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Finally, truth crushes Nigerian Army at Lekki By Tunde Odesola

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Finally, truth crushes Nigerian Army at Lekki By Tunde Odesola

 

Goliath and Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, is the highest-ranking military officer Nigerian Armed Forces. His duties include formulating operational policies and programmes for the Army, Navy and Air Force with a view to attaining national security.

 

Finally, truth crushes Nigerian Army at Lekki Bu Tunde Odesola

The Defender of the Nigerian Universe, General Irabor, has able lieutenants in the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao, – all Goliaths in their own rights – though smaller in size, but with offices more sought after because they have under their direct controls, officers, men and mHoney.

 

 

Irabor isn’t the Philistine giant from Gath who wore to war a bronze helmet, coat of scale armour weighing 5,000 shekels, bronze greaves to protect his legs, and had a javelin slung across the back with a shield bearer going ahead of him.

Irabor is the Nigerian Goliath from Delta. He’s an Ika. Many people, who don’t know that the Ika are a unique people from Aliokpu Agbor, see Irabor as an ika, a Yoruba word for the wicked because of his merciless role in the bloodbath at Lekki.

On the way to war on October 20, 2020, Irabor armed himself with an AK-47, endless rounds of ammunition, bulletproof vest, helmet, jackboots, knives, teargas, flashlight and horse whip, coming metaphorically behind his abominable shield bearers, who had perforated many heads with bullets and crushed countless bones even before Irabor’s calvary halted in triumph at the notorious Lekki Toll Gate, the place of skulls.

Irabor is the Nigerian Goliath, who exactly 15 days after his 55th birthday anniversary marked amid prayers for long life and prosperity, went to war against thousands of unarmed Nigerians that include children and women. He returned home with a basketful of dripping heads hurriedly interred in an unmarked mass grave lit by the gaze of the distant owl which provided light for the midnight secret operation.

What are the sins of the shot Nigerians? One, they dared to hold aloft the Nigerian flag and two, they demanded a better country from their sightless and selfish rulers.

In the inferred view of Goliath Irabor, who knew that bloodied military guns were cleaned and locked away after the Lekki massacre, Nigerian youths are a truly lazy and stupid bunch, always asking for what their country can do for them, and not what they can do for their country.

I think this is why Irabor, the numero uno of the killing Nigerian military, frowns on the leakage of the report by the panel of inquiry set up by the Lagos State Government to investigate the massacre carried out by Nigerian soldiers and police against innocent citizens at the Lekki Toll Gate in October 2020.

It’s not in the character of generals to talk without thinking. With Irabor, speech is silver: silence is stupid. The body language of the Anioma general without a war medal reflects the belief that the man with a gun is always right no matter the emptiness in his skull.

Last Monday, the no-death anthem composed by the media fiends of Abuja stuck in the throat of Irabor, whose Army had vehemently denied shooting a live bullet at the scene, let alone hurt a fly.

Repeatedly, the Goliath in Irabor had looked down on Nigerians, and thrown a challenge at them, taunting the citizenry to produce a shred of evidence linking his Army to the killings at the notorious toll gate in Lekki, just like the big Philistine did to Israelites in the Valley of Elah,

Illogical, incoherent and insensitive, Irabor, in a viral video, more concerned that the report became public knowledge via ‘a wrong channel’, than showing remorse and apologising for the innocent lives that his zombie soldiers mowed down in cold blood on the Black Tuesday of October 2020. Irabor is the cynic whose conscience conveniently sits on the truth while his boots regally trample on justice, shamelessly.

In the interview conducted by African Independent Television, the acting Goliath squawked, “I’d like to indicate that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is a professional armed force. We are peopled by Nigerians and we remain committed to constitutional mandate.” What nonsense!

He continued, “So, we will not, at this point, think that Nigerians should make disparaging remarks regarding the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the sense that we are professional armed forces.” Professional kill-and-go, you mean, sir?

Irabor rambles on, “If there are issues, of course, we address them within the ambit of the provisions. It would not be right to disparage men and women who have worked so hard to ensure that the territorial integrity of this nation is kept intact.” This is the type of narratives Irabor feeds Nigeria’s passive Commander-in-Chief, making Daura falsely believe he’s in control of 36 states when the North-East has fallen to insurgents and the Indigenous People of Biafra make the rules in the South-East.

Typical of a deluded bully lashing out at seen and unseen enemies, Irabor derogatorily dismissed the police by reminding Nigerians of the suferiority of the Army over the police. He boasted, “I can assure that the Armed Forces of Nigeria are well-disciplined and we do not engage in any ignoble acts. If Nigerians do not trust us, then we won’t be doing what we are doing, and in any case, it is the Armed Forces of Nigeria; we are not talking of the police.” I respect the Armed Forces, so, I won’t question Irabor claiming supremacy over the police just as I won’t question Boko Haram’s superiority over Irabor’s army.

It’s not completely out of depth that Goliath Irabor faulted the leakage of the report. His action is in line with officials and chief executives that work in lawless environments. But instead of the Irabors of Nigeria to resign or speak the truth, they dismember it and hunt down anyone pronouncing or writing the letter T.

I say this because October 20, 2020 wasn’t the first time the Nigerian Army that produced Irabor would kill the truth. The Army had been killing the truth long before the clock was invented, and has continued to kill the people and kill their truths till this very day.

Though it’s laughable that Irabor is aggrieved about the Lekki report being leaked through ‘a wrong channel’, I’ll show why Nigerians can’t trust the Nigerian Armed Forces or governments at all levels to implement the report.

After sitting for two and a half years, the Justice Chukwudifu Oputa-led panel submitted its report on human rights violations and nationwide communal unrest nationwide to President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2002.

The General, whose reign was most awash with blood, Ibrahim Babangida; and General Abdulsalami Abubakar, whose regime was criticised by the Oputa commission for the death of MKO Abiola in custody, blatantly shunned the public hearing. Nigerians watched helplessly as a court dismissed the panel as illegal. It took courage on the part of two activist groups, Nigeria Democratic Movement and Civil Society Forum, to publish report.

Soja Irabor, the report of the Kaduna State Commission of Inquiry into the killing of 347 Shiites including children and women by soldiers in December 2015 hasn’t seen the light of the day. No soldier has been brought to book, but the victim, El-Zakzaky, has been on trial ever since.

Also gathering dust on bookshelves are the Justice Ayo Salami-led panel report on the financial allegations against former EFCC acting chair, Ibrahim Magu; report on arms proliferation by a panel set up by former President Goodluck Jonathan, report by a panel set by Jonathan on 234 abducted Chibok girls.

Ten years after, the recommendations of the Stephen Oronsaye report that called for the scrapping and merging of some agencies have yet to be implemented.

Can anyone trust an army that burnt Fela Anikulapo’s house in the broad daylight of February 18, 1977, threw his mother downstairs, and yet blamed it on unknown soldiers?

Email: tundeodes2003@yahoo.com
Facebook: @tunde odesola
Twitter: @tunde_odesola
TundeOdesola.com

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AMVCA 2025: Glitz, Glory & Grit! Stars, Shocks & Showstoppers Light Up Lagos in Africa’s Biggest Night in Entertainment History!

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AMVCA 2025: Glitz, Glory & Grit! Stars, Shocks & Showstoppers Light Up Lagos in Africa’s Biggest Night in Entertainment History!

AMVCA 2025: Glitz, Glory & Grit! Stars, Shocks & Showstoppers Light Up Lagos in Africa’s Biggest Night in Entertainment History!

Lagos was on fire as the 11th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) turned the Eko Hotel and Suites into a cauldron of dazzling lights, A-list glam, thunderous ovations, and unforgettable cinematic triumphs!

From the very first note of Johnny Drille and Kunmié’s soul-stirring performance, it was clear: this wasn’t just another award show. It was Africa’s Oscars on steroids—a masterclass in drama, spectacle, and unapologetic star power.

Femi Adebayo and Chioma Chukwuka owned the night, snatching Best Lead Actor and Actress respectively for their commanding roles in Seven Doors, which—alongside the revolutionary Lisabi: The Uprising—stood tall as cinematic titans with multiple wins.

But the crown jewel of the evening? The explosive Best Movie win by Freedom Way, beating out juggernauts like Christmas in Lagos and Suspicion. Gasps filled the room. Eyes widened. Cameras flashed.

Then came the curveballs.

Gabriel Afolayan, suave and striking, bagged Best Supporting Actor, while Mercy Aigbe stunned in gold before claiming Best Supporting Actress in Farmer’s Bride—a category packed with heavyweights.

The night wasn’t just about big names; it was also about bold narratives and unflinching creativity. The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos slayed with Best Cinematography, while Suspicion‘s haunting sound design won over the jury.

In a year where African stories roared with identity, pain, love, and resistance, Lisabi made a clean sweep in Art Direction, Makeup, and Indigenous Language (West Africa), proving that culture remains a cinematic weapon.

Meanwhile, Seven Doors added to its legend with wins in Best Series Scripted, Best Music/Score, and Best Indigenous Language—making it the night’s silent assassin.

Veteran icons Nkem Owoh and Sani Mu’azu received thunderous standing ovations as Lifetime Achievement honorees, while the young and fiery Kayode Kasum walked away as the AMVCA Trailblazer, his star rising at warp speed.

And the audience? On their feet. In awe. Loud. Proud. Unforgettable.

With 28 categories blending fierce public votes and expert jury verdicts, the AMVCA 2025 was more than a show—it was a statement. Africa’s storytellers are not waiting for permission anymore. They’re rewriting the narrative. Loudly.

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Supreme Court Slams Door on Fred Ajudua’s Bail, Orders Immediate Return to Prison in $1.43M Fraud Trial

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Supreme Court Slams Door on Fred Ajudua's Bail, Orders Immediate Return to Prison in $1.43M Fraud Trial

Supreme Court Slams Door on Fred Ajudua’s Bail, Orders Immediate Return to Prison in $1.43M Fraud Trial

 In a seismic ruling that sends shockwaves through Nigeria’s legal and social elite, the Supreme Court on Friday revoked the bail earlier granted to flamboyant Lagos socialite and alleged fraudster Fred Ajudua, ordering his immediate remand in prison custody.

Delivering a unanimous judgment, a five-man panel of the apex court dismantled the bail granted by the Court of Appeal in 2018, declaring it a judicial overreach steeped in procedural irregularity.

Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme, who read the lead judgment, minced no words as she condemned the appellate court’s decision, declaring it “an exercise in futility” after it had already ruled Ajudua’s appeal incompetent.

“The lower court, at that point, had no jurisdiction to proceed further. It had become functus officio,” she ruled, restoring the earlier decision of trial Judge Mojisola Dada who denied Ajudua bail in July 2018.

The decision marks a major victory for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which had petitioned the apex court to overturn what it described as a flawed and unjustified release of Ajudua—an accused at the center of a staggering $1.43 million international fraud.

The case, which has dragged for decades, centers around allegations that Ajudua, in concert with an accomplice still at large, duped a Palestinian businessman, Ziad Abu Zalaf, of millions under the guise of executing shady contracts backed by forged documents from the Central Bank of Nigeria and NNPC.

The scandal has long been a symbol of Nigeria’s struggle with high-profile financial crimes and delayed justice. With this ruling, the Supreme Court not only nullified the appeal court’s decision but also ordered a swift resumption of Ajudua’s long-stalled trial before Justice Dada of the Lagos High Court.

The EFCC had charged Ajudua in a 12-count indictment that included conspiracy to obtain money under false pretenses and forgery. Despite citing health concerns, Ajudua’s attempt to evade prosecution through bail has now been effectively shut down.

Legal observers say the ruling reasserts the authority of trial courts and reinforces the Supreme Court’s intolerance for procedural abuse in high-profile criminal cases.

“This appeal succeeds and it is hereby allowed,” Justice Nwosu-Iheme declared. “The respondent is to be remanded in prison custody.”

The court further directed that the matter be reassigned immediately for continuation of trial “within the shortest possible time.”

With the bail revoked and trial back on track, all eyes now return to the courtroom—where a case that began over three decades ago may finally see resolution.

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#FreeVDM Trends as EFCC Secures Court Order to Remand VeryDarkMan Over Alleged Cybercrime

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#FreeVDM Trends as EFCC Secures Court Order to Remand VeryDarkMan Over Alleged Cybercrime

#FreeVDM Trends as EFCC Secures Court Order to Remand VeryDarkMan Over Alleged Cybercrime

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has obtained a court order to remand controversial social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), pending the conclusion of an investigation into alleged cybercrime offences.

VDM was dramatically arrested last Friday outside a bank in the Wuse area of Abuja by a combined team of EFCC operatives, Department of State Services (DSS) officers, and the Nigeria Police Force. Eyewitnesses say the activist was apprehended moments after leaving the bank, sparking immediate online outrage.

The arrest has ignited a social media firestorm, with the hashtag #FreeVDM dominating trends across platforms throughout the weekend. Many critics argue that the arrest is yet another attempt by authorities to intimidate dissenting voices online.

“The remand order was granted to allow us to complete our investigation and finalize the charges,” a senior EFCC official told reporters, noting that charges would be filed under the Cybercrimes Act once investigations are complete.

Sources familiar with the case say the EFCC is building a case focused on alleged violations involving online financial misconduct, which fall under the commission’s purview.

As of Monday morning, VDM remains in EFCC custody, with his legal team led by rights activist Deji Adeyanju confirming efforts to gain access to him and prepare a legal response.

“We are seeking to visit our client and are reviewing the legal implications of his arrest,” Adeyanju said in a statement.

Despite the mounting public interest and widespread speculation, the EFCC has yet to release an official statement detailing the arrest or outlining the specific charges VDM may face.

The arrest of VeryDarkMan adds to growing concerns over press freedom and digital expression in Nigeria, where several social media commentators have recently faced legal action for controversial posts.

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