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WITNESS TELLS IIP-SARS HOW POLICE HARASSED HIM TO PAY N5m

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WITNESS TELLS IIP-SARS HOW POLICE HARASSED HIM TO PAY N5m

WITNESS TELLS IIP-SARS HOW POLICE HARASSED HIM TO PAY N5m

By: Our Reporter

The Independent Investigative Panel on human rights violations by the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other police units in Abuja, on Tuesday, listened to how the police asked Bamidele Ogbeye to bring N5,000,000 to secure the bail of his brother(Timothy Ogbeye) who was detained for four months in a case of alleged unlawful arrest, detention, assault, torture, inhuman and degrading treatment.

Timothy Ogbeye was alleged to have connived with members of his robbery gang to steal a Toyota Venza and Toyota Camry cars belonging to the government.  

Bamidele Ogbeye narrated that on the 22nd January 2020, his brother Timothy was arrested by officers of the defunct SARS at his car stand in Mpape, Abuja, and was immediately taken to Anambra State.

Testifying before Dr Garba Tetengi SAN, who stood in for the Chairman,  Bamidele stated that his brother(Timothy) who is a car dealer was accused by officers of the defunct SARS that on the 2nd January 2020 he and other armed members came down to Anambra and stole the two government vehicles.

Bamidele stated that he immediately traveled to Anambra SARS office, Awkuzu where he was informed of the allegations against his brother and that when he demanded to see his brother he was denied access to him saying he had to engage the services of a lawyer, to enable him to see his brother. 

According to him, when he finally saw his brother, he was looking disfigured and could barely recognise him (Bamidele). 

He further requested for the police to release the victim so that he can take him for treatment, but his request was denied.

Bamidele said that he had also requested that the police should charge him to court, but they refused and that refusal necessitated his lawyer to sue the police at Anambra state High Court for the enforcement of the victim’s fundamental rights in accordance with the law.

He noted that despite the pendency of the suit before the Anambra State High Court which also ordered for his appearance, the police disobeyed the orders.

The court further gave another order for his release. While his lawyer was in the process of getting Timothy released the police rearrested him.

The arrest was when his counsel was trying to perfect his bail condition and the second arrest further led to denial of his fundamental liberty.

The lawyer immediately petitioned the Commissioner of Police in Anambra and the matter was referred to X-Squad for investigation.

In another case of alleged unlawful arrest, detention and extortion filed before the panel by the same Timothy Ogbeye against officers of defunct SARS in Asaba, Delta state, the complainant testified his ordeal before the panel.

Narrating his case before Dr Garba Tetengi SAN, Ogbeye said that on the 3rd of August one Eze Godwin bought a Lexus RX 330 at the cost of N1,700,000.

The buyer, Eze Godwin called him and said that on his way to Port Harcourt the following day, the police stopped him in Delta and asked for the document of the vehicle.

After going through the papers, the police spoke with him over the phone and he confirmed that he sold the car to Eze Godwin and he was released, he stated.

Also Read: Governor Buni commended for renovating Hospital in Maguram

On getting to Port Harcourt, Eze Godwin called Timothy and said somebody was interested in the Lexus and is willing to pay N1,900,000, “so I should look for a Toyota Corolla car. We bargained and agreed on a fixed price of N1,700,000.

Mr Eze now begged me to register the Toyota Corolla in his name and he sent money which I did and also got a number plate for the car.

After three days of registration, I travelled out of Abuja and left the documents with my brother to give to Eze when he paid for the car.

“Only for me to be informed that Eze came to my car stand with police officers from Asaba and destroyed my car stand and kept screaming that I am a thief”, he said. 

He said that police beat up his brother in the process and carried the Toyota Corolla with all the documents and a Mercedes C200 to Asaba, Delta state.

“I had to pay N300,000 to secure the release of my brother and my prayer before the panel is to be compensated in the sum of N10,000,000 for the violation of my fundamental human rights”, the petitioner begs the panel.

The matter has been adjourned to 14th December,for definite defense

WITNESS TELLS IIP-SARS HOW POLICE HARASSED HIM TO PAY N5m

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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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