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How Innocent Taxi Driver Was Sentenced to Death + Evidence That Kept Him Behind Bars for 13 years

Published

1 year ago

July 21, 2024

Eric

By Hezekiah Deboboye Olujobi

“I am not an armed robber, I am a taxi driver, I left home in the morning of 28/2/2011 for my daily survival, my car broke down and I was arrested by the members of OPC who said armed robbers came to robbed in that vicinity last night, that was how I was arrested and never return to my family again”

He was sentenced to death based on his confessional statement and claimed innocence on the allegations of armed robbery. He denied the confessional statement. It was obvious from the record that the police lied in his evidence against him. No other police officer corroborated his evidence. A robbery occurred within 2 hours in the same vicinity against PW 1 and PW 2. No evidence to corroborate PW 1 and PW 2’s evidence regarding the separate robberies on that day. Both PW 1, PW 2, PW 3 & PW 4 provided contradictory evidence. In this case there are 2 civilians and 2 police. The police officer at the local station where the incidence happened and the police officer at Eleweran SCID. Based on the suspect’s confessional statement, he was sentenced to death by the Court.

The defendant appealed against the judgment to the Court of Appeal but the appeal failed. While an appeal was filed with the Supreme Court, the appellant sought our intervention at the Centre for Justice Mercy and Reconciliation. While reading through the proceedings here are my findings and analysis of the case.
In my opinion, the appellant did not deserve to be in prison for 24 hours. We obtained both the judgement of the trial court and the Court of appeal for review and analysis.

According to section 135(2) of the Evidence Act, 2011, “the burden of proving that any person has been guilty of a crime or wrongful act is, subject to Section 139 of this Act, on the person who asserts it, whether the commission of such act is or is not directly in issue in the action.” This provision has been applied in numerous cases by the Supreme Court, including the case of JUBRIL v. FRN (2020) 4 NWLR (Pt. 1714) @ 315 Paras. D-F, where the Apex Court stated thus:
“By the provisions of section 135 (1) of the Evidence Act 2011, to secure a conviction in a criminal charge, the burden is on the prosecution to establish the guilt of the accused person beyond reasonable doubt.”
Courts have consistently held that the existence of certain situations can show reasonable doubt in the case of a prosecution. These situations include:
1. When the prosecution could not prove all the essential elements/ingredients of the offense, and
2. Where evidence adduced in the case is consistent with the guilt of the accused person as well as his innocence.

It is important to note that the prosecution’s case theory, as contained in both statements and oral testimonies of PW1, PW2, PW3, and PW4 concerning the Defendant- Adeyemi Faleye, which the prosecution is relying on, are inconsistent and at variance with each other’s testimonies and also at variance with the oral testimony of the DW1 in court during trial.

While it is not our duty as an Organization to prove the innocence of an accused person or criticize the judgment of the court, in cases where an appellant persistently claims innocence, we offer our listening ears. Without sentiment, we carry out our investigation by reviewing the judgment and the court processes to ascertain the possibility of telling the truth or lying.
This Organization visited the appellant in Kirikiri Maximum Custodial Centre, where he maintained his innocence on the allegation he was convicted on. We shall focus our evaluation on four cardinal points as follows:
1. The way of arrest of the accused and how he was pinned into this crime
2. The statement made by the PW1, PW2, PW3 and PW4 witnesses in this case
3. The confessional statement of the appellant and who made it?
4. The decision of court in sentencing the accused to death

It is evident that there were two separate robbery incidents on 27/2/2011, occurring at approximately 8 pm and 10 pm. The complainants- PW1 and PW2 in these cases were the owners of the two petrol stations. The PW3 and PW4 were the investigation police officers in Idiroko and Eleweran Abeokuta Police Stations where the complaints were lodged.

THE WAY OF ARREST: The appellant was connected with the robbery incidents through his arrest on 28/2/2011 at around 8:30 am by three members of the OPC at Mede area enrooted from Aferiku to Idiroko when his vehicle broke down. However, there are conflicting accounts of the appellant’s arrest provided by PW1, PW2, PW3 and the appellant himself.

Regarding the timing of the robbery incidents, PW1 stated that the first incident occurred at about 8 pm on 27/2/2011, while PW2 claimed that it happened before 10 pm on the same day at different places. The appellant’s defense counsel, on pages 18 to 20 of the appellant’s brief of argument, presented evidence that PW1 was informed by the police on 28/2/2011 that vigilantes had arrested some robbers, which was corroborated by PW2’s testimony that the accused person was brought to the station by the vigilantes.

The conflicting accounts raise questions about who actually arrested the defendant and where the arrest took place. The appellant repeatedly stated that he was arrested by the three members of the OPC vigilante by the roadside beside his car at around 8:30 am at Mede, while his car had broken down and he was waiting for his mechanic as he was never arrested at the scene of the crime on the day of the incidence.

However, PW1 and PW2’s evidence suggested that the vigilantes were responsible for the appellant’s arrest on 28/2/2011. The evidence of the police officer at Idiroko is also crucial in this case, as police evidence is considered sacred in the temple of justice. The judge’s recording of the police officer’s evidence will be essential in determining the facts of the case and ensuring justice is served. And I quote below:

“The PW3 said he was in the station at about 1310 (meaning about 3.10 am in the dead of night) when a case of Conspiracy and Armed Robbery was reported by the PW1. After that, a team of police investigators led by Inspector Lawal Hassan went on the trail of the armed robbers. He said that upon being sighted, the armed robber opened fire on him and that during the exchange of gunfire, one of the robbers was shot dead, while the appellant was arrested at the scene.”

How would you describe the evidence of this police officer who lied recklessly to the court, claiming that the prosecution witnesses had brought their report at 3.10 a.m. and that he saw the armed robbers at gunpoint and killed one of them at the exchange of gunfire? No other police officer corroborated his claim from the Idiroko police station and the evidence is at variance with where the appellant was arrested or the date of his arrest. Also, while describing the scene where the armed robber was arrested, he said about 100 meters to the scene of crime. This is unbelievable. That armed robbers will go for an operation and still remain in that environment for good 12 hours?

PW4 who was also a police officer from Eleweran where the case was transferred has this to say. PW4’s testimony under oath: Under cross-examination [page 75 of the record], PW4 testified as follows:

The exact date that the incident happened was 28th February 2011”. PW4 also stated thus [page 75 of the record]: “The incident happened in the morning at about 01:00 hours, at another point he said he could not ascertain the date because he lost his diary” The PW4 went ahead and said “I visited the scene of crime. The accused person was arrested beside a church close to the scene of crime where Gbenga aka Lakor a member of the gang was short dead during the robbery operation.

The interesting part of the evidence given was that none of the witnesses- PW1 and PW2 mentioned that someone was shot dead during the operation. It was also cleared that the robbery incidence took place on 27/2/2011 and the witnesses met the appellant in the station on 28/2/2011, and none of them mentioned about someone being shot dead during the operation after the complaint was lodged.

There is no any IOTA of truth in the evidence of both PW3 and PW4. No iota of truth I repeated. The fact being that you stated that a robbery incidence happened on the 27/2/2011 between 8pm and 10 pm and you still find the culprit on the scene of crime, while one was shot dead when the other was captured alive?

From the record of the court also, it is easy to surmise the following versions from the prosecution witnesses:
a) PW1- The robbery happened on 27/2/2011 at about 8pm.
b) PW2- The robbery happened on 27/2/2011 before 10pm.
c) PW3- The robbery was reported by PW1 on 28-02-2011 at about 0310hours.
d) PW4 – The exact date that the incident happened was 28 February 2011 in the morning at about 0100 hours.

The four disparate versions of events above raise a doubt in the case of the prosecution, which ought to have been resolved in the Appellant’s favour as enunciated by the Supreme Court in UGBOJI v. STATE (2017) LPELR-43427(SC), Per Eko, J.S.C., Pp. 54-55, paras. E-A:
“The elementary rule in our adversarial jurisprudence or in the administration of criminal justice is; where there exists any doubt in the case of the prosecution, such doubt must be resolved in favor of the accused person…” See also IGBIKIS v. STATE (2017) LPELR-41667(SC).

How credible are the evidence of the PW1 who claimed that his petrol station was robbed at 8:00 pm without any of the petrol attendants or people in that vicinity testifying that there was a robbery incident at that time in his Petrol Station? The same question goes for the PW2 who was robbed before 10pm at his Petrol Station; nobody came forward to support the claim.
In our humble opinion and observation from a layman’s point of view, the totality of the evidence before the court has not established the charge against Adeyemi Faleye beyond a reasonable doubt. We are not even sure if there was a robbery incident on that day. The OPC vigilante who arrested the appellant did not even show up during the trial.

We further submit that strong suspicion of the appellant based on hearsay evidence of the PW1, PW2, PW3 and PW4 without more against them from the investigative officers pinning him to the scene of the crime 12 hours after the robbery incident, could never be true but far from justice to prove any crime against the appellant in this case.
The questions that need to be clearly answer are:
• Was the appellant arrested at the scene of the crime? NO!
• Were the police officers the ones that arrested the appellant? NO!
Thus, if the evidence of the police officers is not credible to hold water, how did the judge conclude to convict the appellant because he denied his confessional statement?

THE CONFESSIONAL STATEMENT: How does the confessional statement sound like?
“On Sunday 27th February 2011 at about 1200 midnight I slept at the house of Aragberi called Ifajimi Agbotifayo when Lakur came to wake me up and they instructed me to get on the motorcycle brought by them. They said they are going somewhere that they may likely want to make mistake by missing the road that I should lead them. I led them to the Yusuf filling station… ”

How true is the confessional statement? From the above, it stands to reason that the only time the Appellant could have led others to the robbery was after 12 mid-night of 27tn February, 2011; that is sometime in the wee hours of 28h February, 2011.
However, PW1 during his cross-examination [page 51 of the record] testified under oath that the incident happened around 8:00pm and that tallies with his evidence-in-chief [at page 50 of the record] that the incident occurred on 27/2/2011 at about 8:00pm.

PW2, also, in his evidence-in-chief [page 51 of the record] stated as follows: “On 27/2/2011, we were in our filling station that is Samuraf Filling Station along Omotedo Road at Ajegunle, before 10:00pn the Attendants were attending to the customers when the robbery incidence happened.
But in the so-called confessional statement the appellant said “I led them to the Yusuf filling station at about 1.00am? How true is the confessional statement?

WHO MADE THAT CONFESSIONAL STATEMENT? PW3 and PW4, admitted that they ‘graciously’ wrote the confessional statements for him on the spurious excuse that the appellant authorized them to write for him (page 75 of the Record].

PW4 said that the appellant made the statement to him in English Language [page 63 of the record] and in another breadth told the court that the appellant spoke to him in both English and Yoruba language and he recorded it in English Language [page 75 of the record]. It is curious and suspicious that the purported authority for PW4 to write the appellant’s statement was written by PW4, not the person who gave him the authority.

ON THE CHARGE OF CONSPIRACY: Who are the people charged along with the appellant at the initial stage?

“At the police station, the police officers asked me to take them to my mechanic, and I led the police to my mechanic. That was how my mechanic was arrested.

I did not know the three other people in this case. We were charged to the Magistrate Court at Ipokia. At the Magistrate Court, the three of them were granted bail, including my mechanic, while one of them was struck out for no case to answer.

We hereby, in conclusion respectfully submit this humble appeal on behalf of Mr. Adeyemi Faleye, with the utmost humility and in the interest of justice and humanity. We urge the Board to re-examine the case from the perspective of inconsistent and unclear evidence, particularly regarding the appellant’s arrest. It is evident that the prosecution’s case against Adeyemi Faleye is based on a fabricated story and unfounded suspicions, aimed at implicating him in a crime he did not commit.

The appellant told us that while his car broke down at Mede, he was arrested by the vigilantes. Which means that Adeyemi Faleye’s arrest was a mere suspicion by the OPC Vigilantes.

It is noteworthy that in criminal cases, the burden of proof lies with the prosecution to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Suspicion alone is not enough to secure a conviction; rather, the prosecution must present sufficient evidence to meet the standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

As often stated in judicial quote “Suspicion of the defendant, no matter how strong is not a substitute of proof beyond reasonable doubt. See NWALU v. STATE (2018) 14 NWLR (Pt. 1638) Page 178, Paras C-D. The law is clear as stated in the case of MAJOR HAMZA AL-MUSTAPHA v. THE STATE (2013) LPELR-20995 (CA) where the Court held that:
” No matter the Suspicion and its degree, no matter the grievance or grouse, no matter the height of conjecture, no matter the depth of hatred, even the strongest SUSPICION can never be found convicted in law. The Prosecution must prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. T his is a fundamental aspect of the criminal justice system and ensures that individuals are not wrongfully convicted based on mere suspicion.

Our organization has presented the case of Adeyemi Faleye to the Ogun State Board of Mercy to judiciously exercise its constitutional power and recommend to the Executive Governor of Ogun State, His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, as recorded on page 107 of the record of the judgment, where the presiding judge recommended the Governor to exercise the power of the prerogative of mercy in favor of Mr. Adeyemi Faleye, for his remorseful demeanor during the trial, to kindly grant Adeyemi Faleye total freedom in the upcoming amnesty exercise according to the constitutional power confided on him.
In cases of wrongful conviction, there can be multiple factors and individuals who may share responsibility. It is important to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the specific circumstances that led to the wrongful conviction.

According to the letter of Adeyemi Faleye to the CJMR “The Bible says “Whoever shall cover his sin shall not prosper” I am begging the team of the Centre for Justice Mercy and Reconciliation, CJMR and the true lover of Justice in Nigeria to come to my rescue from this injustice. Over this case, my wife has abandoned me for another man. From age 3 my mother left my father to another man, I was the only child of my mother in my father’s house. I am from a polygamous family, I have nobody and no money to seek for Justice further. I did not rob anybody. The father of twins said “On the night of 27/282/2011 I slept with my wife in my house, on the morning of 28/2/2011 I left home to go and struggle for survival before I ended up in the prison. I shall be grateful if you can assist me and rescue my life from this injustice. I shall be grateful at your visit to me at Kirikiri Custodial Centre where I can explain full details of my story to you”
Should we keep quiet on his crying for justice?

This is not an attempt to ridicule our judicial system but to point out how our judges are being misled everyday to misapply justice to the wrong person. When justice is lost, there is need to find it and when it is found there is need to restore it to the rightful owner. Thus, my concept of restorative justice is the absent of justice. You can only restore something back to its original position when it is found in the wrong position.
Prov 31:8-9. Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

Don’t keep quiet.
Reach out to us on phone calls or whatsapp: 08025782527 / 08030488093
Visit our website at www.cjmr.com.ng
Donate to our cause 1012189729, Zenith Bank, 2013454021 First Bank : Name: Centre for Justice Mercy and Reconciliation.

Featured

Atiku Abubakar Remains Only Person Tinubu Govt is Afraid Of – Dele Momodu (Full Interview)

Published

1 day ago

December 4, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

If there is one Nigerian, who can tell accurately the heartbeat of the nation, its direction and what the future portends for it, based on the dynamics already at play, that person is Chief Dele Momodu; a seasoned journalist, former presidential candidate, holder of high profile chieftancy titles across the country, and Chief Executive Officer, Ovation Media Group.

As a vocal politician and public speaker, whose voice echoes across the length and breadth of the nation for all the good reasons, Momodu has continued to speak against the cluelessness of the present government and the need for the government to redress its steps in terms of unpopular policies emanating from the cradle, which have rather impoverished the populace rather than do the opposite. He is credited with being the first to notice the government’s unpopular drift towards one-party system, and warned on the dangers. Today, almost all the state governors, national and state assembly members have all decamped to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Sustaining his credence as a value-adding speaker, Momodu was a guest of the fabulous, experience and adequately exposed Charles Aniagolu of Arise News(Night), where he further highlighted the challenges and remedies of the Nigerian situation.

He also spoke on the appointment of the former Chief of Defence Staff, General Chris Musa (retd) as the Minister of Defence, the withdrawal of Police eacort from very important personalities (VIPs) including the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and many other issues of national concern.

The text of the interview is presented in details even to the tiniest details below:

Momodu with former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar

Well, for more on this, I’m joined now from our studios in Lagos by the former presidential candidate and publisher of Ovation magazine, Basharu Dele Momodu. Mr. Momodu, thank you very much indeed for coming in. You look like you’re about to cry there. I mean, I know you had a bit of a tough time getting in, and I do apologize to our viewers because we’re quite a few minutes late. But you had a bit of a mishap coming in, and that delayed us a bit.

Dele Momodu: Yes. Well, we thank God that it was something minor. We had an accident on top of the bridge coming into the Arise studios, but we’re okay. Now, you asked if I am off the mark this…

Well, I’m going to get to that in a minute. Sorry to interrupt you – I want to be a bit systematic because we’ve got to gallop ahead, given that we’re, I mean, almost 12 minutes late in starting the program. Let me start by first of all getting your reaction to the confirmation of General Christopher Musa as the new Minister of Defence in the current climate of insecurity that’s gripping this country.

Dele Momodu: Well, I mean, I didn’t expect anything else. I expected that he would be screened — whether bow-and-go or not — he would be screened, and he would be ratified. And he’s been ratified, and I want to congratulate him. That’s all. I pray that we won’t hear sermons this time and that he will just go straight into action.

Yes, we all hope for that, don’t we? And we also got the news this evening that the National Economic Council has approved 100 billion naira for the renovation of training centres for the police and other security agencies across Nigeria. So that suggests that they’re serious about retraining serving police officers and training new ones. Is that the message that you’re getting from it?

Dele Momodu: Well, I would say that 100 billion is too small for the police and the security agencies. The government should do something better if it is serious about the insecurity that is terrorizing everybody in Nigeria. They would need to get serious, invest more in training, involve- I mean, invest in new personnel. The reasons they are saying they are withdrawing police from the streets are just because we don’t have enough of them. But we have enough jobless people in Nigeria, including graduates and non-graduates, who are willing to join the police force and other security agencies. So my advice is that President Tinubu should invest heavily in security. 100 billion to me, especially when you translate it into other currencies, it’s chicken feed.

Well, to be entirely fair, Bashorun, that 100 billion is for the renovation of training centers for the police. It’s not for the whole security recruitment thing. It’s purely to renovate the centres that have been left to kind of, you know, rot across the country, and he’s trying to bring them up to speed and at the same time get on with the recruitment of new police officers and move on with the training of existing ones.

Now, you spoke recently about the ban on police escorts for VIPs. You called it a targeted move against opposition figures like Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who you support, and who is constitutionally entitled to security protection. You argued that the ban is a calculated move to weaken opposition voices and fuel resentment against successful Nigerians, and that it’ll expose prominent Nigerians to danger. I wonder why you think all that, because public sentiment in Nigeria seems to be in support of President Tinubu’s decision to ban the use of police escorts by VIPs. And it looks like you are the one who is off the mark this time.

Dele Momodu: No, I’m not off the mark. I remember in October 2022, when I foretold the dictatorship that would soon visit Nigeria. I was abused that night — that I’m talking rubbish. You see, I am trained to go behind the scene to find the real stories. A lot of Nigerians get easily, easily fooled. And if you read my press release yesterday, I said it there that we have been fooled again. What they are doing is to set the poor against the rich. And whenever you do that, you will get an applause, you will get an ovation. But the truth is that most people are not thinking about the real motive behind this decision.

If you look at Lagos State, for example, when they had the problem in the House of Assembly, you will see that one of the things they used to intimidate the people was, one, they sent some forces in to disrupt the house. Then they withdrew the police security that was guarding the brother of the new speaker. They withdrew the police from Oba Elegushi. It’s nothing new. So if we start the campaign, let’s say in January — I don’t know when we are starting — tell me, who will risk his life criss-crossing Nigeria without police escort?

We should stop being fooled. You see, the sentiment is that, oh yes, all of us should suffer. There is no country in the world where you don’t have VIPs. And it’s never a crime to be successful. As a matter of fact, those who should lose their security are those politicians in Abuja and not the ordinary man, not a Dangote, not an Abdulsamad. Imagine a time when a kidnapper said he almost got Aliko, if not for his heavy security.

So you will see – I’ve said it again today – when tomorrow comes, and events begin to unfold, you will remember that only one man warned you that this is part of the plot to suffocate the opposition.

Well, I mean, I think that obviously you’re entitled to your opinion, but a lot of people will probably disagree with that because the government didn’t say that they were going to completely leave VIPs naked without protection. They talked about redrafting civil defense people to become protectors. And members of civil defense — they carry guns and very sophisticated weapons at that. And of course, it’s not just directed at the opposition; members of the government and the VIPs are also subject to the same restrictions.

But let’s move on from there because I’m concerned that we lost a lot of time at the beginning. I want to get your response to a lot of things because it’s not every day that we have you sitting there. I don’t know whether you’ve heard this, but it’s being reported tonight that the US government has introduced a new policy which allows it to impose a visa ban on people considered responsible for the attack on Nigerian Christians.

The State Department issued a statement saying the policy allows it to deny visas to those who have directed, authorized, supported, participated in, or carried out abuses targeting people based on faith. And it said that family members of affected people are also subject to the restrictions, and that the US cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria. What’s your reaction to that? Does it sound like all the attempts by the Nigerian government to convince the Americans that there isn’t genocide targeted specifically at Christians have failed?

Dele Momodu: You see, when you have bullies in power, people will also jubilate when a bigger bully comes to bully them. So what’s happening in Nigeria right now is that a lot of people feel hopeless. They feel helpless, and they are excited that there is a bigger bully. The same way you said, “Oh, people are happy that they are withdrawing security from…” is the same way America is bullying us now, and you can see us reacting.

It took us over two years to react, to what? To appoint ambassadors who will represent our country. So I think the game continues, and I can tell you that a lot of Nigerians, especially on social media, are very excited that for once, at least, our leadership is listening to someone, and that’s President Donald Trump. So if that’s what it takes for our country to get serious, maybe that’s what we needed, and that’s what we are getting.

And Mr. Momodu, as you assess the political landscape inside Nigeria using your very blunt and unapologetic assessment indicators, what do you see as we approach 2027? Is it, as some have suggested, a done deal for President Tinubu and the APC, given the many failures of the opposition? Because I see you being quoted as saying that no southern candidate — not even Goodluck Jonathan or Peter Obi — can defeat President Tinubu in 2027.

Dele Momodu: Oh, I’ve been saying that for long. It’s nothing new. nothing is a done deal for President Tinubu. About two months ago, no one expected him to suddenly sit up and respond to America. But now we are responding. So we don’t know what’s going to happen in the coming weeks that may further get them sober.

What we witnessed in the past was the giddiness — “Oh, we are the ones in charge, nothing can happen.” But suddenly we see them reacting to forces from America, which is unfortunate because to govern Nigeria is not too difficult. Nigerians — we’re the most tolerant human beings; otherwise, we wouldn’t be where we are now. We tolerate everything.

And I know that 2027 is not yet a done deal. But the opposition must get its act together. I’ve said it before on this programme that actions and reactions are always equal and opposite, according to Isaac Newton. So that’s my scientific analysis of what is going to happen.

Any southerner who goes into the race now – an average southerner will say, “After all, we already have Tinubu there, so why are we worrying ourselves?” So, the force that we need to energize the opposition, I believe it will not be there. There are three key things when it comes to presidential elections. Number one is ethnicity — where the candidate comes from. No northerner is going to come and die to come and defend a southern candidate if, let’s say, for example, he’s rigged out of the election. But when you have your own candidate, it’s more than likely that you will be more enthused to vote for that candidate.

And that is why I said, look, don’t let us waste our time. And I’ve said it — you know me, I’ve said it — I said the only person this government is afraid of is Atiku Abubakar. I will continue to say it. And since Atiku and Peter Obi ran together in 2019, I supported them then, and I was not a member of PDP. So it should be easier for them to come back together.

We have less than one year to prepare for that election. While Tinubu is already campaigning, cajoling, and, you know, coercing whoever he can, we are still busy thinking who is going to be our candidate. I think we are wasting too much time. Now is the time to do what is necessary.

And just following up on that, you recently described Peter Obi’s candidacy as independent because, according to you, he doesn’t have a party and has shown unwillingness to build and work with the ADC. But I mean, many of his supporters disagree with you and say that he is still a member of the Labour Party for now, and that the party has been making behind-the-scenes moves towards reconciliation and could well pull a rabbit out of a hat in 2027. What’s your assessment of that?

Dele Momodu: Now you have gone in the realm of magic. I am not a magician and I don’t see any magic that would awaken Labour Party or PDP and that APC will fold its arms and allow such a platform for Obi. I mean, the truth of the matter is that, you know, he’s a man I respect so much. If you look at it right now, I believe he’s party-less, like most of our opposition leaders.

He has not yet made up his mind, and he joined the ADC last week. So anybody who wants to run a year to election and you have not yet made up your mind, I think it’s proving more difficult. that’s why I said an independent candidate. But he has not said that he’s opposed to ADC, so we need to correct that. He has not said that he’s opposed. What I think he’s opposed to is maybe having to go through a convention — a primary — and ADC said everybody should come to the primary: if you win, you win, then others will support.

But I think it’s going to be difficult for any party to donate a ticket — especially any formidable party — at this stage, to donate a ticket to any candidate. I don’t even think Atiku can get an automatic ticket in ADC; he will have to fight for it. So let them — I mean, you have Roti… one of the most experienced politicians in the history of Nigeria. So they are all there; let them go and fight for it. And that is what a true democrat should do.

The only person who will get an automatic ticket, and already has, is President Tinubu. So for anybody to be shopping for a ticket at this stage, I think we need to get very serious. I’m being brutally frank.

Indeed, and that’s what we like about you – your brutal frankness. And in that regard, let’s talk a little bit about you as a prominent media personality. I mean, do you see your role as a commentator as influencing government policy or shaping public opinion?

Dele Momodu: Well, for me, I am like a prophet. I was born in an Aladura church, and I was named Joseph. I dream a lot. I see visions. And most of my predictions about Nigeria have come to pass, even after people have abused me.

They used to tell me, “Oh, you like supporting losers.” But now they can see that I support common sense. It does not matter whether you are going to win or you are not going to win. That’s the role God has chosen for me, and I have gladly accepted it.
So those who want quick fixes or quick, you know, appointments, of course, would always join the ruling party. When I supported Buhari the other time, I never went there to do anything. They invited me; I told them my piece of mind. So it tells you that I’m not desperate for anything.
For me as a person, I will continue to influence the younger ones. Everywhere I go – and I travel virtually every week – the young people come to me, even on flights, and say, “Thank you for speaking up.” A lot of people don’t speak up. That is why we believe Nigeria is populated by bad people. There are a lot of good people who are voiceless. And so they are looking for someone to just tell them where to go.
And I am happy that most things that I have said have come. I predicted that there would be a dictatorship, and that one didn’t take much. So as a prophet, I’m enjoying it.

Well, we like having you, and thank you very much indeed for taking the time to talk to us. And thank you for being there tonight. And also, I hope everything goes well because I know you had a bit of a mishap getting into the studio.
Dele Momodu — Basharun Dele Momodu — is a former presidential candidate and publisher of Ovation magazine. He was talking to me from our studios in Lagos.

Featured

Davido Hails Uncle, Gov Adeleke on Resignation from PDP

Published

3 days ago

December 3, 2025

Eric

Nigerian Afrobeat music singer, David Adeleke aka Davido, has commented on his uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke, after he resigned from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), posting “Jeje…” on his X page.

Adeleke, who represented Osun West as Senator and currently serves as the governor of the State, announced his resignation in a letter dated November 4, 2025, citing the party’s national leadership crisis.

The letter titled ‘Resignation of my membership of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP)’ read: “Due to the current crisis of the national leadership of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), I hereby resign my Membership of the Peoples’ Democratic Party with immediate effect.”

He expressed gratitude for the opportunities afforded to him by the PDP.

“I thank the Peoples’ Democratic Party for the opportunities given to me for my elections as a Senator (Represented Osun West) and as Governor of Osun State under the Peoples’ Democratic Party,” he added.

The resignation has sparked reactions, with Davido’s post sparking speculation about the implications for the party.

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Book of Infamy: Umo Eno, Umar Bago, Egbetokun Listed Among Media Unfriendly Public Officers

Published

3 days ago

December 2, 2025

Eric

Niger and Akwa Ibom state governors, Umar Bago and Umo Eno respectively, have been listed in the “Book of Infamy” by the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria as the worst offenders of media repression in the country.

The IPI also included the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, in the blacklist for continued police harassment and attacks on journalists.

This was made known on Tuesday during the IPI Annual Conference in Abuja, with Vice President Kashim Shettima and Minister of Information and National Orientation, in attendance.

At the conference, IPI President Musikilu Mojeed said the governors and the police chief have consistently prevented journalists from performing their legitimate responsibilities.

He said, “Mohammed Umar Bago, Niger Governor, Umo Eno, Governor of Akwa Ibom and the IG of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, are hereby written in the book of infamy.”

Mojeed added that Egbetokun was added for “failing to uphold his constitutional duties and allowing systematic media oppression”.

In recent years, media reports have highlighted multiple instances of repression under the two governors.

In August 2025, Governor Umar Bago was reported to have ordered the closure of Badeggi FM, a privately owned radio station in Minna, Niger State, accusing it of inciting violence.

The station was sealed by security agents, prompting condemnation from rights organisations such as Amnesty International and the Nigerian Bar Association, which described the move as unlawful and an attack on independent journalism.

Earlier in 2025, a postgraduate student at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Isah Mokwa was reportedly arrested and detained after criticising Governor Bago on social media.

In Akwa Ibom State, under Governor Umo Eno, a Channels Television reporter and cameraman were expelled from the Government House Press Centre in May 2025 after airing a video in which the governor allegedly announced plans to defect from his political party.