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Post Date : June 17, 2021

Intimidation, threat can’t stop Biafra agitation, Iwuanyanwu tells FG

Elder statesman and foremost Igbo leader, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has urged the Federal Government to review its operation in the Southeast and initiate dialogue with the pro-Biafra groups to tone down the agitations. Iwuanyanwu, who spoke in Abuja, when he was conferred with awards by the Northern Youth Council of Nigeria, and the Inter-Faith Youth Council of Nigeria, the Vanguard of Good Leadership and Epitome of Hope and Integrity Award of Selfless Service to Humanity respectively, maintained that the issue of insecurity in the country cannot be resolved through the barrel of a gun. He wondered why any group would be thinking of breaking away from the country when the world is already a global village, adding that bringing all parties to the dialogue table, remains the most viable option in pacifying all the warring groups across the country. Commending President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in the area of infrastructure development, Iwuanyanwu however noted that Buhari was voted into power based on his promise to tackle insecurity, adding that “the protection of lives and property was the essence of life and not even to dole out money to somebody.” He said, “you have seen it already and you know this is very serious and very bad. I think really that the government should now realise that this thing cannot be solved through barrel of guns. So, I think it has reached a point when the government should realise that peace cannot be attained from the barrel of guns. It is now time to start searching for these people. “Go to Southwest, go to the man, Igboho or so or whatever they call him; go to Southeast, get those people from the Southeast, get all those people who are causing trouble, bring them together, they are your children, they are Nigerians, let us know what is the matter. “That will be the best solution because it will save us money. But if you think we can solve it by this thing, it will embarrass us. If one day, these people come and start throwing bombs in Abuja here, Abuja will scatter and that could embarrass this country anywhere in the world. It means that all the embassies will run away, everybody will run away. “And these people are not showing any sympathy. They kidnap in schools, they kidnap children; call them. Let’s beg them and see how we can solve the problem,” Iwuanyanwu further said.

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Post Date : June 17, 2021

Gunmen Kidnap ‘Longest-Serving Coach’ In Nigeria Football League

Enugu State police command has confirmed the kidnap of Rivers United coach Stanley Eguma, the longest-serving coach in Nigeria’s Football League (NFL) In a statement on Thursday, the police said the abduction of the coach happened on 15 June along Enugu/Port-Harcourt Expressway while he was on his way back from an away match against Adamawa United played in Gombe State. The police spokesperson, Daniel Ndukwe, said two men travelling with Eguma alerted them of the ambush, which they said was carried out by unidentified gunmen. carried out by unidentified gunmen. Enugu state commissioner of police, Mohammed Ndatsu Aliyu has since launched a full-scale investigation to rescue the coach. According to BBC Sports, Eguma is the longest-serving coach in the Nigeria Professional Football League as he joined the now-defunct Dolphins in 2008 and was retained by Rivers United in 2017 after the government merged Sharks and Dolphins football clubs to form a Port Harcourt club, Rivers United. Find below the full statement by the police confirming Eguma’s kidnap… ENUGU STATE POLICE COMMAND BULLETIN OF 16TH JUNE, 2021 ALLEGED TRAILING AND ABDUCTION OF STANLEY EGUMA ALONG ENUGU/PORT-HARCOURT EXPRESSWAY; CP ALIYU ORDERS INTENSE FULL-SCALE INVESTIGATION TO RESCUE VICTIM AND APPREHEND ASSAILANTS The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mohammed Ndatsu Aliyu, psc, has ordered that no stone should be left unturned in the already launched full-scale investigation to rescue one Stanley Eguma (m), Head Coach of Rivers United Football Club of Port-Harcourt, and the arrest of the yet-to-be-identified gunmen, alleged to have abducted him on 15/06/2021 at about 1600hrs, along Enugu/Port-Harcourt Expressway. The order is sequel to a complaint made at the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Command same date of the incident at about 1705hrs, by two other persons traveling with the victim, who alleged that the unidentified gunmen, operating in a white-coloured Hilux Van, trailed and forced the black-coloured Hilux Van conveying them from Gombe State to Port-Harcourt, to stop. They further alleged that the assailants pushed the two of them out and made away with the vehicle, and in the process abducted the victim to an unknown destination. Meanwhile, the Commissioner has enjoined members of the public with useful information that will assist the Command in the ongoing investigation, to endeavour to provide same by calling the Command’s hotlines on: 08032003702, 08075390883, 08086671202 or 08098880172; or by sending an email to: contact042ppro@gmail.com. He assures the confidentiality of the informants’ identities. ASP DANIEL NDUKWE, Anipr Police Public Relations Officer FOR: Commissioner of Police Enugu State Command.

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Post Date : June 17, 2021

Bring Out Your Corrupt Minister For Prosecution, Ortom Tells Buhari

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Thursday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to hand over a minister under his watch fingered for corruption to security agencies for prosecution. Ortom made the appeal to the president while answering questions from newsmen in Makurdi shortly after delivering his keynote speech at the Makurdi branch of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) law week. It came after the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, spoke of a female minister who bought a $37.5 million property and deposited $20m in cash. Bawa has since said the unnamed minister was not in the Buhari administration. Ortom said, ‘Today in Nigeria, there’s no equity, no fairness, no justice. Look at all the things he promised Nigerians that he will do. Is it corruption? Is it electricity, is it security or what? “You can imagine, a minister serving currently in the Federal Republic of Nigeria was caught buying a $37million estate. And we are told by the EFCC Chairman himself that this Minister remitted $20million to the bank. And EFCC was able to track this money and got it. What have we heard about it? Who is that Minister? “If Mr. President is a man of Integrity, he should bring that Minister out and let him face prosecution. But for this issue of selective justice against people. Is it not here that an APC (National) Chairman came and said when you join APC you have become a Saint and your old sins are forgiven and they will draw a line? “Today, you see so many corrupt people in the federal executive council. People who were having cases with EFCC and all that, have you heard about them again? This is the point. And that means there’s selective justice. So, they should allow the EFCC to function as enshrined in the law establishing it. They should allow anti-corruption agencies to function.” The governor said rather than ask the President to resign as asked by newsmen, he will prefer that all stakeholders come together and look at the matters threatening the existence of the country. “That is my call to Mr. President. But unfortunately, when you say objective points that will help solve this problem that we are in today, they go there insulting and blackmailing you and even make jest of what you are saying. “I would say that we need to come together. Mr. President cannot do it alone. Mr. President requires the 774 local government chairman, Mr. President requires the 36 governors, Mr. President requires all of us, ministers, governors, the traditional rulers to come together. “He should listen to them because the problem we have here is different from the one happening in Zamfara, Kaduna and other states. So, if we sit together, we will be able to find a common ground to discuss and solve this problem. “There are issues that Mr. President will need to address. There are issues that governors, local government chairmen, traditional rulers and the people themselves will need to address because we are in a democratic Government. “And so, I would want Mr. President to arrange whatever you call it; Summit or dialogue or conference or whatever. But there is need to come together and discuss. Our people say that it’s the sitting together of Mbagbera people that they know how to blacksmith. If we seat together, we will be able to panel-beat the whole thing and come to a resolution that will be a win win for Mr. President, for governors, for chairmen and for the rest of the people of this country. “But as at today, all is not well with Nigeria. My appeal to Mr. President is that he should not allow this country to dissolve under his hand because Nigerian trusted him in 2015, in 2019 he was also trusted and reelected into office. He should reciprocate by ensuring good governance, equity, fairness and justice,” Ortom posited.

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Post Date : June 17, 2021

Kenneth Kaunda, Zambia’s first president, dies aged 97

Kenneth Kaunda, the founding president of Zambia, has died at the age of 97. The former president’s death was announced by Zambian media on Thursday afternoon. He was on Monday admitted to Maina Soko military hospital in Lusaka, Zambia’s capital, where he was treated for pneumonia. Zambian President Edgar Lungu had subsequently asked citizens to offer prayers for him. “He stood up for this great nation at its most critical moment, and so we can all stand up for him in his moment of weakness,” Lungu had said. Kaunda, one of Africa’s liberation heroes, was said to have made a steady recovery and was responding well to treatment as of Wednesday. He ruled Zambia for 27 years — starting from 1964 after the country gained independence from Britain. After losing the 1991 multi-party elections to Frederick Chiluba, leader of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy, Kaunda stepped down. In 2000, he resigned as leader of his United National Independence Party (UNIP). Kaunda’s death comes as the Southern African country is battling a surge in COVID-19 cases. The Zambia ministry of health had said bed occupancy rate at COVID-19 care centres had exceeded 100 percent and that health workers were overwhelmed. “Having 726 in-patients due to 65+9- with 195 admissions and 28 deaths in 24 hours for a small population of our country is very alarming, and calls for us as a people to put all our different opinions and beliefs aside and bind together to effectively respond to the current situation,” Kennedy Malama, permanent secretary in the ministry of health, had said. “Experience from across the globe has shown that once COVID-19 hospitalisations reach 40 percent bed capacity, the health care workers and other systems become overwhelmed due to the unique demands COVID-19 patients present. “We are now operating at 100% bed occupancy and we are still mobilising more bed space. This is not sustainable.”

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Post Date : June 17, 2021

Drop press regulation bill, allow free speech, media bodies tell Reps

The Nigerian Press Organisation, which comprises the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, Nigerian Guild of Editors and the Nigerian Union of Journalists, has called on the House of Representatives to step down a bill seeking to amend the Nigerian Press Council Act, noting that it is still a subject of litigation the Supreme Court. Several media organisations and groups also criticised various clauses in the bill as possibly discouraging freedom of speech and press in the country. The House Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values, which organised the hearing on the bill, however, insisted on going ahead with the exercise. The committee had organised the hearing on five bills including the ‘Bill for an Act to Amend the Nigerian Press Council Act, CAP N128, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, to Remove Bottlenecks Affecting Its Performance and Make the Council in Tune with Current Realities in Regulating the Press and for Related Matters (HB 330).’ At the opening of the event, Chairman of the committee, Olusegun Odebunmi, apologised to the media bodies especially NPAN which had protested on Wednesday over exclusion from the exercise. He noted that an “open invitation” to the event was extended to stakeholders. “So, I am sorry if there is anybody who thinks we did not invite them. It is not by intention; it was definitely a mistake. Notwithstanding, we have covered everybody through our advert,” he said. The Editor-in-Chief of Leadership Newspapers, Azubuike Ishiekwene, who represented the NPO, stated that contrary to the claim of an “open invitation” by the committee, the organisation did not receive any notification that would have enabled it to engage the lawmakers and Nigerians robustly on the bill. Ishiekwene said, “There is a matter and I am sure that as stewards of the people and the law, you are aware that there is a pending matter between the NPO and some parties involved in this legislation. That is why a negotiated conversation seems to us to be a way to deal with it because there is a matter pending before the Supreme Court: between the NPAN and some parties involved in this bill that is being amended. And as stewards of the law, I am sure you are constrained just as I am to make any further conversations on this matter because it is a pending matter before the Supreme Court. “The last time it came up in 2010 – it is a matter that has actually been pending since 1999 – 17 of the 39 clauses contained in the bill that you are considering were ruled unconstitutional by the court at that time. Of course, the Federal Government appealed the ruling. We won the appeal and the matter is currently before the Supreme Court. “I will rest my case by appealing to the honourable members of this committee; I crave your indulgence to refer to a conversation that was had on a similar matter in 2018 when this matter came up before the Senate and the pendency of this matter before the court was canvassed. And the Senate – the 8th National Assembly – at that time agreed that the prudent thing to do was to step it down. I urge this House to also consider a similar step.” Odebunmi, however, argued that the House was doing its constitutional job “and I am very sure (that) no court will restrain us from doing the job.” He noted that while the lawmakers would not stop anybody from going ahead with the judicial process, the lawmakers have the mandate of Nigerians to amend laws. “It is not about the matter in court, it is an Act of the National Assembly and we deemed it fit to amend it and we are doing that. It does not stop you from what you are doing but this is the position of the National Assembly,” he stated. Also, the International Press Centre, Media Rights Agenda, Centre for Media Law and Advocacy and the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism, a joint memorandum titled ‘For a Truly Independent and Media Freedom Friendly Nigeria Press Council’, called on the National Assembly to expunge all laws intended to criminalise free speech and press. The memo was signed by the Executive Director, IPC, Lanre Arogundade; Executive Director, MRA, Edetaen Ojo; Executive Director, CMLA, Richard Akinnola; and Executive Director, PTCIJ, Dapo Olorunyomi. Arogundade, who read from the memo, said, “First, we like to say that the international behaviour towards media regulation is peer regulation, constitutionally guaranteed freedom of the press, and the expunging from statute all laws that criminalises freedom of expression. This is the line the Committee should tow like Ghana has done and like South Africa has done; and with regards to throwing off defamation statute from the books, the way Sierra Leone has done. “A consideration is that the amendment seeks an unabashed focus to restrict freedom of expression while masking the toga of something else. It attempts to do what other laws have done like the Cybercrimes Acts which Sections 24 and 38, which in no fewer than ten instances have been used to clampdown on bloggers or journalists for expressing opinion antagonistic to politically or economically powerful elites. “Bodies like the Amnesty International has documented 50 cases where the law had targeted, not cybercrime suspects, but bloggers and journalists for writing on what they ‘know to be false, for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will or needless anxiety to another.’” Others are that, “The ethical code that should be operationalised by the council is the Code of Ethics of Journalists in Nigeria as adopted by the Nigerian Press Organisation, comprising the Nigeria Union of Journalists, the Nigerian Guild of Editors and the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria in Ilorin in 1998 and as may be regularly updated. This has been the practice. A political and non-journalism office like that of the Minister of Information should not be given the power

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Post Date : June 17, 2021

Kebbi Rep Confirms Abduction At Yauri Girls’ College

The member representing Ngaski/Shanga/Yauri Federal Constituency of Kebbi State at the House of Representatives, Yusuf Tanko Sununu, has confirmed the abductions of students and teachers of Government Girls’ College, Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State. Sununu, who addressed journalists at the National Assembly, said the number of students and teachers abducted was yet to be ascertained. He called on the Federal Government and security agencies to rise to the occasion and ensure the rescue of the abducted students and teachers. Daily Trust had reported how armed men broke into the school on Thursday morning.

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Post Date : June 17, 2021

Constitution review: Igbo people want sixth state, says Uzodinma

The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, has advocated for an additional state for the South-East region. He said that Ndigbo would be proud of the country if a sixth state was created in the region. States in the region at the moment include Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia and Anambra while other geopolitical zones have at at least six states. The governor, who spoke during a public hearing in Owerri organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Amendment, said that the South-East people do not want to cede from the country. Uzodiinma said, “As Nigerians, we all want a country that should accommodate our legitimate desires without compromising the rights of others. It goes without saying therefore that the constitutional amendments that we all seek will address our fears as well as our expectations. “For us in the South-East, we have made it abundantly clear that we believe in a United Nigeria that works for the benefit of all. Last week, when the leaders of the South East met with the Presidential delegation led by the Hon Minister of Defence, we reiterated our stand that we don’t support secession. We also reaffirmed our quest for an equitable country where our youths do not get conflicting signals of being second-class citizens. “Fortunately, we are in a democracy where questions of doubt are resolved through dialogue and robust debate and not through violence or insurrection. That’s why this public hearing is most auspicious for the people of the South East. “As I canvassed when your colleagues from the Senate were here, the demand of our people is very simple. We want a Constitution that works for us, that accommodates us as equal citizens, that guarantees us justice, equity and fair play, a Constitution that makes us proud to be Nigeria. “Broadly speaking, our people want a Constitution that devolves more power to the federating units, that gives vent to restructuring, that allows for greater autonomy without losing the essence of the federation. In whatever name that it is called, we need a Constitution that will make us stay together as one country comfortably. “I am sure that Ohanaeze Ndigbo on behalf of Igbos would canvass our position before you. I am also sure that various Interest groups would also canvass their various positions. That is the beauty of democracy. Plurality of ideas distilled in a democratic Ambien makes for a strong Government. “But I think that Ndigbo will begin to see equity in action when an amended Constitution of the Federal Republic gives birth to a sixth state for them. This will go a long way to assuage their present worries. “Put succinctly, our people want a Constitutional guarantee of their inalienable rights as citizens, and that must include a palpable sense of justice, equity and fairness. I dare say that a sixth state will go a long way in this regard. “I, therefore, call on all Nigerians to take advantage of the opportunity presented by this exercise to present their memoranda and stop this blame game. Our constitution provides separation of power, it is the National Assembly that will alter, amend our constitution be it for state, police restructuring or additional states to be created not President Buhari.”

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Post Date : June 17, 2021

Why I killed my wife – Pastor

The pastor in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, who killed his wife and buried her corpse in a shallow grave inside the compound where they were living, has told the police why he did it. The 49-year-old Chris Enoch, from Ebonyi State, is the general overseer of Omega Word Global Ministries in Ikot Ataku village, Okon, in Eket, while his slain wife, Patience, 40, was a petty trader who used to sell pastries in the local market. They had five children together, the eldest is 15 years old. Mr Enoch’s church has been operating inside the same rented compound where he and his family have been living together. “The suspect, who had domestic differences with his wife, (and) accused her of being the source of his numerous woes in life and infidelity, confessed to have beaten her to death as a result of the unresolved differences on the 9th of June,” the police spokesperson in Akwa Ibom State, Odiko MacDon said in a statement on Thursday. “In order to cover his tracks, he dug a shallow grave in his compound and buried her. The deceased’s corpse has been exhumed by the Police and deposited in the mortuary for autopsy,” he added. The Commissioner of Police, Andrew Amiengheme has ordered the deputy commissioner of police in-charge of the SCIID to take over the investigation, and assured that the suspect would be charged to court after the investigation, Mr MacDon, a superintendent of police, said. The statement said the police commissioner was “appalled” by the killing, and has appealed to spouses “to be amenable to tolerance and resolve domestic issues before they degenerate into violence”. The commissioner warned that perpetrators of domestic violence and other crimes in the state would be made to face the law, except they desist from it. 127 suspected traffic robbers arrested in Lagos in four months – Police Gunmen abduct Chinese workers, kill policeman in Ogun Undeterred by public outcry, Nigerian govt wants its media censorship to include ‘all online media’ PREMIUM TIMES reported how the community became suspicious when the pastor’s children complained to neighbours that they had not seen their mother for days after she had a quarrel with their dad. The youths of the community, led by their president, Effiong Johnson, who is also a ‘community police officer’, went to search the pastor’s compound and were shocked to discover the woman’s corpse buried in a shallow grave. The pastor was handed over to the police by the community youths.

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Post Date : June 17, 2021

EFCC To Prosecute Orji Kalu All Over Again – Bawa

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Abdularasheed Bawa has said former Abia State governor, Orji Uzor Kalu will be prosecuted by the agency all over again. The anti-graft agency boss also said he is not perturbed over the threats to his life and he is determined to prosecute the many pending cases under trial. Bawa disclosed this on Thursday while addressing journalists during the weekly ministerial chat at the State House in Abuja. He gave insight into ongoing prosecutions, challenges, and increasing cases of financial crimes since his assumption into office 100 days ago. He also clarified reports accredited to him concerning the involvement of a Minister in the laundering of about $37 million into real estate. He disclosed that he simply made reference to an old case involving a former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Madueke. The EFCC Chairman further disclosed that since his first 100 days in office, the agency has been working on a number of proactive strategies including a special control unit against money laundering, established particularly to address non-designated financial institutions including car dealers, real estate, jewellery dealers, among others. Bawa said he is confident that when the unit is fully established, corruption will significantly decline in the country. He then added that the agency is equally working towards the development of a biometric ownership database to address money laundering. According to him, most proceeds of crime are laundered through real estate and have become a huge challenge. He gives examples of property acquired especially in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt where billions of naira are laundered through this means. He, however, declined to disclose actual perpetrators or the properties involved. He revealed that since his assumption, a number of recoveries have been made including N6billion, $161million, £13,000 pounds, €1,730 among others. Internet fraudsters numbering 1,502 have also been apprehended between January to June 2021and efforts are underway to file about 800 of them. A hundred cases will be filed in court.

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Post Date : June 17, 2021

Buhari visits Maiduguri, to inaugurate projects

There is a heavy presence of security operatives in Borno State as the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) and some service chiefs arrived Maiduguri, the state capital on Thursday morning. The presidential jet landed at the Nigerian Air Force wing of the Maiduguri International Airport around 10am. Buhari and his entourage were received by the state governor, Babagana Zulum; as well as other government officials. The governor, had in a statement on Wednesday, said, “President, Muhammadu Buhari, will be coming to Borno State on Thursday, the 17th of June, 2021. “The President is coming to appraise security situation in the northeast, during which he will commission some of developmental projects executed by the state government. “The President will also commission the first phase of 10,000 houses which he generously approved and funded, for the resettlement of IDPs and refugees.”

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