23 Rights Groups Seek Review Of EFCC Act By NASS

A coalition of 23 concerned Nigeria Political Pressure groups has called on the National Assembly to review certain aspects of the Act establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
This is even as the coalition frowned at what it described as the unwarranted persecution and ridiculing of the immediate past first lady of the country, Dame Patience Jonathan by the anti-graft agency.
The Coalition made the call at a news conference jointly addressed by Alhaji Ali Abacha, of the Northern Patriotic Forum and its national coordinator, Ogbuefi Fidelisuma Nnelirk-Mmalive, in the South-East.
The p called on President Muhammadu Buhari to order the immediate stoppage of the said persecution of Mrs. Jonathan.
The coalition, which tagged itself as “non-political and non-partisan”, advised that the
EFCC, under its present Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, should not be made a monster organization to be used by the Executive against perceived opponents.
The EFCC, the coalition said, should desist from its lazy man’s posture which makes it often apply media trial on matters that ought to be tried in law courts.
According to the pressure groups, “the Commission must ensure that it rounds off investigations on matters on its table before going public as this would not only give its prosecution a sound presentation, but also win it a favourable judgment at the courts”.
The Coalition added, “we have been watching with keen interest in the past 15 months the prosecution of the anti-corruption war of our dear President Muhammadu Buhari by agents and agencies under his administration who have been charged with driving this noble and well-conceived initiative.
“First, we must commend Mr. President for this irrepressible war which has earned him immense national and international recognition.
“This coalition, and of cause all well-meaning Nigerians are solidly behind him and sincerely wish him success as he aggressively pursues this single cancerous scourge that is shredding our nation Nigeria into pieces.
“However, we have regrettably observed as concerned Nigerians that certain elements within the President’s administration are bent on diverting attention from this noble course by unnecessarily politicizing the war to achieve their own selfish motives, philosophy, mission and vision.
“It is against this background that we as concerned Nigerians are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to quickly intervene and halt this unnecessary persecution of Jonathan through his wife by the EFCC.
“Mr. President should demonstrate his respect for the humble, humane former President Goodluck Jonathan and womanhood, by publicly expressing his confidence in the ability of Mrs. Patience Jonathan to keep her husband’s home affairs from the scrutiny of the public domain just as he commendably defended his wife’s domestic and public roles in a recent event in Germany.
“Mr. President should quickly direct the immediate unblocking and defreezing of all personal accounts of Mrs. Patience Jonathan from the ‘No withdrawal’ status they have been placed by the EFCC”, the coalition said.

Credit:

http://dailytimes.ng/23-rights-groups-seek-review-efcc-act-nass/

JTF Discovers 23 Human Skulls, Arrests 44 IPOB Members

Operatives of the Joint Task Force, also known as Operation Delta Safe, disclosed on Thursday that it discovered a total of 23 decomposing human skulls and a human skeleton during raids on militant camps belonging to suspected members of the Bakassi Strike Force in Bakassi and Akpabuyo local government areas of Cross River State.

 A statement issued on Thursday by the Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre, Operation Delta Safe, Lieutenant Colonel Olaolu Dauda, said the camps located at Ikot Ene Idem, Abakpa and Ikang Inam communities in the Bakassi and Akpabuyo councils of the state were destroyed on Wednesday.

 It also said that 44 suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra were arrested during the inauguration of the Bayelsa State chapter of the group.

It said the arrested suspects were apprehended at Lakeview Club, along Mabinton Estate, Okaka Road in Bayelsa State while trying to disrupt public peace.

 The statement read, “In fulfillment of Operation Delta Safe’s mandate to rid the Niger Delta region of crude oil theft, sea robbery, all forms of criminality and protection of oil and gas facilities, on October 26, 2016, troops of Sector 4 in Cross River State, acting on a tip-off, carried out raids of Ikot Ene Idem, Abakpa and Ikang Inam communities in the Bakassi and Akpabuyo local government areas.

 “During the cordon-and-search operations, troops discovered four militant shrines with 23 human skulls in various stages of decomposition, a complete human skeleton and several other human body parts. The shrines were destroyed as troops continued the search for the perpetrators of these heinous acts against humanity.”

Credit:

http://punchng.com/jtf-discovers-23-human-skulls-arrests-44-ipob-members/

Huge Fire Kills At Least 23 In Indian Hospital

Around 23 people have been killed by a fire which broke out in a hospital in eastern India, say local officials.

Some 120 firefighter were dispatched to put out the fire which started in the dialysis ward of the SUM hospital in the Indian city of Bhubaneswar, in Odisha state late on Monday.

“Deeply anguished by the loss of lives in the hospital fire in Odisha. The tragedy is mind-numbing. My thoughts are with bereaved families,” India Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post published on his Twitter account.

According to reports, the majority of victims died from smoke inhalation, and that 20 more people are receiving treatment in neighboring medical facilities.

After arriving, firefighters and police were forced to break windows and doors to evacuate the hospital. During the massive rescue operation, which was carried out with the aid of staff and volunteers, over 500 people were safely removed from the hospital.

“We suspect the fire occurred due to an electric short circuit in the dialysis ward”, said local fire services official Binoy Behera.

Credit: presstv

Police Arrest 23 Suspected Terrorists In Anambra

Anambra State Police Command yesterday paraded 23 suspects who allegedly invaded Ukpo community, Dunukofia Local Government Area last weekend and violently attacked a police post, leaving in their trail sorrows, tears and blood.
Addressing reporters at the Police Headquarters, Amawbia yesterday, the Commissioner of Police, Sam Okaula noted that the attackers numbering about 200, who operated like suspected terrorists, had stormed Ukpo community and descended on a police post while engaging in heavy firing.
The CP noted that going by their number, they overwhelmed the four policemen on duty and, instantly , killed the security guard, Emmanuel Okafor.
“The assailants went further to bomb the police post and 10-room self-contained Police Barracks, having completely burnt down two police vehicles. DPO Ukpo, who led a patrol team to the scene was shot. Three other policemen received various degrees of bullet wounds from the assailants” the CP disclosed.
He recalled that based on intelligence gathering  by the police, prior to the attack, the assailants held a meeting at Owelle Inn, Abagana,  a hotel belonging to one Emmanuel Nwude, where the dastardly plan was hatched.
He disclosed that he led a team of officers to the scene, and based on intelligence report, 10 of the assailants were arrested at the hotel in Abagana while detectives further arrested 13 other suspects from their various hideouts, among whom was one Amobi Ezekwe Ugbo, their suspected kingpin.
He noted that a team of officers from the Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD) identified and detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) while recovering another one at the scene.
Among the weapons recovered that were displayed to reporters included four pump action guns with two live cartridges, three AK 47 rifles , three locally made pistols, cutlasses and other arms.

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http://sunnewsonline.com/police-arrest-23-suspected-terrorists-in-anambra/

Army Kills 23 Boko Haram Members, Rescue 150 Hostages

The Nigerian Army has disclosed that 23 Boko Haram terrorists have been killed, while 150 hostages rescued as Nigeria/Cameroon troops continue to clear out terrorists’ hideouts.

The Nigerian Army says that in line with the Chief of Army Staff’s directive for troops to maintain the momentum, troops of 7 Division carried out major operations against the Boko Haram terrorist’s locations in Talala and Kumshe axis of Borno State.

According to a statement issued by the acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, during the joint operation between elements of 7 division and the Cameroonian forces along Banki-Kumshe axis, 20 Boko Haram terrorists were killed.

He also revealed that the troops destroyed 4 AK 47 rifles and captured a gun truck mounted with an anti-aircraft gun (AA gun) and 2 AK 47 rifles, as well as a 60mm mortar and a Dane gun.

Credit: ChannelsTv

State Reduces Ministries From 23 To 14

The long-awaited list of commissioners to be presented to the Niger State House of Assembly by Governor Abubakar Sani Bello is ready and ministries are to be reduced from 23 to 14, investigations have revealed.

It was gathered that Governor Bello has already directed the Office of the Secretary to the State Government to issue a circular on the reduction of ministries in preparation for the submission of the list of commissioners to the State Assembly.

It was learnt that the list of the commissioners is ready and will soon be transmitted to the State Assembly for the consideration of the legislators.

Read More: leadership