News
Buhari’s Government of Compassion
By Eric Elezuo
Not a few people could contain their amusement and laughter when it was reported that two political prisoners held by the Federal government were released out of compassion rather than people’s outcry or even the threat from the United States of America’s senators and congressmen.
To many, it was a comic relief necessary for the boiling point tension that has engulfed the length and breadth of the country as a result of the hunger ravaging the land and so many other inanities that seem not to have an escape route.
The Federal Government has prior to Christmas announced the release of the Presidential candidate of African Action Congress (AAC) in the February 2019 election and convener, RevolutionNow Protest, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, and former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki from detention after ignoring countless court orders to release them. While Sowere was arrested in his Magodo home on August 3, 2019, 48 hours before his planned RevolutionNow protest, Dasuki was arrested on December 29, 2015 and has been in detention ever since.
Responding to criticism and mockery from members of the public that the duo was released because a few lawmakers of the United States signed a letter addressed to the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Mr. Abubakar Malami, the FG said that was far from the truth, adding that they were released based on compassion which the government has.
The government’s assertion begins to make one wonder when and how was this new found compassion developed? It would be recalled that the same Dasuki has been granted bail by a competent court on over four occasions, but the government’s compassion was practically unavailable at the time to do the right thing. In November 2016, Dasuki lost his father, the deposed Sultan of Sokoto, but he was not at the funeral, though the then Minister of Internal Affairs, Abdulrahman Danbazzau, told Nigerians Dasuki refused to either visit his father in the hospital or attend his funeral.
Then again, Nigerians ask, where was the Federal government’s compassion when the whole nation cried out over Sowore; when his wife and children cried out for the release of their bread winner; where was the compassion Malami talked about?
And without even going too far, where is the compassion of the Buhari administration as Nigerians weep over hunger, death traps called roads, poverty, inadequate and zero (depending on the part of the town you live) electricity? Where is the government’s compassion as borders remained closed in spite of national and international cry? The worse is the case that no government official has been seen eating the local rice for which the borders were closed. Where is the compassion when the populace are languishing in abject poverty while the men at the helm of affairs use the best of foreign goods. Compassion or hypocrisy?
If the government of President Muhammasdu Buhari claims to have a dose of compassion, there are many journalist who have been incarcerated for just doing their jobs; there are still the likes of Agba Jalingo. Malami and Buhari’s government’s compassion should as a matter of urgency extend to them.
This government should wake up as a matter of urgency and use the so called compassion to address the plight of the Nigerian populace. There is crisis in the land, and a whole lot of milk of human kindness, which the present administration called compassion is needed, and now too.
A federal judge in the United States, on Thursday, put a temporary block on President Donald Trump’s attempt to restrict birthright citizenship.
The ruling imposes a 14-day halt on the enforcement of one of the most controversial executive orders Trump signed hours after being sworn into office for a second term.
It comes after lawsuits were filed by a total of 22 states, two cities and numerous civil rights groups.
“This is a blatantly unconstitutional order,” senior US District Judge John Coughenour was reported as saying during the hearing in Washington State.
“I’ve been on the bench for over four decades, I can’t remember another case where the question presented is as clear as this one is,” said Coughenour, who was appointed to the bench by a Republican president, Ronald Reagan.
Birthright citizenship is fundamental to America’s national identity, with the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution decreeing that anyone born on US soil is a citizen.
It says, in part: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”
Trump’s order was premised on the idea that anyone in the US illegally, or on a visa, was not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the country, and therefore excluded from this category.
AFP
The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, Ondo State capital has upheld the death sentence of Ramon Adedoyin, a prominent businessman and hotelier, for his involvement in the murder of one Timothy Adegoke, a former postgraduate student of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Delivering the judgment on Thursday, the court affirmed the earlier verdict of the Osun State High Court, which had sentenced Adedoyin to death.
“The judgment of the High Court of Osun State stands. Adedoyin’s appeal is dismissed in part,” the court declared in part.
The Court of Appeal, however, set aside some aspects of the lower court’s orders, including the forfeiture of the Hilton Hotel and the order for Adedoyin to pay for the education of Adegoke’s children.
Furthermore, the court ruled that it had no jurisdiction to impose penalties outside the statutory provisions
Adegoke’s death was reported in November 2021 after his corpse was found at the Hilton Honours Hotel in Ile-Ife, Osun State, where he had lodged.
The hotelier had travelled from Abuja for an examination at a distance learning centre in Moro, Osun State on November 5 of that year.
He had checked into the hotel but was reported missing after two days. However, Adegoke’s body was found days later, leading to a probe that linked his death to Adedoyin and others.
In May 2023, Adedoyin and others were sentenced to death after they were found guilty of murder and conspiracy to murder.
But dissatisfied with the judgement, Adedoyin approached the Appeal court to dismiss the sentence and conviction.
The court of appeal, on Thursday, however, upheld the conviction and death sentence of the hotelier.
The Nigeria Police have announced that their operatives have rescued Mrs Folasade Odumosu, the wife of a former Assistant Inspector General, Hakeem Odumosu, who was last Thursday, kidnapped at the entrance of her home in Arepo, Ogun State.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, noting that two of the kidnappers were killed while four others escaped without their weapons.
Adejobi said with the support of the Force Headquarters technical intelligence platforms, the Ogun State police operatives engaged Odumosu’s abductors in a gun duel and neutralized the criminals in the swampy area of Ikorodu on Wednesday.
The police spokesman added that Mrs Odumosu is currently undergoing a medical evaluation and has since been reunited with her family.
The statement read, “In a commendable display of teamwork and swift action, police operatives attached to the Ogun State Command have successfully neutralized the kidnappers of Mrs. Odumosu, wife of Retired Assistant-Inspector General, AIG Hakeem Odumosu, and rescued her unharmed.
“On January 16, 2025, at approximately 9:45 PM, four masked gunmen forcibly abducted Mrs. Odumosu from her Lexus Jeep outside her residence in Arepo, Ogun State. The abduction sparked an immediate response from the anti-kidnapping unit of the Ogun State Police Command, who commenced a thorough investigation and targeted pursuit of the kidnappers.
“With the support of the Force Headquarters technical intelligence platforms, the Ogun State police operatives engaged in extensive surveillance of the creeks surrounding Arepo, gathering crucial information to track down the assailants. Their efforts culminated in a raid on January 23, 2025, at around 06:45 AM. The intelligence-led operation took the police to a creek in the swampy area of Ikorodu, where the kidnappers were reportedly planning their next attack.
“Upon arrival, the operatives encountered the kidnappers, who opened fire. In the ensuing confrontation, two of the gunmen were neutralized, while four others fled the scene, abandoning their operational weapons.”
Adejobi said the police operatives recovered N10m initially paid to the kidnappers, four Ak-47 rifles, three locally made single barrel rifles, and ammunition of various calibres.
He added, “The victim, Mrs Odumosu was rescued within the swampy creeks during the operation, unharmed. She is currently undergoing medical evaluation as a precautionary measure and has since been reunited with her family. The police also recovered 4 Ak-47 rifles, 3 locally made single barrel rifles, ammunition of various calibres, and the sum of N10,000,000 ransom previously demanded by the kidnappers, further ensuring that justice is served.”
Adejobi said the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, commended the police operatives and the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, for the rescue operation.
He asserted that the Police Force is committed to safeguarding the citizens and combat kidnapping and other violent crimes.
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM., has commended the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, and his operatives for their displayed gallantry in this successful operation.
“This operation exemplifies the dedication and resilience of our Police officers. The Nigeria Police Force remains steadfast in its mission to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes, providing safety and security to all citizens,” he added.
