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#EndSARS: Security operatives assault Arise TV crew, seize camera in Abuja

Niyi OYEDEJI
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#EndSARS: Security operatives assault Arise TV crew, seize camera in Abuja

THE Nigerian Security Operatives in Abuja on Tuesday, during the EndSARS protest, assaulted and seize the camera belonging to the Arise news crew covering the protest.

The television station’s crew members were trying to get the reactions of protesters at the National Assembly, Abuja when they were attacked by the security operatives who are in Nigerian military uniform.

Ferdinand Duruoha, Arise News correspondent, was one of the assaulted crew members of the television station at the entrance of the National Assembly complex.

On Sunday, October 11, Policemen attacked and brutalised an Arise crew covering the IGP Mohammed Adamu’s dissolution of SARS. The cameraman Francis Ogbonna was hit several times on the head and his camera destroyed while while his correspondent, Ferdinand Duruoha was intimidated.

 

A video seen by The ICIR shows how the security operatives were assaulting the protesting youths.

 

It would be recalled that Mohammed Adamu, Nigeria’s  Inspector General of Police (IGP) had announced the dissolution of the controversial and brutal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigeria Police Force.

Meanwhile, protests by Nigerian youths across the nation are still ongoing as protesters insist that their demands have not been met.

The protesters had issued a five-point demand including justice for all victims of SARS brutality, an increase in Police salary, psychological assessment of operatives of the squad, the release of all arrested protesters, and setting up of an independent body to investigate alleged police brutality in the country.

However, the Arise TV news has announced that the camera has been released back to the crew.

Situation room urges Buhari to reverse Onochie’s appointment as INEC Commissioner

Lukman ABOLADE
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Situation room urges Buhari to reverse Onochie’s appointment as INEC Commissioner

A COALITION of Civil Society Organisations under the aegis of Situation Room has called on Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian President to reverse the appointment of his media aide, Lauretta Onochie as Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Commissioner.

“Situation Room calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately withdraw her nomination. Should the President fail to withdraw this nomination the Nigerian Senate is hereby called upon to disregard her nomination without any consideration whatsoever,” the statement read.

The group said this in a statement made available to The ICIR on Tuesday signed by Clement Nwankwo, the Situation Room Convener.

According to the statement, Onochie ‘is a known partisan supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari and his ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC)’.

Situation Room stated that Onochie’s appointment contravenes the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

“Item F, paragraph 14 of the third schedule of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) forbids a partisan politician as a member of INEC – a body charged under the Constitution to unbiasedly conduct of free and fair elections. Her nomination amounts to a major attempt at undermining efforts to build credibility for an improved electoral process in the country,” the statement read.

The group said if Buhari fails to reverse the appointment of Ononchie, the Nigerian Senate should reject her appointment.

“Situation Room is also calling on the Nigerian Senate to investigate all of the other nominations by the President especially as there are concerns that some of these nominations may have been by self-serving interests,” the statement further read.

Nwankwo wrote that ‘it is important for Nigeria that the composition of INEC is transparently non-partisan and independent of partisan political manipulation’.

The ICIR had reported that Buhari on Tuesday sent the names of four persons including Onochie to the Senate for confirmation as INEC commissioners.

After The ICIR’s report, Sam Omatseye apologises for spreading false information on WTO

Lukman ABOLADE
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After The ICIR’s report, Sam Omatseye apologises for spreading false information on WTO

FOLLOWING a report by the International Centre for Investigative Centre (ICIR), Sam Omatseye, a veteran columnist and Chairman, Editorial Board of The Nation Newspaper has apologised for spreading false news that  Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Nigerian former Minister of Finance, has been appointed as Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Omatseye’s apology came a day after The ICIR reported that the claim made in his column on The Nation Newspaper and his Facebook profile about the WTO job was false.

“I did intended (sic), in an optimistic note, to present Ngozi Okonjjo-Iweala’s job at WTO as fait accompli, not fake news. But it came out the wrong way The error is regretted as I wish her well,” Omatseye posted on Tuesday on his Facebook page.

In his column, Omatseye had written that “It was such a cheer to hear that former finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala clinched the WTO job.”

The column was published on Monday, October 12, by the Nations newspaper subtitled ‘Grandmaster and two other plays’.

“This is the second person from the Jonathan administration to be so honoured by an international agency of prestige. The last one was former agriculture minister Akinwunmi Adesina, who stared America in the face and rode back to the glory of his job,” he added.

However, The ICIR’s Factcheck showed that the claim is false and misleading.

The report noted that two candidates have been shortlisted for the position, but the final round of selection has not commenced yet. The candidates are Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and South Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee.

Olasunkanmi, Nigerian teacher shortlisted for $1m Global Teacher Prize

Amos ABBA
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Olasunkanmi, Nigerian teacher shortlisted for $1m Global Teacher Prize

A Nigerian teacher, Olasunkanmi Opeifa, has been named among the top 10 finalists for the Global Teacher Prize 2020.

Opeifa, who teaches English Language at Government Day Secondary School, Karu, Abuja, Nigeria, was shortlisted for the Global Teacher Prize 2020, after being selected from over 12,000  applications from over 140 countries around the world.

He joins Jamie Frost from the United Kingdom, Carlo Mazzone from Italy, Mokhudu Cynthia Machaba from South Africa, Leah Juelke from the US, and Yun Jeong-Hyun from South Korea who were among the top 10 finalists.

The remaining four finalists will be announced one each week in the run-up to the Global Teacher Prize ceremony, which will be virtual for the very first time in its history due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The award, which comes with a $1 million prize money, was set up by the Varkey Foundation “to recognise one exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession”.

Currently, in its sixth year, the $1 million award also gets support from the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Stephen Fry, an English comedian who also doubles as one of the judges for the competition in a video message congratulated Opeifa saying his teaching approach had improved his students.

“Today I am delighted to announce that Olasunkanmi Opeifa from Nigeria is a top ten finalist for the Global Teacher Prize 2020. Olasunkanmi, you have inspired your students by using edutainment- fun-based learning to teach English language concepts, with essay writing linked to popular dance steps, and phonology and grammar demonstrated by rapping and hip-hop songs,” Fry said.

“You also published a book on learning English in order to reach more students beyond your community and introduced free weekend tutorials in order to cover the syllabus with them.”

“With this approach, examination results have vastly improved and many of your students now meet the benchmark for admission to the university. Congratulations Olasunkanmi and thank you for everything you do.”

Opeifa’s feat follows the exploits of Itodo Anthony from Gateway Excel College Otukpa, Benue State, and Ayodele Odeogbola from Abeokuta Grammar School, Ogun State, who were among the 50 teachers shortlisted for the award in 2018.

Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education at UNESCO commended Opeifa for his efforts in the teaching profession.

“Congratulations to Olasunkanmi Opeifa for being selected as a top ten finalist from such a huge number of talented and dedicated teachers. I hope his story will inspire those looking to enter the teaching profession and also highlight the incredible work teachers do all over Nigeria and throughout the world every day,” she said.

Sunny Varkey,  Founder of the Global Teacher Prize, also eulogised the finalists and highlighted the essence of the awards.

“The Global Teacher Prize was set up to shine a spotlight on the important role teachers play in society…Teachers everywhere should be applauded for their creativity, compassion and resolve to fulfil every child’s right to a good education.”

The virtual ceremony is expected to take place on December 3, where the overall winner will be announced.

CAN faults redeployment of operatives of the disbanded SARS to other units

Lukman ABOLADE
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CAN faults redeployment of operatives of the disbanded SARS to other units

THE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has condemned the redeployment of officers of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigerian Police Force to other units of the force.

Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, the CAN President said this in a statement sent to The ICIR on Tuesday by Bayo Oladeji, Media Assistant to the President over the ENDSARS protest.

“CAN is not happy with the automatic redevelopment of the officers and men of the disbanded unit to other units without sanctioning the bad eggs among them,” Ayokunle said.

The Christian umbrella body called for an investigation into the misconducts of the operatives of the disbanded police unit.

“We call for an administrative or judicial investigation into the disbanded SARS with a view to bringing the culprits to book so that such bad eggs might not be allowed to corrupt other units or continue with their old habit of lawlessness,” he added.

However, CAN commended Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian President, and Mohammed Adamu, the Inspector General of Police ‘for being sensitive and responsive to the clarion call for the disbanding of SARS’.

“CAN acknowledges the spontaneous nature of protest nationwide but regrets the loss of lives and the destruction of some property in the cause of the mass actions.

“We ask God to console and comfort all the bereaved as He heals those who are recuperating in the hospitals,” the statement further read.

Ayokunle noted that all security agencies in the country should be reformed and transformed into a modern security architecture that befits the contemporary challenges such as terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and herdsmen attacks.

He stated that uniformed men and women should cherish the rare opportunity the country gave them and the trust of handling the security of the nation by behaving responsibly.

SARS has been disbanded, no need to continue the protest says Senate President, Lawan

Lukman ABOLADE
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SARS has been disbanded, no need to continue the protest says Senate President, Lawan

AHMAD Lawan, the Nigerian Senate President has asked Nigerian youths to stop the ENDSARS protest saying that the controversial Police unit has been disbanded.

“The protest has yielded the desired result so far and there won’t need to continue the protest again when SARS has been disbanded and those culprits who are involved in the killings should be brought to book,” said Lawan on Tuesday.

The Senate President was speaking during plenary following a motion by Buhari Abdulfatai, the Senator representing Oyo North Senatorial District.

Abdulfatai had moved a motion to seek the leave of the Senate to present a motion on the death of a member of his constituency, Jimoh Isiaka, and attack on the Palace of Soun of Ogbomoso.

Following Abdulfatai’s motion, the Senate resolved to observe a minute silence in honour of the deceased and other Nigerians who lost their lives to Police brutality.

Lawan condemned the conduct of the SARS operatives stating that it was right for the people to protest.

“The conduct of SARS was not acceptable and will remain in that part of our history. The entire essence of the Nigerian Police Force is to ensure there is law and other and when SARS turned against the people, it was right for the people to protest,” he added.

Rochas Okorocha, Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District also moved a motion requesting the immediate release of all those arrested as a result of the #EndSARS protest to allow for peace between the government and the governed.

Meanwhile, protests by Nigerian youths across the nation are still ongoing as protesters insist that their demands have not been met.

ENDSARS protesters demand

Mohammed Adamu, the Inspector General of Police had in a press statement signed by Frank Mba, the Force PRO disbanded the SARS on Sunday.

The protestants issued a five-point demand including justice for all victims of SARS brutality, increase in Police salary, psychological

assessment of operatives of the squad, the release of all arrested protestants and setting up of an independent body to investigate alleged police brutality in the country.

Buhari nominates Onochie,’controversial and fake news peddler,’ three others as INEC commissioners

Lukman ABOLADE
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Buhari nominates Onochie,’controversial and fake news peddler,’ three others as INEC commissioners

PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU Buhari has nominated Lauretta Onochie, his Special Assistant on Social Media, and three others as commissioners of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC).

Ahmad Lawan, the Nigerian Senate President disclosed this on Tuesday when he read a letter from the President seeking the confirmation of the National Assembly of the four nominees.

According to Lawan, the names of the individuals nominated as INEC commissioners include Muhammad Sani from Katsina State, Lauretta Onochie from Delta State, Kunle Cornelius Ajayi from Ekiti State, and Seidu Ahmad from Jigawa State.

Buhari had appointed Lauretta as his social media aide in 2015 following his victory at the polls against the former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Alongside other media aides, her appointment was renewed in 2019 after the President won his second term elections

However, Lauretta is known on social media for peddling fake news and pictures as The ICIR has fact-checked some of her claims proven to be false including tweeting false pictures of road construction to praise the Buhari administration.

In September 2019, as part of a series scrutinising online posts by prominent social media users, The ICIR used publicly available tools to verify pictures shared on Twitter by Onochie and found out many of her claims were false and misleading.

Recently, she also engaged in a Twitter brawl with Nigerian artist, Ayo Balogun popularly known as Wizkid over the ENDSARS protest.

Police reform goes beyond #EndSARS

Editorial
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Police reform goes beyond #EndSARS

THE EndSARS campaign underscores the urgent need for police reform. As I have always said, SARS is just a symptom of the problem that plagues the Nigeria Police.

We are faced with a problem bigger than SARS. It’s an entrenched institutional cultural problem

The colonial culture of violence, brutality, repression and corruption inherited at independence was consolidated by military rule. Beyond rhetoric, no serious measures have been implemented that would transform the Police and policing in the new ‘democratic’ dispensation.

The new Police Act provides a framework to start genuine and far-reaching police reform. From compromised recruitment process to poor training (including dilapidated training institutions and poor training content) to inadequate funding and poor welfare conditions which make the workforce prone to corruption and violence.

As long as people who are not qualified and trainable continue to be recruited; as long as investigating police officers do not have funds to carry out basic investigations and have to depend on complainants and accused persons for funds to carry out investigation; as long as junior officers remain under pressure to generate funds and make returns to their superior officers who threaten to remove them from ‘lucrative’ postings if they don’t ‘deliver’; as long as corruption and abuses are condoned and tolerated at the top; as long as the Inspector General of Police lacks operational autonomy and security of tenure and cannot safety resist political interference, and so on.. no serious change can happen.

There are many individuals and authorities who have different roles under the new Police Act.

The State Governors are members of the Police Council headed by the President, for example. The Council is charged with policy and general administration of the police and ought to meet periodically to receive reports on the state of security across the country and to advise the President on general security and on the appointment of the IGP when there is a vacancy. Can the governors insist that the Council meets as stipulated in the Police Act? The need for the Police Council to meet at this critical juncture is obvious!

The Magistrates and federal/state attorneys-general have a supervisory role over police stations and commands within their jurisdictions with regards to procedures and the number of arrests and detention every month.

The Act has also made elaborate provision for due process safeguards and how police officers should exercise their powers

The IGP and State CPs have obligations to facilitate access to legal assistance to persons arrested and detained and to make the record of the number of persons arrested to the Federal and State Attorneys General. Etc

If all the various stakeholders commit to implementing the law as it is, then the gaps that have allowed abuses and corruption by police officers, not just SARS will begin to close and acts of misconduct would be under check.

Police Reform goes beyond The SARS

Okechukwu Nwanguma Rulaac Rulaac

#EndSARS: CODE tasks Buhari on fundamental obligation to secure lives of citizens

Vincent Ufuoma
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#EndSARS: CODE tasks Buhari on fundamental obligation to secure lives of citizens

CONNECTED Development (CODE), a non-government organization (NGO) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to be awake to his fundamental obligation of securing the lives and property of Nigerians.

Kevwe Oghide, CODE Communications Director, stated this in a statement sent to The ICIR Monday evening.

The civil society organisation while noting that the country and its citizens have been battling with the spate and consequences of insecurity, added that there have been little and zero actions to remedy the situation due to the depth of corruption entrenched in the country’s security sector.

“Nigerians have long battled the menace of dire brazen security challenges—ranging from Boko Haram insurgency to Farmer-Herders clash, the spate of sexual and gender-based violence and the menace of the rogue police unit,”Oghide said.

“Actions to combat these security conditions have been inconsequential compared to the magnitude of attacks and chaos in their wake. With corruption entrenched in the sector, sustaining an effective and efficient security policy continues to be a far-cry.

The organisation, while noting that challenges threatening the sovereignty of the country were enormous, stated that ” now is not the time for President Muhammadu Buhari to be verbose”.

“Youths are being hunted and killed unjustly, families are displaced, livelihoods are destroyed, human rights are violated — the President and his top officials have continued to thwart public faith in this administration’s ability to protect the people. Nigerians deserve stability, security, and improved quality of life.”

CODE also pointed out that the nation’s security sector has been ‘highly politicised’, adding that it has since become a tool of government coercion —with journalists and civil society members being unlawfully detained.

“The constitutional rights of the Nigerian citizen have consistently been infringed, disrespected and people now live in fear—depicting a total mockery of our democracy,” it said.

Reacting to the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigeria Police, it argued that the dreaded unit of the police must not be merely dissolved, CODE asked that the Federal Government must bring the perpetrators of the police/SARS brutality and extrajudicial killings to face the wrath of the law.

“There must also be a thorough investigation into all alleged SARS-induced disappearances and killings.”

CODE called on the president to win back the trust of Nigerians by carrying out holistic and comprehensive security and police reform that will reposition the country’s security architecture.  

“The embodiment of the security force must rethink the lame strategy of overburdening security agencies and vigilante groups and invest in adequate training and capacity building.”

This, the organisation explained would reduce overhead and operational costs, efficiently improve the security expenditure and expose the inherent corruption in the system.

“The apparent lack of transparency and opaque budget and procurement practices in the management and utilization of security funds in Nigeria has contributed to its operational shortcomings and frequent misconduct.”

“It is quite unfortunate that the President has not displayed the political will and courage to remedy these problems. He should seize this opportunity to win back citizens’ trust.”

It commended the thousands of Nigerian Youth that took to the streets over the weekend to protest and decry alarming police brutality, assaults and wanton killing of young unassuming Nigerians by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad. CODE added that Nigerians should not be silent in the face of injustice but must continue to speak against it.

 President Buhari  had on Monday assured Nigerians that the “disbanding of SARS is only the first step in our commitment to extensive police reforms in order to ensure that the primary duty of the police and other law enforcement agencies remains the protection of lives and livelihood of our people.”

He said this on Monday in a one-minute thirty-seven-second video clip posted on the social media while speaking during the launch of the Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme (P-YES), aimed at creating 774,000 jobs across the Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the country.

“I will like to use this opportunity to say a word on the recent genuine concerns and agitations by Nigerians about the excessive use of force and in some cases extra-judicial killings and wrongful conduct of the men of the Nigerian Police Force” he said.

The President expressed regrets over the killing of  Sherif Ishaq, a young man in Ogbomoso, Oyo State during the protest adding that he has directed an investigation into the circumstances of his death.

“We will also ensure that all those responsible for the misconduct or wrongful act are brought to justice. We also deeply regret the loss of life of a young man in Oyo state during the recent demonstration. I have directed that the circumstances of his death should be thoroughly investigated,” Buhari said.

Buhari reassures Okonjo-Iweala Nigeria’s full support for WTO job

Vincent Ufuoma
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Buhari reassures Okonjo-Iweala Nigeria’s full support for WTO job

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari Monday has reassured Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigerian former Minister of Finance and Economy, that the country will explore every opportunity and deploy its entire energy to ensure that she becomes the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Buhari said this during a visit by the former Managing Director (Operations) of the World Bank to the State House in Abuja on Mondy.

He said she deserved more support to get the top job because of her profile and diligence in serving the country, and the world.

“I assure you that we will do all that we can to ensure that you emerge as the Director-General of WTO, not only because you are a Nigerian, but because you are a hardworking Nigerian. You deserve this,’’ he added.

The President assured Okonjo-Iweala that he would make more phone calls, and send letters to some world leaders for more support.

“I did the same for Akinwunmi Adesina for President of the African Development Bank. Both of you served the country under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). You are both highly qualified. We will continue to support you. I will immediately make those calls,’’ the President told Okonjo-Iweala.

In her remarks, Okonjo-Iweala, a renowned development economist, thanked the President and his ministers, particularly the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and Ministers of Industry, Trade and Investment for supporting her staunchly.

“I feel very proud of Nigeria. I am getting so much support from you, Mr President, Chief of Staff, Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Ministers of Industry, Trade and Investments. The ministers have been working around the clock to ensure that I succeed,’’ she said.

The former Minister of Finance also appreciated Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) leaders for their endorsement, mentioning in particular the outstanding contributions of President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger Republic and immediate past Chairman of ECOWAS as well as President Alhassan Quattara of Cote d’Ivoire.

She asked the President to “make one final push within the week to beat the Koreans and bring this to Nigeria by sending a few letters and placing telephone calls to some world leaders, and also thank others for their support.’’

“Mr President, put a smile on my face,’’ she said, “I am very proud of the country.’’

Okonjo-Iweala is one of two candidates contesting for the top position of the multilateral institution.

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