General
HWR Urges Nigeria To End Repression of Shia Group
By Dipo Olowookere
Nigerian authorities should end their violent repression of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), a minority Shia group, that began with a three-day lethal crackdown on December 12-14, 2015, and free its leader, Human Rights Watch said today.
Sheik Ibraheem El Zakzaky, leader of the IMN, and his wife, Zeenatudeen, have been detained without trial for a year. On December 12, 2015, the Nigeria army used disproportionate force against the group’s street procession in Zaria, Kaduna State in north-western Nigeria to clear a route for the army chief’s convoy. In an ensuing three-day violent crackdown, the army killed 347 members of the group and injured and arrested scores more.
The violence against the group continued in a series of episodes in October and November 2016.
“The involvement of soldiers in the Zaria incidents, and subsequent police actions against the Islamic Movement raises major questions about Nigeria’s commitment to military reform,” said Mausi Segun, senior Nigeria researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The Kaduna state government’s continued repression of the group without holding the attackers responsible turns justice on its head.”
Nigerian authorities should hold accountable anyone who has committed crimes against Islamic Movement members, and take immediate steps to comply with a federal court order mandating the release of Sheik El Zakzaky and his wife, Human Rights Watch said.
Human Rights Watch reported in December 2015 that the killings were unjustified and called for an independent and impartial investigation into the carnage.
A judicial commission of inquiry, appointed to investigate the events, found that the army used “excessive force” against protesters and was responsible for the deaths and mass burial of the 347 members of the group. It recommended the prosecution of soldiers involved in the killings. The commission also recommended holding Islamic Movement members responsible for their “acts of habitual lawlessness,” and said that El Zakzaky bore responsibility for failing to call his followers to order when requested to do so.
In a White Paper responding to the report released on December 5, 2016, the Kaduna State government unilaterally declared the Islamic Movement to be an insurgent group against which the army was justified in using lethal force. Contrary to the commission’s findings, the state government stated that soldiers who shot at protesters, laid siege to religious sites belonging to the group, killed 347 members and buried them in unmarked mass graves, acted according to the army’s rules of operation.
The Kaduna State government is seeking the death penalty against 50 members of the group who are facing trial for the death of the only military casualty in the episode, Corporal Dan Kaduna Yakubu. But it has essentially exempted the army from any responsibility for the killings of the Islamic Movement members, and no-one has been held responsible for the deaths.
On October 7, the state government banned the Islamic Movement, citing the commission of inquiry’s finding that the group was unregistered. The move appears to have triggered a wave of police and mob violence against the group’s members participating in its annual religious processions, and the destruction of their properties in Kaduna as well as neighboring Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Plateau, and Sokoto States, where the police followed the Kaduna example of banning activities of the group. Media reports allege that at least 12 people died in the violence in October, and more than 10 more were killed in subsequent clashes in November.
A federal high court ruled on December 2 that the continued detention without trial of El Zakzaky and his wife by the State Security Services, “amounted to a gross violation of the constitution and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.” The court ordered the government to release the couple within 45 days, pay them approximately US$170 million in damages, and provide them with a secure residence in view of the December 2015 destruction of their home. The federal government, in whose custody El Zakzaky and his wife have been detained, has not indicated whether it will comply with the court’s decision.
Hundreds of the group’s members have remained in prison since the Zaria incident and subsequent arrests during religious processions and protest marches to demand their leaders’ release, the group says. A few detainees, mostly women and children, were released but most others have been arraigned in courts in Kaduna, Kano, and Jos for offenses including disturbing public peace, incitement, unlawful assembly, and homicide.
The pattern of violent repressive conduct against the group may violate Nigeria’s constitution, which guarantees the rights to life; personal liberty; freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; peaceful assembly and association; and freedom of movement. Nigeria may also be in breach of its obligations under African regional and international human rights law to protect these rights.
“Nigeria’s federal and state authorities should reconsider the heavy-handed crackdown against IMN members, take urgent steps to protect them, and hold those responsible for the unlawful deaths of group members to account,” Segun said. “The government should carry out its law enforcement responsibilities without jeopardizing its own credibility by ignoring court decisions that rightly seek to check its agents’ excesses.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Two suspects are currently being investigated for not declaring $461,600 in their possession to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.
Two male passengers, identified as Mr Jamilu Shuaibu Waya and Mr Usman Namadi, were arrested on Friday, May 8, 2026, at the airport with an undeclared sum of money. They arrived in the country from Dubai via Ethiopian Airlines ET941.
While they initially declared $130,000 and $180,000, respectively, at the currency declaration desk, a subsequent physical examination by customs officials revealed an additional undeclared $120,000 on the first suspect (bringing his total to $250,000) and an additional $31,600 on the second suspect (bringing his total to $211,600). The undeclared amounts contravene Sections 3 and 4 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
In a statement on Monday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said its Kano Zonal Directorate was looking into the matter after the suspects were handed over to the agency by the acting Customs Area Controller for Kano/Jigawa Area Command, Deputy Comptroller UU Adamu.
The Zonal Director of the EFCC, ACE1 Friday S. Ebelo, assured customs of his organisation’s commitment to a full-scale investigation.
“The EFCC will conduct a thorough and uncompromising investigation into this matter. We will prosecute the case with the utmost diligence to ensure that violators of our anti-money laundering laws face the full weight of justice,” he said.
He further expressed deep appreciation to the NCS for the long-standing and consistent cooperation of the service with the EFCC over the years, noting that such inter-agency collaboration remains critical in combating the illegal movement of cash and financial crimes.
Earlier in his remarks, Mr Adamu expressed his deep appreciation to the EFCC for its unwavering support to customs.
“Let me express appreciation for the continuous collaboration with the EFCC Kano Zonal Directorate for their support in realising our goal while combating the illegal movement of cash,” he said.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) has kicked against a lawsuit filed by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to invalidate fuel import licences issued by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Last week, the refinery asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to void import permits granted by the NMDPRA to fuel importers.
The marketers said it would not fold its arms and allow its depots to go into extinction through a court ruling, arguing that the licences being challenged were not mere administrative favours but legal instruments issued under the PIA to guarantee the country’s fuel supply security.
The development followed the recently issued import license by the NMDPRA to six Nigerian oil marketers to bring in over 600,000 metric tonnes of petrol into the country.
Since the 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery began supplying petroleum products to the local market, Dangote has repeatedly argued that continued issuance of fuel import licences to marketers undermines domestic refining, weakens investment incentives, and encourages dependence on imported products despite existing local capacity.
The refinery already handles 90 per cent of the domestic supply.
In the statement, the marketers maintained that the NMDPRA acted within its statutory powers in approving the licences, stressing that the regulator’s responsibility was to ensure uninterrupted product availability for Nigerian consumers and not to protect the commercial interests of any single refinery, regardless of its size.
The association stated that its members had invested billions of naira in petroleum depots, logistics systems, and compliance infrastructure based on the understanding that the licences granted to them were lawful, valid, and protected under the law.
According to the marketers, any attempt to retroactively void those approvals would create uncertainty across the downstream petroleum sector at a time when stability in fuel supply remains critical.
“The news that Dangote Petroleum Refinery has filed a fresh lawsuit seeking to set aside fuel import licences issued by the NMDPRA to marketers and the NNPC demands a clear response from this association.
“The import licences at the centre of this lawsuit are not administrative courtesies. They are the legal instruments through which Nigeria’s fuel supply chain functions. They were issued under a regulatory framework established by the Petroleum Industry Act, by an authority empowered to make exactly this kind of determination. The NMDPRA has consistently maintained, correctly, that these licences exist to protect supply security, not to disadvantage any single producer, however large.
“DAPPMAN’s member companies have invested billions of naira in depot infrastructure, logistics networks, and compliance systems on the basis that their operating licences are valid, lawful, and durable. A legal action designed to retroactively void those licences does not just affect individual businesses, it introduces uncertainty into the entire downstream supply chain at a moment when Nigeria can least afford it,” the association maintained.
It added that the NMDPRA had consistently defended the issuance of import permits as necessary tools for safeguarding national supply, insisting that the position had previously been upheld in court and should continue to stand.
DAPPMAN rejected what it described as the underlying argument that a private refinery’s commercial interests should supersede the statutory mandate of the regulator.
It further warned against any attempt to turn Nigeria’s downstream petroleum industry into a monopoly, arguing that the market had evolved over many years into a multi-player system serving millions of Nigerians daily.
The association disclosed that it would engage legal counsel, work with affected member companies, and make formal representations to the relevant authorities over the matter.
“We respect Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s right to pursue legal remedies. What we do not accept is the premise that a private refinery’s commercial interests should override a regulatory authority’s mandate to ensure adequate supply to Nigerian consumers.
“The PIA is clear: import licences may be issued where the regulator determines it necessary. That determination has been made. It has been defended in court before. It should be defended again.
“Nigeria’s fuel market is not a monopoly waiting to happen. It is a competitive, multi-participant market that has taken years to build and that serves millions of Nigerians every day. DAPPMAN will be engaging legal counsel, coordinating with affected member companies, and making formal representations to the relevant authorities on this matter,” the statement added.
The group argued that the strength of Nigeria’s downstream sector lies in the participation of multiple operators, warning that efforts aimed at shrinking the number of market participants would ultimately hurt consumers through reduced competition and supply vulnerabilities.
According to DAPPMAN, “A lawsuit that seeks to reduce that field of players is ultimately a lawsuit against Nigerian consumers,” adding, “Our members did not build this industry to watch it be argued out of existence in a courtroom,” emphasising its commitment to continually serve Nigerians.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The duo of Lolu Akinwunmi and Iquo Ukoh will co-chair the 2026 Chief Marketing Officers Circle (CMO Circle), slated for June 5, 2026, with the theme The C-Suite Mandate: Talent Density and Marketing Leadership.
The invitation-only forum for CMOs and senior marketing leaders will bring together the most influential voices in marketing to shape strategy at the highest levels of business and public policy.
As Co-Chairs, Akinwunmi and Ukoh will curate and lead high-level discussions focused on innovation, talent density, enterprise growth, and the expanding mandate of the CMO within the C-suite. Their stewardship reinforces the Circle’s role as a convening authority—one that not only reflects industry thinking but actively defines it.
Akinwunmi, Group CEO of Prima Garnet (Ogilvy Nigeria), brings decades of experience advising leading national and multinational brands, alongside a distinguished record of industry leadership.
Ukoh, Chief Executive Officer of Entod Marketing and former Director of Marketing Services at Nestlé Nigeria, is widely regarded for her leadership in brand strategy, consumer engagement, and cultural storytelling.
Convened by MarkHack in partnership with StatiSense and Brand Communicator, the CMO Circle operates at the intersection of enterprise leadership and national development. Beyond dialogue, the Circle institutionalises its influence through the quarterly CMO Index. This flagship publication aggregates executive sentiment, market intelligence, and forward-looking insights to inform policy conversations and economic decision-making. In doing so, the Circle positions marketing leadership as a critical voice in shaping Nigeria’s business environment and policy direction.
“The CMO Circle is intentionally designed as a premium, outcomes-driven platform—one that moves marketing leadership beyond the boardroom into the sphere of policy influence.
“With Iquo Ukoh and Lolu Akinwunmi as Co-Chairs, we are setting a clear tone of authority, depth, and relevance. Through the CMO Index and our quarterly convenings, the Circle will play a defining role in shaping both industry direction and policy dialogue,” the convener of CMO Circle, Mr Victor ’Gbenga Afolabi, stated.
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