tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730596987387960387.post7853672501822644525..comments2023-10-03T10:06:43.840-07:00Comments on ICHEOKU: NIGERIA UNSOLVED MURDERS MYSTERY?EBEKUOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12634012877434160861noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730596987387960387.post-54573049156333844992008-11-05T23:27:00.000-08:002008-11-05T23:27:00.000-08:00Former AG Warns on Unresolved Murder CasesFrom Tun...Former AG Warns on Unresolved Murder Cases<BR/>From Tunde Sanni in Ibadan, 11.06.2008<BR/><BR/> Add To Favorites <BR/> Print This Article <BR/> Post Comment <BR/> <BR/>Former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has warned on the possibility of increase of high profile murder cases, unless previous murder cases are resolved.<BR/>Osinbajo, shortly after his lecture at the Ibadan branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Law Week, told newsmen that the lingering murder case of the slain Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Ajibola Ige, SAN, remained a sore point on the nation’s police authorities.<BR/>He said Ige's unresolved murder might have given impetus to other high profile murder cases in the country, and called on the police to re-strategise, in order to fish out the killers.<BR/>“The reason why somebody would go and kill Funsho Williams in his home is because no one resolved that of Bola Ige and the reason why many people are exposed to this kind of assassination is because the ones on ground have not been resolved," he said, and expressed worry that inspite of the unresolved murder case of Ige, his case file has been closed, thus creating doubt on the sincerity of security agents in unraveling the murder riddle.<BR/>“Nowhere in the world will you close a homicide file because homicide file is always open. In fact, any kind of crime’s file is always open, you don’t close the file and at one point in time or at different times continue to operate with the information that you have.<BR/>He said the murder of Kudirat Abiola, attempt on the life of the Guardian publisher, Chief Alex Ibru, has not been stopped, as the case is still on-going.<BR/>Rather than aborting the case, Osinbajo said the case was substituted, to put more bite to its prosecution.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730596987387960387.post-28745547497855675352008-09-14T02:52:00.000-07:002008-09-14T02:52:00.000-07:00NBA wants FG to find Ige’s killersBy DELE OGUNYEMI...NBA wants FG to find Ige’s killers<BR/><BR/>By DELE OGUNYEMI, Ibadan<BR/><BR/><BR/>Seven years after the murder of Chief Bola Ige (SAN), the erstwhile Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, the new President of the Nigerian Bar Association [NBA], Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu yesterday in Ibadan declared that the NBA is ready to ensure that the Federal Government unravels those behind the assassination of the nation’s former chief law officer and similar gruesome murders.<BR/><BR/>The NBA President made the declaration while speaking on the occasion of the 78th posthumous birthday of late Chief Bola Ige held at the Premier hotel in the Oyo State capital saying the present leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association will do all within its power to ensure that the Federal Government under the leadership of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua raise a judicial panel of enquiry to unravel the assassination of Chief Ige and others whose cause of death are yet to be unraveled as at now.<BR/><BR/>His words: "We must unravel the killers of late Chief Bola Ige. The NBA is ready to push for the setting up of a judicial panel of enquiry to unravel the killing and other murders in the country that are yet to be unraveled. There is the need for it."<BR/><BR/>Mr. Akeredolu advocated the strict compliance to the rule of law in Nigeria saying the leadership should do everything possible to lay good example in this regard for the nation to move forward. Specifically, he charged the Yar’Adua administration to endeavour to further galvanise the various spectrums of the nation to be able to reach the Promised Land.<BR/><BR/>Also addressing the gathering comprising mainly associates and admirers of the late Justice Minister, a former governor of Oyo state, Alhaji Lamidi Adesina posited that those who assassinated Chief Bola Ige would no longer have the peace of mind adding that they would soon confess publicly to their evil deed.<BR/><BR/>But the former governor remarked that it was a sign of inactivity on the part of the nation’s security operatives that the killers of Chief Ige were yet to be unraveled seven years after. ‘’It is a disgrace that a sitting Attorney General could be assassinated in his bedroom seven years ago and up till now, those behind the assassination are yet to be known," he said.<BR/><BR/>He also expressed grave concern that Ige’s death had made it possible for some "political dealers that are pretending to be friends of the Yoruba people" to penetrate the South-West and destabilize the whole zone politically.<BR/><BR/>Speaking with newsmen shortly after the birthday programme, Mr. Muyiwa Ige, the eldest surviving son of the late Attorney General of the Federation commended the NBA President for his concern for the family just as he stressed the need to unravel those behind the assassination of his father.<BR/><BR/>‘’It is necessary because without resolving all the unresolved murders, we will not get to where we want to get to in Nigeria. It will continue to be an albatross on the neck of our leaders as we will continue to ask questions as to why they chose not to resolve some of these murders, particularly, the high profile ones. We cannot afford not to, for this country to be truthful in the eyes of international community, because some people want to stay in power and get away with murder.’’<BR/><BR/>Dignitaries at the occasion included Bisi Akande, the former Governor Osun State who is currently the National Chairman of Action Congress (AC); Engr. Rauf Aregbesola, AC Governorship candidate in Osun State; Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, Professor Sola Adeyeye, the guest lectuer at the forum and Senator Ayo Fasanmi and Professor Olu Agunloye, former Minister of Mines and Power, among others.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730596987387960387.post-76417653196189470932008-07-30T21:40:00.000-07:002008-07-30T21:40:00.000-07:00Dikibo’s killers to die by hanging By Mike Odiegwu...Dikibo’s killers to die by hanging <BR/>By Mike Odiegwu, Asaba<BR/>Published: Thursday, 31 Jul 2008<BR/>Two persons are to die by hanging for their role in the brutal murder four years ago of a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Aminosoari Dikibo.<BR/><BR/>The accused persons, Onyeka Emordi and Solomon Igbinedion, were on Wednesday sentenced to death by the Ogwashi-Uku High Court in Aniocha South local government area, Delta State.<BR/><BR/>The two condemned persons were facing a two-count charge of murder and robbery.<BR/><BR/>In his judgement on Wednesday which did not commence until around 4pm, Justice Anthony Akbovi of Ogwashi-Uku High Court, convicted the accused having found them guilty of murder and robbery. <BR/><BR/>Justice Akbovi said he relied on the confessional statement of the accused persons, which linked them to the crime that the first accused (Onyeka) was carrying a weapon while the second accused (Solomon) also knew about it.<BR/><BR/>But the lawyer to the accused, Mr. Clifford Ndego, had argued that the issue of robbery was not proven beyond reasoanble doubt by the state Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs. Theodora Oloho, on the grounds that one of the principal witnesses could not identify the accused persons.<BR/><BR/>Icheoku says mr. judge, you have the wrong persons - dikibbo's murder among the many others, was a political assasination.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2730596987387960387.post-17590209122338002302008-06-30T23:13:00.000-07:002008-06-30T23:13:00.000-07:00Ex-Gov Mbadinuju arraigned for murderMEBRIM UCHECH...Ex-Gov Mbadinuju arraigned for murder<BR/><BR/>MEBRIM UCHECHUKWU, Abuja<BR/><BR/><BR/>It was a big drama at an Abuja high court in Gudu, the federal capital territory, Abuja on Monday when some members of the Nigeria Police Force despite some hitches succeeded in arresting former governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chinweoke Mbadinuju over alleged forgery and conspiracy in the murder of former Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Onitsha branch, Barnabas Igwe and his wife Amaka Blessing Igwe.<BR/><BR/>Mbadinuju whom police said has been evading them was finally docked in court together with one lawyer; Chukwudi Alex Ejesieme around 9.40 am was wearing a simple pink shirt while the other accused was wearing a dark suit.<BR/><BR/>Argument on motion to quash the charge as raised by Mbadinuju’s lawyer, Tochukwu Onwugbufor (SAN) lasted for about two hours. But when the trial Judge, Justice Abubakar Talba adjourned the matter to July 22 Mbadinuju could not leave the courtroom fearing that he would be arrested by plain-cloth policemen numbering about four.<BR/><BR/>As the waiting game between Mbadinuju and the policemen who were allegedly acting on the instruction of the Commissioner of Police (FCT) lasted, the former governor made some efforts to leave the courtroom but had to retreat on sighting some of his ‘unwanted visitors’ at the entrance of the courtroom.<BR/><BR/>It was so serious that the former governor as well as his lawyer and a few other supporters had to sit back in the court while the court was busy hearing the formal bail application of Chairman of the Police Equipment Foundation (PEF), Chief Kenny Martins, his Deputy, Ibrahim Dumuje and Yero Jella.<BR/><BR/>The court later adjourned the matter to tomorrow for ruling on whether to grant bail to Chief Martins and other accused.<BR/><BR/>It was at that juncture that counsel to Mbadinuju, brought the development to the notice of the court, though orally.<BR/><BR/>He told the court that some policemen acting on the instruction of the commissioner of police were making efforts to get his client arrested and that the court should make a preservative order restraining the police from arresting Mbadinuju.<BR/><BR/>After all said and done the police insisted that they must go to their station with the former governor who then had no option than to move into a jeep brought by one of his supporters with one of the policemen in suit sat in front.<BR/><BR/>The former governor who had wanted to move with his own Jeep, registration number: DL 931 ABC, was disappointed when he was asked to board another vehicle in company of a policeman and his lawyer.<BR/><BR/>Though the court did not make any order stopping police from arresting Mbadinuju, it rather ordered that status quo be maintained in the matter, just as he agreed with the defence counsel that it would not be right to arrest the accused in the court.<BR/><BR/>Earlier at the hearing of Mbadinuju’s motion to quash the charge against him, the prosecution had objected to the oral application made by Onwugbufor to stop the police from arresting Mbadinuju.<BR/><BR/>The police had contended that they were still conducting investigations on the former governor and that the court cannot stop the police from carrying out its constitution duties.<BR/><BR/>Onwugbufor had told the court to discharge the criminal charges against the accused, saying that the Onitsha High court judgment upon which the charge was premised, was not before the court.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Besides, he urged the court to hold that there is no charge against the accused persons since according to him, the proof of evidence did not disclose any offence, adding that the statement of one Solomon, a policeman never mentioned any person’s name as being responsible for the alleged forgery.<BR/><BR/>He also asked the court rather rhetorically, ‘where is the original copy of the document they said was forged. If there is a forged document, there should be an original’<BR/><BR/>Against this background, he prayed the court to quash the charges against the accused, saying that the leave or consent to prefer the charge as obtained on June 28 was made possible because the prosecution deceived the court. <BR/><BR/>It would be recalled that the court earlier gave nod to police to prefer criminal charges against the former Governor Mbadinuju over the alleged forgery and conspiracy in the murder of the former NBA Chairman Onitsha branch and his wife.<BR/><BR/>Then, presiding JJustice Talba also quashed a bench warrant for the arrest of former Governor, which was earlier issued on Mbadinuju by the court.<BR/><BR/>Justice Talba, who had earlier granted the police request for bench warrant against Mbadinuju, vacated the order after his counsel Onwugbufor, proved that there was no formal charge against his client before the court.<BR/><BR/>Earlier, Onwugbufor had told the court that the Police put the cart before the horse by asking for bench warrant against Mbadinuju when there was no offence pending before the court against his client.<BR/><BR/>The Judge agreed with the submission of Onwubufor and set aside his earlier order even as he said that it was based on the misleading information placed before the court by the prosecution.<BR/><BR/>The Police had last Monday attempted to arraign Mbadinuju and one of his lawyers, B.E. Obodo, for allegedly forging a police report used by a Federal High Court to discharge and acquit Mbadinuju on the murder of the Igwes.<BR/><BR/>Last Monday, Mbadinuju was absent at the proceedings, while Obodo was arraigned by the Police.<BR/><BR/>The absence of Mbadinuju led to the Police asking for a bench warrant against him, which was granted by the court.<BR/><BR/>The police were of the view that the report exonerating the former governor did not originate from them.<BR/><BR/>Reacting to the move to dock him again over the Igwes’ murder, Mbadinuju stated that the case against him was a grand conspiracy between the Police and an unnamed political opponent, who wanted to liquidate him at all cost.<BR/>The former governor, however, alleged that those seeking his life over the murder case had tried to kill him on several occasions but failed owing to God’s intervention.<BR/><BR/>Mbadinuju was charged before the court by the police for alleged murder of Igwes for opposing some of his policies as the then governor of Anambra state.<BR/><BR/>Mbadinuju was said to have conspired with some criminals to arrange the death of the two lawyers, who were assassinated five years, eight months ago while on a visit to a family friend in Awada Layout Onitsha.<BR/><BR/>It was said that Igwe and his pregnant wife were shot several times by gunmen in their private car and after this, the assassins allegedly moved closer to the dying couple and inflicted several machete cuts on them before using a vehicle to run over their bodies to ensure that they did not survive the attack.<BR/><BR/>It was alleged that the assassination followed several death-threat telephone calls received by the couple over a 21-day ultimatum issued the Mbadinunu-led government by the Onitsha branch of NBA led by the late Igwes on salary arrears owed civil servants.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com