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A young man has petitioned the Chairman, Judicial Panel of Investigation in Ogun State seeking justice over the inhumane treatment meted out to him by officials of the banned Special Anti-Robbery Squad at Magbon area.

He noted that he was arrested by the defunct SARS officers on the request of a man who slept with his (the victim's) wife with charms.

He alleged that the officers broke his leg, amid series of torture he was subjected to for 11 days.

According to him, officers tortured detainees with sledgehammers of various sizes, iron rods among others forcing untrue confessions from suspects.

He said he was tortured to the point that he confessed to a crime he knew nothing about and named other people so as to escape the pain.

His petition read, “On June 2, 2020, at about 02:17am, my wife called and told me some unknown fully armed, huge men burst our house looking for me as they searched and scattered everywhere in the house while I was on night duty in Sagamu as a fire service official.

“When I came back from work, I tried to find out who they could've been but there was no means of identification as they didn't disclose where they came from to my wife whom they met naked in the house after they broke the door to the room in order to gain access to our house.

“I didn't hear anything from them until June 14 when someone who was supposed to be an accused turned to the complainant and brought SARS to arrest me having claimed I was threatening to kill him; that I was a cultist.

“The man called Seun Akinwande slept with my wife and asked my wife to connive with him so they could kill my daughter to make money and so that they could marry. I confronted him with this on Whatsapp and physically. He was the one who paid SARS N170,000 to deal with me.

“SARS officials took me to my rented apartment, searched and scattered everywhere in my house as they were asking where I kept my gun, and I told them I didn't have any gun. They collected my phone but when they didn't see anything, they began to threaten they would kill me.

“Whereas, the person who complained to them is the adulterer who has been taking advantage of my wife with the influence of God-knows-what because according to my wife, whatever happened between them is like a dream.

“They handcuffed me and took me to Ayetoro Police Station. One of them beat me with an iron rod but after some minutes they drove me to Magbon, Abeokuta, on our way, one of the officers that took me to Abeokuta asked me to open my phone which I did, he heard the confession voice notes of my wife but he said the voice notes were nothing, we got there at about 12am in the midnight. They dropped me and put me to cell and drove off to Ayetoro immediately.

“They began asking me questions like; where's your gun? Who killed that man in the video? Are you a cultist? All sorts of questions but when I told them I had nothing doing with all those things, then they began to give me serious torture using sledge hammers, different types of iron rods to the extent that I was just managing to talk.”

The victim said he became so weak that he was bleeding from many parts of his body.

“After I was tortured for about two hours and 45 minutes and I began to lie against myself and my immediate brother, mentioning names that came to my mind because I never wanted to die. Then I fainted, so they just called two guys from the cell to carry me inside. That was where they used my hand for thumbprint in the statement they wrote when they were torturing me.

“So my family later found out that I was taken to Magbon; my sister and my wife came on the 18th but they told them to go and bring N300,000 for my bail. After that, what I noticed was they didn't allow anybody to see me again. Since the day my sister came, maybe because I was too wounded to be seen the way I was, because my left leg is almost condemned, my sister and wife who saw me were crying uncontrollably.

“In fact as I write this, I am still nursing something unknown in the leg, my chest and my back. So, after a long time of negotiations, they later collected N100,000 from my sister, even apart from the money for bail, their second-in-command collected money personally from my sister.

“I was released on Friday, June 26, 2020. Meanwhile I was arrested June 14. I landed in the hospital for treatment the second day that I was released and I spent six days in the hospital. The pictures I took after I was released are still with me; my wife's confession records are with me too. The man gave her juju poison to put in my food to kill me so that she would be his and they would then use my daughter for money ritual.

“Magbon was hell on earth and Muhammed Tijani was the devil and chief executioner. They didn't care about the truth, they always went for the highest bidders, and the least money they collect for bail was N50,000. The place where they tortured me as I heard from those I met in the cell was where they do their killings anytime there was a victim. And I must note that I was chained and handcuffed while they tortured me.

“When I was released, they didn't release my ring, shoes, money and my necklace. Even my phone was released the seventh day after I was released. I had to come back for my phone. I strongly plead for justice,” he added.

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A young man has petitioned the Chairman, Judicial Panel of Investigation in Ogun State seeking justice over the inhumane treatment meted out to him by officials of the banned Special Anti-Robbery Squad at Magbon area.

He noted that he was arrested by the defunct SARS officers on the request of a man who slept with his (the victim's) wife with charms.

He alleged that the officers broke his leg, amid series of torture he was subjected to for 11 days.

According to him, officers tortured detainees with sledgehammers of various sizes, iron rods among others forcing untrue confessions from suspects.

He said he was tortured to the point that he confessed to a crime he knew nothing about and named other people so as to escape the pain.

His petition read, “On June 2, 2020, at about 02:17am, my wife called and told me some unknown fully armed, huge men burst our house looking for me as they searched and scattered everywhere in the house while I was on night duty in Sagamu as a fire service official.

“When I came back from work, I tried to find out who they could've been but there was no means of identification as they didn't disclose where they came from to my wife whom they met naked in the house after they broke the door to the room in order to gain access to our house.

“I didn't hear anything from them until June 14 when someone who was supposed to be an accused turned to the complainant and brought SARS to arrest me having claimed I was threatening to kill him; that I was a cultist.

“The man called Seun Akinwande slept with my wife and asked my wife to connive with him so they could kill my daughter to make money and so that they could marry. I confronted him with this on Whatsapp and physically. He was the one who paid SARS N170,000 to deal with me.

“SARS officials took me to my rented apartment, searched and scattered everywhere in my house as they were asking where I kept my gun, and I told them I didn't have any gun. They collected my phone but when they didn't see anything, they began to threaten they would kill me.

“Whereas, the person who complained to them is the adulterer who has been taking advantage of my wife with the influence of God-knows-what because according to my wife, whatever happened between them is like a dream.

“They handcuffed me and took me to Ayetoro Police Station. One of them beat me with an iron rod but after some minutes they drove me to Magbon, Abeokuta, on our way, one of the officers that took me to Abeokuta asked me to open my phone which I did, he heard the confession voice notes of my wife but he said the voice notes were nothing, we got there at about 12am in the midnight. They dropped me and put me to cell and drove off to Ayetoro immediately.

“They began asking me questions like; where's your gun? Who killed that man in the video? Are you a cultist? All sorts of questions but when I told them I had nothing doing with all those things, then they began to give me serious torture using sledge hammers, different types of iron rods to the extent that I was just managing to talk.”

The victim said he became so weak that he was bleeding from many parts of his body.

“After I was tortured for about two hours and 45 minutes and I began to lie against myself and my immediate brother, mentioning names that came to my mind because I never wanted to die. Then I fainted, so they just called two guys from the cell to carry me inside. That was where they used my hand for thumbprint in the statement they wrote when they were torturing me.

“So my family later found out that I was taken to Magbon; my sister and my wife came on the 18th but they told them to go and bring N300,000 for my bail. After that, what I noticed was they didn't allow anybody to see me again. Since the day my sister came, maybe because I was too wounded to be seen the way I was, because my left leg is almost condemned, my sister and wife who saw me were crying uncontrollably.

“In fact as I write this, I am still nursing something unknown in the leg, my chest and my back. So, after a long time of negotiations, they later collected N100,000 from my sister, even apart from the money for bail, their second-in-command collected money personally from my sister.

“I was released on Friday, June 26, 2020. Meanwhile I was arrested June 14. I landed in the hospital for treatment the second day that I was released and I spent six days in the hospital. The pictures I took after I was released are still with me; my wife's confession records are with me too. The man gave her juju poison to put in my food to kill me so that she would be his and they would then use my daughter for money ritual.

“Magbon was hell on earth and Muhammed Tijani was the devil and chief executioner. They didn't care about the truth, they always went for the highest bidders, and the least money they collect for bail was N50,000. The place where they tortured me as I heard from those I met in the cell was where they do their killings anytime there was a victim. And I must note that I was chained and handcuffed while they tortured me.

“When I was released, they didn't release my ring, shoes, money and my necklace. Even my phone was released the seventh day after I was released. I had to come back for my phone. I strongly plead for justice,” he added.

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The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund has condemned the deaths of some children in Borno State, North-East Nigeria, who were reportedly killed by explosive devices.

SaharaReporters had on Friday reported that some children were killed on Thursday while playing with a disused grenade outside Ngala community, a town that shares the border with Cameroon.

UNICEF

UNICEF, in a statement on Saturday, said the death of the children was unavoidable as it stressed that children should not be victims of conflicts they never started.

The body stated that children remain direct and indirect targets of the conflicts in northeast Nigeria as it called on all sides to the ongoing conflict to ensure the protection of children and prioritise their wellbeing at all times.

The statement reads, “The avoidable deaths of the children – as young as 12 years – who were playing on Mblu Bridge in Ngala, is yet another sad reminder that children remain direct and indirect targets of the protracted conflict wrecking North-East Nigeria. While three children have sadly lost their lives, three others are in critical conditions while two other children sustained mild injuries.

“In 12 years of protracted conflict in the north-east, thousands of children in the region have been killed, maimed, abducted, displaced, and experienced multiple violations of their human rights. UNICEF is deeply worried that conflict-affected children continue to be casualties of war.”

Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Nigeria Representative added, “First of all, we extend our deepest and heartfelt sympathy to the families of the children killed. No family should have to go through this – and no child should fall victim to unexploded remnants of war while playing.

“Children are at particular risk from unexploded ordnance, which are small enough to pick up or kick around, and which children can mistake for toys or objects of value. Such weapons account for over half of those killed or injured by landmines and other explosive remnants of war globally.

“These deaths are unacceptable. All sides to the ongoing conflict must protect children and prioritise their wellbeing at all times. Playing fields, schoolyards and communities must be safe and habitable for children.

“Children’s lives should not be at stake in a conflict they didn’t start. We must address the shrinking safe spaces for children and ensure that children – especially those already affected by conflict – are protected and have a chance to survive and fulfil their potential.”

 

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The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund has condemned the deaths of some children in Borno State, North-East Nigeria, who were reportedly killed by explosive devices.

SaharaReporters had on Friday reported that some children were killed on Thursday while playing with a disused grenade outside Ngala community, a town that shares the border with Cameroon.

UNICEF

UNICEF, in a statement on Saturday, said the death of the children was unavoidable as it stressed that children should not be victims of conflicts they never started.

The body stated that children remain direct and indirect targets of the conflicts in northeast Nigeria as it called on all sides to the ongoing conflict to ensure the protection of children and prioritise their wellbeing at all times.

The statement reads, “The avoidable deaths of the children – as young as 12 years – who were playing on Mblu Bridge in Ngala, is yet another sad reminder that children remain direct and indirect targets of the protracted conflict wrecking North-East Nigeria. While three children have sadly lost their lives, three others are in critical conditions while two other children sustained mild injuries.

“In 12 years of protracted conflict in the north-east, thousands of children in the region have been killed, maimed, abducted, displaced, and experienced multiple violations of their human rights. UNICEF is deeply worried that conflict-affected children continue to be casualties of war.”

Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Nigeria Representative added, “First of all, we extend our deepest and heartfelt sympathy to the families of the children killed. No family should have to go through this – and no child should fall victim to unexploded remnants of war while playing.

“Children are at particular risk from unexploded ordnance, which are small enough to pick up or kick around, and which children can mistake for toys or objects of value. Such weapons account for over half of those killed or injured by landmines and other explosive remnants of war globally.

“These deaths are unacceptable. All sides to the ongoing conflict must protect children and prioritise their wellbeing at all times. Playing fields, schoolyards and communities must be safe and habitable for children.

“Children’s lives should not be at stake in a conflict they didn’t start. We must address the shrinking safe spaces for children and ensure that children – especially those already affected by conflict – are protected and have a chance to survive and fulfil their potential.”

 

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The Federal Government has dragged the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria over the ongoing industrial strike action.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, disclosed this on Friday in a letter addressed to NARD and the Federal Ministry of Health.

The minister had given the NARD leadership till the end of work on August 11 to convene a virtual meeting of its National Executive Committee to brief its members on the efforts of government with a view to calling off its strike.

“Whereas trade dispute has arisen and now exists between NARD and the Federal Ministry of Health/Federal Government and whereas efforts to promote settlement through conciliation were ongoing but had now failed.

“Considering the facts that members of NARD who are classified as essential services workers/employees had embarked on strike on August 2, over the issues under conciliation.

“Contrary to the provisions of Section 18 of the Trade Disputes Act CAP T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004, after attending a Conciliation and Agreement Review meeting on July 22.

“Further considering that the Federal Ministry of Health claims to have and produced evidence to have met most of their demands based on the various Memorandum of Action reached during past conciliations, especially that of July 22.

“Now therefore, I, Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 17 of the Trades Disputes Act , CAP T8 laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

“‘I, hereby refer the matter for consideration, and the issues in dispute to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria for adjudication,” he said.

 

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The Federal Government has dragged the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria over the ongoing industrial strike action.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, disclosed this on Friday in a letter addressed to NARD and the Federal Ministry of Health.

The minister had given the NARD leadership till the end of work on August 11 to convene a virtual meeting of its National Executive Committee to brief its members on the efforts of government with a view to calling off its strike.

“Whereas trade dispute has arisen and now exists between NARD and the Federal Ministry of Health/Federal Government and whereas efforts to promote settlement through conciliation were ongoing but had now failed.

“Considering the facts that members of NARD who are classified as essential services workers/employees had embarked on strike on August 2, over the issues under conciliation.

“Contrary to the provisions of Section 18 of the Trade Disputes Act CAP T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004, after attending a Conciliation and Agreement Review meeting on July 22.

“Further considering that the Federal Ministry of Health claims to have and produced evidence to have met most of their demands based on the various Memorandum of Action reached during past conciliations, especially that of July 22.

“Now therefore, I, Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 17 of the Trades Disputes Act , CAP T8 laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

“‘I, hereby refer the matter for consideration, and the issues in dispute to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria for adjudication,” he said.

 

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There was pandemonium at the Osun State secretariat of the All Progressives Congress, on Saturday, as party members and hoodlums loyal to Governor Gboyega Oyetola and the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, clashed at a meeting.

The meeting was the sitting of the Ward Congress Appeal Committee in Osogbo, the state capital.

Gunshots were heard leading to tension after members stormed the venue to submit petitions on Saturday morning.

According to reports, supporters of the governor and the minister clashed during the exercise, leaving one member, identified as Muyideen Ajetunmobi, with head injuries.

However, heavily armed security operatives were forced to intervene as they rescued some members of the Appeal Committee from the building.

The Nation reports that some of the committee members were still held up in the office.

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The Indigenous People of Biafra has explained why it suspended the weekly sit-at-home order in the South-East states which it earlier instructed.

The secessionist group had announced a total lockdown of social and economic activities every Monday starting from August 9 in the South-East region of the country.

File photo used to illustrate story.

According to the group, the sit-at-home protest had been planned to be observed weekly to demand the freedom of its incarcerated leader, Nnamdi Kanu who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services for over a month.

However, speaking on Radio Biafra, IPOB’s executive, Chika Edoziem, announced the suspension of the action.

Edoziem said the sit-at-home would be declared whenever Kanu would be making appearance in court and not every Monday as earlier directed.

Reacting, the group's media and publicity secretary, Emma Powerful, explained that the suspension was a directive from the leader, Kanu.

He said the group had taken into cognizance the concerns expressed by Biafrans all over the world over the suspension of the sit-at-home directive.

He, however, stated that should there be another directive from the group's highest command requiring a reactivation of the suspended weekly sit-at-home, there would be no hesitation to lift the suspension.

The statement reads, “The leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) understands the concerns being expressed by the global IPOB family on the suspension of the weekly sit-at-home earlier announced by the IPOB Head of Directorate of State of the Indigenous people of Biafra.

“We know that our people embraced this civil action wholeheartedly and without any compulsion. The leadership sincerely appreciate the innate desire of Biafrans to sacrifice their time, resources and energy in ensuring that our leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is released unconditionally from the illegal custody of the Nigerian State who criminally gave him away from Kenya to Nigeria.

“The suspension of the sit-at-home by the IPOB Head of Directorate was as a result of a direct order from the leader of this great movement, Nnamdi Kanu.

“There is no gainsaying the fact that one of the major fundamental guiding principles of IPOB is command and control. This simply means that all commands from the supreme leader of IPOB will be obeyed and implemented to the latter by the Directorate of State of the Indigenous People of Biafra.

“Bearing in mind therefore that this principle has enabled this movement to surpass even the expectations of both Biafrans and non-Biafrans alike, the leadership wishes to encourage Biafran to focus on the most pressing issue confronting this great family presently which is ensuring the safety of our leader while still in the illegal custody of the DSS and to secure his unconditional release from detention.

“In accordance with the directive from our leader, our sit-at-home will in the meantime be observed on the date of our leader’s court appearances.

“The lPOB leadership urges Biafrans worldwide to take note of the next court appearance of our leader which is the 21st of October 2021.

“Any other information regarding Sit-At-Home in Biafraland not emanating from IPOB through our main channels of information dissemination should be disregarded. The Nigeria government should heed now to the voice of reason coming from within Nigeria and from outside the shores of Nigeria to unconditionally free our leader, Nnamdi Kanu, and announce a date for Biafra referendum or plebiscite where our people will choose where they wish to be long before it is too late.”

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At least eight farmers have been killed in Buruku and Udaw‎a villages of Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The victims, it was gathered, were attacked while working on their farmland, Daily Trust reports.

SaharaReporters Media

Both Buruku and Udawa are located along Kaduna-Birnin Gwari highway and have been under bandits’ invasion.

A resident of the area and a community leader, Muhammed Umar, confirmed the attacks on Saturday.

“Five farmers were killed in Buruku while three were killed in Udawa. We are tired of burying our men daily. We need help,” he said.

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At least eight farmers have been killed in Buruku and Udaw‎a villages of Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The victims, it was gathered, were attacked while working on their farmland, Daily Trust reports.

SaharaReporters Media

Both Buruku and Udawa are located along Kaduna-Birnin Gwari highway and have been under bandits’ invasion.

A resident of the area and a community leader, Muhammed Umar, confirmed the attacks on Saturday.

“Five farmers were killed in Buruku while three were killed in Udawa. We are tired of burying our men daily. We need help,” he said.

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The Shehu of Borno, Abubakar El-Kanemi, and other traditional leaders in Borno State have said it will be difficult to reintegrate repentant Boko Haram members into their communities.

They expressed fears over the de-radicalisation of repentant members of Boko Haram by the Nigerian Army under its Safe Corridor programme.

File photo used to illustrate story

However, El-Kanemi said the idea was relatively welcome but noted that the people would continue to be haunted by the horrors of the 12-year insurgency, especially residents of communities where the repentant insurgents are to be incorporated.

“The Safe Corridor programme of the Nigerian Army led to the de-radicalisation of repentant terrorists in Gombe State. But it will be very difficult if not impossible for us to reintegrate the repentant insurgents into our destroyed communities,” he said, adding that Bama township and its college of education were overtaken by Boko Haram in September 2014.

The insurgents were reported to have killed 13 district heads and several ward heads in 16 local government areas of the state.

“It is easy to forgive for the destruction of many lives and property, but difficult to forget the wanton loss of lives in the various communities of my Chiefdom,” the Shehu of Borno said.

“Many people were killed along with their property for 12 years. And you people and the media expect us to forget and forgive the repentant terrorists?”

On Tuesday, the Nigerian Army in a statement by its spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu, announced that no fewer than 1,000 Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (a Boko Haram offshoot) members had laid down their arms and surrendered to the troops.

SaharaReporters was told that the repentant fighters were 335, while their family members were 746 women and children, adding up to 1,081 persons.

Among the repentant terrorists were the logistics suppliers for the Boko Haram and ISWAP, Musa Adamu, aka Mala Musa Abuja, and his second-in-command, Usman Adamu, who turned themselves in to the troops of Operation Hadin Kai of the Nigerian Army.

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The Shehu of Borno, Abubakar El-Kanemi, and other traditional leaders in Borno State have said it will be difficult to reintegrate repentant Boko Haram members into their communities.

They expressed fears over the de-radicalisation of repentant members of Boko Haram by the Nigerian Army under its Safe Corridor programme.

File photo used to illustrate story

However, El-Kanemi said the idea was relatively welcome but noted that the people would continue to be haunted by the horrors of the 12-year insurgency, especially residents of communities where the repentant insurgents are to be incorporated.

“The Safe Corridor programme of the Nigerian Army led to the de-radicalisation of repentant terrorists in Gombe State. But it will be very difficult if not impossible for us to reintegrate the repentant insurgents into our destroyed communities,” he said, adding that Bama township and its college of education were overtaken by Boko Haram in September 2014.

The insurgents were reported to have killed 13 district heads and several ward heads in 16 local government areas of the state.

“It is easy to forgive for the destruction of many lives and property, but difficult to forget the wanton loss of lives in the various communities of my Chiefdom,” the Shehu of Borno said.

“Many people were killed along with their property for 12 years. And you people and the media expect us to forget and forgive the repentant terrorists?”

On Tuesday, the Nigerian Army in a statement by its spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu, announced that no fewer than 1,000 Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (a Boko Haram offshoot) members had laid down their arms and surrendered to the troops.

SaharaReporters was told that the repentant fighters were 335, while their family members were 746 women and children, adding up to 1,081 persons.

Among the repentant terrorists were the logistics suppliers for the Boko Haram and ISWAP, Musa Adamu, aka Mala Musa Abuja, and his second-in-command, Usman Adamu, who turned themselves in to the troops of Operation Hadin Kai of the Nigerian Army.

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A Nigerian man working as a delivery driver was on Thursday shot dead while on duty in Mitchellville, Maryland, United States. 

The family members of 48-year-old Noel Njoku and father of four have demanded for justice as the police begin an investigation into the case.

According to the Prince George’s County Police, Njoku, who works with DoorDash, was shot multiple times inside his vehicle, indicating a search for suspects in connection with the murder, NBC Washington reported.

The victim’s wife and brother wept and pleaded for answers hours after his death.

“Please, anybody who has any information, please, please, please — anybody who has any information should come and help us out, please,” Chidi Njoku, the victim’s brother, said fighting back tears.

“I want to know who killed my husband,” the wife said.

After her husband failed to answer her calls, she went from hospital to hospital looking for him and finally, an officer at the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center broke the news.

Njoku was the father of a 15-year-old daughter, a 13-year-old daughter and 11-year-old twin boys.

The police said he was found suffering from gunshot wounds at about 12:20 a.m. in a car in the 3700 block of Lottsford Vista Road.

“The preliminary investigation revealed Njoku was delivering food to a home in the area when he was shot,” the police said in a statement.

Njoku was taken to a hospital, where he died.

“Detectives are currently right now at the scene, collecting evidence, speaking to witnesses, trying to piece everything together,” Pfc. Antonia Washington said.

The victim was said to be a happy, peace-loving person, who moved to the U.S. from Nigeria decades ago and recently started working for DoorDash.

DoorDash released this statement: “We are deeply saddened by this senseless act of violence and our hearts go out to the Dasher’s loved ones at this incredibly difficult time. The safety of our community is paramount and we immediately reached out to law enforcement to offer our assistance in any way we can. We are actively working to get in touch with this Dasher’s family to extend our full support.”

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A Nigerian man working as a delivery driver was on Thursday shot dead while on duty in Mitchellville, Maryland, United States. 

The family members of 48-year-old Noel Njoku and father of four have demanded for justice as the police begin an investigation into the case.

According to the Prince George’s County Police, Njoku, who works with DoorDash, was shot multiple times inside his vehicle, indicating a search for suspects in connection with the murder, NBC Washington reported.

The victim’s wife and brother wept and pleaded for answers hours after his death.

“Please, anybody who has any information, please, please, please — anybody who has any information should come and help us out, please,” Chidi Njoku, the victim’s brother, said fighting back tears.

“I want to know who killed my husband,” the wife said.

After her husband failed to answer her calls, she went from hospital to hospital looking for him and finally, an officer at the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center broke the news.

Njoku was the father of a 15-year-old daughter, a 13-year-old daughter and 11-year-old twin boys.

The police said he was found suffering from gunshot wounds at about 12:20 a.m. in a car in the 3700 block of Lottsford Vista Road.

“The preliminary investigation revealed Njoku was delivering food to a home in the area when he was shot,” the police said in a statement.

Njoku was taken to a hospital, where he died.

“Detectives are currently right now at the scene, collecting evidence, speaking to witnesses, trying to piece everything together,” Pfc. Antonia Washington said.

The victim was said to be a happy, peace-loving person, who moved to the U.S. from Nigeria decades ago and recently started working for DoorDash.

DoorDash released this statement: “We are deeply saddened by this senseless act of violence and our hearts go out to the Dasher’s loved ones at this incredibly difficult time. The safety of our community is paramount and we immediately reached out to law enforcement to offer our assistance in any way we can. We are actively working to get in touch with this Dasher’s family to extend our full support.”

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Some travellers, on Saturday, have been attacked and killed by gunmen in the Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The sojourners were reportedly passing through Jos when they ran into gunmen who opened fire on them.

Illustration

It was learnt that the whereabouts of some of the victims were unknown as of the time of filing this report while at least 15 corpses had been deposited at a morgue in the state.

Muhammad Ibrahim, one of the passengers, who escaped the attack, said they were in a group of five 18 seater buses, returning from Bauchi State where they attended an event to commemorate the Islamic New Year.

He said the event was held at Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, mosque, in Bauchi State.

The spokesman of the Plateau State Police Command, ASP Gabriel Ogaba, said, “Yes, there was unrest at Rukuba Road of Jos North LGA. Security personnel have been deployed to the area and have taken charge.

“At the moment the area is calm and residents are going about their lawful businesses. Details about what happened will be communicated shortly.”

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Some travellers, on Saturday, have been attacked and killed by gunmen in the Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The sojourners were reportedly passing through Jos when they ran into gunmen who opened fire on them.

Illustration

It was learnt that the whereabouts of some of the victims were unknown as of the time of filing this report while at least 15 corpses had been deposited at a morgue in the state.

Muhammad Ibrahim, one of the passengers, who escaped the attack, said they were in a group of five 18 seater buses, returning from Bauchi State where they attended an event to commemorate the Islamic New Year.

He said the event was held at Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, mosque, in Bauchi State.

The spokesman of the Plateau State Police Command, ASP Gabriel Ogaba, said, “Yes, there was unrest at Rukuba Road of Jos North LGA. Security personnel have been deployed to the area and have taken charge.

“At the moment the area is calm and residents are going about their lawful businesses. Details about what happened will be communicated shortly.”

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Abba Kyari, Nigeria’s ‘super cop’ reputable for investigating celebrated criminal cases, is in the news for about two weeks now after an arrest warrant was issued against him by a United States District Court for conspiracy to fraudulently obtain and launder money. The Deputy Commissioner of Police is currently wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to face not less than three charges in his role in the internet scam spearheaded by Nigerian celebrity, Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi. The indictment is embarrassingly heavy and it is capable of leaving the international reputation of the Nigerian state in questionable corners if not well managed. Regardless of what may be said, the trials of Abba, the son of Kyari, would expose the battered image of our country to untold shame and leave its leadership to ridicule.

Ever since the news broke, there have been some disturbing legal and political insinuations by some quarters; coming after the empty exculpatory denial by Kyari. From being a super cop, he became a tailor, debt collector and later an editor; all within a twinkle of an eye. Considering the serious nature of the indictment, the infamous Facebook statement, which was later deleted, tells more about the intelligence of a decorated police officer that headed the Intelligence Unit of the Nigerian Police. That said, in the light of the controversies trailing the imminent extradition of Kyari, this article seeks to make a dispassionate analysis of the law and politics of extradition in Nigeria.

 

Nigeria is a sovereign state and no foreign authority can encroach its territory to effect an arrest or carry out an extradition without lawful justification. As a constitutional democracy, everything done by all authorities and persons must follow the law as established under Section 1(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is on this ground that the extradition of Kyari must be carried out in accordance with the dictates of the law.

 

Under international law and Nigerian law, there are a number of factors that must be considered and conditions that must be met before a person can be considered extraditable. To start with, Nigeria and the United States must have in existence an extradition treaty. Interestingly, Nigeria and the United States have signed an Extradition Treaty long ago; precisely December 22, 1931 and entered into force on June 24, 1935. In fact, the existence of this treaty is incontestable as Nigeria has invoked its provisions to extradite a number of its citizens to the United States. In the case of UDEOZOR V FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA 2007 15 N.W.L.R. Part 1058 Page 499, the Supreme Court affirmed the existence of an Extradition Treaty between Nigeria and the United States. However, apart from the Extradition Treaty between the two countries, the Extradition Act of 1966, (Extradition Modification) Order, 2014 and Extradition Act (Proceedings) Rules, 2015 are sacred laws that set out the legal and procedural framework for extradition in Nigeria.

 

By virtue of Section 6 of the Extradition Act, an extradition request shall be made in writing to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) by a diplomatic representative or consular officer of the United States and shall be accompanied by a duly authenticated warrant of arrest. Thereafter, upon the satisfaction of conditions precedent, the law places upon the Attorney General of the Federation the power and discretion to commence an extradition proceeding against a person named in the warrant of arrest in a Federal High Court. This discretion, it is submitted, shall be exercised judiciously and in furtherance of public interest. Importantly, the intervention of the court in the extradition process is to ensure that the provisions of the Extradition Act and other relevant laws are fully complied with. Therefore, where there is a breach of law in the process, there is likelihood that the court would not grant the extradition order.

 

Section 3 of the Extradition Act empowers the Attorney General to, among other things, reject an extradition request where the offence described in the arrest warrant is one of “a political character” and where “criminal proceedings are pending against him in Nigeria for the offence for which his surrender is sought”. Consequently, it becomes crystal clear that the success or otherwise of Kyari’s extradition lies principally on the shoulders of the Attorney General.

 

Curiously, the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice hurriedly stated that it has not received any official communication on the arrest warrant issued against Kyari. He emphasized that “everything will be done according to the rule of law and based on the dictates of the extant provisions of the law”. Indeed, I completely agree that due process must be followed in a matter like this. With profound respect, however, I find the Federal Government's insistence on due process very hypocritical. For a government that treats rule of law and due process with contempt, the strange insistence on the dictate of the extant provisions of the law is sheer dissimulation. It is shameful and scandalous that a government that abducted Nnamdi Kanu from Kenya and attempted to whisk away Sunday Igboho from Benin Republic – all in brutal violation of international law and diplomacy – is the same government propagating the ‘rule of law’ in Kyari’s case; looking more like a suspicious defence to a loyal servant of the corrupt system. A government that shamelessly selects when to respect the rule of law should not be trusted and taken seriously.

 

In what looked like a melodrama, the Nigeria Police Force went ahead to set up a probe panel headed by the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Force Criminal Investigations Department, Joseph Egbunike where Kyari has appeared no less than four times. It beats the imagination how the Nigerian Police Force is conducting an investigation, setting up panels and taking disciplinary actions against Kyari when the Federal Government of Nigeria is saying it has not received any official communication. I really worry if the panel probe is not an attempt to hurriedly commence a criminal proceeding against Kyari which would legitimately frustrate any extradition proceeding against him – bearing in mind the fact that the offence alleged to have been committed is recognized and punishable in Nigeria.

 

Finally, as a regime that claims to be allergic to corruption, I would prefer to give the Nigerian government a benefit of doubt despite the glaring predilections. The Federal Government must be sincere, dispassionate and cooperative with the United States. This is because Kyari’s travail will not only put Abba on trial. Kyari’s travail puts the Nigerian Police Force on trial. Kyari’s travail puts Nigeria on trial. More significantly, Kyari’s travail puts Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade on trial. While the law strongly supports Kyari extradition, the political and ethnic dispositions peculiar to Nigeria should not be deployed to scuttle the whole process. We must not misuse this rare opportunity to score a point.

 

Presumed innocent under the extant laws in Nigeria and the United States, Kyari has nothing to fear and the government should not desperately ‘protect’ him if indeed his hands are clean. With the little law I know, Kyari would have broken no law if he travels to the United States to answer the tough questions put to him by the District Court. Only the guilty are afraid!

 

Festus Ogun is a Lagos-based lawyer and human rights activist. festusogunlaw@gmail.com

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The Grammy-winning artist was best known for her influential career in folk and country music.

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has described as “heartbreaking”, the death of elder statesman Ahmed Joda, who died on Friday at the age of 91.

In a statement on Friday signed by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo said the late Joda was his friend for about 60 years.

Olusegun Obasanjo Getty Images

The ex-President explained that the late former Federal Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information saved the unity of Nigeria shortly after the 1966 coup d’état when others insisted that Nigeria should collapse.

Obasanjo described Joda “as not just a Nigerian, but, a true and great Nigerian, committed to unity, development and progress of the country”.

“Oh! What a heartbreaking news, that my friend for well over 60 years has passed to the great beyond. If every Nigerian have the attributes of Joda, Nigeria will have been better than what it is now.

“Ahmed Joda by his feature did not need to tell you is a Fulani man, but, in everything I know he did, he lived not just as a Fulani man, he lived, he worked and he laboured as a true Nigerian. They are not many like him, and that was what strengthens our relationship since 1959,” Obasanjo was quoted to have said.

See Also Breaking News BREAKING: Elder Statesman Who Headed Buhari’s 2015 Transition, Ahmed Joda Dies 0 Comments 8 Hours Ago

He said that they met when he was a Second Lieutenant in the Nigeria Army and Joda was a Deputy Chief Information Officer in the Federal Civil service.

Obasanjo recalled that the effort of Joda and his other Super Permanent Secretaries as they were fondly called in the then civil service saved Nigeria in 1966.

According to the former President, “I know that if not for people like Joda and other Senior Permanent Secretaries as they were called Super Permanent Secretary as at that time, after the second upheaval of 1966, after the first upheaval we would have had Nigeria broken into pieces. Because Araba was bent on having Nigeria divided.

“But, it was Ahmed Joda and other Super Permanent Secretaries (senior civil servants) like Philip Asiodu, Liman Ciroma, Alison Ayida who prevailed not to have Nigeria broken up.

“Well, Dear Ahmed, you have served your family, your community. You have served your country and indeed humanity, you have done your best, including working for the transition between the Buhari administration and Jonathan administration.

“You have done your best working with me on the progress and programme of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library. You have done your best on becoming the Chancellor of Bells University. We love you, but God loves you best. Rest permanently in the bosom of Allah,” Obasanjo added.

 

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Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has described as “heartbreaking”, the death of elder statesman Ahmed Joda, who died on Friday at the age of 91.

In a statement on Friday signed by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo said the late Joda was his friend for about 60 years.

Olusegun Obasanjo Getty Images

The ex-President explained that the late former Federal Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information saved the unity of Nigeria shortly after the 1966 coup d’état when others insisted that Nigeria should collapse.

Obasanjo described Joda “as not just a Nigerian, but, a true and great Nigerian, committed to unity, development and progress of the country”.

“Oh! What a heartbreaking news, that my friend for well over 60 years has passed to the great beyond. If every Nigerian have the attributes of Joda, Nigeria will have been better than what it is now.

“Ahmed Joda by his feature did not need to tell you is a Fulani man, but, in everything I know he did, he lived not just as a Fulani man, he lived, he worked and he laboured as a true Nigerian. They are not many like him, and that was what strengthens our relationship since 1959,” Obasanjo was quoted to have said.

See Also Breaking News BREAKING: Elder Statesman Who Headed Buhari’s 2015 Transition, Ahmed Joda Dies 0 Comments 6 Hours Ago

He said that they met when he was a Second Lieutenant in the Nigeria Army and Joda was a Deputy Chief Information Officer in the Federal Civil service.

Obasanjo recalled that the effort of Joda and his other Super Permanent Secretaries as they were fondly called in the then civil service saved Nigeria in 1966.

According to the former President, “I know that if not for people like Joda and other Senior Permanent Secretaries as they were called Super Permanent Secretary as at that time, after the second upheaval of 1966, after the first upheaval we would have had Nigeria broken into pieces. Because Araba was bent on having Nigeria divided.

“But, it was Ahmed Joda and other Super Permanent Secretaries (senior civil servants) like Philip Asiodu, Liman Ciroma, Alison Ayida who prevailed not to have Nigeria broken up.

“Well, Dear Ahmed, you have served your family, your community. You have served your country and indeed humanity, you have done your best, including working for the transition between the Buhari administration and Jonathan administration.

“You have done your best working with me on the progress and programme of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library. You have done your best on becoming the Chancellor of Bells University. We love you, but God loves you best. Rest permanently in the bosom of Allah,” Obasanjo added.

 

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has described as “heartbreaking”, the death of elder statesman Ahmed Joda, who died on Friday at the age of 91.

In a statement on Friday signed by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo said the late Joda was his friend for about 60 years.

Olusegun Obasanjo Getty Images

The ex-President explained that the late former Federal Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information saved the unity of Nigeria shortly after the 1966 coup d’état when others insisted that Nigeria should collapse.

Obasanjo described Joda “as not just a Nigerian, but, a true and great Nigerian, committed to unity, development and progress of the country”.

“Oh! What a heartbreaking news, that my friend for well over 60 years has passed to the great beyond. If every Nigerian have the attributes of Joda, Nigeria will have been better than what it is now.

“Ahmed Joda by his feature did not need to tell you is a Fulani man, but, in everything I know he did, he lived not just as a Fulani man, he lived, he worked and he laboured as a true Nigerian. They are not many like him, and that was what strengthens our relationship since 1959,” Obasanjo was quoted to have said.

See Also Breaking News BREAKING: Elder Statesman Who Headed Buhari’s 2015 Transition, Ahmed Joda Dies 0 Comments 6 Hours Ago

He said that they met when he was a Second Lieutenant in the Nigeria Army and Joda was a Deputy Chief Information Officer in the Federal Civil service.

Obasanjo recalled that the effort of Joda and his other Super Permanent Secretaries as they were fondly called in the then civil service saved Nigeria in 1966.

According to the former President, “I know that if not for people like Joda and other Senior Permanent Secretaries as they were called Super Permanent Secretary as at that time, after the second upheaval of 1966, after the first upheaval we would have had Nigeria broken into pieces. Because Araba was bent on having Nigeria divided.

“But, it was Ahmed Joda and other Super Permanent Secretaries (senior civil servants) like Philip Asiodu, Liman Ciroma, Alison Ayida who prevailed not to have Nigeria broken up.

“Well, Dear Ahmed, you have served your family, your community. You have served your country and indeed humanity, you have done your best, including working for the transition between the Buhari administration and Jonathan administration.

“You have done your best working with me on the progress and programme of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library. You have done your best on becoming the Chancellor of Bells University. We love you, but God loves you best. Rest permanently in the bosom of Allah,” Obasanjo added.

 

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Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested one Glory Ikponmwosa aka Shina Rambo, who is allegedly notorious for land grabbing, kidnapping among other crimes in the state.

SaharaReporters learnt that the suspect allegedly engaged the officers in a three-hour gun battle before he was eventually subdued by the officers.

The suspect

Ikponmwosa was also said to have challenged the state government for signing the Edo State Private Property Protection law 2021, which abolished Okahele, a violent group he created.

He was also alleged to be involved in serial assassinations, sponsorship of violence in communities, kidnapping, stockpiling of arms among others.

A source said, ”One Glory Ikponmwosa a.k.a Shina Rambo was arrested around 2am on Thursday by a combined team of police officers from the Force Intelligence Bureau, Abuja. Before his eventual arrest, he had engaged the police in a serious gun duel that lasted for over three hours.

“Items recovered from the suspect include ammunition, bullets and cartridges. Reliable information reveals that he was arrested for alleged serial assassinations, sponsorship of violence in communities, kidnapping, stockpiling of arms (including sophisticated weapons like Ak-47) etc.

“The said Glory Ikponmwosa was also the head of the association of Okahele in Edo state, a violent group he created after the abolition of community development association in Edo State. Of recent, the said Glory Ikponmwosa has also led and sponsored a futile protest to the Palace of the revered Oba of Benin, against the Edo state government for signing into law the Edo State Private Property Protection law 2021, which abolished the group known as Okahele.

“Several petitions are bothering on criminality spread across various police divisions in Edo state against him but he has always evaded arrest. The numerous victims of his reign of terror are crying to the Inspector-General of Police for justice as the said suspect has boasted openly that he has some policemen in his payroll.”

 

 

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Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested one Glory Ikponmwosa aka Shina Rambo, who is allegedly notorious for land grabbing, kidnapping among other crimes in the state.

SaharaReporters learnt that the suspect allegedly engaged the officers in a three-hour gun battle before he was eventually subdued by the officers.

The suspect

Ikponmwosa was also said to have challenged the state government for signing the Edo State Private Property Protection law 2021, which abolished Okahele, a violent group he created.

He was also alleged to be involved in serial assassinations, sponsorship of violence in communities, kidnapping, stockpiling of arms among others.

A source said, ”One Glory Ikponmwosa a.k.a Shina Rambo was arrested around 2am on Thursday by a combined team of police officers from the Force Intelligence Bureau, Abuja. Before his eventual arrest, he had engaged the police in a serious gun duel that lasted for over three hours.

“Items recovered from the suspect include ammunition, bullets and cartridges. Reliable information reveals that he was arrested for alleged serial assassinations, sponsorship of violence in communities, kidnapping, stockpiling of arms (including sophisticated weapons like Ak-47) etc.

“The said Glory Ikponmwosa was also the head of the association of Okahele in Edo state, a violent group he created after the abolition of community development association in Edo State. Of recent, the said Glory Ikponmwosa has also led and sponsored a futile protest to the Palace of the revered Oba of Benin, against the Edo state government for signing into law the Edo State Private Property Protection law 2021, which abolished the group known as Okahele.

“Several petitions are bothering on criminality spread across various police divisions in Edo state against him but he has always evaded arrest. The numerous victims of his reign of terror are crying to the Inspector-General of Police for justice as the said suspect has boasted openly that he has some policemen in his payroll.”

 

 

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