Nnamdi Kanu demands N20bn compensation, apologies from Malami

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu has demanded N20 billion as compensation from the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

Kanu demanded compensation following alleged defamatory and libellous claims against him.

Speaking through his Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, the IPOB leader, said Malami’s claim that he jumped bail despite a court order clearing him was libellous.

Recall that the military had invaded Kanu’s premises at Isiama Afaraukwu Ibeku, Abia State on 10th September, 2017, and this led to him fleeing the country.

The alleged invasion was contested and tagged a violation of Kanu’s fundamental human right.

But, the courts ruled that the invasion was unlawful, illegal, and unconstitutional.

Speaking on the issue, Malami was quoted as saying: “To release or not to release Nnamdi Kanu is a function of law and the rule of law for that matter. In arriving at a decision on whether to release or not release, is one; you look at the rule of law, two; you look at the public and the national interest, three; you look at the security situation, four; you look at the international diplomacy.

“Let me talk first of the rule of law. This is someone that has been granted bail on account of charges that have been preferred against him at the court. Someone jumping bail to the international community, a case of a fugitive is established against the background of jumping the bail.

“Two, arising from the national security, this is someone that is charged with treason, incitement and destruction of civil authority, murder and assassination of others on account of his incitement, that boils down to issues of national security and criminality.

“Three, on account of international diplomacy, this is someone that has against his person, used the international community or a foreign country to launch an attack against a nation, against his nation for that matter.

“So all these naturally come into play to determine what to do. So if you have, through judicial processes, established multiple cases of treason, homicide, and bail-jumping, among others, the fact that you have indeed succeeded in one case as against multiple others that are pending, goes to establish the fact that that case cannot be the only basis and criterion for determining whether you are entitled to be released or not.”

Condemning Malami’s remark, Ejimakor said: “Despite the clear exoneration from jumping bail contained in the Judgment exhibited and quoted above, you have, after 19th January 2022 when this judgment was rendered, defamed and libelled our Client by your several utterances and publications (in national dailies) where you falsely stated that our Client jumped bail.

“In view of the said judgment of the Abia State High Court, your above utterances were false, malicious and reckless and they were read and heard worldwide and portrayed our Client in light

Atiku rejected Jonathan’s plea to support his re-election bid in 2015 – Wike

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has disclosed that former President Goodluck Jonathan pleaded with ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to support his re-election bid in 2015.

Wike, however, disclosed that Atiku refused to support Jonathan’s pleas to support his re-election bid.

The governor spoke when Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State commissioned the Akpabu-Itu-Umudiogha road in the Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers.

Wike said: “Jonathan travelled to the Dorchester Hotel in London to meet Atiku but rather, the former VP told Jonathan to relinquish his ticket to him in 2015.”

Jonathan, who was the PDP presidential candidate in 2015, was defeated at the polls by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Meanwhile, Atiku and his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, had visited Jonathan a few days ago.

The visit is not unconnected to the crisis ravaging the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Wike has been at loggerheads with Atiku and the party’s leadership since he lost his bid to become PDP’s presidential candidate.

Bandits abduct 44 residents, place N20m ‘protection levy’ on Zamfara community

Bandits have abducted at least 44 people from Kanwa community in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, 

According to reports, the bandits stormed the community on Thursday night, November 17, moving from house to house to abduct residents

A local source in Zurmi town, Musa Abdullahi, told Premium Times on Saturday, November 19, that the kidnapped victims include 39 women and children and five men.  

"They went straight to the village square and started gathering residents. You know most time, men run to the bush because they know the bandits mostly kill men. The five men taken were very unlucky,” he said.

According to the publication, he mass abduction is believed to be perpetrated by a notorious bandits’ leader called Dankarami. Dankarami has been terrorizing residents of Zurmi – Birnin Magaji – Jibia axis in Zamfara and neighbouring Katsina states.

A resident said the bandits were yet to call relatives of the victims to demand for ransom.

The Emir of Zamfaran Zurmi, His Royal Highness Alhaji Muhammad Bello Suleiman, on Saturday, November 19, paid a condolence visit to the community.

The monarch sympathized with the people of Kanwa community on what happened and prayed that Allah will bring back the victims. 

Meanwhile, residents of Moriki town have started making effort to gather “protection fee” after armed criminals demanded for N20 million from the community.

Moriki has been witnessing terrorist attacks for years and has been one of the worse hit areas in the region. 

The levy, according to residents, is being mobilized from house to house and would be delivered to the armed men in Bello Turji’s camp after the criminal gang told them that they would protect the community from attacks if the levy was delivered.

A native of the community, Jamilu Shehu, said the deal was struck when some elders in the community met with a group of terrorists from the Bello Turji’s camp.

“Some weeks ago, some of our people were abducted when the ransom money was gathered, some of our elders went to pay the ransom and decided to talk with the bandits. They said we must pay a total of N20 million for protection which includes free access to our farm," he said. 

"They also promised to protect us from attack by some other bandits in the area. Infact, they said from here to Birnin Gwari, anywhere any of our residents is abducted, we should let them know. But the problem is getting the money,” Mr Shehu, who is a youth leader told Premium Times on phone.

He added that the elders in the community have accepted the decision and it has been decided that every household should pay nothing less than N6,500 to make the sum.

Photos from ex-President Goodluck Jonathan's 65th birthday celebration

Goodluck Jonathan turns 65 today, Nov. 20, and his family organized a celebration for him.

Jonathan's son-in-law Prince God'swill Edward shared photos from the celebration as he referred to the former Nigerian President as a "role model".

See below.

 

21-year-old man stabbed to death by his girlfriend in Lekki

 

The police in Lagos state have arrested a young lady identified as Esther Paul, pictured above, for allegedly stabbing her boyfriend, Sadiq Owolabi Dahiru, to death at Oba Amusa Street Agungi, Lekki in the early hours of today November 20.

According to police sources, the stepfather of the deceased, Kazeem Obafunso, reported at the Ilasan police station that Esther stabbed his 21-year-old stepson. Police officers were drafted to the scene where they moved the deceased to the Evercare hospital in Lekki phase 1 where he was confirmed dead by the doctors.

Esther was immediately arrested while the knife she allegedly used to commit the crime, was recovered. The body of the deceased has been deposited at the IDH Mortuary, Yaba for preservation and autopsy.

 

Tax: Soludo threatens to remove politicians’ billboards, gives two weeks grace

Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has threatened to remove all billboards in the state belonging to politicians if they fail to pay tax on them.

Recall that the governor, who before last year’s election claimed he knew where to source funds from across the world, has imposed a number of taxes on Anambra people since his swearing-in.

In the latest press release by the managing director of Anambra State Signage Agency, ANSAA, Mr Tony Ujubuonu, the state government gave two weeks’ notice for all politicians and political parties in the state with billboards to pay up.

Ujubuonu said: “We have given two weeks’ notice to all political parties and their candidates to ensure they have paid for all their campaign billboards or meet the wrath of the agency.

“Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency through a letter dated 14th November, 2022, urged all Out-Of-Home Advertising Practitioners in the State to revalidate and register all their billboards in the State.”

He added that the Agency had directed all billboard owners to provide the information required to register each billboard and pay up for any campaign.

“It has also gotten to the knowledge of the Agency that some political party candidates are erecting billboards on their own ignorantly.

“The Agency wants to state that this is not only wrong but illegal and any such billboard would be brought down without any notice, the structure seized permanently and auctioned.”

The agency gave the grace period to last between 14th of November to 5th of December. It said after the period, all billboards must have been fully registered and paid for to avoid being pulled down.

NDLEA arrests Saudi-bound woman, Mrs Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika with cocaine at Lagos airport

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 56-year-old widow and mother of four, Mrs Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika.

She was nabbed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos while attempting to traffic 400g of cocaine concealed in her footwear to Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

The suspect claimed to be a businesswoman trading in adult and children’s wear on Lagos Island.

She was about to board a Qatar Airways flight to Saudi Arabia via Doha.

Also, attempts by a tricycle parts seller, Ayoade Kehinde Tayo to send 1kg of Tramadol 225mg and Rohypnol to Istanbul, Turkey via Cairo on an Egypt Airline flight was truncated.

NDLEA operatives arrested him at the airport as he tried to hand over the drugs hidden inside a bag of food items to an intending passenger, Idowu Ayoade.

Also, anti-narcotics officers attached to the SAHCO export shed of the airport foiled attempts by traffickers to smuggle consignments of cannabis and ecstasy tablets.

The drugs were concealed in three tubers of yam going to Dubai, UAE, last Wednesday.

The freight agent who presented the yams for export, Inegbu Ugochi Akunna was promptly arrested while the consignor, Ahmodu Sulaimon was also nabbed after that.

Singer Portable seen assaulting his artiste (video)

Nigerian Singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable has been captured on camera assaulting his artiste, Manny Monie, for being ''ungrateful.''

The video shows the controversial singer assaulting the artiste signed under his Zeh Nation record label, hitting and kicking him on the face, while questionning him. 

 

Speaking in Pidgin English and Yoruba language, Portable accused Manny Monie of being ungrateful despite 'all that he has done for him.'

''Did you borrow me any money? I'm helping you... I post you, carry you go shows, buy shoes for you, buy trousers, buy everything. I changed your phone. What else do you want me to do?... You will not propser'.

Manny Money on his own part said he and his brother approached Portable for a collaboration and a work relationship started from there. He claimed he paid Portable N700,000 and his brother set up a recording studio which Portable has been using.

 

He further stated that Portable said he had a dream about someone trying to kill him so he told his crew members and everyone around him to give him space. Monie said he then approached Portable to give him back his studio since the Zazoo singer had opened a new studio. However, Portable said he was ungrateful to make such a demand and began beating him, Monie said.

Watch the videos in the slides below...

 

17-year-old girl locked up by aunt, rescued by Police in Jos

The Plateau State Police Command has rescued a 17-year-old malnourished girl, allegedly locked up in a goat pen by her aunt, for over one week in Rikkos, Jos North Local Government Area of the state.

A neighbor alerted the National Human Rights Commission in Jos after which the police were invited, leading to her rescue.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the aunt was fond of maltreating and starving the girl, an orphan.

Coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission in Plateau, Mrs Grace Pam, confirmed the girl’s rescue in a statement on Friday, November 18, 2022.

“The commission received information from an anonymous complainant that the girl was locked up on the balcony of a house by her aunt,” she said.

“She was living with her grandmother before she came to the aunt’s house because the grandmother was ill and could not continue to care for her.

“The complainant alleged that the aunt travelled for close to a week and left the girl without food.

“Investigation revealed that the girl was truly malnourished and had scars on her hands, neck and other parts of her body.

“The marks resulted from incessant beatings she received from her aunt. The matter was reported to the police where the aunt’s statement was taken upon return from her trip.

“The girl has been provided with temporary shelter until she recovers. We also found out that the orphan girl was never allowed to go out, but locked up in the house and not fed. She has been taken to hospital by one of our partners to ensure proper medical care,’’ she added.

Pam lamented increasing cases of abuse of minors in the last few days, stressing that “as we speak, there is a case of another victim, a nine-year-old girl, who came to stay with her aunt barely two months ago.

“We had to rescue her on Thursday from her aunt; she beat her mercilessly, but thank God, she did not get her blind, but got her injured in the eye. We took her to the hospital on Friday with scars resulting from serious beatings,”

“When our staff went there, she was locked up in a zinc house where the aunt keeps her goats. The girl is looking forward to going back to her parents,’’ she said.

The coordinator appealed to citizens to stop rights abuses.

2023: Peter Obi will not get 25% of votes in two-third of the states – Fayose

A former Ekiti state governor, Fayose has claimed that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, would not get enough votes to win the election.

He also said Obi could affect the chances of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 polls.

Fayose stated this on Thursday during an interview with Channels Television.

Obi had dumped the PDP in May for LP and clinched the party’s presidential ticket.

In 2019, the former Anambra governor was PDP’s vice-presidential candidate while Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president, was the presidential candidate.

The participation of Obi in the 2023 presidential election under LP has elicited speculations that the votes of the PDP may be divided in the 2023 election.

Speaking on the development, Fayose said the former Anambra governor may not secure the required 25 percent of votes in two-third of the states to be declared winner.

The former Ekiti governor asked the PDP to negotiate with Obi, and also resolve the crisis in the party by reconciling with the camp of Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, in order to win the presidency.

“Obi is a danger to watch out for. I don’t believe Obi will make 25 percent of votes in two-third of the states of the federation,” he said.

“I’m not against Obi. I love him and he is a very vibrant leader. I don’t believe he will get the required 25 percent of votes because of my permutations as Ayodele Fayose, but with God, nothing shall be impossible.

“Let me say Obi is more of a chronic cancer to PDP and there is no denying.

“Let me give you an analysis. In south-west, people might not like to hear that, I don’t see how PDP will win. Anybody deceiving us can continue to deceive us.

“I don’t see how PDP will win in the south-east. South-south will be a combination of all interests. Let me come to the key states of the north.

“Without deceiving ourselves, there is so much work to do in the north-central. PDP and APC did not pick any candidate, either presidential or vice-presidential, from the north-central. The north-east is where the vice-presidential candidate of APC comes from.

“We will give Adamawa state to our party. Don’t forget there is still another Kwankwaso who is a semi-cancer that can equally upstage figures in the north.

“Reconciling or negotiating with Obi will be a good thing and finding a way to make peace with these Wike people will be a good thing too.”