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BettaGate: Can Tinubu bell the cat?

BettaGate: Can Tinubu bell the cat?
By Bola BOLAWOLE
turnpot@gmail.com 0807 552 5533
Will sleaze and controversy ever depart from these shores? Two of such making the rounds at the moment are the BBC documentary on the late Prophet Temitope Balogun (TB) Joshua of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) and the multi-billion Naira scandal involving two of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ministers – the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, and the (before now?) top-flight Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
What is BBC’s interest in TB Joshua, especially since he is dead and is nearly forgotten? What public interest will the BBC documentary serve? Is there any way anyone who has suffered as a result of the activities of TB Joshua will receive justice or have their situation and or circumstance ameliorated? Will justice be served to anyone who has suffered injustice as a result of the activities of the prophet and can his estate be held liable, if only for compensation purposes?
Assuming we have here a Truth and Reconciliation commission, like President Nelson Mandela instituted in South Africa in 1995 through the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act 34 of 1995 after the collapse of apartheid and the enthronement of black majority rule, we can then say that the catharsis occasioned by the recalling of injustices suffered, confessions and pleas for forgiveness made, reconciliation followed by compensation, where possible – we can say all of this could help the healing process as it calms frayed nerves and bows the head of culprits.
The Human Rights Violation Investigation Commission of Nigeria, which imitated its South African counterpart, was inaugurated by the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration in 1999. Otherwise known as the Oputa panel, so named after its chairman, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, its mandate was to investigate human rights abuses during the period of military rule from 1984 to 1999. It failed abysmally because the key violators of human rights during the period under review, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (with Gen. Sani Abacha already dead) not only boycotted it but poured scorn on it. With Obasanjo cleverly leaving out his own tenure of office as military Head of State (1976 – 1979), his hands were tied, so to say, as he could not compel his military subordinates to turn up before Oputa. With the big fishes out of the way, what was left was just a circus show and waste of scarce public resources.
Snippets of the BBC documentary on TB Joshua are already in the public domain. Some of the “revelations” were common knowledge to insiders in those days and, therefore, were no secret to me. I attended Synagogue for close to two years and had near unrestrained access to TB Joshua as I was the editor of the church magazine and a very close pal of his second-in-command then, Prophet Taiye Oladosu (Prophet T, as we called him). I also nearly married one of the choristers there, Sister Esther (where is she now?).
TB Joshua called me “Uncle” and I called him “Pastor”. Church, to me, is: What you seek is what you get! And this does not pertain only to Synagogue or TB Joshua; neither does it exonerate TB Joshua or Synagogue from answering to whatever charge that may be laid at their door-mouth. But those who died, those whose lives were ruined, and those whose destinies were truncated – how do we know them; and how do we get them justice? Will the BBC documentary move our government to action in any way? But if it helps to sound an alarm to the millions of worshippers still under the influence of the many TB Joshuas still in our midst and the many Synagogues still taking advantage of the gullible, then, it would have served a purpose. So much for TB Joshua!
Two ministers in the seven-month-old Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration are enmeshed in the billion-Naira “poor-people-money” scandal making the rounds. It is money meant for the poor, to alleviate their suffering, that people are alleged to be doing monkey business with. Some people can be heartless! Their conscience is seared, if at all they still have any. Now, the Minister responsible has been suspended from her post and an investigation ordered.
One thing I like about the Tinubu administration, and I will keep saying it, is that this President listens to public opinion. He acts on public outcry, very much unlike his predecessor who played deaf and dumb. We await the outcome of the EFCC investigation, which must be swift and thorough, and which must be made public. If this Minister is found culpable, she has to face the music.
Does it suggest anything that the two Tinubu ministers that have been involved in scandals so far are women? The first was the Minister for Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye. If we can laugh off her idiocy as she threatened to sue the United Nations over the (mis)management of donor funds to Nigeria, we cannot do likewise over her threats to, and blackmail of, university students calling out the Dean of their Faculty as sex predator. The minister has since apologized, though, and the lecturer in question is having his day in court. A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered him remanded in Kuje prisons.
The doors of the Presidential Villa may have been slammed against her but it is not likely that Betta Edu is intent on going away quietly. She may drag a lot of people along with her. Unfortunately, the high-performing Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has had his company named as having benefited from what looks like a repeat of the arms bazaar that consumed NSA Sambo Dasuki and many others in the PDP/President Goodluck Jonathan administration.
I listened to Tunji-Ojo as he tried to defend himself and I felt sorry for him. Yes, he started the company in question with his wife. Yes, he was a director of the company for years but he resigned his position some years back. Yes, that is as much as the law required him to do as a public officer. Yes, the company is a legal entity that is at liberty to pursue its legitimate interests. Yes, the company can pursue, win, and execute contracts and should be held accountable for its actions. All legalese! But involved here are moral issues!
In 1 Corinthians 10:23. The apostle Paul said: “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not” Tunji-Ojo may have fulfilled the provisions of the law by resigning as a director of the company but he still remains a shareholder and beneficiary of both the losses and gains of the company. Would he want the company to make a loss and liquidate while he is serving as minister or that it makes profit and prospers so he can return to a boisterous company? Is his wife still on the Board of the company or a shareholder? Can he vow that he never discusses the fortunes or misfortunes of the company? Could his influence or current position not have helped the company in this instance and or in some others? He may escape by the whiskers but what does the principle of strict liability say in this respect?
Now, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation is a cesspit of corruption: Scrap it! It was so in the time of Buhari. The ex-Minister in charge of the ministry under Buhari has started answering questions at the EFCC. Throwing money at problems does not solve the problems. Buhari did; he failed. It is unfortunate that Tinubu has continued in Buhari’s steps in this regard. It may be that he is being railroaded by his party leaders. Except he backtracks, he, too, is destined to fail.
The so-called palliative measures of Buhari palliated nothing but only fueled humongous corruption. In like manner, the Tinubu government’s palliative measures palliate nothing but has started providing opportunities for corruption. Rather than give people fish to eat, teach them how to fish. The funds being wasted on phantom poverty alleviation programmes should be deployed to more useful ventures.
Many are asking: Can this President fight corruption? He can! It is a matter of choice! It is difficult for a ruling party to throw caution to the wind as many would have loved but I dare to say that Tinubu has taken a few cautious steps in the right direction. But we must understand that he is part of the system and not an angel from above. He is a beneficiary of the system. He appears intent on keeping the system going. He seems to believe that the system can still be rescued, panel-beaten and restored to good health. I think he is wrong.
So, he may stem corruption, but can he uproot it? A leader is as good – and as bad – as the people he surrounds himself with. Look at the people around President Tinubu and form your opinion. The apple never falls far from the tree! Usually, the twin enemies are selfish interest and class interest. Is Tinubu prepared to scale both hurdles?
* Former Editor of PUNCH newspapers, Chairman of its Editorial Board and Deputy Editor-in-chief, BOLAWOLE was also the Managing Director/ Editor-in-chief of THE WESTERNER newsmagazine. He writes the ON THE LORD’S DAY column in the Sunday Tribune and TREASURES column in New Telegraph newspaper on Wednesdays. He is also a public affairs analyst on radio and television.
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Natasha: Protesters at UN House demands evidence of allegation

Natasha: Protesters at UN House demands evidence of allegation
A civil society organisation, Women for Change Vanguard, yesterday held a peaceful protest at the United Nations House, in Abuja, urging Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to provide concrete evidence to prove her sexual harassment allegation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The group, led by Mrs Irene Imoh, expressed concern over the damage that has been caused by ‘unsubstantiated allegations’ against public figures in the country.
Imoh stated that while accountability was critical in cases of sexual harassment, allegations must be thoroughly scrutinised to prevent misuse of such claims.
“We gather here today at the esteemed UN House to express our support for His Excellency, the President of the 10th Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio. Over the past few weeks, he has faced significant reputational damage due to unsubstantiated allegations of sexual harassment made by his colleague, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.”
She emphasised the importance of providing evidence when making such weighty allegations of sexual harassment, noting that the burden of proof lies with the accuser.
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“It is important to remember that in any allegation of misconduct, the burden of proof lies with the accuser. If Senator Natasha claims to have been a victim of sexual harassment, we urge her to come forth with credible evidence to support her accusations. The gravity of such claims demands accountability.”
The group also warned against the potential misuse of sexual harassment allegations, expressing concerns about the #BelieveAllWomen movement being applied without due process.
“We are particularly troubled by the growing trend of misusing the #BelieveAllWomen mantra, which can inadvertently shield unfounded accusations against men. This is not the first time Senator Natasha has made serious allegations against a prominent figure. Such actions risk becoming a weapon she wields against men in power, undermining the core principles of our fight against sexual violence.”
The Women for Change Vanguard stressed that false or unverified accusations not only harm the accused but also weaken the credibility of real victims of sexual abuse.
The group further stated that their protest was not just about supporting Akpabio but about ensuring that both parties are held accountable.
“Our peaceful protest today is not merely about demanding justice, it is also about holding both parties accountable. Senator Akpabio must have the opportunity to clear his name, while Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan must show evidence that she was sexually abused.”
Chanting solidarity songs, the protesters carried placards with inscriptions, such as, “We believe in actual victims of sexual harassment not people who weaponise it” and “The burden of proof lies with the accuser”, among others.
The protesters, who submitted a petition to the UN were received by the UN Senior Human Rights Advisor, Adwoa Kufuor, who promised to channel their grievances to senior UN officials.
Natasha: Protesters at UN House demands evidence of allegation
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Abuja sex workers lose case seeking to legalise prostitution

Abuja sex workers lose case seeking to legalise prostitution
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, declined to legalise prostitution in the country, even as it dismissed a suit that sought to enforce fundamental rights of commercial sex workers in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.
The court, in a judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho, while describing prostitution as an immoral act that is alien to cultural values of all the ethnic groups in the country, said it found no reason to stop the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and security agencies, from arresting those that engage in such illicit business.
According to the court, prostitutes have no legal rights to enjoy under any known law or the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
The judgement followed a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/642/2024, which the sex workers filed to bar the FCT Minister and the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, AEPB, from harassing, intimidating, arresting and prosecuting them.
Aside from Wike and the AEPB, other respondents in the legal action that was initiated on behalf of Abuja-based prostitutes, by a Non Governmental Organisation under the aegis of Lawyers Alert Initiative for Protection of Rights of Children, Women and Indigent, were the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, andAttorney-General of the Federation, AGF.
The applicants had through their team of lawyers led by Mr. Rommy Mom, prayed the court to enforce their right to prostitution, in line with all the fundamental human rights that inure to them from the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Specifically, they urged the court to determine whether the duties of the AEPB under Section 6 of the AEPB Act, 1997, extends to the harassment, arrest, detention and prosecution of women suspected of engaging in sex work on the streets of Abuja.
As well as, whether by the provision of Section 35 (1) (d) of the AEPB Act, 1997, women can be regarded as articles or their bodies regarded as goods for purchase.
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Upon the determination of the questions, the applicants sought a declaration that a charge the AEPB entered before the FCT Mobile Court, which referred to arrested women suspected of engaging in sex work as “articles” and considered their bodies as “goods for purchase,” was discriminatory and a violation of Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution.
They sought a declaration that the duties of the board does not extend to the harassment, arrest and raid of women suspected of engaging in sex work on the streets of Abuja.
metro
Portable: Monarch frowns on ‘King of Street’ chieftaincy title, demands revocation

Portable: Monarch frowns on ‘King of Street’ chieftaincy title, demands revocation
Controversial singer Habeeb Olalomi Okikiola, popularly known as ‘Portable’, is in the eye of a storm again. This time, it is about the conferment of “King of Street” chieftaincy title on him by the Olu of Itori, Oba Abdulfatai Akamo.
Another monarch, Eselu of Iselu Kingdom in the Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi, has expressed disappointment about the title and demanded its reversal.
He described the action as an abuse of the institution of traditional rulers.
Oba Akinyemi, in an open letter he personally signed and made available to newsmen in Abeokuta, said the title as bestowed on ‘Portable’ was strange to all palaces in Yorubaland, and must be reversed to avoid chaos.
The traditional ruler said his colleague Oba should not have generalised the title, but ought to have limited it to his jurisdiction by naming the title “King of Itori Street”.
He called the attention of Chairman of Ogun State Council of Obas and Chiefs, His Royal Majesty, Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland to the untraditional and illegal installation done by Olu Itori.
He added that the decision by Oba Akamo to confer the chieftaincy title on Portable was not well thought out, at a period the singer was being tried before an Ogun State High Court over alleged assault on some government officials.
The open letter read in paer, “The title “King of Street” which Olu Itori gave the controversial musician at His Majesty’s 21st Coronation Anniversary is absolutely unknown in all palaces of Yoruba Land, so given such a title to honour any personality is not only illegal, but a call for chaos if not reversed.
“Using the title “King of Street” can be interpreted as the King of all Streets in the State. This is unacceptable. Olu Itori ought to have limited the title to his domain. Kabiyesi ought to have titled it “King of Itori Street” and the musician would know that his title is only confined to Itori Kingdom.
“All streets in Ogun State have their Kings and they know how they choose them, so this generalization of the title Street should be reversed to prevent any problems in the State and beyond”.
“Apart from the wrong title given to Portable, His Royal Majesty’s decision to install the musician as a Chief was not well thought out because of the unruly and questionable behaviour of the singer who is currently facing a trial in a competent court in Ogun State.
“Giving him a chieftaincy title is like encouraging him to wreak more havoc. An effort that will make the musician live a better life is what is necessary.
“In fact, the unruly self-made kings in the fuji industry have caused lots of divisions among themselves which is entirely different from the love and good legacy the pioneers left behind. Portable is one of the self-made kings who need to refine their lives.”
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