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Insecurity: Anger As Keyamo Says Nigerians Will Beg SARS To Return; Group Tackles Him

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Festus Keyamo

By Akinwale Kasali

Minister of State, Labour and Productivity, Festus Keyamo, SAN, is in the eyes of a storm. He is facing unprecedented criticisms by a Group of Youths who say this is a new Keyamo they no longer recognise or understand.

Coming under  the aegis of Concerned Progressives Movement, CPM, the Youths condemned unequivocally, Keyamo’s statement, allegedly, supporting the abuse, inhumane treatment, extra judicial killings, extortion and abuse of the fundamental Human Rights, meted on Nigerians by the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS.

The Group in a statement signed by its President and Secretary, Babatunde Aleshe and Bridget Ephraim, respectively, said it was disappointed that Keyamo could utter such statement.

“It is so sad that Keyamo could support the abuse of human rights. We all know how evil this SARS operatives are, and for Keyamo to utter such Statement shows that he doesn’t have the interest of the people at heart.

“We Condemn his action in all entirety and we are ready to hit the street if President Muhammadu Buhari rescind his decision over the scrapping of SARS. We would take the Federal Government to International Criminal Court, ICC, and also sue Keyamo.

“We expected him and his Principal to address the issue of insecyand stop giving excuses. Just on Friday Students and Staffs were kidnapped at the Federal Government College in Kebbi, and there whereabout is yet to be known. Then someone is thinking of bringing back SARS.

“When SARS wasn’t scrapped, the country wasn’t a safe place. Kidnapping was rampant, so it is appalling that Keyamo didn’t think indepthly before speaking. We expected more from him, but it is apparent that he has lost it”, the statement reads.

The position of CPM tallies with that of the Students of Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja. The students embarrassed and lashed Keyamo who said Nigerians will beg for the return of SARS, during a lecture on Friday, June 18th, 2021, at the University.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria said the disbandment of the notorious SARS was responsible for the worsening insecurity in the country.

It would be recalled that  in October 2020, thousands of youths, across the country, hit the streets to protest against the harassment and extra-judicial killings by SARS operatives.

The protest garnered the support of several influential figures across the world, but went awry when it was hijacked by hoodlums and other aggressived  groups.

A move to break it and stop the unprecedented killings  torching and looting of Government facilities, private businesses and residential homes, turned awry too.

Soldiers stormed the epicenter of the Protest, the Lekki tollgate, ground in Lagos,  and allegedly opened fire on the protesters in the night of October 20. Fatalities and injuries, allegedly, occurred.

The destruction across the country ran into trillions of Naira. A number of Policemen were killed and Police facilities touched.

This action and criticism forced the Police High Command to scrap SARS.

But speaking, Keyamo said : “Can anyone now say #EndOperationLifeDole? Who can end it? I’m sure Boko Haram will march into Abuja. There was a time Boko Haram entered Abuja. So that’s the challenge, to maintain that security is fully maintained.

“That was the same thing we saw between SARS and human rights then. We have seen the porosity of removing security now because we wanted human rights at all cost. We ended SARS. We now see the problem we are facing”.

Recently, President Muhammadu Buhari said the #EndSARS protest was meant to remove him from office.

UNIJOS: Council Shuns Ethnicism, Appoints Professor Ejikeme Vice Chancellor; Colleague, Zamani, Pays Touching Tribute

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Professor Gray Gozie Ejikeme

By Adesina Soyooye

Breaking down ethnicism, and shunning the several stabs on the unity of Nigeria, the Governing Council of the University of Jos, on Friday, June 20, rose from an Emergency Meeting, and appointed Professor Gray Gozie Ejikeme, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the Federal Institution, located in Plateau State.

Since the corruption of the Educational system in Nigeria, not a few people from States, even Communities, insist that University Vice Chancellors be appointed from their States or Communities.

It has happened a couple of times, and has led either to crisis, delays in appointments, or the appointment of not-too suitable academics as Vice Chancellors.

But in the case of the University of Jos, there was no such thing. Council members went for merit. They looked at truth in the face, and stood by it.

Ejikeme, a native of Abia State, South-east, Nigeria, a Professor of  Clinical Psychology and Social Work, was the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), before his appointment as Acting Vice Chancellor.

He is to succeed Professor Sebastian Maimako whose  five-year tenure ends on June 23, 2021.

According to reports, avoiding vaccum, the Governing Council at its meeting asked all qualified Professors to apply. At the end, the Council went for the best among the bests.

A well-rounded academic, Ejikeme is a graduate of Psychology from the University of Lagos. He has a PGDE in Clinical Psychology, a Masters degree in Social Work and a PhD from the University of Jos among other academic and professional certificates. He, expectedly, has a number of awards and honours to his name.

He had been the Head, Department of Sociology, UNIJOS, Head Department of General and Applied Psychology, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Chairman Committee of Dean’s and Directors, and the Senate Representative on the 13th Governing Council of the University.

In a fitting, but Touching tribute, Professor Ejikeme’s colleague, Professor Sebastian Zamani, recalls their academic struggles together, the obstacles both overcame, God’s intervention and, the good man that Professor Gray Gozie Ejikeme is.

Professor Zamani wrote:

“Indeed, God rewards diligence and faithfulness.

I recall our prayer sessions in his office each time we prepared for our PhD presentations, and afterwards, in the good old days.

“We trusted God, first, to make what appeared to be a brick wall to be soft and penetrable.

“He had been on the program before me, but destiny brought us together. All we trusted God for, eventually, came to pass. One by one, the obstacles gave way, and we graduated. The rest is history.

“We assumed our respective positions in the academia and,  thereafter, got repositioned.

“We vowed to God to be channels of blessing to humanity, to be mentors to our students and colleagues, to make life beautiful for  everyone who came our way that needed help in the best godly and professional traditions.

“I recall his fulfilling this by dusting off the files of   stagnated colleagues to grant them release (promotion) while he was Dean of Social Sciences.

“I recall his releasing students into a new  experience of  compassion and love. At every stage that God lifted him he stretched down to pick someone up.

“Why won’t such a person grow?

“Professor Ejikeme is one of the most diligent persons I have worked with. He stays the course on missions and projects.

“Thank God- for – God, who is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. Here we are, with a gift  of his elevation to a position of trust.

“Note that in his own case, not a single sentiment that currently stands Nigeria down is responsible for this .

“It is simply the God- factor and we thank him.While  celebrating him, it is  my  prayer for God to  grant him great success on this assignment. Amen.”

Ejikeme will be in an Acting position until, finally, confirmed on the position by  President Muhammadu Buhari.

17 Years Old Detainee, Delivered Of A Baby Boy May Be Freed This Week

By
Ayodele Oni
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Kemisola Oguniyi

By Ayodele Oni

There are indications that  Kemisola Oguniyi, 17, who was delivered of a baby boy in Prison, may be freed this week.

Kemisola was arrested during last year’s endSARS protest in Ondo state and has since been kept, among others, in prison custody.

Lawyer to the teenage mother, Mr Tope Temokun, disclosed in Akure, the State capital on Saturday, that all necessary steps have been taken to secure her release, as well as that of  others, eight months after the protests took place.

According to the lawyer, “following our letters of  17th of June 2021, to the Honourable Attorney-General of Ondo State and the Honourable Chief Judge of Ondo State on this matter, we sought audience with the office of the AG and went into a long meeting with the Honourable Attorney-General of Ondo State, Sir Charles Titiloye on this matter.

The meeting in the office of the AG ended around 4pm on Saturday.

“The AG expressed his passionate interest in seeing Kemisola out on bail without delay. The AG took steps to reach out for an earlier date for the hearing of the bail applications filed for Kemisola and three others, while the case of Kemisola will be taken as a case of urgency and showed genuine concern to see Kemisola leave prison to take care of her baby at home.

“We, therefore, agreed on few other fast-tracking steps which took us to the office of the Honourable Chief Judge for further steps.

“We got good assurances from the office of Chief Judge that Kemisola needed to be out before the bail applications would be taken as it would be a longer process if we had to wait for the normal routine procedural steps.

“It was resolved and advised we do a letter of application which we drafted and submitted immediately around 6pm, outside office hour, applying directly to the Chief Judge, even when there is already another judge assigned on the case, for a special consideration of an administrative bail for Kemisola as a matter of urgency so that she could take her child home.

“The office of the Chief Judge worked outside the office hour on this application yesterday under the directive of the Chief Judge and the supervision of the Chief Registrar and we left the premises of the office of the CJ around 6:30pm yesterday, after putting all necessary things in perfect place for Kemisola to leave prison on Monday.

“I state that we were not the lawyers in this case till the 2nd of April, 2021. But from the record we inherited, Kemisola and others were arrested on the 22nd of October 2020 and taken to custody by the police, before being charged to the Magistrate Court in Akure which declined jurisdiction on the case based on the gravity of the offences, which include arson and the rest.

“Kemisola and others were therefore remanded in prison custody in Surulere, Ondo, while their case file was forwarded to the office of the DPP Ondo State for Legal Advice.

“When the legal advice was out, charges were filed against them afresh at the High Court, Akure. Up till this time in question, Kemisola’s case has not come to our office and we were therefore not the lawyer in the case till the 2nd of April, 2021 when the parents of Kemisola and the three others came to our Akure office to brief us, following which we demanded for letters of instruction from them before we accepted to take up the matter pro bono, free of charges.

“The 2nd of June was Friday and while we were touched by their stories and waiting impatiently for the weekend to go by for us to swing to action, Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) declared indefinite nationwide strike which halted all efforts that could be taken legally to secure her release.

“It is important to say, that since we took over this case, the case has not come up in any court, till the JUSUN strike was called off on the 15th of June 2021 and the next day, the 16th of June 2021, we were in court to file the bail application by summons, with an affidavit of urgency, with Kemisola’s mother, when the call came through that Kemisola was in labour before being delivered of a baby boy!

“In addition to this, we did not relent or wait for protocol, we also wrote letters to the Hon. Attorney-General of Ondo state and the Hon. Chief Judge of Ondo state, presenting different demands on behalf of our client, Kemisola, for speedy action and result.

“Due to the touching nature of the case and the increasing public interest and the concern by many Nigerians, lawyers, organizations which include but not limited to the NBA branches of Akure and Ondo and beyond, we have deemed it fit to intimate and update our colleagues and the general public on this case this afternoon.

“As God liveth, by Monday hopefully, Kemisola would leave the prison and go home and the seven days’ ceremony of child-naming of Kemisola’s son will not take place in the prison yard.”

FGC Abduction: How One Student Died Of Asthmatic Attack, Two Others Of Exhaustion

By
The Source
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By Gideon Njoku

More details have emerged on the abduction, on Friday, June 9, of the students of the Federal Government College Yauri by bandits.

It is now confirmed that a total of 102 people, including eight members of Staff – four academic staff members and four non-academic staff members were abducted as against the 30 being bandied around. It is, also, now confirmed that a total of eight students  and a staff member have been rescued.

But here’s the most heartbreaking: Contrary to the earlier report that one student died of exhaustion, three students actually lay dead.

A female student who was asthmatic died of asthmatic attack, while two boys died of exhaustion. The student who died of asthmatic attack was from Wushishi, Niger State. The two boys who died of exhaustion were, also, both from Niger State.

These facts and figures were given by the  devastated Principal of the, Alhaji Almustapha Ayuba Sokoto when he received, in audience, the Emir of Yawuri, Dr Zayyanu Abdullahi, who visited the College for an on-the-spot assessment. Those abducted were mostly students in SS1 and SS2.

One woman said her son was shot two times on the back, and abducted while he was trying to save some pupils of a Primary School in the same premises with the students. However, he was pushed down from the truck, when the bandits saw that he was bleeding profusely.

Sources say that SS3 students, billed to write their final examination,  have been moved to another school as the venue for the examination.

Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Bagudu, on a visit to the school, decried the sad incident, and assured that he would make every effort to see to the rescue of the remaining students and teachers.

Unconfirmed reports claim that one of the leaders of the Bandits, identified as manja Gara has been arrested by the Military*

The Abduction of students from their schools has become a big time business in the North.

Recently, when the students of Greenfield University, Kaduna, were abducted,  five of them were killed while Parents of the remaining students paid the sum of N160m in ransome money in addition to ten motorcycles.

Till date, over 200 students of an Islamic school in Niger  State are still in the custody of Bandits who abducted them a couple of weeks ago. One of the kids, a three-year old has been found dead.

President Buhari In Ghana Urges Sub Region To End Military Rule In Mali

By
Ayodele Oni
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Muhammadu Buhari - Londo Trip

By Ayodele Oni

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Saturday, called on West African leaders to exert pressure on military leadership in Mali to ensure that the transition process in the country is not aborted.

The President’s position was contained in his speech delivered at the 59th Ordinary session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS in Accra, Ghana.

According to a statement by Garba Shehu, Presidential Spokesman, the Nigerian leader spoke on the situation in Mali, which was recently suspended from the regional bloc due to a military coup.

The statement read: “At this Summit today, we are expected to review a number of important reports dealing with various issues of concerns to our organisation and people.

“In doing so, we must take realistic and practical decisions which will positively impact on our citizens.

“Some of those decisions, necessarily will have to do with evolving political and security situations in our sub-region as well as evaluate the health of our organisation with the hope of repositioning to serve our people and sub-region better.

“While democracy continues to develop in our sub-region, recent events in Mali are sad reminders that vigilance remains a crucial imperative to protect people’s aspirations to freely choose the form of Government they want.

“Pressures are needed to ensure that the transition process in Mali, which is half-way to its conclusion, is not aborted.

“A further slide in Mali could prove catastrophic to the Sub-region, considering that about half of that country is unfortunately under the grip of terrorists.”

President Buhari, therefore, appealed to the Military leadership in Mali to understand the critical state of the country, which he described as being ”clearly under siege.”

Noting that the principal responsibility of the military must be to protect and guarantee the sovereignty of the West African country, the President cautioned them not to perpetuate acts that would facilitate the destabilization and destruction of Mali.

“I urge our organization to remain engaged with all stakeholders in Mali through our astute Mediator, former President Goodluck Jonathan, who, I congratulate warmly, for his untiring efforts thus far.

“I encourage him to sustain these efforts to ensure that the transition is completed as scheduled.”

On Libya, President Buhari faulted the recent United Nations Resolution to expel all foreign fighters in Libya, without first ensuring that they are disarmed and non-collaboration with regional stakeholders.

‘On the security situation in the region, our organisation must note with serious concern, the recent decision by the United Nations and its Resolution to expel all foreign fighters in Libya, without first, ensuring that they are disarmed and that neighbouring countries and the Sub-regions were engaged, to put in place modalities for containing or managing the movement of these fighters.

“While this action was aimed at bringing about sustenance of peace in Libya, non-collaboration with regional stakeholders on this critical decision, has now created newer threats to peace, security and stability in the region, which could lead to lack of coordinated management of huge humanitarian crisis across the Sahel, North, Central and West Africa, including the Lake Chad region.”

Scandal: How 16-Year Old Lady Connived With Boyfriend To Fake Her Kidnap, Demands ₦500,000 Ransom

By
Akinwale Kasali
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16-Year Self Kidnapper

By Akinwale Kasali

A 16-Year-old girl Abimbola Suluka, and her boyfriend, Oluwaseun Olajide, had no premonition that the parent will contact the Ekiti State Police Command when both perfected plan to stage her own kidnap to extort money from her family.

But luck ran out of the love birds and their accomplice, as the Ekiti State Anti- Kidnapping Department of the State Police Command foiled their plan.

Abimbola, Oluwaseun and two of their accomplices are being charged for alleged conspiracy and self-kidnapping.

Ekiti State Police spokesperson, Sunday Abutu, in a statement, explained that Abimbola’s sister had gone to the Police Station to report that her sister was missing after leaving the house for school.

He said the sister explained that when Abimbola’s phone was called, an unknown person answered the call and informed them that she was in his custody and would not be released until a ransom of N500,000 was paid.

The holder of the account given for the ransom payment was tracked and arrested by the anti-kidnapping unit of the police and forced to lead the police team to a hotel within the state capital where the supposedly abducted Abimbola and her boyfriend were nabbed.

Abimbola, with the three others, confessed to committing the crime, claiming she wanted to raise money from her family members to enable her relocate from Ekiti State since her mother insisted she studies medicine as against her own dream of becoming an actress.

In a statement, the Ekiti State Police Command, stated that it arrested four for Conspiracy and Self-kidnapping

“The Ekiti State Police Command on Thursday 17th June, 2021 at about 2000hrs, arrested one SULUKA ABIMBOLA ‘f’ 16, alongside her boyfriend, one OLUWASEUN DANIEL OLAJIDE ‘m’ 25, for conspiracy and self-kidnapping.

“It would be recalled that on the 16/06/2021 at about 1140hrs, one Bolaji  Femi of Bawa Estate, Ado-Ekiti, came to New Iyin Divisional Police Headquarters and reported that her sister, one Suluka Abimbola left home for School at Christ School, Ado-Ekiti, on 15/06/2021 and did not return home.

“She further narrated that when Suluka Abimbola’s GSM number was called, an unknown person picked and confirmed that Suluka Abimbola was in their custody but would not be released until a ransom of five hundred thousand naira is paid to a particular Union Bank Account belonging to one Adisa Damilola.

“The case was immediately transferred to the Anti-kidnapping Unit of the State CID where the owner of the account, one Adisa Damilola ‘f’ who is also a friend to Oluwaseun Daniel Olajide, was tracked and arrested. Adisa Damilola led the Operatives of the Anti-kidnapping Unit to Alex Grace Hotel, along Housing, Ado-Ekiti, where Suluka Abimbola and her boyfriend, Oluwaseun Daniel Olajide, alongside one other accomplice, Adefolaju Caleb ‘m’ 23, were lodging and were arrested.

“During interrogation, Suluka Abimbola confessed to the commission of the crime as well as Oluwaseun Daniel Olajide and Adefolaju Caleb. Suluka Abimbola said she decided to conspire with the other suspects to do that in order for her to raise money from her family members to enable her relocate from Ekiti State since her Mother insisted that she goes through medical field as against her dream of becoming an Actress”..

Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, Tunde Mobayo, condemns the act and has directed that investigation be conducted for further action to serve as a deterrent to other criminally minded persons in the Society.

Mobayo said the four suspects would face the wrath of the law.

Shock As ATOPCON President, Niyi Odetoye, Dies In Lagos Explosion

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Nigeria has lost one of its renowned Town Planners.

Niyi Odetoye, the President of the Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria, ATOPCON, died in the raging fire which started when a tanker carrying gas, exploded opposite Sheraton Hotel and the multi million Naira OPIC Plaza.

Odetoye was one of the five casualties of the explosion which occurred in the early hours of Friday.

Odetoye would have clocked 47 years on Monday June 21st, 2021, but met his death in the unfortunate fire incident.

In the early hours of Friday, a fuel tanker exploded right in front of the OPIC Plaza, leading to the fatalities.  Many were injured, while 25 cars wereburnt.

Available preliminary report by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, said that the fire was caused by a fuel tanker that exploded right in front of the Plaza, and as a result lives were lost, while some persons were seriously injured and are receiving treatment.

Odetoye, before his demise was a graduate of the Urban and Regional Planning of the Federal University of Technology, Akure. He was a major donor to his Alma Mata including the Sponsor of the Best Studio Design Award, URP.

However, the death toll that was, as at yesterday afternoon, said to be five increased to seven, as two other victims were said to have died as a result of the heavy burnt suffered in the inferno.

Lagos State Commissioner for Special Duties, Tayo Bamgbose-Martins, had earlier confirmed that

five victims died, with three victims confirmed dead at the scene of the explosion, while two others died on their way to the hospital.

Bamgbose-Martins said, “Lives were lost. We had about 13 people rescued but we understand that out of the 13 people, we’ve lost two of them which means that we’ve only rescued 11. We’ve recovered three bodies again this morning. They’ve started moving them away from here.”

Bamgbose-Martins had earlier stated that investigation was ongoing, adding that a special committee by the Lagos State Government, which has Agencies of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation as members, are working to end gas tanker and gas stations explosions in the state.

Similarly, the spokesman for the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Nosa Okunbor, revealed that five persons lost their lives in the explosion, with over 22 vehicles burnt in the inferno.

Investigations revealed that two more victims had died at the Emergency Unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ikeja, following high degrees of burnt. Fatalities are now Seven.

Insecurity: Again, Angry Youths Block Kaduna-Abuja Road

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Kaduna-Abuja Road Blocked By Youths

By Akinwale Kasali

For the second time in one month, angry youths on Saturday blocked the Kaduna – Abuja Road.

Just as Kaduna State has become one of the epicenters of kidnapping in the North, the Kaduna Abuja Road  has become one of the most dreaded roads in the country over the incessant kidnapping of Nigerians.

This forced youths from Anguwan Madaki, Kakau community, Chikun Local Government Areas of Kaduna to block the Kaduna-Abuja highway to protest the killing of four people and the abduction of 49 others by bandits during the week.

The Youths called on Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna wade into the spate of insecurity which is fast reducing the state to a pariah State.

The community, located on the outskirts of Kaduna metropolis, has come under persistent attacks by bandits throughout the week, forcing some residents to move out of the area in search of safety.

The youths say that the latest attacks in the occurred on Friday, June 18th, 2021 at about 10pm when bandits stormed the community, killed two people and abducted 20 others, including their Ruler, his wife and brother.

The Youths lamented that their Community had been under constant attack by bandits throughout the week. That prompted them to block the Kaduna-Abuja road by the over-head bridge on Saturday to express their frustration.

They lamented that the presence of Female soldiers’ camp close to Kakau did not help matters as there was no help whatsoever coming from the camp.

It added that the Military’s presence in the area has not yielded any result, calling on the President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration to look into the issue.

They said their community has been leaving under fear and that many of their relatives have relocated to other places because of the insecurity in the area.

It would be recalled that a few weeks ago, 21 kidnapped students and Staff of Greenfield University in Kaduna were released by their abductors after over N150m was paid as ransom money.

Kaduna State has been volatile, as the security in the state has remained porous. The State Governor seems helpless as the situation degenerates everyday to a state of hopelessness.

Anger Rises Over Onochie’s INEC Nomination; Civil Society Groups Petition NASS

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Laureta Onochie

By Akinwale Kasali

For several months, the objection by many segments of the society, including Political Parties, stalled the screening of Lauretta Onochie, a Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari as a Commissioner on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Nigerians were stunned when  Buhari nominated Onochie, described by not a few people as a foul-mouthed rabid Buhari supporter. Onochie is also a card carrying member of the ruling party at the center, All Progressives Congress, APC.

But eight months down the line, Buhari resubmitted Onochie’s name to the Senate for screening. The result is the rising anger from many Nigerians, especially, the Civil Rights Community.

Following her  by Buhari, recommendation,  Civil Society Groups have written a petition to the National Assembly opposing Onochie as an INEC National Commissioner.

It would be recalled that on Tuesday October 13, 2020, President Buhari had sent a letter to the National Assembly requesting the confirmation of three nominees as INEC National Commissioners and one Resident Electoral Commissioner which was read on the floor of the Senate during plenary.

The Civil Societies which petitioned the National Assembly include; Yiaga Africa, Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa, PAACA, International Press Centre, IPC, Institute for Media and Society, IMS, The Albino Foundation, Centre for Citizens with Disability, CCD, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, NWTF, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism, PTCIJ, Centre for Democracy and Development, CDD, and CLEEN Foundation.

Onochie who hails from Aniocha Local Government Area of Delta State is among the nominees awaiting confirmation by the Senate.

She was nominated as National Commissioner of INEC to represent the South-South region.

However, On Wednesday, 9th June 2021, eight months after her nomination, the Senate referred Onochie’s name to its Committee on INEC to commence her screening as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. This has generated controversy and a rejection from different quarters.

The groups based their petitions on whether the President consulted with the Council of State before submitting to the Senate a letter nominating Onochie as INEC’s National Commissioner, as stated in Section 154(3), 156(1a), Third Schedule, Item F Paragraph 14(2a) and 14(3b) of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended), as a confirmation by the Senate without the input of the State Council is unconstitutional.

The petition also added that Section 156(1) (a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria clearly prohibits the appointment of any person who is a member of a political party as a member of INEC.

The petition reads in part: “To further ensure the neutrality of the members of INEC, the Constitution clearly mandates in the Third Schedule, Part 1, Item F, paragraph 14 (1) that a National Commissioner shall be non-partisan and a person of unquestionable integrity which Mrs. Lauretta Onochie is found wanting in this category.

“However, until this moment, Mrs. Lauretta Onochie is not only a card-carrying member of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), and a Special Assistant to President Buhari on Social Media, but she is also notorious for her partisan, biased, and in some instances inflammatory comments on National issues targeted at perceived or imagined enemies of the Buhari Government.”

The  petition made it known that Onochie has been identified by some Media houses as one of the Nigerian politicians who used fake news as campaign strategies online.

The groups also stated that “While the social media space is still littered with many other inexcusable tweets and posts by Mrs. Onochie, it will be innocuous to state that the nomination of an individual as INEC’s National Commissioner who as in the instant case has habitually demonstrated unabashed partisanship should be outrightly refused and rejected by the Senate. Doing otherwise is a violation of our constitution and the impartiality of our electoral umpire”.

You would recall that former Vice President, and the People’s Democratic Party’s, PDP, Presidential candidate in the 2019 Presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, sued Onochie to the tune of five billion Naira for alleged libel and defamation of character. The case is still in Court.

Nabbed: Baker Who Supplies Bread To Bandits, Makes N400k Per Month

By
Bayo Bernard
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By The Source

If you are still wandering how bandits in the Northern part of Nigeria get food supply in the thick forest after kidnapping their victims, you need not search further, as security forces have now nabbed one Hassan Magaji who sells bread to bandits, and on his part makes as much as N400,000 profit per month as profit.

Magaji, who told the police that he owns a bakery in Kaduna state said he has made fortunes supplying bread to the criminals in the forest.

He was on his way to do another brisk business on June 8 when eagle-eyed policemen arrested him and three others; bubakar Ibrahim, Auwal Abubakar and Ibrahim Kabiru on their way to Damari forest around Birnin Gwari and Giwa Local LGAs.

At the time the suspects were arrested, they reportedly had 150 loaves of bread at the factory.

Magaji said his life changed after he met the bandits who provided him with enough cash to do the business.

Hear his confession “My relative, Mustafa Magaji, who owns several bread factories, visited in 2018 and taught me how to bake cakes. I used the N21,000 that I was able to save to start the business and now I make at least N400, 000 a month,” the suspect told The Sun newspaper.

“The boom in my business began when I started supplying bread to bandits.

“Initially, I used to go around their camp area to sell bread in small quantities. Luckily, it was during one such movement in 2019 that I met Mohammed from Galadimawa and he bought ten loaves of bread and took my phone number.

“I sold the bread N200 each instead of the regular market price which was N170. The next day, he called me and said that the bread was so sweet that I should bring 20 pieces.

“The day I took 20 pieces and I met with three others who were with him that day. They told me that they would like to be buying in a larger quantity and I told them that I did not have enough cash. We agreed that they would pay the entire money before I would bake.

“They started with N20, 000 worth of bread and gradually increased it to N50, 000 a day. After removing the cost of ingredients, I make as much as N150,000 in a week.”

On his part, Abubakar said he started working for Magaji three months ago and did not know that selling items to criminals is illegal.

“I started working for Magaji about three months ago. I am paid N500 and a loaf of bread every day. My job is to join and bake the bread and also sell them in the various communities.”

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