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Taraba killings: Outrage as Malami spares army mastermind, other soldiers trial

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‌As Police arraign notorious kidnapper, Wadume, others,
Military refuses to produce 10 policemen’s killers.

But the pan-Yoruba social cultural group, Afenifere; lawyers and activists on Monday lampooned the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), for dropping the names of 10 soldiers named as accomplices in the kidnapping charges involving an alleged Taraba State kidnapping kingpin, Bala Hamisu, also known as Wadume, and others.

They demanded an explanation from the AGF.

The amendment to the charges announced at the Federal High Court in Abuja by the prosecuting counsel, Mr Shuaibu Labaran, on Monday, came days after the AGF took over the case from the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, on June 3, 2020.

Labaran cited the “bureaucracy” involved in bringing the soldiers to court and the need to allow the case to begin as the reason for the amendment on Monday.

The development saw the number of defendants reducing from 20 to seven and the number of counts dropping from 16 to 13.

The soldiers, whose names were removed in the amended charges are Captain Tijjani Balarabe; Staff Sgt. David Isaiah; Sgt. Ibrahim Mohammed; Corporal Bartholomew Obanye; Private Mohammed Nura; Lance Corporal Okorozie Gideon; Corporal Markus Michael; L/Corporal Nvenaweimoeimi Akpagra; Staff Sgt. Abdullahi Adamu, and Private Ebele Emmanuel.

Names of a policeman, ASP Aondona Iorbee, and one Ahmad Suleiman (aka Dan Ball), were also struck off the charge.

The defence lawyers for the remaining defendants did not oppose the amendment on Monday.

Following the approval of the amendment by Justice Binta Nyako, the amended 13 counts were read to the remaining seven defendants who pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The remaining defendants arraigned were Inspector Aliyu Dadje, who was a station officer at police headquarters in Ibi Local Government Area of Taraba State, Wadume, Auwalu Bala, aka Omo Razor, Uba Bala (aka Uba Belu); Bashir Waziri, (aka Baba runs); Zubairu Abdullahi (aka Basho); Hafizu Bala (aka Maiwelder); and Rayyanu Abdul.

Reacting to the removal of the names of the soldiers’ names from the charges, spokesperson for Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, noted that the development appeared to be a proof of a comment by a former Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.), that there was collusion between criminals and security agents.

He said, “When Gen. T.Y. Danjuma said there was collusion between criminals and security agents, this is clear evidence he knew what he was saying.

“It is a tragedy for any polity where the people don’t know whom to run faster from between criminals and security agents. This must be a serious challenge for the top brass.”

Also, reacting to the removal of the soldiers’ names from the charge sheet, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, said except there was plan by the military to try them separately before a court martial, there was no justification for the removal of their names.

The SAN, however, said government should be given benefit of the doubt, as there might be a move to court-martial the soldiers.

Adegboruwa said, “Under the Armed Forces Act, the soldiers will probably go through the court martial, because the military have their own system of prosecution.

“So, it may be early to speculate as to the motive for the removal of the soldiers’ names; because if they are already penciled to appear before the court martial, they cannot be in the Federal High Court at the same time.

“It will be good to find out whether there is a move to prosecute them in the court martial, which will excuse the removal of their names from the charge sheet before the Federal High Court.

“But if they are not being prosecuted in the court martial, then there will be no justification for the removal of their names.”

A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr Jiti Ogunye, while sharing Adegboruwa’s view that there might be plan by the military to court-martial the soldiers, said it was important for the AGF to handle the case transparently and carry Nigerians along, rather than create room for speculation.

Ogunye said, “Ordinarily it ought not to be suspicious because those soldiers who were charged initially with the policemen and Wadume, except they have been dismissed, are still subject to service discipline, that is, the court martial jurisdiction; so, they can be tried separately by the court martial because they allegedly committed the offence while serving as military personnel.

“However, one would have thought that given the length of time it took for this arraignment to take place, the AGF, the police and the military would have put their house in order so that the issue does not continue to raise unnecessary eyebrow or generate a needless controversy.

“They ought to have come to a decision on the forum for trying all the accused persons; whether the soldiers would be tried separately by a court martial or tried together with others in the civil court, in which case, the military should have dismissed the soldiers.

“What needs to be done is that the AGF, given the sensitivity and importance of this case, has to handle it in a transparent manner. If names are being removed, it shouldn’t be left to speculation. The reason they are being removed should be furnished to Nigerians. So, transparency and honesty of purpose are required to ensure that things are done properly.”

A former President of the Committee for Defence of Human Rights, Mr Malachy Ugwummadu, noted that the AGF office, created under Section 150 of the Nigerian Constitution, could, in exercise of its powers under Section 174 of the Constitution “initiate, takeover or withdraw any criminal matter instituted in a court of law except matters in court martials.”

But Ugwummadu said the AGF must be aware that “the world is deeply interested in what happens to this particular matter that shook the world and more particularly the Nigerian security community.”

He said, “Recall that the Nigerian Police and the country lost some of their best crack top cops in those avoidable circumstances that underpinned compromise and corruption. The Nigerian state, the security community, the Nigeria Police Force, in particular, the numerous victims of Wadume’s atrocious acts and the families of the fallen but gallant officers, including their leader will all be motivated to do more for this country or depressed and discouraged to make further sacrifices for this country depending on what happens with this case.

“Thus, as you exercise your full discretionary powers, Mr AGF, remember that the locus of justice and the interest of the Nigerian people in this matter are known.”

The Executive Secretary of YIAGA Africa, Samson Itodo, said the AGF owed the public an explanation over the development, saying it cast doubt on the commitment of the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to institutionalising the fight against criminality.

He said, “This action casts doubt on the commitment of this administration to institutional accountability and the fight against criminality.

“The AGF owes the public an explanation for dropping the charges given the sensitivity of the case.”

Credit: Punch

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Natasha uncovers arrest plot after reported Akpabio to IPU in New York

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Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has uncovered plot by security agents to arrest her upon arrival to Nigeria from Interparliamentary Union, IPU where she reported alleged sexual harassment against Nigerian Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio.

Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District was suspended for six months for flouting the purported Senate Rules and Order, after which she claimed sexual harassment and proceeded to the IPU.

She revealed that she faces arrest by Nigerian government as Nigerian security officials are planning to arrest her upon her return to Nigeria, claiming that the planned arrest was like ked to her participation in the IPU meeting in New York on March 11, 2025

On Sunday the Kogi female Senator was quoted as saying
that she was aware of plots.

“I’m aware there are plans underway to have me arrested as soon as I arrive Abuja,” Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is still in the US after the IPU meeting, said.

Though she didn’t disclose details of the planned arrest by 2hich of the security agencies, her participation has however considered an embarrassement to the Nigerian government and since her appearance at IPU on March 11, 2025, things were no longer at ease within the government circles.

A source within security domain confirmed that a probe has been launched into Natasha’s participation at IPU.

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Biggest cocaine, opioid shipments meant for US, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Poland seized in NDLEA’s 2 weeks raid [Pictorials]

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in raid across states in last two weeks led to the seizure of biggest multiple illicit drug consignments bound for the United States, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates.

The drugs, including cocaine, tramadol, loud, and molly, were concealed in various items such as prayer beads, board game packs, and female clothing.

This was made known in a statement signed by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi on Sunday.
The statement read, “Desperate bids by some drug trafficking organisations (DTO) to move illicit consignments such as Cocaine, Tramadol, Loud, Molly and others concealed in prayer beads, packs of board games, female cloths to the United States of America, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Poland, and United Arab Emirates through logistics firms and the Lagos airport have been thwarted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

“At least, two suspects behind some of the aborted missions at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos have already been arrested. One of them is a 43-year-old businesswoman, Jakpor Egware May, who was nabbed at the Gate ‘C’ departure hall of the Lagos airport while attempting to board an Air France flight to Italy on Saturday, 8th March 2025.

“When she was searched, 190 parcels of tramadol 225mg and another parcel of skunk, a strain of cannabis, were recovered from her luggage. In her statement, she claimed that she bought the drugs herself, with the intention to resell them in Italy.

“At the export shed of the Lagos airport, NDLEA officers on Tuesday, 11th March arrested a 60-year-old suspect, Yahaya Fatai Ayinla, while attempting to ship a cargo containing cloths used to conceal 400grams of skunk going to New York, United States of America.

“At some logistics companies in Lagos, efforts by drug traffickers to export over two kilograms of Loud, Molly, Tramadol 365mg, 225mg hidden in Vitamin C bottles and female cloths to the US were frustrated by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI. “Other shipments of 230grams of cocaine concealed in prayer beads, soles of locally made shoes and packs of board games heading to Saudi Arabia, Poland and UAE were equally intercepted between Monday 10th and Wednesday 12th March.”

In a separate operation in Kano, NDLEA operatives arrested 40-year-old Hassan Haruna at Chalawa and recovered 727 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 479 kilograms.

In Kogi State, officers intercepted 58,300 pills of tramadol along the Kabba-Obajana highway in a commercial bus traveling from Lagos to Abuja.

Additional raids in Kachia, Kaduna State, led to the arrest of 21-year-old Idris Hamza, who was found in possession of 4,900 pills of tramadol 225mg.

Another raid in the Hayin Banki area of Kaduna North LG resulted in the arrest of 25-year-old Aminu Magaji, from whom 2,900 tablets of tramadol 225mg were seized.

The statement added, “In Kano, a total of 727 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 479kg were recovered from a 40-year-old suspect Hassan Haruna who was arrested by NDLEA operatives at Chalawa area of the state on Wednesday 12th March, while no fewer than 58,300 pills of tramadol were intercepted along Kabba-Obajana highway, Kogi state in a commercial bus coming from Lagos enroute Abuja on Tuesday 11th March.

“Raid operations in Kachia, Kaduna state on Thursday 13th March led to the arrest of Idris Hamza, 21, with 4,900 pills of tramadol 225mg seized from him, just as a similar exercise in Hayin Banki area of Kaduna North LGA, on Friday 14th March resulted in the arrest of 25-year-old Aminu Magaji from whom 2,900 tablets of tramadol 225mg were recovered.”

In Kwara State, NDLEA operatives intercepted 40,200 tramadol 225mg tablets from two suspects, Olowoko Faruk and Akeem Ridwan.

A separate seizure of 21,700 tramadol capsules was made along Eiyenkorin expressway in Ilorin, leading to the arrest of a suspect identified as Salisu Usman.

In Taraba State, officers arrested 35-year-old Polycarp Adeku and seized 15.77 kilograms of skunk from him. In Osun State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a commercial bus carrying 48.7 kilograms of Ghanaian loud, Colorado, and Canadian loud, all potent strains of cannabis.

The statement added, “While a total of 40, 200 tablets of tramadol 225mg were recovered from the duo of Olowoko Faruk and Akeem Ridwan along Ilorin – Jebba expressway, Bode Saadu, Kwara state on Friday 14th March, NDLEA operatives equally seized 21,700 capsules of same opioid from a suspect Salisu Usman along Eiyenkorin expressway, Ilorin on Thursday 13th March.

“In Taraba State, NDLEA officers on Friday 14th March arrested Polycarp Adeku, 35, at Bente road, Kurmi LGA, with 15.77Kg skunk, while in Osun state, operatives on Thursday 13th March, intercepted a commercial bus marked SGB 564 YS coming from Idumota, Lagos Island in front of King University, Ode-omu, with a total of 48.7kg Ghanaian Loud, Colorado and Canadian Loud, all strains of cannabis. Not less than nine suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizure in Osogbo and Ile-Ife during follow up operations.”

In Abuja, NDLEA officers arrested 58-year-old Ade Esan, also known as Pastor, along the Gwagwalada expressway with 27,800 tramadol 225mg pills in his possession.

Another suspect, 26-year-old Usman Mohammed, was nabbed with varying quantities of skunk and cocaine.

In Abia State, a raid in the Ntigha community, Isiala-Ngwa North LG, resulted in the arrest of 34-year-old Chinaza Nwogu, also known as Young Money.

The statement added, “A 58-year-old suspect Ade Esan (aka Pastor) was on Tuesday 11th March arrested along Gwagwalada expressway, FCT Abuja with 27,800 pills of tramadol 225mg, while another suspect Usman Mohammed, 26, was nabbed same day with various quantities of skunk and cocaine at Wuse zone 3 area of Abuja.

“In Abia state, NDLEA operatives on Saturday 15th March raided the Ntigha community, Isiala-Ngwa North LGA, where a 34-year-old suspect Chinaza Nwogu (aka Young Money) was arrested with 274grams of heroin, 141grams of methamphetamine, 2.931kg of cannabis sativa, 4grams of cocaine and Seven Hundred and Fifty Three Thousand, Fifteen Naira (N753,015.00) monetary exhibit.”

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Rivers Crisis: Wike taunts Fubara, accuse governor of sharing money belonging to State

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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike

The former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has accused the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara of sharing Rivers State with those he surrounded himself with who cannot help him.

Speaking at a civic reception in his honor at Abalama Town in the Kalabari Kingdom, organized by NEW Associates, Wike, the former governor of Rivers State, blamed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Tammy Danagogo, for instigating the political crisis in the state.

The former governor who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT stated that Rivers State House of Assembly led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule who recently won their case at the Supreme Court would not be stopped from doing their constitutional duties.

Wike stated this while addressing the large crowd that gathered to receive him, Wike said he attended the event despite threats from certain individuals, emphasizing that the occasion proved the opposition was merely making “radio noise.”

“I heard some people say I wouldn’t come here. Who are they, and how many are they? What you’ve done today shows the world that all the noise on the radio is not the reality. If you are from Kalabari and the Ijaw nation and you are receiving me today, God will continue to bless you. I will always stand by you and support you.”
Wike also denied reports that he described the Ijaw people as a minority in Rivers State, stating that his words were taken out of context.

“Some people have deliberately misinterpreted my interview. However they choose to twist it is their business. I simply said we all worked together, and without unity, it would have been difficult to produce the governor. Chief Alabraba did not allow me to rest during the decision-making process; he nearly fainted when we were choosing the candidate.

“Himself, OCJ Okocha, Sergeant Awuse, and Celestine Omehia were present when we met. On the day of the primary, the current governor initially refused to run, saying my Commissioner for Finance, Isaac Kamalu, should be the candidate instead. Celestine Omehia insisted that Kamalu should run because he believed the governor couldn’t effectively carry out the responsibilities of the office.”

Wike alleged that those surrounding the governor advised him to withhold the salaries and allowances of Assembly members for over a year. He stressed that he would not interfere with the Assembly’s constitutional functions.
“They told you to seize the salaries and allowances of Assembly members for over a year, leaving them without income to feed their families or pay school fees. You were jubilating, and people encouraged you, assuring you that nothing would happen.

“Now, something has happened. I am not going to stop the Assembly from performing its constitutional duties. The Assembly should be allowed to do its job. People who love peace do not threaten others.

“I told you that the House of Assembly members would not lose their seats. I told you that the local government shenanigans would not stand. I don’t need to be a governor to know that what is illegal is illegal. We fight it constitutionally, following due process. What did we do wrong?

“We simply said that the Assembly members, local government chairmen, and National Assembly members worked hard to make you governor—do not abandon them. But they claimed I was asking for money. Has the money come? Those you are sharing money with, how far?

“Yesterday, I was a bad man, a crook, and a criminal. But it was that same ‘bad man’ who made you governor against all odds. If I hated the Ijaw people, I wouldn’t have done that, and nothing would have happened. I believe in the principle of ‘live and let live.”

Wike also criticized those surrounding the governor, labeling them “natural ingrates” and warning that money is not everything.

“Anyone who is not an ingrate would not associate with what is happening. I told the governor to enjoy what God had given him in peace and not to engage in unnecessary conflicts. But his advisers told him, ‘You are the governor, you have money.’ I agree, but money is not everything. These people have nothing to offer. Now, look at where we are. How far?”

Meanwhile, the chairman of the occasion, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, praised Wike for his political acumen and unwavering support for the Ijaw people.

“Wike has worked to resolve the political crisis in Rivers State by following the dispute up to the Supreme Court. We pray that peace will return to the state through this process.

“We will continue to support you at all times and uphold collaboration as a powerful force for advancing the interests of all parts of the state. Your contributions to Kalabari land will remain indelible for generations to come.”

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