Life story of a reporter’s experiences when Nigeria’s former Military Head of State, the late Gen Sani Abacha, ordered the closure of one of the nation’s foremost and authoritative newspapers, The Guardian, between Wednesday, May 29, and Saturday June 8, 1991.
By Banji Ayoola
Day Two: Thursday, May 30, 1991
I got to the Command Headquarters about 9am. I saw Oga Bayo (Mr Bayo Oguntimehin) with the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) George Ogar and General Investigation Department (GID) men outside within the premises park. They were waiting by some cars preparing to go out. I greeted Oga Bayo, and George Ogar who asked for the MD Mr Iduwe.
At exactly 9.44am, Oga Bayo was whisked away to The Guardian in a light blue Peugeot 504 salon car marked LA 6407KH. Two other light blue brand new Peugeot 504 salon cars as the first, followed. George Ogar led them. Oga Bayo and the GID men were in Ogar’s official car marked NPF 7442A. I went in to see our five men in detention – Ben Akparanta, Tunde Sulaiman, Taiwo Akerele, Dan Enumah and Bolaji Oyegunle at the GID. This time around, Ben Akparanta, who was detained over another story, had been moved in from Panti where he was being held since Day One, and had joined others at the Command Headquarters’ Ikeja cell.
We arranged for their feeding. Dan and Taiwo contributed N10 each with which I bought bread, akara, soft drinks and alabukun for them.
Later, Uncle Ben Tomoloju came. He drove the two of us, he and myself, out to one filling station at Alasia to get them tap water. They fed.
Uncle Ben T and I left for The Guardian to observe development. He and the Special Projects Editor, Mr Doyin Mahmoud arranged for relief package for Mr Daniel Enumah’s wife. At The Guardian, the staff gathered outside. Policemen were inside. The NUJ National Secretary, Mr George Anyakora was around with NUJ Jeep.
Uncle Ben Tomoloju, Mr Doyin Mahmoud and I left for the Command Headquarters, Ikeja. We discussed with our men at the GID; cracked jokes with them and cheered them up. This time around, Oga Bayo had been brought back. By this time also, Bolaji and Dan had been released. They were freed at exactly 12.44pm.
Oga Bayo’s Uncle came. Tunde, Bolaji and Dan had sent me early in the morning to make phone calls. I had made all the calls and sent their messages shortly before Bolaji and Dan were released.
The Managing Director (MD) of Guardian Newspapers Limited (GNL), Mr Lade Bonuola, came around 1pm. I followed him to our men at the GID cell. He cheered them up. Then he went in to see the Investigating Police Officer (IPO). The IPO reeled out names of other staff of The Guardian being wanted. Then I followed the MD to the office of the Commissioner of Police (CP.) He filled the visitors form and waited in the CP’s waiting room for about 45 minutes. He was not attended to and so was unable to see the CP.
So I followed the MD to the PPRO’s office. They both discussed at length. All along, the NUJ National Secretary, Mr George Anyakora was around. In fact, he and Mr Gabriel Omohinmi of The Guardian had drafted a press release in the CP’s waiting room before the MD and I came.
After seeing Ogar, the MD left. Oga Ben Tomoloju, Oga Doyin Mahmoud and I stayed back. Tunde Ayoola, my colleague on the police beat from the Champion newspapers, later joined us. With Tunde Ayoola, I left the Command Headquarters about 4pm.
Day Three: Friday, May 31, 1991
I got to the Command Headquarters, Ikeja about 11am and learnt that our men had been charged to court. I dashed there together with David Ogah and Jumoke Folaranmi, my colleagues on the police beat, with Taiwo Akerele’s wife.
We saw our men inside the court cell. The Editor of the Guardian Express, Mr Bayo Oguntimehin, Taiwo Akerele, Ben Akparanta and Tunde Sulaiman were charged to the Magistrate Court 1, Ikeja before Chief Magistrate Z. A. Raheem on two count charge of “false publication” “to cause fear and alarm to the public contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code and to disturb public peace.”
They were remanded at the Kirikiri Medium Prison custody. A former lawyer of The Guardian, Mr Bode Leyimu, gave N250 for their upkeep in prison. Account: Tips to policemen at the Magistrate Court cell. We bought drinks and food for prison warders and gave tips to warders at Kirikiri.
At the court I saw Uncle Ben Tomoloju, Oga Bayo’s Uncle, wife and about three other relatives, Lawal of The Punch, Frank Alabi (Evening Times), Tunde Ayoola (Champion), Sam Olusegun, Ray Onwuegbulam, Victor Lamikanra, Tijani Abbass, Andrew Okeleke, Bolaji Oyegunle, Daniel Ememah, Daphne Atere Roberts, Austin Agbonsuremi, Esther Arthur, Mr Jide Ogundele, Dare Adejumo, MD’s Secretary, Mr Mukaila Okesola, Oga Bayo’s friend, Mr Femi Falana ( lawyer), and Mr Bode Leyimu (former lawyer of The Guardian).
Mr Leyimu enlightened us on the position of the Law. He mapped out plans for us. He gave N250 to take care of our men’s feeding, ‘water the ground’ and hire cabs if need be.
Thereafter Ebi Porbeni or Daphne Atere Roberts and I went to Sheraton Hotel to inform Management of the development: That our men were about to be taken to Kirikiri.
Luckily, we saw the Publisher, Mr Alex Ibru, who led us to a room. The Editor of The Guardian on Sunday, Mr Eluem Emeka Izeze, joined. The Publisher of Newbreed magazine, Chief Chris Okolie joined. We handed over the charge paper to them.
The Editor was asked to go to Chief Rotimi William’s chamber while our Publisher went to see the Governor. Daphne or Ebi and I went back in Oga Bayo’s car with his two relatives.
At about 3pm, Oga Bayo, Taiwo, Tunde and Ben were conveyed in a ‘Black Maria’ marked NPF 141A to Kirikiri Medium Prison. Cameramen were prevented from taking shots; but Sam Olusegun of The Guardian carefully took some shots. We followed them. Uncle Ben Tomoloju, Ebi Porbeni, David Ogah, Mr Mukaila Okesola, Sam Olusegun, and Ray Onwuemegbulam followed them in Uncle Ben Tomoloju’s car. Others in Oga Bayo’s car included his wife.
Earlier, an advance party made of Andrew Okeleke and Abbass Tijani had left for Kirikiri to ‘soften ground.’ Friendship was cultivated at Kirikiri. Later, the Editorial Page Editor and Chairman Editorial Board, Dr Olatunji Dare, Editor of The Guardian on Sunday, Mr Eluem Emeka Izeze, Deputy Editor of The Guardian, Mr Kingsley Osadolor and the Company Lawyer, Mr Babatunde Ogala came in two cars. One was driven by Emeka, the other was driven by Friday.
We later left for Rutam House office of The Guardian. Here, the Editor of The Guardian, Mr Femi Kusa and the staff were gathered outside. I left with David Ogah in Uncle Ben Tomoloju’s car.
At Kirikiri, an ASP and a DSP (names withheld) were helpful. Uncle Ben Tomoloju, Oga Bayo’s wife, David Ogah and I were allowed in to see our men who had already been asked to sit down with criminals. We chatted with them and cheered them up.
On our way out of Kirikiri, the Management Team led by Dr Olatunji Dare, drove in in two cars. They asked to be allowed in to see our men. They were obliged. Dr Dare gave N200 to Oga Bayo’s wife as relief for the weekend. Mr Ogala also gave about N100 to Andrew Okeleke for Taiwo Akerele’s wife.
Then we divided ourselves: Daphne Atere Roberts to see Tunde Sulaiman’s family; Andrew Okeleke to see Taiwo Akerele’s wife; Ray Onwuemegbulam to see Ben Akparanta’s family; Uncle Ben Tomoloju, David Ogah and I drove back to Rutam House.
At The Guardian, the staff gathered outside. The Editor, Mr Femi Kusa brandished Governor Raji Rasaki’s broadcast copy on the incident which ordered The Guardian to retract the offending story or apologise.
Uncle Ben Tomoloju, David Ogah, Mr Jahman Anikulapo and I left in Uncle Ben T’s car. David and I went to my place. Uncle Ben T and Mr Jahman went together.
To continue…
