Felix Okemini, popularly known as Jango and a former Senior Special Assistant on Internal Security to Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru, has been arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Abakaliki.
The arrest, which took place on Sunday, April 13, 2025, stems from serious allegations of cultism and corruption, SaharaReporters reports.
Okemini’s alleged involvement in cult-related activities dates back to his time at the Ebonyi State College of Education, Ikwo, where he was reportedly expelled for cultism. Despite this history, he ascended the state’s political ranks, first serving as Director of Protocols to the Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, and later appointed as SSA on Internal Security by Governor Nwifuru in 2023.
While in office, Okemini allegedly formed a group that unlawfully seized and sold government assets—including tractors, caterpillars, payloaders, Hilux vehicles, SUVs, and public lands—without the knowledge or authorization of the governor. Despite repeated warnings from Governor Nwifuru, sources say he continued these activities.
His downfall accelerated last month when he reportedly attended his matriculation ceremony at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University in Ikwo, accompanied by suspected cultists and openly displaying cult gestures on Facebook. The incident led to his immediate dismissal from his government role and suspension from the university.
Following his dismissal, Okemini allegedly sought reinstatement but was rebuffed by the governor, who instead offered him government contracts. Enraged, Okemini is said to have threatened to expose sensitive details about the administration, including his alleged involvement during the 2023 elections.
In response, NSCDC operatives arrested him at his mansion in Abakaliki, according to sources familiar with the matter.
In a related development, lawyer Sir Chika Nwoba alleged in a Facebook post that Okemini was expelled from Ebonyi State College of Education, Ikwo, several years ago for involvement in cult activities.
Nwoba further claimed that Okemini quickly found refuge in the political circle of the then Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru, where he was appointed as the Speaker’s Director of Protocols.
Nwoba said, “Upon becoming governor in 2023, Hon. Nwifuru appointed him SSA on internal security. Jango formed a group that went into town capturing government property and be selling same without the knowledge of the governor.
“He sold many tractors, caterpillars, payloaders, hilux pickups, jeeps, lands, etc. Governor kept warning him to desist from doing so, but he never obliged.
“A month ago, Jango attended his own matriculation at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ikwo with a group of cultists who alongside himself traded cult-related gestures in the school. He posted it on Facebook for the world to watch. The governor sacked him from office as SSA, clutching the straw of his then viral-going outing. The university suspended him indefinitely. His group also suspended him for presenting the club as a cult group.
“Respite came in for Jango from Government House, pleading with the authority of the university to make a provision for him to write his examination even as he’s still on suspension. The school provided for him a special purpose vehicle arrangement so he could be taking his Criminology & Security Studies papers. The last exam he sat was on Friday.
“Self-assured that the governor still had him in mind, he spoke with him and pleaded that he be returned to his erstwhile office. Governor said no, but assured him that he would be giving him contracts, asking him why his two official vehicles which ought to be retrieved from him were rather left in his possession.
“Jango insisted that he would rather like to have a portfolio in government. The governor rebuffed the request, telling him that he should accept his own will.
“Jango seeing that the governor had tightened the noose against his return to his erstwhile office, he started reminding the governor his (Jango’s) fatal commitments before and during the polls of 2023, threatening that if he didn’t return him to his erstwhile office or assign a different one to him, he’d give the public an account of his stewardship during the polls and that would deface him the governor and his administration. He berated him for sacking him instead of suspending him like he did to others, thereby exposing him to ridicule and opprobrium.”
Okemini is set to be interrogated regarding allegations of the unlawful seizure and sale of government assets valued at billions of naira.
According to sources, Okemini’s actions were seen as a betrayal of the governor’s trust, and his threats were taken seriously.
“The arrest of Okemini is a welcome development, and it shows that the governor is serious about cleaning up the state’s government. We hope this will serve as a deterrent to others engaging in similar activities,” a source privy to the development said.
When SaharaReporters reached out to Emmanuella Ibeneme, the NSCDC spokesperson in Ebonyi State, for clarification on the reported arrest, she declined to confirm or deny it.
She responded briefly, saying, “I will get back to you later.” When asked if her silence implied there was no arrest, she repeated, “I said I will get back to you.”