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Release Ekweremadu and his wife from detention, Concerned Nigerians ask UK
Some concerned Nigerians, have asked the Government of the United Kingdom to release former deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu and wife, Nwanneka on bail.
The group, in a letter submitted to the British High Commission, Abuja entitled ‘The Travail of Senator Ike Ekweremadu: Protest Against Continued Detention Without Trial,’ described Ekweremadu as a law-abiding citizen, perfect gentleman, and philanthropist, who has used his resources to touch lives of the less privileged.
They said they were grieved in their hearts that Ekweremadu continued to languish in prison without trial over a clearly bail able, alleged offence.
The group led by Paul Sawa said while they had no doubt that Ekweremadu would ultimately be vindicated, discharged, and acquitted, it is trite that justice delayed is justice denied.
It said a fair application of the justice system presupposed justice for all parties, including the accused and presupposed innocence until proven guilty.
The group appealed to the UK to grant Ekweremadu bail.
Part of the letter read: “We are a body of Nigerians, who have keenly followed and are concerned about the travail of Senator Ike Ekweremadu and family, and the continued detention of a Nigerian citizen, a distinguished and serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who has been held behind bars by the British authorities since he was arrested alongside his wife upon arrival in the United Kingdom on 21st June 2022.
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“We have always known Senator Ike Ekweremadu as a law-abiding citizen, a perfect gentleman, and philanthropist, who has used his resources to touch the lives of the less privileged constituents and others, but as believers in the rule of law, we have held our peace since his arrest in the hope that the law would vindicate him and his wife in no distant time. Unfortunately, the nightmare has continued with a protracted trial and his continued detention.
“A fair application of the justice system presupposes justice for all the parties, including the accused. It presupposes innocence until proven guilty. These fine principles of the law guarantee the fundamental human rights of every accused.
“While we have no doubt that Senator Ike Ekweremadu will ultimately be vindicated, discharged, and acquitted. It is trite that justice delayed is justice denied. Therefore, it grieves our hearts that Senator Ekweremadu continues to languish in British prison without trial and over a clearly bailable, alleged offence.
“We recall with concern that the Senator last appeared in court on 4th August 2022. He is billed to appear in court again on 31st October 2022, about three months after, for pre-trial hearing. But the real trial to determine his innocence or otherwise is scheduled to commence in May 2023, seven months after by which time Senator Ekweremadu would have spent about one year behind bars.
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“Worse still, we gather that the British authorities are also poised to charge Senator Ekweremadu’s ailing daughter to court on the same matter. This is most disturbing, especially as we had expected the UK authorities to be more humane and concerned with the treatment and recovery of the poor lady, who has evidently been through a lot already and whose condition must have been worsened by the travails of her parents in their bid to save her life.
“We are then moved to ask: Where is the humanity in all of this? Where is human right in all of this? Where is the presumption of innocence for the accused? Would Nigerian government subject a UK Member of Parliament to the same shabby treatments and protracted detention on a clearly bail able offence under similar circumstance? More so, if such a UK parliamentarian had written to the Nigerian High Commission, fully disclosing the purpose of the organ donor’s trip, including the particular hospital where the case would be handled?” The group asked.
The Concerned Nigerians, however, appealed to the UK to grant Ekweremadu bail.
“The claim by his prosecutors that he is a flight risk is far from the truth, as the Ekweremadu we know, being a legislator of international acclaim, will be more interested in the recovery of his daughter, establishing his innocence, and reclaiming his reputation.
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JUST IN: 4 feared killed as Arewa youths clash with police, union in Delta
JUST IN: 4 feared killed as Arewa youths clash with police, union in Delta
On Monday, March 18, four people were feared dead after a battle between security officers and Northern youths protesting the Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators Association’s (COMTOA) alleged extortion.
The teenagers, organized by the Arewa Union in Asaba, attacked the office of the Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators Association (COMTOA) in Asaba, seeking a split from the state-controlled body.
It was alleged that the youngsters invaded several parts of the Asaba metropolis, leaving damage in its path, before heading to the office of COMTOA, on Summit Road, where they attacked members of the COMTOA Taskforce, damaging vehicles, office furniture, and making off with computers and other goods
Director General of COMTOA, Uchenna Okafor (aka Kosoko) said: “The Arewa Community are trying to form their own union so that they can avoid paying money to the State Government.
“Last week Saturday, we got information that they were about to set up a union that is different from the one the Delta State Government has inaugurated.
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“We called the SA on the Arewa Community and the Sarki of Asaba and they denied it. At about 3.00 pm that day, it was discovered that they had already inaugurated their own Arewa Task Force and that was how it started.
“They started attacking people paying for tickets through COMTOA, chasing the task force and ticket sellers but we were not deterred because the revenue is for the government.
“Yesterday, we were around GRA with the Police to enforce the law against the movement of Keke riders from 10.00 pm when we were attacked again and we eventually left the area.
“This morning, about 300 Arewa tricycle riders came to our office to attack us with cutlasses, guns, and other arms. They broke doors, windows, stole laptops, generators and phones. They also ran away with bikes”.
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Coordinator of the Arewa Community on Sales of Tickets, Hashima Abubakar, condemned the youths for violent protest and appealed to them to negotiate instead of perpetrating violence.
In a post on X formerly (Twitter), Edafe said: “They are policemen deployed to quell an ongoing protest against one of the State Taskforce in Asaba pls.”
In another post on X, he said: “There was a violent protest this morning by Okada riders who had an issue last night with the state task force that led to the death of two persons. They mobilized in their numbers this morning, destroying properties and beating people, hence our men were deployed to control the situation before it turns to something else.”
JUST IN: 4 feared killed as Arewa youths clash with police, union in Delta
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Rivers: Five to die by hanging, lethal injection for killing OSPAC commander
Rivers: Five to die by hanging, lethal injection for killing OSPAC commander
In Rivers State, five persons indicted in the murder of one Umezuruike Alex have been sentenced to death.
They were convicted and sentenced on Monday on charges including conspiracy, cultism, murder and illegal possession of firearms by a High Court sitting in Port Harcourt.
Alex, prior to his murder, was Onelga Security Peace Advisory Committee, OSPAC, commander of Omudioga community in Emohua Local Government Area of the state.
OSPAC s a local vigilante group resident in some communities in different local government areas of Rivers State.
The convicts are Okechukwu Orji from Atali community in Obio-Akpor LGA, Igwe Promise, Iheanyi Igwe, Morrison Igwe, all from Omudioga in Emohua Local Government Area, and Goodness Monday from Akwa-Ibom State
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The trial Judge, Justice Sika Aprioku, acquitted the sixth defendant, Alex Deiwe.
The prosecution, led by Essein Edet, proved its case against the five convicts, Justice Aprioku affirmed.
Following the conviction, the judge sentenced the convicts to death by hanging, or, alternatively, administration of a lethal injection until confirmed dead.
The court disclosed that the convicted individuals not only murdered the OSPAC commander but were also involved in kidnapping and other criminal activities across the state prior to their arrest and prosecution.
The late Omudioga OSPAC commander, Alex, was brutally murdered and dismembered by cultists in 2021 for his efforts in combating criminal activities in the area
Rivers: Five to die by hanging, lethal injection for killing OSPAC commander
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Police confirm death of suicide bomber in Borno
Police confirm death of suicide bomber in Borno
The Borno State Police Command has confirmed an attempted suicide bombing in Biu Local Government Area, resulting in the death of the perpetrator and injuries to two bystanders.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Daso Nahum confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Monday.
Nahum said the event occurred around 8 pm on Sunday during the night prayers observed by Muslim faithful.
A male suicide bomber, suspected to be targeting a mosque, detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) near the roundabout, resulting in his own death.
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“Two passersby who were wounded by the explosive were immediately rushed to a hospital for treatment,” the police spokesman said.
Responding to the incident, Nahum disclosed that security personnel were swiftly deployed to the scene to restore order.
He emphasized the importance of heightened vigilance, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan when late-night prayers are prevalent among Muslim communities.
He urged the public to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies.
Police confirm death of suicide bomber in Borno
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