The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Borno State, Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor, on Monday confirmed that some of his troops were ambushed by Boko Haram insurgents in the Damboa area, during which a civilian was shot dead and two others critically injured.

Irabor, said the Boko Haram members escaped into a bush after the ambush.

Irabor said, “There was an incident like that on Saturday. There was a military convoy passing and the Boko Haram came out in an ambush. One civilian was killed and two others injured. The Boko Haram members incidentally ran away. There was no death on the part of the Boko Haram insurgents.

“The insurgents only wanted to disturb the peace and we lost a civilian. If you are in touch with happenings here, you will know that ambushes are not a big deal; two or three terrorists may set up an ambush.

“It was not true that the terrorists took away military vehicles. You cannot have a military convoy in procession and then an ambush, and vehicles will be taken away. We resisted them and they fled into the bush.”

A military source, however, said two soldiers were killed during the ambush and their corpses had been deposited at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital morgue.

He said, “The troops were following some commercial vehicles from Maiduguri to Damboa area, when the Boko Haram attacked them. About eight persons were killed, while the terrorists also injured two soldiers, who later died.

“They hijacked two of the commercial buses and fled toward the Sambisa area.”

The Christian Youth Project (CYP) has stated that the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries (OFM), Apostle Johnson Suleiman, should not have been treated as a criminal by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

It condemned the continuous killing of Christians by Fulani herdsmen in northern Nigeria, especially in Southern Kaduna, stressing that injustice anywhere will be a threat to justice everywhere.

CYP, through its National President, Pepple Ibiwari Jnr., stated these yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, during a news conference.

It said: “We (CYP members) strongly and unequivocally condemn in totality, the ridicule and public embarrassment of Apostle Suleiman by the DSS.
“Apostle Suleiman, being a religious leader and a public personality of high repute, should have initially been invited to clarify himself, as being done now and not treat him like a common criminal. Religious matters are very delicate. As such, should be treated with caution, to avoid misrepresentation of such actions on Christians.

“This should not be a new trend that has started with Apostle Suleiman, which may also be targeted at other Christian leaders. We call on Christians to be vigilant and security conscious, to avoid being victims of religious and hate attacks.
“The gospel of Jesus Christ advocates love and peace, not hate. As such, Christian youths do not conform to religious crisis or killings on any grounds.

“While we appreciate the DSS and other security agencies in ensuring peace and security in Nigeria, we call for intensified efforts to put a final stop to the continuous and increasing killing of Christians by Fulani herdsmen. We await the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.”
The non-denominational coalition of Christian youths from churches, Christian organisations and groups across Nigeria also expressed displeasure at religious intolerance and hate speeches in Nigeria, while admonishing Christians not to be stupid or foolish.

The group urged Christians in the country to be more united and to always speak with one voice, in order to earn the respect of other Nigerians.

The President, Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, Mr Johnson Suleman, has said his invitation by the Department of State Services (DSS) is in order.
Suleman said this while briefing reporters in Abuja on Monday.
“I presume the right thing was done. They have been in touch with me to come and that is why I am in Abuja, so that I can see them,” he said.
He said that his recent statement was based on information from a reliable source that herdsmen were coming to attack him.
He said that he stood by his statement on self defence.
“I was talking in my personal capacity on information from a reliable source that certain people in the capacity of Herdsmen were coming to attack me and I told the people around me that if it happens they should defend themselves.
Suleman had told his supporters at a religious crusade in Ekiti recently to defend themselves if they were attacked by herdsmen.
However, Suleiman had yet to report to the DSS office yesterday.
There was heavy presence of policemen and the DSS personnel with Amoured Personnel Carrier (APC) around the services’ headquarters.
The cleric had earlier been invited for interrogation by the DSS at its headquarters in Abuja, based on his recent alleged inciting comments that Christians should defend themselves against attacks by Fulani herdsmen.

Source:

I got information herdsmen were after me, says Apostle Suleman

A Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday declined the prayer by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike for an order stopping the police probe of complaints, allegations, petitions of crimes and acts of criminality during the December 10, 2016 re-run elections.

Wike suffered a similar fate on January 16 when Justice Gabriel Kolawole refused his ex-parte motion for an interim injunction restraining the police from conducting the investigation, but instead, directed the defendants to show cause why Wike’s prayers in his motion ex-parte should not be granted.

Defendants in the suit are the inspector general of Police (IGP), State Security Services (SSS) and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Damian Okoro.

Wike is, in the substantive suit, challenging the powers of the IGP to set up a judicial commission of enquiry to investigate allegations of violent crimes in his state.

He is, in the motion, seeking among others, an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants or their agents from enforcing or executing the matters contained in the letter written to him by the IGP on December 20, 2016.

The IGP in the letter titled, “Investigation into allegations of crimes committed during the last rerun elections in Rivers State,” said the “purview of the investigation will cover allegations of bribes taken, several brazen murder incidents (including that of serving police officers), reports of gross human rights abuses, acts of sabotage/terrorism, kidnapping for ransom and ballot box snatching, all of which were perpetrated in connivance with several federal and state civil servants as well as highly placed politicians within and outside the state”.

The letter requested the governor to furnish the police investigative team with necessary information and exhibits that might assist the team.

Yesterday, rather than file affidavit to show cause, as ordered by the court, the 1st and 3rd defendants, who responded to the case filed objection, challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case. The DSS did not file anything.

Plaintiffs’ lawyer Mike Ozekhome (SAN) said he had been served with the 1st and 3rd defendants’ notice of objection and counter-affidavits to his client’s originating summons and motion for interlocutory injunction.

Ozekhome, who prayed the court for a short time to respond to the defendants’ processes (documents), urged the court to grant an interim order directing parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing of his motion for injunction.

He noted that the defendants did not only admit conducting the investigation, which formed the thrust of his clients’ case, they confirmed they were proceeding with the investigation despite the pendency of the suit.

Responding, lawyer to the 1st and 3rd defendants, Deji Morakinyo, objected to Ozekhome’s prayer on the grounds that his clients were challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case, which sought to question the exercise of the IGP’s statutory and constitutional powers to investigate crimes.

Justice Kolawole refused Ozekhome’s prayer on the grounds that there was no irreparable damage that could occur to the plaintiffs should the defendants proceed with their investigation.

The judge however, drew the defendants’ attention to the implication of the doctrine of lis pendens should the police proceed with its investigation despite the pendency of a suit challenging its powers to conduct such investigation.

“As I observed in my ruling of January 16, 2017, the plaintiff is, by his office, the chief security officer of Rivers State.

“The 1st defendant, by virtue of the provision of Section 215(1) (a) of the Constitution, is the chief law enforcement officer of the federation, who equally has the statutory duties to prevent, to detect and investigate any crime within the Nigerian borders.

“Both the 1st, 2nd plaintiffs and the 1st defendants appear to be exercising powers conferred on them by laws.

“The proceedings for today are for the defendants to show cause and for the plaintiffs’ motion on notice to be argued in the context of the defendants’ responses to the plaintiffs’ motion on notice.
“The question, which tasked my thought is whether the filing of a notice of preliminary objection, strictly speaking, is a process by which the defendant, against whom an order of interim injunction is sought, ought to file? I really do not think so,” the judge said.

Justice Kolawole said the facts in the case did not present themselves as the case of Lagos State and Ojukwu, decided by the Supreme Court in 1986, which Ozekhome relied on to apply for an order for the maintenance of status quo.

In distinguishing this case from that of Lagos and Ojukwu, the judge noted that there were constitutional issues bordering on the exercise of statutory and constitutional powers, which both the plaintiffs and the 1st defendant have.

The judge said: “The only issue is whether, as between both parties, the said powers were being exercised in good faith and for public interest.

“These are the issue on which I can hardly express any judicial opinion until I am able to listen to detailed forensic legal arguments on the provisions of the Constitution and the duties which it imposes on all persons and authorities, to apply and execute its provisions in good faith and for the public good.

“I really do not see any irreparable lost or damage, which the plaintiffs would suffer if no order is made even at this stage…

“In the light of these postulations, I will still refrain from acceding to the plaintiffs’ council’s request and leave the defendants’ counsel with a clear choice to make either to suspend the action or to continue with it when they realise that the final say, as to the validity of their investigation report will be a matter of judicial determination sooner or later,” Justice Kolawole said.
The judge adjourned further hearing to February 10.

Source:

Again, court refuses Wike’s prayer to stop probe of Rivers rerun violence

More than 20 people were feared dead after Boko Haram gunmen opened fire on a convoy of motorists travelling under military escort in northeast Nigeria, witnesses told AFP on Monday.

The exact toll from the ambush on the main road between Maiduguri to Damboa on Saturday was unclear, with numbers varying from two to as high as 15 and 24.

But according to travellers who survived the attack and local rescuers, at least 15 trucks laden with food were seized when the Islamists struck at the Korowaso forest on Saturday.

“The attackers appeared from the bushes as the convoy slowed down at a part of the road riddled with potholes and opened fire on the vehicles,” said one of the drivers, Idrissa Kyari.

“They killed 15 people and injured nine while many passengers fled into the bush after subduing the military escorts. They also took away 15 trucks carrying food into the bush.”

Two students from of University of Maiduguri were killed in the attack with three others injured, said a teacher at the university on condition of anonymity.

Masida Umar, a civilian vigilante assisting the military against Boko Haram, said: “We evacuated 24 dead bodies and several injured to hospital.

“Many people fled into the bush and have not been seen despite deployment of a search team.”

Umar said there were fears Boko Haram may have captured those who fled.

The militia member said the rebels were believed to have launched the attack from Sambisa forest, which connects with Korowaso.

– Supply lines cut –
Last month Nigeria’s military claimed to have dislodged Boko Haram from their last stronghold in the former game reserve after a months-long offensive.

But residents in the area have said fighters were still hiding in areas on the edge of the forest.

Military and police authorities declined to comment on the incident when contacted by AFP.

The 90-kilometre (55-mile) Maiduguri-Damboa road was nominally reopened last February, allowing motorists to ply the highway but only under military protection.

It had been closed in 2013 following a spate of deadly attacks on motorists, as Boko Haram seized swathes of territory in Borno and two neighbouring states.

In the last two years a coordinated fightback against Boko Haram involving Nigerian troops and soldiers from Cameroon, Chad and Niger has successfully clawed back lost territory.

That has put pressure on Boko Haram, substantially cutting its food, fuel and weapons supplies.

As a result Boko Haram has carried out raids on farming communities as well as highway ambushes in its search for food and fuel.

Last Thursday, at least three Nigerian soldiers were killed when Boko Haram fighters on camels raided a military post near the home of the country’s army chief in Borno state.

Source: www.enca.com

The trial of Justice Ademola, his wife and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Joe Aginhas, has continued with the prosecution, alleging that his witnesses are being harassed; a situation he believes might affect the case.

The prosecution, Mr Segun Jegede, told the court that one of his witnesses allegedly escaped an assassination attempt the night before and that the said witness says someone had called him to broker a meeting with the defendants.

He therefore asked the court for witness protection because according to him, the witnesses are the property of the court.

Objecting to the statement, counsel to Justice Ademola, Mr Oyeachi Ikpeazu, said the tales being told were to continue to instigate media trial and prejudice the trial.

According to him, if any crime had been perceived to have occurred, the right thing would have been to approach the security agencies to launch an investigation and file charges if anyone was found culpable, rather than trying to court public sentiments.

He therefore urged the court not to listen to the prosecution.

Meanwhile, in a short ruling, Justice Jude Okeke said that the prosecution had complained that his witnesses were being threatened, but did not say who was threatening them.

Okeke further stated: “However, since he says the case is working the purview of the DPO of the Maitama Police station in Abuja, the court will not interfere with its investigation.”

He however added that for the sake of the trial, the Inspector General of Police is to provide security and protection for all the parties and witnesses in the case including the defense and prosecution to prevent any thing that would interfere with smooth hearing of the case.

Earlier, the court had ruled that even though the prosecution did not provide a summary of what its witness from a commercial bank will say, in regards to the financial statements of the defendants, in the interest of justice, the court will order the prosecution to attach the necessary documents required for the said witness to testify.

The defense counsels had urged the court to not allow the said witness testify in the case, since the prosecution did not comply with the law.

Source

: www.channelstv.com

Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo on Monday identified delay in the administration of justice as a major challenge that must be jointly tackled by all relevant stakeholders in the justice sector, just as he urged judges, lawyers and others to change their attitudes and stand up for what is right.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a two-day Stakeholder’s Summit organized by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice at the Convention Centre of Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos, Osinbajo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said stakeholders in the administration of justice must now begin to take the issue of delay more seriously and shun all forms of delay tactics.

Osinbajo, who was the keynote speaker at the summit with the theme: “Contemporary Trends: Catalysts For Justice Sector Reform in Lagos State,” called on the judiciary, as a way out of the problem, to embrace day-to-day system for trials and heavy punishment for deliberate act of delay aimed at stalling cases.

The Vice President, who was represented by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), said it was also important for the judiciary to introduce significant costs for delay occasioned especially by lateness, ill-preparedness or deliberate tactics.

While alluding to plethora of statistics and judicial decisions especially a 2014 English Court of Appeal judgment where it was stated that ‘cases take up to a generation to be resolved in Nigeria occasioned by catastrophic delays,’ Osinbajo said stakeholders must now resolve to address the issue of delay once and for all in the collective interest of all.

He took a swipe at some judges who would not sit on time and rise early and lawyers who file frivolous applications and employ other delay tactics as well as shoddy police investigation, and admonish them to desist from such.

“If we can agree that these problems are against our collective interests as practitioners and stakeholders, then we must make a firm commitment to tackle the problems by changing our attitude and standing up for what is right,” Osinbajo said.

Speaking on the summit, the Vice President said Lagos State had a general reputation for trailblazing reforms in the justice sector and in many other sectors in Nigeria and beyond, adding that the summit, which is aimed at further initiating reforms in conformity with modern trends, was another testament of the fact that the reputation of the State was being taken seriously by the current administration ably led by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

He said even though Nigeria was just clawing its way out of recession, it was gratifying that the State Government deemed it important to invest in the summit to address some of the institutional challenges preventing the country from developing a first-class justice system in its commercial nerve centre.

In his address, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode said for any nation to experience economic growth, it must first have a functional judicial system that would not only encourage local and foreign investors to invest in, but also guarantee conducive environment for such businesses to thrive.

Governor Ambode said experience over the years has shown that societies with equal and unhindered access to justice have a better environment for economic growth and poverty alleviation than those that do not.

This, he said, prompted his administration to prioritise justice and security reforms, not only to maintain law and order, but basically to carry out the various developmental projects that would make Lagos safer and more prosperous.

“As a government, we are well aware that to achieve our socio-economic goals of a safer, secured, peaceful and more prosperous Lagos State, we need a functioning justice sector, which guarantees not only the maintenance of law and order, the enforcement of human rights and freedom, but also provides an administration of justice ambience that protects investments and encourages economic development.

He listed some of the major challenges currently being faced by investors and entrepreneurs include the ease and cost of doing business and over regulation of business processes, saying that the Summit was not only timely but a veritable platform for experts to proffer solutions.

“We are mindful of the need to attract foreign investment, and public private investment, especially in the area of provision of infrastructure. No economy can develop without sustained infrastructural development. I firmly believe that discussions around all these issues are pertinent for this august gathering,” the Governor said.

Besides, Governor Ambode said his government was working round the clock to ensure a system where all justice institutions in the State are fully automated, alluding to the fact that global strides in commerce and information technology have transformed the world into a global village.

“One of our top priorities is to leave behind a legacy of a 21st century justice sector driven by digital technology and powered by digital literate judicial officers and legal services providers,” he said.

One of such technologies being put in place, Governor Ambode said, was the Lagos State DNA Laboratory to process DNA evidence, just as he expressed optimism that it would serve as a powerful criminal justice tool in prosecuting the guilty and exonerating the innocent.

“This will also act as deterrence to criminals whose DNA data are in the DNA database, ultimately, playing a key role in the systematic reduction of crime in our State,” Governor Ambode said.

Source:

https://breaking.com.ng/nigeria/osinbajo-recommends-trial-punishment-for-justice-delay/

The police in Lagos on Monday said they had arrested the publisher of Biafra Times and nine others for allegedly publishing and circulating seditious and malicious publication.

Parading the 10 suspects, Lagos State Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, said 515 copies of the offending newspaper were recovered during a raid on the printing press in Shomolu, Lagos.

“The printing press has been shut and the environment is being monitored. “This is an offence punishable under the Criminal Law of Lagos State,” Owoseni said.

He added that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as detectives finished interrogating them.

The arrested publisher, however, told journalists that he had no intention to promote disunity and disharmony among Nigerians.

“I love my country and I love my president. My intention is not to fight my country; I just want to pass out information to those who have no access to the Internet.

“I usually go on the Internet to source for information and publish. I have other papers on sports and social life which I publish,’’ he said. The prime suspect said he had been publishing for the past eight years but only specialised in Biafra Times three months ago.

“I decided to specialise on Biafra Times when I discovered it is always a sell-out anytime we published stories about eastern parts of the country.

“Sometimes, I go to newspaper vendors and hear people requesting for Biafra Times. “We usually print about 5000 copies which we sell for N100 nationwide,” he said.

In another development, the CP told journalists that the command was aware of a proposed demonstration which popular artiste, Tuface Idibia planned to lead.

He said that the command was yet to be officially notified and assured that the police would not allow unscrupulous elements to hijack the protest.

Source:

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/01/police-arrest-biafra-times-publisher-9-others-alleged-sedition/

The Katsina State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has claimed that desperate oppositions were behind the death rumour of President Muhammadu Buhari.

In the past few days, the social media has been awash with series of news claiming that the President had died.

The Presidency, however, denied the claim saying Buhari was hale and hearty and having a vacation in the UK.

In a bid to prove rumour mongers wrong, two set of photographs were released showing the President is on vacation and not dead.

But rising from a stakeholders meeting over the weekend, the state chapter of the party described the rumour as a “pointer to the desperation that has overcome the opposition leaders in Nigeria.”

In a 15-point-communique signed by the National Vice-Chairman, North West, Inuwa Abdulkadir, the party condemned the rumour, saying it is “callous, sadistic and inhumane politisation of the routine annual vacation of our dear President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buahri, by unscrupulous and unpatriotic opposition leaders.”

The party urged the National Assembly from the North West zone to fully support Buhari in his effort to provide responsive leadership to Nigeria.

It affirmed its support to the seven state governors in the zone towards economic integration of the region within the context of the North West Economic Cooperation and Integration framework.

“The meeting appreciated the efforts of the seven state governors in the North West region in addressing the security challenges especially in the areas of cattle rustling, armed banditry and kidnapping. This effort has resulted in the region being one of the most peaceful regions in the country,” the communiqué stated.

The Management of the National Youth Service Corps has expressed sadness over the death of the wife of the Youth and Sports Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung, Mrs. Briskila Dalung.

In a statement, the Director-General, Brigadier General Sulaiman Zakari Kazaure, described the death of Mrs. Dalung as a great loss, and prayed God to comfort the bereaved family.

He said, “The Management and staff of the NYSC stand in prayers with the Dalung family in this moment of grief. We pray Almighty God to give the Honourable Minister and the rest of the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,” the statement says.

Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has called on Northerners to give birth to only the number of children they can cater for.

The Emir gave the advice while speaking at the 60th Anniversary, Founder’s Day Lecture and Magazine Launch of Kaduna Capital School.

He said, “You are allowed to marry two wives if you can maintain them. You are also allowed to produce 100 children if you can maintain and educate them, but if you cannot, please marry the number of wives you can maintain and produce the number of children you can take care of. We are obsessed by number as anything produced en masse is cheap.

”We have produced all these children like commodities They are there on the streets and that is why they die and people don’t care because they have no value. They are also on drugs and people don’t care” he said

Source: www.dailytrust.com.ng

We are dismayed by the recent revelation by the Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing that it has not “no new contracts have been awarded to date based on 2016 Appropriation & as such no single kobo has been paid.”. We find the declaration unequivocally shocking and thereby question the statement released by the Public Relations office of the Ministry. The financial report document released by the Office of the Accountant General revealed a sum of N170,425,193,94 was released to the Ministry as at October 2016 from a total capital budget of N353bn.  If the funds released to the Ministry of Works, Power and Housing are meant for old projects, what projects did the Ministry spend N170bn on? The Ministry of Works, Power and Housing should provide information on the projects currently being implemented, the actual cost released for each project, name of the contractors and the locations of the projects. This is a basic requirement to measure the judicious utilisation of public funds by any public office.

As at October 2016, the Finance ministry stated N753bn as the total capital release with no comprehensive details of projects the fund was released for. Our organisation is dedicated to improving the standard of transparency and ensuring public funds are utilised effectively and efficiently for the satisfaction of the citizens.  It is pertinent to note that this issue was covered in our FOI Request to the Ministry dated December 6, 2016 to which the ministry has refused to respond to till date. The Freedom of Information Act 2011 mandates every public office to provide information to the general public when requested.  If the information we requested for – information about how public fund is being expended – was released within the time stipulated by law, this denial would have been unnecessary. We did not request for nuclear codes nor details that could be dubbed as ‘threats to National Security’; we have only requested that governance functions the way it ought to.

It is a common knowledge that government fails when citizens do not hold trust in the dealings of an administration hence the necessity to ensure there is mutual trust between government and the citizens through transparency. We have chewed this on many occasions that there is a deliberate attempt to keep citizens out of loop with respect to information. The lack of responsible public information breeds bad perception. The implication of this singular act could be measured on investment and investors who struggle to trust an opaque system with funds.

We will like to state that the refusal to publish full details of the capital projects or any other public project execution is undemocratic and kicks against every tenet of good governance.

We implore the Federal Government and public agencies to imbibe the culture of open government by proactively disclosing information on public spending and ensure that implementation reports are released on time. The Federal Government’s anti-graft war needs more openness to work efficiently.

The crisis rocking the Ondo State House of Assembly continues on Monday morning as police shut the Assembly premises.

This was to prevent a fracas which would have occurred at the Assembly between factions loyal to Hon. Malachi Coker and Hon. Jumoke Akindele who are laying claim to the speakership seat.

Coker’s faction impeached Akindele last Friday evening but the woman insisted that she remain the speaker because her removal did not meet the constitutional requirement.

The Nation learnt gathered that the legislators in Coker’s camp gained entrance to the Assembly premises as early as 6:00 a.m.? on Monday

Coker immediately sat on the speaker’s seat in readiness for the day’s plenary.

The Akindele’s faction later stormed the Assembly and the embattled speaker personally challenged Coker that he has no right to sit on the speaker’s seat.

But Coker told her she is no longer the Assembly speaker because she had been impeached.

This caused altercation between the two factions.

Police operatives led by the state Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Hilda Ibifuro-Harrison, who were already at the Assembly premises to prevent breakdown of law and order, stormed the House chamber and ordered the lawmakers including the workers to leave the place immediately.

Buruji Kashamu, lawmaker representing Ogun east senatorial district, says two or three people will die before he can be extradited to the US.

According to reports, the legislator, who is being charged for drug related offences, has revealed his plan of hiring 40 members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) to protect him.

Maintaining his innocence, Kashamu said Adewale, his late younger brother was the culprit, not him.

“I will go and hire OPC, may be like 40. I will load them in my vehicle, because the day we meet, one has to kill one,” he reportedly said in a statement.

“That is for sure! One has to kill one because I am not ready to go anywhere. Before that happens, maybe about three, four or five people will die.

“The Beninoise Interpol produced evidence showing that the Benin telephone number, through which the US offenders communicated with their west African collaborators, belonged to my brother, Adewale Kashamu, and not me.

“When they were looking for him, the NDLEA people went to his house here; they searched his house. they went to his car company, they sealed his car company and they took over 30 vehicles from there. He ran away.”

He blamed his predicament on former President Olusegun Obasanjo, appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to protect him.

“I do not believe that this government can entertain this kind of rubbish. I do believe that this government has integrity and they are credible; they believe in the rule of law, because if they want to do it, they could have done it,” he said.

“Obasanjo has been pushing them, using one Sandra, a former ambassador of the United States; he’s the one pushing everybody, meeting all these judges, but what have I done?

“There is no extradition that can be brought against me again. The only thing they can do is to watch and catch me on the road; take me to the airport or Cotonou or throw me inside a vessel and take me through the Atlantic Ocean. But I am not going to let that happen.”

Last week, a US court ruled that Kashamu’s drug trial must continue.

Source: www.thecable.ng

Senate President Bukola Saraki says he does not have a problem with the new mega party as long as it will push the country’s economy forward.

Saraki said this in an interview aired on Channels TV.

“If the mega party will see us pushing Nigeria’s economy forward, I don’t have problem. Like I have said to many people, my focus now is on the economy,” he said.

Last Wednesday, the Action Democratic Party (ADP), a new political party, submitted requirements for registration to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Members of the new party are reportedly drawn from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC) and other political groups.

Speaking to journalists after the registration attempt, Yagbayi Sani, pro tem national chairman of ADP, described the party as an alternative platform that will put the country “on the path of sustainable development and national cohesion”.

“The current pathetic and weak conditions of the existing major political parties in Nigeria as well as the challenging socio-economic and political situation in the country made us establish this party… It is a child of necessity,” he had said.

“The ADP is poised to rebuild Nigeria to achieve greatness as envisaged and desired by all. It is regrettable that despite the enormous human resources for development that we are endowed with, the nation wallows in abject poverty, and lack of direction, the ADP is prepared and equipped to halt this slide.”

Saraki also spoke about the APC, admitting that the ruling party had made some mistakes.

“It’s been tough. There are many things we should have done differently; we didn’t manage the success well in the early stage. But it’s a learning curve,” he said.

“Here is a party that hasn’t been in power for so many years. But we are making progress. I mean look at the budget process. Compare now to last year, you will see that the process is better, and it’s going to get better as we go on.”

The nation’s number three citizen also promised Nigerians that there would not be delay in the passage of the 2017 budget.

“We are going to put everything in place, we will back in the 21st, hopefully by then reports will start coming in, plus or minus three weeks by the time we come back,” Saraki said.

“The national assembly will open up its budget in 2017, yes in my own time.”

Source: www.thecable.ng

Ahead of the gubernatorial election to be held in Anambra state in November 2017, members of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), are set to commence registration of new members, as well as the re-validation of old members in order to begin aggressive mobilisation for the party.

In a stakeholders meeting held in Awka, the Anambra state capital, the Chairman of the Registration and Re-validation Committee for Anambra state, Mr Chris Akomas, expressed joy over what he described as an impressive turnout of stakeholders.

He said he was confident that the readiness and preparedness of the party members in the state for the one week exercise would ensure that the party expanded and is capable of wrestling power out of the hands of the incumbent All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

He went further to display the registration materials, while explaining that the party registration and re-validation exercise was for everybody and at no cost.

However, the requirements included: two passport photographs, any identification card and physical presence for thumb printing.

“This registration exercise is to update the membership of those of us that have been in the party all this while, those of you and others that started it all here that grew the party, and also those that joined us and have been working with us.

“We would also open our hands to welcome everybody that wants to come in and become a member of the All Progressives Congress which is or pride today.”

The leader of the party in the state and Minister of Labor and Employment, reiterating what the chairman had said, assured the party members that the exercise had nothing to do with dismantling its existing structure; rather it was to ensure that people who were joining, were accommodated through registration while old party members through re-validation, strengthen their membership.

He however assured the party members that the hard times in the national economy would soon be over. “We won a national election. We are unlucky a little bit that the country fell into a recession. But entering a recession is like an accident.

“If you have an accident, will you because of the accident say you want to die even when death is not there? Will you want to die? We are going to come out of this recession and all the strong ones, when the going gets tough, the tough keeps going.

“We are going to go on and we shall do it with whatever we have including but not limited to our being patient, our being resilient, our being ready to do some more hogs.”

The National Auditor of the party, Mr George Muoghalu, giving his opinion, also believes that “A lot of people want to come into the party.

He then insisted that members must create an enabling environment for them to join and the only way you can be a member of the party is when you are registered.

“So that is exactly what we are doing now, creating the opportunity for those who desire to be part of us but who have not joined us to be able to join us,” he explained.

Dr. Chike Obidigbo another critical stakeholder, also shared his views in the area of the relevance of the party to the people in the state.

Source: nigeria.shafaqna.com

Senator Shehu Sani representing Kaduna central Senatorial district has criticised President Donald Trump over US immigration ban on seven Muslims dominating countries.

Senator Sani said: “We need a 21st century World of Bridges and flowers and not of Walls and wires. Refugees and IDPs lives matter”.

This is coming as President Donald Trump remained firm on the implementation of an executive order which temporarily bans all refugees and people from seven mainly Muslim countries from entering the United States.

The move, which has been condemned by rights groups and world leaders.

Former Abia State Governor Theodore Orji has denied receiving pension from the state.
In a statement by his Media Adviser, Eddie Onuzutike, the former governor said the report was false.

Orji said his name was included among past governors and deputies to get pensions.

The statement reads: “Let it be known to all and sundry that T. A. Orji is not drawing any such funds from Abia State, knowing the implications of such act.

“As a man who went through the rungs of the civil service ladder – from Administrative Officer to Permanent Secretary – he is aware of the code guiding retirement of officers and so would not violate same.

“It is an avowed code and the journalistic maxim that when in doubt, one should not publish. This is still applicable and should be judiciously adhered to. Reporters and media houses should investigate properly before publishing.

“In the case above, the medium is hereby advised to apologise for the huge embarrassment from the error and desist from such publications to avoid unnecessary legal actions applicable to such misleading information.”

A key suspect in the abduction of five students and three teachers of Nigerian Turkish International College, Bekewei Agbojule, says he participated in the kidnapping to raise money for a business.

He explained that he was invited to join the operation by a gang member identified simply as America.

The indigene of Arogbo Ijaw from Ondo State was paraded alongside three other gang members on Saturday by the police.

Others are Are Kakadu, aka General Kakadu, Romeo Council, aka Raw; and Totki Okoda.

Agbojule, 29, was caught by the police with N1. 2m cash believed to be his share of the ransom paid for the release of the hostages.

The suspect explained that he piloted the boat that was used to transport the kidnap victims to a hideout in the creeks.

He said, “I was fishing when America (a gang member) called me to come to Lagos; I told him I didn’t know where he was, but he said I should just come. When I arrived in the evening, he asked me to join them in a boat to where the operation was to be carried out.

“He did not tell me that they were engaged in kidnapping business. We were 15 in number but only 10 of us went for the operation.

“I don’t have any job and my plan was that once they gave me the money from the operation, I would travel back to the village and use it to establish some business with my family.”

The spiritual leader of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, Olumba Olumba Obu, has said that by the tension his one week in office has created around the world, the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, has provoked God and will soon earn the wrath of God.

He said also that before long the United States Congress would disappoint him by throwing out all the harsh executive orders which he has signed in his first one week in office.

Addressing huge crowds of worshippers and guests at his international headquarters in Calabar on importance of love and unity, the cleric said Trump was working against the Holy Spirit by causing division, disaffection and hatred thinking he was pleasing the American electorate.

He said, “President Donald Trump thinks he is working to please the electorate. He does not know that he is offending the Holy Spirit by causing disaffection, hatred, division amongst not only American people but people around the world… Trump should not provoke God to bring down His wrath on the US. They should be very careful about threat to deport the so-called foreigners.”

Gunmen on Sunday abducted a female lecturer, Leeyira Sinee, on her way to a church in Bori, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

It was gathered that Sinee lectures in the Department of Computer Science, Kenule Sara-Wiwa Polytechnic, also located in the area.

The gunmen were said to be masked, even as a source disclosed that the operation of the hoodlums, which was carried out at about 8am with precision, did not last up to a minute.

Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Kenule Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Ferry Gberegbe, confirmed the incident, maintaining that the lecturer was whisked away on Sunday while she was going to church.

Gberegbe, however, pleaded with Sinee’s abductors to release her unconditionally, describing her as an easy-going woman that would never harm anybody.

He explained that relatives and well-wishers of the victims had yet to establish contact with her abductor after the incident.

He said, “The young lady was accosted this (Sunday) morning by men of the underworld while going to church. We are yet to get calls from the kidnappers. She has not been released.

“We are appealing to the kidnappers to release her unconditionally. As a result of this, we are calling on the governor of the state to do something because the issue of kidnapping in Bori is becoming unbearable.

“We are calling on him (governor) to do everything possible to restore peace in Bori, which is the traditional headquarters of Ogoni. All we are saying is that relevant security agencies should swing into action to bring about her safe release. She has not done harm to anybody.”

Efforts made to reach the state Police Public Relations Officer to speak on the incident was unsuccessful as several calls to his phone was not answered while a text message to him was also not replied.

Following the growing incidence of renewed attacks by the displaced Boko Haram terrorists, a former Director in the Department of State Services, DSS, Mr. Mike Ejiofor, has charged Nigerians to brace up for more of such attacks.

Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, Ejiofor, who is a security consultant, said with the military’s announcement of the capture of the terrorists’ stronghold, Camp Zero in Sambisa forest, the sect was now in disarray, but more decisive in launching attacks on Nigerians as a way of proving its continued existence.

He said: “In an asymmetric war or unconventional war, it is even more difficult to fight because you do not have a central control. Since the Camp Zero has been taken, Sambisa forest is still very open and that is why we have continued to have attacks, uncoordinated attacks on soft targets. “Nigerians now have to be more security conscious and to look around their environment with a view to assisting the military because what we are going to have going forward, are these uncoordinated attacks. We should be expecting more of the attacks.

“The capture of Camp Zero is not the end of the war. You know initially they used to plan their attacks there, but now it is no more coordinated, which is their own way of proving that they are still potent because government has also told us that they have technically defeated Boko Haram. “So, they (terrorists) also want to prove that they are still potent by carrying out such uncoordinated attacks. The thing is that we expect some of these attacks but it should not be left to the military alone.

Nigerians have to be on their guards, because it is often said that ‘the price of liberty is eternal vigilance’.” “We just have to be vigilant to make sure some of these things are curtailed because we cannot just gloss over it. Ireland, Pakistan, Iraq and others have continued to fight this type of war for so long. With the capture of Osama Bin Laden, has that brought the end to the al-Qaeda struggle? No.

This is a global war and not a Nigerian affair. “We have the international dimension especially with Boko Haram’s connection with ISIS. So, we have infiltrations from neighbouring countries. What about the issue of herdsmen? It has been established that some of them are not Nigerians too”, he stated. Commending the military for the successes recorded so far in prosecuting the war, Ejiofor counselled the military to detach itself from politics, urging the Federal Government to focus on ending the war rather than giving in to unnecessary propaganda.

Gloria Samson, a Benue-based woman, has taken her life, leaving behind her husband and two children.

According to reports, one of the reasons given for her tragic action is her investment in the crashed Mavrodi Mondial Money box (MMM).

She was said to have invested a N400,000 loan she procured into the ponzi scheme.

The deceased reportedly took her leave on December 28, after she bade her children bye and apologised for any wrongdoing she might have committed against them.

The same message of forgiveness was reportedly sent through the children to her husband, a printer, who was still at work at that time.

Few hours after she left home without returning, her son, Wisdom, called his father using his mother’s phone and informed him that his mother had left home for hours and was yet to return.

Samson had assured his kids not to worry that she would return.

Unfortunately this was not to be, as Gloria never reunited with her family.

“Tracing her became difficult and I had to return home around 11pm of that fateful day. The only thing I could do was to call my younger brother and brother in-law informing them of the sudden disappearance of my wife,” David Samson, the deceased’s husband, told Tribune.

Samson said he walked to a nearby police station to lodge a complaint of the sudden disappearance of his wife.

“From there, I was asked to make a statement and drop my phone number, but alas, I did not hear from them again,” Samson added.

It was later discovered that the woman had walked down to River Benue and drowned herself. The police recovered her body on January 2.

Some of those who spoke to newsmen said the deceased was a very lively person until early December 2016, when news of the crash in MMM went viral.

A foodstuff dealer identified as ‘Madam’ Kate, narrated her encounter with the deceased.

“This woman came to my stall early December, she was so moody, unlike her usual way of life,” she said.

“I asked what the problem was, and she told me that she had run into deep problem. She said she had collected a sum of money and put it into ‘that business that brings in quick money’ but learnt that the thing had collapsed.

“She even threatened to run away, but I encouraged her to pray as God would intervene and she left. I did not hear from her until last Tuesday when the news came that she drowned in River Benue and her body was recovered here around Wadata.”

Over 3 million people invested in the scheme.

Most participants of them lost hope earlier in the week when the news broke that Chuddy Ugorji, the initiator of the Nigerian faction of MMM, had fled the country with his wife, Amaka.

The MMM number one guider has reportedly relocated to Philippines.

The senator representing Ogun East, Buruji Kashamu, has said it will be illegal to initiate another extradition proceedings against him for drug dealing allegations in the United States.

He said similar cases had been dismissed by two United Kingdom courts and a Federal High Court in Nigeria.

At a briefing in Lagos at the weekend, Kashamu said the ruling by a US Appeal Court was twisted by the media, adding that his travails were politically motivated.

Kashamu said the ruling was to the effect that the US police were free to initiate extradition proceedings against anyone in collaboration with a local police.

“But that does not mean the court is telling them they have the right to enter into our territory to arrest me. That does not mean our police will say come and kidnap him.

“But what we are saying is that they cannot bring another extradition suit against me, because the ones they brought to London were dismissed; the one in Nigeria was dismissed,” he said.

Kashamu said allegations of illicit drug dealing in the US were baseless because he had never been to America, adding that only fugitives could be extradited, which he was not.

The senator urged the Federal Government to resist a sinister bid by his political enemies to extradite him at all cost.

He also wants the government to defend the country’s territorial integrity, saying a situation where British investigators come to Nigeria for investigations and take witnesses away to testify abroad must no longer be tolerated. “Can we do that there?” he asked.

Kashamu described the reports as the latest in a series of efforts by his political opponents to call a dog a bad name to hang it.

The senator recalled that while on a business trip to the UK in 1998, he was arrested at City Airport in London and detained pursuant to an arrest warrant issued on the basis of an indictment in the US in which the name Alaji was introduced as a party to an alleged offence of importation of narcotics.

“I have never visited or resided in the U.S and certainly have never been involved in any business nlet alone a criminal activity whatsoever in the US,” he said.

He said his lawyers came across some exculpatory evidence, which the US government concealed from the courts in the extradition proceedings.

The evidence, he said, was the outcome of a photo identification parade to identify Alaji held in the US Attorney’s Office.

Kashamu said: “They took a mug shot of me and placed it with seven other photographs of black males, who had facial hair similar to mine and were about my age too.

“After viewing the photo lineup, Fillmore, one of the accused, said the third photograph in the lineup looked like a bad photograph of the man they were looking for.

“He also declared that the second, fourth, sixth, seventh and eighth photographs did not at all look like the said Alaji; my mug shot was the seventh in the lineup; that was one of the photographs that Fillmore said did not at all look like the wanted kingpin.

“So, my lawyers began a Habeas Corpus (a recourse in law whereby a person can report an unlawful detention or imprisonment before a court) application in the High Court of Justice, Queens Bench division, for my release and the vacation of the committal order made by the court.

“The English High Court, in its judgment delivered on October 6, 2000, agreed that the order for my committal was null and void, having been the product of unfair proceedings in which the U.S. government had suppressed exculpatory evidence.”

Kashamu said the US authorities did not appeal the decision but re-arrested him and began a second extradition proceeding at the Bow Street Magistrate Court in England before District Judge Tim Workman.

“Just before judgment was delivered, the U.S. government offered me a plea bargain by which they agreed to let me off with a suspended or short sentence if I would stop fighting the extradition proceedings.

“This offer was passed through Thomas Durkin, a U.S lawyer representing me. I rejected the offer.

“The Bow Street Magistrate Court delivered its judgment on January 10, 2003 wherein Judge Workman concluded that the new identification evidence produced by the US government was worthless and unreliable and that I was not the person involved in the narcotics transaction and should thus be discharged,” the Senator said.

Kashamu said there was a conspiracy against him, which culminated in a failed attempt to abduct him in 2015.

“When I became aware of these moves I began an action at the Federal High Court in Lagos against the AGF seeking an interpretation of the Nigerian Extradition Act and determination of some questions as to whether the AGF could exercise his powers under that Act against me.

“Prior to this, I had been elected a senator. My political foes, who were coincidentally dealing with a major defeat at the presidential elections, sought to sink with as many people as they could.

“I consequently filed an application for the enforcement of my fundamental rights. The court subsequently heard arguments in respect of the originating motion and reserved judgment to be delivered on May 27, 2015.”

Kashamu said the belated extradition proceedings initiated by the Federal Government did not include a request for his extradition by the US authorities as prescribed by the Nigerian Extradition Act. It was on that basis, he said, that the provisional warrant of arrest was set aside.

“Any attempt to condone or allow abduction in the guise of an extradition is an illegality and affront on our sovereignty, the rule of law, international and municipal laws.

“I am an employer of labour with hundreds of employees, who also cater for their immediate and their extended families. I have had more than enough distractions since this needless harassment began.

“I could hardly focus on building my businesses and the consequences on my bottom line and cash flow have saddled me with a N11billion deficit that I am still battling to offset,” he said.

Source: www.nigerianeye.com

The Kaduna State Security Council today reviewed the situation in three local government areas that are under curfew. The council noted that the security agencies have taken actions that are preventing attacks, and stabilising the situation in Jema’a, Kaura and Zangon-Kataf local government areas.

The council welcomes the efforts of the security agencies in thwarting attacks and helping to foster a growing sense of safety. However, the council also received reports of a spike in false stories of attacks and killings. These appear tailored to promote panic within communities, create fear and provoke a spiral of reprisals and vengeance.

The Kaduna State Security Council warns that anyone spreading false stories and images of attacks is liable to be prosecuted. If any individual or community is attacked, the correct and lawful procedure is to report to traditional rulers and the police, who have the statutory duty to record the incident, investigate and ascertain its veracity and take steps to establish the identity of victim and perpetrator, amongst others.

The security council said that everyone must reject fictitious reports and exaggeration which needlessly complicate the sober and serious efforts being exerted to advance peace and security.

The Afenifere Renewal Group, ARG, has accused the Northern Governors Forum, NGF, of sacrificing Nigerians in the interest of Fulani herdsmen infiltrating the country.

ARG made the allegation while faulting NGF’s proposal to open a register for immigrant Fulani herdsmen in the country.

This is coming at a time when Fulani herdsmen have been fingered in several killings across the country.

In a statement sent to newsmen by the group’s Publicity Secretary, Kunle Famoriyo, ARG wondered why a register will be opened to accommodate a race that is a threat to food and the security of the nation.

“The Afenifere Renewal Group condemns strongly the proposal by the Northern Governors Forum (NGF) to open a register for immigrant Fulani herdsmen, whom the NGF itself identified as aliens and threats to Nigeria’s internal security.

“This is underscored by our observations that the NGF had in times past stridently denied culpability of these killers, rising to their defence many a times.

“Our people, who are largely smallholding farmers, cannot work at their full capacity, living at the mercy of cows and conniving policemen. This has aggravated the sweeping poverty in Nigeria and has displaced many of our people. Nigeria’s socioeconomic indices is clear that farmers, not herdsmen, should get higher priority from government, being a higher employer of labour, higher contributor to tax, FOREX earning and GDP.”

ARG expressed concern that, “state governors who swore to protect Nigeria’s constitution are the ones promoting alien interest. Or what logic is there in opening a register for agents of external aggression?”

The statement reads further, “It is shameful that the NGF could not even pretend or hide its readiness to sacrifice the rest of Nigeria for Fulani interest in its veiled reference to “national integration and cohesion” as the solution to herdsmen menace.

“For example, Kaduna Governor, Nasir Elrufai, arrogantly and cold-heartedly declared on Aljazeera recently that killer herdsmen must be accommodated because Nigeria is signatory to ECOWAS’s treaty on trans-humane pastoralist protocol. We wonder if ECOWAS treaties are only obligatory where it concerns Fulani interest as there are other treaties that Nigeria has ignored.

“Another example is the recent ban on car importation through land borders which Comptroller General Hameed Ali said was done to stop influx of illegal arms. If this policy could be implemented swiftly, at great economic loss to stakeholders and despite a senate order against it, why has nothing been done to disarm herdsmen who freely roam about with sophisticated weapons?

“It is becoming increasingly clear that Nigerian authorities will not address the menaces of Fulani herdsmen as should be done in a sane country and NGF’s latest proposal therefore remains to be seen as a workable idea. This further shows that ethnocentric interest, rather than the Rule of Law, governs Nigeria.”

The group reiterate that the only workable solutions are to “outlaw open grazing, arrest and prosecute arms-bearing herdsmen, and promote ranching systems.

“Farmers are paying for land use, why should herdsmen not? Conversely, if herdsmen are justified to bear arms, why should farmers not do same?

“We therefore hold the view that should herdsmen continue to get higher priority, our farmers would be right to resort to self-defence because where injustice becomes a law, resistance becomes a duty.”

Source:

Northern governors sacrificing Nigerians in the interest of Fulani herdsmen – Afenifere

A suspect standing trial for crimes that include kidnapping, Henry Chibueze, also known as Vampire has escaped from Imo High Court premises following a shootout between gunmen and security operatives.

The attack left several persons wounded. No death has been reported so far.

Men suspected to be members of a gang attacked the operatives when the suspected criminal and other inmates arrived at the premises of the Imo High Court in Owerri, the capital of the southeastern state.

Eyewitness said the gunmen, over six of them, found their way into the court premises shortly after over 50 inmates were conveyed to court for hearing of various suits filed against them.

The gunmen opened fire on the security operatives and inmates at the court premises shooting sporadically into the air for over 10 minutes leaving several people wounded,.

According to the eyewitness, the gunmen were able to whisk away Henry Chibueze, whom was described as a “notorious criminal and kidnapper” who has been in prison since July 2015.

“We were here in the court premises when a lawyer came to call us to enter room three for hearing. Shortly after that we started hearing sporadic gunshots. About six gunmen entered the court and started shooting. Some people were even wounded. They came with a Jeep and eventually they whisked away one of the inmates who the prisons officials brought to the court for hearing. The gunshot lasted over 10 minutes,” the eyewitness, who do not want to be named told reporters.

“We Thought They Were DSS”

Confirming the incident to reporters, the spokesman for the Nigeria Police Force in Imo State, Maduba James, said the suspect, Chibueze, also known as Vampire was presently at large and that over five persons were critically injured due to the sporadic gun shots by the gunmen.

He told reporters that security operatives were on top of the situation to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order in the state.

Mr James said: “We were in the office this morning when we got a call that some gunmen were in the court premises. We thought they were DSS officials because by then we were conveying over 50 inmates to the state High Court for hearing.

“However, the gunmen attacked some of our men and some of the inmates. They are critically injured now and have been taken to a hospital.

“Meanwhile, one of the inmates, who we know as Vampire, is at large presently but my controller and other security operatives are on top of the situation”.

At the moment, there is heavy presence of security operatives in the court premises and several clusters of people discussing the sad incident.

Source: www.nigerianeye.com

A housewife, Folasade Fayemi, on Friday urged a Customary Court at Agodi, Ibadan, to dissolve her three-year-old marriage, citing her husband’s decision to make his brother the next of kin.

Folasade also accused her husband, Temitope, of beating and harassing her.

She said, “My Lord, my husband bought a plot of land and put the name of his sibling as the next of kin without considering me and my son, who is the only child of the marriage.

“He loves his siblings and mother more than me, always in close contact with his mother and hardly tells me about his movements.

“Worse still, he beats me always and does not care about my welfare; the court should separate us since he prefers his mother and siblings to me.”

The husband, however, denied all the allegations and pleaded with the court not to separate them, saying I still love her.”

The President of the court, Chief Mukaila Balogun, urged the parties to explore the possibility of reconciling, saying “the court is interested more in reconciliation and settlement of rifts between couple than dissolution.”

He urged the husband to make the move for reconciliation and report back to the court.

The case has been adjourned to Feb 1.

Department of State Security Services (DSS) on Wednesday said it has uncovered plot by a South-south governor to subvert the Federal Government.

The governor, under investigation, was also accused of sponsoring violent demonstrations.

Reacting to a protest on Monday by ‘Lawyers in Defence of Democracy’, a DSS official told The Nation that the group had a hidden agenda.

“The Monday protest by the so called Lawyers in Defence of Democracy was misplaced.

“We believe that that protest by the group, claiming to be acting on behalf of some aggrieved lawyers and Human Rights activists, has other hidden motives.

“The protesters’ main grouse was that some lawyers who are members of their group are being detained by the DSS. I wish to state categorically that no lawyer is in our custody. I repeat, no lawyer is being detained in DSS custody.

“The names like Ugochukwu Apumaga, Emeka Dibia and Ejike Nwachukwu that were paraded on Monday by the protesters as members of their group are not lawyers.

“They were arrested by the service for their role in the botched moves by a South-South Governor to orchestrate violent demonstration with inciting and subversive posters.

”Ikenga Ugochukwu was arrested with the trio. This is no longer secret because it was made public by the Service.

“In any case, the Service is not known to be in denial of any arrest it had ever made as it always avail members of the public of those it arrested and the reasons.

“It is therefore curious and even strange if these organizations being mentioned are not pseudo organizations being used by Ikenga, to carry out paid jobs.

“As far as the Service is concerned, there is no lawyer in detention and if these persons mentioned are lawyers, it will be helpful if any discerning person can inform the Nigerian public when they were called to the Bar or which law schools or Universities they attended.”

The DSS further attributed calls for the removal of its DG to the alleged subterranean activities of the governor.

Source:

A South-South governor plotting against Buhari’s government – DSS

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it is embarking on a national raid of cyber cafe, ahead of its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Dr Fabian Benjamin, JAMB’s Head, Media and Information, told newsmen on Friday in Lagos that the exercise would be jointly carried out with the officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

He said the raid was meant to smash the operations of some syndicates operating cyber cafes to print fake UTME registration numbers and application documents to prospective candidates.
According to him, four suspects have already been apprehended in Ekiti for printing and selling fake registration documents for the 2017 examination.

“This development is an eye-opener that same could be happening in other parts of the country.

“We shall, in collaboration with the NSCDC, commence a national raid of all cyber cafe in the country, any moment from now.

“We will not fold our arms and watch some elements defraud Nigerians, parents in particular, who desire education for their children.

“These persons arrested in Ekiti were holed out in their cyber café, where they have been carrying out their illegal activities and had defrauded prospective candidates to the tune of over N10 million.

“We had a synergy with NSCDC, which led to the discovery of serious illegal manipulation of JAMB registration forms, numbers as well as admission letters,’’ he said.

Benjamin warned prospective candidates against handling information regarding the sale of the registration documents to avoid falling prey to the activities of the suspects.
“We had warned severally that we had yet to commence the sales of the 2017 registration documents, and that candidates should be patient because we are putting finishing touches to the entire examination process.

“This is because we want to tackle all the hitches that had been associated with the examination in the past years and make it almost 100 per cent hitch-free.

“As soon as this is achieved, and we are set to roll out the registration documents, we will do massive sensitisation.

“Candidates must realise that no cyber cafe is authorised to do any form of registration, as candidates who defy this warning are doing so at their own risk,’’ he said.

The Supreme Court has struck out a suit filed by the Federal Government against the Lagos state government.

The suit seeks the Supreme Court’s order to take control and management of its land in Lagos state from the state government.

However a five-man panel led by Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour struck out the suit, upholding the objected filed by the Lagos state government.

Justice Dattijo Muhammad who read the ruling agreed with the Lagos state government that the court lacked the power to exercise its “original jurisdiction” in the suit because FG had “transferred its title in the land to others.”

The dispute was about “general control and management of federal land within Lagos state, particularly the re-issuance of certificate of occupancy, granting consent or exercising rights of ownership.”

Source:

A draft executive order from the Trump administration orders government to stop funding any United Nations(UN) agency that promotes “the performance of abortion or sterilisation as a method of family planning.”

It’s one of a number of prohibitions in the order that sets up a process for reviewing all American contributions to the UN—and automatically eliminating many others.

Also on the chopping block is “any United Nations affiliate or other international organisation that grants full membership to the Palestinian Authority or the Palestinian Liberation Organisation”; any organisation “substantially influenced by any state that sponsors terrorism”; and any group circumventing sanctions against North Korea or Iran.

The gist of the order was first reported by The New York Times. The draft order, if enacted, would be a significant expansion on the so-called Global Gag Rule, which was first implemented by Ronald Reagan in 1984, overturned during every Democratic administration, and reinstated and expanded by Donald Trump this week.

The Global Gag Rule only restricts usage of federal funding to organisations that do not promote (or even mention) abortion. Trump’s draft order goes further to include sterilisation, a crucial medical procedure for women in a world where an estimated 300,000 women die during childbirth annually.

The United Nations Population Fund is one of several UN organisations that would receive a “special review of funding” under the draft order. UNFPA states as its aim “a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.”

The organisation fights against child marriage, female genital mutilation, and maternal death. In addition, the UNFPA has played a role in assuring that pregnant women fleeing conflict are able to safely give birth.

Source

http://www.nan.ng/news/trump-to-cut-off-funding-to-un-agencies/

There was an intense exchange of gunfire in Borno on Wednesday night as a huge number of suspected Boko Haram terrorists descended on a military base in Yobe with the intention of dislodging the troops there and taking over the location.

Military insiders told newsmen that the terrorists stormed the military base in Kamuya at 5:30 p.m. from three different directions shooting non-stop for over 30 minutes.

Because the attack was unexpected and the terrorists were in such a large number than the officers and men at the camp, the troops initially withdrew, our sources said.

However, a reinforcement was quickly sent from Buni Yadi to join the troop on ground.
After hours of intense fighting, the troops were able to retake the camps, with the terrorists fleeing.

A large number of Boko Haram terrorists were said to have been killed in battle with some fleeing the scene with gunshot wounds.

One source said three Nigerian soldiers died while some equipment were lost during the battle. A number of soldiers are also said to be missing.

The Yobe attack came days after suspected Boko Haram members abducted seven women and killed three other persons when they attacked a village in the southern part of Borno State.

Witnesses and police said the incident occurred in Ndagu Village of Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

Ndagu village is located near Alagarno, which was once known as the spiritual headquarters of Boko Haram and was said to have been recently liberated by troops of the Nigeria military.

A leader of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria in Borno State, Abbas Gava, informed newsmen that he received a report from one of his colleagues in Askira-Uba Local Government Area that Ndagu in Lassa district came under massive attack by Boko Haram.

Mr. Gava said he was briefed by the Commander of VGN in Askira-Uba, Hamidu Wampana, that many of the residents fled into the jungle when the gunmen set the whole village on fire.

The army authorities were yet to comment on the Yobe attack at the time of this report.

Army spokesperson, Sani Usman, did not pick or return calls and did not respond to an SMS sent to him.

Source: saharareporters.com

The country’s external reserves increased by 12 per cent within a period of three weeks, it has been learnt.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, had on Tuesday said the country’s external reserves had hit $28.9bn.

This means that the reserves have increased by $3.1bn within the first three weeks of this year. This is approximately a 12 per cent increase when compared to the $25.8bn the reserves recorded on the last day of 2016.

However, on the CBN website, the reserves rose to $27.82bn on January 25 from $27.76 on January 24, after hitting $27.69 on January 23.

The country’s foreign exchange reserves had increased to $27.49bn on January 20, according to the statistics.

The external reserves rose by 8.9 per cent month-on-month to $27.49bn on January 20.

Year-on-year, the reserves however recorded a decline of 3.17 per cent compared to January 2016.

The CBN has yet to provide any reason for the recent rise in reserves, although it may be due to the rise in global oil prices and production levels.

The reserves had risen by 15 per cent or $3.6bn from $23.8bn recorded on October 19, 2016 to $27.4bn on January 19.

This year alone, the foreign exchange reserves have risen by $1.9bn or 7.4 per cent.

The Group Managing Director, Afrinvest West Africa Limited, Mr. Ike Chioke, said the recent accretion in the external reserves was due to both increase in oil prices and production output as well as slowdown in foreign exchange allocation by the CBN.

“Yes, there have been increases in the external reserves but we are not paying our bills. Take for instance if you settle the $4bn obligation, we will be down again to about $23bn,” he said during the release of the investment advisory firm’s economic outlook for 2017 on Tuesday.

The country’s external reserves, which have been increasing significantly in recent months, had risen to $27.3bn on January 17 after hitting $26.9bn on January 13.

Within a period of 11 days, the reserves increased by $1bn, rising from $26.3bn on January 6 to $27.3bn on January 17, according to the central bank’s statistics.

Between December 30, 2016 and January 12, 2017, the foreign exchange reserves rose from $25.8bn to $26.8bn, indicating an accretion of $1bn in two weeks.

Following the gradual increase in crude oil price and production output, the foreign exchange reserves have been rising steadily since November.

Like Chioke, other currency and economic experts are not sure if the current accretion in the external reserves’ is sustainable amid a falling naira and acute shortage of dollar in the foreign exchange markets and the economy.

The CBN had spent $4bn from the nation’s external reserves to defend the local currency last year, despite the staggering fall in the value of the naira against the United States dollar and other major foreign currencies during the period.

The controversial defence of the naira by the CBN has come under severe criticism by economists, who believe forces of demand and supply should be allowed to determine the exchange rate of the naira.

The country’s reserves had recorded $23.89bn low on October 19. The reserves dropped by 15.9 per cent between 2015 and 2016

The reserves ended last year with $25.84bn on December 30, 2016.

Source:

http://punchng.com/external-reserves-rise-12-three-weeks/