Politics

Why arrest Kanu and spare Gumi? – Bayelsa Governor queries Buhari

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Governor of Bayelsa state, Duoye Diri has questioned the decision of the President Muhammadu Buhari government to arrest leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, while giving a pass to renowned Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, despite his alleged link to bandits.

Diri stated this on Tuesday, when he featured on a Channels TV programme, where he noted that Gumi had become somebody no one could touch, adding that it was very unfair.

The governor said; “Two things I have to say; first, they should give him (Nnamdi Kanu) a fair hearing so that the trial will not be done in a way that everyone (especially the Igbo) will see it as oppression.

“Second, as we talk about the IPOB, what about the boys (bandits and herdsmen) organising killings in the North and in the whole country? What of Sheik Gumi? He has become somebody no one can touch. That’s very unfair.”

Gumi had recently warned the government against the killing of bandits, insisting that the criminals were victims too.

Last Tuesday, Nigeria’s Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami, announced the rearrest of Nnamdi Kanu and listed the allegations against him, saying he must continue his court trial in earnest.

Politics

Any Igbo person criticising Nnamdi Kanu is insane —Methodist Bishop

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The Bishop of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Onitsha Diocese, Rt Rev. Biereonwu Livinus Onuagha, has said any Igbo person criticising the leader of the proscribed Igbo secessionist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, is naive and insane as he represents 99.9 percent Igbos.

Speaking during a press conference in Onitsha on Tuesday, the cleric said though Kanu had exhibited youthful exuberance in his agitation, most Ndigbos identifie with his struggles and quest for an entity called Biafra.

Bishop Onuagha added that Kanu is an asset not only to the Igbos but to entire Southern Nigeria, and the Igbo person that criticizes him now “is a lost soul, a bastard and a naive person”.

Bishop Onuagha also said that the handcuff on Kanu’s hands is a handcuff in the hands of every Igbo person in a country dominated by ethno-religious identity politics.

In the statement entitled “My take on Nnamdi Kanu: Nnamdi Kanu is not the problem of Nigeria,” Bishop Onuagha said as long as Northerners are still standing with the likes of Pantami, Gumi, Miyetti Allah and others, he will continue to stand with Kanu.

“In the last few days, there have been mixed feelings in the nation of Nigeria.

“It is no longer news that Nnamdi Kanu has been arrested. Many people have their opinion on this and they are entitled to them. I am equally entitled to mine.

Some people are rejoicing that Nnamdi Kanu has been arrested. Others are not happy because of that. The chase after Nnamdi Kanu is a misplaced priority.

To me, any Igbo person openly criticizing Kanu now is a lost soul, a bastard and a naive person. No apology.

“Those Igbos rejoicing like Joe Igbokwe in Lagos, is only being ignorant of the hand writing on the wall. Let me refer him to the Scripture if he reads his Bible:

“By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, and there we wept, when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung our harps; for the wicked carried us away captivity, and required from us a song. How can we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?”(Psalm 137: 1-4.)

Joe Igbokwe does not know or understand that handcuffs on the hand of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, is handcuffs on the hands of every Igbo man. If I may ask, why is Joe Igbokwe thanking God for the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu?

“If I take a look at the apartheid policy in South Africa, the legend of our time, Daddy Nelson Mandela, he spent 27 years in prison to emancipate his people.

“He died in the struggle. Joe Igbokwe is only being selfish. How many of his investments are in Onitsha, Enugu, Awka, Abakaliki, Umuahia and Owerri? He is only making himself as a Tobias or Samballat.

“I listened to Senator Victor Umeh talk about the ideology of Nnamdi Kanu where he said Kanu may have spoken like a young man he is but there is truth in all he is saying.

Can somebody tell me why Nigeria is insisting that Biafra should not be self governed? Is the Igbo man in the second agenda of this government?

“In a country dominated by ethno-religious identity politics, throwing your own under the bus is the biggest blunder anyone could commit.

“As long as the Northerners are still standing with Pantami, Gumi, Miyetti Allah, etcetera, I will stand with Nnamdi Kanu.

“Nnamdi Kanu may have his youthful exuberance but he is representing 99.9% of the Igbo and the entity called Biafra. This is no time to openly talk about his mistakes.

“Like every human being, he is not infallible. He has his Achilles’ heel and its attendant hubris. Even with his mistakes, Nnamdi Kanu is an asset not only to Ndigbo but to Southern Nigeria as a whole. His courage has earned my respect.

He is the catalyst providing oxygen to all the agitations in the South today, be it Biafra or Oduduwa. The question is, the injustice and oppression that Kanu is fighting, are they real or imagined? Of course, even the blind can see them.

“You may not know the value of a mad man in your family until herds of other madmen invade your ancestral home.

“Nigeria is not working and can never work until something drastic is done about its lopsided structure. What is happening in Nigeria is total injustice, calculated intimidation, sidelining and enslaving a group of people.

Make no mistake, those that are benefitting from the systematic injustice will never allow the current system to be tampered with.

Politics

Former Finance Minister, Adeosun, wins legal suit in NYSC Certificate saga

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A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, cleared the former Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate forgery, which resulted in her resignation in 2018.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo, in his ruling on the originating summons with suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/303/21 brought by Wole Olanipekun, SAN, on her behalf, held that the NYSC certificate based on the constitution is not a mandatory requirement for holding a political office in the country.

I am of the view that denying the plaintiff of the relieves sought is not going to be doing justice to the matter,” he said.

The judge, therefore, granted all the four relieves sought for determination by the former minister.

Taiwo noted that the AGF, in his counter-affidavit, did not challenge the avirement of the plaintiff, wherein the defendant stated that the Federal Government did not withdraw the ministerial appointment of the plaintiff or ask her to resign, but that Adeosun resigned on her on accord.

Ripples Nigeria gathered that while Adeosun was the plaintiff in the suit, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) was the sole defendant.

Politics, World News

Senate approves Buhari’s N2.3Trillion Foreign Loan Request, To Push Public Debt To About N35Trillion.

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The National Assembly has approved the request of President Muhammadu Buhari, to borrow N2, 343, 387, 942, 848, to partly finance the 2021 federal budget size of N13 trillion.

This resolution of the Senate follows the approval of its Committee on Local and Foreign Loans as presented by the Chairman, Clifford Ordia.

The Committee recommended that the Senate approves Buhari’s request for the issuance of $3,000,000,000 but not more than $6,183,081,643.40 Eurobond in the International Capital Market, Punch reports.

The External Borrowing of N2,343,387,942,848, according to the panel, should be for the financing of part of the deficit authorised in the 2021 Appropriation Act.

The Committee also recommended that the Senate should approve that the amount authorised may be raised from multiple sources such as the International Capital Market and any other Multilateral or Bilateral sources as may be available.

It also recommended that the Senate directs the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, the Director-General of the Debt Management Office and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to submit to the National Assembly within 10 working days (excluding the day of the close of trading) a letter containing the United State Dollars amount so raised and received as a result of the above approval together with the applicable exchange rate.

Under Buhari, Nigeria’s debt profile has continued to increase.

Nigeria’s debt public debt hit a total of N31.01 trillion at the end of June 2020, according to the Debt Management Office.

This means that between May 2015 and June 2020, five years under President Buhari, the country’s debt rose by N18.89 trillion.

As of the end of June 2015, one month after the present regime came into power, the country’s debt profile stood at N12.12 trillion.

Nigeria’s total public debt stock as of September 2020, increased by over N6 trillion in just one year to N32.2 trillion. This is according to the Nigerian Domestic and Foreign Debt report, recently released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Total external debts for the period ended September 2020 is $31.9 billion compared to $31.4 billion as of June 2020, according to nairametrics.

Total domestic debt rose to N20 trillion as of September 2020 compared to N19.6 trillion as of June 2020.

Nigeria now has an estimated combined total public debt (domestic and foreign) of N32.2 trillion.

This represents an additional N6.01 trillion when compared to N26.21 trillion recorded as of the corresponding period of 2019.
Nigeria expects to borrow more in 2021.

The breakdown shows that external debts accounted for 37.82% (N12.19 trillion) of the total debt stock, while domestic debts at N20.04 trillion represented 62.18% of the total.

Politics, World News

Court Rules On Nigeria’s Ex-Finance Minister With Forged Certificate, Kemi Adeosun.

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A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday said that the former Finance Minister, Mrs Kemi Adeosun did not need the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC) discharge certificate to take up any ministerial appointment or before standing for any elective office in the country.

The court held that Adeosun who graduated in a London University in 1989 was already 36 years of age, therefore, exempted from participating in the NYSC scheme.

Delivering judgment in a suit, Justice Taiwo Oladipupo Taiwo, held that Adeosun from available facts was a United Kingdom citizen having been born in the UK in 1967 and remained there till 2003 when she came back to Nigeria.

Justice Taiwo held that Adeosun became a Nigerian citizen by virtue of the 1999 Constitution which came into force on May 29 of the year, therefore, the NYSC Act will have no effect on her.

The judge said that Adeosun would have committed a grave crime against Nigeria if she had participated in the NYSC having attained the exemption age of 36 years.

In March 2018, the NYSC had said it was investigating a “purported Exemption Certificate” which was allegedly obtained by the former Minister of Finance.

Adeosun had come under fire with several Nigerians demanding investigations from the Federal Government into the allegations and calling for her resignation.

Reports had claimed that the finance minister, who did not participate in the one-year national youth service, allegedly forged an Exemption Certificate several years after her graduation.

The certificate, which is dated September 2009, was reportedly signed by an NYSC Director-General, Yusuf Bomoi, who already left the scheme in January 2009.

It will be recalled that in November 2015, Adeosun was appointed as a Minister of Finance under President Muhammadu Buhari after she had been cleared by the Department of State Services and by the Senate.

Both the security and legislative arms of the government, which ought to have looked closely at ministerial appointees’ certificates, records and profiles, allegedly failed to detect any fault in the NYSC Exemption Certificate presented by Adeosun.

Adeosun later tendered her resignation same year.

Politics

Don’t celebrate Kanu’s arrest, struggle not over, Ohanaeze Youths tell Buhari

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The Ohaneze Youth Council (OYC) the youth wing of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has warned President Muhammadu Buhari and members of his government “currently jubilating over the arrest of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, not to celebrate yet as the struggle is not over.

The OYC, in a statement on Wednesday made available to Ripples Nigeria and jointly signed by its President-General, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike and the Secretary-General, Comrade Obinna Achuonye, said the arrest of Kanu would not bring to an end to agitations in the South-East, and as such, the government should not jubilate over it.

The group added that reactions to the arrest of the IPOB leader should be used by the Federal Government to gauge the pulse of the people, and use same to address the various issues fueling the agitations.

“It is no longer news that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has been taken into custody by the Nigerian government, after he was arrested in Kenya,” the statement said.

“We have also seen how the government is gloating over his arrest, as though it is a millennial achievement.

“In any case, if the government will care to listen, we advise once more that it should leverage on Kanu’s arrest to dialogue with the IPOB and other agitating groups.

The Federal Government should look at what brought about the agitation in the first place; if you end up treating just symptoms of a sickness, the ailment will still be there.

Ndigbo have never suffered this level of marginalization in Nigeria – total exclusion, total abandonment.

“So, the FG should douse the current tension and agitations in the South-East by giving the region a sense of belonging, what is due for them, including Igbo presidency in 2023. The crackdown on Kanu will end up producing hundreds of other Kanu.

“May we also tell the government to utilize the same energy in arresting bandits terrorizing the North and the rampaging herdsmen ravaging Southern Nigeria.

As we speak, all schools in Kaduna State have been shut down, with hundreds of school children under the captivity of the bandits, but the government is busy looking for Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho.

“The government must try to be civilized in its approach, not the kind of gestapo system used in invading Sunday Igboho’s house, we are not in a banana republic.

“Nnamdi Kanu should also be granted access to his family, medical doctor, lawyer and associates. He is still presumed innocent until proven guilty and for that he should be given a fair trial.

“The IPOB leader should not be abandoned to his fate; we know that he abused so many Igbo leaders in his utterances, but you don’t throw away the baby with the bathwater.”

Politics

Senate announces composition of Conference Committee on PIB

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Senate President Ahmad Lawan has announced the composition of the Conference Committee on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

The announcement was made on Tuesday at plenary.

The members of the committee include Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, as Chairman, Sen. Mohammed Sabo, representing North-West Sen.Albert Bassey representing South-South, Sen. Danjuma Goje North-East, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, South- West Sen.Stella Oduah South- East Sen. Gabriel Suswam North- Central.

Lawan urged members of the committee to meet with their counterparts in the House of Representatives to enable the National Assembly produce a final document on the PIB for onward transmission to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent.

The conference committee will meet with our counterparts in the House, the House will also announce the composition of the conference committee.

We hope that they will swing into action immediately so that we are able to have the final document of the PIB which we will transmit for the presidential assent.

“So, we expect our delegation here under the leadership of the Senate Leader to engage with our colleagues in the House of Representatives.”

Politics

ECOWAS Court fixes July 9 for hearing on suits against Twitter ban in Nigeria

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The ECOWAS Court has announced July 9 as the date for the hearing of the coalition of applications against the Twitter Ban instituted by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The ECOWAS Court stated this in a virtual court sitting held via zoom on Tuesday.

One of the application was brought by the Registered Trustees of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) while the other was the application brought by the Media Rights Agenda and eight others.

The lawyer representing the Federal Government, Abdullahi Abubakar, informed the court that he has a motion to consolidate all the four applications before the court on the Twitter ban issue.

Abubakar further implored the court for leave to consolidate the hearing of the applications pending before the court.

The Counsel to SERAP, Femi Falana SAN, did not object to the application.

Falana stated that the application to consolidate will “afford the court the opportunity to give one judgment in the matters that were similar in nature and character”.

The Counsel to Media Rights Agenda, Mojirayo Ogunlaya, also did not object to the application for consolidation.

Consequently, the court noted that it cannot make a consolidation order in their absence and without hearing from them.

Politics

Lawan tells Nigerians to channel grievances on Electoral Act to their representatives

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The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has urged any Nigerian who is not happy with amendments of sections of the Electoral Act, to channel their grievances to their representatives in the National Assembly.

Lawan who spoke in Abuja on Monday at the inauguration of the reconstituted Public Complaints Commission by the National Assembly, said Nigerians “who feel strongly about some sections in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill currently before by the National Assembly, should stop attacking the presiding officers,” but rather reach out to the representatives to register their displeasure.

The Senate President noted that presiding officers of the National Assembly have come under heavy criticisms over reports that the panel, against the popular demands of stakeholders during the public hearings, had introduced a section prohibiting electronic transmission of election results.

He said the presiding officers were not responsible for the amendments being proposed in the Electoral Act.

“The National Assembly is embarking on the amendment of the Electoral Act. Probably by next week or within the next two weeks.

“It’s very important that those who feel very strongly about any amendment that they think should be effected in the electoral act, should contact or talk to their members of House of Representatives as well as distinguished Senators.

“I want to state categorically clear here that presiding officers are not the ones to determine what is coming or what is not.”

Politics

Court denies ex-JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ojerinde, bail over N900m fraud allegations

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A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, refused to grant Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, former Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) bail over alleged fraud preferred against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Justice Obiora Egwuatu declined the oral application for bail by counsel to the defendant, P.O  Olorunishola, SAN, after the ICPC lawyer, Ebenezer Shogunle, opposed the submission.

The former chief executive officer of JAMB is the sole defendant in the suit marked: CR/97/21 bordering on alleged misappropriation of about N900 million.

Ripples Nigeria had reported in March 2021 how the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) arrested Ojerinde.

Ojerinde allegedly perpetrated the fraud as JAMB registrar from April 10, 2012, to August 1, 2016, and the Registrar of the National Examination Council (NECO) between 1999 and 2007.

The commission said the suspect has, since his arrest, been answering questions on allegations of multiple identities, abuse of office, money laundering, tax evasion, making false statements, and awarding fraudulent contracts to untraceable shell companies.

Politics

Minister for Industry, Katagum, slumps at event in Bauchi

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The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Maryam Katagum, was on Monday, rushed to the Trauma Centre of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) Bauchi, after she reportedly slumped at an official event in the state.

The Minister was in the state to inaugurate an empowerment programme at the NAADI office, Sani Mallam Shopping Plaza, when she was said to have suddenly collapsed while she was delivering her speech.

It was gathered that the Minister who is from Katagum local government area of the state, had featured in a live programme on Globe FM radio on Sunday and also had other personal engagements in the state.

Reports quotes an eyewitness who was at the event as saying that when Katagum got to the venue of the event, she looked withdrawn and touched her head occasionally as the programme went on, indicating that she may not have been feeling well.

“She (Katagum) just held her head and went down flat. Her aides and other officials quickly intervened and rushed her to the hospital,” the eyewitness said.

At the Trauma Center where she was rushed to, a medical officer who did not want his name mentioned said she was in a stable condition.

“The Minister is in the Trauma Centre and in a stable condition.

There’s a section of the hospital that is an exclusive area, more like a VIP section, that is where she is. She was admitted to the Trauma Centre and is on admission there.”

Politics, World News

Sunday Igboho: No Law In Nigeria Backs Night Arrest, Falana Says.

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Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has criticized the raid on Sunday Igboho’s home by the operatives of the Department of State Services.
Falana, in an interview with Channels Television, monitored by SaharaReporters said the DSS acted like armed robbers.

It will be recalled that last Thursday, the DSS operatives stormed the home of Igboho, killing two persons and declaring him wanted.

The secret police claimed he was planning an insurrection against the country.

Falana said, “There is no law in Nigeria that allows you to arrest somebody in the dead of the night when you are not planning a coup and you are not an armed robber.

“There is no provision unless a crime is being committed in the night; you cannot go there and arrest.

“Take Ibadan, for instance, the invasion of the home of Igboho happened in the night, and for all-day, everybody was wondering who did (what), and that seven people were killed. People were arrested and abducted at 2:00 a.m., the governor of the state wasn’t aware.

“Now, Sunday Adeyemo has said he didn’t have any gun in his house. Yet, the DSS paraded guns and other ammunition. All the controversies would have been unnecessary if the DSS had behaved like a modern, civilized agency. These are very dangerous legacies of military dictatorship in our country.”

Igboho has filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian government. He demanded compensation of N500 million and an apology for invading his home and vandalizing his properties.

Politics

EFCC N1BN PETITION: We have nothing to hide – Oyo Speaker

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The Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, said on Monday the House has nothing to hide on the petition forwarded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by a former prosecutor with the Special Presidential Panel on Recovery of Public Property, Tosin Ojaomo, over the N1billion contract awarded by the House for the purchase of cars for the lawmakers.

The commission had last week invited some management staff of the parliament including the Clerk of the House, the Director of Administration and Supplies and his Finance and Accountants counterpart over the contract.

Ogundoyin, who reacted to the development in a statement in Ibadan, said the anti-graft agency was only doing its job.

He added that it was not out of place for the EFCC officials to question the leadership of the House on the matter.

The speaker said: “It was true that the EFCC invited the Clerk but her deputy stood in for her. The Director of Administration and Supplies and Director of Finance and Accounts were also invited last week Thursday and they responded accordingly.

“To me, this is in continuation of their investigation on the petition. We are fully cooperating with the anti-graft agency and we will never hinder, disturb nor undermine the work of the commission. The 9th Oyo Assembly passed the anti-graft agency bill and this led to the agency being domiciled in the state.

I am ready to visit the EFCC if invited. As the speaker, I will surely answer any question relating to the contract. We followed due process in the purchase of the vehicles in line with the laid down procedures. We have since taken the petition in good faith. The petition is a strength to democracy. It is not strange to us as democrats who take transparency and accountability as our watchwords. We are transparent and we will continue to be.”

Ogundoyin pointed out the House received quotations from three companies for the supply of the vehicles, saying the most satisfying amongst the bidders was awarded the contract.

He stressed that the House would remain focused, undaunted and undistracted despite the smear campaign embarked upon by some paid elements within and outside the House.

He added: “Let me say that among the Houses of Assembly in Nigeria, Oyo State House of Assembly spent the lowest amount on purchasing cars for its members despite our large number. The vehicles supplied were of good quality and they are being enjoyed by our lawmakers.

“This whole thing is giving me more drive and will. We will not relent until our people enjoy good government. At the House, we will make more laws that will have more direct impacts on the people of the state.”

Politics

Nigerian govt to go ahead with sale of five NIPPs

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The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), Dr. Alex Okoh, said on Monday the sale of the five National Integrated Power Plants (NIPPs) will go on as planned.

Okoh, disclosed this in a statement issued by BPE Head of Public Communications, Amina Othman, in on Monday Abuja.

He said the Bureau had received 36 Expression of Interest (EOIs) from prospective investors.

He said the federal government was determined to resuscitate the power plants to put them to full use for the much-needed power requirement in the country.

According to him, the privatisation of the five NIPP plants was in line with the Bureau’s 2021 work plan as approved by the National Council on Privatisation (NCP).

The five NIPP plants are the Benin Generation Company Limited at Ihovba, Edo State, Calabar Generation Company Limited, Cross River State, Geregu Generation Company Limited, Kogi State, Olorunsogo Generation Company Limited, Ogun State and Omotosho Generation Company Limited, Ondo State.

Okoh said following the approval of the NCP, the BPE engaged the services of a Technical Adviser and advertised for the EOI in three national dailies.

Politics, World News

Raid Of Igboho’s Home By Department Of State Services, Allegations Against Him Stink—Soyinka.

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Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, says it is not criminal or illegal for anyone to express intention to leave any federation.

Soyinka also condemned as “bizarre”, the midnight raid by the Department of State Services on the Ibadan house of Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo also known as Sunday Igboho, last Thursday.

The Nobel laureate, who spoke during an interview with BBC News Pidgin on Monday urged the Muhammadu Buhari-led government to apologise to Igboho.

“How can you place the will for separation as a criminal act? That kind of language doesn’t exist in the constitution, it doesn’t exist in law. It does not exist in the catalogue of immoralities because it is not an immoral act or position to say that you want to stop being part of an entity or you want to join an entity,” he said.

Soyinka subsequently gave examples of people who left a federation or a union to form or join another state including the Bakassi people of Southern Nigeria who seceded to Cameroon.

“More important for me is the position of the government, saying that the ‘existence of these weapons’ proved that he was planning war against the state. That position, very loaded statement, was simply deliberate to conflict issues. It was to obscure the fact that Igboho and other people, myself included, have been decrying the loss of lives of law-abiding citizens, farmers especially all over the nation. Not just civilians, (Minister of Defense, Gen. Theophilus) Danjuma (retd.), told the people, ‘Don’t trust the military anymore, defend yourself’. Some other voices like governors have made similar statements.

“Now, Igboho, even if he had those weapons, he is claiming that his mission is to liberate his people from the tyranny of squatters, who now become violent overlords, and he has a good cause in that sense. Testimonies of farmers who have been brutalised, dehumanised by these squatters, who have acknowledged and identified themselves as Fulani, over decades of this anomalous kind of situation in which the people did not receive the necessary, mandatory and entitled defence and protection by the security forces, in which sometimes, it is the victims who’ve been jailed, the recent case in Ibarapa for instance, is a personal testimony of those who were arrested and detained by the police simply for going to challenge those who were terrorising and raping their women.

“So now, you have a situation where the government who is saying the ‘existence of these weapons’ means that Igboho is planning an armed insurrection against the state. The whole thing from beginning to the end just stinks: the raid, the motivation has become very implausible.”

Soyinka faulted the Federal Government for also not describing AK-47-wielding herdsmen as terrorists who are waging a violent insurrection against the Nigerian state.

“My advice to the government is that they should stop pursuing Igboho as a criminal because you have begun by acting in a criminal fashion against him.

“If and when Igboho comes to trial, I guarantee you the government will be very embarrassed,” he said.

The DSS has on Thursday paraded 13 of Igboho’s guards and close associates in Abuja. The DSS also said it killed two of his associates in a gun duel with the secret police.

Wole Soyinka

Though Yoruba activist had escaped the raid, his house and cars were riddled with bullets while bloodstains splattered over the floors of the house.

The secret police had since declared him wanted.

Politics

Video: Use your teeth to fight bandits, don’t wait for security agents – Governor Masari tells Nigerians

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Katsina state Governor, Aminu Bello Masari has advised Nigerians to fight bandits with their teeth and not wait for government or security operatives to protect them.

Masari who spoke in Hausa language, gave the advise in a video making rounds on social media.

He said; “It is important for you to fight your enemy, even with your teeth bite him. Where are the warriors? I don’t understand our people these days. What they should be doing is not what they are doing.

“You are waiting for brigadier somewhere to come, or soldiers and policemen or even fighting (sic) jet, is it not possible, they will do their work, but we need to join hands together.”

Watch the video:

Politics

Nnamdi Kanu never jumped bail —Lawyer, Ejiofor

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The legal counsel to leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, Ifeanyi Ejiofor has claimed that his client did not jump bail as being presented before the court by the Nigerian government.

According to him, Kanu had to save his life by fleeing the country, after his home was invaded by armed forces.

He spoke during an interview on Arise TV on Monday.

His argument is that his client’s home was invaded in September, ahead of his court appearance on October 14, adding, that he was forced to flee since only the living can face trial

More to come…

Politics

Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer cries out again, says ‘they want to kill me’

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The legal counsel to detained leader of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Ifeanyi Ejiofor, on Monday alleged that his life was under threat by forces he refused to disclose.

He called for protection by the Nigerian government while alleging that his private residence had been invaded a number of times and people killed.

He spoke during an interview on Arise Television, on Monday morning.

This is not the first time Ejiofor would be making the claim, as he had also previously cried out in the early days when his client was arraigned for alleged treason by the Nigerian govt.

More to come…

Politics

Police arrests nine suspected armed robbers in Jigawa

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The Jugawa State Police Command has arrested nine armed robbery suspects believed to have been terrorising residents of Gumel Local Government Area of the state.

The Command’s spokesperson, ASP Shiisu Lawan, disclosed the development on Sunday to newsmen in Dutse, saying the suspects were arrested on June 30.

According to Lawan, four of the suspects were arrested after attacking one Naja’atu, a housewife, with a cutlass in the early hours of June 15, at about 2.40 am.

“On June 15, at 8 am, one Nazifi Abdulhamid of plantation Gagarawa Tasha, reported the incident to the police that on the same date at about 2.40 am, the four suspects trespassed into his compound and attacked them with sticks and cutlass.

His wife, Naja’atu Lawan aged 23, raised alarm and as a result, they (suspects) used a cutlass on her right leg where she sustained a fracture.

The scene was visited by police where a stick and a belt were recovered and the victim was rushed to the Gumel General Hospital where she was admitted,” he said.

Also, he said on the same day, two persons, Murtala Haruna and Kabiru Ibrahim, all of the same address, reported to the police that their cellphones were snatched by the suspects.

Lawan said two weeks later, the four suspects were arrested in connection with the offence, adding that after interrogations, the suspects confessed to the crime.

Meanwhile, he said the five other suspects were arrested for allegedly receiving the stolen properties, adding that three cellphones and the sum of N20,250 were recovered from the suspects.

Lawan said the case was still being investigated.

Politics

Lagos police parade 49 suspects arrested at Yoruba Nation, Ojota rally

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The Lagos State Police Command has paraded 49 suspects it claims are Ilana Omo Oodua secessionist agitators arrested on Saturday in the Ojota area of the state.

This was for participating in a rally calling for the break-up of Nigeria.

Ripples Nigeria had reported that operatives from the Lagos Police Command dispersed the protesters with tear gas and water cannons on Saturday.

The protesters had convened for what they branded ‘Yoruba Nation rally’, calling for the breakup of the country and an independent state for the Yorubas.

Meanwhile, the Ilana Omo Oodua has released a list of members of the group who were arrested on Saturday.

According to the group, 21 of its members were allegedly arrested and are being held at state CID, Panti, Yaba.

However, Maxwell Adeleye, spokesperson for the pro-Yoruba nation group said they have begun steps to get their arrested members out of police custody.

We are making moves to bail them. They are detained at Panti Police Station. We demand immediate release of everyone arrested at the Lagos rally, he said when contacted.

The names of the arrested protesters are Mrs Abiodun Taiwo, Mr Adagunodo Babatunde, Mr Oluwafemi Adeleye, Mr Oloye Taiwo, Mr Saheed Kareem, Mr Adebayo Waheed, Mr Akinbode Sunday, Mr Lawal Akeem, Mr Samuel Ire, Mr Ogundile Dare.

Others are Mr Tajudeen Bakare, Mr Abiodun Adenuga, Mr Azeez Adetayo, Mr Rasheed Shittu, Mr Quadri Ishola, Mr Oluwasegun Arire, Mr Kunle Aremo, Mr Olamilekan Lolade, Mr Tunde Lawal, Mr Musbau Rasaq and Mr Bamidele Akomolafe.

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