President of Niger Republic, Issoufou Mahamadou and President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria address a joint press conference in Niamey, Niger Republic during the visit of President Buhari today to that country. [myad]
The former Borno State Governor, Modu Sheriff, today, handed himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and has consequently been detained by the anti-graft agency over an alleged N300 Billion misappropriation when he was in office.
The EFCC had earliefr invited him to answer to charges of corruption when he was governor of the state between 2003 and 2011.
The spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that Sheriff was currently being held by the commission.
It was gathered that the anti-graft agency was looking for him to explain how his administration spent N300 billion it received from the Federation Account between 2003 and 2011.
The EFCC had on April 23, 2015 moved to declare him wanted when he failed to honour its invitations for questioning.
The former governor was said to have damned the invitation and stayed away.
A source said the investigation began in 2012 and had not been concluded ever since.
Sheriff, who governed Borno State on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) was a senator between 1999 and 2003 on the ticket of the same party.
He was a founding member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) before he defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). [myad]
Officials of the United States government are now believed to be investigation FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, in a bid to conclusively unravel the corruption allegations in the world football body.
Blatter declared yesterday that he would be stepping down as FIFA to allow for restructuring in the organisation. He had won re-election for a fifth term on Friday but bowed to pressure to quit amid scandals in FIFA.
U.S. prosecutors spearheaded the recent wave of arrests and probes, with seven FIFA officials arrested in Zurich, Switzerland last Wednesday.
U.S media quoted officials who said they hoped to gain the co-operation of some of the FIFA figures now under indictment on charges of racketeering and money laundering to try to build a case against Blatter. [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has assured the Amnesty International that his government will not condone impunity and human right violation from any quarters, even as he acknowledged receipt of the Amnesty’s report on Nigeria, titled: “Nigeria: Stories of horror in their own words.”
A statement from in Niamey, Niger Republic, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity), Malam Garba Shehu quoted President Buhari as acknowledging receipt of the report which he said contained many disturbing allegations.
The President assured that his administration will study the document and act appropriately, adding: “I assure you that your report will be looked into.”
He said that without meaning to prejudice the outcome of any investigation, Nigerians needed to be reassured that his administration will leave no stone unturned to promote the rule of law, and deal with all cases of human rights abuses.
“Respect for human rights and adherence to the rule of law are the life and soul of the democratic system. We will not tolerate or condone impunity and reckless disregard for human rights.”
Meanwhile, Nigerian Director of Defense Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, has accused Amnesty International of attempting to blackmail the Nigerian government and military.
In his official response to a report published by the Amnesty International, detailing egregious human rights abuses by the Nigerian military, Olukolade described the allegation as part of the international human rights organization’s efforts at supporting the actions of Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria and trying to blackmail Nigerian officials.
The report implored the new Nigerian government under President Buhari to investigate military officials for the deaths of more than 8,000 people by murder, starvation, suffocation, and torture.
The Major General said: “the loud publicity given to these damning allegations suggests an intention to blackmail the military and particular senior officers rather than a sincere advise to the government.”
He called the report a calculated attempt to destroy the reputation and image of the Nigerian military. He also claimed that Amnesty International is trying to distract the public from the narrative of Boko Haram’s dwindling power.
“It is clear that Amnesty International (AI) becomes more active in presenting distractive allegations whenever the terrorists are losing ground in the battle.”
The Nigerian military has continuously had criticism lodged against it for human rights abuses, corruption, extrajudicial murders, and torture by local and international human rights organizations. [myad]
No fewer than 50 civil servants in Niger State have dragged the former State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, before a Minna High Court, demanding N100 Million for the unlawful seizure and sale of their motorcycles.
The civil servants argued that the seizure of their motorcycles amounted to a violation of their fundamental human rights.
The applicants, in a suit filed at the High Court 4, on May 25, by their counsel, Mr. Adegoke Omoloja of Cosmic Chambers, Abuja, prayed the court for a declaration that the seizure and the subsequent sale of the applicants motorcycles by the former governor through his Commissioner of Works, was illegal, null and void and constituted a violation of their fundamental human rights as enshrined in the constitution.
The applicants also prayed the court for an order awarding compensation of one N1m in favour of each applicant against the respondents and another N50m as general damages.
In a 60-paragraph affidavit in support of the case deposed to by one Ndagi Mohammed, the applicants said the arrest, seizure and sale of their motorcycles had brought untold hardship and difficulties to their families especially in getting to places of work, taking children to school and taking their wives to places of work or for maternity checks.
“That some of us bought the motorcycle through cooperatives (as can be seen on purchase receipts attached) on loan which they still deduct from our salaries monthly,” he said.
He stated that the then governor acted as prosecutor, judge, jury and auctioneer, which was a direct violation of “our right to fair hearing,” adding that “our freedom to movement and right to liberty has been violated by the restriction placed on motorcycles by the first respondent, Muazu Babangida Aliyu.”
The case has been fixed for June 29 for hearing.
[myad]
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, today visited the scene of the fuel tanker accident, which claimed over 40 lives at Upper Iweka in Onitsha in Anambra state.
Amnesty International has said that it has sufficient evidence to sue five senior officers in the Nigeria Army at the International Criminal Court for war crimes in the battle against Boko Haram, even as the military reacted with anger, rejecting the charge.
The Amnesty, in a new 133-page report it compiled, based on hundreds of interviews, including with military sources, and using leaked defence ministry documents said that the reports were centred on thousands of people that were extra-judicially murdered by the security forces and its civilian vigilante allies, as well as crimes against those held in military custody.
Amnesty’s secretary general Salil Shetty described the abuses as “sickening” but Nigeria’s military hit back, saying that the report was designed to besmirch its reputation.
“In the course of security operations against Boko Haram in north-east Nigeria, Nigerian military forces have extrajudicially executed more than 1,200 people; they have arbitrarily arrested at least 20,000 people, mostly young men and boys,” the report said.
Nigerian forces “have committed countless acts of torture; hundreds, if not thousands, of Nigerians have become victims of enforced disappearance; and at least 7,000 people have died in military detention as a result of starvation, extreme overcrowding and denial of medical assistance”, it added.
Amnesty said commanders based in the northeast “should be investigated for potential responsibility for war crimes of murder, enforced disappearances and torture”.
Top service chiefs in the capital Abuja “should be investigated for their potential command responsibility for crimes committed by their subordinates given that they knew or should have known about the commission of the crimes, and failed to take adequate action”.
The ICC in The Hague has previously opened a preliminary investigation into the Boko Haram conflict, which Amnesty said has killed at least 17,000 people since 2009.
The tribunal has however stated there was insufficient evidence tying Nigeria’s military to systematic and orchestrated atrocities targeting civilians.
But the report said: “Amnesty International believes that the evidence contained in this report and submitted separately to the (ICC) Office of the Prosecutor is sufficient to reopen this issue.
[myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has given assurance that despite that he is just four days in office as President of Nigeria, he has started the process of ending Boko Haram, even as he expressed confidence in the ability of the Nigerian military to overcome and eradicate the sect.
Speaking today at an interactive session with journalists after talks with the President of the Republic of Niger, Issoufou Mahamadou in Niamey, Niger Republic, President Buhari declared: “my administration will bring new impetus and a renewed commitment to the efforts to wipe out the menace of the Boko Haram insurgents.
“As a first step, we have directed the relocation of the command post of the counter-insurgency operations to Maiduguri until such a time that the insurgency is completely defeated.”
President Buhari declared that the Nigerian Army which has earned a good reputation across the world, remains a virile fighting force.
“I am four days in office today and we have already started the process of ending the insurgency.
“The ultimate objective however, remains to end the insurgency and facilitate their return to their homes.”
He said that in the course of the over five hours meeting he held with heads of Nigeria’s Armed Forces and Security Agencies yesterday, on-going operations against Boko Haram were reviewed for better results.
President Buhari said that because of the peculiarities of terrorism, the movement of terrorists across borders and the unconventional nature of the war against terror, Nigeria will continue to seek the support of neighbouring countries in its bid to overcome Boko Haram.
The President said that his visit to Niger was to seek more support from the country in bringing a quick end to the atrocities of Boko Haram.
President Buhari said he would hold similar meetings on security and the war against terrorism with the Chadian authorities after leaving Niameytomorrow.
He said that Nigeria would also require the assistance of other nations and multi-lateral institutions to rebuild areas that have been adversely affected by the Boko Haram insurgency and rehabilitate displaced persons.
At the opening of bilateral talks between Nigeria and Niger earlier, President Buhari praised the contributions of his hosts to the on-going multi-national effort against terrorism, insurgency and cross-border crimes.
“Permit me also to acknowledge the consistency with which the government and people of Niger Republic have stood beside Nigeria under all circumstances. I would like to convey the appreciation of Nigeria for the sacrifices by Niger in the on-going efforts to counter the menace of the Boko Haram insurgency.
“Niger Republic has over the years, proven to be a reliable ally to Nigeria both at bilateral and multilateral levels. It is our hope and aspiration that this special relationship would be further consolidated during my administration.
“Another issue of concern to us which is closely associated with the insurgency in the region is the influx of refugees and other displaced persons. We are aware that currently, there are over one hundred and fifty thousand displaced persons comprising refugees and returnees taking refuge in various parts of Niger.
“Our administration will work closely with governments of the affected States to continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the displaced persons and their host communities.
In his remarks, the President of Niger commended President Buhari for making Niger the first country he will visit after his inauguration.
“Your decision to move the military command of Nigeria to the North East has further strengthened our conviction that the war against terrorism will soon come to an end.”
He assured President Buhari that Niger will continue to support Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram.
[myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will tomorrow, Wednesday, leave Nigeria for engagements in other countries at various levels.
While President Buhari will head for Chad and Niger to engage in finding solution to the scourge of Boko Haram, Vice President Osinbajo will lead a delegation of government officials to the World Economic Forum on Africa (WEFA), holding in Capa Town, South Africa.
Information reaching us showed that Professor Osinbajo will give a talk on issues related to youth employment and job creation at the three-day forum which is expected to be attended by about 1,250 persons, made up of leaders, government officials, notable public and private sector players, people from the academia and civil society groups.
The focus at the forum will be on infrastructure development, financing for the region, economic growth, entrepreneurship, safeguarding Africa’s democratic dividend, Africa’s mobile technology, data revolution and designing of smarter cities among others, a programme on the WEFA website showed.The forum will also discuss how best to tackle the issues facing the continent, including attention to terrorism.
Agriculture is another sector that most African countries have not fully explored and it will form part of the talks at various meetings.
The immediate past Minister of Finance in Nigeria, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and Mr. Uche Orji of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority are also attending the forum.
It is hoped that at the end of the three-day meeting, some realistic ideas and practical solutions to Africa’s numerous challenges would be evolved.
Africa has become a hotbed for investment, as it has continued to record good growth potential despite the challenges facing some of its economies.
Conversation will start on Wednesday, June 3 and the forum would try to come up with practical ways of combating the different challenges facing the continent. [myad]
Jordanian Prince Ali bin al Hussein has indicated his interest to contest election for the presidency of world football’s governing football body, FIFA, following the announcement by Sepp Blatter that he is quitting.
Prince Ali had failed in his bid last week to oust Blatter, the Swiss veteran who won a fifth term in Friday’s vote, but then announced today that he was to step down amid a growing corruption scandal.
“As for new elections, Prince Ali is ready,” Sala Sabra, vice-president of the Jordanian football federation which the prince heads up, said.
The Prince, Sabra added, was also ready “to take up the presidency immediately if they ask him.” [myad]
