NEXT LEVEL KILLING ! Gov Tambuwal buries 25 persons killed in fresh bandits attack

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State on Sunday attended the funeral of 25 persons killed by bandits in a fresh attack which occurred on Saturday in three communities in Rabah local government area of the state.

Tambuwal, together with heads of security agencies, traditional rulers and government officials later condoled the families of the victims after the burial held at Gandi town.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the bandits who were in large numbers raided Kalhu, Tsage and Geeri villages near Gandi and killed the 25 persons.

The attackers were said to have engaged in indiscriminate shooting from around 5pm on Saturday till Sunday morning, after which they carted away hundreds of cows, sheep and other valuables.

Rabah has been experiencing bandits’ attacks in recent time, with people losing their lives while many others who were rendered homeless now taking refuge at an Internally Displaced Persons camp in Gandi.

Tambuwal pledged that the government would take more measures “to end such uncivilized and barbaric attacks”, and urged community members to assist security agencies with useful information to track the bandits.

Speaking to newsmen, Sokoto state Commissioner of Police, Mr Ibrahim Kaoje, said four persons including a woman informant who pretended to be a lunatic were arrested.

Kaoje said that a joint security operation was in progress to contain banditry and other crimes in the state.

The state Chairman, IDPs’ Welfare Committee, Malam Lawal Maidoki said relief materials had been delivered to the victims.

With the present 25 killed in the latest attack, the total number of persons killed by bandits in Sokoto state has risen to 108 from 2018 to date.

Other places affected by armed bandits’ attacks were Dalijan, Rakkoni and Tabanni communities within the period.

- PM NEWS

Dangote: Power sector hindering Nigeria’s economic growth

Aliko Dangote, president of Dangote group, says the poor performance of the country’s power sector is hindering growth of the economy.

Dangote spoke at a consultative roundtable session for public and private sector stakeholders in Lagos on Saturday.

The programme was organised by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

According to Dangote, Nigeria had been struggling to increase its electricity output for the past 18 years without success.

He urged the federal government to improve the sector, saying that “no business will thrive with business owners generating powers themselves”.

“How do you have economic growth without power? So, no power, no growth because without power there can’t be growth,” he said.

“Egypt increased its electricity by 10 gigawatts, which is equivalent to 10,000 megawatts in 18 months.

“In Nigeria, we have been struggling for 18 years without adding 1,000 megawatts and we have spent about three times above Egypt, why?

“So, I think we all need to be concerned about that.”

Dangote urged government to promote import substitution for foreign exchange accumulation through proceeds from exports.

He said instead of depending on proceeds from crude oil sales, government should focus on the non-oil sector of the economy, with particular reference to finance, manufacturing and agriculture.

“Government needs to encourage non-oil sector growth rather than depending on proceeds from crude oil to pay salaries,” he said.

“Proceeds from crude oil sale should be for major investment in the country.”

Godwin Emefiele, governor of CBN; Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos state governor; Jim Ovia, Zenith Bank Chairman; Oba Otudeko, chairman of Honeywell Flour Mills; Atedo Peterside, former banker and serial entrepreneur  and Segun Agbaje, chief executive officer of Guaranty Trust Bank, were the stakeholders present at the consultative round table session.

- THECABLE

Falana: NBC lacks power to suspend licences of media organisations

Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, says the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) lacks the power to suspend licences of media organisation without an order from the court.

In a statement on Sunday, the senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said the regulator cannot also ban radio houses from playing records of artists or impose fines on alleged offenders without recourse to the court.

On Thursday, the NBC had suspended the licences of DAAR Communications Plc, owners of African Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower over “breach of broadcasting code”.

Falana described the closure of media houses as a dangerous trend, advising the regulatory agency to act within the confines of the law if it wants to checkmate the excesses of any station.

“No doubt, the NBC has been empowered by the NBC Act to regulate all broadcasting organisations in the country. But in exercising its wide powers NBC has to be made to appreciate that it can no longer operate outside the ambit of the Constitution as was the case under military rule,” he said.

“Since fundamental rights including freedom of expression can no longer be curtailed or abrogated except in a manner permitted by law, the NBC ought to realise that it cannot suspend licences of media houses, ban radio houses from playing records of artists or impose fines on alleged offenders without a court order.

“Alternatively, the NBC may request the Attorney-General to charge a media house for breaching the provisions of the NBC Act or penal statutes. Otherwise, the powers of the NBC may be arbitrarily exercised to the detriment of law and order in the society.”

He described the reopening of AIT and Raypower FM as victory for democracy, calling on security agencies to withdraw their men from DAAR Communications, head office in Abuja.

“The NBC has just lifted the suspension of the licences of AIT and Raypower FM Radio stations in compliance with the ex parte order granted by the federal high court. It is hoped that the authorities of the Nigeria Police Force and State Security Service will withdraw the armed goons mounting siege in the compound of the AIT/Raypower FM stations without any delay,” he said.

“As far as democratic forces in the country are concerned, the battle for press freedom has been won, once again. But it is a temporary victory which should not be celebrated without caution.

“Even under the most vicious military junta in Nigeria the courts ordered the reopening of the premises of the National Concord and Punch newspapers which were illegally closed down and occupied for months by armed troops. And the court orders were complied with by the military dictators.”

- THECABLE

Nigerian Catholic priest suspended for allegedly raping American woman

The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh in the United States has suspended Nigerian priest Cyprian Duru from ministering, after accusation of rape and legal action by a 68 year-old retired English teacher, Kathy Coll.

In addition, he has been banned from presenting himself as a priest or wearing clerical garb.

According to CBS Television, Coll in a legal suit, detailed how Duru stopped by her home in December 2016 on the pretence of giving her a Christmas card and allegedly raped her.

Coll claimed that when she offered him a cold drink, he followed her to her family room, overpowered her and assaulted her as she screamed for him to stop.

Since then, Coll claimed she has been trying to seek healing from the trauma of rape; adding that the shame, anxiety and depression were daunting.

“The hardest part was telling my pastor, who sat and cried with me and then notified the diocese,” Coll recalled.

Last week, she filed a suit against the St. Teresa of Avila Roman Catholic Church, the Pittsburgh diocese, and Bishop David Zubik.

Coll maintained that she was disappointed that District Attorney Stephen Zappala’s office said prosecutors lacked sufficient evidence to pursue charges.

But the retired high school English teacher said her biggest disappointment was learning that a church she continues to love and turned to for help had scant resources for abused women.

“There were visits by the (Pittsburgh) Diocese Trauma Team to my house offering prayer and help to find a therapist. But I found out they really don’t have anything for women who have been abused,” Coll said.

Coll said a therapist the diocese recommended within minutes of meeting her declared that she was depressed, anxious and suffering from PTSD.

“He said, ‘We’ll get you on medication and four or five sessions here, and you’ll be on your way.’ I walked out of there after 20 minutes and never went back,” she said.

Eventually, she found a therapist who helped her marshal her strength.

As she regained her footing in the world, the widowed mother of two adult sons resolved to doing something to help others.

- DAILY POST

UEFA Nations League: Ronaldo wins another international trophy as Portugal defeat Netherlands

Portugal have emerged as the inaugural winners of the UEFA Nations League.

The Cristiano Ronaldo-led team defeated the Netherlands 1-0 in Sunday’s final, to claim the trophy.

Goncalo Guedes scored the only goal of the game in the 60th minute, after the first half ended goalless.

This is the second international trophy Portugal is lifting within three years, after they defeated France to win the 2016 European Championship.

Earlier in the day, England sealed third position, after defeating Switzerland 6-5 on penalties.

There were no goals after 90 minutes between the two sides.

- DAILY POST

Apostle Suleman attacks Buhari over Fulani herdsmen’s kidnap of church members

Senior Pastor of Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleman has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s adminstration as the worst government ever.

Apostle Suleiman said this on Sunday in a post on his official Twitter page while raising alarm over the kidnap of seven of his church members by herdsmen.

The outspoken cleric, while lamenting the spate of kidnappings, further attacked Buhari for refusing to proscribe killer herdsmen.

According to Apostle Suleman, “This year alone I have had seven close church members kidnapped by herdsmen.

“As I speak now three have just been kidnapped and with their captors yet Buhari has refused to proscribe them, what if they were his children.

- DAILY POST

Music producer threatens to sue EFCC for parading him as “Yahoo Boy”

Abuja-based music producer and photographer, Mr Nasiru Ali, popularly known as “Kozzographa”, on Sunday threatened to sue the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for wrongly calling him a fraudster (Yahoo boy).

Ali was among 10 suspected internet fraudsters paraded on May 17 by the EFCC operatives, NAN reports.

The EFCC personnel raided suspects residence at Favour Land Estate, Life Camp, Abuja.

According to the EFCC, they were arrested following a tip-off by an anonymous source.

The agency said that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.

But Ali in a petition to the EFCC Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, on May 31 demanded a compensation of N100 million and an unreserved apology for arresting him wrongly and giving a libelous information to the public about him.

The musician, through his lawyer, Mr Pelumi Olajengbensi, said that he would drag the EFCC to court for refusing to retract the negative publications about him after a seven-day ultimatum.

“He lost a contract of five million naira with United Global Resolve for Peace (UNGREP), which he had been interviewed for and hitherto offered unequivocally because the contractors became disturbed and concerned by the publication thus doubtful of his reputation.

“He has been ostracised by his colleagues and associates as well as senior associates who usually refer to him for jobs in the past, thereby losing their trust and reference.

“He has been bombarded with a barrage of calls from friends and family members calling his reputation to question, while expressing their disappointment and indicating their intention to cut all connection with him forthwith.

“His relationship with his intended life partner has been irreparably strained by the negative publicity generated by the unlawful arrest, particularly the publication on your media platform on same matter.

“The publication has led to close clients taking their jobs off him and taking them to other persons thereby amounting to great level of loss and in some cases varying level of indebtedness,” Ali’s lawyer stated in the petition to EFCC.

Ali also claimed in the petition that his health and psychology had been affected following the Gestapo way he was arrested and assaulted by the commission operatives .

He said that the men that raided his home were dressed in black with no means of identifying them as officers of the EFCC.

The petitioner had given the EFCC seven days to meet his conditions or face legal action.

- PM NEWS

See how a stepmother disfigured a 10-year-old boy with hot iron

A Nigerian on Twitter has alerted the public and authorities on the atrocities committed by a step mother against her husband’s 10 year-old son at Owode Onirin in the suburb of Lagos.

In one of the multiple posts on Sunday Opomulero Eleniyan, who tweets as @Opomulero_007: wrote: This is Ezekiel Kuti, he stays with his dad and step mother at Owode Onirin opposite old Barrack in Lagos, his step mother use hot electric iron on his face pls help repost till something is done about this.”

In other posts, Opomulero showed the other scars inflicted on Ezekiel, with photographs of the step mother and her husband, who he said is a soldier.

“This is the father of the boy who refuse(sic) to do anything or say anything about the issue …he is a military man ..I guess he believes he is above the law ..help save little Ezekiel he is just 10 years old”.

Over to the Lagos State Government to take appropriate action.

- PM NEWS

Cabinet: Drop ministerial nominees standing corruption trial, Group tells Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged not to consider including names of persons standing corruption trial and those with corrupt tendencies in his new cabinet.

The Executive- Secretary, Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI),

Dr Dennis Aghanya gave the advice in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.

He said sidelining corrupt persons yet to be prosecuted and those standing trial would bestow more credibility on the president as one with zero tolerance to corruption.

Aghanya further explained that it would be most expedient to keep those standing trial out of his cabinet to forestall them funding their trials with public funds.

“This has become necessary to avoid situations whereby cabinet members would use public funds to defend their corruption cases pressed against them by the EFCC or any other anti-graft agencies.

“To achieve this, the EFCC and all the anti-graft agencies in the country should also re-double their efforts in the discharge of their duties in public interest to ensure that names of persons in this category are forwarded to Mr. President to guide him in his appointments.

“The EFCC in particular is overwhelmed with cases bordering on economic fraud and may therefore not remember to ensure this duty.

“This is why we are highlighting this matter at this crucial period when Mr. President would be taking decisions that will border on appointing credible team that will work with him.

“As a matter of commitment to a successful second tenure of Mr. President, especially as it has to do with the fight against corruption, we are bringing up this matter.

“This is not because we have anybody targeted in mind but to serve as a wake-up call on all the parties concerned to discharge their duties efficiently.

“This is also important so that nobody would take the blame game to the doorstep of Mr. President after he has made his appointments’’, Aghanya said.

He also said: “from our investigation so far, a good number of persons distributing their CV’s around for appointment are caught in this web of allegation.

“All of us owe this country the duty to assist the anti-graft agencies with necessary information that would guide Mr President in appointing persons for screening by the National Assembly into his new cabinet’’.

“We are also monitoring the ongoing tribunal cases and compiling our findings on the activities of judges soiling hands.

“We will forward our petition based on findings to the appropriate agency at the appropriate time.

“We want the judiciary to see us as partners and not to view us a antagonists.

“We want to take our judiciary to the era when somebody is introduced as a judge the society will accord him the respect that office use to carry in the good old days’’.

Aghanya, therefore, called on members of the public to assist the agency with useful information that could enrich the agency’s investigations of corrupt practices,

He said that the fight against corruption was a collective responsibility.

The agency has embarked on series of anti-corruption investigation, the most recent being the one that led to the prosecution and removal of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

- PM NEWS

Horror as 61-year-old man cut off boy’s hand in Lagos

A 61-year-old man has been arrested by the police for cutting off the hand of an 11-year-old boy at Okoko area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

The victim, Goodluck Amechi had his hand cut off by Jeremiah Obifor, who said he thought the boy wanted to steal his fishes.

Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, disclosed on Sunday that on 7 June, 2019 at about 12.20pm, one  Doris Isaac of No.6 Ajanaku Street, Okoko reported at Okoko Police Station that on the same date at about 8.20am, her foster son, Goodluck Amechi, 11, was attacked with a  matchete by one Jeremiah Obifor, 61.

Elkana said the boy’s right hand was cut off as he was rushed to the hospital.

“The victim was rushed to Igando General  Hospital. The suspect alleged that, he saw the victim around his fish pond and thought that he came to steal his fish, that was why he attacked him.

“Investigation is ongoing and the suspect will be charged to Court,” he said.

- PM NEWS