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Post Date : February 10, 2021

Imo: 67 IPOB members regain freedom after five months in detention

Over 60 members of the pro-Biafran movement, IPOB, have been freed after spending about five months in prison custody in Owerri, Imo State. Their lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who confirmed this to PREMIUM TIMES, Friday, said they were freed on February 1, after the Chief Judge of Imo State, Ijeoma Agugua, granted them bail. Mr Ejiofor said the 67 IPOB members were “unlawfully” thrown into prison since last year, after their arraignment in a magistrate court which, he said, refused to listen to their application for bail, about four times. “They were arrested on their way to a burial by some soldiers. After hours of interrogation, they were handed over to the police and the police detained them,” Mr Ejiofor said. “No doubt about it, they had disclosed their identity as IPOB members.” The police, however, in August, when they paraded the arrested IPOB members, said that they were on their way to meet a native doctor to fortify them against bullet-penetration. Isaac Akinmoyede, the then commissioner of police in Imo State, said it was believed that the arrested IPOB members were planning an attack on security agencies, “with the aim of snatching weapons”. “It must interest you to know that the proscription of IPOB is a subject of appeal in the Court of Appeal,” the lawyer to the IPOB members, Mr Ejiofor said. “We have an application for stay of execution (on the proscription order),” he said. Mr Ejiofor said IPOB remains a lawful organisation until the case against its proscription is ultimately thrashed out at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. “The IPOB members are at all times exercising their rights as provided under the law, including their right to freedom of association.” The lawyer, who thanked the chief judge for being “courageous enough” to free the IPOB members, said the magistrate court did not have the jurisdiction to listen to the case, in the first instance, and that no charge was filed against the IPOB members. He accused some powerful persons in the Imo State Government of having a prejudice against IPOB and using the judiciary to hunt down its members. He said the freed IPOB member would “definitely” seek redress against their “unlawful” detention. PREMIUM TIMES could not immediately reach the Commissioner for Information in the state, Declan Emelumba, as he did not respond to calls and a text message seeking his comment. IPOB, which enjoys great following in the South-east, has been agitating for an independent state of Biafra, and has frequently clashed with security agencies, including the Nigerian Army.

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Post Date : February 10, 2021

CBN investigates banks involved in crytpo trading

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has launched an investigation into financial institutions offering services to cryptocurrency traders, TheCable understands. On Monday, the bank sent out examiners to start looking into the books of the banks. “Banks are not allowed to offer services to unregulated businesses and crypto trading is one of such,” a senior official of the bank told TheCable.” According to him, it was recently discovered that an America-based fraudster collected business survival loans of about $500,000 from the US government using hurriedly registered companies. He then allegedly discounted $100,000 of it in order to move $400,000 through a Nigerian financial institution by using a crypto currency. “We are seeing clearly established patterns of money laundering, and we are worried about possible terror finance,” the official told TheCable. A CBN circular of January 12, 2017 had warned deposit money banks and other non-financial institutions in the country on the risks associated with cryptocurrency transactions. Some of the banks, however, may have breached this financial regulation which does not allow them to be involved in unregulated services. According to the CBN, cryptocurrencies pose risk of loss of investments, money laundering, terrorism financing, illicit fund flows and other criminal activities. The CBN’s position on cryptocurrencies is not an outlier, as many countries’ central banks, international financial institutions, and distinguished investors and economists have also warned against its use and placed a certain level of restrictions on facilitating cryptocurrency transactions. Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank, recently called for global regulation of Bitcoin, saying the digital currency had been used for money laundering activities in some instances, and that any loopholes needed to be closed. “(Bitcoin) is a highly speculative asset, which has conducted some funny business and some interesting and totally reprehensible money laundering activity,” she had said. CBN has vowed to continue to do all within its regulatory powers to educate Nigerians to desist from the use of cryptocurrencies — despite growing criticism. “In light of the fact that they are issued by unregulated and unlicensed entities, their use in Nigeria goes against the key mandates of the CBN, as enshrined in the CBN Act (2007), as the issuer of legal tender in Nigeria,” CBN said. “More also, repeated and recent evidence now suggests that some cryptocurrencies have become more widely used as speculative assets rather than as means of payment, thus explaining the significant volatility and variability in their prices. “Given that unlike Fiat Money which accompanied by full faith and comfort of a country or Central Bank, cryptocurrencies do not have any intrinsic value and do not generate returns by themselves.”

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Post Date : February 10, 2021

COVID-19: Nigeria records 1,056 new infections, 21 deaths

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 1,056 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 141,447. The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Tuesday. Nigeria also recorded 21 COVID-19 deaths, raising the total fatality in the country to 1,694. “1,056 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria; Lagos-214 Osun-120 FCT-116 Plateau-88 Ebonyi-75 Kwara-73 Gombe-70 Ondo-57 Rivers-47 Akwa Ibom-38 Edo-25 Oyo-23 Kano-22 Delta-19 Katsina-18 Borno-16 Nasarawa-13 Ekiti-8 Ogun-8 Bauchi-4 Benue-1 Jigawa-1.”

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Post Date : February 9, 2021

It will bring more development – Buhari justifies construction of rail line linking Niger Republic

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, justified the decision of his regime to construct a rail line linking Nigeria with the Niger Republic despite criticisms that trailed the announcement of the plan . He said connecting Niger Republic through rail would , among other benefits , foster trans- Sahara trade and contribute to the expected gains in the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement. Buhari gave the justification while virtually presiding over the ground – breaking for the commencement of the rail line from the Presidential Villa , Abuja . The rail line is known as Kano-Katsina- Jibiya – Maradi ( Niger Republic ) rail line with a branch line from Kano . Describing the rail line as “ another vital transportation infrastructure, ” Buhari noted that it traverses the major commercial and administrative centre of Kano and passes through other economic hubs of the country including Kazaure, Daura, Katsina and up to the border town of Jibiya and the Niger Republic city of Maradi. According to the President , the cities of Jibiya and Maradi constitute a significant trading core between Nigeria and the Niger Republic , adding that the tradition dated back many centuries . Buhari said , “ This vital infrastructure line will establish an end -to -end logistic supply chain in railway transport services between Northern and Southern regions of the country , reaching Nigerian southern ports of Lagos and Warri. “ The entire route encompasses territory inhabited by close to 80 million people across 10 states of the country. This project has a branch line to Dutse the capital of Jigawa State to open up this corridor which is endowed with vast resources “ The Kano – Maradi rail line has been identified as a viable line that will significantly enhance the movement of passengers and freight to the hinterland especially raw materials from both agricultural and mineral resources for our industries . “ The project , when completed , would serve import and export of goods for the Niger Republic and other countries in the sub-region through Nigerian ports . The country would earn revenue through expansion of trade and commerce, while the people of the Niger Republic will benefit from the ease of transportation logistics at an affordable cost in their import and export business . “ The connection to the Niger Republic through rail will also foster trans- Sahara trade and contribute to the expected gains in the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement. ”

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Post Date : February 9, 2021

Killer Herdsmen: Anyone Caught With Illegal Arms Should Be Tried, says Presidency

President Muhammadu Buhari’s position on the issue of killer herdsmen is that anyone caught with illegal arms should be arrested and tried, spokesman Femi Adesina said on Tuesday. Mr. Adesina, who made an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, was reacting to recent comments made by Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom. Mr. Ortom had said the President was silent over the issue of armed herdsmen causing havoc across the country. “If the Governor would say he hasn’t heard the President speak on that matter, that’s what he should make clear; it’s not that the President hasn’t spoken,” Mr. Adesina said. “Because the number of times the President has spoken on that issue . . . and his position has always been the same: anybody, whoever he is, that carries arms unlawfully should be arrested and prosecuted. The President has said it countless times.” However, when asked how many herdsmen have been arrested in recent times, Mr. Adesina said “I don’t have that figure at my fingertips . . . but I know that a lot of people are awaiting trial.” Ranching as solution? Clashes between farmers and herdsmen have escalated this year, especially in the southwest where quit notices were delivered to people of Fulani extraction. Kano State Governor, Umar Ganduje, recently suggested that ranching was the solution to the phenomenon of herdsmen moving across the country with cattle. Reacting to the Governor’s suggestion, Mr Adesina said all suggestions should be discussed. He also pointed to the Federal Government’s Ruga program, which was rejected by some states. “Nigeria is a peculiar country where the federal government has no land,” he said. And if states say they have no land for ranches, then another solution has to be found. “So we need to discuss these things and appraise them critically until we can get to what we can call ‘the’ solution.”

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Post Date : February 9, 2021

Oshiomhole faults APC membership revalidation exercise

The immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, on Tuesday, faulted the party’s membership revalidation exercise, saying that the exercise as ordered by the party’s Interim Caretaker Committee is contrary to the party’s constitution. Oshiomhole who stated this while fielding questions from journalists shortly after revalidating his membership of the party at his Unit 1, ward 10, Iyamho, Etsako WestLlocal Government Area of Edo State, added that his membership of the party never expired but he chose to participate in the exercise for peace to reign. “APC is governed by a constitution and not by man. The constitution only provides for registration and I registered as a member of the APC in 2014 under the Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande. There is nothing in the APC constitution that says a member shall revalidate or renew its membership. Once you registered when you joined the party and you have not decamped, you are a member. So revalidation is strange to our constitution,” the ex-national chairman said. “I have only done this because I want peace to reign but in doing this, we have to be careful not to create constitutional breach,” he added. Oshiomhole noted that between 2015 and now people had exited from the party and others had joined; while some had died, adding that it did not make sense to review the register. “If you ask me as a foundation member who has never decamped to revalidate his membership, it is double registration because there is nothing like revalidation in our constitution. Asking me to revalidate my membership means I was not a member when I have never left the party. So I think the correct language should be either reviewing or updating because it makes sense to review voters register due to the new members that have joined or those that have exited,” the two-term Edo State governor submitted. He added the party had been updating its register from time to time, noting that most of the governors under the party today became members following the voters’ register update, hence they were able to contest the governorship election under the party. “So what this means now is that I have come here to do another registration but I insist that my registration never expired within the provision of the APC constitution,” he asserted. He said, “as for me, I think we should just move on, I am happy I just did it but I don’t need it because my membership has not expired and it can only expire when I decamp, and if I am returning then I can revalidate. History didn’t just begin today if we don’t have a valid register, how did we conduct the congress in 2015 in which 16 million registered APC members voted to nominate president Muhammadu Buhari before the general election,” he queried. Oshiomhole recalled that at one of the party National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja when he was the national chairman, he had the honour of presenting membership card to President Buhari.

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Post Date : February 9, 2021

FG has frozen my bank accounts, Sunday Igboho raises the alarm

Self-acclaimed freedom fighter, Mr. Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, on Tuesday, accused the Federal Government of freezing his bank accounts, following his attack on the killer-herdsmen in Oyo State. Igboho, who spoke to Vanguard, confirmed that all his bank accounts have been frozen by the Federal Government because some people were collecting donations. However, Igboho said he had no hands in the said donations, warning that his accounts must be unfrozen to avoid nationwide protest by youths across the South-West region. His words: “They have frozen my bank accounts because I am fighting a just course. I know Yoruba people are behind me. “I will not relent. I must achieve my aims by putting an end to criminalities in Yorubaland. “If they refuse to release my accounts, there will be serious protests across the South-West. “Yes, the Yoruba are living in fear. They are afraid that the killer-herdsmen might attack them.”

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Post Date : February 9, 2021

Amotekun intercepts truckload of armed Fulani herdsmen in Ibadan

Men of Oyo State Security Network Agency known as Amotekun have intercepted a truck loaded with no fewer than 80 men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen at the Iwo Road area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The men, who were loaded in a truck were reportedly stopped by the Amotekun corps and a quick search revealed some bows, arrows and daggers in the the vehicle. Apart from that , sources told our correspondent that there were about 25 motorcycles in the truck which also had cows. Upon interrogation , the men were reported to have told the Amotekun operatives that they were going to Lagos and Ogun States . The search was said to have attracted residents who trooped to the scene, but to avoid crisis , the security agents were said to have led the truck and its occupants to the police station at Testing Ground area in Iwo Road. They were said to have been handed over to the police at the station for further interrogation and search . The Commandant of Amotekun in Oyo State , Col . Olayinka Olayanju ( retd . ) , When contacted confirmed the incident to our correspondent. He said , “ We arrested about 80 men in a truck . We found some bows and arrows and knifes in the truck . They also had some cows and motorcycles there . “ We couldn ’ t carry out a thorough search because we had started started attracting attention so we moved them to the police station nearby . ” The Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State , Mr Olugbenga Fadeyi , also confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the telephone . He said , “ Some persons were intercepted and they were taken to Agodi Police Station where they were profiled . They said they were coming from Wudil in Kano and were going to Lagos and some to Ogun State . They said they were taking the cows to the abattoir in Agege, Lagos . “ We didn ’ t find anything incriminating on them . They were released and escorted to the Toll Gate area on Lagos -Ibadan Expressway. They are no longer in Oyo State territory. ”

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Post Date : February 9, 2021

Boko Haram Attacks Yobe Town

Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents attacked Geidam local government area of Yobe State on Tuesday. Sources within Geidam told Daily Trust that the insurgents invaded the town after Maghrib prayer. Muhammad Nura, a resident, said security operatives, had not responded to distress calls as of the time this report was filed. “We are now hiding indoors with all the family members, thank God they are all home. I am short of words, we just need your prayers, the last attack is still fresh in our memory and in less than one month they launched another attack again” “Our security formation are doing their best because we could also hear gunshots from their side but that is not enough government should do something about our town before they chase all of us away,” he said. ASP Dungus Abdulkarim, Police Public Relations Officer in Yobe, could not be reached for comment as of the time this report was filed.

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Post Date : February 9, 2021

EXTRA: 35-year-old man rapes 90-year-old woman in Yobe

The Police Command in Yobe on Tuesday said it had arrested one Mohammed Faruk for allegedly raping a 90-year-old woman (name withheld) in Gadaka town in Fika Local Government Area of the state. The Command’s spokesman, ASP Dungus Abdulkarim, disclosed this in a statement in Damaturu. He said that the incident occurred at about 2 p.m., on Monday, February 8, when Faruk intruded into the nonagenarian’s room in a compound and forced himself into her. Abdulkarim said a medical examination at the General Hospital, Fika, revealed some drops of semen on the woman’s private part and confirmed that the suspect allegedly raped the nonagenarian. He said during interrogation, Faruk, 35, also confessed to committing the crime. The spokesman said that the case would soon be transferred to the state CID for discreet investigation and subsequent prosecution. Abdulkarim appealed to the general public to always assist the police with vital information to fight crime, saying the command was combat-ready to protect the lives and properties of the citizens.

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