Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Thursday 7th April 2022
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 07/04/22
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Blasphemy: Nigerian Humanists Condemn Sentencing Of Atheist, Mubarak Bala, Asks Buhari Government To Overturn Judgment
Mubarak Bala
The Humanist community in Nigeria has said it was shocked by the sentencing of an atheist, Mubarak Bala for ‘blasphemy’.
The community said it is “utterly disgraceful that a court in the 21st century could convict an individual for making innocuous posts on Facebook”.
Mubarak Bala
It urged the Muhammadu Buhari-led Nigerian government to ensure Bala’s sentence is overturned.
Bala, President of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, was arrested for blasphemy in 2020 and convicted on April 5, 2022
He was sentenced to 24 years in prison on blasphemy charges.
According to a statement by the Humanist Association of Nigeria, which was obtained by SaharaReporters on Wednesday, Leo Igwe, a trustee of the association was quoted as saying, “Today is a sad day for humanism, human rights and freedom in Nigeria.
“The sentencing of Mubarak Bala is a stark violation of the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief.
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Court Sentences Kano Atheist, Mubarak Bala, To 24 Years In Jail Over Blasphemy
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“We urge the authorities in Nigeria to ensure that this judicial charade does not stand.
After almost two years of illegal detention, Bala pleaded guilty to the charges.
But according to his lawyer, the plea was not part of the legal strategy, and Bala might have been tricked to believe that a guilty plea would earn him a lighter sentence. Incidentally, the plea did not.
George Mbuagbaw, HAN’s Interim President, said, “The judge did not seem to consider that he had been illegally locked up for two years, or what effect it must have had on him or the apparent conflict between his position and that of the lawyer.
“He appeared overly willing to accept the guilty plea, and to impose two 24 years sentences, only relenting by allowing them to be served consecutively.”
According to the humanists, Bala is being targeted because he renounced Islam, and for the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of conscience or belief.
“We urge the Nigerian authorities to ensure that the sentence is overturned and that blasphemy laws are repealed,” the statement added.
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EXCLUSIVE: Family Of Abducted Bank Of Agriculture MD, Ali-Hassan Sold Abuja House To Raise N100m Paid As Ransom To Terrorists Who Attacked Kaduna Train
The Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Alwan Ali-Hassan was on Wednesday set free by terrorists who attacked a Kaduna-bound train after his family paid N100 million as ransom, SaharaReporters has gathered. Ali-Hassan and others were abducted last Monday, March 28 by terrorists who bombed the Kaduna-bound train carrying over 362 passengers.
Eight people were confirmed killed and 26 others injured in the attack. The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) while confirming the incident, said about 362 passengers were on board the ill-fated train. According to the NRC, while about 182 have safely reunited with their families, about 162 other passengers remain missing.
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Kaduna Train Attack: Kidnapped Managing Director Of Nigerian Bank Of Agriculture, Ali-Hassan, Regains Freedom
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A source close to the family said Ali-Hassan was released after paying a ransom of N100 million.
The terrorists had initially demanded a ransom of N200 million, SaharaReporters also learnt. The source added that a mansion belonging to the BOA boss was sold to raise the money. “They sold his house for millions to pay his ransom. They collected N100 million, though they initially asked for N200 million.
“The house was sold for more than N100 million but we are happy he is back with us. According to him, those who abducted him were not normal Fulani bandits but Boko Haram members judging by their accent,” the source said.
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Months After Giving ‘Repentant’ Bandits Hilux Vehicles, Zamfara Governor Donates Cadillac, Other Luxury Cars To Monarchs
Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle of Zamfara State on Wednesday distributed 260 luxury cars including Cadillacs to the traditional rulers in the state. The distribution was done by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, at the Government House, Gusau.
Matawalle said the gesture was done in recognition of the status of the traditional institution as the custodians of religion and culture and vehicle of cohesion and peace in societies. “It is in view of the high esteem with which my administration regards our traditional leaders and institutions that we decided to procure brand new cars, Cadillac 2019 Model, for 17 Emirs, 13 Senior District Heads and 230 District Heads across the State,” he said. The donation comes months after the governor gave 15 brand new Hilux vehicles to leaders of different ‘repentant’ banditry groups in the state.
Some of the beneficiaries were Na Shama, Sani Shaidan, Mohammadu Bello Halilu and Bage Waye. Other bandit kingpins who got the vehicles were identified as Kachalla, Ado, Busniya, Dunbulu and Gajere. SaharaReporters learnt that the governor also approved millions of naira to be given to the ‘repentant’ bandits as compensation.
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E2%80%93-mosque-chairman We Warned Sacked Abuja Imam To Stop Attacking Buhari Government But He Refused – Mosque Chairman, Dansadau
The Chairman of the National Assembly Mosque Committee, Zone E, Apo Legislators’ Quarters, Gudu District Abuja, Senator Saidu Dansadau has clarified what led to the sacking of the Chief Imam of the mosque, Sheik Nuru Khalid. The Dansadau-led committee had sacked Khalid on Monday after a sermon that captured the security situation of the country.
The Islamic cleric was initially suspended for his anti-government sermon during the Jummat service last Friday. He criticised the Muhammadu Buhari-led government for its inadequacy in dealing with rising insecurity in the country. Reacting to his suspension, Khalid had said only God can give or take power from anyone. In a letter addressed to the Imam on Monday, the mosque committee told the Imam that he had been relieved of his duties at the mosque. The committee said he had shown no “remorse” despite his suspension. It said his reaction did not show any form of regret following his sermon. Speaking with BBC Hausa, Dansadau said prior to the sacking, he had warned the Imam to deviate from such preaching that could trigger controversies in the country. The former lawmaker said the major offence of Khalid was trying to discourage Nigerians from voting in the forthcoming elections, adding that some Nigerians would take advantage of such preaching to incite violence and make sure the election was cancelled. “Our biggest issue with Sheik Nuru Khalid was that he said Nigerians should not vote except politicians assure them of security. We felt that some Nigerians will take advantage of the statement due to what is currently happening in Nigeria. Some people don’t want the 2023 elections to be held,” he said. “I had personally sat down with Sheik Nuru Khalid. I told him that Nigeria is currently in a delicate situation regarding the election, so we need to be careful, since you came to the mosque, you have been attacking the government and nothing has changed. Focus on telling Nigerians to return to God. “People are saying that I just want the government to give me a position and that is why we sacked the Imam, others are saying that I was paid to do so but the God that I serve knows my mind.”
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EXCLUSIVE: Pastor Adeboye’s Son, Leke Faces 3-Man Panel For Calling Redeemed Church Pastors Goats, ‘Arrogantly Says He Won’t Apologise’
Leke Adeboye, son and Senior Personal Assistant to the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye was made to face a panel on Wednesday, SaharaReporters learnt.
Despite calling some pastors of the church goats, SaharaReporters, however, learnt that Leke was not punished, but only asked to desist from making such comments in the future.
Leke, some days ago, said pastors who preached after his father’s sermon on Sunday are goats.
On Sunday, Adeboye had rued oil theft in the country, warning that Nigeria might go bankrupt if the trend was not checked.
Adeboye also raised concerns over the country’s economic future, warning that Nigeria’s debt to service revenue ratio might pose danger for decades.
According to him, over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s revenue from crude oil sales is used to furnish interest accruing on debt.
However, after the Thanksgiving service, some pastors reportedly shared their own messages after Adeboye had delivered his sermon.
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Some Redeemed Church, RCCG Pastors Are Goats – Adeboye’s Son, Leke Fumes
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His sermon was expected to be the only sermon for that Sunday as all pastors were expected to connect to the National Headquarters where the General Overseer would deliver his.
Reacting via an Instagram post, Leke frowned on the actions of such pastors, calling them goats.
“Why would you go and preach another sermon after Daddy GO (General Overseer) had just finished speaking and preaching? You are not a son, you are a goat sir. Next Thanksgiving service, just do altar call, then Thanksgiving,” he wrote.
His outburst had attracted public outrage, with many criticising him for making such comments.
On Wednesday, SaharaReporters learnt that Leke was made to stand before a three-man panel, which included his father-in-law, and was asked never to repeat such again after he had vehemently and arrogantly said he would not apologise for the insulting comments made against senior pastors of the church.
SaharaReporters learnt from sources that despite the glaring arrogance displayed by Leke before the panel, he was not punished.
“Leke Adeboye was made to face a panel today (Wednesday) for insulting pastors and calling them goats. The three-man panel, unfortunately, did not punish him or ask him to apologise,” one of the sources said.
“One of the members of the panel is his father-in-law,’ another source noted.
“He arrogantly told off the panel that he cannot apologise. And what did they do? They only told him to not repeat it again.”
Adeboye’s sermon to his congregation during a thanksgiving service on Sunday in which he lamented the ugly economic and security situation in the country, immediately became a major subject of public discourse
“Who is stealing the oil? Where is the money going? What do they want to do with the money? Who are the foreign nations buying this stolen oil? How many of these nations of the world are your friends?” he had asked.
Adeboye had also raised concerns over the country’s economic future, warning that Nigeria’s debt to service revenue ratio might pose danger for decades.
According to him, over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s revenue from crude oil sales is used to furnish interest accruing on debt.
However, some pastors reportedly shared their own messages after Adeboye had delivered his sermon.
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Breaking: Ex-Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan Mourns Two Police Orderlies Killed In Auto Crash Involving Him
ex-President Goodluck Jonathan
Former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, has expressed sadness over the death of two police officers attached to him in a road crash on Wednesday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while on his way out of the facility.
Jonathan and his entourage were on their way out of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, when the accident occurred.
The former President, who described the incident as painful and heart-rending, stated that the death of the two security personnel had thrown him into deep mourning.
ex-President Goodluck Jonathan
Jonathan noted with sadness that the deceased, Inspectors Ibrahim Abazi and Yakubu Toma, were fine officers, who were dedicated to their duties and service to the nation.
A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ikechukwu Eze, read, “Two other officers sustained injuries in the accident which involved a car conveying the security men.
“They were rushed to a hospital in Abuja where they are responding to treatment.
“The office of the former President has offered condolences to the families of the bereaved and the police high command.
“Dr Jonathan prayed God to grant the souls of the departed eternal rest and bless their families and the nation with the fortitude to bear the loss.”
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E2%80%99s-minister BREAKING: Nnamdi Kanu’s American Lawyer, Bruce Fein, Petitions ICC, Wants Buhari’s Minister, Malami, Justice Nyako Charged For Crimes Against Humanity, Others
Bruce Fein, the American counsel for the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has filed a petition against the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami and Justice Binta Nyako to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Fein, an international lawyer and spokesperson for Kanu, addressed the petition to Karim Khan, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, in The Hague, asking the ICC to charge Malami and Nyako with “conspiracy and crimes against humanity against Biafrans and their leader Nnamdi Kanu by protracted and systematic resort to murder, extermination, imprisonment, torture, rape, persecution based on political, religious, and ethnic grounds, and industrial-scale theft of property including an ongoing attempted judicial murder of Nnamdi Kanu”.
In the document obtained by SaharaReporters on Wednesday, Fein said, “In October 2020, five human rights experts of the United Nations Human Rights Council asked President Buhari within 60 days to submit evidence of Mr. Kanu’s terrorism. Mr. Buhari sneered at the overture, probably reflecting, ‘Being a tyrant means you never need to obey the law.’”
It said “Kanu is seeking a Biafran sovereignty,” adding that a referendum is not special pleading.
“South Sudan voted independence from Sudan in a 2011 referendum. The United Kingdom recently afforded Scotland a secession vote and may do so again. Ditto for Canada and Quebec.
“The United States periodically permits Puerto Rico to vote between statehood, independence, or commonwealth status. The legal and moral case for Biafran independence is overwhelming,” he said in the 23-page document.
Stating Malami and Nyako’s “crimes against humanity”, Fein said they include “kidnapping, torture, extraordinary rendition and indefinite arbitrary detention of Nnamdi Kanu in the ongoing attempted judicial murder”
It reads in part, “As an integral part of the ongoing crimes against humanity described above, on or around June 2021, Attorney General Malami conspired with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerian Federal High Court Justice Binta Nyako, and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, among others, to kidnap and torture Biafran leader Nnamdi Kanu in Nairobi, Kenya, for several days, and then subject him to illegal extraordinary rendition to Abuja, Nigeria.
“There, for more than nine months, Nnamdi Kanu has been detained in solitary confinement in extremely confined quarters and denied necessary medical care and legal counsel without a trial with the illegal imprimatur of co-conspirator Justice Binta Nyako. The conditions under which Nnamdi Kanu is subsisting satisfies the definition of torture under the Convention Against Torture, Article 1 paragraph 1.
“Attorney General Malami has conceded that Nigeria’s security agencies were involved in Nnamdi Kanu’s abduction, torture, and extraordinary rendition but has attempted to whitewash the crimes with the falsehood that the International Police Organization (INTERPOL) was a collaborator. The extraordinary rendition in violation of Kenya’s extradition provisions, which was effectuated by the use of a private aircraft, could not have been accomplished without the knowledge and consent of co-conspirator President Kenyatta, who himself has been previously accused of crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court.
“Judges, like co-conspirator Justice Binta Nyako, are not shielded from criminal prosecution for crimes against humanity based on participation in patently illegal show trials. Neither are prosecutors like arch-conspirator Attorney General Malami. The precedent was set in the “Justice Case” of the post-World War II Nuremberg trials, United States v. Joseph Altstetter, et al.
Nnamdi Kanu’s American Lawyer, Bruce Fein, Petitions ICC, Wants Buhari’s Minister, Malami, Justice Nyako Ch… by Sahara Reporters on Scribd
“There both Nazi prosecutors and judges were tried and convicted of crimes against humanity by judicial murder through the destruction of law and justice and utilizing the empty forms of legal process to persecute or exterminate on a wide scale based in race, religion, or political opinion.
“A 15-count amended charge against Nnamdi Kanu was filed by co-conspirator Attorney General Malami before co-conspirator Justice Binta Nyako at the eleventh hour of a scheduled January 18, 2022, hearing to entertain a challenge to a predecessor, bogus, 7-count amended charge. The new charges represent a destruction of law and justice with the aim of the judicial murder of Nnamdi Kanu. The patently defective charges carry the death penalty.
“Under Section 36 (1) of the Nigerian Constitution, an accused is entitled to a “fair hearing within a reasonable time by a court or other tribunal…constituted in such manner as to secure its independence and impartiality.” It is notorious that Nigeria’s executive branch routinely flouts court orders with impunity and judges take orders from conspirator Attorney General Malami and co-conspirator President Buhari.
“Judges like co-conspirator Justice Nyako are complicit by refusing to punish government officials for contempt of court. Conspirator Attorney General Malami shamelessly proclaimed during his July 26, 2019, hearing before the National Assembly that constitutional rights were subservient to his warped, idiosyncratic conception of the public good.
“To Malami’s lawless way of thinking, the Nigerian Constitution is nothing but a scrap of paper to be shredded at will by the executive branch, and judges are its puppets contrary to the judicial independence injunction of Section 36 (1).
“Nnamdi Kanu has also been denied his right to a fair hearing within a reasonable time. More than nine months have elapsed since his illegal extraordinary rendition from Nairobi, Kenya to Abuja, Nigeria, and there has yet to be a trial or opportunity for Nnamdi Kanu to confront his accusers before an impartial judge unbeholden to the executive branch.
“Attorney General Malami and Justice Nyako have conspired in this attempted judicial murder of Nnamdi Kanu through indefinite detention under cruel conditions constituting torture.
“Section 36 (3) ordains that court proceedings “be held in public” to deter injustice. Sunshine is said to be the best of disinfectants; the electric light the most efficient policeman.
“Under no circumstances may the parties or their legal representatives be excluded; others may be under Section 36 (4) (a) if publicity would defeat justice or impair legitimate government interests. Malami and Justice Nyako have conspired to illegally exclude one or more of Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyers from the court and the media.
“Section 36 (5) establishes a presumption of innocence. In contrast, Nnamdi Kanu has been presumed guilty by co-conspirators Malami and Nyako and punished since his illegal extraordinary rendition last June 2021, including torture.”
It concludes that “there is a reasonable basis to conclude that co-conspirators Attorney-General Abubakar Malami and Justice Binta Nyako are guilty of crimes against humanity as defined in Article 7 of the Rome Statute including the ongoing attempted judicial murder of Nnamdi Kanu.
“Multiple witnesses are eager, willing, and able to provide oral testimony with appropriate confidentiality and protection as stipulated in Chapter 2, Section II, Subsection 2 of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence.
“The Chief Prosecutor has a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation of co-conspirators Malami and Nyako for crimes against humanity, including the ongoing judicial murder of Nnamdi Kanu. Accordingly, the Chief Prosecutor should submit to the Pre-Trial Chamber a request for such authorization under Article 15, paragraph 3 of the Rome Statute.”
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Cross Dressing Bill Is Dead On Arrival, By Inibehe Effiong
The House of Representatives is considering a Bill to prohibit and criminalize cross dressing in Nigeria. It’s astonishing that our legislators are majoring in frivolity and dissipating legislative time on the mundane.
It’s neither necessary nor expedient. I’m flummoxed by the silliness and incongruity of this Bill. It is indeed distasteful, that at a time when the country’s existence is under excruciating crisis, our so-called leaders are seeking to legislate on a dress code for Nigerians. If the Bill isn’t seeking to legislate on the dress code of Nigerians, what then is its purport?
First, it is impossible in this modern era, especially in a country that is supposed to be a secular and liberal democracy, for a law to define dressing by gender without ambiguity. Dressing in this age has become very versatile and flexible. To attempt to determine by legislation, what type of cloth a man and a woman should or should not wear, is the height of legislative misadventure and redundancy. It is not doable. The ambiguity will be too obvious.
Second, even if male and female dresses are capable of precise and definite definition and classification, can this Bill be validly brought within the legislative competence of the National Assembly? Should Nigeria have a federal law that regulates dressing for all Nigerians?
Only members of the Armed Forces and other security agencies can be made subject to a uniform national dress code. The NYSC can also do this. Likewise related agencies. Employers can also determine the dress code of their employees. Religious houses can also set their dress code.
The National Assembly cannot legally regulate dressing or prohibit cross dressing. I can’t see how this Bill qualifies under the enumerated legislative powers of the National Assembly under the Exclusive or Concurrent Lists under the Second Schedule to the 1999 Constitution.
Third, “cross dressing” is a form of artistic expression. It is a mode of dressing adopted by entertainers. Irrespective of our differing views about the likes of Bobrisky, James Brown, Denrele and others, we cannot deny the fact that they are entertainers of some sort. To therefore attempt to deprive them of their chosen career which isn’t harmful to anyone is unacceptable.
A country like Nigeria with cultural, religious and ideological diversity, should be more tolerant and accommodating of people who choose to express themselves differently.
Fourth, Section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) guarantees the fundamental right to freedom of expression. Expression is not circumscribed to spoken or written words. People can express themselves in words, dressing and so on. This Bill if passed, will be subjected to serious constitutional challenge in court. I will not hesitate to test its validity in court in the public interest.
Fifth, this Bill is unwarranted and unnecessary. Cross dressing is still a very rare phenomenon in Nigeria.
How many cross dressers do we have in Nigeria? Can the sponsor of this Bill mention 20 known cross dressers in the country?. There is no cross dressing epidemic in the country. This Bill is seeking a cure a disease that is non-existent. Cross dressing isn’t harmful. Is it?
Sixth, this Bill is another sinister attempt to distract Nigerians from the palpable failures of this regime. We are currently witnessing the unabated slaughter of Nigerians without any serious effort by the government to address it. The economy is comatose. Inflation is rising. Our universities are currently shut. It is rather upsetting that rather than focus on these and other pressing national issues, our legislators are finding time to entertain themselves with a trivial Bill that will neither help their worsening image nor solve our problems.
I call on the sponsor(s) of this Bill to withdraw it and attend to important issues. This Bill is an attempt to introduce the primitive Taliban ideology into Nigeria. It is dead on arrival.
Inibehe Effiong is a Legal Practitioner based in Lagos.
inibehe.effiong@gmail.com
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BREAKING: Former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, Involved In Auto Crash, Two Aides Dead
Goodluck Jonathan
Former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, was on Wednesday involved in a fatal auto crash that killed two of his aides, a report by People’s Gazzate said.
Jonathan was returning from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja when the accident happened.
Goodluck Jonathan
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The former President is said to have escaped unhurt.
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E2%80%99s-cabinet BREAKING: Delta State Chief of Staff, 9 Commissioners Resign From Governor Okowa’s Cabinet
Delta Governor Ifeanyi Okowa
The Chief of Staff to the Delta State governor and no fewer than nine commissioners in the state government have resigned their appointments.
Ovie Agas, the Chief of Staff to the Delta governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, and others reportedly resigned to pursue their political ambitions ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Delta Governor Ifeanyi Okowa
NAN reports that the state Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, disclosed this at a press conference on Wednesday in Asaba.
Aniagwu said the resignations complied with the Electoral Law section 84 subsection (12) on political appointees seeking elective positions. Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act reads: “No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.”
According to Aniagwu, the chief of staff’s resignation was to enable him to participate as a statutory delegate during the election, noting that other political aides have also resigned to join the race for various political positions.
The information commissioner also disclosed that Governor Okowa had addressed an enlarged meeting of the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he assured that there would be a level playing ground for all aspirants at the party primaries.
On the issues of zoning of governorship and presidential tickets, the commissioner said the party had never since 1999 zoned the ticket to any senatorial district or geopolitical zone during its primaries.
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