Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Thursday 17th September 2020
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 17/09/20
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Attack On My Convoy An Assassination Attempt, Says Ondo PDP Candidate, Jegede
Eyitayo Jegede, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the October 10, 2020 governorship election in Ondo State, has described the attack on his convoy on Wednesday as an “assassination attempt”.
Jegede spoke with journalists at his campaign office in Akure shortly after some armed thugs attacked his convoy in Oba Akoko town.
He said he and his supporters were at the palace of the Oloba of Oba Akoko for a visit before their campaign when the armed thugs launched the attack on them.
He said, “Suddenly,Attack On My Convoy Was An Assassination Attempt, Says Ondo PDP Candidate, Jegede
we heard gun shots outside the palace of the Oloba of Oba Akoko which is close to the main road.
“There were gunshots fired at all of us within the vicinity of the palace by a hoard of thugs who were in the APC campaign vehicles with Governor Rotimi Akeredolu leading the entourage.
“In the process, 15 vehicles in our convoy were destroyed while several people were also injured during the attack.”
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BREAKING: Akeredolu, Jegede Supporters Clash In Ondo
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He explained that he decided to halt his campaign billed to hold at Ayegunle in Oba Akoko due to the attack and in order to avoid bloodshed.
Jegede said the PDP was in Oba Akoko town after the party got approval from the Commissioner of Police for the campaign to proceed.
The PDP candidate added that the attack on his convoy had been reported to the state’s Commissioner of Police and Director of the Department of State Services.
He added, “This was a clear case of attempt on human life. We never believe that we would come this low in Ondo State and I personally haven’t seen this type of desperation in my life.
“If anything happens to me or any of our people in this state, I call on the public to know who to hold responsible for it.
“But again, we would defend ourselves. It is not only important but imperative that we defend ourselves in this process.”
He, therefore, called on the Inspector-General of Police to immediately investigate the attack on his convoy and bring the perpetrators to book.
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Buhari Inherited Terribly Divided Country From Jonathan, Presidency Replies Soyinka
Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, has said that the President inherited a terribly divided country from his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, in 2015.
Speaking during a Channels TV programme on Wednesday, Adesina described Nigeria as an inconvenient amalgamation, which has always been divided.
He was reacting to comments made by Wole Soyinka, playwright and Nobel laureate, who said that Nigeria was more divided than ever before.
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Soyinka Slams President Buhari, Says Nigeria Divided Like Never Before Under Him
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The President’s spokesperson said in a country of 200 million people, it would be impossible for everyone to agree and perceive things the same way.
He said, “Nigeria had always been divided right from amalgamation in 1914. Nigeria is an inconvenient amalgamation but we have kept at it and we have worked at it.
“And I tell you that there is no time in the history of this country that the country was not divided. But then, we have kept at it and we are trying to make it work.
“As at 2015 when President Buhari came, Nigeria was terribly divided; divided along ethnic, religious and political lines; divided along language; divided hopelessly and terribly.”
The President’s aide said in 2015, Soyinka did not support Buhari but only tagged him as slightly better than Jonathan.
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Law Firm Volunteers To Assist Kano Government In Ensuring Killing Of Musician Accused Of Blasphemy Against Prophet Mohammed
A Zamfara State law firm, Abubakar A. Ashat & Co, has volunteered to assist Kano State Government in prosecuting and ensuring the killing of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, a musician alleged to have produced a song deemed to be blasphemous against Prophet Mohammed.
The law firm in a letter to the Kano State Attorney-General said it was acting on behalf of one Muhammed Lawal Gusau, who noted that he desired to render a “selfless service towards the advancement and upliftment of the goals and ideals of Islam in all positive spheres”.
Gusua stated that he was ready to dedicate all resources to ensure that the musician was hanged for blasphemy.
The law firm also condemned Fakhrriyya Hashim, a Muslim, who spoke against the death sentence of the musician.
“Our client in the discharge of his duties/obligations felt the need to provide/render support to the office of the Honorable Attorney-General morally and or in other spheres to ensure that the judgment is affirmed by Appeal Court.
“Our client desires that Yahaya Shariff-Aminu goes to the gallows in accordance with Islamic injunctions,” the law firm said.
Hashim has been receiving death threats from Muslim, who are apologetic to Sharia law.
She said her family members, who live in Kano, are being harassed.
Sharif-Aminu, aged 22, was on August 10, 2020 sentenced to death for committing blasphemy against the Prophet of Islam in a song he circulated via WhatsApp.
He was accused of committing the offence in March 2020 after which protesters burnt down his family house.
Appealing the death sentence in a suit filed on Thursday at the Kano State High Court by his lawyer, Kola Alapini, Sharif-Aminu said he was dissatisfied with the judgment of the Sharia court.
He described the Kano State Penal Law 2000 as unconstitutional, null and void, having grossly violated and conflicted with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended and has violated the Human Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights respectively.
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Musician Accused Of Blasphemy Chained In Underground Cell At Kano Prison, Denied Access To Lawyer, Family
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Workers Issue Two-week Ultimatum To Nigerian Government To Reverse Petrol Price, Electricity Tariff Hike
The Nigeria Labour Congress has given the Nigerian Government a two-week ultimatum to reverse the recent hike in electricity tariff and the pump price of petrol or face civil unrest nationwide.
NLC in a communiqué by its President, Ayuba Wabba, said the ultimatum takes immediate effect, warning that at the end of its expiration on September 28, it would mobilise its members nationwide for civil unrest.
SaharaReporters recall that various groups have kicked against government’s decision to halt electricity and petrol subsidies.
They argue that the timing was not right given that jobs and livelihoods had been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, Timipre Sylva, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, said the country will save N1trn annually from fuel subsidy removal that can be used to improve the lives of Nigerians.
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E2%80%93take-it-back-movement Nigerians Must Resist Extra-judicial Killings By Security Agencies –Take It Back Movement
The Take It Back Movement has called on Nigerians to organise themselves to resist extra-judicial activities and killings by security agencies.
The Osun State chapter of the movement made the call following the killing of two boys by Joint Task Force of Osun State.
It was gathered that the boys were involved in an accident after a hot chase by some officers of the state’s JTF.
Three of them were said to have been rushed to the hospital while two others died on the spot.
The movement, in a statement by the state Coordinator, Owoeye Olaoluwa, said Nigerians should voice out against all odds and machineries being used to oppress the people by security agencies.
The statement reads, “Yesterday’s demonstration that happened as a reaction to the death of Idris and his friend is a pointer to what is looming. It is an inevitable way of registering displeasure in a system that mobilises security forces to gag and extort the citizens.
“The Take it Back Movement in coalition with civil rights bodies is demanding a sane society for all and this we will keep pushing towards. Our revolutionary demands remain and we will harness every quarter to smash this oppressive system to install a pro masses system that works for all.
“We must start organizing massively to resist the brutality and oppression of the security forces as our number is our strength.”
The movement urged the people to come out to join the protest scheduled for 1st of October.
“Let’s pull out for massive resistance as injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere,” it added.
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UK To Prosecute Politicians Who Perpetrate Violence In Edo, Ondo Elections
The United Kingdom is considering prosecuting Nigerian politicians, who perpetrate or involve in violence in the Edo and Ondo States governorship elections.
The British High Commission in a statement on Wednesday said it is against election-related violence and would be taking actions against any politician caught engaging in a violent act in the governorship elections.
“The UK takes a strong stand against election-related violence and, just as we did in the general election in 2019, will continue to take action against individuals we identify as being responsible for violence during the elections.
“This could include restrictions on their eligibility to travel to the UK, restrictions on access to UK based assets or prosecution under international law,” the UK said.
The British High Commission also said that the governorship elections will be an essential element of effective governance within both states and an indicator of the strength of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
The commission stated that it will be observing the Edo and Ondo states elections as it urged the Independent National Electoral Commission and police to ensure that the elections were free and fair.
“We will be deploying observation missions to both the Edo and Ondo elections andsupporting civil society led observation.
“The UK will continue to provide support and engagement as we move towards these elections. We urge INEC, the Police and all other agencies involved to work together to deliver free, fair and credible elections,” the UK said.
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#EndSARS: Stop Murderous Officers Or Face Nationwide Revolt, Nigerians Tell President Buhari
Nigerians on Twitter have warned President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the harassment of young people by officials of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad or face a nationwide revolt.
The demand comes after SARS officers in Osogbo, Osun State, chased two young boys to their death in an attempt to extort them.
SARS has a long history of brutality, harassing well-dressed young Nigerians and incriminating them by planting evidence in a bid to extort them.
Despite these excesses and numerous protest by Nigerians, the special squad mandated to respond to robbery incident has been allowed to carry out violations unchecked.
Rights group, Amnesty International, in a tweet accused the officers of getting rich through brutality.
#EndSARS SARS officers @PoliceNG are getting rich through their brutality. In Nigeria🇳🇬, it seems that torture is a lucrative business. This is hardly surprising when many of these officers have bribed their way to SARS in the first place.— Amnesty Int. Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) September 16, 2020
Lecturer, Dipo Awojide, wondered why the Nigerian Government was allowing “murderers” and “extortionists” waste young lives.
He said, “Criminals, extortionists and murderers handed guns by the state, wasting young lives, extorting citizens and openly stealing from people they should be protecting. Such absurdity. #EndSARS
Criminals, extortionists and murderers handed guns by the state, wasting young lives, extorting citizens and openly stealing from people they should be protecting. Such absurdity. #EndSARS— Dr. DÃpò AwójÃdé (@OgbeniDipo) September 15, 2020
SARS cannot try half of the bullshit they try in Lagos, Osun or Enugu in Kano and Kaduna. This madness has gone on for too long. May the souls of the young men chased to death rest in peace. #EndSARS— Dr. DÃpò AwójÃdé (@OgbeniDipo) September 15, 2020
Love Dapsi @ifedapsi said, “Special Armed robbery squad. Killers in unform. They come to steal, to kill and to destroy. Tell them to face bandits, Boko Haram, kidnappers, they won’t. They only see innocent, unarmed defenceless Nigerians and their blood pressure will rise. God will punish all you #EndSARS.”
Special Armed robbery squard. Killers in unform. They come to steal, to kill and to destroy.Tell them to face bandits, Boko Haram, kidnappers, they won’t.They only see innocent, unarmed defenseless Nigerians and there blood pressure will rise.God will punish all you #EndSARS— Lovedapsi (@Ifedapsi) September 16, 2020
A few other Nigerians narrated their personal ordeal in the hand of SARS officers, who harassed them for no reason.
Omolola Omo Ologo @Uncle_Scholes said, “Dem hold me for trouser like say I be thief. It wasn’t funny because if you know Ojota bus stop then, you would know there is a market close by. They roughed me up in front of only God knows how many people. I told them to be gentle with me, say I be youth corp member.#EndSARS
“It was like I was talking to deaf people. They collected my bag and searched, when they saw the laptop, they were so sure they hit jackpot! They shouted at me, unlock this laptop you fraudster. At that point I knew I had won. I unlocked it, they started to search for what was not missing, they checked and checked and found nothing. All they saw was my sister and mum’s photos.”
Another Twitter user, @ProsperSouth said, “The kind harassment police in Delta State Asaba did to me today without seeing anything in my hand. Imagine a policeman saying he is going to tell them in station that am a cultist so they can damage my body that how can I dress well like this.”
Yugo @Smog20 narrated his recent experience, saying, “On my way home yesterday from the market were I went to buy stuffs to cook eguisi soup, they stopped the keke that was carrying me home at Geneva Junction, Awka, and started questioning me like I’m a common convicted criminal already…i feared for my life. #EndSARS.”
EndSARS advocate, Según Awosanya, warned that Nigerians would revolt in no time if the rights violations do not end.
He said, “Shutdown the terrorist squads preying on the innocent for ransom now. We may have to brace ourselves for a nationwide revolt against the police generally if the IGP fails to address this madness effective immediately. Shutdown all the tactical squads for overhaul. #EndSARS
Shutdown the terrorist squads preying on the innocent for ransom NOW. We may have to brace ourselves for a nationwide revolt against the Police generally if the IGP fails to address this madness effective immediately. Shutdown all the tactical squads for Overhaul. #EndSARS mdash; SEGA L’éveilleur®🚨 (@segalink) September 16, 2020
“President @MBuhari is aware of the impunity of the @PoliceNG and the Presidency knows that the officers including the IGP are victims in the system being blamed for what they can’t fix. A single order from the President can shut down the cancer but do our lives matter? #EndSARS.” President @MBuhari is aware of the impunity of the @PoliceNG and the Presidency knows that the officers including the IGP are victims in the system being blamed for what they can’t fix. A single order from the President can shutdown the cancer but do our LIVES matter? #EndSARS pic.twitter.com/iaVO54agXu— SEGA L’éveilleur®🚨 (@segalink) September 16, 2020
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E2%80%99s-cousin-convicted-drug-violations-united-state-job Buhari Names Minister Of Labour, Ngige’s Cousin Convicted For Drug Violations In United State As Job Creation Committee Chairman
President Muhammadu Buhari discussing with Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen Chris Ngige at the Presidential Villa in Abuja (6/11/18)
The Nigerian Government has named an ex-convict, Franklin Uzo lgbonwa, as Chairman of 20-member committee that will oversee the recruitment of 21,000 youths in Anambra State.
In October 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari approved a Pilot Special Public Works Programme in the rural areas domiciled in the National Directorate of Employment for implementation.
The programme seeks to employ about 774, 000 youth for three months and they would be engaged in unskilled jobs such as street sweeping, clearing drainages, controlling traffic and road construction among others.
President Muhammadu Buhari discussing with Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen Chris Ngige at the Presidential Villa in Abuja (6/11/18)
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Igbonwa, who is a cousin to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, was named as the committee chairman in Anambra State to select the 1000 persons per local government area that would be engaged by the government in the Special Public Works Programme.
Known to be a front and surrogate Ngige uses to siphon public funds and corner juicy contracts in the Ministry of Labour and Employment as well as other parastatals and ministries, Igbonwa was indicted by a United States federal grand jury and convicted in 1990 for drug violations.
He was sentenced to nine years in prison on two count charges, the sentences to run concurrently, and 10 years of supervised release, court documents seen by SaharaReporters read.
Igbonwa was also accused in 1989 by the US Immigration and Naturalisation Service of sham marriage, thereby denying him permanent resident status.
“Franklin Uzo Igbonwa is a Nigerian citizen who entered the United States in 1986 as a “non-immigrant visitor for pleasure.” The Immigration and Naturalisation Service adjusted Igbonwa’s status to that of conditional permanent resident in 1987 following his marriage to a United States citizen.
In 1989, Igbonwa petitioned to remove the conditional element of his immigration status.
INS denied his petition on November 29, 1989, when the agency determined that his marriage was a sham entered into solely for the purpose of securing permanent resident status.
INS began proceedings to terminate his conditional permanent resident status in 1990, but these proceedings were administratively halted on March 8, 1990 due to Igbonwa’s incarceration on narcotics offenses.
“In 1990, a federal grand jury indicted Igbonwa in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on two counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a) (1). He negotiated a plea agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia. The agreement stated that Igbonwa would plead guilty to the two counts of the indictment and cooperate with the government in future criminal investigations, in exchange for which the government would file a motion recommending a downward departure under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(e) and United States Sentencing Guideline § 5K1.1 if it deemed Igbonwa’s cooperation satisfactory. The plea agreement further provided that “no additional promises, agreements or conditions have been entered into other than those set forth in this document and that none will be entered into unless in writing and signed by all parties.” The plea agreement made no references relating to deportation.
“In accordance with the plea agreement, Igbonwa pled guilty on November 20, 1990. During his plea colloquy, Igbonwa averred that no additional representations or promises had been made and that he had not been induced to enter into the plea agreement by any promises beyond those in the written agreement. The court sentenced Igbonwa to nine years in prison on each count, the two sentences to run concurrently, and ten years of supervised release.1 In 1994, the government filed a Rule 35(b) motion recommending a reduction in Igbonwa’s prison sentence for his cooperation and testimony in a criminal investigation conducted in the District of Maryland. The district court granted the motion and reduced Igbonwa’s imprisonment by three years,” part of the document read.
A source told SaharaReporters that Ngige as governor used Igbonwa as front to build Olde English Hotels and Suites in Awka.
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WATCH LIVE: Matters Arising: Discussing Issues, Facts And Peculiarities Of Edo 2020 Governorship Election
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Again, NDDC Scholars Protest Unpaid 24 Months Allowances
Nigerian students, who are beneficiaries of the scholarship programme of the Niger Delta Development Commission, have again held a protest to demand the immediate payment of their funds.
The scholars are accusing the NDDC of deliberately omitting 95 of them from the payment.
The students converged at the Nigerian High Commission in London, bearing placards with different inscriptions.
After a presidential directive, the NDDC paid arrears of 2016 set as well as 2019 sets with 95 of 2018 sets left unpaid.
The commission’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Charles Odili, on Friday said the commission was verifying the status of the students and will pay them.
Odili described the students as “hirelings, most of whom are masquerading as the commission’s scholars”, adding that they are part of a campaign orchestrated by powerful individuals against the commission.
The protesting scholars condemned the commission for describing them as hirelings, saying, “We are not hirelings, we are not thugs and we are not shenanigans; we are Nigerians scholars in Diaspora asking for the payment of our 24 months overdue tuitions and upkeep but NDDC has refused to pay.”
The scholars accused the commission of handpicking those to pay while leaving them out from the President’s directive to pay all scholars.
Video of NDDC Scholars Protest Non-payment Of 24 Months Of Allowances By Commission
NDDC Scholars Protest Non-payment Of 24 Months Of Allowances By Commission
WATCH VIDEO: NDDC Scholars Protest Non-payment Of 24 Months Of Allowances By Commission
The scholars urged the Presidency and the National Assembly to mandate the NDDC to ensure the payment of 2018 set as they were at risk of forfeiting their certificates.
The 2018 foreign scholars have been plagued by hardship caused by the refusal of the NDDC to make payments as at when due.
Two of the students had their studentship in the Universities of Coventry and Leeds revoked last year because the NDDC failed to pay their registration fees.
HAPPENING NOW: @NDDCOnline Scholarship Beneficiaries Storm Nigerian High Commission In London To Demand Payment Of Scholarship Funds From Commission pic.twitter.com/VF9S64L6AJ— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) September 16, 2020
Many of them were logged out of their school portals.
They told SaharaReporters that they were unsure of where meals would come from.
They also said their academic transcripts had been seized due to the non-payment of their tuition.
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