Why Justice Abang’s Conviction of Olisa Metuh Smells of Malice |The Source

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December 18, 2020

By Hon. Justice Stephen Adah, JCA

“The narrative of the trial judge suggest someone who didn’t enjoy trying the appellant and counsel because he said they were picking on him.

“He was struggling with the case and even wished that he should be recused out of the case. The influence from this narrative is indisputably to say the least that a trial judge was angered only in his mind that he was wrongly influenced and showed bias against the appellant in this case as this is what manifests from all the outburst, he has infused in his judgment.

“Learned trial judge showed in his comments, the influence of an abnormal desire all inclination to pursue a predetermined line of action against the appellant.

“This no doubt is an influence of bias against the appellant. There is no way the learned trial judge can be seen to be detached from the malice against the appellant in the case as alleged.

“The duty of a trial judge is to be completely neutral in the case before him. A judge must not only be impartial; he must be seen to be impartial to both sides.

“His duty is to sit and determine the issues raised by parties and to conduct an examination into the parties. He is not an umpire just yet. His job is to find out the truth and do justice according to law.

“Appellants have been able to convince us in this court from the records shown, and from all the utterances of the judge that there is likelihood of bias signifying that he was no freeman while the trial was going on.

“If this is allowed, it will set a dangerous precedent and that is never allowed by our constitution. Trial that was conducted in a hostile atmosphere without any regard to the constitutional right of the person accused can never be upheld.

“The learned trial judge unfortunately has shown the whole world that much was into that judgment than what was put in evidence before the judge.

“It was in this respect that we cannot ignore it. This court in its duty, set that decision aside. Judgment of the lower court delivered on 25th of February 2020 cannot stand because of the evidence of bias. It is accordingly annulled.”

Excerpts from the lead judgement delivered by Hon Justice Adah (JCA), to annul the conviction, by Hon. Justice Okon Abang, of Chief Olisa Metu, and ordering that the trial be started afresh before another Judge.

Breaking: Kankara Students Released |The Source

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Adesina Soyooye

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December 18, 2020

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By Adesina Soyooye

Relief has come to the Nation, Katsina State, and the Kankara community, in particular, as the over 300 students abducted from the Government Science Secondary School, have been released by their abductors.

The news of their release was confirmed by the Media aide to Governor Aminu Masari. He said the students were on their way to Katsina Government House where Masari was waiting to receive them.

Photographs published by Saharareporters show the students packed in lorries, on their way home, escorted by soldiers.

It is not known who, or which group, finally negotiated their release, but their abduction had sparked national outrage and helplessness, especially, as they were abducted hours after the President arrived his Daura, Katsina home for a week long private visit.

There had been claims and counter-claims over which group abducted them. Governor Masari had claimed the boys were abducted by local bandits.

But the leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, had put a lie to the Governor’s claim by showing the photographs, in a video, of the boys in the custody of his group. He said they were kidnapped to stop them from having access to western education.

In the video which lasted six minutes and a some seconds, one of the abducted students was seen pleading with the Government to negotiate with Boko Haram and urgently effect their release.

He warned the Government to call off all other efforts of rescue by not engaging the sect in a gun battle. He also asked that all schools which teach western education be closed down.

It is not known yet if any ransome was paid for their release or not, but Masari had earlier said that the Miyetti Allah was acting as the middleman to negotiate with the abductors.

….Details, later.

Kankara Abduction: Masari Lied; The Boys Are With Boko Haram |The Source

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Adesina Soyooye

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December 17, 2020

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By Adesina Soyooye

This magazine can now confirm a few things on the abducted students of the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State.

The claim by the Aminu Masari, Katsina State Governor, that the boys were kidnapped by local bandits is false.

The claim by the leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau that the boys were abducted by Boko Haram is true.

Shekau, had in an audio message on Tuesday, said his group abducted the over 300 students, and that the boys were abducted to stop them from acquiring western education which he said runs contrary to true Islamic beliefs.

But on Wednesday, the Governor had denounced Shekau’s claims, insisting that the students were abducted by local bandits.

On Thursday, as proof, Shekau released photographs of the weary, nervous and bloodied(some of them) boys in his custody. One of the boys was frantically pleading with the Government to negotiate with the group for their release.

Flowing from the above, we can confirm that it is doubtful, as disclosed by Masari, that his government was discussing with the abductors, through the Myetti Allah.

What has been confirmed from the release of the photograph is that contrary to the claims by the Government that security agents have pinpointed where the students were kept, and surrounded the area, perhaps, nobody knows exactly where the boys are.

Since the abduction of the students, there has been one claim or the other of their whereabouts. While the State Government claim they are in a forest in Zamfara, another claim say Sambisa forest, while a third claim insist it is a forest between between Nigeria and Niger Republic.

A couple of days ago, the Minister for Defence, Bashir Magashi, allegedly, assured the release of the students within hours.

This will not be the first time students will be kidnapped by the terrorist group.

The sect had kidnapped students from Dapchi who they released a few days later, except the only Christian captive, Leah Shaibu for, allegedly, not renouncing the Christian Religion for Islamic Religion.

During the Goodluck Jonathan Government Administration, the sect kidnapped students from Chibok. While a number of them were later released after negotiations, many of them still remain in captive.

That abduction gave birth to #Bring Back Our Girls. Now, it is: #BringBackOurBoys!

Recall that the students were abducted from their school on the day President Muhammadu Buhari, a Katsina indigene arrived the state on a private visit.

Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, described the incident as a slap on President Buhari’s face.

“I Am Open To Recall, But Getting A Club In Europe, My Priority” – Haruna Lukman |The Source

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Akinwale Kasali

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December 17, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

Former Golden Eaglets 2007 FIFA Under-17 World Cup winning Captain in South Korea, Haruna Lukman, hasn’t shut the door on a Super Eagles recall.

The Former Monaco Football Club of France midfielder, revealed that he was open to a recall into the Super Eagles fold which he last played competitive football for at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Lukman who is presently unattached to a Club after ending his contracts with Ararat Yerevan Football Club in the Armenian League, said that his priority is to get a Club and move back to Europe in the December-January European transfer window.

Lukman who played for the National team in all tiers, both at the Junior and Senior Level said that he is poised on returning to Europe, but hasn’t shut the door against a call up into the Coach Gernot Rohr led Super Eagles Team as they resume qualification series by March 2021 for the African Cup of Nations and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The former Dynamo Kyiv Football Club of Ukraine midfielder made this known to this medium during a friendly match between Lukman’s led All Star Team that comprises of Ex Internationals against Ramond International Football Club at the Alade Mini Stadium in Command Area of Lagos State.

The match ended 2-2 with Lukman scoring a superb freekick to give his team the much needed equaliser.

Lukman came into limelight under Late Coach Yemi Tella who made him Captain of the triumphant Under-17 Golden Eaglets in 2007, and also played for the Flying Eagles at the Under-20 World Cup in Egypt.

He went further to feature for the Under-23 Dream Team Eagles, and graduated to the Super Eagles where he played at the 2010 African Cup of Nations tournament in Angola and at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Led by the National Party Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, the members urged President Muhammadu Buhari and his APC- led Government to urgently rescue the students, and save their parents and the nation from untold anxiety and pains.

Over six hundred of the students, all boys, were abducted by, according to the State Governor, Aminu Masari, local bandits. About 17 of them escaped, and returned home.

But it turns out that the claim by the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, that his group abducted the boys, is true.

Masari had, in a television interview, on Wednesday, dismissed Shekau’s claim.

But Thursday afternoon, Shekau released the photographs of the boys as proof he has them in his custody.

The abduction of the boys from President Buhari’s Katsina triggered a combination of outrage and national shame.

They were abducted hours after Buhari arrived Katsina on a week-long private visit.

More outrage greeted Buhari’s inability to visit the school to condole with the parents, the people and the school authorities.

Instead, his aides released a photograph of the President, visiting his cattle at his ranch.

Inexplicably, an official delegation flew in from Abuja on a condolence visit to the Government and people of Katsina. The delegation did not visit the President at his residence.

Mr President has yet to address the Nation on the abduction of the students.

He gave the usual marching orders for their rescue. Nothing has been heard since then about the boys, except Masari’s assurance that none of them has been killed.

Kankara: PDP Embarks On a Peaceful Protest |The Source

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Adesina Soyooye

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December 17, 2020

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By Adesina Soyooye

Members of the National Working Committee of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, on Thursday, hit the street in Abuja, on a peaceful protest over the abduction of more than 300 students of the Government Science Secondary School, GSSS, Kankara, Katsina state.