A Nigerian Army Major and one other soldier were reportedly killed today in Abonnema, in Akuku-Toru local government area of River state less than 48 hours before the Saturday supplementary elections in the state.
Report reaching us indicated that the soldiers ran into an ambush set up by militants in the volatile state.
This is even as the Nigerian Army has confirmed the killing of two soldiers by suspected sea pirates in Rivers State. Captain Elli Lazarus, the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 2 Brigade, Port Harcourt, said that a Major and one soldier were killed after an exchange of gunfire with suspected sea pirates in Abonnema, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area. “At about 11am on Thursday, March 17, troops on patrol in Abonnema, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers had a fierce encounter with a group of unknown gunmen suspected to be sea pirates. “Our men displayed extraordinary gallantry, but unfortunately, an officer and a soldier, who sustained various degrees of injury during the encounter, lost their lives. “We are currently in pursuit of the criminals and we will surely apprehend them.” Lazarus, however, urged residents of the state to go about their lawful activities without fear of molestation. He assured them that the Army had made necessary arrangements to ensure sustainable peace and security of lives and properties before, during and after the parliamentary elections in the state. [myad]
Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Mr. Barnabas Yusuf Bala, has explained that the Religious Preaching Bill aims to protect the state from religious extremism and hate speech.
The Deputy Governor told a delegation of the Kaduna State branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) that the government has a duty to ensure that religious violence no longer threatens the state. He said that the Kaduna State Government is always committed to ensuring that religion can be practised in a safe and secure climate.
“We swore to uphold the Constitution which recognises the freedom of religion and thought as fundamental rights. The same Constitution obliges us to ensure the safe exercise of these rights by legislating in the interest of public safety, public order, public morality or public health, and for the purpose of protecting the rights and freedom of other persons.
“This is not a new law. It has existed since 1984, with amendments in 1987 and 1996. The military governments which created the law were responding to outbreaks of religious violence such as Maitatsine in 1983; the riots after the Kafanchan incidence of 1987.
“This is the first time that the legislation is passing through a democratic process, with all the transparency that the public hearing and other legislative processes of the House of Assembly entails. Proposing this amendment is a deliberate decision by the government to subject the law to a democratic process, rather than just enforce the provisions of the edict as passed since 1984.
“Kaduna State has a history of religious/sectarian crisis and what this Bill seeks to do is not anything new but to learn from painful experience, and discourage the use of religion for violence and division. The Bill, by virtue of Section 45(1) of the 1999 Constitution, is in order and does not offend the provisions of the constitution. The provisions of the Bill are in tandem with the Constitution.
“There is nothing in the Bill that suggests any effort to abolish, stop or derogate on the freedom of religion and religious beliefs. It merely seeks to ensure that religious preaching and activities in the State are conducted in ways that do not threaten public order, public safety, and to protect the rights and freedom of other persons.”
The CAN delegation was led by the state chairman, Bishop George Dodo who assured the government that CAN is preparing its position for submission to the House of Assembly and the state executive. [myad]
“If he (Rotimi Amaechi) dares comes to anybody’s polling booth and you see him, beat him thoroughly. I will show him that I am the Governor of Rivers State. I challenge him to move around.”
These were the words of Governor Nyeson Wike of Rivers state as the state get set to go into the rerun legislative elections on Saturday this week.
At the grand finale of the PDP campaign rally held at Ikwerre Local government area, Wike alleged that the party had uncovered a plan by the APC to “swap original election result sheets on the voting day”.
Governor Wike, who flipped a list purported to be the list of INEC Returning Officers stressed that “INEC has recruited APC members as adhoc staff.”
“We know their plans. They have arranged how to swap original results on that day. They want to do it Amina Zakari. Tell them we have passed that stage. Is this how Nigeria wants to change? We heard Amaechi will be moving from polling booth to polling booth. Let him try it.
This was even as Amaechi insisted that he would go round during the Election Day and that Wike cannot do anything to stop him.
At rally held in Etche Local government area, Amaechi vowed to dare Wike on Election Day, adding that he will move around to show Wike that he is more powerful than him.
According to Amaechi, it is important to stop the Governor from intimidating the people of the state. [myad]
The FCT Administration has declared that the request by the promoters of the Centenary city project for the revocation of the development agreement between the Centenary City Plc and the FCT Administration is untenable and unrealistic. The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello made this declaration today at the National Assembly during the public hearing on the Centenary project by the Senate Committee on the FCT. Malam Bello revealed that the Centenary City Plc wrote the FCT Administration requesting for the revocation of a valid development agreement which was duely executed by the two parties as a pre condition to access the over 1, 200 hectares of land for the development of the city. His words: Frankly speaking the Centenary City Plc is seeking to operate a parallel authority within the FCT. If not, how do you explain a situation where by the company is asking for the cancelation of the agreement between us and them only to enforce a third party agreement signed between them and another government agency”. He reiterated that the project was a unique and well conceived idea which the administration is proud to be part of, insisting however, that the agreement clearly spelt out the obligations of each party in the project. The minister said the arrangement which the company is trying to implement was reached between it and the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) which was signed after the company had earlier entered into a pact with the FCT Administration which qualified it to embark on the project. He said the free trade zone status which the company is seeking to enforce did form part of the agreement between it and the FCT Administration. Malam Bello therefore insisted that the administration cannot allow another set of laws to regulate any part of the territory, stressing that the matter has been forwarded to the office the Attorney General of the Federation for legal advise on whether it is proper to have an entity within the Federal Capital Territory operating outside the the FCTA laws. He said while the administration remains committed to genuine efforts by investors to join hands in the development of the FCT, there is need for all the areas which are not agreeable to the FCT Administration to be further discussed so that the project can continue without any hitches. “It can be clearly seen that implementing the NEPZA agreement in the Centenary city would be tantamount to having two governments in one city” the minister said. Speaking eelier, the Chairman of the committee Senator Dino Melaye told the gathering that the meeting was called in order to identify the challenges that have hindered the smooth implementation of the Centenary city project. He said the project which was conceived as a land mark for the attainment of Nigeria’s one hundred years as a nation would be of immense benefit to the country which the Senate as an institution would all that is necessary to make sure that it is realized. [myad]
The Police Commissioner in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Wilson Inalegwu has warned political gladiators in the April 9 Area Council election to stop what he called political rascality.
He made it clear that the law enforcement agents would be fully alive to their responsibilities before, during and after the elections, adding: “enough of rascality.”
The police boss spoke today at a security meeting presided over by the minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello at the Banquet Hall of the Minister’s Residence, Gwarinpa I District, Abuja.
The meeting was held to assess the general security situation as the FCT Area Councils’ Election approaches.
Inalegwu condemned the recent political violence in Abaji Area Council, describing the perpetrators as fugitives as they no longer sleep in their houses even as he gave assurance that the Police is on their trail.
He vowed that they would be brought to book.
Addressing the meeting, the minister, Muhammad Bello stressed that under no circumstance should the security agencies allow anybody bring about the breakdown of law and order in any part of the Territory.
“The Security Agents must fish out perpetrators of the violent attack and should be made to face the full wrath of the law because nobody is above the law,” Muhammad Bello emphasized.
“I urge you (security Agencies) to arrest any of those involved in the Abaji incident and make them as examples to others, even if the perpetrators are sitting Council Chairman here, because the law is no respecter of anybody.”
The Minister reiterated that all the political parties, particularly the contestants must check their overzealous supporters and put their houses in order. [myad]
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has commenced the preparation for the 2016 hajj operations with the staging of a three-day screening exercise of airlines and excess luggage carriers that are expected to provide services to the Nigerian pilgrims during 2016 Hajj.
A statement from the Head of the Media of the Commission, Uba Mana said that nine air carriers and four excess luggage carries had made the list at the opening of application forms event which took place today at Stonehedge hotel, Abuja.
“The carriers to be screened were Azman Air Services, Chanchangi Airlines, Dornier AIEP, Fly-Nas, Kabo Air Limited, Max Air Limited, Med-View Airlines, Skypower Express Airways Limited and Top Brass, while applicants as excess luggage carriers were Cargo Zeal Technologies Limited, Evergreen and White, Med-View International Travels and Cargo and NAHCO Aviance. “
Uba Mana said that the Chairman/CEO of NAHCON, Barrister Abdullahi Mukhtar Muhammad, charged members of the screening committee to ensure transparency and due process, so that only the capable and experienced airline operators would be prequalified.
“He expressed confidence in the ability of the committee made up of aviation experts to deliver,” adding that Barrister Muhammad informed the applicants of the insistence of the Saudi government on full implementation of the e-track system and the demand that all the airliners must secure their Saudi-bound slots before the end of April 2016.
“He announced that the Commission has issued new guidelines for some activities for 2016 Hajj, including guidelines on pilgrims’ accommodation in Makkah and Madina, guidelines on 2016 pilgrims’ feeding, guidelines on unified pilgrims’ registration and guidelines on the licensing of State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board/Agencies/Commissions.
“He said that over 1.7billion Naira have been refunded to all the State boards and agencies from 2015 Hajj for pilgrims who could not perform the Hajj and for various services that were not rendered to the pilgrims by the services providers. He called on all Nigerian pilgrims of 2015 Hajj to go to their respective state boards and agencies to collect their refunds.
“The Chairman thanked the Federal government, the National Assembly and all the relevant organs of the government for their support and assured that the Commission will achieve greater success in 2016 Hajj.”
In his remarks, the Deputy Chairman of the House of Representaives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Ibrahim Abdullahi, commended the level of transparency in the opening of the application forms and urged the screening committee to maintain the tempo.
He commended NAHCON for its efforts in ensuring that pilgrims got the best services they pay for and wished the airliners well in their application to participate in the 2016 Hajj exercise.
The Chairman of the screening committee and NAHCON commissioner in charge of Operations, Alhaji Abullah Modibbo Saleh on behalf of the committee members promised to give equal opportunity to the applicants.
The committee was made up of the three executive commissioners of the Commission, Board members representing the six geopolitical zones, representative of the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), representatives from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), NAMA, NIMET, AIPB, Customs, ICPC, EFCC, officials of Osun, Kano, Nasarawa states and FCT, while Bar. Alhassan Abdulkarim will serve as the secretary. [myad]
A lawyer who was simply identified as Chidi, slumped in a court room in Lagos today and died while defending two accused persons, Okedairo Okedeji, 38, and Akolade Agbola, 28, for allegedly stealing meat and snail worth N28,000 belonging to Southern Sun Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Eye witness account said that Chidi had arrived late at the Igbosere Magistrates’ Court premises on Lagos Island for the case, but discovered that the court had already called the case and adjourned it to April 14. The lawyer then apologized to the court for coming late, attributing it to traffic. The News Agency of Nigeria reported that as the lawyer was apologizing, he started gasping for breath and was coughing profusely; his client rushed him outside the court room for fresh air. When the cough persisted, his tie was removed and he pleaded that they should help him get a cab to take him home. While they were trying to get the cab, he couldn’t move any longer so his client had to carry him on his back downstairs. Immediately he got into the cab, he stopped breathing. The taxi man was said to have returned him to the court premises, saying he could not carry the lawyer to avoid police harassment. It was later confirmed that he gave up the ghost at the Lagos Island General Hospital. [myad]
Some members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), have jointly accused their leader, Otumba Gani Adams of having received the sum of $22 Million and diverting it for his personal use.
In a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the aggrieved members alleged that one of the purported offences of Adams was the diversion of $22 million, which he allegedly received on behalf of the group from the late Libyan leader, Muamar Ghadaffi.
According to Reports Afrique, the aggrieved members made these claims of financial fraud in a three-page petition, dated March 4 and signed by 26 members of the National Coordinating Council of the group. The petition was reported to have been received at the Lagos office of the anti-graft agency on March 11.
The aggrieved OPC members who signed the petition include; Rasak Arogundade, Monsuru Akande, Adesina Akinpelu, Kehinde Ogunyale, Adeola Adeagbo, Ranti Akande, Gbenga Egunlusi, Lateef Oshodi, Layiwola Ogunsolu, Olusoji Folorunso, Sunday Bankole, Segun Olusanya and Sunday Adebayo and Idowu Akintunde.
Also in the list are; Oyename Adebayo, Lateef Kaka, Oladipupu Musa, Musiliu Amusa, Lateef Ogungbayi, Morufu Salami, Rotimi Akinsowon, Taofik Hameed, Dauda Oyelowo, Yinka Olowoporoku, Adio Odewole and Alexander Adesina.
The petition reads in part:
“Besides funds stolen or misappropriated by Adams, there is also the case of about six million members (using Adams estimate of OPC membership strength during his pro-Jonathan campaigns) who are obligated to obtain the group’s identification cards at N2,500 each.
“From identity cards alone, Gani Adams pockets about N15 billion every year. Adams equally diverted N150 million specially set aside by the NCC and meant for building a hotel for the OPC in each South- West state capital. This is besides the N100 million or more, also made by encouraging unwary members to buy shares in the hotel project. The hotel scheme was conceived in 2007 but has failed to see the light of the day.
“This situation is no longer acceptable to us and the generality of the OPC cadre who have been at the receiving end of Adams misdemeanour. Ours has been for too long, like the proverbial masquerade that farted, it can only bear the nauseating stink until it is dissipated with time.”
The OPC boss’ personal assistant, Prince Olalekan Segun Akanni, who reacted to the development, stated that if the petitioners had their facts, they would meet at the EFCC.
“Those behind the petition are expelled members of the group who are seeking relevance by saying the same things for a long time without anything to show for it.
“One of the vocals among them has been trying to get the attention of the leader and has even demanded a certain amount of money for him to ditch his co-rebels.” he said. [myad]
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello is angry with those who unleash political violence that disrupted the peace of Abaji, in Abaji Area Council of the capital city, vowing that the perpetrators would be fished out and made to face the wrath of the law.
The minister, who spoke today at the National Assembly Complex while briefing the House of Representatives Committee on FCT Area Councils and Ancillary Matter on the preparedness of the FCT Administration for the rescheduled Area Councils Elections, emphasized that all those involved in the violence, irrespective of political affiliations, would be arrested and prosecuted to serve as deterrent to those who may wish to copy that anti social behavior. “I have already directed the Security Agencies to ensure that all those involved irrespective of their political lining be arrested as the law would take it full course.” Muhammad Bello insisted that the FCT Area Councils’ elections must be conducted peacefully and therefore urged all political gladiators to warn their followers not to be involved political thuggery. “The FCT Administration would partner with all stakeholders to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order in any part of the Federal Capital Territory.” He said that all the flashpoints have been identified across the Territory and would be effectively monitored to guarantee that law and order is maintained before, during and after the FCT Area Councils’ elections. The Minister said that the Administration has contacted the Traditional Rulers on the need to reach out to their subjects to observe a peaceful election as well as mobilizing the residents to come out en-masse to observe their civic responsibility. Muhammad Bello assured that the FCT Administration would continue to support the Security Agencies carry out their duty effectively, even as the Chairman, House Committee on Interior, Hon. Adams Jagaba, who is also a member of the Committee assured the FCT Minister that he would mobilize all the security agencies to fully support the FCT Administration in ensuring that the April 9, 2016 elections are conducted in a peaceful atmosphere. The FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye and the Acting Secretary of the FCT Area Councils’ Secretariat accompanied the Minister to the National Assembly Complex. [myad]
Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, today in Malabo, signed an agreement on the establishment of a combined Maritime Policing and Security Patrol Committee. The conclusion and signing of the agreement is expected to enhance security in the Gulf of Guinea and help in curbing maritime crimes such as piracy, crude oil theft, sabotage of oil rigs and arms smuggling. According to a communiqué issued at the end of President Buhari’s visit to Malabo, both countries also agreed to discuss greater cooperation on oil and gas production and a bilateral trade agreement. It was further agreed that the Nigeria-Equatorial Guinea Joint Commission will be revived from its present state of dormancy and empowered to play its proper role in the strengthening of bilateral relations between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea. President Muhammadu Buhari and President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo expressed satisfaction with the atmosphere of trust and solidarity that now exists between their countries. In their talks during the two-day visit, the two leaders discussed sub-regional, regional and international issues including terrorism, violent extremism and the state of the global economy, especially as it affects Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea. They also discussed the crises in some African countries and efforts by the African Union to achieve peace, stability and progress across the continent. President Buhari who has since returned to Abuja thanked President Mbasogo and the people of Equatorial Guinea for the warm reception given to him and his delegation during the visit. [myad]
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A Nigerian Army Major and one other soldier were reportedly killed today in Abonnema, in Akuku-Toru local government area of River state less than 48 hours before the Saturday supplementary elections in the state.
