The coalition said it frowned at the way and manner that President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Army hurriedly distanced themselves from Dokubo, without apprehending him.
By Jeffrey Agbo
A Coalition of Southeast Democracy, Human Rights, Security and Safety Civil Societies (CSOs) under the aegis of the Coalition for the Defense of Southeast Citizens and Properties has called on the Federal Government to constitute a panel to investigate former Niger Delta militant, Asari Dokubo, over the activities of his private military company, Royal Switch Services, since 2020 to 2023 in the South-East.
The coalition, an amalgamation of over 40 advocacy organisations both in and outside Nigeria, wrote a letter to that effect dated October 12, 2023 and addressed to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Among those whose attention the coalition called to the letter were the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja; Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; and the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
The letter obtained by TheNiche on Sunday reads, “We write to request for the Federal Government to constitute a Panel of Inquiry into Asari Dokubo’s Royal Switch Services (Private Military Company) which he claims has the express imprimatur of the Presidency and was OFFICIALLY engaged by the Federal Government for covert operations in the Southeast; specifically in Abia, Anambra, Imo, Enugu and Ebonyi States.
“Clearly, under the Private Guard Companies Act of 1986 and the Private Guard Companies Regulations of 2018, section 1 states the mode of licensing and operation for Private Guard Companies. Similarly, Sections 35 and 36 designates the Minister of Interior or an officer authorized by him, to act as the licensing authority to any such company. Astonishingly, Asari Dokubo’s Royal Switch Services has NO SUCH APPROVAL.
“Furthermore, under the Nigerian Law, Section II of the Firearms Act explicitly states that ‘No person shall have in his possession or under his control any firearm ….except in accordance with a license granted by the President acting in his discretion.’ Strangely, Asari’s Royal Switch Company has NO PRESIDENTIAL APPROVAL.
“From the above extant laws of the Federal Government of Nigeria, it is abundantly clear that Asari Dokubo’s Royal Switch Services never met the above constitutional conditions and approvals. Therefore, it is an illegal gun running outfit designed for the execution of the people of the Southeast.
“Indecently, in a viral video taken from one of his numerous loquacious media appearances. Asari was SPECIFIC that HIS MEN had carried out security and combatant duties naturally reserved for the Nigerian military in the Southeast.
“We have diligently carried out extensive investigations on some of his outbursts, wherein he verily boasted of how he killed citizens of the Southeast during his ILLEGAL operations in the region.
“Contemptibly, his comments were similar to the wild excitement often exhibited by wanton boys (in high tones and under some influence) when advertising their destructive and destabilizing tendencies.
“Impudently, whilst boasting of his exploits and conquests, Asari employed quite derogatory, demeaning and incendiary remarks in describing the people of the Southeast and bragged about how he killed them during his ILLEGAL engagement in the Southeast.
“Evidently, the Podcast of the interview anchored by Seun Okinbaloye of Channels TV on August 3, 2023, between Asari Dokubo and Deji Adeyanju is an Open-Source Intelligence material which is before the whole world. This evidence is more than sufficient for the Federal Government to approve our request for the constitution of a Panel of Inquiry.
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“Unarguably, the period under review (2020 – 2023) in the Southeast was nightmarish and bloody; and lives and properties worth billions of dollars were lost as a result of the operation of Asari and his men in the region.
“Besides the civil war, the Southeast has never witnessed such scale of violence, destruction and devastation.
“Consequently, on August 12, 2023 Daily Independent Newspaper reported that ‘the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, has denied this claim, saying, the Army had never conducted an operation in any part of the country in collaboration with Asari-Dokubo’s men.’
“On August 15, 2023, Sola Adebayo of the Leadership Newspaper wrote under the caption ‘Asari-Dokubo: Tinubu Bars N’Delta Ex-Agitator From Aso Rock’, he stated clearly how worried the President had become with Asari’s vituperations, whilst addressing the press after visiting him in Aso Rock.”
The coalition said it frowned at the way and manner that President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Army hurriedly distanced themselves from Dokubo, without apprehending him and making him face the law.
The letter further reads, “We recount with pains the reckless and inchoate utterances of Asari each time he talks about Ndigbo. We dare to say that Asari MUST be made to face the law.
“On August 13, 2023 Obi Nwakanma wrote in Vanguard Newspaper that ‘Asari’s contract clearly was to do what government cannot legitimately do, including killing of innocent Nigerians, and subvert an entire region, and provide the Buhari administration ultimate deniability.’ Obi Nwakanma’s words capture the bourgeoning mindset and disposition of the people of the Southeast towards the Federal Government on this matter.
“Going forward, it is important for the Tinubu’s led administration to MAKE CATEGORICAL STATEMENT on the false flag operations in the Southeast, which is intended to put the region in chaos; as we have now resolved to explore all measures within the frame of the law to put a stop to it.”
In conclusion, the coalition made the following demands: “That the Federal Government should set up a Panel of Inquiry to investigate the actual activities and level of involvement of Asari’s Royal Switch Servies (Private Militia) in the Southeast; with a view to identifying and determining cost of lives and properties lost.
“Given the comment of the army distancing themselves from Asari’s claim, there is need to investigate and confirm who engaged Asari, why and for what purposes? The Panel is to undercover the extent of damage and causalities of Asari’s private army’s operation in the Southeast.
“Finally, if found culpable, we demand that Asari be made to face the FULL WRATH of the law.”
The letter signed by Okoro Chinedum Benedict (OCHIE Igbo) and Emeka Umeagbalasi (Intersociety), was also copied to President Bola Tinubu, National Council of State, Directorate of Military Intelligence, Abuja; Director General, State Security Services, Abuja; Director General, National Intelligence Agency, Abuja; Inspector General, Nigerian Police Force, Abuja; Chief of Defense Staff, Abuja; Minister of Defense, Abuja; The American Embassy, Abuja; The British High Commission, Abuja; The European Union Commission, Abuja; and the United Nations Office, Abuja.