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The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, may consider quitting her job at the organisation if no headway can be found on critical issues, trade officials at the organisation have suggested.

According to a report by Bloomberg, she began the year with a plan to score quick negotiating victories that she said would help reboot the dysfunctional Geneva-based trade body.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala WTO

The officials, who pleaded anonymity, stated that barely seven months into her four-and-a-half term, Okonjo-Iweala had grasped the frustrating reality of the WTO’s historical inertia, and was even floating the idea of resigning.

According to them, she had repeatedly told ambassadors and staff that she could easily walk away from the job and reminded them that she had not bought any furniture for her temporary home in Geneva.

An early departure of the WTO’s top trade official would add yet another layer of chaos to an organisation suffering from an existential crisis that may lead governments to conclude the WTO was not a credible forum for addressing their shared challenges.

Last year, Okonjo-Iweala’s predecessor – Roberto Azevedo – cited the lack of progress at the WTO as his primary reason for resigning from the organisation a year before his tenure was scheduled to end.

Some Geneva trade officials told Bloomberg that they suspect Okonjo-Iweala wants to run in the 2023 presidential election in her native country of Nigeria.

She has however refuted claims of running for the presidency while she didn’t comment about her threats to resign.

She described such speculation as “utterly ridiculous and not true” in a statement to Bloomberg News.

“I just got here. I am enjoying what I’m doing,” she told Bloomberg News in a television interview. “It is a very exciting job and I am trying to have some successes here,” she was quoted as saying.

Okonjo-Iweala arrived with the qualifications of a political heavyweight. With her background as a former developmental economist, a high-ranking World Bank alumnus and the former director of vaccine alliance GAVI -- she is among the most qualified people to lead the organization’s effort to address the Covid-19 vaccine crisis.

 

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A civil organization, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, has stated that some politicians are behind wanton killings of innocent citizens in the South-East to create panic among people.

The group revealed that the killing spree was to also scare away eligible voters from casting their votes in the Anambra State governorship election slated for November 6, 2021.

According to the group, the results of the election scheduled for early next month have been completed and stored by rigger politicians.

The group, also known as Intersociety, said its investigation revealed this.

These were contained in a statement signed by Emeka Umeagbalasi, Obianuju Igboeli and Chidimma Udegbunam and obtained by SaharaReporters on Thursday.

The statement read in part, "It is investigative finding and strong position of the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law that rigger-politicians have strong questions to answer with regard to the new wave and maddening rate of killing of defenseless citizens and infliction of fears, panics and apprehensions on the general citizens of Anambra State.

"These latest dastardly acts are geared towards scaring and chasing independent voters away so as to scientifically rig the November 6 Governorship Poll. As was the case in the November 2017 Governorship Election, the rigging, this time, is also perpetrated through ‘massive procurement and uploading of PVCs (as “valid votes cast”) as well as widespread vote buying on Election Day”.

"By our recent investigation, the results of the November 6 Governorship Election are already perfected and stored in secret safe custody and the more number of independent voters scared away from voting, the chances of the million tag ‘dead votes’ seeing the light of the day and the more number of independent voters who are able or willing to vote, the slim chances for the survival of the ‘dead votes’."

 

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A civil organization, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, has stated that some politicians are behind wanton killings of innocent citizens in the South-East to create panic among people.

The group revealed that the killing spree was to also scare away eligible voters from casting their votes in the Anambra State governorship election slated for November 6, 2021.

According to the group, the results of the election scheduled for early next month have been completed and stored by rigger politicians.

The group, also known as Intersociety, said its investigation revealed this.

These were contained in a statement signed by Emeka Umeagbalasi, Obianuju Igboeli and Chidimma Udegbunam and obtained by SaharaReporters on Thursday.

The statement read in part, "It is investigative finding and strong position of the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law that rigger-politicians have strong questions to answer with regard to the new wave and maddening rate of killing of defenseless citizens and infliction of fears, panics and apprehensions on the general citizens of Anambra State.

"These latest dastardly acts are geared towards scaring and chasing independent voters away so as to scientifically rig the November 6 Governorship Poll. As was the case in the November 2017 Governorship Election, the rigging, this time, is also perpetrated through ‘massive procurement and uploading of PVCs (as “valid votes cast”) as well as widespread vote buying on Election Day”.

"By our recent investigation, the results of the November 6 Governorship Election are already perfected and stored in secret safe custody and the more number of independent voters scared away from voting, the chances of the million tag ‘dead votes’ seeing the light of the day and the more number of independent voters who are able or willing to vote, the slim chances for the survival of the ‘dead votes’."

 

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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A civil organization, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, has stated that some politicians are behind wanton killings of innocent citizens in the South-East to create panic among people.

The group revealed that the killing spree was to also scare away eligible voters from casting their votes in the Anambra State governorship election slated for November 6, 2021.

According to the group, the results of the election scheduled for early next month have been completed and stored by rigger politicians.

The group, also known as Intersociety, said its investigation revealed this.

These were contained in a statement signed by Emeka Umeagbalasi, Obianuju Igboeli and Chidimma Udegbunam and obtained by SaharaReporters on Thursday.

The statement read in part, "It is investigative finding and strong position of the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law that rigger-politicians have strong questions to answer with regard to the new wave and maddening rate of killing of defenseless citizens and infliction of fears, panics and apprehensions on the general citizens of Anambra State.

"These latest dastardly acts are geared towards scaring and chasing independent voters away so as to scientifically rig the November 6 Governorship Poll. As was the case in the November 2017 Governorship Election, the rigging, this time, is also perpetrated through ‘massive procurement and uploading of PVCs (as “valid votes cast”) as well as widespread vote buying on Election Day”.

"By our recent investigation, the results of the November 6 Governorship Election are already perfected and stored in secret safe custody and the more number of independent voters scared away from voting, the chances of the million tag ‘dead votes’ seeing the light of the day and the more number of independent voters who are able or willing to vote, the slim chances for the survival of the ‘dead votes’."

 

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Families are in a desperate search for loved ones after the deadly fight in the Guayaquil jail.

Controversial Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has said bandits terrorising the country love those who show them respect and understanding.

According to People’s Gazette, Gumi said this while fielding questions from students during a lecture at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria on Wednesday.

Sheik Gumi with bandits

The cleric who has been visiting the gunmen in the forest in an attempt to negotiate a peace deal with them says his interaction with them have been easy because he always “goes through the door.”

“I go through the door, not the window. If you go through the door, you will go in and come back safely,” he said.

Gumi said if the bandits were given a listening ear, their resolve would be softened and would become more amenable to abandoning their violent ways.

When asked why the bandits had not kidnapped him despite his numerous visits to their den, Gumi said, “When we meet them, we don’t speak, we give them the microphone to speak even for one hour. When we first approached them, we saw that they were holding their warrant, ready to fire. By the time we finish our meeting, they will hand in their weapons and we will be taking pictures.

“So this is the power of human interaction which is what we are here to study as social scientists. That is the approach.”

The preacher said he had been able to gain the bandits’ sympathy because he “treats them as human beings and respects them.”

“That is the respect I give them. I say come, come and sit with me. Come and sit down. I want to hear from you. With that respect, the Fulani man, you can get him.

“So don’t be surprised, if you are nice to him, if you are ready to listen to him, if you are trying to understand his problem, if you put your legs in his own shoes, he will listen to you, you will go to the forest and return safely insha Allahu,” Gumi assured.

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The Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has stated that there is no sit-at-home on October 1 in his state, as commanded by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

IPOB had declared a sit-at-home in the South-East region for residents of 'Biafraland' to boycott the Independence Day Anniversary of Nigeria.

However, Umahi disclosed that the exercise had damaged the economic life of the region, in a way that would take years to recover.

According to the governor, it has also led to many avoidable deaths and destructions.

Umahi, who spoke on Thursday in Abakaliki, described the killings as the declaration of war on the people of the region.

The governor, in a special Independence briefing, said, “Ebonyi people have been so much deprived in the past, turned to house boys and house girls because of this sit-at-home and we are in a hurry to catch up with others.

“So, we are not going to be sitting down at home. And so, anybody that says sit-at-home, Ebonyi people will not sit at home."

Umahi called on the people of the region not to allow people outside the country to deceive them into sitting at home.

“I am calling on the entire South-East to understand this sit-at-home and those who are orchestrating this sit-at-home are our brothers outside this country who are paid per hour and so, they find it very comfortable for them to be at work and ask us to sit-at-home.

“They are working to be paid to have means of livelihood. If they truly mean it and they want to ask us to sit at home, all the South-East people outside this country should be sincere; any day they want us to sit at home, let them also sit at home and see whether they will not be repatriated because they will have nothing to maintain their livelihood. So, it is all about deceit.

“Those who are being killed here in confrontation with security agencies, they are our children, they are our sons and daughters belonging to some of us who are at home.

“So, I want us to disregard this sit-at-home. Nobody in all of the world is against peaceful agitations including agitations at home. We have agitations every day; husbands versus wives, children versus father, even house boys/house girls versus the mother of the house.

“So, there are always agitations. So, agitation is natural, its fundamental but there is nobody who carries gun and wants to kill another person in the name of anything is justifiable.

“So, this is my own opinion about the sit-at-home. All flags must be flying very high tomorrow, in fact, it should fly higher tomorrow and we believe in one, equitable fair Nigeria and we will fare better in united Nigeria where there is justice, equity and love.”

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The Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has stated that there is no sit-at-home on October 1 in his state, as commanded by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

IPOB had declared a sit-at-home in the South-East region for residents of 'Biafraland' to boycott the Independence Day Anniversary of Nigeria.

However, Umahi disclosed that the exercise had damaged the economic life of the region, in a way that would take years to recover.

According to the governor, it has also led to many avoidable deaths and destructions.

Umahi, who spoke on Thursday in Abakaliki, described the killings as the declaration of war on the people of the region.

The governor, in a special Independence briefing, said, “Ebonyi people have been so much deprived in the past, turned to house boys and house girls because of this sit-at-home and we are in a hurry to catch up with others.

“So, we are not going to be sitting down at home. And so, anybody that says sit-at-home, Ebonyi people will not sit at home."

Umahi called on the people of the region not to allow people outside the country to deceive them into sitting at home.

“I am calling on the entire South-East to understand this sit-at-home and those who are orchestrating this sit-at-home are our brothers outside this country who are paid per hour and so, they find it very comfortable for them to be at work and ask us to sit-at-home.

“They are working to be paid to have means of livelihood. If they truly mean it and they want to ask us to sit at home, all the South-East people outside this country should be sincere; any day they want us to sit at home, let them also sit at home and see whether they will not be repatriated because they will have nothing to maintain their livelihood. So, it is all about deceit.

“Those who are being killed here in confrontation with security agencies, they are our children, they are our sons and daughters belonging to some of us who are at home.

“So, I want us to disregard this sit-at-home. Nobody in all of the world is against peaceful agitations including agitations at home. We have agitations every day; husbands versus wives, children versus father, even house boys/house girls versus the mother of the house.

“So, there are always agitations. So, agitation is natural, its fundamental but there is nobody who carries gun and wants to kill another person in the name of anything is justifiable.

“So, this is my own opinion about the sit-at-home. All flags must be flying very high tomorrow, in fact, it should fly higher tomorrow and we believe in one, equitable fair Nigeria and we will fare better in united Nigeria where there is justice, equity and love.”

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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The Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has stated that there is no sit-at-home on October 1 in his state, as commanded by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

IPOB had declared a sit-at-home in the South-East region for residents of 'Biafraland' to boycott the Independence Day Anniversary of Nigeria.

However, Umahi disclosed that the exercise had damaged the economic life of the region, in a way that would take years to recover.

According to the governor, it has also led to many avoidable deaths and destructions.

Umahi, who spoke on Thursday in Abakaliki, described the killings as the declaration of war on the people of the region.

The governor, in a special Independence briefing, said, “Ebonyi people have been so much deprived in the past, turned to house boys and house girls because of this sit-at-home and we are in a hurry to catch up with others.

“So, we are not going to be sitting down at home. And so, anybody that says sit-at-home, Ebonyi people will not sit at home."

Umahi called on the people of the region not to allow people outside the country to deceive them into sitting at home.

“I am calling on the entire South-East to understand this sit-at-home and those who are orchestrating this sit-at-home are our brothers outside this country who are paid per hour and so, they find it very comfortable for them to be at work and ask us to sit-at-home.

“They are working to be paid to have means of livelihood. If they truly mean it and they want to ask us to sit at home, all the South-East people outside this country should be sincere; any day they want us to sit at home, let them also sit at home and see whether they will not be repatriated because they will have nothing to maintain their livelihood. So, it is all about deceit.

“Those who are being killed here in confrontation with security agencies, they are our children, they are our sons and daughters belonging to some of us who are at home.

“So, I want us to disregard this sit-at-home. Nobody in all of the world is against peaceful agitations including agitations at home. We have agitations every day; husbands versus wives, children versus father, even house boys/house girls versus the mother of the house.

“So, there are always agitations. So, agitation is natural, its fundamental but there is nobody who carries gun and wants to kill another person in the name of anything is justifiable.

“So, this is my own opinion about the sit-at-home. All flags must be flying very high tomorrow, in fact, it should fly higher tomorrow and we believe in one, equitable fair Nigeria and we will fare better in united Nigeria where there is justice, equity and love.”

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The Nigerian military authorities have justified the killing of 20 fishermen in Borno State.

A Nigerian Air Force fighter jet had on Sunday bombed Kwatar Daban Masara in Lake Chad, which straddles Nigeria and neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon, killing the fishermen.

File photo used to illustrate story.

Bernard Onyeuko, the acting Director of Defence Media Operations, in a statement obtained by SaharaReporters on Thursday, said those killed were terrorists as the location was a well-known Islamic State West African Province enclave and there was an existing ban on fishing activities within the area.

See Also Military Nigerian Air Force Jet Mistakenly Bombs Civilians In Another North-East Community 0 Comments 2 Days Ago

He added that all necessary steps were taken by the military to ensure that the presence of the terrorists was ascertained and the strike was precise and professionally executed.

The statement reads, “For the records, it is pertinent to state that the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI on 26 September 2021, acting on credible actionable intelligence on the activities of terrorists in an identified ISWAP Camp at the said location, conducted air strikes on the target. This was after careful Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance missions revealed the activities of ISWAP elements in the location. Consequently, the intelligence gathered was processed and carefully analyzed between the period of 19 August and 23 September 2021. Persons wearing combat vests and uniforms identified as ISWAP-styled uniforms were seen within the camp.

“Furthermore, neither women nor children were noticed in or around the camp, just as no fishing activities were seen. Instead, canoes loaded with unidentified items were seen parked but not engaged in any fishing activity, an indication that they were to be ferried to another location. Having carefully ascertained that nearby civilian settlements were not in the line of fire and a precision strike would disrupt ISWAP logistics movement and neutralize them; a decision was made to conduct a strike on the ISWAP camp. Although casualty figures could not be ascertained, the strike was verified to be successful in disrupting ISWAP logistics movement and foot soldiers.

“It is important to state that the location is a well-known ISWAP enclave and there is an existing ban on fishing activities within the area. Additionally, the general area is known as a gateway for movement of logistics by ISWAP elements especially from Kirta and Wulgo locations. Therefore, the Nigerian Military wishes to state categorically that necessary steps were taken to ensure that the presence of the terrorists was ascertained and the strike was precise and professionally executed.

“The Military High Command will continue to ensure that its troops safe guard lives and properties of innocent citizens. It appreciates the general public for their continuous support and further encourages all to avail the military with credible and timely information that will facilitate our proactive engagements in the fight against terrorism.”

 

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The Nigerian military authorities have justified the killing of 20 fishermen in Borno State.

A Nigerian Air Force fighter jet had on Sunday bombed Kwatar Daban Masara in Lake Chad, which straddles Nigeria and neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon, killing the fishermen.

File photo used to illustrate story.

Bernard Onyeuko, the acting Director of Defence Media Operations, in a statement obtained by SaharaReporters on Thursday, said those killed were terrorists as the location was a well-known Islamic State West African Province enclave and there was an existing ban on fishing activities within the area.

See Also Military Nigerian Air Force Jet Mistakenly Bombs Civilians In Another North-East Community 0 Comments 2 Days Ago

He added that all necessary steps were taken by the military to ensure that the presence of the terrorists was ascertained and the strike was precise and professionally executed.

The statement reads, “For the records, it is pertinent to state that the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI on 26 September 2021, acting on credible actionable intelligence on the activities of terrorists in an identified ISWAP Camp at the said location, conducted air strikes on the target. This was after careful Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance missions revealed the activities of ISWAP elements in the location. Consequently, the intelligence gathered was processed and carefully analyzed between the period of 19 August and 23 September 2021. Persons wearing combat vests and uniforms identified as ISWAP-styled uniforms were seen within the camp.

“Furthermore, neither women nor children were noticed in or around the camp, just as no fishing activities were seen. Instead, canoes loaded with unidentified items were seen parked but not engaged in any fishing activity, an indication that they were to be ferried to another location. Having carefully ascertained that nearby civilian settlements were not in the line of fire and a precision strike would disrupt ISWAP logistics movement and neutralize them; a decision was made to conduct a strike on the ISWAP camp. Although casualty figures could not be ascertained, the strike was verified to be successful in disrupting ISWAP logistics movement and foot soldiers.

“It is important to state that the location is a well-known ISWAP enclave and there is an existing ban on fishing activities within the area. Additionally, the general area is known as a gateway for movement of logistics by ISWAP elements especially from Kirta and Wulgo locations. Therefore, the Nigerian Military wishes to state categorically that necessary steps were taken to ensure that the presence of the terrorists was ascertained and the strike was precise and professionally executed.

“The Military High Command will continue to ensure that its troops safe guard lives and properties of innocent citizens. It appreciates the general public for their continuous support and further encourages all to avail the military with credible and timely information that will facilitate our proactive engagements in the fight against terrorism.”

 

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A series of spending packages have put the White House and the Democrats in crisis mode this week.

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Organisers say the world fair will be the largest global gathering since the start of the pandemic.

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Piles of rubbish are one of the problems facing Rome as its residents vote for a new mayor this weekend

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Jew Uriya Rosenman and Arab Sameh Zakout expose hidden prejudices on both sides in their hit song.

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Randall Goosby is a rising star of classical music, who performed at the 9/11 memorial ceremony.

The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, says it is unfortunate that the federation of Nigeria is still built on falsehood 61 years after independence.

He made his position known in a statement titled, ‘At 61, Nigeria’s federation built on falsehood – Gani Adams’, signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi.

Gani Adams

The Yoruba generalissimo noted that the country had the potential to be great again if the regions were given the autonomy to develop at their own pace.

According to him, regionalism would allow the states to build their security architectures and their respective economies stressing that this would enhance true federalism.

The statement partly read, “Many would, no doubt, describe Nigeria as the giant of Africa, but the irony of our present situation in the country is that at 61, Nigeria’s federation was built on falsehood, and that has affected the entire system.

“For instance, the spate of insecurity has reached an alarming state with bandits’ killing and maiming Nigerians every day.

“The senseless killings, banditry and kidnappings across the land have been a major challenge for the present administration, and we cannot but call for Nigeria to be restructured along regionalism where all the six states in the South-West will control their fortunes and have their destinies in their own hands. Insecurity can only be tackled when each region has the autonomy to control their security architectures.

“The beauty of this is that each of the regions under this federation is blessed naturally with innate natural resources, solid minerals and agriculture can also do the magic for the less-productive region.”

 

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Gunmen have invaded and killed policemen and civilians again in Anambra State, 48 hours after the assassination of Dr Chike Akunyili, the widower of the late Minister of Information, Prof Dora Akunyili, and others.

According to Daily Post, the gunmen stormed Ajalli Police Station in multiple vehicles on Thursday afternoon and opened fire.

SaharaReporters Media

Ajalli is the headquarters of Orumba North Local Government Area.

The police building was engulfed in fire with some people reportedly trapped inside.

Residents were observed trying to break them free with different items and tools.

The body of one of the officers was seen on the floor ad there was a bullet hole at the back of his head, which is an indication that he was killed in an execution-style.

Anambra is witnessing repeated attacks just over one month before the November governorship election.

 

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Gunmen have invaded and killed policemen and civilians again in Anambra State, 48 hours after the assassination of Dr Chike Akunyili, the widower of the late Minister of Information, Prof Dora Akunyili, and others.

According to Daily Post, the gunmen stormed Ajalli Police Station in multiple vehicles on Thursday afternoon and opened fire.

SaharaReporters Media

Ajalli is the headquarters of Orumba North Local Government Area.

The police building was engulfed in fire with some people reportedly trapped inside.

Residents were observed trying to break them free with different items and tools.

The body of one of the officers was seen on the floor ad there was a bullet hole at the back of his head, which is an indication that he was killed in an execution-style.

Anambra is witnessing repeated attacks just over one month before the November governorship election.

 

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The governorship candidate for the Labour Party in Anambra State, Obiora Agbasimelo, has been missing for up to two days.

His disappearance is said to be fuelling a lot of speculations among party supporters in the state.

The emergence of Agbasimelo as LP governorship candidate in the November 6 governorship election in Anambra was greeted with a crisis in the party, Tribune reports.

The crisis threw up a faction in the party while one of the leading aspirants at the beginning of the governorship race, Nnamdi Nnoruka, was allegedly kidnapped by unknown persons and forced to withdraw from the contest.

The state police spokesperson, Ikenga Tochukwu, said he was yet to be briefed on the incident.

In the past few days, those vying for positions in political offices in the state have come under attack by unknown persons.

On Monday, at least two persons died after gunmen launched an attack on members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) during the parties' rallies in different locations of the State.

According to reports, the gunmen also left several other persons injured and set ablaze a car belonging to a leader of Professor Chukwuma Soludo group.

Soludo is a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

While the attack on the APC members took place during the party’s rally at Uruagu, Nnewi, the attack on the leader of one of Soludo Support Groups, Nelson Omenugha took place at Nnobi in the Idemili South local government area of the state.

One APC member, whose identity could not be immediately ascertained was killed in the attack with scores wounded, while the attack on the APGA chieftain took place in his hometown, Nnobi.

 

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The governorship candidate for the Labour Party in Anambra State, Obiora Agbasimelo, has been missing for up to two days.

His disappearance is said to be fuelling a lot of speculations among party supporters in the state.

The emergence of Agbasimelo as LP governorship candidate in the November 6 governorship election in Anambra was greeted with a crisis in the party, Tribune reports.

The crisis threw up a faction in the party while one of the leading aspirants at the beginning of the governorship race, Nnamdi Nnoruka, was allegedly kidnapped by unknown persons and forced to withdraw from the contest.

The state police spokesperson, Ikenga Tochukwu, said he was yet to be briefed on the incident.

In the past few days, those vying for positions in political offices in the state have come under attack by unknown persons.

On Monday, at least two persons died after gunmen launched an attack on members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) during the parties' rallies in different locations of the State.

According to reports, the gunmen also left several other persons injured and set ablaze a car belonging to a leader of Professor Chukwuma Soludo group.

Soludo is a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

While the attack on the APC members took place during the party’s rally at Uruagu, Nnewi, the attack on the leader of one of Soludo Support Groups, Nelson Omenugha took place at Nnobi in the Idemili South local government area of the state.

One APC member, whose identity could not be immediately ascertained was killed in the attack with scores wounded, while the attack on the APGA chieftain took place in his hometown, Nnobi.

 

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In two separate operations in the western suburbs of Mumbai, the Indian Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officials have arrested two persons, including a Nigerian national. 

 

They were arrested for allegedly peddling brown sugar and Mephedrone (MD), Free Press Journal reports. 

File photo used to illustrate story. Google

The agency seized 102 grammes of brown sugar, 64 grammes of MD and intermediate quantity of cocaine from the accused persons.

 

Speaking about the operations, Zonal Director of Mumbai NCB, Sameer Wankhede said, “On the basis of reliable information, a team of NCB mounted surveillance near a building in Bandra West on Tuesday and intercepted one Kadar Majid Shaikh and seized 102 grammes of brown sugar (Heroin) from his house. A case has been registered against Shaikh by the NCB.”

 

In another operation, on receipt of reliable information, a team of NCB Mumbai kept vigil near a mall at New Link Road, Oshiwara in Andheri West on Wednesday and intercepted a Nigerian national Eze John and seized 64 grammes of Mephedrone (commercial quantity) and intermediate quantity of cocaine from his possession, NCB officials claimed.

 

“John had tried to flee but our team chased him for half a kilometre and managed to apprehend him. It has been observed that those foreigners who are into peddling of drugs, live in high profile areas of Mumbai such as Bandra and Andheri and from these places they would easily reach their high profile clients to supply drugs,” Wankhede said.

 

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A Nigerian physician and consultant, Dr. Adeyelu Olusola has dragged the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) before a Federal High Court in Abuja over the alleged imposition of unjustifiable charges on medical practitioners.

He is also seeking an order of the court to declare the NMA membership as voluntary and that he has the right to resign his membership from the association and still practise as a medical doctor.

In a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1094/2020 filed on his behalf by his lawyer, Tope Temokun before Justice Donatus Okorowo, the doctor sued NMA and MDCN as 1st and 2nd defendants respectively.

But the matter which was scheduled for hearing on Wednesday could not hold when the presiding judge, Justice Okorowo announced the adjournment of pending cases after he returned from a short break.

Olusola had on April 24, 2019, resigned his membership from the NMA following the "outrageous charges and fees" the association imposed on him and other members, which are collected by MDCN, the regulatory body.

In an affidavit in support of the suit, Adeyelu said he did not at any point in the course of his practice as a doctor indicate interest in becoming a member of NMA.

The suit read, “Upon my induction into the medical profession in 2005 and the taking of the Hippocratic Oath, I met it as the practice that although the 2nd defendant is a voluntary association, it has been operating in a manner that portrays it as a mandatory association for medical practitioners in Nigeria.

“It is commonplace that every medical practitioner should be conscripted through the payment of an annual practising fee to the 1st defendant, which money is legislated to be subject to sharing formula of 30 to 70 per cent between the 1st defendant and the 2nd defendant."

He, therefore, sought the court’s determination on the following questions: “What is the true meaning, the true purport and the true intendment of the provision of Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended)?

“Whether based on the facts and circumstances of this case, the provisions of Section 14(4) of the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act Cap M8, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004, by practical application and/or implication, do not rob the plaintiff of his right to freedom of association."

Adeyelu, therefore, sought “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the 2nd defendant henceforth from further imposing on the plaintiff its membership and/or its membership obligations and/or its subscription and/or its building levies or other levies, either directly or through the 1st defendant.

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st defendant from further subjecting the plaintiff to the 2nd defendant’s membership and/or mandatory payment of the 2nd defendant’s association subscription and/or the 2nd defendant’s building levies or other levies before recognising or according to the plaintiff his rights and privileges as a medical practitioner in Nigeria."

Other reliefs sought include: an Order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st defendant from further remitting to the 2nd defendant 70% of the plaintiff’s mandatory annual practising fees having ceased to be a member of the 2nd defendant.

“An order of mandatory injunction directing and/or mandating the 1st defendant to henceforth, within one month of the payment of the plaintiff’s annual practising fees, remit 70 per cent of the plaintiff’s mandatory annual practising fees to the plaintiff having ceased to be a member of the 2nd defendant.”

Justice Okorowo adjourned the matter to November 10, 2021, for hearing.

 

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The Nigerian Communications Commission has urged telecoms consumers to link their National Identification Numbers (NINs) with their Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs) before the expiration of the deadline on October 31, 2021. 

It warned that the deadline would not be changed. 

The agency also noted that people who do not have NINs will soon be unable to access necessary services like acquiring driving licences and passports. 

The NCC disclosed this in a statement titled ‘NIN-SIM Integration: NCC sensitises telecom consumers on October 31 Deadline’, which was signed by Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, its Director of Public Affairs, on Wednesday.

The statement read, “NCC has reminded and urged telecoms consumers to link their NINs with their SIMs before the expiration of the deadline of October 31, 2021 set by the Federal Government.

“Speaking during the live programme, Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, advised Nigerians to make use of the extension of the NIN-SIM integration exercise to October 31, 2021, to enrol with NIMC, get their NINs and link them to their SIMs.

“Soon, people without NIN will be denied of necessary services that play vital roles in their lives including acquisition of driving licence, passport.”

The NCC argued that the NIN-SIM integration exercise will improve national security as "NIN is the primary identity for Nigerians, stressing that in line with Federal Government’s commitment to ensure that Nigeria deploys technology to improve service delivery, the NIN-SIM database will enhance citizens’ access to government services". 

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Oyo State government has sought to join in the suit instituted by the Rivers State government seeking to take over the collection of Value-Added Tax from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

The suit is against the Attorney-General of Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

The Muhammadu Buhari-led government has been locked in a legal battle with Rivers and Lagos states over which government should collect Value-Added Tax- state or federal.

Instituted by the Attorney-General of Oyo State, Professor Oyelowo Oyewo, the suit is seeking an order of the Appellate Court to enable the state join the suit as an interested party, Tribune reports.

In the suit, Oyo State government is seeking two orders, which are an order of the court joining the Attorney-General of Oyo State as a respondent on the appeal with suit number FHC/PH/CS/149/2020 and appeal number CA/PH/282/2021, and any other order the court may deem fit.

Oyewo said the state government was not aware of the suit between his Rivers State counterpart and the FIRS at the Federal High Court until the judgment was delivered.

Other grounds upon which the application was based include that the decision of the Appeal Court will affect the collection of VAT by the government of Oyo State, being one of the states which the judgment of the lower court recognised as entitled to collect VAT within its territorial jurisdiction.

The state government also indicates that the applicant (Attorney-General of Oyo State) “represents the interest of Oyo State government, whose interest in the collection of Value Added Tax within Oyo State will be impacted one way or another by any judgment delivered by this Court in this Appeal”.

The grounds claimed by the state government state among others that: “The applicant is a necessary party to this suit being a party who will be bound by the judgment of this court in this appeal.

“The interests of the applicant and that of the respondent, in this case, are similar, being states within the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

An affidavit filed in support of the motion stated that it is in the interest of justice that the court grants the application, adding that the joinder would not prejudice the appellants/respondents.

It also stated that Oyo, being one of the 36 states in the country, will be affected by the decision of the Appeal Court, adding that joining the state to the suit already instituted by Rivers State will help to avoid multiplicity of suits by the states against the Nigerian government.

In a motion on notice also attached to the proceedings already filed before the court, Oyo State said it relied on eight grounds and declared that the state is a necessary party to be joined since it has sufficient interest in the outcome of the appeal.

“We, therefore, urge the court to resolve the sole issue raised in this application in favour of the applicant and hold that the Applicant is a proper, desirable and necessary party to be joined in this appeal…

“In conclusion, we humbly urge your Lordships to grant this application in the interest of justice and effective determination of the issues before the court,” it said.

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