The sovereignty of Biafra is non – negotiable – Dr Nwoko

The sovereignty of Biafra is non – negotiable – Dr Nwoko

Dr Ibe Nwoko, a medical doctor and the Executive Director of Centre for the Defence of Rights of Indigenous People and Culture, is a supporter of the Biafra movement. In this chat with ANGELA NKWO-AKPOLU, he speaks on the Biafra struggle and sundry issues. Excerpts:

How would you react to some of the comments made during the recent Presidential Media Chat by President Mu­hamadu Buhari?

President Muhamadu Bu­hari was asking Igbos what they want after appointing some Ig­bos into his cabinet, I want to categorically emphasize that with due respect to him, he is missing the point and he’s not reading the handwriting on the wall. If millions of Igbo youths are calling for a separate nation of their own with tacit support from thousands and millions of non-Igbo speaking people, and President Buhari is still asking Igbos what they want, then it means there is a problem in his understanding of events and times.

 

For a people to decide to have a separate nation of theirs, it means that the milton’s law of motion is very much into play. It means that the union or mar­riage called Nigeria is unwork­able and rather than ask Igbos what they want, I will advise him and Nigerians generally to find a way of dissolving this un­workable marriage peacefully, instead of creating anarchy where there should be none. People like Buhari are implic­itly creating enmity among the diverse ethnic groups, who were forcefully joined together in this marriage and who have over the years suffered the in­human conditions associated with such unworkable exis­tence like Nigeria. However, the different components of Nigeria can still cooperate where they find fit when Biafra exists as a separate sovereign nation.

 

Recently, former President Olusegun Obasanjo emphati­cally stated or pontificated that Biafra is dead. I wish to call his attention that it was during his tenure as a civilian President that Biafra House was estab­lished in Washington DC. He is very much aware that Biafra government in exile was also proclaimed in 2007 after the es­tablishment of the Biafra char­ter. Thus, it will be foolhardy on his part to claim that a project that has a government in exile representing it is a failure or dead. Biafra was recognized by some nations and those nations have not denied that recogni­tion till date. Therefore, the idea of a dead Biafra is a figment of his own imagination.

 

I want to state that those who can proclaim that the Bi­afra cause is dead is the Biafra Provisional Government and Biafrans in general, whose duty it is to work for the re-establish­ment of Biafra sovereignty.

 

What is your take on the comments credited to Revd Fr. Ejike Mbaka and Archbishop Chukwuma, the Anglican Bish­op of Enugu Diocese on the Bi­afran agitation?

With due respect to both of them, I wish to advise them that they should limit their voice and verbal expressions to winning souls for God and not to dabble into dirty Nigerian politics. But trying to use a plat­form like Biafra to gain popu­larity in a disparaging manner shows that there is some level of immaturity in their political understanding.

 

What do you think of the continued detention of Nnam­di Kanu despite meeting bail conditions?

I want to state that the young man called Nnamdi Kanu, who is the Director of Radio Biafra London should be left alone, because he was only speak­ing the obvious. He never car­ried a gun or formed an army, didn’t destroy any public prop­erty; rather he was only trying to ginger Biafrans to continue the struggle for Biafra, using technological means. I remem­ber that during the 2015 presi­dential election, the current President Buhari formed an un­registered broadcasting outfit through which his propaganda campaign of change was aired to millions of people. His ac­tion of running a rogue broad­casting house was supposed to be treason, because he incited the people against the then rul­ing government. So is it now a case of the pot calling the kettle black. My position is that Kanu should be left alone. Is he run­ning away to become a problem to Nigeria or live peacefully somewhere. What is the fear of the Nigerian government over Kanu. See, the world is a global village and no matter where he runs to, he can easily be traced.

 

What is your position on the different factions of Biafra?

Don’t worry over that be­cause the struggle has gone be­yond factions or groups.

What is your take on the death of some people during protests by Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB?

I will advise that the unnec­essary killings of Igbos during protests should be stopped both by those protesting and secu­rity operatives. Those protest­ing should organize themselves well to avoid being a public nuisance while those doing the killing should remember that someday they will be called upon to give account of their actions someday.

 

What are the demands on Biafra?

The government of Nigeria should stop creating unneces­sary enmity among the people when there should be none. It is very obvious to everyone that this country is unwork­able. Therefore, they should find peaceful ways and means by which dismemberment of this country can be done and those who want to continue as Nigerians can continue while those who want to go can go and live as sovereign nation.

 

Let me advise the people in the geographical area called Biafra to organize themselves to make the struggle easier to accomplish. The struggle is not about arms struggle or brandishing of sophisticated weapons. It is about asking for that which is their right of heritage. See, referendums will be organized so that the people will have the opportunity to express their views and beliefs concerning the Biafra project. On the referendum, the United Nations will be part and parcel of this organization. It will be genuine and will be seen as a genuine referendum. Therefore people should jettison fears and question of whether Biafra will be or not as the nation has come to stay.

 

How do you view the recent alleged sack of 4000 workers drawn from 19 parastatals in Imo State?

It is unworkable. Whatever reasons Governor Rochas Okorocha has is best known to him. Civil Service is not a farm where you plant and cultivate. Rather, it makes the society to be in motion, and for there to be stability. Most of these ben­efits are not visible but they are felt. By the way, where did he get money for the Imo carnival and other wasteful expenses he incurred if there is no money? The Civil Service rule must be followed to the later to lay off workers, not a radio announce­ment. I call on the Nigerian La­bour Congress (NLC), to look into the matter and ensure that Okorocha does not become an Emperor in the society.

Four People That Could Tear Nigeria Apart in 2016 (Must Read)

Four People That Could Tear Nigeria Apart in 2016 (Must Read)

By: Ken Joshua 

Nigeria is at a crucial point in her history as the new administration of President Muhammadu Buhari battles head-long the hydra-headed monster called corruption to restore sanity to her finances in these trying times of the country’s economic life when oil, the main revenue source,  has practically lost all its value.

But there are four people that could send all efforts down the drain this year through their controversial activities in parts of the country. These people are, in their different ways, contributing to the undermining of the unity of the country through their various actions in different regions of the country. They are battling for the soul of Nigeria with the central government at the expense of millions of citizens who just want an opportunity to live their lives peacefully.

Nnamdi Kanu
Of all the people on this list, leading member of the group Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and founder of Biafra Radio in London, Nnamdi Kanu is probably the most influential at the moment. Kanu, who is already in the court for treason under the watchful eyes of the Department of State Security (DSS), currently holds sway in practically all of the South East region and has numerous followers abroad.

The political activist is on this list of the dangerous ones to Nigeria’s unity because he is trying to reenact the series of events that led to the Civil War of 1967 to 1970 that nearly tore Nigeria apart.
Kanu is calling for the people of the South East to mobilize and fight for the creation of the state of Biafra. Kanu argues that the Igbos are not properly catered for by the federal government.

To achieve this, he joined IPOB and founded the highly controversial Biafra Radio at his London base, from where he broadcasted messages which the government says are inciting and treasonous to all parts of the South Eastern region and some parts of the South South. He was arrested in 2015 while on one of his brief trips to Nigeria. He has since remained in DSS custody while being arraigned in court.

In spite of being in jail, Kanu has continued to influence the continuous call for the state of Biafra and currently, not a single week goes by in the South East without a protest march in support of Kanu’s claim. While at the moment the protesters have been peaceful and recorded cases of deaths occurred only when security forces attacked them, the agitation clearly is on the rise in the South East as Nigerian leaders wonder what to do, and anything could worsen the situation.

Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky
Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim El-Zakzaky is another individual with his finger practically on the trigger. El-Zakzaky was the one who introduced the Shia Muslim practice into the country from Iran over 30 years ago. Before then, Nigeria had only Sunni Muslims.

The Sheik controls a chunk of the Muslim population in the north and is so influential that his religious procession or convoy has right of way above anyone. He could not even be controlled by law enforcement agencies. Residents of Kaduna State where El-Zakzaky has his abode told stories of an oppressive theocracy imposed on them by the religious leader.

“Every resident of Zaria is affected directly or indirectly by the self-acclaimed powers and disregard for traffic rules by the Shi’ite members in Zaria, especially when it comes to the use of public roads. These Shi’ite members consider any other person as a second class citizen who has no rights and privileges.
“These boys traumatised and brutally dealt with anybody while El-Zakzaky was on transit. Complaints to police at different times did not yield any result. I am from Gyallesu area, before now we lived just like prisoners who have no right to live a life worthy of human living.

“When El-Zakzaky was in Gyallesu, the area became a home to all kinds of criminals because his boys did not allow uniform personnel into the area, no matter the level of crime committed. These boys used to search anybody that is coming into the area irrespective of his or her status.

“Again, once they lock up the gates at night you have no right to go out for whatever reason. The kind of loyalty these boys accorded El-Zakzaky was second to none.

“They see him as a messiah. They neither have respect for constitution nor any constituted authority. His instruction is the final,” coordinator of Peace Initiative Forum, Mu’izzu Daruddeen revealed in a statement.
Although at the moment, El-Zakzaky’s whereabouts are unknown after he was bundled away by military men following a recent face-off between Shiite Muslim members and men of the Nigerian Army which left hundreds dead, his followers wait for his return patiently.

With no fewer than five of his sons allegedly killed in clashes between the sect and the Army in the last three years and him (El-Zakzaky) still missing, it is quite worrisome just to imagine what this situation could degenerate into in the light of how insurgent group, Boko Haram became violent after the extra judicial killing of their leader, Mohammed Yusuf.

The fact that the Sheik has a direct link to Iran which is notorious for sponsoring proxy wars and terrorist organizations on foreign soil does not help matters.

Tompolo (Government Ekpemupolo)
A quick search of this code name on the internet reveals that the occupation of Government Ekpemupolo (as he was born) is guerilla fighter and it is doubtful if there is any informed Nigerian who does not know Tompolo, the Niger Delta militant who once ruled the days (and nights) of the South South region.
Before the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme, the name ‘Tompolo’ drove fear into the hearts of many as he and his cohorts terrorized the creeks of the South-South region, blowing up oil pipelines daily and creating a thriving oil bunkering business from the ‘loot’ at the expense of millions of Nigerians. The amnesty programme, which was orchestrated by immediate past president Goodluck Jonathan when he was a vice president and signed by the late president, Umar Musa Yar’Adua, made Tompolo a very rich militant.
Through the programme, Tompolo and his ilk got mouth-watering contracts from the government of Yar’Adua and then Jonathan that ran into billions of naira. However, recent investigations by the Buhari administration alleged that the contracts were ill-gotten gains that have run the country’s treasury dry. But Tompolo has refused to see the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or show up in court, thereby forcing the presiding judge on is case at a Federal High Court in Lagos, Justice Ibrahim Buba to issue a bench warrant for his arrest.

Crying ‘witch-hunt’, Tompolo has threatened war with the Federal Government and vowed not to obey the court. He has already barricaded himself in at the creeks and has allegedly begun blowing up pipelines again to bring the government to its knees. Armed with more money than ever to procure even more weapons than before, Tompolo could pose a real danger to Nigeria quickly should the situation deteriorate any further in the South South.

With oil now selling at around $27 per barrel and the naira exchanging for over 300 to the dollar, the last thing Nigerians need is for things to get out of hand again in that region.

President Muhammadu Buhari
Also making the list is none other than Nigeria’s number one citizen, President Muhammadu Buhari. He is on this list only by virtue of the fact that he is the leader of the country and his actions or inactions could push Nigeria over the brink or save it from the impending disaster these people earlier mentioned pose to our unity.

The president’s manner of handling these people could go a long way to determine if the situation would be escalated into a national catastrophe or doused, buried and forgotten.
Sincerely, the president is in the unenviable position of balancing the tripartite of dispensing of justice, obeying the rule of law and managing the expectations of the international community to which these controversial figures have heavy links.

What this means is that while the president is trying to keep Nigeria one (a task that must be done), he has to ensure that the rights of these men are protected while also figuring out a way to take the wind out the sail of their agitations which could get violent within the twinkle of an eye. And he must do all these to the satisfaction of the international community, some of whom have relationships with this men and are already biased in their views.

For instance, Nnamdi Kanu is both Nigerian and British and the UK has already expressed reservations over his detention. (Remember that his Radio Biafra is based in London). El-Zakzaky has Iran’s backing because he preaches their type of religion, Shia Islam. (Iran has already warned the president to be careful on the issue of the Sheik). Tompolo has links abroad through which he buys his weapons, the kinds that only sovereign governments know how to get. And the president has to handle them all, and perfectly too.
With how big some of these agitations are getting, the bubble could bust soon and the president will be at the centre of it all – a very unenviable position.

Joshua writes from Lagos

BREAKING!!! Benue South Rerun: Former Senate President Dumps PDP in Otukpo (Photos)

BREAKING!!! Benue South Rerun: Former Senate President Dumps PDP in Otukpo (Photos)


The biggest political tidal hit the Peoples Democratic Party in Benue State, Saturday as its big wigs officially announced their defection to the All Progressives Congress.

Among those who pitched their tents with the ruling APC include, immediate past deputy governor of Benue State, Chief Steve Lawani, former military governor, ex-senate president, Ameh Ebute, Chris Abutu Garuba, former guber aspirants in Benue State, Ada Chenge, Sam Ode, Jerry Agada, Mike Onoja and host of others.

No fewer than 1,000 members of the PDP also decamped to APC at the official flag off Dan onjeh, the senatorial candidate of the APC, Senator Dan Onjeh. Speaking on behalf of the decampees, Ameh Ebute said they wanted to be part of the gospel of change  in the nation.


According to him, “you all could recall that we were part of the people that brought PDP to power but along the line, the party lost its focus. We don’t want to be identified with people who ruined the nation, hence our reason to join this change train.

“On behalf of my colleagues, we officially pledge our loyalty to President Muhammdu Buhari-led government, he added.

DSS Officer Cleaning the Shoe of a Politician, Can this be the APC Change? – IBB

DSS Officer Cleaning the Shoe of a Politician, Can this be the APC Change? – IBB

 This is what IBB Said after a Nigerian minister used a DSS officer as his shoe shiner

Below were his comments….
I saw a DSS officer cleaning the shoe of a certain Minister in public & I begin to ask myself if this are the CHANGES of the administration.

It’s really sad that this administration has changed the Department Of State Security I created few years ago to Department of Shoe Shiners.

I strongly believe the President has a good plans for this Nation, he is a man of integrity. My only worries are the Politicians around him.

EU Warns President Buhari: Press Statement

EU Warns President Buhari: Press Statement

Carol Ajie

 

Lagos, Nigeria - Violent Suppression Of Nonviolent Protests In Nigeria: Buhari Must Heed EU’s Advice

(Intersociety, Onitsha Nigeria, 21st January 2016)-First of all, we congratulate the newly emerged democratic forces and voices in Nigeria; which emergence followed the birth eight months ago of the chained democratic administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Those worthy to mention are the frontline online media organizations including the Nigerian Voice, the Newsepress, Globalreportersvienna, Elombah News, Chidiopara Blog, the Trent News Online, Odogwureports, the Nigerian Masterweb, Allnewsandreports, News247, Republicreporters, Igberenews, the Nigerianlawyers Online News, Factreporters, Oderareports, the Willnigeria, the US-African Dialogue, Biafran News Reports, the Radio Biafra London (RBL); and the Streetreporters, the Naija News, the Naijalnd News, etc.

Our congratulation also goes to the Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp and those who use them in Nigeria to advance the promotion and protection of democracy, rule of law and constitutionalism in the country. Also congratulated are the Galaxy TV, the Vanguard Newspaper, the Guardian Newspaper, the Thisday Newspaper and rising democratic voices like Barr Ms Carol Ajie, Ms Aziza Uko, the Odumakins, etc as well as Nigeria’s newest leading human rights and pro rule of law advocacy organizations particularly HURIWA, Intersociety, Anambra CLO and Southeast Based Coalition of Human Rights Organizations. We congratulate as well the legal team of Citizen Nnamdi Kanu particularly the duo of Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Esq., and a respected member of the Silk: Nze Chuks Muoma, SAN. Barristers Egechukwu Obetta and Egbule are also commended for their courage and boldness; likewise the national leadership of the NBA for its recent commendable public position against Buhari’s gross contempt for rule of law in Nigeria. Courageous and un-purchasable members of the Bench including the CJN deserve commendation and a call to do more to ensure that judiciary remains the last hope of common person and bastion of democracy in Nigeria.
The recipients of our informed commendation above represent new faces of the defenders of democracy, rule of law and constitutionalism in Nigeria. They have by their recent identification with rule of law and constitutionalism in Nigeria unstoppably matched into the vacuum created by now retired democratic forces of the Southwest domination; who have disastrously chosen the path of entrepreneurship of dictatorship, lawlessness and un-constitutionalism in Nigeria; pillared by the administration of Muhammadu Buhari. The new faces of the defenders of democracy, rule of law and constitutionalism in Nigeria shall also become foundational members of newly formed Nigerian Pacifism Movement; a think tank opposing State violence (other than use for legitimate security and crime control), lawlessness, abuse of office and un-constitutionalism.

The reasons behind the above informed commendation of ours stem from achievements recorded so far in their struggles to save Nigeria’s democracy, human rights, rule of law and constitutionalism. One of such achievements is the campaign for unconditional release or fair treatment and trial of Citizen Nnamdi Kanu & ors leading to latest judicial pronouncement transferring him to Kuje prison from his murderous and tortuous 96 days detention under DSS captivity; a judicial decision the DSS frustratingly obeyed on account of sustained local and international pressures mounted against it as the most lawless security agency in Nigeria by referenced new faces of the defenders of rule of law and constitutionalism in Nigeria.

We wish to call on these new faces of the defenders of human rights, rule of law and constitutionalism in Nigeria not to rest on their oars because the battle has just begun. As new faces of the defenders of democracy, rule of law and constitutionalism in Nigeria, we must at all times remember and arm ourselves with Gani Fawehimni’s three weapons against dictatorship and other social injustices, which are: knowledge of the law, facts and figures and consistency. As the immortal saying goes; “a drop of water makes hole in stone; not by violence but by often fall”.

Violent Suppression of Nonviolent Protests in Nigeria: Documented statistics available at our disposal clearly indicate that massive application of State violence outside local and international norms to violently suppress the pro Biafran nonviolent protests in Nigeria between 30th August 2015 and 18th January 2016; a period of less than five months, have led to gruesome murder by security forces of at least 50 Nigerian citizens. These included four citizens killed in Awka and Onitsha on 30th August 2015; 13 killed in Onitsha on 2nd December 2015; 12 killed in Onitsha on 17th December 2015 (eight were killed on the spot and four others died in hospital following gunshot wounds); and eight killed in Aba on 18th January 2016. Scores of innocent citizens have also disappeared in the hands of Nigerian security forces particularly the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force. Citizens are routinely arrested by Police on allegation of being “MASSOB or IPOB members” and killed secretly and buried in undisclosed shallow graves; likewise those shot and killed by soldiers and police while embarking on peaceful protests. Once their bodies are taken away by their killer security operatives, they will never be accounted for or released to their families for befitting burials.

Further, over 120 citizens were shot and critically injured with gunshots in Delta, Rivers, Anambra, Abia and Enugu States between 30th August 2015 and 18th January 2016. Of these, over 40 citizens were critically shot and injured in Anambra (30th August, 2nd and 17th December 2015); 30 in Abia State (18th January 2016 alone), 21 in Rivers State (30th August 2015); 10 in Delta State (30th August 2015) and 6 in Enugu State. These exclude scores of others critically shot and injured in related nonviolent protests in those States as well as Bayelsa State.

Among those critically shot and injured in Rivers by Nigerian Army and the Police including their mobile lines are Citizens Sunday Udegbe (08160946188), Nwabunne Udo (no number), Agwasi Anthony (08167834881), Meshach Emmanuel (08176464439), Chinwendu Ogbonna (08161840331),Amanda Onyekachi (08098649766), Emmanuel Arinze (08069667733), Okwudiri Ojah (08064551694), Chibuike David (08162879531),Uzochi Ugwojialili (07037701738); Chukwuma Igwe (07038524167), Kingsley Okere (08095527180), Chinedu Solomon Iwu (09034451844), Okon Emmanuel Udo (08132211725), Kelechi Uwaeze (08162093292), Uwalaka (07030463326), Solomon Chikwe (08037677503), Ikenna Ezekwem (07030334626), Ubani (08145558128), Amarachi Onyemachi (07031250438) and Chukwudi Ofoegbuliwe (08168944577). In Enugu State, the following were critically shot and injured, Mr. Godswill Ojikeme (08069283046), Mrs. Chinyere Godswill Ojikeme (08108156453), Ogbodo Monday (08186845441), Jonah Kelechi (07055762590), Onuigbo Paul (08180094127) and Obiorah Innocent (08142553818).

Those gravely shot and wounded in Delta State are: Chinedu Abel (08138655496), Onovo Michael (09038654579), Kingsley Anuife (07066333801), Amechi Ojieh (07069039930), Ogbonna Kanayo (09099221978), David Ogbu (08168868302), Charles Chukwuka (07011001409), Elochukwu Uzor (08052783369), Chinedu Chukwuma (09053081522) and Onyekanna Ifechukwude (08144142575). Those critically shot and injured on 30th August 2015 in Anambra State are: Sampson Kalu (08149301083), Chidiebere Nnaji (08063110151), Onyekwelu Ovute (08035132025), Felix Ndianaefo (08137358206), Ikechukwu Okafor (08098896344), Chimaobi Okafor (09099735103), Christopher Oforah (08092188866), Sunday Nwazugbo (08033517008), Stanley Eze (08060911589), Mrs. Eucharia (08065697342) and Mrs. Patricia (07069707424). Two of the four citizens killed in Awka and Onitsha in the same peaceful protest of 30th August 2015 were Ebuka Nnolum from Enuguabo-Ufuma in Anambra State (his father’s number is 08034615426 07084367400) and Obasi Maduka from Oshiri in Ebonyi State (his brother’s number is 08165443726). In the 2nd and 17th December 2015 peaceful protests in Onitsha, over 30 citizens were critically shot and injured, out of whom, 27 citizens were taken and admitted at the Multicare Hospital.

Between 300 and 400 citizens or more labeled “Biafran or IPOB or MASSOB members” had also been arrested, detained, tortured, or killed extra judicially across the country since 30th of August 2015. In the Aba pro Biafran peaceful protest of 18th January 2016 alone, 60 peaceful protesters were arrested and detained. Many are still languishing in pretrial detention; others are facing concocted heinous political crimes charges such as treason and treasonable felony.

Why Buhari Must Heed EU’s Advice: In the world over, violent suppression of nonviolent protests by territorial governments have always boomeranged; leading the suppressed to abandon nonviolent approaches and resort to self help or self defense approaches including defensive armed rebellions. Most of the ongoing devastating intra State violent conflicts in Africa and the Middle East primarily started as nonviolent socio-political or ethno-cultural campaigns, but turned violent on account of the host States’ repressive and dictatorial responses. A newest case in point is seeming resumption of oil violence in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria.

Consequently, the latest advice handed down to the Government of Muhammadu Buhari by the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security, Ms Federica Mogherini, is a welcome development, timely and internationally grounded. The EU High Representative had advised Buhari that in as much as, the European Union has strong diplomatic and economic ties with Nigeria, “protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms remains a priority for the EU and we encourage the authorities (Nigeria) in every occasion to respect such rights”. The EU, on the other hand, advised pro Biafran campaigners and the Organization of Emerging African States (OEAS) “that self-determination and border changes must be in accordance with established international law. This followed the OEAS call for an internationally recognized referendum on Biafra independence or autonomy. The EU further advised that “it will only recognize a Biafra born via international law and not (through) armed secession (or rebellion)”.

The EU’s advice is totally in agreement with our public position on the same issue, to the effect that the Buhari administration must refrain from massive deployment of State violence and use of dark side of the laws of the land as well as levying of political, economic, social, ethnic and cultural wars against members of the Nigeria’s Igbo and other Southern nationalities. We had also advised the pro Biafran agitators to at all time stick to nonviolent and peaceful approaches and stay away from resorting to violence or armed rebellion. To the best of our knowledge, the agitations and their campaigners have remained nonviolent till date; as opposed to the Buhari administration which had applied and still apply maximum and dreaded State terror in handling the political self determination campaigns.

Signed:
Emeka Umeagbalasi, Board Chairman
International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law
Mobile Phone: +2348174090052
Email: info@intersociety-ng.org, emekaumeagbalasi@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.intersociety-ng.org
Obianuju Joy Igboeli, Esq., Head, Civil Liberties & Rule of Law Program
Uzochukwu Oguejiofor-Nwonu, Esq., Head, Campaign & Publicity Department

Buhari Sets March 31 Deadline For Compilation Of List Of Nigerian Officials With Assets In UAE

SaharaReporters has learned that President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Nigerian Embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to investigate, document, and submit the list of all Nigerian public officials with assets in the UAE. Our sources said Mr. Buhari had also set a deadline of March 31, 2016 for the completion of the compilatio.

SaharaReporters has learned that President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Nigerian Embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to investigate, document, and submit the list of all Nigerian public officials with assets in the UAE. Our sources said Mr. Buhari had also set a deadline of March 31, 2016 for the completion of the compilation.

Buhari leaves Abuja for South Africa State House/ Bayo Omoboriowo
The presidential deadline comes on the heels of bilateral agreements signed earlier this week between Nigeria and the UAE to facilitate the extradition of suspects wanted in Nigeria as well as the repatriation of stolen assets back to Nigeria.

Presidency sources told a correspondent of SaharaReporters that Nigeria’s ambassador to the UAE, Ibrahim Auwalu, had been asked to extend his term of service to ensure that the list is accurately compiled and submitted to Mr. Buhari. One source disclosed that, upon completion of the assignment, the president was likely to appoint a replacement for Mr. Auwalu.

The UAE has become an important destination for numerous former and serving public officials since President Buhari’s inauguration at the end of May 2015. Many Nigerian officials with assets and real estate in the UAE, especially Dubai, have fled there hoping for sanctuary from Mr. Buhari’s prosecution for corruption.

Nigeria’s bilateral agreement with the UAE is part of the Buhari administration’s agenda to set in motion legal mechanisms to facilitate the arrest of corrupt politicians who flee to the UAE and the repatriation of their stolen assets.

SaharaReporters has exclusively obtained the names of numerous public officials and politically exposed persons who own real estate in Dubai. The list include former Comptroller-General of Customs, Abdullahi Dikko, former President Goodluck Jonathan’s special assistant on domestic matters, Waripamowei Dudafa, a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adamu Muazu, former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, Mr. Jonathan’s former campaign spokesman, Femi Fani-Kayode, former Minister of Transportation, Idris Umar, former Minister for the Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe, former Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (who recently moved to The Hague), former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, who has been indicted in Nigeria, former Governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda, former Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, and former First Lady Patience Jonathan.

Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State is also reported to have a property in Dubai.
One source told SaharaReporters that the list of serving and former public officials with assets and real estate in Dubai and other parts of the UAE is expected to grow much longer by the March 31deadline. Another source disclosed that many Nigerian officials used fake names, offshore corporations and beneficial owners to acquire their swanky, high-priced homes in the UAE.

Nigerian Police Force Introduces New Uniforms For SARS (See Photos)

Nigerian Police Force Introduces New Uniforms For SARS (See Photos)


The Nigeria Police Force has introduced a new uniform for operatives attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad across the country.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni while disclosing this on Friday said the move was meant to engender effective operation and to check the excesses of the unit and also help stop numerous cases of impersonation.

The all-black uniform, which comprises black trousers, T-shirt and a jacket, also has a number inscribed on it to indicate the state command, which an operative belongs to.