Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Wednesday 17th March 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 17/03/21
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Oil Pipeline Vandals Escape From NSCDC Detention In Kogi
Members of the NSCDC
Some suspected vandals arrested for vandalising pipelines have reportedly escaped from the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Kogi state.
The anti-vandals unit of the corps had, on March 11, arrested the suspects, identified as Hassan Sani, Auwal Mohamed, Mohamed Mustapha, Mudashiru Abubakar and Ibrahim Rabiu, while ferrying products siphoned from the Niger Delta region to the North.
NSCDC
Upon interrogation, the suspects reportedly confessed that the products were illegally scooped from a pipeline in a forest in an oil-rich state.
A source, who spoke with Daily Trust, alleged that some officers aided the escape of the culprits.
It was also alleged that a guard in charge of the cell whose name was given as Aliu Sunday, was heavily drunk on the day the suspects escaped.
The source said, “These suspects could not have escaped on their own; it was made possible with the aid of some officers because the wall of the cell is so high and solid that it will be very difficult to break.
“We understand that one of the suspects in the cell gave a phone number of a certain fellow who in turn reached out to some of our men that facilitated their escape.”
The state commandant, Samuel Peter Maigari, who confirmed the incident, disclosed that he had ordered the detention of those on duty when the suspects escaped.
He said a full investigation would be conducted to fish out those who facilitated the escape.
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Board Vehicles From Only Motor Parks Over Insecurity, NYSC Warns Corps Members
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The National Youth Service Corps has advised corps members not to embark on journeys outside their states of posting without the permission of their state coordinators.
The scheme on Tuesday noted that corps members should also be security conscious and enter vehicles only at designated motorparks in their respective states of posting.
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The NYSC Director-General, Brig Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim, stated these while advising corps members at Nasarawa and Benue states’ camps to embark on tangible Community Development Service to qualify them for the honours at the state and presidential levels.
“You as corps members are to always seek permission from your state coordinators before travelling. You must ensure that you board vehicles from designated motor parks only.
“You must not relocate. You must not reject posting to your Place of Primary Assignment. You must get approval from the NYSC for the project you want to embark upon. Equally, you must have won the State Honours Award before you can qualify for nomination for the President’s Honours Award.
“The selection process which is highly credible is usually handled by a Committee of Nigerians with integrity drawn from various organisations in the public and private sectors.
“On the Community Development Service, you must study to feel the needs of your host communities and execute projects that would uplift the living standard of the people. It is against the policy of the scheme for corps members to spend their personal money on CDS projects.
“The funds must be sourced from members of the host communities as a way of encouraging them to take ownership of the facilities that would be provided.”
Insecurity
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E2%80%99s-cases Federal High Court Redeploys Over 70 Justices Including Two Handling Sowore’s Cases
Tsoho, John Terhemba
The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice J. T. Tsoho, has approved the posting of judges for the court.
The redeployment was contained in a circular dated March 16, titled, “List of Federal High Court Judges, their previous divisions and their present posting.”
Tsoho, John Terhemba
Over 70 justices were listed including two judges – Justice Okon Abang and Justice Chukwu Ijeoma – handling the cases of human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore.
The circular directed “all judges newly appointed to judicial divisions to assume their duties on the 12th day of April, 2021, while also asking judges to take inventory of all properties of the court.”
Justice Ijeoma formerly of the Federal High Court in Abuja was hearing the suit filed by Sowore, the Convener of #RevolutionNow, and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare, against the Department of State Services and the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami over alleged unlawful detention.
In separate fundamental rights enforcement suits filed before the court, the duo maintained that they were entitled to general and aggravated damages of N500 million each as a result of violations of their rights to personal liberty, dignity of person, fair hearing, family life, freedom of association and freedom of movement.
The suits marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1407/2019, and FHC/ABJ/CS/1428/2019, were filed on November 15 and 20, 2019 respectively.
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu had, on November 6, 2019, ordered the release of the duo from the DSS custody but they were rearrested after meeting the bail conditions.
Apart from Sowore, Justice Abang is also on the trial of the former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Mr Abdulrasheed Maina.
Maina is standing trial for 12 counts bordering on money laundering in a suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, preferred against him and his firm, Common Input Property and Investment Limited, before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Abang was the one who, on the strength of Maina’s application, last week summoned the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, the erstwhile Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Ibrahim Magu and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr Godwin Emiefele, to appear as witnesses.
He also compelled human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, who was the witness that appeared in court last week.
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European Union Reports Nigeria To Okonjo-Iweala-Led World Trade Organisation
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
The European Union has reported Nigeria to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The complaint was about Nigeria’s policy on dairy products.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
AFP via Getty Images
Director General of the WTO, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday when she visited the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
She said the international trade organisation received a letter from the EU complaining about Nigeria’s restrictions on milk and dairy products.
While noting that the WTO will look into the complaint, the former Minister of Finance urged Nigeria to take advantage of the trade remedy initiative in place at the organisation to protect local industries.
Reacting, CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, said the process to bring milk and dairy producers has been on for six years with the milk and dairy producers treating the matter with levity.
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FAAN Temporarily Shuts MMIA E-Finger Screening Point
FAAN
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has temporarily closed the Murtala Mohammed International Airport E-Finger departure screening point to carry out some routine maintenance on the screening machine.
General Manager, Corporate Affairs of FAAN, disclosed in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos.
FAAN
According to NAN, she said that the process was part of the airport maintenance and upgrade programme of the authority.
She said, “Consequently, all human and cargo movements have been temporarily diverted to the D-Finger screening area until the maintenance and upgrade is completed.
“The authority appeals to passengers and other airport users to please bear with us, as we hope to reopen the area as soon as possible.”
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EFCC Orders Bank Workers To Declare Assets
Abdulrasheed Bawa
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has ordered bank employees to declare their assets latest June 1, 2021.
Abdulrasheed Bawa, EFCC chairman, disclosed this on Tuesday, while speaking with journalists after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.
Abdulrasheed Bawa
EFCC
Bawa explained that the move which is pursuant to the Bank Employees, ETC. (Declaration of Assets) Act 1986, is part of measures to sanitise the nation’s financial system and block some of the loopholes currently being exploited by unscrupulous players in the sector to undermine Nigerian economy through money laundering and illicit financial flows.
“Section 1 of the Bank Employees, ETC. (Declaration of Assets) Act 1986 makes it mandatory for every employee of a Bank to make full disclosure of assets upon employment, and annually in subsequent years,” he said.
“The law under Section 7 (1) stipulates that ‘it shall be an offence for an employee of a bank to own assets in excess of his legitimate known and provable income.’
“The penalty for violation of the Act, as spelt out in section 7(2) includes imprisonment for a term of ten years; “Any employee guilty of an offence under subsection (1) of this Section shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for ten years and shall, in addition, forfeit the excess assets or its equivalent in money to the Federal Government.”
Bawa who also expressed worry about youth involvement in cybercrime, however, appealed to parents to take special interest in the activities of their children.
According to him, parents have a responsibility to ensure that they nurture their children with the right set of values to ensure that they are not easily swayed by the allure of easy money through fraud and cybercrimes. He added that youths must learn that there is no shortcut to enduring wealth.
Corruption
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E2%80%94-labour El-Rufai, Others Behind Bill To Remove Minimum Wage From Exclusive List — Labour
Kaduna State Governor Nasiru Ahmed El-Rufai
The organised labour has alleged that the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, and others were behind the proposed bill to move the minimum wage from the exclusive list to the concurrent list.
This was contained in a letter submitted by the organised labour at a meeting held on Tuesday with the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and members of the House committee on labour.
Kaduna State Governor Nasiru Ahmed El-Rufai
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LABOR/WORKERS’ RIGHTS
Reps, Labour Leaders Meet, Seek Amendment To Controversial Minimum Wage Bill
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The letter was jointly signed by the President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba and President, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Quadri Olaleye.
The labour unions said the entire workforce in Nigeria was angry over the private member bill moved by Garba Datti Mohammed representing Sabora Gari Federal Constituency of Kaduna State.
Mohammed had sponsored the bill seeking to transfer the national minimum wage from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent legislative list.
The labour unions said, “Organised labour considers this anti-workers bill as an attempt by a few self-seeking and narrow-minded politicians to return Nigeria to the era of slave wages, servile work conditions and severe industrial crisis.
“We have it on good authority that this bill was sponsored by a few governors, especially the Governor of Kaduna State Nasir El-Rufai.
“The same bill was on Tuesday, 23rd February 2021 rushed through the first and second readings.
“Currently, the bill has been referred to the Ad Hoc Committee on the Review of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.”
The unions stated that the National Minimum Wage is the national benchmark minimum below which no employer of labour can pay a worker.
They added that it is a global standard that was adopted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) as Minimum Wage Fixing Machinery Convention 026 of 1928 and reinforced by Minimum Wage Fixing Convention 131 of 1970.
“It was also captured in Article III subsection (d) of the ILO Philadelphia Declaration which demands all the nations of the world to pursue policies regarding wages, earnings, hours and other conditions of work calculated to ensure a just share of fruits of progress to all, and a minimum living wage to all employed and in need of such protection.”
LABOR/WORKERS’ RIGHTS
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Declaration Of The Biafra De Facto Customary Government By Ij Onuigbo
Ij Onuigbo
The embattled people of Biafra lost the civil war between 1963 to 1967 when over three million Biafrans were massacred by the Nigeria State for wanting out of the British colonial contraption. They survived the crimes against them and have not given up the hope to be able to govern themselves and take care of their people the way the Nigeria State have never cared to do. For decades post-civil war, the Biafran people, among other suffering Nigerians, have cried and complained about the injustices and total disregard of individual human and civil rights allowed to fester and proliferate in Nigeria by the government. The Nigerian government have been totally incapable of protecting and providing for the people. The government is filled with corrupt, selfish, and uneducated individuals devoid of any knowledge on how to build and manage a nation; but they are experts on how to inflate their individual salaries and allowances, without regard for majority of the masses living in abject poverty. As we speak, the Nigeria government have practically sold the country to China through massive debts that may never be repaired to China; and the monies are syphoned by officials and hardly beneficial to the masses in any way.
Things are so bad in Nigeria presently that the U.S. Department of State have issued a travel advisory against travels to Nigeria due to a long list of terrorist activities, among covid19 concerns, that have engulfed many parts of the country, such as Kidnapping for ransom, ethnic cleansing by animal herders, mob violence activities, to name but a few. Sometimes in the year 2020, the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria in a speech, said that Nigerians know what to do to solve their problems. The ambassador said that Nigerians do not need anybody to tell them what to do. He named several things that Nigerians needed to do to help themselves. I believe that his speech was inspired by the constant call by Nigerians for America and other western countries to come and help them solve their problems. The ambassador made it clear that only Nigerians can solve their problems and the western countries are counting on them to do so. And the fact is that every country has their own problems; so, to expect another country to come and fix your own country for you is naïve and infantile thinking.
It is beginning to gradually dawn on the Nigerian masses that help is not coming from anywhere outside of themselves. This realization sparked a massive protest in 2020 when the youths stormed the streets to protest the SARS (Special Anti-Robbery Squad) which got the hashtag #ENDSARS and galvanized global support. The SARS squad was commissioned by the Nigeria police to fight the various terrorist activities like armed robbery and kidnapping in the country, but the squad became the terrorists robbing and killing the people they were established to protect. And that protest produced great results as the Nigerian government permanently abolished the SARS squad, while still working to meet all the demands made by the masses.
Ij Onuigbo
In the same spirit, the Biafran people, in unity, have decided to take their destiny into their own hands and take the bulls by the horn once again by formally resurrecting their quest for self-actualization. On March 13, 2021, the Biafra De Facto Customary Government was declared by the leader, Alhaji Mujahid Asari Dokubo, a tried and tested former militant leader and patriot of the Biafran nation. In his declaration speech, he named the individuals that will be assisting him in the service to the Biafran people while he also called on those who want to volunteer themselves for service to come forward. The current leadership of the Biafra De Facto Customary Government are: Alhaji Mujahid Asari Dokubo – Chairman, Mrs. Rita Anigbogu – Deputy Chairlady, Diokpa George Onyeibe – Secretary (George Onyibe is also interim administrator for Biafra Nation), Diokpa Uche Mefor – Head of Information/Communications (Uche Mefor is also the director of Biafra Human Fundamental Rights Radio and Biafra Nation), Barrister Emeka Emekesiri – Legal Affairs.
The chairman, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, spoke on the marginalization of the Biafran people by the Nigeria government, saying that Biafrans can no longer play “second fiddle” to the rest of Nigerians especially the Fulani ruling class where the proceeds from natural resources of the Biafran people are used to construct roads and other infrastructure in the northern and western parts of Nigerian while the Biafran people are excluded. It is important to note that the crude oil produced by Nigeria belongs to the Biafran people but used to develop other parts of Nigeria excluding the people on whose land it is mined. The lands where the oil is mined, and surrounding areas have been polluted by oil. The land can no longer be used for agriculture. And on top of all that, the people are neglected and excluded from development. It is quite a blatant maltreatment of a people whose natural resources feeds the nation.
Alhaji Asari Dokubo named three areas of focus by the de facto government, which are Security, Science & Technology, and Health. He explained that they will not pull guns and weapons against Nigeria but that they will secure and protect the Biafran people. He also mentioned that the de facto customary government will be charged with educating the people in science and technology to grow the minds that will innovate cutting edge technologies that will develop the people’s economy. And finally, he said that the customary government will also concentrate on developing healthful measures to amplify the health and lives of the Biafran people. These things do not happen in a vacuum, they happen because the government is incompetent, because people are suffering, and the government officials do not care about the plight of the people. The government officials only care about themselves. So, it seems about time that the people find a way to save themselves.
It is particularly important also to note that what is needed for all suffering Nigerians to triumph over the evil and corruption going on in Nigeria is for them to unite beyond tribe and religion to stand against the oppressive Fulani cabal. Religion is not the problem except when people make it a problem. Countries like Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, USA, and Britain live in civil harmony among people of various religions ideologies including Christians and Muslims. Also, notice that the Biafra de facto customary government have both Muslim and Christians in their leadership. So, again, religion and tribe should not divide a people. The dividing line should be the good people vs the wicked corrupt and selfish cabals in all areas of Nigeria. Therefore, all well-meaning Nigerians should rise in support of each other regardless of tribe and religion; otherwise, you will forever be conquered and powerless.
Ij Onuigbo is a U.S. Army Veteran, human rights activist, and a humanitarian.
You can follow her on Twitter: @ij_onuigbo
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Index Case Of Strange Disease Drank Water Near A Cemetery, Kano Government Says
The Kano state government has stated that the index case of the strange disease, which has claimed four lives, drank borehole water from a place close to the Dandolo cemetery in the state.
This was disclosed by the state’s Commissioner of Health, Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa, during a press briefing on Tuesday.
He said the investigation also revealed that other individuals that came up with similar symptoms consumed prepared juice from instant flavoured drink powder.
The commissioner confirmed that in the last 10 days of the outbreak, four persons have died while a total of 284 have been affected in 10 of the 44 local government areas of the state.
The local government areas affected are Gwale, Kano Municipal, Dala, Fagge, Ungogo, Kumotso, Tarauni, Bunkure, Rano, Dawakin-Kudu, Dawakin-Tofa, Gwarzo and Dambatta.
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Strange Disease In Kano Kills Three, Lands 284 In Hospitals
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He said the illness is with “a barrage of symptoms including fever, yellowish discolouration of the eyes, haematuria, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, headache, body-aches, generalised body weakness, dizziness and in some cases requiring blood transfusion.”
According to Tsanyawa, the samples of water, blood and the different instant drink powder have been taken for different tests to pin down a diagnosis ranging from foodborne illness, food poisoning-Lassa fever, yellow fever, Dengue fever, chemical poisoning, toxic hepatitis, among others.
He said the results so far, have proven negative for Lassa and yellow fever as well as non-reactive for hepatitis but the results for heavy metals and leptospirosis were still being awaited along with findings of the National Agency of Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC) on samples of the instant drink and powders.
He added that the ministry, in collaboration with other relevant authorities, has since commenced on the spot checks and supervisions of expired assorted foods and drinks across major markets and distribution points in the state.
This, it was gathered has yielded some results with the arrest of three persons and the confiscation of goods worth N59 million.
He called on the general public to avoid taking such instant powder drinks, especially as Ramadan is close.
“As we are near the fasting (Ramadan) period, that one can fulfil his daily recommended intake of fruits by drinking 100 per cent juice by following safety guidelines to help prevent foodborne illness alongside personal and environmental hygiene,” he said.
Meanwhile, the state government has banned the sale of any type of instant flavoured drink in the state.
The Managing Director of Kano State Consumer Protection Council, Baffa Babba Danagundi, said the prohibited drinks include instant flavour drink powder such as Foster Clark Critic Acid and Jolly Juice, among others.
He said the government has mandated the council to go after anyone buying or selling any flavoured drink in the state.
He called on the general public not to relent in reporting to the council any person that continues with such a business.
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Education Now Under Attack In Northern Nigeria, Group Tells Buhari
A group, Unified Nigerian Youth Forum (UNYF) has condemned in totality the spate of the abduction of students in the North and the country at large.
UNYF President, Abdulsalam Mohammed Kazeem, in a statement, said that education is now under attack in Northern Nigeria, as a result of the new challenge.
He noted that the Northern region has the highest number of children who are out of school, adding that the current security challenges will take the region another five decades to fill the vacuum if the situation is not quickly addressed.
The statement read, “The leadership of Unified Nigerian Youth Forum (UNYF) has no option but to join many Nigerians to condemn in totality the spate and worrisome countless abductions of secondary and primary school children across the country with much concentration of the kidnapping activities in North Central, North West and North East regions of the country. Without apologies, I’m bold to say education is under attack in northern Nigerian.
“Available records from both local and international organisations have shown that the regions mentioned above have the highest number of out-of-school children, and government at all levels in those regions on their parts have equally introduced many policies to encourage mass enrollment of people into both private and public schools, but with current kidnapping activities, it will take the region another five decades to fill the vacuum.
“It’s unbelievable to find out that despite our handsome security budget, the current trend of insecurity is threatening our educational system and curriculum.
“The President should close his eyes to pity now and act brutally on all those who the current administration claimed to be on her watchlist over their links to security-related matters now.
“Henceforth, we as a Forum passionately appeal to the Federal Government to sanction heads of security agencies in any state/region with a record of mass abductions or kidnappings, that will further prove to our country co-conspirators that it’s no longer business as usual.
“Government at all levels should form a synergy between all the security agencies, local vigilantes inclusive to help find a lasting solution to our multiple security challenges, which have brought us shame and disgrace amongst the comity of sovereign nations.
“The body language and direct output of our leaders should change with immediate effect or else with such high rate of daily reports on insecurities, one day one will not be able to visit his/her wards school in a hurry and or even in a dream.
“Government at all levels must provide adequate security in our schools and staff quarters like they are doing for themselves, immediate family members, places of business interests and political associates.”
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