There’s nothing indivisible about Nigeria – Agbakoba

Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) is a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA.  Agbakoba co-founded the Civil Liberty Organisation, CLO, in Nigeria and founded Human Rights Law Services.  In this interview, he spoke on the state of the nation, communication importance in government, President Muhammadu Buhari’s economy policies and others.

Excerpt:

We have seen at least 195 days of General Muhammadu Buhari as President of Nigeria, what is your view on the state of the nation?

Well, it is good when you listen to perception; know what people think because action of government is to reflect what people want. When I was NBA President, I always do what I call sweeping. I will make sweeping calls to about 10 Chair persons to know what lawyers are thinking.

Perception is very important. It is for the President to pay more attention to the way people feel and that is why we need a communication strategy, such as having a Director of Communication. You find different people say different things about the President.

Some say that he does not know what he is doing and some say he is too slow. But my interest in the President is not as General Buhari as a president because I have not met him, I do not know what he does. The country is suffering what I call economic anaemia. There is no money in the system because a lot of parameters are not working. There is no investment law, competition law, which is why MTN can do what it likes.

Does this suggest that in 2016, communication should be one of the key things for effecting the change President Buhari intends to deliver to Nigerians?

I hope that the present administration will understand that in 2016, communicating their strategy should be of prime importance so as to dispel all doubts. Also, the Biafra thing is what a good communication strategist will communicate. I think this administration has not done well in communication. In abroad, what attracts people is the programme. If I look at your programme and I am able to compare, then I can make my choice.

If you look at the Presidential Debate in the US, you will be able to make your choice. But in Nigerian politics, it is a personal thing. You will need to know the person and touch him. In the US, for example, you do not need to know anybody; he will appeal to you by what he does. So President Buhari’s programme, quite surprisingly, appears to me as something to be looked at.

Which means that President Buhari’s programme would succeed since people like you are impressed by it?

I am keen to see that it succeeds. Everybody wants to have a break. If he (President Buhari) is going to take us there, then we will support it. I am tired of being able to handle money but unable to spend it because one is not happy. You need to have a country where you feel safe.

You know I come from Apapa in Lagos and you know what happens there? You think I like it that I have to walk one mile to the office, in a place that is Nigeria’s richest community? We need to have a good country. And like I said earlier on, the President need to pay more attention to the way people feel and that is why we need this communication strategy.

But some people have misconceived you, saying there is something you are looking for from this administration?

For those who know me for a long time, they know that I do not need to look for anything. I had a chance to be Abacha’s Attorney-General at age 34 or 35, that was quite tempting and not what I was looking for. I am just looking for a good Nigeria.

Many Nigerians seem not to understand President Buhari’s economic policies. Looking at your good sense of economy, can you share what you know about it?

The nature of person’s ideology changes with where he is. So the natures of what countries do depend on where they are at any time. Basically, Nigeria as an emerging economy is a very poor country, typified by the fact that we are in the primmest land yet I have no water. Anyone who wants to design a programme for a poor country will take into account what the people want and what their need is. There is no template.

A group better known as the Washington Consensus came together and felt that in the context of the war between the west and east, that imposing democracy and imposing the western economy thought will keep the sovereignty away. If you understand it and do not believe it, that is too bad. But for us who are international political economist, I know that the biggest challenge we face is the west and the east, the conflict that they have had and how it has affected us.

So the first thing they will do is to bring their doctors of economy and say structural adjustment programme, which we resisted in Gani’s house in 1985 when IBB started it. We said it cannot work in a poor country. You cannot be doing structural adjustment programme when people are hungry. It may be good in the west, but here, it is difficult because people are poor. So if we agree that people are poor, then the last thing you will want to do is to inflict further harm on the people.

But I think I understand what President Buhari’s economic policy is, it has two components. It is a derivative of social regulation. Underpinning the programme, as I understood, it is social regulation, which makes provision for people who are at the bottom and trying to bring them up and at the same time leaving space for market efficiency so  that the markets can run.

Social regulation means we cater for those who need government support but we will allow the Dangotes and the Otedolas space to work, then we task them to about 30 percent to 40 percent, which will be well collected. Once that is done, the money would drizzle down to assist the social regulation policy. It is a mixed economy model that I think it is what this administration want to present.

Those who feel like doing business in the country will find that they have the space but they are not going to do it like they have in America. Even in America, there have been questions on the republican model of running an economy.

What programme do you think would thrive in Nigeria today, considering the poverty rate you just mentioned?

If you have a programme, the one that is commonly referred to as market feudalism, which means asking everybody to go and the best person to sell wheat flour wins. Then you will find out that the person can drive his price up, in the exclusion of others, and make money. So market feudalism, which was Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s doctrine, failed because in the years you will see that her policies did not work.

The other one is social democracy and you will find it in Denmark, Norway and other countries. That is why they are the richest countries in the world, even if they have small population. They do social democracy where they plan for everybody. They know the need of everybody and try to meet it. I think social democracy is a better programme for Nigeria than market feudalism. Now, I go back to the challenge of not communicating effectively.

In your recent letter to President Buhari, you talked about conspiracy of the elite, can you expatiate?

The problem Obama is facing in America is that of the conspirators. Do you know that he was so frustrated in the last 3 killings and he said he was tired of sitting and being helpless as the America President whereas the gun lobby will not allow him to control guns? Who is benefitting? The last person that killed had 13 guns in the house. How can that be? Why is America unable to raid the gun supply? It is simply because people are making billions.

What are your thoughts on sovereign wealth fund vis-a-vis your advocacy for freeing frozen funds; there are huge funds frozen while infrastructure in the country is in terrible state?

Sovereign wealth fund is a small issue in the large equation. When I was the NBA President, I was able to invite one of the world’s leading thinkers of waking dead capital. Some of my friends, when they come to Nigeria, evaluating it to its state of wealth economy wise, they are shock that amidst great wealth there is poverty. Now development law, which we preach but it has not been understood by anybody, government does not have a lawyer in the policy space.

This world is a large space and only the best will thrive. It is shocking that as the developed world and China go about setting standards and goals for investment and trade, there is no single investment and trade lawyer who has any expertise to criss-cross various multi-lateral conferences that take place, fixing your own fortune.

For instance, in the last Doha, World Trade Organization (WTO) became stranded by the objection of Brazil and India on the utilization of tree-bags which we allow the west to take away and make into quinine, and then they now put intellectual imprimatur on it- your products. They take it away and reset it. The worst one was when they move into higher drugs, which they wanted to bring to South Africa and India to sell at a high rate.

So what am I saying? I am saying that Nigeria is not taking advantage of its huge soft institutions of experts, particularly law. My simple theory is that we have enough money in Nigeria not to worry about how to build our roads. But all our banks, until the Soludo resolution, were interested in getting public fund and lending. So they would not give you any money because they will get it from the government and that was enough to make huge profit.

What is your perception of the various election tribunal judgements across the country, especially the judgement of the Taraba Governorship Tribunal?

These people who go to court have absolutely lost their senses. The reason why they are so mad is to access the money that is available in government house. Is it not the Taraba man that flew a jet and broke his leg?  I am discussing the foolishness of the elite. We need to make this type of Taraba example obsolete. It should not be discussed. We need to make the quest for power to be only for those who want it.

My view is that if you give N1 million as allowance in the national assembly many will go and not return. We need to understand that the elites and elite’s structure are the ones who propose people to the tribunal. Of course, they pay lawyers to do the cases. I am tired of unravelling the conflicting decisions. You look at Taraba, you look at Kogi and somebody told me that they will end in absolute mess.

Have you seen any election that is different? It is the same complain that INEC did not bring materials on time or they did not provide enough material. Until we help Nigerians understand that they need to take up arms and begin to exercise their right, Nigeria is not going to change.

In your letter to President Buhari, you noted that many Nigerians feel alienated and disconnected. Don’t you think that is the reason for recent Biafra struggle?

The Biafra thing is not an agitation. People there are very hungry, I am from there. They have been dispossessed and abandoned by different political leaders who deceive them when they come for their votes. APC, PDP and APGA- all kinds of parties deceive them and led them to exactly where they are. The last time I was at the area, I was shocked when I drove around. I was shocked at the level of poverty and unemployment.

So when somebody who is an elite wants to manipulate them, which is what is going on now, they will fall for it. I I think the best case has been explained by Prof. Wole Soyinka. We should not say that this country is indivisible. There is nothing indivisible about Nigeria. If we cannot live together, let us go in pieces. Who is to say that it is indivisible and treason? It is not.

If you were President Buhari, how would you handle the Biafra issue?

If I were President Buhari, I will first find out what the people are agitating. When I know the problem, then I will know how to deal with it and move on.  The Nigeria configuration, the Nigeria country, needs to be panel beated around again so that everybody can feel happy.

You will need to assign space and a room in a country called Nigeria. But right now, 180 million Nigerians are outside, they have no room and they can see a few Nigerians eating very well inside a room. So they wonder if it is not their own meal too. The more they eat, the more these men get angry.

The wall separating the two is so huge and the elite keep constructing it and they have reached a position where they just ignore the people and do not care about what the people say. They do what they like and say to hell with you because you will collect their money and vote for them. This is the time to deal with the elite.

Obama Appoints Nigerian as Deputy National Security Adviser

 Adewale ‘Wally’ Adeyemo

US President Barack Obama has appointed a Nigerian, Adewale ‘Wally’ Adeyemo who served in top roles at the Treasury Department, to succeed Caroline Atkinson as his deputy national security adviser for international economic affairs.

According to The Herald newspaper, Adeyemo, 34, has served in the Obama administration since 2009. He joined the White House’s National Economic Council as deputy director. He was the Treasury’s lead negotiator on the currency agreement that was part of the Pacific trade deal.

A statement by Obama read: “For the past four years, I have relied on Caroline Atkinson, most recently as my deputy national security advisor for international economics, as we’ve navigated pressing challenges to the global economy.

“As my representative at the G-7 and G-20, she played a key role in coordinating our response to international financial crises, worked with our allies to devise and implement targeted economic sanctions to advance our national security goals, played a vital role in our economic engagements with China, and helped to achieve breakthrough agreements on climate that will strengthen our economy and our security.

“I’ve relied on, and benefited from Caroline’s knowledge and judgment and, as she concludes her tenure on my national security team, I am deeply appreciative of her service.

“I am grateful that Caroline’s work will be carried on by Adewale ‘Wally’ Adeyemo, who has served in my administration since 2009. At the Treasury Department, he was part of the team that helped coordinate our response to the global recession, laying the foundation for renewed growth at home and abroad.

“He helped establish the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and he’s been our point person on a range of international economic issues, including negotiations on strong currency agreements around the Trans Pacific Partnership. I will be calling on Wally’s intellect, judgment and dedication as we sustain America’s global economic leadership, which reinforces our national security, and as we work with allies and partners around the world to create jobs and opportunity for all our people.”

Adeyemo holds a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley and another degree from Yale Law School.

Kanu’s Release: Five Killed in Onitsha as Soldiers Shoot at Jubilating Supporters

The jubilation by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Onitsha, Anambra State, over the decision of a Federal High Court in Abuja to unconditionally release the Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, turned soar yesterday, when soldiers attached to the 302 Artillery Regiment in the commercial town allegedly shot at them, killing five instantly and injuring 25 others.

The soldiers, erroneously thought the IPOB supporters had trooped out to protest against the detention of their leader, Kanu, not knowing that they were celebrating his release.

The incident happened at the Onitsha end of the River Niger Bridge and immediately caused panic among motorists and commuters who scampered for safety as tension pervaded the city.

The IPOB members had on hearing the court’s ruling ordering Kanu’s release, trooped out in their numbers and converged around the statue of the late Biafran leader, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumewu Ojukwu.

They were singing and jubilating preparatory to a procession but were stopped by policemen and soldiers who were around the area.
Trouble for the IPOB members, an eyewitness who identified himself as Jimmy Okechukwu, said started when the IPOB members were accosted by the soldiers and asked to stop their march towards the bridge, an order the group allegedly defied.
An argument, he said, ensued between the soldiers and the group which later degenerated into violence.

At this point, the soldiers, he said, started shooting sporadically to scare the swarming crowd of IPOB members, but unfortunately, they shot at five of them who died on the spot with about 25 others wounded.
During the shooting, people ran for their lives but some IPOB members who mustered the courage threw pebbles at the soldiers who retaliated by shooting at the defenseless people.

Reacting to the incident, Chairman of the Fundamental Rights League International (FRLI), Mr. Mike Umezulike, told stated that the procession by IPOB members was peaceful and wondered why the soldiers shot at harmless people.
When contacted, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area, Mr. Rabiu Garba, said he was not in town, though he was told of the procession.

Earlier yesterday, Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court ordered the unconditional release of Kanu from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Delivering the ruling in the bail application filed and argued by his lawyer, Mr. Vincent Obeta, Justice Ademola also set aside an order previously granted the DSS to detain Kanu for 90 days to enable the security agency complete its investigations.
According to him, the continued detention of Kanu after three months without trial violated Section 158 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution.

Justice Ademola also held there was no law that permits the DSS or any other security agency for that matter to detain any Nigerian beyond the period stipulated by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, when in actual fact there was no intention to put the person on trial.

“From the available facts before the court, it is clear that the DSS neither has enough materials to prosecute the applicant in a law court nor have they made up their minds on prosecution.

“Detaining the applicant for more than three months without trial runs contrary to Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution, and such act must not be allowed in the interest of the rule of law.

The constitution remains the supreme law. It does not permit detention of a Nigerian citizen for a period spanning over two months without charging the citizen before the law court. This court has the duty to protect the constitution and one of the duties is to admit a citizen of this country on bail when his right to freedom is being violated,” Justice Ademola said.

The judge, however, frowned on Kanu’s claim that being charged under the Terrorism Prevention Act was illegal, adding that the Act was a potent legislation fashioned out to check acts of terrorism.

“It is worthy of mention that countries like America, Britain, France and others have similar legislation to combat acts of terrorism. It is therefore not a correct position to say that the act is an illegal one,” he said.

Before his release, a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Abuja on Wednesday had struck out the criminal charge brought against Kanu by the DSS.
Kanu was detained by the DSS for allegedly forming an “unlawful society with the purpose of bringing into existence the Republic of Biafra”.

He was alleged to have proclaimed himself as the leader of the Republic of Biafra and established Radio Biafra.
Kanu was also alleged to have appointed himself Commander of the Loyal Forces of Biafra and was broadcasting to the whole world the dire consequences of the government and people of Nigeria will suffer should they attempt to hinder the actualisation of the Republic of Biafra.

His release yesterday was received with joy in the South-east, as pro-Biafra groups and his family welcomed the court’s decision to quash the various charges brought against the activist by the federal government.

In Enugu, business activities were temporarily halted as hundreds of pro-Biafra agitators under the aegis of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and IPOB took to the major streets of the city to celebrate Kanu’s release from custody.

The agitators, who adorned uniforms and insignia, caused major gridlocks along major roads including Ogui, New Haven, Holy Ghost/Ogbete, New Layout and some parts of Independence Layout in the Enugu State capital, chanting solidarity songs even as they insisted that the struggle for Biafra remained on course.

The solidarity march, though peaceful, forced many residents to remain indoors in the event of violence.
Meanwhile, the acting Leader of MASSOB, Uchenna Madu, described his discharge and the dismissal of the charges preferred against him by the DSS as a major triumph against injustice, suppression, oppression and subjection against the oppressed IPOB.
In a statement, Madu said their “consistency and uncompromised spirit had paid off”, adding that “MASSOB shall continue with IPOB for genuine and committed Biafran non-violent struggle”.

“We salute our comrades in IPOB both at home and the Diaspora for their unrelenting, courageous efforts and spirit of oneness in pursuing the visions and mission of IPOB.

“Kanu has become the hero of the genuine Biafra agitation; those who earlier opposed Kanu will cover their faces in shame.
“MASSOB hails the committed, eloquent and dedicated Igbo leaders who fearlessly assisted in the release of our brother, Kanu.
“MASSOB knows them, because we met and appealed to them, they responded. He shall be received in Biafra land as the greatest hero,” he said.

In its reaction to the release of Kanu, the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), which has been calling for Kanu’s release, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for listening to the pleas of Ndigbo and progressive Nigerians.

In a statement, the OYC said that the release of Kanu would douse the tension generated by the detention of the IPOB leader, adding that by dousing the tension in the South-east the entire nation had been spared contending with another security problem.

The statement signed by the National President of OYC, Mr. Okechukwu Isiguzoro, and secretary, Mr. Nnabuike Okwu, noted that the release of the Director of Radio Biafra, would go a long way in restoring the confidence of Ndigbo in Buhari's government.

The group called on the Federal Government to also address all the other grievances of the pro-Biafra agitators, because aside from calling for Kanu’s release, the pro-Biafra groups had also been protesting against injustices being meted to Ndigbo in Nigeria.

On his part, the father of the activist and traditional ruler of Afara Ukwu Ibeku autonomous community in Abia Stae, Eze Israel Kanu, told journalists at his palace that he was grateful that freedom had finally come to his son after three months in detention.

“My family and the entire people of Afara Ukwu Umuahia in general are happy over the new development,” he said, adding that he would continue to praise God for seeing his son through his ordeal in the hands of the security agencies.

He also lauded all Nigerians of goodwill and conscience for speaking out and standing by his family while the agitation for his son's release lasted, adding that the judiciary once again proved that it is the last hope of the common man by applying wisdom in discharging and acquitting him.

While thanking the president for seeing reason in harkening to the demand for his son’s release, he equally asked him to further demonstrate his milk of human kindness by facilitating the sovereignty of Biafra to enable Ndigbo have their own independent nation.
Nonetheless, he urged all pro-Biafra groups including MASSOB and IPOB to remain calm and pursue the Biafran project without confrontation.

PDP, not Dasuki, gave me N100m – Odili

A former governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili, has denied receiving N100 million from either the immediate past National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, or former Minister of State Finance, Bashir Yuguda.

Mr. Yuguda had reportedly confessed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to giving Mr. Odili N100 million for election campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The former minister allegedly claimed he got the money from Mr. Dasuki for onward transfer to Mr. Odili.

The money was part of the $2.1 billion arms procurement funds allegedly diverted and misappropriated by Mr. Dasuki.

In a statement on Tuesday, Mr. Odili said he never had any transaction with the duo of Messrs Dasuki and Yuguda.

He however admitted receiving N100 million from the PDP.

“As part of preparations towards the 2015 election, the PDP set up contact and mobilisation committees across the six geo- political zones and I was appointed the chairman of the South-South mobilisation committee,” he said.

“Consequent upon this, the party, not the former NSA or Yuguda, gave the South-South Committee, through me, the sum of N100 million along with other zonal Chairmen, at the house of the National Chairman, Dr. Adamu Mu’azu, for the assignment.”

Mr. Odili said he utilised the money for the purpose for which it was meant for.

He said, “This amount was subsequently disbursed to the relevant party members from the zone for the assignment given by the party.

“I have the appointment letter and terms of reference, minutes of all the meetings, signatures of all the members and the report of the zonal committee, which was duly submitted to the Party Leader.”

The former governor said for the “purpose of emphasis” he had “no dealings with the former NSA, neither did I collect any money from Yuguda. I challenge anyone who has any contrary evidence to produce it”.

He stressed, “I decided to personally sign this rebuttal because over the years, I had ignored various spurious and patently false reports against me because I knew that at the fullness of time, the truth would surely prevail.

“I would have similarly ignored this recent falsehood attributed to Mr Yuguda but for the fact that the uninformed are beginning to latch on this long-held false and tendentious narrative, hence my decision to rebut this with all vehemence.”

WAEC releases November/December, 2015 results

The West African Examination Council on Friday December 18, 2015, released the November/December 2015 General Certificate Examination result.

The Head of National Office of the Council, Isaac Adenipekun, who announced the result in Lagos, said results of 235,542 out of the 237,154 candidates that sat for the examination were fully processed and released.

He also said 1,612 candidates (0.68%) had some of their subjects still being processed as a result of some errors.

Mr. Adenipekun, said 79,490 candidates (33.51%) got six credits and above while 113,573 others (47.88%) obtained five credits.

Mathematics and English were among the subjects, he said.

A total of 146,253 candidates (61.67%) obtained credits and above in four subjects, 175,718 others (74.09%) got credits and above in three subjects and 200,304 candidates (84.46%) obtained credits and above in two subjects.

Mr. Adenipekun praised the supervisors, invigilators, custodians, security agencies and other ad-hoc personnel for their role in the conduct of the examination.

He also said that the results had already been uploaded online and could be accessed on the WAEC result website.

N1.04 trn fine: MTN refuses to pay, threatens court action

MTN Nigeria has finally concluded it would not pay the N1.04 trn fine, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC imposed on it, for its failure to disengage about 5.1 million improperly registered subscribers on its network in August and September 2015 and has decided to challenge the NCC in court. Not even the reduction of the fine to N780 billion last week by the commission, could sway the telecommunications company.

Addressing its shareholders, yesterday, MTN said that “all factors having a bearing on the matter have been thoroughly and carefully considered including a review of the circumstances leading to the fine and the subsequent letters received from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

“MTN Nigeria acting on legal advice has resolved that the manner of the imposition of the fine and the quantum thereof is not in accordance with the NCC’s powers under the Nigerian Communications Act. Accordingly, MTN has followed due process and has instructed its lawyers to proceed with an action in the Federal High Court in Lagos seeking the appropriate reliefs.

MTN is advised that in the current circumstances in line with the lis pendens rule (pending legal action) the parties are enjoined to restrain from taking further action until the matter is finally determined. This is consistent with previous judicial decisions in Nigeria”.

The telecommunications company said that notwithstanding this action, the company will continue to engage with the Nigerian authorities to try and ensure an amicable resolution in the best interests of the company, its stakeholders and the Nigerian authorities. The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, last week reduced the N1.04 trillion fine it imposed on MTN Nigeria to N780 billion. However, the commission also mandated the telecom operator to pay the fine on or before December 31, 2015.

Meanwhile, the MTN’s latest decision has attracted several reactions from stakeholders in the industry. While some agreed that MTN reserved the right to seek court interpretation to the issue, others warned of the consequences taking the matter to court might bring to both the company, the sector and the country at large particularly with the level of impact the sector has on foreign direct investment and the country’s GDP.

Chairman of the Association of  Licensed Telecommunications Operators in Nigeria, ALTON, Engr Gbenga Adebayo, said that although MTN has the right to seek court action as a company, over matters that were not clear to it, the implication of taking the matter to court is that investors who would have ordinarily strolled into the country to do business would have to wait to see the outcome of the case before doing so. “I hope this matter would be resolved amicably for the interest of all and the sector. No foreign investor would want to come to the sector now if the matter is in court until they see the direction of the resolution. That is an implication that may also tell on the contribution of the sector to the GDP” he added.

Also, President of Teledom Group, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, added that taking the matter to court may be a business decision following the nature of Nigeria’s judicial system. “Anything is possible. It may be a business decision, considering that before the case would go through all the levels to Supreme Court, it may have taken five years, of which they may have recouped a lot of gains to pay the fine. But if the court finds out there was an infraction and that the fine by NCC was in the right direction, MTN should know that it would not only pay the fine but also compensations. All these would also impact the sector in one way or the other. So amicable resolution would have served better option”.

In his reaction, President of Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria, ATCON, Engr Lanre Ajayi, said that going to court to seek clarification, was a right no one should fault MTN on, if all other options have been exhausted. He, however, said that he did not believe that it would impact the sector negatively in any way. The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, last week reduced the N1.04 trillion fine it imposed on MTN Nigeria to N780 billion.

However, the commission also mandated the telecom operator to pay the fine on or before December 31, 2015. The fine imposed on the telecom operator followed what NCC described as MTN’s inability to disconnect about 5.1 million Nigerian subscribers improperly registered on its network, after several warnings in August and September 2015.

Biafra: Jubilation in Enugu as Nnamdi Kanu regains freedom

Wild jubilation erupted in major streets of Enugu metropolis,Thursday, as the news of the release of detained Director,Radio Biafra,Nnamdi Kanu filtered in.

Nnamdi was arrested on October 17, by security operatives, shortly after he arrived Nigeria from his base in the United Kingdom which prompted over one month groundswell protests in the south-east and parts of south-south geopolitical zones demanding for his unconditional release.

Vanguard moved round Ogui Road,New Haven streets in Enugu,people especially youths were in a frenzy mood just as most relaxation spots were filled to the brim occasioned by his release.

New Leader of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra,MASSOB,Uchenna Madu who has being the arrowhead of the struggle for Kanu’s release said that,”the discharge,acquit of charges against Kanu by Nigerian Government is a triumph over forces of injustice,suppression,oppression and subjection against the oppressed Indigenous People of Biafra,IPOB.

“MASSOB’s consistency and uncompromised spirit under me has been vindicated. MASSOB shall continue with IPOB for genuine,committed Biafran non violent struggle. We salute our comrades in IPOB both at home and diaspora for their unrelenting ,courageous efforts,spirit of oneness in pursuing the vision and mission of IPOB.

“Nnamdi Kanu has become the hero of genuine Biafra agitation. Those who earlier oppose Nnamdi will cover their faces in shame. MASSOB hails the committed, eloquent, dedicated Igbo leaders who fearlessly assisted in the release of our brother,Kanu. MASSOB knows them,because we met and appealed to them and they responded. He shall be received in Biafraland as the greatest hero.”

OHANAEZE NDIGBO TASKS FG ON IMPLEMENTATION OF 2014 CONFAB RESOLUTIONS

Drawing from Nnamdi Kanu’s release,the apex Igbo socio-cultural group,Ohanaeze Ndigbo,yesterday,urged the Federal Government to quickly implement the resolutions of 2014 Confab report as a credible panacea that will address the grave injustices,neglect,marginalization the people of south-east geopolitical zone has been meted to.

General Secretary,Ohanaeze Ndigbo,Joe Nworgu told Vanguard on the telephone that,”Federal Government took the right action by releasing Nnamdi kanu. His arrest heightened tension. Now that he is freed, tension will reduce. Looking out of my office, in Ogui Road, thousands of people were jubilating.

“This is a pointer to the federal government that all is not well with the polity. Federal Government should set out to redress to long lying combustible material of injustice in the system.

Igbo want equity and fairness. We are peace loving people that play by the rules. We want justice in the system. We do not like the current exclusion. Yakubu Gowon’s three Rs should now be made to work.

A starting point will be the implantation of the 2014 confab resolutions. We hope federal government would handle the issues like a father of all.”

Court orders SSS to immediately release Nnamdi Kanu

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the State Security Service to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, on bail, unconditionally.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola gave the order while ruling on a bail application filed by Mr. Kanu’s counsel, Vincent Obeta.

Mr. Obeta had approached the Court with an application for the bail of his client, after the Court gave the SSS permission to detain Mr. Kanu for another 90 days.

At a previous hearing, Mr. Obeta told the Court that Mr. Kanu had already been held for 80 days, since his arrest by the SSS.

Justice Ademola, therefore, ruled that the continued detention of Mr. Kanu without trial violated Section 158 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution.

The Judge set aside his earlier Order authorizing the SSS to detain Mr. Kanu for a further 90 days.

Mr. Ademola said there was no law that permitted the SSS or any other Security Agency to detain any Nigerian for so long, without trial.

Mr. Kanu was arrested on October 17, 2015, after arriving Nigeria from the United Kingdom. His arrest triggered protests in South-East States with supporters demanding his immediate release.

Mr. Kanu was not in Court on  Thursday, and it was not immediately clear if he had been released.

Justice Ademola said his Ruling that Mr. Kanu be released unconditionally, especially due to the fact that the SSS had filed no charge against him in any court of jurisdiction.

Separately on Thursday, a Magistrate Court in Abuja granted bail to 13 people who were detained during a protest in support of Mr. Kanu.

The detainees were arrested on December 2, by the police when they appeared in court in solidarity with Mr. Kanu, who was at the time being tried at the Wuse magistrate court.

Mr. Kanu’s case at the lower court was struck out on Wednesday.

The Counsel to the 13 detainees, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, said that the police had obtained an Order from the Magistrate Court to have his Clients detained in prison.

“In that Order, the Magistrate Court asked that they be produced in Court on December 17,” Mr. Ejiofor stated.

He therefore issued a petition on behalf of his clients requesting that they be arraigned and subsequently discharged.

Upon arrival in Court, Thursday, Mr. Ejiofor informed the Court that his clients were present, but that the police brought them without filing any case against them, or making a request to further detain them.

Mr. Ejiofor told the Court that the Order for his Client’s detention was obtained in accordance with section 293 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and that section 296 of the Act allows the Court to release them in the face of present circumstances.

“Section 296 (6) of the ACJA allows persons detained pursuant to an Order made under section 293 of the same Act to be released and discharged; in the event of the failure of the detaining authority, to file for an extension of that detention or file a charge before a Court,” Mr. Ejiofor stated.

The Magistrate, Azubuike Okeagu, therefore ruled that the detainees be released and discharged, pursuant to section 296 (6) of the ACJA, 2015.

The 13 detainees, who were released, are Agbo Moses, Oruna Okechukwu, Ede Uchenna, Ede Emeka, Chidi Ogo, Ani Chukwuemeka, Ezenwankwo Obumneme, Chukwunonso Ekwonu, Anioke Charity, Oko Ugochi, Adibe Dorathy, Aluma Samuel, and Ochor Chigozie.

EFCC arrests Stallion Group Chief over N1.3billion “gift” to Dasuki, Yuguda

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested the Managing Director of Stallion Group, Harprrie Singh, for allegedly making N1.3billion ‘questionable payment’ to a former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda.

The Nigerian conglomerate, owned by the Vaswani brothers, is one of the major companies currently being questioned by the EFCC as part of the ongoing investigation into the messy arm procurement scandal in the office of a former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

A source at the Commission disclosed that Stallion’s name cropped up when investigators scrutinizing transactions carried out by the former NSA with Jabbama Company, a bureau de change operator, stumbled on evidence that Stallion Group also paid N1.375billion to the Company, although N100million of the money was later returned, leaving a balance of N1.275billion.

Investigation further revealed that Jabbama converted the money into United States Dollars ($114,750,000) and handed it to Mr. Yuguda, former Minister of State for Finance, who is already being prosecuted on multiple charges of fraud and money laundering.

Mr. Yuguda was said to have explained to EFCC interrogators that the N1.175billion received from the Stallion Group was at the instance of former NSA, Dasuki, for political purposes.

In the statement he volunteered to interrogators, EFCC sources said, Mr. Singh claimed his Company had a $170million contract with the ONSA to supply some vehicles and that, he had already supplied the first batch of 50 vehicles since November 2014 for which he was yet to be paid.

Additionally, he confessed that the money he gave to Mr. Yuguda was at the request of both Messrs Dasuki and Yuguda, to support their Party.

Detectives at the EFCC say they are trying to understand why a corporate organisation would, instead of making donation to any political cause through the relevant political parties, route the fund through the NSA.

They are also trying to understand whether the money was an inducement for a contract awarded to the Company by the NSA.

How Jonathan, Okonjo-Iweala illegally diverted N61.4 billion Abacha loot to NSA, Sambo Dasuki

The immediate past Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, illegally approved the transfer of at least N61.4 billion ($300 million and £5.5 million) from funds recovered from late dictator, Sani Abacha, to the Office of the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, few weeks to the 2015 presidential election.

The former Minister signed off on the transfer but then closed her eyes to how the funds were spent, requesting then President Goodluck Jonathan to directly demand accountability from Mr. Dasuki, according to documents seen by this newspaper.

The funds were never appropriated before they were transferred, a clear violation of Nigeria’s fiscal responsibility law.

Mr. Dasuki, alongside the former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, and founder of DAAR communications, owners of Africa Independent Television and Raypower radio network, Raymond Dokpesi, are being investigated for their roles in the disbursement of $2.1 billion and N643 billion meant for the procurement of arms to fight the raging insurgency in Nigeria’s North-East region.

The recovered Abacha loot are funds returned to the Nigerian Government from monies stolen from the Country’s treasury by Mr. Abacha.

The late dictator stole an estimated $5 billion from Nigeria and the money is being returned in tranches after agreements with Countries such as Switzerland and the United States of America. It is believed that not less than $700 million has been repatriated from Switzerland alone. It is not clear how much has been recovered in total.

But a letter signed by Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, showed that 50 per cent of the recently recovered Abacha loot was allotted for “urgent security need” such as the procurement of arms and ammunition while the other half was set aside to be used for development purposes.

The letter, dated January 20, 2015, which was addressed to Mr Jonathan, revealed that the money was transferred following a January 12, 2015 request by the office of the NSA under Mr Dasuki for funds for the procurement of arms and ammunition as well as intelligence equipment.

“Please find a request by the National Security Adviser (NSA) for the transfer of $300 million and £5.5 million of the recovered Abacha funds to an ONSA [Office of the National Security Adviser] operations account,” the letter read.

“The NSA has explained that this is to enable the purchase of ammunition, security, and other intelligence equipment for the security Agencies in order to enable them fully confront the ongoing Boko Haram threat."

“His request is sequel to the meeting you chaired with the Committee on the use of recovered funds where the decision was made that recovered Abacha funds would be split 50-50 between urgent security needs to confront Boko Haram and development need (including a portion for the Future Generations window of the Sovereign Wealth Fund),” Mrs Okojo-Iweala wrote.

She added that the letter was to seek Mr Jonathan’s approval for the funds to be disbursed to the ONSA.

The former Minister further explained that the money being transferred formed part of the Federal Government Independent Revenue.

However, instead of insisting on overseeing how the disbursed funds were spent as the Country’s Chief Financial Officer, she abdicated her responsibility, saying she expected Mr Dasuki to account directly to Mr Jonathan.

“This letter is to seek your approval to borrow these funds, for now, to disburse to the NSA. These funds form part of the projected Federal Government Independent Revenue, to be appropriated, in the light and for accountability, given the peculiar nature of security and intelligence transactions, we would expect the NSA to account to Your Excellency for the utilisation of the funds,” she concluded.

On a January 30, 2015 letter, Mr. Jonathan approved the transfer.

Appeal Court Upholds Tribunal’s Judgment Sacking Wike As Rivers State Governor

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Wednesday December 16, 2015, upheld the ruling of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which annulled Nyesome Wike’s victory in the April 11 Rivers State gubernatorial poll in the State.

Wike, who contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, appealed the Tribunal’s Judgment nullifying his election.

In a unanimous decision, the three-man panel of the Court of Appeal led by Justice M.B Dongban-Mensem, ruled that the Governor’s election did not conform with the Electoral Act.

The appellate court, therefore, ordered a fresh election within 90 days and asked Wike to vacate the seat immediately.

Dokpesi Granted Bail On Strict Conditions

Media mogul and owner of Daar Communications, High Chief Raymond Alegho Dokpesi has been granted bail by a High Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. 

Although, Dokpesi’s bail conditions were very stringent as the conditions put forward by the Court was very strict. The Edo-born high-chief will be remanded in FCT Prisons, Kuje until his bail conditions are met.

According to the Court Ruling, Dokpesi can only released on a Release Warrant signed by the judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole.

The conditions for bail are N200 million each (N400m) by two sureties, the first surety must be a Director of Civil Service or retired as such under pension. He must also present a letter by his boss to show same.

The second surety may be an independent entrepreneur but must present evidence of tax payments for the last three years. The sureties must also submit their passports to the Court.

The Judge also made an Order that Dokpesi cannot be re-arrested by the EFCC without a written Order from him. The judge added that if the Agency needs Dokpesi for interrogation, he can only be invited between 10am to 6pm. Anything contrary to that will be an abuse of Court Orders.

The Judge also affirmed that the Sureties must also sign that if the Accused jumps bail, they will stand in for him.

More details later.

EFCC may invite Sanusi Lamido for questioning

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is said to be at a fix on how to invite former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Sanusi Lamido to explain what he knows about the looted funds meant for the procurement of arms.

Sanus was removed as head of the apex bank by the immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan after he accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, of not remitting $20 billion of oil proceeds into the National treasury.

After his removal as CBN Governor, Sanusi went ahead to become the Emir of Kano, an influential traditional and religious leader in the northern part of Nigeria.

According to the newspaper, EFCC operatives investigating the arms deal are keen on interrogating the Emir, but are not sure on what to do to get the traditional and religious ruler to state what he knows about the numerous disbursements of funds from the CBN to the Office of the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, (Rtd), who has been arraigned for money laundering, breach of public trust and diversion of public funds.

The Commission is said to be contemplating on whether to secretly go to him or invite the Emir for questioning on the movements of funds during his tenure as head of CBN and why such disbursements were never questioned or declined by him.

The reports say a source from the EFCC said they were keen on getting first hand information from the Emir in such a way that it would not bring the Commission into trouble with any individual or group.