Breaking: Sowore @YeleSowore has just been arrested at the Federal High Court Abuja where Nnamdi Kanu trial is to take place. More updates coming soon.
Paul Pogba has rejected a new £50m contract at Manchester United.
And the blow has forced United bosses to consider selling the French international to the highest bidder this summer - to stop him from leaving Old Trafford for nothing next season.
Pogba stunned United after turning down the offer of a new long term deal worth £350,000-a-week.
The midfielder, 28, has entered the final 12 months of his current £250,000-a-week deal and United wanted to tie him down to an improved one running until 2024.
This would have seen Pogba spend the peak years of his career at United - but he has snubbed the offer in a bid to force through a move to Paris Saint Germain.
It is understood United are not prepared to let Pogba run down his contract to become a free agent - and would consider selling him to PSG in a cut price £60m deal.
Pogba knows he can double his wages at the French giants and is keen to join them before the start of next season.
The World Cup winner has divided opinion since returning to United from Juventus in a club record £90m deal in 2016.
Pogba has struggled to maintain his form and fitness and even found himself out of the team for long spells when Jose Mourinho was boss.
He has made 122 league appearances in five seasons, scoring 28 goals.
But he shone for France during this summer's Euros to boost his chances of earning a move to PSG, with United reluctantly admitting defeat in their bid to keep him.
United, meanwhile, have hit a brick wall with Real Madrid in their negotiations to sign Raphael Varane.
Talks are on-going between the two clubs, but despite reports in Spain claiming a £50m fee has been agreed for the French defender, United insist this isn't the case and that a deal is not close.
The Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG, has accused southern elites and governments of sponsoring Nnamdi Kanu and arming Sunday Igboho to perpetrate violence against the north and Northern interest in the south.
The Northern Coalition praised the arrest of both secessionist agitators urging the federal government to dig deeper to expose sponsors of Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho.
The coalition warns that the arrest will not be the end of uprising and disturbances in southern Nigeria which it accused the Yoruba leaders including their governments as using to scare the North into agreeing to cede power without competition.
The Northern Coalition stated this in a statement on Tuesday signed by Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, spokesperson of the CNG.
Abdul-Azeez Suleiman said, “from the outset, we wish to be categoric that the arrest of Igboho and Kanu should not be mistaken as bringing about the end to the uprisings and disturbances over self-determination perpetrated by southern Nigerian elites and governments who use thugs like Igboho and Kanu.”
“We insist that rather than seeing the arrest as an end in itself, it should be the beginning of the processes for self-determination by any unit that wants to go. Therefore we insist on a peaceful referendum for separation from a people who would at the slightest of pretexts, attack, kill and destroy people of other regions and their properties especially those from the North.” He said.
The statement suggested Igboho would likely be charged with incitement against the North which the coalition claims are in tandem with international law. It noted that only the North has not called for secession from Nigeria at the slightest provocation.
“The arrest of Igboho is government business and so long as it conforms with the principle of rule of law and international criminal justice procedures. We are not yet sure what he is going to be charged with, but expectedly incitement to violence against northerners would be one of them.
We all know that threats of violent secession anywhere are a grave offence that no government will condone. From records of history, it is only northern Nigeria that has not called for the breakup of the country at the slightest of pretence.”
“With the arrest of Kanu and now Igboho, we are hoping that government would go beyond prosecution to digging up and exposing their sponsors and the agenda behind them.”
The Coalition claims that Kanu’s call for the Biafra nation has been exploited by the Eastern elites to play a double political game while noting that Igboho’s case is encouraged by Yoruba leaders to negotiate power from the North.
“While Kanu’s case may be attributed to some form of insanity which was exploited by the South East elites who were playing a double game, Igboho is a deliberate and calculated, supported and encouraged attempt by the Yoruba leaders including their governments to scare the North into agreeing to cede power without competition.” He said.
“Unfortunately they took it too far by arming Igboho and setting him against law-abiding citizens from other regions particularly the North.” He noted.
The coalition warns Kanu and Igboho supporters to avoid being instigated by those who it claimed to have what to fall back on when the country is on fire.
“The arrest if considered along with that of Kanu should serve as a lesson to those blind followers who are instigated into setting fire to their own backyards whereas the instigators of such lawlessness and violence almost all the time have a fallback option that includes escaping abroad.
The two arrests also attest to the level of cross-regional cooperation that is working across Africa,” The statement reads.
A Federal High Court in Awka has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the name of Valentine Ozigbo as candidate of the PDP for the November 6 Anambra state governorship election.
Ozigbo, a former chief executive officer of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria, secured 62 votes to emerge as the standard-bearer of the party in the primary election which was held on Saturday, June 26, 2021, at Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Awka.
Ozigbo had approached a federal capital territory (FCT) high court in Maitama seeking an order restraining the PDP from “tampering” with his name as the authentic candidate.
He also sought an order “mandating” INEC to publish his name as the party’s candidate.
However, the court refused all the orders sort and ordered the electoral commission not to publish the name of any candidate for the PDP pending the determination of the motion on notice.
Consequently, INEC, excluded the candidate of the PDP from the list of cleared candidates for the poll.
But in a fresh order issued on Monday, Hyeladzira Nganjiwa, the judge in Awka, asked the electoral commission to publish Ozigbo’s name as PDP’s candidate, following the withdrawal of the suit at the FCT high court.
Residents of Igangan in Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State, were on Friday night thrown into confusion as gunmen struck again, allegedly killed the Amotekun commander in the local government.
Sources who confirmed the incident to Vanguard on telephone, said the sad event occurred when the gunmen invaded the town shooting for over 30 minutes.
The assailants, who were reported to have dressed in customs uniforms, were said to have been initially repelled by the local hunters.
“Report reaching me now reveals that around 8:00pm people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen again invaded Igangan and shooting for over 30minutes. Some said they were Customs men as they wore Customs uniform but they were chased by local hunters but have killed some people”
“They also passed Igboora and continue shooting and it was reported people have died in Igboora too including one Amotekun operatives.
“Further reports later said nobody knows what is going on in the major streets.”
“It was reported that the Commander of Amotekun in Ibarapa Central has been killed.
Some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) assaulted Adetayo Odunlami, a bailiff attached to the Ogun State High Court, on Tuesday.
The incident happened at Iperu, the hometown of Governor Dapo Abiodun.
Our correspondent gathered that the bailiff was in Iperu, Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State to serve a court summons on some leaders of the APC.
A councillorship aspirant, Muyiwa Osularu, had dragged the Vice-Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Ikenne Local Government, Hon Efuwape Olaitan Muhammed, his party, the APC and the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) to Sagamu High Court over allegations of substitution of name.
Osularu had argued that he is the rightful winner of the primary election conducted by the APC in Iperu Ward 5, on May 20, 2021.
He had alleged that his name was substituted for Hon. Efuwape by the leaders of the party.
The aspirant prayed the court to order the APC to forward his name to OGSIEC as the APC councillorship candidate in Ward 5, Iperu Remo.
However, when the bailiff arrived Iperu with the court summons to serve same on the respondents.
He was said to have been beaten to stupor by some APC members whose identities are yet to be ascertained
The man reportedly sustained injuries in the incident before he was saved from his attackers by some good Samaritans.
Our correspondent learnt that the matter had been reported to the police.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident.
Oyeyemi said “The bailiff went to a place where APC members were having their campaign rally to serve the court summon on someone. I think the APC candidate is the person he wanted to serve summon on, at the venue of the rally.
“I guess that’s what infuriated the party members who assaulted him. He has reported the case at Iperu division and the case is under investigation. The case has been incidented and the police are investigating it.
The Police Publicist said nobody has been arrested in connection with the case.
The Imo State Government has sealed former governor Rochas Okorocha’s Foundation college for converting the lands of the staff quarters of the Imo Broadcasting Corporation, IBC, to his college.
Imo Government agents were seen sealing off the place, located at Orji in Owerri North local government area of the state.
One of the agents, who pleaded anonymity told Vanguard that it was one of the properties of the government the court had given order to recover from the former governor. They also said it was contained in the white paper recommendations for the recovery of stolen properties in the state.
Reports reveal that the government officials arrived early hours of Tuesday, at the Rochas foundation college location, marked the building with the inscription “Keep off by Imo state government.”
He said: “We have recovered the Imo Broadcasting Corporation, IBC, which the former governor, Okorocha, took over and converted it to his Rochas Foundation College. What you are seeing now is covering 48 hectares of land and if you look at very well most of the.
“You have to know that this is also in line with the 3r of Hope Uzodimma’s administration of Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction. The recovery of Imo properties must be done and completed it is our heritage no one man should take it.”
President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to nominate another person from Delta State as a National Commissioner representing South-South for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, after the rejection of the nomination of Ms. Lauretta Onochie by the senate.
Vanguard reliably gathered from the INEC office in Abuja, that the South-South geopolitical zone, Delta, and Bayelsa states have never had a National Commissioner nominated to INEC.
A source that spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity said, at the moment the only National Commissioner from the zone whose tenure was still subsisting is Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu.
Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu, the source explained ” is of Delta parentage but married to the son of erstwhile late Chief Mathew Mbu and was nominated to represent Cross River State for the zone and not Delta.
“It should be noted that Mrs. Thelma lremiren (though of Delta parentage) married an Esan husband from Edo state and was nominated to INEC by late Chief Tony Anenih (Esan). “She was nominated from Edo state to represent the zone and served from (2010-2015) not Delta. Unfortunately and surprisingly, in 2016 another Edo nominee, Dr. Mohammed Lecky was appointed again and served from (2016 – 2020). Delta has not had a National Commissioner nominated in INEC, ” the source said.
According to the source, Akwa Ibom was represented by Mr. Okpo Sam Kiaso Okpo (1999-2003), Cross River by Mr. Ekpenyoung Nsa (2003-2008), Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu (2017 till date).
Edo has produced two National Commissioners, Mrs. Thelma lremiren (2010-2015) and Dr. Mohammed Lecky (2016-2020), while Rivers State has produced Mr. Ignatius Sylvester Kogbara (1999-2003) and Dr. Ishmael lgbani who served two terms of eight years and left in 2015.
It will be recalled that Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Kabiru Gaya (APC Kano South) had in his presentation of the nominees screened for the position of National Commissioners said the Committee received several petitions against the nominations of Ms. Lauretta Onochie and Professor Sani Muhammad Adam.
He said that the petitions against Lauretta Onochie were against the backdrop of her involvement in politics and alleged membership of a political party.
He, however, claimed that Onochie”s “nomination violated the Federal Character Principle as there is already a serving National Electoral Commissioner from Delta State, Barr. Mary Agbamuche-Mbu who was screened and confirmed by the 8th Senate.”
The Ondo State High Court has granted bail to Ibukun Ayodele, the 18-year-old girl detained over #EndSARS who had a miscarriage at the Surulere Prison in Akure.
Ibukun and three other teenagers are standing trial for alleged arson and public disturbance.
On October 24, 2020, she was arrested and whisked to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Ondo while en route to visiting her cousin.
She was accused of having connections with #EndSARS protesters who burned the All Progressive Congress (APC) secretariat in the state and was charged with arson, among other offences.
As of October 2020, Ibukun was just 17 and three months pregnant, according to Iyabo Ayodele, her mother.
But as a result of the cruelty and torture by the soldiers and the distress of being held in the police cell and prison, Ibukun suffered a miscarriage that has left her in pains.
FIJ had reported how Kemisola Ogunbiyi, one of the teenage detainees in the Akure Prison, was delivered of a baby.
The birth of her child in detention triggered public outrage, with many Nigerians demanding her swift and unconditional release from detention.
However, FIJ understands that Ibukun has now been granted bail by a “trial judge in the Ondo State High Court”.
Although details of the bail conditions are sketchy, witnesses who attended the court proceeding confirmed to FIJ that the 18-year-old girl who had a miscarriage in prison has now been granted bail due to her health condition.
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday said that the former Finance Minister, Mrs Kemi Adeosun did not need the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC) discharge certificate to take up any ministerial appointment or before standing for any elective office in the country.
The court held that Adeosun who graduated in a London University in 1989 was already 36 years of age, therefore, exempted from participating in the NYSC scheme.
Delivering judgment in a suit, Justice Taiwo Oladipupo Taiwo, held that Adeosun from available facts was a United Kingdom citizen having been born in the UK in 1967 and remained there till 2003 when she came back to Nigeria.
Justice Taiwo held that Adeosun became a Nigerian citizen by virtue of the 1999 Constitution which came into force on May 29 of the year, therefore, the NYSC Act will have no effect on her.
The judge said that Adeosun would have committed a grave crime against Nigeria if she had participated in the NYSC having attained the exemption age of 36 years.
The House of Representatives has passed for second reading, a bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to allow creation of state police and legalise regional security outfits. The current police system will be decentralised by moving police from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List.
Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Onofiok Luke, who sponsored the bill, said in the explanatory note that the bill seeks to alter the Constitution “to provide for state police and other state government security services to enhance security and preservation of lives and properties in Nigeria”.
The bill especially proposes an amendment to Section 197(1) by inserting new Paragraphs ‘e’ and ‘f’ to provide for ‘State Police Council’ and ‘State Police Service Commission,’ respectively.
The Second Schedule to the Constitution will also be altered in Part I by deleting Item 45 from the Exclusive Legislative List; and in Part II by inserting after Item 30 on the Concurrent Legislative List, new Items 31 and 32.
The proposal reads, “(31) The National Assembly may make laws for the establishment of the federal police and other federal government security services;
“(32) A House of Assembly may make laws for the establishment of state police and other state government security services.”
The Third Schedule to the Constitution will also be altered by inserting new Paragraphs 9 to 12.
The new paragraphs read, “(9) A State Police Council shall comprise the following members: (a) the governor, who shall be the chairman; (b) the chairman of the State Police Service Commission; and (c) State Commissioner of Police.
“(10) The functions of a State Police Council shall include (a) the organisation and administration of a State Police Force and all other matters relating thereto (not being matters relating to the use and operational control of the Force or the appointment, disciplinary control and dismissal of members of the Force); (b) the general supervision of a State Police Force; and (c) advising the governor on the appointment of State Commissioner of Police.”
Leading debate on the bill, Luke said, “Many years after independence, Nigeria has continually been beset with insecurity ranging from terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery and domestic violence. Granted that there is no society without crime or manifestation of criminal behaviour, our inability to bring to the barest minimum crime is a scathing indictment on the current security architecture and structure in the country.
“The federal structuring of our security does not encourage community policing or localisation of policing. Recruitment and subsequent deployment of police officers in their local area is one of the major ways of curbing crime. Such officers understand the area, terrain, language, behaviour and attitude of the people he or she is policing.
“Nigeria, a country with over 201 million people, is grossly under policed with about 400, 000 police personnel. This number falls far short of the United Nation’s recommendation of ratio 1 per 400 citizens.
“The Constitution envisages Nigeria as a federal state. Granting allowance to state governments to establish police force and other security apparatuses will bring Nigeria into original constitutional contemplation of a federal state.”
The Deputy Minority Leader, Toby Okechukwu, stated that creation of state police is long overdue with the current security crises across the country.
Okechukwu said, “This bill is germane. About an hour ago, we observed a minute silence for our people; for the citizens of Nigeria who were killed in Kaduna. In addition to that, my colleague, Hon Barde, also moved a motion to ensure the rescue of 140 pupils – children – who were going to school that were taken in Kaduna. We have had situations in this country that ordinarily, this issue of state police should have been addressed a long time ago.
“Good enough, the recurrence with which it appears and comes up in the efforts to alter the Constitution gives strength to the fact that it is needed. As a matter of fact, the Exclusive List needs to shed weight and if it is going to shed weight with regard to making our country more efficient and secure, the better we are for it.
“As a matter of fact, there is no state in this federation that does not run a security outfit. No state! Whether it is Amotekun or Hisbah or Vigilante or Ebube Agu, whichever name you call it, they all run it. But what character do they possess? What ingredients are they lacking? They are lacking the power to ordinarily bear arms and to arrest and prosecute.
“We need to occasion this; we need to bring it to the fore to solve the challenges we are having. We cannot be living and pretending that everything is okay. Nothing is okay. If 13 schools were closed in Kaduna, it is not a joke. We need to address this and address this seriously.”
The House had earlier on June 9, 2021, approved a bill to amend the 1999 Constitution to recognise security outfits created by states to complement the Nigeria Police Force in the effort to protect lives and property.
Sponsored by Anthony Afe from Delta State, the legislation is titled ‘A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to Give Legal Backing to State Security Outfit to Complement the Nigeria Police Force.’
Already, several states and geopolitical zones have established vigilante groups and security outfits with various codenames.
Chairman of North-East Governors’ Forum, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, and his colleagues in the North-East have arrived Jalingo for a two-day meeting.
Zulum was received by the Deputy Governor of Taraba State, Haruna Manu, at Danbaba Suntai airport.
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State and his entourage also arrived Jalingo about 1:39p.m.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya and Bala Mohammed of Gombe and Bauchi states, respectively, have also arrived the government house.
The governor of Yobe State, Mai-Mala Buni, was represented by his Deputy, Idi Barde.
The meeting will discuss issues affecting the region to chart a way forward.
The forum last held its meeting in Yola, capital of Adamawa State.
This is coming 24 hours after southern governors met in Lagos State and reached some decisions on insecurity, PIB, 2023 presidency, among other issues.
Emeka Emekesiri, self-acclaimed founder of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has reacted to the arrest and re-arraignment of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of IPOB.
Last Tuesday, Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), said the IPOB leader was “intercepted” on June 20 “through the collaborative efforts of Nigerian intelligence and security services”.
Malami did not state where Kanu was brought from to Nigeria, but Kingsley Kanu, brother of the separatist leader, had alleged that his brother was apprehended in Kenya.
The IPOB leader was arraigned before Binta Nyako, and the judge ruled that he should be remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), while the case was adjourned till July 26.
Speaking on the development in a video published after Kanu’s arrest, Emekesiri, the presumed founder of IPOB, said he had received several calls asking for his comments on the recent development.
“I have received many calls from many people, asking me to make comments on the arrest and trial of Nnamdi Kanu,” he said.
“I wondered why they asked me to make comments. Some say that they want my opinion; some say that they want to know the way forward. Well, I’m a lawyer. You know that I believe in the rule of law.
“I heard that he was arrested and returned to the court where he was standing trial in 2017, and I was told he was standing trial and he jumped bail and there was a warrant issued for his arrest — bench warrant.
“Now, it appears that the warrant has been executed. If that is the case and you want me to make a comment, what do you want me to say?
“I’m a lawyer. What I will say is that let justice prevail. Let the law takes its course.”
Emekesiri recounted how Kanu joined IPOB and was deployed to manage the broadcast section of the group, after he left Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).
The IPOB “founder” said Kanu declared himself as the leader of the group in what appeared like a “coup” speech, which he announced on the radio.
“I created the IPOB, under the elders. So, when he joined us, we believed that he had talents for broadcasting, and so we put him in the media department so that he could use the media to promote the work,” he said.
“Initially, he did very well promoting the work, but along the line, we didn’t know he had an ulterior motive. Using the radio, he made an announcement just like the army takes over when they plan a coup.
“He now announced that our elders are saboteurs and traitors, and that he had dissolved the council of elders of IPOB and he is now the leader.
“Well, we excommunicated him on 12th of May, 2014, from this body called Indigenous People of Biafra. So, the one he is carrying on with is fake.”
A human rights activist and publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore, and others were on Monday threatened by an AK-47 wielding policeman in Abuja.
This happened close to the premises of Dunamis Gospel Church in Lugbe where they had gone to seek the release of some youths arrested by the church’s security who allegedly handed them over to officials of the Department of State Services.
The youths were arrested for wearing ‘Buhari Must Go’ T-shirts to the church last Sunday.
Sowore who was accompanied by another activist, Deji Adeyanju, was seen in a video obtained by The PUNCH addressing newsmen on the issue.
They were approached by a policeman who wasn’t pleased with their presence as he could be heard telling the activists to leave.
When his voice fell on deaf ears, he angrily said, “I will kill somebody here,” just as he complained about being captured by a reporter’s camera.
Before our very eyes, Nigeria is relentlessly transiting from a pretend democracy to an abject, one-party, fascistic monocracy.
Governors and legislators elected on the platform of the PDP are being bludgeoned into switching political party affiliation to the APC, and even the wispiest voices of dissent are being crushed with the most brutal state-sanctioned violence.
That, my friends, is NOT the behavior of a government that’s preparing to leave power less than two years from now.
In what can be described as an embarrassment, some of the policemen deployed to the venue of the Yoruba Nation rally at Ojota, Lagos, were seen pushing a patrol van, on Saturday.
Some of the officers, who were armed joined their colleagues, who pushed the van that was apparently faulty.
The vehicle was meant to convey some of the officers deployed to quell the protest.
The incident elicited laughter from some passersby.
Security operatives had initially taken over the venue of the rally but the protesters later trooped out en masse.
However, they were eventually dispersed through force, resulting to the death of a teenager, according to residents.
Some of the protesters were arrested while others fled.
H E Bello Muhammad Matawalle Executive Governor Zafara State, Government House Gusau, Zamfara State
It is with great pleasure, relief and deep sense of personal satisfaction that I welcome you to our party, the All Progressives Congress.
I have for long looked forward to this day when you will reunite with the APC, your original party, so that the good works and impressive performance which the people of Zamfara state enjoy under your administration will be accurately documented as legacies of APC.
It takes a man of courage, conscience, principles and honor to make this long awaited move which not many politicians in our clime would have the audacity to undertake.
I am delighted that your coming to the APC with your legion of supporters is not only a boost for our great party in terms of numbers, but brings onboard our platform, a sound mind, accomplished administrator and proven performer who has won the admiration of the Zamfara people by virtue of your exceptional leadership.
I have absolute confidence that all APC stakeholders in the state will welcome you with open arms and accord you the well earned respect that you richly deserve.
Please accept, Your Excellency, the renewed assurance of my highest regards.
Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole mni, CON. Abuja, June 30, 2021
The hope of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), regaining freedom through British intervention has been dashed.
Kanu, a holder of Nigerian and British passports, is currently being held at the Department of State Services (DSS) custody in Abuja.
He was arrested in Kenya on Saturday and extradited to Nigeria the next day.
Kanu, who was standing treason trial, was granted bail on health grounds in 2017 but he violated all the bail conditions before fleeing the country.
From his base abroad, Kanu incited his followers against the Nigerian authorities.
When he was taken to court on Tuesday, Justice Binta Nyako ordered that he should be remanded in DSS custody until July 26.
His family had asked the UK authorities to secure his release so that he can reunite with his family.
“The British High Commission in Nigeria must insist upon my brother’s immediate release. They must guarantee his safety and security. Nnamdi Kanu must be returned home to the UK to his wife and his sons who live here. The Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, must make clear to the Nigerian authorities that they will not tolerate the unlawful detention of British citizens and that the UK Government condemns the Nigerians and Kenyans for undermining the rule of law,” Kingsley Kanu, the IPOB leader’s sibling, had said in a statement.
In a manual on ‘Support for British nationals abroad: A guide’, published on the website of the UK government, the British authorities made it clear that it has a limited role to play regarding the detention of its citizens in prison.
The 19th page of the document read, “We can offer you information about the local prison or remand system, including visiting arrangements, mail and censorship, privileges, work possibilities, and social and welfare services. We can also explain where there are different regulations for remand prisoners and sentenced prisoners. For example, in some countries, prisoners are allowed to send more mail when they are on remand.
“We cannot get you out of prison or detention, nor can we get special treatment for you because you are British. If however you are not treated in line with internationally accepted standards we will consider approaching local authorities. This may include if your trial does not follow internationally recognised standards for a fair trial or is unreasonably delayed compared to local cases.
“With your permission, we can consider taking up a complaint about ill-treatment, personal safety, or discrimination with the police or prison authorities.
“Consular staff will keep in regular contact with you, either by visiting personally or by telephone/ letter. The frequency of visits will depend on local prison conditions and your personal circumstances.
“If you are a dual British national in the country of your other nationality, we would not normally offer you support or get involved in dealings between you and the authorities of that state. We may make an exception to this rule if, having looked at the circumstances of the case, we consider that you are vulnerable and we have humanitarian concerns.”
Everton Football Club can confirm the appointment of Rafael Benitez as the Club’s new manager.
The Spaniard joins the Club on a three-year deal and will commence work with the squad when they return to USM Finch Farm for pre-season training from 5 July.
The appointment of Benitez comes after a robust and wide-reaching recruitment process by the Club over the past three weeks – a process which has included multiple interviews with several candidates.
Benitez has a hugely impressive track record with the clubs he has managed throughout his career, securing seven major honours including La Liga titles, the Coppa Italia, the FA Cup, the Europa League and the Champions League during managerial spells in Spain, England and Italy.
The Club’s Majority Shareholder, Farhad Moshiri, said: “Rafa impressed us greatly with his knowledge and experience but, above all, the passion and hunger he showed to join our Club.
“We are appointing Rafa because we believe he will bring success to our Club and to Evertonians. To put it simply - we need to be competing at the top-end of the league and to be winning trophies. Rafa is a proven winner with huge experience in coaching internationally and we have secured the best man to achieve that for us.”
Rafael Benitez said: “I am delighted to be joining Everton. Throughout this process I have been greatly impressed by the ambition shown by the senior representatives at the Club and their desire to bring success to this historic Club.
“I believe this is a Club that is going places. I’m determined to play a big part in helping this great Club achieve its ambitions.”
Everton Chairman Bill Kenwright added: “Rafa Benitez is joining Everton Football Club at an exciting time. On behalf of the Board of Directors I wish him well in achieving success for our football club - success our supporters long for and deserve.”
Everton will confirm the staff who will join Duncan Ferguson and Alan Kelly as part of Benitez’s backroom team in the coming days.
THE Senate has summoned the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mele Kyari to appear before it tomorrow to brief the lawmakers on the the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB.
Disclosing this on Wednesday during plenary, President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan said that the NNPC boss has been invited to address the Senators on the technical and financial details of the Bill before the consideration of the report tomorrow.
According to Lawan, the briefing will allow for Senators who are not members of the Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources, Down stream, Petroleum, Upstream and Gas Resources to get abreast with more information.
The Senate will tomorrow consider the report of the Joint Committee on the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB.
This was disclosed after the Report of the Joint Committee on Petroleum ( Downstream) Petroleum ( Upstream) and Gas Resources Petroleum Industry Bill, 2021 ( SB. 510) was laid by the Chairman, Senator Sabo Mohammed, All Progressives Congress, APC, Jigawa – West.
Recall that Lawan had mandated that all the Senators must get the copies of the report and that it will be considered tomorrow.
He, therefore asked the Joint Committee to provide lawmakers with copies of the bill ahead of its consideration to enable them study its content.
Lawan had said: “Let me use the opportunity to thank our Joint Committee for working so hard, selflessly and patriotically to produce the report on the Petroleum Industry Bill.
“This report, a copy each, must be made available to each and every Senator today, this afternoon.
“I don’t know how the Committee would arrange it, but every Senator must have a copy today.
“[And] we would be considering the report on Thursday.
“So, we have today, tomorrow until the beginning of Thursday to look at the report, so that when we consider it, we will be doing so on the basis of what we have been able to read from this very important report.”
Recall that Lawan had last month assured that the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB 2020 will be passed before the end of this month.
Lawan had assured that as Nigeria begins a new year, 2021, the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill 2020(SB)510 will be passed by end of the first quarter of the year.
The President of the Senate who spoke shortly after a closed-door session with the Security Chiefs had said that before that date, “we expect that our committees will still be working particularly the Joint Committee working on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).
“We expect that the joint committee will be presenting its report to the Senate as soon as we resume. It is still our desire and determination to pass the PIB before the end of May.”
Also recall that the PIB scaled second reading October 2020 and after debate on the its general principles, the bill was referred to the Committees on Petroleum Upstream, Downstream, and Gas for reports in eight weeks.
Pending since 2007, the PIB which is an executive bill seeks, among others, to promote the competitive and liberalised downstream sector of the petroleum industry as well as the development of fuel and chemical industries.
Also recall that the President of the Senate who had said that the ninth National Assembly would make the passage of PIB part of its legacies, also assured that the National Assembly would pass the bill in good time without compromising proper scrutiny.
The new PIB is said to be important, especially as it aims at the restructuring as well as transparency and accountability in the oil and gas industry.
Specifically, Section 54(1, 2 and3 ) states among others that, “the Minister (of Petroleum) and the Minister of Finance shall determine the assets, interests, and liabilities of NNPC to be transferred to NNPC Limited or its subsidiaries and upon the identification, the minister shall cause such assets, interests, and liabilities to be transferred to NNPC Limited.
“Assets, interests, and liabilities of NNPC not transferred to NNPC Limited or its subsidiary under subsection 1 of this section shall remain the assets, interests, and liabilities of NNPC until they become extinguished or transferred to the government.”
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