Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Saturday 21st November 2020
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 21/11/20
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ASUU May Suspend Strike As Nigerian Government Meets Demands
The Academic Staff Union of Universities may suspend its eight-month strike action after the Nigerian Government met its key demands.
The government agreed to exempt university workers from the new Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System.
The government also agreed to pay all outstanding salaries with the old payment system.
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Nigerian Government Exempts ASUU From IPPIS, Offers N65bn As Earned Allowances, Revitalisation Fund
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At the meeting with the government’s delegates on Friday, ASUU insisted that their demands must be met before the strike would be suspended.
Announcing the outcome of the meeting in a tweet, ASUU also said the Nigerian Government had agreed to pay additional N15bn Revitalisation Fund.
“The negotiation between FG and #ASUU today yielded very good results.
“The government has agreed to use the old platform before #IPPIS to pay all withheld salaries.
“#UTAS is still undergoing usability test.
“On revitalization, the government offered N15bn in addition to the N20bn pledged earlier.” 3. On revitalization, the government offered N15billion in addition to the N20billion pledged earlier.4. #ASUU would now consult with its council and then get back to the government in a short while, to make their final intention known; if the strike will be suspended or not.— Official_ASUU (@ASUUNGR) November 20, 2020
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Gunmen Kill Former NUPENG Chairman In Rivers
Gunmen have killed former Rivers State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Ebenezer Kalabo Amah, the state police have confirmed.
Amah was kidnapped by the gunmen and killed shortly afterwards.
Spokesperson for the police in the state, Nnamdi Omoni, who confirmed the incident, said the deceased’s vehicle was recovered the same day while his body was seen at Peter Odili Road on Thursday, a report by PUNCH said.
Omoni said, “Yes I can confirm. He was kidnapped in Woji on the 17th. That same day, the police recovered his vehicle. While we were searching for him, we got information that his body was dumped somewhere at Peter Odili Road.
“So the following day on the 18th, we got there and confirmed that he was the same person that was kidnapped the previous day. His body was evacuated and taken to the hospital mortuary for preservation.
“The vehicle is in our custody. The investigation has commenced into the incident to ensure that the suspects behind the dastardly act are apprehended.”
Deputy National Chairman of the Trade Union Congress, Chika Onuegbu, while commenting said, “ETK Amah was a very good comrade who radiated joy everywhere he went. So sad. May his soul rest in peace.”
Amah was kidnapped by gunmen, who trailed him to his residence along Precious Chukwu Street in Woji, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state, while he was driving into his house on Wednesday night.
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DSS Detains Gbajabiamila’s Security Aide Over Killing Of Abuja Newspaper Vendor
The Department of State Services has said that it has commenced investigation into the killing of Ifeanyi Elechi, a newspaper vendor, by one of its personnel attached to Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The personnel shot and killed the vendor on Thursday.
Spokesperson for the DSS, Dr Peter Afunanya, in a statement on Friday pledged transparency in the investigation.
He said, “The attention of the Department of State Services has been drawn to the allegation of shooting and killing of one Ifeanyi Okereke by a security aide of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“The service hereby confirms that the suspect is one of its personnel deployed to the Speaker’s convoy as a security detail and as already stated by the Speaker that he has been suspended from his convoy, the service has further withdrawn him from the assignment.
“As part of its disciplinary procedure in the instance, he has been taken into detention. In addition, the service has opened a detailed investigation into the matter. While it pledges to be transparent and accountable in handling this, it is liaising with appropriate authorities to achieve this objective.”
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BREAKING: Newspaper Vendors Protest Killing Of Member By Gbajabiamila’s Security Aide In Abuja
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Nigerian Government Exempts ASUU From IPPIS, Offers N65bn As Earned Allowances, Revitalisation Fund
Nigeria’s labour minister Chris Ngige
After weeks of negotiations and foot-dragging, the Nigerian Government on Friday offered a cumulative sum of N65bn to the Academic Staff Union of Universities to address earned academic allowances and revitalisation of universities.
The government also shifted grounds on a number of issues including the insistence that all academic staff of federal universities must be paid through the IPPIS platform.
Nigeria’s labour minister Chris Ngige
Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, disclosed this after a meeting with the striking lecturers in Abuja.
Briefing reporters at the end of the meeting, he described the negotiation as fruitful as government had decided to shift grounds on the lingering issues that have kept students out of the classroom for several months.
The minister said, “The FG reiterated that her offer of N40bn or N35bn, whichever is accepted by ASUU was for all the universities’ unions. ASUU had proposed that N40bn be paid immediately for all unions.
“We are also reviewing how the lecturers will be paid on the old platform (Government Integrated Financial Management Information System) until UTAS (which the lecturers are proposing) is ready for usage.”
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Nigerian Government Threatens ASUU, Begins Registration Of Rival Union
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Bandits Release Nine Abducted Police Officers
Inspector-General of Police (IG-P), Mohammed Adamu
The Nigeria Police Force has announced the rescue of its officers, who were kidnapped by bandits along Katsina–Zamfara Road two weeks ago.
Force spokesperson, Frank Mba, made the announcement in a statement on Friday.
Inspector-General of Police (IG-P), Mohammed Adamu
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Bandits Kidnap 12 Senior Police Officers, Family Selling Properties To Pay Ransom
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The officers were said to have been on their way to Zamfara from Borno State to carry out a special assignment when they were seized by the hoodlums.
Their abductors had initially demanded a ransom of N800,000 each.
Mba said two of the officers were currently receiving treatment while others were being debriefed.
The statement reads, “The officers, all Assistant Superintendents of Police, were on their way to Gusau in Zamfara State from Maiduguri at the time of the incident. Two of the officers are currently receiving medical attention in a hospital, while the remaining seven are being debriefed.”
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Osun Court Remands Mother, Son, Prophet For Allegedly Killing, Eating 400-level LASU Student
A court In Osun State has remanded a woman, her son and their prophet for allegedly killing and eating a 400-level student of the Lagos State University, Favour Daley-Oladele.
The culprits are Bola Adeeko, her son, Owolabi Adeeko and Segun Philip the prophet.
Guardian Nigeria
Kemi Bello, prosecutor from the Ministry of Justice in Osogbo, had dragged the trio to court on two counts of conspiracy and murder.
The charges were, however, not read to the defendants because they did not have a counsel.
Justice Grace Onibokun, the presiding judge, adjourned the matter to March 3 and 10, 2021 for hearing and ordered that they should be remanded in a correctional facility.
Recall that the Ogun State Police Command had arrested the prophet alongside the mother and son over the killing of Daley-Oladele.
Following their arrest, Owolabi narrated how he and his mother conspired to kill his then girlfriend, ate her in a ritual meal to make them rich.
Their victim went missing on December 8, 2019 but police investigation led to the suspects, who murdered her in a church to be exposed.
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Oyo, Osun Cancel Joint Ownership Of LAUTECH
The Osun and Oyo governments have cancelled the joint ownership of Ladoke Akintola University and Ladoke Akintola College of Health.
LAUTECH was established in 1990 by the old Oyo State Government with the main campus located in Ogbomoso.
The teaching hospital was subsequently established in Osogbo.
When Osun State was carved out of the old Oyo State in 1991, both states became joint owners of the institution.
The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof Abubakar Rasheed, who disclosed this Friday on Abuja, said the decision was as a result of governance and management challenges, which consequently was affecting the appointments of Vice Chancellors and other principal officers, as well as irregular payment of staff salaries.
“It is gratifying to note that after extensive deliberations, negotiations and consultations, both owner states mutually agreed terms and the joint ownership of LAUTECH was formally dissolved,” he said.
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Probe: Magu Will Be Vindicated, Lawyer, Wahab Shittu, Says
Ibrahim Magu
Following the submission of a report by an investigative panel headed by retired Justice Ayo Salami to President Muhammadu Buhari, Wahab Shittu, counsel to suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, has said that his client will be vindicated.
The panel, which submitted its report to Buhari on Friday, asked the President to look outside the police force in appointing the next chairman of the EFCC.
Ibrahim Magu
Shittu in a statement said Magu remained incorruptible and his stellar achievements in EFCC was unprecedented in the history of the commission.
He said, “We wish to state that in view of today’s submission of the much awaited report of Justice Isa Salami-led Judicial Commission of Inquiry to President Muhammadu Buhari, we wish to state with high sense of responsibility that the suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Ibrahim Magu, will be vindicated at the end of the day.
“We observed that Hon Justice Isa Salami, in a televised speech at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, made certain recommendations outside the mandate of the panel and proceeded to make case for the headship of the commission outside the Nigeria Police Force. “We wish to state that all over the world, the police is central to law enforcement. The EFCC is a law enforcement agency, separating the police from the EFCC is anti- law enforcement.
“How come that Salami panel did not say anything on alleged mismanagement recovered assets, insubordination and abuse of office against Mr Magu? We are further alarmed that Salami could in the public glare at the seat of power, attacked the police as an institution and recommended the exit of police officers from the EFCC within two years. We wish to ask at this juncture what happened to the huge amount of money expended by the Federal Government on these police officers in terms of investigations, money laundering and specialized economiccrimes.
“We are further urging the general public to take note of these salient points: Mr Magu did not collect any bribe from anybody as we insist that all allegations of diversion of recovered assets leveled against our client were baseless and unfounded. Please note that Magu is innocent of all the allegations leveled against him.
“The forfeited assets and the proposed sale is the main reason they are pushing for his removal from EFCC. Powerful government officials are not comfortable with Mr Magu’s incorruptible style of leadership. They prefer somebody they can manipulate. There is no doubt that Mr Magu must have stepped on powerful toes in the course of doing his job. Salami panel was mandated to sit for 45 days but ended up sitting for about 6 months.
“We also anchor our position in view of the following incontrovertible facts: In the past, many false stories against Magu had featured in the public space only for such unfounded allegations to collapse like pack of cards during the proceedings of the Salami panel.
“Biased constitution of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry As admitted by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), the allegations leading to the establishment of the judicial commission of inquiry, was as a result of reports from law enforcement and security an agency.
“Notwithstanding the above, membership of the judicial commission of inquiry was constituted mainly by our client’s accusers including membership of the office of the AGF, thereby raising significant issues of fair hearing against our client.”
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E2%80%98defaming Court Throws Out Akwa Ibom Government Case Against Journalist Arrested, Detained For ‘Defaming’ Health Commissioner
Kufre Carter
A Magistrate Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has thrown out a case against Kufre Carter, a journalist with XL 106.9 FM, who was arrested by the Department of State Services for allegedly defaming Dominic Ukpong, the state’s Commissioner for Health.
Inibehe Effiong, counsel to the journalist, disclosed this on Friday.
Kufre Carter
Kufre was arrested by the DSS on April 27 over a purported phone conversation with an anonymous doctor, which he posted on Facebook.
The state government alleged that the audio castigated Ukpong over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He was subsequently charged to court on a three-count charge of criminal defamation of character.
“That you, KUFRE CARTER AKPAN, ‘M, and another now at large sometimes in the month of April 2020 in Uyo Local Government Area, within the Uyo Magisterial District, conspired among yourselves to effect unlawful purpose to wit: publication of defamatory matter and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 556(1)() of the Criminal Code, cap 38, Vol.2, Laws of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, 2000.
“That you, KUFRE CARTER AKPAN, ‘M, and another now at large sometimes in the month of April, 2020 in Uyo Local Government Area, within the uyo Magisterial District did made a defamatory publication on internet via www.firstreportsonline.com against Dr Dominic Ukpong, Commissioner for Health, Akwa Ibom State, causing same to be read or seen, with intent to injure his reputation by exposing him to ridicule, hatred and contempt knowing same to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 66(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol.2, Laws of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, 2000.2,” part of the charges read.
However, the suit was struck out on Friday by Chief Magistrate Winifred Umohandy for ‘lack of diligent prosecution’.
SaharaReporters gathered that the prosecutors failed to present any witness in the case that had been adjourned on several occasions.
Reacting, Inibehe wrote, “The case of “criminal defamation” instituted against Kufre Carter by the Akwa Ibom State Government has been struck-out today Friday the 20th day of November, 2020 by the Chief Magistrate Court of Akwa Ibom State presided over by Chief Magistrate Winifred Umohandy for want of deligent prosecution.
“Kufre was arrested and arraigned in court in April by the State Security Service on the instigation of a former Commissioner for Health in Akwa Ibom State, Dr Dominic Ukpong, over a viral audio message circulated on social media in which the said Dr Ukpong and the State Government were castigated for their poor handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our firm, Inibehe Effiong Chambers, represented him pro bono as part of our human rights programme. The same government that acted as if the world was going to end if Kufre was released, could not produce a single witness in court.
“Dr Ukpong who was in a hurry to use the SSS to arrest Kufre in connivance with other officials of the Akwa Ibom State Government ran away from the court and did not show up at all.
“Those who occupy political positions in Nigeria must realize that the era of using security agencies to hunt and persecute citizens unchallenged for expressing their views on issues of bad governance is over. We will never tolerate such reckless abuse of power and cowardly acts of intimidation by politicians. We will continue to challenge their impunity within the ambits of the law. History will vindicate the just.”
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EXPOSED: Despite Fulfilling Bail Conditions, Akwa Ibom Governor Connives With DSS To Keep Journalist In Perpetual Detention By Manipulating Judicial Process
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E2%80%94-president-buhari Why I Ordered Probe Of Magu — President Buhari
President Buhari received report of Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the Investigation of Mr Ibrahim Magu, Acting Chairman of EFCC (May 2015-May 2020) at the State House, Abuja.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, lamented that corruption was present almost everywhere and at many levels of government.
Buhari said he set up the panel to probe Ibrahim Magu, suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, because of serious allegations against the anti-graft agency.
President Buhari received report of Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the Investigation of Mr Ibrahim Magu, Acting Chairman of EFCC (May 2015-May 2020) at the State House, Abuja.
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President Buhari Receives Salami-led Judicial Panel Report On Magu
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Speaking while receiving the report of the panel headed by retired Justic Ayo Salami, Buhari said his administration will cut off any stream that supports the growth of corruption.
“As a government, and in furtherance of our anti-corruption programme, we have since inception engaged in many reforms in removing corruption including but not limited to the enforcement of Treasury Single Account, strict implementation of the Bank Verification Number policy and signing unto the Open Government Partnership. A lot of efforts have gone into building and development of our anti-corruption institutions.
“We have so far kept faith with our promise and shall remain committed until Nigeria triumphs over the evil of corruption, attain a prosperous economic status, and surmounts her security challenges.
“However, the stark reality of widespread corruption becomes poignant when allegations of corruption touch on the leadership of an institution set up by law to coordinate and enforce all economic and financial crimes. It is an abomination that strikes at the root and undermines the government’s anti-corruption programme.
“It was in response to the serious allegations against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that I set up a panel headed by Justice Isa Ayo Salami, retired President of the Court of Appeal, via an Instrument dated 3rd July 2020 pursuant to the Tribunals of Inquiry Act (Cap T21, LFN, 2004),” a statement by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, read.
Justice Salami disclosed that the commission also embarked on a nationwide physical verification of recovered forfeited assets, comprising real estates, automobiles, vessels and non-cash assets.
He commended the President for the initiative to dispose all forfeited assets “because of the poor condition of the assets we saw during our physical verification nationwide.”
Noting that the four chairmen of EFCC since inception were from the police, the retired Justice of the Court of Appeal also recommended that in appointing a new chairman, consideration should be given to candidates from other law enforcement or security agencies and a core staff of the EFCC as provided in the EFCC establishment Act of 2004.
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