Nigeria: Amsterdam lawyers to file complaint with ICC over ‘Buhari’s crimes against Biafrans’

Nigeria: Amsterdam lawyers to file complaint with ICC over ‘Buhari’s crimes against Biafrans’

A group of lawyers is planning to file a complaint before the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on alleged human rights abuses targeting members of an ongoing pro-Biafran separatist movement.

Thousands of people – mainly from Igbo extraction – identify themselves as Biafrans, a term used to define people living in the Biafran territories forcibly annexed to present-day south-eastern Nigeria during the British colonization.

Since Nigeria gained independence in 1960, there have been movements calling for the independence of Biafra. In 1967, the declaration of an independent Republic of Biafra triggered a three-year-long civil war that caused millions of deaths.

Pro-Biafran calls have intensified since October 2015, following the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, director of Radio Biafra and leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob). In spite of a High Court ruling in favour of his release, Kanu is being detained by the State Security Service (DSS) amid allegations of torture. One day after the ruling,officials pressed new charges against him.

Dutch lawyer and professor Göran Sluiter, who specializes in international criminal law, is leading the team that will file the complaint in February. Sluiter and his colleague Andrew Ianuzzi are working full time on the case, and are occasionally assisted by a team of 20 other lawyers.

Sluiter told IBTimes UK they have been representing the “Biafran minority” since Kanu’s arrest in October.
“We have found evidence of some crimes directed against the Biafran minority in Nigeria,” he said. “Violations include violence against demonstrators, torture, murder, enforced disappearances and incarcerations. There is a whole list of incidents and with Buhari coming into power, this is becoming more of a structured nature, exemplified by Kanu’s arrest and how the government is dealing with demonstrations calling for Kanu’s release.”

Pro-Biafrans have often accused the police and army of unjustified violence against demonstrators. In one of the latest episodes of alleged violence, the army was accused of killing between four and 10 people who were celebrating the high court verdict on Kanu on 17 December. During several interviews with IBTimes UK, the Nigerian police have always denied the killings.

“In addition to information on public sources, I have conducted phone and Skype interviews with individual victims as we wanted to hear the first-hand evidence, ” Sluiter said. “I also received pictures of victims of police violence during demonstrations. We will be presenting anonymous interviews with about 20,25 people, but there are many more victims.

“There has been a systematic denial of human rights of the Biafran people, who are oppressed by the government,” he continued. “We hope that the ICC will bring justice to the victims with serious investigations and hopefully a trial. We also hope that Mr Kanu – whose treatment is symbolic of the treatment of the entire Biafran minority in Nigeria – will be released.

Government’s response;

When asked to comment on the allegations, Buhari’s spokesperson Femi Adesina told IBTimes UK: “The lawyers have a right to their opinions. It does not make what they say gospel truth.”

Referring to Kanu, Adesina said: “The President already spoke on the matter during the Presidential Media Chat of December 30.” During the media chat, Buhari said Kanu and former security aide Sambo Dasuki – accused of stealing money aimed for the fight against Boko Haram terrorists – will not be freed in spite of High Court rulings in favour of their release.

In an interview with Radio Continental earlier in January, Adesina defended Buhari against allegations that he does not like the Igbos, one of Nigeria’s largest ethnic groups.

He said: “When the President ran for political office in 2003, who was his running mate? Dr Chuba Okadigbo. And in 2007? Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke. If he hated Igbos would he run with them? That shows you the respect and the regard he has for Igbos, it was political reality that compelled him to come south-west in 2011 and in 2015.”  

Referring to development projects in the south-east, Adesina continued: “The second Niger bridge is on the budget in 2016. Let’s recall that the last President [Goodluck Jonathan] sometime in 2011 said that he would complete that second Niger bridge before 2015. He didn’t even go beyond the architectural drawing.”IBTimes UK also contacted Mike Omeri, a spokesperson for the Nigerian government, who denied any wrongdoing by the leadership. “No, the Nigerian government is not committing abuses, we reject such allegations. The government of Nigerians say individuals have the right to demand for anything, but without acting to sabotage the nation.

“The government recognises the rights of the Igbo men, but it will not just watch these freedoms and rights being trampled upon by a few people. Nigeria has had a civil war. The government and 99% of the people in Nigeria do not think that we should have another one.”

Among reasons that led Biafrans to call for independence are what they perceive as government marginalisation, poverty, lack of infrastructure and job opportunities. However, Omeri said the government is working to address these issues affecting all the communities across the country.

“So who is marginalizing who? Who is sabotaging who? That is the question,” he said. When asked about whether Kanu’s prolonged detention was against the country’s constitution, he said: “He is in court. The government does not interfere with the judicial process because it is a matter of civil rights. The government is not committing any abuse, what Buhari is doing is right.”

Hundreds Of Ex-militants Captured – Brig General Boroh

Brigadier-General Paul Boroh (Rtd), on Monday, January 11, said hundreds of ex-militants in the Niger Delta region have been captured in the ongoing verification exercise for amnesty programme, Today.ng reports.

Boroh, who is the special adviser to the President and coordinator of the amnesty programme said there are no plans to end the programme as speculated in some quarters.

The special adviser revealed that the Federal Government intends to get rid of alleged ghost names registered in the programme.

He said the verification exercise became necessary in order to sustain prompt payments for the ex-agitators and other programmes of training and empowerment as enshrined in the agenda of the amnesty programme.

Brig General Boroh explained that the federal government recognises the importance of the amnesty programme to the sustenance of peace and security in the Niger Delta region.

Following speculation in some quarters that the federal government plan on scrapping the Niger Delta Amnesty programme, Bayelsa Elders Council (BEC) recently warned President Muhammadu Buhari against such decision.  In a statement, BEC said ending Amnesty programme in December, would have serious security implications for the Niger Delta area.

The decision to end the programme might not be unconnected with diverse controversies regarding the amnesty scheme, especially the latest being the submission of “ghost names” to take-up the spaces of Niger-Delta militants enrolled in the programme.

Just last week, President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government commenced the direct payment of salaries into the account of former militants of the Niger Delta region. 

The Federal Government-led by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua granted amnesty to the Niger Delta Militants as part of a desperate effort to curb the restiveness in the oil rich region in 2009. The programme has reportedly gulped $1 billion.

See a Patriotic (Igbo) Soldier’s Last Post on Facebook Before he Was Gunned Down by Boko Haram

See a Patriotic (Igbo) Soldier’s Last Post on Facebook Before he Was Gunned Down by Boko Haram

Please type R I P
See post after the cut…

Group Raises Alarm, Accuses Delta Government Officials Of Corruption, Petitions US Agency

A cluster of communities of Itsekiri ethnic extraction in Warri North and Warri South-West Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Delta State under the aegis of Concerned Itsekiri Coastal Dwellers Association (CICDA) has raised the alarm over what it called fraudulent and corrupt practices by some Delta State government officials from the council areas.

 
Chevron Logo Chevron 
 
The group, in a petition addressed to the United States Department of Justice, Criminal Division, stated that government officials violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) of 1977 by Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) in its dealings with some officials of Delta State government, regarding making payments and the offer of job slots.

SaharaReporters obtained the petition, which was signed by the Chairman of CICDA, Mr. Rexlly Ede, and its Secretary General, Mr. Johnbull Odinma.

In their petition Mr. Ede and Mr. Odinma accused the Chairman of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Mr. Godwin Ebosa and the Vice Chairman of Delta State Government Waterways Security Committee, Mr. Mode David Akoma of fraudulently and corruptly receiving monies from CNL to the detriment of people of the surrounding areas.

In addition,  the member representing the Itsekiri ethnic nationality in DESOPADEC, Mr. Thomas Ereyitomi, and the member of the House of Assembly representing Warri North constituency were also named in the petition.

The group also disclosed that following the receipt of the money government officials are now harassing, intimidating, and coercing the residents of the communities in which Chevron operates.

According to CICDA, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act prohibits the willful use of mail, or any other means of interstate commerce, to influence any foreign official in his or her official capacity in the hopes of securing an improper advantage in order to assist in obtaining or directing business for, with, or to any person.
"In December 2015, CNL offered to give jobs to the above government officials as evidenced by the documentation which was issued and signed. Some of these jobs included the Development of SONAM FIELD Project /West African Ventures (WAV), a CNL Offshore drilling rig project, and an Offshore Catering Services Contract," CICDA stated.

An independent investigation carried out by SaharaReporters revealed that in 2011 over N15 million was deposited by Chevron into Union Bank G&A account 0036024235. The account belonged to Mr. David Tonwe, the Chairman of  Concerned Itsekiri Coastal Dwellers, Warri.  The money was supposed to be dispersed to the above-mentioned government officials.

All efforts to reach the above-mentioned government officials proved unsuccessful as calls and messages to the mobile lines of three of the government officials were not answered.  Meanwhile, the mobile lines of two of the mentioned names were not reachable at all.

Why We Released Jafaru Isa-EFCC

The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to a statement by the National Legal Adviser of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Victor Kwon, alleging compromise and political witch hunts in the release of a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Brigadier-General Jafaru Isa, (retd) by the EFCC.

 
Jafaru Isa 
 
In the statement made available to the media yesterday, Kwon alleged that: “ The release of Jafaru Isa, a known associate of the President and chieftain of the APC, eight hours after his arrest, while our Spokesman remains in detention even when the two are being investigated over the same allegation, clearly shows that the President Buhari-led APC government is not fighting corruption but using the much-hyped crusade as a cover to prosecute PDP leaders and decimate the opposition, a project the EFCC has clearly yielded itself as a willing tool”.

While the EFCC will not wish to join issues with Kwon in this regard, it is important that the public is presented with the facts regarding the release of Isa. The APC chieftain was arrested for his involvement in the arms procurement scam,  to the tune of N170,000,000( One Hundred and Seventy Million Naira). 

Upon his arrest,  the retired General admitted receiving the said sum from Dasuki and immediately refunded a total sum of N100,000, 000( One Hundred Million Naira only), with an undertaking to refund the balance of N70,000,000( Seventy Million Naira only) in two weeks. Besides, his health deteriorated after he was taken into custody. These two factors prompted the offer of bail to the suspect.

The grant of bail by the Commission does not amount to an exoneration of the suspect.

Unlike Isa, Metuh, who is exposed to the tune of N1.2Billion in the arms scandal  has shown no readiness to refund any amount of money to the EFCC, nor signed any undertaking to do so at a future date. Metuh, contrary to claims by his party, is not being detained illegally as the commission obtained a valid court order to hold him.

There is no basis for a witch-hunt of Metuh. Nigerians are assured that he will be released once he satisfies the condition for the discretion to be exercised in his favor. Until that is done, the commission will not be intimidated or stampeded by any campaign of calumny that is intended to detract it.

Kwon claimed rather ridiculously that: “We have information of the marching order from the Presidency for the immediate  release of the President’s associate  and that his issue is one of the major reasons for the repeated visits of the EFCC Chairman to the Presidential Villa within the period  of his arrest...”

This is far from the truth. No one micro manages the EFCC, not even the president. The EFCC is focussed and will remain un-deterred in its task of ridding the nation of all forms of corrupt practices.

There is no modicum of truth in allegations of selectivity, bias and witch hunt and the general public is enjoined to ignore such claims.

Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
11th January, 2016

Sylva Heads To Court Over Bayelsa Governorship Election

The gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the recently concluded Bayelsa governorship election, Timipre Sylva, shifted the battle for the Bayelsa polls to the court as he vowed to challenge the results at the elections petitions tribunal.

 
APC Gubernatorial Candidate, Timipre Sylva 
 
On Monday, he assembled a legal team which will commence the process of seeking redress over the alleged irregularities immediately.

Sunday evening the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the incumbent Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson the winner.

Addressing newsmen on Monday, Mr. Sylva alleged that local representatives of INEC and the PDP worked in unison to rig the election in favor of the PDP.

He said that he had officially complained before the election that the present structure of INEC in the State could not conduct a credible election since it was originally designed to deliver Bayelsa to former President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP in last year’s general elections.

“I said in the beginning that I do not have confidence in Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Baritoh Kpagih, and the Administrative Secretary, that I did not expect a fair treatment if these people were to preside over the election.

“I said so over and over again. I even produced it in writing and submitted a petition. Usually before elections of this nature, the INEC officials are switched. But this time, they chose to keep this team that was already in place set up by the PDP as a rigging machine.

“This was the same team that returned almost 100 percent of all votes in Bayelsa to the former President [Goodluck Jonathan]. And we felt that these people could not have given us free and fair treatment,” he noted.

Mr. Sylva maintained that the election could have been declared inconclusive given that 53,000 votes were still outstanding as cancelled votes.

According to him, in places where APC won, the results were cancelled, but where PDP won, the results were sustained.

He further alleged that the rigging started with the distribution of materials, as these materials were taken to voting centers by vehicles provided by the PDP and diverted.

According to him, the same set of collation officers, and Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs) used in the December election were used during Saturday’s election; a situation he argued aided the rigging process.
Meanwhile the Director of Publicity of the PDP campaign organisation, Jonathan Obuebite issued a statement on Monday indicating that the popularity of the Party and the track record of Governor Dickson were the reasons Bayelsans re-elected him.

He noted that the result indicated that Bayelsa State is a stronghold of the PDP, adding that APC would always find it difficult to win an election in the State.

Fourteen out of the twenty political parties that fielded candidates during the Bayelsa governorship election, have urged Mr. Sylva to accept defeat.

The political parties, which endorsed the results of the poll, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the January 9 supplementary poll and called on Mr. Sylva to join forces to move the State forward.

Addressing newsmen in Yenagoa, Bayelsa chairman of Independent Democrat, (ID) Prince Elemah, flanked by State Chairmen of the other Parties, commended the efforts of INEC in the distribution of electoral materials to remote areas of the State and providing a level playing ground for all during the supplementary poll.

Political parties which endorsed the polls results are:
All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA); Democratic Peoples Party, (DPP); African Democratic Congress, (ADC); KOWA, Democratic People’s Congress, (DPC); Social Democratic Party, (SDP), African Peoples Alliance, (APA); Independent Democrats, (ID); Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, (ACPN); Peoples Party of Nigeria, (PPN); United Progressive Party, (UPP); People for Democratic Change, (PDC); New Nigeria Peoples Party, (NNPP), and Mega Progressives Peoples Party, (MPPP).

Security Operatives Found Huge Foreign Currency On Governor Olusegun Mimiko in Bayelsa State-Ondo APC Alleges

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has alleged that a "huge sum of money in a foreign currency" was found on Governor Olusegun Mimiko by security operatives in the early hours of the Bayelsa State supplementary governorship election.

 
Governor Olusegun Mikiko
 
The Party made the allegation in a statement signed on Sunday by its Director of Publicity and Media, Steve Otaloro, the statement was issued to journalists, in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

A copy of the statement sent to SaharaReporters correspondent explained how some sections of the media, primarily their proprietors in Ondo and Bayelsa States, were bribed by Governor Mimiko's media aides to "kill the story" from going public.

In the statement, Mr. Otaloro disclosed that it was shocking and completely unacceptable that the State executive would allegedly take such a huge sum of money to campaign in Bayelsa State while the people of his State are wallowing in abject poverty.

"We have often heard such stories which we found difficult to believe until this instance that was intercepted by men of the security services.

"This, however, confirms why Dr. Mimiko is regarded as an ‘ATM Governor’ outside the State while the people he swore to serve are living in squalor and abject poverty", he said.

He noted that the administration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko would not deny such a story so as not to provoke the security operatives who caught the Governo with the money in Bayelsa State.

"The State Government neither owned up to the story nor denied it as it used to because it knew a denial might provoke a response by the security services to set the record straight.

"Ondo State APC views this mindless profligacy with grave consequences at the time when an average Ondo State citizen finds it difficult to have a decent meal per day and at a time when the State Government is owing workers two months salary.

"Besides, the State Government budget performance index has been less than 15 percent since the beginning of Governor Mimiko’s tenure,” he said.

The APC added that Governor Mimiko owes it a duty to tell the people of the State the source of the money he is squandering all over the place especially in the stupendously oil-rich Bayelsa State in which he used to prosecute the State’s supplementary election.

"At this point, Dr. Mimiko ought to concentrate on projects and services that would allow him to leave his footprint on the sand of time in terms of developmental projects as his tenure winds up rather than diverting the State resources to frivolous awards to boost his political ego," the statement read.