I May Die In DSS Custody Over Health Issues, Nnamdi Kanu Tells Court

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader and Radio Biafra Director, Nnamdi Kanu, has sued the Nigerian government over his continued detention at the national headquarters of the Department Of State Services.

In June, the IPOB leader was arrested in Kenya and extradited to Nigeria to face treason charges.

File photo used to illustrate story.

He was subsequently arraigned and brought before Binta Nyako, a Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, who asked him to be remanded at the DSS custody.

However, in a suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja through his lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the IPOB leader prayed for a court order "directing the transfer of the Applicant from the custody of the National Headquarters of the State Security Service to the Nigerian Correctional Service Centre in Kuje, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, where he was initially detained before he was granted bail, pending the determination of the charge."

His lawyer also sought an "An order of this Honourable Court directing the Defendant/Applicant's custodian, to grant access to his medical experts/doctors to carry out a comprehensive independent medical examination of the defendant/applicant's health condition/status, while in custody."

Kanu added that he might die if his health condition is not addressed promptly.

Read the text of the charges below:

"That this charge NO. FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015 came up on 29th June 2021 and the Applicant was brought before the Court in Chains, handcuffs and leg-cuffs, blindfolded, and was consequently remanded in the custody of the State Security Service, even though there was no legal representation for the Defendant, and the matter was therefore adjourned to the 26th day of July 2021 for trial.
 
"That the Counsel to the Applicant was not served with any hearing notice before the appearance of the applicant in Court, neither were they aware that any action was scheduled to take place in the criminal charge NO. FCH/ABJ/CR/383/2015 on that 29th June 2021.

"That on 30th June 2021, the Applicant's Solicitors formally wrote to the State Security Service to allow the Applicant solicitors have access to the Applicant. A copy of the said letter is hereby attached and marked as Exhibit MNK 1. That on 2nd July 2021, at about 12:32pm, the State Security Service called me to inform me that our request to visit the Applicant has been approved and that I should come by 4:00 pm to see Defendant.
 
"That on the said 2nd July 2021 at about 5:00pm, at the State Security Headquarters, in Abuja, the Applicant informed me of the following facts which I verily believed to be accurate and correct as follows; That he was kidnapped and/or abducted by Kenyan Security Forces on 19th June 2021, specifically at Nairobi Airport.
 
"That he was detained by the personnel of the Kenyan Police Force for eight days, and was throughout this period of detention subjected to all forms of inhuman treatment, brutal torture, causing grave and severe heart problem that almost took his life. That he was detained in an unconventional facility, not necessarily a police detention center in Kenya.
 
"That throughout this detention in Kenya, he was never allowed access to his relatives before he was handed over to their Nigerian Security counterparts who smuggled him into Nigeria in clear violation of his rights. That since he was smuggled into this country on 27th June 2021, he has been kept in solitary confinement without access to his family members, relatives, wife, cousins, and children, except his lawyer, who only visits after they must secure the approval and endorsement of the Director-General of the State Security Service, which approval are not usually granted as a matter of course.

"That he is still being subjected to mental and psychological torture by his custodians, on account of the conditions of his solitary confinement. That an ECG examination was carried out on the Defendant, and it was discovered that the Defendant's heart had been enlarged by more than 13%, posing a serious threat and danger to Defendant's life.
 
"That there is a need for the Defendant to have access to his Medical Doctors to avert the danger looming against the life of the Defendant. That the health personnel attending to the Defendant in the custody of the State Security Service is not adequate considering the circumstances of the Defendant's health condition.

"That the Defendant requires the services of his medical experts as his medical records issued by the Chief Cardiologist of Nairobi Hospital who has the Defendant's medical records, mainly, before the arrest/abduction of the Applicant shows a debilitating medical condition. Copies of these medical records showing the Applicant's subsisting health condition are hereby attached and marked as Exhibit MNK.

"That if the health condition of the Defendant is not addressed most promptly, the Defendant may die in custody, even before his trial. It is essential that the Defendant's Medical Experts/Consultants be allowed to carry out proper, thorough, and independent medical examinations of the Defendant to save the Defendant's life.

"That the Defendant needs regular medical observation/attention by the Defendant's Medical specialists/Consultants in Cardiology. That the Defendant's Medical Specialists (including the Chief Cardiologist of Nairobi Hospital) in Kenya have his complete medical records that will easily aid the examination of the Defendant and treatment thereof.

"That the Defendant undertakes to bear any cost incidental to getting the medical experts to attend to his ill health while in custody. The defendant can only be alive to stand his trial, which cannot be guaranteed because of his rapidly deteriorating health situation.

"The Defendant cannot effectively put up a defense to the charge against him, in his present deteriorating health condition. That I know that upon the arraignment of the Applicant, this Honourable Court in its wisdom initially remanded the Applicant in Kuje Correctional Service Centre, where he was held for almost two years before bail was consequently granted to the Applicant.
 
"That for the almost two years the Applicant was in custody in Kuje Correctional Facility, there was never any complaint about any form of misconduct against him. That the State Security Service is not a detention Centre, neither does it have the requisite custodial facilities to enhance the conditions of the occupants/inmates.

"That the Nigerian Correctional Service Centre is an impartial facility that has no interest whatsoever in the outcome of this charge. That the Nigerian Correctional Service Center is the only body statutorily empowered to keep custody of persons facing criminal trial in courts, hence, the necessity to transfer the Applicant to the Nigerian Correctional Service Center Kuje.
 
"That it will serve the interest of Justice and enhance fair hearing for this Honourable Court to transfer the Applicant from the State Security Service to the Nigerian Correctional Service Centre in Kuje, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court.

"That the Applicant has very limited access to his lawyers, who can only visit him after the approval of the Director of the State Security Services has been first sought and obtained, which said approval in most cases, takes days and that the above situation would greatly impede the Defendant's preparation for his defense to the charge against him.
 
"That the favorable consideration of this application is compelling in the circumstance of the present Notice for the resumption of the Court's Annual vacation, which would affect the hearing on the substantive charge already slated for the 26th Day of July 2021. That fair hearing can only be guaranteed when the Applicant is not remanded in the custody of his accusers.

"That it is a fact that Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done. That it will greatly aid and serve the interest of Justice if this application is granted. That the respondent will not be prejudiced by the grant of this application. That I depose to this affidavit in good faith believing same to be true and correct and in accordance with the oath Act."

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the case.

Kanu is facing charges bordering on treasonable felony instituted against him at the court in response to his agitation for the Republic of Biafra.

He was granted bail in April 2017 on health grounds but skipped bail after disregarding some of the conditions given to him by the court.

Chidinma Mustn’t Die In Custody – House Of Reps Warns Inspector General Of Police Over Media Interviews

The House of Representatives has said that 21-year-old Chidinma Ojukwu, the suspected killer of Super TV Chief Executive Officer, Usifo Ataga, must not die in the custody of the Nigeria Police Force.

They also urged the police to conduct a proper investigation into the matter and refrain from granting interviews.

The House further called on the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, to ensure that there was no violation of human rights and media access to arrested persons in the future.

In addition, the House said the IG must ensure that “Ms. Ojukwu (the accused) does not die in custody or commit suicide while awaiting trial as in some past cases.”

These were the resolutions passed by the lawmakers at the plenary on Tuesday, following their unanimous adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Tolu Akande-Sadipe and titled, ‘Call for the Compliance of the Police Force with the Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Proper Investigation into the Death of Late Mr. Usifo Ataga.’

Moving the motion on Tuesday, Akande-Sadipe, said, “The House notes that Ms Chidinma Ojukwu, a 300-Level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos was arrested on Wednesday, 23rd June 2021, over the murder of Chief Executive Officer, Super TV, Mr Usifo Ataga, in a service apartment in the Lekki area of Lagos State.

“The House is aware that since the arrest of Ms Chidinma Ojukwu, she has been paraded around, granting interviews to various news platforms, including the Nigerian Television Authority, on the matter, causing the internet and news media to be agog with the discussion and dissecting the matter. This is despite the fact that the police have already launched an investigation into the matter.

“The House is further aware that the law of Nigeria does not allow for social media trials and matters that are sub judice – meaning before the court or not yet judicially decided – are not to be discussed by the media.”

She added, “The House is cognisant that Section 36(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) provides that every person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed to be innocent until they are proven guilty.

“Thus, so long as Ms. Ojukwu has not been proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction, she is not to be labelled a criminal or paraded about to conduct a series of interviews on a case currently under investigation. Rather, the police are to conduct a proper investigation and allow the court to consider the matter and make an informed judgment.

“The House is concerned that if Ms. Ojukwu continues to be paraded about for a social media trial, it could affect the determination and outcome of the case as well as amount to a breach of her fundamental right to fair hearing, especially where she is labelled or treated as one guilty of a crime.”

Recall that on June 24, the Lagos State Police Command paraded the suspect where she had admitted to stabbing the 50-year-old in the neck with a knife after a disagreement.

However, in an interview that had now gone viral, the undergraduate contradicted her initial confession, denying her involvement in killing the Super TV CEO.

Ojukwu stated that Ataga had marital problems before his death. She described the deceased as a busy man who was quick to anger.

Chidinma said the man had some problems with his wife and told her he was in his marriage to cater for his children.

“He was actually a busy person but at a point, I found out that he lies a lot just to be able to have sex with young girls.

“He wasn’t having a good marriage either because I noticed he had issues with his wife. They had a marital crisis and he was there only for the kids,” she said.

I Didn’t Know Possession Of Human Skull Is An Offence – Herbalist Claims

A 38-year-old man, Semiu Oyewo, who was allegedly arrested along Ile-Ife/Ibadan road with dry human skull claimed he has no knowledge it is an offence.

He said that the skull was meant to treat someone who is suffering chronic daily headaches.

The suspect was paraded by the Osun State Police Command headquarters at ring road, Osogbo on Tuesday.

Parading the suspects at the state police command n Osogbo, the State Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode, said the herbalist, Oyewo was apprehended along Ile-Ife/Ibadan road with one human skull, snail and voodoo.

“On July 7, 2021 around 8am, the police patrol team on routine highway patrol along Ile-Ife/Ibadan road, intercepted one Honda Accord vehicle with Reg. No. AGL 412 CD black colour driven by the suspect a 38-year-old man, Semiu Oyewo of Alamole area, Ondo road, Ile-Ife, searched the vehicle and recovered the exhibits.”

The suspect told journalists that, “I am an herbalist, I didn’t know that having possession of dry skull is an offence. I even fought with the mobile police that arrested me. I want to use it to treat someone who is suffering chronic headache,” he said.

“He said during the course of investigation and interrogation, the suspect confessed that, he is an herbalist and bought the suspected human skull from his co-herbalist one Ige aka Igwe of Apomu who had absconded.

While speaking the CP said “The said suspected human skull was bargained for twenty five thousand naira only (N25, 000.00) while he paid twenty thousand naira only (N20, 000.00) to later balance five thousand naira only (N5, 000.00).

“The Police navigated its investigation to the house of the arrested suspected and recovered various ‘Juju’ and fetish items which they hid in the bush.”

The police boss said the gang of bag snatchers who were also robbing POS outlet were arrested on July 5, 2021 after receiving a distress call at Owode Ede area.

Toddler Thrown From Building After Looters Set It On Fire In South Africa Riots

 

Shocking footage shows a woman throwing a toddler from a burning building after looters set fire to the shops below amid a wave of violence sweeping across South Africa.

At least 45 people have been killed in clashes sparked by the jailing of former president Jacob Zuma.

Soldiers have now been deployed onto the streets to try and contain the unrest, which has spread from Mr Zuma’s home in KwaZulu-Natal province to the country’s biggest city Johannesburg and surrounding Gauteng province, and to the Indian Ocean port city of Durban.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said the violence was ‘unprecedented’ in post-apartheid South Africa, with buildings ransacked or set ablaze, roads blocked and businesses looted.

Mr Ramaphosa said: ‘Parts of the country are reeling from several days and nights of public violence, destruction of property and looting of the sort rarely seen before in the history of our democracy.

‘What we are witnessing now are opportunistic acts of violence.

‘There is no grievance, nor any political cause, that can justify the destruction we have seen.’

He warned on Monday that the unrest could harm the country’s vaccine drive, while disruption to supply chains could lead to food and medicine shortages in the coming weeks.

Mr Zuma, 79, was sentenced last month for defying a constitutional court order to give evidence at an inquiry investigating high-level corruption during his nine years in office.

Sunday Igboho, Akintoye, Drag Buhari, Malami To ICC

The International Criminal Court has formally acknowledged receipt of a 27-page petition filed by the Leader of Ilana Omo Oodua, Emeritus Professor Banji Akintoye, Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo, fondly called Sunday Igboho and other 49 Yoruba Self-Determination Groups against President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of Justice and Antoney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai and former Inspectors General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and Muhammed Adamu.

In the petition, signed by several leaders of Yoruba self-determination groups and submitted at the ICC on their behalf by their lawyer, Aderemilekun Omojola, the Nigerian leaders were accused of genocide and crimes against humanity against the Yoruba people of Ekiti, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ogun, Okun Land in Kogi, and Kwara states respectively. 

According to a statement made available to SaharaReporters on Wednesday by the Communications Manager to Akintoye, Maxwell Adeleye, others who signed the petition with the Ilana Omo Odua leader and Ighoho are Chief Imam of Yoruba in Ilorin, Kwara state, Shielk Raheem Aduranigba, leader of Obinrin Oodua Agbaye, Chief Simisade Kuku, leader of Yoruba Strategy Alliance, Babatunde Omololu, General Secretary of Ilana Omo Oodua, Arc. George Akinola, and 44 others.

In a letter to the petitioners' lawyer obtained by SaharaReporters, the ICC's Head of Information and Evidence Unit of the Office of the Prosecutor, Mr. Mark P. Dilon, said that "as soon as a decision is reached to formally commence investigation into this petition, we will inform you, in writing, and provide you, with reasons for this decision.

"This communication has been duly entered in the Communications Register of the Office. We will give consideration to this communication, as appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.”

Other Nigerian government officials petitioned are Comptroller General of Customs, Hammid Alli, Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba, Chief of Army Staff, Farouk Yahaya, former Chief of Airforce, Sadiq Abubakar, former Commandant-General of NSCDC, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Services, Mohammed Babandede and the Current Commandant-General of NSCDC, Abdulahi Gana Muhammadu.

RULAAC Condemns Killing Of Traders In Lagos Market By Nigerian Soldiers, Demands Investigation

The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), has condemned the alleged killing of four traders at the popular Ladipo Spare Parts Market in Lagos state by trigger-happy military personnel.

RULAAC in a statement by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, urged the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to order an investigation with a view to unravelling the circumstances, identifying the perpetrators of the latest act of abuse of power and misuse of firearms. 

File Photo

The statement reads, “Rule of Law And Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) is shocked at the disturbing news of the attack and use of lethal weapons on traders at Ladipo Auto Spare Parts international Market, in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State by military personnel on Tuesday, July 13, 2021 which resulted to the death of at least four persons and injuries on many others.

“There are conflicting accounts of what actually led to the invasion of the crowded market by military personnel who came in OP MESSA Hilux vans and started shooting live bullets directly at traders resulting to fatalities and injuries. But all accounts point to the fact that there was a dispute between a customer who purchased an auto spare part at the market and returned with the part demanding a replacement after the expiration of the warranty.

“This resulted to arguments and altercations and then a fight between the customer (who was said to either be a soldier or was accompanied by his soldier-friend) and some executive members of the traders union. The man was said to have run out and invited a military patrol team which arrived and started shooting directly at traders. Vehicles within the market were riddled with bullets as could be seen in one of the videos recorded at the scene.

“The exact details of what actually led to the shooting need to be investigated. But we are concerned about the involvement of military personnel in what appears to be a civil dispute and the use of lethal weapons on unarmed civilians.

“The role of the military in a civilised democracy is clearly spelt out and does not include meddling in civil matters. The arms given to the military and purchased with tax payers’ money are given to them to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria and not to use them to kill their fellow citizens whom they are employed and paid to protect.

“This latest action underscores the impunity that continues to fuel wilful, unjustifiable, illegal and excessive use of force by security forces against civilians. Otherwise, why would the military, so soon again, be involved in yet another incident of the use of live bullets on unarmed civilians while investigations are yet to be concluded into the similar use of deadly force against protesters at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos in October 2020?

“RULAAC calls on the Lagos State Governor, to order an investigation with a view to unravelling the circumstances, identifying the perpetrators of this latest act of abuse of power and misuse of firearms. All the military personnel responsible should be brought to account. The victims should also be accorded adequate remedies while steps should be taken to avoid a repeat of such reckless and shameful episodes.”

Suspension Letter Of Ex-Governor Okorocha Is Fake – APC Recants

The All Progressives Congress has disowned a letter dated July 12, suspending the former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, as internal crisis continues to rock the party in the South-East state.

The APC said on Tuesday that the suspension letter signed by Mai Mala Buni and John Akpanudoedehe, the National Chairman and Secretary of the APC caretaker committee, was fake.

“This is to communicate to you, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Party ratification of your suspension by the Imo State Chapter of our great party for anti-party activities,” the letter addressed to Okorocha had read.

“The suspension follows after the recommendation by the Imo State Disciplinary Committee set up to investigate allegations of gross anti-party activities against you which is in line with Article 21 (B) I-VI of our party’s constitution.”

However, according to Akpanudoedehe, the letter did not come from the ruling party.

“It has come to the attention of the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that a fake letter of a purported suspension of Senator Rochas Okorocha from the party is circulating in the public space,” he said.

“Fifth columnists and forgers have obviously taken advantage of the unfortunate and recent leaks of our official correspondences with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to copy and paste forged signatures of the CECPC Chairman and Secretary on equally fake letters.

“The APC does not currently have a “National Working Committee” as stated in the fake letter, but a Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) which has been saddled with the mandate to reposition, unite and strengthen our great party.”

He added that the letter “is a figment of the imagination of fifth columnists”, and urged members to ignore it.

The letter had stated that Okorocha was suspended for “flagrant public abuse on the person and office of the President, Republic of Nigeria (An APC-led government).”

God Showed Me 26 Years Ago How Nnamdi Kanu Would Lead Biafra – Nigerian Cleric

A Nigerian cleric and Senior Pastor of the Redemption Life Fellowship, Aba, Abia State, Bishop Jude Chineme, has said that Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra was born to achieve the sovereign state of Biafra.

The cleric said God had shown him about 26 years ago before Ralph Nwazuruike formed the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra that it was an Igbo man from Umuahia, the Abia state capital that would champion the Biafra agitation.

Nnamdi Kanu

He, then, stated that Umuahia-born Kanu “is a moving train that no man can stop unless he gets to his destination.”

He added, “that guy is such a man that anything he wants to do, nobody on earth can discourage him unless God.”

Chineme said this in a video obtained by SaharaReporters on Monday while granting an interview on the arrest and detention of the IPOB leader.

“My name is Bishop Jude N. Chineme. You know people like us don’t talk anyhow. We talk when it’s necessary. The Biafra agitation is something the Lord revealed to me many years ago, 26 if not 27 years ago. That was on 4th September, 1994.

“The day I was in Terryvin hotel by Okigbe Road, Aba. In my wedding ceremony, the chairman of the wedding was Dr Edmund Ezirim, the owner of Blessing Clinic, 97 or 95 Port Harcourt Road, Aba.

“It was there that the Lord revealed to me the crowd heading to Umuahia. When I asked that what kind of crowd is this? Then the Lord told me that was Biafra restoration. I saw the Biafra flag. And God vividly opened and told me that the man that would bring Biafra would come from Umuahia. That was 4th September, 1994.

“I now said it publicly. Dr Ezirim laughed. He said why this Biafra prophecy? That Biafra would not come back again. But, I told him that was what God revealed to me. Biafra restoration.

“By that time, Uwazuruike has not come with something like Biafra agitation. Years later, Nwazuruike now came up with Biafra agitation. The Lord told me Biafra would not come through Nwazuruike.

“So, later Nnamdi Kanu now came up with Biafra agitation and the Lord told me vividly told me that Biafra would come through him. That was why when people criticised him, say something about Biafra agitation and so on, I kept silent because I know that what Nnamdi Kanu is doing was exactly what God revealed to me on 4th September, 1994. That day was on Sunday. And it rained heavily that day,” Chineme said partly in the video.

The Bishop boasted further that Biafra will be achieved whether people pray about it or not, adding that the Lord had already told him.

“So, that’s why people say people should pray about the coming of Biafra. I refused to pray because I know the Lord has revealed to me and it’s something that must surely come to pass whether you pray or you fail to pray because the word of God must surely come to pass.

“And to me, what now spoke to me. This is what Nnamdi Kanu was born for. God sent him into this planet earth for that purpose. So, whether by prayer or not by prayer, it must surely come to pass,” the clergyman added.

On the arrest of Kanu, Chineme also warned the Nigerian government to treat Kanu’s case with caution. He also advised President Muhammadu Buhari to have a dialogue with the pro-Biafra separatist leader, insisting that peace talks were the remedy.

Rival Cults Kill Six Persons In Delta

At least six persons have been killed as hoodlums suspected to be cultist clashes between Monday and Tuesday in different locations of Asaba in Delta State.

The last victims killing believed to have been retaliatory attacks, as they were suspected to be members of Black Axe Confraternity.

File photo used to illustrate story.The Guardian Nigeria

A source said that an Asaba-based Surveyor known as Ifeanyi who was one of the victims was mowed down at about 7pm on Monday, at a street opposite the Stephen Keshi Stadium, along the popular Nnebisi Road.

Another victim, a middle-aged man whose identity could not be ascertained, was reportedly beheaded at the early hours of Tuesday. His severed head was deposited at Otuogwu area in the metropolis, while the body was said to have been recovered where it was staked behind Oshimili South Council Secretariat. The source added. 

Meanwhile, the Acting Public Relations Officer of the Delta Police Command, Bright Edafe, confirmed three people dead between Monday and Tuesday.

“The information we have here confirmed three killed and it is cult-related matter. The police are on the situation,” he stated.

It was learnt that there is fear and anxiety among residents in the town, while many youths have temporarily relocated because of the cult clash.

Lagos Police Arrest More Suspects Over Murder Of Super TV CEO, Ataga

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested more suspects in connection to the murder of the Super TV CEO, Usifo Ataga.

This was confirmed by the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu during a briefing and parade of suspects at the Command headquarters in Ikeja.

Odumosu, who had yet to give details on the number of suspects arrested and their connection to the murder, said the case was progressing and the police would never compromise on it.

According to him, a 300-level student of Mass Communication, Chidinma Ojukwu, was still a suspect with her rights guaranteed by the constitution. 

He, however, dismissed insinuations that the police were attempting to give her a soft landing.

Odumosu said: “We have established a case of conspiracy in the murder and we have arrested more suspects.”

SaharaReporters recall that Ataga was killed at a short-let apartment where he was spending the weekend with his lover, Ojukwu.

Ojukwu had earlier confessed to having stabbed the deceased to death before stealing his belongings.

In a recent interview with Crime Fighters, she refuted her initial claim saying she returned from an errand to find him lying in a pool of his blood.