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HURIWA urges govt to turn ‘Emefiele’s 753 houses’ to military barracks

Published

10 months ago

May 21, 2025

HURIWA urges govt to turn ‘Emefiele’s 753 houses’ to military barracks

Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has expressed unprecedented delight at the successful recovery of 753 housing units allegedly linked to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele in Abuja.

However, HURIWA has opposed the decision to hand over these housing assets to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development even as the Rights group canvassed that the housing assets be donated to the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to be turned into living quarters for the armed forces just as some of them be donated to surviving direct families of military combatants killed or maimed in the ongoing war on terror.

A statement signed by HURIWA’s national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko on Wednesday, said specifically, the estate, spanning 150,500 square metres, located on Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja, was recovered and became the federal government’s property after a court ordered its final forfeiture in December last year.

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” HURIWA condemns the EFCC for persistently concealing the identity of the former top public officer who cornered public funds to erect those exotic edifices,” the statement said, just as the rights group commended investigative journalists who reportedly uncovered the identity of the alleged erstwhile corrupt public office holder .

Reacting to the notification by the federal ministry of housing and urban development to sell the houses to the so-called members of the public, HURIWA said these houses would be sold at give-away prices to members of the All Progressives Congress and then the revenue recouped may be mismanaged for political campaigns for the second term ambition of President Tinubu.

The rights group again canvassed that the housing assets be handed over to the Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa and the ministry of Defence for the purposes of resetting/repurposing them and then converting them as living quarters for serving soldiers just as some of the units of houses should be used to resettle families of soldiers killed or maimed by Boko Haram terrorists or bandits in the North East and North West.

HURIWA said it is unfortunate that our Country is not sufficiently compensating members of the armed forces who are dying everyday to protect us from the venomous violence of Islamists and terrorists.

“Government should take steps to ensure that recovered stolen assets are not re-looted by the serving public office holders but these housing assets acquired unlawfully from stolen funds should be put to use to benefit patriotic Nigerians such as soldiers and members of the armed forces who are making the Supreme sacrifices to defend the territorial integrity of the federal Republic of Nigeria.

HURIWA urges govt to turn ‘Emefiele’s 753 houses’ to military barracks

Related Topics:Emefiele HURIWA military barracks

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Court Screens Video Showing NDLEA Allegedly Helping Cocaine Smugglers at Enugu Airport

Published

9 hours ago

March 16, 2026

Trends Admin

Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.)

Court Screens Video Showing NDLEA Allegedly Helping Cocaine Smugglers at Enugu Airport

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday screened a video evidence in the ongoing trial of DCP Abba Kyari and four other police officers, revealing how operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) allegedly assisted drug traffickers at Enugu Airport.

The video, tendered by the Nigeria Police Force through Inspector El‑John Nwoke, details confessions from two convicted traffickers — Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne — about their repeated smuggling of cocaine into Nigeria and how NDLEA officers reportedly cleared their luggage without proper inspection.

Inspector Nwoke told the court that the traffickers explained their handlers would send photos and descriptions of them to NDLEA officers before flights, allowing the officers to identify them upon arrival. “When we get to the checking point, they will know that we are the ones. They will open the bag, do a normal search, and say we should go,” Umeibe said in the video. Ezenwanne confirmed he had previously carried cocaine in 2021 and 2022 and that NDLEA officers had allowed them to pass through checkpoints without detection.

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The video, recorded by police on January 20, 2022, is 27 minutes long and was admitted into evidence as “Exhibit D‑3” after the court overruled objections from the NDLEA. It captures detailed confessions showing how traffickers moved cocaine via night buses after being cleared at the airport. The 21.55kg cocaine seizure by Kyari’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT) followed shortly after the alleged NDLEA clearance.

Kyari, former head of the IRT, is being tried alongside ACP Sunday J. Ubua, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirgba, and Inspector John Nuhu on charges including conspiracy, obstruction, and dealing in cocaine. The case has drawn attention to alleged internal collusion within Nigeria’s anti-narcotics agencies, though NDLEA has denied any complicity.

Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the case to May 20 for continuation, including further examination of the video evidence and witness testimonies. The footage is expected to play a crucial role in determining the extent of alleged collusion between NDLEA operatives and traffickers.

The trial underscores ongoing concerns about airport security, drug enforcement effectiveness, and internal oversight within Nigeria’s anti-narcotics agencies.

Court Screens Video Showing NDLEA Allegedly Helping Cocaine Smugglers at Enugu Airport

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Court to Rule on ICPC’s Request for 14‑Day Detention Extension for El‑Rufai

Published

14 hours ago

March 16, 2026

Trends Admin

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El‑Rufai

Court to Rule on ICPC’s Request for 14‑Day Detention Extension for El‑Rufai

A Magistrate Court in Abuja is set to deliver a ruling on Tuesday, March 17, regarding the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)’s request to extend the detention of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El‑Rufai, by another 14 days.

The court, presided over by Magistrate Okechukwu Akweke, will decide whether to approve or reject the ICPC’s application as the anti‑graft agency continues its probe into allegations against El‑Rufai, including money laundering, abuse of office, and illegal interception of communications linked to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

El‑Rufai has been in ICPC custody since February 18, 2026, following an earlier 14‑day remand order obtained from a Magistrate Court in Bwari, Abuja. That initial remand expired on March 5, 2026, prompting ICPC to seek a fresh extension as investigations continue.

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The former governor’s legal team, relatives, and supporters have criticised the continued detention, describing it as unlawful. They argue that since the initial remand expired, El‑Rufai should either be released or formally charged before a competent court. In response, he has filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, naming the ICPC, EFCC, DSS, and Attorney-General of the Federation as respondents.

The ICPC maintains that it is acting within the law, insisting that the fresh 14‑day remand order is valid and necessary to conclude ongoing investigations, which involve forensic examination of electronic devices, financial records, and other evidence recovered from El‑Rufai’s Abuja residence. The agency has filed an inventory listing 67 items retrieved during the search, including laptops, phones, and storage devices.

El‑Rufai’s lawyers, however, contend that some of the searches were irregular, violating his constitutional rights, and have challenged the admissibility of the evidence in court. The FCT High Court is also considering claims for ₦1 billion in damages for alleged rights violations related to the searches.

Observers say the outcome of Tuesday’s ruling will be critical in determining whether El‑Rufai remains in ICPC custody beyond March 19, or whether he will be released or granted bail while legal proceedings continue. The case has drawn national attention, highlighting ongoing debates over anti-corruption investigations, rule of law, and the rights of former public officials.

Court to Rule on ICPC’s Request for 14‑Day Detention Extension for El‑Rufai

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Tinubu Orders Nationwide Free Rice Distribution for Ramadan, Lent Support

Published

14 hours ago

March 16, 2026

Trends Admin

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Tinubu Orders Nationwide Free Rice Distribution for Ramadan, Lent Support

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Renewed Hope Ambassadors (RHA), a political support group aligned with his administration, to implement a nationwide free rice distribution programme aimed at assisting Nigerians observing Ramadan and Lenten fasts.

The directive, announced on Saturday by Senator Hope Uzodinma, Governor of Imo State and Director-General of RHA, emphasizes the government’s commitment to national unity, social solidarity, and interfaith inclusivity. According to Uzodinma, the initiative is designed to ensure that families across Nigeria feel the spirit of togetherness and compassion during these spiritually significant periods.

“Ramadan and Lent are seasons that remind us of sacrifice, charity, and care for one another. Through this distribution, the Renewed Hope Ambassadors will ensure that families across Nigeria benefit from the intervention,” the statement read.

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The programme will be coordinated through the RHA’s nationwide grassroots network, in partnership with state and local authorities, traditional leaders, and community groups, to guarantee transparent and equitable delivery. Both Christian and Muslim communities will be included, reflecting President Tinubu’s focus on religious harmony and inclusivity.

Officials noted that the initiative follows the success of a similar distribution carried out during the recent Christmas season, which aimed to ease the burden of vulnerable households during key festive and religious periods. Analysts welcomed the move, highlighting that it addresses food security concerns amid rising prices of staples and demonstrates government responsiveness to citizens’ needs.

The distribution is expected to cover low-income families, the elderly, and internally displaced persons (IDPs), providing crucial support to those most affected by economic challenges. The Federal Government, through the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, has committed to ensuring the programme reaches every state and local community across Nigeria.

Governor Uzodinma reassured the public that the exercise is being implemented with full accountability and oversight, encouraging citizens to participate by helping identify households in need. The initiative is also intended to strengthen the sense of national unity by fostering a culture of generosity and shared responsibility during the holy periods of fasting.