A coalition of civil society organisations for human rights in a press conference on Wednesday has alleged human rights violations, torture and institution of arbitrary and illegal detention centre by Chief Oweizidei Thomas Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo and his Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited in the Niger Delta region.

The CSOs after a peaceful protest at Shoprite, Alausa, Lagos issued a statement signed by the Convener, Comrade Abe Emmanuel to call upon President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to investigate the allegations with a view to nipping the seeds of such atrocities in the bud. The coalition added that ever since the current government came on board it has made its determination to reset Nigeria its cornerstone, of which the cardinal principle rests not only on economic reforms and the placing of the economy on sound footing, but also on promotion of human rights, rule of law and due process.

It noted that “From the word ‘go’, your administration has shown promised of renewed hope.

This hope is not centered on economic and infrastructural

development alone, but also on human capital development; and

protection of human rights is an integral part of this development.

We believe as a civil society organisation that for the fortunes of

Nigeria to move progressively the later part of this defined

development must be protected and harnessed. This putsch forms

the hallmark of today’s briefing.”

“The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations for Human Rights is

a coalition convened to advocate for monitoring and defense human

rights across the length and breathe of the Federation of Nigeria.”

The coalition says it has received countless petitions and reports of torture, arbitrary arrest and detention of innocent citizens in an illegal centre, wondering if such trend of torture is part of the duty and brief of Tantilla Security Services which is solely contracted to protect pipelines.

The coalition named Jolomi Abechukwu from Tisin Community who

according to him was arrested alongside his friend Bade and taken

into captivity in Oporoza where the alleged camp and illegal

detention facilities of the Tantita security are located. They were

arrested on 2nd of December, 2024 and released in January, 2025.

“As law abiding youths of Nigeria, we do not want to believe that the

pipeline surveillance contract, gives impetus to the security

company to arrogate arrest and detention powers reserved only for

the security apparatchik of Nigeria.

These unlawful arrests violate the express provisions of chapter iv of

the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as

amended) and the express provisions of the African Charter on

Human and People’s Rights.

We are drawing the attention of the federal government to this

anomaly with call on international organisations to help protect the

rights of Nigerian youths spread across Nigeria because if this

situation is not investigated and arrested, Youths living in the Niger

Delta region will continue to suffer the inhumane and

unconstitutional treatment meted out by the Tantita Security

Services Limited.”

“Lastly, we do not want to believe that the President Bola Ahmed

Tinubu led administration which is fast building a reputation for due

process, is aware of these heinous crimes against humanity.

The group urged President Bola Tinubu to look into the allegations with dispatch as to save innocent citizens from the arbitrariness of the Tantilla Security Services.

The Tenth Prosecuting Witness, PW10,   Udochukwu Okparache, in the ongoing trial of former Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, told Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, that he was not aware of a total sum of N860m ( Eight Hundred and Sixty Million Naira) lodged in his company`s account by the Anambra State government.

Okparache, a general contractor and owner of Youdooh Ventures Limited, made the disclosure while being led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, stating that when he inquired from his account officer to confirm to him what was going on with his account domiciled with the bank, he said the account officer told him that the transactions carried out with his account was to boost his account status to enable him meet the requirements of traveling abroad.

“Sometimes in April 2023, I was called by the EFCC to come and give clarification in respect of Youdooh Ventures bank account, which I opened in Awka and when I got there, they showed me the transactions I had done with the Anambra State government but couldn’t understand the transaction that was there. Immediately, I called my account officer, who told me that he was boosting my account. The inflows were made through  Manager’s cheques and the outflows were done by individuals.

“The transactions that were done in that account were  through Manager’s cheques, which was about N60 million but N860 million was the total amount that passed through my account, which Cherish Ventures Limited, Chief Mrs Eberechi Willie Obiano, Easy Demands Limited and so many others companies benefited from the transactions. I did not bid for any contract with the Anambra State government,” he said.

While analyzing exhibit  PW3 A1-A5 particularly page 119 to 145, which was his statements of account, the witness confirmed that monies were transferred into his account in tranches. He explained that N18 million was paid on 5 April, 2018 and N9 million on the same date.

According to him, further payment was made into his account on April 11, 2018, while N7 million was transferred to Chief Mrs. Willie Obiano,  wife of the defendant.

During cross examination by defense counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, the witness stated that the reason he did not report to the bank when he noticed the transactions was that he wanted his account to be boosted. He also denied knowing the defendant stressing that he didn’t  know if it was the defendant that authorized all the transactions.

Justice Ekwo, after listening to his testimony, adjourned the matter till 26, 27 and 28,  May 2025, for continuation of trial.

Obiano is facing trial  on nine-count charges bordering on money laundering,  diversion of funds, stealing and corruption to the tune of N4billion

A UK-based Nigerian woman has accused a traditional ruler, Oba Adekeye Adeyemi Olanrewaju, the Abepa of Joga Orile, Yewa North, Ogun State, of using marriage as a ploy to defraud her.

The woman, identified as Christy Oluwabunmi, claims that the monarch exploited her trust, leading to financial and material losses amounting to hundreds of millions of naira.

She told SaharaReporters that the monarch later went ahead to help her obtain a forged divorce certificate to leave her former husband so that the monarch could marry her.

“Kabiyesi went to forge a divorce certificate for me to leave my husband and also took me to the court registry to formalise my marriage with him.

“It was later I realised this is his usual way of deceiving women. In fact, it was later I knew no fewer than five women were once his victims. He always preyed on wealthy ones like me,” the woman told SaharaReporters in a telephone conversation.

In petitions submitted to the Osun State Governor; Ondo State Governor; Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Inspector General of Police, and Director General of the State Security Service (SSS), otherwise known as Department of State Services (DSS), and the Chairman of Ogun Council of Obas, Ms. Oyewole narrated how Adekeye Adeyemi approached her on June 30, 2022, with romantic advances, promising marriage and financial stability.

“He pretended to be in love with me, vowing to marry me and support my business. Eventually, I was manipulated into transferring over N53 million via electronic transactions, N12 million in cash, mobile phones worth N10.8 million, and gold valued at N120 million,” she wrote in the petition, attaching receipts as evidence.

The victim further alleged that after extorting her, the traditional ruler attempted to lure her into a dubious ritual in Ekiti State, where she was told she would need to sacrifice an eye or a leg to attain financial prosperity.

Realising she was being deceived, she resisted, only to find herself financially ruined and abandoned.

In a shocking revelation, she claimed the monarch had forged a divorce judgment and had used the same fraudulent scheme on at least three other women.

When she demanded a refund of her money and valuables, he allegedly threatened her life, boasting about his influence and ties to cultists and thugs.

“He has converted my hard-earned money, gold, phones, and valuables to his personal use unlawfully. All efforts to retrieve them have proved abortive. Instead, he threatens to kill me, claiming nothing will happen because he is a king,” she alleged.

In her petitions, she wrote, “That one Adekeye Adeyemi Olanrewaju approached me on 30th day of June, 2022 with a confidence trick, pretended to be romantically interested in me when he claimed and vowed that he would marry me being a single mother struggling alone to cater for myself and children without husband.

“It was thereafter revealed to me that the suspect has been using same style to defraud single women who are blessed with wealth. The suspect had used the similar criminal style to defraud three different ladies who were later threatened to be killed if the matters were reported to the law enforcement agencies.”

She said she was hypnotised to an extent of being defrauded of more than N53 million via electronic transfer, cash of N12 million, mobile phones worth N10.8 million, gold worth N120 million “under the false pretences to help me boost, develop my business and rebrand my financial status and repertoire”.

As of the time of filing this report, Oba Adekeye Adeyemi has not responded to the allegations.

He did not answer multiple phone calls and has yet to react to a follow-up message.

Sahara Reporters