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Labour Party Crisis: Apapa Goes To Supreme Court, Seeks Reinstatement As National Chairman

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Lamidi Apapa and Julius Abure

By Akinwale Kasali

The  Lamidi Apapa Led Faction of the Labour Party, LP,  has challenged the Judgment of the Appeal Court that ordered the reinstatement of Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Party.

The Apapa led Faction of the Party at a Press Briefing Sunday in Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital addressed by its National Publicity Secretary,  Abayomi Arabambi, said the party has obtained a stay of execution in respect of the judgement.

Last week, the Appeal Court said that the High Court erred when it  restrained Apapa from parading himself as the National Chairman of the party.

Reading the unanimous judgement, Justice Harmman Barka, said the High Court lacked jurisdiction to have listen to the matter at the first instance, describing the matter as purely an internpapa.

Arabambi faulted the ruling and said that the party has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court and gotten a stay of execution order.

“The Acting National Chairman of Labour Party, Alhaji Bashiru Lamidi Apapa has successfully filed an appeal on the 6th day of March 2024, and has stayed the execution of the judgement delivered in favour of Julius Abure by an Abuja Court of Appeal in the Supreme Court through a motion for stay of execution filed on Thursday the 7th day of March 2024.

Arabambi alleged that “Julius Abure had earlier before today forged the seal of the judge of FCT, forged the Commissioner of Oath signatures and generated his own TSA receipts without making any payment to federal government consequently upon which the police established a prima facie case against him for forgery, criminal conspiracies and perjury.

“You would also recall that on the 12th May, 2023, the FCT High Court presided over by Hon. Justice Hamza Mua’zu dismissed the Notice of Preliminary Objection filed by Abure and ors challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the Originating Summons filed by Martins Esikpali & Ors basically on the ground that there was an allegation of crime and that it’s a contentious issues in the said summons and as such, not suitable for Originating Summons which inherently meant that the case ought to have been commenced by Writ of Summons so that oral evidence can be taken.

“As stated earlier the said objection was dismissed as the court held that it has jurisdictions as the case has to do with construction of documents submitted before it simpliciter without more.

“Abure and 3 ors then appealed to the Court of Appeal.

“ Therefore, the issue before the Court of Appeal was whether the issues raised in the case were contentious or not. If the court says the case was contentious, all that the Court was required to do was to ask parties to convert the Originating Summons to Writ of Summons and order parties to file pleadings so that the case can be heard on the merits at the trial court i.e, FCT High Court.

“ Surprisingly, the Court of Appeal in a rather strange manner, went on the voyage of discovery totally out of context to deliver judgment touching on the substantive case as if the appeal was against a final judgment.

Apapa described the Appeal Court ruling as “perverse” and said he has appealed immediately to the Supreme Court on five grounds and more grounds will be filled once the CTC of the judgment is obtained by the lawyers.

“The judgement of the Court of Appeal delivered on Wednesday 6th day of March, has now been put on hold as it cannot be executed, since motion for stay of execution is already before the Supreme Court and has been served on Abure and his lawyers”

HURIWA Says Allegation Of Budget Padding Should Be Investigated, Describes It As Act Of Terrorism

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Civil Rights movement, Human Rights Writers Association Of Nigeria (HURIWA), has described an alleged padding of this year’s budget by the senate as act of terrorism and unconstitutional.

The Rights group called for a thorough investigation of the current allegations by Abdul Ningi, senator representing Bauchi Central.

The senator had alleged that the 2024 budget was padded with N3 trillion in the national assembly.

HURIWA in a  statement by the National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko on Sunday said that “from benefits of hindsight, the criminal act of hiding unbudgeted items into the lawfully passed budget has generated a lot of economic haemorrhage and devastating economic paralysis all across Nigeria.

“This inevitably leads to the collapse of major socio-economic infrastructures.

“Therefore, we are of the considered position that the crime of padding up the budget by the National Assembly’s hierarchy is not different from political terrorism.

“Our worry however with this alarm by the Senator from Bauchi state is that he sounded as if he is out for a regional political warfare for his ethno-geographical area of Northern Nigeria and not from the point of view of a nationalist.

“This is why the allegations must be thoroughly investigated to ascertain the merits and veracity and then steps taken to identify the individuals responsible so they are brought to the court of competent jurisdiction to be prosecuted as terrorists.”

HURIWA recalled that Senator Ningi the leader of Northern Senators, who spoke in an interview with BBC Hausa, said the northern senators have engaged with some experts to review the budget even as he stated that “huge damage” has been done to the north and the entire country in the budget.

The Bauhi senator said as follows: “We have engaged consultants to review the budget for us. We have some experts that are working on it line by line. We have seen the huge damage that was done not only to the north but the entire country in that budget.

“We are supposed to sit with the senate president to inform him about what we have observed.

We want to show him what we have seen in the budget that is not acceptable, we will not accept them and we don’t want the country to continue spending money on those things.

“Apart from what the national assembly did on the floor, there was another budget that was done underground which we didn’t know.

“The new things we have discovered in the budget were not known to us. We haven’t seen them in the budget that was debated and considered on the floor of the national assembly.”

“For example, we had a budget of N28 trillion but after our checks, we found out that it was a budget of N25 trillion. How and where did the difference come from?”

HURIWA  asked the northern senators to eschew regional sentiments and confront the allegations of padding of the budget from a nationalistic viewpoint.

“In the thinking of our group, budget padding is as bad as terrorism because it amounts to systemic heists of the resources of the public that ought to be channeled into building key infrastructures and social amenities to ameliorate the hard times confronting a majority of Nigerians.”

It condemned any proven case of budget padding and demanded that “there is the need to name, shame and prosecute all those who are the masterminds of this mindless and heartless act of political terrorism and brigandage called budget padding, just as we are demanding that they should be prosecuted as economic saboteurs and sanctioned harshly.”

Benue Killings: PDP Holds Governor Alia Responsible, Says He Gives No Support To Security Agencies

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has come under strong criticism by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for allegedly not giving Security Agencies in the State the needed support to tackle insecurity in the State.

The PDP alleged that the failure of the Governor to produce necessary Logistics and material support to Security Agencies in Benue State to fight the worsening insecurity in the state has led to the escalation of the crisis in the North Central State.

The Party urged the Governor to partner with the National Assembly members from the State to tackle the security menace rather than engage in altercations with them.

PDP in a Statement issued Sunday in Makurdi, Benue State Capital, by its Publicity Secretary, Bemgba Iortyom, berated the Governor for blaming the killings in Gbagir, Ukum Local Government Area, LGA, of the state on cattle rustling and kidnapping by a militia leader.

While condemning the attacks and mourning with those who lost loved ones in the incidents, the party implored Governor Alia to take steps to expel armed herdsmen from the state and end further bloodshed in the state.

The party noted that “the attacks which took place in Gwer, Kwande, Ukum and Logo LGAs left as many as a reported 16 persons dead in one location alone, while various numbers of deaths were reported in other locations.

“PDP condemns these barbaric acts in the strongest possible terms, noting that they are totally unprovoked, with the perpetrators solely intent on violating the ban on open grazing of livestock which is in force in the state.

“The party also disagrees with Governor Hyacinth Alia’s submissions that the callous and criminal acts were the result of rustling of cattle belonging to Fulani herdsmen by some locals, which provoked the attacks.

“Governor Alia’s view is faulty to the extent that it ignores the original crime of the violation of the Prohibition of Open Grazing and Ranches Establishment Law by the herders, which renders their presence in the state and all of their actions thereto as willfully criminal.

“The Benue State Governor, therefore, misses the point completely by seeking to shift the blame from the criminals to the victims, even as by so doing he cuts the worrisome impression of one lacking in both the will and nous to uphold his oath to protect the people from the killer herdsmen and other criminals.

“ PDP calls on Governor Alia to come out of his lethargy and confront the monster of continuing herdsmen killings and despoliation of Benue under his watch.

“The Governor should enlist the support of members of the National Assembly from the state in the All important fight, rather than continue in needless and distracting altercations with them.

“He should also invest the monthly security vote available to his office to provide much needed logistical and equipment supports to security agencies in the state, including the Benue State Livestock Guards, which is the enforcement arm of the open grazing ban, so as to strengthen their hand in the fight against the terrorists.

“Governor Alia’s charge to security agents in the state to enforce the ban on open grazing without aiding them with vehicles and sundry gadgets, as had been the practice with previous administrations, amounts to paying mere lip service to an otherwise ultimately serious and grievous situation.

“Governor Alia should act now to expel the murderous herdsmen from Benue and stop further bloodletting in the state”, the statement reads.

President Tinubu’s Policies Inflict More Pains Than Gains – SDP Presidential Candidate

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Adewole Adebayo has observed that the pains from the policies of the present administration are more than the gains.

He told Nigerians that they have no option as they are stuck with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his ‘bad’ policies for four years.

Adebayo made the remark on Sunday while speaking about the current hardship in Nigeria on Channels Television’s programme, Sunday Politics.

While responding to a question about what he would have done differently if he had won the presidential election, the politician said he wouldn’t remove the petrol subsidy from day one as President.

Adebayo explained that he would have approached the National Assembly to amend the 2023 Appropriation Act to allow subsidy for a while.

Speaking about Tinubu’s policies, he said: “These policies are not good, not because of the party that is announcing them, but because they are not suitable to us.”

He also pointed out that the gains of the policies were lesser than the pains, noting that the Tinubu government should be “less arrogant” to do the right thing to provide succour for suffering Nigerians.

“Nigeria is battling rising inflation, forex crisis and economic hardship occasioned by the removal of petrol subsidies and forex reforms.

“People need to understand that you voted for these policies, it’s like the children of Israel who said ‘Moses, lead us out of Egypt’ and when they got to the wilderness they realized it is not a very easy place to be and they started complaining.”

Edo: PDP Stakeholders Call For Halt In Impeachment Of Deputy Governor, Shaibu

By
Ayodele Oni
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Philip Shuaibu - Edo Deputy Governor

By Ayodele Oni

Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo North axis have called for withdrawal of the impeachment notice issued by the House of Assembly on the Deputy Governor of the state in the interest of peace, unity, progress of the party ahead of the governorship election.

The stakeholders converged in Auchi, the administrative headquarters of Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, on Sunday to protest the plot to impeach the  Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.

The Assembly has already served the impeachment notice, signed by 21 out of 24 members, on the deputy governor and gave him seven days within which to reply. The petition was based on two grounds of alleged perjury and revealing of government secrets.

The aggrieved PDP stakeholders went round the major streets of Auchi, with some of them carrying placards on which were written advice of caution to the major players in the impeachment plot, Governor Godwin Obaseki; the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Blessing Agbebaku and the other members of the House.

They stated that “we are bonafide registered and active members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Edo State. We all are here today moved by the need to subsume our precious political differences arising from the that Governorship Primary Exercise especially as we approach the state election in few months time.

“We are most perturbed by the fact that the recent gains at reconciliation of the differences arising from the last primaries is again least complicated by the Notice of Impeachment served on the state Deputy Governor Rt. Hon Philip Shaibu by the Edo State House of Assembly.

“We have therefore as serious stakeholders in the PDP project in our various local governments and state resolved on the following:

“We hereby appeal to the Speaker EDHA, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku all the PDP members of the House to urgently withdraw and rescind the impeachment notice issued by the house on his Excellency, the Deputy Governor of Edo State for the sake of peace, unity, progress of the party in the pre governorship election time.

“That the withdrawal of the impeachment notice on the Deputy Governor shall go a long way to heal the wounds of the divisioness and exclusion in the party, galvanizing grassroot support for our eventual victory at the upcoming polls.

“That PDP remains the party to beat in the state and in fact the party of continuity at Osadebe Avenue for only the needful as stated above done.”

Ramadan: Katsina Govt Constitutes Committee To Distribute Free Food

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Katsina State government has set up a committee which will ensure that no person will go hungry during Ramadan period.

The state government announced that adequate arrangements have been made to provide soccour to 1,000 persons in each of the 361 wards in the state.

Already, Islamic faithfuls have been told to look out for the new moon which will signal the commencement of the Ramadan on Sunday or Monday.

The Government is also stepping up measures to ensure that the spirit of Ramadan is felt by all its residents, especially those facing economic hardship.

The initiative was unveiled during the inauguration of a committee tasked with overseeing the programme at the weekend by Governor Dikko Umar Radda.

Additionally, 33,000 people in Katsina State will receive 25kg of rice and a token, offering much-needed relief during these challenging times.

Governor Radda expressed the government’s unwavering commitment to compassion and fair leadership, emphasizing the apolitical nature of the committee to ensure equitable distribution.

The governor explained that the aim was simple yet profound, to ensure that no one in Katsina State goes hungry during this sacred month and to alleviate economic burdens.

He added that beyond fulfilling dietary needs, the provision of rice and tokens serves as a beacon of hope, offering relief and solidarity to those in need.

“The government’s dedication to prioritizing the welfare of its citizens sets a commendable example of compassionate leadership and community solidarity.”

False! Father Of Late Access Bank CEO, Dr Herbert Wigwe Not Dead

By
James Orji
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Herbert Wigwe - Access Bank MD arrested by EFCC
Shyngle Wigwe, father of the late Access Bank Holdings Group Managing Director, Dr Herbert Wigwe  is not dead, he’s hale and hearty.
The magazine reports that the remains of the demised Access Corps chief executive had been laid to rest in his hometown, Isiokpo in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers state on Saturday, after a brief funeral service attended by dignitaries across the country.
Also, the state police command said it had put in place adequate security to ensure the safety of the dignitaries and mourners.
However, some reports claimed that the father of the deceased collapsed during the burial today, rushed to the hospital where he later died.
Meanwhile, close sources informed that Elder Elder was perfectly okay, and received some guests during the funeral today, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Earlier in the week the federal government had paid a glowing tribute to the late banker during the funeral services in Lagos.
Vice president Kassim Shettima who represented the federal government described Dr Wigwe as an “early bloomer in the garden of life, who “didn’t share the fate of those who faded away prematurely.”
Delivering his speech titled, “Herbert Wigwe: The Flower That Bloomed Before Spring,” Shettima said:  “Herbert left us in winter before the season of bloom. Spring was just about to arrive at his last location, the United States when the Lord called for him.
“Spring is not the symbol of Herbert’s bloom; his journey was defined by peculiar seasons. He bloomed long before his co-travellers.
“This spring, for us, isn’t the season of festive flowers; it’s the season of wreaths. This spring, for us, isn’t a season of tears; it’s a celebration of Herbert’s flight to a height that only a few of God’s chosen ones have attained.”

Group To President Tinubu: “It’s Time To Bring Killers Of Benue People To Book”

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Following the recent and continuous killings in Benue State, a Civil Society Group, CSO, under the aegis of Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders, CONYL, has urged President Bola Tinubu to fish out perpetrators of this dastardly act.

The Group said the Presidency needs to act on the continuous killings in the State and declare a state of security emergency in the State.

CONYL, an umbrella of youth groups in the country, has said that the incessant raids of agrarian communities by bandits and killer herdsmen are responsible for the scarcity of food in the country.

The Group in a Statement in  reaction to the recent attack on Wandor, Mbaikyor communities in Gwer Local Government Area of Benue State which claimed no fewer than 15 lives including a retired Army officer from the community, described the attack as barbaric.

The invaders razed over 50 houses, huts, farmlands and food barns in 11 settlements during the attack.

CONYL in a strongly worded statement by its President General, Comrade Goodluck Ibem, demanded the arrest of those behind the barbaric attack.

According to CONYL, mere condemnation of such provocative attacks by the Presidency without any concrete action against the perpetrators is no longer acceptable.

The group demanded action against the perpetrators to regain public confidence.

“These farmlands and foods were all destroyed by these terrorists at a time Nigerians are dieing of hunger, hardship and starvation.

“This gross act of wickedness must not be swept under the carpet. The culprits must be brought to book immediately.

“The hunger and hardship  ravaging our nation today is as a result of the series of attack on the food basket of the nation and those behind the attacks left to go Scott free. This is gross injustice.

“No nation can survive if she fails the protect her food bank against invaders and terrorists. Food remains the backbone of any nation and without food no nation can survive.”

CONYL solicited the support of Nigerians for the people of Benue against their attackers.

We urge all Nigerians of good conscience and all lovers of democracy to rally round the good people of Benue State to ensure there are not swiped out by these terrorists who wants Nigerians to die of hunger and starvation.”

It also called for decisive military action against the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

“We , therefore , call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately release all the military arsenals against the terrorists who are hell-bent on seeing Nigerians die of hunger, hardship and starvation.

“The truth remains that the attacks on Benue state is a well calculated attempt to ensure that Nigerians go to bed hungry which will make make revolt against the federal government and President Tinubu should not allow should orchestrated wicked evil plot to go come to fruition. The President must act now to stop these enemies of our nation.”

My Purported Suspension  A Ruse  As Abia PDP Affirms Suspension Of Four-time House Of Rep Member

By
The Source
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Uzoma Abonta

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Amidst the crisis of confidence rocking the Abia State Chapter of the  Peoples Democratic Party PDP, a chieftain and four-time member of House of Representatives, Hon Uzoma Abonta, has described his purported suspension from the party as not only unconstitutional, but also a huge joke and laughable.

This is even as the Ukwa East PDP Executives on Thursday, March 8, 2024, affirmed Hon Abonta’s earlier suspension from the party by his Akwete/Ohandu ward .

The Party at the Ward level had, on February 28, slammed an indefinite suspension on Hon Abonta citing his romance with rival political parties,institution of a plethora of court cases against the PDP without first exploring the internal dispute resolution mechanisms of the party and gross anti party activities before ,during and after the 2023 general elections as reasons.

Rising from an emergency Executive Council meeting the PDP in Ukwa East ,the home Council of former Senate President and Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees Senator Adolphus Wabara, as well as that of the Abia state Chairman Dr Allwell Asiforo Okere, said the earlier suspension of the former member of the Green Chamber of the National Assembly by his  ward was carried out in compliance with the party’s extant laws and therefore is upheld and ratified.

In a communique issued and signed by  the Chairman, Israel Bethel ,Secretary Comrade Ugwumba Adiele and others ,the party said that Hon Abonta’s unilateral constitution and creation of a faction and care taker committee for Akwete/Ohandu Ward was enough to revisit his membership of and loyalty to the party.

“That the PDP Ukwa East considers Hon Abonta’s activities against the party in the last election as anti party and act of ingratitude to the platform on which he was elected as a member of the House of Representatives for 16 years consecutively.

“That the attempt by Hon Abonta and his cohorts to orchestrate  confusion,disorderliness ,and faction in the PDP is vehemently condemned and ,rejected as same is not only unlawful but provocative .

“That the imputation of disunity between the BOT Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara and the State Chairman Dr Okere is false and exist only in the imagination of Hon Abonta

“That we appreciate the leadership style of the state chairman Dr Okere who does not in any way interfere with the running of the affairs of the party both at the ward and Council levels,and therefore hereby pass a vote of confidence on him.” the communique stated.

But speaking in an exclusive interview with The Source on Thursday March 8,Hon Abonta said   that all he is agitating for is for the PDP in Abia after its woeful performance during the last elections to embark on self interrogation with a view to  repositioning  itself for the task of providing alternative voice for Abians in the political space of the state.

“There are two basic issues that need to be  addressed here. One is my purported suspension from the PDP. And my position is that it is an exercise in futility ,having emanated from an unconstitutional process .

“I have been a member of the PDP since inception in 1999 and a four time member of the  House of Representatives . So l should know how things work and how things should be done.  The PDP as a party has a constitution and any thing done without recourse to the constitution is but null and  void.

“As far as  iam concerned and with due regard to the party,s Constitution, my so called suspension is totally absurd ,misleading and an attempt by some people to create unnecessary tension and crisis .

“The second issue is that bordering on alleged anti party activities . Look between us and them ,they know who in the real sense committed anti party activities. I worked sincerely for the party ,including serving as the State Collection officer for Atiku/Okowa Campaign team.

“On the other hand , some people for some selfish reasons embarked on destructive mission particularly before the last elections proper. It was mainly due to loud discontent and disaffection within the ranks of the party in the count down to the elections that led to its disastrous outing.

“Now what we are saying is that after the election, and having lost ,the party should re strategize and reposition so that it can effectively discharge its new role of a leading opposition voice .

“But some people who want the narrative to continue are perceiving our sincere position differently. Iam not against any body or group of persons . Our concern is that the PDP in the state ,should wake up and form a formidable front. And in that case ,I don’t have any regret being one of those championing the course.” Hon Abonta noted.

“I Want To Make Peace With God And My Victims, I Have Indulged In Criminality Early In My Life” – 14 Year Old Detainee

By
The Source
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0

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

“The lessons of life is that l have cheated my self by getting involved in crime and criminality so early in life”

The words above were the pitiable and remorseful confessions of 14 year-old Abdullahi Surajo, currently cooling his feet at Kurumawa Maximum Correctional Facility in Kano for allegedly, forcefully, dispossessing a lady of her bag containing some valuables including a hand set phone in the Naibawa area of the commercial nerve centre of the North.

Young Surajo who looked completely sober and apologetic while  narrating his walk into the correctional centre  over a  year ago, to Journalists during the recent visit by the Inspector General Police Duty Solicitors Scheme PDSS members to some Police formations and Correctional Facilities in Kano said his only wish now remains to walk back to freedom and, make peace with  God and victims of his misadventures.

He has, therefore, called on the Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to help him out of his present hellish nightmare.

“Tell  our Governor to help me out of this hell, because I have been denied access to justice.

“As you can see, my condition is critical. Deep inside me, I know that I am slowly dying here and only the timely intervention of our Governor can save my life.

“I need a second chance to sincerely repent to Allah and also apologise to the victims of my criminal activities, as well as integrate into the society.” Surajo said

“The teenager, popularly known as “Bolo” was overwhelmed by emotions as he further narrated the hard side of life that  propelled his early foray into  the world of criminality.

“I am an orphan and being raised by my uncle in a household of about 33 persons which comprise my siblings, and other members of the extended family .

“There I was exposed to deprivation, starvation, and debilitating poverty, resulting from the retirement of my uncle from public service.

“I am the youngest here( Correctional centre ). I have spent over a year. I have no legal representation and the authorities hardly take me to court again.

“Earlier, I was taken to court on a few occasions ,without any legal representation.

There after it became  where is his lawyer? Okay, take him back to remand ”

Lamenting further, Surajo noted that if the idea behind keeping him at the facility is to reform, then there is nothing reformatory about Kurumawa Maximum Correctional Centre.

“There is nothing reformatory about this facility. The senior boys are here. You are exposed to hellish and more criminal activities daily.

“Since I was brought here, l have been on one cloth with the hygienic condition so repulsive and nauseating. And in all of these ,nobody cares”, the minor stated.

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