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The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State has petitioned the National Security Adviser (NSA) to President Goodluck Jonathan, Sambo Dasuki, calling his attention to a sudden jump in security threats in Ekiti State shortly after Governor Ayodele Fayose was declared winner of the June 21, 2014 governorship election.
In a petition by the State Chairman of APC, Chief Jide Awe, the party noted that even though there were pockets of security breaches in the state during electioneering campaigns, including the tear-gassing of Governor Kayode Fayemi by the police, the situation degenerated when Fayose allegedly led thugs to the court to beat up the judges and court records in the Chief Judge’s office torn. He added that the situation had worsened after his inauguration.
The petition copied to the President, Inspector General of Police, Director General of DSS, Ekiti State Director of DSS and Ekiti State Commissioner of Police alleged a leap in insecurity shortly after “Fayose made a special request for redeployment to Ekiti State the policemen that formed the nucleus of a killer squad in Ekiti State between 2003 and 2006 as confirmed by the Presidential Security Panel Report on Political Killings in Ekiti State”.
The petition reads in part: “We are worried by the antecedents of these police officers when they served Governor Fayose between 2003 and 2006. Our fear is not without basis. A cursory look at the ‘Report of the Presidential Security Panel Investigation of Killings in Ekiti’ constituted by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005 succinctly leads us to the present fear, as state-sponsored terrorism rears its head again with particular reference to the same officers, who were indicted in that report and who have been recalled by Governor Fayose to his service in Ekiti State.”
The party noted in particular that Fayose’s former Chief Security Officer, Mr Timothy Gbenga Joseph, had been recalled to the service of the governor and now serves as his current Aide De Camp (ADC).
To support its case, the party quoted the security report dated September 18, 2005 in paragraph 35 as follows: “The CSO (Timothy Gbenga Joseph) has been boasting around that the former CSO to the late Sani ABACHA (Gen), Hamza MUSTAPHA (Major) was his mentor…. He has involved himself in unprofessional conduct and extra-judicial activities by collaborating with Fayose’s aide to arrest, torture, harass and detain citizens of Ekiti State without recourse to laid down principles of criminal justice administration. Some instances are: the arrest of and torture of one Joke OGUNLEYE and two of her children on March 13, 2004 because of her husband’s perceived misdemeanor and arrest and detention on March 13, 2004 of the following: Moses Olusola, Emmanuel Nidu, Sunday Nidu, Festus Akinola and Ogunmuti Ojo.
“Indiscriminate use of arms and ammunition without just cause by shooting into the air to intimidate and threaten citizens in Ekiti State. His actions as contained in ‘E’ and ‘F’ above earned him (Timothy Gbenga Joseph) a letter of reprimand Ref. No. LB, 0900/EKS/SHQ/Vol. 1V/86 titled ‘Security Report General’ of 19th March 2004 and signed by S.A Hashimu (DCP), a copy of which was sent to DSS, Ekiti State Command.”
The party also called Dasuki’s attention to paragraph 49 of the report, quoting: “Subject (Gbenga Timothy Joseph) and others’ roles in the Ifaki killing during a bye-election. Subject and others’ roles in the Democracy Day Walk/clash with the AD (Alliance for Democracy), his role in the attempted killing of Fasuba, his and others’ roles in the planned assassination of Afe Babalola (SAN) and Femi Falana. He is hereby recommended for criminal prosecution and immediate redeployment from the Government House.”
The party said that it is worrisome that after this police officer was transferred out of Ekiti State as recommended, he never faced any criminal prosecution but a “befitting” redeployment to Ekiti State through the governor’s special request to continue the reign of terror in the state.
Awe also listed Usman Shaba and Moses Usman, all mobile policemen, as former members of Fayose’s special squad who are now back in his service.
Specifically, the APC leader listed Shaba as former security aide to Fayose’s wife, and he is currently attached to TK Aluko, Fayose’s close associate, who does not hold any cabinet position to deserve close body protection and who was also indicted in the presidential security panel report.
Another officer is Mopol Moses Usman, Dayo Okondo’s erstwhile body guard, who was also indicted by the security report. According to the report, Moses was identified as the officer who shot Olugbenga Jaiyeola in the leg at Ikere-Ekiti on March 15, 2004, leading to the amputation of Gbenga’s leg.
Awe noted that since the arrival of the policemen in Ekiti, the activities of unknown men visiting the homes of APC leaders at nights, particularly APC lawmakers, had increased.
He cited the visits to the homes of two APC lawmakers who received letters from “police” for “interaction”, explaining that upon clarification from the Police Command, the Commissioner of Police said such a letter did not emanate from the State Command, raising fears that the era of killer squad is back.
Awe called for the immediate redeployment of the policemen from Ekiti State if they must remain in the force at all. He urged the police to stop supporting illegalities as seen in their support for the seven PDP lawmakers while same was denied the 19 APC lawmakers. He also urged the authorities to provide equal treatment for all citizens irrespective of their political affiliations.
Chief Jide Awe
Ekiti State APC Chairman
December 29, 2014.
The National Security Adviser
Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd)
The Presidency,
Abuja.
December 22, 2014.
Sir,
UPSURGE IN INSECURITY OF LIVES IN EKITI
We write to point your attention to the sudden rise in the insecurity of lives of the indigenes of Ekiti State shortly after the June 21, 2014 governorship election in the state. Even though there were security breaches in the state during electioneering campaigns, including tear-gassing Governor Kayode Fayemi by the police, the situation has worsened after the inauguration of Governor Ayodele Fayose on October 16, 2014. The assault on the judiciary and beating of the judges and other judicial officers climaxed the state of insecurity leading to the forced closure of the courts throughout the state while the Court of Appeal in Ado-Ekiti was relocated to Ilorin and the Election Petitions Tribunal relocated to Abuja.
When we noticed the alarming rate of insecurity, we received unconfirmed information that the policemen that formed the nucleus of a killer squad between 2003 and 2006 as confirmed by the Presidential Security Panel Report during Governor Fayose’s first tenure were back in the state under a special request by Governor Fayose. It was later that the information was confirmed to be true. For instance, the governor’s former Chief Security Officer (CSO), Gbenga Timothy Joseph; Shaba Usman and Moses Usman, among other policemen who worked for Governor Fayose to attack the opposition, have been reposted to Ekiti State and are now the arrowheads of the special force that has been going about terrorizing the opponents. Recently, we raised the alarm over nocturnal visits by strange men in black jeeps to the homes of the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adetunji Orisalade, and the two honourable members representing Ikere Local Government in the House of Assembly, Hon. Yomi Daramola and Hon. Sunday Adu Clement.
We are worried by the antecedents of these police officers when they served Governor Fayose between 2003 and 2006. Our fear is not without basis. A cursory look at the “Report of the Presidential Security Panel Investigation of Killings in Ekiti State” constituted by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005 succinctly leads us to the present fear, as state-sponsored terrorism rears its head again, with particular reference to the same police officers, who were indicted in the report and who have been recalled by Governor Fayose to his service in Ekiti State. In that report, the Governor’s former Chief Security Officer (CSO), ASP Timothy Gbenga Joseph, has been reposted to Governor Fayose and the officer is now his current ADC.
The Presidential Security Report dated 18th September, 2005 said of Timothy Gbenga Joseph, among others in paragraph 35 (D):
“The CSO has been boasting around that the former CSO to the late Sani ABACHA (Gen), Hamza MUSTAPHA (Major) was his mentor.” And in paragraph 35 (E-I), the report said: “In the bid to live up to the position of CSO…., he has involved himself in unprofessional conduct and extra-judicial activities by collaborating with Fayose’s close aide to arrest, torture, harass and detain citizens of Ekiti State without recourse to laid down principles of criminal justice administration. Some instances are: The arrest of and detention of one Joke OGUNLEYE (f) and two (2) of her children on 14th March 2004 because of her husband’s perceived misdemeanor and arrest and detention on March 13th, 2004 of the following: (a) Moses Olushola, (b)Emmanuel Nidu, (c)Sunday Nidu, (d) Festus Akinola (e) Ogunmuti Ojo.
(F)“Indiscriminate use of arms and ammunition without any just cause by shooting into the air, to intimidate and threaten citizens in Ekiti State. (G) His actions as contained in “E” and “F” above earned him a letter of reprimand Ref. No. LB, 0900/EKS/SHQ/Vol.IV/86 titled “Security Report General” of 19th March 2004 and signed by S.A Hashimu (DCP) a copy of which was sent to DSS, Ekiti State Command.
“(H). The CSO lied on oath in all his presentations and in (I) since the beginning of the face-off between Fayose and his Deputy (Abiodun Aluko), the CSO has been in permanent control, manipulating the police details sent to ALUKO, thereby making it impossible for Aluko to exercise authority and give directives to his police aides.”
In paragraph 49 of the report, the panel noted in its recommendations, as follows, among others: “Subject (Gbenga Timothy Joseph) and others’ roles in the Ifaki killing during bye-election. Subject and others’ roles in the Democracy Day walk/clash with the AD (Alliance for Democracy), his role in the attempted killing of Fasuba, his and others’ roles in the planned assassination of Afe Babalola (SAN) and Femi Falana (barrister). He is hereby recommended for criminal prosecution and immediate redeployment from the Government House.” He also “abused and misused Mobile Police for political office holders that do not deserve close body protection”.
His mates in the service of the governor that time included Usman Shaba, a mobile police officer and erstwhile Fayose’s wife’s orderly, who has now been recalled back Ekiti State and is currently attached to TK Aluko, a close associate of the governor who does not hold any cabinet position, and who was one of the people indicted in the security report of the panel set up by President Obasanjo.
Another is Moses Usman, a Mobile Police Officer, Dayo Okondo’s bodyguard, who was indicted in the security report as the officer who shot Olugbenga Jaiyeola on the leg at Ikere Ekiti on March 15, 2004, leading to the amputation of Jaiyeola’s leg.
Since the arrival in Ekiti State of these men and several of their colleagues used to terrorise Ekiti people in the past, the activities of unknown men visiting the APC members of the House of Assembly are enough proof that the reign of terror is back. For instance, on Tuesday December 9, 2014, two APC members of the House of Assembly received invitation letters from the “police” for “interaction”. Upon investigation, the police authorities at the State Police Command denied knowledge of any invitation for any interaction, as there was no basis for such interaction. That leads us to believe in the intelligence report that members of the House are being marked for killing to decimate the majority membership that our party enjoys in order to “save” the governor from his self-contrived impeachment plot.
Of great importance is the trend of criminal activities after Mr. Fayose was declared the governor on June 21, October. Apart from unleashing thugs to attack the judiciary, there was a murder of Mr. Omolafe Aderiye, Drivers’ Union leader, four cases of bank robbery, kidnappings, and lately tracking and implication of opposition figures in alleged criminal activities and jail break in Ado-Ekiti over which media aides to the governor went to town to implicate opposition figures while on the contrary information in public domain indicates that four of the escaped inmates are allegedly being lodged in Ekiti State Government House.
We have also noticed that the soldiers mounting road blocks at all entry points into the state capital are no longer there and this has given criminals a free access to the state to perpetrate atrocities. Our investigations have revealed that this is a deliberate ploy by Governor Fayose to allow his above mentioned police officers- led killer squad to have a free reign in attacking members of the opposition especially the 19 APC lawmakers. The attack would then be categorized as armed robbery.
Therefore, we demand as follows:
The immediate redeployment of these officers whose indictment has been brought to your notice;
Stop illegalities as seen in the police providing security cover for seven members of PDP to conduct illegal sittings in the House of Assembly while 19 APC members (including the constitutionally recognized Speaker and other principal officers) were denied access to the Assembly by the police; and
Prevail on the police in Ekiti to be alive to their responsibility of providing equal treatment for all citizens irrespective of their political affiliations instead of acting as a tool to crush members of the opposition.
We hope you will accede to our request in the greater interest of Ekiti people and peace and security across our great country Nigeria.
Sincerely,
Chief Olajide Awe,
State Chairman
Cc:
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
Chief Justice of Nigeria
The President of The Senate
The Speaker, House of Representatives
The Inspector-General of Police
Director-General, DSS
Ekiti State Commissioner of Police
DSS, Ekiti State
