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NLC Bemoans Worsening Security Situation

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NLC Bemoans Worsening Security Situation

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has called on the federal government to have a rethink on the strategies used in combating terrorism in the North-east, saying things are now getting out of hand.

President of the congress, Abdulwaheed Omar, who was reacting over the weekend to recent killings in the region, urged the government to set up a special intelligence unit for combating terrorism in the country.

“It is now getting out of hand, it is turning out to be something else, and we call on Government to have a rethink over what they do. We cannot afford to continue to do one thing every time and we are not getting the right results. We have to change pattern,” he stated.

Omar added: “I think we need to train people specially in the area of intelligence and in the area of combating this kind of terrorism. Let them be seriously trained and let them be sent to nooks and crannies where they can be able to tap information so that we stop this callous killing of innocent citizens.’”

He said it was sad that the insurgents could go to the level of killing innocent students, describing the action as “callous and unreasonable and unacceptable to Nigerian workers”.

Over 40 students of the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government Area, Yobe State, were attacked and killed while sleeping in their dormitories by suspected gunmen last Monday.

On Saturday in Borno State, there were multiple coordinated attacks that claimed no fewer than 100 lives.

In one of the incidents, two explosives were detonated close to a building where a marriage ceremony was holding and at least 52 corpses were harvested from the debris, with many feared trapped in the collapsed building.

The other attack took place about 55 kilometres away in Mainok village where unknown gunmen went berserk, shooting sporadically and setting many buildings ablaze. At least 39 persons were killed in the process.

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Over 100 Persons Killed In Multiple Attacks In Borno

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Over 100 Persons Killed In Multiple Attacks In Borno

Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri

It was a dark weekend in Borno State North eastern Nigeria as over 100 persons were killed in multiple explosions launched by members of the Boko Haram sect in different places.

Barely four hours after twin explosions targeted at a marriage ceremony on Saturday killed about 52 persons, another 39 persons were killed when gunmen attacked Mainok, about 55 kilometres away from Ajilari- Bintu Sugar, scene of the first incident.

A local source in the area said some insurgents suspected to be Boko Haram members laid ambush on the village around 10.00pm Saturday night, shooting sporadically and hurling explosives into houses.

“As at 10am today (Sunday), many buildings were still in flames. Almost all the village with hundred of houses have been destroyed by the ravaging insurgents. We were on sober mood over the incident,” the source said.

The primary school in the village, some vehicles and shops were destroyed.

A senior officer of the State Security Service, SSS, confirmed the incident saying “Yes, Mainok was attacked and over 30 people were killed.”

The death toll from attacks which have spread from Maiduguri to Konduga, Bama, Gwoza, Michika, Gulak, Shuwa, Buni-Yadi and Mainok among others, in the last one month is conservatively put at about 1000.

Conflicting Casualty Figures Emerge From Borno Twin Explosions

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Conflicting Casualty Figures Emerge From Borno Twin Explosions

Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri

The Police on Sunday said at least 35 people were killed following two explosions Saturday night in the Ajilari- Bintu Sugar area of Borno State, but the Red Cross says not less than 51 corpses have been recovered.

Local sources, however, say that more than hundred were killed and expect the figure to rise.

Hospital sources said most of the corpses brought in were children.

The blasts reportedly occurred two minutes apart around 6pm on Saturday at a densely populated part of the town where roadside food vendors and their patronisers gather in the evenings to satisfy their needs.

According to an eyewitness, business had just commenced as usual when a pick-up van loaded with fire wood suddenly exploded and went into flames.

The first blast did not cause many casualties according to Hassan Ali, the leader of the youth vigilante group, but as people ran to the scene to assist those affected, a second explosion was heard few minutes later.

The magnitude of the blast was so heavy that it shook the area “as if it was an earthquake” and set off heavy dust and smoke in the area, a source said.

Residents of the area who have become familiar with blasts and attacks by insurgents immediately scampered for safety, causing a rowdy scene in the confusion.

Emergency services and members of the youth vigilante group arrived the scene to render help to victims and comb the area in search of clues and explosives devices that may have been planted.

Many residents have fled the area out of fear.

The attack is coming less than a week after terrorists raided the Federal Government College in Buni Yadi, Yobe State and some villages in Adamawa State, killing over 40 students in their dormitories.

The Army command in Yola has been forced to review the curfew period imposed on Michika and Madagali local government areas of Adamawa following the attacks.

A statement issued by the Army’s public relations officer, Jafaru Nuhu, a captain, said the curfew will now be from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m each day instead of 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. until further notice.

The statement read in part that: “the headquarters of the 23 Brigade wishes to bring to the notice of the general populace of Adamawa of the review of curfew period from 7 p.m to 5 a.m in Michika and Madagali. This review affects all towns and villages in the two affected local government areas with effect from Friday, Feb. 28, 2014.”

Nuhu solicited for the support and cooperation of the people of the state in reporting any suspicious person and movement to the nearest security post, even as he requested them to be law abiding and comply strictly with the curfew.

Kuku Wants Pipeline Protection Programmes Reviewed

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Kuku Wants Pipeline Protection Programmes Reviewed

The special adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Kingsley Kuku, has urged the ministry of Petroleum Resources to review the Pipeline Protection Programme to check oil theft in the country.

Kuku made the call while briefing the Senate committee on Niger Delta on the 2014 budget proposal for the Presidential Amnesty Programme PAP.

He faulted the arrangement where people were contracted to protect oil pipelines that were outside their immediate communities, saying this was responsible for oil theft.

He argued that pipelines would be better protected and oil theft checked if members of the host communities were engaged in the Pipeline Protection Programme.

Kuku said the concept of the initial programme packaged by the NNPC did not meet the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians, especially the host communities and people of the Niger Delta.

He added that “the committee should cause the NNPC and the ministry of Petroleum to immediately review the pipelines protection projects which were stopped since January 2012.”

The special adviser expressed regret that oil companies had refused to support the amnesty programme in the provision of education and skills acquisition training for youths in the Niger Delta.

“The oil and gas industry has not in any way practically supported and helped this programme positively. Meanwhile, they are the first beneficiaries of the peace we have been able to create in the region,” he lamented.

Kuku urged state governments in the Niger Delta to use some of their allocations to replicate the amnesty programme to assist in training of some of their indigenes.

He said N66.7 billion was allocated to his office in 2013 for the implementation of the amnesty programme, while a total budget of N63.28 billion has been proposed for 2014.

Of the N63.28 billion, N35,83 billion would expended on the reintegration of ex-militants enrolled in the programme, N23.62 billion will be used for the payment of N65,000 monthly stipends to 30,000 ex-militants, while another N3.82 billion will be used to cover the cost of operations of the office.

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Obasanjo, Buhari, Abacha, Babangida, Ojukwu Others Get Centenary Award

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Obasanjo, Buhari, Abacha, Babangida, Ojukwu Others Get Centenary Award

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday decorated seven living former Nigerian heads of state and Presidents with the centenary awards.

The decorated leaders are Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo, Shehu Shagari, Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida, Ernest Shonekan and Abdusalami Abubakar.

Similarly, six late Nigerian heads of state were honoured post-humously.

The recipients of the post-humous award are Nnamdi Azikiwe, Tafawa Balewa, Aguiyi Ironsi, Murtala Mohammed, Sani Abacha and Musa Yar’Adua.

Also in the category is the presumed winner of the June 1993 general election, Moshood Abiola.

The centenary awards were in 13 categories with winners both living and dead.

The first are those who have contributed  to the making of Nigeria and they include Queen Elizabeth II of England, Lord Fredrick Lugard and his wife, Lady Lugard,

The second category is the heroes of the struggle for independence/pioneer political leaders which include Azikiwe, Balewa, Herbert Macaulay, Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello, Eyo Ita, Jaja Nwachukwu, Michael Imoudu, Anthony Enahoro and Joseph Tarka.

The rest are Malam Aminu Kano, Margaret Ekpo, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and Gambo Sawaba.

The third category is the pioneers in professional callings/careers which include the first indigenous lawyer, Sapara Williams, and the first indigenous solicitor, Rotimi Williams.

The category also include
the first indigenous chartered accountant, Akintola Williams, the first indigenous Inspector General of Police, Louis Edet, and the first indigenous medical doctor, Eyitayo Lambo.

Also in the categories are the first female vice chancelor of Nigerian universities, Grace Alele-Williams, and the first indigenous female pilot, Chinyere Kalu, amongst others.

The fourth category is pioneer in commerce and industry, which has Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu, Alhassan Dantata and Adeola Odutola.

Awardees under pioneer of democratic transition in Nigeria are Shagari,  Abiola, Shehu Yar’Adua and Abdusalami Abubakar.

The sixth category is the heroes in global sports competitions which are Chioma Ajunwa, Nwankwo Kanu, Richard Ihetu, Michael Okpala (Power Mike) and Monday Emoghavwe.

The seventh category is accomplished pioneer public servants and the awardees  include Olabode Wey, Justice Udo Udoma, Emeka Anyaoku, Adetokubo Ademola, Olawale Elias, Rilwan Lukman, Ibrahim Dasuki and Aliyu Mai-Borno.

The awardess under category eight, which are the accomplished contemporary entrepreneurs are Aliko Dangote, Mike Adenuga and innocent Chukwuma.

The ninth category is distinguished academics and the recipients include Benjamin Osuntokun, Kelsey Harrison, Chike Obi, Dagogo Fubara, Ade Ajayi, Claude Ake, Babatunde Fafunwa, Godwin Abasi and Umaru Shehu.

The 10th category is international acclaimed artists, literary icons and journalists and the recipients include Michael Akinwumi, Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe and John Pepper Clark.

The recipients also include Cyprian Ekwensi, Abubakar Imam,Daniel Fagunwa, Ernest Ikoli, Babatunde Jose, Kenneth Nnebue, Olu Jacobs, Patience Ozokwor, Shata Katsina, Herbert Ogunde, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Osita Osadebe and Ladi Kwali.

Others are Benedict Enwonwu, Maitama Sule, Akin Mabogunje, Barnabas Oloruntoba and the Justice of Nigeria, Maryam Mukhtar.

The 11th category is outstanding bravery and public spiritedness and the beneficiaries are Gani Fawehinmi and Michael Ihuka.

The 12th category is outstanding promoters of unity, patriotism and national development and in the category are former heads of state and presidents.

The recipients are Gowon, Murtala Mohammed, Obasanjo, Buhari, Babangida, Shonekan, Abacha, Umaru Yar’Adua, and Theophilus Danjuma.

The last category is exemplary service in the promotion of peace and moral excellence and the recipients are Abubakar Sadiq, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, Michael Tansi, Enoch Adeboye and Sheikh Usman Bauchi.

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Edo Civil Servants Begin Strike On March 3

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Edo Civil Servants Begin Strike On March 3

Workers in Edo are set to commence an indefinite industrial action on March 3 due to unresolved contentious issues bordering on salary and promotion with the state government.

State chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Emmanuel Ademokun, who made the disclosure on Friday, regretted that two months after the Benin monarch intervened, the state government had done nothing to address the contentious issues. .

It would be recalled that the workers embarked on strike in December, 2013 to demand the release of four years of outstanding promotion arrears to workers.

They also agitated for the payment of 53.37 per cent salary relativity among others.

The strike which lasted four days was suspended to give room for more dialogue between the government and labour.

Ademokun said that efforts made to meet with the state government for amicable discussion had constantly been rebuffed.

“We, however, sent a communiqué of our meeting to the governor and up till now, there is no response from him. Therefore, we have decided that come March 3, workers in Edo State are going to embark on in an indefinite strike and the strike will not be called off until our demands are met. This time around, we will not listen to any person,” he said.

The chairman said those who might want to prevail on them not to go on strike should first prevail on the governor to grant their demands.

Reacting to the planned strike, the special adviser to the governor on Media, Kassim Afebua, expressed the willingness of the state government to meet with the NLC on the issues raised by the workers.

“If there is anything, it is that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole listens to all shades of opinions. Even some of us who are in government tend to query the governor’s magnanimity in deploring too much of his time to trying to explain issues,” he said.

He said the governor has remained pro-labour and continually devotes his time to listen their agitations because of his background as a labour leader.

“To us, strike should not be considered as the first option. It is only when you do not have opportunity to dialogue on issues that you will want to resort to strike as a weapon to force the government to do certain things,” Afebua said.

Oshiomole, before going into politics and contesting the governorship seat, was president of the Nigerian Labour Congress, the central workers’ union in Nigeria.

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Army Denies Attack On Gov Nyako

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Army Denies Attack On Gov Nyako

The Army has denied reports that the governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, was attacked by members of the Boko Haram sect on Friday.

Nyako’s convoy was reported to have come under attack by the terrorist group while he was returning from Michika and Shuwa in Madagali local government area of the state where he had gone to sympathise with the communities over a recent attack.

But the director defence information, Chris Olukolade, major general, clarified the situation saying that the convoy came ran into a stampede which resulted from the alarm raised by some people who had mistaken movement  of troops in Kirchinga village, for another impending attack by terrorists.

“In the ensuing stampede and confusion, people scampered into the bush ostensibly to escape from those mistaken for terrorists,” he explained.

The military spokesman said therefore that the presentation of the incident by a section of the media as an attack on the governor is misleading and capable of “causing unnecessary anxiety and heightening tension.”

He called on residents to go about their normal activities while remaining vigilant, assuring that the army is making every effort to curtail the activities of terrorists in the regio.

Governor Nyako also confirmed the statement as false alarm.

“After addressing the villagers, some soldiers approached me as I was about to enter my car and said that Boko Haram members were coming.

The soldiers were shouting: they are here, they are here. So, I asked them: who? They said Boko Haram members are around. After that, one of the soldiers started shooting. So, the first thing we need to do naturally is to get out of the scene,” said Nyako.

About four shots were fired by the soldier, prompting the security personnel to take position while others drove off with the governor. The villagers also ran to different directions for safety.

On the entourage of the governor were the Speaker of the Adamawa State Assembly, Ahmadu Fintiri, the state commissioner of Police, John Abakasangha, secretary to the government, Kobis Thimnu, and some commissioners.

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Court Grants Group Leave to Compel FAAN, Bank, Coscharis to Release Documents on Bulletproof Cars

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Court Grants Group Leave to Compel FAAN, Bank, Coscharis to Release Documents on Bulletproof Cars

A Federal High Court in Lagos Thursday granted Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation, leave to apply to the court to compel the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) and Coscharis Motors Limited to disclose the information requested by the organisation on the purchase of two bulletproof cars for the former Minister of Aviation,  Stella Oduah.

Thisday reported that the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Yunusa, granted the group the leave to pursue three separate suits filed on behalf of the organisation by Media Rights Agenda’s legal officer, Omolola Adeoya.

In the first suit against the NCAA, EiE is seeking a declaration that  the  failure  and/or refusal of NCAA to grant access to or make available to EiE the information it requested by its letter dated October 30, 2013 was a violation of EiE Nigeria’s right  of access to information established and guaranteed by Section 1(1) and Section 4(a) of the  Freedom  of Information Act, 2011.

It sought a declaration that the failure and/or refusal by NCAA to give EiE a written notice that access to all or part of the  information requested would not be granted and stating reasons for the denial and the section of the  FoI Act upon which NCAA relied to deny EiE access to the information requested by it amounts to a flagrant violation of Section 4(b), 7(1), (2) and It urged the court for an order of mandamus compelling NCAA to disclose or make available to EiE the Statements of Income and Expenditure of the NCAA from January 2010 to October 2013, being the information requested from NCAA in  EiE’s letter dated October 30, 2013.

It also wanted order of mandamus directing the Attorney General of the Federation to initiate criminal proceedings against the NCAA for the offence of wrongful  denial of access to information under Section 7(5) of  the FoI Act.

In the second suit, filed against First Bank of Nigeria (FBN), EiE is seeking similar reliefs as in the NCAA cases as well as the credit application file the bank provided for the lease facility of N836,970,156  for the purchase of two bullet proof BMW 760 Ll HSS vehicles for the NCAA from  Coscharis Motors with the following details:

• Original documents including pro-forma invoice(s) from the supplier, request letter from NCAA and insurance certificate for the assets (the BMW vehicles);

• Rationale for approval including the credit application (or an acceptable alternative) originating the request and details of the approving authority; and

• Offer letter to NCAA stating  the  terms  and conditions of the loan facility.

• The loan account statement reflecting the two payments already made as stated during the testimony of Joyce D. Nkemakolam, the Director of the Aerodrome and Airspace Standards and former Acting Director General of NCAA.

In the third suit, filed against Coscharis Motors, EiE is seeking in addition to similar reliefs in its case against NCAA, the release of the invoice(s) and landing documents for the two BMW vehicles acquired by NCAA with chassis numbers WBAHP41050DW68032 and WBAHP41010DW68044.

• Details of the payment for the vehicles if they were paid in full or hire purchased as reported by the media.
Hearing in the substantive suits has been fixed for March 18, 2014.

Justice Gladys Olotu Drags ThisDay Newspaper To Court

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Justice Gladys Olotu Drags ThisDay Newspaper To Court

From Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin

Justice Gladys Olotu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has sued the management of Leaders and Company Ltd, publishers of ThisDay Newspapers Ltd, for a libellous publication against her and is demanding for the sum of N2 billion as compensation.

Olutu told the Edo State High Court presided over by Justice V.O. Eboreime that the said publication appeared on the Wednesday November 13, 2012 edition of the newspaper with the headline, “EFCC probes seven judges for corruption”.

The paper said that Olotu was being investigated for owning several bank accounts in several local banks and in the United Kingdom as well as significant stocks in various companies and several properties in Abuja, Lagos and Benin.

It said in addition that Olotu is believed to be worth more than N2 billion in cash, going by findings by Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and other investigators.

The claimant told the court that the said publication is not only untrue but a well orchestrated plan to harmfully malign and hurtfully libel her before the members of the public and humiliate her, adding that it has caused her unquantifiable damage and also loss of good will and destruction of reputation.

She demanded for the payment of N2 billion for damages and a withdrawal of the libellous publication with an apology to be given a prominent place on the front page of seven widely read newspapers including ThisDay and on the Internet.

Justice Eboreime adjourned the case till March 24, 2014, to allow the defendants file in their statement of defense.

Meanwhile, the National Judicial Council, NJC, has ordered the compulsory retirement of Olotu and Justice U.A. Inyang of the Abuja High Court for gross misconduct.

A statement signed by NJC’s acting director of information, Soji Oye, said the two judges had been suspended pending the time President Goodluck Jonathan would approve their retirement.

He said the decision was taken at the council meeting held on February 6, 2014 and is with immediate effect.

The council also issued warnings to a former acting president of the Court of Appeal, Justice Dalhatu Adamu and two high court judges, Justice A.A. Adeleye of the High Court of Ekiti State and Justice D.O. Amaechina of the High Court of Justice of Anambra State.

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APC Criticise Jonathan Over Ill-Timed Centenary Celebration

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APC Criticise Jonathan Over Ill-Timed Centenary Celebration

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has sharply criticised the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration for going on with a lavish celebration of the centenary anniversary of Nigeria in spite of the cold-blood murder murder of over 40 school children in Yobe state Monday night.

In a statement issued in on Thursday, the party said that the government by it’s insensitive celebration, has shown that it places little value on human lives.

“Even as the nation is still counting the death toll from Monday night’s senseless and  gruesome murder of our children, and the ceaseless killings of innocent civilians before that, the President has already switched into a celebratory mood, dwelling on the money-wasting centenary-celebrations instead of leading a clearly distraught nation in mourning.”

Interim national publicity secretary of the APC, Lai Mohammed, who signed the statement, said the President’s action sends a wrong signal to the world about the value which the Nigerian government places on the lives of the nation’s children.

“Nothing better illustrates the fact that the President showed more concern about the  centenary celebrations than the calamity that befell the nation than the mention, in only about three paragraphs, of the tragedy in a speech that spanned over 40 paragraphs. This is very sad indeed,” the statement said.

The party urged the President to quickly amend his mistakes by visiting the scene of the tragedy to empathize with the families of the victims as well as the government and people of the state, which is what any leader worth his salt will do under the circumstance.

The APC also expressed concern about the huge amount of money the centenary celebration is costing the federal government and called for a massive scale down.

“We should not do what will amount to dancing on the graves of the children whom we have collectively failed. Yes, we cannot bring those children back to life, but we can at least soothe the pains of their families through genuine empathy and soberness,” the party said.

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