IYANDA'SBLOG

11/13/20

#LekkiShooting: We Don’t Have Trust In Lagos Judicial Panel —Joint Action Front

The Joint Action Front has said it does not have trust in the Lagos State Judicial Panel to probe the shooting and killing of peaceful and armless #ENDSARS protesters at Lekki Toll Gate area by the Nigerian Army.

The group said an independent panel must be set up to investigate the killing of Nigerians, adding that the panel must consist of lawyers, health workers, youth groups and major groups.

In a joint statement by Comrade Achike Chude, Deputy Chairperson; and Comrade Abiodun Aremu, Secretary of JAF, the rights group described the attack on protesters as “mindless mass shooting”, adding that the stage for the Lekki shooting “was on rehearsals in Abuja, Jos, Benin, Port Harcourt, Osogbo, Ilorin, Kano, Ibadan, Lagos, etc and other centres across the country where state sponsored violence, employing the use of rented crowds of mercenaries (called thugs and miscreants), for over two weeks, to attack the peaceful protests”.

JAF said, “We hold that the government has been characteristically telling lies about the casualties of the Lekki shooting. It is also reprehensible and irresponsible that President Buhari did not mention the Lekki shooting in his last national broadcast. All this was done to cover up the crime against humanity committed by the Buhari government.

“So, we don’t have trust in the judicial panel of inquiry set up by the Lagos government to probe Lekki shooting. Rather, we would call for an independent panel of enquiry comprising representatives of civil society organizations, Bar associations, medical associations, youth groups, trade unions and media to probe the Lekki shooting and other state sponsored attacks on peaceful protests in Lagos and across the country.

“We call for immediate and adequate compensation for all the victims of the brutal repression of the #EndSARS protests by the military, police and state sponsored thugs across the country.”

The group urged Nigerian youth not to give in to the deceit and machination of the ruinous ruling elite and their sidekicks to divide them along ethnic and religious lines.

It stressed that the “thieving elite loot the collective wealth of their own accord, not in the name of any religion or ethnic group”, and the youth must unite against their common oppressors who are drawn from all ethnic and religious groups.

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Safaa, Buhari Support Group Members Threaten Young Hausa Lady For Supporting #EndSARS Protest

A young Hausa lady is being threatened by the President of International Womens’ Club of Abuja, Safaa M.U. Adam, and some members of the Buhari Support Group for endorsing the #EndSARS protest that swept across Nigeria in October.

SaharaReporters gathered that Safaa was on a radio discussion panel on 14 October and argued that #EndSARS protest was a witch-hunt of Buhari’s government.

However, the young lady, who supported #EndSARS on the panel organised by Deutsche Welle Hausa service, was attacked by Safaa after the programme.

It was learnt that the lady had to be rescued by staff of the radio station as Safaa got furious and was prepared to physically assault the young lady.

Later, the woman obtained the young lady’s mobile number and shared it with members of the Buhari Support Group, who kept calling her, sometimes with a hidden number, threatening to kill her for supporting #EndSARS protest.

SaharaReporters further gathered that the parents of the lady were so disturbed that they had to take her to a safer place as the threats kept affecting her mental health.

Recall that a group, Concerned Nigerians, on Friday asked the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to investigate and prosecute Safaa and other persons, who procured and financed thugs to attack peaceful #EndSARS protesters in Lagos and Abuja.

Group Asks IGP To Arrest, Prosecute Safar, Others For Mobilising Thugs To Attack #EndSARS Protesters In Lagos, Abuja | Sahara Reporters https://t.co/5HigPt9HeO pic.twitter.com/2hYHmgzNmR
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) November 13, 2020

The group in a letter to the IGP signed by its Convener, Deji Adeyanju, accused Safaa of recruiting thugs who violently attacked the protesters and burnt private properties worth millions of naira.

The letter reads, “We write to request the investigation and prosecution of Ms Hajiya Safaa and other persons who procured and financed thugs to attack the #ENDSARS peaceful protest. You will recall that sometimes in October 2020, a peaceful protest erupted across most states in Nigeria, where citizens called for the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, otherwise known as F-SARS, as a result of several documented acts of harassment, torture and extra judicial killings allegedly perpetuated by the now disbanded unit.”

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Suspended Acting EFCC Chairman, Magu, Invited By CCB Over Alleged Assets Fraud

Ibrahim Magu

The Code of Conduct Bureau has invited suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, for questioning over alleged corruption involving breach of code of conduct for public offers, a report by Peoples Gazette said.

In a November 2, 2020, letter obtained by the publication, Magu was asked to bring copies of all asset declarations since joining public service.

Ibrahim Magu

Copies of appointment letters and records of service from January to May 2020 were amongst the documents Magu was asked to bring, as well as all documents of landed properties both developed and undeveloped.

The invitation came months after Magu was suspended from office on allegations of corruption.

He was accused of buying a home in Dubai worth over N570m and being unable to account for the interest accrued to over N500bn recovered by the EFCC but he denied the allegations.

A panel set up by President Muhammadu Buhari and headed by Justice Ayo Salami (retired), has failed to prove its case against Magu, instead resorting to different means in a desperate attempt to nail him.

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Suspended Acting EFCC Chairman, Magu, Invited By CCB Over Alleged Assets Fraud

Ibrahim Magu

In a November 2, 2020, letter obtained by the publication, Magu was asked to bring copies of all asset declarations since joining public service.

Ibrahim Magu

The invitation came months after Magu was suspended from office on allegations of corruption.

He was accused of buying a home in Dubai worth over N570m and being unable to account for the interest accrued to over N500bn recovered by the EFCC but he denied the allegations.

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Germany Deports Thirty-two Nigerians

About 32 Nigerians repatriated from Germany on Thursday arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, from Dusseldorf Airport.

The returnees, who are all males, arrived Nigeria aboard a chartered aircraft belonging to Envelope Airline about 2.30pm.

The deportees were sent back to their home country for committing immigration-related offences, immigration sources said.

Many of the deportees were said to be confused and disoriented on their arrival as their relatives were not aware of their coming and hence nobody was at the airport to receive them.

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Germany Deports Thirty-two Nigerians

About 32 Nigerians repatriated from Germany on Thursday arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, from Dusseldorf Airport.

The returnees, who are all males, arrived Nigeria aboard a chartered aircraft belonging to Envelope Airline about 2.30pm.

The deportees were sent back to their home country for committing immigration-related offences, immigration sources said.

Many of the deportees were said to be confused and disoriented on their arrival as their relatives were not aware of their coming and hence nobody was at the airport to receive them.

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Nagorno-Karabakh: One family's tragedy

Covid: India's festival season doesn't stop for coronavirus

UNIBEN Rape, Murder Victim, Uwaila Omozuwa, Buried In Edo

Uwaila Omozuwa, a 100-level Microbiology undergraduate at the University of Benin, Edo State, who was gang raped and killed by her attackers, has been buried.

Omozuwa was buried on Friday at the Third Cemetary in New Benin with family members, friends and well-wishers in attendance.

Twitter via Google Search/Uwaila Omozuwa

Prior to the interment, a funeral service was held for her at the RCCG, Peace Sanctuary, Edo Province 10 Headquarters, located along WAEC Road, Aduwawa.

Recall that late Uwaila, who was 22 years old at the time of her death, was gang-raped, beaten, inflicted with head injuries and abandoned for the dead inside a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in the state.

She died three days after the attack at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital while recovering from injuries sustained during the attack on her.

The deceased had been using the hall of the RCCG situated at Osa-Amadasun Street, Ohovbe Quarters in Benin, the state capital, to study her book.

In August, the police arrested and paraded six persons, who were later identified as Nelson Ogbebor ‘m’(27); Tina Samuel ‘f’ (45); Collins Uligbe ‘m’ (24); Mary Ade ‘f’ (45); Valentine Akato ‘ m’ and Nosa Osabohien ‘m’(31) in connection with the crime.

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Buhari Government's Policy Worse Than COVID-19, Nigerian Workers Say After Fresh Increase In Petrol Price

President Muhammadu Buhari

Nigerian workers under the aegis of the Federation of Informal Workers’ Organisation of Nigeria has berated the government over the fresh increase in the price of petrol, saying the government's policy had worse effect on the people than Coronavirus.

The group also said that the government was yet to increase the state of local refinery as promised before its emergence.

President Muhammadu Buhari

Speaking on Friday, Gbenga Komolafe, General Secretary, FIWON, stated that it was a shame and it remains an open sore that Nigeria as an oil-producing country could be importing fuel.

He noted that the government's exemption of informal workers from its policy had led to a rise in the post-COVID-19 crisis in the sector.

While lamenting the continued increase in the pump price of petrol, Komolafe said, "The promise to revamp the economy and stop fuel importation is one of the reasons we voted for this government. The government should also invest in refineries like other Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries. Even, South Africa which is not an oil-producing country has a refinery.

"Government policies have devastated Nigerians more than COVID-19. Some workers complained that they received half salary but workers in the informal sector did not even receive any salary."

The Petroleum Products Marketing Company, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, has increased the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit also known as petrol to N155.17 per litre from N147.67 per litre.

In its PMS price proposal for November, the PPMC put the landing cost of petrol at N128.89 per litre, up from N119.77 per litre in September/October.

It said the estimated minimum pump price of the product would increase to N161.36 per litre from N153.86 per litre.

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NDDC Under Fire As Acting MD Buys Cars, Buses For Auditors Investigating Commission's Finances

Acting MD of the NDDC, Kemebradikumor Pondei, fainting during public interrogation before a legislative committee probing allegations of contracting fraud under his watch to the tune of N81 billion.

The Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Developing Commission, Kemebradikumo Pondei, has again come under fire for purchasing 10 cars and five buses for auditors investigating the financial accounts of the company.

The vehicles were given to all the firms auditing the accounts of the commission.

FILE PHOTO: Acting MD of the NDDC, Kemebradikumor Pondei, fainting during public interrogation before a legislative committee probing allegations of contracting fraud under his watch to the tune of N81 billion.

It was gathered that Pondei labelled the gifts as additional working tools to facilitate and support the work of the firms.

“The forensic audit was set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to look into the activities of NDDC from inception 20 years ago to August 2019.

“So, it is on that note that lead forensic consultants were appointed and 16 field forensic auditors procured to handle the process.

“So, we are here to hand over more tools to the auditors to assist them in the ongoing forensic audit of the commission.

“The audit will unravel a lot of things in the commission and it is not a witch-hunting process but just to know the state of things in NDDC,” Mr Pondei said.

The gifts have generated outrage with many positing that it will influence the outcome of the audit.

The Niger Delta Rights Advocates noted that while the audit was yet to begin after months of presidential order, it is appalled that NDDC MD will give cars to the auditing firms.

The group also said it was disturbing, adding that the auditing firms have been paid for their services.

The group said, “Our attention has been drawn to the handover of 16 operational vehicles to the lead forensic auditor appointed by the NDDC and 15 other sub-auditors.

“We deem this as disturbing given the fact that the forensic audit remains a defining moment in the history of the Niger Delta, and is capable of causing a positive turn around in the operational capability and delivery capacity of the interventionist agency.

“The NDRA is sad to note that more than 12 months after Mr President ordered the forensic audit of the NDDC, the whole process has become increasingly opaque, suspicious and doubtful.

“We are appalled that the NDDC would embark on purchasing operational vehicles for auditors who should be working independent of the apron strings of the management.

“This calls to question the sincerity of purpose and the integrity of the entire process. If vehicles could be purchased, it means that offices could also be hired for the auditors in the name of providing a conducive working environment.

“Since perception counts in the discharge of public service, we query the purpose for the purchase of these vehicles and consider it inappropriate and therefore, falls short of internationally acceptable benchmark for doing a thorough forensic audit of the operations of an Agency so blatantly blighted with the scourge of corruption.”

Recall that in July 2020, Pondei fainted during questioning by the House of Representatives Committee on Nigeria Delta Development Commission.

He fainted while he was being asked about the spending of the commission since he took over as Acting MD.

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Man Impregnates 15-year-old Granddaughter In Ogun State

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested one Hunsu Sunday for allegedly molesting and impregnating his 15-year-old granddaughter in Ogun State.

Abimbola Oyeyemi, spokesperson for the command, said the man, who is in his 70s, was arrested after a complaint made by a relation of the victim at the Ado-Odo Division.

The complainant in the statement reported that the victim had been living with the suspect.since the demise of her mother.

The victim was said to have informed the relation about how her grandfather had been abusing her sexually.

The statement reads in part, “On interrogation, he confessed having carnal knowledge of his granddaughter but claimed that he didn’t know that the victim was pregnant. The victim has been taken to hospital for medical treatment.”

Edward Awolowo Ajogun, Commissioner of Police in the state, has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to anti-human trafficking and child labour unit of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation and prosecution.

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Sadly, The Trump Presidency Is Ending The Way It Started By Chido Nwangwu

The gradual but methodical counting and tabulation of the votes from the November 3 elections here in United States for the presidency, instantly offered three things.

The first as digital civic education.

The second came as another opportunity to millions of Americans and people of the world to take in the contrasting personalities of the Republican and the Democrat seeking the mantle of leadership.

To be sure, the incumbent Donald J Trump is very popular among some conservatives and especially the Christian Republicans and the working class whites Caucasians. There is no minimizing 70 million votes won by Mr. Trump, an unusual man with an instinct for wasteful confrontation and reckless abandonment of the greatest opportunity offered to him by history for potential greatness. But Biden has won more than 74 million votes. Biden also won 290 of the electoral votes to Mr. Trump’s 214.

“If you count the legal votes, I easily win,” were the explosive words of the 45th president of the United States, Donald J Trump, on Thursday evening November 5, 2020. Especially significant were two words he amplified for his efforts to discredit and delegitimize what was emerging as the inevitable success and victory for his opponent Joe Biden. He called an unproven allegation and partisan categorization “illegal votes.” To spice things up even for that he claimed that if those votes are counted, then “they can try to steal the election from us.”

On the other hand, former vice president Biden politely called for respect for the institution of democracy in America and commitment to the fact that all the lawfully cast votes must be counted.

It is important to note that Donald Trump's presidency is ending, sadly, how and where it started in January 2016. President Trump and his enablers decided from the beginning that they will force-feed Americans and the world a sweetened but toxic porridge of bold and bald lies as daily requirements and operational instruments for governance. It has
been almost Orwellian — where bronze is gold, bad is good and lie is truth. Particularly, the lies about COVID-19 and the coronavirus!

Mr. Trump started his embattled presidency with harsh ideological bifurcation and overdose off racially polarizing vernacular, and is ending with the same as reflected in his dog whistle messages. Consequently, despite some of the important things he is doing, because of his weighty but corrosive words before and especially on September 29, 2020, history — as written by folks like me and others — will denote him as the only man who had the privilege, the rare privilege of serving as the president of the United States but chose, willfully and giddily, to impress, acknowledge, embrace and give validation to neo-Nazis, skinheads, and certified racists such as the so-called ‘Proud Boys.’

He began in 2016 with his daily tweets of mean-spirited nonsense, indecent chunk of time wasted on self-serving glorifications and stream of caustic xenophobia. He's ending his presidency in a cacophony of incendiary misuse of the power and privilege of the presidency of the United States.

Evidently, Mr. Trump exemplifies the wise saying that the leopard does not change its spots.

_____________
*Dr. Chido Nwangwu, the author of the January 2021 book, MLK, Mandela & Achebe: Power, Leadership and Identity, serves as Founder & Publisher of the first African-owned, U.S-based newspaper on the internet, USAfricaonline.com, and established USAfrica in 1992 in Houston. He is recipient of several public policy and journalism excellence honors, civic engagement and community empowerment awards and has appeared as an analyst on CNN and SKYnews. He served as an adviser on Africa business to Houston’s former Mayor Lee Brown. @Chidö247

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Gunmen In Southern Kaduna Kidnap Five Daughters Of Christ Embassy Pastor, One IDP

File Photo: Gunmen

No less than six people have been kidnapped after gunmen stormed Karaji suburb in Kaduna State.

Among the victims of the incident, which took place less than 10 kilometres to the Government House, are five daughters of Pastor Istifanus Tiswan of the Christ Embassy Church.

File Photo: Gunmen middleeastpress

They are Faith, Godsgift, Ruth, Damaris and Michelle.

The other victim is Haruna Barde, who escaped violence from his native village to take refuge in Karji as an Internally Displaced Person.

The kidnappers are yet to make contact with the families or local authorities.

Luka Binniyat, spokesperson for the Southern Kaduna People’s Union, in a statement described as worrying the deteriorating security situation in the area, which has led to the killing and kidnapping of residents.

He said, “Kidnapping of our members almost on daily basis has become a source of severe worry for residents living on the fringes of Buyaya, Maraban Rido, Gonin Gora, Karji and Unguwan Juji, all suburbs of Kaduna that fall under Chikun LGA.

“Many have abandoned their homes to take refuge in safer areas. Meanwhile, natives of Katarma, Chikun ward, in same Chikun LGA are fleeing in droves across Kaduna river and taking refuge with their Gbagyi tribesmen in Sarkin Pawa town, in neighbouring Niger State as a result of fresh assaults over their community.

“These will add to the number of villages that our Gbagyi members have had to abandoned and flee for their dear lives after many of them have been destroyed and captured by Fulani militia in the past one year. Below are the numbers of Ggabyi communities in Kaduna State that are ravaged and destroyed by Fulani militia and occupied by them till date.”

He said so far, 45 communities have been displaced and occupied by their attackers.

They are, Kunai Ward, Kudo (Dau), Sunusi Dnakwala, Galu, Aguyita, Galuko, Galiwyi, Atopi, Onkoru, Anguwan, Badole, Manini, Hayin Damisa, Anguwan Nyako, Badimi,

Gnashi, Sarari , Giji, Dnapagbe, Badimi, Shelbula, Rafin yashi, Sabongida, Rafinyashi, Anguwan Amos, Manini, Hayin Dakachi Manini, Madalla, Abon, Kawuya, Gayam Ward in Birnin Gwari LGA Bordering Kunai in Chikun LGA, Rumanan Gbagyi, Rumanan Hausa, Malamo, Labi, Hayin Kozo, Muya, Shuwaka, Polwaya, Kaguru, Kasko, Nasarawa Kaguru and Dabbara Kaguru.

SOKAPU said the recent attacks are sequel to the killing of four Gbagyi men by armed Fulani men on October 6 and November 7.

“The men were ambushed and killed in Dande Village, which is part of Kasaya Village, in Kunai ward of Chikun LGA. They are: John Musa, 45, married with 9 children; Habila Ibrahim, 42, husband of two wives and father of 9; Maikudi Wasa, 25, single and

Samaila Audu, married to two wives and father of 7 children.

“David Umaru, 27 was injured in the incident,” the group said.

The group noted that despite the impact of the attacks, Governor Nasir El-Rufai had never visited any of the communities despite being in close proximity to the Government House.

“The effort of Operation Safe Haven under the Command of Maj. Gen. Chukwuemeka Okonkwo, who stationed enough of his men in Zangan District, in Atakad Chiefdom, Kaura LGA to make it possible for displaced atacked IDPs to return to their 9 abandoned communities. This has reduced the numbers of our

occupied territories from 109 to 101 if Katarma village is added.

“The estimated IDPs from our affected communities are 50,000 and most

of them live under sub-human conditions in IDP camps or squatting in

squalor among poor communities safe enough to accept them in Southern

Kaduna.

“Yet, it under this unspeakable atrocity against a large area of Kaduna state, Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna state has never visited any of the ravaged villages, some less than 30km from government House Kaduna. It would seem that far as both Kaduna state and the Federal government is concern these citizens don’t exist, and if they do, they don’t matter.

“It was therefore with shock and bewilderment that we read the visits of our governor, His Excellency, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, to far away Lagos last week while touring some of the damaged property during the #EndSars demonstration which was violently hijacked by mobsters.

“Our governor said that he was almost moved to tears when he saw the scale of the destruction of both private and public property.

“We are surprised that our governor has tears to shed and can show some humanity on someone’s else tragedy, not the more humungous one that bothers on genocide and physical destruction of no less magnitude right in his state," the group added.

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