That SSS Invasion Of The Sacred Precints Of A Court Of Law By Mike Ozekhome SAN – TheNigerialawyer

On 6th November, 2019, the DSS, the nation’s
secret Service in the mould of FBI or CIA, danced naked in the
streets, when it invaded a court of Law in an attempt to
arrest Omoyele Sowore, accused of trreasonable felony over his
“Revolution Now” mantra.

Recall that the DSS had finally bowed to a 24 hour ultimatum
issued by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, to release Sowore and pay him
N100,000 damages. It was a show of extreme shame, disgust and
degeneracy to see a whole secrete security apparachick descend to
the abysmal gutters of physically invading the hallowed chambers of
a court of Law to forcefully arrest a suspect, viet armis, by
resort to crude and unorthodox Hitlerite Gestapo tactics in a
supposed constitutional democracy. The video that went viral about
this ugly and ill-advised outing that has further reduced our worth
in the perception of the international community is condemnable in
every sense of the word. It downgrades us, belittles us, and our
humanity and make us laughable before civilised nations. We beheld
an unarmed, helpless and hapless Sowore being dragged on the floor,
helplessly, like a vanquished prisoner of war (PoW) just taken as
ransom. Justice Ojukwu had to be spirited off to her chambers by
her security. When a  government that is supposed to respect
and protect institutions, citizens’ rights and rule of law, invades
and desecrates the SACRED precincts of a Court of
law, then we are in trouble. When the same DSS invaded Judges’
homes in October, 2016, terrorizing the hapless
Judges and their families, many uninformed Nigerians hailed the
misadventure as a sign of fighting corruption. I had vehemently
disagreed then, citing section 36 of the 1999 Constitution
and section 7 of the ACJA that inure in us our humanity
and human dignity and respect. I had warned then of a possible
descent into anarchy and chaos if the masked DSS goons were not
immediately restrained and halted on their tracks. Friday’s
disgraceful and atrocious outing by the DSS is the clearest
exemplification of a rudderless state in search of a redemptive
deus ex machina. A government that is short on tolerance to
criticism, plurality of voices and opposition and which
serially violates citizens’ rights and disobeys court orders is a
ready recipe for organised disenchantment. Our constitutional
democracy should be one modelled on the rule of law and not on the
rule of the thumb of a benevolent ruler, even if dictatorial,
tyrannical, absolutist and fascist.

 ATIKU AND DOKPESI: TWO HEROIC
TROJANS OF A KIND

 (Part 1)

INTRODUCTION

Let me devote this week to two uncommon Nigerians; two heroes of
democracy; two business Czars; two philanthropic moguls; and two
indomitable and unconquerable Pan Nigerians, who have valiantly
soldiered on in life, inspite of man-made obstacles and
ill-intentioned booby traps erected on their destiny routes.

They are Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Waziri Adamawa, and Dr Raymond
Aleogho Dokpesi, Ezomo Weppa-Wanno Kingdom.

These two national icons share a common birthday,
25^th of every year.
While Atiku’s was born on 25^th November,
1946, that of Dekpesi is 25^th October,
1951. Let me x-ray these rare homo sapiens seriatim.

ATIKU ABUBAKAR, GCON: THE POLITICAL ENIGMA

HIS TENDERFOOT

Atiku Abubakar’s story, up to being Vice President of the
       Federal Republic of Nigeria
and later bidding for the presidency of the biggest black nation in
the world, was not one of “grace-to-grace”. His
was one of “grass-to-grace”, having been born to a
petty Fulani trader and farmer, Garba Abubakar, in Jada village,
Adamawa State. We share this grass-to-grace, “nothing-to-something”
story together. Praise God.

After completing his Primary School education in 1960, Atiku was
admitted into Adamawa Provincial Secondary School, same year. He
graduated from secondary school in 1965 after he made grade
three in the West
African Senior School Certificate Examination^[1]. Abubakar then proceeded
to attend Nigeria
Police College^[2], Kaduna^[3]. He left the college for
a position as a Tax Officer^[4] in the Regional
Ministry of Finance^[5]. Later, he received
admission to study at the School
of Hygiene^[6], Kano^[7], in 1966. In 1967,
he graduated with a Diploma. That same year, Atiku Abubakar was
admitted for a Law Diploma^[8] at Ahmadu Bello
University^[9], Zaria, on a
scholarship from the then Regional government. He graduated in 1969
and was employed by Nigeria Customs
Service^[10] that same
year.

With four wives and 28 children, Atiku easily maintains one of
the most disciplined polygamous homes in Nigeria, nay,
globally.

PROFESSIONAL CAREER AND FORAY INTO THE MURKY BUSINESS
WORLD

Abubakar started out in the real estate business during his
early days as a Customs Officer. In 1974, he applied for and
received a 31,000 naira loan to build his first house in Yola,
which he immediately put up for rent. From proceeds of the rent, he
purchased another plot and built a second house. He continued this
way, building a sizeable portfolio of property in Yola.

In 1981, he moved into agriculture, acquiring 2,500 hectares of
land near Yola, to start a maize and cotton farm. The business fell
on hard times and closed in 1986. He then ventured into trading,
buying and selling truckloads of rice, flour and sugar. He did not
make easy money.

Abubakar worked in the Nigeria Customs
Service^[11] for twenty years,
rising to become the Deputy Director, (as the second highest
position in the Service was then known. He retired in April, 1989
and took up full-time business and politics. He ran for the
office of  Governor in the then Gongola State now Adamawa^[12] and Taraba^[13] States) in 1991,
and for the Presidency in 1993, placing third after MKO Abiola^[14] and Babagana Kingibe^[15], in
the Social
Democratic Party (SDP)^[16] primaries. Atiku
was later to set up, with the help of Gabrielle Volpi, an Italian
businessman in Nigeria, the Nigeria Container Services
(NICOTES)^[17], a logistics company
operating within the Ports.

Abubakar’s business empire also includes Adama Beverages
Limited, a beverage manufacturing plant in Yola, as well as an
animal feed factory.

EARLY POLITICAL CAREER

Abubakar’s first foray into politics was in the early 1980s,
when he worked behind-the-scenes on the governorship campaign
of Bamanga Tukur^[18], who, at that time, was
Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority. Towards the end
of his Customs career, he met Shehu Musa
Yar’Adua^[19], who had been
second-in-command of the military government (headed by Obasajo)
that ruled Nigeria between 1976 and 1979. Abubakar was drawn by
Yar’Adua into the political meetings that were then regularly
taking place in Yar’Adua’s Lagos home. In 1989, Abubakar was
elected a National Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Front of Nigeria
(PF), the political association led by Yar’Adua, to participate in
the never-ending transition programme initiated by then Head of
State, Ibrahim Babangida.

Abubakar won a seat to represent his constituency at the 1989
Constituent Assembly, which was set up to design a new Constitution
for Nigeria. The People’s Front was eventually denied registration
by the government (none of the groups that applied was registered.
Atiku then found a place within the Social Democratic Party, (SDP)
one of the two parties decreed into existence by the Babangida
military junta.

FIRST PRESIDENTIAL RUN

In 1992 Abubakar launched a bid for the presidency of Nigeria on
the platform of the Social Democratic Party. He was unsuccessful,
coming third in the convention primaries, losing to MKO Abiola^[20] and runner
up, Babagana Kingibe^[21].

PHILANTHROPY AND PROMOTION OF EDUCATION

In 2005, Atiku founded in Yola, his Adamawa State, American University of Nigeria^[22] (AUN), the first
American-style University to be established in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The American styled university emphasises critical thinking, small
classes, student participation, problem-solving. AUN has since
received special recognition from Google and many local and
international organisations.

In 2012, Abubakar donated $750,000 to the National Peace Corps
Association in the United States, “to fund a new initiative
featuring global leaders who will discuss Peace Corps’s impact.” It
was the largest ever individual donation in the Association’s
history.

In his speeches and commentary, Abubakar is a vocal advocate of
the importance of Nigeria’s educational system. In August, 2013,
Atiku sponsored a students’ essay competition to generate solutions
to Nigeria’s most pressing institutional educational challenges.
Entrants were asked to write between 2,000 and 5,000 words on the
topic ‘More Learning to More People: How can Nigeria be
more innovative in bridging its literacy and skills
gap?’

A long list was announced on 21^st October
2013, and the winners a week later. The joint first
prize went to Kenechukwu Nneka Lily Nwagbo and Emeka Chigozie
Ezekwesiri.

In a bid to alleviate the educational decadence in North Eastern
Nigeria, Abubakar issued scholarships to 15 escapees of
the Chibok
schoolgirls kidnapping^[23]. He has since been in
the business of philanthropy, using his wealth as manure to
fertilize parched homes, businesses and economic landscapes of the
less privileged. Atiku easily reminds one of late democracy martyr,
Chief M. K. O. Abiola, in sheer philanthropy, generosity and
large-heartedness. (To be continued).

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

“Power acquired by violence is only an usurpation, and lasts
only as long as the force of him who commands prevails over that of
those who obey.” (Denis Diderot).