AS EXPECTED, DSS WOULD NOT RELEASE SOWORE
What we want is one thing, and what will happen maybe be totally different. That difference is known as reality. The philosophy of focusing on what actually happens rather than on what you would want to happen is called realism. In jurisprudence, it is called the realist school of thought.
Even Falana knew that DSS would not release Sowore now. Indeed, he should be surprised if they did. Then he should wonder why they did not release El-Zakzaky with 25 million followers that are willing to die for his release, or why they did not release Nnamdi Kanu, when the court first ordered them to release him.
What bothers me is that you keep quiet when DSS is doing the same thing to others, but make so much noise when they do it to your friend. This is where DPA is different. We are constantly seeking to change every vestige of injustice in Nigeria. We don't wait until our friend is in trouble before we come out to demand for justice.
As I predicted earlier, Sowore will be arraigned and remanded in Kuje rather than release him. Don't get me wrong. I do not support DSS on Sowore. What I'm doing is to refuse to pretend that a leopard is an antelope. Until you join the comprehensive effort to ensure justice for all, your selective effort to ensure justice for some, but not others, will fail. Sowore is going through the reality of Nigeria. And I repeat, Sowore has supported that reality when others were at the receiving end.
This is what we expect DSS to do. They may release him and rearrest him on the spot. They may just rush him to court to arraign him. They may also cook up other ways to continue to keep him. Certain things going on out there will not make a difference. DSS will try to resist pressure.
I know the matter will be resolved, and quite dramatically, but not the way you guys expect. Take out all the student union elements in your approach. Until we change the institutions involved in Nigeria justice system, what you see now is like seeing 4 after adding 2 and 2. There should be no surprises.
If Sowore is arraigned tomorrow or whenever he is arraigned, he will probably be meeting Emeka Ugwuonye. I am sure Emeka will be nice and kind to him, and even teach him some survival skills he would need in prison.
Keep watching events.
BREAKING NEWS: POLICEMEN KILLED BY SOLDIERS – WHAT REALLY HAPPENED?
The incident that occurred in Taraba State whereby some soldiers shot dead three policemen and wounded others might hold more secrets than was revealed what the police spokesperson presented to the public.
As reported in the Punch and other media, "The Nigeria Police Force has accused some unidentified soldiers of shooting to death three police officers and a civilian along Ibi-Jalingo Road, Taraba State. Several other officers were also injured during the attack. The Police operatives led by ASP Felix Adolije of the Intelligence Response Team reportedly came under sudden attack while taking a kidnap kingpin, Alhaji Hamisu, to the Command Headquarters in Jalingo. The Force spokesman, DCP Frank Mba, explained in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday that one Police Inspector, two Sergeants and a civilian died as a result of gunshot injuries sustained in the attack" - Punch.
There seems to be more. Police officers in the special police unit known as Intelligence Response Team (IRT), led by one ASP Felix Adolije, traveled from Abuja to Taraba State in order to arrest a businessman suspected of being a kidnapper. The businessman was said to have been set-up by a politician (member of the House of Rep) with whom he had a quarrel. The politician instigated the police operation. This incident occurred in Ibi Local Government, Taraba State.
The police team decided to raid the house of the businessman around 1:00am. The neighbors of the businessman, seeing how the man was bundled up by strange looking armed men, assumed the men were kidnappers. They called the soldiers at the nearby military checkpoint for help.
The IRT men were travelling in a Hummer bus driven by one of them. There were 10 police officers in their vehicle plus a civilian who directed them to the suspect's house. On their way going, they crossed two military checkpoints. It was said that the men did not disclose their identities or mission to the soldiers at the checkpoints on their way to the suspect's house.
However, coming back after arresting the man, the policemen crossed the first military checkpoint without stopping. They did not realized that the soldiers had become suspicious of their vehicle based on the alert they received. The soldiers who had seen them earlier, probably noticed an additional passenger in the vehicle. Believing that this was an active kidnapping operation, the soldiers at the first checkpoint alerted their colleagues at the next checkpoint.
It is not clear what exactly happened next. But it is believed that acting on the alert received from soldiers at the first checkpoint, soldiers at the second checkpoint opened fire on the fast approaching vehicle. The bus crashed and three police officers and one civilian lay dead, four officers critically wounded and three officers ran into the bush. It is not clear whether the men died of the crash or gunshot wounds. Apparently, the suspect survived.
While the details are still murky, it seems that there were blunders and unprofessional tactics on both the policemen and the soldiers. The police ought to have understood the implications of there being those military checkpoints and should have factored that into their operational calculus. What would soldiers on a checkpoint think of unidentified men in a speeding vehicle in the middle of the night? That was the what-if question they failed to ask. Also people familiar with how the IRT men behave in traffic speak of the extreme arrogance and intimidation of even other security men they encounter on the highway.
On their part, the soldiers failed to know how to stop an approaching vehicle without shooting at it. The fact that some of the officers were able to run into the bush suggests that the vehicle had stopped before the altercation, which will suggest that the IRT men identified themselves.
The whole story is confounded by the fact that the suspect managed to escape. The soldiers failed to ensure that the survivors of the crash and gunshot were trackable, especially after realizing that the men were police officers.
The police headquarters has declared where the police stand on the matter. It remains for the military to indicate the outcome of its own investigation. There are many lessons from what happened.
Enugu Is In The Hand of God: A Huge Irony!
The Enugu people are known for their peaceful and even docile nature. So, it was so easy for the slogan 'Enugu is in the hand of God" to resonate well with the people of the state. We love the magical slogan. Who could quarrel with such a beautiful idea? Even an atheist will live with it.
But the whole scenario changed on Friday, 2nd August, 2019, when catholic priests matched toward the Government House chanting: "Enugu is no more in the hand of God. It is now in the hands of herdsmen!". It was quite a spectacle to watch them in their priestly robes. And really, when it comes to telling who is in God's hand, who can tell it better than the priests?
They just have to pray the State back into the hand of God. The people of Enugu cannot afford to be anywhere else.
Enugu Is In The Hand of God: A Huge Irony!
The Enugu people are known for their peaceful and even docile nature. So, it was so easy for the slogan 'Enugu is in the hand of God" to resonate well with the people of the state. We love the magical slogan. Who could quarrel with such a beautiful idea? Even an atheist will live with it.
But the whole scenario changed on Friday, 2nd August, 2019, when catholic priests matched toward the Government House chanting: "Enugu is no more in the hand of God. It is now in the hands of herdsmen!". It was quite a spectacle to watch them in their priestly robes. And really, when it comes to telling who is in God's hand, who can tell it better than the priests?
They just have to pray the State back into the hand of God. The people of Enugu cannot afford to be anywhere else.
The Conservative Church Reacts in Enugu State
It is not normal occurrence for men of God, especially the usually conservative catholic priests, to react angrily publicly. But that was exactly what happened on Friday 2nd August, 2019; when many catholic priests took to the streets in a massive protest against the killing of a priest by gunmen believed to be Fulani herdsmen in Enugu State.
This will seem to mark a critical turning point in the growing outcry over the spate of killings and kidnappings believed to have been orchestrated by the herdsmen.
It is noteworthy that this is happening in Enugu State whose Governor, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, is believed to have been relatively soft in dealing with the growing violent attacks attributed to the herdsmen. Probably, this might push the state government into a more aggressive tone of reaction over these killings.
But what can a state Governor really do given the state of politics and security challenges in Nigeria? Ugwuanyi has seemed more gentle than other Governors judged by his rhetorics or lack thereof. However, that is not necessarily a sign of weakness. His position is probably a mark of sober realism in the face of a problem that is beyond the Governors.
The possibility is that with the much increased outcry, the Governor might be tempted to bend towards saying or doing things in ways that are calculated to please the people more. But Ugwuanyi has been safe and secure politically. If he did not feel pressured while in his first term, he will likely not feel so now that he is at the beginning of his second term.
It remains too early to tell how the heightened outrage might change the official reaction to herdsmen-related violence at both the federal and state levels.
The Preventable Death of Abuja Court Official Shows Lack of Emergency Agency In Nigeria.
The death of the Finance Director for the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria was sad and shocking, the tale of government failure. Mr. Tony Okecheme and his driver were trapped in a rain flood while on their way to the Abuja airport on Friday. For a whole hour, the two men were trapped and waiting for rescue in broad day light with many people watching helplessly.
Eyewitnesses said the National Emergency Management Agency officials who came to the scene failed to rescue Okecheme and his driver who were reportedly trapped in the flood for about an hour before the water swept away the director. His car, a Toyota Camry, which was filled with mud water, was eventually pulled out of the ravines by the rescuers, who were angry that NEMA failed to rescue the man.
Abuja is not known for heavy rains or flooding. The flood that took the life of Mr. Okecheme was relatively mild and would not qualify for a major disaster. But for the main emergency relief agency, having been fully mobilized, and failing to rescue the stranded men within an hour is the real disaster.
A Kidnapping That Could Change Government’s Narrative.
As the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, announced to his congregation that five RCCG pastors have been kidnapped by yet unknown gunmen on Thursday, every thought and cerebration went to the Vice President of Nigeria, Mr. Yemi Osinbajo, who was an RCCG pastor before becoming the Vice President.
The focus on the Vice President after this incident is based on the fact that the number two citizen of Nigeria has been somewhat in denial of the menace caused by the apparently unpredictable crime of kidnapping in Nigeria.
While traveling to the United States recently, Osinbajo was quoted as saying that stories of kidnapping in Nigeria were exaggerated. The clear effort to downplay the menace took many by surprise. Even recently as fresh outcry arose in the wake of the death of the daughter of the leader of Afenifere in one of the daily crime occurrences, the Vice President attempted to downplay the spate of crime in Nigeria. Now that five of his former colleagues have been kidnapped while attending a church conference everybody wonders if this would be enough to get the Government of Nigeria to finally admit that kidnapping has spiralled out of control, and it is time to throw in all it has against kidnapping and kidnappers
According to Pastor Adeboye, the five pastors were kidnapped along the Ijebu-Ode axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The ministers were kidnapped while they were attending RCCGs Ministers’ Conference in Lagos.
Pastor Adeboye who said he was not happy over the development however urged his congregation to pray for the release of the pastors.
The Murder Of Jumbo Ochigbo, Lies of The Police and silence of The Presidency
"Please don't kill my father; leave my father alone". His little kid pleaded. Now he is gone. They killed him...
That fateful day; 20th March 2019, Jumbo Ochigbo Ogar, 42, a two-star officer with the Nigerian civil Defence Corps, had made a wrong U-turn in a hurry to get his wife and children to school. A traffic warden at the junction, simply described as Idoko, flagged him down. He stopped the car but left the car engine running while he tried to explain to the traffic warden that he meant no disrespect, according to his wife.
As the conversation became heated, Jumbo who was dressed in his official uniform turned off his car engine. That appeared to annoy Idoko, who saw Jumbo-Ochigbo's action as proof of defiance. Suddenly, the beating began as another traffic warden charged onto the scene, cursing and railing against Jumbo.
The new acting Inspector General of Police , Mohammed Adamu ordered full investigation of the matter-- Can the Police be trusted? Will this case go the way of previous investigations that never saw the light of the day? Will the Acting IGP show good example with this case?
It's a known fact that the Nigeria Police hate anything that discredits the force. They find it difficult to admit any wrong doing and they can go to any length to cover up their tracks just to appear good - they can kill, lie, prefer false charges on innocent citizens just to conceal the truth. But Nigerians know them for who they are.
Already, they've started on this case with lies and pretence - In his press conference; Force PRO - ACP Frank MBA who was not on the scene of the incident says:
" On contravention, the NSCDC officer himself , who was putting on civil shirt on top of his NSCDC trouser, drove himself with the traffic warden officer to the Nyanya Police Station. It was while he was being asked questions and he was responding that he suddenly collapsed." he said.
But the wife of the deceased, Ada who witnessed the incident along with her two kids said her husband was beaten to death...
" The Police used baton to beat my husband, dragged him out, hit him on the head until he died right in my presence and that of my kids. Look at the bruises on his leg, that was when they were dragging him on the ground." She said.
Former Attorney-General of the federation and minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, reportedly said about seven years ago that the Police alone had killed 7,108 persons extra-Judicially in four years. Jumbo- Ochigbo is not part of that statistics, Nkechi Igwetu; the woman killed by a Policeman in Abuja while on her National Youth service is also not part of the statistics. Anita Akapson is also not part of Adoke's analysis. She was shot dead the night she relocated from UK to Nigeria by a trigger happy policeman on Sunday 14th October 2018. Friday Nduka - Malaysia returnee killed by a Police officer named Mike Idem is also not part of Adoke's list. David Legbaraa, a bus driver killed by a Policeman at Whimpy Junction in Portharcourt in Rivers State is not on the list as well. The list is endless and most of the cases took place between last year and this year.
Who will deliver us from the atrocities and onslaught of the Nigeria Police? I checked but found non - Emeka Ugwuonye who rose in defence of innocent Nigerians brutalised by the Police; he speak out against the atrocities of the Police but the Police retaliated by roping him into a murder case of a woman he (Emeka has been) fighting since 2016. He is presently remanded in prison custody. He cannot do anything at least for now.
I also checked on the NBA but that group cannot deliver Nigerians from the brutality of the Police - I don't think they can really help. The Nigerian Senate cannot help either as the President of the federal Republic of Nigeria see things differently and view any move from the present senate with suspicion.
In fact the body language of the President condones impunity and abuse of power. Despite our misery and agony at the hands of the Police, despite the Public outcry against the brutality, torture, killings, suppression, lies of the Police; the President appears cool, indifferent and unperturbed.
Today is exactly 11 days since the gruesome murder of Jumbo Ochigbo but the President is yet to react to the unfortunate incident. This is one too many. I doubt if human life worth anything to our president.
On July 2018, social media space was on fire over Ghanian Police officer who was seen in a viral video assaulting a woman clutching her baby in a banking all. It took Ghanaian President - Nana Akufo-Addo, 24-hours to react to the incident...
" I want to say it here, Policemen are meant to protect citizens, not to assault citizens. So the measures the (IGP) of Police has taken to sanction the erring policeman and try to make sure that these things don't happen again - they have my complete support so that we can stop this incident from proliferating." He said. This was an assault. No life was lost yet the President of Ghana stood and took a definite stand. He did not try to shield the Police officer.
DPA demands Justice for Jumbo Ochigbo. Our leaders should use this case as water shield moment to assure Nigerians that life, all life matters.
Ifeanyi Calistus,
Director Of Information
DPA.
Emeka Ugwuonye Vindicated As Nigerians React Over The Death Sentence Handed Lekan Shonde
Those accusing the Founder of Due Process Advocates (DPA) Emeka Ugwuonye (Esquire) of encouraging divorce and breaking homes should take a look at the fate that befall Ronke, the slain wife of Lekan Shonde. Consider the calamity that visited that family.
Consider the psychological trauma the children may have been subjected. Report had it that after Lekan murdered his wife, he locked the two kids inside the room with the corpse and bolted. The whole incidence that led to this horrible outcome could have been avoided if Ugwuonye's advice were followed.
Ugwuonye's position is very clear.. " No marriage is worth the life of any human being. If your marriage has broken so irretrievably to the threat to life of either partner, the best approach to save the situation is to either separate or divorce"
The Lagos high Court on Friday Sentenced Lekan Shonde to death by hanging for killing his wife Ronke. Lekan Shonde who was a depot worker in the Apapa area of Lagos State, was found guilty of murdering his wife. It was gathered that the 51 years old beat his wife to death at their home in the Egbeda -Idimu area of Lagos State on the 5th of may 2016.
The marriage which was blessed with two children aged Six and four, was said to have been marred with domestic violence. He accused Ronke his wife of sleeping with one Kayode the general manager of a publishing company.
Delivering the judgement on Friday, Justice Josephine Oyefeso sentenced Lekan to death by hanging. The Judge maintained that the prosecution proved beyond doubt that Lekan Shonde actually beat his wife to death.
Ifeanyi Calistus
Director of Information
DPA