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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
Over 500 Girls Empowered in Ketti Community, FCT
By: Michael Mike
Over 500 girls have been empowered in Ketti Community in the Federal Capital Territory to commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child.
The event organized by the Caleb Danladi Foundation to commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child, brought hundreds of young girls, women, traditional rulers, and community leaders together.
The celebration, themed “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls at the Frontiers of Crisis”, focused on promoting girls’ education, leadership, and menstrual health awareness. It brought together stakeholders from different walks of life committed to supporting the development and empowerment of the girl child in rural communities.
In his opening address, the Founder and President of the Caleb Danladi Foundation, Capt. Caleb Danladi, emphasized the urgent need to address the rising number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, particularly girls in underserved communities.
He said educating girls remains one of the most effective ways to reduce poverty, promote gender equality, and drive sustainable community development.
Danladi said: “We cannot build a strong and inclusive society when our girls are left behind. Every girl deserves access to quality education, safety, and equal opportunity to fulfill her dreams.”
He used the platform to donate over 1,500 sanitary pads to the participants, highlighting the Foundation’s commitment to promoting menstrual hygiene and ensuring that girls are not deprived of education due to lack of access to sanitary products.
The keynote speaker, Barrister Saratu Bissala Alao, spoke passionately about the importance of menstrual hygiene and breaking the silence around menstruation. She educated the girls on proper sanitary practices and encouraged parents and community leaders to support girls’ health and dignity.
Other speakers at the event included the District Head of Ketti and his wife, the Women Leader, Youth Leader, and several children and community advocates, all of whom reaffirmed their commitment to supporting initiatives that advance girl child education and well-being.
In his remarks, the District Head of Ketti commended the Caleb Danladi Foundation for choosing Ketti Community as part of its outreach, describing the initiative as timely and impactful.
He called for continued collaboration between traditional institutions, government, and civil society organizations to tackle the barriers preventing girls from accessing education.
The event featured interactive sessions, motivational talks, cultural presentations, and question-and-answer sessions that inspired the girls to dream big and take pride in their identities.
The 2025 International Day of the Girl Child celebration in Ketti ended on a hopeful note, with participants expressing gratitude for the life-changing messages and support received. The Caleb Danladi Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to continue advocating for girls’ rights, education, and empowerment across communities in Nigeria.
Over 500 Girls Empowered in Ketti Community, FCT
Gunmen kill eight in Nasarawa village attack
By: Zagazola Makama
At least eight persons have been confirmed dead following an armed attack on Nindama village in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
Sources said that the attack occurred in the early hours of Oct. 10.
The sources said that unknown gunmen invaded the village around 3:30 a.m., shooting sporadically and killing eight residents.
“Two other persons sustained critical injuries and are currently receiving treatment, while six others are still missing,” the sources said.
He said that at about 3:30 p.m., a combined team of security agencies including army, police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) visited the scene along with the Executive Chairman of Kokona LGA, Hon. Agbawu M. Agbawu.
According to the sources, the corpses have been evacuated to the mortuary, while efforts are ongoing to locate the missing persons and apprehend the attackers.
Preliminary investigation, sources said, indicated that the attack may have been connected to a lingering land dispute in the area.
The security forces assured residents of intensified security patrols and urged anyone with useful information to assist the ongoing investigation.
Gunmen kill eight in Nasarawa village attack
News
Bandit abduct road construction worker in Katsina as security forces intensify search and rescue
Bandit abduct road construction worker in Katsina as security forces intensify search and rescue
By: Zagazola Makama
A search-and-rescue operation has been launched to secure the release of a road construction worker abducted by gunmen in Charanchi Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Zagazola learnt that the incident occurred at about 7:14 p.m. on Thursday along the Kunduru–Kadanya feeder road, when unknown assailants reportedly laid an ambush and kidnapped one Kabiru Bature, a 35-year-old driver attached to Stantech Road Construction Company.
The sources said that security forces were immediately mobilised to the area, blocked all potential escape routes, and initiated a cordon-and-search operation aimed at rescuing the victim and apprehending the perpetrators.
The troops have been deployed to track the movements of the kidnappers, believed to have fled into the surrounding forest.
Efforts were ongoing as of the time of filing this report to rescue the victim safely and bring the abductors to justice.
Bandit abduct road construction worker in Katsina as security forces intensify search and rescue
Businessman excretes 127 cocaine wraps at Kano Airport
Over 500 Girls Empowered in Ketti Community, FCT
Harassment of Muslim Women in Maiduguri Hospitals: An Assertion Amidst an Alarming Increase in Terrorist Activities in Nigeria’s Northeastern Region.
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