The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-General Tukur Yusuf Buratai has said that Boko Haram still have some sympathizers and collaborators amongst the people in the locality, especially in the North East where the terrorism hold sway.

Speaking in an interview today, Sunday with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN),  the Chief of Army Staff appealed to Borno people to expose the collaborators and indeed, the perpetrators of the dastardly and inhuman act of the Boko Haram.

“Definitely, there is no way you will say that these suicide bombers, who are teenagers, young girls, some even under-age can move in from wherever they are strapped into the town except with the guidance of someone within the town or vicinity.

“We still suspect that there are some sympathisers and collaborators or some members that have sneaked into town hiding and they direct these would-be suicide bombers to targeted areas.

“The issue of suicide bombing is an issue of intelligence which we are working in collaboration with other security agencies and indeed with the civil authority to see how this can be addressed quickly.”

General Buratai said that the “key area” from where the insurgents have been launching suicide bombing has been cleared by troops in conjunction with other security agencies, saying that this has reduced the incidents of suicide bombings in the last couple of days in Borno, particularly Maiduguri.

“By and large, I tell you it – suicide bombing has been reduced drastically. In the last three days, there has been no Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) attack or suicide attacks and this, we hope it will continue.

“They may decide to come but we are able to take out one key area that we are even suspecting, our troops were able to clear them in conjunction with other security agencies.

“I won’t say at this stage that we have been able to make breakthroughs in respect of suicide bombing, but we have made substantial progress and we hope it will be sustained,’’ Buratai said.

He said that suicide bombing must be stopped once and for all even as he said that having won the war, there is the need to also win the peace.

He said that this required the collaboration of the military, other security agencies and the people.

(NAN). [myad]

A Lagos human rights lawyer, Femi Falana has described the current senate, headed by Dr. Bukola Saraki as morally bankrupt and that because of moral question, it is now exercising power beyond its constitutional limit.

Falana who spoke in an interview on Channel TV, insisted that the current senate cannot screen the leadership of anti-graft agency such as Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), even as he said that the rejection of Ibrahim Magu and subsequent calling for his replacement as the EFCC acting chairman was the highest of impunity.

Falana said that section 171 of the Nigerian constitution vested exclusive power in the President to appoint any person to hold certain office or act in that capacity, explaining that the constitution allows the President to appoint secretary to the government of the federation, permanent secretaries, heads of service, and heads of extra ministerial department such as EFCC without the confirmation of the Senate.

He added that the only exception is the appointment of ambassadors or headsh of foreign mission, saying that the presidency is ill advised for sending name of the EFCC’s boss to the Senate for confirmation in the first place because there is no constitutional provision that compels such action.

According to the human rights lawyer, section 2(3) of the EFCC act which the executive tries to fulfill is superseded by section 171 of the constitution.

He advised the lawmakers to seek the amendment of the constitution if they must remove such constitutional power of the President because as the law currently stands “refusing to confirm the nomination of a public officer does not annul the acting capacity of such an officer.”

Falana said that senators who are standing trial or being investigated by EFCC should not have been part of the screening exercise conducted for Magu because of their conflict of interests.

“This senate will not have approved the nomination of Magu because not less than 15 members are either standing trial or they are under investigation for corrupt practice. The fact that you are standing a trial or under investigation means you cannot sit.”

Falana said the senate headed by Saraki could not have confirmed Magu, adding: “the senate President, Dr. Bukola Sataki ensured that Mallam Nuhu Ribadu was removed when he was to be charged over the   collapse of Societe Generale Bank. Lamode was removed when he invited the wife of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.  Magu could not have been confirmed because EFCC is investigating the allegation that  $3.5 billion from Paris-London loan refund has been traced to his account. How could the house headed by such a man confirm Magu?” [myad]

Boko Haram terrorist kingpin belonging to Mamman Nur’s faction of the terrorists’ group, Bulama Kailani, has confessed that leaders of the insurgents have been feeding them with lies, and tired of such lies, he surrendered himself to troops of 145 Task Force Battalion, 5 Brigade, at Damasak.

In a statement today, the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman said that the surrendered kingpin made it clear that he was tired of the lies his commanders were dishing out to them on the concept of the group.

According to Usman, the surrendered terrorist was at Serial number 253 on the Nigerian Army’s Wanted Boko Haram terrorists poster produced recently.

“Similarly, one Bulama Kailani Mohammed Metele from Tumbun Bera, a confessed Boko Haram terrorist belonging to Mamman Nur’s faction of the terrorists group under the leadership of Abu Mustapha, apparently tired of the lies his commanders, surrendered himself to troops of 145 Task Force Battalion, 5 Brigade, troops at Damasak.

“It has been confirmed that the surrendered suspect, Bulama Kailani Mohammed Metel, was a high profile terrorist as he is at Serial number 253 on the Nigerian Army’s Wanted Boko Haram terrorists poster produced recently. He is currently undergoing further interrogation.”

Also, the Army spokesman said that troops of 158 Task Force Battalion of 5 Brigade in Maiduguri have arrested two suspected Boko Haram terrorists carrying out surveillance on Kareto and Dangalti villages following reliable tip-off.

He said that preliminary investigation showed that the arrested spies were on research mission to facilitate possible Boko Haram attack on the communities.

“On Tuesday, 28th March 2017 at about 10.00am based on information 2 suspected Boko Haram terrorists carrying out surveillance on Kareto and Dangalti villages were apprehended by troops of 158 Task Force Battalion of 5 Brigade, Nigerian Army.

“Preliminary investigation shows that the apprehended spies were on reconnaissance mission to facilitate possible attack on the communities by Boko Haram terrorists.” [myad]

A federal high court in Abuja has sacked the President of of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Abubakar Mahmoud after rendering void, the 2015 constitution under which he was elected in July last year.

The court quietly removed the President from office after listening to a suit filed by Supo Ojo, a lawyer, challenging the procedure of amending the constitution of the NBA.

The court ruled that Mahmoud emerged President of the NBA on the voided constitution, adding that by implication, his recommendation of senior lawyers to the National Judicial Council (NJC), for appointment as judges is now invalid.

Meanwhile, the general counsel of the NBA is expected to take over as President of the association until a fresh election is conducted under the constitution passed by a resolution of members in 2001.

Abubakar Mahmoud, former Kano State attorney general and commissioner for justice, was elected as the President of the NBA on Monday, August 1, 2016 where he got 3,055 votes to defeat Joe-Kyari Gadzama who polled 2,384 votes. [myad]