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Open Letter to His Excellency, Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji

Published

1 year ago

January 28, 2025

Eric

…Campaign Petition for Justice: Free Rashidat Abdul and Her Family

By Hezekiah Olujobi

Background:

Rashidat Abdul, a native of Agbede, Edo State, moved to Odo-Owa Ekiti in search of a better life in 2015. She rented a six-room apartment from her landlord, the late Samuel Olaoye, and established her business, employing six young girls, including her niece, Iroyigbhle Eronomo. However, her life took a tragic turn when she became embroiled in a conflict with the local king, who abused his power and sought to harm Rashidat and her family.

Evidence presented in court indicated that Rashidat had previously been in a romantic relationship with the local king. After ending this relationship, Rashidat brought her husband to live with her. The king retaliated by evicting her from the house he had provided, forcing her to relocate to her landlord’s property, where she secured two rooms. Just three days later, on April 1, 2017, thugs harassed the young women in her brothel. Rashidat called the local police for assistance, but by the time they arrived, the thugs had disappeared.

On the night of April 3, 2017, after reporting disturbances at her brothel, Rashidat and her husband were attacked and beaten by the thugs. The following day, when they sought help from the king, he dismissed them and ordered Rashidat to leave town. Upset by the king’s actions, her landlord confronted him, leading to a heated argument. Ultimately, on April 5, 2017, Rashidat and her family were forced to flee back to her hometown in Edo State.

On the night of April 26, 2017, Rashidat was arrested along with her son, who had just come to collect money for his JAMB exam, by armed SARS officers from Ado Ekiti. They were falsely accused of murdering her landlord.

Throughout the trial, Rashidat insisted, “I am not the one that killed my landlord; we never had any quarrel. The man had been like a father to me, and I left him alive while leaving the town.” Despite her claims, Rashidat faced intimidation from the king and his associates, and her legal representation was compromised.

On April 7, 2020, Rashidat, her husband, son, and niece were sentenced to death, despite the lack of credible evidence against them. The judge based the conviction solely on hearsay evidence from a witness. Although they appealed the judgment, the appeal was unsuccessful, and the case is currently pending before the Supreme Court. How long must they wait for the verdict? Many have been waiting for a Supreme Court decision for eight years.

Our Plea:

We believe that justice has not been served in this case. The judicial process was marred by intimidation, conflicts of interest, and a lack of due diligence. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction without adequately reviewing the compelling arguments presented by the defense.

We urge Your Excellency to take the following actions:

1. Instruct the Attorney General of the State to conduct a thorough and impartial review of the evidence and circumstances surrounding the convictions of Rashidat Abdul and her family.

2. Acknowledge the flaws in the judicial process that led to this wrongful conviction and take steps to rectify this injustice by exercising the Power of Prerogative of Mercy bestowed upon you by the Nigerian Constitution.

3. Consider granting clemency to Rashidat, her husband, son, and niece, allowing them to return to their lives and families.

Conclusion:

Rashidat Abdul’s story is one of resilience in the face of adversity and serves as a stark reminder of the power dynamics that can distort justice.

We implore Your Excellency to listen to her plea and take decisive action to ensure that justice prevails. Every moment counts, and we cannot allow this miscarriage of justice to continue. The harm this precarious situation has done to Rashidat’s son, who was preparing to write his JAMB exam at the time of the incident, is immeasurable and warrants immediate attention.

In light of this overwhelming evidence, we, the members of the Centre for Justice, Mercy, and Reconciliation (CJMR), hereby advocate for the freedom of Rashidat and her immediate release from death row.

As stated in Proverbs 31:8-9, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for the poor and needy.”

Together, let us stand for justice and demand the immediate release of Rashidat Abdul and her family.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

“You can’t change what you don’t know. We came together to tell you what you don’t know. Now that you know, what will you do? How will you change this?” – Ava DuVernay

Featured

Supreme Court Verdict: ADC Chieftain Advises Tinubu to Kiss Aso Rock Goodbye

Published

6 hours ago

May 2, 2026

Eric

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has declared that it is over for the President Bola Tinubu administration following the Supreme Court ruling that restored the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the opposition party.

Eze, in a statement on Friday, criticized the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) and the INEC chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, asserting that they should be ashamed for acting as obstacles to the survival of democracy in Nigeria.

He said: “The government led by President Bola Tinubu has tarnished the judiciary. Certain judges and courts are reportedly being systematically employed to undermine the leadership of political parties in anticipation of the 2027 general elections.

“Even when all seemed lost, given the recent court rulings in political cases, particularly those involving opposition parties, Thursday’s Supreme Court judgment was a divine intervention.

“We express our gratitude to God Almighty for prompting the Supreme Court to overturn that disgraceful, distorted, and anti-democratic ruling issued by the Federal High Court, the Court of Appeal, and the misguided interpretation and decision of INEC regarding our party, the ADC.”

He stressed that the time has come for Tinubu and his alleged undemocratic associates in Aso Rock to return to Lagos.

“With Thursday’s ruling saving the ADC from destruction, it is time for Tinubu to begin drafting his handover notes and prepare for his return to Lagos State,” Eze stated.

Eze advised the ADC to concentrate on its primary function as a prominent opposition party in the upcoming 2027 general elections, as that the leadership dispute has been resolved.

He emphasized that stability at the upper levels of the party will result in improved organization, clearer communication, and enhanced participation in Nigeria’s political arena.

Notably, he asserted that the ruling will add to Nigeria’s expanding collection of case laws regarding political party governance, and urged the ADC to stay focused on its objective of reclaiming power from the APC due to poor governance.

“It highlights the judiciary’s role in interpreting party constitutions and ensuring adherence, which may affect how future conflicts are resolved,” Eze stated.

He praised the panel for upholding justice, remarking that any opposing decision regarding the ADC’s alleged leadership issue would have further entangled the Judiciary in the murky waters of arbitral corruption.

“Clearly, this ruling has set the stage for cohesion, unity, stability, and effective leadership within the ADC.

“With this issue now definitively settled, even though it should not have been justiciable ab initio, as it pertains to an internal matter of a political party, we urge all our members, stakeholders, and supporters to unite behind the David Mark-led leadership of the ADC to collectively reposition the party for greater national significance, viability, and visibility,” Eze said.

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2027: We’re on Track, ADC Hails S’Court Ruling

Published

1 day ago

May 1, 2026

Eric

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has declared that it would never be intimidated, distracted, or silenced in its push to realize a better Nigeria.

Spokesman of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, said this in reaction to the Supreme Court ruling, which affirmed David Mark’s leadership of the party.

Abdullahi said the judgment has affirmed that the Mark and Rauf Aregbesola leadership of the party is legitimate.

Abdullahi said: “The African Democratic Congress (ADC) congratulates all our members and leaders across the country on today’s Supreme Court ruling which affirmed the leadership of our party under Senator David Mark as National Chairman, and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary.

“Today’s decision is a clear affirmation that our party, its structures, and its leadership under our National Chairman, Senator Mark, and our National Secretary, Ogbeni Aregbesola, are legitimate.

“We commend the five-man panel of the Supreme Court, whose unanimous judgment has today done great credit to the judiciary in our country and our political system.

“However, while we welcome this judgment, we do not mistake it for the end of the struggle. The events leading up to this moment have exposed a troubling pattern of interference, bad faith, and attempts to weaken opposition voices in Nigeria.

“Let it be clearly stated: the ADC will not be intimidated, distracted, or silenced. We remain resolute in our mission to provide Nigerians with a credible alternative.

“We therefore urge all our members, supporters, and democratic stakeholders across the country to remain vigilant.”

Featured

Tinubu Appoints Bianca Ojukwu As Foreign Affairs Minister

Published

3 days ago

April 29, 2026

Eric

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Nigeria’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The announcement was contained in a statement released on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy).

The appointment followed the resignation of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, who stepped down to participate in preparations for the 2027 elections.

According to the statement, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s elevation marks a return to a more senior role within Nigeria’s foreign service architecture, having previously served as Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Her new appointment places her at the helm of Nigeria’s diplomatic engagements, where she is expected to oversee the country’s foreign policy direction, strengthen international partnerships, and advance economic diplomacy objectives.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, following the resignation of Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, who stepped down to participate in the 2027 elections.

“Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu previously served as Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

The Presidency noted that the decision forms part of ongoing efforts to reposition Nigeria’s foreign policy framework for greater efficiency and stronger global engagement. It added that the new minister is expected to deepen diplomatic relations, promote Nigeria’s national interest, and ensure the welfare of Nigerians abroad remains a priority.

In the same announcement, President Tinubu also nominated Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, subject to Senate confirmation.

Enikanolaiye, from Kogi State, previously served as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations. He is a seasoned diplomat with over three decades of service in Nigeria’s foreign affairs system and has held key postings in Addis Ababa, Belgrade, Ottawa, London, and New Delhi.

The Presidency said the appointments are part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s foreign policy architecture and improve the country’s global diplomatic engagement.

Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu is a lawyer, diplomat, and former beauty queen who has had a long career in public service and international diplomacy.

She was born on 5 August 1967 in Anambra State and studied law at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1992 after attending the Nigerian Law School in Lagos.

Her academic background includes a Master’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio in Spain, as well as postgraduate diplomas in Human Rights and International Relations from the Berg Institute, Madrid, and in Dynamics of Conflict and Cooperation from the University for Peace in Costa Rica.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu previously served as Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Diaspora Matters and later became Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain from 2012 to 2015, where she also represented the country at the UN World Tourism Organization. She earlier served as Ambassador to Ghana.

She was appointed Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in October 2024 by President Bola Tinubu, where she supported Nigeria’s external affairs portfolio, including diplomacy, consular engagement, and international relations strategy. She has now been appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs.

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