Season’s Greetings to all our esteemed readers!
This is the second instalment of the Journal’s special report highlighting the major events, issues and occurrences that helped shape 2021 in Nigeria on the political, economic, sporting, entertainment and overall national front. While the Part I published last week provided a summary of events between January and April 2021, Part II below will provide a recap of key events that occurred within the months of May to August 2021. The concluding Part III to be published at a later date will wrap up the events of the year from September to December 2021.
***
MAY 2021
Akwa Ibom job seeker, Iniobong Umoren murdered gruesomely
On 2 May, Miss Iniobong Umoren, a Philosophy graduate of the University of Uyo who left her home for a job interview in the outskirts of Uyo, was raped and killed by a man who said he had a job opportunity for her. The sad development was confirmed by the police in Akwa Ibom State. The police spokesperson in the state, Odiko MacDon, identified the suspect as 20-year-old Uduak Akpan. The suspect, said to be a serial rapist, killed the missing woman and buried her in a shallow grave in his father’s house, after raping her.
Miss Umoren was declared missing by her friend, who appealed to Nigerians via Twitter to help find her friend who had gone for a job interview at Airport Road, Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital but could not be reached. This sparked a frenzy on Twitter as Nigerians deployed their investigative skills to locate her. They successfully used his digital footprints to locate and track her abductors. Unfortunately, she was found and declared dead on Sunday, May 2, 2021. She was reportedly an orphan. The 26-year-old was buried on 14 May at her hometown, Nung Ita, Ikot Essien in Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
On Monday 6, July, Akpan appeared at the state high court in Uyo, where he pleaded guilty. However, on Thursday, 5 November, the 20-year-old undergraduate made a u-turn and pleaded not guilty and the matter is still in Court till date.
Buhari suspends Hadiza Bala Usman as Ports Authority MD
On Thursday May 6, President Muhammadu Buhari suspended Hadiza Bala Usman as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). Buhari also approved the recommendation of the Ministry of Transportation under for the setting up of an Administrative Panel of Inquiry to investigate the Management of the NPA under her supervision. The suspension has since resulted in an ultimate termination of employment for Hadiza who could not survive the allegations of financial misappropriation which rocked the NPA under her watch.
Supreme Court upholds INEC’s deregistration of 74 political parties
On May 7, the Supreme Court upheld an earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal which okayed the deregistration of National Unity Party and 73 others by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). INEC in February 2020 announced the deregistration of the political parties over their inability to win any election during the 2019 general polls. In the judgment delivered by Justice Adamu Jauro, the Supreme Court said the deregistration of the 74 parties was done in line with the laws and compliance with the extant provisions of the Constitution and Electoral Act. INEC chairman, Yakubu Mahmood said the action was in preparation for the coming 2023 general elections. According to him, the deregistration was done because of the poor performance of the parties in the 2019 general elections and their failure to satisfy the requirements of the Fourth Alteration to the Constitutional Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).
Former Women Affairs Minister, Aisha Al-Hassan passes on
On May 7, former Women Affairs Minister, Aisha Al-Hassan popularly known as Mama Taraba died in Egypt at the age of 61. Al-Hassan contested the governorship election in Taraba on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015 but narrowly lost out and was later appointed Minister of Women Affairs by President Muhammadu Buhari. She also represented Taraba North Senatorial District in the Senate from 2011 to 2015.
Southern Governors Forum inaugurated in Asaba
Governors from the Southern part of Nigeria under the aegis of Southern Nigeria Governors Forum (SNGF) met in Asaba, Delta State on 11 May in the inaugural meeting of the umbrella body of all Governors from Southern Nigeria. Governors or Deputy Governors of Southern States were in attendance (except for Osun State and Cross Rivers). The meeting produced a communique now famously tagged the “Asaba Declaration” which among other issues outlawed open grazing in Southern Nigeria; a policy that generated considerable controversy in the polity.
Senate approves deployment of 5G in Nigeria
On May 19, the Senate approved the deployment of the 5G network in Nigeria, following the outcome of investigations by a Joint Committee mandated to carry out same. The approval followed the consideration of the report of the Joint Committee on Communications, Science and Technology, ICT and Cyber Crimes, and Primary Health Care and Communicable Diseases. The report was laid and presented by the Chairman, Senator Oluremi Tinubu during plenary. The upper chamber during consideration of the report, adopted the Joint Committee’s recommendations which were outcomes of investigation into the Status of 5G Network in Nigeria and its technological impact on Nigerian citizens. The upper chamber while adopting the recommendations posited that the technological impact of 5G will revolutionize Nigerians’ way of life from education to agriculture, security to entertainment, and governance in general if the technology is deployed.
FBI arrests Ogun State Governor’s aide for $350,000 wire fraud
On Monday 17 May, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) arrested one Abidemi Rufai, a Senior Special Assistant to Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun over a $350,000 employment benefits fraud in the United States. Rufai was accused of defrauding the State of Washington over $350,000 in unemployment benefits through wire fraud under the alias of Sandy Tang. The next day, he was swiftly suspended by Governor Dapo Abiodun.
Face-off between NLC and Kaduna State Government snowballed into violent clashes
On Monday 17 May, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)’s peaceful protest in Kaduna State was disrupted by hoodlums. During the rally, some alleged thugs arrived in two cars including tricycles and began throwing stones at the demonstrators. Some of the attackers covered their faces and wielded knives and sticks. NLC had held the protest against a planned mass sack of workers by the state government which said it was spending too much on the state’s revenue on its civil servants. The dispute between Labour and the State Government lingered for weeks after the confrontations despite concerted efforts to provide an amicable end to the conflict.
Malami tackle Southern Governors over Ban on Open Grazing
On 19 May, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, faulted the ban on open grazing by Southern Governors Forum, saying it was unconstitutional. Malami said the decision of the Governors “does not align with the provisions of the Constitution, hence it does not hold water.” He likened the decision to ban indiscriminate movement of cattle across the southern part of the country for grazing to banning the sale of spare parts in the North. The Southern Governors Forum berated him and urged its component states to use their State Assemblies to enact the law and give it legal teeth.
Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau reported dead
On May 20, Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau was reported dead by multiple sources. The incident was reported to have occurred on May 19, 2021 following the invasion of the terror group’s stronghold in the Sambisa forest area by a column of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters. The report stated that ISWAP, which had broken away from the Shekau-led Boko Haram faction in 2016 after pledging allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS), raided the group’s hideout using multiple gun trucks.
Shekau had been the leader of Boko Haram since 2009 following the death of the group’s founder, Mohammed Yusuf. He had been rumoured to have been killed at least four times between July 2009 and August 2015. In August 2016, the Nigerian Air Force claimed he had been “fatally wounded” by military bombardments, but the terror group released a video only a month later showing he was alive and in good health.
He was succeeded by Abu Musab al-Barnawi. Barnawi shared news of Shekarau’s death in an audio recording in June, saying that Shekau had committed “unimaginable terrorism.” In September, the Nigerian military announced the death of Abu Musab al-Barnawi, that he was killed in August. He was succeeded by Malam Bako, who was subsequently killed in October.
Governor Ben Ayade defects to APC
On 20 May, Cross Rivers State Governor, Ben Ayade, officially dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Governor Ayade announced his decision after a meeting with six APC governors who visited him at the Government House. The governors who visited Ayade, led by the Chairman APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee and Yobe State Governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, included the Governors of Kebbi, Imo, Plateau, Jigawa, and Ekiti State.
Ayade cited the character attributes of President Muhammadu Buhari and the realisation that Cross Rivers, which has been emasculated economically following the ceding of its oil wells years ago, needed to be in sync with the party at the centre as reasons for the move.
Chief of Army Staff dies in air mishap, Buhari appoints replacement
On Friday May 21, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Ibrahim Attahiru, alongside 7 others were killed in a tragic plane crash which occurred in Kaduna State.
According to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) the incident took place around 6pm within the precincts of the Kaduna Airport. The plane was a military Beachcraft 350 aircraft. Attahiru was appointed Chief of Army Staff on January 26, 2021.
On Thursday, May 27, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Major General Farouk Yahaya as his replacement, and Yahaya assumed office on May 28.
Unknown gunmen attack INEC secretariat, police division in Anambra
On Sunday 23 May, unknown gunmen attacked B Division of the Nigeria Police Divisional Station and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Awka, Anambra State.
The fully armed attackers came in three Hilux trucks at about 8pm. It was gathered that the troubled area is located in-between the popular Ekwueme Square, Awka where the gunmen shot into the air close to one hour at B Police Division before proceeding to INEC office. The gunmen drove to a nearby junction and shot in the air for about 10 minutes which made residents scamper for safety before they headed down to INEC secretariat. After that attack, the unknown gunmen subsequently struck at other different locations killing security officers and destroying police stations and facilities in Ebonyi, Abịa, Imo, Delta and Enugu States as the South-East battled with its worst violent public disorder in recent history
Kidnapping: Protesters barricade Abuja-Kaduna highway
On the morning of 24 May, some members of Gauraka community, Tafa LGA of Niger State blocked the Abuja-Kaduna highway to protest the series of abductions in the community. The Gauraka community is located along Abuja-Kaduna highway. The protesters halted movement of traffic on the highway while burning tyres to create a scene. The community was protesting the abduction of some residents by gunmen. They said about 30 persons from the community are currently in kidnappers’ den, and that their abductors are demanding a huge ransom. The protesters said they embarked on the action to call the attention of the relevant authorities to their plight after gunmen invaded the community on Monday around 1:00am and abducted 15 persons. In June, there was a similar protest on the Abuja-Kaduna Highway as angry residents blocked the road over attacks, especially the killing of a 13-year-old girl by bandits. The tragic incident occurred at Anguwar Magaji in Chikun Local Government Area of the state, Residents said bandits stormed the house of the village head and abducted his family as well as other persons in the community.
Supreme Court Strikes Out Certificate Forgery Case Against Obaseki
On Friday 28 May, the Supreme Court struck out a certificate forgery case against Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state. The All Progressive Congress (APC) and one of its members, Williams Edobor have appealed a Court of Appeal Judgement which freed Obaseki of certificate forgery allegation. The apex court, in the judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim held that the appellants failed to prove the allegation of forgery beyond reasonable doubt as allowed by law. The court also held that the appellants did not provide any disclaimer from the University that the results were not issued by them to Obaseki and consequently awarded a N1 million cost in favour of Obaseki.
Ahmed Gulak assassinated in Imo
On Sunday 30 May, Former Special Adviser Political to President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak, was shot dead in Owerri, the Imo State capital by unknown gunmen.
He was shot dead while returning to Abuja from Owerri, the Imo state capital. Gulak once declared himself as the national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) during the party’s leadership crisis in January 2016, he later defected to the ruling APC and was chairman of the APC committee that conducted the highly controversial primaries for Imo governorship election. He was interred at the Gudu Cemetery in Abuja that same day at about 8pm. His funeral service was held at the National Mosque, Abuja. His killers are yet to be apprehended as the assassination remains an unsolved puzzle
Bandits abduct school children in fresh attack in Niger State
On 31 May, armed bandits abducted 93 pupils in an attack on a private Islamic school in Tegina, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State. The school, which consists of nursery and primary sections, offers Islamiyya lessons in the evening and at weekends. The school was located in the same local government area with Kagara, where bandits abducted many students from a government secondary school in February. The bandits demanded a ransom of ₦110 million and threatened to kill the victims but eleven of the students were later released. On Thursday 26 August, the students were released nearly three months after their abduction.
JUNE 2021
Twitter operations suspended indefinitely in Nigeria
On Friday 4 June, the Federal Government suspended indefinitely the operations of microblogging and social networking service Twitter in Nigeria. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, announced the suspension in a statement issued by his office. The statement signed by Ministry spokesperson Segun Adeyemi, cited the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence. According to the statement, the Minister said the Federal Government has also directed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to immediately commence the process of licensing all OTT and social media operations in Nigeria. The suspension comes days after Twitter deleted a tweet from President Muhammadu Buhari’s official account. The tweet had referenced the Nigerian civil war as the President threatened to treat Nigerians “misbehaving” in “the language they understand”.
Despite assurances by Lai Mohammed at different times that Twitter and the Federal Government are close to finding common ground towards lifting of the ban; the service is still unavailable in the country.
Usman Alkali Baba confirmed as Inspector General of Police
On Friday, 4 June, the Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, announced the confirmation of Usman Alkali Baba as the substantive Inspector General of Police. Baba was appointed in April by President Muhammadu Buhari in acting capacity. His confirmation came after a Police Council Meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. President Muhammadu Buhari presided over the meeting which had Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, Kayode Fayemi and others in attendance.
Prophet T.B. Joshua passes on
On Saturday 5 June, Pastor Temitope Balogun Joshua popularly known as T. B. Joshua, was reported dead at the age of 58. He died in Lagos shortly after concluding a programme at his church. TB Joshua was the leader and founder of The Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN), a Christian mega church that runs the Emmanuel TV television station from Lagos and was known for his popularity across Africa and Latin America and his social media presence with 3,500,000 followers on Facebook. His YouTube channel, Emmanuel TV, had over 1,000,000 YouTube subscribers and was the world’s most viewed Christian ministry on the platform before it was suspended. He was buried on 9 July at the church’s premises after an internment service that had dignitaries from around the world.
DSS arrests 3 Israeli filmmakers for supporting IPOB
On Sunday 14 June, news made round that three Israeli filmmakers were apprehended by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) for allegedly supporting the cause of the Nnamdi Kanu led Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The three Isrealis were held at a DSS detention facility. According to the Times of Israel, a Zionist activist, Rudy Rochman, filmmaker Noam Leibman and French-Israeli Journalist E. David Benaym were arrested when they visited Ogidi village, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State to shoot a documentary. The trio was said to have taken off from Ben Gurion Airport, Israel on July 5 and arrived in Nigeria the following day to film the documentary, “We Were Never Lost” which explores Jewish communities in African countries such as Kenya, Madagascar, Uganda, and Nigeria.
The DSS operatives interrogated and detained the crew at a synagogue during Friday night services in Ogidi and were subsequently taken to Abuja. The film makers were later released from detention and landed back in Israel on Thursday 29 July.
Court convicts ex-MD of defunct Bank PHB for N25.7bn fraud
On Wednesday 17 June, an Ikeja High Court sentenced Francis Atuche, a former Managing Director of the defunct Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank), to six years’ imprisonment for defrauding the bank of N25.7 billion. In a 12-hour judgment, Justice Lateefa Okunnu also sentenced Ugo Anyanwu, a former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the bank to four years’ imprisonment. The judge held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) proved beyond reasonable doubt that the convicts committed the fraud. Okunnu however discharged Atuche’s wife Elizabeth, who was facing trial alongside the duo. Atuche and the others had been standing trial in the past 10 years.
Super TV CEO, Usifo Ataga dies in mysterious circumstances
On Sunday 19 June, details emerged of the death of Michael Usifo Ataga, the CEO of Super TV after he was reported missing by concerned friends and family after all efforts to reach him proved abortive. Checks at his Victoria Island office showed he wasn’t there either and this put everyone in a panic mode including his wife and children who reside in Abuja. Unfortunately, his lifeless body was found in a flat in Lekki phase 1 with multiple stab wounds after several withdrawals were made from his account.
A 21-year-old undergraduate of the University of Lagos, Chidinma Ojukwu, was later arrested and paraded for his murder of which she later confessed to and subsequently recanted. She is currently standing trial alongside two others. Chidinma is standing trial alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and one Adedapo Quadri. In November, the trial stalled due to what the court said was the prosecution witness’ lack of composure.
INEC introduces online portal for voters e-registration
On Tuesday 22 June, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in its bid to resume the Continuous Voter Education exercise introduced an online portal for registration. INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, in a statement, titled “Continuous Voter Registration: Media professionals, INEC agrees to sensitise citizens,” said that the online registration will help to reduce the burden of long queues during CVR. On Monday 13, September, the electoral body disclosed that it received 471,384 online applications in its ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration. The commission in its new statistics released, also revealed that a total of 4,225,749 persons have participated in the exercise as 931,768 persons completed both physical and online registration.
Court sentences Farouk Lawan to 7 years imprisonment
On Tuesday 22 June, ex-Member of the House of Representatives, Farouk Lawan, was sentenced to 7 years imprisonment for receiving a $500,000 bribe from Nigerian businessman Femi Otedola. The sentence was given by a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja. Lawan was also ordered to restitute the $500, 000 bribe to the Federal Government. Lawan was a four-term member of the House of Representatives who represented Bagwai/Shanono Federal Constituency of Kano State between 1999 and 2015. He was the Chairman of the House Adhoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy when the $500,000 bribe scandal involving him and Otedola erupted. Lawan was alleged to have demanded $3 million bribe from the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited, Femi Otedola. He was reported to have collected $500,000 in 2 tranches to remove Otedola’s companies’ names from the list of firms indicted by the ad hoc committee for allegedly abusing the fuel subsidy regime in 2012. After a trial spanning many years, the presiding Judge, Justice Angela Otaluka, convicted Lawan on the three-count charge on which he was tried by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC). Lawan was convicted in counts one and two and five years on count three.
IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu re-arrested and extradited to Nigeria
On Sunday 27 June, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, was arrested and brought back to Nigeria to face terrorism charges. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami who made the revelation two days after Kanu was returned to Nigeria said the arrest followed a collaborative effort between security agencies in Nigeria and the Interpol. Malami further disclosed that Kanu would be taken before the Federal High Court in Abuja for continuation of his trial on charges bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, unlawful possession of firearms and management of an unlawful society.
On Tuesday, 29 June, Justice Binta Murtala Nyako ordered the detention of Nnamdi Kanu in Department of State Service (DSS) custody. Nyako ordered the DSS to inform Kanu’s lawyers of his detention and adjourned the case to July 26, 2021. Subsequently he has appeared couple of times before the trial judge. His arrest has prompted weekly Monday sit-at- home in the Southeast by his loyalists. The matter is still before the Federal High Court where the Federal Government have filed additional charges upon him.
JULY 2021
DSS raids Igboho’s Ibadan residence
In the wee hours of July 1, operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) stormed the home of a leader of the Yoruba separatist group, Sunday Adeyemo a.k.a. Sunday Igboho in Soka, Ibadan in a bid to effect his arrest. Peter Afunanya, the DSS spokesperson, said although Igboho escaped, 13 suspects including a female and 12 males were arrested. His vehicles, including his G-wagon, Prado Jeep, and some valuable properties including furniture, and windows were reportedly destroyed.
The attack occurred barely 72 hours to the planned rally in Lagos by Igboho and others to further canvas a Yoruba nation. The DSS spokesperson said a total of seven AK 47 rifles were recovered, alongside pump action guns and 5,000 rounds of ammunition including other weapons. He said security operatives recovered the weapons after a “hot gun duel between them and Igboho’s guards”.
National Assembly passes Petroleum Industry Bill
The two chambers of the National Assembly on July 1 passed the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), after about 13 years of legislative fireworks. The bill was met with heated debates in both chambers especially with regards to the equity share for host communities, and the percentage of profit to be ploughed back into search for oil frontiers but the bill still scaled both chambers and was transmitted to President Muhammadu Buhari for executive assent.
Southern Governors Meet in Lagos, demand unconditional Southern Presidency
Eight weeks after their inaugural meeting in Asaba, Governors from the Southern part of the country converged in Lagos State on July 5. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu hosted his colleagues at the Government House in Alausa for the meeting held behind closed doors for four hours. The Southern Governors’ Forum reviewed the situation in the country and had extensive discussion on the current security situation in the country, constitutional amendment, and the passed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). The forum emerged from the meeting setting a September 1, 2021 deadline for the enacting of law banning open grazing by all Southern States and declaring that the 2023 Presidency be unconditionally zoned to Southern Nigeria by all major political parties.
Nigerian singer Sound Sultan loses battle with Cancer
On 11 July, Nigerian singer Olanrewaju Fasasi, popularly known as Sound Sultan, was reported dead at the age of 44. The singer died after battling Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma.
The statement by the family read, “It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our multitalented veteran singer, rapper, songwriter Olanrewaju Fasasi aka Sound Sultan. He passed away at the age of 44 following a hard-fought battle with Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma. He is survived by his wife, three children and his siblings.
Back in May, news in circulation had it that Sound Sultan was diagnosed with cancer and was in the United States undergoing treatment. This had many fans and well-wishers saying prayers for his speedy recovery through social media posts. He was buried in New Jersey, U.S. the same day he died amid an outpouring of tears.
Topsy-Turvy Journey for Electronic Transmission of Results
On 15 July, the Nigerian Senate voted against the electronic transmission of results. Out of the 109 Senators, 52 voted NO, 28 voted in Favour, while 28 were absent, when the Senate voted on the clause that would have allowed electronic transmission of election results.
Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta), Senator Oluremi Tinubu, wife of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asewaju Bola Tinubu, Senator Smart Adeyemi (Kogi West), a former president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Senator Mohammed Goje, former governor of Gombe and Senator Adamu Aliero, former governor of Kebbi state, top the list of those who voted against electronic transmission of election results.
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, former governor of Abia state who is also the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume from Borno, Senator Bamidele Opeyemi, Senator Uba Sani (Kaduna) and Senator Solomon Adeola, also voted against the provision in the ongoing Electoral Act amendment.
Against the overwhelming calls that the provision is needed to ensure the integrity of election results, the Senate voted against it.
However, On October 12, the Senate bowed to pressure and gave INEC the sole power to determine the mode of transmission of results. This followed the reversal of its earlier decision that INEC may consider the electronic transmission of results “provided national [network] coverage is adjudged to be adequate and secure” by the Nigerian Communications Commission and approved by the National Assembly.
Under a new amendment of Clause 52 (2) of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, the Senate resolved that “voting at an election and transmission of results under this Bill shall be in accordance with the procedure determined by the Commission, which may include electronic voting”.
Shortly after the Senate’s approval, the House of Representatives also passed the bill, completing the process of amending the Electoral Act Amendment Bill. On Tuesday November 9, both Senate and the House of Representatives passed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill which featured the approved electronic transmission of results.
Army General killed in Abuja, wife abducted
On Thursday 16 July, a Director at the Nigerian Army Headquarters in Abuja, Major General Hassan Ahmed, was killed by gunmen in Abaji area of Abuja. The assailants also kidnapped his wife. The couple were coming from Okene, Kogi State when they were attacked.
Sunday Igboho arrested in Benin en route Germany
On 20 July,Sunday Igboho was nabbed in Cotonou, Benin Republic by authorities of the country while he was attempting to flee to Germany through the country. He was expected to be repatriated to Nigeria immediately. However, since his arrest he has been incarcerated in Benin as the legal battle for his repatriation continues till date. The DSS had declared Igboho wanted after a raid on his residence on July 1.
Kidnapping, Release of Bethel Baptist Academy Students
On 25 July, twenty-eight abducted students of Bethel Baptist Academy were released by bandits who had invaded their school along Kaduna-Kachia road in Chikun Local Government Area of the state. Chairman of Kaduna Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. John Hayab, said about 80 students were still being held captive by the bandits. Two of the students had earlier escaped while the bandits released one on health ground. The gunmen had invaded the school on July 5, 2021, and demanded N500,000 for each of the students, after an initial demand for N100m. The Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC) had approached some of its churches in order to raise the ransom demanded by bandits for their release.
In August, 32 of the students further regained freedom leaving 31 still in captivity
However, on September 19, the captors released 10 more students, and on October 8, five more students and one matron were released. While on November 26, after over 150 days in captivity, bandits freed one of the remaining four Bethel Baptist High school students in Kaduna.
Court discharges and acquits El-Zakzaky, wife
On Wednesday July 28, Justice Gideon Kurada of the Kaduna State High Court acquitted and discharged the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibraheem El- Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat Ibrahim who have been standing trial in the court for the past four years. In the judgement, Justice Kurada said the case was not shown nor proven by the prosecutor. El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat, were standing trial on eight counts bordering on alleged culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, disruption of public peace, among others. The defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them. The couple have been in detention since 2015 after IMN supporters clashed with soldiers in Zaria, Kaduna State. Both El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat were released from Kaduna Correctional Centre the next day in compliance with the judgement. According to their lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), they have left Kaduna for an unknown destination.
DCP Abba Kyari implicated in Hushpuppi Criminal Case
On July 29, reports emerged that a US Court has issued a warrant of arrest for Nigeria’s Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Abba Kyari, over his alleged role in Ramon Abbas (Hushpuppi) multi-million dollar fraud probe.
Otis Wright of the United States District Court for the Central District of California ordered the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to track down Kyari and produce him in the United States to face allegations of complicity. Hushpuppi was arrested at Dubai in June 2020 and he pleaded guilty to fraud in the U.S. According to the FBI, Abbas and Kyari have been friends and were both involved in a conspiracy to launder money. It was gathered that court documents revealed that American prosecutors first sought a court warrant to arrest Kyari on February 12, 2021 and a subsequent warrant requested on April 29, 2021.
Kyari however dismissed the allegations of bribe and offered his account of the situation that got him involved with Hushpuppi. On 1 August, the Police Service Commission (PSC) suspended Kyari from office as a deputy commissioner of police and head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT). Kyari’s suspension was based on the recommendation of Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba. The police set up a Special Investigation Panel (SIP) comprising four senior police officers to investigate Mr. Kyari’s relationship with Hushpuppi. The report of the panel has since been withheld from the public who have seen recent developments in the matter undisclosed to them.
CBN Bans Bureau de Change operators
On 27 July, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced the end of foreign exchange (Forex) sales and new license approval to BDCs operators in the country.
Emefiele noted with disappointment and concern that the BDCs had defeated their purpose of existence which is he provision of Forex for retail use but instead they had become wholesale and illegal dealers making the ban necessary as the parallel market has become a conduit for illicit forex flows and graft.
AUGUST 2021
Supreme Court Affirms Buni’s Leadership of APC
On 5 August, the Supreme Court upheld that the leadership of Governor Mai Mala Buni chairmanship of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was legal and lawful. The apex court also held that Mai Mala Buni’s position as Acting Chairman of the Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee is not contrary to the provision of Section 183 of the CFRN as same is on a temporary basis which is not akin to Executive office or paid employment, as enunciated by Section 183 of the CFRN. The judgement came on the heels of controversies over Governor Mai Mala Buni’s headship of the National Caretaker Committee of APC, following a Supreme Court judgement in favour of APC’s Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State
Buni has continued in his position as APC chairman as the party is planning to hold an elective national convention come February 2022. However, opposition and attacks on his position have continued unabated. On 22 November, Youths of the party, under the aegis of The Progressive Youth Movement, purported to have sacked the party’s Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), for alleged failure, among others and went on to elect a new interim CECPC to be led by the son of late Kogi state Governor, Abubakar Audi; a move that was swiftly discarded as a mere distraction by the ruling party
Many killed in Attacks on Plateau’s Rukuba Community
On Saturday 14 August, Jos, the Plateau state capital erupted in violence following attack on commuters in Rukuba area of Jos North. A total of 23 persons were reportedly killed and 23 injured. Governor Simon Lalong condemned the attacks and later announced that Jos North, Jos South and Bassa Local Government areas shall observe a curfew from 6p.m to 6a.m. On Wednesday, 25, August, the Plateau state government re-imposed curfew on Jos North, this followed a renewal of attacks that left some people dead and several others injured.
Buhari signs PIB into Law
On 16 August, President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Petroleum Industry Bill 2021 into law.
The Petroleum Industry Act provides legal, governance, regulatory and fiscal framework for the Nigerian petroleum industry, the development of host communities, and related matters.
The Senate and House of Representatives had passed the Bill the previous month thus ending a long wait since early 2000s, and notching credit for the Buhari administration.
Former Deputy Senate President Ibrahim Mantu dies
On Tuesday, 17 August, former Plateau Central Senator and deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ibrahim Nasiru Mantu, was reported dead. It was gathered that he died in the early hours of the day. The late former Deputy Senate President was buried that same day.
EFCC Arrests ex- Abia Governor Theodore Orji and Son over alleged Fraud
On Thursday 20, August, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested Senator Theodore Orji, a former governor of Abia State. He was arrested in Abuja and detained at the headquarters of the agency. Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesman, confirmed Orji’s arrest but did not go into details. Orji, who currently represents Abia Central Senatorial District, governed Abia State between 2007 and 2015. He was intercepted at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at about 10am and was grilled alongside his son Chinedu, who is the speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly. Orji and his sons, Chinedu and Ogbonna, are under investigation by the EFCC for offences bordering on misappropriation of public funds and money laundering. Orji and his son were later granted an administrative bail after facing hours of interrogation at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja at about 9 p.m. the same day.
Bichi roll out the drums as President Buhari’s son Yusuf, Marries Emir’s Daughter
On Friday 20th August, the ancient town of Bichi, Kano State went agog as the son of President Muhammadu Buhari, Yusuf, married the daughter of the Emir of Bichi named Zahra Nasiru Ado-Bayero. President Buhari, who is the father of the bridegroom, was among thousands of dignitaries who attended the wedding. The wedding Fatiha was conducted at the Emir’s Palace, with the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami presiding after the payment of N500,000 as dowry. Alhaji Aminu Dantata stood as representative of the bride, while Alhaji Mamman Daura stood for the bridegroom during the wedding.
Dignitaries that attended the wedding included Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Senate President, Mohammed Lawan; Aso Rock Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari and several state Governors. Others were Ministers, Members of the National and State Assembly, Emirs, diplomats, politicians and well-wishers, among others.
Former First Lady, Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi Dies At 97
On Monday 23, August, wife of Nigeria’s first Military Head of State, Major General Johnson Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, passed on. Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi, who served as First Lady between January and July 1966, was 97 when she died. She spent her last hours at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia in Abia State. Her husband and former Head of State Aguiyi-Ironsi was killed in Ibadan, Oyo State, on July 29, 1966, in one of Nigeria’s bloodiest coups. She reportedly never remarried and had eight children who were taken and cared for by nuns in Ibadan during the Nigerian civil war. They include a former Defence Minister and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Togo, Amb. Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi.
She was buried on Friday 6 November in her husband’s country home in Umuezuwere Umuana-Ndume in Umuahia, Abia State.
The travails of Uche Secondus
On 24, August, a Rivers State High court sitting in Degema ordered the immediate suspension from office of the National chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus. The court also restrained Secondus from parading himself as the National Chairman of the party. The order was given by Justice O. Gbasam. Furthermore, the judge approved the suspension of Secondus as a member of the party pending the hearing and determination of motion on notice for interlocutory injunction. The order followed a complaint brought before the court by some aggrieved members of party. However, on August 27 the Kebbi State High Court in Birnin-Kebbi restored Secondus’ mandate as the national chairman of the PDP, and the next day another the High Court in Calabar, Cross River State, issued an interim order restraining him from resuming office as PDP chairman.
After a leadership crisis that threatened to put the party in another litigation path was averted, Secondus was subsequently replaced by Ayorchia Ayu at the PDP’s national convention that took place on 30 October in Abuja.
Bandits Attack NDA, Abduct Senior Officers
On Tuesday 24 August, armed bandits invaded the Afaka barracks of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna killing two officers. Reports also disclosed that the bandits reportedly kidnapped two majors during the attack. The bandits, who have attacked the barracks around 1am were said to still be inside the academy and that the security has been beefed up within and around the barracks to stop the bandits from escaping with the officers.
On Friday 17 September, the abducted officer, Major CL Datong, finally regained his freedom.
The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Colonel Ezindu Idimah who confirmed the development, said Datong was rescued by troops. According to him, the operations leading to his rescue led to the destruction of several identified bandits’ camps in Afaka- Birnin Gwari areas of the state, revealing that scores of bandits were killed during the operation, particularly in the late hours of September 17, 2021.
CJN Summons 6 Chief Judges over conflicting court orders
On Monday 30 August, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad summoned six Chief Judges in the country over the conflicting court orders emanating from their states within one month. Justice Mohammed, who is the Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC), issued the summons to the Chief Judges in Abuja. The affected Chief Judges are to appear before the NJC to explain what warranted the issuance of conflicting orders by courts of coordinate jurisdiction. Among the Chief judges summoned includes those of Rivers, Kebbi, Cross Rivers, Anambra, Jigawa and Imo states
Consequently, on 16 December, the NJC refused to promote three judges who issued conflicting orders in the leadership crisis that dogged the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) this year. They judges were barred by the NJC from elevation to either the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court. The judges are Okogbule Gbasam of the High Court of Rivers State, Nusirat Umar of the High Court of Kebbi State and Edem Kooffreh of the High Court of Cross River State.
TO BE CONCLUDED…