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Musings On The NIA Muhammed Dauda And Justice
Musings On The NIA Muhammed Dauda And Justice
By: Inuwa Bwala
For give years now Ambassador Muhamned Dauda, former Director General of the National Intelligence Agency. NIA and Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Chad, has been 9n the virtual run for his life.
His family members had to equally go under for their lives, as agents of a cabal that conspired to remove Dauda from office, also went for his jugular.
For the past five years, Dauda cried out for justice and petitioned the world that his removal was a witch hunt, and that some powerful people in the immediate past administration were behind it.
He petitioned the Presidency several times trying to narrate his ordeals, but each time, his cries were either suppressed or the President was deliberately prevented from taking action.
Dauda went to the courts to seek redress, for which he has been consistently threatened and intimidated.
He fled our borders and continued to pursue his cause untill Thursday when the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division ordered his reinstatement as Director General DG of the National Intelligence agency NIA.
One could describe Dauda’s pursuit for justice as one long tortoise journey.
Even to a layman like me one could see the clear destination of the matter, and no one was blind to the intrigues that played out; trying to cover up the monumental fraud that was Dauda’s sack.
That he was vilified for daring to seek justice, is a story for another day, but the eventual judgement last Thursday must have come as a big relief.
Legal pundits and even ordinary minds have described it as a sound judgement by Justice Peter Ige, which will fit a long time remain a watershed in Nigeria’s legal history.
Justice Ige said in the judgement that, the evidence leading to the dismissal of Dauda was frivolous and lacking in merit, and thereby lame and ineffective.
That Judgement had resolved all the contentious issues against the NIA and in favour of the former DG, who was the respondent in the appeal suit.
In ordering for Dauda’s reinstatement and the payment of his salaries and entitlements since the day of his purported dismissal from office, the diplomat DG could begin to pick the pieces of his life and redesign a new life.
While he may not be able to physically return to his seat: having attained the mandatory age of retirement while outside, the judgement not only vindicated him, but exposes the rot in the underbelly of the NIA.
And by ordering the payment of damages to him the appellate court also has succeeded in making an examplery statement, to the effect that, injustice carries with it a burden, that may not be punitively heavy enough but symbolically embarrassing.
Justice Ige in holding that: “Dauda should be allowed to retire in service in accordance with the stipulated laws guarding the NIA, has equally provided a solution to the seeming quagmire, as Dauda himself may not even be interested in sitting on that seat again, but has at least made the point.
Justice Ige was assertive when he said. “There is no evidence before the court that shows that the respondent has constituted any risk or breached any law”, which 8n effect corroborates Ambassador Dauda’s arguments all along, that, he has been a victim of a conspiracy, for resisting to be corrupted.
While it is being argued that, Ambassador Muhammed Dauda may have achieved justice, the cost may remain inestimable untill those behind the act are fully exposed and brought to book.
For those who might not have been familiar with this matter: Muhammed Dauda acted as the head of National Intelligence Agency, NIA from November 2017 to January 2018,when he was replaced by an aide to president Muhammadu Buhari, under very curious circumstances.
Dauda had spent just few months on the job before he was forced out, following which he challenged his removal in court, arguing that his dismissal from service did not follow the due process.
He argued that in contravention of the law, no special management staff of the disciplinary committee (SMSDC) was set up to investigate the charges against him,and he was not given any fair hearing afterwards.
The National Industrial court had in an earlier judgement delivered by Justice Olufunke Anuwe, ordered the reinstatement of Mohammed Dauda as the head of National Intelligence Agency and payment of salaries and entitlements from March 2018 till date after it found that his dismissal fell short of the NIA Act.
In the judgment delivered by Justice Olufunke Anuwe, it was held that, under the agency’s rule, the appropriate committee to investigate disciplinary cases against management staff is the management staff disciplinary committee, “not the special management staff disciplinary committee”.
The NIA appealed Justice Olufunke’s judgement which was thrown out last Thursday.
Musings On The NIA Muhammed Dauda And Justice
Eight aspirants eye Governor Buni’s seat in Yobe
By: Yahaya Wakili
As 2027 general elections are approaching, over 8 aspirants from the three senatorial districts of Yobe state are jostling for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
Notably among them are the current Secretary to the Yobe State Government and the longest SSG in Northeastern Nigeria, Alhaji Baba Mallam Wali (BMW) mni; the former Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the longest member at the National Assembly since 1999 up to date and the current Senator for the Yobe North Senatorial District, Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan, GCON (SAIL), Sardaunan Bade; and Senator Mohammed Ibrahim Bomai (MIB), two-term Senator for the Yobe South Senatorial District and Madakin Fika Emirate Council.
Others notable among them include Senator Musa Mustapha (COOLERS), current Senator of the Yobe East Senatorial District; Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu, former Deputy Governor of Yobe State and former Minister of Power and Jarman of the Pataskum Emirate Council; and Kashim Musa Tumsah, a lawyer and diplomat, and hosts of others. The All Progressives Congress (APC) has been ruling the state since the return of democracy in 1999 or since the creation of the state. Muhammad Abba, a political analyst in the state, revealed that we are advising the party stakeholders in the state that if they want the party to continue ruling the state, they should adopt the rotation or zoning formula so that every senatorial district will benefit from the governorship seat in the state.
Dr. Garba Adamu, also a political analyst in the state, said rotation or zoning is the best option for the APC in the state, adding that since the creation of the state, Zone A, or the Yobe East Senatorial District, for a long time has held the power or has produced the governor, and the Yobe South Senatorial District has produced only one governor, Mamman B. Ali, who spent only 18 months in office before he died. But in the Yobe North Senatorial District, Zone C, they never produce anything else, neither the governor nor the deputy; they never get the opportunity or the chance.
He added that, but this time around if the party wants to win the election easily without facing any challenges from the opposition party, they should reintroduce the zoning system because it will encourage the electorates to come out en masse to vote for the party, especially from Zone C, because they picked its son to be the party candidate. However, he said the best candidate from the zone, who would win the election 100%, is Alhaji Baba Mallam Wali (BMW), the current secretary to the state government; he has the capacity, and he has the experience to handle the affairs of the state because of his long experience in administration.
According to him, the election of Baba Mallam Wali as the fifth democratically elected governor of Yobe State will steady impactful walks through the corridors of power at both local and state levels. He is a man blessed with a character of humility, sympathy, and accessibility and a genius in letting go of what rightfully and lawfully belongs to him for peace to reign. However, BMW’s plan is to continue building on what they call the “Renewed Hope and Vision of Governor Mai Mala Buni and the legacy of His Excellency, Senator Ibrahim Geidam,” aimed at delivering a better life for residents of Yobe State.
“Baba Mallam Wali’s agenda is anchored on People-Oriented Development (POD), a strategy designed to ensure that government decisions directly continue to improve the daily lives of citizens. Alhaji Idris Musa, also a political analyst in the state, reiterates his call to the APC-led administration in Yobe State to adopt the rotation formula aimed to balance its political equations, adding that if care is not carefully taken in Yobe politics this time and if they fail to implement the zoning formula, they will face the consequences because likely the opposition party will win the election, because the two senatorial zones will react, especially Zone C and Zone B.
Zone C deserved to pick the governorship ticket of Yobe State in 2027, and if there is fairness, equity, and justice in the 2027 election, then from Zone C, the current Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Baba Mallam Wali MNI, is capable and has the capacity to hold the ticket, and he will deliver, inshallah.
Eight aspirants eye Governor Buni’s seat in Yobe
Reprisal attack leaves two dead as plateau govt imposes curfew in Jos
By: Zagazola Makama
A reprisal attack has claimed the lives of two persons in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, following an earlier shooting incident along the Jos–Bauchi highway.
A security source said the incident occurred on March 29 at Angwan Rukuba junction, where residents allegedly carried out retaliatory attacks on passersby after a morning assault by gunmen.
According to the source, the initial attack, which occurred at about 7:30 a.m., involved assailants who drove on a vehicle and opened fire on commuters, killing several persons and injuring others before fleeing the scene.
Security sources blamed the attack on cultist, while some blame it on the fulani bandits, sone said they are Boko Haram while some maintain that the attackers were some criminal elements because they fled in a vehicle.
Sources however said that in the aftermath of the shooting, some aggrieved residents reportedly attacked unsuspecting passersby on the highway, resulting in the death of two persons,” the source said.
He added that the situation created heightened tension in the area, with fears of further escalation.
The situation further compounded after a Foreigner went to the scene of the accident to demonstrate and threatened to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying will regret what he was doing for not admitting Christian Genocide.
The Plateau State Government subsequently imposed an immediate 48-hour curfew to restore calm and prevent additional reprisal attacks.
The source said casualties from the incidents had been evacuated to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), while security agencies had commenced investigations to identify and apprehend those responsible.
He noted that no arrests had been made as of the time of filing this report.
The source further stressed the need for sustained security presence and community engagement to de-escalate tensions and prevent a breakdown of law and order.
Security agencies have also intensified patrols and surveillance in the area, as efforts continue to restore normalcy and ensure the safety of residents.
Reprisal attack leaves two dead as plateau govt imposes curfew in Jos
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Troops launch manhunt after assassination Alhaji Bilyaminu Julde, Fulani community leader in Plateau state
Troops launch manhunt after assassination Alhaji Bilyaminu Julde, Fulani community leader in Plateau state
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Enduring Peace have launched a manhunt for unknown assailants who shot dead Alhaji Bilyaminu Julde, the Ardo of Gindir in Gashish area of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
A security source said the incident occurred at about 11:45 p.m. on March 28, when troops responded to reports of sporadic gunshots.
According to the source, on arrival, troops discovered that Alhaji Bilyaminu Julde, the Ardo of Gindiri, had been shot dead in his residence by unidentified gunmen who fled the scene before security operatives arrived.
The source added that troops recovered two rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and 29 spent shells from the scene.
He said the remains of the deceased were released to the family for burial in accordance with local customs.
The source noted that investigations have commenced, while troops have intensified patrols and launched a manhunt to track down the perpetrators.
Troops launch manhunt after assassination Alhaji Bilyaminu Julde, Fulani community leader in Plateau state
Eight aspirants eye Governor Buni’s seat in Yobe
Reprisal attack leaves two dead as plateau govt imposes curfew in Jos
Troops arrest suspected gunrunner, intercept 200 rounds of ammunition in kaduna
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