By Our Correspondent

Contrary to insinuation in some quarters regarding the killing of Police officers in Enugu recently, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and its security outfit, Eastern Security Network, (ESN), Sunday, dissociated themselves from the accusation that they were responsible for the murder of two policemen in Enugu on January 15, this year.

Refuting the accusation in a statement made available by its Public Relation officer, Emma Powerful, the group reiterated that it was the normal way of Nigerian security operatives to give a dog a bad name to hang it pointing out that the duo never murdered the said two policemen.

According to the image maker, “The compromised and corrupt Nigerian Security Forces have upheld their deceit and slander against the peaceful movement for over a decade.

“Since its inception, IPOB has upheld a peaceful strategy while safeguarding Biafra land from state-backed jihadists and terrorists. ESN was established to combat the deadly Fulani terrorists that were devastating Biafra territory before ESN’s creation.

” The Nigerian Government is distressed as the ESN, created and financed by the IPOB worldwide movement, has hindered their jihad plans in the Biafran territory. This frustration is evidenced by orchestrated blackmails targeting IPOB and ESN for years, which have consistently been ineffective.

“Consequently, the Enugu State Police ought to prioritize safeguarding citizens rather than attributing their shortcomings in protecting lives—including those of their inadequately trained officers—to IPOB and ESN.

“The Nigerian Government and its lethal Security Forces have executed numerous false flag operations to eliminate certain scapegoat officers in order to intimidate IPOB and ESN. Working for the Nigerian Government is dangerous, as you could be used as a pawn in terrorism schemes, political blackmail, or to serve political agendas.”

Continuing the statement noted,”The Nigerian Security Forces contribute to 80% of the insecurity in the South East and Nigeria overall. The majority of the unsolved murders, arson incidents, and damage attributed to the unidentified murders, arson, and damages attributed to unidentified gunmen were executed by the Nigerian Army, Police, DSS personnel, or the criminals they supported.

” Picture this: the so-called unknown gunmen in the South East have vanished completely without a sign. At the same time, the South East is extensively militarized and monitored, yet the unidentified gunmen remain unexposed.

” Who is tricking who? In a bid to blackmail IPOB and seek terrorism proof against IPOB and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the Nigerian Government fabricated and equipped false Biafra Agitators. They utilized those criminal organizations partnering with the Nigerian Army and Police to inflict significant devastation in the South East.

“Following their use in searching for proof regarding the false terrorism allegations against our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, they dismantled the fabricated armed factions. Nonetheless, IPOB remains strong due to their authenticity and peaceful nature in our self-determination initiative.

“*IPOB and ESN operatives were not established to harm innocent people or government institutions, but criminals associated with the Nigerian Government attempted to use the name of ESN for their violent covert activities. The reality is that ESN stayed dedicated to safeguarding the lives of people and assets in Biafra region.

“We urge the Nigerian Security Forces, particularly the Nigerian Police, DSS and other security agencies to publicly present conclusive evidence that IPOB and ESN were accountable for the killings of the two Police officers in Enugu State or anything happening anywhere in Biafraland, rather than relying on their typical media statements.

“The Nigerian Police is an extraordinarily corrupt and infamous organization. The Nigerian populace views the Nigerian Police as the primary adversary of the citizens. The Nigerian Police are fortunate that gun ownership is illegal in Nigeria; otherwise, many infamous officers known for harassing, intimidating, and framing individuals would have faced backlash from the outraged public

“IPOB has repeatedly urged for an independent inquiry into the insecurity in the South East; if the Nigerian Government is not complicit in this insecurity, they should back IPOB’s call. IPOB and ESN are not guilty of any of the allegations. We have no secrets to conceal; therefore, we wholeheartedly back the international community and President Donald Trump’s inquiry and action regarding the genocide against Christians and the insecurity faced by Indigenous Peoples in Nigeria.

” The Nigerian Government is complicit in the terrorism, banditry, and insecurity in Nigeria; this is why they lobbied US lawmakers to minimize the ongoing Christian Genocide and persistent insecurity in the country,” Emma Powerful further explained.

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against Nigeria’s governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike “over their failure to account for the spending of billions of naira of public funds in the name of ‘security votes’ by them since 29 May 2023 to guarantee and ensure the security of life and property of Nigerians.”

The suit followed reports of the Benue massacre and well-documented ongoing cases of insecurity in several states and FCT, despite the over N400 billion budgeted yearly as ‘security votes.’ 10 governors reportedly budgeted about N140 billion as security votes in 2026.

In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/95/2026 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is asking the court to “direct and compel the governors and Mr Wike to disclose the details of the spending of security votes by them since 29 May 2023 to date, which are intended to ensure the security of life and property of Nigerians.”

SERAP is also asking the court to “compel the governors and Mr Wike to provide detailed reports on the allocation and spending of security votes by their states and the FCT, including the information on implementation status and completion reports, and the plans, if any, for improving the security infrastructure in the states and FCT.”

In the suit, SERAP is arguing that, “Nigerians ought to know in what manner public funds including security votes meant to ensure the security of life and property of Nigerians, are spent by the governors and FCT minister.”

SERAP is arguing that, “the escalating insecurity in several states and FCT is taking a devastating toll on socially and economically vulnerable Nigerians, driving up extreme poverty, intensifying hunger and leading to other grave human rights violations.”

SERAP is also arguing that, “Several state governors and FCT minister continue to fail to effectively discharge their primary and constitutional responsibility to protect the lives and property of the Nigerian people.”

According to SERAP, “The framers of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] never contemplated opaque spending of public funds as security votes.”

SERAP said, “The constitutional principle of democracy also provides a foundation for Nigerians’ right to know the spending details of the money collected in the name of security votes meant to ensure the security of life and property of Nigerians.”

SERAP is arguing that, “Citizens’ right to know promotes openness, transparency, and accountability that is in turn crucial for the country’s democratic order.”

The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Oluwakemi Agunbiade, Andrew Nwankwo, and Valentina Adegoke, read in part: “There is a significant risk of embezzlement, misappropriation or diversion of public funds collected by the states and FCT as security votes.”

“Despite the billions of naira yearly budgeted as security votes, many governors and FCT ministers are grossly failing to guarantee and ensure the security and welfare of the Nigerian people, contrary to section 14(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution.”

“Directing the governors and FCT minister to account for security votes spending would serve to engage Nigerians in an honest conversation about the security problems and what the governors and minister are doing to respond to them.”

“The intense secrecy and lack of meaningful oversight of the spending of security votes by governors have for many years contributed to large-scale stealing of public funds.”

“Years of secrecy in the spending of security votes have also limited the ability of the people to hold high-ranking public officials to account for their constitutional responsibility to ensure the security and welfare of the people.”

“There is a legitimate public interest for the governors and the FCT minister to explain how they have spent the security votes they have so far collected.”

“The obligations of state governors and FCT minister to guarantee and ensure the security and welfare of the Nigerian people are interlinked with their responsibility under section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution to ‘abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of office’.”

“While authorities may keep certain matters of operational secrets from the people in the name of national security, there is no constitutional or legal basis to hide basic information on public spending from the people.”

“The Supreme Court in a groundbreaking judgment declared that the Freedom of Information Act ‘is applicable and applies to the public records in the Federation’, including those on security votes spending kept by the states and FCT.”

“With the landmark judgment, the Supreme Court has made clear that state governors can no longer hide under their unfounded claim that the Freedom of Information Act does not apply to them.”

“As the Supreme Court has eloquently stated, any freedom of information law by the state is subject to the Freedom of Information Act.”

“The failure by state governors and FCT minister to disclose and account for the spending of security votes is a grave violation of the public trust and the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, national anticorruption laws, and the country’s international human rights and anticorruption obligations.”

“Pervasive tendency by governors to regard or treat security votes as their personal entitlement or funds is antithetical to the Nigerian Constitution and international standards. Security votes should be used for improving the security situation in the states or returned to the public treasury.”

“Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution further imposes clear responsibility on the states and FCT to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the constitution.”

“The public interest in publishing the information sought outweighs any considerations to withhold the information.”

“The World Bank recently classified Nigeria as ‘economy in fragile and conflict-affected situations (FCS)’, which explains why the country continues to face severe and persistent development challenges.”

“Other 38 countries classified as FCS alongside Nigeria include Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Libya, Mali, and Sudan. The World Bank noted that insecurity is contributing to extreme poverty in Nigeria.”

“According to the Bank, ‘the outlook for poverty in Nigeria is sobering. Millions of people are currently experiencing acute food insecurity. Severe gaps in education and health undermine human development in the country.’”

“Weak state capacity, insecurity, and conflict-related disruptions contribute to poor outcomes across basic services. Insecurity is escalating and inflicting grave economic damage while contributing to violations of human rights across several states and FCT.”

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

Kolawole Oluwadare

SERAP Deputy Director

By Uthman-Baba Naseer,Minna

Hajiya Hadiza Hamza Imam, of Minna Chief Magistrate Court Number Five along Shiroro Road,has ordered the remand in Correctional Custody of a twenty five years old man for alleged kidnapping.

The defendant was standing trial on two count charges of Criminal conspiracy and kidnapping which contravened sections 60 (1),and (250) (A),of the Niger State penal code law 2025.

Aminu Ahmed a resident of GRA phase 1 in Kontagora area of Niger State,was arrested by a team of Federal Investigation Department (FID), Special Tactical Squad (STS), led by the head of the team CSP Hassan Gimba in connection with the alleged kidnapping of a three years old Abdullahi Mohammed.

According to the Police first Information Report (FIR), made available in court by the prosecutor Inspector Emmanuel Ogiri,”one Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar of GRA Phase 2 in Kontagora, Niger State,reported at the FID/ STS Abuja Minna Sector Command that his three years old son was missing.

“ The following day,he received a phone call through GSM number 08070875403, when the caller demanded the sum of (N10,000,000) ten million Naira that his son was kidnapped.

“ During the Police investigation CSP Hassan Gimba and his team swung into action, via analytical analysis and arrested Aminu Ahmed in connection to the crime. In the course of investigation you voluntarily confessed to the crime.

“That you conspired with several others (now at large) names yet unknown,lured and kidnapped him to Bannie in Kwara state. When you demanded N10,000,000 Ransome,you collected the sum of N350,000 through point of sales (POS) account nos.5394215907 monie point with account name Junnaidu Mohammed and latter released the victim”

The police Prosecutor further told the court that the victim was released at Kaboji village in Kontagora Local Government investigation revealed that he confessed that sometimes in May and December 2024,and 2025 he also kidnapped one Abubakar Bashir 4 years old and Haidar Alhaji Mustapha also of Kontagora where he took them to Oshodi in Lagos state.

“ You collected N1,400,000 (N500,000) through POS account number 8161968383 Opay and another Opay account thereafter you released the victims after four days in captivity.

Further investigation,according to the Prosecutor, revealed that he used the kidnapped proceeds to build a house at Federal Low cost in Kontagora,bought a house, a motorcycle and also assisted his Mother with capital in her business.

The Presiding Chief Magistrate,Hajiya Hadiza Hamza Imam,held that the court was only holding a preliminary trial into the case as she had no jurisdiction to try the case.

“ I’m only holding a preliminary hearing into this case. This court has no jurisdiction to try you. Your case file will be transmitted to the office of the Attorney General for legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutor (DPP)in the Ministry of Justice” she submitted.

She then directed the Police Prosecutor to hasten up to forward the case file to the Ministry of Justice for legal advice and ordered for the remand of the defendant in correctional Custody while the case adjourned to 21st January,2026 for further mention.