ASUU: Children of politicians should be banned from studying abroad, strike’ll end – Lecturer

 

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has called for a law placing restriction on public office holders from sending their children to foreign countries to study.

The Akure zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Prof. Olufayo Olu-Olu said such ban would put an end the persistent strike in Nigeria’s education sector.

Olu-Olu explained that if such a law is promulgated, it would help to rebuild Nigeria’s education sector.

A statement by Olu-Olu reads partly: “Members of the ruling class and their cohorts have their wards schooling abroad, so they do not commit to ending ASUU strike since the political office has become occupational rather than public service.

“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.

“When this law is enacted, perhaps we will gradually see the end of needless ASUU strikes in the country.”

ASUU has been on strike for about eight months, following federal government’s failure to meet its demands.

Despite a meeting with government representatives last week, ASUU had vowed to continue with the strike until all demands are met.

However, there are speculations that ASUU zonal branches would meet by Friday to decide if they would call off or continue the strike.

- DAILY POST

Court to begin Nnamdi Kanu’s ‘treason’ trial in absentia

 

A federal high court in Abuja is set to commence the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in his absence.

A hearing notice from the court scheduled the case for November 26 during which five prosecution witnesses will testify against Kanu.

The notice was served on the federal government’s prosecution team and Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the defendant’s counsel.

Kanu is facing charges bordering on treasonable felony instituted against him in response to years of campaign for the independent Republic of Biafra through IPOB.

He was granted bail in April 2017 for health reasons, but skipped his bail after reportedly flouting all the conditions given to him by the court.

Owing to his absence in court, Binta Nyako, the judge who granted him bail, revoked it  and ordered that he should be arrested.

But Kanu’s lawyer argued that he left the country because of the invasion of his family’s residence in Abia state by soldiers during a military exercise.

He prayed the court to restore the bail to enable the defendant to return to Nigeria for trial, but the judge did not accede to the request.

Despite the court’s insistence on his appearance, the IPOB leader has remained abroad, and once said he jumped bail to pursue the cause of Biafra.

Their problem is Nnamdi Kanu and the solution to their problem is referendum. They gave me conditional bail to cage me and IPOB but I refused,” he had said during a broadcast.

He also said the arrest warrant against him means nothing and vowed to remain abroad to continue his campaign for a Biafran republic in the south-east.

“The bench warrant against me is merely academic. It will surely be ignored by an international legal and diplomatic order that has voiced its disapproval of what is happening to IPOB in Nigeria,” he had said.

“Self determination is not a crime but a right guaranteed under chapter A9, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004. So, what is Justice Binta Nyako seeking my arrest and trial for unless she has no intention of obeying the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which gives me the right to openly agitate for Biafra?“

- THECABLE

ICYMI: There’s strong evidence to sanction Nigeria over #EndSARS crisis, says UK lawmaker

 

Theresa Villiers, a member of the United Kingdom parliament, says there is “strong” evidence to sanction the Nigerian government over the #EndSARS crisis.

Villiers, who is an MP for Chipping Barnet, said the UK must use all diplomatic means to get the federal government to listen to protesters.

She was speaking at a UK parliament debate on a petition seeking sanction against the Nigerian government for alleged human rights abuses during the #EndSARS protests.

The petitioners had accused the government and the police of violating the rights of agitators protesting against police brutality.

They urged the UK to implement sanctions that allow “individuals and entities that violate human rights around the world to be targeted”.

During the debate monitored by TheCable, Villiers wondered why the UK minister for Africa was “unable to make commitments on targeted sanctions”, insisting there is a strong case for such.

She said: “I would take this last minute to really urge the minister and the rest of the team at the foreign office to use all diplomatic means available to get the message to the authorities in Nigeria that they need to listen to what the protesters are asking for.

“I do hope that whilst the minister for all sorts of reasons has felt unable to make commitments on targeted sanctions today, I think there is a really strong case for doing this and I hope that behind the scenes, the foreign affairs (office) will continue to pursue this so that in the not-too-distant future, we will see an announcement of that.

She added that there has been a “long history of brutality and extrajudicial killings” relating to the Nigeria police force which goes beyond the reported abuses during the protests.

- THECABLE

Football legend Diego Maradona is dead

 

World cup winning star and football legend, Diego Maradona is dead.

Multiple reports said the 60 year-old Argentine died today.

Reports quoting Argentine newspaper Clarin said Maradona died after suffering a cardiac arrest in his home in Tigre, Argentina.

The family is yet to confirm the death.

Maradona was recently hospitalised and had a brain surgery.

The AFP has not confirmed the death.

But it said he was “critically ill”.

Maradona won the World Cup with Argentina in 1986.

He was even more famous for winning two Serie A titles with Italian side Napoli

- PM NEWS

‘You slapped me four times’ — SARS victim confronts police lawyer at judicial panel

 There was a mild drama during the sitting of the Lagos judicial panel on Tuesday, when Okolie Abunike, a lawyer, narrated how a police counsel slapped him four times in the process of trying to serve a court order in 2019.

He stated this during cross-examination by Emmanuel Eze, counsel to the police, while appearing before the Lagos judicial panel on restitution for victims of SARS and related abuses.

Abunike had appeared before the panel on October 27, during which he alleged that he was locked up for over one month by officers of the special anti-robbery squad (SARS) — now defunct — in 2012.

However, while appearing before the panel on Tuesday, he alleged that his wife and mother were beaten up for resisting when the officers wanted to take documents of some of his properties.

After his cross-examination by the police counsel, he asked the panel chairperson for permission to make another claim.

“I’m surprised that Mr Eboseremen would appear in a case before this panel and would claim the police didn’t beat up my wife and mum when this same man slapped me four times,” Abunike said.

According to him, Joseph Eboseremen, a counsel to the police, assaulted him at the state criminal investigation and intelligence department (SCIID), Panti, Yaba, in 2019.

He explained that he had gone to the SCIID to deliver a notice of appeal concerning a client, and was assaulted by Eboseremen.

Eboseremen

“The police killed someone at Ikorodu and the deceased’s brother, Ibrahim Kabiru, approached my principal, Olukoya Ogungbeje, to file a case of fundamental human rights action before the high court,” Abunike said.

“The court awarded a judgement of N200 million against the police for the deceased in a judgement delivered by Justice M.B. Idris, now a judge in the court of appeal.

“I went to Panti in Yaba where the state SCIID is located in a bid to tender the ‘order of court absolute’ to the process receiver of the legal admin of CID.”

Abunike said it was at the point of tendering the court order enforced by C.J. Aneke, a justice, that Eboseremen accosted him and said he had appealed the judgement.

“I told him we have a registrar and there’s a formal process for serving such notice of appeal and that I cannot take it, because I cannot issue receipt and then, Eboseremen slapped me up to four times in a row for turning down his request to take the appeal notice,” he added.

In response, Eboseremen did not admit to whether he slapped Abunike or not.

Eboseremen, instead, alleged that Abunike tried to tarnish his image because he refused a 10 percent offer out of the N200 million awarded by the court.

Doris Okuwobi, the panel chairperson, adjourned the hearing of the case till December 4, 2020.

- THECABLE

VC race: Soldiers, DSS storm UI over selection of VC [PHOTOS]

 

Security agents including soldiers, officers of the Department of State Services have stormed the University of Ibadan.

They stormed the University Wednesday afternoon, DAILY POST can report

DAILY POST reports that the security agents are currently at the Institution due to the selection of the new Vice-Chancellor of the University.

The tenure of the incumbent Vice-Chancellor, Professor Idowu Olayinka expires on November 30th.

The new Vice-Chancellor is expected to assume duty on December 1st.

The appointment of the new Vice-Chancellor has generated a lot of controversy in the last couple of weeks.

Our correspondent however gathered that the security agents have been deployed to the Trenchard Hall, venue of the announcement of the candidate for the Senate/Selection Board for the incoming VC.

Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and Non-Academic Staff of Universities have mobilised to the venue for the announcement.

A senior staff of the institution told DAILY POST that security agents are threatening to shoot any staff who disrupts proceedings.

“The VC has invited soldiers to the Trenchard hall to manage the election.

“SSANU and NASU have mobilized to the place and it is now rowdy. The soldiers are threatening to shoot the staff.

“I just hope we will not have another Lekki on our hand.”

- DAILY POST

Ronaldo, Messi nominated again for 2020 best FIFA player

 FIFA on Wednesday unveiled nominees for the 2020 best football player award. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi who are regulars in the category for best FIFA men’s player again featured in the 11 nominee list for the 2020 award.

Alongside both players, others who featured in the category are Sergio Ramos, Sadio Mane, Robert Lewandowski, Kylian Mbappe, among others.

Marcelo Bielsa, Leeds United coach surprisingly was nominated for the best men’s coach of the year. The Argentine lead the English club to the Premier League as the club has since then, impressed since their return to the league.

Bayern Munich Hans Flick, Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp, Sevilla’s Julen Lepotugi, and Real Madrid’s Zinedine Zidane were also nominated for the Best FIFA men coach award.

The football governing body announced that public voting for the nominees for all categories of award are open until December 9th and three finalists in each of the seven categories would be announced on 11th December 2020.

The FIFA award ceremony will hold on Thursday, 17th December 2020.

- PM NEWS

End SARS: ‘Lai Mohammed misinformed information minister’ – DJ Switch

Nigerian Dj, Obianuju Catherine Udeh, popularly known as DJ Switch has described the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed as a ‘misinformed minister of information.’

DAILY POST had reported that the Federal Government threatened to sanction a foreign media outlet, CNN, over its report on the alleged shooting of End SARS protesters by soldiers at the Lekki toll plaza on October 20, 2020.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who made this known at a press conference in Abuja, described the report by the foreign news medium as “irresponsible journalism”.

The minister also threatened to reveal the real intention of Obianuju Catherine Udeh, popularly known as DJ Switch over her footage of Lekki toll gate shooting.

According to him, “DJ Switch is a fraudster whose intention is to tarnish the image of Nigeria with false news.”

Following the development, Mohhamed petitioned CNN demanding “immediate and exhaustive investigation into its report on the Lekki Toll Gate incident to determine its authenticity and conformity to basic standards of journalism.”

He also accused the news outlet of not making an attempt to reach the federal government, adding that it exhibited false Journalism.

Reacting, Switch in a post via her Twitter account on Tuesday slammed the minister.

According to her, the only truth about him is his name, Lai.

She also stated that it’s not been easy for her ever since she live streamed the the massacre at Lekki toll gate, adding that she would rather speak up than remain silent.

“How can a minister of information be so misinformed.

“The only believable thing about him, is his name Lai.

“Unfortunately sir, the truth is a very stubborn thing!

“Thank you all for your well wishes and prayers. Its hasn’t been easy for me but the need to speak up is more important than their bullying,” she said.

- DAILY POST

South-south govs: Our resources being used to develop other regions but we are still in need

 

Governors of the south-south have lamented the underdevelopment of their region, stating that their resources are used to improve the welfare of other regions.

Ifeanyi Okowa, chairman of the south-south governors forum, stated this on Tuesday during the regional stakeholders meeting with the presidential delegation led by Ibrahim Gambari, chief of staff to the president.

Details of the meeting were contained in a statement issued by Kelvin Ebiri, special assistant on media to the governor of Rivers.

Speaking during the meeting which held at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the Rivers capital, Okowa, who spoke on behalf of the region, said states should be given more control over resources in order to ensure sustainable development for their people.

“True federalism guided by the principle of derivation, revenue sharing and control of resources by each state of the federation as it was the case in the first republic,” he was quoted as saying.

“We are all aware of the huge endowment of this country. As such, it is imperative to stress that with a little bit of effort, imagination, hard work, sacrifice and leadership, every state of the federation as of today, has the ability and capability to contribute to the national purse. This should be encouraged rather than the whole country depending substantially on a region of the country.

“What is worse and even more painful in this ugly situation is the deliberate lack of understanding, empathy and the uncompromising attitudes of some Nigerians, who have refused to understand the challenges of the south-south region of the country, especially, the degradation of the environment and our waters.

“As a result, most of the demands of the region have remained unattended to while the resources of the region have been used continually to develop other parts of the country.”

The governors also made a list of their demands, including a proposal for the relocation of the headquarters of major oil companies, and subsidiaries of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) from Lagos and Abuja to the south-south region.

“Okowa also requested for immediate implementation of the consent judgment entered in the Supreme Court Suit No: SC/964/2016 to enable the South-South region get its share of $55billion shortfall of collection on deep offshore and inland basin production sharing contracts,” the statement read.

“The governors further called for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the region’s major seaports in Port Harcourt, Calabar, Warri in order to enhance the economic development of the South-South region.

“In addition, they demanded that the two refineries in Port Harcourt and one in Warri that have continued to bleed the country’s resources in the name of turn around maintenance, should be privatised.”

“Concerned about the rot in the NDDC, the governors observed that one of the major failures of the intervention agency is its refusal to forge and foster synergy, consultation and cooperation with the state governments especially, on project location, development and execution.”

They also cited the “major failures” of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and said the NDDC would no longer be allowed to execute any project in any state of the region without consulting the governments, adding that “we have a court judgment to back our position.”

Gambari, in his remarks, said the meeting was at the instance of the president following the #EndSARS crisis, and commended the governors for their efforts.

He noted that the present administration is aware of the challenges of the region and is making efforts to address them, and promised to present the demands of the governors to the president.

Present at the meeting were other governors of the region — Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Ben Ayade of Cross River, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, Douye Diri of Bayelsa, and Godwin Obaseki of Edo.

Also in attendance were Ovie Omo-Agege, deputy president of the senate; Godswill Akpabio, minister of Niger Delta; Timipre Sylva, minister of state for petroleum; Goddy Jedy Agba, minister of state for power; Festus Keyamo, minister of state for Niger Delta; Osagie Ehanire, minister of health; Lai Mohammed, minister of information; Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police, and Yusuf Bichi, director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS).

- THECABLE

Court jails sisters for spending N1.7m donated to patient

 

Justice Muhammad Tukur of State High Court, Kaduna, on Tuesday convicted two sisters, Maryam Muhammad Jallo and Rukaiya Muhammad Jallo.

They were sentenced to ten years imprisonment for offences that border on criminal breach of trust.

The duo were prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an amended one-count charge.

According to the EFCC, Maryam and Rukaiya Jallo on March 30, 2019, in Kaduna, while being entrusted with N1,700,000 by Badamasi Shanono and Adio Bukar Hashia for medical treatment of Usman Umar, misappropriated the money.

Shanono, in a petition, said Jamal Health Foundation owned by the convicts used social media to solicit for donations for Umar’s medical expenses.

The patient had been bedridden for over two years due to partial paralyses.

Shanon recalled that he donated N1,000,000, while another woman contributed N700,000.

However, the sisters refused to hand over the funds to the patient but converted them to personal use.

Their act was contrary to Section 293 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under Section 294 of the same law.

The defendants pleaded “guilty” in court.

Justice Tukur convicted and sentenced them to ten years imprisonment with an option of N100,000 fine.

- DAILY POST

White House approves intelligence briefing for Biden

 

The White House has given approval for U.S. President-elect Joe Biden to receive the president’s daily intelligence brief “as part of the support to the transition.”

A spokesperson in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

“Following the statutory direction of the Presidential Transition Act, ODNI will provide requested support to the transition team.

“This afternoon the White House approved ODNI to move forward with providing the PDB (president’s daily brief) as part of the support to the transition,” the official said.

The decision came a day after the President Donald Trump administration finally gave its nod for the transition process to begin.

The transition process had been on hold since Biden was projected winner of the Nov. 3 election due to Trump’s refusal to concede.

With the latest move, the president-elect will now have access to the latest classified field intelligence reports about major national security threats around the globe, according to Reuters.

- PM NEWS

ICYMI: APC must respect agreement on zoning of 2023 presidency, says Fashola

 

Babatunde Fashola, minister of works and housing, says the All Progressives Congress (APC) must respect its “private agreement” on the zoning of the 2023 presidency.

In recent days, speculations over the 2023 presidential election have reignited — especially with the defection of David Umahi, Ebonyi state governor, to APC from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the meeting of some leaders of the APC with former president Goodluck Jonathan.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Monday, Fashola addressed the zoning agreement of the APC and what the party must do to retain power in 2023.

When asked about APC zoning the 2023 presidency, the former Lagos state governor said the ruling party must not breach its private agreement on which zone the presidential candidate will come from.

“The truth is that what makes an agreement spectacular is the honour in which it is made not whether it is written. If it was written, there would be no court cases of breach of contract because it is a document that is written and signed that go to court,” he said.

“But the private agreement you make with your brother and sister should not be breached, it must be honoured.”

The minister compared political parties to social clubs where relationships are based on agreements.

“All political parties are clubs where you write agreements just like a social club and we can decide that it is the youngest person who will be the chairman of the club or we can decide that it is the oldest person or the next female or the next male that is the matter of agreement between people,” he said.

Speaking on what the APC must do to retain power in 2023, Fashola said: “Some governors have joined us, from where we think we could not get voters before. To retain power in 2023, certainly if we keep our promises, people will vote for us. It is that simple, that is politics.”

- THECABLE

2023 Presidency: You have nothing to offer – Deji Adeyanju to Atiku

 

Deji Adeyanju, convener of Concerned Nigerian, has declared that Atiku Abubakar, former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate has nothing to offer.

In a tweet, the popular activist noted that the political game has drastically changed.

According to Adeyanju: “I have nothing against Atiku and like I said during the 2019 election, he’s better than Buhari.

“In fact, anyone is better than Buhari. Atiku has nothing to offer in the new political reality of 2023 because the game has drastically changed.”

Adeyanju had earlier warned PDP against fielding Atiku for the 2023 presidential election.

He said that PDP would remain the opposition party for another eight years if Atiku emerged as the party’s presidential candidate, in 2023.

Despite speculations, Atiku has not come out to signify interest in running for the presidency.

- DAILY POST

Senate to FG: Rebuild destroyed infrastructure in Lagos, Calabar now

 

The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday called on the Federal Government to urgently reconstruct and rebuild infrastructure destroyed by hoodlums during the #EndSARS protest in Lagos and Calabar.

The upper chamber gave the charge during plenary on Tuesday, following consideration of two separate motions brought to the floor by Senators Biodun Olujimi (PDP – Ekiti South); and Gershom Bassey (PDP – Cross River South).

Coming under Order 42 and 52 of the Senate Rules, Olujimi noted that the #EndSARS protest, began on October 3, 2020, and assumed a global dimension following the alleged shooting of a young Nigerian in Ughelli, Delta State.

According to the lawmaker, the peaceful protest turned violent as a result of its hijack by hoodlums and the intervention of the military which allegedly led to the death of protesters at the lekki toll gate.

“Aware that 7 October, 2020 was the start of a 14-day protest in Lagos that eventually turned violent and hijacked by hoodlums;

“Further aware that at about 6:45pm on Tuesday 20 October, 2020, several media accounts revealed that peaceful protesters were allegedly shot at by the Nigerian military at the Lekki toll gate;

“Concerned that the alleged shooting of protesters further infuriated protesters and tension flared with consequent violent protester and the beginning of wanton looting and destroying of public and private assets across the country and particularly Lagos, the epicenter of the protests;

“Worried that private and public assets destroyed by hideouts in Lagos was estimated to be in the region of over N1 trillion naira by the Governor of Lagos State – Babajide Sanwo-Olu;

“Further worries that the long list of destroyed public and private properties in Lagos are: Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Secretariat , Palace of the Oba of Lagos; Lagos High Court, Igbosere; Oyingbo BRT terminus; Vehicle Inspection Office, Ojodu Berger; Lagos State Public Works Corporation, Ojodu Berger; Lagos City Hall and Circle Mall, Lekki; numerous luxury shops in Surulere, the Nation Newspaper, TVC and Shoprite Lekki including 27 BRT vehicles estimated to cost $200,000 each and another 57 BRT vehicles estimated to cost $100,000 each, all totaling about N3.9 billion;

“Alarmed that 25 police stations were reportedly burnt in Lagos: Oriole, Amukoko, Layeni, Ilasamaja, Ikotun, Ajah, Igando, Elemoro, Makinde, Onipanu, Ebute Ero, Pen-Cinema, Isokoko, Alade, Cele, Igbo Elerin, Shibiri, Gbagada, Onilekere, Makoko, Daleko, Asahun, Makinyo, Amuwo-Odofin, Anti-kidnapping, Surulere. Other police stations that were vandalized but not burnt were Ojo, Ojodu, Mowo, PPL and Morogbo,” Olujimi said.

Consequently, the Senate called on the Federal Government to setup a visitation panel to assess the level of destruction of public and private assets in Lagos state.

The Upper Chamber in its resolutions also urged the the Federal Government to commit to assisting Lagos State in rebuilding it after the wanton destruction of lives and properties by giving 1 percent of Value Added Tax collection to Lagos State.

It also mandated the Senate Committee on State and Local Government Affairs to monitor compliance.

In a related development, lawmaker representing Cross River South, Gershom Bassey, lamented that “despite the 24 hour curfew, a group of vandals on 24th October, 2020, invaded over 120 properties in Calabar and vandalized, looted and burnt down some high value properties belonging to individuals, the state government and federal government.”

According to him, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) office, West African Examination Council (WARC) office, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) office, the brand new state of the art Calabar International Convention Centre (ICC), the sprawling Tinapa Business Resort, the Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital, the Infectious Diseases Hospital amongst many others; and private residence mostly of past and present Federal lawmakers were vandalized, looted or burnt.

“Concerned that the mayhem of 24th October was an invasion of the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it was premeditated, selective and targeted at highly valued Federal and State Government infrastructure and Federal Lawmakers;

“Aware that the intervention of the military bases and security installations like the 13 Amphibious Brigade in Calabar, Eastern Naval Command in Calabar, NNS Victory in Calabar, 207 Special Mobility Airforce Unit and Zone 6 Police Command in Calabar preventer the mayhem from spreading”, Bassey added.

Accordingly, the Senate while condemning the attacks on private and public property in Calabar, mandated the Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Defence, Police Affairs, Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to investigate the invasion of the ancient city of Calabar on the 24th day of October, 2020.

- PM NEWS