Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Thursday 27th August 2020
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 27/08/20
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COVID-19: Groups Decry Rising Unemployment, Call For Increased Investment In Akwa Ibom, Others
Two youth organisations in Akwa Ibom State, Afe Mkparawa Annang and Supreme Council of Ibibio Youths, have decried the rising levels of unemployment across Nigeria, calling for more investments to open up local economies to empower more households and individuals.
According to the groups, the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic has further escalated things, piling pressure on the economy and leading to thousands of job losses for many Nigerians.
While commending a Turkish investor, Mr Onur Kumral, whose companies – Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing Limited, and Kings Flour Mill Limited – the groups said had created employment for many young people in Nigeria, Afe Mkparawa Annang and Supreme Council of Ibibio Youths said the Nigerian Government must create an enabling environment for more foreign investors to bring their money into the country and help reduce the unemployment index by creating jobs.
In a letter of commendation to Kumral, Afe Mkparawa Annang through its President, Prince Adede Uduak Akpan, said Kumral’s three establishments had provided over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians, thereby contributing to the state’s Internally Generated Revenue over the years.
The letter reads in part, “We are pleased to inform you that following your impact in Nigeria especially in Akwa Ibom State in the area of job creation and employment generation for Nigerians, Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing Limited and its Chairman, Mr Onur Kumral, have been nominated for an award of excellence by our organisation.
“We in Afe Mkparawa Annang are very hopeful that this award will inspire you even more to continue to create jobs for Nigerians.”
Also commending Kumral for strengthening the local economy through job creation, Supreme Council of Ibibio Youths President, Atauko Samuel Brown, and General-Secretary, Iwaad Akanimo Lawrence, called on the Nigerian Government to enact policies that will attract more foreign investors into the country.
The group said, “The VKS Group comprising Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing Limited and Kings Flour Mill Limited have given Akwa Ibom State a new face and a place of pride among the comity of states in the country.
“Through creating jobs for our people, we have no doubt that the local economy will be opened and more households can be liberated. We appreciate your steadfastness in service delivery.
“It is our belief that you will maintain your integrity in all facades of projects.”
Restating his group’s commitment to wealth creation in Akwa Ibom and other parts of Nigeria, the VKS Chairman said, “We are in Nigeria to build viable business concerns, transfer advanced technology to Nigerians, train and retrain the people and position them to grow their economy and create more job opportunities in the future.
“We are on course with our vision. Our industries; Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing Limited and Kings Flour Mill Limited are already producing and supplying to the local markets. Youths have been employed. Some Nigerians were sent to Turkey for advanced training in different areas and they are doing quite well and training others.”
According to economic analyst, Olumide Durojaiye, only concerted efforts by government at all tiers in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders will help Nigeria’s economy withstand the cracks created by the outbreak of Coronavirus.
He said massive job creation to absorb a sizeable chunk of Nigeria’s teeming youthful population was one of the best ways out to the country’s rising unemployment index, which has dire consequences on crime rate.
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PDP Candidate, Jegede, Accuses Governor Akeredolu Of Arrogance, Says APC Won’t Rule Forever
Eyitayo Jegede, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State, has described Governor Rotimi Akeredolu as “arrogant” for saying the All Progressives Congress would rule the state forever.
Akeredolu had on Tuesday in Akure, the state capital, at a public function said members of the APC needed to work harder so that the party can continue to rule the state forever.
The governor also added that it was not the turn of the Central Senatorial District where Jegede hails from to produce a governor, saying the district should wait for the next 12 years.
Reacting on Wednesday, Jegede said Akeredolu’s statement was least expected of a governor, who is supposed to campaign based on issues.
He also described as oppressive, the utterances of the governor noting that the people are ready to vote him out of office come October 10.
In a statement by Head, Media Research of his campaign organisation, Samuel Fasua, said the people of the state can no longer be deceived by any politician.
He said, “What on earth would move a governor to be playing god and talking down on the people that a particular political party will rule them forever?
“It is altogether amusing that the governor has turned himself to ‘a prophet of everlasting rule’, for a party that has left the people of the state impoverished, and allowed social infrastructure to decay in the last three and half years.
“That statement was not only arrogant and oppressive, it also presented a supposed leader talking down on the people, out of desperation to stave off a looming electoral defeat.
“The people can no longer be fooled with irrelevant tales, in the face of mass poverty and apparent display of opulence by some pseudo-aristocrats, who are currently presiding over the fiefdom that Ondo State has been reduced to.”
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Farmers Go Spiritual In Ondo Over Lack Of Rain, Warn Of Food Scarcity
Farmers Compensation For Foodstuffs Lost Due To Fulani Herdsmen
Farmers in Ondo State on Wednesday said that the irregular rainfall in the state was posing serious threat to their activities and production of crops.
The farmers stated that inadequate rainfall in the state had also disrupted the usual planting season in the state.
They observed that the rain had stopped falling since May, causing difficulties for farmers.
Farmers in Ondo State
SaharaReporters Media
Some farmers, who spoke with SaharaReporters, said they were experiencing unfavourable weather conditions, which is not good for agriculture in the Southern part of the country.
A farmer, Mr Oluwatosin Ibiyemi, told our correspondent that the lack of rain was a sign of impending famine and food hike that will worsen the state’s economy.
Ibiyemi revealed that farmers in the community have already taken to prayers and other spiritual aspects to change their fortunes.
Another farmer in Akoko, Mr Olawole Ogunmuyiwa, revealed that the development had also made many wells dry up, while crops suffered a similar fate due to lack of water to flourish.
He added that the situation had become worrisome as farmers were facing uncertainty in the repayment of loans obtained to plant this year, which had been destroyed by drought.
He said, “The fertiliser I applied to my maize plantation did not dissolve due to lack of rainfall and it is certain that this would negatively affect productivity.”
A farmer and cleric with a pentecostal church in Akure, Mr Babalola Ademosun, said they have been praying and seeking the face of God to send down rains.
Speaking with SaharaReporters, Adeola Adegoke, National President of Cocoa Association of Nigeria, said the inadequate rainfall was a national tragedy to farmers.
Adegoke said there was a need for farmers to key into an irrigation system to save their crops.
He said, “It is disheartening, our agriculture in the Southern part depends solely on rainfall to survive but sadly we can’t see the rains.
“You would notice that reasonable dams are almost everywhere in the Northern part while there are only a few ones here in the South.
“So, the lack of rain already portends danger on our food security and cash production.
“This is why government has to urgently come in and assist because agriculture is key. They can establish a modular irrigation system.”
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Mompha Regains Freedom, Drops Suit Against EFCC
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has released suspected cyber fraudster, Ismaila Mustapha, alias Mompha, about two weeks after he was rearrested by the anti-graft agency in Lagos, a report by PUNCH said.
His lawyer, Mr Gboyega Oyewole (SAN), confirmed his release on bail on Wednesday.
Oyewole added that Mompha had withdrawn the N5m fundamental rights suit he filed against the EFCC to challenge his rearrest.
Mompha, who is answering N32bn fraud charges before the Federal High Court in Lagos, was rearrested on August 14 when he went to the EFCC office in Ikoyi, Lagos, to reclaim his five wristwatches, one Apple Air pod, one iPhone 8 mobile phone and one pair of sunglasses, seized from him by the anti-graft agency since last year.
His visit to the EFCC office followed a July 24 ruling by Justice Mohammed Liman ordering the release of the items to him.
But Mompha, through Oyewole, had contended that his rearrest was unjustifiable and unlawful in the N5m suit he slammed against the EFCC.
But spokesperson for the EFCC, Mr Dele Oyewale, said Mompha’s rearrest was justified as it was connected to a fresh set of cyber fraud, which had nothing to do with the earlier money laundering charges over which he had been arraigned.
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I Killed Another Woman After My Escape –Ibadan Serial Killer, Shodipe
Suspected serial killer in Ibadan, Oyo State, Sunday Shodipe, has said that a herbalist mounted pressure on him to escape from police custody.
Shodipe disclosed this on Wednesday when he was paraded by the Oyo State Police Command.
Commissioner of Police in the state, Nwachukwu Enwonwu, who paraded him alongside other suspects on Wednesday, said Shodipe went back to Akinyele and carried out another killing after he escaped from police custody.The CP said the suspect escaped from police custody on August 11 and carried out the killing of Mrs Funmilayo Oladeji at her home two days after his escape.When Shodipe was asked by journalists where he went to after his escape, he confirmed he went to Akinyele again and killed another victim there.He said he fled the police station to carry out rituals in the interest of one Idris Ajani, a 50-year-old herbalist, he was arrested with.
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How Ibadan Suspected Serial Killer Murdered Another Woman Shortly After Escape From Police Custody
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He said the herbalist threatened him in custody, saying there would be dire consequences if he did not escape to continue the killings.“Baba (herbalist) had been telling Officer Funsho to open the gate to allow us to take our bath but the officer did not answer him. Baba later told the officer that he needed to drink gin as an herbalist to prevent spirits from draining his blood but the officer still did not answer him.“Baba had been blaming me for telling the police and the public that he was the one that sent me to kill and that I would have been released from the custody if I had been untruthful.
“Baba also told me that something terrible might happen to him if he stayed too long in police custody because of the sacrifices he had not been performing since his arrest.
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BREAKING: Police Rearrest Ibadan Suspected Serial Killer
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“So, when the police later allowed me to go and bath in the evening at about 7:00pm, I used the opportunity to escape and went to Akinyele to kill another woman.
“Baba sends me out and tells me to kill by reciting his name, Idris Adedokun Yunusa Ajani, in incantations. So, I killed the women to ensure Baba’s safety.”
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Afenifere, Others Reject Control Of Amotekun By Nigeria’s Inspector-General Of Police
Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has rejected plans by the Nigerian Government to use the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to determine and control the structure of Amotekun and other security outfits in states.
National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, disclosed this while speaking with SaharaReporters on Wednesday in reaction to a statement credited to Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.
Odumakin said the plan by the IGP to determine and control the structure of Amotekun and other security outfits in states was an attempt aimed at muzzling and whittling down the operations of such outfits using command and control gimmick.
Odumakin said it was an indication that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government was not interested in the security of lives and properties of Nigerian citizens.
He said that the South-West region would resist any attempt to truncate or thwart the operations of Amotekun, which is backed by law passed by the six state parliaments.
He said, “They are not interested in the security of Nigerians. What they are interested in is command and control and to be in charge. The moment you submit Amotekun to the control of IGP, that is the end of it. We will reject such a move.”
Commander of Ondo State Security Network Agencies, Adetunji Adeleye, said the Amotekun Corps cannot be subsumed under the guise of community policing by the Nigerian Government.
Adeleye told SaharaReporters that Amotekun was a grassroots security outfit that already had its own legal backing.
He said the security outfit was established to compliment efforts of existing security agencies in the South-West region to curtail crime.
Adeleye said, “The Amotekun Corps is a baby of the law set up for policing and protection of its own people.
“You cannot subject the structure of the Amotekun Corps to the directive from the Inspector-General of Police or any other legal entity.
“All Amotekun does is to complement all existing security agencies in the country including the police.
“The constitution guarantees the state to also have its own security outfit so far they are backed up by laws guiding their operations. There is a law put in place which has even been passed by state Houses of Assemblies guiding the operations of the Amotekun Corps.”
While noting that the state was not against the government to create community policing, Adeleye said they have already fashioned out a way to protect people of the region.
On his own part, spokesperson for the United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy, Tony Uranta, said Garba Shehu had a right to his views but cannot decide for people on how they would secure their lives and property in the face of the challenges of insecurity confronting the nation.
He called on the governors in South-South and South-East to team up in solidarity and support the South-West governors to ensure that Amotekun was not hijacked by the Federal Nigerian Government.
Uranta said, “We seize this opportunity to call on governors and state parliaments of South-East and South-South states to expedite the process of establishing their regional security outfits and demand that they solidarise with the governments of the South-West to ensure that Amotekun was not hijacked by the Federal Government in any way.”
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Nigeria-US Relations: Questing For Ambassador Adefuye’s Template By Olufemi Soneye
“There are ambassadors who are here years, and pass on, and no one notices that they were ever here, that certainly wasn’t the case with Amb. Adefuye” – J. Peter Pham, Director of the Africa Center at the Atlantic Council, Washington, DC.
Demographically and by the size of her economy, Nigeria leads the rest of Africa. Nigeria’s estimated population is more than 190 million and this is expected to grow to 400 million and make her the third most populous country in the world after China and India by 2050. It would be recalled that the US established diplomatic relations with Nigeria in 1960, following the country’s independence from the UK.
The US is arguably the largest foreign investor in Nigeria, with her Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) concentrated largely in the petroleum/mining and wholesale trade sectors. Beyond the strategic sectors’ volatilities, at $2.2 billion in 2017, Nigeria is the second largest U.S. export destination in Sub-Saharan Africa. Both have a bilateral trade and investment framework agreement. In 2017, the two-way trade in goods between the two nations totaled over $9 billion. Nigeria is eligible for preferential trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
Both belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization. Nigeria also is an observer to the Organization of American States.
It is against this background, as well as recalling the exit of diplomat par excellence, Ambassador (Prof.) Adebowale Adefuye, Nigeria’s top-notch former US ambassador who died on August 27, 2015, that a fair deconstruction of the plummeting bilateral Nigeria-US relations can best be attempted.
The critical and strategic importance of the bilateral diplomatic and economic relations between these continental giants in the global big picture makes it imperative that Nigeria gets right the personality given the responsibility to adroitly manage the two-nation interface and intercourse. And this necessarily recalls and significantly centralizes the groundbreaking contributions of the late Ambassador Adefuye.
This is even more so because five years after Adefuye’s death, Nigeria’s diplomacy with the US is still suffering in Washington. Before his death, he had just completed his tour of duty to the US as the nation’s ambassador, having been recalled alongside other envoys, by President Muhammadu Buhari. Feelers then were that President Buhari was going to reappoint him or offer him another assignment. Before he was asked to step down, Ambassador Adefuye had organized Muhammadu Buhari’s first official visit to the US as president.
He was appointed Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States in 2010 by President Umaru Yar’Adua, following the recall of General Oluwole Rotimi over differences with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ojo Maduekwe, and the very controversial rejection of Prof. Tunde Adeniran as ambassador-designate to the US.
Before then, Adefuye was Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Jamaica, with concurrent accreditation to Belize and Haiti (1987 – 1991), Deputy High Commissioner at the Nigerian High Commission in London (1991 – 1994), Deputy Director of Strategic Planning at the Commonwealth Office, UK (1994 -2008) and Special Advisor with the Economic Community of West African States – (ECOWAS), (2008-2010). Adefuye’s brilliant skills and prior accomplishments leveraged him in his role as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the US. He was Ambassador to the US at a period of trying, often frosty and contradictory relationship between Nigeria and Washington. It was his job to promote better relations between Nigeria and the US, to look after the interests of Nigerians in the US and to defend Nigeria.
More, he faced severe financial stress also as the embassy lacked necessary funds for consular activities. At some point the embassy needed about $700,000 monthly to pay bills, salaries of local staff members and diplomats, medical insurance, vehicle insurance, security, cleaners and others. Sometimes for two, three months, Abuja would not send money and when they did it fell short of what was needed.
Despite all these problems, he was still the ambassador par excellence in Washington. He coordinated the African Ambassadors Forum in Washington with meetings always being held at the International Drive facility of the embassy of Nigeria. He did not allow the challenges to affect his duty; he defended Nigeria with passion. He was always at the State Department, making a case for Nigeria.
He was mad at the late U.S ranking senator, John McCain, for referring to the then president of Nigeria as “some guy named Goodluck Jonathan.”
The late ambassador in his response said “the ranking Arizona Senator and former Republican presidential candidate has inexplicably seized on the pain of a distressed nation not only to show contempt to our country but also denigrate the office and person of His Excellency, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
“One wonders what could have happened if the 2008 elections have gone the other way and McCain became the President of the most powerful nation in the world,” Adefuye continued. “The good Lord has a better plan for the people of the world.”
When Barack Obama emerged as the 44th US President in 2009, many African diplomats perhaps had imagined his tenure would incept a new era of golden relationship between Africa and the US. President Obama’s African roots never brought this expectation to fruition. The Nigeria-US relation under President Obama was uneasy and lukewarm for unclear reasons.
A year before Adefuye was posted to the US, in 2009, the underwear bomber incident had occurred involving a 23-year old Nigerian, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, now in jail in the US. Abdumutallab confessed to working with Al-Qaeda to detonate plastic explosives hidden in his underwear while on a Northwest Airlines flight to the US on Christmas Day, 2009.
That was a very bad moment for Nigeria as she was perceived in the US as a potential terrorist and watering hole for terrorists. Not surprisingly, Nigeria was placed on the US terrorism watch list. By the time Adefuye arrived as Ambassador, the situation had worsened with the escalation of Boko Haram insurgency.
Then, there was the tragic bomb attack on the UN building in Abuja, in August 2011, resulting in the death of 21 persons – rightly outraging the international community. In November 2013, the US designated Boko Haram a Foreign Terrorist Organization. In the face of all these extreme challenges, Adefuye spoke up for Nigeria. He understood the implications of Nigeria being branded an outpost of ISIS or Al-Qaeda: implications for investments in Nigeria, and the national brand and identity.
His sheer persistent patriotism leveraged his image and he became very well known in the US State Department and across policy and diplomatic circles in Washington DC. Adefuye set up President Goodluck Jonathan’s first and subsequent meetings with President Obama and was instrumental to the re-energization of the US-Nigeria Bilateral Commission.
A tireless Adefuye penned newspaper articles to defend Nigeria and published a newsletter to boot. Notwithstanding the issues with the Obama administration, Ambassador Adefuye managed to win over Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who willy-nilly became a good friend of Nigeria.
Adefuye obtained a Ph.D from the University of Ibadan in 1973, and was later a Fulbright scholar in the United States at Columbia University, the University of North Florida, and the University of Florida. He later taught history at the University of Lagos, Nigeria, eventually becoming a Professor of History and Head of Department of History (1985 -1987). He made his mark as a scholar as well.
Five years after his demise, the audacious diplomatic engagement template he cobbled still stands as a compass to guide Nigeria’s choice of appointment of a future ambassador(s) to manage the uncommonly strategic Nigeria-US economic and diplomatic relations.
The plaudits he has garnered over four decades of professional and diplomatic trajectories remain indelible for obvious reasons. And what’s more, great lives are indeed deathless.
Soneye is Publisher of Per Second News
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PDP Raises Alarm Ahead Of Supreme Court Judgment On Kogi Election
Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello
The Peoples Democratic Party Campaign Council in Kogi State has raised the alarm ahead of the Supreme Court ruling on the 2019 Kogi governorship election.
In a statement by Comrade Austin Usman Okai, the party alleged that judges were under pressure to play along with Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello.
According to the group, Bello “dared party faithful in Kogi State with the impression that they have a bad case”.
The group urged the apex court to stand firm against the alleged manipulations of the judiciary by the Kogi governor.
The Supreme Court had on Tuesday fixed August 31 to give judgment in the appeal brought before it by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Musa Wada.
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Nigerian Government Approves N722.3m For Forensic Audit Of NDDC
The Federal Executive Council has approved N722.3m for the forensic audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission.
Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, disclosed this on Wednesday after the virtual FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to Akpabio, the field auditors will undertake a complete forensic exercise of the NDDC activities in their respective states of assignments and ascertain total funds and resources paid to contractors for all projects.
They would also compare the total amount of resources expended with the value of what was delivered to the commission and establish if such value is commensurate with the resources expended.
He disclosed that the auditors were also mandated to look into the 12,000 abandoned projects by the NDDC in the Niger Delta.
He said, “By the time I assume office in August 2019, we discovered there was no budget for the NDDC for the year 2019 up to that September.
“So, we submitted two budgets in November to the National Assembly. And it took quite a while until in April. The budget details were given out to the NDDC in April, to end 31st of May, less than six weeks.
“Unfortunately, the National Assembly is right now on leave and the budget of NDDC for 2020 has not been passed. So, to enable us to move forward with the exercise and complete it on time, Mr President graciously directed and approved that the payment for the forensic exercise should be undertaken through the Presidency.”
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Nigeria Police Ignores Court Judgment, Fails To Release Men Illegally Detained On Orders Of Billionaire, Ned Nwoko
The Nigeria Police Force has refused to release two residents of Idumuje-Ugboko in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, Cheta Okolo and Onyeisi Isuzor, despite court judgment ordering their release, SaharaReporters has gathered.
SaharaReporters found out that Okolo and Isuzor were arrested on the orders of Nigerian billionaire and former senator, Ned Nwoko, for opposing his attempt to forcefully acquire additional 90 hectares of land from an area earmarked for all indigenes of the community.
On June 22, 2020, acting on Nwoko’s directive, the duo were arrested by the police and detained at the State Command in Asaba, the capital.
They were detained unlawfully until July 7, 2020 when they were charged to court at Isele-Uku on charge no MI/22/2020, for the offences of conspiracy and attempted murder of one Nathaniel Bama.
SaharaReporters gathered Cheta and Onyeisi were remanded by the court at the police headquarters pending the Department of Public Prosecution’s advice.
On July 7, 2020, the Nathaniel Bama, who Nwoko said was attacked by the duo, swore to an affidavit that they did not commit any crime against him.
The DPP on August 4, 2020, advised that there was no prima facie case against Cheta and Onyeisi, and recommended their release from custody.
It was further learnt that on the DPP’s advice, the magistrate court on August 5, 2020 struck out the charges against Cheta and Onyeisi and ordered their release.
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Instead of releasing them, SaharaReporters gathered that the duo were transferred to the Force Criminal Investigative Department in Abuja on the orders of Nwoko, where they have been in custody for weeks.
Having gotten wind that the DPP has again advised that there was no prima facie case against them, the former lawmaker quickly got officials of Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja, to file a charge of terrorism and murder against Cheta and Onyeisi at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
“One may ask, when did community dispute become a terrorist act that the office of the AGF had to personally get involved in? Hand of Esau, voice of Jacob.
“Even if there is any semblance of truth in the charge (which is not conceded), why file a charge in Abuja for a dispute that wholly arose in Delta State? Where will the Abuja FHC find territorial jurisdiction? Again, hand of Jacob, voice of Esau.
“Ned Nwoko influenced these new charges because he has not been able to buy the DPP in Delta State,” a resident of the community told SaharaReporters.
He said all efforts by the community to get the duo released on bail had been rebuffed by the police.
SaharaReporters recalled residents of Idumuje Ugboko had earlier accused Nwoko of using police and Ministry of Justice officials to dubiously harass, intimidate and lock up elders and sons of the town.
In a “Save Our Souls” petition signed by Jerry Isichel and Daniel Osakwe and submitted to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, the residents accused Nwoko and the police of malicious destruction of their property, disobedience to the order of the court, assault occasioning harm, abuse of public office, unlawful arrest, false imprisonment and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.
The petition reads, “Ned Nwoko has visited untold cruelty on the people of Idumuje Ugboko. He has used the police and Justice Ministry to dubiously harass, intimidate and lock up our elders and sons, charging us with the most heinous crimes in Nigeria’s criminal penal code, terrorism and murder. Our sons have been languishing in jail for the past three years and denied due process because Ned Nwoko has used his billions of naira to compromise justice and the police in Delta State and Abuja.
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Delta Residents Accuse Ex-lawmaker, Ned Nwoko, Of Using Police To Forcefully Take Over Land, Jail Kinsmen
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“In the year 2000, Ned Nwoko applied for and was magnanimously allocated 34 hectares of land, free of charge by the community. In his application, he expressed a desire to build a dairy farm. Chief of the guidelines for this allocation as, administered by a Land Committee, is that any individual allotted land in that development area of the town must utilize the land within five years, for the purpose it was allotted. Any contravention of this guideline will result in the said land reverting automatically to the community. It is noteworthy that 20 years on, Ned Nwoko is yet to build the dairy farm. And not once did the community insist that the land be reclaimed from him as stipulated in the Land Committee guideline.
“Sometime in 2015, Ned Nwoko came with another scheme. This time he needs 90 hectares of land to build a university. The whole community home or abroad, rose in unison to say no! The community advised him to utilise the initial 34 hectares for whatever proposed project he had. To make up the 90 hectares of land he is hell bent on forcefully taking, he went beyond the area mapped out for development by the community. He encroached on the Owu kindred ancestral land. The community, led by the town’s union maintained that an individual cannot be bigger than the community. Therefore, it insisted that Ned cannot forcefully take all the community’s development land and also add people’s ancestral lands. He then resorted to oppression, intimidation, arrests and incarceration of leading members of the town’s union and leaders of thought who are vehemently opposed to his land-grabbing antics.
“He imports police from Abuja to ambush and arrest the men who oppose him, then transfer them to Abuja and have them locked up indefinitely without due process. Many of them were held in Kuje Prison on trumped up charges of terrorism and murder for months, while others were unjustly locked up for upward of two years in Agbor Prison, Delta State.
“It is imperative to place on record that the Nigerian police has become a willing tool in Ned’s malevolent schemes to totally annihilate any opposition in his inordinate quest to forcefully dispossess the ordinary people of Idumuje Ugboko of the ancestrally bequeathed possession.”
Ned Nwoko.pdf
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scanned copy of FRN V C. OKOLO.pdf
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EXHIBITS A TO D (F.R.N v OKOLO).pdf
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Legal
Police
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Ned Nwoko.pdf
scanned copy of FRN V C. OKOLO.pdf
EXHIBITS A TO D (F.R.N v OKOLO).pdf
Original Author
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SaharaReporters, New York
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