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The International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety) has raised an alarm over what it described as the repeated harassment, arbitrary arrest and detention of leaders of the Ozomagana Building Materials Market in Onitsha, petitioning the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to intervene in what it insisted is a civil dispute that has been criminalised.

The rights group alleged that the ongoing property dispute involving Modebe Enterprises Limited and the Ozomagana Building Materials Market Association had been turned into a channel for intimidation, warning that the continued use of police officers to intervene in the matter was escalating tensions instead of resolving the crisis.

In the petition, Intersociety said it was “deeply disturbed by the dangerous criminalisation of a purely civil matter,” adding that the situation had resulted in “series of arbitrary police arrests, unlawful detentions and acts of intimidation.”

According to the organisation, the dispute centres on the implementation of a lease agreement between Modebe Enterprises Limited and the market association over several properties on Modebe Avenue, Onitsha.

The group, however, argued that disagreements arising from the agreement ought to be resolved through lawful civil processes rather than police action.

It alleged that officers attached to the IGP’s Special Investigation Unit in Abuja had repeatedly arrested and detained market leaders under the guise of investigating alleged threats to life.

“The matter has become a conduit pipe for intimidation and extortion by some senior police officers from the IGP’s Special Investigation Unit and their subordinates,” the organisation alleged.

It added: “The crisis has led to repeated police harassment, arbitrary arrest and detention, and criminalisation of what is circumstantially a civil matter.”

Intersociety claimed that since November 15, 2025, more than six separate arrests had been carried out against leaders of the market.

It specifically named former Chairman of the Ozomagana Building Materials Market, Obiora Okoro, alongside Ikechukwu Aneke, a former Assistant Secretary, and Chigozie Ejiofor, a former Treasurer, as among those allegedly arrested and detained.

The organisation further alleged that some of those arrested were subjected to unlawful detention and possible custodial extortion.

According to the group, “court cases have arisen and pronouncements made by a Nnewi High Court in April 2026 have allegedly been flouted with impunity.”

It warned that the continued use of law enforcement agencies in the dispute could undermine confidence in the justice system.

“The poor handling of the issue has led to denials and counter-denials associated with the lease agreement and its implementation, to the extent that criminalisation and harvest of extortion have been brought into it and escalated,” Intersociety stated.

The organisation urged the Inspector-General of Police to immediately review the actions of officers involved in the matter and prevent further arrests over what it described as a commercial disagreement.

It maintained that the dispute should be allowed to run its course through the courts rather than through police intervention.

“Using allegations of threats to life as a pretext to repeatedly arrest and detain parties in a civil dispute only worsens the crisis and deepens public distrust,” the group said.

Intersociety also appealed to relevant authorities to ensure that all parties involved respect ongoing judicial proceedings and seek lawful means of resolving the conflict.

The organisation reiterated that “justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done,” warning that continued intimidation of market leaders could further heighten tension within the commercial community in Onitsha.

It called for an end to what it described as the misuse of security agencies in private disputes, insisting that the rule of law must prevail.

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By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has stepped in to ease rising tensions between petroleum importers and local refiners, opening discussions with key operators in the downstream oil and gas industry as part of efforts to build consensus on reforms aimed at guaranteeing energy security, stable fuel supply and long-term sector growth.

The move came during an interactive session organised on Tuesday by the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), where executives of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) met with lawmakers to examine the future of the industry.

Deliberations focused on finding the right balance between encouraging local refining and maintaining adequate fuel supplies across the country.

Chairman of the committee, Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere, said the engagement reflected the House’s commitment to carrying stakeholders along in shaping reforms for the sector, stressing that meaningful progress could only be achieved through collaboration.

“We are here not to interrogate, not to accuse and not to put anyone on trial. We are here to listen. We are here to talk to one another as partners who share one common destiny, a Nigeria where energy is affordable, supply is stable and no citizen suffers because petroleum products are out of reach,” he said.

He assured operators that the National Assembly will not introduce policies affecting the downstream sector without extensive consultations with industry players whose investments sustain the country’s fuel distribution network.

According to him, Nigeria’s energy landscape is changing rapidly with increasing domestic refining capacity, shifting import patterns and renewed efforts to strengthen pipeline security and improve distribution.

“The marketers, depot owners, independent operators and major marketers remain the bridge between government policy and the pump. When that bridge is strong, Nigerians enjoy stable prices and reliable supply. When it is weak, the entire nation feels the consequences,” he stated.

Ugochinyere pledged that the committee will carefully study submissions from stakeholders before proposing legislative measures aimed at encouraging investment, strengthening local refining, promoting healthy competition and ensuring affordable and uninterrupted fuel supply.

He also assured industry operators that the committee will continue to embrace dialogue rather than confrontation in carrying out its oversight responsibilities.

Presenting DAPPMAN’s position, Executive Secretary of the association, Olufemi Adewole, called on the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to develop practical operating-stock guidelines in line with Section 182 of the Petroleum Industry Act.

He said the framework should establish clear standards for stock measurement, reporting, quality assurance and accessibility, while emphasising that strategic reserves should be assessed not only by product volume but also by the industry’s capacity to finance, transport and deploy products quickly during emergencies.

DAPPMAN also proposed the creation of a joint market-monitoring framework involving the NMDPRA and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to track product availability, monitor market concentration, ensure fair treatment of operators and identify early signs of supply disruptions.

The association further urged government to prioritise investment in roads, rail infrastructure, inland waterways, pipelines and petroleum depots to reduce reliance on long-distance trucking from coastal supply centres.

It also advocated the establishment of a permanent government-industry consultative platform bringing together regulators, refiners, marketers, NNPC Limited, transport agencies and security institutions to periodically review supply conditions, infrastructure gaps and emerging risks.

In its presentation, IPMAN described the downstream petroleum industry as one of Nigeria’s most strategic economic sectors, noting that it plays a critical role in supporting households, transportation, agriculture, healthcare, industry and national security.

The association observed that the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act, fuel price deregulation, rehabilitation of state-owned refineries and the emergence of large private refineries have positioned Nigeria to become a leading refining and petroleum distribution hub on the African continent.

However, it warned that several obstacles continue to slow the industry’s progress, including high financing costs, multiple taxation, exchange rate volatility, inadequate storage and transportation infrastructure, pipeline vandalism, limited access to refinery products by independent marketers, delayed payment of bridging and NTA claims, and insufficient engagement with stakeholders.

IPMAN therefore urged the committee to support reforms that would improve logistics, strengthen competition, lower distribution costs, attract investment and ensure the sustainable availability of petroleum products nationwide.

Speaking on behalf of MEMAN, Executive Secretary Clement Isong acknowledged that Nigeria now has the capacity to refine petroleum products locally, satisfy domestic demand and export refined products.

He, however, cautioned against placing blanket restrictions on fuel imports, arguing that government should retain the flexibility to approve imports whenever necessary to protect national energy security.

According to him, strategic imports remain essential during supply shortages and unexpected market disruptions, helping to shield consumers from sharp price increases and fuel scarcity.

Isong also recommended that Nigeria establish a strategic petroleum reserve capable of sustaining at least 60 days of national consumption to cushion the country against global supply shocks and price volatility.

He cited the Liquefied Petroleum Gas market as an example where increased imports successfully bridged supply gaps and stabilised prices, demonstrating the importance of timely regulatory intervention.

While reaffirming MEMAN’s support for policies aimed at boosting domestic refining, he maintained that decisions on petroleum imports should remain the responsibility of the Federal Government and the NMDPRA to ensure adequate supply, preserve healthy competition and protect consumers.

Although stakeholders expressed differing views on the future of petroleum imports and domestic refining, they agreed on the need for consistent government policies, improved infrastructure, stronger regulatory coordination and sustained engagement to build a more resilient and competitive downstream petroleum industry capable of meeting Nigeria’s long-term energy needs.

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Ex- Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said Nigeria’s 2027 general election should be decided by voters at the ballot box rather than through court rulings, following the Court of Appeal’s decision overturning a Federal High Court judgment that sought to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other political parties.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by his media office in Abuja, Atiku welcomed the appellate court’s ruling, describing it as a victory for constitutional democracy, the rule of law, and the independence of the judiciary.

He congratulated the Justices of the Court of Appeal for what he called their courage, fidelity to the Constitution, and commitment to justice, adding that the judgment had strengthened public confidence in Nigeria’s judicial system.

“As the nation advances towards the 2027 general elections, political contests must be decided by the votes of Nigerians—not by contrived lawsuits seeking to achieve in the courtroom what cannot be won at the ballot box,” Atiku said.

According to the statement, the appellate court’s decision, together with an earlier judgment by Justice Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja affirming the Senator David Mark-led National Executive Committee of the ADC, has effectively resolved all legal disputes challenging the party’s leadership ahead of the 2027 elections.

The former vice president said the rulings have firmly established the ADC’s legal status to participate in the next general election without further uncertainty.

The statement explained that the Court of Appeal declared the June 15 judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu a nullity, ruling that it was issued in violation of an existing order of the appellate court. It further held that the respondents lacked the legal standing to institute the suit, describing their claims as speculative and without legal merit.

Atiku also noted that the appellate court clarified the interpretation of Section 225A of the Constitution, holding that the provision should be read disjunctively rather than conjunctively.

The court further ruled that the case was filed prematurely because the Osun and Ekiti election cycles were still ongoing at the time the action commenced.

He added that the appellate court criticised the trial court for disregarding unchallenged affidavit evidence presented by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which confirmed that the ADC and the other affected political parties had complied with all constitutional and statutory requirements.

“Having accepted INEC’s evidence, the lower court had no legal basis to manufacture additional conditions in order to arrive at what the Court of Appeal rightly described as a perverse decision,” he said.

Atiku argued that the judgment goes beyond the fortunes of a single political party, saying it reinforces democratic values by protecting the right of Nigerians to freely choose their leaders through elections.

“The strength of a democracy lies not in the exclusion of political opponents but in allowing the people to freely determine their leaders through the ballot,” he stated.

He also warned against using the judiciary and other state institutions as political tools to undermine opponents, saying such actions could erode public trust in democratic institutions and weaken Nigeria’s constitutional order.

“The judiciary must never be transformed into a battlefield for eliminating political competitors or shrinking the democratic space,” Atiku warned.

He concluded by expressing appreciation to the Court of Appeal justices for what he described as a courageous, impartial, and constitutionally grounded judgment, insisting that the ruling reaffirmed the supremacy of the rule of law over political expediency.