Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Saturday 23rd January 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 23/01/21
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E2%80%94oyo Yoruba Youths Have Driven Me, My Wife, Children Out Of Our Home, Burnt Our House, 11 Cars —Oyo Seriki Fulani
The settlement of the Seriki Fulani of Oyo State, Alhaji Saliu Abdulkadir, was allegedly set on fire by aggrieved youths on Friday night.
Abdulkadir told SaharaReporters in Ibadan that he, his wives and children were sent out of the settlement, adding that 11 vehicles and houses were burnt in the process.
He told SaharaReporters that despite assurance by the police and the people of the state, his house was burnt in the presence of security agents.
He said, “As we speak, we are in the bush. Our cars, numbering about 11, have been burnt. Some of my children sustained injuries and we are looking for a way to get them to hospital. My children have left their houses for the bush. We need the government to help us. Police, Operation Burst and other security agencies were there when they set my house ablaze.”
Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Jiji, also confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the phone.
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Take Fulani Herdsmen Out Of Yorubaland Or There Would Be Trouble, Yoruba Nation Agitator, Igboho Tells Buhari
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He said, “As we usually say, not all Fulani people are evil. Good people are among us. What can we call this now? The man is a gentleman and see how he was chased out of his house. We need the government to act now,” he said.
Sunday Adeyemo, an agitator for Oodua Republic, better known as Sunday Igboho, on Friday visited some Oyo communities to confirm compliance of Fulani people with the seven-day ultimatum he had given them last Thursday to leave Ibarapa and Igangan areas of Oyo State.
Fulani herdsmen have largely been blamed for the growing cases of killing and kidnapping in southwestern Nigerian.
Speaking with SaharaReporters early Friday morning, he affirmed his decision to visit the communities despite the threats by the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, to arrest him.
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We Are Innocent, Kidnappers, Bandits Also Terrorise Us — Seriki Fulani Replies Igboho Over Vacation Order
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In a video shared online, Igboho was well received during his visit to the Igangan community as scores of people converged for his reception.
The people were seen jubilating; dancing and singing.
Addressing the people, Igboho said, “The Fulani have gone, we have sent them out of our land and they cannot come back again. Kidnappers cannot rule over us, they can’t take over our land from us. It belongs to us; they should stop threatening.
“Those who live with us peacefully; we are not fighting them but how will a visitor claim one’s house from him. If you live with us in peace, we have no problem with you but if you decide to kidnap and kill us, we don’t want you here. I assure Yoruba people, particularly those in Oyo State, that there is no danger.
“This one we have started here in Oyo State will not end here. We are going to other parts of the South-West. Tell Fulani herdsmen in Ekiti State, Ondo State and Osun States; in fact, in all South-West states that they should get ready for us because we are coming.”
PHOTONEWS: Yoruba Youths Have Driven Me, My Wife, Children Out Of Our Home, Burnt Our House, 11 Cars —Oyo Seriki Fulani
In an interview with SaharaReporters, Igboho also alleged that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari had not brought anything good to the people of the South-West except social vices.
Igboho, therefore, called on the president to take the Fulani out of Yorubaland. “Buhari should come and evacuate his people from our land, we don’t want them again. They are just punishing the youths; they have turned us to nothing, why? The educated youth don’t have jobs, nothing, the gain now is to kill and kidnap us. We are still on the unemployment issue, we have accepted our fate, should we not be in peace and enjoy security again? It’s enough,” he said. Earlier in the week, Igboho also alleged that when he visited Seriki Fulani of Oyo State, Alhaji Saliu Abdulkadir, at his home to urge him to do something about the killings and kidnappings being carried out by suspected Fulani herdsmen in the state, some Fulani people there threatened him with guns and also shot at him.
He alleged that one Fulani man also brought out an axe to threaten him.
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E2%80%99s-appeal-access-foreign-accounts Supreme Court Dismisses Abacha Family’s Appeal For Access To Foreign Accounts
A lawsuit filed by the family of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, seeking access to the looted funds which were stashed in foreign bank accounts has been dismissed by the Supreme court.
A five-man panel led by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta dismissed the case for lacking in merit.
In the lead judgment prepared by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the Supreme Court panel held that Mr Ali Abacha’s case was not different from that of his brother, Abba Mohammed Sani, which was also dismissed by the apex court on February 7, 2020.
Justice Ejembi Eko who read the lead judgement prepared by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, said, “It is pertinent to state at this juncture that a case with the same facts and issues was decided recently by this court in SC. 68/2010 Alhaji Abba Mohammed Sani Vs the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
“Judgment was delivered on February 7, 2020. It is now reported in (2020) 2-3 SC (Pt. II).
“Although the appellants are different, the facts and issues in contention are the same. Both had their bank accounts in Switzerland and other countries frozen as a result of the authorisation given to the Swiss law firm by the respondents.
“In the earlier case, the contention was also that the respondents acted outside the scope of their duties under a repealed law and were therefore not entitled to seek refuge under section 2(a) of the Public Officer Protection Act.”
Justice Ekun also held that Ali Abacha’s lawsuit had become statute-barred and incompetent because it was not filed at the trial court within three months of the occurrence of the action complained about, thereby flouting section 2(a) of the Public Officer Protection Act.
She added, “It is not in dispute that the suit before the trial court was filed outside the three months stipulated in section 2(a) of the Act.
“The only issue to be considered was whether in the circumstances, the action was maintainable. The suit was no doubt statute-barred and rightly struck out by the lower court.“Incidentally, R. O. Atabo also represented the appellant in Sani Vs the President & Another.
“He has not advanced any superior argument to warrant a departure from our decision in that case. This issue is resolved against the appellant.
“In conclusion, I find this appeal to be devoid of merit. It is hereby dismissed.”
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Nigerians React As Okupe Slams Son For Being Gay
Nigerians have taken to social media to condemn the position of a former presidential spokesman, Doyin Okupe, on his son’s sexuality.
Bolu, Okupe’s son had recently shared a picture of himself wearing rainbow boxers and accompanied by a terse caption reading, “Yes, I am gay”.
But reacting to the development, Okupe had attributed his son’s open declaration of himself as a h********* to a spiritual challenge.
Okupe, who served under former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, said as an evangelist, he would never accept homosexuality as it is at variance with Christian values.
He had also said he was hopeful that God would intervene, adding that he had been aware of his son’s sexual orientation for some time.
His reaction, however, has continued to elicit mixed reactions, with many Nigerians sharing contrary views on the matter on Twitter.
While some social media users slammed Okupe, arguing that his son has right of choice as an adult, others highlighted the fact that Okupe was part of those who criminalised same-s** relations during Jonathan’s administration.
Twitter user, Dr. Okwuebie (@Okwuebie1), said, “For all who were directly or remotely connected to the initiation of the bill for that Act, those who considered, deliberated and passed it from 1st, 2nd & 3rd readings before it was presented to be signed into law, and yes, you who signed it, we’re waiting for your children…
“They’ll come out of their closet and you’ll be powerless about it. We wait!”
JessicaB (@Jessica12754192) tweeted, “There is a huge generational gap between us and our parents. It is simply an issue of how Doyin Okupe understands his son’s choices. We seek freedom, their generation seeks acceptance; sometimes these things happen to balance generational gaps.”
Sonofabe (@SONOFABE1) wrote, “What goes around comes around. I’m not rejoicing over his shock at this news; I’m just blunt and real. Only if he had been an open communicating father, he would have known about his son before then and he wouldn’t sign a law that would harm his son or others.”
Peregrine (@Townz47) said, “Doyin Okupe’s son came out; these ones want to talk themselves to death. Is it because your brother, cousin, nephew, and best friend haven’t come out yet? If you knew the actual number of gay people around you, your spirit would jump out of your body.”
Doosh (@RealQueenDoosh) tweeted, “When Doyin Okupe was awarded (a) road contract in Benue State, he ran away after receiving payment. But it was not spiritual. Today, his son came out from his closet announcing he’s gay and Mr Okupe is saying it’s a spiritual problem. I’m dying to hear his Yoruba conversation with son.”
Also, a Twitter user with the handle, @lifesaruse, said, “Doyin Okupe was part of the government that criminalised homosexuality. Today, his son comes out as gay. Interesting.”
Adannaya (@adxnnaya) said, “Re: Doyin Okupe’s son. It’s amazing how Nigerian parents always make their children’s sexuality about themselves. It’s always a selfish, woe-is-me rant about how their child being gay has affected them. Crazy.”
Victor Ayenni (@VOrunla) said, “In Nigeria, appealing to the spiritual is a way of evading substantive issues and shutting down conversations on matters that need to be discussed. You were the media aide of a government that slammed 14 years on gays, but you didn’t realise that your son was one of them.”
Otosirieze (@otosirieze) tweeted, “Doyin Okupe’s son just came out as gay. Okupe served in the Jonathan administration that criminalised same-s** relations in Nigeria. Oppressing other people is all ‘politics’ until it hits home. In the next decade, that law will be gone for good.”
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Four Policemen Arrested For Extorting N70,000 From 16-yr-old Student
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four of its officers who allegedly harassed and extorted N70,000 from a 16-year-old student.
Olumuyiwa Adejobi, spokesman for the command, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday.
The incident was said to have occurred on Wednesday, at Isheri area of Lagos.
According to the statement, Hakeem Odumosu, Lagos commissioner of police, said pictures of the alleged extortion attracted the complaint response unit of the force, which led to the tracking of the officers involved.
The officers arrested were identified as “223329 Insp Emmanuel Michael, male, 40; 146504 Insp Sunday Odubiyi, male, 40; 256496 Insp Lawrence Amedu, male, 39, and 255043 Insp Aroye Dickson, male, 40.”
They were said to have confessed to the crime ‘after due interrogation’ and refunded the N70,000 to the student.
The statement, “The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four (4) police Inspectors that allegedly harassed and extorted N70,000 (seventy thousand naira only) from one 16-year-old student, Segun, on 18th January, 2021, at NGAB Junction, Isheri area of Lagos State, in a Toyota Corolla car.
“The picture of the policemen that were caught in the act of unprofessionalism and extortion had gone viral on social media which attracted the Complaint Response Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, Force Headquarters Abuja, to track the policemen for necessary police action. The matter was subsequently referred to the Lagos State Police Command for further action.
“The police Inspectors arrested are: 223329 Insp Emmanuel Michael, m, 40; 146504 Insp Sunday Odubiyi, m, 40; 256496 Insp Lawrence Amedu, m, 39, and 255043 Insp Aroye Dickson, m, 40. After due interrogation, the policemen confessed to the crime and refunded the N70,000 (seventy thousand naira) to the student, on bond, which forms the key credible evidence/exhibit in the case.
“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, has condemned the act of the police inspectors which is detrimental to the image of the police force and counterproductive to the ongoing reform agenda of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, NPM, mni. He has however ordered for the orderly room trial of the Inspectors with immediate effect so as to serve as a deterrent to other criminally-minded police personnel in the command and beyond.
“CP Hakeem Odumosu also warned officers and men in Lagos State that the command will spread its tentacles in fighting against such criminal, unprofessional and disgusting acts amongst police personnel in Lagos State. He also assured the general public of people-oriented and community-based policing styles in Lagos State, as justice will be done in Segun’s case.”
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Fulani Herdsmen Stab Ondo Farmer Into Coma Despite Vacation Order
File photo used to illustrate story.
Fulani herdsmen on Friday attacked and stabbed a farmer into unconsciousness in Akure, the Ondo State capital, while he was working on his farm.
SaharaReporters learnt that the farmer was rescued and rushed to a nearby hospital by fellow farmers who were alerted to the attack.
File photo used to illustrate story.
Guardian Nigeria
It was gathered that the injured farmer, whose name could not yet be ascertained as of the time of filing this report, was battling for his life.
A youth advocate in the state, Oluyemi Fasipe, confirmed the attack on Friday, saying the cassava farmer was stabbed for refusing the herdsmen access to his farmland.
He said, “Disturbing News; Fulani herdsmen stabbed a farmer in Akure, Ondo State today because he tried to stop them from destroying his farm and feeding his cassava to cows. The farmer, who was rescued by other farmers, is said to be in a very critical condition.”
The Ondo State government on Tuesday vowed that it would not rescind the ultimatum it issued to herdsmen to vacate its forest reserves within seven days.
The Special Adviser to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on Security Matters, Alhaji Jimoh Dojumo, said the state government was determined to put an end to cases of kidnapping and killing in the state.
This was sequel to an order by the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, on Monday, asking Fulani herdsmen to vacate all forest reserves in the state within the next seven days.
Akeredolu in a statement had also banned the movement of cattle within cities and highways, as well as night grazing.
Akeredolu’s directive was informed by the killings and kidnappings happening in the state, which have largely been blamed on Fulani herdsmen.
He also ordered the clearing of bushes on the highways across the 18 local government areas of the state in order to allow for a proper view of the highway.
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria had said that the agreement it had with the Ondo State government was to stop night grazing and use of underage boys for grazing cows, adding that at no time did the governor tell them to vacate the forest reserves.
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E2%80%93-nigerians Auctioning Of 88 Impounded Cars For Peanuts By Lagos Government Is Wickedness – Nigerians
The recent auctioning of vehicles done by the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit (Taskforce) was fraught with corruption, a source in the unit told SaharaReporters.
The unit had said it would auction a total of 88 vehicles forfeited by the Lagos State Mobile Court for driving against traffic. The agency said it obtained a court order authorising it to carry out the exercise.
Chairman of the agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye, said, “The offenders were arraigned before the Lagos Mobile Court and found guilty of the said crime which resulted in the forfeiture of their vehicles to the state government by the court in line with Part (3) item (27) of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018.”
But the source told SaharaReporters that the officials in charge of the process had already identified the people they would sell to.
“The auctioning was done based on the connection people had. The Task Force handed over the vehicles to the auctioneers. If you meet those ones, your bid would very likely be favoured.
“Apart from the usual bidding, you should go behind to bid with extra money. People are usually there in their numbers but they don’t sell it to anybody anyhow.”
The vehicles were auctioned on Wednesday at the agency’s car park in Ikeja.
Tears flowed as some vehicle owners could not bid for their vehicles.
A Victim’s Pain
In a video posted by The PUNCH, a victim was lamenting how his minibus was auctioned off after being impounded on December 22, 2021.
“This vehicle is mine; it was impounded on December 22. I have been going to their office in Oshodi and I’ve been coming here, they’ve been telling me the vehicle is not in their record but I went there today and they told me the vehicle had been listed for auctioning. I have a driver using this vehicle; he said he was driving along Costain Road when the task force guys blocked the road and arrested all of them.
“We came here, we saw the vehicle but they said its information has not been entered into their database, and that we should go to Oshodi. We went there, met some people and they told us to come back so they could do the paperwork. I have been going to and fro for about two weeks and recently, they said it was in their database. They said they had entered it and that they would tell me what to do. Today when I got there, they said that the vehicle was up for auction.”
Nigerians React
Nigerians have taken to social media to show displeasure at the existence of laws that allow for impounded vehicles to be auctioned to the public.
Many noted that the cost of each auctioned vehicle and the amount paid by the highest bidder is too wide.
Some opined that having the owners pay fines for the offences committed would be better than auctioning their vehicles at ridiculously low prices.
For instance, Oluwa Kenny (@IamKennyBabs) tweeted, “Wickedness of the highest order. Robbing Peter to pay Paul. @jidesanwoolu this is pure wickedness. I’m sure the owners will gladly pay even N500,000 fine to have their car back instead of watching it auctioned off at a ridiculous price. You wonder why people jump into the lagoon?”
Olarinde Olufemi (@OlarindeOlufem1) said, “Huge fine would be better. Auctioning someone’s property during the (COVID-19) pandemic is insensitive. Let’s be humane.”
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Treat People Causing Ethnic Tension In Oyo As Criminals, Makinde Orders Police
Seyi Makinde
The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has asked the newly posted Commissioner of Police in Oyo, CP Ngozi Onadeko, to arrest and treat those people igniting ethnic tension in the state as criminals.
Makinde stated this on Friday when Onadeko paid him a courtesy visit at the Governor’s Office, Agodi, Secretariat, Ibadan.
Seyi Makinde
According to Vanguard, the governor noted that any attempt to fuel ethnic tension that threatens the existence of Nigeria under any guise would not be tolerated by his administration.
He said his government was not against any ethnic group, but was determined to flush out criminal elements anywhere in the state. He stressed that the Hausa/Fulani ethnic group residing in the state was not his government’s target, but hoodlums, bandits, irrespective of their tribe and religion.
“For people stoking ethnic tension, they are criminals and once you get them, they should be arrested and treated like common criminals.”
“For this administration, the major pillar for us is secure because we know that all the good things we want to do economically won’t be possible in an atmosphere of chaos and insecurity.
“So, when people say things that are not lawful and within the spirit of Nigeria’s constitution, it is not acceptable here.
“And they cannot hide under being people protecting Yoruba interest to perpetuate chaos in the state,” he said.
Makinde reiterated that security remained one of the pillars of his administration, noting that all the good policies of his administration could not be actualised in an atmosphere of chaos and insecurity.
He promised to give maximum support to the police and other security agencies to ensure the safety of lives, property and economic prosperity of the state.
Makinde called for more synergy between the police and the Western Nigeria Security Network, also known as Amotekun.
He noted that those who demonised Amotekun were the ones issuing an ultimatum to certain ethnic nationalities to vacate the state. The governor welcomed the new police boss and assured the CP of his support in tackling insecurity in the state.
“We won’t make the job difficult. We will be sincere, open and support you,” he added.
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University Workers Begin Indefinite Strike February 5
The non-academic workers at Nigerian universities have announced plans to commence an indefinite strike on February 5.
The Joint Action Committee of Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) disclosed this in a communique on Friday.
Part of the communique read, “It is in line with the resolution of our members nationwide, that the leadership of the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU hereby resolve as follows:
“That members of NASU and SSANU shall embark on an indefinite, comprehensive and total strike with effect from midnight of Friday, 5th February, 2021.
“That two weeks’ notice effective from today, Friday, 22nd January, 2021, is hereby given to the government and relevant stakeholders of this development.”
The staff members under the aegis of JAC (Joint Action Committee) had earlier said they would protest over inconsistencies in the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) payment alongside the delay in the renegotiation of the FGN/ ASUU/SSANU 2009 Agreement.
Others were the nonpayment of retirement benefits to former members, non-constitution of visitation panels to universities, poor funding of universities, teaching staff usurping the headship of non-teaching units, among others.
The Nigerian government, had in December, approved N40 billion earned allowances for the four university unions and allocated 75 per cent of the amount to the Academic Staff Union of Universities, leaving 25 percent for the other three unions.
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E2%80%93-defence-headquarters Troops Killed Five Boko Haram Terrorists In Borno – Defence Headquarters
Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole have killed five Boko Haram terrorists and injured others at Abbagajiri and Dusula towns in the Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.
Acting Director of Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
Onyeuko said the latest encounter with the terrorists occurred on Wednesday at Abbagajiri.
The statement read, “The troops of 402 Special Forces Task Force Brigade led by the Commander engaged them with superior firepower resulting in high casualty on the terrorists.
“In the aftermath of the decisive encounter, five Boko Haram terrorists were neutralised while few others are believed to have escaped with gunshot wounds.
“Equipment recovered from the insurgents included one Pulemyot Kalashnikova Tankovyy (PKT) Gun, three AK-47 rifles, four extra AK-47 rifle magazines and a vulcanising Machine.
“Other items captured and destroyed included foodstuffs, some Improvised Explosive Device (IED) making materials, including the criminals’ hideouts, clothing.
“The renewed onslaught against the remnants of Boko Haram/Islamic State’s West Africa Province criminals by the dogged troops of Operation TURA TAKAIBANGO is indicative of the end of all criminal elements within the North-East.”
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Nigeria To Spend N7.8 Billion On Entitlements Of Former Presidents, Deputies, Others In 2021
While Nigeria prepares for a revenue shortage in 2021, with plans to borrow about a quarter of the year’s budget expenditure, the country will spend around N7.8 billion on entitlements, severance allowances and other perquisites to be given to the nation’s former leaders, details of the assented 2021 budget have shown.
According to PREMIUM TIMES, planned 2021 spending is the second-lowest amount that will be allocated to retired top government officials since 2017, when N5.9 billion was budgeted as gratuity for them.
The money is a yearly ritual in the nation’s budgetary cycle, and by the end of this year, it would have cost Nigeria about N68.8 billion in five years.
This year, of the total N7.8 billion, former heads of state, presidents and their respective deputies will earn a combined entitlement of N2.3 billion.
This is the same amount that has been approved for the former leaders since 2017, save 2018 when they got N7.3 billion.
The appropriation is in accordance with the remuneration for the former Presidents’ Act, which offers a slew of luxuries which have been faulted by some, especially because four in every ten Nigerians earn less than N377 per day, and the unemployment rate reached a record high last year as the country keeps struggling to diversify its economy to shore up its revenue base.
As upkeep allowance, the act mandates the monthly payment of N350,000 to former presidents and N250,000 to former vice-presidents and chiefs of general staff, and this is subject to a review whenever there is an increase in the salary of the serving president.
Also, the families of all deceased former presidents are entitled to an annual allowance of N1 million payable as N250,000 per quarter, while the families of deceased former deputies get N750,000 per annum payable in the sum of N187,500 per quarter.
“The allowances shall be applied for the upkeep of the spouse and education of the children of deceased former heads of state and deceased former vice-presidents up to the university level,” the act reads.
However, if the spouse of the deceased leader remarries, they stop getting the allowance.
In the same vein, the nation’s retired heads of service and permanent secretaries will get a combined N4.5 billion as benefits this year.
This is an increase from the N3.6 billion the former officials got in 2018, and N2.6 billion in 2017.
Also, for the fifth year running, retired heads of government agencies and parastatals will share among themselves N1 billion as severance benefits.
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