Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Monday 18th October 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 18/10/21
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Travel Restrictions: Shiites Leader, El-Zakzaky, Wife Slam N4Billion Lawsuits Against Attorney-General Malami, Nigeria’s Secret Police
Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenah have each slammed N2 billion lawsuit against the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami and the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi.
SSS is Nigeria’s secret police also known as the Department of State Services (DSS).
According to the relevant court documents obtained by SaharaReporters, the IMN leader and his wife, Zeenah seek relief from the court following the restrictions placed on their passports despite their serious health challenges.
In the suit filed at the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Abuja by the Falana & Falana Chambers on behalf of El-Zakzaky, the reliefs sought include:
“A declaration that the seizure of the Applicants Passport No A50578740 since May 2019 is illegal and unconstitutional as it violates his fundamental right to freedom of movement guaranteed by Section 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) and Article 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights Act (CAP A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“A declaration that the Red Flag Travelling Restrictions placed on the Applicants Passport and land borders by the Respondents without a court order is illegal and unconstitutional as it violates his right to fair hearing guaranteed by Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights Act (CAP A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“A declaration that the refusal of the Respondents to allow the Applicant to travel abroad for medical treatment constitutes a threat to his life guaranteed by Section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights Act (CAP A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“An order of this Honourable Court mandating the Respondents to release the Applicant’s international passport number A50578740 to him in order to enable him to access prompt and adequate medical attention as recommended by his physicians.
“An order of this Honourable Court mandating the Respondents to lift the Red Flag Restrictions (and all or every form of restriction howsoever) placed on the International Passport number A50578740 of the Applicant by agents of the Respondents forthwith.
“An order of this Honourable Court mandating the Respondents to pay over to the applicant the sum of Two Billion Naira (N2,000,000,000.00) as general and exemplary damages for the violation of the Applicant’s rights to freedom of movement, fair hearing and property.
“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the Respondents from further violating the Applicants fundamental rights in any manner whatsoever and howsoever without lawful justification.”
Providing the basis for the reliefs, the legal practitioners argued that the applicant’s right to Freedom of movement, right to own property and fair hearing is guaranteed by Sections 41 (1), 38 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution, Articles 12, 14 and 10 of United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and Article 7 (b) and (2) of the African Charter of Human and Peoples Rights respectively.
They also stated that the Red Flag Travel Restrictions Placed on the travelling documents of the Applicant violates the Applicants right to Freedom of movement, right to own property and fair hearing respectively citing sections of the constitution.
“The Applicant is entitled to general, aggravated and punitive damages for the unlawful seizure and travel restrictions placed on his International Passport number A50578740 and other travelling documents,” they added.
Also, reliefs sought in court by Zeenah include:
“A declaration that the seizure of the Applicant’s Passport No A50578739 since August 2019 is illegal and unconstitutional as it violates her fundamental right to freedom of movement guaranteed by Section 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) and Article 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Act (CAP A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“A declaration that the ‘Red Flag’ Travel Restrictions Placed on the Applicant’s International Passport number A50578739 without a court order to that effect is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void as it violates the Applicant’s right to own property as guaranteed by Section 44 of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 as Amended, Article 10 of United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and Article 14 of the African Charter of Human and Peoples Rights respectively.
“A declaration that the Red Flag Travelling Restrictions placed on the Applicant’s Passport and land borders by the Respondents without a court order is illegal and unconstitutional as it violates her right to fair hearing guaranteed by Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) and Article 7 (b) and (2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Act (CAP A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“A declaration that the refusal of the Respondents to allow the Applicant to travel abroad for medical treatment constitutes a threat to her life guaranteed by Section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Act (CAP A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“An order of this Honourable Court mandating the Respondents to release the Applicant’s international passport number A50578739 to her in order to enable her to access prompt and adequate medical attention as recommended by her physicians.
“An order of this Honourable Court mandating the Respondents to lift the ‘Red Flag’ Restrictions (and all or every form of restriction howsoever) placed on the International Passport number A50578739 of the Applicant by agents of the Respondents forthwith.
“An order of this Honourable Court mandating the Respondents to pay over to the applicant the sum of Two Billion Naira (N2,000,000,000.00) as general and exemplary damages for the violation of the Applicant’s rights to freedom of movement, fair hearing and property.
“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the Respondents from further violating the Applicant’s fundamental rights in any manner whatsoever and howsoever without lawful justification.”
On July 28, Justice Gideon Kurada of the Kaduna State High Court acquitted and discharged the leader of the IMN, El- Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenah who had been standing trial in the court for four years and detained since December 2015.
According to Justice Kurada, the case was not proved by the prosecutor.
El-Zakzaky and Zeenah were standing trial on eight counts bordering on alleged culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, disruption of the public peace, among others.
The defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.
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E2%80%94group-seeks ‘Ex-Ogun Governor Amosun Fuelling Crisis In All Progressives Congress Party In Oyo’—Group Seeks Buhari’s Intervention
The United Front (TUF), a group within the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday alleged that a former governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun is fuelling crisis in the Oyo State chapter of the party.
The group alleged that Amosun is working hard to hijack the party’s structure in Oyo.
TUF, therefore, called on President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders of the party to intervene and stop Amosun from causing more crises in the party.
The group stated this in a statement made available to newsmen in Ibadan on Sunday.
It accused Amosun of sponsoring members of the Unity Forum in the state, which include Prof. Adeolu Akande, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, Bayo Shittu, Dr. Ismail Adewusi to divide the party.
“Amosun takes absolute delight in the fragmentation of Oyo APC for the purpose of extending the web of schism he established in Ogun APC to other parts of the South-West. His divisive ego-trip in Oyo State can be traced to the build-up to the 2019 elections when he extensively bankrolled Unity Forum to tear the fabrics of the party’s wholeness apart – a move that triggered the inevitable lacklustre performance of the party in the gubernatorial polls.
“When Oyo APC restricted his petulant kicks aimed at opening cracks in the party’s leadership, Amosun later established a strong foothold in the ADC along with his bedfellows in the Unity Forum to scuttle the chances of his own party. It is on record that he channelled a large junk of Ogun State resources to finance the mobilisation and campaigns of ADC candidate, Senator Femi Lanlehin. However, his dream to glide ADC to power was built on illusionary hopes, as the party fell flat in the senatorial election which made Amosun’s camp to become completely rattled. With no other options up his sleeves, he lent formidable support to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate, Engr Seyi Makinde,” the statement reads in part.
The group also alleged that Amosun had given out a huge amount of money to Unity Forum to allow them to take over the party.
It said, “Recently Amosun’s political hatchet men have returned to the drawing board with a view to sowing seeds of discord among the age-long party faithful. It has been revealed that the former governor has released up to 200
Million Naira to the likes of Prof. Adeolu Akande, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, Barr. Shittu, Senator Ayo Adeseun, and Dr. Ismail Adewusi with a mandate to either take over the party structure in the state or cause endless crises that will mar the chances of the party in the 2023 elections.”
The group while recalling the role played by the former governor during the 2019 general elections in Ogun State said, “Amosun has consistently shown, with his divisive inclination and high-handedness that he lacks the requisites expected of managing a party even at the ward level. We can’t forget in a hurry how he almost succeeded in running Ogun APC into a state of inoperable rigidity, as he openly backed Adekunle Akinlade of APM in the 2019 gubernatorial polls. His eyes are kept on devising the same template in Oyo State.
“We hereby appeal to our revered leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) and all esteemed leaders of APC in the South-West to look critically into all contentious issues in Oyo APC and prioritise oneness of all party members. Oyo APC might start swinging in a downward spiral unless the likes of Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Prof. Adeolu Akande, Barr. Bayo Shittu, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, Dr. Adewusi, Sen. Adeseun, Senator Akanbi and other divisive elements are made to sit out of the party’s affairs.”
The group also urged the APC CECPC to investigate the alleged forgery of sensitive documents by some party chieftains in Oyo State, which led to the postponement of the October 16 state congress in the state.
“APC CECPC must investigate the matter with a view to bringing the erring members of the party to book. Punishment of the fraudulent members will serve as a deterrent,” the statement concluded.
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Lagos Police Make U-turn, Approve #EndSARS Protests, Frown On Road Closures
Lagos State Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has made a U-turn on its earlier warning against any gathering or organisation of protest in commemoration of the first anniversary of last year’s #EndSARS protest in the state.
Addressing journalists on Saturday while monitoring the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state congress election in Lagos, Odumosu described protests as a right citizens are entitled to.
Lagos State Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu.
He added that the state police command would be ready to protect protesters.
Meanwhile, an earlier statement by the Lagos Police Command had said, “The police in the state will not fold their arms and allow some misguided elements disrupt the peace and serenity currently being enjoyed in the state.
“To forestall breakdown of law and order, the police will use all legitimate means within their constitutional powers to suppress the planned protest…”
But Odumosu has made a U-turn, saying the police only want the organisers of such protests to work together and have a meeting point, NAN reports.
He said: “If you want to protest, it is your right under the law but you don’t have to block the road because, in the process of obstructing the road, you are no longer protesting for a better life for people.
“However, what happens to pregnant women in an emergency, what happens to collapsed buildings, fire incidents when the roads are blocked?
“Don’t forget that this is Lagos, it is the economy of the country and it is equally a working day and you can imagine those lives that earn their living on a daily basis.
“There are some people that cannot feed their families when protesters block the road definitely.”
The commissioner appealed to the #EndSARS protesters to give the police adequate information to ensure their protection and free flow of traffic.
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Breaking: Candidates Loyal To Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Buhari Win APC Party Congress In Adamawa
A unity list of candidates, purportedly endorsed by Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Buhari for the State Congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State, is what has decided the winners in the state congress polls.
SaharaReporters gathered that all contestants whose names are on the unity list would shortly be declared winners in the keenly contested state congress in the party.
As things stand and going by the mode of election adopted, ballots so far cast indicate that contestants supported by by the First Lady were those elected at the congress.
For instance, Ibrahim Bilal, state chairman, supported by Aisha Buhari, has scored 1,640 to defeat his keenly contesting rival, Vrati Nzonzo, who garnered 224 votes.
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Groups To Hold Lecture On #EndSARS, Memorial Of Celebrated Murdered Journalist, Dele Giwa
The African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), in partnership with some other bodies will hold a lecture and public presentation in commemoration of the first anniversary of #EndSARS protest on Tuesday.
The lecture and public presentation, in partnership with Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria, National Consultative Front (NCF), PLAYYA and MILID Foundation, will also be about
Remaking Nigeria: Sixty Years, Sixty Voices – a book of sixty essays by sixty young Nigerians which salutes sixty years of Nigeria’s independence and points the way towards a better country.
Chido Onumah, Coordinator of AFRICMIL disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, made available to SaharaReporters.
According to the statement, the event, which will start at 10am at NECA House, Hakeem Balogun Way, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, is themed: “One Year After #EndSARS, 35 Years After Dele Giwa and the Quest to Remake Nigeria.”
The #EndSARS advocacy made global headlines last October when young Nigerians across the country and in major cities around the world embarked on protests against persistent brutality and rights violations by the Nigeria Police Force.
“One year after the protests and the reprehensible violent response by the Nigerian Army which led to the death of unarmed protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, it is important to cast a critical eye on that incident and see what lessons have been learnt and what needs to be done going forward,” Onumah said in the statement on behalf of the group.
Significantly, the first-year remembrance of these protests coincides with the 35th anniversary of the murder via letter bomb of the celebrated journalist, Dele Giwa, editor-in-chief of Newswatch magazine.
“It is a measure of the acute dysfunction of the Nigerian state that till date, no one has been arrested let alone brought to trial for this heinous crime,” Onumah noted.
The statement further read, “All of this and more including the rise of separatist agitations which has fuelled the search for a new direction for the country will be dissected at this event which will be chaired by renowned public intellectual, Prof. Pat Utomi.
“The keynote speaker is the irrepressible human rights lawyer and social crusader, Femi Falana. Other speakers include Richard Akinnola, journalist and executive director, Centre for Free Speech (CFS); Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, founding director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre; and Lanre Arogundade, journalist and executive director, International Press Centre (IPC).
“On hand also is a panel of discussants featuring Motunrayo Alaka, Olanrewaju Ogunmefun (Vector), Inibehe Effiong, Rasheedat Adeshina and Femi Adeyeye. Moderator is Anike-Ade Funke Treasure.”
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E2%80%94-lawyer-ubani Move By Buhari Government To Stop #EndSARS Memorial Protest Is Illogical, Provocative— Lawyer, Ubani Says
A former Second Vice-President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Monday Ubani has described as illogical, efforts by the Nigeria Police and some state governments to stop gatherings in commemoration of the first anniversary of the #EndSARS protest.
In a statement sent to SaharaReporters, Ubani argued that the plan by the youth to organise the protest is in accordance with the provision of the 1999 constitution.
He further advised the Nigeria Police Force, and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu to ensure the protection of protesters.
Ubani’s statement comes amid warnings by the Lagos and Oyo states police commands against protests, saying such gatherings would be repelled.
He wrote, “My attention has been drawn to the threat both by the state government and the Nigerian Police to stop Nigerians from commemorating the EndSARS protest which allegedly claimed several lives last year.
“We emphasize these facts for the umpteenth time that such act of aggression against the citizens’ rights that are guaranteed by the constitution is illegal, illogical and provocative.
“The rights to peaceful assembly and movement including expression are products of the 1999 constitution as amended which remains the grundnorm.
“If there is any law that is meant to derogate from those rights, it has to be a reasonable law made in a democratic society. For now, no such law exists that outlaws the peaceful gathering and free expression of the citizens of Nigeria.
“The Nigerian Police represented by the current Commissioner of Police, Mr Hakeem Odumosu is advised to ensure that those who really want to commemorate the great event in a peaceful manner are given adequate security protection to carry out that basic civic duty.
“May I remind the present government, in case they have forgotten, that governance is not a monologue but a dialogue between the led and their leaders.
“Effective participation and feedback mechanism are powerful instruments that precipitate good governance in a democratic society. Autocracy and unimaginative exclusion of the people in governance have terrible and negative consequences in the country.
“It is my belief that those who intend to commemorate the EndSARS anniversary are knowledgeable enough to know that there are legal consequences for riotous and destructive behaviour under our criminal code.
“Let the people be allowed to freely express themselves, especially now that nobody is sure of those promises the government made over a year ago to carry out reforms on the policing system in Nigeria.
“They need to hear the verdict of the people and it will enable the government to properly assess itself on whether they have kept to their promises. #PeacefulProtestIsMyRight.”
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E2%80%94one-17-american-missionaries-kidnapped-haiti-pleads-whatsapp-message ‘Please Pray For Us’—One Of 17 American Missionaries Kidnapped In Haiti Pleads In WhatsApp Message
No fewer than 17 American missionaries have been reported kidnapped by gang members in Haiti
The incident occurred on Saturday.
The victims comprised at least 14 adults and three minors, a source in Haiti’s security forces told CNN.
The source said more information would be available on Sunday as investigation is ongoing.
The missionaries were travelling by vehicle Saturday to Titanyen, north of the capital Port-au-Prince, after visiting an orphanage in the Croix des Bouquets area. They were abducted along the route between the two places.
According to CNN, it reached out to the Haitian Justice Ministry and the National Police but got no comments.
An Ohio-based Christian aid group called Christian Aid Ministries confirmed the missionaries and family members abducted in Haiti are affiliated with it, according to a report in the Washington Post.
The report quoted a minute-long “prayer alert” from the organisation and a person familiar with the abduction.
The “prayer alert” obtained by the paper stated that “men, women and children” associated with the group were being held by an armed gang.
The minute-long recording confirms those abducted include organisation staff as well as family members who were returning from a site visit to an orphanage in Haiti, according to the report.
“The mission field director and the American embassy are working to see what can be done,” the voice on the recording stated, the Washington Post reported. “Pray that the gang members will come to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.”
CNN said it had reached out directly to the Christian Aid Ministries via email and through the number listed on their website, but had yet to hear back.
One of the abducted missionaries, an American citizen, also posted a call for help in a WhatsApp group as the kidnapping was occurring, the Washington Post reported, quoting a person familiar with the abduction who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
“Please pray for us!! We are being held hostage, they kidnapped our driver. Pray pray pray. We don’t know where they are taking us,” the message said.
It is unclear whether the message was a video or a text sent to the WhatsApp group, neither is there any information on the WhatsApp group itself in the Washington Post’s reporting.
CNN said it could not independently verify the authenticity of the message or the report.
A spokesperson for the US State Department said late Saturday it was aware of the reports.
“The welfare and safety of US citizens abroad is one of the highest priorities of the Department of State. We are aware of these reports and have nothing additional to offer at this time,” the spokesperson said.
Kidnappings have surged in Haiti throughout 2021, with numbers rising nearly 300% since July.
At least 628 kidnappings have taken place since January, of which 29 are of foreigners, according to data released earlier this month by the Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights, a non-profit based in Port-au-Prince.
Earlier this month, Haitian Foreign Minister Claude Joseph called on the United Nations Security Council to strengthen the mandate of the UN special political mission in his country to help ensure security and protection for civilians, according to a UN news release.
“These are the legitimate expectations of the people who have suffered enough from gang violence, kidnapping and widespread crime,” Joseph said.
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VIRAL VIDEO: Nigeria Police Arrest Officers Who Extorted, Assaulted Passengers Along Expressway In Kogi
The Kogi State Police Command has arrested and detained four of its personnel over alleged extortion of N25,000 from a traveller and physical assault on another along Adogo-Okene Road.
Part of the atrocities was captured in a viral video.
The offending officers were identified as ASP Isah Barnabas, Inspector Ifediegwu Godwin, Sergeant Emmanuel Ochima and Corporal Umameh Mathias, who was alleged to have physically assaulted one of the travellers.
This was made known in a statement issued by the command’s spokesman, William Aya on behalf of the state police commissioner, Idrisu Dauda Dabban.
According to the statement, the command had also launched an investigation into the viral video showing the high-handedness of the police personnel attached to Adogo Division.
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Viral Video: Nigeria’s Police Inspector-General Orders Investigation Into Police Assault On Passenger Along Express Road In Kogi
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He said ASP Barnabas had been issued an official query while the three junior officers were currently undergoing an Orderly Room Trial (police internal disciplinary action).
The statement reads: “The Kogi State Police Command has commenced investigations into a trending video where Police personnel attached to Adogo Division, while on patrol duty along Adogo-Okene Road, reportedly extorted the sum of Twenty-Five Thousand Naira (N25,000) from a traveller while another was physically assaulted by one of the men in uniform.
“The Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Police Command, CP Idrisu Dauda Dabban, psc (+), fdc, while condemning the incident, noted that the Police officers have been identified and detained at the State Criminal Investigations Department.TRENDING VIDEO: Police Officers Assault, Threaten To Shoot Bus Passengers In Kogi FULL VIDEO: pic.twitter.com/YYFshYutTT— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) October 17, 2021
“The officers are: ASP Isah Barnabas, Inspector Ifediegwu Godwin, Sgt Emmanuel Ochima and CPL Umameh Mathias who physically assaulted one of the travellers.
“The Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) has been issued an official query while the three (3) other junior officers are currently undergoing orderly room trial (Police internal disciplinary actions).
”The CP further noted that the Command is doing its best to establish contact with the victims. He enjoined the victims to reach out to the Command through 08107899269.
“He assured that any of the officers found wanting in the investigations would be dealt with accordingly.”
The development comes after the video showing the assault had now gone viral.
The video shows the moment an armed police officer slapped a passenger travelling in a commercial bus.
In the video, a man explains that a team of police officers stopped a commercial bus to carry out a search.
During their search, they found a laptop with a man who said he was a student and used the laptop for his assignments. The man claimed the officers did not believe the student and demanded a bribe of N25, 000.
In his account, one of the officers removed his uniform and took the student to a point-of-sale operator where they made the student withdraw N25, 000 and handed it over to them as they did not want it transferred to any of their accounts to avoid detection.
He further claimed that when one of the passengers frowned on the intimidation, extortion, and threat by one of the officers to shoot, the officer got angry and slapped the man.
The officer further threatened that if he cocked his gun, nothing would happen.
The man claimed the police officer threatened that blood would flow if they did not caution themselves.
He said, “Look at what Nigerian police is doing to the citizens of this country, they forced a fellow passenger to get into their car to the ATM to withdraw money. All the drivers parked and condemned it. He has come now and started slapping. He slapped a passenger because the man asked him why will they follow a passenger to the POS.
“Look at his face, he said he will kill, he said blood will flow if they don’t take time. We are here in Kogi State.”
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Nigerian Music Star, Falz Mobilises Youths For October 20 #EndSARS Memorial Protest At Felabration Festival
Nigerian rapper, Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, has urged young people to disregard police threats against the protest planned in commemoration of the #EndSARS movement come October 20.
Falz stated this during the ongoing Felabration, the annual festival of music and arts, celebrating the life, times and legacy of the late legendary singer, Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
He said in pidgin English, “October 20 don dey come like this, for your information, police commissioner say make we stay inside, una hear abi una no hear? Them go dey disguise. They said on that very day, make we no commot. Dem dey craze? No matter how many them be. As I dey talk to you now, police don station for toll gate. Una go commot abi una no go commot? They no born them… (October 20 is coming; for your information, the police commissioner has said we should stay inside. Have you heard that? They said on that day, we should not go out to protest; they are crazy. It does not matter how many police personnel they bring. Already, police officers have been stationed at Lekki Toll Gate. Will you go out to protest or not? They dare not…)”
His comment comes as the Lagos and Oyo states police commands warned protesters against protesting, saying such would be repelled.
Nigerian Music Star, Falz Mobilises Youths For October 20 #EndSARS Memorial Protest At #Felabration2021 Festival #EndSARSMemorial pic.twitter.com/m6rvlUdt4t— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) October 17, 2021
A statement from the Lagos State Police Command stated, “The police in the state will not fold their arms and allow some misguided elements disrupt the peace and serenity currently being enjoyed in the state.
“To forestall breakdown of law and order, the police will use all legitimate means within their constitutional powers to suppress the planned protest…”
A statement signed by the Oyo State Police Command spokesperson, Adewale Osifeso, which was made available to journalists said parents, guardians and leaders that wield various degrees of influence in religious, educational and traditional capacities are passionately advised to warn their wards and proteges against being used by merchants of anarchy, as violators would be thoroughly sanctioned and prosecuted.
Meanwhile, groups planning to commemorate the first anniversary of the #EndSARS protest on October 20, have vowed not to back down despite repeated warnings by police authorities.
Falz had earlier alleged that the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was plotting to organise concerts with celebrities to distract youths from participating in the #EndSARS remembrance event.
Popular Instagram comedian, Debo Adedayo, also known as Macaroni, had earlier taken a swipe at celebrities for accepting Sanwo-Olu’s invitation to perform at a concert meant to hold days before the Lekki shooting anniversary.
Macaroni, who rebuked celebrities for refusing to speak up against the government’s move to quell planned #EndSARS memorial events, charged them to rethink their association with the government.
Falz also alleged that the Lagos State governor planned to use the concert as a distraction to prevent the youths from participating in the EndSARS memorial event.
He noted that the police were already at the Lekki tollgate to restrict Nigerian youths from exercising their fundamental human rights.
“As I type this, there is already a heavy police presence at the Lekki toll gate. Best thing they could come up with is organising ‘concerts’ to try and distract us from remembering the real heroes in all of this. The people they murdered,” the music star in an Instagram post said.
Falz, who insisted that the youths would not be silenced, lamented that justice had yet to be served to individuals that suffered brutality in the hands of the police before, during and after the #EndSARS protest.
Falz’s social media post followed Landmark Event Centre’s refusal to allow its premises to be used for the “SoroSoke” summit, an event put together to mark the first anniversary of the Lekki tollgate shootings.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that an event centre in Lagos, Landmark event centre in Lagos, Landmark Centre cancelled #EndSARS Summit scheduled to hold there later in October.
Tagged Sorosoke Summit, the event was expected to hold at the venue on October 20, 2021, to commemorate the first anniversary of last year’s #EndSARS protest and honour the lives of protesters who were killed or injured during the demonstration, especially at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos.
The keynote speaker billed to grace the event is the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II.
However, the event, which was billed to start by 11.30am Wednesday, October 20, 2021, has been cancelled by the management of the event centre.
About the planned event, Banks Omisore had earlier tweeted, “We need to have honest conversations of the event surrounding 10/20/21. @OoniAdimulaIfe will be the keynote speaker.
“What really happened? Who opened fire? Did people die at Lekki toll gate? Who was responsible? What happened to the #5for5 demands? Is #EndSARS still an issue?”
However, the organisers of the event have noted that the cancellation by the event centre will not stop them from going ahead with it.
“We invite everyone to come to LekkiTollGate for the memorial,” one of them told SaharaReporters.
On the night of October 20, 2020, Nigerian soldiers opened fire on peaceful #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate, killing an unspecified number of people and injuring many others.
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E2%80%94group-tackles-kwara You Used To Love Our Reports As Opposion Party Member, Now You Condemn Us—Group Tackles Kwara Governor
A civil society organisation, Elites Network for Sustainable Development (ENetSuD) has debunked claims made by the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq associating it with opposition parties in the state.
In a statement by Alagbonsi Abdullateef, the Coordinator of the group, ENetSuD said it is unfortunate that the governor is associating the group with the opposition and questioning its integrity.
The CSO was reacting to a statement credited to the governor in a news report. In the interview, the Governor was quoted as saying, “The first step was to invite a CSO ENetSuD to join us. We took all our files and gave it to them. From tender documents to payments, there is nothing to hide. But we’ve noticed that what the opposition is doing now is to use the CSOs to attack us because they know that they cannot attack us because they don’t have the locus to attack us.
“So, they are attacking the government on water, what did you do on infrastructure? What did you do? So the more CSOs we open up to, the more attacks we get from them. It’s making us to say, fine. Instead of dealing with CSOs, let’s deal with communities. Let communities take over their projects and inspect their projects. It’d be nice to become Number One on the transparency index, but it’s a tough challenge.”
The group, however, said it was not working for any government but for the public, albeit in partnership with the government.
“That the opposition political parties use our reports to criticise the government does not make us being (sic) used by the opposition,” it said as it queried why the governor had not made the allegation when he was in the opposition.
The statement reads partly, “Our attention has been drawn to the recent interview of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State by Thisday Newspaper where he made comments on the Transparency efforts of his administration using Social Audit as a case study…
“We wish to state that while the intention of the Governor to initiate Social Audit in Kwara was novel and commendable (which informed our decision to partner with the government and accept the initiative), he has not been able to sustain it for reasons best known to him.
“It is rather unfortunate that the Governor has started associating us with his political oppositions. It is a statement that we never expected from a great personality like His Excellency, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. We will continue to assume that he might have been quoted out of context by the media platform.
“For clarity, ENetSuD is not working for the government. Rather, we work for the public (citizens) but partner with the government to achieve a quick (and reform-oriented) result in the public interest. That the opposition political parties use our reports to criticise the government does not make us being (sic) used by the opposition.
“Opposition is a part of the public and constructive criticism is part of democracy. We do not have any control over what anybody (including the opposition) uses our report for.
“ENetSuD wishes to remind the Governor that what the present opposition is doing with our reports is what his administration (when his political party was in the opposition before the 2019 election) also did with our reports. They enjoyed our reports that time without seeing anything bad in using them against the past administration.
“We wonder who was using us among the actors of the present administration (who were in opposition then). Was the Governor, who was the opposition candidate then, also using us?
“He knows inside him that the answer is NO, as we never had any relationship with him or other actors during that period. At that time, the past administration was also alleging that we were working for the opposition (now in government).
“We do not understand why the Governor is feeling disappointed in the opposition’s actions, as he (and his party) had also done the same before the 2019 election. However, posterity will judge us.
“The singular fact that neither the government nor the opposition is able to claim ownership of ENetSuD is a clear indication that we are not for any of them, but only for the Kwara citizens. This is a fulfilment for us.
“What we expect the Governor to be informing the public (about) now is the actions his administration has taken on all the 5 projects that our Social Audit reports have alleged various forms of corruption.
“On the 5 projects we have audited whose total contract sum is worth ?7,276,945,817, we have reported questionable spendings worth over ?970 million. For instance, we queried ?751,551,647 that was padded into the Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation (BEME) of Ilesha-Baruba-Gwanara Road to inflate its contract sum.
“We also queried ?53,511,673 on inflated contract sum and unexecuted works at Patigi Secondary School. In addition, we queried ?16,676,430 on unexecuted works at the College of Education Road in Ilorin.
“The queried items worth ?107,803,155 on Geri-Alimi underpass is there. Lastly, we recently reported how the contract sum of Government High School, Ilorin was inflated with the insertion of irrelevant items worth ?40,530,208.
“As at the time of writing this statement, the administration of Governor AbdulRahman, despite being the initiator of the Social Audit that we sincerely executed out-of-pocket without collecting a kobo, has neither informed nor updated ENetSuD (and the general public) about what the government has done on all these corruption-related allegations amounting to over ?970 million.
“However, this will not stop us from taking other lawful steps to ensure that further actions are taken by the relevant anti-graft agencies at the appropriate time on all the financial crimes we have noticed on these (and other) projects if there are facts that no action is taken by the government. It is a matter of time and we are waiting.
“We wonder how a government that initiated Social Audit in good faith and sought partnership with ENetSuD (an anti-corruption Civil Society Organisation) will receive reports of our Audits and keep mute on the reports and actions that have been taken so far if any. To the best of our knowledge, we do not have a piece of official information on what the government has done to address these allegations in our reports.
“We urge the Governor to advance his understanding of fighting systemic corruption, as the current model of fighting corruption in silence is not a good practice but rather promoting corruption in the system.
“He may choose to use the actions he has taken so far on our reports to convince the public that he is truly ready to fight systemic corruption. The simplest way to win the public sympathy and trust and silence the opposition is to provide empirical evidence (to the public) that the alleged corruption has been satisfactorily addressed by the government.”
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SaharaReporters, New York
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