WHERE IS ABIKE DABIRI-EREWA "MADAM DIASPORA" AFTER HUSH PUPPI'S ARREST? - A NIGERIAN MAN ASKS

I recall Abike Dabiri-Erewa, of the Diaspora Affairs office, taking to social media to tag criminals, who were arrested overseas "in the line of duty", as Igbo instead of Nigerians. I recall the backlash that followed that infamous and shameful tagging by a federal government official.

Folks of other tribes and ethnic stock took to social media to lampoon Igbos with their ignorance, hate, jealousy and stereotyping. 

I remember warning them to be careful because criminals don't have tribes or ethnicity, but are criminals and they shame all of us.

Ramoni Akanni, aka Hushpuppi, is a Nigerian who has made so much money via internet fraud, the one we call Yahoo Yahoo. He is not an Igbo man. And the internet is quiet because he's not Omo Igbo.

He fleeced the American government of $100m. Yes, one hundred million dollars. No tagging, except from those who are "retaliating".

He went on a spending spree, bought a $500,000 2020 Rolls Royce and took to Instagram to celebrate his obscene wealth.

He is always on the internet displaying his loot. And nobody asked questions as to the source of his wealth. And as they say, "nobody asked questions when he was poor". Therefore, nobody should when he gets "rich".

I have read many posts on this guy. It reminds me of the warning I posted after some Igbo boys were picked up for similar offences: Invictus Okeke, and many others. 

Some tribal jingoistic elements took to Facebook to mock Igbos and accuse us of "liking/loving money too much that we can do anything to make money".

Each time I check the lists of thieves, looters, ritualists, killers, kidnappers, agberoes, liers, wicked people, lying pastors, lying priests, name them, I see Igbo names; Yoruba names; Hausa/Fulani names; Ijaw, Efik, Ishekieri, Tiv, Biron, Nupe, Bini, names, etc.

But because some people cannot hide their hate for a people, once an Igbo man is caught in crime, they go on the offensive. Bayo Onanuga will tag them: Igbo man bla bla bla.

But today, they're quiet. Nobody is talking or writing. Like in the US, like in Nigeria. Hatred is everywhere. Racism is as bad as tribalism. Injustice in Nigeria is the same injustice elsewhere. 

But that's a topic for another day. 

ABIKE DABIRI-EREWA

Today, I want all of us to know that Hushpuppi, a Yoruba man, like other Igbos caught in this crime, has shamed all of us - Nigerians. The World knows only Nigeria and Nigerians. And for now it includes you, me, them.

Akanni  has smeared the millions of Nigerians working hard to earn decent living with this terrible brush. He has further damaged our already battered image. 

When next you encounter an Oyibo man and he treats you with suspicion or when next you're denied something by an Oyibo man, remember the Hushpuppis of this world caused it.

These stupid and idiotic criminal elements think the world works like Nigeria where stealing is no "big deal"; where criminals are celebrated and rewarded instead of being punished; where nobody asks questions as to the source of people's wealth. 

They think Americans are corrupt to the extent that they can be bought off from the huge sums stolen. They're mistaken. 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has painstakingly launched an investigation on this thief, and has picked him up. What remains now is to prosecute him and send him to jail where he rightly belongs. 

The luck he has is that American jails are better than ours. They're better than Ajegunle, Alimosho and Mushin Olosha, Aba, Onitsha, Asaba. You can go to school while in prison. And he may not serve life sentence. He may even, while in prison, be conducting his illicit business. 

He and Invictus Okeke can team up as Nigerians and enjoy their incarceration. They won't discriminate against themselves. They're brothers in crime, joined together by internet stealing. 

And when next you see a criminal or read about an arrest of one, and he's not of your ethnic stock, don't stereotype. There are criminals everywhere. And when they're caught, they're Nigerians and not Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba. And they shame you and me. Period.

A people are not bad; only individuals are.

So long, Nigerian internet fraudster. 

Fred Chukwuelobe

 

APC HAILS THE SUPREME COURT'S VOIDING OF THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT'S CONVICTION OF SENATOR ORJI UZOR KALU, HIGHLIGHTS WHAT IT MEANS FOR NDIGBO

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi has applauded the Supreme Court for upturning a lower court judgment that sentenced Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu to 12 years in prison on corruption allegation.

The Supreme Court on Friday set aside the December 5, 2019 judgment of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

In a unanimous judgement by a seven-man panel, the apex court held that the Federal High Court in Lagos, which tried and convicted Kalu, his firm Slok Nigeria Limited and his former aide, Jones Udeogu, acted without jurisdiction.

The court was of the view that Justice Mohammed Idris, who conducted the trial, was no longer a judge of the Federal High Court at the time he sat and delivered the judgment that convicted the defendants for allegedly stealing N7.65 billion from the treasury of Abia State.

The Supreme Court added that Justice Idris, having been elevated to the Court of Appeal before then, lacked the powers to return to sit as a High Court judge.

The court said the fiat that was issued to Justice Idris by the Court of Appeal President, pursuant to Section 396(7) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act was unconstitutional.

The Supreme Court then proceeded to set aside the judgment that convicted the defendants and ordered a fresh trial of the defendants by another judge.

Chief Eze Nwachukwu, the state APC Chairman, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abakaliki that the judgment delivered by the apex court was a victory for democracy and supremacy of the rule of law. He said that Ebonyi APC received the news with great joy and jubilation, adding that justice has been served following the acquittal.

He said: “We applaud the nation’s judiciary and the apex court which saw it necessary that justice was strangled along the line.

“That the judicial procedure that would have given a credible judgment was not followed, thereby setting aside the judgment and ordering for retrial.

“We say it is a welcome development because the earlier judgment brought the transparency of the judiciary to question, we commend the Supreme Court for doing the needful.

“Yes, he has spent months in incarceration but we believe as Christians that God may have used those periods to keep him away from unknown evil and no matter the pains he may have gone, the joy of his freedom will wash them away.

“The prison experience has also given him the opportunity like he said, to know who is who to him, his political and economic lives,” he said.

Nwachukwu described the embattled Abia-born politician and businessman as one of the foremost Igbo leaders that devoted his entire life, carrier and wealth to humanity.

The party expressed confidence that Kalu, whom it described as a ‘beacon’ of political hope for the South-East, would be vindicated at the end of his retrial.

Also, Dr Paul Okorie, a chieftain of APC and former commissioner for environment, commended the apex court for vacating the judgment of the lower court, saying that the pronouncement was an affirmation of supremacy of the nation’s constitution.

“Sen. Kalu took his conviction to the Supreme Court on the ground that the Constitution of Nigeria was breached at the lower court in the course of his conviction.

“The Supreme Court Judges upheld his position; this is another proof of supremacy of the constitution of our land.

“Hence, in whatever we do, we must bear it in mind that our constitution is supreme in all situations,” Okorie said.

Another chieftain of the party, Chief Abia Onyike in his reaction described the judgment as a positive welcome development for Kalu and Ndigbo.

Onyike, a former Ebonyi commissioner for information and orientation, said that the entire South-East and truth loving Nigerians wished him well as he resumes at the Senate.

“The ruling by the Supreme Court on Kalu is a positive development for himself and Ndigbo. We wish him well as he resumes at the Senate. He must have learnt some lessons from his ordeal.

“Igbo political leadership at this time requires self-assessment; we need an invigorated and vibrant political renaissance and Sen. Kalu should know that much is still expected from him,” he said.

 

RONALDINHO ADAPTING TO JAIL LIFE

Former Brazil and Barcelona player Ronaldinho Gaucho is adapting quickly to life in a Paraguayan jail, the head of the facility told Reuters on Monday, but his lawyers are hopeful he may soon be released into house arrest while the investigation continues.

"In broad terms he is doing very well," prison warden Blas Vera told Reuters in a telephone interview. "I see he is in good spirits, just like you see him on television, always smiling."

Vera said that Ronaldinho and his brother Roberto Assis, who were arrested on Friday for using a false Paraguayan passport, would present their case to a judge on Tuesday.

Their lawyer Sergio Queiroz told Reuters they had asked a court to release them into house arrest and offered guarantees they were not a flight risk.

Vera said the 39-year old former AC Milan and Paris St-Germain forward and his brother had beds, a television and a fan in their cell at the prison on the outskirts of the capital Asuncion.

The brothers use a communal bathroom and have the right to use the outdoor patio on a regular basis.

The pair’s lawyers have provided them with meals and they have not eaten the food offered by the jail. 

COMFORTABLE STAY

The maximum security facility has around 195 detainees, including politicians and police officers accused of corruption as well as major drug traffickers.

The more dangerous prisoners are housed in a different wing to Ronaldinho, Vera said, adding that he was working to ensure the pair’s stay is "as comfortable as possible".

Carlos Gamarra, the former captain of Paraguay's national team who also played for several Brazilian clubs, visited Ronaldinho with a group of ex-players in jail on Sunday.

Vera said others who were at the regular Sunday visiting time befriended the Brazilian.

"There was also a group of boys and girls and he welcomed them, gave them hugs and chatted with them," he said.

Ronaldinho, who was last year named a tourist ambassador by Brazil’s far-right government, arrived in Paraguay on Wednesday, invited to the landlocked South American nation by a local casino owner.

Although he last played professionally in 2015, Ronaldinho, who also represented Brazilian clubs Atletico Mineiro, Flamengo and Fluminense, is still hugely popular with global football fans and advertisers.

He won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 and the Champions League with Barcelona in 2006. He was also named FIFA world player of the year in 2004 and 2005.

-REUTERS

BRAZILIAN FOOTBALL LEGEND RONALDINHO RISKS UP TO 6MONTHS IN JAIL AFTER BEING ARRESTED IN PARAGUAY WITH FAKE PASSPORT

RONALDINHO COVERING HIS HANDCUFFS WITH A CLOTH

Brazilian legend Ronaldinho has been warned he could be held behind bars for up to six months as an investigation sparked by his use of a doctored passport to enter Paraguay continues.

The former Barcelona and AC Milan star spent a second night in a police cell after being refused bail by a judge on Saturday.

The judge accepted prosecutors’ claims he posed a serious flight risk if he was released from custody. The 39-year-old is thought to have been spared the nightmare scenario of a normal prison because of his status as one of the world’s best ever footballers.

THE FORGED PASSPORT

His lawyers are expected to appeal the decision to incarcerate him while a criminal investigation continues. But the probe is set to last around six months and Ronaldinho has been warned there is no guarantee he will be freed on bail until a decision on whether to try him is taken.

Even if he is released, authorities are expected to order him to remain in Paraguay until the investigation is completed.

Ronaldinho’s brother and business manager Roberto, who also entered the South American country on Wednesday with an adulterated passport, is being held in the same police station in the capital Asuncion.

Three other people, a Brazilian businessman alleged to have given the pair their passports which stated they were naturalised Paraguayans and two women believed to be the legitimate owners of the travel documents, are also in custody.

The footballer and his brother are claiming they were tricked. Ronaldinho’s lawyer has said Ronaldinho had been given his Paraguayan passport as a “gift”, assumed it was an ‘honorary-type’ document of no real value, and gave it to an official without thinking when he reached Paraguay because it was the “first thing he got out of his bag.”

Ronaldinho’s life has been under the microscope for all the wrong reasons since he won two Fifa World Player of the Year Awards as well as a Ballon d’Or at the peak of his playing career. He officially retired from football in 2018. The same year he was forced to deny bigamy claims.

He had his Brazilian passport confiscated after he was convicted alongside his brother of building an illegal fishing platform on a lake in a conservation area, but Paraguayan prosecutors confirmed earlier this week they had discovered it had been returned to him and he used it to leave Brazil on a flight from Sao Paulo.

Last year it was reported he only had five pounds in his bank account. Police raided a Ronaldinho family home to seize assets in a bid to guarantee he paid fines due over the illegal fishing platform.

Officers were said last November to have seized three luxury cars and a piece of art from painter Andre Berardo. Ronaldinho’s brother was sentenced to five years in jail in 2012 in Brazil for money laundering and other financial crimes.

Reports at the time said Roberto de Assis had been accused of lying to Brazilian tax authorities to justify the entry into his homeland of money held in secret accounts in Switzerland.

MAMA BOKO HARAM APPEARS IN COURT FOR FRAUD

AISHA WAKIL AKA MAMA BOKO HARAM

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday arraigned Aisha Wakil, popularly called Mama Boko Haram, alongside two others on eight counts, bordering on fraud.

This makes her and other defendants contending with cases of fraud before three judges in the state.

The two other arraigned with her before Justice Umaru Fadawu of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri, are senior members of her non-governmental organisation, Complete Care and Aid Foundation, Alhaji Saidu Daura and Prince Lawal Shoyode.

Early this week, the trio, with another person at large, were charged before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of another Borno State High Court with N111.7m fraud.

Wakil and Daura are facing corruption charges involving a N66m fraud before Justice Aisha Kumaliya.

Early this year, Wakil, Daura, Shoyode and Mallam Adamu Sani (at large) were arraigned for N42m fraud before Justice Jude Dagat of a Federal High Court, Maiduguri.

While Wakil pleaded “not guilty” to all the charges on Thursday, while the second and third defendants refused to take their pleas.

In view of the pleas, counsel for the EFCC, Fatsuma Muhammad asked for a trial date in order for the prosecution to prove its case against them.

Justice Fadawu, however, entered a “not guilty” plea for the two defendants. She, thereafter, adjourned until March 12 and 16, 2020 for commencement of trial and ordered that they should be remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Service facility.

- THE PUNCH

OGHARA AGOG AS EX-CONVICT FORMER GOVERNOR IBORI MAKES A "TRIUMPHANT" ENTRY INTO HIS HOMETOWN

The ancient town of Oghara in Ethiope West local Government Area of Delta was in a carnival mood on Saturday as former governor James Ibori arrived home after being deported to Nigeria on the completion of his jail term in a UK prison.

Mr. Ibori, who was convicted by a British court on charges of money laundering, arrived at the Benin Airport on Saturday aboard a chartered plane, IZYAIR, with registration number India Zulu Yanky (5NIZY). He was initially scheduled to land at Osubi Airport in Warri.

The flight, a Challenger 60, landed at Benin airport at about 2.25pm

Mr. Ibori stepped into his country home Oghara at about 3:30 pm.

His residence was thronged by well-wishers and political associates, who came to rejoice with him.

Outside of his residence, Oghara was in frenzy. Hundreds of people marched round the town carrying leaves while some painted their faces with chalk. Musical bands entertained the crowd at various points.

Ighoyota Amori, a former senator representing Delta Central, said the return of Mr. Ibori was a good omen to the people.

“We are happy that Ibori is back, people are jubilating, the crowd you see here and the enthusiasm that has been displayed today showed that we really missed him.

“This is the only way for us to appreciate that our leader who left us long ago is back.

“His coming is a beginning of so many good things to come, by his presence today, l am sure we are gaining back all we have lost.

“Ibori remains in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but it is not time to discuss politics. All his followers around are members of PDP,” Mr. Amori said.

Lovett Idisi, member representing Ethiope East and Ethiope West Federal Constituency, thanked God for the safe return of Mr. Ibori.

“We prayed that all our PDP faithful should be steadfast now that we have a pure political direction.

“Their support has not been in vain, I believe now that our leader is out, we will have a sense of direction.  We are a sheep with a shepherd right now.

“In my constituency, we now have somebody to consult without travelling overseas,” Mr. Idisi said.

One of Oghara’s youth leaders, Efe Moses, said the return of Mr. Ibori would turn things around for the good of the town.

“We are grateful to God for the return of our chief (Ibori). Sure things will turn around for better from now on in Oghara.

“Ibori is our father and we can die because of him,’’ Mr. Moses said.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that security was beefed up to maintain law and order within and outside the Ibori residence.

----PREMIUMTIMES

BREAKING: FORMER GOVERNOR OF DELTA STATE, NIGERIA JAMES IBORI RELEASED FROM UK PRISON BUT CAN'T LEAVE UK YET

James Ibori

The former governor of Delta State, Nigeria, Chief James Onanefe Ibori has been released from prison in UK. He was released a few minutes past noon today upon a court order. His media aide, Mr. Tony Elumenor confirmed the release to Vanguard Nigeria. Ibori was sentenced by a United Kingdom court to prison for 13 years for money laundering and served out his term midnight yesterday. 

The British Home Office had made an unsuccessful attempt to prevent his release, claiming that Ibori’s assets confiscation hearing was inconclusive.

The presiding Judge, Mrs. Justice May, who heard an emergency appeal filed by Ibori to enforce his rights, rejected the Home Office’s request to continue to detain him.

In her ruling, Justice May ordered his immediate release without conditions attached.

Ibori's mugshot

However, residents of Asaba, Delta State, who are currently celebrating the release of their former Governor may have to wait till well after January 2017 before they can physically embrace their son.

It was gathered that the ex-governor has to report to the Police once a week, hence his inability to return to Nigeria immediately.

He is reported to be currently restricted to his St. John’s Wood residence.

May ordered both parties to return to court in January.

Meanwhile, Ibori has appealed his conviction for money laundering and graft.

It will be recalled that Mr. Ibori was sent to jail for for stealing at least $250 million of public funds within the period he served as governor of the wealthy Delta state.

Mr. Ibori is the last of his friends and family to be jailed for his thefts as governor of the oil-rich Delta state.

His wife, sister and mistress have been convicted of money-laundering in the UK and served various terms in prisons.

His solicitor, Gohil, was also jailed for 10 years for helping syphon the money Mr. Ibori stole.

In addition to the prison terms, the Judge said Ibori’s sentencing was not the end of matter as his property will be confiscated and consequences may arise thereafter.

In 2007, a UK court froze assets allegedly belonging to him worth $35m after he failed to justify buying the property with his annual salary as Delta state governor of  less than $25,000.

SERGEY MAVRODI - THE CRIMINAL BEHIND THE MMM PONZI SCHEME

Sergey Mavrodi

MMM Global a popular ponzi scheme advertises itself as a scheme whereby new members “assist” older members by paying a fee to join. Older members are allowed to withdraw money after a certain period of time, and receive bonuses for encouraging others to sign up.

Today there are over 2million "investors" in the Nigerian arm of the scheme also known as MMM Nigeria. But what many of the "investors" here do not know and probably not bothered to find out due to their greed is that the founder of MMM Global is a convicted criminal in his native Russia and is also on the run for defrauding people though a different scheme.

Sergey Panteleevich Mavrodi (Russian: Серге́й Пантелеевич Мавроди; born August 11, 1955) is a Russian criminal and a former deputy of the State Duma. He is the founder of the МММ series of pyramid schemes. In 2007 Sergei Mavrodi was found guilty in a Russian court of defrauding 10,000 investors out of 110 million rubles ($4.3 million) according to Wikipedia.

In 1989 he founded MMM.
He was then elected to the State Duma, thereby obtaining parliamentary immunity. Mavrodi declared MMM bankrupt on December 22, 1997, then disappeared, and was on the run until his arrest in 2003 

Mavrodi in a Russian court in 2007

In 1998 Mavrodi created Stock Generation, allegedly a classic pyramid scheme presented as a "virtual stock market game." The website ran from 1998 to early 2000. The Massachusetts district court initially found that U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission was unable to cite Stock Generation's founders and owners for securities violations. However, the United States Court of Appeals reversed this decision in 2001, concluding that the SEC alleged sufficient facts to state a triable claim. In 2003 the SEC obtained permanent injunctions against SG Ltd. and relief defendants SG Perfect and SG Trading, which profited from the disbursement of funds fraudulently gained by SG Ltd.

On April 28, 2007, a Moscow court sentenced him to four and a half years in a penal colony. The court also fined him 10,000 rubles ($390).
In January 2011, Mavrodi launched another pyramid scheme called MMM-2011, asking investors to buy so-called Mavro currency units. He frankly described it as a pyramid, adding "It is a naked scheme, nothing more ... People interact with each other and give each other money. For no reason!"Mavrodi said that his goal with MMM-2011 is to destroy the current financial system, which he considers unfair, which would allow something new to take its place. MMM-2011 was able to function openly as Ponzi schemes and financial pyramids are not illegal under Russian law. In May 2012 he froze the operation and announced that there would be no more payouts.

In 2011 he launched a similar scheme in India, called MMM India, again stating clearly that the vehicle is a pyramid. He has also launched MMM in China. He was reported to be trying to expand his operations into Western Europe, Canada, and Latin America^. As of September 2015 it had spread rapidly in South Africa with a claimed 1% per day or 30% per month interest rate scheme and warnings from both the South African and Russian Communist Parties for people not to participate in it. In early 2016, he continued the same model in Zimbabwe (the accounts were frozen in September 2016), and later, in Nigeria. Accounts of Nigerian participants later got to be frozen on December 13, 2016.

What it simply means is that the number of people in need of "help" has outnumbered the number of people joining.

BOKO HARAM PROTECTED ME IN PRISON! - FEMI FANI-KAYODE

Fani-Kayode in Court

A former Nigerian Minister of Aviation has spoken on how some Boko Haram terror detainees "protected" him while he was in the same as they were.

The former Minister Femi Fani-Kayode who served in a previous government is being tried by the present Nigerian government on corruption charges. His trial, he has continuously maintained, is politically motivated.

HIS DETAILED STATEMENT

Permit me to begin this contribution with an apology for my disappearance from the literary and political scene for the last one month but this was due to circumstances beyond my control.

On October 21st, five days after my 56th birthday, I was arrested by the EFCC without an arrest warrant at the premises of the Federal High Court in Lagos where I had been earlier granted bail. Thereafter I was illegally detained by them without any detention order for 21 days.

Kindly note that this was after I had been detained by them for a gruelling 67 days 6 months ago (from 9th of May till July 15th), brought before the Federal High Court in Lagos, arraigned on spurios and politically-motivated charges and locked up in Ikoyi prison for a number of days whilst I attempted to perfect my court bail.

After perfecting bail, on 21st October I was re-arrested and the whole nightmare began again: only this time it was far more insidious and worse.

Throughout the time of the second detention I was kept in a dingy underground cell at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja where I met a number of other high profile opposition figures like Senator Bala Mohammed, the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, the former Minister of State for Defence and Mr. Reuben Abati, the former spokesman to President Goodluck Jonathan.

During the course of my 21 day incarceration my abductors did not ask me any questions or say one word to me other than to formally serve me with a new set of fresh criminal charges the morning after I got there which I simply signed for.

After that I heard nothing from them and I was told nothing though I had daily visits to the medical clinic at the EFCC due to my deteriorating health.

Three weeks later, on November 10th, I was brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja and arraigned on yet another set of spurrious, baseless and politically-motivated charges.

These ones were even more ridiculous and far-fetched than the first set in Lagos. I was falsely accused of receiving 26 million naira cash from the former National Security Advisor, Colonel Sambo Dasuki, for media work for the Jonathan administration in 2014.

Thankfully I was granted bail by the court and I was detained at Kuje prison for a further 4 days whilst I attempted to perfect my bail.

At Kuje I was kept in the terrorist wing of the prison which was built by the British government specifically for Boko Haram convicts and suspects.

There were 47 of them in the facility and I was with them throughout. These were tough, disciplined, hardened, surprisingly well-educated and intimidating men.

The single cells and the entire terrorist section of the prison was pervaded by an eerie silence throughout the night and low tone whispers throughout the day. The only thing that broke the monotony of silence was the regular and constant call to Muslim prayers and the loud and regular cries of “Allahu Akbar”.

This was a frightful place and those that were locked up there were very dangerous and frightful people yet thankfully the Lord went ahead of me.

The single cells, though small, were clean, self-contained, well-ventilated, dry and very neat. The inmates were surprisingly very kind and friendly towards me and turned out to be my best friends and bodyguards whenever I toured the other parts of the prison.

I was very impressed with them and when I heard their stories and what some of them had been subjected to by the security forces and the state tears came to my eyes.

Most of those men were not Boko Haram killers but had been falsely accused, tortured and just dumped into prison and I felt nothing but pain and sorrow when I heard their stories.

When I went to visit the great and brilliant freedom fighter, Nnamdi Kanu, who is the leader of IPOB and easily the most courageous, powerful and credible Igbo leader in Nigeria today in his cell we had a very instructive and long discussion.

I had never met Nnamdi before and I was amazed at his depth of knowledge, his immense courage and his deep convictions.

There is no doubt in my mind that that man is going places and in him the Igbo have an Ojukwu and a Nnamdi Azikiwe all rolled into one. He is destined for greatness.

My Boko Haram friends accompanied me to that meeting, drew a ten man security cordon around me when we entered the general population of the prison and waited outside as Nnamdi and I spoke for almost three hours.

They even accompanied me to Church on sunday and waited outside until we finished.

Given what I have written about Boko Haram in the past and given my total aversion to any form of violence, terrorism and radical Islam, this was a classic case of God granting me favour before my enemies.

Everyone dreaded them in that prison but I am proud to say that they were my friends and I will never forget their courage, kindness and fellowship for the rest of my life.

The enemy had placed me in the lions den but the lions and their prey became the best of friends. Not only were my Boko Haram section mates very good to me but so were the other inmates in the general prison population.

Not only that, the head of the prison DCP Akilu Abdullah, his Chief warden and his entire staff and team of prison wardens were firm, courteous and professional not just to me but to all the other inmates.

This was the doing of the Lord and it was marvellous in my sight. Throughout my travails I have never questioned God and I have been inspired and comforted by His word which says that in all things we must give thanks to Him.

I am innocent of all the charges and allegations and as I have said elsewhere the whole thing is an attempt by the Federal Government and an increasingly desperate EFCC that is obsessed with my name and putting me away to discredit, break and silence me.

Yet in all this I am not moved and neither can I ever be broken or silenced because, like the biblical Job, “I know that my Redeemer liveth”.

Like Shakespeare’s Macbeth, “my head is bloodied but not bowed” and “I shall fight until the flesh is hacked from my bones”.

And as that fight and struggle unfolds and unwinds I take solace in the powerful and beautiful words of the Victorian poet William Ernest Henley in my favourite poem titled ‘Invictus’ which was written in 1875. He wrote,

“Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul”.

Like Nelson Mandela did at Robben Island prison every day for 26 years, I recited that poem three times a day on each and every day of my total of 90 days detention this year. And if I am arrested and detained again by the EFCC or any of President Buhari’s other numerous security or intelligence agencies I will continue to recite it. I have no fear of what men or satan can do to me and I trust and have faith in the God that I serve.

Having explained my absence for the few weeks with this appetiser permit me get to the meat of it and now serve the main dish of this contribution. (TO BE CONTINUED).