Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Sunday 4th April 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 04/04/21
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E2%80%94 Code of Conduct Tribunal Chairman Liable To Five-Year Jail Term Over ‘Biafran Boys’ Comment — Falana
Femi Falana (SAN)
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has said the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Chairman, Danladi Umar, risk a five-year jail term for using “Biafran boys” to describe the traders he had an altercation with when he assaulted a security guard at Banex Plaza in Abuja.Umar was caught on video punching a security guard following a disagreement on the plaza’s parking space.
Femi Falana (SAN)
The CCT Spokesperson, Ibraheem Al-Hassan, had in a statement said the guard threatened Umar, while some “Biafran boys” also harassed him.Hassan later said it was Umar who asked him to use “Biafran boys” in the statement.
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In a statement on Saturday, Falana said the phrase amounted to xenophobia which contravened the cybercrime law.Falana said section 26 of the Cybercrimes Act 2015, prohibits the use of “racist or xenophobic material” in any written or printed material.He added that such a person was liable to be prosecuted for the serious offence and penalty for the offence is five year’s imprisonment and a minimum N10 million fine.”The statement read, “The use of the words “Biafra Boys” in the statement (produced through a computer system or network) on the instructions of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal and distributed to the media last week constitutes a contravention of section 26 of the Cybercrimes Act 2015.”The Act prohibits the use of “racist or xenophobic material” in any written or printed material which advocates, promotes or incites hatred, discrimination or violence, against any individual group of individuals, based on race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin, as well as a religion if used as a pretext for any of these factors.”The person alleged to have suggested the use of the xenophobic words is liable to be prosecuted for the serious offence. The penalty for the offence is five year’s imprisonment and a minimum N10 million fine.”
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E2%80%94aregbesolas-aide How I Was Attacked By Thugs Loyal To Governor Oyetola In Osogbo—Aregbesola’s Aide
Olateju Ishola, Personal Assistant to the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, says he was attacked by a gang of hoodlums allegedly loyal to Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun state while attending a function in Osogbo.Ishola, in a statement, alleged that the hoodlums attacked him on Sunday, March 28, 2021, and attempted to kill him at a birthday party organised by a member of the State House of Assembly, Taofeek Badmus.
He denied objecting to a musician’s song praising Governor Oyetola during the party.He added that the stories making the round since the incident happened were a complete falsehood to cover the tracks of those who hatched the nefarious act.The minister’s aide explained that the attack was an attempted assassination on his life and called on security agencies to investigate the incident.
The statement read, “The first feelings of danger came when my Personal Assistant came to whisper into my ears that I was not safe in the place and that we should find our ways out. My response was instant; I used style to dance out of the stage and got out to the spacious premises. A few minutes later, I stepped out to discuss with an aide of the Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Joseph Akanbi.”We were right outside with a woman, a quantity surveyor. Then, I saw a bus that parked at a close distance. There were two mobile policemen on the bus. There and then, I sensed trouble. So, I excused the people I was discussing with. I smelt danger, but I thought I was not the target.”I went back inside the restaurant to inform Aresa of what I saw outside. I was backing the entrance. Suddenly, one of the guys who alighted from the parked bus rushed at me and started shouting: Ohun niyen, this is Teju and so on. Then the blows, the cuts, the bruises, and all the rest began, and so it continued.”Alhaji Simple, an elder brother to Senator Ajibola Basiru, was also on hand. He said, ‘What is wrong with you guys? Are you out of your senses?’ I think he might have known one or two of the thugs that attacked me. The assailants responded by attacking him with a sharp object. That was how he sustained injuries. Hon. Taofeek Badmus was also attacked. He was punched and harassed. He later hid under the table of a man selling suya at the place.”Also, Honourable BFK was harassed by the thugs when he attempted to rescue my friend, Wale Omolola. I managed to escape from the restaurant and was running towards Jerry Paul filling station. The hoodlums were running after me. They shot at me several times. They were shouting, don’t kill him here, let us catch him and take him to another place.”I heard my PA, Dare, screaming. I thought he had been severely injured. I had to navigate my way back to the restaurant to rescue him because I felt I had diverted the attention of the thugs. Unfortunately, I ran into their midst. They held me and started unleashing machete cuts on me. Luckily for me, a bouncer at the restaurant punched two of the hoodlums holding me and some of them went for him. That was how I was able to escape from them.”The guy who led the attack is a notorious hoodlum. He and his gang members have been enjoying protection in the state.”A few minutes later, I came back to the scene in search of my PA and phones. I saw the ring leader of the thugs, a known person to me, too. He turned back immediately he saw me. It was during that time that Hon. Taofeek Badmus called one of the people around and asked him to tell me to come to UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital. I insisted I won’t go. I thought he was also there for treatment.”Let me state here that it is unfortunate and an act of cowardice for Hon. Badmus to have denied there was an attack on him, a move to underplay the assassination attempt on me.”Recall that former Governor Aregbesola has had a cold war with Oyetola, his successor.Oyetola, who served as Chief of Staff to Aregbesola, has quietly complained about Osun state finances that he inherited.The governor has reversed many of such actions, notably the single school uniform, reclassification of the public school system and the abolition of single-s** schools, which Aregbesola introduced in 2013.
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E2%80%93-fayose Odumakin Fought For Justice And Equity For All – Fayose
Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has mourned the death of the late spokesman of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin. Odumakin died at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital’s isolation centre on Saturday due to complications from COVID-19.
Fayose, in a statement he signed, expressed shock and sadness at the news of Odumakin’s death.The former governor said he is consoled because he lived a life well spent and fought for justice and equity for all.” Yinka Odumakin lived a life of justice, fighting for justice and equity for all. He was a man in total defence of justice and fairness for all. He had a life well spent, not how far, but how well.”In it all, he will be remembered for his undiluted love for the Yoruba race and Nigerians in general.”My prayers are with his wife, children and the leadership of Afenifere at this difficult time. May the soul of Yinka rest in peace.”
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E2%80%94tinubu I Respect Odumakin For What He Stood For—Tinubu
Bola Tinubu
National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has described the National Publicity Secretary of Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, as a committed fighter for democracy.Odumakin died at the COVID-19 Isolation Centre of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital on Saturday due to complications from COVID-19.
Bola Tinubu
Tinubu and the deceased were allies in the days of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) that fought General Sani Abacha’s regime after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election.The latter played a significant role in Tinubu’s emergence as the governorship candidate of the Alliance for Democracy for the 2007 election.They later fell out, with Odumakin becoming a vocal critic of the APC national leader.Tinubu, in a condolence letter he signed on Saturday, said although he differed with the deceased politically, he respects what he stood for.He condoled with Odumakin’s widow, describing the two of them as “iconic soul mates in the ceaseless battle for a better and greater Nigeria”.”Like millions of Nigerians, I received with profound shock the news of the death early this morning of Mr Yinka Odumakin, spokesman of Afenifere, committed fighter for democracy, dedicated civil society activist, a courageous and outspoken defender of whatever ideals and principles he believed in and a patriotic citizen in every sense of the word.”Ever since his student days, Odumakin had been fearless and unrelenting in speaking up in promoting the cause of justice and what he perceived as the best interest of the citizens of Nigeria. He participated actively at the forefront in the various students and youth struggles against successive military dictatorships in the 1980s and 1990s. In the process, he was arrested, harassed and even detained several times. Yet, he never allowed himself to succumb to tyranny or be pressured into submissive and pliant silence.”In the struggle against the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election and the perpetuation of military dictatorship, Odumakin was never found wanting. He was at the vanguard of the battle, even at the risk of his life and liberty. It is impossible to credibly tell the story of the emergence of the democracy we enjoy in this dispensation today without emblazoning Odumakin’s name in gold. He was a doughty fighter for freedom and the rule of law. He was rock solid in his commitment to Afenifere, the Yoruba people and several other civil society groups in which he played active roles.”Odumakin never held public office. But he has been a constant feature and part of our public consciousness over the last two decades of this unbroken democratic dispensation. He epitomized the true definition of the citizen; a patriot who was ever conscious of the fact that his life could not be complete or his humanity meaningful if he did not take an active interest in and join likeminded fellow citizens in seeking always to promote the common good of his community and country.”In the course of the last two and a half decades, Odumakin and I had cause to collaborate in various organizations and in pursuit of different political causes at different times, and I can testify to his capacity for hard work, his brilliance, his tenacity in his loyalty to his cherished principles. Even if we differed politically, I had no cause to doubt his sincerity in charting his chosen path. He will forever remain a model of what a citizen who places his country’s good above his interest could be. Given his talents and abilities, Odumakin could easily have opted to focus on his welfare and that of his family rather than embroil himself in the several struggles he dedicated his life to.”
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Arewa Consultative Forum Mourns Odumakin, Advises Afenifere
Yinka Odumakin
The pan-northern socio-political organisation, the Arewa Consultative Forum, has mourned the death of the National Publicity Secretary of Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, describing him as a dutiful man of conviction.
Odumakin died at the COVID-19 Isolation Centre of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital on Saturday due to complications from COVID-19.
Yinka Odumakin
Emmanuel Yawe, National Publicity Secretary of ACF, in a statement on Saturday, however, attacked Afenifere, asking the group to ‘turn a new leaf and see issues not from the narrow and limited perspective of one ethnic but the broad perspective of a multi-ethnic federal republic.”
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Afenifere Spokesperson, Yinka Odumakin Dies Of COVID-19 In Lagos Hospital
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The statement read in full, “The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) today received the sad news of the death of Yinka Odumakin, the spokesman of the Afenifere.
“While he was alive, Yinka held on to his views very strongly. We often disagreed with him on many issues. Our disagreements were, however, on principle and not personal.
“The fundamental difference is that the Afenifere group admits only descendants of Oduduwa as members, while we in the ACF admit even descendants of Oduduwa who are northerners. Our membership’s nature, accomodating hundreds of ethnic groups, has made it very difficult to always agree with a group whose membership is limited to one ethnic group.
“We continue to hope that Afenifere will one day turn a new leaf and see issues not from the narrow and limited perspective of one ethnic group but the broad view of a multi-ethnic federal republic.
“We had hoped that Odumakin would live long enough to work for and see the new day. His death today has robbed us of that opportunity. We, however, pray for his family and his colleagues in Afenifere. We shall certainly miss him.”
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Odumakin Was A Man Of Conviction, Buhari Mourns
Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Saturday, mourned the late spokesman of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, describing him as dutiful and a man of conviction.
Odumakin died in the early hours of today due to complications from Covid-19, according to family sources.
Muhammadu Buhari
Buhari’s position on Odumakin, who served as his spokesman when he contested the 2011 presidential election on the platform of Congress for Progressive Change, was contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.
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Afenifere Spokesperson, Yinka Odumakin Dies Of COVID-19 In Lagos Hospital
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The statement titled, ‘President Buhari mourns Afenifere spokesman, Yinka Odumakin’, read, “President Muhammadu Buhari condoles with the family, friends and acquaintances of Yinka Odumakin, spokesman of Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere.
“Odumakin was also spokesman to the then Gen Buhari in 2011 when he ran for President on the platform of Congress for Progressive Change, now defunct.
“The President recalls Odumakin as dutiful and a person of conviction, expressing sorrow at his demise, when he had a lot more to contribute to society and the nation at large.
“President Buhari prays God to grant repose to the soul of the departed activist and comfort all those who mourn him.”
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Obasanjo mourns Yinka Odumakin, Visits Afenifere Leader, Adebanjo
Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday paid a condolence visit to the leader of the pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, on the demise of the National Publicity Secretary of the group, Yinka Odumakin.
Obasanjo visited the nonagenarian at his Lagos residence to commiserate with him on the death of Odumakin, according to a report by Punch.
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Afenifere Spokesperson, Yinka Odumakin Dies Of COVID-19 In Lagos Hospital
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SaharaReporters had reported that Odumakin died on Saturday at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital Covid Isolation Centre, according to his wife, Mrs Joe Okei-Odumakin.
Adebanjo had in a tweet described the death of the Afenifere spokesman as “too heavy to bear”.
Odumakin spoke tenaciously for the rights of the Yoruba and the people of the South-West geopolitical zone. He was also a staunch critic of the policies and programmes of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The late Afenifere spokesman, amongst other things, canvassed restructuring, fiscal federalism, and decentralised policing as solutions to the country’s socio-economic challenges.
Before his death, he consistently condemned the activities of criminal Fulani herders, who have been accused of farmland destruction, rape, killings and abductions in the South-West.
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Tribute To Yinka Odumakin By Bayo Oluwasanmi
Comrade Yinka Odumakin’s death gives us pause. It makes us stop and reevaluate our lives and values. It makes us think how much more we can do with our time and our resources.
Around 5 am US local Eastern Standard Time, while surfing the net for the latest headlines, my wife woke me up with the shocking news: “Yinka is dead.” I asked her: “Which Yinka?” “Yinka Odumakin,” she said with sick smiles. I jumped out of bed. I was lost in thought. I tried to clear the fog in my brain to actually process the news.
I didn’t have the pleasure of ever meeting Odumakin. The overwhelming sadness I feel today is just a fraction of that felt by those who knew him. Odumakin’s death is a devastating moment for Nigeria and especially so for Yoruba Nation at this time in our history as we are trying to disengage from Nigeria.
The evil people in Nigeria – the dictators, autocrats, and destroyers of Nigeria – are breathing easier today. The intolerant, the narrow minded, the scared, the defensive, the nepotist, the haters of justice, equality, liberty, freedom, and rule of law, are watching us mourn the man who never left them alone.
Like the anopheles mosquito on a hot African summer night, Odumakin buzzed around the heads of those who challenged our right to be treated decently, equally not only as Nigerians, but as human beings. They cursed him and tried to swat him away. But Odumakin persisted, circling, watching, and settling wherever he could to disturb and irritate them. Today, they hope they can rest a little easier, because Odumakin is gone.
Odumakin with energy, steel resolve, and stay power consistently fought for our rights. Solid, steady, undaunted, and unrelenting. When others were exhausted, Odumakin would keep going. When we wanted to give up, Odumakin would not let us. His passion for fighting social injustice, economic inequalities, political marginalization, nepotism, was unwavering and legendary.
Nigeria, indeed Yoruba Nation, has lost a bright star in the fight for self-determination. But his life’s commitment to fighting the ancient evils Nigeria is reputed for, leaves a legacy that will inspire us to forge ahead in our struggle for Oduduwa Nation. His spirit joins Awo, Tai Solarin, Gani Fawehinmi, MKO, Ayodele Awojobi, Abraham Akinsanya, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Dele Giwa, and other heroes of our struggle, in a reunion of leaders to whom we owe so much.
Rest In Peace.
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E2%80%94nigerians-lament-alleged-plans-frustrate-smes “Why Is MTN Making Life Harder For Nigerians?”—Nigerians Lament Alleged Plans To Frustrate SMEs
MTN NigeriaMTN Nigeria Buildings
Some Nigerians have alleged that telecommunication company, MTN is stifling the progress of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises by ensuring that access to airtime and data through simple technology is cumbersome.
One of those affected by the company’s recent policy said with the increase in the transfer charges on USSD, the company is looking to drive Nigerian SMEs who sell data and airtime out of business.
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The source said, “MTN has also compelled SMEs who aggregate data and airtime sales to push only MTN platforms and cut down commissions on sales, but that is not all; there is the issue of the privacy policy.
“With MTN Nigeria, your personal information is not safe. Why is that? MTN insists that most of their customers use their own (MTN) apps or applications to buy recharge for both voice and data services because they want to collect as much personal information from customers as possible.
“This means MTN can share your details which includes your phone number, Bank Verification Number, amongst others, to third parties for targeted advertising and possibly phishing. Do you still receive unsolicited SMS on your MTN line? That is because MTN is sharing your phone numbers with companies that are willing to pay for it.
“These companies then target you even though you never requested for their service. You will notice that you randomly receive SMS from companies asking you to take quick loans or lure you into a competition where you can win millions of naira.
“There are two things involved. The first is that MTN has made its customers vulnerable and has stepped up its game by insisting that you use their applications like MTNTopit and MoMo channels to transact. This helps them monitor your transactions as well as monitor your browsing history.”
The source echoes the concerns of many other Nigerians who have accused MTN of showing gross negligence to customers who do not use smartphones.
“They did not factor such customers into their nefarious plans. Instead of encouraging more customers to embrace USSD, they are pushing them back into the era when we used to buy paper recharge cards,” the source said.
“The question is simple, is this obtainable in South Africa? Why is Nigeria the guinea pig for MTN’s callous scheme? Why is MTN making life harder for Nigerians and why are they selling personal information to third parties?
“The privacy policy of MTN is not customer friendly, so how then have they been able to get away with it? What exactly are the regulatory agencies doing? What is the role and functions of the Nigerian Communications Commission? Why is MTN allowed to get away with things like this?
“Remember when the Nigerian government fined MTN? For some reasons, they were allowed to get away with it. How does the NCC explain how the $5.2 billion fine was reduced to a paltry sum? Is the Nigerian government culpable? Is the Nigerian government concerned about the safety of its citizens?
“The NCC has been slow in reacting to some of the monopolistic actions by the MTN. In a circular, MTN asked their customer service agents to pacify customers, why? Why is MTN asking customer service agents to pacify Nigerians if it has not committed any atrocious act?”
Meanwhile, a feud between Nigerian banks and MTN on Friday left millions of subscribers unable to recharge their phones using the USSD services on Friday. That was after banks shut off the telecoms firm over fees charged for the service.
MTN advised its subscribers to seek alternative means of recharging their phones without informing them of the problem.
“Dear Customer, our bank recharge channels are currently unavailable. Kindly recharge using physical cards. We apologise for the inconvenience. Thank you,” one message read.
Another read: “Please be informed that some of our customers may not be able to purchase airtime and data recharges via banks including MOD and myMTN App.”Please pacify our customers and educate them to use MTNTopit, MoMo channels, as well as the debit card options on MOD or myMTN App.”
A message posted on the MTN Nigeria Support handle on Twitter states that the development is a “technical glitch” that is being worked on.
“We want to buy data and we want to continue to do it using our USSD; we do not want to use MTN apps that will enable MTN to have more of our information and sell them to third parties.
“In conclusion, every Nigerian must note that their information is not safe on the MTN apps and if we do not kick against it, then they have us where they want us,” the source added.
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Nigerian Soldiers Allegedly Kill Nine Youths Arrested During Burial Ceremony In Benue
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No fewer than nine youths have been allegedly killed by men of the Nigerian Army in Tse Ugir village, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue state.
SaharaReporters gathered that the youths were arrested by the soldiers at a burial ceremony in the community on Sunday.
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Their dead bodies were found by the roadside on Tuesday.
A source told SaharaReporters that three of his family members were killed by the soldiers who gave no reason for their action.
He identified some of the deceased as Aondofa Uza, Verne Vihiga, Aondohemba Hambe and Chianen Ibom Asema.
“Those guys went to burial on Sunday, and the burial was on Sunday night. They killed my brothers, three of them. One of them was the one selling alcohol at the ceremony. The others were assisting..” he told SaharaReporters.
“Around 9 pm, army officers stormed the place, so they arrested them. They picked them randomly, let me say the unlucky ones. So about nine boys were picked.
“They took them to the army formation in the community; they have a base here. The next day, the family went there to know why the boys were arrested. But we were denied access to the formation. We stayed around there throughout the days, but nobody attended to explain why the boys were arrested.
“To our surprise, we started seeing the dead bodies of those arrested by the roadside the following day; they brought them in batches. The first one was in the morning, my elder brother was among them. Again in the evening time, my two other brothers were among them.”
On Friday, five youths, including a final year Higher National Diploma (HND) student of the College of Agriculture, Jalingo, Taraba State, were shot dead by soldiers, who opened fire on them.
The incident, which occurred in Baka village of Ardo-Kola Council, led to tension across the state.
The victims, who were said to have been returning to their various residences from a wedding ceremony in Baka, were said to have been mistaken for members of a kidnap gang by the soldiers patrolling the area, with several others on the same journey reportedly sustaining injuries.
Eyewitnesses said the soldiers did not interrogate them before opening fire on the youths on motorcycles.
There were bullet wounds on the victims’ bodies when they were brought to the Federal Medical Centre, Mogul, where they were deposited.
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