IYANDA'SBLOG

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The BBC speaks to those behind an Indian matrimonial ad seeking a "non-farting, non-burping, rich man".

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The president says he will only sign it if Democrats can pass a separate, far bigger budget bill.

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When all Uganda's schools closed due to the pandemic, nine-year-old Teddy joined her mother mining for gold.

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Canada found no evidence the tragedy was premeditated but called out Iran's "recklessness".

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Iran has previously denied intimidating staff at the Persian service, an outlet it has banned.

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Pride organisers have barred uniformed police officers from participating until 2025.

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A selection of the week's best photos of Africans from across the continent and elsewhere.

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Tadej Pogacar was the youngest winner of the Tour de France since 1904 when he won last year's race aged 21.

The Coalition of Northern Group (CNG) has dragged the National Assembly to court, asking that the ongoing constitutional review across the country be stopped with immediate effect.

The suit was filed by the leadership of the group, Nastura Ashir Shariff, Balarabe Rufa’i l, Abdul-Aziz Sulaiman and Aminu Adam joined against the defendants: Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; and the National Assembly, Daily Trust reports.

File Photo: National Assembly

Addressing newsmen in Abuja, the coalition's spokesman, Abdul-Aziz Sulaiman, argued that instead of the ongoing constitutional review, the defendants should immediately provide a framework for the actualisation of agitators’ demand on self-determination.

The Coalition on June 11, had urged the National Assembly to suspend the constitution review to enable the Government to organise a referendum on the actualisation of a Biafra Republic.

It also urged the National Assembly to invoke the doctrine of necessity to organise a Biafra referendum as the final step towards the separation of the Igbo from the rest of Nigeria.

The group argued that the unrelenting disturbances created by certain interest groups in the South-East, in the form of the agitation for a separate State of Biafra, had turned violent.

It appealed to the government to invite the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to initiate the process of self-determination that will mandate the Biafrans out of the Nigerian union by leveraging the several relevant international treaties and conventions to which Nigeria is a signatory.

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Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has assured Nigerians that the security challenges bedevilling the country will soon be forgotten.

 

He revealed that the Nigerian government has increased efforts to adequately combat the insecurity, adding that the Supplementary Budget sent to the National Assembly for approval would address the procurement of military weapons for the use of all security agents in the country.

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

Professor Osinbajo disclosed this when he received in audience the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adeola Adeniyi Ajakaiye, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

 

He, however, said that it is the obligation of every Nigerian citizen to support the nation’s security services to ensure that Nigeria is safe, Vanguard reports.

 

“I can assure you that soon, the issue of insecurity will be a thing of the past and that we will all live in peace and prosperity in this country,” Osinbajo said.

 

Osinbajo added that President Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated a committee to examine the nitty-gritty of the security lapses in the country and address them from the foundation which further propelled him to send the supplementary budget.

 

He said, “The President has recently constituted a committee that will look at the whole security infrastructure with a view to looking at the needs of the military, as well as the police and security agencies.

 

“The result of that is a bill before the National Assembly, a supplementary bill.

 

“The purpose of that bill is to present some of the needs of the military, as well as of security agencies in order to be able to beef up our response to the security challenges.”

 

He emphasised the need for paramount rulers, local and state governments to partner with the Nigerian Government to tackle insecurity.

 

He said, “Any country with this number of security challenges must respond as robustly as possible.

 

“But it is also important to bear in mind that it takes a combined effort of all of us, at the local government level, state and federal levels; all of the levels; we need to come together to tackle this issue of insecurity.”

 

He said even as the Nigerian Government is very concerned, and will persistently upgrade efforts towards improving security nationwide, community efforts are also important in tackling the issue from the roots.

 

He stated that it is an unavoidable conclusion that at the level of community there is a need to take decisive action, as most of the security issues occur at the community level.

 

The Vice President expressed happiness that the traditional ruler has a committee in place in his domain organised for the purpose of tackling insecurity “and that you’ve been able to contain the menace that we see in different parts of the country in your community”.

 

He added that the President Buhari-led administration will provide necessary support to the community in tackling its challenges, adding that the government is also working with the Ekiti State government on dealing with insecurity, as well as various issues.

 

In his remarks, the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Adeola Adeniyi Ajakaiye, thanked the Vice President for granting them audience and listening to their demands, including support for the establishment of a Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences in the community.

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Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has assured Nigerians that the security challenges bedevilling the country will soon be forgotten.

 

He revealed that the Nigerian government has increased efforts to adequately combat the insecurity, adding that the Supplementary Budget sent to the National Assembly for approval would address the procurement of military weapons for the use of all security agents in the country.

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

Professor Osinbajo disclosed this when he received in audience the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adeola Adeniyi Ajakaiye, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

 

He, however, said that it is the obligation of every Nigerian citizen to support the nation’s security services to ensure that Nigeria is safe, Vanguard reports.

 

“I can assure you that soon, the issue of insecurity will be a thing of the past and that we will all live in peace and prosperity in this country,” Osinbajo said.

 

Osinbajo added that President Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated a committee to examine the nitty-gritty of the security lapses in the country and address them from the foundation which further propelled him to send the supplementary budget.

 

He said, “The President has recently constituted a committee that will look at the whole security infrastructure with a view to looking at the needs of the military, as well as the police and security agencies.

 

“The result of that is a bill before the National Assembly, a supplementary bill.

 

“The purpose of that bill is to present some of the needs of the military, as well as of security agencies in order to be able to beef up our response to the security challenges.”

 

He emphasised the need for paramount rulers, local and state governments to partner with the Nigerian Government to tackle insecurity.

 

He said, “Any country with this number of security challenges must respond as robustly as possible.

 

“But it is also important to bear in mind that it takes a combined effort of all of us, at the local government level, state and federal levels; all of the levels; we need to come together to tackle this issue of insecurity.”

 

He said even as the Nigerian Government is very concerned, and will persistently upgrade efforts towards improving security nationwide, community efforts are also important in tackling the issue from the roots.

 

He stated that it is an unavoidable conclusion that at the level of community there is a need to take decisive action, as most of the security issues occur at the community level.

 

The Vice President expressed happiness that the traditional ruler has a committee in place in his domain organised for the purpose of tackling insecurity “and that you’ve been able to contain the menace that we see in different parts of the country in your community”.

 

He added that the President Buhari-led administration will provide necessary support to the community in tackling its challenges, adding that the government is also working with the Ekiti State government on dealing with insecurity, as well as various issues.

 

In his remarks, the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Adeola Adeniyi Ajakaiye, thanked the Vice President for granting them audience and listening to their demands, including support for the establishment of a Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences in the community.

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A pressure group known as Isoko Monitoring Group (IMG) Worldwide has berated Delta state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, over his management of the tertiary schools in the state. 

 

The group accused the governor of "nepotism and clannishness", describing it as "cancerous".

 

Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa Google

The group, in a communiqué issued at the end of an enlarged emergency extraordinary meeting held Thursday, at its headquarters, Ivrogbo-Irri, Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta state, said, "Following cumulative occurrences in the state, the Isoko Monitoring Group (IMG) is pushed to conclude that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has and is entrenching nepotism in all facets of his administration of our dear Delta State".

 

 

The communiqué, titled: "Neglect Of Delta State University, Oleh Campus And The Poor Development Of Delta State University Of Science And Technology Ozoro Unacceptable", was signed on behalf of the group by Kingsley Oroh. 

 

The group warned the governor not to take the simplicity of the people of Isoko nation for stupidity. 

 

The statement said, "We wish to express our total dissatisfaction at the manner with which the Delta State Governor, His Excellency, Sen. (Dr.) Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa is piloting the affairs of our dear state, especially as it affects the development of tertiary institutions in Delta state.

 

 

"Suffice it to say that the Law and Engineering Faculties of Delta State University, Oleh Campus, which have been in existence for decades have been wickedly deprived of development and have been perpetually abandoned by the state government for no justifiable reason. The campus lacks functional facilities, good laboratories, manpower, and good road network. 

 

 

"It is a shame on the government that Isoko sons and daughters have been funding the supposed state university after several pleas to the state government have fallen on deaf ears. While this unwarranted underdevelopment persisted, the state governor hurriedly established three new state universities, among which is the University of Science and Technology, Ozoro. 

 

 

"Unknowing to us, this was a well concocted plot by the governor to kill all tertiary institutions in the state in favour of the newly created University of Delta, Agbor that has a campus in the governor's hometown, Owa-Alero. While both the old Oleh campus and newly established university in Ozoro lay fallow and undeveloped, the same government is speedily and massively developing the Faculties of Law, Engineering and Medicine at the Owa-Alero Campus of the University of Agbor. 

 

 

"A proposed University of Education (as the Governor wanted Deltans to believe) now has Faculties of Law, Engineering and Medicine with massive construction ongoing funded by proceeds of Crude Oil and gas from six (6) flow stations and four (4) gas plants in the Isoko nation whereas the governor by his actions and inactions, has already declared the death sentence on the Oleh Campus of the Delta State University which hosts the Faculties of Law and Engineering.

 

 

"To show the Governors’ true intent, a bill has been hurriedly put together and sent to the House of Assembly to give legal backing to the establishment of the Faculties of Law, Engineering and Medicine in addition to the Faculty of Education which the university was meant to focus on being a University of Education.

 

 

"Governor Okowa may want to make us believe that the huge infrastructural and manpower investment the University of Delta State, Agbor is receiving is because the university was just recently upgraded from a College of Education to a university. If that is the case, we want governor Okowa to explain to the Isoko people why the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro which was also recently upgraded from a polytechnic to a university status is not receiving similar level of investment.

 

 

"The IMG thinks the only reason this is the case is because the Delta State University of Science and Technology is not located at Owa-Alero, Okowa’s hometown. We see governor Okowa’s huge investment in the University at Owa-Alero while neglecting the university campuses sited in Isoko land, as an extension of the ‘Ikanisation', nay, ‘Owa-Alerolisation’ policy of the Delta state government under governor Okowa to the education sector and a deliberate ploy to relegate to the background.

 

 

"And kill all tertiary institutions in Delta state, especially Oleh Campus and University of Science and Technology, Ozoro in favour of his hometown, Owa-Alero Campus and University of Delta, Agbor. This is totally unacceptable to us and in the next few days, should this lopsidedness not be addressed, we will be left with no option but to mobilise all well-meaning Isoko sons and daughters globally to begin to see governor Okowa as an enemy of the Isoko nation."

 

 

The group therefore demanded that governor Okowa should as a matter of urgency extend the quality and speedy developmental projects at Owa-Alero campus which also has a newly built specialist hospital to Oleh campus and University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, "knowing that the governor's hometown and ethnic group does not contribute half of what Isoko contributes to the treasury of Delta State". 

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A pressure group known as Isoko Monitoring Group (IMG) Worldwide has berated Delta state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, over his management of the tertiary schools in the state. 

 

The group accused the governor of "nepotism and clannishness", describing it as "cancerous".

 

Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa Google

The group, in a communiqué issued at the end of an enlarged emergency extraordinary meeting held Thursday, at its headquarters, Ivrogbo-Irri, Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta state, said, "Following cumulative occurrences in the state, the Isoko Monitoring Group (IMG) is pushed to conclude that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has and is entrenching nepotism in all facets of his administration of our dear Delta State".

 

 

The communiqué, titled: "Neglect Of Delta State University, Oleh Campus And The Poor Development Of Delta State University Of Science And Technology Ozoro Unacceptable", was signed on behalf of the group by Kingsley Oroh. 

 

The group warned the governor not to take the simplicity of the people of Isoko nation for stupidity. 

 

The statement said, "We wish to express our total dissatisfaction at the manner with which the Delta State Governor, His Excellency, Sen. (Dr.) Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa is piloting the affairs of our dear state, especially as it affects the development of tertiary institutions in Delta state.

 

 

"Suffice it to say that the Law and Engineering Faculties of Delta State University, Oleh Campus, which have been in existence for decades have been wickedly deprived of development and have been perpetually abandoned by the state government for no justifiable reason. The campus lacks functional facilities, good laboratories, manpower, and good road network. 

 

 

"It is a shame on the government that Isoko sons and daughters have been funding the supposed state university after several pleas to the state government have fallen on deaf ears. While this unwarranted underdevelopment persisted, the state governor hurriedly established three new state universities, among which is the University of Science and Technology, Ozoro. 

 

 

"Unknowing to us, this was a well concocted plot by the governor to kill all tertiary institutions in the state in favour of the newly created University of Delta, Agbor that has a campus in the governor's hometown, Owa-Alero. While both the old Oleh campus and newly established university in Ozoro lay fallow and undeveloped, the same government is speedily and massively developing the Faculties of Law, Engineering and Medicine at the Owa-Alero Campus of the University of Agbor. 

 

 

"A proposed University of Education (as the Governor wanted Deltans to believe) now has Faculties of Law, Engineering and Medicine with massive construction ongoing funded by proceeds of Crude Oil and gas from six (6) flow stations and four (4) gas plants in the Isoko nation whereas the governor by his actions and inactions, has already declared the death sentence on the Oleh Campus of the Delta State University which hosts the Faculties of Law and Engineering.

 

 

"To show the Governors’ true intent, a bill has been hurriedly put together and sent to the House of Assembly to give legal backing to the establishment of the Faculties of Law, Engineering and Medicine in addition to the Faculty of Education which the university was meant to focus on being a University of Education.

 

 

"Governor Okowa may want to make us believe that the huge infrastructural and manpower investment the University of Delta State, Agbor is receiving is because the university was just recently upgraded from a College of Education to a university. If that is the case, we want governor Okowa to explain to the Isoko people why the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro which was also recently upgraded from a polytechnic to a university status is not receiving similar level of investment.

 

 

"The IMG thinks the only reason this is the case is because the Delta State University of Science and Technology is not located at Owa-Alero, Okowa’s hometown. We see governor Okowa’s huge investment in the University at Owa-Alero while neglecting the university campuses sited in Isoko land, as an extension of the ‘Ikanisation', nay, ‘Owa-Alerolisation’ policy of the Delta state government under governor Okowa to the education sector and a deliberate ploy to relegate to the background.

 

 

"And kill all tertiary institutions in Delta state, especially Oleh Campus and University of Science and Technology, Ozoro in favour of his hometown, Owa-Alero Campus and University of Delta, Agbor. This is totally unacceptable to us and in the next few days, should this lopsidedness not be addressed, we will be left with no option but to mobilise all well-meaning Isoko sons and daughters globally to begin to see governor Okowa as an enemy of the Isoko nation."

 

 

The group therefore demanded that governor Okowa should as a matter of urgency extend the quality and speedy developmental projects at Owa-Alero campus which also has a newly built specialist hospital to Oleh campus and University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, "knowing that the governor's hometown and ethnic group does not contribute half of what Isoko contributes to the treasury of Delta State". 

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The Supreme Court panel in Manhattan has suspended the licence of Rudy Giuliani, former United States’ President, Donald Trump’s lawyer over false claims he made during the 2020 general elections, New York Daily News reports. 

 

Guiliani’s licence to practise law in New York was revoked on Thursday, with a panel of judges ruling that the former mayor has violated his legal oath by peddling “demonstrably false” claims about the 2020 election on behalf of his client, Trump.

The five-judge Manhattan Supreme Court panel concluded in a blistering 33-page ruling that Giuliani’s continued perpetuation of the thoroughly debunked claim that the election was stolen from Trump “threatens the public interest” and erodes faith in American democracy".

 

“The seriousness of respondent’s uncontroverted misconduct cannot be overstated,” the judges wrote about Giuliani. “This country is being torn apart by continued attacks on the legitimacy of the 2020 election and of our current president, Joseph R. Biden.”

 

The suspension, which takes effect immediately, is temporary for now. However, the judges wrote that it remains in effect “pending further proceedings before the Attorney Grievance Committee,” suggesting Giuliani may be permanently barred from practising law in New York.

 

Giuliani and his attorney, Bob Costello, did not immediately return requests.

 

SaharaReporters had on November 5 reported that Trump made false claims about Joe Biden stealing the election results.

 

As he made the false claims, major news channels like the NBC, BBC, Washington Post and others fact-checked him by either cutting him away before he finished speaking or notifying their audiences that Trump's claims were false.

 

Trump seemed subdued and nervous during the news conference. 

 

He said, "If you count the legal votes I easily win," Trump said, providing no evidence for his claim. "If you count the illegal votes, they can try to steal the election from us."

 

There is no proof of this.

 

The president further said, "I've already decisively won many critical states, including massive victories."

 

"The pollsters got it knowingly wrong. We had polls that so were ridiculous, no blue wave that they predicted... but instead, there was a big red wave."

 

After months of discouraging his base from voting through the mail in a bid to prove that it was safe to go out and vote despite the Coronavirus pandemic, Trump lamented on Thursday evening that the mail-in ballots, which Biden advocated for as part of measure to stop the spread of COVID-19, were "one-sided".

 

He said, "It's amazing how those mail-in ballots are so one-sided."

 

"It's a corrupt system, and it makes people corrupt even if they aren't by nature." 

Again there is no evidence to prove this.

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President Muhammadu Buhari will on Friday travel to London, UK, for a medical check-up.

 

Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, disclosed this in a statement obtained by SaharaReporters.

File Photo: President Buhari

Buhari is expected back in the country in the second week of July.

 

Since he assumed office on May 29, 2015, Buhari has embarked on medical trips abroad at least five times, covering a period of no fewer than 170 days of the five years he had been in power.

 

The following is a timeline of the President's trips for medical treatment; on February 5 to 10, 2016, the President took a six-day vacation in the United Kingdom, saying that his doctors lived in England. 

 

Between June 6 and 19, 2016, Buhari went on a 10-day medical trip to England for an ear infection surgery. He extended his trip by three days to rest.

See Also PUBLIC HEALTH Timeline Of Buhari’s 190 Days On Medical Leave In UK Since 2015 0 Comments 2 Months Ago

On January 19, 2017, the President was back in London again on a medical vacation.

 

On February 5, 2017, he wrote to the National Assembly, seeking an extension of his London medical leave. Later on March 10, 2017, Buhari returned to Nigeria but didn't resume work immediately at Aso Villa.

 

The Presidency had claimed that "he was working from home." On May 7, 2017, Buhari embarked on a trip to London for another medical vacation. He returned after 104 days – the longest he had stayed outside the country.

 

On August 19, 2017, Buhari returned to Nigeria, and it took him a while to resume work because rats had reportedly damaged furniture in his office.

 

The Presidency had announced that he would be working from home. On May 8, 2018, Buhari went to London for a four-day "medical review."

 

On April 26, 2019, Buhari again left for the UK on a 10-day private visit to seek medical care. He came back to the country on May 5.

 

In 2020, Buhari had not minimised his foreign medical trips to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global lockdown and strain on medical facilities.

See Also Politics Buhari To Meet His Doctor During Official Trip To Paris Saturday 0 Comments 1 Month Ago

Also, from March 30 to April 6 2021, the President embarked on another trip for a routine medical check-up in London.

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President Muhammadu Buhari will on Friday travel to London, UK, for a medical check-up.

 

Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, disclosed this in a statement obtained by SaharaReporters.

File Photo: President Buhari

Buhari is expected back in the country in the second week of July.

 

Since he assumed office on May 29, 2015, Buhari has embarked on medical trips abroad at least five times, covering a period of no fewer than 170 days of the five years he had been in power.

 

The following is a timeline of the President's trips for medical treatment; on February 5 to 10, 2016, the President took a six-day vacation in the United Kingdom, saying that his doctors lived in England. 

 

Between June 6 and 19, 2016, Buhari went on a 10-day medical trip to England for an ear infection surgery. He extended his trip by three days to rest.

See Also PUBLIC HEALTH Timeline Of Buhari’s 190 Days On Medical Leave In UK Since 2015 0 Comments 2 Months Ago

On January 19, 2017, the President was back in London again on a medical vacation.

 

On February 5, 2017, he wrote to the National Assembly, seeking an extension of his London medical leave. Later on March 10, 2017, Buhari returned to Nigeria but didn't resume work immediately at Aso Villa.

 

The Presidency had claimed that "he was working from home." On May 7, 2017, Buhari embarked on a trip to London for another medical vacation. He returned after 104 days – the longest he had stayed outside the country.

 

On August 19, 2017, Buhari returned to Nigeria, and it took him a while to resume work because rats had reportedly damaged furniture in his office.

 

The Presidency had announced that he would be working from home. On May 8, 2018, Buhari went to London for a four-day "medical review."

 

On April 26, 2019, Buhari again left for the UK on a 10-day private visit to seek medical care. He came back to the country on May 5.

 

In 2020, Buhari had not minimised his foreign medical trips to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global lockdown and strain on medical facilities.

See Also Politics Buhari To Meet His Doctor During Official Trip To Paris Saturday 0 Comments 1 Month Ago

Also, from March 30 to April 6 2021, the President embarked on another trip for a routine medical check-up in London.

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A Nigerian, Emeka Obi, has been acquitted on Thursday in an Italian appeal court for his involvement in an oil graft case.

 

According to DailyMail, the court also acquitted Italian, Gianluca Di Nardo, and overturned their jail sentences.

Obi and Di Nardo were both accused of “being middlemen and taking illegal kickbacks” in a case involving oil giants – Eni and Shell.

 

Their sentences were overturned three months after a court acquitted the two companies in a long term case that involved the purchase of a Nigerian oilfield worth $1.3 billion.

 

In 2018, Obi and Di Nardo were both sentenced to a jail term of four years, though were yet to begin the sentence.

 

However, the trial had no witness or hearings as it was only based on documents and according to Italian law, such sentences can be cut by a third.

 

In early June, the Italian Ministry of Justice ordered that an inquiry should be made on the conduct of Obi and Di Nardo in the case.

 

After the inquiry, three judges who sat on the case acquitted Obi and Di Nardo, stating that there was no case to answer. 

 

The judges dismissed the charges against the companies and defendants, including the seizure of Obi’s assets worth $98.4 million and Di Nardo’s assets worth over $23 million.

 

Obi’s lawyer, Roberto Pisano, described the original conviction as “an unjust sentence by the court of first instance conditioned by a macroscopic violation of the law.”

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Some gunmen have kidnapped a prince of Igalaland, a former member of the Kogi State House of Assembly, and others in Abuja. 

 

The Prince, Frederick Adejoh was kidnapped when the assailants invaded the Tungan Maje community along Zuba-Gwagwalada highway on Thursday.

SaharaReporters Media

The ex-lawmaker, Sani Makama alongside others were kidnapped on Friday from a hotel in Tungan Maje in the Zuba area of Abuja. 

 

 

The police in the Federal Capital Territory were still searching for the abductors as of the time of writing this report. 

 

“The armed men shot sporadically into the air to scare away the security men on guard before kidnapping the hotel owner and guests,” a security source told PRNigeria.

 

 

The FCT Police spokesperson, Mariam Yusuf said a manhunt had been launched for the kidnappers. 

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President Muhammadu Buhari’s government was forced to deploy the former service chiefs – General Gabriel Olonisakin (retd.), Lt Gen Tukur Buratai (retd.), and three others to neighbouring countries for a number of reasons, military sources familiar with the development have revealed to SaharaReporters.

 

Buratai had been appointed to the Benin Republic, while Olonisakin was taken to Cameroon; meanwhile, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) was taken to Ghana; former Chief of Naval Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar (retd.) was taken to Chad and the Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Usman (retd.), the former Chief of Defence Intelligence, is going to the Niger Republic.

File Photo

Contrary to popular opinion that the former military chiefs were deployed to secure Nigeria, some military sources stated that the former service chiefs were posted to the “backyards” to avoid a national embarrassment as they might be rejected. 

 

“Some of the former service chiefs actually wanted choice postings to Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, and other countries with vast military and defence capabilities, but the Presidency had feelers that they would be rejected and this would cause a national embarrassment.

See Also Military How Ex-Army Chief, Buratai Lobbied Ambassadorial Posting To Benin Republic To Escape Corruption Investigation— Military Sources 0 Comments 4 Weeks Ago

“There were petitions already from several quarters to the United Nations and most European, the Middle East and North American countries against the former chiefs, and there are fears that they would be rejected by the host governments. This is why they were sent to countries that are more or less indebted to Nigeria,” one of the sources stated.

 

“Most of these choice countries have strong petitions against the former service chiefs and they are wary of bringing a retired military general who would be spying on their country. They knew that the former service chiefs were not qualified for the position, so there were fears that the service chiefs would be rejected,” another source confirmed.

 

“On the flip side, some of the former service chiefs don’t want to leave the country; they want to continue to monitor the military and the assets they have acquired in the country. So, they are contended to be backyard ambassadors.”

 

Buhari had sacked all the former service chiefs on January 26.

 

The President subsequently announced the nomination of the immediate past service chiefs on February 4 as non-career ambassadors, a decision which was greeted with widespread condemnation.

 

 

 

The decision was condemned by most Nigerians who believed that the former service chiefs should be probed particularly on the controversial $1 billion arms fund released between 2018 and 2019.

 

Nigerians also said Buratai and his colleagues must appear before the International Criminal Court, The Hague, Netherlands, to answer for several massacres in the country under their watch with the most recent being October 2020 Lekki shooting, where a disputable number of civilian protesters were killed and injured.

 

They also noted that the former Chief of Army Staff and possibly others must be probed for what has become known as the Zaria massacre, which was carried out by the Nigerian Army in Zaria, Kaduna State, on December 12, 2015, against Shia Muslims, mostly members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria. 

 

At least 348 civilians were reportedly killed, with 347 bodies allegedly secretly buried by the army in a mass grave.

 

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama had earlier in a statement on Tuesday announced the postings of the former service chiefs.

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President Muhammadu Buhari’s government was forced to deploy the former service chiefs – General Gabriel Olonisakin (retd.), Lt Gen Tukur Buratai (retd.), and three others to neighbouring countries for a number of reasons, military sources familiar with the development have revealed to SaharaReporters.

 

Buratai had been appointed to the Benin Republic, while Olonisakin was taken to Cameroon; meanwhile, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) was taken to Ghana; former Chief of Naval Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar (retd.) was taken to Chad and the Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Usman (retd.), the former Chief of Defence Intelligence, is going to the Niger Republic.

File Photo

Contrary to popular opinion that the former military chiefs were deployed to secure Nigeria, some military sources stated that the former service chiefs were posted to the “backyards” to avoid a national embarrassment as they might be rejected. 

 

“Some of the former service chiefs actually wanted choice postings to Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, and other countries with vast military and defence capabilities, but the Presidency had feelers that they would be rejected and this would cause a national embarrassment.

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“There were petitions already from several quarters to the United Nations and most European, the Middle East and North American countries against the former chiefs, and there are fears that they would be rejected by the host governments. This is why they were sent to countries that are more or less indebted to Nigeria,” one of the sources stated.

 

“Most of these choice countries have strong petitions against the former service chiefs and they are wary of bringing a retired military general who would be spying on their country. They knew that the former service chiefs were not qualified for the position, so there were fears that the service chiefs would be rejected,” another source confirmed.

 

“On the flip side, some of the former service chiefs don’t want to leave the country; they want to continue to monitor the military and the assets they have acquired in the country. So, they are contended to be backyard ambassadors.”

 

Buhari had sacked all the former service chiefs on January 26.

 

The President subsequently announced the nomination of the immediate past service chiefs on February 4 as non-career ambassadors, a decision which was greeted with widespread condemnation.

 

 

 

The decision was condemned by most Nigerians who believed that the former service chiefs should be probed particularly on the controversial $1 billion arms fund released between 2018 and 2019.

 

Nigerians also said Buratai and his colleagues must appear before the International Criminal Court, The Hague, Netherlands, to answer for several massacres in the country under their watch with the most recent being October 2020 Lekki shooting, where a disputable number of civilian protesters were killed and injured.

 

They also noted that the former Chief of Army Staff and possibly others must be probed for what has become known as the Zaria massacre, which was carried out by the Nigerian Army in Zaria, Kaduna State, on December 12, 2015, against Shia Muslims, mostly members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria. 

 

At least 348 civilians were reportedly killed, with 347 bodies allegedly secretly buried by the army in a mass grave.

 

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama had earlier in a statement on Tuesday announced the postings of the former service chiefs.

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Since December 2020, over 1,000 students in schools in Northern Nigeria have been kidnapped by gunmen from their school domitories, a report by BBC News said.

 

In a recent documentary titled, 'Children for ransom', the BBC News X-rays the trauma of abductions of schoolchildren on the victims and their parents. 

File Photo AFP via Getty Images

The wave of abductions has devastating consequences for the country, which already has the highest number of children out of education anywhere in the world, it said.

 

 

Bandits had in March invaded the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna state and abducted 39 students comprising 23 females and 16 males.

 

The abductors stormed the college on the said date, shooting indiscriminately before taking students.

 

A video of the hostages was shared on social media. This spurred parents to organise a protest, urging the state and federal governments to secure the release of their wards in spite of government's stance that no ransom would be paid. 

 

The parents were seen on a video screaming, 'Free Afaka 39' but the Kaduna state government had expressed belief that paying ransom was simply fuelling the growing business of banditry.

 

The Kaduna State government, however, during the period reiterated its stance on negotiations with bandits.

 

The state governor, Nasir El-Rufai said, “The only way to end kidnapping is for society to take a stand and that we will not pay. I know the pain of losing children but I have to subordinate that to the overall interest of the society which elected me to provide leadership. I commiserate with their parents, I sympathise with them but that will not change our stand.”

 

In a statement issued by the Kaduna State Commissioner for Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, the state government promised to prosecute anyone found negotiating with bandits.

 

But, the father of one of the affected pupils, Friday Sani, said he would rather be arrested in his bid to secure the release of his children than allow them remain in captivity under gunmen. 

 

He told the BBC, “My children are in the bush pointed to with AK-47 but I am here in the house. If I am under the detention of the state government, I don't think there would be any policeman or soldier that will point a gun to me. I will be safer in the hand of the government more than my children in the hand of the bandits. I feel that I should be arrested, it will make me create more history.”

 

On May 5, about 27 students abducted from the college in Afaka were released by their abductors, Sani's daughters, Rejoice and Victory, were among them.

 

Victory Sani said, “It was hell to be there, very terrible, sleeping outside, seeing dangerous insects, scorpions and snakes around.”

 

Rejoice Sani said, “One of the hardest things being around those people was waking up every day to see gunmen above your head."

 

When asked if they will want to continue with their education, Victory said, “Yes, definitely, I'll continue.” 

 

Rejoice on the other hand said she would also love to continue her education but not at the school.

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The African Bar Association has said it will visit West African country, Cape Verde, to meet with the government authorities and ensure the release of Venezuelan diplomat, Alex Saab, who had been in detention since 2020.

 

The ABA President, Hannibal Uwaifo, stated this in a release on Thursday obtained by SaharaReporters, noting that the association hailed the decision of the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) with regards to Saab, which stated that the diplomat should be released.

Alex Saab The Southern African Times

The African Bar Association added that the decision of Cape Verde to detain Ambassador Saab since 2020 was illegal and unjustified from the very beginning.

 

The release partly reads, “The African Bar Association welcomes the decision of UNHRC with regards to the Venezuelan diplomat, Mr Alex Saab. The decision of the United Nations Human Rights Committee that Mr Saab should not be extradited to the United States and should be released is in tandem with the various calls of the African Bar Association over the past several months.

 

“The Association is sad and very embarrassed that Cape Verde an African State continues to act illegally despite the various decisions and Rulings of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice ordering the release and compensation of the diplomat. We regard this as a serious threat to the Rule of Law and a bad example for International Law and Order in Africa.

 

“The ability of Cape Verde to pride itself as a democracy and a responsible member of the international community rests on her ability to abide by the international norms and respect Judicial decisions especially in ones where she has participated and lost the argument.

 

“The African Bar Association once again calls on the leadership of ECOWAS and the African Union to prevail on Cape Verde to release Ambassador Saab unconditionally and to abide by the various decisions regarding his case as Mr Saab has not been found guilty of any crime.

 

“Meanwhile, a delegation of the African Bar Association in its avowed determination to entrench the Rule of Law in the continent is making efforts to visit Cape Verde, have audience with the relevant authorities and seek physical access to Ambassador Saab in line with International Laws. Lagos, Nigeria 22nd June 2021.”

 

Saab has remained under house arrest in Cape Verde although the ECOWAS court on March 15, 2021 in a ruling ordered his release.

 

The court ordered Cape Verde to stop all extradition processes against him and also compensate him with $200,000.

 

The ruling was primarily on the basis contrary to claims, Cape Verde Interpol did not issue any red notice for Mr. Saab’s arrest on the day he was arrested.

 

The Supreme Court in Cape Verde, a day after that ruling also delivered a counter-ruling approving the extradition of Mr. Saab.

 

Counsel for Mr. Saab have indicated that they will appeal the decision and have taken various actions, including writing to the ECOWAS court to get the ECOWAS community to sanction Cape Verde over its decision not to comply with the ruling.

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Media practitioners in the country have been urged to get ready to defy any anti-press laws the Nigerian government may enact.

 

In a statement on Thursday, Nigeria’s pioneer media rights group, Journalists for Democratic Rights (JODER, established in 1996) said journalists in Nigeria are used to anti-media laws and that such have always been historically defied by journalists.

JODER said the proposed bill to regulate the media will create a one dimensional society where the government will only listen to itself, leaving the citizens to resort to unconventional means to express themselves. 

 

He described the suppression of public opinion as a violent assault on the people.

 

In a statement signed by the group’s Executive Director, Mr Adewale Adeoye, JODER urged Nigerians to continue to press hard against the plot by the Muhammadu Buhari Presidency to muzzle the press.

 

“If we cannot stop the draconian laws, the tradition has always been to defy them. Rebellion against unjust laws is the duty of journalists,” Adeoye said.

 

The group said the Nigerian Press Council Act and the National Broadcasting Commission Act violate the principles of democracy, one of which is free speech without which Nigerian leaders cannot lay claim to representing the people that elected them.

 

“Infringement on the right of expression is corruption of the worst variant. It is not only against the media, it is against the people. It is against the business and political class. It is against the masses. It is against expectations of the local and international community. It takes away the freedom of the electorate to express themselves and their right to question those elected to represent them,” he added.

 

The group said Nigeria is witnessing the emergence of dictatorship and a clear descent into anarchy.

 

“The proposed bill empowers the NPC to suspend a journalist, meaning that the NPC is to keep a ledger on the stories published by the media and employ the sledge hammer when interests of public officers are perceived to be threatened whereas most of the time, the interests of the people and public officials, many of whom are corrupt, are not the same.

 

“Since 1859, when the first newspaper was published in Nigeria, journalists have fought hard and courageously to defeat anti-media laws. On this course, many have been either killed or disappeared. At each juncture, the media have always won the battles. When the military came up with Decree 4 and others to muzzle the press, the response was to defy the draconian laws. It is almost certain that history is about to repeat itself,” JODER said.

 

The group added that the proposed bill is an attempt to reverse the gains of democracy since 1999 and to bring back a culture of anomie and siege on the society, adding that it negates Article 19 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and a reversal of the 1991 Windhoek Declaration by African journalists.

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