Take it or leave it, until these most heinous political assassinations and murders of the century which took place in Nigeria is finally brought to a conclusive end, there will never be a real peace in that country. All the Truth and Reconciliation Commission notwithstanding! The blood of the innocence; the crimson of the victims screamed to high heavens for vengeance and surely
they must be avenged. Abel's blood shows us that no unjustily shed blood will go unavenged!
Over the years, several personalities have been killed by the powers that be in Nigeria and all the world is told is that their death is a mystery or that armed bandits struck. Among these notable personalities that fell victim to these political assassinations and state sponsored murders were Dele Giwa, Pa Rewane, Ken Saro Wiwa, Bola Ige, Barnabas Igwe, Harry Marshall, Dikkibo and Funsho Williams to just name a few. To date no one directly responsible or implicated in these criminalities has been brought to book. The reason is not
for lack of suspects but that these prospective suspects are deemed untouchables because they are part of the powers that be which have ran Nigeria aground and for so long. Nigerians have be silent for so long! Enough is enough and let the shouting begin! Icheoku now examines the various murders and what is known or suspected about them:-
they must be avenged. Abel's blood shows us that no unjustily shed blood will go unavenged!Over the years, several personalities have been killed by the powers that be in Nigeria and all the world is told is that their death is a mystery or that armed bandits struck. Among these notable personalities that fell victim to these political assassinations and state sponsored murders were Dele Giwa, Pa Rewane, Ken Saro Wiwa, Bola Ige, Barnabas Igwe, Harry Marshall, Dikkibo and Funsho Williams to just name a few. To date no one directly responsible or implicated in these criminalities has been brought to book. The reason is not
for lack of suspects but that these prospective suspects are deemed untouchables because they are part of the powers that be which have ran Nigeria aground and for so long. Nigerians have be silent for so long! Enough is enough and let the shouting begin! Icheoku now examines the various murders and what is known or suspected about them:-Dele Giwa - Fortunately the person responsible for this death by parcel bomb of African foremost journalist Dele Giwa is still breathing the air of freedom in Nigeria. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida under whose watch Dele Giwa was blown away because he was investigating a story on Gloria Okon linking him, Babangida, to one sordid business deal is today walking the grounds of Nigeria as if no life was brutally taken. Maybe TEAM BABANGIDA is waiting for such a time when another shameless Professor Humphery Nwosu, will write another book exonerating Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida for the murder of Dele Giwa just like the said Humphery Nwosu insulted the mentality of all Nigerians with his book claiming that Babangida was not involved in the annulment of June 12th MKO Abiola's election! According to Professor WOle Soyinka, "Prof. Humphery Nwosu’s book was a serious mischief, trying to paint Babangida in a different hue over the anti-people act he committed when he annulled the election". Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida and Akilu his henchman must be brought to account for what they know or did not know about Dele Giwa's violent death with parcel bomb! It is regretable that these varmints are still parading themselves in Nigeria as if their hands are not dripping in the blood of Dele Giwa among numerous others including Gideon Orkar, Mamman Vasta etc. The other equally abhorrent and despicable of people in this saga are those who kept silent in the face of tyranny - the other Newswatch crew! The cowardly manner the rest of the Newswatch crew turned tail from investigating the killer/s of their erstwhile colleague and founding member, Dele Giwa when all leads point to one man and one man only - Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida was very shameful indeed! Shame on you Ray Ekpu & Co; for your disservice to the journalism profession as well as the memory of your colleague, Dele Giwa.
Pa Rewane - this elder statesman was killed by the then Head of State General Sani Abacha goons, under his direction because of his democratic activities. Although Sani Abacha has since died but no official responsibility has been assigned to him either posthumously or to one of his colleagues in miltary gansterism, for this death. It is just not ok to consign such a high profile killing to another social incident; especially so when it is considered that the victim had a family who were perpetually deprived of their patriach. One would argue that since general Sani Abacha is long dead, nobody is left to take responsibility for this atrocity; but in answer Icheoku says, Abacha did not act in isolation but had a team of co-travelers in their land of wanton indifference to human life. Jeremiah Useni, Oladipo Diya and Abdulsalam Abubarkar were all part of the Abacha infamy and should be held accountable for the misdeeds of the Abacha junta. That Abacha was posthumously recently praised by Islamist Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida as well as Abdulsalam Abubarkar, all retired ex-military juntas who pillaged Nigeria as Head of State respectively, was a gamesmanship meant to rubbish the psyche of every Nigerian. How dare these mallams tell Nigerians that General Sani Abacha was a saint when all the state murders carried out by his regime cries to high heavens including Pa Rewane's? Was the over $500million dollars USD allegedly recovered from Switzerland as proceeds of looting of Sani Abacha by Olusegun Obasanjo a fantasy or what? It is about time Nigerians stand up to these military marauders whose only qualification is that they were dare-devils in uniform staging one coup after another and today they are opening their loud mouth to beatify a despicable man as Sani Abacha! To hell with these urchins! Pa Rewane's death in the hands of Abacha goons must be investigated and responsibility assigned accordingly.
Ken Saro Wiwa - General Sani Abacha arrested, "tried" and executed this freedom activist all within forty-eight hours for no other reason than to silence his voice of freedom for his people - the Niger Delta Peoples of Nigeria. Like they say, you cannot silence the people by killing off their leader and today, the situation in the Niger Delta of Nigeria bears testimony to this. Yet this was the same Abacha, Babangida, Buhari and Abubarkar were pouring encomiums on as their saint from the North? Or is it because these bloods were Southerners? When will these Arewa bloodhounds be told enough is enough? Coincidentally all those being killed are Southerners and those doing the killings are all Northerners. Something is not right here or am I hallucinating? Ken Saro Wiwa's offence was merely that he was agitating for fairness for his Niger Delta People of Nigeria whose land had been devastated by so many years of oil pillaging by the Northerners without adequate recompense for the owners of the land, the Niger Deltans. If there is one death that needs to be thoroughly and fully investigated, it is Saro Wiwa's; and the Military Governor of Rivers State then, Col. Marwa is today, a Nigerian Ambassador to somewhere and one wonders the kind of people inhabiting that country Nigeria? Maybe a band of marauders? How did he pass muster of vetting for the job of an Ambassador one may ask or is he just one of a kind? Afterall the Senate President David Mark and his golf course in Ireland which he purchased with NITEL money when he was Communications Minister is there for every eye to see! Or how else was he able to purchase a 33million Pounds Sterling golf course in Ireland? Only in Nigeria's holy grail! A band of bandits, maybe? The other day their House of Representatives refused to pass the Freedom of Information Bill (FOI) and one wonders what they are hiding? Also not too long ago, one of them alleged that some of their members are criminals practising the notorious Nigerian 419 Fraud! His head was called for and he cowardly backed down. A den of scavengers masquerading as a National Assembly one may ask? But they represent all that is wrong with Nigeria - CORRUPTION & FRAUD! House of Representatives are 419 criminals? Governors are killers and money launderers? President is fraudulent with several billions of dollars belonging to the treasury missing? Who then are these Nigerians with such criminal leadership?
Bola Ige - The medicine man of Otta,
Babalawo Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo supervised the killing of this Cicero of Oke Ona, a serving Attorney General of the Federation and to date his blood is being flushed down the drain pipes without morse? It is not fair, it is not right and to make matters worst, the hitherto vociferous, loquacious and boisterous Yoruba Nation is keeping quiet over this murder. What has become of the sons and daughters of Oduduwa that they will keep silent in the face of tyranny or is it because it involved one of their men? Olusegun Obasanjo ought to be arrested and tried for this heinous assassination of one of the country's foremost lawyers and politician of great repute. That Obasanjo is still strolling the grounds of his Otta farm a free man adds credence to the country's reputation that anything goes in that country. It happened to a sitting Attorney General, how about the man of straw on the street? It is such story that sends shivers to investors, tourists and visitors that they would rather pass on Nigeria!
Barnabas Igwe and his wife: - the former governor of Anambra State, Mbadinuju was fingered as the man responsible for the butchering of this lawyer and his wife because they opposed some of the antics of his governace of Anambra State. Several witnesses have come up but to date Mbadinuju is still walking a free man in Nigeria. How can this be possible in a country that wants to move forward when the sanctity of human life is a no brainier especially when the powers that be are involved? How can these people who were sworn in to protect lives and properties of the people be the ones wantonly taking them? It is crass lawlessness and very condemnable. According to the story, Barnabas Igwe who was then the chairman of Onitsha Bar Association was shot, cut into pieces with a machete and then had his dismembered body-parts crushed with a truck and photographs of the carnage taken for a "mission accomplished" report; all on the orders and directive of then governor of Anambra State, Mbadinuju. For any body in doubt, such a high crime cannot take place except it has the sanction of the highest authority and that authority in Anambra State then was Mbadinuju. Mbadinuju is today still walking the grounds of Nigeria a free man and Icheoku says it is not right! Mbadinuju should be arrested and prosecuted for this heinous double homicide with special circumstance, pronto!
Funsho Williams - The Lagos State PDP under Olabode George is the guilty party here. Funsho Williams was killed inside his bedroom to stop his assured victory in the Lagos State PDP election primaries. To date no one has been arrested or tried for this heinous crime despite all the witnesses present and the killing was done shortly after a meeting of some party officials and in his house. What type of country is this that known killers of men go scot-free? At least there is existing circumstantial evidence which any slight forensic would have unraveled but they will not pursue it.
Icheoku here therefore calls on the present government of Umaru Yaradua as a matter of urgency to immediately direct the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to re-open investigations on all these identified "state" murders. There is also a state of emergency on security matters in Nigeria and this is paramount to even the Power sector! People must feel safe to operate and you cannot thrive if you cannot operate. Same with investors, tourists and visitors. There is no way a sitting Attorney General of the Federation can just be killed except with approval or signing off from the highest office in the land and that office higher than the Attorney General's is the presidency and Olusegun Obasanjo was the president then. So there is a start off base for the investigation, Olusegun Obasanjo! It does not make sense that a weapon's grade parcel bomb took the life of Dele Giwa when he was doing a story involving Babangida about Gloria Okon without IBB signing off on it; yet Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida is still walking the streets of Minna, Nigeria parading himself as a "prince" therein. In Pakistan, Benazair Bhutto was assassinated and Musharaff fearing nothing to hide invited the Scotland Yard to investigate, they conclusively gave an opinion which was acceptable to the Pakistanians; why not do the same with Nigeria with respect to some of these murders? Same goes with Mbadinuju and the Igwes; Peter Odili and the Marshals etc.
The only way to stop criminality is to make no one a sacred cow, immune from prosecution thereby. For the fact that these marauders are still walking free and tall in Nigeria instead of being caged in the confines of a prison makes the government an implied corroborator and comforter of despicable men.
Pa Rewane - this elder statesman was killed by the then Head of State General Sani Abacha goons, under his direction because of his democratic activities. Although Sani Abacha has since died but no official responsibility has been assigned to him either posthumously or to one of his colleagues in miltary gansterism, for this death. It is just not ok to consign such a high profile killing to another social incident; especially so when it is considered that the victim had a family who were perpetually deprived of their patriach. One would argue that since general Sani Abacha is long dead, nobody is left to take responsibility for this atrocity; but in answer Icheoku says, Abacha did not act in isolation but had a team of co-travelers in their land of wanton indifference to human life. Jeremiah Useni, Oladipo Diya and Abdulsalam Abubarkar were all part of the Abacha infamy and should be held accountable for the misdeeds of the Abacha junta. That Abacha was posthumously recently praised by Islamist Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida as well as Abdulsalam Abubarkar, all retired ex-military juntas who pillaged Nigeria as Head of State respectively, was a gamesmanship meant to rubbish the psyche of every Nigerian. How dare these mallams tell Nigerians that General Sani Abacha was a saint when all the state murders carried out by his regime cries to high heavens including Pa Rewane's? Was the over $500million dollars USD allegedly recovered from Switzerland as proceeds of looting of Sani Abacha by Olusegun Obasanjo a fantasy or what? It is about time Nigerians stand up to these military marauders whose only qualification is that they were dare-devils in uniform staging one coup after another and today they are opening their loud mouth to beatify a despicable man as Sani Abacha! To hell with these urchins! Pa Rewane's death in the hands of Abacha goons must be investigated and responsibility assigned accordingly.
Ken Saro Wiwa - General Sani Abacha arrested, "tried" and executed this freedom activist all within forty-eight hours for no other reason than to silence his voice of freedom for his people - the Niger Delta Peoples of Nigeria. Like they say, you cannot silence the people by killing off their leader and today, the situation in the Niger Delta of Nigeria bears testimony to this. Yet this was the same Abacha, Babangida, Buhari and Abubarkar were pouring encomiums on as their saint from the North? Or is it because these bloods were Southerners? When will these Arewa bloodhounds be told enough is enough? Coincidentally all those being killed are Southerners and those doing the killings are all Northerners. Something is not right here or am I hallucinating? Ken Saro Wiwa's offence was merely that he was agitating for fairness for his Niger Delta People of Nigeria whose land had been devastated by so many years of oil pillaging by the Northerners without adequate recompense for the owners of the land, the Niger Deltans. If there is one death that needs to be thoroughly and fully investigated, it is Saro Wiwa's; and the Military Governor of Rivers State then, Col. Marwa is today, a Nigerian Ambassador to somewhere and one wonders the kind of people inhabiting that country Nigeria? Maybe a band of marauders? How did he pass muster of vetting for the job of an Ambassador one may ask or is he just one of a kind? Afterall the Senate President David Mark and his golf course in Ireland which he purchased with NITEL money when he was Communications Minister is there for every eye to see! Or how else was he able to purchase a 33million Pounds Sterling golf course in Ireland? Only in Nigeria's holy grail! A band of bandits, maybe? The other day their House of Representatives refused to pass the Freedom of Information Bill (FOI) and one wonders what they are hiding? Also not too long ago, one of them alleged that some of their members are criminals practising the notorious Nigerian 419 Fraud! His head was called for and he cowardly backed down. A den of scavengers masquerading as a National Assembly one may ask? But they represent all that is wrong with Nigeria - CORRUPTION & FRAUD! House of Representatives are 419 criminals? Governors are killers and money launderers? President is fraudulent with several billions of dollars belonging to the treasury missing? Who then are these Nigerians with such criminal leadership?
Bola Ige - The medicine man of Otta,
Babalawo Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo supervised the killing of this Cicero of Oke Ona, a serving Attorney General of the Federation and to date his blood is being flushed down the drain pipes without morse? It is not fair, it is not right and to make matters worst, the hitherto vociferous, loquacious and boisterous Yoruba Nation is keeping quiet over this murder. What has become of the sons and daughters of Oduduwa that they will keep silent in the face of tyranny or is it because it involved one of their men? Olusegun Obasanjo ought to be arrested and tried for this heinous assassination of one of the country's foremost lawyers and politician of great repute. That Obasanjo is still strolling the grounds of his Otta farm a free man adds credence to the country's reputation that anything goes in that country. It happened to a sitting Attorney General, how about the man of straw on the street? It is such story that sends shivers to investors, tourists and visitors that they would rather pass on Nigeria!Barnabas Igwe and his wife: - the former governor of Anambra State, Mbadinuju was fingered as the man responsible for the butchering of this lawyer and his wife because they opposed some of the antics of his governace of Anambra State. Several witnesses have come up but to date Mbadinuju is still walking a free man in Nigeria. How can this be possible in a country that wants to move forward when the sanctity of human life is a no brainier especially when the powers that be are involved? How can these people who were sworn in to protect lives and properties of the people be the ones wantonly taking them? It is crass lawlessness and very condemnable. According to the story, Barnabas Igwe who was then the chairman of Onitsha Bar Association was shot, cut into pieces with a machete and then had his dismembered body-parts crushed with a truck and photographs of the carnage taken for a "mission accomplished" report; all on the orders and directive of then governor of Anambra State, Mbadinuju. For any body in doubt, such a high crime cannot take place except it has the sanction of the highest authority and that authority in Anambra State then was Mbadinuju. Mbadinuju is today still walking the grounds of Nigeria a free man and Icheoku says it is not right! Mbadinuju should be arrested and prosecuted for this heinous double homicide with special circumstance, pronto!
Harry Marshall & Dikkibo: - Peter Odili, then governor of Rivers State is being fingered for these killings and one authority has it that he secured the approval of Olusegun Obasanjo to seal it. These two murdered men were prominent sons of Rivers State who were respectively cut down in their homes while sleeping in their bedrooms according to the reports. If ex-governor Peter Odili was responsible for these heinous murders, why hasn't he been arrested to face the music for his crimes or has he crossed the threshold where you cannot be held accountable any longer for crimes because of your standing in the Nigerian society? These two deaths must be conclusively investigated in order for a lasting peace to reign in the land of Adaka Baro.
Funsho Williams - The Lagos State PDP under Olabode George is the guilty party here. Funsho Williams was killed inside his bedroom to stop his assured victory in the Lagos State PDP election primaries. To date no one has been arrested or tried for this heinous crime despite all the witnesses present and the killing was done shortly after a meeting of some party officials and in his house. What type of country is this that known killers of men go scot-free? At least there is existing circumstantial evidence which any slight forensic would have unraveled but they will not pursue it.
Icheoku here therefore calls on the present government of Umaru Yaradua as a matter of urgency to immediately direct the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to re-open investigations on all these identified "state" murders. There is also a state of emergency on security matters in Nigeria and this is paramount to even the Power sector! People must feel safe to operate and you cannot thrive if you cannot operate. Same with investors, tourists and visitors. There is no way a sitting Attorney General of the Federation can just be killed except with approval or signing off from the highest office in the land and that office higher than the Attorney General's is the presidency and Olusegun Obasanjo was the president then. So there is a start off base for the investigation, Olusegun Obasanjo! It does not make sense that a weapon's grade parcel bomb took the life of Dele Giwa when he was doing a story involving Babangida about Gloria Okon without IBB signing off on it; yet Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida is still walking the streets of Minna, Nigeria parading himself as a "prince" therein. In Pakistan, Benazair Bhutto was assassinated and Musharaff fearing nothing to hide invited the Scotland Yard to investigate, they conclusively gave an opinion which was acceptable to the Pakistanians; why not do the same with Nigeria with respect to some of these murders? Same goes with Mbadinuju and the Igwes; Peter Odili and the Marshals etc.
The only way to stop criminality is to make no one a sacred cow, immune from prosecution thereby. For the fact that these marauders are still walking free and tall in Nigeria instead of being caged in the confines of a prison makes the government an implied corroborator and comforter of despicable men.
When will it stop? A serving Justice Minister was KILLED and a current Justice Minister is not throwing tantrums? Where is the camaraderie? Where is the outrage? Nobody wants to die, really? But where is Sani Abacha today? Where is MKO Abiola? Where is Adedibu? Where is Bola Ige? Where is Okadigbo? The only man who lives forever is that man who has etched his name in marble! Attorney General and Minister of Justice Aandookaa, please urge your President Umaru Yaradua to let you investigate these murders to their conclusion. If you die in the process, so be it; at least Nigerians will know you died trying to do right for them. Every man shall die someday! Be a man, bite the bullet. Stand up to these beasts and clean up the urgean stable. It stinks to high heavens. Bola Ige was assassinated yesterday, it may be your turn tomorrow, please do something today! If Abiola had not parried with the military to overthrow Shagari, maybe they would not have sucked life out of him when they did with the June 12th, annulment. He who dines with the devil must use a very long spatula, a
s spoon may not be long enough, when the devil wants your head! Why serve, if you cannot make a difference? The power you presently possess, someone have had it before including the assassinated Bola Ige! The money you may be making today, someone once had it in abundance before including the Late MKO Abiola. Nothing really is worth a dumb followership. Stand up and be counted! Mr. Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Aondoakaa destiny calls for you to investigate these murders conclusively now and have your legacy enshrined forever in the annals of Nigeria!
s spoon may not be long enough, when the devil wants your head! Why serve, if you cannot make a difference? The power you presently possess, someone have had it before including the assassinated Bola Ige! The money you may be making today, someone once had it in abundance before including the Late MKO Abiola. Nothing really is worth a dumb followership. Stand up and be counted! Mr. Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Aondoakaa destiny calls for you to investigate these murders conclusively now and have your legacy enshrined forever in the annals of Nigeria!
Ex-Gov Mbadinuju arraigned for murder
ReplyDeleteMEBRIM UCHECHUKWU, Abuja
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The court later adjourned the matter to tomorrow for ruling on whether to grant bail to Chief Martins and other accused.
It was at that juncture that counsel to Mbadinuju, brought the development to the notice of the court, though orally.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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’
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.
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.
Then, presiding JJustice Talba also quashed a bench warrant for the arrest of former Governor, which was earlier issued on Mbadinuju by the court.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Last Monday, Mbadinuju was absent at the proceedings, while Obodo was arraigned by the Police.
The absence of Mbadinuju led to the Police asking for a bench warrant against him, which was granted by the court.
The police were of the view that the report exonerating the former governor did not originate from them.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Dikibo’s killers to die by hanging
ReplyDeleteBy Mike Odiegwu, Asaba
Published: Thursday, 31 Jul 2008
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.
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.
The two condemned persons were facing a two-count charge of murder and robbery.
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.
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.
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.
Icheoku says mr. judge, you have the wrong persons - dikibbo's murder among the many others, was a political assasination.
NBA wants FG to find Ige’s killers
ReplyDeleteBy DELE OGUNYEMI, Ibadan
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
‘’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.’’
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.
Former AG Warns on Unresolved Murder Cases
ReplyDeleteFrom Tunde Sanni in Ibadan, 11.06.2008
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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.
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.
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.
“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.
“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.
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.
Rather than aborting the case, Osinbajo said the case was substituted, to put more bite to its prosecution.