Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Thursday 4th November 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 04/11/21
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How Lagos Government Lied Owner Of Collapsed Building Had Approval For 21 Storeys And Not 15 Floors
The Lagos State Government only approved the construction of 15 storeys for the recently collapsed 21-storey building in the Ikoyi axis of the state despite initial denial, SaharaReporters can report.
There have been controversies over the actual structure approved for construction after the building collapsed on Monday, leaving several people dead.
On Monday, Gbolahan Oki, the immediate-past general manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), had claimed that the government approved 15 floors for the 21-storey building.
“He got approval for a 15-storey building and he exceeded his limit. I am on the ground here and the materials he used are so inferior and terrible,” Oki had said.
But addressing journalists at the site of the collapsed building on Tuesday, Obafemi Hamzat, the deputy governor, said the owner of the building got approval for 21 floors.
He had said, “This particular one was approved for 21 floors, not 15. If you count, the second building was 14 or 15. The approval was done about three years ago, it is not something new, it is the construction that failed apparently from what we can see.”
The deputy governor also confirmed the earlier sealing of the building by the state government over poor construction.
He had added: “It was sealed from June. It was sealed because the agency came in to do a structural test, they saw some abnormalities, so they shut it down for those things to be corrected.
“They were taking corrective actions when this (collapse) happened.”
In a document, obtained by SaharaReporters, however, it was revealed that only 15 floors were actually approved for the project.
The Development Permit, dated April 2019, was approved by the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) on 09/04/2019.
It reads partly, “For Fourscore Height Limited, 44 B,C,D Gerrard Road, Ikoyi. Permission under the provisions of the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2010 Physical Development Regulations to erect a residential 15 floors building at 44 B, C, D Gerrard Road, Ikoyi (West).”
It further said, “(a) The Planning Permit granted shall become invalid where development has (2) years of the grant of such permit unless the permit is revalidated by the Authority.
“(b) Every developer shall, on the procurement of his permit proceed to Lagos State Building Control Agency, to give notice of his or her intention to commence Development at Oba Akinjobi Way, Old Secretariat, GRA, Ikeja.
“(c) The Subject site shall be clearly demarcated in accordance with the site plan and be made ready for Development. (d) The developer must complete Form C at all stages of construction and submit the same to Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).
“(e) Non Compliance with the approved planning permit as designed will void the permit, and the development will be regarded as illegal.
“(f) The Developer shall engage the services of relevant registered professionals in the construction and supervision of the building, and submit the particulars of the professionals to LABSCA. (g) A developer of any building above two (2) floors shall insure his/her liability in respect of construction risks and submit a Certified True Copy (C.T.C) of such Insurance Policy Certification with his/her Development Permit to LASBCA
“(h) The owner of the building shall not occupy or permit same to be occupied before obtaining a certificate of fitness for habitation from Lagos State Building Control Agency stating that the building is fit for human habitation.
“(1) Other conditions (please see attached document).
“Failure to comply with any of the above conditions shall attract necessary sanctions on the building in line with the provisions of the extant law.”
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VIDEOS: Villagers Torture, Brutalise Man, Wife, Others In Barbaric Manner In Abia Community Over Alleged Murder, Kill One
Some people including a family in the Isiala Ngwa Local Government Area of Abia State have suffered a despicable form of treatment that will horrify anyone with any shred of decency or humanity.
One of the victims of the heinous crime is dead while the others can only be said to be existing and not truly living.
SaharaReporters learnt the victims include Ezumezu Chiemela Onyenma of Ihieorji Ngwa Ukwu village; his wife, Mrs Best; his niece, Miss Mkpuruoma Onyenma; Ubaeze Chiemela Onyenma; one Nnabugwu Godwin Njoku; Chinweuba Nwokeleme and one Nze O. O. Ogwuma.
Videos obtained by SaharaReporters show how some of the victims were put through some of the worst forms of inhumane treatments, which eventually led to the death of one of them, Njoku. The abuse and brutalisation of the victims were said to have been carried out following allegations that Chiemela Onyenma murdered his brother, Otuosorochi Onyenma.
It was learnt that the others were abused and assaulted along with Chiemela Onyenma because of their association or relationship with him. Some of them shared the heavy dose of assault because they attempted to defend Chiemela Onyenma.
It all started with allegations by villagers that Chiemela Onyenma killed his brother, Otuosorochi, using juju (charms).
He and others, including his wife, were held hostage, then their house was looted and razed.
It was learnt that on Sunday, September 5, 2021, a community member identified as Sunday Njoku had invited Chiemela Onyenma for a meeting at the Ihieorji village hall on Monday, September 13 concerning his family (Onyenma’s).But when Chiemela Onyenma, in company with his niece, Mkpuruoma Onyenma got to the village hall, it did not look like a meeting venue but a slaughterhouse.
What they met were villagers, including the village head, Monday Dike, with weapons. And not long after, Dike allegedly instigated others to attack Chiemela Onyenma over allegations that he was responsible for his brother’s death.
It was learnt that in the process, Chiemela Onyenma’s niece, Mkpuruoma was also assaulted and brutalised. She was beaten up for trying to prevent an imminent assault on her uncle, Chiemela Onyenma. Her clothes were said to have been torn and her mobile phone taken by the assailants.
A good Samaritan identified as Nze Ogwuma, who had also tried to intervene was said to have been assaulted.
Eventually, some persons were able to sneak Chiemela Onyenma out of the place, leaving Mkpuruoma and Ogwuma to suffer more assault and injuries.
But it did not end there.
On Monday, September 27, some angry villagers stormed Chiemela Onyenma’s home and took him, his wife, Godwin Njoku and Chinweuba Nwokeleme hostage.
The assailants destroyed their properties and from there, the village head, Dike, was said to have initiated their transfer to an uninhabited building in a remote part of the village called Uzoiyi to torture them.
At the makeshift torture chamber, they were beaten, brutalised and assaulted,
One of them, Godwin Njoku later died from injuries sustained during the horrible experience.
One of the videos shows Godwin Njoku crying in pain as the assailants tortured him, by making melted rubber as it was being burnt to drip on his head.
Another video shows a man standing on the back of one of the victims, whose head was placed on a tyre rim like he was being prepared to be slaughtered.
Njoku allegedly died from his injuries the following night, Tuesday, September 28, with his remains reportedly taken in a wheelbarrow and put in a Toyota vehicle driven by one Chizuruoke Nwogu.
Nwogu and some others were said to have taken his corpse to an unknown location, probably for burial in a shallow grave.
Meanwhile, three remaining hostages Chiemela Onyenma, Ubaeze Chiemela Onyenma and Ephraim Nwokeleme were said to have been left at Osusu, a village adjoining Ihieorji.
Later, Chiemela Onyenma’s son, identified as Obinna went to get his father and stepmother at Osusu, from where they were taken to a private hospital – Ronald Hospital in the same local government area.
It was learnt that policemen from the state Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CIID) had visited the hospital to talk to Chiemela Onyenma and his wife, Best.
Denying that he killed his brother, Chiemela Onyenma said, “When I got to the village hall that day, I met so many people, including chiefs like me with weapons.
“I asked them why they had weapons, they said nothing was wrong and that they had gathered because of my family’s case. They said they learnt that I was the one who killed my brother, Otuosorochi Onyema. I asked them what I used in killing him- was it a knife or a gun? They said I killed him with juju (Nshi). I told them I didn’t kill anybody. If I killed someone, it will be the government that will be judging the case, not in the village hall.
“The chairman suggested that they make inquiry into what killed him. When they came back, they still insisted that I killed him with charms.”
According to him, one of his brothers identified as Iheoma Onyenma had paid some thugs N600,000 and given them a goat to make them carry out the atrocities they did and hold him responsible for his brother’s death.
He, therefore, called on the state government and other relevant authorities to look into the crisis in his community and assist in paying their medical bills.
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Boko Haram Fighters Ambush Nigerian Security Operatives, Kill Two Policemen, One Soldier, Injure Many Others
Militants of the Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), formerly known as Jam?’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jih?d, have killed two policemen and a soldier during an ambush in Borno State.
Multiple military sources told SaharaReporters that the attack took place in Malam Fatori, the headquarters of Abadam Local Government Area of the state.
The dead officers were said to be members of a joint security team conducting clearance operations in the community.
An unspecified number of soldiers and policemen also sustained injuries in the attack while several weapons and ammunition belonging to the team were taken away, one of the sources said.
He said the insurgents in their hundreds ambushed the team who were on a clearance patrol in the area.
The attack comes a few weeks after the insurgents killed over 25 soldiers who were also on patrol in the Monguno area of Borno State.
Monguno is North, about 70km drive from Maiduguri, the state capital, and hosts thousands of Internally Displaced Persons mostly from Dikwa and Marte council areas.
“At least 25 soldiers have been confirmed dead, the authorities have contacted some of their families, their bodies are already deposited at the morgue,” a source had told SaharaReporters.
Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province, have killed thousands and displaced millions in North-Eastern Nigeria.
The Nigerian military has repeatedly claimed that the insurgency had been largely defeated and frequently underplays any losses.
In the past months, soldiers have been targeted by insurgents.
Over 500 soldiers and officers have been reportedly killed since January 2021.
At least 33 soldiers were killed early in the year when two vehicles loaded with explosives rammed into a military convoy in Wulgo.
The suicide bombers were identified as Abu Bakr al-Siddiq and Bana Jundullah. The group also claimed four military vehicles were destroyed.
In February, about 20 soldiers were also killed in Malari, Borno State by the insurgents.
SaharaReporters gathered that the soldiers were on patrol to clear some Boko Haram elements in the area following a credible intelligence when they were ambushed by the group.
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Nigerian Army Warns Soldiers Against Taking Photos, Videos During Operations
The Nigerian Army has warned soldiers against filming their operations while on assignment.
The army gave the warning in a statement signed by K.O Bukoye on behalf of Farouk Yahaya, the Chief of Army Staff.
According to the army, the practice, which it said had become prevalent in recent times contradicts its social media policy and portends dangers for the troops.
It called on its various commands to sensitize troops on the need to desist from indulging in such acts.
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The statement read, “Recent happening reveals that troops are still in the habit of taking pictures and videos while conducting operations. This habit has become worrisome as it goes contrary to the social media policy and also portends dire consequences, especially for the personal security of troops.
“It will be recalled that several directives have been given with regards to the aforementioned. This continued act, therefore, suggests the need for continuous sensitization of troops at various theatres.
“In view of the foregoing, I am directed to respectfully request you direct formations and units under your command to continually sensitize troops to desist from taking pictures or videos of operational engagement in their various AQRS. Please treat as important and acknowledge.”
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Residents Seek Healthcare Under Trees As Lawmaker Diverts N25m Rehabilitation Funds
Ovuorie Health Centre, Ugbawka
The labour room
Chinonye Onodugo clinches her three-year-old daughter—she sits on a wooden bench—waiting to be attended to by a community health worker under a mango tree. Her daughter has been feverish and needs to be attended to, but there is no other place to seek medical help than a dilapidated health centre in the community.
The mango tree, for the past two years, has served as the waiting, consulting and dispensing rooms for the only health centre at Ugbawka in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State. It serves three other communities: Amafor, Akpa and Umuizu.
There are four wooden benches, all unkempt and faded due to the impacts of rainfall and sun, and then a few plastic chairs and a table where health workers attend to patients.
Onodugu is one of the few villagers who still keep faith in the dilapidated Ugbawka Health Centre—many others have stopped consulting the centre since it now looks like a war-ravaged building with no roof and everything that makes a functional health care facility.
“We have no option,” Mrs Onodugo laments. “I gave birth to my daughter in this health centre. The labour room is like a home of mad people: no mattresses. The only mattress of the centre is brought during labour from a neighbouring house where it is hidden. The only cover during child delivery is a green curtain.
The labour room
“If not for the hardship in the country, I wonder why anybody would come to this health centre to access health services.”
An Eyesore Called Health CentreOvuorie Health Centre, as it is called by locals, serves the densely populated community, believed to be over 4, 000. For two years, the facility has been abandoned, though there are workers still attending to a few people that come once in a while.
On that Tuesday, two community health workers (CHEW) were on ground to attend to Onodugu. They only work at the centre because they are passionate about the work and because, according to them, they are not owed salaries, but where they work is an eyesore.
“We beg whoever cares to come to our rescue,” one of the CHEW said while pleading not to be named. “This health centre has been dilapidated for years. It has no roof; in fact, there is nothing here.
“We, however, attend to patients on a daily basis. Health centres are still the cheapest place for health care services in Enugu State. We carry out immunisation and antenatal services. We also treat primary ailments, and make referrals as the case may be. Many patients access this centre. About four of us work here daily. One lives here to attend to emergencies.”
Locals and the health workers say the centre used to receive about 20 patients each day, but the number has since dropped as there are no facilities at the centre again. More worrisome, the only toilet in the centre now doubles as its store. It also serves as an emergency room, one of the workers at the centre revealed.
“We have qualified health workers, save for facilities,” said the senior health worker. “Our vaccines are stored at the solar-powered freezer located at Amuzam health centre. It is not very far from here. We have a store behind, which used to be a toilet anyway.
“Our other facilities are kept in nearby houses. We are ashamed because the owners of those houses have been asking us to remove those things, such as mattresses, bedspread, refrigerators, injection materials, among others.
“We are not owed salaries, but the basic thing is lacking. Health is a priority, so when we see the environment we treat sick people, we feel ashamed.”
The moribund facility has five rooms, including a waiting room, a consulting room, labour room, pharmacy and an office. However, none of them are functional. Disused iron beds, buckets, chairs, among others, dot every nook and cranny of the building.
One of the workers said, “In fact, many of what we had here were stolen by unknown people. Others were removed by scavengers. Gradually, everything went away. This hospital is just a skeleton of its own. We have cried enough.”
A native of the area, John Amuka, said, “We thought that hope had come when the incumbent council chairman began to re-roof the health centre. We praised him for the intervention because before him, no one ever did that.
“Unfortunately, the project has been abandoned for close to one year. Ordinarily, the reconstructing of the health centre should not take a reasonable and determined local government administration more than two weeks to complete,” Amuka added, apparently losing confidence in the local government chairman’s intervention.
On what happens when rains fall, a patient, Amaka Ukwueze, said, “We run to shops opposite this centre. Even the workers are not spared. It has become a norm. But traders laugh at us. They asked us to tell the government to repair the health centre.
“This place is also a home to mosquitoes and some poisonous rodents. We are at their mercy.”
Villagers now patronize private health care facilities, which are expensive and most times parade incompetent personnel.
Eucharia Okii, mother of one, said she had resorted to a private hospital since the community’s health centre became dilapidated. “I can’t go to where snakes can bite me and my baby while in search of good health.
“I want the government to repair that place. Many people around here can’t afford medical services at private hospitals. That is why rehabilitation of this health centre has become necessary.”
Ezekiel Eze, a tricycle rider, said, “I can’t go there again. I told my wife to be going to another health centre. At a time, the roof was even trying to fall. That was before the intervention of the council chairman. It is a deathtrap both in structure and facilities.”
A patient, who declined to give her name, still has confidence in the centre. She said, “Even though the facilities are in bad shape, some of us are happy because the workers are hard working.
“They do their best in the face of all these challenges. I also believe members of the community should contribute funds to fix the centre because it serves all of us one way or the other.”
The law establishing health centres in Enugu State shows that they are under the care of local governments, although the state ministry of health supervises them.
In 2020, the authorities of Nkanu East LGA attempted to rebuild the hospital. The council, under the leadership of Uche Nwobodo, only put woods on the building without roofing it. One year later, the woods were old and were giving in to the effects of rainfall and sun.
When contacted, the council chairman, Nwobodo, in a terse message, said, “I will complete it.”
But locals are doubtful as his tenure in the local government will end in 2022.
Despite its poor state, the health centre provides immunisation services every Friday while pregnant women come for antenatal services on Tuesdays.
Lawmaker Diverts Fund Meant For RehabilitationSuccor would have come the way of the abandoned primary health care centre as it was captured in the 2021 Appropriation Act. In the document, the rehabilitation of the health centre is under Zonal Intervention Projects (ZIP).
According to the document released by the Budget Office, “N25million was budgeted in the 2021 FG budget under 2021/ZIP/1199 for the Rehabilitation Of Health Centre At Ugbawka In Nkanu West/East Federal Constituency. This project is to be executed by PRODA (Projects Development Institute).”
But findings revealed that Hon Nnolim Nnaji, a member of the House of Representatives, who is also a pharmacist, representing Nkanu East/Nkanu West Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, facilitated the budget allocation to the primary health care centre.
Checks by our correspondent, as contained in the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), show that code W302 is for the Rehabilitation of the Health Centre at Ugbawka in Nkanu East/West Federal Constituency of Enugu State.
Further findings revealed that there has been a 75 per cent mobilisation for the rehabilitation of the centre, but no work has been done and no one in the community was aware of the budgetary allocation.
When contacted to find out why the health centre has not received a facelift, the lawmaker, who those in the know said has diverted the fund into other purposes, said the fund was diverted to another important project that was incomplete. He also questioned the knowledge of the reporter about the operations of ZIP.
Quoting him, “Do you know about ZIP? Do you know if the contract has been awarded? Do you know how the project entered the budget? Can a contract (sic) execute a project without mobilization?”
He said ZIP is his money as a member of the House and he has used part of the money for another project which this newspaper found out to be an empowerment project.
“ZIP is my money as a Rep member and I decided to use part of it to complete the project started by Dame Rex Onyeabor and possibly other women of Ugbawka,” he said.
Nnaji, however, said the rehabilitation contract had been awarded to someone from the community who has not commenced work on the project: “It has been awarded to someone from Ugbawka to complete the building. He got the award letter a few days ago and is waiting for mobilisation. Let’s give him time.”
Community Leaders Plead For InterventionChristian Chukwu, the traditional prime minister of the community, appealed for immediate rebuilding of the centre.
He said, “That health centre is covering our area, even though we have another one at Ishienu. I appeal to the government to come to our aid. Ovuorie is the centre of Ugbawka. People of Amafor, Akpa and Umuizu access that centre for their health needs. Our women go there for their antenatal care.
“Because of the situation at the centre, many people now do not go there. Some even resorted to not attending antenatal at all, which is dangerous. The officer in-charge of that place is known for her industry. But the look of that place has demoralised her. Patients that go there leave with dissatisfaction. She was hard working when she headed the health centre at Ishienu.
Ovuorie Health Centre, Ugbawka
“I appeal to the government to roof that building even if nothing can be done there again. That is the heart of Ugbawka. That building existed before the war, and got dilapidated. It was rebuilt over 20 years ago by Fr Michael, who happens to be my brother.”
Ebuka Okoh, the president of the Nigerian Youth Council, Enugu State chapter, and a native of the community, said, “We have other health centres aside from the one at Ovuorie. It is located at Ogonogo Ohuno. They are the only two health centres in the entire Ugbawka. But they are in shambles.
“Health centres are essential in communities because they are cheaper and affordable to locals. I appeal to the concerned authorities to uplift that health centre. The environment itself is unkempt. The government should also post resident doctors, or at least visiting doctors to ensure quality health care.”
– This story was produced in partnership with Civic Media Lab under Grass-roots News Project
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Group Demands Release Of Ekiti Community Leader Illegally Arrested Over Abduction Of Six People
The Nigerian Human Rights Community (NHRC) has demanded the release of Ilesanmi Adepoju, a 53-year-old man illegally arrested over the abduction of six people in Itapaji town of Ekiti State.
In a statement on Wednesday by its secretary-general, Taye Adeleye, the group said Adepoju had been denied access to his family members for six days.
The community leader, who is a hunter and security officer at the town’s water corporation, was said to have been arrested by soldiers on October 27.
His arrest had come after six people were abducted by kidnappers in the town.
The group said, “The soldiers did not give any reason for his arrest. Adepoju has been kept without access to his family members for six days and his family is not sure about his health or access to food.”
The group said Ekiti State had maintained impressive human rights records in recent times, noting that the arrest of Adepoju by soldiers is an embarrassment to the progress recorded.
The statement read, “Ekiti has reached remarkable milestones in human rights, almost the best in Nigeria. The action of the soldiers is out of the ring of honor already built by the current leaders of Ekiti State. We urge the soldiers to subject themselves to the civil authority in the state.”
The group said Adepoju was arrested during the search for the kidnappers, raising suspicion about the motive of the soldiers.
It added that although the soldiers claimed they were able to establish, through google mapping, that the kidnappers passed through the Itapaji Dam where Adepoju worked as a security official, that was not enough to arrest and keep him in detention for close to one week without access to his lawyers or members of this family.
It added, “We confirm that Mr. Adepoju is a community leader who has kept an amazing record of honesty and truthfulness in his locality. His arrest came as a shock to the community. Instead of arresting the kidnappers, the soldiers went after an innocent citizen. This appears a clear case of overzealousness and an attempt to scapegoat the community.”
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Take It Back Movement Accuses Delta Police Commissioner of Stalling Probe Into Abduction, Trafficking Of Children Through Police Stations
Pro-democracy group, Take It Back Movement, has accused the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Ali Mohammed Ari, of stalling the probe into the alleged kidnapping and trafficking of over ten thousand children by the police stations in the state. The group had petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, that some Delta State children have been missing for the past 30 years.
According to the petition dated 10th October 2021, TIB claimed that these children were trafficked with the support of various police divisions and commands across the state from 1991 to date. It also alleged that since the approval was given by the IGP on the investigation, Ari has been using delay tactics. This was contained in a statement issued by TIB State Coordinator, Delta State Chapter, Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho, obtained by SaharaReporters on Wednesday. The statement is titled, “CP Delays In Carrying Out IGP’s Order On The Investigation Of Thousands Of Children Allegedly Abducted And Trafficked Through Police Stations In Delta.’ It read, “The Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Ali Mohammed Ari, has yet to carry out the order of the Inspector General of Police mandating him to investigate and possibly locate the whereabouts of over ten thousand children allegedly abducted and trafficked through police divisions and commands of the Delta State Police Command from 1991, the year of creation of Delta State till date. “Via a petition dated 10th October 2021, titled, “In the case of the alleged abduction and trafficking of over ten thousand children through the Delta State Police Command,” written by Take It Back Delta State Chapter, the Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman, had directed the Delta State Commissioner of Police, through a letter dated 14/10/2021, referenced IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.557/184 to deal with the allegation contained in the said petition. “The letter reads in part: ‘Attached herewith is a copy of the letter dated 10th October 2021 received from Take It Back (TIB) on the above-underlined subject, the inspector –General Police directs that you deal….”, the letter stated. The letter was signed by CP Idowu Owohunwa, the Principal Staff Officer to the Inspector-General of Police. “It will be recalled that Take It Back (TIB), Delta State chapter, in a petition dated 10/10/2021, had alleged that thousands of children were abducted and trafficked through divisions and commands of the Delta State Police Command, from 1991, the creation of Delta State, till date. “Find attached the soft copy of the said petition dated 10/10/2021 addressed to the IGP.”
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Sowore Tackles Malami’s Proxy Over Suit Challenging SaharaReporters Story on Justice Minister’s Lavish Lifestyle
A human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has told a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to dismiss a defamatory suit filed against him and SaharaReporters, an online newspaper, by a civil society group, Incorporated Trustee of Global Integrity Crusade Network, on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN).
The group had, on July 20, 2020, in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/816/2020, dragged Sahara Reporters, Vanguard Media Limited, and two others before the court, demanding N2bn from them over alleged defamatory publications.
Saharareporters had, on August 9, 2021, exposed the extravagant lifestyle of the justice minister in its publications: Purchasing a multi-million mansion in Abuja and erecting another N100m property in Kebbi State for his newly married son, Abdulaziz, Malami.
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It was also reported that the AGF has an underground hotel in Sokoto, three houses at Peace Estate, Abuja, a brand new state-of-the-art school in Kebbi, two houses for his sons worth N100 million each, and a new hotel under construction in the Jabi area of Abuja. Malami also bought a house in 2020 worth N150 million in the Gwarimpa area of Abuja.
The group, which joined Omoyele Sowore and Kabiru Akingbolu as co-defendants, asked the court to compel the defendants to jointly pay Malami N2bn as compensation for the trauma, emotional stress, and injury suffered by the AGF due to the alleged publications.
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At the resumed hearing of the case before Justice Obiora Egwuatu on Wednesday, counsel to Sowore and Saharareporters, Abubakar Marshal, asked the court to decline jurisdiction in the matter on the ground that the applicant brought the matter under a faulty foundation.
Marshal argued that the suit was an abuse of court process and cannot be brought in pursuance to Section 251 of the 1999 constitution which vested powers in the federal high court to adjudicate on matters where federal government agencies or institutions are parties to it.
He submitted that neither the party in the suit before the court was a federal government agency and such a matter cannot be brought before the federal high court.
Marshal also hinged his argument on the ground that Chapter 4 of the constitution dwelled on fundamental human rights but the suit was brought under ‘defamation’ which has nothing to do with the fundamental human right violation.
He said on that account, the court does not have jurisdiction to hear the matter.
WATCH: How CSO Used By Nigeria’s Attorney General, Malami, To Sue @SaharaReporters Over Series Of Report Exposing His Corruption-fuelled Lifestyle Committed Blunders In Court FULL VIDEO: Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) November 3, 2021
He also cited the case of the Attorney General of Rivers State against the Federal Government of Nigeria where the court held that the reliefs the applicants were seeking in the suit were justifiable but the persons who were in court do not have the right to ask the court such reliefs.
He noted that the applicant has no ‘ locus standi’ in the case and described the group ( applicant) as a meddlesome interloper and busy body.
“It is the same thing we have here in this court, where certain persons who do not have business in the first place come to court to seek relief that does not pertain to them in any manner.
“We refer to them as a meddlesome interloper and busy body that should be punished for abusing the court process and proceedings.”
This suit is just a private individual or a company incorporated under Company and Allied Matter ( CAMA ) suing through a proxy in the federal high court. This is an abuse of the court process.
“Similarly, the reliefs they are seeking are not captured under Chapter 4 of the 1999 constitution which talks about salient fundamental human rights.”
He, therefore, asked the court to dismiss the application with punitive cost.
Also, counsel to the fourth defendant in the case, in his submission, aligned his argument with the issues advanced by Marshal just as he asked the court to strike out the case.
In his submission, counsel to the applicant, Edward Omaga, asked the court to discountenance the objections raised by the defense counsel and look into the merit of the matter and grant all the reliefs sought.
The trial judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, therefore, adjourned the matter to January 9 2022 for a ruling.
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United States Threatens Visa Ban On Sponsors Of Electoral Violence In Anambra
The United States has said it will take action against anyone found guilty of undermining the electoral process of the Anambra governorship election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had stated that it would conduct the elections despite fears surrounding the conduct of the November 6 election.
In a statement on Wednesday, the US said visa restriction may be placed on those found guilty of disrupting the election.
The US says it will be monitoring the exercise, adding that the country is looking forward to a peaceful and transparent governorship poll in the state.
“The United States looks forward to a gubernatorial election in Anambra State on November 6 that is peaceful and transparent, with results that accurately reflect the will of the state’s residents,” the statement said.
“We will be paying close attention to actions of individuals who interfere with the democratic process or instigate violence against civilian populations before, during, or after the elections.
“We will not hesitate to consider consequences – including visa restrictions – for those found to be responsible for election-related violence or undermining the democratic process.
“Under U.S. immigration law, certain violations also may lead to restrictions on family members.
“We call on citizens, electoral officials, party members, and security force personnel to do their part in ensuring a credible and secure electoral process.”
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Gunmen Kill Seven, Injure Seven Others In Adamawa Village
Seven persons have been confirmed killed in a night attack by gunmen in an Adamawa village, SaharaReporters has learned.
It was gathered that seven others were left with injuries in the night raid in Negga village, in the Numan local government area of the state.
Sources from the area told our correspondent that the heavily armed assailants stormed Negga between 11 pm and12am on Tuesday and opened fire on the community, leading to the death of seven persons.
Negga, a community under Bolki ward, located at the border between Adamawa and Taraba, had suffered a series of attacks in recent past.
Wednesday afternoon, the State House of Assembly strongly condemned the attack and urged the government and security agencies to fish out the perpetrators.
Deputy Speaker and member representing Numan constituency, Pwamwakeno Mackondo, said, “The inhabitants of Negga in my constituency were attacked by armed men as a result of which seven were killed, while seven others sustained injuries.
“The community has a history of attacks by unknown gunmen.” He called for the establishment of a military unit in the area to protect the people.
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