The National President, Sir Adehi
By David Onwuchekwa, Nnewi
The National President of Knights of Saint Mulumba (KSM), Nigeria, Sir Steve Zakari Adehi (SAN) has declared that knighthood is not a secret society, even as he lamented the rising level of poverty in the country.
He also condemned systemic failures in Nigeria’s justice and correctional systems.
Sir Adehi made the declaration during his maiden media briefing on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at the KSM National Headquarters in Onitsha, following his election as National President of the Order.
Addressing journalists, the Supreme Knight criticised the nation’s overreliance on incarceration without addressing the root causes of crime and social breakdown.
“A society that only builds prisons without repairing pathways into dignity will continue to recycle human beings through suffering,” he said.
He disclosed that the Order has consistently maintained a presence in correctional centres across the country through evangelism, welfare support, and advocacy for inmates, particularly those held for unconscionably long periods without trial.
According to him, unlawful detention and delayed justice remain major failures of the legal system.
Sir Adehi noted that KSM has intensified its engagement in improving access to justice by supporting indigent litigants, facilitating legal navigation, and advocating alternatives in cases where adversarial processes only deepen harm.
“Justice must be something the poor can feel, not just something the powerful can afford,” he explained.
On poverty alleviation, the Supreme Knight said the Order has, over the years, sustained feeding programmes and welfare support for the indigent, including residents of internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. He added that restoring hope and trust in society requires deliberate care for the most vulnerable.
He further emphasised the Order’s commitment to moral formation among young people, warning that many are growing up without guidance in patience, responsibility, and lawful ambition. “The Order is strengthening mentorship and values-based formation across parish schools, tertiary institutions, and informal learning spaces,” he explained.
Clarifying the nature of the organisation, Sir Adehi stated that KSM is neither a political body nor a pressure group, but a purely Catholic Order dedicated to supporting government efforts toward national recovery.
In the education sector, he revealed that KSM councils across the country have become reliable partners to schools struggling under economic pressure, supporting infrastructure, subsidising fees for indigent students, and mentoring youths at risk of drifting into despair or delinquency.
In healthcare, he disclosed that the Order has funded medical outreaches in rural and semi-urban communities, covering surgeries, maternal care, and chronic illness management for families who would otherwise endure sickness without help.
Sir Adehi observed that Nigeria’s present challenges did not emerge overnight but accumulated through years of neglect of institutions meant to protect citizens from hardship, injustice, and moral decline.
He added that KSM councils are deeply involved in feeding programmes for the poor, elderly persons without support systems, widows, conflict-displaced families, and IDP camp residents, providing food, clothing, educational materials for children, and trauma-sensitive support for affected families.
The maiden media briefing attracted Knights from across the country. Dignitaries present included the Supreme Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Dr. Paschal Paul Okeke; the Deputy Supreme Knight, Sir Dan Egwu; the Noble President of the Ladies of Saint Mulumba (LSM), Lady Anthonia Ngozi Obah; and representatives of various KSM councils nationwide.
