... ... 11/18/20 | IYANDA'SBLOG

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11/18/20

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, the umbrella association of all registered political parties and political associations in the country, has called for the immediate resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari, Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, and Director-General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission, Prof Armstrong Idachaba, over their roles in the October 20, 2020 Lekki massacre.

The group urged the International Criminal Court to investigate, arrest and prosecute Buhari, Buratai, Idachaba and others for crimes against humanity.

President Buhari

Chief Willy Ezugwu, Secretary-General of CNPP, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday while reacting to CNN's investigative report that indicted the Nigerian Army in the Lekki massacre.

The statement reads, “Nigerian democracy is in danger as the voice of opposition is being silenced by the Federal Government of Nigeria, using all arms of government and instrumentalities of the office of the executive to shut the voices of oppressed citizens.

“It is now obvious that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration deliberately engaged the Director-General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission to intimidate, harass and stampede Nigerian broadcast media houses in a bid to cover up the Lekki massacre by slamming unjustifiable N3m fine on three television stations over reports on the killings.

“As if the killings by the Nigeria Police, through its Special Anti-Robbery Squad unit were not enough, President Muhammadu Buhari as the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces authorised the use of maximum force to disperse unarmed citizens protesting against bad leadership and extrajudicial killings in the country.

“It is a shame that Nigerian Government and Nigerian Army have no respect for our national flag and anthem.

“The outcome of the CNN investigation now raises strong doubts on the loyalty or allegiance of the Nigerian security agencies to the Nigerian nation.

“Sovereignty belongs to the people and if the people for whom Nigerian President holds power in trust are now murdered in cold blood by their employees paid through their taxes, there is danger ahead for our democracy.

“To save Nigerian democracy, and all democracies in Africa, the International Criminal Court of Justice must now unmask all the state and non-state actors involved in the killing of Nigerian patriots at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos.

“The CNN was very conclusive when it noted on its website that ‘the Nigerian Army has called allegations that it fired into the crowd “fake news” and told a judicial panel of inquiry that it did not shoot at any civilian but a new CNN investigation can reveal this is not true’.

“In view of the new CNN’s insights into the Lekki massacre perpetrated by agents of the state on orders of the authorities of the Nigerian state, we demand the immediate resignation of their Commander-in-Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari, Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, and the Director-General of the NBC, Prof Armstrong Aduku Idachaba, for their anti-people roles in the killings and the attempts to cover up the massacre of unarmed Nigerian people at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos on October 2020.

“If the Manuel Merino, President of Peru, resigned following the death of two protesters, it is time for President Buhari to resign if he still has any integrity left.”

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The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, the umbrella association of all registered political parties and political associations in the country, has called for the immediate resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari, Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, and Director-General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission, Prof Armstrong Idachaba, over their roles in the October 20, 2020 Lekki massacre.

The group urged the International Criminal Court to investigate, arrest and prosecute Buhari, Buratai, Idachaba and others for crimes against humanity.

President Buhari

Chief Willy Ezugwu, Secretary-General of CNPP, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday while reacting to CNN's investigative report that indicted the Nigerian Army in the Lekki massacre.

The statement reads, “Nigerian democracy is in danger as the voice of opposition is being silenced by the Federal Government of Nigeria, using all arms of government and instrumentalities of the office of the executive to shut the voices of oppressed citizens.

“It is now obvious that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration deliberately engaged the Director-General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission to intimidate, harass and stampede Nigerian broadcast media houses in a bid to cover up the Lekki massacre by slamming unjustifiable N3m fine on three television stations over reports on the killings.

“As if the killings by the Nigeria Police, through its Special Anti-Robbery Squad unit were not enough, President Muhammadu Buhari as the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces authorised the use of maximum force to disperse unarmed citizens protesting against bad leadership and extrajudicial killings in the country.

“It is a shame that Nigerian Government and Nigerian Army have no respect for our national flag and anthem.

“The outcome of the CNN investigation now raises strong doubts on the loyalty or allegiance of the Nigerian security agencies to the Nigerian nation.

“Sovereignty belongs to the people and if the people for whom Nigerian President holds power in trust are now murdered in cold blood by their employees paid through their taxes, there is danger ahead for our democracy.

“To save Nigerian democracy, and all democracies in Africa, the International Criminal Court of Justice must now unmask all the state and non-state actors involved in the killing of Nigerian patriots at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos.

“The CNN was very conclusive when it noted on its website that ‘the Nigerian Army has called allegations that it fired into the crowd “fake news” and told a judicial panel of inquiry that it did not shoot at any civilian but a new CNN investigation can reveal this is not true’.

“In view of the new CNN’s insights into the Lekki massacre perpetrated by agents of the state on orders of the authorities of the Nigerian state, we demand the immediate resignation of their Commander-in-Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari, Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, and the Director-General of the NBC, Prof Armstrong Aduku Idachaba, for their anti-people roles in the killings and the attempts to cover up the massacre of unarmed Nigerian people at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos on October 2020.

“If the Manuel Merino, President of Peru, resigned following the death of two protesters, it is time for President Buhari to resign if he still has any integrity left.”

#EndSARS Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, has insisted that the Nigerian Army acted professionally and kept to the rules of engagement in the handling the #ENDSARS protesters at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos on October 20, 2020.

He disclosed this while reacting to a report by CNN on Wednesday, which revealed how soldiers of the Nigerian Army killed several peaceful demonstators at Lekki Toll Gate.

Buratai spoke while receiving members of the House of Representatives Committee on Army on Wednesday in Abuja.

Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai.

He said, “Let me assure you and all Nigerians that the Nigerian Army is professional. We follow our rules of engagement. Nigerians should feel safe.

"We abide by rules of engagement and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."

While speaking on the issue of kidnapping and banditry along Abuja– Kaduna Road, Buratai said, “The issues of kidnapping and bandits attacks are being taken care of.” 

He disclosed that the Nigerian Army Aviation is being reactivated, pointing out that the helicopter project was at the ‘heart of our plans'.

He added, "In this regard, we have acquired two helicopters from the Transmission Company of Nigeria. We have added them to our platform and they will be rehabilitated and used for research.”

He said there was need for a Special Intervention Fund from the government for procurement of more equipment, training and provision of accommodation and other infrastructure in military barracks.

"Even though the budget has been made, there may be requirement for virement of funds because of shortage of funds needed for procurement of hardware especially to tackle the challenges in the North-East and North-West," he said.

In his own remarks, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Army, Hon Abdulrasaq Namdas, disclosed that they were at the army headquarters to brief the COAS about their observations during their oversight visit to military formations across the country.

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Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, has insisted that the Nigerian Army acted professionally and kept to the rules of engagement in the handling the #ENDSARS protesters at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos on October 20, 2020.

He disclosed this while reacting to a report by CNN on Wednesday, which revealed how soldiers of the Nigerian Army killed several peaceful demonstators at Lekki Toll Gate.

Buratai spoke while receiving members of the House of Representatives Committee on Army on Wednesday in Abuja.

Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai.

He said, “Let me assure you and all Nigerians that the Nigerian Army is professional. We follow our rules of engagement. Nigerians should feel safe.

"We abide by rules of engagement and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."

While speaking on the issue of kidnapping and banditry along Abuja– Kaduna Road, Buratai said, “The issues of kidnapping and bandits attacks are being taken care of.” 

He disclosed that the Nigerian Army Aviation is being reactivated, pointing out that the helicopter project was at the ‘heart of our plans'.

He added, "In this regard, we have acquired two helicopters from the Transmission Company of Nigeria. We have added them to our platform and they will be rehabilitated and used for research.”

He said there was need for a Special Intervention Fund from the government for procurement of more equipment, training and provision of accommodation and other infrastructure in military barracks.

"Even though the budget has been made, there may be requirement for virement of funds because of shortage of funds needed for procurement of hardware especially to tackle the challenges in the North-East and North-West," he said.

In his own remarks, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Army, Hon Abdulrasaq Namdas, disclosed that they were at the army headquarters to brief the COAS about their observations during their oversight visit to military formations across the country.

#EndSARS Military News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Some gunmen on Wednesday murdered Engr. Mufutau Olayemi, a lecturer at D.S Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori, Ogun State.

Olayemi, who is Head, Department of Electrical Engineering at the polytechnic, was shot dead by the suspected assassins on his way home from a conference.

He was shot several times while his assailants left without removing any item from his car.

Abimbola Oyeyemi, Ogun State Police Command spokesperson, confirmed the incident.

Oyeyemi said the command was treating it as a case of assassination, stressing that detectives from the homicide section had been dispatched to the area to investigate the matter and unravel those behind it.

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Shepherd Bushiri, a popular preacher, who jumped bail in South Africa and escaped in a private jet to his native Malawi, has turned himself in to the police.

His wife, Mary, also gave herself up for arrest and detention in Malawi's capital, Lilongwe, on Wednesday morning.

The controversial pastor has a large following across Africa and is considered one of the richest religious leaders on the continent.

Investigators in South Africa say the case involves $6.6m fraud.

Bushiri, who had previously declared that he wanted to clear his name of the allegations has now returned to his native Malawi with his family.

Earlier this month, he and his wife were released on bail after being charged with fraud and money laundering. 

He said there had been attempts on his life and he accused the South African authorities of not offering protection.

Bushiri said his decision to skip bail as "a tactical withdrawal meant to preserve lives".

The cleric reportedly fled on Malawi's presidential jet with President Lazarus Chakwera sparking fears of a diplomatic row between the two countries.

The South African Government has said that it would work to extradite the duo back to the country to face justice.

South Africa News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Shepherd Bushiri, a popular preacher, who jumped bail in South Africa and escaped in a private jet to his native Malawi, has turned himself in to the police.

His wife, Mary, also gave herself up for arrest and detention in Malawi's capital, Lilongwe, on Wednesday morning.

The controversial pastor has a large following across Africa and is considered one of the richest religious leaders on the continent.

Investigators in South Africa say the case involves $6.6m fraud.

Bushiri, who had previously declared that he wanted to clear his name of the allegations has now returned to his native Malawi with his family.

Earlier this month, he and his wife were released on bail after being charged with fraud and money laundering. 

He said there had been attempts on his life and he accused the South African authorities of not offering protection.

Bushiri said his decision to skip bail as "a tactical withdrawal meant to preserve lives".

The cleric reportedly fled on Malawi's presidential jet with President Lazarus Chakwera sparking fears of a diplomatic row between the two countries.

The South African Government has said that it would work to extradite the duo back to the country to face justice.

South Africa News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2HdqNZi

The new Coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech has reported 95 per cent of efficacy after final tests and would be submitted for approval to regulatory agencies within the next few days.

The United States pharmaceutical giant and its German partner said phase three of the vaccine trial was now complete and shows that it is 95 per cent effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19, which is five per cent up from the 90 per cent announced last week.

The trial state the company said recorded no serious side effects among the 41,135 adults, who received two doses. The most common reactions were that 3.7 per cent of participants experienced fatigue and two per cent had a headache.

Already, nations around the world are racing to lay their hands on the novel vaccine, which may remain unavailable to most countries due to availability and logistical challenges.

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The new Coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech has reported 95 per cent of efficacy after final tests and would be submitted for approval to regulatory agencies within the next few days.

The United States pharmaceutical giant and its German partner said phase three of the vaccine trial was now complete and shows that it is 95 per cent effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19, which is five per cent up from the 90 per cent announced last week.

The trial state the company said recorded no serious side effects among the 41,135 adults, who received two doses. The most common reactions were that 3.7 per cent of participants experienced fatigue and two per cent had a headache.

Already, nations around the world are racing to lay their hands on the novel vaccine, which may remain unavailable to most countries due to availability and logistical challenges.

PUBLIC HEALTH News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed the suit brought by the Alliance for Democracy, Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party and LM against Bayelsa State deputy governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, and Accord Party’s case against Governor Douye Diri.

In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, the apex court predicated the dismissal of the appeals on the withdrawal of the six appeals by lawyers of the appellants.

Diri’s victory has been challenged a number of times but the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja at different times affirmed Diri as the duly elected governor of the state.

Governor Duoye Diri was sworn in on February 14, a day after the Supreme Court sacked the former governor-elect of Bayelsa State, David Lyon, and his deputy, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremieoyo.

Lyon’s election was nullified after his deputy was accused of submitting forged certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
 

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The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed the suit brought by the Alliance for Democracy, Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party and LM against Bayelsa State deputy governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, and Accord Party’s case against Governor Douye Diri.

In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, the apex court predicated the dismissal of the appeals on the withdrawal of the six appeals by lawyers of the appellants.

Diri’s victory has been challenged a number of times but the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja at different times affirmed Diri as the duly elected governor of the state.

Governor Duoye Diri was sworn in on February 14, a day after the Supreme Court sacked the former governor-elect of Bayelsa State, David Lyon, and his deputy, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremieoyo.

Lyon’s election was nullified after his deputy was accused of submitting forged certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
 

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2QBskK8

The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed the suit brought by the Alliance for Democracy, Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party and LM against Bayelsa State deputy governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, and Accord Party’s case against Governor Douye Diri.

In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, the apex court predicated the dismissal of the appeals on the withdrawal of the six appeals by lawyers of the appellants.

Diri’s victory has been challenged a number of times but the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja at different times affirmed Diri as the duly elected governor of the state.

Governor Duoye Diri was sworn in on February 14, a day after the Supreme Court sacked the former governor-elect of Bayelsa State, David Lyon, and his deputy, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremieoyo.

Lyon’s election was nullified after his deputy was accused of submitting forged certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
 

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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The Nigeria Police Force has refused to release Eromosele Adene despite his bail condition being perfected.

The family has also cried out that the police were trying to move him to an unknown location.

Adene Eromosele
See Also Breaking News BREAKING: Court Grants N1m Bail To EndSARS Protester, Eromosele

The family confirmed to SaharaReporters that his bail terms had been met but the police are refusing to release him.

"We are waiting to see the game they are playing.

"His bail condition has been perfected but they are not releasing him," his family told SaharaReporters.

Adene is being detained at the Lagos Police headquarters.

Recall that the Yaba Magistrate Court had ordered the release of Adene on bail.

The magistrate, Folarin Williams, directed the police to release him on bail in the sum of N1m and two sureties.

Adene, who was arrested from his home in Lagos on November 7, was moved to Abuja and back to Lagos on Sunday night.

He was arraigned on Monday on four count charges bothering on cyber-stalking and conduct likely to provoke the breach of peace.
 

#EndSARS News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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The Nigeria Police Force has refused to release Eromosele Adene despite his bail condition being perfected.

The family has also cried out that the police were trying to move him to an unknown location.

Adene Eromosele
See Also Breaking News BREAKING: Court Grants N1m Bail To EndSARS Protester, Eromosele

The family confirmed to SaharaReporters that his bail terms had been met but the police are refusing to release him.

"We are waiting to see the game they are playing.

"His bail condition has been perfected but they are not releasing him," his family told SaharaReporters.

Adene is being detained at the Lagos Police headquarters.

Recall that the Yaba Magistrate Court had ordered the release of Adene on bail.

The magistrate, Folarin Williams, directed the police to release him on bail in the sum of N1m and two sureties.

Adene, who was arrested from his home in Lagos on November 7, was moved to Abuja and back to Lagos on Sunday night.

He was arraigned on Monday on four count charges bothering on cyber-stalking and conduct likely to provoke the breach of peace.
 

#EndSARS News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Probe. This is another word for political manoeuvring, horse-trading, chicanery and blackmail – in the Nigerian milieu. Probes are launched here not for righteous ends but for some predetermined recidivist motives. In particular, the so-called ‘’corruption probes’’ are themselves felonious panels set up to exact vengeance, broker deals or cause distraction from national discontent. Beelzebub cannot cast out demons.

I recall the Ndudi Elumelu corruption probe of the power sector in 2009 where as chairman of the house committee on power, ‘’the prober’’ was accused of receiving bribes and allegedly annexing N5.2bn from the rural electrification budget alongside other officials on the panel. I would like to ask, what came out of this all-important and well-noised probe? Nothing!

I also recall the senate’s probe of sale of government assets by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) under Nasir el-Rufai in 2004. El-Rufai had alleged the previous year (2003) that some senators demanded a N54m bribe to confirm his appointment as minister. So, the angry senate unleashed itself in a tit-for-tat subsumed as ‘’corruption probe’’.

Fredrick Nwabufo

And not too long ago, Nigerians witnessed perhaps the grandest of all fiasco probes – the fuel subsidy probe involving Farouk Lawan, Mr Integrity, in 2012. Lawan, who was the chairman of the house committee investigating fuel subsidies, allegedly demanded a $3m bribe from Femi Otedola to exculpate his company, Zenon, of blame in the fuel subsidy fraud.

The probe came on the heels of the unrest occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy by the Jonathan administration in January 2012. The fuel subsidy regime was natively corrupt. Some oil companies held the government by the noggins and were paid regardless of whether they supplied petrol or not. Lawan, Mr Integrity, was recorded on video allegedly receiving a bribe of $500,000 from Otedola – a part payment of the filthy lucre.

In July 2020, Nigerians were entertained by a riveting but gallows-humorous spectacle from the national assembly panels probing the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) over alleged stealing of N81.5bn. The interim management of the commission admitted to have spent N1.32bn on themselves as ‘’COVID-19 palliative’’.

The commission also owned up to spending N81.5bn in just eight months. What is most discomfiting, really, is how this humongous sum was spent.

A breakdown of the profligacy by the house of representatives panel ‘’probing’’ the agency showed that the commission spent, ‘’N1.3bn on community relations; condolences, N122.9m; consultancy, N83m; COVID-19, N3.14bn; duty travel allowance (DTA), N486m, imprest, N790.9m, and Lassa fever, N1.956bn’’.

Other items on the lavish list are, ‘’legal services, N900m; maintenance, N220m; overseas travel, N85.6m; public communications, N1.121bn; security, N744m; staffing-related payment, N8.8bn; stakeholders engagement, N248m’’.

A big whale feast. That is what the NDDC has become.  In July, I wrote that the theatrics and pyrotechnics during the probe sessions at the senate and the house of representatives were nothing more than entertainment skits. It has been four months since the probes, but no one has been held to account for the gross plunder of funds assigned for the Niger Delta people. In fact, owing to the revelations from the probe sessions, Concerned Nigerians, a civil society group led by Deji Adeyanju, filed a petition against certain officials allegedly complicit in the graft bazaar at the NDDC to the EFCC, but none has been invited for questioning, let alone being prosecuted.

Kemebradikumo Pondei, acting managing director of the NDDC, ‘’fainted’’ during an interrogation by the house panel; Godswill Akpabio, minister of Niger Delta affairs, accused Peter Nwaoboshi, a member of the senate panel probing the NDDC, of  being a major beneficiary of the sleaze in the agency. The senator riposted, accusing Akpabio of appropriating a N300m NDDC fencing contract for himself. Joy Nunieh, former MD of the NDDC, unlatched the grimy closet accusing the minister of corruption, abuse of office and sexual harassment.

The distraction continued at the house where the chairman of the committee probing the NDDC was accused of being a shareholding partaker of the iniquity in the commission. Allegations and recriminations – by both the prober and the probed. Unclean hands seeking justice against bloodied hands. Again, Beelzebub cannot cast out demons.

I had said the probes were essentially about deal-brokering. The audit of the operations of the NDDC from 2001 and 2019 will bring to the fore a lot of interred skeletons involving those at the national assembly and those at the composite quarters of national corruption.

So, it is a convenient tactic to hold the dirt of the interim management of the NDDC supervising the audit in the air for an eventual entente. What was happening was just crossfire of blackmail and intimidation. It is the threat of mutually assured destruction before the ‘’meeting at the table of kindreds’’. The NDDC probes have gone the way of other probes.

Fredrick Nwabufo is a writer and journalist

Twitter: @FredrickNwabufo

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