metro

Desist from killing innocent people, IPOB warns unknown gunmen

Published

2 years ago

November 21, 2021

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has warned unknown gunmen killing innocent people in the South East to desist forth with.

However, barely 24 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari’s pledge to consider request by Igbo leaders for unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), currently standing trial, IPOB had vowed to wage war against gunmen killing and maiming people in the South East zone of the country.

Buhari had in the week under review, made the pledge when he received a group under the aegis of Highly Respected Igbo Greats, led by First Republic parliamentarian and Minister of Aviation, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, at State House, Abuja, on Friday.

The president, who believed that the request runs contrary to the doctrine of separation of powers between the Executive and Judiciary, however, told the 93-year-old statesman:

“You’ve made an extremely difficult demand on me as leader of this country. The implication of your request is very serious. In the last six years, since I became President, nobody would say I have confronted or interfered in the work of the Judiciary.

”God has spared you, and given you a clear head at this age, with very sharp memory. A lot of people half your age are confused already. But the demand you made is heavy. I will consider it.”

READ ALSO:

While stressing his policy of non-interference with the Judiciary, Buhari said when Kanu jumped bail, got arrested and brought back to the country, “I said the best thing was to subject him to the system.

”Let him make his case in court, instead of giving very negative impressions of the country from outside. I feel it’s even a favour to give him that opportunity.”

Others in the visiting delegation were; Chukwuemeka Ezeife, former Governor of Anambra, Bishop Sunday Onuoha of the Methodist Church, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, former President of Igbo socio-cultural group, Aka Ikenga, and Mr Tagbo Amaechi.

However, barely 24 hours after the president’s pronouncement on Kanu, IPOB, in a statement issued by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful on Nov. 20, completely disassociated the group from the activities of Eastern Security Network (ESN), saying that most of the killings in the Southeast were perpetrated by gunmen masquerading as members of its security outfit

Powerful, who warned the armed men to desist from killing innocent citizens, also cautioned the police to stop parading them as members of ESN.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) observed that it was a busy week loaded with numerous official engagements for the president, who returned from an official visits to Glasgow, Scotland, France and Durban in South Africa where he attended the second Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2021.

The president presided over the virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), on Wednesday, where the Council approved establishment of a Federal University of Sciences in Oturkpo, Benue as well as N27.4billion for execution of various projects by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Ministry of Works and Housing.

READ ALSO:

Buhari had on Nov. 18, hosted the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, at the presidential villa, Abuja, where he described the recent removal of Nigeria from watchlist of countries violating religious freedom, by the United States of America, as a welcome development.

The Nigerian leader noted that there was freedom of worship in Nigeria, and “no one is discriminated against on the basis of his or her faith.’’

On the EndSARS Probe Panel Report, Buhari said the Federal Government would allow the system to exhaust itself, and therefore, await pronouncements from state governments which set up panels to probe police brutality in the country.

On development of democratic ethos, Buhari said Nigeria had adopted the American model, “hook, line, and sinker, with its term limits. Those who have attempted to breach it were disappointed, if not disgraced.

“You are even lucky if you have two terms. Others try hard, and don’t get it. The American model has been accepted by Nigerians as the best.”

He noted that Nigeria and her neighbours had been living with the impact of climate change for a while, “which has seen the Lake Chad shrink drastically from its original size, and affected the livelihood of about 30 million people in the Lake Chad Basin countries.

“That is why the youths defy the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean to attempt emigrating to Europe.

Buhari also on Thursday met behind closed doors with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Speaking to State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting, the speaker expressed optimism that the Electoral Bill recently passed by the National Assembly would soon be signed into law by the president.

READ ALSO:

According to him, the president has always supported direct primaries, adding that he has been a proponent from the very start.

Gbajabiamila said he was in the presidential villa to update the president on the happenings in the country as it affected the National Assembly in recent times.

The Nigerian leader also signed into law two important bills passed by the National Assembly, including the climate change bill.

The new Climate Change Act owes its origin to a bill sponsored by a member of the House of Representatives, Sam Onuigbo.

It provides for, among other things, the mainstreaming of climate change actions and the establishment of a National Council on Climate Change.

The Act also paves the way for environmental and economic accounting, as well as pushing for a net zero emission deadline plan for the country, according to a statement by Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s media aide.

The statement, issued on Thursday, in Abuja, also identified the second bill assented to by the President as the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (Amendment) Act, which amended the AMCON Act No. 4, 2010.

Buhari also received the Report of the Senior Executive Course 43 (2021) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) , Kuru, Plateau State.

The report entitled, “Getting Things Done: Strategies for Policy and Programme Implementation in Nigeria,” was presented to the president on Thursday where he directed Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) to study it on how best to ensure effective policy design and implementation with a view to implementing some of its recommendations.

The Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, had attended as the Special Guest of Honour, the Graduation Ceremony of the Senior Executive Course 43, 2021 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos, on Saturday.

Osinbajo had earlier on Nov. 18, presided over the meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) where Buhari’s approval of a fresh N656 billion Bridge Financing Facility to the 36 States was announced.

READ ALSO:

Dr Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, made the disclosure, saying the support was to help state governments to meet their financial obligations, especially the previous budget support facility due for repayment.

According to Ahmed, each state will receive N18.2 billion.

Ahmed said that the bridge facility was being processed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The president had earlier on Nov. 16, felicitated former President Goodluck Jonathan on his 64 birthday anniversary, which was held on Nov. 17.

He congratulated Jonathan for serving the country, and working for the peace and advancement of democracy on the African continent.

According to the president, Jonathan has continued to expand the boundaries of leadership, teaching many in the country the power of focus, consistency and diligence.

Also on Nov. 16, the Nigerian leader condemned the massacre of 15 people in Goronyo and Illela Local Government Areas of Sokoto State, saying that bandits are living in a fool’s paradise.

The president reassured Nigerians that his administration would not abandon them to their fate in the face of the existential challenge caused by banditry. (NAN)

Vanguard

Related Topics:Featured Gunmen IPOB killing

Up Next

Army will engage bandits, other criminals in war – COAS

Don't Miss

Judge bars police, DSS, others from making arrests on court premises

metro

We need $10bn annually for five years to revive power sector – Minister

Published

2 hours ago

April 30, 2024

Trends Admin

We need $10bn annually for five years to revive power sector – Minister

A total of $10 billion is needed yearly in the next 10 years to revive the nation’s power sector, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has said.

He said this when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Power for investigative hearing over the recent electricity tariff hike by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The minister said, “For this sector to be revived, government need to spend nothing less than 10 billion dollars annually in the next 10 years.

“This is because of the infrastructure requirement for the stability of the sector.

“But government can not afford that. And so we must make this sector attractive to investors and to lenders.

“So for us to attract investors and investment, we must make the sector attractive, and the only way it can be made attractive is that there must be commercial pricing.

“If the value is still at N66 and government is not paying subsidy, the investors will not come. But now that we have increased tariff for a Band, there are interests being shown by investors.”

He urged the lawmakers to support the process of paying the debt owed operators across the value chain of generation, transmission and distribution.

metro

Woman arrested in Ogun after husband commits suicide

Published

6 hours ago

April 30, 2024

Trends Admin

Woman arrested in Ogun after husband commits suicide

In Ogun State, one Opeyemi Lateef has died after he ingested a poisonous substance suspected to be ‘Sniper’, the police have said.

The deceased was said to have been found by his wife, Gift Monday, rolling on the floor writhing in severe pain while he was pointing to a bottle on the floor.

The incident happened on Wednesday in the Abeokuta Area of the State.

The deceased was reportedly rushed to Royal Grace Hospital at Soyoye Rounder, Abeokuta, for medical care but was later move to the General Hospital in Ijaye, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, after it was discovered that his health continued to deteriorate.

According to Punch, he died in the latter hospital and buried at his family house in Abule Otun Lafenwa, Abeokuta, according to Islamic burial rites.

Meanwhile, the deceased wife is in police custody over the death of her husband.

READ ALSO:

The spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident.

He said an investigation and interrogation were ongoing, and that the deceased’s wife was in their custody in connection with the case.

She said, “On 24/4/2024, at about 08.00 hrs, one Funmilayo Lateef, ‘F’, of Abule Otun reported at the station that she received a phone call from one Gift Monday, ‘F’, her brother’s wife, that her brother now deceased, Opeyemi Lateef ‘M’, drank Sniper.

“He was rushed to Royal Grace Hospital at Soyoye Rounder, Abeokuta, for medical treatment. On getting to the hospital, she found her brother admitted, and he was not responding to treatment; his condition was critical.

“Hence, the doctor referred him to the General Hospital Ijaye at Abeokuta. She stated further that it was at the General Hospital in Ijaye, Abeokuta, that he was confirmed dead. His corpse was brought home according to Islamic rites to Abule Otun at Lafenwa, Abeokuta, their family house.”

Odutola noted that the investigation and interrogation had started, as three witnesses had made statements about the deceased, pointing to the Sniper bottle when asked what was wrong with him and when they saw him in pain

Woman arrested in Ogun after husband commits suicide

metro

Ex-Kwara finance commissioner arraigned over alleged N1. 22bn fraud

Published

6 hours ago

April 30, 2024

Trends Admin

Ex-Kwara finance commissioner arraigned over alleged N1. 22bn fraud

On Monday, the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Ademola Banu, a former commissioner for Finance in Kwara State, before Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, for alleged money laundering and misappropriation of state funds worth N1.22 billion.

The defendant was accused to have, among other things, conspired to siphon the abovementioned sum under the administration of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed between May 2011 and May 2019 when he was the Commissioner for Finance.

Banu was to be arraigned alongside his former principal, former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on February 23, 2024, but when the case came up, he was absent in court and had no legal representation, prompting the court to issue a bench warrant against him upon the application by counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN).

The court on the said date took the plea of the former Governor Ahmed on the 12-count charge preferred against him and his finance commissioner by the EFCC and adjourned till Monday, April 29, 2024, while ordering the prosecution to produce Banu for trial.

At the resumed sitting on Monday, the two defendants – Abdulfatah Ahmed and Ademola Banu, who were listed as first and second defendants, were present in court.

When the case was called, A. A. Ajibade, SAN announced appearance for Ahmed, Gboyega Oyewole (SAN) appeared for Banu, while the prosecution team was led by Rotimi Jacobs (SAN).

Jacobs informed the court that the second defendant, who was unavailable at the last sitting when his co-accused was arraigned, was finally in court to take his plea.

READ ALSO:

“My Lord, at the last adjournment, the first defendant (Governor Abdulfatah) took his plea, but the second defendant (Banu) was not available in court that day, causing your Lordship to issue a bench warrant against him.

“Following the order of the court, counsel to the second defendant called me and explained that he would produce his client before the court today (Monday), which he has done. I pray the court to allow the charge to be read to him,” Jacobs said.

In response, Banu’s counsel, Oyewole, prayed the court to discharge the bench warrant earlier issued against his client, which Jacobs did not oppose.

In a short ruling, Justice Anyadike vacated the bench warrant against the second defendant, setting the stage for his arraignment. Therefore, he was ordered to enter the dock to take his plea.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

Following his plea, his counsel, Oyewole, moved a motion for the bail of his client.

He prayed the court to grant the application on liberal terms, citing the medical conditions of the client as reasons.

Jacobs, however, did not oppose the application in view of the earlier ruling.

Justice Anyadike admitted the second defendant to bail in the sum of N20m with two sureties in like sum, who must have landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.

The judge ordered that the sum of N5m must be paid as bond into the litigation account of the Federal High Court by the defendant, which will be returned to him after the final determination of the case or forfeited to the federal government in the event the defendant jump bail.

The judge also ordered the defendant to deposit his international passport with the court, adding that the defendant must not travel without the permission of the court, but may apply to get it on medical reasons if the need arise.

Thereafter, the judge ordered the defendant to be remanded in the custody of the EFCC pending the perfection of his bail conditions.

The case was eventually adjourned to June 25 and 26, 2024, for trial.