Crime Facts

Tigray Unrest: Over 40,000 Ethiopians Flee To Sudan – UN

Over 40,000 Ethiopians have fled to neighbouring Sudan as government forces pursue an offensive in the Tigray region, the UN’s refugee agency said Monday. UNHCR said that as of Sunday, it and the Sudanese government had registered 40,277 people fleeing into Sudan, which is struggling to cope with its own severe economic crisis. “Refugees arrive exhausted from their long trek to safety, with few belongings and need assistance,” the UNHCR said. The UN agency’s statement came a day after Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed gave the leaders of a dissident northern region 72 hours to surrender ahead of a threatened all-out assault on Tigray’s capital, Mekele. Abiy, last year’s Nobel Peace Prize winner, launched the military campaign against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) on November 4, accusing it of attacking two federal military camps in the region, and of seeking to destabilise his government. Ethiopians arriving in Sudan told AFP they had left behind modest lives as farmers with just the clothes on their backs to escape intense bombings, shootings and knife attacks in Tigray. Many have been housed in the rapidly growing tent-town of Um Raquba refugee camp, some 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the border. The UN said an estimated 45 percent of arrivals were children and four percent aged above 60, with the total divided into around 43 percent female and 57 percent male. The UN said it was planning on the basis of some 50,000 people fleeing to Sudan but warns that their numbers could rise if the fighting continues. Hundreds of people are reported to have been killed, but a communications blackout has made claims from both sides difficult to verify. AFP

UK lawmaker: We must stop funding corrupt Nigerian security agencies

Kate Osamor, a member of the United Kingdom parliament, has asked the country to reconsider funding for some Nigerian security agencies she described as “corrupt”. Speaking at the parliament’s debate on the #EndSARS crisis, the MP said the government should instead focus on poverty alleviation programmes. She specifically kicked against the UK-funded training for former operatives of the disbanded special anti-robbery squad (SARS) which she said went on despite previous indictments of the squad. TheCable had reported that the UK trained SARS personnel for four years through the CSSF-funded Nigeria Policing Programme, which ended in March 2020. Describing the #EndSARS crisis as “regrettably serious”, Osamor said the UK must look beyond sanctioning the Nigerian government for alleged abuses and pay closer attention to its funding for certain programmes. “Today, we need to consider how the government responds to both the movement itself and the violent actions of the Nigerian regime,” she said. “We must also take this opportunity to look beyond sanctions into how development funding is spent in Nigeria. “Instead of funding corrupt security agencies and investing in projects which do not benefit ordinary Nigerians, we need a new focus on poverty relief and anti-corruption programmes. “At the very moment in which Amnesty International had declared SARS units to have been involved in extra-judicial killings, corruption and torture, the government was using the budget to train and equip those units.”

Six Foreigners, Nigerian Sentenced To Seven Years In Prison For Oil Theft

The Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has convicted and sentenced six foreigners and a Nigerian to seven years imprisonment for oil theft. Justice Kolawole Omotosho gave the sentence on Monday after three years of prosecution of the convicts by the Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). They include Mohammed Ejaz and Nasser Khan – Pakistanis; Oleksandr Nazarenko and Oleksandr Kashernvi – Ukrainians; Romeo Annang – Ghanaian, Fredrik Omenu – Indonesian; and David Otuohi – Nigerian. The convicts were arraigned on Tuesday for oil theft alongside four other persons – Victor Mikpayi (Beninois), Francis Ahorlu and Kwesi Attah (Ghanaians), and Victor Azebiri (Nigerian). But the four others were discharged and acquitted by the court. They were all docked alongside a company – Asztral Shipping Corporation SA, and a Vessel, MT. TECNE (also known as MT STAR), on four counts of conspiracy, dealing in petroleum products without a licence and tampering with oil pipelines. When the charges were read to them, all the defendants pleaded not guilty to them. Their pleas prepared grounds for their trial that lasted three years during which the EFCC presented evidence and witnesses who testified against the defendants in court. In his judgment on Monday, Justice Omotosho found the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eleventh defendants guilty of all the four charges and sentenced them to seven years imprisonment, with an option of fine of N2 million each. According to the court, the sentences run concurrently from their date of arraignment. On the other hand, the first, eighth, ninth, and tenth defendants were discharged and acquitted on the ground that “they were not linked to the commission of the crime”. The company involved in the crime – Asztral Shipping Corporation SA – was wound up by the court while the vessel carrying the offensive crude oil was forfeited to the Federal Government. The suspected oil thieves ran into troubled waters when their ship was intercepted by the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) DELTA on April 25, 2017, at Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Afremo ‘A’ Terminal, South East of Escravos in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State. The ship was seized for illegal loading of petroleum products suspected to be crude oil. Members of the crew, according to the EFCC, connived with Victor Azeberi, one Peter Ala, and David Ogoma (who is at large), to siphon about 1905.836 cubic litres of crude oil. The ship had no clearance from relevant Nigerian maritime agencies to navigate in Nigerian waters and all the foreign crew on board the ship had no valid documents to enter the country. Count one of the charges read, “That you Victor Azebiri, David Otuhohi, Mohammed Ejaz, Naseer Khan, Oleksandr Nazarenko, Oleksandr Kashernvi, Romeo Annang, Francis Ahorlu, Kwesi Attah, Victor Mikpayi, Frederik Fatin Omenu, Astral Shipping Corporation SA, MT TECNE a.k.a MT STAR (Vessel), Peter Ala (at large), David Ogoma, a.k.a Ambassador (at large) and others now at large, on or about the 20th and/or 25th day of April 2017 at Escravos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: distribute, deal in, or with petroleum product without appropriate licence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007 and Punishable under Section 1(17) of the same Act”. Another count read, “That you Victor Azebiri, David Otuhohi, Mohammed Ejaz, Naseer Khan, Oleksandr Nazarenko, Oleksandr Kashernvi, Romeo Annang, Francis Ahorlu, Kwesi Attah, Victor Mikpayi, Frederik Fatin Omenu, Astral Shipping Corporation SA, MT TECNE a.k.a MT STAR (Vessel), Peter Ala (At large), David Ogoma, a.k.a Ambassador (at large) and others now at large, on or about the 25th day of April 2017 at Escravos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did without appropriate authority or licence distribute, deal in, or with petroleum product to wit:1905.836 cubic litres of crude oil conveyed in a vessel christened “MT TECNE” (VESSEL) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(17) (a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007 and Punishable under Section 1(17) of the same Act”.

Report: Road clear for Okonjo-Iweala’s WTO DG race as South Korea withdraws candidate

South Korea has decided to withdraw its candidate from the World Trade Organisation (WTO) director-general race, Washington Trade Daily is reporting. Yoo Myung-hee is South Korea’s trade minister and its candidate for the top job at the WTO following the resignation of Roberto Azevedo. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s candidate in the WTO race, had secured the popular vote by a wide margin on October 28 but was not named DG because the US opposed her candidacy. The two women are the last candidates standing and the eventual winner will set a record as being the first female WTO DG. However, there are speculations that the US might change its stance following Donald Trump’s failure to get re-elected as president. After the October 28 meeting, the WTO also said Okonjo-Iweala had the best chance of getting a consensus. Washington Trade Daily quotes sources as saying South Korea has notified the US of its decision and is expected to make it public “in the coming days”. “Washington refused to accept the recommendation made by the selection panel chaired by General Council Chair Ambassador David Walker that Ms Okonjo-Iweala is the candidate most likely of the two to attract consensus because she clearly carried the largest support by members in the final round and clearly enjoyed broad support from members from all levels of development and from all geographic regions and has done so throughout the process,” the report read. “Yoo from Korea failed to receive enough support from members of all levels of development -1e., the developed, developing and least developing countries, as well as geographically in comparison to the “largest” support received by Ms Okonjo-Iweala.” The November 8 general council meeting scheduled to consider the appointment of the next DG was also postponed. Another general council meeting has been scheduled for December 17.

Trump okays transition to Biden — but he’s not conceding

President Donald Trump has accepted that formal process of transition should begin for President-elect Joe Biden to assume power at the White House. Trump gave the go-ahead on Monday after Emily Murphy, administrator of US General Services Administration (GSA), wrote Biden that she would make federal resources and services needed for a transition available to him (Biden). In the letter, Murphy said her decision to make available the resources and timing of it was independent, even though she had received threats. “To be clear, I did not receive any direction to delay my determination. Contrary to media reports and insinuations, my decision was not made out of fear or favoritism. Instead, I strongly believe that the statute requires that the GSA Administrator ascertain, not impose, the apparent president-elect,” she said. Reacting in a tweet, Trump said he recommends that the GSA “do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols” and that he he has told his team to do the same. But he said his approval of the transition process does not mean he has conceded the election, vowing to “pursue our various cases on what will go down as the most corrupt election in American political history”. “I want to thank Emily Murphy at GSA for her steadfast dedication and loyalty to our Country. She has been harassed, threatened, and abused – and I do not want to see this happen to her, her family, or employees of GSA. Our case STRONGLY continues, we will keep up the good fight, and I believe we will prevail! Nevertheless, in the best interest of our Country, I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols, and have told my team to do the same,” Trump wrote. What does GSA being allowed to preliminarily work with the Dems have to do with continuing to pursue our various cases on what will go down as the most corrupt election in American political history? We are moving full speed ahead. Will never concede to fake ballots & “Dominion”. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 24, 2020

Nigerians should be proud of fuel imports from Niger Republic —FG

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources , Timipre Sylva, says Nigerians should be proud that the Federal Government is set to resume the importation of petroleum products from neighbouring Niger Republic . Sylva said contrary to comments by critics of the government , the plan by the Federal Government to resume fuel importation from its West African brother should not be seen as ‘ an embarrassment ’ but rather as a means of encouraging intra – regional trade . According to the statement , Niger Republic ’ s Soraz Refinery in Zinder , some 260km from the Nigerian border , has an installed refining capacity of 20, 000 barrels per day . The move by the Federal Government attracted steaming criticisms with many knocking the government over its inability to keep the country’ s refineries running . But reacting on Monday evening while featuring on Channels Television’ s Politics Today programme monitored by The PUNCH , the minister said Nigeria is a big market that needs excess fuel products manufactured in other countries. Sylva said , “ I don ’ t see that as an embarrassment at all . As a country, Nigeria is a big market, we need products , even if all our refineries were functioning, we will still need extra products. “ Niger Republic produces oil and they are landlocked as a country. They have a refinery that produces in excess of what they require as a country and they offered to sell to us in Nigeria because this is a bigger market. “ In the spirit of regional cooperation, regional trade development, we decided to buy from them . I don’ t see anything wrong with that. If your neighbour is producing something that is required in your country and you buy from him , why is that a big problem? “ So , we agreed with Niger to buy the excess of what they don’ t require in Niger because this is a big market. ” “ Nigerians should be proud that we are doing that to encourage sub- regional trade because we have been talking about sub-regional trade for a long time and this is how it should be between neighbouring countries. Niger should import from us what they have and we should be able to import from Niger what they have. Let us encourage intra -regional trade and this is one good example of trading within West Africa , ” he added.

“Your report on Lekki capable of setting Nigeria on fire’ — Lai writes CNN

The federal government has written to CNN, demanding “ an immediate and exhaustive investigation” into its report on the Lekki tollgate incident. On October 20, 2020, the Nigerian army had dispersed #EndSARS protesters at the tollgate. In a report on the incident, CNN had alleged that soldiers used live bullets on the protesters but the army had repeatedly denied it, saying it fired blank bullets into the air. In a letter dated November 23 and addressed to Jonathan Hawkins, VP, communications, CNN, Lai Mohammed, minister of information, said the report “did not just fall short of journalistic standards but reinforces the disinformation that is going around on the issue”. He said CNN failed to show a balanced reportage but rather relied “heavily on manipulated social media videos” adding that the inciting report is capable of setting the country on fire. “Our attention has been drawn to an ‘investigation’ by CNN, entitled ‘How a Bloody Night of Bullets Quashed a Young Protest Movement’ and aired on 18 Nov. 2020, in which the international news organization said it had ”uncovered that Nigerian security forces opened fire on unarmed protesters” at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, Nigeria, during the #EndSARS protest,” the letter read. “In the first instance, the report did not live up to the most basic of the core principles of journalism – balance and fairness. “Rushing to air such a momentous story without presenting the government’s side is inexcusable and indefensible. CNN said it contacted over 100 protesters and family members, but did not speak to one official of Nigeria’s federal government. While CNN said there was no response from the army and that officials of Lagos State would not speak in view of the Judicial Panel that is investigating the matter, it did not say what effort it made to speak with any official of the federal government. “The truth is that CNN did not even attempt to reach the federal government. Nima Elbagir, who presented the report and most probably led the investigation, is conversant with the Minister of Information and Culture, yet did not say that she even tried to reach the Minister. “Another serious breach by CNN, in its ‘investigation’, is that the network relied heavily on unverified footages it harvested from social media. CNN was not present at the Lekki Toll Gate on the night of the incident. Neither its reporter nor cameraman was there, but it relied on eyewitnesses. “CNN has said it stands by its story, and that ‘our reporting was carefully and meticulously researched’, this is baffling, considering that the story lacks fairness and balance, as we have pointed out, and that the organization relied heavily on manipulated social media videos. This resort to an escapist cliche seems more like a face-saving measure by an otherwise respectable news network caught in the blinding glare of ‘fake news and disinformation’ headlamps. “CNN, in its rush to nail soldiers and tell a ‘radically different story’, conveniently left out these parts of the Godson video, which could have shown that armed hoodlums invaded the Lekki Toll Gate that night, and could have hit any of the protesters as they shot sporadically. This is clearly a ploy by the CNN reporter/presenter to manipulate viewers of its ‘investigative’ report and force them to draw the reporter’s desired conclusion! “As a form of remediation, Nigeria’s Federal Government demands an immediate and exhaustive investigation from CNN into its ‘investigative’ report on the Lekki Toll Gate incident to determine, among others, its authenticity, whether or not it met the basic standards of journalism and also the selective use of unverified social media videos to manipulate public opinion. While it is up to CNN to accede or not, please note that the Federal Government reserves the right to take any action within its laws to prevent CNN from aggravating the #EndSARS crisis with unprofessional, irresponsible, one-sided, inciting and sensational reporting that is capable of pitching Nigerians against themselves and setting the country on fire.” The federal government also noted that this will not be the first time the CNN “has carried an inaccurate or hoax story about Nigeria”, citing an incident that happened in February 2007

APC 2023 Presidential Ticket Open To All Regions — Governors’ Forum DG

The Director-General, All Progressives Congress (APC) Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Salihu Moh Lukman, has stated that the party’s 2023 presidential ticket will be open to all regions. Lukman, who dropped the hint while fielding questions from newsmen on Monday in Abuja, also dismissed the insinuation that President Muhammadu Buhari has decided or that the party has zoned the ticket anywhere. He insisted that a level-playing field in APC has been well conceived, created, nurtured and is now gaining traction by the day. ‘For instance, everybody could see that the place is open whether you call it with reference to 2023 or reference to any election, it’s about the fact that the spirit of political contest in the party is now very high. ‘It means that if you want to negotiate as a good negotiator if you want to canvass as a good canvasser for a specific interest, the party is up to you. The pertinent point to make here is that nobody can say President Buhari has decided or there is a decision by the party that this is where it would go. ‘That is why in the whole speculation out there in the public, you will see that there are so many names put in the public space which means that in 2023 there would be a contest in APC. ‘And if you are a politician, what are you looking for, is it not contest? So you go to where you know that if you play your card very well, there is a 50-50 chance that you can get what you want, when you want it and where you want it. ‘That is the message now which the President has nurtured and popularised in the APC. By extension, it serves a death knell that marks the end of foreclosure in political contests in Nigerian politics. What we are saying is that foreclosure in our political contests is dead,’ he said. Asked whether the level-playing ground is practicable in APC, Lukman replied: ‘Of course, it is enforceable and it is being enforced. Sound politics is impossible where there’s a foreclosure. In APC today, I can assure you that it is not going to be where you can tell there is a foreclosure. ‘This is the attraction in APC and that is why it is significant for us in APC in spite of all the slander that APC is anti-South East notwithstanding all the initiative of the federal government in terms of the sound and credible development initiative currently in place in the South-East. ‘That is why you now see a governor of the calibre, competence and credibility of Governor Dave Umahi in the Southeast saying no, no, there is no justice where I am. He has not said where he is going he is guaranteed of justice but he is absolutely sure that if he plays his card well in his new environment, there is the likelihood that he will get adequate justice,’ he said. The PGF DG also noted that: ‘President has diligently nurtured and popularised sincere desire driven by patriotic favour running on diligent thought and efficient and clinical execution. You will only need to watch as we progress towards 2023.’

Nsukka Muslim community sues for peace, says violence resolved

The Muslim community in Nsukka LGA, Enugu state has urged everyone in the community to embrace peace as it is the forward. Recall that there are several conflicts in Nsukka community between Muslims and Igbos which led to destruction of Mosques in the area . In a statement by Alhj. Yakubu Omeh, chief imam and leader Nsukka Muslim community, “We wish to inform the general public that the people of Nsukka Muslim community are safe and all suit of differences have been resolved. “The unfortunate incidence that took place on Saturday 31st Oct, 2020, which one thing led to the other between a keke man and a Muslim resulted in destruction of properties of Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba Muslims and Mosques which were condemned by all, as one or two people that carried it out did not act on everyone’s interest. The local government chairman, security personnels, Nsukka youths, Christian societies and other organizations all combined to stop further destruction of properties, and we really appreciate all their efforts. We thank God no life was lost. “Be it as it may, the state and local government authorities have promised to not only rebuild the mosques immediately but to provide a better and equipped one. The lost properties will also be taken care of. Stating further, “We plead with everyone to tread with peace. Anyone, within or far, should not act directly or indirectly as a retaliation to this incident or bear any grudges, as your not representing our interest which is peace and that has already been established. We are peaceful, our religion (Islam) teaches peace. We have lived in peace for ages and we will continue to. “We urge us all to desist from violence, fake news, impulsiveness and any kind of incitement. Let’s not be what we condemn, ” he said.

Activist asks judicial panel to summon CNN over Lekki shooting report

Kenechukwu Okeke, a human rights activist, has asked the Lagos state judicial panel to summon CNN over its report on the shooting at Lekki tollgate. Okeke, who had earlier sued 50 persons for “promoting” the #EndSARS protests, accused CNN of creating tension with its report on the shooting incident. On Wednesday, CNN published an investigation on the Lekki incident, alleging that soldiers used live rounds on protesters who had converged on Lekki tollgate on October 20. The report had drawn the ire of the federal government who threatened to sanction CNN over “irresponsible reporting”. Lai Mohammed, minister of information, described the alleged killings at the tollgate as “massacre without bodies”. The army also denied the report, saying it only used blank bullets to disperse the crowd. On Monday, Okeke said he had filed criminal proceedings against the news outlet. “I filed a contempt petition at the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry for criminal contempt summons (Form C) to issue against CNN Africa, CNN International, Messsrs. Obianuju Catherine Udeh, Stephanie Busari, Nima Elbagir, Gianluca Mezzofiore and Katie Polglase, Barbara Arvanitidis, Muhammad Darwish and Oscar Featherstone; and I shall ensure that the criminal contempt proceedings is alleged contemnors are dealt with according to law,” he said in a statement. “Without mincing words, CNN or any other foreign media organisation must respect the laws of the Federation of Nigeria (including any regulations thereof), and also treat the population with respect, courtesy, and acting with impartiality, integrity and respect for diversity.” More to follow…