The Yobe state Governor, Mai Mala Buni, has directed the immediate release of a teenager detained by the police for allegedly insulting the state’s number one man.
Governor Buni who is not aware of the arrest and detention, said it was grossly unnecessary to arrest anyone for insulting or criticising him.
“This is the price of leadership and we are fully conscious of it, therefore, l couldn’t have ordered nor condoned the detention of anyone.
“Until someone drew my attention to it, l wasn’t aware of his arrest and detention, l have now directed his immediate release from detention,” Governor Buni said.
The Department of State Services (DSS) said on Monday that it would not succumb to propaganda and rumours making the rounds over its planned framing and arrest of the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
The DSS also said that It will succumb to intimidation and the desperation of hirelings to undermine it nor will it give room to the use of falsehood and deceit to misdirect public understanding and perceptions of issues of national importance.
It has therefore warned those peddling the rumours to desist from spreading falsehood or have themselves to blame.
The warning is coming following a protest by the Coalition of National Interest Defenders over an alleged plot by the service to frame up the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, over alleged terrorism sponsorship against Nigeria.
The group also alleged that the agency had secretly instituted a court action against the CBN governor at a Federal High Court in Abuja to get him arrested.
DSS public relations officer, Peter Afunaya, gave the warning in a statement issued Monday night in Abuja.
Afunaya said in the statement that the Service will continue to remain focused and disseminate actionable intelligence to the relevant authorities devoid of any sentiment.
The statement reads: “The Department of State Services (DSS) wishes to clarify that one of its roles is the investigation of matters of national security dimension. It has always discharged this responsibility in the overall interest of Nigerian citizens. As such, the Service will continue to disseminate actionable intelligence to the relevant authorities devoid of any sentiment.
“While professionally discharging its mandate, the DSS pledges to remain focused and unbiased. It will not, by any means, succumb to propaganda, intimidation and the desperation of hirelings to undermine it. It will also not give room to the use of falsehood and deceit to misdirect public understanding and perceptions of issues of national importance.
“Given not to joining issues, the Service warns those on a wild goose chase to be mindful of their actions.
“Similarly, it urges members of the public to disregard the vituperations and rantings of misguided elements and not allow themselves to be used as instruments of destabilisation.
Notably, these elements should remember the famous axiom that “you will only deceive some people, some of the time, but not all people, all the time”. To put it succinctly, the Service will not be distracted by persons and/or groups from carrying out its duties to the Nation, citizens, President and Commander-in-Chief. Ctizens are, therefore, urged to avoid being used to thwart or undermine the Service and its lawful investigations as those who wish to act in the breach will be dealt with in accordance with the law.”
I am happy to report that we received confirmation from the National Universities Commission that the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo is now recognised as the Emmanuel Alayande University of Education. Many thanks to everyone who worked tirelessly to make this happen!
The St. Andrew’s College, Oyo (now Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo) was established as a Grade II Teacher’s College by the Church Missionary Society (C.M.S.) in 1896 and it ranked as the oldest Teachers’ Training College in Nigeria.
In 1976, the clamour for its upgrading to an NCE awarding institution began. The Oyo State Government acceded to this request in October 1980 by upgrading the College to a campus of the then Oyo State College of Education, Ilesa.
In March 1983, the supervision of the College was transferred to the Oyo State College of Education, Ila Orangun. The College gained full autonomy as a full-fledged College of Education on 1st October, 1985.
Brittney Griner said she’s “grateful” to be back in the United States and plans on playing basketball again next season for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury. Her comments came a week after she was released from a Russian prison, freed in a dramatic high-level prisoner exchange.
“It feels so good to be home!” Griner posted to Instagram on Friday in her first public statement since her release. “The last 10 months have been a battle at every turn. I dug deep to keep my faith and it was the love from so many of you that helped keep me going. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone for your help.”
Griner went on to say that she wanted to make it clear that, “I intend to play basketball for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury this season, and in doing so, I look forward to being able to say ‘thank you’ to those of you who advocated, wrote, and posted for me in person soon.”
The Mercury open the season on the road against the Los Angeles Sparks on May 19. The teams’ first home game is two days later against the Chicago Sky.
Griner has been staying in a hotel at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio since her return. She’s reunited with family members, including her wife Cherelle.
A 12-year-old Nigerian chess champion, Tanitoluwa Adewumi, and his family have been granted asylum by the government of the United States of America.
Adewumi rose to sudden stardom at age 8 for his striking chess skills. He beat 73 opponents and clinched the New York state chess championship for his division. At the time, in 2019, he was living with his family in a homeless shelter.
The chess champion had moved to New York from Nigeria in 2017, seeking religious asylum after the family, devoutly Christian, was threatened by the terrorist group Boko Haram and forced to flee their country.
The Adewumis, comprising Tanitoluwa, his parents, and his older brother, arrived in New York after fleeing Nigeria in 2017 due to fear of terror attacks from Boko Haram. They later sought religious asylum after the family arrived in the country.
On Wednesday, December 14, Washington Post reported that the US officially granted the family asylum.
“It feels amazing, because it’s been such a long journey,” said Tani, whose older brother showed him a game similar to chess, and he quickly mastered chess when he learned how to play in elementary school. “I’m just grateful that we’ve gotten this opportunity.”
“We feel so relieved,” said Tani’s father, Kayode Adewumi. “Everybody is so happy.”
Adewumi and his wife feared their asylum application would be rejected and they would be sent back to Nigeria, a prospect that terrified them, he said. “It was a little bit scary,”
Adewumi, first worked as a dishwasher and an Uber driver upon moving to America and is now a real estate salesman at Douglas Elliman. The family is no longer homeless and lives in an apartment in New York City.
Since Tani’s breakout state championship, he has won multiple trophies. At 10, he was named a National Master, and his current title is FIDE Master, a prestigious designation awarded by the international chess governing body. Along with his chess accolades, his life story became the subject of a book.
But Tani, now 12, just won perhaps his most pivotal feat: He and his family were officially granted asylum in the United States, the report added.
Ghana is a country I hold so dear to my heart, first and foremost I wanna apologise to all my fans! Y'all know I would never do anything, without a serious reasoning behind it. My brand is something I don't joke with! I sincerely apologise, to everyone who made the effort to come out for me last night. I was charged up, looking forward to doing this show.
However, please understand that every decision I made co-sided with honoring my fans, and would only make a drastic decision like this because it was the right thing to do and I had to. Unfortunately, up until the day of this show, there continued to be safety and production issues that prevented me from putting on a high quality show that my fans deserve.
My Team and Myself are working on delivering a show to my amazing fans in Ghana. It will be just us, me and you. Date and details soon. Love you.
Presidential candidate of the @OfficialPDPNig , @atiku and his running mate, @IAOkowa will participate on @channelstv #ThePeoplesTownHall at 7pm today.
The RFEF would like to thank Luis Enrique and his entire coaching staff at the helm of the absolute national team in recent years.
The sports management of the RFEF has transferred to the president a report in which it is determined that a new project should start for the Spanish Soccer Team, with the aim of continuing with the growth achieved in recent years thanks to the work carried out by Luis Enrique and their collaborators. Both the president, Luis Rubiales , and the sports director, José Francisco Molina , have transmitted the decision to the coach.
The Asturian coach managed to give a new impetus to the national team since his arrival, in 2018, through a profound renovation that has consolidated a generational change in the team and in Spanish football.
Luis Enrique qualified for two Final Four of the UEFA Nations League, of the three he played as coach; and he reached the semifinals of Euro 2020 with his own stamp and through a defined style. He opted for young talent and has sown hope for the future of the Spanish team.
The RFEF energetically wishes Luis Enrique and his team the best of luck in their future professional projects. The coach earns the love and admiration of his collaborators in the national team and of the entire Federation, which will always be his home.
On last Dec. 5, after the Brazil-South Korea match, I had a violent altercation with a person who was probably an Algerian supporter.
I would like to apologise for losing my temper and reacting in a way that does not match my personality. I apologise to the public for this unfortunate incident.
I pledge to continue to resist the relentless provocation and daily harassment of some Algerian supporters. Indeed, since the Cameroon-Algeria match on March 29 in Blida, I have been the target of insults and allegations of cheating without any evidence.
During this World Cup, Cameroonian fans have been harassed and pestered by Algerians on the same subject. I would like to mention that the scenario of Algeria’s defeat was cruel but perfectly in line with the rules and ethics of our sport.
All the appeals made by the Algerian Football Federation to the competent Jurisdictions have been rejected. I therefore call on the Algerian authorities and Federation to take their responsibilities to put an end to this unhealthy climate before a more serious tragedy occurs.
To Fennecs’ fans, I wish that they find peace and manage to overcome the disappointment of a painful defeat, now behind us.
The man, Algerian social media personality Said Mamouni, later published a video on YouTube saying he was the person who was attacked, and that he was at a Qatari police station to file a complaint against Eto’o.
“Samuel had a fight with me. He hit me, and the one accompanying him pushed me. I’m here to lodge a complaint and he also smashed my camera,” Mamouni said.
He said that Eto’o became violent after Mamouni asked him whether he had bribed Gambian referee Bakary Gassama in a controversial World Cup qualifier between Cameroon and Algeria in March.
PETER OBI’S POLICY DOCUMENT IS VACUOUS AND OFFERS NOTHING NEW TO NIGERIANS
We are glad that Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi finally released their much-awaited policy document after many contradictory statements on same.
After perusing the document which is very high on graphics and demagogic rhetorics and short on substance, we have come to the conclusion that the document is empty and vacuous.
The document which is titled ‘It is Possible: Our Pact with Nigerians’, offers nothing refreshing to Nigerians and comes across as total anti-climax. The subtitle ‘Action Plan’ was shamelessly parroted from Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s manifesto.
By now, many of the gullible followers must have been utterly disappointed that their man didn’t offer them anything to be proud of after all the blusters and the initial leakage of the document, which contains, strangely, 15 pages of the biographical sketches of Obi and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed.
Mr. Peter Obi’s document contains no grand policy initiatives and options to excite right thinking Nigerians. It was silent about how Obi wants to achieve his high falutin objectives. Instead, it will set alarm bells ringing in the South South and North East as Obi promises to ‘engineer the transition of Nigeria from a fossil fuel dependency to climate and eco-friendly energy use”.
As expected, Obi’s document contains fallacies and false statistics.
Obi claimed China moved 740 million people out of poverty. He understated the achievement and was silent about the period it took the Chinese Communist party to achieve this. China moved close to 800 million people out of poverty and it was achieved in 40 years. This makes the present APC government’s plan to move 100 million of Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years, more realistic than Obi’s rhetoric tends to suggest.
One of the fallacies contained in the document, which Obi has often repeated to his followers, is that Nigeria is a failed state. We wonder whether the Labour Party candidate sometimes bothers to check the meaning of a failed state and whether the country he dreams to govern falls into the mould of Yemen or Somalia, where institutions of government have lost total control of their societies.
Another fallacy is Obi’s claim that Nigeria recorded modest gains between 1999-2015, the PDP years, even when all verifiable evidence points to the contrary.
The Labour Party candidate simplistically diagnosed Nigeria’s problem as ‘elite capture’, which is self-indicting as he and his running mate, who he styled ‘new breed’ are members.
He claims incompetent leadership has divided the nation, playing up religious and ethnic sentiments. Another self-indictment as the hallmark of his campaign has been to jump from one church to the other, positioning himself as a ‘Christian candidate’ and inciting the church against the current APC government.
In fact, the document Mr. Obi released is a poor imitation and regurgitation of what the current APC-led administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is doing. If anything, the document showed him as a man without honour, credibility and character because he is promising to do all the things he has railed against and de-legitimised in the past.
We make bold to state that Mr. Obi lacks the mental acuity and rigour for the job he is asking Nigerians to entrust to him. He is surely not ready and prepared to be the President this great country deserves. And if indeed the Labour Party candidate paid for the wishy-washy document, he should ask for a refund for the following reasons:
On Security: In his document, Mr. Obi and his running mate promised to tackle insecurity, defeat Boko Haram, Bandits and other violent crimes by partnering with Cameroon, Chad and Niger. It is a pity that Mr. Obi and his party didn’t know that President Muhammadu Buhari did this within his first week in office as President in 2015 and has continued to strengthen regional cooperation. The Multinational Joint Military Task Force with headquarters in Ndjamena, Republic of Chad is an outcome of the successful diplomatic shuttle to these neighboring countries, including Benin Republic. Through the Joint Military Task Force and our gallant soldiers, Boko Haram and ISWAP have been routed out of Nigeria and permanently degraded and the whole of North East is stable. Thousands of displaced people have returned to their communities to restart their social and economic activities. Peter Obi has nothing to offer on security if he is only promising what Buhari has been doing for over 7 years. Anambra was one of the most unsecured and volatile states riddled with criminals and kidnappers when Obi was Governor for 8 years without any solution until Governor Willie Obiano came to tackle the problems head on.
On Power: In a surprising departure from his penchant for falsehood, Peter promised to continue and complete the $2.5billion FG-Siemens Power network upgrade. Nigerians should recall Peter Obi told the world that he went to Egypt on a study tour of power where he was told by Siemens that nothing is happening on the power agreement the company signed with Nigerian government. Without apologising for his lies and deliberate mischief, Peter Obi is promising in his document to continue with a project he said does not exist. What a travesty! In a show of total lack of awareness, Obi also promised to complete Dadinkowa hydropower project as part of his promise to solve electricity problems in Nigeria without knowing that same project has since been completed by the current administration of President Buhari.
On Infrastructure: Peter Obi promised to invest in infrastructure especially rail, ports, broadband, roads, airports etc. We find this laughable and a barefaced dishonesty just to hoodwink Nigerians. This is the same Mr. Obi who has launched the most vicious attacks on President Buhari for having the courage to upgrade our broken critical infrastructure. For the past 7 years, Mr. Obi’s sing-song has been that infrastructure does not help the economy and eliminate poverty. While President Buhari and the APC administration believe there can never be any meaningful economic growth without infrastructure to power it, we don’t expect, Mr. Obi, a warehouse and container economist to understand the nexus between economic growth and infrastructure. It is good that Obi has now seen the light on the social and economic imperatives of infrastructure but he can’t be trusted to do anything. There is no signature infrastructural project Mr. Obi can point to in Anambra State where he governed for 8 years.
On non-oil GDP and Widening Tax Net: We are happy that Mr. Obi admitted in his document that non-oil revenue has increased significantly under the Buhari-led APC administration and he will continue with the success. Unfortunately, Mr. Obi has no record of increasing revenue. As Governor for 8years in Anambra State, Obi could not grow Internally Generated Revenue of the state by ordinary 5% year on year. His current successor, Governor Charles Soludo attested to Obi’s mediocre performance as Governor of Anambra in his recent widely published article. If Obi could not change the fortunes of the state he led for 8years, he has no capacity to deliver on non-oil revenue for Nigeria. Only our candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has the record to grow revenue and significantly improve non-oil GDP because he set the standards in Lagos which the Federal government copied. Today, Lagos State is the 5th largest economy in Africa with over $150b GDP. The current APC-led Federal government has expanded the tax net in Nigeria from 10million payers in 2016 to current 41million according to the Federal Inland Revenue Service. The Buhari administration alone brought 31million new tax payers into the net from 2016 to 2021, more than what all previous governments since independence have ever achieved.
OUR POSITION
Contrary to the image of a reformer and thinker Obi and his followers have created of him, we make bold to say that the Labour Party candidate is vapid, intellectually arid, a mere impostor who only seeks to play on the emotions of his gullible followers. Mr. Obi’s policy document, if anything, has only exposed him as ill-prepared for the titanic task of governing a country the size of Nigeria. As a candidate, he has nothing new to offer Nigerians beyond hawking fake statistics and preying on the young people’s sentiments as a demagogue.
Nigerians are warned to steer clear of Obi and his party. His whole presidential ambition is full of sound and fury, signifying nothing, to paraphrase Williams Shakespeare in his play Macbeth.
Bayo Onanuga Director, Media & Publicity APC Presidential Campaign Council December 6, 2022
Barcelona legend Samuel Eto'o has been filmed appearing to knee someone in the head.
The Cameroonian was in attendance at Brazil's 4-1 victory over South Korea last night.
While leaving Stadium 974 after the match, Eto'o initially seemed to be content taking selfies with fans as he walked.
But in footage captured by La Opinion, the 41-year-old became animated after exchanging words with a man holding a camera.
A clearly fired up Eto'o walked down the camera man, before being initially held back by four other onlookers.
While the man with the camera, who appeared to be a YouTuber with more than 60,000 subscribers, was being led away - he stopped to crouch down, just as Eto'o shook off those trying to calm him.
In a shocking scene, the former Chelsea frontman ran up to the YouTuber, appearing to knee him full in the head.
Despite the force of the blow, the man managed to quickly rise to his feet, with Eto'o being led away from the scene.
After the incident it emerged that it may have been sparked by an argument regarding Cameroon's qualification for the World Cup.
The Indomitable Lions booked their place in Qatar with a victory over Algeria earlier this year.
Algeria were left furious with the refereeing during the second leg of the play-off - even demanding for it to be replayed.
Eto'o, who won 118 caps for his country between 1997 and 2014, is now president of Cameroon's Football Federation.
He has been in Qatar watching his team, and decided to attend last night's match despite Cameroon having been knocked out last week.
The Indomitable Lions lost 1-0 Switzerland before drawing 3-3 with Serbia.
A creditable 1-0 win over Brazil last Friday was not enough to see them through to the round of 16.
In addition to his role with the Cameroon Football Federation, Eto'o has also been in Qatar in his role as a "legacy ambassador" for the tournament.
The former striker has been seen rubbing shoulders with Fifa president Gianni Infantino.
The Federal Government has blamed the high poverty rate in the country on the failure of the State Governments to contribute their quota of development responsibilities to the grassroots where the major production activities take place.
Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba, stated this to State House Correspondents after the week’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Agba was responding to a question demanding to know what he and his colleague, the Minister of Financial, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, were doing to ameliorate the biting hardship facing the majority of Nigerians at the moment.
The Minister, who attempted to defray the notion that rising levels of hunger and lack were peculiar to Nigeria, explained that the Federal Government, through many of its social security programmes, has been dedicating resources to alleviating hardship on the public, but noted that state governments, which have been consistently receiving their shares of national resources, had been misdirecting the resource to project that have almost no direct effect on the needs of the people.
He pointed out that 72 percent of the poverty in Nigeria is found in the rural areas, which he said had been abandoned by governors, adding that the state executives prefer to function in the state capitals.
He lamented that state governors are 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 advised Governors that rather than concentrate attention on the building of sky scrappers, flyovers and bridges, they should focus on initiatives that can pull the majority of the people out of poverty.
Crime News Security Contempt Of Court: “Obey Before Complaining” Group Tells IGP
November 29, 2022.
The Inspector General of Police has just been sentenced to three months imprisonment for contempt of court. His refusal to obey a court order made by the Federal High Court has earned him three months imprisonment according to trending report from the Federal High Court.
We in the Human Rights Writers Association Of Nigeria (HURIWA) hereby applauds the justice system for this courageous decision which symbolizes that nobody is above the law. The Judiciary has exercised lawfully the judicial authority conferred on it by section (6) subsection (1) of the 1999 constitution.
This order of the Federal High Court must be obeyed with immediate effect- meaning that the IGP should surrender himself with his prison bag straight to the correctional center in Kuje. He should not treat this court order with ignominy or contempt.
We urge President Muhammadu Buhari to personally supervise the surrender of the IGP to the Federal Correctional Center, Kuje without any waste of time. Anything outside of strict compliance to this court order will mean that Nigeria has become a banana republic.
HURIWA recalled that the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, sentenced the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, to three months in prison for flouting a 2011 court order.
The IGP’s committal followed a suit that was filed by a police officer, Patrick Okoli, who was unlawfully and compulsorily retired from the Nigerian Police Force.
The court also ordered the payment of N10 million to the applicant, being special and general damages for the unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional denial of his (Patrick’s) rights and privileges as a Senior Officer of the Nigeria Police Force from 1993 till date.
The media reports cited by HURIWA stated that the court in a ruling that was delivered by Justice M. O. Olajuwon, held that the police chief should be committed to prison and detained in custody for a period of three months, or until his office obeys an order made by the court since October 21, 2011.
Olajuwon noted that though the Police Service Commission recommended Okoli’s reinstatement into the NPF, a decision that was affirmed by the court, the IGP’s office, refused to comply with the order.
Olajuwon said, “If at the end of the three months, the contemnor remains recalcitrant and still refuses to purge his contempt, he shall be committed for another period and until he purges his contempt.”
HURIWA recalled that the Force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said that the police would soon respond to the verdict.
He said, “We will respond soon. It’s a matter between 1993 and 2011, when the incumbent IGP, Usman Baba, was not yet in office.”
HURIWA however faulted the assertion of the spokesperson of the Police on tje ground that the office of the IGP is statutory just as the Rights group said lawfully made court order if persistently breached by the Office of the IGP even if the holder of the office at the time of the genesis of the matter is no longer important because the office of the IGP is consistently occupied by officers meaning that if one IGP goes and the current occupant refuses to comply with a binding court order, he is nor to be excused on the nebulous ground that he did not originate the breach of the court’s order. HURIWA is therefore counselling the IGP to obey before complaining by complying with the judgment or get a stay of execution order quickly.
*Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, National Coordinator,
HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA).
A protester who ran onto the pitch during Portugal's match against Uruguay will not face any further legal action - but is being removed from Qatar.
Mario Ferri was seen sprinting onto the grass at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar on Monday waving a rainbow flag and wearing a T-shirt that read "Save Ukraine" on the front and "Respect for Iranian women" on the back.
The 35-year-old was quickly chased and detained by security officials.
On Tuesday, Mr Ferri, who describes himself as a footballer and influencer, told his Instagram followers he had been released by the Qatari authorities.
"So many emotions right now. No legal consequence I am free," he posted on his Instagram stories.
In a separate post, he described himself as a "Robin Hood 2.0" and detailed the reasons behind his pitch invasion.
"I wanted to send IMPORTANT messages for me that I have lived on my skin in the past months," he wrote.
"A message for Iran where I have friends who are suffering, where women are not respected.
"FIFA banned captain armbands with rainbow and human rights flags in the stands, they blocked everyone BUT NOT ME.
"SAVE UKRAINE. I was a month in the war in Kiev as a volunteer and I saw how much those people are suffering."
In a statement, the Qatar World Cup Supreme Committee confirmed Mr Ferri was "released shortly after being removed from the pitch" and "his embassy informed".
They added: "His Hayya Card has been cancelled and he has been banned from attending future matches at this tournament."
Hayya cards have to be obtained before gaining entry to Qatar, with some football fans reporting problems having them approved in time for matches.
Mr Ferri has a history of pitch invasions, doing the same during the Belgium v USA match at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil when his T-shirt read: "Save Favelas Children".
He was also seen on the pitch during a Napoli v Juventus game in 2017.
According to his profile on the website transfermarkt.com, Mr Ferri has played as a midfielder for the Italian team ASD Castel di Sangro since the summer.
His protests refer to homosexuality being illegal in the host nation Qatar, the death of the Iranian woman Mahsa Amini after she was arrested for not wearing her headscarf properly, and Russia's war in Ukraine.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed Bashir Sheriff Machina as the authentic All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Yobe North Senatorial District.
The court upheld the judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Damaturu, Yobe State which held that the President of the senate Ahmad Lawan, is not the APC candidate for Yobe North Senatorial District in next year’s election into the National Assembly.
The court had submitted that Mr Lawan did not participate in the legally recognised primary election of the APC to select its candidate in the election held on 28th May 2022.
Delivering judgment on the appeal filed by the President of the Senate, a three-member panel of the appellate court led by justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, held that the primary election conducted by the party on 9th June is invalid as it was in breach of the constitution.
The law is settled as to the involvement of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in party primaries, which is to monitor, the primaries of 9th June were not monitored by the electoral commission.
The APC made a case at the appellant court for itself and it preferred candidate Ahmed Lawan but failed to make him a co-appellant.
Mr Lawan appeared in the case as the 2nd respondent indicating that he and the APC were working at cross purposes while trying to achieve a goal.
The appeal is unmeritorious as it fails in its entirety.
The appellant (APC) is to pay the sum of N1 million to the 1st respondent (Bashir Sheriff) as cost.
INEC OFFICE IN IZZI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EBONYI STATE SET ABLAZE
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ebonyi State, Mrs Onyeka Pauline Ugochi, reported that our Izzi Local Government Area office located in Iboko, was set ablaze this morning.
The incident occurred around 10.00am when some unidentified persons set the entire building ablaze.
Although no casualties resulted from the attack, the main building and all the movable and immovable items inside it were destroyed. These include 340 ballot boxes, 130 voting cubicles, 14 electric power generators, large water storage tanks, assorted office furniture and fixtures and yet to be determined quantities of Permanent Voters' Cards (PVCs).
The attention of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies has been drawn to the incident and have commenced investigation.
Sadly, this is the third attack on our Local Government office in less than three weeks following similar attacks on our offices in Ogun and Osun States on 10th November 2022.
Festus Okoye Esq. National Commissioner & Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee Sunday 27th November 2022
PRESS RELEASE INEC Office in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State Set Ablaze pic.twitter.com/R5202PSH2d
The Court of Appeal in Makurdi, on Friday, upheld the conviction of Felicia Ogbuja for failing to protect a minor, Ochanya Ogbanje, who was allegedly raped by Mrs Ogbuja’s husband and son.
Ochanya, a 13-year-old schoolgirl, suffered complications from prolonged rape allegedly by Andrew Ogbuja and his fugitive son, Victor, who are her maternal relations.
She was admitted to the Federal Medical Centre in Makurdi for two months before she died on 17 October 2018.
But PREMIUM TIMES reported that while the Benue State High Court in Makurdi, on 28 April, acquitted Mr Ogbuja, a lecturer at the Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo, of raping and causing the death of Miss Ogbanje, the Federal High Court in Makurdi, in a separate case on the same day, convicted Mr Ogbuja’s wife (Felicia) for negligence.
The Federal High Court judge, Mobolaji Olajuwon, found Mrs Ogbuja guilty of failing to protect the deceased girl from rape while in her custody.
In April 2019, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP) charged Mrs Ogbuja with negligence leading to the rape and death of Ochanya.
Determined to upturn her conviction, Mrs Ogbuja filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal in Makurdi, challenging the lower court’s jurisdiction to entertain the suit amongst other issues.
‘Condemnable conduct’ Delivering judgement on the appeal via Zoom, on Friday, the Court of Appeal in Makurdi, agreed with the Federal High Court in Makurdi that Mrs Ogbuja failed in her duty to protect Ochanya from the “sexual exploitation” of her husband and son.
A three-member panel of the appellate court led by Justice Hassan Muslim JCA dismissed Mrs Ogbuja’s argument that the charge was unknown to the law.
“The conviction endures on appeal once it is shown by the facts on which the appellant is convicted constitute an offence known to law. It does not matter if the conviction is under the wrong section of the law,” Mr Muslim ruled.
He said Mrs Ogbuja understood the charge and pleaded not guilty to it as she “tailored her defence towards same.”
He held that the appellant’s conviction did not occasion a miscarriage of justice, saying, “The offence is the defendant’s omission to take action against the sexual exploitation of Ochanya by her husband and her son.”
Giving insights into the nature of Mrs Ogbuja’s offence, the judge explained: “The crime of omission is an offence that is categorised by a person failing to perform an act that is required, including omitting to take care. It is the neglect to do what the law requires.”
Citing Section 344 of the Criminal Code Act under which Mrs Ogbuja was convicted and sentenced, Mr Muslim said, “The defendant is in breach of that duty of care.”
“Section 344 of the Criminal Code Act is an appropriate Section of the law which accommodates the offence as charged in count one.
“The law provides that any person who unlawfully does any act or omits to do any act which it is his duty to do…is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for six months.”
‘Ochanya suffered harm’ Recalling the travails of the deceased teenager, the judge said Mrs Ogbuja “does not deserve any sympathetic consideration of this court.”
Mr Muslim said the appellant, from the evidence available, “had the duty to protect and care for the wellbeing of Ochanya as she (Mrs Ogbuja) was legally responsible for her (Ochanya) while in her custody.”
But the appellate court found that Mrs Ogbuja “omitted to take action against the sexual exploitation of Ochanya by her husband. She knew of the abuse and did nothing to protect the late Ochanya from the several abuse(s) which were brought to her attention.”
“The appellant failed to take steps to ensure the wellbeing of Ochanya which will include her not being sexually abused or exploited as she was in the house of the defendant so she could go to school, and would not want anything to jeopardise her schooling, led to the harm suffered by Ochanya.”
Mr Muslim held that the appellant “deserves more time of imprisonment to deter others of like minds.”
He noted that the harm Ochanya “suffered includes not only the illness she suffered but also the abuse itself which affected her wellbeing.”
The appellate further held that Mrs Ogbuja “allowed such a heinous crime to take place under her watch, even when her own daughter (Winnie Ogbuja) brought to her attention the sexual exploitation of Ochanya.”
Similarly, Mr Muslim dismissed the appellant’s contention challenging the lower court’s jurisdiction to entertain her trial.
“Having resolved the sole issue for determination against the appellant, it means that this appeal must fail, it fails and it is hereby dismissed.
“The judgement of the lower court delivered by Hon Justice M.O Olajuwon on 28 April 2022, is hereby affirmed. That is my judgement!” Mr Muslim declared.
Encomiums for Ochanya’s caregiver, FIDA, NAPTIP
Before ending his judgement, Mr Muslim lauded the “relentless efforts” of late Ochanya’s caregiver, Enewa Soo, the International Federation of Women Lawyers and NAPTIP, in championing the course of justice.
“I must commend the relentless efforts made by Ochanya’s caregiver, PW5, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and NAPTIP. Without their efforts, this case will not have seen the light of the day. It would have been tagged a family affair.”
He said the appellant and her family members attempted to kill the case as a “family matter” when they approached Mr Ogbanje, the deceased girl’s father.
The online verdict had Mrs Ogbuja’s lawyer, Abel Onoja, and NAPTIP’s counsel, Jennifer Yakusak, in attendance.
Backstory Since the news of Ochanya’s rape broke in August 2018, Mr Ogbuja’s son, Victor, has been on the run.
The junior Ogbuja was an undergraduate at the Federal University of Agriculture in Makurdi but went into hiding when the police initially launched a manhunt for him at their Ugbokolo residence in Okpokwu local government area of Benue State.
Miss Ogbanje, in search of a sound education, left her rural home at Ogene-Amejo for the Ugbokolo township, where she lived with the Ogbujas.
Mrs Ogbuja is said to be Ochanya’s maternal relation.
The Ogbujas’ residence, where they lived with the deceased, was said to be located on a street almost opposite the Emmanuel Primary and Secondary School where Ochanya obtained her primary education in Ugbokolo, Benue State.
Ochanya, who was a JSS1 pupil of the Federal Government Girls College, Gboko in Benue State, died on 17 October 2018, of complications linked to alleged serial rape by Mr Ogbuja and his fugitive son.
This newspaper reported how Mr Ogbuja was arraigned on four counts of sexual abuse of the late Ochanya during a period of over five years, which resulted in her death in October 2018.
The father and son allegedly abused the late Ochanya while she was living with them. But the son, Victor, disappeared after police started looking for him and his father over the case. The court later discharged Mr Ogbuja of the rape charges.
Doctors later diagnosed Miss Ochanya with Vesico-Vaginal Fistula (VVF) attributed to serial rape allegedly by the two men.
The United States Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, November 17, 2022
United States Repatriates Over $20 Million in Assets Stolen by Former Nigerian Dictator The Department of Justice announced today that it has transferred over $20.6 million to the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Nigeria) in accordance with an Aug. 23 agreement between the governments to repatriate assets the United States forfeited that were traceable to the kleptocracy of former Nigerian Dictator General Sani Abacha and his co-conspirators.
This repatriation brings the total amount forfeited and returned by the United States in this case to approximately $332.4 million.
In 2014, a judgment was entered in the District of Columbia ordering the forfeiture of approximately $500 million located in accounts around the world, as the result of a civil forfeiture complaint for more than $625 million traceable to money laundering involving the proceeds of General Abacha’s corruption. In 2020, the department repatriated over $311.7 million of the forfeited assets that had been located in the Bailiwick of Jersey. Last year, the U.K. government enforced the U.S. judgment against the additional over $20.6 million.
The forfeited assets represent corrupt monies laundered during and after the military regime of General Abacha, who became Head of State of Nigeria through a military coup on Nov. 17, 1993, and held that position until his death on June 8, 1998. The complaint filed in this case alleges that General Abacha, his son Mohammed Sani Abacha, their associate Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, and others embezzled, misappropriated, and extorted billions of dollars from the government of Nigeria and others, then laundered their criminal proceeds through U.S. financial institutions and transactions in the United States. The United Kingdom’s cooperation in the investigation, restraint, and enforcement of the U.S. judgement, along with the valuable contributions of Nigeria and other law enforcement partners around the world, including the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency, as well as those of the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, have been instrumental to the recovery of these funds.
Under the agreement signed in August, the United States agreed to transfer 100% of the net forfeited assets to Nigeria to support three critical infrastructure projects in Nigeria that were previously authorized by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian legislature. The $20,637,622.27 marks a slight reduction from the $23 million announced in August due primarily to exchange rate fluctuations between British pounds sterling and U.S. dollars. The funds governed by this agreement will help finance the Second Niger Bridge, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, and the Abuja-Kano road – investments that will benefit the citizens of each of these important regions in Nigeria.
The agreement includes key measures to ensure transparency and accountability, including administration of the funds and projects by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), financial review by an independent auditor, and monitoring by an independent civil society organization with expertise in engineering and other areas. The agreement also precludes the expenditure of funds to benefit alleged perpetrators of the corruption or to pay contingency fees for lawyers. The agreement reflects the sound principles for ensuring transparency and accountability adopted at the Global Forum on Asset Recovery (GFAR) in December 2017 in Washington, D.C., which the United States and United Kingdom hosted with support from the Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative of the World Bank and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
The department appreciates the extensive assistance provided by the governments of the United Kingdom, Nigeria, Jersey, and France in this investigation.
This case was brought under the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative by a team of dedicated prosecutors in the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section working in partnership with the FBI. Through the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, the Department of Justice and federal law enforcement agencies seek to safeguard the U.S. financial system from criminal money laundering and to recover the proceeds of foreign official corruption. Where appropriate and possible, the department endeavors to use recovered corruption proceeds to benefit the people harmed by acts of corruption and abuse of public trust.
Individuals with information about possible proceeds of foreign corruption located in or laundered through the United States should contact federal law enforcement or send an email to kleptocracy@usdoj.gov.
Labour Party has condemned Executive Order 22 signed by Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, describing it as a recipe for “anarchy” in the state.
Executive Order 22 prohibits political parties from using structures in residential areas as campaign offices.
Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, the South-South National Vice Chairman of the Labour party, Felix Reuben described the order as “draconian.”
He said Rivers people must not allow the order by the governor to stand.
He said: ”If Rivers State keeps quiet, Wike will put Executive Order 23 which will say for you to sleep with your wife you need to take permission from the Ministry of Women Affairs.
“He may even put another executive order that says any sticker on vehicles without permission from the Ministry of Transport, that vehicle will be impounded.
“People ask why he’s doing that, it’s because he has no candidate so he’s jittery.
He continued: “It’s very unfortunate that we have a governor that wants to sink the state and I call on the security agencies and INEC to call him to order because what he’s calling for is anarchy in this state.”
The Labour Party scribe, however, noted that executive orders have no place in the laws of Nigeria.
Also speaking, the state chairman of the party, Dienye Pepple said the party will explore legal means to challenge Executive Order 22.
Pepple said the party has already tasked its legal team to see how to challenge the order.
Raphael Varane has admitted that Cristiano Ronaldo’s explosive interview has “affected” the Manchester United squad.
Ronaldo accused United chiefs of “betrayal” and “disrespect” during an unsanctioned interview with TV presenter Piers Morgan in which he also criticised head coach Erik ten Hag.
While United are considering their response, Ronaldo and his team-mates have headed to Qatar to join their respective international sides for the World Cup.
The Portugal international has insisted his “total and absolute” focus is now on the tournament, but France defender Varane said Ronaldo’s comments had impacted his club colleagues.
“Obviously it affects us,” Varane, speaking to Europe1, said when asked about Ronaldo’s interview.
“We follow what is happening and what is being said. What is happening in the media in the big clubs is gaining momentum.”
Varane admitted that his team-mates were determined to stay “calm” and would remain as a “collective”.
“We try to calm the situation in our own way, we try not to get too involved in it,” he added.
“When it’s a star like Cristiano Ronaldo, even more, so we try to take it with distance; that is to say that we do not try to change the situation alone, we are part of a collective.”
Hon. Sobur Olayiwola Olawale, lawmaker representing Mushin Constituency II at the Lagos State House of Assembly, is dead.
Known as Omititi in political circles, Olawale was among the politicians, who stormed Jos, Plateau State capital, for the kick-off of the campaign of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Presidential Candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The deceased reportedly slumped at the rally and died moments later.
An APC chieftain, who craved anonymity, told Daily Trust that he was still with Olawale at the weekend.
“We met at the residence of Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon (GOS) on Sunday and exchanged pleasantries. He was looking very healthy.”
“Without preempting the circumstance, this could be high blood pressure. Whatever could have led to his death, this is so shocking and sad.”
Manchester United notes the media coverage regarding an interview by Cristiano Ronaldo.
The club will consider its response after the full facts have been established.
Our focus remains on preparing for the second half of the season and continuing the momentum, belief and togetherness being built among the players, manager, staff, and fans.
The names of the five finalists for Women’s World Athlete of the Year have been confirmed, as the countdown to the World Athletics Awards 2022 continues.
The five athletes, who represent five countries from three area associations, have achieved sensational performances across a range of athletics disciplines in 2022, at the World Athletics Championships Oregon22, World Athletics Indoor Championships Belgrade 22, one-day meeting circuits and other events around the world.
Nigerian Man Sentenced to Over 11 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Launder Tens of Millions of Dollars from Online Scams
A prolific international fraudster who conspired to launder tens of millions of dollars through a series of online scams and flaunted his luxurious, crime-funded lifestyle on social media was sentenced today to 135 months in federal prison.
Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, a 40-year-old Nigerian national, also known by his Instagram handle, “Ray Hushpuppi,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Otis D. Wright II, who also ordered Abbas to pay $1,732,841 in restitution to two fraud victims.
Abbas pleaded guilty in April 2021 to one count of conspiracy to engage in money laundering. He was arrested in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in June 2020 and has remained in federal custody since his expulsion from the UAE.
“Abbas bragged on social media about his lavish lifestyle – a lifestyle funded by his involvement in transnational fraud and money laundering conspiracies targeting victims around the world,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Money laundering and business email compromise scams are a massive international crime problem, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement and international partners to identify and prosecute those involved, wherever they may be.”
“Ramon Abbas, a.k.a. ‘Hushpuppi,’ targeted both American and international victims, becoming one of the most prolific money launderers in the world,” said Don Alway, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “Abbas leveraged his social media platforms – where he amassed a considerable following – to gain notoriety and to brag about the immense wealth he acquired by conducting business email compromise scams, online bank heists and other cyber-enabled fraud that financially ruined scores of victims and provided assistance to the North Korean regime. This significant sentence is the result of years’ worth of collaboration among law enforcement in multiple countries and should send a clear warning to international fraudsters that the FBI will seek justice for victims, regardless of whether criminals operate within or outside United States borders.”
Abbas conspired with Ghaleb Alaumary, 37, of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, a convicted money launderer, to launder funds derived from various crimes, including bank cyber-heists, business email compromise (BEC) schemes and other online frauds. BEC schemes typically involve gaining unauthorized access to a business email account and attempting to trick a victim business into making an unauthorized wire transfer.
In January 2019, Abbas conspired with Alaumary to launder funds stolen from a bank in Malta by providing account information for banks in Romania and Bulgaria. The United States has charged North Korean hackers with committing the bank cyber-heist in Malta, and alleged that those funds were destined for the North Korean government. Abbas has admitted that the intended loss with respect to the Maltese bank was approximately $14.7 million.
In May 2019, Abbas conspired with Alaumary to launder millions of pounds stolen from a professional soccer club in the United Kingdom as well as a British company. In connection with that scheme, Abbas provided Alaumary with details for a bank account in Mexico that “could handle millions and not block,” according to court documents.
Abbas also fraudulently induced a New York-based law firm in October 2019 to transfer approximately $922,857 to an account that a co-conspirator controlled under someone else’s name.
Alaumary was charged separately and pleaded guilty in November 2020 to one count of conspiracy to engage in money laundering. He is serving a 140-month federal prison sentence and was ordered to pay more than $30 million in restitution.
Abbas also admitted in his plea agreement to conspiring with others to defraud an individual in Qatar who sought a loan of $15 million to build a school.
At today’s sentencing hearing, Judge Wright ordered Abbas to pay $922,857 in restitution to the law firm victim and $809,983 in restitution to the businessperson in Qatar.
Abbas and another conspirator duped the victim businessperson into paying approximately $330,000 to fund an “investor’s account” to facilitate the loan. Abbas specifically directed the victim to send $100,000 to a bank account controlled by a co-conspirator, and $230,000 to the bank account of a luxury watch seller. Abbas used those funds for his personal benefit, including purchasing a $230,000 Richard Mille RM11-03 watch, which he arranged to have brought to him from New York to Dubai. The watch made numerous appearances on Abbas’ wrist on his now-defunct Instagram account, often with the hashtag #RichardMille.
Approximately $50,000 of proceeds from the scheme were used to fraudulently acquire a St. Christopher (St. Kitts) and Nevis citizenship and a passport for Abbas through a sham marriage to a St. Kitts citizen.
In January and February 2020, Abbas and another conspirator corresponded with the victim businessperson, attempting to fraudulently induce a further payment of $575,000 in purported taxes to release the $15 million loan. In February 2020, the victim sent approximately $299,983 to Kenyan bank accounts specified by another conspirator. In March 2020, Abbas fraudulently induced the victim to send another $180,000 to U.S.-based bank accounts; those funds were subsequently laundered with assistance from several co-conspirators.
“By his own admission, during just an 18-month period defendant conspired to launder over $300 million,” prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum. “While much of this intended loss did not ultimately materialize, [Abbas’] willingness and ability to participate in large-scale money laundering highlights the seriousness of his criminal conduct.”
The FBI investigated this matter as part of Operation Top Dog. The FBI thanks the government of the United Arab Emirates and the Dubai Police Department for their substantial assistance in this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Khaldoun Shobaki of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section prosecuted this case. The Justice Department Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in this matter.
The police in Ondo State have arrested a 54-year-old man for allegedly setting five of his step-children ablaze at the Fagun crescent area of Ondo town.
The police spokesperson in the state, Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Akure.
Mrs Odunlami, who explained that the incident occurred on Saturday, said the suspect was being investigated, while the victims were currently receiving treatment at Federal Medical Centre, Owo.
“This is a case of alleged arson and murder, and we need to investigate it to know the cause and how it happened.
“Meanwhile, the case has been transferred to our Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for proper investigation,” Mrs Odunlami said.
However, a witness, who did not want his name in print, told NAN that the suspect claimed that his wife, who is the mother of the victims, had offended him over a little misunderstanding.
The source explained that the suspect perpetrated the act because his wife denied him sex.
The witness further stated that the suspect poured petrol on the room while the children were asleep, adding that one of them lost his life in the ensuing inferno.
The Governor Nyesom Wike led G-5 Governors have stormed Makurdi the Benue state capital ahead of Monday’s commissioning of some projects executed by Governor Samuel Ortom and to flag off of the 2023 election campaigns in the state.
The governors, who were Sunday evening received by Governor Samuel Ortom at the Makurdi Airport, included Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu and Seyi Makinde of Oyo state.
The five influential governors who are leading the call for the resignation of the National Chairman of the PDP to pave the way for the emergence of a Southern Chairman in line with the zoning arrangement of the party, are meeting as a group for the first time in Benue State.
It was gathered that aside commissioning of projects, the five governors would also hold scheduled routine meetings to fine tune their strategies ahead of the 2023 elections.
At the time of this report the five governors were already in a meeting at the recently commissioned Ape Aku Lodge ahead of the State Banquet put together by the Benue state government for the august visitors.
The Lagos State Police Command on Saturday said the autopsy conducted on the corpse of Ifeanyi Adeleke, son of Davido and his fiancée, Chioma Rowland, revealed that he died as a result of drowning.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the development in a chat with our correspondent.
Hundeyin said, “Autopsy has been concluded. It confirms the boy (Ifeanyi) drowned.”
The PUNCH had reported there were indications that the police might conduct an autopsy to determine whether Ifeanyi died as a result of drowning in a swimming pool at his father’s residence in the Banana Island area of Lagos State.
An impeccable source, who confirmed the development, said it was standard practice for the police to conduct an autopsy in such a case, adding, however, that the police would desist from the move if the deceased family members were against it.
“Though the family members are not saying anything yet because they are still in shock but until anybody says stop, the standard procedure is to conduct an autopsy and we are going to follow that procedure just like in any case of death,” the source said.
Explaining further, the source said out of the eight domestic workers interrogated by the police in connection with Ifeanyi’s death, the cook and nanny, whose job was to cater for the wellbeing of the three-year-old boy, had been detained for reasons including the failure to uphold the duty of care of the minor.
As of the time of filing this report, the nanny and cook were said to still be in detention.
Politics › Buni Orders Release Of Detained Teenager In Yobe by chokekachy(op): 3:36pm On Dec 20, 2022
