₦airaland Forum

A faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, led by Jude Okeke, on Monday, expressed the fears that the Independent National Electoral Commission might exclude the party from the Anambra governorship election slated for November 6.

The Publicity Secretary of the Okeke-led faction of the party, Ikechukwu Chukwunyere, stated this in Abuja while addressing journalists on the development within the party.

The group accused the Victor Oye-led faction of the party of alleged refusal to submit the statutory 21 days notice on the Special Ward Congress to the Commission.

Chukwunyere specifically said the Oye faction did not duly notify INEC on the plan to hold ward congresses ahead of the governorship poll within the 21 days recommended by its regulations and Section 85 of the Electoral Act.

The Publicity Secretary, who distributed copies of the INEC letter confirming the non-receipt of APGA’s 21 days notification, said the Electoral umpire had communicated its position on the matter to the Okeke’s faction in two separate letters.

In one of the letters, obtained by our correspondent, the commission addressed his position to the principal counsel of a law firm, Omas and Partners, who had earlier written and asked for the information while relying on the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.

The letter dated June 18, 2021 and signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, read, “This is to inform you that the commission did not receive the statutory 21 days’ notice for the nomination of APGA Anambra State governorship candidate from Victor Oye led APGA.

“Accordingly, the commission did not monitor the said ward congress and as such, there is no monitoring report of the Commission.”

The second letter, also signed by Oriaran-Anthony, and addressed to the National Chairman of APGA also read, “Please refer to your letter dated June 16, 2021 forwarding the list of delegates for the nomination of APGA’s Governorship Candidate in the forthcoming Anambra State Governorship Election.

“This is to notify you that the records of the Commission indicate that APGA did not duly notify the Commission of the date of the Congress where the ad hoc delegates were elected as required by Section 85 of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended)

“Accordingly the Commission is unable to confirm if the Ad hoc Delegates list submitted by your party is the outcome of a democratic process as required by Section 87(7) of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended).

“The Commission wishes to emphasize the need for full compliance with all legal requirements for the conduct of Party Primaries as earlier communicated in the Commissions letter to your Party dated 37 June 2021 (REF: INEC/DEPM/UPPM/119/1/37).”

Chukwunyere alleged that the two letters by INEC have therefore rendered APGA’s governorship primary being proposed for Wednesday, June 23, as an exercise in futility because “the use of invalid delegate list will exclude the party from the election.”

Chukwunyere further alleged that the Okeke faction remains the only option and hope for APGA to have a candidate in the Anambra Governorship Election since it had dully submitted all the notices.

Chukwunyere said, “We are aware of the position of INEC on this matter. As disheartening as it is, there is still hope for the party.

“Although the Oye faction had missed the issuance of statutory notice, all hope is not lost if the party backs the Okeke faction.”

“This is because the Okeke faction has served all valid notices for the APGA primary in Anambra. It is important to join hands with the faction now if the party must take part in the election,” he added.

Edo State Government has demolished a hotel reportedly belonging to one of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s loyalists, Mr. Victor Ighile, popularly known as Mojo. The hotel located at Adeyan Street, GRA, Benin, was almost completed, before it was brought down. “Mojo is one of the key supporters of Governor Obaseki.

Mojo spent his personal money running into millions of naira to ensure the re-election of the governor. “Mojo is one of the major sponsors and influencers of Governor Obaseki’s home and Diasporan loyalists.

“We had expected that Governor Obaseki would find a way to compensate Mojo. Little did we know that his hotel would be demolished by Governor Obaseki whom he worked hard for during his second term campaigns,” a sympathiser said.

Another sympathiser, who also did not want his name in print, described demolition as disheartening.

He said: “Edo people are surprised and still in shock that the governor could do this to his strong supporter.” At press time, the government and the owner of the hotel could not be reached for comments on the matter.

For allegedly fraternising with the South West Agenda for 2023 (SWAGA), a political platform rooting for the Presidential aspiration of the former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress, Ekiti chapter, has again suspended two members of the party.

The two, Messrs Kayode Adetifa and Jide Oso, are APC members in Ward 9, Owaye quarters in Ayede Ekiti, Oye local government area of the state.

Most troubling was the fact that this came barely two months after the Chairman of Ward 8, Ado Ekiti Local government, Mr. Clement Afolabi, was suspended over similar offence.
The Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, is reportedly nursing presidential ambition.

The suspension contained in two separate letters, was signed by the ward executives, including: Abejide Sola (Chairman), Bamisayo Abigeal (Women Leader), Oladipo Adekunle (Youth Leader), Fayemi Apeke (Secretary), and Oloruntoba Bosede(Treasurer).

The letters dated May 31, 2021, stated : “We noted from your activities in the party in the recent past that you have been working against the unity of the party even to the extent of creating a parallel ward that you named “SWAGA” within the ward .

“You sent in confirmation of your action through Mr. Jide Oso, a former ward chairman on 16th May, 2021 to the ward that you have created another venue for this purpose .

“You as well was invited to the general Executive and leaders’ meeting on 20th May, 2021 to explain your action and you confirmed that the message of Mr Jide Oso was sent by you as his principal and that you would not stop your parallel meeting for any reason.

“In view of the above reasons the general executive of the ward met 27th May, 2021 and decided to suspend for running against the party (APC) Constitution till further notice”, it reads.

Responding, the APC Publicity Secretary, Hon. Ade Ajayi, said the two were disciplined by party leaders for factionalising the party, saying the suspension has nothing to do with SWAGA.

Ajayi, who is also from Ayede Ekiti, said the report from the Ward indicated that the two were defying party’s orders and dividing the party through their actions

“They were not suspended because of SWAGA. But they have been dividing the party and all efforts to rein them in failed.

“They were invited to defend themselves, they confirmed it and party supremacy had to come to play. Nobody is bigger than the party”, he said.

The Police Command in Ekiti State, on Thursday, said it has arrested a 65-year-old man, Durodola Ogundele for allegedly raping his stepmother twice.

Mr Sunday Abutu, the command’s Spokesperson, disclosed this in a statement in Ado-Ekiti.

According to Abutu, Ogundele was arrested on Wednesday by the Ido-Osi Divisional Headquarters of the command after committing the act.

He reported that the suspect had, on June 15, allegedly had canal knowledge of his 85-year-old stepmother in her room.

Abutu explained that Ogundele is a son to the victim’s late husband.

According to him, the suspect on the fateful day entered the victim’s room to assist her in applying herbal medicine on her legs to ease her pain.

“The victim alleged that after applying the herbal medicine on her legs, the suspect forcefully had sexual intercourse with her twice,” Abutu said.

He said the Ekiti police commissioner, Mr Tunde Mobayo, had ordered that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for proper investigation.

The spokesman said the suspect would be charged to court accordingly if found culpable.

Police arrest Bauchi woman, teenage daughter for maltreating step children

Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday pre-empted a change in the party’s national leadership by tacitly giving Mai Mala Buni a nod to continue as interim chairman, TheCable understands.

Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, camps within APC are seeking control of the leadership, with moves for a national convention to elect a new national working committee (NWC) being pursued by some of the interested candidates.

TheCable learnt that one of the presidential hopefuls had been canvassing the dissolution of the caretaker/extraordinary planning committee (CECPC), which was appointed in June 2020 after the dissolution of the Adams Oshiomhole-led NWC.

CECPC’s six-month tenure was extended for another six months in December 2020.

It was expected that the committee would be dissolved to pave the way for a substantive NWC, but the majority of the governors are still backing Buni’s interim leadership.

Oshiomhole was close to Bola Tinubu, the former governor of Lagos who is believed to be eyeing presidency in 2023.

Tinubu is said to be rooting for Tanko Al-Makura, former governor of Nasarawa state, as the next chairman of the party.

However, the governors passed what could be called “a vote of confidence” on the CECPC led by Buni, governor of Yobe state and former national secretary of the party.

The governors commended the Buni-led CECPC for doing a “wonderful job” so far by stabilising the party.

Buni was also commended by the governors for attracting serving and former governors, as well as senators and members of house of reps, into the party.

They resolved to “encourage” the leadership to continue its strides “in piloting the party to its next level”, a source at the meeting told TheCable.

The governors were non-committal on the push for a national convention, saying instead that the national executive committee (NEC) — the party’s highest decision-making organ — could be convened to discuss it if necessary.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has created an additional 54, 873 polling units, thus bringing the total number of polling units in the country to 176,846.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who announced this at a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja on Wednesday, said this was coming 25 years after the last polling units were created by the military.

Prof. Yakubu explained that the new polling units were created by converting existing voting points and voting points settlements, to full pledged polling units.
He also announced the abolition of voting points in the country.

Nigeria had a total of 119, 973 polling units before the new creations.

THERE are indications that the Court of Appeal judgement, earlier scheduled for today (Wednesday), in the case brought before it by the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2020 Ondo State governorship election, Eyitayo Jegede, against the election of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, may be shifted.

The Appeal Court in the Akure Division, two weeks ago, had reserved the verdict for Wednesday, June 16.

Vanguard gathered that some interested personalities are pressuring the three-man panel, headed by Justice Theresa Orji-Abadua, to shift the verdict date.

Counsels to Jegede, led by Onyeachi Ikpeazu, SAN, had, in their briefs, said that Governor Akeredolu and his Deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, should be removed from office because they were wrongly nominated by the APC.

However, Akeredolu’s counsel, the APC and that of INEC, Messrs Akin Olujimi, Lateef Fagbemi and Charles Edosanmwon, in response punctured all the arguments of Jegede’s counsel submitting that the case was a pre-election matter and should be dismissed forthwith.

However, a top politician in the state told Vanguard that the move to shift the date, from Wednesday, was coming on the heels of an allegation that a Federal Minister, in conjunction with a serving governor from the Northeastern part of the country, has been mounting pressure on the panel.

“A senior member of the Bench from the North-West is said to be the liaison between the trio led by the minister and another member of the Appeal panel. It is not clear if the chairman, Justice Orji-Abadua has been reached to effect the postponement,” the source said

The source claimed that “the move to ‘arrest’ the judgment came after series of alleged meetings between the national leadership of the umbrella body of Fulani cattle breeders, Miyetti Allah and the North-East governor who is believed to be close to the PDP governorship candidate, Eyitayo Jegede.

Also, a top member of Miyetti Allah has expressed concern over the continued stay in office of Akeredolu and was alleged to be against the interest of the Fulani ethnic nationality, saying: “Nigeria belongs to all Nigerians and the way the Ondo State governor is going, he is against the Fulani people and their safety is not guaranteed under him at all.

“How can such a man that benefited from the Fulani to become governor set up what he calls Amotekun to be tormenting us? Did we make a mistake to support him against our own man who had spent all his life in Fulani territory in Adamawa, someone who can speak our Fulfude language in the 2020 election?

“If we made a mistake, we are now going to correct that mistake by partnering with someone we understand and who knows us better to be there. Or is it not when Akeredolu is governor that he can threaten the unity of this country by asking some people to leave a place in Nigeria?”

The source recalled that governor Akeredolu, as the chairman of the South West Governors Forum, spearheaded the establishment of the South West Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, along with Southern governors, who he also leads, banned open grazing in the southern part of the country.

We’re optimistic Jegede’ll win—Ondo PDP

Contacted on the allegation, the Ondo Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kennedy Peretei, said: “It is not true, nothing like that from our camp here.

“It is the APC and Akeredolu camp that are trying to mount pressure on the Panel through the CJN. But we believe in the judges, they are capable and will do justice accordingly. We don’t need to put pressure on the judges to postpone the judgement.

We’re not inclined to discussing verdict date shift, says Ondo Govt

The Ondo State Information and Orientation Commissioner, Donald Ojogo, in his reaction said: “We don’t want to subscribe to the fact that any minister, who is a member of the APC, would want to cut corners to undermine and possibly unseat Akeredolu because of the views he holds strongly on national issues.

“There is nothing personal in whatever the governor has said. To remove an APC governor and enthrone PDP and achieve what? I doubt if it can ever happen, the Nigerian Judiciary is not that low and it cannot start with this.

“As regards whether or not the date would be shifted is at the discretion of the Panel which comprises eminent and distinguished jurists. We are not inclined to discussing that.”

We don’t support any candidate—Miyetti Allah

Ondo State chairman of Miyetti Allah, Alhaji Garuba Bello, on his part said: “That is a big lie. Miyetti Allah cannot say we don’t want a particular governor. No one can make that kind of decision in Miyetti Allah, even from the national level to state level.”

Tension

Meanwhile, there is palpable tension in both camps as chieftains of both parties have held several meetings ahead of the verdict.

The Election Tribunal had earlier dismissed the petition filed by Jegede against Akeredolu for want of Jurisdiction and lack of merit.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, on Monday, said some people were disappointed to have seen his principal, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), ‘real life’ in interviews and broadcast last weekend.

Shehu said this on NTA’s ‘Good Morning Nigeria’ programme monitored by The PUNCH.

Buhari had last week featured in interviews aired on Arise TV and NTA. The President also visited Lagos State last Thursday and inaugurated some projects. He also delivered a Democracy Day Speech on June 12.

When asked whether the president’s interviews and speeches last week allayed the doubt of Nigerians on whether the president is in control or not, Shehu said, “Yes, he has always been (in control) but there has been misperception and propaganda.

“By his own personal style, President Buhari is not too forward and he has not been frontal on many aspects. It is certainly not a sign of lack of effectiveness or that one is not in charge.

“People had yearned for him to speak to Nigerians and they have advocated for this including the national parliament, passing resolutions and there he was speaking as President Buhari, nothing artificial about him.

“The largest section of Nigerians are satisfied and happy to having seen the president animated, real life, capable and exuding that confidence and capability to govern well but that obviously would have disappointed some people, who in their view, nothing good can come out of an administration in which they are not a part of.”

Bauchi Governor, Sen. Bala Mohammed has appointed Dr. Aminu Gamawa as Chief of Staff

Violence broke out at mega rally of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano on Saturday.

The rally, which was organised to welcome former governorship candidate of the Green Party of Nigeria (GPN), A. A. Zaura and other decampees into APC, is taking place at Sabongari area of Kano metropolis.

However, while Rt Hon Hamisu Chidari, Speaker of Kano state House of Assembly, was giving his goodwill message, some of the party members in attendance started exchanging blows.

The incident almost disrupted the rally as people fled in different directions.

June 12, 2021

Press Statement

June 12: PDP Condemns APC, Buhari’s Clampdown on Peaceful Protesters

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemns, in the strongest term ever, the violent clampdown by agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Muhamamdu Buhari on Nigerians who are peacefully protesting on Democracy Day.

The party describes the brutal clampdown on citizens on Democracy Day as a sacrilegious demonstration of APC’s aversion to democracy as well as its barefaced repugnance towards Nigerians, particularly in their demands for their rights.

It is awkward that the APC and President Buhari, who were allowed their freedom when they protested in 2014, would turn around to subject Nigerians to actions of inhumanity including the use of firearms against the people, as being witnessed today.

It is instructive to note that President Buhari, in his supposed Democracy Day address, failed to rein in his security operatives despite the cautions by the PDP. This places the culpability for whatever befalls Nigerians, in the face of the violent attacks by security agencies, on the APC as well as Mr. President's desk.

The PDP is not surprised that in his over 20 minutes speech, Mr. President never made any commitment towards upholding the democratic tenets of free speech, freedom of expression, freedom of association and right to peaceful protest, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution and our statutes, from which he, as APC candidate, drew huge benefit in 2014.

Our party is cataloguing all the infringements which the APC and President Buhari are rudely imposing on Nigerians and we urge all global democratic institutions to take note of the violent infringements and clampdown on democracy in Nigeria by the APC.

The National Association of Nigerian Students, Zone D (South-West), has dissociated itself from a statement by the National President, Sunday Asefon, which announced the suspension of a protest planned for June 12.

The NANS President had announced the suspension of the protest in a statement titled, ‘NANS Suspends June 12 Protest Over Concerns About Safety Of Protesters And Fear Of Possible Hijack By Politicians – Comrade Sunday Asefon.’

He said, “Having considered the current security realities and the danger to the lives of our members in case of possible hijack of the planned protest, I in consultation with all the structures of NANS, therefore, announce the suspension of our proposed protest for June 12.”

However, NANS Zone D, in a statement titled, ‘June 12 Protest; Sunday Asefon On His Own As Students’ Structure Are Prepared To Storm The Streets,’ said Asefon didn’t speak on behalf of the Association.

The statement was signed by the Coordinator, NANS Zone D, Kowe Odunayo Amos; and Secretary-General, NANS Zone D, Giwa Yisa Temitope.

It read, “It is most pathetic to read the statement issued by the President of NANS, Sunday Asefon calling for the cancellation of the June 12 protest which had been planned for and which has had preparations at top-gear for the execution of such. In fact, it must be put in proper perspective that the statement was issued in his personal capacity as the President of NANS and not on behalf of the association, hence, it does not reflect the position of Nigerian students because no consultation was made before such statement was issued. And, it is to this end he was careful enough to have made use of the first-person singular throughout the cause of writing the statement.

“It should be noted that just yesterday, while Sunday Asefon was busy mouthing the government’s position, students and staff of Kaduna Polytechnic were being kidnapped.

“As we all know, June 12 is an annual ritual in the country to remember the day the peoples’ right to freely elect their leader was buried. In fact, the day is not about MKO Abiola or any personality as such, but, about the Nigerian people as a whole. And, it is important to state categorically that the essence of tomorrow’s agitation is to show our dissatisfaction as an association against the rising insecurity in the country, the increased inflation rate, peoples’ inability to access health care amongst others and to also call on the government of the day to do more in securing the people of the country.”

“In fact, if some persons somewhere are going around with the tag #BuhariMustGo, that does not mean that they have the capacity to send him out of the Presidential Villa which he presently occupies. Buhari can only be sent packing through an impeachment process on the floor of the National Assembly. So, rather than suspend an agitation because of the activity of some hoodwinked persons, we are duty-bound as an association to come out and clearly state what our position as an association is on the protest that had been called. And, if at all the NANS President has the interests of Nigerian students at heart, he should have used the occasion of his meeting with the IGP to demand the adequate provision of security personnel to protect students during the cause of the protest which is actually the duty of the Police. As an association, we are not preaching Buhari must go, we believe in one Nigeria but, the current challenges confronting us, security-wise is not encouraging.

“As a Zone, we totally dissociate ourselves from the statement of the NANS President and call on SU bodies throughout the South West campuses to maintain the mobilisation which is on the ground. June 12 day of action is sacrosanct and we shall never for any reason succumb to blackmail of any sort. Our agitation is strictly a call for the Federal Government to abide by the social contract willingly entered into with the Nigerian people.”

Today marks one week since Twitter was blocked in Nigeria. We have informed the Nigerian government that we are ready to meet for an open discussion to address mutual concerns and see the service restored.

We remain advocates for the free and #OpenInternet everywhere. #KeepitOn

The Delta State Police Command led by CP Ari Muhammad Ali has said it will not allow miscreants to disturb the peace of the state, warning residents against any planned protests in the State on June 12.

The police chief handed down the warning in a statement signed by the Acting Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe.

Ali noted that the protest is being staged by criminally minded individuals hiding under the guise of peaceful protest thereby causing havoc in the State.

The statement read, “He will not allow any miscreant to distort the already existing peace in the State.

“Members of the public, particularly residents of Delta State are to be aware that on no account should any group be seen, gathering or carrying placards in the name of protest, as such will not be allowed in the state.

“Officers and men of the command have been placed on red alert and have been ordered to arrest and deal decisively with any criminally minded elements who wish to go against this order.

“The command is more than ever willing to go after any miscreant who might be found wanting.”

CP Ali also urged members of the public to partner with the police to see that those who try to bring disunity in the State and Nigeria be arrested and brought to book.

“Also, it is pertinent to state that undercover police detectives have been deployed across the state for the purpose of arresting any person or persons staging any form of protest.

“The command is committed to maintain and sustain the peace the state is currently enjoying,” the statement read.

The Kogi State Government has warned those planning to protest in the State on Saturday, June 12, to jettison the idea or face the full wrath of the law.

The State Security Adviser, Commodore Jerry Omodara, gave the warning on Friday while briefing newsmen on the proposed nationwide protest by some aggrieved individuals in the country.

Omodara noted that information at the government’s disposal revealed that no group of persons have indicated interest to protest in any part of the State.

According to him, there is no reason for anyone to come out and protest in the state, adding that residents should go about their daily activities without fear or intimidation; stressing that whoever that protest in the State will have him or herself to blame.

Omodara maintained that Kogi State under the leadership of Gov. Yahaya Bello will not allow anyone to disrupt the peace the people are enjoying in the State; adding that the State Government would do all it can to maintain the prevailing peaceful atmosphere that exists.

His words: “Available data before us has shown that Kogi is the safest State in Nigeria. As we feel the pulse of the nation, we narrow it to Kogi. The pulse of the nation right now is that there are so many online reports of a nationwide protest on June 12th 2021.

“We have looked at it, and we have done our check through the Commissioner of Police, and there is no association, group or individuals that have applied for permission to protest, or carry out any walk. The police have not granted any permission.

“I have cross checked with other security agencies, and we have seen that as a government, there is no reason for anyone to come out in Kogi or in any part of the State to protest on Saturday June 12.

“It is a known fact that the State has remained peaceful. When it was Covid-19 time, the government did not shut down the State. We continued with our legitimate business. When it was the time for EndSARS the Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello came out to support the youths but the State didn’t join the EndSARS protest. This is because the government is with the people. If we are enjoying unlimited security in the State compared to what we are seeing in other parts of the country, it is important we give peace a chance.

“I have also crosscheck with the student body and they met with the Commissioner of Police on Wednesday and they stated categorically that they won’t be part of the protest. Any youth we see tomorrow Saturday coming out to protest should have himself to blame. The governor is not going to allow anyone to disrupt the peace we are enjoying in Kogi State.

He however urged parents to warn their children and wards to give peace a chance, adding that the responsibility of the government is to continue to fight insecurity.

“It is not that the challenges we are having in other States are not feeling it here, but the government is making a serious effort to nip them before they emanate. Just three days ago, three suspects with army uniform came out in Ajaokuta Local Government, the security agency came out and confronted them, and they brought them down.

”The Government will keep on appreciating what the people of Kogi State are doing. Giving us relevant information, as well as supporting the security agencies will go a long way in combating insecurities. Let no one obstruct businesses, or obstruct movement of people. This is a warning. I have instructed the security agencies. If you see them patrolling, don’t be afraid. They are only going out to keep peace. People should continue their normal businesses” he added.

The Chief Imam of the Nasrul-lahi-li Fathi Society of Nigeria (NASFAT), Abdul Azeez Onike, says Islam supports underage marriage.

He, however, noted that the religion did not support such marriage if it exposes the wife to dangers.

Onike, who doubles as NASFAT chief missioner, stated this in Lagos at a press conference and campaign to halt violence against women and girls in the country.

The campaign, ‘Ending Violence Against Women and Girls,’ was organised by NASFAT with support from UNICEF under EU-UN Spotlight.

According to NASFAT’s boss, what matters in a marriage is the couple’s ability to shoulder their marital responsibilities.

Onike insisted that the Islamic scripture was clear about marriage instead of using contemporary standards to determine it.

“Self-evident truth is what the scripture says in this regard. If medically a child, because of age, is exposed to sexually transmitted infections, death at childbirth, such marriage is unjust,” stated the NASFAT leader.

He pointed out, “As a person, you must be seen to be promoting mercy and any form of violence against women and girls. God frowns at it.

“The women around us should be cherished and protected in all that we do as a people, for without them, humanity is threatened.”

Onike charged the campaigners to work hard to ensure that violence against girls and women is eliminated in society.

The lead project officer for NASFAT-UNICEF-EU-UN Spotlight Initiative, Ganiyat Babalola, who declared open the campaign, said that violence against women and the girl child was the responsibility of all to stop.

Babalola described the high rate of domestic violence against women in society as alarming.

She added, “By speaking out, help will definitely come, and through such the menace will fizzle out.

“As an organisation, we are working in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, the Nigeria Police, and others to ensure that culprits contended with the law of the land.”

She further explained, “Although, there are challenges in prosecuting offenders as some victims are under family and societal pressure not to come up with information that will nail persons charged.”

Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, has dissolved his cabinet.

Besides the Commissioners relieved of their appointments, the dissolution affects the secretary to the state government (SSG), chief of staff to the governor and some special advisers.

The governor in a statement made available to journalists through his special adviser on media, Muktar Gidado, said the decision is with immediate effect.

The ban on Twitter is not only illegal but it is also an ill-advised move to divert the attention of Nigerians from the FG’s failure to tackle insecurity in parts of the country. It amounts to suppression of fundamental human rights and gagging of social media.

A mysterious fire has engulfed the Federal Secretariat complex along Okpanam Road in Asaba, Delta State capital.

At the moment, the raging inferno seems to have overwhelmed the fire fighting machinery stationed at the complex.

Even the state fire service is not up to the task of putting out the fire.

But our correspondent learnt that a reinforcement is being mobilised from the fire service at Asaba Airport to help contain the situation.

The cause of the fire which reportedly started at the early hours of Tuesday is yet to be established.

The secretariat complex houses most annex offices of Federal ministries, departments and agencies in the state.

The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has announced the immediate suspension of tinted vehicle windscreens in Nigeria.

The IGP announced this on Monday during a meeting with senior police officers including DIGs and Commissioners from across the states.

While making the announcement, he reiterated that roadblocks remain prohibited in the country and warned that heads of commands must enforce it and key into the road patrol strategy as an alternative to roadblocks.

The Police in Delta State have killed six suspected armed robbers and kidnappers in a gun duel at Isseluku-Umunede axis of Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, just as hoodlums burnt down Ashaka Police Station on Sunday morning.

In a statement by the Acting Police Public Relations Officer of Delta State Command, DSP Bright Edafe said the incident of the killed six armed robbers occurred at about 2:35pm of on Saturday.

He explained that acting on a tip off, the commissioner of police, Delta state, deployed joint tactical teams of the command who stormed the hideout of the suspected armed robbers/kidnappers, engaged the hoodlums in a serious gun duel, and six of them were killed, while others fled with gun shot injuries into the bush.

He noted that one AK47 rifle, one pump action gun, one AK47 Magazine with 25 live ammunition were recovered.

In another development, armed men numbering about twenty stormed Ashaka police station at the early hours of on Sunday and burnt down Ashaka Police Public.

The police PRO in a statement said the hoodlums threw IEDS at the station, shot sporadically, and set the police station that was built by the community and DESOPADEC ablaze and also burnt down one patrol vehicle.

He noted in the statement that no life was lost and no arm was taken away. He assured that despite the onslaught on police by, they will not relent in ensuring that law and order is maintained in any community.

“Unprovoked attacks on the police will not deter the police from providing the needed security in any community in Delta state. The hoodlums who perpetrated this dastardly act will certainly not go free, as serious efforts are on to arrest them and bring them to book”, it added.

Also on Saturday at about 9:30pm, men of Delta State Command while on stop and search duty along Patani-Bayelsa road intercepted A Sienna bus with Reg. No. LSR 813 XL with four occupants, on sighting the police, they quickly tried to maneuver in a bid to escape.

“But the police went after them, on searching the vehicle, one locally made Barretta Pistol was recovered, and four suspects namely, Efe Oyenikoro ‘m’ Felix George ‘m’ Emmanuel Job ‘m’ Joan Yapiteghe ‘m’ were arrested.

Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), says the decision of the Federal Government to suspend Twitter shows that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has suspended Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution.

Falana said this during a chat with The PUNCH shortly after the Federal Government announced that it had suspended Twitter indefinitely.

The human rights lawyer argued that the suspension is also at variance with the Freedom of Information Act which seeks to expand information and access to it.

The senior advocate said he was sure that Buhari’s regime would soon ban international news networks like CNN, BBC and Al Jazeera.

Falana said, “This act has confirmed the suspension of Chapter IV of the constitution. Very soon, Nigerians will be restricted to NTA and the FRCN as the only source of information. Media like Channels TV and others have been fined for embarrassing the government and they may be proscribed soon.

“The decision of the NBC to impose fines on media houses based on an illegally amended code of the Broadcasting Code. It is a rehearsal of the imminent proscription of local media organisations that publish anything considered defamatory or seditious by the government.

“With what has happened to Twitter, other media houses like CNN, BBC and Al Jazeera will also be suspended.”

It was black Friday in Awka, Anambra State as about eight children hawking wares at Kwata flyover junction in Awka, Anambra State were killed by a lorry carrying cows.

Irate youths who were irked by the development also quickly mobilized and set ablaze the lorry, including the cow, burning them to death.

A source said the accident happened when a truck which was conveying cattle to an unknown location lost its break while descending the Kwata junction slope, knocking down eight hawkers and injuring four occupants of two other SUV cars, which were all mangled.

The incident which happened about 2pm attracted irate youths, who burnt down the truck and the cattle, resisting attempts to free the cattle before setting ablaze the truck.

Our source was, however, unable to say if the driver of the truck and the truck attendant were spared.

As of the time of filling this report, irate youths have defied attempt by the Anambra State Fire Service to put off the fire on the truck.

The multiple accident has also caused traffic gridlock in many areas in Awka.

Meanwhile, there was massive shooting in the area by military personnel to disperse irate youths who stopped attempts to tow the truck off the road to make way for free flow of traffic.

The shooting in the area caused residents and even motorists to abandon their vehicles and flee for their lives.

Attempt to speak to the Anambra State Police command’s spokesperson, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga for confirmation on the actual number of casualties was not possible as his phone indicated that it was switched off.