Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Thursday 30th September 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 30/09/21
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E2%80%94pope-francis-laments I Pray For Those Who Have been Killed, Injured And All Nigerians—Pope Francis Laments Insecurity Under Buhari
Pope Francis has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to solve the problem of insecurity in Nigeria.
He, therefore, prayed for those who have been killed and injured as a result of the insecurity, with special reference to the scores of people killed in Southern Kaduna last week.
He, however, noted that the problem was being felt across the country.
He said, “I learnt with pain the news of the armed attacks that took place last Sunday against the villages of Madamai Abun, in northern Nigeria.”
“I pray for those who have died, for those who have been injured and for the entire Nigerian population. I hope that the safety of all citizens in the country will always be guaranteed,” he added.
He, therefore, urged the Nigerian government to secure the lives of people across the country.
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Anambra Community Suspends Political Activities For Days To Mourn Late Information Minister, Akunyili’s Husband
Agulu community in the Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State has declared three-day mourning for the late Dr Chike Akunyili.
Chike was the husband of the late Dora Akunyili, ex-Minister of Information and Communication and former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
He was shot dead on Tuesday by unknown gunmen, alongside his police escort and one Aloysius, identified as his driver.
Onyebuchi Okpala, Caretaker President General of the community, in a statement on Tuesday said, “Two days ago, one Azubuike Anikwata from Ifiteani village, Agulu who returned from Turkey and was building an industry in the community was killed by gunmen
“Another attack at Nkpor Junction claimed the life of our son, Dr Chike Akunyili; the husband to the former Director-General of NAFDAC, the late Prof Dora Akunyili.
“On this note, we, the people of Agulu in general have commenced three-day mourning from September 29. All political activities in the community are hereby suspended during the mourning period.”
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E2%80%94-bandit-leader-who-confessed I Didn’t Know Kidnapping Was Wrong Till I Was Arrested — Bandit Leader Who Confessed To Having Killed ‘Countless’ People
File photo used to illustrate story.
The Katsina Police Command has arrested a bandit kingpin who confessed to having killed and abducted a lot of people.
The culprit, 50, Surajo Mamman, popularly known as ‘Kutaku’, described himself as the second-in-command
to Sani Muhidinge, a wanted bandit on the government watch list.
File photo used to illustrate story.
Muhidinge is said to hiding in Rugu forest, between Katsina and Zamfara states.
He was paraded alongside others before journalists on Wednesday at the state police headquarters.
Kutaku confessed, “I have been involved in kidnapping and other banditry-related crimes for a very long time now. I cannot remember the exact number of people I have killed or kidnapped but they are many.
“Actually, I didn’t really see anything wrong with my involvement in the act until I was arrested. But my eyes are open now.”
He further confessed to have participated in so many attacks, kidnapping, and cattle rustling in villages at Dan Musa, Safana, Dutsinma, and Batsari local government areas of the state.
Mobile phone services were recently shut down in at least 13 local government areas of Katsina State in a bid to curb banditry.
The affected local government areas include Sabuwa, Faskari, Dandume, Batsari, Danmusa, Kankara, Jibia, Safana, Dutsin-Ma, and Kurfi that are on the fringes of the Ruggu forest which is said to be the hideout of most of the bandits.
The other three are Funtua, Bakori, and Malumfashi.
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Panic As Bandits Kill 30 Residents In Niger Community
No fewer than 30 persons have been killed by bandits at Kachiwe village, Sarkin Pawa in the Munya Local Government Area of Niger State.
It was learnt that the gunmen from their hideouts in the dreaded Barnin Gwari forest in Kaduna State, stormed the village and other neighbouring communities.
Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, Secretary to the Niger State Government, confirmed the incident to Daily Post.
He urged residents to provide security agencies with credible information to enable them effectively tackle banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities.
Monday Bala Kuryas, the state police commissioner, said investigation had begun into the matter.
“A team of policemen has been despatched to the area to safeguard lives and property of people of Sarkin Pawa. Efforts are also on to track those involved in the criminal act,” he said.
He noted that three people were earlier killed in a similar attack on the Kagara Rafi Local Government Area of the state.
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Bandits Invade Sokoto Community, Kill 25, Abduct Many Residents
At least 25 people have been killed and many others abducted by gunmen suspected to be bandits in Gatawa, a village in the Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
SaharaReporters gathered that the community is also affected by the current shutdown of telecommunications network by the government.
The attackers were said to have raided the area on Tuesday night.
This comes a few days after bandits killed an unspecified number of the members of a joint patrol team during an attack on Burkusuma camp, a joint military base in the local government area.
Though the number of army casualties could not be confirmed, three officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were confirmed to be among the casualties.
The bandits also burnt down two patrol vehicles and drove away another one which was used to convey food items stolen from the surrounding villages.
It was learnt that the bandits also attacked Katsira village, shot four persons and abducted three others from the community.
Two of the victims were said to have died instantly while the remaining two are receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.
Sokoto, Niger, Katsina, Zamfara and many other states in North-West and North-Central Nigeria have been ravaged by bandit attacks.
The bandits kill and kidnap at will despite the deployment of police officers and soldiers to the affected states.
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E2%80%99s-killers-tasks-youths-protect Anambra Governor Puts N20Million Bounty On Akunyili’s Killers, Tasks Youths To Protect Communities
Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra state has reportedly put a bounty of N20 million on the heads of the killers of Chike Akunyili, widower of former information minister Dora Akunyili.
Akunyili was also the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control of Nigeria (NAFDAC) from 2001 to 2008
Obiano on Wednesday condemned the attack on Chike, while calling on youths in the state to protest their communities.
He said, “To all citizens of Anambra State and every person living and doing business in our State, I urge you now to join forces with us to confront this common enemy. We cannot condone this savagery for any reason whatsoever.
“I, therefore, call on all our youths in the State to rise up and protect our communities. Traditional rulers, Presidents General, clergymen, vigilante groups, and all leadership structures must now take responsibility and in conjunction with the police, military and other law enforcement agencies, work to restore order immediately.
“To reinforce our commitment and seriousness on this issue, I on behalf of the state government, wish to announce a twenty million naira (N20 million) reward for any useful information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators of these heinous attacks on our State. The people behind this must be unmasked and brought to justice.”
The governor lamented how “innocent road users have become victims of this menace with many losing their lives and others, their properties”.
“Between Sunday 26th and yesterday 28th September 2021 attacks on citizens at Oko, Agulu, Obosi, Nkpor, Nnobi, Nnewi and other places have left about ten (10) people dead including an illustrious son of this State, Dr Chike Akunyili, husband of late Prof Dora Akunyili who was reportedly gunned down yesterday around Nkpor.
“These are our own people dying every day and for what reason? Ndi Anambra, these attacks and accompanying deaths cannot be justified and must stop now,” he added.
Chike Akunyili was shot dead by unknown gunmen on Tuesday.
A family source confirmed to SaharaReporters that “Chike Akunyili was shot near Onitsha”, the commercial hub of Anambra State.
“He went for his late wife’s memorial lecture in Onitsha and was going back to Enugu, that was when the thing happened. He was shot dead by gunmen. I don’t know how it happened,” the source added.
Chike’s brother, Cyril in an Instagram post on Wednesday said, “IPOB killed my senior brother. Why? Husband of Prof Dora Akunyili is dead. IPOB why on a Tuesday?”
He later deleted the post.
His wife died in an Indian hospital on June 7, 2014, at the age of 57 after a prolonged ailment.
Chike and his late wife had six children.
After the death of his wife, Chike described her as “an elephant who loved her country even during her travails”.
“Her love for Nigeria was phenomenal and beyond words; even in her last days when she was very ill, she insisted that she would serve the country with her last breath.
“She wanted a home called Nigeria where citizens could live and enjoy,” he had said at the time.
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Senior Lawyer Threatens To Report Colleague To Nigerian Bar Association For Impersonation
Stephen Ademuwagun, one of the lawyers representing a group loyal to Senator Biodun Olujimi is in trouble for allegedly using the letterhead of Wahab Egbewole (SAN) to write a letter without the senior advocate’s consent.
Ademuwagun had written a letter dated September 13, 2021, to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Acting National Chairman, Elder Yemi Akinwonmi, calling for intervention on the Ekiti State Ward, Local Government, and State Congresses.
According to him, if left unresolved, it will affect the party’s victory in the forthcoming elections.
A copy of the letter obtained by SaharaReporters is titled, “Legal status of the PDP Congresses in Ekiti State: An appeal to ensure transparency, strict adherence to party’s constitution, guidelines, Electoral Law and due process of law in the forthcoming Ekiti State PDP party congresses and gubernatorial primaries ahead of 2022 gubernatorial election”.
It was also copied to a former Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki; Governor Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, and others.
In the letter, Ademuwagun premised his demand for intervention on suit number FHC/EK/CS/14 /2020, with pending appeal at the Supreme Court and HAD/83/2020 at the Appeal Court, Ado Ekiti, both of which were filed by Olujimi’s Repositioning Group and judgements already entered against the plaintiffs.
It reads in part: “Ipso facto, Our Clients, Financial Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Estate and hereafter refer to as such solicited our services to appeal and draw your attention to some inadequacies lacunas that could open gates of multiple litigations thereafter that surrounded the Purported Party’s Congresses held so for in the state and how same could undermine the victory of the party (PDP) during 2022 Governorship election…”
It adds: “That the National Working Committee of your Political Party be diligent to consider our appeal for transparency of the process with a view of doing the right thing at the right time now that the Party Timetable of activities leading to the Party Gubernatorial Election 2022 in the public domain.
“That revisiting the Process and Injustice of the Word and 3-Adhoc Delegates to the State Congresses will not only usher insanity to the party but add values and heal all wounds which will go a long way in assisting and leading the Party to win way in the forthcoming elections with landslide votes because people are yearning for Party to redeem the state.”
However, Wahab Egbewole (SAN), who handled the matters at the lower and appellate courts has disowned the letter, stressing that he had not given any instruction to anyone to write such a letter.
He also noted that the letterhead of his law firm which was used was printed without his consent.
A source familiar with the matter told SaharaReporters that the senior advocate has threatened to report Ademuwagun to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Disciplinary Committee if a disclaimer of the purported letter is not issued within two hours.
The source said, “The senior lawyer who was shocked, had to call Ademuwagun and accused him of forging his letterhead and writing a letter on behalf of his chambers without his consent.
“He went on to threaten to report Ademuwagun to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Disciplinary Committee if a disclaimer of the purported letter is not issued within two hours.
“Egbewole was said to have opined that as a senior lawyer, it was an indictment on him to have written such a letter having been part of the suits on which judgements were entered against his clients at the lower and appellate courts.”
However, out of fear, Ademuwagun was said to have called one of the leaders in the Olujimi faction, Yinka Akerele so he could escape Egbewole’s wrath.
“Since yesterday, Akerele has been appealing to the senior lawyer not to take the matter to the Disciplinary Committee of the NBA,” the source revealed.
However, Egbewole reluctantly told SaharaReporters that he doesn’t know anything about the letter, stating that he does not have any Stephen Ademuwagun in his office.
“I have not written any letter in respect of any matter to anybody, and I don’t have any Stephen Ademuwagun in my office. But I know him, we worked together on a matter in Ekiti State at a time, so I will not deny knowing him. But he doesn’t work in my office,” he said.
Meanwhile, Stephen Ademuwagun did not answer calls to his mobile line when SaharaReporters put calls across to him.
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Court Rules Against Nigeria’s Central Bank’s Levies On Deposits, Withdrawals In Abuja, Six States
File photo used to illustrate story.
A Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State, has ruled against the cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in six states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where bank customers depositing or withdrawing a certain amount of cash are made to pay financial levies.
The imposed levies are a certain percentage of the amount deposited or withdrawn.
File photo used to illustrate story.
The judgment followed a suit filed by an Anambra State-based legal practitioner, Chijioke Ifediora, against CBN.
He argued that the policy was indeed discriminatory and that it violates Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution in Anambra, Abia, Lagos, Ogun, Kano, Rivers, and FCT, where the apex bank has been enforcing the discriminatory policy, Daily Trust reports.
Ifediora said, “There is no constitutional foundation/pillar for such discriminatory policy nor is any statutory enabler for such biased circular.”
However, the counsel for the CBN, Jackson Iragunima, in his submission contended that the policy was not discriminatory.
Iragunima said it is for the well-being of the country.
He also noted that the plaintiff did not have the authority of all the citizens and corporate institutions residing in the said states and FCT to institute the action on their behalf.
But in his ruling, the presiding judge, Justice N.O. Dimgba agreed with the plaintiff that the CBN policy was discriminatory and that it offends Section 42 of the 1999 constitution (as amended).
“I have reviewed the policy document as contained in the website of the defendant (CBN) as well as the implementing circulars and I am unable to see any rational and objective justification for the selective imposition of financial penalties against residents of the named six states and the FCT for making cash withdrawals and lodgements/deposits over the stipulated threshold,” the judge said.
He also noted that the policy, rather than promote a cashless economy, it encourages the proliferation of cash by traders who rather keep their cash than lodge it and pay financial levies of 2% and 3% of the amount.
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E2%80%94-herders-union-lambasts-their-leaders Why We Think Northern Governors Are Selfish— Herders Union Lambasts Their Leaders
The Bauchi State chapter of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore has condemned Northern Governors Forum for showing concern about which region should present President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor.
The group on Wednesday blamed the Forum for not discussing the present predicaments faced by the Fulani tribe across the country.
The chairman of the association, Muhammad Hussaini, lamented that the Kaduna meeting failed to take into cognizance the humiliation herders are subjected to regarding the grazing of cattle in the Southern parts of the country.
Hussaini said it was disappointing that the governors and emirs met to discuss issues affecting the region, without deliberating on the plight of Fulani herders.
He said Fulani herders, who were searching for greener pasture for their animals, were being humiliated, maimed, and even killed outright in the southern part of the country.
He said, “Instead of the Northern governors to show concern about the forms of treatment or copulation on herders by the Southern governors, they simply sat and discussed issues of personal vendetta without recourse to the people they govern.
“For this, we condemn in totality the Northern Governors Forum meeting with emirs in attendance. They sat to discuss their self-aggrandise (sic) motives leveraging on ways and means to enrich themselves to the impairment of the people,” Hussaini said.
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E2%80%99s-convoy-damaging-his-car-demands-n10million Lawyer Accuses Ondo Governor, Akeredolu’s Convoy Of Damaging His Car, Demands N10million Compensation
Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu
A lawyer, Peter Adeosun has demanded a sum of ten million naira from Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu as reparation for the trauma he and his 18-month-old daughter suffered at the hands of Police Escorts in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital. Adeosun, a member of the Human Rights Committee, also said the compensation would cover for the deliberate damage of his orange Honda Element vehicle. He alleged that his vehicle was also damaged by the security details of the Ondo Governor.
Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu
While the legal practitioner disclosed that Akeredolu might not be aware of the lawless “rule of might and harassment exhibited” against him, he, however, vowed to seek legal action if the governor fails to respond to his demand. This was contained in a letter written by the victim and addressed to Ondo State Governor. The aggrieved lawyer, in the letter obtained by SaharaReporters on Wednesday, copied Afe Babalola as the chairman and chairperson of the Nigerian Bar Association and the Human Rights Committee in Ibadan. The letter partly read, “The Deplorable Account Of The Highest Level Of Police Brutality, Rule Of Might And Gross Violation Of The Rule Of Law, Displayed By Your Excellency’s Escorts, At Agodi Gate, Ibadan At About 10:16am On 27th September, 2021. “The deliberate damage of my orange Honda Element, with registration number GGE 595 GT and demand for prompt indemnity. “I, Peter A. Adeosun Esq, of the above law firm and a member of the Human Rights Committee of Premier Bar, wish to register my displeasure on the unfortunate act of brutality, and unbecoming act of your Excellency’s escorts which led to the massive damage to my car and psychosocial trauma on myself and my daughter of 18 months old. “Your Excellency sir, it is expedient to preliminarily state that constitution in a sane democratic society does much more than establishing a government, vesting powers on political leaders or creation of immunity, but also regulates the relationship between the government and the citizens, hence a democracy in a very simple term focuses much more on how societies select those who hold power because the rule of law in democratic settings is as well concerned with how political power is exercised. “Sir, while I presume you were not aware of the high level of arbitrariness, erratic, atrociousness, and an act of inhumanity coupled with that of unprofessionalism publicly displayed by your escorts yesterday (Tuesday), 27th September, 2021, at about 10:16 am at Agodi Gate, Ibadan, Oyo State, this express protest is relevant for the consideration of your good office.” Adeosun, who bemoaned the excesses of the political officers in Africa, said he became a victim of brutality at the hands of the security agents, despite giving the escorts enough room to pass that fateful morning. “Your Excellency, it was like an action Nollywood movie, while I was driving on the fast lane towards Idi-Ape Axis of Ibadan yesterday with my daughter of less than 18 months old onboard. “I first noticed the movement of the two escorts riding on exotics power bikes consequent to which I limited my speed to pave way for the usual African way of a show of power in convoy, but shockingly, shortly after your Media and Ambulance Buses passed, a Toyota Hilux conveying your police escorts crossed by my Honda Element Car, and two armed police escorts alighted with full force, hit my car several times with their guns which led to total condemnation of my right side mirror and damage on the body of my car. “Your Excellency, may I stress further that, at first, I never knew it was the convoy of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and the Patron of the Ibadan Bar, because the drama was so shocking, harassing and quite unprofessional of police escorts, this made a number of roadside sympathisers and journalists to make video clips of the scene and even take pictures, part of which are herewith attached as Annexures. “Your Excellency, while I condemn in its entirety the unfortunate show of might, brutality, damages coupled with the psychological effect of same on my daughter, I write to pray for prompt indemnity of my damaged car, and compensation for the physiological injuries sustained to the tune of Ten Million Naira Only (N10,000, 000: 00) “Please take further notice, that where your excellency default to honour this gentleman demand, I shall be constrained, without further recourse to you sir, seek legal redress before a court of law, including damages for economic injuries being sustained by the rule of might and harassment exhibited against me and my daughter by your escorts, likewise the cost of the suit. “It will be appreciated if urgent credence is given to this humble protest as a stitch in time saves nine,” Adeosun added in the letter.
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