BudgIT, a civic society accountability organisation, has decried the illegal arrest and detention of its Niger State Project Tracking Officer, PTO, Moses Motoni.
The group, which described Mr. Motoni’s arrest as an assault on democratic accountability in the country, said it intends to press charges against the Police for the unlawful conduct.
In a statement by its communications lead, Abiola Afolabi-Sosami, BudgIT said contrary to the claim by the Police that Mr. Motoni was “inciting public disturbance”, it was unaware of any such attempt.
“We maintain that his arrest was on the order of Senator Mohammed Sani of Niger State and abuse against human rights provision, which Moses has as a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We also ask that the Nigerian Police should respect the rights of citizens and embrace reforms that further professional conduct,” she said.
Recounting Mr. Motoni’s ordeal, Abiola Afolabi-Sosami said the controversy started when he visited Bida, Niger South Senatorial District to sensitize the community members on the zonal intervention projects awarded to their constituency in the 2017 Budget.
“The exact project was the “installation of transformers and electrification of the following communities: Nowanya-Tawadzuru tiffin-Emitswachi- TawadzuruTako in Gbako LGA, Niger South Senatorial District, Niger State for N25million, as stated in the 2017 Appropriation Act.
“Moses encouraged the community members to engage their representatives at the National Assembly and ensure the budgeted projects are implemented.
“Shortly after the town hall meeting in Bida, Senator Sani Mohammed put a phone call through to our PTO, Moses Motoni, inviting him to a meeting in his house, which he declined as there were instructions that BudgIT tracking personnel are not allowed to meet with public officials privately.
However, on December 5, 2017, Moses received an SMS instructing him to pick up a DHL parcel at Markafi market in Kaduna. Unknown to our PTO, it was a decoy by the Nigerian Police Force to apprehend him. Upon arrival, he was forcefully taken into a car, handcuffed, maltreated and driven off by SARS (Special Anti-Robbery Squad) officials who disguised as DHL personnel,” Afolabi-Sosami narrated”
“BudgIT was distraught at the development considering that Moses Motoni was merely exercising his rights as a citizen in a democratic nation like Nigeria. It is important to note that public information is the right of every Nigerian citizen, with regards to public funds meant for developmental projects. The information received pointed Senator Mohammed Sani of Niger State as the alleged architect of the arrest involving the SARS and our officer, Moses Motoni.” She added.
Following his arrest, he said Mr. Motoni was taken to the Metro Police Station, Enugu Road in Kaduna and subsequently transferred to Abuja in hands and legs’ cuffs, while his aged mother wailed on as he was led away by the police.
Mr. Motoni spent the night at the SARS Office, Old Abattoir, Abuja, despite all efforts to get him out.
In its statement on Wednesday, the police said Mr. Motoni was arrested for reportedly “inciting public disturbance.” He was later released on bail. Regardless, BudgIT management said it intends to press charges for the arrest and detention of the official.
“We count this as an assault on democracy and that Moses is unaware and does not participate in any move to topple any king within the domain.”
BudgIT also addressed a press conference in Abuja, where its co-founder, OluseunOnigbinde, made similar statements. Narrating his ordeal to the Media, Mr. Motoni said on December 2 he visited Bida to sensitize the community members on the zonal intervention projects awarded to their constituency in 2017 Budget.
“The exact project was the installation of transformers and electrification in Nowanya- Tawadzuru, tiffin-Emitswachi- TawadzuruTako communities in Gbako Local Governement area of Niger State.
My assignment was to encourage the community members to engage their representatives at the National Assembly and ensure the budgeted projects are implemented. Shortly after the town hall meeting in Bida, Senator Sani Mohammed put a call through to me inviting me to a meeting in his house which I declined as there were instructions that we are not allowed to meet public officials privately,” he added.
“However, Mr. Motoni said his friend who he was with received an SMS to pick a DHL parcel at Makarfi market in Kaduna on December 5. Upon arrival before we could blink, we were forcefully taken into a car, handcuffed, manhandled by security operatives on mufti and driven to a police station around Tudun Wada. My friend was later released but I was subsequently transferred to Abuja with both hands and legs cuffed and driven to SARS office Old Abattoir, Apo, Abuja where I spent the night”, he added.
A Lagos young guitarist identified as Lekan, has allegedly committed suicide after being tortured for stealing money from the leader of a music band group in Ogun State.
Lekan, who was pronounced dead by medical experts at a private hospital in Ifo Local Government Area of the state, was found lying lifeless inside his room after drinking an insecticide liquid, “sniper,” to get away from the trauma that trailed the allegations from his boss who was identified as Sam Omo-Oba.
It was learnt that the deceased was tortured and recorded alongside Ayo, another member of the band, for stealing the money realized from their performance at a Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) anniversary celebration where they entertained guests and worshippers.
The development has thrown the entire Oke-Aro community in Ifo Local Government into mourning, considering the circumstances surrounding the demise of the 26-year-old guitarist who lived in their community but operated often in Lagos.
On Wednesday, a close member of the family told our correspondent that Lekan was pronounced dead by medical experts on Monday, less than 24 hours after they left the church show on Sunday. The source, who identified himself as Kola, narrated that the family, even after seeing him lifeless still rushed him to hospital with a commercial motorcycle popularly called “Okada.”
“He was rushed to a private hospital to save him but the medical facility rejected the family request which prompted the move to another healthcare facility where the doctors pronounced him dead”.
Kola explained that the theft allegation, which was linked to the young artist’s demise, started after Sam Omo-Oba asked that members of his band who could not go home spend the night in his house.
“But they could not spend the night in his house because he was not allowed into the estate, so they decided to lodge at a hotel close to the community.
“While in the hotel, we heard that Sam and the band members drank and slept in the same room. In the morning, the band boss raised an alarm that Lekan and Ayo had stolen money inside his pocket, demanding they return it immediately”.
It was gathered that the deceased guitarist maintained the innocence of the crime he was being linked to during the torture. In the video making rounds online, Lekan was seen being allegedly tortured over the theft despite denying any link to the alleged crime perpetrated.
In the less than one-minute video, Lekan and Ayo were seen being questioned about who took the money and their responses attracted torture after the answers failed to meet expectations of the band leader.
In another video, a voice, suspected to be that of Sam Omo-Oba, was heard announcing that some notes had been discovered where the deceased and Ayo allegedly hid them.
Analyzing the videos, a resident of Oke-Aro who identified himself as Micheal told The Guild that the deceased was wrongly accused of theft, saying, “I know Lekan, rather than steal would prefer to work to earn his pay daily. And since our paths crossed, I have not earned that he stole from people”.
He added, “The torture and recording may have affected him psychologically that he considered suicide as the next option. I say this because, on his body, there were bruises on him which indicated that the torture was too much for him.
“I know him since he started playing drum under Kehinde Carlos and I have no record of theft linked to him. You can see it that the video showed the deceased insisting that he never took the money from his boss even when he was beaten to accept the allegations.
“The entire issue is sad and I can’t believe that Lekan is gone. I wish that this whole scenario could be reversed to avoid this tragedy. This is a young man with aspirations in the music industry. I know how he aspired to handle musical instruments for the big artists in the country. But now, all the dreams have been shattered”.
Efforts to get the Ogun Police Command spokesperson, SP Omolola Odutola, to confirm the sad development proved abortive.
A doctor and three nurses have been reported dead in a hospital in Saki West Local Government Area of Oyo State within 72 hours.
According to Vanguard News, this has created panic among residents of the ancient town, particularly around the hospital.
The hospital has been identified as Almusharaf Hospital, Oke Sunah.
A resident of the area, Adekunle Lawal, told Vanguard News: “Three days ago, one nurse died and on Monday another nurse died and yesterday, the doctor and another nurse died.
“We are afraid because we don’t know what caused their deaths.
“The doctor is a quack doctor.
“Maybe all of them treated a patient who has a contagious disease, which, I think, was not well handled.
“It’s a very big hospital.
“They carry out minor surgery on patients and at times they invite doctors from elsewhere to join them.
“If it’s a contagious disease, how come that no patient died but the staff?
“People are also speculating that it could be food poisoning.
“Maybe one of them ate food and gave it to the others to eat.
“We don’t know.
“All these are mere assumptions until those responsible for monitoring these hospitals carry out an autopsy on the deceased.
“None of the patients died.
“It’s only the staff of the hospital.
“All of them have been buried.
“You know they are Muslims.
“Please, the Ministry of Health and other relevant agencies should step in.”
The National Security Adviser, “Nuhu Ribadu,” has warned that obstructing security under President “Bola Tinubu’s” administration will not be tolerated.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ribadu made this statement at the Comptroller General of Customs Conference in Abuja on Wednesday, emphasising the President’s determination to eliminate bandits, terrorists, and other security threats.
According to him, the government’s high-level strategies had led to the killing of hundreds of bandits daily, forcing many to flee to Chad.
“This prompted the Chadian president to declare war on them.”
“We will secure this country, we will fix it, we are not jokers,” he said.
“Ribadu” assured that the government was working tirelessly to achieve a secure environment, which is crucial for the country’s development.
He cited the improved security situation in the Niger Delta region and the significant increase in crude oil production, which had reached 1.8 million barrels per day.
“Many parts of our country today are living in peace. Go to the Niger Delta, things have changed,” he added.
The NSA urged Nigerians to be patient in the face of the current challenges, as the government’s policies were designed to sanitise the system and improve the economy.
He noted that the “Central Bank of Nigeria” was being reformed, adding that “Naira” would be stabilised.
“Ribadu” also commended the achievements of the “Nigeria Customs Service” and encouraged career officers to aspire to leadership positions, stressing that opportunities for growth were now available to them.
The NAN reports that the conference, which began on Tuesday, is scheduled to end on Friday.
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