Gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted the provost of the College of Agriculture and Animal Science, Bakura, Zamafara State in the early hours of Sunday. According to a source, he was picked by the bandits around 2:00 am of today at his official resident within Government Science Secondary School, Bakura. More to follow.
Nigerian singer, Olanrewaju Fasasi, popularly known as Sound Sultan, has died at the age of 44. The singer died after battling Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma. This was disclosed in a statement signed by Dr. Kayode Fasasi on behalf of the Fasasi family. The statement read, “It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our multitalented veteran singer, rapper, songwriter Olanrewaju Fasasi aka Sound Sultan. “He passed away at the age of 44 following a hard-fought battle with Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma. “He is survived by his wife, three children and his siblings. “We, his family will appreciate the utmost privacy as we come to grips with this tragic loss.” Back in May, news in circulation had it that Sound Sultan was diagnosed with cancer and was in the United States undergoing treatment. This had many fans and well-wishers saying prayers for his speedy recovery through social media posts. Reacting, the singer shared on Instagram, saying, “I must not ignore the massive show of love. Thank you all. I will tell you my story myself it will be true THEN not false.”
Parents of the schoolgirls abducted from the Federal Girls’ College Yawuri, Kebbi State, have raised an alarm over the claim of the kidnappers that their daughters have been married off. Some of the parents said the kidnappers have been sending footages showing that their daughters were already married. It has been almost two weeks since the students were abducted from their school. One of the parents told BBC Hausa that whenever they called the kidnappers, they would tell them that their children are safe and healthy. However, he said the kidnappers were informing them that they did not want negotiate with them but the government. “Sometimes they call and give us our daughters to talk to us. If your child has your number then they will call and talk to you, But I have never spoken with my daughter since the time they were abducted,” he said. He added that since the abduction, only 10 of the abducted girls called their parents and spoke with them. He said the parents of some of the students held a meeting with the Kebbi state government. “The governor expressed his concern and said action would be taken, today is about two weeks but we have not heard anything,” he said. He added that they are now living in fear as the Eid is approaching. “Every other person lives happily in their houses, but we are in a state of anxiety.” He urged the government to help rescue their children from their abductors so they will have peace of mind.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja “to order the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) to perform their statutory functions to review downward the remuneration and allowances of President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, 36 governors and members of the National Assembly”. SERAP is arguing that “slashing jumbo pay for these high-ranking political office-holders would reduce the unfair pay disparity between political officer holders and judicial officers, address the persistent poor treatment of judges, and improve access of victims of corruption to justice and effective remedies”. In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/658/2021 filed on Friday, SERAP is seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel the RMAFC to send its downward review of the remuneration and allowances of these high-ranking public office holders and recommendations to the National Assembly for appropriate remedial and legislative action, as provided for by the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended].” The suit was filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Ms Adelanke Aremo. SERAP is also seeking “an order of mandamus to direct and compel the RMAFC to perform its mandatory constitutional duty to urgently review upward the remuneration, salaries, and allowances, as well as the conditions of service for Nigerian judges.” Joined in the suit as respondents are Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; Speaker of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, for themselves, and on behalf of all members of the Senate and House of Representative; and the National Judicial Council. According to SERAP, while high-ranking political office-holders continue to enjoy lavish allowances, including life pensions, and access to security votes, which they have powers to spend as they wish, the remuneration and allowances of judges are grossly insufficient to enable them to maintain themselves and their families in reasonable comfort. “The huge pay disparity between these high-ranking political officer-holders and judges is unfair, unjust, and discriminatory, especially given the roles of judges to the people and the country,” it said. “While government reviewed upward the salaries and allowances of political office holders on four occasions between May 1999 and March 2011, the salaries and allowances of judicial officers were only reviewed twice during the same period.” Prior to filing the suit, SERAP had written to the NSIWC about the matter and received confirmation about its powers. “The NSIWC in a letter to SERAP admitted that it has powers to examine, streamline and recommend the salary scales applicable to each post in the public service but informed us to redirect our request to the RMAFC,” SERAP said. “There is a legal duty upon the RMAFC to urgently review downward the remuneration and allowances of high-ranking political office-holders.” As far as the legal and advocacy organisation is concerned, the current situation amounts to the unfair, discriminatory and unconstitutional treatment of judges. “Despite their important roles and responsibilities, Nigerian judges are poorly treated, particularly when their remuneration, salaries, allowances, and conditions of service are compared with that of political office-holders. Judges should not have to endure the most poignant financial worries,” it said. Beyond the disparity between the remuneration of judges and political office holders, SERAP’s suit is also based on the impact of the increase in cost of living and the importance of the roles played by judges, a role it considers as second to none with regard to providing justice and protecting human rights. “As a safeguard of judicial independence, the budget of the judiciary ought to be prepared in collaboration with the judiciary having regard to the peculiar needs and requirements of judicial administration,” it said. “The remuneration and pensions of judges must be secured by law at an adequate level that is consistent with their status and is sufficient to safeguard against conflict of interest and corruption.” No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
The camp of Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo alias Igboho, on Saturday denied that he was about to soft pedal or dialogue with the federal authorities. Reacting last night to Friday’s offer by the Oluwo of Iwo, Osun State, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, to intervene in the face-off between government and Igboho, the spokesman of the activist, Olayomi Koiki, said there had been no contact between the monarch and the agitator lately. Koiki also denied that Igboho was about to drop the agitation for a Yoruba nation. But the Oluwo said only Igboho “can speak for himself” on whether he is ready for talks of not. “Nobody can speak for him,” he told The Nation on the phone last night. The Presidency itself appeared to play down the matter when contacted on Saturday. Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics Igboho disowns Oluwo’s intervention, stands by Yoruba Nation agitation July 11, 2021 Igboho disowns Oluwo’s intervention, stands by Yoruba Nation agitation FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedInWhatsAppEmail By Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, Gbenga Aderanti and Yinka Adeniran, Ibadan Monarch: Agitator’s aides merely using him for their ends Presidency: Only DSS, Police, AGF can determine his fate The camp of Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo alias Igboho, on Saturday denied that he was about to soft pedal or dialogue with the federal authorities. Reacting last night to Friday’s offer by the Oluwo of Iwo, Osun State, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, to intervene in the face-off between government and Igboho, the spokesman of the activist, Olayomi Koiki, said there had been no contact between the monarch and the agitator lately. Koiki also denied that Igboho was about to drop the agitation for a Yoruba nation. But the Oluwo said only Igboho “can speak for himself” on whether he is ready for talks of not. “Nobody can speak for him,” he told The Nation on the phone last night. The Presidency itself appeared to play down the matter when contacted on Saturday. A source said only the Director of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, could determine Igboho’s fate. It was the DSS that coordinated the raid in the activist’s Ibadan residence penultimate Thursday, arrested some of his aides and declared him wanted. Igboho has since gone underground. Koiki, his spokesman, told The Nation yesterday that he was not aware of any contact lately between Oba Akanbi and Igboho. “Not at any time, not even a single call,” he said. But he admitted that Igboho visited the oba way back in 2018 to reciprocate a similar one by the traditional ruler to the activist. He said it was on that occasion at the Oluwo’s palace that the photograph of Igboho prostrating for the oba, now trending on social media, was taken. “The news that Chief Sunday Adeyemo visited the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi is not true,” he said. “The 2018 picture was taken during a return visit after he (Oluwo) came to chief’s house.” He insisted that Igboho has also not dropped his agitation for a Yoruba nation. He said any claim to the contrary is a lie. He promised to give a comprehensive response soon by way of an audio message. Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics Igboho disowns Oluwo’s intervention, stands by Yoruba Nation agitation July 11, 2021 Igboho disowns Oluwo’s intervention, stands by Yoruba Nation agitation FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedInWhatsAppEmail By Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, Gbenga Aderanti and Yinka Adeniran, Ibadan Monarch: Agitator’s aides merely using him for their ends Presidency: Only DSS, Police, AGF can determine his fate The camp of Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo alias Igboho, on Saturday denied that he was about to soft pedal or dialogue with the federal authorities. Reacting last night to Friday’s offer by the Oluwo of Iwo, Osun State, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, to intervene in the face-off between government and Igboho, the spokesman of the activist, Olayomi Koiki, said there had been no contact between the monarch and the agitator lately. Koiki also denied that Igboho was about to drop the agitation for a Yoruba nation. But the Oluwo said only Igboho “can speak for himself” on whether he is ready for talks of not. “Nobody can speak for him,” he told The Nation on the phone last night. The Presidency itself appeared to play down the matter when contacted on Saturday. A source said only the Director of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, could determine Igboho’s fate. It was the DSS that coordinated the raid in the activist’s Ibadan residence penultimate Thursday, arrested some of his aides and declared him wanted. Igboho has since gone underground. Koiki, his spokesman, told The Nation yesterday that he was not aware of any contact lately between Oba Akanbi and Igboho. “Not at any time, not even a single call,” he said. But he admitted that Igboho visited the oba way back in 2018 to reciprocate a similar one by the traditional ruler to the activist. He said it was on that occasion at the Oluwo’s palace that the photograph of Igboho prostrating for the oba, now trending on social media, was taken. “The news that Chief Sunday Adeyemo visited the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi is not true,” he said. “The 2018 picture was taken during a return visit after he (Oluwo) came to chief’s house.” He insisted that Igboho has also not dropped his agitation for a Yoruba nation. He said any claim to the contrary is a lie. He promised to give a comprehensive response soon by way of an audio message. Oluwo: Nobody can speak for Igboho Contacted last night on the reaction from Igboho’s camp, Oba Akanbi said: “It is only Igboho that can speak for himself now. Nobody can speak for him. “If he wants to continue fighting the way he has been fighting, let him go ahead. “If he wants his normal life back, let him go
The British passport on which the re-arrested leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, purportedly travelled to Kenya, still remains in the East African country, The Guardian of London reported Saturday. Kanu was re-arrested in Kenya in what the federal government called international collaborative efforts late last month. Kenya had denied involvement in the operation. Kanu later admitted to his counsel Ifeanyi Ejiofor that he was indeed nabbed in Nairobi from where he was flown to Abuja to continue his trial for treasonable felony. But The Guardian in its report said evidence seen by it showed that Kanu entered Kenya this year on his British passport on a visa expiring in June. It said the passport remains in Kenya. The newspaper Saturday quoted Kingsley, Kanu’s bother, as saying he had spoken to him while he was in Kenya days before he went missing last month. His words: “I spoke to him on the phone, he was well in Nairobi. “His associates said he went out, he didn’t take his documents with him so he wasn’t planning on going anywhere. “Then all of a sudden we see him paraded in handcuffs in Abuja. “It is an extraordinary rendition, aided by Kenyan authorities. “It is an outrage that cannot be allowed to happen. We are holding the Nigerian government and Kenyan government responsible. “The British government, they know what is happening.” Kingsly Kanu also said UK officials had made contact with the family and legal team and that there were concerns he would be abused in detention. He said: “I am concerned for his wellbeing because you know how they will treat him.” Kanu also claimed that his brother was not in possession of a Nigerian passport as he had verbally renounced Nigerian citizenship in broadcasts on Radio Biafra. The British newspaper said abduction of a person from a foreign country with the aim of rendition to justice is illegal under international law. But Attorney General of the Federation and Justice Minister Abubakar Malami has repeatedly denied that Kanu’s re-arrest was illegal as Nigeria applied due process in Kanu’s extradition. “It was abundantly clear that bench warrant was lawfully and judiciously procured through judicial process by a competent court of law, whose bail condition Nnamdi Kanu breached with impunity,” the minister said last week. He added: “There was no illegality in the entire process and the question of illegality does not even arise. “It is a common principle of the law that he who comes to equity must come with clean hands.”
Armed bandits have abducted a second class Emir of Kajuru, Alhaji Alhassan Adamu at his residence in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna state. The bandits also whisked away 12 other family members of the emir including women and children. The grandson of the emir and traditional title holder of Dan Kajuru, Saidu Musa confirmed the abduction to Daily trust. He said the incident happened around 12:30 am. Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, and the Police Public Relations Officer, Jalige Mohamed didn’t answer their calls. Details later.
The House of Representatives is considering making a president or governor lose their seat if they defect from the political party on whose platform they were elected to another. Presently, the constitution only prescribes such for National Assembly and state House of Assembly members. A member of the Peoples Democratic Party from Taraba State, Rimamnde Kwewum, has now sponsored a bill to extend the condition to the president, vice-president, governor and deputy governor. Since the last general elections in 2019, governors who have changed parties include David Umahi of Ebonyi State, Ben Ayade of Cross River State, and recently Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State. The bill, which is awaiting second reading by the House, seeks to amend sections 144(1) and 189(1) of the 1999 Constitution “to check incidents of defections, that is, cross-carpetings or abandoning the political party that sponsored a president, vice-president, governor or deputy governor, as the case may be, for another political party, in the absence of a merger of political parties, division or factions within the sponsoring political party.” Kwewum, in the legislative brief on the bill, said, “Presently, only legislators in the national and state Houses of Assembly lose their seats if they defect to other political parties. The intention remains the need to improve and deepen democracy by strengthening the political parties. “There is no doubting the fact that all through history, political parties have remained the strongest pillars of democracy. They provide choices for people by professing and working through some governing philosophies, and help to educate people on different patterns of developments being proposed by the different political parties. “Often regarded by political parties which sponsored them as leaders, presidents and governors cannot abandon their political parties and retain the seat that they earned by the sponsoring political parties. “There is, therefore, a need to ensure that political parties retain their hold on the states or governments that they have won. Fact is that under the present constitution, you cannot run for that office without the party.” According to the lawmaker, people vote for parties and that is why party symbols are used on ballot parties. “Winners of elections, by this logic, are simply agents of the political parties,” Kwewum argued. He said it was important, therefore, that once an elected person, the president, vice-president, governor or deputy president abandons the position to which they were elected, “it means they no longer have confidence in the political party and do not share the same ideologies or principles.” “Principled people ought not to be told to vacate such offices,” Kwewum added.
The apex Igbo organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has come out with a comment on its position on the re-arraignment and consequent trial of the Biafran secessionist leader and head of the Indigenous Peoples Of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. In a communique issued after the meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, held on Saturday in Enugu and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, where current local and national issues were discussed and far-reaching resolutions passed. Ohanaeze Ndigbo stated that “ We have observed with keen interest the recent re-arraignment and consequent trial of our son, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.” Ohanaeze insisted that “in as much as Ohanaeze Ndigbo is not averse to the trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, we, however, submit that he should be tried within the ambit of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and in line with global best practices.” The apex Igbo body pledged its support to his defence promising “that as part of our avowed determination to ensure the fair trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, we have constituted a legal team led by the National Legal Adviser of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and eminent Igbo leaders to monitor the legal proceedings, throughout the trial.” Meanwhile, the Ohanaeze has thrown its weight behind the recent decisions of the Southern Governors on the ban on open grazing, restructuring, rotation of the presidency to the south and 5 percent share to host communities in the Petroleum Industries Bill (PIB). Ohanaeze aligned their position with that of the Igbo youths noting “that we identify with the Igbo youths in their grievances with respect to Igbo marginalisation, menace of the Fulani herdsmen, etc; however, we do not support the use of any form of violence to redress the relative deprivation and prevailing inequality and injustice across the country.” The group, therefore, urged the youths to eschew violence and advised them to be law abiding and “sheath their sword as the South-East leaders and stakeholders address these our collective grievances through meaningful dialogue and negotiations.” It further urged Ndigbo particularly the youths to take the ongoing voters’ registration exercise seriously, “as this is the only means that guarantees effective participation in Nigerian politics anda sine qua non to achieve our goals and aspirations in Nigeria project.”
Protesting women numbering over 50 from Obodoukwu in Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State have locked up Bolingo Ranch Hotel for allegedly harbouring hoodlums suspected to be members of the Eastern Security network (ESN). The angry women, while barricading the facility on Saturday, expressed fear it would be dangerous for any hotel in their community to harbour such people since security agencies were searching for them. But management of the hotel described the action of the women as blackmail intended to mislead the public. Its Managing Director, Emeka Madueke, alleged the women were being deceived by enemies who wanted then out of business. Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics Protesting women seal hotel allegedly harbouring ESN members It’s blackmail, says management July 10, 2021 Protesting women seal hotel allegedly harbouring ESN members FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedInWhatsAppEmail By Chris Njoku, Owerri Protesting women numbering over 50 from Obodoukwu in Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State have locked up Bolingo Ranch Hotel for allegedly harbouring hoodlums suspected to be members of the Eastern Security network (ESN). The angry women, while barricading the facility on Saturday, expressed fear it would be dangerous for any hotel in their community to harbour such people since security agencies were searching for them. But management of the hotel described the action of the women as blackmail intended to mislead the public. Its Managing Director, Emeka Madueke, alleged the women were being deceived by enemies who wanted then out of business. Read Also: Police raid ESN/IPOB camps in Imo Madueke said: “The former owner of the hotel after leasing the hotel for 20 years decided to take it back before the expiration of the lease period. “Because the owners of the hotel resisted, they cooked up the story of harbouring kidnappers to the gullible women. “They took us to the traditional ruler that the hotel is a den of kidnappers. After investigation, they found out that what they accused us of was not true.” When approached to explain their action, the women refused to talk to journalists. They rather attacked the reporters and ordered them to leave the community.
