Oluwasegun Adesuyi, Author at SocietyGazette.com

After DSS deadly raid, corpses of Igboho’s associates missing, whereabouts, a mystery

KAYODE OYERO writes on the fate of the associates of the Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho, who were arrested in his Soka, Ibadan, residence as well as what has become of the remains of the two men gunned down during the raid by operatives of the Department of State Services

Two weeks after they were killed by operatives of the Department of State Services during a bloody raid on the Ibadan residence of Yoruba Nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho, the whereabouts of the corpses of two of his associates remain unknown.

The DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya, at a press briefing at the secret police’s headquarters in Abuja on July 1, 2021, disclosed that DSS operatives “gunned down” two of Igboho’s associates.

However, Afunanya did not respond to enquiries by The PUNCH on Wednesday seeking to know whether the DSS took the corpses away and why it had not released the dead bodies to the inconsolable families of the deceased for burial – if indeed it took the corpses away.

“In the course of the exchange, two Igboho’s armed men were gunned down, while the rest were subdued and arrested,” the DSS spokesman had said while parading 13 of the activist’s associates in Abuja two weeks ago.

The two slain persons were later identified by Igboho’s media aide, Olayomi Koiki, as Adogan and Alfa. Adogan, whose real name was Saheed Adisa, was one of the right-hand men of Igboho, while Alfa was the activist’s maternal uncle, who was said to be visiting when the house was raided.

Residents of Soka area in Ibadan, where Igboho’s house is located, will not forget the night of July 1 in a hurry as sounds of jackboots on the ground interrupted their peaceful sleep around 1am before gunshots ushered them into the new month.

The country woke up to reports that “unknown gunmen” had attacked the activist’s residence, but the DSS, at a press briefing later that day, said a joint team of security operatives had “raided” Igboho’s residence in the early hours of that Thursday, based on an intelligence report that he was allegedly stockpiling arms, which the Yoruba Nation agitator has since denied, saying he defends himself with charms and not guns.

Though Igboho, a spearhead of the separatist agitation for the Yoruba Nation, escaped the Gestapo raid, his house and cars were riddled with bullets, while bloodstains splattered the floor of the house. The activist has since gone into hiding and switched off his mobile phones after he was declared wanted by the secret police.

Gory images and videos of the house after the DSS raid sighted by our correspondent showed that people were dragged outside from the house in the pool of their own blood.

The umbrella body of Yoruba self-determination groups, Ilana Omo Oodua, had alleged that the DSS operatives shot Adogan 48 times before they butchered him, while Alfa was shot while observing the Muslim prayer.

Mourners have been visiting the Osogbo, Osun State country home of Adogan, who is survived by an aged mother, wife, three children and siblings.

Though the bereaved family declined comments on whether the remains of their beloved son, brother and father had been released for burial, a top source familiar with the matter told The PUNCH that Adogan’s corpse had not been released.

Igboho’s media aide, Olayomi Koiki, also told our correspondent that the corpses of Adogan and Alfa had yet to be released.

However, one of the lawyers handling the matter, Pelumi Olajengbesi, told The PUNCH on Wednesday that the corpses had been demanded from the DSS.

“We have demanded their corpses from the DSS, but they refused to respond,” he stated.

Source: Punch Newspaper

Tension In Abuja As UK Law Firm Moves To Take Over Nnamdi Kanu Case

The Muhammadu Buhari-led administration would have to brace themselves for more legal fireworks following the arrest and extradition of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Reports have emerged that the British High Commission and a law firm in London, Bindmans, have sought the consent of Nnamdi Kanu to take up his case.

According to the IPOB leader’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, he delivered two forms to Kanu on Wednesday during a visit to the office of the Department of State Services (DSS), where he is being detained.

Ejimakor told The PUNCH that the development would open up a new chapter in the trial of Kanu, adding that the Nigerian government would be served with summons to bring him to the United Kingdom, where another case would be heard over the manner of his rendition to Nigeria.

He said, “I went to visit him on Wednesday and went with two forms. One was the consular consent form that the British High Commission required that he signs to consent to consular assistance. There was also a form from his counsel in the UK. The firm is known as Bindmans, one of the largest law firms in the UK.

“The forms will open a whole new chapter of legality, including the filing of a Writ of Mandamus, against the Nigerian government in a UK court to compel it to produce Kanu, because his detention is illegal under the British law. It was an extraordinary rendition, which is an international crime by which a state kidnaps a suspect or a fugitive without the due process of law.

“They will be filing all these processes in the UK and there is a prospect of a UK court assuming universal jurisdiction or extra-territorial jurisdiction and reaching into Kenya so that they can arrest every Kenyan official, either authorised or not, and every Nigerian official involved in this case.”

According to the lawyer of the pro-Biafra activist, the DSS collected the forms, saying they must first go through the vetting of its legal unit.

Ejimakor stated that he had yet to be contacted by the DSS despite being told that he would collect them on Thursday.

South Africa Unrest: death toll from violent Protests rises to 117

Residents clean rubble and debris from the streets in Alexandra township after protests and unrest linked to the jailing of former President Jacob Zuma, in Johannesburg, South Africa. © Reuters

The death toll from violent protests in South Africa has risen to 117 with more than 2,000 arrests.

Days of unrest have left a trail of devastation in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces, with officials saying 800 retailers have been targeted.

Several clinics and schools have also been vandalised.

During clean-up operations in streets and shopping centres on Thursday, more bodies were discovered.

But authorities are confident that they have turned the corner in dealing with the mayhem.

An additional 5,000 soldiers were deployed on Thursday – to join the 2,500 deployed on Monday.

But KwaZulu-Natal, where the unrest began following the jailing last week of ex-President Jacob Zuma, remains volatile.

Johannesburg, the main city in Gauteng, is relatively calm, though the threat is far from over.

The BBC has seen vigilante groups there working with police to guard their local malls as looters mobilised themselves in the distance.

Elsewhere long lines have formed outside food shops, following shortages caused by the plundering.

See List Of APC Senators That Voted Against Electronic Transmission Of Election Results

Members of the All Progressives Congress in the Senate on Thursday voted against electronic transmission of results.

The Committee had, in the report, recommended in Section 52(3) that, INEC “may transmit results of elections by electronic means where and when practicable.”

But an APC senator from Niger North, Sabi Abdullahi, amended the clause to read, “INEC may consider electronic collation of results, provided the national network coverage is adjudged to be adequate and secured by the Nigerian Communications Commission and approved by the National Assembly.”
Members of the Committee on Communications had earlier informed the chamber that the NCC had declared that only 43 per cent of the country was currently under effective telecommunications coverage.

Senate President, Ibrahim Lawan, ruled in favour of the amendment when he conducted a voice vote.

There was a disagreement and the Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, called for a division which would require individual voting on the floor.

Lawan sustained Abaribe’s point of order and called for a division.

At the end of the poll, 88 senators voted, while 28 were not available to vote.

The outcome of the election showed that 52 APC senators, including the chairman of the Senate INEC committee, Kabiru Gaya, voted against the panel’s report, which gives the electoral umpire the sole power to determine the practicability of electronic transmission of results.

The Peoples Democratic Party members on the floor all voted in favour of electronic transmission of results by INEC without interference from either the NCC or the National Assembly.

The APC members, while casting their votes against the amendment, attributed their decision to the claim of the NCC that only 43 per cent of the country has network coverage.

The PDP senators, on the other hand, said allowing the NCC and the National Assembly to meddle in the affairs of INEC will affect the integrity of the polls

Here’s a list of how the lawmakers voted:

A COMPILATION OF SENATORS VOTE FOR OR AGAINST ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF ELECTION RESULTS (A few names still missing)

Robert Ajayi Boroffice YES

Surajudeen Basiru NO

Adenugba Fadahunsi YES

Clifford Ordia YES

Matthew Urhoghide YES

Francis Alimikhena NO

Kola Balogun YES

Ezekiel Ayuba NO

Abubakar Kyari NO

Gyang Istifanus YES

Senator Gyagung Ladi NO

George Sekibo YES

Ali Ndume NO

Opeyemi Bamidele NO

Biodun Olujimi YES

Mpigi Barinada YES

Betty Apiafi YES

Gobir Abdullahi NO

Abdullahi Danbaba NO

Philip Aduda YES

Chukwuka Utazi YES

Mohammed Goje NO

Danbaba YES

Yusuf Yusuf NO

Isa Shuaibu Lau NO

Mohammed Goje NO

Bomai Ibrahim Mohammed NO

Francis Onyewuchi YES

Yau Sahabi NO

Uba Sani NO

Danjuma La’ah YES

Kabiru Gaya NO

Ishaku Elisha Abo NO

Baba Kaita NO

Adamu Aliero NO

Yahaya Abdullahi NO

Yakubu Oseni NO

Isa Jibrin NO

Smart Adeyemi NO

Ibrahim Oloriegbe NO

Oluremi Tinubu NO

Solomon Adeola NO

Tanko Al-Makura NO

Godiya Akwashiki NO

Abdullahi Adamu NO

Musa Mohammed Sani NO

Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi NO

Bima Enagi NO

Patrick Akinyelure YES

FINAL VOTE FIGURES ON ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION

AYES: 28
NAYS: 52
ABSENT: 28
ABSTAIN: 0
TOTAL VOTES: 80
TOTAL NO. OF REGISTERED SENATORS: 109

(as announced by Clerk of Senate and validated by Senate President, Ahmad Lawan)

Breaking: Gunmen Murder Army Major General In Abuja, Abducts Wife

The former Provost Marshal of the Nigerian Army, Maj Gen Hassan Ahmed, has been assassinated in Abuja.
It was gathered that the military officer was killed on Thursday night in the Abaji area.

A further report revealed that the gunmen also abducted his wife.

A source close to the family that spoke with Daily Post disclosed that the couple were coming from Okene when they were attacked.

“They opened fire on his vehicle, he died. The driver pretended to be dead from the wound he sustained, so they took the wife away”, the informant said.

The Chief of Army Staff, Faruk Yahaya recently appointed Ahmed a Director at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

Buhari Appoints Jega, Udoma, Others As Governing Council Chairmen

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of a former chairman of INEC, Prof Attahiru Jega and Senator Victor Udo Ndoma-Egba as Chairmen of the Governing Councils of the University of Jos and Bayero University, Kano.
Their appointments followed the reconstitution of the Governing Councils of 19 Federal universities and four inter-university centres.

Society gazette reports that the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu performed the inauguration exercise at the National Universities Commission (NUC).

Also appointed are: University of Benin (Dr Sonny Kuku Chairman); Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (Malam Adamu Fika – Chairman); University of Ilorin ( Malam Abidu Yazid – Chairman); Bayero University, Kano (Sen Udoma Udo Udoma – Chairman); University of Abuja (Prof Ahmed Mohammed Modibbo – Chairman); University of Nigeria, Nsukka (Chief Ikechi Emenike – Chairman); University of Maiduguri (Ballama Manu – Chairman); Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Efurun, Delta state (Prof Anthony Gozie Anwuka); University of Jos (Prof Attahiru Jega – Chairman); Federal University of Technology, Owerri (Sen Jack Tilley Gyado – Chairman); University of Uyo (Barr Njideka Bernedette Nwachukwu – Chairman); University of Calabar (Gen Martin Luther Agwai rtd- Chairman) and Modibo Adamawa University (Alhj Bashir Dalhatu – Chairman).

Others are: Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (Ibrahim Ida – Chairman); National Open University of Nigeria (Peter Okebukola – Chairman); Nnamdi Azikiwe Univeristy, Awka (Prof Sulyman Alege Kuranga – Chairman); Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi (Bukar Goni Aji Chairman); and Federal University of Technology, Akure ( Amb Dr. Godknows Igali – Chairman).

The government also presented the new Pro-chancellor and Chairman of Council of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State.

Speaking at the inauguration, Adamu asked the Governing Councils to take control and exercise their rights and not to allow outside influence in the selection process of new Vice-Chancellors of their respective institutions.

Adamu warned the Council members that President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the visitor to the Federal Universities, will not hesitate to dismiss any Council found to be corrupt or incompetent.

Journalist, Two Others Killed As Armed Robbers Attacks Bank In Ondo

Armed robbers on Thursday afternoon attacked a commercial bank in Ilara-Mokin, Ifedore LGA of Ondo State, killing three persons, including Olubunmi Afuye, an Ondo-based journalist.

The late Afuye, who was inside his car when the robbers stormed the bank, was hit by a stray bullet.

Afuye was the Public Relations Officer of Elizade University, which is in the town where the robbery took place.

Before his appointment as the university spokesman, he worked at the state-owned Orange FM, Akure.

A policeman and one other person were also gunned down in the attack which has thrown residents into panic.

A resident of the town told SaharaReporters that the robbers came to the bank around 3 pm and shot into the air to scare those within the vicinity of the bank.

The resident said the robbers used dynamite to blow open the entrance and carted away an unspecified amount of money.

“Bank staff and customers who were around for one thing or the other scampered to safety. There was confusion everywhere,” the resident said.

“A journalist, policeman, and motorcyclist were killed by the gunmen.”

Senate Confirms Prof Adam As INEC National Commissioner

The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Prof. Sani Adam for appointment as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to represent North Central.
Recall that the Senate had stepped down the confirmation of Professor Sani Adam because of the petitions against him.

But his confirmation on Thursday followed consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on INEC, which was presented by the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Kabiru Gaya (Kano South).

Gaya, in his report, said: “After a thorough investigation into the petition against the nominee (Adam), the Committee found out that the petition against him was paltry and that the reason for the termination (not dismissal as alleged by the petitioner) was not based on gross misconduct but on rationalisation policy of the Federal Government.

“The court judgement was based on whether or not his appointment should have been terminated and this has nothing to do with his integrity or moral uprightness.”

Society gazette reports that the Senate on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of five National Commissioners for INEC.

The nominees of President Muhammadu Buhari, who were confirmed were, Prof. Muhammad Sani Kallah (Katsina); Prof. Kunle Ajayi ( Ekiti); and Saidu Ahmad (Jigawa), Baba Bila (North East) and Abdullahi Zuru (North- West).

Nigerian Army releases 1,009 ex-Boko Haram fighters Secretly In Borno

The Nigerian military on Wednesday released 1,009 ex-Boko Haram insurgents, who had been in military custody at Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

The former terrorists were handed over to the Borno State Government in a secret ceremony that was initially billed to take place at an earlier date but was suspended indefinitely by the military authorities at the wake of the appointment of the new COAS, Punch reports

According to sources in the army, the ex-terrorists were handed over to the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo, who represented the state government at the event.

The officer said, “The army handed 1,009 Boko Haram insurgents to the state government today (Wednesday). It was done in secret. We were warned not to allow journalists to the venue.”

Efforts to reach the Army Public Relations Officer, Operation Hadin Kai, Col. Ado Isa, proved abortive.

‘We will Pull down Nigeria if Kanu dies in detention’ – IPOB Issues Fresh Threat

Society gazette Reports that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Wednesday threatened to pull down Nigeria if the Federal Government allows its leader, Nnamdi Kanu to die in the Department of State Service (DSS) custody.

In a statement issued by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the group alleged that the DSS has refused all attempts made by Kanu’s personal doctors to treat him.

The separatist leader was arrested by security agents in an unnamed country on June 27.

He is currently standing trial for alleged treason and other allied charges at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The statement read: “Mazi Nnamdi Kanu must be released to enable him to undergo a proper medical examination having gone through the most horrendous inhumane treatment and torture at the hands of the Kenyan security agents.

“We the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to alert the world and men of good conscience about the deteriorating health condition of our leader who has been in detention at the Department of State Services (DSS) dungeon since his illegal abduction in Kenya and criminal repatriation to Nigeria.

“Every attempt by his personal physicians to gain access to him has been rebuffed by the DSS, thereby worsening his health condition.

“We are alerting the world about this anomaly to compel the Nigerian government to grant our leader’s doctors access to see him for a thorough medical examination bearing in mind the terrible torture he underwent for eight days in the hands of the Kenyan security agents.

“We wish to unequivocally state that no harm should befall our leader. We will bring down Nigeria if anything untoward happens to him. The consequences of what we will do in Nigeria can only be imagined than experienced. This is not a threat but a promise! Nigeria has been winning and dining with bandits and terrorists, but dehumanizing and killing peaceful agitators and freedom fighters.

“We urge human rights organizations, UN, AU, EU, ECOWAS, and other relevant organizations across the globe to rise in defence of justice and compel the Nigerian government and her compromised security agencies to grant our leader’s personal doctors unfettered access to him.

“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, our indefectible and courageous leader must not die in DSS custody, neither should he suffer any serious health complications, otherwise Nigeria will cease to exist.

“Our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has not committed any crime against Nigeria or Kenya government to warrant being treated as a criminal, after all a sitting President in Nigeria threatened blood of monkeys and baboons will flow in Nigeria if he was not allowed to rule Nigeria.

“Human rights organizations and men and women of good conscience across the world should not watch idly while our leader is being dehumanized by the wicked Nigeria security agents.

“Our leader’s fundamental human rights have been grossly violated by the Nigerian and Kenyan governments and continue to be violated with each passing day under the illegal custody of the DSS.”