Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Wednesday 4th August 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 04/08/21
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BREAKING: Three More Students Kidnapped From Bethel Baptist School Escape From Bandits
Three more kidnapped students of Bethel Baptist High School, Kaduna have reportedly escaped from captivity.
They were subsequently found by security operatives roaming the forest, according to The PUNCH.
The students, according to a security source in Kaduna on Tuesday, were found roaming in the forest in the Chikun Local Government Area of the state.
A source told the newspaper that the students after their escape were re-kidnapped by another gang of bandits who entered into negotiation with the parents.
The sources said, “They escaped from their abductors and were later found roaming inside the forest by troops.
“They were found in a forest in Chikun LGA, where they have been for days without food.”
The source added that the students looked “pale and sick”.
The students were kidnapped on Monday, July 5, 2021, around 2 am on the school premises along the Kaduna-Kachia Expressway, Damishi, Chikun Local Government Area of the state.
The first batch of 28 of the students to secure their freedom spent 20 days in the kidnappers’ den.
Layer, four students also escaped from their captors.
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BREAKING: Adamawa PDP Youth Leader Jailed For Insulting Buhari, SGF Mustapha Released On N50,000 Bail
A youth leader in Adamawa State, Ikamu Hamidu Kato, who was sentenced to two years imprisonment for insulting President Muhammadu Buhari and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha has been released on bail.
Kato, who hails from the same local government area as the SGF, allegedly took to his Facebook page to condemn the insecurity in the area following recent attacks by armed men suspected to be Boko Haram members.
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He was alleged to have also insulted Buhari and Mustapha in a viral video on his Facebook page.
However, in a follow-up video, Kato, a youth leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) apologised for the allegations levelled against him.
On Monday, Justice Dimas Gwama of the Magistrates’ Court IV in Yola, sentenced Kato, to two years imprisonment for insulting Buhari and Mustapha.
The court sentenced Kato to a one-year jail term in each of the offences with an option of N25,000 fine on each offence.
SaharaReporters learnt that Kato paid the N50, 000 after having been kept in detention for more than a week.
He told SaharaReporters that he was invited to the office of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Yola, the state capital last Monday, July 26.
According to him, he was kept in DSS custody till Thursday, July 29 after which he was transferred to a correctional centre in the state.
Kato further said he was taken to a court on Friday, July 30 where the verdict was given by Gwama.
“I was released on Monday on N50, 000 bail. I never insulted President Buhari. It was just a reference. I am an ardent supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari and even voted for him in 2015, it was in 2019 I didn’t vote for him because I was already in PDP as at then. I voted for Atiku Abubakar.
“So, I was invited for questioning on Monday last week and I was detained in their cell till Thursday but I was not tortured or beaten. Then after those four days, I was taken to court, then they took me to prison, then yesterday (Monday) I was taken to court and from there, the judge gave the verdict and I paid the bail money.”
One of his relatives, Sanni Jauro, who spoke with SaharaReporters said he is surprised Kato will have such experience courtesy of a harmless social media post.
“Kato made a post on Facebook because there was a time there was an attack in our area so the SGF went to Hong with an aeroplane. He went briefly and returned to his base so Kato made a post that the SGF came with a plane, that so many things had been happening and he never came.
“He said he blamed Buhari for appointing SGF but I don’t think all these should warrant an arrest. They sentenced him to two years imprisonment for making the statements.
“This guy has given his all to Buhari; even though he was in the PDP, he supported Buhari. He never made a direct reference to Buhari, he only said he blamed President Buhari for appointing Boss Mustapha as the SGF.”
SaharaReporters had reported how the convict pleaded with the court on Thursday to temper justice with mercy by convicting him with an option of fine because he was a family man and had dependants.
Upon his arraignment before the court on last Friday, the convict pleaded guilty when the charge sheet was read and explained to him.
The court then adjourned the matter to Monday, August 2, 2021, to enable the complainant to call witnesses and tender exhibits in order to corroborate the plea of the defendant following an application by counsel for the complainant, M.A. Adamu.
During court sitting on Monday, the counsel assembled two witnesses including a DSS operative, Zayyanu Adamu and the Chairman, Adamawa State Concern Citizens, Husseini Gambo Nakura, who testified and tendered confessional statement of the defendant in a flash drive.
To show its disapproval of his action, the Hong local government chapter of the PDP had suspended the youth leader, saying it would not allow such indiscipline by its members even against leaders of the opposition political parties.
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BREAKING: Lawless Department Of State Services Finally Bows To Pressure, Releases 5 #BuhariMustGo Activists Arrested At Dunamis Church
The five activists arrested at the Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Abuja and detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) have finally regained their freedom.
SaharaReporters learnt that the activists regained their freedom on Tuesday, 30 days after their arrest and detention in the custody of the DSS.
The five had filed a contempt suit against the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, for disobeying the court order granting them bail.
Their lawyer, Tope Tomekun, filed the suit on their behalf at a Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu had on Monday, July 26, granted bail to five activists who were arrested and detained by the DSS since July 4, 2021 for wearing T-shirts with inscription #BuhariMustGo to the church.
The court notice warned that the DSS DG risked being jailed.
The DSS had arrested Ben Mannaseh; Emmanuel Larry; Victor Udoka Anene; a blind saxophonist, Samuel Gabriel Iwatonaiye and Henry Nwodohave on July 4 on the church premises in Abuja for wearing #BuhariMustGo branded shirts
The activists subsequently sued the DSS, the senior pastor of the church, Paul Enenche and others for their unlawful arrest and detention.
They also asked the court to award N10 million each in damages for the violation of their fundamental human rights.
The judge, Justice Anwuli Chikere in his ruling, had ordered that the DSS should release the applicants with immediate effect.
The activists had also filed Form 48 against the DSS boss seeking his committal to jail unless he obeyed the order of the court.
Form 48, otherwise known as contempt of court sighted by SaharaReporters, is titled, “Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Order of Court.”
It reads in part, “Take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in this endorsed order (herein with endorsed). You shall be guilty of contempt of court and shall be liable to be committed to prison.”
SaharaReporters had reported last Thursday that instead of complying with the initial order, the lawless secret agency hurriedly arraigned the activists on charges of disturbance of public peace which was to earn a face-saving justification for keeping them in custody.
Brought before the magistrate for arraignment on Wednesday, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Their lawyer subsequently applied for their bail.
Ruling, the magistrate, Mohammed Zubairu, granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N500,000 with a surety each but the DSS operatives hurriedly drove the activists away before before they could perfect the bail conditions.
Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, speaking after their release, noted, “We want to appreciate everyone who stood firmly by these young men and the #Revolutionnow movement during their unjust incarceration-torture and dehumanisation in the hands of Dr. Paul Enenche’s church security before they were handed over to the DSS.
“The lawsuit in pursuit of justice for the five revolutionaries will continue at the Federal High Court and administrative sanctions will be pursued against the Magistrate that ignored a superior court order ordering their release as well as the three DSS lawyers who flagrantly ignored the higher court orders to arraign them before the Magistrate.
“Their lawyers will also pursue a contempt of court proceeding against the DG of DSS, Yusuf Bichi Mogaji in coming days. Special thanks to the lead lawyer in the case, Barrister Tope Tomekun and his team for a marvellous job challenging the authoritarian regime relentlessly!”
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#EndSARS: Enugu Judicial Panel Member Dissociates Self From Report By Secretary That Petitioners Abandoned Cases
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Comrade Osmond Ugwu, a member of the 8-man Judicial Panel of Inquiry to receive and investigate complaints of police brutality and/or related extrajudicial killings in Enugu state has dissociated himself from the report released by the panel’s Secretary, Onochie Obuna that about 52 petitioners who submitted petition and information had already abandoned their cases.
Obuna, who is the representative of the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice had said the panel received 147 petitions.
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He said out of the 147 petitions, 60 were treated, while 35 cases were transferred to the administrative panel, because they did not fall within its jurisdiction.
He also said the remaining 52 petitions were abandoned by the owners, as they refused to appear before the panel, in spite of several reminders.
But reacting in a statement, Ugwu described the claims by the Secretary as false.
He said, “As far as I am concerned, the information is very fallacious and is misleading. I am a member of the panel and I represent the Civil Society in the panel. I have shown presence on and participated in all the meetings and sittings of the panel except on two days which I had compelling reasons to be absent from the panel of which I put the chairman on notice, sought for and obtained permissions.
“During the meeting of the panel on Thursday, 29th July, 2021, the panel directed the Secretary to compile all the memos from number one to 147 as contained in the cause list of the panel and update the panel members both in soft and hard copies; the status of each memo vis-a-vis those adopted with dates, those transferred with date, those on the hearing stage and date of last adjournment and those yet to be mentioned with evidence of communication to the petitioners by the panel through the Registry headed by the Secretary.
“It is from this record that we can, after verification conclude that a particular petitioner has abandoned his or her petition. We have not received such record till today and no panel member has any record of petitions that is said to have been abandoned. The figure 52 is read for the first time on the media. The same thing is applicable to the number of the transferred cases and adopted cases.
“The number of the transferred and adopted cases he submitted to the press are not known to the members. Thirty-five and 60 representing transferred and adopted cases are read by members on the pages of newspapers. They are not before us.
“Prior to the meeting and directive of the panel on the 29th July, the panel had on occasions before the commencement of the JUSUN strike and on resumption after the strike directed the Secretary to write to every petitioner acknowledging his/her petition and informing him or her of the next thing expected of him or her and to appear before the panel.
“To the best of my knowledge, he has not done that till date and somebody who does not know the programme of the panel or whether his or petition received any attention cannot be said to have abandoned his or petition. Panel members have several times demanded to see evidence of communication to the petitioners and the Secretary has not produced any. The same is applicable to his claim of radio announcements. No evidence as to the radio used and whether it was through news or on the spot announcements, and how many times. We don’t have such information.
“Interesting thing is that enough money was approved and released for such purposes by the government to the Secretary. Whether it is utilised for that purpose is what I cannot say.”
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IPOB Threatens To Bring Down Nigeria’s Economy, Gives Conditions To Buhari Government
File Photo: IPOB members
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has reiterated that youths from the South-East do not want to remain as citizens of Nigeria.
It stated that the political class from both South-East and South-South should accept the fact that there is no going back on Biafra.
File Photo: IPOB members
The separatist group also disclosed that as an institution, it can heed the advice of Igbo leaders if such is beneficial to its members, but added that nobody can influence its decision as a group.
IPOB made these revelations while reacting to the statement credited to the former Anambra Governor, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, who said the sit-at-home protest planned by the group is detrimental to the South-East.
The group’s spokesman, Emma Powerful revealed this on Tuesday in a statement.
SaharaReporters had published on Monday that Ezeife said, “What do we achieve by staying at home? What do we achieve by making the South-East less secure? Who bears the brunt of it? Who suffers for it? Such actions will make investors avoid the South-East. This can make the unemployment situation get worse. So what do we achieve with all these?
“I should appeal to IPOB not to carry out their threats. It is not in our interest as it doesn’t help in any way.”
Reacting, IPOB said. “Former Governor Chukwuemeka Ezeife has the right to say his opinion but has no right to direct IPOB. IPOB is an institution that provides guidelines for its members.
“Ezeife or any other body can suggest if IPOB likes their suggestions we take it, but if we don’t like it we leave it.”
The secessionist group said the abduction and extradition of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu by the Nigerian government has revealed the leaders want the country’s economy in disarray, and it would help in getting it done.
“Abducting Nnamdi Kanu from Kenya to Nigeria has completely shown that Nigeria definitely with clear evidence want their economy to be in shambles and comatose.
“IPOB will help them bring the economy into ruin and down unless they release our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. We are entitled to whatever we’re doing.
“The only thing we want is the release Nnamdi Kanu and give us a date for a referendum for Biafra to ascertain our fate whether to continue to stay in Nigeria or not. We are sure that every indigenous nationality and tribe in Nigeria wants to opt out of this evil cage British lumped us together in since 1914.
“We are tired of this contraption called Nigeria and continue keeping us in the hell hole will continue to bring Nigeria into disaster and economical quagmire.
“Therefore we are calling on global leaders to prevail on Nigeria Government and her partners in crime and Fulani cabals running the country to leave us.
“We are no longer interested in the country and its government and they must provide a date for a referendum because it won’t give them good opportunity to manipulate Biafrans and they must continue to force Biafrans to stay in Nigeria.
“We have made up our minds that we can’t continue staying in Nigeria. This is the point we are making and also this is what our leaders in the South-East and South-South fail to understand that the youths are no longer interested in cattle rearing and terrorist country called Nigeria,” the statement read.
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Bandits Kill Six, Burn Houses In Fresh Attack In Kaduna
Six people have been reportedly killed by bandits in an attack on several communities in the Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna state.
The bandits, in the raid, also burnt eight houses, six huts, one motorcycle and destroyed maize crops.
Samuel Aruwan, the state commissioner for internal security and home affairs, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Tuesday.
He said the affected communities include Ungwan Magaji, Kigam, Kisicho, and Kikoba villages.
The commissioner said reports from the Defence Headquarters’ Operation Safe Haven disclosed that the bandits attacked the communities on Monday morning.
Aruwan identified the victims killed as Joseph Maza, Timvan Cibi Ciwo, Monday Titus, Asabe Magani, Laraba Danladi, and Yosi Danladi.
“Responding to a distress call, troops arrived at the location and engaged the attackers, forcing them to retreat,” Aruwan said.
“In addition to the casualties, it was reported that eight houses, six huts, one motorcycle and a generator were razed during the attack. Some maize crops were also destroyed.
“Governor Nasir El-Rufai expressed his sadness over the attack and condemned it as an act of depraved entities stripped of every shred of humanity.”
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Again, Buhari Government Threatens To Sack Workers Who Give Unauthorised Information To Media
The Nigerian Government has again raised the alarm over what it described as incessant unauthorised disclosure of official documents on social media and other platforms.
It has therefore threatened to dismiss officials caught doing so.
The warning was made in a circular signed by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan, dated Monday, August 2, 2021.
The circular, titled ‘Unauthorised circulation of official documents/information on social media’ was marked HCSF/3065/Vol.1 /94.
The warning by the HOCSF is the second in a year as a similar circular was issued in May 2020.
In the fresh circular, Yemi-Esan said her office would be relying on the provisions of the Public Service Rules 030401 and 030402 in dismissing those who continue in what she described as the “reckless action” and “unwholesome practice.”
The circular read, “The attention of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has been drawn to the incessant unauthorised disclosure of official documents/information on social media platforms.
“The unwholesome practice involves posting/reposting of secret, confidential, and classified government correspondences, policy drafts, minutes, notes, memos, etc., on social media.
“This reckless action is tantamount to a breach of the Oath of Secrecy public servants swore to, and serious misconduct which may lead to dismissal from the service, as provided in the Public Service Rules 030401 and 030402.
“Henceforth, any officer caught posting/reporting government documents on social media and other platforms without authorisation would be severely disciplined in accordance with the provisions of the PSR.
“This circular, therefore, reinforces the earlier circular on the subject, Ref. No/ HCSF/109/S.l/120 dated May 22, 2020, and other extant regulations prohibiting unauthorised publishing of official documents.
“Permanent Secretaries and Heads/Chief Executive Officers of extra-ministerial departments are to bring the content of this circular to all staff for compliance.”
SaharaReporters had earlier reported how the Permanent Secretary, State House, Tijjani Umar had, last Tuesday asked staff members to take oaths of secrecy while threatening whoever is found guilty of leaking inside information with stiff penalties.
It came a few days after SaharaReporters exclusively reported how President Muhammadu Buhari secretly planned to visit the United Kingdom to avoid rampage or any “embarrassing protest” against him.
Umar said staff members who disclose confidential information without authorisation will face penalties under the public service rules.
The Permanent Secretary stated this at the administration of Oath of Secrecy and Declaration of Secrecy to 42 staff members of the State House.
The Oath of Secrecy was administered by Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
According to Umar, the oaths were administered to staff members who handle classified documents.
‘‘We discovered that due to deployment of officers and retirement, a number of our staff need to be placed under the radar so that they will be aware that their jobs, the kind of documents or information they are handling from day to day and beyond, are so important and must be safeguarded.
‘‘That’s the reason we decided to do the needful by administering the Oath of Secrecy, highlighting the importance of letting them know what information they are managing and the consequences of the breach of such information,’’ he said.
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E2%80%98fleets%E2%80%99-feature-8-months-after-launch Again, Twitter Trends After Shutting Down ‘Fleets’ Feature, 8 Months After Launch
Months after being rolled out for all users, micro-blogging site, Twitter has shutting down its Instagram Stories-like ‘Fleets’ feature.
It shut it down on Tuesday, August 3, mid-day reports.
Fleets are disappearing tweets that sit in a row at the top of users’ Twitter handles on smartphones. These ephemeral tweets expire after 24 hours.
It was launched in November 2020.
“In the time since we introduced Fleets to everyone, we haven’t seen an increase in the number of new people joining the conversation with Fleets like we hoped,” Ilya Brown, Twitter’s vice president of product, said in a statement in July.
“We hoped Fleets would help more people feel comfortable joining the conversation on Twitter,” Brown added.
From August 3, the Twitter users would only see active Spaces which are live audio chat rooms at the top of their timelines.
During the time that Fleets was available full-fledged, the micro-blogging site had added multiple new features to it, including the possibility of adding GIFs, stickers, change the text colour and more.
According to Twitter CEO, Jack Dorsey, the company started Fleets not to build a storage product within Twitter, “but to solve the problem of people not wanting to tweet because they appear to be staying around too long”.
On its website, Twitter said, “Using our learnings from Fleets, we’ll focus on creating other ways for people to join the conversation and talk about what’s happening in their world.”
In June, Twitter was suspended in Nigeria by the Muhammadu Buhari-led government after it deleted a comment made by the African leader threatening secessionists.
The comment was adjudged by many Nigerians to be distasteful.
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E2%80%94rivers-governor Why Some APC Party Lawmakers Deserve To Be Insulted By Their Children—Rivers Governor
Rivers Governor Wike
Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has said lawmakers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who rejected electronic transmission of election results should be insulted by their children.
He stated that the rejection was tantamount to a coup against Nigerians, who are desirous of free, fair, and credible polls.
Rivers Governor Wike
According to a statement by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, Wike spoke during the official presentation of a letter of nomination to him as “the 2020 Governor of the Year Award” by the management of the Leadership Media Group at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
Wike described National Assembly members who voted against transmission of election results electronically as enemies of Nigeria.
He said: “Those who voted against e-transmission of results should be ashamed of themselves. They never mean well for this country. If you are a member of the National Assembly and you voted against electronic transmission of results, your children should call you and say daddy, are you well?
“I can’t believe anybody who went to school in this digital period, will vote against electronic transmission of results. What kind of country is this? What kind of National Assembly members do we have?”
Wike also described the rejection of electronic transmission of election results by APC lawmakers as tantamount to a coup against Nigerians.
Wike also stated that President Muhammadu Buhari was not committed to delivering transparent elections in 2023.
The governor said he had expected Buhari, who had openly declared that he respects former President Goodluck Jonathan, for not compromising the 2015 general elections, to build on the electoral legacy of his predecessor.
He said: “If Jonathan did not believe in the transparency of the election, he would not have allowed card reader to be used. So, he introduced the card reader as a sitting President, knowing fully well that that could be an albatross to him. But he said no, I want us to move to the next level.
“Mr. President cannot tell us that sincerely he wants to conduct a free, fair, credible election. Let nobody deceive you. It is very clear that there is no sure intention at all.”
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UK Apologises To Kenya Over Abuses, Inhuman Treatment By Colonial Authorities
The UK government has reiterated its stance “against cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment and punishment”.
This came in response to a report by UN investigators into the treatment of Kenyans by the British colonial authorities in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, BBC News reports.
The report, which was made public on Monday, highlighted the horrific abuses people in a part of western Kenya – now Kericho county – were subjected to.
The authors had handed it over at the end of May and gave the UK authorities 60 days to respond.
There has not yet been a response and the UN investigators – known as special rapporteurs – said they were disappointed that there was no apology for what had happened and no move for compensation.
In a response sent to the BBC, a government spokesperson said:
“A UK Government statement made in 2013, recognising the victims of torture and ill-treatment during the emergency period, was part of the settlement by the UK Government of claims made by Kenyan citizens.
“We regret that these abuses took place, and that they marred Kenya’s progress towards independence.”
However, the 2013 statement specifically referred to the British treatment of suspected Mau Mau members and others and not the broader context of what happened in the colonial era.
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