February 17, (THEWILL) – Comptroller of Prisons Iorbee Ihyagh rtd, is the president General of Tiv sociocultural association. He speaks on his service days and other sundry issues, saying how Major Al-Mustapha’s life was saved under detention.
Sir, you did something that obviously saved Major Al-Mustapha’s life in prison during your service days in the Nigeria Prison Service, Can you speak more on how it happened?
Well, I was working with the federal ministry of Finance, before I was given a scholarship to read in the United States of America and I spent seven years there and on return from NYSC, I was Senior Administrative Officer and then transferred my services to Custom, Immigration and Prisons Board. I was given Superintendent of Custom and I refused and wanted Superintendent of Immigration, so that I can go back and complete my Ph.D programme. But I was at Superintendent cadre (3 stars) and shouldn’t be, because you transfer laterally so there was supol in the prisons and I went for the prisons and got all my promotions and was transferred to Onitsha. After six months there, the Obi of Onitsha sent for me and when I got there, he asked what juju I brought from Tiv land and I told him, it is just doing the right thing. When I got there, I told the officers to copy me. That, if I’m coming late to work, they should do same; if I’m carrying food from the prison to my home, they should also carry it; if I’m collecting money at the gate before allowing people to come into the yard, they should do same, but if I’m not doing those things, they should not do it, because a leader is a role model. There were inmates in prison rooms meant for only 300 but had 3,000 plus; a room for 70 inmates housing about 200 with some sitting and others standing. The deaths had gone, because I was giving inmates the correct food and the contractor was not happy with me that I have increased the food for inmates. I told him that the federal government has a time table prepared such that if there is one inmate, this is the quantity of food required and if there are more, you multiply it. I told them that there is no one Benue person in Onitsha prison so I’m doing the right thing for the benefit of your people. When the Igbo people brought food, I asked them to share it themselves and I still gave the inmates their three square meal, which was their right. So, the Obi of Onitsha called me and gave me the chieftaincy title of ‘Odozi Obodo’, The Redeemer. He told me that if a Tiv man becomes the president, Nigeria will be fine.
Then, there was problem in the number one prison, the Maximum Security Prison Lagos and the Comptroller General of Prisons, Ibrahim Jama, called me as Deputy Comptroller of Prisons then, that he is taking me to the Maximum Security Prison, because I’m the only one that can handle the situation and I said fine sir. I left for Lagos with my orderly and my driver and arrived by 7:30. There were a lot of problems in that prison, because that is where all the governors, senators, Ajuduwas, Major Al-mustapha, Bamiyi and the rest of them were detained. On arrival, I had a meeting with my officers and told them that whatever I’m doing, they should follow it by coming to work early and one of them told me, this is Lagos. I told him that I had lived in New York City and the government is not interested in wherever you live, but should be on your duty post as expected. So, the food that they were not giving inmates, I restored it. When the then Head of State, General Sani Abacha died, Major Al-mustapha was the only one that knew it and summoned all GOCs and told them that Abacha want to address them and they were there for about 4 to 5 hours until when IGP Comasse came and asked Al-mustapha to announce it before them. General Abubakar Abdusalami was appointed Head of State instead of General Jerry Useni, who was the most senior officer after Abacha by seniority and the position Abdulsalami was occupying was higher than that of Useni. So, later, my Comptroller Abraham Akpe, called me and directed that I should take Major Al-mustapha to the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), which was headed by General Andrew Azazi and I said sir, you are in this job and you started down before climbing up. You don’t take an awaiting trial out without a production warrant.
Moreover, there is a court order that Al-mustapha should not be taken out by any security agent and you have that letter on your table. I told him to write a letter to the Security Adviser to send a letter to the judge that ordered Major Al-mustapha to be detained in prison and he should do like when he wants Abacha’s son. I also told CG Akpe that if anything happened to Al-mustapha, my classmate, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, the then Minister of Internal Affairs, a Tiv man, you Akpe the CG of Prisons, a Tiv man and me the Comptroller in charge of Maximum Security Prison Lagos, a Tiv man, it will be a bad history and look as if three of us connived in case Al-Mustapha dies in any circumstance. Later, the Director of SSS called and said that he wanted to see me on a Monday and I told him I won’t come on that day, because my driver had travelled to Ogun state for a weekend and knew that was going to be my arrest, but I reported. Major Al-mustapha, Bamiyi, Ajuda were in detention and there were so many deals going on before my arrival, I stopped all that. The Director of SSS, who was my friend, said he was not in the office and I should meet his second, who gave a compliment and asked if I needed a cup of tea, I declined and that was my arrest. The next day, they took me to DMI and set up a Special Investigation Panel (SIP) and brought a lot of military Generals and they asked me why I didn’t go along with Comptroller General Akpe’s order. I told them that in the prison service, you don’t take an awaiting trial out without a production warrant and if anything happens to Al-mustapha, they will go after me. After the SIP, I was to be released, but they kept me under detention for almost two years. Surprisingly, Akpe stopped my salary, but by right, if you are under interrogation, you are supposed to be on half pay, but mine was a different ball game. In fact, Femi Falana wanted to help me out, but I told him not to worry. Finally, I was released and posted to Zone H command to be 2/ic and my mates were promoted and I requested to be promoted along, so that they don’t become my seniors and I was promoted and backdated and posted to Abuja as CP Administration. After some time with two years to my retirement, I said it was time for me and I left the service voluntarily with all my gratuity.
What is the collaboration between the Tiv socio-cultural organisation at home and the ones in the diaspora?
Well, we have only one constitution which is used worldwide like Mdzough-U-Tiv in United Kingdom (MUTUK), that of the United States of America (MUTA) and all of them celebrates Tiv-Day there on yearly basis, where they showcase the Tiv culture and teaching of Tiv language in their schools. They are also contributing funds to Ayatutu-Ka-Uno Foundation introduced by the Tor Tiv, Prof James Ayatse; they are awarding scholarship to some students of Tiv studying at higher institutions of learning and donated dialysis machines to NKST hospital, Mkar in Gboko local government area and Benue State university teaching hospital, Makurdi, as well as sending relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons in Benue state. At home, we intervene to settle frictions and advise Tiv politicians on the best way to go for development to thrive in Tiv land.
There are allegations that some Tiv people influenced the emergence of pastor John Odogba as the new Och’Idoma. How true or otherwise is this?
When Och’Idoma Elias Ikoyi Obekpa, went on hunting expedition according to Idoma tradition, obviously, the vacancy has to be filled and 28 kingmakers of Idoma extraction were to do the selection of a new Och’Idoma, using Benue state gazetted chieftaincy law, which spelled out the procedures for selection of traditional rulers in Benue state, which the Tiv people have no role to play in Idoma land. I was disgusted over allegations in some quarters that the Tiv people were involved in the selection of new Och’Idoma. During the selection, one contestant scored 19 votes, another 8 and the other 1 vote. So, I wonder why somebody will come out to accuse the Mdzough-U-Tiv, or the governor of influencing the emergence of pastor John Odogbo as the new Och’Idoma. When the Tor Tiv was to be elected, it was the same law enacted by the Benue State House of Assembly that was used. So, if some Idoma people are not satisfied with the law, the right thing to do is to go to court, rather than trying to jeopardise the existing peaceful coexistence between the Tiv and Idoma people.
Sir, the 2023 general election is around the corner. What kind of leaders would you want for Benue and Nigeria?
I want somebody who will come and develop Benue state because we are backward. When I go to Abuja and on my way back, I see development in Nasarawa state. Here I feel as if I’m in the village. So, a good person, irrespective of where he comes from. I recall when retired federal permanent secretary Mike Okibe contested for PDP governorship primaries along with Gabriel Suswam and there was no clear winner. As a political scientist, I know that they ought to have gone for runoff, but the wrong thing was done by the donation or buying of votes from Ralph Igbago and the then deputy governor, Prince Ogiri Ajene, leading to Suswam’s emergency as a candidate. So, I want the right people in governance and I don’t believe in zoning. In the USA, George Bush won election as president, his son George Bush Jnr, won in Texas and his son Jeff, who was in Florida also contested for presidency. So, Benue must move forward with the right person in place.
In the past the Tiv socio-cultural body was accused of taking sides with certain candidates during elections. What is the case with you?
Well, when I came onboard, I told Tiv people that I’m not a politician and they should feel free with me. I got the telephone of all prominent sons and daughters devoid of political parties and visited both governor Samuel Ortom and senator Akume, because I have known them quite long before they became governors. As president General of Mdzough-U-Tiv, I can never see anybody accusing Akume, Ortom, Gemade or any Tiv person and I will keep quiet. Recently, a Tiv man, Chief Moses Ayom, declared for presidency on the APC platform and paid a courtesy visit to me and I gave him my blessings before he proceeded to the Tor Tiv for the same purpose. Thereafter, one Maazi, an Igbo man of the PDP came and offered him the same blessing and wished him well.
