tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39880930408364081942020-04-09T11:15:43.003+01:00Diamond Report - Nigeria's Leading Online News PortalDRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125028879804068481noreply@blogger.comBlogger8853125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988093040836408194.post-35307486081949662182020-01-09T09:48:00.002+01:002020-01-09T09:48:18.779+01:00EFCC has no power to probe us – Rivers Govt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><img height="400" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.pmnewsnigeria.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/efcc3.jpg?resize=474%2C474&ssl=1" style="border: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 4px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" width="400" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Rivers State Government has reiterated that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has no power to investigate the financial transactions of the state.<o:p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;"></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">According to Paulinus Nsirim, Commissioner for Information and Communications, Rivers State, who spoke to pressmen on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, EFCC can only investigate the government if it vacates the Federal High Court judgment that said it cannot investigate the financial transactions of the government.<o:p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;"></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">“Magu cannot claim that that judgement cannot stand, except he wants Nigerians to believe that he has started issuing instructions to the Supreme Court.<o:p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;"></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">“It is unfortunate that in a democracy someone holding a public office would want to muzzle the Court, “the commissioner said.<o:p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;"></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><o:p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;"></o:p></div><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #183e7c; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">On the allegation that Rivers State is the second capital of money laundering in Nigeria after Lagos, the Information boss wondered how the EFCC arrived at that conclusion.<o:p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;"></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">“To justify this allegation, the EFCC should make public the names of people they have arrested and prosecuted in Rivers State over money laundering. If this is not done, Magu’s statement would just be seen as mere playing to the gallery to enjoy cheap publicity”, he said.<o:p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;"></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">He stated that the Rivers State Government was ready to support EFCC to fight corruption within the ambit of the law, but would reject any attempt to subvert the rule of law in the state.<o:p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;"></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">“The EFCC should desist from self help and unnecessary political propaganda, as it will yield no results, ” he stated.<o:p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;"></o:p></div><div><br /></div></div>DRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125028879804068481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988093040836408194.post-16209138657697446592020-01-09T09:47:00.003+01:002020-01-09T09:47:50.192+01:00Bury your interest in 2023 re-election - PDP asks Buhari<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fo3APASrgKw/XhblY3IuZQI/AAAAAAAAxLM/kOGwDbWtExAO1-d84HbcHNh-j_u_mFV1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/buhari%2Bworried3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="border: 0px; color: #969696; font: inherit; margin: 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fo3APASrgKw/XhblY3IuZQI/AAAAAAAAxLM/kOGwDbWtExAO1-d84HbcHNh-j_u_mFV1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/buhari%2Bworried3.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 4px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the presidency’s “continuous reference” to a successor for President Muhammadu Buhari less than a year into his second tenure, is a “direct acceptance of failure and lack of capacity” of his administration.<o:p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;"></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">In a statement on Wednesday, Kola Ologbondiyan, national publicity secretary of the opposition party, asked Buhari to bury whatever interest he has in the 2023 presidential election.<o:p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;"></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Tunde Bakare, serving overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly (LRA), had asked Buhari to be involved in the choice of his successor in order not to destroy his legacies.<o:p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;"></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, had replied Bakare, saying that though Buhari is interested in who succeeds him, he will not handpick his successor.<o:p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;"></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">But the opposition party claimed that Buhari’s interest in who takes over the baton of leadership from him “is in direct aggression against the will of the people to freely elect a president as guaranteed by the constitution”<o:p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;"></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">“The party invites Nigerians to note that such continued allusion to a successor by the Buhari Presidency shows that the President and the APC have no agenda for the nation for the next three years,” the statement read.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">]]“It further underscores the hopelessness of the administration and the sorry situation our nation is faced with under President Buhari and the APC.<o:p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;"></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">“It also exposes the reason behind APC’s resort to blackmail, fabrication and attack on well-meaning Nigerians instead of enunciating a direction for its incompetent administration.<o:p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;"></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">“Our party, standing with millions of Nigerians, counsels the Buhari Presidency to bury its confessed interests in the 2023 Presidency and desist from making unsolicited allusions and references to a successor, as failed leaders can only bequeath failure on a people.<o:p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;"></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">“The PDP therefore charges the Buhari Presidency to immediately withdraw the offensive and provocative remark to “hand Nigeria over”, in its response to Rev. Tunde Bakare’s comment on the 2023 Presidency.<o:p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;"></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">“Our party cautions the Buhari Presidency to note that Nigeria is a sovereign nation governed by rules and that nobody, no matter how highly placed, has the power to hand her over to anybody.<o:p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;"></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">“The 1999 constitution (as amended) does not confer the right to install the President of Nigeria on any individual, but on the people of Nigeria through a free, fair and credible election conducted without interference from anybody.”<o:p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;"></o:p></div><div><br /></div></div>DRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125028879804068481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988093040836408194.post-3720356982393881502020-01-09T09:46:00.002+01:002020-01-09T09:46:11.564+01:00Police arrest 114 robbers, shoot seven dead in Lagos<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2rLy_3yzpOI/XhblxKzxegI/AAAAAAAAPEU/aLJapBphiv8bEXyil_GUYupdeKJnYkp1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/nigeria%2Bpolllicee.webp" imageanchor="1" style="border: 0px; color: #969696; font: inherit; margin: 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="436" height="368" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2rLy_3yzpOI/XhblxKzxegI/AAAAAAAAPEU/aLJapBphiv8bEXyil_GUYupdeKJnYkp1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/nigeria%2Bpolllicee.webp" style="border: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 4px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" width="400" /></a></div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The Lagos State Police Command says it has arrested 114 robbery suspects and shot dead seven others in the last two months.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu at a news conference on Wednesday in Lagos said crime rate in the State had drastically reduced, saying that from November 2019 to date, the Command arrested 114 armed robbery suspects.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">He also disclosed that the command successfully foiled 72 robbery attempts, while seven robbery suspects died during exchange of fire with the Police.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The commissioner added that 46 suspects were arrested for cultism, three suspects arrested for kidnapping and 82 suspects arrested for murder.</span></div>DRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125028879804068481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988093040836408194.post-8249873214244722852020-01-09T08:19:00.004+01:002020-01-09T08:19:34.404+01:002020: FRSC to prosecute sirens, convoy offenders<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="FRSC" class="attachment-860x800 size-860x800 wp-post-image jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled" data-attachment-id="222954" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-description="<p>FRSC officials </p> " data-image-meta="{"aperture":"13","credit":"","camera":"NIKON D70s","caption":"PIC. 12. FRSC ZONAL COMMANDER, ASSISTANT CORPS MARSHAL, CHARLES THEOPHILUS (L), WITH SECTOR \r\rCOMMANDER, CORPS COMMANDER OLUMIDE OLAGUNJU, AT THE COMMENCEMENT FRSC \"OPERATION SHIELD\" ON \r\rKADUNA - ABUJA HIGH WAY IN KADUNA ON MONDAY (6\/5\/13) .","created_timestamp":"1367790912","copyright":"","focal_length":"55","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0.0015625","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="FRSC" data-large-file="https://i2.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2017/02/FRSC.jpg?fit=600%2C331&ssl=1" data-lazy-loaded="1" data-medium-file="https://i2.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2017/02/FRSC.jpg?fit=526%2C290&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i2.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2017/02/FRSC.jpg?fit=600%2C331&ssl=1" data-orig-size="600,331" data-pagespeed-url-hash="2295464814" data-permalink="https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/nwest/222953-kaduna-govt-orders-frsc-off-kaduna-streets.html/attachment/frsc-6" height="331" src="https://i2.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2017/02/FRSC.jpg?fit=600%2C331&ssl=1" width="600" /> </div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></div><br />The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Boboye Oyeyemi, says it is out to prosecute abusers of sirens and convoys across the federation.<br /><br /> Mr Oyeyemi made this disclosure on Wednesday at a news conference on the recently concluded end of the year activities in Abuja.<br /><br /> He said the organisation would work with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to ensure that offenders are prosecuted accordingly and the act is reduced to the barest minimum.<br /><br /> He said most abusers of convoys and sirens are not government officials, but mainly private individuals, who are unauthorised to use convoys in the country.<br /><br /> “We have seen a lot of people abusing the use of convoys and we have taken it up to the appropriate authority; this year, we would take a more drastic action.<br /><br /> “Abuse of convoys and sirens are abuse of freedom of movement and an intimidation to road users and citizens across the country and this act must stop,’’ he said.<br /><br /> Mr Oyeyemi said the act was an act of lawlessness that is clearly against the regulation of entitlement to escort.<br /><br /> He said those found guilty in 2020 would be brought to book with their vehicles impounded and the drivers prosecuted according to law.<br /><br /> Mr Oyeyemi lamented that during the end of the year special patrol operation; no fewer than 690 offenders were prosecuted while 629 others were convicted by the FRSC mobile court in some states with fines.<br /><br /> He lauded the use of Google map but cautioned against hand-held driving usage of the map, saying that anyone caught by FRSC would also be arrested and prosecuted.<br /><div class="code-block code-block-8" style="clear: both; margin: 8px 0;"> </div>“The use of Google map while driving is allowed, but hand-held driving and usage are offences associated with driving and anyone caught would face the law squarely.<br /><br /> “If you must use Google map while driving, you must get the car-holding phone devices which is both for your safety and for better usage of the device and the application,’’ he said.<br /><br /> He reiterated that the law was very clear and offenders of any of the road traffic rules and regulations regardless of status would be penalised and would also be subjected to an emotional psychology evaluation.<br /> (NAN)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></div><br /></div>DRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125028879804068481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988093040836408194.post-23355939473441636572020-01-09T08:18:00.003+01:002020-01-09T08:18:39.500+01:00My invectives were not targeted at Fashola – Power Minister<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Former Lagos state governor, Babatunde Fashola" class="attachment-860x800 size-860x800 wp-post-image jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled" data-attachment-id="292220" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-description="<p>Nigeria’s Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola. [PHOTO CREDIT: Energy Mix Report]</p> " data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Babatunde-Fashola-large" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2018/10/Babatunde-Fashola-large.jpg?fit=604%2C378&ssl=1" data-lazy-loaded="1" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2018/10/Babatunde-Fashola-large.jpg?fit=526%2C329&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2018/10/Babatunde-Fashola-large.jpg?fit=700%2C438&ssl=1" data-orig-size="700,438" data-pagespeed-url-hash="3234969720" data-permalink="https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/292218-electricity-weve-performed-better-than-pdp-did-in-16-years-fashola.html/attachment/babatunde-fashola-large" height="250" src="https://i0.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2018/10/Babatunde-Fashola-large.jpg?fit=700%2C438&ssl=1" width="400" /> </div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></div><br />The Ministry of Power has yet again reacted to the reactions of many Nigerians on the different controversies rocking the ministry in the past week.<br /><br /> The ministry in a Wednesday press statement signed by Aaron Artimas, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the minister of power, said the minister did not condemn his predecessor in office, Babatunde Fashola.<br /><br /> Mr Fashola served as Minister of Power, Works and Housing between 2015 and 2019. He was succeeded by Sale Mamman, the current minister.<br /><br /> PREMIUM TIMES reported the various controversies rocking different agencies—NBET and REA—in the ministry in recent weeks.<br /><br /> This newspaper <strong><span style="color: red;"><a href="https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/371476-nigerians-fume-as-power-ministry-attacks-critics-over-controversial-appointments.html" style="color: red;">also reported</a></span></strong> how Nigerians on Monday attacked the ministry over its reactions to controversial appointments made in different agencies under the supervision of the ministry.<br /> Twitter users launched attacks on the minister after a press statement reacting to reports of the controversial appointments made by the minister described many Nigerians as “wailers”.<br /> <h6>Controversial Statement</h6>The press statement, signed by Mr Artimas, also accused officials affected by the minister’s decision as people who “are not susceptible to relinquishing public office even after exhausting their welcome or in the face of apparent failure to perform.”<br /><br /> Mr Artimas also argued that the decisions were taken by the minister because, despite the huge resources President Muhammadu Buhari “poured” into the power ministry for over four years, there has been no tangible result. He attributed the failure to the “poor performance” of the officials affected by the minister’s new decision, calling on Nigerians to ask question on why there has been no improvement in the sector.<br /><br /> The ministry also accused a “cabal” using some “faceless groups in Lagos” of attempts to undermine the efforts of the new minister.<br /><br /> “As early as November last year, this cabal began to sponsor insidious reports using some faceless groups in Lagos, claiming that the ministry of power was failing under the new minister,” the statement said.<br /><br /><div class="code-block code-block-8" style="clear: both; margin: 8px 0;"> </div>“It is the same “untouchables” who want to perpetuate themselves in power that are now resisting any form of re-organisation meant to reposition the ministry for optimum performance. The ministry should not be tied down by individuals whose only concern is the retention of power at the expense of service delivery.”<br /><br /> The ministry said the same “cabal” which accused the minister of poor co-ordination of the ministry now condemns it for re-organising the different agencies, adding that it would not focus on removal or appointment of officials but the mandate to deliver power to Nigerians.<br /><br /> “The minister should not be distracted by the detestable and nauseating appeal to sentiment at the expense of the need for genuine change in the power sector in line with the next level agenda of president Muhammadu Buhari,” the statement added.<br /><br /> Many Nigerians viewed the ministry’s reaction and its reference to “Lagos” groups as an indirect attack on the legacy of Mr Fashola and other officials who worked under him in the power ministry during the first four years of the Buhari Presidency. Others condemned the ministry for its use of “harsh and vulgar” languages against critics.<br /><br /> Mr Fashola hails from Lagos and governed the state for eight years between 2007 and 2015.<br /> <h6>Ministry Backtracks</h6>But in the press statement issued on Tuesday, the ministry of power debunked insinuations that the invectives were directed at Mr Fashola.<br /><br /> “Our attention has been drawn to a news report alleging the Hon. Minister of Power, Eng. Sale Mamman had condemned His Excellency, Babatunde Raji Fashola’s previous tenure as minister of power,” the statement said. “Nothing could be further from the truth.”<br /><br /> The ministry claimed that, on the contrary, the power minister holds Mr Fashola in high esteem “as one of the most celebrated public servants in the country.”<br /><br /> “We hereby appeal to Nigerians to discountenance such mischievous insinuations, clearly meant to create unnecessary friction between two serving ministers of the government,” the statement concluded.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></div><br /></div>DRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125028879804068481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988093040836408194.post-67149349871550582462020-01-09T08:17:00.000+01:002020-01-09T08:17:02.047+01:00UPDATED: Trump won’t retaliate militarily against Iran but threatens fresh economic sanctions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="President Donald Trump speaking in the East Room of the White House, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)" class="attachment-860x800 size-860x800 wp-post-image jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled" data-attachment-id="371732" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-description="<p>President Donald Trump speaking in the East Room of the White House, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)</p> " data-image-meta="{"aperture":"5","credit":"AP","camera":"Canon EOS-1D X Mark II","caption":"President Donald Trump speaks during an event about the environment in the East Room of the White House, Monday, July 8, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Alex Brandon)","created_timestamp":"1562615065","copyright":"Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.","focal_length":"158","iso":"16000","shutter_speed":"0.004","title":"Donald Trump","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Donald Trump" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2020/01/President-Donald-Trump-addressing-Americans-e1578489979666.jpg?fit=604%2C347&ssl=1" data-lazy-loaded="1" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2020/01/President-Donald-Trump-addressing-Americans-e1578489979666.jpg?fit=526%2C302&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2020/01/President-Donald-Trump-addressing-Americans-e1578489979666.jpg?fit=1140%2C655&ssl=1" data-orig-size="1140,655" data-permalink="https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/371719-live-updates-trump-outlines-next-steps-after-iran-retaliates-against-america.html/attachment/donald-trump-7" height="229" src="https://i0.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2020/01/President-Donald-Trump-addressing-Americans-e1578489979666.jpg?fit=860%2C494&ssl=1" width="400" /> </div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></div><br />President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the U.S. suffered no casualties in the missile attack by Iran on an Iraqi airbase used by American soldiers.<br /><br /> <span style="color: red;"><a href="https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/371653-iran-retaliates-attacks-military-bases-housing-u-s-troops.html" style="color: red;">PREMIUM TIMES</a></span> reported the attack which Iran said was in retaliation for the U.S. killing of a top Iranian general, Qassem Soleimani.<br /><br /> Iran had called that attack an “act of war” and “state terrorism” and vowed a response.<br /> Mr Trump while addressing journalists at the White House said the U.S. suffered only minimal damage to facilities during the ballistic missile attack.<br /><br /> “We suffered no casualties, all of our soldiers are safe and only minimal damage was sustained by the military bases,” he said.<br /><br /> He also said No American or Iraqi lives were lost because of the precautionary measures earlier taken.<br /><br /> Throughout his speech, Mr Trump made no mention of any military retaliation against Iran for the attack. He, however, said the U.S. will immediately impose additional economic sanctions on Iran.<br /> “As we continue to evaluate options in response to Iranian aggression, the United States will immediately impose additional sanctions; economic sanctions on the Iranian regime.<br /><br /> “These powerful sanctions will remain until Iran changes its ways,” he said.<br /><br /> He also said the decision to eliminate Mr Soleimani was taken to stop a ruthless terrorist from threatening American lives.<br /><br /><div class="code-block code-block-8" style="clear: both; margin: 8px 0;"> </div>He further explained that his administration worked with Iran to defeat ISIS and is willing to work with them on other matters.<br /><br /> “The destruction of ISIS is good for Iran and we should work together on this and other shared priorities,” he said.<br /><br /> As part of the alleged offences against America and its allies by Iran, Mr Trump highlighted the recent seizure of ships in international waters, the attack on a Saudi oil facility and the downing of two U.S. drones in recents months.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/371795-trump-wont-retaliate-militarily-against-iran-but-threatens-fresh-economic-sanctions.html"><b>Premium Times </b></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></div><br /></div>DRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125028879804068481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988093040836408194.post-84663872807719870792020-01-09T08:11:00.001+01:002020-01-09T08:11:25.970+01:00A curious cabal in government<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1091190 lazyload" data-lazy-loaded="true" height="359" src="https://guardian.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Buhari-visits-Katsina-today-over-rainstorm-—-Nigeria-—-The-Guardian-Nigeria-Newspaper-–-Nigeria-and-World-News-620x330.jpg" style="display: block;" width="640" /> </div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">In apparent confirmation of the fears expressed at different levels and fora by Nigerians, the presidency has at last confirmed that the Buhari administration is curiously run with the assistance of a cabal. Mallam Garba Shehu, a Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, asserted the other day that there indeed had been a group of unofficial advisers working with the president whom he called ‘‘kitchen cabinet,’’ branded by the Nigerian media as a cabal. He justified the practice and virtually berated the media for being sensational in reporting the cabal matter. No matter how nicely the presidency wants to express the sad situation, there is something sinister, even ominous about a cabal running a government that was supposedly brought to power through a democratic mandate. The phenomenon of unelected persons running a democratic government through backhand channels is antithetical to the tenets and practice of democracy. </div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></div><br />On the face of it, one would be tempted to dismiss the issue as a matter of semantics. However, Nigerians are getting worried about the contradictions in the actions and policy trajectory of the President who now sits in Abuja and the man whom they massively voted for in 2015. Buhari then was an embodiment of firm resolve, impartial judgment, pan-Nigeriana, anti-corruption persona and decisive leadership. What went wrong after the elections? How come Nigerians now perceive Buhari as a sectional leader who has concentrated all the important and strategic appointments on persons from one (his) section of the country? Is this the work of the cabal, a few unelected men whose interests are essentially primordial? Is there an abdication of responsibility on Buhari’s part? Has the infirmity of old age, which he once accepted would be an impediment to efficient performance, finally caught up with Buhari? Has the presidency been hijacked by self-serving aides who through long association and kinship, enjoy the confidence of an aging president? Has the philosophical question – To be or not to be? – asked by Shakespeare’s aging King Lear come to debilitate the mental and physical prowess of the President? These and many more are questions on the lips of bewildered Nigerians.<br /><br /> All over the world, the convention of a ‘‘kitchen cabinet’’ is an open secret. It is usually a group of knowledgeable persons whom the leader has invited to think policies through before presentation and implementation. A ‘‘kitchen cabinet’’ could also conduct a review of policies with a view to refining them for the benefit of the nation. Such persons are expected to have a deep understanding of the polity. They are often drawn from diverse backgrounds in career and expertise. In a polity as diverse as ours, such a kitchen cabinet would be expected to reflect the multiethnic and religious dimensions of the country. However, if a leader ensconces himself in the State House and allows anonymous surrogates to direct state affairs, then democracy as we know and accept it is imperilled! This then is the concrete fear of the citizenry: enunciating policies that are detrimental to the overall wellbeing of the nation, without regard for the sensibilities and concerns of the constituent parts of the federation.<br /> <div class="ad-align-none"><div class="box"> </div><div class="box">Without mincing words, the point must be made that the people elected Muhammadu Buhari as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The buck stops at his desk. There are no ‘ifs’ or ‘buts’. The truth is that if the affairs of the nation or if governance were on a solid ground with all interests being fully represented and catered for, the worry would not have arisen. Sadly, we are faced with a government that is at odds with commonsense and reason in simple matters such as national security, nature and appointments, economic policies, the very structure of the country and the need to tinker with it. </div><div class="box"> </div></div>Discordant tunes have emanated from different arms of government and even the office of the First Lady, who has poignantly made the point that the presidency has been seized by persons unknown to officialdom or the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.<br /><br /> Besides, the government has shown imperial disdain for the rule of law by ignoring court judgments, intimidating and/or locking up persons who as much as raise a critical voice against the government. This is not what Nigerians bargained for when they elected Buhari, a ‘‘converted democrat,’’ into office. Personal loyalty is not equivalent to national interest. Indeed, personal loyalty could and often subverts the national interest or the common good. The common good is severely under attack in the current dispensation.<br /><br /> At the state level, the menace of ‘‘godfatherism’’ is highly pervasive. It has led to friction between sitting governors and their ‘mentors’, paralysed governance and shot up the cost of doing government business. These are official parasites, politicians and local chieftains who control the reins of power from behind the scenes. The constitution does not recognise persons who are not elected or appointed as the main drivers of government policy. Having a cabal run government or godfathers dictate the trajectory of governance is corruption at its highest peak. And this has stifled our development.<br /><br /> The dissonance between the elected officials of state and the people has been further worsened by the abdication of the principle of separation of powers by the National Assembly. Nobody wants an unduly combative legislature in the polity. Nobody also wants a legislative assembly that carries on like a lapdog. It offends the letter and spirit of the constitution. If we had a National Assembly that is conscious of its constitutional duties, the apparent ascendancy of a cabal in a democracy would be challenged through appropriate sanctions and legislative instruments.<br /><br /> It does bear reiteration to state that a cabal or a kitchen cabinet running a duly elected government is an anomaly. We expect a synergy between the three arms of government, all arms constitutionally carrying out their responsibilities in the interest of the nation. The president should take charge of his government and avoid a situation in which his appointed aides seem to kowtow to some power blocks within the government. No nation which wishes to grow deserves or should tolerate a cabal that is clannish in its approach, nepotistic in appointments and inefficient in policy implementation.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></div><br /></div>DRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125028879804068481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988093040836408194.post-23997413825353187742020-01-09T08:00:00.001+01:002020-01-09T08:00:26.871+01:00Supreme Court affirms election of four governors<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Supreme Court of Nigeria" class="attachment-860x800 size-860x800 wp-post-image jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled" data-attachment-id="224486" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-description="<p>Supreme Court of Nigeria</p> " data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Supreme-Court-of-Nigeria" data-large-file="https://i1.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2017/02/Supreme-Court-of-Nigeria-1.jpg?fit=604%2C340&ssl=1" data-lazy-loaded="1" data-medium-file="https://i1.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2017/02/Supreme-Court-of-Nigeria-1.jpg?fit=526%2C296&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i1.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2017/02/Supreme-Court-of-Nigeria-1.jpg?fit=720%2C405&ssl=1" data-orig-size="720,405" data-pagespeed-url-hash="3319103409" data-permalink="https://www.premiumtimesng.com/supreme-court-of-nigeria-2" height="225" src="https://i1.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2017/02/Supreme-Court-of-Nigeria-1.jpg?fit=720%2C405&ssl=1" width="400" /> </div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></div><br />The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the elections of governors of four states across the federation.<br /><br /> The governors are Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Darius Ishaku of Taraba State, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and Abubakar Bello of Niger State.<br /> The seven-member panel of the Supreme Court in its series of hearings and judgments delivered within six hours reaffirmed verdicts earlier given at the lower court.<br /> In all, the apex court’s decision saw the four incumbent governors emerging victorious over the various election petitions filed against them.<br /> <h5>Abia</h5>The Supreme Court affirmed the election of Mr Ikpeazu as Governor of Abia State.<br /> Justice Paul Galinje, a member of the seven-member panel, who read the unanimous judgment, held that the appellant’s reliance solely on the smart card readers in proving the alleged over-voting was fatal to their case.<br /> Mr Galinje also held that the law is clear that the petitioner must tender the voter’s register, and should relate the document to the specific area where the elections were affected.<br /> According to Mr Galinje, the card reader print out tendered by the appellants at the tribunal is not part of the constitution or electoral act which determines the conditions for over-voting.<br /> The judge said that the appellants failed to lead credible evidence in proving their case.<br /> The candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Alex Otti, and his party had approached the apex court to set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal which upheld the election of Mr Ikpeazu.<br /><div class="code-block code-block-8" style="clear: both; margin: 8px 0;"> </div>They had in their appeal argued by their lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi, asked the apex court to nullify the election of Mr Ikpeazu on grounds of over-voting and noncompliance with the electoral laws.<br /> Mr Fagbemi in his argument urged the court to allow the appeal and set aside the judgment of the lower court and declare Mr Otti as the lawful winner of the March 9 governorship election in Abia State or in the alternative order a fresh election.<br /> In their separate replies, the respondents urged the court to dismiss the appeal for lacking in merit.<br /> The lawyer to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) adopted his brief of argument and urged the apex court to dismiss the appeal. The lawyer to Mr Ikpeazu and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Wole Olanipekun and Levy Uzoukwu, respectively told the court that the case of the appellants lacked merit because it was hinged on alleged over-voting occasioned by non-use of the card reader which the apex court has held cannot dethrone the manual accreditation of voters.<br /> Delivering the judgment on Wednesday, Mr Galinje held that the appeal lacked merit and accordingly dismissed it.<br /> The Court of Appeal in Owerri, the Imo State capital, headed by Justice R. A. Adah, had struck out the appeal filed by Mr Otti, and validated Mr Ikpeazu’s victory.<br /> A three-member panel of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, chaired by A.L. Ogumoye, had also earlier dismissed the petition<br /> The tribunal ruled that the petitioner failed to prove the case of over-voting and noncompliance to the INEC election guideline and the electoral act.<br /> Mr Otti had asked the tribunal to cancel the results of elections in 15 out of the17 local government areas in Abia State.<br /> He claimed that the respondents, PDP and Mr Ikpeazu, perpetrated excessive malpractice in those local governments.<br /><div class="code-block code-block-6" style="clear: both; margin: 8px 0;"> </div>Not satisfied with the tribunal judgment which threw out his the petition, Mr Otti approached the appellate court asking it to quash the tribunal ruling and uphold the reliefs he (Otti) sought in court.<br /> <h5>Delta</h5>In a similar decision, the apex court also ruled against an appeal by Great Ogboru of the All Progressive Congress (APC) who had challenged the election of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on grounds that the election was marred by vote-buying.<br /> Respondents in the appeal are Mr Okowa, PDP and INEC.<br /> Mr Ogboru and his party, APC, had sought to upturn the decision of the Delta State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which affirmed Mr Okowa’s election for a second term as governor of Delta State. INEC had declared Okowa and PDP winner of the March 9 governorship election in Delta State.<br /> Justice Centus Nweze who read the decision of the apex court on Wednesday affirmed the election Mr Okowa.<br /> In his argument, Yunus Usman, who represented the appellants, argued that the votes claimed by Mr Okowa exceeded the total number of accredited voters for the March 9, 2019 governorship election.<br /> According to him a total of 757,754 registered for the election in the state, while the final declared numbers at the end of the election were 955,274 votes.<br /> However, Mr Okowa’s lawyer, Damian Dodo, urged the court to dismiss the appeal for being incompetent and unmeritorious.<br /> Mr Damian said the appellants have failed to prove all their allegations both at the tribunal and at the court of appeal.<br /> But dismissing the appeal on Wednesday, the seven-member panel led by Justice Nweze, unanimously held that the appellants, Mr Ogboru and the APC, failed to prove allegations of over-voting.<br /> Mr Nweze said: “the appeal is a share waste of the precious time of the court.”<br /> <h5>Taraba</h5>In the case of Taraba, the All Progressive Congress (APC) argued that the governor, Darius Ishaku, was not duly elected by a majority of lawful votes cast in the election.<br /> The appellants also alleged noncompliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act (2010)<br /> However, the lawyer who represented Mr Ishaku and the PDP, Kanu Agabi, urged the court to dismiss the APC’s appeal for being incompetent and lacking in merit.<br /> Mr Agabi said the APC’s appeal has become academic following the withdrawal of their governorship candidate, Abubakar Danladi, from the petition, after his disqualification over false age declaration.<br /> Responding to Mr Agabi’s submissions, the APC lawyer, Ishiaka Dikko, while admitting that the party’s candidate was disqualified from the election, said that the first runner up in the APC primaries ought to have been allowed to contest the election.<br /> Mr Dikko urged the court to nullify Mr Ishiaku’s election and order a fresh election.<br /> Delivering the judgment, the justices of the apex court all agreed that APC did not have a legal candidate at the election due to Mr Danladi’s disqualification.<br /> One of the justices held that the APC’s argument that the runner up in the primaries be allowed to contest the election, was wrong because Sani Yahaya did not participate at any stage of the election. He said APC lacked the locus standi to file a petition in the first place at the tribunal.<br /> <h5>Niger</h5>The Supreme Court also affirmed the election of Abubakar Bello as the governor of Nover State.<br /> The apex court while striking out the appeal filed by Umar Nasco of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), held that it lacked merit.<br /> In the unanimous judgment read by Justice Mary Abaji, the court held that the Supreme Court will not tamper with the decisions of the Court of Appeal.<br /> Mrs Abaji held that the Court of Appeal was right in holding that the decision of the tribunal delivered outside the 180 days allowed by law was a nullity. She said that a judgment already declared a nullity by the appellate court cannot confer any benefit on the PDP candidate and any other party.<br /> She, therefore, agreed that the Supreme Court has no jurisdiction to entertain the appeal and consequently struck it out for want of jurisdiction.<br /> Mr Nasko had challenged the election of Governor Bello at the tribunal on the ground that he submitted forged documents and gave false information in his form CF001 submitted to INEC to secure clearance for the March 9, 2019 election.<br /> However, the tribunal failed to deliver judgment in the petition within 180 days allowed by law, prompting the Appeal Court to declare the judgment of the tribunal a nullity, having been delivered outside the required period.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>DRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125028879804068481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988093040836408194.post-17746787532850282332019-08-09T10:46:00.001+01:002019-08-09T10:46:17.712+01:00Gundogan signs contract extension with Manchester City<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GN10QWWaPgA/XU0_NUTMy4I/AAAAAAAAKOw/84Uvv7MoqbIDJshJJ7IgdRNwMUiTWNoQwCLcBGAs/s1600/gundogan.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="224" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GN10QWWaPgA/XU0_NUTMy4I/AAAAAAAAKOw/84Uvv7MoqbIDJshJJ7IgdRNwMUiTWNoQwCLcBGAs/s400/gundogan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Ilkay Gundogan, Pep Guardiola’s first signing as Manchester City manager in 2016, signed a three-year contract extension with the Premier League champions on Friday the club announced.<br /><br />The 28-year-old German international midfielder — who was entering the final year of his present contract and will now be tied to the club to 2023 — played a pivotal role in City landing a domestic treble last term having also impressed in their 2018 title-winning campaign.<br /><br />“Ilkay’s new deal is more excellent news for our Club,” City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain told the club website.<br /><br />“He has shown how important he is to the team and has played a huge part in everything that we have achieved so far.<br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="more"></a><br /><div id="ad-content"><div style="clear: both; margin: 3px 0; text-align: center;"> <ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-0036607390134104" data-ad-format="fluid" data-ad-layout="in-article" data-ad-slot="7713737717" style="display: block; text-align: center;"></ins> </div></div><br />“We are thrilled he has committed his long-term future to Manchester City.”<br /><br />Gundogan, who cost City around £20 million when they signed him from Borussia Dortmund, said he was looking forward to more success with City.<br /><br />“I have hugely enjoyed the last three years here at City and everyone at the Club has helped make me feel at home from my very first day,” he said.<br /><br />“I think we have played some great football over the past few seasons and have enjoyed a lot of success.<br /><br />“It’s a pleasure to be a part of the Club and I’m really excited about what we can go on to achieve in the next few seasons.” <br /><br /></div>DRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125028879804068481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988093040836408194.post-30174921656605168562019-08-09T10:45:00.002+01:002019-08-09T10:45:11.447+01:00Falana vows to challenge Sowore’s detention order<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SXFDlPaoCY0/XU0xxolfuKI/AAAAAAAApP0/YV-dbvgw4j8FrfKYGm3iJcs8VpG9Sth6gCLcBGAs/s1600/falana2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="696" height="295" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SXFDlPaoCY0/XU0xxolfuKI/AAAAAAAApP0/YV-dbvgw4j8FrfKYGm3iJcs8VpG9Sth6gCLcBGAs/s400/falana2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lawyer to the detained leader of RevolutionNow, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), has vowed to file an application challenging the order by a Federal High Court in Abuja which granted the Department of State Security Services permission to detain his client, Omoyele Sowore.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The court had on Thursday ordered the DSS to detain Sowore for the next 45 days.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The PUNCH reported Falana as saying Sowore had envisaged the Thursday’s ruling and had instructed him to challenge it, adding that the lawyer was unwilling to divulge further details.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="more"></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">“I saw him yesterday (Wednesday) when he had already envisaged that the order for his detention would be granted. So he had already given us the instruction to challenge it”, the lawyer was quoted.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sowore, along with others, had organised protest to declare revolution in Nigeria.</div></div>DRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125028879804068481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988093040836408194.post-1842295237705324322019-08-09T10:06:00.001+01:002019-08-09T10:06:46.976+01:00Saving lives is my hobby, says imam who hid Christians during Plateau killings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HjYUkhQwFMw/XU01MCYjTjI/AAAAAAAApP8/W_BLdxA2CqYOeJbFFPlF3igTgbpZSwTVwCLcBGAs/s1600/Capture.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="620" height="223" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HjYUkhQwFMw/XU01MCYjTjI/AAAAAAAApP8/W_BLdxA2CqYOeJbFFPlF3igTgbpZSwTVwCLcBGAs/s400/Capture.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Abubakar Abdullahi, the 83-year-old Muslim cleric who hid over 200 people including Christians, during a 2018 attack in Plateau, says saving lives is his hobby.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">In June 2018, Abubakar hid people fleeing from an attack in Barkin Ladi local government area at a mosque in Nghar Yelwa, his village.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">He was honoured with the first-ever International Religious Freedom Award (IRFA) by the United States of America in July.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Speaking at an event in Makkah on the sidelines of the 2019 Hajj pilgrimage, Abubakar said life is too precious to be wasted.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="more"></a><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The event was organised by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to acquaint the public on its preparedness to ensure successful 2019 hajj.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">“It has always been my cardinal principle to save a life, no matter who is involved, Christian or Muslim,” Abubakar said.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">“Life to me is so precious to be wasted.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div id="ad-content"><div style="clear: both; margin: 3px 0; text-align: center;"> <ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-0036607390134104" data-ad-format="fluid" data-ad-layout="in-article" data-ad-slot="7713737717" style="display: block; text-align: center;"></ins> </div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The imam called on Nigerians to shun violence and tolerate one another, irrespective of religious and ethnic differences.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">He thanked Buhari for honouring him with the membership of the Ulama team and prayed to God to give him much wisdom to pilot the affairs of the nation to the yearning and aspiration of Nigerians.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Abdullahi Muhammad, acting chairman of NAHCON, who commended the imam for the show of love, said President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered that Abubakar be included in the membership of the national Ulama committee.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">NAN reports that Abubakar is among 80-man Ulama committee charged with the responsibility of enlightening Nigerians pilgrims in Muna.</div><br /><br /></div>DRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125028879804068481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988093040836408194.post-70433526175381927892019-07-26T18:18:00.003+01:002019-07-26T18:19:39.316+01:00Ohanaeze warns Buhari, APC on Ministerial portfolios, Shi’ites<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><header class="left relative" id="mvp-post-head"><div class="mvp-author-info-wrap left relative"><div class="mvp-author-info-text left relative"><div class="mvp-author-info-name left relative" itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/Person"><span class="author-name vcard fn author" itemprop="name"><a href="https://dailypost.ng/author/chijindu-emeruwa/" rel="author" title="Posts by Chijindu Emeruwa"></a></span> <a class="mvp-twit-but" href="https://dailypost.ng/2019/07/26/ohanaeze-warns-buhari-apc-ministerial-portfolios-shiites/" target="_blank"><span class="mvp-author-info-twit-but"></span></a></div></div></div></header> <br /><div class="left relative mvp-post-feat-img-wide2" id="mvp-post-feat-img" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject"><img alt="" class="attachment- size- wp-post-image" height="359" src="https://dailypost.ng/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Igbo.jpg" width="640" /> </div><div class="code-block code-block-17" style="clear: both; display: block; margin: 8px auto; text-align: center;"><ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-4662456982026692" data-ad-format="auto" data-ad-slot="1895896218" data-full-width-responsive="true" style="display: block;"></ins></div><br />Chuks Ibegbu, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has warned President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government against placing round pegs in square holes while allocating offices to ministerial nominees.<br /><br />Ibegbu noted that some of the nominees were not known to have added value to the society in the past, expressing hope that they may do so in the present.<br /><div class="code-block code-block-2" style="clear: both; display: block; margin: 8px auto; text-align: center;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-1524595905268-4"></div></div>The Ohanaeze Spokesman, who made the group’s position known, in an interview with newsmen in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, on Friday, also cautioned them against looting of public funds.<br />On the security threats against the co-existence of Nigeria, Ibegbu harped against turning the Shi’ites group to another Boko Haram, which according to him, will not augur well<br />for the country. Ibegbu again, called on the federal government to obey court orders and release El-Zakzaky.<br /><div class="code-block code-block-3" style="clear: both; display: block; margin: 8px auto; text-align: center;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-1524595905268-5"></div></div><br />At the same time , Ohanaeze warned against allowing extremist countries to interfere in the internal affairs of “our secular nation(Nigeria). We must not allow Iran, Iraq or Saudi Arabia to come here and mess us” <br /></div>DRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125028879804068481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988093040836408194.post-79508892331074158012019-07-26T18:06:00.000+01:002019-07-26T18:06:07.741+01:00BREAKING: Imo govt uncovers warehouse Okorocha’s family allegedly kept looted properties [Photos]<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br /><header class="left relative" id="mvp-post-head"><span class="author-name vcard fn author" itemprop="name"></span> <a class="mvp-twit-but" href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" target="_blank"><span class="mvp-author-info-twit-but"></span></a><div class="mvp-author-info-wrap left relative"><div class="mvp-author-info-text left relative"></div></div></header> <div class="left relative mvp-post-feat-img-wide2" id="mvp-post-feat-img" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject"><img alt="" class="attachment- size- wp-post-image" height="480" src="https://dailypost.ng/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG-20190726-WA0045.jpg" width="640" /> </div><div class="code-block code-block-17" style="clear: both; display: block; margin: 8px auto; text-align: center;"> <ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-4662456982026692" data-ad-format="auto" data-ad-slot="1895896218" data-full-width-responsive="true" style="display: block;"></ins></div>The Jasper Ndubuaku-led Imo State Committee on the Recovery of Moveable Assets belonging to the State Government, have made a breakthrough on their job.<br /><br /> Acting on a tip off, the team discovered a massive warehouse Friday afternoon.<br /><div class="code-block code-block-2" style="clear: both; display: block; margin: 8px auto; text-align: center;"> <div id="div-gpt-ad-1524595905268-4"> </div></div>The facility, located along Aba Road, is alleged to be belonging to Nkechi, wife of former Governor, Rochas Okorocha.<br /><br /> Okorocha is now the senator representing Imo West Senatorial district.<br /> DAILY POST gathered that it took spirited intervention to stop the youths from setting the entire warehouse ablaze.<br /><div class="code-block code-block-3" style="clear: both; display: block; margin: 8px auto; text-align: center;"> <div id="div-gpt-ad-1524595905268-5"> </div></div>The discovery of the warehouse follows the sealing off of an estate also allegedly owned by Nkechi.<br /> The property is located in the Akachi area of Owerri, the state capital.<br /> The blocks of flat and bungalow were allegedly built with state funds and proceeds of corruption.<br /><div class="code-block code-block-4" style="clear: both; display: block; margin: 8px auto; text-align: center;"> <div id="div-gpt-ad-1524595905268-6"> </div></div>DAILY POST recalls that EFCC, had on Wednesday confirmed the seizure of assets and properties link to Okorocha, his wife, daughter as well as associates including son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, who served as his Chief of Staff.<br /><br /> A statement by its spokesman, Tony Orilade said “the marking of the properties which is a fall-out of our painstaking investigation, is as a result of the failure of the suspects to honour the Commission’s invitation for questioning on the propriety of their acquisition”.<br /><br /><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-702272" height="300" src="https://dailypost.ng/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG-20190726-WA0042.jpg" width="400" /> <img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-702273" height="300" src="https://dailypost.ng/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG-20190726-WA0035.jpg" width="400" /> <img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-702274" height="400" src="https://dailypost.ng/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG-20190726-WA0044.jpg" width="300" /> <img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-702275" height="300" src="https://dailypost.ng/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG-20190726-WA0043.jpg" width="400" /> <img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-702276" height="300" src="https://dailypost.ng/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG-20190726-WA0041.jpg" width="400" /> <img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-702277" height="300" src="https://dailypost.ng/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG-20190726-WA0045.jpg" width="400" /> <img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-702278" height="300" src="https://dailypost.ng/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG-20190726-WA0031.jpg" width="400" /> <img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-702279" height="300" src="https://dailypost.ng/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG-20190726-WA0033.jpg" width="400" /></div>DRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125028879804068481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988093040836408194.post-41126962498267220912019-07-26T18:04:00.003+01:002019-07-26T18:04:38.504+01:00Nigeria's Shia organisation says 20 members killed in protests<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="main-article-media" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Nigeria's Shia organisation says 20 members killed in protests" class="img-responsive main-article-media-img" height="360" src="https://www.aljazeera.com/mritems/imagecache/mbdxxlarge/mritems/Images/2019/7/26/4a63fe69b9504d288980602da4a1bfa1_18.jpg" title="Nigeria's Shia organisation says 20 members killed in protests" width="640" /></div><br /><figure class="main-article-mediaCaption"><br /></figure> <div class="article-p-wrapper" id="body-200771816342556199"><div class="speakable">A Nigerian Shia organisation said a<span>t least 20 of its members </span>have been killed this week during a series of protests in the capital Abuja against the detention of its leader. </div><div class="speakable"><br /></div><div class="speakable">Three more members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) died in detention on Wednesday from their bullet wounds, group spokesperson Ibrahim Musa said in a <a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" target="_blank">statement</a> on Friday, raising the toll to 20 since Monday. No official death toll has been released by the police. </div><div class="speakable"><br /></div>Members of the IMN have been marching in the capital demanding the release of their leader Ibrahim el-Zakzaky - in detention since 2015 - following reports of worsening health conditions of both he and his wife, who is also being held.<br /><br /> Nigerian police met the protests with gunfire and tear gas. A journalist and a senior police officer also died after Monday's march.<br /><br /> "More might die in police custody, because there are at least 15 people who are in the detention centre with various degrees of bullet wounds and without medication," said Musa, adding that the detainees include women and a 10-year-old boy with a leg shot wound.<br /> He called on the police to hand over the wounded so "at least their lives can be saved".<br /> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">The Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has ordered the immediate beef-up of security in all the States of the Federation including the FCT, Abuja. This is in the face of series of violent protest and unrest by members of the El-zazakky group in the FCT.</div>— Nigeria Police Force (@PoliceNG) July 26, 2019</blockquote>Police said on Friday they beefed up security across the country in the face of the ongoing protests, which they say are violent and unruly.<br /><br /> They "advised all would-be protesters to ensure they express their grievances within the ambit of the law so as not to infringe on the constitutional rights of other citizens or cause breach of public peace", according to the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" target="_blank">statement</a>.<br /> <h2><strong>'Excessive use of force'</strong></h2>El-Zakzaky has been held in detention since December 2015, when the army killed almost 350 of his followers at his compound and a nearby mosque and burial ground in northern Kaduna state.<br /> <span>He faces trial on charges of murder, culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, disruption of public peace and other offences following the 2015 violence. He has pleaded not guilty.</span><br /> <div class="article-also-read article-embed-tb-block article-embedded-card "> <div class="topic-label"><br /></div></div>The latest round of protests and the ensuing deadly crackdown has raised concern, with rights groups calling for an investigation into the killings.<br /><br /> "The Nigerian police's apparent rush to use firearms against Shia movement protesters is unlawful and counterproductive," said Anietie Ewang, Nigeria researcher at Human Rights Watch, in a <a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" target="_blank">statement</a> on Wednesday.<br /><br /> "The authorities should bring an end to their violent crackdown on the Shia Islamic Movement in Nigeria, and investigate the excessive use of force by the police," she added.<br /><br /> The group, which represents Nigeria's minority Shia Muslims, says it will continue protesting until they secure the release of el-Zakzaky, an Islamic scholar who founded the IMN in the late 1970s.<br /> A number of court orders instructing the current government to release him and his wife have gone unheeded.</div></div>DRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125028879804068481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988093040836408194.post-20555579228077505442019-07-26T17:57:00.002+01:002019-07-26T17:57:50.013+01:00Why Buhari administration cannot release some Nigerians granted bail – Malami<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <img alt="Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (Photo Credit: DailyPost)" class="attachment-860x800 size-860x800 wp-post-image jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled" data-attachment-id="258491" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-description="<p>Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (Photo Credit: DailyPost)</p> " data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"Picasa","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1518529121","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="abubakar-malami" data-large-file="https://i2.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2018/02/abubakar-malami.jpg?fit=604%2C341&ssl=1" data-lazy-loaded="1" data-medium-file="https://i2.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2018/02/abubakar-malami.jpg?fit=526%2C297&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i2.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2018/02/abubakar-malami.jpg?fit=983%2C555&ssl=1" data-orig-size="983,555" data-pagespeed-url-hash="2245471317" data-permalink="https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/258490-senator-accuses-police-collusion-attorney-general-malami.html/attachment/abubakar-malami-2" height="361" src="https://i2.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2018/02/abubakar-malami.jpg?fit=860%2C486&ssl=1" width="640" /><br /><br />The former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has explained why many Nigerians still remain in custody even after they have been granted bail.<br /> According to him, the AGF has the responsibility to protect the rights of individuals but the Office of the AGF prioritises public interest.<br /><br /> According to him, the AGF has the responsibility to protect the rights of individuals but the Office of the AGF prioritises public interest.<br /> Mr Malami said this while fielding questions from lawmakers during the screening of ministerial nominees.<br /><br /> He is one of the 43 ministers appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari.<br /> The government has been accused of not complying with court orders. Many Nigerians and Civil Society Groups have frowned at how Nigerians granted bail are still remanded in custody.<br /> One of such cases is the remand of the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, <strong>Ibrahim El-Zakzaky</strong>. The continuous refusal of the government to release him despite a court order has sparked outrage from Nigerians across the country – including members of the movement who have had clashes with security officers while demanding the release of their leader.<br /> Another such case is ex-National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki who has been granted bail by six different courts including the Court of Appeal. He is yet to be released. He is being tried for alleged fraud while in office and alleged possession of arms.<br /> The Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, asked the nominee why he has not guaranteed the rights of Nigerians who have been granted bail and are still in custody.<br /> In his response, Mr Malami conceded that he has had the responsibility to protect the right of individuals.<br /><div class="code-block code-block-5" style="clear: both; margin: 8px 0;"><div class="directcampaign"> </div><div class="directcampaign">“But looking at Section 174 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I want to state that the office of the AGF is meant to protect public interest and where the individual interest conflicts with the public interest, the interest of 180 million Nigerians that are interested in having this country integrated must naturally prevail. </div></div>“That provision has been very well captured by the Apex Court in the case of Asari Dokubo versus the federal government, that where an individual interest conflicts the public interest, the public interest naturally prevails,” he explained.<br /> <h5>Cooperation will aid signing of bills</h5>The former AGF also explained that collaboration between the three arms of government will reduce the consistent rejection of bills by the president. <br /> He was asked what he will do to ensure that bills passed by the National Assembly<strong> National Assembly</strong> will be assented to by the president.<br /> Mr Malami explained that any problem associated with the running of the government is embedded in the absence of collaboration and cooperation.<br /> <div class="code-block code-block-3" style="clear: both; display: block; margin: 8px 0 8px auto; text-align: right;"></div>“The major thing I can do differently to ensure bills from the national assembly are assented to by the president, is to establish a culture of deep-rooted collaboration not as we see it today. What we have today is simply a public hearing arrangement as a means of exchanging opinions and observations.<br /> “A bill ought to be shared among the executive, judiciary and legislative in the name of national interest – so as to entertain opinions and objections,” he said.<br /> He further explained that lack of collaboration was one of the major reasons the <strong><a href="https://www.premiumtimesng.com/business/business-news/281771-experts-condemn-buharis-refusal-to-sign-pib.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Petroleum Industry Bill</a></strong> was rejected by the president.<br /> “The PIB, for instance, was rejected among others because the interest of the host community was at a point, compromised. In the sense that some sections were brought into it conferring powers on an individual as against the institution.<br /> “That is one of the reasons it was declined. If at the point of conception, there was a collaboration in terms of understanding with judiciary, executive and relevant institutions, it would have been assented to.”<br /><div class="code-block code-block-4" style="clear: both; margin: 8px 0;"> <div id="div-gpt-ad-1558350824382-0"> </div></div><h5>What I will do as Minister of Justice</h5>When asked what he will do if re-appointed to head the justice ministry, he said the judiciary intends to work effectively.<br /> “I want to be remembered as an AGF that stopped this nation from disintegrating by taking into consideration what is being manifested arising from hate speeches among others.<br /> “I will ensure that out laws relating to treasonable felony are indeed effectively brought to here to ensure that this nation remains one and the same.<br /> “I will ensure that we intensify the fight against corruption and recover debts locally and internationally make our system of governance most effective,” he said.<br /> <h5>My achievements AGF</h5>During his presentation, Mr Malami said he had modest achievements during his tenure as AGF. He said under him, bills like the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit Bill, Proceeds of Crimes Bill, Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill and Antiterrorism bill were brought to the National Assembly.<br /> “I came up with executive order 6 which was signed by the President. Policies were not only created but indeed enforced.<br /> “In terms of the fight against terrorism, we have succeeded within the time I was made Attorney General worked on 63 terrorism cases and secured 59 convictions. We take gross effective measures. I am happy to report we have succeeded in helping the government to save N145 billion and in dollar $5 billion within a period of 3 years.<br /><div class="code-block code-block-1" style="clear: both; display: block; margin: 8px auto; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div>“We increased the recovery account from N19 billion to N279 billion, as at November 2018,” he said.<br /> Before he left the chamber, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said the questions asked were good and Mr Malami brilliantly answered them.</div>DRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125028879804068481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988093040836408194.post-51194289978073663142019-07-26T17:49:00.001+01:002019-07-26T17:49:13.161+01:00 EXCLUSIVE: Certificate Scandal: Adamawa State Director Embroiled In Forged Documents <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="page-header-share"><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style addthis_32x32_style add-this"> </div></div><div id="page-header-feed-icons"></div><div id="page-header-message"></div><div id="page-header-tabs"></div><span class="ds-1col file file-image file-image-jpeg view-mode-embedded centered clearfix block-story-object block-story-object-resource block-story-object-resource-image"><span class="block-story-object-asset"></span></span><br /><span class="ds-1col file file-image file-image-jpeg view-mode-embedded centered clearfix block-story-object block-story-object-resource block-story-object-resource-image"><span class="block-story-object-asset"></span></span><br /><span class="ds-1col file file-image file-image-jpeg view-mode-embedded centered clearfix block-story-object block-story-object-resource block-story-object-resource-image"><span class="block-story-object-asset"><img alt="" class="media-element file-embedded" src="https://secure.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/styles/normal_medium/public/WhatsApp%20Image%202019-07-26%20at%2011.40.30.jpeg?itok=izQRIPbY" /></span><span class="block-story-object-content"><span class="block-story-object-content-header"><span class="block-story-object-content-header-description"></span></span><span class="block-story-object-content-footer"></span></span></span><span class="container container-pod container-pod-short"></span><br /><div class="first"><br /></div><div class="first"><br /></div><div class="first">Halilu Abba, a director of administration at Adamawa State Health Services Management Board, did not study for a master's degree at the Adamawa State University (ADSU). </div>Instead, Abba forged ADSU's Masters in Public Administration (MPA) to earn him his present position, SaharaReporters can report.<br /><br /> The board coordinates all secondary-level hospitals in the state and health institutions, including College of Health Technology and College of Nursing and Midwifery.<br /><br /> The board is also responsible for the recruitment of doctors, nurses and all other health processionals.<br /> Abba, who doubles as the ward head of Karewa, a highbrow neighbourhood, reserved for the top echelons of the state's civil service, parades a purported MPA from ADSU.<br /><br /> But the university has denied awarding him the degree, following a petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) on the forged MPA.<br /><br /> According to his official credentials which SaharaReporters obtained, the purported MPA, signed by one Ishaku Abubakar, a deputy registrar of ADSU, was awarded on June 4, 2013.<br /> Abba obtained a statement of results of the MPA, submitted same to health board and was promoted to grade level 16 and subsequently appointed a director.<br /><br /> A first degree or a postgraduate diploma (PGD) is the minimum requirement for promotion to directorate cadre as enshrined in the scheme of service for civil servants in Adamawa.<br /> The position of the law is that both the criminal and penal codes that apply in the southern and northern parts of Nigeria prohibit forgery.<br /><br /> Section 463 of the criminal code, provides for three years imprisonment for forgery while sections 362 to 364 of the penal code deals with forgery with the punishment of up to 14 years imprisonment with an option of fine or both.<br /><br /><strong>HOW ABBA GOT INTO TROUBLE</strong><br /> Going by his date of birth, (September 2, 1969), Abba started his civil service career at the age of 18 on January 13, 1988 as a laboratory attendant. He was upgraded to assistant executive on January 1, 1991 (being a public holiday though), after presenting a certificate in Personnel Administration from Adamawa Polytechnic. He later rose to become executive officer in 1993 after bagging a diploma in Public Administration from his alma mater.<br /><br />Trouble started when a report by the Establishment Committee, recommending Abba for promotion to level 16, thus qualifying for the post of director of administration, was released. The report showed that Abba obtained a PGD at an undisclosed institution in 2011, as well as MPA from ADSU in 2013.<br /> This explains why six years after he purportedly obtained the MPA, Abba could not produce the original certificate of the degree.<br /><br />Following the committee's recommendation, Abba was made a director, preferred over two officers who have m'ster's degrees, as well as his seniors in the service. SaharaReporters' findings revealed that the two officers first raised the alarm questioning not just the impropriety of his rapid promotion, but also his academic qualifications The duo's outcry was ignored.<br /><br /> In addition to this, Abba, according to some staffs, betrayed illiteracy, by allegedly hiring someone to help to write minutes and treat official files.<br /> "I can swear to you that our director of admin cannot write the simplest of all sentences," a staff who spoke on the condition of anonymity said.<br /><br /><strong>ICPC STEPPED IN</strong><br /> ICPC was at this point petitioned to investigate, particularly the MPA Abbo parades.<br /> Meanwhile, the state university has denied outright that it awarded the certificate to Abba.<br /> However, the university acknowledged that the only document linked to Abba's name in its records is a 2012 admission letter to study for MPA.</div>DRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125028879804068481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988093040836408194.post-82767375225395538852019-07-26T17:28:00.001+01:002019-07-26T17:28:23.494+01:00 Bill To Protect Rights Of Internet Users In Nigeria Passes First Reading In Parliament <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="first"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IwL6Pczy4vU/XTsqDuBFkZI/AAAAAAAAEH0/6h12Eg1umEsvyJfQtYZVMBA0vXK-qTKTgCLcBGAs/s1600/Senate%2BNew%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="500" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IwL6Pczy4vU/XTsqDuBFkZI/AAAAAAAAEH0/6h12Eg1umEsvyJfQtYZVMBA0vXK-qTKTgCLcBGAs/s400/Senate%2BNew%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="first"><br /></div><div class="first">The Digital Rights and Freedom Bill, which seeks to protect the rights of internet users in Nigeria from infringement of their fundamental freedoms and to guarantee the application of human rights for users of digital platforms has passed the first reading at the National Assembly.</div><div class="first"><br /></div>In February this year, President Buhari declined assent to the Bill after it was passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate at the 8th National Assembly. Meanwhile, Paradigm Initiative, the organization leading the advocacy for the passage of the Bill had been engaging stakeholders on the way forward for the Bill after Buhari declined assent.<br /><br /> Boye Adegoke, Programme Manager at Paradigm Initiative, said in a statement, “On April 18, 2019, we hosted a stakeholder roundtable in Abuja to review the reasons President Buhari declined assent to the bill.<br /><br /> The roundtable gave a unique opportunity for us to get robust stakeholder feedback and buy-in into the objective of the bill from stakeholders. We have on the basis of that revised the bill and we are glad for the immediate attention it has received from the National Assembly."<br /><br /> Tahir Monguno, a lawmaker who sponsored the bill in the house said the Internet was opening up new possibilities for Nigeria’s teeming young population. <br /><br /> "As a legislator, I hold the firm belief that we must encourage young people by assuring them of their protection when doing legitimate activities on digital platforms."<br /><br /> On the chances that President Buhari will sign the bill when passed by the National Assembly, Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative explained, “We are hopeful that the President will sign the bill.<br /><br /> The President was clear when he declined assent to the bill in the 8th NASS that he would be happy to sign the bill if his concerns were addressed. Those concerns have now been addressed and the bill has started another legislative journey. We hope that the President will keep his word." He added that his team worked with the Ministry of Justice, the Nigeria Communications Commission and other stakeholders in producing the current version of the bill.<br /><br /> The Digital Rights and Freedom Bill, 2019 (HB. 98) was read on the floor of the House on July 16, 2019, for first reading. The bill must be passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate before it is sent to President Muhamadu Buhari for assent.</div>DRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125028879804068481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988093040836408194.post-31463565989905353092019-07-26T17:26:00.001+01:002019-07-26T17:26:08.831+01:00 Nigeria Climb To 33rd In Latest FIFA Ranking <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PecWSD6STAg/XTspkMIeTnI/AAAAAAAAEHo/x38bxvPXN5QIJQApFHQzFnQvHTjXooleQCLcBGAs/s1600/Super-Eagles-starting-XI-agianst-Seychelles-PHOTO-CREDIT-PREMIUM-TIMES-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="425" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PecWSD6STAg/XTspkMIeTnI/AAAAAAAAEHo/x38bxvPXN5QIJQApFHQzFnQvHTjXooleQCLcBGAs/s640/Super-Eagles-starting-XI-agianst-Seychelles-PHOTO-CREDIT-PREMIUM-TIMES-1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br />The Super Eagles have been rewarded for their bronze win in the recently-concluded Africa Cup of Nation tournament in Egypt, Goal.com reports.<br /><br />In a list released today by FIFA, Nigeria has moved up to 33rd place from 45th position in the FIFA World Rankings.<br /><br />Rewarding the Super Eagles’ efforts in the 32nd AFCON, the Super Eagles climbed 12 places from their 45th position in June, accruing 1481 points.<br /><br />The Nigerian team finished second in the group stage, and defeated the five-time African champions, Cameroon in the Round of 16 and went on to defeat Mandela’s boys in the quarter-final.<br />The Super Eagles, however, remain third in Africa behind the silver medal winner, Senegal who are currently ranked 20th, and Tunisia ranked 29th.<br /><br />The recent ranking shows how the AFCON champions, Algeria sky-rocketed to 40th position from 68th position making a-28-step move to the fourth in Africa while Morocco ranks 41st.</div>DRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125028879804068481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988093040836408194.post-2540440541795985542019-07-26T17:22:00.002+01:002019-07-26T17:22:36.262+01:00Justice Tsoho sworn in as Acting Chief Judge of Fed High Court<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7oBnjIPPbfk/XTsor4RKPPI/AAAAAAAAEHg/VBpsxSiqDKUrUMVyqJeCJA-W-NLt9uv1gCLcBGAs/s1600/Justice-John-Tsoho.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="650" height="221" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7oBnjIPPbfk/XTsor4RKPPI/AAAAAAAAEHg/VBpsxSiqDKUrUMVyqJeCJA-W-NLt9uv1gCLcBGAs/s320/Justice-John-Tsoho.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, on Friday swore in Justice John Tsoho as the Acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.<br /> The ceremony, which took place at the Ceremonial Court of the Supreme Court in Abuja, came over 24 hours after the seat of the head of the Federal High Court had been vacant.<br /><div class="code-block code-block-1" style="float: left; margin: 8px 8px 8px 0;"> The former Chief Judge of the FHC, Justice Adamu Kafarati, retired from the bench on attaining the mandatory retirement age of 65 midnight of Thursday. </div>Tsoho’s inauguration as the Acting Chief Judge was earlier suspended in the morning to await clearance from President Muhammadu Buhari.<br /> It was not clear if Buhari eventually nominated Tsoho to take over as the Acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court on Friday.<br /> After Tsoho took his oath, the CJN said it was a constitutional provision that the next most senior judge of the court could be appointed as the Acting Chief Judge pending the conclusion for the process of the substantive CJ of the court.</div>DRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125028879804068481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988093040836408194.post-49085342539411325142019-07-26T17:16:00.000+01:002019-07-26T17:16:01.574+01:00Dean Henderson signs news deal at Manchester United, joins Sheffield on loan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DDO9innj9wg/XTsnHhUzUxI/AAAAAAAAEHU/H-SPb4YpUNgaNIvdlubKXcPafmJz4MJZwCLcBGAs/s1600/dean-henderson-sheffield-united-2018-19_zkinsvpbrwcd1cwup2ijn0ecg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DDO9innj9wg/XTsnHhUzUxI/AAAAAAAAEHU/H-SPb4YpUNgaNIvdlubKXcPafmJz4MJZwCLcBGAs/s400/dean-henderson-sheffield-united-2018-19_zkinsvpbrwcd1cwup2ijn0ecg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />- Dean Henderson has signed a new contract at Manchester United which will keep him at the club until 2022 - But the 22-year-old goalkeeper was immediately loaned to Sheffield United where he will play next season - The player himself made it clear that he is happy to have signed a new deal with Manchester United Premier League giants Manchester United have announced that goalkeeper Dean Henderson has signed a new deal at Old Trafford and has been loaned to Sheffield United.<br /><br />The 22-year-old goalkeeper is a product of Manchester United academy and has been with the Red Devils since when he was 14. Henderson who is England Under-21 international joins Sheffield United on a season-long loan for the 2019/20 campaign.<br /><br />He enjoyed a successful loan spell at Bramall Lane last season and kept the most clean sheets in the Championship as The Blades secured promotion to the Premier League. “The club has been amazing in designing an individual pathway to aid my development which will enable me to reach my potential and perform at the highest level possible. ''Signing this contract is such a proud moment for myself and my family; I’ve worked so hard to reach this point and I want to do everything I can to repay the faith the club has shown in me. “I am looking forward to being back at Bramall Lane, the opportunity to be reunited with the coaches and play in front of the amazing fans again is one that I am relishing,'' Dean told Manchester United website.<br /></div>DRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125028879804068481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988093040836408194.post-19673296697024967502018-06-24T12:58:00.002+01:002018-06-24T12:58:36.258+01:00Oshiomhole emerges APC chairman, Baraje, Melaye warn of looming crisis<img src="http://cdn.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/23173316/Oshiomole.jpg" /><br /><br />The much awaited affirmation of the preferred candidate for the position of National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress held on Saturday.<br /><br />Chairman of the APC National Convention Planning Committee, Abubakar Badaru, who presided over the convention, announced that Adams Oshiomhole was the only person contesting the position of national chairman.<br /><br />He said, “Adams Oshiomhole has been returned unopposed for the position of national chairman, there will be no election. So, I will ask you if you affirm him as chairman, you answer ‘affirm’ or say ‘aye’ when I ask for affirmation.”<br /><br />Badaru then asked the delegates if they would affirm Oshiomhole as the party’s national chairman and they all chorused “affirmed.” He then announced the former Edo State Governor as returned unopposed.<br /><br />None of Oshiomhole’s former opponents was sighted near the stage when Badaru made the announcement.<br /><br />Three persons namely: Prof. Osareimen Osunbor, Clement Ebri and Ibrahim Emokpai, who earlier expressed interest in contesting against Oshiomhole, pulled out of the race before the convention.<br /><br />Convention foundation shaky — Baraje<br /><br />Leader of the New Peoples Democratic Party bloc within the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, has warned the APC leadership not to celebrate yet despite the fact that its convention went on successfully on Saturday.<br /><br />Baraje, in a statement from his media office in Ilorin, said the foundation of the convention was already shaking.<br /><br />He said the party was fully aware of many aggrieved party members and stakeholders.<br /><br />Baraje noted that his group decided to attend the APC convention because his members wanted to demonstrate to the entire Nigerians, particularly their supporters, that they were still loyal to the party.<br /><br />He said their attendance at the convention did not mean that all the group’s grievances stated in their letter had been addressed.<br /><br />He lamented that the convention was held despite the fact that there were lawsuits in court against the party arising from parallel primaries in over 18 states of the federation.<br /><br />He said, “We still believe that our loyalty should be demonstrated.<br /><br />“That is why we attended the convention. The fact that we attended the APC convention and the convention was progressing well, should not be mistaken for peace within the party.”<br /><br />It’s beginning of party’s obituary — Melaye<br /><br />The Lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Dino Melaye, on Saturday mocked his party, the All Progressives Congress, describing the national convention of the ruling party as a joke.<br /><br />According to him in his posts on his Instagram page, the congress is the beginning of the “political obituary” of the party.<br /><br />He also quoted from a song by the late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, making a veiled reference to the APC as a bad party.<br /><br />The posts read, “Happy to be away from the joke going on in Naija today (Saturday).<br /><br />“Political obituary of APC activated. Egbekegbe na bad society…beast of no nation…egbekegbe…”<br /><br />Melaye had recently relocated his seat from the APC section of the Senate chamber to that of the opposition and minority Peoples Democratic Party.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12045943076469711138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988093040836408194.post-78004480235431312862018-06-24T12:57:00.001+01:002018-06-24T12:57:42.078+01:00World Cup 2018: Argentina coach plots Nigeria downfall without Messi<img src="http://cdn.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/22182739/Super-Eagles1.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Argentina manager Jorge Sampaoli is reportedly planning changes for his team’s crucial match against Nigeria in St. Petersburg on Tuesday.<br /><br />Sampaoli, who has come under immense pressure as the two-time world champions risk an early exit from the Russia 2018 World Cup following their 1-1 draw against Iceland and a 3-0 defeat by Croatia, has been putting his players through their paces experimenting on a 4-3-3 formation without much reliance on Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.<br /><br />The South Americans who arrived in Russia as one the favourites need a win over Nigeria to reach the second round.<br /><br />Read also: I am not a failure at Leicester – Ahmed Musa<br /><br />The former Chile coach Sampaoli, was let down by his Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero’s two high-profile errors against Croatia at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Thursday, is set to drop the veteran keeper in favour of his understudy Franco Armani of River Plate.<br /><br />Argentine daily sports magazine Ole published a picture revealing Sampaoli’s starting X1 against Nigeria at their training base in Bronnitsy on Saturday.<br /><br />In the picture, the scribbles on the notebook showed two seven-a-side teams facing each other, excluding Messi.<br /><br />According to reports in the Argentine media, other players likely to be dropped for the clash by the 58-year-old are Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero, Roma midfielder Lucas Biglia, and Sporting Lisbon defender Marcos Acuna.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12045943076469711138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988093040836408194.post-38537454244623740502018-06-24T12:56:00.002+01:002018-06-24T12:56:15.976+01:00Discordant tunes in states over FG’s N179bn ranches<img src="http://cdn.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/20043002/Cattle-ranch.jpg" /><br /><br />The Federal Government’s decision to create ranches in some states is already causing confusion among the state governments, herdsmen and farmers, according to SUNDAY PUNCH investigations.<br /><br />Our correspondents, who spoke with governments, farmers and herders in the affected states, report that though several states rejected the plan, some were awaiting further details, while the rest embraced the project for political reasons.<br /><br />The development has also pitched the herdsmen and the farmers associations against each other.<br /><br />The Federal Government, last week, unveiled the plan, expected to cost N179bn over a 10-year period, to improve livestock production in the country and put an end to herders/farmers crisis.<br /><br />Adamawa, Benue, Ebonyi, Edo, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba and Zamfara states will receive interventions in form of ranches in the pilot phase.<br /><br />In Ebonyi State, Governor David Umahi vowed to resist any attempt to convert land in the state into a cattle ranch by the Federal Government.<br /><br />Umahi, who was the Chairman of the Mediation Committee on the farmers/herders clashes, said his panel merely recommended that state governments, willing to embrace the project, were free to do so, through the Anchor Borrowers Scheme.<br /><br />He said, “FG has not taken any land from anywhere in the country. No state government has been forced to give any land for ranches. There is no land for ranching in Ebonyi State.”<br /><br />The Benue State government and the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria have also disagreed over the issue.<br /><br />While the state government rejected the planned cattle ranches, the herders group said the state government’s resistance might create more problems.<br /><br />The Miyetti Allah vowed to continue to oppose the state government’s anti-open grazing law, a situation that would lead to further clashes.<br /><br />Governor Samuel Ortom, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Terver Akase, explained that sections five and eight of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranching Establishment Law of the state had already mapped out procedure for acquiring land for ranches,<br /><br />According to Akase, the Benue State Government has not repealed the existing anti-open grazing law.<br /><br />He wondered why the same government would begin to donate land for people to establish ranches.<br /><br />But the National Coordinator of MACBAN, Mr. Garus Gololo, said his group was in full support of the Federal Government’s proposal to establish ranches in 10 states including Benue.<br /><br />Gololo said, “If the Federal Government wants to establish ranches, they are free to do so anywhere in the country but there must be schools, veterinary hospitals and other social amenities as well as shelters where the cows can stay.<br /><br />“Benue State said it had rejected the Federal Government plan; the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association has also rejected the Benue anti-opening grazing law too.”<br /><br />The Edo State Government had yet to take any action on the national ranching project as it had not been discussed at the State Executive Council meeting.<br /><br />The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Monday Osaigbovo, who spoke to one of our correspondents on the telephone, said the state would support the project only “if it is going to be done as it is being done abroad.”<br /><br />The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has, however, advised Governor Godwin Obaseki not to cede any land in the state to the Federal Government to create ranches.<br /><br />The party’s chairman in the state, Chief Dan Orbih, said the national livestock transformation plan was a subtle way of dispossessing farmers and other property owners of their land.<br /><br />He said, “Edo people say no to cattle colony. Edo PDP openly rejects the new national policy on ranching.<br /><br />“It is an attempt to grab our land. No Edo community to date has agreed to give a portion of its land for the purpose of establishing a cattle colony; we say no to the new national policy by President Muhammadu Buhari.”<br /><br />The Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura, has approved seven grazing reserves in the Awe, Keana, Doma, Assakio, Konva, Gtata and Kurudu local government areas of the state for the take-off of the programme.<br /><br />There was no official reaction yet from the Kaduna State government on the proposed project as the mobiles of the Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Dr. Manzo Maigari, and the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, indicated that they were switched off.<br /><br />The Taraba State Government and the leadership of MACBAN have expressed their support for the project, stressing that the project will solve the herders/farmers’ clashes.<br /><br />In separate interviews with one of our correspondents in Jalingo, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Bala Dan Abu, and the North-East Zonal Chairman of MACBAN, Mr. Mafindi Danburam, commended the development.<br /><br />The governments of Plateau and Adamawa said they had embraced the project.<br /><br />The Zamfara State Commissioner for Agriculture, Lawal Jangebe, told SUNDAY PUNCH that the Federal Government had yet to discuss the project with the state government.<br /><br />The Oyo State Commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, Oyewole Oyewumi, also said the state would provide land for the project in the northern part of the state and that it could be in lease form or the state contribution to the scheme.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12045943076469711138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988093040836408194.post-36882681758102080522018-06-24T12:55:00.003+01:002018-06-24T12:55:21.413+01:00Shiites deny killing policeman in Kaduna protest<img src="http://cdn.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/25150736/Shiites-protest.jpg" /><br /><br />Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, otherwise known as ‘Shiites’, have denied killing a police officer during their clash with the police on Thursday.<br /><br />The Shiites members had, between Wednesday and Thursday, besieged the Kaduna metropolis to protest the continued detention of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and his wife, Zeena, by the state.<br /><br />The reported killing, also coincided with the arraignment of El-Zakzaky before the Kaduna State High Court along the Ibrahim Taiwo Road in the heart of the city.<br /><br />The group alleged that 23 of its members had been killed by the police in Kaduna since 2015, whereas they had never killed anybody in any of their processions.<br /><br />The IMN further alleged that the death of the policeman was executed by thugs allegedly contracted by the police to smear their image.<br /><br />Addressing a news conference on Saturday, Prof. Abdullahi Danladi of the Resource Forum of the Islamic Movement, an arm of the IMN, said, “It was in the news that a policeman was allegedly killed by the members of the Islamic movement in Nigeria during a free-Zakzaky-procession.<br /><br />“To back up the story, there was a video recording supposedly of ‘Shiites’ members lynching a policeman that went viral on the Internet.<br /><br />“Most certainly, this is not true at all. It is the greatest subterfuge of all times.<br /><br />“This was to discredit us in order to turn the tables against us.”<br /><br />The group therefore called on the police to stop intimidating its members.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12045943076469711138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988093040836408194.post-7617966246998376542018-06-24T12:54:00.003+01:002018-06-24T12:54:39.624+01:00Man brutalised by Ogun customs officers cries for justice<img src="http://cdn.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/09001118/Customs-officials-on-duty.jpg" /><br /><br />A 42-year-old businessman, Mr. Abayomi Abiona, has accused some operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service of assaulting him while they were in the convoy of their state comptroller.<br /><br />Abiona, a resident of Agbara, Ogun State, told SUNDAY PUNCH that he was coming from Apapa in a public bus when the convoy overtook his bus and one of the operatives used a horsewhip on him.<br /><br />He said, “I was coming from one of my business errands in Apapa and I sat in the front passenger seat of the commercial bus. Suddenly, the convoy of the state customs comptroller passed by our vehicle.<br /><br />“The first escort vehicle and the comptroller’s vehicle had passed, leaving another escort vehicle, a Toyota Hilux pickup with number plate A01- 79CS behind.<br /><br />“Immediately the last escort passed our vehicle, one of the officers sitting at the back of the pickup beat me with a horsewhip. I was left dumbfounded as well as other commuters of the vehicle I boarded.”<br /><br />The businessman said he was deeply traumatised by the action of the customs officer.<br /><br />Abiona said when the bus caught up with the escort vehicle, having also been stuck in a traffic jam, he walked up to the customs official who assaulted him to demand an explanation for such action.<br /><br />However, he was said to have been beaten black and blue by the operatives.<br /><br />He added, “I have a video recording on my phone, which they tried to smash, but I didn’t allow them. I still do not understand what warranted the inhuman treatment meted out to me.”<br /><br />Abiona said he reported the matter at the Agbara police division and was told to write a statement and get treatment at a hospital, adding that since then, nothing had been done about the matter.<br /><br />When contacted, the Customs spokesperson in the state, Mr. Abdullahi Maiwada, requested the number plate of the vehicle, which our correspondent gave to him and was confirmed to be that of the Customs Service but not the state comptroller.<br /><br />Maiwada said, “The number plate is not that of the Ogun State comptroller but I have sent it to the Customs at Seme and in Lagos to confirm. I cannot ascertain if the incident is true or not because it is not within my jurisdiction.”<br /><br />In a separate reaction, the Ogun State Police Public Relations, Mr. Abimbola Oyeyemi, requested to speak with the victim and promised to investigate the matter.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12045943076469711138noreply@blogger.com0