IYANDA'SBLOG

The Nigerian Human Rights Community, (NHRC), a coalition of several civil rights groups across the country, says sleaze promoters within and outside the Nigerian government circle are desperate to cover up the dirty tracks associated with the OPL 245 saga, popularly referred to as the Malabu oil scandal.

The Malabu scandal involved the transfer of about $1.1 billion by Shell and ENI through the Nigerian government to accounts controlled by a former Nigerian Petroleum Minister, Dan Etete.

From accounts controlled by Etete, about half the money ($520 million) went to accounts of companies controlled by Aliyu Abubakar, popularly known in Nigeria as a businessman and the owner of AA Oil.

Anti-corruption investigators and activists suspect he fronted for top officials of the Goodluck Jonathan administration as well as officials of Shell and ENI.

The transaction was authorised in 2011 by ex-president Jonathan through some of his cabinet ministers and the money was payment for OPL 245, one of Nigeria’s richest oil blocks.

The oil resources of the OPL 245 license have remained undeveloped since the controversies began.

In a statement obtained by SaharaReporters, NHRC said associates of crooks linked to the scam are networking to employ dirty tricks to blackmail the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) to stop the global campaign against one of the world's greatest crimes. See Also Scandal How Buhari's Attorney General, Malami Conspired With Adoke Against Nigeria’s Interest In Over $1billion Malabu Oil Scam 0 Comments 2 Days Ago

"The twist of fate in the OPL 245 is an embarrassment to the international community. Former Minister of Petroleum Resources is being defended by former Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke. This is curious. In the course of the defence, the former government officials appear to be desperate to employ state institutions to scuttle the horrendous crime associated with OPL 245 which is in billions of dollars of public funds stolen by top Nigerian officials in collaboration with international rogue cartels," the statement signed by Taiwo Adekunle, on behalf of the NHRC, said.

The group said HEDA and its officials including the Chairman, Mr Olanrewaju Suraju have made significant efforts in exposing corruption in the OPL 245, adding that no amount of blackmail and shameful propaganda will erase the footprints of the anti-corruption group in exposing graft in high places.

NHRC praises HEDA for its consistency and sacrifices for millions of Nigerians who are deeply impressed by the group's milestones in the anti-corruption advocacy.

It said HEDA has already fulfilled historical obligations by exposing the irresponsible episode of graft that characterise the oil sector in Nigeria. See Also News DOCUMENT: Adoke Scandal: Italian Prosecutor Confirms Ex-Attorney General Sent Email Requesting To Transfer $1billion From Nigerian Government’s Account 0 Comments 1 Week Ago

"The Nigerian Human Rights Community, (NHRC) is solidly behind HEDA and its Chairman, Mr Suraju. What we are witnessing is a campaign of calumny being waged hands-in-gloves with some media practitioners with the sole aim of shifting public attention from the crux of the matter which is the stealing of billions of dollars associated with the OPL license. They have left the substance to chase shadows,” the coalition said.

The group said it makes little sense for Adoke to be talking of a forged email when the controversial email was never denied by the crooks associated with it during the trial in Milan, Italy. 

It added that the criminals linked to the crime are exploiting Nigeria's weak judiciary and democratic structures to turn the complainant to the accused. See Also News ANALYSIS: Revelations On Forged Electronic Mail Allegations Against Civic Society, HEDA By Embattled Ex-Attorney General, Adoke 0 Comments 2 Weeks Ago

"It's like a man caught stealing goats in a community who comes up with the defence that his name was not spelt correctly or that his prosecutors should establish the route through which he came to the village to steal the goats even when the stolen goats were found in his homestead, insisting that on that basis the whistle-blower should be jailed," the NHRC said.

The group urged the police and a section of the media being mobilised for the campaign to realise their action is akin to fuelling corruption, which is tantamount to watering the breeding ground for violence and instability in the country.

Scandal News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/311sOfy

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
The actor who played Captain Kirk in the classic TV show is due to launch above Earth for real within hours.

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
Mexico City's mayor made the announcement on the anniversary of Columbus' discovery of the Americas.

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
Bloomberg reported that Apple could produce up to 10 million fewer iPhones due to the chip shortage.

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
The island nation has a strict military conscription programme, putting pacifists in a difficult situation.

Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, and the Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi has justified the need for the creation of the Western Nigeria Security Network, Amotekun.

 

The governor while speaking in Ibadan, Oyo State noted that there was the need for a security system that is localised and knowledgeable about the culture and security situation of a particular community.

  Governor Fayemi

He spoke on the theme: “Security and National Unity in Difficult Times,” stressing that the challenge of insecurity in Nigeria has become frightening.

 

Fayemi said the Nigerian government must be prepared to declare bandits, terrorists and kidnappers as criminals regardless of their geographical location.

 

According to him, it has become imperative to amend the constitution to empower the various security initiatives to be able to respond to the current challenges in the country.

 

He said: “The challenge of insecurity in Nigeria is frightening and is getting all of us concerned. At the dawn of the current democratic dispensation in 1999, the major concern of security experts was the staccato of ethnic and religious violence that was common then, that was before the dawn of the Niger-Delta militancy which took almost a decade.

 

“A new phenomenon in insecurity however waded in with the violent campaign of Boko Haram activities in many parts of the North.

 

“Added to this is Nigeria’s extensive and porous borders covering over 4,000 kilometres littered with illegal entry points and routes totalling 1,500 points.

 

“With the porous borders, criminal gangs and terrorist insurgents could easily stroll in with smuggled weapons into the country which in turn are sold to sea pirates, cultists, armed robbers, kidnappers, bandits and other purveyors of violence in the Nigerian state.

 

“In fact, the creation of Amotekun can only be a precursor to this. We need a security system that is localised, knowledgeable about the culture and security situation of a particular community.

 

“But we need to amend the constitution to empower the various security initiatives to be able to respond to the current challenges.

 

“For example, despite not possessing Ak-47 which the bandits possess, Amotekun operatives have been courageous to confront them in the forest and have successfully rescued victims of kidnapping and arrested the criminals in some instances.

 

“Yet, these people are at best, volunteer corps with encouragement stipend paid to them. They don’t earn as much as the conventional police, yet they are better motivated to throw themselves to the protection of the community where they have their wives, children and families.”

 

He further advocated the need for unity in the country. 

 

He said, “They are unsparing and are callous. They have no sympathy for religion, ethnicity or authority and are undiscriminating in the pursuit of their satanic enterprise. We must not be ashamed to call for assistance from wherever we can get it in terms of technology, equipment and personnel. 

 

“In addition, there are two things that we need to address quickly to bring the current wave of insecurity to a halt. We need to have a conversation on how we can recruit a large number of people to join the police and the military even on a short service or otherwise.

 

“By available statistics, we need a minimum of 200,000 personnel to boost the fighting power of our men. This number is very large and a potential financial and logistic nightmare, yet we cannot delay any further. The ungoverned spaces need to be closed up quickly by motivated men with the singular objective to save the nation."

 

In his address, the co-chairman of the event, former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, opined that the Nigerian government should decentralise security apparatus, saying it is in the hands of one ethnic nationality in Nigeria. 

 

He noted that the barrage of bad news in newspapers in recent times can be quite depressing. 

 

He said, “Every morning when I have to open the pages of newspapers or read through posts on the social media, my heart cut at the extent of violence being unleashed on citizens of Nigeria.  

 

“There are stories of killings, kidnapping, banditry, cattle rustling and herders’/farmers brouhaha from the North East, North West and North Central part of the country, the same way we are bombarded with stories of violence, armed robbery, kidnapping and herdsmen infractions from the South West, South-East and South-South. It's just like, everywhere you go, there is violence and killings.

 

“Besides, there have been growing agitations for self-determination from the South-East and South-West in recent years. In recent days, the news media was awash with stories credited to the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), where he threatened that the Federal Government would declare a state of emergency in Anambra State, in view of the wanton killings taking place there.

 

“Well, my party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has promptly reacted and told the Federal Government to back off such thoughts. In the same vein, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Afenifere, PANDEF and other nationality groups have spoken.

 

“Rather than adopting the knee-jerk approach in tackling the myriads of security problems facing the country currently, the government at the centre needs to look deep down and design solutions.”

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

An High Court sitting in Minna, Niger State has sacked Alhaji Mohammed Barau Kontagora as the 7th Emir (Sarkin Sudan) of Kontagora Emirate 

 

The order followed the hearing of on ex parte motion brought before the court by 15 contestants for the throne.

File photo used to illustrate story.

The sacked emir, Mohammed Barau Kontagora; the Attorney General of Niger State; and the Commissioner for Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, were the defendants in the motion. 

 

The first defendant, Mohammed Barau Kontagora was restrained by Justice Abdullahi Mikailu from parading himself as the 7th Emir “pending the hearing and determination of the plaintiff/applicants’ Motion on notice dated and filed on 11/10/2021.”

 

“An order of interim injunction is hereby made and issued retraining all the defendants/respondents, their agents, privies and/or any other person by whatever name called acting on the authorities or persons claiming and/or parading or presenting or installing the 1st defendant by presenting a staff of office as the 7th Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora pending the hearing and determination of the plaintiffs/applicants’ motion on notice dated and filed on 11/10/2022,” the court ruled.

 

The counsel for the plaintiffs, W. Y. Mamman Esq, had urged the court to restrain Barau from parading himself as the 7th Emir.

 

The case has been adjourned till October 20, 2022.

 

Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello of Niger had appointed Alhaji Mohammed Barau Kontagora as the 7th Emir of Kontagora.

 

Mr Emmanuel Umar, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, announced this during a press conference at the Government House in Minna.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the appointment followed the demise of 84-year-old Sa’idu Namaska in September.

 

Umar explained that the selection of the 7th Emir (Sarkin Sudan) of Kontagora was held on September 19, 2021, in Kontagora.

 

He said selection was done by the kingmakers of the Kontagora Emirate in line with the Customary Laws and Practice of the Kontagora Emirate.

 

The commissioner said after the selection, aggrieved contestants petitioned the governor, alleging some irregularities in the selection process.

 

He said in response to the petition, the governor, acting on section 3(2) and 7 of the Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law of Niger State 1989 (as revised), held meetings with the kingmakers and also consulted the State Council of Chiefs.

 

Umar explained that the kingmakers, during their interaction with the governor, affirmed that the selection followed the Customary Law of Kontagora Emirate and their decision was based on their own conviction without any undue influence.

 

He noted that the governor, thereafter acted under section 3 subsection (1) of the Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law Chapter 19, Law of Niger State 1989 (as revised) and all other powers conferred on him and appointed Mohammed Barau Kontagora as the 7th Emir of Kontagora.

Legal Breaking News News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/3640nlo

Unknown gunmen, on Tuesday, attacked the venue of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State. 

 

The gunmen, who stormed Odoata Primary School on various motorcycles and in three vehicles, were however overpowered by security personnel.

A combined team of policemen and soldiers repelled the attack.

 

A source explained that the gunmen were unable to withstand the superior firepower of the soldiers and police officers and quickly ran into the premises of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital which is directly opposite the campaign ground.

 

He said, “They arrived on various motorcycles and in three vehicles, namely, a Toyota Lexus 350 ES with registration number EKY 765 EX, Toyota RAV4 with number JJJ 434FP and a Ford van which caught fire during the exchange of bullets between the gun men and security forces.

 

“The gunmen suffered serious injuries, even though they managed to shoot a gallant soldier.

 

“If the gunmen had not run into the hospital which is a very delicate place to shoot any person, the security men would have gunned all of them down.”

 

Security forces, which recovered all three vehicles and motorcycles used by the gunmen, were searching the area by the time this report was filed.

 

The Anambra State Police Command has requested the people in the area to help look out for people with gunshots and report them.

 

It has also asked hospitals and other health facilities in both Ihiala Local Government Area and neighbouring communities in Imo State to report patients with gunshot wounds to security agencies. 

 

Meanwhile, Governor Willie Obiano has commended police officers and soldiers who repelled the attack for their gallantry.

 

Speaking to journalists at Atani in Ogbaru Local Government Area, Obiano described the response of the security men as professional and patriotic.

 

In the same vein, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, the APGA candidate for the November 6 governorship election, lauded the security forces for bravery.

 

“These security men and women in Aambra State lay down their lives for us and they do their best because of the encouragement they receive from the security-conscious state government, among other factors.

 

“We expect more professional exhibition as days go by and the election date approaches,” Soludo said.

 

The APGA candidate expressed sympathy for innocent victims of the attack, pleading with every aggrieved person “to lay down his or her weapon and opt for dialogue to resolve all differences in the interest of our people”.

 

The security forces were said to have recovered one Ak-47 rifle, two magazines with 30 rounds of ammunition and a Toyota Hilux vehicle.

 

Normalcy has since returned to the area.

Insurgency Breaking News News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/3iNYqRR

A group, Coalition and Council of Ulama and Islamic Organisations in Kano State has distanced itself from the removal of the Chairman of Kano State Council of Ulamas (scholars), Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil.

The coalition on Tuesday in a statement signed by its Secretary, Dr Sa’idu Ahmad Dukawa and other notable clerics including Professor Musa Muhammad Borodo, Professor Mohammad Babangida Mohammad, Sheik Kariballah Sheikh Nasiru Kabara, Sheikh Abdulwahab Abdallah, and Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar, denied any involvement in the removal of Khalil from office. 

SaharaReporters had earlier reported that the chairman and leader of the Kano State Council of Ulama, Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil was impeached by the Kano Ulama (Islamic clerics).

The clerics alleged that Sheikh turned the council into a political platform, by engaging in face-off with every government that comes into power including the administration of the current Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje.

The announcement was made on Monday, when they expressed their dissatisfaction with the chairman's action while addressing journalists in Kano.

A coalition of the various Muslim sects that included Izala, Tijjaniyya and Kadiriyya, led by Ustaz Saifullah Assudani, noted that the chairman of the State Council of Ulama was impeached for being political in running the affairs of the council.

Professor Saleh Pakistan, who is also the chairman of Kano Pilgrims Welfare Commission, was appointed as the new chairman of the council. See Also Islam Crisis Rocks Kano Islamic Council As Leader Is Impeached For Attacking Governor Ganduje 0 Comments 8 Hours Ago

The coalition noted that Khalil was accused of “turning the council into a political platform by engaging in face-off with every government that comes into power that included former governors Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, Rabiu Kwankwaso and of recent, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje.

“His reasons in all the cases were that they disallowed him to contest political offices in his position as a cleric; a situation that has led to the council not benefiting from the government and the government not benefitting from the elderly advice of the council.

“Lack of fairness to all the religious groups in the state who do not have any stake in the council, that include Tijjaniyya, Qadiriyya, Izala and other clerics from religious sects not mentioned here.

“Members are complaining of being kept in the dark about happenings in the council.”

However, an Islamic cleric from the Tijjaniyya sect in the Kiru Local Government Area, Sheikh Sulaiman Bello Kiru, condemned the removal of the Council’s leader, saying it has political undertones.

“We are not part of this decision and it looks more political. We were only called upon to come and attend the press conference from where we heard the announcement that Sheikh Khalil has been impeached.

“We were not consulted and are not aware of anything. The body has no constitution, no tenure for the leadership and is being politicised,” he added.

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

Zambian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Sọlọmọn Samuel Jere says his country is willing to partner with the Nigerian government in tackling insecurity ravaging different parts of the country.

According to the High Commissioner, it is high time the Zambian government repaid the good gesture displayed by the Nigerian government in liberating South Africa from apartheid.

He stated this in Abuja ahead of an international peace concert organised by the Asokoro Seventh-day Adventist Church.

According to him, a renowned gospel music group from Zambia, The Jasper Sea, along with their Nigerian colleagues will perform at the event. 

Jere said, “If you remember at the time of fighting for the liberation of South Africa, Nigeria joined the southern African countries and they became one of the five front line states in enhancing a peaceful coexistence in South Africa.

“It is for this reason that the 7th day Adventist church has come up with a brilliant method of enhancing peace and to this effect, Zambia would want to identify ourselves with the Adventist church. Because our brothers and sisters in Nigeria are grappling with insecurity.

“Zambia cannot stand idle and watch our brothers and sisters in Nigeria being faced with acts of terrorism. You must be aware that the Zambian government has a new leader. This government has come up with a new approach. As small as Zambian is, we have a beautiful training programme.

“As I am talking to you now, we have different countries starting from India and different parts of Africa that are in Zambia, training to perfect our acts of fighting terrorism and insurgency.

“On the basis of that, Zambia stands ready to partner with Nigeria and fight crimes. There are areas of comparative advantage like areas fighting fraud, investigating it that Nigeria is strong. Zambia also has an area of advantage that Nigeria will be interested in and it is in that area that Zambia wants to join Nigeria through the peace convert.”

 

Insecurity News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/3p0pj8f

Nigeria's Anti-graft Agency, EFCC Arraigns Ex-Vice-Chancellor For Alleged Fraud

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday arraigned a former Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Gusau, Magaji Garba for alleged fraud. 

EFCC operatives.

The former VC was arraigned on five counts of fraud including forgery and obtaining money by false pretences, Premium Times reports. 

 

A statement by the anti-graft agency revealed that Garba was arraigned before a judge of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Jabi, Abuja, Maryam Hassan-Aliyu.

 

The Professor was accused of extorting about N260 million from contractors on the pretext of awarding N3 billion contract for the perimeter wall fencing of the University. 

 

Garba was a former lecturer in the Pharmacy Department of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, was appointed the vice-chancellor of the Federal University, Gusau, in February 2016.

 

He handed over after concluding his five-year tenure in February this year.

 

EFCC's spokesman, Wilson Uwajaren noted that one of the offences contravenes section 1 (1) (a) and punishable under section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

 

Count two is quoted as reading, “That you, Professor Magaji Garba, whilst being the Vice-Chancellor, Federal University, Gusau on or about the 15th of May, 2019 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N100,000,000 (One Hundred Million Naira) from Alhaji Shehu Umar Sambo, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Ministaco Nigeria Limited, a contractor executing the construction of the Grand Convocation Square of the Federal University, Gusau under the false pretence of awarding a project for the perimeter wall fencing of the University valued at the total sum of N3,000,000,000.00 (Three Billion Naira) which representation/pretence you knew to be false.”

 

However, Garba pleaded 'not guilty' to all the five charges levelled against him.

 

Counsel for EFCC, Sylvanus Tahir, asked for a trial date, and requested that the defendant be remanded in prison custody.

 

But the counsel for the defendant, R. Usman, applied for the bail of his client.

 

The application was, however, opposed by the prosecuting counsel on the ground that he was only served around 10:33 am on Tuesday.

 

The judge then adjourned the matter till Thursday for hearing of the bail application and remanded the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.

Legal News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/3u6F3XU

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
Ahead of COP26, Ros Atkins looks at what the world's biggest emitters are doing to tackle climate change.

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
An activist and former officer analyse video of Minneapolis police days after George Floyd's death.

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
Researchers say data from 45 countries over 40 years shows household is a place of great inequality.

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
Michele Roberts, executive director of the National Basketball Players Association, shares her CEO Secrets.

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
A state-of-the-art complex is to be built in Ghana to remember WEB Du Bois.

An official of Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Mr. Salleh Banda Kure has offered more details on the abduction of students of St. Albert the Great Institute of Philosophy, in the area.

SaharaReporters had reported that bandits raided and abducted a yet-to-be-ascertained number of students from the school, which is a Catholic-run major seminary in the local government area.

File Photo: Gunmen middleeastpress

The state police had also confirmed that some assailants abducted some students in the school but did not disclose the number. 

However, the Secretary of the local government area, Salleh Banda confirmed the kidnap on Tuesday, adding that armed bandits invaded the school chapel around 8.45pm on Monday. 

He said the bandits met seven students in the school Chapel and that four were able to escape, Daily Post reports.  See Also Breaking News BREAKING: Bandits Attack Catholic Seminary In Kaduna, Kidnap Students 0 Comments 8 Hours Ago

He said, “The bandits gained entrance to the school chapel around 8.45pm on Monday night. All the students usually have their prayers at the chapel around 7.00am every day. Bandits came around that time, thinking they would kidnap as many students as they wanted. But before they came, they had closed and many students had gone to their hostels.

"As they forced the seven students to go along with them, the police guarding the school heard the conversation and started shooting sporadically.

"In the process, two students escaped, while the bandits forced the remaining five students to follow them." 

He, however, added that two more students escaped on the way while local vigilantes were pursuing the bandits with Dane guns.

Also, confirming the eventual abduction of three students of the school, a security guard, Mr. Lika Barde said the principal of the school on Tuesday morning discovered that three students were missing.

According to him, when the students in the hostel heard gunshots, many of them ran helter-skelter, sustaining minor injuries in the process. 

He said the injured victims were taken to a nearby hospital, treated and later discharged. 

Insecurity Insurgency News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/3bBYsVJ

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has threatened to impound 29 private jets over nonpayment of statutory import duties.

This was contained in the report on the verification of privately-owned airplanes in the country released by NCS on Tuesday in Abuja.

The Customs’ spokesman, Mr Joseph Attah, during a news conference noted that the 29 airplanes would be impounded if the owners did not show up at the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum given.

On May 31, Customs announced its plan to verify import documents of privately-owned airplanes in the country.

The exercise took place between June 7 and August 6 at the Tariff and Trade Department of the Service.

Customs Service in June read the riot act to private aircraft owners, warning those who have yet to bring their documents for verification to do so before the expiration of the grace period on July 6, or risk having their private jets impounded.

Within the stipulated period, 86 private jet or airplane operators showed up for the exercise and presented relevant documents for verification, according to Attah

He explained that 57 of them were verified as commercial charter operators and duly cleared for operations, PM News reports.

According to him, the 29 private jet/airplane owners and/or their representatives were issued with demand notices on October 11 and given 14 days to make payments to designated Nigerian government accounts.

Attah stressed that Aircraft Clearance Certificates will be issued after payment.

“Owners of private aircraft for which no presentations were made for verification, and whose status remains uncertain are requested to immediately furnish Customs Service with documents for verification and clearance.

“To this effect, all 57 commercial charter jets or aircraft operators who presented their documents for verification are requested to come to the Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters, Abuja, to collect their clearance certificates.

“All 29 private jets/aircraft owners and or their representatives who have been issued with demand notices have 14 days from October 11 to collect and make payments to the designated Federal Government accounts.

“They will be issued with Aircraft Clearance Certificates after payment.

"I implore all concerned to avail themselves of this opportunity, as Customs would not hesitate to activate enforcement procedures on identified defaulters.

"The Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria had been put on notice to ensure that only privately-owned airplanes cleared by Customs were allowed to operate within the country’s airspace," Attah said.

News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2BAB7ax

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two suspected Internet fraudsters for alleged impersonation of the British-Nigerian heavyweight boxer, Anthony Joshua.

According to a statement by EFCC’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, on Tuesday, the accused are Ukhuriegbe Irekpitan and Onyekwa Chinedum.

The commission said the duo were arraigned by its Benin, Edo State zonal office before a judge of the Benin Division of the Federal High Court, S. M. Shuaibu on Monday.

Each of the defendants faces two counts, EFCC said.

According to part of the charges, the defendants were accused of allegedly sending electronic messages to two ladies and defrauding them of the sums of £10,000 and £5,491,23 respectively in London, the capital of England sometime in 2019.

Their offences are said to be punishable under section 14 (2) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention, Etc) Act 2015.

One of the counts against one of Joshua’s alleged impersonators, reads “that you Onyekwe Joshua Chinedum (a.k.a Anthony Joshua) sometime in 2019 did with intent to defraud sent electronic messages which materially misrepresent facts to Samantha Johnson, a lady in London which messages she relied upon and which made her to suffer financial loss in the sum of £10,000 thereby committing an offence punishable under section 14 (2) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention, Etc) Act 2015.”

The charges against Ukhuriegbe Glory Irekpitan reads, “That you Ukhuriegbe Glory Irekpitan, sometime in 2018, did with intent to defraud sent electronic messages which materially misrepresent facts to Mrs Zahra Bagun, a lady in London which messages she relied on and which caused her to suffer the financial loss in the sum of £5,491.23 pounds, equivalent of N2,306,220 and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 14(2) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention, Etc) Act 2015.”

The defendants both pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.

The judge however adjourned the matter till October 21, and ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Benin City.

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

The Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Ogun State Institute of Technology, Igbesa, have accused the Rector, Olufunke Akinkurolere, of hounding the executives of the students' body with the security operatives.

According to the OGITECH SUG, the rector employed a despotic approach to bring in hoodlums to infiltrate students who were protesting peacefully.

Governor Dapo Abiodun

The union further disclosed that Akinkurolere hence ordered the policemen to arrest a student, Samuel Linus, in a ‘kidnap-like’ approach on Monday.

The students disclosed these to SaharaReporters on Tuesday adding that their rector decided to unleash tyranny on them for protesting against unmet demands from the school.

OGITECH students revealed that the SUG had resorted to protest to press home their demands which were well spelt last month, but not met by the school management.

In a communique issued signed by the SUG President, Comrade Ayinde Saheed, the demands were; the release of the first-semester examination result, the mop-up for students who were not allowed to write the Computer Based Test (CBT) with no criteria because it was a test and not an examination.

Others were; the time for the conduct of both the Student Union and Departmental elections, the repair of the internal school road, and change in the security architecture of the school as the students no longer felt secure on campus.

It was disclosed that the institute authorities only met the first demand while others were left unattended to, which forced the students to embark on a protest from Monday, October 4, 2021.

However, in a statement by the SUG President obtained by SaharaReporters on Tuesday, the OGITECH students asked the Ogun State Governor to come to their rescue by calling the rector to order.

The statement read, “The recent happenings on OGITECH Campus by now are no more news to the public. The agitations and simple demands of the OGITECH Students’ Union are now in the public.

“While the Students’ Union body has remained civil and intellectual in the handling of the affairs, the same cannot be said of the Rector as she has proven to be a despotic tyrant who is under the influence of toxic power and thereby instigating violence by all means.

“It is on record that on different occasions, the Rector has tried all her best possible to infiltrate the students' populace by sponsoring hoodlums to attack and hijack the peaceful protest in order to deface our genuine struggle. We have, however, remained intellectual and vigilant in our activities by fishing out potential violent people and organizing ourselves peacefully.

“The Rector has resorted to this violent approach after failing to fulfil her agreement with the student leaders at a meeting that had NANS excos in attendance on September 23.

“When some of these violent approaches failed, the Rector has since been planning on how to bring uniformed men to harass students and force them into silence just like every tyrant in history would do. This new plan was leaked and we the students have started crying out ahead.

“To our greatest shock, the Rector has ordered the Police division in Igbesa to start picking up innocent students on the road and in their hostels and keep them in detention.

“One such successful kidnap-like action was the pickup of one of our comrade, Samuel Linus today Monday, 11th of October.

“Samuel was kept in detention on the order of the Rector for close to 12 hours until information got to us and we challenged the police for his release. We are crying out to the governor to come to the rescue of the students of OGITECH in the hands of this tyrannical rector who puts on an innocent face but carries out devilish acts.”

 

Education News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/39rzAiP

Some youths of Goronyo town in the Goronyo local government area of Sokoto State have flooded the streets to protest against the abysmal level of insecurity in the area. 

 

SaharaReporters learnt that the protest was still ongoing as of the time of filing this report.

A source said the youths were demonstrating against the insecurity in the area, which has forced many residents to flee the town. 

 

He said, “Protest going on at Goronyo town in Sokoto state. The youths took to the streets protesting rampant insecurity that is forcing people to flee the town. The protest is currently ongoing.”

Photos obtained by SaharaReporters show roadblocks and burning tyres as the youths express their displeasure with killings and kidnappings going on unchecked in their area. 

 

Sokoto is one of the states ravaged by insecurity in the North, a situation that has worsened under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government. Just recently, the state government ordered the shutdown of telecommunications services in some parts of the state to curb the prevailing banditry in the state. 

 

The ban onobile phone services is effective in Dange Shuni, Tambuwal, Sabon Birni, Raba, Tureta, Goronyo, Tangaza and Isa local government areas amongst others.

 

Meanwhile, some bandits operating in the Eastern Senatorial District of the state recently resorted to writing letters to reach out to families of their victims to demand ransoms. 

 

A source, who was privy to the bandits’ new antics in Sokoto, said a letter was written to a traditional ruler in Burkusuma, demanding a ransom to secure the release of 20 persons kidnapped from two communities in the Sabon Birni Local Government Area.

ACTIVISM Insecurity Breaking News News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/3iY8iaZ

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
The earthquake damaged buildings and was felt on several neighbouring Greek islands.

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
Spanish nationalists scorn President Biden for condemning colonial crimes against Native Americans.

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
Moqtada al-Sadr vows to end foreign interference in Iraq after his supporters win the most seats.

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
Images on local media show the crushed wreckage of the overturned vehicle at the foot of a hill.

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
The migrants were struck by the train in a southern coastal town near Biarritz on Tuesday morning.

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
Prince Charles tells the BBC he was surprised that the Australian PM had suggested he might not attend.

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
Wildlife officers in the US state of Colorado say the elk is in good shape after removing its antlers.