Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Friday 25th June 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 25/06/21
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Bandits Invade Kaduna Barracks, Steal Cows Owned By Army Officers
Gunmen suspected to be bandits have invaded the military barracks of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna State, and carted away a herd of cattle in the early hours of Thursday.
The incident happened around 2:00 am as the gunmen arrived at the barracks and started shooting sporadically in the air to cause panic in the Army community.
Though the exact number of the cattle stolen could not be determined, an eyewitness told SaharaReporters on Thursday evening that the cows would not be less than a hundred in number based on previous experience.
According to the source who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, the cattle were owned by Army officers.
He, therefore, expressed shock that the barracks could be so porous for bandits to attack without any form of resistance.
The source told SaharaReporters the first time it happened was last year and that about 400 cows were taken away by the bandits in what he described as a bloodless attack on the barracks.
He, however, said some of the animals found their way back to their ranch.
The Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji in Kaduna State is a training facility for the Nigerian Armed Forces, including the army, air force, and navy.
“Around 2:00 am on Thursday, gunmen invaded where cattle are kept at Jaji barracks in Kaduna here. Those cattle are owned by some military officers. So, they are kept at the Mammy market, inside the barracks at Jaji here. I cannot tell you the number of cows taken by these bandits but before the operation, they were shooting sporadically in the air.
“Even the people outside the barracks heard the gunshots. And this was not the first time. The first time it happened was last year. That one happened close to the Firing Range. They went there and took away all the cattle. About 400 cows were taken away. Some of them (cows) managed to come back to their ranch,” the source said.
When asked if the bandits came with a truck or any vehicle to convey the cattle, the eyewitness said they did not drive any truck.
He said they took the cattle away on foot.
The source expressed concern that the barracks always accommodate Army officers from other African and Asian countries who take some courses at the college, adding that it would be an embarrassment should a foreigner be abducted on Nigerian soil.
He also lamented that both the military personnel and civilians living in the barracks and the areas surrounding the military base are no longer safe.
He said there have been several attacks launched by bandits on the communities.
“They didn’t come with any vehicle. They would just come on foot and push the cattle away. This is telling us that one day, even, the Army officers in the barracks can be kidnapped. And the barracks are one of the most strategic barracks in the country.
“In the barracks there, there are houses that even foreign Army officers that are taking courses live in. The Jaji barracks are among the largest in the country and if this kind of thing is happening there, that means we are not safe anymore.
“There was a time even military officers from African and Asian countries came for courses there. Majors and Captains do come there from different countries. Every graduation, you will notice that about 17 African countries participate. It means that even foreign officers can be abducted. And if this happens, it is a slap on the face of the country.
“I don’t know if the military authorities are doing anything to see how they can tackle the issue. What I want you to know is that even the immediate areas surrounding the barracks are being attacked daily, and nothing is done. Outside the cantonment, barely a kilometre away is not safe,” he said.
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ECOWAS Court Reaffirms Cape Verde’s Detention Of Venezuelan Diplomat, Alex Saab Is Illegal
File Photo: A protester putting on “Free Alex Saab” shirt
The ECOWAS Court of Justice on Thursday rejected an attempt by the Republic of Cape Verde to have the Court amend its decision of March 15, 2021, describing the detention of Venezuelan diplomat, Alex Saab as illegal.
The Venezuelan diplomat has been detained by Cape Verde since 12 June 2020. In the decision, the ECOWAS Court ruled that Cape Verde’s detention of Saab was illegal, adding that he should be released immediately and the extradition proceedings against him be terminated.
File Photo: A protester putting on “Free Alex Saab” shirt
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In Thursday’s decision, which followed a hearing on 31 May, the ECOWAS Court says “it is competent in terms of jurisdiction to rule on this matter”. “There was no miscalculation of time zones when considering when the Interpol Red Notice was received by the Republic of Cape Verde and had no bearing on the illegality of the arrest and subsequent detention,” it also said. The Defence Team therefore noted that Thursday’s decisions represent the end of the ECOWAS process, and “the Republic of Cape Verde has no more excuses to try and justify its non-compliance with the binding decisions of the ECOWAS Court”. “Ambassador Saab’s family would like to express its gratitude to the Honourable ECOWAS Court for its steadfast application of law and asks that the Republic of Cape Verde abide by its international obligations and immediately release Alex Saab and end the vindictive extradition process against him,” the Defence Team added.
Saab’s Lead ECOWAS Counsel, Femi Falana (SAN), said, “I am delighted that in dismissing Cape Verde’s applications, the Honourable Court has underlined that its decision of 15 March in terms of the illegality of Ambassador Saab’s detention must be respected by Cape Verde. The Defence Team now calls upon the competent authorities of Cape Verde to comply with the ECOWAS Court’s decision, immediately release Alex Saab and end the politically motivated extradition.” Dr Jose Manuel Pinto Monteiro, Saab’s lead Cape Verde attorney commented, “Cape Verde is known as a nation which respects its international obligations and the rule of law. I join my colleague, Mr Falana in calling upon the Cape Verde authorities to bring an immediate end to the illegal detention of Ambassador Saab, release him and permit him to travel freely to Venezuela.”
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E2%80%94robbers-write-osun-community ‘Contribute N20million And Give To Your Chairman, We’re Coming For It’—Robbers Write Osun Community
Anxiety and confusion have overwhelmed residents of Olopa estate, a community in Ofatedo, Egbedore local government area, Osun state after robbers sent a notice of intent to rob the area.
The notice, which was handwritten and partly in Yoruba language, ordered that members of the community contribute the sum of N20 million to avoid being robbed individually, Vanguard reports.
The robbers also said the N20 million hitherto contributed, should be kept with the community chairman for the robbers to pick upon arrival.
It reads, “Notice, this is to inform you that, we, thieves are coming to rob every house in your community or you should contribute the sum of N20 million and keep it with your community Chairman for us to pick up when we come.
“We are coming with full force and we will kill any of your securities that intend to disturb us.”
A resident, Tejumade Adewale hinted that the letter had created a lot of confusion in the community as some residents have stopped sleeping at home.
He, however, said the community had witnessed an increased presence of local security operatives since the notice was sent.
“Despite that, the community has increased the presence of local vigilantes in the area, some residents only come home during the day to pick what they need and return to their shops without returning home to sleep at night.
“We call on security agencies to come to our aid and should treat the issue seriously,” he said
Reacting to the development, Osun Amotekun Field Commandant, Comrade Amitolu Shittu said the corps is aware of the letter and well prepared for the “visitors”.
He added that the threat is empty but adequate security has been put in place to curtail them.
“We have heard of the threat, but we believe it is an empty threat; notwithstanding, security has been beefed up in the community to check any eventualities,” he said.
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Northern Coalition Sues National Assembly Over Constitutional Review, Demands Support For Biafra
File Photo: National Assembly
The Coalition of Northern Group (CNG) has dragged the National Assembly to court, asking that the ongoing constitutional review across the country be stopped with immediate effect.
The suit was filed by the leadership of the group, Nastura Ashir Shariff, Balarabe Rufa’i l, Abdul-Aziz Sulaiman and Aminu Adam joined against the defendants: Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; and the National Assembly, Daily Trust reports.
File Photo: National Assembly
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, the coalition’s spokesman, Abdul-Aziz Sulaiman, argued that instead of the ongoing constitutional review, the defendants should immediately provide a framework for the actualisation of agitators’ demand on self-determination.
The Coalition on June 11, had urged the National Assembly to suspend the constitution review to enable the Government to organise a referendum on the actualisation of a Biafra Republic.
It also urged the National Assembly to invoke the doctrine of necessity to organise a Biafra referendum as the final step towards the separation of the Igbo from the rest of Nigeria.
The group argued that the unrelenting disturbances created by certain interest groups in the South-East, in the form of the agitation for a separate State of Biafra, had turned violent.
It appealed to the government to invite the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to initiate the process of self-determination that will mandate the Biafrans out of the Nigerian union by leveraging the several relevant international treaties and conventions to which Nigeria is a signatory.
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E2%80%94osinbajo-says-amid-insecurity Soon, We Will All Live In Peace And Prosperity In Nigeria—Osinbajo Says Amid Insecurity, Worsening Economy
Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.
Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has assured Nigerians that the security challenges bedevilling the country will soon be forgotten.
He revealed that the Nigerian government has increased efforts to adequately combat the insecurity, adding that the Supplementary Budget sent to the National Assembly for approval would address the procurement of military weapons for the use of all security agents in the country.
Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.
Professor Osinbajo disclosed this when he received in audience the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adeola Adeniyi Ajakaiye, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He, however, said that it is the obligation of every Nigerian citizen to support the nation’s security services to ensure that Nigeria is safe, Vanguard reports.
“I can assure you that soon, the issue of insecurity will be a thing of the past and that we will all live in peace and prosperity in this country,” Osinbajo said.
Osinbajo added that President Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated a committee to examine the nitty-gritty of the security lapses in the country and address them from the foundation which further propelled him to send the supplementary budget.
He said, “The President has recently constituted a committee that will look at the whole security infrastructure with a view to looking at the needs of the military, as well as the police and security agencies.
“The result of that is a bill before the National Assembly, a supplementary bill.
“The purpose of that bill is to present some of the needs of the military, as well as of security agencies in order to be able to beef up our response to the security challenges.”
He emphasised the need for paramount rulers, local and state governments to partner with the Nigerian Government to tackle insecurity.
He said, “Any country with this number of security challenges must respond as robustly as possible.
“But it is also important to bear in mind that it takes a combined effort of all of us, at the local government level, state and federal levels; all of the levels; we need to come together to tackle this issue of insecurity.”
He said even as the Nigerian Government is very concerned, and will persistently upgrade efforts towards improving security nationwide, community efforts are also important in tackling the issue from the roots.
He stated that it is an unavoidable conclusion that at the level of community there is a need to take decisive action, as most of the security issues occur at the community level.
The Vice President expressed happiness that the traditional ruler has a committee in place in his domain organised for the purpose of tackling insecurity “and that you’ve been able to contain the menace that we see in different parts of the country in your community”.
He added that the President Buhari-led administration will provide necessary support to the community in tackling its challenges, adding that the government is also working with the Ekiti State government on dealing with insecurity, as well as various issues.
In his remarks, the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Adeola Adeniyi Ajakaiye, thanked the Vice President for granting them audience and listening to their demands, including support for the establishment of a Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences in the community.
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E2%80%94-group-tells-governor-okowa ‘Your Nepotism Is Cancerous, Killing Tertiary Schools In Delta’— Group Tells Governor Okowa
Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa
A pressure group known as Isoko Monitoring Group (IMG) Worldwide has berated Delta state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, over his management of the tertiary schools in the state.
The group accused the governor of “nepotism and clannishness”, describing it as “cancerous”.
Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa
The group, in a communiqué issued at the end of an enlarged emergency extraordinary meeting held Thursday, at its headquarters, Ivrogbo-Irri, Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta state, said, “Following cumulative occurrences in the state, the Isoko Monitoring Group (IMG) is pushed to conclude that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has and is entrenching nepotism in all facets of his administration of our dear Delta State”.
The communiqué, titled: “Neglect Of Delta State University, Oleh Campus And The Poor Development Of Delta State University Of Science And Technology Ozoro Unacceptable”, was signed on behalf of the group by Kingsley Oroh.
The group warned the governor not to take the simplicity of the people of Isoko nation for stupidity.
The statement said, “We wish to express our total dissatisfaction at the manner with which the Delta State Governor, His Excellency, Sen. (Dr.) Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa is piloting the affairs of our dear state, especially as it affects the development of tertiary institutions in Delta state.
“Suffice it to say that the Law and Engineering Faculties of Delta State University, Oleh Campus, which have been in existence for decades have been wickedly deprived of development and have been perpetually abandoned by the state government for no justifiable reason. The campus lacks functional facilities, good laboratories, manpower, and good road network.
“It is a shame on the government that Isoko sons and daughters have been funding the supposed state university after several pleas to the state government have fallen on deaf ears. While this unwarranted underdevelopment persisted, the state governor hurriedly established three new state universities, among which is the University of Science and Technology, Ozoro.
“Unknowing to us, this was a well concocted plot by the governor to kill all tertiary institutions in the state in favour of the newly created University of Delta, Agbor that has a campus in the governor’s hometown, Owa-Alero. While both the old Oleh campus and newly established university in Ozoro lay fallow and undeveloped, the same government is speedily and massively developing the Faculties of Law, Engineering and Medicine at the Owa-Alero Campus of the University of Agbor.
“A proposed University of Education (as the Governor wanted Deltans to believe) now has Faculties of Law, Engineering and Medicine with massive construction ongoing funded by proceeds of Crude Oil and gas from six (6) flow stations and four (4) gas plants in the Isoko nation whereas the governor by his actions and inactions, has already declared the death sentence on the Oleh Campus of the Delta State University which hosts the Faculties of Law and Engineering.
“To show the Governors’ true intent, a bill has been hurriedly put together and sent to the House of Assembly to give legal backing to the establishment of the Faculties of Law, Engineering and Medicine in addition to the Faculty of Education which the university was meant to focus on being a University of Education.
“Governor Okowa may want to make us believe that the huge infrastructural and manpower investment the University of Delta State, Agbor is receiving is because the university was just recently upgraded from a College of Education to a university. If that is the case, we want governor Okowa to explain to the Isoko people why the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro which was also recently upgraded from a polytechnic to a university status is not receiving similar level of investment.
“The IMG thinks the only reason this is the case is because the Delta State University of Science and Technology is not located at Owa-Alero, Okowa’s hometown. We see governor Okowa’s huge investment in the University at Owa-Alero while neglecting the university campuses sited in Isoko land, as an extension of the ‘Ikanisation’, nay, ‘Owa-Alerolisation’ policy of the Delta state government under governor Okowa to the education sector and a deliberate ploy to relegate to the background.
“And kill all tertiary institutions in Delta state, especially Oleh Campus and University of Science and Technology, Ozoro in favour of his hometown, Owa-Alero Campus and University of Delta, Agbor. This is totally unacceptable to us and in the next few days, should this lopsidedness not be addressed, we will be left with no option but to mobilise all well-meaning Isoko sons and daughters globally to begin to see governor Okowa as an enemy of the Isoko nation.”
The group therefore demanded that governor Okowa should as a matter of urgency extend the quality and speedy developmental projects at Owa-Alero campus which also has a newly built specialist hospital to Oleh campus and University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, “knowing that the governor’s hometown and ethnic group does not contribute half of what Isoko contributes to the treasury of Delta State”.
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E2%80%99s-lawyer-giuliani-over-false-election-claims US Supreme Court Revokes Licence Of Trump’s Lawyer, Giuliani Over False Election Claims
The Supreme Court panel in Manhattan has suspended the licence of Rudy Giuliani, former United States’ President, Donald Trump’s lawyer over false claims he made during the 2020 general elections, New York Daily News reports.
Guiliani’s licence to practise law in New York was revoked on Thursday, with a panel of judges ruling that the former mayor has violated his legal oath by peddling “demonstrably false” claims about the 2020 election on behalf of his client, Trump.
The five-judge Manhattan Supreme Court panel concluded in a blistering 33-page ruling that Giuliani’s continued perpetuation of the thoroughly debunked claim that the election was stolen from Trump “threatens the public interest” and erodes faith in American democracy”.
“The seriousness of respondent’s uncontroverted misconduct cannot be overstated,” the judges wrote about Giuliani. “This country is being torn apart by continued attacks on the legitimacy of the 2020 election and of our current president, Joseph R. Biden.”
The suspension, which takes effect immediately, is temporary for now. However, the judges wrote that it remains in effect “pending further proceedings before the Attorney Grievance Committee,” suggesting Giuliani may be permanently barred from practising law in New York.
Giuliani and his attorney, Bob Costello, did not immediately return requests.
SaharaReporters had on November 5 reported that Trump made false claims about Joe Biden stealing the election results.
As he made the false claims, major news channels like the NBC, BBC, Washington Post and others fact-checked him by either cutting him away before he finished speaking or notifying their audiences that Trump’s claims were false.
Trump seemed subdued and nervous during the news conference.
He said, “If you count the legal votes I easily win,” Trump said, providing no evidence for his claim. “If you count the illegal votes, they can try to steal the election from us.”
There is no proof of this.
The president further said, “I’ve already decisively won many critical states, including massive victories.”
“The pollsters got it knowingly wrong. We had polls that so were ridiculous, no blue wave that they predicted… but instead, there was a big red wave.”
After months of discouraging his base from voting through the mail in a bid to prove that it was safe to go out and vote despite the Coronavirus pandemic, Trump lamented on Thursday evening that the mail-in ballots, which Biden advocated for as part of measure to stop the spread of COVID-19, were “one-sided”.
He said, “It’s amazing how those mail-in ballots are so one-sided.”
“It’s a corrupt system, and it makes people corrupt even if they aren’t by nature.”
Again there is no evidence to prove this.
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BREAKING: Again, Buhari To Visit UK For Medical Check-up Friday
File Photo: President Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari will on Friday travel to London, UK, for a medical check-up.
Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, disclosed this in a statement obtained by SaharaReporters.
File Photo: President Buhari
Buhari is expected back in the country in the second week of July.
Since he assumed office on May 29, 2015, Buhari has embarked on medical trips abroad at least five times, covering a period of no fewer than 170 days of the five years he had been in power.
The following is a timeline of the President’s trips for medical treatment; on February 5 to 10, 2016, the President took a six-day vacation in the United Kingdom, saying that his doctors lived in England.
Between June 6 and 19, 2016, Buhari went on a 10-day medical trip to England for an ear infection surgery. He extended his trip by three days to rest.
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Timeline Of Buhari’s 190 Days On Medical Leave In UK Since 2015
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On January 19, 2017, the President was back in London again on a medical vacation.
On February 5, 2017, he wrote to the National Assembly, seeking an extension of his London medical leave. Later on March 10, 2017, Buhari returned to Nigeria but didn’t resume work immediately at Aso Villa.
The Presidency had claimed that “he was working from home.” On May 7, 2017, Buhari embarked on a trip to London for another medical vacation. He returned after 104 days – the longest he had stayed outside the country.
On August 19, 2017, Buhari returned to Nigeria, and it took him a while to resume work because rats had reportedly damaged furniture in his office.
The Presidency had announced that he would be working from home. On May 8, 2018, Buhari went to London for a four-day “medical review.”
On April 26, 2019, Buhari again left for the UK on a 10-day private visit to seek medical care. He came back to the country on May 5.
In 2020, Buhari had not minimised his foreign medical trips to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global lockdown and strain on medical facilities.
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Buhari To Meet His Doctor During Official Trip To Paris Saturday
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Also, from March 30 to April 6 2021, the President embarked on another trip for a routine medical check-up in London.
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Italian Court Acquits Nigerian, Obi, Upturns Sentence In Malabu Oil Graft Case
A Nigerian, Emeka Obi, has been acquitted on Thursday in an Italian appeal court for his involvement in an oil graft case.
According to DailyMail, the court also acquitted Italian, Gianluca Di Nardo, and overturned their jail sentences.
Obi and Di Nardo were both accused of “being middlemen and taking illegal kickbacks” in a case involving oil giants – Eni and Shell.
Their sentences were overturned three months after a court acquitted the two companies in a long term case that involved the purchase of a Nigerian oilfield worth $1.3 billion.
In 2018, Obi and Di Nardo were both sentenced to a jail term of four years, though were yet to begin the sentence.
However, the trial had no witness or hearings as it was only based on documents and according to Italian law, such sentences can be cut by a third.
In early June, the Italian Ministry of Justice ordered that an inquiry should be made on the conduct of Obi and Di Nardo in the case.
After the inquiry, three judges who sat on the case acquitted Obi and Di Nardo, stating that there was no case to answer.
The judges dismissed the charges against the companies and defendants, including the seizure of Obi’s assets worth $98.4 million and Di Nardo’s assets worth over $23 million.
Obi’s lawyer, Roberto Pisano, described the original conviction as “an unjust sentence by the court of first instance conditioned by a macroscopic violation of the law.”
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BREAKING: Gunmen Kidnap Ex-Kogi Lawmaker, Prince, Others In Abuja
Some gunmen have kidnapped a prince of Igalaland, a former member of the Kogi State House of Assembly, and others in Abuja.
The Prince, Frederick Adejoh was kidnapped when the assailants invaded the Tungan Maje community along Zuba-Gwagwalada highway on Thursday.
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The ex-lawmaker, Sani Makama alongside others were kidnapped on Friday from a hotel in Tungan Maje in the Zuba area of Abuja.
The police in the Federal Capital Territory were still searching for the abductors as of the time of writing this report.
“The armed men shot sporadically into the air to scare away the security men on guard before kidnapping the hotel owner and guests,” a security source told PRNigeria.
The FCT Police spokesperson, Mariam Yusuf said a manhunt had been launched for the kidnappers.
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