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SC-LANE wants Nigeria, Cameroon to respect rights of Southern Cameroonian refugees

YEKEEN Akinwale
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SC-LANE wants Nigeria, Cameroon to respect rights of Southern Cameroonian refugees

THE Southern Cameroon Legal Assistance Network (SC-LANE) has asked the governments of Nigeria and Cameroon to respect the rights of Southern Cameroonians who are seeking asylum in Nigeria.

There are currently more than 30,000 refugees registered by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Nigerian Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRMIDP).

Counsel to the Southern Cameroonian refugees in Nigeria,  Abdul Oroh, who is also the Coordinator of SC-LANE told The ICIR on the occasion of World Refugee Day that the two countries must work to ensure the safety of the refugees, noting that no one deserves to be called ‘illegal refugee.’

He emphasized that governments of both countries must respect the UN Charter on Safety of Refugees particularly, Convention Relating to Status of Refugees.

Oroh lamented that despite an Abuja Federal High Court ruling in March 2019 ordering the release of 10 detained leaders of Southern Cameroon by the Paul Biya led Francophone Cameroon government, they are still being kept in Kondengui Prison Principale, Yaounde, Cameroon.

“It is sad that despite the ruling given by Justice Chikere Anwuli of Abuja Federal High Court that these men be released, they are still kept in the prison,” Oroh said.

He stressed that the Justice in the verdict described the detained Southern Cameroonian leaders as ‘retornists’ as against secessionists that the government called them.

On January 5, 2018, 12 leaders of the Southern Cameroon Ambazonia Interim Government led by Sisiku Ayuktabe Julius were meeting at NERA Hotel, Jabi, Abuja to discuss the refugees’ situation and a surge in violence when they were arrested by Nigerian security operatives.

The UNHCR office in Abuja was outraged by the abduction and drew the attention of the Nigerian government to their international obligations under article 33 of the Geneva Convention that protects the rights of refugees and prohibits refoulment, which is expulsion or return of refugees to hostile territory.

While two of the arrested Southern Cameroonian leaders who claimed Nigerian citizenship were transferred to the police custody, the remaining 10 were deported to Cameroon on January 25, 2018, where they have since been tried by a Military Tribunal.

The SC-LANE coordinator further lamented that the whereabouts of 37 Cameroonian refugees picked up at random on December 31, 2017, in Gembu, Taraba State by Nigerian soldiers is still unknown.

There have continued to be an influx of Southern Cameroonians into Nigeria since the Paul Biya-led government clamped down on members of Southern Cameroon Nigeria Council (SCNC) and the Southern Cameroon Ambazonia United Front (SCACUF) who declared independence on October 1, 2017.

The International Crisis Group (ICG) estimated that about 246,000 people have fled the South West region alone with about 25,000 believed to have fled to Nigeria occupying 50 locations in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Benue and Abuja.

Police station, houses burnt down in fresh Taraba attack

Rebecca Akinremi
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Police station, houses burnt down in fresh Taraba attack

GUNMEN have attacked a Taraba village causing the burning of a police station and some houses including properties, Taraba State police says on Thursday.

Spokesman of the Taraba Police Command, David Misal who confirmed the incident to The ICIR said the fracas happened at Jukun Community of Wukari Local Government that shared a border with the Tiv community of Benue State.

According to him, the incident was a retaliation of a previous attack done by the Jukun people earlier that led to the death of a Tiv man.

“We have this peculiar issue at hand whereby the Tiv and the Jukun are having problems among themselves. This morning some Tiv youths entered the Jukun settlement and burnt down some places and in the process, the police outpost in the settlement was burnt down by the attackers,” Misal told The ICIR.

No lives were lost but properties were burnt, said police.

Daniel Grace, Chairman of Wukari LG said that a luxury bus conveying passengers was also attacked by the armed men and the driver was wounded in the process. He lamented how some individuals were still bent on frustrating the peace agreement signed by both communities, thereby frustrating the state government’ efforts.

The Thursday attack came barely 24 hours after president Muhammadu Buhari ordered security forces to end the violence “immediately and decisively” in Taraba State. Buhari had said that attacks on innocent people in the name of revenge or whatever motives would not be tolerated by the government.

Lawan withdraws appointment of Festus Adedayo as media adviser

Editorial
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Lawan withdraws appointment of Festus Adedayo as media adviser

DR. Festus Adedayo, who was appointed Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President of the Senate on Tuesday, has been dropped.

A statement from Office of President of the Senate on Thursday in Abuja, said that it reviewed the appointment of Adedayo and rescinded its earlier decision on it.

The statement was signed by Mohammed Isa, Special Assistant to the Senate President on Media and Publicity.

It said “the Office of the President of the Senate has reviewed the appointment of Mr Festus Adedayo as Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the President of the Senate and decided to rescind its decision on the appointment.

“The office wishes Mr Adedayo the best in his future endeavours.’’

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the dropping of Adedayo may not be unconnected with pressure on the Senate leadership to do so following mounting criticisms from All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders over the appointment.

A reliable source close to President of the Senate’s office told NAN that the decision to drop Adedayo was reached on Wednesday night in a meeting by key officers of the Red Chamber.

The meeting was said to have held in the residence of President of the Senate, Mr Ahmad Lawan, who chaired the session.

No sooner was the appointment of Adedayo, a PhD holder in Political Communication, was announced by than outcry and criticisms started pouring in, saying he was unsuitable for the position.

The outcry which was loud, especially on social media and was championed by Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) and some members of All Progressives Congress (APC), tagged Adedayo “anti-Buhari media personality’’.

To press the matter home, the groups resorted to re-broadcasting of anti-government social media posts linked to Adedayo.

NAN confirmed that Office of the Senate President has begun the process of finding a replacement for him.

A similar outcry is also trailing the re-appointment of four other media aides announced by Lawan to serve him. The aides also served his predecessor, Sen. Bukola Saraki.

The aides include Mr Mohammed Isa, Special Assistant on Media and Publicity; Olu Onemola, Special Assistant on New Media and Tope Olowoeye, Senior Legislative Aide on Media and Publicity (Photography).

NAN, however, learnt that Lawan stood his ground on the aides, saying he would retain them.

“The Senate concluded last night that the SA Media should be relieved of his appointment instantly owing to public outcry.

“But, the Senate President is retaining all the other media aides already announced, against all pressures.

“He is already getting some recommendations for replacement of Adedayo from media consultants, subject to background checks,” the source said.

Adedayo was yet to assume office before the current development.

(NAN)

Businessman bags two years for issuance of dud cheque

Nneoma BENSON
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Businessman bags two years for issuance of dud cheque

A BUSINESS man, Mohammed Aliyu,  based in Zamfara State has been sentenced to a two-year imprisonment for issuing a dude cheque. 

A statement by the Economic and  Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said Aliyu was convicted and sentenced by the Zamfara High Court, which sat in Gusau, the state capital on Tuesday. 

According to the statement signed by Tony Orilade, acting Head of Media and Publicity at EFCC, the sentence was handed by Justice B.M.Shinkafi of the Zamfara State High Court who presided over the case. 

Orilade explained that the defendant was arraigned on June 26, 2018 on a five-count amended charge, bordering on criminal breach of trust and issuance of dud cheque.

“Aliyu’s trouble began when the Kaduna office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, received a petition from one Mohammad Ibn Mohammed of Muhubbul Khairat Global Concept Limited against him,” he said.

“He alleged that sometimes in September 2016, Aliyu deceived him into supplying 40,000 litres of gas, valued atN5,354,000 (Five Million Three Hundred and Fifty-four Thousand Naira).”

The EFCC spokesperson said the complainant alleged that Aliyu had collected a cash sum of N2.5 million for personal assistant, totaling, N7.8 million.

“However, Aliyu paid the sum of N1.8 million leaving a balance of over N6 million and when he demanded for his refund, the defendant issued 15 post-dated Zenith Bank cheques, five of which were returned unpaid upon presentation. All effort to get the said money back, proved abortive,” the statement reads.

The defendant however, pleaded “not guilty” to the charge against him.

Orilade disclosed that in the course of the trial, the EFCC presented three witnesses, through its Prosecution Counsel P.C. Onyeneho, while the defence presented two witnesses.

He said Justice Shinkafi, in his verdict ruled that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt the accused committed the offence.

Counsel for Aliyu, P.M. Lasco, prayed the court tempered justice with mercy as his client was “a first-time offender and has many dependents.

“The trial judge, thereafter, convicted and sentenced him to two years on each of the five counts, of the sentences are to run concurrently.” he said.

The judge further ordered the convict to pay the sum of N6 million as restitution to the victim.

Omo-Agege appoints Igbuzor, Odunuga and Lara Wise as aides

YEKEEN Akinwale
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Omo-Agege appoints Igbuzor, Odunuga and Lara Wise as aides

THE Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, has approved the appointments of  Otive Igbuzor as his Chief of Staff, Yomi Odunuga as Special Adviser, Media and Publicity as well as Lara Owoeye-Wise as Senior Special Assistant on Electronic and New Media.

A statement issued by Omo-Agege on Thursday in Abujastated that the appointments which take immediate effect are based on merit.

Igbuzor is Founding Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD). He was once the International Head of campaigns of ActionAid International and Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria. He was also a Commissioner in the Police Service Commission (PSC).

He was a Programme Coordinator of Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), an independent research, information and training institution dedicated to policy oriented scholarship on questions of democratic development and peace building in the West African sub-region.

Previously, he was a lecturer at the Delta State University, Lagos Centre and has published many scholarly articles on democracy, gender, politics and development. He is a versatile writer, researcher and author of several publications.

His specialties include but not limited to Strategy Formulation, Programme design, implementation and evaluation, Policy Analysis, Leadership Training and Research.

Odunuga is the Abuja Bureau Chief and Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) of THE NATION Newspapers.

Born on June 2, 1966, Odunuga a poet, lyricist, reporter and columnist, started his journalism career with THE PUNCH Newspaper over two decades ago.

He was, for several years, the State House Correspondent of the paper where he maintained two columns–Life in Abuja and the popular weekend treat called Inside Aso Rock.

His insightful and critical analysis of the intriguing politics of that period earned him accolades and recognition which later saw him being promoted to the position of Abuja Bureau Chief at PUNCH newspaper.

In 2006, he was elevated to the position of Group Political Editor of The PUNCH where he later joined THE NATION Newspaper as an Assistant Editor and Bureau Chief in Abuja.

At THE NATION, his rested PUNCH Newspaper column, Knuckles transformed into Knucklehead which offers him the opportunity to continue his weekly interrogation and critique of the socio-political developments in the polity.

The 1990 best graduating student of the then Olabisi Onabanjo State University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, has attended several journalism courses in Nigeria and outside the country.

The widely-traveled journalist is married to Toyosi Odunuga and the couple is blessed with children.

A graduate of Religion and Philosophy from the University of Jos (UNIJOS) Plateau State, Owoeye-Wise is a multiple award winning journalist whose experience has spanned over two decades and has spread between the print and the electronic media.

She has worked at THE PUNCH Newspapers, The News Magazine, AM News and TEMPO tabloids.

She crossed over to the electronic media as a pioneer staff for Silverbird TV, a pioneer staff of the resuscitated Minaj Broadcast International (MBI), and was Deputy Head of Presentation, Senior News Editor, news anchor and chief correspondent at Africa Independent Television (AIT) before her appointment as Senior Assistant, Media to the immediate past Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Lara has had a working stint with the Voice of America (VOA), Washington DC and KSTP Channel 5, Minnesota.

She is currently a board member of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR).

These appointments came two days after the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan announced the appointment of Mohammed Aji as his Chief of Staff, Betty Okoroh, the Special Adviser to the Senate President on Administration and Festus Adedayo as his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.

Confusion in Bauchi Assembly as two speakers claim seat

Rebecca Akinremi
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Confusion in Bauchi Assembly as two speakers claim seat

TWO different persons, Abubakar Suleiman of the All Progressives Congress(APC) and Kawuwa Damina (also APC) have emerged as the new speakers of the Bauch State House of  Assembly.

The situation has caused an ongoing ruckus in the state legislative arm as members elected two speakers in separate elections.

Earlier on Thursday morning around 7:00 am (GMT+1), Suleiman who is a member representing Ningi Central Constituency was picked as the speaker by a caucus of 11 out of 31 members of the assembly. He was nominated by Babayo Muhammad, member representing Hardawa constituency, while Jamilu Umar Dahiru, who is representing Bauchi central constituency, seconded the nomination.

The eleven lawmakers mostly consist of the Peoples Democratic Party also declared Danlami Kawule who is representing Zungur/Galambi and member of the PDP as the Deputy Speaker.

But, after some hours, another 18 members of the house declared Damina the speaker after a parallel election was held in front of the Assembly complex. The election was done outside as it had been locked. However, the 18 members stood in front of the statue of the Mace symbol and elected Kawuwa Damina who is also the ex-speaker of the house. Tukur Ibrahim was appointed the deputy speaker.

An earlier report on Wednesday noted that the APC group in the legislative arm of the state was in crisis as the APC was insisting on Damina’s re-election, Suleiman also insisted on contesting. The latter was largely supported by the PDP.

For a state house of assembly, it is expected that two-thirds of the members should be present to conduct the business of the house. Thus, a 31-member assembly will have a minimum of 21 members present before any deliberations could be made.

In Bauchi, though governor Bala Mohammed is a member of the PDP, APC has the majority at the legislative floor with 22 members, PDP’s eight and New Nigeria People’s Party has one.

Former Egyptian president was murdered, alleges Turkey president

Jennifer UGWA
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Former Egyptian president was murdered, alleges Turkey president

RECEP Tayyip Erdogan Turkey’s president has accused Egyptian authorities of murdering former president Mohamed Morsi, who died on Monday after collapsing in court and vowed to see them prosecuted in an international court.

Erdogan at an election rally in Istanbul, said Morsi “did not die, he was murdered” and called on the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to act on his death.

Morsi, who was reported to have been suffering from diabetes, hypertension and liver disease, collapsed after speaking during a retrial hearing in Cairo over charges of collaborating with foreign powers and militant groups.

“Unfortunately, Mohamed Morsi was on the ground of the courtroom flailing for 20 minutes. No official there intervened. Morsi did not die naturally, he was killed.”

Friends and colleagues of Morsi have accused security forces of murdering the former president and claimed that police failed to administer first aid fast enough when he collapsed.

It was alleged that prison guards left the 67-year-old “slumped on the floor” in the courtroom for more than 20 minutes, despite other defendants calling for help.

United Nations’ spokesperson Rupert Colville has called for a “prompt, impartial, thorough and transparent investigation” into Morsi’s death and his detention conditions.

In response, Egypt accused Mr Colville of making “politicised and immature” remarks while the office of Egypt’s attorney-general has denied claims that he was murdered and argued he “was transported immediately to the hospital”, where he was later pronounced dead.

However, a group of British MPs and lawyers had warned that Morsi could die in prison if he did not receive urgent medical care in 2018.

Morsi, who was Egypt’s first democratically elected president, was buried quietly in Nasr City, an eastern suburb of the capital, on Tuesday.

 

 

Buhari appoints Mele Kyari as NNPC GMD

Rebecca Akinremi
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Buhari appoints Mele Kyari as NNPC GMD

MELE Kyari has been named the new Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Kyari’s appointment was disclosed in a statement signed by the NNPC Group General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndu Ughamadu on Thursday.

He will be the 19th GMD of the national oil company on his resumption on July 8 when Maikanti Baru, the current GMD who was appointed in 2016 will retire.

Asides Kyari, President Buhari also appointed seven Chief Operating Officers.

“President Buhari has directed that the new GMD and the newly appointed COOs work with the current occupiers of the various offices till 7th July 2019 towards a smooth transition on 8th July 2019 when their appointments would take effect to ensure a smooth transition.

“However, the appointment of Mr Farouk Garba Said (North West), who is replacing a retiring Chief Operating Officer, is effective from 28th June 2019,” the statement read in part.

Kyari, before his appointment is the current group general manager, crude oil marketing division of the NNPC and also Nigeria’s representative to the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) since May 2018.

The 54-year-old Kyari was born in Maiduguri, Borno state. In 1987, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology at the University of Maiduguri.

“He is a quintessential crude oil marketer with prerequisite certification and outfield pedigree in Petroleum Economics and crude oil and gas trading. In the last 27 years, he had traversed the entire value chain of the Petroleum Industry, with exceptional records of performance,” part of the statement read.

The appointed seven new chief operating officers for the public oil company represent each geo-political zones, however, two people were appointed from the North West.

The newly appointed Chief Operating Officers are:

Roland Onoriode Ewubare (S/South) – COO Upstream

Mustapha Yinusa Yakubu (N/ Central) – COO Refining & Petrochemicals

Yusuf Usman (N/East) – COO, Gas & Power

Lawrencia Nwadiabuwa Ndupu (S/East), COO Ventures

Umar Isa Ajiya (N/West) – Chief Financial Officer

Adeyemi Adetunji (S/West) – COO, Downstream and

Farouk Garba Said (N/West) – COO, Corporate Services.

JUST IN: One month after, alleged killer of naval officer arrested

YEKEEN Akinwale
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JUST IN: One month after, alleged killer of naval officer arrested

ABOUT one month and three days  after the lifeless body of a naval officer, Solomon Derikoma, was found in his room  at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, Kaduna State, his suspected killer has been arrested, The ICIR can report.

Derikoma, a Lieutenant Commander in the Nigeria Navy was found dead days before he was scheduled to travel with some of his colleagues for an African study tour.

A military source told The ICIR that the suspect was the late naval officer’s domestic staff.

“The murderer that killed Lt Commander on Senior Course AFCSC Jaji has been arrested,” the source said. “It turned out to be the boy working for him.”

He said the knife with which he allegedly murdered the naval officer was traced to the house he lives with his parents.

The suspect is said to be the son of a plumber who is on temporary employment at AFCSC.

“He is already under lock and key with his parents and has been singing like canary. He confessed being a cult member which operates around Jaji which he joined some six years ago. Very sad,” the source revealed.

The ICIR had reported that the late officer  was a member of the 53rd Regular Course of the Nigeria Navy and hails from Rivers State.

Derikoma’s classmates noticed that he was absent during parade so they went to check on him in his room and found that the door was locked with a padlock from outside indicating that there was no one in the room.

“However, the padlock was broken and the officer’s body was found in the room with a stone by the side and in a pool of blood, suggesting that he was possibly murdered,” the source said, adding that “the body has also started decomposing, which means it happened anytime from Friday”.

Derikoma’s colleagues still went ahead with the study tour but the source says officers on the ground were handling the situation.

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