Sahara Reporters Latest News Tuesday 1st October 2019
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 01/10/19
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E2%80%98revolution%E2%80%99 target=_blank>UNIBEN Cancels Students’ Symposium Aimed At Discussing ‘Revolution’
The management of the University of Benin on Monday cancelled a symposium for students titled “Is Nigeria ripe for a revolution?”
The event was organised by students of the Department of International Studies.
An undergraduate of the institution, who confirmed the incident to SaharaReporters, said, “Students were really anticipating the debate because the topic is of national interest these days.
“All of a sudden, the management came and ordered the students to cancel the debate because of the topic, they told students to choose another topic and another day for the event.”
When our correspondent asked one of the organisers if the symposium would still hold in the coming days, he said, “We are making contacts with other members to see how we can still make the debate hold and even bigger by partnering with the Coalition for Revolution.
“Meanwhile, the event may have to hold outside the university campus since the school’s management wants to dictate to students how to breathe before giving them a breathing space.
“Hopefully, our plans will go accordingly and we will not allow the management dictate to us what to discuss and what not to especially when the discourse is a national issue which would shape the country and give us the kind of country young people want.”
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target=_blank>Independence: Adamawa State Governor Releases 18 Prisoners
Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, has approved the release of 18 prisoners in five facilities across the state.
This was made known through a statement by the Director General of Media and Communications, Solomon Kumangar.
The statement reads, “In commemoration of Nigeria’s 59th independence anniversary, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri has signed an executive order approving the release of 18 prisoners serving various jail terms in five correctional facilities across Adamawa State.
“This is pursuant to the governor’s power of prerogative of mercy under Section 22 (I)(d) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The statement named locations of the correctional facilities from which inmates are to be released as Numan, Yola, Ganye, Jada and Kojoli, and said documents giving effects to the governor’s executive order had already been dispatched to the facilities.
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target=_blank>N34bn Fraud: Ex-First Bank Director, Dauda Lawal, Appeals Forfeiture
A former director of First Bank Plc, Dauda Lawal, has asked the Court of Appeal in Lagos to order the Nigerian Government to return to him the forfeited N9.08bn.
The Federal High Court in Lagos had ordered the forfeiture of the sum on February 16, 2017.
Lawal told the court that the Federal High Court which ordered the forfeiture of the money, had no jurisdiction to do so.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the N9.08bn was part of the forfeited N23.4bn and $5m (about N34bn in total) linked to former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
The anti-graft agency said the sums were stolen by Alison-Madueke and several accomplices from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and stashed in three banks.
Justice Muslim Hassan on February 16, 2017, ordered the final forfeiture of the funds after no one showed up to make legitimate claims to the funds.
The judge said he was satisfied with the EFCC’s argument that the monies were proceeds of illegal activity.
Lawal is the sole applicant in the appeal, while the EFCC is the respondent.
The applicant was represented by his counsel P.I.N Ikwueto (SAN), while Kufre Uduak represented the EFCC.
When the matter came up for mention on Thursday, the court adjourned proceedings after informing both parties that a date for hearing will be communicated to them.
In his notice of appeal in the suit marked CA/LA/PRE/RA/CU/394MI/2019, Lawal contended that the judge erred in law.
He is seeking four reliefs, including an order to: “To set aside the judgment dated February 16, 2017 for being without jurisdiction and thereby a nullity.
“An order setting aside the forfeiture of the sum of N9.08bn which the respondent (EFCC) obtained from the appellant while the appellant was under the detention of the respondent.
“An order returning the sum of N9.08bn to the appellant.”
In his March 29 affidavit in support of his application, Lawal averred that the forfeited N9.08bn was not found in his possession as required by Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act.
According to him, the money was borrowed on his behalf by family/friends whilst he was in EFCC custody and given to the government.
He further averred that his failure to appeal within time was due to his “apprehension that if he challenged the Judgment dated February 16, 2017 whilst the investigation was ongoing, the appellant will be further detained by the EFCC.
“The appellant has now been charged along with others following the conclusion of the investigation by the EFCC.”
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target=_blank>Man In Court For Allegedly Raping Daughter
A 46-year-old trader, Chinedu Ifeteka, on Monday appeared before Magistrate B.O Osunsanmi of an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly raping his 14-year-old daughter.
Ifeteka, who is facing one count charge of defilement, however, pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutor, Ezekiel Ayorinde, claimed that the defendant committed the offence on August 9, 2019 at the Ojo area of Lagos.
Ayorinde further said that the defendant had several sexual intercourse with his teenage daughter.
He said, “The defendant usually had sexual intercourse with his daughter whenever his wife was not around.
“She told her mother what her father usually did to her in her absence and the case was reported to the police.”
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the offence attracts life imprisonment as punishment.
Magistrate Osunsanmi granted the defendant bail in the sum of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum.
She however, adjourned the case until November 25 for mention.
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target=_blank>EFCC Re-arraigns Former Benue Governor, Suswam
Gabriel Suswan
Gabriel Suswan
EFCC
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has re-arraigned former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The former governor was re-arraigned before Justice Okon Abang alongside Omadachi Oklobia, a former Commissioner for Finance in the state, on a nine-count charge bordering on money laundering, on Monday.
They pleaded not guilty to all charges preferred against them by the commission.
Suswam and Oklobia were granted bail based on terms earlier granted by Justice Ahmed Mohammed following their first arraignment in 2015.
Justice Abang asked counsel in the matter to cooperate with the court, warning that he would not entertain any frivolous applications for adjournment.
Justice Mohammad withdrew from the trial following publications by SaharaReporters allgeding that the judge had been compromised.
Suswam’s lawyer, Chinelo Ugbozor, had argued on his behalf that the matter had already commenced in another court and four witnesses had been called.
However, counsel to the EFCC, O.A Atolagbe, maintained that a judge could not be compelled to handle a matter.
Atolagbe reminded the court that since it was the second time Justice Mohammed was withdrawing from the case, he could not be compelled to hear it.
The EFCC is prosecuting Suswam and Oklobia on nine counts of money laundering bordering on the alleged diversion of N3.1bn from the proceeds of the sale of shares owned by the Benue State Government since 2015.
The matter had been adjourned until October 29, 30 and 31 for further hearing.
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target=_blank>OPC Condemns Nigerian Government Over Sowore’s Continued Detention
The Oodua Peoples Congress on Monday took a swipe at the Nigerian Government over the continued detention of pro-democracy campaigner and Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore.
In a statement by the Publicity Secretary of the group, Yinka Oguntimehin, the OPC said the prolonged detention of Sowore and government’s refusal to obey court order calling for his release was nothing but lawlessness.
The statement reads, “It is obvious that the Nigerian Government is playing politics with Sowore’s detention.
“Where on earth does a democratically elected president flouts the law and refuses court orders?
“The Nigerian Government is treating the judiciary with contempt and it is sad.
“With democracy under President Muhammadu Buhari, the number of government detainees are growing by the day.
“Before the new judgment, there had been an existing court order for his release yet the government didn’t blink an eye on the issue and Nigerians have been reacting because the situation is affecting the image of the country in the international community.
“We cannot continue to fold our arms and behave as if nothing is wrong. If the government continue this way, that means we are heading towards becoming a lawless nation and that portends a grave danger for this nation.
“With the new ruling, it is obvious that the government is using the institution and the paraphernalia of office of the presidency to suppress human rights and cow oppositions. The world is watching.”
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a ruling on Monday ordered that Sowore be remanded in custody until Friday, October 4 for his bail hearing.
This was almost one week after Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the same court ordered the Department of State Services to release Sowore on bail.
Despite meeting his bail condition the next day, the DSS refused to free Sowore, drawing condemnation from around the world.
Sowore was arrested in Lagos on August 3, 2019 for calling on Nigerians to take to the streets in peaceful demonstrations to express their frustration at the poor state of governance in the country.
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target=_blank>Nigeria, One Of Our Strongest Partners, Says US President
President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, has said that Nigeria is one of their strongest partners in Africa.
Trump made the remarks while congratulating Nigeria on the country’s 59th anniversary as an independent state in a message to President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday.
He said, “On behalf of the American people, I extend our warmest greetings and congratulate you on the 59th anniversary of Nigeria’s independence.
“Nigeria is among our strongest partners in Africa. We share common goals of expanding trade and growing our economic relationship.
“We are allies in the global battle against terrorism, and we want to see Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa driven out of the region and other insurgencies like them dismantled.
“The United States welcomes efforts by your administration to diversify opportunities for your talented, creative, and hardworking people to the benefit of both our countries, Africa, and the world.
“I am pleased that following our meeting last year, our Vice Presidents are also building on our longstanding history of cooperation. I wish the people of Nigeria continued success as you mark another year of independence.”
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E2%80%99s-problems-says-can target=_blank>Godliness, Good Leadership, Solution To Nigeria’s Problems, Says CAN
The Christian Association of Nigeria has said that godliness, impeccable leadership, patriotism, and responsible followership were the panacea to the nation’s woes.
The organisation called on citizens to unite to address the myriad of challenges facing the country.
President of CAN, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, who said this in a message on Monday in commemoration of Nigeria’s 59th independence anniversary, called for a change of heart and attitude.
He said, “We all need a change of heart in Nigeria, a new life, so to say. The leaders and the led must be ready for a new heart.
“We must allow God to change us; He is always willing to do that but He will not force it on us.
“The salt that was given to Prophet Elisha and which he poured into the spring at Jericho for positive change was the desirable attitude Nigerians need to embrace.
“If the government provides the best opportunity for development and we continue with undesirable behaviour of corruption and selfishness, we would not be able to go far.
“If we continue to embezzle in different places where we are, our nation can never develop.”
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E2%80%98osinbajo-2023-president%E2%80%99-campaign-akure target=_blank>Ondo Police Arrest, Detain Organiser Of ‘Osinbajo For 2023 President’ Campaign In Akure
Coordinator of a youth group that organised a political rally for Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, last week in Akure, Bamise Akintomide, has been arrested by the police in Ondo State, SaharaReporters has learnt.
It was learnt that he is currently being detained at the Criminal and Investigation Bureau Department of the Ondo State Police Command headquarters in Akure, the capital.
A source, who confirmed Akintomide’s arrest to our correspondent on Monday, said he must have been picked up for organising a rally in support of the Vice President.
The source said, “He (Akintomide) was arrested by the police. I cannot really say if he was directly picked up or invited for questioning.
“But I can confirm to you that he has been at the police headquarters in Akure since weekend and has been detained over there.
“I know his arrest must be connected with the rally he organised last week for Vice President, Osinbajo, at the APC secretariat.
“A day after he organised the rally, he received lots of strange calls asking him irrelevant questions.”
Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Undie Adie, denied the arrest of Akintomide when contacted on Monday.
However, a police source told SaharaReporters on Monday that, “He is in our detention although his people are trying to ensure his bail.
“His arrest was an instruction from above and that is all I can tell you for now.”
Akintomide had on Thursday organised a rally for Osinbajo’s candidacy by unveiling his 2023 presidential campaign poster and banner on the streets of Akure.
Spokesperson for the APC in Ondo, Alex Kalejaye, said that the party had no link whatsoever to the group.
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UK To Quit EU On October 31, Says Finance Minister
The United Kingdom will leave the European Union on October 31, hopefully with a deal, Finance Minister, Sajid Javid, said on Monday.
He told ITV that, “Hopefully we leave with a deal. If we cannot strike a deal, I think it is important to leave in any case and leave with no deal.
“It is not perfect but it is appropriate that we leave on October 31.”
Javid repeatedly refused to set out how the government could deliver Brexit if there was no deal given a law, which demands the Prime Minister delay Brexit in such a scenario.
He added, “The legislation that parliament has passed of course has made things more difficult, but we are clear our own policy is completely unchanged, we will be leaving on October 31.”
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