Politics

IPOB orders arrest of persons enforcing sit-at-home in South-East

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The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Thursday ordered the arrest of anyone enforcing the weekly sit-at-home directive in any part of the South-East.

In a statement issued by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the group wondered why some people would continue to enforce an order that had been cancelled in the region.

IPOB had ordered a sit-at-home every Monday in the South-East in a bid to force the Federal Government to release its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

However, the group’s leadership after consultations with South-East leaders called off the directive last week.

Following the continued enforcement of the directive by some individuals, IPOB asked the community and religious leaders in the region to devise ways to arrest the people still enforcing the directive and hand them over to its members in the localities.

The statement read: “We wish to reiterate once again that IPOB has cancelled Monday sit-at-home order and anybody or group enforcing the relaxed order is neither from IPOB nor from IPOB volunteer group.

We are advising our people to ignore anybody enforcing non-existent Monday sit-at-home order and go about their normal business because such person(s) are working for our enemies and their intention is to blackmail IPOB and set the movement against the people but they won’t succeed.

Anyone caught adding to the pain of our people in the name of enforcing Monday sit-at-home order will be treated as the enemy that he or she is.

“We, therefore, warn these agents of darkness using the name of IPOB to enforce a non-existent sit-at-home to desist because if we lay hold on them they will eternally regret their evil actions.

“Why should such unpatriotic elements be inflicting pain on our people and dragging our image to the mud? IPOB remains a non-violent movement and our peaceful approach for Biafra restoration has not changed.

“We hereby direct community leaders, market leaders, church leaders, and other institutions of authority in Biafra land to arrest any hoodlum trying to enforce any sit-at-home on Mondays and hand them over to IPOB. Such criminal elements must be treated in a language they understand.”

Politics

Buhari advocates equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines at Paris conference

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday charged world leaders and global health institutions on the equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines.

He warned that sidelining less privileged countries in the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines would undermine the efforts to safe mankind from the virus that had killed 5.07 million people and infected 251 million others across the world.

The President, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, made the call in a keynote address at the Paris Peace Forum in France.

He, however, welcomed the pledges by industrialized countries to share the vaccines.

Buhari said: “Resolving supply-chain constraints would require better coordination within the manufacturing process; and between manufacturers and end-users.

There is a clear need for the expansion of vaccine production capacity in Africa. In this regard, African countries already have a roadmap: the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa (PMPA) developed in 2007 by the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) on the basis of an African Union Summit decision taken in 2005.

“Licensing agreements should be reached with pharmaceutical companies for the transfer of intellectual property and technology to support the production of vaccines in Africa.

“If global vaccination is the only way to end the COVID-19 pandemic, then all stakeholders must act in a coordinated manner to plug the vaccine supply gap in Africa.

The state of vaccine delivery across the world leaves much to be desired has got to a stage where some countries are giving booster third doses for their citizens when millions across the world, especially in the developing world, are yet to receive a single dose.

“Let us compare vaccination rates to give an idea of the dimension of the problem. According to recent data released as of November 4, 2021. 91.3 doses of vaccine had been given for every 100 persons across the world. On the same date, however, only 14.7 doses of vaccine per 100 persons had been administered in Africa – a clear case of lopsidedness.

“According to Bloomberg, countries with the highest incomes are getting vaccinated 10 times faster than those with the lowest income.

“As of 5th November 2021, Africa had fully vaccinated 77 million persons, amounting to just 6 percent of the continent’s population. By comparison, 60 percent of the European Union population had been fully vaccinated by September 2021.

This massive gap between vaccine requirements in Africa and vaccine availability is undermining the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic on the continent. Even if Africa were to receive the 600 million doses of vaccine expected to be delivered to the continent by the end of 2021 under the COVAX arrangement there would still be a considerable shortfall when compared to the population of the continent which currently stands at 1.383 billion.”

Politics

EFCC reportedly grills ex-gov Igbinedion for alleged diversion of N1.6bn

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reportedly grilled a former governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion, for alleged diversion of N1.6 billion on Thursday.

Sources told journalists the ex-governor arrived at the commission’s office in Jabi, Abuja, at about 2:00 p.m. and was immediately ushered to one of the rooms where he was quizzed for several hours by detectives for alleged diversion of the funds during his tenure as Edo governor from 1999 to 2007.

Igbinedion has been on the EFCC’s watchlist for alleged corruption since he left office 14 years ago.

The EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the development.

He, however, declined further comment on the matter.

Politics

Aisha Yesufu seeks APGA, IPOB alliance

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Aisha Yesufu, the co-convener of BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) has advocated for a political alliance between the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Yesufu made this call on Thursday via a series of tweets in the wake of APGA’s victory in the just-concluded Anambra governorship elections.

The activist noted that this alliance would be beneficial to the South-East in order to have a strong negotiating power regarding the presidential elections and other sundry matters.

She wrote: “Imagine if IPOB works with APGA to control the political power in the South East? Bring the best candidates to be nominated. Show the rest of us how people with competence, character and capacity in leadership positions can change a region. Use the power to negotiate at the Federal level.

An APGA/IPOB alliance can bring the South East together politically. Instead of IPOB wasting its goodwill on giving sit-at-home orders, they can make it ‘nominate and vote credible candidates’ order.

“With that power, you can negotiate with any party wanting to win presidential elections and give the terms for your alliance. Any party interested in winning the region must be ready to meet your terms. That way, no party takes the region for granted.”

“Everyone knows that South East is for PDP at the presidential level. It shouldn’t be so. South East should be for whichever party is ready to give the southeast the best deal!

“Use your political might to negotiate. Let PDP sweat for it too.”

Politics

Omokri slams Minister, Lai, over real reason behind Lagos-Benin border closure

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A former presidential aide, Reno Omokri has slammed the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed over the reasons behind the closure of the country’s land borders with the Benin Republic.

According to Omokri, this decision was made by the Federal Government in order to railroad Benin Republic into handing over the Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Igboho for prosecution.

In a series of tweets on Thursday, he also stated that the reports that the FG closed the borders in order to redress the menace of smuggling is a lie.

Omokri wrote: “Buhari claims he closed the Benin Republic-Nigeria border because of banditry.

“That is a lie from the mouth of Lai Mohammed. The real reason behind the closure is to pressure the Beninese government to hand over Igboho to him.”

Igboho was arrested with his wife in Benin Republic and is currently undergoing trial while.gis wife has been released.

Politics

IPOB gives Uzodinma three-week ultimatum to release detained members

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The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Tuesday gave the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, a three-week ultimatum to release its members arrested by security agents in the state.

In a statement signed by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, and made available to Ripples Nigeria, the group threatened to make the state ungovernable for the governor if fails to release its detained members by the end of November.

IPOB vowed to massively mobilise the people of the South-East against Uzodinma if he fails the demand within the time frame, noting that the governor cannot stop the agitation for the region’s freedom.

The statement read: “We, the global movement and family of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), ably led by our great leader and prophet, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to once again, put the world on notice over the incessant abduction of IPOB members in Imo State by the compromised Nigerian security agents supported by the Supreme Court Administrator in Imo State, Hope Uzodinma.

“We want to make it clear to Uzodinma and his co-travellers that IPOB never stops in Imo State because Imo State is one of the states in Biafra territory. Hope Uzodinma and his co-travellers and traitors are uninformed and cannot stop our agitation for freedom in Imo State.

“We are giving Uzodinma three weeks, until the end of November, to release our arrested members or he will face the weight of our wrath. We will make the state ungovernable for him and he will wish he never crossed our path.”

The separatist group also urged the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, South-East political and religious leaders as well as pressure groups from the region to prevail on Uzodinma to release its detained members.

It added: “We call on Ohaneze Ndigbo, Igbo religious and political leaders, civil society groups, and women organisations to caution Hope Uzodinma and his co-travellers to discontinue this evil agenda. We have had enough of their wickedness against innocent Biafrans.

“We don’t want anybody to blame IPOB should we decide to react. Hope Uzodinma and the compromised security agents have done enough to innocent members of IPOB and ordinary citizens in Imo State.

The continued arrest and abduction of innocent people in Imo State can no longer be tolerated. It’s very disturbing that these agents of darkness now move from house to house searching for anybody who is a supporter of Biafra agitation.

“Friends, family members, and associates of Hope Uzodinma must tell him to release those innocent Biafrans arrested unjustly in Imo State. We give him till the end of November 2021 to do so otherwise, he will be testing the will of the masses and our irrevocable resolve to restore Biafra.

“There is no justification for arresting peaceful agitators of Biafra whereas bandits and mass murderers are allowed to roam the streets freely. This hatred against the innocent must stop, arresting and killing innocent Biafrans tagging them ESN (Eastern Security Network) operatives must stop.”

Politics

Senate confirms two RMAFC commissioners

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The Senate on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of Abdulazeez King and Mohammed Baba as Federal Commissioners in the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

This followed the adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on National Planning and Economic Affairs at the plenary.

The Chairman of the Committee, Olubunmi Adetumbi, who presented the report, said the nominees satisfied the requirements for appointment into public service.

He added that their confirmation was in accordance with the provision of Section 154(1) of the 1999 Constitution.

Politics

BREAKING: With 112,229 votes, INEC declares Soludo Anambra governor-elect

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the early hours of Wednesday declared the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Prof. Charles Soludo, as winner of the Anambra State governorship election.

The Chief Returning Officer, Prof. Florence Obi, who announced the results in Awka, said Soludo scored 112, 229 votes to brush aside the challenge of 17 other candidates.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Valentine Ozigbo, garnered 53, 807 votes while Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress (APC) got 43, 285 votes.

Politics

26-year-old man to contest for APC National Women Leader position

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A Kano man, Ameer Sarkee is seeking to vie for the position of the National Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Sakee, a member of the ruling APC is known for eyeing a post exclusively reserved for a woman.

In 2019, he contested for the post of women leader in a Kwankwasiyya group – a group loyal to former governor of Kano Rabiu Kwankwaso.

The 26-year-old Kano State polytechnic graduate lost on that occasion.

He, however, said he would not let himself be defeated this time around, saying he has experience dealing with women’s issues.

Speaking with BBC Hausa, he promised that he would ensure that women’s voices are heard more in politics and governance if he becomes the national women chairperson in the APC.

He said; “Ever since I was a child when I saw a woman in need of help I tried to help her – like helping them to carry their loads or buying them something – and that’s why I wanted to be the female leader of our party.

“Some people ask me why I am running for the post and my answer is ‘God created men to guide the affairs of women. So it is not a bad thing for me to want to lead women especially given that I mean well for them.”

Ameer said he hopes the women of the APC will agree to vote for him even though he is a man, saying his greatest challenge remains women who see him as stripping them of their positions.

“The biggest challenge I face is gaining the trust of women; some are jealous of seeing me lead them, others think I’m going to take what belongs to them but it’s not.

“At the same time I am getting encouragement from women, even yesterday some women’s groups came to show their support for me and many of them are supporting me on social media,” Ameer said.

Lifestyle, Politics, World News

Gunmen assassinate retired Airforce general and his physiotherapist in Kaduna.

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Gunmen suspected to be assassins have killed a former director of medical training operation, at the Defence headquarters, Air Vice Marshal M. M. Maisaka (Rtd) at his residence in Rigasa, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
 
It was gathered that the deceased was shot dead alongside his physiotherapist (also a NAF personnel) on Monday night, November 8. 

 
The deceased’s son and brother-in-law Saleh Bala, confirmed the news on the social media on Tuesday. 

 
 “Innalillahi wa innailaihir raijun…pls say a prayer for my Dad (Air vice marshal maisaka). He was assassinated at his residence yesterday (Monday) alongside his orderly” the son wrote. 
 
It was learnt that the late Airforce General was one of the finest neurologists in the country before he took ill sometimes ago, and travelled to India to seek for medical attention before returning to the country two months ago.
 
According to Nigerian Tribune, a family source who pleaded for anonymity disclosed that his killing might not be unconnected with the ongoing banditry in the country where he was seen in his community as a shield.

 
“Yes you know our community has been subjected to series of attacks by the bandits. But while he was alive he tried his best to thwart their onslaught on several occasions. They were not happy,” the source said.
 
Reports revealed that a threat message was sent to him about two weeks ago, and the content of the message revealed that he was going to be killed Monday night.
 
The threat message was reported to the police and other security operatives.

 
Meanwhile, the late officer’s brother-in-law took to Facebook to narrate how the incident happened. Read below: 
 

”AVM Mohammed Maisaka (Rtd) murdered.
 
May Allah keep ahead of Nigeria’s affairs and our lives. Yesterday late evening, armed men arrived my brother in-law’s house AVM Mohammed Maisaka (Rtd) at Rigasa, Kaduna, met him in the living room with his wife, my sister Inno and shot him to death.
 
They had first gone to the boys quarters and picked his physiotherapist (also a NAF personal), who they forced to lead them into the main house. In the commotion they also shot the physio to death. Certainly a case of a planned murder.
 
They responded to my sister’s plea to them to also take her life by telling her that they did not have a problem with her, and just casually left the house without picking a thing or threatening anyone further. Maisaka had been paralyzed from a medic condition for about 3 years and had been in rehabilitation until his murder yesterday.
 
Whoever is responsible for this must have held a long grudge against him, because Maisaka has long not been in circulation, but only about and between treatment abroad, convalescent at home or at a local hospital for evaluations or emergency care. Allah knows best. May his shahada (martyrdom) grant him Jannah. Ameen!
 
Maisaka was one time Director of the Nigerian Air Force Medical Services, and an ABU Teaching Hospital lecturer of Internal Medicine, who helped in producing hundreds of doctors across Nigeria and abroad.
 
In spite family opposition, he built and was running a private hospital in the densely populated Rigasa community, as his typical character for social work. He refused in spite his privileges of social status to live outside the community where he also built his retirement home. Our family has lost. Nigeria has lost, indeed. ”

Politics

Nigeria in deep calamity over insecurity – ex-gov Bafarawa

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A former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, on Monday, decried the country’s worsening insecurity, noting that the problem has plunged the North-West into a deep calamity.

Bafarawa, who stated this in a chat with the BBC Hausa Service in Kaduna, stressed that farmers are always the targets of bandits in the region.

He said all those telling President Muhammadu Buhari that all is well with the security situation in the country are cheating him and the people of the North-West.

The ex-governor said: “This insecurity is a catastrophe that has befallen us. The situation in Sokoto and Zamfara States can only be described by those who have been there.

“The sad thing is that we all know that the security of the nation is in the hands of the Federal Government. Those people telling President Muhammadu Buhari that everything is ok, or are they telling him things are not ok? If they are telling him things are going on fine, they have cheated him and cheated us too.

Allah knows that we are in a serious calamity in our zone. Today, I traveled home and came back, I am an eyewitness, not that somebody told me. Our people are harvesting millet in abundance, we have gotten millet and rice, but people cannot convey the farm produce home. Whoever went to the farm to convey the crops home, will not come back alive.

Whoever goes to bring his rice back home, will not return alive. Furthermore, people are in a form of incarceration like in Zamfara. A debilitating catastrophe, a situation that phones cannot work, markets are shut and there is no palliative for the poor to cushion the effect, to get food to eat.

“My call here is that we should put politics aside. This is a situation that affects me, it affects the President and he is the one that will be answerable to Allah.

“Allah will ask him questions, he (the President) should constitute a special team to visit Barafawa and Shinkafi on a fact-finding mission. Or they should go to the villages around Shinkafi, or Sabon Birni or Goronyo. All these places in the senatorial zone are in deep calamity.”

Politics, World News

INEC declares Anambra gov election inconclusive, fixes Nov 9 for supplementary poll in Ihiala

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The Returning Officer of the Anambra State governorship election, Professor Florence Obi, has said that a supplementary election will hold in 362 polling units in Ihiala Local Government Area on Tuesday, November 9.
Citing the constitution, Prof. Obi noted that election had to take place in those polling units for the election to be conclusive.
She noted that election did not take place in Ihiala because there were reports of insecurity in the area.
Meanwhile, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, leads with a total vote of 103, 946

The final result is as follows:
A – 1793
AA – 76
AAC- 580
ADC – 313
ADP – 743
APC – 42942
APGA – 103946
APM – 288
APP – 133
BP- 173
LP- 2697
NNPP – 111
NRM – 207
PDP – 51322
PRP – 428
SDP – 782
YPP – 20917
ZLP – 2070.
Total valid votes: 229521
Rejected votes: 7841
Total votes cast: 237362

Politics

‘Ensure every vote counts in Anambra election,’ Yakubu charges INEC staff

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The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, on Friday charged the commission’s staff deployed for election duties in Anambra to ensure that all the votes cast in the exercise count.

The Anambra governorship election holds on Saturday.

Yakubu, who addressed the staff in Awka, noted that the commission’s determination to ensure that the election holds as scheduled remained unshaken.

He said INEC has delivered all sensitive and non-sensitive materials to the state.

He said: “It is therefore imperative for all of you to ensure that every single vote counts.

“You must remain true to our commitment that only the voters in Anambra State determine who becomes the next governor of the state.

In doing so, you must be guided by the extant laws, our guidelines/regulations, and good conscience. You should remain vigilant, principled, and committed to the vision and mission of the commission.

“We also sought and obtained the support of the security agencies, political parties and candidates, and all other stakeholders for a successful exercise.

“As you are aware, Nigerians expect the Anambra governorship election to be an improvement on the high standards achieved in recent elections.

“That is why we introduced the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for fingerprint and facial biometric authentication of voters. We have trained staff on the new technology.

Politics

I stopped attending a church because the pastor always criticized Buhari – Femi Adesina

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Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, says he stopped attending a branch of a church in Abuja because the pastor was always attacking Buhari.

He revealed this an article on Thursday titled, ‘This Kumuyi is simply different’, which was written in support of a statement by the General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi.

Adesina said it was unfortunate that some pastors had turned their pulpits to platforms upon which they spew hatred.

He wrote; “I used to attend a church in Abuja from 2015 to 2018, till the pastor began to see himself as someone who must bring the Buhari government down. Sunday after Sunday, it was all sorts of criticism from the pulpit. But I endured, since it was a branch of a church I had attended for over 30 years. Till one day, he overdid it.

The Dapchi girls were abducted and there was no name the pastor did not call President Buhari that Sunday. It was horrendous that such things could come from the pulpit. But I suffered long and sat through the sermon, or rather, what was supposed to be a sermon. I then went home, wondering what the church of God was turning to.”

Adesina said after most of the Dapchi girls had been rescued, the pastor did not deem it fit to commend the President in subsequent service.

The President’s aide, however, praised Kumuyi for saying last week that Christians should not “disdain those in power because they appear not to be delivering on electoral pledges”.

He stated that while a former Vice-Chancellor of Ajayi Crowther University, Prof. Dapo Asaju, was within his rights to be angry over the state of the country, it must be noted that the Buhari regime was doing a lot to change the nation’s fortunes.

Adesina said there were some men of God who predicted that Buhari would lose the 2019 election but it turned out to be a fake prophecy.

“Irrespective of the titles they bear, I hear bishops, apostles, prophets, pastors, evangelists, cursing the government, and issuing doomsday notices. One even said publicly that the Buhari administration was over, before the 2019 elections. But the man won handsomely, and that preacher still struts and frets on the pulpit every week, not repenting in sackcloth and ashes,” he said.

He noted that during the #EndSARS protests of 2020, some pastors came out to support the youths who were protesting but they quickly recoiled into their shells when the protests got out of hand.

The presidential spokesman added; “Pastor Kumuyi also says if you are a true believer in Christ, you wouldn’t go on the rampage, destroying government property… But that was not what we saw in the country in October last year. The country was almost burned down under the subterfuge of EndSARS.

And sadly, they were encouraged by pastors and preachers, who simply hate the fact that a Fulani man is their President. Many of them are on record as having encouraged the protesters, till things went ugly, turned awry. And the pastors vanished into the thin air. Not a word of caution or restraint as the cities were burning, and policemen were being killed, and even eaten up.”

Politics

Brother of IPOB leader claims Kenya has confirmed Kanu did not undergo extradition process

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Kingsley Kanunta Kanu, brother to the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has claimed that the Kenyan government has confirmed that his brother did not undergo extradition proceedings in the East African nation.

Kanu disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, shared by the IPOB leader’s top lawyer, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor.

It would be recalled that Ejimakor had maintained that his client was “abducted” in Kenya before being brought to Nigeria in June.

According to him, since Kanu is a British citizen and entered Kenya with his British passport, he ought not to have been brought to Nigeria for any reason without valid court orders for his extradition, noting that it was against international laws to illegally arrest someone on foreign land, an act that amounts to “abduction”.

He added that Kanu’s fundamental human rights were grossly violated by those who masterminded his “rendition” to Nigeria, accusing the Kenyan Government of culpability.

Ejimakor explained that Kanu cannot be lawfully prosecuted by the Federal Government of Nigeria unless the issue of his extra-ordinary rendition is first discharged, and if he is to stand trial in Nigeria, he will first be returned to Kenya and Britain where he resides before Nigeria will apply for his extradition in a British court.

However, Kanunta Kanu claimed that the Kenyan government filed its suit in respect of the separatist leader’s matter on Tuesday, and part of their defence was that ‘there are no extradition proceedings to justify that it is responsible for Nnamdi Kanu’s extradition.

According to the statement, Kanu claimed that following his brother’s extraordinary rendition in June this year, the Kenyan Government had publicly issued a series of statements, denying its complicity in the abominable act.

“In the said defence that it filed in Court, Kenya has not only persisted in its denials, but it went further to confirm that my brother was denied the benefit of the due process of extradition in Kenya or even a lawful arrest,” he said.

In particular, the defence the Kenyan Government filed in court stated in major part ‘That there are no extradition proceedings to justify that the Government of Kenya is responsible for the subject’s extradition.”

The statement read: “That there is no OB record from any of the Police stations within the Country to indicate that the subject in issue was lawfully arrested and detained for purposes of commencing extradition proceedings.

“It needs to be emphasized that above admissions have officially confirmed our long-held position that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s transfer from Kenya to Nigeria is unlawful, not lawful as was claimed by the Nigerian Government.

“This latest revelation, officially made in open Court by Kenya, further solidifies our abiding position that the Nigerian Government cannot benefit from its wrong by subjecting my brother to trial.

As the next hearing date unfolds to 7th December 2021, more legal processes will be in view. Our immediate goal is to secure the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention.”

Politics

More confusion as IPOB clarifies position on boycott of Anambra guber poll, sit-at-home

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The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a disclaimer over its stance on the upcoming governorship elections in Anambra State on Saturday, November 6.

This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, in response to claims that the group imposed a stay-at-home order tantamount to a boycott of the polls.

The group while claiming it did not call for boycott of the election, further reiterated it’s call for people in Anambra to observe the sit-at home between November 5 and November 10, while also calling on whoever wants to go out to vote on November 6 to be cautious of their security.

The IPOB statement reiterated that it did not call for the boycott of the election and has not asked anyone to impose the sit-at-home order.

According to Powerful, the group is only interested in securing the release of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu from detention.

The statement reads, ”IPOB wish to correct some misconceptions, unfounded speculations and outright falsehood concerning our position on the forthcoming November 6 governorship election in Anambra state.

First of all, we wish to reiterate that IPOB did not at any time issue an order or call for the boycott of the said election contrary to misconceptions in certain quarters. IPOB has nothing to do with the Anambra election. Nobody should therefore link us with the election. The freedom of our Leader is what matters to us and we don’t need distractions.”

The statement continued, “The priority of IPOB is to secure the unconditional release of our Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who has been illegally detained since his rendition to Nigeria. All we said was that if by November 4 those who abducted, renditioned, and illegally detained him fail to release him unconditionally, Biafrans shall embark on civil disobedience of a one-week sit-at-home beginning from November 5 to November 10.

This action has nothing to do with the Anambra election. We are not concerned if anyone wishes to participate or not to participate in the Anambra election. But our only advice to Ndi Anambra especially those contemplating to vote is to be very careful about their security.

“We want to categorically state that IPOB has not asked anybody to monitor or enforce compliance to any sit-at-home as this is unnecessary because Biafrans willingly and consciously obey IPOB’s call for Sit-At-Home.”

Politics

All sensitive electoral materials for Anambra election in Awka – INEC

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The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said on Wednesday all sensitive materials for the Anambra State governorship election slated for the weekend are in Awka, the state capital.

Yakubu’s clarification addressed the previous announcement made by the INEC that sensitive materials for the election would be brought into the state from Imo State.

The INEC chief, who stated this during an interactive session with journalists in Awka, said the materials were in safe hands.

He added that the commission would on November 4 invite the candidates, the media, election monitors, and other stakeholders to witness the deployment of the materials to the 21 local government areas in the state.

Yakubu said: “The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Anambra State has just briefed us on our detailed preparations for the election, including logistics and the recruitment, training, and deployment of election duty staff.

Non-sensitive materials have been delivered to the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.

“The sensitive materials are secured in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) branch here in Awka. As is always the case on the eve of major elections, INEC will invite political parties, civil society organisations, and the media to the CBN tomorrow, Thursday, November 4, 2021, to inspect the sensitive materials and to witness their movement to the various Local Government Areas under security escort.

“By the same arrangement, the materials will be delivered to the Registration Areas or Wards on Friday, November 5, 2021, to facilitate the opening of Polling Units at 8:30 a.m. on Election Day i.e. Saturday, November 6, 2021.

I want to assure all voters in Anambra State that in designing the sensitive materials for the election, the commission has introduced additional visible and invisible security features, including different colour codes. Materials have also been customised by Local Government Areas and Polling Units.”

Politics

Northern Elders tell Buhari to declare bandits as terrorists, if it’ll solve insecurity in Nigeria

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The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) on Wednesday joined the growing call for President Muhammadu Buhari to declare bandits as terrorists in the country.

In a statement issued by its spokesman, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the group said such a move would address the various security challenges bedevilling the nation.

NEF urged the federal government to explore all options in order to eradicate the scourge.

The statement read: “The Forum regrets that arguments over labelling bandits as terrorists wastes attention and energy.

“If labeling bandits as terrorists will substantially improve the capacity of the Nigerian state to eliminate this expanding scourge, the Forum supports it without reservation.

In any case, all lawful options in bringing this menace to an end must be pursued. Measures put in place to contain its spread should be diligently monitored and evaluated, and those that merely worsen the condition of living of the law-abiding population should be removed.

Governments should be sensitive to the possibility of severe food shortage in the next few months in many Northern communities, in addition to escalating cost of living which will combine to confront the poor with intolerable conditions of living.”

The National Assembly had in October asked President Buhari to declare bandits as terrorists in the country.

The parliament also asked the President to declare all known leadership of the bandits wanted and track them wherever they are for arrest and prosecution.

Politics

Nigeria’s religious leaders worse than politicians – Aisha Yesufu

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A co-convener of the BringBackourGirls movement, Aisha Yesufu, on Tuesday blamed religious leaders over some of the ills in society.

She said religious leaders are worse than politicians in Nigeria.

Yesufu, who stated these on her Twitter handle, was responding to a post by the General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, William Kumuyi, who warned Christians not to despise those in government for failing to deliver on pre-election promises.

He wrote: “We teach that if you’re a genuine believer in [Jesus] Christ, you wouldn’t hate your neighbour.

“Nor would you disdain those in power because they appear not to be delivering on electoral pledges such that you would go on the rampage, destroying government property or pillaging the public till.”

In her reaction, the activists said the country’s religious leaders benefit from bad governance as it helps them to “sell cheap miracles and power points.”

Yesufu wrote: “Religious rulers in Nigeria are worse than political rulers.

“They keep the people enslaved. They also need bad governance to sell cheap miracles and power points!

Until you free people from the clutches of their mallams, pastors, dibias, babalawos & boka, nothing will change.”

Politics

Court adjourns Nnamdi Kanu’s human rights suit against Nigerian govt

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A Federal High Court sitting in Abia State has adjourned the human rights suit filed by the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, through his lawyers, against the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The development was disclosed to newsmen on Tuesday by a member of Kanu’s legal counsel, Aloy Ejimakor.

Ripples Nigeria reported that Kanu through his lawyers had filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian government and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN.

The suit, regarding matters relating to the IPOB leader’s extradition, alleged maltreatment by security operatives and his release, was assigned for hearing on November 2, 2021, by the court.

However, Kanu’s counsel said the suit had been adjourned to a later date.

He said, “Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s human rights suit which was slated for November 2, 2021, has been adjourned to November 19, 2021, by the Federal High Court in Abia.

“We are saddened by this development which primarily seeks the unconditional release of Kanu from his illegal detentions.”

The IPOB leader is currently in the facilities of the Department of State Services (DSS) while awaiting trial by the Nigerian government.

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