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Just in: President Tinubu Govt burns 14bn on repentant terrorists

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The Federal Government has spent about N1.4bn for the rehabilitation of repentant terrorists and the establishment of centres for terrorism trials in the last one year and six months.

Recall that the Federal Government established the National Counter-Terrorism Centre following former President Muhammadu Buhari’s assent to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill on May 12, 2022.

In December 2022, the government announced its decision to establish two disarmament, deradicalisation, rehabilitation, and reintegration centres for repentant members of Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in the country.

The Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Rear Admiral Yem Musa (retd.), disclosed to the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence that the government would spend N2.4bn on the centres as part of the NCTC’s N3.8bn capital projects for 2023.

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However, checks by one of Sunday Punch correspondents using GovSpend, a civic tech platform that tracks and analyses the Federal Government’s spending, revealed that between December 2022 and May 2024, the Ministry of Justice spent a total of N1.4bn on constructing rehabilitation centres for repentant terrorists and renovating an abandoned building for terrorism case trials.

On March 27, 2023, the Federal Ministry of Justice disbursed N612m to three firms for the renovation and furnishing of abandoned structures for terrorism case trials and the construction of dormitories for the rehabilitation of repentant terrorists under Operation Safe Corridor.

The first payment of N286.7m was transferred to a firm, El-haby Concept Limited, for the renovation and furnishing of abandoned building for terrorism case trials at Giwa Barracks, as approved by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on March 21, 2023.

The second payment of N21.5m was made to Interprise Limited as consultancy fees for designing and supervising the building of facilities for repentant terrorists at the OSC. The remaining N303.7m was released to Fosab Global Energy Service Limited as an additional 40% payment for constructing the rehabilitation centre.

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In 2024, the ministry paid three firms a total of N179m for similar projects. The first payment of N11.5m was wired to Jayjaysen Integrated Links Ltd on March 22, 2024, for the supply of desktop computers and LaserJet printers/toners to facilitate terrorism case prosecutions, as approved by the SGF on December 1, 2023.

Another N16.4m was transferred to Estergel Ltd on April 8, 2024, for procuring computers and accessories for the same purpose, as approved by the SGF on December 18, 2023. Finally, N151.8m was paid to Fosab Global Energy Service Ltd on May 3, 2024, as part of payment for constructing the rehabilitation centre.

Secret trials of terrorists
Meanwhile, on December 15, the NCTC disclosed in a statement that it had secured the conviction of no fewer than 325 terrorists in its Phase 5 and Phase 6 trials at the Kainji Detention Facility.

The centre noted that the terrorists received various sentences ranging from the death penalty to life imprisonment and terms of 20 to 70 years, depending on the severity of the crimes committed by the suspects.

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In the Phase 5 trial, conducted in July 2024, about 143 cases were heard, leading to 125 convictions. In Phase 6, 237 cases were heard, with 200 convictions secured at the same venue. However, the government has since remained silent on when the Phase 7 trials will commence.

When Sunday PUNCH reached out to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to ascertain why the trials were conducted secretly, our correspondent received no response.

Some security experts and civil society organisations expressed divergent opinions on the secretive nature of the terrorism trials.

A security expert, Lekan Jackson-Ojo, said secret trials lacked authenticity.

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“When politicians, armed robbers, or the so-called Yahoo boys commit offences, the press is allowed to report on it, and the entire world knows about it. But why are we trying these enemies of humanity, enemies of God—the Satanists—in secrecy?

“For over 20 years, members of the Boko Haram terrorist group have been in Nigeria, killing thousands of people and rendering millions homeless. How many of these people have been sentenced to life imprisonment?” he queried.

Chidi Omeje, another security expert, also condemned the secret trials, saying, “Why would they conduct secret trials? Does it mean the military, for example, is trying to protect these terrorists who are also killing their personnel?”

“The terrorists have killed a lot of military officers. So, why would the military participate in any action to shield their prosecution? I think it has to do with procedural issues because they are dealing with so many arrested terrorists,” he added.

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However, another security expert, Kabir Adamu, argued that the government’s decision to conduct secret trials was justified for security reasons.

He said, “It is very commendable that this administration has prioritised the trial of suspects, especially those facing terrorism-related charges and who have been in detention for a very long time, some for more than a decade. However, these trials must be conducted according to standard procedures to ensure transparency and compliance with the rule of law.”

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SAD: Akwa Ibom deputy Gov’s daughter given private funeral

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The Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Sen. Akon Eyakenyi on Friday buried her late daughter, Blessing-Eyakenyi Olumuyiwa Adewumi.

The private funeral which took place in a cemetery in Uyo had family members and few close friends of the family in attendance.

Blessing Eyakenyi who got married 7 months ago died on Sunday, 5 months to her 30th birthday.

According to family sources to who spoke to TheMail, Blessing had a miscarriage following a 5-month pregnancy. Unsuccessful efforts were made to save her in hospitals in Port Harcourt and Owerri.

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Governor Umo Eno had paid a condolence visit to the family at the Deputy Governor’s Lodge in Government House following his arrival from Lagos on Tuesday evening after being honoured at the ThisDay Newspaper Awards as ‘Governor of the Year’ a day before.

A memorial service in Blessing’s honour has been scheduled to take place on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at Insight Bible Church, Uyo.

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JAMB Postpones 2025 UTME Registration to February 3

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a shift in the commencement date for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration. Initially scheduled to begin on Friday, January 31, 2025, the registration will now start on Monday, February 3, 2025.

According to JAMB, the adjustment is necessary to implement crucial changes to its registration templates. The modifications follow the recent suspension of certain law programs in selected universities, as communicated to the Board by the Council for Legal Education.

A statement issued by JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, also revealed that the Board discovered that some Computer-Based Test (CBT) centers had secured approval through fraudulent means. This development has necessitated further scrutiny and the disqualification of such centers to ensure the integrity of the examination process.

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“The Board acknowledges the disruption this may cause to candidates and other stakeholders and sincerely apologizes for any inconvenience,” Benjamin stated.

He assured that the additional time would be used to implement all necessary adjustments to facilitate a seamless registration process.

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Anambra monarch fingered In Community’s Insecurity Scandal

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

There is looming tension in Enugwu-Agidi community over the arrest of a suspected kidnapper Chukwudi Tansi by Soludo’s Agunechemba team .
Recently , the Social media was awash with news about the arrest of Chukwudi Tansi, a member of the Enugwu-Agidi Community Vigilante, apprehended with a cache of firearms, which exposed his alleged involvement in criminal activities that have long plagued Enugwu-Agidi community.

What adds more fuel to the fire is the implication of the traditional ruler of the community in the unfolding drama, as revealed by the President General (PG) of the community, Hon Chukwuebuka Onuorah

Speaking to journalists, the PG, Mr. Onuorah, expressed vindication . He pointed fingers at the traditional ruler for nominating Tansi to the community Vigilante despite prior warnings from the PG about Tansi’s possession of firearms.

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Speaking further, Onuorah said he went as far as writing to the Inspector General of Police, citing threats to his life and the illegal possession of weapons by Tansi, a willing tool in the hand of the traditional ruler.

Part of his letter to the Inspector-General of Police reads:

“After my inauguration, I have received series of threats from the Traditional Ruler of Enugwu-Agidi HRH Mike Okekeuche of Umuakwuelo-Etiti village, Enugwu-Agidi in Njikoka LGA of Anambra State, Nigeria, ranging from forceful invasion of my residence and privacy and restriction of my free movement.
On Friday, 29th March, 2024 at exactly 11:07am, my residence was surrounded and invaded by heavily armed unknown faces who later introduced themselves as members of the Nigeria Police Force, claimed to be acting on the instructions of HRH Mike Okekeuche, took me to an unknown destination, but I return glory to God, that the unknown gun men vehemently warned me to denounce my position as the President General of Enugwu-Agidi Brotherly Union Nigeria (EBU-NIG) so that Igwe’s choice will be installed and later released me unhurt.
“The Igwe HRH Mike Okekeuche, through one Chukwudi Tansi and Okonkwo Clement Ugochukwu, well-known members of outlawed IPOB, who parade themselves as soldiers and moving around the community with AK47 rifles have on several occasions attacked me with their guns, threatening to kill me, except I resign and step down from my position as the President General of my Community, and Igwe’s choice installed, that even the local Police are afraid of them. The confidence reposed on me by the good people of Enugwu-Agidi, I do not wish to give away; hence I had to run away for my dear life.
“Sir, in this circumstance, I am writing this petition with hope of consolation vis-a-vis calling attention of Police IRT, Abuja whose track record in tackling heinous crimes is visible to the blind and audible to the deaf in Nigeria, to arrest, and prosecute the above named unscrupulous criminal elements and all that are involved no matter whose ox is gored. Peradventure my complaints get to you late, and my life taken away, you should at least know my killer for I do not wish to join the long list of unresolved murders”.

Corroborating the PG’s account, a social media user from Enugwu-Agidi, Ezeobi, raised pertinent questions about influential figures aiding Tansi’s evasion of justice despite his involvement in serious criminal activities.

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In light of these revelations, the PG is now urging for a thorough police investigation to expose the support network shielding individuals like Chukwudi Tansi.

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