Founder of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Babatunde Ayodele, speaks with AJIBADE OMAPE on the circumstances surrounding his prophecies and how he told then-Governor Bola Tinubu in 2001 that he would be elected president of Nigeria

How did you become a man of God and Founder of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church?

My name is Primate Ayodele, how I became a man of God; I have started this mission as God directed; I’ve been to celestial, Cherubim and Seraphim, I’ve joined SU, I’ve been in the gospel church before God sent me a message to start the mission in 1994; and I was picked with other disciples because I did not want to do it. I wanted to become a military personnel, I wanted to be a lawyer or a mass communicator, but all these did not come to reality, so we started in 1994 till date, and God said that this was going to be my church; and that it was going to be evangelical and ever since then we have been seeing the hands of God.

In September 2023, you made a prophecy about states being in debt, was there an inspiration behind the prophecy, or was it due to the economic crisis in the country?

Well, I need to set the record straight, all my prophecies occur years before they come to manifestation.

In 2001, I had a personal encounter with the sitting president who was then a governor at his office called Roundhouse; and I told him that he would still become the president of Nigeria. One of his commissioners took me to the Roundhouse in Alausa, Ikeja to go and pray for him; and I told him, “Sir, I don’t know when it would come to pass but you will rule Nigeria and you will not understand how you will get there”.

So you see, this is not speculations and predictions, I have passed that level.

See I started prophesying in 1988 and I have prophesied not just for individuals but also for nations. I’ve given prophesies all over the world; so I am not a noisemaker. I act as God directs.

I want to be very humble, and this economic crisis is not news to me because I have known that it would happen and I know what is going to happen from beginning to the end, so whatever I’m saying I’m not saying it to go against anybody, and I’m not saying it because of money. See, I have seen money; God has blessed me there is nothing I want again in life; I have cars, I have driven different cars, and I think the only thing I want is a helicopter or a plane. I feel for the needy but instead of me to use that money to buy a plane, I would rather use the money to take care of the widows, orphans, and vulnerable children.

I started taking care of widows in 2002, and people supporting me then are still supporting me. They include people like Jimoh Ibrahim.

So when I say any prophecy, people tag it to be as if I’m favouring people; if it favours labour, they will say I am a labour prophet and I have collected money from them if it favours APC they will say I am an APC prophet. So I have been given different names in the course of my prophecy. If I make a prophecy, I will ask God correctly, whether it favours you or it does not, it’s not my business. I do not make prophecies because of money or because I want to scare anybody. So anything I say is to the glory of God and if it does not come to pass now it will come to pass later.

For crying out loud, I pray against my prophecies, asking God not to let them come to fulfilment, yes, if it doesn’t come to fulfilment , it’s my joy I owe nobody any explanation because I am answerable to God alone. So there is nothing behind it. I just said it the way God revealed it.

Before the dollar went up I said it was going to go up to N1,200, N1,300. Go and check there are records. When I said that we would not see a bread of 200 naira again, it happened.

Tinubu has not seen what is coming ahead of him. What he is seeing is just a preamble of what is to come. Let me be quiet because people claim that I do not like this government, but it’s a lie. I am only acting as God directs and I’m not saying anybody should like me. If they want to kill me let them kill me, I will continue to tell the truth. So I’m not saying anything for anybody to love me and I’m not saying it to gather any momentum or for anybody to give me accolades for what I’m saying.

Before the death of Yar’adua, I was the first prophet to say that he would not finish his term. it was published in Global Excellence magazine in December 2006. I even said that he would spend 67 days in office.

Some people say you only look at trends to arrive at what you call prophecy, Is there a truth to it?

See, it is only those who hate God who will hate me. Those who don’t want to hear from God will not want to hear the truth. Before Ali Bongo was removed from office, I said that his time had come to an end and he would be taken out of office through a coup. Anything I’m saying here is not for you to defend me or write anything good about me. It happened in 2023; before the coup in Niger, I warned the president that a coup was coming. I have it on record.

Also, before the emergence of this government, I warned Nigerians that if they voted for this government, they would see what would happen. People were fighting me and saying that I had collected money from Atiku Abubakar. I had never met Atiku in my life. I’m one of those people who has been called names on the internet and I’m not bothered.

Before petrol went to #650, I told Nigerians that they would buy petrol for #400, people were bashing me, there is nothing they did not say about me. So, I’m not making prophecies around the trends of what is happening. I say my own ahead of time.

In 2023, I said that cement would increase in price, how much is cement now?

Before Joe Biden emerged in 2020, I was the first to say he was the best candidate to win the election. Before the emergence of Rotimi Akeredolu as governor in Ondo, I was one of the first people to say that he was the candidate that would win in Ondo state. And before Akeredolu fell sick, I warned him of his sickness, but he did not listen to me.

In 2005, before Fashola emerged, I was saying that a greenhorn would emerge in Lagos state and it happened.

Some people call me a political prophet, but by the time you give a prophecy about a nation you become a political prophet; this is not my perspective, it’s what the Lord says.

Before the emergence of Obaseki’s second term, I warned Oshiomole that Obaseki would emerge. So that is just it.

Your prophecies are not usually specific. Sometimes you say people should pray that traditional rulers won’t die and so forth. Why is it always like that? What stops you from mentioning names?

I can tell you this straight, that is not correct. There was an earthquake in America recently, I mentioned some countries that will witness that earthquake, but let them pray. Remember I said I pray against my prophecies. One of my saddest days is when a bad prophecy comes to pass.

I must tell you this, in 2020, I met Herbert Wigwe and I told him to pray against an accident that would happen to him that could claim his life. Since I had his contact then, why would I go and publish it? It’s not anybody’s business because I have discussed with him if he likes it or not he should pray. Wigwe was so scared of my prophecy that he stopped talking to me. He said my prophecy was too scary.

So when I say pray against the death of traditional rulers, is it not a good recommendation? When God says I should mention a name, I do, and when he doesn’t instruct me to mention a name I don’t because I’m not in charge of the prophecy. Sometimes when I mention names people still say I am fake, maybe because the person is old; so I am not saying anything to satisfy anybody.

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I love my critics because they make me more prepared; I started talking to journalists in 1994 and my first prophecy was published in Lagos Weekend Times when I said the Super Eagles would win the Tunis 1994 and it is on record. So, is it now that I will say I’m afraid to say specifically what would happen?

I’m the first to say that King Charles will have an ailment and I mentioned his name based on instructions, Sometimes God will instruct me to keep the prophecy but contact the person and tell him/her to pray.

I met Oba Isolo and told him ‘Kabiyesi pray for your health and long life’ but he did not listen to me, I even invited him, but am I supposed to publish that as well, I won’t. So, that is it. And more Obas and Emirs are still going to die mysterious deaths this year.

Before the assassination of two Obas in Ekiti state, I said it. I have documents on that and you can go online to verify. So when God says I should mention a name, I do and when he instructs me not to mention a name, I don’t and that’s the truth. So if I say something that is not favourable to some parties, they begin to hate me. All I say is as God says.

There are a lot of Tinubu ministers who won’t finish their terms. When Betty was removed, some people said I didn’t mention her name. Do I have to mention her name; the prophecy has already been laid. You go and do your own if you know better. Before Nigeria went to the Nations Cup, I warned the NFF president that Nigeria would see the cup but their hands wouldn’t touch it. But I won’t tell you about everybody I speak with. My words are for wise people.

If God sends me to you I will come, but it’s your decision if you will listen to me or not.

I warned Emefiele last year in February and I gave him a final warning in April but they said I was fake and they did not mind me. who is paying for it now? He is paying dearly for it; I said it specifically.

You likened the killing of sixteen Nigerian Army personnel in Delta State to a “civilian coup” against the military, what prompted that statement?

Let me say it this way; I don’t talk anyhow and I don’t talk when God does not ask me to. I salute the appointment of the service chiefs by the President. I salute him for picking the right people.

When it comes to security, on my page on Facebook and the rest, I do give warnings to states to be careful. Before that time God revealed to me that they would lay an ambush on military men and it would cost them their lives. I didn’t have a place to send the message, so I posted it on my page. If you go to my page you will still see that I warned military personnel. Now it has come to pass and what prompted that was a prophecy from the Lord. It was a warning from the Lord to the military personnel, but nobody yielded to it.

Another big king will die in Lagos state. There is more trouble for kings but I don’t want to mention anybody’s name. It will happen from the top. So back to the killing of military personnel, it was a warning from God; and it’s just what the Lord told me that it’s a coup.

See, some people are coming together to frustrate Tinubus’s government, to make his government unstable, and in less than a few months you will begin to see it. So Tinubu must watch out against a political coup towards 2027, quote my words. So this thing that happened in Delta is also a civilian coup against the military, and I still tell you that the military facilities will need to be careful because any attack can come again.

The following states also need to be watchful Yobe, Maiduguri, Borno, Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, Anambra, Ebonyi, Niger and Taraba. They need to be very watchful because they will be threatened.

So that is why I am saying this now because these service chiefs are wonderful and I want them to prepare and be ready for battle from late June/July. Also, we don’t want any military personnel to be killed or kidnapped, now I have said this beforehand.

You advised that the government shouldn’t give anyone money for palliative purposes because it will amount to corruption, how will you say the government agencies took the advice?

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You see the government did not get the palliative well. In December, we tested it in our church with about 10,000 people where I sold a bag of rice for 20,000 and it’s on record.

I will be in Ekiti state on the 26th and I will do the same thing there. A bag of rice will go for 20,000 and a half bag will go for 10,000. We are the first to do it and I’m sorry to say this before they say I am too proud but that’s what happens when God inspires you as the first person to do such a thing. The government failed in the palliatives. They failed because they were not supposed to give the money to politicians but to technocrats, religious leaders, and traditional rulers; they would have identified the people who needed it better. Even with the market they go for the items, it’s a simple thing because we don’t need dollars. What we need is to have mechanised farming. We can produce rice mills, there are a lot of rice mills in Nigeria that the government can build and support to reduce the price of rice. And for petrol, it’s only when we begin to process our crude in Nigeria that we will not have problems. Dangote refinery cannot help the Nigerian economy at all. I’m not saying this for anybody to like me, but time will tell.

So for the palliatives, instead of sending money to individuals, let them use the money to buy more food. Get a government market and reduce the price of food. If I can sell a bag of rice for N20,000 as an individual, the government should sell for seven thousand. If I can sell half a bag for N10,000, the government can sell for two thousand. You will see it online in Ekiti state, I will reduce the price of food. I may not be able to reach the 1,000 mark, but I will make sure I reach 200 to 250 people because that is my capacity. Nobody is sending me, it’s God that is sending me. So I am not doing it for anybody to hail me.

Like student loans, the government has not gotten it right because it will still cause corruption. It’s a good idea but it will not last, except if the government does it in a better way, there will be corruption.

There are insinuations that you are a member of the PDP that’s why you said people should not vote for the APC in 2023.

Please, I belong to who? Is it not what I saw that I said? Not even Peter Obi can do it better. I have never met Atiku Abubakar in my Life. If I’m in the midst of people putting on ordinary clothes, it is just my face that people may know. I have seven million followers online. It’s open to people anywhere in the world.

Let me say this, in Niger, Idris will win the coming election. Now check this out, before the fall of George Weah, I warned him about the elections. I had the opportunity to speak with his deputy, a woman who said that I couldn’t see the president but I could talk to her. She sent a plane to pick me but I told her God sent me to the president and not her so I didn’t go. I said voting for this man for president, Liberia will face a lot of challenges. I also sent a warning to the Liberian president to pray for his health. So I guess the people will say I have collected money from George Weah right?

Also, in the Benin Republic, you will see that the president wanted to take many steps politically and the opposition will deal with him by coalition.

In Cameroon, the coalition will send away Paul Biya in the next election. In South Africa, the president will lose the majority in the House. Ramaphosa will lose the majority in the house, so that seat is shaking; so when I say this, I’m talking outside the country. Now they have not done their elections.

I warned John Mahama that they were going to lose this election if they were not careful and he is my friend.

I have never voted because I don’t have anybody to vote for. So if I were Atiku’s person, I would have enjoyed it. I was building a church worth billions of naira, and Atiku did not give me any money. At least if I belonged to his party he would have supported me. No politician has ever supported me, it’s only God. People just hate the truth, and when I said so I did not deny it. I don’t belong to those prophets who will deny what they said. If any prophet heals and wakes up people from the dead, then it means that nobody must die in their family again.

Before the Israel and Gaza war, I was the first to say it. When I talk, I should now say they should go and delete it, no. You can use it against me if it is the wish of God.

Now I have warned Mali. They want to frustrate the democracy in Mali. In South Sudan, the election would change and if the president goes for election if he wins, he will not last; like in Equatorial Guinea now, the president’s life is shaking. I’m only telling you all of this now so that you will know that I am not talking about Nigeria and our politics alone and I’m not talking about who becomes what.

I talk about everything, climate, education, security name it. Before the earthquake in the US, God had spoken to me since last year concerning it. I’m not a public person or a social or flamboyant pastor; you can’t just see me anywhere except a place where God instructs me to go; that is why I did not join the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN because they are political and there’s no constructive ideology in CAN.

The allegation against me is just that maybe I have collected money from politicians. You can’t blackmail me. Go and quote me anywhere, I don’t go out. If at all you call me for a church programme, I will ask God about it and follow his instructions on whether to go or not. And if I don’t go I will send a representative.

I am very prominent in the newspapers because of my prophecies. If you mention five prophets today in Nigeria, not pastors now, I mean prophets, if you don’t mention me first, you will mention me second or third. God has given me fame on his own not by a human. I have taken my prophecy beyond Nigeria.

Before the coronavirus outbreak, I said that a disease was coming from China. The prophecy was publicised, but nobody took it seriously until it started spreading.

When Buhari was brought in, I said Nigeria would not gain anything from his administration. Did we gain anything?

The economy will not be better until 2026. So I tell you this, Nigerians must help the president with prayers because the people he believes in so much will not help but condemn him.

The hunger issue you talked about then is almost a worldwide issue. Why did you talk about it in Nigeria alone?

I have a video where I said there would be a global famine and drought. If we talk about hunger, not everywhere will see hunger o, but I’m most concerned about Nigeria; Nigeria will witness not just hunger but anger. We have not finished, another phase of hunger is still coming if the government refuses to listen and that phase of hunger will lead to economic protest.

Some banks are shaking and I’m sure you’re expecting me to mention names but I will just leave it that way.

I warned Emefiele but he didn’t take it seriously. Besides, IMF advice and policy will kill Nigeria’s economy, I don’t know anything about the economy, I’m a novice. So I’m sure people will say I’m satanic or call me a doom prophet. They can call me any name, and I’m not bothered. Coups is not yet over in Africa, another coup is coming.

Has God told you who will win the Ondo and Edo governorship elections?

In Ondo state, the pendulum is swinging towards the present governor to win the primaries. In the Edo state election that is coming now, in a free and fair election with no rigging, APC will win.

In the Ondo state election, the PDP, Labour, and NPP, are wasting their time, APC will win unless God changes it.

Since I’m an APC prophet, some people will not like me. When I warned Adams Oshiomole that time, I was supporting Godwin Obaseki but nobody saw that one; I was given day-to-day updates, but for now, except God changes it, that election is going for APC.

Does God actually speak with you?

I don’t want to be a pastor who says he sees God face to face, or he sees God driving a Range Rover. One pastor says he drank tea with God. That is blasphemy. I see some pastors are making miracle money, but all these are fake. I don’t know them, so it’s not like I am afraid. That being said; the Lord speaks to me through his angels or clairvoyance. I close my eyes and I see it. I’m a prophet. I don’t have anything to think about. I have time to talk to God 24/7, and I fast for 200 days in a year every year, so that is just it.

Have you spoken with the President on how to turn the economy around and also stop the killings in the country?

So, on how to stop killings in the country, I don’t think that is the work of the president, it is the work of the service chiefs. If I have the opportunity to speak with any of the service chiefs, I will tell them a way out because I don’t feel that is appropriate for public consumption. Then to turn the economy around isn’t the work of the president, but the work of the people in charge. In this case, the people may not want to listen. For instance, when God revealed himself to Pharaoh when he was going to have a crisis, seven years of famine, and seven years of abundance, the solution was shown to him and someone interpreted the solution and he listened. Still, in this case, they may not want to listen because they believe I’m fake.

Tell Nigerians, who will win the US presidential election?

I have been talking much about that if the Democrats don’t hold Donald Trump through legal means which I said earlier before he left office in 2019, he would win. Sincerely, Trump is not the best candidate, and some people prefer Trump to Biden. Joe Biden’s economy will kill the world. So like I said, if Trump is not held down by any legal means, He will win the election.

The Kaduna state government recently decried the state of the treasury, will you say your prophecy has been fulfilled or are there more states to follow?

More states will not be able to pay salaries, and they will cry out that one of Kaduna’s states is just the tip of the iceberg. When we are talking about salary restructuring, they have to sit down to get it right otherwise the salary restructuring will not help at all. It will take the government one and half years to put the salary restructuring in order; and for the governors, let them pray not to be ambushed, they should pray against attacks and accidents, all the governors need to pray about that.

As a result of your prophecy in 2023, have you received any forms of threats to your life?

Well, when it was even difficult during the time of Abacha, there was no threat to my life; my prophecies helped the government to stand on its feet. There have been no threats to my life. You can call me any name on the internet, but I have not received any threats to my life since 1994. To the glory of God almighty, there have not been any threats to my life.

Are there any new prophecies we should expect within the next few months?

The present Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC chairman will do a lot. The moment he is doing what is right we will see it. EFCC will bring out a lot of hidden people who are corrupt in the country. Nigeria is going to France, I mean the Super Falcons, but they won’t go far and these are wonderful players. Except they do something immediately to come up.

We are going to see flooding and this herdsmen matter, if the government doesn’t get it right, it will affect Nigeria a lot.

More so, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Hamas, and the M23, are coming up to attack African counties like Burkina Faso, Benin, Niger, Nigeria, and Chad. Let us pray not to see the death of a sitting president or the removal of a sitting president. Mali needs to be careful so another coup doesn’t happen. In Cameroon, only a coalition will defeat Paul Biya

In a time where the prophetic ministry has been constantly attacked and polluted by unbelievers and fake prophets, how have you managed to stay consistent over the years?

I am able to stay consistent because I follow God’s instructions. I do what he says I should do and I don’t do what he doesn’t ask me to do. If God sends me somewhere, I will make sure I find my way there. I will look for your contact and if I don’t get the contact I will use social media to share the message. If the person sees it, fine if he/she doesn’t, it’s still fine. I have done what God asked me to do; So that is it, I do what God asks me to do.

Big Brother Naija Season 7 winner Josephina Otabor, popularly known as Phyna, has rejected N13 million offered her by one of the sponsors of the reality show, Quidax.

Phyna, who won the reality show in 2022, has been calling out the organisers and their sponsors over incomplete prizes.

Quidax had pledged to give Phyna 1 BTC as part of her prizes, but is yet to fulfil its promise two years after.

Following Phyna’s recent outburst, the organisers met with the reality star and offered her N13m, which they claimed was the value of 1 BTC in 2022 when they made the pledge.

However, speaking in a video message shared via her Instagram account on Friday, April 19, Phyna said she rejected the offer and insisted that they gave her the 1 BTC, which she said is now worth over N90 million.

She also insisted that the organisers of the reality show and their sponsors must give her tickets for a trip for two to Maldives, which was also part of her prizes.

A statement titled ‘Negotiations and agreements update – MultiChoice meeting and exchange rate discussion’ by the acting president of Practitioners of Content Creation Skitmakers and Influencers Guild of Nigeria, Micheal Obinna Nwabufo, on Friday, April 19, reads: “Today, the acting president of PCCSIGN, Micheal Obinna Nwabufo, along with legal representatives from Phyna, Olawale Amousa Legal, visited the offices of MultiChoice Nigeria. The recent agreement between Pepsi and Unik soap is scheduled to be delivered tomorrow, Friday, April 19, 2024. While Travelbeta is offering a trip for 2 to Morocco or Kenya which we declined the destination options because Phyna was initially offered the destination options of Maldives or Jamaica.

“Regarding the matter of the 1 BTC, it was stated that the exchange rate would reflect the 2022 Naira equivalent, amounting to N13million. However, PCCSIGN and Phyna’s legal representatives declined the offer due to concerns about potential repercussions resulting from MultiChoice’s negligence.

The acting president of PCCSIGN insisted that the agreed-upon 1 BTC should be based on the current exchange rate. MultiChoice has agreed to further discuss this matter with Quidax Global and provide a response to PCCSIGN and Phyna.

The former Minister of Defence General Theophilus Danjuma has expressed his revulsion at the parlous state of the nation.

Danjuma bemoaned the deepening security crisis across the country, saying Nigeria is experiencing a fatricidal war as citizens kill their fellow countrymen.

Danjuma spoke on Friday in Nwonyo village in Ibi Local government area of Taraba State during his speech as the Chairman of annual Nwonyo Fishing and Cultural festival.

The elder statesman described Nigeria as a total disgrace and laughing stock to the rest of the world.

He maintained that it is important for Nigerians and Nigeria as a country to address the prevailing socio-economic and political challenges that beset it and put a check on the glaring insecurity and other vices that are bedeviling the country.

He explained that the festival should be an avenue to sell Nigeria’s rich culture and colorful traditions to the world but the precarious state of things would leave a sour taste in the mouth sane people.

According to Danjuma, “the festival stands as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Taraba State that we cherish and celebrate with great pride. It showcases our cultural values and serves as symbol of our unity. Let us take a moment to reflect on the significance of the occasion. It is a symbol of resilience a d determination of our people in the face of daunting challenges.

“Let us renew our commitment to promoting peace, harmony and celebrate the bonds that unite us as one family. May this occasion be a reminder of who we are and the strength that lies in our unity.

“We must put our own house in order and have peace in our state and throughout the country if we want this to be truly an international festival. There is no sane foreigner who will come to celebrate with us if we continue to disgrace ourselves as we do.

“As we are today in Nigeria, we are a disgrace to the whole world. The whole country is a war front of our people killing our people. We are a laughing stock to the rear of the whole world. We must put our house in order. We must make our roads safe and stop kidnapping people. We must learn to live together as a country and as a people”.

For invading the community, indicting them for killing 17 soldiers without police investigation, maiming, brutalizing, harassing, cordoning off community, demolishing homes, properties, and causing them to flee into forest

RESIDENTS of Okuama-Ewu, Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, have instituted a N200 billion suit against the Nigerian Army at the Federal High Court, Warri, for cordoning off their community, destroying their homes, dehumanizing and accusing them of 17 military personnel without police investigations.

The 17 residents of the Okuama-Ewu community, whose lingering land disputes with the Okoloba community, Bomadi Local Government Area, escalated, leading to the intrusion of soldiers into the community, on March 14, are demanding N200 billion for general and exemplary damages from the Nigerian Army, which is the respondent.

The applicants, mainly farmers, traders, and businessmen, who applied for the enforcement of their fundamental human rights to a fair hearing, the dignity of the human person, private and family life, freedom of movement, choice of residency, private and family life, and the right to own property are Victor Akemor, Madam Omotiwori Olarehor, Victor Odi, Okrika Emmanuel, Austin Eferemua, and Evelyn Edjekola.
Others in suit no. FHC/WR/CS/41/2024 before Hon Justice I.M Sani are Pa James Ubredu, David Oghenewede, Lucky Orode, and Iwriogbo Best, Felix Orhiunu, Bernard Michael, Oghenekobiruo, Vero Joseph, Ebikawe Emmanuel, Francis Uphurie, and Hon Belvis Adogbo.
They are suing for themselves and for, on behalf of, members of, in the interest of and public interest of the residents of the Okuama community.

The applicants’ lawyers, Chief Malcolm Omirhobo, Akpokona Omafuaire Esq., Seprebofa Oyeghe Esq., O. L. Ofuasia Esq., and Ernest Ogbaga Esq. applied on Thursday.
The reliefs sought against the Nigerian Army are as follows:
“A declaration of this honorable court that the respondent’s accusation, media trial, and sentencing of the applicants, and the residents of the Okuama community for the murder of 17 soldiers, which they have no hands in, on March 14, without any police investigation, or any public inquiry indicting them for the crime without following due process of law, is a flagrant violation of the applicants’ rights. the residents of the Okuama community’s right to a fair hearing, which is, therefore, illegal, unlawful, and unconstitutional.

”A declaration of this honourable court that the respondent’s deployment of troops for the invasion, and brutal reprisal attacks on the applicants and residents of Okuama community for the death of 17 soldiers, which they have no hands in, without any police investigation, or any public inquiry indicting them for the crime, and without following due process of law, dishing out collective punishment on them, killing, maiming, brutalizing, harassing, intimidating, coercing demolishing, destroying, razing, and burning down of their properties, leaving only the Anglican Church, the Okuama Secondary School, and the Aderha Primary School buildings standing, causing them to disperse and flee to various towns, villages, forests, bushes and creeks for safety, living the life of destitute under torturous, inhuman, degrading and excruciating condition without shelter, food, drinking water, medication, money or means of income, and clothes, exposed to weather, diseases, snake and mosquito bites, and other dangerous wild animals is a flagrant violation of the applicants, and the residents of the Okuama community have the right to the dignity of their human person, and, therefore, illegal, unlawful, and unconstitutional.

”A declaration of this honourable court that the respondent’s troops invasion, and forceful eviction of the applicants, and the residents of the Okuama community from their homes in a manner that interfered, and robbed them of their privacy, family bond, and unity, causing them to disperse and live apart for the death of 17 soldiers, which they have no hands in, without any police investigation or any public inquiry indicting them for the crime, and without following due process of law is a violation of the applicants and residents of the Okuama community right to private and family life, and, therefore, illegal unlawful and unconstitutional.

”A declaration of this honourable court that the respondent’s cordon-off of the Okuama community, of the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, preventing, barring, prohibiting, and restraining the applicants, and residents of Okuama community from gaining access into their community, and homes to live their normal li, fe and carry on their normal business, and, thereby depriving them of their right to move freely in and out of their community and their right of choice to reside in Okuama community for the murder of 17 soldiers, which they have no hands in, without any police investigation or any public inquiry indicting them for the crime, and without following due process of law is a flagrant violation of their freedom of movement, and right of choice of place of residency, and, therefore, illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.

”A declaration of this honourable court that the respondent’s troops razing and burning down of the properties of the applicants and residents of the Okuama community, leaving only the Anglian Church, the Okuama Secondary School and the Aderha Primary School buildings standing, forcefully and compulsorily seizing, and taking over possession of their land without any Delta State Government or Federal Government of Nigeria compulsory acquisition of the land and payment of compensation to the applicants and residents of the Okuama community, and without their input and the looting of the applicants, and the residents of the Okuama community’s moveable properties, the particulars which are contained in the affidavit in support of this application by the troops and neighboring villagers for the murder of 17 soldiers, which they have no hands in without any police investigation, or any public inquiry indicting them for the crime, without following due process of law, is a flagrant violation of the applicants’ and residents of the Okuama community right to own both moveable and immovable properties, and, therefore, illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.

”A declaration of this honourable court that respondent’s troops entering into the Okuama community to perform the statutory and constitutional duties of the Nigerian Police Force on March 14, 2024, and the respondent’s troops invasion, brutal reprisal attack, killing, maiming brutalizing. harassment, intimidation, and coercion of the applicants and residents of the Okuama community for the death of 17 soldiers, which they have no hands in without any police investigation or any public inquiry indicting them for the crime, and without following due process of law through collective punishment on 15/3/2024 without due process, and the backing of law that led to the forceful eviction of the applicants, and the entire residents of the Okuama community from their homes, the demolition, destruction, razing and burning down of their buildings, properties leaving only the Anglian Church the Okuama Secondary School and the Aderha Primary School buildings standing, the looting of their movable properties causing them to disperse and flee to various villages, towns, bushes, forests and creeks for safety, where they now live as destitute under inhuman, degrading and excruciating conditions, the cordoning off of the Okuama Community land from the applicants and the residents, refusing them access into their community, and their rights to live there and the unlawful seizure and taking over possession of their land by the respondent’s troops, is an abuse of power.

”An order of this honourable court for the enforcement of the fundamental rights to the dignity of the human person, right to a fair hearing, right to private and family life, freedom of movement and right of choice of place of residence and right to own property of the Applicants and residents of the Okuama community, against the respondent, her servants, and agents and/or privies

”An order of this honourable court restraining the respondent, her servants, agents, and/or privies from further violating fundamental rights to the dignity of the human person, right to a fair hearing, right to privacy, and family life, freedom of movement and right of choice of place of residency and right to own property of the applicants and residents of the Okuama community.

”An order of this honourable court compelling the respondent to stop her troop’s continued invasion and occupation of the Okuama community, enabling the applicants and residents of the Okuama community to take back possession of their land that has been illegally and unlawfully seized and occupied by the respondent to rebuild their community.

”An order of this honourable court compelling the respondent to stop her troops of the cordon off of the Okuama community to allow the applicants and residents of the Okuama community to have access to move freely in and out of their community and have their right of choice to reside there as Nigerian citizens.

”An order of this honourable court compelling the respondent to allow the applicants and the residents of the Okuama community to go back home from the towns, villages, forests, and bushes, where they are presently living as destitute fugitives under torturous, inhuman, degrading and excruciating condition without shelter, food, drinking water, medication, money and cloth exposed to weather, diseases, snake and mosquito bites and other dangerous wild animals to help them regain their right to the dignity of their human person and to rebuild their community.

”A perpetual injunction of this honourable court restraining the respondent, her servants, agents, and/or privies from killing, embarrassing, coercing, bullying, harassing, intimidating, tormenting, torturing, dehumanizing, debasing and frustrating the Applicants and the residents of the Okuama community from enjoying their fundamental right to dignity of their human person, right to fair hearing, right to private and family life, freedom of movement, right of choice of place of residence, and right to own property.

” The sum of N100,000,000.00 (One hundred billion Naira) as general damages against the respondent in favor of the applicants and the residents of the Okuoma community for the respondent’s violation of their fundamental right to the dignity of their human person, right to a fair hearing, right to private and family life, freedom of movement, right of choice of place of residency and right to own property and the destruction, burning and razing down of the whole buildings in the Okuama community, leaving only the Anglian Church, the Okuama Secondary School and the Aderha Primary School buildings standing, and the looting of their moveable properties, the particulars, which contain in the applicants affidavit in support.

The sum of N100,000,000.00 (One hundred billion Naira) as exemplary damages against the respondent, in favour of the applicants and the residents of the Okuama community for the respondent’s abuse of power to oppress, repress, and subjugate the applicants and residents of the Okuama community.

”And for such further order or orders as this honourable court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this case.”

With the applicants applying, the respondent (the Army) has seven days to respond to the claim after proper service. The court will fix a date for the hearing of the application. Being a fundamental rights matter, they treat such applications with urgency, unlike civil cases.

What’s heartbreaking about Africa

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has explained why it advised Nigeria to remove fuel subsidies, adding that the subsidy regime was robbing the poor for the rich.

The Director of the African Department of the Fund, Mr. Abebe Selassie, provided insights into the organisation’s position, at the ongoing Spring Meetings of the IMF and World Bank in Washington DC. According to him, the Fund had provided robust content and how the poor could benefit from the policy in the provision of social safety nets.

His words: “Subsidies are about resource allocation internally within Nigeria. So Nigerians, the people of Nigeria pay for these subsidies.

“And what’s the reason why we counsel against such generalised subsidies is very simple. It tends to be highly regressive, meaning the benefits of such you know, fuel subsidies tend to accrue to the rich and segments to reach out to people and the poor people.

“So it’s people that are driving these large cars, with big houses are wanting to see subsidised fuel. They’re the ones benefiting relative to the poor and vulnerable in Nigeria.

“So you know, not only people paying for the subsidies Nigeria, it’s the poorest segments of society that actually are losing out and resources could instead, of course, be used to improve conditions for poorer people instead of accruing to rich people.

“That’s why subsidy reform is important. We applaud the government for the steps government took to reduce the extent of subsidies. I think as oil prices have become volatile, the level of subsidy has also moved up and down. “But I think you know, the direction of travel, I think, to remove the subsidies and use the resources to provide social protection for the most vulnerable households.”

Mr. Selassie revealed that the IMF has provided the sum of $58 billion to African countries since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and pledged it would do more.
The IMF chief cautioned African countries against commercial loans for the purposes of refinancing because of the current rate hike in most economies.

He advised that instead, countries South of the Sahara that have debt service challenges should look inward for domestic resource mobilization, which would be easier to deal with. The Director criticised the practice of discriminatory tax exemption to some companies and not extended to others.

These special favours to some companies, he observed reduce the effectiveness of governments to optimise tax revenue..

Positive developments in Africa

“Mr. Abebe said that after four challenging years and multiple shocks, Sub-Saharan Africa’s economy appears to be on the mend.

“We expect economic growth to rise to 3.8 per cent in 2024, from 3.4 per cent last year. After peaking at almost 10 per cent in late 2022, inflation has nearly halved to around 6 per cent in the early part of the year thanks to decisive action by central banks.

“This includes slower food price increases, a positive development for a region where the cost of crises has been acute in recent years. In addition, fiscal consolidation efforts are starting to pay off, with the median public debt stabilizing at around 60 per cent of GDP, halting a 10-year upward trend.

“And with global financial conditions easing, a few countries have been able to return to international markets, ending a two-year hiatus. These are encouraging signs.”
The Missing Chief said, however, “ the region is not out of the woods yet. Far too many countries still face a funding squeeze.

What’s heart breaking about Africa- IMF MD

Also, IMF Managing Director, Mr. Kristalina Georgieva, described as “heart-breaking”, the situation in which African countries spend large amounts of their revenue on debt servicing.

Her words, “African countries spend on average, 12 percent of their revenue on on debt servicing. This is more than double from the Las decade. They were at 5 percent a decade ago.

“What is heartbreaking is that in some countries, the debt payments is up to 20 per cent of revenues.

“What does that mean? It means that what could have gone to education, health, for investments in infrastructure and jobs is being sucked away by debt servicing. The ground for public capital to come in.

“We know that part of the reason is that interest rates are quite high. So what does it translate into for authorities in Sub-Sahara Africa?

“First, we see that those who have worked on public finances, to clean clean the ground for private capital to come in are doing better.

“When you have a tax/revenue of 26 per cent like Cote d-Ivoire, you can bear the debt burden. When you 12 per cent to GDP you cannot.”

The MD said that the IMF’ major peg of interaction with member countries in the region was focusing on the mobilisation of domestic resources, improving public spending and mobilising local savings with which to achieve growth prospects.

She added that African countries must keep their eyes on inflation because that problem remains unsolved.

Ms. Georgieva noted that Africa was blessed with huge potential, with huge a youth population that was earger to work and that its leaders should allow Africa’s resources to work for Africans.

Nigerian singer, Abbey Toyyib Elias, popularly known as Skiibii, has debunked claims of attempting to use Nigerian influencer, Precious Kingsley, also known as Nickie Dabarbie, for rituals.

Naija News reported that Nickie, in a series of posts shared on her Instagram page on Friday morning, April 19, accused Skiibi of attempting to kill her for money rituals.

However, in a post via his Instagram page on Friday evening, Skiibii described the accusation as false.

The singer noted that the allegation has been reported to the Nigerian Police and believes they would thoroughly investigate the issue.

He wrote, “I typically remain silent when people come for me in the media, but I feel it’s necessary to address recent events, especially when false information is being spread. I will no longer allow anyone to tarnish my image because they know Skiibii won’t run to the media to speak.

“Although I’ve remained silent on all issues to preserve peace, I believe it’s time to reconsider that approach. In due time, the truth will come to light. Firstly, I want to clarify that the narrative being circulated by people and various blog are complete false and the truth will come to light on all front.

“I have reported the incident to the Nigerian police because there’s nothing to hide and I trust thorough investigation. I will let the law take its course to the full measure this time. Thank you.”

There are indications that prices of goods and services may not come down soon despite the speedy appreciation of Naira against major foreign currencies in recent weeks.

On Thursday, US Dollars traded for N1,060, about N840 gain against N1,900 to US Dollar peak in February this year. But Vanguard findings show that prices of goods in the market are still on the rise contrary to the general expectations that with the continued positive trend in the exchange rate which started in late February, the market prices and general cost of living should be going down.

Most dealers and producers of goods and services blamed the high exchange rate for the spiral price increases in the market.

However, against the backdrop of the positive stability in the foreign exchange market, the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, reported a further rise in inflation with a headline rate of 33.2 per cent in March as against 31.7 per cent in the previous month while food inflation rose to 40.02 per cent from 37 per cent.

Meanwhile, financial analysts and economists who spoke to Vanguard have indicated further rises in prices of goods and services in the months ahead before marginal stability can take place.

They also hinted that the current positive development in the foreign exchange market would have to be sustained over a longer period while other elements of the cost of doing business would have to come down before the impact of the lower exchange rate can positively affect the prices of goods and services.

Moreover, they explained that while price increases respond faster to upward increases in key factors of production, the reverse is the case when the factors are going down.

The analysts noted that positive exchange rate changes take time to trickle down to the prices of consumer goods. Explaining the discrepancy between the exchange rate stability against consumer price volatility, Victor Chiazor, Head, Research, FSL Securities, a Lagos-based investment house, said, ‘‘Apart from the time lag for the stability in the exchange rate to begin to reflect in the prices of goods and services, Nigerian price history shows that prices are sticky downwards but reflect immediately upwards.”

However, he gave further insight: “The rise in consumer goods prices was initially triggered by the currency devaluation along with high energy and transportation costs. But despite the recent appreciation of the Naira against the dollar, energy and transportation costs have remained high.

“Also, the appreciation in Naira will take some time to kick in before it begins to reflect in the price of goods and services.

“This price distortion shows how much dependence the economy has on foreign currency and shows that government policies towards locally manufactured goods in terms of infrastructure deficiency and incentives remain low.
“Just as we have seen inflation continue to rise despite consecutive increases in the monetary policy rate to curb it, the reality remains that the policy will require some time to kick in and take effect.

“A similar scenario is expected to play out around goods and services which are highly dependent on the exchange rate. It will take some time for the appreciation of the Naira to be transferred and trigger a drop in the cost of goods and services.”

Going forward, he said that the current policy decisions by the CBN Monetary Policy Committee, MPC, team will yield the desired result.

He, however, said that a prolonged duration of monetary tightening would become a headwind negative to economic growth.

“Hence, there is the need to effectively monitor the economy and know when to slow down on its tightening stance so as not to throw the economy into a session of negative growth.”

In his views, Ayorinde Akinloye, an Economic and Investment Strategist, said: “When economic policies are implemented, there is typically a time lag needed to see the impact of the policies on macroeconomic outcomes.
“Specific to the issue of appreciating Naira and still elevated prices of goods and services, the majority of consumer goods in circulation were produced or imported when the dollar was about N1,500 or more. As a result, we are yet to see the impact of the appreciation of the past month.

“Typically, a time lag of 60 – 90 days will be required to clear out the expensive goods before the ones imported at cheaper exchange rates begin to flow into the market.”

He, therefore, noted that the impact of the appreciation of the Naira will be felt from the end of May to June.

Speaking in the same vein, Gafar Bashiru, Senior Associate, Parthian Partners, another Lagos-based investment house, said though a stronger Naira is supposed to result in lower import costs and, eventually, a decrease in consumer goods prices, however, other factors, including structural issues, time tag, and speculative pricing, among others, have continued to fuel the current disparity.

He stated: “Exchange rate changes often take time to trickle down to consumer prices. Businesses may wait to adjust prices until they’re confident the currency appreciation is sustained. Inventory purchased at higher exchange rates may also need to be sold before price reductions occur.

“Also, factors like high transportation costs, insecurity, or inefficiencies in distribution networks can keep prices high despite a stronger currency and businesses might be hesitant to lower prices immediately, fearing future devaluation, leading to “sticky prices.”

“While prices are yet to drop, we are beginning to see a slower rate of increase. The month-on-month inflation figure for March reveals that the rate of increase in the average price level is less than the rate of increase in February 2024. This is a trend that is expected to be maintained in the coming months.

“It is also important to consider the base effect in the year-on-year figures. Considering that consumer prices were already high before the Naira appreciation occurred in the last two months (headline and food inflation stood respectively at 29.90% and 35.41% in January vs 33.20% and 40.00% in March), the decrease in prices might seem less significant.”

He further noted that in addition to the recent improvement in the strength of the Naira, policies that can help achieve sustainable price stability lie largely with the fiscal authority.

He cited structural reforms and focus on domestic production of competitive advantageous products as part of the fiscal solutions needed.

According to him, “Addressing structural bottlenecks in the economy, like improving transportation infrastructure and reducing bureaucratic hurdles, can make businesses more efficient and potentially lower production costs. This will translate to lower consumer prices.

“Implementing policies that incentivize local production of essential goods will lessen reliance on imports and make prices less vulnerable to fluctuations.”

Inflation bottleneck

Expressing similar views, David Adonri, Vice Chairman, Highcap Securities, argued that the main factor fueling Nigeria’s galloping inflation is insecurity, adding that import dependence on manufactured items is another cause. “When supply-side measures are taken, inflation will start declining. Inflation can start declining from the fourth quarter,” he stated.

Chinazom Izuora, Senior Associate, Parthian Securities, said: “It’s important to note that inflation is a lagging indicator.

Therefore, the effect of policy pronouncements in a given month will not be evident until subsequent months. However, it is noteworthy that headline inflation on a month-on-month basis moderated to 3.02% in March, which was 0.10% lower than the rate recorded in February 2024 (3.12%).

“This indicates a slowdown in the rate of inflation, though a marginal decline. We might not see a significant decline in the rate of inflation until Q3/Q4 but we expect to see gradual moderation month on month.”

Last Sunday, Super Eagles forward Victor Boniface made history with his German Bundesliga club, Bayer Leverkusen, when they defeated Werder Bremen 5 – 0 to be crowned the new champions of Germany. The win meant that Bayer Leverkusen won the Bundesliga for the first time with 5 games to spare.

More significantly, Coach Xabi Alonso’s side became the first German club to go 43 games unbeaten. Alonso’s team also displaced perennial champions, Bayern Munich from their Olympian heights in startling fashion.

In all this, Nigeria international, Victor Boniface has been key to coach Alonso’s plans. Despite the disruptive injury spells that have sometimes put him on the sidelines, the Nigerian forward has scored 18 goals and provided 11 assists in 25 games across all competitions.

Boniface who scored the opener before registering an assist in the same game has been a revelation in his debut season in Germany and has now celebrated Leverkusen’s remarkable triumph by getting himself custom-made Diamond chains.

As part of the celebrations that have followed the historic feat in Germany, the 23-year-old Super Eagles striker recruited the services of prominent jeweller, Buchi Obasi, the man behind Osimhen’s championship ring and chains after he led Napoli to the Scudetto last season. One of the large pendants features an encrusted Diamond inscription that reads “Dreams Are For Real” with a throwback picture of his late mother and his siblings.

The other one was created solely as tribute to his late mother, also featuring an encrusted Diamond inscription that reads “Keep Resting Mama.”

The value of both pieces have been estimated to be in the region of ¦ 10,000,000,

After his mother passed away last year, Boniface previously revealed that he grew up with his grand-parents and sometime last year, flew out his grandma to watch him play in the Bundesliga.

Still in celebratory mood, Boniface took a walk down memory lane, as he shared a photo from his early days playing football. In the post which he made on X, Boniface posted a picture captured from his childhood with the phrase “If you like give up”.

Boniface’s post gives fans a glimpse of his humble beginnings and how far he has come; from playing street soccer in Akure, to becoming a Bundesliga champion in his first year in Germany.

The 23-year-old’s post serves as an inspiration to others to keep pushing and not give up on their dreams.

In a brief interview granted after the title-deciding match, Boniface acknowledged his family and fans in Akure, and also hinted at a celebration saying “we go meet, we go shut down everywhere when I come”.

The Nigerian striker was also awarded with an honorary citizenship by the city of Leverkusen alongside his Bayer Leverkusen teammates, including fellow Nigerian football star Nathan Tella.

Bodø/Glimt

Victor Okoh Boniface who started with Lagos-based football academy, Real Saphphire began his journey to prominence when in 2019 he signed for a remote Norwegian side, Bodø/Glimt.

He suffered a ligament injury only two weeks after signing for Glimt, which was said to have kept him on the sidelines for the duration of the 2019 season. He was selected to the Nigeria U-20 squad to play the 2019 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, but had to withdraw from the squad due to injury. In September 2019 he nonetheless made his league debut for the club.

Union SG

In 2022, Boniface signed a four-year contract with Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise. Union reached the quarter-finals of the 2022–23 Europa League. The Nigerian youngster scored six goals in the competition, including a brace against Union Berlin in the round of 16, finishing as the competition’s joint top scorer along with Marcus Rashford.

Bayer Leverkusen

In 2023, Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen snapped him up on a 5-year contract that will last until 2028. He made his Bundesliga debut on 19 August, in a 3–2 home victory over RB Leipzig. The following week, he scored his first Bundesliga goals by netting a brace at the Borussia Park in a 3–0 away derby win against Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Hard work, high productivity and discipline attracted national team coach Jose Peseiro to the young Nigerian who was painting German Bundesliga red with goals. Boniface made his debut for the Nigeria senior team on 10 September 2023, coming on in the 64th minute for Taiwo Awoniyi. He provided an assist in that match to Samuel Chukwueze. He was named in the Nigerian squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast. However, he was forced to withdraw from the AFCON-bound national team when he sustained a muscle injury. He was replaced by Terem Moffi.

Style of play

Boniface is known for his distinctive style of play. His playing characteristics include strengths in dribbling, finishing, and headed attempts, while his weaknesses lie in offside awareness, holding onto the ball, and defensive contribution.

He is described as a player who likes to dribble, likes to do layoffs, and likes to play long balls. These attributes contribute to his effectiveness as a forward on the field.

His background, including learning to play football in a military barracks in Nigeria, adds an interesting dimension to his journey as a footballer.

Overall, Victor Boniface’s style of play is characterized by his technical abilities, goal-scoring prowess, and unique playing preferences, making him a player to watch in the world of football.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must choose its fights sensibly. An Ijele doesn’t go about dancing at babies’ birthday parties just to be noticed. The EFCC must leave some jobs for local Police DPOs. So, it can focus on serious financial crimes. This gbegboro attitude inhibits specialisation. More importantly, the EFCC must never forget that it wrestles against principalities and powers against whom it needs the confidence of the masses. Seeking to clean cobwebs while elephants freely defecate in the room is self-deceit.

The EFCC has recently set up a task force to prevent the abuse of the Nigerian currency, the naira. The focus of this task force has been on preventing celebrities and, perhaps, the public from spraying the naira at social events, as the EFCC sees this as a form of irreparable damage to the currency. Although the law is in place to preserve currency notes and save reprinting costs, the EFCC has taken it to be a serious financial crime. If lawmakers had trained their focus on stopping the display of exhibitionism or money worship in order to prevent the spread of lasciviousness and reset societal values rather than mere naira abuse, the people would have been happy. However, enforcing laws against harmless cultural practices portrays law enforcement as bereft of a critical sense of priorities.

In the United States, celebrities spray money on strippers. So, spraying cash on people isn’t such a universal crime as the EFCC’s preoccupation with it suggests. In Igbo land, if a grandma dances, she has to be sprayed cash. Putting the money in her bag or pocket drains the ritual of the ceremony. If that damages the naira, then the quality of the notes needs improvement to meet significant cultural uses. Money is more than a sterile medium of exchange. We used to have pseudo-plastic notes in the past. But this new meddlesome law also forbids the throwing of coins. So, the primary motivation for the prohibition can’t even be mutilation because it’s so non-discriminating. Now, the EFCC wastes its time and scarce resources pursuing young men and women spraying their hard-earned naira on their friends and relatives while indicted criminal suspects occupy ministerial positions at the nation’s capital

An institution with limited resources ought to define its priorities soberly. While the EFCC was running around Borisky, Yahaya Bello, who likes to call his narcissistic self White Lion, was still at large. If the EFCC was thinking of the Broken Windows Theory, then it should have focused on the obscene display of wealth, not the spraying of naira, which almost all poor and decent people in Nigeria do anyway. Now, Bobrisky is in prison after pleading guilty as a first offender, but Yahaya Bello can’t be arrested.

He wasn’t arrested a couple of days ago because after the EFCC laid a siege on the house where he refuged, the policemen protecting the man at large shut out the EFCC violently. That wasn’t the peak of the absurdity. While the EFCC agents were languishing in helplessness under the angry sun, a governor stormed the cordoned area with thugs and gained easy entrance into the house. The humiliated EFCC men watched like schoolboys. Such life-sucking impotence. All these happened a stone’s throw from the seat of power. The godson shoved the EFCC aside and whisked away his godfather from the trembling hands of the timid law. Sheer movie stuff. Blockbuster gangsterism.

After the EFCC chickened away in peace, it issued a press release. In that gutless release, it couldn’t dare to be specific let alone name names. In that statement that reeked of abject impotence, it found the verve to warn the public that in future, it would deal decisively with people who employed thugs to disrupt or obstruct its operations. A governor might have immunity, but does his immunity permit him to handcuff EFCC agents or commit criminal offences while law enforcement agents watch?

His immunity doesn’t confer anything on all the aides and security agents who may choose to assist him in committing the crime before newsmen.The next day was court sitting. Yahaya bello was still at large. The EFCC said they could be forced to invite the military to assist them. What more do they want to suffer? However, that statement was a naked indictment of the police and DSS. Granted, both can’t often handle bandits, but should a chicken-hearted white lion hiding in the Government House in Lokoja require military intervention too?

The helpless EFCC has declared the man wanted, begging the public to help track the man. The public is supposed to find the man the EFCC had in its claws and let a baby governor snatch away? The public should find a man being protected by the state. The world is watching. The Attorney General could have struck while it was hot in Abuja. But he dilly-dallied. A firm pronouncement from the Chief Law Officer to the police and DSS would have drained courage from the lawless governor.

When the Attorney General woke up from slumber the next day, he preached that citizens must always submit themselves to law enforcement agents when needed. He called no names. He issued no public orders. Tepidly, he said the world would have no respect for the country if governors started to act like wild animals. Such preposterous lukewarmness. Tomorrow, we will attend an African Union meeting and expect respect. He should remind the president that foreign investors are watching the spectacle of the travesty of the rule of law.

This atrocious precedent took place under the presidency’s nose. Many thought that naked disruption of EFCC operations by other law enforcement agents had ended with Buhari. If it had been some Bobrisky rather than the revered Bobkogi who mobilised thugs to evade that arrest, the security agencies would have remembered they had breached presidential security. Rightly, but belatedly, the policemen attached to Yahaya Bello have been withdrawn, but when will they be prosecuted? After all, we are only a generator republic and not yet a plantain republic.

The EFCC must choose its fights wisely. Some bemused young people are now planning to switch to spraying dollars at social events. That could mean more naira chasing the dollar. Some laws only exist to be part of the general legal architecture. And there are others, that must attract attention and venom. The EFCC’s greatest existential problem is corrupt politicians. However, it appears the agency has an exceptionally elastic capacity to absorb humiliation from powerful politicians.

Often, the public looks away with disinterest not just because the EFCC likes to make up by chasing small fries, but after the EFCC went through the roof to arrest Rochas and charge him, the then Federal Attorney General hijacked the case from the EFCC. That gradual and steady emasculation of the EFCC by big politicians has been quickened by Ododo. He knows he will suffer no consequences. Last year, an ex-governor publicly ridiculed the EFCC chairman who had fingered him for corruption. That ex-governor is now a minister. The EFCC lingers on his filthy files.

How does the EFCC feel when it goes against relatively innocuous offenders while those who have embezzled the state into penury swagger about in the corridors of power and thump their noses at it? Bobrisky went to prison at the speed of light. Bobkogi is still at large. When he is eventually arraigned, he might appear in a lion-skinned attire. His lawyers will secure his bail despite his having shown that he is a flight risk. Then he will return to Kogi to a hero’s welcome, drums beating, and women dancing under the sun, all arranged by his godson, Ododo. Most of the policemen withdrawn from him will return with him to Kogi for the triumphant homecoming. They might even receive awards from the state. We live right in a circus. Aristotle said, “At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice, he is the worst.”

The EFCC must reassess its priorities to prevent politicians from turn the eagle into a chicken, a scaveger for small things.

The Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) said Nigerians’ hatred for officers is affecting security in the country.

The National Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Mogaji Olaniyan stated this while addressing newsmen during the 40th celebration ceremony of the Committee held in Abeokuta, the state capital.

He described the narrative as alarming, pointing out that the hatred remains part of the factors affecting the country’s security.

Olaniyan, who condemned the widespread hatred, said the PCRC is fostering a permanent relationship between members of the community and the police in order to end the ugly narrative.

He emphasized that this deep-seated resentment must be addressed to cultivate a healthy relationship between the people and the police, ultimately enhancing security across the nation.

Olaniyan said “We are calling that people should love the Nigeria Police, this is what they lack right from childhood we have created enmity between our children and the Nigeria Police.

“This hatred starts from our home. For instance if parents want to scold their children they will say ‘I will call the police for you. This is why our children grow up with hatred for the police and that is why we are trying to stop this narrative.”

Olaniyan, however, called for an urgent need to address what he called widespread hatred towards the officers of the Nigeria Police.

The State Chairman of the Committee, Samson Kunle Popoola stated that the security of Ogun state remains paramount to the PCRC, hence, its cordial relationship with the police.

He affirmed that Ogun state remains the most peaceful and safe state in Nigeria, calling for more cooperation between the residents and the police to keep the record intact.