Human rights lawyer and former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Professor Chidi Odinkalu has said Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate will cause damage to both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the February 25 poll. Prof Odinkalu in a recent interview with Nigerian Tribune said the Labour Party standard flag-bearer is a factor in the election, adding that this year’s election will be slightly different and unique.   “Peter Obi, of course, does damage. But Obi is an equal opportunity damage. “Obi is going to cost PDP votes in the South-East, but he is also a factor in Lagos and nobody is claiming that PDP is likely to win Lagos because it is Tinubu’s home state and Tinubu is likely to win Lagos. “But Peter Obi is a factor in Lagos, but if Tinubu chooses to manage Obi through voter suppression, Tinubu will lose votes and if he chooses to also manage Obi head-to-head, Tinubu will still lose votes. “So, Obi does not just damage PDP’s natural constituency, he also eats into APC’s too. That is just what it is in this election.”

  Two bankers, Agbo John Agama and Edoh Steve were on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment by Justice Mojisola Olajuwon of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, for conspiracy, aiding and abetting fraud to the tune of Nine Million Four Hundred Thousand Naira (N9, 400,000). The convicts were prosecuted on one count charge by the Makurdi Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC. The charge reads, “That you, Agbo John Agama “M” and you Edoh Oga Steve “M” while being employees of Access Bank Plc Makurdi Branch and others now at large, on or about the 8th day of January, 2021 at Makurdi, Benue State of Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, used an unauthorized access device to wit: a primed ATM Card on Account No. 30041040648 being operated by one Mejuru Chibueze Gospel with Access Bank resulting a loss of Nine Million Four Hundred Thousand Naira (N9,400,000) Only to him, thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 33(2)(b) of Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under the same section of the Act “. The defendants pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against them. In view of their plea, prosecuting counsel, Mary Onoja asked the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. Justice Olajuwon convicted and sentenced them to three-year imprisonment each. They were also ordered to pay a fine of N100,000 each to the Federal Government of Nigeria and restitute the victim in the sum of Two Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira each.

  The Police Command in Plateau says it has rescued the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Pankshin, SP Nwapi Augustus, who was abducted by gunmen. The Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Alfred Alabo, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday in Jos. Alabo said that following the officer’s kidnap at about 8.30 p.m on January 11, the command, in collaboration with other security agencies and hunters in the area, swung into action and eventually freed him from his captors. ”The officer has been taken to the hospital for medical examination and treatment, and will soon be reunited with his family,” he said. The PPRO said that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Bartholomew Onyeka, had deployed a tactical team toward ensuring that the perpetrators were arrested and brought to book.

  The Commissioner of Police in Edo, Mr Mohammed Dankwara on Sunday, announced that the joint security forces in the state have rescued 12 Igueben train station kidnapped victims. Dankwara disclosed this on Sunday in a statement in Benin. Gunmen had on January 7th, attacked and abducted unspecified passengers in a train station at Igueben in Edo, who were waiting to board a train to Warri. According to the CP, the 12 victims rescued brings to 18, the total number of victims so far rescued, while two others who are staff of Nigeria Railway Corperation (NRC) are being still held captive by their abductors. He said: “The joint security forces, acting on technical intelligence provided to the command on the kidnapped victims, stormed a forest named Igboha and rescued the 12 victims unhurt.” CP listed the rescued victims as: Eunice Esaba,56, Marian Mowoe, 28; Faith Smart 42, Precious Egwuje, 28, Obehi Omaben, 39, Amm Benson,42, Favour Akungo 18; Akhimen Ehiemamen, 48; Christian Iyere, 33; Emmanuel Esieba, 67; Iyoha Julius, 25; and Aguelle Beatrice, 42. Dankwara, however, assured that the ongoing cooperation and synergy would continue to ensure that the remaining two victims were rescued unhurt.

  Former President Goodluck Jonathan has asked politicians to allow the judiciary to perform its constitutional functions without undue interference. Jonathan spoke on Saturday during the book presentation and reception marking the retirement of Kate Abiri as the chief judge of Bayelsa. The former president urged politicians not to be blinded by the political power which they wield. Jonathan also advised judicial officers to uphold the virtues of impartiality and courage in upholding the rule of law, adding that such virtues are significant in the delivery of justice. The former president acknowledged the role played by Abiri in the swearing in of Nyesom Wike as governor of Rivers in 2015, following a leadership crisis in Rivers state judiciary. “I advise politicians that while in office, let us not try to blackmail the judiciary because it is conservative,” Jonathan said. “When we get political power, we get so blinded. Politicians should know that society is changing. “Today, we are celebrating our retiring chief judge because she has served meritoriously. “In 2015, she left Bayelsa for Rivers to perform the swearing-in of the governor, thereby averting anarchy. “It appears that the judicial arm is more functional than the executive.” On his part, Douye Diri, governor of Bayelsa, commended Abiri for her outstanding achievements during her 15-year term as chief judge of the state. Diri described Abiri as a legal icon who rendered meritorious service in her three decades of legal practice. He said the state would still require her services and wealth of experience.

  The call by a US congressman, Jarvis Johnson of the State of Texas, seeking the American government’s intervention in the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has received the backing of eminent Igbo personalities. Johnson, who made the demand in a statement dated January 9, 2023, said it would be wrong for the US, which had defended democracy in different parts of the world, to stay aloof and watch the Nigerian government fragrantly violate both its rules and international laws. He accused Nigeria of carrying out genocide against her citizens. The US lawmaker maintained that “Kanu committed no crime by asking for a referendum for the self-determination of his oppressed Biafrans”. He strongly condemned Kanu’s abduction and extraordinary rendition from Kenya, saying that the time has come for the US to call the Nigerian government to order. The statement read in part:” Mazi Kanu’s only offence is that he is the leading advocate for the freedom of all oppressed Nigerians, and for a referendum on the Biafran issue. The right to free speech including political advocacy is a cornerstone of all democracies. “At a time when democracy is threatened globally, it is imperative that we all join hands to protect Mazi Kanu’s right to freedom of speech. “The illegal kidnapping, torture, and solitary confinement of Mazi Kanu offends our democratic norms. So does the willful disobedience of the judgments of its own courts by the Nigerian government. “I am demanding the immediate release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. The Government of Nigeria needs to comply with the UN Mandate and the Orders of its own Courts. “The Nigerian government is carrying out another form of genocide, one citizen at a time. I am calling on the American Government to get involved to stop this genocide. “We have protected other countries around this world to help vulnerable populations; we need to do the same for Nigeria and its Biafran citizens.” ‘Long overdue’ Speaking with Sunday Vanguard on the matter, National President, of Abia State Elders Consultative Forum, Professor Princewill Ariwodor, described the call as long overdue. He said that it was signified that the international community was aware of the plights of the IPOB leader, and the persecution of the Ndigbo in Nigeria. His words: “The call is timely. I’m glad that the international community sees the ordeals of the Igbo man in Nigeria.” Ariwodor expressed disappointment that despite repeated appeals by Igbo leaders, President Muhammadu Buhari has failed to release Kanu. “The late President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ambassador George Obiozor, before his death, had an audience with President Muhammadu Buhari and begged him to release Nnamdi Kanu. Despite the promises, Kanu is still detained”, the Abia Elders leader said. “Igbo elders have done everything to show Buhari our protest in a gentle way. We had thought that by taking a more civilized approach, Buhari would take the path of honour. But instead, he chose to listen to his brothers who are not interested in the unity of this country.” Ariwodor said that the continued detention of Kanu against court judgments amounted to the humiliation of the entire Igbo race. The Abia Elders expressed optimism that the call by the US congressman would be heeded by the US government. ‘Heed growing calls’ On its part, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Abia State Chapter hailed the move by the US congressman and urged Buhari to heed the growing calls for Kanu’s release. CAN Chairman, Abia State, Apostle Emmanuel Agonmuo, said the opinion of the US lawmaker was an indication that the world was monitoring developments about Kanu’s continued detention. He urged Buhari to show he is the father of all by giving a political solution to Kanu’s matter as being clamoured by many. The cleric noted that early resolution of Kanu’s matter would help restore peace to South-East for the good of all. He commended the US congressman for speaking up while urging the US government to also take a position on the matter. Motion Also speaking, a former presidential aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Cosmos Ndukwe, commended the US congressman for the bold move but urged him to go beyond mere press statement and raise it as a motion in the American House of Representatives. The former Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly said it would carry more weight if the move had come as a motion to the House. Commenting on the matter, the Chairman Board of Trustees, BoT, Igbo Think Tank, Professor Madubuike Ezeibe, urged the Nigeria government to obey various court judgments concerning Kanu. He said it was a violation of the rule of law for the government to still hold Kanu against court pronouncements as doing so sends wrong precedents about the rule of law in the country. The professor of virology argued that it’s in Nigeria’s interest and global image to obey court orders. Right step A coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), also speaking, described the action of the US congressman as “a right step in the right direction”. COSEYL President General, Goodluck Ibem, told Sunday Vanguard that the continued detention of Kanu “is a confirmation that the President is on a gross personal vendetta against Kanu and Ndigbo.” “We want the President to obey the UN mandate and the Court of Appeal judgment that released Nnamdi Kanu unconditionally from detention,” Ibem stated. COSEYL said the intervention of the US congressman “is proof that the decadence in our democracy and institutions has reached an alarming state where the center can no longer hold. “The US has seen with their eyes how our democracy has been reduced to an autocratic and dictatorial regime where there is no rule of law and obedience of court orders. “We urge the United States and the international community to listen to congressman Jarvis Johnson to save our hard-earned democracy before it is totally destroyed. “Injustice to one is injustice to all.