Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Wednesday 16th September 2020
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 16/09/20
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Suspended UNILAG Student Activist Asks Visiting Panel To Order Reinstatement
Femi Adeyeye, a student of the University of Lagos, who is currently on indefinite suspension, has appealed to the visiting panel constituted by the Nigerian Government to order his reinstatement to the university.
Adeyeye, who was rusticated for three semesters in July 2016, was to resume in the second semester of the 2017/2018 academic session but the school is yet to lift the rustication and activate his student portal.
He noted that other students, who were rusticated together with him have been reinstated and have all graduated from the institution.
In a letter to the panel by his legal counsel, Omobolanle Ojibara, he said he had written series of letters to the university but they were all ignored.
The lawyer wrote, “After serving out his suspension, our client wrote a letter on 11 June 2018 (which was erroneously dated II June 2017) to the university seeking his reinstatement.
“The university responded to our client via its letter dated 20 September 2018, informing our client that he has been cleared for readmission, with effect from 2nd semester of the 2017/2018 session. This letter was only received 3 days to the end of the 2017/2018 academic session and after examinations had been concluded for the 2nd semester.
“It only became obvious to our client that the timing of the letter was not out of sheer inadvertence, but a design to frustrate the resumption of his studies, when he tried to register for the semester and discovered that he had been locked out of the online registration portal and his deactivated. Our client has since then written several letters pleading with the university to allow him to register and finish his studies, and his pleas have fallen on deaf ears. A bundle of the letters written by our client dated 29 August 2019, 1 September 2016, 6 March 2017 and 14 March 2019.”
The student activist stated that his indefinite rustication was on the directive of the removed Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, who vowed that he would not reinstate Adeyeye.
“Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe who had become the Vice Chancellor of the university at this time, refused to readmit our client and even boasted on a video, which surfaced on YouTube and other online platforms that our client not readmitted because “he was not remorseful”.
“It is apparent from this utterance, that Prof Ogundipe’s action is a personal vendetta against our client, the result of which is our client’s unlawful expulsion from the university without fair hearing.
“It also important to reiterate that the panel, which heard our client never recommended his expulsion, so the act of expulsion was done without fair hearing by Prof Ogundipe and the university administration under him,” the lawyer added.
It was also stated that the continued denial of his studentship violates his constitutionally guaranteed rights to fair hearing and freedom from discrimination.
“We, therefore, urge you to use your visit to the university to right the wrongs visited on our client by Prof Ogundipe’s administration and restore our client’s faith and hope in a just society, where everyone is treated as equals,” the lawyer appealed.
Recall that the Nigerian Government had inaugurated the Special Visitation Panel to look into the crisis rocking the University of Lagos following the removal of Ogundipe and the suspension of the Chairman of the University’s Governing Council, Dr Wale Babalakin.
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Bandits Kill Traditional Leader, One Other, Abduct Many In Katsina
File Photo: Gunmen
A 50-year-old man identified as Ashiru Aliyu was killed by gunmen in the early hours of Monday at Daulai Village under Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State.
According to Katsina Post, many women were abducted by the gunmen, who also rustled some domestic animals and looted foodstuff during the attack.
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The gunmen were said to have arrived at the village at about 1:00am and started shooting sporadically.
They were said to have killed the victim in the process.
Also, the suspected bandits killed the traditional title holder of Sarkin Tauri of Dandume town and kidnapped four other people including married women.
The incident happened around 2:00am on September 14, according to the newspaper.
One of the residents said the gunmen were about 30 in number.
It was also learnt that some of the villagers had to escape into the bush and nearby communities to avoid being attacked.
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Youths On Rampage As SARS Officials Chase Two Boys To Death In Osun
Hundred of youths in Osogbo, Osun State, went on rampage on Tuesday following the death of two boys caused by police operatives.
It was gathered that the boys were involved in an accident after a hot chase by some officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
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Three of them were said to have been rushed to the hospital while two others died on the spot.
The youth made bonfire and brought traffic to a standstill.
The protesters also set ablaze a police patrol van belonging to the Joint Task Force at Alekuwodo area of the city.
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Parents Groan As Babcock University Charges Students N25,000 For COVID-19 Test
Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State, has asked students resuming for the first semester of the 2020/2021 academic session to pay N25,000 for COVID-19 test.
However, many parents are against the move, describing the fee as expensive and uncalled for.
According to a resumption guideline on the university’s website, once on campus, students will not be allowed to leave until the period of six weeks they are expected to spend on campus.
They are also to resume with their personal safety kits – including an infrared thermometer (for those that can afford them), a pack of disposable face masks or three reusable ones as well as hand sanitisers.
Also, parents won’t be allowed on the institution’s campus as they are expected to drop their wards at designated points around the university’s gate.
Babcock’s Director of Marketing and Communication, Dr Joshua Suleiman, said the school would have asked the students to do the test elsewhere and present the certificate but was mindful of fake certificates.
Suleiman told PUNCH that the university could not afford to play with the lives of staff and students on the school premises.
He said, “Babcock University returning students are expected to be screened for COVID-19 on arrival at the subsidised cost of N25,000 at the BUTH.
“They will do it at BUTH so that we can vouch for the authenticity of the result. We want to avoid a situation where some people may bring in fake COVID-19 results. We don’t want to risk the life of any of our students or staff.
“They are also to resume with their personal safety kits – including an infrared thermometer (for those that can afford them), a pack of disposable face masks or three reusable ones as well as hand sanitisers.”
While speaking on the internal arrangement made for further safety of the students, Suleiman said, “The institution will resume in two batches – first to resume are the final year students next Monday and others on October 25.”
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International Students In Nigeria Urge Germany To Resume Issuance Of Visas
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Nigerian students studying in Germany have asked the country’s consulate in Nigeria to begin the issuance of visas.
The students expressed fear they could lose the admission if the consulate does not begin issuance of visas.
The students said the country had not invited them for visa interviews like other countries are currently doing.
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The students said the German Consulate in Lagos had kept mute over their inquiries concerning visa application, saying they demand to know the situation of things.
Emmanuel Cobham, one of the students, who spoke with SaharaReporters, said the German Government should order their consulate to begin operations.
He noted that Nigeria does not have high COVID-19 cases like other countries.
He said, “Thousands of Nigerians have gained admission to study in Germany but have not even gotten a visa interview date up till this time and stand the risk of losing our admission.
“We need the attention of the German Government to be drawn to our cries as other embassies in Nigeria have begun to issue Visa interview dates and visas to students in Nigeria.”
To further create awareness on their case, the students created a trend on social media platforms.
“Nigerian students shouldn’t be neglected. Our dreams are valid!! Start issuing student visa appointments please,” @__jaunty___ tweeted.
“We need appointment dates. We got the admission fair and square. We have spent a lot of money in the application process,” Fidelis, another student, who got an admission, said.
One of the students alleged that the German Consulate was handpicking students for visa interviews.
“I was at the German Consulate today together with other applicants. I did the count, 15 students in all and four out of the 15 came for their student visa interviews and they were all on scholarship.
“They are selectively picking out the scholarship guys and prioritising their visa applications,” the student, who doesn’t want to be named said.
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EXCLUSIVE: APC Candidate For Imo Bye-election, Ibezim, In Certificate Scandal
Frank Ibezim
Frank Ibezim, the All Progressives Congress candidate for the October 31 senatorial bye-election in Imo North, is embroiled in a certificate scandal, SaharaReporters has gathered.
Ibezim, who hails from the Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, is a long-time friend and aide to Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba.
It was gathered that the former Commissioner for Agriculture was earlier disqualified by the screening committee of the APC for failing to submit originals of his educational qualification certificates and properly certified true copies for citing.
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Despite his disqualification, SaharaReporters learnt that the state governor, Hope Uzodima, and junior Education Minister insisted on Ibezim as candidate of the party.
It was gathered that Uzodinma and Nwajiuba claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari asked them to give the ticket to Ibezim despite not cleared to participate in the APC’s primary.
“I think this just goes to say how the wills and electoral choices of the masses are being subverted by powers that be. It is apparent the Presidency and the governor is complicit in subverting the will of the people. Imagine what their plans will be regarding the Edo elections for instance,” a source told SaharaReporters.
The source accused Nwajiuba of sponsoring Ibezim with public funds.
Apart from not presenting his certificate, SaharaReporters gathered that the statutory age declaration deposed by one Emmanuel lbezim, presented by the APC senatorial candidate to the screening committee, was not signed by the declarant, which rendered the document invalid.
Ibezim also submitted another affidavit stating the loss of his academic qualification certificates, which was not signed by the deponent and also rendered the document invalid.
SaharaReporters further gathered that the said unsigned affidavit did not have a police extract in support to show that he reported to the law enforcement agency.
He was said to have also submitted the photocopies of his academic certificates he claimed were missing including WAEC, university degree and NYSC certificates.
DOCUMENTS: APC Candidate for Imo Bye-election, Ibezim, In Certificate Scandal by Sahara Reporters on Scribd
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Release All Detained Children Immediately, Amnesty International Tells President Buhari In Open Letter
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Amnesty International on Tuesday in an open to letter called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately order the release of children detained in Giwa Barracks, Kainji Military Base, Maiduguri Maximum Prison, Operation Safe Corridor facility outside Gombe and other detention facilities associated with conflicts in North-East Nigeria.
AI urged Buhari to use his influence and authority as President and Commander-In-Chief of Armed Forces to ensure that these children were not only released but also given access to education and psychological support.
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In the letter signed by AI’s Country Director, Osai Ojigho, the group called on Buhari to close all unofficial and secret places of detention.
The letter reads in part, “Ensure all detainees are promptly brought before an independent, civilian court where they are represented by counsel and have the opportunity to challenge their detentions.
“Take immediate steps to ensure children are only detained as a very last resort and where all alternatives have been considered and found inapplicable, in line with Nigerian and international human rights law.
“Ensure the conditions of detentions in all places where people and especially children are deprived of liberty are humane and in strict adherence with international law and standards.”
AI said it looked forward to Buhari’s reponse in ensuring that all these demand were met and also ensuring that any child found guilty of any offense was not subjected to death penalty.
DOCUMENT: Copy Of Amnesty International’s Open Letter by Sahara Reporters on Scribd
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Shiites Group Denies Threatening Nollywood Actor, Pete Edochie, For Featuring In Controversial Movie Sponsored By Nigerian Army
The Islamic Movement in Nigeria has denied threatening Nollywood actor, Pete Edochie, for acting in “Fatal Arrogance”, a movie sponsored by the Nigerian Army to depict Shiites as terrorists.
The movement also rejected the explanation of Edochie on his role in the movie.
Edochie acted in a role with outfit resembling Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, leader of the IMN, who has been in detention since December 2015 and has come under attack since then.
Edochie, in a-12-minute video clip, attempted clearing the air for acting in the movie.
He stated that he was not aware of what the movie was about and as an actor, he could take any role provided the movie was good.
He added that while he did not get any money from the government, he said the IMN should wait till the release of the movie before raising complaints.
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Nollywood Actor, Pete Edochie, Alleges Threat To Life For Featuring In Movie Portraying Shiites As Terrorists
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Video of Pete Edochie Reacts As Blacklash Grows Over Army Sponsorship Of Movie To Depict Shiite As Terrorists
Pete Edochie Reacts As Blacklash Grows Over Army Sponsorship Of Movie To Depict Shiite As Terrorists
WATCH VIDEO: Nollywood Actor, Pete Edochie, Reacts As Blacklash Grows Over Nigerian Army Sponsorship Of Big Budget Movie Production In Enugu Aimed At Depicting Shiites As Terrorists Group
Reacting to the video by Edochie, Ibrahim Musa, President, Media Forum of the IMN, in a statement said the explanation was “inexplicable, his reasons flawed and his excuses unimpressive, irrational, and at best absurd”.
The movement said it did not threaten Edochie in any way, adding that he was only attempting to give IMN a bad name.
The statement reads, “Pete Edochie also claimed that his life was threatened without saying by whom in an attempt to give the movement a bad name and to attract cheap sympathy from Nigerians.
“The petition written by the Islamic Movement in Nigeria to the Inspector-General of Police and the Film’s Censors Board doesn’t threaten anyone’s life. Issuing of threats has never been in our character.”
Musa also posited that Edochie would have read the script and known the content before accepting to feature in the movie.
He said, “Had Pete Edochie cared to carry out a background check on the scripts given to him to act, he would have realised that the Islamic Movement in Nigeria has been victorious in all the over 10 different cases it was in court against the government and perpetrators since that genocide.
“If Edochie has any character as he claims, he would not have accepted to act any role in a film that seems to change the narrative and distort history based on a book distorting facts! If he had any integrity, he would not have accepted to appear in a movie tarnishing the image of an oppressed personality like Sheikh Zakzaky and still think he did nothing wrong because the Sheikh was not mentioned by name. Edochie has thrown his professionalism to the winds as he chose to be paid to distort historical facts, yet claiming not to refer to anybody, when clearly the cast bears all the telltale signs of mischievous attempt, at not only demonizing IMN, but also Islam as a whole.
“Peaceful protesters of the Movement are mischievously depicted as armed protesters, with guns and knives tasty for the blood of the innocent. Yet, Edochie would rather that we waited for him and his perpetrator sponsors to complete their denigration and manipulation before we complain, even as we have seen enough to convince us of their wicked intents.”
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Justice Salami Ordered DSS To Throw Us Out, Put Our Colleague In Cell Inside Presidential Villa, Magu’s Lawyer Reveals
Justice Ayo Salami
Prof Zainab Abiola, one of the lawyers of Ibrahim Magu, suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, has explained how Justice Ayo Salami ordered operatives of the Department of State Services to eject two lawyers representing Magu from the sitting on Monday.
Abiola and Aliyu Lemu were the two lawyers ejected from the panel’s sitting on Monday.
SaharaReporters had reported how Justice Salami denied two lawyers representing Magu from witnessing the trial.
Justice Ayo Salami
He insisted on having only Mr Wahab Shittu to represent Magu at the sitting.
Condemning the action of Justice Salami, Abiola said the panel was acting undemocratically and against the directives of President Muhammadu Buhari in setting up a public hearing.
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BREAKING: Drama As Justice Salami Orders Security Agents To Throw Out Magu’s Lawyers From Probe Venue
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Speaking with TheCable, she said that the panel was carrying out a “hatchet job” in order to nail Magu.
She said, “This is a democratic dispensation, you cannot bring military tactics, a Hitler’s Gestapo rule to this type of occasion.
“The panel was set up to be public. How then did it become a private sitting with Emperor Salami? He has become an emperor.
“He told me personally that there is only one chair for a lawyer. So, I said, if there is only one chair, send for more chairs.
“He called the DSS, they were fully armed. So, we left. But the other lady, Fatimah, was bundled and put in a cell, in a prison cell.
So, there is a prison in the Presidential Villa? Nigerians should worry for themselves.”
Abiola stressed that the panel does not have evidence against Magu but was acting on concocted lies.
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Niger Republic’s Rights Record Worsens As Three Activists Remain Jailed Six Months After Participating In Peaceful Protest
Rights group, CIVICUS, has called for the unconditional release of three Nigeriens, who were jailed after participating in peaceful protests calling for investigations into misappropriation of public funds by the Ministry of Defence in the Republic of Niger.
Moudi Moussa, Halidou Mounkaila and Maikoul Zodi were arrested between March 15 to 17, 2020 after security forces violently disrupted peaceful anti-corruption protests in the nation’s capital, Niamey.
CIVICUS in a statement on Tuesday alongside Amnesty International, Publish What You Pay, Oxfam Niger, Tournons la Page International, and Front Line Defenders called on the Government of Niger to unconditionally release the activists in the interest of human rights.
The statement reads, “Authorities had placed a blanket ban on all demonstrations on 13 March, as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 pandemic. At least three people were killed as a result of the violence and several properties were damaged. The trumped-up charges against them include “organizing an unauthorized gathering”, arson, damage to public property and manslaughter.
“At least 15 activists were arrested, with six of them being remanded in detention. Three of the detainees were provisionally released in May but Moudi, Halidou and Maikoul are still arbitrarily detained despite being granted bail of 5 million Francs (approximately US$9200) on 6 August. The prosecutor successfully appealed the decision and they are now being held in three separate prisons.
“Moudi Moussa is a journalist and trade unionist, Halidou Mounkaila is the leader of the teacher’s union SYNACEB and Maikoul Zodi is the National Coordinator of the Tournons La Page global movement. All three human rights defenders are members of the PWYP coalition. They are also profiled in the CIVICUS campaign #StandAsMyWitness, which raises awareness of arbitrarily detained human rights defenders around the world and calls for their release.
“Amnesty International considers them prisoners of conscience and calls for their immediate and unconditional release.”
Concern is growing about Niger’s crackdown on human rights as it increasingly targets activists, harass journalists and clampdown on peaceful protesters.
In June, the country was added to the CIVICUS Monitor Watch List to track rights violations.
CIVICUS noted that, “On 10 June, 2020, journalist and blogger Samira Sabou, was arrested in Niamey and charged with defamation in connection with a social media post highlighting corruption. According to fellow human rights defenders, her arrest is linked to a post on social media on 26 May 2020, in which she referred to an audit of the Ministry of Defence regarding overcharging and embezzlement during the purchase of military equipment for the army. One of the comments below the post criticised the President’s son in relation to the audit, although Samira Sabou did not mention the son in her post. On 28 July, she was discharged by the High Court of Niamey on the grounds of ‘unconstituted offences’ and released the same day.
“On 12 July, journalist Ali Soumana was summoned by the police, interrogated, and accused of false information for comments made about alleged corruption. Some journalists have also been arrested and detained for reporting on the authorities’ response to COVID-19. In May, the National Assembly enacted a new law that allows the authorities to intercept telephone conversations as part of the state’s response to combat terrorism and transnational crime without the appropriate human rights safeguards, including the rights to freedom of expression and privacy.”
David Kode, Advocacy and Campaigns lead at CIVICUS, said the charges against the activist and journalists, which ranges from arson to manslaughter, are all trumped up, targeted at undermining the demand by citizens for accountability in Niger.
He said, “Over the last eight months, we have seen a surge in human rights violations by the Nigerien authorities including intimidation and harassment of human rights activists, defenders, and journalists. It is a travesty that Moudi Moussa, Halidou Mounkaila, and Maikoul Zodi are still in jail simply for protesting against alleged misuse of defence funds. They should all be released immediately and unconditionally.”
Samira Daoud, Regional Director, Amnesty International West and Central Africa Office, said, “We believe charges against the activists related to complicity in damaging public property, arson, and manslaughter, are fabricated to undermine the peaceful exercise of their human rights and demands for transparency and accountability.”
The organisations are concerned about the prolonged detention of human rights defenders on baseless charges.
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