Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Wednesday 10th November 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 10/11/21
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Musings Over The Rush To Launch The eNaira By Dr Nasir Aminu
Dr Nasir Aminu
The country was cheerful when the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced it would be piloting its version of the central bank digital currency (CBDC) on 1 October 2021. Surprisingly, the apex bank decided to skip the pilot scheme to launch the eNaira on 25 October 2021 fully. For the country that will host the Headquarters of the African Central Bank when the common currency in Africa materialises, this is a monumental feat.
Research shows that global central banks are taking their time to study the CBDC before they fully launch it. For example, the People’s Bank of China has been working on a digital currency since 2014 but is yet to launch fully. In July 2021, the European Central Bank (ECB) confirmed that it will begin a two-year study of the digital euro, with sights set on a 2026 launch. Between 2014 and 2018, Ecuador operated its digital currency for before its parliament voted to abolish it.
Worryingly, the hasty decision to launch the eNaira feels like the Cold War’s race to the moon. The decision by the CBN Governor is either very rash or under orders from an external force. On balance, and it is a close thing, I think it is the latter. Of course, we all tend to be wiser after an event.
Dr Nasir Aminu
The race to the moon was about proving which country is applying the knowledge of their best scientists and technology. Given the country’s economic position, one struggles to see the rationale. If any country were supposed to rush to launch a CBDC, it would have been the U.S. for fear of Chinese dominance. There is an argument that the e-CNY could overthrow the U.S. dollar’s primacy as the global reserve currency and destabilise its financial dominance. Notably, the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) is the furthest behind in developing a CBDC amongst the four largest central banks (i.e. the Fed, ECB, BoE, and Bank of Japan) in the world.
Traditionally, monumental innovations tend to get endorsements from the National Assembly. Surprisingly, the Presidency did not send the eNaira proposal to the House of Assembly for advice and due process. It was surprising to see a lack of public engagement before launching the eNaira. Even in quasi-authoritarian settings like China, Saudi Arabia, and Russia, public engagement is held for the CBDC. At the announcement, the CBN Governor only thanked the Minister of Digital Economy. It was strange. What about the Minister of finance?
A global example within the digital currency context will classify Nigeria’s case as an anomaly. Currently, in the U.K., the Bank of England is collaborating with their ministry of finance (H.M. Treasury) to explore the potential of a CBDC. They plan to engage widely with stakeholders to introduce a digital currency’s benefits, risks, and practicalities. A Committee is already taking evidence on the central issues. It will examine how a CBDC might affect the bank’s role, monetary policy and the financial sector. This practice is the same across developed and developing economies.
Let’s compare with previous CBN events without judging anyone by another’s standards. Back in 2007, Prof. Soludo had to present a proposal to redenominate the Naira to the Federal executive council and, later, the Presidential Committee – led by the Minister of finance. He also engaged in several public discussions, including a speech at the Bank of International Settlement. At one point, the National Assembly requested his resignation and suggested he was going against the law for not engaging with them. In 2011, Sanusi Lamido had to appear before the Senate to explain the rationale behind introducing Islamic Banking in Nigeria. It is also not new for the current Governor to present a policy before the National Assembly. The last one was in February to justify why they banned cryptocurrency.
Without any exaggeration, previous National Assembly leaders would have invited the CBN Governor by now. The public remains optimistic that an invitation is on its way, as there is no reason to think the intelligence and leadership standards in the National Assembly has gone down over the years. The public will be interested in hearing answers on not just why the launching of the eNaira was rushed, although that too.
Like all innovations, rigorous investigations are conducted to understand what is being proposed. For the CBDC, the process starts from researching to developing to piloting before a full launch. CBN achieved this feat by skipping all the stages. That is why Nigeria is only one of the seven countries to launch a central bank digital currency (CBDC). Others are The Bahamas, St Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada. These countries will not compare with Nigeria’s economy, population, education, market, etc.
Together with the seven countries above, there are eighty-seven economies in the world researching, developing or piloting a version of CBDC, according to the American think-tank – Atlantic Council. Seventeen countries are at the pilot stage. These include countries like China, Malaysia, South Africa and Saudi Arabia. The central banks of Canada, Turkey, Russia, and Japan are among the 15 countries at the development stage. The 39 economies at the research stage include the U.S., U.K., E.U., India, Ghana, and Kenya.
China is currently issuing 200 digital yuan (e-CNY) to randomly selected citizens in its pilot scheme. At the same time, Senegal had abandoned its quest after a trial. The Monetary Authority of Singapore and the ECB also announced that they engaged in a successful cross-border payment and settlement experiment through the sole use of CBDC. Many more economies engage in cross border payment tests, such as partnerships between South Africa, Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia.
The countries piloting and researching CBDC are aware that careful considerations are required to mitigate all challenges. For example, new research shows the existing regulations are not updated to deal with the new forms of money. Thus, rules need to be made more robust before adopting this technology. Unlike the informed economies, the CBN did not see this as a challenge. Still, the public hopes the National Assembly will.
Appraising the eNaira, it is designed to coexist with the Naira but only in a digital form. The eNaira requires a wallet, a digital storage that holds the eNaira. Opening a wallet requires vital personal information, like name, date of birth, e-mail address, bank account, and bank verification number (BVN). Bank customers can move money from their bank account to their eNaira wallet. They can monitor their eNaira wallet, check balances and view transaction history. They can make in-store payments using their eNaira wallet by scanning Q.R. codes and can send money to one another through a linked bank account or card. Technically, the eNaira account is similar to the conventional bank account system, in which the CBN guarantees the deposits.
If appropriately designed, the eNaira could bring much good for the digital economy. The eNaira can be a powerful tool to address an economic recession. The CBN could charge a lower or negative interest rate on these accounts, making saving money less attractive. The accounts could be used to distribute cash to citizens like the trader money allocated around the country. That is similar to the Chinese government’s pilot scheme where an expiry date to spend the digital currency is given. Unlike the Chinese economy, there is a lack of clarity on how the eNaira will include the estimated 40 million unbanked adults.
Customers know that eNaira is fundamentally safer than the regular cash in a commercial bank since it is deposited in the nation’s central bank. If the CBN allows customers to convert a lot of cash to eNaira, it could trigger a run on commercial banks. Potentially, commercial banks customers could move their deposits to eNaira, which will kill off commercial banks’ business models. Conventional banks are modelled to take a stable depositor base, leverage it, and extend loans into the real economy. If deposit the base shrinks and becomes less stable, lending will reduce.
Given the scenario above, there is an issue whether the CBN will provide all the lending in the economy. The CBN could convert the eNaira deposits that left commercial bank accounts and then lend them back to the bank. That way, the CBN has become a lender of first resort instead of a lender of last resort. For this to happen, several risk analyses will have to be done to determine which banks they should give how many deposits. Again, the central bank does not want to get involved in that business.
Another worry about using the eNaira is that consumers and fintech firms expecting cheaper services might not get it. Tech services are affordable for customers due to the high number of suppliers in the market. The CBN’s eNaira will remove that competition. It will essentially be a monopsony, and the bank will be required to break even.
The eNaira benefits are designed to enhance anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing efforts through blockchain or other distributed ledger technology. However, two days after the launch, the CBN alerted the public to be careful of fake eNaira social media accounts attempting to defraud trick users. Without new standards and careful coordination, Nigeria’s financial system may face momentous interoperability problems in the future.
The existing CBN Act of 2007 does not include many aspects of financial technology (fintech). The risk of cybersecurity and lack of privacy worry users as the government centralises the system. Currently, software developers have pointed out privacy issues and loopholes for money laundering with the Speed Wallet. Financial institutions are unclear how the CBN plans to inject the newly created money in the Stock Wallet by every user, knowing that asset swaps will be involved. Some clarity about the degree of collateralisation would be good. The technical issues with eNaira can cause reputational risk. Technology may be exposed to glitches, cyber-attacks or human error, reflecting poorly on the central bank.
Central banks worldwide will be closely watching how things progress with the eNaira.
Dr Nasir Aminu is a Senior Lecturer in Economics at Cardiff Metropolitan University.
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Anambra Poll: Corps Members Withhold Election Results in Ihiala Over Non-Payment Of N3,000 Food Allowance
File photo used to illustrate story.
Members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) working as ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the supplementary governorship election in the Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, have threatened not to release result sheets from their polling units.
The corps members reportedly held on to the results as a bargaining chip in their demand for the payment of their N3,000 individual food allowances.
File photo used to illustrate story.
YIAGA
According to FIJ report, the angry youths surrounded INEC officials, including the Senior Presiding Officer, at the local government headquarters.
“Carry the results and take them to your houses,” one INEC official told the corps members. “Police will come and arrest you; you will finish the NYSC programme and not get the certificate.”
A female corps member complained of not having transport fare, adding that she was relying on the promised allowance.
INEC on Sunday fixed a date for a supplementary election in the council where the governorship poll did not hold at the weekend. INEC also suspended the collation of results for the governorship election.
Ihiala is the only local government area where elections did not hold out of the 21 council areas in the state.
INEC had on Sunday announced results for 20 out of the 21 local government areas with the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Charles Soludo, winning in 18.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, had announced on Monday that the supplementary election would hold from 10 am to 4 pm on Tuesday.
Also on Sunday, during the collation of results, the collation officer for Ihiala, Ahmadu Umar claimed there was no election in the area.
He said there are 148,407 registered voters in the LGA.
SaharaReporters had also reported the malfunctioning of the INEC’s Bimodal System machines, BIVAS as well as the tense security situation on Saturday, which affected the turnout and smooth flow of the election.
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Nigeria’s Anti-graft Agency, EFCC Re-arraigns Ex-Minister, Bulama, Four Others Over N450Million Fraud
The Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned a former Minister of Science and Technology, Abdu Bulama over fraud charges filed against him.
He was re-arraigned on Monday before Justice Fadima Murtala Aminu of the Federal High Court sitting in Damaturu, Yobe State, on seven counts of criminal conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N450 million (Four Hundred and Fifty Million Naira).
EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, stated the development in a statement made available to SaharaReporters on Tuesday.
According to him, the ex-minister was re-arraigned alongside a former Commissioner for Integrated and Rural Development in Yobe State, Mohammed Kadai, as well as three others namely Abba Gana Tata, Muhammad Mamu and Hassan Ibn Jaks.
Bulama was said to have allegedly received the said sum from Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, to influence the outcome of the 2015 Presidential election as the Coordinator of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 Re-election Campaign Committee in Yobe.
Kadai was deputy coordinator, while the other three defendants were members of the committee.
Count one of the charges reads, “That you, Dr Abdu Bulama, Hon. Mohammed Kadai, Abbas Gana Tata, Muhammad Mamu And Hassan Ibn Jaks on or about the 27th day of March 2015 at Damaturu, Yobe State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did agree among yourselves to do an illegal act, to wit: conspiracy to commit money laundering and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended.”
But during their arraignment, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them by the EFCC.
Upon their pleas, prosecution counsel, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed, asked the court for a trial date and to remand the defendants in a correctional centre pending the determination of the case.
The lead counsel for the defendants, E. A. Adenitan, informed the court that bail applications had been filed and served on the court and the prosecution. He, therefore, urged the court to admit the defendants to bail pending trial.
While opposing the bail applications of the defendants, Ali Ahmed prayed the court for an accelerated hearing, ‘‘pursuant to Section 19 of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004.’’
He, however, said the court should exercise its discretion in favour of the defendants, adding that the bail conditions ‘‘should be such that will guarantee their attendance in court regularly to face trial’’.
In her ruling, Justice Aminu admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N50 million each with two sureties in the sum of N25 million each.
The judge held that the sureties may be private businessmen or professionals in any field or profession. The sureties must also submit to the Registrar of the Court their Tax Clearance Certificate for the last two years.
The court also held that the defendants shall deposit their passports, official/diplomatic passports or any international documents that they can use to exit the country, with the court.
Aminu thereafter adjourned the matter till January 18, 19 and 20, 2022 for commencement of trial and ordered that the defendants be remanded in Potiskum Correctional Facility pending the fulfilment of their bail conditions.
The defendants were first arraigned on Friday, May 29, 2018, before Justice Hammada Isa Dashen of the Federal High Court, Damaturu.
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BREAKING: Nigerian Cleric, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya Loses Second Wife To Cancer
Nomthi Odukoya, the second wife of Senior Pastor of Fountain of Life Church, Ilupeju, Lagos, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, has passed on.
This was made known on Tuesday in a post Pastor Taiwo made via his Instagram handle.
Nomthi, who is the second wife of the pastor, died of cancer after battling with it for two years.
Taiwo wrote, “With deep regret and gratitude to God, I have to announce the passing of my wife, Pastor Nomthi Odukoya.
”She battled cancer for the better part of two years, she stood on the Word of God, and she fought.
“She gave me 11 beautiful years of marriage and two wonderful boys, who I know will be very significant in life.
“I loved her with all my heart, but who am I to fight with the will of God. The truth is, at one point in our lives, we all will have to say goodbye. So for now, till we meet again in glory, Goodbye Nomthi.”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Pastor Taiwo Odukoya (@pastortaiwo)
In January 2020, Nomthi and Taiwo who are both senior pastors of the church, celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary.
Taiwo’s first wife, Bimbo, died in a place crash. She boarded Sosoliso Airlines Flight 1145, bound for Port Harcourt from Abuja.
On 10 December 2005 the airliner crashed during landing at Port Harcourt International Airport; Bimbo survived the initial impact and died from injuries on 11 December 2005.
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Sowore Petitions US, EU, Police Authorities, DSS Over Release Of Thugs Who Attacked Him During Kanu’s Trial
Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore has called for the immediate investigation of CSP Abdullahi Hassan Abubakar, the Divisional Police Officer of the Federal Secretariat Police Station, Abuja over his involvement in the attack on his person by thugs in Abuja.
Sowore made the call, through his lawyers, in a petition sent to the Chairman, Police Service Commission; Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba; Department of State Services (DSS); European Union and the US Embassy.
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Nigeria’s Secret Police, DSS Mobilise Thugs To Attack Sowore During Kanu’s Trial On Wednesday
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However, the Police Authorities and the DSS have failed to respond to the petition dated October 25, 2021, and signed by his lawyer, Tope Temokun for Tope Temokun Chambers.
“Our lawyers wrote to the IGP and DSS regarding the attacks on me and got no response,” Sowore said.
SaharaReporters had reported that some hoodlums suspected to be sponsored by the Nigerian government on October 21 attacked Sowore on the premises of the Federal High Court, Abuja despite the heavy presence of security operatives there.
The human rights activist was denied access into the court by the security operatives.
He was prevented from entering the court to witness the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), being held there, among other reasons.
But as he was still talking to the security men, some hoodlums numbering about 20 arrived.
The hoodlums then approached the activist and attacked him. It took the intervention of journalists around to rescue him.
However, the security agents including the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Federal Secretariat Police Station looked on as the activist was being assaulted.
SaharaReporters gathered that the hoodlums came with a petrol bomb.
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REVEALED: Buhari-led Government Sponsored Thugs Who Attacked Activist, Sowore Caught With Bomb
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Sowore in a petition addressed to the United States Embassy in Nigeria, European Union Embassy, Police Service Commission, Inspector General of Police and Department of State Services queried why Abdullahi released those arrested for assaulting him without investigation.
“We were briefed by our client that on Tuesday, the 21st day of October 2021, while our client was at the premises of the Federal High Court, Abuja to observe and witness the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, he was attacked by some men, armed with petrol bombs and other lethal weapons, who alighted from a vehicle with registration number BWR 812 KM that conveyed them to the Court premises in a manner that suggested they were brought there by those authorities to wreak havoc and decimation on our client,” the petition signed by the activist’s lawyer, Tope Temokun read.
“Our client informed us that he was amidst the officers of the Nigeria Police Force at the premises of the Federal High Court, Abuja, when these suspected sponsored squad arrived in a vehicle and started an aggressive throwing of tirade and vitriol at him in the full glare of officers of the Nigeria Police Force to provoke him to react and prepare the ground for the planned attack.
“To the chagrin of our client, instead of the officers of the Nigeria Police Force present led by CSP ABDULLAHI ABUBAKAR HASSAN, the DPO of the Federal Secretariat Police Station, Abuja, who seemed to have fore-knowledge of the presence and mission of these attackers, to arrest the situation, it was rather bemusing to see him and these officers acting in a solicitous manner towards these attackers, which later encouraged them to attack Our Client right there before the eyes of these law enforcement agents.
“It is the brief of our client that CSP ABDULLAHI ABUBAKAR HASSAN, the said DPO of the Federal Secretariat Police Station, Abuja, was seen engaging the belligerent assailants, offering tacit support to whatever agenda they had and no sooner had CSP ABDULLAHI ABUBAKAR HASSAN, treacherously engaged with the attackers that day in the open than our client was violently attacked by these same assailants. It took the intervention of Journalists and other well-meaning Nigerians present at the time to be able to ward off the attack on our client.
“After the attack had been carried out and our client rescued by the courageous Nigerians who were present, the said CSP ABDULLAHI ABUBAKAR HASSAN, DPO of the Federal Secretariat Police Station, Abuja, when confronted by our client on his roles and his complicity, claimed he had arrested the assailants, only for him to release them without disclosing their identities or carrying out any attempt at investigating them.
“The same CSP ABDULLAHI ABUBAKAR HASSAN, the DPO of the Federal Secretariat Police Station, Abuja, had earlier arrested illegally and subjected our client to beatings and other degrading treatments on the 26th day of July for attempting to enter the premises of the Federal High Court, Abuja, without any justifications whatsoever.
“We therefore respectfully request sir, on behalf of Our Client, that you kindly cause an investigation into this matter by inviting CSP ABDULLAHI ABUBAKAR HASSAN, the DPO of the Federal Secretariat Police Station, Abuja, who led other police officers to the scene of this incident and who knew the identities of these assailants as he claimed to have arrested the attackers immediately after the attack, only for him to release them without a serious attempt at any investigation, for serious disciplinary measures from the commission, not only for justice to be availed to our client, but for the overall good of the society at large.
“While we await your immediate action on this matter, sir, we undertake to volunteer useful and helpful statements and evidence which include but not limited to pictures and videos of this incident to the commission in due course and we will appreciate it, sir, if this petition is treated with dispatch.”
DOCUMENT: Sowore Petitions US, EU, Police Authorities, DSS Over Release of Thugs Who Attacked Him During Ka… by Sahara Reporters on Scribd
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IPOB Gives Imo Governor, Uzodinma Three Weeks To Release Detained Members
Hope Uzodinma
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has given the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma an ultimatum to release their members arrested in the state or face a fierce reaction.
IPOB gave Uzodinma until the end of November to release its members arrested by security operatives in Imo State.
Hope Uzodinma
Its spokesperson, Emma Powerful vowed to massively mobilise the people of the South-East against the governor if he fails to release the arrested members within the three weeks ultimatum, noting that the governor cannot prevent them from their agitation for freedom for the region.
He said; “We the global movement and family of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great leader and prophet Mazi Nnamdi Kanu wish to once again put the word on notice over the incessant abduction of IPOB members in Imo State by the compromised Nigerian security agents supported by the Supreme Court Administrator in Imo State, Hope Uzodinma.
“We want to make it clear to him and those of his co-travellers that IPOB never stops in Imo State because Imo State is one of the states in Biafra territory. Hope Uzodinma and his co-travellers and traitors are uninformed and cannot stop our agitation for freedom in Imo State.”
The separatist group also urged Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo sociocultural group, South-East leaders and pressure groups from the region to prevail on Uzodinma to release its detained members.
It said, “We call on Ohaneze Ndigbo, Igbo religious leaders, civil society groups and women organisations to caution Hope Uzodinma and his co-travellers to discontinue this evil agenda. We have had enough of their wickedness against innocent Biafrans.
“We don’t want anybody to blame IPOB should we decide to react. Hope Uzodinma and the compromised security agents have done enough to innocent members of IPOB and ordinary citizens in Imo State.
“The continued arrest and abduction of innocent people in Imo State can no longer be tolerated. It’s very disturbing that these agents of darkness now move from house to house searching for anybody who is a supporter of Biafra agitation.
“Friends, family members and associates of Hope Uzodinma must tell him to release those innocent Biafrans arrested unjustly in Imo State. We give him till the end of November 2021 to do so otherwise, he will be testing the will of the masses and our irrevocable resolve to restore Biafra.
“There is no justification for arresting peaceful agitators of Biafra whereas bandits and mass murderers are allowed to roam the streets freely. This hatred against the innocent must stop, arresting and killing innocent Biafrans tagging them ESN (Eastern Security Network) operatives.”
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Bandits Ambush Nigerian Policemen In Zamfara, Kill Seven Officers, Set Patrol Vehicle Ablaze
File photo used to illustrate story.
Gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed seven policemen along the Tofa-Magami Road in the Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
SaharaReporters gathered that the incident occurred around 7:00 pm on Monday when the police operatives were patrolling the area.
File photo used to illustrate story.
The bandits were said to have ambushed the police operatives, “killing seven of them and burning their operational vehicle”.
“The whereabouts of some personnel who however escaped the attack are still unknown,” a source also said.
The police officers were said to have been overpowered by the bandits because of their large number.
It was learnt that the policemen could not call for re-enforcement due to shutdown of telecommunication services in communities outside the state capital.
Magami community is a few kilometres away from the trouble Dansadau area, which is known as one of the hotbeds of banditry in the state.
Deadly attacks have raged across Zamfara state where bandits have thrived.
Farming and herding communities in the state have long been terrorised by gangs who raid villages, stealing cattle and kidnap residents for ransom.
In 2019, the state government entered a peace agreement with the gunmen.
About 15 brand new Hilux vehicles and cash gifts were also given to leaders of different ‘repentant’ gangs of bandits by the governor in 2020.
But despite all these, communities in the state are still being attacked and residents kidnapped and/or killed.
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E2%80%99s-trial-wednesday Nigeria’s Secret Police, DSS Mobilise Thugs To Attack Sowore During Kanu’s Trial On Wednesday
Officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) have mobilised about 20 thugs to attack human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore at the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday) at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
A source told SaharaReporters that a contingent of the DSS arrived and took over the court premises on Tuesday. The source added that while around the court, they met with the leaders of the thugs to be used and briefed them on how they are expected to carry out the job.
The source also revealed that the DSS operatives instructed the thugs to inflict harm should there be any resistance.
Also according to the source, the thugs were promised that nobody would intervene, just like the police officers present during the last assault on the activist only looked on.
It took the intervention of journalists to stop the assault on Sowore at the time.
“The Nigerian secret police today met with some 20 thugs, paid them within the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja and told them to harass Omoyele Sowore if he tries to attend the ongoing trial of Nnamdi Kanu on Wednesday, November 10 2021.
“A contingent of the Department of State Services arrived and took over the court a few minutes ago and while there, they met with the leaders of the thugs to be used and briefed them on what to do.
“They told them to inflict harm if there is any resistance and promised them that nobody will intervene,” the source told SaharaReporters on Tuesday.
Recall that the DSS had made similar arrangements during the last trial held in October, allowing three vehicles packed with thugs to arrive on the court premises to attack Sowore.
However, vigilant journalists were able to resist the attackers, a measure that forced the hands of the police to pretend to arrest the thugs, as they were released a few minutes later by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Federal Secretariat police station, Abubakar Hassan, aka Big Boy.
Sowore was, at the time denied access into the court by the security operatives.
SaharaReporters gathered that the hoodlums came with a petrol bomb.
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REVEALED: Buhari-led Government Sponsored Thugs Who Attacked Activist, Sowore Caught With Bomb
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“The police and Department of State Services (DSS) let their lone car pass and then closed their barricades and thereafter let them go after attacking Sowore,” an eyewitness had said, narrating the incident.
“Journalists and bloggers covering the trial outside revolted against what the DSS and police did and the police reluctantly arrested them and took them to the Federal Secretariat Police Station where the DPO, Hassan Abdullahi released them after 10 minutes.
“Hassan Abdullahi was the DPO that arrested and tore Sowore’s clothes on July 26th and he’s believed to have brought the thugs in conjunction with the DSS to attack and hurt him.”
Another eyewitness had revealed that one of the assailants had a petrol bomb, adding that the policemen present there also saw it.
“Yes, one of the hoodlums was with a petrol bomb. Some people and I saw it, and the policemen there also saw it,” the source had said. “It can easily be denied but it was the police who actually took it out from his pocket. They were even the ones who identified it.”
However, the DSP Adeh Josephine,Police Public Relations Officer of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, Abuja did not answer when SaharaReporters called to find out the update on the investigation and prosecution of the hoodlums who attacked Sowore.
She also did not reply when she was messaged on WhatsApp even though the grey checkmarks showing the message had been delivered later changed to blue, suggesting it had been read.
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E2%80%94gombe-governor-yahaha How Former Governor, Goje Told Me I Must Do What He Says—Gombe Governor, Yahaha
The Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya has blamed his predecessor, Goje Danjuma for the recent political clashes in the state.
Yahaya accused Goje, who is also the Senator representing Gombe Central in the National Assembly, of bringing thugs into the state to wreak havoc.
The governor said Senator Danjuma, who is also a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), want to be controlling him, alleging that he called him aside and told him to be doing only the things he says.
The governor disclosed this while fielding questions from correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday, stressing that he will not tolerate such an attitude from the former governor and serving senator.
“Well, the party has its principles and that’s what obtains in every party and that of Gombe cannot be different.
“As a party, during our convention, we agreed to use consensus and Goje himself told the party members that he trusts me; that I will do the right thing peacefully and I have been doing my best for our party.
“But for him to later call me aside and say we should only do what he says, that is what I will not do and will not tolerate.”
He affirmed that the security situation in the state has now normalised, alleging that the former governor tried to cause mayhem but the people resisted.
“The security situation in my state is calm now and people are going about their normal activities.
“The issue we had before now was caused by a former Governor of the state, Danjuma Goje, a serving Senator, who you all know.
“He tried causing mayhem, and the people resisted that but as a result of the skirmish that ensued, lives were lost and some people’s properties were destroyed. That is what we as a government are kicking against.
“Everybody knows he was the one that brought the killer thugs known as Kalare in Gombe but as the Governor of the State, I will not tolerate Kalare and whoever is involved in Kalare activities, no matter how highly placed, we will stop him and we will end Kalare by the Grace of God.”
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E2%80%99s-charges-against-enslaved-21-year-old-glory-okolie EXCLUSIVE: Full List Of Nigeria Police’s Charges Against Enslaved 21-year-old Glory Okolie
A Federal High Court In Abuja on Tuesday remanded Gloria Okolie, a 21-year-old young woman arrested and enslaved by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Imo State.
Despite the public outcries and clamour for her release, the police charged Okolie to the court for terrorism in a case, FHC/ABJ/CR/297/2021, with the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the complainant and Emeoyiri Uzoma Benjamin and Okolie Glory as the defendants.
The suit was in accordance with the court order issued by the court on Friday 27th August 2021.
The police had arrested Okolie for allegedly being friends with a suspected member of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
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BREAKING: Court Remands Enslaved 21-year-old Glory Okolie Dragged To Court By Nigeria Police Over Links To IPOB, Terrorism
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She was later transferred to Abuja, despite efforts by her family members to secure his release.
After 66 days in detention, the police, in a statement said she was arrested for alleged membership of IPOB and for working with one Benjamin Uzoma Emeoyiri to attack officers and stations in Imo.
Her detention stirred public outcry as many Nigerians, including civil society organisations, have called for her release.
According to court documents obtained by SaharaReporters, Emeoyiri was charged on count one to count eight while Okolie was charged on count nine to count 12.
The four charges against Okolie, bordering on the alleged links to IPOB and terrorism can be found below:
COUNT NINE
That you, Okolie Glory Temale, adult of Obor-Otonomus (Autonomous) Community Orlu Local Government Area, Imo State within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court committed an act of terrorism by providing information to Emeoyiri Uzoma Benjamin, a member of indigenous people of Biafra, a proscribed organization in Nigeria on the presence of the Police Officers in the area in order to evade apprehension by the Police and you thereby committed an offense punishable under section 5 of the Terrorism (prevention)(Amendment) Act, 2013
COUNT TEN
That you, Okolie Glory, female, adult of Obor-Otonomus Community Orlu Local Government Area, Imo state sometime in 2021 at Amaifeke, Banana junction, Orlu in Imo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court directly rendered to Emeoyiri Uzoma Benjamin, a member of Indigenous People of Biafra, a proscribed organization in Nigeria by providing your account details Okolie Glory Njideka, Fidelity Bank with account number 6552466814 to him for collection of the sum of Two Hundred Thousand Naira from one Chinasa Nworu in furtherance of acts of terrorism and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 5 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013.
COUNT ELEVEN
That you, Okolie Glory, female, adult of Obor-Otonumus Community Orlu Local Government Area, Imo state sometime in 2021 at Amaifeke, Banana Junction, Orlu in Imo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court directly rendered support to Emeoyiri Uzoma Benjamin, a member of Indigenous people of Biafra, a proscribed organization in Nigeria by providing your account details: Okolie Glory Njideka, Fidelity Bank with account number 6552466814 to him for collection of the sum of Three Hundred Thousand Naira from one Chinasa Nworu in furtherance of act of terrorism and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 5 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amended) Act, 2013.
COUNT TWELVE
That you, Okile Glory, female, adult of Obor-Otonums Community Orlu Local Government Area, Imo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court knowingly concealed information about acts of terrorism which you know to be of material assistance in securing the apprehension of Emeoyiri Uzoma Benjamin, a member of Indigenous People of Biafra, a proscribed organization in Nigeria but failed to disclose such information to any law enforcement or security agency as soon as possible as practicable and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 8(b) of the Terrorism (prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013.
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