Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Tuesday 17th December 2019
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 17/12/19
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Kebbi Governor’s Aide Assaults Musicians For Criticising Boss
Eight members of a local music group in Kebbi State have been physically assaulted on the orders of an aide to the state governor, Atiku Bagudu.
Governor Bagudu’s Personal Assistant, Faruku Musa Yaro widely known as Enabo, is alleged to have ordered and supervised the assault of the musicians at his residence.
The victims are Kabiru Arzila (KB show), Ayuba Ibrahim, Musa Alle, Bello Aljannare, Shamsu Attahiru Otono and three others.
The musicians were said to have incurred the wrath of the governor’s aide after using satirical songs to criticise the administration of Bagudu.
Recounting the experience, Arzila said four of them were picked up at Abacha Hotel around 3:30am on Monday by persons numbering 10.
He said, “It is true that we have criticised the government; as musicians of Kebbi State origin, we owe our people a duty to criticise bad governance and that’s exactly what we did in one of our songs.
“We couldn’t keep quiet while Governor Bagudu continues to ruin our state through bad governance.
“But we never believed they could resort to violence.
“We were at Abacha Hotel when some hoodlums came and broke the door and took us to the residence of Faruku Musa.
“In his living room, he ordered some hefty men to beat us until we disclosed who sponsored us to criticise the governor with our songs.
“In fact, he pulled out an AK47 rifle threatening to kill Bello Aljanare.
“Thereafter, he warned us never to malign either the governor or any official of the Kebbi State Government before we were released.”
Director-General of Kebbi Concern Citizens, a civil society organisation, Ibrahim Mohammed, confirmed visiting the victims in hospital.
Yaro however, declined to respond to the allegation when contacted by SaharaReporters.
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N37bn Approved For Renovation Of National Assembly
Nigerian lawmakers have set aside a whooping N37bn to renovate the National Assembly.
This is contained in the N2.5trn budgeted for capital projects by the Federal Capital Development Authority in the 2020 budget.
The legislative arm had also voted N100bn for constituency projects in the budget, while earmarking N1bn for the amendment of the 1999 constitution by lawmakers in 2020.
Defending the huge sum, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said some facilities in the National Assembly complex were old and needed to be replaced.
He said, “The phase one renovation will commence – the chambers and committee rooms in the white house.
“N37bn was sourced and was given. It was put under the FCT, not National Assembly. All we require is to have the complex renovated.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Rawlings Agada, National Assembly Director of Information, hinted that the money might not be enough for the required renovation.
He said, “The National Assembly needs a lot of work.
“I don’t think even that amount of money can take care of all those things because even the dome has been leaking and there is fear that if the repairs are not done, we might suffer greater problem in future.”
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E2%80%99s-case-nigeria%E2%80%99s-agf-says-he-can%E2%80%99t-order-his-release JUST IN: Days After Taking Over Sowore’s Case, Nigeria’s AGF Says He Can’t Order His Release
Few days after ordering the Department of State Services to transfer the case file of Omoyele Sowore to his office, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has said he can’t order the DSS to release Sowore.
Malami, who is also the Minister of Justice, said this in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Dr Umar Gwandu.
Sowore’s lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), had written a letter to Malami, requesting him to order the release of Sowore.
Falana said that his client was being illegally detained as there was no court order to that effect.
He said that two lawyers in the team visited the DSS headquarters in Abuja to demand Sowore’s release but were advised to direct their request to Malami.
Responding to Falana, Malami said he can’t order Sowore’s release before hearing from the court as he could not take a unilateral decision.
He said, “When parties submit their issues for determination to a court of law, they lack exclusivity of decision over such issues without recourse to the court.
“We remain guided by the established tradition and will not take unilateral decision without recourse to the rule of law.”
Sowore was rearrested on December 6 by the DSS barely 24-hours after he was released on bail.
He is yet to be told the reason for his rearrest.
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UniAbuja Sacks Two Professors, Demotes Two Lecturers For Gross Misconduct
The University of Abuja has sacked two professors and also demoted two lecturers over various acts of misconduct.
The professors sacked were identified as Adeniji Abiodun and Agaptus Buzo-Chibuzo Orji.
While Abiodun was dismissed for indulging in an inappropriate relationship with a female student, falsification of academic records and aiding and abetting of examination malpractice, Orji was dismissed for indulging in corruption and dishonesty as well as falsifying academic records and aiding and abetting of examination malpractice.
Their dismissal was approved by the Governing Council of the university.
Similarly, Dr Robert Dajal was demoted from being an Associate Professor to Senior Lecturer and Mr Gana Defian from Lecturer 1 to Assistant Lecturer after being found guilty of “various acts of misconduct inimical to the good image of the university”.
The university, in a statement by Head, Information and University Relations, Dr Habib Yakoob, reads, “The University of Abuja wishes to restate its commitment to high moral standards and determination to take appropriate disciplinary measures against any act of misconduct perpetrated by staff and/or students in the interest of justice and educational development.”
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Nigerians Kick As Court Dismisses Ganduje’s Bribery Suit
Following reports of Federal High Court sitting in Kano dismissing the bribery suit against Governor Abdullahi Ganduje for lack of evidence, Nigerians have condemned the court’s decision, describing it as covering corruption.
Ganduje was filmed receiving kickback from a contractor and hiding it under his cloth.
A Kano-based lawyer, Bulama Bukarti, had asked the court to mandate the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate Ganduje after months of silence by the anti-graft agency.
President Muhammadu Buhari had said he does not know the technology used in creating the video, dismissing it as not genuine and also exonerating Ganduje.
However, Nigerians on social media condemned the ruling by the judge, branding the judiciary as the biggest problem of the country.
Emma O. Akpasubi in a post on Twitter said, “Nigeria’s judiciary is the enemy of its own independence. Ethnic and other biases still influence court cases and judgments.
“Until the judiciary purge itself of a situation where ethnic and other considerations in the name of technicalities give out strong cases, hopelessness is it.”
Airmecca wrote, “It is not for lack of evidence or not that the case was dismissed. We know the truth: the judge has just done what he was instructed to deliver. The judiciary has been reduced to bunch of actors.”
Benson tweeted, “Why Kano, why not Abuja but if the case is for South-West governors or anyone from the region, someone like (Omoyele Sowore) it will be transferred to Abuja right?”
JAM wrote, “Under Buhari, corruption is by far worse. Just sing Buhari’s praise and then go ahead to steal as you want, they will declare you a saint.”
Jossy wrote, “Why are you surprised when they don’t obey court orders anymore because the judiciary is now part of the presidency.”
Olaoye Abayomi Samuel wrote, “That’s not a verdict for Nigerians, its a verdict simply to promote and favour Northern agenda. Shame on judiciary.”
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BREAKING: APC Lifts Okorocha, Akeredolu, Others’ Suspension
The All Progressives Congress has lifted the suspension of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, former governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun and other members of the party.
The National Working Committee of the APC announced that it has also lifted the suspension of ex-Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, Director-General of Voice of Nigeria, Mr Osita Okechukwu; and former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uguru Usani.
National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr Lanre Issa-Onilu, in a statement urged the members of the party to act in line with the policy of the party and work to make it bigger.
The statement reads, “Through the suspension, our party has shown the capacity and willingness to implement its own rules and enforce discipline when there is an infraction.
“We have also shown that no individual is above discipline and that the party would always apply equity and justice in its day to day running.
“We urge them to also take steps to reconcile with groups and individuals that are important to ensuring a lasting solution to any conflict that may exist in their respective states.”
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JUST IN: Buhari To Sign 2020 Budget Tuesday
Barring any last minute change, President Muhammadu Buhari will on Tuesday sign the 2020 Appropriation Bill into law.
The President had on October 8, 2019 submitted the 2020 budget to return the country to January-December budget cycle.
The National Assembly had transmitted the budget to the President on December 13 with the Presidency saying Buhari and the Federal Executive Council would scrutinise the 2020 Appropriation Bill passed by both chambers of the National Assembly on Thursday.The Senate and the House of Representatives had on December 5, 2019 concurrently passed the 2020 Appropriation Bill, raising the total estimates from the proposed N10.33trn to N10.6trn.
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E2%80%99s-arrest-over-alleged-car-theft Court Orders Naira Marley’s Arrest Over Alleged Car Theft
A Tinubu Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Monday ordered that a Nigerian musician, Adeyemi Fashola popularly known as Naira Marley, should be arrested and arraigned over alleged car theft.
Chief Magistrate, Tajudeen Elias, ordered that the Investigating Police Officer, Sgt. Sunday Idoko, must present Naira Marley in court on the next date of adjournment.
However, two of the musician’s brothers and cousins appeared in court over the matter.
The defendants, Idris Fashola, 18, Babatunde Fashola, 24; and Kunle Obere, 22, are facing a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, assault and obstructing the arrest of Naira Marley.
The chief magistrate granted the three defendants N500, 000 bail with two sureties in like sum.
He ordered the IPO to produce Naira Marley before the court on December 21 when the case would be listed for further hearing.
The prosecutor, ASP Edet Okoi, told the court that the three defendants committed the act on December 16 at Eko Hotel Round-about, Victoria Island, Lagos. He said that the trio, who were in a motorcade with Naira Marley, stole a Toyota Camry vehicle with registration no. FEE 120 AA valued at N1.8m and an IPhone X5 worth N330,000 belonging to one Mr Adelekan Ademola.He added that the three defendants and others at large assaulted the complainant by beating him up. Okoi alleged that the second defendant, Babatunde Fashola, and others at large obstructed the police while performing their lawful duty and prevented them from arresting Naira Marley.He said, “One of the vehicles in the musician’s motorcade hit the complainant’s vehicle from the back while he was throwing out money from his vehicle to his fans.”When the complainant came down from the vehicle to inspect the damage, Obere entered into the complainant’s Camry and drove it off with the motorcade.
“Ademola reported to the police and the vehicle was tracked to where it was parked at Jakande Crescent, Oniru in Lagos.“When the police arrived at the location in company with the complainant, Naira Marley and his boys started beating the complainant.”
“A group of boys obstructed the police from arresting the musician but they were able to apprehend the three defendants.”
He said that the offences contravened Sections 112,172, 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
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Minimum Wage: Ogun State Workers Threaten To Embark On Strike
Workers in Ogun State have threatened to embark on a warning strike to compel the state government to begin payment of the new minimum wage.
The workers under the auspices of Organised Labour in Ogun State on Monday said they would commence a two-day warning strike.
The organised labour – Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and The Joint Negotiating Council – in a joint press conference, decried that Governor Dapo Abiodun had refused to negotiate and implement the minimum wage.
They noted that the strike would help drive home their demands and make the government set-up a committee to determine the consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage
NLC Chairman in the state, Bankole Emmanuel, said the government had continued to treat them with “deceit and apparent misinformation”.
Emmanuel insisted that, government’s attitude towards the implementation of the minimum wage had convinced them that it was “unwilling to implement it, let alone negotiate its consequential adjustments”, Guardian reports.
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BREAKING: Protesting Women Deny Ogun Governor Access To Office
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has ran into women protesting at his office.
The women led by Abiola Akiode, Executive Director of Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center, were protesting the low inclusion of women in the governor’s cabinet.
Akiode had previously described the low representation of women in Ogun State as an “appalling low representation of women in government in Nigeria.”
The protesters, who arrived at the office of Governor Abiodun in the morning, refused to leave until they were addressed by the governor who was said to be out of his office.
However, after hours of picketing the office, the convoy of the governor arrived, welcomed by the protesting women and refused entrance into his office.
After some minutes, one of the vehicles in the convoy drove into the protesters but the women were lucky to escape being hit.
The women however, regrouped and continued to picket the office, denying the governor access to his office.
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