The Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists (NGIJ), has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to stop handling the xenophobic attacks on innocent Nigerians in South Africa with kid gloves.
Mr. Adeyemi Obadimu, the NGIJ spokesperson, in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos stressed the need for the Federal government to put a permanent stop on the incessant xenophobic attacks on Nigerians by imposing stiff sanctions on South African businesses in Nigeria.
The NGIJ noted that these attacks have been going on for this long because South Africans have always gotten away with it. The statement reads in part: “In the past 24 hours, Nigeria and Nigerians have been regaled with horrific videos and images coming out of South-Africa of xenophobic attacks on innocent Africans, especially Nigerians.
“These incessant barbaric attacks are not new and, if nothing drastic is done will still be repeated in the foreseeable future. It is even more worrisome and appalling that in a statement credited to the South African Deputy Minister of Police, the authorities had seemingly justified the attacks by questioning the rationale for the preponderance of foreign nationals in their cities. And frowned at a situation where 80% of a city is occupied by Foreign nationals.
“This statement indicts the Government of South Africa and leans credence to the general belief that the Government, and it’s agencies, are in support of this barbaric attacks.
“The NGIJ therefore calls on the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammad Buhari to, as a matter of urgency, summon the South African Ambassador to Nigeria and read him the riot act.
“The federal government should in a stern and succinct tone let the South African ambassador be aware that the country will recall her ambassador from SA if concrete action(s) to protect Nigerians and their businesses are not taken within 24hours.
“Also, considering the fact that Nigeria is a huge market for a large number of South African companies and businesses, it will make some sense to immediately engage South Africa in a trade war by reviewing our import policies and imposing at least 30% tariffs on all South African goods, and at the same time place new duties on about 85 billion dollars target list of South African products.
“If these are done with immediate dispatch, the federal government would have succeeded in proving to the whole world that it is capable of protecting her own where ever they may are found,” the statement concluded.
There was wild jubilation in the camp of Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, as his choice candidate, Senator Duoye Diri, emerged the winner of the Peoples Democratic Party’s, PDP, primary, held Tuesday, and rounded off Wednesday morning in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.
The victory for Dickson’s man came days after his disagreement with a number of stakeholders in the state over the choice of the candidate that will hoist the party’s flag at the gubernatorial elections in November.
Many of the stakeholders wanted former Chairman and Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Ndutimi Alaibe, to be the party’s candidate.
This brought about a rift within the PDP in the State.
At the election, Diri pulled 561 votes as against Alaibe’s 365 votes, while Keneibi Okoko garnered 124 votes.
Other contestants; Great Joshua Maclaver got 7 votes, while Franklin Erepamo Osaisai had 4 votes. Fred Agbedi had 18 votes, while Reuben Okoya had 19 votes.
Diri will now slug it out, mainly, with the winner of the APC primary, in November, for who would be sworn in as the governor on February 14, 2020.
It is not known how the disunity in the PDP will affect its fate in the election
In the face of the Xenophobic attack, in South Africa, of foreigners and their business interests, especially, on Nigerians and their businesses, the Nigerian Government has taken three steps to express its worries.
First, on the instructions of President Muhammadu Buhari, the South African High Commissioner in Nigeria, has been summoned by Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyema.
Second, Buhari has, also, sent a Special Envoy to Pretoria. The delegation would arrive South Africa on Thursday.
And, thirdly, Buhari will, also, visit South Africa next month.
These steps were revealed in a press statement issued by Presidential Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.
But anger boils over in Nigeria, as not a few Nigerians say the steps are not enough. They are asking for more, and condemning South Africa in the strongest of terms.
Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo, described the attack on Nigerians, as despicable and unacceptable, emphasizing that Nigeria would take every step to protect its citizens and their businesses anywhere.
But former Senate President, Dr Ike Ekweremadu, is canvassing for the severance of diplomatic ties with South Africa.
Many Nigerians agree with him, emphasising: “Enough is enough”.
To show their anger, some youths have attacked a couple of South Africa’s interests across Nigeria, including, a mall, Shoprite, Lekki, MTN, Stanbic IBTC, but were prevented by the Police. The Police has, also, as a preemptive measure, sealed most South African interests in Nigeria to stop any attack against them.
In Lagos, one of the youths protesting the attack on Nigerians, was, allegedly, shot dead, and a Police van, razed.
Following is Adesina’s statement, entitled:
“Xenophobic Attack: President Buhari Dispatches Special Envoy To South Africa”, wherein Buhari, expressed anger.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has noted with deep concern, reported attacks on Nigerian citizens and property in South Africa since August 29, 2019.
Consequently, the President has instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, to summon the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria and get a brief on the situation; express Nigeria’s displeasure over the treatment of her citizens; and assurance of the safety of their lives and property.
President Buhari has also despatched a Special Envoy to convey to President Cyril Ramaphosa his concerns and also interact with his South African counterpart on the situation.
The Special Envoy is expected to arrive in Pretoria latest Thursday, September 5, 2019.”
Former Governor of Cross Rivers State, Donald Duke, has dismissed the Assets Management Company Of Nigeria, AMCON, as not only a liar, but full of mischief.
He also said that he was deliberately targeted at by AMCON so as to rubbish him. Otherwise, the former governor submitted, his name could not have featured on the list of its first 100 debtors, as he was not indebted to AMCON as much as several other debtors, whose names, nonetheless, did not feature before his. From what Duke claims that he owes, it seems odd that he was not listed among debtors owing below N500m. Otherwise, his name ought to have come featured on serial number 102 or 103.
He also decried the excitement which followed the publication of his name, and disputed the amount published against him, insisting he owed the sum of N340 million, as against AMCON’s claim of N527 million.According to him, he has now paid back the loan of N340 million.
Recall that AMCON has dragged Duke to court over his indebtedness to the tune of alleged N527 million, in favour of the United Bank for Africa, UBA. It sought for the forfeiture of Duke’s Ikoyi properties, to offset the debt incurred in the form of a loan. The Court granted the request.
But on Monday, Duke went back to the court, pleading, through his Counsel, Edoigiaweria Omoruyi, for an out of court settlement, and asking for a few days to offset the bill. AMCON’s Counsel, Juliet Reed, represented by Austin Erhabor, did not object. Erhabor confirmed that both parties were in discussions for settlement.
From his reaction on Tuesday, it seems Duke has offset the debt.
Following, his reaction, where he sought to clarify the circumstances of his indebtedness to AMCON.
“Recently news of an obligation I owe to AMCON has made the news. Whilst I do not understand the excitement this has generated, bearing in mind that debts far far in excess of this have not received a whisper, clearly someone or some people are having fun at my expense, I think it appropriate now that the issue has been laid to rest to state my side of the matter.
AMCON made a claim of N527 million against me which I disputed. I guess to arm twist they went to court and created a media circus. Having done what I consider their worse, I insisted on what I believe is the correct amount N340m. We have since agreed and thus paid
I hope this takes the air out of the balloon. There was nothing to be excited about after all.”
Here is the news for parents in Ekiti state. Not a few of them will end up in jail, soon.
Here is why.
Their Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has announced that parents that deny their children, who are of school age, education, will end up in jail.
In Ekiti, as in other states, many of such children and parents abound.
Fayemi made this statement at Eporo during the enrollment sensitisation campaign, encouraging parents and guardians to key into his administration’s free education programme.
He added that the State’s Child Rights Law states that every child has the right to be educated, and anyone who contravenes the law will face the wrath of the law.
The school enrollment exercise started for 2019/2020 academic session, with children being enrolled into schools for free.
Fayemi said, “We have a Child Rights Act in Ekiti which prohibits parents from disallowing children of school age to be out of school during school session.
“If your child is not in school when the school is in session, you have a lot to explain because we will apprehend the child whether he is found hawking on the street or engaging in any illicit activities which prevents him or her from being in school.
Fayemi who also consults pro bono for the United Nations added that “In implementing the law, we have a family court in the state that takes responsibility for children that are not in school and parents who fail in their responsibility,’’ Fayemi said.
He pledged his administration’s commitment to restoring the state to its pride of place as the fountain of knowledge.
The governor said his administration has provided instructional materials, furniture, and a conducive learning environment where teachers could effectively contribute to the growth and development of their pupils.
David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has revealed that he is set to walk down the aisle with his lover, Chioma, by 2020.
The ‘Omo baba olowo’ crooner took to his Instagram page to make this disclosure with a group picture taken by both families at their introduction.
The Babcock University graduate said that preparation for their wedding is in top gear, as the families have met and chosen a convenient date in 2020 to formally hold the wedding ceremony.
Davido’s romance with Chioma has gone viral for years now, with the lovebirds always in each other’s arms, and usually tour round the world together anytime Davido is holding a concert.
Their romance brought about the hit song ‘Assurance’, in which Davido used his lover on the musical video assuring her that he would stick with her no matter the condition.
The son of multi-billionaire, Adedeji Adeleke, already has two daughters out of wedlock, but poised to marry Chioma, while the mothers of his daughters are better known as ‘Baby Mamas’.
His fans have been dropping comments ever since he announced the year for his wedding with Chioma, pouring accolades and showering encomiums on him for taking a bold step to becoming a more responsible man.
The South African High Commissioner To Nigeria, Bobby Moro,has described the ongoing xenophobic attacks on foreigners in South Africa which is said to be mainly targeting Nigerians as “sporadic acts of violence” and not xenophobic.
Speaking to the media after a closed door meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, he said that the whole issue has been blown out of proportion by the social media, saying that many of the videos on social media were not from the current attacks.
Recall that the South African High Commissioner was reluctantly summoned by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, after several calls on social media that the attacks has reached such an alarming rates that government should take actions by summoning the Envoy. Onyeama has been more of an aloof diplomat than a reactive one.
Many videos have gone viral on the treatment of foreigners in South Africa, showing how many are being killed and shops set ablaze after being looted.
Meanwhile, in a sort of frenzied reaction, some hoodlums have reportedly torched the MTN office in Apapa, Lagos. Nigerians are reportedly the the majority shareholders in the company which employs thousands of Nigeria. Attacking South African interests will only worsen the unemployment situation.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian High commission in South Africa has released a statement on the issue, directing victims to come to the High Commission and report.
Previously, there were reports that the High Commission shut its doors on victims seeking succor.
The Macabre dance of blood going on in South Africa has sparked outrage among Nigerians, particularly as the Federal seems helpless in handling the unfortunate situation.
Viral videos of horrific dimensions are let loose on an angry nation’s psyche detailing gory episodes of Xenophobia served on the table of Apartheid’s former enclave.Up until Monday, the Presidency has not summoned the South African Ambassador for consultations. This has emboldened the Xenophobes that Nigeria is weak and can do nothing.
Thabang Mokoena, a South African Xenophobe, twitted this much in the heat of the attacks.
“Tomorrow we F***ing them up again, and your Government won’t do s**t”, he said in answer to a Nigerian complaining of the killings.
So far, over 300 foreigners have been killed in the worst attack since Xenophobia started in South africa. Foreign owned businesses are looted with the South african Police standing by and sometimes lending a helping hand to the looters.
“How can a city in South Africa be 80% foreigners?”, Bongani Mic, A Dehaelputy Minister of Police chief of South Africa said in defense of the killings.
This appears to give an official stamp on the xenophobia.
President Muhammadu Buhari, during his recent visit to Japan, was reported by his aids to have confronted his South African Counterpart demanding explanations for the killings, and pledged to visit South Africa in future to discuss the issue. But it appears the meeting was the ginger for the current attacks.
“Nigerians are being killed in south Africa and Buhari is laughing with their President”, a blogger angrily wrote.
Even the Minister of Foreign Affairs appears to too diplomatically aloof for a case that, according to critics of the government, ought to elicit drastic reactions to the Nigerian government. He only sent a tweet saying that Nigeria will “take definitive action” on the case.
He has only just summoned the South African Ambassador to explain the attacks.
But in Aso Rock, it appears to be business as usual, sending wrong signals on how the government value the life of its citizens. Miyetti Allah has been threatening the South east governors, saying they have no right to stop their nomadic life with their cows over the geopolitical zone.
The South east Governor’s forum had risen from a meeting saying that no herdsmen should bear any form of arms in the geopolitical zone, stating that they are partnering with the military to do Air patrol over the zone with a view to identifying the culprints, a move that Miyetti Allah frowns at.
“Nigerians are being killed in South Africa but they can’t come home because those at home are also being killed. Pathetic!”, said lere Olayinka, spokesperson to former governor of Ekiti state, Ayo Fayose.
Many on social media are advocating boycot of south African Interests at the least, and attacks on such interests as a the other extreme.
South Africa has substantial investments in Nigeria, including the telecom Giant MTN and Shop-right chain of stores.
I wonder if you know him. Or even remember him, or his name. If you have forgotten him, don’t blame yourself. It is life.
It comes with all sorts of ironies. And throws all sorts at one. The good. The bad. The ugly. The most embarrassing.
The subject of this write-up has seen all the above. He is Honourable Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, a Justice of the Supreme Court. An enviable position, when one gets to that level, one is made for life.
The respect one commands stretches from mother-earth to high heavens. And even though, at that level, they live a kind of secluded life, it is worth it.They rarely attend social events.
I don’t know Ngwuta. But, I have ran into him a couple of times. I am not sure we exchanged more than the casual, usual, courtesies.
Hon. Justice Sylvester Ngwuta
The first time I met him was at the National Assembly, Abuja. I had accompanied a friend of mine whose close family member was appearing before a Senate Committee to be screened for a high profile office. And, there, was Hon. Justice Sylvester Ngwuta who had also come for screening in order to be elevated to the position of a Supreme court.
I was excited. I hadn’t met him before, but I was happy that an Igbo brother of mine would soon be a Supreme Court Judge.
From my side of the country, they are not many. It, therefore, gives some joy to see one. So in the spirit of the Igbo, I quickly claimed him as ‘my brother’ and, bent almost double to greet him.
I forget what now happened, but it turned out he was not screened that day. I guess there was a document that had not been received by the screening committee. A man of average height, let me not say short, he sat there, dignified, a smile plastered on his cherubic face.
He was eventually screened a couple of days later. And was sworn in as a Justice of the Supreme Court.
The day he was sworn-in was my second time of meeting him. I just whispered ‘Congratulations, my lord’
He remembered my face, clutched my hand and smiled broadly.
I cannot confirm his lifestyle, but I hear he is a recluse, almost. Like most of his colleagues, he has a zero social life. But his, I understand, borders on the extreme. On the day he was sworn-in as a Justice of the Supreme Court he held no reception to celebrate it. He, instead, went to the reception held in honour of a colleague of his. I now don’t know whether he went with his guests, but that’s the Ngwuta his colleagues know. And that was where I met him for the third time.
With his high profile, dignified, respectable job, Ngwuta should be happy. Not a few would struggle to be his friend. His state and zone would look out for him. They would celebrate and protect him with their skin. And so would his professional colleagues, and the associations he belongs to.
But this man has no such luck. He seems rejected. Forgotten. Nobody seems to care about him, his state of mind , or what he is going through. He is lonely. And has become an orphan.
He walks a lonely path. Even in his office at the Supreme Court, he is lonely. He stays on his own. Probably reads some books and newspapers and magazines. No case file, or any, that members of the public know about, is passed to him. No case is assigned to him. He is not on any Supreme Court panel.
Every morning, Monday through Friday, he wakes up, takes his bath, is chauffeur-driven to his office, and that’s it. He just sits down, and leaves at the end of the day. Month end, he gets an alert for his salary.
Some people will chorus: lucky fellow. At least, he gets his salary and allowances every month, something which is no longer common in our clime, they would say. But for a brilliant mind, used to being busy, nothing can be more frustrating.
And Justice Ngwuta is a brilliant mind. Deep. And, good at his job, those who know him say.
But, he has been reduced to a pitiable state. He is frustrated.
Ngwuta, from Ebonyi state, is the fourth in the hierarchy at the Supreme Court. Well regarded, His Lordship’s journey in the wilderness started in October, 2016.
Ngwuta was one of the two Supreme Court Justices, whose residences, operatives of the Department of the State Security Services, DSS, raided in the uncivilized hours of October 7 and 8. His other colleague is Justice John Okoro. But that’s where their fate is separated.
While Okoro resumed work after the raid, Ngwuta was arraigned at the Federal High Court, Abuja, by the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF. His offence: Alleged corruption. He was also dragged before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT.
His offence: Alleged failure to declare a number of his assets. Ngwuta challenged the charges. And, on March, 23, 2018, Hon. Justice Tosho of the Federal High Court set him free.
Again, on May 15, 2018, the CCT set him free.
Both the Court and the CCT insisted Ngwuta ought to have been hauled before the National Judicial Commission, NJC, first, a body, constitutionally empowered to discipline Judicial officers.
So, hurray for Ngwuta?
Not at all. If anything, his situation worsened. He is neither sitting, nor standing.
The NJC has said not a word on him, or the case. He has not been invited by the body. Nobody has said anything to him. He is not retired. He is not suspended. And, one cannot say he is serving. He is just there. Nobody is saying anything to him. No case files are passed to him. Nothing. Worse: Nobody is asking questions. And nobody is making a case for him.
And, please, excuse this, but, Justice Ngwuta is an unlucky man. He comes from the wrong part of the country. His people don’t care. They shout persecution, but that’s where it ends. They just shout. How come the Igbo are not asking questions on the fate of one of their most accomplished sons? Where is the Nnia Nwodo-led Ohanaeze Ndigbo?
Ngwuta comes from Ebonyi state where Governor Dave Umahi is the lord, and stands like a colossus. I have neither heard, nor read Umahi ask questions about his high profile subject. I have never heard the South-east Governors’ Forum raise questions on Ngwuta’s fate. Umahi is the Chairman of the Forum.
They seem not to care. Or they don’t think it is important. They are unlike their South-South counterparts.
A clear example:
When Walter Onnoghen, the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria, got into trouble, the South-south Governors’ Forum, which Chairman Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa state is, rose in anger. They all rushed to Abuja, met at Dickson’s, and issued a strongly worded communique, alleging persecution of their son on the part of the Federal Government and, asking it to thread with care.
His state Governor, Prof. (Sir) Ben Ayade, dragged the FG to court on behalf of the government of Cross Rivers state. He got a split judgement. And even though Onnoghen was still retired, his people gave him a sense of belonging. Perhaps, but for his people, it could have been worse.
Poor Ngwuta. He doesn’t have such luck. Or, such support. He has been abandoned to his fate. He is an orphan, abandoned by everybody, including his people.
The questions are: Why has he been left in the lurch? Is there something Nigerians don’t know? Is there a hidden agenda behind his situation? Is he deliberately being kept out of the way? Not a few Nigerians are beginning to think so. Only the NJC can stop these speculations by quickly bringing Ngwuta’s case to the table. The old saying, justice delayed, is justice denied, still holds true.
Former Governor Donald Duke of Cross Rivers State whose Ikoyi Properties were recently forfeited to the Asset Management Company of Nigeria, AMCON, by a proclamation of a court order over his inability to pay certain debts owed to the UBA has began moves to get his properties back.
To this effect, he has approached a Federal High Court at Ikoyi, Lagos, in a suit FHC/L/CS/1373/2019 to allow him pay the sum of N537,334,360.77 in order to take them back.
AMCON had earlier approached the court through its counsel, Juliet Reeds, to take possession of Duke’s properties at Ikoyi, Lagos following his failure to pay the debt owed.
At the resumption of proceedings Monday, Duke’s counsel, Edoigiawerie Omoruyi, informed Justice Nicholas Oweibo, that his client has approached AMCON for an out of court settlement, promising to pay the debt on/or before the 4th of September, 2019.
Reeds, counsel to AMCON, represented by Austin Erhabor confirmed Omoruyi’s submission that Duke had approached AMCON for an amicable settlement of the debt on or before the stipulated time.
Erhabor stressed that, “In the spirit of fairness, we will concede to an adjournment to enable us finalise the possible settlement”.
Justice Oweibo agreed with the decision of both parties, adjourning the case till 11th September, 2019, for the report of the settlement.
It would be recalled that Justice Oweibo had earlier granted an ex-parte order to AMCON and the UBA, to take over the Ikoyi properties of Duke, before both parties reached this agreement.
uation.
