Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Friday 14th August 2020

Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Friday 14th August 2020

Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 14/08/20

Primary School Teacher Gets Life Sentence In Ondo State For Raping Minor

Omotayo Adanlawo, a primary school teacher in Ondo State, was on Thursday sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a 10-year-old girl.
He was jailed by the state’s High Court in Akure, the capital, after he used N50 to lure the little girl before defiling her.
The teacher had on August 28, 2018, committed the offence in the family house of the victim and threatened her not to tell anyone or she will die.

SaharaReporters gathered that a few weeks after the incident, the girl began to complain of stomach pains and could not also walk properly.
She was taken to a private hospital where a test confirmed that she had been raped.
The victim later opened up and explained that Adanlawo, who also attends the same church with her father, forcefully had sexual intercourse with her.
The case was first reported at Iju/Itaogbolu Police Division but later transferred to Ala Area Command in Akure.
The primary school teacher in his confessional statement confirmed to the court that he gave the girl “N50 and chinchin” before the incident.
Ruling on Thursday, Justice Samuel Bola said the prosecution was able to prove there was penetration in the rape allegation against Mr Adanlawo.
The judge said the teacher failed to give convincing evidence to prove his innocence in the case and sentenced him to life imprisonment in line with section 358 of the criminal laws of Ondo State.

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Armed Robbers Using Uncompleted Housing Estate As Hideout Attack Staff Of Agricultural Institute In Oyo

Olawale Olayiwola, an employee of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Oyo State, has narrated how some armed robbers hiding inside an uncompleted housing estate attacked him and his family members.
Olayiwola, who spoke with SaharaReporters, said the robbery attack took place on July 18, 2020 at the Owode Housing Estate Phase II, leaving him with injuries that required medical attention at a hospital.
He explained that the abandoned housing estate located along the Apata-Ibadan expressway in Oyo State had been left to decay for over 20 years, providing a hideout for criminal elements.

“Two people came with masks and demanded we open the door. We tried to inform our neighbours but they started removing the burglary of the window and immediately they entered our apartment, they used axe to injure me and my wife before escaping through the window to other houses to rob.
“My wife spent three days in a private hospital while I spent 19 days at UCH. In fact I was operated on my arms and legs.
“Among things carted away by the hoodlums including thousands of naira, office identity cards, driver license and my voter card.
“It is the neglect of the housing estate that was responsible for our danger in the community.
“The hoodlums are taking advantage of the abandoned property to attack residents. We have tried several times to reach the Oyo State Government but to no avail.”
President, Owode Estate Phase 2 Landlords Association, Oluwole Oyewole, confirmed the attack on Olayiwola, calling on the Oyo State Government to immediately take over the abandoned property.
Director of Information and Public Relations, Oyo State Housing Corporation, Kunle Sanni, said the corporation had warned those who had lands in the estate to develop them with immediate effect.
He said that anyone who failed to develop their land would forfeit it to the government.

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Group Urges Niger State Government, Police To Stop Hassan Patigi’s Witchcraft Exorcism In Mokwa

The Advocacy for Alleged Witches has urged the Niger State Government and the police in the state to take immediate measures to stop the planned ‘healing’ and witchcraft exorcism session in Mokwa by Hassan Patigi, a self-acclaimed healer and witchcraft exorcist.
AFAW said it gathered that Patigi had commenced plans and will in coming days embark on his supposed witchcraft healing.
The group said Patigi had attempted to carry out witchcraft healing in Kwara State but was cancelled after uproar by residents of Kwara.

BBC

It described the healing as a show of shame as Patigi had previously subjected some alleged witches to embarrassing and dehumanising treatment.
“AFAW has reliably gathered that the self-acclaimed healer and witchcraft exorcist, Muhammad Hassan Patigi, who travelled for the Sallah celebrations, is now back in Mokwa town and is planning to commence his ‘healing’ activities.
“AFAW has also been informed that Hassan Patigi’s planned ‘healing’ session in Lafiagi in Kwara state was cancelled after some people protested to the government.
“Now back in Mokwa, Mr. Patigi is expected to hold ‘healing’ activity in Mokwa in the coming days. Without the intervention of relevant authorities, this activity will go ahead.
“Videos of revulsive images and scenes from the previous ‘healing’ and witch exposing activities of Mr. Patigi have been circulating on social media. Some of the videos contain scenes where Hassan Patigi asked alleged witches to go naked, fight and urinate on themselves.
“Look, this show of shame is an indictment on traditional as well as state authorities and other stakeholders on governance and maintenance of law and order in Mokwa, Niger state,” the group said.
It called on the Niger State government and relevant agencies and authorities not to allow a repeat of these “disgusting scenes” in Mokwa.
“They should not permit a recurrence of this spectacle of national disgrace and embarrassment in Nupeland,” it added.

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E2%80%93international-press NBC Has No Evidence Comments Made By Mailafia Amounted To Hate Speech –International Press Centre

The International Press Centre has berated the National Broadcasting Commission over the N5m fine imposed on Nigeria Info, a radio state, as penalty for comments made by a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr Obadiah Mailaifa, on terrorism and insurgency in the country.
Mailaifa had said that a Northern governor was a commander of Boko Haram and the group was planning a civil war in the country.

The NBC management described the broadcast as “unprofessional” in a statement.
Condemning the fine on the radio station, the International Press Centre stated that the commission imposed the fine without any evidence whatsoever that the alleged statement had degraded any person or groups of persons, which would have amounted to hate speech.

Ascon Oil Responds To Stanbic IBTC, Says It Repossessed Lekki Filling Station Lawfully

Ascon Oil Company Ltd has denied a claim by Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC that it retook possession of its petrol station at Block 36, Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1, unlawfully.
Ascon said it recovered the filling station with the assistance of court bailiffs pursuant to a July 24 order of Justice Mohammed Liman of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
It rebutted the bank’s claim that it resorted to self-help and that its actions were contemptuous.

Stanbic IBTC had in a statement on August 11 said that no court order was granted for the takeover of the property.
“No court order was granted to Ascon to warrant their extra-judicial action, which they undertook in forcefully seizing a petrol station validly belonging to a third party, in total defiance and disregard of the ruling of Justice Liman of the Federal High Court on 24 July 2020.”
But debunking Stanbic’s position in its own statement on Thursday, Ascon said, “We note that Stanbic IBTC PLC in its statement on August 11, 2020 stated that there was no order granted by the Federal High Court on the basis of which Ascon Oil Company Limited took possession of its petrol station at Block 36, Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1.
“Ascon Oil Company in its application dated 27th May, 2020 had requested for an order of court setting aside its earlier ex parte orders dated 15th May, 2020 which granted Olawale Akoni (SAN), a receiver purportedly appointed by Stanbic, police protection for the preservation of Ascon’s petrol station as well as restrained Ascon from obstructing, interfering with the performance of his duties as receiver.
“On the 24th July, 2020, Honourable Justice Mohammed Liman of the Federal High Court in his ruling setting aside his earlier order in part on the basis of fair hearing, stated that Ascon ought to have been put on notice after the ex parte order was made on the 15th of May 2020.
“In setting aside the order, the court relied on the case of Unibiz Commercial Ltd V. Commercial Bank Credit Lyonnais Limited (2003) 6 NWLR (PT 816) 402.
“Justice Liman said “I therefore hold that the order was made in breach of the provisions of Section 33(1) of the constitution. It follows that part of the appeal succeeds and I therefore set aside the order made pursuant to the 2nd prayer of the application restraining the appellant, its privies, assign, from doing anything that would prevent the receiver from performing his lawful duties as a receiver.
“Based on the foregoing I am inclined to set aside the order made pursuant to the 2nd prayer in the respondent’s Ex parte application restraining the respondents, their employees, officers, agents, servants, privies, assigns, or any other person or group of persons whatsoever, deriving authorities from Ascon or otherwise acting through them from obstructing, preventing, disturbing and or interfering with the applicant’s exercise of its powers, performance of its duties and functions as receiver of Ascon.”

E2%80%99s-democracy-louis-odion The Night Carrington Staked Life For Nigeria’s Democracy By Louis Odion

Louis Odion

Lagos, like other states, was groping in the ghost land that Nigeria had become that dusk in 1997.
Middle-class Surulere was roiling in virtual lockdown as hordes of riot cops led by the Commissioner of Police barricaded the road in what appeared a pre-emptive move against the scheduled pro-democracy rally at a time the iron knee of squat Sani Abacha was literally on the nation’s neck.
Indeed, cemeteries were bristling with fresh graves of innocents and martyrs. MKO was languishing in Abuja gulag. His wife, Kudirat, had recently been brutally cut down on a Lagos highway.Rebels like Pa Anthony Enahoro, Professor Wole Soyinka, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Ralph Obiora had fled to exile.

Louis Odion

My brother and friend, Segun Adeniyi, and I were then working at Sunday Concord. We were assigned by our editor, Mr. Tunji Bello, to cover the rally arranged to commemorate the fourth anniversary of June 12.
It turned out that the Abacha goons fell for the initial decoy by blocking the wrong venue. Words had discreetly gone round that we (journalists, activists and the like) should instead head for the residence of Chief Ayo Adebanjo (not too far away) where the stage had been set for the event.
Realizing their folly soon enough, the Lagos CP scrambled his men and relocated to the driveway to Pa Adebanjo’s home. They now formed a heavy human cordon to prevent guests from gaining access, guns at the ready.
Still unwilling to take chances, the CP fished out a megaphone and blurted a stern warning intermittently: “This rally is illegal !, Not authorized !! Go home !!!”
Of course, the order was defied as the crowd of activists and journalists huddled a few meters away in what soon turned a testy face-off.
To frighten us, the Abacha goons at some point went as far as cocking their rifles, the metal sound shattering the pervading silence.
Just then arrived the American ambassador, Walter Carrington, like an avenging angel. Sensing the trouble ahead, the diplomat with exceeding large frame alighted from his armour-plated diplomatic limousine and decided to trek over, thus helping to rally a formidable crowd.
Without being told, we all jumped into that procession.
Of course, before now, the American ambassador had become the darling of the civil rights community and the pro-democracy movement across the country for his undisguised solidarity with the people of Nigeria against perhaps the most brutal military dictatorship in the nation’s history.
But that was not without a price. Twice or thrice, attempts had been made on Carrington’s life in Nigeria before that night by those who could only be working for the Abacha junta. He however remained undaunted.
Now, on sighting the approaching tumult tonight, the Abacha goons momentarily lost their wits. They knew they could not shoot at the American ambassador, lest they incur the wrath of Washington.
With a mischievous smile on his lips, Carrington brushed aside the police cordon, finally clearing the path for the mammoth crowd to flood Pa Adebanjo’s expansive compound. In excitement, folks broke into victory songs.
For once, Abacha’s usually blood-thirsty snipers became impotent.
“NADECO At Home” was well represented at the event. Luminaries like Pa Abraham Adesanya had taken position on the high table.
But those who thought they had seen the end of mischief by Abacha goons for the night were mistaken. Just as the Master of Ceremonies, Chief Ayo Opadokun, began to formally acknowledge the presence of VIPs, one heavily-built guy in uniform barged in and snatched the microphone from his hand forcibly.
In a supreme act of defiance, Opadokun merely took a few steps away, cleared his throat before continuing.
“As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted…,” he taunted, to the uproarious applause of the mammoth crowd.
To further taunt the CP and his men, Opadokun then broke into one of Fela’s most biting anti-military songs – “Sorrow, Tears and Blood” (STB). The crowd cheered and sang along, to the bitter silence of Abacha hunters present.
No doubt, that night, the June 12 activists drew some malicious pleasure from wounding their military persecutors with the caustic lyrics, even if only momentarily. Of course, it was only because Carrington provided them diplomatic license.
Such was the abiding solidarity, the uncommon brotherhood of an American diplomat who stood by Nigerian people in their season of pain and vulnerability.
Adieu Walter “Omowale” Carrington.
Louis Odion, FNGE is the Senior Technical Assistant on Media to the President.

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Boko Haram Recruiting Child Soldiers, Says MNJTF

The Multinational Joint Task Force has said that Boko Haram terrorist group had introduced the use of child soldiers to resuscitate its declining influence in the Lake Chad Basin.
Chief of Military Public Information for MNJTF, Timothy Antigha, said this in a statement issued from N’Djamena, Chad on Thursday.
Antigha said the recruitment of child soldiers by the sect was part of their new strategy following the recent mass surrender of fighters to the military.

He said information on this disturbing development was brought in by intelligence sources and corroborated by concerned individuals and groups a few days ago.
He added that the Boko Haram terrorists further confirmed the development when they posted pictures of children dressed in military gear and holding assault rifles in a video released during the Sallah celebration.

The statement reads, “Earlier, Boko Haram have engaged in the mass abduction of school girls, sexual enslavement of women and mass murder of innocent civilians. This recent employment of child soldiers is as a result of frustration caused by several operational losses, leadership crisis, as well as disillusionment among fighters and their subsequent surrender in hundreds to the MNJTF.
“The focus on children is because they are easier to manipulate and indoctrinate than the adults within the region who can now see through the veil of deceit. Arising from this latest atrocity by Boko Haram, the MNJTF urges parents, local authorities, religious and traditional institutions to be vigilant and promptly alert security agencies of any overt or covert attempts to recruit their children and wards.”

Antigha advised youth to be mindful of promises of power and influence, economic prosperity and spiritual growth by the sect owing to the disillusionment and surrender that had depleted their ranks.
He added, “The stories of hardship and evil within the terrorist organisations as revealed by all surrendered Boko Haram fighters should be sufficient notice that Boko Haram and ISWAP have nothing good to offer anyone.
“It would be recalled that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict forbids the recruitment and use of children in Armed Conflicts.
“The Protocol states among others that; “Armed groups distinct from armed forces of a country should not, under any circumstances, recruit or use in hostilities anyone under 18.
“It is against this background that the MNJTF is drawing the attention of the United Nations, its relevant agencies and other stakeholders to the latest acts of inhumanity and desperation by Boko Haram, and urges severe condemnation and other necessary action.”

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Northern Nigerian Muslims Need To Re-educate Themselves By Fadumo Paul

If some people feel offended by a song and consider it as blasphemy to the extent of calling for the death of a fellow citizen, I think it should also be made known to them that we’re offended by such beliefs. The belief that people should be killed to satisfy the law of blasphemy is ridiculous alone, but that it makes some people feel priggish, is evil. I feel tempted to think that some of the people that are supporting the blasphemy ideology in Nigeria may have been secretly supporting Boko Haram for doing what they cannot do by themselves. Perhaps, it is one of the reasons the insurgency in that area has lasted for this long.
The freedom of expression protected by the section 39(1) of the Nigerian constitution is the only “hope and tool of freedom for common people”, and some of us will defend it, by all lawful means, regardless of our individual religious beliefs.
I have observed online in the past few days that most of the Northern Muslims (especially the seemingly educated ones) on Twitter and Facebook firmly believe and support the ideology that blasphemy equals death penalty even though Nigeria is a circular state and operates democracy.

Northern Nigeria is known for seemingly endless ethnic conflicts, killings, abject poverty and according to available data, more than 69 per cent of out-of-school children in Nigeria are in northern states where the blasphemy ideology is highly supported. Yet, it is uncommon for youths from that region to participate in protests organized against such social evils.
Any religious book “verses” that promulgate or support the killing of people in defence of God or doctrinal practices must be ignored by the people of this generation regardless of which religious book it is.
Religious books were authored, compiled and edited by human beings: It is a fact, and it is accessible to those who are interested in knowing. The mere fact that religious fanatics and people without critical thinking tend to make us believe they are from God or heaven ought to be taken with a pinch of salt.
A lot of the contents of all the religious books, that is, the Bible, Quran, Gita, etc., include historical writings, folklores, prophecies and a reflection of the culture of that time and the perception of their writers. Their contents are not uniform – just as we are also differently wired. Attempting to practice everything in any of these books in our generation would be barbaric, and it will bring inhuman treatments on vulnerable members of our society needlessly. We cannot progress much beyond the primitive societies if we insist on practising everything in all the religious books and beliefs they teach.
We need to be guided more by common sense, mutual human respect and our own formulated rules and regulations rather than absolute adherence to tenents that were written over a thousand years ago. It is high time we began to use our heads: human brains should not only be for simple things like scavenging for food and providing shelter. Unless you believe that the Creator made a mistake of making the brain and its abilities.
It is morally wrong and cowardice for the Nigerian government to pardon Boko Haram terrorists that are responsible for killing hundreds of defenseless people, including children and women to look away when an Islamic court delivered a judgment sentencing a young singer to death by hanging for blasphemy. It is a confirmation of the impression that Nigerians gave empowers to a man who knows not what to do with it.
Finally, I want to use this opportunity to inspire the few critically conscious Nigerians both at home and abroad. We must continue to critique and challenge bigoted ideologies such as this, to re-educate the simple-minded majority until they have unlearned these archaic doctrines and beliefs that have continued to drive a wedge between us and kept us perpetually behind as a nation.

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Embattled UNILAG Vice Chancellor, Ogundipe, Drags Babalakin, Others To Court

Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe

Embattled Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, has asked Mike Ozekhome (SAN) to file a suit to challenge his removal from office.
The university’s Governing Council led by its Chairman, Wale Babalakin, had on Wednesday in Abuja presided over the removal of Ogundipe as VC of the university, while later naming Prof Omololu Soyombo as the Acting Vice Chancellor.

Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe

In a letter of instruction dated August 12, 2020 and addressed to Ozekhome, the embattled Vice Chancellor stated that the act of the Governing Council of the university removing him from office was illegal and unconstitutional.
He added that it was carried out without due process and contrary to the Act establishing the university and other extant laws governing discipline, suspension and removal of the Vice Chancellor of the university.

Thoughts On Resisting The Injustice Called ‘Federal Character’ By Sesugh Akume

Sesugh Akume

Many people are incensed at the injustice whereby a boy in Yobe who scores 2 in the National Common Entrance can be deemed to have passed, whereas, a girl in the very same state has to score 27, or else she would have failed. In this very same exam, a child (boy or girl) in Anambra who scores 138 is deemed to have failed. None of this is new, as many are aware this has been going on for decades and/or have experienced it. For how long shall this and such practices continue?
The constitution, it was, that first created this crisis. In section 14(3) it states:
‘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 few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or any of its agencies.’

Sesugh Akume

In the Third Schedule Articles 7—9 it creates the Federal Character Commission and vests it with responsibilities to ensure the above.
However, of the 17 (or so) service chiefs and heads of security agencies in the country under Muhammadu Buhari, all but 2 are northern Muslims, ie they are all from one part of the country, are all Muslims, and all speak Hausa as their language of everyday conversation, except the chief of defence staff, and the chief of naval staff. This is so much conformity to the above-cited sections!
Of the 479 enrolled officers of the state security service (SSS) on 5 May 2017, Katsina alone, where Buhari is from, had 51 officers, Kano 25, Lagos 7, Akwa Ibom 5. The North-West where Buhari is from had a total 165 that is more than their colleagues from the entire southern Nigeria put together which had a total of 143 officers. Followed by the northeast which had 100. Yet, we practice the federal character.
To challenge the practice of lowering the standards for others to be qualified by force, I think interested and willing patriots can get the courts to make a pronouncement against it by suing the Federal Ministry of Education. The judgment, if favourable, will apply everywhere else.
Attach the 2020 pass marks guidelines released by the ministry as an exhibit and put them on notice to provide the guidelines they released to prove the lopsided standards. Questions can be raised for the courts to determine, for instance: whether by understanding its proper construction and true meaning, section 14(3) of the constitution intends that unqualified persons be given equal opportunity with qualified persons in the spirit of the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity? Let the courts answer this so that we can stop the pretence once and for all. The answer is either yes or no.
Another question for the courts to answer is whether examination grading, and standards in the country should be subjective or objective? How can someone score 10 and be deemed to have passed an exam and someone who scored 120 is deemed to have failed, in the very same exam? Based on what? And other relevant questions. Then prayers can be made for what we want the court to declare and to order.

The fraud called ‘educationally disadvantaged states’, catchment area, etc
The ‘Cobra Effect’ describes a situation whereby an attempted solution to a problem, in the end, makes the problem worse, as a type of unintended consequence. During the British rule in India, to curb the increasing number of cobras, the government gave a reward for every dead one tendered. Soon afterwards, others began farming cobras and tendering dead ones for the bounty. After all, nobody asked where, how, and under what circumstance the cobra was killed. The government realised this and stopped the policy. But at this point what would the farmers do with the cobras? It was an extra cost to keep and feed them so they released them back into the society. In the end, there were more cobras than the number that was when the government brought up the measure to reduce them.
Lowering standards for people to qualify by force rather rewards and encourages laziness, and noncommitment. Rigging a system to favour some, giving them undue advantage over others, instead, makes them lazy and entitled. It incentivises poor performance. There is no drive to achieve and improve. It does not bring out the best in them. If I am rewarded for failing an exam, why should I strive to pass? If I am entitled to an admission simply by virtue of where I’m from, why should I work harder? There is no incentive to improve. In the end everybody loses. That is why most states categorised as educationally less developed enjoy being there, as against working hard to exit such categorisation. Fair competition is what breeds productivity. It is competition that brings out the best in us.
Or is this unfair system kept firmly in place because even with poor performance, the same people end up getting all the jobs? How can a country hope to stand when its foundation is laid on the cornerstone of injustice?
Who is/are the patriot(s) who will take this matter up and forever end this travesty? Or shall we all complain and move on with our lives?
Sesugh Akume, a public policy analyst writes from Abuja. He tweets @sesugh_Akume, and is reached via sesugh.akume@gmail.com

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Nigeria News Headlines Today

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Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Friday 14th August 2020

Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Friday 14th August 2020

Primary School Teacher Gets Life Sentence In Ondo State For Raping Minor

Armed Robbers Using Uncompleted Housing Estate As Hideout Attack Staff Of Agricultural Institute In Oyo

Group Urges Niger State Government, Police To Stop Hassan Patigi’s Witchcraft Exorcism In Mokwa

E2%80%93international-press NBC Has No Evidence Comments Made By Mailafia Amounted To Hate Speech –International Press Centre

Ascon Oil Responds To Stanbic IBTC, Says It Repossessed Lekki Filling Station Lawfully

E2%80%99s-democracy-louis-odion The Night Carrington Staked Life For Nigeria’s Democracy By Louis Odion

Boko Haram Recruiting Child Soldiers, Says MNJTF

Northern Nigerian Muslims Need To Re-educate Themselves By Fadumo Paul

Embattled UNILAG Vice Chancellor, Ogundipe, Drags Babalakin, Others To Court

Thoughts On Resisting The Injustice Called ‘Federal Character’ By Sesugh Akume