Investigation

Group Frowns At release of Convicted Drug kingpins

Published

1 year ago

May 23, 2023

… Demands release of Abbah Kyari

Joel Ajayi

A concerned group, known as Center for Democracy and Human Right CEDEHUR has frowned at alleged release of the two convicted Notorious International drug traffickers 15 months instead of spending 6 years to continue their businesses.

This even as group demands release of Police DCP Abbah Kyari and his team saying the cops is innocent.

It’s on record that Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, were arrested by Police IRT and transferred to NDLEA and were sentenced to six years in prison, 2yrs for each of the 3 counts.

The duo were arrested on the January 19th 20222 at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu while attempting to smuggle cocaine of over 21kg of drugs to the brim into the country.

Speaking at a world press conference on Tuesday in Abuja, on the complicity of NDLEA in the fight against Drugs Trafficking in Nigeria the Spokesperson CEDEHUR Adebayo Sunday demanded for severe punishment for any officers found guilty.

According to him, last Friday, the media was awash with the release of two convicted Notorious International drug traffickers arrested by Police IRT in January, who were transferred to the NDLEA. The IRT had arrested Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, at the car park of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu on 19/1/2022 and in Just 16 months these Drug kingpins were released.

“The police had swooped on the two after the whistle-blower revealed all their movements and activities right from Brazil to Ethiopia and Nigeria, via the Enugu Airport. They arrived at Enugu Airport with over 21kg of drugs full to the brim in their 2 carry-on bags. Shockingly, despite the presence of all security agents including the men of the NDLEA, they were cleared.

“The police as we stated above arrested them afterwards. They were moved to Abuja for preliminary investigation and onward handover to the NDLEA, which has the authority to handle the matter. It’s the usual practice and that was not the first-time drug traffickers arrested by the police would be handed over to the NDLEA.

“The police rejected all offers by the international Drug Traffickers to take the whole drugs in addition to an offer by the arrested drug traffickers for them to be released by the Police IRT as testified by the Drug Traffickers in the Court.

“The International Drug Traffickers were eventually interrogated where they confessed to the crime in written and on Video, explaining how they usually send their pictures to the NDLEA agents at the Enugu airport before they arrive in Nigeria for easy identification to enable them pass freely with the drugs.

“After The videos of their confession, they indicted NDLEA agents, Also called the full names, addresses, phone numbers and identities of the Big Drug Barons Sponsoring them and settling the NDLEA before they land in Enugu Airport, the police eventually handed over the men to the NDLEA for further investigation.”

The group, (CEDEHUR ) expressed their displeasure and called on the government especially to investigate all people who were involved in the unlawful release of the drug barons no matter who they are in the society.

“The president or the presidency should immediately set up a committee to investigate the activities of the NDLEA and drug traffickers under Gen Buba Marwa(rtd) especially in this case were clearly indicted NDLEA officers were shielded and many other NDLEA officers including One Sunday Zirandi Director of intelligence who was indicted by Ex NDLEA officer for Connivance with drug barons, Diversions of recovered drugs, Murder case among others.

“We state that the ex-NDLEA officer has filed a case in court that is pending before the industrial court. The matter was in the media severally 2022 and if found guilty or wanted he should be appropriately Sanctioned and all indicted officers should face the full wrath of the Law.

The security situation in Nigeria today especially relating to kidnapping and terrorism has worsened with the continued detention of the IRT team, therefore they should be released to continue the fight against kidnappers and terrorism as National Security of this Country is paramount.

“The Big drug barons shielded by NDLEA that the convicted international drug traffickers mentioned in their confession and statements as Sponsors and also responsible for Settling the NDLEA officers in the Airport and sending the pictures of the incoming drug traffickers to NDLEA officers before their Arrival with the heavy Drugs should be arrested, investigated and Prosecuted by a Neutral agency like the DSS immediately amongst others.”

The group also demanded the release of DCP Abbah Kyari and his team: “We believes that in the interest of justice, fairness and equity Abba Kyari and his team should be granted bail as enshrined in our constitution.

“They have sacrificed so much for the security of this country and do not deserve this kind of dehumanising treatment being meted out to them.”

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Investigation

Presidency exposes Chinese Company’s failed attempts to strip Nigeria’s assets abroad

Published

3 weeks ago

August 15, 2024

The Gleamer

The Presidency is aware of the various failed attempts by a Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, to take over offshore assets of the Federal Government of Nigeria through subterfuge.

The Federal Government is not under any contractual obligation with the company. The case in which Zhongshan is trying to use every unorthodox means to strip our offshore assets is between the company and the Ogun State Government.

The federal government is fully aware of efforts being made by the Ogun state government to reach an amicable resolution to the matter.

It must be said without any equivocation that Zhongshan has no solid ground to demand restitution from the Ogun State Government based on the facts regarding the 2007 contract between the company and the State Government to manage a free-trade zone.

When the contract with Ogun State was revoked in 2015, the company had only erected a perimeter fence on the land earmarked for a free trade zone.

While the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice are working with the Ogun State Government on an amicable resolution, Zhongshan obtained two orders from the Judicial Court of Paris dated March 7, 2024, and August 12, 2024, without any notice being duly served on the Federal Government of Nigeria and Ogun State Government.

This arm-twisting tactic by the Chinese company is the latest in a long list of failed moves to attach Nigerian government-owned assets to foreign jurisdictions.

Material facts in the transaction between the Ogun State Government and Zhongshan point to another P&ID case in which unscrupulous and questionable individuals falsely present themselves as investors with the sole objective of cheating and scamming Governments in Africa.

Undoubtedly, Zhongshan withheld vital information and misled the Judicial Court in Paris into attaching the Nigerian government’s presidential jets, which are on routine maintenance in France. The use and nature of the Presidential jets as assets of a Sovereign entity whose assets are protected by diplomatic immunity forbid any foreign Court from issuing an order against them.

We are convinced the Chinese company misled the Judicial Court of Paris regarding the use and nature of the assets it seeks to attach and did not fully disclose to the court as required by law.

This same Chinese company had tried to enforce its questionable judgment in the UK and USA but failed.

Like the P&ID case, foreign companies are trying to defraud Nigeria with the collaboration of some bureaucrats. Zhongshan appeared to have sold the judgment they got to a venture capitalist seeking to make money by embarrassing the Federal Government and President Bola Tinubu.

We want to assure Nigerians that the Federal Government is working with the Ogun State Government to discharge this frivolous order in Paris immediately.
Nigerian Government will always work to protect our national assets from predators and shylocks who masquerade as investors.

Background to the Zhongshan Fucheng Case:

A contract between Ogun State and Zhongshan to manage a free-trade zone was executed in 2007. The parties entered into a dispute in 2015, and arbitration began in 2016.

By 2019, the arbitration hearing had been concluded. The Arbitral Panel awarded over 60 million USD against the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), a co-defendant, when all Zhongshan had done was build a perimeter fence around the free-trade zone.

Based on legal advice, the Ogun State Government resolved to resist the enforcement of the award. The resistance was successful in 8 different jurisdictions. There are pending appeals against recognition orders issued in both the US and UK.

Ogun State also engaged Zhongshan in settlement discussions on reasonable terms. The last meeting, held in September 2023 in London, lasted for three days and was attended by several officials of Ogun State, including Governor Dapo Abiodun and the Attorney General/Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi.

Zhongshan’s initial reasonable readiness to consider Ogun State’s offer was surprisingly reversed by the second day when it insisted on the government paying the full arbitration debt. This led to a breakdown of the mediation, with parties agreeing to meet again in the first quarter of this year.

Since then, Zhongshan has been evasive. Instead, it embarked on a series of enforcement proceedings, which the legal team appointed by the FGN and Ogun State successfully opposed.

In cases similar to the present one, where Zhongshan obtained an ex-parte order, Ogun State successfully set aside the orders.

Ogun State has not given up on a reasonable settlement option, with the most recent letter sent to Zhongshan last week. Zhongshan only responded after obtaining this latest illegal order.

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