Global rights group, Amnesty International has launched an eight point human rights agenda, asking the Federal and State Governments to urgently implement recommendations from previous reports about human rights violations in Nigeria.Amnesty International also asked for an abolition of death sentence and as well an end to torture as a means of extracting information from suspects during interrogations.
Speaking at a news conference in Abuja, the country director of the human rights organization, Osai Ojigho said that both the Federal and State Governments need to do more to address cases of human rights abuses, adding that the new political dispensation provides politicians another opportunity.
Over the years, Amnesty International has documented reports about human rights abuses across Nigeria. Some of those reports are often very critical about the operations of government agencies especially the police and the Nigeria military.
At the news conference in Abuja, the human rights organization did not release a new report, but proposed eight point human rights agenda for the new political dispensation in Nigeria.
The organization said it wants government to end violence against women and girls, stop torture and abolish death penalty.
In line with the rights group’s request, many agree that the issue of torture as a means of extracting information from suspects should be abolished, however, many others disagree with the human rights organization on their quest to abolish the death penalty.
Although many countries around the world have abolished capital punishment, death penalty is still practiced in some countries including China, the United States, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iran.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has once more intervened in the retail Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS), injecting the sum of $294.7million.Figures obtained from the Bank on Friday indicated that the sum of CNY 31.43 million was also offered in the spot and short-tenored forwards segment of the inter-bank foreign exchange market.
The Director of Corporate Communications of the apex bank, Isaac Okorafor, made the disclosure, adding that the United States’ dollar intervention was for requests in the agricultural and raw materials sectors. The Chinese Yuan, on the other hand, was for Renminbi-denominated Letters of Credit.
Okorafor said that the market remainedstable because of the regular interventions by the Bank. He also noted that the demand management approach introduced by the Bank had yielded positive results, adding that the CBN Management remained committed to ensuring that all the sectors of the forex market continue to enjoy access to the needed foreign exchange.
Meanwhile, $1 exchanged for N361 at the Bureau de Change (BDC) segment of the foreign exchange market, while CNY1 exchanged at N55.
A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja has remanded six officials of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board officials, over their alleged involvement in the missing N35 million from sales of JAMB e-card in Benue State.The alleged principal suspect, Philomina Chieshe was charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alongside Samuel Umoru, Yakubu Jekada, Daniel Agbo, Priscilla Ogunsola, and Aliyu Yakubu on eight counts bordering on refusal to account for the board’s money between 2014 and 2016.
The Judge, Justice Peter Afen ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of EFCC, pending the outcome of their bail application. He then adjourned until Monday June 3, 2019 for the hearing of their bail application.
EFCC alleged that Chieshe, sales clerk, with JAMB told their registrar and his team that she could not account for N36 million she made in previous years before the abolition of scratch cards.
They alleged that she claimed that the money was swallowed by a mysterious snake in Makurdi, Benue State capital.
According to the EFCC, in February 2018, Chieshe told JAMB registrar and his team that she could not account for N36 million she made in previous years before the abolition of scratch cards.
She alleged that it was her housemaid that connived with another JAMB staff, to “spiritually” (through a snake) steal the money from the vault in the accounts office.
EFCC said these contravened section 139 (a) of the Penal Code Law.
The accused however pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
The prosecuting counsel, Ekene Iheanacho, prayed the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial and to remand the defendants in jail.
Iheanacho also admitted receipt of the bail applications filed by lawyers to defendants, but said he hasn’t read through because he was served today, Friday.
MTN Nigeria Communications Limited has brought to an end the punishment meted to it by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for SIM card registration infraction, as it announced the payment of the balance of N55 billion out of the total fine of N330 billion.In a statement by its Senior Manager, External Relations, Funso Aina, MTN’s Chief Corporate Relations Officer, Tobechukwu Okigbo, said that the successful resolution of the fine was the outcome of active collaboration between the NCC and MTN.
“We are very pleased to have completed the payment of the N330 billion negotiated settlement with the NCC. We are particularly gratified to be in a position to have fully met the terms of the settlement within the agreed time frame. I would like to thank the NCC for their constructive and collaborative approach to this issue, and believe that we emerge from it with a stronger relationship, focused on ensuring maximum value is delivered to our people, from a strong and growing telecoms sector.”
A source at the NCC confirmed the payment, saying that MTN paid the money into the Treasury Single Account (TSA) account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (NCC).
The fine, initially put at N1.04 trillion before it was reduced to N330bn, landed on MTN’s back in October, 2015, when the biggest telecom operator flouted some of the country’s SIM registration rules.
After six months of negotiation and re-negotiation over the fine which led to the reduction to N330 billion, it was agreed that MTN would pay a balance of N280bn in six tranches. This was in addition to the “goodwill” payment of N50 billion earlier made by MTN to the government.
“Specifically, MTN began the payment structure with the payment of N30bn into NCC’s Treasury Single Account with the Central Bank of Nigeria, 30 days from the date of the agreement dated June 10 2016.
“Subsequently, MTN paid N30 billion on March 31, 2017, N55 billion on March 31, 2018, N55 billion on December 31, 2018, and on March 31, 2019, it paid N55 billion.
In an agreement reached by the parties involved in a way to avoid a decision likely to cripple the business interest of the operators and the commission, it was also agreed that MTN should apologise to Nigerians, subscribe to the compulsory observance of Code of Corporate Governance for Telecoms Industry, as well as undertake immediate steps to ensure its listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). This has been done.
The Nigeria’s Federal Government has declared Tuesday, June 4 and Wednesday, June 5, as public holidays to mark the Muslim Eid-Fitri Celebration.The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Mrs. Georgina Ehuriah, made the declaration today, Friday on behalf of the Federal Government in a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations in the ministry, Mohammed Manga.
Mrs. Ehuriah congratulated the Muslim faithful on a successful completion of the Ramadan Fast even as she enjoined all Nigerians to use the occasion of the celebration to pray for the peace, unity, prosperity and stability of the nation.
She advised Nigerians to shun hate speeches and divisive tendencies and join hands with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to build a peaceful, strong and united Nigeria so as to achieve the next level of socio-economic development.
Mrs. Ehuriah reaffirmed the determination of the Federal Government to protect the lives and property of Nigerians.
She said that security agencies under the Ministry have been directed to provide adequate security before, during and after the Eid-Fitri Celebration.
The Permanent Secretary restated government’s desire for all Nigerians to be inspired by the virtues gained during the Holy Month of Ramadan to live a life of sacrifice, charity and love for one another.
Vice President, Yemi OsinbajoVice President Yemi Osinbajo has given detail of how Nigeria did not have a President and Vice President for more than ten hours, shortly before he and Muhammadu Buhari were inaugurate on May 29.
Speaking last night, Wednesday at the inaugural dinner at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Osinbajo said that as a lawyer and a law teacher, he always liked to test and interrogate legal scenarios.
“At one minute past midnight today, the four-year term of Mr. President and I ended by effluxion of time. So, from one minute past 12 of last night, May 29 to about 10:30 am when we were sworn in for a second term, there was no President or Vice President.
“Interestingly nothing went wrong; all was okay. When such a situation arises, it is the Senate President who acts as President. So, when I arrived at Eagle Square this morning, some may have noticed that the Senate President and I were enjoying a joke. He said to me jokingly “you better be careful you know I am the acting President now.”
“So, we thank Mr. Senate President for not doing anything funny.”
Vice President Osinbajo cracked another joke, saying: “as you know, our campaign slogan was ‘Next Level’. And you know that very few people forget campaign promises, even those who are closest to you.
“My cook in Lagos as soon as he saw me after we won the elections started to sing “everything to the Next Level.” I didn’t know how to respond because I knew that the chap was thinking of a next level salary.
“By the way, it is not just junior staff who are always talking about the Next Level. General Gowon, a few minutes ago, was telling me that he asked Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the APC Chairman, why he was not wearing his customary Khaki shirt and trousers and of course the Comrade pointed out that this is Next level.
“But the worst example of this Next Level is a rude fellow who said to me “you people promised change when you came and after you resumed office you started saying change begins with you. “Let me warn that Lai Mohammed, if he tries Next Level begins with you…I will kidnap him.”
The 8th Senate has concluded its business session and adjourned till June 6 for valedictory, to mark the end of the session.The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over plenary today, Thursday, made the announcement at the end of the day’s session.
Senator Ekweremadu thanked the lawmakers for contributing immensely to the success of the 8th Senate and called on them to turn out massively on June 6 to officially bring the session to a close.
“I want to thank all of us who are here present for today’s plenary. Today marks the end of our business session. We will be meeting on June 6 for our valedictory session. I want to appeal to all our colleagues to be present.”
The 8th senate, which was inaugurated on June 9, 2015 would be coming to an end after its valedictory session, to pave way for inauguration of the 9th National Assembly.
Nigeria operates a bicameral government, with the senate as the upper chamber. It is made up 109 lawmakers, with equal representation of three lawmakers from each of the 36 states.
Since the return of democracy in 1999, each session of the national assembly, which the senate is part of, has a tenure of four years, after which elections are conducted and a new session commences.
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has described the 83-year-old Imam, Abdullahi Abubakar, who saved over 200 Christians from being killed by suspected bandits in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State about a year ago as hero.Professor Osinbajo, who hosted the Imam today, Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, along with others, said that he is an example of one who could put his own life at risk to save others.
It would be recalled that on June 23, 2018, bandits reportedly attacked communities in Barkin Ladi, forcing many villagers to flee. Over 200 of them were said to have found refuge in a mosque in Yelwan Gindi Akwati village, Gashish District, where Abubakar is the Chief Imam.
He had insisted that the villagers were his “guests” and would not allow them to be killed. Abubakar was said to have pleaded with the bandits by rolling on the floor.
The Vice President said: “I commend you for your wonderful act. Imam Abubakar has demonstrated one of the most courageous acts any man can possibly do, by offering his own life, for those who are not people of his own tribe.
“I have heard a lot of stories in our country, but this is one of the most compelling stories. The love an individual can show for others not from their own tribe or religion, especially in a society like ours where tribe and religion often come to play.”
Vice President Osinbajo said that Nigeria would be a lot better if people would truly love one another and not on the basis of tribe, religion or ethnicity.
“It is far easier for people to create religious tensions between Christians or Muslims through their acts or words. And in a community where people have lived together in harmony and peace for so long, it shows how much a little of such tension created, in a matter of hours, can destroy harmony and peace built over the years.
“Most people in this country do not see the differences in tribe or religion, but it is easy to stoke religious tensions and divisions. So, one must be careful of those who want to play politics and create differences, using religion and tribe. This is not just in Nigeria alone, but all over the world. No tribe or religion is superior to another.
“When people have been wronged, it is always easier for people to accept that revenge or vengeance is the right approach. But as you know, vengeance breeds bitterness and hatred and doesn’t solve the problems created, but causes more deaths and harm.”
He recalled how the US Embassy in Nigeria recently honoured Abubakar for his “heroic deeds.”
The Imam, in his remarks, said he was not looking for publicity when he rescued the villagers, but felt that God only used him to save their lives.
The cleric, who spoke through an interpreter, recalled how his insistence that the bandits must kill him first before getting to the villagers forced the killers to change their minds.
“I pleaded with the attackers in the mud and rain not to harm my guests. By God’s grace, no one was hurt. God created mankind differently but he wants us to live together in peace and harmony, and not harm each other. Such an incident (the attack) is rare in my community, but I hope such does not happen in my village again.”
Those on the visit with Abubakar were the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington; Deputy Chief of Mission, US Embassy in Nigeria, David Young; an embassy official, Kathleen Fitzgibbon; and the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Bernhard Schlagheck.
Prof Itse SagayA Professor of Law, Itse Sagay (SAN) has described the judgment by the Supreme Court, nullifying all the votes cast for candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a travesty of justice and asked the party’s legal team to apply to the same Supreme Court for a review of its judgments not only on Zamfara but Rivers States.
In a statement today, Thursday Professor Sagay said: “The Zamfara and Rivers State judgments are a national tragedy. We should not allow our legal system to throw up such unimaginable injustice.
“This major judicial disenfranchisement of the Zamfara and Rivers electorate should be reversed. I advise the APC legal team to apply for a review of the two judgments.
“Their Lordships ought to be given an opportunity to reverse this unprecedented tragedy.
“The prefix ‘Justice’ preceding he names of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal Judges is significant, for it prescribes what they stand for and what they represent: Justice!
“By this judgment, the landslide APC victories in the governorship, Senate, House of Representative and State House of Assembly are transferred to the PDP.
“If the APC primaries were defective, should the electorate be deprived of their democratic and Constitutional rights to vote? Is the electorate to be punished for the transgressions of party officials?
“Should the Judiciary replace the electorate’s decision and install losers in office? Could the Judiciary not have drawn on the deep recesses of its intellectual capacity, authority and its inexorable commitment to justice, to prevent this undemocratic calamity?
“Can the APC officials not be punished, for their lapses without denying the electorate their democratic rights? Should the Judiciary take over the electoral rights of the electorate? Is this not a clear case of technical law completely overthrowing justice?
“Have the members of the Supreme Court not achieved a level of creativity and authority to provide a solution without burying democracy and taking over from the registered voters as the judicial electorate?
“If this judgment had been an international one, it could have been described as ‘shocking the conscience of humanity’. In this case, it shocks the conscience of Nigerian humanity.”
The Professor of law said that the Supreme Court is specially endowed with the power and authority to do justice and to ignore law when it is technical and would create injustice, and to avoid at all cost a mechanical approach to the interpretation of the law.
“Now, has justice been served in Rivers and Zamfara states? No! In one case innocent electorate in their hundreds of thousands were prevented from voting for their party by judicial order.
“In Zamfara, where voting took place, the verdict of the electorate was taken away from the victorious party and awarded by the Judiciary to the woeful losers.
“In the next four years, Zamfara State will be governed by a party and politicians rejected by the electorate. This indeed shocks the conscience of Nigerian humanity.”
He referred to Section 140(1) – (3) of the Electoral Act, which prohibits any court from declaring a loser of an election elected even if the person with the highest votes was not validly elected.
“I am not interested in the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010. I am only deeply concerned and interested in the fundamental and peremptory principle of Justice.
“No Judge should announce his judgment until he is satisfied that Justice has been served, no matter how strong the pull of mechanical and technical law.”
Senator Heineken LokpobiriFew days after stepping down as Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has indicated interest to contest the November 16 governorship election in Bayelsa State, on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement by his media aide, George Oji, he said: “he had already met President Muhammadu Buhari and intimated him of that decision of not returning as minister but instead would be contesting the governorship race in Bayelsa State on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in November.”
He said that being a minister opened his eyes to the enormous opportunities embedded in agriculture which he intends to replicate in the state by creating jobs as well as generating income, and guarantying y food sufficiency.
“What I have learnt in this Ministry of Agriculture, I never learnt in 12 years that I was in the parliament. As a senator for eight years, I never knew the potential that exists in Agriculture.
“Now that I am trying to explore some new opportunities, I am going to make Agriculture number one, if I have the opportunity of taking the experience I have here to my home state.”
He said that his thought of being posted to the Ministry of Niger Delta was dashed when President Buhari posted him to where he served.
“I was thinking that I would be posted to the Ministry of Niger Delta, but the president in his wisdom decided to send me here.”
