IPOB spokesman: Kanu will return to Nigeria to mobilise support for Biafra

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), will return to Nigeria to mobilise support for the creation of Biafra, according to Emma Powerful, IPOB spokesman.

Powerful told TheCable on Monday that Kanu will visit Nigeria as part of his current tour of some countries where he is preaching the group’s secessionist cause.

The IPOB leader, who is being prosecuted before a federal high court in Abuja for alleged treason, has been out of the country since September, 2017.

A crackdown on the group — which has since been banned and declared a terrorist organisation — forced him to go into hiding only to resurface in Jerusalem after one year.

His failure to show up in court after being granted bail forced the court to revoke the bail and issue a bench warrant against him.

While Kanu had been silent on his return to Nigeria, he has been reportedly holding town-hall meetings with his followers in various countries including US and Canada over IPOB’s demand for a Biafran state.

Powerful told TheCable on Monday that Kanu will visit Nigeria in the course of the tour, but was silent on when such visit would hold.

“I will not disclose it (when) now until he makes it official for us to tell people,” the IPOB spokesman told TheCable over the phone.

“At the appropriate time we (will) communicate (to) you people. Government of Nigeria can do whatever they like. Biafra will come and nobody can stop Biafra.”

Meanwhile, in a statement issued during the weekend, Powerful said the group is “currently engaged in deep and fruitful consultations with local and international stakeholders, power brokers and influencers through our  diplomatic outreach which for obvious reasons has been kept out of public discuss.”

“One thing is certain, this IPOB led agitation for Biafra independence will not repeat the mistakes of the past,” he said in the statement.

“As the gospel and restoration of Biafra is receiving wonderful and unprecedented acceptance across the globe, our leader will continue to educate, enlighten and fire-up our people and lovers of freedom all over the world for the inevitable collapse of the British made damnable contraption called Nigeria.”

- THECABLE

NLC to Buhari: There will be crisis if Ngige is returned as minister of labour

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says there will be an industrial crisis if President Muhammadu Buhari returns Chris Ngige as minister of labour and productivity.

In an interview with PUNCH, Peter Ozo-Eson, NLC secretary, called on the federal government to give Ngige a new portfolio in the next cabinet.

Ngige is one of the 43 ministerial nominees undergoing screening by the senate.

The former minister of labour had clashed with NLC leaders over his delayed inauguration of the National Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) board.

Ozo-Eson accused the Ngige of being unfit, saying he lacks an understanding of how the ministry works.

“We think that government will be looking for problem if Ngige is returned to the Ministry of Labour and Productivity as minister because he does not understand how the place works and his own approach will create an unnecessary industrial crisis,” he said.

“If the government is properly advised, it should look for where to put him. Ngige is a square peg in a round hole in the ministry.”

In reaction, Nwachukwu Obidiwe, personal assistant to Ngige, said the former minister has no personal rift with the NLC leaders.

“It is the responsibility of the president to appoint and assign portfolios to ministers. Ngige will willingly serve in whichever ministry the president so decides. Besides, he has no personal issue with labour,” he said.

“What happened at the end of the last term was a matter of steadfastness to the rule of law or otherwise.  He chose the rule of law in respect of the appointment of the chairman of the board of the NSITF.

“Don’t forget that labour later saw reason with his action, forcing the (former) president of the TUC at the valedictory organised by the ministry on May 26, 2019, to apologise on behalf of labour while commending him for his unimpeachable labour administration style.”

It would be recalled that labour unions and some Nigerians had taken on Ngige for saying that Nigeria had no problem with doctors leaving the country because there were more than enough of them in the country to man hospitals.

- THECABLE

Businessman remanded for allegedly defiling 8-year-old

A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Kano on Monday, remanded a 28-year-old businessman, Sunusi Jibril, for allegedly defiling an eight-year-old, pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

Jibril, who resides at Zangon Barebari Quarters, Ungogo Local Government Area of Kano, is charged in court with a count of rape, but pleaded not guilty.

The Chief Magistrate, Muhammad Jibril ordered that the accused be remanded in prison, and adjourned the case until Aug.19 for mention.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Pogu Lale, had earlier told the court that Juwairyya Dauda of Danrimi Quarters Kano, reported the matter at Ungogo Police Division on July 11.

He however added, “on July 10 at about 12:00pm, the defendant accosted the complainant’s 8-year-old daughter while she was on errand at Zangon Barebari Quarters Kano.

“Jubril deceitfully led the victim to his house and had unlawful sexual intercourse with her and offered her the sum of N200.”

Lale, the prosecutor, further stated that the offence contravenes Section 283 of the penal code, NAN reports.

- DAILY POST

Lampard names two players he wants in Chelsea squad

Chelsea manager, Frank Lampard has said that he wants forwards, Willian and Callum Hudson-Odoi, in his squad ahead of next season.

Lampard explained that both Willian and Hudson-Odoi are key players in his squad, adding that he wants the duo to stay at Stamford Bridge.

Willian has been strongly linked with a move to Barcelona, while Hudson-Odoi has drawn interest from Bayern Munich in recent weeks.

Speaking after Chelsea’s pre-season friendly 4-3 win over Reading on Sunday, Lampard was quoted by Metro UK as saying: “I know the club are talking to him [Willian]. Willian and Callum are both players I want in my squad.”

He added: “We’ve made some good moves this pre-season with Mason Mount and Ruben Loftus-Cheek signing new contracts, two young players nailed down and the club are always trying to do that.

“From a football sense, I’ve made my ideas very clear. I’m working very closely with Marina [Granovskaia] and the board because these are two players that we want to stay for sure.”

- DAILY POST

NDLEA seizes 702.063 kilograms of hard drugs in Kano under one month

The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Kano says the command has within the month of July seized over 702.063 kilograms of different illicit drugs in the state.

The NDLEA Commander in Kano, Dr. Ibrahim Abdul disclosed this on Monday, while briefing newsmen on the activities of the command in the month of July under review.

According to Abdul, the agency had also arrested no fewer than 153 suspects with various hard drugs seized from them, adding that within the month, 25 of the suspects were prosecuted and are serving different sentences in prison.

He added that 72 cases are currently pending in Federal High Court in Kano, explaining that the command is doing everything possible to ensure that justice is done in the trial.

“During the month under review, we were able to seized 523.978 kilograms of cannabis, 178.322 kilograms of Psychotropic Substance, three grams of of Cocaine and 0.3 kilograms of Heroin”, he said.

Abdul further explained that the NDLEA command had also within the month under review dislodged 35 hot-spots within and outside the metropolis.

He named the dislodged hot-spots as: Gwammaja Secondary school, Dan-agundi, Gwale cemetery, Abdullahi Bayero road, Sabon Gari, and Limawa-Hotoro.

The NDLEA boss said, “building from our new operational approach tilted towards apprehending the high profile barons, notorious Suspect and a truck intercepted along Zaria road.

“Following a sustained intelligent operation, consequently four big sacks were recovered in the truck intercepted, each containing four sacks of compressed dried weed suspected to be cannabis sativa weighing 300 kilograms”.

He also explained that another method of concealment in trafficking illicit drugs was unearthed and it led to the recovery of more than 200 kilograms of dried weed suspected to be cannabis sativa which was stacked inside jerricans.

- DAILY POST

Diezani’s partner Kola Aluko’s superyacht Galactica Star auctioned

The 65-metre Galactica Star superyacht owned by Kolawole Aluko, the Nigerian oil mogul has been sold.

Yachtharbour.com said the yacht was sold on 25 July.

Fraser representing the seller and Burgess represented the buyer. The vessel was listed for sale earlier this year for $ 42,000,000, as a result of a notorious corruption case in Nigeria, involving Aluko, Prince Olajide Omokore and former oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.


The yacht was custom-built by Dutch yard Heesen in 2013 and is seconds only to the builder’s 70-metre Galactica Super Nova in terms of LOA. She features exterior styling by Omega Architects, engineering by Van Oossanen & Associates, finished by interiors from the boards of Bannenberg & Rowell.

In April 2019, the vessel was offered for sale in a sealed bid arrangement, proposed by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Republic of Nigeria and approved by U.S. federal court. The sale process roots back to a corruption case against two Nigerian nationals.

Aluko is one of four defendants accused of cheating Nigeria out of almost $1.8 billion in siphoned crude oil sales. The U.S. government also accused Aluko and Omokore, of laundering money in the United States and using it to acquire the yacht, among other assets.

The US and Nigerian governments received Federal Court approval to sell the arrested superyacht due to high maintenance and dockage fees, estimating the combined cost at around $170,000 per month. Managed by Fraser, the vessel was listed at $42,000,000.

Galactica Star accommodates up to 12 guests overnight in 6 cabins, comprising a master suite, 1 VIP stateroom, and 4 double cabins. She is also capable of carrying up to 13 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience. 

The most alluring feature about the vessel is what goes on below the waterline. Van Ossaanen Naval Architects successfully created a yacht that cruises 30% more efficiently than a conventional round-bilged motor yacht in this size range. 

Powered by 2 MTU 5,592 HP diesel engines and propelled by twin screw propellers, Galactica Star is capable of a top speed of 27 knots, and comfortably cruises at 24 knots. With her 90,000 fuel tanks she has a maximum range of 4,200 nautical miles at 14 knots. Her water tanks store around 30,000 litres of fresh water. 

The yacht used to be popular for charter among celebrities. It was once rented by American music industry power couple, Jay Z and Beyonce for a holiday cruise.

- PM NEWS

Boko Haram gunmen kill 42 villagers chasing them

Rampaging Boko Haram gunmen left on their trail 65 dead villagers, 42 of whom were killed after they chased the militants, who had  first mowed down 23 mourners.

The attacks occurred in a village in Nganzai district near Maiduguri.

Initial reports had said only 23 people were killed, who were returning from a funeral.

Later, dozens more bodies were discovered.

“It is 65 people dead and 10 injured,” local government chairman Muhammed Bulama said.

Bulama said more than 20 people died in the initial attack on a funeral gathering. Dozens more were killed as they tried to chase after the jihadists.

The leader of a local anti-Boko Haram militia confirmed the death toll, while giving a slightly different account of the attack.

Bunu Bukar Mustapha said  23 people were killed as they returned from the funeral and “the remaining 42 were killed when they pursued the terrorists”.

Bulama said he thought the latest attack was in retaliation for the killing two weeks ago of 11 Boko Haram fighters by local residents when the fighters approached their village. The residents also captured 10 automatic rifles.

Boko Haram fighters have repeatedly attacked the surrounding Nganzai district.

Boko Haram has waged a decade-long insurgency in northeast Nigeria that has killed around 27,000 people and displaced more than two million.

The group is now split between the Boko Haram faction loyal to historic leader Abubakar Shekau and an affiliate of the Islamic State group.

Shekau’s group tends to hit softer targets including civilians, while the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has since last year ratcheted up its campaign against the military.

- PM NEWS