A federal court in Abuja has struck out charges against Aminu Ogwuche, suspected to have been the mastermind of the Nyanya bomb attack in Abuja.
The two-count terrorism charges brought against Ogwuche was struck out by the court, for what the court called lack of diligent prosecution on the part of the police.
The suspect has been on trial for months for the attack in April 2014 that killed more than 70 people.
However, Ogwuche is to remain in the custody of the Directorate of State Security (DSS).
The Nigerian government had accused Ogwuche of being behind the attack. The government said that Ogwuche fled to Sudan after coordinating the attack.
He was later repatriated to Nigeria to face charges. [myad]
President Goodluck Jonathan has demanded apology from the Muslim Right Concern (MURIC) for accusing him of promoting Zionism. The President, through his special adviser on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, in a statement today said that it is not true that he is using the highest office in the country to promote Zion nation. “I think that is a most unfortunate statement coming from Professor Akintola of MURIC and for which they owe me an apology.” The President who was reacting to a statement signed by Professor Ishaq Akintola, the Director of MURIC, denied the allegation against him that there is a Jewish symbol in the proposed commemorative new N100 note, which will be officially issued on December 19. Jonathan said he found Professor Akintola’s allegations rather curious, adding: “he needs to be told that I am not anti-Muslim as he alleges. I am the President of all Nigerians, whatever may be their beliefs.” On the MURIC director’s allegation that Muslims were marginalized in the national conference, the President described it as a very unfortunate thing to say. According to him, the truth is that the national conference organised by this administration has been praised and described as one of the best of such conferences ever organised in this country. “It was a purposeful conference, a conference in which a lot of maturity was displaced. Religion did not become a big issue in that conference. “Rather, the conference became a platform for addressing many issues of general concern to various groups, ethnic or religious. “MURIC cannot claim not to know that that was a very successful conference.” On MURIC allegation that the security system in Aso Rock is saturated with Israeli security operatives, the President described it as a blatant lie. “There are no Israeli security operatives saturating the security system in Aso Rock. To convince himself that this is true, we will like to invite Prof. Akintola on a visit to the Presidential Villa, to see whether indeed it is Israelis that are in charge of security. “The security operatives in the Villa are not foreigners, they are Nigerians and there is no connection with Israel whatsoever. “The premised of the issue that formed the basis for Akintola’s vituperation is wrong and he is misinformed. “The symbol his statement is referring to is the Star of David. “There is no where on that proposed note as indicated in the specimen that has been widely publicized where there is any Jewish or Zionist symbol or the Star of David.The Star of David is a hexagram which is two triangles of equal lines superimposed on each other. The hexagram is a very popular symbol but it is not on that naira note. “The symbol that he is referring to is not a Jewish symbol. It is what they call spark security feature. It is an optical magnetic feature which enables the public to authenticate a currency note whether it is genuine or counterfeit. “That is the function of that particular design. That design is not an hexagram and it is not in any way associated with Israel or Jewish or Zionism. It is two squares merged into one with a Manila briquet, which is a symbol of the cowrie money used during the colonial era. It is an attempt on the part of MURIC to cause disaffection because on the design of that note, the value of that note is written out in the three major languages in Nigeria, recognized in the constitution: Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa. He said that no attempt has been made to use this proposed naira note to discriminate against anybody and the attack on me is undeserved, unwarranted and totally unkind.” He believed that MURIC will see the need to quickly apologise for misleading the public and for issuing that kind of statement that can cause disaffection against him. [myad]
The matriarch of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief (Mrs.) Hannah Dideolu Awolowo will turn 99 tomorrow, Tuesday, even as President Goodluck Jonathan sent a congratulatory message to her. In the message, President Jonathan said that he and his family joined millions of admirers of the late nationalist, renowned political leader and sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo in wishing his “Jewel of Inestimable Value” very happy birthday celebrations. The President prayed to God to grant Chief (Mrs.) Awolowo many more years of worthy service as the matriarch and moral compass of the great Awolowo political dynasty which continues to play a commendable role in national development and progress. President Jonathan hoped that he would also personally witness the celebration of Chief (Mrs.) Awolowo’s landmark 100 th birthday next year to honour the highly-revered spouse of one of Nigeria’s famous founding fathers. He further prayed to God, who has blessed Chief (Mrs.) Awolowo with remarkable longevity, to grant her continued good health and very memorable birthday celebrations. [myad]
President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor talked back at the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar III at the opening, today, of a two-day Roundtable meeting for Special Advisers on religious matters from the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory at the Presidential Aso Villa, Abuja. While the Sultan said that as leaders of Muslims “we have tried to contain the insurgents in Nigeria and all over the globe. There is no where I have not been to, talk about the fact that there is no problem between Christians and Muslims. In The Common World – published in 2010, we wrote to Islamic State (ISIS) to tell them that they should not continue to do what they were doing in the name of Islam. If we read those documents we must trust what we have done our best.” The CAN President responded thus: “His Eminence said he wrote a letter to ISIS, I have to truly congratulate you for that because that was a very good move. I didn’t know about it until today and I am so glad it happened. But I want to appeal that you also write to Boko Haram because Boko Haram is worst than ISIS. They have killed more people than ISIS. They have caused more atrocities than ISIS. They need to be written to as well, it is very important. It will help. “It is true, your Eminence, that Christianity and Islam have no problem but I’m glad you said there could be problem between Christians and Muslims and the reason is because probably we are not going deep enough. “You touched on some very important things. For example and please permit me to say this, why should a church in the north for the last 30 years not be able to get C of O? Any Mosque anywhere in Nigeria should be able to get a C of O. Why is it that people want to build a place of worship, they are not given a land? “Those of you who represent these governors, I like what His eminence said; tell your governors some of these things and if they refused, resign. “Hopefully, people will ask why you are resigning. Because we must create a level playing ground for everybody. We must deal with each other as equals: very important, very vital. No matter your religion, in any state you come from, if you qualify for a position you should get it.” The Sultan said that Nigerians should thank God that religious leaders are now sitting and talking together to find the way forward, saying that it is a blessing. “It is an important step towards finding lasting peace in our country. We would have been on th streets fighting one another. When the Sultan and CAN President speak, it is very serous and our fellowers take it seriously.” Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar insisted that there is no problem between Islam and Christianity, advising however that leader of both religions need to educate their followers on the religious tenets. According to Sultan, one of the problems facing Nigeria today is the fact that they don’t tell themselves the truth. “Let us know what to tell our leaders. We must follow due process to execute projects. “Whatever you can do to eliminate pains please do so. Don’t tell our leaders what they want to hear, tell them the truth. We had written a strong worded letters; that was two years ago. We have done our best at our level. We can only advise.” Sultan Sa’ad noted that the best platform available now to address the current challenges is the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council, which he regretted, had not met not met in the last one and half years because the funds was not released by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. “This needs to be cleared to clear the doubts that we do not want to meet. “You cannot compare what happened in the Niger Delta to what is happening in north the east. How many heads and emirs have been displaced? How many people have been killed? How many people have been kidnapped. How many of our people are now internally displaced persons?” The Sultan appealed to politicians to play politics without rancour as the nation approaches 2015 elections campaigns. “Let us not look at religion and ethnicity of candidates but their capacity and how they can move this country forward. The CAN President insisted that if Nigerians have to begin to learn to come together, there must be sincerity, equality, fear of God and genuine love for one another. “The problem with gatherings like this is that if we are not careful it becomes an occasion for good photographs; we shake hands, we talk very nicely, we are all politically correct. We don’t want to offend each other. Please let’s offend each other; we need to. Because if we don’t offend each other, we will not tell each other the truth and that is part of Nigeria’s problem. “If you come out to say certain things there are those who feel you are rocking the boat but God is in the boat; the boat will not sink. Let us talk to each other, let us tell the truth to each other; let us not sweep it under the carpet. When we finish the opening ceremony and you go into the close door session, lay all the cards on the table.” Oritsejafor said that he had made an appeal several times that the religioud, political and traditional leaders should come together and discuss. “I have heard and I may be wrong, one thing you will learn about me is that I’m usually not politically correct, I tell you as it is. But I have been told that the Boko Haram, to a very large extent, are very vast in scriptures. What scriptures do they use? “There are still religion cleric that they respect. If these people are not presenting the right thing and are misrepresenting Islam, which I agree it is so to a very large extent, we expect that our brothers should reach out to them so that the real Islam can be presented to them. “They won’t liten to me. In fact, they will kill me faster than anything else. Oh yes, that is the truth and I am aware of that. In fact, as I speak I know what is going on around me all the time, so I know. But that is not to say that they don’t kill Muslims, please don’t misunderstand me. But the reality is that the Muslims they kill they kill for two reasons. One: there are Muslims who disagree with their ideology, that is a fact and I thank God for that. Two: there are Muslims who refuse to work with them or who give information about them, so they are not happy with them. It is a fact so I am not going to deny that.” He said that right now, there is no single church standing a place like Mubi, adding that every church in that town has been leveled. CAN President asked: “can you imagine a governor saying to somebody that he cannot use the money of his state to send people of a certain religion on pilgrimage. “We must change such attitude. We must correct this thing. We cannot do that and have a great nation. “Let me say that our actions must match our words. It is not enough to say sweet and good things and wonderful thing. Those wonderful things are good but our practical actions must match everything we are saying. When you meet, meet with the heart that this is our Nigeria. We don’t have another one. And as you meet, because you know you are not crossing to Cameroon, you are not crossing to Chad, you are in Nigeria and you are a Nigerian, put all the cards on the table. You may annoy each other. You may offend each other but if genuinely truly we believe that we are all Nigerians, then we will find ways to work out those disagreements. But to sweep issues under the carpet will not take us anywhere.” The chairman of the occasion, former Head of Service of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed had set the tone of the meeting when he called on the participants to speak devoid of pretenses. He asked them however to work together as brothers and sisters, reminding them: “We will account to God for whatever we do either in pretenses or in all sincerity.” [myad]
As the crisis rocking the Ebonyi state chapter of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continues to deepen, there are feelers that the embattled Governor of the state, Chief Martins Elechi is mobilizing his aides and appointed local government administrators for a protest at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja tomorrow, Tuesday. This development is believed to be the fallout of the crisis in Ebonyi following the decision of the governor to anoint a former minister from the state as his successor, come 2015. It would be recalled that major stakeholders in the state have been at loggerheads with the governor, following accusations of high handedness. This has also led to the complete boycott of a pro-Jonathan rally organized by Governor Elechi over the weekend by all the major stakeholders in the state. The podium was occupied by only the Governor, his wife, Mrs. Josephine Elechi and the chairman of the occasion Engr. Fidelis Nwankwo. This is in spite of the fact that the governor had earlier ordered all local government chairmen and loyalists to bring people to the event and to also be personally present. An infuriated Elechi was said to have been constrained to use the occasion to attack his opponents, rather than drum up support for Jonathan, or tell the people of the state what he had so far achieved as governor of the state. It would also be recalled that a court of competent jurisdiction has upheld the results of the Ebonyi party primaries and quashed the objections of Elechi and his supported. Coming against the background of the recent decision of the State House of Assembly not to allow the governor to take a loan of N15 billion without first accounting for some N16 billion borrowed earlier, it seems Elechi’s hold on power and relevance have waned irretrievably. With a letter of protest to President Jonathan from major stakeholders in the state, many watchers believe that tomorrow’s planned protest at the party headquarters is a last effort by the embattled Ebony governor to reclaim his lost relevance in the party affairs of the state. [myad]
The United States Defence Secretary, Chuck Hagel, has thrown in the towel even as President Barack Obama has accepted his resignation.
According to US media, Hagel was pressured by Obama to quit, as Pentagon embarks on a new strategy to deal with the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL).
Announcing the resignation today at the White House, Obama, who was flanked by Hagel and Vice President Joe Biden, praised the outgoing defence secretary, who he described as “exemplary.”
“When I asked Chuck to serve as secretary of defence we were entering a significant period of transition: the drawdown in Afghanistan, the need to prepare our forces for future missions and tough fiscal choices to keep our military strong and ready,” Obama said.
Hagel, who was the sole Republican on the US national security team, struggled to improve his ties with Congress after a contentious 2013 confirmation hearing. He submitted his resignation letter after lengthy discussions with Obama that began in October, officials said.
“It’s been the greatest privilege of my life to lead, and most important, to serve with the men and women of the Defence Department and support their families. I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished during this time,” Hagel said.
He will remain in his post until his successor is appointed by the US Senate.
The move suggested that Obama is paying heed to criticism over the handling of the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL) threat in the Middle East.
“Officials are saying that the Pentagon needs an approach different from the one Hagel would bring” if he had stayed, our correspondent said, adding that the Pentagon chief was seen as “timid and a bit confused.”
Hagel had raised questions about Obama’s strategy towards Syria in a two-page internal policy memo he wrote that leaked. In it, he warned that Obama’s policy was in jeopardy due to its failure to clarify its intentions towards Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Obama has insisted that the United States can go after ISIL fighters without addressing Assad, who the United States would like to leave power.
Officials said Obama wanted fresh leadership during the final two years of his administration.
“What I can tell you is there are no policy differences in the background of this decision,” a senior US defence official said.
“The secretary is not resigning in protest and he’s not being ‘fired’,” the official said.
Top potential candidates to replace Hagel include Michele Flournoy, a former under secretary of defence, and Ashton Carter, a former deputy secretary of defence, who were rumoured to be contenders for Hagel’s job before he was named. [myad]
President Goodluck Jonathan has reiterated the need for Nigeria and her neighbours to intensify joint actions and cooperation to win the war against terrorism and insurgency. Speaking to reporters at the Presidential Palace in N’Djamena after a closed-door meeting with his Chadian counterpart, President Idris Deby Itno on Monday, President Jonathan said that their talks focused mainly on security and economic cooperation. He said that Boko Haram has a lot of external influence from outside Africa and that it has become even more imperative for all countries in the region to work together to overcome terrorism and other criminal activities across their borders. “If you look at the economies of Nigeria and Chad both are linked. The Boko haram people don’t take permission to move from Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Nigeria. “If the countries do not cooperate, we will not find it easy to win the war, because when the heat is strong in one country, the criminals and terrorists will go to another one and hide. “So we must work together and we are discussing along that line.” President Jonathan recalled that his visit to Chad was the second in the last one month and that it underscored the importance of building a “robust relationship” between both countries to improve trade, economic and security ties. He said that discussions between both countries on cooperation in the ICT sector were ongoing and expressed optimism that more proficient use of modern technology will help greatly to address economic and security challenges in the region. President Jonathan who was accompanied on the one-day official visit by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali and the Director-General the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ayodele Oke has returned to Abuja. [myad]
Students of the University of Jos, today, boycotted their second semester examinations and embarked on protest against the imposition of N10,000 development levy by the school authorities.
The students, had, as early as 8am, barricaded all the roads leading in and out of the campus, wearing black attires and chanting war songs.
The police had a hectic time trying to control the students as the protest caused a gridlock along the popular Bauchi road.
President of the Students Union Government, Mr. Abel Nok, said he tried to pacify the students and begged them to write their examination, but that they refused.
“I met with the school authorities and we resolved to ask the student s to sit their examinations pending the resolution of the dispute, but they were adamant.”
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Hayward Mafuyai, who spoke on the issue, wondered why the students should protest as the levy had been there for a long time
“The development and acceptance levy have been there for a long time and have been fully embraced by all the stakeholders and I wonder why the protest at this time.” [myad]
Enyimba today, defeated Dolphins 2-1 in the final played at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos to retain the 2014 Federation Cup. This is Enyimba’s fourth cup triumph having won it also in 2005, 2009 and 2013.
Enyimba will represent Nigeria in the 2015 CAF Champions League after they finished runners-up in the league, while Dolphins will feature in the Confederation Cup as beaten cup finalists.
‘The Peoples Elephant’ got the opening goal through the Nigeria league all-time record goal scorer Mfon Udoh, who powered home a canon from the 30 yards to beat Rotimi Sunday in goal for Dolphins in the 52nd minute.
Chinonso Okonkwo made it 2-0 for Enyimba in the 73rd minute after Udoh stole the ball from Dolphin defender Victor Ezuruike..
Emem Eduok gave Dolphins a lifeline in the 80th minute, when he connected Ifenyi Egwim’s pass to take the scores to 2-1.
Omo Johnson missed a chance to equalise for Dolphins in the added time as he fired wide after he had beaten Ugwu Uwadiegwu.
Dolphins Rotimi Sunday denied Chinonso Okonkwo a brace in the 90+3 minute as he made a save off good counter attack that involved Mfon Udoh and Kingsley Sokari.
The first half belonged to Dolphins, while in the second period Enyimba asserted themselves in the game.
Dolphins top scorer in the season Emem Eduok was denied a goal in the 13th minute after his effort was cleared off the line by Chinedu Udoji.
Udoji was on hand again in the 42th minute to clear Tijani Adamu cross before it would be connected.
In the 44th minute, Ebube Okpokwu dangerous cross misses everybody in Enyimba’s box. [myad]
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe has said that no government performed more than President Goodluck Jonathan since the nation’s independence in 1960.
Reacting to observation by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that the administration of President Jonathan is under-performing, Dr. Okupe said that the claims of under-performance are untrue and misleading, stressing that Jonathan performed better than Obasanjo.
The former President had at an event over the weekend declared that he rated the President Goodluck Jonathan administration “below average”, but the
In a statement today, Dr. Okupe said: “We aver that Chief Obasanjo’s comments are untrue, misleading and clearly do not tally with the facts on the ground.
“We therefore wish to assert without equivocation that in terms of performance and achievements, no administration since 1960 when Nigeria gained independence from Britain has done as much as that of President Jonathan. Every discerning and unbiased Nigerian will definitely attest to this fact as the evidence stares all of us in the face.” [myad]
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