DSS arrest of Sufin Zamani for song that suggests ‘Hausa actresses don’t stay in marriage’ is unconstitutional, illegal:- says HURIWA

Hausa singer, Sarfilu Umar Zarewa, better known as Sufin Zamani, has been arrested and detained by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and this is being described by the Prominent Civil rights advocacy group- HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) as an affront to the constitutionally guaranteed human rights of the arbitrarily detained musician. The Rights is therefore advocating his release without ant further waste of time. 

The group said if anybody feels that his song has labelled the person, then such a person should Institute a civil suit and not to report to the use of the Department of State Services to do such a civil matter when Nigerians are now being bombarded by terrorists which should be the priority of the DSS and not get into such petty civil matter. 

HURIWA recalled that the musician Zarewa was reported by authorities of the Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MOPPAN) for putting out a record titled ‘Matan Fim Ba Sa Zaman Aure’.

The title suggested that “Northern actresses don’t stay in a marriage.”

Kannywood actresses alleged that it was derogatory to them.

HURIWA recalled  that In a statement signed by Al-Amin Ciroma, the national PRO of MOPPAN, the association said a complaint letter was written to it by Wasila Isma’il, the veteran actress, on behalf of other women in the industry.

It said they demanded justice from the leadership of the association over a record done by Zarewa. The statement also quoted Wasila as saying that the women felt insulted by the lyrics of the song.

MOPPAN stated that Ahmad Sarari, the national president of MOPPAN, thereafter ordered an investigation to be carried out.

HURIWA however condemned the arrest of the Musician by the Department of State Services and has asked the Director General of the Department of State Services Alhaji Yusuf Magagi Bichi to order his officers to free the illegally detained musician forthwith and profusely apologise to him over the flagrant violations of his human rights because HURIWA said in as much as he did not name any particular Actress in the said song, arresting him for manifesting and celebrating the fruits of his creative tendencies and talents amounts to anti-intellectualism, unconstitutional,  illegal and primitive just as the Rights group reminded the DSS that Nigeria is a constitutional democracy and not a dictatorship or theocracy.  

HURIWA is praying the DSS to get busy by arresting and crushing all the armed terrorists destroying lives and property of the citizens. 

HURIWA cited relevant sections of the Nigerian Constitution to affirm that the DSS has committed egregious breach of the constitutional rights of this illegally detained Hausa Musician thus: “35.  (1)  Every  person  shall  be  entitled  to  his  personal  liberty  and  no  person  shall be  deprived  of  such liberty  save  in  the  following  cases  and  in  accordance  with  a  procedure  permitted  by  law  –   (a)  in  execution  of  the  sentence  or  order  of  a court in  respect of  a  criminal  offence  of  which  he has been  found  guilty; and 39.  (1)  Every  person  shall  be  entitled  to  freedom  of  expression,  including  freedom  to  hold  opinions  and  to receive  and  impart ideas  and  information  without interference.”

HURIWA has therefore called for the immediate,  unconditional and swift release of this Nigerian Musician and with great deal of apologies and compensation. 

HURIWA uncovers smear campaign against ex-COAS Buratai 

Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, (HURIWA) on Wednesday, said it has uncovered a systematically hatched and well coordinated media campaign by some Abuja moneybags who have insisted on smearing the reputation of the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai (retd.). 

HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a statement, urged the media not to fall for the sponsored coordinated attacks against Buratai despite that the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission has not indicted him of any corruption allegation. HURIWA regrets that some online media have already been bribed to disseminate falsehoods against General Buratai. 

Recall that the ICPC busted the Wuse house of a military contractor and made some startling discoveries but despite that the anti-graft agency made clarifications as to the owner of the house, some groups have continued to call on ICPC to change the outcome of the investigation so as to name Buratai as the owner in clear violations of the global best practices and the ethics. These groups are apparently purchased and paid by the said retired military General who is a senior Aide of President Muhammadu Buhari.  

HURIWA’s Onwubiko said, “We have on good authority that a retired military general working directly in the office of President Muhammadu Buhari  has been sponsoring a campaign of calumny against retired Lt. Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai with a criminal attempt to link his name with the ownership of the house in Wuse in which it was said that ICPC found some amount from a military defence contractor. 

“HURIWA also have on good authority that the retired military officer in Presidency allegedly released N10 million to some Abuja and Lagos-based groups with extensive contacts within the Nigerian press to continue the campaign of calumny against General Buratai all in an attempt to sully his image. The reason for doing is his perception that Lt.Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai may have been pencilled down as potential running mate to the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress given that the former Army Chief since retiring has devoted substantial part of his time and resources supporting and building up the All Progressives Congress in all nooks and cronies of the North East, North West and North Central regions of Nigeria and is not known to be fanatically attached to his religion but he is a profoundly regarded nationalist.” 

“The retired general is apparently threatened by the rising profile of General Buratai has he is being pencilled down as potential running mate to the All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The military retired General who is bankrolling this campaign of calumny is also accused of several heists of public funds which he has denied publicly. 

“HURIWA warned that civil society organisations should live by the ethics of professional conducts and not be used by moneybags to achieve selfish motives. Besides, HURIWA said a coalition of activists determined to restore sanity and professional ethics of the media practice are meeting to institute a class suit to try to stop some notorious media houses from spreading fake news.” 

“General Buratai is also encouraged to pursue legal action against defamatory reports against his person.”

June 29, 2022

Emmanuel Onwubiko

National Coordinator – HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA).

NNAMDI KANU: NIGERIA, NOW A BANANA REPUBLIC- SAYS HURIWA

The Prominent Civil rights advocacy group- HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has expressed disappointment and utter dissatisfaction with the refusal of the presiding judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja division Her Lordship Justice Mrs. Binta Murtallah-Nyako to exercise her constitutionally permitted discretionary power to grant bail to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Mazi Nnamdi Kanu few days after President Muhammadu Buhari said Nnamdi Kanu wouldn’t be granted bail in what appears like Executive versus Judicial gang-up against the defendant. 

HURIWA said as a civil Rights body, it is dismayed that the Honourable Judge of the Federal High Court did not even make reference to that extrajudicial comments of the head of another arm of government President Muhammadu Buhari that the first defendant in a suit between the Federal Government and a citizen Mazi Nnamdi Kanu wouldn’t be granted bail but she proceeded to do exactly as stated by President Muhammadu Buhari as if to say that the judiciary is subservient to the executive arm of government.  HURIWA is appealing to the judiciary to safeguard her independence to avoid encouraging Nigerians to resort to self help measure if they perceive that the judiciary does the bidding and execute the scripts authored by politicians in the office of President Muhammadu Buhari. 

HURIWA in a media Statement in reaction to the reported rejection of the bail application filed by Nnamdi Kanu who has spent a year in pre-trial detention with the Department of State Services (DSS) said it was disturbing that President Muhammadu Buhari who instituted the matter against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his organisation seems to be adopting underhand tactics to cajole another independent arm of government-the judiciary to do her bidding as against the clear provisions of the Constitution on separation of powers as provided for in Sections 4, 5 send 6 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999 as amended. 

Besides, HURIWA said it is unclear why a citizen would spend a year in prison whilst undergoing trial for charges that the Federal Government has not adduced irrefutable proofs but there are top government officials who looted public treasury to the tune of nearly #200 billion per person which endangers national security but such alleged ‘thieves’ are on bail even when the offence of such a large economic sabotage of Nigeria is the reason why insecurity has overwhelmed the current administration whereas the charges against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is bordered on alleged use of inflammatory language against the person of President Muhammadu Buhari who is only one out of over 200 million Nigerians.  

In a statement by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA recalled  that the detained Prisoner of Conscience Mazi Nnamdi  Kanu is currently facing a seven-count charge, had in the application he filed through his team of lawyers led by Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, equally challenge the revocation of the bail the court earlier granted to him.

HURIWA said that He Mazi Nnamdi Kanu specifically urged the court to set aside the order it made on March 28, 2019, which not only issued a bench warrant for his arrest, but also gave FG the nod to try him in absentia. The IPOB leader told the court that contrary to FG’s allegation that he jumped bail, he said that he fled for his life after his home town at Afaraukwu Ibeku in Umuahia, Abia State, was invaded by soldiers, which he said led to the death of 28 persons. Contending that he was denied fair hearing before his bail was revoked, Kanu, attached eight exhibits that included photographs, as well as an affidavit he deposed to from Isreal after he fled from the country.

HURIWA sadly recalled that whilst  dismissing the bail request on Tuesday, trial Justice Binta Nyako, said she was not satisfied with the reason the IPOB leader gave for his failure to appear in court for continuation of his trial. The trial judge noted that from records of the court, Kanu, was represented by his lawyer on the day his bail was revoked, likewise his sureties.

“In fact, he sureties told the court that they did not know the whereabout of the Defendant and even applied to be discharged from the matter.

“Therefore, the Defendant was not denied fair hearing”.

Besides, Justices Nyako held that though a court could vacate a previous order when confronted with a cogent and verifiable reason, “in the instant case, I have not been given any, neither have I been given any reason to set-aside the order.

“The present application amounts to an abuse of court process for attempting to relitigate an issue already decided by the court. “If the Defendant is dissatisfaction, he has the Appeal Court to go to.

“This application is accordingly dismissed”, Justice Nyako held.

HURIWA said although it is not in her place to determine for the presiding judge how to discharge her constitutional obligations but the Rights group said the unfair treatment of Nnamdi Kanu because of where he comes from is against Section 42(1) of the Constitution which absolutely makes discrimination unacceptable and unlawful just as the Rights group said the accusations of diversions of humonguous quantum of public cash which should ordinarily attract the dead penalty is treated with indifference by the judiciary particularly because most of those being accused are of a particular section of the country and are considered to be in the good books of the ruling party- All Progressives Congress which the Rights group said makes Nigeria appear like a rogue entity. 

The Rights group bemoaned the ugly fact that four days ago in far away Rwanda,  President Muhammadu Buhari was quoted as ruling out the bail option for Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The President said Kanu’s continued detention is an opportunity for him “to justify all the uncomplimentary things said against Nigeria while he was in Britain.”

Buhari said this at a bilateral meeting with the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, on the margins of the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the president said, the Federal Government may not grant the IPOB leader such a privilege anymore considering the fact that he had jumped bail earlier.

“He felt very safe in Britain and said awful things against Nigeria. We eventually got him when he stepped out of the United Kingdom, and we sent him to court. Let him defend all that he said there.

“His (Kanu’s) lawyers have access to him. Remember he jumped bail before, how are we sure he won’t do it again if he’s admitted to bail?” Buhari was quoted to have said.

HURIWA said the extra legal attempts by President Muhammadu Buhari to coerce the judiciary to do the bidding of his whims and caprices shows that indeed Nigeria is not just a Banana Republic but a full dictatorship. HURIWA said the Judiciary under section 6 enjoys the judicial powers of the state just as the Rights group said under Section 36(5) every accused person is deemed to be innocent in the eyes of the law. HURIWA urged Justice Binta Nyako to issue a gag order banning President Muhammadu Buhari and his aides from interfering in a matter pending before her Court unless what we are being told is that President Muhammadu Buhari is now the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court. 

Tanko’s resignation as CJN not enough, EFCC should arrest him –HURIWA 

Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, (HURIWA) on Monday, said the resignation of Justice Tanko Muhammad as the Chief Justice of Nigeria was not enough to clear him of corruption allegations levelled against him by the 14 justices of the Supreme Court.

HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a statement, demanded the immediate arrest, investigation and if culpable then prosecute the retired CJN Tanko by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission.

Recall that the 14 Supreme Court justices recently petitioned Tanko and alleged that he diverted their welfare funds.

“In the past, justices were nominated to attend two to three foreign workshops or training per annum with accompanying persons for reasons of age. Since your Lordship’s assumption of office, Justices only attend two workshops in Dubai and Zanzibar. They were not accorded the privilege of travelling with accompanying persons as was the practice.

“Your Lordship totally ignored this demand and yet travelled with your spouse, children, and personal staff. We demand to know what has become our training funds, have they been diverted, or it’s a plain denial,” the justices had asked.

Though Tanko denied the allegations, HURIWA earlier asked the National Judicial Council and the Code of Conduct Tribunal to probe him over the weighty allegations by the Supreme Court justices.

On Monday, news filtered in that Tanko has resigned as the CJN as confirmed by his Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Yusuf Isah.

“The latest information is that the CJN has resigned; I spoke with somebody very close to him and he said he has resigned,” Isah said.

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), immediately sworn in Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Reacting, HURIWA’s Onwubiko applauded the swift action of the President to have sworn in Ariwoola as the acting CJN.

He, however, said, “The resignation of Justice Tanko Muhammad as the Chief Justice of Nigeria is not enough; the EFCC and the ICPC must swing into action, investigate then if a cause if Acton is ascertained, then arrest and prosecute him over the corruption allegations levelled against him by the 14 justices of the Supreme Court if a prima facie evidence exists .

“Jistice Tanko must be prosecuted just as his predecessor, Walter Onnoghen, who was probed and later removed on a controversial note following some allegations against him which was probed by both the NJC and the CCT.

“The investigation and probable prosecution of Tanko if indicted,  will set a precedent that Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade is not a joke unless it is a joke. Tanko’s prosecution if found culpable of those sets of allegations will also serve as deterrent for any proven corrupt justices that the judiciary won’t be a haven for scoundrels.”

June 27, 2022

Emmanuel Onwubiko

National Coordinator – HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA).

Alleged Arrest Of APC Candidate By EFCC In Lagos: HURIWA Cautions APC

“The alleged arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of Mr. Lanre Sanusi, who is contesting for Amuwo Odin Federal Constitutiency House of Representatives under the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) over fraud–related crime after a logistics company, called 4runner limited made a petition against him should be of interest to the ruling All Progressives Congress so someone with a baggage ethically and morally is not presented as a candidate for a very critical position of a National law maker”. 

This is even as the Prominent Civil rights advocacy group- HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) through its National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko has asked the national hierarchy to probe the report that a company known as  4runner Limited, which is a shipping company, alleged that they had a deal with Mr. Lanre to transport COVID-19 materials, including face masks; hand sanitizers, amongst other items for a sum 33,000 United States Dollars  even as information made available alleged that after the shipment arrived Nigeria from the United States of America, Sanusi Lanre allegely refused to pay the company by not picking their calls and not responding to their text messages.

HURIWA affirmed that if it is verified that the  shipping company also stated in their petition to the EFCC that it later found out the covid-19 relief materials were illegally diverted from Dallas City Government Hospital with the aid of Sanusi Lanre’s accomplice who were truck drivers at the hospital and that 4runner Limited lamented to the anti-graft agency that Lanre’s alleged fraudulent activity has affected the company’s reputation and cost it huge monetary damage, then the All Progressives Congress should substitute his name with the legally allowed person with the next highest number of votes at the party primary election. 

HURIWA said it is preposterous if the APC will sponsor someone with such a huge crime related allegations hanging on his neck to seek for elective post to become a National law maker just as the Rights group said may be the APC is not aware that millions of Nigerians are fed up with political corruption such as this. 

HURIWA said it appears that the National leadership of APC did not investigate why the Lagos Assembly rejected his Lanre Sanusi’s alleged nomination for commissionership in 2019. This is because we think that the character and reputation of candidates should be of concern to a ruling party like APC that wears the toga of integrity and credibility. Why did the party looked the other way when Prince Lanre Sanusi appeared before the party’s screening committee?

HURIWA said: “The candidature of this man allegedly in conflict with the law shows that certain forces working within the  APC’s National headquarters may be fraudulent and compromised. How would you defend this before the politically conscious Nigerians? Clearly the Party’s screening exercise was cosmetic and pure deceit. How would electorates trust your party?”

“The height of the fundamental issues bedevilling the said Lanre Sanusi’s political aspiration is the recent report in some sections of online media and various media organisations. This is presently destroying the party and will definitely affect the chances of your party at all levels. Going into election with a damaged image candidate would cost your party the victory expected, assuming the allegations are verified”. 

“As Civil Rights practitioners, we  in HURIWA monitored the party’s screening from the federal,state and NASS to come to a conclusion that your party is a fraudulent and criminally minded unless and until the National hierarchy can take steps to ensure that persons with questionable characters or persons in conflict with the law are not presented and sustained as candidates in the 2023 poll in Nigeria until they get clean bills of records”, HURIWA affirmed. 

Probe: It’s absurd Wike shields Fubara, witch-hunts Amaechi-: HURIWA 

Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, (HURIWA) on Sunday, described as an absurdity, the obsession of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, to probe his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi, over an alleged N96 billion fraud.

HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a statement, stressed that Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party is on a mission to witch-hunt and embarrass Amaechi because he is a member of the opposition in the state, the All Progressives Congress.

The group also said it was an irony how that Wike has been hell-bent to humiliate Amaechi through a phantom probe of Amaechi’s eight-year term as Rivers governor but the same Wike has allegedly been shielding the 2023 PDP governorship candidate in Rivers, Siminialayi Fubara, from being arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission despite that Fubara, the immediate past Accountant General of Rivers, and three other top state government officials, had been declared wanted by the anti-graft agency for alleged N117 billion fraud.

HURIWA frowns upon this double standards by Wike and called the governor to act in the interest of justice, fairness and equity and not to be moved by political animosity and hatred.

Recall that the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal filed by Amaechi, an ex-Minister of Transportation, seeking to stop his probe over an alleged N96 billion fraud but the nation’s Apex court categorically ruled that the Commission of Inquiry set up by the Rivers State’s governor Mr. Nyesom Wike has no power in law to make indictment because it has no prosecutorial powers.

The Commission of Inquiry hurriedly set up by Wike has an agenda to look into the lawfulness or otherwise of the alleged sale of Rivers State’s valuable assets, such as Omoku Gas Turbine, Afam Gas Turbine, Trans Amadi Gas Turbine, Eleme Gas Turbine, Olympia Hotel and the award of contract for the execution of the Mono Rail project.

Reacting, HURIWA’s Onwubiko said, “Whilst we do not support any form of unaccountability and transparency just as we believe that the probe of any serving or past government officials is sacrosanct, HURIWA frowns upon double standards by Governor Nyesom Wike.

“It is an eyesore that the governor is pursuing a witch-hunt agenda against his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi, for obvious reasons and he (Wike) failed to reckon that he has been allegedly shielding the 2023 PDP governorship candidate, Siminialayi Fubara, from being picked by the EFCC.

“Wike has not also deemed it fit to advise Fubara to surrender himself to the anti-graft agency but continue to watch on as the governorship candidate evade arrests brazenly.

“Fighting corruption must be entire and not selective. Wike should stop his clandestine agenda and ensure what is good for the goose is good for the gander.”

HURIWA said the decision to drag Mr.Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi to the Rivers State High Court few hours after the Supreme Court’s verdict that stated that the board of Inquiry by Governor Nyesom Wike has no power to indict anybody and then Nyesom Wike said that Rivers State’s elders will decide if his Administration will sue Mr Rotimi Amaechi the immediate past Rivers State Governor,  shows that the reason for this sham prosecution of the former Transportation Minister is just a show of shame and a misapplication of the judicial powers to achieve predetermined politically tainted end. “When did the Rivers State’s elders voted to compel Nyesom Wike to go to court? Who were the elders that voted and why subject the court system in Rivers to ridiculous manipulation? If the Rivers State’s governor has convincing evidence of committal of any crime by the immediate past administration in Rivers State, is it for the elders to decide whether going to court was right or wrong? What all the dramas show is that the ongoing legal action against Rotimi Amaechi is spurious, politically motivated,  unnecessary and is a product of hate politics and politics of animosity. We are asking Governor Nyesom Wike to stop stoking up tension in his own State and follow due process of the law by surrendering his officials wanted by EFCC for alleged heist of humonguous amount of public fund right under his nose.”

June 25, 2022

Emmanuel Onwubiko

National Coordinator – HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA).

Nigeria will be boiling now should bandits kill Muslim clerics like pastors – HURIWA

…says Buhari, security agents would have acted if bandits touch Imams 

Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, (HURIWA) on Sunday, said Nigeria would have been boiling should rampaging bandits/terrorists kill and kidnap Imams the way the marauders are terrorising and annihilating Christian leaders in the country.

HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a statement, categorically stressed that the President, Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), the service chiefs and all the heads of security agencies who are Muslims would have swung into action should kidnappers start feasting on Imams.

The group emphasised that the spate of kidnapping and gruesome killing of Christians leaders and their followers was pure persecution and asked why Imams have not fallen victim to abductions and killings if the problem is a general one and not targeted at Christians as seen in the last few years.

Recall that terrorists murdered another Catholic priest, Rev Fr. Vitus Borogo, in Kaduna State, of late. The 50-year-old priest was murdered at the Prison Farm, Kujama, along the Kaduna-Kachia Road.

This followed the abduction and killing of Reverend Father Joseph Bako of the St John Catholic Church, Kudenda in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State which happened in March.

“About 20 Christian clerics have either been kidnapped or killed just in 2022 and there has not been one report of the kidnap or the killing of an Imam. This is not in any way inciting the kidnap of Imams but the unending attacks on Christian clerics is suspicious that clandestine forces are after Christian clerics and they are backed up by people in power who are mostly Islamic fundamentals,” HURIWA’s Onwubiko said.

Recall also that the Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Samuel Kanu Uche; the Methodist Bishop of Owerri, Rt. Rev. Dennis Mark; Founder of Solid Rock Kingdom Church, Apostle John Okoriko; Rev. Fr.  Alphonsus Uboh of St. Pius X Parish IkotAbasi in the Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State; amongst others have been kidnapped just this year.

“Now, the bloodthirsty marauders, buoyed by the nonchalance and inaction of security agencies led by Muslims, have the audacity to murder Rev Fr. Vitus Borogo. This is totally unacceptable and must stop forthwith,” Onwubiko stated.

Continuing, he added, “The hot and sizzling Jihad against Christians allegedly supported by Islamists embedded in the government of President Muhammadu Buhari is alarming and condemnable.

“The fact that all the internal security institutions are led by Muslims in the last seven years and Christian are being killed and kidnapped in targeted and coordinated manner shows a pattern that enjoys tacit support of the top most echelons of the security architecture.

“HURIWA maintains that if there is no plot to wipe off Christians, the President would have rejigged the headship of the internal security institutions like the police, the Army, the Department of State Services, Customs, Immigration, Prison, Civil defence, NIA, amongst others to inject representatives of Christians but the President refused meaning there is a longstanding plots against Christians.

“HURIWA alerts the whole world, the United Nations, the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, Pope Francis, and other international powers to take notice of the genocide of Christians in Kaduna, Owo in Ondo, Plateau, amongst others and pressure the Buhari government to end the carnage of Christians.”

June 26, 2022

Emmanuel Onwubiko

National Coordinator – HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA).

NINAS Extraordinary Alerts Series No. 6 – Defining The Change We Seek: Personnel Or System (Parts 3 – 5)

NINAS Secretariat 

25 June 2022

Cover note:

The non-violent NINAS Movement for Self-Determination is the Power Of The Indigenous Peoples of the NINAS Territory (South and Middle Belt ie the non-Sharia zone). Good history is being made by the NINAS Movement that will be openly acknowledged by the whole world. It is the NINAS Movement versus a Unitary Government headed and controlled by the immigrant settler Fulani, bent on exterminating the indigenous Owners of the land and its rich resources, using their Fulani militia (masquerading as herdsmen and “bandits”) in joint venture with Islamic terrorists welcomed into the Nigerian space, in order to create a Fulani “Islamic State of West Africa” that displaces the 1960 Nigeria. How would the Fulani dare to think that they can achieve their Caliphate Agenda declared by their Ahmadu Bello? They dare because since the Federation of Nigeria was terminated in 1966 by military coups, they have taken possession by force through military Decrees and are still doing so since their instrument today is military Decree 24 fraudulently renamed as the 1999 Constitution. That 1999 Constitution, a forgery, is the ENTRY VISA for the Fulani into the ancestral lands of Ethnic Nations of the NINAS Territory. That 1999 Constitution empowers the Fulani to “ruthlessly” control the lands and peoples of the NINAS Territory as a “conquered territory”. The Fulani would be nothing and nowhere without that 1999 Constitution, that is why they are DESPERATE for the life of that illegitimate forgery to be RENEWED by Elections 2023!

Here is NINAS, as always, concerned about the lives and welfare of indigenous peoples, with the last three video broadcasts of the NINAS Extraordinary Alerts Series No. 6.

NINAS Extraordinary Alerts Series No. 6 – Defining The Change We Seek: Personnel Or System (Parts 3 – 5)

Part-1 of these Series No.6 Addressed the Question of 2023, the rush for PVC and the Need to Define the Change we Seek. Part-2 Outlined NINAS’ Containment Strategy for the Fulani Invasion. 

(Here is the link to Parts-1&2 :

https://ninasmovementnews.substack.com/p/ninas-extraordinary-alerts-series )

In these Parts 3 to 5, we provide answers to frequently asked questions regarding the implementation of the Constitutional Force Majeure; the slave-spokesmen as a Concealment Strategy of the enemy for State institutions control machineries to hide behind by masking the truth that indigenous ethnic peoples are excluded from real power; as well as the British Parliamentary Debate on Nigeria following the Owo Church Terror Attack, reinforcing the totally discredited false narrative of farmers-herders clashes in place of the Federal Government-backed Fulani Terror Invasion. 

Part-3 of 5: NINAS Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Part-4 of 5: Slave-Spokesmen for Slave-master-Institutions: Enemy Tool of Concealment

Part-5 of 5: Ondo State-Owo Terror Attack & British Parliamentary Debate on Nigeria: Reinforcing False Narratives

HURIWA asks EFCC to probe Emefiele’s alleged ownership of Titan Trust Bank

Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), on Monday, urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, over his alleged ownership of two-year-old Titan Trust Bank which recently acquired 104-year-old Union Bank.

HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a statement, stressed that the anti-graft agency must prosecute Emefiele should he be found culpable of the allegation levelled against it by an online newspaper, ENigeria Newspaper.

The group noted that Emefiele would have acted in contrary to Sections 9 and 11 of the CBN ACT 2007 that stated expressly that the apex governor must cease to be in office if he fails to devote his entire time to his duty.

Recall that Titan Trust Bank Limited, a subsidiary of TGI Group, which started operations in October 2019, recently acquired 104-year-old Union Bank, becoming one of the most remarkable acquisitions in the Nigerian Banking space after STB acquired UBA in the landmark 2005 deal.

Titan Trust Bank subsequently raised $300 million from Afreximbank to fund Union Bank takeover. Union Bank reportedly had a total asset value of $4.9 billion as of December 2021.

But ENigeria Newspaper reported that the fact that Titan Trust Bank’s National Banking License is the first National Banking License that the CBN has granted in over a decade since the CBN enacted the N25bn capitalisation funds directive for national banks in Nigeria warrant investigation.

The publication further alleged that there were indications that Emefiele is one of the shareholders of Titan Trust Bank. This line of affiliation by this newspaper is not however the view of HURIWA which is why we are asking that EFCC should investigate the allegation and take action. 

Reacting, HURIWA’s Onwubiko said, “The allegation of ownership of Titan Trust Bank levelled against CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, should not be swept under the carpet because it is a heavy allegation given the many unethical moves of the apex bank governor in recent times including his alleged attempt to contest the presidential primary of the All Progressives Congress.

“Expressly, Section 9 of the CBN Act 2007 states thus: ‘The Governor and the Deputy Governors shall devote the whole of their time to the service of the Bank and while holding office shall not engage in any full or part-time employment or vocation whether remunerated or not except such personal or charitable causes as may be determined by the Board and which do not detract from their full-time duties’.

“Also, Section 11 of the same Act states thus: ‘A person shall not remain a Governor, Deputy Governor or Director of the Bank if he is a member of any Federal or State legislative house; or if he is a Director, officer or employee of any bank licensed under the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act’.

“HURIWA calls for the arrest of the CBN governor by EFCC if the story is true after a quick investigation by EFCC because this violates the terms of his engagements in addition to his earlier breach by getting involved in politics despite CBN Act that bans that. 

“Should the CBN governor be found to be the owner of the bank, then he should be sacked, arrested and prosecuted for such unethical action. HURIWA however doubts if EFCC can be as swift as it normally does when students are fingers in ‘small small yahooyahoo crimes’ since this allegation of ownership of a multimillion dollars business concern is allegedly linked to one of the dreaded wealthy citizens in Nigeria. HURIWA is therefore tasking EFCC to show that it can also bark and bite big men who are regarded as ‘sacred cows’. 

“Also, the EFCC needs to address Nigerians on the allegations against the suspended Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, and give us update because of insinuations that cases involving government officials are swept under the carpets.” HURIWA similarly applauded EFCC for achieving some unprecedented legal victories against some crooks across Nigeria.  

June 20, 2022

Emmanuel Onwubiko

National Coordinator – HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA).

HURIWA TO INEC: NULLIFY EKITI GUBER POLL FOR BRIBERY:

Frontline Pro-democratic and civil society organisation- HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to annul the Ekiti State governorship election that began since Saturday morning because of overwhelming evidence of financial inducements,  corruption of the electoral process and absolute compromise of the ingredients of a free, fair and transparent election. 

HURIWA condemned the major contenders for the position of Governor of Ekiti State for their alleged involvement in the compromises and criminalisation of the electoral process in the State which the Rights group maintained has vitiated the constitutional principle of respecting the will of the electorate which the group said can no longer be attained going by the widespread reports of brazen and open trading, buying and selling of the votes of the electorate even as the Police and other law enforcement agencies are also bought over. 

HURIWA is miffed that even Biodun Oyebanji, the governorship candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, was captured by an eagle eyed media practitioner allegedly giving money to an electorate at his polling unit at ward 06, unit 03, Okelele Area of Ikogosi-Ekiti.

Oyebanji reportedly gave money to the electorate while voting was ongoing just as he arrived at his polling unit alongside his wife. 

The Rights group has asked the Economic and financial crimes Commission to arrest the candidate of the APC and for the electoral commission to cancel the poll because whatever results from a process that is muddied by corruption and bribery can’t be said to be credible, free and fair nor can it be classified as transparent. HURIWA carpeted the EFCC for lacking good enough intelligence to stop this distortion of the electoral process in Ekiti State. 

HURIWA also noted that members of her association that voted in the exercise reported widespread buying and selling of votes by the major contenders such as the APC, SDP, PDP even as the Rights group mentioned that evidences abound in the media and from credible sources of how agents of mostly the All Progressives Congress went about negotiating, buying and paying openly for votes even as some voters were seen arguing about the fact that some polling agents of the APC failed to pay them the agreed sum after they cast their votes for their candidate as negotiated. 

HURIWA in a media Statement by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko said the only credible line of action by the Independent National Electoral Commission to take immediately is to annul the election and reschedule another fresh poll during which time proper security vetting of the security apparatuses and security persons to monitor the electoral process and ensure zero tolerance to bribery and mortgaging of the electorate. “If INEC doesn’t cancel this immoral and open buying and selling of ballots, then INEC itself is compromised heavily”.