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How I was attacked by MC Oluomo’s boys, framed by Lagos policemen – TOOAN chairman, Istijabah

Published

5 years ago

February 19, 2022

Azeez Abiola, aka Istijabah

In this interview with Deji Lambo, the Lagos State Chairman, Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria, Azeez Abiola, aka Istijabah, gives an account of how he was allegedly attacked by members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers led by the state Chairman, Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo

Kindly give us an insight into your background.

I am Alhaji Azeez Abiola, aka Istijabah. I went to primary and secondary schools. After my secondary studies, I learnt mechanic work at Shasha in Akowonjo. After I finished my training, I ventured into transport business, starting as a conductor.

Back then, we used to convey passengers from Shasha to Oshodi; from Oshodi to Mushin; from Mushin to Ijora; and sometimes when we got to Ijora and there were passengers, we would convey them to Idumota. Gradually, I became a driver, and started driving a molue bus with registration number AG 452 MUS owned by Alhaji Adanitan, who is still alive.

After driving for 10 years, I collected a molue bus with registration number AP 74 MUS, on hire purchase from Alhaji Adanitan. I completed the payment after about one and a half years. He felt encouraged by my tenacity and gave me another bus. With the two buses, I was able to save money to buy two other buses by myself.

After ‘hustling’ for about 15 years, I went back to my mechanic work. Because someone helped me to get to where I was, I decided to also raise people by buying and giving them buses on hire purchase. So far, I have given about 2,000 people vehicles on hire purchase and they are now owners.

At what point did you start transport union activities?

Initially, I never had interest in transport union activities; I disliked their activities because of the atrocities they commit. During the era of Olohunwa, he tried to convince me to join but I declined. I also declined when Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede became the state Chairman, NURTW. Later on, I accepted (to join). And the major reason why I joined was because almost all the buses conveying passengers from Oshodi to Sango, belonged to me. I was losing a lot because of the money union members were collecting on those buses daily. So, when I joined the union, Agbede made me a branch Chairman at Kola and I reduced the levy union members usually collect from drivers and they were happy.

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I realised that many people interested in the tricycle business had no one to give them tricycle on hire purchase, so, I started giving them and as a result of that, all the atrocities in Agbado area of the state stopped.

When Alhaji Agbede heard about the impact I was making in the tricycle sector, particularly the fact that I had empowered over 3,000 people with tricycles on hire purchase, he said at my level, I needed to monitor the tricycle sector. Since then, I have been in the tricycle sector. At first, I was the Vice Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter, Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria.

Was there any disagreement between TOOAN and NURTW before now?

Before Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya became the state Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers, TOOAN and NURTW operated in harmony. But immediately he became the chairman, he decided to dissolve TOOAN. He connived with Wasiu Ayinde who has no business with the union.

He (Akinsanya) dissolved TOOAN and divided it into five zones and brought one man, Gaji, who is the manager to Wasiu Ayinde, and made him the zonal chairman. Gaji was never a member of our union. He also brought Kamali Pappy from Oshodi and also made him a zonal chairman.

When he saw that my refused to keep silent, he made me a zonal chairman and chased all the state executives of TOOAN away. I was the only one left, so members of the TOOAN BOT and myself complained to the national body in Abuja. That was the genesis of the problem with TOOAN and NURTW in the state.

After complaining to the NURTW national body, what happened and how were you appointed as the state Chairman, TOOAN?

After a series of compliants, our National President, NURTW, Tajudeen Baruwa, invited us for a meeting in Abuja. Baruwa’s national executives were there, all the Lagos State executives of NURTW were there, including the state chairman, Musiliu Akinsanya, members of TOOAN board of trustees were also there, among others.

The media were also invited to cover the meeting. At the meeting, BOT members of TOOAN, including the chairman, said since Akinsanya became the NURTW chairman in Lagos State, he hijacked TOOAN activities and that TOOAN, which is affiliated to NURTW, has its own body separately. If you are looking for the Darknet Market List you will need to download and install the tor browser

Akinsanya was told at the meeting that it was unconstitutional to hijack our activities. At the meeting, the BOT members were asked who they wanted to head TOOAN in Lagos State and they mentioned my name.

On that same January 9, 2022, I was appointed the Lagos State Chairman, TOOAN, and the National Coordinator, Tricycle Sectors in Nigeria. The National President, NURTW also made the announcement and told me and other appointees to wait to collect our letters of appointment.

He also said the appointment letter should be sent to the Inspector-General of Police; Assistant Inspector-General of Police; Department of Security Services in Abuja and Lagos, as well as all the security agents across the country.

What were the disturbing developments that occurred after your appointment?

After I was appointed in Abuja, I booked a flight to Lagos. As I got to the airport in Ikeja, I received a text message from Akinsanya, notifying me of an emergency meeting the following day. On January 10, I called the state chairman, thanked him for his support.

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He said the meeting was very important and I told him I would be there. I got to the venue around 11am, got down from my vehicle and went straight to sign attendance. I was signing when somebody suddenly slapped me from behind. As I turned back, I saw that it was one of Akinsanya’s boys, called Ajiroba. I was questioning his audacity when about 20 of Akinsanya’s boys descended on me and two of my excos, Kazeem Akinbode and Saheed. I had the grace to rush to my car and as I entered, I told my driver to lock the doors. But my boys were unlucky as they pinned them down and beat them mercilessly. They have been hospitalised and responding to treatment.

Akinsanya’s boys started attacking my vehicle but could not gain entry; it was Allah that protected me. I stayed in the car for over one hour and 30 minutes and was just praying and reciting Quranic verses. Akinsanya, who told his boys to lock the gate to prevent my driver from driving out, later came down, and told me to open the door but I declined. I told him his plan was to take my life. He told me I want to waste my life and that my appointment would not stand.

I told him my appointment did not affect his position but he said I should not worry, that he had called the police to arrest me. He said I was being deceived as he is an Asiwaju’s boy and that no one but him could put anyone in any position. I told him the same national president that appointed me put him in that position.

What happened when operatives of the Rapid Respond Squad came to the venue of the meeting?

Initially, five policemen came and told me to get down but I refused because they were few. They later called for reinforcement and about 30 policemen came. At that point Akinsanya started shouting that there was a gun inside my vehicle. I allowed them to search my vehicle and they found no gun. He even joined the policemen in the search but I monitored closely. So, we later went to the RRS office.

I was writing my statement at the RRS office when I heard that a gun was recovered from my boys. I said the boys that followed me were the two injured victims and my police escorts. I requested to see the policeman who found the gun and questioned him as to where he got the gun.

He confessed that he never recovered the gun from my boys or me. The policeman said he saw the gun on the ground after I left the premises. The second in command at the RRS office asked for the gun and found no bullet in it.

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How come the RRS posted your photograph with a gun?

What happened was that the case was transferred to the state Commissioner of Police. But before I left RRS office, one of the officers said they wanted to take my picture. I asked why but was told it was a normal thing. I obliged and the officer told me to stay at the front of a car and took my picture without a gun.

So, I left for the CP’s office but he was not around. I later wrote another statement at the police headquarters and was released me on bail. After being released, I immediately switched on my phone and started receiving calls that I was seen with a gun. I checked it on Facebook and saw my picture with a gun.

I felt very bad. I contacted the RRS but I was told that their media team was responsible for the post and that they have warned him. I said the whole world had seen the lies they put out. I felt bad and couldn’t sleep. The state chairman, all the state NURTW executives and I met with the CP the following day.

The CP told Akinsanya that he was the cause of the problem. He said he was the one that invited me and asked how come I was attacked. He said the only solution was for him to apologise to me otherwise if the police commence investigation, it would turn into another thing.

In the presence of the CP, the NURTW state chairman apologised and agreed that all the tricycles in Lagos State would be under my care. But I told him I was not the authority and that everything would be reported to the national body in Abuja where I was appointed.

Did you complain to the CP about the online post indicating you were arrested with a gun?

I told the CP that the police posting my picture with a gun online was the most serious issue and that I want to know the policemen who did it. The CP was also surprised when I showed him the Facebook post and he became furious, called the RRS commander and asked for who did it, especially when no gun was recovered from me.

The commander said it was the media team that did it and that he was not aware. I also talked to the commander and he apologised. But I will take all necessary steps on the issue because my image is very important to me.

Punch

Related Topics:Chairman Istijabah Lagos policemen MC Oluomo TOOAN

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Woman dies after husband allegedly assaults her over cooking, dance class

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21 hours ago

September 9, 2026

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Woman dies after husband allegedly assaults her over cooking, dance class

A 38-year-old woman, Yamini Krishna Lal Yadav, has died in Nagpur, India, after her husband allegedly assaulted her during an argument over cooking and her decision to attend a dance class.

The woman’s husband, Krishna Lal Yadav, 41, has been arrested and booked in connection with her death after a post-mortem examination reportedly revealed serious internal injuries.

The incident occurred in the Mankapur area of Nagpur, Maharashtra, where the couple lived with their two young children.

According to reports, Krishna returned home from work and asked his wife to prepare food for him and the children. Yamini, however, was reportedly preparing to attend a dance class within their housing society and declined to cook at the time.

The disagreement allegedly escalated into a physical confrontation. Police said the husband was reportedly under the influence of alcohol when he allegedly assaulted Yamini around her neck and abdomen. The incident reportedly occurred in the presence of their children.

After the alleged assault, Yamini complained of severe pain in her neck and abdomen and reportedly asked her husband to get painkillers. He allegedly went to a nearby medical shop but returned after finding it closed.

Her condition later deteriorated, with her abdomen reportedly becoming swollen. She was subsequently taken to a private hospital in the area for treatment but died while receiving medical attention.

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The case initially appeared to be an accidental death, prompting police to send her body for a post-mortem examination.

However, the examination reportedly revealed a fractured neck bone and severe internal injuries, including serious damage to the intestines. Reports also indicated injuries consistent with strangulation and abdominal trauma, prompting investigators to reconsider the circumstances surrounding her death.

Following the post-mortem findings, police questioned Krishna and subsequently arrested him. A murder case was registered against him as investigations continued.

Yamini’s brother reportedly said the family was aware that the couple had experienced disagreements in the past. He said Yamini had occasionally spoken about problems in the marriage but had asked relatives not to intervene because she feared their involvement could worsen the situation.

The family initially believed Yamini had died following a medical emergency and was reportedly shocked when the post-mortem examination revealed evidence of significant physical injuries.

Police are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the Nagpur woman, while the accused remains in custody over the allegations.

The case has renewed concerns about domestic violence, particularly the need for victims experiencing abuse to have access to timely support and protection.

Woman dies after husband allegedly assaults her over cooking, dance class

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NSCIA warns FG against weaponising state institutions in El-Rufai case

Published

22 hours ago

September 9, 2026

Trends Admin

Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede

NSCIA warns FG against weaponising state institutions in El-Rufai case

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs breaks its silence on the former governor’s legal ordeal, citing “serious concerns” over possible sectarian agenda in the multiple prosecutions keeping El-Rufai in the spotlight.

ABUJA – The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has raised the alarm over what it described as “an extraneous involvement of an underlying religious bias” in the ongoing prosecutions of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai. The Islamic body, which had deliberately stayed out of the controversy until now, said recent developments had forced it to break its silence on the matter. In a statement signed by its Secretary-General and immediate-past Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, the NSCIA explained that its earlier restraint was based on its belief that El-Rufai’s prosecution, like those involving other political figures, was a standard judicial process and that the judiciary had the inherent capacity to uphold justice. However, the council said recent developments in the public domain had raised serious concerns that strongly suggested religious considerations might be creeping into a process that should be determined solely by law and evidence.

The NSCIA called on the Federal Government and the Judiciary to ensure that individuals with vested religious interests were strictly prevented from weaponising public institutions or the legal system to pursue what it described as a sectarian agenda against El-Rufai. “Consequently, the Council calls upon the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Judiciary to ensure that individuals with vested religious interests are strictly prevented from weaponizing public institutions or the legal system to execute a sectarian agenda against him,” the statement read. The council stressed that its position was anchored on the Islamic principle of justice and fairness, regardless of political, religious or personal considerations, and clarified that its intervention was not intended to interfere with the judicial process but to emphasise the need for justice to be administered without religious or sectarian considerations. The Islamic body also appealed to the general public to refrain from incendiary comments that could prejudice the fair trial of El-Rufai or exacerbate the security situation in the nation. “Furthermore, the Council appeals to the general public to refrain from incendiary comments that could prejudice the fair trial of Mallam El-Rufai or exacerbate the security situation in our nation,” the statement read.

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The NSCIA‘s intervention comes against the backdrop of a protracted legal battle that has kept El-Rufai in the spotlight since February 2026. The former governor is facing multiple prosecutions by different agencies on charges bordering on alleged abuse of office, money laundering, breach of national security, and wiretapping. The council’s decision to speak out followed comments by the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), who accused El-Rufai of planning killings in Southern Kaduna while he was governor between 2015 and 2023. Musa had described the situation in Kaduna during El-Rufai’s administration as “toxic”, adding that many residents of Southern Kaduna remained unhappy with the former governor over killings recorded in the area.

El-Rufai, through his family, rejected the allegation and demanded that the minister withdraw the claim, with his eldest son, Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, giving Musa seven days to provide evidence supporting the allegation or publicly retract it. The controversy generated by Musa’s remarks has further widened the debate surrounding El-Rufai’s legal battles, with the NSCIA‘s intervention effectively placing the prosecution within a wider debate over the alleged politicisation and religious manipulation of state institutions. The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has taken a sharply divergent position, backing the Defence Minister’s allegations and demanding an independent investigation into alleged killings and human rights abuses during El-Rufai’s administration, with possible prosecution before the International Criminal Court (ICC). The NSCIA’s intervention, which did not identify any individual or group it accused of pursuing a religious agenda, serves as a significant development in a case that has become a flashpoint for broader debates about judicial independence, political persecution, and religious neutrality in Nigeria’s legal system.

The council concluded its statement by praying for peace, stability and security in Nigeria. “May Almighty Allah grant peace, stability, and security to Nigeria,” it said.

NSCIA warns FG against weaponising state institutions in El-Rufai case

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Bandits abduct Kaduna lawmaker’s brother, kill three KADVS operatives

Published

23 hours ago

September 9, 2026

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Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State, CP Muhammad Rabiu

Bandits abduct Kaduna lawmaker’s brother, kill three KADVS operatives

Suspected bandits have abducted the younger brother of a Kaduna State lawmaker and killed three personnel of the Kaduna State Vigilance Service (KADVS) in separate attacks in Kubau Local Government Area of the state.

The incidents, which occurred within hours of each other, have heightened security concerns in Pambegua and surrounding communities, with the attacks taking place along the Zaria-Pambegua axis before the lawmaker’s brother was abducted from his residence.

The KADVS Public Relations Officer, Yunusa Ibrahim, confirmed the incidents in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Ibrahim identified the abducted victim as Sanusi, the younger brother of Shehu Pambegua, who represents Kubau Constituency in the Kaduna State House of Assembly.

According to the KADVS spokesman, the suspected attackers arrived at Sanusi’s residence in a Sharon vehicle at about 10pm on Monday and forcibly took him away.

The abduction came after three KADVS personnel were killed earlier in the day while carrying out a routine security operation in the area.

The deceased personnel were identified as Dallami Dantani, the Second-in-Command of KADVS in Kubau, Abdullahi Hamisu and Zakariyya Musa.

Ibrahim said the incident began when the vigilantes attempted to stop a red Volkswagen Golf Salon during a routine check, but the driver allegedly refused to comply.

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The KADVS personnel reportedly pursued the vehicle in their patrol van in an effort to identify the occupants and establish why they were travelling through the area.

The occupants allegedly opened fire during the pursuit, killing Dantani.

The attackers reportedly turned back towards the KADVS office after the initial shooting and opened fire on the personnel there, killing Hamisu and Musa before escaping towards Zaria.

The killings occurred hours before Sanusi was reportedly abducted from his residence, creating renewed anxiety among residents and security personnel in the area.

Reacting to the deaths, the Kaduna State Commander of KADVS, CP Ali Audu (rtd.), condoled with the families of the three personnel and described their deaths as a major loss to the service.

Audu praised the deceased personnel for their courage and commitment to duty, assuring their families that their sacrifices would be remembered.

He also pledged the continued support of the service to the bereaved families.

The KADVS commander disclosed that security surveillance had been intensified in Pambegua and neighbouring communities as efforts continued to locate the abducted victim and identify those responsible for the attacks.

He urged KADVS personnel to remain vigilant while carrying out their duties and strengthen collaboration with other security agencies, particularly in communities regarded as vulnerable to bandit attacks and kidnapping.

Audu reaffirmed the service’s commitment to protecting residents and property across Kaduna State.

As of the latest reports, authorities have not announced the arrest of any suspect or the rescue of Sanusi. The circumstances surrounding his abduction remain under investigation as security agencies intensify efforts to locate him and bring those responsible for the attacks to justice.

The latest incidents have further underscored the security challenges facing parts of Kaduna State, where residents have continued to contend with threats linked to banditry, kidnapping and armed attacks.