.
Such actions, according to the statement, “was tantamount to funding and supporting terrorists, encouraging murder and the decimation of Nigeria’s gallant troops and amounts to treason against the Nigerian State and people.”
The statement equally noted that terrorist/herder attacks on unarmed farming communities and reprisal attacks were a result of “government inaction and failure to bring the terrorist herdsmen and their funders to justice.”
While decrying the alarming rate of industrial-scale kidnappings all across the country, extrajudicial killings by state security agents in various forms, inter-ethnic violence, the menace of political cult gangs and ethnic militia, the statement flayed the large-scale terrorist attacks in the North-West, which the government had “irresponsibly tagged as ‘banditry’ in a bid to downplay their criminality.”
The coalition demanded that the president take urgent and immediate steps to remedy the situations by providing political and moral leadership for the security crisis and ensure governmental actions were humane in tandem with Section 17 (2) ( C ) of the Constitution.
It also asked that the Nigeria Police Council (NPC}, established by section 153 of the Constitution, be empowered to administer, organise and supervise the Nigeria Police Force as stated in the amended 1999 Constitution, adding that the NPC should also be called to meet regularly to address the crisis of insecurity in the country.
They called on the president to “end impunity for abuse of power and sectionalism through his appointments by balancing the need for competence with the federal character principle. In this way, he will demonstrate that every part of Nigeria matters as sectional appointments appear to fuel sectional violence.”
While tasking Buhari to mobilise the country’s rich assets to address the insecurity situation across the country and seek international cooperation to ramp up security assets, it stressed that “amnesty for terrorists and abductors should stop. Huge ransom paid to criminal gangs is used to purchase arms and ammunition to attack communities. As security is technology-driven the Government must acquire the necessary equipment to deal with the menace of terrorism, banditry and abduction.”
Also, the coalition asked the president to take responsibility and end the persecution of the media and free speech, both of which were foundations of a democratic state.
In the instance the president failed to uphold his constitutional duties of securing lives, the coalition demanded that “he step aside or the National Assembly should initiate impeachment proceedings against him on grounds of gross misconduct as provided for in Section 143 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Some of the CSOs which signed the statement included the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Centre for Democratic Research and Training (CRDDERT), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Socio-Economic Right and Accountability Project (SERAP), Zero-Corruption Coalition (ZCC), Partners on Electoral Reform, African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), among others.
THE Special Tactical Squad of the Nigerian Police Force Intelligence Bureau (Police FIB) have invited five leaders of Ifon community in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State to Abuja for questioning over alleged criminal conspiracy, mischief, threat to life and attempted kidnapping of a herder.
The leaders arrested include Hon. Olaniyi Eni-Olotu; High chief Ekon; Chief Olijewu; Hon. Saliu Omotosho and the chief hunter.
But the accused, through their solicitors, Olowolafe & Co, are asking Adamu Mohammed, inspector-general of police (IGP), to quash the invitation.
The law firm argued that the matter for which its clients were invited in Abuja could be addressed by Ondo State Police Command.
It also wondered why that the police could not invite any suspect to Abuja over the killing of Israel Adeusi, monarch of the community, who was killed by gunmen while returning from a meeting of Council of Traditional Rulers in the state on November 26, 2020, but decided to focus on the community leaders on allegations of conspiracy, mischief, threat to life and attempted kidnapping.
The five chiefs had been initially accused of being involved in the killing of a cow belonging to the herder at Ifon Divisional Police Headquarters on January 6, 2021, before the allegation metamorphosed into the fresh charges.
In a letter dated 19th February, 2021, and addressed to the IGP, the firm said it had obtained the authorisation of its clients to challenge the invitation in court, should Adamu fail to stop it.
President Muhammadu Buhari and Rotimi Akerodolu, governor of Ondo State, were copied in the letter, seen by The ICIR.
Picture of a herder and his cattle used to illustrate the story. Source: Aljazeera
All the five leaders are to report in Abuja on 15th March , 2021 by 10am, according to the police.
The Abuja-based firm said there was a divisional police station in Ifon community (which had been handling the matter), and that if the police at that level felt the case was ‘too sophisticated for them,’ they could refer it to police headquarters in the state, and not Abuja.
The letter titled “RE: OLANIYI OLOTU & 4 OTHER COMMUNITY LEADER (INVITATION TO POLICE) chronicled the incidents leading to the summons.
According to the firm, a herdsman by name Abdullahi, had, on 6th January, 2021, reported that his cow was killed at the Ifon Police Station.
“It was in the course of police investigating this allegation of killing Abdullahi’s cow that our clients who are now being invited by the police were first invited by the police in connection with the death of Abdullahi’s cow. The community leaders invited then are: 1, Hon. Olaniyi Eni-Olotu; 2, High chief Ekon; 3, Chief Olijewu; 4, Hon. Saliu Omotosho; and 5, the chief hunter.#
“These community leaders denied any involvement in the allegation that the man’s cow was killed and also told the police that the place where the allegation of cow’s killing was being made is not part of Ifon land and hence had nothing to do with them or the community they represent.”
“It came as a surprise that on the 4th February, 2021, these same community leaders were again invited to the police station in Ifon on the same allegation of killing of Abdullahi’s cow, but on getting to the police station met two men in mufti who were introduced by the DPO as police officers from the office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), FIB Tactical command Squad, Force Headquarters, Abuja. The case of killing of cow initially reported against them had now been changed to criminal conspiracy, mischief, threat to life and attempted kidnapping. The community leaders were then served the letters of invitation of similar form, disclosing these serious allegations and mandating them to report in Abuja on the 15th March, 2021.”
The solicitors said since the killing of the monarch in the town, insecurity in the form of banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery had continued ‘unabated’ on the highway at Ifon and its environs.
While noting that the police had been able to arrest some suspects linked to the killing of the traditional ruler, the firm claimed that the community and its environs had been facing vengeful attacks over the arrest.
According to the lawyers, the fear of the accused that anyone who had any issue against the herdsmen would be taken to Abuja for torture and dehumanisation on the pretext of investigation was being established by the invitation.
The law firm said it was banking on ‘jurisdictional limitation’ in order to halt the summons.
While emphasising its clients’ support for efforts of security agencies to unravel the cause of criminalities in Ifon and its environs, the firm said its clients were living in fear because the authorities did not invite anyone linked to the killing of their monarch to Abuja, but wanted them to make themselves available over the accusations levelled against them, which, they claimed, had its origin from the death of a cow.
Besides, the law firm said it did not know what the police would gain in inviting its clients to Abuja when the matter could be handled by police in Ondo State where the alleged offences were committed.
“It is in the light of the foregoing that we share the genuine apprehension of our clients that this invitation extended to their community leaders are in bad faith and for the sole purpose of abusing their fundamental rights,” the lawyers said.
They explained that while they were not questioning the power of the police to invite the accused, they were concerned with the difficulty that would be encountered by the accused in producing witnesses to accusations brought against them.
Invitation letter to leaders of Ifon community by the police in Abuja
The law firm noted that if it did not get a response from the police chief within seven days, it would assume that the IGP had agreed with the invitation and would then proceed to court to challenge its legality.
The ICIR also obtained one of the invitation letters by the Force Intelligence Bureau.
The letters, which were addressed to the invitees individually, have the same content.
One of the letters, addressed to Olaniyi Olotu, has a reference number CR:3000/FIB/STI/FHQ/ABJ/TA/VOL 5 1259. It was dated February 2, 2021.
Part of its content reads: “INVITATION TO POLICE: The office is investigating a case of criminal conspiracy, mischief, threat to life and attempted kidnapping that your name featured.
You are kindly requested to interview the undersigned officer on 15/3/2021 by 1000hrs for facts findings through DSP. Ibrahim Agu with phone number 08037864191.
The letter was signed by Kolo Yusuf, a deputy commissioner of police at the FIB.
Meanwhile, Ondo State police command has advised the accused to present themselves to the police authorities in Abuja.
Tee-Leo Ikoro, an assistant superintendent of police and spokesperson of the state command, told our reporter on the telephone: “Someone called my attention to that last night. What I do know is that according to the person, there is a petition against the people of Ifon over certain things like threat to life and things like that. I told him that the best they can do if there is a petition against them is to go answer the petition. To us in Ondo State Police Command, no petition was given to us. We are not looking into that. But, if it came from the headquarters, what they need to do is summon the courage, go for it. It is a petition, it is not a conviction. I do not know why they are thinking it that way. Anyone can petition anyone. Then, people get to look into it and proffer solution.
“No one knew where the petition came from, only them could tell where it is coming from. But for us in Ondo State Police Command, if it is given to us, we will look into it and ensure that justice is done. If it is the Force Headquarters, there is nothing to worry about. I think they should go. If they ask my opinion, that is what I will say. Go for it, there is nothing to worry about.”
Frank Mba, force public relations officer, did not respond to telephone calls by our reporter over the matter. He did not also reply a text message sent to him in that regard.
Bello Garba, Ondo State chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) refused to speak with The ICIR when contacted on the phone.
After exchanging pleasantries with our reporter, Garba said:”You know, I dey headquarters. Na headquarters I dey for Abuja.” When interrupted that he should give his group’s position on the matter, he added: “Na Ondo state; I get headquarters for Abuja,” meaning “you know I’m at our headquarters office in Abuja. I have office at the headquarters (of MACBAN) in Abuja. ”He ended the call abruptly and rejected all calls put across to him thereafter. He did not also respond to a text message seeking to get his opinion on the matter.
Our reporter yet made more frantic efforts to seek his view a day later, but he did not pick the calls put across to him.
Nigeria has been embroiled in farmers/herders conflict – a situation that is threatening the nation’s fabrics.
The conflict has worsened insecurity facing the nation, and has compelled some states and regions in the country to ban open grazing of cattle.
Samuel Ortom, Benue State governor, was the first to sign a bill seeking to ban open grazing into law in the country. He signed the bill on May 22, 2020. But rather than mitigate herders/farmers clashes in the state, it worsened it, shortly after the bill was signed into law.
MACBAN President, Muhammadu Kirowa. Source: Punch
Over 70 people were killed in a New Year day attack in Logo Local Government Area of the state in 2018. The attack was reportedly suspected to have been carried out by herdsmen. Checks showed that Benue and Taraba states have witnessed the worst herders/farmers conflicts in the nation.
The ban has been followed with similar decision by the six states in the South-West and five states in the South-East regions. The two regions separately took the decision in February 2021, following increasing tension occasioned by herders/farmer/communal crises in some parts of the nation.
Herders and farmers have both recorded losses in the conflicts. In a report in 2018, MACBAN claimed it lost 52 herdsmen and 4,000 cows to criminals in Benue and Nasarawa states within 40 days.
The ICIR reported in July 2020 that between 2010 and 2015, Nigeria lost 6,500 citizens while 62,000 others were displaced from their homelands in 850 recorded violent clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the Middle Belt region of the country.
In February 2020, MACBAN alleged, through Gidado Siddiki, its South-East chairman, that the group lost four of its members, while over 138 cows belonging to them were missing in clashes between herdsmen and farmers in Anaku and Ifite-Ogwari communities in Ayemelu Local Government Area of Anambra State.
MACBAN had also on June 26, 2018, described the killing of scores of people in Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Jos South local government areas of Plateau State as retaliatory attack over the killing of 300 cows belonging to its members. Police confirmed 86 dead from the attack.
A human rights non-governmental advocacy group, Amnesty International, had, in 2018, published a report blaming the Nigerian government on the crises. The report said nearly 4,000 lives were lost within three years over farmers/herders feuds in Nigeria.
“Security forces were often positioned close to the attacks, which lasted hours and sometimes days, yet were slow to act. In some cases, security forces had prior warning of an imminent raid but did nothing to stop or prevent the killings, looting and burning of homes,” the group stated.
Hostilities arising from herders/farmers crises in Nigeria have not only pitched the citizens of different ethnic groups against one another, it has also set incumbent governors against each other.
Rotimi Akeredolu, Ondo state governor. Source: Arisetv
Bala Mohammed, Bauchi State governor and Rotimi Akerodolu have engaged in verbal duels over the past few days. Responding to media reports claiming Mohammed supported herdsmen’s brandishing of AK-47, Akeredolu retorted that his counterpart was unfit for public office.
Also on Saturday February 19, 2021, media reports said Mohammed claimed herders did not need Akeredolu’s permission to live in Ondo forests, but Akeredolu reportedly replied he would not ‘engage warmongers.’ The disagreement arose after Akeredolu ordered unregistered herders out of the state forests within seven days on January 18, 2021.
The governor’s pronouncement received knocks from the presidency, MACBAN and mainly notable people and organisations from northern part of the country.
But Abdullahi Ganduje, Kano State governor, has maintained his position that the North’s landmass is big enough for herders to rear their cattle. He advocated for law to ban movement of herders from North to the South.
Clashes among the farmers and herders brought Sunday Adeyemo, a self-styled freedom fighter, otherwise known as Sunday Igboho, to limelight recently in the South-West.
He swore to evict herdsmen of Fulani extraction from Igangan community in Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State on January 22, 2021.
Homes and property of the settlers were set ablaze after he left the community, and one person was reportedly killed during the attack.
On Monday February 1, 2021, the activist also stormed some parts of Ogun State, with a view to flushing out killer herders.
Since the death of Funke Olakunrin, daughter of the leader of Afenifere, Yoruba socio-cultural group, tempers have continued to rise against herders’ activities in the region.
Late Olakunrin was approaching Ore Junction area of Ondo State from Akure when she was killed by gunmen on July 12, 2019.
The Nigerian police apprehended her killers in early 2020. They were: Lawal Mazaje, Adamu Adamu, Mohammed Shehu Usman and Auwal Abubakar.
Killing of Ifon monarch, a first-class traditional ruler in the state over a year later, appears to have further fuelled the fears of unhealthy farmer/herder relationship in the state, and by extension, the South-West.
The Nigerian Governors Forum agreed on ranching earlier this month, but governors in the North are asking for more time to implement it.
Results of the 2011 National Agricultural Sample Survey released in June 2016 showed that Nigeria had an estimated 19.5 million cattle, 72.5 million goats, 41.3 million sheep, 28,000 camels, among others.
