Author: Naomitheboss

The Nigerian Bar Association has continued to fume over the invasion of the Abuja home of Supreme Court Justice, Mary Odili, by agents of the Federal Government last week.

The President of the NBA, Olumide Akpata, at a special press briefing in Lagos on Friday, described the operation as egregious and the gathering of an ominous cloud over the judiciary, saying it was reminiscent of how operatives of the Department of State Services in 2016 raided the homes of seven judges and how a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen (retd.), was “illegally removed from office,” ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Apata vowed that the NBA would stop at nothing to ensure that those behind the latest operation were unmasked and punished, to put a stop to “the assault on the judiciary.”

He said the NBA would not accept the flurry of denials by the Attorney General of the Federal and security agencies that they knew nothing about the operation.

He said the NBA also rejected the panel being set up by the AGF to investigate the matter because the AGF himself has a case to answer and he could not be a judge in his own case.

He, therefore, called on the President, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to set up an independent panel to unravel the actors behind the invasion of Justice Odili’s home.

Akpata said, “We are calling on the President, the head of the executive government arm of government, to set up an independent panel of inquiry, to look into this assault on the judiciary, which is another arm of government because there is a dark cloud hanging and all fingers are pointing at the executive as being behind this action.

“It behoves Mr President to step in immediately, to set up this panel of inquiry, which, at the minimum, will have a judicial officer and the NBA involved so that we can get to the bottom of this issue and ask: who gave that instruction?”

Akpata said the NBA would also do its own housekeeping, vowing that, “In the event that we find that any lawyer was involved in this unfortunate incident, that lawyer will be subjected to our disciplinary mechanisms and that lawyer will definitely face the music.”

The NBA President said, “We note that the Attorney General of the Federation has reportedly agreed to make himself available for investigation. This is consistent with the position of the National Executive Council of the NBA, to the effect that the Attorney General definitely has questions to answer. However, he cannot subject himself to a panel that he sets up. This is why the panel to be set up by the President is very necessary.

“If the Attorney General is found culpable, then as a lawyer, we will take him before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee and the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee; because if indeed, he is found to have given the directives that led to the invasion of the home of the Justice of the Supreme Court, then he is not fit to hold the office he occupies presently and continue to be the recipient of the privileges the profession has accorded to him.”

Asked by a journalist if the NBA has the power to discipline the AGF, Akpata added, “There is a mechanism, and that is for us to bring him before the LDPC and what does the LPDC do? What is the ultimate sanction, amongst others? He can be stopped from practising law. What does the LPPC do, amongst others? The LPPC can strip him of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria and also the Body of Benchers can reconsider his life membership of that body. So, without mincing words, those are the steps that the NBA can take.”

The NBA President said action was also being taken against the Abuja magistrate, Emmanuel Iyanna, who issued the search warrant leading to the invasion of Justice Odili’s home.

“Questions must be asked of the quality and sufficiency of the materials placed before His Worship before issuing the search warrant in the first place. The NBA National Executive Council believes that even on a cursory reading of the materials placed before His Worship, there is a prima facie evidence that the search warrant ought not to have been issued in the circumstance,” he said.

On Monday morning, Onyinye Enekwe, a graduate of the Nnamdi Azikwe University left for Ikoyi where she worked as second personal assistant to Femi Osibona, owner of Fourscore Homes.

Chinedu Enekwe, her cousin, said she joined Fourscore Homes the week before.

Around 2pm on Monday, the building collapsed, with Onyinye and several others still trapped in the rubble as of Wednesday afternoon.

According to Chinedu, the family has heard nothing from Onyinye since the building collapsed.

“She left her elder sister’s house around 6am for work on that day,”

A 26-year-old lady, Onyinye Enekwe, is among those who lost their lives, in the 21-storey building that collapsed on Monday, November 1, in Ikoyi area of Lagos State.

The deceased, whose wedding is slated for next month, was employed to work as a personal assistant, just few days before the unfortunate incident occurred.

According to a source, “Oyin is one of the people that was trapped in the collapsed building.

She was employed to work as a personal assistant for the developer, Femi Osibona, and she resumed work on Friday, October 29, 2021, she has not collected any salary from this employment. She lived at Ago palace way, Okoya, they offered her accommodation in Ikoyi because of the distance and also, a monthly salary of N150k.

Her wedding is coming on this December, her family has even given the husband’s family their list.

As of Wednesday, the death toll had risen to 22, while nine persons have been rescued.

Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, the Minority Leader of the Nigerian Senate, has revealed that the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, never gave the order for elections not to hold in Anambra State.

Senator Abaribe made the submission on Thursday, October 28, 2021, when he addressed a town hall meeting with the leadership and students of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka.

While addressing the large gathering, Senator Abaribe revealed that he called Mazi Kanu’s lawyer, who confirmed that the order did not come from the IPOB leader, accusing unknown fifth columnists of engineering the rumours.

“Who gave the order that there will be no election? IPOB has never said that there will be no election in Anambra. It is the handwork of 5th columnists,” Senator Abaribe said.

The respected lawmaker went on to drum support for the PDP candidate, describing him as a “gentleman with impeccable character.”

“When I decide to support anyone seeking public office, I am more interested in the character of the person. If you can not stand up for your people, you don’t deserve to be a leader.

“Anambra deserves a governor that will not always go to Abuja, plate-in-hand. We want a governor that will stay in Anambra and work for his people.

Traditional and religious leaders in South East have called for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist group.

The leaders, under the auspices of the South East Council of Traditional Rulers and the Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops, said the release of Kanu would de-escalate the rising tension in the zone.

They made the call in a joint statement signed by the chairmen of the traditional rulers’ council in all the southeastern states and Christian leaders.

The leaders also urged the federal government to take immediate steps to de-proscribe the IPOB and release all IPOB members being held in various detention facilities.

They said it has become imperative and compelling to de-emphasize the military option and move towards finding a political solution that would lead to sustainable peace in South East.

They also called on IPOB to cancel all scheduled sit-at-home orders and shun any action that would disrupt the November 6 Governorship Election in Anambra State.

“Flowing from similar initiatives taken to bring peace to other troubled parts of the country, we urge the Federal Government and other stakeholders to explore dialogue and negotiation in resolving critical issues that threaten national unity, cohesion, and development.

“We are of the firm belief that this act of courage and statesmanship is not only imperative but will speedily de-escalate the heightened state of insecurity and dislocation in the South East Zone.

“We call on the Federal Government to take urgent steps to demilitarize the South East Zone, more so as it has become apparent that a continued military siege on the region can only lead to heightened tension, skirmishes and endless bloodletting between the security agencies and our youths,” the statement said.

They also urged the youth to de-escalate the tension and remain law-abiding to enable their leaders to engage the federal government in finding a lasting solution to the crises.

The statement was signed by Igwe Charles Mkpuma (Ebonyi); Eze Joseph N. Nwabeke (Abia); Obi Nnaemeka Achebe (Anambra); Igwe Amb L. O. C. Agubuzu (Enugu) and Eze Dr. E. C. Okeke (Imo).

Others are Dr Anthony J. V. Obinna (Catholic Archbishop of Owerri); Dr Emmanuel O. Chukwuma, (Anglican Archbishop of Enugu); Dr Chibuzo R. Opoko (Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia); Dr Valerian M. Okeke (Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha); Dr Uma A. Onwunta (Past Principal Clerk Presbyterian Church Nigeria); Bishop Obi Onubogu (Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria) and Dr Abraham Nwali (Chairman, CAN, South East Zone)

The statement by the South East Traditional Rulers and representatives of Igbo Archbishop, demanding the release of a Lunatic, is as annoying as it’s insulting to the memory of those who have lost their lives in a needless blood-letting in the South East of Nigeria.

These are political neonates who are also, ignorant of the laws of our land. Where is their sense of decency? Where is their shame? Where is the truth that Christianity preaches? When will TRUTH be released from jail?

Some years back, I wrote a piece where I implored Igbo leadership to “ALLOW” their younger generation to properly participate in the politics of our nation. They thought every issue in Nigeria, was Yoruba versus North, a post Nigeria Civil war grudge they have passed on to their younger ones who in turn have narrowed it to, and are helping to expand it as a morbid hatred of the man, Muhammadu Buhari.

Their common saying was, “Let them kill themselves as long as the markets are open”. Well, we are now at a stage where markets are no longer permitted to open in Igboland. Who is losing? President Buhari?
No, Ndigbo!

Today, they are essentially followers and not participating in mainstream politics of our nation, many of their leaders, up for sale. Power is not gifted. It’s a matter of sowing and reaping. It’s about building bridges, Collaborating, Cooperating, Friendship and Mutual Respect.

Yesterday, their political party of choice, was on centre stage at the Eagle Square. Ndigbo leaders, Women and Youth were conspicuously “Missing”. Their political traders were on the sideline, grumbling and depressed with VICTIM SYNDROME, yet again. They complained that the venue was littered by posters of those from the North of Nigeria.

So I ask, “Are all the printers in the South East out of printing materials?” So, they couldn’t find their way to UAC, the printing hub in Abuja, where they are all hiding from the monster they created in their region!

They have a political party, Made in the South East, the home of Ndigbo of Nigeria by the late Ikemba, Emeka Odimegwu Ojukwu. But we can see how hard they are working to destroy it, selling off for cash, to the highest bidder.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s government has done more in terms of infrastructural development for Ndigbo, than any other government in recent times. But it’s not enough for them to align with his party.

They are not PDP. They are not APC. They are not APGA.
Who did this to Ndigbo? What do they want? Who contracted Kanu to destroy Igboland? Who are those benefitting from the chaos in Igboland?

This is the time when stupidity will no longer help. At a market place, these monsters did not spare a thought for their own people who came to make a living, before engaging the might of the Federal Government in a gun battle. In a market!

These people now wake up in the morning, go to a shop. Buy some biscuits and fuel. Make a recording of themselves, bragging. Foolishly attack a combined team of the Nigerian Armed Forces who wastes no time in responding with a superior fire power. All dead. Who brainwashed these Ndigbo to commit suicide? Daily!

In 2021, if you have a megalomaniac for a son, you should call him to order and hide your face in shame.

If he is arrested for a capital offence, your role is to shamefully zip your mouth, and blame yourself for failing him by not calling him to order when his madness kicked in.

Many Well-meaning Ndigbo are of the opinion, that their leadership, failed them by encouraging one of them who was clearly an unwell man. They did not speak up when they should. They are still hiding their heads in the sand. I agree. Totally!

To call for his release, is to spit on the graves of Dr. Chike Akunyili, Dr. Lawrence Ezenwa, Dr. Ahmed Gulak, slain traditional rulers, students, virgins, and ordinary Nigerians of Igbo stock who lost their lives on the instructions of this lunatic, not forgetting the security operatives they murdered.

Nigerians are waiting, anxiously for justice to be done. Under President Muhammadu Buhari, a due process advocate, the monster will get a fair trial, a chance he didn’t accord those he ordered their executions. The families of the slain, are waiting for a fair and just closure to their nightmares.

Those calling for the release of a man charged with treasonable felony, are deceiving Ndigbo and must stop insulting our laws and Nigerians. They are doing so for selfish reasons, which is to enable them return to the South East to homes they abandoned for Abuja and elsewhere.

The truth is in jail in the South East of Nigeria. They know they failed their people and Nigeriansin general. They should now bow their heads in shame.

We salute the courage of Governor of Imo State, Onwa Hope Uzodinma, Big brother Joe Igbokwe, Igbo National Assembly Caucus and all Igbo men and women of courage, who spoke up and continue to stand against the evil of Kenny Okwu Kanu’s IPOB, ESN and Evil Guard.

The laws of our land, will take it’s course.
God bless Nigeria.
Lauretta Onochie.
@Laurestar.