“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into the abyss, the abyss will gaze back at you” – Friedrich Nietzsche.

Comrade Yinka Odumakin wrote a book with the above title in which he lambasted former President Oluseegun Obasanjo as the hunter who became the hunted. Ironically, Obasanjo, whose administration (1999 – 2007) birthed both the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) on 29 September, 2000 and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 12 December, 2002, later became the butt of cruel jokes as far as corruption malfeasance, including the corrupting influence of absolute power, were concerned. He has, however, neither been tried nor found guilty of corruption charges. Such sundry allegations remain, therefore, in the realm of conjectures, on social media tirades, and what is referred to here as “pepper-soup joint” gossip. This includes the allegation that the former president worked at subverting the country’s Constitution to have a third term in office (the Constitution allows only a maximum of two terms of four years each in office), an allegation he has roundly denied, despite the “physical cash evidence” reportedly brought forward by some, thus making the peddlers of the allegations to refer to the former president as “the father of corruption” in Nigeria, an unbefitting title that Obasanjo has vigorously rejected.

It is trite in law that an accused person is deemed innocent until he has been proved otherwise by a court of competent jurisdiction. You must have had your day in court and be pronounced guilty as charged before allegations of corruption can stick on you. Thus, even if the allegations are “known” to everyone and they are so humongous that the ocean would be incapable of washing them away, as my Grandma would say, or as the scripture records in Isaiah 1: 18 - “though your sins be as scarlet (or) be red like crimson” - you will remain “as white as snow” and be made to look as inviolate “as wool” until you have had your day in court, as they say. That is the position of the law; public opinion, however, is a different kettle of fish!

There are many very big and powerful Nigerians who walk the street free today who, ordinarily, should be in prison if public opinion is anything to go by or, better still, if the cases of corruption hanging around their neck are diligently prosecuted. Not only do they walk around free as air, an uncountable number of them occupy positions of power and, just imagine, bear rule over the people and continue in that position not only to suppress their Day Of Judgment but to also continue in their act of depravity, feeding fatter still on the common till and shoving their impunity down our throat! The EFCC, since inception, has particularly been notorious with its helmsman – and woman – going down on charges/allegations of corruption and or abuse of power/office. So, here, corruption-cum-abuse of power/office is not gender free! As we speak, the immediate past substantive head of the EFCC has been removed from office and is undergoing investigation. We await the outcome!

It is bad when the hunter becomes the hunted but what of when the hunter gets captured by the “game” which, in this case, is corruption itself! “The hunter gets captured by the game” is a 1966 song written by Smokey Robinson and which became a hit single in 1967 for the American girl group, The Marvelettes, for the Motown label, from their self-styled album of the same year; it is the story of a lady who talks about how she had been stalking her lover, having to learn his “ways and habits” so she could catch him. However, “certain things re-arranged” and she found herself falling head-in-love with the supposed game! I am sure you know that “certain things re-arrange” here once people get into power! Even those you could place your neck on the chopping block for when they are not yet in power transform radically once they taste power and you begin to wonder whether you ever knew them!

The reasons for this must be many, some of which are to be found outside of the “game”. Societal expectations and pressure contribute a lot. Have you bothered to find out the actual salaries and emoluments of those in positions of authority? They are usually nothing to write home about. Yet, once a man gets into office, even if it is the unenviable and daunting office of catching thieves or drug addicts, everyone starts to congratulate and mill around them. They begin to drum it into his or her ears that “this is your turn” as well as the “turn” of those of them privileged to be close to him! Their “turn” to do what, if I may ask!

“Everyone we know is touched by corruption”, says actress Jennifer Lawrence. Until everyone, including the corrupt, knows this, the fight against corruption will be a wild goose chase. Nobel Prize Laureate, Rigoberta Menchu, says: “Without strong watchdog institutions, impunity becomes the very foundation upon which systems of corruption are built. And if impunity is not demolished, all efforts to bring an end to corruption are in vain” Do we not enthrone impunity when the corrupt are those in power and calling the shots everywhere? Who, then, will bell the cat? In my view, Delia Ferreira spoke pointedly to Nigerians when she said: “People’s indifference is the best breeding ground for corruption to grow”

We are more than indifferent to corruption here; we, in fact, wait patiently and pray fervently for our own turn to come! It must not tarry; but even if it does, let it surely come! (Habakkuk 2:3). I like Pope Francis’s take on corruption: “Corruption is paid for by the poor!” And the same poor are the ones who fight-to-the-death for, and defend, their oppressors. Above all, I love the immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari’s quotation on corruption: ”If we (Nigerians) do not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria” Perhaps, then, that is one good service corruption will do Nigeria; the final solution, if we must quote Adolf Hitler, to the Nigerian nightmare!

Nigeria already suffers what is called “state capture” by corruption. Corrupt men and women hold the levers of power and, to perpetuate themselves, they breed their own kind and bar good men and women from gaining access. No arm of government is spared. No tier of government is spared. No Ministry, Agency or Parastatal of the government is spared. The private sector is not spared. Religious leaders are not spared, their vainglorious pontification notwithstanding. And everyone appears overwhelmed. We are resigned to our fate! Otherwise, why are we not moved by the humongous cases of corruption that ooze out of the nooks and crannies of government offices on a daily basis? It would appear as if our lethargy is second to none!

Yesterday, I saw on social media the spectacle of a limousine slowly screeching to a halt with security aides running alongside it on both sides. I told myself, “Oh! that must be a visiting head of state” but my heart sank when it was Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, that emerged from the car! Common Number Three man! What, then, should we expect from the president and vice-president and the 36 governors in their respective “fiefdoms” all over the country? Why do we allow persons who are supposed to serve us this level of opulence when we ourselves wallow in abject penury and lack? Is that not why they think N8000 is all we need as palliatives?

Cassius, then, is right: “Men at some time are masters of their fate: The fault, O Caesar, is not in our stars but in ourselves, that we are underlings”! Those wasting their time crying unto God or expecting Him to intervene should hold their peace! God has done His bit; it is now left unto us to do ours! As my people will say, mother Chameleon has done her bit by giving birth to her child; if the child does not know how to dance, it is its fault, not mother Chameleon's! Has it not been said that a people deserve the government they get? Says Thomas Jefferson, 3rd US president: “The government you elect is the government you deserve” Joseph de Maistre concurs by saying: “Every nation gets the government it deserves”

Videos of the rot in three critical agencies of the Federal Government that have trended in recent times without any (known) action taken by the new administration beggars belief. The watchdog organisations are the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). The cans of worms opened by insiders in the three organisations must not be swept under the carpets. A surgical operation is needed. Competent men and women of integrity should be drafted on rescue missions to these very critical institutions without delay.

Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka on Tuesday said people are wrongfully dissipating their energy on the music video posted by singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, on his social media page.

Soyinka said those castigating and vilifying Davido over the video are making a mountain out of a molehill as they are other important issues they need to address.

The video, captioned ‘Jaiye Lo,’ which was released by Logos Olori, an artiste under Davido, showed some people dressed in white jalabiyas like Muslims, praying the way Muslims do before launching into dancing as they recited some Quranic verses and prayed.

Mats were spread for those praying behind an ‘Imam’ who used the popular single-prayer rug (sajadah). Those who were praying also read out what looked like Muslim recitations in Arabic language and prostrated the way Muslims do in prayer.

In the video, Logos Olori was seen sitting on the roof of a mosque-like building mounted with a horn public address system, thus, creating the complete impression of a mosque scenario.

Muslims faithful have attacked Davido for displaying such video on his Twitter handle and threatened action.

But Soyinka, in a statement on Tuesday said he had not seen the Davido clip and would greatly appreciate if someone would make it available so they all could debate, objectively, the merits and demerits of positions taken over this recent product of the musician.

There are, however, certain principles, histories, rights and responsibilities of artistic creativity that should not be smothered under emotional manipulation.

The Nobel laureate stated: “The following should not be needed, but we appear to inhabit a nation space where memory deficiency has become an accreditation badge of competence in national affairs. I recall my intervention, several years ago, in an attempt to pillory former Governor of Kaduna State, El Rufai over some comment he had made that was considered derogatory to followers of Christianity.

“I forget the reference now but I do distinctly recall another of a bank manager who, at Easter tide, referred to the risen Christ as a metaphor for the risen dough in the bakeries of Oshodi. Something along those lines. Under obvious pressure, he apologized, and I rebuked him for the gesture.

“There was nothing to apologize about, and that applied equally to El Rufai’s comments at the time. It should come as no surprise that I equally absolutely disagree with Shehu Sani if indeed, as reported, he has demanded an apology from Davido on behalf of the Moslem community.

“No apology is required, None should be offered. Let us stop battening down our heads in the mush of contrived contrition – we know where contrition, apology and restitution remain clamorous in the cause of closure and above all – justice. Such apologies have not been forthcoming. In their place, we have the ascendancy of petulant censorship in the dance and music department. Just where will it end?”

Soyinka added that most forms of worship – from the Hare Krishna to Hinduism and lesser-known religions – sought transcendental experience through the medium of dance.

“It goes beyond mere elation or euphoria and involves surrender of the ego to the mystical and sublime – through dance. The secularization of that medium stretches across religions, and offers the artistes’ a means of invoking a sense of spiritual community, through a common act of self-surrender.

“As already admitted, I have not seen the clip, but I insist on the right of the artiste to deploy dance in a religious setting as a fundamental given. Such deployment is universal heritage, most especially applicable in the case of Islam where a plot of land, even without the physical structure, can be turned, in the twinkling of an eye, into a sacral space for believers to gather and worship in between mundane pursuits,” he said.

According to Soyinka, dancing in front of a mosque could not therefore, on its own, be read as an act of provocation or offence but as affirmation of the unified sensibility of the spiritual in human.

“Let us learn to read it that way. Those who persist in taking offence to bed and serving it up as breakfast should exercise their right of boycotting Davido’s products – no one quarrels with that right. However, it is not a cause for negative and incitive excitation.

“The greater responsibility is to face squarely the root issues of religion in the nation. That root issue is starkly stated thus: the sectarian appropriation of the power of life and death across a community of believers, other believers, and even non-believers alike, be it for real, imagined, or deliberately contrived offence.

“It was not Davido’s music that lynched Deborah Yakubu, and continues to frustrate the cause of justice. Nor has it contributed to the arbitrary detention of religious dissenters – call them atheists or whatever – such as Mubarak Bala, now languishing in prison for his 38th month. These are the provocations where every citizen should exercise the capacity for revulsion.

“They are the issues deserving of, indeed exercise primary claim on a nation’s capacity for righteous indignation. All else is secondary. Distractive piffle,” he stated

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has ordered banks to lift a ‘post-no-debit’ restriction that had been placed on the bank accounts of 440 individuals and companies.

This term indicates that all debit transactions, including ATM withdrawals and cheques, were blocked, although deposits could still be made.

The instruction, issued on Tuesday, was signed by A.M. Barau on behalf of the CBN director of banking supervision.

Banks have been told to inform the affected customers about this update. The CBN didn’t disclose why they took this action.

Companies that were included on this list are Bamboo Systems Technology Limited, Escale Oil & Gas Limited, Rise Vest Technologies Limited, Chaka Technologies Limited, abokiFX Limited, Nairabet International, Northwood Energy Services and Proport Marine Limited, among others.

The circular stated, “You are hereby directed to vacate the Post-No-Debit restriction placed on the accounts of the under-listed bank customers at our instance. You are also required to inform the concerned customers of the vacation accordingly.”

Back in 2021, the CBN ordered banks to freeze the accounts of 18 companies which included bureaux de change, construction firms, investment companies, laundering services, and property companies.

The affected companies included Bakori Mega Services, Ashambrakh General Enterprise, Namuduka Ventures Limited, Crosslinks Capital and Investment Limited, IGP Global Synergy Limited, Davedan Mille Investment Limited and Urban Laundry.

Others were Advanced Multi-Links Services Limited, Spray Resources, Al-Ishaq Global Resources Limited, Himark Intertrades, Charblecom Concept Limited, and Wudatage Global Resources.

Treynor Soft Ventures, Fyrstrym Global Concepts Limited, Samarize Global Nigeria Limited, and Zahraddeen Haruna Shahru were also included.

All 18 companies have since had their bank accounts unfrozen by the apex bank.

These are not the best of times for former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, as a UK judge has ordered his defence lawyer and accomplice, Bhadresh Gohil, to return £28 million to law enforcers or serve another prison term of 6 years.

The London solicitor, reportedly has a massive £3.25 million home in Sydney Street in Chelsea, UK, and was accused by law enforcers of playing a big role in a huge scam perpetrated by Ibori, which landed the once powerful Nigerian politician in UK jail.

Ibori was extradited from his hiding place in Dubai, the UAE, and sentenced to 13 years in jail in 2012 alongside his wife and sister who served different jail terms.

He was in the past week ordered to surrender over £100 million to law enforcers or serve another 10 years in jail.

After his freedom, he left the UK to Nigeria where he has been trying to relaunch his political career that has seen his daughter and some of his political supporters contesting for elective positions.

His anointed candidate and former chief of staff, David Edevbie, lost the PDP governorship ticket in Delta.

He joined former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, to receive then president-elect Bola Tinubu in Rivers State in May and has also been received at the presidential villa, Nigeria’s seat of power.

Ibori claimed the latest court episode was deliberate and vowed to appeal but did not deny the offences he was convicted of. He’s contesting the amount he’s expected to pay back.

He refused to attend the hearing which was concluded last week where the judge ordered he refunds laundered public funds.

Gohil, who reports said grew up to become a strong Ibori associate, is an Indian and had served 10 years for his criminal dealings in Ibori’s case.

The solicitor who was described as being “poor” before meeting Ibori, whom he defended until both landed in jail is reportedly an owner of another palatial empire in Mumbai, India and another property close to the India city, as well as other assets worth millions of pounds, all considered proceeds of crime from Nigeria.

He has millions in investments in India and was a regular visitor to Ibori’s mansion in Hampstead, the UK, court told.

But Gohil would now surrender the ill-gotten wealth or face fresh prison term after a judge at Southwark Crown Court delivered a confiscation order that he surrenders a whopping £28.19 million.

The latest ruling has been hailed across the UK especially by anti-corruption campaigners who have moved against organised crime, Evening Standard has reported.

It “sends a powerful message that those who conspire with corrupt political elites will be held to account” after “the extraordinary lengths to which Gohil has gone to keep hold of his ill-gotten gains,” Dr Helen Taylor, from Spotlight on Corruption, told journalists.

“This confiscation order is a significant milestone in these marathon legal proceedings to recover the vast sums of public money that were stolen from the Nigerian people,” she added.

THE WHISTLER findings showed that the Crown Prosecution Service and the National Crime Agency have so far secured a £101 million confiscation order against Ibori and his accomplice.

Also the court secured a £2.8 million confiscation order against his ally Udoamaka Onuigbo.

Gohil, convicted in 2010 of money laundering, was accused of concealing ill-gotten money from Ibori in “a myriad of offshore companies and bank accounts as well as UK-based entities.”

Ibori who once contested his name as Jame Ibori and not James Onanefe Ibori, which he said was the name of his twin brother was found wanting by the crown court for making £118 million, public funds, which he financed “a high-living lifestyle,” with Gohil making £42 million from Ibori.

Suzanne Foster, the head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s proceeds of crime division, said the millions of pounds obtained through the confiscation orders would eventually be sent back to Nigeria to be invested in public services there, it was reported.

“This very significant amount of money was confiscated following an extensive investigation. Ibori was powerful and influential, but he was not above the law. Now the life he built from criminal enterprises has been taken from him,” Foster said, hailing the court ruling.

“This confiscation order demonstrates our determination to pursue criminally obtained assets that have been invested in the UK.

“Our work to repatriate these sums shows that we do not stop at the point of conviction, and the NCA will do everything we can to strip criminals of their assets.

“We will continue to work with partners to tackle the global threat of money laundering, and target anyone that undermines the integrity of our financial system,” Foster added.

Medical doctors under the aegis of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) have embarked on an indefinite nationwide strike.

Naija News reports that the doctors declared the strike on Tuesday night during the National Executive Council meeting in Lagos.

The President of the association, Dr. Orji Emeka Innocent, said the strike will commence at midnight on Tuesday.

This platform reports that the strike comes after a two-week ultimatum was given to the Federal Government by NARD for its demands to be implemented.

In a communique issued after its
virtual extraordinary national executive council (NEC) meeting on Tuesday, the doctors said despite giving a two-week ultimatum, the government was slow to respond to their demand.

The communique said, “The resolutions of the conciliatory meeting chaired by the then Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment were yet to be implemented, seven weeks after, despite the set timelines for their implementation.”

The NARD president noted that the significant demands of the association are: immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), immediate release of the circular on one-for-one replacement, payment of skipping arrears, and upward review of CONMESS in line with complete salary restoration to the 2014 value of CONMESS.

Others are payment of the arrears of consequential adjustment of minimum to the omitted doctors, reversal of the downgrading of the membership certificate by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN ), payment of MRTF, new hazard allowance, skipping and implementation of corrected CONMESS in State Tertiary Health Institutions and payment of omitted hazard allowance arrears.

Meanwhile, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, in an attempt to stop the strike, held deliberations with the leadership of NARD behind closed doors on Monday.

Abbas promised to meet with President Bola Tinubu to avert the industrial action of the resident doctors and announced the setup of an ad hoc committee to meet with all the stakeholders and address the matter.

The Central Bank of Nigeria has said that it is gradually withdrawing old N1,000, N500 and N200 notes from circulation.

The Acting CBN governor Folashodun Shonubi made the disclosure on Tuesday at the Monetary Policy Committee meeting.

Ha also clarified that there are no plans to withdraw the new notes as being speculated by some people.

Shonubi said, “When a currency is printed and sent out, it is expected that it will go through a long cycle and over time will become worn and then will be replaced. That is what we are doing. We had to put out or re-put out old notes and as they are coming in, they were being processed and returned to us as not issuable. We are then bringing out and replacing them with the new notes.

“We believe that we have an optimal level of the currency out there. So, more of what is being done is a replacement to keep the level rather than just putting money out there and that is seen by the fact that the banks whenever they come to us for notes, we provide it to them. If it wasn’t enough, they will be asking us for much more. If it was too much, they will be dumping them much more on us.”

Former President Muhammadu Buhari launched new naira banknotes on November 23 which were expected to be withdrawn on January 31 2023.

After dramatic extensions, the currency was permitted to circulate till December.

“Slowly and over time, you will see how the old notes are replaced out of the system with the new notes that will be the norm. And that will be out of practice and not just fanfare. You will just see it slowly move from old to new notes,” the acting CBN Boss said.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has reiterated that there is no plan to increase telecom tariff due to subsidy removal. 

Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, the executive vice chairman, (EVC), NCC, gave the assurance at the weekend while receiving Titans of Tech(ToT) award in Lagos. 

Danbatta said: “NCC has said that it is not ready to increase telecom tariff for now due to subsidy removal. Such decision is left for the entire industry to determine. We do a lot of industry consultation. 

“That is left for the entire industry to determine. We run a participative system of engagement in NCC. We can’t even talk about increase now. There has to be a lot of engagements with stakeholders.” 

The EVC, who was represented at the event by the Lagos Zonal controller of NCC, Mr Yomi Arowosafe, received the Pan African Telecoms Operator of the year on his behalf, while the director of Public Affairs, of the commission, Mr Reuben Muoka clinched Digital Public Relations Communicator of the year Award. 

Arowosafe, while receiving the award on behalf of Danbatta said: “I am elated that this has happened and this has shown that the industry is really doing well under the leadership of EVC. We thank Titans of Tech award for counting the EVC and NCC worthy of these awards.” 

Meanwhile, earlier in his welcome address, former governor of Lagos, Mr Femi Pedro, while giving his opening remarks, called for pro

motion of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in the country right from primary to tertiary institutions 

“We must begin to encourage our entrepreneurs and young people to be innovative and creative and I believe that the fastest way to create wealth today is through the use of technology. Many young people who have left school and are complaining that there are no jobs, can leverage on technology to create wealth. 

“There is no need for any body to be unemployed in today’s world. It is lack of knowledge that is killing most of us, particularly our young people. Technology is there as a tool, as an enabler for youths to make a living. All you need to do is think creatively,” Pedro advised. 

[DailyIndependent]

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen is expected to earn €50m (N43bn) if he makes the move to French giants Paris Saint-Germain in this transfer window, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis expects to receive a million-dollar offer for the player and has credited PSG as the only club that can afford the Nigeria international.

Other top clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich have pulled out of negotiations for Osimhen due to De Laurentiis’ high asking price.

PUNCH Sports Extra had reported last week that PSG has already made an offer of €120m for Osimhen which the Serie A champions have already rejected.

According to several reports, Napoli values Osimhen at €150m and no club is currently willing to meet that asking price.

“The only club that could afford Victor Osimhen is Paris Saint-Germain,” De Laurentiis told Mediaset.

“If (PSG president) Nasser Al Khelaifi wants to send in a bid around €200m we wait and see what happens. I personally think that Victor will stay here.”

Sky Sports reported that PSG have reached a €300M deal with Al-Hilal for Frenchman Kylian Mbappe, although the player has not yet agreed to play in Saudi Arabia.

If the World Cup winner leaves the team, Osimhen would be the striker’s ideal replacement.

According to elfutbolero.us, if Napoli buy the 24-year-old, the player could receive a salary of €50m to be the star of the team but Osimhen is not keen on a move to the Ligue 1.

Osimhen scored 26 goals and made five assists in 32 league appearances last season, which was crucial to the Partenopei winning the Serie A title for the first time in over three decades.

He also became the first African to claim the prestigious Capocannoniere award, given to the top scorer in Serie A.

[OpinionNigeria]

In October 2020, Nigeria witnessed one of the largest youth-led protests in its history, known as the #EndSARS movement.

Sparked by years of frustration and anger over police brutality, particularly perpetrated by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), young Nigerians took to the streets demanding an end to police harassment, extrajudicial killings, and the complete disbandment of the notorious unit.

What began as peaceful protests quickly gained momentum and spread to different cities across Nigeria and even garnered international attention and support.

The protesters, consisting mainly of young Nigerians, chanted slogans such as “EndSARS,” “SARSMustEnd,” and “Enough is Enough,” as they marched on the streets with banners and placards, demanding immediate action from the government.

However, the events of October 20, 2020, marked a turning point in the #EndSARS movement.

On that fateful day, a group of peaceful protesters had gathered at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos, which had become a symbolic centre for the demonstrations.

As night fell, security forces reportedly opened fire on the protesters, leading to several fatalities and injuries. The incident, now widely referred to as the “Lekki Massacre,” sent shockwaves through Nigeria and the world, drawing international condemnation.

In the aftermath of the tragic events, the Nigerian government announced the disbandment of SARS, a move that was met with scepticism by protesters who demanded broader police reforms and accountability for the alleged abuses committed by SARS officers.

Fast forward to the present, and the wounds inflicted during those tumultuous days are far from healed. The recent announcement by the Lagos State Government regarding a mass burial for the 103 casualties of the #EndSARS protests has reignited the pain and memories of the tragic events of 2020.

While the government has clarified that these casualties are not victims of the Lekki toll gate shooting, it serves as a sombre reminder of the heavy toll the protests took on human lives and the urgency of addressing the issues that spurred the movement in the first place.

The Background

Numerous reports of unlawful arrests, extortion, torture, and extrajudicial killings by SARS officers had flooded social media, capturing the attention of the Nigerian public. These incidents, often accompanied by viral videos and graphic images, sparked outrage among the tech-savvy youth who felt the urgent need to address the issue.

It was on those premises that thousands of Nigerians nationwide took to the streets to protest police brutality in October 2020. They demanded far-reaching reforms, particularly concerning the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, of the police.

The weeks-long protest attracted international attention, culminating in the controversial shooting of protesters at the popular Lekki Tollgate in Lagos, one of the rallying points for those who partook in the demonstrations.

The origin of SARS could be traced to the early 1990s when the Nigerian government established the Special Anti-Robbery Squad with the primary aim of combating violent crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping, and carjacking.

Initially, SARS successfully reduced violent crime cases, but the unit was alleged to have “turned into banditry”.

Over the years, SARS morphed into a feared and ruthless unit, widely accused of gross human rights violations and abuses of power.

Initially, it successfully reduced violent crime cases, but the unit was alleged to have “turned into a cash cow and agent of human rights abuse”.

In June 2020, Amnesty International released a report documenting at least 82 cases of torture, ill-treatment and extrajudicial execution by SARS between January 2017 and May 2020.

Amid the protest, the then Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, announced the disbandment of the Squad in the country.

Judicial Panel of Inquiry

The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS-related Abuses and Other Matters submitted its report on November 15, 2021, after which Sanwo-Olu set up a White Paper committee.

The Justice Doris Okuwobi-led panel, in a 309-page report titled, ‘Report of Lekki Incident Investigation Of October 20 2020’, concluded that there were “killings” at the Lekki tollgate on October 20, 2020.

The panel also claimed that at least 48 protesters were either killed, injured, or assaulted by soldiers and police.

However, the State Government’s White Paper on the report by the EndSARS panel faulted the panel’s report that nine persons were killed at the toll gate.

In the White Paper, the government described the panel’s claim that nine persons were shot dead as “assumptions and speculations”.

Burial of 103 Victims

Three years later, the leaked memo on the proposed burial of some victims has re-opened the wounds of the EndSARS.

The leaked memo addressed to the Lagos State Ministry of Health claimed that the State Government had approved N61,285,000 for the mass burial of 103 persons identified as 2020 EndSARS victims.

DAILY POST reports that the document, which went viral online, surfaced almost three years after the government had denied brutal killing of unarmed protesters waving the Nigerian flag and chanting the national anthem when the military allegedly opened fire on them at the Lekki toll gate.

The five-paragraph leaked memo sighted by DAILY POST captured steps for the processing of funds after approval by the Governor in addition to the Ministerial Tenders’ Board Meeting over the recommendations of the Procurement Planning Committee.

Reacting to the development, a former lawmaker, Shehu Sani, claimed the spirits of the murdered EndSARS protesters and the members of the Islamic Movement in 2015 would continue to hunt the nation and hang over its skies until justice is done.

In a statement via his verified Twitter handle on Monday, Sani claimed that killing 103 EndSARS protesters in Lagos was one of the hidden atrocities of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s era.

Also, a former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, in her reaction, demanded an urgent response from the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

In a series of tweets on Sunday via her verified Twitter handle, the former Minister questioned if the Governor knew the State had a record of 103 dead bodies from the EndSARS shootings.

Ezekwesili further claimed that the nation’s public leaders have reduced the dignity of human life to zero, describing it as the wickedest thing they have done to the citizens.

Mischief makers at work

However, in its response, the Lagos State Government maintained that the victims to be buried were not from the Lekki Tollgate shooting, insisting that the details were misconstrued.

According to a statement by the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Health, Dr Olusegun Ogboye, the victims were from incidents of violence that occurred in the aftermath of the EndSARS protests.

Ogboye said the Lagos State Environmental Health Unit (SEHMU) picked up bodies after #EndSARS violence and community clashes.

He cited areas of Lagos State where dead bodies were picked to include Ajegunle, Abule-Egba, Fagba, Ketu, Ikorodu, Isolo, Ajah, Orile, Ikeja, Ojota, Ekoro, Ogba, adding that there was also a jailbreak at Ikoyi Prison.

“It is public knowledge that the year 2020 #EndSARS crisis that snowballed into violence in many parts of Lagos recorded casualties in different areas of the State and NOT from the Lekki Toll Gate as being inferred in the mischievous publications.

“The 103 casualties mentioned in the document were from these incidents and NOT from Lekki Tollgate as being alleged. For the avoidance of doubt, nobody was retrieved from the Lekki Toll Gate incident,” part of the statement read.

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DAILY POST spoke to Anngu Orngu, Co-convener of the Free Nigeria Movement.

Orngu lamented that nobody had been prosecuted or arrested for what happened at the Lekki tollgate even though a commission of inquiry was set up to probe the incident.

He expressed sadness over the allegation that the army was unleashed on Nigerians who were genuinely calling on the government to reform the police.

Orngu also called on young and vibrant Nigerians to get involved in the political process.

He said, “It is quite unfortunate that October 20 happened, and we are here again today after so much denial, even when a commission of inquiry was set up. I don’t know what they have done with the findings of that commission.

“Nobody has been prosecuted or arrested for what happened at the Lekki tollgate that fateful night. It is unfortunate.

“At this point, I am even dumbfounded to speak on the issues that relate to our dear country. But it shows that Lekki actually happened, and someone should be held responsible for what happened on that day.

“Over a hundred and five people, or thereabouts, are to be buried, and nobody has taken responsibility for it, or nobody has been arrested? Somebody should be facing prosecution for what happened.

“But here we are as a country. Is it that Nigeria is becoming a rogue country? Is it that there are no laws? Where is our humanity? Have we all lost it? What are we telling the next generation? Because these are armless Nigerians crying out for the rights of others against police brutality.

“And not that these Nigerians were only out there for themselves; they were also calling on the Nigerian government to improve police service and the welfare of police officers. And maybe because of economic gains, you unleashed the army on them.

“A lot of conspiracy theories came up that the protesters were sponsored to overthrow Buhari’s government and all of that. But these were people that did not even have a smoke gun with them. First, you unleashed street urchins on them. We saw some of the faces of these people, ‘agberos’, but those people were still moving freely on the streets of Nigeria and Lagos in particular.

“So, what is becoming of this country for me? I am dumbfounded; head or tail, you don’t even know where to start from. Is it the subsidy removal issue? Is it the tax issues? Where do you start from? Is it the skyrocketing price of foodstuff? Maybe at the end of the day, we will resort to God – the divinity to intervene in the case of our country.

“The youths are not helpless, but we are watching. My watchword has always been that we have to organise and don’t agonise. We are watching keenly; we are following the events of this country as they unravel. And at the appropriate time, some of us will come out to speak, to take action because our actions have always been to prick the conscience of people, to prick the conscience of our leaders that Nigerians deserve better. Our countrymen and women deserve better than they have given them.

“The way out, as I said, I believe in the power of God. We have seen several interventions in our country. We have seen Nigeria go through a very dire situation and more difficult times. As young men, we saw it happen; we saw at times nature takes its cause; death even takes place. So, there is hope. And hope is not a strategy; nobody should tell you that hope is a strategy.

“My call is for young Nigerians who really want to effect change, not those who are shouting and by the end of the day, when they get themselves into government, they behave and perform worse. We have some of our brother activists; as soon as they could get their hands on some deals and a few naira or dollars could line in their pockets or accounts, they stopped speaking for the people.

“I am using this opportunity to call on young, vibrant Nigerians to get involved in the process, go out there and contest elections. Kogi State is having an election, so also Imo and Bayelsa. Go out, put your foot out there and see how we can change this system.

”Nigeria is redeemable. Nobody should tell you that Nigeria is irredeemable. There is still hope for this country. There is still hope for Nigeria. There is still hope that we can build a nation that we would be proud of and that works for all.”

On his part, the President of the African Emancipation Movement for Good Governance, Honourable Lucky Obiyan told DAILY POST in an interview that the leaked document was living proof that a massacre was recorded during the EndSARS protest.

Obiyan believes that police brutality has worsened from what it was then to what is currently on the ground. According to him, police brutality still rages on in different forms.

He recalled some of the challenges he experienced during the protest.

He said, “It is not far-fetched. It is living proof that we actually had a massacre recorded during the EndSARS protest.

“The Lagos government was being hypocritical in their submissions to the Nigerian people. They never knew the letter was going to leak, and at the end of the day, it leaked and found its way to the public domain.

“And on that premise, today, we are talking about reality. This has gone a long way to attest that people actually died, and there was a massacre at the Lekki Tollgate; the government only tried to cover up.

“We are happy this is coming out, and we believe all those that have been vilified or hunted in one way or the other, the likes of DJ Switch, that had to relocate from her country, will all be vindicated, including CNN and the likes of other media organisations who the government under Lai Mohammed’s Information Ministry tried to debunk and assassinate their characters, I believe they will begin to bury their heads in shame at this point in time.

“The EndSARS represented better things for the police; you could see the government drew out a lot of programmes. Most of the demands by the protesters were acceded to, though some were to be long-term responses while others would be done summarily.

“Well, to be very frank, police brutality has exacerbated from what it was then to what is currently on the ground. The brutality still rages on in different formats, to the extent that you have policemen accompanying victims of their brutality and harassment to ATM stands and withdrawing money without their consent under duress. That has moved from bad to worse. And it is still happening today.

“You can see the hardship that has been meted on the Nigerian people as we speak. Is it the fuel hike, or the hike in the electricity tariff, despite the House of Representatives trying to suspend the electricity hike?

“But the people are already bearing the brunt. A lot of families go to bed hungry, waking up the next morning not knowing where the next meal will come from. Nigeria has never been subjected to the level of deprivation it has found itself.”

“We also had the challenge of the government sponsoring a counter-mob attack in order to give the protest a bad name. You know, when you want to hang a dog, you give it a bad name. They sponsored and infiltrated the ranks of the EndSARS protesters.

“And another thing drawn from that is the fact that there was no leadership, it was a faceless struggle. There is no agitation in the world where you don’t have a representative leadership to negotiate with the people at the top or hierarchy of the government; I think that was one of the mistakes that the organisers of the EndSARS deliberately made,” he added.

[DailyPost]