July 2021 – Page 73 – Crime Facts

Post Date : July 10, 2021

SAD: How woman lost four kids in Delta accident

TWENTY four hours after, personal effects of pupils of Army Day Primary School, Effurun, Delta state, still littered the spot where some of the pupils were crushed by a truck laden with fuel on Thursday. The truck had, on Thursday, fallen on some pupils of the school who were returning home after closing hours along the NPA Expressway, opposite the school gate. It was earlier speculated on the day of the incident that six pupils died while some others who were injured were rushed to the hospital. But Saturday Tribune later found out from eyewitnesses and residents around the area that the figure may be higher. When our reporter visited the scene on Friday, foot wares and personal effects were seen on the spot where the truck ran over the pupils. Scores of sympathisers were seen in groups, with hands wrapped around their chests, discussing the tragedy in hushed tones and in grief. ‌A few of them who granted some audience to our reporter did not disclose their identities just as the soldiers manning the army barracks did not grant our reporter entry into the school to speak with the authorities. “I am a trailer driver. The incident happened around 2:30 p.m on Thursday. One of the drivers that loaded his trailer with PMS from one of the depots was going towards the roundabout. “All of a sudden, he Iost control and the trailer fell on the pupils that came from the school (Army Day School) waiting for vehicles to convey them home, directly opposite the Army Barracks. “Though people were saying that some injured were taken to the hospital, but with the position, the trailer fell. I’m not sure any of them survived. I’m sure they were up to 20,” he disclosed. Another witness, who gave his name as Victor, claimed that he was related to the lady that reportedly lost four children to the accident. Asking him how old the children were, he said he couldn’t say because he had not seen them for long. According to him, the eldest one, a girl, should be 12 years old, adding that the deceased were two boys and two girls. A lady, who lives in the army barracks, claimed the mother of the four deceased children was with her children at the bus stop when the incident happened. “Their mother came to pick them home from school. She had already crossed to the bus stop opposite the barracks with her children and had gone back to take her neighbour’s children. “But immediately she left her children and crossed to the gate of the school, the trailer coming from NPA direction crashed on the children. The woman, on seeing what had happened, fainted. “No fewer than 20 children were crushed by the trailer. It was a horrible sight. They had to pull the children from under the trailer. I’m not sure anyone survived. We all wept seeing mangled bodies of little, innocent children,” she lamented. Meanwhile, chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Dr Michael Tidi, has condoled with families of the pupils, the management of the school and chairman of Uvwie Local Government Area, Hon. Ramson Tega Onoyake.

Post Date : July 10, 2021

Don’t allow Obaseki take custody of 1,130 stolen artefacts, Oba of Benin urges FG

Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, has asked the Federal Government to temporarily take custody of 1,130 stolen Benin artefacts after they are repatriated from Europe amid the controversy surrounding where the artefacts will be housed. The Benin Palace and the Edo State Government have been at loggerheads over where the artefacts will be housed. While the palace wants the artefacts kept in the Benin Royal Museum, which will be built within the palace, the state government wants the items preserved in the proposed Edo Museum of West African Arts. But Oba Ewuare II, at a world press conference on Friday at the palace, said that there was no controversy over the issue, as an agreement had been reached that the artefacts would be housed in the royal museum. However, a press release from the Government House also on Friday quoted Governor Godwin Obaseki as saying in Germany that a “transformational” museum would be built in Benin to house the artefacts upon their return, as part of a new cultural district in the city. The artefacts were allegedly looted during the invasion of the Benin Kingdom in 1897 by the British led by Captain Philip. Speaking at his palace on Friday, Oba Ewuare II insisted that the right and only legitimate destination of the about-to-be-repatriated artefacts was the Benin Royal Museum. He said, “I have called this meeting today (Friday) to intimate you of the matter of the Benin artefacts in Europe on the verge of being repatriated, which I am sure you have heard and read about in recent weeks. You may also have heard about the recent activities of a group of individuals who incorporated a company since January 2020 called Legacy Restoration Trust Limited. “It has become germane to note that the advocacy and demands for the return of the artefacts looted from the Benin Kingdom in 1897 have been going on for decades before the emergence of the incumbent Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki. I must sincerely thank the governor for joining the struggle and showing commitment to retrieve our stolen cultural heritage from Europe. “While anticipating the return of the looted artefacts from Europe, I want to note that attempts to divert the destination or the right of custody of the artefacts is not in the interest of the people of Benin Kingdom, to whom the Palace of the Oba of Benin provides leadership. The looted artefacts awaiting repatriation from Europe are the cultural heritage of the Benin Kingdom created by our ancestors and forefathers within the traditional norms and rites of the kingdom. “They are not property of the state government or any private corporate entity that is not a creation of the Benin Kingdom. The right and only legitimate destination for the artefacts to be repatriated as already pronounced by my father is under the aegis of the Benin Royal Museum that will be sited within the precincts of the Palace of the Oba of Benin, from where they were looted, and also, the proper traditional institution that is also the custodian of all the cultural heritage of the Benin Kingdom. “The palace, therefore, strongly advises that anyone, group, organisation, or government – national and international – that is dealing with any organisation or artificial group in the process of returning the looted artefacts from the Benin Kingdom would be doing so at their own risk and against the will of the people of the Benin Kingdom.” Oba Ewuare II said he did not believe that the move by a privately registered company, Legacy Restoration Trust Ltd, and the purported establishment of Edo Museum of West African Arts, were in consonance with the wishes of the people of Benin Kingdom, adding that after his ascension to the throne, he had several discussions with Obaseki on the plan for the Benin Royal Museum. The monarch said the governor expressed his readiness to work with the palace to actualise the wish of his late father, adding that he had acquired additional plots of land from different families within the Adesogbe area near the palace for the purpose of building the Benin Royal Museum. The monarch said he was, however, surprised to read Obaseki’s letter to the palace wherein a new museum was being proposed, and which would be funded and executed through the vehicle of Legacy Restoration Trust Ltd. He said, “I informed him (Obaseki) that Oba Ewuare II Foundation had been registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and had worked out a framework for not only receiving the artefacts but also building a modern structure – the Benin Royal Museum – within the precincts of the palace and that land has been secured for the building of the Benin Royal Museum under the supervision of the traditional institution. “But for reasons best known to him, the governor has gone against the understanding, given recent events. As a matter of fact, the people of Benin Kingdom and other stakeholders, especially the Benin Dialogue Group, had at different meetings endorsed the Benin Royal Museum to be built within the palace, as well as endorsing the Oba Ewuare II Foundation for fundraising and other requisite administration processes. “We wish to use this medium to call on the Federal Government to take custody of these artefacts on behalf of the palace until the Benin Royal Museum is ready for their collection. Under no circumstances should the custody of our age-old artefacts be handed to any privately contrived entity like Legacy Restoration Trust.” Oba Ewuare II advised Obaseki to review his approach of using the private vehicle of Legacy Restoration Trust Ltd and the Edo Museum of West African Art and see how he could “genuinely collaborate with the Oba’s palace in accordance with our original understanding. We thank the German government for its interest and willingness to return the Benin artefacts,” the monarch said. “Perhaps, there is a bridge or gap in communication, not on our side but on the side of the state governor, Obaseki,

Post Date : July 10, 2021

My husband feeds our children who are SS with alcoholic drink, woman tells court

The five-year-old wedlock between a woman, Mufuliat Soremekun and her husband, Abass Soremekun was recently dissolved by Oja Oba/ Mapo Court C Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State. Mufuliat who dragged her husband to court alleged that he was a drunk. She added that he has introduced their two children who are underage to this habit. The plaintiff explained that the defendant was irresponsible and that he had constantly failed in his duty as the breadwinner in the family. Mufuliat added that Abass, rather than feed their children with nourishing food, introduced them to alcoholic drinks. According to her, their children sometimes get intoxicated and would start to misbehave. Mufuliat expressed fear that their children might not turn out well in life. The plaintiff also accused the defendant of deceit. She told the court that her husband lied to her that his genotype was AA but that the damage was already done by the time she discovered he was AS. Mufuliat stated that their two children are SS and that taking care of their health had become a herculean task because Abass never gave her moral or financial support. Abass gave his consent to divorce. The defendant denied most of the allegations leveled against him, describing his wife as “a thief.” According to him, Mufuliat recently broke into his safe when he was not around and stole N80,000. Abass told the court he couldn’t wait to part ways with Mufuliat because he was tired of living with a thief. Mufuliat in her testimony told the court that, “My lord, I am fed up with my husband. I am tired of warning him against alcohol. “Abass drinks alcohol like water and that is all he spends his income on. “My husband inherited this habit from his father and has also initiated our two children in it. “Abass as the breadwinner has neglected our children’s welfare and denied them good food. He prefers to feed them with alcoholic drinks which I frown on. “My lord, there were times these children get intoxicated and start to misbehave as a result of the effect of the strong drink,” the plaintiff said Mufuliat added that, “Abass is a liar. He deceived me into marrying him. “I told Abass at the outset of our relationship that I am AS but he lied that he was AA. Our children are today paying for his crooked ways because both of them are SS. “My husband has not been morally or financially supportive since this discovery. His attitude is causing my health to fail and I now have blood pressure,” the plaintiff stated. Abass in his evidence said, “My lord, I am tired of living with a thief. Mufuliat broke into the safe I kept in my room and stole my N80,000. She has refused to return the money. “I don’t want Mufuliat any longer in my life. I, therefore, agree that you separate us,” he said. He went on: “It is true that I beat my wife but she is to blame. Mufuliat is stubborn and never relents on disobeying my orders. She loves to have her way but I have warned her times without number that she either listens to me or leave my house. “My wife and her family members have milked me dry and I am in huge debt because I was always trying to satisfy them. “Mufuliat once lied to me that she was pregnant with our third child. She knew I normally pamper and lavish money on her when in this state,” Abass concluded. Ruling after he had heard both parties, the court president, Chief Ademola Odunade dissolved their union. Odunade awarded custody of the two children to the plaintiff and ordered the defendant to pay the sum of N5,000 per child, every month for their upkeep in addition to being responsible for their education and welfare.

Post Date : July 10, 2021

Mass protest looms over detention of Dunamis 5

Human rights activist and pro-democracy campaigner, Omoyele Sowore, has threatened another mass protest if some youths arrested for wearing ‘Buhari Must Go’ T-shirts to a Sunday Service at Dunamis International Gospel Centre Headquarters in Lugbe, last Sunday, are not released within seven days. Those arrested and detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) are Emmanuel Larry, Henry Nwodo, Samuel Gabriel, Ben Manasseh and Anene Udoka. They wore T-Shirts with the inscription #BuhariMustGo to the church and were picked up by DSS operatives. Sowore, at a press conference organised in Abuja, yesterday, by a group called ‘Take It Back Movement’, also alleged that the General Overseer and Senior Pastor of the church, Pastor Paul Enenche, collaborated with the DSS to effect the arrest of the persons. According to him, “the church has allowed itself to be used by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, which he described as despotic. “The church should be a refuge for the oppressed and not a collaborator with oppressors. We are urging the church since it handed over the five persons to the DSS to tell them to release the detainees,” he stated. Earlier, Damilare Adenola of the Take It Back Movement, who presided over the press conference, accused the Buhari administration of “heinous violation of the rights of Nigerian citizens.” “Aspart of our commitment to the fight against injustice as a group, we use this opportunity to also condemn the regime for its acts of heinous violations of the rights of Nigerian citizens who are agitating for the respect for people’s rights to life, dignity and self-determination rights, such as the case of Nnamdi Kanu, who was tortured and unlawfully repatriated from Kenya; Sheikh El-zakyzaky, whose arbitrary detention has spanned over 2000 days; Oduduwa republic agitators, whose house was invaded and resulted in the extra-judicial killing of two persons and continued illegal detention of 13 persons and #EndSARS activists wallowing in illegal detention. “It should be noted that human rights are sacred under the law and they remain guaranteed and protected. We, therefore, call for the immediate and unconditional release of all these individuals and those not mentioned but who are facing unjust punishment. To reiterate, if these releases however are not done in the next seven days, a mass nationwide protest would be called to compel the regime to heed the voice of justice,” the group said. The group announced that it had filed a court process for the enforcement of the fundamental human rights of the detained persons. The suit, according to Adenola, joined the DSS Director-General and Pastor Enenche. The group described the arrest and continued detention of the five persons as completely illegal and crude. “For the records, it is important to state that since the unfortunate event, the detained young people have been denied access to their lawyer and close family members, even though they have not committed any offence known to the laws of Nigeria “You would agree with us that the arrest and continued detention of these courageous young people have no basis in law and are a contravention of their fundamental human rights to freedom of expression, assembly and freedom movement as guaranteed under Sections 39, 40, and 41, respectively, of the Nigerian constitution and other international conventions and treaties to which Nigeria is a party to,” Adenola added. When reminded that a Bill is being processed in the National Assembly that may outlaw ‘unlawful’ protests, the group said no such law could be passed because it would contradict the provisions of the constitution. “Nobody can criminalise protest because the constitution allows it. I can tell you that any such law will be null and void because of its contradiction to the Constitution. “Protest is a democratic right across the world and I am sure that Nigerians are waiting for the Bill to be thrown into the dustbin of history,” Adenola stated. Also, the Executive Director, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Adetokunbo Mumuni, condemned the Bill, saying: “I don’t think that bill can stand the test of legal scrutiny if passed into law, because that bill is an attempt to gag the right to freedom of expression of Nigerians. That law cannot stand in case it is passed. It is not possible to tell protesters that you will be jailed if you protest. “Protesting is the right of every citizen and their way of expressing an opinion in respect to issues they don’t feel comfortable with. The idea of a protest, once it is not violent, is allowed and must be allowed in any democratic society. So, sentencing someone to five years imprisonment for this is an attempt to gag and contain the freedom of Nigerian people to express their opinion without affection or ill will. That is the way I see it. If it is challenged, it cannot stand the test of the legal contest.” Speaking in the same vein, a former Senator from Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani, condemned members of the House of Representatives for proposing a bill to imprison ‘unlawful’ protesters. Sani, who spoke with an online medium, yesterday, said it was another step to register tyranny against people, adding that members of the Lower Chamber were enjoying democracy got on a platter of many protests against the military dictatorship. “That bill is nothing but a step towards institutionalising tyranny and oppression in Nigeria. It is condemnable and unacceptable that an institution of democracy like the House of Representatives will craft a tyrannical bill that is trying to suppress the fundamental rights of the people who want to organise themselves and protest against injustice and oppression. “It is disappointing that democratically-elected representatives of the people are using the democratic platform as an institution to build an edifice of oppression. “They need to understand that it is the culture and practice of protest that freed Nigerian from the military dictatorship that made it possible for democracy to thrive in this country and also for them to enjoy it as representatives of

Post Date : July 10, 2021

More pressure on Senate to reject Lauretta Onochie’s nomination

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) claimed yesterday that the nomination of Presidential aide, Lauretta Onochie, for appointment as a commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is part of an alleged plot to “perfect Buhari’s third term agenda.” The coalition labeled the nomination “a dangerous threat to democracy and the unveiling of APC’s third-term agenda.” It is the latest of the many objections to the nomination. Onochie, who is President Muhammadu Buhari’s Personal Assistant on Social Media, faced the Senate on Thursday for screening. The CUPP in a statement signed by its spokesman, Mark Adebayo, berated the Presidency for ignoring public outcry against Onochie’s nomination for the INEC job. It said: “Since last year that the nomination of Mrs Onochie went public, many socio-political organisations, opinion moulders, civil society organisations and the general public have raised the alarm on the danger a publicly biased individual can unleash on our electoral system and democracy, but typical of this government that runs a near-fascist regime, it has ignored these patriotic calls for restraint on this Onochie nomination nonsense. berated the Presidency for ignoring public outcry against Onochie’s nomination for the INEC job. It said: “Since last year that the nomination of Mrs Onochie went public, many socio-political organisations, opinion moulders, civil society organisations and the general public have raised the alarm on the danger a publicly biased individual can unleash on our electoral system and democracy, but typical of this government that runs a near-fascist regime, it has ignored these patriotic calls for restraint on this Onochie nomination nonsense. Read Also: I’m not APC card-carrying member, Onochie tells Senate “It is now very clear that her nomination is not unconnected with the rumoured third-term agenda of Mr. President. Otherwise, why should the President continue to push for her nomination despite public outcry against her nomination? “Meanwhile, whatever Mrs Onochie says to the contrary, she is an APC member and an active member of Buhari campaign groups. She has not resigned her membership of the APC and remains vocal in her support for the Buhari government. “Such a person, especially with Mrs Onochie’s pedigree of insulting majority of Nigerians who disagree with the failed government under which she serves due to her blind biases, cannot be trusted with a sensitive national assignment as the position of an INEC commissioner. “It is not only dangerous to our democracy but a present and clear danger to the integrity of our electoral processes. “An Onochie as INEC’s national commissioner is like having a known criminal preside as a judge in a case where he/she is the accused. Put differently, it is akin to asking a student to mark his/her examination script and those of his/her colleagues who sat for the same examination together. Nobody can expect the scales of justice to balance in such a scenario. “Yet, that’s what we have here. It is no rocket science to know that Mrs Onochie can never be neutral in any election involving her party and her principal’s interests. “She can’t be trusted to preside over a free, fair and credible election anywhere and at any level in Nigeria. We suspect that her appointment is a targeted one to perfect the third-term agenda of General Buhari’s cabal. “We call on the Nigerian Senate to toe the path of honour and reject this terrible nomination by not confirming her nomination. Should the Senate go ahead to confirm Onochie’s nomination, it would become an accomplice after the fact of electoral robberies that are bound to happen under her watch. “If the President wouldn’t listen to the voice of reason and the citizens’ concerns as he is wont to, you the representatives of the people must save our fledgling democracy by rejecting Mrs Onochie’s nomination and reserve for yourselves a place on the right pages of history and posterity. “An Onochie confirmation would inflict a damaging dent on the integrity of our elections. Don’t confirm her.” The nominee sparked an outrage on Thursday after telling the Senate that she ceased to be an APC member in 2019, contrary to the affidavit she swore to before her nomination affirming her membership of the party. A tweet she posted on June 24, 2020 promoting the APC also went viral on social media. “There is DEFINITELY an APC e-NEC meeting TOMORROW. We are going through a growth process. Thank you everyone,” she had tweeted at the time She acknowledged on Thursday the many petitions against her drawing attention to her membership of the APC and the fact that someone from her state –Delta – was already on the board of INEC. Petitions came from civil society organisations. The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has also kicked against her nomination. She told the Senate that she is no longer partisan. She said: “I have seen the petitions against me but I stand for justice and fairness. Thus nobody has anything to fear. I am madam due process and this is the reason behind my attacks, because I follow the law and due process. “Since Buhari was elected as president for the second term, I have removed myself from everything about politics. Since 2019, I don’t have anything to do with politics. As I am sitting down here, I am not a member of any political party in this country.”

Post Date : July 10, 2021

Police allegedly torture 33-year old breadwinner to death in Bauchi

A 33-year old breadwinner has allegedly been tortured to death by a combined team of policemen attached to the Yelwa Division and a vigilante group in Bauchi State. Saturday PUNCH learnt that the deceased, Dauda Danladi, was arrested by the team of security agents in front of his shop located in Yelwa Kagadama, a suburb of Bauchi metropolis around 9pm on Thursday. He was said to have been taken to the Yelwa Division, where he was allegedly tortured to death. When our correspondent visited the house around 6pm on Friday, family members and several sympathisers were seen weeping. An eyewitness, Liatu Nuhu, who sells groundnut milk and rice gruel close to the shop of the deceased said the police and the vigilante arrived in Gestapo style and started arresting people indiscriminately. Nuhu said, “I was doing my business when, suddenly, the police and some vigilantes came, more than 10 of them, and started arresting people. The Divisional Police Officer got out of the vehicle and directed them, ‘Arrest him! Arrest him!’ “And that was how they arrested the boys playing snooker, others who were chatting and the deceased who was standing in front of his shop. We kept telling them not to arrest him, we told them that he was our neighbour here and we knew him to be someone of good character. We asked why they would arrest him, but they still took him away.” Nuhu added, “Today (Friday) in the morning, we went to the police station around 7am, they told us to stay at a far distance and wait for the DPO to come to the office. So, I decided to go to my place of work. “By 10.15am, I returned, only for me to see the deceased’s wife crying profusely. When I asked her what happened, she told me that her husband was dead.” Atican beach -Video Vixen When contacted, the Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State, Sylvester Alabi, told journalists on the phone that five people were arrested with a revolver pistol in the area. He said two of them were later released because they were found innocent while the other two were still being held at the Police station. “The deceased was not even part of them, he was about 200 metres ahead. He was gasping for breath in his business place and the police assisted him to the hospital and then, he died. “If police had not assisted him to the hospital, people would have said they are bad people. The police now assisted, now na wahala (sic).” “I have told the PPRO to go to the media and tell people the correct version of the story,” he stated. As of the time of filing this report, 7.30pm, the PPRO has yet to make any official statement.

Post Date : July 9, 2021

Top Nigerian pastors absent at TB Joshua’s burial

Top Nigerian pastors and religious leaders were absent as the founder of Synagogue Church of All Nations, Temitope Balogun Joshua, aka TB Joshua, was laid to rest on Friday. The PUNCH had reported that T.B Joshua, who was laid to rest in the church premises at Ikotun, Lagos, died a few days to his 58 birthday anniversary. The cleric was said to have died after concluding a programme at the Synagogue Church Of All Nations on Saturday, June 5. SCOAN had at a news conference on June 29 said that July 5 to July 11 would be dedicated for a series of Joshua’s ‘laying to rest’ activities tagged: ‘Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Prophet Joshua (1963 to 2021)’. Among the top pastors absent are Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God; Pastor Sam Adeyemi of Daystar; Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church also known as Winners Chapel; W.F Kumuyi of Deeper Life Church; Paul Enenche of Dunamis Church; Lazarus Mouka of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Church. Others are Chris Okotie of the Household of God Church International Ministries; Tunde Bakare of Citadel Global Community Church (formerly Latter Rain Assembly), and Matthew Ashimolowo of of Kingsway International Christian Centre. However, some prominent Nigerians and dignitaries, including the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu; the Aare Oona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Aare Gani Adams; Wife of the Ooni of Ife, Olori Naomi Adeyeye; a former Minister for Aviation, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode and High Chief Bibopere Ajube, attended the funeral. Also, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was represented by the state Commissioner for Home Affairs, Mr Olarewaju Elegushi. When the televangelist died, the Christian Association of Nigeria and many pastors were initially silent. However, 72 hours after the death of the founder of the SCOAN, CAN issued a terse statement to condole his family and SCOAN congregation. The condolence, which observers believed was belated, came following condemnation of its silence among Christendom and several organisations in the social media. Critics wondered why CAN would commiserate with others but would wait for a long time before making a statement on Prophet T. B. Joshua. Also, the absence of many of the pastors has received a mixed reaction on social media, especially Twitter. “Oh get a grip all of you in the comments, nobody hated him, it was an issue of doctrine on salvation, apparently the deceased had his own philosophy which many thought to be contrary to bible. If you notice, I included, I haven’t seen the deceased make an altar call for repentant souls,” a tweep, @black_ash422, said. “I sincerely don’t understand why many of them didn’t go. We are humans and not God, we should not judge others. They deserve to pay him last respects,” another tweep, @Chukwu, added. In an earlier statement, the President of CAN, Dr. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, described TB Joshua as “one of the foremost Nigerian charismatic pastor, televangelist, and philanthropist who devoted his entire lifetime to the propagation of the gospel.” He said, “Prophet T.B Joshua was one of the foremost Nigerian charismatic pastor, televangelist, and philanthropist who devoted his entire lifetime to the propagation of the gospel and ministering to the needs of the downtrodden. He was renowned for his philosophical simplicity and humility. His death is not only a loss to the family and the church, but to Nigeria and the world at large. “On behalf of all members of the Christian Association of Nigeria, we commiserate with you, and the entire family on this loss. It is our prayer that the Almighty God grant Prophet TB Joshua an eternal rest in his creator, and may God’s perpetual light continue to shine on his path (Amen). Once again, please accept our heartfelt condolence.” Credit: The Punch

Post Date : July 9, 2021

Osinbajo: Buhari will use commonsense strategy to lift 100m Nigerians out of poverty

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says President Muhammadu Buhari will use a simple, commonsense strategy to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty. Laolu Akande, Osinbajo’s spokesman, quoted the vice-president as saying in a statement on Friday. Three weeks ago, President Muhammadu Buhari set up a national poverty reduction with growth strategy (NPRGS) steering committee, following the approval of the federal executive council (FEC) in April. Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the steering committee in Abuja, Osinbajo said the committee would improve the adoption of commonsensical approaches in achieving its objectives. The vice-president said to achieve a different result, the committee will be intentional about its objectives and how to achieve them. “I really want us to approach this as much as possible, commonsensical so that we are able to resolve all the issues and focus on the real progress,” he said. “I want us to look beyond all of what we are going to be doing, there is going to be a considerable amount of paperwork, but a lot of common sense is what grows economies. “It’s what other countries have done, not really reinventing the wheel. So, I want us to focus on those commonsensical things so that we can actually move forward.” Citing the example of Bangladesh’s poverty reduction strategy, osinbajo noted how the country’s manufacturing sector was crucial to its development. He said that the committee will consider opportunities in the agricultural sector and how funding can be provided to explore them. “Bangladesh actually exports more garments than we export oil,” he said. “Countries that have managed to get out of poverty have created a lot of jobs through industries, and they have developed intentional strategies. “We must look at what others have done, the smart things that other people have done, and adopt,” Osinbajo added. “I think we really need to take a deep dive because governments have made several efforts at poverty alleviation but generally speaking, they have not yielded the sort of results they should yield, and I think it’s because there is a lot of focus on documentation and paperwork and very little commonsense approaches.” Osinbajo explained that the NPRGS is a national strategy that every tier of government must key into. He also added that the private sector must also collaborate with the government to reduce unemployment and lift Nigerians out of poverty. “I just want to emphasise that it is a national strategy as opposed to a federal strategy which is why the steering committee is made up of federal as well as state officials,” he said. “Essentially, this effort must also be directed at how to facilitate private sector creation of jobs. The fact is that there is no way that the Federal Government or the State Governments can create the number of jobs that we need. “We need to take a few broad looks at the features of what constitutes our present predicaments in terms of job losses and unemployment.” Members of the steering committee at the meeting include Kayode Fayemi, Babagana Zulum, and Abdullahi Sule, governors of Ekiti, Borno, and Nasarawa states, respectively. Others are Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation; Muhammad Nanono, minister of agriculture; Niyi Adebayo, minister of industry, trade and investment; Chris Ngige, minister of labour and employment; while Prince Clem Agba, minister of state for budget and national planning, joined the meeting virtually.

Post Date : July 9, 2021

EndSARS: Ogun Panel Awards N218m Compensation To Victims Of Police Brutality

The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has received the report of the Ogun State Judicial Panel of Investigation on Police Brutality and extrajudicial killings with an assurance to implement the recommendations of the panel. Abiodun, who gave the assurance on Friday at the Executive Council Chamber, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta while receiving the report, appreciated the panel members for their selfless efforts and contributions towards the successful completion of the task. “I believe that the implementation of this report will end the gory experience often encountered by residents of the State,” the Governor assured. The State’s helmsman added that; “it is important for all of us as a people and security agencies to ensure and foster a continued and mutually beneficial relationship.” Earlier in his address, the Chairman of the Panel, Justice Solomon Olugbemi, disclosed that the Panel after its findings recommended a total payment of over N218m as compensation for 42 victims or families of victims of brutality and violation of human rights by Police and other security personnel in Ogun State. The Chairman added that the Panel also made recommendations for the investigation, discipline and where appropriate, prosecution of certain personnel to serve as a deterrent and in the interest of justice. Justice Olugbemi revealed that the Panel received a total of 106 petitions, out of which 58 were treated and the remaining 48 were either withdrawn, rejected or abandoned wholly or halfway by the petitioners. He said: “The 289-page report captured the testimonies and pieces of evidence of gory details of torture, unjustifiable shootings, inhumane treatment and other forms of human rights abuses leading to brain damage, spinal cord injuries, permanent disability, death, loss of means of livelihood, unlawful seizure of personal properties and various forms of atrocities.”

Post Date : July 9, 2021

2023 Presidency: Zoning is unconstitutional, says Yahaya Bello

The Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has said the 1999 Constitution does not recognise the zoning of Presidency. He said this just days after southern governors issued a communique after a meeting in Lagos demanding that the next president of Nigeria must come from their region. Speaking on Friday at the First Annual GYB Seminar for Nigeria’s Political and Crime Correspondents held in Transcorp Hotel, Abuja, the North-Central governor favoured merit above zoning. Bello, however, stated that equity must be followed if the 2023 presidency has to be zoned. The governor said, “On zoning presidency to a particular zone in 2023, we must apply equity in the process. Democracy is all about free will. Let no political party limit the choice to a particular zone. “Zoning is not recognised in the 1999 Constitution, it’s absolutely, unconstitutional. “If we must continue with the sentiment of rotational Presidency, it’s okay, but let’s do it right in the interest of equity, fairness and justice. “Let’s not take it from 1999, let’s go back to 1960. From the Independence, all the leaders we had, you will discover that all other geo-political zones as it exists today at one time had a position of leadership. “In the 2023 presidential election, let the best candidate emerge who will unify and solve the problems of this country we are facing today, who will build on the legacies of Mr. President. It’s high time the youth take over the affairs of this country. “I have always led from the front based on equity, fairness and justice. To be a leader, I will say let us be sincere. “Younger generations are taking charge across the world. It is high time we look for a credible candidate based on merit and not by zoning. “As the clarion call goes forth for 2023, one can easily discern by events such as this that the Organised Media in Nigeria is already working hard to crack the complex equation of who the next Nigerian President should be. “All I can say is that in factoring your 2023 equations, please allow yourselves to be guided by national interest to input the following factors: Youthfulness, courage, security, diversity, clear records in successfully managing diversity which is where most post-independence leaders of Nigeria have failed. “Also very important, the inescapable point of equity, that is, that only the North-Central and South-East Geopolitical Zones of this country have not held the Presidency or Vice Presidency, the two highest offices in the land, since the return to civilian rule in 1999. “All talks of zoning must be the handmaid of equity or we are merely playing dangerous politics and healing the wounds of the country deceitfully. “If one is able to develop a genuine love for the people he leads, it becomes even easier to take only those actions that benefit the people every time. This will ultimately help you succeed and also secure your legacy. “Leadership is, therefore, the means to a lot of potentially awesome ends, but it is not an end in itself. It gives you a platform to do good and effect change. I am determined to give it my best now and in the future. “The state of the nation today places a burden on us as leaders to act intentionally towards national healing and cooperation. “Tribe and religion, as we all know, are the major components of our diversity as a nation. They are meant to be our greatest strengths, working together to give Nigeria a wider spectrum of choices and more competitiveness in the comity of nations, and in the human and social indices of national development. “Unfortunately, we have steadily mismanaged these gifts and they have started turning toxic on us, becoming, for the most part, instruments of exclusion and coercive politics, as well as marginalisation and discrimination. “The result is a citizenry at cross-purposes and a nation that is practically at her wits’ end.”