I really don't get where this constant negativity from the press about Cristiano comes from ... The Media is just trying to get clicks, and pundits who don't have a career anymore just want to get attention with his big name and try to make him look bad.
He is soon 38 years old - so what's the surprise that he doesn't score 50 goals a season anymore? Every football fan out there should be happy to have seen him playing world class football for 20 years - I don't think anyone from the new generation will be able to match his numbers again. He will forever be in his own category.
Everyone should show more respect to one of the greatest athletes in sports history...
The Federal Government has restated its shoot on sight order to the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) against intruders and invaders at the centres following threats of attack on the facilities nationwide.
The Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, gave the directive at the unveiling of the new service logo and uniforms on Monday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Aregbesola also inaugurated a new staff quarters, ICT infrastructure and operational vehicles at the service headquarters.
Aregbesola lamented that the goal of the administration of criminal justice would have been defeated and money spent on arrests, investigations, trials and prosecution wasted if inmates were allowed to escape.
He said “government said those who attack custodial centres must never live to tell their stories”.
The minister warned against posting of lily-livered personnel to custodial facilities, saying only sharp shooters who were trained to aim at the heads of criminals should be deployed to such centres.
According to him, “as far as I am concerned, whoever attempts to attack our facilities, whoever dares, should not live to tell the story. That is how best I can say it.”
He said: “Whoever attacks our custodial facility should be made to return to his maker. I have said it before and I will say it again that all our facilities are red zones. Rifles are for criminals, not for hunting antelopes. You don’t need any order.
“Don’t wait for any order. Anybody that comes to attack our custodial facilities which are the end or finishing line of administration of criminal justice, take them out.
“Our facilities should be inviolable and any intruder must be made to pay a huge price. Inmates now know that they cannot escape by themselves. They gave criminals outside who want to help them to escape.”
According to him, “any officer that is too lily livered, that cannot shoot to kill, that cannot aim the head of a criminal, should be trained correctly.
“Train them to shoot the head of invaders, not legs. Whoever is not bold enough to shoot to kill, don’t take them to custodial centres, except maybe the female section.
“Out of the over 70,000 inmates, we have less than 3.000 and they don’t constitute any threat to us. So, those who are afraid to shoot, if you don’t want to dismiss them, let them be in the female prisons.
“But those who are going to be in the maximum and minimum custodial centres, they must be very tough people. It is a serious matter. We have had enough of the embarrassment,” he said.
Aregbesola said that every naira being sent on administration of criminal justice would amount to a waste if the NCoS could not keep the end.
“Besides the embarrassment, it would amount to wasting trillions,” he added.
President Muhammadu Buhari had on July 31, 2019, repealed the Prisons Service Act and signed into law the Nigeria Correctional Service NCoS Act 2019.
Earlier, Controller General, NCoS, Mr Haliru Nababa, said that the NCoS Act 2019 heralded a paradigm shift in the service, turning it into a more humane and acceptable system.
Nababa said “to this end, there was a dire need to drive this phenomenal change into the system, by providing the appropriate setting required to accommodate the ideals of the new order.
“As part of efforts to blend with the renewed philosophy of the Service, new Service Uniforms were proposed and were subsequently given gracious approval by our supervising Minister, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, Minister of Interior.
“The role of officers and men in bringing to fruition, the lofty provisions of the NCoS Act, 2019 is critical hence, the need to have them represent the new narrative, attitudinally and also by physical appearance.
“The introduction of new set of uniforms is strategic, as it denotes renewed vigour and readiness to add value to the Service.”
To my brother, Governor Nyesom Wike; if there is anything you are suffering from, I never thought amnesia would be one of them. Why would you think no one, except you, is entitled to a certain set of principles he/she cannot compromise? It’s such a pity if you cannot remember what our discussion and agreement was all about.
Why should only your own position be respected and followed? I would never betray a friend and a brother that is why I won’t respond to your tirade on live TV. The details of our conversation is sealed up with me but if you feel it’s okay to throw it to the public kindly give me a written consent to divulge it so that the public can judge who is saying the truth. Thank God there was a witness!
The detained critic of First Lady Aisha Buhari, Aminu Mohammed Adamu, has been released from Prison unconditionally.
Aminu, a student of the Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State, is expected to meet Mrs Buhari’s husband, President Muhammadu Buhari before reuniting with his family.
He was arrested for trolling First Lady Aisha Buhari on Twitter, and was secretly arraigned in court and remanded in the Suleja correctional facility in Niger State.
Aminu’s guardian, Kabiru Shehu, who confirmed the development while speaking exclusively with LEADERSHIP, said Aminu was currently in Aso Villa in Abuja and waiting to see President Buhari.
According to him, “Aminu has been released. He is currently in Aso Villa and waiting to see President Muhammadu Buhari.
“We are happy about this development and we are happy. We can’t wait to reunite with him.”
Earlier, Mrs Aisha Buhari withdrawn her case against Aminu Adamu.
The student was remanded in Suleja prison in Niger State, after he was charged to court by the police, according to his lawyer, C.K Agu.
The lawyer Mr Agu confirmed to BBC Hausa late evening that the wife of the President has withdrawn the case against the student.
Mr Adamu, a final year student, tweeted a photo of Mrs Buhari with a caption in Hausa which translates to: “Mama is feeding fat on poor people’s money.”
The tweet was posted on 9th June but Mr Adamu was arrested earlier this month when the tweet went viral.
Earlier in the week, Justice Yusuf Halilu of a High Court of Justice of the FCT ordered the remand of Aminu Muhammad.
Muhammad, who hails from Azare in Bauchi state, is a final-year student at the department of environmental management.
He was arrested by the police over a tweet that appeared to mock Aisha.
The tweet, which was posted in Hausa in June 2022, reads: “Su mama anchi kudin talkawa ankoshi.”
Muhammad’s tweet, accompanied by a photo of Aisha, loosely translates as “Mama has eaten poor people’s money and is now full”.
The court ordered his remand after his arraignment the in court.
He is currently being held in Suleja prison before the bail application will be heard.
Meanwhile, Muhammad’s arrest has elicited sharp criticism, while the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has apologised to Aisha Buhari over the tweet.
The charge against the accused person filed by James Idachaba and date November 21, 2022 reads: “That you Aminu Adamu male of Anguwar Sarakuna, Bauchi, Bauchi State sometime between May -June 2022 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did intentionally opened a Twitter Handle with the name @aminullahie aka Catalyst and screenshot the photograph of Her Excellency Hajia Aisha Buhari and wrote on it in Hausa Language ‘* Su Mama anchi kudi talakawa ankoshi’ roughly translated to English language to mean ‘Mama has embezzled monies meant for the poor to satisfaction’ and posted same on your above twitter handle for the members of the public to read knowing same to be false and capable of affecting her reputation. You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 391 of the Penal Code.”
President Muhammadu Buhari has slammed state governors over what he described as their unfair treatment of the administration at the local government level across the country.
The President spoke after delivering his speech at an event hosted for members of the Senior Executive Course 44 (2022) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday.
He said it beats anyone’s imagination how some state governors would collect money on behalf of local government areas in their states, only to remit just half of such allocation to the Council chairmen, who would further deplete the remittance in further pilfering of public resources.
The President, however, related the development to the question of lack of integrity in the character of many of those holding such public offices as those of governorship and local government council chairmanship, adding that such actions are rather despicable and speak of the height of corruption in the country.
LEADERSHIP reports that Buhari’s verdict comes barely 24 hours after the federal government blamed the high poverty rate in the country on the failure of the State governors to contribute their quota of development responsibilities.
Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba, disclosed this to State House correspondents on Wednesday after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
LEADERSHIP recalls that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recently disclosed that 133 million Nigerians were poor.
Agba was responding to a question demanding to know what he and his colleague, the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, were doing to ameliorate the biting hardship being faced by a majority of Nigerians at the moment.
According to him, the federal government, through many of its social security programmes, has been dedicating resources to alleviating hardship on the public, noting that state governments, which have been consistently receiving their shares of national resources, had been misdirecting the resource to project that has almost no direct effect on the needs of the people.
He said that 72% of the poverty in Nigeria is found in the rural areas, which he said had been abandoned by governors.
The minister added that the state executives preferred to function in the state capitals.
He lamented that state governors were concentrating on building flyovers, airports, and other projects that are visible in the state capitals rather than investing in areas that directly uplift the standard of life of the people in the rural areas.
Agba pointed out that while states are in charge of land for agriculture, they do not invest in them for the desired effect on their rural citizens.
He, therefore, advised the state governors that rather than concentrate attention on the building of skyscrappers, flyovers, and bridges, they should focus on initiatives that can pull the majority of the people out of poverty.
He said: “question was, what is the Minister of Finance and I are doing with regards to hardship in Nigeria, right?
“So the suggestion is that both of us are the ones creating the hardship for us to resolve it.
“In the first place, I just returned this morning from Brussels where 106 countries – 27 countries from Europe and 79 countries from the Organization of African Caribbean and Pacific countries. What was the deliberation on? Basically, how should the world over tend to do around food and energy and energy crises?
“I think that it’s always good for us to put things in the right perspective. Like I say to people, when you say government, we should be able to specify which government we are talking about. Is it a federal government? Is it a state government or is it a local government? Because we all have different responsibilities.
“And it is for this reason that last year we started some work on the multidimensional poverty index, for which we recently released the report and it was launched by Mr. President.
“To say in the past, we’ve always looked at monetary poverty. But poverty like we know has different pieces, different intensities, and different causes. And it is for this reason, I went around the 109 senatorial districts in Nigeria, to carry out those surveys and to be able to say specifically, where this hardship is.
“The result clearly shows that 72% of poverty is in rural areas. It also showed clearly, that Sokoto State is leading in poverty with 91%. But the surprising thing is Bayelsa is the second in terms of poverty rating in the country. So you see the issue is not about the availability of money. But it has to do with the application of money.
“In the course of working on the national development plan, we looked at previous plans and say why they didn’t do as much as was expected. We also looked at the issues of the National Social Investment Programme.
“At the federal level, the government is putting out so much money but not seeing so much reflection in terms of money that has been put in alleviating poverty, which is one of the reasons the government also put in place the national poverty reduction with growth strategy.
“But if the federal government puts the entire income that it earns into all of these without some form of complementarity from the State governments in playing their part, it will seem as if we are throwing money in the pond.
“Because the governors are only functioning in their state capitals. And a democracy that we preach about is delivering the greatest goods to the greatest number of people. And our demographic shows that the greatest number of our people live in rural areas, but the governors are not working in the rural areas.
“Right now 70% of our people live in rural areas, they produce 90% of what we eat. And unfortunately, 60% of what they produce is lost due to post-harvest loss and it does not get to the market.
“When we’re talking about food prices like I mentioned right now as driving inflation, prices of food at the farm gates are low. But when you now take it to the urban areas, you find out that the prices are high due to supply chain disruptions, and lack of infrastructure to take them there.
“I think from the federal government side we are doing our best. But we need to push that rather than governors continuing to compete to take loans to build airports that are not necessary where they have other airports so close to them.
“Or governors now competing to build flyovers all over the place and we applaud them, instead they should concentrate on building rural roads so that the farmers can at least get their products to the market.
“And you find that if they do that and with the new policy in the national development plan that talks about taking power to the rural areas, especially of off-grid power that can easily be put, you begin to attract industries to those areas for value addition.
“UNIDO report shows us in terms of employment, the MSMEs employ 70% of our people. So you can imagine how much progress we will make when you find that there are roads, there is power in these rural areas.
“In terms of agriculture, you find out that the federal government doesn’t have land that they would plant, the government has pushed for the Anchor Borrowers program and that is going on very well but the states control lands. They are the ones to provide land for agriculture.
“They are not investing in that. They would rather build skyscrapers in a city where people will see and clap but the skyscrapers do not put food on the table.
“Like I always say, if you look at Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. He says you have to take care of the basic needs of individuals first before you begin to talk about self-actualization. So we need to take care of the issues of food, nutrition, housing, and clothing for our people before we begin to think of how to go to the moon and begin to build flyovers and airports in the state capital, that is the missing link which we need to push so that we’ll be able to catalyze growth.
“But continuing to say federal government or my sister, Zainab, and I what are we doing? We are doing our parts. And I’m sure Wike told you guys about monies that have been released over N500 billion to the oil-producing states and I’ve seen some disclaimers from the states saying, it is small money they are getting every month.
“And some are giving some half-truths about what they have received. We need to hold them accountable. So that together we all can grow our economy,” the Minister said.
The High Court in Minna, Niger State, has issued a warrant of arrest for the Chief of Army Staff, General Faruk Yahaya for alleged contempt of court on the orders of Justice Halima Abdulmalik
Also affected was Commandant Training and Doctrine Command Minna, Major General Stevenson Olugbenga Olabanji.
Abdulmalik, the state’s chief judge, stated that the order followed the hearing of a case brought before the court, pursuant to Order 42, Rule 10 of the Niger State High Court Civil Procedure 2018.
Justice Abdulmalik declared: “The order is commuting the Chief of Army Staff, General Faruk Yahaya and the Commandant Training and Doctrine Command Minna, Major General Stevenson Olugbenga Olabanji, to be kept in Minna Correctional Custody for contentions of the order of this court on 12 October 2022.
She directed that the two suspects should be remanded in custody until they purge themselves of the court contempt.
The Presiding judge adjourned the case to 8 December 2022 for continuation.
Aminu Adamu, the student of the Federal University, Dutse, who was arrested after criticising First Lady Aisha Buhari, on Twitter, has been remanded at Suleja Prison in Niger State.
The student was remanded after he was arraigned at a court in Abuja.
Speaking with BBC Hausa, CK Agu, his lawyer, said the court refused to grant Adamu bail.
“Even in the court session yesterday, we notified the judge about the efforts made to have him released on bail, but we did not receive any reply from the police. We applied to the court to release the student on bail on health grounds and the fact that he will sit for the exam on 5, December. The court has ordered the police to provide the bail application before it for consideration between Tuesday and Wednesday,” Mr Agu was quoted to have said.
LABOUR PARTY ZONE 3 COMMISERATE WITH KAURA LOCAL GOVERNMENT OVER LOST OF WOMAN LEADER!
The Southern Kaduna(Zone 3) Labour party family, Commiserate with the Chairman and exco's of Kaura local government Labour party over the untimely demised of our Mother, Sister Mrs Victoria Chintex Woman leader, Kaura local government who's sad event took place yesterday by some unknown gun men in her resident in kaura.
it saddens our hearts that such an industrious, hard working and dedicated woman leader was kill when the families of Labour party from the local government, Zonal and the state needed her the most at this critical times that Nigerians are quest for a new Nigeria through Labour party.
Similarly the Zonal leadership of Labour party in Zone 3, are bereaved at this moment, we are calling on all the members of Labour party from each polling units , wards , local government, Zonal, state and the National, to pray along with us at this critical time.
More so as we awaits the burial plans by the family, the Zone 3 Labour party will make her self available and render her Supports to our member, whose time was cut short to sympathize with the people of Kaura local government, Labour party and the entire family she left behind.
On behalf of our Labour party Presidential Candidate, H.E Peter Obi, Our Gubernatorial Candidate for Labour Party Kaduna State, Hon Jonathan Asake, The Senatorial Candidate for Labour party Zone 3, Engr Dr Mike Ayuba Auta, call on the people of Kaura local government Party faithful, to be law abiding as vengeance is of the lord. Do accept our condolences as we pray along with the family.
May her soul continue to rest in peace.
Edward Simon buju, Publicity Secretary, Zone 3, Labour party.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola says Nigerians, especially the political class are the most litigious people on earth putting the judiciary under a lot of pressure.
Justice Ariwoola made the assertion on Monday in Abuja at the special session of the Supreme Court held to mark the beginning of the 2022/2023 legal year and the swearing-in of 62 newly conferred Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN.
According to the CJN, in every little disagreement, we rush to court and in every lost case, we rush to appeal even up to the Supreme Court, no matter how little the issue might be.
“That has obviously accounted for the several appeals pending in Supreme Court.
“Though we receive scathing criticisms from members of the public over our over-blotted docket, we are neither in any position to regulate case inflow to the court nor have the supernatural powers to attend to all in one-fell-swoop.
“We have said it repeatedly that ordinarily, most appeals should be allowed to end at the Court of Appeal, but such constitutional provision is yet to be enacted so we have no blame in it.”
He said it was expedient for an amendment of the constitution to stop interlocutory appeals from coming to the Supreme Court and that such appeals should end at the Court of Appeal.
He explained that Nigeria had various alternative dispute resolution mechanisms across the country that could conveniently be leveraged on, with a view to freeing the courts of the incessant case-overload.
The CJN said that during the 2021/2022 legal year alone, the apex court entertained a total of 1,764 cases, comprising of motions and appeals.
Out of the figure, he said the justices of the court heard 816 Civil, 370 Criminal and 16 Political matters, making a total of 1,202 motions.
He further said, the court considered a total number of 562 appeals, comprising of 341 Civil, 186 Criminal, and 35 Political. A total number of 154 judgments were delivered in the year.
“Our pending (backlog) civil appeals are 4,741 while the number of pending (backlog) criminal appeals is 1,392.
“On the other hand, we have 751 moribund appeals for disposal. That brings the total number of pending (backlog) appeals in this court to 6,884.
“Out of the 4,741 appeals in the court’s docket, 1,495 have briefs filed and exchanged and are ready for hearing; whereas, the remaining 3,246 appeals are having about 10,000 motions, with some contentious and others innocuous in nature.
“As for the pending 1,392 Criminal Appeals, 461 already had briefs filed and exchanged and are ready for hearing. The remaining 931 appeals have about 2,000 different motions for hearing to determine their eligibility for hearing.
“However, the identified 751 moribund appeals are to be disposed of for non-compliance with the Supreme Court Rules, i.e. Order 8 Rule 8”, he said.
Justice Ariwoola said that the court had between Oct. 2021 and Sept. 2022, made a total of 3, 563 convictions.
“Available facts on judicial activities in various jurisdictions across the globe still emphatically confirmed that the Supreme Court of Nigeria remains the busiest and most hardworking Supreme Court in the world.
“It is on record that we work from Monday to Friday every week. We conduct sittings on daily basis. It is only on Wednesdays that we do Chamber sitting to consider non-contentious matters. On Fridays, we deliver judgments and rulings.
“We are humans and equally have blood running through our veins; if no one praises us, we have the inalienable right and obligation to praise and eulogise ourselves,” the CJN said.
The CJN reiterated that contrary to speculation from some quarters, the Nigerian judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court, has strived to remain independent and withstand external influence.
“The Nigerian Judiciary, to a very large extent, is independent in conducting its affairs and taking decisions on matters before it without any extraneous influence.
“At the Supreme Court, without mincing words, we are completely independent in the way and manner we conduct our affairs, especially in our judgments.
“We don’t pander to the whims and caprices of anybody. If there is anybody to be feared, I must say with full confidence, that it is only the Almighty God. We will never be subservient to anyone, no matter his position or influence in the society.’”
He, however, expressed concerns that with regards to financing, the Nigerian judiciary could not be said to be completely independent.
“Nevertheless, I will make it clear to whoever that cares to listen that when the Nigerian Judiciary is assessed from the financial aspect, we are yet to be free or truly independent.
“The annual budget of the Judiciary is still a far cry from what it ought to be. The figure is either stagnated for a long period of time or it goes on a progressive decline when placed side-by-side with the current realities in the market.
“Prices of goods and services are not getting less or friendly to buyers; while at the same time, our purchasing power is abysmally low and weak enough to transmit on the same wavelength with the market forces.
For his part, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, said he was optimistic that the recent approval for the increase in the salaries and allowances of judges would boost their moral.
“I like to place on record that since inception, this administration, in line with its commitment to promoting the rule of law, has accorded top priority to the funding of the judiciary.
“As a result, we have ensured a progressive budgetary allocation to the judiciary which has seen an increase from N73 billion in 2015 to over N130 billion in 2022 and a further increase of N150 billion has been proposed for 2023.
“In addition to the foregoing, we have provided special intervention when the need arises, particularly, in meeting the huge cost of running election tribunals,” Mr Malami said.
He said the collective efforts of the judiciary was needed to attain desired levels of good governance and development.
“Since law and development are interwoven, then positive changes in the judiciary will by necessary implication serve as precipitating factors for the much-needed developments in our national polity.
“We continue to solicit the support and cooperation of the judiciary in this regard”, he said.
Also speaking at the event, the Chairman, Body of Benchers, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, corroborated what the CJN said adding that it would be a relief if some political cases do not end up in court.
Dignitaries including the governors of Kogi, Ondo, Gombe and Plateau as well as some minister attending the event.
NAN also reports that 62 lawyers, comprising 53 advocates and nine academics took oath of office as SAN.
WANTED | The duo of Anayo Chukwu Nwoke Collin 'm', 36 years old and Edwin Ikechukwu Stanley, 'm', 40 years old, are wanted in connection with a case of Conspiracy, Illegal Dealing in Petroleum Products and Tempering with Oil Pipeline.
Anyone with information that could assist in their arrest should please contact +234 812 382 1788
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State today flagged off its electionering campaigns for the Governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly candidates in the 2023 general elections.
Speaking at the event held at the Umuahia Township Stadium, the Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, described candidates of opposition Parties in the state as”dregs” and Inconsequential’ people rejected by the PDP.
He expressed confidence that all the PDP candidates would emerge victorious in the elections based on the performance of his administration, which he said has impacted positively radiant on the people.
According to the governor, no other political party exist in Abia State and those that claim to be existing are people of “zero electoral value.”
He expressed hope that his successor will sustain his legacies in the state.
He said, “The candidates of opposition parties in Abia State were shopped from the dustbins of PDP.
“We have a big dustbin where we throw away renegades and recalcitrant people, they went there and picked a few dregs, individuals without consequence at all and of zero electoral value”.
In their various speeches, members of the G-5 PDP Integrity Governor’s Group which include Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, urged Abians to continue to support PDP in the state.
They insisted that what they stand for is “equity fairness and justice” and assured they are strong in their states and are committed to wining the 2023 elections.
The governors, who congratulated all the candidates that received flags, and expressed hope that they would win.
They also assured that the G5 would support all the PDP candidates in the state.
Responding on behalf of the candidates, the state PDP governorship candidate, Prof. Eleazar Uchenna Ikonne, assured Abians that if elected, he would run an inclusive government.
The State Security Services (SSS), on Thursday, withdrew a suit filed at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court to detain the former terrorists’ negotiator, Tukur Mamu, for 60 more days after his arrest.
SSS’ counsel, A.M. Danlami, told Justice Nkeonye Maha shortly after the matter was called for hearing.
The suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1619/2022 between SSS and Tukur Mamu, was listed for further proceedings on the day’s cause list.
Upon resumed hearing, Mr Danlami, who sought to withdraw the case, said that the matter had been overtaken by events.
“My lord, this matter is slated for hearing today. However, the matter has been overtaken by events. We wish to withdraw the suit,” he said.
Following the application, Justice Maha struck out the suit.
“Application of the learner counsel succeeds. The application is hereby struck out having been withdrawn,” she ruled.
The secret police, through its lawyer, Ahmed Magaji, had, on September 13, moved a motion ex-parte, which sought an order of the court to detain Mr Mamu for 60 more days in the first instance, pending the conclusion of its investigation.
The motion, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1617/2022, was dated and filed on September 12.
It urged the court to grant its reliefs to enable it conclude its investigation on Mr Mamu, who had been leading the negotiation with the terrorists for the release of the Abuja-Kaduna train passengers kidnaped in March.
Almost six months after the Abuja-Kaduna train passengers were kidnapped by Boko Haram terrorists, the remaining 23 kidnapped victims finally regained their freedom on October 5 following the federal government’s intervention.
Mr Mamu was, on September 6, arrested in Cairo, capital of Egypt, with his family members by foreign security agents.
Mr Mamu, who was on his way to Saudi Arabia for lesser Hajj, was detained at Cairo International Airport before being repatriated back to Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the SSS, in the affidavit in support of the ex-parte motion, alleged that its preliminary investigation established the offences of logistic supplier, aiding and abetting acts of terrorism against Mr Mamu.
The security outfit, in the affidavit deposed to by Hamza Pandogari, a legal officer with the service, said it was necessary for Mr Mamu to be detained for 60 days pending the conclusion of investigation of various acts of terrorism against him.
It alleged that the investigation established act of terrorism financing against the former terrorists’ negotiator.
It alleged that Mr Mamu, “the self acclaimed Kaduna train negotiator exploit the opportunity to perpetrate, aid and abets as well as render support to both local and international terrorist organisations,” among others.
The SSS had warned Nigerians over making comments on its arrest of Mr Mamu.
The SSS, in a statement by its spokesman, Peter Afunaya, asked the public to leave the agency alone and allow it to concentrate on the investigations which it said the outcomes had been “mind boggling.”
This came hours after the Islamic cleric, Sheik Gumi, to whom Mr Mamu is an aide, had faulted the arrest of the negotiator.
Mr Gumi, at a religious gathering on a Friday in Kaduna, had asked the security agency to charge Mr Mamu to court if it had any evidence against him, rather than keeping him in custody.
Yesterday, I filed Suit against Ahmed Abubakar, the DG of National Intelligence Agency (NIA) for his 8 days ‘false imprisonment’ of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in Kenya. The Suit is prompted by newly discovered evidence that implicated the DG/NIA beyond the infamous extraordinary rendition.
Manchester United could finally be sold by its American owners after a 17-year reign dominated by fan protests and declining on-pitch performance.
Sky News can exclusively reveal the Glazer family is preparing to formally announce its intention to examine potential sources of outside investment that could include a full-blown auction of arguably the world's most famous football club.
Sources said on Tuesday investment bankers were being instructed by Manchester United's owners to advise on the process, which is likely to include a full or partial sale, or strategic partnership with third parties.
A statement confirming their intentions could come imminently, one of them said.
The announcement of a review of financial options that could include a sale process would signal an end to years of speculation over whether the Glazers might be persuaded to offload a club which for the past decade has experienced an almost-unmitigated footballing decline.
United has not won the Premier League title since 2013, and has sacked a succession of managers in the aftermath of the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson.
More recently, the club has become embroiled in a bitter legal fight with Cristiano Ronaldo over an interview in which he questioned United's ambition and lambasted the Glazers' approach to owning it.
On Tuesday, United announced that Ronaldo had left "with immediate effect".
It remains possible the family, which took control of United in 2005 in a £790m deal largely funded by debt, opt not to sell.
A partial sale to new investors, with capital being raised to fund an overdue redevelopment of Old Trafford, is one potential outcome from the process.
The Glazers have acknowledged the need for new infrastructure investment to transform the stadium into a genuinely world-class venue, while substantial funds are also required to enable the men's team to compete once more at the top of the European game.
If United was sold outright, it would be the latest top-flight club to change hands, after Roman Abramovich agreed a £2.5bn sale of Chelsea to a consortium led by the American businessman Todd Boehly earlier this year.
United's valuation in a sale would inevitably exceed the roughly $2.15bn market capitalisation implied by its share price during Tuesday's trading session on the New York Stock Exchange.
Reports in recent months have speculated any transaction would need to value the club at anywhere between £5bn and £9bn to persuade the owners to sell.
The Glazers listed a minority stake in the company in 2012 but retained overwhelming control through a dual-class share structure which means they hold almost all voting rights.
For more than 18 months, the club has been promising to introduce a modestly sized supporter ownership scheme that would give fans shares with the same structure of voting rights as the Glazers.
The initiative has, however, yet to be launched despite a pledge to have it operational by the start of the 2021-22 season.
It was one of a number of commitments made by Joel Glazer, United's co-chairman, in the wake of the European Super League (ESL) debacle, in which the club played a pivotal role.
Manchester United was one of six Premier League teams to agree to join the project, which collapsed within hours of its official launch amid public and political acrimony.
In May 2021, United fans forced the postponement of a home match against rivals Liverpool after protesting against the ESL and the Glazer family.
'Love United, hate Glazer' has become a familiar refrain during their tenure, with supporters critical of a perceived lack of investment in the club's infrastructure while the owners have extracted hundreds of millions of pounds-worth of dividends as a result of its continued commercial success.
If a formal sale process is initiated, attention will turn to the identities of potential buyers.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the Ineos billionaire who has supported United since childhood, said in August he was keen to buy the club but has since suggested English football's elite names are overvalued.
Billionaires from around the world will be linked to bids, as will sovereign investors seeking to emulate the kinds of takeovers seen at Newcastle United - now owned by Saudi state-backed investors - and Paris Saint-Germain, which is Qatari-owned.
There will also be speculation the Red Knights, a consortium led by former United director and leading economist Lord O'Neill, could revive an attempt initiated in 2010 to take control of the club.
Significantly, the prospective auction of Manchester United comes as Fenway Sports Group, the owner of Liverpool, also weighs selling all or part of the club.
Simultaneous sale processes for two of English football's so-called 'big six' - the others being Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur - would be unprecedented.
One analyst said the timing suggested some investors believed the value of top clubs could be approaching its peak, especially against a backdrop of tough global economic forecasts for the coming years.
United's announcement is also likely to be made during a World Cup fuelled by Gulf petrodollars, underlining the shifting financing of the global football industry.
Romelu Lukaku will not play for Belgium at the World Cup until at least their final Group F match against Croatia, a team source told AFP on Sunday.
The forward did not take part in the Red Devils' first proper training session since they arrived in Qatar on Friday as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury.
“I was close to joining Manchester City in 2021. I was surprised — as they tried hard to sign me but my heart, my history with Man United, Sir Alex Ferguson made the difference. The heart was speaking loud in that moment”.
The young players don't respect the older ones. They live in a different era, the mentality is not the same. They don't suffer, there is no hunger. I think they have things too easily, they don't suffer, I think they don't care. I don't see it with only Manchester United, all leagues now. I think they are not the same with the younger ones on my generation.
The Nigerian Military authorities has declared 19 Terrorists wanted and placed N5m bounty on each of them for anyone with information leading to their arrest.
According to a banner placed along strategic locations across the country, a N5m reward awaits anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of any of the terrorists.
The banner, which gave the origins of the Terrorists communicated in both English and Hausa languages, with a dedicated phone number for the report.
Those on the list include in no particular order; Sani Dangote, Dogo Nahali, Ali Kachala, Mamudu Tainange, Bello Turji Gudda Isiya Kwashen Garwa, Baleri, Sani Gurgu, Alhaji Ado Aliero, Gwaska Dankarami, Nagona and Umaru Dan Nigeria.
Others include; Monore, Halilu Sububu, Abu Radde, Nagala, Leko, Nasanda and Dan Da.
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday adjourned the case between the Federal Government and the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, to await the final verdict of the Supreme Court.
As listed on Justice Binta Nyako’s cause list, there were three related matters before her.
Two matters were slated for mention (Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015) and plea with the federal government as the applicant against Kanu.
The third application is slated for mention with Nnamdi Kanu as the applicant.
THE WHISTLER earlier reported that the Court of Appeal had quashed all FG’s charges against Kanu, citing “executive lawlessness”.
But a different panel of judges of the same appellate court later stayed execution of the judgement pending decision of the Supreme Court.
Both the FG and Kanu’s lawyers have appealed to the Supreme Court for Judicial interpretation.
As the trial court resumed, Kanu’s lawyer told the judge that she should await the decision of the Supreme Court on his client.
He said, “We are happy to report that on the 13 of October, the Court of Appeal delivered a landmark judgment allowing our appeal thereby setting aside the remaining 7 count charge.
“The prosecution has filed an appeal before the Supreme Court and that appeal is pending.
“Although, on the 28 of October, the same lower granted a stay of execution on our appeal.”
He added that on 3rd of November, he appealed to the Supreme Court against the ruling which did not invalidate the extant judgement of the Court of Appeal.
He said “The position therefore on this matter is that appeal has been duly entered before the apex court of Nigeria. With all respect sir, I humbly urge this court to adjourn (indefinitely) this matter and await the judgement of the Supreme Court.”
Subsequently, Justice Binta Nyako said she was also in agreement that since appeal is before the Supreme Court, the court must adjourn and await the decision of the Supreme Court.
She held that she has to “stay put” on the case for now.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied the claim that it is investigating a criminal forfeiture case against Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
On Friday, a document with INEC’s letterhead which claimed that the commission was investigating a 1993 case in the United States involving Tinubu forfeiting some money to the US government, had surfaced on social media platforms.
Prior to the claim, documents had been shared on social media, which showed that Tinubi had forfeited $460,000 to the US government.
Speaking on the development, Festus Keyamo, spokesman of the APC presidential campaign council, had dismissed claims that the case linked Tinubu to illicit drugs, adding that the sum forfeited was tax deductions.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Festus Okoye, chairman, INEC information and voter education committee, said the document claiming the commission was investigating Tinubu on the matter was “fake”.
“A Press Release purported to have been issued by the Commission has been trending online since yesterday Friday 11th November 2022,” the statement reads.
“It claims that the Commission has commenced investigation into a case of criminal forfeiture against one of the Presidential candidates in the forthcoming General Election and is liaising with a Court in the United States of America in pursuit of same to determine possible violation of our guidelines or the Electoral Act 2022.
“We wish to state categorically that the said Press Release did not emanate from the Commission nor is it pursuing the purported course of action. It is the handiwork of mischief makers and utterly fake.
“Press Releases from the Commission are uploaded to the INEC Press Corps platform and simultaneously disseminated through our website and official social media handles.
“The public is advised to ignore the press release.”
Crime › Re: INEC Office In Owerri Burnt (Pictures) by chisomkachy(op): 9:18am On Dec 12, 2022
