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Meet The Man Who Spends 15 Years In Jail For A Crime He Didn’t Commit (Read Story)

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A 40-year old man has narrated how the poor legal system in Nigeria confined him behind bars for good 15 years of his life after being accused of the murder of politician, Alfred Rewane and later found innocent.

A 40year old man identified as Effiong Elemi-Edu has narrated how he was imprisoned for 15 years for the murder of politician, Alfred Rewane, which was later discovered that he was innocent off.
Narrating his ordeal to Aljazeera, Effiong  who is from Cross Rivers, said on October 6th 1995 in the Ikeja part of Lagos state, he had gone out to buy suya for himself and his wife when suddenly he heard gunshots. According to him, he took cover and later decided to run to his house. As he made the move to run home, he was halted by an order from a police officer.
“I stopped. There were police officers, lots of them.”
They asked him where he was going and he told them but instead of letting him go on his way, the officers pushed him into their vehicle and accused him of being an armed robber.
“I didn’t understand what they meant because I was not carrying any weapon on me, just the money I was going to use to buy suya. They took us, myself and one other guy to SARS [Special Anti-Robbery Squad] at Ikeja, where they kept me under a tree. Later, they came and took me to the ‘theatre’. There, there were two drums filled with sand. I was tied like a goat, two of my hands at my back; they crossed an iron rod at my back, and then hanged me”. He said he hung in that position for One hour, 20 minutes.
“They tried to force me to admit I was an armed robber – they even shot me in the leg. I have never robbed anyone in my life. I was just a young man struggling to save money to get admission into a higher institution to further my education.”
Effiong who had a dream of becoming a mass communicator had his hope dashed because an influential politician Delta state, Alfred Rewane, had been assassinated that morning by unknown gunmen at his residence in Ikeja GRA, a few hundred metres from Effiong’s home.
Effiong was in the wrong place at the wrong time
“They held me for days. There was no phone at that time and there was no way for me to get in touch with my family. It was my wife who learned about it. I think the people who saw me when I was taken away told her. Then she travelled home to inform my mother. They wanted me to copy a statement they had written to say that I am an armed robber and that‎ I conspired with the others in the murder of Rewane. I refused.
They beat me till my face was covered with blood which was pouring from my left ear.‎ I didn’t want to die, so I recopied the statement in my own handwriting. The statement is what they used in implicating us. As I was recopying the statement, the only thing on my mind was that I didn’t do anything and that my God will let everyone know the truth.
It was later that one of the‎ policemen came to tell us that he was sorry, that it was an order from above.‎ Later, they charged eight of us with the murder of the man. I don’t know the man, never heard of him. Those that I was charged with murder with, I had never seen any of them in my life.” he said.
After being tortured and forced to admit guilt, seven of the men were arraigned before a high court, and sent to Kirikiri prison to await trial. But when the men arrived at the prison, prison officials insisted that the police take them to hospital to have their wounds treated. Instead, they took them to a police station – where four of the men subsequently died, reportedly due to the injuries sustained while being tortured by the police.
“The torture and suffering were too much,” Effiong reflects.
Rewane’s killing was later linked to the military junta of Nigeria’s then dictator, the late Sani Abacha. But Effiong and two other men – Elvis Irenuma and Lucky Igbinovia, who had both worked for Rewane – continued to languish in prison.
Then, after 15 years, more than 200 adjournments and the prosecution’s inability to produce any evidence linking the suspects to the crime‎, the trial judge discharged the case and acquitted the suspects, upholding a ‘no case submission’ made by the defence counsel.
“It appears to me that all the police did was to visit the venue of the incident and arrest the workers,” the judge declared in her judgement.
So it was that, 15 years after they were arrested, three of the seven arraigned men – Effiong Elemi-Edu, Lucky Igbinovia and Elvis Irenuma – walked out of prison.
But gone was the fit 25-year-old who was picked up that night. In his place was a balding 40-year-old man who walks with a limp,  a constant reminder of the torture he endured.
“I spoke with Lucky recently, he’s in Switzerland now,” Effiong says. “I don’t know what he is doing there. We speak but not regularly. [And] I saw Elvis in June this year. I am supposed to call him, only I don’t have enough units in my phone.”
As for Effiong, things are not going according to plan.
“I’ve been facing a lot of challenges, accommodation-wise, money-wise. I need to get my own place. Right now I’m squatting with my brother and his wife in a one-room apartment. That’s why I’m praying to God to help me get a place of my own.
“When we were over there [in prison] … at times these churches [would] … come over to visit. Immediately [when] you … come out and say you want to go to church and give a testimony, they will look at you and say ‘Where is this guy going?’
Once, somebody came out [and] they accommodated him. [But] … the guy packed everything away [stole from them]. So they [the churches] stopped helping other people.”
Early on in his imprisonment, his wife would visit him. But the visits stopped without warning, and when Effiong was released, he heard that she had remarried. He had no idea where to begin looking for her.
Two years later, Effiong also remarried. His new wife, Juliet, lives in Cross River, where Effiong is originally from.
“My daughter is one year and four months now. I’m yet to set my eyes on [her]. Her name is Rose. They sent her picture to me. [But] I haven’t travelled home to Cross River since 2013 because financially I’m not okay‎.
I’m so down. If I see money now, I will travel home today, today, today. I can’t tell you a lie, life has not been easy. What will I do? It’s only by the special grace of God that one is surviving and living. Things are really so tough in the sense that I just leave everything to God.
These days I watch football. Then listen to gospel songs. If I’m alone, I just go through my Bible. They wasted my time.
They wasted the talent that God gave to me. At times it pains me, when I look at the way things are going. I know the level my friends are at now. Is it not my classmate in secondary school that is a commissioner in Cross River? The other one is working in Central Bank.
The other one is a lawyer in Port Harcourt. But I don’t dwell on those things. If I do, one day I’ll just be struck down by a stroke. So I have to put all those things behind me [and] let the will of God be done.” he said

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‘It’s Christ over earthly possession’ — Judikay ends rift with EeZee Conceptz

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Judikay, the Nigerian gospel singer, has announced her decision to step away from the controversy surrounding her former record label, EeZee Conceptz.

In June 2024, Judikay petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, the founder of EeZee Conceptz.

She accused Ezekiel and his label of falsifying accounts and committing theft against her to the tune of £800,000.

The label founder was recently charged by the EFCC for the alleged exploitation of the gospel singer.

However in an Instagram post on Saturday, the ‘Capable God’ hitmaker said she has decided to “walk away” from the drama and prioritize the greater good and unity of the body of Christ.

She expressed her gratitude to her colleagues, family, and fellow believers for their support “during this period”.

“After prayerful consideration, I have made the deliberate decision to walk away from this entire drama and I choose to prioritise the greater good and unity of the body of Christ,” she wrote.

“My role as a member of the body of Christ takes precedence and I willingly make this sacrifice, drawing strength from the knowledge that Christ is of far greater worth than any earthly possession or vindication.

“With this conviction, I choose to step away. I sincerely express my heartfelt gratitude to the leaders in the body of Christ, my fellow believers, the gospel music community, and my precious family for their continued encouragement and prayers during this period.

“My focus and commitment remains on Jesus Christ and this ministry HE entrusted in my hands.”

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‘Mention people who used, dumped you’ — Nons Miraj dares viral fish pie seller

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Nons Miraj, the content creator, has responded to a recent claim made by Alax Evalsam, the pastry seller known for his signature ‘Fish Pie’ tune.

In August 2024, Alax’s life changed when he posted a video of himself singing while hawking his fish pies on TikTok.

Following his social media popularity, rumours circulated that Alax had received large sums of money from celebrities.

Miraj was one of the celebrities who helped him. She visited him, moved him into a rented apartment, and gifted him N200,000 and a car.

But on Wednesday, Alax claimed he was “used and dumped” by the people who supported him during his viral moment.

Reacting to Alax’s claims, Miraj challenged him to publicly reveal the names of those who allegedly took advantage of him.

The content creator insisted that her brand should not be associated with Alax’s claims, emphasizing that she had done her part to help him.

“You said some people used you; please do me a favor like I have done you a favor. Come out and clear the air on who used you,” she said in an Instagram video.

“I am not a user, God uses me to bless and help people. Don’t ruin my brand because you don’t want to call names. I’m daring you now to call the names of people that used you.

“The car, clothes, and house I gifted you are still with you. Don’t ruin my brand with this claim; call the names of the users, but don’t associate my brand with this.

“Out of all the people I have helped, I spent more money on you. My friends were against buying you a car but I bought it because I feel it is good for you to be mobile after being public.

“I also got you a deal with 1XBet. What else do you want from me? I have given you the necessary things so help yourself to the next level.”

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James Nolan, Briton who jumped bail, waives right to call witnesses in P&ID fraud trial

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James Nolan, a British national on trial over his involvement in the Process and Industrial Developments Limited (P&ID) fraud, has waived his right to call witnesses for his defence.

Nolan is standing trial alongside a company, Micad Project City Services Limited, on a 20-count charge of obtaining by false pretence, non-compliance with the Money Laundering Act 2011 (as amended), and criminal conversion of proceeds of crime to the tune of N151,394,328.

At the court session on Thursday, Bala Sanga, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), told the court that the business of the day would have been for the prosecution to call its last witness.

“But upon review of the case, we found that it is superfluous, and therefore we are dispensing with the last witness,” Sanga said.

Michael Ajara, Nolan’s counsel, did not oppose the prosecution’s submission.

Ajara told the court that the defence team would rely on the evidence and witnesses brought by the prosecution.

“Based on the evidence already before the court adduced by the prosecution, we shall be resting our case on theirs. So, we don’t intend to call any witness,” he said.

Obiora Egwuatu, the presiding judge, adjourned the matter until March 10 to adopt the parties’ final written addresses.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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