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Police Officer on Death Row Cries for Justice: NGO Makes Case for Board of Mercy in Osun to Review Cases

Published

7 months ago

August 25, 2024

Eric

By Hezekiah Olujobi, CJMR

Wrongful convictions are a significant global issue with serious consequences for individuals, families, and society as a whole. When someone is wrongfully convicted, it means that an innocent person has been found guilty of a crime they did not commit.

This can occur due to various reasons, including errors in the criminal justice system, misconduct by law enforcement or prosecutors, mistaken eyewitness identification, false confessions, and inadequate legal representation.

The consequences of wrongful convictions are far-reaching and can have devastating effects. Innocent individuals may spend years, or even decades, in prison for crimes they did not commit, resulting in the loss of freedom, damage to their reputation, emotional trauma, and the loss of relationships with family and friends.

Additionally, the true perpetrators of the crimes remain free, posing a continued threat to society.

Without advocacy groups dedicated to addressing wrongful convictions, these injustices may go unnoticed and unaddressed.

In 2023, the Centre for Justice, Mercy, and Reconciliation (CJMR) presented a case to the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, involving two individuals who were wrongly sentenced to death for a murder case. The real perpetrators of the crime confessed to the CJMR, leading to the release of the innocent individuals after 24 years of wrongful imprisonment.

In this case, the CJMR conducted a thorough review to determine the veracity of the accused person’s claims.

The analysis and review revealed an injustice against a junior police officer serving in Ikire Police division in Osun State by a senior police officer serving in Ibadan Oyo State. The Police officer who is a native of Ikire was traveling home for Sallah festival and he ran towards a lone armed robber who jumped on the road and robbed him of his 4,500. In this review.

Pastor Hezekiah Deboboye Olujobi the Executive Director for the Centre for Justice Mercy & Reconciliation
shed more light on the possible innocence of Mr. Victor Akpoyibo. Follow us to learn more and judge for yourself whether Victor Akpoyibo deserves to remain in prison for the next 24 hours.
The timeline of events leading to Victor Akpoyibo’s arrest for armed robbery is as follows:

1. On 25/11/2001, during the Sallah festival, a senior police officer named Folorunsho Adisa was robbed at gunpoint on Apomu High way road while traveling to Ikire.
2. The victim, PW1, also a police officer an inspector by rank lodged a complaint at Apomu Police station after being robbed of 4,500 Naira.
3. PW1 proceeded to Ikire Police station to file a similar report and inquired about missing arms, suspecting a police officer was involved in the robbery whereas he did not claim he saw the armed robber in Police Uniform rather in a mufti Khaki.
4. While in Ikire town, PW1 encountered Victor Akpoyibo at Sango Roundabout wearing a police uniform with a Corporal rank.
5. PW1 identified Victor based on his uniform and name tag, leading to Victor’s arrest at Ikire Police station.
6. Victor was detained, prosecuted, and sentenced to death for the armed robbery solely on the evidence of the PW 1 without any concrete exhibit.
7. Despite Victor’s appeals, including a failed appeal at the Court of Appeal, he remained in prison for 23 years.
8. Victor sought mercy and appealed for freedom through the Center for Justice Mercy and Reconciliation, highlighting discrepancies in the evidence and requesting a review of his case for possible release.

Shedding light on his innocence:
According to the review and analysis of the Centre for Justice Mercy and Reconciliation an Organization that specialized on innocent people behind the Bar in Nigeria.

It is evident from the record that the incident took place during the Sallah festival when the senior police officer was traveling to Ikire for Sallah, en route from Apomu to Ikire instead of driving directly from Ibadan to Ikire. Shortly after branching to the Apomu road, he encountered an armed robber, operating alone, who stopped him at gunpoint at around 8:00 am and robbed him of Four thousand five hundred Naira (4,500.00).

After lodging a complaint at Apomu Police station, he proceeded to Ikire police station to file a similar report. In the process, he stumbled on a man seemingly look as the armed robber that robbed him few hours ago and he laid his hand upon him, got him arrested, prosecuted and sentenced to death. This policeman was alone victim, a lone witness and alone investigator that could arrest his accused within a few hours after the incidence.

According to the detailed court proceedings faithfully recorded by the judge, “PW 1 Proceeded to Ikire Police station where he lodged similar report. He inquired from the policemen at Ikire Police station if their arms were missing because he saw a seemingly looking policeman on the highway robbing people. The policemen at Ikire police station told him that there was nothing of such and their arms were intact.
From Ikire Police station, PW1 proceeded to Ikire town with a view to borrowing money to enable him buy sallah things for his father.
At Sango Roundabout PW1 was surprised to see the accused person wearing Police Uniform with Corporal Rank. He then parked his car and greeted him. He also inquired from him if he was heading for the Police station so that he could drop him there. Instead of accepting the offer the accused person challenged PW1 for asking him such questions. Pw1 then showed the accused person his ID card and told him that he was his boss and that was the reason he had the gut to ask him questions. However, when the accused person sighted PW1’s ID card and purse, he started begging him to please forgive him.

According to the record of the high Court record of proceedings

From Sango Roundabout, PW1 drove straight to Ikire Police station to inquire if they had any policeman who went by the name of VICTOR AKPOYIBO, the name tag he saw on the accused person’s uniform. When it was confirmed that the accused person was serving at the station, PW1 inquired further about the, accused person’s duty post. He was told To the that the accused person was supposed to be on morning duty but had not reported for work as at the time PW1 lodged his complaint at the station.

PW1 then informed the policemen on duty that he had seen the accused the person at Sango Roundabout and that accused person was the same person that robbed him earlier that morning at Apomu Junction. Soon thereafter, the accused person arrived the Police station on a motor- bike and was promptly arrested after PW1 had identified him as the person that robbed earlier in the morning at Apomu Junction.”

This was how the man Mr. Victor Akpoyibo began his journey to death row. The young police officer was arrested, detained and sentenced to death.

He appeals against the judgment but the appeal failed at the Appeal Court. In 2014, he also filed an appeal against the judgment at the Supreme Court but his appeal is yet to be mentioned.

Having spent 23 years behind bar Victor Akpoyibo approached the Centre for Justice Mercy and Reconciliation to seek appeal through the office of the Board of Mercy to obtain his freedom.

As a mediator between the State Government of Osun State and Victor Akpoyibo, it is our duty to be sure that there is possibility of his claim of the innocence and base on merit to propose for the freedom of Victor Akpoyibo.

We have painstakingly gone through the whole records of courts that convicted Victor; we can equivocally say that Mr. Victor Akpoyibo merit mercy with our intervention.

From the record of the Judgement of the High Court delivered by the Hon Justice W.O Akanbi on 22/7/2010 two issues were raised for the conviction

0.1. The graphic description of the PW1 Folorunsho Adisa on the defendant about the cloths he wore on the day of the robbery incidence as blue jeans and multi-colour T shirt

0.2. The type of gun held for the operation AK-47 gun. (Which was never recover nor even exist).
It was cleared, that the judge convicted the defendant solely on the evidence of the PW1 on count one

CONTENTION BETWEEN THE Defendant AND Respondent COUNSELS.

0.1. Defendant submitted that the description of the cloth by the PW1 was different from the exhibit tendered before the court. The defendant said Kahki is different from blue jeans. Yet, the court went ahead and convicted him.

0.2. No gun was recovered from the defendant during the search as the police officer at Ikire rebuffed the claim of the PW1 by his own word. Yet, the court went ahead and convicted him.

THE Exhibit before the court for conviction.

The exhibit of substance of cocaine was dismissed by the court.

The exhibit of Kahki trouser instead of blue Jeans trouser and multicolour T-Shirt was admissible for his conviction.
The exhibit of gun. None
The exhibit of the PW1 was the solely evidence relied by the court to convict the appellant.

WHAT IS THE STRENGHT OF THE EVIDENCE OF THE PW1?
The evidence was that after he was robbed in Apomu he came to Ikire same day within a short period he caught the man who came to robbed him on Apomu High way in the morning. How credible and reliable were his evidence? According to the record of the Court “ PW 1 Proceeded to Ikire Police station where he lodged similar report. He inquired from the policemen at Ikire Police station if their arms were missing because he saw a seemingly looking policeman on the highway robbing people. (But in this evidence, he never discloses himself as the victim of the armed robbery)

This piece of evidence raises a lot of doubt in my mind and you will agree with me that same with you. If his experience were to be true that truly he was robbed the record would have been “because I saw a seemingly looking policeman on the highway who robbed me, not “robbing people.” When he said “robbing people” the question is who are the people that were robbed?

Why did he refused to disclose his identity as the victim of the armed robbery?
From critical evaluation of his evidence before the court he went to the police station twice to lodge complain.

The first complaint was to make an enquiry if there were missing guns because he saw a man seemingly like a policeman with a gun robbing people.

According to the victim “Then he left the police station thinking about where to borrow money to buy the Sallah thing for his father”.

Are you kidding me? You are a senior police officer, going home for a Sallah from Ibadan to Ikire with only 4,500 Naira and just in less than 10 minutes before you get to Ikire a one-man armed robber jumped on the road and collected the money.

Read on

“From Ikire Police station, PW1 proceeded to Ikire town with a view to borrowing money to enable him buy sallah things for his father. At Sango Roundabout PW1 was surprised to see the accused person wearing Police Uniform with Corporal Rank. He then parked his car and greeted him. He also inquired from him if he was heading for the Police station so that he could drop him there. Instead of accepting the offer the accused person challenged PW1 for asking him such questions.

Pw1 then showed the accused person his ID card and told him that he was his boss and that was the reason he had the gut to ask him questions. However, when the accused person sighted PW1’s ID card and purse, he started begging him to please forgive him.”

How possible for a police man who knew he supposed to resume duty very early in the morning and abandoned his duty post to go and rob at 8.00am in the morning? If he always had a gun with him to perpetrate a crime, I think he will never abandon his duty to go and commit a crime in the broad daylight when he supposed to have resume duty. I doubt this. What about you?

With utmost respect, let us consider another scenario. From Sango Roundabout, PW1 drove straight to Ikire Police station to inquire if they had any policeman who went by the name of VICTOR AKPOYIBO, the name tag he saw on the accused person’s uniform. When it was confirmed that the accused person was serving at the station, PW1 inquired further about the, accused person’s duty post. He was told that the accused person was supposed to be on morning duty but had not reported for work as at the time PW1 lodged his complaint at the station.
PW1 then informed the policemen on duty that he had seen the accused person at Sango Roundabout and that accused person was the same person that robbed him earlier that morning at Apomu Junction. (I think in any Government setting, there is a record book where every police officer must sign his or her resumption on duty and when he is close for the day, was there a record that shows Akpoyibo was late on duty that day)?

This statement calls for deliberation. You went to the same police station twice.

The first time to make enquiry if there were missing gun they said no. The second time you came to inform the police that you have seen the person who robbed you.

THE DEFENCE OF THE DEFENDANT. Based on the statement of the allegations, the defendant raised objection to all the allegations and challenged the court to demand for the Crime Diary in Apomu to show the truthfulness of his robbery encounter and the number of people that were robbed on that day. This is the persistent crying of the defendant throughout the trial and up till date but ignored.

In my own humble opinion if I were the prosecuting counsel or an investigative police officer, I would have equally demand for the registered record of the station to also know the duty of Victor Akpoyibo that same day. As it is said in judicial quote, justice is not one-way traffic. It is three-way traffic: – justice for the appellant accused of the heinous crime of robbery or murder; justice for the victim that was robbed or murdered whose blood is crying to heaven for vengeance and finally justice to the society at large. “Justice must not only be done, but seen publicly to have been done”

Victor headed for the Court of Appeal with expectation to get justice but justice was not available.

WHAT IS THE JUDGMENT OF THE COURT OF APPEAL?
The lead judge of the Court of Appeal in his conclusion said,

“Finally, I need to register that it is rather unfortunate that the appellant who was legally armed as a policeman for him to use same and protect the citizenry out of his wicked and selfish desire turned same into a weapon of robbery and terror against innocent citizens.”

The interpretation and conclusion of the opinion of this judge was Mr. Victor Akpoyibo robbed DSP Folorunsho Adisa with the gun that was giving to him to protect the innocent citizen; Did he actually used the gun to robbed Folorunsho Adisa on the same day of 25/11/2001? The question is was any gun in possession of Victor Akpoyibo that same day?

Do police used to carry gun A.K 47 home after closing duty of the day? If by his own evidence that when he made enquiry of his duty and they said he supposed to have resume duty at about 11.am then that is a plus to his evidence, the question Victor Akpoyibo should answer now is where was he since morning that he supposed to have resume duty? If he has not yet resume duty as at 11 am how come he was in possession of the A.K 47 for a robbery operation very early in the morning?

Hear the response of the police officers at Ikire upon enquiry of the PW1.
“PW 1 Proceeded to Ikire Police station where he lodged similar report. He inquired from the policemen at Ikire Police station if their arms were missing because he saw a seemingly looking policeman on the highway robbing people. The policemen at Ikire police station told him that there was nothing of such and their arms were intact.”

There is no way the police officer could have been in the possession of A.K 47 gun as at that time in the morning, because he does not go home with gun and he has not yet resume duty the following morning because he was not even on the morning duty.

As quoted in judiciary quotes “A judgment sending a man to the gallows must be seen to be the product of logical Thinking based upon admissible evidence in which the facts leading to his conviction are clearly found and deductions therefore carefully made. It cannot be allowed to stand if found upon scraggy reason or perfunctory performance. It is so in all cases and more so in criminal cases and particularly more so in capital offence.”

Victor Akpoyibo was convicted based on fabricated testimony and police misconduct.
Presently, Victor Akpoyibo is an Inmates on Death Row in Kirikiri Maximum Custodial Centre looking forward for Justice.

We want to sincerely and respectfully plead to the Honorable Commissioner for Justice and the State Attorney General Hon Wole Jimi Bada, and all the good people at the Osun State Board of Mercy to consider the plea of Victor Akpoyibo by recommending him to the Executive Governor of the Osun State Senator Ademola Adeleke to show his compassion which he was known for to grant this man total freedom without further delayed after 23 years behind bar.

Presently, about 85 inmates sentenced to death from various high courts of Justice are on death row, some of them have exhausted their appeal to the Supreme Court, some still have their appeal pending for over 7 years.

We are appealing to the Osun State Governor to constitute the Board of Mercy for the possible case review in other to consider those that merit the Governor’s person.

Featured

Umahi Apologises to Tinubu, Lagosians, Denies Knowledge of Bridge Closure

Published

10 hours ago

April 4, 2025

Eric

The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi on Thursday, said the closure of Independence Bridge in Lagos for urgent rehabilitation of the collapsed retaining wall was made without his knowledge or authorization.

Umahi said this while apologising to Lagos residents and President Bola Tinubu for the disruption caused by the sudden closure of the bridge on Wednesday.

Umahi who spoke when he toured the bridge in Lagos said: ” Unfortunately, when the bridge was to be closed, I was not informed. It is very unfortunate because for a bridge to be closed, especially in Lagos, as has been the tradition, I should be informed as the minister.

“We should also have studied the implication of it even in an emergency situation. We would have deployed emergency evaluation of the implication of closing the bridge.”

Umahi warned that controllers of works and engineers would face disciplinary action if such an incident would happen again.

“I use the opportunity to warn all controllers and engineers all over the country. Never you close a road or close any bridge without running through the permanent secretary, who will seek for permission from the honourable minister of works,” he said.

The minister acknowledged the efforts of Lagos State Government in managing traffic flow during the closure.

He also took responsibility for the error, saying: “I take responsibility for it, even though I did not order it, but every action by any staff of the ministry of works, I take responsibility for it.”

Umahi said that the closure, which caused significant traffic congestion, was avoidable.

He said: “If we were to do this properly, there would have been a different kind of method deployed and it wouldn’t have necessitated the total closure.”

According to him, even if closure was necessary, it would have been done in a way that it would take three days: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and necessary remedial work would have been put in place.

“What we are doing now is to restore the bridge temporarily within the next three days. By Sunday, this place will be totally open.”

He added that a permanent solution would be implemented after a two-week assessment.

“Then, after two weeks, we will look at the settlements, and then we will take out three days to put the permanent structure. That is what we are going to do,” he said.

The minister emphasised the competence of the contractor handling the project, Build Well.

“Build Well is a reputable company, and they have been restoring a lot of failures on our bridges in Lagos, some of them 53 years old.

“Some bridges’ spans have been lifted, especially Eko Bridge, Marina Bridge, and even the Lagos-Ibadan Bridge. They are also intervening in all of them,” he added.

The minister also said that the design of the bridge would be varied to address the emergency situation.

He said: ” The design will be varied according to the emergency situation we have on ground, and the contractor is going to cooperate with us.”

He pledged to personally oversee the restoration efforts, saying, “I am not going until the bridge is fully restored by Sunday, we will work day and night to restore it, and then we will evaluate it.”

The bridge was initially closed on April 1 for essential maintenance and rehabilitation works, with the government planning to complete the repairs by May.

NAN

Featured

Communal Clashes: Adeleke Threatens Royal Fathers with Dethronement

Published

4 days ago

March 31, 2025

Eric

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has threatened stern state action against traditional rulers of Ifon, Erin Osun and Ilobu communities if they fail to sustain current peace, and de-escalate the crisis in their communities.

The Governor issued the warning against the backdrop of online reports that some faceless groups across the conflict areas are planning another round of attacks.

“In the midst of sallah celebrations, I got reports of some people planning another round of conflict around Ifon, Ilobu and Erin Osun towns. The security agencies have tightened surveillance to ensure no attacks take place.

“The security agencies are also speeding up the interrogation of key chieftains and actors in the conflict. I will remind top leaders of the towns that the peace undertaking they are signing are not for joke. They will be held accountable. There will be accountability before the law.

“The curfew we relaxed was on humanitarian grounds. As a compassionate government, we know many innocent people are suffering because of the evil agenda of a few elements across the conflict areas. Any attempt to exploit the adjustment of the curfew for renewed violence will be met with full re-imposition of the 24-hour curfew.

“Additionally, I will remove from office, any traditional ruler where violence recurs. This card is on the table. Royal fathers of each town must call their subjects to order. I will wield the big stick. Enough is enough”, the Governor was quoted as saying in the statement.

Featured

Celebrating a Hero of June 12, Humphrey Nwosu

Published

4 days ago

March 31, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

In as much as unnecessary controversy ensued in the Senate when some senators led by the Senator representing Abia South, Enyinnaya Abaribe, sponsored a motion to honour and immortalise Professor Humphrey Nwosu, the electoral officer in charge of organising and conducting the June 12, 1993 General Elections; the highly freest and fairest elections in the history of Nigeria, many Nigerians have stood stoutly the defend the late electoral officer’s conduct, concluding that he deserved to be honoured for his meritorious service to nation, especially as the substantive Chairman of the then National Electoral Commission (NEC).

The election held, but was truncated by the former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd) at the announcement of results stage.

Those, who joined the Abia South Senator to jointly sponsor the motion were Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South), Orji Kalu (APC, Abia North), Austin Akobondu (PDP, Abia), Adamu Aliero (PDP, Kebbi Central) and Victor Umeh, (LP, Anambra Central).Others are Okechukwu Ezea (LP, Enugu North) Osita Ngwu (PDP, Enugu West), Onyekachi Nwebonyi (APC, Ebonyi North) Anthony Ani, Osita Izunaso (APC, Imo West) Patrick Ndubueze (APC, Imo North).

However, as the motion hit the floor of the senate through a point of order, majority of the members fought against it, and finally had their way after a voice vote as supervised by the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, giving verdict to the ‘nays’.

The Senate threw out prayers contained in the motion as it sought to honour Prof Nwosu by renaming the Independent National Electoral Commission headquarters after him. The rejection was the second time in quick succession, in less than 24 hours.

In the heated debate before the proposal was thrown out, Abaribe, while presenting the proposal, noted that Nwosu stood his ground to conduct the June 12, 1993 elections despite threats from military dictatorship.

“His courageous defense of democratic electoral process during the 1993 presidential elections led to the famous June 12, which ultimately confirmed Alhaji M.K.O Abiola as the winner of the election.“He stood his ground, ensuring that Nigeria’s electoral wishes and aspirations were realised, which culminated in June 12 being marked as the authentic democracy day due to his unwavering stand as an umpire.

“Professor Humphrey Nwosu laid a landmark foundation for the present independent National Electoral Commission today and that Professor Humphrey Mwosu passed away on the 20th of October 2024, aged 83 years old.

“Despite his contributions, Professor Humphrey Mwosu was seemingly neglected until his death, which highlights complaints of unfair treatment of notable public servants,” he added.

In support of the motion, Senator Osita Ngwu that “there was no way he would have announced the results with a gun to his head. That doesn’t change the fact that some of us see him as a hero.”

Senator Austin Akobundu described it as most uncharitable for lawmakers to dismiss Nwosu’s contributions, insisting that he deserved a place in Nigeria’s hall of honour.

On his part, Tony Nwoye representing Anambra North under Labour Party, accused senators of deploying personal, political and ethnic sentiments to judge the motion.“We should not allow our personal sentiments and party affiliation to affect our judgement. I was a presiding officer during the June 12 election. He did his best despite the court order. Despite the threats by the military cabal, he went ahead to announce the election. It is very disappointing that some of us are distorting facts because Nwosu is an Igbo man,” he said.

Among the several senators, who opposed the immortalisation motion, with excuses of Nwosu’s lacking courage to announce final results, were Senator Jimoh Ibrahim from Ondo State, who stated categorically that “nothing should be named after him”, Senator Cyril Fasuyi, who argued that history does not reward efforts, but only results, saying “As long as he did not announce the result, whether under duress or not, I am against naming INEC headquarters after him”, Senator Sunday Karimi, who criticised Nwosu for lacking the courage to speak out; Senator Afolabi Salisu, who said that immortalising him would undermine the memory of MKO Abiola, Senator Adams Oshiomhole and Senator Adeola Olamilekun, who claimed he lost his brother in the aftermath.

But Nigerians have argued in favour of the immortalisation of the former chief electoral officer, admonishing that he did his job very well. Most of them reasoned that if the likes of Babagana Kingibe, the running mate to Abiola, who ditched the struggle to join the government of General Sani Abacha, could be honoured with a GCON honours, the second highest in the land, how much more the proponent of the most viable option to voting, Option A4.

In his accessment, celebrated journalist and Chairman of Ovation Media Group, Chief Dele Momodu, said Nwosu performed his duty to the very best of his abilities, and very well. The well traveled journalist wondered on what pedestal the opposing senators stand to deny him honours.

Also lending his voice to the immortalisation of Prof Nwosu, the Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, said all honours Abiola is enjoying today is credited to Nwosu’s honesty.

“It is very important that Prof. Humphrey Nwosu should be recognized, the genesis of having a free and fair or the foundation of having a free and fair June 12, 1993 elections was through having a sincere NEC chairman like Humphrey Nwosu.

“Humphrey Nwosu conducted free and fair election that gave Aare MKO Abiola the mandate that the Nigerian government then did not install him as president.

“And the respect and the glory that Aare MKO Abiola is having today is as a result of the honesty displayed by the then NEC chairman and the products that worked with him that made it happen,” he said.

HUMPHREY NWOSU AND JUNE 12 DEBACLE

Nigeria’s electoral umpire during the period leading to the June 12 debacle, Prof Humphrey Nwosu, appears to be one of the few democracy apostles, who have been neglected, when heroes of June 12 struggle are mentioned. This is no longer a case of ‘either by commission or omission’, but a typical example of by “commission and omission”, going by feelers coming out from members of the upper chamber. Nwosu was a man who had nothing to gain or lose by doing the right thing; and he went ahead to do the right thing.

Professor Humphrey Nwosu, who was born on October 2, 1941, and died on October24, 2024, was chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), as it was then called. He was appointed by President Ibrahim Babangida in 1989, and held the office till 1993, when the election was annulled. He replaced Prof Eme Awa, who was said to have resigned due to a disagreement with Babangida.

Prof Nwosu is remembered for his administrative and organizational prowess, inventing the popular Option A4 system that ensured optimum transparency during the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election between MKO Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Uthman Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC). He persevered in announcing of the results even as tension from unknown quarters were rife. He abandoned the results after his life was threatened, according to reports.

Prof Nwosu became a Professor of Political Science at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and served in the government of Samson Omeruah, who was governor of old Anambra State. Among his highs in office were assisting traditional rulers to gain staffs of office, receive salaries and settled intra and inter community land disputes. He also served as chairman of a Federal Technical Committee on the application of Civil Service Reforms in the local government service.

Nwosu conducted the June 12, 1993 election which was seen as the freest and fairest election till date in which Chief Moshood Abiola was presumed to have won. Nwosu’s commission introduced the novel Option A4 voting system and the Open ballot system.

Nwosu had released many of the election results when he was ordered to stop further announcement by the military regime.

In 2008, he published a book in which he claimed that Babangida was not to blame for annulling the election. The book was severely criticized for failing to accurately account for what happened, and that could explain the reason behind his sudden oblivion in the political and social circle as well as why he has not been recognised as champion of democracy, and June 12 in particular.

Noting that the story of heroism attached to June 12 is not complete without Prof Nwosu, a pro-Igbo youth group, Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), urged President Bola Tinubu to honour the former NEC chairman. They believe that he played a vital role prior, during and after the elections of 1993.

In a press statement by its President General, Mr. Goodluck Ibem, the group said: “A team that wins a match scored by one of the players was not made possible only by the player who scored the goal. The winning came as a result of the input of other players.

“That a free and fair election was conducted by National Electoral Commission, NEC, on June 12, 1993 was made possible because a man who believed in transparency and integrity was at the helm of affairs of the electoral body at that time.“We must tell ourselves the truth that, if not for the impeccable integrity of Professor Humphrey Nwosu who conducted a free and fair election where Nigerians from all works of life, tribe and religion spoke their minds through the ballot box, there won’t be any Democracy Day to celebrate today,” the group noted.Also, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) called for the overdue recognition of Prof Nwosu.The CNPP in a statement signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade James Ezema, highlighted the pivotal role played by Prof. Nwosu in Nigeria’s democratic journey.

The CNPP lamented the continued exclusion of Prof. Nwosu from the list of heroes celebrated on Democracy Day, despite his significant contribution to the nation’s democracy through the introduction of the Option A4 voting system.

“It is time to transcend petty biases and to embrace the spirit of inclusivity that Professor Nwosu’s legacy warrants,” the association of all registered political parties noted.

An online platform, Businessday.ng once captured Prof Nwosu’s contribution as follows:

In the middle of the night of June 10, 1993, an Abuja High Court presided over by Justice Bassey Ikpeme, in breach of the relevant decree, ordered the electoral body to put on hold the presidential election that was some 36 hours away from happening.

The plaintiff in the case was an unregistered body known as the Association for Better Nigeria (ABN) , which consisted of a group of politicians generally believed to have government backing. Nwosu took the risk of his life and found his way in the morning uninvited to a meeting of the MILITARY COUNCIL, ASO VILLA, to explain the grave consequences of Ikpeme’s indiscreet pronouncement. After intimidation and harassment of Prof and other deliberations at the uninvited meeting, it was agreed that NEC could discount Ikpeme’s order and continue with its arrangements and preparations for the elections.

At the end of voting, when it became clear from the majority of the results already collated from the states that the candidate of the then Social Democratic Party (SDP) Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola could not be stopped from winning the contest, the then Chief Judge of Abuja, Justice Dahiru Saleh ordered NEC to halt the process. Again, Nwosu stormed the Aso Villa, but this time, he found that the government had withdrawn their support.

The then Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Clement Akpamgbo, who gave Nwosu legal backing earlier, did not only ditch him but also ensured that a bench warrant to arrest Nwosu issued by the Chief Judge of Abuja was duly served. From then, Nwosu became labelled as the problem, while his Electoral Commission was formally suspended forthwith. The only other option left to Nwosu was to seek judicial cover from the Court of Appeal, Kaduna Division, headed by Justice Achike. With no one else behind Nwosu except the Commission’s vibrant Director of Legal Services, Bukhari Bello, with Chief Tony Ojukwu SAN, OFR, one time Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission. NEC drew attention to an earlier judgment by a higher court in which Oguntade JCA as he then was, established two main points.

The first was that where a court makes an order in a case where it lacked jurisdiction, the order was null and void; and second, that it was unnecessary to go on appeal in such circumstance.

This suggested that Nwosu had no business obeying the erroneous decisions of the lower courts. Interestingly, NEC produced in Court the COMPLETE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION, which he had been stopped from announcing and which confirmed the victory of MKO Abiola. The real problem was that some ambitious military fellows aided by a set of compromised politicians wanted to prolong military rule. At this point, the government, sensing that it might lose the case, decided to annul the election a few hours before the judgment of the Court of Appeal.

Prof Nwosu is an apostle of democracy, and of June 12, 1993 more especially, and deserves to be honoured and celebrated.

In his tribute at the burial of Prof Nwosu, President Tinubu, though acknowledged that the deceased upheld democratic principles, he was however, silent on any form of honour for the June 12 chief electoral officer. He noted:

“As we mourn the death of Prof Humphrey Nwosu, we are invited to celebrate him for his profound accomplishments and personal fulfilments as a public administrator, political scientist, and academics icon. We are urged to reflect on his democratic ideals and his sense of commitment to a democratic Nigeria. These are the hallmarks of his life and times that will be cherished beyond this generation,” Tinubu said, through his representative, the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi.

As the south east governors prepare to meet and present their proposition of honoring Nwosu before President Tinubu, Nigerians have said that whatever the situation, Nwosu remains and etched in the hearts and minds of the real heroes of democracy and June 12; the average Nigerians, as democratic force to reckon with, and a man without whose name the story and history of the freest and fairest election in Nigeria cannot be written.

According to Yusuf John Imam, who wrote from Abuja, in an article titled Senate’s failure to immortalize Humphrey Nwosu, disservice to democracy, “if the Senate cannot honour Nwosu, then every state in the Southeast should take it upon themselves to immortalize their son. Build monuments, name streets, and establish scholarships in his name. Push his narrative and celebrate his legacy. The Southeast must rise to the occasion and ensure that their son’s legacy is preserved for generations to come.”

The bottom-line remains that Professor Humphrey Nwosu is a hero of June 12, and deserve to be honoured, immortalised and celebrated.