Buhari rules out bail option for Nnamdi Kanu

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Thursday, ruled out bail for the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

He said Kanu, who is currently on trial, was being given every opportunity under the law “to justify all the uncomplimentary things said against Nigeria while he was in Britain.”

This was as he reiterated his commitment to leave office for the next administration in May 2023.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President said this at a bilateral meeting with the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, on the margins of the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda.

The statement was titled ‘Another term for me? No! The first person who tried it didn’t end very well.’

On notions that Kanu was not allowed to see his lawyers privately, the President said the detained separatist is being given every opportunity under the law “to justify all the uncomplimentary things he said against Nigeria while he was in Britain.

“He felt very safe in Britain and said awful things against Nigeria. We eventually got him when he stepped out of the United Kingdom, and we sent him to court. Let him defend all that he said there.”

He said considering Kanu’s jumping of bail earlier, the Federal Government may not consider granting him such a privilege anymore.

Buhari said, “His (Kanu’s) lawyers have access to him. Remember he jumped bail before, how are we sure he won’t do it again if he’s admitted to bail?”

On the keenness expressed by the PM to help Nigeria in the area of security, the President said helping to stabilize Libya could be an initial good step, as the fall of Muammar Gaddafi after 42 years in power unleashed his armed guards on countries in the Sahel, “and they are causing havoc everywhere, as the only thing they know how to do is to shoot guns.”

On the Boko Haram insurgency, Buhari said there is a serious effort to educate the people on the fact that only an unserious person could kill innocent people, “and say Allah Akbar (God is Great). God is justice. You can’t take innocent souls, and ascribe it to God. The education process is working and the people now understand Boko Haram as anti-God, and not about religion.”

On his part, the British PM, obviously not quite familiar with the maximum two-term limit, asked if Buhari would run for office again.

“Another term for me? No! The first person who tried it didn’t end very well,” Buhari said amidst general laughter.

PM Johnson said he was delighted about the good news on trade between the two countries, adding that the UK was further reducing tariffs on some goods going to Nigeria.

He described the relationship between the countries as “very strong attachment,” adding, “I just want to be sure that we are doing enough. It’s a massive partnership for us and we need to capitalise on it.”

Johnson offered condolences on some recent attacks in Nigeria, particularly on churches.

Culled from Punch....

Nigerian man narrates how he found out him and his friend are dating same girl

A Nigerian man simply known as Ayobami, has shared the shocking way he discovered that he and his friend were dating the same girl.

He said that he paid a visit to his friend who informed him that his girlfriend would be coming over to his place.

The friend appealed to him to talk to his girlfriend on his behalf because they were having issues. Interestingly, when the girl arrived, he discovered that his friend’s girlfriend is also his girlfriend.

In his words; ”Went to visit my friend today, he said his woman is coming over, but he doesn’t want to see her cause they are having issues.

So I should go and meet her and tell her he’s not around. Omo na my woman I see for gate ooo. I can’t breeeeeeeet.”

“I Thought He Was An Antelope” – Hunter Who Shot Imam Dead

The Police Command in Osun has arrested a hunter, who allegedly shot and killed the 78-year-old Imam of Alaguntan village in Orile-Owu, Aiyedaade Local Government Area, whom he mistook for antelope.

The command’s Spokesperson, SP Yemisi Opalola, made this known during the parade of criminal suspects at the state police headquarters in Osogbo on Tuesday.

She said: “On April 17, at about 11:30 a.m, a complainant from Ogbere Oloba area of Ibadan reported at a police station that his father, one Adegun Yusuf, 78, the Imam of Alaguntan village in Orile-Owu, was shot dead by a hunter from the same village.

“The suspect was later arrested and he confessed to the alleged crime.

“He (the suspect) explained that he was on a hunting expedition when he saw an antelope in the bush, which he shot at with his Dane gun, but that he was surprised when he went to pick the antelope and met Baba Imam on the ground.”

Opalola said that the suspect would be charged to court after the completion of investigation.

Laila's blog...

Govt Declares Tuesday, November 16 As a Public Holiday

 

The government of Anambra State led by Governor Willie Obiano has declared Tuesday, November 16 as a public holiday.

A statement on Monday by the State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C. Don Adinuba said the public holiday is in honour of the birthdate of Nigeria’s first president, Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe.

Azikwe was born on Novermber 16, 1904.

The statement also called on the federal government of Nigeria to declare every November 16 as a national public holiday.

It added that countries such as Ghana and Tanzania observe the birthdays of their national leaders who made huge contributions in freeing them from colonial rule and making them what they are today as national holidays.

The Anambra government statement reads in part: ”It was the Great Zik of Africa who inspired such outstanding Pan-African leaders as Dr Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana who led his country to freedom from colonial rule on March 6, 1957.”

“After all, the Ghanaians observe the birthday of Dr Nkrumah as a national holiday, just the way Tanzanians observe President Julius Nyerere’s birthday as a national holiday.

“It is a huge national embarrassment that Nigeria has yet to declare November 16 a national holiday,” it added.

How Gunmen Invaded Imo Market, Killed Three, Others Injured

No fewer than three persons have been killed after gunmen attacked Anara market in Isiala Mbano local government area of Imo state.

Many other persons sustained varying degrees of injuries in the attack which happened around 10pm on Tuesday, Cable reports.

Witnesses in the area said the gunmen invaded the market in a white Sienna vehicle and opened fire on the people.

“The gunmen were in a white Sienna vehicle. As they arrived at the market, they just opened fire and shot dead three people and several others were wounded from the gunshots, the three people died immediately,” a witness said.

Also narrating the incident, another witness said: “Nobody knows why they attacked the market, they arrived and started shooting at the people sporadically, people scampered for safety, some people fell on top of each other.”

The South-East region has been plagued with insecurity over the past few months as gunmen with unknown identities have been clashing with security agencies, leading to several deaths.

Many lives have been lost to these attacks while properties, owned by the government and private individuals, have also been destroyed by the assailants.

BREAKING: Court Adjourns IPOB Leader, Kanu's Trial To January 19, 2021

The trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu has been adjourned to the 19th and 20th of January 2022.

Kanu had informed the judge, Justice Binta Nyako that the Department of State Services operative refused to grant his lawyer access to the court room, BBC Pidgin reports. 

He had earlier protested the refusal of the DSS to allow some of his lawyers access into the Court.

SaharaReporters learnt that the DSS brought Kanu into the courtroom at 9:52am.

The IPOB leader made his third court appearance since June when the security agents repatriated him to Nigeria.

Meanwhile, some groups were seen outside the court protesting the death of Ahmed Gulak.

Recall that in May, Gulak who was a former Special Adviser on Politics to the then President, Goodluck Jonathan, was killed by gunmen in Owerri, Imo State.

Kanu, who was re-arraigned before trial Justice Binta Nyako of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, is facing a seven-count amended treasonable felony charge the Federal Government preferred against him.

The Nigerian government had in the amended charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, which was signed by a team of government lawyers led by the Director, Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mr. M. B. Abubakar, alleged that Kanu had in furtherance of an act of terrorism, issued a deadly threat that anyone that flouted his sit-at-home order should write his or her will.

The Nigerian government alleged that as a result of Kanu’s directive, banks, schools, markets, shopping malls, fuel stations were not opened for businesses, with vehicular movements grounded in the South East region of the country.

It said the action amounted to an offence contrary to and punishable under 1(2) (b) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.

The Nigerian government equally lined up five witnesses to testify in the matter, among whom are officials of the DSS and one Ronald S. who was identified as the manager of a hotel in Lagos State.

BREAKING: Many Feared Killed As Bandits Launch House-To-House Raid In Buhari’s Home State

Many people are feared killed and properties burnt down in fresh attacks on communities in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State, Daily Trust reports.

The attack, which reportedly began Tuesday evening and lasted into the early hours of Wednesday, saw dozens of houses including government structures and vehicles set ablaze.

Witnesses said no fewer than five communities were struck by the armed men, where a yet to be ascertained number of people were either killed or injured.

“In each of the communities invaded, the gunmen fired sporadically into the air to register their presence before going from house to house, looting victims of valuables and harassing residents,” a source was quoted as saying.

There were speculations that one of the victims killed in the attack was lawyer, one Barr. Nura Hassan Wagine.

The source added that several of the victims were trying to escape from the onslaught of the marauding gunmen when they sustained injuries.

When contacted, the Member representing Batsari in the Katsina State House of Assembly, Hon. Jabir Yauyau, said he heard about the unfortunate incidents, but still gathering information about what actually happened.

He added that details of what happened would be difficult to get for now, because of the lack of telecommunication network in the area.

“It is confirmed that the attack took place, but the casualties and the extent of damage caused is not yet known, especially because of the lack of mobile network in the area.”

“I am told about the majority of those killed. They are people I know personally, but I still need to confirm. I am trying to ascertain what actually happen because I am going to move a motion on matters of public importance in the house, but I have to get the actual thing,” he said.

Katsina, despite being the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari has witnessed sporadic attacks by bandits and kidnappers that have claimed the lives of many.

Over 700 people have been reportedly killed by the gunmen in Jibia, Kankara, Dutsinma, Musawa, Danmusa and Safana local government areas of the state in the last five months.

Woman dies after husband set their Lagos home ablaze during fight

Punch reported that the woman succumbed to the injuries she sustained after their house at Ifesowapo Street, Asolo-Agbede, in Ikorodu area of Lagos State was set on fire by her husband, after their argument degenerated into a physical fight.

The woman identified simply as Ebere was locked inside the apartment by her husband, before setting it ablaze. She was said to be shouting and writhing in pain when her husband, who could no longer bear his wife’s cry, attempted to open the door.

The intensity of the fire caught up with the man when he opened the house, and it was learnt that Ebere who suffered severe burns on her chest, hand and other parts of her body died at a hospital she was rushed to.

A neighbour who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he was sitting at his passage when Ebere suddenly ran downstairs, sat on the floor and wriggled in pain on October 9, 2021.

The neighbor said “We only saw that her hands were burnt; she was telling us to rush her to a hospital. So, we rushed her to the Aduraking Hospital and Maternity. It was when we got there that I discovered that her chest was also burnt. From there, she was referred to the Ikorodu General Hospital.

“The hospital used an ambulance to convey her to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, where she was admitted for treatment. After struggling for survival, she died a week after being hospitalised at LASUTH.

“Since then, we have not seen her husband. We learnt that he was also burnt and was receiving treatment in another hospital. No one knew anything was happening until his wife rushed downstairs with burnt hands. I don’t know the cause of the fight, but I have been reading different stories online."

A Toyota Camry car reportedly belonging to Ebere’s husband was parked in front of the couple’s residence after the fight, and a resident of the area told the publication that the fight between the couple bordered on allegations of infidelity.

Nigerian Government Regulates Social Media To Prevent World War 3 – Lai Mohammed

Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, says the next World War will be caused by fake news, noting that his agitation for social media regulation in Nigeria is to prevent another global war.

Mohammed, who stressed that the platforms spread fake information, made this known on Monday, while defending his ministry’s 2022 budget before the House of Representatives’ committee on information and national orientation.

Lai Mohammed

The minister explained that Nigerians had deserted the old means of disseminating information by embracing the "unseen enemy,” the social media.

He said the Buhari regime would always be criticized if it refused to take adequate measures to regulate the social media content.

“With fake news today and misinformation, I have always said here that the next world war will be caused by fake news.

“Information is not what it used to be, 20 to 30 years ago if the state or federal government had a television or radio and probably a newspaper; that was what we needed.

“The people today, they don’t read newspapers, they don’t watch television, it’s social media. And it is most expensive; the most unseen enemy, they are there every moment, and until we go to the same battlefield with them, there is nothing the government will do that will seem right," he added.

2023: I Can Fix Nigeria’s Problems In Less Than 365 Days If Elected President – Yahaya Bello

 

The Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello has boasted that he needs not more than 365 days to resolve Nigeria’s problems and challenges if he is elected president in 2023.

Bello, who has not hidden his aspiration to take over from Buhari in 2023 said Nigeria’s problems are surmountable if the leader has the willpower to take action.

He went ahead to identify the major problems facing the country which he listed as insecurity, corruption, mismanagement, and others.

The Kogi Governor however assured that there are solutions which are not far-fetched for all of these problems.

Governor Bello expressed his views while speaking at the 17th Nigeria Guild of Editor’s Conference in Abuja on Friday with the theme “Media in Times of Crises: Resolving Conflict and Achieving Consensus”.

“It won’t take more than 365 days to fix issues of insecurity, corruption, mismanagement among others in the country,” he boasted.

Adding that “From what I have come to realize and know, it takes a decisive, courageous, safe-minded and balanced leader to be able to fix this country once and for all. And to get this done, require the collaboration, understanding and restaking agenda-setting of the media to educate, sensitize and teach our people on the choice of the next leader,”

In a related development, ahead of the 2023 presidential election, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State said he has all the qualities needed to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.

During an appearance on Arise TV programme on Monday, Bello stated that he is ready to take over from President Buhari considering his good track record in his state.

According to the governor, his followers are calling him to run for the highest office in the country due to his achievements in Kogi in the past six years.

Bello added that becoming the President will serve the interest of the people of Kogi state, Nigerians, Africa and even the black race.

The Kogi governor, however, rejected calls for zoning and rotational presidency, adding that Nigeria needs a competent leader who can unite Nigerians and solve the problems facing the country.