President Buhari urges African leaders to ensure peace, political stability

 The President gave the challenge at a joint press briefing with the visiting Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, after a closed door meeting in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Abuja – President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday challenged African leaders to ensure socio-political stability in their respective countries to achieve peace and speedy regional and sub-regional integration in the continent.

 He noted that, even though the situation in the ECOWAS sub-region was relatively stable, there was the need to continue to persuade the leaders to pay more attention to security and development.

 “The situation in our sub-region is relatively stable but there is the need for us to continue to persuade our colleagues to show appreciation on the efforts the sub-region is doing to make sure that we pay more attention to security and development.

 “I have appreciated very much your efforts and I also congratulate you on your successes.

 ”I believe you may even go outside the region, to African Union, so that before the AU meeting we try and persuade the leadership of those countries in our sub-region to show more patience and accommodation with politics of their countries.”

 President Buhari stated that the forthcoming 3rd Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security would discuss some political developments in two countries of the sub-region. While commending the Liberian leader for handling the affairs of the ECOWAS diligently, Buhari lauded Sirleaf’s efforts in stabilising her country.

  “I have to very sincerely congratulate you with the way you have stabilised your country and with the small contributions Nigeria was able to make throughout those difficult times that you went through.

 “And also thank you very much on the way you are handling ECOWAS responsibility. “We have one or two countries that I believe we will discuss when we go to Senegal today, tomorrow and maybe on Wednesday, in terms of peace and security.’’

 In her remarks, the Liberian leader who is also the Chairperson of the Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS nations, said she was in Nigeria to be updated on the focus and challenges of the work of the ECOWAS Commission According to her, the visit is also meant to enable her meet with the entities of ECOWAS, the Commission, the Parliament and the Courts in preparation for the forthcoming Summit of the Authority of the ECOWAS, slated for Abuja on Dec. 17.

 She stressed the need for leaders in the sub-region to continue to maintain peace and stability to achieve regional integration and economic prosperity.

 “I’m glad once again to be back in Abuja. I’m using the opportunity of this visit to be updated on the focus and challenges of the work of the ECOWAS Commission, to meet with the entities of ECOWAS, the Commission, the Parliament and the Courts in preparation for the reports I will present at the Summit of the Authority, which will be held here in Abuja, on Dec. 17.

 “But, I’m so grateful that while here, I reached out to the President and asked him for the opportunity to call on him to be able to brief him on some of the findings I have had in my two days of consultation with the commission.

 “I also exchanged with him some of the developments in our sub-region, political development; economic development, and to get his wise counsel on how we can ensure that we monitor the situation in all the West African countries so as to maintain peace and stability in all of our countries.’’

 The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Liberian President, who arrived Abuja on Sunday on a two-day official visit to Nigeria, visited the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja on the same day The ECOWAS chairperson also held closed door meetings with the President of the commission, Mr Marcel de Souza, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and senior officials of the commission.

PDP to APC: Fayose will never join you

The Ekiti State chapter of the peoples Democratic Party has described as unfortunate the statement credited to the’ All progressives Congress in the state that Governor Ayo Fayose is not wanted in their party , saying that no reasonable Nigerian would even want to join APC that has brought Nigeria to its knees within short period it’s in power.

 PDP said that Fayose can never contemplate going to APC for anything talk less becoming it’s member, saying that decamping from from the party to APC is like jumping from land into a dangerous deep sea .

In a statement by the State publicity secretary of PDP in Ekiti State, Mr Jackson Adebayo, the party maintained that the statement by the APC can not be separated from the level of intelligence of those who sprang up the propaganda in the first instance, stressing that APC has confirmed that its handlers have been sold into the delusional mentality hence they don’t know how well to promote their party again.

Adebayo who contended as the governor had said earlier that he would never have anything to do with APC noted that it’s only a politician who deliberately want to commit political suicide that could be nursing the ambition of decamping to the dying party now.

 The PDP spokesman added that Fayose do not posses the characteristic of an average APC person whose only political strategy is propaganda and economic innovation is recession and depression and whose government ant corruption war is fake like what we are experiencing under President Mahammadu Buhari.

 He stressed that if the APC should have a dream of having a new member they should not want their time looking in the direction of Governor Ayo Fayose rather the party should focus it’s attention on how to solve it’s internal crisis which has pitched it’s former governor in Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi against his mentor, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu. PDP added that Fayose is not given to deceit and fake promises which is the hallmark of the APC while welfare of the people is more paramount to him unlike the APC who want to improvise the country. According to the party, the APC statement has also confirmed that all the so called ant corruption war of the Buhari led administration is designed to threaten opposition so that they could decamp to APC and become saint .

 “We want to say without sounding immodest that even if APC consult oracle from now till 2018 ,Fayose will not join them because nobody would leave city for the jungle to search for mansion. “

Reckless drivers killed 70 FRSC officials this year, says Oyeyemi

 

The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, announced on Friday that 70 operatives of the commission were killed by reckless drivers this year.

 Oyeyemi, who made the announcement in Abuja at the FRSC end of the year management strategy session said that the FRSC officials were killed performing their jobs.

He said that although the figure was lower, compared to the 160 deaths recorded last year, the trend was disturbing and needed to be addressed.

 Oyeyemi said the FRSC had declared war on reckless drivers because such drivers were responsible for about 40 per cent of deaths of officials of the FRSC in active duty.

 “I have been raising this alarm since last year that we are experiencing increase in violence among drivers and lawlessness. “Losing 70 personnel is not a joke, may their souls rest in peace.

 “It is sad to note that some killing and maiming of operatives, including those from sister agencies is very worrisome.

“A recent occurrence was the happening in Talata Mafara in Zamfara, where a motorist ran into the mobile court in session killing three operatives almost instantly, including a civil defence operative.

 “The occurrence is no doubt ironic and a sad commentary on road safety in Nigeria but must we give up on our country and abdicate leadership to mediocrity?’’ Oyeyemi said, however, that the government was working to address the problem.

 He said that President Muhammadu Buhari was aware of the problem and that the issue was being looked into, nothing that reckless drivers would always be made to face the wrath of the law.

 He said also that as at the end of week 47 of this year, 4,005 deaths were recorded from 7,657 vehicle crashes nationwide.

 The corps marshal said that as at last September, the company had achieved 77.19 per cent crash reduction while 83.33 per cent level was attained in fatality rate reduction.

 The corps marshal said that 99 workers of the company had been punished for indiscipline that entailed extortion and helping motorists to evade arrest. He said further that 66 workers, comprising 10 officers and 56 marshals were sacked while 33 had their ranks reduced because of cases of indiscipline.

 Mr Babachir Lawal, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), who was represented by Amb. Bamgbose Olukunle, Permanent Secretary, Political Affairs in the Office of the SGF, reiterated government’s commitment to road safety.

 Lawal said that although there were challenges in the country in terms of road administration, plans were on to address the issues. He said that government had approved the recruitment of more than 4,000 people to meet the set goals of the FRSC in service delivery.

 Mr Abubakar Yunusa, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Road Safety, said the FRSC Act was currently undergoing amendment. Yunusa said the bill on the amendment had been sent to the Nigerian Law Reforms Commission for further contributions.

Kaduna State Govt. inaugurates first sexual assault referral centre

Kaduna,The Kaduna State Government on Thursday inaugurated its first Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) that would provide psycho-social counseling, forensic examination, medical treatment and legal services for victims of sexual assault.

 Inaugurating the centre located in Gwmna Awan General Hospital, Kakuri Kaduna, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mrs Amina Sijuwade, said the development was the initiative of the Justice Reform Committee.

Sijuwade said that the centre would be run by the Ministry of Justice, in partnership with the Ministry of Women and Social Development, Ministry of Health and other relevant stakeholders..

She said that the Ministry of Health would provide forensic examination and treatment, the Nigerian Police would investigate, and the Ministry of Justice would provide legal services.

 Sijuwade added that the Ministry of Women Affairs would equally provide psycho-social counseling for the victims, making it a complete package in response to the increasing cases of sexual assault in the state.

 “The Ministry of Justice has already designated a gender desk officer who will prepare all legal documents for legal action for victims.

 “Also, all the officials that will work at the centre have already been trained with support from the Department For International Development (DFID).

 “This initiative will greatly help in curbing the alarming rate of violence and sexual assault against minors in the state,’’ she said. The commissioner said that three additional centres would be established, one in each of the three senatorial districts in the state, for victims to increase access to the services.

 She commended DFID for supporting the initiative through Justice For All project. Also speaking, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Rabi Abdulsalam, said that the centre would serve as a convergence ground for all stakeholders to act in addressing the scourge of sexual assault in the state.

 Abdulasalam, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs Mary Sawok, said that the services to be provided at the centre would equally help in addressing trauma and stigmatization.

 On his part, the Chairman of the Justice Reform Committee, Justice Darrius Khobo, said that the centre would serve as a healing ground for victims. Khobo, represented by the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Kaduna Chapter, Sherif Sule, noted that a larger percentage of sexual assault in the state have remained unreported.

 The representative of the DFID at the occasion, Mr Godwin Ode, called on all relevant stakeholders to support the initiative and contribute to ending sexual assault in the state.

16 vandals get life sentence in Calabar

ABUJA – The Calabar Division of the Federal High Court has sentenced to life imprisonment no fewer than 16 suspected vandals who were charged with adulterating 100 tonnes of diesel.

The suspects were also ordered to forfeit to the federal government, their vessel MV ALEZZA LILAH which they used for the operation.

 A statement issued by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC Thursday in Abuja and signed by its spokesperson, Emmanuel Okeh, said “the affected persons were arrested by the Bayelsa State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps along Brass River on their way towards the sea in Bayelsa on a vessel MV ALEZZA LILAH”.

 He said receiving the verdict of the court, the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Abdullahi Muhammadu Gana however read the riot act to vandals, illegal dealers on petroleum products and product adulterators to desist or face the wrath of the law.

 The statement said suspects were charged for conspiracy and adulteration which is contrary to sections 1(17) and (18) (a) and (1) of the Miscellanous Offences Act Cap, M17 LFN 2004 and punishable under the sections.

 It added that the trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo convicted the 16 accused persons on all the charges and consequently sentenced them to life imprisonment.

 Gana charged the NSCDC personnel not to relent in their crusade of ”Operation Zero tolerance to vandalism”, illegal bunkering, oil theft and other associated crimes.

”Enough is enough, we must rise to the challenge of tackling this ugly phenomenon of vandalism and other related crimes; attacking our personnel will not deter us from fighting the scourge rather it makes us to be more rugged and dogged in the crusade.

 ”I therefore use this opportunity to warn all those in this illicit business to quit as the law is no respecter of anyone”, the NSCDC boss was quoted as saying.

 Gana said the judgement by the Federal High Court will serve as a deterrent to others, praising the court and urging other judges to emulate Justice Inyang Ekwo and ensure speedy dispensation of cases before them.

Kanu’s trial: Pro- Biafra protesters besiege court chanting war songs

ABUJA – Scores of pro-Biafra protesters, on Thursday, besieged the Federal High Court in Abuja, chanting war songs.

 Armed security operatives however barred the protesters from gaining access into the court room where the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu was being tried by the Federal Government.

The incident occurred on a day Kanu who is facing trial alongside three other pro-Biafra agitators, Mr. Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi, was denied bail by trial Justice Binta Nyako.

 Shortly after the proceeding, armed operatives of the Department of State Service, DSS, took the defendants away from the court premises in a commando style, even as the protesters threw stones at the prison van. Justice Binta refused to grant bail to any of the defendants pending the determination of the 11-count criminal charge the Federal Government preferred against them.

 Charges against the accused persons border on reasonable felony and their alleged involvement in acts of terrorism. The defendants had in the course of the proceeding, alleged plot by the Federal Government to import foreigners to testify against him.

 Their separate bail applications were predicated on sections 158, 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, as well as section 35 and 36 of the 1999 constitution, as amended.

 The defendants contended that charges against them were not only bailable offences, but also not felony punishable with death.

Arguing that the presumption of innocence under the Nigerian constitution was in their favour, the defendants said their release from detention would enable them to properly defend the charge against them.

 Besides, they insisted that their right to self determination was guaranteed both by the Nigeria constitution and Article 20 of the Africa Charter on Peoples and Human Right. They maintained that IPOB which they said has been registered in over 30 countries, has not been proscribed or declared as a dangerous organisation under any law.

 They defendants expressed their readiness to produce reasonable sureties before the court. However, FG, vehemently opposed release of any of the defendants on bail. Government lawyer, Mr. Shuaibu Labaran, told the court that the defendants would constitute “a threat to national security”, once freed from prison custody.

 Labaran, who further applied to the court for protection of witnesses billed to testify against the defendants, drew attention of the court to the fact that the 1st defendant, Kanu, has dual citizenship. He argued that Kanu who he said has both Nigerian and British passports, would escape out of the country if released on bail.

 While praying the court to allow the defendants to attend their trial from Kuje prison, FG, stressed that Onwudiwe was a major threat, saying he was the only one facing a particular count of “preparatory to commit an act of terrorism”. Meanwhile, in her ruling, Justice Nyako, held that charge against the defendants “are very serious in nature”, and therefore not ordinarily bailable.

 “Irrespective of what the charge is, the court has to exercise its discretion on way or the other”, the Judge held, adding that some of the charges against the defendants could attract life imprisonment if proved by FG.

 Justice Nyako also dismissed contention by the defendants that President Muhammadu Buhari had openly directed that they should not be released on bail.

 The Judge held that President Buhari, being a citizen of Nigeria, was at liberty to exercise his freedom of speech.

 She maintained that the President lacks the capacity to influence the decision of the court, saying the defendants did not place any new fact or law capable of persuading the court to reverse an earlier ruling of the court that denied them bail.

 “The offences are serious in nature and carries very severe punishment if proven.

 “I hereby therefore refuse bail of the applicants. But in the alternative, I hereby order accelerated trial of this matter to almost commence immediately, but not later than two months”, the Judge held. Immediately after the ruling was delivered, FG, applied for all the witnesses to be allowed to testify behind screen.

 It also prayed the court for identities of the witnesses not to be revealed in any record of the proceeding. The defendants however opposed the application, contending that granting such request would amount to a gross violation of their rights to fair hearing. “We vehemently oppose secret trial of the defendants.

 They were accused in the open, we also request that they be tried in the open. The defendants need to see those testifying against them eye-ball-to-eye-ball. We are ready for this trial”, Kanu’s lawyer, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor submitted. Similarly, one of the defence lawyers, Mr.

 Maxwell Okpara, told the court that most of the proposed witnesses were foreigners he said the government imported from neighbouring countries. “My lord, we have uncovered their plan to bring Ghanaians and people from Cameroon to appear in this court to testify against the defendants.

 “We as Nigerians will resist that plot. It cannot work. That is why they are insisting that they should testify behind screen. That plot has failed, it will not work”, Okpara stated.

 After listening to all the parties Justice Nyako fixed December 13 to rule on FG’s application. Specifically, FG had in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, alleged that the quartet conspired to commit treasonable felony contrary to and punishable under section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, CAP. C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2014.

 FG alleged that they committed the offence along with others now at large, on diverse dates in 2014 and 2015, in Nigeria, London and United Kingdom.

 It told the court that the defendant conspired among themselves to broadcast on Radio Biafra which is monitored in Enugu and its environs, preparations they were making for states in the South-South zones and other communities in Kogi and Benue states, to secede from the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a view to constituting same into a Republic of Biafra.

 Whereas FG identified Kanu as the arrow-head behind the “hate broadcasts”, it fingered Onwudiwe as the National Coordinator of the IPOB movement. The defendants had on November 8, pleaded not guilty to all the charges against them, even as the court adjourned to hear their bail applications.

 Kanu was previously facing a six-count treason charge with Madubugwu and Nwawuisi, before FG amended the charges to include Onwudiwe as one of the defendants. Justice Nyako is now the third judge to handle the trial. It will be recalled that the former judge handling the matter, Justice John Tsoho had on September 26, disqualified himself from presiding over trial of the defendants.

 Justice Tsoho who earlier denied the defendants bail, premised his decision to hands-off the case on a petition pending against him before the National Judicial Council, NJC.

 Kanu and his co-accused persons had in their joint petition, alleged that Justice Tsoho indulged in act of “judicial rascality”, by delivering conflicting rulings on the same subject matter.

 They alleged that the judge summarily reversed his previous ruling that barred the Federal Government from masking all the witnesses billed to testify against them. The defendants maintained that the Judge denied them fair hearing on the day he gave FG the nod to produce “masquerades” to testify against them.

 Justice Ahmed Mohammed who was the first judge Kanu was taken to by FG, had in a bench ruling he delivered on December 23, 2015, also distanced himself from the matter.

 Kanu who was hitherto the Director of Radio Biafra and Television, ‎has been in detention since October 14, 2015, when he was arrested by security operatives upon his arrival to Nigeria from his base in the United Kingdom.

 The defendants were alleged to have committed treasonable felony, an offence punishable under Section 41(C) of the Criminal Code Act, CAP C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria. FG alleged that they were the ones managing the affairs of the IPOB which it described as “an unlawful society”.

 Kanu was alleged to have illegally smuggled radio transmitters into Nigeria, which he used to disseminate “hate broadcasts”, encouraging the “secession of the Republic of Biafra”, from Nigeria. The IPOB leader earlier denied the charges, even as the court, on January 20, ordered remand of the defendants at Kuje prison ‎in Abuja.

 Count one of the charge against the defendants read: “That you Nnamdi Kanu, ‘M’, Onwudiwe Chidiebere ‘M’, Benjamin Madubugwu ‘M’, David Nwawusi ‘M’ and others now at large, on diverse dates in 2014 and 2015 in Nigeria and London, United Kingdom, did conspire amongst yourselves to broadcast on Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu and other areas within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, preparations being made by you and others at large, or states in the South East and South South zones and other communities in Kogi and Benue States to secede from the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a view to constituting same into a Republic of Biafra and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, CAP.C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2000”.