Crime Facts

IMSU to announce resumption date by next week, says official

Ibe Pascal Arogorn, Owerri The authorities of Imo state university (IMSU) said it will fix resumption date for students by week . Crimefacts.News had reported how varsities were forced to close in march over Coronavirus pandemic and ASUU strike. Speaking in a telephone chat with our reporter, the institution’s public relations officer, Dr Ralf Njoku said the varsity need to put important things in place before resuming. He said, “you know ASUU suspended their strike yesterday, so we are still waiting may be to inform the public . ” But before we do that, we are trying to organise ourselves to clean the compound, clean the classroom and be in line with the COVID-19 protocols because we cannot come back without doing these things. According to Njoku, “we need to provide classroom buckets, thermometers and other safety measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Speaking further, he said by next week the institution will give a clearer picture for resumption date.

Bakare praises Tinubu, says ex-governor won many battles

Mr Bakare said this recently while preaching at the Lagos citadel church, in a sermon tagged ‘An Idle Man’s Brain Is The Devil’s Workshop,’ The Cable newspaper reported. The preacher described Mr Tinubu as Jephthah in the bible, saying despite the circumstances of his birth, he rose to power and delivered Lagos and almost all the Southwest states from the “onslaught of PDP.” Mr Bakare said God does not need anyone’s permission to put Mr Tinubu in a hall of fame as he has fought and won battles. “Like Jephthah the Gileadite, he has fought many battles on behalf of the Yoruba people and won despite his rough beginning and God does not need anybody’s permission to put such in his hall of fame despite their past deeds and ancestry. “Despite his growing up challenges, the dents and the detours of his life, he like Jephthah delivered Lagos State and nearly all the southwest states from the onslaught of the PDP from 1999 to 2007. “Truth be told, without his cooperation and political dexterity, the APC victory at the polls in 2015 and 2019 would have been impossible,” the preacher cum politician said. It was earlier reported how the senior pastor showed interest in contesting for the presidency after the expiration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term in 2023. The pastor, who said he aims to make Nigeria one of the greatest countries in the world, said he is going to throw his hat into the fray and is only waiting for Mr Buhari to finish his tenure (in 2023). Mr Bakare was Mr Buhari’s running mate in the 2011 presidential election on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). Then, Mr Tinubu’s party, ACN, fielded a former anti-corruption chief, Nuhu Ribadu. Both candidates lost to Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP. The ACN and the CPC later merged in the build up to the 2015 elections to form the APC. It was on the APC platform that Mr Buhari was elected president. Speaking about the ancestry of Mr Tinubu, Mr Bakare said those that have scores to settle should “carry their stone.” Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1) “I have a word for some Yoruba people whose stock in trade is nothing but a rancorous noise characterised by bitterness and resentment about the ancestry of the former two-term governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. “Carry your stone. I have a word for those Yoruba rancorous elements, noisemakers who have not achieved much as Asiwaju Tinubu has achieved, but are always querying and worrying themselves about his ancestry,” he said. Mr Tinubu served as the governor of Lagos between 1999 and 2007 and has remained the most influential politician in the state since then. The preacher added that those who are envious of Mr Tinubu and those who desire to take his power slot should “stop their useless talk about him, and busy themselves with what can add value to society.” He said he is neither Mr Tinubu’s manager nor a friend to anyone, but “he is like the rain who falls on the just and the wicked.

Christmas: Pray For Troops To End Insecurity – Defence Minister

The Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi, has urged Christians to pray for the country to overcome its security challenges as they celebrate the birth of Christ. Gen Magashi gave the charge in a Thursday statement felicitating with Christians on the special Christmas occasion. He urged Christians to be Christ-like in celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ by showing compassion to fellow Nigerians irrespective of religeous differences and to pray for peace in the country. The Defence Minister harped on the need for peaceful co-existence, unity and peace especially as the country is fighting insurgency, banditry and kidnapping among other criminal tendencies. He said the season is the reason to turn to God in fervent prayer to crown the sacrifices of our fighting forces to attain maximum victory over the adversaries. While giving kudos to the troops – who by reason of their call to duty, which is primarily to defend the nation’s territorial integrity, will not be able to celebrate Christmas with their families and loved ones – he assured them that the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari will not allow their sacrifices to go unrewarded. Gen. Magashi noted that the least appreciation Nigerians can show to the nation’s gallant soldiers who are fighting patriotically so that the citizens can sleep with their eyes closed (even when they themselves can’t afford to sleep) is to pray for them and be security conscious at this auspicious time. He thanked the leadership of the services and heads of security agencies and their civilian counterparts for the recent feat attained in the timely rescue and return of the kidnapped students in Kankara, Katsina State. The Minister described the successful operation that culminated in bringing back the kidnapped children as unprecedented in denying the kidnappers freedom of action, saying that such victory over the adversaries is the most beautiful Christmas and New Year special gift to the nation. The Minister tasked the troops in various locations to be focused in invigorating their firing power and to hold the ground resolutely without allowing any crack on the walls of national defence; adding that the support of all Nigerians is critical to the attainment of security for the country for hitch free yuletide celebrations and beyond.

Wike Gifts 29 SUVs To Chairmen Rivers Customary Court of Appeal

…Urges Them To Seek For Independence Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has charged the judiciary to crave for independence to discharge their functions without intimidation and not just to control budgets. The governor said this is imperative because no government and country can make meaningful progress if the judiciary is not allowed to carry out their functions independently. Governor Wike stated this at the official presentation of 29 brand new Renault Koleos 2020 SUVS to chairmen of the Customary Courts of the Rivers State judiciary at the judiciary complex in Port Harcourt on Wednesday. He maintained that no one can talk about democracy without the rule of law. The judiciary, he stressed, is pivotal in any given society where the rule of law reigns, because it the arm of government saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that there is rule of law. A cross-section of 29 Cars donated to Chairmen Customary Courts in Rivers “If Nigeria wants to move forward, if this country wants development, then we must allow the judiciary to operate independently and do their work.” Governor Wike, has however described as unfortunate the unwillingness of the judiciary in Nigeria to seek for true independence to discharge their functions without harassment and intimidation. He explained that the independence those in judiciary are desirous of seems limited to how they can control their budget and finances. “They’ve always said they want to be independent, but truly speaking, you don’t want to be independent. I have never seen an arm of government that is so afraid, intimidated by other arms of government like the judiciary. I have never seen that in my life. “The independent of the judiciary you are looking for is only for budget. But you are not talking about independence of how you can carry out your job without any influence or intimidation. Independent is more when you are able to carry out your job without anybody influencing you.” The governor disclosed that he has told the Attorney General of the state that there is an urgent need to amend the law to expand the jurisdiction of the Customary Court of Appeal because chieftaincy matters are still being filed at the State High Court. “So we are going to expand their jurisdiction to allow them to take on chieftaincy matters in all the local government.” The governor said the vehicles were given to the Customary Court chairmen to enable them discharge their functions unhindered. The Rivers State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Professor Zaccheus Adangor (SAN) , commended the governor for his unwavering support for the judiciary. He advised the beneficiaries to continue to administer justice expeditiously and more effectively. The President Customary Court of Appeal, Rivers State, Justice C.I. Gabriel-Nwankwo, said the provision of the official vehicles will inspire and motivate the beneficiaries to perform their work. On her part, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Adama Iyayi-Lamikanra, said Governor Wike’s commitment to enhance the welfare of judicial officers in the country remains unparalleled. She further said the provision of the additional 29 brand new cars to the chairmen of the State Customary Court has disproved the misconception that the Customary Court suffer neglect. Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Port Harcourt branch, Prince Nyekwere, said Governor Wike has put the state judiciary in an enviable position since he assumed office in 2015.

ASUU: When Is The Next Strike?

After 290 days, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, on Wednesday, called off the strike embarked on to protest ‘the backlog of unmet agreements between its members and the federal government. “ It is distasteful that the strike, which began as a warning strike on March 9, lasted a total of 9 months and 15 days before it was suspended by the university lecturers. Simply put, ASUU spent 79.23% of 2020 on strike. According to a recent report by Dataphyte, ASUU has embarked on a strike 15 times since the return of democracy in 1999. The union has spent a total of 208 weeks embarking on industrial action. Succinctly put, ASUU has spent 4 years on strike. That is, a full term of an elected administration has been wasted on strike in the last 21 years. ASUU has spent more time on strike than the number of years Umaru Musa Yar’Adua spent as the president of the country. The union spent 22 weeks on strike in 1999, 13 weeks in 2001, two weeks in 2002, 26 weeks in 2003 and two weeks in 2005. It was fair in 2006 and 2008 as the union spent one week each on strike but the lecturers were out of work for 13 weeks in 2007. The pattern continues in 2009 as 17 weeks were spent on strike, 22 weeks in 2010, nine weeks in 2011, 22 weeks in 2013, four weeks in 2017 and 13 weeks in 2018. 2020 witnessed the longest- 41 weeks and 3 days. As disheartening as these figures here, the possibility of another strike in no distant time is more worrisome. Since its formation in 1978, the struggle for a fair wage for university staff, autonomy and proper funding of the university system have remained the main cause of ASUU embarking on strike. Professor Ogunyemi in March said the strike was declared in order to compel the government to implement the outstanding agreements and resolutions of the Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] it signed with ASUU in 2009, 2013 and 2017 as well as the Memorandum of Action [MoA] of 2019. Except for the Nigerian University Pension Management Company [NUPEMCO] Limited that successfully took off, the government has failed to honour all other aspects of the 2019 MoA. Other unfulfilled parts of the agreements include part payment of outstanding arrears of Earned Academic Allowances (EAAs) as well as mainstreaming further payments into annual budgets beginning from 2019. The agreement to send visitation panels to all federal universities, tentatively agreed to commence in March last year, is also outstanding. The hot dispute that later ensued over enrolment of ASUU members on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) later came to overshadow all other aspects of the FG-ASUU dispute. Sadly, it has become a norm for the FG to enter into agreements with universities’ lecturers after days of strike, only to abandon the implementation halfway once the industrial action is suspended. Little wonder, Prof. Ogunyemi, who announced the suspension of the recent strike, after the federal government offered a cumulative N65 billion to the lecturers to address earned academic allowances and revitalisation of universities said the union will monitor the compliance level of the federal government on the concessions it (FG) has made. He warned that the union would return to strike without notice if the government fails in meeting its part of the agreement reached with the university lecturers. This should send a disturbing signal to the major casualties of these reoccurring strikes- students and their parents. Students in public universities, their parents/guardians and Nigeria’s economy are the worst victims each time ASUU goes on strike. The implications of months of idleness are dire- the recent destruction and arsons witnessed in the aftermath of the #EndSARS protest is a clear pointer to this. These constant revolts by lecturers also upturned their academic calendars. The effect of these constant punctuations from strikes on the learning process is better imagined. This contributes to the negative consensus of Nigerian graduates being ill-equipped vis-à-vis Western counterparts. It further exacerbates the recruitment dilemma employer’s face – with many employers claiming that Nigerian graduates are unemployable. Prof. Ogunyemi, who said lecturers sympathised with students, noted that “no amount of sacrifice would be too much to get the matter resolved as long as the government is consistent with its commitments.” The don and his colleagues should express more than sympathy. They should be worried that more than 79% of this calendar year has been wasted on strike. Students have been denied the opportunity to learn and progress in their academic pursuits. Some of them have lost their lives during the period of the strike while there are those unable to return to the classroom. ASUU must devise a more decisive way to get the government to attend to its demands without bastardising the education system the union is trying to protect. It is unfair that four years have been wasted in the last 21 years. In fact, most students are expected to spend four years in the university in accordance with the education system in Nigeria, but reoccurring strikes have made this impossible and frustrating for students, parents and employers. Culled from Daily Trust

Amotekun killed UI student, attacked union leaders, NANS alleges

THE National Association of Nigerian Students has accused members of the Oyo State Security Agency , Amotekun , deployed in Oyo town of killing a 400- level student of the University of Ibadan , Akolade Gbadebo. The NANS Joint Campus Committee Chairman in Oyo State , Mayowa Opakunle , levelled the allegation against the security outfit in an interview with our correspondent in Ibadan on Wednesday. Opakunle said Gbadebo was shot dead last Thursday by one of the Amotekun corps , who were invited to the area to clear a road barricaded by some students . He said the student was shot dead by the security officials some minutes after their arrival at the scene. The NANS chairman said he and other student union leaders went to the Criminal Investigation Department at Iyaganku in Ibadan on Monday concerning the killing . The NANS chairman said he met with the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of CID at Iyaganku and he told him that the case was reported as robbery and cultism. Akeju said , “ A 400 Level student of University of Ibadan affiliated with Federal College of Education , Oyo ( special ); Akolade Gbadebo , was shot dead by a member of the Amotekun corps last Thursday. “ I was told that Amotekun corps were called that some students barricaded the road in the area . They came and somebody was said to have fired at them and they returned the fire . The bullet hit the student and he died . The incident happened around 10:30pm last Thursday. “ We want the police to investigate the matter thoroughly and Governor Seyi Makinde said during the inauguration that he should be held responsible for any crime committed by Amotekun because he is their overall boss . “ We therefore call on the Oyo State Government to ensure justice is served concerning this particular case . They should also conduct necessary orientation and training for this set of supposed security operatives, else the Amotekun corps will worsen the situation they were recruited to solve . ” A younger brother of the slain student , Habeb Gbadebo, who spoke on behalf of the family of the deceased , said on the phone that the police at Atiba had told them to go and identify the corpse, He added , “ We later went to Iyaganku and the second in command of the Amotekun corps, one Jamiu , represented the Amotekun there . He said it was a robbery case and that my brother shot at them immediately they got there . “ If my brother shot at them , how come the bullet hit him in the back ? It is a mystery . They later said he was not the one that shot at them but it was another person. One thing I know is that Amotekun operatives are trying to twist the story and cover it but we won ’ t allow that to happen . ” The Information Officer of Amotekun in Oyo State , Mrs Ayolola Adedoja , when contacted by our correspondent, said the story was not true. The Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State , Mr Olugbenga Fadeyi , said he was not aware of the matter and promised to find out and call back

APC headquarters nullifies Amaechi’s suspension, threatens sanctions

The Governor Mai Mala Buni -led Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee on Wednesday voided the purported suspension of the Minister of Transport , Rotimi Amaechi and some members of the party in Rivers State . The Igo Aguma -led faction of the Rivers State chapter of the party had announced the suspension of the minister , Senator Andrew Uchendu and the former APC National Deputy Secretary , Victor Giadom among others over alleged anti – party activities. However, the APC National Secretariat , in a letter signed by the Head, Legal Services of the APC, Dare Oketade, on Wednesday, described the suspension as a nullity and of no effect because the persons behind the action were impostures who stood the risk of sanctions . In the letter titled: “ Purported Suspension of Rt . Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, Sen. Andrew Uchendu and Expulsion of Chief Hon. Victor Giadom, ” addressed to Igo Aguma , cautioned the faction against further acts capable of bringing the party to disrepute . The party said its attention was drawn to the action purportedly taken by impostors claiming to be party officials at the ward level. The party national leadership said it needed to make clarifications in order to correct certain misconceptions. The letter read in part, “ We have checked through our records at the National Secretariat and found out that those persons are not officers of the party in Rivers State . “ I am therefore directed by the National Chairman , His Excellency , Governor Mai Mala Buni , to notify you , for the avoidance of doubt, that the Rivers State chapter of the APC is led by Hon. Isaac Ogbobula , who was duly sworn in at the National Secretariat of the party on December 2020, by virtue of the National Executive Committee meeting held at the Council chamber of Aso Rock Abuja . ” It further read , “ By the above, I wish to draw you and other party members in Rivers State attention to the consequences of impersonation both within the constitutions of our party and laws of Nigeria . “ The party will not hesitate to take necessary disciplinary measures should any member of the party in Rivers State continue to take steps in impersonating the recognised state caretaker committee led by Hon. Isaac Abbot Ogbobula or any of his Local Government Ward Executives . ”

Trump warns Iran over attack on U.S. embassy

President Donald Trump has delivered a stern warning to Iran over alleged rocket attacks on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. The warning came in a tweet which includes a photograph of three unexploded rocket shells that the president claimed came from Iran. “Our embassy in Baghdad got hit Sunday by several rockets. Three rockets failed to launch. Guess where they were from? IRAN. Now we hear the chatter of additional attacks against Americans in Iraq. Our embassy in Baghdad got hit Sunday by several rockets. Three rockets failed to launch. Guess where they were from: IRAN. Now we hear chatter of additional attacks against Americans in Iraq… pic.twitter.com/0OCL6IFp5M — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2020 ”Some friendly health advice to Iran: If one American is killed, I will hold Iran responsible. Think it over,’’ the tweet reads. ”Some friendly health advice to Iran: If one American is killed, I will hold Iran responsible. Think it over,’’ the tweet reads. In a statement on Wednesday, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) alleged that Sunday’s attack was “almost certainly conducted by an Iranian-backed rogue militia group’’. Reports say several missiles were fired at the heavily secured Baghdad’s diplomatic zone, leaving an Iraqi soldier injured at a security checkpoint. The military reportedly said several buildings and cars were damaged after most of the rockets landed in a residential neighbourhood near the U.S. embassy. The embassy said the explosions caused minor damage to its compound but that there were no injuries or casualties. Spokesman of CENTCOM, Capt. William Urban said 21 rockets were fired on the area which he said was the largest rocket attack since 2010 U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo “strongly” condemned the attack, blaming it on militias linked to Iran. The two countries came close to war in January after Iran claimed responsibility for multiple rocket attacks on two military bases housing U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said it fired the missiles in retaliation for the death of Iranian top military commander, Qassem Soleimani, in a U.S. strike in Iraq days earlier. The world held its breath as Trump went into a Security Council meeting following the attack. Addressing a news conference after the meeting, Trump ruled out an attack against Iran, saying an assessment of the damage showed that no American soldier was harmed. Reacting to the development, Iran’s Foreign Minister dismissed Trump’s allegations that Iran was behind the rocket attack. “Putting your own citizens at risk abroad won’t divert attention from catastrophic failures at home,’’ Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, tweeted.

BREAKING: Justice Ahmed Lemu is dead

A renowned Islamic scholar and former jurist , Ahmed Lemu, died on Thursday. His son , Nurudeen , announced the death on behalf of his family, The Punch reports Nurudeen , however , did not give details of Lemu ’ s death. “ It is with sadness and reverence to Allah that we announce the passing away of our father , Dr . Justice Sheikh Ahmed Lemu OFR, in the early hours of this morning in Minna . Burial arrangements to be announced later , ” he said . Lemu is one of the two Nigerians who have won King Faisal Prize. Born 84 years ago in Lemu in Niger State , the point- blank scholar, jurist , blunt preacher , Imam, exegetic of the Qur’ an , prolific writer, author , publisher, elder statesman , public speaker and President of Islamic Education Trust is a distinguished personality who after 22 years into retirement from the civil service , brought his exceptional qualities to fore when he chaired the Presidential Panel on Post-Election Violence in Nigeria in 2011. Sheikh Ahmed Lemu started his career as a teacher under the Bida Native Authority , Sheikh Ahmed Lemu was a principal of two famous centers of learning in northern Nigeria : the School for Arabic Studies ( SAS ) , Kano; and the Arabic Teachers’ College, Sokoto. He was appointed Grand Qadi of Niger State after the creation of the state in 1976. Details later

More trouble: COVID-19 hits Nigeria harder with 1,133 new cases

There is more trouble for Nigeria as COVID-19 hits harder with 1,133 fresh cases reported on Wednesday. This is the second time Nigeria is recording over 1,000 cases and the second highest since February when the pandemic broke out. The highest figures of 1,148 so far was posted on 18 December, 2020. The new figures represent an increase from the 999 cases recorded on Tuesday. Lagos and Abuja lead as usual with huge infections. While Lagos raked in 397 new cases, Abuja ramps up 357 fresh cases. Total confirmed COVID-19 cases in Nigeria stand at 80,922, with 69,274 survivors discharged and 1,236 deaths reported after five people were killed by the virus today. New cases were recorded in 17 States and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja on Wednesday. See figures below Lagos-397 FCT-357 Kaduna-81 Plateau-63 Katsina-46 Sokoto-32 Oyo-28 Ogun-21 Kano-19 Rivers-18 Osun-13 Edo-12 Niger-12 Bayelsa-11 Borno-11 Bauchi-8 Jigawa-2 Ondo-2 80,922 confirmed 69,274 discharged 1,236 deaths.