Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Thursday 12th November 2020
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 12/11/20
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Sowore Raises Alarm Over Plot By Nigerian Government To Arrest, Kill Him For Demanding Good Governance
Omoyele Sowore
Rights activist and Convener of #RevolutionNow Movement, Omoyele Sowore, has accused the Nigerian Government of plotting to arrest and kill him.
The alarm by the activist comes as the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government continues its clampdown on major actors and promoters of the #ENDSARS protest.
Omoyele Sowore
In a post on Twitter on Wednesday, Sowore said that the Nigerian military had put a bounty on his head for him to be either arrested or killed.
#RevolutionNow Info reaching me now is that a signal from DIA has put a bounty on my head, that I must be arrested or murdered as they claim I’d resist arrest in the next 24hrs! This is from the Defence HQ here is Abuja! Be it known that this can’t affect the struggle for freedom— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) November 11, 2020
Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami @MalamiSan and new chief of staff, Ibrahim Gambari and @HQNigerianArmy chief, Buratai are all involved! @cenbank Governor, Godwin Emefiele is bankrolling the deadly plot— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) November 11, 2020
Just yesterday @MalamiSan went to an FCT court headed by Justice AB Muhammed to obtain an exparte order against me and @SaharaReporters, he want to make it look like his part of it is “civil†to pretend he wasn’t part of the assassination squad they put together!— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) November 11, 2020
Over the week their minions wrote press releases, letters to foreign embassies, @TheNationNews was generous in claiming some “Genuine EndSars†people want me arrested. The @HQNigerianArmy had a team of @twitter influencers on Sunday suggesting I should be assassinated— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) November 11, 2020
Sowore was arrested in the early hours of August 3, 2019 by operatives of the Department of State Services for calling on Nigerians to take to the streets in peaceful demonstrations on August 5 to demand a better country from the administration of President Buhari.
He was kept in unlawful detention from that period until December 5, 2019 when he was finally released on bail despite two court orders earlier sanctioning his freedom.
In a twist of events, DSS operatives invaded the Federal High Court in Abuja on December 6, 2019 to rearrest him without any court order.
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#Don’tForgetSowore: Timeline Of An Activist’s 90 Days In DSS Detention
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VIDEO: DSS Officer Strangles Sowore, Brandish Guns In Attempt To Rearrest Him pic.twitter.com/hVXfcVVlc5— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) December 6, 2019
He remained in unlawful detention until 18 days later when he was released by the secret police for the second time.
The journalist remains confined to Abuja as one of his bail conditions forbids him from leaving the city or speaking with journalists until the end of his trial.
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BREAKING: Sowore Raises The Alarm Over Plot By Buhari’s Regime To Re-arrest Him After SaharaReporters Exposed Coronavirus In Aso Villa
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Nigerian Army Releases List Of 86 Most Wanted Terrorists
Nigerian troops are fighting jihadist insurgency in the northeastern part of Nigeria.
The Nigerian Army has released a list of 86 persons wanted in connection with acts of terrorism.
Those on the list are alleged to be members of the Boko Haram sect.
Nigerian troops are fighting jihadist insurgency in the northeastern part of Nigeria.
Nigerian Army
The latest release is the fourth to be issued by the military authorities, who have in the past equally rolled out lists of wanted terrorists.
The list was launched by Tukur Buratai, Chief of Army Staff, alongside Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno State, at the Nigerian Army Super Camp, Chabbal in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno.
Buratai said the two events were part of activities designed for the final push to end Boko Haram activities in the North-East region.
The army chief said no “child CJTF” will participate in the operation, calling on the public to support the military in fishing out remnants of the insurgents.
Prominent on the list is the leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau, who has been declared dead on a few occasions in the past.
Others are Abu Musa Al Barnawi, Modu Sulum, Malkam Umar, Bello Husba, Yan Kolo, Ibrahim Abu Maryam, Baka Kwasari, Bana Gonna, Mohammed Abu Maryam, Abu Imma, and Abu Dardda.
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Bandits Kill One Person, Abduct Traditional Ruler, Children In Zamfara
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Gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted the district head of Matseri community under Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
One person, Mallan Maigariya, was, however, killed while trying to rescue the abducted victims.
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It was gathered that the gunmen armed with automatic weapons, stormed the community on motorcycles in large numbers.
The Emir of Anka, who doubles as Chairman of Zamfara State Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Attahiru Ahmed, confirmed the incident.
Ahmed said the bandits did not talk to or attack anyone else in the village but took away the district head and his children.
He said, “We do not know whether they have issues that have not been settled with the district head.”
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United States Lawmakers Ask Immigration And Customs Enforcement To Halt Deportation Of African Asylum-seekers
The United States House of Representatives has asked the Immigration and Customs Enforcement to stop the deportation African asylum-seekers from Cameroon and other countries on the continent.
Karen Bass, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Africa, Bennie Thompson, Shelia Jackson-Lee, Judy Chu, Joaquin Castro and Jamie Raskin disclosed this in a joint statement issued on Tuesday.
The lawmakers said the deportation process by ICE should be put on hold until a new administration is sworn in.
The statement reads, “Our offices have been alerted that African asylum-seekers from Cameroon and other African countries, many of whom were allegedly improperly coerced by ICE to sign voluntary deportation orders, will be deported as early as tomorrow morning. Upon their arrival to their designated countries, many will be at imminent risk of death.
“Their deportation should be put on hold until the new administration is sworn in and able to carefully review these claims. Anything otherwise is outrageous and unacceptable. We plan to introduce a measure this week to condemn this deportation should it take place.
“The United States should uphold its commitment under international treaties related to refugees and asylum-seekers and halt this unjust deportation.”
The US has indicated interest to fly some Cameroonian asylum seekers back to their home country despite fears that their lives will be at risk.
Some of the deportees are activists from the country’s Anglophone minority, who face arrest warrants for their political activities from government forces with a well-documented record of extrajudicial killings.
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Police Dismiss 10 Officers in Lagos For Murder, Corruption, Others
The Lagos State Police Command has dismissed no fewer than 10 of its personnel for various offences ranging from murder, discreditable conduct, excessive use of power, corruption among others.
The Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, made this known in a statement on Wednesday.
The statement added that 18 police officers were demoted while 29 others were issued warning.
It reads, “In its bid to promote discipline and core values of policing in Lagos State, the police command has tried eighty one (81) personnel for various criminal and disciplinary offences that were committed between October 2019 and October 2020, ranging from murder, discreditable conducts, excessive use of power, corrupt practices and negligence.
“The command has dismissed and prosecuted seven, while 10 personnel were dismissed. In addition, 18 of the men were reduced in ranks and 29 were awarded #10 naira major entries and warning letters accordingly. Others were awarded extra fatigue while 16 of the men were discharged and acquitted for want of evidence.
“The personnel that were tried in the orderly room proceedings conducted at various locations in Lagos State included 45 inspectors, 29 and seven corporals. Similarly, some senior officers of the command have been queried for various disciplinary offences and the queries are being processed at the Force Headquarters Abuja for necessary action and punishments.
“It is important to state that some of the affected personnel were attached to Lagos State Police Command while others were serving at various police formations within Lagos State. The trials were instituted based on a series of complaints/allegations levelled against them.
“According to the provisions of the Police Act and Regulations, punishments are awarded according to the magnitude of offences committed by police personnel. The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, has deemed it necessary to inform the general public on the steps being taken by the command to sanitise its workforce in order to change the general perception that Lagos State Police Command and the entire police force, in particular, condone indiscipline and crimes.”
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E2%80%98palliatives%E2%80%99-police-say Some Disgruntled Elements Planning To Poison Our Officers In Lagos With ‘Palliatives’, Police Say
The Lagos State Police Command has warned its officers to be wary of “disgruntled elements” planning to distribute palliatives to police stations across the state.
The command disclosed this in a police wireless message dated October 21, 2020 and addressed to area commanders and divisional police officers.
The wireless signal with reference number CB:4001/LS/DOPS/VOL.40/44/ order and directives, which was signed by the COMPOL DOPS Ikeja, reads in part, “Info at compol disposal revealed that some disgruntled elements acting under the guise of being police friends are planning to distribute palliatives to police personnel and suspects in police detention facilities across the state.
“It was further indicated that the palliatives may have been laced with poison with a view to harm the personnel and suspects, cause commotion and distract the command from effectively containing planned protest.
“In this wise, Compol directs you to warn personnel of yours to be wary of such Greek gifts and avoid falling prey to the plots.
“On no account must anyone accept or allow any individual or group(s) to check or feed any suspect detained in your respective cells.
“However, if any individual/group is bent on doing so, such person(s) should be promptly arrested with the gift items/food and notify the compol immediately.”
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#EndSARS: Falana Describes Complaint Against Him At ICC As Ploy To Divert Attention From Massacre Of Peaceful Protesters By Perpetrators
Femi Falana, SAN.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Femi Falana, has said that a criminal complaint lodged against him at the International Criminal Court, The Hague, Netherlands, was sponsored by persons behind the killing of peaceful protesters demanding an end to police brutality and bad governance in Nigeria.
Falana’s reaction followed the complaint lodged at the ICC by one Joseph Nwaegbu, a Senior Associate of Pathfind Attorneys on behalf of Make Nigeria Better Initiative.
Femi Falana, SAN.
The group had accused the human rights lawyer of “spreading fake news to further incite the youth in the country against the government, which led to killings and destruction of properties”.
The petition by the group, which was acknowledged by the ICC’s Head of Information and Evidence Unit, Mark P. Dillon, reads partly, “The misguided youth who acted based on Falana’s posture, character and utterances employed crude methods to illegally murder about 22 police officers during the #EndSARS protests that lasted between the periods 3rd October, 2020 till 21st October, 2020.
“We strongly believe that Mr Falana is a highly placed Nigerian citizen, senior lawyer and politician that without the timely intervention of the ICC he will get away with justice in this case.”
The group went ahead to call on the ICC Prosecutor to compel Falana upon conviction under the Rome Statute to pay the sum of $2bn as punitive damages for causing death, injury and maiming of several citizens as well as wanton destruction of public and private properties through his instigation of the #EndSARS protests.
But in his reaction on Wednesday night, Falana said that the complaint was baseless and had no element of facts in it.
He said, “One of my clients, the Socio-Economic and Rights Accountability Project, had earlier submitted a petition to the International Criminal Court against the authorities of the Nigerian Army for the brutal killing of peaceful protesters in Nigeria. Before then, a London-based human rights group had submitted a petition over the massacre of 347 Shiites in December, 2015 by the Nigerian Army.
“The suspects in both petitions believe that I instigated both petitions, hence, this obnoxious rejoinder was hurriedly crafted and dispatched to the office of the Chief Prosecutor of the ICC to divert attention from the crime against humanity allegedly committed by those, who opened fire on peaceful protesters in violation of international humanitarian law.
“But the cheap ploy will not work as the ICC does not entertain frivolous petitions that are anchored on conjecture or speculation.
“After all, the ICC is not unaware of the fact that the suspects, who committed arson and wilful damage to private and public properties in Lagos State and other places during the #EndSARS protests, have been arrested, investigated and arraigned in criminal courts.
“I am, however, surprised that the office of the Chief Prosecutor acknowledged the receipt of the groundless petition because it is the practice of the ICC to formally accept all petitions including the most absurd and obnoxious.”
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UNILAG Visitation Panel Chairman Expresses Regret In Signing Panel Report
Chairman of the Nigerian Government Visitation Panel on the University of Lagos, Prof Hamman Tukur Saad, has expressed regret for signing the report of the panel.
In a letter on Tuesday to Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, Saad said that he didn’t want to sign the report of the panel at first but went ahead to do so fearing the backlash it would generate in the public space.
The letter reads partly, “As Chairman, I didn’t want to sign the final report but I felt that would be a slap on the face of the government and it would generate so much bad publicity in the public domain, that I would rather sign on the understanding that the matter would be referred to the Shehu of Borno as the Chancellor.
“Final recommendation of the panel was that the matter should be referred back to the Chancellor, irrespective of what the panel recommended.
“As it stands now, I feel I was made a fool of and stabbed on the back by people I trusted.
“Furthermore, it will be impossible for any council to manage a university in this country if the recommendations of the panel are implemented in a Whitepaper.
“A Whitepaper based on the report submitted by the panel and neglecting the final recommendation of referring will raise many questions.”
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Despite N5bn Fraud Allegation, President Buhari Reinstates Ogundipe As UNILAG VC After Dissolving Governing Council
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Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe was on Wednesday reinstated as Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos by President Buhari.
Ogundipe was suspended in August by the Governing Council of the university during a meeting in Abuja.
The council headed by Dr Wale Babalakin at the time had accused Ogundipe of financial misappropriation among other acts of office abuse.
The Governing Council of the university was also on Tuesday dissolved by the President.
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Democracy Is Under Threat In Nigeria By Wole Olubanji
The events around the #EndSARS protest have shown that the struggle of Nigerians for democracy has not ended.
Under a democratic government, some rights and liberties are taken for granted. Under a democracy, principles such as ‘freedom of association’, ‘freedom of expression’, ‘right of protest’, and ‘freedom of the press’ are markers an non-negotiable. The #EndSARS protest has revealed how quickly the Nigerian authorities will eliminate these markers of democracy when faced with a semblance of mass protest.
The retributive actions of the Nigerian government against organisers of the #EndSARS protest have reversed our advances toward a democratic society. Freezing bank accounts of protesters, placing them on travel ban or arresting them in their homes, and in the process terrifying their family members, are things military dictators do. One could understand if old habits die hard. But it is unacceptable for us as a nation that the gains of more than twenty years of struggle against military dictatorship relapse, because the government has no answers to protesters’ questions.
It was not wrong to have participated in the #EndSARS protest. The #EndSARS protest did not begin in October 2020. The unprecedently low turnout recorded in the 2019 general election was a protest against the broken promises and level of poverty in the country, contrasted by the enthusiasm Nigerians showered on the same President in 2015. We are not better off as a people than we were in 2015. With 40.1%, about 80.6 million of our people, living in extreme poverty, we are the poverty capital of the world. The number of unemployed youth in Nigeria is larger than the population of Rwanda. And upon that is the existence of an extortionate police force that randomly kill young people. The justification for a citizen’s protest is just as self-evident.
One would expect that the government deploys economic resources to address underlying economic problems substantially. Instead, we have seen showy announcements that cannot scratch the surface of Nigeria’s monstrous poverty and unemployment problem. The government accompanied it with a clampdown on protesters to make them rue exercising their fundamental human rights. But this is not just some mistakes by the regime; it is a calculated attempt to re-write a narrower conception of democracy in Nigeria.
The terror of the state is not only visited on protesters; the state threatens the free and objective trade of journalism also. The National Broadcast Commission (NBC) fined the trio of Arise TV, Channels and AIT for reporting the stories as they were, without granting these stations fair hearing. The Commissioner of Police in Lagos has equally announced that the force will not allow any form of protest in the state. There is systematic asphyxiation of democracy ongoing here. A government should not threaten Journalists with monetary loss because the government is afraid of what they will write or say, at least not under a democracy. The Commissioner of Police has no right to withdraw the right of citizens to protest under any guise, at least that is how the court has ruled.
It is not enough to justify the litany of abuses of democratic rights by President Buhari’s administration by the violent turn the #EndSARS protest took. Violent protest is condemnable in its entirety. But it is wondrous where the police and military that are now employed to crack down on protesters were when hoodlums ignited violence by attacking protesters. Even the government has been unable to pin violence on the head of #EndSARS protesters in its narrative. Instead, it has repeatedly said that hoodlums hijacked the protests. But hoodlums hijacked these protests because security forces did not do their jobs of providing security to peaceful and orderly protesters exercising their constitutional rights. We must continue to bear witness to the admirable sense of organisation, peacefulness and orderliness about the #EndSARS protest, and reject any attempt to cast such historic festival of democracy in a bad light.
Citizens must retain their control over their elected officials, during and after elections. That is democracy. It entails protest. If a government is irascible to protest, it should avoid one by dealing with the economy, create jobs for youth, industrialise the country, and set up infrastructures for the economy to grow. The momentous struggle of Nigerians in 1993 for an end to military dictatorship cost several lives, and it will be disgraceful that democracy is narrowed because our political class don’t have the answers.
Wole Olubanji
Writes from Abule-Egba, Lagos State
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Abducted Edo Deputy Governor’s Younger Brother Freed
Frederick Shaibu, younger brother of Edo State deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, who was kidnapped on Monday, has been freed, SaharaReporters has learnt.
A government source in Edo confirmed the release to our correspondent on Wednesday night.
The source disclosed that Fredrick was released after the payment of ransom.
He added that the victim has been reunited with his family and taken for treatment.
“He has been released and reunited with his family. The deputy governor is aware of his release already.
“I can’t disclose how much was paid to secure his release but I know he’s fine now and has been narrating his experience in the kidnappers’ den,” the source said.
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Gunmen Kidnap Edo Deputy Governor’s Younger Brother
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Mr Chidi Nwabuzor, spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, could not be reached for comment at the time of this report. Fredrick was kidnapped on Monday while driving his children to school at Aruogba in Irhiri axis of Benin, the state capital.
The children were left in the car while the hoodlums went away with him.
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