By David Owei, Yenagoa

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri and the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku have commended the State Governor, Sen. Douye Diri, party stakeholders and delegates for participating in the Tuesday state Congress which led to the emergence of Hon. Warman Ogoriba as Chairman.

The congress was described as the first unified and peaceful one since the establishment of the APC in Bayelsa State.

Both the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri and the Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku spoke at the congress held at the Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre in Yenagoa.

Gov. Diri observed that despite the large turnout of delegates, party leaders and members, the exercise was rancour-free, peaceful and successful.

While Senator Lokpobiri said the peaceful nature of the Congress makes all stakeholders happy and delighted over the outcome, “my advice to members and stakeholders of the party is to strengthen the existing unity within the party.”

“With this unity existing , we will deliver the victory to President Bola Tinubu come 2027.”

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, said the successful conduct of the Ward,Local Government and State congresses showed that the party members and Stakeholders are together with Gov. Diri.

Ogbuku congratulated the party for the successful conduct of the çongress, “for us to come together shows that this unity will lead the party to victory on 2027.”

By George Mgbeleke

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has accused the Federal Government of applying justice selectively in the ongoing legal cases involving, former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), both members of the opposition party.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the contrasted their treatment with a separate high-profile case involving allegations of passport forgery and international conspiracy, where the accused were granted bail and proceedings are moving swiftly.

The full statement read:

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has been monitoring the ongoing legal cases involving two of our leaders, Mr. Abubakar Malami, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice from Kebbi State, and Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State.

As a law-abiding party, it is important to state for the record that the ADC believes no citizen, regardless of stature or past office, is above the law. However, in a constitutional democracy where the law is seen to operate selectively, it becomes imperative to insist, firmly and without apology, that justice must be applied evenly, transparently, and without political calculation, particularly in cases such as those involving Abubakar Malami and Nasir El-Rufai, where the manner, speed, and sequence of enforcement actions have understandably raised serious public concern about consistency and fairness.

The movement of Malami and El-Rufai from the custody of one law enforcement agency to another, in rapid succession, while investigations appear ongoing, has raised profound public concern. When a citizen is transferred from one detention facility to another before investigations are demonstrably concluded, it inevitably begs the question: is detention being used as an investigative shortcut, or as an instrument of pressure to keep these opposition leaders out of circulation? In a democracy that is supposed to be governed by the rule of law, custody must follow credible, well-prepared charges, not precede them in a manner that creates the appearance of pre-trial punishment.

If there is evidence against Abubakar Malami, prosecute him transparently. If there is evidence against Nasir El-Rufai, present it before the court and allow the law to take its course. But Nigeria and Nigerians will not accept a situation where the coercive instruments of the Bola Tinubu-led federal government are perceived to move with unusual speed against opposition figures, while similar matters elsewhere travel at a gentler pace.

Nigerians should consider a recent high-profile case. At its center are grave allegations of passport forgery, international conspiracy, impersonation, and the alleged use of a disputed international passport in support of a property claim in London. These are not minor procedural questions. They touch on issues of national integrity and international credibility. Yet, in that case, the accused persons pleaded not guilty, were granted bail, and the matter is proceeding with dispatch before the court.

Yet, in the cases involving Abubakar Malami and Nasir El-Rufai, we have witnessed prolonged custodial movements, inter-agency transfers, and processes that appear to precede, rather than follow, fully crystallized prosecution.

At the same time, let there be no ambiguity about our position. Abubakar Malami and Nasir El-Rufai are first citizens of Nigeria before they are opposition leaders or members of the African Democratic Congress. They are therefore presumed innocent under the Constitution until proven otherwise in a fair and competent court of law. That presumption should not be treated as a courtesy, but as a constitutional guarantee.

We will continue to stand by our members as they assert their legal rights. We will ensure that they are not isolated, intimidated, or denied the protections that every Nigerian citizen is entitled to under the law. We will never abandon our people in moments of trial. We will never leave any of our members behind. To stand by them is not to obstruct justice, it is to insist that justice be done properly.

Accordingly, ADC calls for immediate public clarification from the relevant authorities on the precise status and stage of investigations concerning Abubakar Malami and Nasir El-Rufai, strict adherence to constitutional safeguards protecting against arbitrary or prolonged detention, transparent and time-bound prosecution of any charges supported by credible evidence, and equal application of the law without discrimination based on political alignment.

In moments such as this, nations define themselves. ADC chooses to define Nigeria as a country that is founded on the equal application of the law, not a country that is governed by the whims of the executive branch. As a party, we also choose to insist that justice must be impartial, consistent, and immune from any political mathematics and machinations.

By George Mgbeleke

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately institute an independent investigative panel into the escalating dispute between the Minister of Works, David Umahi, and a businesswoman, Tracynither Nicolas Ohiri, warning that the handling of the matter raises grave concerns about potential abuse of power and the perception of compromised law enforcement processes.

In a statement signed by National Coordinator,Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, Ohiri has publicly alleged that Umahi owes her ₦250 million for promotional materials she supplied during his 2014 governorship campaign in Ebonyi State. “She has released photographs, video recordings, and chat messages which she claims demonstrate that she had direct dealings with the minister and that transactions occurred. Among the materials shown in widely circulated clips are exercise books and table clocks bearing Umahi’s image. The minister has denied owing any such debt and has also denied allegations of inappropriate conduct, insisting that the claims against him are unfounded.

The dispute intensified after Ohiri was reportedly arrested in Lagos on allegations of cyberbullying and subsequently transferred to Abuja, where she was arraigned before a Magistrate Court and granted bail. Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore later publicised a confrontation at the Force Headquarters in Abuja relating to the case, drawing national attention to the matter.

HURIWA, in its reaction, stated that while the minister is constitutionally presumed innocent until proven otherwise, the gravity of the allegations, coupled with the involvement of law enforcement authorities, demands an investigative mechanism that is demonstrably independent of political influence. The association argued that when allegations involve a serving cabinet member, particularly claims touching on financial transactions, sexual harassment, and the use of police processes against an accuser, public confidence requires more than routine police investigation.

Central to HURIWA’s concern is the reported involvement of Deputy Commissioner of Police Akin Fakorede in the matter. “Fakorede, a senior officer who previously served in Rivers State and currently heads a high-level police monitoring unit, has in the past been the subject of public controversies and petitions. In 2017, the Rivers State Government publicly petitioned federal authorities over alleged excesses by a police unit under his command at the time.

“Those allegations were strongly denied by the Nigeria Police Force, which maintained that its operations were lawful and professional. In more recent years, media reports have also referenced petitions by private investors who alleged bias in certain property-related police actions linked to units under his supervision”, HURIWA recalled.

HURIWA noted that while none of these past allegations have resulted in a publicly known criminal conviction against the officer, the recurring pattern of controversy heightens public sensitivity when his name surfaces in politically exposed cases. The association emphasised that its concern is not a declaration of guilt but the protection of institutional credibility. It stated that where a senior government official is accused by a private citizen and the investigative process is overseen by officers who themselves have faced prior public disputes, perceptions of bias may inevitably arise.

The association further anchored its position on Section 15(5) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates the State to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power, as well as Section 17(2)(a), which guarantees equality before the law. It also cited Section 36(1), which enshrines the right to fair hearing by an impartial tribunal, arguing that the spirit of these provisions requires that justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done, particularly where political power intersects with criminal process.

HURIWA stated that if the minister maintains he never had dealings with the accuser, then a forensic examination of the digital materials, financial records, and testimonies from named associates would either validate his position or expose inconsistencies in the allegations. The group argued that such a process should be handled by a panel comprising independent forensic experts, representatives of civil society, and retired judicial officers, rather than relying solely on internal police review.

While reiterating that allegations circulating in public discourse must not be mistaken for established facts, HURIWA insisted that the President has a constitutional and moral responsibility to shield public institutions from reputational damage. The association therefore called for the temporary suspension or administrative leave of the minister pending the outcome of an independent inquiry, stating that such a measure would not amount to a presumption of guilt but would demonstrate respect for transparency and accountability.

The group concluded that Nigeria’s democratic system can only gain public trust when powerful office holders subject themselves to scrutiny under the same standards applicable to ordinary citizens, adding that the integrity of the police and the credibility of the executive branch are both at stake in the handling of the matter.