Murder Attempt on HEDA Chairman-Suraju, major setback for Nigeria’s anti-corruption claims – Group

Wednesday, 30 March 2022, LAGOS. Attempts to murder the Chairman, Human Environmental Development Agenda, (HEDA Resource Centre) Mr Olanrewaju Suraju is a major setback in the fight against corruption in Nigeria, a pioneer Nigerian media rights group said on Wednesday.

The Journalists for Democratic Rights, (JODER) in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Mr Adewale Adeoye said the armed invasion of Mr Suraju’s home by five heavily armed men with the obvious intention to kill him mocks the image of the country in the comity of nations.

The group asked President Mohammadu Buhari to show personal interest in the sordid Monday armed attack involving Suraju who leads Nigeria’s most outstanding anti-corruption organisation.

JODER said the Nigerian police authority owes the local and international community the obligation to investigate the armed invasion and ensure the perpetrators are arrested and made to face the wrath of the law.

‘It was a clear case of murder attempt with a high degree suspicion that the actors are agents of corrupt individuals fighting back to defend sleaze and mismanagement of public funds, a battle that has been the centre piece of Mr. Sujaru’s decade long anti-corruption campaign’ Adeoye said.

He said JODER and thousands of human right groups home and abroad stand with Mr Suraju and his organisation at this moment of turmoil.

‘We are concerned about the fact that Suraju brought the campaign against corruption in the OPL 245 scam into the front burner of international discourse. We are aware of his yearly documentation of high profile corruption cases.

 There is an almost irreversible temptation to trace the murder attempt on him to corrupt individuals which he has exposed for the heinous crimes against humanity unless the police prove otherwise.’

The armed men invaded Suraju’s home around 2.3am. They threatened to kill him. They stole his phones, his car key and private materials some belonging to his wife and children. All these happened in the presence of his little children that watched in awe guns pointed at their father.

JODER said the attack has further confirmed the fear that Nigeria is fast becoming one of the most dangerous  places to live especially for those who have chosen the career to fight injustice and lift the country from its stupor.