Full charges against Buratai, Obiano, Ikpeazu, IG, others in US Court revealed over Biafra
It has being
reported that the details of the charges slammed against 16 top Nigerian
Government, Army and Police officials before the US District Court for the
District of Columbia by legal representatives of 10 pro-Biafra activists, have
emerged.
The battle
is being fought for the litigants by renowned United States Attorney, Mr. Bruce
Fein, and his Partner, Mr. W. Bruce DelValle, who recently spent five days
(August 19 to 24, 2017) in Nigeria.
The legal practitioners investigated the
alleged killing and torture of unarmed pro-Biafra protesters, particularly 10
of them who were said to have either killed or tortured by Nigerian security
forces during 2016 pro-Biafra protests in Aba, Abia State, Onitsha and Nkpor in
Anambra State and Asaba in Delta State.
Court papers
published on Tuesday by News Express indicated the full names of the 16
defendants as well as the charges against them.
(1) Chief of
Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai: Culpability in the massacre and maiming
of defenceless Shiite Muslims and pro-Biafra activists.
(2) Governor
William Maduabuchi Obiano: Complicity in the 2nd and 17th December 2015 pro
Biafra protest killings and the 29th and 30th May 2016 pro Biafra Heroes Day
massacre in Anambra State.
(3) Governor
Okezie Victor Ikpeazu: Complicity in the 18th and 29th January and 9th February
2016 IPOB massacre in Aba.
(4) Retired
IGP Solomon Arase: (Allegedly ordered the maximum use of force and violent
crackdown against unarmed and nonviolent pro Biafra protesters): Vicarious and
operational culpability in the pro Biafra protests’ massacre/mass shootings.
(5) IGP
Ibrahim Kpotum Idris: Operational culpability in the pro-Biafra protests’
massacre in his capacity then as AIG Federal OPS.
(6) DIG
Habila Joshak (then CP Abia, now DIG OPS): Culpability in the pro-Biafra
activists’ singing and rally massacre in Aba.
(7) AIG
Hosea Karma (then CP Anambra, now AIG Zone 9): Culpability in the pro-Biafra
protests’ massacre of 29th and 30th May 2016.
(8) Major
Gen Ibrahim Attahiru (then GOC 82 Division, Enugu, and now Theatre Commander,
Operation Lafiya Dole): Culpability in the pro-Biafra protests’ massacre of
29th and 30th May, 2016 in Anambra State and Asaba (Delta State) spill-over
massacre.
(9) CP
Babatunde Johnson Kokomo (then DCP OPS, Anambra, now CP Armaments at Force
Headquarters): Culpability in the pro-Biafra protests’ massacre of 29th and
30th May 2016.
(10) Col
Issah Mehadi Abdullahi (then Commander/Cantonment Commandant,
Onitsha 302
Artillery; now at NIPSS, Kuru near Jos): Culpability in the pro-Biafra
jubilation and protests’ massacre of 17th December 2015 and 29th and 30th May
2016 in Anambra State.
(11) Major
C.O. Ibrahim of Military Police Unit (leader of army massacre operations of
29th and 30th May, 2016 in Anambra State): Operational culpability in the
pro-Biafra protests’ massacre (now Lt Col and Commander of Onitsha Military
Police Unit of the Onitsha Military Cantonment).
(12) CSP
James Oshim Nwafor (OC/SARS, Anambra during the 2nd December, 2015 joint
massacre operations at Onitsha Niger Bridgehead, now O/C File at CP’s Admin
Office, Awka): Culpability in the pro Biafra protests’ massacre.
(13) CSP
Bassey Abang (OC/SARS, Anambra during 29th and 30th, May 2016 massacre, now
OC/SARS, Abia State): Culpability in the pro-Biafra protests’ massacre.
(14) ACP
Peter W. Nwagbara (he was Aba Area Commander during 9th February, 2016 IPOB
massacre, now Police Area Commander of the Akwanga Area Command in Nasarawa
State) culpability in the pro-Biafra protests’ massacre.
(15) Lt Col
Sidi Umar Kasim (then Commander of 144 Battalion at Ukwa Ngwa that massacred
IPOB activists on 9th of February, 2016 in Aba. 144 Battalion is a unit of 14
Brigade of Nigerian Army, Ohafia in Abia State, now at 14 Brigade, Ohafia):
Culpability in the pro Biafra protests’ massacre.
(16) Retired
SSS Director Musa Lawal Daura (SSS DG; his agency allegedly supplied hostile
intelligence leading to the massacre in addition to participation of his men in
the joint security taskforce or JTF that perpetrated the mass murder of pro
Biafra activists): Culpability in the pro Biafra protests’ massacre.
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