IYANDA'SBLOG

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Three prison guards were among those killed during the riot, the second in the last six months.

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Exit polls suggest that PM Narendra Modi is on track to win the election for a second term.

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How a seven-year-old was stolen from his home in Nigeria and the chance encounter with his sister six years later.

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What the final of this year's song contest can teach us about geography, politics and hubris.

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If you want to stay healthy and help save the planet, how about a dish of algae followed by some cactus and ancient grains?

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The 1.4kg nugget was found by a man using a metal detector in a Western Australian gold field.

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Europe heads to the polls and the fate of the Iron Throne is finally decided.

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Hailey wanted to travel the world as a doctor, until a mystery condition left her shaking uncontrollably.

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In the chaos of his predecessor's brutal ouster, Scott Morrison built a shrewd election strategy.

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The debate has opened after an Indian student was arrested for working to support his studies in Canada.

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A group of upper-caste Indian men beat the man so badly for his 'crime' he died nine days later.

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Filmmaker Asif Kapadia gets closer to Diego Maradona than any England defender ever could.

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EU officials say Russian disinformation could help boost the vote for anti-EU parties. Is the threat being exaggerated?

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Political novice Volodymyr Zelensky, elected by a landslide last month, will start his new job.

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The US president issues a stern warning as tensions rise between Washington and Tehran.

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A charity in Kenya is calling for the introduction of laws to protect domestic workers to ensure their safety.

Kingsley Erik, a 100 level student of the University of Uyo, has drowned in the swimming pool of De Vegas Paradise Hotel in Uyo, on Saturday during a pool party.

The incident was confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday by, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Akwa Ibom, SP Odiko Macdon.

Odiko said that the Command had commenced preliminary investigation into the matter to unravel more facts concerning the incident, as the police did not foreclose a foul play.

He added that the corpse had been deposited in a mortuary as investigation continued to establish more facts.

NAN reports that an eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said the incident occurred about 9.00 p.m. on Saturday, adding that the deceased was found when one of his colleagues spotted the body after others had left the pool.

“When my friends and I were about leaving the venue of the party to catch up with time before they lock our hostel, we heard someone had drowned in the pool.

“I was shocked because there was no sign of such and everyone had left the pool a long time before then.

“No one noticed he was drowned. Maybe because it was already dark and there was loud music. When he was brought out, people tried to revive him but it was all in vain,” she said.

“it was gathered that the deceased was later rushed to the University of Uyo Health Centre where he was confirmed dead.

CRIME Education News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Sule Lamido, former governor of Jigawa State, has advised a former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, not to let his disillusionment with the Buhari-led Administration turn him to a religious and ethnic bigot.

SaharaReporters had reported how Obasanjo at an event at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, in Delta State, claimed that the twin evils of Boko Haram and marauding cattle herders were “no longer an issue of lack of education and lack of employment for our youth in Nigeria which it began as” but now a “West African Fulanization, Islamization and global organised crimes of human trafficking, money laundering, drug trafficking, gun trafficking, illegal mining, and regime change.”

'Boko Haram Is For West African Fulanization, African Islamization', Says Obasanjo

But responding in a statement on Sunday, through Mansur Ahmad, his media aide, Lamido asked Obasanjo to withdraw the statement, arguing it was improper for such a divisive statement to have come from a nationalist and a former president.

He said, “If it were said at a non-religious venue to a non-religious audience, maybe; it might have been more tolerable.

“Please sir, don’t let your disappointment with (the) sitting president turn you into a bigot. You must not abandon the national stage. The cracks along the various divides in our National cohesion are already turning into huge gorges.”

Lamido,  though a Fulani like President Buhari, is a chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and a vociferous critic of the current government. He is also a staunch ally of former president Obasanjo.

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Sule Lamido, former governor of Jigawa State, has advised a former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, not to let his disillusionment with the Buhari-led Administration turn him to a religious and ethnic bigot.

SaharaReporters had reported how Obasanjo at an event at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, in Delta State, claimed that the twin evils of Boko Haram and marauding cattle herders were “no longer an issue of lack of education and lack of employment for our youth in Nigeria which it began as” but now a “West African Fulanization, Islamization and global organised crimes of human trafficking, money laundering, drug trafficking, gun trafficking, illegal mining, and regime change.”

'Boko Haram Is For West African Fulanization, African Islamization', Says Obasanjo

But responding in a statement on Sunday, through Mansur Ahmad, his media aide, Lamido asked Obasanjo to withdraw the statement, arguing it was improper for such a divisive statement to have come from a nationalist and a former president.

He said, “If it were said at a non-religious venue to a non-religious audience, maybe; it might have been more tolerable.

“Please sir, don’t let your disappointment with (the) sitting president turn you into a bigot. You must not abandon the national stage. The cracks along the various divides in our National cohesion are already turning into huge gorges.”

Lamido,  though a Fulani like President Buhari, is a chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and a vociferous critic of the current government. He is also a staunch ally of former president Obasanjo.

Insurgency Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor-elect of Lagos State has promised to decongest Apapa road of trailers and containers causing heavy traffic within the first 60 days of his administration.

Sanwo-Olu made the promise on Saturday during an interactive session with his classmates at the Executive Master of Business Administration class, University of Lagos, 1998/2000 set.

At the event, the governor promised to get rid of the gridlock that has characterized Apapa road for many years irrespective of the politics involved. 

Heavy Traffic On Apapa Road

He said, “The Apapa trailer issue; it’s a campaign issue; it’s very serious; I’m going to take it very seriously.

“I believe that it is something that we are going to solve in the first 60 days of our government. Whatever is going to be required of us, we will take them out.

“There is a lot of politics being played around there. But no, it cannot be the way we’ll continue to live. We cannot continue to give excuses.”

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Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor-elect of Lagos State has promised to decongest Apapa road of trailers and containers causing heavy traffic within the first 60 days of his administration.

Sanwo-Olu made the promise on Saturday during an interactive session with his classmates at the Executive Master of Business Administration class, University of Lagos, 1998/2000 set.

At the event, the governor promised to get rid of the gridlock that has characterized Apapa road for many years irrespective of the politics involved. 

Heavy Traffic On Apapa Road

He said, “The Apapa trailer issue; it’s a campaign issue; it’s very serious; I’m going to take it very seriously.

“I believe that it is something that we are going to solve in the first 60 days of our government. Whatever is going to be required of us, we will take them out.

“There is a lot of politics being played around there. But no, it cannot be the way we’ll continue to live. We cannot continue to give excuses.”

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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At least one person has been confirmed killed and several others injured after an attack by gunmen at a hotel in Jos, Plateau State.

The tragic incident happened on Saturday evening when football fans were watching the FA Cup match between Man City and Watford at the Garden Palace Hotel and Bar in Busa Buji suburb of Jos.

According to eyewitnesses the gunmen, suspected to be cultists, stormed the Garden Palace Hotel and Bar in Busa Buji suburb of Jos around 7pm on Saturday and opened fire on the football fans.

A resident, Philip, who escaped being killed, said that during the incident, a local footballer identified as John Davou, was hit three times in the head by the gunmen who also killed another young man instantly, while injuring several others

He said, “What I know is that during the attack, John Davou, 25, died instantly, while another man, Mr. Francis Bot, who was sitting close to him, sustained bullet wounds.

“Several others also sustained injuries while trying to escape from the scene.”

Another resident, Mathew, added, “I suspect that Davou was probably the target, because he was the only one pelted with bullets while everyone else only sustained injuries, some with bullet wounds.

“The victim recently sat for the 2019 UTME and had hoped to gain admission into the university before he was killed by the gunmen.”

“This is really sad,” Mathew added.

When SaharaReporters tried to reach the Police Public Relation Officer in the state for comments, Mr. Terna Tyopev, his phone line was not reachable.

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Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President and presidential candidate the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in the  2019 general election, has threatened to file a N2billion lawsuit against Lauretta Onochie, the Special Assistant on social media to President Muhammadu Buhari, for maligning him through the spread of malicious "lies".

In the alternative, Atiku, through his lawyer, asked Onochie to, among others, pay the sum of N500m and tender a written apology and a retraction of the malicious statement.

In Atiku’s letter which was addressed to Onochie and signed by his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), the former Vice-President expressed disgust with Onochie’s post on Twitter in which she claimed that that is Atiku on United Arab Emirates’s watchlist.

Onochie posted the tweet on May 7.

However, the former Vice President denied having been on any watchlist, he challenged Onochie to substantiate her claim.

The presidential candidate asked Onochie to publish a retraction in six national newspapers and one international daily as well as on social media and also pay N500m into the bargain.

Ozekhome’s letter reads in part: “We have our client’s instructions to demand and we hereby demand from you the following: That you publish and tender a written retraction and apology for the said libellous publication in six national dailies circulating in Nigeria and one international daily as well as on all social media platforms wherein the said publication was made.

“That you pay to our client through the firm, the sum of N500,000,000 only, representing minimal damages to assuage his already battered image wholly caused by your said defamatory publication.

“Take notice that if you fail or refuse to accede to our modest demands within the next 48 hours from the date of this letter, we shall be compelled to activate the full weight of the legal machinery against you without any further recourse to you.

“We shall be, in such a suit, claiming against you the sum of N2bn, representing exemplary aggravated and punitive damages.”

 

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Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President and presidential candidate the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in the  2019 general election, has threatened to file a N2billion lawsuit against Lauretta Onochie, the Special Assistant on social media to President Muhammadu Buhari, for maligning him through the spread of malicious "lies".

In the alternative, Atiku, through his lawyer, asked Onochie to, among others, pay the sum of N500m and tender a written apology and a retraction of the malicious statement.

In Atiku’s letter which was addressed to Onochie and signed by his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), the former Vice-President expressed disgust with Onochie’s post on Twitter in which she claimed that that is Atiku on United Arab Emirates’s watchlist.

Onochie posted the tweet on May 7.

However, the former Vice President denied having been on any watchlist, he challenged Onochie to substantiate her claim.

The presidential candidate asked Onochie to publish a retraction in six national newspapers and one international daily as well as on social media and also pay N500m into the bargain.

Ozekhome’s letter reads in part: “We have our client’s instructions to demand and we hereby demand from you the following: That you publish and tender a written retraction and apology for the said libellous publication in six national dailies circulating in Nigeria and one international daily as well as on all social media platforms wherein the said publication was made.

“That you pay to our client through the firm, the sum of N500,000,000 only, representing minimal damages to assuage his already battered image wholly caused by your said defamatory publication.

“Take notice that if you fail or refuse to accede to our modest demands within the next 48 hours from the date of this letter, we shall be compelled to activate the full weight of the legal machinery against you without any further recourse to you.

“We shall be, in such a suit, claiming against you the sum of N2bn, representing exemplary aggravated and punitive damages.”

 

Legal Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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After 27 years struggle, great history was recorded when the National Assembly ratified June 12 as Democracy Day in Nigeria. For 27 years we struggled, we spoke, we appealed, we begged, we asked and called the attention of the powers that be since 1999 that May 29 former President Obasonjo chose as Democracy Day is a fraud, null and void, and of zero consequence. We said so because nothing significant was attached to the date by those who sold the idea to Chief Obasonjo.

Till date we are yet to find out why that date was chosen and the reason for the decision.

Chief Obasanjo did what he did apparently to mock and get at the late Chief MKO Abiola and the family he left behind. He did not want the name of Chief MKO Abiola to be remembered or to be attached to anything he is doing. He pretended as if June 12 1993 never existed. He must have reasoned that he got to power in 1999 through his own solid personal efforts. But Obasonjo was being economical with the truth.

In actions and deeds if there was no June 12 1993, there would not have been 1999. For 8years Obasonjo was in power he deliberately pretended that June 12 1993 never existed. At public functions, he never for one day mentioned Chief MKO Abiola or acknowledged the obvious and painful truth that it was Chief Abiola that paid the supreme prize for his rise to power again.

The late former President Musa Yar’Adua came and died in office after 2-years and nothing was done to remember Chief MKO Abiola for making the huge sacrifice. Former President Jonathan came and was 6years in office and simply toed the line of his predecessors and ignored the demand for June 12 to be recognized as Democracy day and Chief MKO Abiola immortalized.

For 16-years PDP was in power, they simply played the ostrich and ignored the historic event of June 12 until they were voted out of office in 2015. The rest is now history.
Now enter President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015. The same pressure was mounted and sustained for more than two years until President Buhari did the needful.

He recognized June 12 1993 monumental events and gave Chief MKO Abiola the highest honour in the land, GCFR, the honour reserved for former Heads of State. Consequently he pronounced June 12 as Democracy Day and National Assembly has put a stamp of authority on the historic date by passing the bill into law. To God be the glory.

Now what Obasonjo’s PDP could do in 16years to heal the deep wounds IBB and his band of followers inflicted on chief MKO Abiola, his wife Kudirat Abiola and over 5000 men and women who died in the struggle from 1993 to 1999, President Buhari has just nailed it. Obasonjo who rode on the back of Chief Abiola’s blood and blood of thousands that died in the struggle ignored the cries of Nigerians for 8 years and 16years of PDP.

Thank God that President Buhari has in one fell swoop nailed former President Obasonjo’s fraudulent and dubious history by putting a stamp of authority on May 29 as Democracy Day in Nigeria. PMB has snatched history books from Chief Obasonjo and wrote his name in Gold in Nigeria’s checkered history. June 12 is now Democracy Day. Obasonjo had the opportunity to do what PMB just did given the obvious and painful truth that the late Chief Abiola came from the same South West and Ogun State.

This is a landmark and historic accomplishment and President Buhari deserves all our commendations and all the praises for doing this. It is a lesson for all. We fought and fought in the last 27years and we won.

 

Politics Opinion AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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After 27 years struggle, great history was recorded when the National Assembly ratified June 12 as Democracy Day in Nigeria. For 27 years we struggled, we spoke, we appealed, we begged, we asked and called the attention of the powers that be since 1999 that May 29 former President Obasonjo chose as Democracy Day is a fraud, null and void, and of zero consequence. We said so because nothing significant was attached to the date by those who sold the idea to Chief Obasonjo.

Till date we are yet to find out why that date was chosen and the reason for the decision.

Chief Obasanjo did what he did apparently to mock and get at the late Chief MKO Abiola and the family he left behind. He did not want the name of Chief MKO Abiola to be remembered or to be attached to anything he is doing. He pretended as if June 12 1993 never existed. He must have reasoned that he got to power in 1999 through his own solid personal efforts. But Obasonjo was being economical with the truth.

In actions and deeds if there was no June 12 1993, there would not have been 1999. For 8years Obasonjo was in power he deliberately pretended that June 12 1993 never existed. At public functions, he never for one day mentioned Chief MKO Abiola or acknowledged the obvious and painful truth that it was Chief Abiola that paid the supreme prize for his rise to power again.

The late former President Musa Yar’Adua came and died in office after 2-years and nothing was done to remember Chief MKO Abiola for making the huge sacrifice. Former President Jonathan came and was 6years in office and simply toed the line of his predecessors and ignored the demand for June 12 to be recognized as Democracy day and Chief MKO Abiola immortalized.

For 16-years PDP was in power, they simply played the ostrich and ignored the historic event of June 12 until they were voted out of office in 2015. The rest is now history.
Now enter President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015. The same pressure was mounted and sustained for more than two years until President Buhari did the needful.

He recognized June 12 1993 monumental events and gave Chief MKO Abiola the highest honour in the land, GCFR, the honour reserved for former Heads of State. Consequently he pronounced June 12 as Democracy Day and National Assembly has put a stamp of authority on the historic date by passing the bill into law. To God be the glory.

Now what Obasonjo’s PDP could do in 16years to heal the deep wounds IBB and his band of followers inflicted on chief MKO Abiola, his wife Kudirat Abiola and over 5000 men and women who died in the struggle from 1993 to 1999, President Buhari has just nailed it. Obasonjo who rode on the back of Chief Abiola’s blood and blood of thousands that died in the struggle ignored the cries of Nigerians for 8 years and 16years of PDP.

Thank God that President Buhari has in one fell swoop nailed former President Obasonjo’s fraudulent and dubious history by putting a stamp of authority on May 29 as Democracy Day in Nigeria. PMB has snatched history books from Chief Obasonjo and wrote his name in Gold in Nigeria’s checkered history. June 12 is now Democracy Day. Obasonjo had the opportunity to do what PMB just did given the obvious and painful truth that the late Chief Abiola came from the same South West and Ogun State.

This is a landmark and historic accomplishment and President Buhari deserves all our commendations and all the praises for doing this. It is a lesson for all. We fought and fought in the last 27years and we won.

 

Politics Opinion AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
http://bit.ly/2EkyTdW

Femi Falana, human rights activist and senoir advocate of Nigeria has written the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari demanding the release of 40 citizens kept incommunicado by the Nigerian Navy In various detention facilities across the country.

In the letter obtained by SaharaReporters on Sunday, Falana is demanding the unconditional release of the detained 40 to protect their dignity and fundamental human rights.

The letter reads:

His Excellency,
Alhaji Mohammadu Buhari,
President & Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,
Presidential Villa,
Aso Rock,
Abuja.

Your Excellency,

Request for the release of 40 Nigerian citizens from illegal custody of Nigerian Navy

We have received petitions from the family members of 40 Nigerian citizens being detained without trial by the Nigerian Navy. The names of the detainees are:
1.     Captain Dada Labinjo,
2.     Lt. Commander Sherifat Ibe Lambert
3.     Benjamin Gold
4.     Peter Pulle,
5.     Pius Paul,
6.     Onoja Reuben,
7.     Adeleke Adewale,
8.     Labinjo Kehinde,
9.     Ogunmoyero Oluwasehun,
10.    Emmanuel Oputa,
11.    Innocent Sunday,
12.    Iejoro Friday,
13.    Hamza Yakubu,
14.    Segun Yusuf.
15.    Master-Melvin Jack ;
16     Chief Mate-Adebayo Mayoma 
17.    Chief Mate- Francis Oneyema
18     2nd Eng-Godwill Umoh
19     Bosin-Miebaka Iyala
20     Elect 2-Edu Fidelis
21.    Elect 2-Richard David
22     Camp Boss-Daniel Harrison
23.    Asaiki Okeoghene
24     AB 1-Omogoye Bolaji
25     AB 2-Victor Uchendu
26     AB 3-Oloyede Ademola
27.    Oiler-Simon Onyisi Mike
28.    Eng cadet-Udom Victor Jerome
29     Godwin Etiaka Ojodusi        
30.    Sixtus Ganabel                          
31     Owei Ukuto                               
32     Jeremiah Victor                          
33     Collins Joel                
34.    Augustine Omonisa                    
35     MV Akemijo Deborah          
36     Mike Simeon
37     Umoren Daniel
38     James Archibong
39     Umon Godswill Emmanuel.

It may interest Your Excellency to know that the above named detainees have been held incommunicado in dehumanising conditions for periods ranging from six to eight months. In fact, some of the detainees are incarcerated in an underground military detention facility in Abuja while others are held inside one of the vessels impounded by the Nigerian Navy. By subjecting the detainees to mental, psychological and physical torture the Naval Authorities have contravened the provisions of the Anti Torture Act, 2017.

Furthermore, in utter contempt of court the authorities of the Nigerian Navy have defied valid and subsisting orders of competent courts for the unconditional release of some of the detainees. Apart from such contemptuous conduct the Nigerian Navy recently denied knowledge of the whereabouts of the 15 detainees held in a detention facility  in Abuja. As soon as we pointed out that  the remand order procured by the Nigerian Navy for the detention of the 15 detainees had been quashed by the Chief Magistrate Court in Apapa, Lagos State the Naval Authorities turned round to file criminal charges against 5 of them before a Court Martial.

Since all the detainees are entitled to their fundamental rights to dignity and liberty guaranteed by sections 34 and 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and articles 5 and 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights Ratification and Enforcement Act (Cap A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, we urge Your Excellency to direct the Chief Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, to either release the detainees from unlawful custody or arraign them in court without any further delay. 

In view of the fact that the illegal detention of the 40 Nigerian citizens for without trial has exposed the Federal Government to unwarranted embarrassment the Chief of Naval Staff ought to be sanctioned by Your Excellency. 

Please accept the assurances of our highest esteem.

Yours sincerely,
FEMI FALANA, SAN, FCI Arb.
 

ACTIVISM Free Speech Human Rights Military Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
http://bit.ly/2USzycF

Femi Falana, human rights activist and senoir advocate of Nigeria has written the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari demanding the release of 40 citizens kept incommunicado by the Nigerian Navy In various detention facilities across the country.

In the letter obtained by SaharaReporters on Sunday, Falana is demanding the unconditional release of the detained 40 to protect their dignity and fundamental human rights.

The letter reads:

His Excellency,
Alhaji Mohammadu Buhari,
President & Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,
Presidential Villa,
Aso Rock,
Abuja.

Your Excellency,

Request for the release of 40 Nigerian citizens from illegal custody of Nigerian Navy

We have received petitions from the family members of 40 Nigerian citizens being detained without trial by the Nigerian Navy. The names of the detainees are:
1.     Captain Dada Labinjo,
2.     Lt. Commander Sherifat Ibe Lambert
3.     Benjamin Gold
4.     Peter Pulle,
5.     Pius Paul,
6.     Onoja Reuben,
7.     Adeleke Adewale,
8.     Labinjo Kehinde,
9.     Ogunmoyero Oluwasehun,
10.    Emmanuel Oputa,
11.    Innocent Sunday,
12.    Iejoro Friday,
13.    Hamza Yakubu,
14.    Segun Yusuf.
15.    Master-Melvin Jack ;
16     Chief Mate-Adebayo Mayoma 
17.    Chief Mate- Francis Oneyema
18     2nd Eng-Godwill Umoh
19     Bosin-Miebaka Iyala
20     Elect 2-Edu Fidelis
21.    Elect 2-Richard David
22     Camp Boss-Daniel Harrison
23.    Asaiki Okeoghene
24     AB 1-Omogoye Bolaji
25     AB 2-Victor Uchendu
26     AB 3-Oloyede Ademola
27.    Oiler-Simon Onyisi Mike
28.    Eng cadet-Udom Victor Jerome
29     Godwin Etiaka Ojodusi        
30.    Sixtus Ganabel                          
31     Owei Ukuto                               
32     Jeremiah Victor                          
33     Collins Joel                
34.    Augustine Omonisa                    
35     MV Akemijo Deborah          
36     Mike Simeon
37     Umoren Daniel
38     James Archibong
39     Umon Godswill Emmanuel.

It may interest Your Excellency to know that the above named detainees have been held incommunicado in dehumanising conditions for periods ranging from six to eight months. In fact, some of the detainees are incarcerated in an underground military detention facility in Abuja while others are held inside one of the vessels impounded by the Nigerian Navy. By subjecting the detainees to mental, psychological and physical torture the Naval Authorities have contravened the provisions of the Anti Torture Act, 2017.

Furthermore, in utter contempt of court the authorities of the Nigerian Navy have defied valid and subsisting orders of competent courts for the unconditional release of some of the detainees. Apart from such contemptuous conduct the Nigerian Navy recently denied knowledge of the whereabouts of the 15 detainees held in a detention facility  in Abuja. As soon as we pointed out that  the remand order procured by the Nigerian Navy for the detention of the 15 detainees had been quashed by the Chief Magistrate Court in Apapa, Lagos State the Naval Authorities turned round to file criminal charges against 5 of them before a Court Martial.

Since all the detainees are entitled to their fundamental rights to dignity and liberty guaranteed by sections 34 and 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and articles 5 and 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights Ratification and Enforcement Act (Cap A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, we urge Your Excellency to direct the Chief Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, to either release the detainees from unlawful custody or arraign them in court without any further delay. 

In view of the fact that the illegal detention of the 40 Nigerian citizens for without trial has exposed the Federal Government to unwarranted embarrassment the Chief of Naval Staff ought to be sanctioned by Your Excellency. 

Please accept the assurances of our highest esteem.

Yours sincerely,
FEMI FALANA, SAN, FCI Arb.
 

ACTIVISM Free Speech Human Rights Military Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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The parents of footballer Emiliano Sala talk of their pain after his plane crash death.

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Democrats hoping to beat Donald Trump must win backing from Latino voters. Is their Spanish bueno?

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Europe is preparing for a key test of democracy with elections to the European parliament this week.

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Vincent Lambert's case has been central to a national debate about artificial life support.

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Seven jets from a French aircraft carrier make unscheduled landings in Indonesia due to bad weather.

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New Huawei smartphones will lose access to some of Google's programmes, Reuters news agency reports.

The Nigerian Police Force has announced the death of a suspected kidnapping kingpin and notorious armed robber, who recently masterminded the kidnap of the UBEC Chairman along Abuja- Kaduna.

The police in a statement on Sunday signed by DCP Frank Mba, force public relations officer, said the suspect, one Sumaila Sule, alias SHAHO, was killed in the early hours of 18th May, 2019 following multiple bullet wounds he sustained during a deadly shootout with police operatives attached to Operation Puff Adder.

 He added that: "The shootout took place in the evening of 17th May 2019, at the outskirts of Rijana village. The police operatives, in line with the mandate of Operation Puff Adder, were carrying out routine surveillance and raid of suspected criminal hide-outs, when they suddenly came under gun fire attack from a heavily armed criminal gang. 

"The police team fought back gallantly, repelling the attack and eventually bringing SHAHO down, whilst his gang members fled. SHAHO was rushed to hospital, where he eventually died the next day.

"Meanwhile, acting on information elicited from the suspect before his death, police operatives, between the 18th and 19th of May 2019, carried out sweeping follow-up operations at different target locations.

"These coordinated operations led to the arrest of four other members of SHAHO's gang and the recovery of three (3) AK 47 rifles. The arrested gang members include:  MUSA Hassan 26yrs,  Yau Umar 25yrs, Umar MUSA 22yrs and Muhammad SANI 28yrs , all males and natives of Rijiana Village Kachia LGA Kaduna State. 

"SHAHO and his gang members have been on the radar of the intelligence community for a while, as they have been implicated in several high level kidnappings and other heinous crimes along Kaduna-Abuja road and beyond.

In a similar vein, a combined team of Operation Puff Adder operatives, comprising of the IGP Response Team, the Technical Intelligence Unit, the Police Mobile Force and the Special Anti Robbery Squad have arrested another set of kidnappers who have been terrorizing citizens at Mubi axis of Adamawa state. One AK 47 rifle and twenty six (26) rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the gang.

The suspects arrested are: Umaru Ibrahim  native of Yadi Buni, Yobe State ; Abdul Maina native of Maiha Adamawa State and Mohammed Abubakar native of Buni Yadi Yobe State. The suspects have all confessed to participating in numerous kidnapping and armed robbery operations within Adamawa State, including the kidnap and collection of a ransom of seven million naira from one Mallam Abdulahi Umoru of Hong L.G.A.

Investigations into these cases are on-going, while efforts aimed at arresting other members of the gangs still at large are being intensified.

While commending police operatives for their gallantry, as well as selfless service to the nation and humanity, the Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu NPM, mni has reassured Nigerians that the war against crimes and criminality will soon be won. The IGP called for continuous support for the police and other law enforcement agencies, promising that the security agencies will not rest on their oars till normalcy is restored in every part of Nigeria.

Police Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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