Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Wednesday 11th November 2020
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 11/11/20
Read also
Bandits Demand N7m Ransom To Free Kidnapped Zamfara Villagers
Armed bandits have demanded N7m ransom for the release of 14 people kidnapped at Dankurmi Village in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
SaharaReporters recall that the gunmen attacked Dankurmi on November 6, 2020, killing one person and abducting 14 others.
Many villagers were also left with gunshot wounds.
Four days after, the abductors have demanded N7m ransom to release those kidnapped.
A brother of one of the kidnap victims told SaharaReporters that they had no means of raising that money after the bandits looted the little they had gathered including motorcycles.
“They are demanding N7m, where do they want us to see that? They have looted all our belongings including motorcycles,” he said.
Insecurity
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
Shiite Group Petitions Human Rights Commission, EU, UN, Demands Justice For Lekki Massacre Victims
The Islamic Movement in Nigeria, a Shiite group, has submitted a formal petition to the National Human Rights Commission, United Nations and European Union, Abuja, to demand justice for victims of the October 20, 2020 Lekki shooting.
The group condemned the brutal force used on protesters by some soldiers of the Nigerian Army.
In a statement by Secretary, Academic Forum of the ISM, Abdullahi Musa, described the shooting of unarmed protesters as barbaric and uncalled for.
The sect said the carnage was orchestrated and premeditated to stop the protesters from calling for good governance.
The statement read, “We strongly condemn the regime’s attack on peaceful protesters, infiltration of the protests and the Lekki massacre.
“The commencement of the probe on the killings by the state government is welcome. Stakeholders should ensure that the probe leads to the prosecution of perpetrators.
“These deliberate acts by the regime was done in order to provide itself with an excuse to carry out a pre-planned and premeditated mass murder of protesters, which was subsequently carried out by the Nigerian Army at Lekki on 20th October, 2020.
“Therefore, the seemingly endless injustice arouses the cumulative grievances of youths, embarking on nationwide peaceful protests against the savage brutality of the regime’s enforcers. Bravo to the energetic Nigerian youth who have united in the face of such injustice.”
#EndSARS
Human Rights
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
Oyo State House Of Assembly Kicks Against Regulation Of Social Media
Oyo State House Of Assembly Speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin.
The Oyo State House of Assembly has kicked against the regulation of social media in Nigeria.
This was revealed by Speaker of the Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, via a tweet on Tuesday.
Oyo State House Of Assembly Speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin.
He said the state’s legislature will kick against restriction of freedom of expression.
Oyo State Govt Legislature will not support any form of restriction on Social Media freedom of expression/speech in any way.— Rt. Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin (@Adebo_ogund) November 10, 2020
This comes as the Nigerian Government pushes for the regulation of social media following the recent #ENDSARS protest.
The government had claimed that the protest was organised and people were mobilised through the social media.
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, claimed that the Nigerian Government must regulate it to prevent the spread of hate speech.
He said the social media was the platform of choice for those, who propagated fake news, adding that there was an urgent need for a national policy to curb excesses and misuse.
Free Speech
Internet
Politics
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
DSS Drags Man To Court For Sharing Fake Video Of President Buhari’s Wedding
The Department of State Services has arraigned one Kabiru Mohammed for creating and sharing a fake video of President Muhammadu Buhari’s wedding to Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq.
Mohammed was arraigned 10 months after he was initially arrested by the DSS.
The DSS, while parading Mohammed in January, said it received a petition from Ahmed to investigate the photos and videos and uncover the persons involved in the circulation of such materials.
The DSS claimed he had confessed to creating and circulating the video.
Mohammed was arraigned at a Chief Magistrates’ Court at Nomansland in Kano on two count charges of defamation and injurious falsehood on Tuesday, TheNation reports.
According to counsel to the DSS, I.B. Bulus, Mohammed’s action caused “confusion and injury to the persons involved, tarnishing their character and causing disaffection among their families and associates, through the spreading of fake news.”
He urged the magistrate court presided over by Aminu Gabari to order the remand of the defendant in the DSS custody for seven days.
The judge, however, turned down the prayer of the DSS and granted Mohammed bail after his counsel, Moses Edema, said the alleged offence was a bailable.
Giving his ruling, Gabari granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum.
As part of the conditions, the magistrate said Mohammed must daily report to the DSS office from 8am to 2pm on weekdays and 9am to 2pm at weekends.
Politics
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
Police Release Nigerian Journalist After 30 Days Unjust Detention
Oga Tom Uhia
The Nigeria Police Force has finally released Tom Uhia, journalist and Publisher of Power Steering Magazine.
The journalist was detained for 30 days on the orders of Nigeria’s Minister of State for Power, Jeddy Agba, over a publication in his magazine.
Oga Tom Uhia
This was after the court ordered that the journalist should be released on bail.
He was released to his lawyer on Tuesday afternoon.
SaharaReporters had reported that the police initially disregarded the court order after Uhia met his bail conditions.
The police held on to Uhia for a day, claiming that it was yet to be served with the court order for his release on bail.
The journalist was arrested over a publication in the July 2020 edition of Power Steering Magazine the minister deemed was injurious to his person.
Uhia had filed a fundamental human rights enforcement suit against Agba, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Anthony Ogbizi, who is said to be the uncle of the minister, and others before Justice Peter Affen at an FCT High Court, Maitama.
In the suit, Uhia is demanding the total sum of N110m for abusing his rights by keeping him for one month in secret detention, without trial even after meeting bail conditions set by the court.
Journalism
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
Nigerian Senate Urged To Revisit Amended Electoral Bill, Pass To Buhari For Assent
The Nigerian Senate has been asked to revive the amended electoral bill and pass to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent.
National Publicity Secretary of the Action Democratic Party, Prince Adelaja Adeoye, made the call on Tuesday after positing that the task is now before the current 9th Assembly to re-introduce the bill to the President for assent.
The bill, which was passed to the President by the 8th Senate, was rejected by Buhari for various reasons including that it was close to the 2019 general elections.
Adelaja stated that there were so many issues being faced by Nigerians, which includes the call for scrapping of police unit, which has become dreaded and a torn in the flesh of citizens leading to a nationwide #EndSARS campaign, but that the people must not also forget to demand that the abandoned amended electoral bill, which is capable of enthroning good leaders that can fix the country be revisited.
He said, “Nigerians are not speaking up on a very important matter that is capable of shaping the 2023 elections. I understand that there are various contending issues we are currently faced with.
“Prior to 2019 elections, the 8th Assembly led by Senate President, @BukolaSaraki presented an amended electoral act, which solves a number of usual irregularities marring our elections.
“The unattended electoral amendment bill by President Buhari was of the 8th Assembly, and for it to be sign into law, it needs to be re-introduced by this current 9th Assembly led by Senate President Ahmad Lawan.
“Nigerian populace needs to immediately begin to engage their 9th House of Reps and Senate members in their various constituencies, to as a matter of urgency put pressure on them, to re-introduce the electoral act, as amended by the 8th Assembly, but not signed into law by President Buhari.”
Adelaja noted that the amended Electoral Act solves a number of problems militating against the conduct of our elections.
He added that the essence of having an amended electoral bill amongst other things was to further strengthen the ways our elections were conducted, allow equal opportunity for candidates, conform with mordern electioneering process, and ultimately work against ballot snatching or stuffing through digitalisation.
“It will also bring sanity before, during and after the electioneering process, and mitigate against avoidable loss of lives, time wastage, since electronic means of collation and transmission of results will be involved.
“I call on all Nigerians to rise up and demand from the 9th Assembly to represent the ammended electoral act to President Buhari for his assent. If there are grey areas, they should make it public, so it can be fixed.
“The President has several months to end his second term, which is his last tenure, the best gift both the 9th Assembly and Buhari can give to Nigerians is to leave our electoral process far better than they met it in 2015,” he added.
Elections
Politics
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
#ENDSARS: Oyo State Inaugurates Judicial Panel Of Inquiry On Police Brutality, Extrajudicial Killings
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has inaugurated the state’s Judicial Panel of Inquiry on police brutality and extrajudicial killings in the state.
The panel of 11 members were inaugurated on Tuesday.
Makinde revealed that members of the panel were drawn from the legal team, National Human Rights Commission, Department of Public Prosecution and the National Youth Council of Nigeria, adding that the panel will be headed by Justice Bolajoko Adeniji (retired).
The governor said, “We inaugurated the Oyo State Judicial Panel of Inquiry into police brutality, violation of rights of citizens and unlawful killings. The panel is made up of eleven (11) members led by Justice Bolajoko Adeniji (retired), as Chairman of the panel.
“Members of the panel are drawn from the legal community, the National Human Rights Commission, the Department of Public Prosecution, the National Youth Council of Nigeria, youth representatives of EndSARS protesters and the community.
“This panel was constituted pursuant to Section 2(1) of the Oyo State Commission of Inquiry Law Cap 32 of the Laws of Oyo State 2000 which empowers the governor to set up a commission of inquiry. However, as the scope is beyond Oyo State, we’re collaborating with the Federal Government.”
This panel was constituted pursuant to Section 2(1) of the Oyo State Commission of Inquiry Law Cap 32 of the Laws of Oyo State 2000 which empowers the Governor to set up a commission of inquiry. However, as the scope is beyond Oyo State, we’re collaborating with the Federal Govt. pic.twitter.com/0I0xJMgcNz— Seyi Makinde (@seyiamakinde) November 10, 2020
The governor urged anyone, who has faced human rights abuse in the hands of any of the security forces to “use this opportunity to seek justice” as he promised that officers responsible for the deaths of Isiaka Jimoh, Ganiyu Moshood Alabi, and Adeoye Taiwo would be brought to book.
#EndSARS
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
Kannywood Actress Debunks Rumour Of Her Imprisonment Over Outfit Revealing Her Back
Rahama Sadau, a Kannywood actress, has dismissed news of her being arrested and imprisoned over a dress she wore revealing her back.
The 26-year-old actress stirred controversy and was accused of blasphemy after she shared some of her photos on social media wherein she wore a backless dress, which brought out her curves.
The development generated controversy with several conservative Muslims lashing out at her for going against Islamic tenets of dressing.
Reacting to the criticisms in a series of social media posts on Monday, Sadau said her fashion choice was not aimed at insulting Islam or Prophet Muhammad as alleged by some.
There were, however, insinuations on the social media that the actress had been arrested and kept in prison.
Sadau, who said this period was a hard time for her, tweeted that “this is not the right time for fake news”.
She said, “I have received many messages that I have been arrested and sentenced to jail earlier today. I have no idea where the news emanated from.
“I’m therefore calling on people to stop spreading fake and unfounded stories.
“I haven’t received any police invitation or court trial. I’m reiterating this to well wishers that I’m safe and fine and I have never received any legal trial for whatever reason. To those trying to bank on this issue to create an unrest, please give it a rest.”
An Islamic scholar, Lawal Gusau, who wrote a petition against the actress, had claimed that the police were able to track Sadau through her phone and stopped her from fleeing the country.
Gusau is calling for the arrest and trial of the actress, claiming that her picture made non-Muslim blaspheme Prophet Muhammad.
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
Activists Protest At US Embassy, Demand Justice For Ken Saro-Wiwa, Eight Others 25 Years After Killing By Abacha Regime
Civil society organisations and human rights activists on Monday staged a peaceful protest at the Embassy of United States in Abuja to demand justice for Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni leaders executed 25 years ago.
They were hanged on November 10, 1995, by Nigeria’s military regime under late General Sani Abacha for protesting Shell’s destructive environmental practices in the Niger Delta.
The group called on the United States to intervene and prevail on the Nigerian Government to exonerate the late activists, who were unjustly executed.
Leader of the group, Sidney Usman, said the protest was aimed at drawing the attention of the Government of the United States and other Western countries to the failure of the Nigerian Government to exonerate the activists 25 years after.
He also called on the government to provide their families with adequate reparations.
The protesters urged the Nigerian Government to take all necessary steps in consultation with relevant local communities to ensure that the protection, promotion and fulfilment of the Ogoni people’s human rights including their right to a safe, healthy environment.
The rights group also called for immediaterelease of six #ENDSARS protesters, who were arrested at the gate of the National Assembly for demanding good governance.
Usman said, “The Nigerian Government should unfreeze all the accounts of #ENDSARS protesters. It is undemocratic to persecute and vilify innocent Nigerians demanding an end to police brutality, insecurity, corruption and bad governance.”
See Also
Human Rights
Sowore Calls For Exoneration Of Ken Saro-Wiwa 25 Years After False Accusation, Murder By Nigerian Government
0 Comments
12 Hours Ago
Human Rights
News
AddThis
:
Featured Image
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
Court Convicts House Of Representatives Member For Lying Under Oath
Victor Mela
A member of the House of Representatives, Victor Mela, has been found guilty by a magistrate court in Abuja for lying under oath while giving information to the Independent National Electoral Commission to enable him contest the 2019 election.
The Federal Capital Territory Police had accused Mela, who represents Billiri/Balanga Federal Constituency in Gombe State of lying under oath while filing the INEC form CF001 prior to the 2019 elections.
Victor Mela
The presiding judge, however, set a different date for the sentence of the lawmaker after his lawyer pleaded for leniency.
Mela contested under the All Progressives Congress in February 2019 and polled 45,112 votes to defeat Ali Isa JC of the Peoples Democratic Party, who scored 35,395 at the National Assembly elections.
He is presently the Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals.
CRIME
Legal
Politics
Scandal
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
Read also
You can also check
