Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Monday 26th October 2020
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 26/10/20
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E2%80%99s-request-concession-import-duty-sonia-foods HEDA Petitions EFCC To Investigate CBN’s Request For Concession On Import Duty For Sonia Foods
CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele
The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has written a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to initiate a probe into activities of the Central Bank of Nigeria over concession granted a private company for the importation of consumable items.
In the petition, HEDA raised suspicion of bias in the import concession granted Sonia Foods Ltd to import tomato concentrate.
CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
The petition followed a report that Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, had recommended import duty of five per cent and levy waiver to Sonia Foods, a company owned by one of his relatives, Nnamdi Nnodebe, to import tomato concentrate for the next two years.
SaharaReporters had reported that the move by Emefiele was against the tomato sector policy of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.
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CBN Governor, Emefiele, In Import Duty Scandal, Offers Waiver To Family Member Against President Buhari’s Directive
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Buhari had in 2017 through the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment banned the importation of tomato paste, powder or concentrate and increased the tariff on importation of tomato concentrate among others from five to 50 per cent in order to revive the tomato sector.
Mr Olanrewaju Suraju, Chairman of HEDA, stated that all parties indicted are yet to deny the allegation including how the CBN governor made the request to the minister appealing for him to advise the Comptroller-General of Customs, and Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service accordingly.
“It was also conveyed in the report that the CBN governor allegedly pads his pockets through his cronies by sabotaging all policies of the Nigerian Government against food importation. For instance, exclusivity for his friends being sole importers of powdered milk into the country under the guise that they are investing in setting up cattle ranches which is reported to have resulted in the explosive rise of prices of powdered milk by more than 300 per cent,” he said.
The group referred to another allegation against Emefiele that he gives his business associates exclusive waiver to import thousands of tons of maize to curtail maize shortage without a single ton given to the Nigerian Poultry Association and without the knowledge of the Minister of Agriculture or approval of the President.
Suraju said Emefiele’s action circumvents the law and potential should be sanctioned.
He cited Section 9 of the Code, which covers that a public officer shall not do or direct to be done, in abuse of his office, any arbitrary act prejudicial to the rights of any other person knowing that such an act is unlawful or contrary to any government policy.
“The allegations contravene the Code of Conducts for Public officers, Part 1, of the fifth schedule in the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Altered), Rule 1 of the code states: that a public officer shall not put himself in a position where his interest conflicts with his duties and responsibilities.
“The above allegations is in contravention of the code of conduct and the said governor of the apex bank holds a position that requires a high level of transparency and accountability, however with the above relayed, his accountability and transparency in the office is questionable and should be probed with immediate effect,” Suraju added.
The group requested the EFCC to invoke its powers as vested in Section 6(h) and Section 7(1(a)) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004. Section 6(h) of the Act to probe the CBN.
“Also, Section 7 (1(a)) of the Act states that the commission has the power to cause investigations to be conducted whether any person, corporate body or organisation has committed an offense under this Act or other law relating to economic and financial crimes.
“We write for an investigation to be carried out into the above relayed allegations against the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria in relation to the above allegations with aim of uncovering and ridding the nation of corruption, abuse of office, sharp practices and breakdown of law and order,” Suraju added.
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REVEALED: Nigerian Soldiers Involved In Lekki Massacre Took Eight Bodies To Bonny Camp Clinic
Contrary to the denial by the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-olu, that he knew nothing about the killing and maiming of peaceful EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate area of the state by personnel of the Nigerian Army, soldiers involved in the operation have now confirmed that they were actually drafted in for the mission on the request of the governor.
The soldiers had on Tuesday night opened fire on the protesters, killing and injuring many of them.
The army personnel also prevented ambulances from accessing the scene to evacuate those injured to the hospital after opening fire on them.
The soldiers also seized and carried away eight corpses of protesters killed at the scene.
The incident triggered widespread violence across Lagos and other parts of the country, leading to the destruction of public properties.
Shortly after the governor declared a round-the-clock curfew in the state that fateful Tuesday, some persons were captured on camera dismantling the CCTV attached to the toll gate, one of the main convergence points for young Nigerians demanding an end to police brutality and state repression.
Bosch, the company that made the CCTV, confirmed the removal from the toll gate.
Most of the street lighting around the area were suddenly turned off as soon as it was night
Minutes later, the heavily armed soldiers moved into the scene to complete the plan.
By the time sounds of their guns died down, dozens of protesters had been killed.
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Lekki Toll Gate Killings: How President Buhari, Nigerian Army And Lagos State Government Connived To Kill Peaceful #EndSARS Protesters In Lagos
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Though Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu blamed ‘forces beyond our control’ for the attack, while insisting that he had no authority over military engagements, the soldiers involved in the heinous mission have now exposed the truth.
The soldiers, who were deployed from 65 Battalion, Bonny Camp, Victoria Island, Lagos, told some of the victims’ relatives after dumping them at MRS Hospital that they were sent by Governor Sanwo-Olu.
“They came in two Hilux vans with atleast eight bodies. Some were still alive when they returned. They dumped them at MRS Hospital. They told us clearly that it was Governor Sanwo-Olu that sent them,” a brother to one of the victims, told SaharaReporters.
It was, however, gathered that against widespread belief by members of the public, Brigadier-General Francis Omata didn’t command the soldiers nor was there when shots were fired.
He was said to be at home when the shooting occurred and was shocked when people started calling him that soldiers were at the toll gate attacking protesters.
After rushing to the scene and identifying himself, Omata was able to pull back the soldiers.
It was then he discovered that they were from there 65 Battalion, Bonny Camp, which is headed by Lt Col S. O. Bello.
Video of #LekkiMassacre: How President Buhari, Army And Lagos Government Connived To Kill Peaceful Protesters
#LekkiMassacre: How President Buhari, Army And Lagos Government Connived To Kill Peaceful Protesters
WATCH VIDEO: #LekkiMassacre: How President Buhari, Army And Lagos Government Connived To Kill Peaceful Protesters
#EndSARS
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Thugs Invade Warehouse In Abuja, Loot Food Items
Armed thugs have invaded and looted a warehouse in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, where COVID-19 palliatives believed to have been kept.
The building located at Idu close to train station, was attacked while the food items were being carted away.
The incident has led to tension in the area as residents were seen runing for their lives. As at the time of this report, no security operative was around to stop the thugs.
Recall that security operatives on Saturday prevented a group of miscreants from gaining access into the Art and Culture building located at Area 10 in an attempt to loot the items.
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Akeredolu Decries Jail Break In Ondo, Says Schools To Remain Closed
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu
Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has decried the jailbreak recorded in the state after thugs hijacked peaceful protests calling for an end to police brutality and bad governance.
Some thugs had last Thursday broke into the Nigeria Correctional Centre in the Okitipupa Local Council Area of the state and freed inmates before setting the facility on fire.
They later proceeded to the local government secretariat building, destroyed the offices and set ablaze all buses parked within the premises.
Speaking on Sunday, Governor Akeredolu said he had already taken a tour of the affected properties alongside heads of security agencies in the state for an on-the-spot assessment.
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu
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BREAKING: Mob Set Police Station Ablaze In Ondo, Break Into Prison
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The governor, who visited Ondo, Ore, Okitipupa and Akure, where thugs operated, described the level of destruction as worrisome.
He said his government would set up a committee to look into the damages done on both public and private properties by thugs in the affected towns in the state.
He said, “I have seen with my eyes the destruction of public assets such as the court complex, local government secretariat including school shuttle buses in Okitipupa, several police stations, vehicles, offices, banks, markets as well as assets of private individuals.
“Of note is the Okitipupa Correctional Centre where inmates including convicted ones have been released.
“We will set up a committee to assess those damages and come up with what to be paid. Individuals whose properties were destroyed will be adequately compensated by the state.”
He added that those, who have been arrested in connection with the destruction, would also face the full wrath of the law.
The governor further stated that schools remained closed in the state for the safety of pupils.
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Bandits Ransack Katsina Village, Kill Man, Kidnap Wife, Son In Fresh Attack
Gunmen suspected to be Fulani armed bandits have launched a fresh attack on Sabon Garin Bilbis community under Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State in the early hours of Sunday around 1:00am.
According to Katsina Post, the bandits ransacked the community and carted away valuables including food items and animals for hours without resistance.
The bandits also shot one Ashiru Umar on his leg, leading to his death from bleeding and kidnapped his wife and child.
Killings and kidnapping for ransom have continued in Katsina despite security reinforcement in the state.
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Nigerian Government Responsible For Attack On Lekki Protesters, Says Femi Falana-led Group
Femi Falana, SAN.
The Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond, a group led by Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has said that the Nigerian Government should be held responsible for the attack on #ENDSARS protesters in Lagos.
Falana also condemned the hoarding of COVID-19 palliatives by some state governments, which led to increase in hunger-rate in the country, thereby resulting in the looting of state warehouses.
Femi Falana, SAN.
Falana said, “though ASCAB does not support looting regardless of the status of the perpetrators, rich or poor, the real looters are the public officers who have been implicated in secretly warehousing COVID-19 palliatives, hoping and praying that they would never be discovered”.
Condemning the Lekki attack, which he described as “reprehensible, abominable, unacceptable and heinous killing in cold blood”, the senior lawyer berated the denial of involvement of soldiers in the murderous attack of unarmed protesters coupled with the mismanagement of information surrounding the attack.
He added that this led to hoodlums taking advantage of the unrest to destroy and loot properties in the state.
Falana said, “ASCAB holds the Federal Government fully responsible for the killing of the unarmed peaceful protesters to the extent that only the President has the constitutional power to invite the armed forces in aid of civil authorities in the event of an insurrection.
“The peaceful protest acknowledged to be peaceful cannot be equated to an insurrection.
“Under the military junta the security agencies recruited cultists to attack students who protested peacefully.
“In like manner, the security agencies engaged the services of sponsored thugs to attack peaceful protesters in Lagos and Abuja for about 12 days.
“It is such state sponsored thuggery that boomeranged as boys and girls who have been used and dumped by politicians turned the peaceful protests to a conflagration that engulfed the nation.”
Falana added that the Lagos State Government should in addition to the Judicial Commission of Inquiry direct the Coroner to conduct an inquest into the circumstances surrounding the unnatural death of protesters.
Falana stated that ASCAB shall “establish an Independent National Citizen’s Panel of Inquiry that will comprise of credible and identified organisations of the youth that took part in the #Endsars protest movement, including the Feminist Coalition, among others.”
He also added that the group shall comprise of credible and tested civil society organisations and shall request and receive petitions from relatives of fallen heroes and other aggrieved persons whose fundamental rights had been abused in relation to the #EndSARS protest movement.
Falana also said the panel shall recommend appropriate citizen’s monuments to honour and immortalise the fallen heroes and heroines of the #EndSARS movement.
He pleaded that citizens should not repay state terrorism by which the lives of unarmed peaceful protesters have been terminated with individual terrorism.
#EndSARS
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Thugs Attack NAFDAC Office, Cart Away Fake And Expired Drugs
Suspected thugs have attacked the office of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control in Kaduna State, carting away seized fake and expired drugs and beverages.
The drugs were seized from illicit drug dealers and meant for destruction.
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Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government has warned of health risk from drugs and beverages looted from the NAFDAC office and other warehouses in the state capital.
Commissioner for Internal Security, Samuel Aruwan, in a statement said the looted items including expired, prohibited and dangerous drugs, posed a great danger to the health of the people and therefore warned that persons, who consume such drugs are at great risk of serious illness and death.
Aruwan also disclosed that the management of a food processing company whose store, was looted in the Kakuri area in Kaduna South Local Government has also disclosed that the stolen grains had been treated with chemical preservatives, which render them unsafe for consumption.
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Many Feared Dead During Looting Of COVID-19 Palliatives In Adamawa, Governor Announces Curfew
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri
Many people have been feared dead in a stampede during looting of foodstuffs at a government warehouse in Adamawa State.
In the aftermath, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri imposed a dusk to dawn curfew throughout the state to avert further loss of lives.
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri
In a statewide broadcast, Governor Fintiri said, “It has become necessary to address you this afternoon following the activities of some misguided elements who have broken into warehouses owned by the state government and carted away COVID-19 palliatives.
“Furthermore, reports of people dying in the stampede have been received and we cannot afford to allow anyone to lose his or her life.
‘We must also avoid a scenario where the security agents will be blamed if any person loses his/her life while being prevented from looting and destroying government property.
“In view of the above, I have declared and imposed an indefinite dawn to dusk curfew throughout the state beginning from Sunday, 25th of October 2020.
“Up until today when the hoodlums broke into the warehouse, our youth had remained calm and have refrained from joining any irate movement that could destabilise the peace Adamawa State has been enjoying so far.”
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We Will Not Watch While Our Children Are Massacred, Says Nigerian Mothers Group
File Photo: Mothers Protest in #EndSARS
A group made up of Nigerian women has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure justice for victims of last Tuesday’s Lekki massacre, saying mothers won’t watch while their children were being killed by government agents.
The mothers under the aegis of Nkata Ndi Inyom, condemned the shooting and killing of Nigerian youths by the police and army.
File Photo: Mothers Protest in #EndSARS
Convener of the group, Chief (Mrs) Josephine Anenih, in a statement said, “We watched in disbelief and horror at the senseless brutality perpetrated on our children.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the killing of innocent and peaceful citizens protesting against the excessive use of force, brutality and extortion in Nigeria.
“We condemn the use of live ammunition unleashed against unarmed children. We condemn a country turning against it’s citizens.
“Is what the youth are crying for not what we as Nigerians want? A better society, a more equitable society, a country to be a field of dreams for our children.
“We mothers will not sit on the sidelines while our children are being massacred. We have heard You, your pain is now our pain.
“We are calling on the government to right the wrongs and bring the perpetrators to book. We will not allow the blood of our children to be shed in vain. You are not alone.”
#EndSARS
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Buhari, Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu Killed #EndSARS Protesters At Lekki Toll Gate By Bayo Oluwasanmi
Bayo Oluwasanmi
Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, aka Sanwo-Tinubu, is one of the agents of aged despot being used to stamp out domestic dissent. Sanwo-Olu in cahoot with General Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his political godfather, violated constitutional safeguards and disregard the rights of #EndSARS protesters at Lekki Toll Gate by using soldiers to fire live ammunition on defenseless peaceful protesters.
Sanwo-Olu, Tinubu had vigorously denied knowledge and involvement in the killings of the protesters. So also Buhari who in his hollow address to the nation deliberately tap-danced around the murder of protesters at Lekki Toll Gate. SaharaReporters revealed Saturday that Sanwo-Olu was aware of plans by soldiers from Bonny Camp to attack and kill Lekki protesters. “Though Governor Sanwo-Olu blamed ‘forces beyond our control’ for the attack… available facts at the disposal of this medium indicate that the governor is being economical with the truth,” reports SaharaReporters. Today, SharaReporters also posted a video that incriminates Buhari and Sanwo-Olu.
Buhari, Tinubu, and Sanwo-Olu have blood in their hands. First, Sanwo-Olu flew to Abuja and met with General Muhammadu Buhari the Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces on how to end #EndSARS protest in Lagos. Second, Tinubu publicly said force should be used against the protesters. Third, Lekki Toll Gate is one of the reliable and profitable cash cows of many investments of Tinubu. Fourth, Sanwo-Olu is Tinubu’s stooge who will not go against the orders of Tinubu hence it will mean the end of his political career. And lastly but most importantly, the military would not have carried out the shootings without the approval of Buhari as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Bayo Oluwasanmi
Once the massacre of the protesters was achieved, Buhari, Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu looked for ways to wash their blood stained hands from the murder of protesters. Buhari and his Fulani cabals invoked the old, tired “divide and rule” tactics by placing the murder on the laps of Igbos. They readily found a scape goat in Nnamdi Kanu, leader of IPOB. As usual, they concocted a lie that it was Kanu who ordered Igbo to kill protesters and destroy properties.
How can Kanu who fled Nigeria to escape being killed by blood thirsty tyrant Buhari side with Buhari to kill the protesters? Was Kanu responsible for the the thugs who came in Lagos State government van armed with cutlasses and cudgels and attacked the protesters? Was Kanu behind similar attacks by Buhari’s government sponsored thugs against protesters in other parts of the country? Balderdash!
Since independence 60 years ago, the only weapon used by the primitive northerners to perpetuate their hegemony and monopoly of power is “divide and conquer” by pitting Yorubas against Igbos and vice versa. They used it for Awolowo and Azikwe. They lied that Wole Soyinka said Igbos should leave Yoruba land. No matter how hard they tried, they have failed abysmally this time around. Let me remind the Fulanis that the Awo and Zik generation is long gone. Welcome to #EndSARS generation!
“Divide and rule” tactics cannot and will not deter #EndSARS generation. The #EndSARS generation is united and collectively resolved to fight the unchecked brutalities of Buhari’s authoritarian regime, the obnoxious system, and the ethical decay of democratic powers. Buhari, Tinubu, and Sanwo-Olu killed #EndSARS protesters at Lekki Toll Gate. Period.
Times have changed. The revolution is now. There’s no letting up. No going back. This is it!
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Bayo Oluwasanmi
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