FG Reportedly Orders Security Agencies To Arrest Dikko

The federal government has reportedly ordered security agents at the nation’s airports and borders to arrest Abdullahi Dikko, the former comptroller-general of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), as soon as he returns back to Nigeria.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has reportedly trailed the ex-customs boss to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

On Friday, January 8, the EFCC operatives stormed Dikko’s residence at Jabi in Abuja and conducted a thorough search.
According to sources within the anti-graft agency, the search took several hours and ended at about dusk. However, the agents did not meet Dikko at home.
The EFCC was allegedly looking for huge sum of money, believed to be stashed in a residence owned by the former customs chief.
Speaking with The Punch, a senior official of the commission revealed that the EFCC had trailed the ex-customs boss to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. However, the source but did not give the reason for the trip.

The source alos refused to speak on the specifics of the investigation or the reason for the high-profile raid but noted that the former NCS boss would be arrested on his arrival back to Nigeria.
“The commission has information that the man is in Dubai. I can’t say precisely why he is in the UAE; you know that most of our leaders have one problem or the other, medically, which makes them travel out. But we have informed airport authorities in Lagos and Abuja to pick him up as soon as he arrives,” he said.
It was also gathered that a delegation of top operatives of the EFCC was billed to travel outside the country for a mission connected with the ongoing investigation.
When contacted, Wilson Uwujaren, the spokesman of the EFCC, said that he did not have any information on the issue.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Usman, a relative of the ex-customs boss, has alleged that the commission did not secure a search warrant before raiding the residence.

Arms Deal: Jonathan Receives Open Letter From SERAP

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has written an open letter to former president, Goodluck Jonathan, listing some questions he has to answer over the diversion of $2.1billion meant for purchase of arms to fight Boko Haram.
The letter dated January 8 and signed by Adetokunbo Mumuni, the executive director of SERAP, asked Jonathan to explain to Nigerians what he knows about the arms deal fund which was apparently diverted for personal use, Premium Times reports.
The letter reads in part: “SERAP is sending you this open letter to seek explanations from you, as former President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, on what you knew, or had reason to know on the apparent diversion and sharing of the over $2 billion meant to purchase arms to empower Nigerian soldiers to fight Boko Haram.”
“SERAP considers that there is enough material in the public domain to suggest that over $2 billion meant for purchase of arms to equip Nigerians soldiers fighting Boko Haram in the North East of the country was diverted and shared among high-ranging government and party officials under your watch as President and Commander-in-Chief of Nigerian Armed Forces.”
“Is it correct to suggest that the budget of over $2 billion to purchase arms for Nigerian soldiers fighting Boko Haram in the North-East of the country was authorised by you or your office? In other words, did your former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) seek your approval to collect from the Central Bank of Nigeria the over $2 billion meant for purchase of arms for Nigerian soldiers?”

“If so, Nigerians would like to hear from you whether the apparent diversion and sharing of our commonwealth by your former NSA was expressly or implicitly authorised by you.”
“Is it then correct to suggest that the former NSA implements presidential decisions and not make them? If so, is it also correct to suggest that the apparent diversion and sharing of the over $2 billion meant for purchase of arms was a presidential-level decision and that you signed off on it?”
“Is it not correct to suggest that your Administration acted on the basis that it was essentially unrestrained by international or Nigerian law in engaging in or encouraging the apparent diversion and sharing of the over $2 billion meant to purchase arms for Nigerian soldiers in order to protect them against attacks from Boko Haram and to enhance their ability to defend the territorial integrity of the country and provide security for its citizens?”
SERAP asked Jonathan what he did as Commander-in-Chief and President to prevent the alleged diversion and sharing of the nation’s commonwealth.

It wondered if the apparent diversion and sharing of the over $2 billion was due to Jonathan’s failure to ensure that:
1. System was in place to ensure a transparent and accountable spending of budget for military operations in strict accordance with the standards of international law including the UN Convention against Corruption.
2. That any such system was operating in a continuous and effective manner.
3. That violations of the standards were punished when detected by that system.
SERAP asked if the former president took any action after the apparent diversion and sharing of the over $2 billion was brought to his notice
The statement reads further, “Would SERAP be correct to suggest that you, as President and Commander-in-Chief, knew about the authorization, apparent diversion and sharing of the over $2 billion meant to purchase arms for Nigerian soldiers, in the chain of command involving your former NSA and others?”
“Would it therefore be correct to further suggest that your acts and/or omissions concerning the apparent diversion and sharing of the over $ 2 billion were such as to give rise to personal liability through command responsibility for the actions of your former NSA and others who worked under you?”
“Would you now, on the basis of the above, apologise to Nigerians for the apparent diversion and sharing of the over $2 billion and the catastrophic consequences for Nigerian soldiers and their families, including those who have lost their lives; those unfairly tried and convicted; and millions of displaced Nigerians?”

SERAP called on Jonathan clarify the issues raised, adding that Nigerians were waiting for his apology.
It also said the people have a right to pursue justice through appropriate national and international accountability mechanisms to ensure that everyone involved in the arms deal scam is brought to justice in accordance with international standards of fairness.
A number of the Peoples Democratic Party Chieftains have been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over the arms deal scam.
Last Wednesday, a former military governor of Kaduna state and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Jafaru Isa was arrested. He is the first APC chieftain to be arrested by the EFCC since the beginning of the arms deal probe.

Soldiers Forcefully Remove Veil From Muslim Woman In Lagos‎

Unidentified soldiers allegedly harassed a Muslim woman in Lagos by forcefully removing her veil.

“This thing is not allowed in our country. You can use it in your house but not here,” one of the soldiers said.

The Whistle reports that the ugly incident happened on Friday, January 8, at Meran Area of Lagos.‎
According to an eyewitness, identified as Adetutu, the woman was going peacefully when three soldiers stopped her and began to harass.
The witness noted that it took the intervention of passersby and sympathisers for the Muslim woman to get her veil back.
“I arrived at the Meiran Bus Station to board a bus when I saw three armed military men stop a Muslim woman who was putting on ta black attire and a face veil. One of them confronted her asking why she used the face veil.
“The woman was surprised and helpless. Almost immediately he (one of the soldiers) turned up her face veil to reveal her face.
“The woman who felt ashamed only looked and could do nothing because the soldiers were heavily armed.
“After one of the soldiers revealed her face, another soldier forcefully removed the veil from her saying ‘This thing is not allowed in our country. You can use it in your house but not here’.

“He (the soldier) took the veil and was about leaving with it. All the woman could do was to plead with him to at least release the veil to her.
“After harassing her in such a way that called attention of passersby, he (the soldier) returned the veil to her and she quietly left almost shedding tears,” he said.
Apart from the removal of veil in Lagos, two images had been earlier seen in Ibadan. One of the images was allegedly signed at University College Hospital, Ibadan, which read: “Wearing of long hijab is prohibited in government establishment for security reasons”.
These incidents happened few weeks after President Muhammadu Buhari said during his media chat that if bombings continue in Nigeria, the hijab might be banned.
However, on January 1, Buhari through his senior special assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, made a statement denying insinuations that his administration had plans to ban Hijab.
“Everything will be done to balance national security requirements with the rights and obligations of citizens under their religions as protected by the constitution,” he said.

Meanwhile Adam Hamzah, Amir of Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, UCH branch, recated to the pasting of a message to prohibit Hijab at the hospital in Ibadan.
According to him, it is another reflection of “open hatred of Islam”.
“However, I want to urge our sisters to entertain no fear in showcasing the beauty of Islam through their Hijab. After all, they realised the essence of their existence unlike those who walk about in nudity.
“It is therefore imperative not to allow this issue derail us from the golden path. I am glad to inform you that MSSN at the branch,state,zonal and national levels is currently working assiduously to put a stop to this oppression.
“Several notable Muslim personalities have been duly informed about the issue. This is with a view to ensuring that our SON sisters enjoy not only using Hijab in the hostel but also on the wards. I therefore charge us to join hands in making this a reality,” he said.
Luqman Amoo, the president of the Abuja Muslim Forum also stressed that banning the hijab would be counter-productive since there is other loose clothing worn by women and men alike that is used to perpetuate evil and are yet to be banned.