By George Mgbeleke

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has raised the alarm over the continued detention of an Abuja based businessman Mr Ufoma Joseph Immanuel at the Kirikiri Medium Security Custodial Centre in Lagos, despite a Federal High Court order directing his immediate transfer to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) for medical treatment. Both the man and another business partner Mr. Adebutu have disagreement concerning a business before he was dragged to court by the EFCC and since then, has been refused bail even when the matter is ordinarily bailable.

HURIWA said the matter has gone beyond a routine detention issue because it concerns the health, liberty and fundamental rights of a detainee who is yet to be convicted.
According to the association, the Tunji Braithwaite Foundation (TBF), which has been monitoring Ufuoma’s case, first alerted correctional authorities on July 10, 2026, about his deteriorating health and requested his urgent transfer to a hospital.
Following the alleged failure to act, TBF approached the Federal High Court.
HURIWA said Justice D. E. Osiagor subsequently ordered on July 16, 2026, that Ufuoma be immediately transferred to LASUTH for medical treatment.
The association expressed concern that the order has allegedly not been complied with.
HURIWA said TBF has also served a Form 48 on the Controller of Corrections, Lagos State Command, warning of the consequences of alleged disobedience of the court order.
‘A Court Order Is Not Optional’
HURIWA said the alleged failure to comply with the court directive raises serious concerns about respect for the rule of law within the correctional system.
The rights group called on the Minister of Interior and the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service to intervene immediately and ensure compliance with the court order.
“A court order is not a piece of advice to a government agency. It is a command of the law and must be obeyed,” HURIWA said.
The group also called for an independent investigation into any allegation that correctional officials were improperly influenced to prevent Ufuoma’s medical transfer.
HURIWA stressed that any allegation of bribery remains an allegation and should be independently investigated before any conclusion is reached.
HURIWA Questions Criminalisation of Commercial Dispute
HURIWA also expressed concern about the nature of the case against Ufoma.
The association said its understanding is that the dispute arose from commercial dealings involving business and shareholding interests, and questioned why what it considers a commercial dispute should result in prolonged criminal detention.
However, HURIWA acknowledged that determining the proper legal character of the case is the responsibility of the court.
The group urged all parties to allow the judicial process to determine the dispute while ensuring that Ufoma’s constitutional rights are protected.
HURIWA reminded the authorities that an accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court.
The association also expressed concern over reports of repeated denial of bail, as well as claims that Ufoma’s passport has been seized and his bank accounts, together with those of his wife, frozen.
It urged the court and relevant authorities to ensure that all restrictions imposed on the accused are lawful and consistent with the principles of fair hearing and due process.
‘Only the Living Can Defend Themselves’
HURIWA said Ufuoma’s health remains the most urgent concern.
The association warned that keeping a seriously ill detainee away from a medical facility ordered by a court could affect his ability to participate effectively in his defence.
“Only the living can face justice. Only the living can defend themselves against criminal allegations,” the group said.
HURIWA therefore demanded the immediate transfer of Ufuoma to LASUTH in compliance with the Federal High Court order.
It also urged the correctional authorities to provide him with adequate medical care while the legal proceedings continue.
The association said the case should not become another example of how prolonged detention, delayed medical care and alleged disregard for due process could undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s justice system.
HURIWA called on the Minister of Interior, the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service and other relevant authorities to act without further delay.

By David Owei

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide says it remains committed to securing a peaceful resolution to the legal dispute between Dr. Azibapu Eruani, President of Azikel Group, and Mr. Kariyai Daukoru.

The National Secretary of the council, Barr. Dr. Ayebakuro Igbeta Itari, said this in a statement on Monday, explaining the efforts of the IYC’s 10th National Executive Council (NEC) to resolve the dispute.

Itari said the intervention followed the inauguration of the 10th NEC, led by Comr. Dr. Doubra Collins Okotete, on July 22.

He said the council had engaged Eruani, Daukoru, their representatives and the Bayelsa State Government in an effort to de-escalate the dispute and explore reconciliation.

The dispute involves ongoing legal proceedings arising from contractual claims, as well as allegations bordering on criminal defamation and cyberstalking.

Itari said the IYC initially contacted Eruani to explore possible avenues for securing Daukoru’s release from the Kuje Correctional Centre.

According to him, Okotete held telephone conversations with Eruani while he was abroad and later met him on three occasions after his return to Nigeria.

He said the IYC also contacted persons nominated by Daukoru’s wife and family to gain a better understanding of the circumstances surrounding the dispute.

Itari said the council intervened after receiving information about a planned solidarity march by youths and possible counter-demonstrations by groups sympathetic to Eruani.

He said the IYC subsequently appealed to affiliate organisations to suspend planned protests and demonstrations to create an atmosphere conducive to dialogue.

“Our initial objective was to encourage Dr. Eruani to consider withdrawing the criminal defamation and cyberstalking proceedings against Mr. Daukoru,” he said.

“This was to create an avenue for his possible release while allowing the substantive civil dispute to proceed through appropriate legal channels.”

However, Itari said Eruani maintained that he had no personal interest in keeping Daukoru incarcerated.

He said Eruani alleged that Daukoru’s social media activities had damaged his reputation, business interests and the image he had built over the years.

According to Itari, Eruani said he would consider withdrawing the criminal proceedings if Daukoru demonstrated genuine remorse and issued a public apology through the same channels where the alleged defamatory publications were made.

The statement said Eruani also questioned the intervention of the IYC, arguing that Daukoru had family, community leaders and traditional institutions that could mediate the dispute.

Itari said the IYC subsequently raised the matter with Gov. Douye Diri during the council’s maiden meeting with him.

He quoted Diri as saying that the matter had not reached a stage requiring direct intervention by the state government.

The governor, according to the statement, advised the parties to explore family, community and traditional institutions in seeking dialogue and reconciliation.

Diri also cautioned youths against using social media to circulate unverified information or launch personal attacks, saying such actions could have serious consequences.

Itari said the IYC president and members of the 10th NEC later visited Daukoru at the Kuje Correctional Centre on Aug. 21.

He said the delegation briefed Daukoru on the council’s engagements with Eruani, the state government and other stakeholders.

Itari said the IYC told Daukoru that its intervention was focused on his welfare and freedom, and was not intended to interfere with his civil claims.

He said the council specifically distinguished the criminal proceedings from Daukoru’s reported civil claim involving about N1.9 billion in compensation.

According to him, Daukoru maintained that he would not apologise to Eruani on terms he did not accept.

“He maintained that he did not cyberbully or defame Dr. Eruani and alleged that the media attacks began from the other side,” Itari said.

He added that Daukoru expressed confidence in his legal team and determination to pursue the cases to their logical conclusion.

Itari said the IYC had consequently reached the conclusion that it could not compel either party to accept a settlement.

He said Eruani had expressed willingness to consider a negotiated resolution, subject to certain conditions, while Daukoru remained opposed to issuing an apology.

“The IYC 10th NEC remains committed to peaceful resolution, reconciliation and the protection of the interests of all Ijaw people,” he said.

He said the council would continue to respect the independence of the judiciary and the rights of all parties involved in the dispute.

Itari said the IYC was committed to promoting alternative dispute resolution, dialogue and reconciliation whenever both parties were willing to explore those options.

“The 10th NEC is not driven by emotions, sentiments or partisan interests. Our position is simple: we want peace, justice, reconciliation and the protection of Ijaw lives, potentials and businesses,” he said.

He said the council would neither take sides blindly nor allow itself to be used to vilify one Ijaw person against another.

According to him, the IYC believes that no Ijaw person should be unnecessarily lost to prolonged incarceration where there remains an opportunity for dialogue and peaceful settlement.

Itari said the council would remain available to facilitate constructive engagement between the parties whenever they were prepared to explore a peaceful resolution.

He said the statement was issued to present the council’s position and clarify its interventions amid what it described as conflicting narratives circulating on social media.

“Ijaw First. Unity Above Division. Peace Through Dialogue,” he said.

A Washington-based lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., has claimed that a U.S. federal court has taken a new step in the long-running Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) case seeking the release of alleged drug-trafficking records linked to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In an update posted on X, the firm said it had been informed that Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia this morning granted the FBI permission to submit the documents to the court privately, for in-camera review.

According to the post, the judge has given the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and President Tinubu until August 28, 2026, “and no later,” to file their opposition to the release of the records. The firm described the “and no later” language as a sign that the court has reached its limit.

The post reads: “We have now been informed that @uscourts Judge Howell this morning granted the @FBI permission to provide the court with the documents in private…

“This has not yet been published on the court docket as of this evening, and the claim is based solely on the law firm’s X post. Meta AI has not independently verified the August 28 date.”

Background

The case stems from FOIA requests filed by American Aaron Greenspan between 2022 and 2023 seeking records from the FBI, DEA, IRS and other agencies relating to a 1990s Chicago heroin trafficking investigation.

In April 2025, Judge Howell ruled that the FBI and DEA’s use of a “Glomar response” — neither confirming nor denying the existence of such records — was “neither logical nor plausible” after the agencies had already officially confirmed investigations relating to Tinubu.

Judge Howell ordered the agencies to release non-exempt documents, noting that privacy interests were outweighed by public interest. The investigation is linked to a 1993 civil forfeiture in which $460,000 in funds connected to Tinubu were forfeited to the U.S. government. Tinubu was not criminally charged and has consistently described the matter as a civil settlement.

Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., which public filings show was hired by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in March 2026 to “protect and strengthen his reputational standing” in the U.S, made two additional claims in its post:

The firm claims the FBI has now admitted it holds “highly sensitive drug-trafficking-related information” about President Tinubu, and that seeking private review is standard procedure for protecting informants.

The post contrasts the DOJ under President Joe Biden, which it says blocked and stonewalled, with the DOJ under President Donald Trump, which it says is “moving fast and being transparent.”

The firm repeats an unverified allegation that President Tinubu “ratted out his alleged co-drug traffickers in exchange for immunity.” No U.S. court has found Tinubu to have been an informant, and that allegation has not been confirmed by the FBI or DOJ.

The firm also thanked President Trump and White House senior staff for moving the case forward.

If the claim is accurate, the in-camera review would allow Judge Howell to privately assess whether the documents are exempt from release under FOIA, particularly exemptions that protect law enforcement sources and methods, before issuing a final order on public disclosure.

The FBI, DEA and DOJ have previously requested additional time to compile and review records. President Tinubu’s U.S. counsel has not publicly commented on this latest alleged order.