Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Wednesday 2nd September 2020
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 02/09/20
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DSS Quizzes Nigerian Musicians, Don Jazzy, Tiwa Savage Over Alleged Political Utterances Against President Buhari’s Government
Details have emerged on how Nigerian music producer, Michael Ajereh widely known as Don Jazzy, and Tiwatope Savage popularly known as Tiwa Savage, were invited by the Department of State Serviced for questioning over alleged political utterances against the administration of President Muhamamdu Buhari.
In recent months, following a sharp rise in sexual assault cases across Nigeria especially against women, Tiwa Savage began a movement known as “WeAreTired” in protest of the situation.
Through the movement, the musician called on Buhari’s administration to take action to stem the tide of rape in the country.
According to findings by SaharaRepoters, this in addition to several posts on social media calling on the government to live up to its responsibilities to Nigerians earned Tiwa Savage an invitation by the DSS.
Together with Don Jazzy, Savage was invited to the DSS office in Lagos two weeks ago during which they were warned to be careful with their posts on the social media.
Shortly after that episode, the two celebrities together with colleagues Yemi Alade and Waje were summoned by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Muazu, who while sharing efforts they were making to tackle rape and other problems in the state and country, warned the musicians to steer clear of political comments in order not to incur the wrath of the President Buhari administration.
A member of Tiwa Savage’s management team, who confirmed the development to SaharaRepoters, said that the celebrated female artiste will not stop speaking for Nigerians regardless of any move by governnent.
But as if to confirm the subtle warning from governnent, Don Jazzy and Tiwa Savage both appear to have toned down their social media posts in recent days after the meeting with the DSS and police in Lagos.
For example, Don Jazzy, who is known to actively engage his numerous followers on social media, last posted anything on Twitter more than 22 hours while Tiwa never continued with her hashtag after the meeting with DSS Director at their Shangisha, Lagos office.
Apart from the two celebrities, the DSS has also invited a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Obadiah Mailafia, over his comments on the operations of Boko Haram in the Northern part of Nigeria.
While speaking on a radio programme, Mailafia had stated that a serving governor in the North was the commander of Boko Haram.
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Again, DSS Invites Former CBN Deputy Governor, Mailafia, Over Comments On Terrorism
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He was invited twice for questioning by the DSS and also invited for interrogation by the police in Abuja, which he turned down by seeking a relief in court.
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E2%80%99s-minister-aviation-hadi-sirika-builds-multi-million-naira-mansion-katsina Nigeria’s Minister Of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, Builds Multi-million Naira Mansion In Katsina With Suspected Public Funds
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has erected a multi-million mansion in his native Katsina.
The building, discovered to have been erected within few months, is suspected to have been executed with suspected public funds.
SaharaReporters gathered the sprawling edifice is located in Shargalle under Dutsi Local Government Area.
The minister in 2018 allegedly spent millions of naira to design a logo for the failed Nigeria Air project.
In a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria branch of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners asked the President to probe the financial commitment of Sirika to the suspended national carrier project.
The union alleged that Sirika was secretive about the spending of government to the project, saying that once investigated, billions of naira expended on the failed project would be unearthed.
Some stakeholders had alleged that for the logo design, which was awarded to a foreign firm, FROM6 Communication in Bahrain, cost the government a whopping $600,000 (about N219m).
Besides, the Nigerian Government approved the sum of N1.524,492,863.62 to hire Transaction Advisers and other projects for the now suspended national carrier. PHOTONEWS: Nigeria’s Minister Of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, Putting Finishing Touches To His Newly Built Multi-million Naira Palace In Shargalle, Katsina State pic.twitter.com/IInUmXmz6n— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) September 1, 2020
Also, the road shows held in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom with hundreds of ministry staff, witnessed the signing of Memorandum of Understandings with aircraft manufacturers, technical personnel, Transaction Advisers, fast-track committee and others.
A whopping $300m earmarked as five per cent for the project by the Nigerian Government and several other millions of dollars are said to have been expended on the failed national carrier initiative.
Petition To President Buhari On Sirika
ATTENTION OF:MR. PRESIDENT,FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.
PROBE IS URGENTLY NEEDED ON HADI SIRIKA.THE AVIATION MINISTER.
Mr. President,
The Concerned Citizens of Nigeria hereby invite, YOU, The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, herein referred as “Federal Government of Nigeria”, to without delay commence the probe of the Aviation Minister: Hadi Sirika.
The Aviation Minister, having proudly displayed this Mulit Million Naira building built in Katsina State has alot of questions to answer.
Basically, corruption or corrupt practises must be investigated.
Mr President and EFCC Boss, therefore, should know that “NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW”, if actually your government is fighting corruption then show it here without delay.
If an Igbo person or Yoruba person build this house in his or her state whilst serving as a Minister, the whole world will term the PERSON CORRUPT.
Please, Mr. President, I hope you know that what is “good for the goose, is also good for the garnder”.
(Cyril C. ELUMA, Esq.)
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Gombe PDP Spokesperson Remanded In Prison For Insulting Governor Yahaya, APC Members
Khalid Mu’azu Izala, the Public Relations Officer of the Peoples Democratic Party in Gombe Local Government Area of Gombe State, has been remanded in prison custody for allegedly insulting Governor Inuwa Yahaya and some members of the All Progressives Congress.
Izala is being detained on the orders of an area court following his arraignment for “defamation of character”.
He was arrested on Friday by policemen from Lowcost Division based on the complaint of an APC chieftain, Garba Mohammed Mairago, who accused him of using his Facebook page sometime in 2019 to write defamatory statements against him (Mairago) and some unnamed members of the APC in the state.
He was also accused of critising the policies and programmes of Governor Yahaya’s administration.
The police prosecutor, Sergeant Joel Peter, on Tuesday told the court that the accused was charged with one-count charge of defamation of character, which was contrary to Section 391 of the Penal Code Law.
Therefore, his defense counsels, Habu Abdu and Benjamin Sati, applied for his bail under Sections 36 (5), 36 (B) of the 1999 constitution as amended and Sections 340 (1), 341 (3) and 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).
However, Peter objected the bail application and told the court that the accused person may jump bail or obstruct the ongoing police investigation if he was released from detention.
The presiding judge, Chief Magistrate Bello Shariff, adjourned the case until September 8 for ruling on bail application and ordered that the accused be remanded in Gombe Central Correctional Centre.
In March, two members of the PDP in Gombe State, Atiku Boza-Boza and Adamu Babale, were also detained in prison following their arraignment in court for allegedly insulting the state governor.
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BREAKING: Former APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, Involved In Accident, Two Policemen Killed
Two policemen have died while others were left injured in a auto accident involving the convoy of former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, along the Benin bye-pass in Benin, Edo State.
SaharaReporters gathered that a truck rammed into the middle of the convoy while the former Edo State governor was going to a political rally in Usen, Ovia South-East Local Government Area.
A source close to Oshiomhole said he escaped by the whiskers.
Governorship candidate of the APC in the state, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, described the accident as a plot to kill the former governor.
Iyamu in a statement also suspended all his campaign activities.
He said, “I wish to send my deepest sympathies to families, friends, and all who knew the two exceptional policemen we lost today in the tragic and disturbing crash involving the convoy of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole travelling with other leaders to a campaign event in Usen, Ovia South East LGA.
“We have since called off all campaign events scheduled for today and joined efforts with Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to ensure the best care for injured persons
“The circumstances of the crash were indeed curious and have left us deeply concerned, as the truck responsible for the crash, according to witness accounts of those in the convoy and other road users, appeared to have deliberately rammed into the convoy.
“While awaiting the conclusion of the investigation of the police in response to our petition, I urge our party followers across the state to remain calm and alert. May God rest the dead, amen.”
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CAN Writes President Buhari Over CAMA Law, Wants Implementation Suspended
The Christian Association of Nigeria has written a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, requesting him to suspend the implementation of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020.
In a letter signed by CAN President, Samson Ayokunle, the association said it was yet to be availed with the authentic version of the voluminous Act, made up of 870 sections besides the sundry and complex schedules and addendum.
The letter reads, “While we sincerely appreciate the courtesy of your invitation, we are, however, constrained from doing so on the following grounds: We are yet to be availed with the authentic version of the voluminous Act, made up of 870 sections besides the sundry and complex schedules and addendum.
“Furthermore, we are mindful that comments in public domain are beginning to indicate that CAMA, 2020 has the potential that can further undermine the faith of stakeholders in the Nigerian-state. The reactions from public officeholders have not helped matters because they are binary in perspective and pander towards a fait accompli.
“The dominant schools of thought in the public domain, hold the view that should stakeholders of the Nigerian-state seek judicial intervention or amendment of the Act by the National Assembly, they shall achieve nothing much, as they consider such, as exercises in futility.
“Mr President, from the foregoing, we are of the opinion that you should kindly issue the appropriate directives to suspend the implementation of CAMA 2020 and affirm a thorough reappraisal of the legislation that is in correlation with the provisions of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria (as amended), other extant legal and policy frameworks, the national economy, national security, national interest and the wellbeing of the Nigerian-state.
“In order to participate actively in such an exercise, you may wish to kindly furnish us with an official version as assented by you. This will enable us do the due diligence required, please.”
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Kogi Schools To Reopen September 14
Schools at all levels would reopen on September 14, the Kogi State Government has said.
The schools, which where closed to stop the spread of Coronavirus,.will now reopen after evaluating the situation and recording no new cases of COVID-19.
Wemi Jones, the state’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, on Tuesday said the resumption includes primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in the state.
He said, “Recall that His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello, had directed the closure of all schools from primary to tertiary institutions in the state from March 23, because of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic.
“Subsequently, upon the directive of the Federal Ministry of Education, exit classes were opened for Primary 6, JSS3 and SS3 in Kogi on August 10, to particularly allow the SS3 classes to prepare and write the WAEC examination.
“Therefore, upon further review having had several meetings with relevant stakeholders, His Excellency has directed that all schools in Kogi State should fully reopen on September 14, 2020.
“We have not recorded any negative report as far as COVID-19 pandemic is concerned. Hence, His Excellency dimmed it fit for every school to open for full academic activities.”
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Zimbabwe Bows To Foreign Pressure, To Return Lands To White Farmers Who Grabbed It During Colonialism
1994: Mugabe receives honorary British knighthood
The Government of Zimbabwe has said that it would return farmland to foreigners, mostly white, who had their lands revoked by a government programme intended to address land-grabs that occurred during the colonial era.
The United States had said compensating the white farmers, who are descendants of Dutch, British and German colonialists, was one of its requirement to lift economic sanctions on the African nation.
Robert Mugabe
The lands, which was reclaimed in 2000 and 2001 under former President, Robert Mugabe, will now be handed back to white farmers in a new programme, which also promised them $3.5bn for seized infrastructure.
The Government of Zimbabwe said the farmers will be able to apply to get their lands back.
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Nigerian Man, Obinna Ukwuani, Appointed Chief Digital Officer For Bank Of Kigali In Rwanda
Obinna Ukwuani, a Nigerian man, has been appointed to lead digital innovation and growth as Chief Digital Officer for the Bank of Kigali, Rwanda.
Ukwuani, a former executive at Paystack, created NESA by Makers, a Lagos-based skill centre that trained people on web development.
He also founded Exposure Robotics Academy in 2011 where STEM programs were taught to secondary school pupils.
The academy coached 113 students in 17 states across Nigeria between 2011 and 2014.
In his new position, which took effect from June, he is expected to lead the Digital Factory Division for product development for the bank, BusinessDay reports.
Recall that another Nigerian man, Kaycee Madu, was recently appointed Justice Minister and Solicitor-General of Alberta, a province in Canada.
Madu was raised in South-East Nigeria, graduated from the University of Lagos with a law degree in 2001 and practiced law in the country before immigrating to Canada in 2005 with his wife.
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COVID-19: Guarantee Our Safety Like Your Children Before Asking Us To Resume, Students Tell Nigerian Government
Nigerian students have asked the government to put measures in place to guarantee their safety as the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 mulls the idea of reopening schools as part of the next phase of lifting restrictions put in place to stop the spread of Coronavirus.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities had on Monday warned the Nigerian Government not to reopen tertiary institutions across the country without concrete measures put in place to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.
Students, who will be directly affected by the decision to either reopen schools or keep it shut told SaharaReporters on Tuesday that their major concern was the implenemation of social distancing guidelines considering the already crowded and poor facilities in public schools across the country.
Peace Ifunnaya Godspower, a student of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, expressed concern over her colleague, who has a respiratory condition that predisposes her to complications if she contracts COVID-19 in school.
She said, “Their children are already leaving for schools abroad because its September.
“I have a course mate who has asthma and she is worried that if they say we should resume and she contracts COVID-19 by mistake, it may result to something else and you cannot tell her to stay at home while the rest of us resume.
“In fact, since this whole thing started, her parents have not allowed her to go out because they are scared something bad might happen to her.
“I have no problem with resuming as long as the government can guarantee our safety like their children.”
Mahmood Abdullahi Loke, Senate President of the students union at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, said the government cannot afford to continue keeping schools shut because of the long term impact on development.
He, however, expressed concern on overcrowding especially among 100 level students.
He said, “In the case of schools reopening, we will only be bias if we ask the Federal Government not to reopen schools.
“A lot of things are going on. Markets are open already, that is enough to justify the opening of schools. The infection rate of COVID-19 has reduced drastically if you check the chart these days.
“Many schools are already putting measures in place for school reopening, it will be biased to say schools should not reopen. National development has been halted because students are at home.”
Soneye Abdul-Azeez, Student Union President at Tai Solarin University of Education, Ogun State, called on all students bodies president’s to insist with ASUU that the Nigerian Government put tangible measures in place to protect students.
He said, “Students are ready to resume but any failure to resume will be on the part of the government, the weakness of the government.
“As ASUU had rightly said, the government cannot just order resumption without making provision for resumption and I think that should be the position of students union leaders. We are ready to resume but there should be a mimimum standard that will guarantee the safety of both students and workers when they resume to campus.”
Abdul-Azeez also lamented the absence of e-learning facilities on government-funded campuses, which had created a gap in education between students in public and private universities in the country.
He said, “For some of us (students union leaders), we see that this COVID-19 had really revealed the irresponsibility of government that is long overdue to be tackled.
“The same people who are owners of private institutions are people who control the government, so it is nothing new.
“At least we have had the experience of ASUU strike that was over six.months and private universities were going on with their activities, so it is almost nothing new, the only difference is that this one is not caused by an industrial action but by a pandemic.
“If our public institutions had been provided with e-learning facilities, we would have benefited like our counterparts in private universities.”
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BREAKING: Nigerian Government To Investigate DSTV, Others
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission on Tuesday announced that it had begun an investigation into the activities of dominant pay television companies in the country.
This was contained in a statement signed by Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Babatunde Irukera.
The commission said the investigation was coming on the heels of complaints from Nigerians over the past 24 months.
The commission said the investigation would look into “unfair dealings, unreasonable and manifestly unjust contract terms, abuse of market power, computable pricing practises and other otherwise obnoxious or illegal conduct”.
The statement reads in part, “Over the past 24 months, the FCCPC had conducted an investigation, pursued legal action in court, secured an injunction pre-empting price increase, entered specific orders regarding providers engaged in periodic surveillance and monitoring and more recently inquired into a purported tax increase by at least one provider.”
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