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I’m a man’, Bobrisky says as he bags 6-month jail without option of fine

Bankole ABE
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I’m a man’, Bobrisky says as he bags 6-month jail without option of fine

THE Federal High Court, Lagos State, has sentenced controversial crossdresser Idris Olanrewaju Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, to six months imprisonment without an option of a fine for abusing the Nigerian naira.

The judgment was handed down to him on Friday, April 12.

In her ruling, the judge, Abimbola Awogboro, said the judgment would serve as a deterrent to others fond of abusing the naira.

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There was a mild drama in the court before the judge gave her ruling. She asked the accused if he was a man or a woman. He promptly told the court, “I’m a man, my lord.”

Bobrisky is well-known for dressing like a woman and flaunting all the bodily features of a woman.

He recently won an award for the best-dressed woman at a popular event in Lagos State.

Priding himself as “Mummy of Lagos”, he had boasted to conceive and bear a child.

The court in Lagos on April 5 convicted him after he pleaded guilty to the charges against him but reserved its judgment till April 9. Awogboro convicted the accused after reviewing the facts of the case.

The judge, Awogboro, in his ruling on Friday, April 5, ordered that Bobrisky be placed in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pending the judgment.

The sentence could not be read on the scheduled date because of the Eid-el-Fitri holidays.

In his response, Bobrisky told the court that he was unaware of the law regarding abusing naira.

He informed the court that he is a social media influencer with over five million followers.

He pleaded that the court permit him to educate his followers on the abuse of the naira by being lenient in its judgment.

The judge, Awogboro, then told him that ignorance of the law was not an excuse.

The ICIR reported that the EFCC arrested and detained Bobrisky in Lagos State for naira abuse and currency mutilation.

Media reports said EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed that Bobrisky had been arrested, not for his lifestyle as a crossdresser but for abusing the naira.

While there was an outcry by Nigerians for his arrest, a report by The ICIR showed that there is no law in Nigeria yet that criminalises cross-dressing.

The Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Olumuyiwa Adejobi, also confirmed in a report by The ICIR that the country had no law allowing the police to arrest and charge crossdressers in court.

EFCC still mum over Tinubu’s minister, Musawa

While Bobrisky will be spending six months in prison, The ICIR reports that the EFCC is yet to take any action on a video showing the Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, abusing the naira, the same offence Bobrisky was convicted for.

Musawa is a minister under Bola Tinubu’s administration.

According to BBC pidgin, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in August 2023 said they were ready to ‘confront’ Musawa for allegedly defacing the naira after a two-minute video where she was seen spraying money on a musician went viral.

Section 21 (3) of the CBN Act 2007 (as amended) said, “For the avoidance of doubt, spraying of, dancing or matching on the naira or any note issued by the Bank during social occasions or otherwise howsoever shall constitute an abuse and defacing of the naira or such note and shall be punishable under sub-section (1) of this section.”

“Similarly, Section 21(4) states that ‘It shall also be an offence punishable under sub-section (1) of this section for any person to hawk, sell or otherwise trade in the naira notes, coins or any other note issued by the Bank.

It remains unclear if the EFCC or the CBN will make any case against the minister.

Alleged abuse of office: Lagos court grants Emefiele N50m bail

Bankole ABE
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Alleged abuse of office: Lagos court grants Emefiele N50m bail

A LAGOS State High Court has granted N50 million bail to the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, currently standing trial for abuse of office and other infractions.

The judge, Rahmon Oshodi, ruled on the bail application on Friday, April 12, and admitted Emefiele on bail with two sureties in like sum.

Emphasising the bail conditions, the judge said the two sureties must be gainfully employed and have paid three years’ tax to the Lagos State government.

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The judge ordered that the addresses of the sureties must be verified.

Emefiele is facing trial on a 26-count charge bordering on abuse of office.

The ICIR reported on Monday that the Lagos court ordered him to be remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged abuse of office and the allocation of $4.5 billion, N2.8 billion.

During its ruling on Monday, April 8, the court adjourned till Thursday, April 11, to give its ruling on the bail application on the fresh 26 counts against the accused.

However, the court could not hear the application because of the Eid-el-Fitr holiday on Thursday.

The judge, Oshodi, also ordered the remand of Emefiele’s co-defendant, Henry Omoile, at the Kirikiri Prison pending the court’s ruling on his bail on April 11.

The court ruled that both accused should be detained after hearing the bail requests submitted by the defendants’ attorney, Abdul Hakeem Labi-Lawal. 

The charge was marked ID/23787c/2024 and dated April 3, 2024.

The EFCC alleged that the former CBN governor committed abuse of office between 2022 and 2023 in Lagos.

The EFCC also claimed that Emefiele made an arbitrary decision in Lagos between 2020 and 2021 by allocating foreign exchange of $291,945,785.59 without calling for bids, which the prosecutor said was an abuse of his office as the CBN governor.

He was also said to have arbitrarily taken another decision in Lagos in 2021 by allocating foreign exchange worth $1,769,254,793.16, which the EFCC said made him violate and abuse his position as the CBN governor.

Emefiele’s co-defendant, Omoile, was accused of accepting gifts of $110,000 for Emefiele from one Raja Punjab through another, Monday Osazuwa, on November 17, 2020, in Lagos while serving as an agent in exchange for the CBN.

The allegation stated that the offences violated Section 73 of the Lagos State Criminal Law 2011.

In November 2023, Emefiele was sent to Kuje Correctional Centre over an alleged N1.6 billion procurement fraud after he was arraigned on a six-count charge at a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, on Friday, November 17.

The ICIR reported on March 7 that a forensic analyst confirmed before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja that the documents used by Emefiele to request the payment of $ 6.2 million to foreign election observers were forged.

The analyst, Bamaiyi Meriga, disclosed while he appeared as a witness to the EFCC at Emefiele’s trial on Thursday, March 7.

Meriga, who appeared before Hamza Adamu, a judge, told the court that following forensic analysis of the documents, he discovered clear evidence of forgery of signature and seal of execution different from the original version.

 

Abducted university students in Taraba freed after paying N700,000 ransom

Bankole ABE
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Abducted university students in Taraba freed after paying N700,000 ransom

TWO students of the Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State, who were abducted ten days ago have been freed. 

According to the institution’s head of the Information and Protocol Unit, Ashu Agbu, who confirmed their release to Channel’s TV on Friday, April 12, the students were freed after paying N700,000 ransom.

Agbu said the students were freed Thursday night near Chinkai village in Wukari Local Government Area of the state.

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She said the students, Joshua Sardauna from the Economics Department and Obianu Elizabeth from the Microbiology Department, had come to the institution to write carryover papers when they were abducted.

She promised that the school would allow them to retake the papers even though the examinations had been concluded.

The victims were abducted from a nearby shop near the school on Wednesday, April 3, around 10:00 p.m., after which their captors placed N50 million ransom on them.

The university’s chief security officer (CSO), Sule Gani, confirmed the abduction to the media in Jalingo, the state capital.

Gani claimed that the gunmen, whom he claimed to be armed Fulani herdsmen, kidnapped a male and a female former university student who had come to write their carryover papers.

The ICIR reported on March 14 that over 1,000 schoolchildren have been kidnapped in Nigeria since the Chibok school abduction in April 2014.

 Within the past three administrations, the abduction of school children has generated millions in ransom for kidnappers, as fresh attacks indicate there is no end in sight to the menace.

The ICIR had reported how Buhari’s administration recorded 300 per cent more schoolchildren abductions than Jonathan’s.

Available data show that Kaduna State has experienced more schoolchildren abductions than any other state in Nigeria.

While some of the schoolchildren kidnapped have been rescued, either through the effort of security operatives or ransom paid by families, others are still held in captivity. Student abduction is just one out of many insecurity crises facing Nigeria.

Exclusive: Irukera seeks probe into foreign airlines ‘predatory pricing’ against Air Peace

Harrison EDEH
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1
Exclusive: Irukera seeks probe into foreign airlines ‘predatory pricing’ against Air Peace

THE immediate past Director-General of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Babatunde Irukera, has said that the ‘predatory pricing’ allegation by foreign airlines against Air Peace threatened the airline’s access to the global aviation market with its commencement of the Lagos-London route.

Irukera, who spoke exclusively with The ICIR on Thursday, April 11, said there was nothing wrong with a ‘price war’, but allegations of ‘predatory pricing’ by the chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, could not be swept under the carpet and must be investigated.

Investopedia describes “predatory pricing” as the illegal business practice of setting prices for a product unrealistically low to eliminate the competition. Predatory pricing violates antitrust laws, aiming to create a monopoly.

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Air Peace commenced its flight operations from Nigeria to London on March 30, with Gatwick Airport as its designated destination.

The airline slashed the hitherto economy class from an average of N3.5 million from Lagos to London to about N1.2 million, a reduction of approximately 66 per cent.

There were concerns that other deep-pocket international competitors would have to lower their prices below cost due to its arrival in the global aviation market.

“The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and FCCPC should urgently investigate ‘predatory pricing’ concerns raised by the management of Airpeace Airline with some International Airlines,” Irukera said.

“When you go below market price, knowing that any competitor who doesn’t have the financial muscle or market share than you will not survive is called ‘predatory pricing’. In most cases, those competitors die off, and the other competitor comes in to muscle the market. Air Peace is alleging that that is what is happening. It’s not a mere allegation and needs complex investigations to confirm that,” Irukera added.

He urged all relevant government agencies to examine all the issues and service provisions so Air Peace wouldn’t be pushed out of the market.

According to Irukera, the FCCPC, in alliance with the NCAA, should invoke the provisions of section 112 of the FCCP Act, which prohibits excessive or manifestly unjust and unreasonable pricing.

“The investigation should look at, let’s say, the Heathrow and Gatwick markets, the equipment they are flying, cost of maintenance, ground landing costs, average load, cost spendings, payroll costs of Virgin, British Airways, and other competitors to determine averagely what price should be to ascertain who is flouting the law,” he further stated.

Notably, the global civil aviation market size was worth around $842.71 billion in 2022 and is predicted to grow to around  $1.631 trillion by 2030 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of roughly 8.62 per cent between 2023 and 2030.

Findings by The ICIR showed that foreign airlines have started crashing their airline ticket prices below those of Air Peace for the Lagos—London route.

Analysts observed that the emergence of Air Peace on that route had threatened the profit margins of these foreign airlines.

“It is likely that as a result of this, they would try to frustrate Air Peace and take them out of business. This will be easy for them to do because they have the cash reserve they need to start a “price war”, “an economic analyst, Stanley Umezilike, said.

“Their goal, perhaps, is to reduce the price to the barest minimum and increase it 20 times over the moment they succeed in crippling Air Peace. Some of these foreign airlines were charging ₦15 million to ₦17 million for business class for the Lagos- London route.

Further findings revealed that Air Peace reduced the price to four million naira for business class and started charging ₦1.2 million for economy class.

However, some of them are now selling their economy tickets for as low as ₦700,000.

A former senator from Kaduna State, Shehu Sani, also shared a similar concern and explained that foreign airlines were crashing their prices because of Air Peace.

Sani pointed out that foreign airlines would keep reducing their fares until they eliminated Air Peace from foreign routes.

Sani took to X to appeal to Nigerians to support domestic airlines. This, he argued, would consequently put a check on their foreign counterparts’ activities.

He wrote: “The reason why foreign airlines are crashing their prices is simply because of Air Peace.

“They will continue to lower their fares until they edge out Air Peace from those foreign routes, and then they will return to their tyranny of prices. The more you patronise our local airlines, the more you will put them in check.”

 

 

 

Buhari’s minister, Ogbonnaya Onu is dead

Bankole ABE
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Buhari’s minister, Ogbonnaya Onu is dead

THE Minister of Science and Technology under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, Ogbonnaya Onu, is dead.

A close member of his family confirmed his death to The ICIR on Thursday, April 11.

“Yes, it’s true, he has died. He died some hours ago. The family will issue a statement soon on his demise,” the relation said.

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In the 2023 general election, the late 72-year-old contested for the presidential ticket of the All Progressive Congress (APC) but was defeated by the incumbent President Bola Tinubu.

In addition to serving as Nigeria’s Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation from November 2015 until he quit the government to vie for the presidency in 2022, he was the first civilian governor of Abia State.

Onu was the longest-serving minister of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation.

President Buhari ordered all his appointees seeking elective positions in the 2023 general elections to resign on May 11, 2022.

Ministers who resigned as a result of the directive included Onu.

During the APC primaries for the 2023 presidency, Onu advocated that the presidency be zoned to the Southeast.

Details about his biography are available here.

Keren-Happuch: call for justice lingers, 3 years after

Ijeoma OPARA
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Keren-Happuch: call for justice lingers, 3 years after

CALLS for justice have continued to trail the rape and death of 14-year-old Keren-Happuch Akpagher, a boarding student of Premier Academy, Lugbe, in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

At a book launch held in Abuja on Wednesday, April 10, stakeholders also challenged the Nigerian government to ensure justice in the case of Ochanya Ogbanje, who was raped to death by relatives, and other victims of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) whose killers have yet to be apprehended to date.

Journalist and founder of the Men Against Rape Foundation in Abuja, Lemmy Ughegbe, launched the book titled “Tears from the Grave,” written in memory of Akpagher, who died in June 2021 from rape.

Chairman of the House of Representatives Press Corps, Grace Ike, who was present at the event, charged lawmakers to hasten the establishment of sexual offences courts to check issues related to SGBV in the country.

Keren-Happuch Akpagher

Keren-Happuch Akpagher’s mother received the devastating news of her daughter’s death on Saturday, June 22, 2021. She had been confirmed dead at Queen’s Hospital, Wuse, following the discovery of a condom and dead spermatozoa in her vagina.

The student’s death sparked outrage among members of the public and led to a series of protests across the FCT.

Following her death, the FCT Police Command began investigations into her rape and death.

However, her mother, Vivienne Akpagher and a Coalition for Gender-Based Violence Responders (CGBVR) had alleged that the case was being undermined by the command as an unfair advantage was being allegedly conferred on the school.

In 2022, The ICIR visited the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department (FCIID)’s Gender Unit for updates on the case.

An official of the unit who spoke anonymously to The ICIR said DNA samples of suspected teachers had been taken and that investigations were ongoing into the case.

“We have taken the samples of all the teachers involved. We have visited the school itself, and we have taken statements from all those necessary, including the doctors and first responders who attended to her.

“We are awaiting the results of the DNA which will give us further directions. For now, that is where we are. The investigation report will be ready very soon,” he said.

He also noted that the FCIID Gender unit intended to take DNA samples of two male students of the school whose parents were uncooperative.

However, there has been no news of her rapist three years later.

Ochanya Ogbanje

Ochanya Ogbanje was a 13-year-old JSS 1 student of the Federal Government Girls College Gboko in Benue State at the time of her death.

She died in 2018 after being diagnosed with Vesico-Vaginal Fistula (VVF) attributed to serial rape allegedly carried out by her aunt’s husband, Andrew Ogbuja, who also worked as a university lecturer, and his son, Victor.

Ogbuja was arraigned on four counts bordering on sexually abusing the deceased during the period of five years that she lived with them.

While Ogbuja was arrested and remanded in prison during his trial, his son Victor disappeared and remained at large throughout the period.

Ochanya’s aunt, Felicia Ochiga-Ogbuja, was also arraigned before a Federal High Court in Makurdi, Benue State and in 2022, sentenced to five months in jail for negligence that led to the rape and death of the deceased.

The Federal High Court’s ruling coincided with the final judgement of the Benue State High Court, where Ogbuja was being arraigned.

While her aunt was convicted of negligence, Ogbuja was acquitted and discharged by the State High Court following a ruling that there was no evidence linking him to the rape of the deceased.

Many other girls in Nigeria have been raped in the same way by relatives, guardians, teachers or other perpetrators.

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), one out of four girls and one out of ten boys are victims of sexual violence in Nigeria.

Despite the high rate of sexual violence in the country, which Amnesty International described as a pandemic, conviction rates for rape cases in Nigeria have remained low.

Anxiety as CBN sacks 50 more staff, 117 disengaged in 20 days

Harrison EDEH
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Anxiety as CBN sacks 50 more staff, 117 disengaged in 20 days

THERE is growing apprehension among the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) staff as 50 additional employees were sacked on Monday, adding to the long list of ongoing disengagement at the apex bank.

The sacking under the leadership of CBN governor Olayemi Cardoso cuts across 29 departments as the organisation restructures to shift away from the development finance role, it was learnt.

So far, 117 staff have been disengaged by the CBN in the past 20 days.

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“Even some of us working, we don’t know what the next chapter holds for anyone currently in the organisation,” a senior staff member who pleaded anonymity told The ICIR on Tuesday.

At the Banker’s meeting in 2023 in Lagos, Cardoso said the apex bank would not handle further development finance intervention roles as done previously to enable it to focus on its core monetary policy roles.

For instance, Daily Trust reports that the dismissals are likely connected to the CBN’s refocus from development finance interventions.

Cardoso had previously voiced concerns about such interventions, arguing that they take the bank outside its core function and could distort the economy.

The termination of appointments affected directors, deputy directors, assistant directors, principal managers, senior managers, and lower-ranking staff.

Disengagement letters were dispatched to affected staff from March 15 and has continued weekly.

Besides, modalities for disengagement were not made known by the management, insiders told our correspondent.

THE ICIR reached out to the acting Director of Corporate Communication, Hakama Sidi Ali, on the development for her reaction. She did not pick up her call or return the text messages to her line.

A senior management source, who pleaded anonymity, told our reporter that the sacking spree would continue till the end of April.

In January, the CBN’s management announced that some departments in the organisation would be moved to Lagos State to promote efficiency at the institution.

Some Nigerians, especially in the North, protested the decision, claiming it was a ploy to move the apex bank out of the nation’s capital.

What CBN’s policies and procedures manual says

Section 16.0 of the CBN’s Human Resources Policies and Procedures Manual (HRPPM) titled  ‘Cessation of Employment’, specifies that in every case of separation from the employment of the bank, it is the objective of CBN to make separations as amicable as possible for both the employee and the bank.

Section 16.3.5 notes that an employee’s Normal Retirement Date in CBN should coincide with the date the employee is 60 years old or has put in 35 years of service.

“Early retirement can be considered when the employee has served for at least 10 years and is only granted at the discretion of management,” it says.

According to the manual, the bank feels that the retirement of an employee should be an occasion for celebration and recognition of the individual’s contributions to the bank.

However, section 16.4, which specifies the condition for redundancy, stipulates that redundancy means involuntary and permanent loss of employment as a result of excess human resources.

It explains that the redundancy processes are designed to provide a framework to manage change, where that change involves termination of employment.

“Adversely affected employees are given the opportunity for early separation from the bank.

“Consultation with the Joint Consultative Council is essential, and a fair process is mandatory.  Employees who are adversely affected may appeal decisions made by the head of human resources,” it says.

The manual notes further that the grounds for redundancy require that employment may be terminated for economic, technological, structural, or similar reasons.

The ICIR reports that it remains unclear the conditions under which the affected staff were disengaged.

‘We finally lost him,’ Actors Guild confirms Nollywood actor, Jnr Pope’s death

Itoro ETUKUDO
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‘We finally lost him,’ Actors Guild confirms Nollywood actor, Jnr Pope’s death

HOPES that Nollywood actor Junior Pope Odonwodo, also known as Jnr Pope, would survive a boat accident he was involved in on Wednesday, April 10, has been dashed.

The president of the Actor’s Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Emeka Rollas, announced that he was rescued in a now-deleted post on Thursday, April 10. Rollas said the actor was alive and responding to treatment.

“What God cannot do does not exist. Junior Pope is alive. He is taking treatment in the hospital,” the post read.

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However, in the early hours of Thursday, March 11,  Rollas took to his Instagram page to announce the update concerning the actor, stating that his joy was short-lived as the actor didn’t make it. 

“It is so so sad that our joy was short-lived. My first post was out of excitement when we noticed his tingling fingers. Two notable hospitals tried their best to revive him but to no avail.

“God knows the best. We finally lost him. Mr Friday’s corpse has been identified, but three other corpses are yet to be found,” he wrote in his post.

The deceased had gone to shoot a film titled “Another Side of Life”, produced by Adamma Luke when the boat he was travelling in capsized. He drowned with four crew members.

Prayers for the deceased revival flooded social media Thursday evening after people were made to believe that he was still alive. 

Nigerians have taken to social media to mourn his demise, while some blame the death on the movie producer. Some of the reactions on X are quoted in this report.

“Nollywood, I think you all need to cease production and come together and pray seriously. This is not normal. Like what is happening??” – @adesewa_22

“Everything he was just saying shattered. No rescue team, no divers and no life jacket, the producer and director should be arrested”.-@_osime_

“I am too speechless. I cannot imagine. I cannot even speak. It feels like I know him personally. Too young. All that is in my head is the wife and kids. God, please”. – @coachjacbell

“This is too sad. I hope his family didn’t learn of his demise on the internet. God comfort his family.” -@titismeeth

Actors Guid reacts

The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), through its president, Emeka Rollas, has declared April 11 “No Shoot Day” for all actors and producers in the industry and suspended Adamma Luke, the producer of the movie that led to the tragic occurrence.

“Following the tragic incident of boat mishap that claimed the life of Mr John Paul Odonwodo aka Junior Pope and four other crew members at the waterside of River Niger Cable point Asaba on 10 April 2024 on a movie set titled ‘The other side of Life’ produced by Adanma Luke, the leadership of the Guild has taken the following decisions:

  • All films that involve riverine areas and boat riding are at this moment suspended indefinitely.
  • No shoot on all locations Nationwide on Thursday, 11 April 2024.
  • The film titled ‘Another Side of Life’ is suspended indefinitely.
  • No actor is allowed to work with Adamma Luke as a producer till further notice.

“While we keep searching for the bodies of the remaining persons, may their souls Rest In Peace,” his statement read,” the guild said.

Junior Pope joined Nollywood in 2006 and rose to fame after starring in the hit movie Secret Adventures, directed by Tchidi Chikere.

He starred in over 150 Nollywood movies including, ‘Secret Adventures’ ‘Bitter Generation’, ‘Vengeance of Bullet’, ‘The Cat’, ‘The Generals’, ‘Wrong Initiation’, among others.

He won several awards, including the award for Nollywood Most Promising Actor in Nigeria at the Entertainment Factory Awards in 2010, Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA), and Best Actor of the Year at the Africa Movie Academy (AMA) Awards.

Wadume’s grand reception: are Nigerians promoting criminality?

Ijeoma OPARA
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1
Wadume’s grand reception: are Nigerians promoting criminality?

WHEN suspected kidnapper Hamisu Bala, popularly known as Wadume, was convicted in 2022, many Nigerians saw his sentencing as only a slap on the wrist and an encouragement of criminality.

Before his conviction, Wadume had been widely known as a kidnap kingpin who operated within the northern region of Nigeria. He was arraigned on multiple charges, including murder, kidnapping, escaping from lawful custody, and unlawfully dealing in prohibited firearms, among others.

The arrest, which led to his conviction, took place in 2019 and was his second in two weeks, as he had escaped a previous arrest with the help of some Nigerian soldiers.

During the escape, the police team conveying him to Abuja for interrogation was attacked by a group of soldiers manning a checkpoint within Taraba state.

Three of the policemen and two civilians were killed in the process. Five other policemen were also left severely injured. Two weeks later, Wadume was rearrested and, in 2020, arraigned before the court on a 16 counts charge, along with 18 others.

By July 2022, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment, convicting him of only two of the charges brought against him.

While he was found guilty of unlawfully dealing in firearms and escaping from lawful custody, the court ruled that the prosecution could not prove the other charges brought against him, including murder, kidnapping and terrorism.

The seven-year prison sentence was described as inadequate by several Nigerian groups.

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) faulted the ruling and demanded a fresh prosecution for him and others convicted with him.

“The fresh conviction of Evans, a kidnap kingpin is salutary, but when compared to the Taraba kidnapping kingpin, Wadume, the judgment from the Federal High Court is a mockery of the judiciary and the entire wheel of justice in Nigeria.

“The judiciary is allegedly aiding kidnapping because whilst Evans offences attracted far heavier sanctions which we are not particularly opposed to, Wadume, who was arraigned for exactly the same crime of kidnapping, amongst others, got lighter punishment after the years of secrecy that shrouded his trial,” HURIWA’s National Coordinator Emmanuel Onwubiko had said.

Others questioned the secrecy behind Wadume’s trial and called for all soldiers involved to be brought to book.

Freedom after two years

A little less than two years after his conviction, Wadume regained his freedom and returned to his hometown in Ibbi, Taraba state.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) Abubakar confirmed his release to journalists on Monday, saying he had served his full sentence and left custody on Saturday, April 6.

Umar was quoted as saying, “He (Wadume) has served his full term and was released from custody (on) Saturday in Abuja.”

A heroic welcome

As Wadume returned to his hometown in Taraba, a large crowd gathered by the riverside through which he arrived and they welcomed him amid fanfare.

Upon his return, residents of Ibbi were reported to have been in a festive mood, driving him around town, beating drums, and singing his praises.

Wadume also made his way to the residence of the traditional ruler, where he paid homage to the chief and thanked him and other community members for standing by him.

His traditional ruler, Garba Salihu, also warmly welcomed him, saying some of the allegations brought before Wadume were politically motivated.

“We are hoping that he will not go back to criminality. He came to the palace and pledged his loyalty as a changed person. Even repented Boko Haram are allowed to reintegrate into the community, so we have to accept him and take proactive steps to secure our community. He is back as a repented person and remember, he belongs to this community and the name of our community was associated with criminality during that incident.

“As someone who has a lot of followers, we believe that by re-integrating, he will work with security agencies and stakeholders to ensure the peace of the community. Wadume was not a hardened criminal, but someone with dubious character, but the issue of kidnapping was framed against him, and even politics came in, that was why the court could not convict him on some of the charges that were preferred against him,” Salihu said.

Grand reception sparks criticisms

Wadume’s reception at Ibbi has generated controversies among Nigerians. Many saw the development as a weakness of the judiciary and an encouragement of criminal activities by citizens.

Reacting to the incident, a social media user on X, Bigwig Austin, said “I’m not surprised, tomorrow he can even be president of Nigeria and will draw support from length and breadth of Nigeria. We’ve seen this happen before!”

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Another user, Farooq, queried, “So the police officers that soldiers killed as a result of trying to arrest this criminal all was for nothing?”

The ICIR reports that the criticisms trailing the judgement he got from the court and grand reception offered him by his community are influenced by Nigeria’s high crime rate, which is one of the highest in Africa, as abductions, terrorism, and other crimes have plagued the country for years.

NAFDAC recalls ‘toxic’ drug expiring this month after selling for at least 2 years in Nigeria

Mustapha USMAN
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NAFDAC recalls ‘toxic’ drug expiring this month after selling for at least 2 years in Nigeria

THE National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control has recalled Benylin Paediatrics Syrup manufactured by Johnson & Johnson following recent toxicity findings in the laboratory on the product.

Benylin Paediatric syrup is commonly used to relieve cough and congestive symptoms in children aged two to 12. It also treats hay fever and other allergic conditions in the same age group.

In a statement disclosed on its website on Wednesday, April 10, NAFDAC said laboratory analysis of the product showed that it contained an alarming level of diethylene glycol, which causes acute oral toxicity in laboratory animals.

“Benylin Paediatric syrup is indicated for the relief of cough and its congestive symptoms and for the treatment of hay fever and other allergic conditions in children aged two to 12 years.

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“Diethylene glycol is toxic to humans when consumed and can prove fatal. Toxic effects can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state, and acute kidney injury, which may lead to death,” it noted.

The agency revealed that the drug, manufactured by Johnson & Johnson in Cape Town, South Africa, and with batch number 329304 was produced in May 2021 and would expire this month (April 2024).

The ICIR reports that given this analysis, the product could have been on shelves nationwide for at least two years.

The NAFDAC said it had contacted the marketing authorisation holder (Johnson and Johnson company, West Africa) to initiate the batch recall, adding that the notice would also be uploaded to the WHO Global Surveillance and Monitoring System.

It also urged importers, distributors, retailers, and consumers to exercise caution and vigilance throughout the supply chain to prevent the importation, distribution, sale, and use of substandard (contaminated) regulated products.

Screenshot of the table by NAFDAC showing the drug's details
Screenshot of the table by NAFDAC showing the drug’s details

“Anyone in possession of the above-mentioned product is advised to immediately discontinue the sale or use and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office. If you witness any adverse reaction/event after the use of this product in any children, you are advised to direct such patients to immediate medical attention from a qualified healthcare professional.

“Healthcare professionals and consumers are advised to report any suspicion of substandard and falsified medicines to the nearest NAFDAC office, NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322 or via email:sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng

“Similarly, healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of the medicinal product to the nearest NAFDAC office or through the use of the e-reporting platforms available on the NAFDAC website www.nafdac.gov.ng or via the Med-safety application available for download on android and IOS stores or via e-mail on pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng,” it added.

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