Alleged Official Misconduct: British School Petitions AGF, Seeks Probe Of DPP

By Dansu Peter 

A British school, Whiteplains School Abuja, has petitioned the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), demanding the investigation of the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Babadoko.

Director of Whiteplains British School, Dr Francis Nwufoh, in the petition to the AGF, dated March 4, 2025, alleged that Babadoko, unilaterally removed a caveat emptor placed on a property of the school in dispute, with the motive of aiding the sale of the property to Maryam Abacha American University of Niger (MAAUN).

Dr Nwufoh informed the AGF that the former DPPF, Mohammed Umar had upon receiving several investigation reports; "First by IGP IRT on the 1st of April 2019, secondly by FIB CR: 3000/FIB/ABJ/TA/FBN/Vol. 1, thirdly by National Assembly (Report of the Committee on Public Petitions) dated June 17, 2019, and the fourth report, I haven't had access to till date" issued a "Caveat Emptor" on the property file at the Abuja Geographical Information System(AGIS). 

He said he learnt it on good authority that some people wanted to sell the property in issue, which made him to write series of letters to the AGF, the latest being the one dated 9th August 2024.

Findings by the Director of Whiteplains, revealed that Babadoko wrote to the AGIS to lift the caveat emptor placed on the property.  

Dr Nwufoh wondered why upon assumption of office as DPPF, Mohammed Babadoko, removed the caveat placed on the property, without the notice of Whiteplains, the complainant. 

He therefore requested the swift intervention of the AGF to stop the DPPF from eroding the positive strides already made in the investigation. 

"We plead that the caveat is restored and that the Police properly investigates the matter by interviewing the bank staff named and whose signatures are on the forged, offensive Tripartite Legal Mortgage in issue" Nwufoh demanded.

In the petition made available to judiciary correspondents on Thursday, Dr Nwufoh narrated how his ordeal in the hands of First Bank started.

"The school secured a facility of N650m loan from First Bank and paid back a total of N300m within a space of two years for a loan with a maturity period of five years. 

"The bank thereafter frustrated the continued repayment of the loan and subsequently sought to foreclose and takeover the school.

"This led to series of litigation which culminated in an appeal at the Court of Appeal. 

"When it was discovered that the Tripartite Legal Mortgage Agreement that the bank had predicated its case on was forged, a formal request was made to your esteemed office to intervene in the matter. 

"Your office subsequently directed the Nigerian Police Force to investigate the allegation of forgery.

"The report that was sent back to your office by the Police had so many lacunae, whereupon the then Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Umar, asked the Police to reinvestigate the matter along specified lines" Dr Nwufoh told the AGF. 

Up till date, Nwufoh said he has not been intimated on the outcome of the last investigation and forensic report.

He prayed the AGF to

compare all the reports by the investigative intelligent officers to see for himself the facts and trace out the discrepancies.

Due to the extenuating circumstances, Nwufoh said he had sent a letter to the DIG of Police dated 18th July 2024, titled "Letter of complaint of my dissatisfaction of how my matter is being handled"

Murder: American Rights Advocate Offer Life In Exchange For Convicted Nigerian, Sunday Jackson

By Dansu Peter 

Renowned American Cleric and Human Rights Advocate, Dr. William Delvin, has called on the Nigerian government to take his life in place of one Mr Sunday Jackson, who was sentenced to death by the Supreme Court last week for killing a Fulani Herdsman. 

Jackson had been on death row for about ten year but last week, the Supreme Court sealed his fate by dismissing his appeal, which ordered that he should be sentenced to death.

The Supreme Court had the opportunity to declare Sunday Jackson innocent but didn’t. He has become an international case for human rights, and we will continue to advocate for him.

He said, "I am 70years old amd I'm ready to lay down my life for Sunday Jackson. The government of Nigeria should take my like instead of that of Sunday Jackson. He is a young man if about 30years and while I am about 70 years old"

He also said the case has assumed international dimension. 

"The case of Sunday Jackson has become an international case because there is obviously a miscarriage of justice against Sunday Jackson, who was on death row for ten years but has finally been affirmed by the Supreme Court.  

"The case of Sunday Jackson has become a major embarrassment to the Nigerian government.  He was attacked by Fulani  Islamist, he is innocent and we are here to appeal to the governor of Adamawa state  to grant him pardon so that he can take care of his two young daughters. 

"This is a major abuse of human rights in Nigeria and as I travel back to the United States, we will continue with the advocacy and even take it to Canada as well as the continent of Africa. We are going to make it an international case in Western Europe.  We are here to advocate for the release of Sunday Jackson", Delvin said

Also, a US based lawyer and founder of US Law Group, Barrister Emmanuel Ogebe, described the justigement as injustice against Jackson, who was just 20 years old student in 2015 as at the time of his arrest. 

He said he had been involved I  the case since 2015  adding that the apex court did not avert it's mind to certain facts of the case. 

"I've been involved! In this case since 2021 since he was sentenced to death. The Supreme Court did not avert it's mind, as far as we can tell since the cericiend true  opy has not been released. 

"The judge delivered the judgement 167 days after the adoption of final addresses by parties when the 1999 Constitution says it should be 90 days.

"There is a reason why the Constitution said it must be 90days so that you don't forget some of the material elements of the case. She gave judgment unrelated with the evidence before thethe court.

"For example, in the judgement, the  ourt agreed that he was attacked in the leg but that he should have rum away. How is somebody who is injured in the leg able to run. In his evidence, he said he actually ran but the man caught up with him amd stabbed him in the head. 

"So, he attempted to run, how can you now sentenced ce him to death because you feel he should have ran away.

Northern Group Seeks Seyi Tinubu’s Intervention on Critical Infrastructure Challenges

By Dansu Peter 

A northern political pressure group, Siyasar Yanci, has formally sought the intervention of Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, in addressing critical infrastructure challenges in the region.

The group made its request during Seyi Tinubu’s visit to Minna, Niger State, where he attended an Iftar gathering with youths on Wednesday.

In a letter signed by its leader, Yahaya Mohammed Usman, Siyasar Yanci urged Mr. Tinubu to leverage his influence to facilitate the rehabilitation of Baro Port, the repair of dilapidated federal roads in the state, and the expansion of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, to include more conventional courses.

While acknowledging that Mr. Tinubu does not hold any public office, Usman emphasized that his influence could help lobby for the implementation of these demands.

“We thank you for the initiative to have Iftar with citizens across fasting Muslim communities in Nigeria. This effort is both innovative and commendable. Well done!”

“Beyond that, we recognize that while you do not hold any public office, no one can deny your influence. It is on this strong foundation that we kindly request your intervention in the following areas affecting Northern Nigeria, especially Niger State.”

The group outlined its demands as follows:

• Baro Port: Despite being commissioned, the port remains non-operational.
• Expansion of the Federal University of Technology, Minna: The group is seeking presidential approval to introduce medical, law, and social science courses, as well as establish a teaching hospital and a cancer center, similar to those at FUT Owerri and FUT Yola.
• Road networks: Niger State, which has the longest federal road network, is plagued by poor infrastructure. The group cited the recent tragedy on the Lambata-Lapai-Bida Road, where 12 lives were lost, including a man’s two wives and child. Other critical roads, such as Tegina-Makera-Mokwa and Minna-Kontagora, were also identified as being in deplorable condition.
• Appointments: The group lamented that no presidential aides had been appointed from Niger State and requested facilitation of such appointments, particularly for the youth.

The group concluded its appeal by expressing gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, wishing him success in his tenure as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.