It is rather surprising that the Nigeria Peace Corps Bill has been passed hastily without much scrutiny and, apparently, without serious background checks. It is equally surprising that an organization whose proposed establishment has not been signed into Law is already embroiled with the Nigeria Police over questions surrounding its status in Law. Finally, it is ridiculous that a judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja “ordered the Nigeria Police to pay the sum of N12.5 million as damages to the Peace Corps of Nigeria over the violation of the rights of its officials.” (Daily Trust, Friday November 10, 2017, page.10)
The report continued that “The judge further ordered the security agencies to ‘desist to prohibit, in any manner applicant’s staff and members the right of access into and out of the premises in any manner.”(Ibid.).Given the high profiles of the Counsel to the applicant (Kanu Agabi [SAN]) and the National Commandant, Ambassador Dickson Akoh, the PCN is definitely a well-funded and well connected. However, these connections are to say the least, suspect.
In a worst case scenario, the Peace Corps of Nigeria may well be a foreign intelligence conduit committed to intelligence-gathering and other clandestine activities (including sabotage) in many developing countries. It is obvious not only from the complaints of the Nigeria Police but even from the website of the PCN this shadowy organization the bill establishing which was only adopted by the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday, November 7, and has not been signed into law is already engaging in Para-military activities. The judge who granted the reliefs to the peace corps of Nigeria while at the same reserving on the more substantive issues of the legality of the organization also needs to be investigated for possible collusion.
How can you grant an application for violation of rights to someone who is under investigation by a legally established body (the Nigeria Police) without first establishing whether the investigation itself was legal and when the alleged violations themselves occurred during the investigation? And is the second order by the learned honorable judge not intended to block further investigations and allow the Nigeria Peace Corps to continue with its illegal and dangerous clandestine activities?
Saleh Omar, Abuja, [email protected]
