Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Thursday 21st July 2022
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 21/07/22
Read also
E2%80%93-real-winners-bunmi-makinwa Osun State Election – The Real Winners By Bunmi Makinwa
Bunmi Makinwa
In a situation where standards continue to spiral downwards there is cause to celebrate small gains. Conducting a state gubernatorial election in Osun State recently with few major hiccups is therefore worthy of laurels. In the Osun State gubernatorial election, it does appear that good preparation prior to the election and effective actions on July 16, 2022, the election day, coalesced positively for successful conduct.
Who deserves recognition for the success and why? What can be gleaned from the election for improvement of future elections in Nigeria?
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Ademola Adelekedefeated incumbent Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) party in declared results of the election. Although the last word on the results may not have been heard yet, it is timely to take a deeper look at several aspects of the election. The real winners, often left unnoticed, are those who enable democracy to gain some traction, taking a step forward.
Bunmi Makinwa
In a previous write-up a few weeks back, in anticipation I had stated: “Also in Osun State, gubernatorial election will take place on July 16 this year, almost one month after that of EkitiState. Both states will set the tone for how future elections will play out in South-West of Nigeria and many parts of the country.”
A lot of tension preceded the Osun election. There were many reasons for APC and PDP to be desperate, as they were during the election in Ekiti. Among the reasons are that having won in Ekiti, APC would like to win also in Osun and for the time being confirm its dominance in South-West, the fief of its presidential flagbearer, Bola Tinubu.
For PDP, coming third after APC and Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ekiti election was humiliating and Osun election presented yet an opportunity for redemption in a state where it once reigned. Besides, PDP could reassert its claim that the party’s candidate Adeleke actually had won in Osun State in the last gubernatorial election of 2018, and that the election was rigged in favour of Oyetola. Never mind the court judgment that affirmed APC’s victory.
Reports from election monitoring groups indicate that vote buying by political parties occurred in many places in Osun State. The reports show though the cases were less frequent compared to what happened during the election in Ekiti State.
Some violence was also reported as were cases of tampering with votes and disruption of voting in some places. Yet, the reports showed that in comparison to what happened during the Anambra State gubernatorial election in November 2021and in Ekiti State in June 2022, the situation in Osun was much improved. Such progress is worthy of recognition.
In Osun, people were organized, persistent in making sure that they voted, and determined to make sure that their votes were recorded correctly. Overall, people took voting seriously and would not entertain any diversionary tactics or be derailed from their objective to vote for their candidate. It is reported that some voters collected vote inducement monies when offered by political parties but the voters still voted their choice as much as possible. It is proper that Osun people should be commended for their resolve to make their votes count.
It would appear that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had learned many useful lessons from past elections. Osun State, from various reports and news coverage, saw a better prepared electoral agency. Voting materials and personnel were deployed correctly and arrived on time at voting venues. It was widely seen that the new electoral equipment and facilities worked. The use of bimodal voter accreditation system (BVAS) which started with the Anambra election has proved to be a game changer. The machine reads voters’ cards, authenticate them, and cannot be manipulated.
Election returns were captured at locations and reported on INEC portal quickly. One could watch live reporting of electoral process and decisions on various news media outlets. At the collation and reporting centres, INEC officials were appropriately measured in their delivery of results. Voting documents were duly signed by party agents. Election officials provided answers to questions and solved problems as they arose.
In the few voting centres where significant disruptions occurred – voters were attacked or hindered from voting, or ballots were destroyed willfully, or ballot boxes were seized by thugs – the returns were cancelled.
On its part, INEC performed very well, restored faith in the organization, and merits commendation.
Largely, the security personnel showed heavy presence and cooperated to assist smooth voting. They prevented people who wanted to disrupt proceedings, cause confusion or be violent. The security forces reduced opportunities for vote buying, maintained law and order, and ensured that voting went on smoothly. The security and intelligence services did the right thing and earn themselves a laurel.
The stakes were high at Osun. In continuation of the propensity for the ruling party at federal level to use its overarching authority and manipulate security services for nefarious activities, APC could have combined its control of state and federal governments to impose its will. Indeed, the election could have been deadlocked or indecisive, and could have got enmeshed in violent confrontation due to flagrant disregard of people’s choice. Refreshingly, none of these unwelcomed scenarios happened. Osun State and federal government deserve big cheers.
There is no hiding place for misdeeds and wrongdoing, thanks to online and Internet technology. In the same breath, positive happenings and situations are easily made known. Whilst the news media carried out their reporting and analysis in Osun during the election, citizen “journalists” and the general public sent out information constantly and relentlessly too. With mobile phones, tablets and similar devices, constant and relentless information emerged as photos, videos, texts and voice notes inthe public space.
All actors – INEC, party officials, security personnel – were alert and kept in check. Kudos to the media, activist journalists and people who use their smart gadgets to capture information and monitor activities during the election. They all get a well-deserved recognition.
It is early to draw conclusions on how well future elections will be organized in Nigeria. The factors that make for a fairly well-organised election at state level are not all similar to what characterize nation-wide elections, especially for presidential election.
In fact, when many states have elections at the same time for various offices, the resources – INEC, security personnel, media and monitoring groups – are over-stretched. The resources are not adequately available to cover every area of need. The close coverage and attention given to a one-state and one-office election cannot be replicated country-wide.
However, to institutionalize democracy, elections and voting where people’s choice prevails is absolutely crucial. It is necessary that people themselves demand to have their choice respected by making their votes count.
Perhaps well-conducted and free elections will mark thebeginning of the realization that elected officers are to serve the electorate.
Bunmi Makinwa is the CEO of AUNIQUEI Communication for leadership. For more reading, visit www.bunmimakinwa.com
Opinion
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
Bunmi Makinwa
Disable advertisements
:
Appeal Court Jails Nigerian Serving Senator, Nwaoboshi Seven Years, Orders Winding Up Of His Two Companies Over Money Laundering
The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal has convicted and sentenced Senator Peter Nwaoboshi to seven years imprisonment for money laundering.
In the judgment delivered by Hon. Justice Abdullahi Mahmud Bayero and affirmed by Justices Obande Festus Ogbujinya and Peter O. Affen, the court also ordered that the two companies of the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District at the National Assembly be wound up.
The companies are Golden Touch Construction Project Ltd and Suiming Electrical Ltd, in line with the provisions of Section 22 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2021.
The ruling was sequel to an appeal to challenge the judgement of Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, which on June 18, 2018, discharged and acquitted Nwaoboshi of two counts of fraud and money laundering.
“The Economic the EFCC had arraigned the three defendants over the acquisition of a property named Guinea House, Marine Road, Apapa, Lagos, for N805 million. Part of the money paid to the vendor, precisely a sum of N322 million, transferred by Suiming Electrical Ltd on behalf of Nwaoboshi and Golden Touch Construction Project Ltd, was alleged to be part of the proceeds of fraud.
“But in his judgement, Justice Aneke held that the prosecution failed to call vital witnesses and tender concrete evidence to prove the elements of the offences for which it charged the defendants.
“Justice Aneke said the evidence of PW2 ‘proved that the third defendant obtained a loan of N1.2 billion from Zenith Bank for purchase of additional equipment and as provision of working capital,” the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had said in a Twitter post.
It added, “However, ruling on the EFCC’s appeal on Friday, the Court of Appeal held that the trial judge erred in dismissing the charges against the respondents. It said the prosecution had proved the ingredients of the offence and consequently found the defendants guilty as charged.”
But delivering judgment in Appeal NO. CA/LAG/CR/988/2021 between the Federal Republic of Nigeria as Applicant and Peter Nwaoboshi, Golden Touch Construction Projects Ltd and SUIMING Electrical Limited as Respondents, Justice Bayero set aside the judgment of Justice Aneke in No. FHC/L/117C/2018.
The justices held the in the judgment SaharaReporters obtained Certified True Copy, that the trial Court ought not to have discharged and acquitted the Respondents.
The judgment partly read “this is an Appeal against the judgment of the Federal High Court, Lagos Division delivered on 18th June, 2021 in which the lower Court discharged and acquitted the Respondents for the offences of Money Laundering and Conspiracy Contrary to Sections 15 (2)(d) and 18(a) of the Certified True Copy Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.”
It stated that “Sometime in the year 2014, the 3rd Respondent (whose alter ego is the 1st Respondent) applied for and was granted a term loan by Nigerian Import Export Bank (NEXIM) of the sum of N322,000,000.00 to Delta State Government for the purchase of Guinea House acquired by the 2nd Respondent. This transaction also reflects as credit in the statement of account of Delta State Government which is Exhibit F-F1 particularly on Page 1647 of the record.
“PW4 is the investigating officer who investigated the petition (Exhibit P1). He testified about the conduct of his investigation and his testimony is at Pages 990-999 of the record of Appeal. Through him, the Prosecution tendered Exhibits E, E1, F, F1, G and H. Exhibits E and E1, the responses from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) which shows the incorporation documents of 2nd and 3rd Respondents and also confirmed 1st Respondent as the controlling mind of the 2nd and 3rd Respondents manifesting either as promoter, alter ego, director or shareholder of the 2nd and 3rd Respondents.
“Exhibits F-F1 are the Sterling Bank account records and statements of Delta State Government through which the 3rd Respondent paid N322,000,000.00 for the purchase of Guinea House on behalf of the 2nd Respondent; and that Exhibit G is the cautionary extra-judicial statement of the 1 Respondent wherein he confessed to engineering the unlawful transaction in relation to the purchase of Guinea House using the 2nd and 3 Respondents whose minds are one and the same thing with his…
“The above overwhelming credible oral and documentary evidence adduced by the prosecution without any rebuttal from the Respondents, shows that the prosecution adduced sufficient evidence and proved the essential ingredients for the offences of Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and Conspiracy to commit the said offence Contrary to Sections 15 (2)(d) and (3), and 18 (a) of the Act. The trial Court ought not to have discharged and acquitted the Respondents.
“A summary analysis of the evidence before the trial Court when juxtaposed to the essential ingredients of the two count offences charged leaves no doubt that the prosecution has adduced credible evidence which proves the commission of the offences by the Respondents contrary to the decision of the trial court that nothing else was proved by the Prosecution.
“The judgment of the lower Court in Charge No. FHC/L/117C/2018 delivered on 3 September, 2021 discharging and acquitting the Respondents for the offences Money Laundering and Conspiracy Contrary to Sections 15 (2)(d), 15 (3) and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering. (Prohibition) Act, 2011, is hereby set aside.
“The 1 and 2nd Respondents are hereby found guilty for the offence of Money Laundering contrary to Section 15 (2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 and are hereby convicted. While the 3d Respondent is found guilty for the offence of Conspiracy contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 and is hereby convicted.”
On the sentence, the court held, “As regards the 1st Respondent he is hereby sentenced to imprisonment for seven (7) years in accordance with Section 18,(3) of the money laundering (prohibition) Act, 2011.
“As to the 2nd and 3rd Respondents this Court hereby orders for the winding up of the 2nd and 3rd Respondents and all their properties to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria Pursuant to Section 22 (2) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.”
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
saharareporters, new york
Disable advertisements
:
E2%80%98legality%E2%80%99-apc%E2%80%99s-muslim-muslim-presidential-candidacies-inibehe-effiong ‘Legality’ Of The APC’s Muslim-Muslim Presidential Candidacies By Inibehe Effiong
The decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to nominate Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima as her presidential and vice presidential candidates respectively, has thrown the country into palpable political and ethnoreligious tension; given that both candidates are of the Islamic faith, which has altered the established political tradition and further jeopardized the delicate structural balance of Nigeria.
Constitutional Requirements for the Office of President and Vice President
As the controversy rages on, this op-ed attempts to dissect the legal perspective and the implications of the same faith candidacies adopted by the APC. As a preliminary point, it should be noted that the faith or religious identity of a candidate is not a prerequisite or a qualifying criterion for eligibility into elective offices. Thus, the issue is not whether Kashim Shettima is qualified to be the Vice President within the purview and contemplation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
The office of Vice-President is established by Section 141 of the 1999 Constitution which states that “there shall be for the Federation a Vice-President”, while Section 142 (1) of the Constitution prescribes the process of nomination and election of Vice President as follows:
“In any election to which the foregoing provisions of this part of this Chapter relate, a candidate for an election to the office of President shall not be deemed to be validly nominated unless he nominates another candidate as his associate from the same political party for his running for the office of President, who is to occupy the office Vice-President and that candidate shall be deemed to have been duly elected to the office of Vice-President who nominated him as such associate is duly elected as President in accordance with the provisions aforesaid.”
Regarding qualification and disqualification, Section 142 (2) read along with Section 131 of the Constitution states that the indices of qualification and disqualification applicable to the office of President shall apply to the office of the Vice-President. In other words, a person shall be qualified for election to the office of Vice-President if: (a) he is a citizen of Nigeria by birth; (b) he has attained the age of forty years; (c) he is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party; (d) he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.
From the foregoing, there is no doubt that Senator Kashim Shettima has met the constitutional requirements to be nominated as the Vice-Presidential candidate of the APC.
Principle of Federal Character
As earlier cautioned, the real issue is not about qualification; the real question or issue is whether the decision by Tinubu and the APC to select and nominate Shettima as their Vice-Presidential candidate despite being of the same faith as the Presidential Candidate is in conformity with the constitutional principle of federal character?
I will preface my attempt to answer the above question by drawing our attention to Section 10 of the Constitution which is construed by a jurisprudential school of thought as the provision that entrenches the secularity of the Nigerian state, by declaring emphatically that “the Government of the Federation and of a State shall not adopt any religion as State religion.”
In essence, while there is a general consensus that Christianity and Islam are the ‘dominant’ religions in Nigeria, the Constitution forbids any act or omission which seeks, tends or purports to elevate either religion as a state religion. In discussing the Muslim-Muslim ticket, or Christian-Muslim ticket, we should bear in mind that these religions are not the official religions of the Nigerian State and cannot be elevated as such having regard to the constitutional encumbrance in Section 10.
The federal character principle at the federal level is rooted in Section 14 (3) of the Constitution. For clarity, the provisions are reproduced verbatim infra:
“14(3) The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few States or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.”
From the above provisions, the composition of the Government of the Federation, and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria, promote national unity, and also command national loyalty, and ensure that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government.
Some commentators have contended that religion has nothing to do with the federal character principle and that in any event, elective offices are not subject to federal character. This argument is flawed and we shall illustrate this momentarily. Before exposing the flaws in this argument, there is a fundamental question that must be addressed and it goes thus: what is the federal character of Nigeria?
The word “character” can simply be defined as the attributes, traits, mannerisms, physical makeup, culture or personality of a person, society, nation or thing. The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) in its 1977 report, defined Federal Character as follows:
“The distinctive desire of the peoples of Nigeria to promote national unity, foster national loyalty and give every citizen of Nigeria a sense of belonging to the nation notwithstanding the diversities of ethnic, origin, culture, language or religion which may exist and which it is their desire to nourish, harness to the enrichment of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
More concisely, Section 14 (3) of the Constitution reproduced supra is unequivocal on the purport of the federal character principle. The intention of the framers of the Constitution is not in doubt. Federal character is intended to promote national unity, and also command national loyalty, and ensure that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government.
It is conceded that the federal character principle in Section 14 falls under the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy contained in Chapter II of the Constitution which is non-justiciable. It is non-justiciable because it cannot ordinarily be enforced in a court of law. This is because by virtue of Section 6 (6) (c) of the Constitution, the judicial powers of the courts shall not extern to any issue or question as to whether any act or omission by any authority or person is in conformity with the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy set out in Chapter II of the Constitution. This position was reaffirmed by the Supreme Court in the case of ATTORNEY GENERAL OF ONDO STATE V. ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION (2002) 9 NWLR (PT.772) 222.
However, there are instances where the principles enunciated and provided for in Chapter II will be justiciable. One of such instances is where the Constitution itself makes a principle in Chapter II justiciable. Another instance is where the National Assembly enacts a law to guarantee the justiciability of a given matter or item in Chapter II. See the case of AG Ondo State supra and Section 4 (2) read along with item 60 (a) Part 1 of the Second Schedule to the Constitution on the exclusive legislative power of the National Assembly to enact a law for the enforcement and justiciability of Chapter II.
I have already posited in this piece that Senator Shettima is constitutionally eligible to be nominated for election to the office of the Vice President. I also espoused that the gravamen of the argument is not about his constitutional qualification.
Has the APC Breached the Federal Character Principle?
The question begging for answer therefore is, has the APC in any shape or form contravened the Constitutional principle of federal character by opting for Muslim-Muslim Presidential Candidacies in defiance of federal character and the established political tradition practised since the birth of the Fourth Republic in 1999?
The answer to this poser is not a simplistic one. However, a community reading of the provisions of Sections 14, 15, 131 (c), 142 (2), 221, 222 (b) and 224 of the Constitution offers not only clarity, but a definitive answer on whether the Muslim-Muslim presidential candidacies adopted by the APC is inconsistent with the spirit and letters of the Nigerian Constitution, particularly as it relates to federal character. I shall now examine the said provisions in brevity.
Section 15 of Chapter II contains the Political Objectives of the country and subsection 2 thereof states that “…national integration shall be actively encouraged, whilst discrimination on the grounds of place of origin, s**, religion, status, ethnic or linguistic association or ties shall be prohibited.” Subsection 4 of Section 15 similarly states that “The State shall foster a feeling of belonging and of involvement among the various peoples of the Federation, to the end that loyalty to the nation shall override sectional loyalties.”
By virtue of Section 221 of the Constitution, only a political party can canvass for votes for a candidate. The combined effect of Sections 131 (c) and 142 (2) of the Constitution makes it imperative for any person seeking the office of President and Vice President to belong to a political party and be sponsored by that political party. Section 222 (b) states that no association by whatever name called, shall function as a political party unless “the membership of the association is open to every citizen of Nigeria irrespective of his place of origin, circumstance of birth, s**, religion or ethnic grouping.”
Lastly, Section 224 of the Constitution provides that the Aims, Objectives and Programme of every political party must conform to the provisions of Chapter II of the Constitution. As earlier contended, Sections 14 (3) and 15 (2) and (4) of the Constitution falls under Chapter II. I also stated earlier that while Chapter II is not ordinarily justiciable, it becomes justiciable where the Constitution itself (in another provision) creates an exception for justiciability.
In the instant case, the APC as a political party has an obligation to conform to the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy in Chapter II of the Constitution, including the federal character principle under Section 14 and the political principles in Section 15 which mandates that “…national integration shall be actively encouraged, whilst discrimination on the grounds of place of origin, s**, religion, status, ethnic or linguistic association or ties shall be prohibited” and to also foster a feeling of belonging and of involvement among the various peoples of the Federation, to the end that loyalty to the nation shall override sectional loyalties.
The next question that all Nigerians of good conscience must answer with honesty is: has the Muslim-Muslim presidential candidacies of the APC breached the federal character principle? Put differently, has the APC by nominating presidential and vice-presidential candidates from the same faith promoted national integration, national unity and national loyalty or has it promoted disunity, sectional loyalty and disintegration?
From all that we have witnessed since Shettima’s nomination was made public, it should not be difficult to reach a conclusion that the APC has violated the federal character principle.
It amounts to intellectual duplicity to argue that religion is not an integral part of the federal character of Nigeria. In 2015, the APC rejected Muslim-Muslim ticket because it violated the federal character principle. If the APC no longer believes in federal character, the starting point should be for the Party to propose a Constitutional amendment to expunge federal character from the Constitution. Quota system should also be abrogated. Until this is done, it is mischievous and dubious for the APC to blatantly ignore the duty imposed on it by the Constitution to conform to federal character under the ridiculous pretext that it nominated Muslim-Muslim candidates based on “competence.”
Without federal character, Buhari would not be the President today. Bola Tinubu is the presidential candidate of the APC partly because of federal character. Zoning is a product of federal character. Those who seek to exclude religion from their interpretation of federal character are doing so dishonestly. If there is nothing wrong with a Muslim-Muslim ticket, then there should be nothing wrong with a Christian-Christian ticket, North-North ticket or East-East ticket. Politics and democracy have been said to be about numbers. But politics and democracy in a heterogeneous country like Nigeria must be deliberately tailored to foster a sense of inclusion and national integration. That is why the federal character principle is enshrined in the Constitution. Representation is an indispensable ingredient of democracy.
Those who keep retorting that Nigerians who are not comfortable with the decision of the APC should focus on their preferred political parties should reread the constitutional provisions enunciated above, including Section 224 which imposes a duty on all political parties to adhere to federal character. It smacks of arrogance and crass insensitivity to dismiss the legitimate views of those who are justifiably disenchanted by the destructive and dangerous politics of identity and exclusion that the APC has now fully embraced.
Conclusion
There is a reason why the framers of the Constitution made it mandatory for the membership of all political parties to be open to people of all religions. It is to ensure that all religions are treated fairly in the ‘distribution’ of leadership positions in the country. It is to ensure that a political party does not operate in a sectarian manner. It is to prevent a political party from projecting itself as a Muslim Brotherhood, or as a Christian Brotherhood, or as a brotherhood for African traditional worshippers.
Since the APC has chosen a sectarian and divisive path, it is left for the Nigerian electorates to determine whether the path chosen by the APC is in the best interest of Nigeria bearing in mind the existing mistrust in the country, and the multi-religious and multi-ethnic character of Nigeria and vote accordingly in 2023.
Given the unpardonable mismanagement of Nigeria’s diversity, and the grievous damage that President Buhari and the APC have inflicted on this country in the last seven years, one would have expected the APC to read and respect the mood of the nation and be circumspect, and not resort to desperate political gimmicks and divisiveness that will further polarize our country. Shamefully, the APC decided to remind us that allowing it to assume power in 2015 remains a tragic mistake of history.
Inibehe Effiong is a Lagos-based legal practitioner and human rights activist.
Opinion
AddThis
:
Featured Image
:
Original Author
:
Inibehe Effiong
Disable advertisements
:
E2%80%99ll-hand-over-you-and-your-boss-tinubu-buhari-tells-apc-vice-presidential-candidate I’ll Hand Over To You And Your Boss, Tinubu, Buhari Tells APC Vice-Presidential Candidate, Shettima
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday told the vice-presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Kashim Shettima that he will respond to his speech when he is handing over to him and his boss, Bola Tinubu.
Buhari said this while hosting Shettima at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday.
“I will respond to your speech when I am handing over to you and your boss. God willing, you are going to win,” Buhari was quoted in a statement released by Garba Shehu Senior Special Assistant to the President on Wednesday.
Buhari, who received the VP candidate shortly after he was unveiled by the leadership of the party and Tinubu, the party’s presidential candidate, said he was very happy with the choice of the former governor of Borno State as Tinubu’s running mate.
“I wish you the best. Your consistency at the party is very respectful. You served your two terms as Governor and finished well. You have kept touch with your base. At every important occasion or event, you are maintaining support for the one who succeeded you. This is commendable,” he said.
The President expressed strong optimism that the APC ticket will emerge victorious in 2023.
In his remarks, Shettima thanked Buhari for his “empathy, support and positive role,” leading to his emergence as running mate to the APC presidential candidate.
He praised the President for having “a special place in your heart for Borno and Northeast,” adding, “I can cite 20-30 instances of support you have rendered, for which you will be remembered.”
Shettima asked Buhari to appreciate his successor, Babagana Zulum who was with him, along with the Minister of State for Agriculture, Mustapha Baba Shehuri, for his support.
He said he would not be for the “troika of Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri,” but for all of Nigeria, irrespective of ethnicity, religion or geographical place of origin.
Politics
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
Saharareporters, new York
Disable advertisements
:
Nigerian Senate Passes Bill To Provide For Underage Orphans, Unemployed, Aged Citizens
File photo used to illustrate story.
The Nigerian Senate, on Wednesday, passed a bill to establish the National Social Security Commission.
The piece of legislation seeks to put in place a National Social Security protection funding to cater for the needs of the unemployed, aged and underage children below 18 years, from broken marriages.
File photo used to illustrate story.
Also covered in the bill are dependents left behind after the death of the family’s breadwinner.
The passage of the bill followed the consideration of a report by the Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters, a statement by Dr. Ezrel Tabiowo, Special Assistant (Press) to the Senate President said on Wednesday.
Chairman of the Committee, Ibrahim Shekarau (NNPP – Kano Central), in his presentation, said the bill seeks to provide the Legal and Institutional framework for the establishment of the National Social Security Commission for the regulation, management and administration of various social services and benefits to Nigerian citizens.
“Ultimately, the Bill seeks to provide a comprehensive Legal and Governance framework for the proper administration and management of all-inclusive, integrated, preventive, promotive and transformative National Social Security regime that provides flexible sustainable periodic social benefits and grants to eligible indigent Nigerian Citizens that are within the scope of the Social Security (Minimum standards) Convention, 1952 (NO 102) of the International Labor Organization (ILO) and particularly Contingencies arising therefrom,” he said.
The lawmaker explained further that, “the proposed Social Security Commission under this Bill shall provide indigent Nigerians Citizens with comprehensive preventive and/or curative Medicare, from sicknesses resulting from any morbid condition of whatever cause.”
“Specifically, the Commission when establish by the leave of this Senate shall provide a well-structured impactful, and sustainable social interventions to eligible unemployed Nigerians, old-aged Nigerians, underage children below 18 years resulting from broken marriages and survivors resulting from loss of family’s breadwinner,” he added.
The bill was passed by the upper chamber after a clause-by-clause consideration by the Committee of the Whole.
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
saharareporters, new york
Disable advertisements
:
International Press Centre Condemns Beating, Handcuffing Of Punch Journalist To Bus For Taking Pictures Of Nigerian Policemen, Demands Justice
A media rights advocacy group, International Press Centre (IPC) has condemned in the strongest terms, the police assault on The Punch reporter, Matthew Agbaje, in Lagos State while carrying out his lawful duty.
Agbaje was reportedly assaulted and brutalised at Berger bus stop on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Monday by five police officers who were allegedly on illegal duty.
The police officers were said to be dragging and pushing a bus driver, during the time the reporter was on his way to the office. He decided to record the incident with his phone but the policemen pounced on him, punched, slapped, and handcuffed him to a bus despite identifying himself as a journalist.
The IPC described the incident as an “abominable act” by the policemen whose responsibility is to protect and defend members of the public instead of assaulting them.
In a statement by its Press Freedom Officer, Melody Lawal, the centre said, “The International Press Centre (IPC), condemns the assault on The Punch reporter, Matthew Agbaje, who was handcuffed to a commercial bus as he was punched and slapped for attempting to expose policemen on illegal duty at Berger bus stop on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Monday, July 18th, 2022.
“Reports reaching the IPC Safety Alert Desk indicate that Agbaje was on his way to the office when he saw some policemen, about five of them, dragging a bus driver. He was recording the incident with his phone when the policemen pounced on him, despite showing them his identity card.
“IPC totally condemns this abominable act by security operatives who are saddled with the responsibility of protecting lives and properties. Journalists must be treated with dignity because of the important responsibility they have to the citizens and society.
“IPC is therefore calling for immediate action against the police officials involved. The Commissioner of Police should thoroughly investigate this incident and other illegal activities being carried out by police officials on that route. The perpetrators should be made to face the appropriate punishment for their actions.”
A regional quarterly report on Freedom of Expression (FOE) by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), published by SaharaReporters in May 2022 showed that Nigeria recorded 5 cases of freedom of expression violations.
It put Nigeria in second place behind Ghana as the most repressive country in West Africa during the first quarter (Q1) of 2022.
The report which covered 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.
Journalists in Nigeria and many other West African countries experience attacks and intimidation 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.
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
Saharareporters, new York
Disable advertisements
:
E2%80%99-strike-shut Nigerian Government Begs Aviation Workers Not To Join Varsity Lecturers’ Strike, Shut Airports, Says It’s Threat To National Security
Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has expressed fear over a threat by the members of the National Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) to shut down airports across the country in solidarity with the striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The minister who spoke with State House Correspondents on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja warned that if ANAP should carry out its threat, it would be disastrous to Nigeria’s security.
SharaReporters earlier reported that aviation workers threatened to go on solidarity strike in solidarity with university lecturers’ union, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which has been on strike for five months.
According to a report by TheCable, Sirika, while expressing his fear over ANAP’s threat, said, “I’m naturally concerned about this. If the aviation union will shut down in support of ASUU, I would say they have no need to. I will also say that we should begin to look at civil aviation as a critical national security enterprise. It has all the implications.
“We should not contemplate or think about an aviation disaster. We should also think about the general activity on the economy of Nigeria without civil aviation.
“This is democracy, you can push for demands, but in pressing for demands, you should be reasonable in doing so.
“So, civil aviation workers, I think, should not be part of this. Yes, I am concerned and yes, we’ve spoken to them and I don’t think they will join because they know that there’s a huge responsibility for lives on their heads. If you’re an air traffic controller, it involves national security. It involves the capability of preventing external aggression and so on and so forth.
“I believe that they are very aware of the enormous responsibility upon them in civil aviation and they should continue to see it so and continue to be as law-abiding as we want them to be.”
The minister asked the aviation unions to reconsider the planned action, adding that there is a “huge responsibility of lives on their heads.”
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
saharareporters, new york
Disable advertisements
:
Buhari Government Debunks Giving Education Minister, Adamu 14 days To Resolve Varsity Lecturers’ Strike, Says It’s Now Ready For Business
The Nigerian Government on Thursday debunked a piece of viral news that President Muhammadu Buhari ordered education minister, Adamu Adamu to resolve the lingering strike embarked upon by university lecturers within two weeks.
This was contained in a statement released via the verified Twitter handle of the government on Thursday.
The statement is titled, ‘On University Strikes, Government Is Ready For Business.”
The government explained that Adamu requested that the labour and employment minister, Chris Ngige should allow him to lead and conclude what he had earlier commenced with the striking lecturers.
The statement reads: “The outcome of the meeting held by President @MBuhari on Tuesday with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to end the agitations by university unions ought to be beyond spin-doctoring and conjectures.
“It is a pity that almost all media houses allowed themselves to be deceived by interested sources that are not the authorized spokesmen of the government.
“Neither during nor after the meeting was any ultimatum given to the Minister of Education. During the meeting, Minister @NigEducation requested that the Minister @LabourMinNG hands off the negotiation to allow him lead and conclude what he had earlier on started with the ASUU.
“And he promised that he could get an agreement within the shortest possible time, possibly two to three weeks.
“In carrying out this assignment, the minister will carry along all relevant ministries and agencies with statutory functions and duties relating to the issues involved.
“@NGRPresident is optimistic that agreements can be reached in an even shorter period if all parties/stakeholders are not unrealistically obstinate. We appeal to the parties to work together to end the strikes.
“On the part of the administration, all doors remain open for dialogue and the resolution of the issues.
“We appeal to the media not try to spread misinformation. The orchestrated media narratives seeking to present an entirely different picture, attributed to sources, in the last 24 hours are not helpful at all.”
Lecturers in Nigerian federal and state universities, under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), have been on strike since February 14, 2022, to force the government to implement agreements reached by both parties in 2009 among other demands.
Education
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
saharareporters, new york
Disable advertisements
:
How Nigerian Policemen Allegedly Extorted N2 Million From Young Man At Gunpoint In Abuja
A young man who identified himself as Emmanuel Ojochagbe Peter has lamented the extortion of N2,000,000 from him by policemen in the Federal Capital Territory.
He said the incident occurred on Tuesday around Byazhin in Kubwa, Abuja.
Narrating the incident in a series of tweets, Peter said he was treated like a criminal by the policemen who accused him of being a kidnapper.
According to him, he was later forced to transfer N500,000 four times to one Atatu Ramatu with First Bank account number 2038518054.
“I was dragged in a bus by six police men yesterday at Byazhin across kubwa, they collected my phone from me by force, asked me to unlock my phone which i did after going through my phone and seeing nothing they started calling me a kidnapper,” he tweeted.
“I started begging that i was innocent, then they said I better cooperate with them or else I won’t like what’s going to happen to me, I said please sir I’m cooperating, we where on the road going to their station that’s what they said.
“They then forced me to open my bank app and transferred five hundred thousand (500,000) four times because my limit per transaction is 500,000, thats how they sent 2 million naira from my account and dropped me off at Gwaripa.”
DSP Josephine Adeh, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Federal Capital Territory, however, told SaharaReporters that she was not aware of the case. She asked for Peter’s Twitter handle, saying she would take up the matter.
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
Sahara Reporters, New york.
Disable advertisements
:
E2%80%93disgraced-%E2%80%98supercop%E2%80%99 I Could Have Escaped During Terrorist Attack On Kuje Prison But Hid Like Rat –Disgraced ‘Supercop’, Kyari Again Begs Nigerian Court For Bail
The suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police in the Nigeria Police Force, Abba Kyari, on Wednesday, told Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court that he had the opportunity to escape from Kuje prison during a recent attack on the facility by terrorists but chose not to.
Kyari, who spoke through his lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), said the gate of the prison was wide open but rather than escape, he and four other former members of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), in detention over drug offences at the prison hid like rats.
According to him, after seizing the prison for over three hours, the terrorists opened all the gates and forced inmates to escape but he refused to run away.
IS fighters have claimed the June 5 attack on Kuje prison during which hundreds of inmates, including terrorists, were freed.
According to a report by Vanguard, his lawyer, Ikpeazu, while addressing the court argued that the prison attack established “a special and exceptional circumstance” that should warrant the court to release Kyari and his men on bail, pending the determination of the charge against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
He said, “My lord, every living soul in this country will agree that there was not just a breach, but that there was a grand terrorist attack by an organization that not only successfully invaded the Kuje prison, but took control of it for over three hours.
“However, the Applicant, being a law-abiding citizen, refused to take off. If there is anything to establish that the Defendants will not jump bail, it was that circumstance.
“The gates of the prison were left open for over three hours.
“In fact, the Defendant hid like a rat because the organization that conducted the attack went from cell to cell, saying they wanted to take him and the others to the desert.
“I don’t know where else in the world, where certified crime fighters that have endangered their lives and abandoned their families to serve the country, are kept in the same cubicle, with same criminals they made their arrest possible, with some of them facing death penalty.
“These people have suffered. They are traumatized by the events of that night. You can imagine what it felt like, witnessing the attackers planting explosives everywhere in the prison.”
Ikpeazu further noted that the Defendants anticipated that the prison could be attacked, hence, their bail application earlier.
The lawyer added that the Defendants, having been suspended by the police and in detention for over five months, do not have the capacity to interfere with witnesses the NDLEA intend to produce against them.
“They cannot even have access to the two convicts that are presently under the protection of the powerful prison service.
“Moreover, there is a constitutional presumption of innocence in favour of the Defendants,” he said.
He, therefore, prayed the court to ignore NDLEA’s contention that Kyari and his men are being investigated over their alleged complicity in money laundering.
Similarly, the lawyer of the 2nd defendant, Gboyega Oyewole (SAN), told the court that NDLEA had in a counter-affidavit it filed in opposition to the fresh request for bail of the detained police officers, noted that “hoodlums who undertook the breach, seized the prison facility for over 3 hours, but to the glory of God, no one died.”
Oyewole, who accused NDLEA of lying, said a security operative was killed during the attack.
He also held that NDLEA’s counter-affidavit was grossly unreliable because it was not deposed to by a prison official.
But the NDLEA’s Director of Legal Services, Sunday Joseph, prayed the court to refuse the Defendants’ fresh bail application, saying there was no evidence to prove that Kyari and his men were being confined with criminals.
He added that under the rule of law, no inmate ought to be accorded any preferential treatment and that nothing was placed before the court to warrant the reconsideration of the earlier ruling of the court that denied the Defendants bail.
“We, therefore, urge your lordship to refuse the application,” he said.
After listening to the two parties, Justice Nwite adjourned the ruling on the Defendants’ fresh application for bail till August 30.
The NDLEA accused Kwari and other officers involved in the case of unlawfully tampering with 21.25 kg of cocaine seized from two drug traffickers- Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwane.
The anti-narcotics agency also accused them of dealing cocaine weighing 17.55kg.
Kyari was also accused of attempting to bribe a senior officer of the agency with $61,400 at a restaurant in Abuja.
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
Sahara Reporters, New york.
Disable advertisements
:
Read also
You can also check
