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IIP-SARS INSISTS POLICE MUST PRODUCE 3 OFFICERS ALLEGEDLY LINKED TO THE DEATH OF GODWIN OVOKE

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IIP-SARS INSISTS POLICE MUST PRODUCE 3 OFFICERS ALLEGEDLY LINKED TO THE DEATH OF GODWIN OVOKE

IIP-SARS INSISTS POLICE MUST PRODUCE 3 OFFICERS ALLEGEDLY LINKED TO THE DEATH OF GODWIN OVOKE

By: Michael Mike, Abuja

The IIP-SARS Thursday insisted that the police must obey its order to produce three officers who are allegedly linked to the extra-judicial killing of Ovoke Godwin  Onomrerhino to enable it to unravel the circumstances of the victim’s death.

Similarly, the 11-Member IIP-SARS panel chaired by Justice Suleiman Galadima (rtd) reminded the police that the 1st respondent in the petition, CSP Isah Hassan has not been discharged as a witness since he is yet to furnish the panel with documents showing how Ovoke died in the hospital and how his body was subsequently deposited in the mortuary.

According to the panel, it is important for CSP Isah Hassan and the other three police officers namely, Sgt. Musa, Sgt. Lucky Kehinde and Sgt. Lucky Okuku appeared before the panel to clarify some issues in respect of the victim’s death.

In the light of the above, the panel directed the police legal team led by James Idachaba to ensure that the affected officers are brought before the panel on the 24th of November, 2021, being the next adjourned date.

Earlier before the adjournment, Counsel to the petitioner, Onome Juliet Okoroze told the panel that CSP has in his testimony stated that Sgt. Musa, Sgt. Lucky Kehinde and Sgt. Lucky Okuku was in the police vehicle when Ovoke (now deceased) jumped off and sustained serious injuries, which led to his death in the hospital in Delta state.

Continuing, she said that the panel was right to have ordered that CSP Isah Hassan should come back to the panel with the necessary documents to prove that Ovoke actually received treatment in the hospital courtesy of the police before he gave up the ghost.

She also aligned with the position of the panel that the necessary documents to show that the body of Ovoke was deposited in the mortuary after his death must be tendered before the panel to really establish how the victim died.

She reminded the panel that this would be the third time the panel adjourned the matter on the instance of the police, who she said are not taking the matter with the needed seriousness.

On the other hand, a police legal team led by James Idachaba informed the panel that some of the officers needed at the panel were around shortly before the panel went on break in April.

In addition, he told the panel that police have been cooperating with the panel recalling that CSP Isah Hassan who left Abraka Police Division in Delta state was even traced and brought to the panel before he made his testimony. 

Also Read: EFCC Arraigns Man over fN2.2m Land Scam in Borno

It would be recalled that police allegedly arrested Ovoke over an armed robbery incident in Delta state. 

The police also said that while they were investigating the case, Ovoke made an unsuccessful attempt to escape from their moving vehicle and got injured in the process, which later resulted in his death.

Other respondents in the petition are CSP Isah Hassan (DPO Abraka), Mr. Odiri Emeni, Head of Igun Vigilante, Ethiope East Local Government, Delta State, Commissioner of Police, Delta State, and Inspector General of Police.

In another petition, the panel directed the police to file and serve their written address to all parties within one week in respect of a case of alleged arbitrary detention, torture, cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of Francis Ogbaji.

Before the matter was adjourned to 24th of November, 2021, counsel to the Complainant, Richard Obiano said that the matter was adjourned for defense and that the Complainant had closed his case earlier on.

In their response, counsel to the police, James Idachaba told the panel that ACP Mantu who is needed before the panel has been transferred from FCT Police Command to Rivers state Police Command as Commander Mopol 19, Port Harcourt, Rivers state. Besides, he said that he is currently on a national assignment in Anambra state, though he promised to make an effort to reach him to do the needful.

IIP-SARS INSISTS POLICE MUST PRODUCE 3 OFFICERS ALLEGEDLY LINKED TO THE DEATH OF GODWIN OVOKE

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VP Shettima Mourns Late Alhaji Aminu Dantata, Says Nigeria Has Lost An Irreplaceable Institution

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VP Shettima Mourns Late Alhaji Aminu Dantata, Says Nigeria Has Lost An Irreplaceable Institution

By: Michael Mike

Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed deep grief over the passing of prominent Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, saying the nation has lost an irreplaceable institution.

The late Dantata, an uncle of Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, passed away at the age of 94 in Abu Dhabi in the early hours of Saturday in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to Mustapha Abdullahi Junaid, his Personal Private Secretary (PPS), who confirmed the death.

In a condolence message, Vice President Shettima praised the late businessman for his lifetime of service, describing him as “a living bridge that connected us to our past.

“We have not just lost a leader; we have lost an irreplaceable institution,” Senator Shettima said, describing Dantata as “one of the greatest titans in Nigeria’s philosophical history” whose departure marks the end of a vital chapter in the country’s economic and democratic evolution.

“In African tradition, when such an elderly person transitions, a vital chapter of our history departs with them. He was indeed among the great titans, a living bridge that connected us to our past,” VP Shettima added.

The Vice President extended heartfelt condolences to the Dantata family, expressing hopes that they would “find the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” even as he prayed that Almighty Allah would grant the deceased Jannatul Firdaus.

Born into the legendary Dantata family of Kano, Alhaji Aminu built on his father’s commercial legacy to become one of Nigeria’s most influential business figures. His empire spans construction, manufacturing, banking, agriculture, and the oil and gas sectors.

Beyond business, Dantata was renowned for his extensive philanthropic work, funding schools, mosques, health centres, and supporting widows and the underprivileged across Nigeria.

VP Shettima Mourns Late Alhaji Aminu Dantata, Says Nigeria Has Lost An Irreplaceable Institution

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Nigeria-EU Senior Officials Meet in Abuja to Prepare for Upcoming Nigeria – EU Ministerial Meeting

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Nigeria-EU Senior Officials Meet in Abuja to Prepare for Upcoming Nigeria – EU Ministerial Meeting

By: Michael Mike

The Senior Officials Meeting between Nigeria and the European Union (EU) will be held on Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2nd July 2025 in Abuja to prepare for the upcoming Nigeria – EU Ministerial Meeting and to explore areas of cooperation.

A statement on Saturday by the Press Officer, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Modestus Chukwulaka, read: “The Delegation of European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS wishes to inform that the Senior Officials Meeting between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the European Union (EU) will be held on Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2nd July 2025 in Abuja.

“The agenda of the very important meeting is to prepare for the upcoming Nigeria – EU Ministerial Meeting and to explore areas of cooperation.”

According to the statement, the Senior Officials Meeting will be co-chaired by the Regions, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria, Ambassador Janet Olisa, Director, and the Deputy Managing Director for Africa Department, European External Action Service, European Union, Mr Mathieu Briens.

The statement revealed that the agenda of the meeting is expected to entail wide-ranging discussions that would focus on various aspects of the Nigeria – EU partnership, such as: Cooperation on multilateral and regional issues; Peace, Security and Governance; Humanitarian situation; Trade and Investment; Human Development: Health, Education, Social Protection; Science, technology, innovation and digital transition; Migration; Energy, climate change and green economy transition among others.

Nigeria and the European Union share a deep, long-standing partnership inspired by mutual values and interests as well as support for multilateralism and rule-based international order, the statement said.

Nigeria-EU Senior Officials Meet in Abuja to Prepare for Upcoming Nigeria – EU Ministerial Meeting

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Farida Waziri Tasks Benue Leaders to Unite, Act and Save Their People

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Farida Waziri Tasks Benue Leaders to Unite, Act and Save Their People


…. Donates relief materials to displaced persons in Yelwata, IDP camp

By: Michael Mike

Former Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri has charged former governors, legislators, traditional rulers and other stakeholders in Benue state to set aside rivalry, unite and act with urgency to save their people from incessant attacks and killings.

Waziri, a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police and Principal Partner, Brookfield Chambers Abuja stated this on Saturday 28th June 2025 while donating relief materials to victims of the recent gunmen attacks in Yelwata community and displaced persons at the internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Makurdi, the Benue state capital.

Some of the items donated under the banner of Women, Youth, Children and Crime Organisation (WYCCO), a non-governmental organization founded by her, include: bags of rice, sugar, tubers of yam and other household items.

She said: “This is no time for division. It is no time for political squabbling or ego-driven manoeuvring. Among us are men and women who have led this state — former governors, legislators, traditional rulers — individuals with influence and authority. The time has come to set aside our differences and stand united, for the sake of the ordinary Benue man, woman, and child.

“That is why I stand here today to make this urgent and heartfelt appeal to our leaders: cast aside rivalry, unite, and act. Act with urgency. Act with purpose. Because what we face now increasingly resembles a deliberate, coordinated effort to erase our people and our heritage.

“We must take heed of the words of Sir Winston Churchill, who once said:
‘Our difficulties and dangers will not be removed by closing our eyes to them.’
Another of Churchill’s warnings is just as relevant to our present predicament:
‘If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without bloodshed… you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival.”

Waziri, while stating that her call was a build up to the earlier proposal by President Bola Tinubu during his recent visit Beforehand Benue, noted that meetings alone would not solve the problem, urging that: “But let us be sincere: peace will not come from meetings alone. To end the cycle of violence, we must confront its roots. Before the Yelwata massacre, communities in Gwer West, Apa, and Guma had already endured weeks of killings, kidnappings, and raids. These horrors did not emerge in a vacuum; they are symptoms of deeper issues.

“We must therefore confront the real causes — ethnic and religious tensions, unchecked banditry, and the rise of cultism as well as the abuse of illicit drugs. These forces must be tackled, along with the herder-farmer conflict, with honesty and courage. We cannot afford to keep going in circles. And there is no room for blame games. Our leaders — and indeed, all of us — must be pragmatic. So today, let us commit, as one people, to healing our wounds, reclaiming our land, and ensuring that never again will a child in Benue grow up in a camp instead of a home”

She said the development in Benue must be of “concern to all sons and daughters of Benue regardless of whether we live within its borders or far away in the diaspora to find out the root cause of these attacks with a view to proferring solutions that will bring an end to these barbaric acts”

Farida Waziri Tasks Benue Leaders to Unite, Act and Save Their People

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