Boko Haram jihadists killed 10 civilians in attacks on three villages in North-East, local security officials said Monday.
Babakura Kolo, leader of a government-backed anti-jihadist militia, told AFP that the insurgents had carried out the assaults on Sunday.
Kolo said they raided the village of Kurmari, 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Maiduguri, late Sunday, killing four residents as they slept.
The attackers did not use guns so as not to attract troops in a nearby town, said another militia member Ibrahim Liman.
The area has been the target for repeated suicide and gun attacks.
Elsewhere, sources told the newspaper that the jihadists burned three people alive and hacked a fourth to death in another village on the outskirts of Maiduguri also on Sunday.
Two farmers were also kidnapped as they tended their fields and several other.
Boko Haram fighters have stepped up attacks on farmers as they work in their fields.
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The Ogun State Government has fixed September 21, 2020, as date for reopening of all schools in the state.
This was announced by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Kunle Somorin.
He stated that the second phase of the reopening of schools is extended to all classes in primary and secondary schools, technical and vocational colleges, and tertiary institutions.
Governor Dapo Abiodun
In a bid to control the number of students in schools, the state staggered teaching hours for students.
“However, as part of the efforts to meet the COVID-19 guidelines for school operations, the schools hours are staggered as follows for public schools: Primary 1 to primary 3: 8.00am to 11.00am; Primary 4 to Primary 6: 12.00noon to 3.00pm.
“JSS 1 to JSS3: 8.00am to 11.00am; SS1 to SS3: 12.00noon to 3.00pm. Technical and Vocational will operate their normal school hours of 8:00am to 2:00pm,” Somorin said.
He added that children within the age of 3-5 will not be resuming in public schools until the next phase of schools’ reopening.
The CPS also said, “Private schools are also expected to take necessary measures to meet the COVID-19 protocols for physical distancing, among other requirements. Tertiary institutions are allowed to commence reopening from 21 September 2020 as may be determined by their respective management.”
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Act For Positive Transformation Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the looting ongoing at the Niger Delta Development Commission to prove he is truly fighting corruption.
Series of looting and financial misappropriation have been exposed in the NDDC with the Acting Managing Director, Prof Kemebradikumo Pondei, and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, unable to defend the spending of the commission.
Recall that Pondei had fainted during a public hearing to explain the financial misappropriation in the commission.
President Muhammadu Buharigettyimages
With deafening silence of the Presidency on the corruption and massive looting in the NDDC, AFPTI has urged the President to investigate and stop the looting of funds.
Kolawole Johnson, Head of Directorate of Research, Strategy and Programme of the group, said it was discouraging to suspect that government's body language appears to be promoting, rewarding and protecting corruption in the NDDC.
Johnson stated that despite public outcry, the NDDC had continued to suspend money without budgetary process.
“The commission had gone ahead to squander additional N9bn thereafter in the last one month.
“This includes reckless spendthrift of N5.8bn on fraudulent emergency desilting on the 29th of July, 2020 alone when the nation was on holidays,” he said.
He listed some of the illegal spendings as emergency clearing and desilting of Ipinle Ajenrela creek, Igbokoda (lot 3) –N634,761,500; emergency clearing and desilting of Akaibiri creek, Yenagoa – 634,761,500; emergency clearing and desilting of blocked canal from Ilaje High School Naval Base fishing Terminal, Igbokoda (Lot1) – 634,761,500.
Urging President Buhari to take action against NDDC and anyone found culpable in the massive looting of funds in the commission, the group said, “We call on President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Assembly and genuine security and anti-corruption agency to immediately freeze the accounts of the commission and apprehend everyone involved in the continuous scandalous pillaging of the agency’s treasury.
“It gladdens the heart to note that some of the commission’s officials are already refunding part of their loot to the government's recovery coffer.
“The Presidency also pre-emptively disowned the commission’s management over the latter’s impunity in extra budgetary spending yet ongoing.
“However, decisive steps must be taken urgently to end the audacious and unprecedented looting under a government that professes to be fighting corruption.”
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Act For Positive Transformation Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the looting ongoing at the Niger Delta Development Commission to prove he is truly fighting corruption.
Series of looting and financial misappropriation have been exposed in the NDDC with the Acting Managing Director, Prof Kemebradikumo Pondei, and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, unable to defend the spending of the commission.
Recall that Pondei had fainted during a public hearing to explain the financial misappropriation in the commission.
President Muhammadu Buharigettyimages
With deafening silence of the Presidency on the corruption and massive looting in the NDDC, AFPTI has urged the President to investigate and stop the looting of funds.
Kolawole Johnson, Head of Directorate of Research, Strategy and Programme of the group, said it was discouraging to suspect that government's body language appears to be promoting, rewarding and protecting corruption in the NDDC.
Johnson stated that despite public outcry, the NDDC had continued to suspend money without budgetary process.
“The commission had gone ahead to squander additional N9bn thereafter in the last one month.
“This includes reckless spendthrift of N5.8bn on fraudulent emergency desilting on the 29th of July, 2020 alone when the nation was on holidays,” he said.
He listed some of the illegal spendings as emergency clearing and desilting of Ipinle Ajenrela creek, Igbokoda (lot 3) –N634,761,500; emergency clearing and desilting of Akaibiri creek, Yenagoa – 634,761,500; emergency clearing and desilting of blocked canal from Ilaje High School Naval Base fishing Terminal, Igbokoda (Lot1) – 634,761,500.
Urging President Buhari to take action against NDDC and anyone found culpable in the massive looting of funds in the commission, the group said, “We call on President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Assembly and genuine security and anti-corruption agency to immediately freeze the accounts of the commission and apprehend everyone involved in the continuous scandalous pillaging of the agency’s treasury.
“It gladdens the heart to note that some of the commission’s officials are already refunding part of their loot to the government's recovery coffer.
“The Presidency also pre-emptively disowned the commission’s management over the latter’s impunity in extra budgetary spending yet ongoing.
“However, decisive steps must be taken urgently to end the audacious and unprecedented looting under a government that professes to be fighting corruption.”
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The Nigeria Labour Congress has vowed to go ahead with its protest scheduled to take place on Tuesday in the state.
The group said despite the “so called” court injunction secured by the Rivers State Government against the protest, it would not back out of the exercise.
In a post on it’s official Facebook page, NLC denied receiving any court injunction from the Rivers Government.
The group said, “We cannot be distracted by the so-called court injunction. We say clear that we didn’t receive any injunction from anybody.
"Besides, the Rivers State Government cannot rewrite the constitution of Nigeria by stopping peaceful protest. Remember, Nigeria constitution allows peaceful protest at all time.”
SaharaReporters had earlier reported how the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress said workers in Rivers were tired of failed promises by the administration of Governor Nyesom Wike.
The Nigerian Government has been asked to reverse the new pump price of petrol and electricity tariff.
The government has also been asked to shelve its planned reopening of schools as disclosed by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 last week.
The government had last Thursday announced an increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit also known as petrol from N145 per liter to N151.56 per litre.
Also the same week, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission issued a new electricity tariff from N30.23 per kilowatts to N62.33 per kilowatts of energy.
These increases have raised concerns about imminent inflation and spike in the prices of essential commodities in the country.
As of now, inflation rate is double digit with prices of foodstuffs and other essential commodities hitting record highs.
In its response, the Academic Staff Union of Universities on Monday in Yola, Adamawa State, charged the Nigerian Government to reverse the increases immediately.
Arising from its zonal meeting, ASUU's Coordinator for Yola Zone, Prof Augustine Ndaghu, said the hike was insensitive to the plight of poor citizens.
He said, "It is common knowledge that COVID-19 has wrecked havoc on socio-economic activities globally.
"Consequently, most nations have responded by providing palliatives and succour to citizens to reduce the hardship induced by the pandemic.
"However, reverse is the response in our country as citizens are meted with high tax burden, increased electricity tariff and pump price of petroleum products among others."
On government's plans to reopen schools, the ASUU Coordinator insisted that Nigerian universities lacked the required infrastructure for the observance of COVID-19 protocols.
He said, "In Nigeria public universities as at today, facilities for strict adherence to the provisions of COVID-19 protocol are grossly inadequate as hostel accommodation, lecture theatre and classes available when compared to the students' population only make a mockery of the social distancing requirement."
He noted that the outbreak of the pandemic had brought to the fore challenges bedeviling the health and education sectors in the country.
He posited that if government had appropriately implemented the 2012 needs assessment report, which identified the rot in the country's public universities, by now the institutions would have been involved in developing solutions to the virus.
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The Nigerian Government has been asked to reverse the new pump price of petrol and electricity tariff.
The government has also been asked to shelve its planned reopening of schools as disclosed by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 last week.
The government had last Thursday announced an increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit also known as petrol from N145 per liter to N151.56 per litre.
Also the same week, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission issued a new electricity tariff from N30.23 per kilowatts to N62.33 per kilowatts of energy.
These increases have raised concerns about imminent inflation and spike in the prices of essential commodities in the country.
As of now, inflation rate is double digit with prices of foodstuffs and other essential commodities hitting record highs.
In its response, the Academic Staff Union of Universities on Monday in Yola, Adamawa State, charged the Nigerian Government to reverse the increases immediately.
Arising from its zonal meeting, ASUU's Coordinator for Yola Zone, Prof Augustine Ndaghu, said the hike was insensitive to the plight of poor citizens.
He said, "It is common knowledge that COVID-19 has wrecked havoc on socio-economic activities globally.
"Consequently, most nations have responded by providing palliatives and succour to citizens to reduce the hardship induced by the pandemic.
"However, reverse is the response in our country as citizens are meted with high tax burden, increased electricity tariff and pump price of petroleum products among others."
On government's plans to reopen schools, the ASUU Coordinator insisted that Nigerian universities lacked the required infrastructure for the observance of COVID-19 protocols.
He said, "In Nigeria public universities as at today, facilities for strict adherence to the provisions of COVID-19 protocol are grossly inadequate as hostel accommodation, lecture theatre and classes available when compared to the students' population only make a mockery of the social distancing requirement."
He noted that the outbreak of the pandemic had brought to the fore challenges bedeviling the health and education sectors in the country.
He posited that if government had appropriately implemented the 2012 needs assessment report, which identified the rot in the country's public universities, by now the institutions would have been involved in developing solutions to the virus.
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Dr Tredros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation, has called on leaders around the world to prepare for the next pandemic.
Ghebreyesus made the call on Monday in Geneva, Switzerland, while also advocating for nations to heavily invest in public health infrastructure so that casualty is minimised when the next pandemic occurs.
He said, “This will not be the last pandemic. History teaches us that outbreaks and pandemics are a fact of life. But when the next pandemic comes, the world must be ready – more ready than it was this time.”
So far, more than 27.19 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel Coronavirus globally and 888,326 have died since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019, Reuters reports.
In Nigeria, 55,005 cases have been confirmed, 43,013 cases have been discharged and 1,057 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory since February.
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Dr Tredros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation, has called on leaders around the world to prepare for the next pandemic.
Ghebreyesus made the call on Monday in Geneva, Switzerland, while also advocating for nations to heavily invest in public health infrastructure so that casualty is minimised when the next pandemic occurs.
He said, “This will not be the last pandemic. History teaches us that outbreaks and pandemics are a fact of life. But when the next pandemic comes, the world must be ready – more ready than it was this time.”
So far, more than 27.19 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel Coronavirus globally and 888,326 have died since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019, Reuters reports.
In Nigeria, 55,005 cases have been confirmed, 43,013 cases have been discharged and 1,057 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory since February.
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Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has asked the Justice Ayo Salami-led Presidential Panel investigating allegations of gross misconduct against the suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, not to recommend the termination of forgery charges against a businessman from Republic of Benin, Granhoue Sourou Nazaire, and two others.
The charges LD/2415C/16 (Federal Republic of Nigeria v Gnahoue Sourou Nazaire and two others) and LD/6147/2017 (Federal Republic of Nigeria v Gnahoue Sourou Nazaire and another) are both pending at the Lagos State High Court.
Falana in a letter on behalf of his client, Madam Rachidatou Abdou, to the panel, claimed the defendants in the case recently submitted a petition to the panel where they falsely claimed that Magu abused his office by charging them with forgery and stealing on the basis of a petition written by Abdou.
Femi Falana (SAN)
The lawyer said the review of the criminal cases pending before the Lagos High Court was not covered by any of the terms of reference listed in the instrument setting up the judicial commission headed by Salami.
He said, “It is submitted that the Tribunal of Inquiry Act is not a law of general application in the country. Our authority for this submission is the case of Fawehinmi v. Babangida (2003) 12 WRN 1 where the Supreme Court held that, “the power to make a general law for the establishment and regulation of tribunals of inquiry in the form of the Tribunals of Inquiry Act 1966 is now a residual power under the 1999 constitution belonging to the states. However, in regard to the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, the power resides in the National Assembly”. Since the evidence of the defendants pertain to the criminal activities carried out by them in Lagos State, the President is not competent to authorise the Honourable Judicial Commission to investigate them.
“Notwithstanding that the Honourable Judicial Commission is headed by a retired President of the Court of Appeal, it is an inferior tribunal which is subject to the jurisdictional supervision and control of a high court. To that extent, the Honourable Judicial Commission lacks the competence to review the criminal cases that are pending before the Lagos State High Court. In Williams v Dawodu (1988) 4 NWLR (Pt 87) 189 the Court of Appeal held that section 14(2) of the Lagos State Tribunal of Inquiry Law which purported to upgrade the recommendation of a tribunal to that of a high court is contrary to the judicial powers vested in the courts by section 6 of the constitution.
“By denying our client the opportunity to challenge the evidence adduced by the defendants the Judicial Commission has infringed on her fundamental right to fair hearing and departed from the principles established by the Supreme Court in Garba v University of Maiduguri (1986) 1 NWLR (Pt 18) 550 at 558 where Oputa JSC held that "To constitute a fair hearing whether it be before the regular courts or before Tribunals and Boards of Inquiry the person accused should know what is alleged against him. He should be present when any evidence against him is tendered and he should be given a fair opportunity to correct or contradict such evidence?"
“The power of the EFCC to prosecute the defendants for economic crimes on the authority of the Attorney-General of Lagos State cannot be questioned by the Judicial Commission. In Frank Amah v Federal Republic of Nigeria (2019) 6 NWLR (Pt 1667) 160 at 188 Kekere-Ekun JSC stated that “The presumption which has not been rebutted, is that the EFCC has the requisite authority, donated by the Attorney-General of Lagos State, to prosecute the appellant for offences allegedly committed under the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State. The authority cannot be questioned. As rightly held by the lower court, this court has taken judicial notice of the fact of the delegation, which is binding on all".
“As a fact-finding body this Honourable Judicial Commission is not competent to determine the guilt or otherwise of the defendants who are currently standing trial in the Lagos State High Court. This principle was laid down by the Supreme Court in Dr. Sofekun v Akinyemi (1981) 1 NCLR 135 wherein Obaseki said that "It is in the interest of the Government and every individual in this country that the guilt of crime should not be tagged on any individual without a proper trial in the courts of law known as such under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria".
“The Honourable Judicial Commission lacks the power to request the President to order the Attorney-General of the Federation to terminate the criminal proceedings arising from the contravention of the Criminal Code of Lagos State. It is trite law that the Attorney-General of the Federation is not subject to the control or directive of the President or any authority whatsoever in the exercise of the power to terminate any criminal case under section 174 of the constitution. See The State v Ilori (1983) 1SCNLR 94 at 111. However, since the defendants have been charged under the Criminal Law of Lagos State it is the Attorney-General of Lagos State who is empowered by section 211 of the Constitution to terminate the pending criminal cases pending before the Lagos State High Court in accordance with the principles of law enunciated by the Supreme Court in the case of Anyebe v The State (1986) 1 MWLR (Pt 14) 39.
“It is equally submitted that the Honourable Judicial Commission lacks the vires to review the criminal cases pending in the Lagos State High Court as the President who constituted it has no control over the subject matter. Furthermore, the Attorney-General of Lagos State who authorised the EFCC to initiate the criminal proceedings is not an agent of the President. In Gafar v Government of Kwara State (2007) 20 WRN 170 the Supreme Court held that “the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdictional competence to entertain the appellant's application for the enforcement of his fundamental rights as the 1st respondent "which constituted the Commission of Inquiry and issued a White Paper on the report thereof, is not an agency of the Federal Government." Incidentally, the Judicial Commission of Inquiry in the Gafar's case was headed by Ayo Salami JCA (as he then was).
“In view of the foregoing and having regards to the fact that the constitutional democracy operated in the country rests squarely on the principle of separation of powers, we urge the Honourable Judicial Commission of Inquiry to refrain from further reviewing the criminal cases pending in the Lagos State High Court. In particular, the Honourabe Judicial Commission should reject the dangerous invitation of the defendants to constitute itself into an appellate court over the Lagos State High Court. However, if our humble prayer is refused for any reason whatsoever we shall not hesitate to approach the Federal High Court with a view to quashing the proceedings of this Honourable Judicial Commission of Inquiry for reviewing criminal cases that are pending before the Lagos State High Court.”
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Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has asked the Justice Ayo Salami-led Presidential Panel investigating allegations of gross misconduct against the suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, not to recommend the termination of forgery charges against a businessman from Republic of Benin, Granhoue Sourou Nazaire, and two others.
The charges LD/2415C/16 (Federal Republic of Nigeria v Gnahoue Sourou Nazaire and two others) and LD/6147/2017 (Federal Republic of Nigeria v Gnahoue Sourou Nazaire and another) are both pending at the Lagos State High Court.
Falana in a letter on behalf of his client, Madam Rachidatou Abdou, to the panel, claimed the defendants in the case recently submitted a petition to the panel where they falsely claimed that Magu abused his office by charging them with forgery and stealing on the basis of a petition written by Abdou.
Femi Falana (SAN)
The lawyer said the review of the criminal cases pending before the Lagos High Court was not covered by any of the terms of reference listed in the instrument setting up the judicial commission headed by Salami.
He said, “It is submitted that the Tribunal of Inquiry Act is not a law of general application in the country. Our authority for this submission is the case of Fawehinmi v. Babangida (2003) 12 WRN 1 where the Supreme Court held that, “the power to make a general law for the establishment and regulation of tribunals of inquiry in the form of the Tribunals of Inquiry Act 1966 is now a residual power under the 1999 constitution belonging to the states. However, in regard to the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, the power resides in the National Assembly”. Since the evidence of the defendants pertain to the criminal activities carried out by them in Lagos State, the President is not competent to authorise the Honourable Judicial Commission to investigate them.
“Notwithstanding that the Honourable Judicial Commission is headed by a retired President of the Court of Appeal, it is an inferior tribunal which is subject to the jurisdictional supervision and control of a high court. To that extent, the Honourable Judicial Commission lacks the competence to review the criminal cases that are pending before the Lagos State High Court. In Williams v Dawodu (1988) 4 NWLR (Pt 87) 189 the Court of Appeal held that section 14(2) of the Lagos State Tribunal of Inquiry Law which purported to upgrade the recommendation of a tribunal to that of a high court is contrary to the judicial powers vested in the courts by section 6 of the constitution.
“By denying our client the opportunity to challenge the evidence adduced by the defendants the Judicial Commission has infringed on her fundamental right to fair hearing and departed from the principles established by the Supreme Court in Garba v University of Maiduguri (1986) 1 NWLR (Pt 18) 550 at 558 where Oputa JSC held that "To constitute a fair hearing whether it be before the regular courts or before Tribunals and Boards of Inquiry the person accused should know what is alleged against him. He should be present when any evidence against him is tendered and he should be given a fair opportunity to correct or contradict such evidence?"
“The power of the EFCC to prosecute the defendants for economic crimes on the authority of the Attorney-General of Lagos State cannot be questioned by the Judicial Commission. In Frank Amah v Federal Republic of Nigeria (2019) 6 NWLR (Pt 1667) 160 at 188 Kekere-Ekun JSC stated that “The presumption which has not been rebutted, is that the EFCC has the requisite authority, donated by the Attorney-General of Lagos State, to prosecute the appellant for offences allegedly committed under the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State. The authority cannot be questioned. As rightly held by the lower court, this court has taken judicial notice of the fact of the delegation, which is binding on all".
“As a fact-finding body this Honourable Judicial Commission is not competent to determine the guilt or otherwise of the defendants who are currently standing trial in the Lagos State High Court. This principle was laid down by the Supreme Court in Dr. Sofekun v Akinyemi (1981) 1 NCLR 135 wherein Obaseki said that "It is in the interest of the Government and every individual in this country that the guilt of crime should not be tagged on any individual without a proper trial in the courts of law known as such under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria".
“The Honourable Judicial Commission lacks the power to request the President to order the Attorney-General of the Federation to terminate the criminal proceedings arising from the contravention of the Criminal Code of Lagos State. It is trite law that the Attorney-General of the Federation is not subject to the control or directive of the President or any authority whatsoever in the exercise of the power to terminate any criminal case under section 174 of the constitution. See The State v Ilori (1983) 1SCNLR 94 at 111. However, since the defendants have been charged under the Criminal Law of Lagos State it is the Attorney-General of Lagos State who is empowered by section 211 of the Constitution to terminate the pending criminal cases pending before the Lagos State High Court in accordance with the principles of law enunciated by the Supreme Court in the case of Anyebe v The State (1986) 1 MWLR (Pt 14) 39.
“It is equally submitted that the Honourable Judicial Commission lacks the vires to review the criminal cases pending in the Lagos State High Court as the President who constituted it has no control over the subject matter. Furthermore, the Attorney-General of Lagos State who authorised the EFCC to initiate the criminal proceedings is not an agent of the President. In Gafar v Government of Kwara State (2007) 20 WRN 170 the Supreme Court held that “the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdictional competence to entertain the appellant's application for the enforcement of his fundamental rights as the 1st respondent "which constituted the Commission of Inquiry and issued a White Paper on the report thereof, is not an agency of the Federal Government." Incidentally, the Judicial Commission of Inquiry in the Gafar's case was headed by Ayo Salami JCA (as he then was).
“In view of the foregoing and having regards to the fact that the constitutional democracy operated in the country rests squarely on the principle of separation of powers, we urge the Honourable Judicial Commission of Inquiry to refrain from further reviewing the criminal cases pending in the Lagos State High Court. In particular, the Honourabe Judicial Commission should reject the dangerous invitation of the defendants to constitute itself into an appellate court over the Lagos State High Court. However, if our humble prayer is refused for any reason whatsoever we shall not hesitate to approach the Federal High Court with a view to quashing the proceedings of this Honourable Judicial Commission of Inquiry for reviewing criminal cases that are pending before the Lagos State High Court.”
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A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Monday declined hearing an application filed to lift an order of injunction restraining South African retail outlet, Shoprite Checkers (PTY) Limited from transferring its assets.
Justice Nicholas Oweibo, a vacation judge, said that the matter was not urgent enough to be heard during the court’s ongoing vacation.
Shoprite is seeking to overturn a July 14, 2020 injunction made by Justice Mohammed Liman of the same court in favour of a Nigerian firm, A.I.C. Limited.
A.I.C. Limited, which in 2018 secured a $10m judgment against Shoprite in a breach of contract lawsuit, obtained the injunction against the backdrop of Shoprite’s announcement to pull out of Nigeria.
Displeased with the judgment, Shoprite had gone on appeal but it equally lost at the Court of Appeal and has now gone to the Supreme Court.
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A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Monday declined hearing an application filed to lift an order of injunction restraining South African retail outlet, Shoprite Checkers (PTY) Limited from transferring its assets.
Justice Nicholas Oweibo, a vacation judge, said that the matter was not urgent enough to be heard during the court’s ongoing vacation.
Shoprite is seeking to overturn a July 14, 2020 injunction made by Justice Mohammed Liman of the same court in favour of a Nigerian firm, A.I.C. Limited.
A.I.C. Limited, which in 2018 secured a $10m judgment against Shoprite in a breach of contract lawsuit, obtained the injunction against the backdrop of Shoprite’s announcement to pull out of Nigeria.
Displeased with the judgment, Shoprite had gone on appeal but it equally lost at the Court of Appeal and has now gone to the Supreme Court.
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The Nigerian Army has perfected plans to court-martial Lance Corporal Martins Idakpini in Sokoto State, SaharaReporters has exclusively gathered.
Idakpini was arrested in June 2020 shortly after he made a viral video castigating Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Burutai, for the failings of the army to combat and destroy Boko Haram terrorists.
In a notice on Monday titled "Amendment Number 6", army authorities officially announced its readiness to court-martial.
Lance Corporal Martins
The notice reads in part, "Amendment Number 6. To the covening order for the general court-martial onvened by Brigadier General A. Bande (N/8554) Psc, TSCN, NNI, Bsc, (HO), MIAD, Acting General Officer, Commanding, 8th Division Nigerian Army Pursuant to S 131 (2) (d) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap 820 LFN 2004.
"Further to reference A-G, the further convening authority has authorised the following amendments.
"(A) GCM awaiting member. Maj. I Akbuanwara (N/11493) is to replace Maj. OO Oni (N/12578) as GCM awaiting member.
"(B) Accused persons - include; 11NA/66/8655 Lance Corporal Idakpini Martins, 13NA/70/7733 Lance Corporal Inusa and 17NA/76/3646 Private Abubakar Abdullahi on the list of accused persons in paragraph of reference."
On July 22, 2020, an Abuja Federal High Court ordered the army to grant Idakpini immediate access to his lawyer and family after human rights lawyer, Mr Tope Akinyode, argued an exparte.
Justice A.I Chikere held that it is a continuous breach of the detained soldier's fundamental human rights to be denied access to his lawyer and family.
However, Akinyode, also the National President of Revolutionary Lawyers' Forum, said the army had refused to grant him access to his client despite being served copies of the court processes.
Akinyode said, "We wrote the AGF and Chief of Army Staff to notify them of the court order. I also called the AGF on phone and he assured me the court order would be obeyed. But myself and Lance Corporal Martins' wife visited the army headquarters thrice to see my client but we were blocked."
Akinyode, who vowed to resist the move by the army, said the refusal of the Nigerian Government to obey court orders positions the country for ridicule in the global community.
The Nigerian Army has perfected plans to court-martial Lance Corporal Martins Idakpini in Sokoto State, SaharaReporters has exclusively gathered.
Idakpini was arrested in June 2020 shortly after he made a viral video castigating Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Burutai, for the failings of the army to combat and destroy Boko Haram terrorists.
In a notice on Monday titled "Amendment Number 6", army authorities officially announced its readiness to court-martial.
Lance Corporal Martins
The notice reads in part, "Amendment Number 6. To the covening order for the general court-martial onvened by Brigadier General A. Bande (N/8554) Psc, TSCN, NNI, Bsc, (HO), MIAD, Acting General Officer, Commanding, 8th Division Nigerian Army Pursuant to S 131 (2) (d) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap 820 LFN 2004.
"Further to reference A-G, the further convening authority has authorised the following amendments.
"(A) GCM awaiting member. Maj. I Akbuanwara (N/11493) is to replace Maj. OO Oni (N/12578) as GCM awaiting member.
"(B) Accused persons - include; 11NA/66/8655 Lance Corporal Idakpini Martins, 13NA/70/7733 Lance Corporal Inusa and 17NA/76/3646 Private Abubakar Abdullahi on the list of accused persons in paragraph of reference."
On July 22, 2020, an Abuja Federal High Court ordered the army to grant Idakpini immediate access to his lawyer and family after human rights lawyer, Mr Tope Akinyode, argued an exparte.
Justice A.I Chikere held that it is a continuous breach of the detained soldier's fundamental human rights to be denied access to his lawyer and family.
However, Akinyode, also the National President of Revolutionary Lawyers' Forum, said the army had refused to grant him access to his client despite being served copies of the court processes.
Akinyode said, "We wrote the AGF and Chief of Army Staff to notify them of the court order. I also called the AGF on phone and he assured me the court order would be obeyed. But myself and Lance Corporal Martins' wife visited the army headquarters thrice to see my client but we were blocked."
Akinyode, who vowed to resist the move by the army, said the refusal of the Nigerian Government to obey court orders positions the country for ridicule in the global community.
We have to face up to the truth; the truth about Christian fundamentalism. The church today has been sculpted in the image of extremists and demagogues – men who arrogate to themselves the power of life and death. They pronounce perdition on those who step on their testy ego and deploy the bloodhounds of hell against those who differ with them.
These men are the people Jesus, the Christ, dismissed as "brood of vipers". They have taken the word of God and revised it to fit into their foibles and weaknesses. They make themselves god and instruct their followers by a mundane canon. They make God in their own image. It is either their way or the thoroughfare to hell.
Really, we have a "Boko Haram problem" in the church. Love, grace, temperance, and compassion have taken leave of the synagogue. Some Christians, if given the latitude, will fight and kill for their pastors. They lost the logic of the gospel and have become mammonised by mammon-seeking pastors. They defend man but not God.
Fredrick Nwabufo
1 John 3:10 puts a picture to these children of nemesis. "By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practise righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother and sister," the Bible says.
Pastor David Ibiyeomie of Salvation Ministries, by his unrighteous paroxysm of attacks on Ifedayo Olarinde, better known as Daddy Freeze, has taken the chief table among the Pharisees Jesus condemned. He let off a volley of abominable invective against Daddy Freeze because the broadcaster differed with Bishop David Oyedepo. Ibiyeomie said Daddy Freeze insulted his "father" – Oyedepo – so, he would "kill and tear" him.
Obviously, this is Beelzebub speaking, not God.
Ibiyeomie’s words: "Insult me; I won’t comment, but insult Oyedepo ...that bastard.... any day I hear you talk about him… Do they know his (Freeze’s) father? Does Daddy Freeze have a father? Who’s his father?"
“That half-caste who is born by a Somalian? The day I hear him insult Oyedepo, I’ll deal with him. Oyedepo may not talk, but I can’t be alive and you’d insult my father. I can’t take it. I’ll tear you to pieces, bastard. People who have fathers don’t insult fathers. He’s insulting him because he has no father. Does he (Freeze) look like a Nigerian? Somebody they gave birth to on the ship.
"I curse the day he was born. Tell him. This should be the last time he’d talk about Oyedepo. A man who is not married; he has no wife. He can’t take care of his home but he’s coming to talk on TV. If he has one, let him show us his father. Somebody that is a broadcaster, does he have a good job? I will never be alive to see someone insult my father. You’re not born! I’ll kill, arrest him."
What could be more ghastly from an aperture that supposedly preaches the Bible and praises God, and from the altar of God? How is he different from those seeking the death of a singer in Kano for simply making music they put a slant on?
Here is what Jesus the Christ has to say to Ibiyeomie in Matthew 23: ‘’They (Ibiyeomie and his ilk) pile heavy burdens on people’s shoulders and won’t lift a finger to help. Everything they do is just to show off in front of others. They even make a big show of wearing Scripture verses on their foreheads and arms, and they wear big tassels for everyone to see. They love the best seats at banquets and the front seats in the meeting places. And when they are in the market, they like to have people greet them as their teachers.
‘’But none of you should be called a teacher. You have only one teacher, and all of you are like brothers and sisters. Don’t call anyone on earth your father. All of you have the same Father in heaven. None of you should be called the leader. The Messiah is your only leader. Whoever is the greatest should be the servant of the others. If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honoured."
Really, by this singular egregious act, Ibiyeomie has failed in his calling as a preacher of the gospel. But there is room for repentance in Christianity. As someone who once trained as a pastor myself, I suggest that Ibiyeomie publicly apologise to Daddy Freeze, put on sack-cloth and retreat into fasting and praying seeking the face of God. The Lord is merciful; He will blot out of his unrighteousness.
Nigerian health workers under the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Health Care Professionals have threatened to embark on national strike from September 13, 2020.
The union said the strike would go on if the government failed to address their demands.
The union wants the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN), to take over the negotiation process from Chris Ngige, saying he had taken their dialogues for granted.
File photoGoogle
The union is demanding the "unconditional payment of all withheld salaries at Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, JUTH, LUTH and the complement of April and May 2018 salaries.
“States and local governments are urged to unconditionally pay all outstanding salaries. States are urged to conclude minimum wage negotiations and implementation".
The union is also demanding the immediate payment of the shortfall in the COVID-19 allowances of non-clinical staff in the federal health institutions presently pegged at 10 per cent to the agreed 50 per cent of basic salaries paid to all clinical staff in the FHI and also asked the states and LGAs that have not domesticated the COVID-19 allowances for their clinical and non-clinical health workers to abide by the agreement without further delay to avoid the breakdown of industrial harmony in their health sector, a report by PUNCH said.
PUBLIC HEALTHNewsAddThis : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :
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