Magistrates in Cross River State have resumed a protest over their unpaid 26 months salaries and allowances.
The aggrieved magistrates, who occupied Governor Ben Ayade’s office on Monday, carried several placards highlighting their plights and begged the governor to come to their aid as they were going through serious hardship.
The inscriptions on some of the placards read: “29 esquires are in penury; pay us our 26 months salaries,” and “Ayade stop oppressing Cross River Judiciary, pay us our salaries.”
The magistrates had on January 8 occupied the Government House in Calabar to protest their unpaid salaries but were persuaded to call off the protest after a dialogue with the state government.
The leaders of the protesting magistrates, Solomon Abuo, a Chief Magistrate with the Cross River Judiciary, said they suspended the first protest in January to give room for the government to start work immediately on the demand.
He said the governor called them to a meeting and formed a committee headed by the Deputy Governor to look into the issues and make recommendations.
The magistrate said: “That meeting took place on January 19. We waited till the end of January and nothing happened, so, we went to the Deputy Governor and he told us that they couldn’t conclude their work within one week.
“He told us that it won’t be possible for us to receive January salaries but that we will start receiving our salaries from February because by then, they would be done with their report.
“Even when Olumide Apata, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association came down to Calabar and had a meeting with the state government and proffered suggestions on how the issue could be resolved, nothing was done.
Recently, we learnt that the committee had completed its work and sent its recommendations to the governor and he has refused to act on it.
“We have given the governor enough time and made some concessions which are four possible options on how to add us to the payroll system and pay us but nothing is being done.”
The Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, on Monday explained why the state remains Nigeria’s safest and most peaceful state.
The governor told the State House correspondents at the end of a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, that his administration had put in place measures to safeguard the state.
He said the government introduced the command and control centre and Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) where all the activities happening in the Kano metropolis are monitored.
The governor said: “All that I know as of today is that Kano is the most peaceful state in the federation and this is not by chance. There are some security measures that we have taken like full cooperation among the security agencies in Kano State.
Falgore Forest where bandits usually inhabit, we said no, not in Kano State. We established a military training ground in Falgore Forest and therefore bandits cannot inhabit it. On our border with Kaduna, we have a forest and where we are establishing a ruga programme, we discussed with nomadic Fulani and they agreed to be settled there.
“In conjunction with the Islamic Bank, we are building a dam, an artificial insemination centre, veterinary clinic, a school for their children and all that it takes to form a settlement, we are doing that.“
Ganduje disclosed that the state government also established a security training institute where young men and women were trained for community policing.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee has set up a 61-member Contact and Strategy Committee for the party.
The National Secretary of the committee, John Akpanudoehede, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.
He said the constitution of the committee was part of efforts by the committee to rebuild and reposition the party ahead of the 2023 general election.
According to him, the committee will be inaugurated by the Chairman of the committee, Mai Mala-Buni, at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
The committee is headed by the Jigawa State Governor, Mohammed Badaru while Dr. Ikechi Emenike will serve as the secretary.
Other members of the committee are the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, Governors Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Aminu Masari (Katsina), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Hope Uzodinma (Imo), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), David Umahi (Ebonyi) and Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano).
The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) on Monday deployed a National Rapid Response Team to Kano State to unravel the source of a strange illness and manage identified victims in the state.
The NCDC Director-General, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, disclosed this at the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 briefing in Abuja.
The Kano State government confirmed at the weekend that at least over 200 people had been affected and four others killed by the strange illness in 13 local government areas of the state.
Ihekweazu said the state’s Ministry of Health reported a cluster of cases in 13 LGAs in the state with the victims showing symptoms that included fever, vomiting, yellowish eyes and abdominal pain.
He said: “We have tested four samples taken from these cases for Lassa fever and yellow fever at the NCDC National Reference Lab. But their results were negative.
“A National Rapid Response Team with colleagues from the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), NCDC and NAFDAC, have now been deployed to Kano State.
We are working with our sister agency, NAFDAC, as well as a toxicologist from Federal Ministry of Health to test for potential non-infectious causes.”
The NCDC chief said the agency had also collected additional human and environmental samples for metagenomic sequencing – a method for detecting new cases of illness.
“Our immediate focus is to identify the cause of this outbreak, ensure management of current cases and to control transmission.
“We will continue to keep members of the public aware of our findings while we support the state’s response,” Ihekweazu added.
Speaking with SaharaReporters on Monday, Emmanuel said he had come out with the #Rep.ealSSMPA campaign due to the state-supported homophobia and consequent violence on queer people in the country.
An advocate for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer persons in Nigeria, Victor Emmanuel, has ended his hunger strike aimed at driving home his message two days after he started.
Emmanuel is at the forefront of a campaign to repeal the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act.
In a video shared on his Twitter handle on Saturday, he had said he would be at the National Assembly in his one-man protest on an empty stomach till his request is granted.
Speaking with SaharaReporters on Monday, Emmanuel said he had come out with the #RepealSSMPA campaign due to the state-supported homophobia and consequent violence on queer people in the country.
He condemned the law which prescribed 14 years imprisonment for LGBTQ+ people while the same jail term is what some rapists are sentenced to, for hurting someone.
Emmanuel said, “What informed this protest is: first, the arrest of about 70 men at a birthday party in Anambra state. This is well reported. Indiscriminate arrests like this have been happening and it’s a great injustice. When these arrests take place, charges are not given; rather, the police extort and blackmail these victims.
I am at The National Assembly and I’m here to demand LGBTQ+ freedom and liberation!
“Also, I felt that the law had done enough damage. Socio-economically, LGBTQ+ people are affected. We can’t get jobs, especially those of us that it is visible we’re queer (masculine-presenting women and feminine-presenting men) and in cases where we do get employment, we could lose it if our sexual orientation is made public.
“There have been reports in the media where LGBTQ+ people have been expelled from school too. Families kick out their kids because they don’t understand queerness, and they won’t because the law forbids any form of education on the topic. I saw all these happening around me and I thought it was time that law was repealed.”
Emmanuel said his protest so far has earned him some mainstream and social media attention.
He said many Nigerians who didn’t know about the act before now understand its composition.
He said: “They thought it was just about getting married. But any human being with their humanity still intact will see that that law is wicked. LGBTQ+ persons can’t get access to health resources and materials because of that law. What I did, I believe opened the eyes of Nigerians and the international community to the barbaric nature of that law.”
According to him, some members of the LGBTQ+ community suggested he goes through legislative means rather than subject himself to hunger strike, sacrificing himself to a government that hardly listens.
Speaking on his experience identifying as gay in Nigeria, Emmanuel said he came out openly to his family in 2020 and had to leave due to this.
He said his father, had, however, kept mute about this.
He added: “We’ve spoken once this year and it didn’t come up so I don’t know what he thinks but I’m living my life regardless.”
He said it has been hard for him as a gay man living in Nigeria, especially as a student. Emmanuel said he has been harassed several times on the streets and some homophobic people had promised to kill his dog.
He continued: “I’m still in school. I’ve been harassed several times on the streets. I’m a very expressive person with my fashion. Sometimes I wear gender-nonconforming clothes (not cross-dressing), sometimes I wear light makeup, sometimes I fix my nails. These make people call me names and even though I don’t care, it’s still insulting to me as a human being.
“Recently, I heard from someone that some boys in my area are planning to kill my little dog. I don’t talk to anybody, never look for trouble. So yeah, I face homophobia too. Also, in school, I’ve lost friends and have been removed from some groups that were sort of important in my study. But it is what it is.”
When asked if he thinks the pro-LGBTQ+ policies the United States President, Joe Biden is introducing, will prevail on the Nigerian government, Emmanuel said though international support is good, the Nigerian government needs to realise that people of the LGBTQ+ community are citizens whose rights should be protected.
He added: “America can have their policies, but if they pressure the Nigerian government too much, then it begins to look like they’re trying to force LGBTQ+ on Nigerians, meanwhile we’ve always existed here. Most Nigerians think it’s foreign but what is foreign is homophobia, because it was when the white man brought us a religion that we began to hate some certain things, including queerness.”
Emmanuel also stated that considering that previous governments did not recognise the rights of LGBTQ+ persons in Nigeria, there was no hope that the Muhammadu Buhari-led government would change the narrative.
He added: “I keep getting this question and even some people suggested I wait till this administration leaves office. I tell them that what assurance do we have that the next government won’t be the same or worse? My point is, I will not wait till a ‘favourable’ administration before I ask for my right! We voted this government in and they have to listen to the demands of the people that voted them in.”
On January 7, 2014, former President Jonathan Goodluck assented to the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, 2013 (SSMPA).
The law criminalises consensual same-sex sexual activity and stipulates a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment for offenders.
The act also noted that only marriages contracted between a man and a woman is recognised as valid in Nigeria.
The Anambra State government on Monday banned the use of tinted glasses on vehicle across the state.
The state governor, Willie Obiano, who disclosed this in a statement in Awka, also banned touting in the state.
In a bid to check the growing insecurity in Anambra, the governor directed security agents to clampdown on cultists and their activities in the state.
He added that in the last one week, the state has witnessed targeted attacks on security personnel and facilities by hoodlums.
Ripples Nigeria reports that at least three naval officers and three policemen were killed by gunmen last Thursday.
The governor said: “Security agencies are hereby directed to arrest anybody hanging on the road with sticks and molesting innocent citizens and drivers.
So far, police and Navy personnel on official duties at strategic checkpoints in various locations in the state were sporadically attacked, killed and their firearms taken away.
“Also, prison and police personnel conveying an inmate to court were equally attacked and killed. Anambra State government categorically condemns these attacks on our security personnel and is doing everything possible to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
“Those who attack us are intent on distorting the peace and security we have enjoyed in Anambra in the past seven years, and we will not allow that.
“I have, therefore, directed all security agencies in the state, vigilance services, all task forces, and every structure in the state security infrastructure to rise in defence of our dear state.
I hereby raise the security alert in the state and I commit to restoring order and security immediately.”
Obiano directed security agencies to conduct special operations aimed at neutralising the emerging threats to the safety of the people of the state.
“All kinds of touting in the state in whatever guise, especially in Onitsha, will no longer be tolerated,” he added.
A former Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang and the Senator representing Plateau North, Istifanus Gyang, on Sunday, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to grant presidential pardon to the ex-governor of the state, Joshua Dariye, who is currently serving a prison term.
The duo made the call at the finals of the Plateau North Peace, Unity and Reconciliation Football Tournament held in Jos, the state capital.
They also urged the President to pardon the former Governor of Taraba State, Jolly Nyame.
The two ex-governors are serving jail terms for corruption.
The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Gudu, Abuja, on June 12, 2018, sentenced Dariye to 14 years’ imprisonment for a criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of N1.6 billion while he was governor of Plateau State.
But the Court of Appeal, Abuja, reduced the sentence to 10 years in November of the same year.
The same court sentenced Nyame to 14 years’ imprisonment on May 30, 2018.
However, the sentence was reduced to 12 years by the Appeal Court in November 2018.
Jang said: “I want to plead with President Muhammadu Buhari to grant our son, Senator Joshua Dariye pardon so that he can come back and join us.
“I’m speaking as a leader from Plateau and as an elder statesman in this country, that it is time we plead with President Buhari that he should grant our son, Chief Joshua Dariye pardon.
“I also want to take this opportunity to ask the representative of the Senate President, Senator Gabriel Suswam, to carry this message.
As you know, Benue and Plateau are neighbours to Taraba; and we want to ask that while we plead for Dariye, we are also pleading for the former Governor of Taraba State, Jolly Nyame, that he too be granted an executive pardon.”
On his part, Gyang added: “We from Plateau North are appealing to the President that given the recent judgment by the Supreme Court that has absolved Senator Dariye of criminal misappropriation, and that on health grounds, he has been battling with his health.
“And therefore, we are appealing to the President, that on compassionate grounds, Senator Dariye should be granted an executive pardon.”
Niger Delta militants under the auspices of Unyekisong Akwa Ibom on Monday ordered all multinational oil companies operating in the state to leave with immediate effect over unwholesome practices and atrocities in the oil-producing communities.
In a statement signed by its Leader and Assistant Leader, Gen. Dede Udofia, and Major Ibanga Ekang, and made available to Ripples Nigeria, the group expressed disappointment over the state government’s response to the cries of residents of the host communities whose sources of livelihood, property, and lives had been completely destroyed by the activities of the oil firms.
The group, however, left out ExxonMobil and Savannah Petroleum from the quit notice but asked other oil firms that have refused to relocate their operational base from the state, implement the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the Nigerian Local Content Law in their employment and contract policies to vacate the state.
The statement read: “It is sad to note that since Addax, Moni Pulo, Chevron, Century, Oriental Energy, Savannah Petroleum, Total E & P, SEEPCO, AFREN and AMNI, among others, commenced operations in Akwa Ibom territorial waters, they have enjoyed relative peace without any hostilities compared to other oil communities in the Niger Delta region.
“But our people have not derived any substantial benefits from these oil companies, their subsidiaries, and partners. Rather, we have been subjected to unwholesome deprivations and marginalisation.
The suffering, hopelessness, degradation, and poverty that the oil-producing communities in Akwa Ibom State have been subjected to as a result of their industrial activities since they commenced operations are indeed painful and regrettable.”
Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, has revealed that the federal government should be held culpable, in the event of the assassination of his Benue counterpart, Samuel Ortom.
Ripples Nigeria had reported on Saturday, March 20, that gunmen suspected to be herdsmen attacked Ortom’s convoy while on a visit to his farm.
According to Ortom, the armed men, numbering about 15, trailed his convoy to the river bank where he was on foot with his security details and opened fire on them.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued by his special assistant on media, Kelvin Ebiri, Wike said the federal government should be “prepared to bury Nigeria” if harm befalls Ortom.
Wike added that if the Benue governor is killed, the country could be plunged into another civil war.
If you kill Ortom, then be prepared to bury Nigeria,” he was quoted as saying.
“If anything happens to Governor Ortom, the Federal Government will be held responsible and they should be prepared that there will be no more Nigeria.”
Wike added that it is disturbing that the lives of incumbent governors are threatened.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also called on the police to investigate the attack on Ortom’s convoy and arrest the assailants.
A group agitating the independence of the Yoruba nation on Twitter has introduced the currency for the proposed Yoruba nation, Oduduwa Republic.
The group posted the image of the proposed currency on its Twitter handle @OduduwaRepublic, on Sunday.
The tweet read: “Oduduwa National Currency shall be called ‘FADAKA’ Meaning Silver .. or short as just ‘FAD’ .
SaharaReporters earlier reported how Yoruba Historian, Banji Akintoye alongside freedom fighter, Sunday Adeyemo (Igboho) declared the sovereignty of the Yoruba nation recently.
Akintoye and Igboho, among other Yoruba leaders stated that the Yoruba nation can be independent and yet, thrive.
Professor Akintoye said the most important thing for the Yoruba nation is to learn to work towards its sovereignty.
According to him, this is not a time to discuss issues surrounding restructuring, resource control or a new constitution but rather to secede from Nigeria.
He urged all Yoruba patriots to work together for the independence of the Yoruba nation, urging the young ones not to involve violence but peaceful deliberations.
“We have declared that sovereignty now but we must work together. We have just talked about what the Yoruba nation is suffering in Nigeria. There should be no reason why we cannot all work together to extricate ourselves from this rubble that Nigeria has become.
“My advice to young people is to gather together, speak to leaders hesitating about Nigeria, there is no reason for any Yoruba person to be talking about restructuring or a new constitution or resource control, the game is up, we have seen enough of Nigeria, we have decided our status in the world today, we have moved forward, let us move smoothly without any violence, don’t fight anyone. There should be no war, we are going to have a separate Yoruba conference very soon.”
Igboho, also said the South-West states were no longer under Nigeria.
He urged Yoruba people living in other parts of the country to return to the South-West.
He said, “All the Yoruba youth in this land support our father (Banji Akintoye). We are in support because we know that these are our real fathers who understand that we are fighting for our rights against people that are disturbing us on our land. If we meet any Fulani herdsman, we are ready to face and destroy them starting from now, if any policeman attacks us for that, we are ready for them.
“We are ready to challenge a country that has nothing for the Yoruba people, we are taking back our territory. I meet with 5 years old, 6 years old children, that have no fathers, mothers, nothing, these children smoke Indian hemp, this country is finished, we don’t want Nigeria again, we want the Yoruba nation, we don’t fear anybody, we fear only God, enough is enough.
“Fulanis are cheating us, they rape our women, make videos of that so we can see. Benin Republic is not up to Osun State, and they are living in peace, there is security. Yoruba citizens are going to work as maids there, some of our people are even sent back when they don’t have their papers. When some of us here were little, Ghanaians come here to work as cobblers, but now, Yorubas are asked to leave
“No Yoruba person holds a major political position in Nigeria, this is the 14th year a Yoruba man was the Inspector-General of Police, no Yoruba man was ever a Chief of Army Staff, no Yoruba has been in that position. Hausa Fulani heads everything, instead, they gave us the position of Vice President that cannot make any major decision.
“All Yoruba citizens are in support of our move to secede, Banji Akintoye, Afenifere, the Yorubas know about it, any of them that says he is not in support should make a video and refute this claim.
“If we learn that a soldier or police touches one of us, there will be trouble, we don’t want Fulani herdsmen, they should go their way. From tomorrow, we will go from place to place and sensitize people about security, we won’t see Fulani again.
“These herdsmen go about to destroy our crops and then end up selling food to us, is that not slavery? The average Seriki Fulani palace is bigger than that of a Yoruba king. We thank the Olubadan for disempowering a Seriki Fulani and placed him under a Baale. What the Fulanis do here, no Yoruba citizen can do such in the North. Why are we slaves in our land?
“There are Yorubas in different countries of the world. We plead with the United Nations to separate us from Nigeria before it turns to war, if they don’t come, it will be worse than this. As it stands now, we are no longer Nigeria, we are no longer under dictatorial government, we sleep in fear, eat in fear, are we slaves?
“Some say Yoruba people are not united, we are! If you want to try us, touch one of us. Any king that says he is not with us, should make a video and make his claim. Yoruba citizens in Hausa land, come back homes this suffering is enough.”
The House of Representatives has revealed its invitation to the nation’s service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and other heads of paramilitary agencies, in order to explain the procurement and deployment of arms and ammunition in their respective agencies.
This inquest would be conducted during plenary on Monday, March 22, by the Ad Hoc Committee on the Need to Review the Purchase, Use and Control of Arms, Ammunition and Related Hardware by Military, Paramilitary and Other Law Enforcement Agencies in Nigeria.
According to reports, the House Committee on Defence has met with the Ministry of Defence on the $1bn special security fund released by the Federal Government in 2017, part of which was used to pay for 12 Super Tucano fighter jets in the United States.
Olaide Akinremi, Chairman of the ad hoc committee, at its first investigative hearing in Abuja, penultimate Friday, where the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru was represented by the Commandant, Army War College Nigeria, Maj.-Gen. Charles Ofoche had described the matter as sensitive.
Akinremi explained that following the resolution of the House to look into arms purchase in the last 10 years, incumbent heads of military and paramilitary agencies are to appear before the lawmakers on Monday.
The committee had the same day vowed to investigate the “missing” arms and ammunition for which the former service chiefs were allocated funds to acquire.
Ekiti State government has told herders and farmers in the state to register their activities with the state government or be ready to leave the state.
In a statement issued in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Olabode Adetoyi, said the exercise was important in ensuring that all farmers and herders in the state could be accounted for.
Also, he said the registration was aimed at ensuring peace between the two groups and bringing incessant clashes between them to an end, noting that the exercise aligned with the National Livestock Transformation Programme of the Federal Government
Dr Adetoyi maintained that there was a need to take proactive measures to curb the dispute, saying the clashes between the farmers and herders posed dangers to human and food security.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the governor on security matters and Chairman, Herders-Farmers Peace Committee, retired Brig.-Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana warned that those who fail to register would be treated as a criminal and compelled to leave the state.
Meanwhile, Director-General, Office of Transformation and Service Delivery, Prof. Mobolaji Aluko, confirmed that identity cards would be issued to registered farmers and herders free of charge.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Olisa Agbakoba has urged the federal government to disregard the “liberal and open borders” ideas posited by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) during her recent visit.
According to Agbakoba, Nigeria must, instead, adopt a trade policy that protects its ailing economy.
In a press statement made available to Ripples Nigeria on Saturday evening, Agbakoba noted that while he has huge respect for the DG of WTO, her advise on reopening of the border are ill-timed as it will make the country more import dependent.
His statement reads, “Nigeria has no current Trade policy and Dr Okonjo Iweala seems to promote liberal and open borders. The problem is that we will remain consumers of imported products and cannot develop our economy to boost production and give jobs to the over 25 million unemployed.
“While we must balance import policy with local production policy, we must heed the warning of wise economists that we cannot develop unless our trade policy is designed to promote local industries.
I hesitate to compliment Trump’s America First trade policy but Trump understood the need to protect the US by discouraging over dependence on imports.
“Nigeria produces crude but imports petrol. We produce cocoa but import cocoa powder. We have Tin, Gold and Iron but import the finished products In billions!
“We closed our Benin border to imports and made 12 billion a day internally. It was a strong trade policy to produce rice locally that has made us near self sufficient.
“Now, we are growing tomato, corn, beans, etc because we are discouraging imports.
“Nigerians be wise. We must support MADE IN NIGERIA. I propose we adopt a new trade policy with strong trade laws to protect our ailing economy. Nigeria will be transformed by a Made in Nigeria Trade Policy.”
A candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the December 5, 2020, Imo North Senatorial By-election, Chukwuma Ibezim, has described the judgment of Justice Taiwo Taiwo, which affirmed Senator Ifeanyi Araraume as the authentic candidate of the party, as a miscarriage of justice.
Ripples Nigeria reported that Justice Taiwo, had in his ruling at a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue Senator Ifeanyi Ararume a certificate of return, for the December 5 by-election, within 72 hours.
In his judgment, Justice Taiwo maintained that Ararume was the valid candidate of the APC, saying with regards to the Appeal Court judgment in Abuja, Ibezim, who was the 3rd defendant in the case remained disqualified.
However, in his reaction, Ibezim accused Justice Taiwo of “Judicial rascality”, saying he does not have the locus to entertain a post-election matter, as it was meant for an election tribunal.
Speaking with newsmen after the judgment, Ibezim said: “Today’s judgment is a sad commentary on our judicial process and democracy. Why Justice Taiwo decided to embark on this judicial rascality is still a surprise to me. The question is, on what premise did justice Taiwo deliver this judgment? If it was a pre-election matter, it was filed out of time. If it is a post-election matter, Justice Taiwo does not have the locus to entertain it. It is the tribunal.
“Justice Taiwo is supposed to be reported to the National Judicial Council for judicial recklessness. The issue of who is the authentic candidate of APC for the Imo North bye-election was decided by the Supreme Court in its judgment on February 5, which went in my favour. Araraume was not a party to the bye-election.”
Meanwhile, in an earlier ruling, the judge dismissed the preliminary objection filed by the APC and Ibezim challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain Ararume’s suit, describing it’s as “an attempt to arrest the judgment”.
The judge held that the objection lacked merit because Ibezim being purported by APC as its candidate in the bye-election had been disqualified by a Federal High Court and later Court of Appeal for supplying false information to INEC, to secure clearance to participate in the election.
Tanzania’s Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan is described as a softly spoken consensus builder
Tanzania’s soft-spoken Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Friday was sworn in as the East African country’s first female president after the sudden death of John Magufuli from an illness shrouded in mystery. “I, Samia Suluhu Hassan, promise to be honest and obey and protect the constitution of Tanzania,” said Hassan, dressed in a black suit and red headscarf before dignitaries at a ceremony in the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam. In her first public address as president, the 61-year-old leader announced 21 days of mourning for Magufuli and public holidays on March 22 and on March 25, the day the late president will be buried.
“It is not the time to point fingers at each other but to hold hands and move forward to build the new Tanzania that President Magufuli aspired to.
SAMIA SULUHU HASSAN, THE PRESIDENT”
“It’s not a good day for me to talk to you because I have a wound in my heart,” said Hassan. “Today I have taken an oath different from the rest that I have taken in my career. Those were taken in happiness. Today I took the highest oath of office in mourning,” she said, after being sworn in at 10am local time (07:00 GMT) on Friday.
Hassan ascended to the presidency after President Magufuli’s death due to heart disease was announced by the government on Wednesday, more than two weeks after he was last seen in public.
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, has ordered an investigation into circumstances surrounding the death of a youth on Thursday, in Ovom community, Yenagoa Local Government Area (LGA), of the state.
The young man was allegedly shot by a policeman, at Ovom suburb.
Diri gave the directive on Thursday, March 18, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, after being briefed about the incident in Uyo, where he is attending a state cabinet retreat.
He also directed that an autopsy be carried out to determine the cause of death.
The governor promised that the government would ensure perpetrators of the dastardly act are uncovered and brought to book.
Human life is sacred. As a responsible government, we would not shy away from our responsibility of protecting citizens.
“Anyone who takes another person’s life would be held accountable through the laws of the land,” he said.
Diri sympathised with the family of the deceased, as well as the community, urging them to be calm and maintain peace while a thorough investigation is being carried out.
In a reaction to the development, however, the Police said the young man died of injuries sustained while escaping from a Police team investigating an armed robbery incident on Thursday.
Mr Asinim Butswat, Spokesman for the Police in Bayelsa, said in a statement on Friday that the operation led to the arrest of two robbery suspects, who dispossessed residents of mobile phones at gun point.
Upon interrogation, the suspects confessed to have robbed owners of the phones at gunpoint.
“They led police operatives to their hideout at Ovom, Yenagoa, to recover the gun used in the operation.
“On sighting the Policemen, one of the suspects climbed the ceiling and jumped out in a bid to escape, he subsequently got injured on the neck.
“He was taken to the Federal Medical Centre, where a Doctor certified him dead.
“A locally made pistol was recovered in the ceiling of the building. The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.
The Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, CP Mike Okoli, appeals for calm as a full-scale investigation to unravel circumstances surrounding the incident, has commenced,” Butswat stated.
A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Michael Wetkas concluded his examination-in-chief in the ongoing case of diversion of public funds meant for projects in Jigawa State involving a former governor of the State, Sule Lamido, his two sons, as well as four others.
Lamido, his sons; Aminu and Mustapha, Aminu Wada Abubakar, Bartholomew Darlington Agoha, their companies; Bamaina Holdings Ltd. and Speeds International Ltd. are facing an amended 43-count charge before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, for allegedly defrauding Jigawa State of N1.35billion.
At the resumed hearing on Thursday, the witness demonstrated to the Court how the defendants allegedly used their companies to receive several payments suspected to be kickbacks from contractors for contracts which were masked as sub-contracts while Lamido was governor.
Wetkas, with the aid of a chart, showed the Court how Lamido received payments into his personal accounts from Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company, Interior Woodworks Ltd., and A.G Ferrero & Co Ltd. who were contractors in Jigawa State via Bamaina Holdings Ltd. and Speeds International Ltd accounts which has him and the 3rd defendant, Mustapha, as sole signatories.
While Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company received over N21bn for contracts from the state, the duo of A.G Ferrero & Co Ltd and Interior Woodworks Ltd. received over N8bn and over N3bn respectively for contracts they executed for the state. Records, according to the witness, showed that A.G Ferrero paid over N114m into the Skye Bank account of Bamaina Company Ltd.
Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company also paid over N116m and N273,474,775.00 respectively into both the Access Bank and Unity Bank accounts of Speeds International Ltd. He also noted that cheques totaling about N397,553,470.00 from Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company were paid into the Unity Bank account of Speeds International Limited.
The witness also pointed out that cheques amounting to about N14.8m were paid into the personal account of the first defendant, while N48m was paid into Bamaina Company Ltd which has the first defendant as sole signatory.
Wetkas concluded that “Flowing from the activities and investigations conducted, it was revealed that no sub-contracts or contracts for purchase of bitumen, diesel and steel iron, were executed by the defendants’ companies to warrant such payments.”
“From the journals recovered from Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company, where the transactions were supposed to be reflect if they were carried out, there were no entries for years 2007, 2008 and 2009. Meanwhile, within that period, over N500m was said to be paid for the purported sub-contract or contract”, he concluded.
Meanwhile, Justice Ojukwu adjourned the matter till May 19 and 20, 2021 for cross-examination of the witness.
There was drama on Thursday at a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, as the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) approached the court seeking to take over the case against the former governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, on criminal charges of a threat to the life of his mistress, Chinyere Amuchienwa.
The court had earlier slated Thursday for the arraignment of the former governor but a counsel from the office of the AGF, Bagudu Sani, approached the Court, saying the office of the AGF had taken over the case by a letter dated March 17, 2021, which he said had been served on the IGP.
According to Sani, the office of the AGF took over the case from the IGP to ensure that the prosecution was done diligently.
However, counsel for the police, Rufus Dimka, opposed the taking over of the case by the office of AGF, noting that the charges against the former governor were prepared by the office of the IGP, who is the complainant in the case.
In response, Justice Taiwo Taiwo told Sani that he had taken judicial notice of the letter but maintained that the counsel should file the letter formally before the court.
He deferred the arraignment of the former governor to May 6, 2021, to enable parties to file and serve written addresses on the property of the office of the AGF taking over the case from the Police.
Ohakim has been on police administrative bail since November 11, 2020, when he and one Chinedu Okpareke were dragged to court by the police over allegations of threat to life and the harassment of Amuchienwa.
According to the charge number, FHC/ABJ/CS/287/2020, Ohakim and Okpareke were alleged to have threatened to release a nude photograph of Amuchienwa if she fails to drop charges of attempted kidnap against them.
The Police in the five counts dated November 25, 2020, alleged that Ohakim and Okpareke, knowingly and intentionally transmitted communication through a computer system to harass and bully Amuchienwa, an offence that is punishable under Section 24(1)(a) of the Cybercrime Act 2015.
“We are hereby giving him the ultimatum of 72 hours to move his people out or we will be forced to take necessary actions by personally taking the responsibility of getting his people back home,” the statement quoted the group to have said.
A northern group, Arewa Youth Assembly, has given Yoruba activist, Sunday Igboho, 72 hours to move Yoruba people from the north.
Mohammed Salihu Danlami, Speaker, Arewa Youth Assembly, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
“We are hereby giving him the ultimatum of 72 hours to move his people out or we will be forced to take necessary actions by personally taking the responsibility of getting his people back home,” the statement quoted the group to have said.
The group noted that Nigeria’s entity is non-negotiable and called on all stakeholders in the country to reject anything that would confuse the land.
The statement partly reads, “One Mr. Sunday Igboho issued a press statement in which he was quoted as saying enough is enough; that the time for Yoruba nation is now, that they will no longer accommodate and accept the presence of Northerners.
“The constitution of the country has made it crystal clear that any Nigerian can live in any part of the country, irrespective of his or her religious and tribal placements.”
The group said that it still affirms its position as a law-abiding civil youth organisation, adding that it would not fold its arm and watch innocent Nigerians being threatened by individuals who have no regard and respect for the law.
Igboho had in a statement on Wednesday said the time had come for the actualisation of the Yoruba Nation.
He said that there is no basis for ‘one Nigeria’ as insecurity spreads to the southwest region, adding that the only solution is for the Yoruba nation to stand on its own.
“Starting from now, we don’t want herdsmen in our land to disturb our farms again. If we meet any killer herdsmen, we are going to face and destroy them.
“If any police attack us for that, we are ready for them. We don’t want Nigeria again, but Yoruba nation. There is no essence for one Nigeria when major resources in the country are in the hands of the northerners.
“Enough is enough, no going back… we are not scared of anybody; these killer herders are taking over our land and they are killing us,” he added.
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has suspended the ongoing teachers’ recruitment exercise over the economic crisis posed by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The governor directed an immediate refund of money paid by successful candidates in the recruitment exercise conducted by the State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM).
Mr Babatunde Abegunde, Chairman of TESCOM, who made this known in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, March 18, said the directive was due to the commitment of the governor to the general welfare of the people in the state and the need not to make new entrants into the public service suffer unduly.
Ripples Nigeria learned that about 100 candidates may have been affected by the directive.
Abegunde explained that monies to be refunded covered those paid by the candidates for the purchase of the Teaching Service Manual, Service Record, and Job Cards among others during the documentation stage.
He said that contrary to insinuations in some quarters, the state government was very fair in the recruitment exercise, but regretted that the pandemic and the attendant economic downturn, as well as the ENDSARS protest, stalled the process.
Abegunde recalled that the commission commenced the process by mid-2020, adding that the target could not be met because of the lockdown and other effects of the global pandemic and other reasons.
He explained that TESCOM projected the recruitment exercise which consisted of both written examination and interviews in phases for administrative and economic convenience.
According to him, the process of appointing the first batch of 400 teachers started in October 2019 and was concluded in November 2020.
He added that the process for recruiting the second batch of 100 teachers commenced immediately after the first set of appointees were posted to schools with the invitation of shortlisted candidates for documentation.
The TESCOM chairman said that letters of appointment would have been issued immediately after documentation, stressing that it was however not feasible for the reasons stated above.
He stressed that the governor would not subscribe to employing workers that the state would not be able to promptly pay their salaries.
He, however, assured that the recruitment process would continue as soon as the state finances improved, to accommodate new entrants into its workforce.
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