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IBB’s book: Family warns against tarnishing Abacha’s image
IBB’s book: Family warns against tarnishing Abacha’s image
The family of the late General Sani Abacha has condemned former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), over claims made in his recently released memoir, A Journey in Service.
The Abacha family accused Babangida of attempting to shift responsibility for the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election onto the late head of state.
In a statement signed by Mohammed Abacha on behalf of the family, they expressed disappointment that the book failed to present an accurate and objective account of past events.
The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to recent claims made by former Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, in his newly launched book, A Journey in Service, where he alleged that the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election was the responsibility of the late General Sani Abacha. These claims have sparked widespread controversy and necessitate a clear response from the immediate family of General Sani Abacha and the entire Abacha clan in the interest of historical accuracy and justice.”
The family argued that Abacha was not the head of state or commander-in-chief at the time of the annulment and that Babangida, as the sitting military president with full executive authority, should take full responsibility for the decision.
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“It is important to state unequivocally that General Sani Abacha was neither the Head of State nor the Commander-in-Chief at the time the June 12 election was annulled. The decision to annul the election was made under the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida, who, as the then Head of State, held absolute executive powers and was solely responsible for the actions of his government. Any attempt to shift this blame onto General Sani Abacha, who was a very senior military officer within the regime, is a deliberate distortion of historical facts,” the statement continued.
The family also emphasized Abacha’s loyalty to Babangida, stating that he ensured the former president’s safety during times of threat.
“Furthermore, we wish to emphasize that despite this unfortunate attempt to shift blame, General Sani Abacha remained a true and loyal friend to General Ibrahim Babangida up to the time of his death. He was a man of unwavering commitment to his comrades. We also find it necessary to state that at the time General Babangida’s life was under threat, it was General Abacha who came to his rescue, ensuring his safety,” the statement added.
The Abacha family urged Nigerians to be cautious of revisionist accounts and thanked those who had spoken out in defence of the late general’s legacy.
“We take this opportunity to express our heartfelt appreciation to the many Nigerians who have risen in defenve of General Sani Abacha in an effort to set the record straight. Your unwavering commitment to truth and historical accuracy is deeply appreciated, and we acknowledge the outpouring of support from those who refuse to allow history to be distorted,” the statement said.
The family concluded by expressing regret that Babangida’s memoir failed to offer an honest account of Nigeria’s political history.
“We regret that A Journey in Service missed the opportunity and failed to make history as a truthful and objective account of past events. As one public commentator aptly put it, honesty, sincerity, and integrity are virtues not commonly associated with the author.”
IBB’s book: Family warns against tarnishing Abacha’s image
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Woman Strangles Co-wife’s 3-Year-Old Daughter to Death in Kwara
Woman Strangles Co-wife’s 3-Year-Old Daughter to Death in Kwara
- The Kwara State Police Command has arrested Sadiat Yunusa for allegedly killing her co-wife’s three-year-old daughter out of jealousy and resentment over a prolonged domestic dispute.
The Kwara State Police Command has arrested a woman, Sadiat Yunusa, for allegedly strangling her co-wife’s three-year-old daughter to death in Kaiama, Kaiama Local Government Area of the state. The state Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Ilorin on Friday, July 31, 2026, on operational successes recorded recently by the command. He said the act by the suspect was motivated by resentment and jealousy arising from a prolonged domestic dispute. According to the CP, the case was reported at Kaiama Divisional Police Headquarters on July 25, 2026. Preliminary findings revealed that the three-year-old girl, Ummaiyat, had been left in the care of a family member while her mother went to the Kaiama Central Market.
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During that period, the suspect, Sadiat Yunusa, allegedly lured the child away to a nearby farm settlement, where she unlawfully caused her death by strangulation. The police said the child’s mother had entrusted her daughter to a family member while she went to the market, but Yunusa took advantage of the situation to carry out the alleged attack. “Prompt investigative efforts led to the arrest of the suspect, who, during interrogation, voluntarily confessed to the commission of the offence,” the CP said. “She disclosed that the act was motivated by resentment and jealousy arising from a prolonged domestic dispute, alleging that her husband had neglected her and her three children in favour of his second wife.”
The police boss said the command has concluded preliminary investigations and the suspect has been charged to court. Ojo also reiterated the command’s resolve to tackle violent crimes across Kwara State through intelligence-driven policing and community collaboration. He urged residents to promptly report suspicious activities and domestic disputes that could escalate into violence, stressing that early intervention often helps prevent tragic outcomes. The case has generated concern within the community due to the age of the victim and the circumstances surrounding her death. It is important to note that while the police have presented these allegations, the suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a competent court of law.
Woman Strangles Co-wife’s 3-Year-Old Daughter to Death in Kwara
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Court Awards N12m Damages Against Police for Abduction, Unlawful Detention of Journalist
Court Awards N12m Damages Against Police for Abduction, Unlawful Detention of Journalist
- Justice Bello Kawu rules that the police violated the reporter’s constitutional rights to dignity and personal liberty during a 2024 arrest in Abuja.
A Federal Capital Territory High Court, presided over by Justice Bello Kawu, has ordered the Nigeria Police Force to pay N12 million in damages for the abduction and unlawful detention of Kasarahchi Aniagolu, a reporter with THE WHISTLER Newspaper. Aniagolu was arrested, assaulted, and detained for eight hours by the Nigeria Police Force on February 21, 2024, in Abuja. She was arrested at a location in Wuse Zone 4 where police operatives allegedly came on a covert operation against operators of illegal bureau de change.
According to reports from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Aniagolu was on a separate reporting assignment when she encountered the police raid and approached an officer, showing her press identification, to request a formal interview. The officer declined, and another nearby officer told Aniagolu to stop filming until the police were done, which she did. After about ten minutes, the officers began to leave, and Aniagolu again began to film and photograph the scene. A female officer noticed and approached Aniagolu, angrily asked who had given her permission to cover the incident, and slapped Aniagolu’s face; another officer hit her on the hand with their gun, and then the female officer dragged the journalist into a police van. On their way to the station, a male officer questioned Aniagolu’s sex, reportedly saying, “Are you sure this is a girl? The way she is holding tightly to her phone seems like it’s a man,” Aniagolu told CPJ. A female officer sitting close to Aniagolu then used her hand to press on the journalist’s chest to confirm her sex. The male officer then pointed his gun at the journalist and threatened to shoot her if she did not give him her phone, boasting that he would “get away with murder” if he killed her. After arriving at the station, two officers pushed the journalist onto her knees, held her hands, and used her face authentication to unlock her phone and delete pictures and videos of the raid. Officers then made her sit on the floor with around 60 men who were arrested during the raid.
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The reporter subsequently filed a suit on October 25, 2024, against the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force, demanding N100 million in damages. In her statement of claims, she said the police abducted her and breached her privacy by seizing her phone and deleting pictures in it. She also accused the police of subjecting her to inhuman treatment while in detention thereby infringing on her fundamental right. The suit was filed on her behalf by the legal firm of Adekunle Kosoko Esq. of Seasons Law Firm, Abuja.
In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, the court declared that the police “subjected the Applicant to inhuman and degrading treatment in contravention of Section 34(1)(a) and (b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) .” The court also ruled that the “abduction of the applicant by officers of the Respondents and the subsequent detention of the Applicant at the Respondent’s station in Guzape District of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja infringed on the Applicant’s right to personal liberty, in contravention of sections 35(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) .” Justice Kawu subsequently ordered the Police to pay the reporter the sum of N10 million as damages for the infringement on her fundamental rights. The presiding judge also ordered the police to pay the reporter the sum of N2 million to cover the cost of litigation.
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) had earlier condemned the incident, calling on President Bola Tinubu to sack or call to order Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun over the attack. The rights group described the aggression against Aniagolu as “absolutely intolerable, despicable, reprehensible, primitive and disappointing.” The ruling is expected to renew conversations around police conduct during operations and the protection of journalists in the line of duty. The case marks another significant legal victory for press freedom in Nigeria, reinforcing judicial protections for journalists covering sensitive matters. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) had also documented the case, highlighting the dangers journalists face while carrying out their professional duties in Nigeria. As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force had not responded to the judgment or indicated whether it intends to appeal the decision.
Court Awards N12m Damages Against Police for Abduction, Unlawful Detention of Journalist
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VeryDarkMan Rejects Police Invitation, Alleges Plot to Silence Him Over AIG Corruption Claims
VeryDarkMan Rejects Police Invitation, Alleges Plot to Silence Him Over AIG Corruption Claims
- The outspoken activist insists on an independent investigation into AIG Moshood Jimoh, citing lack of confidence in the Lagos Police Command.
Social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM) , has disclosed that he received an invitation from the Lagos State Police Command but has no intention of honouring it. The influencer made the disclosure in a statement shared on his social media platforms, where he accused senior police officers of attempting to suppress allegations he has repeatedly made against Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Moshood Jimoh. According to VeryDarkMan, his decision not to appear before the police was influenced by his long-running public dispute with the senior officer, whom he has accused of corruption, torture, and framing an innocent businessman in a murder case. The activist claimed that he no longer has confidence in the process because the officers involved in the invitation operate under the same command structure headed by the police chief he has been criticising.
The controversy stems from VeryDarkMan’s allegations that AIG Moshood Jimoh conspired to frame a businessman, Ahmed Tajudeen Akanbi, for the murder of Sheriff Salami. According to the activist, the AIG allegedly worked with Aare Bashiru Fakorede to implicate Akanbi in the killing despite earlier confessions by suspects that did not mention his name. VeryDarkMan claimed that police investigators arrested an initial suspect on January 6, 2026, whose confession reportedly identified other individuals linked to the killing but did not mention Akanbi. He further alleged that another suspect arrested later also gave a confession that did not implicate the businessman. The activist alleged that the suspects were later compelled to make fresh statements implicating Akanbi after being subjected to torture. He also displayed what he described as part of a statement from one of the suspects, in which the suspect allegedly claimed he was tortured and pressured to falsely implicate Akanbi, adding that he acted under duress after witnessing another detainee die in custody. VeryDarkMan argued that the allegations raise concerns about the credibility of Nigeria’s justice system and called on the officer to publicly address the claims.
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Speaking on the matter, VeryDarkMan alleged that the invitation was part of efforts to manage the growing controversy surrounding his allegations against the police officer. “They want me to help cover up AIG Moshood Jimoh. They said the evidence I posted would make Nigerians lose confidence in the Nigeria Police Force, so they want me to support whatever damage control they plan to put out. My answer is no. I will not join in whitewashing AIG Moshood Jimoh. I believe the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, should set up an independent investigative panel to review all the evidence I have presented,” he said. VeryDarkMan has insisted that any investigation into his allegations should be conducted by an independent body rather than officers under the command structure he is accusing. He maintained that he is willing to defend his claims before a neutral investigative panel but would not participate in any process he believes could compromise the integrity of the investigation. In a viral video recorded outside the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) headquarters in Abuja, VeryDarkMan insisted that any investigation involving him should be conducted in Abuja, where the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters is located, rather than in Lagos. He alleged that the Lagos Police Command, which he claimed is under the control of AIG Jimo Moshood, was attempting to lure him to Lagos so he could be arrested and detained. “Police in Lagos just sent me an invitation… the same policeman that I have evidence against is inviting me for investigation. Jimo Moshood wants to silence me. They have tried to get me on their side, and since I refused, they want to lure me to Lagos so they can arrest and detain me,” he wrote. He further claimed that after his alleged arrest, authorities might hold a press conference to justify their actions, but vowed not to be intimidated. VeryDarkMan said he intends to take the matter beyond the police by petitioning the National Assembly, the Senate, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) , and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) .
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Meanwhile, a security advocacy organisation, the Coalition for Security Awareness and National Stability (CSANS) , has thrown its weight behind AIG Jimoh Moshood, condemning what it described as a sustained campaign of defamation and “media trial” by the social media influencer. In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Ibrahim Musa, the group described the repeated public attacks against the senior police officer as “reckless, malicious and capable of eroding public confidence in Nigeria’s security institutions.” According to CSANS, while public officials remain accountable to the people, allegations of wrongdoing should be investigated through constitutionally recognised institutions rather than prosecuted on social media. The group described Moshood as one of the Nigeria Police Force’s most distinguished officers, noting that his nearly three decades of service have been marked by professionalism, discipline, integrity and dedication. CSANS particularly highlighted Moshood’s tenure as Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, describing it as one of the most proactive periods in the state’s policing history. “Social media is not a court of law. No individual, regardless of popularity, has the authority to function as investigator, prosecutor and judge over Nigeria’s security institutions,” the group stated.
This is not the first time VeryDarkMan has publicly rejected or questioned a police invitation. In December 2023, the social media critic explained why he refused to honour an invitation issued by the police over a complaint filed against him. At the time, reports emerged that law enforcement authorities were making efforts to secure his appearance following a petition by an unnamed complainant. Reacting to the development, VeryDarkMan said he received the invitation but chose not to comply because the identity of the complainant was not disclosed in the document. “I am seeing stories that I am running away from the police. I am not running away from the police. I was sent an invite but the date was contradicting itself. If I am arrested in Abuja today, it would be an illegal arrest and I will sue them. I no dey come station if you no send me a proper letter and the person that reported me,” he said. A similar situation also played out in October 2024 when VeryDarkMan honoured a police invitation linked to a viral video in which he appeared wearing an outfit resembling a police uniform. The video showed VDM wearing a police uniform and jokingly introducing himself as a “Chief Superintendent of Police of the Online Division.” The police condemned his actions and ordered an investigation to determine the source of the attire. After reporting at the station, his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, disclosed that the activist was subsequently detained by the police. Before the detention, VeryDarkMan had publicly apologised to the Nigeria Police Force over the controversial video. “Back from the police station where I was interrogated based on the post I made wearing a costume that the police claim is similar to theirs. I didn’t intend to impersonate the police in any way and I tender my unreserved apologies to the Nigeria Police Force and the office of the Inspector General of Police,” he said. VeryDarkMan has also faced legal action from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) , with reports indicating he was arrested in May 2025 in Abuja over undisclosed allegations.
VeryDarkMan Rejects Police Invitation, Alleges Plot to Silence Him Over AIG Corruption Claims
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