New York, April 2, 2008 --- Nigerians in United States are sharply reacting to the death of Edo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Callus Enoma who was declared missing on Sunday night and found dead on Monday afternoon in a hotel room in the state capital, Benin City.

Preamble

The Commissioner was declared missing in a statement by the Special Adviser on Communication and Public Relations to the state governor, Mr. Tony Ikpasaja on Sunday March 30, 2008, two days after his purported disappearance.

The statement gave the Action Congress (AC) and its Governorship candidate in the state as-well-as the court declared real winner of governorship election in the state, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole a 48-hour ultimatum to produce the commissioner who was said to have received a phone call on Friday and went out without his police orderly and since then was not seen.

Mr. Ikpasaja reportedly attributed the alleged kidnap of Enoma to his outspokenness on the tribunal's verdict. The governor's aide also said that commissioner, a lawyer, had been on the forefront of efforts to get the ruling transcribed to enable the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-controlled state government file its appeal at the Court of Appeal.

"We demand that Adams Oshiomhole and his gang of AC members in Edo State produce Barrister Callus Enoma in 48 hours or face the dire consequences of their action. We will not allow a few elements to return the state to criminal haven", according to Mr. Ikpasaja.

But the AC in a swift response, while condemning the alleged kidnap of the commissioner, said, "Ikpasaja and Osunbor should be held responsible; their statement was pre-emptive; they knew what was going on and they started accusing the AC and Oshiomhole. It was a smokescreen; they knew what was going on. We have, however, instructed our team of lawyers, to as a matter of urgency, institute a multi-million naira action against Tony Ikpasaja, PDP, governor Osunbor, for damages and libel. In the interim, we urge our teeming supporters and members to remain calm and law-abiding."

When contacted on phone by The Guardian on Sunday March 30, 2008, Oshiomhole reportedly said: "Does that make sense to you, if there is a case like that, should you hear it from Government House or the police? If there are criminals in the state that could resort to kidnapping, they should be members of the PDP. It is obvious that the masses are not on their side. They are trying to divert attention from the issues on ground. It is shameful to suggest that. It is crazy, Oserheimen Osunbor should behave like a civilised person."

AC spokesperson, Reti Uzzi, reportedly said the issue was a reflection of the discord in the PDP, adding that AC and its members could not be involved in such an act.

"The AC is a civilised party. It is strange to us; we are a civilised people. We have great minds in the party. During and after the election, there were no cases of confrontation between the two parties, even after the judgment of the tribunal. If there were no cases of fight between us, so the issue of kidnap cannot arise now. It is a reflection of the quarrel within them (the PDP)," he said.

Nigerian Reporters’ Preliminary Findings

Vanguard reported that the deceased commissioner left home at about 10 p.m. last Friday without his driver, police orderly or his aides, and told no one of his destination.

On Monday, he was reportedly found dead and half-naked in a room at Precious Palm Royal Hotel located in Benin City, the state capital with big hole on his forehead.

Jude Nosagie, a lawyer and proprietor of  the hotel where Prof. Osunbor-led government officials, including the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Udom Ekpoudum and the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Dega, went to see the corpse, told journalists that Enoma personally checked into the rest house last Friday night.

“Today (Monday March 31, 2008) is one of the saddest days of my life because I am shocked that this is happening not just in my hotel but the calibre of person involved. I was called two hours ago and arrived here the same time the Governor and others came here and I was shocked to hear that the Commissioner died here”, said the hotel proprietor Jude Nosagie.

Asked why none of his staff was able to find out that a guest was dead since Friday, he said: “I am a traveler and sometimes you might decide that you do  not want to be disturbed. So that was why I think nobody was able to envisage any problem. I understand that he came here and checked in by himself that Friday and that was it.

This hotel is secured because you cannot go into any room without the permission of the receptionist.

“We have been operating this hotel since 1999. We are hoping that the police will get to the root of this matter. This is a sad day for me and I commiserate with his wife and other members of his family. It is very unfortunate,” he said.

Edo State Government’s response to the discovery of his dead body

In a statement, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Joe Akhigbe, described Enoma's death as "shocking, sad and painful and a great loss to the government and people of Edo State."

The government further said: "Barrister Enoma was this morning found dead in a hotel room in the state capital, having left his residence at about 10.00 p.m. on Friday, 28th March, 2008, after receiving a telephone call from an unidentified caller."

"The governor is saddened and depressed by the unfortunate loss." It added that security agencies have begun investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death, while expressing the government's deep condolences to the commissioner's wife, Mrs. Julie Enoma, and members of his family.

Excerpt of reactions of Nigerians in United States of America

Enobong Umohette, former operative of Nigerian elite and secret State Security Service:

“There is a culture of violence that has been sown in our political system and an enabling environment to ensure it thrives continues to exist. So this (if it is an assassination) will not be the last of its kind. We are hearing of political killings on a monthly if not weekly or daily basis (in Nigeria).”

The former Nigerian elite secret-service operative who has intimate and first-hand knowledge with inner workings of Obasanjo government having worked there gave a long laundry list of violence and lawlessness that characterized 8 years former President Obasanjo ruled the African nation; “Institutionalization of violence as a means of political will and coercion (with many armed cultists-turned political thugs-turned murderers for hire-turned/assassins-turned Militant leaders-turned arms dealers-turned elder statesmen-turned government contractors) - all while enjoying stupendous funding and protection from the Nigerian state and particularly its PDP leadership.”

Commenting further, the former elite-secret agent said, “I find it very suspicious that in probably less than 24 hours after the late commissioner's disappearance (if at all we can call it that) the state government and governor could immediately announce the man's absence as an "ABDUCTION" and even accuse a political opponent who has just floored him in an election petition. In criminal forensic investigation in this part of the world, such a quick assertion can only AMOUNT TO PRECONCEPTION OR FORE-KNOWLEDGE!!!!!!!!!!! I also find it very curious that it is not the Police that first announced this 'abduction' as a consequence of a criminal complaint by the state government or governor, but the GOVERNOR himself through the PLATFORM of the media.”
 
Wondering whether Yar’Adua government, which “inherited disgraceful and astronomically embarrassing system – the PDP led government and its offsprings”, the former elite-secret agent concluded, “There is cause for circumspective suspicion at least from the backdrop of the pointers I have suggested.”

Ike Osazuwa, an Edo-borne businessman and politician based in New York

“I was formerly a PDP member, but no more. I left them long time ago. I am AC now. PDP has ruined my state. Oshiomhole is the only hope we have now to rescue my state from PDP mess. PDP is finished in Edo State, finished. You did not win election, you know you did not win, the election tribunal told you that you did not win, and still you don’t want to go, you don’t want to let the winner take over, instead you want to set fire on the state; Can this happen in a civilized country? Only in Nigeria, It’s a shame”, said Mr. Osazuwa.

Bonaventure Ezekwenna, human right activist

“The gruesome death of this commissioner as reported on the press presents a direct challenge to the avowed ‘rule-of-law’ President Umaru Yar’Adua and Vice-President Jonathan Goodluck government which only few days ago announced to the world that they will not tolerate any assassination under their watch.”

“This incident presents opportunity for Yar’Adua and Goodluck to send loud and clear message to assassins and killers still lurking around that ‘new Sheriffs are in town’. Clear instruction will go down to the Police Inspector-General, Assistant Inspector-General of Police in-charge of the zone, the State Commissioner of Police, and the Area Commander of the crime location that their job is on the line if they could not solve this case. This should not be business as usual. Whosoever is responsible and connected with this crime, no matter how high in the society must face the full weight of the law – immunity or no immunity. Enough is enough”, summed up Mr. Ezekwenna.

A high-ranking Nigerian law enforcement who wish to remain anonymous

“Nigeria Police is capable and will solve this case depending on the will and desire of the well-respected Inspector-General and his police leadership. If allowed to do their work, the Nigerian Police is capable of solving this case. But when political consideration takes over as usual, then you will see lots of the usual barks, but no bite”, according to the high-ranking Nigerian law enforcement officer who does not want the force, rank, sex, and any identifying information mentioned.

Striking observation in similarity: Death of Callus Enoma (March 2008) and Nigerian Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Mr. Bola Ige

Africans In America News Watch researchers uncovered some striking observation in similarity in the death of Commissioner Callus Enoma (March 2008) and Nigerian Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Mr. Bola Ige on December 23, 2001.

Attorney-General and Minister of Justice was shot dead inside his house by someone he reportedly believed was a visitor from ‘high place’.

Since situation in the Edo State is highly charged due to the removal of the state Governor by the Election Tribunal, this lawyer/Commissioner who is reported to be very loyal to the court-ousted but sit-tight governor may not agree to meet unfriendly caller secretly or privately in a location he does not trust or feel comfortable. Therefore; the alleged caller, whether male or female, may be someone the Commissioner highly respected or trusted. The hotel he checked into must be a place he feels safe and comfortable, as well.

Meanwhile the conducts and utterances of some government officials vis-à-vis this case need to be revisited, reviewed and evaluated to ensure responsible response and application of best practices in times of crisis.

There is no doubt that this case will again put the ability of Okiro Police Force (Nigeria Police under the leadership of Inspector-General Okiro, that is.). Parading teenagers who faked kidnapping to scheme/squeeze some money from their very rich parents may be a good police work but, cracking high profile planned and executed assassination such as this and bringing the culprit, no matter how highly placed, to book will no doubt speak volume on the new Nigeria Police Force.