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Onoh Counters Gowon, Says Federal Govt Betrayed Aburi Accord

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Onoh Counters Gowon, Says Federal Govt Betrayed Aburi Accord
Yakubu Gowon and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu

Onoh Counters Gowon, Says Federal Govt Betrayed Aburi Accord

Josef Onoh, Chairman of the Forum of Former Members of the Enugu State House of Assembly and former Southeast spokesman to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has strongly challenged recent comments by former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, over the collapse of the historic Aburi Accord and the events that led to the Nigerian Civil War.

In a detailed statement made available to journalists, Onoh argued that the failure of the 1967 Aburi Accord was caused primarily by what he described as the Federal Government’s refusal to fully implement agreements reached in Ghana, rather than the alleged intransigence of the late Biafran leader, Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

The statement followed recent remarks credited to Gowon in his newly released memoir, My Life of Service and Allegiance, where the former military ruler reportedly accused Ojukwu of frustrating peace efforts and misrepresenting the agreements reached during the January 1967 talks in Aburi, Ghana.

However, Onoh insisted that available historical evidence contradicts that position.

Drawing from years of personal discussions with Ojukwu, who was his late brother-in-law, as well as interactions with late Biafran war commanders including Col. Joe Achuzie and former Biafran second-in-command, Maj. Gen. Philip Effiong, Onoh said his account reflects firsthand historical perspectives from key participants in the conflict.

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According to him, the Aburi meeting held between January 4 and 5, 1967, under the mediation of former Ghanaian leader Gen. Joseph Arthur Ankrah, produced clear resolutions aimed at preserving Nigeria’s unity amid worsening ethnic tensions and political instability after the 1966 coups.

He said the agreements included greater regional autonomy, decentralisation of military command, unanimous decision-making within the Supreme Military Council and commitments by all sides to avoid the use of force.

“The atmosphere was cordial, with both leaders actively participating. Upon his return, Ojukwu publicly broadcast the accords and adopted the position ‘On Aburi We Stand,’” Onoh stated.

According to him, opposition to the agreement emerged almost immediately after the Federal Government delegation returned to Lagos.

Onoh alleged that federal permanent secretaries and senior advisers opposed aspects of the accord because they believed the resolutions moved Nigeria toward a confederal arrangement that significantly weakened the central government.

He said the disagreement later resulted in the promulgation of Decree No. 8 of 1967, which the Eastern Region interpreted as a major departure from the original spirit of the Aburi Accord.

According to Onoh, the decree diluted understandings reached in Ghana, particularly on issues relating to military authority, emergency powers and regional autonomy.

“Ojukwu warned that non-implementation of the accord would leave the East with no option but self-help,” he said.

The former presidential spokesman further argued that several historical documents, eyewitness testimonies and declassified materials support claims that the Federal Military Government later retreated from key understandings reached during the talks.

He maintained that Ojukwu attended the peace meeting in good faith and remained committed to avoiding war, but growing distrust and the failure to reassure Eastern Nigerians after the anti-Igbo killings of 1966 ultimately deepened the crisis.

Onoh recalled Ojukwu expressing disappointment over what he perceived as betrayal by the Federal Government following the massacres of Easterners in parts of Northern Nigeria and disagreements over implementation of the accord.

He quoted Ojukwu as once referring to Gowon as “my friend Gowon turned bandit,” adding that similar sentiments were allegedly echoed years later by Maj. Gen. Philip Effiong.

The former Tinubu spokesman also noted that Ojukwu, an Oxford-trained historian and one of the most senior military officers of his era, later documented his interpretation of the crisis in his memoir, Because I Am Involved.

While acknowledging Gowon’s post-war “No Victor, No Vanquished” reconciliation policy, Onoh warned that renewed disputes over the Nigerian Civil War risk reopening painful national wounds more than 50 years later.

“A true statesman prioritises national healing over vindication, especially on wounds that are still healing slowly more than 50 years later,” he said.

Onoh urged Nigerians, historians and younger generations to rely on official recordings of the Aburi Accord, historical broadcasts, documentary evidence and balanced academic scholarship instead of one-sided narratives.

“History thrives on truth that unites, not narratives that divide. Let us learn from Aburi’s failure: genuine dialogue and faithful implementation matter far more than signed agreements in an atmosphere of mistrust,” he added.

Onoh Counters Gowon, Says Federal Govt Betrayed Aburi Accord

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MURIC Congratulates Hamzat, Other Successful Candidates Across Party Primaries

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Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola
MURIC Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola

MURIC Congratulates Hamzat, Other Successful Candidates Across Party Primaries

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has congratulated the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, over his emergence as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

 

In a statement issued on Friday by the Executive Director of MURIC, Ishaq Akintola, the Islamic human rights organisation also congratulated candidates who emerged victorious in various primary elections across political parties and levels of contest.

 

MURIC described Hamzat’s emergence as a reflection of competence and credibility, noting that he successfully scaled through the party’s screening process and primary election.

 

According to the group, the Lagos deputy governor polled 657,917 votes in the APC governorship primary to defeat his rival, Olanrewaju Jim-Kamal, who secured one vote, while other aspirants, Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, and Samuel Ajose, had earlier withdrawn from the race.

 

The organisation said it looked forward to Hamzat replicating the feat during the 2027 governorship election in Lagos State.

 

“MURIC heartily congratulates Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat for this great feat. We look forward to its replication at the 2027 general elections,” the statement said.

 

The group also commended the endorsement of Hamzat by APC leaders and the support reportedly given to his candidature by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

 

While extending congratulations to other successful aspirants in governorship, senatorial and other primary elections, MURIC urged political stakeholders not to sideline Muslims in the search for competent leaders.

 

The organisation argued that highly skilled Muslims exist in all sectors and should be given equal opportunities in political appointments and elective positions.

 

“MURIC reaffirms its earlier position that there is no desertification of expertise in Islamdom. Highly skilled Muslims exist in all fields of human endeavour,” the statement added.

 

The group warned against what it described as the monopoly of public offices by Christians under the guise of searching for competence, stressing that Muslims also possess the capacity to excel in leadership positions.

 

To support its position, MURIC cited the achievements of Ishaq Oloyede at the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), as well as the contributions of former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami.

 

According to the organisation, both individuals demonstrated excellence in public office while also being respected Islamic scholars.

 

MURIC Congratulates Hamzat, Other Successful Candidates Across Party Primaries

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EFCC Arraigns ‘Mama Boko Haram’, Two Others Over Alleged N42 Million Fraud

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EFCC Arraigns ‘Mama Boko Haram’, Two Others Over Alleged N42 Million Fraud

EFCC Arraigns ‘Mama Boko Haram’, Two Others Over Alleged N42 Million Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a woman popularly known as “Mama Boko Haram” alongside two others over an alleged fraud involving N42 million.

The defendants were brought before a Federal High Court on charges bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretences and alleged diversion of funds.

According to the anti-graft agency, the suspects allegedly collected the sum from victims under questionable circumstances, with investigators accusing them of involvement in fraudulent financial dealings linked to false representations.

The EFCC told the court that the alleged offences contravened provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act as well as other relevant laws.

During the court proceedings, prosecutors presented the charges against the defendants, who pleaded not guilty to the allegations.

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Following their plea, counsel to the accused persons reportedly applied for bail, urging the court to grant them liberal conditions pending the commencement of trial.

The prosecution, however, opposed parts of the application and requested adequate measures to ensure the defendants remain available for trial.

After listening to submissions from both parties, the court adjourned the matter to a later date for hearing on the bail application and commencement of trial.

The EFCC said investigations into the alleged fraud and related transactions are ongoing.

The case has attracted public attention largely because of the nickname “Mama Boko Haram,” which has generated widespread reactions on social media and among observers following the court proceedings.

The anti-corruption agency has continued to intensify efforts against financial crimes, cyber-related offences and alleged diversion of public and private funds across the country.

EFCC Arraigns ‘Mama Boko Haram’, Two Others Over Alleged N42 Million Fraud

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Businessman Sues Ex-Wife Over Refusal to Leave His House Five Years After Divorce

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Businessman Sues Ex-Wife Over Refusal to Leave His House Five Years After Divorce

Businessman Sues Ex-Wife Over Refusal to Leave His House Five Years After Divorce

A businessman, Abibu Yakubu, has filed a petition against his ex-wife at the Upper Area Court 1, Karu, over alleged refusal to leave his house after divorce.

Yakubu is also seeking custody of his four children.

He filed the case against his estranged wife, Shuwadatu Mohammed, on October 13, 2025.

According to the particulars of claim, Yakubu, who resides at Orange Market, Mararaba, Karu LGA, said the respondent is his ex-wife and also resides at the same address.

He averred that the respondent does not respect him and his parents and often insults them.

He said that the marriage is blessed with four children aged 22, 19, and a set of six-year-old twins.

Yakubu alleged that he divorced his wife about five years ago but she refused to vacate his house.

He claimed she said she would not leave until she killed him.

He further alleged that the respondent occupied his house and threatened his life, adding that he no longer sleeps with his eyes closed.

The petitioner told the court that the ongoing dispute has created fear and tension in his daily life.

He prayed the court to hold the respondent responsible if anything happens to him.

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The petitioner also asked the court for a re-dissolution of the marriage and custody of the four children.

The Judge, Mohammed Yakubu, after hearing the matter, adjourned the case until June 3, 2026, for continued hearing.

Under Nigerian law, disputes over property after divorce are governed by several key principles.

For a property to be considered in asset distribution, it must generally have been acquired during the subsistence of the marriage.

Properties acquired before the marriage or after its dissolution are typically excluded.

The court also considers factors such as each spouse’s contribution to acquiring the property, including non-financial contributions like homemaking and child-rearing.

In this case, Yakubu claims the house belongs to him and seeks its vacant possession.

His ex-wife’s refusal to leave, despite the divorce being finalized five years ago, forms the crux of the dispute.

On the issue of child custody, Nigerian courts prioritize the welfare and best interests of the child.

Factors considered include the child’s age, health, education, emotional well-being, and the ability of each parent to provide proper care and stability.

For younger children, courts often prefer that they stay with the mother unless there is a compelling reason to decide otherwise.

Joint custody is often encouraged to ensure that both parents remain involved in the child’s life.

In a similar case, a man named Quadri dragged his ex-wife, Gbemisola, before a Grade A Customary Court in Mapo, Ibadan, over illegal possession of his properties.

Quadri stated that Gbemisola had been in possession of his three-bedroom apartment and shop for more than one year after the court had pronounced their marriage dissolved.

He regarded his ex-wife as either a tenant or a trespasser since they were no longer husband and wife.

Gbemisola, however, refused to be addressed as a tenant, explaining that she contributed N650,000 to the construction of the two properties.

She insisted that the properties be sold and the proceeds shared among her, her ex-husband, and their children.

The court president, Mrs. S.M. Akintayo, ruled that the defendant had no right to still be in possession of both properties since the court had dissolved their union.

Akintayo ordered the defendant to vacate the three-bedroom apartment and shop on or before September 12, 2025.

The Karu court is scheduled to resume hearing on June 3, 2026.

The judge will consider Yakubu’s claims of threats and his ex-wife’s alleged refusal to vacate.

The court may also address the custody request for the couple’s four children.

If the court rules in Yakubu’s favour, his ex-wife could be ordered to leave the property.

The case highlights the challenges some individuals face in enforcing property rights after divorce in Nigeria.

Businessman Sues Ex-Wife Over Refusal to Leave His House Five Years After Divorce

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