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Ex-Army Officer Jailed By Abacha Recounts Experience 25 Years After

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A former Army officer, (retd.) Col. Bello Fadile, who was sentenced to life imprisonment during the regime of the late Gen. Sani Abacha, has recounted his experience 25 years after the incident.

Fadile, who observed his prison term at the then-Argungu prison now known as the Kebbi State custodian centre, recalled he was court-martialled for advocating a non-violent composition of an interim government to replace the military junta of his-then friend and boss, Abacha.

Speaking with select journalists on Saturday, Fadile, an ex-intelligence military officer described his freedom from the prison on March 4, 1999, as unexpected.

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Fadile noted that the news of his freedom got to him while on a three-day dry fasting and prayer.

READ ALSO: 200 Octogenarians To Receive Chieftaincy Titles In Anambra Community

He said, “I was court-martial to life sentence for advocating a non-violent composition of an interim government to replace the military junta of a friend and boss, Abacha.

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“ 25 years ago, in the wee hours of March 4, 1999, I had a tap on my cell window. I got up and went closer. Then I saw the warder on duty, a retired Warrant Officer of the Nigerian Army now working for the Nigeria Prison Services. He said, “Oga you don free, congratulations sir, start packing your things, you are going home.

“I asked him, what did you just say? ” He said, “Yes sir you are to be released today, sir.” I did not say anything. I just believed him and rushed to the general open cell opposite my cell to tell the two other inmates who were on a three-day dry fasting with me, seeking the face of God in my situation.

READ ALSO: I Found Out My Husband Was 51-year-old On Our Wedding Day — Jasmine

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It was the beginning of the third day. I told them the good news and they shouted, “Hallelujah!” and we stood up and joined hands to sing out a sing-song chorus; God is able, abundantly able, to deliver and to save; The Lord is able, abundantly able, to deliver those who trust in him. Hallelujah!”

Fadile said he was preparing to leave when the Officer-In-Charge of the prison intimated to him that former Head of State, (retd.) Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar granted him pardon.

He said, “Thereafter I went to my cell, packed my stuff, and went to take a shower. At about 5.30 am, March 4, 1999, the Officer-In-Charge came to my cell and as usual, said, Doctor, you are free to go and you have to go out of my yard before 6 am today. The Head of State and Commander-In-Chief, General Abdusalami Abubakar has granted you and your colleagues a state pardon. Congratulations sir.

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“And so it was 25 years ago that I breathed the air of freedom. To God be the honour and glory and of course gratitude to Gen. A A Abubakar (GCON) former Head of State. Special thanks to all others on whichever sides of the divide they were during the struggle to establish a truly democratic government in our dear motherland – Nigeria. God bless the Nigerian Military, my first love, God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria”

Former military leader, Abacha, seized power in 1993 and served as the military head of state until he died in 1998

Fadile was, however, not the only one imprisoned during Abacha’s reign.

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Under him, former president Olusegun Obasanjo was jailed for 30 years but was later freed after Abacha’s death.
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Israeli Mission To Bolster Wellbeing Of Orphans In Nigeria

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The Israeli Embassy in Nigeria has promised to bolster the wellbeing of orphans in Nigeria.

Deputy Chief of Mission of the embassy, Inbar Garden stated this in Abuja while donating food items to the Hope for Survival Orphanage, Gishsiri community, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

She said aside helping to promote collaboration between Nigeria and Israel, the mission is committed to supporting the wellbeing of the orphans.

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Garden said, “We just want to ensure the orphans have a better future and not taken for granted.

READ ALSO:Israel Begins Ground Offensive In Gaza Despite International Criticism

“It takes a person with a giant heart to give themselves to the society and make other peoples life matter.

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“I urge you, children at the Orphanage to be focused on your future, because you are not going to stay in this place forever.

“Just dream big and say it loud, and go get your dreams fulfilled.”

Also,the Proprietress of the orphanage, Ruth Ibrahim, thanked the embassy for the kind gesture,

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According to her, even for you to come here is not easy due to the deplorable road to the orphanage.

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We thank God for the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike’s intervention, the road was so bad, at least he has repaired it, such that we can easily come into the orphanage as against before.

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“God bless and enrich you for putting smiles on our faces, this is good, because we have never seen such a large cooking of meal like this in our orphanage,” Ibrahim said.

She decried lack of access to medical services and paucity of funds toward the construction of fence around the orphanage, to be major challenges they faced.

The orphanage have 67 children, with two having graduated from university and eight of them are currently in SS3, preparing for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exam.

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The highpoint of the event is a treat for the children at the orphanage to a buffet by the Israeli deputy chief of mission.

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Isokpan Sworn In As Egor LG Vice Chairman, Pledges Loyalty to Okpebholo’s SHINE Agenda

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The Egor Local Government Council Secretariat was abuzz on Monday as Hon. Kenny Isokpan was officially sworn in as the Vice-Chairman of the Council, in a colourful ceremony attended by party leaders, stakeholders, and community groups.

The event drew a large gathering, including the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Deputy Governor, Hon. Plus Alile, alongside other prominent political figures.

In his address, the Acting Chairman of the council, Hon. Osaro Eribo, described Isokpan as a vibrant and energetic youth whose emergence heralded renewed vigour in the Council’s leadership.

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He expressed confidence that the new Vice-Chairman would work closely with him to advance Governor Monday Okpebholo’s SHINE Agenda at the grassroots level.

Shortly after assuming office, Isokpan lauded Okpebholo for his developmental strides across the state and for providing him the platform to serve.

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He pledged unwavering loyalty to the governor, the party leadership, and Eribo, vowing to contribute his quota towards repositioning Egor in line with the progressive vision of the administration.

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The new Vice-Chairman also expressed gratitude to the State Chairman of the APC, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe, for his steadfast leadership, and commended party leaders at the state, local government, and ward levels for their support.

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He gave special recognition to a prominent Egor leader, Hon. Osahon Airhunmwunde, for standing by him during his most challenging moments.

Isokpan further acknowledged the solidarity of the Red Cross Society and the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), stressing that their support reflected broad-based confidence in the ruling party’s grassroots agenda.

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Dangote Group Agrees To redeploy Workers Sacked By Refinery

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After a peace meeting, the Dangote Group has agreed to redeploy the workers sacked by its subsidiary, Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

The resolution was announced on Wednesday by the ministry of labour and employment in a statement on the outcome of the reconciliation meetings held on Monday and Tuesday.

Aliko Dangote, founder of Dangote Group, and representatives of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) met on Tuesday with Wale Edun, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, and Mohammed Dingyadi, minister of labour and employment to resolve the labour dispute.

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READ ALSO:Dangote Refinery Dispute: PENGASSAN Suspends Strike After FG Intervention

Disclosing other agreements reached during the meeting, the ministry said the parties agreed that the disengaged workers will be absorbed by other subsidiaries in Dangote Group without loss of pay.

The Honourable Minister of Labour informed the meeting that unionisation is a right of workers in accordance with the laws of Nigeria and that this right should be respected,” the ministry said

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After examining the procedure used in the disengagement of workers, the meeting agreed that the management of Dangote Group shall immediately start the process of taking the disengaged staff to other companies within the Dangote Group, with no loss of pay.

READ ALSO:NAFDAC Orders Removal Of 101 Products, Warns against Sale, Use

“No worker will be victimised arising from their role in the impasse between Dangote and PENGASSAN.

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“PENGASSAN agreed to start the process of calling off the strike.

“Both parties agreed to this understanding in good faith.”

On September 26, PENGASSAN instructed its members to embark on a nationwide strike over the dismissal of workers by Dangote refinery.

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