Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Thursday 12th August 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 12/08/21
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E2%80%94power-drunk-bayelsa-state-governor-douye-diri-aides-breach-airport “The Bags Belong To The Governor”—Power-Drunk Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, Aides Breach Airport Security Procedure, Refuse To Be Screened To Board Flight
The Governor of Bayelsa State, Douya Diri, on Wednesday, violated the airport security procedures, particularly at airport security checkpoints at the Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed Domestic Airport in Lagos.
Eyewitnesses told SaharaReporters that the governor and his aides treated the airport security rules and procedures with disdain.
The governor had arrived at the airport for the inaugural flight of United Nigeria Airlines to Bayelsa International Airport.
Upon arrival at the airport around 12pm, the governor and his aides headed for the screening points where they displayed outright disregard for the rules at the airport which triggered the security alarm system, sources said.
Speaking to SaharaReporters, a passenger who witnessed the incident said, “The airport security officials did everything to get them to undergo the procedure at the security checkpoint but they refused to put their bags through the screening x-ray machine.
“They kept saying the bags belonged to the governor and they all forced their way through the checkpoint. The alarm system was activated.
“They might have gone on the plane with their weapons. The airline (United Nigeria Airline) should, naturally, return all of them to the screening point because the captain shouldn’t fly anyone who has refused to be checked on a commercial flight,” another eyewitness, who is a foreigner, said.
“It’s sort of disappointing that a top-level government official is doing this and enabling his aides to do the same.
“The airport security officers pleaded with the governor and his aides but that did not stop them from flying even though this is a basic rule in the aviation industry. It’s insane, this can only happen in Nigeria.”
This is not the first time powerful Nigerians, especially politicians, would refuse to follow security procedures at airports in Nigeria.
In 2017, SaharaReporters exposed how a former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, constantly breached airport security procedures.
Airline and airport sources told our correspondent that he habitually violated the procedures, particularly at airport security checkpoints in Lagos.
Several concerned passengers also told SaharaReporters of their observations on three separate trips between March and September this year when Mr. Fani-Kayode refused to submit himself for the routine security body check after he had triggered off metal detectors.
The dates were March 10, June 16 and September 16. They revealed that the former minister always offered security officials the same “arrogant” excuse that he was a former minister of aviation and as such could not submit to a search.
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E2%80%99s-first-son-mohammed-dead BREAKING: Gani Fawehinmi’s First Son, Mohammed Is Dead
Mohammed Fawehinmi, the first child of the late legal luminary, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, is dead.
Though details of his death are still sketchy, SaharaReporters gathered that Mohammed died on Wednesday in an undisclosed hospital after complaining of difficulty in breathing.
He was 52.
Mohammed was a graduate of Business Administration at the University of Lagos.
He obtained an LLB degree from the University of Buckingham, England, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1998.
The deceased had over 20 years of experience in law practice.
Until his death, he was the head, Mohammed Fawehinmi’s Chambers; Director, Nigerian Law Publications Limited; Director, Books Industries Nigeria Limited, and Director, Gani Fawehinmi Library & Gallery Limited.
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Oshiomhole To Keyamo: You Lack Discipline, Reaped Nothing For Supporting My Removal As APC Chairman
A former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has accused the State Minister of Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, of spearheading his removal as the head of the party.
Oshiomhole was reacting to a statement by erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, who alleged that Keyamo and others were plotting to restore him as the party chair.
Recall that some bigwigs and leading legal practitioners in the country, including the minister, had questioned the legitimacy of the Mai Buni-led caretaker committee of the APC over the recent judgment of the Supreme Court in the Ondo governorship election.
Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had insisted that the judgment of the apex court was nuance and oblique, and warned the party to halt the planned congresses, disband the committee and reconstitute a fresh one.
Reacting in a statement signed by his senior media aide, Victor Oshioke, Oshiomhole described the minister as a betrayal, adding he “was in the political kitchen when the pot of crisis he is now offering advice on was being cooked.”
He wondered why Keyamo would post on social media what he captioned as a “private and confidential” legal opinion for the President who appointed him.
The former Edo governor said the action of the minister was reminiscent of the indiscipline from some senior leaders of the party which he sought to deal with decisively as national chairman.
He said, “In the said statement widely reported in the media, Chief Eze was quoted as saying that Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), Hon. Minister of State for Labour and Employment, and others were plotting to bring back Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as national chairman of the APC.
“Ordinarily we would have ignored this nonsensical suggestion. However, it is pertinent to set the records straight and put to rest this ridiculous falsehood being marketed by Eze Chukwuemeka Eze.
“Festus Keyamo was at the forefront and indeed provided legal support through his legal assistants who went to court and argued on behalf of those that filed cases for the removal of Oshiomhole as national chairman of the APC.
“Keyamo also offered legal advice on the legality of the NEC that was convened for the dissolution of the Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee of APC and emergence of the Governor Mai-Mala Buni led Caretaker Committee.
“It is, therefore, frivolous for any right-thinking person to assume that Mr. Keyamo, who actively supported the removal of the national chairman elected by over 6, 500 party delegates from across the 36 states and the FCT, would now plot to bring the same Oshiomhole back to the office.
“It is strange that a serving minister would share on social media platforms what he captioned as a “private and confidential” legal opinion for Mr. President who appointed him, especially considering that he was in the political kitchen when the pot of crisis he is now offering advice on was being cooked.
“The truth is that Mr. Keyamo seems to have lost out in the power play and failed to secure the benefits he anticipated in Oshiomhole’s removal from office with the consequent dissolution of the NWC and other structures of the party. This is the main reason for his self-serving new legal opinion which contradicts his earlier stance.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole will not be part of any plot to destabilize or ridicule the party in any way or for any reason. He takes serious exemptions to his name being dragged into an issue that he has no hand in.”
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DSS Grills Ex-Adamawa Governor Bindow, Others Over “Death Wishes Against Buhari” In Leaked Audio
The Department of State Services, on Wednesday, interviewed Jibrilla Bindow, a former governor of Adamawa state over some comments made at a meeting he attended.
Sadiq Abdullateef, a media aide of the former governor, informed TheCable that Bindow honored an invitation by the DSS but has since been released.
Bindow was reportedly in attendance at a party meeting in Adamawa where some aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) allegedly wished the deadly coronavirus had killed President Muhammadu Buhari.
In the leaked audio clip, the APC chieftains were heard making denigrating remarks against Buhari.
SaharaReporters had on Tuesday reported that high-profile party members at the meeting included Bindow, and the immediate past Speaker of Adamawa State House of Assembly, who is the incumbent member representing Yola South constituency in the state House of Assembly, Kabiru Mijinyawa.
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AUDIO: I Wish Buhari Had Contracted, Been Killed By COVID-19 – Adamawa APC Chairman
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Other five persons were also invited by the secret police for questioning.
The caretaker chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Yola South local government area of Adamawa State, Sulaiman Adamu, who made death wishes against Buhari, said if he was asked to choose between Buhari and the Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, he would rather go for the latter.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Abdullateef said the former governor condemned those making incendiary comments against the president at the meeting.
“Former Adamawa State Governor, Senator Muhammad Umar Jibrilla Bindow was invited to a party meeting because some members of the party were aggrieved about the just concluded primaries, which he attended as an elder of the party,” the statement said.
“It’s worthy of note that there was no program in the said meeting. He went there and sat and listened to the aggrieved members’ complaints, and there was an unwarranted outburst from some members which he cautioned. It’s sad that some people are using that outburst with a recording to malign the former governor.
“The said recording was doctored and if you listened to it very well, there were some conversations that were skipped. Senator Bindow cautioned the members making those unwarranted utterances thrice in the meeting and even threatened to walk out.
“His words were, ‘please this is not right, you don’t wish anybody death because of political reasons, talk less of our leader and father, the president. Let’s make progress please, or I am leaving’.
“But because it’s a planned recording to malign and create problems where there is none, his utterances condemning what has been said wasn’t even in the circulated recording.
“As far as we are concerned, we were invited to a meeting and things were said in public and Senator Bindow cautioned the people making those utterances and that was all.
“President Muhammadu Buhari is like a father to Bindow and he will never entertain anything is such on the president.”
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E2%80%93-adamawa-apc-chairman AUDIO: I Wish Buhari Had Contracted, Been Killed By COVID-19 – Adamawa APC Chairman
President Muhammadu Buhari
The audio file where suspended caretaker Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, in the Yola South Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Sulaiman Adamu, said he wished the deadly coronavirus had killed President Muhammadu Buhari, has surfaced.
Adamu, who made the spiteful remark during a meeting of some APC chieftains, said if he was asked to choose between Buhari and the Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, he would rather go for the latter.
President Muhammadu Buhari
SaharaReporters had on Tuesday reported that sources revealed that high-profile party members at the meeting included the immediate past Governor of Adamawa State, Muhammadu Bindow, and the immediate past Speaker of Adamawa State House of Assembly, who is the incumbent member representing Yola South constituency in the state House of Assembly, Kabiru Mijinyawa.
In a leaked audio clip, the APC chieftains were heard making spiteful and denigrating remarks against Buhari without let or hindrance.
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Adamawa All Progressives Congress’ Chieftain Wishes Buhari Dead In Leaked Audio
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Excerpts of the conversation:
Anonymous: No one is recognising Sadu (Sa’ad Tahir) as a former deputy governor. You (Bindow) are the only person giving him the undeserved recognition.
Bindo: Yes, I know that, but let’s leave all that for now… (cuts in)
Anonymous: By the way; is he from Yola south? His polling unit is at Karewa in Yola north. Besides he’s not a grassroots man; he’s an Abuja based, you know that because he has never spent two weeks here.
Mijinyawa: We are the guys on ground, I don’t think we need to bother; let them come to the arena, we’ll slug it out and everyone would know where their stand is.
Adamu: As for me, being a party administrator, even Buhari himself, what is his impact on the party? Of what value is he to us? How I wish he had contracted the deadly corona virus, so that Osinbajo would take over… (laughter).
Also lambasting the president, Abubakar Sirimbai, said, it is better for the “accursed president” to die so that Osinbajo could take over power.
“It is better for the accursed president to die so that his deputy can assume the reins of power. We sold our properties to help the president win the election. We bought underwear, braziers, and cosmetics which we used to give him a makeup. If I’m averse to Osinbajo becoming the president, may God not give me the privilege of living till evening.
“Buhari has achieved nothing in Adamawa in the last six years. APC in Adamawa thrives on the legacies of Bindow. We heard that Buhari used to be extremely happy whenever he learnt someone has gone bankrupt. We can’t be worshipping him like others,” Sirimbai was quoted as saying.
Also, the former speaker of the state house of assembly, Mijinyawa in apparent approval of what others said, added that, “Osinbajo is our own.”
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Nasarawa Community Protests Demolition, Seizure of Land By State Government
The Gbagyi indigenes of Nyanya – Gbagyi in Karu local government area of Nasarawa State on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest over the demolition of their houses and seizure of their ancestral land located at Nayanya-Gwandara by the state government.
The protesters brandished placards and asked the government to stop the demolition of their houses.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Danjuma Dauda Shazhimi said officials of the Nasarawa State Urban Development Board invaded the community with a bulldozer and armed policemen, pulling down over 30 houses, which he said belonged to natives of the area.
He alleged that over 200 hectares of land, which he said belonged to the Iyakoji family of Nyanya Gbagyi, had been taken over by the state government despite a high court order restraining them from trespassing on the land.
“There was a court judgment (we have a copy) that restrained the state government from invading and trespassing on our ancestral land,” he said.
Shazhimi said despite giving out 100 hectares of land to the state government, the officials went ahead to demolish their houses.
A widow and mother of four who is a victim, Mrs. Faith Solomon, wept profusely. She said she built her house after her husband died some years ago but was shocked to receive a phone call that her house had been pulled down.
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IPOB Knocks Traditional Rulers Who Aided Arrest Of Anambra Youths Because They Rejected Bid To Sell Land To Herders
File photo used to illustrate story.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has criticized the traditional rulers in the South-East region who reported the youths to the Nigerian Navy for their refusal to sell land to the Fulani herders.
According to the group, some monarchs and President-Generals of associations aided the arrest of youths who kicked against the sale of their lands to Fulani herdsmen in the region.
File photo used to illustrate story.
It specifically demanded the release of the youths arrested and detained in Atani and other villages in Ogbaru in Anambra State.
IPOB gave a seven-day ultimatum to the community and group leaders to facilitate the release of the youths.
These were contained in a statement by IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, on Wednesday.
The statement reads, “The attention of the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), ably led by our indefatigable leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been drawn to the treacherous and abominable activities of some evil traditional rulers and President Generals in Biafra land who report their youths to the Fulani-controlled Nigerian soldiers to kill them.
“We got reports of traditional rulers and President Generals and youths leaders who terrorize youths in their community by tagging them IPOB members and ESN operatives. The only crime of the youths is standing up for their rights and resisting the sale of community land to Fulani herdsmen.
“It’s an abomination for a traditional ruler and President General in Biafra land to report youths in his community to terror-friendly Nigeria Army just because he feels the youths are standing in his way to sell the community land to the Fulani herders. We, therefore, warn all such treacherous monarchs to retrace their steps or brace for the consequences of their evil actions.
“We want to sound it clear that henceforth, any traditional ruler that reports his subjects to the Nigeria Army or Navy to torture them for opposing their plans to sell community land to Fulani herdsmen should get ready to answer to our ancestors. Such evil traitors are not worthy to live, how much more occupy the ezeship stool in Biafraland.
“On this note, we demand the unconditional release of all the youths arrested by the Navy at Atani and other communities in Ogbaru, Anambra State.
“If after seven days the arrested youths are not released, the treacherous traditional rulers who masterminded their ordeal should prepare to reap the fruit of their treachery.”
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E2%80%99s-wife-seven-month-old-son Bandits Abduct Zamfara Politician’s Wife, Seven-month-old Son
File Photo: Gunmen
Gunmen suspected to be bandits have kidnapped the wife and seven-month-old son of Babangida Ibrahim, an ex-councilor in Zamfara State.
Muhammad Shehu, the spokesman for the state police command, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
File Photo: Gunmen
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The police spokesman said the gunmen attacked the former councilor’s house at Damba in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, at about 12.30 am on Wednesday.
According to Shehu, the ex-councilor was left with a gunshot wound. He is currently receiving treatment in a hospital.
He said, “The command has been on the trail of the kidnappers to ensure the rescue of the victims.
“The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Hussaini Rabi’u, has ordered a thorough investigation on the matter to ensure the arrest of the perpetrators.”
Deadly attacks by bandits have worsened in Zamfara State.
Farming and herding communities in the state have been terrorized by gangs who raid villages, stealing cattle, and kidnapping residents for ransom.
In 2019, the state government entered a peace agreement with the gunmen.
About 15 brand new Hilux vehicles and cash gifts were also given to leaders of ‘repentant’ gangs of bandits by the governor in 2020.
Despite the intervention, communities in the state are still being attacked and residents kidnapped and killed.
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E2%80%98most-conditions-have-been-accepted%E2%80%99%E2%80%94buhari-government-hints-lifting-twitter-suspension ‘Most Conditions Have Been Accepted’—Buhari Government Hints On Lifting Twitter Suspension
The Nigerian government on Wednesday hinted that the suspension of Twitter in Nigeria may soon be lifted following negotiations with the microblogging platform.
Minister of Information and Culture, Lal Mohammed, disclosed this while briefing journalists at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
Mohammed, who gave more details of the conditions given to the platform, said most of them had been accepted.
He said pending issues such as Twitter setting up an office in Nigeria and having country representatives are still being discussed.
The minister expressed confidence that everything would be resolved with Twitter within a few days or weeks while acknowledging the concerns of Nigerians.
He said the Nigerian government’s committee negotiating with Twitter would meet on the agreement soon to make recommendations.
The Buhari-led government had on June 4 announced the suspension of Twitter in Nigeria. Telecommunication companies blocked access to Twitter on June 5, after they received a directive from the Nigerian Communications Commission.
The government had cited the persistent use of the platform for activities capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence as the reason for the suspension.
Following the ban, groups including the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project had dragged the government to the ECOWAS court.
The government, however, told a Federal High Court in Lagos that it had not stopped Nigerians from using Twitter, adding that many Nigerians still use it every day.
Since the ban, many Nigerians have adopted Virtual Private Networks to use the platform in the country.
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BREAKING: After 10 Years, Shell Company Agrees To Pay Ogoni Communities N45billion Over Oil Spills
Multinational oil company, Shell Petroleum Company, has agreed to pay N45.9billion to the Ogoni people of Rivers State for the losses they had suffered from oil spillage that ravaged their communities.
This comes 10 years after a Federal High Court ordered the company to pay the compensation. Daily Post reports that it will be paid to the Ogonis through their lawyer, Chief Lucius Nwosu.
Shell Petroleum Company through its lawyer, Chief A. O Ejelamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, announced the decision to pay up the money while addressing Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday.
The senior lawyer sought the order of Justice Mohammed to permit payment of the debt through the Chief Registrar of the court in a bank account to be opened for the purpose.
The final decision to pay up the money was endorsed by Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Although the oil company had sought to pay through the Chief Registrar of the court, it was eventually agreed that the amount be paid to the aggrieved people through their lawyer.
The amount was awarded in favour of Ogoni people by Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Lagos division of the Federal High court on June 14, 2010 in his judgment in a suit filed by the Ogoni people.
However, the Ogonis waived the interest on the principal amount as concession agreed upon during reconciliation.
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