₦airaland Forum

From Molly Kilete, Abuja

A one day seminar on spiritual warfare organized by the Nigerian army has opened in Abuja with a call on army clerics to come up with stronger ideologies to counter the religious beliefs of terrorists groups ravaging the peace of the country.

The seminar which is the second to be organized by the army which has as its theme “Insecurity in Nigeria: Repositioning Authentic Religious Narratives in the Information Spectrum”, took place at the Nigerian Army Resource Center, and attended by officers and soldiers of both the Protestant, Roman Catholic and Islamic chaplaincy of the Nigerian army.

Declaring the seminar open, Chief Of Army Staff(COAS), Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, said the seminar is aimed at evolving narratives to defeat the ideologies of religious based terrorist groups operating in the Country.

Represented by the Chief Of Policy and Plans(COPP), Lieutenant-General Lamidi Adeosun, Buratai, while noting that ongoing military operations to wipe out terrorism and other criminal groups across the country was driven by the desire to keep the nation safe, however pointed out that the operations has not recorded one hundred percent success because of the the ideological beliefs of the terrorists.

According to him, “It is important to state that the ongoing military perations against the Boko Haram and the slamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) Terrorists as well as other criminal groups is driven by the desire to keep Nigeria safe great successes in these fights by applying all forms of kinetic operations. However, these successes are not without some challenges which include the ideological beliefs of the terrorists.

“Like we all know, ideology is a system of concepts and views which serves tob make sense of the world while obscuring the social interests that are expressed therein. This has remained the driving force for these terrorists.

He said “In the case of Boko Haram, its ideology is classifying western education as a sin, which hinders the pursuit and attainment of self acclaimed puritan Islam. The ISWAP ideology on other hand is one which challenges the legitimacy of democratically elected government.

“By its nature, ideology has the power to manipulate what people think, how they form their opinions and of course direct their attitudes as well as actions. This often results in controlling people’s minds to the extent that they accept social conditions that equal denial of rights and suffering.

He said “The terrorists’ groups believe strongly that their ideologies have enhanced their generation of resources and the recruitment of new fighters to their folds. As such, we need to come up with positive and authentic narratives that can kill the ideology of the terrorists and of course wither out the inspired groups.

“This therefore underscores the importance of this Seminar as clerics play key roles in producing appropriate narratives required to counter the ideologies of these religious based terrorists groups.

Like earlier mentioned, the theme “Insecurity in Nigeria: Repositioning Authentic Religious Narratives in the Information Spectrum” was carefully crafted to ensure that authentic narratives are always available in the Information Spectrum.

Speaking further, Buratai, said: “Communities and the states need to be joined with the common purpose of rejecting the ideologies of these groups and challenge those who espouse them.

“This can be better achieved through the provision of authentic counter narratives targeted at the ideologies of the terrorist groups. Religious leaders and clerics who regularly interface with people at the grassroots, families and local communities have very important role to play candid opinion that this Seminar provides you the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the Nigerian Army’s efforts at ensuring a secured Nation.

“Let me also use this opportunity to reassure you that the welfare of the officers and men of the Nigerian Army as well as their families has always been my priority and will continue to receive attention.”

Also speaking, the former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria Obadiah Mailafiya who attributed the insecurity ravaging the country to some powerful global powerful interests, said are those interest were responsible for the resurgence of violent attacks against the Nigerian troops with the view to driving Nigeria into chaos.

He said “I don’t believe that what is happening in the Northeast is just a local phenomenon. There are global powers involved using satellite technologies to direct the insurgents so that our men are sabotaged when they are going on secret operations they are ambushed. It has happened countless times.

“I believe some people want to use it to destroy our country. They want Nigeria to become as comatose as the Democratic Republic of Congo which is a huge elephant lying on its back.

“Some people want to turn our country into a comatose economy because they are afraid of the potentials of Nigeria.”

He called on Nigerians to support the armed forces in its quest to rid the nation of terrorism and other violent crimes by providing credible intelligence while stemming the tides with positive narratives.

The presidency yesterday expressed shock as the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) launched a legal bid to arrest the ongoing proceedings by judicial panels set up by state governments to investigate allegations of brutality against the law enforcement agency’s personnel, which triggered the #EndSARS protests that later snowballed into an orgy of violence in October.

A top presidency official, responding to THISDAY inquiry on whether or not the police suit has the consent of the Buhari administration, said they were surprised when the news broke yesterday.

Earlier, the police had filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, praying for an order stopping the various states’ judicial panels of inquiry probing allegations of rights abuses and other acts of brutality against the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other police tactical units.

The plaintiff in the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/1492/2020, urged the court to restrain the attorneys-general of the 36 states of the federation and their various panels of enquiry from going ahead with the probe.

But the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, has denied authorising the suit and ordered an investigation into the circumstances surrounding its filing.

Besides, he has queried the Force Legal Officer, who may face further sanctions if found guilty of dereliction of duty, over the suit.

The suit has also divided lawyers and other activists as while some hailed it, others condemned the action.

It was, however, learnt that the police headed to the court to stop the judicial panels’ proceedings in a bid to stop attacks on their officers and policemen as well as on their assets.

According to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, 57 civilians, 37 policemen and six soldiers were killed all over the country when hoodlums seized the #EndSARS peaceful protests and went on a looting spree, arson and vandalism of public and private property.

In addition, the hoodlums injured 196 policemen, destroyed 164 police vehicles and torched 134 police stations.

In the wake of the social crisis, the National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at a meeting in Abuja on October 15, directed the 36 state governors and the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to establish judicial panels to investigate alleged police brutality, supervise fresh tactical team being set up by the Inspector-General of Police and raise a fund to compensate victims of cruelty by the defunct rogue squad, SARS.

At the meeting, attended by state governors, among others, the NEC had said that membership of the judicial panels should compose of representatives of youths, students, civil society organisations and be chaired by a retired state High Court judge.

About 1,247 petitions are believed to have been filed in 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with the panels set up to investigate complaints of alleged police brutality or extrajudicial killings.

THISDAY, however, gathered that Kano, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Borno and Yobe States are yet to set up panels in their states.

But a THISDAY source, who sought not to be identified, described the police suit as nothing but a rogue action, which he viewed as an affront to a presidential directive that birthed the constitution of the judicial panels.

According to him, the constitution of the panels was the outcome of NEC resolution, which he said secured the nod of President Muhammadu Buhari as part of the necessary steps for police reform.

The source viewed the action of the police, which is an agency of the federal government, as an affront to a presidential directive which authorised the constitution and activities of the panels.

He added that even the Attorney-Government of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, was not aware of the decision to file the suit.

He described such a situation where the AGF, whom he described as the chief law officer of the federation, was not consulted before an agency of government proceeds to the court as an aberration.

“It was a NEC decision and the president approved it. What the police are doing is a rogue action. The presidency may ask them to withdraw the suit. The AGF has said he’s not aware of the suit and no agency of the government ought to go to court without the knowledge of the AGF as the chief law officer of the federation. They were ill-advised,” he said.

The official described the police decision as baseless, noting that all that was rather expected of them was to prepare to defend the allegations against them and not attempting to stop the investigations.

He also expressed concerns that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Adamu, whom he said would be due for retirement in January, could dare to undertake such a move.

According to him, the IGP should have rather been interested in the outcomes of the investigations as viable tools for police reform, which would have been his legacy when he retires.

Asked if NEC will not respond to the move, a presidential source said there is no how NEC could react now, bearing in mind that the council is not a personality but a body of persons which takes decision only when it meets.

Police Ask Court to Stop Judicial Inquiries

The police, in the suit before the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, are praying for an order stopping the various states’ judicial panels from going ahead with their proceedings.

The defendants, totalling 104, who were sued by the NPF, comprised the AGF, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which set up the Independent Investigative Panel, sitting in Abuja, the attorneys-general of the states and chairmen of the judicial panels.

The NPF, through their lawyer, Mr O. M. Atoyebi (SAN), argued in the suit that the state governments lacked the power to constitute the panels to investigate activities of the police force and its officials in the conduct of their statutory duties.

According to the plaintiff, the setting up of the panels violated the provisions of section 241(1)(2)(a) and Item 45, Part 1, First Schedule to the Constitution and Section 21 of the Tribunals of Inquiry Act.

It said by virtue of the provisions of 241(1)(2)(a) and Item 45, Part 1, First Schedule to the Nigerian constitution, only the federal government had exclusive power to “organise, control and administer Nigeria Police Force.”

It, therefore, urged the court to, among others, declare that “the establishment of a panel of inquiries by the governors of the various states of the federation of Nigeria, to inquire into the activities of the Nigeria Police Force in relation to the discharge of her statutory duties is a gross violation of the provisions of Section 241 (1)(2) (a) and Item 45, Part 1, First schedule, 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Section 21 of the Tribunals of Inquiry Act, Cap.T21, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

The plaintiff also urged the court to declare that “having regard to the circumstances of this case, the attitude of the governors of the various states of the federation of Nigeria, in this case, is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.”

It sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the 3rd to 38th defendants (the state attorneys-general of the 36 states) “from making or conducting any investigations, sittings, and inquiries and/or from making or conducting any further investigations, sittings and inquiries in respect of matters affecting the Nigeria Police Force, and or further setting up any panel of inquiry in any state whatsoever in the country.”

IG Denies Authorising Suit, Queries Force Legal Secretary

IGP Adamu, has, however, denied authorising the suit and directed an immediate investigation into the suit challenging the legality of the states’ judicial panels of inquiry.

A statement by Force spokesman, Mr. Frank Mba, a deputy commissioner of police (DCP), said the IG, who gave the order on the heels of trending reports in the media yesterday expressed the disapproval of the Force Management Team on the matter and ordered investigations into the alleged role of the Force Legal Section, including its head.

He added that a query has been issued to the Force Legal Officer, who could face more sanctions if found guilty of dereliction of duty.

The IG reiterated the commitment of the police to fulfilling all their obligations with regards to the disbandment of SARS, the ongoing judicial panels and all other police reforms.

‘IG Seeking to Protect Lives of Personnel, Further Attacks on Police Assets’

THISDAY’s investigation, however, showed that the police filed the suit to stop the negative exposure that put the law enforcement agency in a bad light and could potentially trigger another round of attacks on its personnel.

THISDAY checks showed that the police management was worried about the further negative portrayal of the police through the panels and the potential to set the stage for another round of killing of police personnel and the potential destruction of police assets.

A source told THISDAY that more police personnel had been killed since the commencement of the panels’ sittings in the states.

“Cases of suspects who admitted guilt, and whose cases were long dispensed with, are being exhumed at the panels.

“The suspects are given special treatment while the police, in spite of what we have been through, we are still subjected to inhuman treatment. A DPO was killed last week while another was shot. Just yesterday, an Assistant Commissioner of Police was killed by assassins,” the source said.

Reacting to the suit, the Executive Director, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, Mr. Okechukwu Nwangwuma, said the decision of the police to go to court meant that the IG had something to hide.

“It is very easy to understand what has happened. All these atrocities, all this corruption by police officers, senior police officers are beneficiaries,” he said, adding: “So what is happening is that if this continues (the panel sittings), it could expose all the SARS commanders and those senior officers and above who are benefitting from all these atrocities.”

An official of the government, who spoke anonymously, queried the IG’s decision to halt the panels’ proceedings.

“What do you call this? A panel that the federal government was begging state governors to set up.

“Now the revelations are coming out and the IG wants it halted. Is he not an employee of the federal government? How can he go to court to stop those judicial panels?” he asked

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) Director-General, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, faulted the action of the police, believing it was premised on wrong advice.

According to him, the various judicial panels are only investigating the alleged “criminal conduct of some policemen” and not the activities of the police.

Azinge said a state has the power to prosecute criminal activities committed within its domain.

“The states are not investigating the police; that is where Section 214 can come into play. But that is not what is being done. The police are not under any form of investigation but the activities and conduct of some policemen who obviously committed some crimes,” he explained.

Another senior lawyer, Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), who described the action of the police as unbelievable, blamed it on what he perceived as the absence of synergy and coordination in the system.

While wondering how an agency can challenge the decision of the federal government, Raji, however, said he would wait to see how it all unfolds.

“It sounds curious and a bit unbelievable that an agency of the federal government is directly challenging the implementation of the directive of the federal government.

“I hope it is not true but if indeed it is, it smacks of either failure of synergy/coordination, monumental somersault or lack of sincerity, all of which are very despicable. We see how it unfolds. Very interesting times we are,” he stated.

Another senior lawyer, Mr. John Baiyeshea (SAN), said the suit may become an exercise in futility.

He explained that the police cannot challenge the legality of the judicial panels now, having participated in their proceedings.

“Police officers and personnel are already serving and/or participating actively in those panels.

“It appears too late in the day for the police to complain. They are estopped from complaining about the constitutionality of the judicial panels,” he said.

However, holding a contrary view from his colleagues, Mr. Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), said: “There is no clear order by the Federal Executive Council, or the National Economic Council, approving the establishment of the judicial panels by the state governments.”

Kehinde stated that what is, however, clear is that the police are on the exclusive list of the federal government and are regulated by it.

“In Lagos State, for instance, the state government in establishing the judicial panel of inquiry invoked the provisions of Section 1 of the Tribunals of Inquiry Law of Lagos State, which gives the state governor the power to constitute a tribunal when necessary to inquire into the affairs of any public officer in Lagos State. This provision should, however, be read in line with Section 1 (1) (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which provides that “if any law is inconsistent with the provisions of this constitution, this constitution shall prevail and that other law shall to the extent of the inconsistency be void,” he said.

He added that the police force is not a public officer of Lagos State.

According to him, a judicial panel set up to investigate the activities of the Nigeria Police Force must be constituted by the federal government or approved by the federal government.

He noted that in this instance there is no evidence that the judicial panels established by various state governments were approved by the federal government, and thus they are not properly constituted.

He, however, blamed the situation on the constitution of the country, which he claimed was not only faulty but designed to fail from the outset, adding that the development has further lent credence to the call for true federalism as well as state police.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has faulted claim that his bank obtained court orders to block accounts associated with promoters of the #EndSARS protests.

Emefiele’s position was stated by his lawyer, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mike Aondoakaa (SAN) while appearing before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Aondoakaa is the CBN Governor’s lawyer in the case, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1384/2020)of CBN v. Bolatito Rachael Oduala and 19 others in which Justice Ahmed Mohammed granted an order freezing the accounts of the defendants for 90 minutes in the first instance.

The former AGF spoke while reacting to remarks by Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), lawyer to Albert A. Ugochuwu and others, whose accounts were also frozen in similar circumstance by another judge, Justice Taiwo Taiwo in the case marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/12000/2020.

Aondoakaa, who insisted that his client acted within the provision of Section 60 (b) of the Bank and other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA), allows the CBN to apply pending for a freezing order pending conclusion of investigation.

The ex-AGF faulted claim by Adegboruwa that the CBN was going about filing multiple cases to freeze people’s accounts, including those linked with the #EndSARS protests.

He said the CBN did not apply for the freezing of any accounts because of the owners were associated with the #EndSARS protests.

Aondoakaa stated that his client only applied to have the accounts frozen on suspecting questionable transactions in the accounts.

He noted that none of those affected by the orders have claimed, in the processes they filed, that they are #EndSARS protesters.

Arguing earlier, Adegboruwa accused the CBN of filing multiple cases to freeze accounts of people indiscriminately. He cited the case of those associated with the #EndSARS protests.

He argued that the CBN a misconception of Section 60(b) of the BOFIA, and that the CBN lacks the power to conduct investigation into alleged infraction of the law.

Adegboruwa noted that the CBN came before the court on September 21, 2020 and obtained the freezing order pending the conclusion of its investigation.

“The law permitting the CBN to approach the court makes it a clearing house. Not to investigate. The CBN is arrogating the powers of the investigating agencies. The CBN lacks the power to investigate crimes,” he said.

Adegboruwa prayed the court to vacate the order earlier made by the court and dismiss the CBN’s suit.

Justice Taiwo has adjourned till December 16 for ruling.

The Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force Police, and other security agencies will soon receive not less than 1 billion USD from the Qatari government with a view to procuring modern scientific equipment, Africa-Global Empowerment and Development Network (AGED-Network) has disclosed.

President of AGED-Network, Dr Bala Kontagora, disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja during a one-day National Conference on the roles of Nigeria’s Security Agencies in the COVID-19 Pandemic Environment, organised in collaboration with National Defence College.

Kontagora said seeking funds from the Qatari government through Sheikh (Dr.) Badr Al-Hajri, and other international countries to equip the police and other agencies with modern equipment became imperative due to growing security challenges across the country.

He said, “We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Defence College through the centre for strategic research and studies with the primary purpose of advancing security sector reforms and synergies between all security agencies.

“Our relentless efforts have enabled us to secure One billion USD from the government of Qatar through our unique and professional relationship with Sheikh (Dr.) Badr Al-Hajri, who personally visited AGED-Network in Abuja.”

He added that with the lessons learnt from recent security threats, including the just concluded nationwide #EndSARS protests and looming post-COVID crisis, security operatives have to re-double their efforts.

The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC ) has deployed officials to badger residents to pay a wide-ranging amount for what it calls radio and television license fee.

They are asking business owners in the nation’s capital to pay N200,000 under this outdated and obscure taxation.

The officials told residents that the payment is backed by Section 7 (fourth schedule) of the 1999 Constitution and the AMAC Radio Television Bye-Law.

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According to a document obtained by SaharaReporters, a big company is charged N200,000; medium: N100,000; and small company: N50,000.

Duplex occupants are required to pay N20,000; flat: N10,000; bungalow: N5,000; and small apartment: N3,500.

The area council officials have been threatening residents to pay the obscure fees or appear before a court. Many Abuja residents insisted that they could not afford such an amount of money at a time that they are facing financial hardship.

The Rice Processors Association of Nigeria, RIPAN, has agreed to slash the price of 50kg bag of processed rice to N19,000 effective December 14, 2020.

DAILY NIGERIAN gathered the current market price ranges from N28,000 to N30,000 per bag.

The decision is coming after hike in rice prices occasioned by hoarding and closure of the nation’s land borders by the Buhari administration towards boosting self-sufficiency.

Since the ban on rice import, some persons have been engaging in buying and storing the paddy, making huge profits.

Worried by the rising prices, the RIPAN in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, on Tuesday set up task force headed by the Managing Director of Tiamin Rice, Aminu Ahmed, to monitor and ensure compliance with the new price regime.

In an interview with DAILY NIGERIAN after the meeting, Mr Ahmed said RIPAN has agreed to peg the price at N19,000 in order to support the federal government in its efforts to ease hardship in the country.

He said the rice processors have also pegged the price of paddy at N160 per kg or N160,000 to 165,000 per tonne. According to him, once the prices of paddy crash, the price of processed rice would also crash.

THE Central Bank of Nigeria has asked Justice Ahmed Mohammed of a Federal High Court in Abuja not to unfreeze the accounts of #EndSARS campaigners because they are still under probe for terrorism financing.

The CBN said this in a counter-affidavit in opposition to a motion on notice filed by Gatefield Nigeria Limited, a company that sponsored freelance journalists to cover the #EndSARS protests in October.

The apex bank had through an ex parte order frozen the account of Gatefield Nigeria Limited and 19 other persons who played a role in the protests.

However, Gatefield opposed the CBN’s action in court, insisting that the act was illegal because the apex bank had frozen the accounts even before the court order to do so was obtained.

In a counter-affidavit filed by a lawyer, A.J. Apera, on behalf of the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, the apex bank stated that it duly obtained a court order on November 4, 2020 to freeze the accounts.

The CBN, however, made no mention of #EndSARS in the court papers but only told the court that all those whose accounts were frozen were under probe for suspected terrorism.


The affidavit read in part, “That the bank accounts frozen by this honourable court in this case are suspected to be involved in transactions bordering on terrorism financing and that the said accounts are being investigated by the Central Bank of Nigeria in that regard.”

The apex bank said it did not need to inform the #EndSARS campaigners about the freezing of their accounts because of the nature of the investigation which is terrorism-related.

It added, “That the allegations involving the defendants’ accounts being investigated by the Central Bank of Nigeria border on terrorism and that there was an extreme urgency warranting the grant of the ex parte order in this suit.”


The apex court said it had the legal right to investigate the defendants because it had to do with financing and funds being stored in financial institutions.


The CBN said it would forward its findings to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit for further investigation.

The affidavit further read, “That it will be in the best interest of justice that the instant application be dismissed as the investigations being conducted by the Central Bank of Nigeria in respect of the defendants’ frozen accounts have not been concluded.”

The Parliament of the United Kingdom had last week criticised the Federal Government for freezing the accounts of #EndSARS campaigners under the guise of probing terrorist financing.

The accounts have been frozen for 40 days while none of the accused has been invited for questioning.

The Police Service Commission, PSC, has alleged that the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu, had smuggled 925 persons into the 10,000 Constables list without undergoing any recruitment processes.

Recall that the IGP and the PSC had been at logger heads over the legality conducting the recruitment exercise, a situation that led to legal actions.

There was also an allegation that the PSC had withheld the payment for some Police Constables recruited last year.

However, refuting the allegation in a statement on Tuesday, the PSC spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, said all Constables properly recruited had been screened, appointment letters released.

According to him, the Constables have been captured into the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS, for the payment of their salaries and allowances approved.

The statement said: “The Commission wishes to clarify that it had to bend backwards to accommodate the list of these candidates even after the Court of Appeal gave judgment in favour of the Commission nullifying the hijack of the recruitment exercise by the Nigeria Police Force.

“The Appeal Court judgment which is still subsisting had declared the exercise null and void and returned the Constitutional Powers of the commission to recruit all persons into the Nigeria Police Force.

“It is also necessary to clarify that in the cause of screening of the list of the 10,000 successful candidates, the commission discovered that 925 persons never applied for recruitment and did not go through the stages and processes of recruitment. These included screening, aptitude test and medical examinations.

“The commission however in the overall interest of the nation and considering that resources had been expended in the training of these candidates and that these candidates had been exposed to weapon and weaponry decided to rescreen them.

“These candidates already rescreened, except those found to be criminally minded (with mutilated certificates) are expected to be absorbed into the Force.

“The commission is expected to approve their recruitment at its next Plenary Meeting holding next week after which they will receive letters of appointment and subsequently captured by IPPIS,” he said.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has said the campaign to put an end to atrocities of banned Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) began in the lower chamber.

Gbajabiamila disclosed this yesterday in Abuja at a legislative conference with theme: “Legislative investigative powers: Expectations, challenges and way forward” organised by Hallowmace Media in conjunction with the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

He said: “The #End- SARS movement started on the floor of the House where we passed a resolution calling on the Federal Government to scrap SARS.”

Gbajabiamila, who was represented by the House leader, Hon. Alhassan Ado- Doguwa, lamented that the legislature has been undermined in the country despite the landmark achievements it has recorded.

“The legislature is the number one institution in a democracy because without legislature, there will be no democracy. I urge you the public to come close to the institution of parliament and know what we do, so that you can have first-hand experience and information.

“Unfortunately, the parliament is undermined here unlike in other climes where it is taken as number one component of government. But we need to strengthen the institution.”

Speaking on the achievements of the legislature, Ado-Doguwa noted that “the creation of the North- East Development Commission (NEDC) was made possible by the legislature through its resolution and subsequent legislation.”

“The establishment of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management is also a product of the agitation from the National Assembly, precisely from the Senate,” he stated.

In his address at the occasion, the director general of NOA, Dr. Garba Abari, said the legislature was seriously misunderstood in Nigeria. Abari said: “In the course of our sensitization activities in various communities across Nigeria, we have discovered that there exists a serious inadequate understanding of the role of the legislators in our democratic process.

“This inadequate understanding is prevalent in the rural areas where our infrastructure deficit is most predominant.

As a result of this infrastructure deficit, rural dwellers often look up to individuals to provide basic necessities such as borehole for potable water, schools, roads etc.”

According to him, “The performances of members of the legislature are hardly ever measured by the number of bills sponsored or initiated, neither are they judged by the number of motions moved.

The rating is usually in terms of how many schools, hospitals, and roads he has put in place.”

In his welcome address, the chief executive of Hallowmace Communications, Mr. Sunny Osiebe, said until the legislature wakes up from its slumber, Nigerians will never sleep.

“Until the National Assembly wakes up from its sleep, Nigerians will also not sleep.”

The State House, which includes the offices of the president and vice president, has earmarked N66.6 million for the payment of Aso Rock rent and N45 million for sewerage charges.

These reoccurring and unexplained expenditures have again been captured in the 2021 budget.

Other expenses in the State House budget include over N116 million for vehicle tyres while N436 million was earmarked for the phased replacement of vehicles and spare parts.

The sum of N67.9 million was budgeted for motor vehicle fuel.

Despite making a provision for over N10 million for the "purchase of giant HD copiers for the library and archive", the State House would spend N46 million and N22 million for the printing of non-security and security documents respectively.

The 2021 budget dubbed "Budget of Economic Recovery and Resilience" captures N13.08 trillion expenditure and N7.886 trillion revenue.

About thirty-eight more corpses were on Monday recovered from the scene of Saturday’s onslaught on farmers by Boko Haram Insurgents in Borno State, sources told SaharaReporters.

The deceased were slaughtered at a rice plantation in Kwashabe village, about 20 kilometres north of Maiduguri. The insurgents were also said to have destroyed the rice plantation after killing the farmers.

The Defence Headquarters had claimed only 43 people were killed, but a source told SaharaReporters that the death toll had risen to 81 as 38 more bodies were recovered by search and rescue teams on Monday.

He said, “The army restricted us from capturing the scene with our phones; they know what they are doing, and they know they will be exposed. Today alone, 38 bodies were recovered and it will continue tomorrow.

"What happened here was a human harvest, not massacre, the story media and the government is just lying. They did not even talk about the farm produce and rice plantation that was razed ablaze by Boko Haram. Some bodies can never be recovered because flowing water went away with them.”

The killing of the rice farmers has attracted condemnations with some Nigerians calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the country’s Service Chiefs and overhaul the security architecture of Nigeria.

John Enenche, coordinator of defence media operations, says some residents of Borno state sabotage the efforts of the military by providing information on its movement and activities to Boko Haram.

Enenche said this on Monday while answering questions on the killing of 45 farmers at Zabarmari in Jere local government area of Borno state by the insurgents when he featured on Sunrise Daily, a programme on Channels Television.

He said information gathered from the attack showed that some of the insurgents were already cohabiting with the villagers before the attack.

Asked how the military had no prior intelligence on the attack, Enenche said the army needs information from locals to aid its operation.

“That has been our worry. It’s a concern to us. You need a guide, you need information. Will they tell us? That’s a question that we have to ask. Yes, sometimes. And most times, no. And that was one of the issues we have been ensuring to overcome, with civil-military cooperation activities, reaching out to them, even sending people by proxy to talk to them,” Enenche said.

“Those are the things that have been one of the banes of the final success in the whole of this operation. Our patrols will pass through a route, in a village. By the time you are going, some people are looking at you. When you are coming back, the next thing is that you meet an IED planted on the road. And people saw them, they won’t tell you. So that’s the area I think we are all working together as stakeholders.

“And it is not possible to force information out of people. It’s not possible, just like they say you force a horse to the river, but not to drink water. So all we are trying to do is to build up their confidence in the system and encourage them that look, this is not good for you. Now they do not expect that this will happen, even those ones that they deceived, that they are preaching to them.”

On the actual number of casualties from the attack, Enenche said contrary to the UN’s statement that over 100 people were killed, the military has so far identified 43 corpses.

According to him, the field commandants “gave me a synopsis of what happened. When the governor was to go and after they had recovered the dead, the troops had to move in there and they counted 43.

“Probably we may count up to the figure he (Kallon) gave in the future but as it is now, what we have counted with the locals is still 43 and we are hoping that we don’t get beyond that.

“This is the real situation. I did not sleep, we had to follow it because this is very relevant coming from the United Nations.”

Speaking on how to enhance the military’s performance and the role the service chiefs play in that regard, Enenche said though the military is in need of new ideas, it is better they are from lower-ranking officers.

“Of course, we need fresh ideas. Like I was at the graduation ceremony of army war college on Friday last week. Incidentally, I was the commandant there before and what we do in from time we now play; there is what we call exercise star ride, we have the similar one at the national defence college even at the armed forces command and staff college, we now play real lifetime exercise to the participants and students. They see where there are areas that they could improve upon and they bring out their reports. Those are fresh ideas because it is dynamic,” he said.

“So, we get input from the war colleges and then the NDC and also we have planning teams and those are the people that come up with these ideas. I can assure you that the things we do progressively are never in the past. So fresh ideas, that is how we generate them from the various components that I have mentioned.

“My training is bottom-up approach. That is the intercontinental system. It comes from the bottom-up then you will now look at it at the top. I have been a commander and I have been a commandant so that is the way it works. You don’t look down on your subordinates and junior commandants. Those are the people on the field. You’ll get it better with the bottom-up approach. That is better from my experience because if you now go and bear on them, that means you are lording it over your subordinates. They bring up their ideas then you now look at it.”

Barring any lastminute change in administrative plan, the Army may arraign former Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD), Maj-Gen. Olusegun Adeniyi, before a General Court Martial (GCM) sitting at the Army Headquarters (AHQ) Garrison in Abuja, today.

Investigations by New Telegraph revealed that the former OPLD commander’s trial before the GCM, may border on “social media- related offences”, which is a violation of a Standing Order/Directive by the Army high command.

In the extant order, the Army had forbidden officers and soldiers from discussing operational or such other activities of the Service in public. Recall that sometime in March, a video of the ex- OPLD commander raising concerns about the nature of equipment available for troops prosecuting the counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency war in the North-East theatre of operation had gone viral.

In the said video, which insiders said was meant to be a classified material, the two-star General had further explained how he led his troops to repel a major attack by suspected terrorist elements, notwithstanding the constraints.

Peeved by that action, the Army authorities had posted the senior officer for jurisdiction (trial) at the AHQ on July 20. His posting came alongside many other senior officers, who were either redeployed to new commands/ formations, or appointed to different positions. Highly-placed sources have confirmed to this newspaper, that the GCM was set for Adeniyi’s trial today, all things being equal.

It was gathered that of proceedings had been slated for 10a.m., wherein the accused person is expected to take either a “guilty” or “not guilty” plea. Speaking in confidence with our correspondent, one of the sources said: “I can confirm to you that General Adeniyi’s trial will begin on Monday with his arraignment before a GCM at the AHQ Garrison. “I’m told that his trial will border on social mediarelated offences. Remember that video that went viral at a time?

“The Army feels strongly that, like civil or public servants, an officer is not supposed to raise issues concerning the Service on social media, or any public space.” Another source, who spoke in similar vein, said: “There is a Standing Order; a directive that came against use of social media by service personnel.

“By the time you violate that directive, that means you have disobeyed the standing order made by the authorities concerned. In this case, the Nigerian Army.

“That directive is a Standing Order, so to speak. So, by the time you violate that directive, automatically you will be charged with disobedience to standing orders under the Armed Forces Act.

“It is based on that directive. If there is any order in the Army, and you disobey it, you will be charged appropriately.”

SaharaReporters gathered that Abdu was illegally detained by the soldiers for several hours.

Grace Abdu, a journalist with Voice Of America, was on Saturday assaulted and arrested by Nigerian soldiers for ‘interviewing residents of Oyigbo in Rivers State’.

SaharaReporters gathered that Abdu was illegally detained by the soldiers for several hours.

“She went there around 11, so around 12pm, the soldiers saw her and arrested her. They also seized her equipment. She was kept at the Army Post in Oyigbo for several hours before they released her this evening,” a source told SaharaReporters.

Recall that army operatives were deployed to Oyigbo amid the violence that broke out in the town after some alleged Biafran agitators clashed with security agents.

The soldiers have, however, been accused of extra-judicial killings and abuse of human rights.

The security agents are allegedly moving from house to house killing people.

Also Amnesty International said it received reports that soldiers were invading homes and that “some residents reported seeing dead bodies on the street,” allegedly shot by soldiers, but the army denied this allegation.

“Amnesty International is receiving disturbing information from Oyigbo, Rivers State.

“Despite the existing curfew, soldiers are allegedly invading homes. Some residents reported seeing dead bodies on the street, allegedly shot by soldiers.

“We are calling on the military authorities to exercise restraint and stop the killings,” the organisation tweeted.

Politicians at various levels carry out different initiatives to empower people at the lowest ebb of the society, as part of efforts to alleviate poverty. But some of these empowerments could best be described as funny and bizzare.

Federal and state governments often earmark certain amounts of money for zonal intervention projects (ZIPs), otherwise called constituency projects. They are meant to spread development to the grassroots through the intervention of the people’s representatives in the legislature.


While some of these projects have had meaningful impact on the lives of the beneficiaries, others are bizarre and leave much to be desired. Daily Trust looks at some of these “funny” empowerment schemes.


'Sachet water’ empowerment for Bauchi women


Wife of Bauchi State Governor, Hajiya (Dr) Aisha Bala Mohammed, organized an elaborate ceremony in July this year to unveil her empowerment package – bags of sachet water for rural women in Futuk community of Alkaleri Local Government Area.


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Daniel Msughter Ukpera, a local politician in Benue State, set the social media wagging after he donated bundles of ropes to Imande Akpu and Tse-Chagu communities in Makurdi to tie their goats


Daniel Msughter Ukpera, a local politician in Benue State, set the social media wagging after he donated bundles of ropes to Imande Akpu and Tse-Chagu communities in Makurdi to tie their goats

The sachet water empowerment generated controversy within and outside the state. But the spokesperson of the first lady, Murjanatu Musa Maidawa, cleared the air by saying that “Her Excellency and the Founder of Almuhibbah Foundation, while at Futuk, trained 250 women and youths of the area in various economic skills and empowered them with starter packages. These starter packs include Spaghetti making machines, flour, money and bags of sachet water.”


Constituents empowered with 100,000 transistor radio sets in Kaduna

Senator Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th Senate, stunned Nigerians when he distributed 100,000 radio sets to communities in seven local government areas under his zone.

The radio sets were shared in 2016 to members of communities in Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Birnin Gwari, Chikun, Giwa, Igabi and Kajuru local government areas.

While the picture of the distribution trended on social media, with mixed reactions trailing the decision, Sani said he gave out the radio sets to contribute towards the political consciousness of his people.

“Radio is the major source of information dissemination in the region with or without electricity. So, I am sharing this radio to contribute towards political consciousness within the people of my own senatorial district,” he said.


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Bags of sachet water distributed by wife of Bauchi State Governor, Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed, to rural women in Futuk Community in Alkaleri LGA of the state


Bags of sachet water distributed by wife of Bauchi State Governor, Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed, to rural women in Futuk Community in Alkaleri LGA of the state


Shoe polish kits for 5,000 Borno youths

In 2018, Borno State Commissioner for Higher Education and House of Representatives aspirant, Usman Jaha (Babawo), was tongue-lashed by social media critics when he unveiled his youths empowerment package: a row of kitted shoe-shine boxes and bags of oranges donated to 5,000 beneficiaries in Gwoza.

While the males were given “new improved shoe shining kit” fully equipped with bucket, polish and brush, the women were empowered with wooden basket and bags of oranges.

In a response to his critics, Babawo said his shoe polish empowerment package was based on the peculiar needs of the beneficiaries.

Babawo, in a statement, said, “The programme is my personal effort and it is based on the peculiar needs of the beneficiaries in Gwoza.

“All communities have their needs and these needs change from time to time. In my years as a politician who served at the Borno State Assembly before becoming a commissioner, I have always interacted with constituents before making any welfare intervention. I make interventions based on their peculiar needs.”


‘Donkey empowerment’ in Kano

Murtala Gwarmai, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State on Youth Development, organized a colourful ceremony at the state’s Ministry of Youth and Sports to distribute donkeys and other items to empower young people.

Gwarmai also distributed motorcycles, bicycles, cash prizes worth N100,000, building blocks and roofing sheets among others.

The governor’s aide said the decision to include the donkey in the list of items distributed followed the request made by one of the beneficiaries, who uses it to transport sand, gravel and blocks.

The donkey empowerment, Gwarmai said, would help improve the business of the beneficiary.


Cassava stems to farmers in Anambra

A member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Patrick Obalum Udoba, recently shared bundles of cassava stems to his constituents.

The distribution, flagged off at Umueze Anam, a community in his constituency, generated mixed reactions from Nigerians as the news went viral on social media.

The lawmaker was reported to have said that he distributed the high yielding cassava stems so that his constituents can make up for what they lost in the 2020 flood disaster which affected their communities and their crops.

The lawmaker had, in 2019, distributed two truckloads of cassava stems to his constituents.

Ropes to constituents in Benue

Daniel Msughter Ukpera, a local politician in Benue State, had set the social media agog for weeks after he donated bundles of ropes to Imande Akpu and Tse-Chagu communities in Makurdi to tie their goats.

Canoes donated by the member representing Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Preye Influence Oseke, to his constituents


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Canoes donated by the member representing Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Preye Influence Oseke, to his constituents


Ukpera contested to represent Guma Constituency at the Benue State House of Assembly in 2019 under the platform of Labour Party, but lost.

He said the initiative was in support of the state anti-open grazing and ranches establishment law introduced by Samuel Ortom, the state governor.

The donation would further help in the ongoing campaign against open grazing and prevent animals from roaming the streets, he added.

If used correctly, the ropes are capable of reducing goat rustling by 70 percent and other cases of missing goats by as much as 65 percent, the politician reportedly explained.

One of his supporters said the ropes were meant to create awareness and sensitise the people about their roles as spelt out in the grazing law.

Also, Benue State governor Samuel Ortom was once heavily criticized both in conventional and social media when the photos of the Ortom-branded wheelbarrows went viral.

But the state governor distanced himself from the branded wheelbarrows, saying that he had numerous laudable empowerment schemes for youths but the wheelbarrow empowerment was not among.

“The attention of Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has been drawn to pictures of wheelbarrows bearing his name and posted on social media suggesting that he plans to empower youths of the state with the carts.

“We wish to make it clear that the consent of the governor was not sought and he did not give approval for anyone to inscribe his name on the said wheelbarrows,” Ortom’s Chief Press Secretary, Tever Akase said.


Fishing nets, canoes for Bayelsa youths

The member representing Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Preye Influence Oseke, last month dolled out fishing nets and canoes to his constituents, who, he said, were carefully selected among the targeted persons.

The items were distributed to the beneficiaries after undergoing an intensive course organized in collaboration with Small and Medium Enterprises Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).

The lawmaker’s 2020 Zonal Intervention Project (ZIP) for youths and women also featured Conditional Cash Transfer to the indigent, distribution of cars, sewing machines, cyber cafe equipment, hairdressing, barbing, GSM repairs and welding tools amongst others.

Oseke said the beneficiaries were trained with requisite skills to manage small and medium scale businesses effectively.

The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, has observed that crude oil and other natural resources are valued more than the lives and potentials of Nigerian youths.

Dr Onu made this divulgence on Tuesday at the book launch of the former Minister of Education, Professor Tunde Adeniran, titled: “Africa’s Security Challenges In The 21st Century; Power, Principles and Praxis in Global Politics”.

According to the Minister: ‘Nigeria is endowed with very intelligent youths. They are a national asset rather than a curse and this asset needs to be converted for the economic benefits of the country.

‘Unfortunately, today, natural resources such as crude oil and minerals, are more appreciated and valued than our youths. These resources do not add up to the value which the youths can bring. Our youths have tremendous potentials that need to be encouraged.’

Dr Onu added that science, technology and innovation have the capacity to educate and provide youths with the skills they need to bring out their potentials, while describing the author, Prof. Adeniran, as ‘a star that guides people to shine.’

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, lamented over the increasing number of insecurity cases in the country, describing the situation as ‘a tragic story to tell and a nightmare.’

Also speaking at the event, the former Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Olusegun Adebayo, acknowledged insecurity as a threat to governance, while he appeals to the government to handle it more seriously.

‘Insecurity is a disaster to any government, including Nigeria, but if we commit more time and strategies to it, we will bring it to submission.’

However, the book reviewer, Professor Jideofor Adibe, a publisher of professional journals, noted that the book deserves to have a place in every library.

He said: ‘I see it as a reference source and not just a book. Another point is that it is a very detailed examination of the sources and drivers of security concerns in Africa with contextual and historical discussions on each driver,’ adding that ‘the book approaches history from a strictly African perspective.’

In his closing remarks, the President of the Nigerian Folklore Society (NFS), Dr Bukar Usman, spoke passionately about the unity of Nigeria, insisting that the government and all citizens must do all they can to endure that the country does not break up.

Fred Itua, Abuja

There is palpable fear in the camp of the embattled suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, following last Friday’s submission of a report by Justice Ayo Salami-led Commission of Inquiry.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who received the report, had in July, set up the panel to investigate assets recovered between May 2015 and May 2020. Magu held sway between 2015 and July 2020 before his exit.

Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, had in a 22-point allegation against Magu titled, “Flagrant Abuse of Office and Other Infractions Against EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu,” accused the embattled police commissioner of abusing his office.

Although details of the report are yet to be made public by the Presidency, Daily Sun, however, gathered that there is tension in the camp of Magu over fears that his eventual prosecution may cause trouble for them.

A top source said President Buhari may sanction the prosecution of Magu. He said the president is angry that one of his signature achievements could be rubbished by the outcome of the investigation.

He said: “When President Buhari came into office, his major plan was to tackle corruption. In fact, he was voted into office because he promised to fight corruption. He feels betrayed that his anti-graft war could be ridiculed because of the alleged happenings in the EFCC.

“Buhari has just about two years and six months to go as presient. It will be hard to change anything at this point. So, if he is bent on ensuring that those who have sabotaged him are prosecuted, he’s in order.”

He said the president had patiently waited for the report to give him the leeway to ensure that those involved in the alleged illegal disposal of recovered assets and high-ranking Nigerians who may have benefited from the purported ‘bazaar’, are brought to justice.

“There are claims that some highly-placed Nigerians in the corridors of power may have benefited from the questionable disposal of the recovered assets.

“Those people are worried right now. So, they’ll be scheming to sabotage any plans to prosecute Magu,” the source added.

Meanwhile, Magu has said he didn’t shun an invitation extended to him by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). He said instead, two letters have been written to the chairman of CCB by his lawyer.

A press statement signed by his lawyer, Wahab Shittu, and made available to newsmen, said: “We wish to state that our client did not shun the CCC invitation as the media reportage did not reflect the true position of the narrative.

“We wish to state with high sense of responsibility that we have written two letters to the Chairman of the CBB, intimating him about the inability of our client to have access to the relevant documents as required by the CCB.

Onion is the new gold — this expression has become popular on social media recently due to the scarcity of the vegetable.

Onion is a popular vegetable used in Nigerian homes for culinary and beauty purposes. However, it has become a topic for jokes after a sudden scarcity led to a hike in prices.

The bulb onion is mainly cultivated in Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Kebbi, Sokoto, Plateau, and Bauchi states.

The pocket of the average Nigerian seems to be under attack given the price hike that comes with Christmas festivities combined with fluctuating petrol prices due to deregulation and food inflation that hit 17.38 percent in September.

THE MANY TROUBLES OF THE NIGERIAN FARMER

Apart from fighting corruption, the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has made agriculture a priority with is ‘Grow what we eat and eat what we grow mantra’.

Together with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), policies that would discourage preference for imported goods and increase access to funds at low-cost interest rates have been embarked upon.

However, the Nigerian farmer is still juggling the frogs of banditry, flooding, disruption of economic activities due to the #EndSARS protests, the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and its movement restrictions, and rising transport costs due to fluctuating petrol price.

TheCable visited popular markets and spoke to farmers in Lagos, Oyo, Kano, Kaduna, Borno, and Abuja to understand why onion prices have skyrocketed while the price of tomato, which is also cultivated in the north, is stable.

LAGOS

At the two popular food markets, Mile 12 and Oke-Odo, traders said a bag of dry onions that was sold at N35,000 now has a price tag that is as high as N90,000.

A trader in Mile 12, who identified himself as Abdullahi, said the increase is due to flooding in northern states such as Sokoto, Kaduna, and Plateau.

“Too much water in the north this year. The weather really affected the growth of onions. Onions don’t need much water, ” he said.

Mohammed, who also trades the commodity, explained that the prices would rise in December before deflating in January due to the festive season.

He further said that onions purchased in the Niger Republic are cheaper, selling for N65,000.

“In Arewa, onions are too costly. We have Sokoto, Zaria, Gombe, and the Niger Republic onions. These Niger onions are N65,000 and the Arewa onions go for N80,000,” he said.

Habib Usain, an onion trader at the Oke-Odo Market, said: “The #EndSARS protests is the major reason why the price of onion has increased because transport was halted (non-vehicular movement) during the protest.

“Before the protest started, a basket of onion was selling for N10,000 to N11,000, but now it is selling at N17,000. Lorries transporting the onions into the market were between five to six but nowadays, we only see one or two lorries.”

The #EndSARS protest, which campaigned for general police reform and an end to police brutality, lasted for 13 days in Lagos.

OYO

Abdulrahman, an onion seller at Eleyele in Ibadan, said: “Na rain spoil onion for Sokoto. Before we buy a bag for N20,000 and N30,000 but now, it is N75,000, while the white one, N100,000”

“Before, that one is N200,” he said pointing to five pieces of onions displayed for sale at N500.

Aminu at Bodija market in Ibadan said he now only sources onion from Sokoto.

“We get only from Sokoto now and even the ones they have are not many. No more onions in Zaria, Kano, and other states we buy from. Before, we buy N30,000 but now, N70,000. Too much rain.”

He said the higher cost of transportation also contributed to the rising cost of onions.

KANO

At the onion section of the Kwanan Dawaki market in Kano, traders told TheCable that prices have been affected by floods, seasonal fluctuations, and the destruction that followed the recent #EndSARS protest.

Muhammad Gambo Mai Albasa, a wholesale trader of onion at Kwanan Dawaki, explained that some onions are imported to supplement the consumer demands.

“Onion is produced during the wet season and only a few are produced during the dry season. As a result, it is imported from places like Chad and even Sudan to make up the demand,” he said.

“As a result of demand and supply, the price goes up and down depending on when it is available in the market.

“The dry season is coming and most of our supplies to places like Aba and Lagos were destroyed during the end SARS crises. We lost a lot of money as a result and could not manage the market as usual.

“We watched how most of those products we took to the usual markets in Aba and Lagos were set ablaze. Definitely, we don’t feel it is now secured enough for us to buy the goods and supply them to the major markets after the losses we incurred.”

Adamu Mai Kayan Miya, who deals in tomato, said the tomato market is stabilised in Kano because of the activities of Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, who now owns a tomato paste company.

“Initially we used to produce ten tons per hectare but with the recent breed introduced to farmers, a lazy farmer can produce 40 tons per hectare. Hard-working farmers produce up to 70 tons per hectare.

“This is the reason why the market for tomatoes is stabilised in this area. The usual fear of losing the produce due to its short shelf life has now disappeared because he has created a ready-made market for it which he uses in making tomato paste.

“So we are not afraid of producing it in whatever quantity unlike before. This has also helped in stabilising both the price and the product in the market” Sani explained.

KADUNA

When TheCable visited the Bakin Dogo Onion market located in Kaduna Central Market, the story about flooding was not different.

Awal Usman, a spokesman of the Kaduna Onions Sellers Association, said onions are mainly sourced from Sokoto state and Gashua in Yobe.

“Because of the destruction of onion farms, occasioned by flooding, some farmers prefer dry season farming where there is no flood,” Usman said.

“By January or February next year, the market will be flooded with onions from dry season farmers.

“By then, they must have harvested their onions and the price will crash. What is currently in the market was produced during the rainy season and it is not enough because many onion farms were swept by flood the cost of transportation, especially, following the increase in the pump price of fuel, also contributed to the price hike.”

At Bakin Dogo market, a basket of tomatoes costs between N4,000 to N5000 depending on the species.

Traders said tomato prices will nosedive in the weeks ahead as new product floods the market. Like, onions, tomato farms were also affected by heavy rains.

According to Aliyu Isa, a member of the Kaduna Tomato Sellers Association, the prices of tomatoes went up because not much of it was produced during the rainy season.

“The price is coming down now the tomatoes from irrigation farmers are already coming to the market and it is expected to be abundant in the market in three weeks to come,” he said.


BORNO

TheCable carried out a market survey at Gamboru and Tashan Bama markets in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

Babagana Yusuf, a trader, told TheCable that a bag of old stock of onions that was previously sold for N14,000 now costs N50,000, while a bag of new onions sold at 15,000 now costs N40,000.

Allamin Umara, chairman of the Borno chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), attributed the scarcity to shortages of seedlings in the farming communities.

“A few months ago, some stakeholders from Katsina and Zamfara came and seek the support of our farming community to provide them with onions seedling. So most of our seedlings were already given out to the farmers in Zamfara and Katsina,” he said.

“So even before the scarcity, we are already having shortages of onion seedlings for planting.”

ABUJA

In the federal capital territory (FCT), the prices of onions are also on the high side with a bag going for as high as between N39,000 to N41,000.

I went to market yesterday and all I wanted to do was fly away.
Tomatoes is now N1,400/basket with plenty abeg & Don Allah
Onions (new gold) – N2,400/basket you can't beg for this one.
This is Utako market oo, only God knows how Wuse market will be. pic.twitter.com/ay3a4kbHYs

— That Igbo girl (@Adaamakar) November 15, 2020

The traders in three markets visited by TheCable blamed the increase in the price of onions on a number of reasons – COVID-19, floods, and inadequate storage facilities.

“During the lockdown, many farmers were not able to go to their farms so the quantity they produced this year (2020) cannot be compared to other years,” Ibrahim, an onion seller at Apo resettlement market said.

Illiya, another trader at Garki market, said some of the farms he sources onions from were flooded during the rainy season.

The army spokesperson, who shared the article on some Whatsapp platforms he belonged to, justified the deployment and use of live ammunition on the evening of October 20 against the Lekki Toll Gate protesters, who had been at the demonstration for more than a week without any violence.


Col Sagir Musa, spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, on Sunday posted an article labelling the Lekki Toll Gate protesters in Lagos State as “lawless, recalcitrant and a bunch of cowards.”

The army spokesperson, who shared the article on some Whatsapp platforms he belonged to, justified the deployment and use of live ammunition on the evening of October 20 against the Lekki Toll Gate protesters, who had been at the demonstration for more than a week without any violence.

In the article shared by Musa and obtained by SaharaReporters, the writer, one Zara Onyinye, believed to be a pseudonym, mocked Nigerians, who were questioning the rationale behind the deployment of live and blank ammunition to the Lekki Toll Gate.

The article shared by the army spokesman partly reads, “The Nigerian Army left their barracks with the needed tools; guns, blank bullets, live bullets and vehicles to disperse the lawless and recalcitrant protesters. They got to the toll gate area and discovered that the protesters were just a bunch of cowards.

“They fired blank bullets into the air and this sent jitters down the spine of many of them. They picked races. Many did not stop until they reached Ajah and beyond.

“Those that are reaching petulant orgasm because the army said they went to the Lekki Toll Gate with blank and live bullets are the dumbest human beings I have ever known. Did they expect the army to go to the protest ground with sticks and stones?

“What if everything turned out extremely violent? Oh, they should run back to the barracks to reinforce with better equipment, right? You must be kidding.”

In the article as shared by the army spokesperson, the writer added that some Nigerians chose “to remain illiterates forever” by castigating the army over its actions on the Lekki Toll Gate incident.

Musa, since the October 20 incident, has not responded to any media inquiry – since the initial question of whether soldiers were deployed to the scene or not.

The Nigerian Army had relied on a former spokesperson, Brig Gen Sani Usman (retd.), in its efforts to justify the October 20 action to Nigerians and to the world.

Recall that the hitherto peaceful EndSARS protest in the Lekki Toll Gate area turned to a blood bath on the evening of October 20 when soldiers from Bonny Camp, Victoria Island, opened fire on the protesters.

The military men reportedly killed and injured several protesters.

There is uneasy calm in the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the 2023 election and plot to whittle down the influence of the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Daily Trust can report.

Though the 2023 election is still far off, the state APC is said to be worried by recent developments which showed some chieftains already declaring interest in the state governorship position.

The chieftains are not only showing interest but also said to be challenging the authority of Tinubu who is the leader of the party in the state.

The swelling rank of “disgruntled members” of the party, sources said, is causing unease in the dynasty at a time the opposition has vowed to checkmate the dominance of the APC leader in the state ahead of the 2023 elections.

‘O toge Lagos’ campaign launched to end Tinubu dynasty

Already, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has launched a campaign tagged, ‘O toge Lagos’ to end Tinubu’s reign in 2023, though APC insists the opposition cannot unseat it in the state.

While the ruling party has the opposition to contend with, it is also battling with the opposition within.

Just last month, a former commissioner for Home Affairs in the state, Dr Abdulhakeem Abdullateef, resigned from the party after launching a political movement to drive his 2023 ambition.

Following the announcement, he was relieved of his appointment as an aide to the speaker of the House of Assembly, Mudasiru Obasa.

But he recanted 24 hours after a meeting with some leaders of the party while sources say the issue raised by his earlier resignation was far from over.

Less than two months after, another chieftain of the party, Mr Olajide Adediran, came out last week to declare his intention for the 2023 election.

He said he was damning the consequence coming out two years to the election, noting that Tinubu could not stop him.

Adediran, who is an ally of the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said he was not oblivious that Tinubu might not give him the ticket but his ambition is unstoppable.

“We understand this game. Do you think I will be stupid to believe that if our party remains the way it is today, Asiwaju Tinubu is going to give me the governorship ticket? He can give you everything but not the governorship ticket.

“When I say every other, I mean every other thing but not the governorship ticket and that is why whoever emerges as governor of Lagos State will not be the people’s governor,” he said.

Another chieftain of the party who spoke with Daily Trust on condition of anonymity said, “It is true that a lot of people are presently aggrieved but they are afraid to come out but in days to come you would see what I am talking about.

“The decision by the GAC to ban all political movements is one of the means to checkmate the aggrieved members but this has not achieved that purpose. You would see a lot of aggrieved members coming out to dare the party in days to come. It is all about 2023.

“A lot of members are aggrieved with the system and the leadership because their expectations are not being met but they are afraid to come out. They are torn between the devil and the deep blue sea,” he said.

No crisis in APC spokesman says

But the spokesman of Lagos APC, Seye Oladejo, insisted that the party remained one and that there was no crisis in it.

He stated that there was nothing unusual with members of the party having ambition.

Oladejo said: “It remains within the right of party members to be ambitious and aspire to any office of their choice.

“The presence of ambitious members in a political party engenders mass mobilisation, spread to all nooks and crannies of the state and promotes all-round activities.

“Our party has always encouraged members to contest and realize their ambition within the provisions of the constitution of the party. However, we will encourage members to continue to play by the rules and avoid causing needless crisis.

“The increase in the number of members expressing different ambitions is indicative of our democratic growth and absolute confidence in our platform.

Let me assure you that there’s no crisis within the ruling party as we remain determined to uphold internal democracy at all times.”

The APC publicist also dismissed the threat by Jandor, saying he was merely seeking attention.

Meanwhile, the spokesman of the PDP, Taofiq Gani, while speaking with Daily Trust, said the party was aware of the acrimony in APC, saying it would aid them to dislodge the ruling party.

He said it was not only APC members that were dissatisfied with the leadership, many Lagosians are unhappy with the system in the state.

Gani, however, warned that the “acrimony” within the APC should not stall governance in the state.

By Yusuf Alli, Abuja


The 2023 election permutations may consume the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Some governors, ex-governors and influential leaders have started the search for a successor to National Chairman Uche Secondus.

It was learnt that some PDP governors and leaders, who are under pressure from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to defect, are bidding time over the expected leadership change before making up their minds on what steps to take.

But Secondus has told the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party tbat his team improved the electoral fortunes of the PDP in the last three years, especially in the 2019 elections.

Apart from serving as an acting National Chairman between 2015 and 2016, Secondus assumed office on December 10, 2017.

His four-year tenure ends in December next year.

The “stress” in the party, which is fueled by 2023 aspirations, might lead to a change earlier than the exit date of the NWC.


It was learnt that those pushing for a change in PDP leadership felt the party has been weakened by the 2019 elections – the second in a row, that they were losing.

They also alleged that few governors and party leaders are dictating the pace in the party.

The same influential governors were alleged to have held PDP by the jugular such that Secondus and others are trying to create a level-playing structure in vain.

They also claimed that the party ought to start its reforms early, as the APC is doing.

They were allegedly worried that APC has been trying to make inroads into their party with more PDP leaders negotiating clandestinely with the ruling party.

A leader, who spoke in confidence, said: “It is true that APC is reaching out to more PDP leaders to defect. The return of ex-House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara to the APC has emboldened the ruling party.

“ I think they are trying to woo ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and a former President of the Senate. Some PDP leaders, who are discussing with the APC, are also waiting for the choice of the new chairman of the ruling party before their defection.

“The ex-Senate President may dump the PDP if ex-Governor Abdulaziz Yari energes the new APC national chairman.

The source added:” The PDP is muzzled at present by a few governors and leaders. Most PDP members are not happy by the state of things. These governors behave as if they own the party.

“The reality is that some governors and PDP leaders are secretly shopping for a successor to Secondus.

“They are saying if there is no leadership change, the APC may reduce the PDP to a carcass in the next one year.

A member of the PDP NEC said: “Secondus is not a sitting lame duck, he is as well forward-looking. He raised a committee headed by Governor Bala Mohammed to review the 2019 polls and what the party should do differently to win the presidency in 2023.

“Some grouses about some of our leaders are also that we have not been able to resolve crises in some states and strengthen the party in the Southwest, Northwest and in the Northeast.

“They are angry that Secondus leadership has not designed a counter-strategy to check APC incursions into PDP. It is obvious that APC, which is trying to recover from internal rumpus, is desperate to split PDP. “

Notwistanding, Secondus told NEC members last Thursday that his team had done well in three years.

He said: “When the current National Working Committee (NWC), under my watch came into office nearly three years ago, we based our programmes on 3Rs, to reposition, rebuild and to regain.

“I can confidently report to NEC that the programme is on course. We were able to reform the party ahead of the 2019 general election enough to take us to victory if the APC regime had allowed the will of the people to prevail.”

“The number of PDP governors increased from 11 to 16 and would have been more if not for APC’s electoral abracadabra in Osun, Kano, Kogi states and climaxed in Imo state with the shocking Supreme Court ruling.


At the National Assembly, as an opposition, we were able to attract into our fold the Senate President and 16 senators, the Speaker and more than 34 House of Representatives members ahead of the 2019 elections in addition to three sitting governors, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state, Dr Sam Ortom of Benue and Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara state.

“All these were as a result of our repositioning of the party that made it a huge brand. We restored integrity to our primaries.

“On the off season elections, we won the governorship in Bayelsa and Edo. The party also prevailed in several by-elections in Sokoto, Cross River, Taraba and Rivers states.”

Secondus also confirmed that the party was reviewing the 2019 polls to become stronger in preparation for the 2023 poll.

He added:” In our last NEC meeting in February, some far-reaching decisions were taken, including the rationalisation of the party workforce to bring it to a realistic level as an opposition party. I wish to report that this was successfully carried out by the committee headed by Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state who did a good job and deserves commendation.

“In our last NEC meeting also, a special committee to review and appraise the 2019 general election was set up. The committee which is also headed by Governor Mohammed is already operational despite the delay caused by the COVID-19 lockdown.

“It is also necessary to bring to the attention of NEC that despite the disruptions from the COVID-19 lockdown, we have been able to conduct congresses in most of the outstanding states and frantic efforts are also on ground to resolve some disputes arising from them in few states.”

Sources said the governor had earlier flown by helicopter to the town with some top government officials.

Boko Haram terrorists on Saturday again ambushed an advance team of Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum, at Ja'alta along Gajiram to Monguno Road, killing seven soldiers and members of Civilian-JTF, security sources told SaharaReporters.

The insurgents attacked the convoy on their way to Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area as a security detail to Zulum, who is is spending two days with other government officials in the town to distribute food items to newly resettled displaced persons.

Sources said the governor had earlier flown by helicopter to the town with some top government officials.

“We were attacked by the gunmen who came with about six trucks and seven motorcycles. We engaged them but they have already destabilised.

“We had no option than to abort the trip and returned back to Maiduguri with corpses of the deceased. About seven people died immediately but two of my colleagues (soldiers) died from gunshot injuries when we got back to Maiduguri,” a soldier attached to the governor told SaharaReporters.

In all, nine security men in the advance team were killed in a fierce battle with the terrorists.

This is the third attack on the governor in Baga in three months.

Zulum’s convoy was attacked twice along the Baga Highway in September.

A splinter of Boko Haram sect, the Islamic State of West Africa Province, is believed to have a stronghold in the area.

The decade-long insurgency has killed over 50,000 people and forced over two million from their homes.

Most of the displaced are housed in squalid camps where they are fed by international charities.

Closed-Circuit Television footage of the October 20 Lekki Toll Gate shooting has shown that military, not protesters, started the fire at the area.

The footage showed that the fire started at a side of the toll gate occupied by the military.

SaharaReporters has reported that the footage showed soldiers arriving in about four vans and taking over the barricade at the toll gate after forcing the protesters to move inwards Lekki.

In the CCTV footage played at the Lagos Judicial Panel on Saturday, protesters were not near the toll gate when the fire started except military vehicles.

The video also showed protesters running towards the lagoon near the Lekki Toll Gate as they fled from the military.

The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Judicial Inquiry probing the alleged killing of #EndSARS protesters by soldiers at the Lekki tollgate on the night of October 20 on Saturday resumed the viewing of a CCTV footage submitted by the Lekki Concession Company, operators of the tollgate.

The footage showed that the scene was calm until about 6.43pm when people could be seen running towards the tollgate from the Oriental Hotel end.

Two minutes later, at 6.45pm, military trucks with flashing headlights arrived the scene. There were no fewer than seven of them.

At 6.53pm, about 10 minutes after the arrival of the military vehicles, the tollgate went into a blackout.

Two minutes later, at 6.55pm, one of the military vehicles drove through the tollgate to the other end where the crowd of protesters was gathered.

Despite the caution against distracting President Muhammadu Buhari, administration, two of his ministers are neck-deep in furthering their aspiration to occupy the Presidential Villa come 2023.

The same ministers who were implicated in the plot which led to the removal of the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, are battling for the soul of the party.

They have drawn the battle line and do not give a hoot about the APC zoning formula. Since what matters to them is the Villa seat, it is now like Macbeth: “fair is foul, foul is fair.” Sentry will soon unveil the affected ministers.

Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja



The Federal Ministry of Information and Culture has budgeted N250m for engagements with foreign media, influencers, bloggers, local media practitioners and public relations in 2021.

This is according to the 2021 budget proposal which is before the National Assembly.

According to the budget proposal, N79.2m will be spent on “quarterly interaction with foreign media and PR lobby”.

About N70.3m was also earmarked for the facilitation of ministerial media appearances for the “36 ministers, influencers and analysts on radio and television as well as social media and print media.”

The ministry also set aside N94.4m for institutional interactions with stakeholders such as Nigeria Union of Journalists, Nigeria Guild of Editors, bloggers, online publishers and weekly ministerial briefings.

Meanwhile, the ministry also earmarked N168m for touring infrastructural projects to “showcase the achievements of the Federal Government” while N75m was set aside for an opinion poll.

The ministry has also set aside N97m for the production of calendars.

Sanction CNN *laughs* But then again, it is not even funny because it is too serious a matter to allow for this comedy.

What’s really the point of the ‘Independent’ Panels of Inquiry if the @NigeriaGov @FMICNigeria have already closed their minds to information based on evidence?

The UK Parliament will hold a debate on individual sanctions against Nigerian government officials on November 23, Daily Sun has learnt.

In an email sent to one of the individuals (name withheld) who signed a petition asking the UK government to sanction those responsible for the killing of unarmed EndSARS protesters, the petitions team of the UK government and parliament said November 23 has been set aside for its parliament to debate the issue.

The email read: “Parliament is going to debate the petition you signed -’Implement sanctions against the Nigerian government and officials’. The debate is scheduled for 23 November, 2020. Once the debate has happened, we’ll email you a video and transcript.”

However, when contacted, a senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the ministry was yet to be notified about the development.

“We cannot comment on a matter yet to be brought to the attention of the government.”

Senior Advocate, Mr Femi Falana, has said there should be no hypocrisy in the United Kingdom Parliament’s decision to debate individual sanctions on government officials involved in the shooting of #EndSARS protesters in Lekki, Lagos State.

Also reacting, former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Professor Bola Akinterinwa, said the decision of the United Kingdom Parliament to debate on individual sanctions on government officials responsible for the killing of unarmed protesters in Lekki is a very welcome development.

He said at the level of the Federal Government, an impression is given that the military had not done anything wrong despite the many contradictions by the military as far as the Lekki incidence is concerned.

The debate on whether or not sanctions should be imposed on Nigerian government officials will depend on the conditions stipulated in the UK Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020, also known as the ‘Magnitsky’-style sanctions regime.

According to the UK government website, the sanctions regime targets those who have been involved in some of the gravest human rights violations and abuses around the world.

The regulations put in place sanctions measures to deter and provide accountability for activities, which if carried out by or on behalf of a state within the territory of that state would amount to a serious violation by that state of an individual’s right to life, right not to be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, right to be free from slavery, not to be held in servitude or required to perform forced or compulsory labour.

The UK government said so far, 49 individuals and organisations involved in some of the most notorious human rights violations and abuses in recent years have been designated for sanctions under the powerful new regime.

The UK’s first wave of sanctions under this new regime targeted 25 Russian nationals involved in the mistreatment and death of auditor Sergei Magnitsky, who uncovered widespread Russian corruption by a group of Russian tax and police officials; 20 Saudi nationals involved in the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi; two high-ranking Myanmar military generals involved in the systematic and brutal violence against the Rohingya people and other ethnic minorities, two organisations involved in the forced labour, torture and murder that takes place in North Korea’s gulags.

Nigerians on social media on Wednesday dragged the Federal government and Nigeria Broadcasting Commission after CNN released its findings from an independent investigation carried out on the October 20 shooting incident at the Lekki tollgate.

Footage released by CNN showed that soldiers shot at the End SARS protesters who had gathered at the tollgate to press home their demands to end SARS as well as police brutality.

CNN also tracked the bullets shells seen at the scene of the massacre which showed that they were purchased by the Federal government from Serbia in 2005.


The global cable network in its investigation spoke with a man, Elisha Sunday, whose brother, Victor, was killed during the October 20th shooting incident amid Federal Government’s claims of ”No casualties.”

Following the development, Nigerians took to social media to drag the Buhari led government over their inability to fully sanction the culprits behind the massacre.

While some applauded the international media house for carrying out a detailed investigation of the incident and making revelations, others mocked the Federal Government and the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission saying they have no powers to sanction CNN over its detailed investigation.

The reactions gathered by DAILY POST from socail media were mostly against the Nigerian government.

@Neferitti,” NBC slammed N3m on ARISE TV, for showing that same #LekkiMassaccre video, CNN has now analyzed. CNN confirmed the live rounds fired at peaceful protesters at End SARS Lekki Tollgate, were purchased from Serbia. Remember the Army claimed they only fired blank bullets in the air.”

@Ayothefirst,” The CNN documentary of the #LekkiMassaccre will make you angry at the government and Nigerian Army all over again.We expect them to dispute this and label it fake news as usual. Don’t forget anything the government labels “fake news” is the undiluted truth.”

@WaleAdetona,” If you watch that CNN video, you’ll be amazed at how they were able to track the bullets to the Nigerian Army firearms purchase from Serbia.”

@DocOlufimayo,”Lekki massacre was 20/10/2020. The CNN investigation came out to the public 18/11/2020. They contacted the Nigerian Army and Lagos Govt to give it to them- they were turned down. In <4weeks, foreign media gave us the truth with evidence- ahead of the govt. What a disgrace.”

NEWS: End SARS: CNN staff must be sanctioned for investigation on Lekki shooting - Activist
@Ayemojubar,” Lt. Gen. Taiwo lied confidently under OATH! I’ll say it again, these people have no soul.“

@TopeAkinyode,” The Nigerian government opened live ammunition on harmless citizens who held the flag & sang the national anthem. Victims were denied medical attention & some gave up the ghost. The is the truth. The CNN report & social media rescued us from Lai Mohammed.“

@Pastorola,” CNN investigation hella accurate they even traced the bullets found to the Serbia where Nigeria bought it from. Nigeria is so deep-rooted in mediocrity and inaptness that one army spokesman said “IG live was photoshopped.I love how CNN exposed them with proof.”

@Africanactioncongress,” With this revelation thorough investigation by the CNN on the LekkiMassaccre of #EndSARS protesters on 20:10:20 , the best thing @MBuhari would have done is to resign immediately but @OfficialAPCNg is a shameless party filled with people without conscience. Justice must prevail!”

@onlykwaffy,” The CNN investigation have laid to rest every contentious issue about the #LekkiMassaccre of END SARS protesters. Anybody who tries to drive a narrative that our heroes weren’t shot dead by the leprous government should be stoned to death.”
@Adetola,” Forensic evidence of bullet casings used by Nigerian army indicate they used live rounds. After the army withdrew, a second round of shooting by Police happened later in the evening. CNN investigation on #LekkiMassaccre with evidence, bodies & witnesses.”

The Ebonyi State Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Chika Nwoba, has resigned his position.

Nwoba in a statement on Monday expressed gratitude to the APC and its leaders for finding him worthy to be elected to the position in 2018, at the age of 27.

He told our correspondent in a telephone interview that he was leaving the APC because, “I cannot work with Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi.”

In a related development, the Chairman of the Ebonyi State chapter of the Action Peoples Party, Chinedum Elekwachi, has dumped the party and joined the Peoples Democratic Party.

Elekwachi, disclosed this to newsmen, in Abakaliki, on Tuesday. According to him, he took the decision after consultations with his family, friends, associates and political mentors.

Lufthansa, Air France/KLM have been given the approval to operate international flights into Nigeria.

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, made the disclosure in a tweet on Tuesday.

Sirika also added that Qatar Airways has been granted approval to resume flights to Abuja.

The Minister hinted at the possibility of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Port Harcourt International Airport and Enugu Airport accommodating foreign travellers before year end.

The tweet read, “We are working with Ministry of Health, CACOVID & The PTF to open Kano, Port Harcourt & possibly Enugu airports before the end of the year. Also Lufthansa, Air France/KLM have been given go-ahead to resume. Qatar Airways is approved to start Abuja. Thank you for your patience.”

In September, the Nigerian government barred some airlines from entering the West African nation as it resumed international flights operations.

The airlines include Air France, KLM Royal Dutch, Lufthansa, Etihad Airways, RwandAir, Air Namibia, Royal Air Maroc and TAAG Angola.

Some of the airlines were denied permission to enter because Nigerians with tourist visas have been banned from entering those countries. The ones that fell under this category were: Air France, KLM Royal Dutch, Lufthansa and Etihad Airways.

Murphy Ganagana

Speculations on moves to push for an extension of service beyond the retirement date for the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has drawn the flak of legal practitioners as confusion pervades at the Louis Edet House Force Headquarters, Abuja.

Adamu, who attains both the mandatory retirement age of 60 and 35 years in service on February 1, 2021, was expected to proceed on terminal leave on November 1, in accordance with the provisions of the amended Police Act 2020. He has, however, remained in office amidst reports of efforts to secure a presidential grant for extension of his service for a minimum period of six months.

However, strong indications have emerged on the possibility of a legal battle over plot as some legal practitioners have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to resist acting in breach of the new Police Act asserting that its provisions on retirement age for police personnel as well as appointment and tenure of the IGP was unambiguous and mandatory.

Dr. Kayode Ajulo, rights activist and managing partner of Abuja-based Castle of Law, in an interview with Daily Sun, urged Buhari to clear the prevailing uncertainty among personnel of the police by upholding the sanctity of the law.

Ajulo, former national secretary of the Labour Party and Executive Chairman of a non-governmental organisation, Egalitarian Mission Africa (EMA) warned that once there is a breach of the rule of law on the policed act, there would be stagnation and uncertainty.

“I know this and I will never canvas for an extension of tenure or service for anyone because an extension violates the law. What makes this law novel is that it was just this year the president assented to it. If he knew that he wanted to extend the tenure of the IGP, then why did he assent to it? It is like urinating on the Act itself. It will amount to urinating on an Act he graciously used a presidential order to endorse.”

In the same vein, Silas Onu, Convener of Open Bar Initiative (OBI), body of lawyers interested in good governance, rule of law and promotion of human rights in Nigeria, said Section 18( of the Police Act 2020 was very explicit and should be effectively implemented.

“It says every police officer shall on recruitment or appointment, serve the Nigeria Police Force for a period of 35 years or until he attains the age of 60 years, whichever is earlier. It means you cannot serve for a day more than 35 years in the police, it also means you cannot serve for a day more than when you are 60 years old. This is the law and the operational word is shall, which makes it a mandatory provision. It is an interesting thing because it is the same provision you have in the civil service rule. We are in a constitutional democracy. When you have a law that is explicit, Mr. President or any other authority cannot go against the law, cannot override or undermine it because we are all under the law. The president is not above the law, the National Assembly is not above the law, members of the Police Council are not above the law. So I do not see any legal basis that anybody will be looking for an extension. Under the law, there is no such basis, except we want to become a lawless country, using our police force which is a law enforcement agency as a basis for lawlessness,” he said.

Former commissioner of police in the Federal Capital Territory, Lawrence Alobi, however, said there was nothing wrong if President Buhari granted an extension of service to IGP Adamu in view of his performance. He contended that the new Police Act did not strip the president of his discretionary powers on appointments.

“The Act did not in any way extinguish the discretionary powers of the President. the Act does not affect the present IG because he did not come to power under this Act,” he said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) and Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba said he was not competent to speak on the issue.

“I am not a competent person to speak on issues relating to the tenure, succession and appointment of the IGP. The leadership of the Force is concentrating on fighting crime and delivering to Nigeria a public space that is free of crime and violence. That is what we are paying attention to,” he said in a telephone interview yesterday.