Oyo state governor , Engr Seyi Makinde visits President Buhari over insecurity.
Oyo state governor, Engr Seyi Makinde has met with President Buhari over the state of insecurity caused by the Fulani herdsmen. He revealed this via his Twitter page;
“This afternoon, I met with His Excellency, President Buhari to brief him on the security situation in Oyo State and seek collaborations required for some of our intended security plans to work effectively.”
“I asked for greater synergy between the state and federal security agencies. Also, I requested collaboration with the Nigeria Immigration Service for proper documentation of foreign nationals working in mines in the state. Mr President promised to look into these issues.”
The military authorities have on Wednesday, deployed 300 female soldiers to provide security on the dreaded Kaduna-Abuja highway.
The female combatants would complement the existing operations along the highways and the environs.
The first batch of the troops who are of Nigerian Army Women Corps (NAWC), were formally received by Governor El-Rufai at their Kakau base on the highway.
Governor El-Rufai on the occasion, expressed optimism that, with the deployment of the female soldiers, the insecurity along the highways will soon be a thing of the past. He expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Army for deploying the troops and assured them of the continued support of the Kaduna State Government as they work for security in the State.
“The problem of Abuja-Kaduna road will be over with these female soldiers because what a man can do a woman can do better. We believe in the capability of women in this State. ”
“I am confident the road will be the safest in Nigeria. We will do everything possible to make this operation comfortable. We are very happy to have you. Your presence will inspire others girls to join the military. That is why we have female deputy governor to inspire other women,” he said.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Major-General Usman Mohammed, thanked Governor El-Rufai and the Deputy Governor Dr. Hadiza Balarabe for personally coming to receive the female troops.
He acknowledged the support the Kaduna State government has provided to the military in its internal security operations.
IPOB has accused Uzodinma of working with the Army to ‘flush out and attack ESN officers from the bushes where they are operating’.
Men of the Nigeria Police Force have resorted to violence to enforce a dusk-to-dawn curfew declared by Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, in all the local councils in the Orlu area of the state.
Some were also seen doing frog jump while the police hit them with guns.
Governor Hope Uzodinma had on Monday declared a curfew in Orlu zone following a clash between Nigerian soldiers and the Indigenous People of Biafra’s (IPOB) security outfit, Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Okporo.
Five persons, including a middle-aged woman, were said to have been killed by stray bullets during the crisis that lasted for several hours.
IPOB has accused Uzodinma of working with the Army to ‘flush out and attack ESN officers from the bushes where they are operating’.
The group said the soldiers ran away on sighting ESN operatives after killing five innocent residents of the community.
“I am totally appalled by this sad report which appears to paint a picture of a near breakdown of law and order in the Orlu area. The government condemns in its entirety this act of extreme hooliganism and brigandage. This is completely unacceptable to this administration. Those behind this callous barbarism will surely regret their actions,” Uzodimma had said in a statement.
“Consequently, I have directed the security agencies to fish out without fail, all those behind the carnage and immediately bring them to book. Let no one be in any doubt that the perpetrators of this dastardly act will ever escape justice. I assure them that they will pay for their cruelty against a peace-loving, innocent people.
“As an interim measure to immediately restore the peace in Orlu zone, a dusk-to-dawn curfew (6 pm to 6 am) is hereby imposed in the following local government areas of Orlu zone, namely Orlu, Orsu, Oru East, Oru West, Ideato North, Ideao South, Njaba, Isu, Nwangele and Nkwerre.
“All law-abiding citizens are advised to comply strictly with the curfew as announced. Anyone caught violating the curfew will be treated as a suspect. The government wants to assure all Imo people that the situation in the Orlu area is under control. Security operatives have been deployed on a 24-hour patrol of the zone. Equally, every security measure necessary has been put in place to ensure that law-abiding citizens can go about their businesses in the affected areas without any fear of molestation.
“The government sincerely condoles with the families of the bereaved and all the victims of the unfortunate incident. I assure them that those who committed the heinous crime against them and their loved ones will never go unfurnished.”
IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, had in December 2020 launched ESN to protect the people of South-East and South-South regions from terrorists and bandits allegedly trooping in from the North.
Kanu described the outfit as a replica of the Western Nigeria Security Network, also known as Amotekun, earlier launched by the governors of the South-West to curb insecurity in the region.
The trial of Aisha Alkali Wakil alias ‘Mama Boko Haram’ who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on a fresh three count criminal charge of conspiracy, inducement and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N41, 777,750.00 commenced before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri Tuesday, January 26, with the prosecution calling its first witness, PW1, Bilkisu Muhammed Abubakar, who was allegedly induced by the defendants to execute over N41m supply contract for Complete Care and Aid Foundation, owned by Wakil, but refused to pay.
Led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed, the PW1 narrated how supplies contracts were awarded to her by Mama Boko Haram and Tahiru Alhaji Saidu Daura, the chief executive officer and programme manager respectively of Complete Care and Aid Foundation and Complete Care respectively.
According to the witness,: “I worked as a volunteer in the Organisation for two years during which I was engaged to make supplies of beverages and toiletries to the NGO and later to the home of Wakil, even though I told them I was not a contractor.
“I supplied to Complete Care and Aid Foundation office two sets of televisions, two sets of telecom, nine stabilizers, thirteen extension wires, cutleries, three electronic kettles, two gas cylinders, toiletries, beverages, bottled water, amongst others for thirteen (13) months.
“I was also buying lunch for Wakil and her daughter, one Khadija Alkali, for four straight months.
“I was asked by Wakil and Daura to write down whatever item I supplied to them. Subsequently, I also furnished the house of Wakil based on request by her; I supplied everything in the house”.
PW1 further told the court that: “I supplied one Italian bed, a complete set of show glass, two centre tables, one Italian dining table and one cushion chair to her husband. She also asked me to supply four beds, five big mattresses and sixteen pillows to be used by her husband and children.
“I also supplied food flasks, electronics, gas cooker, one deep freezer, two industrial fans, four rechargeable fans, three sets of bed side carpets to Aisha Alkali Wakil, her husband and children. I supplied ten ready-made clothes and ten veils as well.
“Wakil also directed me to transfer money to one Ekechukwu Modo to buy her foodstuffs from Enugu. I transferred money in five tranches to Modo’s First Bank account and to one Harira in Malaysia for the purchase of Arabian gown.
“My lord, during the naming ceremony of Wakil’s grandchild, I supplied all the things needed to the tune of N1.5M”.
The witness further revealed that, Mama Boko Haram, after much pleading paid the sum of N10m into her account for every item supplied and services rendered but refused to pay the balance of N31.7m.
The prosecution counsel, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed tendered the Letter of Award of Contract for the supplies, Store Certification, Notification of Delay in Payment, Letter of Introduction and Authorization for the transfer of N1.5M which were all admitted in evidence by the court.
Forty different receipts issued to Bilkisu, tellers and a hand writing documents of items bought by the vendor were also admitted in evidence.
Justice Kumaliya, after listening to the testimony of the PW1, ordered that the proceedings recorded by the court be transmitted to the defendants for study and cross examination of the prosecution witness due to the absence of their counsel.
The trial was adjourned till February 15, 2021 for cross examination of prosecution witness.
Mama Boko Haram was arraigned alongside Tahiru Saidu Daura, and Prince Lawal Shoyede, Programme Manager and Country Director respectively of Complete Care and Aid Foundation (Non-Governmental Organisation).
One of the counts reads: “That you Aisha Alkali Wakil, Tahiru Saidu Daura and Prince Lawal Shoyede whilst being Chief Executive Officer, Programme Manager and Country Director respectively of Complete Care and Aid Foundation (Non-Governmental Organisation) sometimes in June 2018 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly induced one Haija Bilkisu Mohammed Abubakar of Ihasan Venndor Services, to deliver to you; House Furniture, electronics and food items worth N34, 593, 000.00 (Thirty Four Million Five Hundred and Ninety Three Thousand Naira) only under the guise of executing a contract for the supply of the said items to Complete Care and Aid Foundation (Non-Governmental Organisation) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 (a) and Punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code Cap 102 Laws of Borno State.”
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Wednesday said the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) will be passed into law in April.
The Speaker gave Nigerians this assurance at the public hearing organized by the Ad-hoc Committee of the House on the bill.
“We intend to pass this bill by April. That is the commitment we have made. Some may consider it a tall order but we will do it without compromising the thoroughness,” Gbajabiamila said while making a remark at the hearing.
Also speaking at the public hearing, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Silva, expressed his joy that after 20 years of its introduction to the national assembly, both the Senate and the House have shown sustained determination to pass the bill into law.
On his part, the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari, was optimistic that oil will still be relevant in the next 30 years.
Kyari said the passage of the bill into law will bring about the needed vigour and transparency that would, in turn, engender productivity in the petroleum industry.
The Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mohammed Nami who also spoke, said:
“The bill, when passed into law, will promote economic growth and make the petroleum sector competitive.
“FIRS is in total support to develop the oil and gas industry in line with international best practices.”
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Wednesday said the state has deployed 200 officers of the Oyo State Security Network, otherwise known as Amotekun to the troubled Igangan in Ibarapa Local Government Area of the state.
Makinde disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, adding that the move followed a meeting with security agencies and stakeholders from the crisis ridden area.
Igangan, an ancient town in Ibarapa area of Oyo State has been the scene of skirmishes between residents, led by a Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho and Fulani herdsmen, who residents accused of perpetrating crimes including killings, maiming, kidnapping for ransom and destruction of farms in the area.
The Governor said in the statement: “Following the meeting held with representatives of Igangan, Ibarapaland which was attended by security stakeholders including the recently appointed Commissioner of Police, Oyo State, Mrs. Ngozi Onadeko, our administration has come up with a security strategy for that zone.
“We have resolved to redeploy 200 members of the Oyo State Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Amotekun to kidnapping/banditry hotspots in the state, especially in the Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun zones.
“These operatives will launch missions to rid the forests of criminals. They will be presenting daily reports of their activities to me in the short run and periodic reports in the long run.
“In the next few weeks, we’ll hold town hall meetings and community outreaches, bringing together residents and security agencies to talk about any issues of immediate concern and how they can be resolved through dialogue and more effective community policing.”
Jubilation in Military Barracks Over Sacking Of Buratai, Others.
A 20-second video captured the moment some personnel of the Nigerian Navy in their barracks believed to be in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, screamed and danced over the development.
There was jubilation in some military barracks across the country, when the news of the sacking of the former service chiefs filtered in on Tuesday and the announcement of their replacements.
A 20-second video captured the moment some personnel of the Nigerian Navy in their barracks believed to be in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, screamed and danced over the development.
Sources told SaharaReporters that there was also jubilation in some army barracks across the country over the announcement.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday appointed new service chiefs and finally fired the Chief of Defence Chief, General Abayomi Olonisakin, Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, after the four had spent five years and five months in office.
Although Buhari said on Tuesday that he accepted their resignation letters, the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, already clarified in the past that the military chiefs could not resign and had to be laid off by the Commander-In-Chief.
Buhari had on July 13, 2015, appointed Olonisakin, Buratai, Ibas, and Abubakar.
In a State House press release on Tuesday, Buhari’s Special Adviser, Femi Adesina, said the new service chiefs were Major-General Leo Irabor as the CDS, Major-General Ibrahim Attahiru as the army chief, Rear Admiral A. Z. Gambo as the naval chief and Air-Vice Marshal I. O. Amao as the new air chief.
“People dey happy say they don change CNS o,” one of the navy personnel said in the video.
“Who will not be happy that they were replaced? It was long overdue, they had become principalities and they had stagnated the career progression. I don’t think they resigned. They were fired. The three service chiefs were supposed to visit the Ministry of Defence headquarters, Ship House, on Tuesday afternoon but the meeting was cancelled in the last minute when the announcement filtered into the country,” a Ministry of Defence top official told SaharaReporters.
Olonisakin is the longest serving CDS since 1999. The closest to him was Admiral Ibrahim Ogohi (retd.), who served for four years and 29 days between May 29, 1999 and June 27, 2003.
Also, Buratai is the longest serving COAS since 1999. The closest to him was Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika (retd.), who spent three years and four months in office; between September 2010 and January 2014.
Ibas is also the longest serving CNS since 1999, while the closest person to him was Vice Admiral S. O. Afolayan, who served for four years, between 2001 and 2005.
SaharaReporters had exclusively reported last week that the outgoing military chiefs had awarded four Sport Utility Vehicles, four Peugeot vehicles, among other juicy retirement benefits to themselves, according to the 2017 Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers, which their administration revised.
SaharaReporters had obtained the new HTACOS 2017 which revealed that the military chiefs will get security staff of over 40 soldiers as well as domestic and foreign medical cover.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr Mike Ozekhome has faulted President Muhammadu Buhari for congratulating recently ‘resigned’ service chiefs for their ‘overwhelming achievements’.
Ozekhome, a fierce critic of the Buhari administration, also considered their purported resignation, instead of outright sack, as mere soft landing provided for the service chiefs, who many Nigerians have for long clamoured to be sacked for their inability to proffer solutions to the spate of insecurity in the country.
Ripples Nigeria reported on Tuesday that the service chiefs, General Gabriel Olonishakin, Chief of Defense Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Baurati, Chief of Army Staff, Vice Admiral Ekwe Ibas Ibok (CONS), and Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar (Chief of Air Staff) resigned their appointments, with President Buhari accepting same and their immediate retirement from service.
A statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina also gave the names of their replacements as Major General LEO Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff, Major General I. Attahiru Gambo, Chief of Army Staff, Rear Admiral A.Z. Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff and Air Vice Marshall I.O. Alao, Chief of Air Staff.
The President, according to Femi Adesina, thanked the retiring service chiefs for their overwhelming achievements in the search for enduring peace in the country.
However, Ozekhome, in an article titled ‘Buhari’s Overdue Sack of Spent Lack Lustre Service Chiefs’, said he would not only disagree with the President on the ‘overwhelming achievements’ but “would say that is the unkindest oxymoron and irony, of all. I beg to differ sir, Mr President.”
The article reads in part: “However, in relieving the Service Chief’s tired necks of decaying Albatross, Buhari made a startling statement through his spokesman, Femi Adesina.
“First it was that they “resigned” and the President “has accepted the immediate resignation of the Service Chiefs and their retirement from service”. Soft landing window-dressing, I guess! Nigerians are not amused. In more civilised countries, it would be announced that they had been out rightly sacked. Yes, summarily dismissed, for abysmally failing to live up to expectations.”
Continuing, Ozekhome said: “But, Buhari’s more shocking aspect of the removal of the Service Chiefs from office, which has so far shocked Nigerians, is where he said he was congratulating them for their “overwhelming achievements in our efforts at bringing enduring peace to our dear country”. “Enduring peace”? Is this genuine peace, or peace of cemetery or the grave yards? My dictionary tells me that peace means tranquillity, calm, calmness, law and order, harmony, placidity, rest, armistice, friendship, brotherhood, serenity, contentment, amity, reconciliation. Can any Nigerian hold the Holy Bible, Holy Quran, or piece of iron (depending on your faith), and swear, that we have any of the above?
“I think not. I believe not. Then the President added the clincher, the diadem: the “Service Chief’s overwhelming achievements”. If Mr President meant “overwhelming achievements” in massive failure, I would concur. But, if he meant “overwhelming achievements” in securing our country, I would not only disagree, I would say that is the unkindest oxymoron and irony, of all. I beg to differ sir, Mr President.
“Overwhelming, I understand, means massive, immense, inordinate, enormous, ineffable. So, the Service Chief’s achievements “in the eyes of Nigerians are overwhelming? I don’t understand “Achievement” means, interalia, accomplishment, performance, realisation, victory, attainment, feat, success, triumph. The opposite is failure, defeat, unfulfillment, misfortune, loss, miscue, injury. Nigerians, judge for yourselves, which of the above parralels and opposites best illustrates Nigeria’s sorry state of nadir, despair, sorrow, anguish, pains, pangs, blood and death.”
While welcoming the new service chiefs, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, wondered if the change is going to be merely cosmetic or real and tangible.
“The new Service Chiefs appear younger and lower in rank than their pot-bellied predecessors.
“That is all we can say for now. Is this change of batton merely cosmetic? Is it new wine in old calabashes? Has anything suddenly changed in terms of new equipment, surveillance and intelligence capacity and capability? Does the hood make the monk? Can a book’s worth be known by the beauty of its cover? No. It is not yet Uhuru”, he said.
He however called for a total overhaul of the Nigerian security architecture in a way that would meet the urgent and immediate needs of the country.
“What all this boils down to is that Nigeria needs to re-engineer, refurbish, retwine, reform and re-order her total security apparatchik. Indeed, it needs a complete overhauling, such as to bring it in line with modern international best practices in security engagement. The current behemoth, elephantine and unwieldy Police Force needs immediate decentralization, to bring about federal, regional, state, LGA and community policing. This means that sections 214 and 215 of the 1999 constitution should be amended immediately with the urgency of NOW”, he submitted.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, January 26, presented two more witnesses who testified in the ongoing trial of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, a former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Turaki, his special assistant Sampson Okpetu and two companies: Samtee Essentials Limited and Pasco Investment Limited are standing trial before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja on a 16-count charge of fraud to the tune of N714.6 million.
The witnesses, Erijitonah Good, a customer service manager at First City Monument Bank and Umar Abba Tilde, a compliance officer from Zenith Bank testified as PW 10 and P11 respectively.
Led in evidence by Farouk Abdullah, Good who brought documents relating to inflows and expenditure pertaining to some accounts told the court that “sometime in November 2019 we got a mail from EFCC requesting for account opening package , account statement of some customers in the bank which we complied with and forwarded to the EFCC”.
The document entitled ‘re-investigation activities’ alongside the account opening package and account statement were tendered and admitted in evidence.
During cross examination, Good told the court that he does not know the source or purpose of payment in the account.
The second witness Tilde, in his testimony, disclosed that “sometimes last year, there was a letter from EFCC requesting for some documents regarding some of our customers and as custodian of the documents, we complied with and submitted account opening package of one Abdullahi Bagudu , account statements, and BVN links to the EFCC”
The documents were also tendered and admitted as exhibits.
The trial has been adjourned to January 27 for continuation of trial.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday nominated Mr. Adolphis Aghughu as new Auditor-General of the Federation (AGF).
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Babajide Omoworare, who disclosed this in a statement, said Buhari has forwarded a letter to the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, pursuant to Section 86(1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
Aghughu, who hails from Edo State, has been acting as the Auditor-General since the retirement of Mr. Anthony Ayine from service.
President Buhari also nominated Victor Muruako as Chairman of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission.
Buhari, according to Omoworare, called be expeditious consideration of the nominees by the lawmakers.
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has revealed that efforts are underway to follow up on the insurance cover for frontline health workers that died of the deadly COVID-19 virus across the country.
This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the President of NLC, Mr Ayuba Wabba, who said that the NLC was working with the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) to follow up on the insurance cover for the lost health workers.
Wabba who made the disclosure at a Five-day 7th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of NANNM, in Abuja, noted that health workers globally are entitled to hazard and inducement allowances to encourage them to work, with some countries fixing such at 50 per cent.
According to Wabba, the NLC is aware that the federal government has not paid allowances to many health workers especially with the outbreak of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said; “We will work with you to know the number of those that have died to follow up on what they promised as insurance cover for COVID-19.
“We were told 800 health workers were infected with COVID-19.
“Health workers globally are entitled to hazard and inducement allowances to encourage them to work, some countries make such 50 per cent.
“I am aware that in the second wave, there are so many allowances that have not been paid; I urge the government to respect the understanding that we have actually reached,’’ Wabba added.
The NLC boss however frowned at the privatisation of healthcare services, saying; “policies are meant to service the entire people. “We have seen deficiency in privatisation of health care systems around the world, health is not supposed to be for profit.
“Health is a fundamental right of a citizen. Some private hospitals in the country are taking advantage of COVID-19 to exploit people. “We need to defend the larger population against exploitation,’’ he said.
According to tweets shared on President Buhari’s , he stated the following;
I have accepted the immediate resignation of the Service Chiefs, and their retirement from service. I thank them all for their overwhelming achievements in our efforts at bringing enduring peace to Nigeria, and wish them well in their future endeavours.
I have also appointed new Service Chiefs, to replace the retired officers:
Major-General Leo Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff.
Major-General I. Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff.
Rear Admiral A.Z Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff.
Air-Vice Marshal I.O Amao, Chief of Air Staff.
Major-General Leo Irabor, Nigeria’s new Chief of Defence Staff.
Major-General I. Attahiru, Nigeria’s new Chief of Army Staff.
A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked the Biden administration from enforcing its 100-day deportation freeze in one of the first legal battles over the new president’s agenda.
Judge Drew Tipton issued a temporary restraining order against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that will apply nationwide while the lawsuit from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) plays out.
“Texas has thus far satisfactorily demonstrated it is entitled to immediate and temporary relief from the January 20 Memorandum’s 100-day pause on removals,” wrote Tipton, who was appointed by former President Trump to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
Biden’s freeze, Tipton wrote “is clearly not in accordance with, or is in excess of, the authority accorded to the Attorney General.” Tipton disputed the federal government’s claim that U.S. Code allows the attorney general to pause deportations when a final order of removal has already been issued. This argument, he writes, is based on an interpretation of the statue that “contravenes the unambiguous text.”
“Where Congress uses specific language within its immigration statutes to direct the Attorney General toward a specific result, courts are not free to assume based on a matrix of principles, statutes, and regulations that the Attorney General’s authority is simply ‘a matter of discretion,'” Tipton added.
Paxton announced the lawsuit last Friday, two days after Biden took office.
“If left unchallenged, DHS could re-assert this suspension power for a longer period or even indefinitely, effectively granting a blanket amnesty to illegal aliens that Congress has refused to pass time and time again,” Paxton’s complaint reads.
The day before Paxton’s lawsuit, the Department of Homeland Security issued a memo that called for the 100-day freeze on most deportations as part of a broader “reset and review” of immigration enforcement throughout the department.
The Hill has reached out to Paxton’s office and the Justice Department for comment.
A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked the Biden administration from enforcing its 100-day deportation freeze in one of the first legal battles over the new president’s agenda.
Judge Drew Tipton issued a temporary restraining order against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that will apply nationwide while the lawsuit from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) plays out.
“Texas has thus far satisfactorily demonstrated it is entitled to immediate and temporary relief from the January 20 Memorandum’s 100-day pause on removals,” wrote Tipton, who was appointed by former President Trump to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
Biden’s freeze, Tipton wrote “is clearly not in accordance with, or is in excess of, the authority accorded to the Attorney General.” Tipton disputed the federal government’s claim that U.S. Code allows the attorney general to pause deportations when a final order of removal has already been issued. This argument, he writes, is based on an interpretation of the statue that “contravenes the unambiguous text.”
“Where Congress uses specific language within its immigration statutes to direct the Attorney General toward a specific result, courts are not free to assume based on a matrix of principles, statutes, and regulations that the Attorney General’s authority is simply ‘a matter of discretion,'” Tipton added.
Paxton announced the lawsuit last Friday, two days after Biden took office.
“If left unchallenged, DHS could re-assert this suspension power for a longer period or even indefinitely, effectively granting a blanket amnesty to illegal aliens that Congress has refused to pass time and time again,” Paxton’s complaint reads.
The day before Paxton’s lawsuit, the Department of Homeland Security issued a memo that called for the 100-day freeze on most deportations as part of a broader “reset and review” of immigration enforcement throughout the department.
The suspects were allegedly using a primary school building to commit the act.
The Bauchi State Hisbah says it recently arrested no fewer than six youths who specialized in organising sex orgies and fomenting trouble in Dolam village in Tafawa Balewa local Government Area of the state.
Malam Aminu Idris, the permanent commissioner in-charge of Hisbah and Sharia implementation, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi, on Monday.
Idris, who identified the culprits as Abdurrauf Kabir,25, Dabo Yusuf, 26, Abdurrazak Isah, 24, Habu Umar, 27, Yaron Nuhu-Maikaji, 30, and Abdurrashid Shehu, 31, said they were using a primary school building in the area to commit the act.
The department also recently confiscated and destroyed no fewer than 885 cartons of liquor (image used for illustration) [NTA]
He said the culprits were in the habit of organizing disco parties, locally called Gwaidu, during which they lured young girls into illicit sexual relationships, while at times they used force to intimidate innocent people.
Idris said the attention of his department was drawn by the local Hisbah office in the area, after which the office swung into action and arrested all those involved.
After discreet investigations, the commissioner said, the state Hisbah office summoned the parents of the culprits, counselled them and made them to sign an undertaking against repeating the offence.
Idris said the Hisbah department would, hence forth, not hesitate to prosecute such culprits in a competent court of law, stressing, “As a Lawyer I will do everything possible to ensure that our existing laws were not flagrantly violated.”
He appealed to the state government to hasten the appointment of the state Hisbah Board, as well as provide additional financial and logistics support to the department to enable it perform optimally.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that only recently, the Hisbah department also confiscated and destroyed no fewer than 885 cartons of liquor, as part of its efforts to implement Sharia law in the state.
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has conceded to the demands of South-West Governors to place a ban on open grazing in the region.
This was contained in a statement issued on Monday night by The National President of MACBAN, Alhaji Muhammadu Kiruwa, who directed Fulani herders across the South-West to put an end to both night and under-aged grazing with immediate effect.
Kiruwa who issued the statement while speaking at a meeting, also warned herders to henceforth desist from taking their cows to people’s farms for grazing.
He said: “I want to plead with all our members to avoid allowing cows straying into farms, they should stop small boys, as a matter of urgency, from going to graze; also, night grazing must stop either in Ondo State, South-West or across the country.
“This is one of the reasons we have herders and farmers clashes. This has always been causing conflicts between farmers and herders. I can assure you of our support and cooperation.”
While reacting to the quit notice order given by Governor Akeredolu, he said: “We believe dialogue is key in achieving peaceful co-existence. We assure their Excellencies that we will continue with our awareness campaign to our members to appreciate the sensibilities of their host communities by ensuring they live in peace.
“The menace of banditry, cattle rustling and kidnapping emerged as a result of poor management of farmers/herders’ conflicts that gave rise to cattle rustling, thus giving birth to kidnapping, and later banditry.
“In all of these, our members are the worse victims and also culprits. To date, over 10,000 pastoralists have been killed as a result of farmers/herders’ conflicts. Over five million cows have been lost to these incidents.
“We find it distasteful and dangerous the recent incidence in Oyo where people are allowed to take laws into their hands by killing and burning properties at will.
“The government should come down heavily on perpetrators of such acts and provide immediate palliatives to the families of people who lost their lives and properties in order to ease their frustrations.
“We are open to working with the NGF in designing what we think can work in solving these problems.
“We condemn all sorts of criminality, extra-judicial killings and the impunity that is associated with it. Once more, we reiterate that MACBAN has never and will not condone any form of criminality by anyone.
“We stand for peace and justice to all. We pray we will continue to have this kind of interactions from time to time to foster peace and harmony in Nigeria,” Kiruwa concluded.
Ripples Nigeria had reported that Governors of the six South-West states on Monday agreed to ban all forms of open grazing in the region.
This was disclosed on the Twitter handle of the Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, who said that the decision was taken at the governors meeting with the leadership of MACBAN and security chiefs all present.
An article of impeachment against former President of the United States of America, Donald Trump has been presented to the Senate for his (Trump’s) trial on accusations of inciting the deadly January 6 attack on Capitol hill.
The article of impeachment was delivered on Monday by members of the House of Representatives thus setting the tone for Senate trial against the former United States president, which is expected to start next month.
The article charged Trump with “incitement of insurrection” in relation to the deadly storming on January 6 of the US Capitol building in Washington, DC by a mob of his supporters.
It was read out loud to the upper house yesterday by Representative Jamie Raskin, a constitutional scholar and one of the House managers.
“President Trump repeatedly issued false statements asserting that the presidential election results were the product of widespread fraud, and should not be accepted by the American people, or certified by state or federal officials,” Raskin said.
Trump’s impeachment trial will begin on February 8, making it the first time a former president will face such charges after leaving office.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who announced the schedule last Friday evening after reaching an agreement with Republicans in the Senate, said the delay in commencing the trial was to give Trump a chance to organize his legal team and prepare a defense on the sole charge of “incitement of insurrection” emanating from the Capitol Building riots on January 6.
Human rights activist and co-convener of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, Aisha Yesufu and former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, have slammed the Nigerian Army for deploying soldiers to Orlu local government area of Imo State where five people were reportedly killed in a clash between the soldiers and members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
Yesufu who took to her Twitter handle on Monday to condemn the invasion, said “it was worrisome how the army unleashed its men on harmless citizens,” and the resultant violence and killing of innocent residents.
According to the Media and Publicity Secretary of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Emma Powerful, in a statement on Tuesday, the soldiers drawn from 34 Artillery Battalion in Obinze had invaded the Orlu community on Friday in a bid to flush out the ESN operatives from the bushes they are operating from and in the process, killed five residents.
Tweeting on the invasion, Yesufu said:
“The ease with which the Nigerian Army is deployed against civilians should worry us all. What is wrong is wrong irrespective of who is doing it. If someone cries of marginalisation, don’t shut it down, listen.”
On his part, Fani-Kayode who also took to his handle to condemn the invasion, said:
“Unleashing your Army on ESN was not smart. No matter how many you kill, more will rise up. Tread with caution. Do not bite off more than you can chew. Violence begets violence. Both East and West are kegs of gunpowder. Do not light the fuse. Seek peace, not war.
“The clash between soldiers and members of ESN in Orlu, Imo State, has resulted in some deaths and this is unfortunate. I call for restraint on both sides. The soldiers ought to be deployed against killer herdsmen and not ESN. When will Buhari learn? Please stay safe.”
One of the houses of Sunday Igboho in Soka area of Ibadan has been burnt by unknown people. This happened following the fulani herdsmen saga in Oyo town
Recall that Sunday Igboho disclosed that angry youths were involved in the burning of the house of the fulani herdsmen leader, ” Seriki” in Oyo town.
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has thrown its weight behind Bola Tinubu for the 2023 presidency, stating that the former Lagos State governor has ‘impeccable pedigree’.
This was contained in a statement issued on Monday night by the Director, MURIC, Ishaq Akintola, who said that Yoruba do not have to search too far as the leader of the ruling party has shown interest.
Akintola further added that the best thing Yoruba people can do for the region is to rally behind Tinubu and ensure that he clinches power in 2023.
According to Akintola, the South-West has a big opportunity of gaining political power in the year 2023.
He said; “Fortunately the Yoruba do not have to search too far as a former governor of Lagos State and leader of the ruling party has shown interest. Here is a candidate that brandishes impeccable pedigree.
“Nobody can deny his political dexterity. He is known to have fought and won several political battles. The best the Yoruba people can do for the region is to rally behind this candidate and ensure that he clinches power in 2023,” Akintola added.
He further noted in the statement that any tribe seeking to rule in the year 2023 must be seen to be accommodating, tolerant and resilient.
“Power shift to the South has become mandatory as President Muhammadu Buhari would have spent eight complete years by 2023 and all eyes are presently on the South-West.
“Therefore the region cannot afford to lose the opportunity due to restlessness, recklessness, unnecessary protests, issuance of quit notices to other ethnicities and a general lack of stability”, he added.
The Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) has described Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu as one of the South-East politicians that retarded the development of the region.
The pro-Biafra group said the elder statesman remained one of the reasons “Alaigbo is underdeveloped”, adding that “his treachery and greed contributed hugely in retarding development of Igbo land.”
The group stated this on Monday in a statement by its spokesman, Emma Powerful.
Iwuanyanwu had in an earlier statement accused the Nnamdi Kanu led IPOB of endangering Ndigbo and their investment in Nigeria by its activities.
But in its response, IPOB said the Igbo had since been endangered in Nigeria.
It said the claim by Iwuanyanwu was shameful and cowardly and ”smacks of his ignorance of the real genesis of the danger to Igbo investments in Nigeria.”
IPOB statement read in detail, “How many federal contracts were awarded to him (Iwuanyanwu) for execution in South-East, especially road projects? How many of them did he faithfully execute?
“In case he doesn’t know, the current crop of Igbo youths are wise enough to identify true Igbo elders, and Iwuanyanwu is not anywhere close on the list. His chameleonic tricks can no longer work under the current dispensation.
“We are not surprised at such loose and careless remark coming from a supposed elder like Iwuanyanwu who has always taken political advantage of every matter. He is only after protecting his wealth and investment, and certainly not speaking for Igbo interest.
”We advise Iwuanyanwu to stop advertising his ignorance of global economics by giving fake analysis of Igbo investments in Nigeria.
“We are aware, and it’s a public knowledge that the economic power of 54 African countries will come to $26 trillion by the year 2056. With this verifiable statistics, one then wonders where Iwuanyanwu is getting his fake claims that Igbo investments in Nigeria is already worth over $12 trillion.
“Therefore, Emmanuel Iwuanyawu must get his records straight before coming out in public to make unverified analysis about Igbo economic power.
“Besides, no matter the amount of investment Ndigbo have in Nigeria, nothing guarantees its safety under the current political structure of the country.
“In case Iwuanyanwu and his likes do not know, Ndigbo have remained the most endangered species in Nigeria. Their business interests and investment have remained the target of every evil policy in the country.
“The torrents of barbaric and unprovoked attacks against Igbo, their investments and business interests in different parts of Nigeria predate IPOB. Who then will Iwuanyanwu say exposed Igbo investments to those attacks? Was it Kanu or IPOB that caused the genocidal attacks on Igbo that led to the civil war in 1967?”
We use cookies to optimize our website and our service.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
