Amotekun seizes 100 cows over ‘violation’ of open grazing law in Ondo

 

The Ondo chapter of the Western Nigeria Security Network, Amotekun, has seized 100 cows and arrested their herders, for flouting the open grazing law in the state.

Adetunji Adeleye, the state Amotekun commander, confirmed the arrest to TheCable on Monday.

According to Adeleye, the security agency received a distress call that the cows had blocked the Ilesa-Akure expressway.

He explained that operatives of the agency were dispatched to clear the area, during which the cattle and their herders were apprehended.

“The state government came up with a law baning open grazing, night grazing and banning grazing on the expressways. We got a distress call that cows blocked Ilesa-Akure expressway and also entered farmlands and destroyed them, so we moved in and were able to apprehend them,” he said.

When asked about the herders who were in charge of the cows, the commander said they have also been apprehended.

He added that the cows would be released once the herders sign an undertaking not to flout the open grazing law again.

“They’ve been arrested and are now talking to the owners of the farmland. Once they write an undertaking not to destroy farmlands again and they have a way of repairing what they destroyed, we’ll release the cows to them,” Adeleye added.

TheCable had reported how governors of the south-west states banned open grazing of cattle in the region.

The development came amid tension in some parts of the south-west region over destruction of farmlands and rising insecurity.

- THECABLE

END BOKO HARAM CORRUPTED MILITARY !!‘We’re coming for you,’ COAS Attahiru sends message to Igboho, Dokubo

 The army will soon move against separatist agitators such as Sunday Igboho and Asari Dokubo, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. -Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru said on Monday.

Attahiru’s warning was delivered in Uyo at the first Commanding Officers’ Workshop 2021.

Igboho recently unilaterally declared that the South west part of the country was no longer part of Nigeria.

Dokubo had also announced the establishment of Biafra Customary Government in which he incorporated some parts of the South east and South south as part of the territory.

But Attahiru promised that the Nigerian Army will deal decisively with every form of security threats confronting the nation, including those posed by the secessionist agitators like Igboho and Dokubo.

Attahiru assured the nation that the Nigerian Army would soon surmount attempts by some individuals to compromise the territorial integrity of the country by the declaration of sovereignty on behalf of ethnic nationalities in the country.

“The Nigerian Army under my leadership would remain proactive and jointly work with other security agencies to decisively deal with threats facing the nation.

“The Nigerian Army under my watch remains resolute and is poised more than ever before to decisively deal with individuals or groups that threaten the peace, security and stability of our great nation,” he said.

Attahiru called on participants at the workshop with the theme, “Repositioning the Nigerian Army to Defeat Contemporary Adversaries in a Joint Environment.” to commit themselves to the dictates of their duty to the nation.

The COAS said that he would continue to provide mission oriented training through workshops and build capacity for the military that would make the army dependable and feared by all adversaries.

In his remarks, Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom said the security challenges confronting the nation called for a military that was ready and equipped to face the problems.

Emmanuel, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr Moses Ekpo, urged the military to intensify and expand the strategies, techniques and tactics needed to contain all insecurity across the country.

He commended the various security agencies in the state for the synergy and harmonious working relationship among them which he said had brought about security in the state, and promised to continue to support them.

“With the security realities confronting our nation, the military more than ever should be ready and equipped to face and confront these realities by ensuring that the service maintains the highest possible standard of continuous training for optional performance.

“It is reassuring that in spite of other operational commitments across the country, the new Chief of Army staff has considered it necessary to organise this workshop,” Emmanuel said.

Earlier in his address, the General Officer Commanding 6th Division, Maj.-Gen. Sani Mohammed said the workshop was the first major achievement of the chief of army staff.

He said that the workshop was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that it was an opportunity to enhance training and build capacity for military officers.

Mohammed said that the workshop had participants drawn from the South-South region of the Nigerian Army.

-PM NEWS

NPHCDA: 122,400 vaccinated against COVID so far — but four states yet to start

 Nigeria has vaccinated 122,400 persons against COVID-19, about two weeks after the country began the vaccination.

Faisal Shuaib, executive director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), disclosed this on Monday at the weekly briefing of the presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19.

“No Nigerian so far has developed any known severe side effect (of the vaccine),” he said.

Shuaib added that there might be mild symptoms such as pain and swelling at the spot of vaccination, body pains and mild fever.

He said the vaccination has fully commenced in all states and the federal capital territory (FCT) except four: Kogi, Kebbi, Zamfara, and Oyo.

However, only Kogi is yet to receive their own supply of the vaccines.

“Kogi state was not supplied with the vaccines because their cold store is still under repairs following vandalisation during the #EndSARS protest,” the NPHCDA director said.

Nigeria administered the first dose of the Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine on March 5 after receiving 3.9 million doses courtesy of COVAX, the global alliance against COVID-19.

However, the country has managed to administer an average of 8,100 doses daily, a slow process for a population of over 200 million citizens.

- THECABLE

Biafra: The world will shake, Nigeria will suffer heavy defeat if war breaks out – BNL

 Biafra Nations League, BNL, has stated that it would collaborate with the indigenous people of Bakassi Peninsula to frustrate efforts by the Nigerian government to get Cameroon to fight against Biafra in the Gulf of Guinea.

According to BNL, Nigeria will suffer heavy “defeat should another war break out,” adding that something that will shake the world will happen.

BNL stated this in a statement signed by its operational commander, known as Aso Rock, a former 3rd commander of militant group, the Bakassi Strike Force.

The group threatened to be in full scale militancy if the recent war equipment deployed to the Gulf of Guinea by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo arrives Bakassi.

The group said that its members will continue to collaborate with Ambazonia to keep fighting Cameroon in order not to be a hindrance to the Biafran independence activities in the Gulf of Guinea.

BNL hinted that its men are not afraid to die, insisting that the Bakassi people and the entire Eastern Nigerians have decided to join hands to restore Biafra.

“We are not afraid of them getting backup from Cameroon, we are already dealing with Cameroon, and they are afraid of building any structures in Bakassi Peninsula.

“We are also part of the groups in Ambazonia fighting Cameroon, and we will make sure Nigeria does not enjoy any support from Cameroon.

“BNL paramilitary should not be a threat to anyone, we are not after innocent people. We are not after security agencies.

“We will only face them if they try to stop us from declaring Biafra from the sea. We are raising our flags peacefully and our paramilitary members will be carrying out these actions.

“Something will happen, and it will shake the world. We are stopping activities by oil companies here, and if they fail to comply, we will treat them like criminals”.

- DAILY POST

Justice Rhodes-Vivour retires, asks Supreme Court review doctrine of precedent

 Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour of the Supreme Court bowed out on Monday with a parting shot to the court to jettison some previous decisions.

Rhodes-Vivour, who retired on clocking 70 year mandatory retirement age, spoke at a valedictory session in his honour.

He urged the court to reconsider its doctrine of Precedent, which means “stand by your decisions and the decisions of your predecessors, however wrong they are and whatever injustices they inflict”.

But he said some of such previous judgements no longer make sense, including some that he made himself.

“There are some Precedents that are clearly out of date, and should no longer be followed.

“I am of the view that Precedents that no longer make sense anymore or are outdated should be laid to rest and never followed”.

In 2006, while serving as a Justice of the Court of Appeal, he held in the case of Dokubo-Asari Vs FRN that where National Security is threatened or there is the real likelihood of it being threatened, human rights or the individual rights, must be suspended until the National Security can be protected or well taken care of.

He however made a U-turn on Monday, stressing that national security must be visibly threatened before anyone is denied his rights.

“No one should be denied his rights on the whims and fancy of anyone in authority”.

Justice Rhodes-Vivour said convicts should only be allowed to serve their prison terms only after their appeals are exhausted.

“The reason being that some convicts serve several years in prison before their appeals are heard and decided.

“Their appeal may be found to be meritorious. They are then released. No compensation paid for the time spent in prison”.

He called for a credible and transparent system in the fight against corruption.

The jurist also faulted the conduct of elections in the country, lamenting they are protracted because the stakes are too high.

“Electoral reforms, national security, the doctrine of precedent, limitation law and inheritance all require reforms and even outright abolishment in some cases”.

Justice Rhodes-Vivour noted that most elections are usually resolved by the courts simply because most politicians are never satisfied with the results announced by the electoral umpire.

He admitted that corruption is deeply rooted in Nigeria like any other country in the world.

However, he canvassed for concerted efforts to be made in order to reduce the anomaly.

” Nigeria is no exception when it comes to corruption and this must be tackled through genuine efforts so as to make life more meaningful for the citizenry.

” What should be done is to reduce it drastically thereby making our dear country an exception by building credible and transparent systems” Justice Rhodes-Vivour said.

On the issue of local government autonomy, Rhodes-Vivour noted that governors act on their “whims and fancies unknown to our laws, clearly illegal”, when they dissolve elected local government councils and replace them with caretaker committees”.

According to him, it is the duty of governors to ensure that the system of local government continues unhindered.

“It amounts to executive recklessness for the governor to remove from office democratically elected chairmen and councillors under whatever guise. It is illegal and wrong”, he said.

The retiring justice who appreciated God’s mercy, testified that he was never absent from work on the account of ill health throughout his reign as a judge.

The chairman Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), Chief Adegboyega Awomolo said Rhodes-Vivour will be remembered as a modest activist on the bench.

He said Rhodes-Vivour should be celebrated for pragmatism and being a pride of the Bar, on the Bench.

“You will be remembered as one of those justices who dismantled the edifice of technicalities, that was for decades before your generation.

” You appreciated industry, diligence and show of highest ethical standard and decorum by Counsel,” Awomolo said.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, (CJN) Justice Tanko Mohammad also described Rhodes-Vivour as a rare gem and unblemished symbol of humility and piety.

The CJN further noted Rhodes-Vivour’s proficiency in the dispensation of justice, presents him as a man of honour and scholarship, whose judgements are not just incisive but analytic and opulent by every standard.

- PM NEWS

Abramovich goes to court over claims Putin instructed him to buy Chelsea

 

Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich has began legal action, claiming he was defamed in a book titled ‘Putin’s People’ which was released last year.

The book was written by Caterine Belton and contains several claims about Abramovich and others close to Russian president, Vladimir Putin.

In the book it was alleged that the Russian billionaire bought Chelsea in 2003 under the special orders of Putin, who wanted to use the club as a conduit to increase Russian influence in the UK.

Abramovich has now released a statement using the club’s official website, saying the book published by HarperCollins contains “a number of false and defamatory claims made” that have damaged his reputation and that of the club.

He also insisted he bought the club solely for sporting reasons and that the huge difference in success after he bought the club from Ken Bates in 2003 can clearly be seen by all.

Before Abramovich’s arrival, Chelsea’s only previous league title came in 1955.

Since 2003 however, the Blues have won the trophy on five occasions and also won the Champions League in 2012.

- DAILY POST

NCDC: Travellers with fake COVID test results will be arrested

 

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says travellers found to be in possession of fake coronavirus test results will be arrested and prosecuted.

Speaking during the media briefing of the presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19 on Monday, Chikwe Ihekweazu, NCDC director-general, announced that a verification platform has been launched to confirm results.

TheCable had, in a two-part report, exposed how travellers paid government officials to obtain fake COVID-19 test certificates with positive diagnosis.

Following the report, the federal government sealed off a laboratory found to be issuing fake COVID-19 test results in Abuja.

Ihekweazu maintained that travellers who present fake COVID-19 results at airports will be prosecuted, adding that tests conducted by private laboratories for travel purposes will now be verified by airlines, embassies and countries.

“Many of you would have heard my previous comments around the verification platform for test results for travellers. That verification platform is now live,” he said.

“Last week, many returning travellers were turned back and handed over to security agencies because they were trying to travel with fake lab results.

“Sometimes, these results were procured by agents. But to be honest, everyone has to take responsibility for the test results in your hand.

“From now on, all tests by private lab for travel purposes will be verified by airlines, by embassies, by countries.

“We advise all Nigerians; everyone travelling should spare themselves the inconvenience and embarrassment by doing the test in one of the accredited labs, which you can find on our website.

“Before you travel, please check the destination country’s requirements if it includes negative PCR test. Do this in any of the accredited labs, and you will get the result that is verifiable through any of the airlines. It’s very important to do this.”

- THECABLE