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Musings On The NIA Muhammed Dauda And Justice

Published

3 years ago

June 25, 2023

Ochuwa Ibrahim

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

News

Ramadan: Borno Distributes Palliatives to 300,000 Households

Published

6 hours ago

February 17, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Ramadan: Borno Distributes Palliatives to 300,000 Households

By: Michael Mike

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has launched the distribution of Ramadan relief materials to 300,000 vulnerable households across the state’s 27 local government areas, in one of the largest social support interventions this year.

The flag-off ceremony, held at Ramat Square in Maiduguri on Tuesday, marks the beginning of a statewide exercise aimed at easing the economic hardship faced by residents during the holy month of Ramadan.

Under the scheme, each beneficiary household will receive a bag of rice, a bag of millet and 10 kilogrammes of sugar.

Addressing members of the distribution committee and government officials at the event, Zulum issued a stern warning against diversion of the relief materials, insisting that the exercise must be conducted with strict accountability.

He said: “These items are not for sale. They are not meant for your friends or family members who do not need them.”

He stressed that the palliatives are intended for widows, orphans, internally displaced persons, struggling farmers and low-income earners grappling with rising living costs. Any official found compromising the process, he warned, would face legal consequences.

Zulum emphasised that fairness and transparency must guide the operation to ensure that the most vulnerable residents benefit from the intervention.

In a move reflecting religious inclusivity, the governor directed that Christian residents observing Lent — which coincides with Ramadan this year — should also benefit from the distribution.

He noted that his administration has consistently supported Christian communities, particularly during major religious celebrations. Beyond annual Christmas food distributions, the state government also provides free transportation for non-indigenous Christians travelling to celebrate the festive season with their families outside Borno.

Meanwhile, the senator representing Borno Central, Kaka Shehu Lawan, and the Secretary to the State Government, Bukar Tijani, praised the governor’s intervention, describing it as timely and critical in light of ongoing economic pressures.

Director-General of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Ali Abdullahi Isa, assured residents that the agency has put mechanisms in place to ensure a smooth and orderly distribution process across all local government areas.

The event drew a large turnout of senior government officials, including members of the House of Representatives, the Speaker and principal officers of the Borno State House of Assembly, and other key stakeholders.

With the rollout now underway, the Borno State Government says the exercise is part of broader efforts to strengthen social safety nets and support communities still recovering from years of insurgency and economic disruption.

Ramadan: Borno Distributes Palliatives to 300,000 Households

News

Nigeria, Netherlands Forge Stronger Pact to Combat Human Trafficking

Published

6 hours ago

February 17, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Nigeria, Netherlands Forge Stronger Pact to Combat Human Trafficking

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria and the Kingdom of the Netherlands have stepped up joint efforts to dismantle human trafficking networks, as senior officials from both countries met in Abuja to review progress under the TIPVAP NG project — an initiative aimed at building a safer environment free from trafficking in persons and violence against vulnerable groups.

The Second project Steering Meeting was organized by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) in partnership with NAPTIP, with support from the Ministry of Asylum and Migration of the Kingdom of the Netherlands under the Building and Environment Free of Human Trafficking and Violence Against Persons in Nigeria (TIPVAP NG) project

It was attended by a delegation from the Netherlands led by Victor Cramer, the Deputy Director General, Ministry of Asylum and Migration, Ms Isabelle Wolfsgruber, Nigeria Head of Office, Official of NAPTIP, led by the Director General, Binta Bello, Focal Persons from the relevant MDAs, and other Stakeholders.

At the heart of discussions was the Justice and Security Migration Partnership Programme, which officials described as a critical instrument for reinforcing Nigeria’s legal and institutional response to trafficking and violence.

Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Bello, said the partnership has begun to produce measurable gains in investigations, prosecutions, and victim support services across selected states, including Benue, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory.

She noted that beyond enforcement, the initiative focuses on improving operational procedures, strengthening inter-agency collaboration, and deepening public awareness to prevent trafficking at its roots.

According to her, the Project Steering Committee serves as the programme’s highest oversight body, ensuring accountability, strategic direction, and alignment with both national priorities and international standards.

Bello emphasised that sustained international cooperation remains essential, particularly as trafficking networks continue to evolve and operate across borders. She called for renewed commitment to a victim-centred and rights-based approach that prioritises the protection and dignity of survivors.

Leader of the Dutch delegation, Victor Cramer, described Nigeria as a key partner in addressing irregular migration and trafficking flows between West Africa and Europe.

He pointed to data showing that Nigerian nationals remain significantly represented among trafficking victims identified in the Netherlands, especially in cases involving sexual exploitation and forced criminality. This reality, he said, underscores the need for coordinated prevention, protection and prosecution strategies.

Cramer commended Nigerian authorities for their commitment and stressed that stronger capacity building and intelligence-sharing would help reduce dangerous migration pathways exploited by criminal syndicates.

ICMPD’s Nigeria Head of Office, Isabelle Wolfsgruber, said the TIPVAP NG project is central to strengthening coordination between federal and state institutions under NAPTIP’s leadership. She highlighted the importance of awareness campaigns that equip communities with knowledge about trafficking risks and deceptive recruitment tactics.

Wolfsgruber added that the programme is designed not merely around activities, but around measurable outcomes — ensuring that institutional reforms translate into real protection for vulnerable persons.

The meeting ended with a renewed pledge by Nigeria, the Netherlands and ICMPD to deepen collaboration, strengthen institutional capacity, and sustain a coordinated national response against human trafficking and violence.

For both countries, officials agreed, the fight against trafficking is not only a security priority but also a shared humanitarian responsibility — one that demands persistence, partnership and people-focused solutions.

Nigeria, Netherlands Forge Stronger Pact to Combat Human Trafficking

News

Zulum flags off Ramadan palliative for 300,000 households in Borno’s 27 LGAs

Published

7 hours ago

February 17, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Zulum flags off Ramadan palliative for 300,000 households in Borno’s 27 LGAs

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has launched the distribution of Ramadan palliatives to 300,000 households across all 27 local government areas of the state.

The intervention is designed to cushion the economic burden on vulnerable residents during the holy month of Ramadan.

Each beneficiary will receive one bag of rice, one bag of millet and 10 kg of sugar.

Speaking at Ramat Square, the venue for the distribution exercise on Tuesday, Zulum urged the committee tasked with the exercise to adhere to the highest standards of transparency and fairness.

He said, “To the committee in charge of this distribution, let transparency be your watchword. Let fairness be your guide. These items are not for sale. They are not for your friends or family members who do not need them.

“They are for the widow, the orphan, the internally displaced, the farmer whose fields have not fully recovered, and the daily wage earner struggling to make ends meet. Any officer found diverting these items will face the full wrath of the law.”

The governor also noted that the distribution would be extended to Christian residents who are coincidentally observing the Lent period, which overlaps with the Muslim fasting season this year.

This gesture will also touch the non-Muslims who are also fasting the lent which falls within the month of Ramadan,” Zulum ordered.

Zulum’s administration had consistently supported Christian communities in the state, particularly during festive seasons.

Each year, the governor approves the distribution of food items to Christian faithful celebrating Christmas and free transport for non-indigenous Christians who wish to travel to other parts of the country to celebrate their holidays with family and loved ones.

In their remarks, the senator representing Borno Central, Barrister Kaka Shehu Lawan and the Secretary to the Borno State Government, Bukar Tijani, commended Governor Zulum for supporting the vulnerable in their most critical moment.

In his welcome address, the Director-General of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Ali Abdullahi Isa, reiterated the agency’s readiness to ensure hitch-free distribution.

The ceremony was attended by members of the House of Representatives, Engr Bukar Talba and Abdulkadir Rahis, the speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdkarim Lawan and principal officers of the House, the Acting Chief of Staff, Dr Babagana Mustapha Mallumbe, among many other senior government officials.

Zulum flags off Ramadan palliative for 300,000 households in Borno’s 27 LGAs