“If they go about solving the problem this way, how many more problems will they have created by the time they are through” -James Baldwin, 1924-1987, VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, VBQ, p201, available online.

By any objective measure known to adults globally, what we have on our hands with regard to fuel problem is a fiasco. You cannot ask any of those in control of our fate in this regard a straight question and receive a reliable answer. Two Presidents, the Minister of Petroleum, the Minister of State for Petroleum, the Minister of Finance, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, the Debt Management Office, DMO, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, all the regulatory commissions and agencies of government. The conspiracy of falsehood started since the Dangote Refinery was nearing, but still far from, completion in March 2023.

As many Nigerian observers will recollect, President Buhari commissioned the Dangote Refinery using the language that gave the impression that fuel production would start within a few months. We now know the truth. Buhari and Dangote just wanted the former President to be the one to have his name on the refinery plaque instead of his successor. Among the promises made or implied were the following: The refinery would end fuel scarcity and queues at filling stations; it would crash the price of petrol which was about N180 per litre at the time and create 150,000 jobs-directly or indirectly. The impression was also given that Nigeria’s four refineries would be resuscitated to complement the Dangote Refinery supply; and, government would no longer dictate fuel price. It all sounded great then; but my Fellow Nigerians have failed to understand one abiding truth.

“Every government is run by liars; and nothing they say should be believed” – I. F. Stone, 1907-1989, VBQ p80.

Of all the entries in my book of quotations, this I perhaps the one most frequently used; and for easily demonstrable reasons. In Nigeria and elsewhere in the world, the totally honest politician is almost impossible to find. Since politicians run for office, the electorate in every country is condemned to choosing between all the available dissemblers running for office. That, however, is in even a so-called democracy. In totalitarian regimes, the people are destined to accepting the falsehood published by their captors. Nigerian politicians are not the worst by any means; in fact they are better than those in Cameroon or Afghanistan. When it comes to peddling untruths, they are ranking amateurs. That is why what they say is so often easy to disprove – as in the issue of petroleum resources and fuel. Everything that was said by virtually everybody in government and the private sector providers had turned out to be false.

WAS DANGOTE REFINERY ESTABLISHED TO STOP IMPORTATION?

“I am beginning to wonder how many fools it takes to make the term ‘My Fellow Citizens'” – Honore de Balzac, 1799-1850, in LOST ILLUSIONS.

Most of the 220 million Nigerians alive today are not in any way better than their forefathers. Ask anybody if there was free education in the old Western Region?

And, ninety-nine per cent of the time, the answer would be “yes”. I thought so too until August 1964 when I took my Economics la Course at the university in the US. The lecturer would usually start his first class by telling a story which I will repeat below. A young prince, 12, became king when his father, just 40, suddenly died. Not wanting to make terrible mistakes in governance, the monarch gathered all the leading experts in every field – including economics – and instructed them to summarise the ideas, principles, laws etc in their fields. All returned three months after with truckloads of documents; which overwhelmed the poor youth. He asked for further reductions. They returned with twenty four pages of Executive Summary. Finally, like all those with absolute power; he ordered that the ideas be reduced to one sentence. The economists quickly put their heads together and the leader raised his hand; after being recognised he pronounced: “There is no such thing as a free lunch.” For that matter, there is no such thing as free education, free health service and there should be no free ride on highways. I raised my hand out of ignorance to state categorically that “there is free education in the Western Region of Nigeria, Sir.” Dr Cohen looked up; and said:

“You are the third Nigerian who would repeat that statement in my class. How many more fools are there in your country; who cannot distinguish between ‘free and public education?’ What is practised in Nigeria is public education, just like several countries in the world. The taxpayers are paying for that gimmick.” I would have gladly crawled into a hole if one had opened up. I learnt a simple economic principle the hard way. Later, in the third year, I received another knock on the head to drive home a truth which has escaped many Nigerians today. The professor teaching Business and Economy, when opening the section on ‘Entrepreneurship’, would kick off by announcing that the capitalist investor is motivated primarily by his desire to make as much money as possible.

He does not start a business for any other reason. That is why it was at first amusing, and later alarming, to me when several self-deluded Nigerians, including President Buhari, the CBN Governor, financial/economic analysts and commentators, assumed that the Dangote Refinery was being established to stop fuel importation, to create jobs and to grow the Gross Domestic Product, GDP, of Nigeria. Starting with that fallacy, they quickly jumped to the fatal conclusion that Dangote must be given 100 per cent support to achieve his objectives; apparently without regard to the individual and collective interests of “Fellow Nigerians”. Well, the Dangote Refinery is here. Why then are we paying N1, 200/litre for petrol which we fetched for N180/litre before it was established? I must have been one of the few Nigerians who knew right from the beginning that Nigerians were being taken for an unpleasant ride. For reasons I don’t now want to disclose, it is my candid view that the establishment of Dangote Refinery is not the salvation we expected. Most certainly, it will not crash fuel price as expected.

WHERE IS GOVERNMENT IN ALL THESE?

“Leadership is always mysterious. Leadership can be summed up in two words: Intelligence and integrity, or to use two synonyms: Competence and character” – John Brademas, US Congressman, VBQ p125.

Think of anyone in top government positions – Presidency, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, National Assembly, CBN and the Departments and Agencies – who had an official role to play in getting Dangote, the four refineries and Nigerians into this quagmire. Think again of the words – intelligence, integrity, competence and character. Then, ask yourself: Which of these attributes can be applied to any of them? All of a sudden, it becomes clear why our present predicament is inevitable; and the self-delusion, which one of their yes-men call “optimism”, is totally not in the national or personal interest. They should have known that the Dangote Refinery would not alone solve our fuel problems; that the four refineries were septic tanks into which they were throwing public funds without the scantiest hope of returns. Yet, they granted Dangote all sorts of concessions; promoted the idea that, once started, it would crash fuel prices and stop imports. The tissue of lies has been exposed because all lies have an expiry date; and the time is up for these ones.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and the GMD-NNPCL promised Nigerians that the Port-Harcourt and Warri refineries would begin fuel supplies by December last year. Ten months after, there has been no fuel from the two.

In July, the National Assembly was told that crude oil production would reach two million barrels per day, mbpd, and Nigeria would be exporting fuel by December. Who, in his right senses, now believes the two? More to the point: Why are they still in office?

A shocked world watched as the Nigerian government exhibited in court at least 28 malnourished and unkempt children it has kept in prison and detention centres for three months for allegedly engaging in public protests.

The children are charged in blatant violation of Section 204 of the Child Rights Act of 2003 which states that children under 18 should not be tried in the criminal justice system, but rather in the child justice system. 

Their arraignment also violates this Act which expressly states that children under 18 cannot be sentenced to capital punishment, imprisonment or corporal punishment.

But the Nigeria Police has turned itself into a court and over-ruled this Act. The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in defending the arraignment of minors said: “Under Nigerian law, individuals who have reached the age of criminal responsibility are answerable for their actions, regardless of their age. This principle aligns with global practices where accountability is upheld for young individuals who commit serious offences. As seen in other jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom, age does not exempt individuals from facing legal consequences.”

The Nigeria Police reference to the United Kingdom, UK, shows the failure of our education system. Since when has the UK become our standard of civilization? It is a country built on a mentality of dominance, exploitation and subjugation of other peoples. 

In one of the greatest struggles of humanity, the UK and its American clone supported, financed, armed and shielded the Apartheid regime in South Africa. They also designated the liberation movements and liberation fighters like Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Ruth First and Joe Slovo as terrorists. We Nigerians stood in sharp contrast to all these and fought, along with other peoples, until Apartheid was decisively crushed. So if such countries send children to prison or the gas chamber, how can that be the standard we should adopt in handling the Nigerian child?

The children were part of the 76 brought to court on charges of treason, terrorism, and arson which carry the death penalty.

 All accused were malnourished. When four of the accused slumped, the unfeeling police claimed they were merely staging a Nollywood drama. ACP Adejobi said this was “deliberate and scripted” to draw negative attention. So, did they also stage-manage their malnourished and starving bodies? 

A police force that should apologise for reducing Nigerian children and suspects to near skeletons talks about drama. Does that not speak volumes of the malnourished thought process in the force? A police force that could not see what the rest of the world was seeing.

When the police lawyer told the world that the cry against arraigning minors should not arise as anybody above seven years is ripe to be charged, he gave the false impression that Nigerians have no human feelings.

First, our laws presume an accused innocent until found guilty. So why are the accused treated like convicts? Why is the police subjecting them to such inhuman treatment that can lead to some of them losing their lives even before taking a plea? Are we sure some have not already ‘travelled’ before the rest were brought to court on Friday November 1, 2024? 

Justice Obiora Egwuatu granted bail of N10 million bond and one surety to each of the “adults”. He ruled that the surety to be presented by each of them must be at least a Level 15 civil servant with verifiable address in Abuja. For the underage defendants, he ordered that they only require their “parents or guardians” to stand as their sureties. 

Quite thoughtful of the judge. But given the sorry state of the 76 persons before him, what I expected him to do was first to call in doctors to examine the accused and ensure they are fed as starvation is not part of our legal process.

Secondly, as a justice of the court, did he think the faces before him could meet such stringent conditions? Besides, the children and adults have already spent three months in prison custody on the orders of Justice Egwuatu. Did the judge reflect that he was sending minors to prison custody rather than a remand home? Does he think the ends of justice would be served by such bail conditions?  

Lord Denning said: “When a judge sits to try the case, he himself is on trial before his fellow countrymen. It is on his behaviour that they will form their opinion of our system of justice.”

Mercifully, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN has stepped in and directed that the police hands over the case file. But is he just learning about the case? Was his office unaware that children have been held in prison and police detention for three months? Is he aware that the government he serves as Minister of Justice is asking for the death penalty for children and youths it claims committed treason during constitutionally-sanctioned protests?

I have read arguments that the children committed treason by carrying Russian flags. Is that why they should be killed? Are foreign flags, particularly American and British flags, not flown in our hotels and taxis?

There is also the demand for the lives of the children on the basis that they called for military rule. My position is that if a 14-year-old makes such a call, what we need do is explain to him why such a call is wrong, not to demand for his life.  Please, nobody should sermonise to me why military rule is dangerous; I lived through it. I was a human rights and pro-democracy activist when the military held sway in the country, killing the innocent, making orphans of children, destroying the economy, privatising our national wealth and reversing our gains as a people. I was threatened a number of times by the Directorate of Military Intelligence, detained by the State Security Services, SSS, lost friends like Bagauda Kaltho, whose corpse has not been released 28 years after he was murdered. I know the bestiality that is military misrule for which human life meant nothing. 

These children don’t know what military rule is, so we need to educate them. 

We need to teach them that the military, in one day, shot dead 118 Nigerians on the streets of Lagos just to stop a pro-democracy protest on July 6, 1993. We need to teach them how the military set up death squads killing innocent people like Mrs Kudirat Abiola and shooting defenceless people like Mr. Alex Ibru and Senator Abraham Adesanya. These are lessons we can teach the children here on earth and not after they are despatched to Heaven as their arraignment suggests. 

The simple demand to  government is: set the captives free!

Controversial cross-dresser Idris Okuneye has reportedly departed Nigeria just days after being released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The embattled cross-dresser shared a video of himself aboard what appeared to be a plane, revealing a screen that hinted at his destination. In the video, he announced that he was traveling on a first-class ticket.

“See you soon, Nigeria. This girl bought a first-class ticket three times; that’s over 30 million. Raise the bar for this girl,” he declared. 

In another video featuring a picture of his international passport, he remarked, “That passport disfigured my picture.”

Bobrisky’s departure comes on the heels of his recent arrest by the EFCC. His legal troubles began in April 2024 with a six-month sentence for naira abuse, but reports indicated he spent only three weeks in Kirikiri Prison before being discreetly relocated.

In September, tensions escalated when social media influencer Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, released an audio recording that purportedly featured Bobrisky discussing bribing EFCC officials to dismiss money laundering charges.

On Thursday night, Bobrisky was stopped and removed from an Amsterdam-bound KLM flight at Murtala Muhammed International Airport while attempting to travel to London.

[Vanguard]

“The partiality that inevitably affects judges has been noted in cases with a political flavour.” – David Pannick, KC, Judges, p. 44 (1987)

The state as we know it enjoys three notional monopolies. One is a monopoly of legitimate taxation. The second is a monopoly of the legitimate instrumentality of violence; and the third is a monopoly of legitimate dispute resolution. In Nigeria, all three monopolies are now contested by non-state entities.

Of these three monopolies, many focus on the legitimate instrumentality of violence but it is the capacity of a state to resolve disputes lawfully and peacefully among those who live in it that makes the other two monopolies worthwhile. That is why courts, administrative and even traditional institutions exist.

David Pannick, KC reminds us that “as part of the function of deciding disputes, the courts provide a public service, at almost no charge to customers (who pay for their lawyers but not for the judge and the courtroom).” This is the ideal. Nigeria’s judicial system is in a profound crisis of legitimacy today because of ample evidence suggesting strongly that the requirement that litigants should not pay for the judge or the courtroom may not apply to certain categories, especially among political litigants. 

To be clear, the most important reasons for which people sometimes end up in court often are not things to which it is possible to assign any value – dignity, equity, justice, memory, safety or human life. These are all invaluable. Without them, organised society fails. Jurisprudence is the system for organising knowledge about judicial decisions that ultimately deliver and govern these invaluable public goods.

However, judicial business is not confined to these. Many disputes that end up in court involve property or things of material value, such as land, inheritance, shares, stocks, or chattels. Some others may extend to intangibles of value, such as status or reputation. There could also be cases concerning access to political power from which perch the people involved hope to reap benefits that are material in consequence. 

These are all things for which the currency of transaction or exchange is money. In Nigerian parlance, that is called “kudi”. When a court system prioritises disputes affecting things measured in the currency of money over things that are entirely invaluable, it replaces a system of jurisprudence in favour of a preoccupation with “kudisprudence”.

By way of full disclosure, I did not invent this expression, “kudisprudence”. I was introduced to it by a friend and schoolmate of long-standing who also happens to be a diligent senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). He has not licensed me to disclose his identity, and I am obliged to respect his anonymity. 

Two cases occurred this past week to illustrate how this distinction between jurisprudence and kudisprudence affects judicial decision-making in Nigeria. On 30 October, the police arraigned a member of the house of representatives, Mascot Ikwechegh, on charges of assault against a gig-economy driver working with Bolt. A now viral video clip showed Ikwechegh had assaulted the driver in words and deed. He called the driver vermin in different forms and threatened to “disappear” him without consequences, before proceeding to satiate on the driver his thirst for physical violence.

For those conversant with that Nigerian rat-killer, the material on the video clip portrayed Ikwechegh as the member representing “Otapiapia” Federal Constituency in the Rat Killers Assembly. On his arraignment, the court granted him bail on an oral application in the sum of N500,000 with sureties who only had to show evidence of utility bills for proof of their residence. The case was adjourned for one week.

Two days later, on 1 November, another court in the same Abuja was host to proceedings charging at least 114 children according to the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, with treasonable felony. These charges arose in connection with the #EndBadGovernment protests which occurred last August around the country. Arrested in different locations in northern Nigeria reportedly, these children were transferred to Abuja where they had been detained en masse for 93 days. 

On arraignment, they all looked “visibly unwell and malnourished.” In their short spell in court, at least four of them suffered fainting feats. Having beheld all of this, the presiding judge promptly rewarded the children with bail in the sum of N10 million each or a total of N1.14 billion, with two sureties each of whom must be a senior federal civil servant of at least Grade Level 15. He adjourned the case to 24 January 2025. These terms were manifestly such that none of these children can hope to comply.

This is a court system in which material things, such as status, make all the difference between receiving justice or being on the end of the administration of law even when it is manifestly unjust. The parliamentarian received jurisprudence from a court system that was happy to serve malnourished children with anything but that.

There is an even more worrying scenario to which the expression “kudisprudence” may be applied. That can be the case where a judicial decision follows upon a bargain – implicit or explicit – between a judge or magistrate on the one hand and a party (disclosed or undisclosed) on the other. This was the sense in which Stanislav Andrzejewski, the former Polish soldier and prisoner-of-war who founded the Sociology Department at the University of Reading in England coined the word “kleptocracy” in 1968, which he defined as “a system of government [that] consists precisely of the practice of selling what the law forbids to sell.” Among the things a kleptocracy can buy and sell in its political open market, Professor Andrzejewski included “even judges.”

The fact that kudisprudence in the second sense occurs in certain courts in Nigeria is not in question. Many disciplinary cases concluded by the National Judicial Council (NJC), no less, testify to this fact. The only issue left to be determined is how pervasive this is. One thing seems clear: political cases increasingly appear to suggest – very much as David Pannick writes – a higher predisposition to what look like outcomes of kudisprudence. 

For evidence of how this system of kudisprudence can work, a recent report by the advocacy group, Citizen Gavel, names a notorious former governor and current minister who has a long track record of “building judicial infrastructure and offering other forms of support” to the judiciary in acts of generosity that “often coincide with periods when he has faced significant legal challenges. This raises the possibility that these actions may have indirectly influenced judicial decisions.”

In its nature, judicial quid pro quo does not necessarily occur on social media or with receipts. Verified cases are more likely than not to be fewer in fact than the number of actual incidents. Many more followers of the recent goings on in Nigeria’s judicial system may themselves have evidence to conclude that it has evolved from a system of jurisprudence to one preoccupied with kudisprudence. 

On its own, that would be sufficient cause for worry; but the reason the system now suffers an overwhelming sense of crisis of credibility is because it cannot be ruled out that this preoccupation with kudisprudence in the first sense is not the result (in a significant number particularly of political cases), of kudisprudence in the second – transactional – sense. 

David Pannick concludes that courts offer to “those who are greedy, vexatious, exhibitionist, aspiring to canonisation, or just plain impossible a platform to perform.” Every one of them has a right to a court system that regards the public interest in justice as something that money cannot buy.

A lawyer and a teacher, Odinkalu may be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Across the world, there is a consensus that Nigeria is a very strategic country. Its enormous population size of more than 200 million people clearly sets it apart as one of the most populous destinations on earth, and home to the largest concentration of black people in the world. Our beloved country is also renowned for its large mineral deposits and extensive gas reserves, economic and political influence in Africa, especially in the West African region. This great nation also enjoys longstanding trade and diplomatic relationships with the most dominant global powers including the US, China, and the European Union.

Beyond all of these, and as important as they are, my estimation of the most important strength of Nigeria lies in the dynamic adaptability, intellect and resilience of our people. Our true greatness, I dare say, comes from the power and reach of ordinary Nigerians, the individuals whose energy, passion and imagination are creatively expanding the frontiers of our awareness, interactions, and the cultural memories we shall leave for future generations. Through the traffic gridlocks along Lagos roads to the ever-busy markets in Aba and Kano, the most common descriptions that capture the Nigerian spirit are energy, resilience, creativity and industry. Outside the shores of our country, from Washington to Boston, London, Brussels, Rio de Janeiro and Shanghai, Nigerians are remarkable for our exceptional ability to adapt to new environments and realities, systems and cultures.

Nigeria, many who are familiar with the country and its dominant ethos will agree, is a very beautiful country; but it is also a deeply controversial place. To the incurable optimist, Nigeria is the most fantastic place on earth — good weather condition, friendly population and a fine mix of urban and sub-urban locations. At the opposite end of the pole are implacable cynics, those who can effortlessly place all the troubles in the world within Nigeria’s geographic boundaries. This latter group are very likely to remember Nigeria as the origin of most of the scam proposals that hit their emails, a place of poverty and hopelessness, and definitely, a country with very corrupt political and business elites. In all honesty, there is no exact way to exhaustively look at Nigeria. To be able to understand it quite objectively, one must appreciate the good without attempting to downplay the not-so-good. Nigeria is troubled and that’s very true. But it is also a place of opportunities, a land of dreams and a cradle of hope for tens of millions of people. To properly situate Nigeria’s objective reality is a very difficult assignment; it requires one to take a step back, and then gaze into the future to imagine what could be, as against what is, and what was.

Nigeria at the beginning of the new millennium was a place of hope, a land brimming with expectations. Many had looked forward to the future with great optimism around the middle of 1999 as the country, after years of uncertainty with its attendant cost in human lives and material resources, returned to democratic rule. The return to democracy at the end of the 20^th century was believed in many quarters, and for good reasons too, as the ultimate elixir to catapult Nigeria to its true place of greatness. The rich promises of democracy, and the enthusiasm with which it was embraced after years of anticipation, convinced many that the 21^st century was ours to take.

In view of our ugly experiences with military dictators headlined by false and unfulfilled promises, corruption and plain disregard for civil rights, millions of Nigerians pinned their hopes of national revival on the shoulders of the newly elected democratic leaders, believing firmly that the participatory governance model will usher in a new era of mass prosperity, restoration and expansion of our stock of public infrastructure, and ascension in the order of global importance. It has been 25 long years since Nigeria took this path; sadly, the outcome has been a far cry from what was expected at the turn of the new millennium.

Democracy in Nigeria has regrettably left very sour taste in the mouths of millions of patriotic citizens. Many lives have been lost through violence, often in pursuit of core democratic ideals such as exercising one’s right to vote or be voted for. Millions have fled their communities and the country altogether — believing that it is safer to watch things from afar, without the risks of getting involved. For scores of millions of others, their faith in democracy has been greeted with eviscerating poverty, insecurity and job losses. The basic amenities that are taken for granted, even in neighbouring African countries, are a distant reality for millions of our people.

Across Nigeria, there is disillusionment with how the country has fared over the last 25 years. In 1999, it would have been impossible to suggest that after twenty five years, we will still be struggling with public electricity supply, petrol scarcity or that the public schools and hospitals would be where they are today. Unfortunately, that is our reality. Getting out of the quagmire requires some truth telling, an honest assessment and an admission that we could have done better — and then evaluate the options before us.

Across the world, there is a great reawakening amongst the Nigerian diaspora community, the body of professionals and the army of educated but thoroughly dissatisfied young people who are simply frustrated with the reality and misery of their daily existence. Many Nigerians living within and outside the country are coming to the awareness that the destiny of our country is too important to be left in the hands of career politicians and their cronies. This is not a good time to talk about patriotism to millions of our compatriots because of the bad experiences, unpleasant memories, and ugly reports we are regularly fed with, some bordering on the most bizarre and ridiculous. Our situation, to say the least, is very distressing.

Although doubts and cynicisms remain about what to do and what outcomes may be achieved in the renewed agitation for a country that serves the yearnings of its citizens, the new consciousness that we deserve better, could be a great turning point in our journey to national restoration. It needs to be said at once that the efforts to turn things around will not yield immediate results and not much will be achieved if we imagine that the quest for a more functional society should only be restricted to just a few persons or groups. While I would agree that like in every significant venture, some persons will, for variety of reasons, make more sacrifices than others, it must nevertheless be made known that there is a role for everyone in the on-going struggle to reclaim our country from the grip of the vicious forces that have held it down for ages, and finally set it free to attain its fullest potential.

Although it is true that Nigerians must, as a matter of patriotic duty, stay at the forefront of this enormous struggle to tilt things along a more productive path, it has to equally be acknowledged that we shall need all the help we can get from our friends around the world to rebuild our country from the ruins of the bad decisions of yesteryears. The crises of today, including challenges in governance, economic upheavals, widespread insecurity across several parts of the country, hunger and poverty, and other pointers to national failure, can be traced to the misjudgements of the past — especially in our choice of leaders across the national and subnational levels, and the terrible decisions made by those leaders on our collective behalf. We can no longer afford to play the ostrich. Nigeria is where it is today because we had either refused to fully acknowledge, and take up our obligations as patriots, or had gone about it the wrong way in the choices we made over the years. The good news however is that our country is not beyond redemption, irrespective of whatever doomsday cynics say.

Nigeria, and its democracy, can be recovered and restored but that will only happen when we come to terms with the responsibilities and obligations of citizenship. The inescapable truth is that our duties as citizens, leaders, friends and lovers of Nigeria can no longer be put off. The only way out of the present quagmire which has made millions of Nigerians refugees in their homelands and hundreds of thousands of others unwilling migrants overseas, is to appreciate that as citizens, we have all it takes to turn the tide around.

The theme of our intervention today rightly acknowledges that all is not well, that democracy has not taken us to the destination we desire — that what started as a beautiful dream, has become for millions, a terrible nightmare. Freedom comes from knowledge so we have to ask ourselves the hard questions that will ultimately bring us to the place where responsibility replaces blames and all fingers pointed outwards, towards others, redirected at ourselves.

Democracy can be likened to a medical prescription. In regular medical prescriptions, there are responsibilities the patient must undertake to bear such as avoiding certain foods and beverages, and other exposures that may hurt the potency of the drugs administered. This same system of regulations and responsibilities applies to democracy. Unfortunately, that is where we have largely failed because we had assumed, perhaps in error, that once this prescription is taken, all will be well, irrespective of what we did, or refused to do. Regrettably, that has not worked. The failures of the last 25 years, vis-à-vis the progress recorded in other democratic societies across the world, even within Africa, tells us clearly that the fault is not in democracy, but in the way we have interacted with it. Like the man who hopes to overcome his health challenges by diligently taking his drugs, the time has come for us to go through the prescription booklets, read the fine prints to find out what we may have missed. Returning to the basics will help us to get our acts together in terms of how we make choices at the polls, and interact with public officials, whether elected or appointed. We may also need to re-evaluate how we engage with the broad spectrum of stakeholders, officials and institutions including the law enforcement agencies, political parties, law makers and of course, the courts. From a careful study of governance systems across the world, one thing I can say with certainty is that democracy and docility cannot go together.

The most enduring appeal of democracy is the voice it gives every adult in the society — an opportunity to have a say in how public affairs are conducted. The ultimate good for the majority cannot be attained in a culture that promotes docility over courage, especially when things are not going according to plan. It is, however, important to state quickly that courage must never be misrepresented to mean violence and destruction. As a matter of fact, democracy abhors violence expressed in any form, verbally or physically.

The tremendous advances in information and communications technology offer us an important leverage previous generations never had. The key advantage for me is the reach and influence of new media platforms — the power to share our thoughts and views on any major issue with millions of people across geographical boundaries. If what you say or write from a small corner of your room anywhere in the world can be read or heard thousands of miles away with very little effort on your part, why then does anyone need to burn down public buildings or destroy the property of fellow citizens to get the attention of leaders? It may be news to many but I can assure you that even the most hardened, unconscionable dictator pays attention to the expressed opinions and views of the public because every man or woman of power understands the power of small voices amplified by technology and persistence.

To rebuild the damaged foundation of our democracy, we need to regain our voices. I am not ignorant of the frustration and disappointment millions of our young people feel in the light of recent electoral outcomes where you contributed financial and other valuable resources to support your favourite candidates in state and national elections but unfortunately, things did not go the way those who designed the structural foundations of democracy envisioned.

As somebody who had faced the challenge that comes with electoral injustice, I know exactly what many of our young patriots are going through but my story also teaches some important lessons in persistence and faith, especially in the face of disappointment. We must refuse to give up on democracy, and on our dear country. The young people of Nigeria, at home and in the diaspora, will be the largest and most enduring influence on the texture and dynamics of Nigeria’s democracy in the next 25 years. It is these young, seemingly uncoordinated voices on various social media platforms that will determine what becomes of our democracy in the next few decades. Admitted that the social and economic troubles of the moment have made the pursuit of certain democratic ideals herculean, my conviction is that nothing will stop the present generation of young Nigerians from fulfilling their destiny, having discovered it in the miseries and setbacks of the present age.

These are excerpts of a paper presented by Dr Otti, OFR, the Executive Governor of Abia State at the October 2024 “Nigeria in the World” Seminar

Mazi Afam Osigwe SAN,

The President,

Nigerian Bar Association,

National Secretariat (NBA House), 

Plot 1101, Mohammadu Buhari Way,

Abuja, FCT.

Dear Mazi Osigwe SAN,

Beyond The Condemnation Of Trial Of Minors For Treason 

I commend the Nigerian Bar Association, under your able leadership, for condemning the arraignment of malnourished children for treason and allied offences at the Abuja Judicial Division of the Federal High Court on the 1st day of November, 2024. 

The arraignment of three groups of 130 #endbadgovernance protesters by the Nigeria Police Force constitutes a gross abuse of prosecutorial powers. It is hoped that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi SAN, who has since taken over the cases, will terminate them without any further delay. 

Having fought and won the legal battle that culminated in the judicial recognition of the fundamental rights of Nigerian citizens to protest against unpopular policies of governments, we have decided to lead the legal defence of the 130 #endbadgovernance protesters. Even though we are convinced that the frivolous charges will be withdrawn by the Federal Government or dismissed by the trial court, it is pertinent to review the massive infringement of the fundamental rights of citizens for protesting against the implementation of the neoliberal economic policies of the Bola Tinubu administration.

However, it is common knowledge that the fundamental rights of children and other citizens to dignity, liberty and fair hearing are regularly violated by security agencies in all the states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory. To that extent, the Nigerian Bar Association should go beyond the condemnation of the arraignment of the #EndBadGovernance protesters including malnourished children. 

It is high time that the Nigerian Bar Association took advantage of the provisions of the Constitution, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and relevant international human rights instruments to put an end to the reckless violations of the fundamental rights of poor and vulnerable citizens in the country. 

As you are no doubt aware, section 34 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 and section 70 of the Police Establishment Act, 2020 have imposed a duty on every Chief Magistrate to visit all police stations in their jurisdiction at least once a month. 

During the visit, the Chief Magistrate is empowered to grant bail to detainees or order that they be arraigned in a competent court. Any officer found to have violated the rights of suspects and other detainees shall be reported to the appropriate authorities for necessary disciplinary action. In the same vein, High Court Judges are empowered to conduct visits to all other detention facilities in their jurisdiction with a view to protecting the rights of detainees therein.

But due to the failure of Chief Magistrates and Judges to perform the duty of visiting police stations and other detention facilities in the country, the illegal arrest, detention and extortion of poor and vulnerable citizens have been on the ascendancy throughout the country. We are therefore compelled to urge you to prevail on the members of the Human Rights Committees of the 128 branches of the Nigerian Bar Association to accompany Chief Magistrates and Judges to visit police stations and other detention facilities in the country.

In addition, the Nigerian Bar Association should, as a matter of urgency, prevail on the Police Service Commission to employ and assign a legal practitioner to monitor the observance of human rights in each of the 5,000 police stations in Nigeria in accordance with section 66 of the Police Establishment Act, 2020.

Furthermore, by virtue of section 21 of the Correctional Services Act of 2019, official visitors of custodial centres in Nigeria include the Heads of Courts and the President and other executive members of the Nigerian Bar Association. The official visitors are required to visit and inspect the wards, cells, yards and other apartments or divisions of the Custodial Centre; receive the complaint, if any, of the inmates; and call the attention of the Superintendent to any irregularity in the administration of the Custodial Centre or structural defects which may require urgent attention.

Since the law was enacted in 2019, the President and other members of the National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association have never visited any correctional centre in the country. Therefore, you are requested to mobilize the members of the National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association and other prison visitors to protect the rights of convicts and other inmates in all correctional centres in Nigeria in accordance with the Correctional Services Act.

In view of the foregoing, the Nigerian Bar Association under your leadership should make a difference by ensuring that the statutory duties of Judges, Chief Magistrates and lawyers are carried out in line with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, Police Establishment Act and Nigerian Correctional Services Act. 

While awaiting your response to our requests contained in this letter, please accept the assurances of our highest esteem. 

Yours sincerely,

FEMI FALANA, SAN

Due to the combined effects of creative thinking and prudent management of resources, Ogun State, under Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration for the umpteenth time, retained itself as one of Nigeria’s resilient and economically viable states amid the global challenges.

In governance, it takes a creative mind to identify opportunities for economic expansion to harness them for growth. If only people could open their eyes to see every state has its fair share of human and material resources to develop. What is lacking is the creative thinking of the ruling elite to fashion out a way to enhance revenue-generating capacity.

This is where Prince Dapo Abiodun stands out among others. Since he assumed office on May 29, 2019, he has shown an innate capacity for creativity by boosting the state’s internal revenue generation. As of today, Ogun is among the few states that can survive independently of the Federal Government’s allocation.

This is not rhetoric or hearsay.  The latest report released by the office of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) confirms the resilience of the state’s economy based on its sustained growth and enhanced revenue-generating capacity. According to the release, Ogun State increased its IGR in 2023 from N120.58 billion to N146.87 billion, made up of N71.67 billion in tax revenues and N75.19 billion.

In totality, the 36 states and the FCT collectively generated N2.43 trillion in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) during the period, reflecting a 26.03 percent increase from the N1.93 trillion recorded in 2022.  Out of these figures, Lagos, FCT, and Rivers led in IGR collection, generating N815.86 billion, N211.10 billion, and N195.41 billion, respectively.

Ogun State closely follows among the seven other runners-up.  Ten (10) states recorded the highest IGR of N1.775 trillion collectively, representing about 73.1 percent of the total IGR generated by the 36 states and FCT. These states are Lagos, Rivers, FCT, Ogun, Delta, Edo, Kaduna, Kwara, Oyo and Akwa Ibom states in order of arrangements. It is important to note that seven of these top 10 states with the highest IGR are in the South as only three are from the Northern part of the country.

The significant achievement recorded by the state is as a result of the initiatives of the Governor to boost industrial growth through the creation of an enabling environment for both local and direct foreign investments (DFI). One of such initiatives is the Ogun State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency (OgunInvest) created by the administration.

As part of the dividends, only recently, an agreement was reached with the British High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr. Richard Montgomery, to establish a five million dollar British battery recycling company in the state. When the company becomes operational, it will be the first of its kind in Africa, thus making the state the leader in battery recycling on the black continent.

This significant achievement is a clear testament to the Abiodun administration’s commitment to the objective of making the state the preferred as an investment destination of choice in Africa. And it is one of the dividends of the collaborative efforts of the Director-General of the ‘OgunInvest’, and his counterpart in the Bureau of Lands.

Montgomery confirmed this in his remarks, as he said, “It is really exciting that we received support from ‘OgunInvest’, and officials from the Bureau of Lands confirmed the Certificate of Occupancy (CofO). We can say that the investment will be about five million dollars, and we want Ogun State to be the place where this industry can grow.”

Looking into the future of the partnership, the High Commissioner added that his country would like to participate in energy, technology, tertiary education, agricultural processing, and also explore how to find more United Kingdom-linked companies to invest in the State. He disclosed that discussions were ongoing with the state team on how to proceed in the coming year.

The commissioner further stressed that his country was not only interested in what the state had achieved in the last five years but was also trying to identify business opportunities for his government and his country’s companies to invest in. With the milestone, the governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun can now beat his chest to say that his aspiration to lead Ogun State to achieving its manifest destiny as a leading industrial hub in Nigeria and beyond is becoming a reality.

Primarily, the vision of the Ogun State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency (OgunInvest) led by Abiodun as its Chairman is to firmly establish Ogun State as the industrial and logistics hub of Nigeria and the preferred investment destination in the region. Its mission is to create an investor-friendly environment that attracts and retains both domestic and international investments, thereby fostering economic growth.

The same objective also informed the land reform initiative of the administration to ensure a seamless process of land acquisition by genuine investors, thus protecting them from the extortion by land grabbers, popularly called ‘Omo Onile’.

In addition to that, Abiodun has deliberately focused on provisions of road infrastructure and other amenities to attract more investments to the state. Among others, the establishment of the Ministry of Transportation, the development of the Transportation Master Plan, and the building of a cargo airport are some of the critical infrastructures giving the state its competitive edge. All of these have accounted for the preference investors have for the state as an investment destination of choice.

In acknowledgment of the transformation that has taken place under the leadership of the Governor, Vice Present Kashim Shettima, during his recent visit, described Ogun State as the industrial powerhouse of the nation, noted the support and commitment of the present administration to the Federal Government’s efforts to promote enterprises and empowerment of the people.

He passed the commendation on the heels of disclosure by Governor Abiodun that his administration had launched the Small and Medium Enterprises Industrial Land Acquisition Scheme (SILAS). The scheme is about 1,000 Hectares Industrial hub provided with needed amenities like good roads, power, among others.

For four consecutive sessions under his administration, the state has routinely maintained its competitive edge over the rest parts of the country. With the various incentives provided by the administration, the roadmap to industrialisation has already been laid, and it must be sustained. By the combined advantages of its geographical location and oceanic plentitude of land, Ogun State has a manifest destiny to be the leading industrial hubs in Africa.

Towards the realization, there has been continuous improvement in the Ease-of-Doing-Business and land reform initiative which provide attraction for investors. The same reason also accounted for the creation of four economic zones in the State, in addition to Agbara Industrial Zone, which includes Ota and Kajola axes. At present, Agbara Industrial Zone is arguably the largest industrial zone in Nigeria and probably one of the largest in the continent. It is the zone that makes Ogun State the industrial capital of Nigeria.

The decision by the present government to create additional four zones is not only to expand economic opportunities that abound in the State but also makes it investor-friendly. Not only that, a high-performing zone with strong foreign investment can create thousands of jobs. It also helps in building the capabilities of the local workforce, as outside investors share expertise and know-how.

 The days of glory for Ogun State as an emerging industrial hubs are here, as opportunities for direct foreign and local investments are rapidly expanding under the current administration. Expectedly,  the Governor, Abiodun, has hailed the NBS reports listing the state among the best in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the country as well as its sustained economic growth.

At the recent public unveiling and commissioning of the Olumo Courts service apartments and associated facilities in Abeokuta on Saturday, Governor Abiodun noted that Ogun State’s internally generated revenue had surpassed that of several states, showcasing its economic resilience and growth.

The governor attributed the feat to the various policies his administration had been able to put in place to grow the economic base to an enviable position where it no longer needed to rely too much on federal allocations. “According to a recent report by the National Bureau of Statistics, Ogun State generated more revenue than five states in one zone and six in another in 2023. We are among the few states that can thrive without federal support,” he stated.

He described Olumo Courts,  located in Ibara, Abeokuta, as a significant project aimed at enhancing the quality of life for residents. Governor Abiodun acknowledged the criticisms his administration had faced regarding the urban regeneration efforts in the Government Reserved Area (GRA) of Ibara. He emphasized that the successful establishment of Olumo Courts, championed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, had strengthened his administration’s resolve to transform urban areas throughout the state.

“We initiated the Urban Renewal of Abeokuta, starting in Ibara GRA, despite facing substantial criticism. The achievements of Olumo Courts reaffirm that we are on the right track,” he stated.

According to him, initiatives like Olumo Courts, along with the construction of over 4,000 housing units in the past five years, have bolstered the state’s economy. The governor praised former President Obasanjo as a remarkable figure whose vision had paved the way for projects like Olumo Courts, which features 36 luxury smart apartments equipped with modern amenities such as a swimming pool, tennis court, gym, and squash court. He called for Ogun State’s citizens to draw inspiration from this initiative.

Abiodun explained that Olumo Courts would not only enhance the architectural landscape but also create job opportunities and attract investments, particularly from the Diaspora. He said that the project’s approval process took 17 months due to necessary redesigns to align with urban regeneration goals. He further reiterated his commitment to supporting projects that enhance the state’s economic foundation.

In his opening remarks, Prince Rotimi Martins, a member of the Olumo Courts development team, described the project as the first smart city estate in the GRA, symbolizing growth and investment potential for the state.

Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, the Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, emphasises that Olumo Courts exemplifies how environmental improvements could foster development. Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, daughter of former President Obasanjo, who also spoke at the event, adding that Abeokuta’s unique geographical advantages position it as a beautiful city ready to welcome the world.

Anytime you hear that Ogun State tops the chart among the leading economically viable states in Nigeria, don’t scream. Across all indices of growth, there are 1001 reasons the state sustains its competitive edge. Governor Abiodun’s innovative spirit, creativity, resourcefulness, commitment to good governance, and creation of an enabling environment for investment through infrastructural transformation did the magic. All that is required to keep the state at the top of the economy is a good successor who can carry on the good work of his administration.

Ogbonnikan writes from Abeokuta, Ogun State capital

The Nigerian Police routinely outcompetes itself in absurdities, but the arraignment of 30 children last week in Abuja by the police for allegedly plotting a coup to topple the Tinubu administration was the lowest point the police has ever sunk to. It is the biggest embarrassment and ridicule this country has been thrown into in decades and I think that the IGP should apologize for humiliating the country before the international community. The children are among the 70 people brought to court last Friday, charged with treason and inciting a military coup after they took part in the protests last August. Aged between 12 and 16, they were arrested in different parts of Northern Nigeria, and incarcerated in Abuja in a terrible detention centre, something that didn’t happen even under Gen. Abacha. We all know how Abacha was unbelievably cruel, but he never locked away children to starve them to death. The police authorities should be ashamed of themselves for perpetrating such a heinous abuse of minors.

At the Abuja High court, the kids looked famished, emaciated, tormented and traumatized. Four of them even fainted, forcing the presiding judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who was visibly alarmed and irritated at the sight of the young, famished and sickly boys, to adjourn sitting abruptly. On resumption of sitting, the court adjourned the case till January. If those kids are detained till January in the same conditions, a few of them will not come out alive. The scene at the court was despicable, a throwback to what might have happened in Idi Amin’s Uganda.

The prosecution counsel, Audu Garba, told the court that the four kids were rushed outside because there was no space in the courtroom for all of the accused persons. He lied. However, the judge insisted that space should be created for all of them as he wanted the all in the courtroom. The prosecution then proceeded to ask the court to strike out the names of the sick defendants and discharge them pending when they are well enough to stand trial. But the defense counsel, Marshall Abubarkar, asked the court to discharge and acquit them. The court eventually discharged the four sick children – Umar Yunusa; Usman Suraju; Musa Isiyaku and Abdul Ganiyu – pending when they recover, and admitted the rest of the kids on stringent bail conditions. I’m shocked that this is happening in Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu, who was once a prodemocracy activist. The outrage across the country reflects our overall shock and disbelief.

I am relieved that the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, has asked the police for the case file, possibly to intervene and set the children free. But does it mean that the AGF was not aware of the fate of these kids all this while? If these children had died, who would have held the police responsible? Who regulates the activities of the Nigerian Police police?

A week earlier, the government had accused The Guardian newspaper of inciting the military to take over the government. In a press statement issued on Saturday, October 26, Bayo Onanuga, the President’s spokesman, said the paper’s lead story published the previous day, ‘’openly incites unrest against President Bola Tinubu and advocates regime change under the guise of journalism’’. He argued that ‘’The Guardian’s agenda is unmistakable from the cover illustration to the article. In attempting to create a balanced veneer, the author condemns military rule while fanning the flames of military intervention’’. The paper had in its Friday lead story, published a lengthy feature article in which it reported that faced with harsh cost-of-living crisis, Nigerians have resorted to extreme measures, including calling for military coups. The Guardian has launched a robust rebuttal to the government’s allegation.

But why is the Tinubu administration so obsessed with the fear of a military coup? Why does the government seem to habour a phobia for coups despite repeated assurances from the Defence Headquarters that the military will never be involved in unconstitutional change of government? There are two theories that can explain this. One, by frequently accusing the opposition of coup-baiting, the government wants us to live in fear and silence, weaken critics and frighten the civil society. Second, effect of a terrible experience. Between President Tinubu and Bayo Onanuga, there could be something in the past that triggers an irrational dread for the military coups. Both men were very active in the prodemocracy struggle of the 1990s. The former was a journalist while the later was initially a politician and later a pro democracy activist. In 1995, Onanuga’s colleague at The News magazine, Kunle Ajibade, was jailed for life by the Abacha junta for the story the magazine published. Tinubu and many other activists had fled into exile overseas, and those who did not leave the country were murdered by junta’s snipers. After Abacha’s death in 1998, Tinubu returned, contested election and was elected Lagos State Governor in 1999. He then picked a young police officer, Kayode Egbetokun as his chief security officer and ADC. On taking office last year, the president appointed Egbetokun as the IGP and Onanuga as spokesman. Psychologists believe that past traumatic or negative experiences can have long-lasting impacts on our behaviors and outlook on life. This is known as ‘’Negativity Bias’’ in psychology and could be the reason Onanuga and Egbetokun are obsessing about coups. Dr. Eric Nass, a clinical psychologist in Belmont, Massachusetts, has done extensive work on how anxiety, traumatic experiences and fear impact negatively on the ability of leaders to make informed decisions.

I should also note that both Presidents Obasanjo and Buhari also lived through terrible experiences during the military era. So, why did they not publicly display symptoms of anxiety and fear for coups? Buhari in particular was constantly demonized in the press and called all sorts of names, but I can’t remember Femi Adeshina issuing press statements claiming that a newspaper was engaged in ‘’coup baiting’’. What is different now? Any psychologist around?

Etim is a journalist and author

The Chairman, Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State, Princess Surah Animashaun, has presented a cash gifts of N200,000 to the overall winner of the Best Senior Secondary School Teacher category in Nigeria, Mr. Kassim Yusuf Adegboyega.

Princess Animashaun who made the presentation of the gift to the teacher at her office in Ita-Marun, Epe, Lagos State, said she had no doubt in Adegboyega’s ability to bring his wealth of experience into the public service.

She said, “Mr. Adegboyega has made the Epe LG proud in his outstanding performance in the Senior Secondary School category teachers competition through his unwavering dedication, commitment to education and his contributions to the community. 

“I do not doubt that with his wealth of experience, and having distinguished himself as someone who knows what he is doing, he will definitely add value to our schools in the council area.”

Animashaun, who congratulated Adegboyega for his feat, called on other teachers in the public service to strive to be the best they could be.

She said the feat achieved by the overall best teacher in the senior secondary school category in Nigeria should be an inspiration to other teachers in the council area at large.

“I want to encourage other teachers in the LG area to continue to strive to be the best in their chosen profession, this should be an inspiration to all teachers across the length and breadth of the council. We are indeed proud of him.”

In his remarks, Adegboyega commended the Chairperson for the presentation of the cash gift, noting that it is a privilege to serve in the local government council area.

“I want to commend the Chairperson for her laudable project and support for education. Those of us in schools see what is going on, and we are encouraged by all what the Chairman is doing. Indeed, our Chairman is a silent achiever.

“If there is any privilege to serve too in the public so that I can plough back, I wouldn’t mind because I can now do my beat. In public schools, we have the student population, and I can really help as an expert in education,” Yusuff said

The ceremony was witnessed by guests and special personalities, including councillors, supervisors, special advisers, and members of the management staff.