Category: Featured

By Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation/’Dare Odufowokan, Assistant Editor

• Convention shaky as party awaits court’s decision 

• Concerned stakeholders keen to reach out to him

By Innocent Duru, Nwanosike Onu, Awka and Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

• It’s an empty threat, elections will hold – Anambra govt

• Ohanaeze, others sue for peace

• Sit-at-home protests force schools to embrace Saturday classes

Dark cloud is looming over the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State following the threat yesterday, by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to lockdown the entire Southeast for six days if its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is not released unconditionally before November 4, 2021.

The group, in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said failure to release Kanu would attract a one-week sit-at-home from November 5, 2021, till November 10 with exception of Sunday, November 7, 2021.

The threat has sparked palpable anxiety in the state as many fear that the move could make the conduct of the election impossible.

But the state government appears unperturbed by the threat as it described the plan as an empty threat and assured that that nothing would stop the electorate from coming out in large number to cast their votes.

The Anambra governorship election is slated for November 6, 2021 which the Federal Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have insisted must hold.

But IPOB on Saturday said Kanu could not continue to stay in detention having committed no offense known to any law.

It alleged Federal Government’s plans to torment or abandon Kanu in DSS custody through ‘frivolous court adjournment’, insisting that such plans to subject him to trauma in detention would not succeed.

The group regretted the inconveniences the lockdown would cause on the people of the zone but stressed that no amount of sacrifice would be too much to ensure its leader regained his freedom.

The statement reads in part: “We wish to inform Biafrans, friends of Biafra and lovers of freedom that IPOB will lock down Biafra land from 5th of November to 10th of November except Sunday, November 7th, a day our people worship the Almighty God, Chukwu Okike Abiama,

“Following the adjournment of our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s court case to 10th of November 2021, by the Federal High Court Abuja, we the great movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), wish to inform Biafrans, friends of Biafra and lovers of freedom that IPOB will lock down Biafra land from 5th of November to 10th of November except Sunday, November 7th, a day our people worship the Almighty God, Chukwu Okike Abiama, if the Nigeria Government fails to release our leader unconditionally before 4th of November 2021.

“Our leader, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi MUST be released UNCONDITIONALLY on or before November 4, 2021, because he has not committed any offense known to any law. Failure to release our leader Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi KANU on or before November 4, 2021, our one-week Sit-At-Home begins on November 5, 2021, till November 10.

“Although we quite understand the pains and adverse effects of this option on our people, we are compelled to take it to achieve a better purpose in the collective interest of Biafrans. We have taken time to analyse what transpired on October 21 when our Leader was arraigned in court and discovered that the federal government is not sincere and only wants to humiliate him and keep him perpetually in DSS custody to rot there.

“We all saw how lawyers, journalists, Igbo delegates and respected traditional rulers and other people who came from all around the world to witness his court case were restricted and denied access into the court premises by security agents who kept them outside under the scorching heat of the sun. What a humiliation and wickedness!

“We cannot accept that anymore. We can never allow our leader Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to be tried secretly and we can never also allow him to be tried under Sharia law under any guise. Nigeria must follow International laws in handling our leader.

“Mazi Nnamdi KANU is in DSS dungeon today because of his passion for Biafra independence, and we must sacrifice all we can to ensure that he regains his freedom. He has sacrificed so much for us all, so we must be prepared to sacrifice little for him.

“Unless the federal government releases him unconditionally before November 4, we shall sacrifice one week for him as a warning protest to convey to our oppressors that Nnamdi Kanu represents over 70 million Biafrans.

Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C-Don Adinuba, in a chat with The Nation  dismissed the threat, saying the election would not only hold, but would witness massive turnout.

He said there was no cause for alarm as there would be heavy presence of security personnel on the election day.

He said: “The November 6 election will hold and will be peaceful. There will also be massive turnout.

“The security agencies will saturate the entire state, while party faithful and the entire electorate will troupe out enmass to exercise their franchise.”

Speaking in the same vein, the Anambra State Police command said it is ready for the task ahead. In a message by the spokesman, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, the command said “we are winning and we are firm. Every day we evolving new strategies to tackle security challenges as they emerge. Our deployment has taken care of before, during and after election period.

We have undertaken a critical threat analysis and embarked on painstaking intelligence gathering through strategic deployment of our intelligence assets, robust synergy with sister security agencies, organised vigilante groups and other stakeholders.

We have been bold in confronting all security challenges and threats and indeed we have recorded several successes.”

INEC, others express fears

The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC)  has expressed concern that IPOB’s fresh order may threaten its preparations for the poll.

Anambra State Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC, Dr Nkwachukwu Orji disclosed this after the opening ceremony of the Election Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC) AMBER Zone Implementers Workshop held in the state.

He noted attacks on INEC facilities in the state on May 23 were a source of worry to the commission, especially as it strives to achieve huge success in the poll.

He went on to say that the commission had so far recruited and mobilised about 25, 000 Ad hoc staff that would mann the 5, 720 polling units in the state.

“Our preparations are on course, even with all the challenges we are facing, such as the attacks on our state office on May 23rd and the Sit-At-Home order, which is eating into our preparations.

“But we are doing our best to ensure that we overcome these challenges and we can only urge the public to be law abiding in order to achieve the desired electoral success in the state,” he said.

Apex Igbo socio-cultural group, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, is also worried about the fresh threat by IPOB.

In a telephone interview with The Nation, Ohanaeze’s spokesman, Alex Ogbonnia said: “It is in the interest of Igbo that election holds in Anambra. Anything disturbing the economy of Anambra is not to the advantage of Igboland. Anambra is the economic live wire of Igboland.

“Ohanaeze appeals for calm now that all the leaders of Igboland are cooperating to ensure that Nnamdi Kanu is free.  We call for restraint and maturity in approaching the issues of Nnamdi Kanu especially now that all the leaders of Igboland from all works of life are working to make sure that Nnamdi Kanu is set free.”

Chairman of African Democratic Congress, Ralphs Okey Nwosu feared that “there may not be an election or there would be a flawed election. I had the federal government has sent some security operatives to invade the southeast and you ask why? Where we have serious security challenge, the Northeast, Northwest, Kaduna, etc, you pulled the security personnel away from there and you are taking them to Anambra for an election where there is supposed to be order but the federal government is causing the disorder.

“The attitude of the government is causing serious disorientation of how a society should be. The federal government must sit down and dialogue with IPOB leaders to do things right.  The south east is clean and does not pose any security threat to the nation, rather the people in the villa are deliberately promoting chaos by their unjust ways and inability to manage the diversity of the country.”

He added that the way the Federal Government is handling Nnamdi Kanu and the IPOB issue is not right.  “The Federal Government must try to align with policy principles. Why pronounce people who are agitating against some ills in the society terrorists?  That is wrong. This detention of Nnamdi Kanu whose purpose does it serve? For me, the Federal Government is doing something that is fundamentally wrong. Assuming the founding fathers of Nigeria are alive and the state is muddling up  the way it is doing, would they just keep quiet or look power in the face and stay stop this rubbish? What is manifesting in the south east is the incompetence and bad governance that is  happening at the national level. For me, it is high the security forces and the federal government came down from their high horses and follow international protocol.”

The governorship candidate of the party, (African Democratic Congress, ADC,) Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo, also called on the federal government to dialogue with the leader of the Indigenous people of Biafra IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu for peace to reign in the Southeast.

The former Special Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, pointed out that incarceration of Kanu would aggravate the situation instead of solving it.

He observed that the detention of Kanu would make millions of his cult followers restive; reminding that Kanu had built a widespread and bigger network of adherents some of who he might not be in a position to control, and may resort to self-help, if he was  still left behind bars.

Nwankpo, advised the Federal Government to fashion out best approaches to resolving the face-off with agitators for self-determination, rather than to deploy maximum force

Nwankpo cautioned against harassment of innocent citizens by security agents, especially those deployed to Igboland.

He maintained that undue harassment and intimidation had tended to make the youths to develop thick skin to security threats, and courage to get involved in agitations

The ADC candidate, warned that government should not be reactive in most cases, advising that more proactive measures be out in place to address the fears and yearnings of the young population.

He observed that, if the Federal Government prioritised addressing the most burning issues facing the country, including skewed appointments, promotion of ethnic supremacy, tolerance of identified killer-herdsmen, and questionable fiscal federalism, the solutions to the challenges may not be far-fetched.

IPOB Monday sit-at-home forces Schools to begin Saturday lessons in Anambra

The ghost Monday sit-at-home introduced by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has forced many schools in Anambra State to start Saturday lessons

One of the private schools told The Nation on Saturday that it was introduced to make up the loss of Mondays in the state

The students who no longer go to schools in both public and private schools in the state for fear of being attacked by hoodlums, now attend lessons from 8am to 1pm on Saturdays.

Though, IPOB had repeatedly, announced that it had suspended the Monday sit-at-home in the Southeast, but the fear already instilled in the people had stuck with the people making  parents not to be allowing their children to step out every Monday.

The Nation spoke to proprietors of three schools in the state and they confirmed the development, adding that they would not want to lose any of their students to the killers.

They spoke on account of anonymity, adding that even the government schools were not left out on the arrangement.

But the State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C Don Adinuba, said he was not in the know of the arrangement.

He referred the reporter to the Commissioner for Basic Education, Prof Kate Omenugha, who did not respond or return the call.

In Anambra State, it appears to have become a taboo for government officials to answer calls.

One of them told The Nation that it was an instruction given to them, adding that the only person authorised to answer journalists is the Commissioner for Information.

Business magnate and investor, Mr. Femi Otedola, has acquired a material shareholding in Nigeria’s oldest banking group, FBN Holdings (FBNH) Plc.

Otedola in a series of secondary market transactions and negotiated deals was confirmed to have acquired more than five per cent equity stake in FBN Holdings, the parent holding company for First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) and its former subsidiaries

Nigerian capital market rules set a threshold of five per cent for “material” or significant shareholding, which must be disclosed to the regulatory authorities and the board of the affected company.

Sources in the know and dealers at the stock market confirmed that Otedola might have acquired more than two billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each in FBNH in a series of secondary transactions that heightened with a major cross deal two weeks ago.

FBNH, one of the companies with the widest and diverse shareholding base, has total issued share capital of 35.895 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each.

In one of the transactions, Otedola was believed to be the proxy buyer in a N7.57 billion cross deal at the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited on October 07, 2021. A total of 473 million shares of FBNH were crossed at N16 per share, significantly above the market price. The transaction was registered as a “negotiated cross deal” by FBNQuest Securities Limited, implying that the deal was already concluded between the parties and was merely taken to the market to formalise the transaction.

A Marina, Lagos-based stockbroking firm also confirmed to The Nation that it sold several millions of shares to Otedola in multiple secondary market transactions, deals that popped up the firm and FBN Holdings as largest dealer and most active stock in recent days.

Some of the deals included shares held by an estranged long-standing director of the group, who lost a major boardroom squabble recently and under regulatory review.

Read Also: Stock Exchange to review rules to attract more foreign investors

But all market pundits were unanimous that the aggressive acquisitions by Otedola would not lead to any material changes in the board and management of the banking group. They noted that Otedola’s holding falls short of majority shareholding as the traditional alliance that runs the banking group still has controlling equity stakes.

With no outstanding majority shareholder, FBNH has been run by a longstanding, time-tested traditional alliance of several shareholders with major shareholdings who traditionally pool their holdings through proxies to sway major decisions including board and management appointments. That alliance was tested recently during a boardroom squabble and it fended off what was described as “undue” influence.

Latest audit showed that while no individual shareholders held more than five per cent equity stake, some 40 shareholders held more than 30 per cent equity stakes, in an informal alliance that uniquely sustains the diversity of the banking group, despite emergence of core majority shareholders in other first generation banks.

Checks with the regulators indicated that Otedola has not formally filed required disclosure to initiate the market of his shareholdings status at the FBNH

A source at the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) said the regulator was still engaging the parties and reviewing details of transactions. Another source said the regulators were reviewing timelines and thresholds of transactions to ensure that the acquisition complied with extant regulations that require disclosure of material acquisition within a specific timeline.

Market pundits said the acquisitions by Otedola would possibly lead to no changes in the FBNH citing corporate governance structure at the banking group, diverse shareholding and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s regulations. As against other non-financial institutions, CBN reserves the primary approval right for any appointment unto the board and management of a regulated financial institution.

“This is not like the case of Forte Oil, he was practically the owner of Forte Oil but he is not holding the majority shares in FBNH, and I don’t think he has the financial muscle to attain a clear single controlling equity stake,” a source, who is a dealer and chief executive at the stock market, said.

While the board of the FBNH has not issued any official statement, a source close to the directors said there was no indication of any takeover, allaying fears of any possible major changes in the board and management of the group.

Otedola’s current shareholding falls short of the regulatory requirement for a tender offer, which could have allowed the business magnate to make exclusive sweetened offer to the general investing public.

Section 131, Part XII of the Investment and Securities Act, No. 29, 2007 and Rule 445 of SEC Rules and Regulations, 2013 make it mandatory for any institution or person that acquires at least 30 per cent of a company to make an mandatory tender offer (MTO) to other minority shareholders. There are however exemptions in few instances.

Otedola had in June 2019 sold its majority shareholding in the then Forte Oil Plc in a deal valued at about N64 billion. Ignite Investments and Commodities Limited led by Prudent Energy Services Limited had in June 2019 completed the acquisition of 74.02 per cent majority equity stake in Forte Oil from the company’s erstwhile chairman, Otedola.

The new core investor then appointed a six-man board to replace the eight-man board led by the erstwhile chairman and majority core investor, Otedola. Mr Abdulwasiu Sowami replaced Otedola as the chairman of the board of directors of the company while Mr Olumide Adeosun replaced Mr Akin Akinfemiwa as the chief executive officer. Sowami is the chairman of Ignite Investments and Commodities Limited and founder and chief executive officer of Prudent Energy Services Limited.

Otedola had in December 2018 in a dramatic twist announced plan to sell his 75 per cent majority equity stake in Forte Oil to Prudent Energy, which was investing through Ignite Investments and Commodities Limited. Prior to this announcement, Otedola-led board had secured major approvals on a long-term growth and financing plans for the energy group.

By Innocent Duru, Damian Duruiheoma, Enugu, and Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

• Claims IPOB receiving support from foreign nations

• Allegations incoherent, untenable – IPOB

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has come under attack over his comment, yesterday, that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was responsible for the killing of prominent Nigerians, including  Dr. Chike Akunyili  and Alhaji Ahmed Gulak.

Malami put the total number of Nigerians allegedly killed by IPOB at 184.

The AGF, who said the revelation is contained in a report by a committee constituted by the Federal Government, claimed that embattled leader of IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, took advantage of the 2020 EndSARS protest to destroy property and kill individuals, particularly security personnel.

According to him: “The EndSARS protests of October 2020 played into the sinister plans of Nnamdi Kanu, whereby he seized the protests through subversive and inciting online broadcasts and actively commanded and directed attacks on security personnel and facilities.

“As a result of these broadcasts, members of IPOB attacked and killed security personnel and burnt down Police stations, correctional centres, INEC offices, bus terminals, the palace of Oba of Lagos, banks, hospitals, shopping malls and vehicles, amongst others.”

He also claimed that the Federal Government had found that the major financier of the Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo (Igboho) is a member of the National Assembly.

He was silent on the identity of the federal lawmaker, adding that Igboho allegedly received funding from a firm – Abbai Bako and Sons – allegedly being probed for terrorism financing activities.

The AGF’s remarks have attracted criticism and condemnation from IPOB, front line Igbo groups and leaders.

IPOB in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, described Malami’s allegations as incoherent and untenable.

“We note with great dismay the kind of incoherent and untenable allegations coming from a supposed Attorney General and Minister of Justice of Nigeria. What a disgrace! Why not wait for us at the law court instead of resorting to media trial. That shows he has no case to prove against IPOB,” he said.

He added: “This latest show of shame by Malami also shows the level of his ignorance and cluelessness on the office he occupies. To put the records straight, IPOB remains a peaceful movement, and was never involved in such barbarities Malami was linking IPOB with.

“Instead of killing security agents, IPOB members have been the victims of the extra-judicial killings by the wicked Nigeria security operatives as no fewer than 20,000 of our members have been murdered in cold blood by the Nigeria security agencies.

“It is not controvertible that innocent IPOB members and Biafran youths have been wasted at different times by the Nigeria security agencies. This genocide against IPOB is still ongoing, yet they want to suddenly change the narrative.

“We have always said it that the Unknown gunmen were a creation of the Nigeria security agencies to implicate and demonise IPOB. We have no hand in the killings in parts of Biafra land.

“The federal government, which is sponsoring the killings, is desperately looking for excuses to implicate IPOB and nail our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Our leader is innocent of all the concocted allegations and lies vomited by Malami against him.”

Read Also; Police link IPOB/ESN to two Imo monarchs killing 

He continued: “It is clear to all and sundry that IPOB was not involved in the ENDSARS protests. Nigerian youths who were fed up with the evil in Nigeria vented their anger during the #EndSARS protests which took place simultaneously in different parts of the country.

“IPOB could not have been the ones behind the protest, which was a spontaneous reaction of dissatisfied youths against the maladministration in the country.

“Since the formation of ESN operatives by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the outfit never launched any attack against the Nigeria security operatives, rather the Nigeria security agents are the ones haunting for ESN operatives.

“ESN is only after murderous herdsmen, bandits and jihadists wreaking havoc across Biafra land, which the hypocritical security agents could not stop.

“Nigeria has an incompetent Attorney General because this Attorney General does not know that extraordinary rendition is an international crime and anybody or country that flouts this law has committed international crime.

“It is very pitiable that this man who claims to be Attorney General and Minister of Justice in Nigeria cannot differentiate between crime and agitation. ESN and IPOB have come to stay and nothing will stop us.

“The world knows that IPOB is not a terrorist organisation and Malami cannot succeed in making them change their mind.

“Malami should stop wasting his time and just fix a date for Biafra referendum where our people can decide which country they want to stay. Failure to do so is to their peril.

“All destruction in our territory was politically motivated and carried out by security agents recruited and nicknamed unknown gunmen. We know the so-called unknown gunmen are DSS personnel, army and police personnel set up to implicate IPOB and ESN.

“IPOB, ESN have no hands in the killings in Biafra land. Those behind the barbarity are still pointing accusing fingers at IPOB and ESN all at the same time. What a hypocrisy!”

Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, expressed worries over the haste with which the federal government concluded the murder of Dr. Chike Akunyili, husband of Dora Akunyili and former presidential adviser, Ahmed Gulak.

The group admonished the Federal Government that reeling out all the crimes that have been going on across the country and blaming them on the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) would not be a solution to the current situation in the country.

Speaking with The Nation, the spokesman, Alex Ogbonnia, called on the Federal Government to adopt Diane in resolving the matter.

“Our understanding of Malami’s address is that he has heaped all the criminalities across the country over the period on IPOB.

“It appears right now that investigations are already concluded on who killed Dr. Chike Akunyili, the husband of Dora Akunyili, and Gulak, and also who destroyed the palace of the Oba of Lagos. His remarks also showed that he already knows the killers.

“As the Attorney General of the Federation, whatever remark Malami makes should be highly founded on facts. It is not supposed to be involved in speculations.

“If on the other hand he has not finished investigation, what he is saying is a mere hyperbole.

“If investigations are now completed, he owes it a duty to let the people of Nigeria know who killed Gulak and Dr Akunyili and we will now see the linkage between those people and IPOB.

“Otherwise, one little falsehood or error will destroy and render this whole thing invalid.

“We want to state again that reeling out all the crimes that have been going on across the country is not a solution.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo right from time believes that the federal government should adopt dialogue on this matter.

“Irrespective of whether you call them, terrorists or not, we’re saying that adopting military or jackboot approach is an unwinnable war.

“We believe using dialogue or alternative dispute resolution will go a long way to achieve peace.”

More knocks for Malami

A faction of the Ohanaeze led by Chidi Ibeh said Malami’s comment was setting up the stage for justification for the deployment of the acquired Tucano fighter jets in the suspected troubled areas, especially the southern part of country.

In a statement by the Secretary General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the group said: “Federal Government might have concluded the strategies to use the Super Tucano Fighter Jets in the Southeast. It appears that there are backstage activities to invade the Southeast in the name of fighting terrorism, but they should reconsider the lives of innocent civilians who are at risk of these plans.

“We are displeased with the posture of the Federal Government towards the delay in declaring bandits and herdsmen terrorists.

“We understand the reasons for Governor El Rufai’s insistence that FG should declare bandits terrorists, so as to warrant the use of the Super Tucano Fighter Jets to curb the insurgency in the North.

“We are aware of the conditions attached to the acquisition of the Tucano Jets, which the USA assumes it’s aimed at targeting terrorist garrisons.

“So Mr. Malami had nailed and re-echoed that IPOB is a terrorist organisation and justified that any actions of FG to curb the insecurity in the Southeast, which includes deployment of the fighter jets, is acceptable and justifiable.

“We are calling on President Buhari not to deploy any Tucano Jets in the Southeast. We believe that bandits that shot down military aircraft and shot at Abuja/ Kaduna train should be declared terrorists before any deployment in the Southeast.

“Nnamdi Kanu should be given a fair trial in Abuja court. The idea of deployment of Super Tucano jets ahead of Anambra election will reopen the sordid and tragic experiences of Biafra war.

“The presidential marching orders to security agents to make sure that Anambra elections hold should be devoid of any deployment of Tucano jets in the Southeast “.

A former governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, said Malami is lying and “he knows that he is lying.  Our people know who killed Gulak.  Akunyili’s husband was killed at random. The plan of government is to make all the killings in the Southeast to be IPOB when they are not killing anybody.

“In Owerri recently, the Police fought with some gunmen and killed one of them only to discover that the person they killed was a DSS officer and not IPOB. Remember Owerri  prison affair where those  who wanted to blame IPOB  changed their mind  and said 70 per cent  of the people were not from the Southeast. “

On how he felt not being allowed to enter the courtroom during Kanu’s trial, Ezeife said: “I don’t have any problem with not being allowed to enter the courtroom. I wouldn’t go and fight.

“I left the court after about two hours.  The main problem was that I took the traditional ruler of Ndigbo and the secretary of Igbo elders along. The place had very little space and they said I would be allowed in if I could enter alone. I didn’t want to take them there and abandon them.”

A professor of Political Science and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State, Prof. Obasi Igwe, said Malami’s comment was not believable.

Speaking with The Nation in Enugu, Obasi lamented that the Southeast was systematically being destroyed with the Federal Government labelling IPOB as the culprits with little or no investigation.

He said: “Lives and businesses in the East are being systematically destroyed, and with little or no investigation, every one of these crimes is labeled IPOB/ESN even when almost no one is believing the narrative.

“There is nothing that a committee to justify the ongoing mayhem should not come up with, at least the unjustified war and massacres in the east have to be justified. We thought that any committee report was for a court hearing, so how now a public presentation?

“What might an Nnamdi Kanu or IPOB achieve by killing Akunyili? And does the 177 include the alleged thousands of Igbo youths, men, women and children already killed in batches or missing?

“Do those who seem to be drinking blood in Nigeria not even appear bothered about the believability of the kindergarten stories they are weaving?”

Igwe, who recalled how a policeman massacred people in Enugu a few months ago with the intention of tagging it unknown gunmen, called on the Federal Government to “immediately bring to a halt the state of unprovoked siege, blood and fear imposed on peaceful Igbo communities; to re-empower Igbo communities and disarm the Miyetti Allah and other Fulani AK-47 terrorists, so we can unmask the unknown gunmen killing Nigerians.”

He continued: “The military-security services are already killing the Igbo on the pretext of fighting either unknown gunmen, IPOB/ESN. Fighter jets are only an additional weapon.

“Police stations and prisons are being attacked, with almost always their Igbo personnel being isolated and killed, with almost nothing done.

“A Gulak was murdered with the vehicle burnt and evidence removed. A bomber at Afikpo was apprehended and till now nothing has been heard of him. More than 400 people were arrested in Imo and we’re told they’re almost entirely non-Igbo, and we’ve not heard of any prosecutions.

“The whereabouts of any of the youths arrested on their way to the East are yet to be disclosed. Social media are filled with stories of armed outfits arriving the East for committing all manner of atrocities.

“While various communities have been deprived of self-defense, the Miyetti Allah and other AK-47 terrorists are still left untouched.”

By Eric Ikhilae, Sanni Onogu, Tony Akowe, Nicholas Kalu, Abuja and Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

• Alleges N273m passed through Igboho’s account in eight years

• Blames IPOB for killing Akunyili, Gulak, 184 others

• DSS releases agitator’s aides after 114 days in custody

• Afenifere, Ohanaeze, others kick

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, said yesterday that the Federal Government had found that the major financier of the Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo a.k.a. Sunday Igboho is a member of the National Assembly.

Malami, who was silent on the identity of the federal lawmaker, said a report by a committee constituted by the Federal Government also revealed that Igboho allegedly received funding from a firm, Abbai Bako and Sons, allegedly being probed for terrorism financing activities.

“It will be recalled that Abbal Bako & Sons and its promoter, Abdullahi Umar Usman, are suspects in the ongoing Joint Terrorist Financing Investigation.

“Abdullahi Umar Usman is, by way of financial transaction, connected to Surajo Abubakar Muhammad (who was sentenced to life imprisonment in UAE on charges of financing terrorism (Boko Haram),” Malami said.

But reacting to the AGF’s claims yesterday, the apex Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, described them as “illogical reasoning”.

Senate spokesman, Senator Ajibola Basiru, also described the allegations against Igboho as weighty but lacking facts.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, Malami said the Presidential Ad-hoc Committee set up after the re-arrest of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, had been able to identify Igboho’s sponsors and financiers.

He said: “The Federal Government has received the report on financiers of Adeniyi Sunday Adeyemo a.k.a Sunday Igboho.

“The report revealed that Sunday Igboho is a director and signatory to Adesun International Concept Limited, registered on 23rd April, 2010.

“Adesun International Concept Limited also has Oladele Oyetunji and Aderopo Adeyemo as directors. Sunday Igboho is linked to 43 bank accounts in 9 banks.

“The major financier of the fugitive and separatists was found to be a Federal Law Maker in the National Assembly.

“A total sum of N127,145,000.00 was received by Igboho from his financiers between 22nd October, 2013 and 28th September, 2020 through Adesun International Concept Ltd accounts.

“A total sum of N273,198,200.00 transaction outflows was recorded from Sunday Igboho’s account between 15th March, 2013 and 11th March, 2021.

Investigation reveals that Adesun International Concept Ltd (belonging to Igboho) transferred the sum of N12,750,000 to Abbal Bako & Sons.

“The report found connections of financial transaction between Adesun International Concept

Ltd (belonging to Igboho) and some construction companies and businesses among others.”

The AGF also said the committee catalogued the alleged atrocities committed by Kanu and his associates in the course of their terrorism activities.

Malami claimed that Kanu took advantage of the 2020 EndSARS protest to destroy property and killed individuals, particularly security personnel.

“Despite the proscription of IPOB by the Federal Government, Nnamdi Kanu continued the subversive campaign, instigating and inciting broadcasts to direct members of the IPOB to launch attacks on government.

“The EndSARS protests of October 2020 played into the sinister plans of Nnamdi Kanu, whereby he seized the protests through subversive and inciting online broadcasts and actively commanded and directed attacks on security personnel and facilities.

“As a result of these broadcasts, members of IPOB attacked and killed security personnel and burnt down police stations, correctional centres, INEC offices, bus terminals, the palace of Oba of Lagos, banks, hospitals, shopping malls and vehicles, amongst others.

“On 12th December, 2020, Eastern Security Network (ESN) was formed by Nnamdi Kanu as an armed wing of IPOB with the mandate to advance the nefarious agenda of the outlawed group.

“ESN continued to launch attacks on security personnel, civilians perceived as enemies as well as destruction of private and public properties.

“The destructive activities of IPOB/ESN pose serious threat to Nigeria’s National Security and its corporate existence, which resulted into re-arrest of Nnamdi Kanu and members of his group,” Malami said.

The AGF added that there was information that Kanu was receiving supports from both within and outside Nigeria.

“We have also established that KANU is not alone in his subversive activities.  He has accomplices in Nigeria and abroad, individuals and groups as well as state and non-state actors who are aiding and facilitating his campaign against the people and state of Nigeria.

“Some of the state actors aided KANU, even as a fugitive, in his destructive mission, ignoring the terrorist nature of his activities.

“We call on these countries to desist from aiding subversive acts by KANU and IPOB against the state of Nigeria and its people,” Malami said.

The AGF gave details of persons allegedly killed and property destroyed by Kanu’s associates who acted on his inciting comments.

He said: “The committee finds as a fact, that consequent upon the instigating directives of Nnamdi Kanu, members of IPOB/ESN carried out massive attacks on democratic institutions especially INEC Facilities with a view to hampering democratic process in Nigeria.

“These attacks that were carried out between October 2020 and June 2021 include the following:

“Acting on the instigating directives of Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB members and #EndSARS protesters attacked and killed many security agents, destroyed several public and private properties, including police stations, public transport buses and other facilities across the country.

“On 21st October 2020, Nnamdi Kanu through an online call-in radio programme (Radio Biafra), further instigated IPOB members to burn down all police stations and kill government security forces, which was carried out and several security personnel (especially police officers) were killed and public and private properties destroyed.

“175 security personnel were killed by IPOB/ESN, comprising 128 Police men, 37 military personnel and 10 other security operatives.

“Killing of prominent Nigerians (recently there were gruesome killings of traditional leaders: Obi 1 of Okwudor autonomous community, Eze E. Anayochukwu Durueburuo and Eze Sampson Osunwa of Ihebineowerre autonomous community as well as  the killings of Dr. Chike Akunyili  and eight others as  well as the killing of Alhaji Ahmed Gulak on 30th May. 2021);

“As a consequence of Nnamdi Kanu’s broadcasts, there were nineteen (19) attacks on INEC facilities that resulted in the destruction of offices as well as burning of 18 INEC logistical vehicles, several election materials, equipment and ICT gadgets in Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Cross River, Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo states.

“164 police stations and formations, including Police headquarters, Owerri, Imo State were attacked by IPOB/ESN leading to the death of 128 policemen, 144 injured, while 628 vehicles were destroyed.

“Three hundred and ninety-six (396) firearms and seventeen thousand seven hundred and thirty eight (17,738) ammunition were carted away during the IPOB/ESN attacks;

“There were three (3) IPOB/ESN attacks on Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), including the headquarters of NCoS, Owerri, Imo State where one thousand eight hundred and forty one (1,841) inmates escaped.

“The headquarters of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Umuahia, Abia State was also attacked by IPOB/ESN leading to the death of one (1) officer,” Malami said.

Igboho’s lawyer faults Malami, says politicians pressuring Yoruba nation agitator for endorsement

The lead counsel to the embattled Yoruba nation agitator, Chief Yomi Alliyu (SAN), however, faulted Malami’s claims that a link had been established between his client and an alleged financier of terrorists.

In a statement yesterday, Alliyu explained that the minister only tried in futility to establish the link in order to nail his client who has been held in Cotonou, Benin Republic without charges since July 18.

Igboho’s detention is believed to have been carried out on the orders of the Federal Government of Nigeria to enable it prepare the ground for his arrest and prosecution for agitating for Yoruba nation.

Alliyu’s statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a text press conference by the Hon. Attorney General and Minister of Justice wherein he fruitlessly tried to paint our client and those patronising his car trade as terrorists and/or financiers of terrorists.

“I have gone through the text. Sunday was alleged to have transferred the sum of N12.7m to Abbal Bako & Sons owned by Abdullahi Umar. Transferring money to bureau de change to buy dollars is what is done by every businessman of our client’s calibre. Thank God that his passports and various bills of ladings were carted away by DSS during the ungodly invasion of 1st July, 2021.

“Thus, so far, there is no evidence of receipt of money from Abbal Bako & Sons or Abdullahi Umar, going by the text conference. What the Hon AGF stated are mere conjectures, not hard fact.

“Our client, according to him, paid Umar and NOT vice versa, thus believing what the Honourable Attorney General of Federation earlier said that Chief Sunday Adeyemo is being financed by people.

“The picture the Learned AGF wanted to paint is that our Client is being financed by Abdullah Umar allegedly involved in terrorists financing. Who is now financing who?

“Again, Chief Adeyemo is a car dealer trading in the name of Adesun International Concept Ltd. Does it mean that anybody buying car from him or selling car to him is a terrorist?

“Chief Sunday Adeyemo a.k.a Igboho Oosa was not into Oodua Nation until last year. So, finding over N273m turnover between October 2013 and September 2020 shows that he was not a poor man. His house invaded by DSS on 1st July 2020 is worth over N2 billion!

“I challenge the Hon AGF to mention the lawmaker that sent money to Chief Sunday Adeyemo for terrorist act whether he would not be damnified in exemplary damages for defamation.

“Up till date, our client has not been prosecuted or found liable for any criminal act or terrorism. There is also a valid and subsisting court judgment that agitation for self-determination is not an act of terrorism but fundamental human right of any citizen.

“My Learned brother Silk and Hon AGF knows that suspicion, no matter how great, cannot grant conviction. Chief Sunday Adeyemo is not a terrorist but a campaigner for self-determination.”

Attorney-General’s claims illogical — Afenifere

Apex Yoruba Organization, Afenifere has reacted to a statement by Nigeria’s Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami that Yoruba activist, Sunday Igboho has ties to Terrorism.

Afenifere, in a press release signed by its Secretary-General, Chief Sola Ebiseni, yesterday described Malami’s statements as “Illogical reasoning”.

The statement reads: “The Federal Government with its Attorney General will not stop amusing themselves with illogical reasoning on the nationality question.

“It is expected that the AG would be guided by the standard of a reasonable man, which is a central test in legal inquiry, before addressing the public.

“This time around, the team set up by him, at a time he is hell-bent on nailing Igboho, has satisfied his emotional expectations, but in a most unreasonable and tenuous manner, by suggesting that Sunday Igboho, a Yoruba nation campaigner, would be on the same sponsorship with Boko Haram.

“Only someone with pathological hatred for Igboho and insult to the Yoruba nation will find a common bed for Yoruba nation agitation and Boko Haram which is known to act in tandem with the Fulani herdsmen whose terrorist acts were responsible for Igboho’s campaigns.

“The whole world knows what Igboho stood and still stands for and his peaceful modus operandi, in spite of the unwarranted invasion of his house which was aimed at his life by the Federal Government.

“It is of amusing cruelty that the Federal Government, which was unable to defend itself of terrorism against Igboho and for which it was handed N20 billion in aggravated damages, would turn around that Igboho received less than N200 million to sponsor terrorism since 2013 when Igboho had never been heard of and when Major General Muhammad Buhari, as former Military Head of State then, was campaigning for the Sharia as a law of general application in Nigeria.

“The Federal Government and its security agencies should better pay the damages awarded against them, apologise to Igboho and his household for the acts of terrorism committed against the peaceful campaigner.

“The Federal Government may continue to play the ostrich, the whole world knows those who enacted, engineered and continue to promote terrorism in Nigeria.”

Weighty allegation without facts, says Senate spokesman

Contacted for his reaction to Malami’s allegations against Igboho yesterday, the Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Ajibola Basiru, said there were no facts to respond to, since the Attorney-General did not mention any National Assembly member’s name.

“Did he mention the person’s name?” Basiru asked, adding that “since he has not mentioned any name, I think we should wait for him to mention the name.

“The National Assembly members from the Southwest are many. We have 18 in the Senate and over 80 in the House of Representatives.

“The allegation is weighty, but we don’t have facts to respond to.”

The Chairman of the Southwest caucus in the House of Representatives, Rep. Olufemi Fakeye, declined comments when he was contacted yesterday.

“I have no reaction to it. I have not heard about it. I am just hearing it from you now,” he said.

The spokesman of the House, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, also did not respond to a message sent to his Whatsapp line and also did not pick the calls made to his phone.

 DSS frees two remaining Igboho allies

Two allies of Igboho in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) were released yesterday, according to their lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi.

The duo, Amudat Babatunde Abibat a.k.a. Lady K and Jamiu Noah Oyetunji, were among 12 persons who were arrested when DSS operatives stormed Adeyemo’s house in Oyo State on July 1, 2021.

Adeyemo’s house had been raided on allegations of arms stockpiling, according to the Service.

Olajengbesi, in a terse statement on yesterday, said while the matter was still a subject of litigation, they would have no further comment on it for now.

Of the 12 associates of Adeyemo arrested on July 1, eight had been released on August 30 after a court order while two others were freed on September 3.

The spokesman of DSS, Dr Peter Afunanya, was yet to make any comment on the matter at press time yesterday.

The Department of State Services (DSS) has released the remaining two aides of embattled Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, alias Sunday Igboho, who have been in custody since July 1.

They are Jamiu Noah Oyetunji and Amudat Habibat Babatunde (Lady K).

The detainees’ lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, confirmed their release.

The DSS had during a midnight raid of Igboho’s Soka house in Ibadan, Oyo State, arrested 12 of the activist’s allies and whisked them away to Abuja, where they were kept in detention, but 10 were released.

Those earlier released were Abideen Shittu, Abdullateef Onaolapo, Ayobami Donald, Olakunle Oluwapelumi, Dikeola Ademola, Bamidele Sunday, Raji Kazeem, Taiwo Tajudeen, Tajudeen rinloye and Uthman Adelabu.

Read Also: Presidential Committee indicted Nnamdi Kanu, Igboho, says Malami

The secret police had held on to the remaining two aides despite an order by Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja on August 4, for the release of all the 12 detained associates.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, the DSS went ahead to slam five-count terrorism charges against the two aides.

Olajengbesi, in a terse statement on Friday said: “This is to officially announce the release of Amudat Babatunde Abibat AKA Lady-K and Jamiu Noah Oyetunji, the remaining two Sunday Igboho’s aides, from the State Security Service Custody today – 22nd October, 2021.

“While the matter is still a subject of litigation, we shall have no comment further on this for now.”

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Jabi, Abuja has granted bail to a former Chairman of the Board of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Ngozi Olejeme.

Olejeme, who was also an aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, was arraigned before the court on October 21 on a nine-count charge, in which she accused of abusing her office, receiving bribe, awarding contracts without due process, among others.

In a ruling on Friday, Justice Maryam Hhasan Aliyu said she was inclined to granting the defendant bail because of the materials she placed before the court, which the prosecution did not dispute.

Justice Aliyu adopted the conditions attached to the administrative bail earlier granted Olejeme by the prosecuting agency i the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) – in 2017.

The conditions include that the defendant produces two Deputy Directors in government employment to stand as her sureties.

Read Also: Alleged N3b: Ex-NSITF Chairman Olejeme arraigned, remanded in EFCC’s custody

Upon an application by the prosecuting lawyer, Steve Odiase, Justice Aliyu adjourned till November 8 for the commitment of trial.

The judge, who said she would accord the case accelerated hearing, ordered the prosecution to bring as many witnesses as possible on the next date.

In one of the counts, Olejeme was alleged to have “dishonestly received the sum of N22,200,000.00” from a contractor with NSITF into her personal account No. 32327505058110 at GT Bank.

Olejeme was also accused of receiving $48,485,127.00, which was dollars equivalent of some funds received from contractors as “kickback.”

Details shortly…