Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Monday 9th August 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 09/08/21
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E2%80%94ipob-denies-suspending Anyone Who Dares To Come Out On Monday In South-East Will Regret Their Life—IPOB Denies Suspending Sit-at-home Order
File photo of IPOB members demonstrate in Onitsha.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has dismissed a news report that it has suspended its sit-at-home order scheduled to start on Monday, August 9, 2021.
IPOB had on July 30 ordered sit-at-home in the South-East every Monday, until Nnamdi Kanu, its leader, is released from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
File photo of IPOB members demonstrate in Onitsha.
NAN
The proscribed group said the lockdown tagged ‘Ghost Monday’ will also affect schools and marketplaces.
It threatened to shut down economic activities in the region, adding that violators of the order would be visited with violence.
However, Kanunta Kanu, younger brother of the IPOB leader in a release on Sunday said the planned sit-at-home directive had been suspended to allow students in the geopolitical zone to participate in the National Examination Council (NECO) examination.
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Obey Sit-at-home Order On Monday To Support Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB Tells South-East Residents
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He added that a new date for the commencement of the sit-at-home order would be announced later.
But IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, in a statement sent to SaharaReporters asked South-East residents to disregard the information.
Powerful added that anybody who listens to that ‘deceptive’ statement and dares to go out tomorrow (Monday) will regret their life.
He said, “The attention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), ably led by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been drawn to the purported suspension of Monday sit-at-home order issued by the leadership of IPOB has been suspended by some section of media (sic). We wish to remind every Biafran that the sit-at-home order remains sacrosanct on Monday, tomorrow.
“Anybody issuing press statement concerning IPOB sit-at-home order is fake and any statement without sit-at-home order or any activity of IPOB remain Comrade Emma Powerful the media and publicity secretary for IPOB (sic). “Therefore, every Biafran should disregard regard every statement that is not from Emma Powerful or DOS and Radio Biafra.
“We know the situation of those going for exam tomorrow but our demand is for them to release our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and our people must understand that Fulani terrorists and Co. stopped our people school (sic) for three years during the genocidal war in 1967 to 1970 and it did not kill our people and this one day sacrifice for the release of somebody who has sacrificed a lot for our land.
“Anybody who ventures to come out tomorrow will regret his or her life. We warn you, tomorrow is total lockdown in every part of Biafra tomorrow.”
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Human Rights Activist, Sowore Backs IPOB’s Sit-at-home Order For South-East Residents Over Nnamdi Kanu
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E2%80%99s-hometown-daura Ex-Imo Governor, Okorocha To Build Tuition-free Islamic University In Buhari’s Hometown, Daura
A former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has promised to build an Islamic University in Daura, President Muhammadu Buhari’s hometown.
Okorocha, a senator and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), said the Rochas Okorocha Foundation would build the university, PREMIUM TIMES reports.
The former governor was recently conferred with the traditional title of Maga Alherin Kasar Hausa by the Emir of Daura, Umar Faruk.
Isa Halidu, who represented Okorocha at an event in Daura on Saturday, said students would enjoy free tuition and accommodation at the university.
“Because the Emir of Daura made me a traditional titleholder, I am going to give a gift, perhaps, that would never be forgotten. I will build an Islamic university with modern facilities under Rochas Okorocha Foundation and to be commissioned by myself in Daura town,” he said.
He said this is because the emirate and Katsina State, in general, had shown him tremendous affection.
Okorocha noted that his Foundation has built schools and undertaken many developmental projects in other states, hence paying back Daura town for what President Buhari had done for Nigeria.
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How Nigeria Police, FBI Breached Right Of Disgraced Police Chief, Abba Kyari With Hasty Actions—Northern Groups
The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) and other Arewa Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have announced that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Nigeria Police Force breached the right of the disgraced police chief, Abba Kyari, to a fair hearing.
It, therefore, asked the police authorities to review the suspension of the embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police and former Head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigeria Police Force, Kyari.
The United States Attorney’s Office, Central District of California, had issued an arrest warrant against Kyari for his alleged links to the suspected fraudster, Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, alias Hushpuppi, who is standing trial for various offences that include internet fraud and money laundering.
Hushpuppi has since pleaded guilty to the charges and, if convicted, risks a 20-year-jail term, three-year supervision upon completion of jail term, and monetary restitution to the tune of $500,000 or more.
US court documents outlined a dispute among members of the Hushpuppi conspiracy, which allegedly prompted him to arrange to have an individual identified as ‘co-conspirator’ Kelly Chibuzo Vincent, jailed in Nigeria by DCP Kyari.
According to the affidavit, “Kyari is a highly decorated deputy commissioner of the Nigeria Police Force who is alleged to have arranged for Vincent to be arrested and jailed at Abbas’ behest, and then sent Abbas photographs of Vincent after his arrest.
“Kyari also allegedly sent Abbas bank account details for an account into which Abbas could deposit payment for Vincent’s arrest and imprisonment.”
He was suspended by the Police Service Commission last Sunday and replaced as Head of the Intelligence Response Team of the force.
At its meeting on Sunday, the coalition demanded an immediate transfer of Kyari’s case to the Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA).
The communique read to journalists at the end of the meeting on Sunday said the joint CNG, CSOs and NGOs meeting was called out of concern about the deteriorating security situation, threats to education and personal integrity and liberty of eminent northerners.
Reading the communique signed by leaders of CNG and eight other organizations, the CNG spokesman, Abdulazeez Sulieman said, “Participants at the roundtable critically reviewed the events that have unfolded since the reports of a purported indictment of Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari by a United States Court for involvement in charges filed by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) against a suspected fraudster, Ramon Abbas Hushpuppi.
“The Roundtable specifically noted several procedural lapses bordering on breaches of international protocol in the supposed FBI attempt to wrap DCP Kyari in the Hushpuppi affair, as well as the obvious haste by the Nigeria Police authorities to strip him of his position with an immediate replacement.
“That the FBI, an acclaimed American security agency, might invariably have breached the global standard legal and diplomatic practice by neglecting to contact either the Nigerian High Commission in the US or the Nigerian authorities through the FBI liaison offices based in Nigeria before going ahead to file an indictment of a top Nigerian Security Officer.
“That the FBI might have breached another fundamental criminal justice procedure by not according Mr Kyari the benefit of being heard before going ahead with the purported indictment by an American Court in the US for an offence purportedly committed in Nigeria, triable under Nigerian laws, by Nigerian courts and on Nigerian land.
“A breach of decorum and negligence of procedure might have also occurred when the FBI hurriedly published the purported indictment online without first intimating the Nigerian authorities.
“The Roundtable also raised questions on the apparent haste with which Kyari was suspended and an immediate substantive replacement named by the Nigerian police authorities, an outright breach of Mr Kyari’s fundamental right to fair hearing by both the FBI and the Nigerian police authorities by not allowing him the benefit of being heard before the hasty actions against him.”
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Kidnappers Free Bayelsa Club Owner, Detain Wife, Father-in-law Over N185million Ransom Shortfall
Tari Ajanami
Kidnappers have released the owner of popular Club 64 in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Tari Ajanami.
Ajanami, 43, was abducted a fortnight ago at his building site in Yenagoa.
Tari Ajanami
The gunmen however detained his 38-year-old wife, Christiana and his septuagenarian father-in-law over claims the N15 million ransom paid was far lower than the N200 million ransom they demanded.
The ransom exchange, it was gathered, was kept secret from authorities of Bayelsa Police Command and friends of the victim.
It, however, turned awry when the kidnappers insisted the N200 million ransom demanded must be completed.
The kidnappers were said to have seized the ransom couriers, who incidentally were the victim’s wife and father-in-law.
“We are however waiting to hear from the kidnappers. We learnt their satellite mobile phone gadget, popularly referred to as Turaya phone, fell into the water during the ransom exchange,” The Nation quoted a source as saying.
“You know N15 million was taken to the ransom exchange point. The kidnappers collected the money and held the wife and her father in order to demand more money from the victim. We plead with the kidnappers to tamper justice with mercy.”
But when contacted, spokesman for Bayelsa State Police Command, Asinim Butswat, said the police had not been briefed about the release of Ajanami and the abduction of his wife and father-in-law.
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E2%80%94yoruba-secession Why I Left Nigeria For Benin Republic, Not Intimidated By Buhari Government—Yoruba Secession Agitator, Akintoye
Professor Banji Akintoye
The leader of the umbrella body of Yoruba Self-Determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua, Professor Banji Akintoye, has confirmed media reports that he is Benin Republic.
The renowned historian, however, said he is not on the run following reports that the Muhammadu Buhari-led Nigerian government is planning to arrest him.
Professor Banji Akintoye
A statement by his Communications Manager, Mr. Maxwell Adeleye, said Akintoye is in Benin Republic to ensure the release of the detained Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho, from detention in the Fancophone country.
He vowed to return to return to Nigeria once Igboho’s freedom has been secured so he can resume his struggle for the actualisation of Yoruba Nation.
According to him, he has not committed any offence to warrant his arrest or intimidation.
For him, the fight for the liberation of Yoruba Nation is about “no retreat, no surrender”.
“Myself, the President-General and Professor Wale Adeniran (Chairman) of Ilana Omo Oodua, are currently in the Republic of Benin as reported, but not on the run.
“We are here to supervise and coordinate, by all legal and and other means, the struggle for the release of our son and patriot, Sunday Adeyemo Igboho, detained by the Government from custody.
“By demanding peaceful self-determination for the Yoruba Nation, I am not breaking any law, since self-determination is recognised by the international and Nigerian laws to be an inalienable right of every nationality, large or small, in the world.
“I have earned a solid reputation as a highly respected advocate of a peaceful self-determination struggle. I have even written a book on the subject which is already being used as a manual by Yoruba self-determination advocates and organisations.
“Irrespective of what the Nigerian Government may be planning against me, I want to say without any fear or intimidation that I will be returning to Nigeria immediately Ighoho is released from custody. I can’t be intimidated because I’ve not committed any offense, just like Sunday Igboho.
“Let me tell all Yoruba People across the world that there’s no cause for alarm. I didn’t flee to anywhere. I am in Benin Republic running your errands. The struggle is no retreat, no surrender,” he said.
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ENUGU STATE: Nkanu East Community Resorts To Bamboo Bridges, As Government Neglect Hits Harder By Ifeanyi Ozoani
Over the years, Mburubu community in Nkanu East LGA of Enugu State has suffered negligence and abandonment.
The community remains one of the food baskets of the state. Its ranked one of the largest producers of palm oil produce, garri, cassava, yam and timber; a largely agrarian community, yet with many of its sons and daughters thriving in different spheres across the globe.
Despite Governor Ugwuanyi’s ambiguous yet bogus promises and programmes, total lack of infrastructure is evident in the rural areas of Enugu state, particularly Mburubu and other Nkanu East communities.
Thus, the relevance of poverty has increased because they cannot move their produce to the urban markets to sell because of the terrible state of their roads and absolute lack of government presence.
The lack of infrastructure becomes obvious when traveling from Nara – Mburubu to Nomeh by either foot, okada or vehicle. A common experience is terrible clay and muddy roads, which is very slippery and dangerous. Other sights are rusty iron bridges and handmade bamboo bridges annually done by the villagers to enable them access their homes. The iron bridges were constructed during the civil war for military exigencies. Yearly, the bridges are damaged, the roads unmotorable and abandoned by government. Therefore, it takes only individual efforts to fix the bridges and roads for the dwellers.
Rural areas in Enugu State are regarded as lethargic, low in income and low in productivity. Government is only concerned with urban development and urban renewal programmes to the neglect of the rural areas.
This problem is primarily due to government’s non sustainable policy action towards rural transformation, which is responsible for the poor state of affairs among rural dwellers in the state.
The Ugwuanyi administration seem unperturbed with this malady of rural underdevelopment in Enugu State.
To be continued…
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Ifeanyi Ozoani
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E2%80%94arewa-consultative We Know About A Network Behind Kidnappings, Killings In Northern Nigeria—Arewa Consultative Forum
A political and socio-cultural association of leaders in Northern Nigeria, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has said President Muhammadu Buhari is a disappointment to the North for failing to put an end to insecurity as promised during his presidential campaigns.
The National Publicity Secretary of ACF, Emmanuel Yawe said the forum knows those behind kidnapping and killings in the region, in an interview with Daily Sun.
Yawe said, “If you have been reading our press outings, which I believe you have because you are one reporter that has reported our activities consistently and correctly. You know we are stiff worried about the security situation in the country more so when the man who is president is not only a war-tested general, but a former military Head of State.
“How can you advise a government headed by a man with these intimidating security credentials? Some of us who played some peripheral roles in his coming to power in 2015 feel rather let down by the current turn of events. The ACF has said this over and over and over again. We have said it loud and clear that the security situation is very bad. We have said it, not silently that Nigerians and particularly Northerners are not safe. What needs to be done is the political will to handle the matter.
“Sadly, the governments, both states and federal, are deficient in this. We all know there is a network that spans the civil society, the military, the legislature, and the executive that does not want this season of insecurity to end. The reasons they are doing these evil machinations are difficult to see. If the political will is there, this dangerous network can be disbanded. Nigeria cannot be as helpless and hopeless as we appear to be at the moment.”
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Human Rights Activist, Sowore Backs IPOB’s Sit-at-home Order For South-East Residents Over Nnamdi Kanu
Omoyele Sowore
A human rights activist and Amnesty International designated Prisoner of Conscience, Omoyele Sowore has asked residents of the South-East region to comply with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB’s) Monday sit-at-home order.
“I totally support a Sit-At-Home for ?#FreeNnamdiKanu? ?#Revolutionnow,” the activist posted on Twitter.?
Omoyele Sowore
I totally support a Sit-At-Home for #FreeNnamdiKanu #Revolutionnow pic.twitter.com/siXjQgJPrl— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) August 8, 2021
IPOB had on July 30 ordered a sit-at-home in the South-East every Monday, until Nnamdi Kanu, its leader, is released from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Kanu was illegally arrested in Kanya and taken to Nigeria where he has been in the custody of the DSS for charges bordering on terrorism and treasonable felony, among others, since July 2021.
The proscribed group said the lockdown tagged ‘Ghost Monday’ will also affect schools and marketplaces.
It threatened to shut down economic activities in the region.
The group in a statement on Sunday insisted it would push for the implementation of the sit-at-home order despite police warning and threats by state governments in the South-East.
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Two Nigerians Jailed, To Be Flogged As Pakistani Associate Faces Death In Malaysia For Drug Trafficking
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Two Nigerians escaped the gallows for trafficking methamphetamine in three separate cases in a Malaysian federal court last Thursday.
However, the court affirmed the death penalty imposed on a 71-year-old Pakistani ex-rickshaw driver.
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The Pakistani is to face death by hanging.
According to Free Malaysia Today, the Nigerians, one of whom is married to a local, had their charges reduced to drug possession.
They both pleaded guilty to the offence.
A three-member bench, chaired by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, dismissed Pakistani Akhlaq Hussain’s appeal for trafficking nearly 1.3kg of methamphetamine.
“We are unanimous that the conviction by the trial judge is safe,” said Tengku Maimun, who sat with Mohd Zawawi Salleh and Nallini Pathmanathan.
The man was found with the drugs at Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s (KLIA’s) arrival terminal in Sepang at 9.45pm on Feb 17, 2013.
Under the Dangerous Drugs Act, anyone in possession of 50g or more of the drug is deemed to be a trafficker.
Akhlaq was caught with the drugs strapped to his calves upon inspection by narcotics officials at the airport.His court-assigned counsel, Anita Vijaya Raja, told the bench Akhlaq did not have knowledge that he was carrying drugs.
“The person who asked him to carry the drugs told him that it was saffron and asked him to conceal it as it was a taxable item in Malaysia,” said Anita, who was assisted by V. Ramesh.
Deputy public prosecutor, How May Ling told the bench the drug was not for personal consumption but for distribution in Malaysia.
The same bench also sentenced 35-year-old Prince Uzoma Nwaoguegbe for possessing 2kg of methamphetamine at the same airport at 10pm on November 3, 2013.
Tengku Maimun said there was merit in the appeal and the conviction by the High Court was not safe.
Prince, who was represented by Geethan Ram Vincent, was sentenced to 15 years’ jail and ordered to be whipped 10 times.
Deputy public prosecutor, Nik Syahril Nik Ab Rahman pressed for a deterrent sentence in public interest.
“The drugs found in a bag carried by the appellant weighs 16 times more than the minimum weight for a trafficking charge,” he said.
Prince had arrived in Malaysia as a student to study Chinese at a private college.
In the third case, Anyim Daniel Ikechukwu was sentenced to 13 years and ordered to be given 10 strokes of the rotan (cane) for trafficking nearly 1.5kg of methamphetamine at Jalan Selat 14 in Port Klang at about 5.30pm on September 30, 2015.
At the outset of the proceedings, deputy public prosecutor Natra Dollah consented to a proposal by Anyim’s lawyer, Afifuddin Ahmad Hafifi, to have the charge reduced to possession.
Facts revealed Anyim, 41, was a student and was married to a local woman when he committed the offence.
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Ten Nigerians, One Other In Trouble In India Over Lack Of Valid Passports, Visas
Indian police
Ten Nigerians and one national of Cote D’Ivoire have been arrested and detained in India for staying illegally in the Asian country.
The suspects were arrested from Outer Delhi’s Nihal Vihar area after police found that they were staying illegally in India.
Indian police
DCP (outer district) Parvinder Singh said they had launched a special drive to verify foreigners staying illegally in Chander Vihar area Nihal Vihar, Nigeria Abroad reports.
“After conducting a door-to-door check, we found eleven foreign nationals – ten from Nigeria and one from Ivory Coast — were living in India without valid passports and visas. Six of them were staying in the Chander Vihar area, while the others were staying in Tilak Nagar, Dabri, Vikaspuri, Nawada and in Tamil Nadu,” he said.
Singh said a report under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act was filed and the accused persons were produced before a Delhi Court, from where they were sent to a 14-day judicial custody.
Earlier on July 24 and August 5, 14 foreign nationals were arrested for staying illegally.
“Four FIRs (incident reports) have also been registered against the landlords for providing accommodation to them without valid travel documents,” he said.
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