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The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu on Wednesday scored a victory over the Federal Government during a court sitting at the Abia State High Court.
This was contained in a tweet issued on Wednesday by Kanu’s special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor who tweeted, “Breaking: MNK wins as Abia High Court rejects Nigerian Government’s challenge to its jurisdiction to hear Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s fundamental rights suit. Judgement on other issues in progress.”
More details later…
Mr. Shuaibu Labaran, the prosecution counsel in the ongoing case between the federal government and the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, has explained that the Department of State Service (DSS) provided Kanu with new mattress, pillow and clothes as directed by the Judge, but he (Kanu) refused the clothes.
Contrary to the order of Justice Binta Nyako, Kanu appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday for his trial, putting on the same Fendi designer clothes he has been wearing since June last year when he was arrested.
Justice Nyako had on Tuesday, ordered the DSS to allow Kanu to have a change of cloth, as well as a good mattress.
Meanwhile, when the matter was called up today, Mr. Labaran, told the court that Kanu was the one that chose to wear his designers Fendi clothes.
He said: “My lord, based on your order yesterday, we provided the Defendant with a new Orthopedic mattress, pillows and blankets.
“As for his appearance, he chose to wear this particular one because he said that it is designers”.
However, Kanu’s lead counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, told the court that Mr. Labaran’s claim was not entirely true, noting that his client had not insisted on wearing the same clothes.
He confirmed that the DSS provided Kanu with new mattress and pillows.
“I want to commend the DSS and the court for ensuring that it was done”.
Kanu is being arraigned on 15 count charges bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism.
President Muhammadu Buhari will leave Abuja, for Banjul, The Gambia, on Wednesday to attend the inauguration of the country’s President, Adama Barrow.
Barrow was re-elected for another term of five years in December last year.
He was first elected in 2016 after defeating Gambian longtime President, Yahaya Jammeh, in the presidential country’s election.
President Buhari will join other African leaders at the event slated for the Independence Stadium in Bakau.
According to a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President will be accompanied on the trip by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, National Security Adviser, Maj-Gen Babagana Monguno (retd), Director-General of National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ahmed Rufai, and other top government officials.
The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said on Tuesday President Muhammadu Buhari has not ordered the removal of fuel subsidy in the country.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed all its state councils to mobilize members for a one-day nationwide protest on January 27 over the planned removal of fuel subsidy and imposition of 10 percent excise duty on soft drinks by the Federal Government.
This followed the declaration by the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, in October last year that the Federal Government made provision for petrol subsidy only for the first six months of 2022.
Lawan, who addressed State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the National Assembly was concerned about the agitations and protests across the country.
He said: “Well, it will be of interest to Nigerians to hear what I have come to discuss with Mr. President among several other things.
“Many of us are very concerned with the recent agitations, protests, and many citizens were so concerned, our constituents across the country are very concerned that the federal government will remove the petroleum subsidy. And for us, as parliamentarians, as legislators representing the people of Nigeria, this must be of interest to us.
And we have just finished our recess, we had gone home to our constituencies and senatorial districts. And will feel the pulse of our people. And I found it necessary to visit Mr. President, as the leader of our government and our leader in the country, to discuss this particular issue of concern to Nigerians, and I’m happy to inform Nigerians that Mr. President never told anyone that the petroleum subsidy should be removed.”
The Ebonyi State Government has warned its residents against adhering to the stay-at-home order issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ahead of Nnamdi Kanu’s trial on Tuesday.
This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by Nwachukwu Eze, commissioner for markets and parks, who said: “markets are open for businesses on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.”
“All markets and parks leaderships in Ebonyi are by this announcement directed to ensure that markets are open for businesses on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
The state is not in any way part of the sit-at-home order by IPOB. Please note that strict compliance to this directive is very important as failure to do so will attract severe punishment,” the statement reads.
Ripples Nigeria had reported that the IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful in a statement, said, “Following our leader’s upcoming court proceedings on the 18th, 19th and 20th of January 2022 next week, we wish to remind Biafrans that there will be only sit-at-home on 18th of January, and not 19th and 20th of January. In keeping with our avowed solidarity with our Leader, the entire Biafra land will be on lockdown only on January 18 for obvious reason.”
The Igbo Think Tank, also know as Nzuko Umunna, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to explore Political solutions in the cases of Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho, so that the duo would be released from detention.
The group advised that by constructively engaging with the IPOB leader and all self-determination leaders, including Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Igboho, the federal government could avoid undue distractions for the country.
In a statement signed by the Executive Secretary of Nzuko Umunna, Ngozi Odumuko, on Monday, the Think Tank urged the President to “explore the opportunities provided by the intervention of South-East Governors, South East NASS Caucus, South East Council of Traditional Rulers, Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Pa Mbazulike Amaechi, and some groups in the South-East to release Nnamdi Kanu and resolve his matter politically.”
Public opinion and sentiments show that Nigerians want Mr President to deploy political solution and release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“Political solution will lead to permanent peace and a sense of nationhood, as the country will only experience true progress in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity,” it added.
Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been in detention for months after he was allegedly abducted in Kenya and returned to Nigeria.
Igboho on the other hand, is currently being detained in the Republic of Benin, a situation allegedly orchestrated by the Nigerian government.
While Kanu leads an agitation for the secession of Igbos and Southeasterners from Nigeria, Igboho is also a leading voice clamoring for an independent Yoruba Nation for the South-West people.
The Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, on Sunday dismissed claims in several quarters that state governors are opposed to the adoption of direct primaries by parties in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
Sule, who stated this at a Town Hall meeting on the Electoral Bill, stated categorically that the governors are not against direct primaries.
The National Assembly passed the electoral bill on November 9, 2021 and adopted direct primaries for political parties in the country.
The lawmakers also approved the electronic transmission of results for future elections in Nigeria.
President Muhammadu Buhari had in December last year declined assent to the electoral bill over the adoption of direct primaries and other contentious issues in the document.
The governor said: “There is a total misunderstanding that the governors are against direct primaries. The governors are definitely not against direct primaries. As a matter of fact, a lot of the states chose whether to do direct or indirect.
“It is not that the state governors are against direct. All we said was that why don’t you leave the options. The Electoral Act is far more than just direct or indirect. There are so many important things there, why are we boxing ourselves with either direct or indirect?
“Give political parties the opportunity. By the time the opportunities are given, you will be shocked in the 2023 elections, a lot of the states will still do direct.”
Police operatives in Ebonyi have rescued 32 trafficked persons in the state.
The state Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Garba, confirmed the development when he paraded two suspects arrested by the police for allegedly trafficking the victims at the headquarters of the state police command in Abakaliki on Friday
The suspects were – Nwagboduhu Ekene (20) and Nwaoko Godwin (24).
He said the victims who were trafficked from Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Rivers and five other states for forced labour and sexual exploitation were kept in a two-room apartment at Okposi Umuaghara community, Ezza North Local Government Area of the state.
The victims, according to the CP, were between the ages of 16 and 17 years.
Garba said the command moved into action after one Mrs Nwankwo Ijioma, reported that her daughter, Miss Nwankwo Childera, was missing.
He said: “In the course of the investigation, a company’s advertisement sheet captioned ‘NEO life’ containing a phone number was found in the daughter’s room. The owner of the phone, who was later identified as Christian Nwankwo, ‘M’, age 19 years, was traced and arrested.
“The children are trafficked from different parts of the country and are being used for forced labour and sexual exploitation, in the name of networking/hawking NEO life company products.
“The suspects rented a two-room apartment at Diamond Villa lodge adjacent to Ebonyi State University Medical Department, PRESCO campus, as a place of abode for the victims.”
The Ogun State House of Assembly has filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the impeached Deputy Speaker of the House, Oludare Kadiri, for alleged defamation
In the suit N0.FHC/AB/CS/7/2022 dated January 14, 2022, the Assembly alleged that the former deputy speaker was using an EFCC official to get the information given to the agency under confidentiality and leaked such with the purpose of smearing the image of the House in the media.
The parliament confirmed the development in a statement sent to Ripples Nigeria on Friday.
It read: “This is as a result of the confirmed evidence that Hon. Kadri, who has unfettered access to EFCC, is using an official of the Agency to implicate the House at all cost by arranging clandestine meetings between the said official and the invited officials of the House with the aim of giving out the questions to be asked in advance and supposed response for purpose of implicating the House.”
The Assembly said its request to the EFCC for the provision of a copy of the petition against the House in line with section 36 (6) of the 1999 Constitution was rebuffed by the anti-graft agency.
The Assembly urged the court to grant an order of interlocutory injunction directing the EFCC to stay action on criminal investigation pending the hearing and determination of a substantive suit filed last year.
“Without prejudice to formal service of the relevant processes by the court bailiffs, this letter serves as clear and unequivocal notice to the EFCC that a motion for interlocutory injunction is currently pending before the court,” it stated.
A socio-political organisation, Disciples of Jagaban (DOJ) claimed on Friday powerful forces in Nigeria are already working against the 2023 presidential ambition of the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The group National Coordinator, Abdulhakeem Adegoke Alawuje, who stated this in a statement in Lagos, described the people working against Tinubu’s presidential bid as enemies of Nigeria.
He insisted that the ex-Lagos governor has the capacity to improve the country’s fortune.
The statement read: “Detractors of Tinubu are not just Jagaban’s opponents, they are the collective enemies of the people, and If Nigerians fail to stop them now, we may not be able to stop them for a very long time.
“Nigerians must reject the elite who are ganging up against Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ambition to become the next Nigerian president.
“One major reason they don’t want Tinubu is because they want to keep holding the nation by the jugular as the ‘owners of Nigeria’ against the interest of the masses.
We all know how these people appropriated the resources of Lagos State before the emergence of Tinubu on the scene in 1999. Except for the respite brought by former governor Lateef Jakande, Lagosians had long been denied the dividends of democracy and fruits of good governance, despite the fact that Lagos was the capital of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“But since Tinubu took over the leadership of Lagos State, it has become a prosperous and a pacesetters state to date, under his guidance and mentorship.
“They had ganged up to appropriate the larger chunk of Lagos resources through their military cronies. They simply assumed they were done with Lagos, until the restructuring reengineered by Asiwaju Tinubu changed the course of event, leading to total liberation of Lagos and the well-being of Lagosians, particularly traders from across the country.
“It’s therefore expedient for those who experienced the past hardships and insecurity to appreciate Tinubu’s courage to spread the joy and wealth that had been monopolised by the privileged few to the detriment of over 20 million Lagosians.
“Their fear now is that the centralised stolen wealth would be redistributed to the advantage of the poor, should the ‘man of the people’ like Tinubu take the rein of power at the centre.”
Khadijah Okunnu-Lamidi, daughter of former Federal Works commissioner, Femi Okunnu, SAN, has declared her interest in the 2023 presidential race.
Speaking on why she’s running, Okunnu-Lamidi said, “I am running for the office of President because I believe Nigeria can harness its potential to be the nation of our dreams. We can move from a third world country into a developed nation with innovation and technology.
“I believe in the possibilities Nigeria holds; that is why I have taken this first step, not because there are no fears, but the will to bring about the Nigeria we all wish, hope and believe we can make a reality together.”
Her father, Femi Okunnu, SAN served as a Federal Commissioner of Works & Housing from 1967-1974.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, on Friday, pledged the loyalty of the military leadership to democratic rule in the country.
Irabor made this known during an interview on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television’s programme, ahead of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
“Today, I believe that Nigerians are no longer in doubt as to the subordination of the military to civil rule; I believe that no one is in doubt that democracy has come to stay,” he said amid the recent military takeover of government in some African countries.
“I believe that no one is in doubt any longer that the current military leadership, and of course, since the democratisation in 1999, that the military is well focused to perform its constitutional roles,” he added.
His statement came amid recent military coups in West African countries such as Mali and Guinea; as well as North-Eastern nation, Sudan.
Irabor admitted that some Nigerians might still be struggling with the experience of military involvement in politics in the past.
Speaking on the significance of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Irabor stressed the need to educate the coming generation about the nation’s history.
“Going forward, I believe that some of these misperceptions that some Nigerians have had with respect to military engagement will begin to change,” he said.
The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof. George Obiozor, said on Thursday the people of South-East preferred a political solution to the travails of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
President Muhammadu Buhari had about two weeks asked the activist to defend himself on the alleged treasonable felony charges hanging on his neck at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The President’s remark ended all hopes of a quick release of the IPOB leader who was brought back to the country on June 27 last year.
Obiozor, who featured in a Channels Television’s programme, Politics Today, urged President Buhari to use his exclusive right of the prerogative of mercy to solve Kanu’s matter and douse the tension in the South-East.
He said: “We in Igboland have made it categorically clear that we prefer a political solution to Kanu’s case — a dialogue to end it. It is clear to the rest of Nigeria.
“And we have repeatedly said that the Igbo nation is not at war with Nigeria. Therefore, what is happening can be handled. I will use the words ‘political solution’ as the answer. Dialogue is the answer.
Just as in other sections of Nigeria, in some areas of Nigeria, people who behaved like Kanu have been forgiven, given amnesty and integrated into the country.
“So, what we are asking is for Mr. President to use the prerogative of mercy to look into the situation in the South-East.
“Prerogative of mercy is exclusively the right of the President. We are not talking about the court. We are not talking about the use of force. The use of force is dangerous for everybody and it will definitely not solve the problem. It will make it worse.
“We are not new to Nigeria’s politics. We saw in South-South — Niger Delta Avengers, MEND — and the rest, even the present Boko Haram, those who said they are repenting, how they are being rehabilitated.
The problem of federalism is that the sensitivity is very much on the surface. If you don’t do one as you have done others, you will have a problem.”
Governors in the six South-West region of Nigeria have joined President Muhammadu Buhari on his one-day visit to Ogun State for the commissioning of five projects by the state governments.
The governors in attendance at the ongoing commissioning ceremony are: Ogun state governor, Dapo Abiodun; Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State; Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti State), Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo State), and Gboyega Oyetola (Osun State). Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state was represented by his deputy, Rauf Olaniyan.
Other dignitaries in attendance include Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State; and former governors of Ogun state, including Chief Olusegun Osoba, Gbenga Daniel, and Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
The President is commissioning the 14km Epe/ Ijebu-ode Expressroad, Ogun Gateway City at Sagamu interchange and the 42km Abeokuta/ Sagamu road.
Other projects to be commissioned include two housing projects. 527 units of a low and medium Housing Scheme at Kobape and the high-brow, 83 duplexes at the Kings Court Estate at Oke Mosan in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Buhari, while speaking at the ceremony in Ijebu Ode hailed the state governor for his infrastructural development efforts since he became governor in 2019.
“The last time I was here was in 2019 to campaign for him as our party’s candidate for governor. I must say, so much have changed since then. I wonder how he could deliver the projects despites the constraints caused by coronavirus,” Buhari stated.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has called on universities, polytechnics, and other tertiary institutions across the country to embrace Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in addressing infrastructural decay.
Mohammed made the call on Tuesday at the unveiling of refurbished and equipped Lecture Theatres at the Faculty of Science at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
Mohammed, who was represented by Mr Buki Ponle, the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said in spite of governments’ efforts, there is still a discernible infrastructure gap across the nation’s tertiary institutions.
According to the minister, many structures and facilities on campuses are today in decay due to neglect over the years.
”The president advised Nigerian universities to find creative ways of exploiting the existing Public-Private Partnership policy to meaningfully bridge the infrastructure gaps existing on their campuses,” the minister said.
Infrastructure decadence in a major challenge faced by most government-owned tertiary institutions in Nigeria, resulting in incessant strike actions by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, as well as other unions and organisations in tertiary institutions.
Almost all of ASUU strikes border, among other issues, on the provision of funds for the revitalisation of dilapidated infrastructure (hostel accommodation, befitting lecture theatres, state-of-the-art laboratories and good working environment for lecturers).
According to Dataphyte, ASUU has had 15 strikes summing up to about 45 months since 1999. The last strike lasted almost a year.
The Ebonyi State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has accused the state government of colluding with the Nigerian Police Force by witch-hunting and intimidating its party members and other opposition.
This was contained in a letter issued by the state’s PDP Chairman, Tochukwu Okorie, titled ‘Save Our Soul from Government Sponsored Terror’, dated January 12, addressed to the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Director General, State Security Service (DSS)
According to the opposition party, the state government in cahoots with the Ebonyi State Police Command “appears to be working hand in gloves with a gang of vicious hoodlums on a reckless rampage” while noting that “well-meaning and law-abiding citizens of Ebonyi State are being pushed beyond tolerable limits by the mayhem, wanton destruction, naked molestation and dehumanising treatment these agents of evil and their pay masters are consistently unleashing on innocent citizens of the state.”
The PDP spokesman also detailed how the party’s Publicity Secretary in Ebony State, Nwoba Chika Nwoba was waylaid by a gang of hoodlums, allegedly with the support of the state government, during a trip along the Abakaliki-Enugu Expressway.
He noted that Chika was molested before abduction by the hoodlums.
Consequently, the PDP itemized its grievances in the letter before the Inspector General of Police.
The rest of the statement reads, “From the foregoing, the IGP is invited to note as follows: That disappearance of people who refused to join the governor’s camp or have disagreement with him has become common place; That bad boys, cultists and hoodlums in Ebonyi State have now been organised into armed gangs to rain terror in the state; That the ‘gunmen’ operating in Ebonyi State, unlike in other states, are known. They operate under the name ‘Ebubeagu’ the state-owned militia; That the quantity of arms in the possession of Ebonyi State gangs is frightening and their seeming collaboration with the police is a cause for concern; That those who survive the organised attack are sure to be detained by the police and arraigned at a ready Magistrate Court on trumped up and frivolous charges.
The IGP may further note that the Ebonyi State Police Command refused PDP access to their secretariat since November 2020 when Governor David Umahi left the party on the very curious and flimsy excuse that he has a Magistrate Court order that says if PDP is allowed into the premises that they will be infected with COVID-19. The IGP may wish to note that, it is unacceptable for Ebonyi State Police Command to promote, protect and support criminal gangs even when their activities have become a disgrace to the name and integrity of the Nigerian Police.
In view of the above, I pray on behalf of Ebonyi State people as follows: That the IGP should as a demonstration of professionalism and respect for the rule of law, intervene to save Ebonyi citizens from state sponsored terror, That the IGP should investigate cases of professional misconduct by the Ebonyi State Police Command in the interest of the image of the Nigerian Police Force, and the personal integrity of the IGP as a fine officer and gentleman; That the IGP should intervene to release Nwoba, who is still in the custody of the police more than 48 hours of his abduction by an armed gang and detention by the police.”
As excitement continues to spread among Nigerians and corporate entities over the lifting of the Twitter ban, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has noted that the ban was a travesty in the first place.
This was contained in a tweet issued on Thursday via its Twitter handle while pledging to commence a lawsuit against President Muhammadu Buhari.
The tweet further revealed that the lawsuit will ensure that Nigerians are adequately compensated as a result of losses accrued during the ban.
“The ban is a travesty; it should never have happened in the first place.
“We’ll see in court to seek orders for adequate compensation and guarantees of non-repetition for the Nigerian victims of the illegal Twitter ban.
The Buhari administration has a legal obligation to effectively redress the consequences of the wrongful act of Twitter suspension,” the SERAP tweeted.
Ripples Nigeria had reported that the Federal Government lifted the suspension on Twitter services after a six-month shutdown.
Former governor of Oyo state, Otunba Christopher Alao Akala dies at the age of 71.
The former governor reportedly died in the early hours of Wednesday in his hometown, Ogbomosho.
Akala served as governor of Oyo state between 2007 and 2011.
He was also a deputy governor under former governor, Rashidi Ladoja between 2003 and 2006, when Ladoja was impeached and consequently, Akala became the acting governor for eleven months.
The Federal Government has ordered all government institutions in Nigeria to fly the country’s national flag at half-mast in honour of former Head of the Interim National Government (ING), Chief Ernest Shonekan, who died on Tuesday.
Shonekan, a boardroom guru, died in the early hours of Tuesday at the age of 85.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, said the flag would fly at half-mast in all government institutions from Wednesday to Friday.
He added that the action was in honour of the deceased.
The statement read: “Following the death of the former Head of the Interim Government, Chief Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan, GCFR, President Muhammadu Buhari, has directed that the national flag be flown at half-mast, effective from Wednesday 12th – Friday 14th, January, 2022 as a mark of respect for the former Head of State who died on Tuesday, 11th January, 2022 at the age of 85.”
A former federal lawmaker, Shehu Sani, on Tuesday decried the menace of bandits and Boko Haram insurgents in the country.
Sani, a staunch critic of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, said in a post on his Facebook page the bandits had established a governance structure, imposed taxes and levies on the people, kidnapped for ransom and installed traditional rulers and Imams, while the government continued to deceive Nigerians with claims of success in the fight against the criminals.
He wrote: “Virtually now, bandits in the North-West have become a state within a state.
Bandits have been able to establish governance structure in the sense that they don’t just kidnap and extort money, it has reached a point where they even install.
“They even install traditional rulers and Imams in these communities. And all of these are happening under the watch of President Buhari.
“And they will continue to lie to Nigerians that they have defeated the bandits and terrorists.”