NIGERIA’S DECENT INTO THE ABYSS: PRESIDENT BUHARI SET TO CONFER NATIONAL HONOURS AWARD ON SUSPECTED DRUG BARON AND FRAUDSTER, ALONG SIDE MANY OTHER CORRUPT ELEMENTS.

BY OLU MUYIWA KUDEHINSI

During Buhari’s first term in office, it was Mrs. Aisha Buhari that first alerted Nigerians and the the whole World that her husband was no longer in charge of running Nigeria’s Presidency.

She went on to state categorically that a Cabal comprising of a few persons not elected into office was fully in charge of running Africa’s most populous nation.

The Cabal was then headed by late Abba Kyari and one of Buhari’s closest allies who was also his brother in Law.

Nigerians fear that if APC is rigged into the Presidency again in 2023, that under Tinubu, the possibility of a Cabal running the government is even higher than it has been under Buhari.

The 2022 National Honours Award list has thrown up some issues concerning giving the Award to many corrupt, undeserving persons of questionable wealth and character.

First, there is the issue of a Nigerian Lawyer — Barrister Timia Okponipere who deposed to an Affidavit at the Federal High Court protesting the inclusion of the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad and his successor, Olukayode Ariwoola, averring that both men are corrupt and should not be conferred with National Honours.

There is also the issue of Anambra State born suspected drug Baron called Dr. Ernest Azudalu Obiejesi a.k.a. Obijackson. The man has a long history of past and present criminal activities.

Firstly, he was arrested in 1984 at the Muritala Mohammed Airport in Lagos for drugs and currency? trafficking. He escaped justice as he bribed his way through. His names as he had it then was Ernest Nnaemeka Obiejesi.

Owing to various high stake criminal activities, he changed his name to Ernest Azudalu. He was later to change his name to Ernest Azudalu Obiejesi after he was indicted abroad with Azudalu as his saw name on several criminal cases.

In recent times, Obiejesi was dragged to EFCC by a Bank who insisted he defrauded them of tens of Billions of Naira with which he built Nest Oil Towers in Lagos. That case is still under EFCC investigation.

Obiejesi is also under investigation by NDLEA for sundry illicit drug activities. Similarly, our foreign sources also confirmed that he is under investigation by the US Drug Law Enforcement Agency (DEA). His Private Jet was recently impounded by the US authorities for money Laundering allegations, among others.

Obiejesi has also been fingered to be a money laundering front for disgraced former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Deziani Allison Madueke who has been under EFCC and British authorities investigation since she left office.

In fact, many stakeholders has written Petitions to Mr. President, stating that NECONDE Energy allegedly owned by Obiejesi is a front for Mrs. Deziani Allison Madueke and that the Oil Block 0ML 245 was fraudulently acquired and it was Mrs. Madueke who used her influence to cause the deal to go through.

Similarly, it has been alleged that the 14% Share Holding by Obiejesi in Construction giant, Julius Berger is a Money laundering package he holds for Mrs. Madueke and two former Governors. Our sources strongly averred that the Private Jets and Helicopters Obiejesi parades as a rich boy are part of the loot of Mrs. Deziani Allison Madueke.

In all these, Obiejesi is said to have continued in his illicit drug business over the years. He has scores of mobile drug labs in many States in the Southeast, Lagos and the Niger Delta, where is one of the biggest sponsors of Oil bunkering activities.

In Obijackson’s home Town of Okija in Anambra, he is openly known and accused of supplying arms to criminals. These range from his retinue of killers, kidnappers, IPOB boys, Unknown Gun men, among others.

In view of all these, tongues are wagging as to how someone with this type of background could be listed to receive National Honours?

Many argue that, but for the exceptional determination of Gen Buba Marwa as Chairman of NDLEA, the likes of disgraced Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari would have made the list for the 2022 National Honours Award under Buhari.

*In the same vein, the notorious Drug Baron, Afaemefuna Mollison Emmanuel Ukatu from Alor, Anambra State, who is linked to a serving Minister would have also made the list. Same goes for Ugochukwu Chukwukadibia Nsofor from lhiala, who was also recently arrested by the NDLEA with illicit drugs worth close to 9 billion Naira impounded. These men are still in NDLEA custody, thanks to the dogged fight being put up by the now effective and performing anti drug Agency — NDLEA.

The questions on many lips include: does Nigerian authorities realise the dangers of allowing suspected drug barons such as Obiejesi to be conferred with National Honours?

For instance, the hundreds of Billions of Naira spent on fighting terrorism, insurgency, insecurity, kidnappings, and various other threats to Nigeria’s National Security are made harder by the activities and free constant flow of illicit drugs to the perpetrators of those criminal activities.

Do they realise that our lnternational Partners are aware of the activities of these merchants of death called drug barons?

Illicit drug use and abuse has assumed frightening dimensions in recent years. For instance, drug use and abuse in the Northern States is destroying the lives and future of many of their future leaders. If the trend is not halted, in a few years from now, the North will be shocked by the tragic consequences of the damaging effects of drug use by their Youths.

Come to think of it, many wonder, where is Nigeria’s Secret Police (the DSS) in all these? Do they do background checks on these individuals before recommendations are made to include their names in the list of those to be given National Honours?

From all indications, those corrupt and criminal elements, including known drug barons basically pay their way through and the Award then goes to the highest bidders. A Cabal in the Presidency is in charge of these “pay as you go” activities.

Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Department of State Security Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police, among other Agencies, such as the ICPC, the National lntelligence Agency (NIA), should all conduct background checks on proposed nominees for National Honours Award.

Obviously, if they did, the names of certain persons would not appear on list for National Honours Award.

OLU MUYIWA KUDEHINSI, an investigative Reporter writes from Lagos, Nigeria.