Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Sunday 19th September 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 19/09/21
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E2%80%99-den BREAKING: 10 Bethel Baptist Students Regain Freedom, 21 Still In Bandits’ Den
Ten students of Bethel Baptist School in Kaduna were on Saturday released with 21 others still being held by bandits.
The Vice President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (19 Northern States and Abuja) and chairman of CAN in Kaduna State, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, confirmed this to Punch on Saturday evening.
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He said, “10 students were released this (Saturday) evening and have reunited with their parents. We are now hoping that the remaining 21 who are still with the bandits will be released.”
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E2%80%93-ipob-reacts-allegation-murder State-Sponsored Groups Killed Imo-based Lawyer, Odume – IPOB Reacts To Allegation Of Murder Of Legal Practitioner
Darlington Odume
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has distanced the group from the gruesome murder of a legal practitioner, Barrister Darlington Odume.
The lawyer was murdered on Thursday by unknown gunmen in Umudara, Amaifeke in the Orlu Local Government Area of Imo state.
Darlington Odume
It was learnt that the deceased was trailed from his chamber in the Orlu town by his assailants and was shot severally around Amaifeke, where he was buying some edible items.
IPOB in a statement signed and made available to SaharaReporters by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, said Odume was murdered by the state-sponsored group known as unknown gunmen.
Powerful urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) not to be deceived by false media propaganda of the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Service, stressing that IPOB could not hurt lawyers and journalists, assuming they were to be violent.
The statement read, “We the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, distance ourselves from the gruesome murder of a legal paractioner Barr. Darlington Chume Odume popular known as Omekagu who was murdered in Amaifeke Orlu Imo State by the state sponsored group known as unknown gunmen.
“Contrary to allegations by those bent on demonising IPOB, IPOB has no hand in the cruel and unconscionable killing of Barrister Darlington Chume Odume. Those perpetrating these murderous activities in Imo State and other parts of Biafra land are doing so just to implicate IPOB and the Eastern Security Network, ESN.
“We have several times explained that we have no hands in these gruesome killings in Biafra land but some do not want to believe us. IPOB is a non-violent and peaceful movement with presence in over 100 countries. We are only after the peaceful restoration of Biafra. Killings are not part of our mandate. Those committing these heinous crimes only do so to possibly implicate us and destroy our global image but we are innocent.
“The Nigeria Bar association, NBA should not be deceived by the Nigerian police and DSS with their false media propaganda. It makes no sense for IPOB to go after lawyers or journalists for instance, assuming we are to be violent. These two professionals are rather the best of our friends as they are the ones at our rescue in our quest for Justice. We will never contemplate hurting anyone belonging to either of these noble professions or any profession for that matter.
“Lawyers have been helping this struggle and facilitating the release of our people in different parts of Nigeria. They put their lives at risk for our sake, and there is no way we can sensibly reciprocate this rare gesture by going after them. It’s an irony and most illogical. Those linking us with this barbarity should please look for a more intelligent script. IPOB cannot come down too low by killing our lawyers, journalists and Human Rights groups and persons.”
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E2%80%99s-growing-external-loans-lists-bogus-projects Buhari Regime Defends Nigeria’s Growing External Loans, Lists Bogus Projects
President Buhari
The Presidency has backed the growing external loans under which Nigeria is reeling, saying the loans are to fund projects and programmes which Nigerians benefit from.
In a statement on Saturday, presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, listed some bogus projects and programmes which the loans would be spent on.
President Buhari
The Buhari administration is under fire after the President wrote to the Senate to approve $4.054bn and €710million credit.
The opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) warned that the All Progressives Congress (APC) government is trying to sell the country.
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Ruling Party, APC Senator Lambasts Buhari Regime Over Unending Loan Requests, Decries Senate’s Speedy Approvals
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The opposition said if the legislature approves the latest request, and an additional N5.62trillion loan proposed for the 2022 budget, Nigeria’s liability under Buhari will hit “N40trillion with no clear-cut repayment plan”.
But Shehu explained that 15 projects, across the six geo-political zones, are to be financed with the anticipated funds from multilateral institutions, under the 2018-2021 medium-term (rolling) external borrowing plan.
He said the loans will be sourced from the World Bank, French Development Agency (AFD), China-Exim Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Credit Suisse Group and Standard Chartered/China Export and Credit (SINOSURE).
A breakdown of the ‘‘Addendum to the Proposed Pipeline Projects for the 2018-2021 Medium Term (rolling) External Borrowing Plan,’’ shows that the World Bank is expected to finance seven projects including the $125million grant for ‘‘Better Education Services for All’’.
“The Global Partnership for Education grant is expected to increase equitable access for out-of-school children and improve literacy in focus states.
“The grant, which will be implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), will strengthen accountability for results in basic Education in Katsina, Oyo and Adamawa States.
“Other projects to be financed by the World Bank are, the State Fiscal, Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability Programme for Results as well as the Agro-Processing, Productivity, Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support Project.
“The benefiting states for the agro-processing project are, Kogi, Kaduna, Kano, Cross River, Enugu and Lagos with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as the implementing ministry.
“The objective of the project is to enhance agricultural productivity of small and medium-scale farmers and improve value addition along priority value chains in the participating states”, Shehu noted.
“The loan facility to be provided by European ECA/KfW/IPEX/APC will be spent on the construction of the Standard Gauge Rail (SGR) linking Nigeria with Niger Republic from Kano-Katsina-Daura-Jibiya-Maradi with a branch to Dutse.
“The specific project title, Kano-Maradi SGR with a branch to Dutse, has an implementation period of 30 months and will be implemented by the Federal Ministry of Transport.
“The Chinese African Development Fund through the Bank of China is expected to provide a loan facility of $325 million for the establishment of three power and renewable energy projects including solar cells production facility Phase I & II, electric power transformer production, Plants 1, II, III and high voltage testing laboratory.
“The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) will implement the project aimed at increasing local capacity and capability in the development of power and renewable energy technologies and infrastructure.
“Credit Suisse will finance major industrialisation projects as well as micro, small and medium enterprises schemes to be executed by the Bank of Industry while SINOSURE and Standard Chartered Bank will provide funds for the provision of 17MW Hybrid Solar Power infrastructure for the National Assembly (NASS) complex.
“The project, with an implementation period of five years, is expected to address ‘‘NASS power supply deficit and reduce the higher overhead burdensome cost of running and maintaining fossil fuel generators (25MW installed capacity) to power the assembly complex”, the statement from Shehu on Saturday added.
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E2%80%99d-lead-peaceful-protest-if-buhari-gives-fani-kayode-appointment-%E2%80%93-all-progressives I’d Lead Peaceful Protest If Buhari Gives Fani-Kayode Appointment – All Progressives Congress Chieftain
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ben Adaji, has vowed to mobilise youths across Nigeria to stage a peaceful protest if President Muhammadu Buhari considers the former Minister of Aviation, Femi-Fani Kayode, who recently defected to the party, for an appointment.
Adaji issued the warning on Saturday during an interactive session with media practitioners in Jalingo, Taraba State.
According to Daily Post, the APC chief urged the leadership of the party to be wary of the former minister whom he described as “a serial betrayal.”
Adaji questioned the rationale behind Fani-Kayode’s decision to join the APC, a party he left in 2014 for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after claiming it was trying to Islamise Nigeria and had plans to inflict pain on the populace.
He also recalled that FFK from 2014 “till today disparaged President Buhari using unfriendly adjectives such as wicked, dead, draconian, dictatorial among others.”
He urged Buhari to consider members who have been consistent in building, growth and success of the party before persons like Fani-Kayode.
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E2%80%99-activist-sowore-gives-43-reasons-why-nigerians-must-protest-october-1-shun Human Rights’ Activist, Sowore Gives 43 Reasons Why Nigerians Must Protest On October 1, Shun Independence Day
Omoyele Sowore
Human rights’ activist and Amnesty International-designated Prisoner of Conscience, Omoyele Sowore, has urged all Nigerians to join the planned nationwide protest on October 1 – Independence Day – in Nigeria.
The Coalition for Revolution (CORE), the organisers of the #RevolutionNow protest, had announced plans to hold a mass action against poor governance in Nigeria on October 1.
Omoyele Sowore
The protest is necessitated by nine demands, according to a statement by CORE’s co-convener, Baba Aye, and co-convener, Gbenga Komolafe.
Among their demands is the recognition of those who died during the #EndSARS protests as national heroes, with a national apology.
They complained that the Muhammadu Buhari-led government took “the incompetence, corruption, and repressive tendencies of the country’s ruling class to the height of infamy.”
They also lamented that tens of thousands of workers had been sacked while many more had suffered salary cuts.
“Farmers cannot access seedlings and other agricultural inputs. Traders and other informal economy workers have no access to credit.
“The country’s public health and education facilities are in terrible states. Doctors are on strike; other health workers are warming up for a strike. And university teachers are also likely to go on strike soon. All these are because the regime refuses to respect collective agreements reached with their unions.
“Even our very lives are now in jeopardy. Physical insecurity has also become the order of the day. More than 4,000 people have been killed and at least 3,100 kidnapped this year alone. Several families have become bankrupt as they sold all they had to pay kidnappers,” they complained.
Sowore in a Facebook post on Saturday also lent his voice to the October 1 protest.
He said, “We are sorry. We are not doing Independence Day this year due to tyranny, oppression, corruption, nepotism, return of SARS, terrorism, killing of Shiites, extra judicial killings of #IPOB members, non-payment of salaries and wages, insecurity, high school fees, high food prices, spike in electricity tariffs, social media bills, hate speech bills, detention of dissenting voices, discrimination against minorities, pollution of Niger Delta environment, medical tourism by Nigerian rulers, bad roads, no electricity, lack of funding for education, high perks for useless lawmakers and ministers, killing of our soldiers due to embezzlement of monies meant for fighting equipment, oppression by landlords against tenants, police brutality, terrible foreign policies that lets Ghana and South Africa oppress our people, incompetence at all levels by the Muhammadu Buhari regime, round tripping of dollars, suppression of self-determination activists, disobedience of court orders by lawless DSS, kidnapping of school children, rewarding banditry, currency manipulation by the CBN Governor, rigging of elections by INEC and State SIECs, Twitter ban, harassment of small business owners, crypto ban, illegal raids and arrests, illegal and corrupt acquisition of killer foreign loans, killing of corruption cases for political gains, serious bribery and corruption, encouragement of crippling worker’s strikes, Etc #endsars #revolution #arevolutionnow #Buharimustgo #occupynigeria2 #RevolutionNow.”
Independence Day is an official national holiday in Nigeria, celebrated on the first of October.
It marks Nigeria’s proclamation of independence from British rule on 1 October 1960.
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BREAKING: Lagos #EndSARS Panel Suspends Sitting Indefinitely
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The Lagos State Judicial Panel Of Inquiry set up to address the issue of police brutality has suspended its sitting until further notice.
The Chairperson of the panel, Justice Doris Okuwobi (retired), announced this on Saturday.
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The panel was expected to conclude its sitting on October 19.
This is coming hours after a member of the panel, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), raised an alarm of plans to frustrate the team of reaching a meaningful conclusions on investigations into the October 20 Lekki Toll Gate incident.
“EndSARS Panel Being Frustrated; there are attempts to frustrate the EndSARS Judicial Panel from reaching meaningful conclusions on investigations into the Lekki Toll Gate Incident of 20th October 2020. I will give details subsequently,” he posted on Facebook.
In October 2020, many Nigerians took to the streets to demonstrate against police brutality under the #EndSARS campaign.
The demands led to the disbandment of the special anti-robbery squad (SARS) of the Nigerian Police Force.
On October 19, 2020, the Lagos State Government set up the judicial panel of inquiry and restitution to investigate cases of human rights abuses by operatives of the now-disbanded SARS and other security agencies.
This was sequel to the directive of the national economic council (NEC) that mandated states to set up panels to investigate police brutality in the wake of the #EndSARS protests.
The panel was given a mandate of six months to hear petitions submitted by members of the public, while a total of N200million was earmarked as compensation.
The panel’s sitting ought to have ended on April 19, but was extended by three months till July 19.
It was subsequently granted additional three months for hearing of petitions and was expected to conclude its sitting on October 19.
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E2%80%93 How Buhari Government Used Discredited Minister, Fani-Kayode To Deceive Nnamdi Kanu – Ohanaeze
The apex Igbo group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, says a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, was used by the Muhammadu Buhari-led government to deceive the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
In June, Kanu was arrested in Kenya and extradited to Nigeria to face treason charges.
He was subsequently arraigned and brought before Binta Nyako, a Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, who asked him to be remanded at the DSS custody.
Kanu is facing charges bordering on treasonable felony instituted against him at the court in response to his agitation for the Republic of Biafra.
He was granted bail in April 2017 on health grounds but skipped bail after disregarding some of the conditions given to him by the court.
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EXCLUSIVE: Buhari Presidency Moves To Make Infamous Politician, Fani-Kayode Minister, Quash Corruption Charges Against Him
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The Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, Okechukwu Isiguzoro in a statement on Saturday said Fani-Kayode who recently joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had been a secret agent of the caliphate and the Presidency against the Igbo nation.
The statement read, “Femi Fani Kayode’s magniloquence and grandiosity on the unity of Nigeria contrary to his previous stance on Biafra and Oduduwa Nations shortly after he was received by President Buhari as a new APC member, had reinforced our suspicions that FFK was a pawn in the hands of Igbo detractors playing the scripts craftily designed for the engineering of sponsored violence and uprising against the people of South-East. He consistently enticed Igbo Governors and Nnamdi Kanu as a friend of Ndigbo, with fanciful and deceitful words to achieve this devilish agenda, which he had accomplished before he defected unexpectedly to APC.
“FFK only played into the hearts and confidence of his Igbo casualties, got sensitive information from the so-called Igbo elites, and passed it on to the Presidency.
“He has been a secret agent of the caliphate and the Presidency against Igbo, perhaps, he might be instrumental in the illegal abduction of Nnamdi Kanu; undoubtedly, his wizardry and satanic roles lured Nnamdi Kanu into demolishing the confidence of Nigerians against trusting Igbo with Presidency in 2023 and indirectly encouraged violence throughout the South-East states.
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EXCLUSIVE: N5billion Suit Against Nigerian Government: Nnamdi Kanu’s Family Expose How IPOB Leader Fainted Several Times In Kenya, Smeared With Faeces, Urine
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“We insist that it’s the constitutional rights of FFK to join any political party of his choice but he should further desist from making boastful comments on how he will lure Igbo Peoples Democratic Party Governors to the APC. First of all, he should tender unreserved apologies to Governor Umahi over the falsehoods and his makeup stories of being instrumental in the defection of three PDP Governors to APC, saying Gov Umahi was among them.”
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How 10 Dogs Owned By Anambra School Killed Two-year-old Prospective Pupil
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Ten dogs belonging to the proprietor of Global Growth Academy, Amokpo, Umuanunwa, Nteje, in the Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State have reportedly devoured a two-year-old prospective pupil.
According to Punch, the school owner was identified as Chinedu Oka, a UK returnee fondly called Chinedu Okaa London.
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A resident said, “A parent took the child to the school for enrollment on Monday when the incident happened. The owner of the school rears dogs in the school premises, despite the community’s warning against it.
“While the parent of the child was perfecting the documentation and registration of the child, the child wandered off.
“On sighting the baby, the dogs rushed at him and dragged him into their pen where about 10 of them devoured the two-year-old boy without any school official on hand to rescue him.
“The Nteje community, where the incident happened, culturally prohibits rearing of dogs. It’s a taboo to rear dogs here. The UK returnee was warned, but he refused to adhere to the community’s instructions.”
Continuing, the source said that, irked by the incident, the vigilante youths in the community invaded the school compound and shot the dogs dead.
The traditional ruler of Nteje, Igwe Rowland Odegbo, confirmed the incident.
He said that Chinedu Okaa London knew that dogs were prohibited in Nteje community but still went ahead to rear them.
“The young man knows that we don’t accommodate dogs in our community and he went ahead to surround himself with dogs despite warning from the community.
“To us, the young man committed murder and it is an abomination in our community to kill someone.
“We have handed him over to the appropriate authorities and we will make sure that justice is served because we don’t condone evil.
“The youths have killed and burnt the dogs and we are in support of their action,” the traditional ruler stated.
Meanwhile, the school has been deserted as patients hurriedly withdrew their children and wards on hearing about the tragic incident.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ikenga Tochukwu, confirmed the incident, adding that the situation had been put under control.
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CONFIRMED: Buhari Travels To New York For UN Assembly Amid Insecurity, Human Rights Violations In Nigeria
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President Muhammadu Buhari will on Sunday travel to New York to participate in the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, in confirmation of SaharaReporters’ report on September 10.
According to Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, Buhari will address the Assembly during the General Debates on Friday, September 24 when he will speak on the theme of the conference and other global issues.
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“President Muhammadu Buhari will depart Abuja Sunday for New York, United States of America, to participate in the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA76),” Adesina said in a statement.
“The session opened on Tuesday, September 14. The theme for this year’s UNGA is, “Building Resilience Through Hope – To Recover from COVID-19, Rebuild Sustainably, Respond to the Needs of the Planet, Respect the Rights of People and Revitalize the United Nations.”
“President Buhari will address the Assembly during the General Debates on Friday, September 24 when he will speak on the theme of the conference and other global issues.
“In the course of the Assembly, the Nigerian leader and members of the delegation will partake in other significant meetings such as; The High Level Meeting to Commemorate The Twentieth Anniversary of the Adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action on the theme “Reparations, Racial Justice and Equality for People of African Descent.”
“The delegation will also participate in Food Systems Summit; High Level Dialogue on Energy; and The High Level Plenary Meeting to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.
“The President will also hold bilateral meetings with a number of other leaders of delegations and heads of International Development organisations.
“He will be accompanied to New York by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Attorney General and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN); and Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikeazor.
“Also on the President’s delegation are: National Security Adviser, Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd); Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire. President Buhari is expected back in the country on Sunday, September 26.”
SaharaReporters had on September 10 exclusively reported that the President would depart Abuja on Sunday, September 19 to attend the conference amidst insecurity and gross human rights under his administration.
“The team going with him (Buhari) to the USA for the United Nations General Assembly leaves on Tuesday. The President will leave Abuja next Sunday to join them,” a presidential source had told SaharaReporters.
SaharaReporters also reported how Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, among other officials, travelled to the US to infiltrate the ranks of Nigeria’s self-determination groups, which earlier announced that they would storm the UN Assembly with demands for a referendum.
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EXCLUSIVE: Buhari Jets To US For UN General Assembly Amid Insecurity, Human Rights Violations In Nigeria
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A top source had said that while Buhari would be attending the UN Assembly, the entourage led by Gambari, who is a diplomat and former top UN official, was sent ahead to weaken the strengths of the agitation groups before the President’s arrival.
“The UN programme is starting on September 18. The Chief of Staff is leaving for USA tomorrow (Thursday) with some people working with him, including his personal Assistant, Luqman Bosun Emiola. No one knows when they will be back but they are not supposed to have any business with the President’s trip.
“Buhari will be attending the UN General Assembly but the Chief of Staff already left,” the source had said.
Despite being a former Army General, the level of insecurity under Buhari’s administration has worsened with virtually all parts of the country currently battling one form of violent crimes or another.
The Global Terrorism Index (2019) ranked Nigeria as the third-worst nation prone to terrorism with no improvement since 2017.
Aside from insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and secessionist violence are pushing Nigeria towards the brink of collapse with many calling for the resignation of the President for “failing” to secure the country.
Using security operatives, the Buhari-led government is also known for harassing, assaulting and intimidating journalists, human rights activists, protesters and critics of the government.
The government has also shown hostility to Nigerian Judges and indifference to court judgments and orders, thereby seriously undermining their standing and authority, and the notion of access to justice.
His administration is also notorious for ignoring court judgments and orders.
Buhari has literally normalised disobedience to court orders, and state-sanctioned brutality against peaceful protesters.
The administration also continues to violate human rights with impunity.
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E2%80%99s-family-expose-how-ipob EXCLUSIVE: N5billion Suit Against Nigerian Government: Nnamdi Kanu’s Family Expose How IPOB Leader Fainted Several Times In Kenya, Smeared With Faeces, Urine
The N5billion suit filed against the Nigerian government by the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, detailed the extensive torture meted out to the IPOB leader in Kenya as revealed by one of the brothers, Prince Emmanuel Kanu.
SaharaReporters exclusively obtained a copy of the suit filed by the IPOB leader where it was exposed that he was beaten by the Nigeria’s security operatives in Kenya till he fainted – an incident which reportedly occurred several times but he was quickly revived with cold water.
According to an affidavit sworn by Emmanuel Kanu in the suit, the Nigerian government officials refused to allow Kanu access to the restrooms, and he was forced to defecate ad urinate in the detention room – with same substance smeared on his body by the operatives.
The suit was filed by Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, in Umuahia, the Abia State capital before a state High Court on September 7, to press for Kanu’s release to get adequate medical treatments among other rights entitled to him.
The suit is in enforcement of Kanu’s right to life, dignity of the human person, personal liberty, fair hearing, no arbitrary arrest and detention and no unlawful expulsion.
While Kanu is the applicant, there are eight respondents which are; the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Attorney-General of the Federation, the Chief of the Army Staff, the Brigade Commander, 14 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Ohafia, Abia State, the Inspector-General of Police, the Commissioner for Police, Abia State, the Director-General, State Security Services and the Abia State Director, State Security Services.
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BREAKING: IPOB Leader, Nnamdi Kanu Sues Kenya Government For ‘Illegally Detaining, Extraditing’ Him To Nigeria
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The Affidavit in support of the originating motion was done by Prince Emmanuel Kanu, brother to Nnamdi Kanu.
He said, “That the facts and violations deposed to in this affidavit started at the applicant’s residence in Isiama Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State; to wit; the military invasion of the applicant in September 2017 by a combined team of Ohafia-based 14 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, the Abia State Command of Nigeria police force and the Abia State directorate of the State Security Service.
“That was it was the said invasion that nearly took the life of the applicant that caused him to seek refuge abroad which ultimately to Kenya, where the respondents lawfully pursued him, abducted him, disappeared him and ultimately brought him to Nigeria and detained him.
“That in October 2015, the applicant was arrested in Lagos upon his return from the United Kingdom, detained in Abuja and ultimately charged for certain offences Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015 (Federal Republic of Nigeria vs Nnamdi Kanu). That the applicant was detained for 18 months, but was later released on bail whereupon he returned to his home in Isiama Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia North, Abia State, and there awaiting his next trial date set fo October 2017.
“That on or about 10 September, while the applicant was resting at home with some family members and friends, the Ohafia-based Nigerian Army, police and DSS launched military invasion and assaults at the applicant’s residential building and premises. That in the course of the military action, 28 people were killed and several others, including the applicant, were wounded. Both of the applicant’s parents sustained grave injuries from the military invasion and both of them eventually succumbed to those injuries and are now late.
“That in the course of the invasion, the applicant managed to escape to a safe location from where he managed to flee overseas to save his life. That there was neither a court order revoking the applicant’s bail nor any arrest warrant that could have justified the deadly military assault.
“That had the President implemented the provisional measures, the applicant would have felt safe enough to voluntarily end his exile and return to Nigeria to face prosecution in the said charge under reference therein. That in the course of his exile, the applicant on or about May 5, 2021, entered the Republic of Kenya on his British passport and was admitted as such as Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi. After his admission, the applicant settled in at a temporary location in Nairobi, Kenya.”
Emmanuel Kanu then went on to reveal in detail the “abduction” of Nnamdi Kanu from the East African country and his ordeal in the hands of the Nigerian security operatives at a private residence where he was taken to.
He said, “That on June 19, 2021, the applicant drove himself and without any companion to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, to drop off a friend at the airport. That as soon as the applicant pulled to stop at the parking lot and alighted from his vehicle, about twenty respondent’s agents (hereafter abductors) violently accosted and abducted the applicant, handcuffed and blindfolded him, bundled him in a vehicle and sped away, while telling onlookers that the applicant is a “terrorist separatist.”
“That the applicant’s abductors took him to a nondescript private house (not a police station) somewhere in Nairobi, Kenya, and chained him to the floor. That while chained to the floor, the applicant’s abductors took turns to beat him torturing him to a point that he fainted several times and was intermittently revived when they poured cold water on him. That to prevent the applicant’s anguished screaming from being heard in the vicinity, the applicant’s abductors tied a cloth over his mouth and so close to covering his nostrils that the applicant struggled to breathe.
“That the applicant remained chained to the floor for eight days and was thus forced to relieve himself of urine and excrement where he was chained with same being smeared all over his body. That throughout the duration of the applicant’s captivity, he was not allowed to bathe and was fed only on bland bread once a day and given non-sanitary water to drink.”
Sahara Reporters had on September 7 reported that Ejimakor, lawyer to the detained IPOB leader, headed to court over the latter’s health issues.
It had been reported that the access roads to the court were blocked by truckloads of the military, police and other security agencies, which created fear in road users in Umuahia.
Ejimakor, in an application, Nnamdi Kanu Vs Federal Government of Nigeria and seven others, had brought an ex parte order asking the court to, among other things, make an interim order of release of Kanu to attend to his health in any medical facility of his choice in Nigeria, pending the hearing of the motion.
The high court presided over by Justice K. C. J. Okereke had asked the lawyer to put the respondents on notice.
In an elaborate statement released later that day, Ejimakor had said, “Today, I secured an Order from the High Court of Abia State to serve by substituted means an Application for enforcement of the Fundamental Rights of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, which I recently brought before the High Court of Abia State.
“The next hearing date is set for 21st September, 2021 in Umuahia. The material issue is the unbroken chain of infringements that began with the 2017 extrajudicial attempt on Kanu’s life in Abia State; his involuntary flight to safety/exile; his abduction in Kenya and his extraordinary rendition to Nigeria.
“We believe that these supervening issues have complicated Kanu’s prosecution and thus must be judicially dispensed with before any further prosecutorial action can proceed. Accordingly, I have placed the following reliefs before the Court:
“1, A DECLARATION that the military invasion of the Applicant’s building and premises at Isiama, Afaraukwu Ibeku, Abia State on 10th September, 2017 by the Respondents or their agents is illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and amount to infringement of the Applicant’s fundamental right to life, dignity of his person, his personal liberty and fair hearing as guaranteed under the pertinent provisions of Chapter IV of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (hereafter, CFRN) and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (hereafter, the Charter).
“2, A DECLARATION that the arrest of the Applicant in Kenya by the Respondents or their agents without due process of law is arbitrary, illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and amounts to infringement of the Applicant’s fundamental right against arbitrary arrest, to his personal liberty and to fair hearing as enshrined and guaranteed under the pertinent provisions of CFRN and the Charter.
“3, A DECLARATION that the torture and detention of the Applicant in Kenya by the Respondents or their agents is illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and amounts to infringement of the Applicant’s fundamental right against torture and to fair hearing, as enshrined and guaranteed under the pertinent provisions of CFRN and the Charter).
“4, A DECLARATION that the expulsion of the Applicant from Kenya to Nigeria by the Respondents or their agents and their consequent detention and planned prosecution of the Applicant in Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015 (Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Nnamdi Kanu) is illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and amount to infringement of the Applicant’s fundamental right against unlawful expulsion and detention, and to fair hearing, as enshrined and guaranteed under the pertinent provisions of CFRN and the Charter).
“5, AN ORDER OF INJUNCTION restraining the Respondents or their agents from taking any further step in the prosecution of the Applicant in Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015 (Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Nnamdi Kanu) pursuant to said unlawful expulsion of the Applicant from Kenya to Nigeria.
“6, AN ORDER mandating and compelling the the Respondents or their agents to forthwith release the Applicant from detention and restitute or otherwise restore Applicant to his liberty, same being his state of being as of 19th June, 2021; and to thereupon repatriate the Applicant to his country of domicile (to wit: Britain) to await the outcome of any formal request the Respondents may file before the competent authorities in Britain for the lawful extradition of the Applicant to Nigeria to continue his prosecution in Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015 (Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Nnamdi Kanu).
“7, AN ORDER mandating and compelling the Respondents to issue an official Letter of Apology to the Applicant for the infringement of his fundamental rights; and publication of said Letter of Apology in three (3) national dailies.
“8, AN ORDER mandating and compelling the Respondents to pay the sum of N5,000,000,000.00 (Five Billion Naira) to the Applicant, being monetary damages claimed by the Applicant against the Respondents jointly and severally for the physical, mental, emotional, psychological and other damages suffered by the Applicant as a result of the infringements of Applicant’s fundamental rights.”
According to the copy of the suit obtained by SaharaReporters, Ejimakor, had in a statement in support of the affidavit, had noted in his conclusion that the court should bar the Nigerian government from further prosecuting Kanu.
“In conclusion, we submit that there is an overriding need for his honourable court to bar the respondents from any further detention and prosecution of the applicant in charge Number, FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015 followed by the immediate restoration of applicant to the liberty he enjoyed as of the date he was unlawfully and arbitrarily arrested. We therefore urge this honourable court to resolve the lone issue in favour of the applicant and to grant the prayers sought,” Ejimakor said.
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