News
Political Face Off: Community Petitions IG Over Use of Police
By Lateef BANGBOSHE, Abuja
Accuses Borno Dep. Gov Of Fomenting Religious Disharmony
The Marama Community in Hawul Local Government area of Borno state has petitioned the Inspector general of Police, Sunday Arase over the use of some policemen from the Borno state Command for arbitrary arrest of youths and Church officials in a political face off between the community and deputy Governor of the state, Usman Mamman Durkwa.
In a four page petition signed by Aaron Hamman Mbaya and David Ishaku Mshelia, on behalf of Marama Youths Association, the community alleged that the Deputy Governor has been using the police to randomly abduct people from the community, including Church leaders in furtherance of his political vendetta on the community following a clash between his thugs and some youths in the town, in the build up to last year’s general elections.
Narrating the genesis of the political clash with the Deputy Governor, the petition stated amongst other things that, sequel to the insecurity in the north East, Maram community, like others organized themselves into volunteer groups to check possible infiltration of their area by Boko Haram. But on the eve of the last Presidential elect ions when all rallies had stopped, Usman Durkwa, then a commissioner in Borno State invaded the community with thugs shouting slogans reminiscent of Boko Haram.
According to them, the community was thrown into initial confusion, as people though it was a Boko Haram attack, but when they realized later that the then commissioner was the one personally leading a political rally, with his thugs attacking everybody in sight, because they perceived that the town was not supportive of his party, people mobilized to resist the invading thugs, resulting into a free for all fight.
They said the community was angered with the chants similar to that of Boko Haram, the hacking down of a nine year old by Usman Durkwa’s thugs, and the pulling down of opposition posters and shades, and decided to confront the invading thugs, all of whom were brought in from another community; resulting into the clash.
In the ensuing milieu, they stated, Durkwa seemed to have realized the mistake of allowing his thugs to be violent, especially as he is from another community, which was not attacked by his own thugs; and fled to his mistresses’ house, where the youths pursued him.
The petition further stated that, on catching up with him in his mistresses house, Usman Durkwa pulled a gun on the already angry community members, but was eventually over powered and beaten up, along with his accomplices, including the them Hawul Local Government council Chairman, who hails from Marama.
They youths went on to allege that, since he became the deputy governor, Usman Durkwa has vowed to avenge himself, wherein he drafted some policemen from Maiduguri the state capital, who formed the habit of coming to Marama and jumping people’s fences, breaking doors and arresting anybody in sight.
Their latest victim, which nearly caused a religious riot in the area, but for the timely intervention of the Area Commander in Biu and The DPO in Hawul, was the arrest of the secretary of the EYN Church, Number, John Anjili Mbaya. As a Church leader, they argued that John has nothing to do with political party activities, and the police have no business abducting him in the manner they did.
“Given the nature of questions John and the others were asked, and the manner of abduction, we have every cause to believe that the operation being launched against Marama people and particularly against our church leaders was not officially ordered by the Police hierarchy”, they stressed, noting that, we have sufficient cause to believe that Usman Durkwa is the
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain the status quo in a dispute over the party’s candidates emerging from the Benue State APC primaries for the 2027 general election.
The order was made on Thursday by Justice Inyang Ekwo during proceedings in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1429/2026, filed by Engr. Sesugh Akaagba and other aggrieved APC candidates from Benue State against the APC and INEC.
The plaintiffs had, through an ex parte motion filed on July 5, 2026, sought six interim reliefs, including an order restraining the APC from substituting its validly nominated candidates in Benue State through its June 29, 2026 correspondence, or any subsequent communication, to INEC, pending determination of the substantive suit.
They also sought an order compelling the APC to immediately transmit to INEC the names of candidates validly nominated during the primaries monitored by the electoral commission.
When the matter first came up on July 8, 2026, the court declined to grant the interim application immediately, directing both APC and INEC to appear and respond before any decision was taken. The matter was adjourned to July 16.
At Thursday’s proceedings, counsel representing the APC and INEC were present in court, while the plaintiffs were represented by Mohammed Ndarani, SAN, alongside his legal team.
In his ruling, Justice Ekwo held that since issues had been joined by the parties particularly with INEC now before the court, the defendants were required by law to preserve the subject matter of the litigation pending determination of the substantive suit.
When counsel to the plaintiffs urged the court to caution APC and INEC against taking any further action that could affect the disputed list of candidates, the judge responded that it was “not a matter of advice but of law,” stressing that the defendants were bound to maintain the status quo.
The court consequently restrained APC and INEC from taking any action capable of altering the disputed list of candidates pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The defendants did not object to the restraining order.
At the commencement of proceedings, the court noted that all parties had voluntarily submitted to its jurisdiction by duly filing and exchanging their respective processes.
It held that there was no procedural or jurisdictional impediment to the expeditious determination of the substantive action, and directed that the matter be heard without further delay.
In furtherance of the objective of preserving the res and safeguarding the efficacy of the judicial process, the court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and final determination of the substantive suit, restraining any act or omission capable of prejudicing the rights of the parties or rendering the proceedings nugatory.
The court further directed that INEC be served forthwith with the originating and all consequential processes.
The effect of the subsisting order is that INEC is restrained from tampering with the existing list of candidates pending final determination of the suit, and from receiving, recognising, or acting upon any purported substituted list of National Assembly candidates from Benue State submitted by the APC.
The matter was adjourned to July 21, 2026, for hearing of the substantive suit.
Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and former First Lady Patience Ibifaka Jonathan recently celebrated a significant family milestone as they attended the graduation ceremony of their son, Ariara Goodluck Jonathan, at Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom.
The proud parents joined family members and well-wishers to witness Ariara receive his degree, marking the successful completion of his academic programme. The occasion was filled with joy as the Jonathan family commemorated the achievement, highlighting the importance they place on education and personal development.
The graduation ceremony attracted warm congratulatory messages from friends, associates, and admirers, who wished the graduate continued success in his future endeavours.
The Following names joined the political family of Sen. Dr. George Akume today after leaving the sinking Alia ship .
Under the leadership of Barr. Emmanuel Jime .
The are ;
Chief Nelson Alapa
Douglas pepe SAN senatorial Aspirant zone A,
Engr Peter Ashiekaa
QS Clement Beetseh
Former commissioners
Joy Luga
Ann itodo
Barr martins Shaagee
Miss Dorcas
Prof Usar Joseh
Prof Cephas Tushima
Chief Patrick Idoko
Hon Patience Akor
Hon Fred Idoko
Hon Lawrence Ekpo Onoja Jnr
Hon Andrew Abah
Hon Agbo Innocent Ikwumonu
Hon Simon Omachoko
Hon David Egboja
Dr John Garba
Among together,
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