National News

LEKKI, LAI, LIES & TALES BY MOONLIGHT (1)

Published

5 years ago

November 24, 2021

News Net Global

LEKKI, LAI, LIES & TALES BY MOONLIGHT (1)

BY CHRIS GYANG

OPENING THOUGHTS

You say they kill something inside you? Buhari and his men – Lai and Garba and Femi? Then you should have perished a long, long time ago. But no, you are still alive and kicking. Are you not a Nigerian, an indomitable citizen? After all, lies cannot kill you.

Could the Lekki massacres of October 2020 be a sad reenactment of the jungle justice perpetrated in 1977 where Fela Anikulapo’s mother was flung out of a second-floor window to her death by an agent of the dictatorship whom a panel later described as an ‘unknown soldier’? We shall soon find out.

For now, it is worthy of note that our neighbouring country, Cameroun (which has been ruled by 88-year old President Paul Biya for 39 years who still wants to contest for another tenure in 2025), calls its national team ‘The Indomitable Lions’. They are a rugged and fearsome side not easily defeated. Perhaps we should also call ourselves ‘Indomitable Nigerians’ because, like Cameroon’s national team, nothing easily squashes our spirits, or bodies.

There was a season when even lying military despots, who remain a not-to0 distant memory, could kill nothing inside y0u, as happened with Fela following his mother’s gruesome extra-judicial killing. Likewise, the falsehoods of present day ministers, corrupt government officials, a sitting president and his aides and spokesmen, can kill nothing in you. But we don’t have to hold tight to that borrowed ‘indomitable’ adjective from the Camerounians.

We have crafted a special nomenclature for ourselves. It suits us perfectly well and says a lot about our docile and sanctimonious nature. We tell ourselves that we are “a resilient people.” We have the incredible ability to bounce back from any adversity in the shortest time possible. Also, don’t forget that in Africa, names carry omens.

FLASHBACK

Now a little flashback would be appropriate to situate our subject in proper perspective. On October 20, 2020, soldiers confronted #EndSARS peaceful demonstrators at the Lekki tollgate, Lagos, during which some of them were killed and many others injured. This was widely reported by local mainstream and social media; and international news networks. However, the Federal Government, through the Information Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, consistently maintained that no one was killed that day.

THE CABLE documented five instances in the past one year where Mr. Lai Mohammed vociferously refuted the reports of those killings, maiming and other human rights abuses. Some of these denials have been full of excoriating remarks and outright denunciations of individuals, credible sources and the organisations they represent.

According to the online publication, CABLE, in November 2020, the minister took a swipe at DJ Switch, a disc jockey, who filmed the army shooting #EndSARS protesters at Lekki tollgate, vowing that soon she would be “exposed for what she is.”

Lai further described her as a “purveyor of fake news” and questioned her motive for saying that protesters were killed by the army which, he said, was “suspicious.”

Also in November, the minister’s castigation of CNN was dripping with bile. He argued that its report on the Lekki shooting “did not just fall short of journalistic standards but reinforces the disinformation that is going around on the issue.” The minister, in a letter written to CNN, accused the international platform of deliberately leaving out video footage which could have shown that “armed hoodlums invaded the Lekki Toll Gate that night and could have hit any of the protesters as they shot sporadically…. This is clearly a ploy by the CNN reporter/presenter to manipulate viewers of its ‘investigative’ report and force them to draw the reporter’s desired conclusion.”

In its own report about the incident, Amnesty International (AI) had said that 12 people were killed by the military. But in January, 2021, Mr. Mohammed challenged AI to show proof of the 12 people killed or “shut up.” In February, 2021, he insisted that nobody had produced evidence of the people said to have been killed at the Lekki tollgate and described the allegations as “fake news and unverified social media reports.”

And Mr. Mohammed, during a press briefing marking the first anniversary of the shootings in October 2021, further claimed that there was still no proof that any protester was killed. He described it as a “phantom massacre,” stressing that it was the “first massacre in the world without blood or bodies.” He added, more sardonically: “One year later, and despite ample opportunities for the families of those allegedly killed and those alleging a massacre to present evidence, there has been none: No bodies, no families, no convincing evidence, nothing…. Where are the families of those who were reportedly killed…?”

PANEL’S REPORT, THE BACKLASH

But THE CABLE reported on Monday, November 15, that a report of the Lagos State judicial panel on police brutality, which was leaked to the press that same day, showed that protesters were indeed killed at the tollgate on October 20, 2020.

According to the NEW YORK TIMES (November 16, 2021), the report showed that the Nigerian Army shot and killed at least 11 unarmed, peaceful protesters and wounded dozens more. It added that four others were missing and now “presumed dead…. The atrocious maiming and killing of unarmed, helpless and unresisting protesters, while sitting on the floor and waving their Nigerian flags, while singing the national anthem can be equated to a ‘massacre’ in context.” The panel also listed 48 people as shooting victims.

The army had insisted that it fired blanks to disperse the demonstrators. On the contrary, the judicial panel declared that ample evidence showed that “soldiers actually shot blank and live bullets directly and pointedly into the midst of the protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate, with the deliberate intention to assault, maim, and kill.” It further maintained that the soldiers turned back ambulances that arrived to help wounded protesters.

Obviously, the information minister had not been telling the truth about what happened that day at the Lekki tollgate, Lagos. Analysts say that his acerbic outbursts that “No bodies … no convincing evidence, nothing…” had been discovered were the height of insensitivity to the dead and their living relatives.

Thus, the backlash from the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) was harsh. In a statement issued on November 16, 2021, HURIWA National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, urged President Buhari to sack and arrest him “for committing a grave and heartless offence that is equivalent to the denial of the Holocaust of the six million Jews by Adolf Hitler, which is punishable by nearly half a century of incarceration.”

While praising the bravery of the panel’s members and chairperson, the human rights body challenged President Buhari “not to sweep the lawlessness of the security agencies under the carpets.”

LAI STICKS TO HIS GUNS

But Mr. Lai Mohammed has hit back at the panel and rubbished its report, which he labelled as ‘tales by moonlight’ – a Nigerian folk tales children’s television show. During a press conference in Abuja on November 23, 2021, the minister insisted that the report would not change the Federal Government’s earlier declared position that there wasn’t a massacre, “adding that the report is intimidation of a silent majority by a ‘vociferous lynch mob’” (Daily Post, November 23).

Also Read: People’s Forum calls for investigation into alleged…

But many analysts say they are not surprised by the Federal Government’s position given that it has never owned up to such accusations of human rights abuses and the spike in corruption in the country from Amnesty International and Transparency International in the past. Only recently, the government lambasted The Economist for offering a very bleak assessment of the administration’s overall performance so far.

IF LAI LIED, SO WHAT?

Now, can Lai’s falsehoods and those of the other president’s men, even his (the president’s), still kill something inside of you? No they can’t, because you are ‘resilient’. You can weather all vicissitudes – hunger, poverty, hyper-inflation, stolen elections, endless strikes, Boko Haram killings, bandits’ attacks, impeachment of a speaker by 8 members of a 24-member parliament, etc – with religious equanimity and calm. Resilient people do not whine about the tissues of lies often hurled at them by leaders who must soften their consciences in order to sleep well at night. We are a people who allow our leaders to get away with all manner of atrocities and misdemeanors.

In fact, is Nigeria as presently constituted and wired not itself a big lie? Set up as a trading outpost for colonial masters, our country has so far been oiled and held together by a single primary commodity – crude oil. Our country is a true commercial enterprise, a business venture driven by the profit motive. The oily, shimmering surface belies the contradictions swirling down below. No wonder, our unity is tenuous – a sea of vaporizing mirages.

Those, especially from the core north, who endlessly mouth platitudes about national unity and patriotism are only inspired by the lucre they scoop from the oil wells that lie in the belly of this wobbly contraption and nothing else. Do you think they would have stuck to this union so tenaciously and continued singing its praises to the high heavens if the black gold was not at the bottom? Expert illusionists, they juggle lies and the beauty of national unity and patriotism before our eyes to keep us perpetually spell bound.

TO BE CONCLUDED…

LEKKI, LAI, LIES & TALES BY MOONLIGHT (1)

National News

ECOWAS Project Delivers Electricity to 500,000 People in Three West African Countries

Published

4 days ago

November 5, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

ECOWAS Project Delivers Electricity to 500,000 People in Three West African Countries

…$225m World Bank-funded initiative connects 490 localities in The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Mali

…Mali seeks extension as ECOWAS holds final steering committee meeting in Abuja

By: Michael Mike

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said its $225 million Regional Electricity Access Project has extended electricity access to nearly 500,000 people across 490 localities in The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Mali.

The achievement was disclosed at the 10th and final Steering Committee meeting of the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Access Project (ECOWAS-REAP), which opened in Abuja on Tuesday to review implementation progress and determine measures for ensuring the sustainability of the project.

The World Bank-financed initiative is designed to expand electricity access in underserved communities across the three countries, as part of efforts to deepen regional energy integration and improve living conditions in West Africa.

Speaking at the meeting, the Director of Energy and Mines at the ECOWAS Commission and Chairman of the Steering Committee, Arkadius Koumoin, acknowledged the significant progress recorded despite challenges that affected implementation, including the COVID-19 pandemic and institutional disruptions.

He, however, stressed the need for concrete decisions and actions to ensure responsible closure of the project, noting that its success should ultimately be measured by the number of households effectively connected to electricity.

Koumoin’s position highlights the importance of translating infrastructure investments into actual electricity access for communities, rather than measuring performance solely by completed project activities.

The Managing Director of the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC), The Gambia, Gallo Saidy; the representative of Guinea-Bissau’s Ministry responsible for Energy, Pedro Jeus de Oliviera; and Mali’s National Director of Energy, Oussouby Mary dit Ousmane Diarra, reaffirmed their commitment to completing outstanding project activities.

However, Mali called for an extension to enable it to complete its outstanding work, underscoring the need to address implementation gaps before the project’s final closure.

The meeting is expected to provide an opportunity for participating countries and the ECOWAS Commission to agree on the outstanding actions required to consolidate the gains of the initiative and ensure that beneficiaries continue to enjoy reliable electricity access.

Through ECOWAS-REAP, the regional bloc is advancing its energy integration agenda and the objectives of ECOWAS Vision 2050, with the broader ambition of translating regional investments into tangible improvements in the lives of West African citizens.

ECOWAS Project Delivers Electricity to 500,000 People in Three West African Countries

National News

Court Dismisses El-Rufai’s N120m Rights Violation Suit Over Alleged Wiretapping

Published

3 weeks ago

October 19, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Court Dismisses El-Rufai’s N120m Rights Violation Suit Over Alleged Wiretapping

By: Zagazola Makama

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Monday dismissed a N120 million fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, against the Department of State Services (DSS), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

The court dismissed the suit for lacking merit and awarded N200,000 each in favour of the DSS, EFCC and ICPC.
Delivering judgment, Justice Sylvanus Orji held that the invitation letters issued to El-Rufai by the EFCC and ICPC complied with constitutional requirements and did not violate his fundamental rights.

On El-Rufai’s challenge to an attempted arrest by the DSS at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, the judge held that the service possessed powers to carry out its statutory responsibilities pursuant to the relevant legal instruments governing its operations, including the National Security Agencies Act.

The court further held that the DSS had the mandate to maintain watchlists and take appropriate action, including arresting persons of interest within the scope of its lawful powers.

Justice Orji stressed that El-Rufai could not use the court to prevent security and law enforcement agencies from performing their legally assigned duties.
On the seizure of the former governor’s international passport by the DSS, the court held that it was satisfied that the action was lawful and within the agency’s powers.

The judge also ruled that the applicant had failed to establish that the seizure was continuous, permanent and unlawful in a manner that amounted to a violation of his fundamental rights.

The suit sought N120 million in damages over alleged violations of El-Rufai’s rights in connection with the actions of the security and anti-corruption agencies.
The ruling represents a setback for the former governor in his legal challenge to the actions taken by the agencies.

Court Dismisses El-Rufai’s N120m Rights Violation Suit Over Alleged Wiretapping

National News

NHRC Raises Alarm Over Child Abuse, Custodial Torture, Civic Freedom Violations

Published

4 weeks ago

October 14, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

NHRC Raises Alarm Over Child Abuse, Custodial Torture, Civic Freedom Violations

By: Michael Mike

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called for stronger safeguards against violence and exploitation targeting women and children, tighter oversight of detention facilities and increased protection of civic freedoms ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr Tony Ojukwu, said persistent cases of sexual and gender-based violence, child abuse, discrimination and other forms of exploitation required more effective prevention mechanisms, thorough investigations and improved access to justice.

Ojukwu, who spoke in Abuja during the presentation of the Commission’s September 2026 Human Rights Situation Dashboard, urged government authorities to translate ongoing reforms into practical protection for vulnerable Nigerians, particularly children in underserved communities.

He welcomed the September stakeholders’ engagement on the review of the Child Rights Act, 2003, describing it as an opportunity to address gaps in the country’s child protection framework and strengthen institutional responses to violence and exploitation.

He, however, stressed that reviewing the law would not be sufficient without adequate funding, stronger institutions and effective implementation capable of delivering tangible protection to children.

The NHRC chief called on relevant authorities to ensure that the reform process produced practical measures to prevent abuse, protect vulnerable children and improve access to justice for victims.

On the treatment of detainees, Ojukwu emphasised the importance of independent monitoring of custodial facilities, warning that effective human rights protection required sustained oversight of institutions responsible for enforcing the law.

He disclosed that the Commission, through its National Preventive Mechanism, validated its 2025–2026 annual report on September 25, bringing together stakeholders to examine findings and recommendations on preventing torture and other forms of ill-treatment in places of detention.

According to him, the exercise was aimed at identifying systemic weaknesses that expose detainees to abuse and strengthening measures to prevent violations.

He said independent monitoring of detention facilities remained critical to accountability within the justice and law enforcement systems, particularly in ensuring that people deprived of their liberty continued to enjoy the protection of the law.

The Commission also stepped up efforts to monitor threats to civic freedoms as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Ojukwu disclosed that the NHRC, in collaboration with the Nigeria Network of NGOs and with support from Heinrich Böll Stiftung Nigeria and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, organised a training workshop for the Commission’s state coordinators on Tuesday, October 13.

The workshop focused on operationalising the NHRC’s advisory opinion on promoting and protecting civic space and human rights, issued on May 18, 2026.

The initiative is expected to strengthen the capacity of state offices to identify, document and report violations affecting civic space, including restrictions on peaceful assemblies and regulatory practices affecting civil society organisations.

Ojukwu said integrating civic space monitoring into the Commission’s Human Rights Observatory and Dashboard would improve its ability to detect emerging threats and facilitate timely institutional responses.

He stressed that democratic governance must be measured not only by the conduct of elections but also by the extent to which citizens could freely express their views, associate with others, assemble peacefully and participate meaningfully in public affairs.

The Commission called on government institutions, security agencies, civil society organisations and development partners to intensify collaboration in addressing the underlying causes of human rights violations.

Ojukwu said the NHRC would continue to strengthen its monitoring and reporting systems, improve investigations and complaints resolution, and ensure that documented findings informed policy decisions and institutional reforms.

He maintained that the Commission’s responsibility extended beyond recording allegations to helping prevent violations, securing remedies for victims and ensuring accountability.

“The true measure of our progress is not simply the number of complaints documented, but the extent to which our collective efforts improve the lives of Nigerians,” he said.

He urged stakeholders to act on the findings and recommendations of the September dashboard, stressing that sustained collective action was necessary to prevent human rights violations, secure justice for victims and hold public institutions accountable.

The Commission’s renewed emphasis on child protection, custodial oversight and civic freedoms comes as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, placing the protection of fundamental rights and accountability for alleged abuses among the issues requiring sustained attention from public institutions.

NHRC Raises Alarm Over Child Abuse, Custodial Torture, Civic Freedom Violations