Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Monday 11th April 2022
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 11/04/22
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Nigerian Caught Smuggling Heroin Given 10 Years Rigorous Imprisonment In India
File photo used to illustrate story.
A local court in India has sentenced a 39-year-old Nigerian man to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) for smuggling heroin into Mohali in 2018. The court of additional district and sessions judge Harjit Kaur Kaleke last Thursday also slapped a fine of ?1 lakh (about N41.5 million) on the convict, Saira Kuze Madhubuchi, who will undergo imprisonment for another one year if the fine is not paid, Hindustan Times reports.
File photo used to illustrate story.
According to the case files, in August 2018, the special task force (STF) of Mohali police received a tip-off that a man would be entering Mohali with heroin. An STF team, led by sub-inspector Ram Darshan, under the supervision of assistant inspector general Rajinder Singh Sohal, laid a ‘naka’ (checkpoint) near Dara Studio in Phase 6, where they spotted Madhubuchi and stopped him after looking suspicious. On frisking him, the police team recovered 260 gm of heroin from his possession.
Through further probe, they found that the Nigerian national came to India on a business visa in 2015, and sold readymade garments and cosmetics in Delhi, but started smuggling drugs business after his visa expired in 2017.
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E2%80%99t-seize-7-months-i-was-benin-republic-prison-%E2%80%93-sunday Electricity, Water Supply Didn’t Seize For 7 Months I Was In Benin Republic Prison – Sunday Igboho
Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, said he was surprised that he spent seven months in Benin prison without any power blackout or running out of water. Igboho said there would have been no reason for agitation in Nigeria if the government had developed the country and protected the lives and property of the citizens the way the government of Benin Republic had done for its people.
Igboho, who spoke during a conversation with the leader of the Ilana Omo Oodua, Prof Banji Akintoye; his deputy, Prof Wale Adeniran, and a few others in the Republic of Benin, said, “What was the cause of my coming out and running around to go demand a better country? “If Nigeria were to be like the Benin Republic of today, what would have made me come out? If our country, Nigeria were like Benin, I would have no reason to agitate because there’s nothing that I want, that God hasn’t given me. “I have been visiting Benin Republic since 1996; at that time, the police were always at checkpoints collecting bribes from motorists, but when the incumbent President got into power, he eradicated the act. “In those days, although numerous police officers were always on the streets, stealing and killings were prevalent, but the new President brought that to a halt, and he made a law that DPOs would be held accountable for the actions of thieves operating within their jurisdictions. “He increased the salary of the police personnel. Benin Republic police officers are paid three times more than Nigerian police officers. There are no more police checkpoints here in Benin, and no matter how far you travel, you’ll not be accosted by thieves on the highway. “Soldiers will not harass you, and no one will bother you. There are no cows and Fulani herdsmen. That’s the kind of government that we want. I spent over seven months in a prison here in Benin. “For those seven months, there was no blackout and we never ran out of water. I was stunned. Foreigners are trooping into the Benin Republic; the government is building infrastructure and the President is investigating the projects. “The people of Benin Republic ought to appreciate God for the kind of leader He has given them. If we have such a government in Nigeria, no one will agitate. Citizens will be happy in a country where the government provides stable power supply, adequate security, and adequate water supply because that is a good government.” Speaking further, he noted, “All praise be to God because one’s journey and deeds in life are in His hands. He is the master planner who plans how everything goes; hence we must be thankful to Him. “It was false news that I was sick. I am hale and hearty, and I don’t even look like a person who has been to prison. The President of the Republic of Benin made life easier for me. He didn’t allow me to go through any pain, and I pray that the Benin Republic will never be destroyed.”
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BREAKING: Gunmen Burn Homes Of Imo Justice Commissioner And His Aged Father
Some gunmen have razed the country home of the Imo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Cyprian Akaolisa.
The assailants also burnt the residence of the father of the state justice commissioner located in the Orsu Local Government Area of the state.
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In June 2021, Akaolisa’s country home was also attacked and burnt by some unknown gunmen.
The residence of the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, was also attacked last year.
In a statement on Sunday, Akaolisa confirmed the attacks, saying, “The Igbos are hard-working people who through their years of toils put up structures and leave developmental strides in their communities of Origin maka ‘ak? ruo ?l?, a mara onye nwe ya’. “Through my many years of struggle, I have managed to put a block on another to build a befitting house for my family. My aged father also has a house he built through his sweats. “Today, both buildings are in rubbles and ashes – our fellow Igbos burnt them. Firstly, last year, these arsonists burnt my country home in Obibi, Awo-Idemili, Orsu LGA of Imo State for no just cause. “This year again, they returned and this time, they perfected the complete burning of even the blocks/bricks. “And last night, to my utter consternation, they levelled my father’s house. This is a house my father built by himself – the life-toil of an aged man. “In other words, I wish to put on record that my family house is completely destroyed. This was after they used a truck to cart all the properties: fridges TVs, bed/foams, generator sets and other household materials. “What are my crimes, who did I offend? And what were my father’s offences? And I dare ask, where is the Igbo spirit? This is a direct affront to the ak? ruo ?l? spirit. Who will invest in Ala Igbo nay Orsu LGA today under this type of atmosphere? “The above are acts of arson ongoing in my LGA of Orsu. The complete burning of our LGA Secretariat, the house of my colleague – Chief Prince Ford Ozumba, the Hon Commissioner, Imo State Ministry of Labour, Employment and Productivity, the house of Hon. Ekene Nnodumele, the member representing Orsu State Constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly. There are also houses of other political leaders which have been razed in my area so far. “Other ungodly acts are the sacking and carting away of all the Police presence & armouries in Orsu LGA, the kidnapping and killing of well-to-do individuals and security operatives. This attendant scare has become a daily phenomenon in my Local Government Area. “Today, these gunmen (Codenamed ?m? ?ma, under the guise of freedom fighters) have continued to demand huge sums of money from mourning families who wish to bury their loved ones and the likes. It is now strictly business! These gunmen have almost made a god of themselves, killing and cannibalising at will, in my area but believe me, they will not succeed with our voices up and collaborative efforts. “Where is the Igbo spirit, ?m?nne m? It is unfortunate that the majority of those who foment these troubles are not indigenous to Orsu but have garnered collaborators and enablers among the locals either through fear, persuasion, financial inducements and made to swear to devilish oaths of secrecy. “It is time to synergize and put an end to the siege in Orsu LGA and liberate our people who are worse hit by the economic downturn occasioned by the ravaging insecurity. For the enablers and cheerers, It is time for the needed retrospect, soul-searching to interrogate the process so far by weighing the gains and losses.”
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E2%80%99s-managing-director-koko-exposed-anti-graft-agency EXCLUSIVE: Nigerian Ports Authority’s Managing Director, Koko Exposed By Anti-graft Agency, EFCC For Receiving N829million As Kickbacks, Engaging In Money Laundering
An investigative report by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has found Mohammed Bello Koko, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), guilty of N829 million fraud in kickbacks and money laundering activities. The EFCC probe report exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters on Sunday revealed that Koko after being investigated was found to have received the N829 million from NPA contractors, and in cash sums from individuals and companies.
The EFCC carried out a “financial profiling” of Koko in August 2021 and found out that the NPA MD worked with an associate, Ali Amin Abubakar and had benefitted from awards of contracts totalling N1,107,654,133 from the Rivers State Government and others.
At the time the report was done, Koko was the acting Managing Director of the NPA. Following the suspension of Hadiza Bala Usman as the Managing Director of NPA by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Presidency announced Koko as her replacement in an acting capacity. Koko was previously the director of finance and administration at NPA. Buhari in February 2022 confirmed Koko as substantive managing director of the NPA.
“Consequently, the foregoing strongly infer the subject’s and associates’ complicity in acts of abuse of office, misappropriation of public funds, fraud and money laundering,” the EFCC report said. In the introduction section, the EFCC probe report said, “The Directorate received information that the acting NPA MD, Koko was involved in receiving kickbacks from NPA contractors and was involved in money laundering activities. Mohammed Koko is the current MD of the NPA.“From 2005 to 2015, he worked at the Zenith Bank PLC in Port Harcourt, where he rose to the position of Assistant General Manager before being appointed as the NPA’s Executive Director, Finance and Administration.” “During the term of former Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, he was also the designated Zenith Bank account officer for the Rivers State Government. According to reports, Mohammed Koko was brought before a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt by the EFCC in 2009 together with three other top officials of Zenith Bank on charges of fraud totalling N3.6 billion,” the probe report further revealed.
The report noted that his financial profile showed that he had several accounts in five banks. The EFCC went on to analyse Koko’s bank accounts and the amounts of money in inflow and outflow which all confirmed the alleged fraudulent acts of the NPA boss.
In the summary of findings in the report, the EFCC investigation team said, “One, Mohammed Bello Koko received payments in cash and transfers totalling N829 million into his Zenith Bank personal account between 2015 and May 2021.
“Two, he is a director at M.B.K Business consults and Cethes company which Ali Amin Abubakar is also a director in both companies.”
The EFCC in the report recommended the prosecution of Koko for the various fraud and money laundering discoveries alongside his alleged accomplice, Ali Abubakar.
“It is recommended that the Operations department should investigate the capital expenditure accounts and tenders board minutes of the NPA during Mohammed Koko’s tenure as executive director, finance and administration preparatory to his possible prosecution alongside his suspected accomplice, Ali AMIN Abubakar,” the report concluded. SaharaReporters had on February 15, 2021, reported that President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Mohammed Bello Koko as the substantive Managing Director of the NPA.
Meanwhile, the Pandora Papers in 2021 revealed that Bello Koko was behind two shell companies incorporated in a tax haven to anonymously invest in the United Kingdom property market.
This potentially violates Nigeria’s public service code of conduct laws.
Pandora Papers also disclosed that he and his wife, Agatha Anne Koko, enlisted the services of financial secrecy seller, Cook Worldwide and Alemán, Cordero, Galindo & Lee (Alcogal), an offshore law firm, to register Coulwood Limited (reg. number: 1487897) and Marney Limited (reg. number: 1487944) in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), one of the world’s most commonly used tax havens, in 2008.
Both companies were registered on the same day, June 19, 2008.
Though a public servant, Bello Koko is also a director of the two companies, in violation of Nigeria’s Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act (Sections 5 and 6).
Pandora Papers project is led by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).
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N30Million Fraud: Anti-graft Agency, ICPC Arraigns Impersonator Of Ex-Anglican Primate, Nicholas Okoh, Others
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned 40-year-old Jehu Kwasu for allegedly impersonating a former Primate of the Anglican Communion, Nicholas Okoh.
Okoh was arraigned alongside three others.
The accused persons were charged to the Federal Capital Territory High Court 32, Apo, Abuja, for allegedly defrauding some prominent and influential Nigerians of N30.4 million.
Other members of the cybercrime syndicate include Etubi Aliyu, Abdulrahman Muazu, and Usman Abdulaziz.
In the charge brought before Justice C. Oba, the ICPC accused the quartet of impersonating Okoh by faking his Facebook account bearing his picture and name; and using the same account to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
The accused persons dubiously raised funds by telling their targets to enable them to bring home the corpse of the former Primate’s deceased brother.
The court was also informed of how the accused persons used their bank accounts and the accounts of some of their friends to perpetuate the fraud.
According to a statement on Sunday by the ICPC spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua, titled, ‘ICPC arraigns impersonator of ex-Primate of Anglican Communion, others over N30.4m fraud’, the accused were alleged to have also used some of their accomplices as fronts to withdraw part of the N30.4 million paid into their accounts as well as transfer some money to other accounts specifically opened for their illicit transaction.
It said, “The defendants were also accused of using falsified National Identity cards to open numerous fraudulent bank accounts with fake names of individuals to carry out their criminal acts.
“The commission, in a 17-count charge preferred against the first and second defendants; and eight and ninth-count against the third and fourth defendants respectively averred that their action of obtaining by pretence was contrary to section 1(1) and punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2010.”
The accused persons reportedly pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them.
Counsel for the first defendant, Sadiq Lawal, and the second, third, and fourth defendants, Abdulrazak Jibril respectively, prayed the court to grant their clients bail, which was not opposed by the ICPC counsel, Sulaiman Abdulkareem.
The judge admitted the accused persons to bail in the sum of N20 million each and two sureties each in like sum. The sureties must have fully developed properties in the FCT.
However, owing to their inability to fulfil the bail conditions, they were remanded in the Kuje Correctional Centre.
The case has been adjourned till May 18 and 19, 2022, for the commencement of the hearing.
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E2%80%99s-whereabouts Family Reveals Cause Of Death Of Singer Of Ekwueme Gospel Song, Osinachi, Husband’s Whereabouts
The family of the late “Ekwueme” singer, Osinachi Nwachukwu, has denied reports that she died of cancer.
SaharaReporters had reported that Osinachi’s death was announced on Friday night.
Some reports had said the singer died in the hospital after suffering from domestic violence from her husband.
Osinachi’s sister, who is the first daughter of the family and was identified as Ms Favor Made, confirmed the reports on Sunday, saying that Osinachi died as a result of a cluster of blood in the chest.
She said the late suffered from a blood clot after the kicking she received from her husband, Peter Nwachukwu.
“We heard it was cancer that killed Osinachi. She did not die of cancer. The husband, Mr Peter Nwachukwu hit her with his leg on the chest. All this while, he has been beating her but my sister hides all that she was passing through from us,” she said, according to Daily Post.
She said the family had advised Osinachi to leave the marriage but she prayed that God would change her husband.
“We told her that they are not divorcing and that it’s just a separation. But she felt that God is against divorce. We told her that separation is not a sin but just for her to stay alive and take care of her children. She will always tell us to relax and that the man will change.
“So when the man kicked her in the chest, she fell down and he took her to the hospital but he did not even tell us,” he said.
It was her friend who lives in Ebonyi State who called her twin sister because Osinachi had a twin sister, to ask, “Did your sister tell you that Peter hit her on the chest?”
The sister then told her no.
“It was the hitting on the chest that killed her. My brother had to ask the doctor what killed her and the doctor said that there were clusters of blood on her chest,” she revealed.
Made further stated that the doctor was not aware that Osinachi was kicked in the chest.
According to her, Peter had boasted that he was going to separate Osinachi and her twin sister.
She alleged that he had also stopped the siblings from being close or stopped the deceased Osinachi from visiting her village, Isuochi in Abia State.
She added that Peter had not been arrested as alleged in some quarters.
She also confirmed that he beat her sister severely and was fond of collecting her money while she was left with nothing.
Made added that Peter did not immediately contact their family when Osinachi died until 8 pm when he casually informed their mother of the death.
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E2%80%98death-merchant%E2%80%99-used-buhari-regime-ned-nwoko-dss-others EXPOSED: Face Of Alleged Abuja ‘Death Merchant’ Used By Buhari Regime, Ned Nwoko, DSS, Others To Attack Nnamdi Kanu, Sowore’s Supporters
An alleged kingpin, notorious for mobilising hoodlums to attack perceived opponents of the President Muhammadu Buhari regime, has been identified as Sunday Bright Attah.
SaharaReporters learnt that Attah was also allegedly used by a former lawmaker, Ned Nwoko, to bribe court officials who manipulated justice during the arrest and illegal detention of human rights lawyer, Abubakar Marshal.
Also, Attah allegedly led a gang of hoodlums to attack human rights activist and presidential aspirant, Omoyele Sowore, during his court trials, leading to the infliction of injuries on several supporters of the activist.
SaharaReporters gathered that Attah and his hoodlums had also been used by the secret police, the Department of State Services (DSS) to attack supporters of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, during several court sessions of the IPOB leader.
Not done, Attah, it was learnt, was also allegedly instrumental in attacking popular Kayanmata (aphrodisiac) seller, Hauwa Muhammed, aka Jaruma and her supporters during her trial and case with Ned Nwoko.
Sources told SaharaReporters on Sunday that Attah, who hides under OneNigeria group, now has a squad of hoodlums to undertake pro-government public assaults.
“He was the person Ned Nwoko sent to bribe court officials against Marshal Abubakar. He also made arrangements for people to attack Sowore during his arraignment by the police on Ned’s matter but that day, he did not show up.
“He led the team the DSS arranged to attack Sowore and Nnamdi Kanu’s supporters during the court sittings,” one of the sources said.
“He was the person that mobilised hoodlums to attack Jaruma and her supporters during her trial by Ned Nwoko. In fact, he has a killer squad in Abuja assembled to carry out hits with DSS and police backing,” another source confirmed.
“On February 28, 2022, he sent some university boys to the Area Court in Zuba. His usual style is to send these boys under the guise of protest and after his fake protesters had dispersed, he plants thugs to attack the personality targeted,” another source revealed.
“He reportedly has a killer squad in Abuja assembled to carry out hits with DSS and police backing,” one of the sources said.
In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, Attah is seen leading a group of persons said to have been sponsored, in a protest staged against Sowore and Sahara Reporters.
Attah and his band of protesters were chanting and singing in the video, with a cacophony of drums and trumpet sounds filling the air. Displaying banners and placards strictly condemning Sowore and SaharaReporters, the protesters chanted ‘Solidarity forever, we shall always fight for our rights’.
However, the chant – solidarity forever – which has become synonymous with protests demanding human rights and good governance was not in consonance with the condemnation of Sowore, which was the only message on the banners and placards.
But speaking with SaharaReporters, Attah denied the allegations, adding that he was not against Kanu, Sowore, the publisher of SaharaReporters or any other Nigerian but against agitations for secession and uprising, which he and others in the OneNigeria group fight against.
He said, “My father is not a DSS person and none of my relatives is DSS. I am a journalist like you and a media consultant. I don’t know what they are talking about. Those are lies. We as a group don’t witch-hunt anybody. Our interest is to promote peace and unity and harmony among Nigerians. We have no country other than Nigeria.
“We cannot give in to separatism. We are over 200 million Nigerians – no country would accept us. It is not about any individual; it is not about Nnamdi Kanu, Sowore or Sunday Igboho. If you talking to me today say that you want Nigeria divided, we will speak against it.
“Am I Nnamdi Kanu or Sowore or Igboho’s enemy? No. But my duty as a Nigerian who has nowhere to run to if Nigeria is in a crisis is to speak positively. I have never been to a programme where I fought. I am not a violent person. All I know how to do is to write and speak. So those that say I am a tool in the hands of whoever, it is in their imagination.”
SaharaReporters had on March 6 reported that sources said the judge who ruled that Abubakar Marshal should be remanded was ferried from Kuje in a vehicle with a covered licence plate, arranged by Nwoko through Attah, also said to be one of his personal assistants.
It was also gathered that Nwoko had sent Attah to ensure his wish was carried out regarding how the proceedings should go, which was to ensure the judge did not grant bail to the lawyer.
The source had said, “A team led by Pelumi Olajegbensi visited Marshal Abubakar today and he’s in high spirit. He also said that while he was being transferred to Keffi prison, they told him Ned Nwoko had paid the police hierarchy to detain him (the lawyer) and Sowore because he (Nwoko) already paid for it.”
According to another source, “the Grade 1 area court judge that detained him was ferried by Ned Nwoko from Kuje.
“And to be sure this will be carried out, Ned sent one of his personal assistants, Attah Bright Sunday to keep tabs on the judge to ensure he didn’t grant Marshal bail.
“Attah was seen in court bribing court officials before arranging for the judge to leave in a black Mercedes Benz with the police prosecutor.
“The licence plate of the SUV was covered to avoid detection.”
Meanwhile, SaharaReporters also learnt from sources that the businessman, Nwoko, with the help of some of his allies, established a fake group called Niger Delta Peace Agitators when he could not achieve his goal of jailing Sowore.
The group had threatened to stage a protest in Abuja if Sowore was not arrested.
It accused Sowore of planning to eliminate Nwoko, saying it would resist any attempt to kill the businessman.
The group, through its spokesperson, Mr. Kenule Nwiya Jr, had also given the Nigeria police 48 hours to arrest Sowore or it would mobilise its members for the protest.
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BREAKING: PDP Sweeps All 21 Chairmanship, 226 Councillorship Seats In Adamawa
The candidates of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa State have won in all the 21 Local Government Council elections conducted on Saturday in the state.
The PDP candidates also swept all the 226 Councillorship seats contested during Saturday’s election.
The chairman of Adamawa State Independent Electoral Commission (ADSIEC), Isa Shettima gave the results on Sunday in Yola, the state capital.
Only APC and PDP contested the chairmanship elections, except in Toungo LGA where African Democratic Congress (ADC) participated and garnered 321 votes.
Chairmanship results are as follows:
1. Demsa LGA – APC 10807, PDP 31509
2. Fufore LGA – APC 6654, PDP 29687
3. Ganye LGA – APC 9650, PDP 16566
4. Girei LGA – APC 2176, PDP 21886
5. Gombi LGA – APC 5954, PDP 26840
6. Guyuk LGA – APC 1672, PDP 34118
7. Hong LGA – APC 2356, PDP 27305
8. Jada LGA – APC 11084, PDP 25913
9. Lamurde LGA – APC 7560, PDP 13423
10. Madagali LGA – APC 4205, PDP 27500
11. Maiha LGA – APC 1517, PDP 22858
12. Mayobelwa LGA – APC 11687, PDP 28884
13. Michika LGA – APC 8445, PDP 27911
14. Mubi North LGA – APC 6808, 31105
15. Mubi South LGA – APC 8084, PDP 36649
16. Numan LGA – APC 9906, PDP 18313
17. Shelleng LGA – APC 1305
18. Song LGA – APC 2632, PDP 33404
19. Toungo LGA – ADC 321, APC 787, PDP 16271
20. Yola North LGA – APC 3300, PDP 8437
21. Yola South LGA – APC 6810, PDP 15181
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E2%80%99s-american-lawyer-wife-petition-un-security-council-seek-probe-ipob BREAKING: Nnamdi Kanu’s American Lawyer, Wife Petition UN Security Council, Seek Probe Of IPOB Leader’s Abduction In Kenya, Torture, Others
Bruce Fein, the international counsel and spokesman for the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has petitioned the United Nations Security Council over the treatment of his client.
The petition dated April 9, 2022, and jointly signed by Fein and the wife of the IPOB leader, Uche Kanu, is asking the UN Security Council to investigate the complicity of the Nigerian and Kenyan governments in the abduction, torture and rendition of Kanu from Kenya in June 2021.
Kanu was renditioned to Nigeria from Kenya last June under questionable circumstances. Since his arrival, he has been detained by the Department of State Services (DSS), the secret police of Africa’s most populous nation.
Addressed to Honorable Barbara Woodward, UK Ambassador to the United Nations and President of the UN Security Council, the letter is titled, “Petition to the United Nations Security Council to establish an independent Commission to investigate the complicity of Nigerian and Kenyan government officials or their agents in the criminal kidnapping, torture, extraordinary rendition, and indefinite arbitrary detention of United Kingdom citizen Nnamdi Kanu from Nairobi to Abuja and for the establishment of a Special Tribunal outside either Nigeria or Kenya to prosecute the suspects identified by the Commission.”
It reads, “We, the undersigned respectfully petition the United Nations Security Council, acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, to pass a resolution establishing an international independent investigation Commission to establish criminal responsibility for Nnamdi Kanu’s kidnapping, torture, and extraordinary rendition from Nairobi, Kenya to Abuja, Nigeria on or about June 2021, and indefinite, ongoing, arbitrary detention in solitary confinement thereafter by the Federal Government of Nigeria. The resolution should also establish a Special Tribunal to prosecute persons the Commission finds have been responsible for Nnamdi Kanu’s kidnapping, torture, extraordinary rendition, and arbitrary detention.
“Convincing evidence in the public domain, direct and circumstantial, implicate Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerian Attorney General Abubakar Malami, and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, among others, in the above-referenced crimes against Nnamdi Kanu.
“The governments of Nigeria and Kenya cannot be trusted to investigate or prosecute themselves. The universal legal principle that a person cannot be a judge in his own case applies here.
“We submit that Security Council Resolution 1595, which established an independent Commission to investigate the assassins of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Harari, and
Security Council Resolution 1757, which established a Special Tribunal for the prosecution of the responsible parties found by the independent Commission, should be considered as templates for the corresponding resolutions we are requesting for investigation and prosecution of the crimes against Nnamdi Kanu by Nigerian and Kenyan government officials or their agents.
“We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you or your staff in person or over the internet to further elaborate on this petition.”
Last Friday, a Federal High Court in Abuja struck out eight out of the amended 15 counts bordering on treasonable felony and other related charges filed against Kanu by the Nigerian government.
The judge, Binta Nyako struck out counts 6,7,9,10,11,12,13 and 14.
Kanu is now to stand trial on counts 1,2,3,4,5,8 and 15.
“In this instant preliminary objection application, I have read the counts and counts 6,7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 14 have not disclosed any offence,” the judge held.
“Count 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 15 shows some allegations. The court shall proceed to try the defendant on those counts.”
Mike Ozekhome, Kanu’s lead counsel, described the charges as “defective and baseless”.
He said his application seeks the “quashing, striking out and dismissing of the 15-count amended charge” for being “incompetent and denying the court of jurisdiction to entertain the suit”.
“You are accusing Kanu of making some broadcast. You didn’t say where these broadcasts were made. Were they made in the spirit world, made in the air or under the ground?” Ozekhome asked.
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E2%80%94ipob New Practice Of Secret Trial For Nnamdi Kanu, Other Alleged Terrorism Cases Is Unconstitutional—IPOB Leader’s Lawyer, Ejimakor
Aloy Ejimakor, a special counsel for the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has described the new ‘Practice Directions On Trial of Terrorism Cases’ as unconstitutional.
By the new directive, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, last week noted that “the distance and size of perimeters to be secured for the trial shall be determined based on the recommendation of security agencies on a case-by-case basis.”
It means terrorism trials including the ongoing trial of Nnamdi Kanu and other related ones will be done secretly, even without journalists, except the judge rules otherwise.
Kanu’s trial by the Nigerian government which continued last Friday, April 8, was the first casualty of the new directive.
Ejimakor in a statement on Sunday said the new Practice Directions on Terrorism Trials “recently issued by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court are unconstitutional by the clear provisions of two subsections of Section 36 of the Constitution, which requires all trials to be in public”.
The first, according to him, is subsection (3) of Section 36 of the Constitution, which states that “The proceedings of a court or the proceedings of any tribunal relating to the matters mentioned in subsection (1) of this section (including the announcement of the decisions of the court or tribunal) shall be held in public”.
The second, he further noted, is subsection (4) of Section 36 of the Constitution which states that “Whenever any person is charged with a criminal offence, he shall unless the charge is withdrawn, be entitled to a fair hearing in public within a reasonable time by a court or tribunal”.
He said the only restrictions the Constitution allow are on a case-by-case basis and it “must be narrowly tailored by the particular court or tribunal before whom the suspect is being tried, not by an omnibus Practice Directions that seeks to envelop every case in one fell swoop”.
The statement read in part, “The first narrowly-tailored exception can be found in Section 36, subsection 4(a) of the Constitution which states that ‘A court or such a tribunal may exclude from its proceedings persons other than the parties thereto or their legal practitioners in the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public morality, the welfare of persons who have not attained the age of eighteen years, the protection of the private lives of the parties or to such extent as it may consider necessary by reason of special circumstances in which publicity would be contrary to the interests of justice’.
“The second narrow exception is contained in Section 36(4)(b) of the Constitution, which states that ‘If in any proceedings before a court or such a tribunal, a Minister of the Government of the Federation or a commissioner of the government of a state satisfies the court or tribunal that it would not be in the public interest for any matter to be publicly disclosed, the court or tribunal shall make arrangements for evidence relating to that matter to be heard in private and shall take such other action as may be necessary or expedient to prevent the disclosure of the matter’.
“Thus, other than in the circumstances of the narrowly-tailored exceptions permitted by the Constitution, the new Practice Directions are ultra vires the Constitution. And it cannot be justified by a Terrorism Prevention Act that is unarguably subservient to the Constitution.”
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SaharaReporters, New York
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