Home Blog Page 597

Court bars pro-Wike Speaker, Amaewhule, 24 others from parading as lawmakers

Bankole ABE
-
0
Court bars pro-Wike Speaker, Amaewhule, 24 others from parading as lawmakers

A RIVERS State High Court in Port Harcourt has barred the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and 24 other lawmakers in the state from parading themselves as the Assembly member. 

The court also restrained Amaewhule from parading himself as the Assembly Speaker.

Amaewhule and 24 members of the House of Assembly defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in December 2023. 

They are widely believed to be loyal to the state’s immediate past governor and the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

The Rivers State High Court judge, Charles N. Wali gave the order barring them as lawmakers in a suit numbered PHC/1512/CS/2024, filled by Victor Oko Jumbo, the factional Speaker of the Assembly and two others.

Respondents in the case include Amaewhule and 24 others, the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, the state’s Attorney General and the Chief Judge.

After hearing from the applicants’ lawyers, Sammie A. Somiari and B.N.Owunabo, the judge ruled that Amaewhule should stop acting as the Speaker.

In addition, the court issued a restraining order, prohibiting Fubara and the Chief Judge, who are the 26th and 28th defendants in the suit, from engaging with Amaewhule and his 25 loyalists.

Part of the order reads: “An Order of interim injunction is granted restraining the 1st to 25th Defendants from parading and holding out themselves as members of Rivers State House of Assembly and/or meeting/sitting at the Auditorium of the House of Assembly Quarters located at off Aba Road, Port Harcourt or any other place whatsoever to purport to carry out the legislative business of the Rivers State House of Assembly, their legislative seats having been declared vacant pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The court adjourned the case till May 29, for motion on notice.

The ICIR reported that there had been political tension in Rivers State following a rift between Fubara and Wike.

The tension was heightened in October 2023 during a fire outbreak at the Rivers State House of Assembly.

After the fire incident, impeachment processes were initiated against Fubara by some members of the House of Assembly believed to be loyal to Wike.

Fubara was accused of masterminding the fire as part of efforts to frustrate the impeachment process.

The pro-Wike lawmakers initiated the impeachment after 27 members led by Amaewhule defected from the PDP to the APC.

While the members loyal to Wike were led by Amaewhule as Speaker, the others loyal to Fubara were led by Edison Ehie as Speaker. 

Ehie was later appointed by the governor as his Chief of Staff after he resigned from the Assembly, following President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in the crisis.

Weeks after the President’s peace deal collapsed, the parties returned to the battlefield.

The feud took a new turn on Wednesday, May 8 when those loyal to the governor elected Victor Oko-Jumbo, a member from the Bonny constituency, as Speaker.

Jigawa Reps member Isa Dongoyaro dies at 46

Ijeoma OPARA
-
0
Jigawa Reps member Isa Dongoyaro dies at 46

A MEMBER of the House of Representatives, Isa Dongoyaro, is dead.

He was 46.

Dongoyaro, who represented the Babura/Garki Federal Constituency in Jigawa State on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform, died on Friday, May 10, after a brief illness.

This was disclosed in a statement by the spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, on Friday.

“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Hon Isa Dogonyaro (Kogunan Ringim), the distinguished member representing the Babura/Garki Federal Constituency of Jigawa State in the 10th Assembly of the House of Representatives. Hon Dogonyaro passed away after a brief illness.

“Hon Isa Dogonyaro was a dedicated and passionate legislator who served his constituents and the nation with utmost commitment. He was a pillar in the House, contributing significantly to the development of legislation, particularly in the area of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Control, where he served as the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee,” Rotimi noted.

He extended the lawmakers’ condolences to the deceased’s family, adding that burial arrangements would be communicated soon.

About six months ago, the House of Representatives lost one of its members Abdulkadir Danbuga, who died at 63.

He died and was buried on Wednesday, October 11, according to Islamic rites, after a brief illness.

Danbuga, who was also elected on the APC platform, represented the Isa/Sabon Birnin Federal Constituency of Sokoto State until his passing.

A few months before his death, in April 2023, Isma’ila Maihanchi, elected to represent Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency in Taraba, died shortly before the inauguration of the 10th assembly.

He was 36.

Spotify: Nigerian artistes earned N25bn from streaming in 2023

Ijeoma OPARA
-
0
Spotify: Nigerian artistes earned N25bn from streaming in 2023

NIGERIAN artistes earned N25 billion as royalties from the global music streaming platform Spotify in 2023.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Spotify’s Managing Director Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy disclosed this in its recently launched annual reports Loud&Clear.

The sum was at least twice what the country’s artistes earned in 2022, and a 2,500 per cent rise from what they got in 2017.

Muhutu-Remy also noted that more than half of the royalties paid went to independent artistes and labels. He applauded the Nigerian artistes for their creativity.

“Spotify listeners discovered Nigerian artistes nearly 950 million times in 2023 and Nigerian artistes own over 80 per cent of the tracks featured on Nigeria’s daily top 50 chart in 2023. Over 1,400 Nigerian artistes added to Spotify’s editorial playlists in 2023.

“The significant growth in royalties earned by Nigerian artistes on our platform is a powerful testament to their talent, creativity and global appeal. We are proud to amplify their voices and fuel the Nigerian music revolution,” Muhutu-Remy said.

She also added that Nigerian artistes who earned over N10m in royalties quadrupled since 2018.

Stating that indigenous genres like Highlife, Igbo Pop and Fuji experienced significant listenership during the year, she explained further that Spotify was committed to supporting Nigerian artistes to earn more from their works.

READ ALSO:

The Nigerian music industry is the second best-performing entertainment and media market, and has rapidly gained popularity globally.

According to a report, the industry generates over $2 billion in revenue yearly, making it one of the largest music industries in the world.

Nigerian artistes have also made a significant impact globally, winning international awards, and collaborating with their foreign counterparts.

Daniel Ojukwu: We will explore all legal means to seek justice – FIJ

Ijeoma OPARA
-
0
Daniel Ojukwu: We will explore all legal means to seek justice – FIJ

THE Management of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) has said the media outlet would explore all legal means to seek justice for its reporter, Daniel Ojukwu, who was abducted and detained for ten days by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

This was contained in a press statement released after Ojukwu regained his freedom on Friday, May 10.

“We are taking advice from our lawyers and will explore all legally permissible means to seek justice for Daniel Ojukwu and prevent a recurrence of such blatant abuse of power and attack on press freedom,” chairman, FIJ’s Board of Trustees, Bukky Shonibare, disclosed in the statement.

The statement also conveyed FIJ’s gratitude to media partners, civil society organisations (CSOs), activists and others involved in the call for Ojukwu’s release.

“We note the significant effect of the media pressure and, more importantly, Thursday’s protests by civic actors in modifying what had been a deliberate misuse of state power by the police.

“Saddening and primitive as they are, moments like this are a refreshing reminder of the potency of a united public to hold power to account,” it further read.

Ojukwu was released on Friday, after being abducted by officials of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun on Wednesday, May 1, two days before World Press Freedom Day.

His abduction only became known on Friday, May 3, after spending four days with the police in Lagos State. He was subsequently transferred to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Abuja.

He was transferred by the IRT to the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) in Abuja in the early hours of Sunday, May 5.

On Thursday, May 9, CSOs, journalists and well-meaning Nigerians gathered at the Police Headquarters in protest against his continued detention.

The protesters who marched and chanted various solidarity songs also voiced their discontent over the growing cases of attacks on press freedom and the flagrant abuse of due process and the rule of law by the Nigeria Police under Egbetokun.

Addressing the protesters, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh, called for calm and promised that the journalist would be released.

Attacks and unlawful detention of journalists have remained a threat to press freedom in Nigeria.

Ondo 2024: threat of electoral violence raises concerns after two chieftains’ death

Ijeoma OPARA
-
0
Ondo 2024: threat of electoral violence raises concerns after two chieftains’ death

WITHIN the space of one month, two key players in the Ondo state political space have died under curious circumstances, leaving many Nigerians concerned about possible violence ahead of the November 16 governorship election in the state.

On Saturday, April 27, one of the coordinators of the Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation, Alaba Abbey, was assassinated.

He was shot dead by gunmen at his residence in Supare-Akoko, Akoko South West Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

A month earlier, on Tuesday, March 26, a gubernatorial aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Paul Akintelure, died days after raising an alarm that his life was being threatened.

While Abbey’s killing occurred just six days after the conclusion of the APC primary, in which he was reported to have played the significant role of Returning Officer at his ward, Akintelure died about three weeks before the party’s primaries in which he would have been a major contender.

The ICIR reports that while the two deaths affected the APC chieftains before and after the primary, some contenders for the governorship seat who lost in the party’s primary have remained resentful as the state and national leadership of the APC labour to appease them.

The deaths have left many residents of the state worried about safety ahead of the polls, especially members of the APC, including the Campaign Organisation where Abbey served before his assassination.

Members of the organisation released a statement expressing shock at his killing and urging the police to protect them from such violent acts.

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa

Before the two incidents, some governorship aspirants under the APC had raised the alarm over political violence in the state, claiming people in government were behind the crisis.

Reacting to this, the spokesperson of the Ondo state APC, Alex Kalejaye, attributed these to the general problem of insecurity confronting all Nigerians.

“It has nothing to do with the primaries. Across this country, whether there are primaries or not, somebody is hit, injured, or killed on a daily basis. We should admit that there are serious security challenges across the country. It has been on. The current administration is trying to nip it in the bud. We must commend the efforts, but it is still everywhere. These things happen,” he said.

He added that while it was not a major source of worry for the party, efforts were being made to reconcile aggrieved members ahead of the elections.

“Naturally, once there is an election in Nigeria, there will be a need for reconciliation because there is no how you contest that people will not feel aggrieved. Reconciliation is normal, so that is where our focus is now: to reconcile anybody that might have cause to be aggrieved ahead of the November governorship election.

However, the spokesperson of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Kennedy Peretei, who spoke to The ICIR on the issue, described the loss of lives as a matter of concern.

“When loss of life is involved, everybody must be concerned because we are not talking of the lives of animals; we are talking of the lives of human beings. Whether it is by natural cause or maybe effected on another by some other persons, there should be cause for concern.

“We have expressed concern, but Ondo State is not known for that kind of violence. That is why we are advising the APC to play by the rules of the game,” he said.

Urging the ruling party to show leadership by example, Peretei warned against militarisation of the electoral process or intimidation of the people.

Nineteen political parties will be contesting the Ondo State governorship elections in November.

Two of the major contenders are incumbent governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who is contesting under the APC, and Agboola Ajayi, who joined the contest under the umbrella of the PDP.

Police confirm arrest of man who killed friend over N3m job scam in Kano

Bankole ABE
-
0
Police confirm arrest of man who killed friend over N3m job scam in Kano

THE Kano State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of Sadiq Zubairu who allegedly killed his friend, Bello Adam, over his failure to help the deceased secure a job after receiving N3 million from him.

Zubairu had allegedly promised the late Adam, his former colleague at the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDC), to help him secure a job at the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

The command in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa on Friday, May 10, said Adam, aged 45 years left his home with his Toyota Corolla vehicle and his whereabouts became unknown.

He said on the evening of the same date, there was a report that the deceased body of a male adult had been discovered abandoned on the outskirts of Eastern Bypass, around Bechi Village in Kumbotso Local Government Area of the state. 

“The body was removed from the scene by a team of crime-scene policemen led by Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Kumbotso Division, SP Mustafa Abubakar, who brought the corpse to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, where a medical doctor certified the body dead.

“The team immediately swung into action and arrested one Sadiq Zubairu, aged 35 years old, ‘m’, of Hotoron Arewa Quarters, Nassarawa LGA on 06/05/2024 at 9:00 am,” Kiyawa stated.

He added that during preliminary investigations, the suspect, Zubairu confessed that he conspired with two others, and jointly lured the victim who until his death was his intimate friend to his house.

According to Kiyawa, the suspect narrated that he tied the victim up, and hit him with sticks and sharp iron on his head and other parts of his body until he became motionless. 

Thereafter, he loaded the motionless body inside the boot of the deceased vehicle, threw him off by the roadside along Eastern Bypass, around Bechi village and left with the victim’s vehicle, including his mobile phone.

The police said the suspect further confessed that what led to the killing was because he deceitfully collected three million naira from the victim on the pretext that he would secure a job for him but having realised that he had no means of returning the money to him he hired two persons to kill him.

According to the police, the victim’s car has been recovered at a Garage in Hotoro Quarters, Kano.

The police commiserated with the deceased family and reaffirmed its commitment to combating crime in all its forms and to continue to work tirelessly in protecting the lives and property of all Kano residents.

Prince Harry, wife arrive Nigeria to encourage Nigerian wounded soldiers

Itoro ETUKUDO
-
0
Prince Harry, wife arrive Nigeria to encourage Nigerian wounded soldiers

THE Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry and his wife, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle arrived in Nigeria on Friday, May 10, to encourage soldiers wounded in action and champion the Invictus Games.

The Invictus Games is an initiative founded by Prince Harry to support the rehabilitation of wounded and sick service members and veterans.

At the invitation of the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex who are visiting West Africa for the first time visited the Lightway Academy College which receives support from their Archewell foundation to educate and train young girls affected by conflicts in Nigeria.

The couple, in the course of their visit, will be meeting with wounded soldiers and their families in a bid to boost the morale and well-being of the soldiers as well as those fighting a 14-year-old war against extremists in the country’s northeast.

The director of sports at Nigeria’s Defense Headquarters, Abidemi Marquis, while addressing reporters on the visit said, “This engagement with Invictus is giving us the opportunity for the recovery of our soldiers.”

The military also promoted the Invictus Games as a potential aid in the recovery of thousands of its soldiers who have been fighting the Boko Haram Islamic extremists and their affiliates since the insurgency started in 2009.

“Eighty per cent of our soldiers that have been involved in this recovery programme are getting better (and) their outlook to life is positive.

“The recovery programme has given them an opportunity to improve their personal self-esteem, to improve their mental health and emotional intelligence,” Marquis said.

Harry, who served in Afghanistan as an Apache helicopter copilot gunner, founded the Invictus Games in 2014 to allow injured veterans and active military personnel to compete in sporting events similar to the Paralympics of which Nigeria was one of the countries that took part in the game last year.

The visitors will also attend basketball and volleyball matches and meet with local non-governmental organisations in Abuja and Lagos.

They will also meet with the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Sunday before leaving the country on Monday.

According to their spokesperson, Charlie Gipson, Meghan will co-host an event on women in leadership with the Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

AfDB announces annual prize for journalists promoting African stories

Harrison EDEH
-
0
AfDB announces annual prize for journalists promoting African stories

PRESIDENT of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) Akinwunmi Adesina has announced an annual Africa Media Prize to encourage African media houses and journalists to own the African narrative.

The Prize reward, Adesina said is to recognise and profile African journalists, correspondents, and media houses that showcase Africa’s achievements and progress.

According to Adesina, the Continental Bank will work with the AllAfrica Media organisation and African financial institutions to establish the prize as part of efforts to promote more positive reporting of developments on the continent.

Read Also:

He disclosed this while he delivered a keynote speech on Thursday, May 9, during a media leaders’ summit convened by AllAfrica Media.

“Africa must shape its narrative, and not depend on what others think about it or the perspectives they prefer to share about it, its achievements, and opportunities. Positive stories of African investment opportunities need to be well showcased, as they unfortunately do not get sufficient coverage, if any at all, in Western media,” Adesina declared.

He also proposed that the AfDB, Africa Import-Export Bank, and all regional financial institutions pool resources to support the emergence of a globally respected African media company that will position the news of Africa to the world.

The summit on the theme of “Re-engineering African Media in Times of Critical Transformation” brought together over 300 African media owners and operators, government officials, corporate leaders, academics, civil society champions, and development partners to discuss the business of media and the critical role it must play in shaping Africa’s future.

“The media has a critically important role, by being fair, objective, inquisitive, investigative yes, but also by being a catalyst for development, and promoting positive news about tangible African accomplishments, achievements, and developments,” he said in his address.

Adesina also called on development institutions in Africa to set up a joint repository of verified and standardised stories, videos, and content that will make it easier to aggregate and write stories on what is being achieved in Africa.

He also pledged that the African Development Bank, working with partners and the African financial institutions would help establish the African Journalists and Correspondents’ Fellowships to help build and strengthen the capacities of journalists and correspondents working in Africa.

“Together let us continue to promote Africa. I call on you as leaders of the media to become the vuvuzelas for Africa! Tell Africa’s positive stories,” he urged his audience of media executives.

Alleged N80bn fraud: court refuses to set aside arrest warrant on Yahaya Bello

Ijeoma OPARA
-
0
Alleged N80bn fraud: court refuses to set aside arrest warrant on Yahaya Bello

A Federal High Court in Abuja has refused to revoke the arrest warrant on former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello over the N80 billion corruption case filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).  

The High Court Judge Emeka Nwite gave the ruling on Friday, May 10, after hearing an application by the EFCC that preliminary objections by the former governor should not be heard until he shows up to defend the 19-count charge brought against him.

The judge ruled in favour of the EFCC, stating that no application would be heard from Bello’s legal team until he appeared in court.

He held that the Commission’s requests were “meritorious and granted as prayed.”

He described Bello’s refusal to appear in court as a deliberate attempt at frustrating the case.

“The defendant cannot sit in the comfort of his home and dictate what he wants the court to do. The defendant clearly has shown no atom of regard and respect for the court, and is taking this court for granted by disobeying and frustrating judicial proceedings,” he said.

Bello had applied through his lawyers, for the court to set aside the warrant issued on Wednesday, April 17 for his arrest.

He argued that the court lacked the jurisdiction to order his arrest in the first instance.

However, Nwite stated that a party that disobeys a valid order should not be heard by the court until he honoured the order, as its directive is binding until set aside by a superior ruling.

Operatives of the EFCC stormed Bello’s Abuja home on Wednesday, April 17, but could not arrest him as the incumbent governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Usman Ododo, arrived at the scene, forcing the security officials to leave the premises.

Following his arraignment, the American International School, Abuja (AISA) refunded $760,000 paid by Bello as advance fees for his children’s studies to the EFCC.

He has also been declared wanted by the Commission and has failed to appear before court since his arraignment.

Daniel Ojukwu regains freedom 10 days after abduction by police

Mustapha USMAN
-
0
Daniel Ojukwu regains freedom 10 days after abduction by police

A REPORTER with the Foundation of Investigative Journalism (FIJ)  Daniel Ojukwu, who was arrested by the Nigerian police for alleged violation of the 2015 Cybercrime Act, has been released after spending 10 days in custody.

His release followed the protest of civil society organisations and journalists at the Force Headquarters on Thursday, May 9, demanding his release.

Subsequently, the police began to soft-pedal, resulting in his eventual release on Friday.

The ICIR reported how FIJ’s legal representatives and negotiators, headed by a human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, and the chairman of FIJ’s Board of Trustees Bukky Shonibare raised concern over the stringent bail conditions imposed on the reporter.

“Daniel Ojukwu’s case is one of the most egregious cases of human rights violation and misuse of the powers of the Police against journalists,” said Abimbola Ojenike, Managing Partner of Slingstone LP, FIJ’s attorneys.

The ICIR reports that Ojukwu was abducted by officials of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun on Wednesday, May 1, two days before World Press Freedom Day.

His abduction only became known on Friday, May 3, after spending days with the police in Lagos State. 

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF)  moved Ojukwu to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Abuja, after spending four days in police custody in Lagos State.

On the orders of the IGP, Ojukwu was transferred by the IRT to the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) in Abuja in the early hours of Sunday, May 5.

Ojukwu’s abduction was in connection with FIJ’s story on how Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, former senior special assistant on sustainable development goals (SSAP-SDGs) to former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Adefulire was investigated for having paid N147.1 million to an account traced to Enseno Global Ventures (Enseno GV), an Abuja-based restaurant, for constructing a classroom.

Although the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDG) responded to the FIJ’s report in a statement, the response failed to address questions raised in the report.

Rather than effectively clarify the issues raised in the FIJ’s investigation, the response issued on Monday, May 6, instead said the claim that the OSSAP-SDGs awarded N141.1 million to a restaurant in Abuja a few weeks before the expiration of the Buhari regime was ‘misleading’.

“The information in the publications is false from the onset. The intentions behind the assertions are malicious individuals trying to ruin the image of the high office. OSSAP-SDGs has been transparent in its operations and project implementation processes, including supporting the construction of the Skills Acquisition Centre and a Block of Classrooms across the country,”

“Therefore, the assertion that our project was sponsored by a restaurant is false and baseless. Our projects are done by professionals in the field of construction and engineering, where such professionals are contracted competitively, following the set rules and standards,” part of the statement read.

This response was despite evidence of findings provided in the report by Ojukwu.

Ojukwu’s detention generated widespread condemnation from journalists and concerned Nigerians, who deemed the attack a significant setback in the ongoing battle against impunity and harassment of media professionals in Nigeria.

‘This will not go unchallenged’ – FIJ’s attorney

Meanwhile, the  FIJ’s attorney, the Managing Partner of Slingstone LP, Abimbola Ojenike, said the arrest and detention of Ojukwu would not go unchallenged in a court of law.

“This will not go unchallenged. There’s a significant public interest in Daniel’s human rights enforcement action that goes beyond just this violation. The constitutional right to free speech is dead if journalists can no longer expose the malfeasance in government officials without fear or oppression.”

1...596597598...3,439Page 597 of 3,439