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IGP-IRT WAS PAID TO KILL EBUKA ANIEGU EXTRA-JUDICIALLY, PETITIONER’S COUNSEL ALLEGES BEFORE IIP-SARS

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IGP-IRT WAS PAID TO KILL EBUKA ANIEGU EXTRA-JUDICIALLY, PETITIONER’S COUNSEL ALLEGES BEFORE IIP-SARS

IGP-IRT WAS PAID TO KILL EBUKA ANIEGU EXTRA-JUDICIALLY, PETITIONER’S COUNSEL ALLEGES BEFORE IIP-SARS

By: Michael Mike

Petitioner’s counsel, Ifeanyi Agu on Thursday alleged before the Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations by the Defunct SARS and other units of the Nigerian Police Force that certain persons who would not want their names to be mentioned disclosed that the Police were bribed to extra-judicially kill Ebuka Aniegu whom they arrested and detained in 2019 over allegations of armed robbery and rape.

It was on this note, the lawyer noted, that warranted the filing of the petition by Nnenna Aniegu before the panel, alleging unlawful arrest, detention and enforced disappearance of Ebuka Aniegu, whom the counsel now asserted was subsequently killed extra-judicially by the Police. He told the panel that a nominal complainant paid IGP IRT to kill the suspect, Ebuka.

The complainant’s counsel, Agu while cross-examining SP Chinedu Okonkwo whose presence was ordered by the panel, said that the Police witness, SP Okonkwo knows what happened to Ebuka Aniegu having led the IGP Intelligence Response Team that investigated the matter for one month before allegedly handing over the case file and the suspect to DSP John Onyema, now deceased.

Agu also stated that the signals brought before the panel to prove the death of DSP John Onyema whom SP Okonkwo reportedly handed over the matter was not sufficient to prove the death of DSP Onyema, since such signals are not synonymous with death certificate.

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The signals referred to by SP Okonkwo include a letter written by the IRT to the Inspector General of Police informing him about the death of DSP Onyema and the IGP’s letter responding to acknowledge the demise of the Police Officer in active service. 

Continuing, Agu told the panel presided over by Dr. Garba Tetengi (SAN) on behalf of Justice Suleiman Galadima (rtd), the substantive Chairman, that the said signals within the hierarchy of the Police Force on the death of DSP Onyema were concocted to put up a “feeble” defense in this petition.

According to the petitioner’s counsel, one month was enough to investigate the case of armed robbery and rape against Ebuka and charge him to court or obtain a warrant order from the court to detain him that long pending investigations in accordance with the law.

It will be recalled that ASP Paul Odey a member of Okonwo’s IGP Intelligence Response team had in his submission before the panel said sometime in May 2019 there was an arrest made at the Trade-More Police stations Lugbe, Abuja bothering on armed robbery and rape, which was subsequently reported to IRT.

Odey told the panel that investigation into the matter commenced by a team of the IRT led by SP Chinedu Okonkwo, which has other members as Paul Odey and two others. 

The ASP told the panel that investigations into the matter led to the recovery of a phone even as he confirmed visiting the scene of the incident made some analysis and came up with a lead resulting in the arrest of one Otu.

He said that after interrogation Otu confessed to the crime and mentioned Ebuka and others as his accomplices.

Continuing, the witness told the panel that Abba Kyari the Head of the IGP IRT directed DSP John Onyema  (now late) to take over the matter, adding that both the case file and suspect were handed over as directed.

While cross examining the witness, counsel to the complainant Mr. Ifeanyi Agu accused he witness that his narrative of handing over to DSP John Onyema (deceased) was a ploy to put up a defense.

The panel has adjourned the petition for report.

IGP-IRT WAS PAID TO KILL EBUKA ANIEGU EXTRA-JUDICIALLY, PETITIONER’S COUNSEL ALLEGES BEFORE IIP-SARS

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VP SHETTIMA AND THE ILLOGICAL PERMUTATIONS FOR 2027

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VP SHETTIMA AND THE ILLOGICAL PERMUTATIONS FOR 2027


By: Inuwa Bwala

As happened in 2023, when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was to name his running mate, vested interests are again up in arms, trying to hoodwink or armstwist him into doing their bids.
What people forget, however, is that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a master schemer and knows exactly what to do at the appropriate time. Contrary to what many people think, he has his own game plan and can not be compelled to play to the gallery.
In the last few weeks, I have read a plethora of writeups trying to give President Bola Ahmed Tinubu prescriptions on how to chart a new political course if he hopes to achieve his second term bid in the 2027 general elections.
Many of the write ups contain permutations in the event of the emergence of a perceived strong opposition and that unless he drops his Vice President for another person, he will have a difficult task.
As a student of political history, and given our experiences, I dare say that if Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kashim Shettima could win in the face of all the obstacles placed in their ways from within and from without there does not appear any threat to this same ticket in 2027.
I must confess that I have not yet met a shrewed political strategist in Nigeria like the President who against all permutations settled for Kashim Shettima neither am I aware of any politician who could be as loyal dedicated and determined to his Boss as Shettima has demonstrated over the years.
The game is already on, and the biggest threat to Tinubu in 2027 is indeed any attempt to shift the goalpost in the mu
middle of the game.
As far as I know, the combination has given a very good account of itself, and with the rays of hope beyond the immediate horizon, Kashim Shettima remains President Bola Ahmed Tinubu best choice
I am aware that people have been trying to drive a wedge between them by framing false narratives that are neither here nor there. So as not to embolden those who are heating up the polity unnecessarily, the silence maintained on political permutations remains the best by both the president and the vice president.
Silence on certain issues has paid off for both of them before, and it will again pay off.
When people thought Bola Ahmed Tinubu was sick and weak and may even die before the end of his first tenure, he maintained a golden silence on his health status and rather magnified it as real thereby tricking all Nigerians into believing it was true.
Now that he has proven to be healthy and strong, the voices that predicted a doom for the presidency are silent.

VP SHETTIMA AND THE ILLOGICAL PERMUTATIONS FOR 2027

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Nigerien Army Deserter Who Joined Boko Haram Surrenders in Diffa Region

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Nigerien Army Deserter Who Joined Boko Haram Surrenders in Diffa Region

By: Our Reporter

A deserter from the Niger Republic Armed Forces who reportedly joined the terrorist group Boko Haram has surrendered to local authorities in Kindjandi, located in the Diffa Region of southeastern Niger Republic.
The individual, identified as Abba Ibrahim, had been serving with the Nigerien Armed Forces since 2022 before deserting his post in Bosso on March 8, 2025, according to military intelligence sources. He fled alongside a fellow soldier, Bandam Dala, and subsequently joined a Boko Haram faction active in the Lake Chad area.
Security sources disclosed that Ibrahim surrendered on April 21, 2025, arriving in Kindjandi on horseback with a rifle. He was accompanied by an unidentified young man whose details are yet to be confirmed.
Ibrahim was taken into custody by the Nigerien Armed Forces on the morning of April 22, 2025, and is currently undergoing debriefing and interrogation by military intelligence.
The Diffa Region has remained a hotspot for insurgent activity due to its proximity to Lake Chad and border areas with Nigeria, where Boko Haram and other extremist groups operate.

Nigerien Army Deserter Who Joined Boko Haram Surrenders in Diffa Region

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ECOWAS @50: WADEMOS Commends Subregional bloc for Inviting Mali, Burkina-Faso, Niger to Launch

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ECOWAS @50: WADEMOS Commends Subregional bloc for Inviting Mali, Burkina-Faso, Niger to Launch

By: Michael Mike

The West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS) has commended the initiative by ECOWAS to extend an invitation to the governments of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger for the official launch of ECOWAS’ golden jubilee in Accra.

The Network, in a press statement on Tuesday, said it supports the initiative by ECOWAS to ease tensions and foster diplomacy in a bid to sustain the common heritage, shared history, and longstanding socio-cultural ties of the peoples.

The statement read: “As ECOWAS opens its doors and extends an arm of friendship and collaboration to Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, the Network encourages the three countries to reciprocate the gesture, upholding the spirit of good neighbourliness and cross-border cooperation. Such
cooperation is necessary now more than ever, especially as we require a concerted effort to confront matters of common interest to the subregion, such as security and trade.

“WADEMOS maintains the position that the restoration of trust and confidence between
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, on the one hand, and ECOWAS, on the other hand,
remains critical to sustaining cooperation and enhancing the free movement of goods and people. Building trust and confidence, we believe, is also critical to effectively combat the growing threat of terrorism across the subregion.

“Considering the close ties that exist among the West African peoples, WADEMOS
continues to urge the three Sahelian countries to be reconciliatory in their engagements with ECOWAS.”

WADEMOS is an independent and non-partisan network of diverse national and transnational civil society organisations and civic groups working to promote and defend democracy, good governance, and inclusive development in the West Africa region.

It mobilizes, coordinates, and leverages the collective voice and power of civil society and other pro-democracy actors, resources, and opportunities within the West Africa region to advance its mission. The current membership of WADEMOS stands at 47 spread across West Africa.

The WADEMOS Secretariat is based in Accra, Ghana.

ECOWAS @50: WADEMOS Commends Subregional bloc for Inviting Mali, Burkina-Faso, Niger to Launch

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