A Vice Chancellor on TRIAL

The strike action embarked upon by the workforce of his university is not all there is to the current problems of Professor Ikechukwu Chidobem, Vice Chancellor, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT). (Picture shows Prof. Chidobem)

In addition to the lingering strike by the entire workforce following general poor working conditions, Professor Chidobem is, at the moment, grappling with allegations of looting and diverting of public funds by labor unions in the institution, including Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU).

It would be recalled that the workers had, since June 1, been on strike to demand improved working conditions. In specific terms, the workers’ demands include payment of 48 months arrears of monetization; payment of three sessions of stipend for lecturers involved in mature student program, post-graduate supervision and sandwich programs; implementation of Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS) as applicable in almost all universities across Nigeria since January 1, 2007, as well as election of two Deputy Vice Chancellors as prescribed by the law establishing the university. Other demands include confirmation of elected Deans of Faculties, appraisal and promotion of academic staff, and security assurances and regular payment of salaries among others.

But while on strike, the workers, on July 6, 2009, solicited EFCC’s intervention against what they described as ‘massive looting, conversion and stealing of public funds’ in the institution. The petition, entitled: ‘Looting and Diversion of Public Funds’, was signed by Agu Gab Agu and Sunny Udeze (Chairperson and Secretary, ASUU); Damian Ugwoke and Chris Uzodi ((Chairman and Secretary, NASU), as well as Joe Asogwa (Chairman, SSANU).

The workers’ petition alleged that there had been a run on the funds of the university in the past two months for projects or activities that were not executed or in accord with due process, adding that bank withdrawals were neither reflected in the relevant books of account nor do they pass through the conventional processes.

The petition, also, alleged fraud in the running of the university’s Business School, claiming that, for the past five years, there had not been any reflection of any amount paid by the school in the records of the institution, except for only N30 million for the year 2009. According to the petition, the corresponding payments in favor of the Business School were not reflected in the institution’s account books, including payment for issuance of certificates.

Another contention of the petition centered on electronic payment in the university. Part of the claim was that since the commencement of this mode of payment, the server had not been domiciled in the university while none of its staff worked with the contractor. Also, the memorandum of understanding did not reportedly provide for the training or hand-over of the equipment, technology and know-how, or expertise to Bursary Staff of the university.
“These create room or likelihood for fraud as the tracking of the millions of naira paid to the university is not within the primary knowledge of those empowered to manage the fund”, the petition argued.

The alleged refusal of Chidobem’s management to appoint a Deputy Vice Chancellor for the university is, of course, another contentious issue. The petition thus alleged that since 2007 the institution stopped having a Deputy Vice Chancellor, the allowances accruable to that office had continually and consistently been paid up to the month of May this year.

Meanwhile, the workers have declared that their strike action was not, in the least, politically motivated, but strictly targeted at the provision of favorable working conditions by the responsible authorities.

Lamenting that a lot of the institution’s quality lecturers had been leaving in droves, the unions, in a recent press conference, countered the Vice Chancellor’s claim that his management pays N155 million as monthly salary. The working people quipped that the university, rather, pays staff N137 million monthly or a little slightly above that whenever it pays leave allowances.

“The difference between what they claim to pay and what they actually pay is N12 million which is the difference between the old salary and the CONTISS/CONUIS”, the unions asserted.

The labor unions, further, punctured the V.C’s claim that the university needs N1.9 billion to pay the monetization arrears, contending, instead, that the amount needed for the monetization is N1.4 million.

Insisting that the on-going industrial crisis in the university was informed by the Vice Chancellor’s display of high-handedness, insensitivity and undue pomposity, the unions vowed to continue with their strike action until their demands were all met.

Already, students of the university currently run the risk of losing one academic session if the strike continues. And the worst aspect of this situation is that graduating students who ought to go for their compulsory one year national service are, also, going to be affected.

The strike action by their lecturers and other workers of the university had, unfortunately, been allowed to continue by both the university management and the government of Barrister Sullivan Chime despite repeated peaceful demonstrations by the students for the government’s intervention to save the situation. Rather than tackle the demands of the workforce, both the institution’s management and Chime’s government seem more interested in witch-hunting leaders of the striking workers than in peacefully resolving the impasse.

Several efforts made by KlinReports to get Chidobem’s management to react to the petition to the EFCC, as well as other allegations were fruitless.

It has to be noted that workers of ESUT were already on strike before the commencement of the on-going nation-wide industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities. Also, of note is the fact that ESUT is the first state owned university in Nigeria, but the workers, regrettably, remain the least paid among tertiary institutions across Nigeria.

How will this festering face-off between Professor Chidobem’s management and labor unions in Enugu varsity be resolved? Only time will tell!

This Eze Must Die!

When the traditional ruler of Ogbujioma Community in Ogbaku, Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, Eze (Alhaji) Shitu Ejiogu was converting to the Moslem faith, he did not know he was courting the wrath of his people. (Picture shows Eze Shitu Ejiogu)

The traditional ruler’s decision has set him in a collision course with some influential members of the community who are leaving no stone unturned to dethrone him.

Initially, the Eze was of the Catholic faith, where he also wedded. But he converted to the Moslem faith last year. The monarch said his reasons for converting to Islam are personal. But his opponents insist that his decision was as a result of monetary inducement.

Nze Philip Okoro, the traditional Prime Minister of the community, is one of those who share this view. He insists that it was corrupt inducement and loss of sense of decency that prompted Eze Alhaji Shitu Ejiogu to convert to the Muslim faith. Nze Okoro, also, notes that the Eze has received the Sultan of Sokoto in his palace and shuttles the North and the Middle East, including Pakistan. Part of the allegation of the traditional prime minister is that Eze Ejiogu, following conversion, presently enjoys a new lease of economic life, including cruising about in an exotic jeep, as well as upgrading his palace.

But Eze Ejiogu remains unruffled with the agitations of his people, citing provisions of the Nigerian constitution which, in his contention, guarantees him freedom of religion.

“In as much as the 1999 constitution guarantees freedom of worship and association, it is my inalienable right to choose the religion of my choice. My new religion is not in conflict with the traditions and customs of my people, and Islam as a religion would not, in any way, affect my duties as a traditional ruler”, Eze Ejiogu quips.

But the Eze’s traducers have vowed not to rest on their oars. They insist he has to renounce Islam in order to continue as their Eze. His critics maintain that his sole aim of converting to Islam is to sow a seed of discord in the community, and, eventually, convert the entire community to Islam, which is predominantly Christians.

To the traditional prime minister, “Eze Ejiogu’s conversion from Christianity to Islam is to sow seeds of discord in our autonomous community which is predominantly Christians. We regret making him our Eze. He should look for another autonomous community where Muslims are dominant and become an Eze over there”.

But Gideon Ugorji, President-General of the community’s town union, sees the issue differently. In Ugorji’s opinion, Eze Ejiogu has the freedom to change his religions without any restrictions.

“The Nigerian constitution gives room for freedom of religion. So, if our Eze chooses to become a Muslim, I personally do not have anything against that”, states the President-General.

Ugorji, further, notes: “What matters most to me is his conducts, not his religion because when we were pursuing our autonomous community he played a very significant role both financially and morally though he was a Christian then”.

Embattled Eze, however, offers some explanations on why he chose to convert to Islam religion, saying his decision was borne out his conviction that the religion holds more promises for his religious needs.

The Eze maintains that his decision was not taken in isolation. Said he: “Before converting to Islam, I invited my subjects to my palace, and they came en masse. The leaders of each community that make up my autonomous community were all in attendance”.

Eze Ejiogu adds that none of the community leaders was against his decision to convert to the Moslem religion then, except one person who, he said, his opinion did not matter in the scheme of things within the community. He says apart from himself, lots of his people have embraced already Islam, worshiping together with him at the mosque in his place.

The rift had, at a point, shifted to the law court, with the opposing group being the plaintiffs. And the suit, among other things, sought to restrain Ejiogu from continuing as the monarch of the community pending the determination of the substantive suit. But the intervention of the Chairman of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, led to what seemed like a cease-fire in the impasse. Ilomuanya was able to prevail on Eze Ejiogu’s traducers to sheathe their swords while his council seeks out a more peaceful means of resolving the communal crisis.

A Capon’s Final Fall!

On Friday July 23, the decomposing corpse of Chika Arum, the most dreaded robbery king in Igboland, was paraded before the public at the Police Headquarters, Enugu.
Arum, alias, Ngwu Egere Omu (Invincible Being), was killed a week back, Friday July 17, in a gun duel with the police while escaping, alongside his notorious gang, from a bloody bank robbery in the sleepy university town of Nsukka in Enugu state.

An indigene of Akegbe-Ugwu community, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu state, Arum was, indeed, the capon of armed robbers in the southeast geo-political zone. (Pictures shows Chikla Arum's corpse)

Apart from being the god father of many a powerful robbery gang in the region for several years, Ngwu’s prominence, or was it notoriety, in the underworld derived from his expertise in coordinating successful bank robberies. The capon was, indeed, the Lord of Igbo Robbery syndicate, with the five southeast states as his exclusive robbery territory.

While he lasted, Ngwu was reputed to have, alongside his regularly armed-to-the-teeth gang, executed all the high profile bank robberies in the zone. The robbery lynchpin’s exploits cut across towns and communities, including Afikpo and Abakiliki in Ebonyi state; Nnewi, Onitsha and Awka in Anambra state, as well as in Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe in Imo state. The list, also, included Enugu and, of course, Nsukka.

In fact, Ngwu Egere Omu’s name evoked fear and trepidation in the hearts of Ndigbo who were conversant with his criminal exploits. He was almost a mythical creature. For instance, people were debarred from using their ell phones whenever and wherever Ngwu was having recreation with his men. An aide would swiftly move round to dispossess people of their mobile telephone handsets only to return after Ngwu had zoomed out of the scene.

Arum reached his apogee in armed banditry when he allegedly masterminded the gruesome murder of an Enugu police hero, Chris Onochie Ekoh (ASP), popularly called IG One Man Squad. Before his cold-blooded murder on September 20, 2007 by an armed gang reportedly procured by Arum, Ekoh fought armed robbers in Enugu state to a stand-still. Ekoh, indeed, routed men of the underworld in the Wawa state such that his name sent cold shivers down the spines of their ranks.

Before Ekoh was murdered, he was said to have had an open confrontation with Ngwu in the process of which the robbery giant told him that his days were numbered. Ngwu had accused Ekoh of recklessly killing members of his robbery gangs. And true to Ngwu’s threats, few days after, Ekoh was brutally murdered on Agbani Road in Enugu metropolis.

But no situation in life lasts for ever, as the dreaded bank robbery kingpin fell to the superior firepower of Nigeria following the gun battle. A combined team of police men from neighboring Enugu and Anambra states cracked down on his gang which had, in the early hours of that fateful day, visited terror on indigenes and residents of Nsukka, leaving behind sorrow, destruction and utter confusion.
This particular robbery operation claimed the life of Nsukka Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Joe Ejitaga (Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), and two other yet-be-identified cops.

It was learnt that several thousands of bullets were wasted in the operation by the robbers who reportedly numbered over 30. The hoodlums raided four banks, shot a manager of one of the banks and left several others seriously wounded, including a commercial motorcycle operator who was hit on the chest by a stray bullet. The raided banks included Intercontinental, Oceanic, Fidelity and Bank PHB.

The robbers had stormed the four new generation banks in Nsukka town, broke into the bank vaults, and carted away sums of money running into several millions of naira. It was after the bank operation that the bandits turned their armory towards Nsukka Divisional Police Station. And having freed all the detainees in the cell, the gang blew up the station with what seemed like an inflammable substance and hand grenade.

Ngwu’s men, subsequently, set property, including vehicles and machines in the station ablaze. Armed with automatic rifles, the magazine was told that they robbers invaded Nsukka town in three vehicles, including a bus, a 406 Peugeot car and a Hilux patrol van. The patrol van mounted on one end of the road from where gun shots boomed endlessly.

Forcing their way into the four banks, gun shots, understandably, sent customers and bank workers scampering for safety while the bandits helped themselves from the banks’ vaults. Also, authorities of the University of Nigeria temporarily put the Nsukka campus of the university under lock and key for as long as the robbery lasted.

DPO Ejitaga, an indigene of Delta state, met his heart-rending death when he led an enforcement of policemen to the scene. Bullets fired by the hoodlums readily killed Ejitaga. The DPO’s lifeless body lay at the point he was shot until the robbers finished their raids before it was removed. He was, nonetheless, rushed to Nnaji Specialist Hospital, Odenigbo where he was confirmed dead before his remains were moved to Bishop Shanaham mortuary.

The ill-fated DPO served as Commander of NITEL Taskforce in Igbo-Etiti before he was, a month ago, transferred to Nsukka Divisional Police Station to replace Ike Mba who was on transfer to Zamfara state in controversial circumstances. Mba’s transfer was occasioned by a protest, in May this year, to that effect by the Catholic Church and human rights groups in the area accusing him of hobnobbing with criminals.

Confirming the DPO’s murder, Ebere Amareizu, Enug state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) explained that DPO Ejitaga was taken unawares by the robbers who laid ambush for him.

Interestingly, less than 24 hours after the millennial raid, the police arrested three of the bandits, killing two, including the awesome Arum.

A joint police team had trailed the fleeing robbers, and eventually caught up with them at Adani in Uzo-Uwani area towards Anambra state. The police operatives recovered N4.5m from the bandits, included other items namely: one rocket launcher; one AK-47, one riot gunner, 1,500 rounds of 7.65 mm bullets, 2,000 rounds of .9mm ammunition, mobile police uniforms, army camouflage uniform, 50 empty AK-47 magazines, one white Jilux pick-up van, one red Volvo car, L-300 bus belonging to Igbo-Etiti LGA, Malta Guinness vehicle, a bus loaded with different kinds of charms.

As the man-hunt for the remaining bandits continue, police authorities vow to fight hoodlums holding Igboland and environs hostage.

Freed after 17 Days with Kidnappers

Dan Nwomeh, Chief Press Secretary to Enugu state Governor, kidnapped seventeen days back, has been set free by his abductors.

Nwomeh’s abductors set him free in Aba, Abia state from where his people went to pick him up.

Nwomeh was, in the evening of July 4, whisked away by a group of young men who trailed him to his residence in the Independence Layout area of Enugu metropolis.

Dan Nwomeh, yesterday, returned to the warm embrace of his family and friends, hale and hearty, after missing for seventeen days. A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, VinMartin Obiora Ilo, said Nwomeh was released by his captors about 9pm on Monday, in Aba, Abia State.
Nwomeh’s abductors reportedly put a call to his immediate family, demanding N100 million ransom before his release.

Before the call, it was uncertain whether Nwomeh was dead or alive in the hands of his abductors, as the mission and objectives of those who whisked him away was not yet established.

Nwomeh has remained an official of Enugu state government since 2003.

KlinReports congratulates Nwomeh for surviving this ordeal.

Who Killed Feng Sheng Yi?

Some Chinese nationals, on Friday July 10, in Enugu, threatened to flee Nigeria in the absence of a determined effort by authorities to guarantee their safety.

The Chinese threat, ostensibly, derives from the rising wave of kidnap across the country in which one of them, Feng Sheng Yi, a staff of Innoson Industrial and Technical Company, fell victim on March 17, 2007. (Pictures left, Chief Pius Ogbuawa; Right, Chief Innocent Chukwuma)

The protesting Chinese nationals recalled the recent confession of Innocent Orji, a kidnap baron, to the effect that Sheng Yi, their kinsman, abducted alongside one other Chinese and a Nigerian, was killed and buried in a shallow grave in Owutu Eda, Afikpo South Local Government Area of Ebonyi state. The kidnap incident took place in Nnewi motor assembly complex of Chief Innocent Chukwuma (alias Innoson), an industrialist.

But the exodus threat by Chinese expatriate workers continues to raise dusts of controversies, as well as mixed feelings and reactions in some quarters across the country.

In the opinion of a human rights organization, Conscience Group, “The threat by some Chinese of leaving the country in droves is neither here nor there. ‘Death’, like William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, is an inevitable end which will come when it will’. It is unarguable that death had, in one way or the other, befallen Nigerians living in China. And China neither burnt nor ceased to exist as a country. Misfortune is misfortune everywhere, and no man bears sorrow better, whether a Nigerian or a Chinese”.

The group, in a statement dated July 13, 2009, and signed by Williams Onukwudo, National Coordinator, laments the outrageous incidence of kidnap in Nigeria, harping that it is only reasonable to look at the abduction and subsequent death of the Chinese national as one of those misfortunes of life.

Says the Group: “It is obvious that many Nigerians, great and small, had, like Sheng Yi, at various times, died in the hands of kidnappers, and affected families had always borne the irreparable losses with fortitude. Nigerians, therefore, condole with the Chinese over the pathetic death of Sheng Yi, and ask God to grant his soul eternal rest in Paradise’”.

Believing that the indictment of Ogbuawa was at the center of the seeming instigated Chinese exodus threat, the body, in a statement entitled: ‘Ogbuawa, Innoson Kidnap Saga: Who Actually Killed the Chinese National?’, maintains that a stoical approach to Sheng Yi’s death is more imperative than ‘the on-going Innocent Chukwuma-induced harassment and intimidation of Ogbuawa over a crime he knew nothing about’, adding, “The point is that if not for the “Nail Ogbuawa Project’ of the Chukwumas, why would any sane person look in his direction concerning the death of a Chinese, Sheng Yi?”

The organization’s statement was profuse with posers: “Has anyone cared to ask why Innoson refused to pay up the N10 million to secure the release of this cherished Chinese expatriate staff of his, Sheng Yi? If Innoson had so much love and affection for Sheng Yi, as he makes Nigerians believe, why did he prefer to secure the release of only his brother, Unigwe, abandoning the two Chinese nationals? Put differently, why didn’t Innoson leave Unigwe behind, and secure the release of the Chinese nationals first?”

It is noted that the most dramatized aspect of Innocent Orji’s confession was his futile attempt to implicate Ogbuawa in his gang’s kidnap crime. Orji, it would be recalled, had, in the controversial confession, narrated how, as then a MASSOB group, someone he identified as Ikechukwu brought the sum of N400, 000.00 to his gang in their forest hide-out, purporting the money to have come from Chief Ogbuawa. Orji’s confession included, among other things, that, on realizing that the money in question was N1 million (instead of the N400, 000.00), his kidnap gang went after Chief Ogbuawa, captured him and brought him to their camp for confirmation of the actual sum of money he gave to them.

While the rest of Orji’s confession appear consigned to Conscience Group insists on x-raying the circumstance(s) surrounding Sheng Yi, especially, in the face of the over-bloated publicity that has characterized his death in captivity in newspapers and magazines across the country. Chukwuma, according to media reports, lamented that the entire kidnap saga has cost his company a fortune, and set his motor assembly business backwards, adding that he did everything possible to save the Chinese nationals from the clutches of the kidnappers.

But the Conscience Group, to this effect, argues that a lot of information have been swept under the carpet in the whole kidnap saga.
The group accuses Innoson of having spent over N20 million in procuring anti-Ogbuawa newspaper and magazine reports across the country. This, it states, is in addition to bribes and other inducements which Chukwuma allegedly continually gives to the police-all targeted at destroying Chief Ogbuawa.

“Because memories could be short, it is apt, at this juncture, to refresh the minds of well-meaning Nigerians that Innocent Chukwuma paid N10 million out of the N20 million ransom demanded by the kidnappers for the release of only Unigwe, his brother. Innoson promised to, subsequently, send the kidnappers another N10 million to release the two Chinese nationals, including Sheng Yi, but he never did. Nigerians have been denied this information that Innocent Chukwuma abandoned the ill-fated Chinese expatriate workers in the camp of the kidnappers, simply because he refused to pay up the remaining N10 million. The two Chinese expatriates, therefore, remained with the kidnappers in their forest base until the military operation which led to the rescue of one of them. Sheng Yi had, after the rescue operation, died in the hands of the kidnappers. What a selfish attitude!” the organization quizzes.

It wonders why Chukwuma had to secure the release of his brother, Unigwe (popularly called Isiocha) in preference for the two Chinese nationals, adding that Innoson had even boasted that that there were many jobless Chinese in China, and, as such, if the kidnappers killed his two Chinese workers, he would readily employ as many other Chinese as he wished. The organization thus observes that the foregoing buttresses the fact that Innoson made virtually no attempt to save Sheng Yi’s life?
There is yet another germane point to the logic of Sheng Yi’s death. While the kidnap gang was still holding his three staff, Innoson allegedly arrested nine months pregnant wife of Innocent Orji, the kidnap lynchpin, his aged mother and sisters. Conscience Group describes the offensive against the over three years subsequent detention of the kidnap kingpin’s family members at that point in time as a nasty idea!, contending: “Wouldn’t Innoson have, first, secured the release of the victims before the arrest and the military operation? Supposing deadly Innocent Orji had killed all the three staff of Innoson as a revenge for the arrest of his pregnant wife and other family members? Although one is not opposed to the arrest and the military operation, there is no doubt that the timing of the actions was a blunder, and devoid of sound reasoning.”

It is recalled that when Ogbuawa was kidnapped, his family members were advised not to send any ransom to the bandits or involve the police, but the family members ignored this piece of advice because, according to them, they knew the possible disastrous consequences of refusing to pay the ransom. In the reasoning of his family members, Ogbuawa could have been killed by the kidnappers! It, also, dawned on many supporters of Ogbuawa that the millionaire ‘God is Good Motors’, an earlier kidnap victim, had died because his family members involved the police when sending the ransom to the kidnappers.

It is consequent upon this logic that an Nnewi based business man, Chief Henry Onwudike, posed: “What, then, was in the mind of Innocent Chukwuma when, knowing very well that the lives of his staff, including Sheng Yi, were in danger, he went about making arrests of the family members of the kidnap lynchpin that had custody of them (his staff)?”

Onwudike alleges that there exists a coalition of evil plots, championed by Innoson, against Ogbuawa because of his (Ogbuawa)’s business successes in Nnewi and beyond.

And various instances of alleged boasts by Innoson’s family members of plans mapped out to ‘finish up’ Ogbuawa seem to cast some insights into the whole scenario.

For instance, one of Innoson’s brothers, a proprietor of a popular Football Team, recently reportedly boasted to one lawyer that they have spent N300 million to cripple Ogbuawa over this matter, as well as mapped out another N200 million for the ‘Nail Ogbuawa Project’. The family member was said to have told the lawyer that Ogbuawa should know that, aside the Chukwumas, there are many other people pursuing Ogbuawa. In fact, this Chukwuma’s brother boasted that there are up to 1000 people after the life of the business giant, Ogbuawa.

To this effect, Conscience Group asks: “If the Chukwuma family and their cohorts have mapped out N500 million for Ogbuawa to rotten and die in prison custody, why did they not spend just an additional N10 million to save the life of Sheng Yi? Many Nigerians are yet to know that Innocent Chukwuma’s name is in the Guinness Book of Records for his staff, including the Chinese nationals, being the longest serving hostages in the history of hostage-taking in Nigeria so far.”

The Group inquires further into the rationale behind the long stay of the Chinese in the gulag of the kidnap gang, posing: “Was Innoson’s inability to have paid up the N20 million ransom borne out of lack of funds to do so or what? Would Sheng Yi have died in captivity if Innocent Chukwuma had acted fast to secure his freedom? If Innoson has this celebrated love and respect for the lives and rights of his workers, why did he allow his hostage staff to spend 25 days in the vicious grip of the kidnappers before going for their release?”

In the face of these posers, who, then, is the actual killer of the Chinese national, Sheng Yi? Innocent Chukwuma, Sheng Yi‘s employer who abandoned him in the cruel hands of the kidnap gang because of N10 million? Or, Chief Pius Ogbuawa, who had no business with the Chinese, and had hardly come out of his own ordeals with the kidnappers?

Supporters of Ogbuawa insist that it is unfair for innoson to continue to sponsor the indictment of Ogbuawa in the kidnap of his staff, even when Ogbuawa himself had earlier fell victim to the same gang before Innoson’s staff?

There have been reports that, following deadly threats on Ogbuawa by Chukwuma arising from seer business conflicts, an armed gang stormed Ogbuawa’s Nnewi residence on July 9, 2006 to, ostensibly, assassinate him. This business misunderstanding had reportedly arisen from Ogbuawa’s court victory against Chukwuma in a matter involving Innoson’s alleged piracy of his products (motorcycle spare parts).

Although the assassins narrowly missed Ogbuawa, they went after his wife and jeep. While the assailants hauled the hapless woman out of the vehicle at Adazi Ani area of Anambra state, Ogbuawa’s jeep was dumped in front of the Central Police Station (CPS) in Enugu metropolis. Enugu is, incidentally, the city of residence Innoson!

That is not all. Shortly after the failed assassination of Ogbuawa, he (Ogbuawa) was, in January 2007, kidnapped, possibly, by the same deadly gang right inside the premises of a Church he pastors. The kidnappers and their sponsor dared God who said, ‘Touch not my Anointed and do my Prophet no harm’, abducted Ogbuawa and, subsequently, subjected him to degrading and inhuman treatments for three whole days before he bought his freedom with a whopping N20 million. Ogbuawa’s family and friends rallied round and mobilized N20 million as ransom for his release, a situation which led to Conscience Group wonder why it is the same Ogbuawa ‘that Chukwuma and his fellow ‘Nnewi anti-stranger group’ spend restless days and sleepless nights to rope into the messy crime of kidnap’.

“The truism that Ogbuawa is just being persecuted for his business successes in Nnewi (where Innoson and his ilk regard him as a stranger) is evident. It will be recalled that the deadly criminal, Innocent Orji, in his so-called advertised confession, mentioned Kotec as one of the names Ogbuawa gave his gang for kidnap. But on getting to Abuja, and discovering that Kotec (a non-Nnewi indigene) will not fit into their conspiracy against Ogbuawa, Innoson changed the name Kotec to Cutix (a fellow Nnewi man)”, the group asserts.

The Group endorses the protest, but urges the protesting Chinese nationals and, indeed, their government, to appropriately direct their anger at Chukwuma over his abandonment of their kinsmen, including Sheng Yi, in prison custody. “Except the Chinese are more interested in chasing shadows, Ogbuawa never had a hand in their brother’s death. Sheng Yi was abandoned to die in captivity by Innocent Chukwuma, his employer”, Conscience Group submits.

The group, also, warns against a rumored threat by the Police Inspector-General, Mr. Mike Okiro, to the effect that he would order the arrest and detention of Ogbuawa and Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, leader of Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (BIAFRA), for alleged sponsoring of kidnap in Igboland.

“For now, we regard this as mere rumor, because IG Mike Okiro, cannot afford such a summersault as the Chief Security Officer of Nigeria. For whatever it is worth, this threat, if it exists, is a joke taken too far by Okiro, for the two prominent Ndigbo, Uwazuruike and Ogbuawa, have never, in their lives, been associated with violence, but peaceful approach towards the resolution of issues around them”, it states.

The question remains: ‘When will this Ogbuawa, Innoson kidnap saga end?’ The answer, indeed, lies in the womb of time.

IG Onovo, Can this be true?

God! Can this be true? That the Igbo hating President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua would nominate Ogbonna Onovo, a Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) in charge of Administration, to replace the retiring Inspector-General, Mike Okiro.

Okiro is the 13th IGP, and if Onovo, an Igboman from Enugu state, is appointed to replace him, he (Onovo) becomes the 14th. (Picture shows President Yar'Adua and DIG Ogbonna Onovo)

A newspaper report has just reported that the expected appointment of Onovo followed Yar’Adua’s knack for due process, especially, in the appointment of senior qualified officers with track records of performance.

The newspaper, in particular, Vanguard, reported that the presidency is comfortable with DIG Onovo’s simple, non controversial and business-like attitude which was noticed from close quarters when he worked with the office of the National Security Adviser as Deputy Inspector General in Charge, Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID).

According to the paper, another factor that worked in favor of Onovo is his mature manner and equanimity...

Yar’Adua is said to have been further impressed with the excellent cooperation and loyalty 56 years old Onovo showed to Okiro despite losing out to him…

In fact, it is doubtful if this report does not amount to day dreaming. Will the forces that have debarred President Yar’Adua from appointing Ndigbo into sensitive positions in Nigeria all these years allow him to now appoint Onovo Inspector-General of Police?

The assertion that Yar’Adua is a man of due process should go to hell and burn to ashes. If Yar’Adua observes due process, it is only if Ndigbo are not involved.

Good a thing, the paper goes ahead to report about severe pressure being mounted on the president to ditch Onovo and go for what some describe as the new breed in the police force, such as the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge ‘Operations’, John Ahmadu or the Deputy Inspector General in charge of Works, Udom Ekpe Udom.

Whatever decision Yar’Adua and his Katsina mafia take at last over who becomes the Okiro’s successor, they should know that no Igboman has been appointed Inspector-General of Police in Nigeria since 1964 the force reverted from the colonial masters to Nigerians.

Records show that out of Nigeria’s 13 Inspectors-General of Police, the North had had 6 IGPs and the South 7. And among the three geopolitical zones in the South, Southeast (Igboland) had none, South-West had 4 while the South-south had 3. Then, among the four main ethnic groups of Hausa-Fulani, Igbo, Yoruba and the Minorities, Ndigbo had had none- Onovo, the only Igboman that ought to have been appointed into the position in 2007, got wickedly schemed out.

So, would God (Allah) touch the sickly heart of President Yar’Adua to shun all blackmails and dissuasions and appoint Onovo Inspector-General of Nigeria Police this time around? Does Yar’Adua have the will power to insist on Onovo’s merited appointment?

Let ‘A Daniel’, for once, ‘Come to Judgment’ in this country called Nigeria.

Governor Chime Bags Vote of No Confidence

Nigerian workers have declared Governor Sullivan Chime their number one enemy, and passed a vote of no confidence on him.

The workers, operating on the platform of Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC), gave the recluse governor a baptism of fire when they openly booed him for refusing to see them when they visited him at the Government House, Enugu on Friday July 17.

The protesting workers, led by the National President of the congress, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, bluntly, rejected the presence of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Martin Ilo, who came to represent Governor Chime.

The angry workers who marched round major streets of Enugu, were at the Government House around 11 a.m. to present to Chime the three issues of Deregulation, minimum wage increase and Electoral Reform, but they were informed that he had had just left for a burial ceremony in the neighboring Anambra state.

Angered by the development, Comrade Omar directed the protesting workers to sit on the bare floor in front of the Governor’s office, insisting that they would wait there until he returned.

After waiting for about an hour without Governor Chime showing up, the NLC president addressed the workers, and declared Governor Chime number one enemy to workers.

Omar added: “We are not disappointment at all by what has happened, in-fact it is a great history for Nigerian workers and Nigerian masses. When we say that Government House is the people’s property, maybe some people don’t believe; when people occupy that house temporarily and the true owners now invaded the house, those people on temporary basis decided to abscond and the true owners of the house are here.

“We did not come here with the intention of taking what belongs to us; perhaps we want to preserve that for another day. But what we are seeing today is that while some senior officers within the Government House decided to sneak out and join their principal; and as usual decided to re-enforce the police force in the Government House. I have to send a message to the Nigerian Police that we did not come to invade the Government House but to deliver a letter from the masses to the governor on three major issues.

“We have been to Lagos and the Governor received us, and we gave him the letter; we went to Asaba and the Deputy Governor received us because we were sufficiently informed and we were convinced that the governor was out of the country.

“At Kano the Governor was not there and we were sufficiently convinced that the governor was not there and we handed the letter to the next in command. At Maidugri, the governor came out to receive the letter. Today we are in Enugu; as we were approaching Government House we were reliable informed that the Governor decided to sneak out simply to evade us and receive this letter that is the letter of the Nigerian masses to the Governor because he is privileged today to be the governor of the state, for onward transmission ton the president.

“We are not disappointed it is what we expected; because we are going through the sun and the rain to say that we must practice true democracy in this country; and the foundation of any true democracy is through electoral processes; you must elect people by yourself.”

The NLC boss insisted that if people were elected by the masses, they would not see the people and run away.

“We are here today in fulfillment of our calling and we will continue to protest in this country; three main issue of Deregulation, minimum wage, and Electoral Reform; you are all aware that minimum wage is cardinal to Nigerian workers because no worker can say that his salary will take him through the month without trying to augment from other sources.

“If that is that case and the politician will continue to multiply their salaries and wages and other allowances, Nigerian workers also deserve same. Therefore the demand of Nigerian workers of a minimum salary of N52, 200 is a no go area.

“We must continue, because I must tell you we are dealing with people who do not think that we are equal to them; people who believe that they are already upstairs and that whatever happens downstairs is none of their business. If we don’t rise to fight for our right nobody will do that and we will continue to suffer.

“The issue of deregulation is a very serious issue to us because when deregulation is in place, that simply means an increase in fuel prices and the first victim is the worker. Because it is only the worker who has the knowledge of what he is likely to get within one month. Even small scale business people, the moment there is rise in fuel price they quickly adjust their own prices; even the woman who sells tomatoes will increase her own price. How can the Nigerian worker adjust his income the only way therefore is for us to ask for minimum wage and it is through the minimum wage that the Nigerian worker can use to earn at least a decent living.

“Government will always say that deregulation will bring this and that but what they fail to tell you is that deregulation is the fast track of bringing poverty to Nigerian people. While deregulation accrues more money to the government it impoverishes the poor masses. That is why we must all stand against it”.

A Congress of Outlaws

How can a sensible party like Action Congress pick DR. Chris Ngige, ‘an oath taking ritualist’ as its governorship candidate in Anambra state?

Some of the reprehensible behaviors of Ngige include: patronage to satanic shrines, attempt to poison the winner of the election in 2005, procurement of 425 fake witnesses and a fake forensic expert, thuggery and brigandage, bribery, political violence, falsehood and campaign of calumny, threats to critics’ liberties and frivolous litigations among others. (Picture left shows Dr. Chris Ngige) 

The foregoing forms the kernel of a petition fired to the national leadership of the party by International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law. The petition, among other things, protests Ngige, described as court-declared illegal governor of Anambra state, protests the party’s action. Excerpts:


Our Ref: Intersociety/NG/Vol.01/07/09/AC/Chairman/ABJ/FRN


The National Chairman
Action Congress Party
The AC’s National Headquarters
Zone 5, By Magistrate Court
Federal Capital Territory
Abuja 14/07/09


Dear Sir,

That Your Highly Respected Party (AC) May Not Be Turned Into The Party Of The Good, The Bad And The Ugly


We, in the International Society For Civil Liberties And Rule Of Law, Intersociety, wish to write to your respected office concerning the subject matter above mentioned.

On Tuesday, 7th day of July 2009, the national and the Anambra State leaderships of your highly respected party presented your party’s flag to Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige, the Court-declared illegal governor of Anambra State, to run as your party’s gubernatorial candidate for the upcoming gubernatorial election in Anambra State. In the Court-declared illegal gubernatorial election of the April 14, 2007, your party also presented him as its gubernatorial candidate.

As you are aware, Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige, made history as the longest serving illegal governor in Nigeria. Prior to the 2003 general elections in Nigeria, he allegedly joined forces with electoral buccaneers and stealers of people’s electoral mandate, and crudely stole the sacred mandate of the Anambra electorate.

Apart from three years, which it took the true winner of the election to get the sacred mandate back, judicially, several undemocratic and uncivil means were employed in order to sustain the stolen mandate.

Some of these retrogressive means are: alleged patronage to satanic shrines, alleged attempt to poison the winner of the election in 2005, procurement of 425 alleged fake witnesses and a fake forensic expert, alleged thuggery and brigandage, alleged bribery, political violence, falsehood and campaign of calumny, threats to critics’ liberties, frivolous litigations, among others.

We are also aware that your respected party’s decision to present Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige as its gubernatorial candidate stem from his ‘popularity’ among Nigerian society. But your party seems to have lost the sight of the fact that heroes and villains wear the same toga of popularity. Besides, acts of criminality can produce a “hero”. Also, in the elementary meaning of the dictionary, prominence and eminence are not the same.


In political parlance and in a sound democratic setting, legitimacy is divided into input and output legitimacy. The nucleus of it is input legitimacy, which deals fundamentally with process of attaining democratic power, while the output legitimacy is the art of governance in a democratic setting. By fixing a number of strategic roads in parts of Anambra State and by resisting his alleged co-travelers in electoral buccaneering, including Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr. Chris Ngige, earned notoriety in the eyes of the lettered apostles of democracy and ‘popularity’, in the eyes of the unsuspecting Nigerian populace. Unfortunately, your party has toed the path, toed by the unsuspecting Nigerian populace.

Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige’s ‘popularity’ may be likened to the popularity of Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, during the dark era of the Bakassi Boys. He not only proclaimed himself the “Commander-in-Chief” of the Bakassi Boys, but also he received numerous awards from media and students’ groups, in return for alleged bulky brown envelops. He was adored and worshipped by the unsuspecting Anambra public, to the extent that Your Mother-party, the Alliance For Democracy, AD, adopted him as her consensus candidate in the 2003 gubertorial election. Today, over 5000 Anambra residents and over 10 prominent citizens butchered during his regime are still demanding for justice from their graves. Our question still is: who killed the Igwes, Odigwes, Oranus,Okekes,Uzokwes, Okonkwos, Ikebudes, Nwagboos, Egbuawas, Onwuazos, etc?

Therefore, we find the action of your respected party to amount to conferring legitimacy to an illegality. Accommodating those who allegedly made sound democracy impossible in Nigeria, rubbishes your highly respected party. As a matter of unequivocation, your party has by this singular act, becomes a party of the good, the bad and the ugly. If our electoral offences were criminalized, Dr. Chris Ngige, Dr Olusegun Agagu, Senator O. Osumbor and their accomplices should be spending their days in jail.

Your highly respected party cannot afford to fail or be doomed. The destiny of Nigerians, especially the true lovers of democracy are in the hand of your party and other genuine democratic forces. The roles of your party, the NBA, etc at ensuring sound democratic tradition in Nigeria, are extra-ordinarily commendable. Your party has become a beacon of hope for teeming helpless Nigerians who clamored for, and still clamor for sound democracy and good governance. But extreme care must be taken by same to avoid being peopled and influenced by reactionary forces who are unrepentant riggers of elections, etc.

The only way to remedy the issue under discussion is by sponsoring the likes of Dr. Chris Ngige and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to undergo training programmes in Ghana, Botswana, the United States and the United Kingdom and Wales so as to learn the arts of electioneering, rigging-free elections and good governance. It is also necessary for your highly respected party to set up the Action Congress Institute for Democracy and Good Governance, for re-orientation of the repentant electoral brigands and other democracy deviants.

As the 2010 gubernatorial election in Anambra State draws nearer, we wish to inform your party that we are in the forefront of efforts at ensuring popular participation, sound and credible election. It is our information that INEC is at it again. Despite our letters, which we sent to same in March and June 2009, the Commission has refused to commence fundamental preparations toward the said forthcoming election.

As we write, teeming Anambra residents do not know how many electoral wards and electoral booths or units to be used for the election and where they are located. The registration of voters and the updating of voter register exercises are no where to be seen. This is not to talk of civic education programmes, which are supposed to have been initiated by the Commission.


Instead, rumours are making the rounds that the Commission is engaging in massive falsification of voter register with intent to register cows, goats, fowls, infants and the dead in the form of “eligible voters in the human family”. The time to compel the Commission to be alive to its constitutional duties and expose its illegal conducts is now before it is too late.

We have concluded plans to approach a federal high court for an order of Mandamus, forcing the Commission out of its shell. We wish to assure your respected party that the only language we hear and speak is popular participation in electoral process, open and free elections and sound governance. We respectfully welcome your respected party’s partnership with us so as to make this maximally achievable.


We sincerely trust in your highly respected party’s prompt and judicious response to this important letter.

Yours Faithfully,

For: Intersociety-Nigeria


Comrade Emeka Umeagbalasi Comrade Justus Ijeoma
Chairman Head
Board of Trustees Publicity Desk
+234(0)8033601078 +234(0)8037114869
botchairman@intersociety-ng.org


CC:

1. Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu (Former Governor of Lagos State)
2. Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN
3. Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshomoile
4. United Nations Secretary General
5. UNO High Commissioner for Human Rights
6. President of the United States
7. President of the European Union Federation
8. The Prime Minister of Canada
9. The National Democratic Institute, USA
10. Amnesty International, London, UK
11. Human Rights Watch, New York, USA
12. United Action for Democracy, Nigeria
13. Campaign for Democracy, Nigeria
14. Civil Liberties Organization, Nigeria
15. Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Nigeria

Yar’Adua, Stop Marginalization of Ndigbo!

The continued marginalization of Ndigbo in the Nigerian nation continues to give a serious headache to a human rights group, International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, Intersociety.

Intersociety, in letter dated July 13, 2009, expresses worry over what it describes as unhealthy turn of events with respect to recent appointments by Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s administration.

“In the economic sector management team, for instance, from the Governor of CBN, Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Minister of Finance, to Minister of the National Planning, all of them are allocated to the North. The Minister of Petroleum Resources and the Group Managing Director of the NNPC are from the North. The same thing goes to the Minister of Defense and key Service Chiefs. Our question is: Where is the Federal Character Principle, provided for, in Section 14 (3) of the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999?” the letter states.

Intersociety adds that all the officers in the Judiciary Arm, including the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the President of Court of Appeal, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, as well as his counterpart in the Federal Capital Territory are all from the North. The situation, the group, maintains, is, also, the same in the Executive and legislative arms of Nigerian government, where both President Yar’Adua and Senate President David Mark, similarly, come from the North.

“It appears that Nigeria has become the Northern Republic of Nigeria instead of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, the body thunders.
Intersociety’s letter which was signed by Comrades Emeka Umeagbalasi and Justus Ijeoma, Chairman, Board of Trustees and Head, Publicity Desk respectively, particularly, refers to the imminent appointment of a replacement to Mike Okiro, the outgoing Police Inspector-General. All things being equal, Okiro bows out of service this month end.

Going down paved memory lane, the organization writes: “Our records show that between 1964 and 1966, Mr.L.O. Edet, from the South-South, held sway as IGP, from 1966 to 1975, Mr. Kam Salem, from the North was the Nation’s IGP, from 1975 to 1979, Alhaji Mohammed Diko Yusuf, from the North was IGP. Between 1979 and 1981, Alhaji Adamu Suleiman, from the North was the Nigeria’s IGP, from 1981 to 1983, Mr. Sunday Adewusi, from the South-west was made IGP, between 1983/84 and 1986, Mr. Etim Inyang, from the South-south was IGP, from 1986 to 1989, Alhaji Mohammed Gambo, from the North was IGP.

‘Between 1990 and 1993, Alhaji Aliyu Attah, from the North was IGP, from 1993 to 1999, Alhaji Ibrahim Commassie, from the North was the Nation’s IGP, from 1999 to 2002, Mr. Musilu Smith, from South-west was IGP. Between 2002 and 2005, Mr. Tafa Balogun, from the South-west was IGP, from 2005 to 2007, Mr. Sunday Gabriel Ehindero, from the South-west (Ondo- Edo) was IGP. Between 2007 and 2009, Mr. Michael Okiro, from the South-south, had been the Nation’s IGP”.

The foregoing statistics show that out of Nigeria’s 13 Inspectors-General of Police, the North had had six IGPs and South seven. Among the three geopolitical zones in the South, the Southeast had none, the South-west had four and the South-south three. Among the four main ethnic groups of Hausa-Fulani, Igbo, Yoruba and the Minorities, Igbo had had none, as Ogbonnaya Onovo, who merited the post in 2007, was schemed out for unjustifiable reasons.

The organization, therefore, calls on Yar’Adua to observe Federal Character Principle in his government’s appointments. It notes that past regimes had, all the while, been violating the prince, it says, is part of the country’s constitution.

“The gross injustice meted on the Southeast zone, in the area of the IGP status, shall no longer repeat itself. It is not only that a Southeast person should be made the IGP, but also the said lopsided appointments so highlighted should be properly addressed and the Federal Character Principle allowed to operate”, Intersociety maintains.

The group, also, demands the filling of vacancies created by retired senior police officers from the southeast zone. The officers include: AIG Richard Chime, AIG Kelvin Opoke and Commissioners of Police Innocent Ilozuoke, Ibezimako Aghanya and Callistus Aniude, adding that other zones, so affected, should, equally, have their officers promoted to the positions left by those who were retired recently.

In Governor Obi We Trust!

Traders in Anambra state have endorsed incumbent Governor Peter Obi for a second tenure in office.

The traders who made their stand known during their tour of some projects executed by Obi administration across the state, called on stakeholders to put the collective interest of the state beyond self interest.

Speaking on behalf of the traders, the Chairman Anambra State Amalgamated Traders Association, Chief Okwudiri Ezenwankwo said there was no vacancy in state governorship position in 2010 as, according to him, Governor Obi had performed outstandingly such that he should be given a fresh mandate to complete his vision of transforming the state to model. Ezenwankwo expressed gratitude to the Governor for restoring peace in the various markets and putting in democratically elected market leadership. He assured that traders would give another hundred percent support in future election as they did in 2003.

Vice Chairman of the Association, Chief Gozie Akudoro, who described Governor Obi as a humble and visionary leader, noted that he has given leadership a human face and carried everybody along in the manipulation of his policies and programs.

Responding, governor Obi assured that his administration will not relent in the present efforts to restore the commercial glory of the state and called for collective efforts to attract back businesses, strengthen the economy and empower the people to upgrade their standard of living.

Earlier, Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Mobilization, Stephen Okeke, said the tour afforded the traders the opportunity to see things for themselves for proper and objective evaluation and assessment.

G8 Leaders, Forget Africa!

The G8 or group of 8 world richest nations (America, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Canada, Japan and Russia) at their 2005 summit in Gleneagles pledged to increase financial aid to Africa and other poor countries. The G8 leaders in 2005 pledged to raise up to $50 billion dollars in aid by 2010. At the just concluded G8 summit (July 7th to July 10th 2009) which took place in L’Aquila Italy, Gordon Brown (the United Kingdom Prime Minister) and other G8 leaders called on the group to honour the promise they made in 2005 to help Africa and other poor countries. As their summit ended in Italy, the G8 pledged another $20 billion for efforts to boost food supply to the hungry. (Pictures left show former President Bush, incumbent Obama, and Senator (Mrs) Clinton) (Down left is Nigeria's President Yar'Adua)

Reacting to the above summits as it concerns Africa, I do not think that Africa needs financial aid from the G8 countries. What Africa needs is the reparation of stolen wealth stashed in western banks, economic transparency, true democracy and peace. Therefore the G8 leaders should forget about aid to Africa and work on returning all the stolen wealth to Africa . African leaders have milked the continent dry by looting their treasuries. Many leaders (past and present) are guilty of this offence. These stolen wealth are taken to Europe, America , Asia and Middle East . Using Nigeria as a case study, “The United Nations (UN) says Nigerian kleptocrats have milked the nation to the tune of about $100 billion dollars thorough various acts of grand corruption, the cost of which it lamented by far exceeded the damage caused by any other single crime”(the Daily Sun, Wednesday, December 3, 2008 page 9). Please note that the Daily Sun mentioned above was published in Nigeria .

The figure quoted above by the United Nations is more than the total amount of aid that the G8 promised the entire African countries and other poor countries. Therefore without corruption, Nigeria would have been an economically powerful nation and thus help other African nations. Most of the Nigerian stolen wealth are scattered all over the Western countries especially the Swiss, Liechtenstein , and Luxembourg Banks. The late Nigerian Head of State, General Sani Abacha kept most of his stolen wealth in Swiss Bank. He stole over $3 billion dollars. Till date, all the money has not been recovered. Am sure the Swiss Banks are still accepting corrupt money from most corrupt African leaders.

Just recently the Nigerian government traced the Halliburton $150 million dollar bribe money to Zurich . The total amount was $180 million dollars. $30 million dollar is yet to be traced or found. A lot of corrupt Nigerian leaders have used the state money to acquire personal properties in Europe and America . Other corrupt African leaders like, late Mobutu Sese Seku (former president of Democratic Republic of Congo), Charles Taylor (former Liberian President) Ibrahim Babangida (former Nigerian Head of State) etc have most of there stolen wealth all over the world.

The G8 countries have a complete dossier or can easily obtain data on all corrupt money and properties of corrupt African leaders. If the G8 is sincere about giving aid to Africa , they should repatriate this money back to the people whose leaders have made poor and miserable. Bob Geldof has done marvellously well to bring the G8 leaders attention to the plight of poor people of Africa . His project of making poverty history will be more meaningful if he can re-strategize his campaign and ask the G8 leaders to return all the stolen wealth in their countries or else where in world back to Africa .

The World Bank should also consider stopping financial aid to Africa particularly where there is a proven case of corrupt leadership. In a recent World Bank consultation in London (Wednesday, June 17th 2009), I asked about their criteria for disbursing aids and loans to developing countries. Though that the World Bank might want to help the poor, but in most cases the problems they are trying to solve were caused by corrupt leaders. The World Bank should devise a means of working with other international financial institutions, to make it difficult for corrupt African leaders to keep their looted money any where in the world. Reparation of the already stolen wealth should be on the agenda of the World Bank. This is the best way the can help the poor people of Africa .

Africa cannot develop by relying on western aid. Also the Western countries cannot continue giving aid to Africa . The present global economic down turn is a pointer that financial aid from the G8 might not be sustainable. “According to Action Aid, Italy is on course to fall $1.037bn short of its Gleneagles pledge to double financial support to Africa, while France is $1.249bn behind, Germany $497m, the United States $263m, Canada $186m and Japan $138m” (the Independent newspaper, Wednesday, 8th July 2009, page 2). Please note that the independent newspaper mentioned above is published in the United Kingdom

African leaders should learn to develop their economy with minimal foreign reliance. They should look at a fellow third world country like Cuba . Cuba has survived worst economic blockades from the west for over 40 years. Not withstanding the western economic blockages against Cuba , no third world country has approached or even come closer to the Cuban high standards in health and education. At some point, there were more than 15,000 (fifteen thousand) Cuban medical doctors working in over 25 countries of the third world. This should be a model for other countries to copy and not waiting for financial aid. It’s better to teach and tell Africa to be self reliant than giving aids.

What the G8 should do for Africa is to stop the flow of small arms to the continent. Angola , Congo DRC, Somali, Eritrea etc are examples of the havocs these small arms have done to Africa . The G8 should consider withdrawing recognition of dictators like Omar al-Bashir of Sudan for his complicities in the Darfur crisis. The G8 should also consider tougher sanctions for countries with poor human rights records, for example Burma , Zimbabwe , etc. Any assistance or partnership should be tied down to transparent democratic process.

Finally if for any reason(s) the G8 decides to go ahead with giving financial aid to African countries. Strict conditions have to be met. A country like Liberia should be considered, this is due to their improvement on curtailing corruption. Ghana and Botswana should be considered for being the beacon of democracy in Africa . Nigeria should never be given any assistance or further loans. This is because it ends up in private pockets. Nigeria is sufficiently rich to solve her problems. May God bless Nigeria .



Scripted By: Chinedu Vincent Akuta An activist and leader of “Support Option A4 Group” Leicester-UK akutachinedu@yahoo.com http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com/

Governor Orji Tackles Activists, Journalists

The rift between Human Rights Justice and Peace Foundation (HRJPF), a human rights group based in Abia state and the government of Chief Theodore Orji in the state deepens by the day.

At the centre of the feud is the group’s allegation that Governor Orji plans to build mosques across the 17 council areas of the state.

Counsel to the organization, Ukpai Ukairo, in a recent petition to the State Commissioner of Police, Edgar Nanakumo, raised an alarm over current threats on the life of Chidi Nwosu, the organization’s President.

The petition entitled: “RE: THREAT TO KILL CHIDI NWOSU, PRESIDENT OF HRJPF”, states: “It is apposite to stress that Chidi Nwosu is the president of our client. He is a known patriot who despises illegality, unconstitutional conducts, corruption, anti-people policies etc. it is his posture on public issues that has now exposed him to the dangerous darts of Sam hart and his paymaster.”

The petition, in particular, pointed out the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Orji, Sam Hart, as Chidi Nwosu‘s assailant, and urged Police Commissioner Nanakumo to promptly intervene in the matter.

“It is an old aphorism that prevention is better than cure. Our client is deeply perturbed about the life of its president. Accordingly, our client urges you to take needed steps to ensure his safety,” the petition notes.

The petition referred to an initial press release which the Chief Press Secretary issued, declaring the preparedness of Theodore Orji government to ‘handle’ Chidi Nwosu.

“It is therefore safe to assume that Comrade Chidi Nwosu is suffering from post-defeat hallucinations which will not cause the government of Abia state unnecessary distractions and embarrassments. We know Chidi Nwosu, we can handle him,” Hart’s press release had declared.

According to the release, Orji’s government extended the same threat to Imo State correspondent of Daily Independent Newspapers, Uche Nwosu thus: ‘On another day and through the appropriate channel, we will address the other issue of the activities of Uche Nwosu, the Imo State correspondent of Daily Independent Newspapers who has made highlighting every concocted bad report on Abia State his job descriptions’.

Prior to the press release by Hart, HRJPF had issued a press statement raising an alarm over alleged plan of Governor Theodore Orji to build mosques in each of the 17 Local Government areas of the state. The statement alleged that the mosque project move ‘is part of the nefarious plans by the Orji-led administration to introduce the controversial Sharia legal system in his ill-fated state‘.

The statement claimed that Governor Orji‘s alleged plan was provoked by his ambition to seek the support of the Islamic world.

“Having lost the support of the vast majority of Abia people, resulting, mainly, from his abysmal failure to judiciously use his people’s resources for their common good, Governor Orji opted to seek the support of the Islamic world by courting them“, the HRJPF release states.

The press statement, which pitted Orji’s government against Chidi and Uche Nwosu of HRJPF and Daily Independent Newspaper respectively, was published on the front page of the Daily Independent Newspapers of Monday, May 4, 2009.

Reacting to Daily Independent‘s story, Orji‘s government contended that all through the body of the said story, there was no single mention of the event at which the governor disclosed his intention to build mosques in each of the 17 local government areas in the state, nor the date the pledge was made.

Debunking completely any intention of the government to build mosques, the government regretted that the insensitivity of publishing such a dangerous story in a religiously volatile country like Nigeria gives cause for serious concern regarding the judgment of the editors of the paper.

Barrister Ukpai Ukairo, as it were, countered the state government, arguing that, by the foregoing, Theodore Orji’s government has not denied her plan to build mosques, but only denied that the exercise would not be carried out in the 17 local government areas.

Ukairo’s argument is premised on the fact that, earlier in the year, Governor Orji announced the decision of his government to renovate, at least, a church in every local government area in the state, a situation, he reasoned, easily explained why the governor resolved to extend the same largesse to Muslims in the state.

It will be recalled that Abia state is top among South-East and South-South states that display magnanimity to their Muslim brothers. The magnanimity came to a head during the reign of Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, former governor of the state. It was then alleged that Kalu’s generous dispositions towards the northerners was informed by urge to actualize his presidential bid. The former Governor even took chieftaincy titles such as Mai Yakin Katsina.

Ohakim, the Randy Imo Governor!

Governor Ikedi Ohakim of Imo state is easily Nigeria's randiest governor. His escapade with the daughters of Eve is cross-continental, criss-crossing Africa, Europe and America.

The situation has put the governor in perpetual marital conflict with his wife, Barr. Chioma Ohakim, who warms the house alone while the governor embarks on his globe trotting sexcapade that has made it nearly impossible for the governor to even spend two straight weeks in Imo State without getting the itch to jet out.

Sources said Governor Ohakim is presently housing a pregnant mistress in South Africa while Barrister Chioma is back home parading as the First Lady.

The duo of Ruth Osime and Ijeoma Nwaogwugwu, both female editors in ThisDay Newspaper, has their own tales to tell about the Prince Charming, governor. The two society ladies of the print media both have memorable experiences dating the handsome governor. They both had valuable gifts which include apartment houses to tell the story.

A cold war had then ensued between Osime and Nwaogwugwu when they realized they were dating the same man. While it lasted, the two fly-girls were willing to take the war an extra mile just to solely possess His Excellency and sustain their whirlwind romance.

For the governor, they may have only been accompanying trophies for his ThisDay Best Governor Award. The governor is, unarguably, a gifted lover, with a string of mistresses wherever work may take him to. Little wonder, he complained on assumption of duty, of incessant text messages from even ladies he didn't know.

Sources in Owerri, Imo State confirm that the Governor has a number of dedicated pimps whose overriding responsibility, beside their official assignments, includes satisfying the Governor's notorious libido. They include one Bonny Ebili, a former liaison officer of the state at Lagos and Willy Amadi, a Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, both of whom are doing their best to out-do each other.

Willy Amadi, who is said to be a Barrister, is evidently the grand pimp. After every beauty pageant in Imo State, Willy Amadi automatically assumes the 'chaperone' of the eventual beauty queen. Presenting gifts and promises as he prepares the queen for the inevitable trade-off with the Governor.

Amadi is such a low-life that when he attends even students' functions and donates money, the students are in return expected to arrange or perhaps "donate" some female students to him and his crew as a parting gift of appreciation. From the same stock, he keeps a large 'harem' from where he sustains Governor Ohakim’s supply.

If the governor's wife had been vigilant, she should have long known that her battle should not be against the few inconsequential 'female suspects' but against the man, Barrister Willy Amadi.

This, unfortunately, is the moral stature of those parroting the New Face of Imo Agenda. And in their usual parlance "Imo is in the hands of...perverts"


Culled (and edited) from: Huhuonline.com

Stop Intimidating Chief Pius Ogbuawa!

‘Alas, the Inspector General of Police, in his wisdom, discountenanced the joint investigation by Security Forces in the country and, in a bizarre manner, directed that the case file in respect of this matter be transferred to the Commissioner of Police Anambra state for further investigation.

‘…It should be noted that Amusa Bello (current Police Commissioner in Anambra) was the Deputy Commissioner of Police in Anambra state when this matter first started in 2007. It was the same Amusa Bello (then DCP), who warned Ogbuawa that he should provide the two Chinese in less than 24 hours or he will call a press conference of all Nigerians and tell them that he is the brain behind all the kidnapping cases in the country .

It was still the same Amusa Bello who ordered the Area Commander, Nnewi to take Ogbuawa to the dreaded Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) Cell, Awkuzu where he was detained for 21 days and was not allowed communication with any other person including members of his family, his Lawyer, traditional rulers, friends and business colleagues. So we wonder how Ogbuawa can obtain justice from this same man who refused to give him fair hearing before he was later transferred to Police Zonal Headquarters, Zone 9, Umuahia, where he was later released‘. (Picture left is Chief Pius Ogbuawa)

The above quotation summarizes a petition recently sent by Nigeria’s foremost human rights organization, Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) to President Umaru Musa Yar’Ardua.

CLO has, for sometime now, observed a deadly coalition against the person of Chief Pius Ogbuawa, one of the richest living Igbo businessmen. In this coalition are Chief Innocent Chukwuma (alis Innoson), the Nigeria police, led by Police Inspector-General, Mike Okiro and some Nnewi businessmen who are envious of Ogbuawa’s business successes in their own land.

Findings show that Ogbuawa’s travails began since he secured a court judgment against Innocent Chukwuma over his (Chukwuma)’s piracy of his products. Ogbuawa’s feat of dissuading Governor Peter Obi from banning certain class of motorcycles in the state contrary to Chukwuma’s wishes, also, deepened the enmity between the two business giants.

It is on record that Innoson threatened to deal with Ogbuawa in 2006. This threat was followed by the invasion of Ogbuawa’s Nnewi residence. Both his wife and jeep were taken away. While the wife was hauled out of the vehicle in Adazi Ani area of the state, his jeep was abandoned near a police station in Enugu. Thereafter, Ogbuawa was kidnapped right in the premises of a church he pastors. He bought his freedom with N20 million.

Several days after, same kidnap gang came for Innocent Chukwuma. Having missed Chukwuma, they abducted three of his staff, including two Chinese nationals and a Nigerian from his Nnewi motor assembly plant.

The bandits demanded N20 million from Innoson to release his three staff, but he could only afford N10. As a result, the kidnappers held back Sheng Yi, one of the Chinese nationals. Innoson never paid up the ransom, and Sheng Yi died in the custody of the kidnappers.

Today, a coalition of Innocent Chukwuma and the Nigeria Police, which had successfully pocketed, have subjected Ogbuawa to all sorts of harassments, accusing him of having sponsored the kidnap of the Chinese nationals and so on.

But this is not so, as investigation proves Ogbuawa innocent of any involvement in the kidnap crime.

It is against this background that CLO petitions President Yar’Adua for his intervention to save the business mogul from the ceaseless molestations of Innoson and the police.

Excerpts of the petition:

July 7, 2009,

The President and Commander-in-Chief,
Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Your Excellency,

APPEAL FOR JUSTICE
RE: PERVERSION OF COURSE OF JUSTICE BY THE POLICE AND CONTINUED PERSECUTION OF CHIEF PIUS OGBUAWA.

The Civil Liberties Organization petitions your office in respect of the above-mentioned matter on behalf of Chief Pius Ogbuawa of Zone 11, No. 1, Nnewi Main Market, Nnewi, Anambra state.

On January 28, 2007, while he was just arriving at the Church premises where he is a Pastor, Ogbuawa was attacked by gun men who turned out to be kidnappers. Ogbuawa’s assailants gave him a deep matchet cut on the head, blindfolded him and took him to an unknown destination inside a thick forest which was later discovered to be located in Ekoli-Edda, Ebonyi state.

CLO learnt that the kidnappers demanded a ransom of N20 million, five motorcycles and two generating sets from Ogbuawa before he could be released. Ogbuawa was released on the third day by his captors after his family paid the N20 million ransom. Before he was set free, the kidnappers told the business mogul that they would come to take delivery of the motorcycles in their own good time.

Most unfortunately, despite the fact that Ogbuawa promptly reported the incident to the Police immediately he secured his freedom, the Police is yet to commence investigation into his kidnap, that is, over two years now!

Three months after the incident, precisely on March 17, 2007, the kidnappers invaded Nnewi again and, this time around, went to Innoson Nigeria Limited where they abducted two Chinese and one Nigerian. On April 11, 2007, about three weeks after the incident at Innoson Nigeria Limited, six armed policemen, deployed by the Area Commander, Nnewi, Mr. Yakadi, stormed Ogbuawa’s shop and arrested him.

On getting to the Police Station, Yakadi showed Ogbuawa a petition written against him by Innocent Chukwuma of Innoson Nigeria Limited. Chukwuma’s petition accused Ogbuawa of having masterminded the kidnap of his three staff. The Area Commander reportedly brought out MTN printout where a particular number made so many calls, and accused Chief Ogbuawa of having used that number to communicate with the kidnappers.

CLO discovered the number in question to be 08035079402. Ogbuawa had stoutly denied ever having anything to do with the said MTN number, yet both his accuser, Chukwuma, and the police refused to believe his own version of the story, but, instead, threw him into detention. Around 9 pm that day, Ogbuawa was taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka where he was taken before a team of Police officers, headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Amusa Bello, who is now the Commissioner of Police.

Curiously, the Police team which refused to listen to Ogbuawa at all, gave more than three hours audience to the Area Commander, Nnewi. Rather than give any fair hearing to Ogbuawa, DCP Bello warned him to produce the two kidnapped Chinese in less than 24 hours, threatening that the police would call a press conference to tell all Nigerians that he (Ogbuawa) is the brain behind all the kidnaps in the country.

Bello, thereafter, ordered the Area Commander, Nnewi to take Ogbuawa to the dreaded Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) Cell, Awkuzu. And on getting to the SARS Cell, the Area Commander ordered officers on the counter not to allow any communication between him and any other person, including members of his family, his lawyer, traditional rulers, friends and business colleagues. CLO gathered that each time Ogbuawa’s people brought food, policemen on duty normally collected N4, 000:00 before allowing them to give him food.

Chief Ogbuawa stayed in Awkuzu cell for 21 days, and was moved to the Police Zonal Headquarters, Zone 9, Umuahia, Abia state, where he was detained for 14 days. While in Umuahia, the Commander of the gang that kidnapped him and the white men, Sebastine Ejiofor, was picked by the Police and taken to Area Command, Nnewi. Despite merciless torture and protracted interrogation, Sabastine Ejiofor did not implicate Ogbuawa, a situation, which it is suspected, led to the inexplicable release of the kidnap kingpin on the orders of the Yakubu (DIG retired).

Ogbuawa was to be released on the orders of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 9, Umuahia, but his release did not go down well with Innoson who, subsequently, fired a petition to the Force C.I.D, Police Headquarters, Abuja, maintaining that he was dissatisfied with the investigation carried out by Zone 9, Umuahia.

It was based on this petition to the Police Headquarters, Abuja that five Policemen were deployed from Abuja to arrest Chief Ogbuawa. Ogbuawa was thus arrested at his house, just a day after he was released from the Police Zonal Headquarters, Umuahia.

Ogbuawa was dumped in cell at the Area Command, Nnewi for eight days and later taken back to Anambra State Police Headquarters, Awka, where he stayed in the cell for 11 days before the former Deputy Inspector General of Police, (DIG) "D Department", Dudari ordered that he be brought to Abuja. At Abuja, both Ogbuawa and Innocent Chukwuma were brought before Dudari(DIG) and the Inspector General of Police(IG) on two different occasions.

Investigations by the CLO showed that the duo of Dudari(DIG) and the Inspector General of Police exonerated Ogbuawa from complicity in the kidnap crimes after hearing their different versions. The eventual Police Investigation Report which was read before Dudari(DIG), the Inspector General of Police and the other Police officers, exonerated Ogbuawa again. Part of the recommendations of the report was that the complainant, Innocent Chukwuma, be charged to Court (and be prosecuted) for giving the Police false information, as well as for falsely accusing the Police of wrongdoing in respect of the matter on the pages of newspapers. (We attach both the exoneration letter from Inspector General of Police and the Police Investigation Report to this petition as “Document 1 & 2” respectively. These two documents which were given to Ogbuawa by the OC Legal, Ejiofor Esq., the Police Prosecuting Counsel, are very significant in that they are decisions which emanate from the highest Authority of the Police Force).

Still not satisfied with the outcome of the Police investigation and the decision, Innoson, again, petitioned the General Officer Commanding (GOC) the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, and the GOC, subsequently, sent his men to come and pick Ogbuawa at his store at Nnewi Main Market. Ogbuawa slipped underground when he sighted the soldiers, and the soldiers, in turn, left a letter of Invitation for him with his staff. (The copy of the Invitation letter is attached to this petition and marked “Document 3”).

Chief Ogbuawa later went to honour the invitation from the GOC. And the GOC, after hearing his own version of the story, released him on the reason that he has no case to answer.

It is the contention of Ogbuawa that Innocent Chukwuma is more interested in nailing him (Ogbuawa) than the kidnappers who abducted his staff two years ago. For instance, 16 suspects were eventually charged to court for prosecution by the Police at the Nnewi High Court, but the matter did not go on for one day. Reason? Innocent Chukwuma was not happy that Ogbuawa was not among those charged. And the police, in a curious twist, later applied to withdraw the case from Nnewi High Court on the excuse that they needed to do further investigation. The suspects were, subsequently, taken to Abuja for further interrogation.

CLO’s findings showed that Sabastine Ejiofor, leader of the kidnap gang, and one Peter Igbokwe were seriously tortured at Abuja, with a view to getting them incriminate Ogbuawa in the kidnaps. While Ejiofor was injured on the legs, Peter Igbokwe was rendered toothless. The torture occurred under the watchful eyes of the new Deputy Inspector General of Police (retired). Information we have indicate that Ogbuawa was charged to the Federal High Court, Awka following his refusal to give bribe to the new DIG, Force CID and the OC legal.

During proceedings at the Federal High Court, Awka, the Attorney-General of the Federation, through the Director of Public Prosecutions, announced their take-over of the matter. And that is where the matter is now.

Then on May 29, 2009, Innocent Orji, the self-acclaimed General of the kidnap gang, was arrested and taken to Special Anti Robbery Squad, Awkuzu (SARS) where he (Orji) made statement officially to the Police. CLO learnt that Orji’s statement did not indict Chief Ogbuawa in anyway. Later, Anambra state Police Commissioner paraded Orji and the other 18 suspects before the public, including the state Governor, Mr. Peter Obi. It will be recalled that Orji, during the press interview on him, confessed to the public that he kidnapped Ogbuawa and collected N20m from him. Orji, also, said that there was a time one man brought N400, 000.00 to them when they were operating as Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), and said that the money was given by Ogbuawa but he (Orji) never mentioned the name of that man. Apart from the statement Orji made to the Police and the press interview, there was no other official statement made by him to the knowledge of the public.

Even at that, Chief Ogbuawa denied giving out neither N1million nor N400, 000.00 to anybody for any reason.

What is rather intriguing and shocking is that Innoson is circulating the video tape recording containing Orji’s confession. Part of this confession which, on its face value, seems distorted, was to the effect that Orji confessed that when his gang kidnapped Ogbuawa, he gave them seven names of people to be kidnapped among who was Innocent Chukwuma. This said confession was published in some newspapers and magazines including THEWEEK, The Source, Newswatch, Compass, Champion, Sun and Vanguard among others. CLO notes that the Police did not, in any of its Press briefings or during parade of the suspects before Governor Peter Obi, mention that Orji confessed that Ogbuawa, when his gang kidnapped him, listed seven persons to be kidnapped including Chukwuma.

NOW, THE CURIOUS EVENTS IN THIS CASE:

CLO has closely followed this Innoson, Ogbuawa saga since inception, and wish to point out that a lot has gone wrong in the way and manner this matter has been handled by the Police.

1. First, CLO considers the effect of Document 1 & 2, attached to this petition. “Document 1” is the letter written from Office of the Inspector General of Police and addressed to Dan Mmiriukwu Esq. Counsel to Chief Ogbuawa. The said letter, dated 12th July 2007, was signed by Commissioner of Police, Solomon E. Arase, Principal Staff Officer to the Inspector General of Police. The said letter stated in its’ paragraph 2 and 3, as follows:

Paragraph 2-“Sequel to your petition, an elaborate investigation was conducted. Based on the Police Report, it was deducted that both Chief Pius Ogbuawa and Mr. Innocent Chukwuma have not been the best of friends because of their unhealthy business rivalry. They have on different occasions been victims of kidnapping directly and indirectly and have parted with large sums of money and other valuables to secure release from the kidnappers”.

Paragraph 3 – “It is therefore, evidently clear, unless, fresh facts emerge that Chief Pius Ogbuawa could not be said to have masterminded the kidnap of the two Chinese nationals working for Mr. Innocent Chukwuma”.

From these two paragraphs, it is evidently clear that Chief Ogbuawa was cleared of any complicity in the allegation of master-minding the kidnap of staff of Innocent Chukwuma.

2. Second, CLO considers the effect of “Document 2” attached to this petition. “Document 2” is the Police Interim Investigation Report in respect of the complaint of Chief Innocent Chukwuma, who complained against Police Action in releasing Chief Ogbuawa pursuant to the Inspector General directive as contained in “Document 1”. Based on the petition of Innocent Chukwuma against the Police, the Inspector General directed the Deputy Inspector General (DIG), ‘D’ Department (FCID), to investigate the matter and “Document 2” is the report in respect of the investigation.

It is important to refer to some important findings contained in “Document 2”. I refer you, Sir, to Page 10, paragraph 2, of the said “Document 2” which states as follows:
“Investigation was, also, extended to the State Security Service Headquarters Umuahia, Abia State vide letter reference No. CR: 30000/ABS/A/VOL.2/204 dated 13th August, 2007, from the Commissioner of Police ‘A’ Department Nigeria Police Force, State Headquarters Umuahia titled Investigation Activities. The team was able to engage the full cooperation and assistance of the State Security Service Personel and through them, the personnel of Nigeria Military Intelligence were brought on board and they also gave their full cooperation. Intelligence gathered from these sources based on their earlier arrest of one Dr.Ogbonnaya, led a Joint team of Force CID detectives, MOPOL personnel, State Security Services personnel and the Military Intelligence personnel under the command of CSP Bakari Umar Abdulakarim into Ohafia where the following were arrested:…..”.

We, also, like to refer you to Page 13, Paragraphs ii, iii & v, of the said document under the heading ‘Findings’.
Paragraph ii, - “That Chief Pius Ogbuawa was an innocent victim of the offence of kidnapping and he was forced to pay ransom for his freedom, just like the complainant himself paid the sum of N20 million naira to the kidnappers based on his own admission”.

Paragraph iii, - “That from all enquiries conducted at the highest levels involving all the stake holders and the documentary evidence gathered, the Force CID Abuja and its leadership should be commended for their dedication, sound and moral judgement and a very professional approach to a high profile investigation”.

Paragraph v, - That the complainant has unwittingly fallen victim to discreditable intelligence as a result of informants who are solely motivated by personal greed.

The report in its Conclusion finally recommended as follows: “In view of the above, the complainant should be advised to stop interfering with Police investigation. It is also recommended that the case file be duplicated and forwarded to legal department to charge him for giving false information to the Police and assassination of the characters of the Police authorities and a civil suit for damages”.

One thing that is evidently clear from this report is that an investigation was jointly conducted into this matter by detectives from Force CID, State Security Service personnel, Military Intelligence personnel and MOPOL personnel.

THE GREAT SUMMERSAULT BY THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE:

Based on the joint investigation by personnel from almost all the security agencies in the country, one would ordinarily have believed that the truth in respect of the matter has finally been uncovered. Alas, the Inspector General of Police, in his wisdom, discountenanced the joint investigation by Security Forces in the country and, in a bizarre manner, directed that the case file in respect of this matter be transferred to the Commissioner of Police Anambra State for further investigation.

Commissioner of Police Bukar Maina, Commissioner of Police, General Investigation Section, writing on behalf of the Deputy Inspector General of Police ‘D’ Department (FCID), Abuja, in a letter, dated October24, 2007, and addressed to the Commissioner of Police Anambra State stated inter-alia as follows: “Sequel to a letter of request written and addressed to the Inspector General of Police by the CEO of INNOSON NGERIA LIMITED. The Inspector General directed that the case be transferred to you for further investigation.” This letter in question is attached to this petition and marked ‘Document 4’

Based on ‘Document 4’, the matter was then transferred to the Anambra State Police Command, where Amusa Bello the Commissioner of Police Anambra state now led the said investigation into the matter. It should be noted that Amusa Bello was the Deputy Commissioner of Police in Anambra State when this matter 1st started in 2007. It was the same Amusa Bello (then DCP), who warned Ogbuawa that he should provide the two Chinese in less than 24 hours or he will call a press conference of all Nigerians and tell them that he is the brain behind all the kidnapping cases in the country .

It was the same Amusa Bello who ordered the Area Commander, Nnewi to take Ogbuawa to the dreaded Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) Cell, Awkuzu where he was detained for 21 days and was not allowed communication with any other person including the members of his family, his Lawyer, traditional rulers, friends and business colleagues. So we wonder how Ogbuawa can obtain justice from this same man who refused to give him fair hearing before he was later transferred to Police Zonal Headquarters, Zone 9, Umuahia, where he was later released.

OUR POSITION / ACTION SOUGHT:

We urge you to, in the interest of justice, intervene in this matter and ensure that justice is done in respect of this matter as the circumstances of this case demands. Our appeal to you is based on these grounds:

1. ‘Document 1’ shows that the Inspector General of Police exculpated Ogbuawa from the commission of any crime whatsoever.

2. ‘Document 2’ shows that an investigation was jointly conducted into this matter by detectives from Force CID, State Security Service personnel, Military Intelligence personnel and MOPOL personnel, why then did the Inspector General Threw the report to the dustbin and transferred the matter back to the State Command where the matter emanated from.

3. From ‘Document 4’ the Inspector General of Police action in transferring the matter back to the State Police Command was anchored on the fact that Mr. Innocent Chukwuma made the request. So one wonders when such procedure started, where after investigation of a high profile case up to the highest level of the Police Force a complainant will still request that the case be transferred back to the lower level where the case started from.

Our main concern is that if this trend is allowed in our criminal justice system that means there will never be an end to Police investigation and this portends danger to our Criminal justice system. The case at hand needs urgent attention more importantly when Investigation report in respect of the case showed that the investigation was carried out jointly by operatives from Force CID, State Security Services personnel, Military Intelligence personnel and MOPOL and yet an Inspector General of Police threw the Report into the dustbin and ordered a Police State Command to start another investigation.

We submit that this type of procedure is not only questionable but must also be condemned in all ramifications. We demand an urgent intervention in this matter and also demands that justice must be ensured in this matter.


For: Civil Liberties Organization


Olu Omotayo Esq.
Zonal Director (South-East Zone)