INCOMPETENT GOVERNMENT ! Falana to Buhari: If El-Zakzaky dies, new insurgency coming

Femi Falana, Nigerian lawyer and human rights activist has sounded a note of warning to the Buhari government on the implications of detaining Shiite leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, despite court orders for his release.

The legal luminary said the nation risks another insurgency, should El Zakzaky die in detention, just like it happened with Boko Haram after the leader, Mohammed Yusuf was killed by Nigerian policemen, while in detention in Maiduguri in 2009.

“El-Zakzaky must not be allowed to die due to medical neglect as it may provoke a crisis of monumental proportions. Therefore, the federal government should implement the unanimous resolution of the House of Representatives for the release of El-Zakzaky and his wife without any further delay”, Falana warned in a lengthy statement on Tuesday.

He warned the Federal Government of Nigeria against its violent approach to handling members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria who are protesting the detention of their leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, despite numerous court orders for his release.

Falana expressed concerns over the method the Federal Government had adopted in a statement on Tuesday. The legal luminary said the continuous detention of El-Zakzaky and killing of peaceful Shiite protesters by security forces could lead the country into another bloody war that it could not afford.

“This nation cannot afford another war of insurgency which is being provoked by the contemptuous conduct of the Federal Government in the handling of the case of the El-Zakzakys,” Falana said.

Speaking on the arrest and detention of El-Zakzaky and his wife Malama Zeinab on December 12, 2015, Falana said over 1,000 Shiites were reportedly massacred by soldiers on the orders of the Nigerian Army high command and given mass burial in an unmarked grave in Mango village, Kaduna State over allegations of attempt to assassinate Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai.

“Even though the leader of the Shiites, Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, was not at the scene of the attack, his residence was invaded by the rampaging troops two days later. The troops set the house ablaze, shot at El-Zakzaky and his wife, Malama Zeinab El-Zakzaky and killed three of their sons in cold blood in their presence. As if such barbaric assault was not enough, the army arrested and held El-Zakzaky and his wife in custody before handing them over to the Department of State Services. At that stage, the houses of El-Zakzaky and other leaders in Zaria were demolished by the Kaduna state government on the orders of Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

“After the massacre of the Shiites and the demolition of the houses of their leaders, the Kaduna state government instituted a judicial commission of inquiry to probe the violent attack.

“The detained El-Zakzaky was prevented from responding to the allegations made against him and his group at the inquiry. But the judicial commission found that there was no plan by the Shiites to assassinate General Buratai. It was also revealed at the panel that the 347 Shiites were massacred by the army in violations of the Army Rules of Engagement and the Geneva Conventions.

“Apart from condemning the brutal massacre of the Shiites, the judicial commission recommended that the culprits be prosecuted.

“Instead of implementing the recommendation by prosecuting the well-known murderers the Kaduna state government turned round to charge over 300 Shiites with the culpable homicide of a soldier who was killed by his colleagues during the attack. But the defence team convinced the Kaduna state high court to free the Shiites as they were not involved in the commission of the offence.

“Accordingly, the charge was dismissed for want of evidence while the trial court proceeded to discharge and acquit all the defendants. Meanwhile, the suit challenging the illegal detention of El-Zakzaky and his wife was decided in their favour by the federal high court on December 2, 2016.

“The presiding judge, Kolawole J. (as he then was) directed the Federal Government to release the couple from unlawful custody, pay them N50 million reparation and provide them with a temporary house since the army had burnt down their residence. But the Buhari regime has characteristically treated the court orders with arrogant contempt.

Curiously, the Court of Appeal has refused to hear the application to commit the Director-General of the State Security Service for contempt of court! Upon our legal advice, the Shiites approached three separate high courts to challenge the violation of their right to assemble and protect peacefully.”

He added that despite the orderly nature in which the Shiites had conducted themselves, the Federal Government, through the army, was operating with impunity to disrupt the group’s peaceful protests.

“The Shiites won the cases against the Federal Government as the courts upheld their fundamental rights to freedom of expression, association, and assembly. But out of sheer impunity, the army has killed about 50 Shiites at Abuja for protesting against the continued detention of El-Zakzaky and his wife.

“As the federal government could no longer justify the illegal detention of El-Zakzaky and his wife it directed the Kaduna state government to file a charge against them. Hence, they have been charged with culpable homicide at the Kaduna state high court for the death of the same soldiers.

“Pending the trial, the team of local and international physicians who examined El-Zakzaky and his wife on the orders of the trial court confirmed that their health has deteriorated and recommended that they are allowed to travel abroad for urgent medical treatment. In particular, El-Zakzaky has lost an eye while he is the process of losing the other one.

“The wife can no longer walk as a result of the gun wounds inflicted on her during the military attack of December 2015. Without adducing any reason whatsoever the federal government has ignored the recommendation of the physicians.

“The Shiites are currently protesting the refusal of the Buhari regime to release El-Zakzaky and his wife from custody to enable them to travel abroad to receive urgent medical treatment at their own expense.

“El-Zakzaky must not be allowed to die due to medical neglect as it may provoke a crisis of monumental proportions. Therefore, the federal government should implement the unanimous resolution of the House of Representatives for the release of El-Zakzaky and his wife without any further delay.

“Finally, it would be recalled that the Boko Haram sect declared war on the people of Nigeria in 2009 following the cold murder of its leader, Mohammed Yusuf by the Police. Since then the nation has known no peace. This nation cannot afford another war of insurgency which is being provoked by the contemptuous conduct of the federal government in the handling of the case of the El-Zakzaky.”

- PM NEWS

ENOUGH OF EXCUSES !! Buhari reveals why killings, insecurity have spread to other parts of Nigeria

President Muhammadu Buhari has observed that criminal elements are taking advantage of the focus on the North East to commit crimes in other parts of the country.

He promised that the successes recorded in degrading terrorists in the North East will be extended to other parts of the country experiencing challenges.

Buhari assured Nigerians that security still tops his list of priorities.

According to his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President stated this when he received executive members of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, led by the President, Dr Francis Adedayo Faduyile, at the State House on Tuesday.

“If you cannot secure a country or institution, you cannot manage it,’’ he said.

He disclosed that efforts were still ongoing to improve employment level, following the success in getting many into the agricultural sector, stressing that opening up the economy for investments and getting the youths engaged will control crime rate.

On health and education, Buhari urged states and local governments to play stronger roles in complementing the efforts of the Federal Government, especially in getting more children into classrooms.

“The issues of health and education are constitutional. If there are too many almajiris in a state, then the government is not following the constitution.

“The states also have elites who are educated enough to remind their governments about their responsibility to almajiris,’’ he said.

In his remarks, the President of the NMA congratulated Buhari for winning a second term in office, attributing his return to efforts made by the government to reposition the country, especially in health sector, like establishment of a cancer centre in University of Lagos Teaching Hospital.

Dr. Faduyile commended the President for always looking towards the NMA to appoint competent members for positions in the health sector, assuring that the medical association will continue to partner with the government to bring good health services to Nigerians.

He said there was a need to make the National Health Insurance Scheme compulsory for all Nigerians, including those in the informal sector, as some special treatments, like cancer, will require funds that might be beyond the reach of many.

The NMA President urged the Federal Government to further strengthen the primary health care system, institute a health bank where medical professionals can access loans for facilities, remove duties on imported medical equipment and give more attention to security.

He canvassed that the budget on health should be improved from four per cent to 15 per cent.

- DAILY POST 

NLC to NERC: Nigerians can’t afford increase in electricity tariff

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says consumers cannot afford to pay high electricity bills if there is a further increase in energy tariff.

Ayuba Wabba, NLC president, made this statement on Monday while speaking at the public consultation on capping of estimated billing by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in Abuja.

Describing the proposed increase in tariff as exploitative billing, he said the current cost of electricity has become unbearable for the rich while low-income earners are mostly affected due to the poverty level in the country.

Wabba condemned the exploitation of consumers through estimated billing by electricity distribution companies (DisCos), adding that the power sector privatisation should be reviewed.

“On our part, anything that will add cost to the consumers at this point in time, certainly, as a consumer and somebody that represents a large constituency, we will not be able to bear the cost,” he said.

“Where we are, the poverty level in Nigeria, I am telling you that many of us cannot afford to pay this exploitative billing.

“A retired DIG called me to say that he used to pay such amount and now this is what he is paying and that he cannot pay it again. Those are people at a higher level. What of those at the lower level, small and medium scale enterprises, like the barbers? Can the cooks pay?

“What is the per capita income in Nigeria? Let us be realistic, if not, we will put laws in place that are violated and nothing will happen.”

In May, the NERC had released guidelines for DisCos to submit their performance improvement plans (PIP) to pave way for a major tariff review by January 2020.

In June, the federal government had said that electricity tariff might be increased to improve the services of DisCos.

- THECABLE

Woman pours hot water on husband for planning second wife

The Police Command in Kano State has confirmed the arrest of a housewife, Aisha Ali, who allegedly poured hot water on the private part of her husband.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abdullahi Haruna, confirmed the arrest of the suspect in a statement in Kano on Tuesday, and said that the incident occurred at Feyen-Fayen village in Danbatta Local Government Area.

Haruna said that the command received a report on Sunday from the Village Head of the community that 35-year-old Aisha poured hot water on the lap and private part of her husband in their home on Friday.

“The husband suffered severe burns on his private part and surroundings. He is presently admitted at Danbatta General Hospital receiving medical care and is responding to treatment,’’ he said.

He said that after the incident the suspect fled the village into neighbouring Jigawa.

Haruna said that on receipt of the report, the police responded promptly, by raising a team of Operation Puff Adder which tracked and arrested the suspect at her hideout at Babura in Jigawa.

He said that preliminary investigation revealed that she committed the act because her husband was planning to marry a second wife.

According to him, the commissioner of police in the state has ordered that the case be transferred to State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department for discreet investigation.

The spokesman said that the suspect would be arraigned as soon as the investigation was completed.

“The command is using this medium to call on law-abiding citizens of the state to always report any incident to the nearest police station without delay.

“This will assist in immediate arrest, investigation and diligent prosecution of the culprit,” he said.

- PM NEWS

MAD MAN !!! Insecurity has been tamed – Buratai

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said that insecurity has been tamed across the country by the Nigerian army.

Buratai stated this during a visit to the troops stationed at 1 Division Super Camp in Kuyello, Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Monday.

He said that the efforts of the military in the northeast and northwest as well as other parts of the country had reduced insecurity in the country.

Buratai restated that both the banditry in the northwest and Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast have been tactically defeated.

He warned that those playing politics with the security situations in the country should desist, adding that the army would not hesitate to take action against them.

According to him, there has been no major attacks in the last two tp three weeks because of the new strategy.

“Apart from some isolated remote areas as a result of some other factors, the attacks have drastically reduced.

“That means we are winning and it is a great success which people should be assured.

“All these cries of insecurity which some groups and individuals are taking it as a political game I think they should have a rethink because it is no longer the case.

“Insecurity has been tamed right now in the northeast and in the northwest and even in other areas we are doing so well.

“Our troops are deployed in support of the government, civil police and indeed the civil authorities,” he said.

The army chief commended the troops for the success recorded so far and urged them to remain focused.

- PM NEWS

‘Many trapped’ as building collapses in Jos

A three-story building collapsed in Jos, Plateau state capital, on Monday, leaving many residents trapped.

The building, which houses a pharmacy and a public toilet, is located at Butcher lane, off Dilimi street in Jos north local government area of the state.

At least six persons have reportedly been evacuated from the collapsed building and taken to the Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos, for medical treatment.

Rescue operation is being carried out by a combined team of Nigeria Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Red Cross and security agencies

Kefas Yilrwang, acting managing director, Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB), said lack of equipment is hampering the rescue operation.

Yilrwang also said absence of the facility had compelled operatives to conduct the rescue work manually.

He also said that the operation was not well organised as many people in the neighborhood were trooping to the scene of the incident to rescue people that were trapped in rubbles.

“Everyone wants to help and the whole place is jam-packed, making it difficult for rescuing agents to perform their duties,” he said.

The acting managing director, however said the operation would continue till the following day.

- THECABLE

Solskjaer includes Brazil star, two others in Man United squad

Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has included Brazil star, Fred, in his side’s 2019 second leg pre-season tour in Singapore.

The Norwegian also included Dean Henderson and Matteo Darmian in his squad.

“After they’ve been given some leave, they’ll come to Singapore,” Solskjaer was quoted by Man United’s official website as telling reporters on Tuesday.

“So, we expect Dean, Fred and Matteo to join us there.”

Solskjaer’s men will tackle Leeds United at the Optus Stadium on Wednesday.

The Red Devils will also tackle Internazionale at the Singapore National Stadium this weekend in an International Champions Cup match.

- DAILY POST