CAMA to be implemented from January 1, says CAC

 

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) says it will begin the implementation of Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) on January 1, 2021.

CAMA, which repealed and replaced the extant Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990, was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari in August.

But the law became a subject of controversy within Christendom as some clerics argued that it is targeted at churches. 

David Oyedepo, presiding bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide, had said the law was borne out of the government’s jealousy for the church.

n a Twitter post on Monday, CAC said it is putting every mechanism in place to commence the implementation of CAMA on the first day of 2021.

“The Corporate Affairs Commission has officially taken delivery of a copy of the Gazetted CAMA, 2020 from the Clerk of the National Assembly on Thursday 19th November,2020 and is putting machinery in place to commence full implementation by 1st January, 2021”, the tweet read.

The law stipulates that religious bodies and charity organisations will be regulated by the registrar-general of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and a minister.

CAMA 2020 provides that the commission may by order, suspend the trustees of an association or a religious body and appoint an interim manager or managers to coordinate its affairs where it reasonably believes that there has been any misconduct or mismanagement, or where the affairs of the association are being run fraudulently or where it is necessary or desirable for the purpose of public interest.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo had earlier earlier counselled church leaders who are aggrieved over CAMA 2020 to approach the national assembly.

Azuka Azinge (pictured) is the acting registrar-general of CAC.

- THECABLE

I burnt 12-year-old boy because my money was stolen – Ogun Woman confesses

 

A 40-year-old house wife, Iswat Taofeek, has confessed to the police in Ogun State that she burnt a12-year-old boy with a hot knife when she could not locate a sum of N5,000 she kept at home.

The woman, a resident of 36, Isoka Kugba, Abeokuta has been arrested by men of Ogun State Police Command for dehumanizing the boy, who lives with her.

DAILY POST learnt that the suspect was arrested at about 8:30am on Monday, following a complaint by one of her neighbours at Adatan police station with the little boy, whose body the police said was full of injuries inflicted on him with the hot knife and cutlass.

While the report was being lodged, the little boy fainted at the station and was quickly rushed to a hospital for medical attention, a statement by Ogun police spokesperson, Abimbola Oyeyemi confirmed to DAILY POST on Monday.

Oyeyemi, said the DPO of Adatan division, CSP Samuel Aladegoroye, detailed his detectives to the woman’s house where she was arrested.

“On interrogation, the suspect explained that the little boy is a son to her brother-in-law and he has been living with her for some time. She stated further that she kept the sum of N5,000 somewhere in the house but couldn’t find it and she believed that it was the boy who stole it. That was why she put a knife on fire until it was red-hot before she used it to burn the little boy all over his body,” Oyeyemi quoted the woman as saying.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Edward Ajogun, has ordered the transfer of the case to anti-human trafficking and child labour unit of the State CIID for further investigation and prosecution

- DAILY POST

Nigerian travellers to pay $15,000 visa bond as Trump introduces new policy

 

Nigerian visitors to the United States (US) may have to pay up to $15,000 in bonds according to a new temporary policy issued to discourage nationals of some countries with higher visa overstay rate.

The President Donald Trump administration introduced the visa bond pilot programme on Monday for B-1 visas (for business travellers) and B-2 visas (for tourists) and it is expected to run for six months — December 24 to June 24, 2021.

The rule will see US consular officers ask travellers from affected countries to pay a refundable bond of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000. About 15 African countries are said to be on the list.

The visa bond pilot programme by the US Department of State is said to target mostly African countries with high visa overstay — the visitors are believed to have entered the country legally on student, tourist, work visas and then stay past their visa expiration date.

“The purpose of the pilot program is to assess the operational feasibility of posting, processing and discharging visa bonds, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to help assess the burden on government agencies and identify any practical challenges related to visa bonds,” the policy document read.

“The pilot program is designed to apply to nationals of specified countries with high overstay rates to serve as a diplomatic tool to encourage foreign governments to take all appropriate actions to ensure their nationals timely depart the United States after making temporary visits.

“The Pilot Program will run for six months. During that period, consular officers may require nonimmigrant visa applicants falling within the scope of the Pilot Program to post a bond in the amount of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 as a condition of visa issuance.

“The amount of the bond, should a bond be appropriate, will be determined by the consular officer based on the circumstances of the visa applicant.”

According to data from the DHS, almost 30,000 Nigerians overstayed their B1/B2 visas in 2018, ranking as the 5th country with the most visa overstays in the US. This makes Nigeria the African country with the most visa overstays.

In January, the United States had imposed an immigrant visa ban on Nigeria as a result of the country’s failure to comply with its established identity-management and information-sharing criteria.

- THECABLE

Falae cries out: Don’t allow Fulani herdsmen kidnap me again

 

Former Presidential candidate of the Alliance for Democracy in 1999, Chief Olu Falae has raised the alarm over invasion of his farm by Fulani herdsmen in Ondo State.

He said Fulani herdsmen should not be allowed to kidnap him again for the second time as they did in September 2015.

Falae, in a letter addressed to the Commander of the state security outfit, Amotekun, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, said in the last few weeks, Fulani herdsmen came into his maize farm twice to eat up and trample large sessions of the farm.

He said he reported the incidents to Alhaji Bello, Chairman Meiyetti Allah for Ondo State, but that nothing had happened.

Falae added that in the last few days, the Fulani herdsmen had gone to attack his citrus farm by stealing, harvesting oranges and destroying what they could not carry away.

He said the police on security duty on the farm were sent to drive the herdsmen away, but that they had been coming back every night to attack his workers in the camp, breaking their door and carting away all their belongings.

Falae appealed to the commander to let Amotekun save him and his livelihood, saying they should not allow them to kidnap him again.

- PM NEWS

Gunmen attack ABU staff quarters, abduct senior staff

 

Armed men on Monday invaded the Staff Quarters of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

They abducted a staff member of the institution.

ABU Public Affairs Director, Auwalu Umar, confirmed the attack in a statement.

The spokesman said the incident occurred at Sardauna Crescent, Area BZ, within the main campus.

The assailants also seized the victim’s wife, daughter and ran into the bush.

But after a police chase and exchange of fire at Dasuwar Da’a village, a community near the university, gunmen freed them.

Umar disclosed that the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and other security agencies have been informed.

He said the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Kabir Bala, has appealed for calm and advised everyone to be vigilant.

- DAILY POST

UK lawmaker: We must stop funding corrupt Nigerian security agencies

 

Kate Osamor, a member of the United Kingdom parliament, has asked the country to reconsider funding for some Nigerian security agencies she described as “corrupt”.

Speaking at the parliament’s debate on the #EndSARS crisis, the MP said the government should instead focus on poverty alleviation programmes.

She specifically kicked against the UK-funded training for former operatives of the disbanded special anti-robbery squad (SARS) which she said went on despite previous indictments of the squad.

TheCable had reported that the UK trained SARS personnel for four years through the CSSF-funded Nigeria Policing Programme, which ended in March 2020.

Describing the #EndSARS crisis as “regrettably serious”, Osamor said the UK must look beyond sanctioning the Nigerian government for alleged abuses and pay closer attention to its funding for certain programmes.

“Today, we need to consider how the government responds to both the movement itself and the violent actions of the Nigerian regime,” she said.

“We must also take this opportunity to look beyond sanctions into how development funding is spent in Nigeria.

“Instead of funding corrupt security agencies and investing in projects which do not benefit ordinary Nigerians, we need a new focus on poverty relief and anti-corruption programmes.

“At the very moment in which Amnesty International had declared SARS units to have been involved in extra-judicial killings, corruption and torture, the government was using the budget to train and equip those units.”

- THECABLE

Shocker: Teenage girl sets ex-lover’s house, girlfriend ablaze in Lagos

 

A teenage girl has set his ex-lover’s house and his girlfriend ablaze in FESTAC area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

A statement issued by Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the culprit, Jemila Ibrahim, 19, and her friend, Fatima Mohammed, 21, of Monkey Village, Festac Area, Lagos, have been arrested for the callous act.

Adejobi said the duo set ablaze the house of Mohammed Yusuf, of Monkey Village, Lagos State, and his girlfriend, Rabi,  on 18th November, 2020 at 5.30pm.

“Mohammed Yusuf, an ex-lover to Jemila, had the hint of the incident and rushed to the house where he met his house on flame but manged to rescue Rabi, his new lover, from the inferno and took her to the hospital where she gave up the ghost on 21st November, 2020, at about 12pm.

“Mohammed had allegedly accused his former lover, Jemila Ibrahim, of infidelity before they broke up; he later met and fell in love with his new lover, Rabi, that was caught up in the inferno,” he said.

According to Adejobi, “the duo of Jemila Ibrahim and her friend, Fatimo Mohammed, of Monkey Village, who accompanied Jemila to commit the heinous crime, have been arrested by the police operatives attacked to Satellite Division of the command.”

He said the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, who condemned the crime, has ordered that the matter be transferred to the State CID, Panti, for discreet investigation.

The burnt house

Adejobi added that the Commissioner also vowed to go after those who engaged in crimes and social vices in order to get Lagos State rid of criminals and criminality.

“The police boss, however, encouraged Lagosians to shun taking laws into their hands; noting that jungle justice will only truncate the administration of justice and such could be counterproductive,” he said.

- PM NEWS

End SARS: UK parliament to debate sanctions against Buhari govt, Nigerian Army, Police

 

The United Kingdom Parliament will today debate a petition on End SARS protest.

It seeks sanctions against the President Muhammadu Buhari administration and security agencies.

The request was created by Silas Ojo.

It sought to get 100,000 signatures, the required number for lawmakers’ attention but garnered more than 220,000 signatures.

The debate will touch on the excesses of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and the October 20 Lekki shooting by the Nigerian Army.

It would be led by Theresa Villiers at the Westminster Hall between 6:00 pm and 7:30 pm.

A statement on the House of Commons Library website said audiences will be able to watch online on the UK Parliament YouTube channel.

It explained that the restrictions will give the UK a powerful tool to hold to account those involved in serious acts against the people.

Debates of this nature “allow for sanctions to be imposed on individuals and entities involved in serious human rights violations or abuses around the world.”

In October, the UK Government admitted that it provided training and equipment to SARS.

Minister for Africa, James Duddridge confimed that the training was between 2016 and 2020.

In a memo to Labour MP, Kate Osamor, Duddridge said SARS officers participated in training “designed to improve human rights, training on public finance, and community policing workshops”.

Human rights abuses commited by the notorious unit sparked End SARS demonstrations across Nigeria and calls for an end to police brutality.

- DAILY POST

Naira Marley calls out Turkish Airlines on racism

 Controversial Nigerian singer, Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley, has called out Turkish Airlines, the national flag carrier airline of Turkey.

The singer who took to social media on Sunday has accused Turkish Airlines of a “racial treatment”.

The ‘Soapy’ crooner via a post on Twitter, described the company and its staff as “racists”.

Naira Marley in his tweet also claims to have video evidence and witnesses to substantiate his claim.

See his tweet below.

Turkish Airlines is yet to make any official statement to the singer’s claim.

- PM NEWS

Moghalu: Our economy can’t make progress until 1999 constitution is changed

 

Kingsley Moghalu, former presidential candidate of the Young Democratic Party (YDP), says the Nigerian economy will not grow as long as it is “based on 1999 constitution”.

TheCable reported on Saturday that Nigeria had slipped into its worst economic recession in 33 years.

According to gross domestic product numbers released by the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria recorded a contraction of 3.62 percent in the third quarter of 2020, making it the second consecutive quarterly GDP decline since the recession of 2016.

Reacting in a statement on Sunday, Moghalu said the nation’s economic growth requires far-reaching actions in the political system.

He said the existing constitution has no incentive to create wealth and that the solution to bringing Nigeria out of the current problems is by restructuring the constitution to true federalism.

“It is no surprise that Nigeria has entered its second severe economic recession in five years since 2015. According to Dr. Yemi Kale, Chief Executive and Statistician-General of Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics, Q3 2020 Real GDP contracted for a second consecutive quarter by -3.62 per cent. Cumulative GDP for the first nine months of 2020 stood at -2.48 per cent. This decline was led by the oil sector, which contracted by 13.89 per cent in Q3, while the non-oil sector contracted by 2.51 per cent in the same period, “he said.

“Leading inclusive growth for economic transformation in Nigeria now requires far-reaching actions in the political realm. No amount of “defensive” approaches to economic management, akin to the labors of the mythical Sisyphus, can adequately reverse Nigeria’s worsening economic crisis and put the country on a path to real development if the underlying issues that have created our weak economic framework are not addressed.

“Chief among these structural factors is the urgent need for a constitutional restructuring of Nigeria to true federalism. Nigeria’s economy cannot make real progress as long as it is organized on the basis of the 1999 Constitution.

“The existing constitution contains no incentives to economic production that creates wealth, as it centralizes excessive power in the central government. On the contrary, it creates massive incentives for a “sharing” economy based on earnings from crude oil sales, which belong primarily to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“This in turn creates an embedded incentive to rent-seeking as economic activity, an absence of deep reflection by the political leadership on the nuances of competing economic frameworks as a basis for economic policy, and the commodity dependence that has created frequent economic distress through externally induced oil price shocks. Our distress is now further entrenched with extreme levels of foreign borrowing that have essentially mortgaged the future of Nigeria’s youth.”

Moghalu said though the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the recession, the nation’s economy had long been depressed before then.

“While the Covid-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns imposed in the early months of the pandemic contributed significantly to this recession, it is not a valid excuse to avoid confronting the more important causative factor of the longstanding, weak fundamentals of the Nigerian economy. Our economy was distressed long before Covid-19, as demonstrated by the recession of 2016-2017 and the fragile recovery, “he said.

“Moreover, the Nigerian government’s already-weak fiscal position left it unprepared and unable to support its citizens adequately during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“This fiscal and monetary-authority response was grossly inadequate to meet the magnitude of the challenge.”

He added that another way of pulling the economy out of recession is by voting into office competent leaders that “will identify and work with the best minds among our compatriots to create economic transformation”.

- THECABLE

IIAG: Mo Ibrahim Index on African Governance ranks Nigeria low

 

The 2020 Mo Ibrahim Index on African Governance (IIAG) has ranked Nigeria 34th of the 54 countries reviewed.

The annual report analyses the advancement in administration management of African countries.

The IIAG measures safety and the rule of law, participation and human rights, sustainable economic opportunity, and human development.

Noting that 22 nations improved in foundations for “economic opportunity and development”, the report stated that Nigeria declined.

It said Africa’s most populous country and some others witnessed worsening “security and rule of law, rights and inclusion”.

These were part of the factors that caused a decline in the overall progress for the first time in a decade.

The assessment mentioned the End SARS protest, a peaceful youth-led demonstration against police brutality that went awry, resulting in deaths and destructions.

IIAG found that 60 percent of Africans live in nations where governance is better in 2019 than in 2010.

The six top-scoring countries are Mauritius, Cape Verde, Seychelles, Tunisia, Botswana and South Africa.

The Gambia -16th, Ivory Coast – 18th, and Zimbabwe – 33rd, were among the five biggest advancers.

Somalia remain at the bottom – 54th, but is the 7th most improved in the last 10 years.

Despite security challenges precipitated by al-Shabaab militancy, the report observed an improvement in governance, infrastructure and gender equality.

- DAILY POST

Fatal road crash claims six in Anambra

 No fewer than six people were killed and eleven others injured in a fatal road crash which occurred at Niwelle Junction along Nteje-Onitsha expressway, on Sunday evening.

Eyewitness accounts that the crash occurred as a result of excessive speeding leading to loss of control of a white bus belonging to a transport company with registration number BGT 313 XA and crashing into a white truck without a registration number.

According to Ag. Public Education Officer for Anambra State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Kamal Musa, said a total of 17 people: 11 male adults and six female adults were involved in the crash.

Eleven (11) male adults who sustained varying degree of injuries were rushed to Iyi – Ene Hospital Ogidi by FRSC rescue team from Nteje Unit Command, who also deposited corpses of the dead victims at the morgue after doctor’s confirmation.

Road obstruction was cleared to ensure free flow of traffic.

The Sector Commander, Mr Andrew A Kumapayi while sending his condolences to the deceased families, warned motorists to adhere strictly to speed limits stipulated by law and minimize avoidable crashes this ‘Ember’ months.

- PM NEWS

How to curb rots in Nigeria’s education, health sector – ASUU

 

For Nigeria’s education sector to receive the desired facelift, a ban must be placed on the children of public office holders seeking foreign education.

The is the submission of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Akure zone on Sunday while claiming the move will help checkmate the decadence in the nation’s educational sector.

ASUU also called for measures to stop the political class and their dependents from seeking medical intervention outside the shores of Nigeria.

The submissions were contained in a statement issued by the Zonal Coordinator of the union, Prof. Olu Olufayo as well as the FUTA ASUU branch Chairman, Dr. Olayinka Awopetu.

According to the ASUU, such policies will help to reposition the failing nation’s educational and health sectors and stressed the political class were not committed to ending the ongoing ASUU strike since they are not directly affected.

“Until we domesticate two very important practices as laws in Nigeria, we may not get out of this doldrums -first, an act to compel all public office holders and government appointees to have their wards educated in Nigeria Public schools from primary to tertiary level.

“Secondly, an act to compel all political office holders, appointees and their dependents prohibiting them from seeking medical intervention outside Nigeria.

In the statement, ASUU further explained that the union has been on strike for the past eight months over issues which have been ignored by successive governments in the country, saying the deplorable situation of Universities has grown from bad to worse.

While lamenting what it described as dilapidated lecture rooms, deplorable hostels for students, lack of funds for capital projects, ASUU stated that for the past three decades, the University system has suffered brain drain arising from poor capital and human resource development.

The union said rather than attending to the rot within the education sector, policymakers were busy feeding Nigerians with lies and advising academics to take to farming.

- DAILY POST

Ngige on ASUU strike: I have three children in public universities

 Chris Ngige, minister of labour and employment, says he has three children in public universities affected by the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Universities’ (ASUU) strike.

The strike which is in its eighth month has led to the suspension of academic activities in public universities.

In an interview on Arise TV on Sunday, Ngige refuted the claim that political leaders care less about the strike because their children are in school abroad.

The minister said three of his children are in public universities in the country, but he did not mentioned the name of the institutions.

“I have three biological children in public schools. They are in public schools; they are not in private universities. Unlike ASUU members who have most of their children in private universities, three of mine are here. So, I am a very big stakeholder in the public tertiary school system,” he said.

“So, when ASUU says politicians don’t care because they have taken their children abroad, Chris Ngige cares because my children are not abroad even though they have dual nationality – two of them have American citizenship; they can be in America but I choose them to be here with me.

“So, ASUU cannot accuse me of not being nationalistic enough. Anything that will help the university system here, I am in the forefront.”

During the 2017 ASUU strike, Ngige had said one of his children was in a public university in Nigeria.

“Students who are supposed to take their exams and promotional exams have been forced by circumstances beyond their control to stay at home,” he had said.

“I have one of my child at home as we speak. Government is leaving no stone unturned to make sure that we reach a conclusive agreement with ASUU so that they can go back to the class room.”

After months of negotiations, the federal government recently shifted its ground regarding enrolling members of ASUU on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

- THECABLE

‘Mean regime surviving on life support system’ – Idris Abdulkareem blasts Buhari govt

 

Nigerian music legend, Idris Abdulkareem has described President Muhammadu’s administration as a ‘very mean regime surviving on life support system’.

Abdulkareem said this while reacting to dollar exchange rate to the Naira and the state of economy in Nigeria.

He further applauded Nigerians, noting that it is a miracle to live in Nigeria at this point.

On his Instagram page, he wrote: “When you see a Nigerian living in Nigeria, give him/her some accolades.

“It is a miracle to live here. Shocking if you save a Naira a day you may not have up to a dollar at the end of the year.

“$1=N475, A very mean mean regime, surviving on propagandas and life support system. Transmogrifying Change to Next level.”

- DAILY POST

Ijaw leader asks south-south govs to reject FG’s monthly allocation

 

Peter Igbifa, president of the Ijaw Youth Council, has asked governors of the south-south region to reject the federal government’s monthly revenue allocation in protest.

In response to the government’s decision to cancel a meeting with south-south governors and traditional rulers last Tuesday, Igbifa said the ”insult” by the government on the region “is enough”.

A video of the youth leader speaking went viral on the internet on Sunday.

A day after the event was cancelled, Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, apologised over the unsuccessful meeting.

Shehu said the meeting was not cancelled out of disrespect but because of an emergency security meeting called by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The youth leader said the government was playing politics with the south-south, adding that ministers from the region ought to have been present for the meeting.

Igbifa threatened that the youth of the region would ground the economy of the country “in a few days”.

“Make Buhari dey hear, we dey give them few days, we go rumble the economy of this country. Enough of the insult. I first know say this meeting no get head,” the youth leader said.

“Everything for Niger Delta na joke, everything for south-south na joke. All the appointees for south-south suppose don dey here. All the ministers from south-south where dem dey. Are they not supposed to be here.

“Dem dey play politics with south-south, if south-south no dey, dem no go appoint them? Make dem know #EndSARS na play. Make e happen for this south-south, e go be.

“The laugh wey we dey laugh for presidency na dey cause am. Some of una (governors) na product of struggle. Wetin una dey do? A whole governor of Delta state, when you dey match youths dey behind you but Gambari dey cancel your meeting. We cannot be taken for granted all the time. See east-west road dey rotten dey go, people dey die.

“Dem dey dash us money wey dem dey call 13 percent derivation, una dey take. E don reach after this meeting, make una reject all those offers, even allocation self, make una no collect

“We need to inconvenience ourselves to get results. Make una no collect anything from them again. Everything about Niger Delta na joke. We cannot be taken for granted all the time.

“See east-west Road, dey rotten dey go, people dey die every day.”

- THECABLE

One dead, another fighting for his life as Police shoots two friends in Ekiti hotel

 

Armed security personnel, alleged to be members of a security escort attached to a top police officer have shot two persons in an Ado Ekiti hotel.

The top police boss said to be an AIG is reported to be a friend to the owner of the hotel, and would always visit the hotel whenever he came to Ikere Ekiti.

The police escorts were said to be in high spirits and were about to compliment their boss when suddenly the shots were fired, hitting the dead in the stomach and the other victim on the leg.

They were alleged to have shot the duo on Saturday night at the bar section of the popular hotel, located along Ado Ekiti – Ikere Ekiti highway.

Our state correspondent reports that one of the two victims died before reaching the Emergency Ward of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, (EKSUTH) where they were rushed under pretence immediately after the incident.

The second victim was said to be battling for his life at the same Emergency Unit of the tertiary health facility up till Sunday morning when urgent arrangements were made to transfer him to Afe Babalola University Multi-System Hospital, also in Ado Ekiti upon realising that his case had worsened.

Sources said the policemen who shot the duo, conveyed the two victims in their Hilux vehicle to the hospital by themselves, but allegedly bolted out of the hospital and also abandoned the hilux, moments after dumping the victims.

After relocating the victim with a bullet wound to Afe Babalola University Multi-System Hospital, the body of the dead was also moved a private hospital mortuary, as EKSUTH mortuary was said to be full

Confirming the incident to newsmen, the Public Relations Officer, (PPRO) of the Police Command in Ekiti state, ASP Sunday Abutu said a thorough investigation would be conducted to unravel what actually transpired.

He said the policeman who was involved in the shooting had already been arrested and disarmed, preparatory to a full-scale investigation.

“The policeman who was involved in the fatal shooting at Queens Court Hotel for the reason which is still under investigation has been arrested by Ekiti State police command, disarmed and detained for investigation and disciplinary action

“Ekiti State Police Commissioner implores all the good people of Ekiti State to be calm as he will ensure justice prevails”, he said

- DAILY POST

Salah to return after negative COVID-19 test

 

Mohamed Salah could be set for a return to the Liverpool squad after testing negative for coronavirus, according to manager Jurgen Klopp.

Salah was absent in the Reds’ 3-0 win over Leicester on Sunday evening after testing positive for Covid-19 during the international break.

In a post-match interview, Klopp disclosed that the 28-year-old could now return in the UEFA Champions League against Atalanta on Wednesday night.

Klopp said: “That’s what I’ve heard. A negative today. I think from now he is pretty normal in all the testing.

“Tomorrow [Monday] we have UEFA testing for the Champions League and I am pretty sure he will be in that. He can now train with us tomorrow.

“There could be Premier League tests the day after? Yes, there are two tests in the next two days so he will be tested, like all of us.”

The news will come as a significant boost to the reigning champions after an injury-hit season so far which has only increased with an injury to Naby Keita in the Leicester clash.

- PM NEWS

Gunmen kill five worshippers, abduct 18 during attack on Zamfara mosque

 

Suspected bandits on Friday attacked a mosque in Zamfara state during the congregational Jummah prayer, killing five people and abducting 18 others, including the imam. 

Mohammed Shehu, spokesman of the state’s police command, confirmed the incident on Sunday.

The bandits, numbering about 100, were said to have arrived in motorcycles and opened on the mosque located at Dutsen Gari village in Maru district as residents were observing the weekly Friday prayers.

The imam, identified as Yahaya, and some of the captives reportedly regained their freedom on Saturday.

Shehu said efforts are on to apprehend the perpetrators and secure the release of the other victims.

Several states in the north-west and north-east have repeatedly suffered attacks from armed bandits over the years.

In November, 14 persons were killed by suspected bandits in Karaye village, Gummi local government area of Zamfara.

The committee set up by Bello Matawalle, the state governor, to find solutions to banditry in the state, disclosed in October that suspected bandits collected over N3 billion as ransom from relatives of abducted victims from June 2011 to May 29, 2019.

- THECABLE

Deformed man tells panel how policeman shot him, six others over N20 bribe

 A passenger of a commercial bus, Amos Odeyemi, who has been deformed after he was shot by a police officer in 2003 has filed a petition before the Osun Judicial Panel.

Adeyemi had his lower lip, jaw and teeth ripped off by the police bullet.

According to him, a member of the police team identified as Constable Olalere George (with Force No. 367218 PC) fired gun shots at the bus and wounded 7 out of the 18 passengers inside the bus, after the driver paid “N20 customary toll fee” and was cleared by another police.

Adeyemi said, he was a Produce Merchant and was going to Offa, Kwara State from Modakeke.

He boarded the bus with number XC 778 SGB in Osogbo Osun State to buy cashew nuts on June 22, 2003, when the incident happened.

In his petition, Adeyemi sought redress for the brutality he suffered from the members of the Nigeria Police Force, Osun State Command, the injuries, pains, deformations and many other adverse effects the injuries have been having on him from that day till date.

The petition read: “At the Railway Crossing, Okuku, a Police Patrol team mounted a check point where the bus Driver (Mr. Ibrahim Olagoke) was stopped, the bus was searched, and the Driver dropped the “customary toll fee” (which was then N20.00 per police check point) and he was cleared to go by the Police Officer who checked the bus by waiving his hand.

“As the bus moved, another member of the Police team (later identified as/Constable Olalere George (with Force No. 367218 PC) fired gun shots at the bus and wounded 7 out of the 18 passengers inside the bus, including the Petitioner. Constable George’s gunshot entered the Petitioner’s head from the back and came out through mouth and in the process, scattered the Petitioner’s mouth, lips, teeth and jaw with blood gushing out from his body.

“Our Client instantly fell into coma while the Police Officers ran away from the scene of the crime abandoning our Client and other victims there to die. Till date, the Police Authorities have not disciplined Constable George, members of his team and Divisional Police Officer who gave them weapons to use against innocent members of the Public at the said check point.

“Good Samaritans rushed the Petitioner to Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH) Osogbo where he was treated. Due to his critical conditions, he was later referred to Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAUTHC) Ile Ife where he underwent surgeries and other medical treatments to remove the bullets from his body and head by a medical team led by Dr. Vincent Ugboko, a Consultant Anatomy Expert and Lecturer. Our Client was on admission at OAUTHC for several months and he has since then remained on drugs to reduce his pains.

“Due to lack of the required facilities and manpower in Nigeria, Dr. Ugboko recommended the Petitioner for plastic surgery and further medical treatment overseas vide a letter dated 20/7/2004.

“In response, the University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, United States of America vide a letter dated 20/8/2004 offered to treat the Petitioner for $120.000 USD (One hundred and twenty thousand US dollars) excluding travelling and living expenses.

“The surgeries were to be performed in stages covering a period of 14 months, during which period he was to remain in Miami with a helper. Copies of the said 2 letters are attached as Annexure GAAC 1 and GAAC 2 respectively.

“The Petitioner used his life savings, the proceeds of the sales of his personal properties and loans for his treatment in Nigeria without any assistance from the

Police Authorities, despite his repeated appeals. As a result, our Client filed a case at the Federal High Court, Osogbo to seek legal redress in Suit No. FHC/OS/CS/17/2003:- Amos Odeyemi Vs. (1) Inspector-General of Police (2) Paneler of Police Osun State (3) Constable Olalere George and (4) Attorney General of the Federation wherein the Learned Trial Judge, Hon. Justice Chukwura Nnamani in his judgment delivered on 8/12/2004 held among other things that in shooting the Petitioner, Constable Olalere George

was reckless and grossly negligent, the Inspector General of Police and the other Defendants were vicariously liable for the illegal, unconstitutional and unjustified shooting of the Petitioner.

“The bus Driver, (Mr. Olagoke) the Leader of the medical team, Dr. Ugboko and the Petitioner were some of the witnesses who testified during the trial. Regrettably, the Court awarded a meagre sum of N1 million only as special, general and exemplary damages in favour of the Petitioner and without ordering for his further treatment abroad and/or even in Nigeria.

“The said sum of N1 million was not sufficient to cover the Petitioner’s travelling expenses let alone the surgeries and accommodation he needed in the USA. The Police Authorities paid the #1 million during the pendency of the appeal against the quantum of damages in Appeal No. CAD/125/2006: Amos Odeyemi vs. IGP & 4 Ors which has now been fixed for 213.2021

“As a result of the incident, the Petitioner has lost his lower lip, lower jaw and teeth, he can no longer live an average normal life, farm, carry on his produce merchant business or do any other job, eat any solid food, talk well, control his saliva, appear in public without using a towel to cover his mouth long before covid – 19 pandemic surfaced and made the use of nose masks compulsory in 2020.

“The Petitioner has been maimed, disfigured permanently and he now looks like a monster whose appearance frightens most people and drives away people from him. He has been experiencing serious pains and discomforts on daily basis and he remains on medication. If he walks during the day, blood and saliva will be gushing out uncontrollable from his mouth. He is now virtually a human vegetable. He was only 45 years old when the incident happened but he is now 62 years old. He has a wife and 3 children and he is now living at the

mercy of God, friends and Well-wishers. 2.08: Some print and electronic media have also published the Petitioner’s tragedy.”

- DAILY POST