These 3 boys of 17, 19 and 20 years old were caught in Abeokuta around 3am this morning while they were burning a fresh human head (female) in a local pot in an uncompleted building for Rituals.
THREE BOYS ARRESTED FOR RITUAL ACT.
Review of Book (THE LIFE CHANGER) Jamb Approved Novel.
Summary Of The Book Life Changer: Chapter By Chapter
CHAPTER 1
A family of six awaits the arrival of Mr Esquire. While they wait, Bint gives an account of her classroom encounter with her intrusive Social studies teacher, Mallam Salihu, who is known to act as though he knew a bit more about every subject as he will often ask questions outside the subject of discussion. Bint narrates how she genuinely handled a similar occurrence leaving the teacher dumbfounded to the cheering and laugher of other pupils.
Ummi is seamlessly proud of her daughter, particularly, Bint’s intelligent approach to issues and she joins in the discussion right before Omar joyfully announces his admission to study law at the Ahmadu Bello University. As the family gather to celebrate Omar’s success, Omar boasts of his achievement and takes pride in solely overcoming examination challenges and several other entry procedures while seeking for the admission. Ummi recognises her son’s naivety and tries to enlighten him about the life changing capability of university admission.
Ummi tells her children how her admission changed her.
CHAPTER 2
Twenty years ago, Ummi gains admission into the university and gets married to her husband even before she starts her registration. Ummi tells them about the freedom and the carefree life of students in the university, the difficulty in distinguishing between teachers and students with female dressing almost naked and how some faculties are required to be on dress codes. Ummi further discloses her experience with Salma, a sophisticated young lady.
Salma goes for her registration much later than everyone else but expresses discomfort and irritation about the delay in the registration process. Salma is interrogated by a young man on the queue and he continuously engages her in a discussion but Salma continues to criticize and overgeneralize her opinions about lecturers. Salma does not only create a similarity between lectures and policemen as personalities that can be bribed, she also boasts about her ability to win the lecturer’s favour if she gives him as low as two or three thousand naira. Unknowingly to Salma and to the astonishment of everyone on the queue, the young man she has been conversing with is the lecturer in charge of the registration procedure.
Ummi proceeds to her departmental registration and she is directed to the HOD’s office. The HOD is seen exchanging endearing pleasantries with Ummi which she finds rather discomforting and inappropriate. Ummi assumes the HOD is trying to making a pass at her. She indeterminately manages to accommodate this until she is given her matriculation number and leaves the office irritated and angry. On getting home, Ummi tells her husband about her experience at the HOD’s office but she is astounded to learn about the friendship and rapport between her husband and Dr Sam John.
CHAPTER 3
Ummi tells the story of ‘the quiet one’, a boy named Talle. Talle is given birth to after many years of child futility and his birth causes the death of his mother. He grows up possessing a silent character and becoming even more reticent with the death of his father and stepmother, thus, ‘the quiet one’ was a perfect description.
Talle is considered a good person by the villager and unable to cause harm. However, Talle needed money at a point and confides in Zaki who proposed the idea of abducting a boy and requesting for a ransom. The plan is executed by the duo and Talle restrains the boy in his house. Talle goes to the market for his groceries but his usual request for food items is doubled. Soon, the market woman notices a change in his larger request for groceries and reports the issue to the District head. While Talle is being interrogated by the District head, policemen rampaged the palace and arrest Talle as a suspect for kidnapping and extortion. Talle and Zaki are eventually sentenced to some years of imprisonment.
CHAPTER 4
This chapter gives a further account of Salma’s splendour and pomposity. Salma goes to Dr Debo, the level coordinator, to have her forms signed. Unfortunately, Dr Debo loses touch of his many years of discipline and makes advances towards Salma. Salma arrogantly dismisses his attempt and further insults him before leaving the office. Dabo is left is a state of regret and he remorsefully prays to be vindicated from the impact of what he has created.
Salma completes her hostile registration and moves into a room occupied by three other girls. Initially, Salma does not like the sight of her roomies but eventually, they begin to grow fond of each other and form an intimacy they regard as sisterhood.
On a faithful evening, Salma is offered a ride in a Mercedes Benz by two men, Habib and his driver, Labaran. She slides in knowing it is dangerous and she conceitedly plots a scheme to decline Habib’s request to date her if he eventually proposes.
Having to decline a man that rides Benz is Salma’s way of upgrading her standard and getting recognition and respect from her colleagues and the entire university.
CHAPTER 5
In this chapter, it is discovered that Salma gives Habib Tomiwa’s mobile line instead, and unknowing to Habib, he calls Tomiwa to go out on a date with him. Tomiwa is curious about Habib and decides to go out on a blind date but eventually discloses the switch in mobile lines. Habib likes her still and shops for her and her roommates. He also gives Tomiwa some money for herself and her roomies. She is elated and her roommates shared in this happiness. At first, Salma agitates against Tomiwa’s approval of Habib and accuses her of being a chameleon. Ada and Ngozi intervene but the issue escalates. They soon come to a state of tranquillity as soon as someone knocks at the door. They do not want to have to share their lots with other neighbours.
Meanwhile, Salma and roommates continue to excel in their separate departments and prepare for General studies papers.
CHAPTER 6
Salma finds Moral philosophy very difficult. She, however, prepares by practising past questions and answering them offhand. Unfortunately, Salma is unable to answer any of the questions during the examination as none of the topics for which she spends the whole night preparing for had come out. She resolves into indulging in examination malpractice. Kola provides answers to some of the questions in a note as she copies them into her answer booklet. Regrettably, she is caught by a female lecturer.
Salma is compelled to fill the Examination Malpractice (EMAL) form and she is ushered to the HOD’s office. He transfers her case to the Exams and Ethics committee for further processing. Salma and Kola are expelled thereafter.
CHAPTER 7
Salma goes to Habib to help her influence the committee by using his position as a politician. Habib offers to involve Dr Debo but due to her past experience with the lecturer, she declines this suggestion and proffers bribing. Habib offers to give Salma some amount of money to bribe the chairman of the Examination and Ethics Committee (EMEC) but in return, she must repay in kind. Salma is reluctant to accept this offer because of her affair with Labaran and she considers it unfair to have an affair with her friend’s man. Salma soon gives in to his request but unluckily she gives the money to Dr Kabir, who claims to be the chairman of the EMEC. She soon finds out she has been deceived by Dr kabir who was neither the chairman nor a member of the Committee. She is demoralized and breaks down.
CHAPTER 8
This chapter reveals the true identity of Mohammed Kabir, a laboratory technologist employed by the University. He has been nicknamed Doctor since secondary school and has always been referred to as Dr Kabir.
Labaran discovers Salma has been played by the gambler and informs Habib suggesting Zaki be contacted to handle the situation. Honourable Habib is skeptical about involving Zaki owing to his failure in the first mission of abducting Alhaji Adamu’s son. Habib yields to Labaran’s suggestion and contacted Zaki to trail Kabir.
Kabir is spotted at a gambling spot. Kabir wins the game at the gambling spot and leaves to avoid losing it all. Sadly, he is trailed by thugs whose mission is to retrieve Kabir’s wins. Zaki catches up with Kabir as he is being attacked by the thugs. Zaki strikes the thugs and gains control of the situation as they flee. He then concentrates on Kabir, collects the money, and left him bruised.
Ummi also tells her children how Salma changed her immoral ways. Salma becomes serious and decent after the death of her father and because of her level of seriousness Ummi allows Salma to become friends with her.
CHAPTER 9
Ummi also reveals Salim resentful experience with smartphones. Salim confesses to Lawal about a girl he meets on social media. After several exchange of pictures, chats, and affection Salim visits Natasha according to her preference. Unconsciously to him that he is being tricked by Natasha, he embarks on a journey to see her late in the night. On his arrival, she joins him in the front seat of his SUV, and Salim is captivated by her beauty. He is eventually ambushed by gunmen who try to rob him of his possession. Luckily for him, he escapes this only to get involved with another lady he meets on social media.
This time he pleads with Lawal to accompany him to avoid similar contingency. Lawal declines and he goes to see the supposed beautiful girl. Salim leaves in disappointment as meets an ugly girl instead.
The children are seen proclaiming admiration for all the stories relayed to them by Ummi as they await daddy’s arrival.
Kaduna Court Orders Media Firm To Pay El-Rufai N10m For Defamation
Xtotech Media
Updated November 2, 2021
A High Court in Kaduna State has ordered Today Publishing Company, publishers of The Union newspaper, to tender an apology and pay N10 million for defaming the state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
Governor El-Rufai had approached the court in 2015 after the newspaper published false claims about his assets declaration, in suit number KAD/KDH/285/15, which had Today’s Publishing Company Ltd as a defendant.
Delivering judgement on Monday, the presiding judge, Justice M.L. Muhammed of the Kaduna State High Court, ordered the defendants to pay El-Rufai the sum of N10 million as general damages and tender an apology which must be published in two national dailies.
The court held that the plaintiff had clinically demonstrated through his pleadings and evidence led in support that he never declared assets worth N90 billion and 40 mansions.
The court reiterated the ingredients that the plaintiff had proven the ingredients of defamation to wit: publication of the offending words; that the words refer to the plaintiff; that the words are defamatory of the plaintiff; that the words were published to third parties; that the words are false; and that there are no justifiable legal grounds for the said publication.
The court held that by Exhibits 1 and 2 (the print and electronic versions of the said publication), the plaintiff had shown that indeed the offending material was published by the defendants to third parties.
The court also held that by Exhibit 11 (the plaintiff’s assets’ declaration form submitted to the CCB), the plaintiff had satisfactorily shown that he did not declare assets worth N90bn and 40 mansions, the implication of which is that the words were false and defamatory of the plaintiff.
Similarly, the court noted that the first defence witness concluded his testimony by admitting that there was no basis for the said publication.
The court further referred to the testimony of the first defence witness which was replete with admissions and held that the defendants had failed to prove the defences of justification, fair comment and qualified privilege.
The court also perpetually restrained the defendants from further defaming Governor El-Rufai.
It will be recalled that the case followed a front-page story published in The Union on 2nd July 2015, which falsely claimed that the governor had declared assets worth N90bn and 40 mansions.
El-Rufai’s lawyer, Abdulhakeem Mustapha, SAN praised the judgment “as a well-considered judgment which was replete with industry and erudition”.
Travis Scott surprises his and Kylie Jenner’s daughter, Stormi Webster, with a yellow bus (photos)
Travis Scott surprised his daughter, Stromi Webster, with a big yellow bus.
According to Stormi’s mother, Kylie Jenner, the 3-year-old has been talking about riding a big yellow bus for so long so her dad got her one.
See photos below.
NDA attack, disgrace to Nigeria, says musician Daddy Showkey
Veteran singer, John Asiemo, popularly known as Daddy Showkey, has condemned the bandits’ attack on the Nigerian Defense Academy.
Daddy Showkey took to his Instagram page on Wednesday to share a video of himself, where he said that the attack is a heavy disgrace to the country.
Gunmen wearing army uniform, in the early hours of Tuesday, invaded the country’s foremost military institution, the Nigerian Defence Academy, Afaka, Kaduna, killing two officers and abducting one.
The PUNCH gathered that when the gunmen entered the NDA permanent site along Airport Road, Afaka, in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State around 1am, they came through a broken fence and caught the residents unawares
It was learnt that the gunmen, who headed in different parts of the premises, caught the officers on duty off guard because they were wearing military uniform.
Condemning the attack, Daddy Showkey said that it is a shame and a disgrace to the nation.
“It is a shame and disgrace to Nigeria. Our pride, the Nigeria Defense Academy was attacked, you people are still calling these people bandits. These people are not bandits, they are mercenaries coming to take over Nigeria.
Nigeria Needs A New Constitution To Stop Recycling Failed Leaders – Afe Babalola
Legal icon and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Afe Babalola, has challenged Nigerians to move away from the tradition of recycling those he described as ‘same failed leaders’ for meaningful developments to be recorded in the country.
In a bid to achieve this, he recommended that a new constitution be put in place ahead of the general elections in 2023.
“It is my considered view that a new constitution must be in place before the next election, otherwise we will be recycling the same failed leaders that have brought Nigeria to where it is today,” said the legal luminary who highlighted the 1999 Constitution as the major problem of the nation.
He made the remarks on Monday in his goodwill message as the special guest of honour at the Fifth Ife Institute of Advanced Studies, Summer Institute Programme.
“I have said it over and over again that the problem with Nigeria is the 1999 Constitution foisted on us by the military when it wanted to exit the reigns of governance in 1999, instead of reverting to the 1963 constitution which Nigeria’s founding fathers bequeathed to us.
“After all, the military merely suspended the 1963 constitution when it seized power on January 15, 1996, it did not abolish it,” the senior advocate who founded the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, added.
According to him, it is lamentable that instead of bringing back the 1963 Constitution which was suspended, the military went to America to import “the presidential system of government to install an all-powerful President and weakened the constituent regions (now states)”.
Transformational, Not Transactional Leaders
The ‘all-powerful President’, he stated, wielded so much power to the extent that when the National Assembly invited him on security matters, he ignored the wish of the representatives of the people by refusing to honour the invitation.
Babalola decried that the present Constitution allowed Nigeria to run the most expensive democracy in the world, with government functionaries earning exorbitant salaries and allowances in a country riddled with unemployment, poverty, and insecurity, among other challenges.
He also noted that the constitution bred those he described as transactional leaders rather than transformational leaders.
On the way out, the legal icon asked those who wish Nigeria to remain an indivisible entity to ensure the 1999 constitution was replaced with a truly federal constitution and a parliamentary system of government.
“The proposed constitution will discourage politics from being the most lucrative business in Nigeria; the constitution must make provision for independent candidates to contest and win elections.
“The constitution must prevent transactional businessmen from contesting elections,” he suggested.
Big Brother Nigeria Season 6 update
The 2021 Big Brother Naija reality TV show has finally begun on Saturday, July 24, as the host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu welcomes the the contestants into the house. The season 6 of Big Brother Naija is themed Shine Ya Eye. There will be no SMS voting for this season which will run for 72 days. All voting will be on the Big Brother Naija website and mobile site as well as on the MyDStv and MyGOtv apps. According to Big Brother Naija, winner of the 10-week long reality TV show will go home with a the grand prize of N90 million. Ebuka Obi-Uchendu welcomed the contestants into the Big Brother Naija house. The 2021 Big Brother Naija Shine Ya Eye Edition kicked off on Saturday, July 24. Photo credit: @ebuka Source: Instagram Jul 24 8:58 PM Cross is welcomed on stage as the 11th housemate Cross is adventurous and spontaneous. He loves clubbing and dancing. He will be himself in the house. According to him, he will like to see a lot of drama. He detests evil. He is a fitness centre and spa owner who insists he lives by “the rule of love”.
Video clips of the female housemate
#BBniajaSeason6.
Two Killed In Akwa Ibom Community Cult Crisis
At least two persons have been killed following a resurgence of cult clashes in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
The crisis has forced residents of Udianga Enem community and its village head Mendie Josiah Udoekoriko to flee his palace.
The latest incident is said to have happened on Monday night, when a rival cult group said to be of the Iceland group, led by one Oto, from Obon Ebot, stormed the Udianga Enem community to retrieve stolen items, allegedly seized by the opposing gang in the nearby community of Obong Ntak.
The invaders led by the Iceland leader, had gone for negotiations with the other group, Debam, led by one Samuel Jessy Okonko, popularly called ‘Angel Boy’ with a view to recovering those properties.
The said negotiations resulted in a scuffle between the two groups leading to the death of one person.
Another person had earlier been reported killed at Obong Ntak community after the looting.
Confirming the incident, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), S.P Odiko Macdon assured that an investigation will begin as soon as the Etim Ekpo Area Command gives details on the incident.
Gunmen Kill Three Police Officers In Enugu
At least three police officers have been killed in Enugu.
The attack was carried out on Wednesday night while the police officers were on duty along Obeagu-Amechi in Enugu South Local Government Area and Amagunze in Nkanu East Local Government Area of the state.
The attackers also burnt the police patrol vehicle.
Confirming the incident, the police spokesperson in the state Daniel Ndukwe said preliminary investigations have commenced and further development will be communicated.
Diaz stunner downs Peru to give Colombia Copa 3rd place
Colombia’s Luis Diaz celebrates after scoring the team’s third goal against Peru during their Conmebol 2021 Copa America football tournament third-place match at the Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia, Brazil, on July 9, 2021. – Colombia won the match 3-2. (Photo by EVARISTO SA / AFP)
Luis Diaz scored a sensational winner with virtually the last kick of the match as Colombia beat Peru 3-2 in Brasilia on Friday to finish third in the Copa America.
The goal was the 24-year-old Porto forward’s second of the match and came just 10 minutes after Gianluca Lapadula looked to have sent the game into a penalty shoot-out.
It was a thrilling encounter that ebbed and flowed, with Yoshimar Yotun giving Peru a first half lead before Colombia captain Juan Cuadrado equalized early in the second period. x
“We’re happy, it was important to finish by winning,” said Cuadrado, whose side lost their semi-final on penalties to Lionel Messi’s Argentina, who play Neymar’s Brazil in Saturday’s final.
“I’m happy with how we reacted (to going behind) and how we went after the result.”
Colombia had the better start and piled on early pressure but Peru held firm despite the ball often pinging around in their box.
And Peru even had the first clear chance on 28 minutes when Christian Cueva’s clever pass found Lapadula, but under pressure from a defender he fired narrowly wide from just inside the box.
Diaz had a chance for Colombia but fired straight at goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.
On 40 minutes Sergio Pena left Colombia’s centre back Oscar Murillo on the floor with a clever turn, rounded goalkeeper Camilo Vargas but blazed well over the bar from a tight angle.
Peru got the lead they deserved just before the break as Cueva’s precise pass and Lapadula’s clever run took out four defenders to set up Yotun for an emphatic finish.
Colombia were back level just four minutes after the break as Cuadrado fired a free-kick through a disintegrating wall and past Gallese at his near post.
Alexander Callens had given away the free-kick on the edge of the box with a clumsy challenge and compounded his error by jumping away from his fellow members of the wall to create the gap that Cuadrado exploited.
Colombia’s tails were up and Cuadrado’s cross picked out man-of-the-match Diaz whose acrobatic overhead kick was parried over by Gallese. x
The game opened up and the dangerous Lapadula cut inside a defender on the right before firing in a left-foot shot that clipped the bar as it went over.
It was end to end stuff with the goalkeepers playing a role in launching long range attacks.
Gallese picked out Cueva to run at goal only for a Wilmar Barrios bodycheck to stop him in his tracks.
But then Vargas launched a long ball up field for Diaz to scamper away and beat Gallese with a rasping finish on 66 minutes.
Lapadula looked to have sent the match to penalties eight minutes from time when he rose almost unopposed to head home a Raziel Garcia corner from six yards out.
But Diaz had the last word with a stunning strike from 25 yards that Gallese could only get his fingertips to as it rifled into the top corner.
Anambra guber jigsaw: Shadow parties blossom, as big three wrestle
NwankpoThere is an admixture of surprise and relief in Anambra State, as the state grapples with the action-packed buildup to its planned November 6, 2021 governorship election.
Suddenly, out of the ashes of the two major contenders-All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-have arisen two former shadow platforms, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Labour Party (LP).
In attire and name, it is as if fortune or happenstance prepared Akachukwu Nwankpo and Obiora Agbasimelo to take the place of wave-making candidates of APGA and PDP. While Nwankpo, the ADC governorship hopeful adorns an all-white caftan similar to Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, the embattled APGA rival candidate, Agbasimelo, whose second name is Obiora reminds of PDP’s governorship first runner-up, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, who was tipped by bookmakers to win his party’s primary.
New Frontliners
THE standard-bearers of the two parties, Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo (ADC) and Obiora Agbasimelo, are already stealing the show and appropriating the fascination of the Anambra electorate. They are also putting their new shine in the limelight to great effect by taunting the embattled big three, namely, APGA, PDP and All Progressives Congress (APC).
For instance, speaking to journalists in Awka four days ago, the LP candidate, Agbasimelo, an obvious allusion to APGA and PDP, urged Anambra voters to avoid political parties that attract attention to themselves through convoluted court processes and frivolous litigations.
Agbasimelo, who like Soludo, was a banker before turning to politics, is from Ezinifite, the hometown of late Ogene Music maestro, Oliver de Coque. During the interaction with journalists in Awka, he said the election is already throwing up surprises to the relief of NdiAnambra.
He stated: “Anambra people have had enough of these crisis-ridden political parties. I believe that the election coming up in November is the appropriate time for us to show maturity and experience in choosing a better political party and a better candidate that can meet the yearning of our people in the cities, towns and villages across the state.”
Further, he explained that LP provides a credible alternative to the other stormy platforms that are steeped in crises, adding: “Labour Party (LP) is cool, peaceful and ready to render good governance when elected, unlike other political parties that are engulfed in bewildering crises.”
While outlining how the crises in the big three parties would continue without end, Agbasimelo said the confusion in those platforms was ordained to happen so that Labour Party can provide political succour to the Anambra people.
“What the peace-loving people of Anambra State need from the 2021 governorship election are in two important folds; namely, a younger person like me, who can listen to the people and be available to do the work and not a traveller that spends much time overseas. Secondly, a crisis-free political party that will not waste much-needed resources for providing dividends of democracy on litigations.
“What I am saying is that we, the good people of Anambra State have had enough of these crisis-ridden political parties. I believe that the forthcoming election on November 6 is the appropriate time for us to show maturity and experience in choosing a better political party and a better candidate that can meet the yearning of our people in the cities, towns and villages across the state.
“Let us forget about these other political parties that are known for generating news from court cases for the media instead of generating news about initiating laudable projects and commissioning of completed projects.
“I chose to run under Labour Party because I want to generate news from projects execution and not from cases in courts. I am sure that my choice is not a bad one. I am also sure Labour Party is the right choice for the electorates.”
On his part, Nze Akachukwu, a former Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Technical Matters, said the new political realities in Anambra State are the making of God. He promised to cure the debilitating election malaise in the state, which robs voters of their will and frustrates transparency.
His words: “Let me assure you that the type of madness you see in every election, where ‘big men with money trample on everybody will end with us. I assure you that we will stop that madness.”
Promising to build on the foundation already laid by past administrations in the state, the Okija, Ihiala-born politician noted, “so many good things are in Anambra State.”
“We have a good airport; we have a good network of roads. Lots of things have been done by this current administration; we are going to build on it. We will bring back the resources of Anambra State. We will bring home the ‘big men’ in Anambra State; if I need to kneel before them, I will. If I need to plead with them, I will. Whatever it will take me to bring back the wealth of Anambra State, I will do that as your governor.
“Today, Igbo people all over Nigeria move around with fear, because they have nobody to protect them. I assure you that under this party, we will build a Nigeria that protects the pride of Nd’Igbo. We will respect our neighbours; we will not insult them, because Igbo culture supports the brotherhood availed by neighbourliness. Ndi Igbo will say: ‘Agbata Obi Onye, bu Nwanne ya!” he added.
In a veiled contrast of the profile of his former political party, APGA, and the present one, ADC, which is an offshoot of the former, Akachukwu commended Chief Okey Nwosu, (Ikolo Awka), “for being tenacious in doing things that are right.
“From the time he was in APGA till today, he has been a founding member of ADC; he has sustained a character of focus and honesty. It is his determined focus that has kept all of us here today.
“When I started this journey, there were people who never believed my name will appear on the ballot. Some didn’t believe it, because they felt I have no money, some didn’t believe, because they felt I have no connections, and some didn’t believe, because they believe they can steal it. Those who stole it in the first party I went to, will see they have stolen nothing.”
Although Nwankpo holds an edge, having been in Anambra, nay Igbo politics much longer, he and Agbasimelo are riding high on the wings of the emerging political climate in the state. While the ADC candidate has set up a high-powered multi-disciplinary committee to screen possible running mates, Agbasimelo of LP doubled down on the Soludo’s shifty fate.
Accompanied by his brother, Obiora Agbasimelo presented himself to one of the Nnewi billionaires that endorsed Soludo’s candidacy, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, Chairman of Innoson Motor Manufacturing Company. While intimating Chief Chukwuma of the crisis in the so-called big parties, the LP candidate argued that like money, no investor goes to where there is no peace and security. For his effort and courage, the Innoson boss supported the candidate with a Hilux Van to augment his logistics for the approaching electioneering. x
What Happened?
PERHAPS, only people that have been following closely the undulating narratives of Anambra governorship would recognise where the rain started beating the big three political parties.
APGA, which had been enmeshed in leadership squabble, started developing complications when in the middle of the preparations for the governorship primary, a splinter group arose and announced the dissolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC), as well as the suspension of the two claimants to the position of national chairman, Ozo Victor Oye and Chief Edozie Njoku. In their place, Chief Jude Okeke assumed office.
Falling back on Court orders, both Njoku and Okeke organised separate governorship primaries that threw up two other candidates in addition to Soludo, namely Chief Edozie Njoku and Hon. Chukwuma Umeoji, thus investing APGA with the record of being the only political party to produce three governorship candidates for the same election.
Bemoaning the impact of multiple litigations on APGA’s fortune, rival national chairman, Edozie Njoku, maintained that despite the different court judgments regarding its leadership, the party was on a steady march to victory in the November 6, 21 governorship poll.
On the July 1 ruling by Hon Justice H. A. Nganjiwa of the Awka Federal High Court, which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to recognise his faction, Njoku said the court judgment laid bare the situation of things in APGA.
He explained that the court order mandating INEC to accept the nomination of any candidate that emerged from the governorship primary conducted by his faction on June 29, 2021 provides a credible window of opportunity for APGA to participate in the poll.
“Gentlemen, recall that the Federal High Court, Awka also granted an order mandating INEC to recognise Chief Edozie Njoku as the authentic National Chairman of APGA. We received the ruling by Justice H. A. Nganjiwa, with great sense of relief.
“For whatever it is worth, however, our determination, resolve and commitment to ensuring that APGA retains its original progressive ideals do not flounder remains irrevocable. APGA politics must be purged of private intentions masked in dubious public conduct for narrow private advantage,” he stated.
The APGA national chairman commended President Muhammad Buhari “for his foresight in empowering the Judiciary with the needed confidence and institutional support to ensure that justice is served to all Nigerians, irrespective of creed, party affiliation or tribal origin.”
But despite Njoku’s optimism, another chieftain of the troubled incumbent, party, Okoye Nwabuogo, has asked an Abuja Federal High Court to disqualify Prof. Soludo, as the party’s standard bearer for the November 6, poll.
In the originating summons No: FHC/ABJ/CS/596/2021, Nwabuogo is praying the court to set-aside the election and nomination of Prof. Soludo as well as for an order restraining Soludo from parading himself as the validly or duly elected candidate of APGA for the said election.
According to the plaintiff, APGA failed to give statutory 21 days notice to INEC before it held the special ward congress, where adhoc delegates voted to nominate Soludo as candidate of the party. No hearing date has been fixed by the court.
Meanwhile, Jude Okoye has filed another suit at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, seeking to stop Victor Oye and Edozie Njoku from parading themselves as chairmen of the party and the court to rather declare him the authentic APGA chairman.
PDP
NOTMINDING that it held parallel governorship primaries that produced valentine Ozigbo and Senator Ugochukwu Uba as alternate candidates, PDP suffered another image deficit, when the first runner-up in the primary that threw up Ozigbo, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, renounced the process, as well as the outcome of the straw poll.
Okonkwo contended that from the result announced by the Committee led by the Edo State Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, “it is obvious that the outcome of that exercise did not reflect the wishes and desires of the people.”
“Obviously, there were a number of serious issues and irregularities regarding the primary election. First, in response to a very late court order barring elected delegates from participating in the primaries, the National Working Committee of the party decided, at the last minute, to limit the voting to a small number of statutory delegates.
“But even with that, the list of the statutory delegates kept changing with no explanation of the criteria used to exclude some hitherto approved delegates while adding new ones, some of whom are not eligible under the party’s constitution.
“Perhaps, the most blatant of the irregularities came in the collation of votes. For instance, a total of 218 delegates were accredited for the exercise. The tally of votes cast for the candidates, along with voided votes came to 201.
“A full week after the primary election, nobody has satisfactorily explained what happened to the other 17 votes cast by duly accredited delegates.
Okonkwo added: ‘We expect those who conducted the election to provide the answer to this obvious discrepancy, particularly given the razor-thin margin of victory of the declared result.”
APC
THE All Progressives Congress (APC) national leadership is yet to make its position known on the controversy trailing the party’s conduct of governorship primary election in the state.
While the party’s electoral and appeal committee say there was a valid primary that produced Senator Andy Uba as winner, other 11 aspirants swear that there was no semblance of election on the June 26, 2021 scheduled for the exercise.
Under the prevailing circumstances within the big political parties, how it would affect voting preferences towards them on November 6, remains a wild guess.
Rotational presidency unconstitutional, says Yahaya Bello
Yahaya Bello
Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi has described the clamour for rotational presidency as unconstitutional, saying that Nigerians should be allowed to make their choices for the best candidate to emerge for the top post.
Bello was speaking at the maiden edition of the Governor Yahaya Bello seminar for political and crime correspondents in Abuja on Friday.
He argued that the criteria on who should be Nigeria’s next president should be centered on someone who would unify the country and solve the problems plaguing the nation.
Bello pointed out, however, that if rotational presidency was to be considered, it should be done with equity, fairness and justice, noting that the Middle-Belt and the Southeast had not held the position since 1999. x
The governor argued further that if zoning was to resolve the problems of Nigeria, the previous presidents would have completely solved the problems in the zones they had represented.
“When we are talking about democracy today, democracy is all about free choices. Give the majority the free will to choose whoever they want. Let political parties not limit Nigerians to who they want to elect into offices.
“When you look at it, I think it is unconstitutional. It is not in our APC party Constitution and it is not there in the 1999 Constitution.
“Today, if you are sick and need to be operated upon, you will want the best doctor to operate on you. It’s not where the doctor comes from or the religion he practices that matters.
“Put that aside, if we should continue on the sentiments of this rotation of the presidency, from that region to this region, then let us do it perfectly in the interest of equity, fairness and justice.
“If that is the angle you want to come from, let us put it on the table and look at it and we should not just take it from 1999, let us go back to 1960 from independence when Nigerians started ruling themselves. x
“You will discover that other geo-political zones as they exist today, have at one time or the other occupied the position of the presidency — either as president or vice-president.
“If we should go by that, then the North Central has been largely short-changed. Then let us focus on North Central.
“But if you take it from 1999, then you are talking of the North Central and the Southeast. I continue to emphasise that the best candidate should be allowed to emerge.
“The candidate should be someone, who will unify this country, solve the problems we are facing today, build on the legacies that Mr President will leave behind.”
The governor also urged Nigerian youths to get involved and take charge just like their counterparts across the globe, “who are driving the modern world’’.
The President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mr Chris Isiguzo, said that gathering journalists from across the country for the seminar was a step in the right direction. x
He said that the Bello administration had been able to transform Kogi from “the decrepit point where he met it to the pinnacle point where the state sits today.
“What is happening today is one of such initiatives coming from Kogi State.
“This should be the first time in the history of this country for a governor to come, not just to talk to journalists but to empower them by building their capacity and equipping them to report Nigeria for Nigeria.”
Isiguzo urged journalists to undertake their reportage with patriotism and place the country above other considerations.
Dr Folashade Arike Ayoade, Secretary to the Kogi State Government, said the seminar was meant to be a moment of sober reflection on issues bedeviling the nation.
She pointed out that the seminar would give participants insights into how Kogi was tackling challenges affecting the state.
Kaduna Security: Bandits Kidnap Woman And Her Three Children in Zaria
Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a woman and her three kids in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The bandits according to eyewitnesses, stormed the town Milgoma opposite the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) in Shika, Zaria, on Friday.
They broke into the house of the woman through the gate, and thereafter, took the woman and her three children away to an unknown destination.
While the Police authorities are yet to confirm the incident, locals said the bandits came through a village called ‘Nasarawan Buhari’ and later went away with the four victims through another village called ‘Biye’.
The woman’s husband, who is a lecturer at the Federal University Dutsima in Katsina State was not around when the incident occurred, but a resident of the community told Channels Television that some members of a local vigilante were able to repel the bandits from taking away more people.
Prophet T.B Joshua Buried Amid Tears And Tributes
Prophet Temitope Joshua, better known as T. B Joshua has been buried amid tears and tributes from his teeming followers and public figures.
The burial took place on Friday at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) in Lagos after an interment service attended by dignitaries including Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State.
Others included Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State who was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Home Affairs, Anofiu Elegushi and the wife of Ooni of Ife, Olori Naomi Adeyeye.
Gospel singers Shirley Murdock and Byron Cage also graced the ceremony.
While paying tribute to the Ondo-born televangelist who rose to prominence in the 1990s, Akeredolu described TB Joshua’s death as a loss to humanity.
He said the preacher who attracted thousands of worshippers to his mega-church was a special breed, admitting that the mammoth crowd that attended his burial eclipsed what was recorded during the funeral of South Africa’s foremost freedom fighter, Nelson Mandela.
“I’m not too sure we’ve had the world so congregated in this number from different countries in many such services, maybe, that of Nelson Mandela but the world is more represented here than when Nelson Mandela was buried,” Akeredolu said of the cleric who was credited with predicting some global events. “Indeed, it was and is being globally acknowledged today by all of us.”
Mega-Pastors Shun Event
Friday’s burial was the culmination of a week-long funeral rites that attracted hoards of people across the globe.
The charismatic preacher’s body arrived at the SCOAN premises in the Ikotun-Egbe area of Lagos on Thursday.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the “umbrella organisation containing numerous Christian denominations,” which previously had a frosty relationship with the late clergyman, sent a delegation to the burial.
But many mega-pastors in Africa’s most populous nation shunned the ceremony, signaling their cold relationship with T.B Joshua.
Outside the SCOAN premises, many flags belonging to different nations were flown at half-mast.
The mourners came from the Caribbean and South Africa, among others, a reflection of T.B Joshua’s followership which stretched beyond the Nigerian borders.
Hundreds of residents in the Ikotun area lined the streets on Thursday to catch of glimpse of the late cleric’s hearse.
Although many of them are not members of his church, they admitted to have been impacted by the preacher’s charity and the industry created by SCOAN.
T.B Joshua died on June 5th in Lagos after holding a church service. The cause of his death is unknown. He was 57.
Two Lawyers Accused Of Rigging NBA Elections To Be Arraigned Nov 9
Xtotech Media
Updated July 8, 2021
The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has fixed November 9, 2021, for the re-arraignment of two lawyers charged with alleged manipulation of the 2018 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Election which produced Mr Paul Usoro (SAN) as the President of the Bar.
The two lawyers to be re-arraigned are: Sarah Ajibola and John Demide.
In December 10, 2020, the two lawyers were arraigned before Justice Chuka Obiozor, on a 14-count charge of conspiracy and cybercrime-related offences.
They pleaded not guilty.
Justice Obiozor has subsequently been transferred to another division of the court and this necessitates a rearrangement before another judge of the court.
READ ALSO: Yobe Tricycle Operators Protest Over Unlawful Arrest Of Members
At the resumed hearing of the charge against the two lawyers today before Justice Tijjani Ringim, there was no legal representation for the prosecuting agency, the EFCC.
The two defendants were however represented.
Owing to the absence of the prosecuting team coupled with the fact that the matter is coming up before the court for the first time, Justice Ringim, adjourned the matter till November 9, for the re-arraignment of the two lawyers.
Alleged Manipulation
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) claimed that Ajibola and Demide manipulated the election in favour of the immediate past President, Mr Paul Usoro SAN, who was elected the 29th NBA President in 2018.
Mr Usoro polled 4,509 votes to defeat his other contenders, Okafor Obi, and Ernest Ojukwu, who got 4,423 as well as 3,313 votes in the elections.
One of the candidates, Mr Ojukwu, condemned the election saying it was characterised by fraud.
On May 5th, the agency filed the 14-count charge against the defendants.
The EFCC counsel, Bilikisu Buhari Bala, told the court that the defendants committed the offences in August, 2018.
The counsel also alleged that they conspired and altered personal details including email addresses and phone numbers of about 1004 eligible voters for the elections, with the intention that such inauthentic data will be acted upon as genuine during the said election.
Some of the voters’ names allegedly falsified were: Gabriel Abijo Oladipo with Supreme Court of Nigeria (SCN) No. 043280; Uthman Adeleye Oluwaseun with SCN No. 088449; David Anakor SCN No. 015233; Chiagoziem Bethel Aninilu, SCN No. 114439 and Bankole Isaac Toyin with SCN no. 024643.
The two lawyers were alleged to have used a smoke model on IP address 169.159.65.190 to commit electoral fraud.
The offences, according to the prosecutor, contravened and were punishable under sections 27(1)(b), 13, 22(2), 22(3) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention etc.) Act, 2015.
Ajibola and Demide pleaded not guilty.
Their counsel, N. E. Ogeibe and Deborah Ogundele asked the court to admit them to bail “in the most liberal terms.”
They told the court that Ajibola was a senior lawyer of over 15 years, and would neither jump bail nor tamper with evidence for the charge.
In a bench ruling, Justice Obiozor admitted each defendant to bail in the sum of N500,000 with one surety each.
NYSC Should Be Extended To Two Years, Members Should Undergo Military Training, Says Ishaku
Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, says that as part of the country’s efforts to combat insecurity, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) should be extended to two years, and members be allowed to undergo military.
The governor who was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, also said the scheme should be extended to two years with the first involving core military training.
NYSC which runs for a year was designed by the Nigerian government in 1973 to encourage nation-building among graduates.
But the governor believes that an extension of the duration would better equip graduates with self-defence techniques especially at a time like this when national insecurity is now rife.
“The NYSC I will say should be two years. One year for compulsory military training and the other year for the social works that they are doing now so that anybody who graduates as an NYSC person can know how to handle the gun and defend himself,” he said.
“Just as it is done in Israel, Lebanon, etc, you must engage your citizens to be proactive. When you cannot provide security, you must allow the people to protect themselves.”
The governor also reacted to the insurgency and banditry that have ravaged the northeast and northwest regions of the country, noting he has repeatedly asked security agencies who the sponsors of the criminal elements are.
When asked if the issue has political undertones, the governor replied in the affirmative.
Nigeria has been experiencing a series of security threats ranging from terrorism, banditry, militancy, cultism among others in several parts of the country.
The country has been battling terrorism for more than a decade with thousands killed and hundreds of others displaced.
The Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) split from the jihadist group Boko Haram in 2016 and has since become a dominant threat in Nigeria, attacking troops and bases while killing and kidnapping passengers at bogus checkpoints.
2023: Zulum Backs Southern Govs’ On Power Shift
David Egobiambu
Updated July 7, 2021
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has reechoed calls for power to shift to the southern part of the country, backing the Southern Governors’ Forum’s resolution on the zoning of the presidential seat in 2023.
The southern governors had during a meeting in Lagos on Monday agreed that the region should produce Nigeria’s next president based on the principles of equity, and fairness, an assertion Zulum also corroborated.
“I have said it times without number that I, Professor Babagana Zulum, I am of the view that the presidency should go to the south in the year 2023 because the unity of our country is very important,” the governor said during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday.
“Secondly, inclusivity is very important. Thirdly, I am in the APC. Six or seven years ago, APC had zoned the presidency to northern Nigeria based on the agreement that in the year 2023, the presidency should go to the south.”
‘This Is Politics’
The governor admitted that the southern leaders have the right to call for power shift to the region but faulted those insisting that the zone must produce the next Nigerian leader.
“But again, this is politics. We are supposed to meet and discuss this issue among ourselves, among the political class,” he explained, as he called for caution so as not to overheat the polity in the lead-up to the 2023 polls.
“This statement that people are saying that the president must go to the south, I want them to remove the word must.”
He also refuted speculations that his stance on zoning was due to his political interests.
“And I have said it before, I am not interested in becoming the vice president of the country, neither the president of the nation but I want to say the right thing,” Zulum added, doubling down on his earlier stance.
Since the return of democracy in 1999, Nigeria has had an unwritten agreement for the rotation of power between the largely Muslim northern region and the Christian-dominated south.
The arrangement which is often referred to as “zoning,” continues to draw intense debates from political leaders in the country.
Critics believe the policy is outdated, undermines democracy, and panders to ethnoreligious politics. But advocates of the zoning principle, argue that the power-sharing deal has helped in boosting unity among regions in Africa’s most populous nation.
Emefiele Calls For More Collaboration Between Universities And Key Industry Players
Timothy-Chris
Updated July 6, 2021
The Governor of the Central bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele, has asked managers of higher institutions of learning in the country to draw knowledge from curricula that cater to the modern realities of the country.
Mr Emefiele made the call during the 51st convocation lecture of the University of Lagos on Tuesday where he was invited as the guest speaker on the topic: National Development And Knowledge Economy In The Digital Age: Leapfrogging SMEs Into the 21st Century.
The CBN boss harped on the need for an enhanced learning experience for students as well as fostered innovation amongst faculty and staff in schools across the country.
In his presentation, Mr Emefiele said: “enhanced collaboration between universities and players in key sectors of our economy such as agriculture, manufacturing and ICT are necessary to enable implementation of sound ideas generated from our universities. For instance, universities in most developing countries have little or no formal linkages to industry. This often arises from the implementation of training curricula that is irrelevant to the industry, thereby, resulting in the production of ill-equipped graduates.”
As one of the steps to addressing that challenge, Emefiele advocated collaboration between institutions of higher learning and industry key players in key sectors of the economy.
Mr Emefiele maintained that “the current economic situation in Nigeria requires an accelerated adoption of knowledge to drive our developmental goals. The fast pace of growth and innovation in the digital space along with the large and growing population of vibrant youths places Nigeria on a vantage position to harness these potentials for accelerated development.”
He beamed his light on advanced economies whom he affirmed had adopted technology-driven development models rather than the previously adopted traditional factors of production including labour and capital.
The CBN governor identified SMEs as the backbone of national and economic development which he said is due to their contributions to GDP through employment generation and poverty eradication.
He gave identified SMEs as accounting for close to 90 per cent of total enterprises in most countries. In a report which he said is from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, 98 per cent of Chinese firms are SMEs, contributing around 68 per cent to exports and a whopping 60 per cent to Chinese’s GDP while employing 75per cent of the Chinese workforce. The experiences of Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Hong Kong are like China with about 90 per cent of their industries classified as SMEs.
In spite of the numerous benefits of the SMEs to economic development and job creation, limited access to finance, inadequate infrastructure and poor digital penetration were some of the challenges Mr Emefiele identified to be confronting it.
To tackle those challenges, the CBN boss revealed some of the interventions of the apex bank to include the provision of support to selected higher institutions in the country to enhance training and quality as well as development of finance interventions to support SMEs.
Other programmes of the bank include the SME Credit Guarantee Scheme (SMECGS), Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Programme (YEDP); Agribusiness/Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS). Others are the Entrepreneurship Development Centres (EDCs), National Collateral Registry(NCR), Creative Industry Financing Initiative (CIFI), Targeted Credit Facility (TCF) and the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF).
Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund is another scheme through which Mr Emefiele said the CBN is channelling low-interest wholesale funds to the MSME segment.
So far, over N83.9 billion are reported to have been disbursed to 216,704 beneficiaries with a nine 9 per cent interest charge.
Former Vice presidential candidate, Pastor Tunde Bakare was the Chairman of the convocation lecture.
He advised graduating students to take up the attributes of respect for value, discipline, dedication, calculated risk, integrity and intelligence; attributes he said he learnt from his mother and have helped him through life.
Kenyatta betrayed Nnamdi Kanu for oil money — IPOB
July 6, 2021
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, yesterday, described as a lame denial, the Kenyan Ambassador to Nigeria, Wilfred Machage’s attempt to exonerate Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, from the circumstance that led to the alleged abduction and extradition of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to Nigeria, saying that it has incontrovertible evidence against Kenyetta’s involvement.
IPOB alleged that the Kenyan President betrayed Mazi Kanu because of financial inducement by Nigerian government and promise of oil business, describing the Kenyan government denial as a smart but belated attempt to cover up its atrocities.
This came as Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, said Nnamdi Kanu was kidnapped by the federal government and his arrest was wrong.
Equally, Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, has asked the federal government to immediately return the abducted Leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra IPOB Nnamdi Kanu to Britain where he is a citizen.
In Britain, some southeast elders have stormed the United Kingdom Parliament in London to protest against President Muhammadu Buhari’s genocide in their region while urging the British authorities to prevail on Nigeria to halt the killings.
In a related development, the Minister of Justice and Solicitor-General of the Government of Alberta, Canada, Kelechi Madu, has slammed the Nigerian Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, over the re-arrest of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
Meantime, four suspected members of the Eastern Security Network, ESN, of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, yesterday, were paraded for allegedly planning to plant explosives in a military checkpoint along Owerri/Orlu road in Imo State.
Kenyatta’s involvement in Kanu’s abduction— IPOB
A statement by IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, entitled “We have incontrovertible evidence of how Uhuru Kenyatta betrayed our leader because of oil money” maintained that Kenyan security forces abducted Mazi Kanu at the Nairobi International Airport and tortured him for eight days before handing him over to Nigeria government for extradition.
IPOB statement read in part: “The attention of the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, ably led by our great leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been drawn to the lame denial by the Kenyan Ambassador to Nigeria, Wilfred Machage, of Kenya’s involvement in the criminal abduction of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“This denial is another smart but belated attempt to cover up their atrocities but unfortunately for them, we already have incontrovertible evidence of how the dirty deal between Nigeria and Kenya was struck. Our intelligence gathering has revealed all those involved in the heinous crime.
“The fact remains that Kenyan security forces abducted our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, at the Nairobi International Airport and tortured him for eight days. Our Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was traveling with British passport.
“Contrary to claims by the Nigeria Government, our leader was not traveling with any Nigeria passport because he is not a Nigerian. He was born in Biafra and he has since publicly renounced any connections with Nigeria.
“From our intelligence, Kenya betrayed our leader because of financial inducement and offer of oil by Nigeria. The negotiations was midwifed by the Nigerian Ambassador in Nairobi who bargained with President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Kenyan Immigration Authorities. Uhuru Kenyatta was blinded by the oil money offer and he consented to the wickedness.
“We have it on good authority that Kenyan Police tortured our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, for eight days without food. The Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta and Ambassador to Nigeria, should be ashamed of themselves for betraying an innocent man because of money. But we assure them that they will pay heavily for this treachery!”
FG kidnapped Nnamdi Kanu, his arrest was wrong —Soyinka
Speaking with BBC Pidgin yesterday, the literary icon said there would be an uproar in the country if the truth of how Kanu was arrested becomes known.
“It’s not for me to tell the president to prepare itself because it’s going to be a huge squawk when the truth about how Kanu was arrested comes out.
“People are alleging this or that. That is one phase whether Nigeria has acted outside international law,” Soyinka said.
“The second issue, however, has to do with Kanu’s conduct outside the nation. There’s been a level of hate rhetoric which has been unfortunate, from Kanu. Hate rhetoric is an issue that can only be judged by the laws of any nation.
“Was it right ‘to have been kidnapped?’ You can say intercepted as much as you want but I think Kanu was kidnapped. That is wrong internationally and morally.”
Commenting on the reactions that have trailed the swiftness with which the federal government arrested Kanu, the Nobel laureate said the federal government has not shown the same eagerness in going after bandits and insurgents.
“The government cannot wash itself clean on what seems to be a kind of comparative energy in pursuing the destabilised forces in the nation,” he said.
“If we take ourselves back, once when I threw a challenge to Buhari, what I expect from a true leader is to issue an order, give a deadline that any illegal occupant of any villages, farms is given 48hours to quit after which the mighty forces of the nation will be unleashed on them. It was ignored.
“Years later, he came to say ‘we will respond to these people in the language they understand’. This is what I expected him to have said years ago at the beginning of the insurgency.
“Their leadership, the Miyetti Allah, should have been arrested years ago, long before IPOB was declared a terrorist organisation.”
He said rather, the Miyetti Allah group has continued to act unchecked while the federal government has refused to “mount the same energy against them”.
“So people are right to say there has been an unequal and irregular approach to security and enforcement in this nation,” he added.
He advised the federal government to stop the blame game and take action.”
South-East elders protest at UK Parliament
The South-East leaders in a video of the protest as obtained by SaharaReporters, noted that the government was fuelling the crisis in the region.
It also accused the government of allowing attackers in form of herdsmen to maim and kill innocent people.
One of the elders said: “It has been a long time, all of us came together. And now, we are here. This is the British parliament. This is the House of Commons and House of Lords, the mother of all parliaments. We are bringing this letter because of the problem in Igboland and the South-East generally, which can be classified as genocide. People are being killed daily.
“The humiliation of the Igbo and South-East in Nigeria is unbelievable. Young boys and young girls are marched out of their houses by fully armed soldiers.
“They go into their houses and arrest them and they disappear and nobody asks any questions. It should stop. It must not be allowed to continue.
“We are appealing to the members of the British parliament to please prevail on the Buhari government. We cannot go to our farms, the herdsmen are there, killing and maiming our people.”
Igbo people in the UK have been protesting against various issues and decisions in Nigeria, including the recent arrest of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, who is in the custody of the Department of State Services in Abuja.
Malami, a disgrace to rule of law, says Canadian Justice Minister
Madu, in a post on his LinkedIn page, said if reports that Kanu was abducted from Kenya were true, Malami was not only a disgrace to the rule of law but also not worthy to be a public officer.
The Canadian official, who is also the Deputy Government House Leader, said Nigeria and Kenya violated international law in the manner Kanu was extradited and called on world leaders to apply appropriate sanctions.
Madu, who demanded the release of Kanu, urged the Nigerian government to ensure his safety.
“The Attorney General of Nigeria, Abubakar Malami is a disgrace to the rule of law and not worthy to be an officer of the court. He has shown himself to be a bigot who does not understand what it means to live in a pluralistic society governed by the dictates of the rule of law,” he wrote.
He also called on the international community and leaders of nations to use all their power to ensure “real consequences for these arbitrary violations of internationally accepted democratic norms and rules that govern civilized people.”
Madu said, “Nigeria is burning, and the people of Nigeria, except those who are holding the country down, want out. You cannot destroy the hope and aspiration of a people destined for greatness and expect them to bow down in servitude.
“You cannot destroy a generation of people and expect them not to fight for their freedom. The power of guns, state-sponsored terrorism will not achieve peace or the preservation of Nigeria.
“The Igbo and other ethnic groups in Nigeria who are calling for Nigeria to be renegotiated do not seek violence or war. They seek peace. They seek progress and the advancement of their people. They seek fairness, safety, equity, and justice for their people.
“They seek the opportunity for their children to grow up and achieve their God-given abundant potential. They seek the rise of a people with the work ethic, intellect and capacity to be a truly global super power on the continent of Africa. They seek dignity over inhumane treatment. They seek life over death.
“Friends of the black world must unite and liberate the people of Nigeria from this bondage and from the claws of corrupt and inept politicians who have no business being near the corridor of Nigeria’s political power.”
Return Nnamdi Kanu to UK, Igbo youth leaders tell FG
COSEYL in a statement jointly signed by its President Goodluck Ibem and Secretary General Kanice Igwe, described the attack as “barbaric and mindless.”
According to the statement, “the true and only killers in the country are the murderous herdsmen/terrorists who kill people all over the country”.
“The federal government has turned a blind eye to their atrocities and are only interested in arresting, tormenting, and dehumanizing innocent citizens who are not of Fulani extraction.
“Government took all the pains and spent enormous resources to bring Nnamdi Kanu from far away Kenya while the Boko Haram terrorists, ISWAP and murderous Fulani herdsmen/terrorists are busy killing Nigerians in their thousands.
“We demand that the Nigerian government should return Nnamdi Kanu to Britain where he is a citizen and if the federal government wishes to extradite him to Nigeria, they must follow due process of extradition according to international law. ”
According to the statement, “the true and only killers in the country are the murderous herdsmen/terrorists who kill people all over the country.”
4 ESN members arrested in Imo
The State Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro, confirmed this to newsmen in Owerri.
Yaro said that they were apprehended after ESN members engaged the security forces in a gun battle and in the process, they fell to the superior power of the police force.
NECO Timetable 2021 for SS3
Is NECO timetable 2021 for ss3 out – Yes the Neco Timetable for SS3 is out.
The National Examination Council of Nigeria (Neco) has officially released 2021/2022 Timetable, giving full details of examination time and subject date to all registered candidates. Keep reading to see how to download the NECO timetable 2021 for ss3.
![Neco official banner - NECO Timetable 2021 for SS3 Released [Download PDF]](https://i2.wp.com/insideschool.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Neco_official_banner.jpg?resize=343%2C290&is-pending-load=1#038;ssl=1 "NECO Timetable 2021 for SS3 Released [Download PDF]")
Southern govs meet in Lagos today on Kanu, Igboho
July 5, 2021
By Olasunkanmi Akoni, LAGOS
THE re-arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, and the recent attack on Yoruba freedom fighter, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, are expected to top the agenda, as 17 Southern governors meet in Lagos State today.
The meeting, which is a follow-up to the last one held in Asaba, Delta State, on May 11, will also deliberate and review the state of the nation, as it affects the geo-political zones.
Gboyega Akosile, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, confirmed that the forum is expected to commence sitting by 10am, at the State House, Alausa, Ikeja, and hosted by Governor Sanwo-Olu.
The parley is also expected to discuss issues bothering on insecurity, true federalism, open grazing, state police, restructuring, food security, among others.
It will also discuss the level of achievements of the resolutions arrived at the last meeting and chart the way forward.
The main objective is to further articulate collective interest and reiterate commitment to a united Nigeria capable of guaranteeing equity, fairness and justice in an atmosphere of true federalism.
Troops Trail Terrorists, Kill Several Insurgents And Recover Arms
Channels Television
Updated July 5, 2021AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to FacebookShare to TwitterShare to WhatsAppShare to EmailShare to More
Troops of the 82 Division Task Force Battalion on patrol along Ngoshe – Ashigashiya, about 12km from the unit’s location have made contact with elements of Boko Haram Terrorists at Daushe.
This is according to a communique by Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations.
According to him, the troops, who fiercely engaged and sustained heavy gunfire on the terrorists during the encounter neutralised five terrorists, compelling the terrorist group to retreat in disarray into the Mandara Mountains with several gunshot wounds.
General Nwachukwu noted that on further exploitation after the gun battle, the gallant troops recovered one AK 47 Rifle, one Magazine containing 13 rounds of fabricated 7.62mm (Special), a bandolier of 44 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO), and a bag containing 52 rounds of 7.62mm (Special).
In a similar operation, troops of 212 Battalion on 1 July 2021 carried out clearance operations on marauding Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) along Gadayi – Kareto – Gubio axis, Magumeri, Tungushe villages, and the general area of Kerenoa. During the offensive, troops recovered one AK 47 Rifle and one Baufeng communication Radio set abandoned by the fleeing BHTs.
In a separate operation on 2 July, members of BHTs/ISWAP were intercepted, while crossing through an identified supply route along Auno – Jakana axis with trucks laden with Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricant (POL) into the forest. Vigilant troops deployed at Garin Kuturu checkpoint swiftly engaged the terrorists in a fierce battle forcing them to flee abandoning the truck and the products.
Following the attack on the terrorists, reinforcement by troops of Sectora 1 and 2, gave the fleeing terrorists a hot pursuit with close air support from the Nigerian Air Force Component of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK).
During the encounter, six terrorists were neutralised, three AK 47 rifles and one rocket-propelled grenade were captured, while one Gun truck was destroyed. Two other gun trucks abandoned by the terrorists were also recovered.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Major General Faruk Yahaya commended the tremendous effort made by the Land troops and the Air component of OPHK. He charged them to deny the terrorists freedom of action by conducting regular patrols and projecting aggressive offensives to completely flush out the terrorists from their hideouts.
He further called on members of the general public to collaborate with the military and other security agencies in the fight against the enemies of the nation.
Lagos Govt Seals Illegal Container Terminal In Ibeshe, Ikorodu
Xtotech MEdia
Updated July 3, 2021
The Lagos State Government has sealed an illegally operating container terminal in Ibeshe in the Ikorodu axis of the State.
According to a statement signed by the spokesperson, Mukaila Sanusi, the operation was carried out on Friday and led by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Idris Salako.
He said the Lagos State Government had to move swiftly to prevent further nuisance in the built environment of Ibeshe by sealing the unapproved terminal, located beside the Government jetty in the area.
He cautioned that Government would not tolerate in other parts of the State a replay of Ijegun-Egba and Satellite town, notorious for the unpleasant experience with tank firms and terminals while decrying the destructive impact of the activities of the container terminal on the environment and the newly constructed Ebute- Ibeshe road.
“It is highly unacceptable that by indiscriminately parking containerised vehicles on the road and stacking containers in an unbridled manner,
“An unapproved business activity would have so much impact on the environment so as to rapidly despoil the road constructed with taxpayers’ money and constitute a danger to children in the neighbourhood,” the Commissioner said during the sealing.
He explained that the government had a well-established procedure for licensing terminals and mining activities on the shoreline, in such a way that all factors that make for a liveable and sustainable built environment would have been taken cognizance of.
He urged anyone interested in the establishment of container terminals and sand mining to seek the approval of the appropriate authorities including the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development, and Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources among others.
The Commissioner enjoined community leaders and members to maintain the surveillance of their communities and report any untoward Physical development.
Nnamdi Kanu: UK seeks clarification, to provide him consular assistance
• He was ‘abducted’ in Kenya, says brother, IPOB
• Respect Kanu’s rights, Abaribe tells FG
• HURIWA asks court to impose gag order against govt officials
The British Government has said it would provide consular assistance for the arrested leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. This was disclosed yesterday by the Head of Communications, British High Commission in Nigeria, Dean Hurlock.
As controversies and speculations raged over where and how Kanu was arrested and extradited to the country on Sunday, the British High Commission had earlier dispelled rumours he was arrested in the United Kingdom (UK), where he was based before his arrest in 2015.
Hurlock had said: “We are aware of reports that Nnamdi Kanu has been detained in Nigeria by the Federal Government. We can confirm that Kanu was not arrested in the UK for extradition purposes.”x
Kanu, who was born on September 25, 1967, is a holder of Nigerian and British passports. Upon his arrest and extradition from a foreign country, he was arraigned before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday for terrorism-related charges and has since been remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Hurlock continued: “The British High Commission in Abuja is currently in the process of seeking clarification from the Nigerian government about the circumstances of the arrest.
With regard to any questions about whether the British High Commission are providing assistance in this case, we can confirm that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office stands ready to provide consular assistance,” the British official said, adding that the British Government “expects any trial or legal proceedings to follow due process.”
When prodded on the “consular assistance”, the British official made reference to the UK manual on ‘Support for British nationals abroad: A guide’.
The document reads in part: “We can offer you information about the local prison or remand system, including visiting arrangements, mail and censorship, privileges, work possibilities, and social and welfare services. We can also explain where there are different regulations for remand prisoners and sentenced prisoners. For example, in some countries, prisoners are allowed to send more mail when they are on remand.
“We cannot get you out of prison or detention, nor can we get special treatment for you because you are British. If however you are not treated in line with internationally accepted standards, we will consider approaching local authorities. This may include if your trial does not follow internationally recognised standards for a fair trial or is unreasonably delayed compared to local cases. With your permission, we can consider taking up a complaint about ill treatment, personal safety, or discrimination with the police or prison authorities.x
“If you are a dual British national in the country of your other nationality (for example, a dual Nigerian-British national in Nigeria), we would not normally offer you support or get involved in dealings between you and the authorities of that state. We may make an exception to this rule if, having looked at the circumstances of the case, we consider that you are vulnerable and we have humanitarian concerns. We would not normally attend a court case involving a British national, and we cannot influence the outcome of any trial,” it added.
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, on Tuesday said that the IPOB leader was “intercepted through the collaborative efforts of Nigerian intelligence and security services.”
Though he did not state where the separatist leader was arrested, but there had been reports that Kanu was lured to an African country with a promise of cash donations and was then picked up.
Security sources said he was tracked through some IPOB members who were recently arrested following a massive military operation in the Southeast.
However, Kingsley Kanu, brother of Nnamdi Kanu, yesterday said the separatist leader was arrested in Kenya. In a statement, Kingsley said his brother was detained while visiting Kenya and “handed over to the Nigerian authorities who then flew him to Nigeria.”
Kingsley said Kanu has been “subjected to the most serious violations of international law because of his quest for self-determination. My brother has been subject to extraordinary rendition by Kenya and Nigeria. They have violated the most basic principles of the rule of law. Extraordinary rendition is one of the most serious crimes states can commit. Both Nigeria and Kenya must be held to account. I demand justice for my brother,” he said.
Also, IPOB yesterday stated that its leader was “abducted” by the Federal Government, insisting that it would hold the government responsible should anything untoward happen to him. It reaffirmed its commitment to the restoration of Biafra republic, stressing that the arrest and prosecution of Kanu would not end the struggle, even as the group said its members would be mobilised across the globe to attend the next court hearing date on July 26.
Admitting for the first time to the arrest of Kanu in a statement signed by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB promised to provide details of the said “abduction” of its leader by the Nigerian government and her security agencies.x
THE Minority Leader of the Senate, Enyinnaya Abaribe, has advised the Federal Government to apply caution and strict adherence to the rule of law in handling the issue of Kanu. The Senator, who stood surety for Kanu when he was first arraigned in 2015, said this in a statement by his Media Adviser, Uchenna Awom, on Wednesday.
The Senator also advised the Federal Government to be guided by the provisions of Section 31 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. He added that the government should also consider Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights as it detains and re-arraign Kanu in court for the continuation of his trial.
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently call his aides and officials to order to avoid causing social upheavals over the re-arrest of the IPOB leader.
According to HURIWA’s convener, Emmanuel Onwubiko, right thinking members of the global community see Kanu as a prisoner of conscience. The rights group warned security forces not to put the life of Kanu in danger in the same way that the then political prisoner, MKO Abiola was poisoned.
This is to inform the Nigeria/Zoo Government that if anything happens to the man you blood will be across the Nigerian roads.
#longLiveBiafra.
#BiaraWeWant.
Kindly drop your comment.
Allow me finish my tenure, Wike tells 2023 guber aspirants
[FILES] Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State PHOTO: Twitter
Threatens to depose monarchs, CDCs over harassment of contractors
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has urged governorship aspirants in 2023 to allow him finish his tenure. He also told the aspirants to learn how to curry the favour of voters in Ward 9 of Obio/Akpor Council to benefit from their role during elections, noting that the ward always produced the highest number of votes in the state.
He stated this yesterday at the unveiling of the Rumuepirikom Flyover in Obio/Akpor Council.
“For all of you queuing up for the governorship position, should hold on and let me finish my tenure. Allow my community to finish its turn. Allow us to enjoy our time in office and thereafter, you can set your own agenda when you come into office,” he said.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, the governor also threatened to depose any monarch and leaders of Community Development Committees (CDCs), who attempt to extort money from companies handling government infrastructure projects.
Wike warned that any monarch from Rumuepirikom and other communities in the state who summons contractors handling government projects to his palace to demand inducements would be deposed.
He equally cautioned youths in the state against disrupting government projects in their communities, stressing that the era in which government overlooked such acts was over.
The governor advised Julius Berger and other companies handling construction works to ensure implementation of the local content component of such projects.
He noted that Rumuepirikom was less known for criminal activities, because the community leadership had enforced good conduct among the residents.
Speaking further, Wike hinted that he would move the Slaughter Market to the Rumueme Waterfront, adding that that appointment into ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) would be done after unveiling the project.
Wike, who declared that he would favour women in new appointments, particularly in Rumuepirikom, said when it comes to winning elections, no electoral ward in the state could match the voting strength of ward 9 in Obio/Akpor Council.
Inaugurating the project, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Onueze C. J. Okocha (SAN), described the Rumuepirikom Flyover as a crucial project that would offer utility services beyond the improved aesthetics and ease of movement it would afford.
Financial crisis hits petrol marketers as subsidy gulps N1tr
The Federal Government may have spent about N1 trillion subsiding 102 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in the couple of months, as prevailing challenges push operators in the downstream sector of the nation’s petroleum industry towards liquidity crisis.
While Nigeria is already subsidising almost the entire volume of PMS popularly known as petrol consumed by the West Africa region, industry players, yesterday, told The Guardian that the Federal Government might be paving way for smuggling and product adulteration in the region given the problems in the country’s downstream sector.
Besides looming retrenchment of workers and failing safety practices occasioned by reoccurring fires across stations and roads, stakeholders claimed that over 35 per cent of them, especially the independent marketers, had been edged out.
Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari, had advocated for petrol to be selling for N256 per litre in the country, adding that about N150 billion is being paid monthly on subsidy.
Between January and June this year, the subsidy translated to about N900 billion. While the nation’s daily fuel consumption level stood at about 60 million litres in January, the corporation said the trend later rose 102 million litres.
With the continued increase in the price of crude oil at the international market, standing at $76 per barrel yesterday after jumping from about $30 a barrel roughly a year ago, the devaluation of the naira, which has almost doubled and remained unstable, as well as the fluctuations in the pump price of petrol, the state oil company kept its status as the only importer of the product.
The Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) has been selling the commodity to retailers at N148 per litre, but marketers said through-putting usually push the wholesale price to over N157 per litre, including cost of transportation and union dues.
The development, is thus, creating a marginal gain of about N5 per litre, which may in fact, be spent on other charges, particularly operating expenses. Most stakeholders said this challenge makes smuggling and product adulteration thrive, as marketers move the black gold to neighbouring nations where it goes for as high as N400 per litre.x
As much as 35 per cent of petrol marketers, especially the independent marketers, have already shut down their facilities, as bank funding dims on the backdrop of poor loan repayment arrangement.
In March last year, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, announced that the downstream sector had been fully deregulated and subsidy would no longer be paid on petrol, especially as budget provision was not made for it in the 2021 appropriation. Little did many Nigerians know that the minister would reverse himself.
While the price of crude was at record low then, government reduced the pump price, but as the situation improved at the international market, pricing gradually went up, leading to a backlash from the public.
The deregulation was immediately halted, as labour locked horn with government. A dialogue has been on between the unions and government for over four months. Without budgetary allocation, NNPC began to cover the differentials arising landing cost and pump price. The direct implication being the ceaseless borrowings and depletion of foreign direct investments.
Army observes 40th day prayer for the late COAS, others
Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya (left) and Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor commiserate with Mrs Fati Attahiru, wife of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim, during the 40-day prayers for the late general in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: NAN
The Nigerian Army yesterday observed the 40th day prayers for the repose of the souls of the former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), the late Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 other personnel, who died in the May 21, 2021 air mishap at the Kaduna International Airport.
The COAS, Major General Faruk Yahaya, expressed his condolences to the widows, children and relations of the deceased. He urged them not to despair and assured them of the continuous support of the Nigerian Army.
Conducting the prayers at Niger Barracks, Abuja, the Director Islamic Affairs, Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Shehu Mustapha, prayed to God to grant the deceased eternal rest.
He prayed to God to grant the families and relations of the departed souls, the Nigerian Armed Forces and friends, the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
He further stated that the demise of Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 others is a great loss to the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the nation at large. He reminded all of the need to be mindful of their deeds here on earth in preparation for life’s final journey.
Dignitaries that graced the occasion included the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, Chief of Army Staff, Major General Faruk Yahaya, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Auwal Gambo, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, and Principal Staff Officers from Defence and the Services Headquarters.
Highlights of the event were the recitation of the Holy Quran, prayers for the nation, as well as condolence messages to the families of the deceased.
NCDC seeks stronger collaboration for health security in Nigeria
NCDC Director General, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu PHOTO: Twitter
The Director-General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, has called for stronger collaboration with pharmaceutical industries as part of measures to strengthen the country’s health security.
Ihekweazu made the call in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said that the NCDC had earlier indicated interest for intensified stronger collaboration with pharmaceutical manufacturers at the third Public Lecture of the Board of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria.
He said that he highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on national development and health care system at the forum.
According to him, measures are needed to collaborate with operators in the pharmaceutical industry to co-create a stronger future for health security in the country.
Ihekweazu recalled that Nigeria experienced several disease outbreaks in the last five years including large outbreaks of cerebrospinal meningitis, Lassa fever and the COVID-19 pandemic.
He, however, said that focus should not be on what happened but on what was done with what happened.
He said that the NCDC made some progress in establishing the National Public Health Emergency Operations Centre and National Reference Laboratory in 2017 and the subsequent establishment of similar structures across all states in Nigeria.
According to him, the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered the fastest and most wide-reaching response to a global health emergency in human history.
He said that the pandemic enabled rapid mobilisation of resources to scale public health infrastructures across Nigeria.
Ihekweazi also said that the NCDC made enormous progress over time including the digitisation of the national disease surveillance architecture across all states.
He said that emergency operations centres were established in more that 30 states in Nigeria while molecular laboratories were also established in every state.
According to him, standard infectious disease treatment centres were also established by the NCDC.
Ihekweazu acknowledged that there were challenges at the beginning of the pandemic where there were calls to use unproven cures for management of cases.
He said: “During the calls to use unproven methods to treat COVID-19 cases, we heard very little from the professional science organisations to dispel these misconceptions and explain the principles of clinical trials especially how decisions are made about therapeutic interventions.
“Given the credibility challenge of government in our country, the voices of professionals such as the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) becomes critical in such situations.
“If we collectively understand and communicate how therapeutics work and its importance to the populace, we stand a chance to protect the integrity of the underlying science that is the foundation upon which our professions are built.
“Thereby re-gaining the credibility of the profession we hold so dear.”
Ihekweazu, who cited India as a powerhouse in vaccine manufacturing, said that in building stronger pharmaceutical capacity in Nigeria, we must recognise that our opportunities were mutually dependent on each other.
He called for collectively to drive the health security in Nigeria.
He also urged PSN members to work with the Federal Government to attract international opportunities for the development of Nigeria’s vaccine, diagnostics and therapeutics manufacturing capacity to co-create a stronger future for health security.
Why NNPC Is Borrowing To Acquire 20 Percent Equity In Dangote Refinery.
Xtotech Media
Updated June 29, 2021
The Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mele Kyari, on Tuesday explained why the national oil company is purchasing a stake in Dangote oil refinery.
The refinery is expected to begin production in 2022 with an installed 650,000 barrels per day capacity.
It has been touted as a groundbreaking project for energy security in the country and for the African continent.
In May, the NNPC announced that it plans to acquire a 20 percent equity stake in the private company led by billionaire Aliko Dangote.
“There is no resource-dependent country that will watch a business of this scale, which borders on energy security and has implications for fiscal security of the country, and you don’t have a say,” Mr Kyari said on Tuesday while appearing on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.
He argued that the decision was also driven by the profit potential of the refinery business.
“For the Dangote refinery, we are not taking government money to buy it, which is the mistake that people are making,” he said. “We are borrowing on the back of the cash-flow of this business.
“We know that this business is viable, it will work and it will return dividends. It has a cash-flow that is sustainable because refinery business, in the short term, will continue to be sustainable.
“That’s why banks have come forward to lend to us, so we can take equity in this.”
What Mr Kyari Said
“Dangote refinery will come into production by 2022. And what that will do is to deliver over 50 million litres of gasoline into, to be specific, our markets. We are also working on our refineries, to ensure that we fix them. We have awarded the contract for Port Harcourt refinery rehabilitation. And ultimately we are going to close that of Warri and Kaduna very soon in July, so that all of them will work contemporaneously. The net effect is that you are going to have an environment where Nigeria becomes the hub of petroleum products and supply. It’s going to change the dynamics of petroleum supply globally in the sense that the flow is coming from Europe today and it is going to be reversed to some other direction. We will be the supplier for West Africa legitimately and also many other parts of the world.
“So the meaning of this is, there is an opportunity that has been thrown at us. And I’m not sure Mr Dangote wants to sell his equity in the refinery. I can confirm that it was at our instance that we started this engagement. He did not want to sell his shares in this refinery.
“There is no resource-dependent country that will watch a business of this scale, which has bordering on energy security and has implications for fiscal security of the country, and you don’t have a say. And for us, as a strategy, we started this process long before Dangote started his refinery project. We take equity in very significant businesses that are anchored on the oil and gas operations: fertiliser, methanol plants, modular refineries and some other businesses that we are dealing with.
“It is to expand our portfolio and also because we are the national oil company, we have the responsibility to guarantee energy security for our country. And there is no way you can have a say, except you have a seat on the board of these institutions. And that’s why anyone that is going to construct a refinery that is in the excess of 50,000 barrels per day, we will talk to them, take equity in it, as long as we have the money to pay for it.
“For the Dangote refinery, we are not taking government money to buy it, which is the mistake that people are making. We are borrowing on the back of the cash-flow of this business. We know that this business is viable, it will work and it will return dividends. It has a cash-flow that is sustainable because refinery business, in the short term, will continue to be sustainable. That’s why banks have come forward to lend to us, so we can take equity in this.
“We are very proud that we did this. This is good for our shareholders, which includes all 200 Nigerians who will also be happily buying shares from this company if they had the opportunity. But now we have done on their behalf, so that ultimately the value will come to all of us.
“But there is no way you can watch a business of this magnitude, of this sensitivity, to run without the involvement of the national oil company. No country does this.”
FG Extends NIN-SIM Verification To July 26
xtotech Media
Updated June 29, 2021
The Federal Government on Monday said it has approved the extension of the deadline for NIN-SIM data verification to July 26.
This was communicated via a statement signed jointly by spokespersons of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Nigeria Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
At least 57.3 million Nigerians have enrolled for the NIN, with an average of three to four SIMs per NIN, according to the agencies.
“The decision to extend the deadline was made after a request by stakeholders on the need to consolidate the enrolment and NIN-SIM verification process following the rapid increase in the number of enrolment systems across the country,” the statement said.
The agencies also noted that as of June 28, a total of 5,410 enrollment systems have been made available nationwide to “significantly ease the NIN enrolment process and subsequent linkage of NIN to SIM.
“It is worthy of note that there were only about 800 such enrolment systems as at December 2020.
“The Federal Government has approved the extension as part of its effort to make it easier for its citizens and residents to obtain the NIN and it is important to take advantage of the extension.”
UK Bans Cryptocurrency Exchange Binance
Channels Television
Updated June 28, 2021
Marco BELLO / AFP
The UK’s finance watchdog has banned major cryptocurrency exchange Binance from regulated trading in Britain, as the industry faces greater global scrutiny.
Binance Markets Limited, part of Binance Group, is “not permitted to undertake any regulated activity in the UK”, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said in a statement published over the weekend.
The ban affects options and futures contracts related to bets on price movements of cryptocurrencies.
However purchases of cryptocurrency units, such as of bitcoin and dogecoin, can continue since they are not regarded as financial products and are therefore not regulated.
Binance Group tweeted that the FCA move would have “no direct impact”.
Founded in China four years ago, Binance is one of the world’s two biggest crypto exchanges along with Coinbase in the United States.
Cryptocurrencies have long sparked concern among central banks and regulators alike, because of their lack of oversight.
The FCA has meanwhile warned consumers once more not to be lured by promises of high returns.
Bitcoin traders shrugged off the weekend developments, sending the virtual unit up 5.47 percent to $33,981 in Monday deals.
The unit has however slumped in recent weeks after China launched a crackdown on the industry.
Bitcoin had hit a record near $65,000 in April on the back of runaway demand.
Laith Khalaf, financial analyst at stockbroker AJ Bell, said that tighter regulation was a consequence of this boom.
“Cryptocurrency is a victim of its own success because regulators across the globe are increasingly turning their beady eyes on crypto assets — and companies like Binance that offer crypto services to consumers.
“This isn’t a step change in regulation which is going to knock the crypto craze on the head, but it is part of a growing trend of regulatory intervention in crypto markets.”
Sanwo-Olu Celebrates ‘Lagos Pride’ Fashola At 58
Channels Television
Updated June 28, 2021
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday felicitated with the former Governor of the State and current Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, on the occasion of his 58th birthday.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, described Fashola as a seasoned administrator, legal icon and technocrat who has used his skills and positions in different capacities for the growth of Lagos State and Nigeria.
He said Fashola raised the bar in corporate governance and administration while serving as Governor of Lagos State, with great records of laudable achievements during his eight years tenure of office.
Sanwo-Olu wished the former Lagos State helmsman more years of joy and good health for a continued service to the State, Nigeria and humanity as a whole.
“On behalf of my adorable wife Ibijoke, the good people of Lagos State as well as the All Progressives Congress (APC), I heartily congratulate my brother and predecessor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on the occasion of his 58th birthday,” he said.
“As a true ambassador of our dear State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) set a high standard in the administration of Lagos State with great achievements and laudable projects, which are visible in different parts of the State.
“Mr. Fashola has sacrificed the greater part of his life in service of Lagos State and Nigeria. He served passionately as Chief of Staff to former Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his track records earned him the governorship seat in 2007 to continue on the progressive path set by his predecessor for eight years before moving to the federal level in 2015 to serve as Minister of Power, Works and Housing.
“His contributions to the success of the All Progressives Congress-led government at state and federal levels are commendable. He is Lagos State pride in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.”
NLC: No Going Back On Sack Of Civil Servants, El-Rufai Tells Buhari
Xtotech Media
Updated June 28, 2021
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state says he has provided a comprehensive briefing to President Muhammadu Buhari on the rightsizing policy of the state State Government and the steps taken so far to implement it.
The governor said that Kaduna State will seek accountability for the actions of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state by setting up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the NLC strike and protest of May 2021.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr Muyiwa Adekeye, on Sunday, El-Rufai explains that the Kaduna state government is hiring over 10,000 staff because rightsizing obliges the government to continuous recruitment of teachers, doctors, nurses and other qualified staff to provide vital services.
The Governor says he assures President Buhari that Kaduna state government is determined not to allow a repeat of the pains, economic losses and the restraints of freedom that the NLC inflicted on the people of Kaduna State..
Recalling the reconciliation meeting between Kaduna state government officials and the NLC held in Abuja on May 20th, El-Rufai explains that the state Executive council has already communicated to the minister of Labour that it cannot approve the agreements reached at the meeting between the state government and the NLC pertaining its rightsizing policy.
Alluding to the NLC’s renewed threat of strike action, the statement said that the NLC has demonstrated that it does not even believe in equality among its own members by describing the transfer of one Kaduna state employee to a place where other civil servants are serving as victimisation.
“It is trite that an MoU is not a legally-binding document. The content of the MoU shows that there is no congruence between the progressive aspirations of the Kaduna State Government and the misguided sense of entitlement of the NLC which does not even believe in equality amongst its own members.
“KDSG employees are serving with dedication in Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area, amidst all the challenges. Yet, the NLC describes the transfer of one KDSG employee to Birnin-Gwari LGA as victimisation, as if other staff who have been loyally serving in the same area are lesser humans or permanent victims. KDSG rejects this unfair denigration of the very people that the transferred employee claims to lead.”
KDSG stated that “it is improper to describe the routine application of public service rules and labour regulations by a government as victimisation” and asked the federal Ministry of Labour to reconsider permitting such slurs in documents prepared under its auspices.
“Union membership or accession to a leadership position in a union does not grant immunity to an employee for his/her actions and conduct or exempt them from compliance with the laws that govern everyone else.
“There are procedures that need to be followed to make a strike action legal, and the kind of conduct permissible during legitimate strike action is also bound by law. Lawful strike action still subjects strikers to the no-work, no-pay rule. How then can unlawful strike action be expected to be without consequences, as spelt out in the relevant laws and regulations?”
The statement said that the dominant theme in the KDSG statement at the conciliation meeting was the state government’s rejection of the criminal actions that defined the NLC’s actions. “It was notable that the NLC delegation was eager for the discourse not to dwell on their violations of laws prohibiting the disruption of essential services and their recourse to coercion and restraints to the freedom of citizens. But these are matters that cannot be ignored or swept under the carpet, since unlawful actions that have come to be accepted as part and parcel of strike action remain unlawful.’’
The Statement reiterates that “Kaduna State Government has not yet disengaged any state civil servant but has dispensed with the services of 99 political appointees so far.” Only the 23 local government councils and the agencies associated with the local government system such as SUBEB and the Primary Health Care Board have released staff.
Noting that “rightsizing is about getting the optimal number of persons with the requisite skills to staff the public service,” the statement added that as it is releasing lesser skilled staff, the KDSG is engaged in continuous recruitment of teachers, doctors, nurses and other health workers to provide vital services for citizens. “More than 10,000 such workers, including 7,600 secondary school teachers are being injected into the public service.”
The statement explained that its commitment to fair assessment of the credentials of all officers shows in the painstaking approach to the rightsizing exercise for state civil servants. It said that it is only after the completion of the verification process that KDSG will “release any civil servant that is confirmed not to possess the minimum qualifications prescribed in 2017 as one of the outcomes of the state’s Public Service Revitalization and Renewal Programme.’’
The statement appealed “for the continued patience and understanding of all citizens as steps are being taken for the fair conclusion of this exercise.”
Zamfara Govt Approves Release Of ₦100m To WAEC
Xtotech Media
Updated June 25, 2021
The Governor of Zamfara State, Hon. Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle Maradun, has approved the release of ₦100 million to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) as payment to enable students in the state write the 2021 examinations.
Making the payment on Friday, the Governor expressed appreciation to the Honourable Minister of Education and WAEC for their understanding and concern towards education in the state despite the huge backlogs owed WAEC by the government as inherited from the past administration.
Governor Matawalle said the ministry has supported the state by giving all the required considerations to the teeming candidates for WAEC including releasing their results, and also allowing them to sit for subsequent examinations.
He said his administration will continue to meet its obligations as part of measures to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people, especially the young generation through the provision of sound education.
Accordingly, the governor reiterated that education being the catalyst for achieving greatness will receive topmost priority in his administration.
“The effort will certainly give peace of mind to many candidates and parents in the state”, he added.
Morata Says His Family Was Abused After Poor Euro Displays
Xtotech Media
Updated June 25, 2021
Alvaro Morata has said his wife and children have been abused during Euro 2020 because of his performances for Spain.
Morata has endured a difficult tournament so far after missing a number of chances, including a penalty in Spain’s last Group E match against Slovakia in Seville.
READ ALSO: Ronaldo Equals World Record For Most International Goals
Spain’s forward Alvaro Morata kicks to miss a penalty kick during the UEFA EURO 2020 Group E football match between Slovakia and Spain at La Cartuja Stadium in Seville on June 23, 2021.
POOL / AFP
“I understand I get criticism for not scoring goals. I’m the first to know about it and accept it,” Morata told Cadena COPE on Thursday night.
“But I wish people would put themselves in the position of seeing what it’s like to have threats and insults aimed at your family.
“People have said ‘I hope your children die’. I’ve had to put my phone away.
“My children go to Seville with their dad’s name on their shirts. I understand criticism for not doing my job well. But there’s a limit.”
Morata said he was unable to sleep for nine hours after the 1-1 draw with Poland in which he missed chances after scoring Spain’s opening goal.
Spain’s forward Alvaro Morata kicks to miss a penalty kick during the UEFA EURO 2020 Group E football match between Slovakia and Spain at La Cartuja Stadium in Seville on June 23, 2021.
POOL / AFP
The 28-year-old then had a penalty saved against Slovakia with the match goalless, before Spain went on to win 5-0. They will play Croatia on Monday in the last 16.
“I’m proud of the fact I picked up the ball for the penalty after people booed me in the warm-up,” said Morata.
“A few years ago I would have been devastated but I’m really motivated. Whoever thinks the opposite doesn’t know me,” he added.
AFP
APC National Youth Vanguard Raises Alarm Over Impersonation Of Her Leadership
Xtotech Media
Updated June 25, 2021
The National Leadership of the APC National Youth Vanguard has raised an alarm over the impersonation of the group and her leadership by one Mr. Haruna Alfa and others.
The APC support group in a press release signed by Comr. Bashir Mohammed Bello, National Coordinator, and Comr. Kingsley Omadoye, South-South Coordinator says “We have observed with rapt attention that one Mr. Haruna Alfa and others are impersonating us and we have written the National Leadership of our great Party on June 15th, 2021 with an acknowledgment copy dated June 17th, 2021”.
While speaking on the leadership of the group from 2013 till date, Comr. Bello affirmed that “Comr Jibrilla Madu Gadzama was the National coordinator from 2013 until he left the party before the 2019 election. His resignation created a vacuum which thereafter got occupied by me who was then National Secretary, according to our constitution. Mr. Haruna Alfa has never been a member of the APC National youth vanguard, we are therefore shocked that he is conducting himself as the National Coordinator of the Vanguard”.
According to one of the documents displayed by the leadership of the group during the press briefing, the APC National Youth Vanguard has duly registered as a support group of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC on January 29th, 2013 under the leadership of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun as then National Chairman and H.E Mal. Mala Buni was then National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress respectively.
Part of the press statement reads; “our attention was also drawn to an event scheduled to hold on Saturday 26th June 2021 where Mr. Haruna Alfa and his cohorts would be giving awards to unsuspecting members of our great party: we are therefore using this means once again, to notify the public particularly the National leadership and members of our great party to stop any kind of dealing with Mr. Haruna Alfa and his group who are pretending to be us as they are unknown and not authorized by the Constitution of the APC National Youth Vanguard to act for or on behalf of our group”.
The group also said they have mandated their legal team to do the needful to ensure that the group is protected from being use by fraudulent elements to dupe uninformed members of the public.
APC Caretaker Committee Report: Our Party Is Back To Life, Says Buhari
Xtotech Media
Updated June 25, 2021
President Muhammadu Buhari Friday in Abuja said the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been revived, energized, and repositioned for its national convention and future elections while commending the National Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) led by Governor of Yobe State, Malam Mai Mala Buni.
Speaking at the APC CECPC meeting at the State House, the President said the fortunes of the party had been brightened by the re-organisation and reconciliation of members across the party, saying “with the work done by the committee the party has bounced back to life.’’
“I have listened with great interest to the remarkable job you have done so far,’’ he said. “We are all witnesses to the crisis that engulfed the party leading to litigations and presented a picture of selfishness and division.’’
President Buhari said the party structure was disturbed by the conflicts that preceded and followed various elections, noting that the secretariat had been witnessing a beehive of peaceful activities after the reconciliation.
The President told members of the committee that they will continue to enjoy the support of all party stalwarts and members to complete their assignment with the actualisation of the convention and leave an “indelible footprint’’.
“We want to leave behind a legacy of transparency and fairness, which the party needs to survive,’’ he added.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the CECPC said the committee approached the duty with commitment and dedication to rescue the party from imminent collapse.
The Yobe State Governor noted that all issues and members were given a fair hearing, and an open-door policy was created to accommodate all those that were aggrieved, leading to the withdrawal of cases in court and peaceful settlements.
“We are currently witnessing high-powered decamping to our party, including governors from the PDP.
“The party is now more peaceful, orderly, and accommodating than what we met on the ground. Although there was initial fear, the mobilisation and sensitization were able to allay the fears of members,’’ Buni said.
The Yobe State governor said the registration and revalidation of members across the country recorded more than 40 million members, and an appeal committee was also set up to hear all matters related to the process so that no member gets disenfranchised.
“We have observed that youth and women constitute the huge population of the voting group. We had a youth and women committee, and also people with disability,’’ he added.
He said a Contact and Strategy Team had been set up in every state to come up with an acceptable template that would ensure transparency, credibility, and acceptability of the internal electoral processes.
Buni also said the committee had instituted a process to review the party’s constitution and look into loopholes that usually fan conflict and litigations among members, with more than 500 memoranda already received.
The CECPC Chairman told the President and other party members that 14 party members had indicated their interest to contest for the Anambra State elections, assuring that the primary elections will be free, fair, and transparent.
The Yobe State governor said huge legal fees were inherited, and the committee had worked with members to settle all the outstanding, after scaling them down, noting that payment for the APC National Secretariat had been completed.
“The party members have agreed to name the secretariat, Muhammadu Buhari House,’’ he added.
While thanking the President for his support and insight, Buni noted that a National Conference for the Youths was organized recently as part of the bottom-up approach to strengthening the party and ensuring the relevance of all stakeholders.
Some members of the APC who attended the meeting include, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum and Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, Progressives Governors Forum, and Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, and Chairman of Northern Governors Forum and Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong. Others are, Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el’Rufai, Governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, and Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello.
U.S. Embassy Abuja Partners Channels Academy To Train 150 Conflict Reporters
Xtotech Media
Updated June 25, 2021
The U.S. Embassy Abuja, in partnership with Channels Academy, has trained over 150 journalists on Conflict Reporting and Peace Journalism.
In her opening remarks, the U.S. Embassy Spokesperson/Press Attaché Jeanne Clark noted that the United States recognized that security challenges exist in many forms throughout the country, and that journalists are confronted with responsibility to prioritize physical safety in addition to meeting standards of objectivity and integrity in conflict.
She urged the journalists to share their experiences throughout the course of the three-day seminar and encouraged participants to identify new ways to address these security challenges.
The trainer Professor Steven Youngblood from the U.S. Center for Global Peace Journalism – Park University defined and presented principles for peace journalism in conflict reporting. He cautioned journalists to refrain from what he termed war journalism.
He said, “war journalism is a pattern of media coverage that includes overvaluing violent, reactive responses to conflict while undervaluing non-violent, developmental responses.”
The Provost of Channels Academy, Mr Kingsley Uranta, showed appreciation for the continuous partnership with the U.S. Embassy and for bringing such training opportunities to Nigerian journalists. He also called on conflict reporters to be peace ambassadors.
The training took place virtually via Zoom on June 22 – 24, 2021. Journalists converged in American Spaces in Abuja, Kano, Bauchi Sokoto, Maiduguri, Awka, and Ibadan.
At the same time, some joined from Channels Academy Abuja and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat in Port Harcourt.
SERAP Sues FG, Lai Mohammed Over Repressive Directive Asking Broadcasters To Stop Using Twitter
Xtotech Media
Updated June 20, 2021
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit asking the Federal High Court in Abuja “to stop the Federal Government and the Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed from using their patently unlawful directive to all TV and radio stations not to use Twitter, and to delete their accounts as a pretext to harass, intimidate, suspend or impose criminal punishment on journalists and broadcast stations simply for using social media platforms.”
The suit followed the order by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) asking TV and radio stations to “suspend the patronage of Twitter immediately”, and telling them to delete ‘unpatriotic’ Twitter after the social media giant was banned in the country for deleting President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweet.
In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/496/2021 filed last Friday, SERAP is seeking: “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the government of President Buhari, the NBC, and Mr Lai Muhammed and any other persons from censoring, regulating, licensing and controlling the social media operations and contents by broadcast stations, and activities of social media service providers in Nigeria.
In the suit, SERAP is also seeking “an order setting aside the directive by NBC and Mr Lai Muhammed asking broadcast stations to stop using Twitter, as it is unconstitutional, unlawful, inconsistent and incompatible with the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended], and the country’s obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.”
SERAP is arguing that “The government of President Buhari, the NBC and Mr. Lai Muhammed have consistently made policies and given directives to crack down on media freedom, and the rights of Nigerians to freedom of expression and access to information, and to impose crippling fines and other sanctions on broadcast stations without any legal basis whatsoever.”
According to SERAP: “The court has an important role to play in the protection and preservation of the rule of law to ensure that persons and institutions operate within the defined ambit of constitutional and statutory limitations.”
SERAP is also arguing that “Where agencies of government are allowed to operate at large and at their whims and caprices in the guise of performing their statutory duties, the end result will be anarchy, licentiousness, authoritarianism and brigandage leading to the loss of the much cherished and constitutionally guaranteed freedom and liberty.”
According to SERAP: “By using the National Broadcasting Act and the Nigeria Broadcasting Code to stop broadcast stations from using Twitter without recourse to the court, the NBC and Mr Lai Muhammed have contravened the right to access to justice and fair hearing guaranteed under sections 6[1] & [6][b] and 36[1] of the Nigerian Constitution 1999, and articles 1 and 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”
The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi, and Opeyemi Owolabi, read in part: “The directive by the NBC and Mr. Lai Muhammed to broadcasters to delete their Twitter accounts is unlawful, as it amounts to a fundamental breach of the principle of legality, the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom, and incompatible with the country’s international human rights obligations.”
“SERAP and concerned Nigerians are entitled to the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom subject only to lawful restrictions. SERAP and concerned Nigerians frequently rely on the Twitter handles of many broadcast stations as sources of information for our activities in the promotion of transparency and accountability in the country.”
“Nigeria is a state party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which impose legal obligations on the government of President Buhari to ensure that the rights of Nigerians to freedom of expression, access to information and media freedom are respected, promoted, protected, fulfilled, and not unlawfully restricted.”
“The NBC and Mr. Lai Muhammed have not shown any law breached by journalists, broadcast stations and media houses in Nigeria, and the government of President Buhari cannot use any disagreement with Twitter as a ploy to violate Nigerians’ rights and undermine their individual businesses and professional duties.”
“The drafters of the Nigerian Constitution well knew the danger inherent in special executive and legislative acts which take away the life, liberty, or property of particular named persons. They intended to safeguard the people of this country from punishment without trial by duly constituted courts. These principles are so fundamental and must be respected.”
“The directive to broadcast stations has seriously undermined the ability of Nigerians and other people in the country to freely express themselves in a democracy, and undermined the ability of journalists, media houses, broadcast stations, and other people to freely carry out their professional duties.”
“The Twitter accounts by broadcast stations and media houses are their own properties acquired upon privity of terms and conditions formulated by the Twitter Inc. and accepted by the stations and media houses.”
SERAP is also asking the Federal High Court for the following reliefs:
1. A DECLARATION that the directive by the NBC and Mr. Lai Muhammed to broadcast stations in Nigeria to deactivate their Twitter handles and desist from using Twitter as a source of information gathering is unlawful, and amounts to a breach of the principles of legality and no punishment without law, and violation of the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom guaranteed under sections 39 and 22 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 [as amended], Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 19 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
2. A DECLARATION that the acts of the NBC and Mr. Lai Muhammed in relying on the National Broadcasting Act and the Nigeria Broadcasting Code to unilaterally direct broadcast stations to delete their Twitter handles and desist from using Twitter without recourse to the court amount to an infringement on sections 6[1] & [6][b], 36 and 44[1] of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended], Articles 1 and 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
3. A DECLARATION that the provision of section 2[1][r] of the National Broadcasting Act and sections 5.6.3, 5.11.3 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code being inconsistent and incompatible with sections 36[1], 39, and 22 of the Nigerian Constitution, Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 19 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights are null and void to the extent of their inconsistency and incompatibility.
4. A DECLARATION that the NBC and Mr. Lai Muhammed lack the power and authority to unlawfully impose penalties such as fines and other sanctions on any journalists and broadcast stations for using Twitter, and refusing/failing to deactivate their Twitter handles.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
Women Migrants Reduced To Sex Slaves In Libya ‘Hell’..
Aisha, a migrant from Guinea carries her daughter as she walks in a park in the southeastern Tunisian town of Medenine, on June 2, 2021. FATHI NASRI / AFP
For Aisha, sexual slavery was something you only heard about happening to others in television reports, until she found herself locked in a living “hell” in Libya.
“I had left a nightmare only to fall into hell,” said the migrant from Guinea, lured to the North African country that criminal gangs have turned into a den of racketeering.
Aisha fled her home country after five miscarriages: for her in-laws and the neighbourhood, she was either sterile or a witch.
But the young woman was simply diabetic.
“I just wanted to disappear from my country,” said Aisha, a graduate in hotel management.
She contacted a former classmate who appeared to have made a life for herself in neighbouring Libya and who lent Aisha money to join her.
“I didn’t even see the country. As soon as I arrived, I was locked up, I was a slave. She brought men to me and she got the money.”
Locked in a room with a toilet, she only saw the “friend” who had duped her when she was brought in food, “like a dog”.
“The men came drunk. I’d rather not remember it,” said Aisha, still trembling. “I thought my life was over.”
‘Wouldn’t wish that on worst enemy’
After three months, a Libyan man took pity on her, threatened her captor and put Aisha on a bus to Tunisia with 300 Libyan dinars ($65) in her pocket.
After her diabetes was treated, she even gave birth to a baby girl late last year.
She now dreams of Europe, but returning to Libya is out of the question.
“I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.”
For the past two years, she has lived with other migrant women in Medenine, southern Tunisia.
Most of the others who’d experienced Libya had also been forced into prostitution, raped or sexually assaulted, said Mongi Slim, head of the local Red Crescent.
“Some of them, if they had the protection of a man, they fared better. But for single women, it’s almost systematic,” said Slim.
Some migrants said they had been advised to take a three-month contraception jab before departure, and some travel with morning-after pills, according to UN reports.
Mariam, an Ivorian orphan, left with 1,000 euros ($1,200) to pay for the crossing from Abidjan to Libya via Mali and Algeria.
She hoped to earn enough in Libya to reach Europe.
But she ended up spending most of her year there in prison, where she was sexually exploited, before fleeing to Tunisia in 2018.
“I worked for six months with a family, then I set off by sea from Zuwara,” a port in western Libya, said Mariam, 35.
“Armed men caught us, took us to prison and abused us,” she said.
Mariam said she had fallen into the hands of militiamen who run illegal migrant camps where extortion, rape and forced labour are common.
Official centres under Libyan government control, and where the European Union-funded coastguard transfers would-be exiles it intercepts, are also riddled with corruption and violence, including sexual assault, according to the United Nations.
‘Impunity’
“Every morning, a chief would make his choices and send the chosen girls to Libyans who had rented special rooms,” said Mariam.
“They fed me bread, sardines and salad. I stayed there a month until they moved me to another place,” she recalled, her voice spiked with anger.
“They were armed, they smoked drugs, they paid the chief but not me.”
According to rights groups, men and boys are also sexually abused.
“Sexual violence continues to be perpetrated with impunity by traffickers and smugglers along migration routes, in detention centres, judicial police prisons, and against urban migrants by militants and armed groups”, the United Nations said in a 2019 report.
Such criminality increased with the intensification of the Libyan conflict from 2014.
Three migrant detention centres in Libya were closed in mid-2019 and the establishment in March of a new UN-sponsored transitional government has raised hope of a decline in impunity and violence.
The UN decided last year to deploy protection officers to combat sexual crimes.
But they have yet to even be recruited, and intercepted migrants are still turned back to Libya, to the dismay of international organisations.
On June 12, a record of more than 1,000 people caught at sea were sent back to Libyan jails, according to the UNHCR.
Biden Goes To Church A Day After Challenge From Bishops On Abortion…
Xtotech Media
Updated June 20, 2021
President Joe Biden went to church Saturday in his hometown a day after US Roman Catholic bishops issued a challenge to him over his support for abortion rights.
Biden and first lady Jill Biden spent time at St. Joseph on the Brandywine church in Wilmington. They also visited the church graveyard where the president’s first wife Neilia, son Beau and infant daughter Naomi are buried.
Biden, 78, is a devout Catholic who attends mass at least once a week, and he supports the landmark 1973 US Supreme Court decision affirming a woman’s right to an abortion.
On Friday US bishops agreed to draft a statement on the meaning of holy communion which could potentially be used to deny that sacrament to the American leader.
The eucharist, also known as holy communion, is among the most sacred rituals in the Catholic Church and there have been calls from some conservative church leaders to deny the sacrament to politicians who support abortion rights.
Biden on Friday seemed to dismiss the possibility that he could be denied communion.
“That’s a private matter and I don’t think that’s going to happen,” he told reporters.
It is up to each local bishop to decide who receives communion in their diocese.
In 2019, a priest at a Catholic church in South Carolina refused holy communion to Biden because of his stance on abortion.
The Catholic News Service reported in May that the Vatican had warned US bishops to proceed cautiously with policies designed “to address the situation of Catholics in public office who support legislation allowing abortion, euthanasia or other moral evils.”
Kaduna Politics: INEC Declares PDP Winner Of Sabon Gari Constituency By-election..
Xtotech Media
Updated June 20, 2021
The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) has declared Usman Baba of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) as the winner of yesterday’s by-election for Sabon Gari Constituency in the Kaduna State House of Assembly.
Announcing the election result in Zaria, the returning officer, Dr. Mohammed Musa, says the PDP candidate polled a total of 9,113 votes to defeat his closest rival, Musa Musa of the All Progressive Congress (APC) who polled 7,404 votes to come second.
Other candidates who participated in the election include Anas Abdullahi of the ADC who 62 votes; Chindo Ibrahim of ADP, 61 votes while Musa Halilu of PRP secured 305 votes.
The Sabon Gari constituency seat, initially occupied by the former Speaker of the Kaduna state House of Assembly, was declared vacant in April after the lawmakers found him wanting of absconding from all legislative activities for more than one year without any reason.
In declaring the seat vacant, the Assembly members based their action on Section 109(1)(f) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
Yobe Govt Commiserates With Victims Of Gujba Attack
Xtotech Media
Updated June 18, 2021
The Governor of Yobe State, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, has commiserated with the families of the victims of the Gujba attack.
The Governor described the victims as heroes who laid their lives in defense of the country.
“The government and people of Yobe State commiserate with the families of the brave security men who lost their lives in the attack.
“The sacrifice made by these brave heroes shall never be in vain,” Governor Buni said.
“Government will not be deterred by such attacks from executing programmes and policies in the interest of the people of the state” he added.
Speaking further, the governor assured the people of the state of his administration’s commitment to always working together with security agencies to safeguard lives and property of the citizenry.
Some residents told Channels Television that insurgents stormed the community on Thursday in a van and drove straight to a company constructing the 40 Kilometer Gujba-Mutai road, killing two mobile police officers and one member of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) before burning down the heavy-duty machines on the site.
Residents also noted that the attackers stayed on the scene for hours unconfronted before returning to the bush.
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Bauchi Governor Appoints Ex-Commissioner As Chief Of Staff
Xtotech Media
Updated June 14, 2021
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has approved the appointment of Dr Aminu Gamawa as the new Chief of Staff.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mukhtar Gidado, announced this in a statement on Monday.
Gidado stated that the appointment of Gamawa, who was appointed as the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning in 2019, was with immediate effect.
He noted that Gamawa hails from Gamawa Local Government Area of Bauchi State, and he is a legal practitioner, teacher, policy expert, and public servant.
The new Chief of Staff has worked across a wide range of organisations, government agencies, educational institutions, and non– profitable entities.
He also served as the State Focal Person for World Bank Projects, Chairman of Bauchi State COVID-19 Economic Recovery Committee 2020, Vice Chairman of Bauchi State World Bank States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS), Regional Representative of Technical Working Group on Subnational Ease of Doing Business, among others.
Fayemi’s Ex-SSG Emerges Ekiti APC Governorship Candidate
Xtotech Media
Updated January 28, 2022
The immediate past Secretary to Ekiti State Government, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji has been declared winner of the governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State.
The Chairman of the committee for the primary election, Governor Mohammed Badaru of Jigawa State announced that Oyebanji polled 101,703 votes to defeat seven other contestants.
A total number of 107,877 thousand voters were accredited for the exercise out of which 104,983 voted.
Though the seven other aspirants with their supporters had in the morning thronged the party secretariat to protest irregularities in the conduct of the party primary, the primary still held at most of the designated wards.
The aggrieved aspirants claimed the process was manipulated to favour Mr. Oyebanji who is tagged Governor Kayode Fayemi’s preferred choice by distributing voting materials earlier than scheduled among other grounds.
They warned that the controversial primary will not be acceptable and may spell doom for the party.
Earlier in the day, Oyebanji described the process of the primary as flawless, disagreeing with claims that he’s the closest and most favoured by the governor among all the aspirants.
Xtotech Media. 