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Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara has called on the people of the state especially Muslims to pray to Allah to bring his wrath upon those abusing the Holy Qur’an.

Matawalle made the call on Monday in Gusau, the state capital, during the opening of the state chapter of the 2019 Qur’anic recitation competition, Musabaka, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.

He said, “This prayer is necessary because the perpetrators are committing a high level of immorality and their provocation and sin can cause a lot of problem to us as citizens.

“So we should pray so that Allah’s punishment will not affect the innocent.

“At our level as a government, I have set up an investigative committee and anyone found to have had a hand in it, however highly placed in the society, will be punished as prescribed by Islamic laws.” 

 

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Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara has called on the people of the state especially Muslims to pray to Allah to bring his wrath upon those abusing the Holy Qur’an.

Matawalle made the call on Monday in Gusau, the state capital, during the opening of the state chapter of the 2019 Qur’anic recitation competition, Musabaka, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.

He said, “This prayer is necessary because the perpetrators are committing a high level of immorality and their provocation and sin can cause a lot of problem to us as citizens.

“So we should pray so that Allah’s punishment will not affect the innocent.

“At our level as a government, I have set up an investigative committee and anyone found to have had a hand in it, however highly placed in the society, will be punished as prescribed by Islamic laws.” 

 

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A yet to be identified policeman in Ondo State has shot dead a truck driver.

SaharaReporters learnt that the policeman was one of the officers manning a checkpoint at Uso Junction in Owo Local Council Area of the state.

But several sources revealed to our correspondent in Akure that the driver, who was moving some vehicles to Abuja had some disagreement with the armed policemen on the road.

"The driver was moving some vehicles on his truck on the road and I think he was going to Lokoja or Abuja.

"Immediately he got to the checkpoint, the policemen asked him to ‘settle’ them but this led to a serious disagreement

"Before we knew it, they tried to drag him down from the vehicle but he refused and one of the policemen shot him on the forehead.

"They killed the man and ran away," one of the sources said.

The gruesome killing of the truck driver was said to have led to a protest by some angry youths in the area, who mobilised and blocked roads in the area for hours.

Spokesperson for the police in the state, Femi Joseph, confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday night.

He said the truck driver was shot dead by around 1:00pm at the check point.

According to Joseph, the defaulting policeman will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

He said, "The Ondo State Police Command regrets the unfortunate incident leading to the death of a truck driver whose identity is not yet known.

"The deceased was allegedly shot and killed by one of our men who was on duty with others at about 1:00pm at a point in Uso via Owo.

"The Command condemns this barbaric and gruesome murder in its entirety while we commiserate with the family of the deceased.”

Joseph added that Commissioner of Police in the state has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident.

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A yet to be identified policeman in Ondo State has shot dead a truck driver.

SaharaReporters learnt that the policeman was one of the officers manning a checkpoint at Uso Junction in Owo Local Council Area of the state.

But several sources revealed to our correspondent in Akure that the driver, who was moving some vehicles to Abuja had some disagreement with the armed policemen on the road.

"The driver was moving some vehicles on his truck on the road and I think he was going to Lokoja or Abuja.

"Immediately he got to the checkpoint, the policemen asked him to ‘settle’ them but this led to a serious disagreement

"Before we knew it, they tried to drag him down from the vehicle but he refused and one of the policemen shot him on the forehead.

"They killed the man and ran away," one of the sources said.

The gruesome killing of the truck driver was said to have led to a protest by some angry youths in the area, who mobilised and blocked roads in the area for hours.

Spokesperson for the police in the state, Femi Joseph, confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday night.

He said the truck driver was shot dead by around 1:00pm at the check point.

According to Joseph, the defaulting policeman will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

He said, "The Ondo State Police Command regrets the unfortunate incident leading to the death of a truck driver whose identity is not yet known.

"The deceased was allegedly shot and killed by one of our men who was on duty with others at about 1:00pm at a point in Uso via Owo.

"The Command condemns this barbaric and gruesome murder in its entirety while we commiserate with the family of the deceased.”

Joseph added that Commissioner of Police in the state has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident.

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Argentine football maestro, Lionel Messi, has won the 2019 Ballon d'Or award.

The event, which took place in Paris, France on Monday, attracted some of the biggest stars in football.

The latest feat brings Messi’s total of the prestigious award to six Ballon d'Or – one more than closest rival – Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi had earlier in the year won the FIFA player of the year award ahead of Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk and Ronaldo.

The skillful Argentine is regarded by some as the greatest player football had seen and with Monday’s win, he further reinforces that reputation. 

 

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Argentine football maestro, Lionel Messi, has won the 2019 Ballon d'Or award.

The event, which took place in Paris, France on Monday, attracted some of the biggest stars in football.

The latest feat brings Messi’s total of the prestigious award to six Ballon d'Or – one more than closest rival – Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi had earlier in the year won the FIFA player of the year award ahead of Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk and Ronaldo.

The skillful Argentine is regarded by some as the greatest player football had seen and with Monday’s win, he further reinforces that reputation. 

 

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The Take It Back Movement has raised the alarm over what it describes as plans by the Department of State Services to assassinate pro-democracy campaigner and Publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore.

In a statement on Monday, Director-General of TIB, Joshua Adeoye, said it had information that the government planned to surround Sowore in prison with hardened criminals, who will do the regime's bidding to kill him in exchange for their freedom.

Femi Falana (SAN), who is Sowore's lawyer, on Sunday raised the alarm over a request filed by the DSS at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to transfer Sowore to prison.

Adeoye said, “The ultimate aim of the plan is to have Sowore attacked, assaulted, and poisoned in prison.

“The planned transfer ensures that Sowore will be surrounded by a den of hardened criminals amenable to the government’s bidding while in prison.

“As Sowore would no longer be in the custody of the DSS, the government and the DSS are seeking plausible deniability by blaming “unnamed prisoners” for the planned attack.

“Trusted sources with conscience within the ranks of the government and its security agencies made it known that this plan had been hatched and is now being expedited because all overtures to Sowore to keep quiet about the failures of the Buhari government upon release had failed.

“Our sources also revealed that with all the international attention that had followed Sowore’s illegal abduction and incarceration, the DSS would prefer that the plan not be carried out in their custody.

“This must not be allowed to happen. Nigeria is a democracy and Buhari must not be allowed to silence valuable voices of dissent and accountability, dragging us back to the dark days of his dictatorship.

“The Buhari government must be aware that it will be held responsible for any harm or otherwise that comes to Sowore.”

 

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The Take It Back Movement has raised the alarm over what it describes as plans by the Department of State Services to assassinate pro-democracy campaigner and Publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore.

In a statement on Monday, Director-General of TIB, Joshua Adeoye, said it had information that the government planned to surround Sowore in prison with hardened criminals, who will do the regime's bidding to kill him in exchange for their freedom.

Femi Falana (SAN), who is Sowore's lawyer, on Sunday raised the alarm over a request filed by the DSS at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to transfer Sowore to prison.

Adeoye said, “The ultimate aim of the plan is to have Sowore attacked, assaulted, and poisoned in prison.

“The planned transfer ensures that Sowore will be surrounded by a den of hardened criminals amenable to the government’s bidding while in prison.

“As Sowore would no longer be in the custody of the DSS, the government and the DSS are seeking plausible deniability by blaming “unnamed prisoners” for the planned attack.

“Trusted sources with conscience within the ranks of the government and its security agencies made it known that this plan had been hatched and is now being expedited because all overtures to Sowore to keep quiet about the failures of the Buhari government upon release had failed.

“Our sources also revealed that with all the international attention that had followed Sowore’s illegal abduction and incarceration, the DSS would prefer that the plan not be carried out in their custody.

“This must not be allowed to happen. Nigeria is a democracy and Buhari must not be allowed to silence valuable voices of dissent and accountability, dragging us back to the dark days of his dictatorship.

“The Buhari government must be aware that it will be held responsible for any harm or otherwise that comes to Sowore.”

 

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The Ekiti State Government has resolved to dredge over 18,000 metres of water bodies at a contract value at N334m to reduce the havoc caused by flooding.

Parts of the state were ravaged by water in 2019 and the Commissioner for Information, Muyiwa Olumilua, said the state was determined to prevent a reoccurrence.

He said, “Areas to be dredged include; Obala-Balemo-Elemi, Ita Eko-poly Road-Eminrin, Omisanjana-Ureje-133kva, Awajin-Ureje Road and Ireakari-Ilawe Road totalling 18,500 metres and at the cost of N195m and is to be delivered within 12 weeks.”

Speaking further, the commissioner said due to persistent flooding, which hit Ikere-Ekiti this year, the government would dredge Osun Stream Channel, construct a concrete channel at the Temidire section of the town and reconstruct a fallen culvert at Ajolagun, Vanguard reports.

 

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Flood File Photo

 

The Ekiti State Government has resolved to dredge over 18,000 metres of water bodies at a contract value at N334m to reduce the havoc caused by flooding.

Parts of the state were ravaged by water in 2019 and the Commissioner for Information, Muyiwa Olumilua, said the state was determined to prevent a reoccurrence.

He said, “Areas to be dredged include; Obala-Balemo-Elemi, Ita Eko-poly Road-Eminrin, Omisanjana-Ureje-133kva, Awajin-Ureje Road and Ireakari-Ilawe Road totalling 18,500 metres and at the cost of N195m and is to be delivered within 12 weeks.”

Speaking further, the commissioner said due to persistent flooding, which hit Ikere-Ekiti this year, the government would dredge Osun Stream Channel, construct a concrete channel at the Temidire section of the town and reconstruct a fallen culvert at Ajolagun, Vanguard reports.

 

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A Federal High Court in Lagos, on Monday stayed proceedings until February 6, 2020 in the alleged money laundering trial of embattled Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia.

Justice Mohammed Aikawa said that he will stay proceedings to await the outcome of a letter to the Chief Judge of the court seeking a re-assignment of the case.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission charged Ofili-Ajumogobia and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Godwin Obla, on 18 counts bordering on conspiracy, unlawful enrichment, retention of crime proceeds and money laundering.

The defendants were re-arraigned on May 15 and had both pleaded not guilty to all counts of the charge.

The court had granted them bail in the sum of N10m each with two sureties in like sum.

During the commencement of the case, Chief Robert Clarke (SAN) had appeared for the first defendant, while Chief Ferdinand Orbih (SAN) had appeared for the second defendant.

When the case was called on Monday, Mr U.U Buhari appeared for the prosecution while Mobolaji Kuti and Ferdinard Orbih (SAN) appeared for the first and second defendants respectively.

Buhari then informed the court that the prosecution was ready to proceed with trial. See Also CRIME Ajumogobia Money Laundering Case: Court To Deliver Judgment On Preliminary Objection 0 Comments 5 Months Ago

But Orbih informed the court that the defence had written a letter to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court on November 14 in relation to the instant case, while on November 26 it took further steps to notify the court of its action.

The said letter seeks a re-assignment of the case.

He then urged the court in the circumstance to grant a time frame to enable the CJ arrive at a decision one way or the other in respect of the letter.

EFCC alleged that the duo conspired on May 21, 2014 to indirectly conceal different sums of money in the Diamond Bank account of Nigel & Colive Ltd, a company alleged to be operated by Ofili-Ajumogobia.

They were alleged to have conspired to retain in same account the sum of N500m, which they both reasonably ought to have known formed part of proceeds of unlawful acts of unlawful enrichment.

The EFCC also accused Ofili-Ajumogobia of indirectly concealing the sum of N12m in the same account, and making false statement to the anti-graft agency that the money was payment for sale of a landed property.

The alleged offences contravenes the provisions of Sections 15 (2) (a) and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011.

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A Federal High Court in Lagos, on Monday stayed proceedings until February 6, 2020 in the alleged money laundering trial of embattled Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia.

Justice Mohammed Aikawa said that he will stay proceedings to await the outcome of a letter to the Chief Judge of the court seeking a re-assignment of the case.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission charged Ofili-Ajumogobia and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Godwin Obla, on 18 counts bordering on conspiracy, unlawful enrichment, retention of crime proceeds and money laundering.

The defendants were re-arraigned on May 15 and had both pleaded not guilty to all counts of the charge.

The court had granted them bail in the sum of N10m each with two sureties in like sum.

During the commencement of the case, Chief Robert Clarke (SAN) had appeared for the first defendant, while Chief Ferdinand Orbih (SAN) had appeared for the second defendant.

When the case was called on Monday, Mr U.U Buhari appeared for the prosecution while Mobolaji Kuti and Ferdinard Orbih (SAN) appeared for the first and second defendants respectively.

Buhari then informed the court that the prosecution was ready to proceed with trial. See Also CRIME Ajumogobia Money Laundering Case: Court To Deliver Judgment On Preliminary Objection 0 Comments 5 Months Ago

But Orbih informed the court that the defence had written a letter to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court on November 14 in relation to the instant case, while on November 26 it took further steps to notify the court of its action.

The said letter seeks a re-assignment of the case.

He then urged the court in the circumstance to grant a time frame to enable the CJ arrive at a decision one way or the other in respect of the letter.

EFCC alleged that the duo conspired on May 21, 2014 to indirectly conceal different sums of money in the Diamond Bank account of Nigel & Colive Ltd, a company alleged to be operated by Ofili-Ajumogobia.

They were alleged to have conspired to retain in same account the sum of N500m, which they both reasonably ought to have known formed part of proceeds of unlawful acts of unlawful enrichment.

The EFCC also accused Ofili-Ajumogobia of indirectly concealing the sum of N12m in the same account, and making false statement to the anti-graft agency that the money was payment for sale of a landed property.

The alleged offences contravenes the provisions of Sections 15 (2) (a) and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011.

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The curriculum applied by the military in the fight against terror groups in North-East Nigeria has received a thumbs down from a researcher at the National Defence College.

In a briefing ahead of his book launch, Doctor Yusuf Mahmud said that the Nigerian Army needs a syllabus that encompasses intelligence gathering and prevention.

Mahmud also told the Nigerian Government to intensify its soft power approach by engaging families and religious leaders in places where military might had been used to subdue the terrorists.

He said, “Another key important issue is government security forces. I am not saying that they are not doing well, but I am saying that they need some new form of training.

“If possible, the military institution will start having a robust curriculum in preventing and countering violent extremism so that they will be able to understand the dynamics and the drivers and some of the issues they have to put in front in the cause of trying to counter violent extremism.

“My advice to government is that, if we must move forward in this, as much as I believe that the hard power approach is still very relevant but when we have been able to contain escalation of violence, we should now try to identify the various individual families and members of the religious group, sit with them and ask them very pertinent questions on the way forward and not we bringing solutions and giving to them, those solutions cannot give what they want.”

While arguing for the regulation of public preaching, Mahmud maintained that would-be terrorists are ignorant of the cause they intend to commit their life to.

He added, “Ignorance is basically the driver of violent extremism.

“Most of those that get into this are totally ignorant of what they are saying they are pursuing.

“The academic, who has spent two decades in the NDC, also advanced the possibility of free sex as a motivation to join terror groups like Boko Haram.

“Sex is a major factor that drives insurgents and that is why girl’s secondary school has become their targets. 

“Any time military overruns the camps of the insurgents, you find out packets of condoms and enhancing drugs.” 

Military News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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The curriculum applied by the military in the fight against terror groups in North-East Nigeria has received a thumbs down from a researcher at the National Defence College.

In a briefing ahead of his book launch, Doctor Yusuf Mahmud said that the Nigerian Army needs a syllabus that encompasses intelligence gathering and prevention.

Mahmud also told the Nigerian Government to intensify its soft power approach by engaging families and religious leaders in places where military might had been used to subdue the terrorists.

He said, “Another key important issue is government security forces. I am not saying that they are not doing well, but I am saying that they need some new form of training.

“If possible, the military institution will start having a robust curriculum in preventing and countering violent extremism so that they will be able to understand the dynamics and the drivers and some of the issues they have to put in front in the cause of trying to counter violent extremism.

“My advice to government is that, if we must move forward in this, as much as I believe that the hard power approach is still very relevant but when we have been able to contain escalation of violence, we should now try to identify the various individual families and members of the religious group, sit with them and ask them very pertinent questions on the way forward and not we bringing solutions and giving to them, those solutions cannot give what they want.”

While arguing for the regulation of public preaching, Mahmud maintained that would-be terrorists are ignorant of the cause they intend to commit their life to.

He added, “Ignorance is basically the driver of violent extremism.

“Most of those that get into this are totally ignorant of what they are saying they are pursuing.

“The academic, who has spent two decades in the NDC, also advanced the possibility of free sex as a motivation to join terror groups like Boko Haram.

“Sex is a major factor that drives insurgents and that is why girl’s secondary school has become their targets. 

“Any time military overruns the camps of the insurgents, you find out packets of condoms and enhancing drugs.” 

Military News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2ja4geB

 

The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership has urged the Nigerian Government against transferring Omoyele Sowore and co-defendant, Olawale Bakare, from the detention of the Department of State Services to prison.

Lead counsel of Sowore, Femi Falana (SAN), had alleged that the government was making plans to move his clients to prison custody.

Reacting to the report, CACOL said it was worrisome that on two separate occasions, the accused were granted bail by the same court government paraded them before.

In a statement by National Coordinator of the Centre, Mr Debo Adeniran, and signed by its Coordinator, Media and Publications, Adegboyega Otunuga, CACOL stated that the non-compliance with court orders to release Sowore and Bakare does not portend a good omen for Nigeria’s democracy or international image.

Adeniran said, “As a partner in the quest for deepening our democracy and fostering good governance, we hereby call for immediate respect for the judicial pronouncement on the accused by their release.

“We agree with the argument of their lawyers and the general opinion that the request of the DSS for the appearance of their sureties at its headquarters for their onward release was an afterthought and has no precedent in law.

“It is our belief that the accused were only motivated by the subsisting and existential economic conditions prevalent and had no intention or record of violent disruption of government.

“It is for this that we advise an immediate and fence-mending approach that would restore dignity and respect to governance while critical efforts must be made towards redressing age-old situation that has made Nigeria to hibernate between a workable federation to a troubled contraption.”

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