Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Saturday 13th March 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 13/03/21
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East African Law Society Challenges Ugandan Government For Shutting Internet During Elections
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni
Premier regional bar association for East Africa, the East African Law Society, has instituted a reference before the East African Court of Justice challenging the legality of the actions of the Ugandan Government in restricting its citizens’ and residents’ access to the internet during the last elections.
In January 2021, the Ugandan government ordered an internet shutdown on the eve of the presidential election.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni
The East African nation lifted the blackout more than 100 hours after imposing it the day before the January 14 elections.
Authorities apologised for the inconvenience and said the shutdown was to avoid outside interference in the election, which long-time leader Yoweri Museveni was declared to have won against popular singer-turned-politician, Bobi Wine.
But on Friday, the East African Law Society, in a statement signed by its president, Bernard Oundo, described the action as ‘worrying’.
According to the legal practitioners, such an action was a growing trend of mass censorship and intolerance to dissent within the member states of the East African Community.
The group stated that the government of Uganda followed in the footsteps of the governments of Tanzania and Burundi that had similarly blocked access to major social media networks during their October and May 2020 general elections respectively.
The group stated that the restrictions and shutdowns are unlawful, as it violates every important body of law including the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community, international human rights law, and even the domestic laws of the affected countries.
Part of the release read, “In consideration of its mandate to promote and enhance the rule of law, good governance, and respect for human rights across the East African Community, the East Africa Law Society (“EALS”) has today, the 12th day of March 2021, instituted a Reference before the East African Court of Justice challenging the legality of the actions of the Government of the Republic of Uganda in restricting its citizens’ and residents’ access to the internet.
“On 13th January 2021, the Government of Uganda imposed a total internet shutdown within Uganda. Before that, it had also blocked access to social media networking platforms and over 100 Virtual Private Networks. The actions of the Government of Uganda followed in the footsteps of the Governments of Tanzania and Burundi that had similarly blocked access to major social media networks during their October and May 2020 general elections respectively.
“Such actions are part of a worrying and growing trend of mass censorship and intolerance to dissent within the member states of the East African Community (“EAC”). The restrictions and shutdowns are unlawful. They violate every important body of law including the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community, international human rights law, and even the domestic laws of the affected countries.
“They impermissibly limit, among others, the peoples’ rights to internet access, freedom of access to information, freedom of speech and expression, freedom of the press, the right to freely participate in the affairs of one’s government, freedom of association, freedom of assembly, the right to self-determination, and economic rights.
“The restrictions are also a violation of the obligation of EAC state governments to abide by the principles of good governance, democracy, the rule of law, public accountability and transparency, and social justice. If not addressed in time and checked, the rising trend of internet censorship in East Africa will only deepen and cement further.”
The group also stated that the reference is filed against the Attorney General of Uganda and the Secretary-General of the East African Community.
It said the reference is also to get compensation for the immense inconvenience and loss suffered by Ugandan citizens, residents, and businesses during the internet shutdown while compelling the Government of Uganda to legal and other reforms in place, to avoid a repeat of the situation.
The release added: “The Reference that the EALS has filed is against both the Attorney General of Uganda and the Secretary-General of the EAC. Within it, the EALS not only seeks declarations that the Government of Uganda violated the law, but also seeks compensation for the immense inconvenience and loss suffered by many Ugandan citizens, residents, and businesses.
“The Reference also seeks a structural interdict compelling the Government of Uganda to put in place legal and other reforms, under the Court’s supervision, to ensure that a repeat of the challenged violations does not occur. We hope that the Reference will serve as a deterrent for EAC member states and send the message that illegal actions will not be ignored or taken lightly.
“We call upon the peoples of the EAC and Civil Society Organisations to remain vigilant in holding the governments of East Africa accountable so that together, we can make the EAC a law-abiding Community. One people one destiny.”
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E2%80%99-den-kaduna-government Thirty-nine Students In Kidnappers’ Den – Kaduna Government
Kaduna State Governor Nasiru Ahmed El-Rufai
The Kaduna State government has said a total of 39 students are missing after some gunmen suspected to be bandits attacked the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka in the Igabi Local Government Area of the state.
SaharaReporters had reported how bandits broke into the school on Thursday night and abducted some students.
Kaduna State Governor Nasiru Ahmed El-Rufai
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, had earlier in a statement said 30 students could not be accounted for after the attack.
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EXPOSED: How Nigerian Army, Kaduna Government Lied About Rescuing 172 Abducted Students, 8 Others
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But in a statement on Friday evening, Aruwan said further checks had shown that 39 students were missing.
He noted that 23 female and 16 male students had yet to be accounted for following the attack on the school. The commissioner, however, gave an assurance that the state government was maintaining close communication with the management of the college.
He added that efforts were being sustained by the security agencies to track the missing students who were apparently abducted by the bandits.
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Lagos Panel Awards N7.5 Million To Petitioner Who Spent Six Years In Prison Without Trial
The Lagos State judicial panel, has awarded a a petitioner, Marc Chidiebere Nwadi, N7.5 million for spending six years in prison without trial.
The Lagos state government had set up the judicial panel to probe police brutality on victims.
In her ruling on Friday, chairperson of the panel, Doris Okuwobi, held that the petitioner suffered in the hands of police officers owing to his inability to offer a bribe. Okuwobi presented a cheque of N7.5 million to the petitioner on behalf of the state government.
The chairperson said the petitioner endured six years in prison without any justification.
“His inability to provide bribes led to trumped-up charges, as a result he was kept in the awaiting trial section of the Kirikiri maximum security for six years,” she said.
“The petitioner was incarcerated in the prime of his life without justification for six years and was never tried or sentenced for any crime despite enduring a long six-year stay in prison and losing a vital part of his youth and opportunities.
“We hereby give an award of N7.5 million in favor of the petitioner.”
Okuwobi also recommended that the investigating police officer in charge of the case should be sanctioned by the police and suspended for six months without pay and that other police officers involved should be suspended for three months.
The petitioner came to Lagos in 1999 to visit his brother but could not locate his address and was arrested by police officers at a bus park.
He later spent six years in prison, awaiting trial.
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Bandits Abduct 30 Muslim Passengers On Maulud Procession Journey In Katsina
Gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted about 30 Maulud passengers along Kankara-Sheme Road in Katsina state.
According to blueinknews.com, the passengers travelling in two big buses were abducted Thursday night while on their way to the annual celebration scheduled for Sokoto.
It was gathered that the gunmen initially abducted 50 passengers but later voluntarily released 20.
They were said to be on their way to Sokoto from Kano state.
However, there was no information on whether the gunmen had contacted the relations of the victim.
Katsina is one of the states most affected by terrorism and banditry in Nigeria’s North-West region.
On December 11, 2020, some bandits kidnapped 344 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara. They were released about a week later.
However, on December 19, 84 Islamiyya students of Hizburrahim Islamiyya in Mahuta village, Dandume Local Government Area of the state were also kidnapped but rescued shortly after.
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EXPOSED: How Nigerian Army, Kaduna Government Lied About Rescuing 172 Abducted Students, 8 Others
The Nigerian army didn’t rescue 180 students and staff allegedly kidnapped by bandits at the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna as claimed by the state government, SaharaReporters has gathered.
Bandits had on Thursday night invaded the school and abducted some students.
However, Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs in the state in a statement on Friday claimed 42 female students, 130 male students and eight staff members were rescued by Nigerian soldiers.
“Troops of the Nigerian Army in the early hours of today, Friday, 12th March 2021 rescued 180 citizens, many of them students, at the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka, Igabi local government area of Kaduna State.
“The armed bandits in large numbers had attacked the institution at around 11:30 pm on Thursday and kidnapped several students and staff members.
“The armed bandits broke into the institution by breaching a perimeter fence. They then encroached about 600 meters to attack the first facility.
“The Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, on receiving a distress call, alerted the 1 Division Nigerian Army and the Air Training Command of the Nigerian Air Force.
“Troops of the Nigerian Army immediately moved to the school and engaged the armed bandits accordingly.
“The troops successfully rescued 180 citizens; 42 female students, eight staff, and 130 male students. However, about 30 students, a mix of males and females, are yet to be accounted for.
“Some of the rescued students were injured and presently receiving medical attention at a military facility.
“Pictures of some of the rescued persons, and the broken perimeter fence, are attached to this update.
KDSG Security Update: Friday 12th March 2021:180 rescued by troops of the Nigeria Army early today Friday, March 12. Several male+female students still missing following bandit attack at Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka-Igabi LG. Search & rescue efforts continue pic.twitter.com/dd9Rx78dpU— Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai (@elrufai) March 12, 2021
“Receiving the report, Governor Nasir El-Rufai thanked the troops for their swift response and the rescue of the 180 citizens. He also wished the injured students a speedy recovery.
“As at the time of this update, a combined team of Army, Air Force, Police, and DSS troops are conducting an operation to track the missing students.
“Citizens will be updated on emerging developments,” the statement had read.
However, one of the students said to have been rescued by the military, told SaharaReporters that the soldiers only counted those who came out of hiding after the bandits had left and moved them to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) campus, which is close to the institution.
He said the gunmen, numbering about 80, broke into the school premises through its perimeter fence at the back.
He added that the bandits attacked the male hostel not far from the fence before heading to the female hostel, where they kidnapped most of their victims.
“They lied, how did they rescue people that were not kidnapped at all? They arrived at the school about 30 minutes after the gunmen had left. So who were those rescued by them?
“They came and moved those of us who went into hiding when the bandits attacked us to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) campus and claimed they rescued us. How? They didn’t meet the bandits when they came here talkless of engaging (let alone engage) them in a gun battle.
“It was after the bandits had left with those kidnapped that they arrived, then they counted those of us they met on the campus and moved us away,” the student told SaharaReporters.
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5 Killed As Hoodlums Attack Popular Masquerader, Oloolu In Ibadan
No fewer than five people were reportedly killed on Thursday night when a group of youths attacked a dreaded Ibadan masquerader, popularly called Oloolu while he was performing his annual ritual in the metropolis.
SaharaReporters learnt that several others were reportedly injured.
The hoodlums, who allegedly attacked the masquerader at the Oje area of Ibadan, were said to be many.
According to a source, the irate youths who were armed with machetes, clubs, and cutlasses waylaid the masquerade when his rites had almost been completed.
When contacted, the National President of Soludero Hunters Association, Oba Wahab Ajijola Anabi, confirmed the incident to SaharaReporters.
“Yes, I was part of the entourage of Oloolu when the ritual was being performed by Oloolu. It is an annual ritual Oloolu performs around the city to ensure peace reigns in the state.
“He started the rituals in the morning and was about to round off in the evening at Oje when some youths, without any provocation, swooped on him and his followers.
“They were many, about 80 of them. They killed no fewer than five people. One of the attackers was a popular hoodlum called ‘Star boy’, who is known to be very deadly. The youths were armed with cutlasses, guns, and other dangerous weapons.
“Four boys were injured during the attack and are being moved from one place to another for treatment.
“We want Governor Seyi Makinde to empower local security outfits like Agbekoya so that the hoodlums will be arrested and handed over to the police for prosecution.”
The Iyaloja of Oje Market, Alhaja Oluwakemi Laaro Akala, who confirmed the incident said the youths threatened to burn her shop.
“The government should please help us to check the excesses of these hoodlums,” she said.
The Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Gbenga Fadeyi, said he had not yet been briefed.
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Fire Razes Nigerian Army Barracks In Kano
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Fire has destroyed eleven offices at the Bukavo Army Barracks in Kano.
The incident occurred on Thursday night.
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Saminu Yusuf, spokesman for the Kano State Fire Service, made this known in a statement on Friday.
Yusuf said the fire, which occurred around 9:10 pm also destroyed four stores and toilets in the building.
“On receiving the information, we quickly sent our rescue team to the scene at 9:19 pm.
“The fire was put under control and no life was lost,” he said.
He added that the cause of the fire was being investigated.
Yusuf urged the public to keep fire extinguishers at home and offices to curtail any fire outbreak.
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DSS Invites Publisher Over Story About Crisis In Delta Social Democratic Party
Daniel Dafe Umukoro
The publisher of Delta State-based Oasis Magazine, Daniel Dafe Umukoro, has been invited by the Department of State Services (DSS), Asaba, for publishing a story about an alleged crisis rocking the state chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
SaharaReporters reliably gathered that Umukoro had interviewed a factional chairman of the party, Ohwo Benson Oghotoma, which did not go down well with another factional chairman, Oke Idawene.
Daniel Dafe Umukoro
Idawene, therefore, petitioned the DSS to complain about the report.
Speaking with our correspondent, Umukoro disclosed that he received a call from a DSS operative in Asaba, asking him to come and answer a petition against him by one of the party’s factional chairmen, Idawene.
“Although the said operative did not disclose the content of the petition, the invitation was not unconnected with a recent publication on the medium where a factional state chairman of the party, Sir Ohwo Benson Oghotoma (OBO), called for the arrest of Idawene for parading himself as the chairman of the party. He said that Idawene had been removed as the chairman of the party.
“It is appalling that the DSS is involving me in the matter. A discussion about two days ago between me and Idawene was that he would send a statement as his side of the story for publication on the magazine’s website. Idawene was angry that we did not hear his side of the story. But at the time we went to press with the report, we were unable to reach Idawene.
“And when he called, I was glad that I could now allow him to say his views on the development but got surprised that a man I hear has so much exposure decided to run to the DSS even after we both agreed that he would send his rejoinder to me. Maybe, this issue is the more you look the less you see. With time we will find out.
“I did not publish an investigation. It was an interview I did. Secondly, I gave him an opportunity to speak, but he shunned it, maybe because he has close ties with the DSS. I also hope someone or some persons is/are not using him to get at me because I have always been one voice that is against many things that do not go down well with some corrupt tendencies in the state.
“I will honour the invitation. But, I think the world should know that a hard-working man like me is trying to be roped into what I have no business with. Sir Oghotoma spoke. Why not try to prove that you are the authentic chairman rather than taking your party’s internal crisis to the DSS? I am even aware that the national executive of the party has since initiated peace moves for the aggrieved factions in the party.
“Well, as I said, I will honour the invitation. I don’t see any wrongdoing by me here. I have already notified the Nigerian Union of Journalists, ACNPN, lawyers, and a few rights groups. So journalists, publishers, and others in the state are already aware of the unnecessary and failed, programmed and attempted intimidation they are directing at me which will not work.
“Maybe Idawene is trying to mute me. I wouldn’t want to be dragged into the SDP crisis because I don’t belong to any political party. If he has an ulterior motive other than my publication, I urge him to retrace his step and give peace a chance. It was an interview and press statement I published. I gave him his chance, he turned it down because maybe he wants to prove that he is a friend to the DSS.”
Our correspondent learnt that Umukoro was asked to appear at the DSS facility in Asaba on Monday, but he said the day was not feasible.
He has yet to pick a date to honour the invitation.
It was also gathered that the state SDP factional chairman, Oghotoma, and some of his supporters and party faithful who consider Oghotoma as the authentic chairman of the party, had also been invited by the DSS operatives to Asaba.
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C3%A9e-other-female-passengers-were-kidnapped-ibadan-highway-%E2%80%94man How My Fiancée, Other Female Passengers Were Kidnapped On Ibadan Highway —Man
Precious Patrick Ibor
A man has taken to Twitter to cry out for help alleging that his fiancée, who was travelling from Calabar, Cross River State to Ibadan, Oyo State was kidnapped by ‘criminal herders’ alongside other female passengers.
He narrated that he had spoken with his fiancée, Precious Patrick Ibor, at 7:37 pm on Tuesday, and she informed him that she was already at Ijebu Ode, heading to Ibadan.
Precious Patrick Ibor
According to him, when he didn’t hear from her about three hours later and could not reach her on her mobile line, he visited the terminal of the transport company she travelled with and was informed that three buses, including the one his fiancée was in, were attacked by bandits.
The male passengers were reportedly beaten and robbed while the female passengers were taken into the bush and have not been seen since then.
He added that the incident was reported to the nearest police station and the Oyo state anti-kidnapping squad.
The abductors reached out to the transport company a day after to demand N10 million, the man said.
He called on the state government to act to secure the freedom of his fiancée and the others from captivity.
His tweets read, “Started a good day but turned a devastated one 09/03/2021, had my undeserved share of the cruel menace of the ‘criminal herders’ all for being a Nigerian. My fiancee, Precious Patrick Ibor, was in transit from Calabar to Ibadan with a Cross-Country transport company.
“I last spoke to her at exactly 7:37 pm when she told me she was at Ijebu Ode heading to Ibadan (which to me was a stone’s throw distance), after waiting for at least three hours coupled with simultaneous unanswered calls through to her, I then decided to visit Cross-Country terminal at Ibadan where I got the shocking news of my life, that their bus alongside two other buses had been attacked by gunmen.
I last spoke to her at exactly 7:37 pm when she told me she was at ijebu ode heading to Ibadan. (Which to me was a stone-throw-distance),After waiting for at least 3hrs coupled with simultaneous unanswered calls through to her, I then decided to visit CROSS-COUNTRY terminal at— Oluwayemlex #ENDSWAT (@yemlexzy) March 11, 2021
“Men were beaten up and robbed of their belongings, while the females were carted into the forest. The case has long been reported at the Idi-Ayunre police station and the Oyo state anti-kidnapping squad (AKS) but nothing has been heard ever since, not even from her nor her abductors, not until yesterday (when) they contacted the transport company demanding 10 million naira.
“Please help propagate on all social media platforms and remember us in your prayers.”
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N3billion Fraud Allegation: Court Remands Dickson’s Former Aide In Prison For 30 Days
John Idumange
Mr. John Idumange, an ex-general manager of Bayelsa state-owned Broadcasting Corporation, Glory FM, has been sent to Okaka Correctional Centre by a Magistrate Court Sitting in Yenagoa in the state capital.
He was arrested on the premises of a private radio station while honouring an invitation to discuss issues bordering on his accusations that the state government had embezzled a N3 billion Central Bank of Nigeria agricultural loan.
John Idumange
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Meanwhile, SaharaReporters learnt that Mr. Idunmage was represented by his lawyer to defend him when he was arraigned at the Magistrate Court.
According to a summary of proceedings by counsel for the suspect, A.S. Arthur, made available to newsmen, Idumange was remanded over “charges which do not come within the powers of the court to remand being misdemeanors punishable to a term not exceeding two years.”
Parts of the summary read: “In the matter of remand proceedings involving Dr John Idumange (suspect) at about 3:20 pm on the 11th day of March, 2021, the suspect, Dr. John Idumange’s case was called, the said suspect entered into the dock, the learned magistrate, Mirinn-Johnson Tari, Esq. took appearances of counsel from both the prosecution and the defence.
“The prosecution brought to the attention of the learned magistrate of the application for remand proceedings of the suspect and prayed the court to remand the suspect pursuant to Section 266(9) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Bayelsa State, 2019, the prosecution informed the court that the nature of the charges is as follows: criminal defamation, breach of the peace and seditious publication.
“All charges which do not come within the powers of the court to remand being misdemeanors punishable to a term not exceeding two years. Upon the said application, learned counsel for the suspect, A. S. Arthur rose to inform the court that his appearance had been entered and that he is appearing for the suspect.
“The learned magistrate said what was before it was a remand proceeding and it is a one-way affair for which learned counsel for the suspect did not have a right of audience, (he) stated that the court entered his appearance in error.
“Whereupon learned counsel for the suspect still urged the court that there is nothing in the entire gamut of Section 266 ACJL Bayelsa State prohibiting his right of audience and that fair hearing is the threshold in every procedure and the said constitutional right ought not to be breached.
“The honourable magistrate still insisted that the learned counsel appearing for the suspect cannot appear and be heard and still insisted that the appearance was in error.
“Learned counsel for the suspect still went on to inform the learned magistrate that the matter for which the remand proceedings is being sought are offences which are misdemeanors with punishment not exceeding 2 years at most and is thus not seized of the requisite jurisdiction to entertain the application.
“Upon the insistence of the court that the suspect is not entitled to representation, this led to a walk-out of the defence team having sought and obtained the leave of court to so do. Thereupon the learned magistrate went ahead and ordered the remand of the suspect for 30 days at the first instance.”
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