Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Tuesday 10th March 2020
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 10/03/20
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Okoi Obono-Obla Among Top Persons On ICPC Most Wanted List
Okoi Ofem Obono-Obla, former Chairman of the Special Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, is among top Nigerians named on the list of most wanted persons by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission.
Alongside Obono-obla, others on the list include Dr Lawrence Majekodunmi Ayodele, Chief Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti, Ekiti State; and Onamusi Daniel Onadeko, a former House of Representatives member.
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Okoi Ofem Obono-Obla
Mr Okoi Ofem Obono-Obla, former Chairman of the Special Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, is hereby declared wanted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission for alleged violation of the Corrupt Practices and other related offences Act 2000.
Mr Tony Aiyejina
Mr Tony Aiyejina is wanted for allegedly impersonating the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, and for defrauding an unsuspecting citizen of the sum of N2.5m by promising to secure a federal appointment for her.
Mr Aiyejina initially demanded N10m from the victim and requested that it should be deposited into his United Bank For Africa account.
His address, according to his bank record, is No 15 Jose Martins Street, Line 2, Asokoro, Abuja.
Dr. Lawrence Majekodunmi Ayodele
Dr Lawrence Majekodunmi Ayodele is declared wanted for alleged executive recklessness, financial fraud, gross embezzlement and abuse of office during his tenure as Chief Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Ayodele is from Ekiti State and his last known address was Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Muhammadu Sagiru Umar
Mr Muhammadu Sagiru Umar is wanted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission in connection with swindling intending Pilgrims of Nasarawa State to the sum of N11,550,000:00 in 2015.
Umar is an indegene of Azara Village of Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
He was born on June 1, 1973 and worked with Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Lafia, before absconding from duty in February 2017.
Olude Adeniyi Lateef and Dada Olatunji
Mr Olude Adeniyi Lateef and Mr Dada Olatunji, are wanted in connection with issues bordering on corrupt demand by persons and using office or position for gratification contrary to Sections 10 and 19 of the ICPC Act 2000.
Mr Olude Lateef, an indigene of Ogun State, was born on September 28, 1985 (33 years old). He is dark in complexion, 1.68m tall, and speaks Yoruba.
He is currently a staff of the Federal Fire Service (Kano State Command). His last known address is 15, Daniel Street, Egbeda, Lagos State.
Mr Dada Olatunji is a former Assistant Controller-General, who was dismissed from the Federal Fire Service in 2015.
Mrs. Gladys Aginwa
Mrs Gladys Aginwa is wanted in connection with issues bordering on fraud.
Mrs Aginwa is currently the Managing Director of Smiles and Light Ltd, and her last known address is 13A, Adediran Street, Magodo Phase II, Lagos.
Mr David Akile
Mr David Akile is wanted in connection with issues bordering on fraud.
Akile, an indigene of Benue State, is dark in complexion and was born on December 15, 1976 (41 years old).
His last known address was Zone E, Mashafa Road, Mpape, Abuja, FCT.
Onamusi Daniel Onadeko
Onamusi Daniel Onadeko is wanted in connection with issues bordering on fraud.
Onadeko, a former House of Representatives member and an indigene of Ogun State, is dark in complexion and was born on June 20, 1960 (57 years old).
His last known addresses was Plot 514 Anwalu Close, 7th Avenue, Gwarimpa Estate, FCT, Abuja.
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Nigerian Government Given 30 Days To Prosecute Sacked FIIRO Boss
The Nigerian Government has been given a 30-day ultimatum to prosecute dismissed former Acting Director-General of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, Chima Igwe, or face legal action.
Nigeria’s leading anti-corruption group said on Sunday that Igwe committed felony and should face the consequences.
Igwe was sacked following intensive campaign led by Human and Environmental Development Agenda after a string of media reports that the former FIIRO boss could not justify his doctorate certificate said to have been obtained from a university in Benin Republic.
It was reported that the only evidence of the purported doctorate for 18 years was an attestation letter.
HEDA’s campaign for probe prompted the dismissal of the former FIIRO Acting DG.
In a petition addressed to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, HEDA urged government to ensure Igwe faces the law.
“There cannot be two laws for poor and rich Nigerians. Ordinary people who forged documents are jailed. The rich should not be spared.
“Mr Igwe till date has not justified that he earned a Ph.D. He has been sacked by the Federal Government. That action is not enough. He has to explain to Nigerians whether he actually earned a Ph.D or not. It was on the basis of his so called Ph.D that he earned salaries and privileges from the public resources for 17 years,” HEDA Chairman, Mr Olanrewaju Suraju, wrote in the petition.
HEDA said Igwe’s action amounts to obtaining under false pretence as stated in Section 418 of the Criminal Code.
HEDA said the Attorney-General of the Federation was empowered in Section 174 (1(a) of the 1999 constitution to prosecute Igwe without fair or favour.
The group said, “We hereby demand the immediate prosecution of the former Acting Director-General of Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, Mr Chima Igwe within 30 days from the receipt of this petition.
“And in the event that our request is not acceded to within the slated time frame, we shall not hesitate to institute an action before a court of competent jurisdiction to compel the discharge of your constitutional duties as related to this matter.”
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EFCC Arrests Hotelier, 79 Others In Lagos For Internet Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested a 30-year-old man, Oladimeji Olusegun Ogunfolaju, owner of Lakers Hotel and Lake County Entertainment in Lagos, and 79 others for allegedly involving in Internet fraud.
The hotel, alleged to be a haven for Internet fraudsters, is being guarded by armed security men from three agencies including the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police and the Nigerian Navy.
The suspects were arrested during a sting operation on the hotel located at 29, Ebute-Igbogbo Road, Ikorodu, Lagos, on Saturday, March 7, 2020, following an intensive surveillance and intelligence gathering by the commission about their alleged criminal activities. EFCC Arrests Hotelier, 79 Others in Lagos for Internet FraudOperatives of the EFCC have arrested a 30-year-old Oladimeji Olusegun Ogunfolaju, owner of Lakers Hotel and Lake County Entertainment in Lagos, and 79 others for allegedly involving in internet fraud. pic.twitter.com/jTvEOLjhsy— EFCC Nigeria (@officialEFCC) March 9, 2020
In his statement, Ogunfolaju stated that he built the hotel, which houses a night club and a strip bar, from proceeds of Internet fraud in 2017.
About 60 of the suspects have volunteered useful information, leading to further investigation.
Some of the items recovered from the suspects at the point of arrest include exotic cars, jewellery, mobile phones and documents.
The commission plans to arraign them in court soon.
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BREAKING: Aminu Ado Bayero Announced As New Emir Of Kano
Aminu Ado Bayero has been announced as the new Emir of Kano.
The move comes a few hours after Muhammed Sanusi II was dethroned by the Kano State Government.
A source at the Kano Emirate Council disclosed that the former monarch will take abode in an undisclosed town in Nasarawa State following his removal.
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BREAKING: Emir Of Kano, Sanusi, Dethroned
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Kano State Executive Council approved the dethronement at a special sitting held on Monday.
Since coming on the throne, Sanusi, who rose to become Governor of Nigeria’s Central Bank as a professional, has always spoken out against harmful traditions and practices in the North, often times drawing the ire of elites in the region.
The executive council headed by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano claimed that Sanusi was removed for displaying disregard for laid down rules.
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Social Media Bill A Fatal Accident, Dead, Sowore Tells Nigerian Senate
Rights activist and journalist, Omoyele Sowore, has told the Nigerian Senate that the proposed anti-social media bill was a “fatal accident and dead on arrival”.
The bill, which was widely condemned and rejected by Nigerians, was introduced by Senator Muhammed Musa Sani on November 5, 2019 to criminalise the use of the social media in criticising government and persons holding political offices.
Sowore made the comments while delivering a presentation before the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters during the public hearing of the bill on Monday.
The activist described the bill as crude and outdated, noting that lawmakers should have dissipated energy on how to fix the constitution through referendum.
He said, “The Nigerian Government is the biggest purveyor of fake news. It is categorically false for government to be telling us that economy is working when we know it is not working.
“The final thing I want to say is that this bill is dead.”
Speaking further, Sowore said that SaharaReporters was the first news platform to break the news that former President, Umar Musa Yar’adua, was terminally ill but it was described as false.
He noted that if the bill had been passed at that time, he would have been in jail for allegedly spreading fake information.
Sowore said the bill was aimed at protecting only those in power but not the masses.
He said the system was working in Singapore where the plagiarised bill emanated and cannot be forced on Nigerians.
Civil society organisations and activists, who spoke at the event, asked the Senate to withdraw and trash the bill.
They said the bill would infringe on the rights of Nigerians.
Some of the groups, which kicked against the bill, include Amnesty International, International Press Council, Center for Democracy and Development, Nigerian Union of Journalists, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, among several others.
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The Fulani O To Ge Struggle: A Slap For Fulani By Buhari Olanrewaju Ahmed
Buhari Olanrewaju Ahmed
Buhari Olanrewaju Ahmed
Poverty abound because of the desperate attempt of our politicians. Sons and daughters of a poor parent become another man’s children because of poverty.
An innocent mother resorts to prostitution to feed her children because poverty has overpowered her.
Husbands become fraudsters because they have no hope for survival; all their hopes have been dashed by bad political decisions.
Youths turn to praise-singers, and gradually metamorphose into thugs for politicians. These are deliberate plans by our selfish politicians to keep Nigerians in perpetual mental slavery.
I shook my head over and over again, with the pettiness empowerment called Fulani’s O To Ge struggle by Ismail Kayode Tijani, honourable member of the House of Representatives, representing Oyun, Offa and Ifelodun Constituency of Kwara State.
If one has been favoured with kindness, one ought to give thanks. As young as Hon Ismail Kayode Tijani is, he should have distanced himself from the outdated templates of old politicians who use petty and highly dehumanising “empowerment” programmes to supposedly appease innocent and uneducated people.
Youths occupy almost 90 per cent of his constituency, but they are simply loitering around without education. In spite of this important defect, Hon Ismail Kayode’s constituents are being “empowered” with grinding machines and clippers! Such absurdity is a mockery of our humanity!
A visionary youth leader ought to ensure he empowers his young people academically, as well as helping those who may not choose the academic route with good skill acquisition programmes.
Indeed, looking at the huffiness of Nigerian politicians, they are like a mother whose child plays with her breasts during electioneering period. But, upon emerging victorious, they become a father whose testes are too sacred for a child’s play.
Hon Ismail Kayode Tijani should borrow from the words of Martin Luther King Jr who said “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?”
The question therefore is: is Hon Ismail Kayode Tijani deliberately using grinding machines and clippers to invoke acute poverty on his people and their generations yet unborn, under the guise of empowerment?
Did Hon Ismaïl Kayode Tijani place some people above others, by saying that his petty empowerment this time is for Fulani’s O To Ge struggle?
Oyun, Offa and Ifelodun are under his constituency and in as much as he represents them, he has no right to call some by tribe. It is a slap to the office he occupies.
The good people of Oyun, Offa and Ifelodun deserve good representation not his ongoing pettiness and utter dehumanisation in the name of empowerment.
You don’t dare flog a masquerade that enters your house mistakenly, you politely tell the masquerade that it has missed its way.
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Buhari Olanrewaju Ahmed
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E2%80%99s-dethroning-north-only-beheads-bearers-truth-fredrick-nwabufo On Sanusi’s Dethroning: The North Only Beheads Bearers Of Truth By Fredrick Nwabufo
Fredrick Nwabufo
Fredrick Nwabufo
Northern Nigeria is prostrate. It is the axis of uglies – banditry, insurgency, kidnapping, diseases, ignorance, and drug abuse. Alas! The region’s elite are aware of the problems but look away because the disequilibrious status quo sustains them. What is petrifying however, is that they maul and clobber at anyone who spits the truth in their faces.
I think, this is the mortal sin of Muhammad Sanusi II, Emir of Kano – beyond his politics with Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of Kano.
But wait!
The World Bank says 87 per cent of Nigeria’s poor are in the North. And that while poverty is plummeting in the south, it is rocketing in the upper region.
“Poverty in the Northern regions of the country has been increasing especially in the North-West zone. Almost half of all poor lived in the North-West and the North accounts for 87 percent of all poor in the country in 2016,’’ the Bretton Woods institution said in its report entitled ‘Advancing social protection in a dynamic Nigeria’ in February 2020.
In August, 2019, the federal government revealed that 1,460 people were killed by bandits in seven months. And that the North-West is the worst-hit by this bloody enterprise. The killings have steadied, expanding in proportion and execution in the region.
In his accustomed manner, Sanusi recently vocalised these depressing figures of retrogression in the north – as regards the World Bank report — earning himself praise from progressive Nigerians and reprimand from the usual suspects — those stuck in the cesspit of bigotry.
Also, the gadfly emir of Kano, whom I regard as the John the Baptist of the North for his vociferous condemnation of this status quo, is alone in his advocacy against irresponsible polygamy, Al-majiri and child marriage – practices the northern elite espouse. He is the face of a progressive North; the Northerner of the new age.
As a matter of fact, on different occasions he had complained about the Northern elite whom he said wanted to silence him for speaking the truth about the region.
‘’Our colleagues and compatriots among the elite do not like statistics. Numbers are disturbing. I recently gave a speech in which I said the North-East and North-West of Nigeria are the poorest parts of the country. This simple statement of fact has generated so much heat; the noise has yet to die down. The response to this speech has been a barrage of personal attacks and insults aimed at silencing any voices that dare shine the light on the society to which we are saying Bring Back our Girls,’’ he said at a lecture held to commemorate the Chibok girls abduction.
And I guess they can only take the throne away from him but cannot take away his royalty in the community of decent humans. Really, I believe the emir would rather give up his throne than be gagged by the shareholders of iniquity.
To say the least, Sanusi’s dethroning was not unexpected. Ganduje had always shown his hand in this plot. Really, the emir of Kano never hid his dislike for him. But what is there to like about a governor who was allegedly caught on camera stuffing wads of dollars into his babariga? In the build-up to the 2019 governorship election in the state, the emir was not shy in expressing his disapproval to Ganduje’s candidature.
So, Ganduje, who considers Sanusi a ‘’loud mouth’’, plotted a bitter revenge after he was re-elected. He had moved to remove the emir in 2018 but for the intervention of some ‘’higher powers’’. However, he whittle-down the power of the emir by creating new emirates from his domain. He was not done though. He rustled-up allegations, set up probe panels – all in the desperation to embarrass Sanusi.
But Sanusi was still talking.
Really, one of the most abrasive places to exist is in the circle of non-progressives. You talk different, think different or act different, they will feel threatened. Even when you try to clown around; the aboriginal clowns will still feel threatened because you do not look the part.
I think, Emir Sanusi is light-years away from the people he is dealing with in Kano government. He is needed more at the top echelon of government where he can contribute more meaningfully to the development of Nigeria.
Northern Nigeria is not ready for an emir like Sanusi. He is ahead of his time.
Fredrick Nwabufo is a writer and journalist.
Twitter: @FredrickNwabufo
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Fredrick Nwabufo
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E2%80%99s-right-fair-trial-buhari%E2%80%99s-face-covered-witnesses-should-look-sowore-face-bayo Sowore’s Right To Fair Trial: Buhari’s Face-covered Witnesses Should Look Sowore In Face By Bayo Oluwasanmi
Bayo Oluwasanmi
Bayo Oluwasanmi
It has become the trademark of Buhari’s government to always sprinkle laugh-out-loud humour on important national sensitive issues. It is therefore with home brewed laughter that I read General Muhammadu Buhari’s regime had filed a motion to allow mask witnesses to testify in the upcoming trumped up trial of treason against Omoyele Sowore March 11, 12, and 13, 2020.
In a criminal trial where the accused in this case Omoyele Sowore, was charged with treason to overthrow a democratically elected government, face-to-face confrontation and demeanour evidence are critical to Sowore’s right to a fair trial.
The demeanour of a witnesses is generally considered an important factor in assessing the credibility of the witness. Sowore’s right to adduce and challenge evidence presented by Buhari’s regime will ensure the court’s and Sowore’s access to all possible forms of demeanour evidence.
To ensure justice and fairness, the court should deny the prosecutor the right to use mask witness on the following grounds:
1. Under the confrontation clause in the law, Sowore’s right will be violated if the court allowed Buhari’s witnesses to testify while wearing a mask. To allow any witness to testify against Sowore with his face covered is an intrusion on Sowore’s right to confrontation.
2. The court’s ability to observe the demeanour of witnesses forms a major part of a reliable assessment of credibility. The demeanour of witnesses is considered to be real evidence. When a court takes a note of witnesses’ demeanour, it is in effect observing an evidentiary fact.
3. The right to a face-to-face meeting between Sowore and Buhari’s witnesses affords some personal examination and cross-examination of the witnesses. Sowore will have the opportunity not only for testing the recollection and sifting the conscience of the witnesses, but compel him to stand face-to-face with the judge in order that the judge may look at them, and judge by their demeanour on the witness stand and the manner in which they give their testimonies whether they are worthy of believing.
4. The face-to-face encounter in the confrontation clause is not only between Sowore the accused and Buhari the accuser. The encounter enables the judge “to obtain the elusive and incommunicable evidence of a witness deportment while testifying.”
5. Face-to-face encounter will give Sowore opportunity to cross-examine the adverse witnesses. More importantly, Sowore’s counsel may, for example, notice that the witnesses appear comfortable or uncomfortable, hesitant or confident, indifferent or nervous. Such observations may guide counsel in probing, cajoling, and prying information from the witnesses to the benefit of Sowore, the accused.
6. Face-to-face confrontation also enhances the accuracy of fact finding because of its effect upon the witnesses. “It is always more difficult,” a high court had ruled elsewhere, “to tell a lie about a person to his face than behind his back. The right of confrontation contributes to the establishment of a system of criminal justice in which the perceptions as well as the reality of fairness prevails.”
By filing for a motion at the eleventh hour to seek court’s approval to use face covered witnesses is a plan by Buhari’s regime to keep postponing the trial till 2023. It is tantamount to denial of justice because as they say, “justice delayed is justice denied.” It also underscores the fact that the government is never and will never be ready for a case of treason it can never prove. Knowing full well that the case against Sowore had collapsed like a house of cards, it means Sowore has no case to answer. Frivolous endless adjournment is the most foolish face saving amusement device by the government. This bull crap must be stopped.
Should the prosecutor ask for any adjournment come Wednesday, March 11, 2020, the presiding judge, the Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, should dismiss the case for want of evidence and lack of merit without wasting time and tax payers’ resources.
Let’s go to trial!
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Bayo Oluwasanmi
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Police Rescue Kidnap Victims, Kill Bandit
The police in Kastina State have rescued some kidnap victims and killed one of the bandits, who attacked Yakasai Village under Kurfi Local Government Area of the state.
Spokesperson for the command, Gambi Isah, said the bandits attacked the village on Sunday, shooting sporadically and harming people.
The kidnapped victims are Zaianabu Hamisu and Ali Muazu.
Isah said, “In the process they shot one Alhaji Audu Sabe on his face and wounded one Hamisu Sabe on the head with a stick.
“On receipt of the distress call, DPO Kurfi led a team of policemen and laid ambush at the possible escape route of the bandits.
“Fortunately, after an hour, the hoodlums ran into the police officers and were engaged in a gun duel.
“The DPO and team succeeded in rescuing the two kidnapped victims alive and unhurt while many of the bandits escaped with gun shots wounds.
“One of the wounded bandits identified as Tukur Atti alias “Tukuru” was found fatally wounded and unconscious in the forest. He died on the way to the hospital.”
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Police Arrest Three Men For Stealing Body Parts At Cemetery
Three men are in police custody for allegedly stealing body parts from a cemetery.
The men including Dauda Tijani, Olawale Shodolamu and Seun Falana, a staff of Trinity Cemetery, were arrested by a team of policemen from Area E Command, FESTAC, while on routine stop and search patrol at Alakija bus-stop along Badagry Expressway.
According to spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Bala Elkana, Tijani confessed that he was sent by a herbalist to collect the skull from the cemetery attendant.
The herbalist also confessed that he usually grinds human skull together with other substances to prepare herbs and charms for customers.
Elkana said, “The third suspect was equally arrested. He confessed digging out graves to remove human skulls to sell to herbalists.”
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