₦airaland Forum

The publisher of Kaduna-based Desert Herald Newspaper, Tukur Mamu, has written to the Attorney General of the Federation, demanding a retraction of his profiling and designation as a terrorist financier.

This was contained in a letter dated March 25, 2024, written on his behalf by his lawyer, J.J. Usman (SAN), addressed to the Attorney General of the Federation which acknowledged copy was sighted by our correspondent in Kaduna on Tuesday.

The PUNCH reports that the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, last week released a document designating 15 entities, including nine individuals and six Bureau De Change operators and firms, as terrorism financiers.

The NFIU document was titled “Designation of Individuals and Entities for March 18, 2024.”

In the document, the NFIU named Mamu among the terrorism financiers, referencing his alleged role in the Abuja-Kaduna train attack in March 2022.

According to the document, Mamu “participated in the financing of terrorism by receiving and delivering ransom payments over the sum of $200,000 US in support of ISWAP terrorists for the release of hostages of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.”

As of July 2022, Mamu, who is now in detention, was Media Consultant to the controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi.


Last week, Gumi also faulted Mamu’s designation by the NFIU as a terrorism financier.

On Monday, the Federal Government warned Gumi against what it described as reckless statements, threatening that the Islamic cleric could be arrested.

Mamu’s counsel, in his letter to the AGF, contented that the “Nigerian Sanctions Committee lacks the statutory mandate to pronounce on, and to designate Mr. Tukur Mohammed Mamu as a Terrorist Financier.”

Consequently, according to the letter, the AGF was given a seven-day ultimatum to retract Mamu’s designation as a terrorism financier.

The lawyer questioned why the Federal Government would rush to designate Mamu as a terrorism financier when the criminal case filed against him by the AGF was still in court.

He said it was “lamentable that while the case was still pending in court, the social media was saturated by a publication allegedly emanating from and authorised by your good office.”

“As at the time of this missive, no court of competent jurisdiction in Nigeria has designated our client as such.


“It is common knowledge that the administration of the criminal justice system in Nigeria is not only antithetic to but also forbids media trial in whatever guise.

“We vehemently condemn the actions of the Nigerian Sanctions Committee same being a violation of the rule of natural justice and prejudicial to our client, who is undergoing trial, and whose trial is still pending in Suit No: FHCIABJ/CR/96/2023

“The Nigerian Sanctions Committee lacks the statutory mandate to pronounce on, and to designate Mr. Tukur Mohammed Mamu as a terrorist financier; even when it is a notorious fact that Mr. Tukur Mohammed Mamu is undergoing trial. It is so, particularly that the court has not made any pronouncement detailing him to be one.

“On the basis of the aforesaid, we demand in very clear and unequivocal terms: the immediate retraction of the said publication within seven days from the receipt of this letter dated 25th March 2024.

“Failure to comply with our client’s demand, we will have no hesitation in seeking redress in the Court of law for the ventilation of our client’s grievances.”

President Bola Tinubu said he would apologise to newspaper organisations for denying them the opportunity to generate revenue through celebratory advertorials on his 72nd birthday, which comes this Friday, March 29.

He admitted that his choice might have hurt newspapers.

The president explained his decision to forego an elaborate celebration or word of congratulations on his 72nd birthday in a statement that was released on X (previously known as Twitter) by his special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

According to him, the ceremony will not align with the current mood in the country.

“Besides, he didn’t want government agencies to use public money to place congratulatory adverts for him.

“He restated that he would rather want well-wishers to give the money to orphanages or old people’s homes.

“He acknowledged that newspapers who were expecting to make money may have been hurt. “I know they will be angry with me. But I will apologize to them later.” the statement reads.

Tinubu had in a statement issued by Onanuga on Sunday appealed to his family, friends, associates, and well-wishers not to host elaborate events on his birthday anniversary.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will turn 72 on Friday, March 29, 2024. The day will be another important milestone in his life as a leader and a statesman.

“During an auspicious occasion as this, it is customary for family members, friends, and associates to celebrate him in different ways.

“As the leader of our country, President Tinubu, in deference to these challenging times, will not host any birthday event and does not want any of his associates and numerous well-wishers across the country to organise any celebratory event on his behalf or in his name.

“President Tinubu appreciates the honour of being the leader of Africa’s leading nation at this time and he is working very hard to make life better for the generality of our people.

“According to him, because of the present mood of the nation and the recent killing of the officers and men of our army and police in Delta State and the recent spate of security breaches by criminal elements in different parts of Nigeria, there should be no form of birthday event and placing of birthday goodwill advertorial messages in newspapers. Goodwill messages should not be placed on radio and television stations either.

“President Tinubu enjoins friends and associates who may wish to place goodwill advertorials to kindly donate the money to charity organisations of their choice in his name.

“Although the President appreciates the gallantry of our Armed Forces in freeing our children kidnapped in Kuriga, Kaduna State, and in Sokoto State, he will use the opportunity of his birthday to reflect and re-dedicate himself to the task of building a more stable, more secure, virile, prosperous and united Nigeria.”

FreeStuffsNG:
“Until his escape, Nadeem Anjarwalla, who holds British and Kenyan nationalities and served as Binance’s Africa Regional Manager, was being tried by Nigerian courts.


“The suspect escaped while under a 14-day remand order by a court in Nigeria. He was scheduled to appear before the court again

Where are those naysayers and unpatriotic elements saying he will not get a red notice?
He is done for! Fugitive on the run. He was first unfortunate to work for a criminal organisation involved in money laundering and financing terrorism now unfortunate to become a fugitive on the run and on interpol list.

Mallam Ribadu will smoke him out and squeeze those involved until they sing like canary.
May God bless Nigeria for ever! Check my signature for free stuffs!

DaddyRochie1642:
The daughter looks like someone that will like sex too much, she's got an attractive dick sucking lips.

Juja residents scramble for bread and juice after a bread lorry and another juice lorry crash on Thika Road

madridguy:
I don't engage with products of baby factory.

madridguy:
Obi should go and rest. No amount of Owanbes will make you close to the Aso Rock.

helinues:
Gathering of men.

Nothing like Apc, Pdp, or LP

Politicians supporters, una see una life outside

The Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Solomon Arase, has questioned the competence of the Commissioners of Police in Delta and Imo states, following a wave of assaults against police officers in the country.

Arase, while condemning the attacks, stressed that the slain officers were also Nigerians who “deserve the support, encouragement and protection of the citizens.”

This was revealed on Sunday in a statement signed by the spokesman for the commission, Ikechukwu Ani.

The Nigeria Police Force on Saturday said six officers were killed in an ambush in Delta State by armed assailants.

“I Cannot Call My Forefathers Unwise Because I’m A Christian” -Says A Herbalist Who Is Also A Pastor0.00 / 0.00

The policemen were said to be in Delta over the disappearance of their colleagues in the Ohoro Forest.

This was followed by another attack on police operatives attached to MOPOL 18, Owerri, Imo State, where two operatives were killed on Saturday by gunmen in the Okigwe area of the state.

It was learnt that the gunmen threw dynamite at the police patrol vehicle and engaged the policemen in a gunfight along old Gariki Road.

Arase, in his statement, said “The killings in some states across the nation has become worrisome” and called on the Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, “to take another look on the capacity of state command leadership in the country.”

Arase said, “There must be consequences for these avoidable incidents,” adding that “Any state Commissioner of Police found incompetent, derelict, and operationally/tactically porous should be eased out to avoid these huge police casualties.”

“The commission wishes to condole the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Olukayode Egbetokun, on this unfortunate developments, especially at a time when all hands are supposed to be on deck to rid the nation of militancy and banditry.”

The PSC Chairman lamented that the commission had “had more than a fair share of these ugly developments in recent times and called for integrated intelligence policing.”

He “condoled the families of the slain officers and said times have come for state command commissioners to rise up to the occasion,” while he “enjoined the serving officers not to be demotivated by these ugly developments but to reenact their indomitable fighting spirit that the Force is known for to ward off this new wave of assaults.”

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria has arraigned two businessmen, Afam Ike and Steve Onyechi, before the Federal High Court in Lagos, for allegedly packaging and selling counterfeit X-Pression hair extensions/attachments.

The duo was arraigned on three counts bordering on conspiracy, repackaging, dealing in, and possessing counterfeit hair products, preferred against them by SON.

The prosecuting counsel, Mr Yusuf Lawan, told the court that the defendants, who are traders at Balogun Market, Lagos Island, were arrested with a fake ‘Rich Braid’ brand of X-Pression products on December 2, 2022.

Yusuf, an Assistant Chief State Counsel in the Federal Ministry of Justice, alleged that Ike and Onyechi imprinted a false X-Pression (Rich Braid) trademark on the counterfeit extensions. He said the aim was to deceive buyers into believing that the products were genuine attachments.

According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, 2004, and Section 1(18)(a)(ii) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 2004.

The duo, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Consequently, Justice Friday Ogazi granted them bail in the sum of N1.5m each, with two sureties each in like sum, who must be senior civil servants or landowners.

The case was adjourned till July 3, 2024, for the commencement of the trial.

‘’Rather than the military, the Civil Defence and Police (with intelligence from the Department of State Services, DSS) should be in the communities temporarily until investigations are concluded.

“The situation also requires speedy investigation and information gathering. Getting to the root of the matter is also very important, especially the actual reasons for the military’s visit to Okuama, and also identifying culprits (the killers of civilians and soldiers at Okuama) and bringing them to book to serve as a deterrent.

The state and federal governments should take steps on the above quickly and ensure law-abiding Nigerians of those communities are not made scapegoats. Punishing the innocent for crimes committed by another is injustice.”

Tinubu should identify national, N-Delta interests – Wills

Similarly, Co-convener, Embasara Foundation, an Ijaw Think-Tank for Good Governance, Iniruo Wills, said: “First, our hearts are with all grieving families. The big question is whether Nigeria even cares to avoid multiplying the number of grieving families.

‘’There are no easy answers, simply because both the federal government and the Niger Delta have found themselves in this tragic vicious circle due to a mutual poverty of quality leadership, strategy, and critical thinking, continuing for over 25 years now.

Niger Delta Leaders to FG: Pull Army out of Okuama, other Delta, Bayelsa communities




ASABA – Monarchs, retired security officers, clerics, and activists in the Niger Delta, yesterday, urged the Federal Government to direct the Army to withdraw its siege to the embattled Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State to avert losses of more lives and douse tension in the oil region.

They also asked the criminals who killed 17 military personnel and snatched their weapons on March 14 at Okuama to devise a means to return the arms and ammunition to the appropriate authorities.

The stakeholders, who observed that the Army had no business going to Okuama for peace talks over a communal dispute between two communities, suggested the Federal Government sets up an independent commission of inquiry to find out what really happened at Okuama and how to avoid a recurrence.

The leaders also advised government to withdraw soldiers from other communities in Delta and Bayelsa states. Those who spoke include the traditional ruler of Kabowei Kingdom in Delta State, HRM (Barr) Shadrach Peremobowei Erebulu, Aduo III; Wing Commander Patrick Biakpara, retd; Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Bomadi, Most Rev. Hyacinth Oroko Egbebo, and environmentalist, Comrade Alagoa Morris.

Others are the Co-convener, of Embasara Foundation, an Ijaw Think-Tank for Good Governance; Iniruo Wills; ex-Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, president, Eric Omare; and the governorship candidate of Labour Party in the last elections in Bayelsa State, Engr. Udengs Eradiri.

The Nigerian Army had since March 15, a day after the lawbreakers killed a lieutenant colonel, two majors, and others at Okuama, laid siege to the community and other neighbouring communities in search of the killers.

Villagers, including women and children, had since fled Okuama and are stranded in the forests for over a week without food, as neighbouring communities, afraid of persecution by prowling soldiers, denied them shelter.

Army has no business with peace talks– Wing Commander Biakpara, retd

Retired Air Force officer, Wing Commander P.Y. Biakpara, said: “I am a military man and there are rules of engagement. Things start from the police and it is only when the situation goes beyond the police that the army is rarely called upon. If there is any small issue, one person will run to the army checkpoint and soldiers will go there, nonsense! That means our army has nothing to do!

“I am not happy about what happened at Okuama and I sympathize with the families of the lost heroes, as well as innocent civilian lives lost in this issue. I’m not happy about the whole thing.


“The government should be well advised that they should not use the military in this wrong way, they are using the military very, very carelessly. The military is not made to make peace, and even if they make peace, they will kill people to make that peace.

“They do not negotiate to make peace. To negotiate, they call in other people, so the military is misused, and we are paying the price for misusing the military.

“Of the military that I know, losing a weapon is the worst thing and they will go after those who took their weapons till they reach the end of the earth.

“So, my advice to the perpetrators is the more you keep their weapons, the more there will be problems and the weapons should be returned, even if it means returning them in such a way that they are not properly identified, let them return the weapons.”

Return arms, ammunition– HRM Erebulu, Kabowei monarch


The Pere (traditional ruler) of Kabowei Kingdom in Patani Local Government Area, Delta State, HRM (Barr) Shadrach Peremobowei Erebulu, Aduo III, said: “It is a sad incident that we never envisaged in our dear state that has been peaceful.

“My advice first goes to the youths involved in this incident, and I plead with them to return the military weapons to the appropriate authorities because their actions have caused innocent persons to lose their lives and habitation.

“When things like this happen, most times it is not even the perpetrators that feel the impact, it is innocent people in the community that become victims.

“So, I would call on the youths that have carted away the military items to submit them to the appropriate authorities.

“To the military, I urge them to employ their tactics in investigating and fishing out these persons. I know the military has a way they go about things, their intelligence. In doing that, let them be wary of attacking or hurting innocent persons because at times like this, you may not know the perpetrators.

“If innocent persons are affected, it turns the whole ball around, so they should not cause more problems in the communities.

“To the Federal Government, almost all parastatals and agencies have spoken on this issue that they would do their best to fish out the perpetrators. My advice to government is to walk the talk, and bring the needed peace in the area.

“The Federal Government should pay attention and set up a commission of inquiry to inquire into the happenings and causes of this ugly incident in Okuama community to bring justice to the people. At this stage, when we talk about justice, it is justice to the government, military; and people, which can only be achieved after proper investigation through the commissions of inquiry.’’

Requires watchful appraisal byunbiased minds – Bishop Egbebo

Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Bomadi, Most Rev. Hyacinth Oroko Egbebo, said: “This unfortunate incident has come about as a result of several years of our people having to grapple with the painful issues of being abandoned by the government in all spheres of life.

“Although the main problem of these two communities, that is, Okuama and Okoloba, has to do with the festering issue of land grabbing by settlers, it is more because of lack of development of this region. There are no roads, electricity, health facilities, and proper schools here.

“The presence of a lively social life and modern amenities as found in other parts of Nigeria, would have profitably distracted our youths from engaging the military in war-like activities. They would have been more preoccupied with relevant issues that relate to living life in a more civil manner like their counterparts in other parts of Nigeria, rather than this unfortunate and primitive way of life.

“Therefore, the way forward entails a careful study of the situation by unbiased minds and persons; and for the government to proactively develop this place. There is a lot of protest against oppression by the government on the grounds of lack of development of this place, despite the huge contribution to the economy from here and the lack of justice regarding the frustrating land grabbing scenario here.”

Why soldiers should quit – Morris, environmentalist

Environmentalist, Comrade Alagoa Morris, told Vanguard in Bayelsa State: “As a concerned citizen and stakeholder in our collective interest, I will say the military should pull out of all the communities currently occupied both in Delta and Bayelsa states to ease tension and allow law-abiding Nigerians in those communities go about their means of livelihood.

“The federal and state governments should work together to get back the military guns taken by the killers and arrest the culprits by deploying intelligence gathering mechanisms. The dead soldiers and community folks sadly are gone forever. This is the reality.

‘’We should not commit a collective crime by allowing the military to kill more persons, especially law-abiding citizens, via bullet or starvation. Already, there are stories that those who ran into the bushes or still in the communities on restricted conditions are facing starvation.

superlanny:
Indian man think say na Bollywood film he dey act, Naija policeman no send you, the only language they understand is bribery and settlement, if you like shout from now till tomorrow.

If fit be say them dey find Indian hemp as because they be Indian na. Over wise no go kill them.