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A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has issued an order restraining the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from arresting human rights activists, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), over his criticism of the agency's former acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu.

The applicant had made speeches regarding the way and manner the commission fought the corruption war under Magu.

Delivering judgement in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Ozekhome on Thursday, Justice Inyang Ekwo, held that serial acts of intimidation and constant invitations by the EFCC, as well as threats to arrest, detain and humiliate him, were illegal, and unconstitutional.

The judge further held that the action of the agency constituted a blatant violation of the applicant’s fundamental rights as enshrined in Sections 35, 37, 39 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and Articles 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12 & 14 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Ratification and Enforcement Act, Cap. A9 LFN 2004.

Defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/324/2018, were the EFCC, Magu and one of its lead operatives, Abubakar Aliyu Madaki.

The senior lawyer had in the suit, told the court that the EFCC had continued to harass him for being a vocal critic of the lopsided nature of President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war led by Magu.

He told the court that the commission aside from repeatedly summoning him to appear for questioning, froze his bank account after he was paid his legal fees totalling the sum of N75 million, by the former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose.

Ozekhome maintained that one of the reasons the EFCC made him its primary target was because he secured so many legal victories against it in various hierarchies of courts in the country.

He told the court that threats from the respondents were to shut him up from further criticising “the despicable and unjust manner of their fight against corruption in Nigeria”.

He said he did not commit any offence to warrant the incessant invitations and threats to arrest, detain or declare him wanted by the respondents.

Ozekhome then prayed the court to among other things, declare that he was entitled to receive legal fees for professional services he rendered to clients, including to Fayose and that he was not bound or obligated to determine the source of funds used in paying for legal services he rendered.

The applicant further asked the court to compel the respondents to publish an unreserved apology to him in three prominent dailies for the breach of his right.

He also prayed for another order directing the respondents to jointly and severally pay the sum of N5 billion to him as exemplary damages for violating his rights.

However, the EFCC, in a counter-affidavit that was deposed to by one of its operatives, Usman Aliyu, urged the court to dismiss the suit.

The commission told the court that Ozekhome was being investigated for a lot of cases bordering on money laundering and tax evasion, based on an intelligence report from the Nigeria Financial Intelligent Unit (NFIU).

Delivering judgment in the matter on Thursday, Justice Ekwo said he was satisfied that Ozekhome established a case of intimidation and harassment by the respondents.

He held that though the court would always restrain itself from interfering with the functions of statutory bodies like the EFCC,  "that is only in so far as such agency is demonstrably shown to be acting according to the veritable spirit of the law”.

The judge said, “Where the act of such a statutory body is shown to be manifestly predicated on ill will, malice and animosity, the law will intervene. The court will never allow the law to be used as an instrument of vendetta or vindictiveness as established in this case.”

Legal News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has issued an order restraining the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from arresting human rights activists, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), over his criticism of the agency's former acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu.

The applicant had made speeches regarding the way and manner the commission fought the corruption war under Magu.

Delivering judgement in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Ozekhome on Thursday, Justice Inyang Ekwo, held that serial acts of intimidation and constant invitations by the EFCC, as well as threats to arrest, detain and humiliate him, were illegal, and unconstitutional.

The judge further held that the action of the agency constituted a blatant violation of the applicant’s fundamental rights as enshrined in Sections 35, 37, 39 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and Articles 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12 & 14 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Ratification and Enforcement Act, Cap. A9 LFN 2004.

Defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/324/2018, were the EFCC, Magu and one of its lead operatives, Abubakar Aliyu Madaki.

The senior lawyer had in the suit, told the court that the EFCC had continued to harass him for being a vocal critic of the lopsided nature of President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war led by Magu.

He told the court that the commission aside from repeatedly summoning him to appear for questioning, froze his bank account after he was paid his legal fees totalling the sum of N75 million, by the former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose.

Ozekhome maintained that one of the reasons the EFCC made him its primary target was because he secured so many legal victories against it in various hierarchies of courts in the country.

He told the court that threats from the respondents were to shut him up from further criticising “the despicable and unjust manner of their fight against corruption in Nigeria”.

He said he did not commit any offence to warrant the incessant invitations and threats to arrest, detain or declare him wanted by the respondents.

Ozekhome then prayed the court to among other things, declare that he was entitled to receive legal fees for professional services he rendered to clients, including to Fayose and that he was not bound or obligated to determine the source of funds used in paying for legal services he rendered.

The applicant further asked the court to compel the respondents to publish an unreserved apology to him in three prominent dailies for the breach of his right.

He also prayed for another order directing the respondents to jointly and severally pay the sum of N5 billion to him as exemplary damages for violating his rights.

However, the EFCC, in a counter-affidavit that was deposed to by one of its operatives, Usman Aliyu, urged the court to dismiss the suit.

The commission told the court that Ozekhome was being investigated for a lot of cases bordering on money laundering and tax evasion, based on an intelligence report from the Nigeria Financial Intelligent Unit (NFIU).

Delivering judgment in the matter on Thursday, Justice Ekwo said he was satisfied that Ozekhome established a case of intimidation and harassment by the respondents.

He held that though the court would always restrain itself from interfering with the functions of statutory bodies like the EFCC,  "that is only in so far as such agency is demonstrably shown to be acting according to the veritable spirit of the law”.

The judge said, “Where the act of such a statutory body is shown to be manifestly predicated on ill will, malice and animosity, the law will intervene. The court will never allow the law to be used as an instrument of vendetta or vindictiveness as established in this case.”

Legal News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Borno State capital, Maiduguri, has reportedly been off the national grid for two months after Boko Haram insurgents bombed some power stations and transmission lines outside the city.

It was gathered that when repairs commenced, the insurgents laid land mines that injured officials of the Transmission Company of Nigeria.

This informed the presence of heavy military escort as repairs progressed. Residents and business owners now have to rely on their power generating sets for electricity.
 
SaharaReporters recall that last Friday, the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, in a new monthly template, said the price of Premium Motor Spirit had increased to N212.6 per litre.

Following reactions to the development, the PPPRA had in a new press release on its website clarified that its publication of monthly template, did not amount to increasing the price of petroleum products, as it does not fix the price of petrol.

However, there are allegations that fuel marketers in Maiduguri have resorted to hoarding petroleum products, triggering price inflation.

A black marketer, Mohammed Abdulrahman told Channels Television: “A litre was N200 when fuel was available, but when it became very scarce fuel was sold for N450 to N500.

“But to be honest when the product is scarce, that’s when we make more profit. But when the fuel is available, sometimes you’ll be here the whole day and maybe only five or six cars will stop to buy from you.”

A business owner, Abdulmumini Bello, on the other hand, said: “Every blessed day, you spend N5,000 on fuel and there is no power so everything is now expensive.

“The government should consider and help us out of this difficulty. We are facing the problem of power outage and petrol scarcity, and there is poverty.”

A motorist, Maikudi Kwajaffa, also accused filling stations of perfecting the art of deception. He said: “If you go to the filling stations, you’ll see the display on their dashboard saying N162 but actually if you say you want to buy N2,000 fuel, they’ll just carry their calculator and begin to calculate.

“If you go to another place, they’ll say it’s N190 or N180. I don’t know if they are waiting for the government to increase the price, but hoarding the fuel makes it so scarce and you know in Maiduguri it’s about two months now we have not had electricity so most people want to take in jerrycans or gallons.”

The DPR, Zonal Operations Controller, North East, Abubakar Ciroma admitted that the agency was battling marketers overpricing, stating that there were no fuel queues in Maiduguri.  

He also blamed the long distance between Maiduguri and major petrol hubs such as Lagos and Port Harcourt for the shortfall in supply that has spooked the marketers.

He said: “The insecurity challenges along the road. You know we have had so many cases of blockage on the road and so on.

“Some of the vehicles break down because they are old and they are coming from Lagos with the bad roads here and there.”

Ciroma also disclosed that the NNPC depot in the city which has a storage capacity of at least 20 million litres, has been non-functional for over 15 years, making it impossible to stockpile products for the rainy day.

Energy News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Borno State capital, Maiduguri, has reportedly been off the national grid for two months after Boko Haram insurgents bombed some power stations and transmission lines outside the city.

It was gathered that when repairs commenced, the insurgents laid land mines that injured officials of the Transmission Company of Nigeria.

This informed the presence of heavy military escort as repairs progressed. Residents and business owners now have to rely on their power generating sets for electricity.
 
SaharaReporters recall that last Friday, the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, in a new monthly template, said the price of Premium Motor Spirit had increased to N212.6 per litre.

Following reactions to the development, the PPPRA had in a new press release on its website clarified that its publication of monthly template, did not amount to increasing the price of petroleum products, as it does not fix the price of petrol.

However, there are allegations that fuel marketers in Maiduguri have resorted to hoarding petroleum products, triggering price inflation.

A black marketer, Mohammed Abdulrahman told Channels Television: “A litre was N200 when fuel was available, but when it became very scarce fuel was sold for N450 to N500.

“But to be honest when the product is scarce, that’s when we make more profit. But when the fuel is available, sometimes you’ll be here the whole day and maybe only five or six cars will stop to buy from you.”

A business owner, Abdulmumini Bello, on the other hand, said: “Every blessed day, you spend N5,000 on fuel and there is no power so everything is now expensive.

“The government should consider and help us out of this difficulty. We are facing the problem of power outage and petrol scarcity, and there is poverty.”

A motorist, Maikudi Kwajaffa, also accused filling stations of perfecting the art of deception. He said: “If you go to the filling stations, you’ll see the display on their dashboard saying N162 but actually if you say you want to buy N2,000 fuel, they’ll just carry their calculator and begin to calculate.

“If you go to another place, they’ll say it’s N190 or N180. I don’t know if they are waiting for the government to increase the price, but hoarding the fuel makes it so scarce and you know in Maiduguri it’s about two months now we have not had electricity so most people want to take in jerrycans or gallons.”

The DPR, Zonal Operations Controller, North East, Abubakar Ciroma admitted that the agency was battling marketers overpricing, stating that there were no fuel queues in Maiduguri.  

He also blamed the long distance between Maiduguri and major petrol hubs such as Lagos and Port Harcourt for the shortfall in supply that has spooked the marketers.

He said: “The insecurity challenges along the road. You know we have had so many cases of blockage on the road and so on.

“Some of the vehicles break down because they are old and they are coming from Lagos with the bad roads here and there.”

Ciroma also disclosed that the NNPC depot in the city which has a storage capacity of at least 20 million litres, has been non-functional for over 15 years, making it impossible to stockpile products for the rainy day.

Energy News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/38RrkuA

Members of 22 deregistered political parties on Thursday stormed the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Abuja, vowing to participate in the forthcoming Anambra State governorship election.

The parties also submitted letters of notice to conduct governorship primary elections to the electoral body in line with Section 87 (2) of the Electoral Act which empowers political parties to determine the procedure for the nomination of candidates which shall be by direct or indirect primaries.

The parties maintained that the judgment of the appeal court was declarative and did not give room for a stay of execution.

Upon arrival at the gate of the building, the national chairmen of the political parties who came to submit their letters were not allowed into the premises of INEC by security agents.

However, after some persistence put up by the party leaders, the Special Assistant to the INEC chairman, Abdulrasheed Mohammed, came to address the parties’ officials, and asked them to delegate two people to go inside and submit their letters.

Addressing journalists on behalf of the parties, the national chairman, Peoples Democratic For Change, Igwe Emeka Benjamin, said they had the right to participate in the forthcoming Anambra State election slated for November 6, 2021.

He said they went to court to challenge their deregistration by INEC and they had a favourable declarative judgment by the Appeal Court quashing their deregistration by the Commission.

He lamented the humiliation and embarrassment they had suffered in the hands of the commission since they were deregistered on February 6, 2020.

He said, “We are gathered here to submit our letters of notice of primaries for Anambra election and happily INEC has accepted our letters and this is their stamp of acknowledgement. 

“The reason we came in a group is because for the past eight months, we have been making attempts to serve INEC and to participate in the Edo and Ondo states and other bye-elections for Senate, House of Representatives, and state Assemblies and INEC has been rebuffing our letters. Each time we come here, they tell us that we have been deregistered.

“But today, INEC has realised that you cannot try to break the law, it will bend because the consequences are there. God has touched their hearts and they have accepted our letters for us to participate in Anambra.

“All the rights and privileges of registered political parties have been restored. We have become registered political parties from this moment.”

The parties that submitted the notice to conduct primaries are the Advanced Congress of Democrats, Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party, All Blending Party, All Grand Alliance Party, Alliance of Social Democrats, Change Advocacy Party, Democratic People’s Congress, and the Green Party of Nigeria.

Others are the Peoples Coalition Party, Progressive Peoples Alliance, People for Democratic Change, Young Democratic Party, Re-Build Nigeria Party, Save Nigeria Congress, Socialist Party of Nigeria, United Democratic Party, United Patriots, and We The People of Nigeria.

Recall that delivering the judgment, the court’s president, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, unanimously held that INEC ignored due process in exercising its powers under Section 225(a) of the 1999 constitution (as amended).

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Members of 22 deregistered political parties on Thursday stormed the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Abuja, vowing to participate in the forthcoming Anambra State governorship election.

The parties also submitted letters of notice to conduct governorship primary elections to the electoral body in line with Section 87 (2) of the Electoral Act which empowers political parties to determine the procedure for the nomination of candidates which shall be by direct or indirect primaries.

The parties maintained that the judgment of the appeal court was declarative and did not give room for a stay of execution.

Upon arrival at the gate of the building, the national chairmen of the political parties who came to submit their letters were not allowed into the premises of INEC by security agents.

However, after some persistence put up by the party leaders, the Special Assistant to the INEC chairman, Abdulrasheed Mohammed, came to address the parties’ officials, and asked them to delegate two people to go inside and submit their letters.

Addressing journalists on behalf of the parties, the national chairman, Peoples Democratic For Change, Igwe Emeka Benjamin, said they had the right to participate in the forthcoming Anambra State election slated for November 6, 2021.

He said they went to court to challenge their deregistration by INEC and they had a favourable declarative judgment by the Appeal Court quashing their deregistration by the Commission.

He lamented the humiliation and embarrassment they had suffered in the hands of the commission since they were deregistered on February 6, 2020.

He said, “We are gathered here to submit our letters of notice of primaries for Anambra election and happily INEC has accepted our letters and this is their stamp of acknowledgement. 

“The reason we came in a group is because for the past eight months, we have been making attempts to serve INEC and to participate in the Edo and Ondo states and other bye-elections for Senate, House of Representatives, and state Assemblies and INEC has been rebuffing our letters. Each time we come here, they tell us that we have been deregistered.

“But today, INEC has realised that you cannot try to break the law, it will bend because the consequences are there. God has touched their hearts and they have accepted our letters for us to participate in Anambra.

“All the rights and privileges of registered political parties have been restored. We have become registered political parties from this moment.”

The parties that submitted the notice to conduct primaries are the Advanced Congress of Democrats, Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party, All Blending Party, All Grand Alliance Party, Alliance of Social Democrats, Change Advocacy Party, Democratic People’s Congress, and the Green Party of Nigeria.

Others are the Peoples Coalition Party, Progressive Peoples Alliance, People for Democratic Change, Young Democratic Party, Re-Build Nigeria Party, Save Nigeria Congress, Socialist Party of Nigeria, United Democratic Party, United Patriots, and We The People of Nigeria.

Recall that delivering the judgment, the court’s president, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, unanimously held that INEC ignored due process in exercising its powers under Section 225(a) of the 1999 constitution (as amended).

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/3lBJ7uX

Members of 22 deregistered political parties on Thursday stormed the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Abuja, vowing to participate in the forthcoming Anambra State governorship election.

The parties also submitted letters of notice to conduct governorship primary elections to the electoral body in line with Section 87 (2) of the Electoral Act which empowers political parties to determine the procedure for the nomination of candidates which shall be by direct or indirect primaries.

The parties maintained that the judgment of the appeal court was declarative and did not give room for a stay of execution.

Upon arrival at the gate of the building, the national chairmen of the political parties who came to submit their letters were not allowed into the premises of INEC by security agents.

However, after some persistence put up by the party leaders, the Special Assistant to the INEC chairman, Abdulrasheed Mohammed, came to address the parties’ officials, and asked them to delegate two people to go inside and submit their letters.

Addressing journalists on behalf of the parties, the national chairman, Peoples Democratic For Change, Igwe Emeka Benjamin, said they had the right to participate in the forthcoming Anambra State election slated for November 6, 2021.

He said they went to court to challenge their deregistration by INEC and they had a favourable declarative judgment by the Appeal Court quashing their deregistration by the Commission.

He lamented the humiliation and embarrassment they had suffered in the hands of the commission since they were deregistered on February 6, 2020.

He said, “We are gathered here to submit our letters of notice of primaries for Anambra election and happily INEC has accepted our letters and this is their stamp of acknowledgement. 

“The reason we came in a group is because for the past eight months, we have been making attempts to serve INEC and to participate in the Edo and Ondo states and other bye-elections for Senate, House of Representatives, and state Assemblies and INEC has been rebuffing our letters. Each time we come here, they tell us that we have been deregistered.

“But today, INEC has realised that you cannot try to break the law, it will bend because the consequences are there. God has touched their hearts and they have accepted our letters for us to participate in Anambra.

“All the rights and privileges of registered political parties have been restored. We have become registered political parties from this moment.”

The parties that submitted the notice to conduct primaries are the Advanced Congress of Democrats, Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party, All Blending Party, All Grand Alliance Party, Alliance of Social Democrats, Change Advocacy Party, Democratic People’s Congress, and the Green Party of Nigeria.

Others are the Peoples Coalition Party, Progressive Peoples Alliance, People for Democratic Change, Young Democratic Party, Re-Build Nigeria Party, Save Nigeria Congress, Socialist Party of Nigeria, United Democratic Party, United Patriots, and We The People of Nigeria.

Recall that delivering the judgment, the court’s president, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, unanimously held that INEC ignored due process in exercising its powers under Section 225(a) of the 1999 constitution (as amended).

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/3lBJ7uX

An American lady, Kari Ann R’ouke has sued the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, for allegedly detaining her unjustly.

R’ouke filed the suit at the Federal High Court, Lagos against Odumosu, asking the court to order her release from police custody.

Hakeem Odumosu

She is also demanding an award of N100 million in damages for what she termed as illegal arrest and detention. 

In the suit marked No.FHC/L/CS/434/2021 filed at the Registry of the Court on Thursday, R’ouke is asking for a declaration that the police had no right to arrest and detain her for an indefinite period over a matter she considered as unreasonable. 

The suit was filed by her lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), naming the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, and the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, DCP Adegoke Fayoade, as respondents.

She also stated that her continued detention without being remanded is illegal and unconstitutional, therefore asking the court to free her from the custody of the police.

The suit sighted by SaharaReporters said, “In the affidavit in support of the case, it is stated that Kari Ann is a certified nurse in America, who came to Nigeria sometime in or about January 21, 2021, to partner with someone she met online to establish a humanitarian outfit. Upon completing her assignment in Nigeria, she departed for the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on August 8, 2021, en route to America.

“She was however stopped by the Immigration Department on the grounds that her COVID-19 test result had expired, whereupon she was made to sleep at the airport purportedly for a new COVID-19 test. It was later the following day that she was informed that she was being arrested because her friend had passed on, unknown to her. She has been in police custody ever since.

“The CCTV footage of the hotel showed clearly that Kari Ann left her friend in the hotel room in good health in the company of his friends and relatives, all of whom were initially arrested but have now been released upon the autopsy report which showed that he died of cardiac arrest, without any foul play.

"The suit further stated that K’oure has been extorted by the men of the Lagos State Police Command since she has been in their custody illegally.

“Kari Ann has been a subject of extortion ever since, even though no prima facie case has been established against her. Since her incarceration, Kari Ann has lost about 23 pounds in weight, she has emaciated tremendously, she has suffered bouts of malaria, dysentery and she is going through extreme emotional and mental stress, without any link to her family or relatives.

“It is further stated in the case that she has a delicate medical condition, she is anaemic and thus requires constant medical check-up and treatment. She claimed that she is entitled to be released on bail in the same way that the principal suspects have been released and that she is only being persecuted because of her status as a foreign citizen, even when responsible entities and individuals have volunteered to take her on bail. She, therefore, wants the court to order her release so that she could take care of her delicate health condition and go back to America to join her family."

No date has been assigned for the hearing of the suit. 

The reliefs being sought in the case include: “A declaration that the respondents are not entitled to detain or in any other manner restrict the liberty of the Applicant in flagrant violation of the Applicant’s fundamental rights, guaranteed under sections 34 & 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and Articles 4, 5, 6 & 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. 10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

“A declaration that the continued detention of the Applicant by the respondents from February 9, 2021, constitute a flagrant violation of the Applicant’s fundamental rights guaranteed under sections 34, 35, 36, and 46 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and Articles 4, 5, 6 & 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and therefore is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

“A declaration that the incarceration and continued confinement of the Applicant in perpetuity by the Respondents constitutes a flagrant violation of the Applicant’s fundamental rights guaranteed under section 34, 35, 36 & 46(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and Articles 4, 5, 6 & 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and therefore is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void."

The suit is seeking among others, an "order directing the Respondents to forthwith cease and abstain from applying for a remand order against the Applicant over matters pertaining to financial crimes to which the Applicant has been in detention since February 9, 2021.

“An order directing the Respondents, whether by themselves, their servants, agents, officers or otherwise howsoever to forthwith release the Applicant from unlawful custody.

“An injunction restraining the Respondents whether themselves, their servants, agents, officers or otherwise howsoever from applying for a remand order against the Applicant in respect of the allegation of any criminal offence to which the Applicant has been in detention since February 9, 2021, all in violation of the Applicant’s fundamental right.

"An injunction restraining the Respondents, whether by themselves, their servants, agents, officers or otherwise howsoever from further violating the fundamental rights of the Applicant through unlawful arrest and detention." 

She is also demanding an award of "one hundred million naira (N100 million) being general, aggravated, special and exceptional damages against the Respondents, jointly and/or severally for the violation of the fundamental rights of the Applicant". 

Legal Police News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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An American lady, Kari Ann R’ouke has sued the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, for allegedly detaining her unjustly.

R’ouke filed the suit at the Federal High Court, Lagos against Odumosu, asking the court to order her release from police custody.

Hakeem Odumosu

She is also demanding an award of N100 million in damages for what she termed as illegal arrest and detention. 

In the suit marked No.FHC/L/CS/434/2021 filed at the Registry of the Court on Thursday, R’ouke is asking for a declaration that the police had no right to arrest and detain her for an indefinite period over a matter she considered as unreasonable. 

The suit was filed by her lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), naming the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, and the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, DCP Adegoke Fayoade, as respondents.

She also stated that her continued detention without being remanded is illegal and unconstitutional, therefore asking the court to free her from the custody of the police.

The suit sighted by SaharaReporters said, “In the affidavit in support of the case, it is stated that Kari Ann is a certified nurse in America, who came to Nigeria sometime in or about January 21, 2021, to partner with someone she met online to establish a humanitarian outfit. Upon completing her assignment in Nigeria, she departed for the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on August 8, 2021, en route to America.

“She was however stopped by the Immigration Department on the grounds that her COVID-19 test result had expired, whereupon she was made to sleep at the airport purportedly for a new COVID-19 test. It was later the following day that she was informed that she was being arrested because her friend had passed on, unknown to her. She has been in police custody ever since.

“The CCTV footage of the hotel showed clearly that Kari Ann left her friend in the hotel room in good health in the company of his friends and relatives, all of whom were initially arrested but have now been released upon the autopsy report which showed that he died of cardiac arrest, without any foul play.

"The suit further stated that K’oure has been extorted by the men of the Lagos State Police Command since she has been in their custody illegally.

“Kari Ann has been a subject of extortion ever since, even though no prima facie case has been established against her. Since her incarceration, Kari Ann has lost about 23 pounds in weight, she has emaciated tremendously, she has suffered bouts of malaria, dysentery and she is going through extreme emotional and mental stress, without any link to her family or relatives.

“It is further stated in the case that she has a delicate medical condition, she is anaemic and thus requires constant medical check-up and treatment. She claimed that she is entitled to be released on bail in the same way that the principal suspects have been released and that she is only being persecuted because of her status as a foreign citizen, even when responsible entities and individuals have volunteered to take her on bail. She, therefore, wants the court to order her release so that she could take care of her delicate health condition and go back to America to join her family."

No date has been assigned for the hearing of the suit. 

The reliefs being sought in the case include: “A declaration that the respondents are not entitled to detain or in any other manner restrict the liberty of the Applicant in flagrant violation of the Applicant’s fundamental rights, guaranteed under sections 34 & 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and Articles 4, 5, 6 & 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. 10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

“A declaration that the continued detention of the Applicant by the respondents from February 9, 2021, constitute a flagrant violation of the Applicant’s fundamental rights guaranteed under sections 34, 35, 36, and 46 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and Articles 4, 5, 6 & 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and therefore is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

“A declaration that the incarceration and continued confinement of the Applicant in perpetuity by the Respondents constitutes a flagrant violation of the Applicant’s fundamental rights guaranteed under section 34, 35, 36 & 46(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and Articles 4, 5, 6 & 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and therefore is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void."

The suit is seeking among others, an "order directing the Respondents to forthwith cease and abstain from applying for a remand order against the Applicant over matters pertaining to financial crimes to which the Applicant has been in detention since February 9, 2021.

“An order directing the Respondents, whether by themselves, their servants, agents, officers or otherwise howsoever to forthwith release the Applicant from unlawful custody.

“An injunction restraining the Respondents whether themselves, their servants, agents, officers or otherwise howsoever from applying for a remand order against the Applicant in respect of the allegation of any criminal offence to which the Applicant has been in detention since February 9, 2021, all in violation of the Applicant’s fundamental right.

"An injunction restraining the Respondents, whether by themselves, their servants, agents, officers or otherwise howsoever from further violating the fundamental rights of the Applicant through unlawful arrest and detention." 

She is also demanding an award of "one hundred million naira (N100 million) being general, aggravated, special and exceptional damages against the Respondents, jointly and/or severally for the violation of the fundamental rights of the Applicant". 

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said that despite closing land borders by his administration, arms and ammunition were smuggled into the country.

He identified that Libya was directly involved in the illegal dealings of weapons into Nigeria, saying that the Sahel region of Africa cannot be rid of unlawful arms and ammunition if the North African nation remains unstable.

President said this through a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja while getting in the farewell audience the outgoing Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, Mohammed Ibn Chambas.

The statement was titled, “An unstable Libya remains a problem for the Sahel region, says President Buhari.”

It would be recalled that Nigeria closed its land borders in August 2019 to crack down on smuggling. They were, however, reopened in December 2020 ahead of the January 1, 2021 implementation date of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.

The President was quoted as saying, “We closed our land borders here for more than a year, but arms and ammunition continued to flow illegally. As far as Libya remains unstable, so will the problem remain.

“We have to cope with the problems of development, as we can’t play hop, step and jump. But we will eventually overcome those problems.”

Buhari maintained Muammar Gadaffi ruled Libya for 42 years by recruiting armed guards from different countries, who then escaped with their arms when the Libyan strongman was killed.

“They didn’t learn any other skill than to shoot and kill. So, they are a problem all over the Sahel countries today,” the President said.

He described Chambas, who spent many years in Nigeria in different capacities, from ECOWAS to UN, as “more of a Nigerian than anything else.”

He wished him well in his future endeavours.

The outgoing Special Representative thanked the President “for personal support I received from you, and from Nigeria as a country.”

He added that Nigeria would continue to play a leadership role on the continent.

On terrorism and violent extremism in the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin area, Chambas said Nigeria was playing an important role, particularly in giving support to the Multinational Joint Task Force.

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said that despite closing land borders by his administration, arms and ammunition were smuggled into the country.

He identified that Libya was directly involved in the illegal dealings of weapons into Nigeria, saying that the Sahel region of Africa cannot be rid of unlawful arms and ammunition if the North African nation remains unstable.

President said this through a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja while getting in the farewell audience the outgoing Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, Mohammed Ibn Chambas.

The statement was titled, “An unstable Libya remains a problem for the Sahel region, says President Buhari.”

It would be recalled that Nigeria closed its land borders in August 2019 to crack down on smuggling. They were, however, reopened in December 2020 ahead of the January 1, 2021 implementation date of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.

The President was quoted as saying, “We closed our land borders here for more than a year, but arms and ammunition continued to flow illegally. As far as Libya remains unstable, so will the problem remain.

“We have to cope with the problems of development, as we can’t play hop, step and jump. But we will eventually overcome those problems.”

Buhari maintained Muammar Gadaffi ruled Libya for 42 years by recruiting armed guards from different countries, who then escaped with their arms when the Libyan strongman was killed.

“They didn’t learn any other skill than to shoot and kill. So, they are a problem all over the Sahel countries today,” the President said.

He described Chambas, who spent many years in Nigeria in different capacities, from ECOWAS to UN, as “more of a Nigerian than anything else.”

He wished him well in his future endeavours.

The outgoing Special Representative thanked the President “for personal support I received from you, and from Nigeria as a country.”

He added that Nigeria would continue to play a leadership role on the continent.

On terrorism and violent extremism in the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin area, Chambas said Nigeria was playing an important role, particularly in giving support to the Multinational Joint Task Force.

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2JA73jX

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said that despite closing land borders by his administration, arms and ammunition were smuggled into the country.

He identified that Libya was directly involved in the illegal dealings of weapons into Nigeria, saying that the Sahel region of Africa cannot be rid of unlawful arms and ammunition if the North African nation remains unstable.

President said this through a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja while getting in the farewell audience the outgoing Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, Mohammed Ibn Chambas.

The statement was titled, “An unstable Libya remains a problem for the Sahel region, says President Buhari.”

It would be recalled that Nigeria closed its land borders in August 2019 to crack down on smuggling. They were, however, reopened in December 2020 ahead of the January 1, 2021 implementation date of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.

The President was quoted as saying, “We closed our land borders here for more than a year, but arms and ammunition continued to flow illegally. As far as Libya remains unstable, so will the problem remain.

“We have to cope with the problems of development, as we can’t play hop, step and jump. But we will eventually overcome those problems.”

Buhari maintained Muammar Gadaffi ruled Libya for 42 years by recruiting armed guards from different countries, who then escaped with their arms when the Libyan strongman was killed.

“They didn’t learn any other skill than to shoot and kill. So, they are a problem all over the Sahel countries today,” the President said.

He described Chambas, who spent many years in Nigeria in different capacities, from ECOWAS to UN, as “more of a Nigerian than anything else.”

He wished him well in his future endeavours.

The outgoing Special Representative thanked the President “for personal support I received from you, and from Nigeria as a country.”

He added that Nigeria would continue to play a leadership role on the continent.

On terrorism and violent extremism in the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin area, Chambas said Nigeria was playing an important role, particularly in giving support to the Multinational Joint Task Force.

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Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, says security situation in Nigeria has improved since President Muhammadu Buhari came to power in 2015.

Masari stated this while featuring on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme.

Slamming critics of the Buhari-led administration, the Chairman of the North-West Governors’ Forum stressed that Nigeria is economically attractive to kidnappers in the Sahel region of Africa.

Countries in the Sahel region of Africa include Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Algeria, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan and Eritrea.

Masari said, “Look at 2015 for instance, you could not go to the church, you cannot go to the mosque. If I travelled from Kaduna to Abuja, it would take five hours and three of those hours were for checkpoints.

There were at least 30 checkpoints along the highway.

“Is the situation the same today? It is not. Yes, there are kidnappers, there are bandits around but look at the whole world and look at the position of Nigeria in the Sahelian region. Are we not the richest? So, the attraction even for kidnappers to come to Nigeria is there. If you kidnap somebody in Mali, where are you going to get thousands? If I kidnap you in Nigeria, I get millions. So, all of us will have to rise to the occasion.

“When we started in 2015 in the North-West, it was cattle-rustling. Gradually, it now developed into banditry, rape, kidnappings. When all that the bandits can steal from the villagers along the fringes finished, they moved to the rustling of goats, sheep, and even chickens. 

“In my state, the bandits kidnapped four relatives of very senior government officials. When they cannot get anything to sustain themselves, they resort to high-profile kidnappings for money in cities and towns. That is something we must work hard to stop.”

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Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, says security situation in Nigeria has improved since President Muhammadu Buhari came to power in 2015.

Masari stated this while featuring on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme.

Slamming critics of the Buhari-led administration, the Chairman of the North-West Governors’ Forum stressed that Nigeria is economically attractive to kidnappers in the Sahel region of Africa.

Countries in the Sahel region of Africa include Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Algeria, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan and Eritrea.

Masari said, “Look at 2015 for instance, you could not go to the church, you cannot go to the mosque. If I travelled from Kaduna to Abuja, it would take five hours and three of those hours were for checkpoints.

There were at least 30 checkpoints along the highway.

“Is the situation the same today? It is not. Yes, there are kidnappers, there are bandits around but look at the whole world and look at the position of Nigeria in the Sahelian region. Are we not the richest? So, the attraction even for kidnappers to come to Nigeria is there. If you kidnap somebody in Mali, where are you going to get thousands? If I kidnap you in Nigeria, I get millions. So, all of us will have to rise to the occasion.

“When we started in 2015 in the North-West, it was cattle-rustling. Gradually, it now developed into banditry, rape, kidnappings. When all that the bandits can steal from the villagers along the fringes finished, they moved to the rustling of goats, sheep, and even chickens. 

“In my state, the bandits kidnapped four relatives of very senior government officials. When they cannot get anything to sustain themselves, they resort to high-profile kidnappings for money in cities and towns. That is something we must work hard to stop.”

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Yoruba freedom fighter, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has said that he is going to open up the borders in the South-West to allow foodstuffs to come in, particularly rice.

Igboho, who spoke at a meeting of major Yoruba stakeholders, said not only the borders would be opened, the sea ports in Apapa, Lagos state would be taken over and all the leaders of Fulani extraction sacked.

Sunday Igboho

He said: “After this discussion, we will hold a meeting and open our borders so that rice, food and other things can enter easily. Enough is enough. All our borders that the Nigerian government closed, we are telling them we are no longer under them, we will go and open the borders.

“Our ports in Lagos here are all run by Fulanis, we don't want them from now on, even at our airports, we no longer want the Fulani leaders there. Whatever the government wants to do, they should do it. We are ready. Some people say Yoruba people are not united, we are! If you want to try us, touch one of us."

Nigeria shares border with the Benin Republic across its southwestern parts. The high volume of transborder trading occurs through the Seme Border lying west of Lagos. Traders in the region often bring their goods through the border as it offers cheaper costs compared to the nation’s ports.

Economic activities around the border have however been crippled since the closure of all land borders by the Buhari regime.

Of recent, the cattle and foodstuff dealers under the aegis of the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria (AUFCDN) embarked on a nationwide strike following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum given to the Nigerian government to attend to their demands.

The AUFCDN said the union was demanding protection of its members, payment of N475 billion compensation for lives of members and properties lost during the #EndSARS protest and Shasa market, Ibadan chaos.

The Grand Matron of AUFCDN, Hajia Hauwa Kabir Usman, while giving an update during an interview with Daily Trust, warned the police not to disturb the ask force of the union who will carry out enforcement of the strike by ensuring that no food and cattle were moved from North to the South.

Usman said, “The leadership of the union has already made a strong plan to ensure that all our exits (our borders) between the Northern and Southern part are closed.

“Every truck that will go out has to be checked. If you carry any food or cattle, you cannot take it out except you take it back or be destroyed there. None of the security agents should dare intimate our task force members because if they do, we will fight it legally.”

The South-West during the period of the strike suffered scarcity of food items in the market which prompted the socio-political organization, Afenifere to declare the ‘Anything But Cow Day' campaign.

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Yoruba freedom fighter, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has said that he is going to open up the borders in the South-West to allow foodstuffs to come in, particularly rice.

Igboho, who spoke at a meeting of major Yoruba stakeholders, said not only the borders would be opened, the sea ports in Apapa, Lagos state would be taken over and all the leaders of Fulani extraction sacked.

Sunday Igboho

He said: “After this discussion, we will hold a meeting and open our borders so that rice, food and other things can enter easily. Enough is enough. All our borders that the Nigerian government closed, we are telling them we are no longer under them, we will go and open the borders.

“Our ports in Lagos here are all run by Fulanis, we don't want them from now on, even at our airports, we no longer want the Fulani leaders there. Whatever the government wants to do, they should do it. We are ready. Some people say Yoruba people are not united, we are! If you want to try us, touch one of us."

Nigeria shares border with the Benin Republic across its southwestern parts. The high volume of transborder trading occurs through the Seme Border lying west of Lagos. Traders in the region often bring their goods through the border as it offers cheaper costs compared to the nation’s ports.

Economic activities around the border have however been crippled since the closure of all land borders by the Buhari regime.

Of recent, the cattle and foodstuff dealers under the aegis of the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria (AUFCDN) embarked on a nationwide strike following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum given to the Nigerian government to attend to their demands.

The AUFCDN said the union was demanding protection of its members, payment of N475 billion compensation for lives of members and properties lost during the #EndSARS protest and Shasa market, Ibadan chaos.

The Grand Matron of AUFCDN, Hajia Hauwa Kabir Usman, while giving an update during an interview with Daily Trust, warned the police not to disturb the ask force of the union who will carry out enforcement of the strike by ensuring that no food and cattle were moved from North to the South.

Usman said, “The leadership of the union has already made a strong plan to ensure that all our exits (our borders) between the Northern and Southern part are closed.

“Every truck that will go out has to be checked. If you carry any food or cattle, you cannot take it out except you take it back or be destroyed there. None of the security agents should dare intimate our task force members because if they do, we will fight it legally.”

The South-West during the period of the strike suffered scarcity of food items in the market which prompted the socio-political organization, Afenifere to declare the ‘Anything But Cow Day' campaign.

Economy News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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