Crime Facts

CAC workers celebrate removal of Abubakar as registrar-general

  Employees of the Corporate Affairs Commission allegedly rejoiced and danced after the dismissal of their Registrar General, Garba Abubakar, in Tigris Crescent, Maitama Abuja. In a viral video shared on Saturday, a crowd assembled and was seen dancing around the CAC headquarters with a voice in the background noting that the workers were celebrating the removal of Garba Abubakar as the Registrar General of CAC. The staff were gathered at the Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja. In the video, an unidentified man’s voice was heard, saying, “This is the celebration of the going of A.G. Abubakar, the most useless RG in the history of the Corporate Affairs Commission. “The first RG to be sacked by Mr. President,” he said. Meanwhile, Abubakar has been replaced by Hussaini Magaji. President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, approved the appointment of new leadership for several agencies and parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment. According to a statement by the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, titled ‘President Tinubu appoints new leadership across the Industry, Trade and Investment sectors,’ the move is “in line with his resolve to base Nigeria’s economic revival on the foundation of trade expansion through small, medium and large-scale industry facilitation in the country.” The other 10 newly appointed heads include: 1. Industrial Training Fund — Afiz Oluwatoyin 2. National Sugar Development Council — Kamar Bakrin 3. Nigeria Export Processing Zone Authority — Olufemi Ogunyemi 4. Nigeria Export Promotion Council — Nonye Ayeni 5. Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission — Aisha Rimi 6. Oil & Gas Free Zone Authority — Bamanga Jada 7. Small & Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria — Charles Odii 8. Standards Organisation of Nigeria — Ifeanyi Okeke 9. Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria — Rabiu Olowo 10. Nigeria Commodities Exchange — Anthony Atuche. Others are Veronica Ndanusa, who has been appointed as the CEO of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, while Lucia Shittu will head the Tafawa Balewa Square Management Board and Oluwemimo Osanipin will replace Jelani Aliyu as Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council.

Reject social media regulation bill, SERAP tells Akpabio, Abbas

  The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has urged the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, “to reject the recently reintroduced social media regulation bill.” SERAP noted that the passage of the bill “would unduly restrict the rights to freedom of expression and privacy,” and urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to stop its efforts to compel technological firms like Google and YouTube to restrict such “fundamental human rights.” This was contained in a statement by the group’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, on Sunday, and available to PUNCH. According to SERAP, the bill would “criminalise the legitimate and lawful exercise of human rights.” The statement read in parts, “The National Broadcasting Commission last week reportedly stated that, “one of Nigeria’s major problems now is social media,” and described social media as “a monster.” “In the letter dated 14 October 2023, and signed by SERAP deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said, “social media is neither Nigeria’s problem nor a monster. Any regulation of it would have arbitrary and excessive effects, and cause incalculable damage, both in material and human rights terms. “Any move to regulate social media would be inconsistent and incompatible with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international human rights obligations.” “The proposed bill raises serious concerns about the rights to freedom of expression and privacy, and would lead to digital siege.” SERAP warned that it “shall” take the National Assembly and the FG to court upon the passage of the social media bill. It advised the FG to maximise opportunities that abound on social media and look into the nation’s growing “social and economic inequalities.” The statement read in parts, “Rather than rushing to pass the social media regulation bill, the National Assembly should encourage the Federal Government to maximise opportunities around social media access and address the growing social and economic inequalities in the country. “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are immediately taken upon the receipt and/or publication of this letter. SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions against the National Assembly and the Federal Government if the social media regulation bill is ever passed into law. “We urge you to request the administration of President Bola Tinubu to publish the details of any ongoing discussion and engagement with Google, YouTube, TikTok and other social media companies. “The reintroduction of the social media regulation bill would lead to deterioration of the human rights situation in the country and carry major economic costs for all sectors, as well as exacerbate social and economic inequalities. “It would effectively deepen digital divides in the country and seriously undermine the Tinubu administration’s expressed commitment to develop this sector. “Under international law, all restrictions on the operation of social media companies and other intermediaries must comply with the requirements of legality, legitimacy and necessity. “The regulation of social media may be incompatible with the services of major social media and private messaging intermediaries, negatively impacting the free flow of information and ideas, and affecting economic and social activities.” The statement continued, “The National Assembly should put pressure on the Federal Government to comply with the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 and the country’s international human rights obligations regarding the rights to freedom of expression, privacy and participation.” “Access to social media is widely recognised as an indispensable enabler of a broad range of human rights. It is central to freedom of expression and the realisation of many other human rights including education, freedom of association and assembly, access to information and participation. “The Federal Government has the legal obligations to promote and facilitate the enjoyment of human rights, and to take all steps necessary to ensure that all individuals have meaningful access to social media. The authorities should refrain from unduly interfering with access to digital communications platforms.” SERAP stressed that. as stated in Nigeria’s constitution, “any restriction on freedom of expression constitutes a serious curtailment of human rights,” adding that such restrictions are only permissible when certain criteria are met. “Under Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, any restriction on freedom of expression constitutes a serious curtailment of human rights.” “The Nigerian Constitution and these human rights treaties protect everyone’s right to freedom of expression, which includes the freedom to seek, receive and impart information of all kinds, regardless of frontiers. States have the obligation to respect and ensure the right to freedom of expression, without distinction of any kind.” “The Nigerian Constitution and human rights treaties protect a broad range of expression, including political discourse, commentary on one’s own and public affairs, canvassing, discussion of human rights, journalism, and artistic expression.” “This includes information that may be regarded as offensive, false or untrue by some people but is considered legitimate political discourse by others. Restrictions on the right to freedom of expression are only permissible when they meet the requirements of legality, necessity, proportionality and non-discrimination.” “The onus to show that restrictions comply with those requirements is on the state seeking to restrict rights. Social media regulation bills generally do not meet those requirements.” “The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has called upon states not to engage in or condone any restriction of access to the Internet or other digital technologies for segments of the public or an entire population.” SERAP stated, “According to our information, Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Balarabe Ilelah, recently stated that the social media regulation bill has been sent to the National Assembly. The bill is reportedly seeking to repeal and reenact the NBC Act, CAP L11 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.” It said, “According to the NBC, ‘We have already submitted a bill to amend the NBC act. One of our major problems now is social media. Unless there is a law that allows NBC to act on social

70 year-old woman caught with stolen child

  70-year-old woman, Bisi Egberongbe, was on Saturday caught with a stolen child in the Agege area of Lagos State. According to a report, the septuagenarian had succeeded in luring the 2-year-old boy from his Agege home, and gone far before she was accosted by some group of boys within the community. The report said upon interrogation, Mrs Egberongbe said a plastic seller somewhere at Oniwaya Area of Agege sent her to bring the child. The mob descended on her but was later rescued by the police from Isokoko Police Station. The said abducted child was confirmed to be a twin whose other brother was with his mother while the drama was ongoing. Police later confirmed the incident.

LiberiaDecides’23: Weah, Boakai in close race as NEC announces more results

  The incumbent Liberian president and candidate of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), George Weah, and former Vice President Joseph Boakai, candidate of the Unity Party (UP), are in a close race as results of Tuesday’s elections continue to trickle in. Results available on the website of Liberia’s election management body, NEC, show that almost 50 per cent (49.8 ) of the results have been announced. Of the votes announced, Mr Weah has so far polled 44.58 per cent with 415,895 votes while Mr Boakai has polled 43.1 per cent with 402,137 votes. The close race between the duo appears to be a repetition of the 2017 presidential election in Liberia that had to be decided in a run-off. To be announced the winner of the election, a candidate must score over 50 per cent of the total votes cast. In the event that neither candidate secures the required percentage, the top two will go to a run-off. On Tuesday, Liberians went to the polls to vote for a new president, half of the Senate and the House of Representatives. A total of 20 candidates are taking part in the presidential election although many Liberians had told PREMIUM TIMES they expected it to be a two-horse race between Messrs Weah and Boakai. The electoral commission has until 25 October (15 days) to announce the final results of the elections.

Israel-Palestine War: Tens of thousands march in UK for Palestine

  Tens of thousands of people gathered for pro-Palestinian demonstrations across the UK amid growing international concern over the situation in Israel and Gaza. Marchers filled the streets of central London on Saturday as thousands also gathered in Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh, and other parts of the UK. Demonstrators carried flags and flares and chanted pro-Palestinian slogans as marchers heard calls for world leaders to condemn Israel’s actions. It comes as thousands of Palestinians attempted a mass exodus from northern Gaza after Israel’s military told them to evacuate before an expected ground invasion. The UN, human rights groups, and others have been among those expressing deep concern about the impact of Israeli action on civilians as the death toll continues to rise amid airstrikes and a siege on the territory. The renewed violence came after an attack last week by the Palestinian militant group Hamas left hundreds of Israeli civilians and soldiers dead. More than 1,000 officers were deployed by the Metropolitan Police before Saturday’s demonstration in the capital, with police saying in advance that anyone showing support for Hamas may face arrest. Certain areas of London were covered by a Section 60AA power, which requires a person to remove items that might be used to conceal their identity, such as masks, until the early evening. As marchers arrived in the thoroughfare and made their way to a stage outside the prime minister’s Downing Street office, chants of “Rishi Sunak, shame on you” and “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” rang out among the crowd. Home Secretary Suella Braverman earlier this week urged police chiefs to consider whether that pro-Palestine slogan could amount to an offence, while also suggesting that waving Palestinian flags could in some contexts be seen as illegitimate. The Met confirmed that as of 5:30 p.m., seven people at the demonstration had been arrested for a number of alleged offences including one person on suspicion of causing criminal damage. “There have been small pockets of disorder; flares, bottles, and fireworks have been thrown at police,” the force said in a post on social media. Before the demonstration, the BBC’s headquarters in London was daubed in red paint as the pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action accused the broadcaster of having “blood on its hands” over its coverage. The BBC has also faced criticism in recent days from senior ministers for maintaining its editorial stance not to describe Hamas militants as terrorists. In Edinburgh, thousands of people staged an impromptu march to the Scottish Parliament, marching from The Mound, where the protest was held, and down Edinburgh’s Royal Mile before taking a knee in solidarity with Palestinians caught up in the conflict. The UK government has been steadfast in its support of Israel, with ministers calling on police to use the “full force of the law” against shows of support for Hamas or bids to intimidate the UK’s Jewish community. Amid concerns about the scale of the Israeli response, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Friday that the country has “every right to defend itself” from Hamas attacks but stressed that civilian safety must be “paramount in our minds.” But 12 aid agencies, including Oxfam, Action Against Hunger, and Action Aid, called on Sunak and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to use the UK’s influence to help bring an end to the violence. (dpa/NAN)

Ohanaeze plans to meet Tinubu over Nnamdi Kanu – Iwuanyanwu

  President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo World wide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has said the apex sociocultural organisation of Igbo ethnic nationality has advanced plans to meet soon with, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to canvass for the Federal Government to grant immediate release to the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Iwuanyanwu stated this in Owerri yesterday when the leadership of Supreme Council of Nigeria Traditional Rulers, Southeast chapter led by the President, HRM Eze Iheanyichukwu Nwokenna of Abia State, Vice President, HRH Eze Dr Oliver Ohanwe, the Obi Gburu Gburu of Igboland and Chief Host paid him a courtesy solidarity visit in his Glass House Orji-Owerri office complex. Iwuanyanwu, who expressed gratitude for the visit, their patriotism and calibre of traditional rulers in Igboland, regretted that other ethnic groups in Nigeria have sold the dummy of perceived succession of the Igbo ethnic group to the Federal Government, thus creating undue fear and suspicion of every good intention of the group before the government. He pointed out that statistics have shown that Igbos are the real critical stakeholders in Nigeria project as they own over 60 per cent of the investments in the country, adding that their investments and residential identities spread across all the nooks and crannies of the nation unlike other ethnic groups that mainly invest and reside only within their ethnic geographical location. According to him: “Your request ( Supreme Council of Nigeria Traditional Rulers, South East chapter) and solidarity visit have reinvigorated my leadership intention to see President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on issues concerning Igbo ethnic group, more especially the need to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu of IPOB. His continual detention is escalating insecurity in Southeast. ” Let us see when he’s released, any person or group that will be instigating insecurity or crisis in Igboland using his name or detention. Some people and groups are illegally feasting on his popularity and detention just to cause unnecessary trouble and problem in the entire Southeast and for their own selfish interest.There must be peace and stability in Igboland. Immediate release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, will definitely restore sanity and unravel alot for the benefit of the nation” Ahaejiagamba as he is known, further said that since his emergence as the President of the apex sociocultural organisation, he has instituted the organisation in all the continents of the world including America, Europe, Asia and South Africa noting that over 6,000 000 Igbos are living in diaspora. The Chief Host of the delegation,HRH Eze Dr Oliver Ohanwe, the traditional ruler of Isiama ancient kingdom in Isiala-Mbano LGA of Imo State said the essence of the visit was to have a mutual collaborative partnership with the leadership of the apex sociocultural organization in execution of their mission and vision which he insisted are for the overall interests of Igbo ethnic group. Ohanwe, who described Iwuanyanwu as a five- Star General commended him also for being a stabilizing factor among the Southeast Governors and other critical stakeholders of the region. He canvassed his organisation’s foremost desire of advocating for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as a strategic means of arresting insecurity in the region and the need to have a harmonious cultural identity among the ethnic nationality. The monarch informed of their resolved plans to see President Tinubu, his leadership team and some eminent Nigerians concerning the continual marginalisation of the ethnic group and the need to readdress the injustice especially as it concerns the continual detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu despite courts order for his immediate release. He commended the Southeast Governors for their desires to revamp the region’s collaborative socioeconomic activities as well as their untiring efforts in repositioning and transformation of the zone.

Bribery Allegation: Diezani may escape trial in UK

  Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke, may escape trial in the United Kingdom (UK) despite being charged for bribery by UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA). Disclosing this to The Guardian, a Southwark Crown Court official said: “Her case has just been transferred to us,” from the Westminster Magistrate Court, where she appeared on October 3. Asked when the former Minister is due before a Judge at the court, he said: “She has a plea and pre-trial preparation hearing on October 30.” When asked how long the trial may likely be for, The Guardian source replied: “This hearing is for her to take a plea. If she pleads guilty, she will not need to face trial. If she enters a no guilty plea, a trial date will then be set.” Allison-Madueke, 63, who also served as President of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) during her tenure as Minister under President Goodluck Jonathan, is alleged by the NCA to have pocketed about £100,000 in bribes in exchange for awarding multi-million pounds worth of oil contracts. The NCA allegations also stated that she and her family benefitted from chauffeur driven cars, flights on private jets, luxury holidays, among others.

Israel/Palestine: Shiites protest in Abuja

  On Friday, the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) staged a protest denouncing attacks on women and children in Gaza amidst the escalating conflict between Israel and Palestine. Yesterday, Reuters quoted the Palestinian health ministry as saying 447 children and 248 women were among the 1,417 killed in Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip. The ministry also reported that since Saturday, 6,268 people have sustained injuries. The protest by IMN began at the well-known Annur Mosque in Wuse 11 along IBB Way, right after the Juma’at Prayer, and concluded at the traffic light on Ahmadu Bello Way, where American and Israeli flags were set ablaze. In a statement, Sheikh Sidi Munir Sokoto, a member of the movement, urged Nigerians to support the “oppressed” Palestinians. “We are protesting to condemn the killing of Palestinians in Gaza by the soldiers of the illegal state of Israel,” the statement reads. Sokoto said trustworthy accounts verified that numerous Palestinians lost their lives, and thousands suffered injuries. Advertisement “In February 2019, the United Nations Commission of Inquiry (COI) published a damning indictment against the illegal state of Israel. According to the COI, Israeli soldiers have been deliberately shooting civilians, killing and maiming unarmed people including children as well as journalists and medics in Gaza.” He added that Israel is in breach of international law and the Palestinians are fighting to “liberate their homeland from 75 years of Israeli oppression and terrorism”. “The Israeli military and settlers are the terrorists as they have been killing and abducting Palestinian females and children for many years, not the Palestinian freedom fighters who are demanding the right to return for those unjustly driven out of their homeland by the illegal state of Israel. Armed struggle is legitimate under international law.” Furthermore, he said Gaza has experienced an Israeli blockade since June 2007, leading to a deterioration in living conditions. He added that “supporting the people of Palestine is a duty upon all humans” Sheikh Sokoto urged Israeli soldiers to cease missile and rocket attacks on innocent women and children in villages. Instead, they should confront Hamas fighters defending their people. “Calling people to support justice everywhere and opposing tyranny and oppression everywhere is part of the teachings of our leader Shaikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky (H). For more than three decades, the Islamic movement under the leadership of his eminence, Shaikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H) has been organizing programmes and protests in support of the oppressed people of Palestine.” He urged Nigerians to speak out and support the “oppressed Palestinians”. While condemning the attack on Palestinians, Sokoto expressed support for the Palestine resistance movement, adding that there are “both Christians and Muslims in Gaza.”

Despite Lifting FX Ban, Dollar Supply Declines To $53.02m

  Nigeria recorded a significant drop in dollar supply on Friday, a day after the Central Bank of Nigeria lifted the forex ban on 43 items. The apex bank in a major monetary policy shift, on Thursday, restored the 43 items which were banned from accessing forex since June 2015 in order to, according to it, “sustain the stability of the foreign exchange market and the derivation of optimum benefits from goods and services imported into the country.” Items on the list include rice; cement; toothpicks; margarine; palm Kernel/Palm oil products/vegetable oils; meat and processed meat products; vegetables and processed vegetable products; poultry – chicken, eggs, Turkey; Soap and cosmetics; tomatoes/tomato pastes; milk; maize and tinned fish in sauce (Gelsha)/Sardines. The CBN in a statement signed by the Director, Corporate Communications, Isa AbdulMumin, said it would continue to promote orderliness and professional conduct by all Nigerian foreign exchange market participants to ensure market forces determined exchange rates on a willing buyer – willing seller principle. The statement added that the apex bank has set as one of its goals the attainment of a single FX market. Mixed reactions trailed the decision as some experts warned that the new policy might worsen the forex challenge as it would increase demands without commensurate boost in supply. Data from the FMDQ showed a decline in dollar supply at the Investor & Exporter forex window on Friday, a day after the policy was announced. The I&E window on Friday recorded a turnover of $53.02 million from $407.66 million on Thursday, representing a decline of 86.99 percent. Meanwhile the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), which said the policy is a market-friendly step towards unifying the exchange rates and is expected to curtail inflationary pressures in the short term, urged the CBN to adopt creative financing options for clearing the short to medium-term backlog. The LCCI said the policy change is expected to reduce the demand pressure on the parallel market and ensure there is a gradual convergence in FX market rates. President/Chairman of Council, LCCI, Asiwaju Michael Olawale-Cole, in a statement added that the policy would promote orderliness and professional conduct by all market participants to ensure market forces determine exchange rates on a willing buyer- willing seller principle. The Chamber recommends that the CBN adopt creative financing options for clearing the short to medium-term backlog and establish a mechanism to address forex unification under the current system. The Chamber believes the authorities must pursue the right monetary policy reforms to improve the investment climate and boost investor confidence. We call on the CBN to ensure transparency and accountability in banks’ foreign exchange dealings at the investors & (DailyTrust)

Third earthquake hits Afghanistan in one week

  A new earthquake has struck western Afghanistan – several days after two large tremors in the region killed more than 1,000 people. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the magnitude 6.3 quake hit near the city of Herat at a depth of 6.3 kilometers (four miles). So far there have been no reports of any casualties, according to BBC. The United Nations children agency, UNICEF said more than 90% of those who died in the earlier quakes were women and children. According to the report by USGS said the epicentre of the latest tremor was 30km north-west of Herat, Afghanistan’s third-largest city close to the Iranian border. Last Saturday’s earthquake hit Zindajan, a rural district some 40 kilometers from Herat. The tremor saw entire houses, which were too fragile to withstand the quake, reduced to rubble. Villagers used shovels and bare hands to search for missing people. Afghanistan has been reeling from an economic crisis since the Taliban takeover in 2021, when aid given directly to the government was stopped. The country is frequently hit by earthquakes, especially in the Hindu Kush mountain range, as it lies near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. In June last year, the province of Paktika was hit by a 5.9 magnitude quake which killed more than 1,000 people and left tens of thousands homeless.