News
Many Nigerians Are Still Honest, Says Cab Driver Who Returned Money Left In His Car
Joel Ajayi
An Abuja-based taxi driver, who returned a bag containing cash and other valuables forgotten in his cab to the owner, says there are many Nigerians with high levels of integrity.
Hassan Abukakar returned the sum of N50,000, a laptop, golden earrings, an international passport, a power bank, and ATM cards belonging to Professor Margaret Araoye, who forgot the items in the taxi cab.
PRIMORG joined in celebrating Abubakar for his act of integrity by inviting him to talk on PUBLIC CONSCIENCE, the anti-corruption program on Wednesday in Abuja.
“Na wetin I suppose to do be that,” he said in pidgin English, meaning ‘That is what I am supposed to do’ when asked why he decided to locate the owner and return the items. He added that the money and the other things were left in his taxi cab, saying he was supposed to locate the owner and return the cash and other valuables.
“That was what I did,” Abubakar said
He said the act of returning the items was not a difficult one for him because staying upright in character has become a routine for him.
Abubakar thought that despite the pervasive nature of corruption in Nigerians, there are still citizens with a high level of integrity.
Other participants during the radio program commended Abubakar for his uprightness and high level of integrity and encouraged Nigerians to emulate him.
They lamented that the government was not doing enough to halt the pervasive corruption in the public sector.
The Project Coordinator, Akin Fadeyi Foundation, AFF, Patience Hyeladzira Ismaila, advised President Bola Tinubu-led government and anti-corruption agencies to take a tough stance against corruption to deter public officers from committing corrupt acts.
Ismaila, while lamenting that corruption has been institutionalized in Nigeria, stressed that strict policies and application are vital if the government wants to fight public sector corruption. She insisted that the government of the day must put in place measures to ensure there are repercussions for corrupt acts against public officials and citizens.
“Measures should be put in place, and People should be publicly punished and held accountable for their actions.
“In a community where you feel like you can get diplomatic immunity, I feel like people should be treated like every Nigerian. If you steal, it should be said that you stole, the same way when ordinary people do the wrong thing and get punished, people at the top level should get the same treatment.
“Bodies like the ICPC, the EFCC, and the Code of Conduct Bureau should be loud when somebody has committed a crime, and when there are always repercussions, corrupt practices will reduce, “Ismaila noted.
She, however, urged the Federal Government to address rising poverty and food crises, which are affecting a lot of Nigerians and driving some people into crime and wrongdoings, while urging Nigerians to focus on being trustworthy, abstain from fraud, and report corrupt acts.
“There needs to be institutionalization of anti-corruption in our society. Nigerians should focus on being trustworthy and patriotic regardless of status. I believe that it always pays to be a good person. It always pays to be honest. So people should abstain from corrupt practices and report corrupt practices because it’s not enough to abstain from it.“ Ismaila advised.
Likewise, Programme Officer, Accountability Lab Nigeria, Mnenga Shiiuwa, while underscoring the importance of stringent punishment against corruption in the public sector, alleged that recruitments into civil service are fraught with massive irregularities and racket.
Shiiuwa added that Nigeria’s challenge is that corruption has eaten into the fabric of the society despite the numerous laws of the land meant to prevent and fight it.
“We have a big problem with the public service, and the solution has to begin with the recruitment process.
“To the best of my knowledge, in the last 15 years, we haven’t had a fair recruitment process in the Nigerian public service. Almost every person in every single agency of government that found his or herself there came through a connection, and what that means is that their allegiance is not to the service but to the people who brought them in -this has to be addressed, or otherwise, we keep having a repeat of dishonest, untruthful public servants in our country.” He said.
Shiiuwa called on citizens, and religious and traditional institutions to play a key role in molding an upright society.
Public Conscience is a syndicated weekly anti-corruption radio program PRIMORG uses to draw government and citizens’ attention to corruption and integrity issues in Nigeria.
The program has the support of the MacArthur Foundation.
News
Amb Lion Ogorry Files Landmark Lawsuit Against Sahara Reporters, Sowore For Misleading and Malicious Publication Endangering National Security
Ambassador Adebayo Lion Ogorry, a renowned public advocacy practitioner and activist, today announced the filing of a high-profile lawsuit against Sahara Reporters Ltd. and its publisher, Omoyele Sowore, in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The suit, numbered FCT/HC/CV/4767/2025, accuses the defendants of publishing a false, malicious, and reckless article that violates Nigeria’s Constitution, the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act 2015, and other laws protecting public discourse, national security, and public order.
The originating summons, filed on November 24, 2025, stems from a Sahara Reporters article titled
“EXCLUSIVE: How Tinubu’s Defence Minister Matawalle Maintains Contact With Bandit Leaders, Ordered Them To Compel Communities To Vote For APC—Former Aide,” published on November 19, 2025.
Ambassador Ogorry alleges that the publication contains grave, unfounded accusations against the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, claiming he maintains illicit contacts with bandit leaders, orders communities to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC), and engages in activities that undermine counter-terrorism efforts.
These claims, according to the suit, are not only false but also fabricated to incite alarm, hatred, and ill-will, while endangering national security and public safety.
In his affidavit supporting the summons, Ambassador Ogorry, a Nigerian citizen and resident of Abuja with a long-standing commitment to public order and lawful civic discourse, emphasized that the article was disseminated widely across Sahara Reporters’ website, social media channels, X.com (Twitter) account, Facebook pages, WhatsApp broadcasts, and other platforms. He described the publication as a blatant violation of Section 39(3)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which prohibits speech that endangers public safety, national security, and public order. Furthermore, it contravenes Sections 24(1)(a) & (b) of the Cybercrimes Act 2015 by disseminating false, misleading, and harmful information capable of causing alarm or ill-will.
“The defendants’ reckless actions have not only tarnished the reputation of a dedicated public servant but have also compromised ongoing military operations against banditry and terrorism in Nigeria’s North-West region,” said Ambassador Ogorry. “This publication promotes distrust, exposes the Minister to risks, and undermines the morale of our armed forces engaged in counter-terrorism. It is a direct assault on our national security and the freedom of expression that must be balanced with responsibility.”
The lawsuit seeks the following reliefs from the court:
– A declaration that the publication is false, misleading, malicious, and not protected speech under Section 39(1) of the Constitution (as amended).
– A declaration that it falls within restricted speech under Section 39(3)(a), endangering public safety, national security, and public order.
– A declaration that it violates Sections 24(1)(a) & (b) of the Cybercrimes Act 2015 by prohibiting false, harmful, or misleading information.
– AN ORDER OF INJUNCTION restraining the Defendants, their agents, or privies from further publishing, distributing, circulating, or causing to be circulated the said false publication or any other malicious publication especially as it relates to and against the person of Defence Minister, Dr. Matawalle.
– An order directing the defendants to issue a public retraction of the publication and publish a full apology on their website and social media channels for 14 consecutive days.
– General and exemplary damages of N10,000,000,000 (Ten Billion Naira) for the frivolous, false, and malicious publication geared toward endangering public safety, national security, and public order.
Ambassador Ogorry highlighted that the article, based on unverified claims from an alleged “former senior aide,” lacks any official record or evidence, demonstrating the defendants’ disregard for truth and ethical journalism. He urged the court to address this as a matter of urgent national importance, citing precedents such as President F.R.N. v. ISA (2017) and Guardian Newspapers v. AIEH (2011), which affirm that freedom of expression does not protect reckless publications that threaten security.
“This lawsuit is not just about correcting a falsehood; it’s about safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy, protecting public officials from baseless attacks, and ensuring media accountability,” Ambassador Ogorry added. “Sahara Reporters and Omoyele Sowore must be held responsible for their role in spreading dangerous misinformation that could fuel terrorism and disrupt public order.”
The case is set for hearing in the Abuja Judicial Division, and Ambassador Ogorry expressed confidence in the judiciary’s ability to uphold justice and constitutional principles.
About Ambassador Adebayo Lion Ogorry
Ambassador Adebayo Lion Ogorry is a public advocacy practitioner, activist, and Nigerian citizen dedicated to promoting national security, public order, and lawful civic discourse. With a focus on protecting public discourse from malicious interference, he advocates for responsible journalism and governance.
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