{"id":5055,"date":"2025-11-20T08:34:06","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T08:34:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/11\/20\/gun-running-justice-cannot-be-adjourned-forever-enough-of-this-slow-death-tactics-says-niger-delta-stakeholders-group-demands-public-trial-of-micah-polo-olu-of-itsekiri-others-i\/"},"modified":"2025-11-20T08:34:06","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T08:34:06","slug":"gun-running-justice-cannot-be-adjourned-forever-enough-of-this-slow-death-tactics-says-niger-delta-stakeholders-group-demands-public-trial-of-micah-polo-olu-of-itsekiri-others-i","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/11\/20\/gun-running-justice-cannot-be-adjourned-forever-enough-of-this-slow-death-tactics-says-niger-delta-stakeholders-group-demands-public-trial-of-micah-polo-olu-of-itsekiri-others-i\/","title":{"rendered":"GUN RUNNING: \u201cJustice Cannot Be Adjourned Forever, Enough of This Slow-Death Tactics\u201d Says Niger Delta Stakeholders Group, Demands Public Trial OF Micah Polo, Olu Of Itsekiri, Others Involved In Gun Smuggling"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Esther David<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

OPEN LETTER TO THE DSS, NSA, AGF AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From: Niger Delta Stakeholders for Transparency & Constitutional Order<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Subject: Justice Cannot Be Adjourned Forever, Enough of This Slow-Death Tactics
20\/11\/2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We write with unfiltered anger and constitutional conviction because what is unfolding in the matter of FRN vs. Micah Mobitse Igbenu Macopolo & 6 Ors (FHC\/ASB\/84c\/2025) is a dangerous replay of the same Nigerian script where justice walks with crutches while the powerful sprint freely. We have watched the slow, deliberate, almost mechanical delay of this case and we refuse to pretend that we do not see the hands pushing the gears behind the curtain. Every adjournment, every excuse, every medical diversion, every technical delay is beginning to look like a soft landing being quietly prepared for individuals who should be facing the full weight of the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let it be stated clearly: we are all watching and this time, we will not be silent. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not a decorative book. Section 14(2)(a) places sovereignty in the hands of the people. Section 15(5) commands the State to abolish corruption and abuse of power. Section 36(1) guarantees fair and PUBLIC hearing. Section 174 empowers prosecution in the public interest, not in the interest of backdoor deals. And Section 287 demands that court orders be obeyed without manipulation. What we are seeing is not justice complying with the Constitution; it is justice tiptoeing around the Constitution in the service of people who believe they are too important to face the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The slow pace of this case is not ordinary. It is not random. It is not natural. It is intentional. When a case of national security importance is dragged like a corpse across the courtroom calendar, we know what is happening: someone somewhere is hoping that time will weaken the public\u2019s outrage. Someone believes Nigerians will get distracted. Someone believes the noise will die. But we are here to warn you, loudly and without apology that this time, the noise will not die. This time, the people will not sleep. This time, we will not allow justice to dissolve into the silence of adjournments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 5th Defendant has been granted bail on medical grounds, and while we do not oppose any person accessing medical care, we must remind the Court and the security agencies that bail is not immunity. Medical treatment is not a shield. Surgery is not a license to escape justice. The Constitution guarantees the right to health and the right to fair hearing but not the right to manipulate either. The law does not pause because a defendant chooses convenience over accountability. The law does note bend because someone is connected or protected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Equally disturbing is the continued detention of the 7th Defendant who remains in custody allegedly because the prosecutor has not signed bail documents. Since when did justice become hostage to signatures? Since when did freedom depend on paperwork being \u201cconveniently delayed\u201d? If the prosecutor\u2019s pen is now the jailer, then the justice system has already collapsed in slow motion. Nigerians are not ignorant; we know when a system is being gamed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let every security agency hear this loud and clear: We demand an open trial. We demand full transparency. We demand the exposure of everyone involved, financiers, accomplices, coordinators, handlers and shadow actors. Any attempt to close this trial, bury it quietly, manipulate its timeline or water down its seriousness will be met with national outrage. Nigeria cannot continue to operate a justice system where the poor are tried quickly and the powerful are tried slowly, where the powerless face immediate consequences and the privileged hide behind adjournments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We issue this warning with total clarity: the people are watching. Civil society is watching. The Niger Delta is watching. Nigerians across the country are watching. And the international community will also watch if this case is mishandled. If this becomes another case that enters the graveyard of forgotten files, the DSS, NSA, and AGF must accept full responsibility for the erosion of trust that will follow. Justice must be seen, not buried. Justice must be heard, not whispered. Justice must be immediate, not postponed into irrelevance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is no longer enough to say \u201cthe matter is in court.\u201d That excuse has expired. We refuse delays. We reject secrecy. We condemn any attempt to protect criminals and gunrunners that if not God want to destroy Warri. We will resist every form of legal manipulation. We remind all agencies involved that constitutional duty is not optional. The law must move and it must move now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is not just a case, it is a test of Nigeria\u2019s soul. And we demand that the Federal Government, through all its instruments, ensures that justice is not only done but clearly and publicly seen to be done. We are watching and we will not blink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Signed,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr, Tega Confidence
(President)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hon, Izonkoro O. Mathew<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Niger Delta Stakeholders for Transparency & Constitutional Order<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cc:
President of the Senate<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaker, House of Representatives<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chairman, House Committee on National Security & Intelligence<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Petitions<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chairman, House Committee on Public Accountability<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Chief Judge, Federal High Court<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nigeria Bar Association (NBA)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SERAP<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CLO<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yiaga Africa<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transparency International Nigeria<\/p>\n\n\n\n

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amnesty International<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Human Rights Watch<\/p>\n\n\n\n

International Federation of Lawyers (FIDA)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delta State Government<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Esther David OPEN LETTER TO THE DSS, NSA, AGF AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5053,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[13],"tags":[1620,1622,1618,1619,1621],"class_list":["post-5055","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-demands-public-trial-of-micah-polo","tag-enough-of-this-slow-death-tactics-says-niger-delta-stakeholders-group","tag-gun-running-justice-cannot-be-adjourned-forever","tag-olu-of-itsekiri","tag-others-involved-in-gun-smuggling"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/img_5041-1.jpg?fit=620%2C968&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4461,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/07\/20\/niger-delta-group-raises-alarm-over-plots-to-sweep-itsekiri-born-british-soldier-micah-polo-gun-smuggling-case-and-ariyi-emamis-younger-brother-drug-smuggling-case-under-the-carpet\/","url_meta":{"origin":5055,"position":0},"title":"Niger Delta Group Raises Alarm Over Plots To Sweep Itsekiri Born British Soldier, Micah Polo Gun Smuggling Case And Ariyi Emami\u2019s Younger Brother Drug Smuggling Case Under The Carpet","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"July 20, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Uche Alvin AN OPEN LETTER TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, NSA, DSS, NIGERIANS AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY: EXPOSING THE DANGEROUS COLLUSION AND IMPUNITY IN ARMS SMUGGLING AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES Date: July 16, 2025 To: The Federal Government of Nigeria The National Security Adviser (NSA) The Directorate of State Security (DSS)\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_1122-2-1.jpg?fit=683%2C1175&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_1122-2-1.jpg?fit=683%2C1175&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_1122-2-1.jpg?fit=683%2C1175&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4497,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/07\/21\/niger-delta-group-demands-probe-of-former-british-soldier-linked-to-olu-of-itsekiri-over-guns-smuggling-accuses-dss-nigerias-first-lady-of-cover-up\/","url_meta":{"origin":5055,"position":1},"title":"Niger Delta Group Demands Probe Of Former British Soldier Linked To Olu Of Itsekiri Over Guns Smuggling, Accuses DSS, Nigeria\u2019s First Lady Of Cover-Up","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"July 21, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Esther David The group raised the alarm over what it termed \u201cdangerous collusion and impunity in arms smuggling and criminal activities\u201d linked to top figures in the Niger Delta and beyond including the Olu of Warri. The Niger Delta Watchmen, a regional advocacy group, has demanded that the President\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Crime"","block_context":{"text":"Crime","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/crime\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_1172-1.jpg?fit=720%2C405&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_1172-1.jpg?fit=720%2C405&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_1172-1.jpg?fit=720%2C405&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_1172-1.jpg?fit=720%2C405&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4239,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/07\/02\/just-in-urhobo-ijaw-stakeholders-group-sends-another-powerful-open-letter-to-presidency-nsa-inec-international-communities-over-the-recent-apprehension-of-the-younger-brother-of-ayiri-emami-who\/","url_meta":{"origin":5055,"position":2},"title":"JUST IN: Urhobo, Ijaw Stakeholders Group Sends Another Powerful Open Letter To Presidency, NSA, INEC, International Communities Over The Recent Apprehension Of The Younger Brother Of Ayiri Emami, Who Was Caught With A Truckload Of Hard Drugs Worth Over A Billion Naira, And The Issue Of The Itsekiri Born Former British Soldier Micah Polo, Who Was Also Apprehended By Security Operatives Over Gun Running, Calls On The Government To Prosecute Culprits Adequately","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"July 2, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENCY, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER, INEC, STAKEHOLDERS, NIGERIANS AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY RE: THE DANGEROUS DESPERATION OF THE ITSEKIRIS \u2013 FROM LIES TO VIOLENCE TO STOP WARD DELINEATION IN WARRI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY To Whom It May Concern: We are compelled to bring to your attention the disturbing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0462-2-1.jpg?fit=766%2C578&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0462-2-1.jpg?fit=766%2C578&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0462-2-1.jpg?fit=766%2C578&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0462-2-1.jpg?fit=766%2C578&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4725,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/08\/20\/our-judiciary-must-not-aid-criminality-says-niger-delta-stakeholders-as-they-kick-against-secret-transfer-of-micah-polos-guns-smuggling-case-to-federal-high-court-port-har\/","url_meta":{"origin":5055,"position":3},"title":"\u201cOur Judiciary Must Not Aid Criminality\u201d Says Niger Delta Stakeholders, As They Kick Against Secret Transfer Of Micah Polo\u2019s Guns Smuggling Case To Federal High Court, Port Harcourt","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"August 20, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Uche Alvin We, the Niger Delta Justice Group, issue this urgent and emphatic press statement to alert the Nigerian public, civil society, and the international community to an unfolding judicial breach of monumental proportions. We have received credible and troubling intelligence that Suit No. FHC\/ASB\/84C\/2025 \u2013 Federal Republic of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Crime"","block_context":{"text":"Crime","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/crime\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_1122-1-1.jpg?fit=683%2C536&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_1122-1-1.jpg?fit=683%2C536&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_1122-1-1.jpg?fit=683%2C536&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4241,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/07\/02\/drug-smuggling-group-ask-igp-delta-state-government-to-handle-issue-with-all-seriousness-says-proceeds-from-these-drugs-were-meant-to-be-used-in-the-purchase-of-guns-to-attack-the-ijaws\/","url_meta":{"origin":5055,"position":4},"title":"DRUG SMUGGLING: Group Charge IGP, Delta State Government To Handle Issue With All Seriousness, Alleges Drugs Dealings Was To Purchase Guns, Other Weapons To Cause Unrest In Warri","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"July 2, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Esther David A foremost Niger Delta Group under the auspices of \u201cChampions Of Drug Free Society\u201d, has called on the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun and other Security agencies in the Country especially the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA to handle the case of Emami Ajetsibogho, younger\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/002b117b-471a-45e8-9df0-c9caf516d2c2-1-1.jpg?fit=803%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/002b117b-471a-45e8-9df0-c9caf516d2c2-1-1.jpg?fit=803%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/002b117b-471a-45e8-9df0-c9caf516d2c2-1-1.jpg?fit=803%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/002b117b-471a-45e8-9df0-c9caf516d2c2-1-1.jpg?fit=803%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4507,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/07\/22\/no-one-must-be-above-the-law-wether-royalty-or-not-says-rights-group-calls-for-prosecution-of-all-involved-in-delta-arms-smuggling-deal\/","url_meta":{"origin":5055,"position":5},"title":"\u201cNo One Must Be Above The Law Wether Royalty Or Not\u201d Says Rights Group, Calls For Prosecution Of All Involved In Delta Arms Smuggling Deal","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"July 22, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Uche Alvin IJAW STAKEHOLDERS OF WARRI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY PRESS RELEASE Date: July 19, 2025Title:NOISE IS NOT POPULATION. PROPAGANDA IS NOT POWER. NOBODY IS ABOVE THE LAW. Nigeria stands on the edge of a dangerous silence. A silence too loud to ignore. A silence funded by stolen oil, soaked in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_1178-1.jpg?fit=604%2C907&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_1178-1.jpg?fit=604%2C907&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_1178-1.jpg?fit=604%2C907&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pfDfBE-1jx","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5055","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5055"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5055\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5053"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5055"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5055"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5055"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}