RE: 'WHO REALLY KILLED ALEX BADEH AND WHY ARE HIS ALLEGED KILLERS NOT IN COURT?'..A LOT HAS BECOME CLEARER

Barely 24 hours after my article titled Who Really Killed Alex Badeh And Why Are His Killers Not In Court? on the 25th of June,an announcement was made that a joint team of the DSS and military operatives had arrested another 14 suspects in relation to the murder.The police had already arrested 5 persons in December 2018 with a video confession of one of the suspects going viral and adding another 14 persons from a different source at that point more or less appeared a confirmation of the worst; a cover-up was in play.

In addition to the lingering question of why the police would keep self-confessed murderers of the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff for 6 whole months without charging them to court,there was now a very glaring one on just how shabby and shameless the authorities were in what any right thinking person would deem a ploy to kill off the case.

Questions were now being asked and getting another fresh batch of suspects would suggest that investigations hadn't been concluded.It didn't matter that they were alluding to the lack of credibility of the process.Not that it will suprise anyone but it has been 3 months since the latest arrests and 9 months since the ones before that.Whoever isn't coming out to publicly declare Buhari and his government the murderers of Alex Badeh is only holding back out of respect for the law.

Anyone would be excused for thinking back then that the Badeh family were overwhelmed by grief when they described the videoed confession of one of the suspects as a charade and adduced their reasons for doing so.Not any more.Its obvious they knew what they were saying.Detained former AAC Presidential candidate and Sahara Reporters Publisher,Omoyele Sowore has said how he was denied the use of a phone to call his family in DSS detention while boko haram commanders had access to not only that but also to televisions and cable in their cells.

There has been nothing to suggest Buhari is a member of boko haram other than claims years before he became President that he and a number of northern elites backed the sect to help entrench islamic rule early on but withdrew when their activities got out of hand.Boko haram in an attempt to make public mockery of him,named him among its mediators to a dialogue with the Federal Government arranged by President Jonathan in 2012.Buhari declined.The sect is known to slaughter members that renounce it as traitors and that that was the reason for the attack on his life in Kaduna.It has never really gone past that.

But if at all boko haram commanders are now accorded VIP treatment in detention then it suggests an appreciable level of expertise in handling 'friendly scapegoat' situations.Rather than waiting to be ridiculed for not prosecuting people you have arrested for a murder,why not just extend the deal to include a cozy detention and a hasty and harmless trial?.Well,a lot could go wrong,true.

A spokesperson of the Badeh family gave a heart-breaking account of the travails of the former CDS' before his demise.His Abuja house couldn't be cleared of waste because government had stopped him from receiving his entitlements in addition to freezing his accounts on grounds of facing a corruption charge and was only going to his farm that day to arrange for some maize to be sold so he could raise some cash.Their more believable version claims Badeh had already been at the farm and had even given a villager who asked for money to buy drugs, some maize to sell because he had no cash on him.

The interviewed suspect on the other hand claimed they blocked him on his way to the farm and carted away money like he had 'never seen before'.There were only 5 suspects arrested and admittedly in consonance with his testimony which didn't indicate there were too many accomplices.The 5 of them managed to spend all that money 'he had never seen before' within the 10 days before they were arrested because nobody told us any cash was recovered.The authorities said Badeh still had the security he was entitled to but they were kilometres behind where he was blocked and shot.Badeh was killed and by the most powerful people in Nigeria and they want you to totally forget it ever happened.

The Buhari administration locked away Sani Baba-Inna,the former aide de camp to Aisha Buhari for allegedly defrauding persons of N2.5bn in her name.His family members corroborated claims he may have been helping her keep money by adding that he only started to get greedy and had even been made to buy a house for one of her daughters in Abuja.He certainly has a lot to say and for more than a year now,he has still not been charged to court.

It is no secret that former DSS boss,Lawan Daura's men joined the police in barricading the residences of former Senate President,Bukola Saraki and his deputy,Ike Ekweremadu weeks before they invaded the National Assembly.Buhari was fully aware of Daura's activities and is said to have only sacrificed him from London when foreign countries beseiged Acting President Osinbajo with calls as to what was really going on.Daura is Buhari's townsman whom he pulled out of retirement to head the DSS and he may be privy to quite a lot of sensitive things regarding Buhari and others.He also hasn't been charged to court a year and 3 months later.We already know the lengths Buhari can go in defiance of the rule of law and public opinion just to protect himself and members of his inner caucus.It is nothing out of the ordinary for government to toss people in jail and forget them.

Buhari as an ex-military man understands just how serious the military and other security agencies take the killing of their colleagues.Moreso when it is a former Chief of Defense Staff and his suspected killers are in custody.The Badeh situation is one that would ordinarily require a monthly update.They are hiding something and whatever it is,i pray it comes to the fore some day.

THE 2019 HEADIES: NOT DISAPPOINTING BUT ALSO NOT EXCITING

Though the 2019 headies had Falz,Teni,Rema and Mayorkun among its notable attendees,it still had the misfortune of holding on the same night as Wizkid's Starfest.The creme de la creme of the Nigerian music industry were in London as performing guests and a large chunk of music followers had their eyes fixated there.Most of the other top-tier stars who didn't make the cut with the exception of Davido who was in the labour room with his soon-to-be bride,didn't deem the headies worth their time.To the night proper,one thing very few have pointed out was the excellent job Reminisce did as co-host.There was the occasional wit,composure and a baritone voice made for a man in charge.He made you forget Nancy Isime's dry jokes and lack of a commanding presence.

Lets take the categories one at a time.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

A voting category for the rookie of the year who has had a successful year musically, with the absence of an album in the year under review.

1. Crayon

2. Buju

3. Barry Jhay (Winner)

4. Oxlade

Oxlade has witnessed a drastic rise in his stocks over the last few months but this category was always going to be won by either Barry Jhay or Crayon.Crayon has a good EP out under Don Jazzy's Mavin records and with a well accepted lead track in So Fine but despite not really pushing as hard as he ought to after scoring a big hit with Aiye,Barry Jhay is still more a fan favourite than any name on that list.Add also the only one with a bonafide hit.Accolade well deserved.

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)

A non-voting category for the single female artiste with most outstanding vocal performances on a single song or album.

1. GoodGirl LA - ‘ Bless me’

2. Waje – ‘Udue’

3. Teni – ‘Uyo Meyo’ (Winner)

4.Tems – ‘Mr Rebel’

5. Falana – ‘Repeat’

Teni would ordinarily be listed in the Next Rated Category if Soundcity didn't nominate & award her best young artiste.The headies wouldn't want to appear to be following in the foot steps of its rivals so it left her out of it and barring any altercation with the organizers en route,she was bound to be compensated one way or the other and this being a non-voting category,the headies didn't hesitate in settling for Uyo Meyo.Most fans would too if they could but if all these songs were to be honestly judged based on vocal quality,Tems' Rebel would win it.

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE)

A non-voting category for the single male artiste with the most outstanding vocal performance on a single song or album.

1. Tay Iwar – ‘Utero’

2. Johnny Drille – ‘Finding Efe’

3. Nonso Bassey – ‘411’

4. Funbi – ‘Serenade’

5. Wurld - ‘Wishes & Butterflies’-(Winner)

Johnny Drille is an incredible artiste with an absorbing and distinctive vocal prowess and in as much as he appeared the favourite to clinch this,you also knew you couldn't safely wave off Wurld's Wishes and Butterflies.The key determinant here if you ask me was voice rather than vocal dexterity.The choice of Wurld's Wishes and Butterfly may not be what you expected but then it didn't disappoint you.

BEST STREET-HOP ARTISTE

A voting category for the artiste whose songs are inspired by the streets. Such song should contain lingua, which may also be originated by the artiste and popular on the street.

1. Erigga – ‘Motivation’

2. Chinko Ekun – ‘Able God’ (Winner)

3. Zlatan – ‘Leg Work’

4. Barry Jhay – ‘Aiye’

5. Lyta – ‘Time’

Street hop wasn't quite about being a tight category as it was about not knowing what to expect.Chinko Ekun had one of the biggest hits in the period under review and would ordinarily be the clear favourite for the headie but Legwork was an anthem to commemorate Zlatan's Zanku dance which had swept through the nation and beyond.As far as following criteria strictly went,it birthed what still is the most common slang on the streets-'Gbe bodi e'.In the end,the biggest song won.

BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR

A non-voting category for the best rec ording (that meets the judges’ requirements of excellence; songwriting, production, rendition) by an artiste or group in the year under review.

1. Adekunle Gold – Ire

2. Patoranking - Heal D World

3. Brymo - Olanrewaju

4. Teni - Uyo Meyo (Winner)

5. Burna Boy - Ye

If you don't agree Patoranking's video for Heal D World is the best ever by a nigerian artiste then you would at least agree that its the best in the last decade.Soundcity rewarded it and since the headies refused to list it in the best video category,one had to think he would be compensated for that here.Especially since its non-voting and entirely at the discretion of the organizers.Well,the headies chose Teni for Best Recording and i don't think anyone would disagree with that.

BEST RAP SINGLE

A voting category for a single (released on-air) recording of a rap song.

1. ‘Talk’ - Falz (Winner)

2. ‘We Don't Do That Over Here’ – Hotyce

3. ‘40ft Container’ – Illbliss featuring Olamide

4. ‘Sacrifice’ - Payper Corleone featuring Alpha Ojini

5. ‘ Gang Gang’ – AQ and Loose Kaynon

Falz's Talk is a great song and had always been the favourite to take this home.Illbliss' 40 feet Container represented the most likely possibility of an upset but over the years also,the headies has exhibited an uncanny appreciation of rap music and could also choose to reward AQ & Loose Kaynon's Gang Gang.No controversy,Falz clinched it as expected.

BEST ALTERNATIVE SONG

A voting category for the artiste whose songs reflect any form or style of music which falls outside the mainstream of recent or past popular musical trends.

1. ‘Cash’ – Lady Donli

2. ‘Rebel’ – Tems

3. ‘Finding Efe’ – Johnny Drille (Winner)

4. ‘Heya’ – Brymo

5. ‘Ire ’ - Adekunle Gold

Tems' Rebel and Finding Efe are very good songs but Adekunle Gold's Ire was everyone's pick for this category.Asides being more a fan favourite than any artiste on this list,Ire resonated with music lovers in a way none of the other songs were able to.The headie suprisingly went to Johnny Drille for Finding Efe.Alternative music however,has never been a category many people worried about and i doubt many observers would list this among the talking points of the night.

BEST RAP ALBUM

A non-voting category for the best album by a rap artiste or group in year under review.

1. ‘Moral Instruction’ – Falz (Winner)

2. ‘Crown’ – AQ and Loose Kaynon

3. ‘A Study On Self Worth: Yxng Dxnzl’ – M.I Abaga

4. ‘Clone Wars, Vol. IV (These Buhari Times)’ - Show Dem Camp

First of all,no serious award show should list a category as huge as best rap album as a non-voting.Best Vocalists and Best Recording they could be excused on the grounds that they wanted to reward the qualities the average music fan won't bother much about but even if rap weren't as much a big deal as it was,the mere fact that albums; whole music projects would be judged requires fans to have a say.The headies chose to go with Falz's Moral Instructions probably because it was a socio-conscious effort and everyone loves to wax sanctimonious about how that should be encouraged but talking genuine rap quality,AQ & Loose Kaynon's Crown is a rare gem.The very best in recent memory.

LYRICIST ON THE ROLL

A non-voting category for the rap artiste with the best lyrical depth and performance on a single song or album.

1. YCEE – ‘Balance’

2. Boogey – ‘ Implode’

3. Paybac – ‘Implode’

4. Ghost – ‘Crown’

5. Tec – ‘Crown’

6. AQ – ‘Crown’ (Winner)

Not that votes really count much even where they are solicited and one can't help but feel it would be more honourable for the headies to list these categories as voting and then go ahead to make their pick.It is an insult on rap fans to insinuate at this age and time that they don't understand the concept of 'lyrical content'.

Probably there was a need for variety et al,if not, verses off AQ and Loose Kaynon's classic Crown album would take up the entire nominations in this category.That is the best lyrical work naija hip hop has seen in quite a while.Ghost's verse on MI's Popping would be the only external content on this list.

Ycee appeared the favourite here because he was the only nominee with a whole track which technically meant he had a lengthier pool of lines for the organizers to judge from but to be honest,the choice of AQ's verse on Crown can't be faulted.Anything off the Crown album is indisputable.

BEST COLLABO

A voting category for the best r&b, pop or hip-hop collaborative track (including cameos).

1. ‘Like’ - Reekado Banks featuring Tiwa Savage, Fiokee

2. ‘One Ticket ’ - Kiss Daniel featuring Davido

3. ‘Fake Love’ – Starboy featuring Duncan Mighty, Wizkid

4. ‘ Killin’ Dem' - Burna Boy featuring Zlatan (Winner)

5. ‘Amaka’ – 2baba featuring Peruzzi

This was what i initially tagged the toughest category of the night till i figured out there were really just 2 contenders involved-2baba's Amaka featuring Peruzzi and Killin' Dem,Burna boy featuring Zlatan.2baba had always gotten loads of love from the headies and had to be favourite but if votes really were to count,Killin' Dem is a much fresher hit with the voting public and would win a free and fair contest.Killin' Dem won it and that indeed was the popular choice.

BEST PERFORMER

A non-voting category for the artistes whose stagecraft, showmanship and performance routines are exceptionally conceptualized and executed in the year under review with consideration of live performances.

1. Falz

2. Tiwa Savage

3. Brymo

4. Yemi Alade (Winner)

5. Adekunle Gold

Yemi Alade puts mad energy into her stage performances and i couldn't help but agree with this choice as well.

BEST R&B SINGLE

A category for the best R&B single in the year under review (by a single individual or group).

1. ‘ Tipsy ’ – Odunsi ft. RAYE

2. ‘Serenade’ - Funbi

3. ‘ Uyo Meyo ’ – Teni

4. ‘Wishes and Butterflies’ - Wurld

5. ‘Gimme Love’ – Seyi Shay featuring Runtown (Winner)

This category had to be between Teni's Uyo Meyo and Wurld's Wishes and Butterflies.The organizers could choose to reward a huge hit from a star artiste or the mind-blowing singing of an up and coming force.There is no way in the world Seyi Shay deserved this headie over these other 2 nominees.Its daylight robbery.

BEST POP SINGLE

A category for the best pop single in year under review (by single individual or group).

1. Ye-Burna Boy

2. Wetin We Gain- Victor AD

3. Fake Love–Starboy ft Duncan Mighty, Wizkid

4. Case-Teni (Winner)

5. Jealous– Fireboy DML

6. Baby-Joeboy

This was a pretty tight one that had to leave you feeling sorry for the others."As my papa no be Dangote" was at a time the most popular line off a nigerian song.As brilliant and loved as the other songs on this list were,you would have to agree Teni's Case deserved this more.

BEST R&B/ POP ALBUM

A category for the best r&b/pop album in the year under review (by single individual or group).

1. Rare – Odunsi (The Engine)

2. Outside – Burna Boy

3. No Bad Songz – Kizz Daniel

4. Mayor of Lagos – Mayorkun (Winner)

5. About 30 - Adekunle Gold

This had to be between Burna boy's Outside,Burna boy's Outside and Burna boy's Outside.You can't sell even to the worst fool on earth,that Mayorkun's Mayor Of Lagos was a better album than Outside.Not a few music lovers will tell you it is the best album made since OBO's Genesis in 2012.Burna boy made a true classic and the headie going to Mayorkun is even a much bigger robbery than Reekado Banks winning the Next Rated over Lil Kesh and Kiss Daniels.

BEST MUSIC VIDEO

A voting category for the best conceptualist, best directed and most exciting video in the year under review. This award goes to the video director.

1. Dangote (Burna Boy) – Clarence Peters (Winner)

2. Available (Patoranking) - Clarence Peters

3. Ire (Adekunle Gold) - Aje Films

4. Talk (Falz) - Prodigeezy

5. Jaiye (Ladipoe) - 88 Factor

It really is not possible to overlook Patoranking's Heal D World video.The only logical explanation would be that it couldn't be nominated without winning and since Soundcity had already done that,the headies didn't want to appear to be 'playing catch up'.Having said that,i don't think anyone would agree that these were the best videos in the period under review.Not when there are Mr Eazi's Ogede and others of similar quality.

Burna Boy's 'Ye was an even better video than Dangote and for the life for me,i simply can't explain why the headies,even with a music station among its sister outfits,would deem Adekunle Gold's Ire and Falz's Talk among the top 5 videos in Nigeria.Its ridiculous.To make matters worse,Burna boy's Dangote was chosen over the only video worth a second look,Patoranking's Available.

HIP HOP WORLD REVELATION OF THE YEAR

A voting category for the best new artiste with a debut album adjudged to be outstanding in terms of artistic quality and impact within the year under review.

1. Odunsi

2. Mayorkun (Winner)

3. Wurld

4. Humblesmith

Mayorkun may not have deserved to win Best R&B/Pop album over Burna boy but he definitely deserved to win this.The Mayor of Lagos may not be as good as Outside but it would stand out from most albums. 

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

An individual responsible for producing the most acclaimed song or album in the year under review.

1.Phantom - ‘Ye’ by Burna Boy

2.Ozedikus – ‘Dumebi’ by Rema

3.Spellz – ‘Askamaya’ by Teni

4.Killertunes – ‘Fake Love’ by Starboy featuring Duncan Mighty and Wizkid (Winner)

5. Kel-P Vibes – ‘Killing Dem’ by Burna Boy featuring Zlatan

Listing these in the right order, Phantom for 'Ye would be first,Kel-P for Killin' Dem would come second,Ozedikus for Dumebi third,Spellz for Askamaya fourth and Killertunes for Fake Love last.You may disagree with my other choices but if Killertunes isn't at the bottom of your list then maybe i shouldn't even be having the conversation with you in the first place.The headies gave it to Killertunes.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

A voting category for the best album (solo or group) in year under review, that meets judges’ requirements of excellence (songwriting, production, rendition and impact).

1.About 30 - Adekunle Gold

2.Outside – Burna Boy

3.Moral Instruction – Falz (Winner)

4.No Bad Songz – Kizz Daniel

At this point you want to get on the stage and re-enact's Olamide's 'Ko ni dafun Iya anybody' moment.Falz's Moral Instructions can't beat Burna boy's Outside to album of the year.Saying the fans voted for it makes it all the more annoying.You could at least understand the organizers awarded him best rap album because it was 'righteous' to reward a socio-conscious album in these times to encourage other artistes to tow that path but when then encroach into the voting categories and try to pass off their personal choices as those of music fans,then there is a huge problem.No one would deny Burna boy's Outside best album and make any sense.

NEXT RATED

This category is a voting category for the most promising act in the year under review.

1. Rema (Winner)

2. Joeboy

3. Fireboy DML

4. Victor AD

5. Lyta

6. Zlatan

When Tekno rejected his Next Rated nomination 2 editions ago,the organizers laid down the criteria for a nomination here.Most noteworthy was the declaration that an artiste was eligible no matter how huge if he/she didn't have an album out.There were times when this category had genuine prospects with more than one hit to their names and most did go on to become much bigger stars.Zlatan,Rema Ok..Victor AD fair but the 2 'boys'-Joe & Fire,should have been sacrificed for more gloss-Teni,Peruzzi to name 2.The choice of Lyta as a nominee here is a very bad joke.Maybe its time the Headies merge Rookie of the year and Revelation of the Year with Next Rated into a straight forward Best New Artiste category.

Well, the Next Rated crown was between Rema and Zlatan and Rema won.

SONG OF THE YEAR

A voting category for the most popular song in the year under review.

1. 'Ye - Burna Boy (Winner)

2. Dumebi -Rema

3. Wetin We Gain-Victor AD

4. Fake Love–Starboy ft Duncan Mighty, Wizkid

5. Case- Teni

6. Leg work- Zlatan

7. Baby– Joeboy

8. Jealous– Fireboy DML

In as much as i believe Burna boy was cheated twice,i don't think 'Ye deserved to be Song of the Year ahead of Teni's Case,Victor AD's Wetin We Gain and Rema's Dumebi.It wasn't as accepted by music lovers as these 3 were.Burna owned the year under review so perhaps there was a need for him to have just as many headies as anyone for the night.

ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

Most critically and commercially adjudged artiste in the year under review. Overall most successful artiste in the year under review.

1. Burna Boy (Winner)

2. Wizkid

3. Davido

4. Tiwa Savage

5. Falz

This here was also between Burna boy,Burna boy and Burna boy and i am glad he got what was rightfully his.No worthier choice.Burna had a blazing single before he announced an album in Deja Vu,dropped a dazzling pre-album single in Heaven's Gate and knocked everyone out with one of the finest works ever by a nigerian artiste with the Outside album.The world stumbled on 'Ye while searching for Kanye West's album of same title and when he shot the video for the song, nigerians were celebrating a song released over 6 months ago like it came just yesterday.As if that wasn't enough, Burna dropped the bomb called On the Low shortly afterwards.Then of course there was Killin' Dem with Zlatan.This headie already had Burna boy written on it a whole year ago.

HEADIES’ VIEWER’S CHOICE

A voting category to award the fan’s favorite artiste with the most digital tractions (downloads, views, streams) in the year under review.

1. Mr Eazi

2. Burna Boy

3. Teni (Winner)

4. Fireboy DML

5. Rema

6. Joe Boy

7. Wizkid

8. Davido

Most people don't really care about a category organizers slot in to make viewers of their music channel feel good and as such,no matter where it went,few really cared.Wizkid has more fans than any artiste here and would ordinarily be expected to win.Teni did.

AFRICAN ARTISTE RECOGNITION

A non-Nigerian award category for an individual African artiste or group with the most outstanding achievement, impact and infiltration into the Nigerian music scene in the year under review.

1. Master KG - Skeleton Moves (SOUTH AFRICA)

2. Afro B - Drogba (Joanna) (IVORY COAST)

3. Sauti Sol – Melanin (KENYA)

4. King Promise – CCTV (GHANA) (WINNER)

5. DJ Maphoriza - iWalk Ye Phara (SOUTH AFRICA)

Not to take anything from the quality of King Promise's CCTV but Sauti Sol's Melanin featuring Patoranking,if we want to talk the song that resonated most with Nigerian fans and if were to talk outstanding achievement and impact,this headie would undoubtedly be Afro-B's Drogba; the biggest hit on the continent.It also was without a doubt the most loved by music fans outside Africa.Afro-B had Wizkid on the remix and had already sold out the O2 Islington Academy in London by this time last year.

It would be too harsh to say the 2019 headies was disappointing so i will simply say it wasn't exciting.Only few categories were 'tight' in the strict sense of the word and even at that,there were some quite shocking choices.Even if they still hold onto the Best Vocalists and Recording of the Year categories,the organizers really need to make the Best Rap album and Lyricist on the Roll categories voting ones.At this point,we really should be talking about rebranding awards to suit the dictates of time and not how to make them decent.A Rookie of the Year headie is according to them,one for a rookie who had a 'successful year without an album' while the Next Rated is also specified as being for 'the most promising act' also without an album.A stand-out rookie in plain language,is a promising act.If at all,they choose to keep both then the specifications really need to change.I honestly don't think an artiste that has recorded a debut album needs special encouragement with 'Revelation Of The Year'.If he is good enough,he would be vying for the top prizes on display.I hope the headies gets better.

MI'S THE VIPER: THE KING IS BACK

The saying 'If you shoot at the King then don't miss' should be made to come with the proviso '..And be wary of a reprisal'.The King may have gotten too comfortable and started to take a lot of things for granted but a direct hit is enough motivation to prove why he is King in the first place.Before MI's pummeling of Vector on The Viper,he had appeared incapable of being that rapper we once knew and revered.He had become more concerned with playing Godfather and strutting around like Nigerian hip hop rested solely on his shoulders.If he hadn't been dissed by Vector and there was so much beef in the air like the one between Davolee and half the other rappers around,i bet he would have dropped a song by now preaching 'Nobody wins when the family feuds' but even Jay-Z didn't become God MC after 2 or 3 hit albums.To worsen matters,MI wasn't quite on the level he once was years ago.But if he has proven one thing with The Viper,it is that his is a genuine loss of hunger perhaps due to a premature belief that he has nothing to prove than a case of having lost it.MI actually was the best lyricist in his prime but why he changed the game and made hip hop an essential fixture of the mainstream is that he created the perfect balance for those who wanted the lines and those who couldn't care less.His well-crafted lyrics were rendered in the sickest delivery we had ever seen over inch-perfect beats.The Viper answers the question where has the real MI been.No one is raising an objection as to how long it took him to respond to Vector because anyone who knew he was cooking a delicacy as sumptuous as The Viper would have told him 'take your time'.

Artistes have thumped through tracks.Matter of fact one just 2 weeks ago referencing Jude Abaga but the menacing drum effects combine fabulously with a royal delivery on The Viper to breathe extraordinary power into his lines."..So I swore by my name coz there is no higher authority..".The emotion pierces through and by the time he says "You can never battle Jude, your default setting is loose.Thats why i choose when you raise your alarm to hit that snooze", you are suppressing screams.MI needed to remind everyone who he was before stating his case and the artistry involved is why no other rapper boasts of more fans outside rap.

With game like he had on The Viper, MI is back to 'SONning' MCs and anyone taking shots at 'daddy' does so at his own peril.

What is important however,is that MI finds a way to stay motivated without having to be incentivized by a beef.Its very obvious he hasn't lost it and there couldn't be a better time for the hip hop cause which he is so passionate about.The genre has received massive attention since several beef tracks followed V.E.C's The Purge and that can only be consolidated by some great rap music.Every enthusiast hopes MI's Judah EP dropping on Wednesday 9th is the first step in that direction.

The King is back.

MAINA: WE MUST NOT FORGET THE ROLES BUHARI AND MALAMI PLAYED

It is in the best interest of Nigeria for politicians to use our anti-graft agencies to fight themselves or whomsoever they would ordinarily look away from.Though they end up being called 'hypocritical',at least the nigerian people get some form of atonement.The former head of service,Winifred Oyo-Ita became a marked lady since she went public with Buhari's knowledge of Abdulrasheed Maina's reinstatement and the role the Attorney-General of the Federation,Abubakar Malami played in bringing back the former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT).

She told the public how Malami by passed her office through the Federal Civil Service Commission and got Maina reinstated into the civil service with a promotion to Director at the Ministry of Interior.To use the exact words of the House of Representatives probe committee,Maina's reinstatement was 'fraudulently master-minded' and that the Attorney General,Abubakar Malami 'pressured all that mattered' to force Maina back into the civil service.

The Presidency after almost 2 years of searching,eventually found Oyo-Ita wanting in a N3bn contract scam and forced her into retirement.The lady herself isn't putting in much of a resistance perhaps in the hope that she is availed a soft landing.Well,not that too many are jumping to her defence.

If a lot of Nigerians criticized former CJN,Walter Onnonghen's trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal despite knowing his defence to having over a billion naira in liquid cash as at 2016 was that he saved his allowances and sold farm produce,it was because they were worried Buhari wanted a northerner in place and in time for the 2019 election petitions.

Oyo-Ita won't enjoy that privilege and nigerians are bound to treat her case as a welcome casualty in the power game.

Maina was arrested just days ago at a hotel in Abuja along with a 20-year old son of his whose name was given as Faisal after sneaking in from Dubai.There are 2 issues we should be worried about.The first is the tendency of the Buhari administration to lock away persons with sensitive information without trial.Maina while in hiding,granted an interview saying Malami orchestrated his recall into the civil service after a meeting with him in Dubai on the orders of President Buhari.In other words,Maina corroborated Oyo-Ita's position on Buhari being fully aware of his return.It is not only the DSS that hides anyone government doesn't want squealing on it.

Buhari's former head of DSS and townsman,Lawal Daura was arrested shortly after the seige by his men on the National Assembly complex with the last heard about him being he had been handed over to the police.Aisha Buhari's Aide de Camp,Sani Baba-Inna was accused of defrauding unnamed persons of N2.5bn in her name.There were questions as to how a common ADC would grow so much balls.That was before a member of his family in an interview with popular activist Prince Deji Adeyanju said they knew he took the money because he had been keeping money for 'madam'.

As a matter of fact,they were aware of a house he bought for one of Buhari's daughters in Abuja.Baba-Inna was also 'handed' to the police.More than a year later, Daura and Baba-Inna haven't been taken to any court.Maina in addition to how President Buhari was a part of his recall, also claimed to have pointed this administration in the direction of stolen public funds.Asides saying what could raise questions as to how government proceeded regarding those funds,he may know a lot more.

Maina must not be hidden somewhere.If they have arrested him to answer for his alleged embezzlement of N2bn pension funds,then they must do so.We must bare in mind that the last major talking point generated by the Buhari's war against corruption was the withdrawal of charges against Danjuma Goje for looting funds as Gombe state governor in what appeared part of a deal to make him step down for the President's preferred choice for Senate President.

If Maina is an attempt to score some PR points for themselves, then they must be aware that it means more than that to Nigerians.Questions will definitely be asked of Buhari and his gang if Maina is controversially let go.

The second thing we should be worried about is Abubakar Malami's involvement in the Maina saga.If Buhari is immune from prosecution,Malami isn't.Nigeria's Attorney-General is accused of meeting with a wanted fugitive which is a crime and also boycotting due process in installing him back into the system.What of Abubakar Malami?.If President Buhari didn't know sitting down with a fugitive is a criminal offence,it is the duty of the Chief law officer of the country to point it out to him.

The House of Reps have already indicted Malami in Maina's reinstatement and we cannot revisit the issue of Maina without mentioning Malami.Oyo-Ita wasn't reprimanded,sacked or charged to court for lying and that more than anything indicates they all knew she was telling the truth.Buhari has not acted on Oyo-Ita's report neither has he acted on that of the House of Reps all indicting Malami.While on the hunt for Oyo-Ita,Buhari didn't even bother constituting his own probe even if to give nigerians a wrong impression that he was serious about fighting corruption.He still doesn't care what anyone thinks.These are the times we live in.