President Goodluck Jonathansummoned his security chiefs for an emergency meeting yesterday, where he told them to go after the Boko Haram and end the sect’s wave of violence around the country.
Those at the meeting, held at the State House in Abuja, were Chief of Defense Staff Oluseyi Petinrin, Chief of Army Staff Azubuike Ihejirika, Chief of Naval Staff Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, Chief of Air Staff Mohammed Umar, Inspector General of Police Hafiz Ringim, Director General of the SSS Ita Ekpenyong and National Security Adviser Andrew Azazi.
Ringim told journalists after the meeting that it reviewed the recent security situation in the country and President Jonathan had asked the officials about “where we were, where we are and where we need to be” in order to end the Boko Haram violence.
“The president is concerned about the security challenges in the country, so he summoned each and every one of us, the service chiefs, in order to review the situation,” he said. “Terrorism is not an easy matter at all ... It is a very new phenomenon here. We ... are all scrambling to find our feet and face it squarely.”
Sources told Daily Trust that during the meeting, Jonathan asked the security chiefs to overhaul of their operational strategies in facing the Boko Haram violence. “We must stop this Boko Haram madness,” the president was quoted as saying.
On Wednesday, Jonathan told visiting delegation of the Christian Association of Nigeria that he would make changes to his security team, in the wake of the Christmas Day bombings that left dozens dead.
After yesterday’s meeting, Petirin told reporters that the president has taken decisive actions to restructure the security apparatus in the country.
The president has been holding series of discussions with religious and security chiefs after Sunday’s violence in Madalla, Jos and Damaturu.
Ringim said yesterday “we are all worried. Terrorism is not an easy matter at all.”
He said some success has been recorded in the campaign against Boko Haram.
“The arrest of these terrorists has been going on for a long time. Many of them have been arrested and many of them are in detention. They are in the process of being prosecuted,” he said.
But he said those arrested so far were mere foot soldiers for the Boko Haram sect.
“So far, we have arrested hundreds of them but that is not the issue. These people to my mind are just the foot soldiers and we need to get strong evidence through the cooperation of members of the public so that we will be able to get to the leaders, masters and organizers of these people,” Ringim said.
“I assure you we are doing our possible best. We are prepared more than ever before and I want to assure you this that if we had not done what we did in Yobe, if we had not done what we did in Kaduna, indeed if the Nigerian Police Force had not done what we did in Kano, the recovery of the primed up suicide bombing vehicles, the story would have been a different one. I assure you members of the public that the Nigerian Police Force and indeed all other security agencies are now ready more than ever before to face these challenges.”
The Christmas Day attacks that mainly targeted churches sparked fears of sectarian violence between Muslims and Christians.
Ringim said the attackers had not chosen only Christian targets as they had also killed Muslims as well.
“Definitely people are agitated and these Boko Haram terrorist groups are not attacking only Christians. They attack everyone that is on their way including members of the armed forces and the police and other security agencies.
“From among us, there are Muslims and there are Christians. I don’t think it is a case of Muslims versus Christians or Christians against Muslims,” he said.
Thursday, 29 December 2011
Buhari says chaos is looming
Former head of state Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said the country is sliding into total breakdown of law and order because of injustice, bad governance and “massive and mindless” stealing of public resources.
In a bluntly worded statement he personally signed, in reaction to the Supreme Court judgment dismissing his party’s petition against the presidential election, General Buhari said Nigeria was “now a fractured society, corruption everywhere, violence everywhere, a sense of helplessness and hopelessness nearly everywhere.”
He said unless the leaders of the country move fast to arrest the situation, chaos would set in and there would be breakdown of law and order.
But he said it does not look like the leaders are concerned with the grave situation, as while “the country is sliding into this chaotic state, PDP governments at the centre and in the states are engaged in massive and mindless plunder of the country’s resources in total disregard of the suffering masses.”
“The country now is in an emergency situation. Law and order can break down at any time. Those in charge of the country should be warned that promises and sweet words are no substitute for practical action. To avert the looming chaos in the New Year, immediate steps should be taken to drastically reduce the cost of governance in the three tiers of government.”
Buhari detailed the governance costs he wanted slashed: “Salaries and especially allowances should be drastically reduced; security votes should be abolished – not increased as the 2012 Budget has done. Votes for the Armed forces, Police and Security Services should be transparent and accountable; foreign travel and estacodes should be stopped for at least six months other than for the Presidency, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and medical emergencies. Government House expenses in all the states should be drastically reduced, foreign travel suspended for a while. The National Assembly should give a lead in reducing their allowances substantially and stopping their foreign travels. These savings should be applied to education, infrastructure and agriculture with emphasis on youth employment through meaningful and practical emergency programmes. The public will see through any cosmetic or token gestures and will not tolerate a continuation of status quo. Corruption and plunder are the root causes of unemployment, insecurity, violence and unrest.”
He added: “If all hands are on deck to help save our country from imminent collapse we should stabilize. When that happens Nigeria should take a close look at the country’s structure in a calm and unemotional atmosphere. Hopefully we may come to a better form of government to see Nigeria through the next 50 years.”
Buhari unsuccessfully contested for president in the April election on CPC’s platform, and his party challenged the results at the tribunal, even though he personally refused to join the case. The Court of Appeal earlier dismissed the petition for failing to convincingly show that the elections were rigged, and yesterday the Supreme Court concurred.
On yesterday’s judgement, Buhari said: “All who witnessed the conduct of the 2011 elections would know that this decision of the Supreme Court is politically motivated and has little judicial content.”
He said, “This Supreme Court has proved no better than the Supreme Courts of 2003 and 2007” having toed a similar line of dismissing the election petition.
Buhari said this year’s election “eclipsed all the other elections in the depth and scope of forgery and rigging.”
He criticised INEC chairman Attahiru Jega, who he said “was touted as competent and a man of integrity. He has proved neither.”
In a bluntly worded statement he personally signed, in reaction to the Supreme Court judgment dismissing his party’s petition against the presidential election, General Buhari said Nigeria was “now a fractured society, corruption everywhere, violence everywhere, a sense of helplessness and hopelessness nearly everywhere.”
He said unless the leaders of the country move fast to arrest the situation, chaos would set in and there would be breakdown of law and order.
But he said it does not look like the leaders are concerned with the grave situation, as while “the country is sliding into this chaotic state, PDP governments at the centre and in the states are engaged in massive and mindless plunder of the country’s resources in total disregard of the suffering masses.”
“The country now is in an emergency situation. Law and order can break down at any time. Those in charge of the country should be warned that promises and sweet words are no substitute for practical action. To avert the looming chaos in the New Year, immediate steps should be taken to drastically reduce the cost of governance in the three tiers of government.”
Buhari detailed the governance costs he wanted slashed: “Salaries and especially allowances should be drastically reduced; security votes should be abolished – not increased as the 2012 Budget has done. Votes for the Armed forces, Police and Security Services should be transparent and accountable; foreign travel and estacodes should be stopped for at least six months other than for the Presidency, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and medical emergencies. Government House expenses in all the states should be drastically reduced, foreign travel suspended for a while. The National Assembly should give a lead in reducing their allowances substantially and stopping their foreign travels. These savings should be applied to education, infrastructure and agriculture with emphasis on youth employment through meaningful and practical emergency programmes. The public will see through any cosmetic or token gestures and will not tolerate a continuation of status quo. Corruption and plunder are the root causes of unemployment, insecurity, violence and unrest.”
He added: “If all hands are on deck to help save our country from imminent collapse we should stabilize. When that happens Nigeria should take a close look at the country’s structure in a calm and unemotional atmosphere. Hopefully we may come to a better form of government to see Nigeria through the next 50 years.”
Buhari unsuccessfully contested for president in the April election on CPC’s platform, and his party challenged the results at the tribunal, even though he personally refused to join the case. The Court of Appeal earlier dismissed the petition for failing to convincingly show that the elections were rigged, and yesterday the Supreme Court concurred.
On yesterday’s judgement, Buhari said: “All who witnessed the conduct of the 2011 elections would know that this decision of the Supreme Court is politically motivated and has little judicial content.”
He said, “This Supreme Court has proved no better than the Supreme Courts of 2003 and 2007” having toed a similar line of dismissing the election petition.
Buhari said this year’s election “eclipsed all the other elections in the depth and scope of forgery and rigging.”
He criticised INEC chairman Attahiru Jega, who he said “was touted as competent and a man of integrity. He has proved neither.”
A 34 year old man disguised wearing kaftan and turban attempted to burn a church in Yenagoa the Bayelsa state capital
A middle aged man (names withheld) from Edo State, disguised in kaftan and turban, has been arrested while attempting to set ablaze a Church in Yenagoa the Bayelsa State capital, Daily Trust gathered yesterday.
Our correspondent gathered that the young man, who hails from Edo State was dressed in kaftans and wore a Turban attempted to set ablaze the Redeemed Christian Church along Nicheon Road Yenagoa.
A senior official of the State Security Service (SSS) in Yenagoa confirmed the attempt to attack the Church but said the suspect has nothing to do with the radical Boko Haram sect as he was a Christian from Edo State.
“There is nothing like bombing of a Church in Bayelsa State. What actually happened was that a man was arrested while attempting to burn down a Church. The man is said to have confessed to the Church of being an armed robber and the Church promised to rehabilitate him and paid his house rent for two years.
“When his rent expired, he (the man) when back to the Church demanding for additional House rent and the Church said they only promised to pay his rent for two years for him to find a job and be on his own.
“So the man decided to go back to the Church, attempted to burn down the Church yesterday (Tuesday evening) and was arrested. We have handed him over to the police. If you want any other information, you can contact the Police,” the official said.
The Bayelsa State police command when contacted, denied knowledge of the incident saying it did not receive any report or suspect in connection with attempt to burn down a Church.
“I have been on duty throughout the Christmas period. Nothing like that happened. Other reporters have called and I told them the same. I am not aware of any report of a suspect handed over to us,” the State Police Spokesman, Eguaveon Emokpae said.
Our correspondent gathered that the young man, who hails from Edo State was dressed in kaftans and wore a Turban attempted to set ablaze the Redeemed Christian Church along Nicheon Road Yenagoa.
A senior official of the State Security Service (SSS) in Yenagoa confirmed the attempt to attack the Church but said the suspect has nothing to do with the radical Boko Haram sect as he was a Christian from Edo State.
“There is nothing like bombing of a Church in Bayelsa State. What actually happened was that a man was arrested while attempting to burn down a Church. The man is said to have confessed to the Church of being an armed robber and the Church promised to rehabilitate him and paid his house rent for two years.
“When his rent expired, he (the man) when back to the Church demanding for additional House rent and the Church said they only promised to pay his rent for two years for him to find a job and be on his own.
“So the man decided to go back to the Church, attempted to burn down the Church yesterday (Tuesday evening) and was arrested. We have handed him over to the police. If you want any other information, you can contact the Police,” the official said.
The Bayelsa State police command when contacted, denied knowledge of the incident saying it did not receive any report or suspect in connection with attempt to burn down a Church.
“I have been on duty throughout the Christmas period. Nothing like that happened. Other reporters have called and I told them the same. I am not aware of any report of a suspect handed over to us,” the State Police Spokesman, Eguaveon Emokpae said.
Islamic schools bombed in Sapele as 10 pupils were injured
FEARS that members of the Boko Haram sect might have finally infiltrated the Niger Delta region heightened on Tuesday night,
following a bomb explosion that rocked an Islamic school in Sapele, Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State, just as a couple and their daughter were reportedly killed by Fulani herdsmen in Plateau State.
The explosion was the second in Sapele in three weeks after a mosque, on Hausa Road, was rocked by an early morning bomb blast.
Tuesday’s blast injured 10 Muslim pupils, including a woman who are, at the moment, receiving treatment at the General Hospital, Sapele, Delta State University Hospital, Oghara and the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin, Edo State.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that yet-to-be-identified occupants of a Toyota Camry car threw a bomb at a store being used for Islamic lesson by about 50 pupils at about 8.40 p.m., which exploded and injured the victims.
It was learnt the explosion was massive and threw some of the pupils in different directions and that the assailants moved a distance to ensure that they indeed hit their target before escaping from the scene.
The explosion, according to an eyewitness, occurred three hours after the commencement of the day’s lessons and one and a half hours before closing time at the school on King Street, off Urhobo road, Sapele.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that the victims were identified as Asisat Hassan; Saidat Muhammed; Xlare Jemilat, all females, Asibi Lawal (the woman).
Chief Medical Director of the Sapele General Hospital, Dr Omo Aghoja, confirmed that three of the bomb victims were receiving treatment in the hospital.
A senior security officer at the scene confirmed that the explosion was dynamite but the Divisional Police Officer of Sapele, Mr Emmanuel Ighodalo, declined to comment.
He, however, said all necessary information about the incident had been given by him to the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Chalres Muka, whose duty it was to brief the press.
Incidentally, security officials from Abuja were in Sapele to investigate the cause of a recent bomb blast in the area when the latest incident occurred.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that top security chiefs in the state had visited the scene and immediately entered into an emergency security meeting in Sapele before leaving the town.
Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Muka, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, confirmed the incident.
He said a low capacity dynamite was thrown into a classroom by some hoodlums in a vehicle and that six persons were injured in the blast that occurred.
Muka said the police had commenced full investigations into the incident.
The Chief Imam of Sapele Central Mosque, Alhaji Mohammed Usman, said: “The blast was targeted to exterminate the Muslim pupils” and called on the government to increase security around the Muslim community in Sapele.
A Muslim faithful, who sought anonymity, told Nigerian Tribune that the Tuesday night blast was a retaliatory attack on the Muslim sect that bombed the Central Mosque, three weeks ago.
According to him, “The Muslim school on Tuesday night is mainly attended by children of the rival Muslim worshippers and mosque situated about 300 yards away from the Central Mosque, Sapele.”
Meanwhile, following threats that the Boko Haram sect would attack churches in the South during the Yuletide, the police in Delta State have intensified security in the area along with other security agents to ensure crisis-free services on New Year’s Day.
According to Muka, Delta State would remain safe as it was during the Christmas celebration.
He disclosed that the police rescued a woman and recovered an AK47 rifle, two magazines, and two live cartridges from a kidnapping gang in Effurun.
Similarly, the wife of a lecturer at the Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, Mrs Ogba Erezi, who was abducted by an unknown gang last Thursday, at Ogwashi-Uku, has regained her freedom without any ransom paid.
Reports said the husband was about to open the gate for the woman at dusk in their residence around DPPS area when the kidnappers took her away.
ASP Muka, who confirmed the story, said the woman was dropped on the Ubulu-Uku/Ogwashi road after three days.
In another development, the state of insecurity in Delta State came to the fore, on Wednesday, with the killing of two mobile policemen on patrol in Warri by yet to be identified gunmen.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that the policemen were part of a patrol team keeping surveillance on the Mackaival road, when they were attacked by the hoodlums.
Security sources disclosed that the patrol team was moving on the Mackaival road when they were shot from the rear by gunmen in a vehicle.
“The patrol team was on surveillance on the Mackaival road when occupants of a vehicle opened fire on them from the rear. Two of the policemen in the Jeep were felled and died instantly,” a security source said.
The incident occurred at about 2.30 p.m, thereby, throwing the police community at “A” Division and the area command into mourning.
Nigerian Tribune learnt that the deceased were Michael Okerakpo, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and Emmanuel Okoh, an Inspector of Police.
When the Nigerian Tribune visited the police station, their colleagues were lamenting the difficulties facing them in the execution of their duties in the town.
Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Charles Muka, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, confirmed the incident.
He said: “We lost two men to gunmen today. We are in a sad mood but definitely, with God on our side, we will get the culprits.”
Also, a group of people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, on Tuesday night, attacked Wereng village in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State and killed three members of a family in a barbaric manner.
the attackers, numbering about 15 and armed with sophisticated rifles, stormed the village at about 11.00 p.m. when most of the villagers had gone to bed.
It was learnt that the assailants, who entered the village through the hills around the village, positioned themselves at various entry points to the village while a few of them entered to carry out the dastardly act.
An eyewitness told the Nigerian Tribune that at the first house that they attacked, a family of three was butchered and shot in their living room. They were identified as Philip Francis, 37; his wife, Simi, 28 and their little baby, Nerat, who was mercilessly butchered by the attackers.
A 64-year-old woman who survived that attack by escaping through the window of her room told newsmen that the assailants shot into the air when they entered the village with the aim of scaring them out of their respective houses, adding that many remained indoors having known their antics.
The woman identified as Mary Pam, said the alarm raised by the people of the village forced the attackers to beat a retreat and escaped through the nearby hills.
following a bomb explosion that rocked an Islamic school in Sapele, Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State, just as a couple and their daughter were reportedly killed by Fulani herdsmen in Plateau State.
The explosion was the second in Sapele in three weeks after a mosque, on Hausa Road, was rocked by an early morning bomb blast.
Tuesday’s blast injured 10 Muslim pupils, including a woman who are, at the moment, receiving treatment at the General Hospital, Sapele, Delta State University Hospital, Oghara and the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin, Edo State.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that yet-to-be-identified occupants of a Toyota Camry car threw a bomb at a store being used for Islamic lesson by about 50 pupils at about 8.40 p.m., which exploded and injured the victims.
It was learnt the explosion was massive and threw some of the pupils in different directions and that the assailants moved a distance to ensure that they indeed hit their target before escaping from the scene.
The explosion, according to an eyewitness, occurred three hours after the commencement of the day’s lessons and one and a half hours before closing time at the school on King Street, off Urhobo road, Sapele.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that the victims were identified as Asisat Hassan; Saidat Muhammed; Xlare Jemilat, all females, Asibi Lawal (the woman).
Chief Medical Director of the Sapele General Hospital, Dr Omo Aghoja, confirmed that three of the bomb victims were receiving treatment in the hospital.
A senior security officer at the scene confirmed that the explosion was dynamite but the Divisional Police Officer of Sapele, Mr Emmanuel Ighodalo, declined to comment.
He, however, said all necessary information about the incident had been given by him to the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Chalres Muka, whose duty it was to brief the press.
Incidentally, security officials from Abuja were in Sapele to investigate the cause of a recent bomb blast in the area when the latest incident occurred.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that top security chiefs in the state had visited the scene and immediately entered into an emergency security meeting in Sapele before leaving the town.
Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Muka, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, confirmed the incident.
He said a low capacity dynamite was thrown into a classroom by some hoodlums in a vehicle and that six persons were injured in the blast that occurred.
Muka said the police had commenced full investigations into the incident.
The Chief Imam of Sapele Central Mosque, Alhaji Mohammed Usman, said: “The blast was targeted to exterminate the Muslim pupils” and called on the government to increase security around the Muslim community in Sapele.
A Muslim faithful, who sought anonymity, told Nigerian Tribune that the Tuesday night blast was a retaliatory attack on the Muslim sect that bombed the Central Mosque, three weeks ago.
According to him, “The Muslim school on Tuesday night is mainly attended by children of the rival Muslim worshippers and mosque situated about 300 yards away from the Central Mosque, Sapele.”
Meanwhile, following threats that the Boko Haram sect would attack churches in the South during the Yuletide, the police in Delta State have intensified security in the area along with other security agents to ensure crisis-free services on New Year’s Day.
According to Muka, Delta State would remain safe as it was during the Christmas celebration.
He disclosed that the police rescued a woman and recovered an AK47 rifle, two magazines, and two live cartridges from a kidnapping gang in Effurun.
Similarly, the wife of a lecturer at the Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, Mrs Ogba Erezi, who was abducted by an unknown gang last Thursday, at Ogwashi-Uku, has regained her freedom without any ransom paid.
Reports said the husband was about to open the gate for the woman at dusk in their residence around DPPS area when the kidnappers took her away.
ASP Muka, who confirmed the story, said the woman was dropped on the Ubulu-Uku/Ogwashi road after three days.
In another development, the state of insecurity in Delta State came to the fore, on Wednesday, with the killing of two mobile policemen on patrol in Warri by yet to be identified gunmen.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that the policemen were part of a patrol team keeping surveillance on the Mackaival road, when they were attacked by the hoodlums.
Security sources disclosed that the patrol team was moving on the Mackaival road when they were shot from the rear by gunmen in a vehicle.
“The patrol team was on surveillance on the Mackaival road when occupants of a vehicle opened fire on them from the rear. Two of the policemen in the Jeep were felled and died instantly,” a security source said.
The incident occurred at about 2.30 p.m, thereby, throwing the police community at “A” Division and the area command into mourning.
Nigerian Tribune learnt that the deceased were Michael Okerakpo, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and Emmanuel Okoh, an Inspector of Police.
When the Nigerian Tribune visited the police station, their colleagues were lamenting the difficulties facing them in the execution of their duties in the town.
Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Charles Muka, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, confirmed the incident.
He said: “We lost two men to gunmen today. We are in a sad mood but definitely, with God on our side, we will get the culprits.”
Also, a group of people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, on Tuesday night, attacked Wereng village in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State and killed three members of a family in a barbaric manner.
the attackers, numbering about 15 and armed with sophisticated rifles, stormed the village at about 11.00 p.m. when most of the villagers had gone to bed.
It was learnt that the assailants, who entered the village through the hills around the village, positioned themselves at various entry points to the village while a few of them entered to carry out the dastardly act.
An eyewitness told the Nigerian Tribune that at the first house that they attacked, a family of three was butchered and shot in their living room. They were identified as Philip Francis, 37; his wife, Simi, 28 and their little baby, Nerat, who was mercilessly butchered by the attackers.
A 64-year-old woman who survived that attack by escaping through the window of her room told newsmen that the assailants shot into the air when they entered the village with the aim of scaring them out of their respective houses, adding that many remained indoors having known their antics.
The woman identified as Mary Pam, said the alarm raised by the people of the village forced the attackers to beat a retreat and escaped through the nearby hills.
Protect yourself in any way you can CAN President tells Nigerians
Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, yesterday told Christian faithful across the country to protect themselves, their property and churches in any way they could, against any attack, even as he asked Muslim leaders to call their people to order.
Oritsejafor stated this when he paid a visit to St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, the scene of the Christmas bomb blast at Madalla, Niger State.
Oritsejafor, while sympathising with members of the parish, said the visit was to let them know that they were not alone.
“Even though Jesus Christ is with you, we have come to show solidarity,” he said.
Oritsejafor, who described the Madalla bomb blast as “madness that should not be talked about among human beings,” said Christian faithful should expect the unexpected “when you are in the world but our belief in God must be stronger now.”
He said although the Muslim community had taken a good step by visiting and sympathising with Christians and victims of the bomb blast, it was not enough.
He said they should take a step further and help reach Boko Haram members, noting that the perpetrators were not spirits.
His words: “We see this as pure madness, normal people don’t behave like this, even animals have value for each other not to talk of human beings.
Oritsejafor stated this when he paid a visit to St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, the scene of the Christmas bomb blast at Madalla, Niger State.
Oritsejafor, while sympathising with members of the parish, said the visit was to let them know that they were not alone.
“Even though Jesus Christ is with you, we have come to show solidarity,” he said.
Oritsejafor, who described the Madalla bomb blast as “madness that should not be talked about among human beings,” said Christian faithful should expect the unexpected “when you are in the world but our belief in God must be stronger now.”
He said although the Muslim community had taken a good step by visiting and sympathising with Christians and victims of the bomb blast, it was not enough.
He said they should take a step further and help reach Boko Haram members, noting that the perpetrators were not spirits.
His words: “We see this as pure madness, normal people don’t behave like this, even animals have value for each other not to talk of human beings.
Buhari VS Jonathan court case
The Supreme Court, will today, deliver its judgment on an appeal challenging the outcome of the April 16 presidential election.
The appeal which is seeking to sack President Goodluck Jonathan from office, was filed before the apex court by the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC.
The opposition party is urging the Supreme Court to set aside the verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal which on November 1, affirmed President Jonathan as the authentic winner of the presidential contest.
It specifically prayed the apex court to either annul the election and mandate the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to organise a re-run election between its candidate, General Muhamadu Buhari (rtd) and that of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, President Jonathan, or in the alternative, remit the case-file to the tribunal and order the Appeal Court President to constitute a fresh panel to hear the appeal de-novo (afresh).
Listed as respondents in the appeal were INEC; its Chairman, Prof; Attahiru Jega; the Resident Electoral Commissioners in the 36 states of the federation and the FCT; President Jonathan, his vice and the PDP.
It would be recalled that the Presidential Election Tribunal which held its sittings at the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, not only dismissed CPC’s petition against the April 16 general election, but equally held that the electoral exercise was conducted in line with provisions of both the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution as amended.
However, expressing its dissatisfaction with the decision of the five-man panel tribunal led by Justice Kumai Bayaang Akaahs, the CPC, through its lead counsel, Mr Oladipo Okpeseyi, SAN, told the Supreme Court that the tribunal wrongfully evaluated evidences that were adduced before it by witnesses the party called.
In a brief of argument it entered at the apex court registry on November 28, the opposition party contended that the trial tribunal erred in law when it rejected documents required to prove multiple thumb printing, non-distribution of electoral materials as well as occasioned miscarriage of justice by not ascertaining the actual number of required voters, the accredited number of voters and the actual number of voters that voted in the disputed election.
On the other hand, counsel to President Jonathan and his vice, Sambo, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, urged the apex court to go ahead and dismiss the appeal in its entirety, saying it grossly lacked in both substance and merit.
After all the parties had adopted their briefs of argument, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, who presided over a seven-man panel of Justices of the Supreme Court that heard the appeal, adjourned the case till today for judgment.
The other Justices on the panel are, Mahmud Mohammed, Walter Onnoghen, John Afolabi Fabiyi, Olufunlola Adekeye, Bode Rhodes-Vivour and Sylvester Ngwuta.
The appeal which is seeking to sack President Goodluck Jonathan from office, was filed before the apex court by the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC.
The opposition party is urging the Supreme Court to set aside the verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal which on November 1, affirmed President Jonathan as the authentic winner of the presidential contest.
It specifically prayed the apex court to either annul the election and mandate the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to organise a re-run election between its candidate, General Muhamadu Buhari (rtd) and that of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, President Jonathan, or in the alternative, remit the case-file to the tribunal and order the Appeal Court President to constitute a fresh panel to hear the appeal de-novo (afresh).
Listed as respondents in the appeal were INEC; its Chairman, Prof; Attahiru Jega; the Resident Electoral Commissioners in the 36 states of the federation and the FCT; President Jonathan, his vice and the PDP.
It would be recalled that the Presidential Election Tribunal which held its sittings at the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, not only dismissed CPC’s petition against the April 16 general election, but equally held that the electoral exercise was conducted in line with provisions of both the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution as amended.
However, expressing its dissatisfaction with the decision of the five-man panel tribunal led by Justice Kumai Bayaang Akaahs, the CPC, through its lead counsel, Mr Oladipo Okpeseyi, SAN, told the Supreme Court that the tribunal wrongfully evaluated evidences that were adduced before it by witnesses the party called.
In a brief of argument it entered at the apex court registry on November 28, the opposition party contended that the trial tribunal erred in law when it rejected documents required to prove multiple thumb printing, non-distribution of electoral materials as well as occasioned miscarriage of justice by not ascertaining the actual number of required voters, the accredited number of voters and the actual number of voters that voted in the disputed election.
On the other hand, counsel to President Jonathan and his vice, Sambo, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, urged the apex court to go ahead and dismiss the appeal in its entirety, saying it grossly lacked in both substance and merit.
After all the parties had adopted their briefs of argument, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, who presided over a seven-man panel of Justices of the Supreme Court that heard the appeal, adjourned the case till today for judgment.
The other Justices on the panel are, Mahmud Mohammed, Walter Onnoghen, John Afolabi Fabiyi, Olufunlola Adekeye, Bode Rhodes-Vivour and Sylvester Ngwuta.
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
Is EFCC after Waziri?
WHILE relieving Mrs Farida Waziri of her job as the chairman of the antigraft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity had been quoted as having said inter alia that: ”It is part of President Jonathan’s determination to revitalise the fight against corruption. President Jonathan may announce further reforms and will be looking at other key areas to give more vigorous emphasis to the transformation agenda.” In simpler terms, the former chairman of the EFCC had ceased to be seen as part of the fight against corruption by the establishment. As a matter of proper reference, her sack was even seen as a process of “revitalising the fight against corruption”
TO be sure, President Jonathan reserves the right to, as it is, sack anybody in the executive without even giving any explanation to anyone but it seems the self-recommended sack of Mrs Farida Waziri from the exalted position of the chairman of the EFCC is atavistic, at least a little bit. With her exit, the anti-graft commission has lost two chairmen in less than savoury circumstances.
WITH the benefit of objective hindsight, even the appointment of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as the pioneer Chairman of EFCC was short of propriety and due process. In the bid to make him fit the bill, he was given an undue accelerated promotion, an act which the Police Service Commission (PSC) eventually had to reverse after the administration which appointed him left the scene. This is however not to take away anything from whatever may have been seen as Mallam Ribadu’s achievements during his beleaguered tenure. How indeed, could the administration effect a credible fight against corruption if the appointment of the head of the anti-graft agency reeked so much of impropriety? Interestingly, the establishment here tends to see corruption only as graft and malfeasance, whereas at the abstract and normative levels, it should include such acts as crude imposition which the appointment of Mallam Ribadu then represented.
MRS Waziri’s appointment was attended by a heavier cynicism from the public. EFCC under her was indulgent in prosecuting the Ibori case almost to the point of crass unprofessionalism. The former governor of the oil-rich Delta State had been a key player in the administration of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and it had been rumoured that her appointment had been at Ibori’s instance. If the people were not excited by Mrs Waziri’s sack, it was probably because of their calloused cynicism about the genuineness of the purpose of the government. She will be remembered as an articulate and passionate speaker on the subject of corruption. She once observed quite perceptively that “if you fight corruption, corruption will fight back with everything it has got.” We agree.
THE fight against corruption is certainly not a circus show and it should be expected that the beneficiaries of corruption will not sit idly by and watch as their livelihood is attacked by those they see as a whining and disgruntled mob. The fight against corruption should be both total and institutionalised. If the sack of just an individual is being regarded as revitalising the fight against corruption, then we are afraid, the fight has not yet begun in the real sense. EFCC as it is currently is a corrupt brand. Its operatives are on the take from its rich and opulent suspects and this is why many men and officers of the Police Force jostle desperately for a posting there. The EFCC is seen as a juicy agency!
FOR the fight against corruption to be credible and sincere, there is a need to make the EFCC powerful and independent, an agency before which nobody is a sacred cow and which does not see anyone that cannot be investigated and duly prosecuted regardless of his or her office. A lot of work still has to be done on reworking the EFCC Act, especially on the qualification of its chairman, the officers and men. Nothing says they must have a police background. As a matter of fact, from experience, only those officers who may have distinguished themselves within the police force as incorruptible need be mobilised and they must be well trained to acquit themselves creditably. As observed by the ex-chairman of the EFCC, corruption is the bane of the country and without keeping it in check, there can be no hope of development or progress. It is unfortunate that this monster is at the core of the essence of Nigeria now.
CORRUPTION is too institutionalised and entrenched in Nigeria for its gods to be propitiated by only Mrs Waziri’s head or that of Mallam Ribadu or both. After sacking them, corruption has remained inviolable, dogging the very essence of Nigeria.
WE believe that punishing corruption is the only way to stem its tide. Those who have profited from it must be found out, duly punished and the rewards of the illegal acts confiscated. The EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies must ensure that those beneficiaries of corruption are prevented from enjoying the proceeds of their graft. It is sad that the ethos of the Nigerian society has been so virulently attacked by corruption that it has almost become the norm and people can no longer see corruption as an anomaly even when it stares at them in the face. Bribery, nepotism, favouritism, exam malpractices, federal character, among others, are all corruption by finer names. We know and we have always recognised that corruption is universal in all human societies, the difference is in what societies do to it. Some societies repudiate it while others like Nigeria celebrate it. Nigeria should make EFCC strong and independent enough to repudiate corruption on its behalf.
TO be sure, President Jonathan reserves the right to, as it is, sack anybody in the executive without even giving any explanation to anyone but it seems the self-recommended sack of Mrs Farida Waziri from the exalted position of the chairman of the EFCC is atavistic, at least a little bit. With her exit, the anti-graft commission has lost two chairmen in less than savoury circumstances.
WITH the benefit of objective hindsight, even the appointment of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as the pioneer Chairman of EFCC was short of propriety and due process. In the bid to make him fit the bill, he was given an undue accelerated promotion, an act which the Police Service Commission (PSC) eventually had to reverse after the administration which appointed him left the scene. This is however not to take away anything from whatever may have been seen as Mallam Ribadu’s achievements during his beleaguered tenure. How indeed, could the administration effect a credible fight against corruption if the appointment of the head of the anti-graft agency reeked so much of impropriety? Interestingly, the establishment here tends to see corruption only as graft and malfeasance, whereas at the abstract and normative levels, it should include such acts as crude imposition which the appointment of Mallam Ribadu then represented.
MRS Waziri’s appointment was attended by a heavier cynicism from the public. EFCC under her was indulgent in prosecuting the Ibori case almost to the point of crass unprofessionalism. The former governor of the oil-rich Delta State had been a key player in the administration of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and it had been rumoured that her appointment had been at Ibori’s instance. If the people were not excited by Mrs Waziri’s sack, it was probably because of their calloused cynicism about the genuineness of the purpose of the government. She will be remembered as an articulate and passionate speaker on the subject of corruption. She once observed quite perceptively that “if you fight corruption, corruption will fight back with everything it has got.” We agree.
THE fight against corruption is certainly not a circus show and it should be expected that the beneficiaries of corruption will not sit idly by and watch as their livelihood is attacked by those they see as a whining and disgruntled mob. The fight against corruption should be both total and institutionalised. If the sack of just an individual is being regarded as revitalising the fight against corruption, then we are afraid, the fight has not yet begun in the real sense. EFCC as it is currently is a corrupt brand. Its operatives are on the take from its rich and opulent suspects and this is why many men and officers of the Police Force jostle desperately for a posting there. The EFCC is seen as a juicy agency!
FOR the fight against corruption to be credible and sincere, there is a need to make the EFCC powerful and independent, an agency before which nobody is a sacred cow and which does not see anyone that cannot be investigated and duly prosecuted regardless of his or her office. A lot of work still has to be done on reworking the EFCC Act, especially on the qualification of its chairman, the officers and men. Nothing says they must have a police background. As a matter of fact, from experience, only those officers who may have distinguished themselves within the police force as incorruptible need be mobilised and they must be well trained to acquit themselves creditably. As observed by the ex-chairman of the EFCC, corruption is the bane of the country and without keeping it in check, there can be no hope of development or progress. It is unfortunate that this monster is at the core of the essence of Nigeria now.
CORRUPTION is too institutionalised and entrenched in Nigeria for its gods to be propitiated by only Mrs Waziri’s head or that of Mallam Ribadu or both. After sacking them, corruption has remained inviolable, dogging the very essence of Nigeria.
WE believe that punishing corruption is the only way to stem its tide. Those who have profited from it must be found out, duly punished and the rewards of the illegal acts confiscated. The EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies must ensure that those beneficiaries of corruption are prevented from enjoying the proceeds of their graft. It is sad that the ethos of the Nigerian society has been so virulently attacked by corruption that it has almost become the norm and people can no longer see corruption as an anomaly even when it stares at them in the face. Bribery, nepotism, favouritism, exam malpractices, federal character, among others, are all corruption by finer names. We know and we have always recognised that corruption is universal in all human societies, the difference is in what societies do to it. Some societies repudiate it while others like Nigeria celebrate it. Nigeria should make EFCC strong and independent enough to repudiate corruption on its behalf.
Azare raid by 100 gun men, bomb base, banks, public places while many die in the process
More than 100 gunmen suspected to be from the Boko Haram sect raided Azare, Bauchi State, early yesterday morning, bombing two police stations and two banks in an attack that killed many people, residents and police authorities said.
A solider, a policeman and many other people were killed in the attack in Azare, headquarters of Katagum Local Government Area, about 218 kilometres north of the Bauchi state capital, residents told Daily Trust.
The attackers, who launched their assault shortly after midnight, bombed the police area command and a nearby police station, reducing them to rubble. They also bombed and robbed local branches for the Guaranty Trust Bank and Intercontinental Bank, residents said.
Bauchi State Police commissioner Ikechukwu Aduba confirmed the incident, saying a police officer, a soldier, a civilian and three gunmen were killed during the attack that lasted for hours.
“Our men did their best; they prevented the attackers from gaining entrance into the barracks. Every side suffered casualty, we suffered our casualty, our mobile policeman was killed, a soldier was killed, and a civilian, and the hoodlums also suffered many casualties,” he told Daily Trust. “It’s a real war because the hoodlums invaded Azare in large numbers. They are over 100. We did our best but because of the power of fire arms both sides suffered casualties.”
The commissioner said over 20 rocket-propelled bombs were launched from outside the area command’s headquarters building, leaving the structure completely destroyed. He said about 30 policemen on duty at the area command office responded and repelled the attackers.
“The attack was launched simultaneously at six facilities including the mobile police base, the area commander’s office, the police station, two banks and one Ali Kwara’s residence,” he said. Ali Kwara is a popular local thief catcher, who also served as security adviser to a minister of the FCT in 2007-2008.
The Associated Press news agency quoted Aduba as saying no arrest was made, but that the Boko Haram sect was suspected of carrying out the attack.
A senior official of Katagum LGA said when they launched their attack, the gunmen blocked all the roads leading to the places they intended to target. “Then we heard sporadic gunshots and huge blasts. The attack lasted for over three hours,” he said.
A Red Cross official, who was at the Federal Medical Centre in Azare where victims of the attacks were taken, said he saw the bodies of a soldier, a policeman and an errand boy for the police, while two policemen were being treated for gunshot wounds.
Even though the police commissioner confirmed the death of six people including the gunmen, residents told Daily Trust that the number of those killed in the attack was much more than the police were admitting.
A resident who does not want to be named said apart from policemen who were killed in the shootout with the gunmen, there were also detainees in police cells who were killed as the bombs exploded. He said also that there were newly transferred police personnel staying in the premises of the area command and some of them might have been killed in the attack.
When asked by Daily Trust if the police were understating the deaths, police commissioner Aduba said, “We are not hiding anything. Outside the fence of our office we saw blood, a lot of blood was lost, which clearly shows that they (the gunmen) too have suffered casualties and from the report three of the hoodlums were gunned down.
“Go and ask anybody in Azare, this is the correct number of casualties we recorded. We don’t have anything to hide; we too have relatives if people are affected they have relatives, the relatives will complain.”
Yesterday, there was heavy presence of riot policemen cordoning the roads leading to the areas attacked as police bomb squad sweep through the rubble of the razed structures. There were unexploded bomb canisters littering the premises of the two banks.
This was one of many similar attacks in Bauchi State in recent months. There had been such gun assaults and bomb raids in Misau, Gamawa, Alkaleri and Toro, some of which were claimed by the Boko Haram sect.
A solider, a policeman and many other people were killed in the attack in Azare, headquarters of Katagum Local Government Area, about 218 kilometres north of the Bauchi state capital, residents told Daily Trust.
The attackers, who launched their assault shortly after midnight, bombed the police area command and a nearby police station, reducing them to rubble. They also bombed and robbed local branches for the Guaranty Trust Bank and Intercontinental Bank, residents said.
Bauchi State Police commissioner Ikechukwu Aduba confirmed the incident, saying a police officer, a soldier, a civilian and three gunmen were killed during the attack that lasted for hours.
“Our men did their best; they prevented the attackers from gaining entrance into the barracks. Every side suffered casualty, we suffered our casualty, our mobile policeman was killed, a soldier was killed, and a civilian, and the hoodlums also suffered many casualties,” he told Daily Trust. “It’s a real war because the hoodlums invaded Azare in large numbers. They are over 100. We did our best but because of the power of fire arms both sides suffered casualties.”
The commissioner said over 20 rocket-propelled bombs were launched from outside the area command’s headquarters building, leaving the structure completely destroyed. He said about 30 policemen on duty at the area command office responded and repelled the attackers.
“The attack was launched simultaneously at six facilities including the mobile police base, the area commander’s office, the police station, two banks and one Ali Kwara’s residence,” he said. Ali Kwara is a popular local thief catcher, who also served as security adviser to a minister of the FCT in 2007-2008.
The Associated Press news agency quoted Aduba as saying no arrest was made, but that the Boko Haram sect was suspected of carrying out the attack.
A senior official of Katagum LGA said when they launched their attack, the gunmen blocked all the roads leading to the places they intended to target. “Then we heard sporadic gunshots and huge blasts. The attack lasted for over three hours,” he said.
A Red Cross official, who was at the Federal Medical Centre in Azare where victims of the attacks were taken, said he saw the bodies of a soldier, a policeman and an errand boy for the police, while two policemen were being treated for gunshot wounds.
Even though the police commissioner confirmed the death of six people including the gunmen, residents told Daily Trust that the number of those killed in the attack was much more than the police were admitting.
A resident who does not want to be named said apart from policemen who were killed in the shootout with the gunmen, there were also detainees in police cells who were killed as the bombs exploded. He said also that there were newly transferred police personnel staying in the premises of the area command and some of them might have been killed in the attack.
When asked by Daily Trust if the police were understating the deaths, police commissioner Aduba said, “We are not hiding anything. Outside the fence of our office we saw blood, a lot of blood was lost, which clearly shows that they (the gunmen) too have suffered casualties and from the report three of the hoodlums were gunned down.
“Go and ask anybody in Azare, this is the correct number of casualties we recorded. We don’t have anything to hide; we too have relatives if people are affected they have relatives, the relatives will complain.”
Yesterday, there was heavy presence of riot policemen cordoning the roads leading to the areas attacked as police bomb squad sweep through the rubble of the razed structures. There were unexploded bomb canisters littering the premises of the two banks.
This was one of many similar attacks in Bauchi State in recent months. There had been such gun assaults and bomb raids in Misau, Gamawa, Alkaleri and Toro, some of which were claimed by the Boko Haram sect.
N3.6million fraud by herbalist
A herbalist, Amechi Nnaji, 32, was on Tuesday in Lagos docked at the Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly committing fraud to the tune of N3.6 million.
The accused is facing a two-count charge of stealing and fraud before Chief Magistrate Oyindamola Ogala.
The prosecutor, Eshiet Eshiet, said that the accused committed the alleged fraud on July 15 at Ladipo area of Mushin local government area.
Eshiet said that the accused obtained the sum from one Onyinye Eze, under false pretence, promising to bring her husband back to Nigeria through spiritual means.
He said that the alleged offense was punishable under Section 516 and 419, Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State 2003.
The accused pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.
The case was adjourned till December 20 for further hearing
The accused is facing a two-count charge of stealing and fraud before Chief Magistrate Oyindamola Ogala.
The prosecutor, Eshiet Eshiet, said that the accused committed the alleged fraud on July 15 at Ladipo area of Mushin local government area.
Eshiet said that the accused obtained the sum from one Onyinye Eze, under false pretence, promising to bring her husband back to Nigeria through spiritual means.
He said that the alleged offense was punishable under Section 516 and 419, Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State 2003.
The accused pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.
The case was adjourned till December 20 for further hearing
house of reps member in Nigeria says new number new number plate is misunderstood
Abuja – Mr Aliyu Gebi, the Chairman of the House Committee on Internal Security, says there is a misconception and misunderstanding of the new vehicle number plate recently introduced by Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).
Gebi said after leading members of the committee on a courtesy visit to the management of FRSCthat the committee’s visit was to get proper understanding of the issue with a view to enlightening the public.
“There is a lot of misconception and misunderstanding on the new number plate and part of our visit here is to be more enlightened so that we can go and beam that same light back to the people who are still in darkness,’’ he said.
Asked to comment on the resolution of the assembly stopping the issuance of the number plate, Gebi said: “what the House decides is what the House decides.’’
The chairman commended the FRSC for its innovation and use of Information Communication Technology and urged other government agencies to take a cue from the organisation. .
Gebi said that the committee was doing everything possible within its power to ensure internal security in the country, adding: “we are going forward.’’
Mr Osita Chidoka, the Corps Marshal of FRSC, thanked the chairman for the visit and solicited cooperation for the commission’s efforts to reduce road accidents.
Gebi said after leading members of the committee on a courtesy visit to the management of FRSCthat the committee’s visit was to get proper understanding of the issue with a view to enlightening the public.
“There is a lot of misconception and misunderstanding on the new number plate and part of our visit here is to be more enlightened so that we can go and beam that same light back to the people who are still in darkness,’’ he said.
Asked to comment on the resolution of the assembly stopping the issuance of the number plate, Gebi said: “what the House decides is what the House decides.’’
The chairman commended the FRSC for its innovation and use of Information Communication Technology and urged other government agencies to take a cue from the organisation. .
Gebi said that the committee was doing everything possible within its power to ensure internal security in the country, adding: “we are going forward.’’
Mr Osita Chidoka, the Corps Marshal of FRSC, thanked the chairman for the visit and solicited cooperation for the commission’s efforts to reduce road accidents.
Boko Haram bomber Ali Sanda Kunduga sentenced to three years imprisonment
THE Federal Government, on Monday, filed a fresh charge on breach of public trust against Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
The State Security Service (SSS) had earlier filed a similar case before an Abuja magistrates’ court.
The court was to decide whether or not to grant Senator Ndume bail on Monday, but prosecuting counsel, Steve Osagie, brought an application seeking to withdraw the earlier charge preferred against Ndume, following the filing of a fresh one before Federal High Court.
The serving senator, who has been in the custody of the SSS, is standing trial for alleged breach of official trust and criminal intimidation by anonymous communication, had pleaded not guilty to the charges, while the former spokesman of Boko Haram, Umaru Konduga Ali, also known as Usman Al-Zawahiri, who was arraigned along with him, pleaded guilty to the charges and was consequently convicted by the court.
Chief Magistrate Oyewumi Oyebola convicted Al-Zawahiri in line with Section 318 of the Criminal Code Law, but stayed the sentence following the plea of the prosecuting counsel to enable the SSS to conclude its investigation to establish the link that allegedly existed between Senator Ndume and the convict.
The court consequently granted the application for withdrawal of the charge against Ndume and struck it out, but said the sentencing of the former spokesman of the Boko Haram would go on today.
The court has now sentenced ali sanda kunduga to three years in prisonment. This is as a result of the fact that he confessed to the crime instead of 25 years was given 3 years
The State Security Service (SSS) had earlier filed a similar case before an Abuja magistrates’ court.
The court was to decide whether or not to grant Senator Ndume bail on Monday, but prosecuting counsel, Steve Osagie, brought an application seeking to withdraw the earlier charge preferred against Ndume, following the filing of a fresh one before Federal High Court.
The serving senator, who has been in the custody of the SSS, is standing trial for alleged breach of official trust and criminal intimidation by anonymous communication, had pleaded not guilty to the charges, while the former spokesman of Boko Haram, Umaru Konduga Ali, also known as Usman Al-Zawahiri, who was arraigned along with him, pleaded guilty to the charges and was consequently convicted by the court.
Chief Magistrate Oyewumi Oyebola convicted Al-Zawahiri in line with Section 318 of the Criminal Code Law, but stayed the sentence following the plea of the prosecuting counsel to enable the SSS to conclude its investigation to establish the link that allegedly existed between Senator Ndume and the convict.
The court consequently granted the application for withdrawal of the charge against Ndume and struck it out, but said the sentencing of the former spokesman of the Boko Haram would go on today.
The court has now sentenced ali sanda kunduga to three years in prisonment. This is as a result of the fact that he confessed to the crime instead of 25 years was given 3 years
boko haram sends death threat to human rights staff and asked her to return monies collected in their name
HE Jama’atu Ahlis Sunnati Lidda’awati Wal Jihad, also known as Boko Haram, at the weekend, threatened to kill a female official of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), if she refused to return a “large sum of money” which she allegedly collected from government at the state and federal levels on the pretext that she could strike a dialogue deal with the sect.
Spokesman for the group, Abul-Qaqa, who spoke by the phone, said the group was using the media to pass a last warning to A’isha Wakil, a lawyer, who he said had allegedly collected an unspecified sum of money from top government officials.
“We don’t want a situation that will result in tension… We don’t want to kill a woman. A’isha had confessed to us that she had collected money and we have used all entreaties for her to return the money to us, so that we can do the work of God but she has been dodging,” Abul-Qaqa said.
A senior official of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Borno State confirmed that A’isha Wakil was a practising lawyer in Maiduguri before she moved to the NHRC about three years ago.
“As a professional organisation, we are not aware of what is happening between the said barrister and members of the sect but what I want to tell you is that we always encourage our members to work within the ambit of the ethics of our profession,” the NBA official said.
At the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Tribune could not get the reaction of Wakil to the allegations.
Abul-Qaqa had said: “This warning becomes necessary and we want to set the record straight. Many people have falsely collected money on our behalf and we have forced them to surrender the money in order to stay alive. Barrister A’isha must follow suit.
“We have been in touch with all the people that collected money from government at the state and federal levels without our permission. They lied and claimed that they have access to us and that they can facilitate dialogue.
“We have contacted all of them and most of them have responded positively. Unfortunately, this particular woman is proving stubborn. This is a last warning to her and if she fails to refund our money, we would be left with no option but to take punitive measures against her. We know where she lives and we know her movements,” Abul-Qaqa threatened.
Meanwhile, following shootings at a mosque in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital on Sunday, which left two people dead, the Boko Haram sect, in a phone interview with the media in Maiduguri has denied being behind the attack.
Nigerian Tribune learnt that the gunmen had stormed the Tandari Mosque, known as Masalachi Tandari by the residents, at Hausari ward in the city at about 6.45 p.m. on Sunday and opened fire in the direction of two of the worshippers, who had just finished their sunset (Magreb) prayer, a development which forced other worshippers to run for dear life.
Sources said two people were later found on the floor and their bodies were later deposited at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) morgue.
Residents of the area said they were gripped with fear over the incident.
But the Commissioner of Police, Simeon Midenda, told journalists by phone that he was not aware of the killings, adding that nobody had informed his office.
“We didn’t get such a report of killings at Hausari as you said. The people don’t report such cases to the police, so how do we know such thing happened?” he queried.
Spokesman for the Joint Task Force (JTF), Liutenent-Colonel Hassan Mohammed, also maintained ignorance of the killing when he spoke with journalists, insisting that he did not get any report about the incident, though two JTF patrol vehicles with soldiers blaring siren were seen moving towards the area of the incident at about 7.15 p.m. on Sunday.
The Sunday mosque killing came barely 24 hours after the gunmen had killed three other persons, including a former councillor of Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC), Alhaji Modunga Borifk.
According to sources, the councillor was said to be relaxing with his friends at his Shehuri Ward residence on Saturday morning after performing his wedding fatiha when some gunmen came.
He and two of his friends were shot dead, ending the merriment that preceded the wedding ceremony.
Three other persons were also said to have sustained varying degree of injury and were immediately taken to the UMTH for treatment by the JTF.
The JTF spokesman, Liutenent-Colonel Mohammed, said the suspected Boko Haram gunmen burst into a wedding ceremony in Shehuri North ward of Maiduguri metropolis and then fired several shots at the former councillor and two of his friends.
Mohammed told newsmen that the injured persons were hit by stray bullets at the ceremony before men of the JTF arrived at the scene, adding that the suspects came in an unmarked vehicle and fled to the neigbouring wards of Abaganaram and Lawan Bukar after the incident. He also said no arrest was made as of the weekend.
Meanwhile, the sect has claimed responsibility for the killing of the former councillor, Alhaji Modunga Borifk, whom they accused of being an informant to the security operatives in the state.
The sect told newsmen that Modunga, along with nine others, was on its target list and they were marked for death after they had been identified as informants to the security agents.
Spokesman for the group, Abul-Qaqa, who spoke by the phone, said the group was using the media to pass a last warning to A’isha Wakil, a lawyer, who he said had allegedly collected an unspecified sum of money from top government officials.
“We don’t want a situation that will result in tension… We don’t want to kill a woman. A’isha had confessed to us that she had collected money and we have used all entreaties for her to return the money to us, so that we can do the work of God but she has been dodging,” Abul-Qaqa said.
A senior official of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Borno State confirmed that A’isha Wakil was a practising lawyer in Maiduguri before she moved to the NHRC about three years ago.
“As a professional organisation, we are not aware of what is happening between the said barrister and members of the sect but what I want to tell you is that we always encourage our members to work within the ambit of the ethics of our profession,” the NBA official said.
At the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Tribune could not get the reaction of Wakil to the allegations.
Abul-Qaqa had said: “This warning becomes necessary and we want to set the record straight. Many people have falsely collected money on our behalf and we have forced them to surrender the money in order to stay alive. Barrister A’isha must follow suit.
“We have been in touch with all the people that collected money from government at the state and federal levels without our permission. They lied and claimed that they have access to us and that they can facilitate dialogue.
“We have contacted all of them and most of them have responded positively. Unfortunately, this particular woman is proving stubborn. This is a last warning to her and if she fails to refund our money, we would be left with no option but to take punitive measures against her. We know where she lives and we know her movements,” Abul-Qaqa threatened.
Meanwhile, following shootings at a mosque in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital on Sunday, which left two people dead, the Boko Haram sect, in a phone interview with the media in Maiduguri has denied being behind the attack.
Nigerian Tribune learnt that the gunmen had stormed the Tandari Mosque, known as Masalachi Tandari by the residents, at Hausari ward in the city at about 6.45 p.m. on Sunday and opened fire in the direction of two of the worshippers, who had just finished their sunset (Magreb) prayer, a development which forced other worshippers to run for dear life.
Sources said two people were later found on the floor and their bodies were later deposited at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) morgue.
Residents of the area said they were gripped with fear over the incident.
But the Commissioner of Police, Simeon Midenda, told journalists by phone that he was not aware of the killings, adding that nobody had informed his office.
“We didn’t get such a report of killings at Hausari as you said. The people don’t report such cases to the police, so how do we know such thing happened?” he queried.
Spokesman for the Joint Task Force (JTF), Liutenent-Colonel Hassan Mohammed, also maintained ignorance of the killing when he spoke with journalists, insisting that he did not get any report about the incident, though two JTF patrol vehicles with soldiers blaring siren were seen moving towards the area of the incident at about 7.15 p.m. on Sunday.
The Sunday mosque killing came barely 24 hours after the gunmen had killed three other persons, including a former councillor of Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC), Alhaji Modunga Borifk.
According to sources, the councillor was said to be relaxing with his friends at his Shehuri Ward residence on Saturday morning after performing his wedding fatiha when some gunmen came.
He and two of his friends were shot dead, ending the merriment that preceded the wedding ceremony.
Three other persons were also said to have sustained varying degree of injury and were immediately taken to the UMTH for treatment by the JTF.
The JTF spokesman, Liutenent-Colonel Mohammed, said the suspected Boko Haram gunmen burst into a wedding ceremony in Shehuri North ward of Maiduguri metropolis and then fired several shots at the former councillor and two of his friends.
Mohammed told newsmen that the injured persons were hit by stray bullets at the ceremony before men of the JTF arrived at the scene, adding that the suspects came in an unmarked vehicle and fled to the neigbouring wards of Abaganaram and Lawan Bukar after the incident. He also said no arrest was made as of the weekend.
Meanwhile, the sect has claimed responsibility for the killing of the former councillor, Alhaji Modunga Borifk, whom they accused of being an informant to the security operatives in the state.
The sect told newsmen that Modunga, along with nine others, was on its target list and they were marked for death after they had been identified as informants to the security agents.
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