News From Nigeria
Lagos State Governor, His Excellency Babajide Sanwo-olu has commended Julius Berger Nigeria Plc for the quality and progress of the ongoing works being executed on the Opebi-Mende-Ojota link bridges and roads project. The project is conceived by the Lagos State Government to ease the flow of traffic on the critical axis from Ikeja as well as to mitigate the intense inbound traffic from Ibadan into Lagos.
Sanwo-Olu announced the commencement of the construction of the project January 26, 2022 revealing that it was conceived over 20 years ago. He thus described the project as a legacy of his administration to ease the burden of commuters.
Months into the project, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructures, Engr. Mrs Aramide Adeyoye recalled that with a total length of 3.9 kilometres, the project was designed to provide direct link between Opebi, Mende, Maryland and Ojota to Ikorodu road. Adding that the bridge would reduce the perennial traffic on Mobolaji Bank-Anthony Way, and traffic on other roads around the environment, Aramide said the project, designed in conjunction with the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, will not only provide infrastructure solution, but also a transport solution that ensures value and relief for the motoring public.
During his assessment visit to the site Monday, the Governor inspected the precast site and the site of the major bridge where tremendous progress has been accomplished in the laying of beams on the pillar frameworks of the bridges being constructed.
On completion of the inspection, the Governor told Julius Berger engineers on site: ‘‘I thank you very much. It is great to see this vision coming to such good reality. Keep it up. I thank the staff of the state ministry of works too.‘‘
Project Manager, Engr. Dennysenko later said: ‘‘…we are aware of the importance and relevance of this project to the economy and ease of life for the people of Lagos State. So we will not fail in doing what we are expected to do to put in place the much- needed relief to commuters and residents in the affected areas.‘‘ Engr. Dennysenko, with profound professional confidence, added that‚ ‘‘…Julius Berger is committed to join the government in its efforts to provide infrastructure that would be complemented by decent inter-modal transportation system, befitting of a mega city like Lagos.‘‘
On the governor’s entourage were the State Commissioners for Budget, Sam Egube, the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde and the Special Adviser on Works and Infrastructures Engr. Mrs Aramide Adeyoye, among others.
The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) on Wednesday dissociated itself from a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari, saying agents of Kogi State All Progressives Congress (APC) desperate to tarnish the reputation of Kogi Central Senatorial Candidate, Chief Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In a statement in Abuja, the Opposition Coalition Spokesman, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere dissociated himself and the leadership of the CUPP from the said letter.
‘’The attention of the spokesman of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has been drawn to a letter purportedly written by the Coalition to President Muhammadu Buhari against Barrister Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan wherein claims were made that she imported Niger Delta militants to Okene during a rally which she organized. I wish to dissociate myself and the leadership of the CUPP from the said letter which was not authored or signed by my humble self or the Secretary of the Coalition High Chief Peter Ameh’’.
He called on the public to ignore the letter.
‘’Agents of APC desperate to tarnish the reputation of Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan having seen that the people of Kogi Central have endorsed her as the next person to represent them as Senator in the National Assembly and should desist from doing anything to undermine her legitimate quest’’.
The opposition coalition also called on Akpoti Uduaghan to go about her campaign and ignore the shenanigans of her opponents who are already staring defeat in the face and not allow her focus to be shifted from the ball.
‘’I hereby call that the letter be disregarded by the authorities that it was addressed to’’.
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Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) ON Wednesday disowned a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari, saying agents of Kogi State All Progressives Congress (APC) desperate to tarnish the reputation of Kogi Central Senatorial Candidate, Chief Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan
The attention of the spokesman of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has been drawn to a letter purportedly written by the Coalition to President Muhammadu Buhari against Barrister Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan wherein claims were made that she imported Niger Delta militants to Okene during a rally which she organized..
I wish to dissociate myself and the leadership of the CUPP from the said letter which was not authored or signed by my humble self or the Secretary of the Coalition High Chief Peter Ameh.
The public should ignore the letter which agents of APC desperate to tarnish the reputation of Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan having seen that the people of Kogi Central have endorsed her as the next person to represent them as Senator in the National Assembly and should desist from doing anything to undermine her legitimate quest.
I hereby call that the letter be disregarded by the authorities that it was addressed to.
The opposition coalition hereby calls on Mrs Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan to go about her campaign and ignore the shenanigans of her opponents who are already staring defeat in the face and not allow her focus to be shifted from the ball.
Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere
Opposition Coalition Spokesman
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Lawyers call CUPP leaders halfwits
A firm of legal practitioners, Demaki & Demaki, on Wednesday clarified its petition to President Muhammadu Bubari
‘’Our petition to the President was evidently laced with proofs on the modus operandi of the said Navy Commander Uchendu Nicholas Akalezi in taking out political opponents of the Governor of Kogi State.
The legal firm also said an offence was committed by the Commander of Navy Special Forces; Commander Uchendu Nicholas Akalezi and the families of the victims of Commander Akalezi’s brutality, killings, kidnappings and maiming in exercising their constitutional rights engaged the services of law firm which in turn petitioned the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to investigate the atrocities committed by Commander Uchendu Nicholas Akalezi and bring him to justice.
‘’There was never a place in our petition to the President or the Chief of Naval Staff where the Nigeria Military was berated; rather we informed Mr. President that the actions of Navy Commander Uchendu Akalezi were denting the image of the disciplined members of the Nigeria Armed Forces. We refer members of the public to paragraph 12 of our open petition to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the 29th day of January, 2023’’.
In another petition to President Buhari, the law firm said its earlier petitions stated the names of the victims of Commander Uchendu Nicholas Akalezi, the dates and time these persons were either kidnapped, killed and molested by Commander Uchendu Nicholas Akalezi’.
Entitled ‘’ The urgent need to arrest and prosecute politicians trying to scuttle the 2023 elections by blackmailing our military, the legal firm said those who signed the said petition by the Coalition of the United Political Parties to President Muhammadu Buhari do not know the meaning of a Petition and the difference between a petition and blackmail.
‘’That if the said undersigned to the said petition of the Coalition of United Political Parties painstakingly read through our law firm’s petition to President Muhammadu Buhari, they would have seen that we were briefed by the families of the victims of the abductions, killings and intimidation of Navy Commander Charles Akalezi who is the personal hitman of the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello to take out perceived political opponents of the Governor’’.
The legal practitioners emphasized the purpose for responding to the CUPP petition.
‘’As a firm of Legal Practitioners; we would not have replied the vexatious, monetary induced and biased petition by the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) written to President Muhammadu Buhari on the 31st of January, 2023 but for the sake of posterity and to further set the records straight ‘’
Calling the Coalition of United Political Parties a tool being used by the Government of Kogi State to further frustrate and truncate our petitions to the President and Chief of Naval of Staff to investigate Navy Commander Uchendu Nicholas Akalezi and bring him to justice, the law firm said every right thinking person or organization who goes through its petitions to the President and that of the Chief of Naval Staff will support it and call for the investigation of Commander Uchendu Nicholas Akalezi and if found culpable be brought to justice.
“ A Petition is a request to do something, most commonly addressed to a government official or a public entity. It is evident that the undersigned of the CUPP petition are meddlesome interlopers who have no business in the petition our law firm wrote to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and they have no right in berating our law firm in carrying out its constitutional duties as lawyers and solicitors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’’.
They described CUPP leaders as halfwits.
‘’That if we are sure of our claims, the proper channel to bring Commander Akalezi to justice is through Fundamental Rights Application. It clearly shows that CUPP despite boasting of having Professionals and Intellectuals in their Midst are halfwits and clearly don’t understand our claims. Our claim and accusations against Commander Uchendu Nicholas Akalezi is criminal in nature to wit Kidnappings, killings and maiming of our Clients and it is in that regards we have petitioned the President, The Chief of Naval Staff and the Inspector General of Police whom are empowered by law to investigate Crimes committed against the Citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’’.
The letter signed by the firm’s Principal partner, Shedrack M. Demaki ESQ urged Nigerians to ask the members of the Coalition of United Political Parties the interest they are serving.
‘’Why is CUPP crying more than the accused? The ball is now in your court; Coalition of United Political Parties. We wish to state if the Governor of kogi State and Commander Uchendu Nicholas Akalezi hands are clean and our accusations are frivolous let them come out and defend same instead of hiding under CUPP who have clearly shown their bias and are only interested in their selfish gains’’
The legal practitioners called on the President to use his good Office to call the Chief of Naval Staff to order the investigation, arrest of Commander Uchendu Nicholas Akalezi for him to be brought to justice for all his crimes and atrocities.
‘’One begins to wonder when the Coalition of United Political Parties became the mouthpiece of Mr. President and the Chief of Naval Staff or that of the Governor of Kogi State.
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1 st February, 2023
HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA,
STATE HOUSE,
FCT ABUJA
SIR, RE:THE URGENT NEED TO ARREST AND PROSECUTE POLITICIANS TRYING TO SCUTTLE THE 2023 ELECTIONS BY BLACKMAILING OUR MILITARY. The above subject matter refers.
As a firm of Legal Practitioners; we would not have replied the vexatious, monetary induced and biased petition by the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) written to President Muhammadu Buhari on the 31st of January, 2023 but for the sake of posterity and to further set the records straight hence this rejoinder and we state as follows;
Flowing from the above indices, one begins to wonder when the Coalition of United Political Parties became the mouthpiece of Mr. President and the Chief of Naval Staff or that of the Governor of Kogi State.
It clearly shows that the Coalition of United Political Parties is now also a tool being used by the Government of Kogi State to further frustrate and truncate our petitions to the President and Chief of Naval of Staff to investigate Navy Commander Uchendu Nicholas Akalezi and bring him to justice.
Every right thinking person or organization who goes through our petitions to the President and that of the Chief of Naval Staff will support it and call for the investigation of Commander Uchendu Nicholas Akalezi and if found culpable be brought to justice.
We further wish to correct an impression CUPP is trying to create that if we are sure of our claims, the proper channel to bring Commander Akalezi to justice is through Fundamental Rights Application. It clearly shows that CUPP despite boasting of having Professionals and Intellectuals in their Midst are halfwits and clearly don’t understand our claims. Our claim and accusations against Commander Uchendu Nicholas Akalezi is criminal in nature to wit Kidnappings, killings and maiming of our Clients and it is in that regards we have petitioned the President, The Chief of Naval Staff and the Inspector General of Police whom are empowered by law to investigate Crimes committed against the Citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The question Nigerians need to ask the undersigned of the Coalition of United Political Parties is whose interest are they serving?
Why is CUPP crying more than the accused? All these questions are begging for answers. The ball is now in your court; Coalition of United Political Parties. We also wish to state if the Governor of kogi State and Commander Uchendu Nicholas Akalezi hands are clean and our accusations are frivolous, let them come out and defend the same instead of hiding under CUPP who have clearly shown their bias and are only interested in their selfish gains. Finally, we call on the President to use his good Office to call the Chief of Naval Staff to order the investigation, arrest of Commander Uchendu Nicholas Akalezi for him to be brought to justice for all his crimes and atrocities.
Yours Faithfully
For: DEMAKI & DEMAKI
SHEDRACK .M. DEMAKI ESQ
(PRINCIPAL PARTNER)
Lawyers petition Buhari over Commander of Navy Special Forces in Kogi State
President Muhammadu Buhari was on Sunday asked to sack the Chief of Naval Staff.
‘’We wish to state that the actions of Commander Akalezi and Chief of Naval Staff are a clear breach of the operational code of conduct of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria’’.
The President was also asked to arrest Commander Akalezi of NNS Lugard for all his dastardly acts.
‘’The Nigerian Navy was created by the force of law to protect the territorial waters of the Federal of Republic of Nigeria from external aggressions and to protect the country’s assets situate in waters. It is so disheartening that the Nigerian Navy under the current Chief of Naval Staff has derailed from their constitutional roles and delved into the murky waters of politics in Kogi State’’.
The call was made by a firm of Legal Practitioners, Demaki & Demaki.
‘’Nigeria is not a banana republic where laws are nonexistent or not obeyed. Nigeria has laws and no person or group of persons are above the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Therefore, Commander Akalezi and the Chief of Naval of Staff are not above the laws of the land. The action of Commander Akalezi and the Chief of Naval Staff dents the image of the disciplined officers of Nigerian Navy who are reputed for their bravery and uprightness; and, if left unabated will lead to breakdown of law and order; and destruction of lives and properties in Kogi State.’’
They accused the governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, of using Akalezi to intimidate, kill, abduct and kidnap kogi indigenes opposed to his political ambitions.
‘’These series of extrajudicial killings, intimidation, abductions and kidnappings of Kogi indigenes have been occurring since 2019 and has not abated rather Akalezi is further emboldened to continue carrying out his dastardly acts. It is our brief also that the families of the victims of Akalezi’s brutality have written several petitions to the Department of State Security, the Inspector-General of Police and the Chief of Naval Staff; however, none were investigated by the respective authorities’’.
‘Entitled ‘Petition on the genocide and extra judicial killings/abduction/kidnappings of Kogi indigenes to wit, Hon. Musa Adelabu, Mr Rufai Jimoh, Mr. Hadi Abdulmaliki, Mr Kashim Ismaila, Ismaila Momoh, Mr. Monday Idowu and Mr. Abdulazeez Salami by Uchendu Nicholas Akalezi a.k.a (Charles Akalieze), Commander of the Navy Special Forces in Kogi State and the Chief of Naval Staff, the lawyers urged Buhari to direct that Commander Akalezi be arrested and brought to justice for all his genocidal acts.
‘’Commander Akalezi was reposted from NNS Kano, Lagos state to NNS Lugard in Kogi state on the 9th of January 2023 by the Chief of Naval Staff and that no form of disciplinary action was taken against him neither were our clients reached out to in furtherance of any investigation to their petition before the Naval Command. Also, the return of Commander Akalezi to Kogi was influenced by the Governor to have him continue his reign of terror on the people of Kogi Central during this critical yet vulnerable political season in a bid to frighten and scare the people from willfully exercising their civic responsibilities as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended’’.
In a letter to President Buhari, the lawyers said the Nigerian Navy under the current Chief of Naval Staff had derailed from constitutional roles and delved into the murky waters of politics in Kogi State.
‘’It is very shameful that the Chief of Naval Staff is allowing the Men and Officers of the Nigerian Navy to be the personal attack dogs/ killer squad used by the Government of Kogi State to eliminate its perceived political enemies’’
They accused the Chief of Naval Staff of shielding Commander Uchendu Nicholas Akalezi from the long arms of the law.
‘’It is our brief that since the return of Commander Akalezi back to Kogi State, he has boasted of Gov. Yahaya Bello’s support and financial influence over the Naval Chief making him untouchable and unanswerable to any petition. In view of reinstating fear in the indigenes and political opponents of the Kogi State governor/ Commander Akalezi with his team recently abducted one Ahmed whose whereabouts is still unknown’’.
They alleged that the said Akalezi has hands in the disappearance of over one hundred and fifty person of Kogi origin who are political opponents of Bello.
‘’It is a brief of fact that the said Commander Akalezi was transferred out of Kogi in the last quarter of 2022 by the Naval Authorities upon the uproar and protest against his illegal activities. The said transfer of Commander Akalezi out of Kogi State to NNS Kano in Lagos state brought relative peace to the state as indigenes of Kogi State were able to go about their political activities without the fear of being killed’’.
Calling Uchendu Nicholas Akalezi personal Hit man of the Kpgi State governor, the lawyers listed those kidnapped, extra-judicially killed and executed by Uchendu Nicholas Akalezi.
‘’Hon. Musa Adelabu who was the PDP Chairman of Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State has since been abducted by Akalezi and his team on the 10th day of August, 2019 from his residence and till this very moment hasn’t been found by his family nor close associates. Mr. Rufai Jimoh (A.K.A Lover) was abducted by the same Akalezi and his team on the 27th day of January, 2021 along Old Ageva Secretariat on the Lagos Highway and till this very moment, Mr Rufai Jimoh’s whereabouts is unknown, Mr. Hadi Abdumaliki was also abducted on the 3rd day of January, 2022 at Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area by the said Commander Akalezi and that Mr. Kashim Ismaila (A.K.A Kamuche) on the 21st of December, 2020 was abducted by Commander Akalezi and his team and till this very moment has not been seen or heard from’’
‘’That Ismaila Momoh was abducted/kidnapped from his house by the team led by same Akalezi. That Mr. Monday Idowu was also abducted/kidnapped on the 10th day of January, 2022 at Ihima by the Akalezi team in company of the Chairman of Okehi Local Government Area, Abdulraheem Ohiare, That Abdulazeez Salami was also kidnapped/abducted on the 10th day of July, 2019 by Akalezi and his team in company of one Abdulraheem Ohiare; the Chairman of Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State’’.
The lawyers denounced the roles played by the Chief of Staff to Governor Bello in the extra judicial killings, abduction and kidnapping.
‘’It is worthy of note that at every time these Extrajudicial Killings, Abduction and Kidnappings are being carried out by the said Commander Akalezi and his team, the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Kogi State, Mr. Mohammed Jamiu Asuku is always with Akalezi serving as a pointer in identifying the governor’s political opponents to be eliminated’’
On the brutality and killings of innocent youth corps members assigned to Kogi State for their mandatory one year service to the nation, the lawyers noted that Ogunwo Adetola Oluwaseye with state code KG/21C/2009 was tortured and brutalized by Commander Uchendu Nicholas Akalezi for no just cause.
‘’The brutality and killings are not limited to our clients who are opposed to the Governor of Kogi State but also innocent members of the National Youth Serving Corps who are assigned to Kogi State for their mandatory one-year service to the nation. Worthy of note is the case of corp member Ogunwo Adetona Oluwaseye with state code KG/21C/2009 who was tortured and brutalized by Commander Akalezi for no just cause’’.
Signed by Shedrack M. Demaki Esq, the lawyers recalled several petitions written to the Chief of Naval Staff by the families of those killed by Commander Akalezi.
‘’Mr. President, dishearteningly, we notify you that that several petitions have been written to the Chief of Naval Staff by the families of those killed by Commander Akalezi using various human rights organizations and law firms. Nothing has been done by the Chief of Naval Staff to bring the perpetrator to justice. We wish to state that we are in receipt of the acknowledged copies of these petitions written to the Chief of Naval Staff which he has failed to act on’’.
The legal practitioners urged the president to order the arrest of Akalezi
‘We humbly urge you that Commander Akalezi be arrested and brought to justice. We further wish to State that the representatives of the above listed victims are willing to come forward to testify to all the atrocities that have been and are still being committed by Commander Akalezi’’.
23RD January, 2023
GENERAL MOHAMMADU BUHARI GCFR,
PRESIDNT AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES,
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA,
ASO ROCK,
ABUJA.
SIR,
OPEN LETTER
PETITION ON THE GENOCIDE AND EXTRA JUDICIAL KILLINGS/ABDUCTION/KIDNAPPINGS OF KOGI INDIGENES TO WIT, HON. MUSA ADELABU 2. MRRUFAI JIMOH 3. MR. HADI ABDULMALIKI 4. MR KASHIM ISMAILA 5. ISMAILA MOMOH 6. MR. MONDAY IDOWU 7. MR. ABDULAZEEZ SALAMI BY UCHENDU NICHOLAS AKALEZI A.K.A (CHARLES AKALEZI) COMMANDER OF THE NAVY SPECIAL FORCES IN KOGI STATE AND THE CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF. The above subject matter refers.
INTRODUCTION:
We are a firm of Legal Practitioners and we have been briefed and our services retained by the Families of the victims of the extra Judicial Killings/Abduction/Kidnappings of Kogi Central indigenes of Kogi State by AKALEZI ; Commander of the NAVY SPECIAL FORCES IN KOGI STATES and they are Herein referred to as our “CLIENTS”.
This open letter is necessitated by issues of urgent importance connected with the atrocities, killings, maiming, kidnapping and the reign of terror been carried out by one AKALEZI of the NNS Luguard who is the Commander of the “Navy Special Forces” in Kogi State and the Chief of Naval Staff for his lackluster disposition in taking disciplinary actions against the said COMMANDER UCHENDU NICHOLAS AKALEZI (hereinafter called Commander Akalezi).
It is evident that the Chief of Naval Staff stalls the probe of Commander Akalezi’s extrajudicial activities in Kogi state.
THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST AKALEZI; COMMANDER OF THE NAVY SPECIAL FORCES IN KOGI STATE.
Mr. President, we humbly bring to your attention the case of Commander Akalezi of NNS Lugard, who is the Commander of the Navy Special Forces, (a taskforce created by Gov. Yahaya Bello in Kogi State. Upon our clients’ brief and verifiable evidence, we believe that the said Akalezi is the personal Hitman of the Governor of Kogi State; Yahaya Bello. That the Governor uses the said Akalezi to kill, abduct and kidnap Kogi indigenes who are opposed to his political views. It is also our brief that these series of extrajudicial killings, intimidation, abductions and kidnappings of Kogi indigenes have been occurring since 2019 and has not abated rather Akalezi is further emboldened to continue carrying out his dastardly acts.
It is also our brief that the families of the victims of Akalezi’s brutality have written several petitions to the Department of State Security, the Inspector-General of Police and the Chief of Naval Staff; however, none were investigated by the respective authorities.
Mr. President Sir, our Clients further intimated us that the said Uchendu Nicholas Alkalize has hands in the disappearance of over one hundred and fifty (150) persons of Kogi origin who are political opponents to the Governor of Kogi State.
Amongst the lot but not limited to the mentioned are as follows: 1. HON. MUSA ADELABU who was the PDP Chairman of Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State has since been abducted by Akalezi and his team on the 10th day of August, 2019 from his residence and till this very moment hasn’t been found by his family nor close associates. 2. MR. RUFAI JIMOH (A.K.A LOVER) was also abducted by the same Akalezi and his team on the 27th day of January, 2021 along old Ageva Secretariat on the Lagos Highway and till this very moment, MR RUFAI JIMOH’s whereabouts is unknown. 3. MR. HADI ABDUMALIKI was also abducted on the 3rd day of January, 2022 at Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area by the said Commander Akalezi. 4. That also MR. KASHIM ISMAILA (A.K.A KAMUCHE) on the 21st of December, 2020 was also abducted by Commander Akalezi and his team and till this very moment has not been seen or heard from. 5. That Ismaila Momoh was also abducted/kidnapped from his house by the team led by same Akalezi. 6. That Mr. Monday Idowu was also abducted/kidnapped on the 10th day of January, 2022 at Ihima by the Akalezi team in company of the Chairman of Okehi Local Government Area, Abdulraheem Ohiare. 7. That Abdulazeez Salami was also kidnapped/abducted on the 10th day of July, 2019 by Akalezi and his team in company of one Abdulraheem Ohiare; the Chairman of Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State.
It is worthy of note that at every time these Extrajudicial Killings, Abduction and Kidnappings are being carried out by the said Commander Akalezi and his team, the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Kogi State, MR. MOHAMMED JAMIU ASUKU is always with Akalezi serving as a pointer in identifying the Governor’s Political Opponents to be eliminated.
The brutality and killings are not also limited to our clients who are opposed to the Governor of Kogi State but also innocent members of the National Youth Serving Corps who are assigned to Kogi State for their mandatory one-year service to the nation.
Worthy of note is the case of Corp member OGUNWO ADETONA OLUWASEYE with state code KG/21C/2009 who was tortured and brutalized by Commander Akalezi for no just cause.
Sir, it is a brief of fact that the said Commander Akalezi was transferred out of Kogi in the last quarter of 2022 by the Naval Authorities upon the uproar and protest against his illegal activities. The said transfer of Commander Akalezi out of Kogi State to NNS Kano in Lagos state brought relative peace to the state as indigenes of Kogi State were able to go about their political activities without the fear of being killed.
However, it is to the consternation of our clients to discover that the said Commander Akalezi was reposted from NNS Kano, Lagos state to NNS Lugard in Kogi state on the 9th of January 2023 by the Chief of Naval Staff and that no form of disciplinary action was taken against him neither were our clients reached out to in furtherance of any investigation to their petition before the Naval Command.
Sir, its worthy to mention that the return of Commander Akalezi to Kogi was influenced by the Governor to have him continue his reign of terror on the people of Kogi Central during this critical yet vulnerable political season in a bid to frighten and scare the people from willfully exercising their civic responsibilities as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.
Mr. President, dishearteningly, we notify you that that several petitions have been written to the Chief of Naval Staff by the families of those killed by Commander Akalezi using various Human rights organizations and law firms, yet nothing has been done by the Chief of Naval Staff to bring the perpetrator to justice.
We wish to state that we are in receipts of the acknowledged copies of these petitions written to the Chief of Naval Staff which he has failed to act on.
Sir, the Nigerian Navy was created by the force of law to protect the territorial waters of the Federal of Republic of Nigeria from external aggressions and to protect the country’s assets situate in waters. It is so disheartening that the Nigerian Navy under the current Chief of Naval Staff has derailed from their constitutional roles and delved into the murky waters of politics in Kogi State. It is also very shameful that the Chief of Naval Staff is allowing the Men and Officers of the Nigerian Navy to be the personal attack dogs/ killer squad used by the Government of Kogi State to eliminate its perceived political enemies. A food for thought is: Why is Navy Commander Akalezi living in and operating from the hilly Okene when the waters are in Lokoja?
It is our brief that since the return of Commander Akalezi back to Kogi State, he has boasted of Gov. Yahaya Bello’s support and financial influence over the Naval Chief making him untouchable and unanswerable to any petition. In view of reinstating fear in the indigenes and political opponents of the Kogi State Gov., Commander Akalezi with his team recently abducted one Ahmed whose whereabouts is still unknown.
Sir, we wish to state that Nigeria is not a banana republic where laws are nonexistence or not obeyed. Nigeria has laws and no person or group of persons are above the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Therefore, Commander Akalezi and the Chief of Naval of Staff are not above the laws of the land.
The action of Commander Akalezi and the Chief of Naval Staff dents the image of the disciplined officers of Nigerian Navy who are reputed for their bravery and uprightness; and, if left unabated will lead to breakdown of law and order; and destruction of lives and properties in Kogi State.
CONCLUSION
Mr. President, it is worthy of note that just recently on National Television; you called on Nigerians to go about performing their civic responsibility of voting for anybody or party of their choice in the forthcoming general elections without fear of molestation from anybody or quarters.
It is on the above premise we are calling on your good office to call the Chief of Naval Staff to order and we humbly urge you that Commander Akalezi be arrested and brought to justice.
We further wish to State that the representatives of the above listed victims are willing to come forward to testify to all the atrocities that have been and are still being committed by Commander Akalezi.
Find attached to this petition the said picture of Commander Akalezi.
We also wish to state that the actions of Commander Akalezi and Chief of Naval Staff are a clear breach of the operational code of conduct of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
PRAYER OF THE PETITION.
It is the prayer of our Clients that you use your good office to call the Chief of Naval Staff to order and direct that Commander Akalezi be arrested and brought to justice for all his genocidal acts.
Thanks.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
For: DEMAKI & DEMAKI
Shedrack M. Demaki Esq
Julius Berger- NSE news
–Nigerian Society of Engineers at Lagos Awards Ceremony
Julius Berger Nigeria Plc has been described as a company habitually, brilliantly benchmarking engineering professionalism in the country; always intentional and progressive in its policy to make life comfortable and easy for the Nigerian people through its project implementation plans, works and ancilary initiatives.
Speaking at its 2023 Annual Public Lecture, Awards Ceremony and General Meeting in Lagos Thursday, Chairman of the Lagos Chapter of the Nigerian Institution of Highways and Transportation Engineers, NIHTE, Engr. Adenuga Opanuga, Mnse said, Julius Berger among others is full of wisdom to make life comfortable for all by the way they professionally discharge their contractual responsibilities in their sector. We have been on with Julius Berger in the past three years and we have all along worked together for good.‘
Adding that the frontline engineering construction company has made so much positive impact on lives in Nigeria, Engr. Opanuga said, ‘that is why they are deserving of the unique Award The Company for Engineering Construction of Highways in Nigeria.‘
He praised the widening landscape for Nigerian professionals in engineering construction practice, saying that the pioneering, sustained and enduring efforts of Julius Berger largely accounted for the positive development.
Our awardees are well respected, experienced, professionals, individuals, agents, companies and organisations who have made vital and important contributions in various fields of engineering, most especially, on highway and transportation engineering in Nigeria, he concluded.
The Lagos Chapter Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr. Adekunle Bello, Mnse, in his welcome address said that the Awards ceremony was ‘a recognition for professionals and corporate organisations who have contributed immensely to the growth and development of the engineering profession in different areas of the society.‘
In all, 15 individual and three corporate Awards were given at the event jointly organised by the Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE and the Nigerian Institution of Highways and Transportation Engineers, NIHTE.
Speaking after receiving the award on behalf of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, leader of the company’s team to the event, Engr. Adegbenga Osunlana expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, and the Nigerian Institution of Highways and Transportation Engineers, NIHTE, for deeming the company worthy of the award saying that, ‘…we are appreciative of this award and we thank you for it.‘ Emphasising that Julius Berger has produced and continues to produce good and productive engineers, he said, ‘…thankfully, they are making their marks in their endeavours.‘ He mentioned the current Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Works and Infrastructures, Engr. (Mrs) Aramide Adeyoye and the Managing Director of Prodeco Engineering Services, Engr. Simeon Olayemi Alabi, both former staff of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc making their marks in the larger society.
Besides Engr. Osunlana, other members of the Julius Berger team at the event were Engr. Rasheedat Anifowoshe and Emmanuel Isibor.