The question here now is, would Nobel Laureate Soyinka be made to answer questions regarding his terrorist activities? And if so, would he be justified for masterminding such acts?
http://vanguardngr.com/23042001/c1240401.htm
The Link: http://www.vanguardngr.com/23042001/c1240401.htm[ April 24, 2001: Message edited by: Ambrose ]

Hail Biafra

The petitioner was rendered impotent because he will not play ball with his captors who want him to implicate people he had never met.

Tragic Tales Before Oputa

Email This Page

Print This Page



The News (Lagos)

April 30, 2001
Posted to the web April 25, 2001

Uba Aham
Lagos

In Enugu, the Chukwudifu Oputa-led Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission hears more sad tales of murder and injustice

When Miss Christiana Madukasi, 23, mounted the witness box at the on-going Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Panel on Human Rights Violations in Enugu to narrate, as an eye witness, how hired assassins gruesomely murdered her father, John Madukasi, the traditional ruler of Ezi-Anam community in Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State on 17 December, 1998, sighs of sympathy filled the old Eastern House of Assembly venue of the sitting. As Christiana, in the course of her narration, broke down and wept, tears streamed down the cheeks of many people in the hall.

The princess narrated that the late Igwe was relaxing with members of his family about 8.pm on the fateful day when a stranger visited their compound, made inquiries from the traditional ruler and left. The visitor, she stated, reappeared a few minutes later with two others, shot the Igwe and inflicted deep cuts on his back with an axe.

In a petition written on behalf of the family by a son of the deceased, Prince John Madukasi, Igwe J.C. Emeka, the traditional ruler of Umueze Anam in Anambra West Local Government Council of the state as well as the father of the deputy governor of Anambra State, Prince Chinedu Emeka were said to have been fingered by Madukasi himself on his death bed as responsible for the murder. The dying Madukasi was also said to have mentioned Raphael Okeke and Aniagbaoso Okafor as his killers. The petition, enlarged the list of the suspected killers of the Igwe to include the State Deputy Governor, Prince Emeka and Adaba Okonkwo Anigbogu. According to the petition, circumstances leading to the assassination include the long standing rivalry between the murdered Igwe and Igwe Emeka over the respective status of the five traditional rulers that make up the Anam clan; tussle over the chairmanship position of Anambra West Traditional Council which the murdered Igwe won, as well as Igwe Emeka's boast that the deceased would never live to enjoy his chairmanship of the council. The late Igwe was also said to have issued a press release criticising the conduct of 5 December 1998 local government election during the transition programme of General Abdulsalami Abubakar's military regime.

Madukasi junior has, however, prayed the commission to do everything humanly possible to bring the culprits to book. While the matter was adjourned till 28 April for further deliberation, the commission has assured the Madukasi family of justice. The second of the three cases of unlawful killing scheduled for hearing by the commission at the inception of its sitting last Wednesday came from the Isidi family of Delta State.

Reverend Father (Dr.) Emmanuel Isidi, 45, was murdered in cold blood in his residence at Saint Patrick's Catholic Church compound at Ogwashi Ukwu, Delta State on 17 February 1997. A petition signed on behalf of the Isidi family and Umu-Iyagba-Eze descendants of Asaba by Ogbueshi Patrick Isidi attributed the killing of the clergyman to the activities of the people of Umuagu and Ugbomanta, two neighbouring villages in Asaba.

The Isidis were to appear in court on 17 February 1998 when the reverend father was brutally murdered. His attackers had demanded from him documents relating to the disputed landed property before his murder.

The third case of unlawful killing was brought before the commission by Chief Fabian Uwandu. Chief Uwandu petitioned against Corporal Emmason Okoroafor and the Imo State Police Command for killing his 23-year-son, Paschal, on 30 June 1992 and dumping the body in a mortuary. "I have asked them several times what my son did, but they never said anything," he told this magazine in an interview.

Out of the 41 petitions before the commission 16 are on unlawful killing, and mysterious disappearances. For sure, the Oputa Commission would not want to fail, and it looks prepared for the task ahead.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Guardian Online - http://ngrguardiannews.com
Friday, April 27, 2001

Continued from yesterday
Igbo recount civil war horrors

The story carried yesterday, Igbo recount civil war horrors, an account of the presentation of the Igbo case by the Ohaneze Nidigbo at the Oputa commission on human rights violations in Enugu concludes today. It starts here with the examination of Comrade Uche Chukwumerije by counsel to Ohaneze, Chief Anthony Mogbo

What works do you do now?

I am a writer and a management consultant.

Have you worked before forthis country?

Yes, as a Minister of Information in 1993.

You signed a memo this commission.

Yes.

You also signed an amendment.

Yes, I also have a summary of that memo.

My lord, may I ask for your kind permission to allow the witness to read the summary of his memo.

(Reads)

Counsel to the commission I. N. Chenge takes over.

Do you know the Eastern Mandate Union?

Yes.

Will you be surprised if I show you a document signed by EMU?

There are so many counterfeit documents.

Who was responsible for the pogrom of 1966 in the North?

They were soldiers, commanders from Army Barrackis, Local chairmen and even traditional rulers.

Who was the Head of State?

It was Gen. Yakubu Gowon.

Did Gowon order for the killing of these Igbos?

I would not know.

What do you think is responsible for this persecution?

In fact, it was like the rest of Nigeria had made up their minds to persecute the Igbo. The Igbos believe in one Nigeria and so travelled far an wide of the country. What happened to the President of Nigeria Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe in the west when he win an election in the area.

Police counsel, Nuhu Ribadu moves in to cross-examine.

Comrade, you said the coup of 1966 was not an Igbo coup. Do you agree with me that the Sadauna of Sokoto, the first Prime Minister, Tafawa Balewa and other Northern leaders were killed by Igbo officers?

Igbo abhor coups and did not collectively ask the Igbo officers in teh 1966 coup to kill the Northern leaders.

But you agree with me that Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe the President at that time, Dr. Michael Okpara, the Premier of Eastern Region and Dr. Mbadiwe were all in Government at that time, but were not killed.

I have told you that Igbos as a group did not organise a coup. Besides, some of the officers in the coup were not Igbos and so they killed whom they killed as soldiers not as Igbos. Again, what has the coup planned by a few among officers has to do with the little children, pregnant women and old people that were massacred afterwards.

You said Igbos are lated. Who is hating them?

Those who don't want them to exist.

You described the ministries that Igbos have been since after the civil was as Jankara ministries, why did you accept to be the Minister of Information in one of the Jankara ministries in which you are liked by Nigerians.

That is a personal question I won't answer that.

Are you, the Ohanaeze (the people and rulers of Igbo).

Counsel to the commission, Mr. Emmanuel Akaka takes over.

You said that about 50,000 civilians were killed during the 1966 porgrom what is your source of information?

Yes, from statistics from police and records.

(Father Kukah), The issues you (Chukwumerije) have raised in your memo are issues of fundamentaal structural injustic done to Igbos. I speak as a Catholic Priest. We hope that the powers that be will come in terms with what has been raised. The Nigerian logo in the coat of arms reads faith, peace and progress and unity. But in this country, we neither have faith, we don't even have progress neither do we have peace and unity.

(Oputa): Kukah has mentioned structural injustice. There has been a lot of structural injustice in Nigeria. Let us address our minds on this. In fact, I have a book on this which I will soon release.

EZebuile, the next witness Justice Ozobu (rtd) the C. J. of Enugu and the chairman of Ohanaeze, was called.

When did you retire as Chief Judge of Enugu?

I retired in 1997.

You were in Enugu during the war?

Yes.

You were in Nigeria during the pogrrom of 1966

Yes, I was.

Were you around when the war was declared?

Yes, as a matter of fact I was a member of the consultative committee that steered the government.

Commission's counsel.

Are you aware that some Northerners were also killed in Eastern Nigeria in 1966

There is no records of that claim and so it is not true.

Col Nnanyelkego Gbulie was called to witness.

In 1966 what were you?

I was the commander of and my No N//296.

It was the politicians that actually masterminded the coup of 1966. The killing that were carried out in all parts of the country. The politicians have agents, military agents whowere killed along with them.

You wrote a book called "The Five Majors"

Yes. I also took a title from BBC. The book is titled "The Five Majors"

In the book you mentioned officers who were detained and those who were not detained even though they were involved in the January coup, 1966.

Yes and reads a section from the book.

How long were you detained?

I was detained up till March 1967. After that I was released and went to fight on the side of Biafra. Later I was arrested again and detained until 1974.

You have heard that the 1966 coup was an Igbo coup. Is it true?

No. There were other officers from the ethnic groups. In fact, there are those who gave us backing some of them are still alive.

Can you mention at least two?

I don't know whether it is appropriate to mention them since some of them are still alive. But there was Col. Fajuyi who is now dead and Ejor who had written a book denying any involvement in the war. He was a major leader in the coup.

Do you know Major Adegboyega, is he Igbo

I know him and he is a Yoruba man. He reads the statement credited to Lt. Gen. T. Y. Danjuma in page 373 of the book, "The Nigerian Civil War"

Do you know from the place Fajuyi came?

Fajuyi is Yoruba too.

Do you know the cause of 1966 coup.

It is contained in my book "Nigerian Five Majors" He reads on page 23 to 24 "Why we struck"

The politican situation was heading towards a disaster. Thugery and holiganism took over the entire regions, especially in the Western Region. The Akintola regime rigged the election in the West. Prime Minister, Tafawa Balewa would not intervene because of his political alliance with the Northern Peoples Congress. An iminent wide disaster loomed over the whole nation. The political class used the military to retain their offices. Bribery and corruption rule in the the affairs of the nation. Politicians looted the nation's treasury. Some of them started away their wealth in Western Europe and other countries.

You know there was another coup in July 1966 Coup

Yes. The coup was carried out against those they perceived that masterminded the January 1966 coup.

Do you know the word said by Gen. Yakubu Gowon when he said there is no victor and vanguished.

I know, but I thought Gowon meant what he meant because I told Col. Effiong for a cesation of hostilities

Do you know any victor or any victoir or any vanguished

Yes, Lt. Gen. T. Y. Danjuma is one of the victors and I, Ben Gbulie is the vanguished

Do you know Col. Anwuna

Yes

What role did he play in the 1966 coup

He took orders from Lt. Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi to quel the coup of 1966 and he did.

Would you want to be retired from the Nigerian Army

I don't know what rank I am to be retired with. Those who joined the army when I joined retired as Generals. Besides some officers who fought on the side of Biafran who were Nigerian soldiers have been stripped of their ranks. But I was aware that Gen. Oladipo Diya whose ranks has been stripped, has been restored by the Presidency. While can the President do the same to the Igbo soldiers in the Nigeria Army who fought in the Civil War.

I.N Chenge for cross-examination

If you are given another opportunity will you plan another coup

I cannot plan another coup. But it was not the coup that plunged the country into crisis. It was the activities of those who wanted to capture Enugu and take over the armoury.

Who gave the order for the wide killing in the North

If you aks me I will say you are the one . Nuhu Ribadu police counsel steps in for cross examination.

Do you know the politicians who masterminded the camp

The NPC (Northern People Congress) Politicians with their military accomplices.

You participated in the coup in order to kill Northern politicianss

We planned the coup to save the country from those whowanted the plunge the country into a war called Jihad.

Do you know that the coup of January 1966 was a treasonable

Of course anyone who is planning a coup knows that he is committing treasonable felony. But I am surprised that up till today I have not been tried by any government. I am also aware that the July 1966 coup by Gowon and Danjuma which killed Lt. Gen. Aguyi Ironsi was also a treasonable offence. But you are telling me now that their own coup was not treasonable.

Another witness, Col. Patrick Anwuna was called Ohanaeze counsel Mogbo examines

You are now?

An attorney and company director

Who was the Head of State, President of the senate and the head of the Armed Forces.

Yes, Dr. Nwandi Azikiwe was the Head of State, Dr. Nwafor Orizu was the Senate President while Lt. Gen Aguyi Ironsi was the head of the Nigerian Armed Forces

Was the January 15, 1966 an Igbo coup

No, not an Igbo coup.

What wa syour number in the Nigerian Army

My no is N/19 in the Nigeria Army and my rank is Lt. Colonel up till now.

After the war were you recalled into the Nigeria army

No. I was not recalled

Do you know why?

They say it is because we fought the civil war on the side of Biafra. He reads the petition he wrote to the authorities asking for his ranks to be restored to him.

What was Gen. Gowon in 1966

He was a Lt. Col. like me but he was the chief of Army Staff Cordinating three divisions.

Do you k now whether he had a record like you have even though he was a coup plotter

All military officers have records but if then depends on what type of records.

Are you aware that even though Gowon plotted a coup his ranks have been restored and his benefits given to him.

Yes! I am aware and not only him even Gen. Diya who was tried and convicted for coup has also had his rankss restored. I don't know why ours the Igbo officers who even suppressed the 1966 coup are yet to have our ranks restored.

What advice would you give the commission on how to reconcile Nigeria

You see, the army is originally meant to defend the territorial integrity of the country and the army chief supposed to be at the right hand of the (king) resident giving advice on security and developmental matters.

Coup by the soldiers is an abomination and should not happen again in Nigeria. Institute twins should take their appropriate responsibilities and leaders should become responsible and responsive to the yearnings of those they rule.

Above all, injustices of the past including denials of rights of those who merit them should be redressed and all wrongs righted.

I will suggest you use URL instead of pasting the whole stories on the board. I am sure the administrator will appreciate some space economy.