Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Tuesday 13th July 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 13/07/21
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Nigerian Newspapers Kick-start Front Page Protest Against Buhari Regime’s Draconian Media Law
The Nigerian Press Organisation, in its resolve to resist the government’s attempt to stifle the media’s constitutional freedom of speech in Nigeria, has started a front page protest through the publication of a uniform artwork in all of Nigeria’s newspapers.
On Monday, July 12, major newspapers displayed the artwork boldly on their front pages and at the base is written, ‘Information Blackout: This is what the National Assembly wants to achieve with the NPC and NBC (Media) Act Amendment Bills.
“It’s not just against the media…it’s about society’s rights to know, your rights to be heard.”
The message was jointly sponsored by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Nigerian Guild of Editors and Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria.
The protest, which started on Monday, is expected to continue on July 13, 2021, with all newspapers carrying a front-page editorial “with a central theme – denouncing the government’s attempt to stifle the people’s right to know through its crude attempt to return the country into the draconian era of the military, even as we are in a democracy.”
A statement signed by Feyi Smith, on behalf of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), after a meeting held in Lagos, said the July 14, 2021 publication will explain why and what prompted the activities of the two previous days.
Ths statement read, “It confers on the Press Council the power to determine ethics and fake news, investigate infractions and impose fines on journalists, publishers and distributors. It proposes fines of up to N.25 million on the journalist and N5 million on a corporate body. It specifies jail terms of one to three years and fines ranging from N.25 million to N5 million on journalists, newsagents and media outlets.
“It proposes a fine of between N2 million to N5 million to erring purveyors, two years in jail and compensation for fake news while the medium of publication is liable to N10 million fine or closure for one year in addition to payment of N20 million as compensation to the aggrieved party.
“The bill, draconian and anti-press freedom is a poor mix and resurrection of the obnoxious Public Officers Protection Against False accusation Decree No. 4 of 1984 and the Newspapers Registration Decree 43 of 1993, both vestiges of the dark days of military rule. It assumes that there are no extant laws to penalise media infractions and exact restitution for the aggrieved persons.
“The new NBC is no less galling, making the Minister of Information the Monster Minister with sweeping powers to make and enforce regulations online and offline.”
The meeting noted that the bill as currently concorted, “is a sinister, draconian legislative ambush, which seeks to choke the media with exactly those prayers the NPAN has taken before the Supreme Court of Nigeria, seeking relief to unshackle the press in a democracy, and encourage it to from perform its constitutional responsibility of holding the government accountable to the people at all times, as enshrined in Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
“The ambush is amplified by the hush-hush manner of a legislative public hearing which was conducted, without a formal invitation to the key stakeholders- NPAN, NGE and NUJ- while the only one that got an invitation received same at the venue and on the day of the hearing.”
The media stakeholders’ meeting, however, resolved that “that the proposed bill is unconstitutional as it runs against the principle and tenets of the rule of law. That it is subjudice of a pending case on the subject matter before the highest court of the land – the Supreme Court. That it violates the rule of the National Assembly not to deliberate on matters that have been surrendered to the Court for adjudication.
“That the bill seeks to criminalise journalism business and practise despite the surfeit of laws of country with enough provisions and avenues for legal redress where individuals or groups feel ‘offended’ by media reports or business infractions.
“That the bill smirks of an attempt at undue suffocation of the operations of the media business away from the Company and Allied Matters Act provisions.
“That the bill seeks to invest the regulatory bodies with judicial powers, and usurp the powers of the courts.
“That the bill lacks any redeeming feature of a good law as it is discriminatory and offensive to public good and morality.”
The statement said: “On July 12, 2021, All newspapers to stage a FrontPage Protest by publishing a common designed artwork, denouncing government ‘s attempt to stifle the people’s rights to know and freedom of speech.
“July 13, 2021, All newspapers to carry a front page editorial with a central theme – denouncing government’s attempt to stifle the people’s right to know through its crude attempt to return the country into the draconian era of the military, even as we are in a democracy.
“July 14, 2021, Publication of materials explaining why and what prompted activities of the two previous days.”
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E2%80%99s-attempt-cage-freedom-press-audacity-tyrant-pelumi-olajengbesi-esq Buhari’s Attempt To Cage Freedom Of Press: The Audacity Of A Tyrant By Pelumi Olajengbesi Esq.
President Muhammadu Buhari
The proposed amendments of the National Press Council (NPC) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) is a sponsored legislative misadventure to undermine press freedom, strangulate free speech and undermine reportage on true but embarrassing government actions and policies. It is a wicked improvement on the obnoxious Media Bill, National Broadcasting Code and the Twitter ban. It is, in fact, a draconian bill that shares parentage with the infamous Decree 4 and the colonial Public Order Bill all of which sought to undermine reportage on wrongful government activities at the cost of truth and justice.
I have taken the trouble to go through the proposed amendments and the following ugly heads stand out. Firstly, the bill seeks without pretence to vest control of the NPC and NBC in the President through his Minister of Information. The new proposal gives the President power to elect new Board Members, a Chairman and Executive Director for the Council only on the whimsical advise of his Information Minister, doing away with the provision to seek Senate approval in line with the principle of Checks and Balances that courses through our constitutional existence. This effectively gives the President and his Minister unfettered opportunity to tamper with Press Freedom and is in fact a legislative annexation of the Press as a subsidiary of the Ministry of Information. Secondly, the introduction of heavy jail terms and fines effectively criminalizes media practice in Nigeria.
Further, the proposed amendments seek to regulate social media- Twitter, Facebook, Instagram etc, and revoke media licenses, jail journalists and shrink the civic space all on the government’s whims and sense of embarrassment. It is a malicious and punitive bill seeking to empower the government to control narratives about its activities with little or no room for media advocacy. If it sees the light of day, we might as well repeal section 22 and 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which respectively demands that the Press hold the government to account and which guarantees Freedom of Speech and Press.
President Muhammadu Buhari
At a time when governments around the world are consolidating on efforts to expand the frontiers of Press Freedom through frameworks that enhance the role of the media in a democracy, the Nigerian Executives and Legislators are hard at work to shrink the media space and impose their version of events on the masses. An independent press is a threat only to a corrupt political class and such proposed legislative encumbrances to Press Freedom will further undermine the little traction gained over the years in this sector of the country. It must be opposed.
It is impressive that media houses have decided to run the gauntlet in opposing these repressive legislative proposal currently at the public hearing stage at the National Assembly. A look at several national dailies today shows that these group of professionals are awake to the threat to their profession, the imposition on Free Press and its wider implication for the country. They understand that nations can be built or broken on the backs of narratives, and that the truth itself can be muddled into a lie and a lie into a truth if the watchmen in our civic and media spaces are successfully incapacitated by such draconian legislation. Opposition to the proposed amendments is, however, more than just the job of the media industry, it should be a national rally against legislative oppression.
When given a thought, it becomes apparent that it is not a coincidence that Mr. Lai Mohammed, the Information Minister, is one of the most notoriously visible cabinet member of this regime. This government’s fascination with controlling narratives is not without motive. A government whose actions speak for itself in terms of productivity, efficiency and reliability would have no pressing need to regulate the Media. What are they afraid of? Meanwhile, there are very many Nigerians who would have difficulty remembering the names of the Finance, Petroleum, Power, Works & Housing, Youths, Defence and Info-Tech Ministers of Nigeria, and yet, a serious country with a viable plan about the future would have such key Ministries prominently emphasised in its tenure-ship.
In reaching my conclusions above, I am not unaware of the threat that hate speech/fake stories and an unregulated media mean to a nation’s development. The argument is that a group of professionals guided by the law are best suited to self-regulate rather than the government itself who are more often than not subject to media scrutiny and criticism. There are abundant municipal laws which deal with media professionalism and which regulate social media such as the constitution and the Cyber Crimes Act. An unblemished administration of these set of laws will indeed serve the country’s purpose in protecting against hate speech and false narratives. There is absolutely no moral ground to vest the government with total control of the media, not in a democracy, and as such, the over-zealous sponsor of the NPC and NBC amendments must retract his tender. Where this fails, the National Assembly must discountenance such a proposal made in contempt of constitutionally guaranteed rights and thus save our fragile democracy.
Pelumi Olajengbesi, Esq. is a Legal Practitioner and the Principal Partner at LAW CORRIDOR PARTNERS, Abuja. Lawcorridor@gmail.com.
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BREAKING: Bandits Release Kaduna Emir, Hold On To Daughter, 12 Other Captives
Alhaji Alhassan Adamu, Emir of Kajuru, has been released from captivity.
Thirteen other persons abducted from the monarch’s private residence including his daughter are still in captivity, Daily Trust reports.
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“The Sarkin Kajuru was released around the forest areas leading to Kajuru castle,” the source said.
A member of the Emir’s family said he is well and will be taken to the hospital for examination.
Ibrahim Inuwa Kajuru, a former chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists in Kaduna, confirmed the monarch’s release.
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Abductors of Kaduna Emir, 13 Family Members Demand N200million Ransom
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The journalist, who is also a resident of the town, said the Emir has addressed his subjects at his palace.
It is unclear if any ransom was paid but the bandits earlier demanded N200 million for the release of the 85-year-old monarch.
Gunmen had on Sunday morning abducted Kajuru and 13 of his family members in his palace.
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EFCC Arrests Three Bankers For Alleged N51.9m Fraud In Lagos
The Lagos Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested three bankers for an alleged case of conspiracy, stealing, forgery and obtaining money by false pretence.
The suspects, Kagha Emmanuel Uchenna, Okoro Chinasom Davidson and Egbogu Emmanuel Obiora, who are employees of one of the new generation banks, allegedly conspired and defrauded a customer of the bank of the sum of N51, 978, 883. 37 (Fifty-one Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy-eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty-three Naira, Thirty-seven Kobo.)
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Investigations revealed that the trio forged the signature and National Identification Management (NIM) number slip of the customer, activated his mobile banking application and fraudulently withdrew the money.
The suspects, who were arrested on July 7, 2021 at the Nsukka, Enugu branch of the bank, have volunteered statements and will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
12 July, 2021
EFCC Press Release
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Dunamis Church Pastor, Enenche Punishing Five #BuhariMustGo Activists Over SaharaReporters’ Stories Against Him, Father-in-law— Source
Pastor Paul Enenche and his father-in-law, Professor John Ibu
The Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Dr Paul Enenche, has asked the Department of State Services (DSS) not to release the five #BuhariMustGo protesters arrested on the church premises until SaharaReporters delete two stories against him and his father-in-law, Professor John Ibu, a source has said.
The youths wearing #BuhariMustGo branded shirts were arrested on Sunday, July 4, 2021.
Pastor Paul Enenche and his father-in-law, Professor John Ibu
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How Pastor Enenche Of Dunamis Church Invited Security Operatives To Arrest #BuhariMustGo Activists—DSS Reveals
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The church security team was said to have arrested the activists and handed them over to the DSS, Nigeria’s secret police.
Speaking to SaharaReporters, a top official of the DSS said the five #BuhariMustGo campaigners were still being detained because of two stories written by the newspaper against the cleric and his father-in-law.
He said, “Don’t be deceived, Dr. Enenche is actually lying about working to get them released. Backstage, he (Enenche) doesn’t want them released except SaharaReporters deletes the story written against his father in-law and another one written against the church last year, I think it was a story about a former pastor of the church accusing Eneche of sending him to prison on trumped-up charges.
“He told us it was Omoyele Sowore that sent the boys to his church and he (Sowore) should be punished by the prolonged detention of the guys.”
SaharaReporters on June 27, 2020 published that one Pastor Abraham Daniel, a former member of Dunamis International Gospel Centre revealed how Eneche falsely accused him and had him imprisoned on trumped-up charges.
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Nigerian Cleric Reveals How Pastor Eneche Of Dunamis Church Had Him Imprisoned On False Charges
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Daniel claimed Eneche and other pastors were angry at him for leaving the church while also claiming that he (Daniel) publicly criticised the cleric in his Facebook posts that revealed the activities of the church.
He added that while he was in prison, he lost his business and his wife also left with their five children after being influenced by the church.
He said, “I was ordained as a pastor in 2010. In 2014, I was posted to New Karu as the residence pastor. While I was there, we started a school. I wanted a school that would be almost free for church members but an instruction came from the headquarters that I should not run the school freely, so I had to stop the whole plan.
“I wrote on my Facebook post telling churches in Nigeria to encourage members’ development and also help members. I also wrote that Christians now celebrate pastors instead of focusing on Jesus and the teachings of the Bible.
“I later lost interest in the church, wrote a letter of resignation, it was accepted and I left. The pastor (Eneche) called me and was insulting me because I left the church. He sent his pastors to start calling my wife to pester me to return to the church.
“This put my family in disarray as my wife pestered me until I closed the ministry and ensured I returned to Dunamis Church. I left again, then suddenly things went rogue. A number called me that he needed my Uber service and we met unknowingly to me that they were police.
“They took me to Karu Police Station, saying that they arrested me because of what I wrote against Pastor Eneche.”
He added that he was moved to another police station in Abuja and the church insisted that he must be taken to court.
He was eventually charged to court and remanded in prison pending his bail application.
Daniel also said the church made false allegations while testifying in court, which made the judge send him to prison before he was granted another bail.
The newspaper in 2021 also reported how the Chairman of Benue State University Teaching Hospital and the father of Enenche’s wife, Becky, Professor John Ibu, was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged N24.6 million fraud.
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Father-in-Law Of Pastor Enenche Arraigned For Alleged N24.6Million Fraud In Benue Varsity Teaching Hospital
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Checks by SaharaReporters revealed that Becky was formerly known as Rebecca Inyangbe Ibu before marriage.
On June 28, the EFCC announced that its Makurdi Zonal Office arraigned her father alongside one Chief Abukenchi Suleiman and his company, ADB Motors Venters Nigeria Limited before Justice Abdu Dogo of the Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi, Benue State.
They were arraigned on charges of conspiracy and obtaining N24, 650,000 (Twenty-Four Million, Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only) by false pretences.
The EFCC alleged that the duo obtained the said sum from the Benue State University Teaching Hospital under the guise of purchasing a Toyota Landcruiser Prado 2018 Model which was never bought.
The anti-corruption agency noted that the offence is contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.
Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Professor John Ibu, being the Board Chairman, Benue State University Teaching Hospital, you Chief Abukenchi Suleiman, being the Managing Director ADB Motors Ventures Nigeria Ltd and you, ADB Motors Ventures Nigeria Ltd sometime in July 2019 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud conspired amongst yourselves and obtained the sum of N24,650,000 (Twenty Four Million Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only) from the Benue State University Teaching Hospital Board for the purchase of a Toyota Landcruiser Prado 2018 Model under false pretences that you have the capacity to supply which pretence you knew was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.”
Count two reads: “That you, Professor John Ibu, being the Board Chairman, Benue State University Teaching Hospital sometime in July 2019 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did use your position to confer an unfair advantage to yourself by collecting a bribe, to the tune of N10, 900,000 (Ten Million Nine Hundred Thousand Naira only), from one Chief Abukenchi Suleiman of ADB Motors Ventures Nig. Ltd, on behalf of Atirogo & Sons Enterprises, paid into Access Bank account Number 0049185884, a company you’re the Managing Director and thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 19 of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under the same Act.”
However, the defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against them.
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E2%80%94gombe-governor We’ve Deployed Vigilantes In Schools To Face Bandits, Prevent Students’ Abduction—Gombe Governor
As part of measures towards reducing the abduction of schoolchildren, the Gombe State Government has reportedly deployed local security personnel to all educational institutions within the state to complement the efforts of the police and other security agencies.
It was gathered that the state government had already carried out vulnerability assessments on schools to identify those that may be the primary targets of bandits and kidnappers, Vanguard reports.
This was disclosed by Governor Muhammad Yahaya when he was addressing journalists, after meeting with Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Yahaya pointed out that the collaboration among the state government, religious and community leaders and other stakeholders has helped in addressing the security challenges in the state.
Speaking on the efforts of the state to protect schools and students from attacks by kidnappers and bandits, the governor said: “We did a vulnerability assessment of all the schools and we assigned the local security personnel; vigilantes, to work with the conventional organised security in order to safeguard our schools against attacks.
“Above all, what we did for wider security is reflected in the schools and we concentrated our effort in building big schools that will contain greater numbers, to reduce the chances, such that wherever students or pupils are exposed to such risks, we brought them closer to the main security agencies, so as to have peace and tranquillity.
“That has succeeded in bringing peace to our schools so the schools and the wider society are safe in Gombe and we thank God for that.”
He noted that the government had taken proactive measures to safeguard the state from security threats.
According to him, the peculiar location of the state makes it vulnerable, however, he said security agencies have been working hard.
He said, “We are really located in the midst of the North-East because we share a boundary with all the other five states of the zone and as a result of that, even the effect of insurgency, Boko Haram and issues to do with farmer-herder clashes have caused some security challenges in Gombe in the past.
“But we have been proactive and we are following up day-by-day in all institutions affected, for example, the traditional rulers, community leaders, and the security agencies, trying to build a mutual understanding and good relationship between our people.
“I can say that compared to the rest, Gombe is relatively peaceful and we thank God for that; we are very appreciative of the cooperation and understanding of our people.”
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E2%80%99s-aides How Department Of State Operatives Dehumanise Only Female Among 13 Detained Igboho’s Aides
The Department of State Services operatives have continued to dehumanise the female among 13 arrested aides of Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo, otherwise known as Sunday Igboho, refusing to allow her to change her underwear.
SaharaReporters learnt that since July 2 when they were rounded up and taken to the DSS facility in Abuja, the operatives had refused to allow the woman, Amoda Babatunde, also known as Lady K, have access to new clothes.
The operatives rather insist she washes the clothes on her, dries and wears them.
Sources at the DSS detention camp added that the operatives watch as Lady K is forced to strip herself; wash her clothes and dry them outside while she waits while being naked till they dry.
The DSS on July 1 raided Igboho’s residence in Ibadan, Oyo State, arrested 13 of his aides and killed two others.
Those arrested at Igboho’s residence alongside her include Abdulateef Ofeyagbe, Tajudeen Erinoyen, Diakola Ademola, Abideen Shittu, Jamiu Noah, Ayobami Donald, Adelabe Usman, Oluwapelumi Kunle, Raji Kazeem, Taiwo Opeyemi, and Bamidele Sunday.
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Sunday Igboho’s Allies Arrested In ‘Illegal’ Night Raid Sue Nigeria’s Secret Police
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“They have denied the lady in their midst change of clothes. They make her wash her clothes and wait for them to be dry before wearing them again. They refused to allow their lawyers to give them clothes, especially undergarments.
“She is being treated in a dehumanising manner. She will have to go naked, wash her clothes, wait for them to dry before putting them back on in front of male guards,” the source lamented.
The DSS threw professionalism to the mud when its team of security operatives stormed Igboho’s residence in Ibadan and arrested the 13 persons.
Parading the suspects at the national headquarters of the secret police, the DSS spokesman, Peter Afunaya, said the security team was engaged in a gun duel by nine men suspected to be Igboho’s guards.
SaharaReporters had reported that no fewer than 19 traditional rulers in the South-West region later called for the immediate release of the aides of the Yoruba activist.
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Nineteen South-West Monarchs Demand Release Of Igboho’s Aides, Say Department Of State Services Breached The Law
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The monarchs, under the aegis of Forum of the Yoruba Obas, also demanded compensation for the families of those killed during the raid.
The traditional rulers in a statement titled, ‘The Position of the Forum of Yoruba Obas on the Recent Invasion of Sunday Adeyemo’s house by the operatives of the DSS and the State of the Nation,’ described the invasion of Igboho’s home and killing of his aides as an infringement of their fundamental human rights.
The statement was signed by the President of the forum and Molokun of Atijere Kingdom, Ondo State, Oba Samuel Adeoye (Edema I); its General Secretary, Dr Abdulrasaq Abioye, Olukotun of Ikotun Ile, Kwara State; and 17 others.
The monarchs had said, “We strongly condemn in its entirety the invasion and the gruesome murder of the people at Sunday Igboho’s house on July 1, 2021.
“We believe the killing by the officers of the DSS is unwarranted and unjustifiable, a violent breach of the fundamental right of those who were killed by the overzealous officers in Sunday Adeyemo’s house. We hereby call for the immediate release of those arrested at his residence. We demand that there must be adequate compensation for the family of those people who were murdered during the operation.”
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Family Laments As Aged Woman Left Home For Clinic, Never Returned
The family members of an aged woman, Folasade Mokereola Gbadebo, are currently troubled since she went missing while on her way to a clinic on Saturday, July 3.
A family member who reached out to SaharaReporters said the woman left her house at Abanise street in Moniya, Ibadan, Oyo State on the said date, headed towards the clinic and never returned home.
He said, “She left home last Saturday and yet to be found. Please we would appreciate your help.
”An Elderly woman, Mrs Folasade Mokereola Gbadebo popularly called ‘Mama Gbadebo’ left her house at Abanise street in Moniya (Ibadan) on Saturday, July 3rd, 2021 on her way to the Clinic.
”She’s about 4 feet tall, slim, dark in completion with Oyo tribal mark. She wore a black top on a black shirt and a red scarf.
”Please if found contact: 08139687091; 08030654481; 08028780769; 08150762438.”
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Does Pastor Paul Enenche Still Commune With God? By Pelumi Olajengbesi Esq.
How does Pastor Paul Enenche pray at night? How is he untroubled by the misery of innocent parishioners who continue to languish in DSS’ cells enduring estrangement and possible torture for simply daring to speak up against bad leadership? And what efforts are underway on the part of his church and leadership to correct this most terrible error of judgement? Pastor Paul Enenche owes remains responsible for the fate of those young men and women, and no virtue signalling on earth can displace his duty of care to them.
When I heard news of the arrest of the five worshipers by Pastor Paul Enenche’s Dunamis Gospel Church in its Headquarters, Lugbe-Abuja, my first reaction was to discountenance it as the popular man of God is one of just a handful of clergy-men that have gone without irritating controversy. In fact, Pastor Paul Enenche who hails from the troubled Benue state has severally used his platform to voice out against his people’s plight and also frequently organises redemptive prayers for the state of the nation.
But apparently, five individuals wearing ‘Buhari-Must-Go’ shirts and who had answered the ‘alter-call’ were detained by the church’s security and handed over to the DSS. As I write, all five individuals remain unhappy special guests of honour with the DSS. I guess the church isn’t a house of refuge after all again.
The choice of the DSS is a curious call. The DSS are only ever involved where a conspiracy/action that threatens the sovereignty of Nigeria is afoot. So the church must have been reasonably convinced that all five church-comers who responded to its own alter call were threats to the integrity of Nigeria. An administrative church member who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity explained the church’s position thus:
“Those people sneaked into the church, I used the word sneaked because the church was not aware of their intention, no department in the church knew anything. They even came out for altar call and before you know it we saw that they had ‘Buhari must go’ T-shirts and they were recording people making it seem as if the church planned the protest. We had to hand them over to security operatives because we believe in three things. It is either they were sent in by agencies to make sure that the church is at loggerheads with the government or either make it seem like the church sponsored the protest. Third is even if they have a genuine protest, the church is not the right place to go. If there is a problem in the country, the duty of the church is to pray that God help our leaders. We have handed them over to the authorities for investigations.”
There is an absolute lot to unpack in the pregnant assumption of the Dunamis Church leader’s statement above, and in the absence of an official church position, one can safely take it to indeed reflect the church’s fear and apparent cowardice. Fear because the Church considers itself vulnerable enough to be setup by the mere appearance of peaceful protesters in its premises and cowardice because you see, protest is a fundamental right and not a crime.
Far too many Nigerian churches have been cowered into servitude or outright subservience to the political status quo. The fear of entrapment encapsulated in the Elder’s words is an acquiescence to political labelling as a tool of oppression. Why else would written words on a shirt elicit such a strong reaction from the church?
In trying to avoid taking a political stand, the church ended up siding with the Nigerian Government against disaffected citizens who committed no crime known to Nigerian Law by registering their displeasure with the current leadership. Even if the church suspected it was being setup to take a fall, haven’t the unfolding facts in the matter shown their apprehension to be misplaced? What redemptive actions have the Dunamis church taken to see to the release of this innocent individuals whose disaffection with political leadership has been criminalized by a fascist government?
Granted, the church is not a protest ground and as such any political chanting or related action could (should) have rightly been construed as an overreach and a nuisance in which case the protesters should have been asked off the premises (shoo’ed off, even). THIS WAY, the church could have avoided taking a side in the matter. To have handed over said protesters to the DSS, the church made an indirect statement. Firstly, that it believes and accepts the government ’s position that legitimate protests against political leadership is a crime. And secondly, that the Dunamis Gospel Church International is not a safe haven for politically conscious members or attendees.
We are indeed living in troubled times and the timid feet of the Church today would bleed the heels of Jesus Christ all over again. In his earthly time, the Messiah was a bold critic of bad leadership and unperturbed by personal conveniences in the discharge of His duty. A man (read ‘church’) who has a clean conscience (read ‘slate’) ought to fear no condemnation. The church does not have a duty to go lengths to prove its inherent neutrality unless such an effort is intended to scurry political approval, or….simply depicts spineless-ness.
To avoid earthly recompense in the form of public opprobrium, the Dunamis Gospel Church International have the redemptive grace of bringing its influence to bear, not in exculpating the detainees where any REAL imputation of crimes can be made against them but to ensure that this protest-inclined parishioners are released. Dunamis Church and its hierarchy must watch the DSS’ handling of the matter to avoid vindictive penitence against the detainees.
Guilt over any further and continuous harm that befalls the detained parishioners falls squarely on the shoulders of the Dunamis Church and its leaders who betrayed the confidence of those individuals and handed them over to be unjustly crucified just like Judas’ betrayal of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. The evocation of such unfaithfulness on the church’s part against its parishioners is reminiscent of Christ’s criticism of the tepid spiritless-ness of the present day Church who glory in seeking the patronage of the political class while condemning ordinary worshippers to the scorn of political jobbers.
The action of Dunamis Gospel Church International in this matter is simply NOT Christ-like. What would Jesus have done or how would he have reacted to a group of peaceful believers protesting against bad leadership? Too often, the Church, in words, pride itself as mirroring the life of Christ but are caught out by their actions which betray a need to serve personal conveniences as against bearing the cross of standing in the gap.
Pelumi Olajengbesi Esq. is a Legal Practitioner and Principal at Law Corridor, Abuja. Lawcorridor@gmail.com
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Abuja Court Grants Former Surveyor-General Bail Over Alleged N2billion Fraud
A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has granted N100 million bail to Ebisintei Awudu, former Surveyor-General of the federation.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had arraigned Awudu on Monday before Olusegun Adeniyi, the presiding judge, on 22 counts of fraud totalling over N2billion.
Awudu is alleged to have awarded multiple contracts worth over N2 billion to a company in which he was a director and shareholder as well as to relations and associates.
He is also alleged to have received over N300 million as gratification from a contractor handling and executing different contracts for the office of surveyor-general of the federation, which is an offence contrary to Section (10) (a) (i) and punishable under Section 10 (a) (ii) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
Upon arraignment, Awudu pleaded not guilty to all counts.
F.B. Olorogun, the defendant’s counsel, urged the court to grant bail to his client.
Ruling on the application, Adeniyi granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100 million. Awudu was also asked to produce a surety who must be a director-general or a permanent secretary.
The case has been adjourned to September 13 for trial to commence.
Operatives of the ICPC had in July 2019 raided Awudu’s office over allegations of contract fraud and theft of public assets.
Consequently, Awudu vacated his seat in September of the same year.
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