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10 Die As Citizens Protest Coup In Burkina Faso

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10 Die As Citizens Protest Coup In Burkina Faso
Diendere, a General, was declared leader of Burkina Faso following Wednesday's coup. Photo: BBC/AFP
Diendere, a General, was declared leader of Burkina Faso following Wednesday’s coup. Photo: BBC/AFP

The protests that greeted the military coup in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, are turning violent, with at least 10 deaths reported and several protesters arrested.

Presidential guard, the most powerful armed group in the country, seized power on Wednesday, placing interim President Michel Kafando and Prime Minister Isaac Zida in detention, less than a month to scheduled elections.

Former President Blaise Compaore was ousted in 2014 by a widespread protest after 27 years in power amidst allegations that he wanted to amend the constitution to prolong his stay in power.

He has since lived in exile in Ivory Coast.

Speaker of the transitional parliament, Cheriff Sy, has declared himself leader of the West African country and called on Burkinabes to resist the military’s actions, which has installed a close ally of Compaore, Gilbert Diendere, an army General, as leader. He was a former chief of staff to Compaore.

The African Union and ECOWAS have condemned the action of the presidential guard and called for the release of those detained.

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The US and France have also raised concerns. However, France has ruled out a military intervention in its former colony. Burkinaso is a close ally of the US and France, particularly with regards to fighting Islamist militancy in the region.

The powerful but unpopular presidential guard was partly trained by the US and it had been in battle with the transitional government since the ouster of Compaore for retention of some of its privileges.

According to analysts, the transitional government might have made some mistakes that led to the coup – the banning of people seen to be close to Compaore from contesting the October 11 elections and releasing a report by the Reconciliation Commission calling for the disbandment of the presidential guard.

The commission was set up to help the country heal from Compaore’s dictatorship.

Shettima Sets Up Committee To Tackle Health, Nutritional Challenges In IDPs Camps

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Shettima Sets Up Committee To Tackle Health, Nutritional Challenges In IDPs Camps

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By Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri

Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, has set up an 11-man committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Usman Shuwa, to immediately ensure that the health, nutritional and water challenges faced by internally displaced persons in camps across the state are solved.

The governor visited some of the camps following report of deaths resulting from malnutrition and said something needs to be done urgently to assuage the people’s plight.

“In some of the camps they are doing well, but we need to ensure the high nutritional level of the food they are serving,” Shettima told journalists after his visit.

“We have to support them to further enhance the quality of the food they are serving, and in one of the camps they are facing the challenge of water, we instructed that water should be provided for them.”

He also stated that security around the camps should be tightened to prevent a recurrence of the type of bomb attack that recently rocked the Malkohi IDPs camp in Yola, Adamawa state.

 

Court Remands Self-Imposed Monarch In Prison

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Court Remands Self-Imposed Monarch In Prison

Benin
By Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin 

The man who was last week controversially installed as the Ogiamien of Benin, Richie Arisco Osemwegie, has been remanded in prison custody by a magistrate court in the Edo State capital.

Osemwegie was arraigned before the court on Wednesday by the police on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy and arrogation of traditional ruler title without the approval of the State Executive Council.

To compound his problems, the Benin Traditional Council on Thursday warned him to stop arrogating to himself the title of Ogiamien of Benin.

The council gave the warning while addressing the media at the palace of the Oba of Benin after it paid a solidarity visit to the Benin monarch, Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa, who is legally regarded as the paramount ruler of the Benin Kingdom.

Led by Sam Igbe, the Iyase of Benini, the traditional Prime Minister, the council said Osemwegie’s actions was tantamount to rebellion and called on the people of Benin to remain calm as the matter was already in court.

Osemwegie, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had on September 9 been installed by the Ogiamien family as the new head of the clan with the title of “His Imperial Majesty, the Ogiamien of Utantan Benin Nation”, an action that did not go well with the state government.

The government issued a statement ordering the new chief to stop parading himself as such or face the law.

 

Saraki’s Associate Declared Wanted Over N3.6 Billion Fraud

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Saraki’s Associate Declared Wanted Over N3.6 Billion Fraud

Bukola Saraki Elected Senate President

By Samuel Malik

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has declared a former director of Societe Generale Bank Nigeria, SGBN, and managing director of Carlisle Properties and Investment Limited, Kennedy Izuagbe, wanted in connection with a N3.6 billion case.

The wanted man is a business associate of Senate President Bukola Saraki because the company of which he is managing director, Carlisle Properties and Investment Limited, is one of the firms mentioned in the case of false asset declaration against the former governor of Kwara State by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, for which he is due to stand trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

The case for which Izuagbe has been declared wanted by the EFCC, however, is not related to the Code of Conduct case.

According to a statement by the EFCC’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, the suspect, who has allegedly gone into hiding, is wanted on charges of conspiracy and money laundering, including several dubious deals and financial recklessness perpetrated at SGBN, a bank to which Saraki is also linked.

The 45 years old is believed to have fled the country, as all attempts to locate him have proved abortive, the anti-graft agency said.

“The suspect, who is believed to have fled the country, is a native of Iviukhua village, near Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State,” the commission said, calling on members of the public to volunteer any useful information that could lead to his arrest.

 

Army Arrests Men Who Procure Documents For Boko Haram

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Army Arrests Men Who Procure Documents For Boko Haram
Photo: leadership.ng
Photo: leadership.ng

The Nigerian Army on Thursday paraded two suspects accused of forging the National Identity Card for Boko Haram members.

Makinta Umar and John Zakariya, operators of a business centre in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, were arrested, according to the army spokesperson in the state, Tukur Gusau, a Colonel, following confessions by a Boko Haram member in custody.

“A business centre around Post Office area in Maiduguri was identified as an accomplice of Boko Haram terrorists by producing National Identity Cards and other documents for the terrorists,” Gusau told reporters in Maiduguri.

“These documents enable the terrorists to move freely to various destinations and carry out their terrorists activities killing and inflicting hardships on the law abiding citizens of the country.”

Among items recovered from the suspects include computer laptops, memory sticks, and still camera.

18 Feared Dead In Plateau Community Attack

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18 Feared Dead In Plateau Community Attack

Gov.-Simon-Lalong-of-Plateau

At least 18 people have been killed in a possible reprisal attack by unknown gunmen at a village in Mangu local government area of Plateau State.

A statement by the Director of Press and Public Affairs to Governor Simon Lalong, which confirmed the incident, said the attack originated from neighbouring communities in the local government.

“It is regrettable that as efforts are being made by the government to see the end of violent conflicts in Barkin Ladi, Riyom and parts of Jos South Local Government Areas, the state is faced with another communal clash,” the statement read.

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A resident, who survived the attack, Usman Abubakar, told journalists that the attackers came from Barkin Ladi, a local government area in the state, which was earlier attacked few days ago.
Spokesman of the Special Task Force, Ikedichi Iweha, a Captain, said his team responded to a distress alarm and was able to repel the attacks.

He, however, did not give details of the casualty but confirmed that houses were burnt and that investigation was on-going.

 

Mozambique Is Declared Free Of Landmines

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Mozambique Is Declared Free Of Landmines
Rats have been used to sniff out landmines in parts of Mozambique. Photo: BBC
Rats have been used to sniff out landmines in parts of Mozambique. Photo: BBC

Mozambique is reported to have removed the last remaining landmine planted during the deadly civil war that took place from 1977 to 1992.

According to the BBC, Halo Trust, a British de-mining charity organisation funded by the U.S and U.K. governments and which has worked in the country since 1993, was able to remove the landmines in conjunction with other nongovernmental organisation.

“The charity says it is the first large mine-contaminated country to be completely cleared of mines,” the BBC said.

“The last mine was removed from the base of a railway bridge in the centre of the country.”

Long after the civil war that followed Mozambique’s independence from Portugal, the mines continued to cause fatalities and injuries, keeping people away from accessing and cultivating large areas of the country’s fertile land. Halo Trust also lost four workers in the course of its work.

“You don’t forget the sight of someone freshly injured from an anti-personnel land mine blast. These cruel weapons are designed to deny territory to “the enemy” but invariably it is ordinary civilians, including children, who pay the heaviest price,” BBC’s Karen Allen said from the scene where the last landmine was detonated.

It is hoped that the success recorded in Mozambique robs off on similar works going on other countries, such as Sri Lanka, Laos, Angola and Colombia.

 

Nigeria Has Failed Africa, Zambian Minister Says

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Nigeria Has Failed Africa, Zambian Minister Says
Governor Adams Oshiomhole presenting a souvenir to Shamenda
Governor Adams Oshiomhole presenting a souvenir to Shamenda

By Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin

The Zambian Labour Minister, Fackson Shamenda, has said that Nigeria failed to provide leadership to other African countries at a time the continent looked up to it.

Shamenda, who spoke on Wednesday when he visited Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state in Benin, the Edo State capital, said it was particularly embarrassing that Nigeria had to rely on other African countries to spearhead mobile phone communication in the country.

“The first time I came to Nigeria, I saw a big plane with an elephant painted on it, and I wondered because elephants do not fly. Nigeria is supposed to be the big brother of Africa but the first GSM company came in from Zimbabwe when you are supposed to take development to Zimbabwe,” he said.

However, Shamenda said with Nigerian businessmen expanding to other African countries, it is obvious that the country is ready to assume its big brother role again.

He noted with particular Interest Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote’s investments in Zambia and other countries and added that his country is willing to partner with him for a successful business relationship.

“We shall always cooperate with this great Nigerian son, Dangote. I was impressed when this leading investor in Nigeria and Africa came to Zambia to locate one of the largest cement plants in Africa there. We are a proud to see a Nigerian taking the lead in Africa, unlike the way it used to be,” Shamenda stated.

Governor Oshiomhole thanked Fackson for his country’s friendly business policies, which attracted the likes of Dangote, noting that it is not enough for African leaders to gather once in a while in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia and headquarters of the African Union, and make pronouncements without making good on their pronouncements.

“We should have policies that promote African unity and the best way to promote African unity is not for politicians and political leaders to meet in Ethiopia Addis Ababa once in a while and make bold statements about the continent and thereafter bring underdevelopment but they should make bold statements to create jobs and use the resources they have for the continent and not export them to Europe and then bring a fraction back in the name of direct investment,” the governor stated.

 

Niger Delta Ministry Director Arraigned Over N600 Million Fraud

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Niger Delta Ministry Director Arraigned Over N600 Million Fraud

 

ICPC operatives and a suspect. File Photo
ICPC operatives and a suspect. File photo

The Independent and Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, has arraigned a former director of finance in the Ministry of Niger Delta, Yusuf Agabi, before the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court on a 46 count charge bothering on fraud.

Agabi, a former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant in Nassarawa State, was first charged before Justice Husseini Baba of the FCT High Court along with four others earlier in the year but the case was adjourned due to the absence of the principal accused person, who was on a lesser hajj to Saudi Arabia.

The accused persons allegedly illegally obtained N100 million from the Niger Delta Ministry

The other four accused persons are Akpore Okeroghene, deputy director, finance, Idowu Adewale, deputy director accounts, Ntu Ngozi, deputy director, accounts and Ayinla Abibu.

All five of them pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them and requested for bail through a motion filed by their respective counsels.

Justice Baba granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N10million with one surety who must at least be a deputy director in the federal civil service resident in Abuja.

The ICPC investigations into the matter followed a petition written by the permanent secretary in the Niger Delta ministry alerting the anti-graft agency of an unauthorized withdrawal of the sum of N605,073,540.00 from the ministry’s 2014 constituency project account with Central Bank of Nigeria, Abuja.

While serving as director of finance at the ministry, Agabi and the others accused persons, who all worked in the accounts department, had apparently cooked up a scheme to illegally withdraw money from the ministry’s accounts.

In the case of Agabi, he allegedly received the sum of N100million from one Kabiru Paloma, knowing same to have been obtained fraudulently from the bank account of the ministry, an offence contrary to Section 13 and punishable under section 68 of the Corrupt Practices Act 2000.

He was also alleged to have on separate occasions in 2013, collected a total sum N400million from Kabiru Paloma, the sum of N50million from Daniel Obah and another sum of N8.9million from Babadoko Mohammed all fraudulently obtained  from the accounts of the ministry.

On his part, Okeroghene was accused of receiving the sum of N25 million on separate occasions from Kabiru Paloma as well as N6million and N2million respectively from one Nuhu Gadu and Solomon Sunday Tom, all illegally withdrawn from the ministry’s accounts.

The third accused person, Abibu was also allegedly N60million through a proxy, Zeocat Nig LTD, with which he used to build a house at Ogbomosho, Oyo state. He was alleged to have received N91.4million through another proxy, Joykings Nig LTD.

In the same vein, Adewale allegedly illegally received $100,000 belonging to the ministry while Ngozi also received a total sum of N10.25million from one Solomon Sunday Tom in March and October 2014.

Governor Shettima Vows To Sack Officials Who Divert Relief Materials

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Governor Shettima Vows To Sack Officials Who Divert Relief Materials
Food items in one of the IDPs camps in Maiduguri, Borno state capital. Photo: www.icirnigeria.org
Food items in one of the IDPs camps in Maiduguri, Borno state capital. Photo: www.icirnigeria.org

 

By Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri

The Borno State governor, Kashim Shettiima, has threatened to sack any commissioner or caretaker local government chairman caught diverting relief materials meant for internally displaced persons, IDPs, in the state.

The governor, gave the warning in Maiduguri, the state capital while swearing in 21 newly appointed commissioners and 27 local government caretaker chairmen, added that security agents, including the military, will be deployed to monitor distribution of items to the IDPs and report back to him.

“Let me warn all of you, I will not even think twice in removing any chairman and commissioner found wanting in the discharge of his duties. If anybody, be it a commissioner, local government chairman or member of the state House of Assembly or any government official tampers with foodstuff meant for the poor, he will incur the full wrath of the law,” a visibly emotional Shettima said.

“Let me make it abundantly clear, that I will involve the state security services and the military to monitor the distribution of these foodstuff, and ensure they report back to me,” he further stated.

The governor, who ordered the chairmen of Ngala, Kalabalge and Gwoza local governments to immediately relocate to Yola, Adamawa state, and facilitate the transportation of more than 10, 000 IDPs deported from Cameroon, said the state government will commence the rehabilitation of destroyed communities after Sallah celebration.

“We will commence the rebuilding of Bama with or without assistance from international communities after the Sallah celebration. The people of Askira and all other destroyed communities will go back to their communities after the rebuilding,” he assured.

Shettima also warned commissioners against lurking around government house unnecessarily and asked the local government chairmen to ensure that they remain in their local government headquarters.

 

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