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Kanu’s release: South East govs, leaders under fire

Published

1 year ago

December 10, 2022

Leader of Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu

Igbo youths have accused the five South East governors and other political and religious leaders of the region of abandoning the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) in detention.

The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) categorically claimed that the politics of 2023 had taken pre-eminence over the fate of the Biafra agitator who has been incarcerated for almost 18 months after he was intercepted and renditioned from Kenya, by the federal government, June last year.

Slammed with terrorism charges, Kanu was acquitted by the Court of Appeal, before the federal government proceeded to the Supreme Court. There were other judgements indicating that the IPOB leader’s incarceration was illegal, including the order by the United Nations Committee on Human Rights for him to be freed unconditionally.

President General of COSEYL, Goodluck Ibem said that Kanu was key to peace and stability in the zone, noting that it would be detrimental to the South East governors and politicians to allow him remain in custody during next year’s elections.

The youths warned that some criminal elements might capitalise on the loophole to cause mayhem and disrupt the 2023 elections in the zone.

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“It is very unfortunate that the South East governors and key political stakeholders have abandoned the move to secure the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and concentrate on politics, campaigns and electioneering.

“We implore the South East governors to leave politics for now and work out on how to secure the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu. It is better for our governors to look for the black goat in day time than to wait till night when it will be very difficult to get a black goat,” Ibem admonished.

Recently, the wife of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the late Biafra leader, Bianca Ojukwu, stated that no nation stifles the dreams of its citizens and expects peace.

Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Kanu during the 12th Ojukwu Day held in Owerri, Imo State on November 26, she declared: “I do so, firmly convinced that no nation can hold its people hostage and have peace, it is impossible because peace is freedom and also no nation can hold the dreams of its citizens to ransom and prosper.”

Also, the Association of South East Town Unions (ASETU) maintained that the unconditional release of the IPOB leader, will calm tension in the region and restore relative peace.

It could be recalled that the South East Governors’ Forum during its meeting on November 30 in Enugu, declared that political solution was still best way to go in the Kanu matter.

In their communiqué read to newsmen by the chairman and governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, they said: “South East Governors are watching with keen interest, the developments with respect to the case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu viz-a-viz the Court rulings. However, we believe that a political solution is still very much possible in the circumstance and so we ask the federal government that we are disposed as a people for political solution in this regard.”

Saturday Sun reliably gathered about two months ago that the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof. George Obiozor, reached out to the Presidency for a possible meeting over the issue.

Though, the Ohanaeze National Secretariat had declined to speak on the effort made so far, former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife hinted of behind the scene moves to secure Kanu’s release.

Ezeife, who said that the Court of Appeal judgement in favour of the self-determination activist was in line with the current spirit of a new Nigeria sweeping across the country, especially amongst young people, posited that the earlier the IPOB leader was released, the better for Eastern Nigeria, the nation and the whole black race.

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“I must tell you that our leader, Professor George Obiozor; the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo called me the same day when the issue came up and said he is preparing for us to go to the president and persuade him to do the right thing and I told him that I am ready. Very soon we will organise that appointment and we will go to the president,” the elder statesman had stated.

President Muhammadu Buhari had in previous meetings with delegations of Igbo elders told them that he would not interfere with the judicial process, urging them to allow the court decide Kanu’s fate.

Meanwhile, former National Legal Adviser of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Chief Chuks Muoma, has doubted that Ohanaeze could really pull the strings to free Kanu.

He told Saturday Sun that from his experience during his tenure between 2017 and 2021, the group was not effective in protecting their own from outside exploitation.

“I have never been impressed with the activities of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, as a body, due to the make-up. It doesn’t matter who is heading it at any given time, because it has always been made up of people with their own individual agenda, instead of the overall interest of the Igbo.

“It lacks the will power to fight the philosophy of Igbo survival, though there are very few patriotic Igbo that ought to lead the people.”

National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, Dr. Alex Ogbonnia said, however, that the group was not disposed to joining issues with anybody. He insisted that the body was making what he termed “private and confidential” moves to free the embattled IPOB leader.

Related Topics:Featured Kanu South-East govs

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Suspect narrates why he killed sugar mummy in Delta

Published

5 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Trends Admin

Suspect narrates why he killed sugar mummy in Delta

The suspect arrested in connection with the murder of a lady, Glory Akpaku, in Delta State, Akpoveta School, has narrated how he allegedly killed the victim by stabbing her multiple times.

According to an interrogation video shared on X.com by the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, on Monday, the suspect disclosed that the victim was his sugar mummy before her demise.

PUNCH Metro gathered from the video that things went sour between Akpoveta and the late Akpaku over the sum of N100,000 he allegedly kept with the deceased for safekeeping, but which the deceased allegedly refused to give him when he needed the money.

The suspect claimed that he had gone to Akpaku to demand the money but, instead of receiving it, she insisted that she would give it to him after returning from the market.

The suspect narrated further that he threatened the victim to report their relationship to her son, but the victim threatened back that if he did so, she would not give him the money in her custody.

He added that the threat from his alleged lover infuriated him, which led him to stab her with a knife in the neck, hand, and stomach.

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Akpoveta narrated in pidgin English (now translated), “She asked me to save some money with her and that she would return the money to me later. But when I needed the money, she refused to give it to me. Rather, she became angry.

“She asked me to escort her to the market, and I thought she would give me the money, but she insisted that she would give it to me after she returned from the market.

“I told her that I would tell her child, and she said if I told the child, she would not return my money. While she was going in front, I took a knife that I had with me and stabbed her in the neck, hand, and stomach.”

The suspect stated further that he regretted his action but blamed the devil for it.

Reacting to the confession, Edafe urged members of the public to learn from it.

The PPRO wrote, “I share stories like this so we can learn from the mistakes of others. So this suspect allegedly murdered his sugar mummy over her failure to give him back the money she was helping him save. When asked why he did it, he said, ‘NA DEVIL WORK’.”

Meanwhile, giving further updates on the incident, the PPRO noted that the incident happened in April and the suspect would be charged in court upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigation.

“The incident happened in April. He will be charged in court as soon as the investigation is concluded,” Edafe concluded.

Suspect narrates why he killed sugar mummy in Delta

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Just in: EFCC arraigns ex-court registrar over N3.8m fraud

Published

5 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Trends Admin

Just in: EFCC arraigns ex-court registrar over N3.8m fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a former Registrar of the Upper Sharia Court 1 Gusau of Zamfara state.

He was arraigned on a two-count charge for allegedly stealing the sum of N3, 837,634 according to the Sokoto zonal directorate office of the commission.

Abubakar Garba Dandare’s arraignment was a sequel to the offence he allegedly committed while as Registrar, Upper Sharia Court 1 Gusau, Zamfara state.

He was arraigned before Justice Bello Muhammad Shinkafi of the Zamfara State High Court.

The anti-graft directorate explained that the problem of Dandare began when a petitioner alleged that he dishonestly misappropriated the money being retention fee paid by the Ministry of Finance Zamfara State for the family of late Alhaji Ladan Mada, who was a contractor to the state government.

Mada, who died on 13th May 2010, was awarded a contract by the Zamfara state government for the construction of two student hostels at Government College, Talata Mafara.

The family heirs approached the Registrar to know why the retention money was not disbursed to the family and the Registrar denied knowledge about the money.

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A committee was constituted in 2022 by the Honourable Grand Khadi of Zamfara state, Dr. Dahiru Muhammad, to investigate the matter and it was established that a UBA cheque countersigned by Judge Almustapha Balarabe and Registrar Abubakar Garba Dandare was given to one Nasir Lawal (a Court Clerk) for the withdrawal of the said amount, which was given to Registrar Dandare, hence the petition.

The committee upon conclusion of investigations directed Dandare to refund the money meant for the heirs of late Alhaji Mada.

Forensic investigations further revealed that the purported signature of Aminu Ladan Mada being bandied by the then Registrar Dandare was fake as it was forged.

However, count one of the charges reads: “That you, Abubakar Garba Dandare, Male, Adult, while being the Registrar Upper Sharia Court 1, Gusau Zamfara State, on or about the 4th day of December 2010, at Gusau, within the Judicial Division of the High Court of Zamfara State, while, being entrusted with the sum of N3,837,634 (Three Million Eight Hundred and Thirty Four Naira) retention fee paid by Ministry of Finance Zamfara State for the family of late Alhaji Ladan Mada, did dishonestly misappropriated the money to your personal use in violation of the mode in which the trust is to be discharged and thereby committed the offence of Criminal Breach of Trust contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code Cap 89 Laws of Northern Nigeria 1963 and punishable under Section 312 of the same law.”

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Before taking his plea, the defence counsel, Bello Umar, drew the attention of the court that the charge under which the suspect was being arraigned was defective; but Prosecution Counsel, P. A. Attah, countered as he cited Court of Appeal decisions along with the ACJA 2015.

Justice Mohammad Shinkafi granted the accused bail with two sureties in the sum of N5 million each.

Accordingly, Justice Shinkafi also directed that a surety must deposit a Certificate of Landed Property within Gusau Metropolis, while both sureties must deposit their passport photographs with the Court.

The Judge further ruled that the accused be remanded with the Nigeria Correctional Services pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions and adjourned the matter to 6th June 2024 for trial.

Just in: EFCC arraigns ex-court registrar over N3.8m fraud

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Bride cancels wedding as groom insists on living in family house

Published

5 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Trends Admin

Bride cancels wedding as groom insists on living in family house

Florence Friday, a bride-to-be reportedly called off her wedding over the groom’s refusal to leave his family house.

The wedding, which was slated for Saturday, May 4th, 2024, in Farin Lamba, Vom, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, was canceled before the event took place.

According to reports, Florence, the bride-to-be, asked for N30,000 from her groom-to-be, Morgak James, on March 28th to reserve her wedding gown. Morgak, unable to provide the full sum, offered N15,000 and promised to complete it the following week.

Florence, furious, insisted on receiving the entire sum by the end of the week, threatening to cancel the wedding.

It was reported that two days later, Morgak managed to gather the N30,000 and sent it to Florence to proceed with the booking. However, this resolution led to another condition from the bride-to-be.

It was also gathered that Florence reportedly requested Morgak to move out of his family house and get his apartment.

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According to a source close to the couple, after much deliberation, they agreed to stay in the family home for two months after the wedding before getting their apartment.

This arrangement was agreed upon before Morgak began the introductions, church signature, and payment of the bride price.

However, Morgak was taken aback just before the big day when he received a phone call informing him that his bride-to-be had canceled the wedding because he had not parked out of his family home.

The source further revealed that Morgak had invested significantly in the wedding.

Despite this, Florence’s family had canceled their introduction dates more than three times for a variety of reasons, including visiting a pupil at school.

Our sources also stated that her family once canceled their introduction a day before the wedding.

Speaking on the cancellation of her wedding, Florence said, “I’ve never seen a responsible man who would bring his bride into his family house for his parents to take care of or claim he doesn’t have money while planning his wedding.”