There was pandemonium at the Sheikh Abubakar Gumi Central Market, Kaduna, on Thursday as a yet-to-be-identified soldier allegedly stabbed a shoe seller to death.
The soldier, according to an eyewitness, narrowly escaped being lynched.
He was, however, beaten up by traders in the market.
The incident was said to have created confusion as many ran helter-skelter.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Yakubu Sabo, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the phone.
Sabo said the incident involved four soldiers, three of whom were at large.
He identified the slain trader as Yusuf.
An eyewitness, who simply identified himself as Lawal, said trouble started when the deceased trader approached the soldiers to advertise his shoes.
He said no one could say what transpired between the soldiers and the trader, as one of the soldiers pulled out a jackknife and stabbed the victim on his stomach.
“Immediately other traders saw what happened, they pursued and held the one that stabbed the boy and beat him thoroughly,” Lawal said.
The Secretary of the Sheikh Gumi Central Market Union, Alhaji Aliyu Shuaibu(Fancy), who also confirmed the incident, said the soldier was rescued and taken to an undisclosed hospital in the metropolis.
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He said immediately the incident occurred, market officials, not wanting the incident to escalate, put a call to security officials, including the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan.
The police spokesman said the soldier at the centre of the incident was brought in unconscious and that he was being treated while investigation was ongoing.
Sabo said, “There was such an incident today(Thursday) involving a group of four soldiers. The soldiers had a misunderstanding with a trader called Yusuf at the Sheikh Abubakar Gumi Central Market which resulted in one of the soldiers removing his jackknife and stabbing the said Yusuf.
“He(Yusuf) was rushed to the Yusuf Dantsoho Specialist Hospital but later confirmed dead. One of the soldiers was arrested and he is currently undergoing investigation, while the other three are still at large.”
NBA faults AGF, Fayemi says security agencies partnered govs on Amotekun
The Nigerian Bar Association has cautioned the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), about his opposition to the South-West security outfit, Operation Amotekun.
The National Publicity Secretary of the NBA, Mr Kunle Edun, stated this in an interview with one of our correspondents on Wednesday evening, while responsible on behalf of the association to Malami’s statement that Operation Amotekun was illegal.
Faulting the AGF, Edun said Malami should not be too legalistic on protection of lives and property, saying in “civilized climes security is everyone’s business.”
Prominent Nigerians, including the Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka; an ex-Chairman of the NBA, Mr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN; human rights lawyers, Femi Falana, SAN, and Ebu-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), had kicked against the AGF’s pronouncement.
The South-West governors on Thursday last week, launched Operation Amotekun, to tackle a series of killings and kidnapping in the zone by Fulani herdsmen.
But following Malami’s pronouncement, the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, who is also the Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum, on Wednesday, said the zone would first seek a political solution to the AGF’s opposition. “If that fails, we will go to court and allow the court to decide,” he added.
The NBA spokesman, in the interview with The PUNCH, advised Malami to drive collaboration between states and the Federal Government instead of being too legalistic over security issues.
Edun expressed worry about the deteriorating security situation in the country, which he said must have driven the six South-West governors to come up with the Amotekun security arrangement.
He stated, “For many years, the Federal Government has been assuring Nigerians of community policing. Nigerians are still expectant of it coming to reality.
“Nigerians can no longer sleep with their eyes closed. No one can travel safely on our roads again without the fear of being kidnapped or killed by bandits.
“I think that it is out of concern for the security of lives and property of the residents in the states that constitute the South-West that made the governors of the South-West states to come up with the Amotekun security initiative. Similar security outfits exist in some states in the North.
“The law allows a person or group of persons to protect themselves within the framework of the law and/or report untoward activities to the police. What is needed now is collaboration and partnership between the South-West governors and the Federal Government to agree on the best security formula. It should be a win-win situation.
“The honourable Attorney General of the Federation may have his reasons for saying that Amotekun is an illegal outfit. However, it would be helpful if he helps drive the process of partnership and collaboration on the security initiative. It is in this wise that we advise extreme caution and restraint.
“We should not be too legalistic on processes that are intended to protect lives and property of Nigerians, provided it does not constitute a threat to the existence of the country. Should the parties feel strong about the position taken by each of them, resort should be to the courts to determine the rights of the parties.
“Governors of the states of the federation are the chief security officers of their states and huge security votes are expended in addressing security issues, for the protection of lives and property,” adding that “ in civilized climes security is everyone’s business and not the exclusive responsibility of a particular organ of government.”
A British prosecutor on Thursday launched a fresh attempt to confiscate millions of pounds stolen by a former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, who was convicted of money laundering and graft in Britain.
About £117m known proceeds of crime is being targeted but only a portion of the sum was likely to be recoverable.
The case, according to Reuters, is expected to last around four weeks.
Ibori, who was governor of Delta State from 1999 to 2007, pleaded guilty at London’s Southwark Crown Court in 2012 to 10 counts of fraud and money laundering.
He was sentenced to 13 years in prison but was released in December 2016 and is back in Nigeria.
Reuters reported that the prosecution counsel, Jonathan Kinnear, began listing assets that Britain seeks to confiscate from Ibori and return to Nigeria at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday.
In 2013, a first attempt was made in Britain to confiscate Ibori’s assets, but it was aborted after three weeks of hearings because of unresolved legal disputes.
The confiscation process was stalled for several years while Ibori and several of his associates, who have been convicted based on their roles in the money laundering, appealed unsuccessfully against their conviction.
During his time in office, Ibori, 57, amassed a portfolio of luxury properties in Nigeria, London, Washington, Houston and Johannesburg.
Reuters reported that the ex-governor’s lifestyle during those years was a far cry from his modest beginnings in life.
Britain’s National Crime Agency estimates that around £1bn in dirty money moves into or through the United Kingdom every year.
The Federal Government on Thursday said it would crash the price of petrol by providing Compressed Natural Gas as an alternative source of fuel for vehicles nationwide.
The CNG is a fuel that can be used in the place of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol. It can also be used in the place of diesel and Liquefied Petroleum Gas.
Speaking on what the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources would work on this year during a press conference in Abuja, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, stated that the Federal Government was working for the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill before May.
He further stated that moves by the Federal Government to recover $62bn from international oil companies were seemingly impossible, as no such money was sitting anywhere to be harvested by the country.
Sylva further declared that the Nigerian oil and gas sector was retrogressing, particularly when compared to oil sector of other nations.
He stated that the use of petrol had caused serious drain on the finances of the Federal Government as a result of the continued subsidy on the commodity.
Explaining how the government intends to crash petrol price, Sylva said, “When you say we are thinking about reducing the pump price of petrol, I could easily say yes. Why I could say yes is because we are looking at giving the masses an alternative.
“Today, we are using the PMS but what we want to do, going forward, is to see that we are able to move the masses to the CNG. If we take all transport vehicles to the use of the CNG, you would have impacted the poor positively.”
Sylva said findings by government showed that the CNG cost less than the subsidised PMS and that once the CNG was fully deployed, the price of fuel would crash.
“The subsidised rate of the PMS per litre is N145 but the CNG cost between N95 to N97 per litre and that is why I said that we want to reduce the cost of fuel,” he stated.
He said Nigeria had abundant gas and that deploying the CNG would not be tough for the country.
“Nigeria’s gas reserve is significant. Nigeria currently has estimated 202TCF (trillion standard cubic feet) of gas, with a projection of 600TCF,” Sylva said.
On the PIB, the minister said, “We are optimistic that both the Petroleum Industry Governance Administration and Host Communities Bill, on the one hand, and the Petroleum Industry Fiscal Bill, on the other hand, will be passed within the first anniversary of the second tenure of this administration.”
Commenting on moves by the Federal Government to recover $62bn from international oil companies based on an October 17 judgment of the Supreme Court, Sylva stated that it was practically impossible to recoup such funds from the IOCs.
He declared that no $62bn was anywhere for release by the IOCs and explained that it was best for the government to sit and discuss with the oil firms on how to go about the issue.
The Federal Government had through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation written to the IOCs, demanding various sums of money on the basis of the Supreme Court judgment.
The court had ordered the Federal Government to recoup all revenues lost to oil-exploring and exploiting companies due to wrong profit-sharing formula since August 2003.
Sylva said, “Yes there was a provision in the amended Deep Offshore Act, but when we had crude oil prices above $20 per barrel, the Federal Government should have asked for some form of increase in its take.
“Unfortunately we didn’t activate that aspect. You will not blame the Federal Government or the oil companies for not activating that aspect of the Act. You will agree that $62bn could not have been sitting somewhere for us to harvest; it is not possible.”
The minister stated that Nigeria was retrogressing in the oil sector, particularly when compared to other nations that started at similar times with Nigeria in the oil and gas business.
The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Adewale Martins, says the Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, could be banned from preaching if he continues to deviate from the doctrines and tenets of the Catholic Church.
Martins, who was appointed Archbishop of Lagos by the Pope in 2012, said this during an interview with the BBC Igbo while reacting to Mbaka’s prophecy that Hope Uzodinma would emerge as governor of Imo State.
Mbaka had on New Year’s Eve prophesied that Uzodinma would emerge as governor in 2020, a prophecy which came to pass on Tuesday when the Supreme Court sacked Emeka Ihedioha and named Uzodinma as the duly elected governor.
Reacting to the prophecy, which has stirred heated debate, the archbishop said Mbaka was under the Diocese of Enugu and did not report to him.
He, however, said if Mbaka continued in the manner he was doing things, the Catholic Church may bar him from ministering.
Martins said, “Fr. Mbaka falls under the authority of the Bishop of Enugu Diocese and therefore he has the responsibility of cautioning him. I can imagine that this must be giving the bishop some challenges.
“It must be giving him a bit of a headache and I feel sorry for him and I hope he will find some way of dealing with this matter that has been recurring. Of course, what could be done in the end is either to say, ok you receive the sanction of being stopped from public ministry. That is a possibility. If it is not done, there must be a reason.”
Martins, who was ordained a priest in 1983, said the Catholic Church does not engage in partisan politics.
He said even if Mbaka received a prophecy from God, he ought to ensure that his conduct corresponds with the scriptures and the doctrine of the Catholic Church.
The archbishop added, “It is utterly surprising that Fr Mbaka would go as far as naming one person as governor against another. It is embarrassing when you hear of priests or people in position of authority making statements that are clearly partisan.
“The position of the Catholic Church on matters that have to do with politics is not to be partisan. Of course, we as a church cannot be oblivious to political events and happenings in the country or the world at large and therefore we must speak from the point of view of principles.
“The priest who believes he has a gift of prophecy has to test whatever has been told to him in the light of the scriptures, in the light of the teachings of the church and in terms of the authority that has been given to leaders in the church.”
Martins said Mbaka’s behaviour was at variance with the teachings of the Catholic Church and he had fallen below the standard expected of priests.
Mbaka, who was ordained a Catholic priest in 1995, has been known to give many controversial prophecies.
In 2002, he prophesied that the then Governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani, would not return to office in the election but the governor won a second term.
In 2015, Mbaka prophesied that President Goodluck Jonathan would lose to the current President, Maj Gen Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), which came true.
Fifty years ago, a devastating civil war that killed more than one million people in Nigeria came to an end.
Most of those who lost their lives in what became known as the Biafran war died from fighting, disease and starvation during the two-and-a-half-year conflict.
In 1967, Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the military governor of Nigeria’s then-Eastern Region inhabited mainly by Igbo people, accused the federal government of marginalising and killing thousands of ethnic Igbos living in the north.
On May 30 of that year, Odumegwu-Ojukwu declared the former Eastern Region a sovereign and independent republic under the name of Biafra – a unilateral move rejected by the federal authorities.
A bloody civil war ensued, with federal troops deployed to stop the secessionist movement.
The Nigerian forces cut off aid and access to the area throughout the war, which ended with the surrender of Biafra in January 1970.
The Republic of Biafra ceased to exist and General Yakubu Gowon, the leader of the federal government, famously declared that there was “no victor, no vanquished” in the war.
Fifty years on, the scars are yet to heal for many, including former fighters who suffered injuries and others who lost their loved ones and suffered huge economic losses.
On Monday, at a “Never Again” conference held in Nigeria’s commercial capital of Lagos, Igbo leaders from the southeast urged the government to step up development efforts in the region and called for increased political inclusion and economic support to end fresh calls for a breakaway Biafra state.
In 2017, a regional court ordered the Nigerian government to pay 50 billion nairas ($138m, today’s prices) in damages to civil war victims. The Economic Community of West African States Court of Justice also ruled that 38 billion nairas ($105m, today’s prices) should be put towards evacuating abandoned lethal weapons which deprived southeast communities of farmland since the civil war ended.
But for Canada-based Igbo leader Benjamin Allison, financial reparation is not enough.
“You cannot compensate anyone for past injuries without an acknowledgement that a damage or harm had been done to them. Nonetheless, the only true compensation the Igbos seek from Nigeria at this point is a government based on fairness, equity and justice,” Allison said.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in 2017 approved the payment of pensions of former police officers who served in Biafra during the civil war. The officers were granted a presidential pardon in 2000 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The Nigerian government has repeatedly said it is committed to developing the region and recently undertook a series of road projects.
But Vincent Nnanna, who was barely 10 years old when the civil war broke out and was recruited to assist the Biafran soldiers with clerical work in Abia state, is not convinced by the government’s efforts so far.
“The clamour for equity and respect for fundamental human rights by the Igbos in particular and the southeast at large has continued to fall on deaf ears,” he said.
‘Continued agitation’
Separatist sentiment has not been wished away, and in recent years the pro-Biafra movement has seen some resurgence. The red, black and green flag of Biafra with a rising golden sun still dots the frontage of some commercial buildings and houses in the southeast region.
Rights group Amnesty International accused the country’s security forces of killing at least 150 Biafra separatists at peaceful rallies between August 2015 and August 2016 and detaining hundreds demonstrating in support of a breakaway state. The military and police denied the allegations.
Nnamdi Kanu, a leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) group, is the most visible face of the movement. He was held for nearly two years for treasonable felony charges before being granted bail on health grounds in April 2017.
Kanu fled Nigeria under controversial circumstances in 2018 but still coordinates the group’s activities from his base in the United Kingdom.
In 2017, following a number of IPOB-organised protests across Nigeria over a period of years, the government banned the group and declared it a “terrorist organisation”.
“They masquerade as a separatist movement, yet they endanger the very people they claim to represent,” Information Minister Lai Mohammed said in a 2017 statement about the government’s move to outlaw the group.
“In reality, IPOB cares about IPOB and nothing more.”
The government’s pronouncement, however, has not stopped the group’s activities – especially overseas where it enjoys the support of millions of Igbos in the diaspora.
“Continued agitation for Biafra is impelled and spurred by state-sponsored or supported injustice which left most Igbo youth with a sense of hopelessness and lack of outlets to express their … talents, potentials and ambitions,” Allison said.
He alleged that no real effort has been made to develop the region, support business, create jobs and ensure adequate security.
Nnanna, however, said he is not happy with the approach of those leading the calls for a new Biafra.
“The regrets I have over Biafra is that since after the death of the forebears, some mercenaries have emerged on the scene purporting to have the spiritual mandate to champion the Biafran cause to a positive conclusion – only for them to herd the … crowd onto a blind alley, leaving the agitators confused and almost disillusioned,” Nnanna said.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Sarki, a public affairs analyst, called for more efforts towards reconciliation.
“The continued discussions about the Biafra war won’t help the country to move forward. Our leaders already declared that no side won the war. We need to forget the past and focus on how to fix Nigeria,” Sarki said.
“The civil war was not a pleasant experience for many people, not just Igbos. We are better as a united country.”
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN) has described the new security outfit in the South-West( Operation Amotekun) as illegal.
He said the security and defence of the country are within the exclusive duties of the Federal Government.
He said no state government, whether singly or in a group has the legal right and competence to establish any form of security organization or agency for the defence of Nigeria or any of its constituent parts.
He said the law will take its course on any group or association linked with Operation Amotekun.
He expressed regrets that his office was not consulted for legal advice by the proponents of Operation Amotekun.
Malami made the Federal Government’s positions known in a statement through his Special Adviser on Media and Public Relations, Dr. Umaru Gwandu.
The statement reads:: “The Federal Republic of Nigeria is a sovereign entity and is governed by laws meant to sustain its corporate existence as a constitutional democracy. It is a Federation of states, but with the Federal Government superintending over matters of national interests.
“The division of executive and legislative authority between the Federal and State Governments has been clearly defined by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
“It is against the same background that matters relating to the peace, order and good government of the Federation and in particular, the defence of the country, are enshrined in the Exclusive Legislative List. The Second Schedule in Item 17 deals with defence.
“This is a matter that is within the exclusive operational competence of the Federal of Government of Nigeria. No other authority at the state level, whether the executive or legislature has the legal authority over defence.”
The AGF faulted the setting up of Operation Amotekun.
He said the law will take its course on any group or association linked with Operation Amotekun
He added: “The setting up of the paramilitary organization called “Amotekun” is illegal and runs contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian law. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) has established the Army, Navy and Air Force,including the Police and other numerous paramilitary organisations for the purpose of the defence of Nigeria.
“As a consequence of this, no State Government, whether singly or in a group has the legal right and competence to establish any form of
organization or agency for the defence of Nigeria or any of its constituent parts.
“This is sanctioned by the provision of Item 45 of
the Second Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) authorizing the Police and other Federal
government security services established by law to maintain law and order.
“The law will take its natural course in relation to excesses associated with organization, administration and participation in “Amotekun” or continuous association with it as an association.
“Finally, it is important to put on record that the Office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice was not consulted on the matter. If it had, proper information and guidance would have been offered to ensure that Nigeria’s defence and corporate entity are preserved at all times.”
Nigerien President Issoufou Mahamadou fired the country’s top security chiefs on Monday, in a move that sent a strong message to citizens about his handling of recent security crisis in the country.
Mr Mahamodou ordered immediate replacement of the chief of army staff, Ahmed Mohamed, days after terrorists killed 89 soldiers on January 9.
Local media initially reported preliminary military account as saying 25 soldiers and 63 terrorists were killed during the firefight at the forward operating base near the border with Mali. The death toll was later updated, putting military casualties at 89 while 77 terrorists were killed.
The attack in Chinagodrar, in the country’s southwest, was the third targeting military asset in a month, leading to at least 160 deaths.
At least 71 soldiers were reportedly killed in attacks on December 10 and 25. Terrorists linked to Al-Qaeda and Islamic State have ramped up attacks in the Sahel in recent months, targeting mainly Niger and Burkina Faso.
Mr Mohamed, a lieutenant-general who has served as the country’s army chief for two years, was replaced by Salifou Modi, a major-general, Nigerien media reported.
The country’s defence secretary and chief of land staff were also fired and immediately replaced, reports said. The president declared a three-day national summit before proceeding on a trip to France for a security summit.
There was no immediate comment from any armed group for the attack, but it bore the markings of the Islamic State, whose Boko Haram affiliate has killed thousands of Nigerian soldiers in multiple attacks since July 2018.
The high death toll of Nigerian soldiers prompted calls for President Muhammadu Buhari, who has sent condolences to Niger over the January 9 attacks, to sack military chiefs, especially army chief Tukur Buratai.
However, attacks on Nigerian military bases have reduced since October 2019, prompting relief that a recent change in counter-insurgency strategy might finally see an end to the 10-year long war.
Some suspects have been arrested for firing the missile that brought down a passenger plane shortly after takeoff in Iraq’s main airport.
The judiciary spokesperson, Iran, Gholamhossein Esmali, said “extensive investigation has taken place and some individuals are arrested,” on Tuesday. He did not give further information on the arrest.
About 176 passengers were killed on Wednesday morning, en route to Kyiv from Tehran.
The plane was brought down a couple of hours after Iran had launched missile attacks on U.S. targets in Iraq. The attack was in retaliation for the assassination of Iranian Military Chief Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad on January 3.
Initially, Iran denied having any involvement in the crash blaming it on technical difficulties. “The plane caught fire due to a technical defect and this resulted in a crash,” the transport minister of Iran Mohammed Eslami had said on Thursday.
Nevertheless, further investigations proved that the missile attack brought the plane down.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, on Thursday stated that “evidence indicates that the plane was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile.”
Iran on Saturday, admitted that indeed the plane that was brought down was due to a missile fired at it by its officials ‘mistakenly’. This acknowledgement led to protests against senior officials which included Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
According to Aljazeera, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday in a televised address promised that a thorough investigation would be carried out.
He said, “for our people, it is very important in this incident that whoever was at fault or negligent at any level faces justice, anyone who should be punished must be punished.”
He commended the government’s admission of shooting down the plane, saying it is a “first good step.”
He said such occurrences will not happen again and that his government was “accountable to Iranian and other nations who lost lives in the plane crash.”
A trader, Anthony Okolie, who was arrested by the Department of State Services and detained for 10 weeks, has sued the DSS for N500m.
Okolie, in a suit filed before the Federal High Court in Asaba, Delta State, by his lawyer, Tope Akinyode, also demanded N500m from Hanan Buhari, the daughter of the President, Major General Muhammadu (retd.), as well as a telecommunications company, MTN.
The suit, with number FHC/ASB/CS/3/2020, is seeking an order to “compel the respondents (DSS, Hanan and MTN) jointly or severally to pay the applicant the sum of N500,000,000 only as general and aggravated damages for the gross and unlawful violation of the applicant’s right to acquire moveable properties, freedom of movement and self dignity.”
The 33-year-old man said in a supporting affidavit that he was arrested on July 19, 2019, in Asaba, Delta State, for using a telephone line that was previously owned by Hanan.
According to him, he remained in custody, bound by handcuffs, till September 22, 2019, as the DSS waited for Hanan, who was schooling in the United Kingdom, to come and clear him but she never did.
Okolie also attached the receipt he was issued after purchasing the SIM card as well as the SIM certificate.
The affidavit read in part, “That on December 8, 2019, at Ogbeogonogo Market, Nebu Road, Asaba, Delta State, I purchased a SIM card with Phone Number, 09035666662, for the sum of N1,000 only and I received a SIM pack with accompanying documents as a result as evidence of purchase receipt.
“That in line with relevant regulations, I approached a kit operator of the 3rd respondent (MTN) named Jeff, who captured my biometric and registered the SIM card in my name and on my behalf.
“That in July, 2019, I visited my business associate at his residence in Asaba and saw him being taken away by officers of the 1st respondent (DSS). During the process, they obtained information from him on who he communicated with last over the phone and my associated announced that it was me.
“That immediately afterwards, officers of the 1st respondent (DSS) arrested me and led me to their vehicle, asking me to keep quiet and drove me to their offices in Asaba, Delta, State.
“That after a while, they disclosed that my arrest was ordered by the Presidency and I had to be taken to Abuja for further interrogation on which basis they drove me to Abuja by road the following day.”
The applicant stated that he explained to the DSS how he bought the SIM card but he was informed that the phone line, which was linked to his SIM card, was once used by Hanan.
“They thereafter labelled me a criminal for using a phone line that previously belonged to the 2nd respondent,” he said.
Okolie alleged that because of the personality involved, his case file was tagged, ‘First Family’ and he was denied access to his lawyers.
The trader claimed that his mother, who was not allowed to see him, developed high blood pressure while he lost a N5m business deal.
He added, “They also disclosed to me that the President wants to see me and my case was boldly earmarked, First Family. Based on the foregoing, officers of the 1st respondent (DSS) maintained that the 2nd respondent (Hanan) must be available to clarify her allegations against me before I was allowed freedom from their facilities.
“That the 2nd respondent (Hanan) was contacted several times by officers of the 1st respondent (DSS) but the 2nd respondent (Hanan) declined making herself available by claiming that she was busy with studies in the United Kingdom.”
Okolie asked the court to declare that his long detention was an abuse of his fundamental human rights.
He asked the court to declare that the actions of the DSS contravened sections 35 and 34 of the 1999 Constitution.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN) has described the new security outfit in the South-West( Operation Amotekun) as illegal.
