Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Wednesday 1st June 2022
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 01/06/22
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One Killed, Two Wounded In Shooting After High School Graduation In US
One person was killed and two others wounded in a shooting outside a high school graduation ceremony in New Orleans, United States, according to police.
The violence unfolded on the campus of Xavier University when a fight broke out “between two females” following the Morris Jeff High School graduation ceremony, officials say.
The fatally injured victim was an elderly woman and the other two victims were males, both of whom are expected to survive, The Independent reports.
“A fight broke out between two females and it escalated to gunfire,” said New Orleans police spokesperson Gary Sheets.
New Orleans Police Department says that one suspect was detained at the scene and that the victims were rushed for hospital treatment by New Orleans EMS.
“Investigation underway into shooting incident on campus of Xavier University, in area of Convocation Center. Initial information shows three gunshot wound victims transported to local hospital via EMS. Subject has been detained at the scene,” NOPD tweeted on Tuesday.
Witnesses told Fox8 that a fight broke out after the ceremony and that between five and 12 gunshots were heard.
One witness told WDSU-TV that there was an altercation in a car park that led to the shooting.
“This is supposed to be a joyous occasion and it is very sad for us to have to go through something like this. This is horrible,” an unnamed witness told the station.
“This is a horrific tragedy on what should be a day of celebration for our seniors,” said the high school’s principal Patricia Perkins.
The university’s Convocation Center is used as the venue for a string of the city’s high school graduation ceremonies every year.
Earlier this month, on 20 May, a fight broke out during the Carver High graduation event, with punches and chairs being thrown during the melee, according to WVUE.
The incident also comes two weeks after four people were injured in a shooting outside a graduation ceremony at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond.
Last week, 21 persons, mostly young children were killed in a shooting at a primary school in south Texas.
The 18-year-old gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde before he was killed by law enforcement
The suspect had a handgun, an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and high-capacity magazines.
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Group Raises Alarm Over Alleged Exclusion of South-East Applicants From Petroleum Trust Fund, PTDF Scholarship Scheme
A group under the aegis of Youth and Students Advocates for Development Initiative (YSAD), has raised an alarm over the exclusion of applicants from the South-East region from the 2022 Overseas Scholarship Scheme (OSS) of the Petroleum Technology Development Trust Fund (PTDF).The group accused PTDF of insincerity and a deliberate attempt to deny qualified Igbo graduates from participating in the scheme meant for all regions in the country.
The Chief Executive Officer of the organisation, Obinna Nwagbara made this allegation in a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday in Abuja.Nwagbara was reacting to a media report credited to one Mr. Mustapha Bello that no centre had been selected for the South-East on account of insecurity in the region. It was gathered that 8, 800 applicants have been shortlisted and scheduled for interviews in five centres across the country. Obinna faulted the reason given by the agency as flimsy and unjustifiable, adding that the group would do everything within the law to resist the plot.The statement said, “We view as unpatriotic, provocative and repulsive, the clear design by the Petroleum Technology Development Trust Fund (PTDF) to exclude applicants from the South-East region in its 2022 Overseas Scholarship Scheme (OSS).“A report in Vanguard newspaper of Thursday, May 26, 2022, had credited Mr. Mustapha Bello with announcing that the 8,800 applicants who qualified for the interview phase of the exercise would be interviewed across five different centres.“According to the report, applicants would be interviewed in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Kaduna and Bauchi. The PTDF through Mr Bello announced that no centre had been selected for the South-East on account of insecurity in the region“On the surface, the excuse seems plausible but when probed deeper, one would understand that a lot more is at play here and all patriotic Nigerians must be concerned about this terrible development. Yes, there is insecurity in the South-East region and we find that very unfortunate considering how peaceful the region has been until recently.“We consider the reports of the loss of human lives and palpable tension in the region very disturbing; no one should have to live under fear or operate on laws made by non-state actors. Those are facts and as a body, Youth and Students Advocates for Development Initiative, YSAD, has serially condemned acts of brigandage and killing in the region. We had also made several calls to authorities at federal and state levels to go beyond rhetoric and act to restore the much-needed sense of order in the region.”The group maintained that if insecurity was the reason as cited by PTDF to exclude the South-East region by denying applicants from the zone a centre where they can present themselves for an interview, then the whole exercise should have been cancelled nationwide.He noted that there is a pandemic of insecurity all over Nigeria.The statement, therefore, called on well-meaning Nigerians to rise up and resist an alleged attempt to eliminate qualified Igbos from a scheme targeted at graduates from all over Nigeria.”It is strange that the PTDF cannot find a suitable region in all of the South-East for its interview but would go ahead and interview candidates in Kaduna State where according to reports in the Cable newspaper of April 20, 2022, 259 Nigerians lost their lives in the first quarter of 2022 following 31 attacks by various criminal groups,” the statement added.
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BREAKING: Ex-Imo Governor, Okorocha Arrives Venue Of Ruling APC Presidential Screening Few Hours After Leaving Detention
The embattled former Governor of Imo State and one of the presidential aspirants of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Rochas Okorocha has arrived at the venue of the party’s presidential screening in Abuja. The APC presidential screening exercise which started on Monday is expected to end today (Tuesday).
Okorocha arrived at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, the venue of the exercise on Tuesday night shortly after he was released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court had on Monday granted the former governor, who was arrested by the anti-graft agency over alleged N2.9 billion fraud, bail of N500 million with a surety in the same amount. One of his legal counsel, Steve Asimobi, had said that Okorocha would be attending the screening exercise of presidential aspirants later in Abuja. “His Excellency, Rochas Okorocha would be attending the APC presidential screening later today. The court has granted him bail. Of course, there were two options, either to remand him in Kuje prison or the EFCC custody pending when we meet the bail condition.
“Hence the judge asked the EFCC to keep him in protective custody, and that is a usual administrative procedure. The judge also ordered the EFCC to return his international passport to the court today with immediate effect. “As I speak to you, the sureties required are currently in court with all the requirements, and they’re processing it. So, once we’re done with these, the judge would order the EFCC to release him. He’s only under the protective custody of the EFCC based on the directive of the court,” Asimobi had said.
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Oyo Police Detain, Arraign Worker Unjustly Sacked By Corruption-riddled Forestry Research Institute Boss, Olusola, Over SaharaReporters’ Stories
File photo used to illustrate story.
The police in Oyo State, acting on the orders of the Director-General of the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), Ibadan, Oyo State, Prof Adepoju Olusola, have arrested a worker of the institution, Mr Abaraham Taiwo Joseph over stories published by SaharaReporters. The police also arraigned Joseph, who was illegally sacked by Olusola for allegedly making false allegations against government officials before a magistrate court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State.
File photo used to illustrate story.
“Joseph was invited to come for a meeting at the police headquarters on Monday, but on getting there, he was detained and around 6 am on Tuesday, he was arraigned before a magistrate.“They didn’t even allow him to have access to a lawyer. They seem to have finalized everything with the magistrate but he granted him bail and adjourned the case till June 29,” a court document obtained by SaharaReporters reveals. According to the court document, Joseph was accused of working with some people at SaharaReporters to cause civil unrest in the institution.
“That you Abraham Taiwo Joseph and others now at large on the 29th June 2021 at about 1400hrs at the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan in the Ibadan Magisterial District did conspire with others in Sahara Reporters to commit the offence to wit publication of defamatory message and conduct likely to cause the breach of peace intent to damage the reputation of one Professor Adepoju Olusola and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 517 of criminal code cap 38 vol 11 laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000,” part of the document read. SaharaReporters had reported how the Director-General, FRIN, Professor Adepoju Olusola embarked on a witch-hunt and victimisation of some workers of the Institute, following a story that exposed how he awarded fraudulent contracts without recourse to procedure and due process.
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Nigeria’s Forestry Research Institute Boss, Olusola Unjustly Sacks Worker, Believing He Exposed His Fraudulent Acts
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7 Months Ago
A source had told SaharaReporters that FRIN board members were deprived of access to information about all financial and administrative activities of the agency, including records of budgets, expenditures, contracts, appointments, and promotions undertaken under Olusola. Weeks after the story, it was learnt that Olusola ordered the transfer of workers he described as ‘enemies’ from the headquarters of the agency in Ibadan, Oyo State to some Northern and South-Eastern states. Not satisfied, he dismissed Joseph without any evidence of wrongdoing. According to the dismissal letter, which was later published by SaharaReporters, the institute had claimed Joseph was dismissed because of alleged insubordination and his refusal to proceed on redeployment. “Recall your appearances before the Staff Disciplinary Committee of the Institute in respect of your misdemeanour bordering on false claims against Government Official, refusal to proceed on redeployment and insubordination, all these are considered as serious acts of misconduct going by Chapter 3 Sections 3 and 4 of the Public Service Rule,” the letter had read.
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BUSTED: Nigeria’s Forestry Research Institute Boss, Olusola Accused Of Corruption Intimidates Workers With Queries, Transfers To Cover Up
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8 Months Ago
“Consequently, the Governing Board of the Institute, at its meeting held on 27 September 2021, ratified the recommendation of the Committee to wit“Dismissal from service with effect from 27 September 2021. “The institute wishes you well in your future endeavors.” Apart from Joseph, many workers were issued queries by the Director-General, who felt they were responsible for exposing him. “He has been using the management to hunt perceived enemies. The aftermath of that publication by SaharaReporters is the victimisation of staff with transfer threats. “Sadly, the board and management haven’t brought a verifiable report of an objective investigation on the alleged issues. “Also, most of us transferred to other states have not been furnished with any allowances to aid our redeployment. When one of us called their attention to this, they issued him a query. “The labour union has been divided and bought over on this. The DG has turned himself into a god in the institute, always intimidating and threatening staff with his connection and influence in Abuja. “Section 130105 of the public service rule maintains that transportation and resettlement allowances be made available before transfer or posting,” a source had told SaharaReporters. SaharaReporters had also reported how Olusola illegally promoted staff members without regard for public service rules. “The Director-General, Professor Adepoju Olusola has been found doing the following; withholding of staff deductions (Contributions of over N50,000,000) to co-operative society for the month of October 2020, as confirmed by IPPIS. “Illegal removal or deduction from salaries of staff (This is done randomly) with no reason, explanation and move to refund (He does not listen to anyone) for same October 2020. “Flouting of civil service rule in relation to the promotion of staff. In the year 2020, a promotion exercise was conducted, and over 30%-40% of staff were denied promotion even though they passed the examination, but he claimed there was no vacancy. “By January 2021, this year, those who got promoted received their letters and were promoted appropriately. To our amazement, by June 2021, part of those promoted and served their letters were given another promotion. We found out that they are his partners in crime in the institute. “Imagine, someone got promoted to Grade Level 11 in January 2021 and received another promotion in June 2021 to Grade Level 13, in the space of five months. “All efforts to have him explain this move proved abortive as he will never give room for questioning. He’s above the law and people are afraid to challenge him,” the source had said.
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I Need Your Support To Pick My Successor, Buhari Tells APC Governors, Stakeholders Ahead Of Party’s Presidential Primary
President Muhammed Buhari has called on governors and other stakeholders in the ruling All Progressives Congress to reciprocate support for him in picking his successor.
He spoke on Tuesday during his meeting with the governors before departing Nigeria for Spain.
The ruling party had scheduled its convention and presidential primary to hold between June 6 and June 8.
This had followed the Independent National Electoral Commission’s extension of the deadline for party primaries from June 3 to 9.
In his address, Buhari said the governors and relevant stakeholders within the party must allow interests to converge and focus on changing dynamics ahead of the convention.
He said: “As we approach the convention, I appeal to all of you to allow our interests to converge, our focus to remain on the changing dynamics of our environment, the expectations of our citizens and the global community. Our objective must be the victory of our party and our choice of a candidate must be someone who would give the Nigerian masses a sense of victory and confidence even before the elections.
“In keeping with the established internal policies of the Party and as we approach the Convention in a few days, therefore, I wish to solicit the reciprocity and support of the Governors and other stakeholders in picking my successor, who would fly the flag of our party for election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023.”
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Press Freedom Violations: Report Ranks Nigeria Second Worst In West Africa
A regional quarterly report on Freedom of Expression (FOE) by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), has shown that Nigeria recorded 5 cases of freedom of expression violations.
This puts Nigeria in second place behind Ghana as the most repressive country in West Africa during the first quarter (Q1) of 2022.
The report which covers January-March 2022, showed that Nigeria recorded three physical attacks on journalists and two attacks on media houses. These violations were classified under Arrest/Detention and Seizure/Destruction of property.
Also, a report jointly produced by the MFWA and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in 2021 showed that Nigeria recorded over 300 press freedom and freedom of expression violations during the first four years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. It is worrisome how Nigeria and the troubled Guinea Bissau found themselves in the same position on violation of freedom of expression, even without a war going on in the country. Meanwhile, Ghana recorded 11 violations to rank first as the West African country with the highest cases of press freedom and freedom of expression violations during the period under review. Journalism in Nigeria and many other West African countries is becoming more toxic on a daily basis as journalists are frequently being attacked by security agencies including police, and the military. On October 20, 2020, during the nationwide #EndSARS protest in Nigeria, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and military officers physically assaulted and damaged the gadgets of journalists in Lagos, Abuja and some parts of the country. Similarly, on October 20, 2021, journalists, including one Daily Post correspondent, Sikiru Obarayese, were physically assaulted at the Lekki Toll Gate by the police.
Earlier today (Tuesday), police officers from Housing Estate Police Station, Ring Road, in Osun state opened fire on peaceful protesters in Osogbo, Osun State capital, shooting a Nigerian journalist working with The Nation Newspaper, Toba Adedeji.
Adedeji, alongside other journalists, was covering a peaceful protest by demonstrators who were mourning the death of their friend, Abiola Afolabi,Afolabi was shot by policemen at his friend’s house on Monday, April 4, 2022.
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E2%80%99s-union-miyetti-allah-laments-attack-fulani-camp-anambra-killing-4-members-theft Herder’s Union, Miyetti Allah Laments Attack On Fulani Camp In Anambra, Killing Of 4 Members, Theft Of Cows
Miyetti Allah group
The South-East chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has lamented the killing of four of its members in Anambra State.According to the Chairman of MACBAN in the region, Alhaji Gidado Sidikki, in a statement on Tuesday, the attack occurred at Ndukwenu community, in the Orumba North Local Government Area of the state.
Miyetti Allah group
The herders’ union also said 60 cows were stolen by assailants.A group of armed men now known as ‘unknown gunmen’ have been terrorising Anambra and other states in the South-East and enforcing a sit-at-home exercise in the troubled region.The Nigerian government and a section of the public have accused the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), led by Nnamdi Kanu, of being behind the killings and violence in the region, but the secessionist group has repeatedly denied the allegations.“It has happened again, yesterday (Monday, May 30, 2022), by 7:30 PM, a group of persons well equipped with guns and matchets, raided a Fulani camp at Ndukwenu community Orumba North LGA, killing four persons and about 60 cattle were not seen.“Our members are being innocently killed oftentimes; we don’t know our sin in Anambra State. As we appreciate the state government under Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo and security agencies, we also implore the quick intervention to stop killing our people.“We can no longer move freely now in the state. The 4 persons killed are; Mohammed Idris, Sale Idris, Abdulmumkni Idris and Musa Idris.“At the moment, the corpses of Mohammed Idris and Sale Idris were recovered while the other 2 persons were still missing.”SaharaReporters on Sunday, May 8, 2022, reported how some gunmen set ablaze a truck loaded with cows along Uga-Ezinifite Road in the Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.In a video shared online, an eyewitness said the truck was being driven by northerners before it was attacked by the gunmen who set it on fire. However, no casualty was recorded in the incident, the man who made the video noted.He had said, “Good morning everybody, unknown gunmen just attacked Hausa men carrying cows this early morning Sunday. The gunmen did not kill anyone but they injured the driver. As you can see, they have set this vehicle on fire. This is a full trailer carrying cows.“Unknown gunmen attacked at Ezinifite road between Ezinifite and Uga. This is live, it just happened now.”The attack came exactly a month after unknown gunmen shot dead over 20 cows and several goats at the Nkwo Igboukwu market in the Aguata local government area of Anambra.SaharaReporters had reported at the time that some residents who were thrown into a state of confusion following the incident, gathered around the dead livestock, deliberating what could have happened.From videos shared, some of the traders were seen running, as they assumed the gunmen had returned to attack them. However, they returned when they observed their assumption was baseless.A man had said, “People can just start running at any time. We are just being vigilant. This is happening live at Igboukwu.”
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E2%80%93-sources Former Deputy Senate President, Ekweremadu Making Moves To Dump PDP For APC – Sources
Former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu may likely join the All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest the governorship seat of the Enugu State in 2023. The twist, SaharaReporters gathered, comes after discussions between Ekweremadu and Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and the National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.
They were said to have held a meeting in Abuja on the terms of the agreement before he would join the ruling party. The closed-door meeting lasted three hours at the party’s secretariat in Abuja.
Sources close to the party secretariat disclosed to SaharaReporters that Ekweremadu requested the governorship ticket of the APC in Enugu State but he was told that the party had already concluded its governorship primaries during which Chief Uche Nnaji emerged as the candidate of the party.
A source said, “The leadership of the party told Ekweremadu to join the party first with his supporters and other positions could be worked out for them.” “Although Uzodinma disclosed after the marathon meeting ended that he came to see his ‘friend’ for a tete-a-tete, many however believed the meeting was to probably make a case for Ekweremadu who had already been edged out of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) political equation in Enugu state.” Ekweremadu, who had been in the governorship race of Enugu State under PDP, suddenly announced his withdrawal 24 hours before the primary election, citing irregularities in the April 30 delegates election of the party. To worsen his case, an Abuja Federal High Court had dismissed suits filed by Ekweremadu’s followers seeking the notification of the delegates’ congress.
The move by the senator to join APC comes hours after Enugu State Chairman of the APC, Ugochukwu Agballah, rejected pleas by Ekweremadu to be given the governorship ticket of the party. Agballah had described the lawmaker’s demand as “repugnant” and antithetical to the Electoral Act.The APC chairman further warned that the party would not give Ekweremadu the governorship ticket because the ticket was already won by Nnaji. Sources within the state chapter of the party disclosed that the state chairman, Agballah and the National Vice Chairman, South East, Dr. Arodiogbu had before the party primaries met Senator Ekweremadu, asking him to join the APC because according to them, it was clear that the PDP would not give him its governorship ticket. “They told him to join APC early enough so that he could participate in the party’s primaries, but that it would be late if he joins after the primaries and when the party must have elected a candidate,” another source told SaharaReporters. Ekweremadu was reported to have told them that he would remain in PDP to see the end of the battle therein. SaharaReporters learnt that key APC members in the state are of the opinion that his bid for the governorship ticket of the party came a little too late. Members of the party are upbeat about the APC governorship candidate, Nnaji, seeing him as more of a technocrat than a politician. Some people see him as a politician who prefers to work behind the scene.
In 1999, he won the senatorial seat for Enugu East under his former party, the Alliance for Democracy (AD), but stepped down for the former Anambra State Governor, Chief Jim Nwobodo. This tends to portray in some circles as a man not desperate for power.
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E2%80%99s-currency-naira-notes-pieces Nigerian Court Jails Chinese Two Years For Tearing Country’s Currency, Naira Notes Into Pieces
The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State on Tuesday sentenced a Chinese national, Li Lei Lei, to 24 months imprisonment for mutilating the Nigerian currency, Naira.Li Lei Lei was arrested by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Command and arraigned before Justice I. Nicholas Oweibo, on four counts bordering on tampering with the Nigerian Naira note, an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Establishment) Act.
Justice Oweibo on Tuesday found the accused guilty as charged and sentenced him to two years imprisonment.The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had on several occasions cautioned the public against abusing the Naira.
For instance, in May 2021, the Principal Manager, Currency Operations Department, Mrs. Dorothy Onyene, urged traders and other Nigerians to stop abusing the Naira.Onyene condemned the way some Nigerians mutilate, fold, and deface the Naira, saying, “It is a punishable offence to abuse the Naira. Defaulters are liable to six months imprisonment and/or N50,000 fine.“Improper handling of the notes, including mutilation, hawking, squeezing and spraying money at events would not be tolerated.”
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I Will Defeat Atiku, Pastor Bakare Boasts Ahead Of APC Presidential Primary
Tunde Bakare
The Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has boasted that he will defeat former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate if he is given the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) ticket.
The presidential aspirant on the platform of the ruling APC stated this to newsmen after he was screened by the party’s National Working Committee, The Punch reports.
Tunde Bakare
Bakare, however, described Atiku as a worthy candidate.He said, “The screening exercise went very well.
Appropriate questions were asked about how we are going to fix the challenges facing our nation and appropriate answers were given to them.
“By God’s grace, we are pleased that we had something to offer this nation. In this critical moment in our history, nobody can say I have all the solutions. But we did say to them that we will assemble the best, brightest and fittest from within the country, north and south, and from outside of the country, those in the diaspora.“The time has come for us to raise the foundation of many generations, to restore our path and ensure that our nation becomes great again.”Meanwhile, it was observed that like the opposition PDP, the ruling APC also disregarded the request of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to administer drug tests on aspirants.
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