Back in the days when I was in Secondary School, my English Literature teacher who was also our Vice-Principal, one Mr. Ebisi from Enugwu-Ukwu, would preach: “The game of life is like the game of boomerang, everyone’s action, words or deeds returns to him in an astounding accuracy”. In those days, it was his most valued quote and because he said the quote every time in class, my classmates and me had no choice than to memorize it to this day. So every time I hear the word, “boomerang”, I remember him.

The above quotation was as relevant to me at the time and even more relevant now with the issue criminal charges preferred against of former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju’s. He misruled Anambra Statebetween 1999 and 2003. He was the governor reputed for early prayers with the traders everyday and his administration highlighted the cankerworm in our politics named ‘god-fatherism’. It was during his administration that teachers and civil servants were owed their salary and they went on strike for one year crippling academic and government activities in the state for a whole year. Students were at home for the whole year and those that are supposed to take their Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) and Junior Secondary Certificate Examination (JSCE) were left to their fate in a state that produced scholars of international repute.

However, he was also remembered for using the dreaded “Bakassi Boys” to solve the problem posed by armed robbers in the state. The “Bakassi Boys” were re-named Anambra Vigilante Services and was given a legal backing in the then Anambra House of Assembly as a recognized quasi-state police cum-crime busters. To his credit, criminal activities went down in the state even though the security outfit used un-orthodox method of crime fighting like charms and amulets. There were lots of extra-judicial killings in public with machetes or butchering among which was the killing of Eddie Okeke popularly known as Eddie Nawgu, whose church or juju shrine was a known haven for armed robbers and hired killers. Okeke was alleged to be the master-mind of some of the state’s unsolved murders and assassinations including the assassination of HRH Igwe FFBC Nwankwo of Nawfia (The Tallest Man).

Many hailed the governor’s method of using the security outfit to fight crime as a welcome development. His critics that included the Civil Liberties Organization accused the governor who claimed to be a lawyer of violation of the civil rights of the accused. The governor, in defending this method in one of his interviews said: “Armed robbers are in the business of killing innocent people. I don’t know anyone who will complain if an armed robber is dead”. He stated that his main concern was to lower crimes in the state and would care less the method used to achieve that goal.

But Mbadinuju’s perceived greatest achievement in lowering crime in the state turned out to be his greatest undoing. He was said to be using the “Bakassi Boys” to fight his political adversaries, and that he turned the security outfit into his personal thugs to intimidate his opponents. He was fingered in the killing of Chief Godwin Odumegwu Okonkwo, a political rival and the former ANPP Chairman in Nnewi.

Then came the assassination of Mr. Barnabas Igwe, the then Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association, Onitsha Branch; and his pregnant wife, Amaka. The political coffin of Mbadinuju was nailed with the death of the eminent couple. That was the climax of his downfall. But as his political life was ending, his legal trouble began.

Mbadinuju’s political problem began when he fell out with his political god-father; Sir Emeka Offor coupled with the fact that Mbadinuju had already signed away the state’s treasury to his god-fathers. It should be recalled that it was under Mbadinuju that the Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (IPSO) was authorized whereby Chis Uba was collecting monthly N10 million from the government for some shady contract. Having done this, the money he would use to pay government workers and to carry out other government activities were already mortgaged. It was also same IPSO that Gov. Chris Ngige refused to honor when he succeeded Mbadinuju that led to his falling out with Chris Uba.

Mbadinuju’s political stock fell faster than it rose. However, Anambra’s problem started when it allowed the so-called god-fathers who are mostly semi-literate people to run the state. Chinwoke Mbadinuju was hand-picked by the PDP cabal over an eminently qualified and tested Professor ABC Nwosu. It should be recalled that Professor Nwosu was a Commissioner for Health in the old Anambra state. It was under Nwosu’s reign as commissioner that guinea worm was virtually eradicated in the old Anambra state especially in Abakiliki area; and polio and all other deadly childhood diseases were check-mated. Professor Nwosu’s record of achievement did not impress the king-makers since they knew that he would be a tough customer to push around. They wanted a stooge, a figure-head they could manipulate and they got it in Mbadinuju.

After he was vanquished in 2003 as he was the only PDP governor to be denied second term, the forces that were pursuing him have not left him alone. When the Igwes were murdered in cold blood, Mbadinuju was fingered in the plot, even though he was in far-away Houston , USA, attending the World Igbo Congress. He waived his immunity under section 308 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and submitted himself for interrogation and prosecution. He was called all kinds of names and many believed that he had a hand in the murder of the Igwes. He was given a clean bill of health after a protracted legal battle, by both the magistrate courts and by a High court of competent jurisdiction.

A few months ago, an incorruptible Onitsha High Court Judge, Justice “Mgbedike” D.O.C. Amaechina held that there was no sufficient evidence to sustain a charge of murder, and discharged and acquitted Mbadinuju of complicity in the murder of the Igwes. Before his acquittals, he was jailed for about three months and suffered all kinds of humiliations. When he was incarcerated, some people were sponsored to poison him. When that failed, a prison melee was sponsored so that in that confusion, he would be killed. When that also failed, the prison was burned down just to get him and in that process thousands of inmates were released.

Now after he beat the charge of complicity in the murder of the Igwes, his political nemeses have not left him alone. They are now charging him with conspiracy and forgery. But it is the same police report they have used to prosecute him for 5 years, of which charges he had been acquitted of that they now turn around to say that he forged. What kind of system are we operating?

It is wrong to continue to persecute him for unsubstantiated and trumped up charges. No matter what anyone thinks of Mbadinuju, it is unjust to continue to victimize him without proof of any wrong-doing. I think that Mbadinuju has paid the price for his naivety. He has already paid the price for authorizing lawlessness during his tenure. The game of boomerang came back to him. One would argue that since he did not give the alleged criminals the benefit of the doubt before they were butchered by the AVS, but we operate in a civil society. Rule of law dictates that the law is supreme irrespective of who is involved. Mbadinuju is entitled to due process no matter what his antecedents are.

I am no fan of Mbadinuju because of what Anambra was made to go through during his administration, but I stand by what is right and what is just despite what he did in the past. In my previous articles titled: “Between Mbadinuju and His ‘Dead-woods’” published in Nigeriaworld.com on Wednesday 25^th December, 2002 and another article “Governor Odera’ Mbadinuju: Time Is Ticking Away” published on Friday March 21, 2003; I fought him for the problems he brought to the state. Granted, Mbadinuju was the architect of his own woes. He dined with the proverbial devil and forgot to use a long spoon. Mbadinuju’s crime was that he was a fool, and allowed the semi-literate cabals to run him around. He was a figure-head and was never in charge of anything, because he tried to reap where he did not sow. He gave away his soul to the devil and now is blaming the devil for what the devil is doing with his soul. He was also a coward and lacked the balls unlike Ngige to tell those cabals to go to hell. That was the crimes of Mbadinuju, but I do not think that he is an evil man. I do not think that he would be that mean-spirited as to eliminate in the most bizarre manner the Igwes.

What did he stand to gain politically by eliminating his political foes in that manner? He already had enough political problems, why would he compound them by ordering the killing of the Igwes? It made no sense then and it still does not make any sense now. But let take for the sake of argument that he was that mean-spirited and dumb to be involved in that dastard act, where is the evidence linking him with the crime? Our adversary system of jurisprudence does not find someone guilty or a mere conjecture or guess work. There has to be a tangible evidence or even strong circumstantial evidence that would connect him with the murder. It is true that though he was away in Houston when the offence was committed, he could still be guilty of murder under our criminal code as a procurer of murder. But where is the evidence linking him as the procurer of the murder of the Igwes? He could not be convicted of murder merely because his political opponents and the public think so. Our judicial system does not work like that.

Also on the issue of forgery and conspiracy, is it not the same police report that was used to prosecute him all these while? Why did the police wake up after 5 years to find out that their own report was forged and that Mbadinuju was privy to its being forged? Why did they use the same police report to prosecute him and when he was discharged and acquitted in both Onitsha and Abuja Magistrate Courts, they now make a u-turn to say that the document was forged by him. The police have more explanation to give and should tell Nigerians whom they are working for. The police also have to explain their role in the murder of the Igwes and in fact all the unsolved assassinations in Nigeria. We have not forgotten the assassination of Bola Ige, Attorney General of the Federation; Harry Marshall, Professor Chimere Ikoku, former VC of UNN; Professor Victor Nwankwo, Monday Ndor, Member Rivers State House of Assembly; Theodore Agwatu, Principal Secretary to former Governor Achike Udenwa of Imo State; Ogbonnaya Uche (OGB), Ahman Pategi, Sunny Ugwu, Member of Enugu State House of Assembly; Odunayo Olagbaju, Chief A. K. Dikibo, Engr Funsho Williams, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, Alfred Rewane, Toyin Onagoruwa, Janet Olapade, Schnapps Omuvwiebese, and so on. We have not forgotten the brutal killing through a letter bomb of Dele Giwa. The police have not solved any of these murders. The police should be the one that with cases to answer to Nigerians on why all these murders have been unsolved. The Inspector General of Police should be summoned by the National Assembly to give reasons why these killings still remain mysteries.

Mbadinuju should be allowed to wallow in his stupidity. Pray what else does he owe the god-fathers that they are still pursuing him? He is already a ruined man. He is no longer of any political relevance. In Anambra state, his name is a curse to the civil servants, pensioners and the generality of the state. He is also wrongly being denied his pension under the current Governor Obi’s government which cited his failure to pay pensioners.

Only God knows what happened to the Igwes. The Chief Security Officer under Mbadinuju, Hon. Chuma Nzeribe, should be summoned to explain his role in the whole matter. After all, he was in charge of AVS and the way and manner that the Igwes were murdered followed the same modus that the dreaded AVS use in killing their victims. I also suggest that a high powered Commission of Inquiry to be headed by a retired judge be instituted to unravel the mystery behind the murder of the Igwes. Everyone that has any information as to the murder of these fine couple should be encouraged to come forward. This madness should not be allowed to continue because today it is Mbadinuju, tomorrow it might be Ngige or Obi being persecuted. In Delta Igbo they would say “ogbu onye vu igu, obulu igu wa egbue”-if you molest a person carrying a palm frond, the time when you carry your own palm frond, someone else would molest you.

*Chukwudi Nwokoye can be reached at nwokoyeac@hotmail.com

Robot  Villager

# 1 Back in the days when I was in Secondary School, my English Literature teacher who was also our ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 19.06.2008 21:30

Anambra Movement  Villager

# 2 As the chief executive of the state at the time of the deaths and the victims threatening to have him barred from the law profession, he is involved in the case. if innocent, why should this man pay N500 million to the ubas, N250 million to tafa balogun, N300 million to emeakayi (his man friday)... Thanks God, Mbadinuju should be a lesson to all politicians. NEMESIS will always catch up with you....... As for ndi anambra, we are enjoying the show............. Posted by Anambra Movement| 20.06.2008 04:10

truthsayer33  Villager

# 3 In any sane society the likes of Chris Uba would be under lock and key. Posted by truthsayer33| 20.06.2008 06:48

Bejim  Villager

# 4 If Nazi war criminals could be prosecuted half a century after their crimes, then I see nothing wrong in having Mbadinuju answer for the atrocities that happened under his watch in Anambra state. The gruesome murder of the Igwes was atrocious enough. But also there were a lot more nameless innocents brutally killed by the Bakassi which outfit itself was a monster created by Mbadinuju, a PhD holder and Born Agin Christian. The blood of these dead spilled in every other crossroads in Anambra, together with monsters of the Bakassi outfit who made a living from brutal killings, and who reenterd the society without any form of reorientation may keep Anambra at the crossroads for some time. Whether Mbadinuju ordered the killing of the Igwes or not, his trial will help in unravelling the true killers and, more importantly, throw more light into what happened to Mbadinuju and Anambra state during the last decade. Posted by Bejim| 20.06.2008 07:21

chudi97  JJC

# 5 The issue is that he is not being prosecuted, he is being persecuted. My main point is: if they have evidence to tie him with the crime, let them bring it forward, charge him to court and the let court decide. We operate under a democratic government. The court has already discharged and acquitted him of any complicity. Many people only express sentiments and do not proffer any concrete evident. Our system does not operate on sentiments but on real facts. I am not defending Mbadinuju, but the people persecuting him either knew he did nothing wrong, or they are shielding the real killers. The Nazis committed lots of atrocities, but they were given a fair trial. The death of the Igwes is very unfortunate, may their souls rest in peace. We have not done justice to them by playing politics with their murder, I believe they would be tumbling in their graves now. The police knew who killed them but decided to play poker with the death. That is killing them a second time. Chukwudi Nwokoye. Posted by chudi97| 20.06.2008 09:13

Anambra Movement  Villager

# 6 The key fact is that the police has enough evidence against him but he has been buying his way out (over N1 billion has been spent, now the AGF is demanding N100 million). Please don't make it what it isn't (a fight against governors). This man is a greedy, compound fool. After his misrule for 4 years with nothing to show for it, he wants to be a minister representing anambra state. God forbid...taboo!!! Mbadinuju, the spirit of the innocent that was killed thanks to you and all the atrocities you committed have come to hunt you. Please leave our 2 best governors out of this..... Thanks Posted by Anambra Movement| 20.06.2008 13:59

felix  Villager

# 7 Mbadinuju is entitled to due process no matter what his antecedents are. I thought the essay here should be calling for the shooting of Mbadinuju and here we are talking about "deu process" and "pensions" to a man who supervised the slow killing of pensioners during his reign..., This is a man who refused deu process to hundreds of men! A man who used the Bakassi boys to decapitate so many men without availing them of the luxury of going through the courts..A political scientist.., a lawyer.., a PHD holder who collaborated with touts to run down a state for 4 nasty years...An academic who governed a state that allowed students to raom the street for a whole year...A pastor who supervised the extra judicial killings of hundreds and the looting of billions..,,The clown you are defending used to open his working days with a general prayer and sermons and ended the day with ultimate perfidy; killing and looting and you will waste so much space to beg for his life? Because he is a "big man"? If you think it is right to give him deu proces (whatever that means) why not write some articles calling for justice for each of the people killed during his regime??? They run into hundreds, men decapitated infront of school kids, others in the center of the markets.., human heads tossed around like a socceer ball on the road....Has it occured to you that deu to the jungle justice they faced some of them maybe innocent? Infact why wouldnt you allow Mbadinuju to be killed??? This is a man who started off as a struggling legal practiioner but came out of government house giving bribes here and there in millions! I also think you should stop over blaming the people of Anambra state for electing him! He was more than qualified for that position both with his academic degrees, years of experience in politics and work and even his claim to being a pastor.That he went to the governement lodge and decided to unleash all acts of evil simply proves that he is a devilish con man..., You should allow his follow evil men to deal with him and effectively send him to hell where his presence is long overdeu.. Posted by felix| 20.06.2008 14:13

SOC Okenwa  Villager

# 8 Chukwudi, Mbadinuju still has a case to answer over the brutal murder of the Igwes in Onitsha. Saying that he was in America when they were murdered is not enough. One could commission murder and travel out on the day of execution, so that excuse is lame. If indeed he forged police documents as being alleged then he should be prosecuted for forgery and if found guilty commited to jail. Trying to plead his innocence or using semantics to discharge himself cannot solve the problem. Let him submit himself for police probe and in the event of his innocence proven beyond doubt then he can be set free. And on the other hand his culpability should be severely punished. Something in me tells me his hands are not clean in the Igwes' murder. Posted by SOC Okenwa| 20.06.2008 14:14

chudi97  JJC

# 9 I believe that he should face justice, by all means. Mbadinuju disgusts me. My parents (a civil servant and a pensioner)suffered under his rule. But as I said, everyone that has evidence should proceed with it. All we hear everyday is how bad he is, we know already how bad he is, yet he has not been convicted! He was discharged and acquitted by a court of competent jurisdiction, based on the fact that there is no evidence to support the crime alleged. I will be happy if he is behind bars! But the painful thing is that the people that supervised/committed atrocities with him are working free. Emeakayis, Ubas, Nzeribes etc have still no case to answer. Nzeribe is now in the House of Reps. So what are we talking about. Yes SOC, the fact that he was away does not preclude culpability for murder. I agree with you, but where is the evidence that tied him as the procurer/assessory (before and after) to murder, that is the part that is missing that I don't understand. You know as well as I do, that court cannot convict on a mere public outrage. We can stay here and make all these academic exercises, but the fact remains that if the court has no concrete evidence to support the allegation of murder as Onitsha High court has determined, everything we say amount to mere street talk. Many people said he bribed the police, then police should be made to explain why they bungled the case. If indeed he bribed the police, they should come forward with evidence and charge him for bribery also. But my guess is that that would not happen b/c we are not serious about finding the truth. People are just playing politics with the dead and that's what is disgusting in the whole thing. Posted by chudi97| 20.06.2008 15:00

Kaftan  Villager

# 10 I do not think that he is an evil man. I do not think that he would be that mean-spirited as to eliminate in the most bizarre manner the Igwes. I beg to disagree with you, He is an evil man, ask him he may still have an idea of how many pensioners died of fustration between 1999 and 2003, not to mention the teachers who were owed for one year. You must have forgotten that at some point Mbadinuju labelled pensioners dead woods for crying out for what was due to them. Posted by Kaftan| 20.06.2008 15:22

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