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‘I Spent Five Years In Kirikiri Prison Because I Couldn’t Pay N10,000 Bribe, I Hate The Nigeria Police’ —- Man Shares Horrible Tale

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A 39-year-old man, Marc Nwadi, says he has developed hatred for the Nigeria Police Force after he was framed for armed robbery and sent to the Kirikiri Prison for five years.

Recounting his ordeal to the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry probing allegations of human rights abuses against the disbanded police Special Anti-Robbery Squad on Saturday, Nwadi said he was 18 years old when he was picked by policemen at a bus stop in the Egbeda area of Lagos State in May 1999.

The petitioner said he had just finished his secondary school education at the time and had the ambition of studying journalism.

He said he came from Abia State to Lagos State to look for his brother who was living then in Egbeda, but on getting to the address given to him at about 9.30 pm, one man told him that his brother no longer lived there.

He said the neighbours did not know where his brother had relocated to and because it was already late, he begged a barber operating in the building to let him pass the night in his shop.

Nwadi said he got up the following morning around 5.30 am and headed for the bus stop with a plan to look for his uncle living in Surulere.

He said he was standing at the bus stop with his traveling bag and a polythene bag alongside other persons waiting for a bus when a police vehicle suddenly appeared and stopped and policemen began to arrest people.

Nwadi said on being picked up, he tried to ask questions but was beaten each time he tried to speak.

He said he and five other persons, including some females, were eventually taken to the Idimu Police Station, where one Mr Friday, a policeman, demanded N100,000 from each of them.

He said soon, others were freed but because he had no money, he was kept in the cell and Friday came every day to beat him.

“It has been 20 years, you can still see those marks on my body. The marks have been a horror. Anytime I pull my clothes, my wife and children will be crying,” Nwadi said.

He said after weeks at Idimu Police Station, Monday called him one day and said he would be transferred to the SARS office in Ikeja, except he could pay N10,000.

He said since he had no money, he was transferred to SARS where the torture was worse.

He said he was eventually paired with someone, tagged an armed robber, arraigned in court, and sent to Kirikiri Prison where he spent five years.

“I can’t see clearly now; I am partially blind. I can also not hear properly because of many slaps,” Nwadi said.

He added that a youth corps member, Eric Ugwuoke, serving in the Nigerian Prison Service, who listened to his story, eventually facilitated his release in October 2004.

“It has been a long time but I cannot forget. They killed my ambition. After my O’ Level, my ambition was to study journalism. Since then, I have hated the Nigeria police,” Nwadi told the retired Justice Doris Okuwobi-led panel.

The panel adjourned the matter till December 11.

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Michael Abimboye Speaks On Food Items, Palliative To Ode-Omu Residents

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  • “Why we target aged, widows, and other vulnerables. Here is what this got to do with Governor Ademola Adeleke.”

 

Michael Abimboye, a Nigerian political communication consultant and journalist, has supported Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke’s palliative measures through the distribution of food items to residents of Ode-Omu communities in Ayedaade Local Government Area of the State.

Abimboye, who distributed the food items on Friday, September 6, said the Osun government has in the last few months, shown a high sense of responsibility through its commitment to alleviating the suffering of the masses.

In June, Adeleke-led government distributed rice palliative under the State Government Food Security Program in a bid to alleviate food scarcity and ensure food security. The distribution targeted a wide array of registered groups to ensure that the palliative reaches diverse segments of the population.

Among the beneficiaries are Labour Unions, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Civil Society Organizations, the Union of Pensioners, various Security Outfits, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Religious Associations, Market Unions, and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), among other registered associations.

Before then, Adeleke rolled out free medical outreach in the state as palliative to cushion the effect of high cost of living. The Imole free medical outreach took place in Ilesa, Ile-Ife, Ede, Iwo, Ila, and Osogbo.

On his part, Abimboye, who is following the political footprint of Adeleke in Odeomu through the distribution of food items, emphasised the importance of the palliatives in mitigating the effects of food insecurity exacerbated by various socio-economic challenges.

“The governor has laid down a very good foundation, and the best we can do is to support his initiative. I am distributing palliatives in Ode-omu and its environs as part of my commitments to supporting the most vulnerable in our society,” he stated. “The economic situation in the country is terrible, and the little we can do for our people is to ensure that essential food items are accessible to provide relief and promote stability.”

“We’ve looked out for the aged, widows, and other vulnerables. Our goal is to ensure that they don’t beg to put food on their tables. Adeleke’s government has shown that it’s ready to address food insecurity, and the best I can do to support the state governor is to echo his proactive measures.

“I have come to distribute the food items myself because I want the beneficiaries to be those who really need them and would make judicious use of the palliatives,” Abimboye said.

He also urged other indigenes of Osun at home and in diaspora to continue to support the governor’s strides towards leading Osun to a promised land and eradicate poverty in the state.

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BREAKING: DSS Takes Over SERAP Abuja Office

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The Abuja office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has been taken over by officers from the Department of State Services (DSS).

In a statement released on Monday, SERAP denounced the action as an “unlawful occupation.”

The statement revealed that the DSS officers are demanding a meeting with SERAP’s directors.

“President Tinubu must immediately direct the SSS to end the harassment, intimidation and attack on the rights of Nigerians,” SERAP urged.

This is coming barely 24 hours after the organisation urged Tinubu to leverage his leadership and authority to instruct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to promptly reverse the seemingly illegal and unconstitutional hike in the pump price of premium motor spirit, commonly known as petrol, at its retail outlets.

 

More to come…

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BREAKING: NLC Begins Closed-Door Meeting Over Ajaero’s Arrest

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has convened a closed-door meeting following the detention of its President, Joe Ajaero, by the Nigerian government.

NLC’s Head of Public Relations, Benson Upah, confirmed the meeting on Monday.

Upah stated that Ajaero was seized by agents of the Nigerian State without a legal warrant or formal instrument.

Furthermore, Upah expressed concern that Ajaero’s whereabouts and health status remain unknown.

The NLC has condemned the detention as a “brazen act of lawlessness and intimidation” and demanded Ajaero’s immediate and unconditional release.

“The Congress has also called on the international community, human rights organizations, and democracy advocates to take note of the rising wave of authoritarianism in Nigeria.”

Ajaero was set to address the Trade Union Congress in the UK on behalf of Nigerian workers, discussing critical issues like workers’ rights, social justice, and economic fairness.

Upah said, “The NLC has put its affiliates, state councils, and civil society allies on high alert and vowed to protect workers’ rights and not be cowed by oppressive tactics.

“The Congress is currently holding a closed-door meeting to discuss the situation, and the outcome will be made public soon.”

 

More to come…

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