The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

Drug war, traffickers and option of fine

Sir: The staggering volume of drugs seized by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, weekly, sometimes makes me jittery each time I read their operational successes in what has now become a Sunday-Sunday dosage of their press statements.

What is more worrisome is the issue of court fines often issued by some judges when delivering judgements in the cases of major drug trafficking offenders. I am baffled because these seem to undermine the whole essence of the drug war in Nigeria. Within the last eight months, the news reports surrounding the arrest, prosecution and conviction of two notable drug kingpins: Uwaezuoke Ikenna Christian, and Christian Ifeanyi Ogbuji with similar court verdicts are clear examples of court rulings that will not help the country in her war against drug use and dealing.

According to the reports available online, Uwaezeoke Christian who was first arrested on March 19, 2022 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja during the inward clearance of Ethiopian Airline flight from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia had ingested a total of 100 big wraps of cocaine weighing 2.243 kilograms. He was arraigned in an Abuja Federal High Court and granted bail under definite conditions, but he later absconded, though his bail conditions were revoked and arrest warrant issued. This unrepentant drug dealer would reappear 16 months later on August 1, 2023, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos, using a different passport, under a different name “Ilonzeh Kingsley Onyebuchi.”

He was rearrested by the NDLEA operatives. This time, he was reattempting to export 1.822 kilograms of cocaine to India through ingestion, the same method he used before at the Abuja Airport. He pleaded guilty to the two counts charge preferred against him; he was convicted and sentenced on October 18, 2023 to a total term of seven years imprisonment or a fine of ₦1,500,000.00. The drug dealer ceremoniously and joyfully paid the fine and was transferred to Abuja to face the importation case pending against him.

In a matching report, Christian Ifeanyi Ogbuji on arrival from Uganda via Addis Ababa, on board Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 951 was first arrested by NDLEA operatives on Wednesday May 10, 2023 having being found to have ingested 93 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.986 kilograms. Subsequently arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja, he was convicted on July 13, 2023, and sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of paying a fine of N3 million. Again this drug dealer opted for the fine, happily paid and was set free. Fast forward to Wednesday September 18 during an inward clearance of Ethiopian Airlines flight passengers from Addis Ababa to Lagos, Ogbuji was arrested with a total of 817 pellets of cocaine excreted by many traffickers in Addis Ababa weighing 19.40kg.

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Evidently, these two scenarios bring to our faces the sad reality of the option of fines for drug kingpins. The option of fines as a way out for drug dealers and their protégés in our judicial system certainly encourages them to continue to engage in criminal and illicit acts of drug dealing across the world, undermining our justice system and the current concerted drug control efforts.

What this means is that Nigeria can’t continue on this path of option of fine for drug dealing offenders who end up as recidivists. Who will tell our judiciary the fine option is not reforming these criminal elements or helping our country? Who will tell the National Assembly as a matter of urgency to conclude the amendment of the NDLEA Act by removing the option for fine?

For the sake of public health, law and order, our future and those of our children, it will be good if someone will help deliver this message now.

•Agbontaen Okogun,Benin City, Edo State.

October 4, 2024
Way out of housing sector challenges
- By Chime Adesanya
Sir: Housing challenge in Nigeria has been endemic. Talk of unavailability of serviced plots or plots of land that are not ready for housing development, lack of necessary basic infrastructures that will facilitate smooth development, or a good title that will enhance the marketability of the land, especially after one might have develop or build houses on it; yet, the challenges are not difficult to resolve.

Finance is the major impediment to housing provision and delivery. Housing development is capital intensive, no matter the standard and scope of work you want to do; you need quite a lot of money to accomplish it.

To compound the challenge of finance is the absence of efficient, comprehensive and organised mortgage finance system that would have granted easy access to housing. Central Bank of Nigeria initiative in collaboration with the World Bank in setting up the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company Plc (NRMC) is expected to boost mortgage financing and home ownership schemes in the country, but it is yet to yield appreciable outcomes. Someday, I hope that the generality of our people would be able to access mortgage facilities.

Going forward, housing sector must be properly regulated and its activities coordinated to address low quality of housing development and absence of mass and affordable housing. There should be regulations. We must checkmate infiltration of the sector by land speculators and non-professionals. There is need to identify professional real estate developers just as it is being done in other climes such as United Arab Emirates, America and United Kingdom. Failure to do these is dangerous to the sector and might even put the practitioners in confusion.

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Another hindrance to housing development which we all know is the Land Use Act. That is why the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers have been calling for a review of the Act, and this cannot easily be done until it is removed from the constitution. In the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians, we need to review the Land Use Act.

The challenge of ineffective housing finance must be sorted out in as much as it would be impossible to segregate finance from housing. We must address the fundamentals of poor economy.

Government needs to strengthen its legal and regulatory framework for mortgages, including property rights, land registration, and foreclosure procedures to enable a virile and robust mortgage system. Clear and unambiguous property rights, fast land registration processes, and well-defined foreclosure procedures can give lenders and borrowers better security, perhaps leading to additional mortgage lending.

•Chime Adesanya,

Lagos.
October 3, 2024
Is Soludo on the ropes?
- By Pat Onukwuli
Sir: From the bustling streets of Onitsha through the suave spots of Awka to the serene corners of Nnewi, the timeless borders of Anambra’s cities have witnessed the rise and fall of leaders, those who carved their names in stone and those who faded into whispers of time. Effectively, one year away from the conclusion of his tenure, Governor Charles Soludo, once a beacon of hope, finds himself on precarious ground. The sacking of his media team, the closing of political opponents’ offices, and his increasingly hardened rhetoric signal a shift that raises a fundamental question: Is he on the ropes?

The sacking of a media team is a trite chapter in the books of troubled governments. When a leader starts blaming the people tasked with managing his public image, it often reveals a deep-seated anxiety about lost control. It is a signal of panic.

Soludo’s case is more than just an administrative reshuffling; it is the frantic reaction of a principal who knows his tenure has not gone as planned. He is like the potter whose clay has begun to crack, and instead of pausing to mend the flaws, he angrily blames the wheels. Yet, the pot remains unshaped, and Ndi Anambra watch in despair as their leader loses his grip.

Soludo came into power with a massive mandate of hope to transform the state into a hub of progress. The people believed in his promises and that he was the right man to steer them through turbulent waters. But like the evening sun that sets too soon, his time is running out, and the golden promises he once made are dimming. The roads to be paved with progress remain potholed; the infrastructure remains neglected, and the once-vibrant markets of Main Market, Ochanja, Afor Nkpor, New Parts and Mgbuka struggle under insecurity, poor governance, and high taxation.

It is usual for leaders to look for scapegoats in moments of crisis, but Soludo has no one to blame but himself. His government’s failures are not the result of external sabotage or unfair targeting. They result from squandered goodwill, poor decisions, and an inability to focus on what truly matters. Instead of building bridges with the institutions that could have supported his legacy, he quarrelled. He took on the traditional institution of the state, locked horns with the clergy, and fought political opponents who dared to criticise him.

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Rather than continuing this path of distraction and blame-shifting, Governor Soludo must look hard in the mirror. His new media team may try to spin a different narrative, but no amount of rebranding will change the reality on the ground if he does not change track. People’s goodwill cannot be rebuilt through spin but earned through results. As the saying goes, you do not have unsuitable soldiers but bad generals. His administration’s failures are not due to poor communication but poor leadership.

As he appears to be on the ropes, it is not too late to regain his balance. He must let go of the distractions, the quarrels, the blame games. As the curtain falls, he must stop being the bull in the China shop, wrecking everything in frustration. Instead, he should be the potter who mends what is broken and the shepherd who guides his flock through the storm. He must, therefore, become the calm leader Ndi Anambra once believed in, a ruler who can still make a difference if he chooses to focus on the work that truly matters.

Ultimately, history will judge him not by the fights he fought but by the promises he kept. If he fails to turn the tide, his name will join the long list of Nigerian politicians who rose with great promise only to fall to the whims of ego and mis-governance.

As the sun sets on his tenure, the question remains: Will Soludo rise from the ropes and fight for his legacy, or will he continue down the path of panic and distraction, leaving behind nothing but broken promises and shattered dreams? The choice is his, and the clock is ticking.

•Pat Onukwuli PhD

Bolton, UK.
October 3, 2024
Independence Day anniversary message
- By Ochiagha Reagan Ufomba
Sir: At 64, Nigeria stands as a paradox. Our potential is immense, yet we are still navigating a road marked by struggles. Our economy, though resilient, continues to face significant hurdles such as insecurity, inflation, unemployment, and poverty. Many of our citizens are burdened by the rising cost of living, while others grapple with the complexities of insecurity, navigating an evolving global economy. For too many, access to basic needs: healthcare, education, and security, remains a distant dream.

However, despite these challenges, we must recognize the remarkable resilience of our people. Our youth, ever determined, are driving change through innovation, entrepreneurship, and activism. Our farmers continue to feed the nation, our educators nurture the minds of tomorrow, and our artists and entertainers shine on the global stage. The strength of our institutions, though often tested, continues to hold us together. We salute them all.

As we reflect on the labours of our heroes past and present, we are reminded of the sacrifices that paved the way for our independence: the values that bind us together, rather than the shenanigans that divide us.

It is their courage, their vision, and their commitment to a free and prosperous nation that have shaped the Nigeria we know today. We honour their legacy and promise to continue the work they began.

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In the spirit of continuity, unity, and progress, we embrace the economic principles that have guided us in the past and continue to chart our course toward a brighter future. We recognize that our prosperity lies in those noble philosophies that light our path to economic progress, and in our ability to harness both our abundant resources and the ingenuity of providing an enabling environment for businesses to thrive. Through strategic electoral reforms anchored on two-party system, a truly independent electoral system, an independent judiciary, a robust infrastructure development, and the diversification of our economy, we shall build a future where no Nigerian is left behind.

On this Independence Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to the ideals of hard work, equity, justice, and sustainable development. We must continue to strive for the progress that is envisioned in The Nigerian Project, TNP, – a vision that empowers every citizen to reach their full potential and ensures the growth and stability of our beloved nation.

We are faced with challenges, yes, but it is through these challenges that our true strength will be tested. Let us meet them head-on with determination and resolve, knowing that the future of Nigeria belongs to each and every one of us.

Together, we will build a nation that honours its past, celebrates its diversity, and strides forward with confidence into a new era of opportunity and growth. On this Independence Day anniversary, let us remember that our freedom was not given; it was earned. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the labours of our heroes past and present remain a living legacy in every facet of our national life.

Together we can, and will make a difference.

•Ochiagha Reagan Ufomba,

The Nigerian Project, Lagos.
October 3, 2024
Make real estate, driver of economic growth
- By Adeyemi Moses Adeolu
Sir: It is not surprising that Nigeria’s economy has been having challenges. The economy has not been properly managed. At a point, the economy slipped into recession; at another point, we had oil prices fluctuating, production and exploration challenged by activities in the oil producing region. A lot of other problems affected the economy.

Economic reforms undertaken by the present administration, such as the removal of fuel subsidies and currency exchange rate unification, have profoundly impacted the citizens’ purchasing power and created waves of uncertainty.

It is the way the economy is patterned that real estate latches on. An assessment of the real estate sector is basically an assessment of the economy because real estate business follows the economic circle. The economy has been having problems and so the real estate as well. Real estate practitioners are navigating rough waters and dealing with unstable market conditions in the wake of these continental shifts, all the while trying to stay profitable. Rising building material costs, fluctuating currency values, and escalating labour expenses deepen the sector’s challenges, casting complexity over every endeavour.

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Even at that, real estate sector remains a beacon of hope in the intricate context of the nation’s economic challenges, offering vast potentials amidst uncertainty. Real estate is crucial to driving economic growth.

The prospects are there for the industry to thrive. There are lots of opportunities for development within the real estate sector, but those opportunities can only be realized by conscious efforts of the government to prioritize real estate development. The sector has the potential to generate over 80 million jobs and address the housing deficit of 28 million homes.

Prioritizing real estate development would not only create employment opportunities, but also catalyse growth across the entire value chain, from construction to post-construction services. The imperative to prioritize real estate advancement becomes ever more pronounced as the estate sector navigates uncertainty and volatility. Real estate serves as both a barometer and catalyst for economic health, making its growth imperative for Nigeria’s economic recovery and sustained prosperity. Nigeria can lay a robust foundation for long-term stability and progress by investing in infrastructure, policies, and frameworks conducive to its expansion. Fostering collaboration between professional bodies in the built sector, public and private stakeholders, implementing innovative financing mechanisms, and promoting sustainable development practices will further bolster the sector’s resilience and efficacy.

•Adeyemi Moses Adeolu,

Lagos.
October 3, 2024
Ibadan Airport upgrade as misplaced priority

Sir: Without an iota of doubt, the privilege of having an international airport in Oyo State can never be overlooked, discarded or thrown away as rubbish. After all, the rich, whom the airport is meant to serve, will have easy access or route to any of their desired destinations. For the ordinary residents of Oyo State, it is, at best, a case of having a big project to be proud of even if it will not put food on their tables.

However, if the truth be told, the planned upgrade of the federal government-owned airport shouldn’t be a priority at a time some other states are striving to invest heavily in agriculture with a view to alleviating food shortage in the country.

Why would Governor Seyi Makinde, considering the paucity of funds available to Oyo State, insist on spending ₦41 billion to upgrade an airport? Spending such huge amount on airport upgrade – which, at the end of the day, remits no returns into the state’s coffers – can best be described as a monumental waste.

Moreover, embarking on a project without a feasibility study (a way to evaluate whether or not a planned project could return adequate profits to the coffers where the money was drawn) could lead to inevitable disaster. No industrialist, who operates a small scale business, will ever engage in a business without putting pen on paper and taking cognizance of the financial gains or losses the business may likely result in.

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Up until this moment, Governor Makinde and his team are yet to show to Oyo State residents the blueprint on which the analysis of financial returns the state stood to gain after the upgrade is based. Or does the governor think that the people, whose funds are to be expended on the airport upgrade, do not deserve to know what is going on behind the scene?

Countless state projects abound in Oyo State. Many roads, the paths on which the masses take to their destinations, are crying for repairs and construction, if not reconstruction. Many public schools are in states of dilapidation. By the way, arable hectares of land are more than enough in Oyo State to plough to ease food shortage in the state. So, why choose a federal government project over state projects?

I believe that this ₦41 billion can be better channelled into immediate needs – road construction, education, agriculture and what have you. With that, Oyo State residents will have no reason to complain and life will be comfortable for them.

•Ademola ‘Bablow’ Babalola,babalolaademola39@gmail.com

October 2, 2024
Nigeria at 64: Here is a country

Sir: Nigeria certainly has cause to cheer: 25 unbroken years of democracy in a sub-region swarmed by coup plotters is no mean feat; neither is 64 years of independence something to be sneered at. So, despite the gloom and doom of the current times, the country would not look ghostly in celebratory gear.

Amidst the shattering despondency in the country, a common question would be: what is Nigeria celebrating, and is there really anything to celebrate? The resounding answer is YES. To those who will ask, “what?” The answer will be: here is a country.

Here is a country hastily lumped together by the shortsightedness of colonialists who were eager to milk it dry and get away before its inevitable collapse.Sixty-four years after they left, the country is still clinging on to its unity.

Here is a country convulsed by an atrocious and iniquitous civil war that would have spelled the end for many other countries. Yet, it still stands, although many wounds from the civil war are still festering, and war continues to be waged against the country in many forms.

Here is a country trampled under the boot heels of military rule, during which the constitution was dipped in blood and flung out of the window. Outrageous amounts of money stolen from the country and stashed away in indeterminate countries are yet to be returned.

Here is a country indelibly stained by its crude oil. The environmental degradation of the Niger Delta, the suffering of its people and the mismanagement of its oil resources continue to break the heart.

Here is a country that is a victim of the conspiracy of its politicians. Motivated by ethnic and religious agendas, they have continued to wage a relentless war against the country in a bid to mould it into their unsightly images.

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Here is a country compromised by corruption. Again and again, its funds have been converted to personal funds, but still, it goes on.

Here is a country devastated by poverty with half of its population living in grinding poverty despite its staggering natural resources. Here is a country cut open by terrorism and insecurity, with Boko Haram and bandits battering it from all sides.

Nigeria is a relentless tale of resistance and resilience. Resistance to despair and resilience in the face of backbreaking odds. It is the story of a country that has refused to be broken; a country forced to scrape the bottom many times, each time managing to come up with the goods. Nigeria is the curious case of a wife who has lost everything in a marriage who, however, refuses to leave the marriage, remaining faithful to a fleeting but fathomless love.

Here is a country redeemed by its democracy that is 25 years old. In a sub-region where the military have become coup plotters, 25 years is an eternity for a beacon and defender of democracy.

The skies over Nigeria continue to darken. Poverty remains rife, insecurity continues to thrive, and bad leadership remains a staple. Many of its young people are fleeing the country. Those who can’t flee are taking to internet fraud. Many who remain behind have lost hope. Yet, Nigeria remains, raring to go at a seemingly impossible task of nationhood.

Here is a country, subject of many predictions and prophecies of doom, which, however, continues to defy every bearer of doom, sent to it.

In his masterful interrogation of the Nigerian conundrum, There was a country, immortal author, Chinua Achebe, spoke to a country existing in an existential crisis as a grieving parent would to the ghost of a dead child. That country somehow refuses to die.

Such impossible resilience deserves to be celebrated.

•Kene Obiezu,keneobiezu@gmail.com

October 2, 2024
October 1: Protest overtaken by events

Sir: Protest is one of the ways used by citizens to draw the attention of the government to pressing issues that are not being appropriately addressed. Most of the demands of the organizers of the October 1 protest have either been resolved or are being addressed while others are not in the best interest of the country. Moreover, protests in Nigeria that are tagged as peaceful often end with elements of violence, leading to disruptions of economic activities and loss of lives and property. The #EndBadGovernance protest is an example.

The federal government has commenced paying the new national minimum wage, and therefore state governments and members of the organized private sector who have not started should follow suit. It’s important that government enforces it. The national minimum wage has a multiplier effect on the economy; it will boost employee productivity, reduce brain drain, and stimulate demand for goods and services. For some time now, many businesses have been struggling in Nigeria, with many going under due to low sales stemming from the low disposable income of the Nigerian worker.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria’s headline inflation on a year-on-year basis has eased for two consecutive months ; dropping to 33.40% from 34.19% in July, and dropping further to 32.15% in August. The drop in July was the first time since December 2022. While this is commendable, the government is not resting on its oars, as it recently raised the Monetary Policy Rate by 50 basis points to 27.25%. I expected this rate hike in light of the new national minimum wage implementation.

In a bid to eliminate banditry and terrorism in the Northwest, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently ordered the Chief of Defence Staff and Minister of State for Defence to relocate to Sokoto State. This move has already yielded remarkable results. The federal government has also deployed 10,000 agro rangers to safeguard farmlands and protect farmers from escalating attacks in 19 states of the country. In an effort to curb oil theft, the Chief of Defence Staff recently inaugurated a joint monitoring team to enhance military operations in the South-south region of the country. Generally, the level of insecurity across the country has dropped significantly, but there is still much to be done and the government is aware.

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The request for the reversal of the removal of the fuel subsidy is retrogressive in my opinion. This government has decided to do things differently in order to achieve better results. Yes, it has resulted in a hike in the cost of transportation; therefore, to alleviate this, the government has started distributing CNG buses and conversion kits across the country, with CNG tricycles to be distributed to youth in the pipeline. CNG is a much cheaper alternative to PMS whose price is expected to drop when domestic refineries come fully on stream due to economies of scale, competition, and the envisaged increase in the value of the naira due to reduced FOREX pressure.

People have the right to protest as long as it is peaceful; however, in my opinion, the planned protest had become unnecessary as most of the demands made have been overtaken by events. The government has commenced implementing the national minimum wage, inflation is on the decline, the distribution of CNG buses and conversion kits has commenced, and the government has shown its commitment to reducing the cost of governance, as evidenced by President Tinubu’s directive to reduce the Nigeria’s delegation to the just concluded United Nations General Assembly. It is also worthy to note that some of the arrested #EndBadGovernance protesters have been released, and the request for reversal of the removal of the fuel subsidy is not in the best interest of Nigeria.

Protest is not the only way to make our voices heard, nor is it the most effective.

•Kenechukwu Aguolu,Kenerek1@gmail.com

October 2, 2024
Increase budgetary allocation to housing sector

Sir: Housing is one of the necessities of life. Housing is required to promote both physical and psychological well-being. The sector plays a very important role in the social and economic development of a country. It contributes significantly to economic growth and development, through its impact on major macroeconomic indicators such as: employment, savings, investment and productivity. The importance of the housing sector in economic growth and development cannot be overstated.

The important role of housing is further underscored by its inclusion as one of the indicators of the computation of cost-of-living index. Consequently, the cost-of-living index is a major factor or consideration for prospective domestic and foreign investors in taking decisions.

The robust contribution of housing and various housing programmes to economic growth and increased social well-being of the people has made governments the world over to give ample attention to the lingering problem of housing deficit across both developing and developed countries.

In view of the housing crisis in the country, with housing deficit currently standing at about 28 million units, increased funding would not only help to reduce the number, but also reduce the level of unemployment in the country.

The real estate sector has not witnessed sufficient patronage from the federal government in terms of release of funds. Even from the budget, you will know because sometimes they give it two per cent or four per cent.

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The first thing the government should do is to increase budgetary allocation to the housing sector. This will indicate whether the government wants to take active part in that sector or not. The housing sector has the potential to create jobs because a large number of youths will get employed if more funds are injected into this sector.

Another pertinent issue towards resolving housing challenge is full restoration of land ownership to the people through the provision of title documents. This would provide an opportunity for the people to raise loans for entrepreneurship purposes. Total reform of the land tenure and titling system in Nigeria has become imperative to making them development friendly.

The federal government should also collaborate with estate surveyors and valuers to enhance growth in the real estate sector of the economy through formulation of policies that would help to develop the real estate sector of the economy.

•ESV Opebiyi Beatrice Abosede, Lagos.

October 1, 2024
Nigeria’s exotic prisoners

Sir: It has taken only a phone recording released in the heat of an extra-legal debt recovery for Nigerians to confirm what they had long suspected: that the dilapidated and squalid correctional facilities in the country are reserved only for the poor, never for the highly connected.

Between Idris Okuneye (Bobrisky), Martins Vincent Otse(Very Dark man) and an unnamed but clearly aggrieved creditor, it has emerged that Bobrisky’s six-month jail term for Naira abuse, repeatedly served in Kirikiri correctional facility in Lagos was rather a vacation spent in a cosy apartment.

The damning revelations which have prompted the Minister of Interior to wield the axe on some officials confirm two things. First is that corruption affects every aspect of life in Nigeria and secondly, there is nothing connections cannot influence in the country.

The conditions of Nigerian prisons are a well-known fact. The name change from prison to correctional facility affected in was only a minor blip in the blizzard of squalor and sleaze affecting Nigerian prisons.

Hygiene is poor in many of the prisons as is feeding. Rehabilitation is almost impossible, as many of the inmates leave the prisons worse than when they entered.

Many of the prisons remain insecure and dilapidated. In April 2024,when the skies let loose in Suleja, Niger State, parts of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, collapsed unleashing dozens of dangerous criminals into the society.

In June 2022 terrorists stormed the minimum security prison in June, releasing some high-profile terrorists into the society. As a result of poor security, there have been other prison breaks around prisons in the country. In some instances where there has been no break, nature has wreaked havoc on poorly maintained structures, thereby greatly compromising the security of Nigerians in their communities.

The Nigerian Correctional Service is a key part of Nigeria’s criminal justice system. It is a penal set-up meant to ensure that those convicted of grave violations of the law are temporarily separated from the society and provided the opportunity to be sufficiently reformed and rehabilitated before they are reintroduced and reintegrated into the society. Historically, the objective of correctional service has always been noble, it is in how these objectives are implemented that has always posed very seriously challenges from which it is clear that Nigeria’s overcrowded prisons leave very little room for meaning reforms.

Over the years, Nigeria has grappled with the tragedy of awaiting trial inmates who end up spending more years than they would even if they are convicted of the crimes they are accused of.

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Public officers in Nigeria like to boast that obedience to the rule of law is paramount. However, experience shows that the reverse is the case. It is common knowledge that many powerful people in Nigeria break the law at will, then deploy all their resources to prevent accountability for their infractions. That appears to be what Bobrisky did in allegedly spending his jail term in an apartment rather than in a correctional service. This he did no doubt by compromising some prison officers.

Given what has so far spilled into the public space, there is no telling the corners cut inside Nigerian prisons or in other state agencies. From the escapades of Bobrisky who called in favours to ensure that he was stationed far away from the squalor of the prison, it can be deduced that many other high-profile Nigerians who had cause to do time either did not do their time at all or were quartered in some expensively appointed accommodations while Nigerians and the courts which sentenced them thought they were doing time.

It appears that there is no end in sight to the rot seeping into various institutions of the Nigerian state. As long as this is the case, transparency and accountability will continue to elude the country. The chaotic consequences will surely be there for all to see.

• Ike Willie-Nwobu,Ikewilly9@gmail.com

October 1, 2024