The Nation Newspaper

Tag: charges

  • Court dismisses charges against Kads Farms CEO

    A Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ogba, Lagos, has struck out a fraud charge filed against Chief Executive Officer of Kads Farms Limited, a livestock company, Ken Ogiamien, for want of diligent prosecution.

    Ogiamien was arraigned on charges of obtaining money by false pretence following a complaint by a policeman, Agha Tobias.

    The complainant claimed he bought a plot of land at Isheri North residential scheme in 2006 through Ogiamien, who is also a real estate agent.

    When he discovered that the land was waterlogged, he asked for a refund, but that Ogiamien refused to return the money.

    Ogiamien, who was already repaying the money, said the land was affected by flood water, which was not the case when he sold the land.

    Besides, he said he was making effort to raise money with which to fully refund Tobias when the complainant instigated his arrest.

    Ogiamien pleaded not guilty to the five-count charge of fraud when he was arraigned. He said he was ready to prove his innocence.

    After his arraignment, he was admitted to bail in the sum of N300,000 with two responsible sureties.

    The case was adjourned for trial and Ogiamien kept attending court. But, the complainant failed to turn up to give evidence for the prosecution.

    After three adjournments without the complainant showing up, Ogiamien’s lawyer Mr. A. Nwaka applied that the case be struck out.

    The lawyer said it was clear that the complainant and the prosecution had no case against his client.

    The Magistrate, Mrs A. T. Omoyele, granted the application and subsequently struck out the charge.

    “This charge is struck out for want of diligent prosecution and the defendant is discharged accordingly,” she held.

    Ogiamien insists that the allegation against him was false and designed to tarnish his reputation.

    Recalling the transaction that led to his arraignment, he said: “At the point of the transaction, there was no water on the land. But the land was later flooded with water from Ogun River.

    “Because of the water, Tobias said he was no longer interested in the land. He asked for a refund. We took the matter to the then Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Frank Mba.

    “Mba said I should refund Tobias the money. Based on the agreement, I started refunding the N2million. I had paid him N1million in cash. It was collected on his behalf by PPRO, and he was remitting the money to Tobias.

    “Maybe because he was a police officer, he took the matter to the State Police Command having received N1million of his money. The command then decided to take the matter to court.

    “He never appeared in court for one day. The whole thing was just to humiliate and embarrass me. I have all the evidence of the payments I made to him because the  PPRO always acknowledged the money I brought.

    “The PPRO even told me he was ready to come and testify in court that I was already paying back the money. But Tobias never came to court,” Ogiamien said.

  • Gov Emmanuel charges Akwa Utd FC to go for victory

    Gov Emmanuel charges Akwa Utd FC to go for victory

    Akwa Ibom State Government, in partnership with Julius Berger, has concluded plans to establish Sports Academy in the state with coaches from Germany and other countries of the world to develop talents in the game of football and other sporting activities.

    Governor Udom Emmanuel dropped the hint yesterday during an interaction with team managers and players of the  state – owned Akwa United Football Club at the Government House, Uyo.

    He commended the technical crew and the players for being able to make it to the final of the tournament and charged them to strive with all their passion to come top in the Federation Cup.

    Governor Emmanuel said he had approved the release of N100 million for the settlement of outstanding financial commitments of the club and informed them that they have all it takes to make history stressing that “once the passion is right, nothing is impossible”.

    The Governor charged them to strategize and play as a team to clinch the trophy, adding that as a team, every individual in the round leather game is important and that they should remain focused in their aspirations.

    “Ninety minutes of the game can change your life as your performance in the tournament would expose you to foreign clubs and stardom,” the Governor advised.

    Governor Emmanuel described footballers as one of the fastest growing income earners in the world and said that his administration will stop at nothing to equip talents and expose them to the world market. This, he explained, will justify the vision of establishing an international stadium in the state.

    He used the occasion to announce plans to establish ten sports centres in the state to further boost sports development and aid in talent hunt,  adding that facilities in the Uyo Township Stadium would be upgraded for the hosting of local matches and training of the players. He particularly congratulated two  indigenes of the state, Edidiong Essien and Akpan Udoh, who were part of the Golden Eaglets that won the just concluded 2015 FIFA World Cup in Chile.

    Earlier, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Monday Uko, expressed appreciation to the Governor for making funds readily available to clear up outstanding financial commitment and assured that the team is in high spirits to bring the trophy home.

    He thanked the Governor for his sports friendly disposition and noted that it is a thing of pride for the team to attend the feat of escaping relegation and playing up to the final in the Federation Cup tournament.

    Also, the captain of the team, Otobong Effiong, expressed appreciation to the Governor for the fatherly advice and improvements on their welfare and pledged to clinch the coveted trophy to the state.

     

  • Angst over car park charges

    Angst over car park charges

    Shoppers are becoming uncomfortable with charges they pay for parking cars in malls. They have described such charges as needless. TONIA ‘DIYAN reports

    One after the other, they hopped into their cars, amid complaints. This is crazy.

    Oh ! Owners of malls are taking undue advantage of us, by  collecting car park charges from us. Why must we pay for parking space in malls  where we shop regularly for our personal and corporate needs? asked some of the shoppers as they drove out of Ikeja City Mall in Alausa, Lagos State.

    Neither did they return greetings from the security men, who waved to them probably to collect money from them, nor offer some smiles.

    Indeed, they wore a sad look, suggesting that they are not happy with the charges imposed on them by management of various malls  in the state.

    The above summed up the frustrations of shoppers in malls located within the Lagos metropolis. Be it malls in Ikeja, Lekki, Surulere, and other areas in Lagos, it is the same story.

    Being the nation’s commercial nerve centrres, Lagos has witnessing  a flurry of activities  which include buying and selling of mercandise, online payment for goods and services, delivery of products at the doorsteps of people who have paid for them among others. It was therefore not suprising to see people, especially the high fliers in the society going for shopping to satisfy their urge for classic materials.

    Across the various malls visited by The Nation Shopping, in the state,  shoppers are quick to  express their disappointments over what they termed illegal parking charges levelled on them by malls’ owners.  To this group of people,  the charges was a tool used by the management of malls to extort money from them.

    Bade Suleiman, a shopper at Leisure Mall, Suruelere in Lagos  Mainland,  said he was not comfortable with the ways they were being charged for parking space in malls.

    He said he was paying N200 per hour for using the car space provided by the management of the mall.

    Hear him:  ‘’ I  do not  understand the  rationale behind the N200  we  ( the shoppers)  are being charged for using car space in thee mall. I have been shopping in the mall for long, and my car has never been stolen either or outside the mall. It is with this mindset I go to malls in Lagos and beyond. Whether I’m shopping spree or not, I always believe that my car is safe.Why must I pay N200 for using the car space provided in the mall since they are making money from me? He asked.

    Another shopper,  who identifed herself as Brahiyat Haruna, said it was wrong for owners of malls to charge them for using their car parks.

    He said paying for car space  in the malls does not guarantee the safety of his car. While some shoppers are frowning at the charges, few others said there was nothing wrong with the levy imposed on them for using car space.

    Aremu Ayo, a shopper, said it is not right to pay for a car space in a mall where he buys goods and further  helps them to improve on their business.

    He said he goes to malls to buy their products, and therefore, should not be made to pay for parking space.

    ‘’ Sometimes, shoppers buy products at a far higher prices due to taxes and other government’ levies.  Yet, are made to pay for car park. This is not good enough.

    While this lasted, some people said there was nothing wrong in asking shoppers to pay for car space in malls.

    Nurudeen Babatunde is one of such people. A middle aged man from Lagos, Babatunde said there was nothing wrong in the charges which shoppers pay for using car  parks within the malls.

    He  said there was nothing wrong in shoppers paying for parking space within the  malls.

    “After all, it costs only N200 to park a car at the mall, I think the charges are moderate.A shopper can only be asked to pay more charges if or she spend more than an hour  in the mall..”

    According to him, if people can  spend thousands of naira to buy goods in the malls,  payment for car space of N200 per hour should not be a problem to them since they are paying for the safety of their cars.

    He urged people not to stay too long in the malls to avoid being charged huge amount of money for using their car parks.

    ‘’I do not see the need to spend more than an hour in a mall. If we  do not want  to pay highly for car park, then the best thing for shoppers to do is conduct their transactions as quickly as possible.’’ he added.

    According to  mall administrators in Lagos,who spoke to The Nation, on condition of annoymity,  there is need for shoppers to pay charges for using car park in the malls when one considers the problems they create for other users of the malls.

    He said: ‘’For instance, parking spaces are congested, making it difficult for other shoppers to enter in order to conduct transactions. On a good day, we accommodate 1000 cars because the land is almost two plots. Some park for three or four hours, while it is just 15 minutes for others. The N200 fee we charge is, however, for single entry. Once you drive out, you will have to pay again if you have any reason to come in.”

    Sander Norman, a Manager in Ikeja City Mall, said: “If malls do not  charge for parking, people would take undue advantage of them, by leaving their vehicles for hours.  If people  can drive to Victoria Island to buy  goods, and pay about N200 as toll gate fee, they should be able to do the same here,” he said.

    It would be recalled that a mall was closed in Lagos in 2012 when shoppers protested  the payment for car parking. Will another mall(s) be shut against for the same reason?

    Time will tell.

  • Tidewater loses bid to stall suit against it over unpaid taxes, charges

    An American oil services firm, Tidewater Marine International Incorporated, has lost its bid to stall the hearing of a suit seeking to, among others, compel it to pay outstanding tax liabilities and other statutory charges it allegedly owes some Nigerian agencies.

    Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, in a ruling last week, refused the firm’s application for stay of proceedings pending the determination of an interlocutory appeal it filed against an earlier decision of the judge.

    The judge, who held that the application by Tidewater lacked merit and that it amounted to a gross abuse of court process, noted that the appeal, for which it sought to stay proceedings, had not been entered and that it failed to seek and obtain the mandatory leave to appeal.

    Tidewater’s estranged local partner, PhoenixTide Offshore Nigeria Limited, had initiated the suit in 2013 following alleged refusal by Tidewater, who acted as PhoenixTide’s agent while their business relationship lasted, “to make full disclosure and deliver all paper trails on its management and operations, and revenue in US dollar and naira from the plaintiff’s time charter party.”

    Other defendants in the suit marked: FHC/L/CS/609/2013 include Tidewater’s agent in Nigeria, Tidex Nigeria Limited, Total E & P Nigeria Limited, Total Upstream Nigerian Limited and Total E & P Deepwater Limited.

    The plaintiff averred, in its supporting affidavit, that contrary to the 2011 terms of settlement and non-prosecution agreement it entered with the Nigerian government to operate in the country in accordance with existing laws and regulations, Tidex has allegedly concealed all facts on its operations with the aim of avoiding its tax liabilities and other statutory charges accruable to government agencies.

    It stated that the “failure on the part of Tidewater and Tidex to honour their financial obligations, including taxes to relevant agencies of the Federal Government will expose it (PhoenixTide) to the risk of being slammed with criminal charges, which will not be in its the interest.”

    PhoenixTide is praying the court to, among others, compel the 1st defendant (Tidewater) to make full disclosure and provide necessary information for the assessment of its tax liabilities and other statutory charges by the relevant government agencies, and an order directing Tidewater to pay its tax liabilities and other statutory charges, as may be assessed by the relevant government agencies, in consultation with, and satisfaction of the plaintiff.

    The plaintiff also wants the court to declare that it is entitled to be paid N1, 595,848,985.10 and $3,366,813.30 being payments for the performance of several contracts for the provision of vessels and logistics services entered into by the plaintiff and the 3rd to 5th defendants (Total E & P Nigeria Limited, Total Upstream Nigerian Limited and Total E & P Deepwater Limited).

    It equally wants the court to issue an order, directing Total E & P Nigeria Limited, Total Upstream Nigerian Limited and Total E & P Deepwater Limited to pay to the plaintiff N1, 595,848,985.10 and $3,366,813.30, including all future out-standings, being payment due and outstanding on the performance of several contracts for the provision of vessels and logistics services between the 3rd to 5th defendants and the plaintiff, for the purpose of fulfilling all its obligations and others lawful liabilities.

    Justice Abang had in a March 6 ruling dismissed with cost, Tidewater’s preliminary objection to the suit and assumed jurisdiction to hear it, a decision the company claimed to have appealed by neglected to take the necessary accompanying steps.

    “In the final analysis, the motion on notice dated May 28, 2013 lacks merit, same is hereby dismissed with cost of N25,000 awarded in favour of the plaintiff, payable by the 1st and 2nd defendants (Tidewater and Tidex),” Justice Abang held in  his earlier ruling.

  • Fashola charges editors to set agenda for political discussion

    Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has challenged the Nigeria Guild of Editors on the need to set agenda for political discussions in the country.

    The governor gave the charge yesterday when a delegation of the Guild of Editors visited him in his office in Alausa, Ikeja.

    The governor added that with issues oriented campaigns and elections, even the children would freely participate in future election campaigns and town hall meetings

    According to him, “Though, there is no nation without conflicts, but I think in all that has happened one thing was missing in this election; we didn’t see our children there.

    “One question I have continued to ask myself is that if this is about the future, why is it that our children do not come to the campaigns or town hall meetings? We don’t have sessions where school-children on excursion get involved? How many parents can allow their children to come, given the atmosphere that we have created? Yet, we say this is about tomorrow?

    Earlier President of the Guild, Mr. Femi Adesina, said that the 14-man Executive Committee team had come on a courtesy visit ahead of their Biennial Convention.

    He commended the governor’s contributions to the making of the state, adding that he would be greatly missed.

    “You have always been with us in our conventions, either in person or represented and they don’t come empty-handed. So, we are here to say thank you” He said.

  • Cross River security adviser charges military to stay off politics

    The Cross River State Security Adviser, Mr Rekpene Bassey, has charged the military to remain apolitical as the general elections loom.

    Speaking while receiving the new Commandant of the Amphibious Training School in Calabar, Brig General TOB Ademola, he urged the army, as a foremost military institution, to avoid the temptation of being drawn into politics.

    His words, “I have tremendous respect for the military, especially the army. I admire their discipline. You have to do all it takes to sustain that discipline.

    “I advise the military to remain as professional as possible to stay apolitical in the coming election. You should resist all temptations to be drawn into politics.

    “Recently there have been all sorts of talk about the military and politics and this is not too good. In terms of partisanship you should do all to resist so that your professionalism and respect for the military would be sustained.

    “I hope this doctrine will be sustained in the army so that the army will remain the foremost military institution in Nigeria. I will advise the army to remain completely apolitical, neutral and very professional. These are very challenging times in our nation’s political clime. The top brass of the Nigerian army must do everything possible to resist the temptation of being drawn into political matters, no matter the form and nature such temptation take.”

    He thanked the commandant for his role in helping the state to remain one of the safest states in the country and asked for continued support.

    He also urged that they do well to improve military/civil relations as well as work with other military and paramilitary establishments in the state to ensure peace.

    Ademola in his response said the military in politics is no longer popular the world over.

    He said, “For now the armed forces in Nigeria is completely not interested in politics. We have our primary responsibility and we are facing it with the challenges we are trying to overcome. This is enough for us not to go into politics.”

  • Amuneke charges Eaglets to be focused

    Amuneke charges Eaglets to be focused

    With the 2015 CAF U17 championship just around the corner, Golden Eaglets coach Emmanuel Amuneke has warned his players they must remain focused if they are to win the competition.

    The Eaglets arrived in Sokoto on Friday afternoon, where they are expected to camp before leaving for Niger, where the cadet tournament is holding.

    And Amuneke, a member of the coaching staff of the U-17 team that came second in 2013, says if they are to meet their target of winning the competition, his players must have all their focus on the tournament.

    “It is easy to say you want to win the competition but the effort you put matters a lot and as a result, I have told my players that they must focus on the tournament and nothing else.

    “This is the most important task for us now and thinking about something else will be a distraction for us. We want to do better than we did the last time and the players understand the only way of doing that is to remain focused on the task at hand.”

    But despite his dedication to winning the championship, Amuneke further reiterated that he must also develop players that are good enough to represent the Super Eagles in the nearest future.

    “We must also understand that we have to build a team that can withstand the pressures of the game after the U17’s. This is not the end of football,but rather,it is the start and we are building these players so they can play for the Super Eagles in the future.”

  • Stephen Davis’ charges

    Stephen Davis’ charges

    Boko Haram: The naming of Sheriff, Ihejirika and a shadowy CBN official should not be taken lightly 

    We cannot dismiss these allegations merely by making press statements or assuring Nigerians of investigations or by solemn declarations about official aversion to terrorism. The charges now in the air from the lips of Stephen Davis, a hostage negotiator for the release of the over 200 kidnapped Chibok girls, are serious and hint at the level of high-powered backing of the infectious sect, Boko Haram.

    The charges, in their gravity, are simple. One, former governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff, was accused of being a long-term sponsor of the sect. Two, former chief of army staff, retired Lt.-General Azubuike Ihejirika was accused of also another sponsor. The third charge is laid at a shadowy individual described as a top official of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Davis shied away from naming the CBN official.

    Davis stakes his claim on his familiarity with the Boko Haram sect, especially in negotiations for the release of the beleaguered Chibok girls. His bona fides are also stressed by his work with two successive Nigerian presidencies, Olusegun Obasanjo’s and Umaru Yar’Adua’s. He has also established strong links with al-Qaeda cells, up to three of them, around Africa. He is an Australian, and holds a PhD in political geography. Above all, he has gained the trust of the militants and governments in Africa, and he has leveraged this credential in raising the stakes of his activity in the topsy-turvy terrain of the religious zealots.

    When he issued those charges, he said he was a negotiator working at the behest of the Jonathan presidency. This led to a flurry of furious arguments from Nigerians, politicians, journalists and human rights activists. Both Sheriff and Ihejirika have denied the charges. The charge against Sheriff is not new. In fact, he ignited partisan furies when the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) called the All Progressives Congress (APC) a Boko Haram sponsor on the strength of Sheriff’s membership. Sheriff has now moved to the PDP. With the Davis allegations, the ruling party is at the butt of the same charges.

    Ihejirika’s charge is curious because he was a point man as army chief in the war against terror. How come his name has popped up in this awful conversation?

    Marilyn Ogar, the spokesperson of the Department of State Security (DSS) has denied that Davis was running an errand for the President. She has also denied that Ihejirika has any link with the terror group, while reaffirming the common knowledge that Sheriff has been quizzed a few times by the nation’s intelligence agency, the State Security Service (SSS).

    We cannot say that Davis has all the facts unless we see them. So, it will be foolhardy and presumptuous to believe the words of the Australian simply because of his biography. For the same reasons, we cannot ignore them. He is clearly in the position to know, and he has staked his life and name in his personal journeys into the lairs of the dangerous humans.

    He is also no loafer having bagged a PhD. He is also a Christian cleric, which is antipodal to the world views of the terrorist. He apparently has no happy stake in the success of terror. We also wonder if he was specific in the case of Sheriff and Ihejirika, why was he nebulous on the matter of the CBN high roller?

    The other reason we cannot ignore the charges is that by accusing the former army chief, his points a specific finger at the door step of President Goodluck Jonathan. Ogar has said that the allegations seek to devalue the service of the former army chief who laid his life for his country. Her point is well taken, but that does not stop us from raising questions. So, where is Davis’ evidence that the army chief helped fuel the escalation of the enemy’s fire power? Ogar also denied that a top sponsor was related to at least two of the nabbed Nyanya bombers. If that is true, where are Davis’ counter facts? Or is Ogar fibbing?

    The Stephen Davis charges touch three sensitive institutions. With the charge of Sheriif, it stalks the executive and potentially compromises governance. On Ihejirika, it nudges the military. With the shadowy CBN official, the infrastructure of money is tainted. If these charges are true, then it means that Nigeria is helping the enemy through its high rollers.

    Some quarters have argued that the history of Boko Haram leaves no institution innocent. First, it seemed only southerners and Christians were victims. Later, it alleged collaborating Muslims. Then, emirs and Muslim clerics and anybody became victims. The narrative has also taken on regionalist and ethnic accusations. Those in the inner sanctum of the Jonathan administration as well as its supporters have seen the insurgency as a political move to besiege the Jonathan presidency. They argue that a northern oligarchy unhappy to cede power did not want President Jonathan to succeed. They have also cited some statements from northern henchmen as evidence.

    But the northerners say the Jonathan administration has been encouraging the insurgency. This, they argue, is orchestrated to gain sympathy for the government. It is in that context that some have placed the charge against his former chief of army staff.

    President Jonathan himself had said in the past that Boko Haram has moles in his government. Who are they? Does Davis know them? Or is he working on inconclusive evidence? We cannot find this out by simply asking our government to investigate it. We cannot trust the Nigerian institutions on this matter for three reasons. One, the administration’s innocence has been impugned by the allegations. Two, because of the tentacles of Boko Haram, the investigations could be compromised by the working of fifth columnists within our institutions. The third point is that terror has morphed into an international network, and the best way to unravel its seedy dynamics is to internationalise its investigation.

    We therefore support those who want this matter to be taken to the International Criminal Court. We believe that it will help bring out some of the shadowy information since top Nigerians may be involved in the operations of the sect. These allegations are too serious to be left in the realm of speculations. Boko Haram is waxing stronger and our soldiers are looking weak as the insurgents take territory after territory in the northeast.

    It is not important whether Davis is working as an independent or at the behest of the Jonathan administration. The allegations are grave. The deaths and fall of northern towns are also grave. Our corporate security and prosperity are in danger. We should do the right thing and save this country from the barbarous hordes and their sponsors, whoever and wherever they are.

  • Stephen Davis’ charges

    Stephen Davis’ charges

    Boko Haram: The naming of Sheriff, Ihejirika and a shadowy CBN official should not be taken lightly 

    We cannot dismiss these allegations merely by making press statements or assuring Nigerians of investigations or by solemn declarations about official aversion to terrorism. The charges now in the air from the lips of Stephen Davis, a hostage negotiator for the release of the over 200 kidnapped Chibok girls, are serious and hint at the level of high-powered backing of the infectious sect, Boko Haram.

    The charges, in their gravity, are simple. One, former governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff, was accused of being a long-term sponsor of the sect. Two, former chief of army staff, retired Lt.-General Azubuike Ihejirika was accused of also another sponsor. The third charge is laid at a shadowy individual described as a top official of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Davis shied away from naming the CBN official.

    Davis stakes his claim on his familiarity with the Boko Haram sect, especially in negotiations for the release of the beleaguered Chibok girls. His bona fides are also stressed by his work with two successive Nigerian presidencies, Olusegun Obasanjo’s and Umaru Yar’Adua’s. He has also established strong links with al-Qaeda cells, up to three of them, around Africa. He is an Australian, and holds a PhD in political geography. Above all, he has gained the trust of the militants and governments in Africa, and he has leveraged this credential in raising the stakes of his activity in the topsy-turvy terrain of the religious zealots.

    When he issued those charges, he said he was a negotiator working at the behest of the Jonathan presidency. This led to a flurry of furious arguments from Nigerians, politicians, journalists and human rights activists. Both Sheriff and Ihejirika have denied the charges. The charge against Sheriff is not new. In fact, he ignited partisan furies when the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) called the All Progressives Congress (APC) a Boko Haram sponsor on the strength of Sheriff’s membership. Sheriff has now moved to the PDP. With the Davis allegations, the ruling party is at the butt of the same charges.

    Ihejirika’s charge is curious because he was a point man as army chief in the war against terror. How come his name has popped up in this awful conversation?

    Marilyn Ogar, the spokesperson of the Department of State Security (DSS) has denied that Davis was running an errand for the President. She has also denied that Ihejirika has any link with the terror group, while reaffirming the common knowledge that Sheriff has been quizzed a few times by the nation’s intelligence agency, the State Security Service (SSS).

    We cannot say that Davis has all the facts unless we see them. So, it will be foolhardy and presumptuous to believe the words of the Australian simply because of his biography. For the same reasons, we cannot ignore them. He is clearly in the position to know, and he has staked his life and name in his personal journeys into the lairs of the dangerous humans.

    He is also no loafer having bagged a PhD. He is also a Christian cleric, which is antipodal to the world views of the terrorist. He apparently has no happy stake in the success of terror. We also wonder if he was specific in the case of Sheriff and Ihejirika, why was he nebulous on the matter of the CBN high roller?

    The other reason we cannot ignore the charges is that by accusing the former army chief, his points a specific finger at the door step of President Goodluck Jonathan. Ogar has said that the allegations seek to devalue the service of the former army chief who laid his life for his country. Her point is well taken, but that does not stop us from raising questions. So, where is Davis’ evidence that the army chief helped fuel the escalation of the enemy’s fire power? Ogar also denied that a top sponsor was related to at least two of the nabbed Nyanya bombers. If that is true, where are Davis’ counter facts? Or is Ogar fibbing?

    The Stephen Davis charges touch three sensitive institutions. With the charge of Sheriif, it stalks the executive and potentially compromises governance. On Ihejirika, it nudges the military. With the shadowy CBN official, the infrastructure of money is tainted. If these charges are true, then it means that Nigeria is helping the enemy through its high rollers.

    Some quarters have argued that the history of Boko Haram leaves no institution innocent. First, it seemed only southerners and Christians were victims. Later, it alleged collaborating Muslims. Then, emirs and Muslim clerics and anybody became victims. The narrative has also taken on regionalist and ethnic accusations. Those in the inner sanctum of the Jonathan administration as well as its supporters have seen the insurgency as a political move to besiege the Jonathan presidency. They argue that a northern oligarchy unhappy to cede power did not want President Jonathan to succeed. They have also cited some statements from northern henchmen as evidence.

    But the northerners say the Jonathan administration has been encouraging the insurgency. This, they argue, is orchestrated to gain sympathy for the government. It is in that context that some have placed the charge against his former chief of army staff.

    President Jonathan himself had said in the past that Boko Haram has moles in his government. Who are they? Does Davis know them? Or is he working on inconclusive evidence? We cannot find this out by simply asking our government to investigate it. We cannot trust the Nigerian institutions on this matter for three reasons. One, the administration’s innocence has been impugned by the allegations. Two, because of the tentacles of Boko Haram, the investigations could be compromised by the working of fifth columnists within our institutions. The third point is that terror has morphed into an international network, and the best way to unravel its seedy dynamics is to internationalise its investigation.

    We therefore support those who want this matter to be taken to the International Criminal Court. We believe that it will help bring out some of the shadowy information since top Nigerians may be involved in the operations of the sect. These allegations are too serious to be left in the realm of speculations. Boko Haram is waxing stronger and our soldiers are looking weak as the insurgents take territory after territory in the northeast.

    It is not important whether Davis is working as an independent or at the behest of the Jonathan administration. The allegations are grave. The deaths and fall of northern towns are also grave. Our corporate security and prosperity are in danger. We should do the right thing and save this country from the barbarous hordes and their sponsors, whoever and wherever they are.