LAWLESS COUNTRY !! Amnesty accuses FG of depriving IMN members of their rights

Amnesty International, a human rights organisation, has accused the federal government of “increasingly depriving” members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) of their rights to freedom of association.

The IMN is led by Ibrahim El-Zakzaky who has been in detention since 2015.

The federal government had officially proscribed the activities of the group after a federal high court declared it a terrorist organisation.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the human rights organisation said IMN’s proscription is a “deliberate attempt to divert attention from crucial issues” like ensuring justice for the killing of over 350 members of the group in December 2015.

It also alleged that the federal government’s “nonchalant attitude” to investigate and ensure justice in incidences concerning IMN shows its resolve to deprive them of their rights.

“The proscription of IMN is a deliberate attempt to divert attention from crucial issues including; justice for the massacre of over 350 in Zaria in Dec. 2015 as well many other IMN supporters killed by security agencies over the years,” it said.

“Many members of IMN have been missing since 2015; their families and relatives are yet to know their fate and their search for justice has been largely ignored by Nigerian authorities.

“Despite federal high court order of Dec. 2016 Nigerian authorities have continued to keep Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky in unlawful detention and his bail application perpetually delayed, despite repeated concerns over the deterioration of his health.

“The fact that authorities have not indicated any attempt to investigate and ensure justice in all incidences involving IMN clearly shows a government resolve to deprive them of their fundamental human rights.

“We insist that Nigerian authorities ensure justice in all cases involving all Nigerians, including IMN.”

- THECABLE

‘My husband wants me to worship idols’ – Woman begs court to end marriage

An Ibadan-based trader, Janet Okupgo, on Wednesday begged a Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan, to dissolve her marriage to her husband, Johnson, over continuous coercion to worship traditional deities with him.

Testifying before the court, Janet said that she was frustrated by frequent battery which often arose from her discontinuation to further worship traditional deities with her husband.

The plaintiff stated that as a Yoruba woman, she had for many years joined her husband in diligently worshipping the deities but that now she had turned a new leaf.

According to NAN, Janet noted that she had gained nothing but disgrace from following her husband to the shrine.

‘’Nothing has ever changed for better in our family rather than complaints of unrealised ambition.

‘’As a drunkard, Johnson resorts to beating me up and my life is in serious threat as a result.

‘’He has made it a point of duty that if I dare complain on anything he does to me, I will surely suffer brutality from him.

‘’Currently, Johnson is threatening to kill me if I enter his home again,’’ she said.

However, the respondent opposed the suit, praying the court to help him prevail on his wife not to call it quit.

Johnson, who did not deny the allegation levelled against him, said that it might be disastrous for Janet if she leaves because of the tradition of his Urhobo tribe.

He noted that he performed all the necessary traditional rites before marrying Janet, saying that was the reason why she could not leave without first appeasing the gods.

“My lord, I am now born again, I have started attending Church and I will never beat Janet again,’’ Johnson pleaded.

Reviewing the case carefully, Chief Ademola Odunade, the President of the court, concluded that there was need to allow the plaintiff to reconsider her position due to the promise made by the respondent.

He adjourned the matter until Aug. 27 for further hearing.

- DAILY POST

Ronaldo, Messi battle for UEFA Goal of the Season

Barcelona star, Lionel Messi, will go up against old rival Juventus forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, for the 2018/2019 UEFA Goal of the Season.

FIFA released a six-man shortlist for the prize on Wednesday via their social media channels.

Messi is included for his stunning free-kick against Liverpool in the Champions League semi-finals, while Ronaldo has been selected for his volley against Manchester United in the group stage.

Other players whose goals made the cut are: Ismaila Sarr of Rennes, Chelsea’s Pedro Rodriguez, Apollon’s David Faupala, France U17 star Enzo Millot, Sporting Lisbon’s Nani, Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic, Slavia Praha’s Katerina Svitkova and Portugal’s Danilo.

Voting has now been opened to decide the winner on FIFA’s official website.

The winner will be revealed at The Best FIFA Football Awards show in Milan on September 23.

- DAILY POST

Doctors leaving Kaduna in droves – NMA laments

Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Kaduna State chapter, has warned that the exodus of doctors and other medical personnel leaving to other states and countries for greener pastures could seriously affect the healthcare delivery in the state, if not checked immediately.

The association observed that about 60 per cent of doctors serving in the state have left to other states or other countries in search of greener pastures.

Addressing newsman on the activities of this year’s Annual General Meeting of the association, its state chairman, Dr. Stephen Akau Kache, said, “This we have found to be direct consequence of poor remuneration, other factors include poor working conditions, having to work extra hours due to low manpower and in some cases lack of career progression.”

He added, “On a general note, however, across all health institutions in the state the situation is similar to the national picture, whereby there is an exodus of doctors to other countries for a variety of reasons with a resultant shortage in the number of doctors available to treat patients within the country.”

With the problems enumerated above, Dr. Kache explained that it becomes the biggest challenge that is affecting the ability the remaining health personnel to achieve the desired health outcomes due to the internal and external brain drain that has become the order of the day in the state.

He said that in Kaduna State, it has become the order of the day that medical personnel employed in the state experienced very low employees coming to take up their appointments while others completely do not come to take their offer of employment.

He explained, “Most of the newly employed medical personnel prefer going to other states within the north to take up employment where the conditions of service is far better than what Kaduna state offers.

“It, therefore, affects the quality of healthcare delivery being offered in the state as most of those employed have to go through some experience before being able to offer qualitative service.

“With improved conditions of service, it will go a long way to solve so many problems the healthcare in the state is going through coupled with some achievements made by the El-Rufai’s led administration. This will no doubt go a long way to realize the dream of the state.”

- DAILY POST

Suicide: Man drinks fumigation chemical over N700

A 20-year-old man has committed suicide by drinking fumigation chemical (Quick Action Spray) after his mother refused to give him N700 to settle a pressing need in Awhire community, Ughelli North, Delta State.

Daily Post reports that the deceased, Augustine Okpako, had requested the said money from his mother, who in turn promised to give him the money the following day (today).

The deceased said he cannot wait till the following day, even as his mother was at the time frying garri she will take to the market so she could raise the money.

According to an eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “suddenly we just see that he drank the chemical. He drank quick action that farmers normally used to spray grass.”

The eyewitness claimed that the container of the fumigation chemical was empty and there were signs of it on his mouth and shirt, indicating that he may have drank it to commit suicide.

The deceased was later rushed to a Cottage Hospital in Erhoike Community in Ethiope-East Local Government Area where he was confirmed dead by doctors.

The Delta State Police Command is yet to make any official statement concerning the incident.

- PM NEWS

ISWAP gunmen attack Nigerian soldiers in Baga, Benishiek

Islamic State militants have launched attacks on Nigerian troop positions in Baga and Benishiek, in Borno state. However it is unclear the casualties recorded on the Nigerian side.

Even ISWAP was unsure about the damage it claimed it inflicted.

Reuters said ISWAP claimed on its Amaq news agency that it killed or wounded more than 40 soldiers.

The group said militants attacked a military post in Baga and killed at least 15 soldiers before carrying out a second attack on an army barracks in the town of Benisheik, where they killed or wounded around 25 more.

Locals and military sources confirmed there were clashes between insurgents and soldiers in the state on Monday and Tuesday. 

At the weekend at least 70 people were killed in three villages in Borno, the birthplace of the insurgency, which began 10 years ago, with a shooting war in Maiduguri, between the insurgents and Boko Haram.

On Tuesday, the Nigerian government restated that it has defeated Boko Haram and it is now faced with a new dimension of the war, ISWAP.

“What we have now is a mixture of remnants of the Boko Haram, fugitive criminals and the Islam in Maghreb together with West African terrorists bonding together. This is a fallout of the collapse of the Libyan State, and from farther away, of the Islamic State in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. They are taking advantage of our porous Sahelian borders”, said Garba Shehu, senior special assistant on media to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Shehu acknowledged the new problem posed by ISWAP, as different from the decimated Boko Haram and hoped that the ‘gallant’ Nigerian military and the multinational forces would soon deal with the menace its members constitute.

- PM NEWS

SHOCKING ! Man bites woman’s breast during fight

A 22-year-old man, Precious Michael, who allegedly bit a woman on her breast, on Wednesday appeared in a Magistrates’ Court in Asaba, Delta.

The police charged Michael with assault and causing grievous hurt.

The Prosecution Counsel, Mrs Blessing Okafor , told the court that Michael assaulted Miss Ella Ibeawzie, near the Royal park Hotel, Asaba.

Okafor alleged that the defendant bit Ibeawzie on her breast and also knocked out her tooth during an altercation.

She alleged that the defendant also tore Ibeawzie’s dress, valued at N4,000.

The offence, she said, is punishable under sections 355 and 451 of the Criminal Code Cap C21 Vol 1 laws of Delta state of Nigeria 2006.

The accused pleaded not guilty.

Magistrate Edith Anumodu admitted the defendant to bail i the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.

Anumodu ordered that the surety must provide an affidavit of mean.

She adjourned the case until Aug. 20 for definite hearing.

- PM NEWS

LAND OF SWINDLERS !!! FULL LIST: Ifeanyi Ubah, Jimoh Ibrahim, Kashamu… 20 people holding AMCON’s biggest debts

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday, set up a task force with a mandate to devise a strategy to recover the N5 trillion owed to the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

The agencies tasked to go after the debtors are Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the ministry of justice.

At the meeting that held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Muiz Banire, AMCON’s chairman, said the top 20 debtors owe 67% of the N5 trillion debt.

According to a list released by the corporation in October, here are AMCON’s top 20 debtors.

S/N Obligor Name Main Promoter(s) Current Exposure 
1 Capital Oil & Gas Industries Limited Ifeanyi Ubah 115,952,152,265.92 
2 NICON Investments Limited Jimoh Ibrahim 59,544,633,980.31 
3 Bi-Courtney Limited (MMA2) Wale Babalakin (SAN) 40,798,422,374.02 
4 Josepdam & Sons Limited Late Mrs. Josephine Damilola KuteyiSaheed KuteyiGaniyu Kuteyi 39,056,674,951.55 
5 Tinapa Business Resort Cross River State Government 36,006,319,844.68 
6 Home Trust Savings Chukwukadibia AjaegbuFunmu Ademosun 30,626,243,344.71 
7 Geometric Power Limited Prof. Barth NnajiNnaji AgathaObibuaru Eluma

Anike Paul

Nwobodo Benjamin Chukwuemeka

Dozie Chijioke

Akpe Austine

Nnaji Okechukwu

UBA Trustees Limited

Kunoch Limited

Diamond Capital & Financial Market Limited
 29,844,500,896.77 
8 Roygate Properties Limited Wale Babalakin (SAN)Agumadu JohnAlarape Olabode

Okhaleke Ndudi
 28,137,176,532.32 
9 Shell Development Petroleum Company – West Multipurpose Co-operative Society Limited (SPDC) Shell Staff, represented by Ikponmwosa Ogiemuda 26,474,541,188.17 
10 Anyiam Osigwe Limited Anyiam-Osigwe Dorothy Chinyere 20,523,322,350.29 
11 Platinum Capital Obire RichardFrancis Atuche 20,378,820,507.19 
12 Flotsome Investment Limited Oboden IbruTejiro Ibru 20,218,703,550.96 
13 Lonestar Drilling Late Chief IdisiMargaret Idisi 20,207,979,803.22 
14 Petrologistics Limited Ugoji Egbujo 19,576,962,565.35 
15 Lorna Global Resources H.E. Chimaroke Nnamami 18,919,109,352.85 
16 Hosanna Properties Limited Anionye ChikaObi Ike C. 18,059,895,396.27 
17 Minaj Holdings Limited Ajegbo Mike NnayeluchudihuLuke Chidi ChudihuiloguMiller Gregrey

Ethridge Kyle

Attueyi Joe

Oladele Afolabi

Okpere Kisito

Kokoricha Paul
 17,306,900,257.66 
18 Afrijet Airlines Limited Inoelle Willam BarryCarr Collin 13,122,022,439.57 
19 Petroleum Brokers Limited Wilcox Awopuolagha 13,076,314,937.26 
20 Hotel De Island; Kasmal Properties; Island Autos & Nacoil Kashamu Prince Buruji 13,015,595,907.67 

Note: There might be a slight difference to this list because Ahmed Kuru, AMCON’s executive director, says the corporation spent almost N1 trillion rescuing the now-defunct Skye Bank.

- THECABLE

Real reason I enjoy sex with young boy than girls – Gay suspect

A gay suspect, Friday Okeke, arrested for allegedly having sexual intercourse with two boys in Lagos, has reportedly told the police that he enjoyed sleeping with under-aged boys than with girls.

According to Okeke, girls were irritating, especially the ‘dirty’ ones.

His arrest was confirmed in a statement by Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, yesterday.

The police spokesman said: “On July 27, 2019, at about 11.30am, the Ebute-Ero police station received complaints from two different parents (names withheld) against Okeke, 35, of 23, Kose Street, Lagos Island.

“The two complainants alleged that the suspect lured their two male children (names withheld), ages 12 and 9, into his shop at Kose Street and had unlawful carnal knowledge of them through their anus.

“The victims were taken to the General Hospital, Lagos, for medical treatment and forensic examination, while the suspect was arrested by a team of detectives led by the Ebute Ero Divisional Police Officer, Sina Olunlade.”

He said the suspect told the police in his confessional statement girls were “becoming irritating and anti-social in their appearance because of their American way of dressing while boys were original and undiluted.”

Elkana quoted the suspect as saying: “I often hear some people say that making love to boys is for ritual purposes. But, to me, it is more fun, laced with enjoyment. Though I regret introducing young boys into the homosexual world, that is the way life is drifting to.”

He added that Okeke disclosed that more and more young boys were being introduced into the homosexual club by people they trust and confide in.

- DAILY POST

Nigeria’s 2019 election failed to meet standards for free, fair, credible polls – CSOs

The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has claimed the 2019 general elections in Nigeria failed to meet the minimum standards for free, fair and credible polls.
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The umbrella body of civil society organization in the country stated this on Tuesday while presenting its report on the 2019 elections in Abuja.

Presenting the report, Mr. Clement Nwankwo, the Convener of the Situation Room, said: “The 2019 general elections did not meet the threshold for free, fair and credible elections.

“There were differences between the number of accredited voters and the total number of votes cast in many Polling Units. The Independent National Electoral Commission operations fell short of its identified role.

“Military involvement in the 2019 general elections were outside of the limits allowed by law.

“There are questions about the role played by the executive as well as other state institutions, such as the military and the security services and their negative effect on the credibility of the elections in Nigeria.

“With the relative success achieved in the 2015 general elections, the Nigerian electorate was hopeful that a standard had been set, below which future elections should not fall. The 2019 elections were, therefore, supposed to be a consolidation of the gains made in 2015. Instead of this happening, the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room’s observation of the 2019 general elections reveal serious shortcomings that questioned the credibility of the exercise.

“To help define a common expectation from the elections, Situation Room issued a Threshold Document for a Credible Election,1 which stipulated minimum requirements for credible elections in 2019, drawing from local and international frameworks. These requirements border on the following issues: Non- Partisan Security Agencies, Voter Register Integrity, Card Reader Failure during elections, Transparent results collation, efficient and accountable election Administration, Political parties, No restrictions on opposition campaigns and violence mitigation and electoral accountability.

“These standards were grouped under obligations to be fulfilled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the political parties, the security agencies and other state institutions. From the lapses noted during the observation of the 2019 general elections, it is the conclusion of the Situation Room that the elections failed to meet the threshold for a credible election.

“This poses serious questions about the future of elections in Nigeria and quality of democracy in Nigeria. On a positive note, it was an election in which citizens were determined and mobilised to exercise their votes including excluded groups such as women, persons with disabilities (PWDs), young people, etc. This positive excitement was however truncated by the unexpected postponement of elections from the initial dates set.”

- DAILY POST

‘NEXT LEVEL HOPELESSNESS !! 'Economic crisis responsible for insecurity in Nigeria’

Participants at the roundtable on national and security issues say the growing insecurity in the country is fuelled by economic crisis. 

The roundtable organised by the Abdulsalami Abubakar Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution in Minna, Niger state capital, had fifty distinguished Nigerians from different parts of the country in attendance. 

The participants, according to a communiqué issued on Tuesday by Preye Nebechukwu, director of the institute, agreed that poverty still poses a danger in the ongoing fight against insecurity.  

“The context for convening the meeting is the escalating tension and insecurities across Nigeria bordering on mutual intergroup suspicion, gangsterism, cultism, armed robbery and kidnapping among others which are fuelled by the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALWs),” the communiqué read. 

“These have added to the existing threats associated with the Boko Haram crisis in the North East, potent acts of militancy in the Niger Delta, the recurrent herder-farmer conflicts, which have assumed alarming dimensions and the resurgence of separatist agitations in some pasts of the country.  

“The participants were in agreement that every part of Nigeria is today bedevilled by one form of extremist violence or the other and that these conflicts are increasingly having corrosive effects on the Nigerian state. The causes of the insecurity include poverty arising from the economic crisis in the country and bellicose political activities, environmental scarcity in the far North, and the rising perception of injustice by ethnic and religious groups which are escalated by fake news and hate speeches.” 

The participants also observed that the over reliance on the military in the conflict management often ignore the importance of dialogue and other non-coercive approaches to conflict management. 

This in itself, the participants said, contributed to the escalation of conflicts across the country. 

They also noted that the military has deficits in personnel and equipment needed to fight asymmetric warfare.

In their recommendations, the participants said all tiers of governments should create enabling environment for job creation to engage the teeming youth population.

They added; “all actors engaged in crop farming and livestock production should continually be enlightened to migrate from traditional to modern systems of agriculture to boost profits.

“The federal government should establish a National Mediation Council while the state governments should establish Harmony and Mediation Centres to foster peaceful co-existence and intergroup harmony.”

Earlier, Abdulsalami Abubakar, former head of state, had expressed worry over the growing insecurity in various parts of the country, calling for urgent action.

- THECABLE 

SHITHOLE !!! Lecturer, students killed as suspected militias invade Taraba Varsity

Academic activities have been put on hold at the Federal University Wukari, Taraba State, following an invasion by the suspected Jukun militias that led to the killing of two students from Benue and a lecturer of the institution on Tuesday.

The killing sparked protest among Tiv students and staff of the institution.

However, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof Abubakar Kundiri, has suspended the academic activities and closed down the institution following the incident.

The announcement was contained in a statement by the Registrar, Mr Magaji Gangumi which was released in Wukari, on Wednesday.

According to the statement, all students are expected to leave the University premises before 12:00noon on Wednesday.

The statement also added that the suspension of lectures and closure of the institution is till further notice.

“The closure of the institution follows the protest by students over the kidnapping of their mates along Wukari -Katsina Ala high way on Tuesday. Therefore, students are directed to vacate the hostel and university premises on or before 12 noon,” the statement said.

The Vice-Chancellor assured that adequate security measures had been put in place to ensure the safety of both staff and students as they leave Wukari.

He said apart from school buses, the Chairman of Ukum Local Government in neighbouring Benue State was sending 10 buses to evacuate students from that state.

Prof Kundiri stated that security has also been reinforced from both the army and police to ensure that members of the academic community conveniently leave Wukari without any hitch.

- PM NEWS

Nigerian Gabriel jailed for fraud in Singapore swindles co-prisoner

Amos Paul Gabriel, the Lamborghini driving Nigerian who was jailed two months ago in Singapore over a scheme to swindle Citibank in New York City was charged in court on Wednesday with a fresh offence of cheating.

Gabriel 48, was charged via video-link for cheating a person named Milled Ed Khouri, who was at Changi Prison Complex between January and May last year with Amos.

Channelsnewsasia.com reported that Gabriel is accused of deceiving the victim into delivering AUD40,000 (S$37,745) to another person by telling him the money would be used to post bail for him.

Amos is currently serving a three-year jail term meted out on May 16 for money laundering and traffic offences.

He was involved in a broader money-laundering scheme involving transfers of about US$27.2 million to accounts in the United States, Australia, Japan, China, Hong Kong and Korea.

Amos Paul Gabriel , middle in a Lamborghini showroom in Singapore before he was jailed

District Judge Terence Tay asked Amos on Wednesday via video-link how he intends to plead.

“I’m not pleading any charge,” Amos replied. “I think I need to talk to my lawyer. I have a lawyer but I’m not aware of this case. I only received the information last night that I’m coming to court.”

“You should be aware by now,” answered the judge. “Because you are now in court, there are a lot of people here looking at you.”

He granted Amos an adjournment to speak to a lawyer. He will return to court on Aug 28.

If convicted of cheating, he faces up to 10 years’ jail and a fine.

Reported by Channelnewsasia 

California enacts law to make presidential candidates release tax papers

California governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill Tuesday that will require presidential candidates to disclose the last five years of their taxes in order to appear on the state’s 2020 primary ballot.

Senate Bill 27, dubbed the “Presidential Tax Transparency and Accountability Act,” took effect immediately after Newsom signed it.

The proposal requires all president and governor candidates to submit the last five years of their tax returns to the Secretary of State. 

“The United States Constitution grants states the authority to determine how their electors are chosen, and California is well within its constitutional right to include this requirement,” Newsom wrote in a signing statement.

The law is considered the Democratic-led state’s move to pressure U.S. President Donald Trump to reveal his financial information or risk being kept off the ballot.

While other states have pursued Trump’s taxes, California is the first one in the country to make the disclosure of tax returns a requirement for a ballot spot, according to local media report. 

- PM NEWS

Buhari: What Nigeria missed from Abiola’s presidency

President Muhammadu Buhari has described the late MKO Abiola as a bridge builder who could have prevented the religious and tribal issues besetting the country now from happening, if he had been allowed to rule Nigeria.

Speaking Tuesday, in Abuja, when he received Elders and Leaders of Thought from Ogun State at the State House, President Buhari said:

“If MKO Abiola was allowed to rule, the religious and tribal issues now in Nigeria would not have been as strong, because he ran on a Muslim-Muslim ticket, chose his deputy from the Kanuri, a minority tribe and because of his personality, he went across Nigeria and was accepted.

“He used his resources and energy to convince Nigerians that all he wanted was a solid Nigeria and nothing else.”

President Buhari also said that he named the National Stadium, a national monument after the late politician because he knows that the youths would want to find out why such an important national institution was named after MKO Abiola in future.

He expressed appreciation to Governor Dapo Abiodun for mobilising such a strong delegation to thank him for the gesture towards their illustrious son.

The Ogun State delegation, led by the governor, had come to thank the President for the honour done the late MKO Abiola, an indigene of the State, by conferring on him the highest national honour, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) for his ultimate sacrifice in enthroning democracy.

The delegation, which presented a big talking drum to the President, also used the opportunity to solicit for the rehabilitation of some federal roads as well as other critical infrastructure in the State.

The delegation believed that the rehabilitated roads will help decongest the gridlock occasioned by the movement of consignments along the Apapa – Oshodi expressway and improve the standard of living of Nigerians along the corridor.

- PM NEWS