₦airaland Forum

Soldiers of the 144 Battalion, stationed at Ariaria junction, along the Enugu – Port Harcourt expressway, Wednesday, killed 11 gunmen who engaged them in a fierce gun battle.

This is coming 48 hours after three policemen were ambushed and murdered by hoodlums in Abiriba, in Ohafia council area of the state.

The gunmen, said to be numbering about 50, engaged the soldiers at their checkpoint at the Ariaria junction.

Sources told Vanguard that before the gunmen arrived the area; the soldiers had gathered intelligence and laid in wait for them.

As soon as the gunmen arrived, they opened fire, but the soldiers responded.

In the ensuing gun duel which was said to have lasted for over 30 minutes, 11 persons were shot dead in the duel as they bowed to superior fire power of the soldiers. Other members of the gang reportedly fled with bullet wounds.

However, there are conflicting reports about the number of casualties; while some sources said 16 persons were killed, among them, a soldier, a top military source in Aba said only 11 gunmen were killed while there was no casualty on the side of the army.

“No soldier was killed, but we killed 11 of the gunmen. I assure the public that there was no casualty among the soldiers.” he said.

Reacting to the incident, Abia State government commended the soldiers for their gallantry, stressing that it is committed to the protection of lives and properties of the residents of the state.

Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, who stated this, warned youths of the state not to put themselves in harm’s way by attacking security agents under any guise.

“It is a good development; we welcome every necessary measure to protect the good people of Abia State. We call on our young men and women not to put themselves in harm’s way by attacking security agents under any guise. We also urge them not to allow themselves to be used by politicians for any reason to cause insecurity. Abia State government will do everything possible to protect law-abiding citizens without fear.”

National Chairman of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee CECPC of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, Gov. Mai Mala Buni has denied attacking justices of the Supreme Court in the wake of an appellate court judge on the Imo North Senatorial election.

Mamman Mohammed, Director-General Press and Media Affairs to Governor Buni in a statement said his principal never authorized any attack on the justices.

Part of the statement reads; “It has come to my knowledge that an allegation was made against some Supreme court judges claiming that there was a meeting between their Lordships with the PDP to subvert the cause of Justice in the case of the Imo North Senatorial election.

“I want to make my position abundantly clear and in unambiguous terms that, l Hon. Mai Mala Buni, the Executive Governor of Yobe state and Chairman APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, had at no time personally said, written nor directed anyone to write on my behalf or the party to allege or claim that their Lordships met with members of the PDP or any political party on any matter.

“I must say l am conscious of the positions their Lordships occupy, and would not be a party or associated with such reckless statements against their Lordships.

“As Leader of APC, l am saddened by such weighty allegation said to be emanating from our party obviously without my consent. On behalf of every member of the party, we distance ourselves from this allegation and sincerely regret the injury and hard feelings this might have caused their Lordships.

“The party will do the needful to uncover those behind such accusation”.

Frontail:
.... So you are one of those Supporting Book Haram Terrorist abi

Get the FOK arof hiya

Governor Nasir El Rufai has called for the decentralization of the judiciary because the heavy caseload of High Court Judges in Kaduna State hinders the administration of justice.

The governor who made this known when the National President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Olumide Akpata paid him a courtesy call on Tuesday, said that ‘’on average, a High Court judge in Kaduna state handles about 250 cases.’’

El Rufai said that his administration has ‘’been making cases for the National Judicial Council(NJC), to double the number of High Court judges in Kaduna State, which will reduce the case load to about 100 per judge which is still too high.’’

Malam El-Rufai who noted that it is an anomaly to have a unitary judiciary in a federation, said that “I am one of the major advocates of the decentralization of our unitary judiciary to a federal one.’’

‘’We are pushing for the creation of State Judicial Councils that will handle the appointment of High Court judges in the states, because that is the only way that we will be able to take our fates in our hands.

“I believe that we have enough lawyers in the public and private sectors in Kaduna state, to get 20 judges tomorrow, if the State Judicial Council screens them and makes their recommendations. But we are constitutionally constrained as speak.’’

The governor said that he is ‘’happy that the National Assembly has started the process of trying to remove the bottleneck and I urge the Nigerian Bar Association to openly support it.’’

El Rufai argued that decentralizing the judiciary will be ‘’in the interest of administration of justice, it will give more opportunities for qualified lawyers in the private and public sectors and the academia, to be part of the judiciary.’’

The governor who also has a degree in law, further argued that ‘’ bringing in outsiders always brings innovations and new ideas to improve the system.’’

‘’I do not believe that the only path to being a High Court Judge is to be a magistrate or state counsel. There are many other paths as other countries have shown and have produced excellent judges at all levels,’’ he added.

Fahdiga:
Lies from the pit of hell

Troops Eliminate Terrorists on Looting Spree, Burst Boko Haram Tax Collectors

The Nigerian troops on the evening of Monday, 22 March, ambushed and killed scores of Boko Haram/ISWAP elements who were reportedly on looting spree at Magumeri, Borno State.

This is coming as troops from another sector bursted Boko Haram elements who were collecting taxes and levies from Villagers and herdmen in Geidam area of Yobe State.

Sources told PRNigeria that following a tip off, troops led by Lt Col Ibrahim Bunu, sighted scores of terrorists around 5pm on about 10 motorcycles heading towards Ngowala ward in Magumeri Local Government Area, laid ambush and eliminated them.

The troops who were accompanied by civilian joint task force members, captured sophisticated weapons from the neutralized terrorists including AK 47 Rifles, Barreta assault rifles, hand grenade and Bandolier.

Also recovered from them include 5.56mm ammo, MCs Burnt ammo, mobile phones, food items and provisions they extorted from residents.

Meanwhile, some suspected terrorists who were collecting taxes and levies from villagers and herdsmen in Geidam, Yobe State fled on sighting advancing troops.

The terrorists had been extorting residents and herdsmen at Abari, Dawayya, Gonisaleri and Tattukuttu Villages in Geidam Local Government Area.

A villager told PRNigeria that terrorists collected one cow for every 40 cows as tax and issued receipt to the hapless herdsmen, showing the number of cattle collected so far and the next collection date.

The villager who was full of praises to the troops for coming to their rescue hoped that with their arrival, the terrorists will give them a breather.

The troops have dominated some of the general area and they are also in hot pursuit of the fleeing terrorists.

Senator Orji Uzor-Kalu has alleged that he picked Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe from the gutter.

Both Uzor-Kalu and Abaribe are members of the 9th Senate. While Kalu represents Abia North, Abaribe is the representative of Abia South.

Abaribe was the deputy governor when Kalu governed Abia in 1999 but he was impeached before the end of Kalu’s first term.

In his book entitled, “Made in Aba”, Abaribe had said he was removed because he did not bow to Kalu’s mother who was very powerful in the government.

Abaribe said he started having trouble with Orji Kalu when he failed to join the league of “Egusi” peelers that thronged his mother’s abode “for whatever reason”.

He said: “I lasted exactly three years and nine months in office, before I threw in the towel. The bumpy ride ended on 7th March, 2003, when I finally resigned and switched parties.

“The one tenure was characterised by three attempts at impeachment. The one thread that runs through them all is that government can make no error.”

However, both men renewed their hostilities in the buildup to Saturday’s bye-election in Aba North and Aba South Federal Constituency.

Kalu has been campaigning for his younger brother who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the election.

Last week, Abaribe had attacked Kalu, saying he is yet to recover from Kuje prison experience, and may find it difficult to understand the new changes in Abia.

But in his own response, Kalu said Abaribe was little-minded to think he is ashamed of his prison experience, adding that it is strange that the senator he “picked from the gutters” and made Deputy Governor supplied petitions to his conspirators.

“My conspirators thought I would be President in 2023, so they decided to cut my journey short at all cost. Abaribe continued to supply petitions. But you see, these people are not God.

“They think I am ashamed to have gone to prison. I am not and I don’t blame them because they don’t know my relationship with God… Joseph went to Prison, even Obasanjo went to prison. My going to prison is part of my life script and I am thankful God allowed it.

“They are little minds and wicked people who have refused to do any project for their own people. They have kept a centre table for you and called it bridge.

“You can’t even pay common salaries and you are here swearing to God, ‘na me build this road’. The only road the state is constructing is the 600 meters road in Eziukwu which they have been building in the last six years; that’s one year 100 meters.

“Compare my village and these people’s village and you will see how shameless they are. If you can’t build your own village, is it my own you will build?”

Kalu, who was jailed for fraud in 2020, spoke at a campaign rally in Aba on Monday night.

The supreme court had overturned his conviction six months after.

Yemike:
Only in Nigeria

DARKVOICES:
Nigeria go better.