Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Saturday 15th August 2020
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 15/08/20
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E2%82%AC55m-abacha-loot-nigerian-government Ireland To Return €5.5m Abacha Loot To Nigerian Government
Ireland has reached a deal to give back to Nigeria €5.5m ($6.5 million) looted by former military dictator, Sani Abacha.
Helen McEntee, Ireland Minister of Justice and Equality, said the memorandum of understanding followed an order recently issued by a court in the European country regarding the funds.
The Ireland Criminal Assets Bureau froze the loot in 2014 under request from the administration of then President, Goodluck Jonathan.
“I am very pleased to sign this Memorandum of Understanding between Ireland and Nigeria. This represents the culmination of a long process which began with an internationally led investigation.
“The Criminal Assets Bureau took part in this international operation which led to the freezing of over $1bn in funds worldwide, of which approximately €5.5m was identified in a Dublin-based bank account.
“The return of these assets will be the first time that Ireland has taken such action and will be a concrete demonstration of Ireland’s commitment to international cooperation in the fight against corruption and to assisting countries which have been adversely affected by corruption in the past, and is in line with our international obligations as a signatory to the UN Convention Against Corruption,” she said.
The money is the latest Abacha-linked cash reclaimed by Nigeria.
Corruption watchdog, Transparency International, estimates that Abacha, who ruled from 1993 until his death in 1998, stole as much as $5bn of public money during that time.
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Edo Residents Write Inspector-General of Police, Accuse Obaseki, Deputy Of Shooting During PDP Rally
Godwin Obaseki
Residents of Apana Village, Edo State, in a letter to the Inspector-General of Police, Adamu Mohammed, accused Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, of shooting at residents during a rally of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The residents claimed that Obaseki’s deputy escorted some thugs into the village as they shot sporadically at residents.
Narrating the experience, the residents said a teenager was hit by a bullet in the arm while another person was hit by a bullet in the hip.
Godwin Obaseki
The residents identified some of the thugs, who invaded the community as Umasor Umoru, Itotoi Imonikhe, Momodu Salafa and Emmanuel Irekpita.
“The governor’s convoy arrived at the square. At this time we had all ran away and hid in different positions where we could safely observe the happenings. The deputy governor of Edo State, Hon. Philip Shaibu, came down from his vehicle and escorted by his security aides, he started supervising the destruction of properties in the village square.
“The gunmen ran towards Oduge Quarters where they identified a Peugeot 505 Station Wagon belonging to a local APC chieftain, Wilson Idaewor. Thankgod Okhumaoya immediately ordered that the vehicle should be destroyed.
“The hooded men and Thankgod descended on the vehicle breaking the front and back windshields, the side windows, mirrors etc.
“Mr. Thankgod Okhumaoya started identifying shops and properties belonging to APC members that should be destroyed all around the village square.
“Thankgod Okhumaoya ordered that they should go and burn down Chief Lucky James house which was quite a distance from the village square at the end of Oduge quarters.
“On their way to Chief Lucky James house, they continued to shoot in all directions and in the process hit a teenage boy, Samuel Sabageh who was sleeping inside the house when a pellet hit him in the arm.
“They also hit one Mr. Samuel Anerua who was sitting in a bar near the village square when stray bullets hit him in the arm and in the hips. Ms. Elizabeth Sunday the daughter of an APC leader in the community, was shot on the head while frying garri in front of her father’s house, while Evaristus Emuekpere’s ear was brushed by a flying pellet,” the residents’ letter to the IG read.
They wrote that after the rally, the hoodlums waited behind and continued threatening the residents of the village.
They also said that in another attack, the thugs reinforced and embarked on another shooting spree.
“At about 1:00am, four Toyota Hilux trucks with one of them painted blue and carrying revolving lights entered the village. “They stopped at Victor Oshioke’s house where the occupants sprayed his security house with a hail of bullets.“They went to the neighbouring house where Mr. Imonikhe JB Idaewor, an APC youth leader lives and sprayed it with a hail of bullets. They drove down the street to Mr. Wilson Idaewor’s house and sprayed it with bullets.
“Finally, they went to Mr. Udukhokhai Jimoh’s house and sprayed it with bullets before driving out of the community,” they added.
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Governor El-Rufai Expresses Optimism On Deployment Of Special Forces To Southern Kaduna
Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State has expressed optimism on the deployment of Special Forces to Southern Kaduna to contain security challenges in the area.
The governor also said that the state government will continue to place a premium on security as the backbone of sustainable development.
El-Rufai made this known while addressing the Special Forces, who arrived the Sector 7 Headquarers of Operation Safe Haven in Kafanchan on Friday.
The governor was represented by Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, who was received at the base by the Commander Sector 7 Kafanchan, Col David Nwakonobi.
The commissioner in his remarks said,“We came to formally welcome you to Kaduna State, and Southern Kaduna in particular after your induction. You are courageous and outstanding officers who have done well in Faskari, Batsari and other flash points in the country.
“The governor is pleased with your deployment and optimistic that you will do well in consolidating the gains already achieved by troops, police and other security agencies in this general area.
“Beyond the boots on the ground, the Kaduna State Government is conducting series of engagements with traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders, civil society and other agencies, and we are making progress.
“Our consistent appeal, is recourse to the law. No one should take the law on his or her own hands. Failure to recourse to the law only worsens the situation at hand, and as such, citizens must resort to available lawful means for arbitration and amicable resolution of grievances.”
The commissioner had a closed-door session with community leaders before leaving Kafanchan town.
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Prof Soyombo Announces Assumption Of Office As UNILAG Acting VC
Prof Theophilus Soyombo has said that he had assumed office as Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Akoka.
He told Tribune on Friday that he assumed duties immediately he was named.
Soyombo, a professor of sociology at the Faculty of Social Sciences of the university, was appointed on Thursday by the Governing Council of the university led by Dr Wale Babalakin during a meeting in Abuja.
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UNILAG Vice Chancellor, Prof Ogundipe, Removed By Governing Council
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E2%80%99s-government PDP Condemns Media Clampdown By Buhari’s Government
Kola Olognondiyan
The Peoples Democratic Party has condemned the fine placed on Nigerian Info by the National Broadcasting Commission.
SaharaReporter had on Thursday reported that the NBC ordered the radio station to pay a N5m fine for airing comments made by a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr Obadiah Mailaifa, on terrorism in the country.
In its response to the fine, PDP in a statement by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Friday condemned the N5m fine imposed on the radio station.
Kola Olognondiyan
The statement reads, “Without prejudice to the allegations or claims the federal government has against Nigeria Info, a broadcast station, on issues of content, the federal government cannot, on its own, impose sanctions against a media house or individuals for expressing their right to free speech.
“The PDP holds that if any anybody, be he the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a state governor, a Senator of the Federal Republic, a member of the House of Representatives, a public entity, or even the most ordinary Nigerian, have been libelled or infringed upon by any other Nigerian, the process for redress is clearly stated in the 1999 constitution (as amended), and should be followed.
“As a party, the PDP stands against draconian methods or underhand measures which this administration has set out to gag the media and erode the rights of Nigerians as guaranteed by the 1999 constitution (as amended).
“As a party, the PDP stands against draconian methods or underhand measures which this administration has set out to gag the media and erode the rights of Nigerians as guaranteed by the 1999 constitution (as amended).
“Our party holds that due process must be followed for redress in instances where violations are alleged and not by extrajudicial sanctions and clampdown on the media, as being witnessed under the APC administration.
“The PDP, standing in solidarity with Nigerians, therefore condemns any attempt to gag the media and asks the APC Federal Government to rescind its draconian actions and reverse to due process, as provided by the 1999 constitution, in handling issues relating to the freedom of the media.”
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BREAKING: Lagos Government, Bolt And Uber Reach New Agreement
The Lagos State Government and ride hailing operators, Uber and Bolt, have reached an agreement on a new guideline for companies operating in the sector.
This came as a result of public outcry by riders over an earlier announced guidelines for e-hailing companies in Lagos, which was to come into effect on August 20.
The agreement was reached after a three-hour meeting today at Marina.
The agreed guideline is set to take effect from August 27, 2020.
Highlights of the agreement include that there must be comprehensive insurance cover for drivers and passengers.
A flat fee of N20 to be known as a Road Improvement Fund and to be levied on each ride.
A reduction of 20 per cent on operational licencing fees.
There must be due diligence and background checks on all drivers.
Riders and drivers are asked to desist from offline trips and transactions.
The firms are.mandated to make all necessary data available to the government.
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E2%80%94ondo-deputy-governor-agboola-ajayi Why I Dumped APC, PDP For ZLP —Ondo Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi
Agboola Ajayi, deputy governor of Ondo State, on Friday officially defected to the Zenith Labour Party from the Peoples Democratic Party after weeks of speculation.
Ajayi was received into ZLP by the party’s state Chairman, Mr Joseph Akinlaja, in Akure, the state capital.
He was welcomed by the immediate-past governor of Ondo, Olusegun Mimiko, during a ceremony to welcome him.
Speaking at the event, Ajayi said his decision to pitch tenet with the ZLP was as a result of the fallout in the primaries of both the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress.
He said, “It is obvious that the affirmation of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu as candidate of the APC coupled with the seeming failure of the PDP to produce a dependable and formidable alternative has dampened the democratic enthusiasm and morale of the people.
“The hope and rechannel the energy of the progressive electorates, I am teaming up with members of the ZLP, a chunk of most of the other members and my teeming allies from both the PDP and APC.”
He described the ZLP as a dependable platform to rescue the people of the state from the hands of the current government of APC in the state.
The deputy governor also asked his supporters to join him in the Zenith Labour Party, noting that there was need to change and take it back from the “nepotistic administration” of Governor Akeredolu.
Earlier, Mr Akinlaja said the ZLP was the third force that would win the governorship election but pleaded with supporters of the party especially the youth to shun thuggery and violence.
He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to be fair, free and transparent in the conduct of the election.
Ex-lawmakers, Kasim Olanrewaju and Olumide Araoyinbo, led some members from the PDP and APC to the ZLP.
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P&ID: How Nigeria’s Attorney General’s Failure To Negotiate Debt Attracted Compounded Interest
Abubakar Malami
The failure of Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to successfully negotiate an arbitral award with Process and Industrial Developments Ltd, has placed Nigeria at the receiving end of losing up to 20 per cent of the country’s foreign reserve, a monetary sum of over $9bn.
A 2010 contractual agreement between Nigeria and P&ID to build a natural gas-processing plant in Calabar, Cross River State, broke down irretrievably and the London Commercial Court, converting an arbitration decision to judgment, found Nigeria guilty of breach of contract.
Nigeria, in a frantic move to wriggle out of the judgment debt, filed a successful lawsuit at its own Federal High Court, which set aside the judgment of the UK court.
Abubakar Malami
P&ID did not partake at the proceedings, which happened at the Lagos Federal High Court, alleging that the court lacked jurisdiction on the case.
The company’s argument seems meritorious because as far back as 2016, parties agreed on UK as the venue for the arbitration which eventually took place in 2017, even though Nigerian arbitration laws were to apply.
Nigeria had a 28-day ultimate to separately appeal both decisions of the arbitration venue and the arbitral award but it delayed several months before it appealed the decision on the venue and the appeal was dismissed.
In a letter written to the law firm of Bolaji Ayorinde dated 27 April, 2017 and cited by SaharaReporters, Malami said he received the approval of Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, to negotiate the arbitral award with P&ID.
The letter reads in part, “Please be informed that the Vice President of Nigeria has approved that the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation, Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources and your humble self should immediately proceed to negotiate with P&ID with respect to how the award can be reviewed in favour of Federal Government.”
Malami’s negotiation with P&ID did not make any headway and Nigeria now stands the risk of potentially losing a fortune due to the failed negotiation.
Although a dissenting arbitrator limited damages to $250m, the arbitral panel awarded over $6.597bn damages in favour of P&ID.
But owing to protracted legal tussles spearheaded by the AGF, damages accruable against Nigeria has now risen to over $9bn, representing 20 per cent of Nigeria’s foreign reserves.
The AGF has been at the centre of many scandals lately.
SaharaReporters once published a viral video of how local and hard currencies were doled out at the wedding ceremony of the AGF’s son at Kebbi where six private jets were chartered to convey guests to the venue.
Dr Junaid Mohammed, a Nigerian lawmaker of the second republic, has described the AGF as lacking in credibility.
A group of concerned citizens from Kebbi State from where the AGF hails, have also asked Malami to clear himself from allegations of corruption and save Kebbi State from national embarrassment.
Also, the AGF in collaboration with Tukur Burutai, Chief of Army Staff, have flagrantly disobeyed a Federal High Court order mandating that a detained soldier, Lance Corporal Martins Idakpini, be granted access to his lawyer and family.
Malami has also been accused of using his position to frustrate several high-profile corruption cases in Nigeria.
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Concerned Nigerians Group Writes United States, Buhari, Ganduje Over Death Sentence Of Kano-based Musician, Condemns Religious Persecution In Nigeria
Pro-democracy and human rights group, Concerned Nigerians, has written to President Muhammadu Buhari, Kano State governor, Umar Ganduje, and the United States Embassy over the sentencing of Kano-based musician, Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, to death over blasphemy.
The group said the judgment was repulsive to natural justice, equity and good conscience.
It also condemned the attempt to religiously police the country, saying that Nigeria was a secular state.
The letter reads, “Our constitution forbids religious policing in section 10, which prohibits the practice of state religion in any part of Nigeria and section 38 guarantees the right to freedom of thought, religion and conscience, including freedom to change religion and belief.
“We are appealing to the President and American Embassy to prevail on the Kano State governor to pardon the victim of this great injustice as his life is in serious danger at the Kano Central Prison where he’s being detained. We are currently in touch with the victim and we can confirm that he is kept under the worst possible conditions.”
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World Health Organisation Declaration Of Year 2020: An Opportunity For A Responsive Government By Isaiah Dada Owoeye
It is an honour for a professional body to be singled out for celebration by the prestigious health organisation in the world. It is indeed a well-deserved one because this group has been in the system of making the society better as the service orientation of the profession is based on altruism to both the sick and well. It is pertinent to state that this profession may have set a record of unity for other health professional association as they are the first body in the world, dated back to 1899, to form a formidable association with aim of qualitative service delivery to human populace. They set a landmark upon which other health institutions followed in constitution of association to the benefit of mankind. This profession has constantly being setting a pace in the projection of her pedigree to the public as it is recognised as the most trusted profession in the world. However, little is reported in the media space about this set of people who provide a selfless service to the public.
It is not surprising that the crusader of the modern initiative of the profession, Florence Nightingale, had a track record and made an indelible footprint in the sands of time. As a visionary lady, in the year 1870s, she worked and envisioned that her people would be praised and appreciated all over the world. In fulfilment of the divine mandate, World Health Organisation (WHO) wades into action and the year 2020 is declared ‘International year of the nurse’. This implies that within a space of about ten decades Nightingale’s word became a reality in our own time. The future word of Nightingale and WHO declaration is a perfect correlation. The descendants of Nightingale, nurses all over the world, were marvelled at the 2020 declaration tagged ‘The year of the nurse’. As nurses were looking forward for manifold celebrations, behold a challenging issue erupted and take its tolls on nurses in different part of the world. No thanks to Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in all senses of reasoning.
The vulnerability of nurses to COVID-19 pandemic is known to all and sundry. Government imposed a lockdown and people were mandated to work from home, but nurses cannot. Nurses are the majority of the work force in the health institution and the foremost frontline officers who are more to the patients than any other health professionals. They are the soldiers fighting the invisible war being waged on the humans by the virus. In regards to the risk on the frontline health workers, standing ovation and rounds of applause were given as rewards to boost the psyche of the health workers. Nevertheless, nurses need more than that in celebration of the years of excellence in service delivery. It is therefore expected that governments respond accordingly.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has the capacity to key into this worldwide initiative of celebrating the year of the nurse. Nurses were available but there was no response from the government part. A laudable initiative of ‘Nursing Now’ is gaining ground in other countries of the world. Scholarships are specially announced for the benefit of nurses in part of the world but where is the place of nurses in the heart of Nigerian Government. Nigeria seems to be the first from behind in echoing the voice of encouragement to nurses.
Nigerian nurses have paid and still paying the ultimate prize. Some have laid their lives down in the course of service to the country. Some died of Ebola virus diseases, Lassa fever and in the present have died of the novel COVID-19 epidemics. It is therefore imperative that effort of our nurse heroes and heroines should not be taking with levity. For the souls of our departed nurses to rest in peace, there would be a need to specially celebrate the profession that was dear to their hearts while alive. Let the message be echoed and re-echoed to the government that year 2020 is the year of the nurse. The year will pass and would not be witnessed in the world history again, but it can only be remembered. This is an ample opportunity for the government to exploit this time in history. The time to act and celebrate nurses is now as posterity rewards in due time.
Isaiah Dada Owoeye, Department of Nursing science, College of Medicine & Health sciences, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
e-mail: owoeyeid@abuad.edu.ng
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