Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Wednesday 27th July 2022
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 27/07/22
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Organisers Of Headies Awards Disqualify Nigerian Singer, Portable For Threatening To Kill Fellow Nominees
A popular Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okikiola, professionally known as Portable has been disqualified as a nominee for Headies Awards 2022 for threatening to kill his co-nominees. SaharaReporters reliably gathered that Portable was nominated to contest in the ‘Rookie of the Year’ and ‘Best Street-Hop Artiste’ categories when The Headies unveiled the nominees for its 2022 edition on Tuesday.
Other nominees in the ‘Rookie of the Year’ category include Av, Fave, Magixx, and Ugocci. For the second category, he is pitted against Bella Shmurda, Mohbad, Naira Marley, and Goya Menor among others. Portable, the ‘Zazuu’ crooner, took to his Instagram page to threaten whoever wins the 2022 Headies Award should he fail to win it. Following the threat, the organisers of award issued a statement disqualifying him from the context. A statement released by the organisers said, “We regret to announce that following numerous indicting statements made by Mr. Habeeb Okikiola popularly known as ‘Portable’, and the incessant negative attention that Mr Okikiola has garnered from the Nigeria Police and the general public in recent times, the organisers of the Headies have resolved to disqualify Mr Okikiola as a nominee at the forthcoming 15th Headies Awards.The decision to disqualify Mr. Okikiola is accentuated by series of misdemenours by Mr Okikiola via his social media platforms. On the 25th of May 2022, he threatened to kill, harm or cause harm to the other nominees in the same categories of awards he was nominated for, if he does not emerge the winner, precisely;“Those are my awards. Anybody else who wins, I will ask for them to be killed. I will ask them to kill the perso . If the organisers give my award to someone else, they will die” – Habeeb Okikiola.” The organisers also noted that Portable recently claimed to be the brains behind two armed robbery groups in Lagos.Speaking in Yoruba, the Zazu crooner in a viral video boasted that he was not scared of anyone. In the video seen by SaharaReporters, Portable had said, “Open your ears and be listening. “Have you heard of Ajah Boys, One Million Boys? I established them. Go and ask Sammy Larry.” According to him, socialites Samlarry Eletu and Abu Abel knew him back in the day. Ajah Boys and One Million Boys are gangs known for engaging in violent activities and terrorising residents of Lagos with dangerous weapons.The statement added, “On the 18th of July, 2022, Mr Okikiola published a video on his social platform where he stated that he is the founder of the notorious cult group, ‘One Million Boys’. The said group gained notoriety for maiming and robbing innocent Nigerians over the years.“In his words, he said; “Have you heard of Ajah boys, One Million Boys? I established them.” “Furthermore, on the 17th of June 2022, Mr. Habeeb Okikiola made a recording of himself where he ordered his group of friends to assault and inflict bodily harm on his accused friend, DJ Chicken.
“In his words, he said; “E na eleyi paa jo!” (beat him mercilessly!) The music industry demands all-round excellence. It is extremely important for young artists being potential role models to exude professional responsibility, proper decorum and have respect for others.
“Being subject of an investigation relating to criminal activities, Mr Habeeb Okikiola is hereby disqualified from both categories of awards at the forthcoming 15th Annual Headies Awards scheduled to hold later this year namely: Best Street Artist and Rookie of the Year.
“The public are hereby assured of our commitment to promote talents and individuals of exemplary character in the best interest of our society.”
Portable recently submitted himself to the Ogun State Police Command headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, after he was summoned to appear regarding a video in which he was ordering his aides to assault a young man identified as DJ Chicken.
The police at different times had arrested a number of members of the two terror gangs while some have been declared wanted.
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E2%80%93 Buhari Exposed To Be Toothless, Sooner Or Later He Can Also Be Kidnapped Like Other Nigerians – Former President’s Ally, Galadima
A former ally of President Muhammadu Buhari and former chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Buba Galadima, has said that the security situation in Nigeria has proved that Buhari knows nothing and cannot do anything to stop terrorism and banditry in the country.
During an interview with BBC Hausa, Galadima, now a chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), said with the lingering insecurity in Nigeria, Buhari may soon be kidnapped by terrorists.
Some terrorists have already threatened to kidnap President Buhari; governors, especially Kaduna governor, Nasir El-Rufai; and senators.
Speaking on the state of insecurity in Nigeria, Galadima said in Hausa, as translated by Daily Trust, “These bandits are disdainful to the Buhari administration. At the beginning of the government, everybody was scared of him (Buhari); expected him to be brave before he was now exposed to be toothless.
“Buhari knows nothing, he can’t do anything, that is why you see government officials siphoning billions from public property and nobody can stop them.”
He further noted that if terrorists can attack and break Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, it shows that the President is not safe.
“If care is not taken, sooner or later Buhari too can be kidnapped considering the way security issues are ignored.
“The only option available now is to either continue praying or arm ourselves for protection but if we depend on this government, definitely we will be killed,” he said.
Terrorists who attacked an Abuja-Kaduna train and killed eight people had released a fresh hostage video showing their victims in an unidentified location suspected to be a forest.
The victims were abducted when bandits attacked the Kaduna-bound train on March 28.
Eight passengers were killed during the train attack, while scores of persons were kidnapped.
The terrorists in the viral video released last weekend threatened to abduct and kill President Buhari and El-Rufai.
They boasted that they would destroy Nigeria.
They also threatened to sell the remaining hostages, adding that they would turn the area into an abattoir if the Nigerian government failed to comply with their demands.
“This is our message to the government of Nigeria and just as you have seen these people here, by God’s grace, you will see your leaders; your senators and governors will come before us. These ones you are seeing here, we will keep some as our slaves and sell them off just as our Imam told you in the past,” one of the terrorists had said.
He had further stated in Hausa: “Just like the Chibok girls that were sold off, we will equally sell these ones as slaves. If you don’t adhere to our demands, we will kill the ones we need to kill and sell the remaining. By God’s grace, El-Rufai, Buhari, we will bring you here.”
On the night of April 14, 2014, 276 mostly Christian female students aged between 16 and 18 were kidnapped by the Islamic terrorist group, Boko Haram from the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno.
Before the raid, the school had been closed for four weeks due to deteriorating security conditions, but the girls were in attendance to take their final physics examination.
Also, 57 of the schoolgirls escaped immediately after the incident by jumping from the trucks on which they were being transported, and some others have been rescued by the Nigerian Armed Forces on various occasions.
In January, the Kibaku (Chibok) Area Development Association (KADA), on behalf of the entire Chibok community, indicated that 110 of the 276 girls abducted were still unaccounted for.
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After Killing Of Presidential Military Guards In Abuja, Nigerian Senate Passes Bill To Check Proliferation Of Weapons
The Nigerian Senate has passed a bill to establish the National Commission for the Coordination and Control of the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons.
The passage of the National Commission Against the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (Establishment) Bill, 2022, followed the consideration of a report by the Committee on National Security and Intelligence.
The bill is a consolidation of three bills – two private-member bills and one from the Executive arm of the government against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the country, Dr. Ezrel Tabiowo, Special Assistant (Press) to the Senate President disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
The bills are: The Nigerian National Commission against the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (Establishment) Bill, 2020(SB. 283); The Nigerian National Commission against the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (Establishment) Bill, 2020 (SB. 513); and The National Centre for the Coordination and Control of the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 794).
The three bills after scaling the second reading, respectively, in the Senate, were all referred to the Committee on National Security and Intelligence for further legislative work.
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ibrahim Gobir (All Progressives Congress – Sokoto East), in a presentation on the floor, said the three bills seek to provide for the establishment of a government body that will be saddled with combating the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria.
According to him, the functions of the body shall be in line with Article 24 of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Convention on the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons which came into force in 2009.
The lawmaker added that the Committee on National Security and Intelligence resolved to consolidate the three bills into one.
He explained that doing so would adequately cater for the establishment of a Commission to implement measures aimed at eradicating illicit arms.
Gobir noted that establishing a Commission against the proliferation of weapons stemmed from the need to immediately address the nation’s present state of insecurity.
The National Commission Against the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (Establishment) Bill, 2022, was passed by the Senate, after a clause-by-clause consideration of the Committee’s report by the Committee of the Whole.
The proliferation of firearms is a major issue in Nigeria considering the worsening insecurity in the country.
In December 2020, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) intercepted a container loaded with firearms and ammunition at the Tin Can port in Lagos which were said to be illegal.
In 2016, a report done by the United Nations said Nigeria accounted for 350 million or 70 per cent of an estimated 500 million illegal arms circulating in West Africa.
The arms proliferation is believed to be fuelling terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and robberies across the country.
For instance, some Nigerian Army personnel attached to the Guards Brigade lost their lives in an ambush by terrorists in Abuja on Monday.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that a Captain of the Nigerian Army and two soldiers were killed by terrorists in the Bwari area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The deceased officers, who were attached to the Presidential Guards Brigade, were reportedly ambushed after they visited the Nigeria Law School in Bwari following a distress call from the authorities of the school.
There have been hints that terrorists are planning to attack the Nigerian Law School in Abuja, the Central Mosque, other worship centres and security formations in the FCT.
This comes barely a month after terrorists who later identified themselves as members of the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) attacked the Kuje Correctional Centre in the nation’s capital, releasing hundreds of inmates including Boko Haram fighters.
On Monday, the Federal Ministry of Education ordered the immediate closure of the Federal Government College, Kwali, in the Kwali Area Council of the FCT.
It was gathered that the closure of the school came after a security breach on Sheda and Lambata villages and suburbs of Kwali Area Council which also threatened FGC Kwali.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that the Nigerian Government, through the Federal Ministry of Education, had ordered the closure of all Federal Government Colleges (FGCs) in Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja due to rising insecurity.
The government directed the immediate evacuation of the students because of the threat to their lives, security and well-being, SaharaReporters learnt on Monday.
It was learnt that on Sunday night, a yet-to-be-verified report trended on social media indicating that there were heavy shootings in Federal Government College (FGC), Kwali, Abuja, and that parents rushed to the school to ascertain the safety of their children and possibly return home with them until calm was restored.
When contacted by SaharaReporters for comments and clarification on Monday, the Federal Ministry of Education said it would release a statement on the issue later in the day.
However, in a letter signed on Monday by the Ministry Director Press and Public Relations, Ben. Bem Goong, the Minister noted that the closure became necessary because of the insecurity in the area
He added that the timely intervention of security agencies saved the situation.
In the letter, the Education Minister, Adamu Adamu also directed that arrangements should be made for final-year students to conclude their NECO (National Examination Council).
“The Minister also directed Principals of Unity Colleges across the country to liaise with security Agencies within their jurisdictions in order to forestall any security breach in our schools,” the statement said.
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Forgotten Bomb Kills 13 Scrap Scavengers, Injures 3 In Borno Community
File photo used to illustrate story.
No fewer than 13 scrap-metal collectors have been killed by a forgotten bomb in Bama town in northeast Borno state.They were killed after a bomb they excavated blew up, according to security sources.
File photo used to illustrate story.
According to AFP, 16 metal scavengers from a displaced persons’ camp in Bama found the bomb while digging for scrap on Monday in the bush on the outskirts of town.The bomb was said to have exploded as they were pushing it in a cart toward the town, killing 13 and seriously injuring three others, Babakura Kolo, a leader in a local militia, said on Tuesday.Kolo said the ordnance had apparently been dropped in 2015 during military operations to retake Bama from Boko Haram terrorists.Another militia leader, Bukar Grema, said the bomb was dormant for seven years and buried in the sand but they managed to dig it out, not knowing it was a bomb.Bama, the second largest local council area in Borno, fell to Boko Haram in September 2014. Some residents, mostly women and children who tried to flee the area at the time were reported to have died of thirst and hunger as insurgents tightened their grip on the town.Some men of the town were beheaded, residents say. Bama was one of the two most important towns held by Boko Haram for months.Nigeria’s military is battling to end a 13-year conflict spearheaded by Boko Haram in the northeast. Armed groups have been targeting scrap collectors, accusing them of spying for the army. In June, terrorists killed 10 scavengers in Goni Kurmi village near Bama where they had gone looking for metal, a week after they killed 23 collectors in nearby Dikwa district.
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Nigerian Police Rescue Traditional Worshippers Kidnapped While Praying At Edo River
The Edo State Police Command says it rescued three traditional worshippers kidnapped on Monday, July 25, 2022. It also said that one Favour Oyhou was arrested for allegedly killing her lover, identified as Paul Handsome.
The Command’s Deputy Public Relations Officer, ASP Jennifer Iwegbu, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday. Iwegbu said the murder suspect after stabbing her victim, fled to Auchi where she committed the crime. The statement partly read, “The Edo State Police Command in its renewed fight to stem the increasing rise in violent crimes in the state, especially kidnapping, on July 25, 2022, at about 1 pm, rescued three kidnapped traditional worshippers. “The Command, through its Divisional Headquarters at Ugo, received a complaint that armed men, suspected to be kidnappers accosted and whisked into the bush three traditional worshippers who had gone to a river along the Benin-Abraka Road for prayers. “Upon receipt of the information, the Divisional Police Officer, Ugo, immediately mobilised his team to the scene in hot pursuit of the hoodlums and possible rescue of the victims. The hoodlums sensing the policemen were on their trail, were forced to abandon their victims and fled into the bush. “The victims have since been reunited with their families, while intense bush combing is still ongoing to neutralise or arrest the hoodlums.” On the murder suspect, the Deputy PPRO said, “Sequel to the incident of July 23, 2022, at about 7:30 pm in Auchi, Edo State, where one Paul Handsome (25 years) was reported to have been stabbed to death by his girlfriend, one Favour Oyhou, who went into hiding, the Commissioner of Police, CP Abutu Yaro, immediately ordered the Area Commander and Divisional Police Officer in charge of Auchi to smoke out the fleeing girl unhurt. “Following the credible intelligence gathering by men of the Command, the suspect was arrested in Benin on July 25, 2022, at about 10:45 pm. “Discreet investigation has commenced and the suspect is making useful information and will be charged to court soon.”
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Nigeria Labour Congress Holds Massive Protest In Enugu, Abia, Benue, Others Over University Lecturers’ Strike
Thousands of workers in Enugu, Abia, Benue and Cross River states and members of civil society organisations have joined in the two-day nationwide protest by Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in solidarity with the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).SaharaReporters reports that Labour members, associate unions, civil society groups gathered at New Market office of the Enugu NLC where the protest took off.
Over 100 security agents with over 30 patrol vehicles are currently guarding the protesters to ensure that criminals do not infiltrate the protest.There is also gridlock along Enugu-Abakaliki as motorist were seen taking other routes.There are also reports of massive turnouts of workers in Abia, Benue, Cross River and Bayelsa states to join the ASUU solidarity protest.SaharaReporters reported that ASUU had embarked on the lingering strike on February 14, after the Federal Government failed to implement the 2009 ASUU/FG Agreement on modalities to fund the country’s public university education.Some of the demands among others things are; release of earned allowances for university lecturers, and deployment of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution platform for the payment of salaries and allowances of university lecturers.
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Certificate Forgery: Nigerian High Court Refuses To Stop Anti-Corruption Agency, ICPC From Prosecuting Bauchi Federal Lawmaker, Garba-Gololo
The Federal High Court in Abuja has declined to restrain the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) or any prosecutorial agency from charging Mohammed Garba-Gololo with alleged certificate forgery. Garba-Gololo is the legislator representing Gamawa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State in the House of Representatives.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo in a judgment delivered on July 25, 2022, held that the lawmaker failed to prove that he had already been tried for the offence of forgery or falsification of certificates.
The judge dismissed Garba-Gololo’s double jeopardy argument as canvassed by his counsel Nureini Jimoh (SAN), noting that he failed to produce evidence showing that he had gone through any trial and was convicted or acquitted or pardoned of the alleged allegation. The defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/294/2022 are the AGF and the ICPC.The 2nd Defendant had on October 5, 2020, sent a letter of invitation to Garba-Gololo in connection with the forgery allegation. But the plaintiff, by an originating summons, sought an order restraining the defendants and other prosecutorial agencies from inviting, arresting or charging him on similar facts with the case of the Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal in suit nos: EPT/NAHR/BA/2019 and CA/J/EPT/NAHR/BA/374/2019 respectively.He contended that any judgment charging him again before any court by the defendants or any prosecutorial agency would amount to double jeopardy. He sought, among others, an order quashing the letter of invitation and any other subsequent investigation flowing thereof, “as same amounts to a nullity having regards to the judgments of the Election Petition Tribunal, Bauchi in EPT/NAHR/BA/6/2019 between Isa Mohammed Wabu & Anor. V. Hon. Mohammed Garba Gololo dated 10th August, 2019 and the Court of Appeal dated the 1st of November, 2019 in Appeal No. CA/J/EPT/NAHR/BA/374/2019 between Isa Mohammed Wabu & Anor. V. Hon. Mohammed Garba Gololo & 2 Ors.” He further sought a “mandatory prohibitive order of this Honourable Court, barring the Defendants or any other prosecutory agency in Nigeria from inviting, arresting, detaining and prosecuting the Plaintiff in connection with or arising from any transaction forming part of the judgments.”
On June 15, 2022, when the matter came up for hearing, Jimoh for the plaintiff and Ebenezer Shogunle for the 2nd defendant adopted their processes, adumbrated on same and urged the court to grant the reliefs in favour of their respective parties, following which the court adjourned for judgment. In rejecting Garba-Gololo’s prayers, Justice Taiwo noted the Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal decisions he relied on to seek protection from prosecution, were both civil matters and could not fall under the doctrine of estoppel per rem judicatam.
He held: “There is no doubt that the decisions relate to election petition and are civil in nature. The decisions are not criminal notwithstanding that the issue of forgery was examined and the plaintiff was disqualified upon the finding of the court of appeal. The disqualification is pursuant to the provisions of the 1999 constitution and the electoral act.
“The suit was not a charge as expected in criminal proceedings and the plaintiff was not prosecuted by any prosecutorial agency. The parties that the decisions of the courts relate to are the plaintiff and the petitioners vide the election petition. The decisions cannot, therefore, operate as estoppel per rem judicatam. “The plaintiff herein has failed from the processes filed by him to prove that he stood trial and was convicted or acquitted or pardoned.
“There is nothing to show that the plaintiff has been tried for offence of forgery or falsification of certificates.
“In concluding this judgment, it is my humble and well-considered view that the plaintiff has failed woefully to convince the court to answer all the questions for determination in his favour thus entitling him to the reliefs sought. I so hold. “The suit fails in its entirety and the same is accordingly dismissed. This is the judgment of the court.”
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Identities Of Presidential Military Guards Shot Dead By Terrorists In Abuja, Revealed
The identities of some of the Nigerian Army personnel attached to the Guards Brigade who lost their lives in an ambush by terrorists in Abuja have been revealed.SaharaReporters had reported that a captain of the Nigerian Army and two soldiers were killed by terrorists in the Bwari area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, credible sources close to military high command confirmed on Monday.
The deceased officers, who were attached to the Presidential Guards Brigade, were reportedly ambushed after they visited the Nigeria Law School in Bwari following a distressed call from the authorities of the school.Meanwhile, Daily Trust reports that Lieutenant Ibrahim Suleiman and Captain Samuel Attah, who were indigenes of Kogi State, were killed in the ambush.Suleiman was the son of Colonel Suleiman Ahmodu Babanawa (retd.). He hailed from Okpo in Olamaboro Local Government Area.Late Attah was from the Ibaji local government of the state.Meanwhile, messages of condolences have been pouring in to the family of the slain soldiers.A military signal obtained by SaharaReporters had revealed that the gunmen on Sunday ambushed the soldiers who were on routine patrol of the area.The troops were said to have successfully repelled the terrorists.“At about 241620A Jul 22, own tps of 7 Gds Bn on routine ptl along Rd Kubwa – Bwari were ambushed by suspected terr. 3 x sldrs were injured during the attk. The sldrs have been evacuated to 7 Gds Bn MRS for med attn,” the signal had read.“Details on the extent of their injuries are still under cfm. The ambushed attk happening within the gen area of Bwari shows that the terrs are actually within the loc and possibly to carry out their plans of attacking the law schl in Bwari as earlier reported.”
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E2%80%99s-capital-abuja-force-body-benchers-change-venue BREAKING: Terrorist Attacks In Nigeria’s Capital, Abuja Force Body Of Benchers To Change Venue For Admission Of New Lawyers From Law School
The Nigerian Body of Benchers has changed the venue of the Call to Bar Ceremony for successful aspirants scheduled for Wednesday, July 27, 2022, over the state of insecurity in the nation’s capital, Abuja.
The Body of Benchers is a professional body concerned with the admission of prospective students into the Nigerian Law School. The body also regulates the legal profession in the country.
The event was earlier scheduled to hold on the premises of the Nigerian Law School in Bwari, but it has been shifted over security concerns.
Some officers of the Presidential Guard were killed by terrorists close to the Law School on Monday.
During a telephone conversation with TheNigeriaLawyer, the Secretary of the Bench of Benchers, Daniel Tela said after a meeting on Tuesday afternoon, the body decided to relocate the venue of the ceremony to the Body of Benchers’ permanent site in Jabi, FCT.
Tela also noted that the event is exclusively for aspirants, stressing that family members and well-wishers would not be allowed to be part of the programme.
Some Nigerian Army personnel attached to the Guards Brigade lost their lives in an ambush by terrorists in Abuja on Monday.
SaharaReporters had reported that a Captain of the Nigerian Army and two soldiers were killed by terrorists in the Bwari area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The deceased officers, who were attached to the Presidential Guards Brigade, were reportedly ambushed after they visited the Nigeria Law School in Bwari following a distress call from the authorities of the school.
There have been hints that terrorists are planning to attack the Nigerian Law School in Abuja, the Central Mosque, other worship centres and security formations in the FCT.
This comes barely a month after terrorists who later identified themselves as members of the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) attacked the Kuje Correctional Centre in the nation’s capital, releasing hundreds of inmates including Boko Haram fighters.
On Monday, the Federal Ministry of Education ordered the immediate closure of the Federal Government College, Kwali, in the Kwali Area Council of the FCT.
It was gathered that the closure of the school came after a security breach on Sheda and Lambata villages and suburbs of Kwali Area Council which also threatened FGC Kwali.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that the Nigerian Government, through the Federal Ministry of Education, had ordered the closure of all Federal Government Colleges (FGCs) in Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja due to rising insecurity.
The government directed the immediate evacuation of the students because of the threat to their lives, security and well-being, SaharaReporters learnt on Monday.
It was learnt that on Sunday night, a yet-to-be-verified report trended on social media indicating that there were heavy shootings in Federal Government College (FGC), Kwali, Abuja, and that parents rushed to the school to ascertain the safety of their children and possibly return home with them until calm was restored.
When contacted by SaharaReporters for comments and clarification on Monday, the Federal Ministry of Education said it would release a statement on the issue later in the day.
However, in a letter signed on Monday by the Ministry Director Press and Public Relations, Ben. Bem Goong, the Minister noted that the closure became necessary because of the insecurity in the area
He added that the timely intervention of security agencies saved the situation.
In the letter, the Education Minister, Adamu Adamu also directed that arrangements should be made for final-year students to conclude their NECO (National Examination Council).
“The Minister also directed Principals of Unity Colleges across the country to liaise with security Agencies within their jurisdictions in order to forestall any security breach in our schools,” the statement said.
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Law Firm Petitions Nigerian Deputy Police Inspector-General Over Alleged Killing Of Man By Policemen Guarding Smartbricks Property Boss, Duke Solomon
Ibile Partners, a law firm situated in Lagos State has accused police escorts attached to Duke Solomon, the Managing Director of Smartbricks Property of allegedly killing a man identified as Marcus over a land dispute in the state.The law firm in a petition to the Deputy Inspector General of Police accused the Deputy Commissioner in charge of the Lagos State Command of trying to pervert the course of justice by “detaining the investigation officer from Noforija Police Station, and in return gave the murderer a VIP treatment, to be sleeping in hospital rather than detention.”
It asked the police boss to order an investigation into the claims and uncover all criminal acts and conduct that led to the loss of life, grievous bodily harm and injury to another person. The petition letter, which was sent through the Commissioner of Police, Homicide Department, Force Headquarters, Luis Edet House, Abuja, read, “We act as solicitors to Odoyangusin family of Epe, Lagos State herein referred to as our Client, and on whose express instruction we write this petition.“Our Client Odoyangusin Community are the customary owners of the large expanse of vast land, lying and being situated at Odoyangunshin Community, Eredo FCDA, Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State, which is now a subject matter in suit number: EPD/11441LMW/2022, in a High Court of Lagos State, holding at Epe before Hon. Justice W. Animahun. “In a ruling dated the 2nd day of June, 2022, the court ordered that parties to the suit should maintain Status Quo, pending the determination of the matter. However, contrary to the order, it was brought to the notice of the Court that, the Defendants in the said matter, are flouting the court order of Status Quo, pending the determination of the said suit; instead of the Defendants to abide by the Court order, they have continuously, deliberately, disregarding and jettisoning the order of the court, and carry on business as usual, by continuously working on the subject matter of the case in court. “This prompted the Judge on the last hearing date, to issue a directive to the Claimants to go to the subject matter, to take pictorial and video of the continuous act of flouting court order, by the Defendants and furnish the court on the accusation of the Defendants’ continuous work on the subject matter.“In a bid to actualize this directive of the Court, the Court Bailiff, in the person of one Mr. Arogundade, went to the Land in question to take the pictures of the current work on the Land as directed by the Court, but the Bailiff was prevented from taking the pictures by the above-mentioned persons, wherein one Lola Olumoko shot into the air to scare people away, and threatened to kill the Bailiff or anyone that dare come to the said land to take any picture, as a result of which the counsel filed an affidavit to that effect in court informing the court of the happenings.“The Community-accredited representative of the Odoyangusin, under the leadership of Chief Francis Adebambo ordered the youths of the community to go on the land to take the pictures. On that Tuesday, the 19th day of July, 2022, the said youth led by Akala Oluwasesan, and other members of the community, which include; Marcos, Akala Sesan, Laja Adelaja, Sikiru Adebambo and others, went to the land in dispute to take pictorial and video, evidence of the Defendants’ continuous working on the land, to file and inform the court as directed by the Judge. On getting to the land on the said date, they met men working on the land and got hold of the men working and took their pictures and the work done so far.“On their way back home, they were attacked by one Duke Solomon of SmartBricks Property, who had been informed of their presence to take pictures of those working on the said subject matter. He (Duke Solomon) had with him a Police Escort, and hoodlums met on their way going back. The said Duke Solomon firstly met with the youths on their way returning from the Land and tried to stop them but they refused to stop; unknown to them, he turned and trailed their car behind while he had already contacted his boys to accost them in front. The said hoodlums which include Lola Olumoko, Sikiru Olumoko, Bidemi Amusa, Gabriel Amusa, and Fisara amongst others, accosted the said youths in front, forced their motorcycle to stop and threw the riders away from the bike, while they were beaten with several weapons and machete them, wherein one Sikiru Adebambo, sustained grievous bodily harm in his head and fainted due to loss of blood, thinking he was dead and the other guy (Laja), on the bike managed to escape the scene.“While those on the bike were already dealt with, the vehicle conveying others was forced to stop, as they could not ride on the bodies lying on the road, to their surprise, the said Duke Solomon’s vehicle that contain himself, his Police Escort (Solomon Shadrack) and his driver was already behind them.“As a result of the above, Duke Solomon (MD Smartbricks), ordered his orderly to open fire on the car conveying the youths, when he angrily said to his Police Escort (Solomon Shadrack), shoot them! Shoot them! It was then the Police escort that followed Duke Solomon started shooting and aiming his shooting directly at the vehicle, that had been obstructed by the motorcycle that was earlier attacked. The reckless shooting of the Police escort resulted in the killing Mr. Marcos, one of the community’s family members, who was killed by a gunshot by the neck, and another person, Mr. SANYA sustained a gunshot injury that landed him in hospital, begging for his life as we write this petition. It was as a result of this that Akala Sesan ran to Noforija Police Divisional Headquarters, at Eredo, Epe and reported the killing of one of them, and the gun injury of another person with them.“The Policemen from Noforija Police Station, moved to the scene of the incidence, met and arrested Duke Solomon, Police escort, his hoodlums and those working on the land, and took them to Area J Police Headquarters, and ACP Agboola, the Area Commander of Area J Police Command, at Elemoro said it is beyond what they could handle because it involved homicide, he instructed the DPO of Noforija Police Station to go and take the confessional statements of the Complainant, and the Accused Persons and the matter be taken to the Homicide Department of the State CID, Panti.“It was on the 20th of July, 2022 that the IPO in charge of the matter, took the Accused Persons to Panti Police State CID, following the directive of ACP Agboola of Area J Command, Elemoro.“It is with utmost regrets we are registering our disappointment and displeasure by the news of the development, and follow-up of events, unfolding at the State CID Panti. We observed and perceived foul play in the State CID, Panti in handling and investigating the matter, as the Deputy Commissioner there started showing bias, by giving preferential treatment to Duke Solomon, an Accused Person in a homicide case.“More shocking was the fact that the IPO that took the suspect to the State CID Panti was arrested and detained for handcuff, describing the said Duke Solomon, who the DC Panti as VIP, but to the law, he is the Principal suspect and the Complainants, were also detained at the State CID, Panti asking for a very huge sum of money to release the Complainant. “This practice of selling justice and fairness to the highest bidder found very common in our society, an act that will only further strengthen the favouritism accusation levelled against the Nigerian Police institution by the society, the trend of such is tarnishing, and wrecking practices of the Nigerian Police Force, and if not curbed and or if left continue to linger on, by the activities of Police officers who handle with levity sensitive matters, such as the one at hands when the accused person is well to do, and influential member of the society who can either buy their way out and allow them to go scot-free, will cause more further doom for the Nigerian Police Force and the Country at Large. “The Officers at Panti did not only stop at giving Duke Solomon special treatment, but also had the IPO from Noforija Police Station arrested, and locked up for doing his job and doing the need by ensuring that Duke Solomon was handcuffed not to escape justice, and treated the same way in accordance with the other accused person because his (IPO) believe all animal are equal. This feckless, reckless and careless directive at the State CID, Panti to give Solomon an accused Person, special treatment and handled a case of that magnitude that involved the loss of a humans life and another in hospital, begging for life is uncalled for, unexpected and unacceptable of Senior Police Officer, who is trusted and expected to be fair, equitable and just in his judgment and discretion, at all time no matter whose Ox is gored; and also protect the Police institution’s reputation, of which he is a member that the present Inspector General of Police and his teams are toiling day and night to rebuild and make one of the best Police Force in Africa cum the World.“It is in view of the development that we petition, the garrulous and pit of hell kind of approach, being on display here by the State CID Panti, and the handling of the subject matter at hand that involve homicide to your good office, an office (Homicide Department) that we so much trusted, not to allow this kind of daylight robbery, that is being clearly portrayed to prejudice, preconceived perfected and perpetrated by the State CID Panti, and rob getting to the root of this matter, be a thing of the past. If these perpetrators are allowed to go without allowing them to face the wrath of the Law, such will amount to a slap to the Criminal Justice System, which the Nigerian Police is the entry point and integral part of. “Allowing such injustice as perceived, is like a pathway to lack of trust in the Nigerian Police Force, by the society at large, and will only strengthen jungle justice, that the Nigerian Police is campaigning against and can also result, to the members of the society to resolving to self-help, which might result to a breakdown of law, and order that the Nigerian Police Force is enshrined to prevent at all time, hence the Nigerian Police need to lay precedence with this kind of cases, that will serve as a deterrent to every member of the society irrespective of status and pockets.“We hope that this wake-up call to the Nigerian Police, to follow through on this matter and conduct a rigorous, thorough and unbiased investigation, to see to the bedrock of this matter, and not be allowed to sweep the case of this magnitude under the carpet, by men of the Nigerian Police, who are hellbent on creating enmity between the society and the Police, by the way of the Police scrupulous element in Police Uniform, in their wild goose chase that is meant to serve the interest of those who have the confidence of buying their way out, whenever the wrath of the law caught up on them.“It is in the event of the above, that we petitioned your good offices to carefully investigate the above-named persons, and uncover their criminal act and conduct that led to the loss of life, and grievous bodily harm injury to other persons. “It is therefore with painstaking equanimity, that we urge your good office, to lend eagle eyes at this matter with immediate alacrity, by taking over the matter for a proper and thorough investigation, to reveal the fact and position thereby halting and preventing the miscarriage of Justice, orchestrated and being perpetrated by the State CID, Panti. “Sir, unless Your Good offices urgently take over this matter, and investigate these criminal acts of terrorizing, maiming and killing by the above-mentioned persons, the above-mentioned person will continue to use their influence and power, to terrorize the said community. As such, your Office is called upon to discreetly investigate the seemed-above-the-law individuals, and bring them to check. “We will at this juncture keep dry our keg of gunpowder, dry and trust your good office as you attached the utmost urgency to prevent further damage, of the criminal element of this matter and prevent the evidence from being tampered with as we relied on your good office, as always on your unbiased professionalism at all time.”
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Sahara Reporters, New york.
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