Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Monday 30th May 2022
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 30/05/22
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Cameroon Separatist Fighters, Ambazonian Boys Invade Nigeria, Kill 20
A pro-independence movement fighting for self-rule in South-West Cameroon, Ambazonian Boys have killed at least 20 people in a community in Nigeria.The Ambazonian soldiers were said to have crossed into the Nigerian community near Bashu in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State to attack their compatriots who fled and refused to join them to intensify the fight against President Paul Biya government.
A former member of Cross River House of Assembly and an aspirant of House of Reps for Boki/Ikom federal constituency, Chief Cletus Obun disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.He said the remaining Cameroonians who also speak Bokye language of Boki people have now flooded Bashu community, not far from Danare, where Nigerian troops have a small camp.Ambazonian militants regularly saunter into the Boki, where there are many Cameroonians, to wreak havoc or unwind.“I can confirm that the Ambazonian soldiers crossed the Nigerian border Sunday morning to attack their compatriots who fled into Nigeria and refused to join their forces to fight.“They killed nearly 20. No one is sure yet if amongst those killed, there are Nigerian citizens,” Daily Trust quoted him as saying.The incident comes a few months after Nigerian Senate Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Bwacha alleged that Cameroonian militants invaded Manga community in Taraba State, gunning down the village head and some residents of the community.The lawmaker added that the Cameroonian separatists razed down the village.An insurrection broke out in southwest Cameroon over five years ago, when the English-speaking people of Southern Cameroons demanded an independent, sovereign nation they call Ambazonia.The name Ambazonia comes from the Ambas Bay. The bay which is located in southwestern Cameroon is considered as the boundary between Southern Cameroons and the Republic of Cameroon.
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Nigeria Centre For Disease Control Confirms 66 Suspected Monkeypox Cases In 5 Months
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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has revealed that Nigeria has had at least 66 suspected cases of monkeypox disease between January 1 to May 29, 2022. The agency said 21 of the cases were confirmed from nine states including Adamawa, Lagos, Rivers and Kano.
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According to Science News, the disease is endemic in Africa and there have been more than 300 confirmed or suspected cases of the disease cropping up in 21 countries outside Africa since May 7. The disease causes flu like symptoms, such as fever, headaches and body aches, as well as profound weakness, back pain, swollen lymph nodes and rashes that erupt into pus-filled blisters. And more cases are being added daily to a database maintained by Global.health, a group that tracks infectious diseases. A statement by the agency on Sunday said, “A total of 66 suspected cases have been reported between January 1st to May 29th, 2022. Of the suspected cases, 21 were confirmed from nine (9) states – Adamawa (5), Lagos (4), Cross River (2), FCT (2), Kano (2), Delta (2), Bayelsa (2), River (1) and Imo (1) – with 1 death recorded. This was in a 40-year-old man with renal co-morbidity and on immune-suppressive drugs.“The twenty (20) new suspected cases in May 2022 were reported from 11 states – Lagos (5), Bayelsa (2), Adamawa (2), Rivers (2), Niger (2), FCT (2), Delta (1), Oyo (1), Kaduna (1), Edo (1) and Gombe (1).“This is a 100% increase in case reporting as compared with April 2022, when 10 new cases were reported, and is likely due to ongoing efforts to increase awareness and improve surveillance.“The six (6) new confirmed positive cases (out of the 20 suspected cases) in May 2022 were confirmed from four (4) states – Bayelsa (2), Adamawa (2), Lagos (1), and Rivers (1).”
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Former Information Minister, Frank Nweke Jnr Wins Enugu APGA Governorship Ticket
Former Minister of Information and Communications, Chief Frank Nweke Jnr has emerged the winner of the All Progressives Grand Alliance Enugu governorship primary election held on Sunday.Nweke won the ticket in a keenly contested primary election with a total of 273 votes to defeat his closest rival, Jeff Nnamani, who had 267 votes.
Mr. Uchenna Nwegbo had nine votes to come third while Mr Obi Ozoemena had three votes.The Chairman of the primary election and Deputy National Chairman of APGA, Mr Uchenna Okagbue, who declared Nweke the winner of the election, commended the delegates for conducting themselves in an orderly manner.According to him, a total of 555 delegates participated in the primary election.He, however, appealed to the contestants to see Nweke’s victory as a victory for all, adding that it is important that they work together to achieve victory for the party.In his acceptance speech, Nweke thanked the party delegates and urged APGA members to redouble their efforts to ensure victory for the party in the 2023 general elections. He promised to bring on board meaningful developments in the state if elected.
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Former First Lady, Ebelechukwu Obiano Wins APGA Ticket For Anambra North Senatorial District
The former first lady of Anambra State, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, has emerged the winner of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) ticket for Anambra North Senatorial District. The wife of the immediate past governor, Willie Obiano, on Sunday emerged the party’s candidate after polling 152 votes to defeat her husband’s former Chief of Staff, Primus Odili who scored 120 votes.
Other aspirants at the primaries held at the Chuba Ikpeazu Stadium, Onitsha, Onitsha North Local Government Area of the state include the state’s former Commissioner for Information, Tony Nnacheta who got 2 votes and Onwuteaka Sam Jnr, who alsohad 2 votes.Announcing the result, the Returning Officer for the election, Mr. O. Ikenna, who declared Mrs. Obianoas the winner having scored the highest number of votes cast, said a total of 276 votes were cast at the poll.In the viral video from the inauguration of Prof Charles Soludo as Anambra State governor, Ebelechukwu stood up from her seat and moved to where Bianca, widow of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, was seated. He then allegedly insulted Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s widow. The video shows how Bianca rose and gave the former first lady a slap.
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BREAKING: Bomb Explosion Hits Kogi
An explosion in Kabba, Kogi State, has thrown residents into confusion.
The incident was said to have occurred opposite Mannajot Petrol Station on Sunday evening, with a yet-to-be-ascertained number of people feared injured.
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Details of the blast are still sketchy but a security source linked the bomb explosion to 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.
ISWAP had in April claimed responsibility for an attack on a police station in Adavi Local Government Area of the state.
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ISWAP Claims Responsibility For Attack On Police Station In Kogi, Killing Of ‘Five Officers’
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During the attack, three policemen were killed while the station and two vehicles were burnt.
The latest development comes a few days after about three persons were confirmed dead and many others injured in an explosion that occurred in Kabba.
Saharareporters had reported how military intelligence showed that ISWAP is moving towards the Southern part of Nigeria.
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How Nigerian Judge Granted Relief Not Prayed For By Claimants To Favour Jonathan’s Presidential Ambition—Femi Falana
Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) says Justice Isa Hamma Dashen of the Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State granted a relief not prayed for by claimants in a case involving former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan.Saharareporters had reported that Justice Dashen on Friday in a judgement held that Jonathan’s right to vie for the office of president again cannot be stopped by any retroactive law.
The suit marked FHC/YNG/CS/86/2022 was filed by Andy Solomon and Idibiye Abraham as first and second plaintiffs. It listed Jonathan, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as first, second, and third defendants respectively. But the APC and the INEC did not have any legal representations in the matter, which SaharaReporters learnt was a deliberate move by the party and the electoral body. Solomon and Abraham had approached the court through their counsel, Egbuwabi Seigha and Timi Robinson, seeking the disqualification of Jonathan from the 2023 presidential polls. They argued that by virtue of the introduction of Section 137 sub-sections 1(b) and 3 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended, the former president was no longer eligible to vie for the office of the president because he had taken an oath to that office on two previous occasions. In the suit filed on May 17, 2022, the plaintiffs seek the determination of the following questions to wit:“Whether in view of the provisions of Sections 137(1)(b) AND (3) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as altered) and the fact that the 1st defendant had earlier been sworn in as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2010 and 2015 respectively, the 1st defendant is qualified to contest for the office of the President of Nigeria in the 2023 General Elections to be organised by the 3rd defendant.“If the answer to (1) above is the negative, then whether the 2nd defendant is entitled to field the 1st defendant as its presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections“Whether the 3rd defendant is entitled to disqualify the 1st defendant from contesting and/or from being presented as the 2nd defendant presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections.“Following the determination of the above questions, the plaintiff seeks the following reliefs: “A declaration that in view of provisions of Section 137(1)(b) and (3) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as altered) and the fact that the 1st defendant had earlier been sworn in as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2010 and 2015 respectively, the 1st defendant is disqualified from contesting for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the 2023 general elections. “A declaration that the 2nd defendant is entitled to disqualify the 1st from participating in its primary elections or any other selection process(es) for the determination of the 2nd defendant’s presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections. “A declaration that the 3rd defendant is entitled to disqualify the 1st defendant from contesting and/or from being presented as a candidate for the election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” Delivering judgement on the matter on Friday, Justice Dashen dismissed the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs and ruled that Jonathan is eligible to contest the forthcoming 2023 presidential election because he had only been elected into office once in 2011.In a statement on Sunday, Falana said the relief granted by the court to the effect that Jonathan is not disqualified by the 2018 constitutional amendment was not sought or prayed for by the claimants. “The claimants prayed the Federal High Court to disqualify the 1st Defendant (Dr.Goodluck Jonathan) from contesting the 2023 presidential election. In spite of the directive of the National Judicial Council that such matters be filed at the Abuja Judicial Division of the Federal High Court the Yenagoa Judicial Division of the Court assumed jurisdiction, heard the case and dismissed all the reliefs sought by the Claimants,” the senior lawyer said.“But without any counterclaim filed by any of defendants, the Court decided to grant a relief not sought by the Claimants. In other words, the relief granted by the Court to the effect that the 1st Defendant is not disqualified by the 2018 constitutional amendment was not sought or prayed for by the Claimants. “It is interesting to note that the 2nd Defendant (All Progressives Congress) and 3rd Defendant (Independent National Electoral Commission) were served the processes but did not file any process in the case. They were equally not represented by lawyers for reasons best known to the Defendants. “As there was no dispute between the parties, the claimants lacked the locus standi to have maintained the action. On that score, the case ought to have been stuck out on the authority of the case of Peoples Democratic Party v Edede & Anor (CA/OW/87/2022) filed by the PDP, v Edede & Anor. wherein the Court of Appeal struck out the suit marked: FHC/UM/CS/26/2022 and held that the federal high court Umuahia had no jurisdiction to hear the case because Edede lacked the locus standi to have filed the suit in the first place.”President Muhammadu Buhari had on June 4, 2018, signed a constitutional amendment that stops a Vice President who completes the term of a President from contesting for the office of the President more than one more time.The law also stops a deputy governor who completes the term of a governor from seeking a second term in office as a governor. A President’s term can be cut short by reasons of death, resignation, or death to pave the way for the Vice President to complete the term of the departed President. Following the death of then-President Umaru Yar’Adua on May 5, 2010, Jonathan as the then Vice President, took a new oath of office to complete Yar’Adua’s term as President. He was also sworn in for another term on May 29, 2011, after he won the presidential poll of that year.Falana had earlier said Jonathan is affected by the constitution amendment and cannot contest the 2023 presidential election “It has been confirmed that former President Goodluck Jonathan has decided to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) with a view to contesting the 2023 presidential election,” he had said. “However, the former President is disqualified from contesting the said election by virtue of 137 (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended which provides as follows: A person who was sworn in to complete the term for which another person was elected as President shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term.“Indeed, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fourth Alteration, No 16) Act, 2017 says: “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (in this Act referred to as “the Principal Act”) is altered as set out in this Act. Section 137 of the Principal Act is altered, by inserting, after subsection (2), a new subsection “(3)”.“(3)” A person who was sworn in as President to complete the term for which another person was elected as President shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term.”
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Peter Obi, Pat Utomi, 3rd Force Leaders Storm Delta for Labour Party Presidential Primaries
The 3rd Force Movement under the umbrella of the National Consultative Front, NCFront, has called on more leaders of conscience in the country to quickly join the Labour Party, following its adoption by the 3rd Force Movement as the alternative ‘Big Tent’ for the 2023 elections. The 3rd Force Movement was initiated to create a strong platform to challenge the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), both of which have had opportunities to lead Nigeria and failed.
This was disclosed in a statement on Sunday signed by Ms Bilikis Bello, the Communications Executive(National) of the NCFront. The call was made by the Head of Public Affairs of the NCFront, Mallam Dr Tanko Yunusa in Asaba, the Delta State capital, while addressing the teeming supporters and delegates of the Labour Party, who were there to attend the Presidential Primaries of the party, holding on Monday at the Orchid Hotels, GRA, Asaba, Delta. Tanko Yunusa, in company with other party chieftains, also used the occasion to lambast the ‘cash and carry’ party primaries of the APC and PDP, describing them as corruptive and criminal. He called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately go after the candidates and delegates of the APC and PDP for ‘destroying Nigeria’s electoral system and moral fabric’.The Front, while also applauding the bubbling political synergy between two leading presidential aspirants of the party, Peter Obi and Pat Utomi in the Labour Party, also condemned the activities of some disgruntled elements and sponsored agents by APC and PDP in the press, trying to create a false picture of lack of cohesion in the party. The Movement, in the light of the coalition in the Labour Party, also invited all well-meaning Nigerians, including women, youths, the physically challenged, the poor and the well to do to immediately join forces with the Labour Party to rescue Nigeria from the heightening insecurity and imminent collapse foisted by incompetent rulers of the country, currently trading in Delegates all over the country.
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Nigerian Bank, FCMB Appeals Court Judgment Awarding N10million Damages Against It For Putting Wrong Picture On Client’s Debit Card
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First City Monument Bank has appealed the Imo State High Court Judgement awarding N10 million as damages to a businessman, Kingsley Unegbu.Justice I.G. Chukwunyere of the court on May 12, 2022, lambasted the bank for putting a wrong picture on Unegbu’s debit card.
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The court ruled that the plaintiff timely reported the picture mismatch on his Mastercard to the defendant (FCMB), which the defendant accepted but failed to rectify.It held that the defendant having willfully refused to correct its error was liable and subsequently ordered to pay the sum of N10 million as general damages only.SaharaReporters had reported that Unegbu dragged the FCMB to court in 2013 after the bank put another person’s passport on his Mastercard, a mistake that caused him to lose his business.Unegbu had told the court how the mistake by the bank led to not only the closure of his business but also impoverished him after he went bankrupt.He had in his pleas demanded that the bank pay him N100 million as compensation but the bank ignored his request, forcing him to institute a legal proceeding at the Imo State High Court in 2013 seeking relief from the bank.In the appeal document, the financial institution asked the appellate court to set aside the judgment of the Imo high court.It also requested the court to declare as lawful that another person’s security photograph with a different name can be used in US dollars MasterCard for international transactions.
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Group Sues Emefiele Over Political Ambition, Seeks Central Bank Gov’s Sacking
A civil society organisation, the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, against the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, over his participation in politics and presidential ambition while still in office.HEDA in a Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/713/2022, filed on May 24, 2022, is seeking an interpretation of section 9 of the CBN Act 2007, to determine the fate of Emefiele in his political ambition and continuation as the CBN Governor.
The Defendants in the suit include Godwin Emefiele as the first defendant; Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as the second defendant; President Muhammadu Buhari as the third defendant and the Attorney General of Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) as the fourth defendant.HEDA, according to its Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, asked the Federal High Court to order the defendants to enter an appearance or cause appearance to be entered for them by a legal practitioner before the court within thirty (30) days including the day the order was issued. Referring to section 9 of the CBN Act 2007, HEDA in the suit sought an interpretation on whether Emefiele as the CBN governor is allowed to engage in other business or partisan politics.The organisation also sought to know whether Emefiele’s prolonged silence on the steps being taken on his behalf by his political friends and allies towards the 2023 general elections does not conflict with his duties and responsibilities as the Governor of CBN, and whether he is not statutorily barred from participating in politics by virtue of his position. HEDA further sought an interpretation to know whether Emefiele by being a registered member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and having declared interest to run for the post of president of Nigeria does not put him in a conflicting situation with his role as the CBN Governor.In addition, the organisation also seeks an interpretation to know whether Emefiele’s membership of a political party does not give President Buhari a valid reason to relieve him of his position as the CBN Governor, and whether Emefiele’s participation in politics is not in a conflict with his role as the custodian of electoral materials for the elections. Also required the court’s interpretation is whether Emefiele’s being a registered member of the ruling APC with presidential ambition does not put the electoral process in a difficult position with his role as the Chairman of the Board of Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company responsible for printing some of the electoral materials by virtue of being the CBN Governor.In a case where the above points are interpreted in favour of HEDA, the organisation prays the Court to declare that Emefiele’s engagement in partisan politics contravenes Section 9 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, and such, should order his removal as the CBN governor “in accordance with Section 1 1(2)(c) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007,” and an Order Of Perpetual Injunction restraining him from parading himself as such.HEDA also prays the court to issue an Order of Perpetual Injunction against restraining Emefiele from being appointed into any public office in the federation “for ridiculing the high level of trust placed on him as the Governor” of CBN. “HEDA has maintained that if the Defendant does not respond within the time given, such order would be made and proceedings may be taken as the judge may think just expedient,” Suraju stated.
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BREAKING: Anti-graft Agency, EFCC Arrests Ex-Zamfara Governor, Yari Over Accountant-General’s N80bn Probe Hours After Winning APC Senatorial Ticket
Former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, has been arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with the agency’s ongoing investigation of the suspended Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris.Yari was arrested on Sunday at his residence in Abuja a few hours after he won the ruling All Progressives Congress ticket for Zamfara West senatorial election holding next year.
EFCC on May 16, 2022, arrested Idris in Kano state.The agency said it is investigating the accountant-general for allegedly misappropriating N80 billion.It said it picked up Idris after he failed to respond to invitations by the commission to answer questions over the allegation.In April 2021, Yari was detained by the agency over alleged illegal financial dealings and misappropriation of funds.In February 2021, he was arrested and grilled by EFCC operatives in Lagos, while the Federal High Court in Abuja had, on January 26, 2021, ordered the final forfeiture of funds belonging to Yari, domiciled in Zenith and Polaris banks.The judgment followed investigations that Yari had suspicious monies stuffed in his bank accounts including the sum of $56,056.75 reportedly lodged in his account with Polaris Bank; N12.9 million, N11.2 million, $303 million, N217,388.04, and $311.8 million said to be kept in different Zenith Bank accounts in the name of the ex-governor and his companies.A source had told SaharaReporters that there are at least two solid cases of financial misappropriations for which the former governor and NGF chairman is being investigated.The first was the investigation which opened in February 2021 centering around over N300 billion he allegedly attempted to move from a corporate account linked to him in a commercial bank. The invitation letter dated April 6, given to Yari to report at the Sokoto EFCC office, was signed by the EFCC’s Director of Operations, Abdulkarim Chukkol. It stated that Yari’s interrogation would be based on “conspiracy, diversion of public funds and money laundering.”SaharaReporters gathered that Yari is also being investigated for his alleged role in the judgment debts around the Paris Club refunds as claimed by some private firms.His handling of the proceeds of Paris Club refunds from 2017, when he was the NGF chairman, to May 2019 when his second term as governor ended, is being investigated.A court document was filed by the EFCC in 2017 which reveals the suspicious nature of payments by the Yari-led NGF to consultants and firms who were said to have helped the forum recover funds with the London and Paris clubs loan between 1995 and 2002.In the document, the EFCC had stated that it received intelligence in January 2017, alleging “conspiracy, criminal misappropriation of public funds involving the sum of N19,439,225,871.11 out of the Paris Club refunds made by the Federal Government in favour of the 36 states of the federation.”The commission had in the court filing, sought an order of forfeiture of N500 million and $500,000 allegedly recovered from Yari.In a post promoting Yari for the ruling party’s chairmanship position, which was seen by SaharaReporters, the former governor was described as a “loyal and committed member of the party, not driven by hunger or lust for money but can even sacrifice his personal resources to lift the party”. “One who is not proud and arrogant but accessible to all members of the party,” it also said.
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