Tuesday brief: DSS attempts to arrest Emefiele for terrorism financing
+ Civilians killed as air force targets bandits in Zamfara
Good morning.
In a surprise move, the DSS attempted to detain the CBN Governor on Monday; a blow to the Peter Obi campaign as its director-general was found guilty of money laundering; and, again, airstrikes from the Nigerian military killed civilians.
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DSS attempts to arrest Emefiele for terrorism financing
The Department of State Services has reportedly attempted to detain central bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele for terrorism financing and economic crimes.
However, a federal high court in Abuja presided by Justice J.T. Tsoho, declined the application because the secret service did not provide any concrete evidence to back its claims.
If the request had been granted, Emefiele could have been detained for 60 days under section 66 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.
Meanwhile, protesters numbering over 200 stormed the court in support of Emefiele.
They marched to the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and submitted a petition demanding the sack of DSS chief, Yusuf Bichi.
According to the protesters, Emefiele is being witch-hunted for political reasons.
DSS reaction: In a statement, spokesperson Peter Afunanya said the DSS will not “succumb to propaganda, intimidation and the desperation of hirelings to undermine it. It will also not give room to the use of falsehood and deceit to misdirect public understanding and perceptions of issues of national importance.”
My opinion: Emefiele is the longest-serving CBN Governor in Nigerian history, at least during the Fourth Republic. Under his watch, the naira has crashed to unimaginable levels, inflation has skyrocketed and virtually all economic indices have taken a beating. To make matters worse, he apparently tried to run for President earlier this year, a shocking move as CBN Governors are supposed to be divorced from political matters. That he still has a job is a miracle and testament to President Buhari’s tolerance of failure.
However, the charges brought against him by the DSS are grave. Terrorism financing and economic sabotage are serious crimes and the evidence must be solid and incontrovertible. Until the secret police can provide such evidence to back up its claims, then the good judge has no reason to sanction his arrest.
The past catches up with Doyin Okupe
The burly man touting Peter Obi as the best man to lead Nigeria for the next four years, Doyin Okupe, has been convicted for breaching the nation’s money laundering laws.
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court said Mr Okupe was guilty of accepting cash payments from the Office of the National Security Adviser (Sambo Dasuki) in excess of the threshold allowed without going through a financial institution.
He was sentenced to two years in prison but with an option of a N13 million fine.
Reaction: The Labour Party is said to be considering a replacement for Mr Okupe as the Director-General of the Peter Obi campaign.
My opinion: At the time of the crime, Okupe was a member of the PDP. Unfortunately, the conviction will cast shadows on the quality of individuals who make up the Labour party, which has sought to differentiate itself from the two major parties as a corruption-free entity. But both Mr Okupe and his principal, Peter Obi, were established members of the PDP and that baggage of 16-year corruption and rudderlessness (not to be compared with the APC’s eight-year disastrous regime) will continue to haunt them, regardless of the new rhetoric.
Civilians killed as air force targets bandits in Zamfara
Scores of civilians - one count put it at 64 - were reportedly killed on Sunday in Mutumji community, Zamfara state, after the Nigerian military launched air strikes targeted at annihilating bandits in the area.
One resident, Saidu Ishaka, said he fell down twice as he ran because of the vibration. When he stood up, he saw several dead bodies on the ground.
But the military has denied that its strikes killed civilians, describing such reports as propaganda to “cause confusion” and discredit its successess.
My opinion: The Nigerian military likes to talk about public trust and gratitude. But how can people be trusting and grateful for the work you do if you kill them without remorse? True, the airstrikes could have been targeted at fleeing bandits but to not at least acknowledge the collateral damage is irresponsible and cowardly and unbefitting of a patriotic force. Without an acknowledgement, no investigation is carried out to determine what happened and how a reoccurrence can be avoided. So, we learn nothing.
What else is happening?
Ohanaeze Ndigbo: The Igbo group said a report claiming that 100 northerners were killed in the South-East within a week “is a lie from the pit of hell.”
Free speech: A 16-year-old boy has been arrested for insulting Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni on social media. The police say the minor will be charged to court.
Election under threat: INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, said attacks on election facilities and general insecurity across the country must be tackled if the commission must conduct credible elections in 2023.
Kaduna insecurity: Bandits killed no fewer than 37 people and burnt over 100 houses in an attack on Kaura local government.
African football: Nigeria and Benin have submitted a bid to co-host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after CAF stripped Guinea’s rights to stage the competition. Algeria, Morocco and Zambia have also indicated interest in hosting the tournament.
Chimamanda Adichie: The celebrated author hosted a dozen creative guests for an intimate session of jollof rice and finger foods at her home in Lagos.
Climate change: Nations have agreed to protect a third of the planet for nature by 2030 in a historic deal at the UN biodiversity summit in Montreal, Canada.
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