News
The master of a Cambridge University college has described the return of a looted bronze cockerel to representatives of Nigeria as a "momentous occasion".
The statue, known as the "Okukur", was taken by British colonial forces in 1897 and given to Jesus College in 1905 by the father of a student.
A decision for it to be returned was made in 2019 after students campaigned.
A ceremony has been held at the college to sign the handover documents.
"It's massively significant," said Sonita Alleyne, master of Jesus College. "It's a momentous occasion."
She said returning the artefact was the "right thing to do" to and said the bronze piece was of "cultural and spiritual significance to the people of Nigeria".
"It's part of their ancestral heritage," Ms Alleyne added.
The college's Legacy of Slavery Working Party concluded in 2019 that the cockerel "belongs with the current Oba at the Court of Benin".
The Oba of Benin is head of the historic Eweka dynasty of the Benin Empire, centred on Benin City in modern-day Nigeria.
Ms Alleyne said the Nigerian delegation would decide how and when to move the Okukur.
The statue was removed from display at the college in 2016 and will be given to Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments.
Oba of Benin, Omo N'Oba N'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, said it was hoped others would "expedite the return of our artworks, which in many cases are of religious importance to us".
BBC
The trial of music artiste, Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, on 11 charges bordering on conspiracy, possession of counterfeit cards and fraud, resumed on Tuesday at the Federal High Court, Lagos.
The court listened to the testimony of a second prosecution witness, Anosike Augustine, a mobile forensic expert with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Led in evidence by the prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, the witness continued his testimony which he had begun in 2020 just before the COVID-19 lockdown.
Anosike narrated how about 2,410 short messages were analysed from the iPhone of the defendant. He also said that different credit card numbers were extracted from the defendant’s iPhone.
According to him, the Apple iPhone is a sophisticated device capable of storing a large volume of information, adding that it is the sim card that basically identifies users of applications such as WhatsApp.
While analysing Naira Marley’s iPhone, the witness said 977 Short Message Service (SMS) and 1,433 chat messages, were discovered adding that there were also seven pending status update messages.
The witness specifically took his time to read out a plethora of credit card numbers and messages sent from the phone on different dates and times, as well as OTP codes sent.
He listed some of the recipients of the messages to include one Yadd and another Raze. After his testimony, the prosecutor informed the court that all the analysed messages were contained in a Compact Disc (CD) but that the prosecution had only printed out those portions which were material to its case.
The prosecutor then asked the court if he could be allowed to bring a projector for the purpose of playing the CD in the open court, so as to fully prove its cyber fraud case and discharge the burden placed on the prosecution and against the defendant.
The defence counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olalekan Ojo did not have any objections to the request and the court allowed it.
Justice Nicholas Oweibo, therefore, adjourned till tomorrow, October 27, for the CD to be played.
Evidences Bordering On Cyber Fraud
On May 20, 2019, the anti-graft agency had arraigned the artiste Naira Marley, who sang the popular song: “Am I a Yahoo Boy”, before the Federal High Court, Lagos.
The anti-graft agency said the offences were committed on different dates between November 26, 2018, and December 11, 2018, as well as May 10, 2019.
The commission alleged that Naira Marley and his accomplices conspired to use different Access Bank ATM cards to defraud their victims.
The EFCC also said that the defendant possessed and used counterfeit credit cards belonging to different people, with intent to defraud others.
The alleged offences are said to contravene the provisions of Sections 1 23 (1) (b), 27 (1) and 33(9) of Cyber Crime (Prohibition) Prevention Act, 2015.
Before Justice Nicholas Oweibo, Naira Marley pleaded not guilty.
The court granted him bail in the sum of N2million with two sureties in like sum.
At the last sitting of the court, Justice Oweibo admitted a C.D containing the phone analysis of the embattled singer.
The CD had been tendered in evidence at a previous proceeding by Anosike Augustine, a mobile forensic expert with the EFCC.
Anosike who is the second prosecution witness in the EFCC had told the court how he analysed the contents of the iPhone allegedly retrieved from Naira Marley during the investigation.
Counsel to Naira Marley, Olalekan Ojo, had objected to the admissibility of the evidence.
In his ruling, Justice Oweibo overruled the objections of the counsel and admitted the C.D in evidence.
The judge said, “l have considered the agreement of both parties as well as the ground for the objection, I consider the C.D to be admissible in view of the nature of this case and the evidence of the other prosecution witness.
“Accordingly it is hereby admitted in evidence and marked exhibit F.”
Before the testimony of the second witness, the EFCC had called another of its forensic expert, Nuru Buhari.
Mr Buhari, who testified as the first prosecution witness had told Justice Oweibo, that various stolen credit card information were retrieved from the musician’s laptop.
Apart from the stolen credit card information, website visit history recovered from the device showed that the top five most visited sites dealt with buying and selling stolen credit card information.
Mr Buhari also informed the court that suspicious apps that are mostly used by people with shady deals on the internet were found on the laptop.
Mr Buhari said an analysis of the administrator account on the laptop revealed that the admin is one Naira Marley and the account was connected to his iCloud account.
Channels TV
Rauf Olayemi, Bauchi
Local government chairmen, ministry officials and traditional rulers in Bauchi State have been accused of conniving with Bandits and terrorists to shortchange the people of the State.
Governor Bala Mohammed made this accusation on Monday while addressing heads of security agencies, council chairmen and his cabinet members during a critical security meeting
The Governor lamented that some local government, state ministry officials and traditional rulers connive with bandits and terrorists to perpetrate evil and shortchange the locals.
He said, 'strangers have been settling in the Lame/Burra Forrest over the years but the local authorities have failed to identify and know them'. 'Although, they are free to live in any part of the country but that does not equal deforestation and vandalism' he said.
In his words, Governor Muhammad said "It appears you don't even have the capacity for the autonomy we are giving you, you're only after the money; not the challenges. You can see how we have been able to do a lot with very little resources. You have been saying you have not been given money but the one that you have been given, what do you have?"
"From the way the local government chairmen are doing it is like they don't have the capacity to even do it. Unless you assure me –the money I'm giving (for autonomy)...I will return it. I will return it. It is not just goody-goody. You must take responsibility.
"From this time on, I want you to start paying your salaries. I'm tired of the treasury managing your salaries and you're blaming them for ghost workers. You will take responsibility for your resources.
"What you don't know is that, we augment the salaries of some local governments, whereas some have enough but we cannot continue to take from Paul to pay Peter. We will be giving you your money and you should know how to utilise it," he added.
The World Bank made a startling revelation that Nigeria’s per capita income (PCI) has not improved in the last 40 years as it remained static since 1981.
World Bank’s Country Director for Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri, stated this on Monday at a panel at the ongoing 27th Nigerian Economic Summit (NES#27) and urged the economy managers to quickly assemble potent strategies to harness the robust potential of the country. The summit, themed ‘Securing Our Future: The Fierce Urgency of Now’, drew economic experts, fiscal and monetary policy stakeholders, the academia and more.
In economics, PCI scales the average income earned per person in a country in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the country’s total income by its total population. In 1981, according to World Bank data, Nigeria’s PCI was $2,180.2 and $2,097 in 2020, meaning there was actually a reduction from the 1981 level.
“Nigeria today has real per capita income that is about the same as 40 years — in 1981. This means someone whose growth has been stunted,” he said.
“I heard the Minister talking about the medium term development plan, which has all the right ingredients. It will take time to get (the country) back to its full potential — it can’t happen overnight.
“But our sense is that Nigeria is at a point in time where some critical decisions need to be made. It’s almost like the immediate treatment to halt further decline.”
He described Nigeria as an individual with the potential to become a star athlete.
According to Chaudhuri, about three million Nigerians come of working age yearly, but surveys have shown that they aspire to go abroad.
“I think the urgency of doing something now is because the time is going in terms of retaining the hope of young Nigerians in the future and potential of Nigeria,” he said.
Chaudhuri, like other global bodies, advised Nigeria to immediately channel spending on petrol subsidy to infrastructure, education and healthcare services.
Earlier in her remarks, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed called for a paradigm shift in running the country’s economy through comprehensive and targeted reforms, a reorientation of our national values, and a radical shift in attitudes to taxation and public financial management.
“This is consistent with the focus of this administration on targeted investment in critical infrastructure and social development”, she said.
Sun
Members of the Senate Committee on Health, on Tuesday, knocked the federal government over the plan to borrow $200 million for procurement of mosquito nets and malaria medicines.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mammam Mahmuda, had, in his presentation before the committee during budget defence session, said the loan had become necessary due to high rate of under five mortality in Nigeria largely caused by malaria and inaccessibility to malaria treatments.
He said the loan, if approved by the National Assembly, and accessed, would be used to procure mosquito nets and medicines to be distributed to 13 vulnerable states that have no access to malaria treatment.
Irked by the submission, the committee chairman, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe (APC, Kwara), and other members lampooned the Permanent Secretary and Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib.
Specifically, Chairman of the committee wondered why the federal government planned to borrow the $200 million to fight malaria despite the N450 million budgeted for the same purpose in the proposed 2022 budget.
Oloriegbe also decried the plan to import the mosquito nets when there are local producers.
He said, “This is a clear case of money and jobs for the boys. What you give with the right hand, you take it back with the left.
“This is unacceptable. We should be able to put our feet down when dealing with these donor agencies or creditors as regards loans to be taken and what it should be expended on.
“We should as a country produce what we use for our people. If someone wants to give us money and put conditions that you must buy from their manufacturers, you can say no for our sovereignty.”
Other members of the committee like Adelere Oriolowo (APC Osun), Abba Moro (PDP Benue) also condemned the borrowing plan.
They, therefore, demanded more details on the loan and asked the officials to return back.
Daily Trust
The United Nations has asked the federal government to provide detailed information on the circumstances surrounding Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
This was contained in a document titled: ‘Mandates of the Special Rapporteur on Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishments; the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances; the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; Special Rapporteur on minority issues and the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism’.
In the document dated August 27, the UN said it received information of various allegations of human rights violation against Kanu by the federal government.
“While we do not prejudge the accuracy of these allegations, we would like to express our concern in relation to the enforced disappearance of Nnamdi Kanu from June 19, 2021, until his reappearance at Nigerian federal high court in Abuja on June 29, 2021, and his reported illegal rendition from Nairobi to Abuja without judicial process,” the document reads.
“We are further alarmed by the alleged torture and ill-treatment Mr Kanu has been subjected to during his detention by the DSS in Nigeria. If confirmed, these allegations would constitute prima facie violations of fundamental human rights, including the right not to be arbitrarily deprived of liberty and the absolute and non-derogable prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment under the International Covenant on Political and Civil Rights.
“The Committee against Torture and the UN Human Rights Committee has repeatedly concluded that enforced disappearances may amount to torture and other forms of ill-treatment both with regard to the disappeared and with regard to their family members, due to the anguish and uncertainty concerning the date and whereabouts of loved ones.”
They asked that the federal government provide information on Kanu’s current health status, details of his extradition and charges instituted against him.
“Please provide detailed information on the current state of health of Mr Kanu and the measures undertaken, or foreseen, to prevent any irreparable damage to his life and personal integrity and to ensure that he has access to the medications and medical treatment required by his health conditions,” the document reads.
“Please provide detailed information on the circumstances in which Mr Kanu was arrested, forcibly disappeared before being handed over to Nigerian authorities and transferred from Nairobi to Abuja. Also provide any international arrest warrant that may have been issued against him, prior to his arrest.”
The UN also asked the Kenyan government to “provide full information on the period between 19 – 29 June 2021, during which Mr. Kanu was subjected to enforced disappearance, including his whereabouts and the conditions in which he was held, on the informal detention facilities during this period and explain how this is compatible with the international human rights obligations of Kenya”.
“Please provide information on whether an investigation was carried out into the alleged enforced disappearance of Mr. Kanu during this period of time, and whether those responsible have been held accountable,” the letter reads.
“Please provide detailed information, where available, on risk assessment carried out by the Kenyan authorities to ascertain the risk Mr. Kanu may incur, including being subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment as well as arbitrary detention upon his extradition to Nigeria, and how this assessment is compatible with the international standards.
“Please provide information on the measures taken to investigate the above-mentioned allegations of torture and ill-treatment perpetrated against Mr. Kanu during his detention in Kenya and to hold those responsible accountable.”
Meanwhile, the permanent mission of the federal republic of Nigeria to the United Nations office and other international organisations in Geneva acknowledged receipt of the letter on September 17.
“The permanent mission wishes to inform that the Joint Urgent Appeal has been forwarded to its headquarters for necessary action and any response would be transmitted as soon as received,” the response reads.
“The permanent mission of the federal republic of Nigeria to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (Special Procedures Branch) the assurances of its highest consideration.”
The Cable
Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue, on Tuesday, assented to the amended Community Volunteer Guards law of the state.
The new law empowers local guards to carry weapons legally recognised by the constitution.
The law was first passed in 2000 by the state house of assembly and assented to by George Akume, former governor of Benue.
Ortom explained that over 20 years after, it has become pertinent to amend the law to aid the guards complement the “grossly inadequate” conventional security agents in the fight against insecurity.
He added that traditional rulers would oversee the recruitment of the guards as it is community-based.
He said five persons would be recruited from each of the kindreds in the state, 10 at the ward level, while the local government would have representatives from council wards to ensure proper management and supervision of the guards.
“Those to be recruited must be within the age bracket of 18 to 50 years and should have a means of livelihood,” Ortom said.
“I warn that the guards do their work, devoid of politics.”
Ortom has, on several occasions, asked the federal government to allow “responsible” Nigerians to carry “sophisticated weapons” like AK-47 in self-defence.
In another instance, he asked the people of Benue to obtain licenses to carry dane guns and defend themselves from invading gunmen.
The Cable
Nigeria on Monday became the first African nation to launch a digital currency - the eNaira - a move its leaders said will expand access to banking, enable more remittances and even grow the economy by billions of dollars.
Africa's most populous nation joins the Bahamas, the first to launch a general purpose central bank digital currency, known as the Sand Dollar, in October. China has ongoing trials and Switzerland and the Bank of France have announced Europe's first cross-border experiment.
But experts and cryptocurrency users in the continent's biggest economy say the fact that there are more questions than answers regarding the eNaira - and a large amount of worry over the consistency of Central Bank (CBN) rules - means the government faces a tough path to make the eNaira a success.
Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele said during Monday's launch that there had been "overwhelming interest and encouraging response", adding that 33 banks, 2,000 customers and 120 merchants had already registered successfully with the platform, which is available via an app on Apple and Android.
Some 200 million nairas' worth of eNaira, which will maintain parity with the traditional currency, has been issued to financial institutions, he said.
President Muhammadu Buhari said use of the currency could grow the economy by $29 billion over ten years, enable direct government welfare payments and even increase the tax base.
Nigeria's young, tech-savvy population has eagerly adopted digital currencies. Cryptocurrency use has grown quickly despite a Central Bank ban in February on banks and financial institutions dealing in or facilitating transactions in them.
Nigeria ranked seventh in the 2021 Global Crypto Adoption Index compiled by research firm Chainalysis.
Official digital currencies, unlike crytocurrencies such as bitcoin, are backed and controlled by the central bank.
But some of what drove Nigeria's enthusiastic adoption of cryptocurrencies was the Central Bank's own shifting rules regarding accessing foreign currency - and the naira's plunging value on parallel markets that saw savings shrink.
"It's not clear looking at the CBN's body of work that Nigerians would be comfortable using this," said Ikemesit Effiong, head of research with Lagos-based consultancy SBM Intelligence.
He added that the CBN had not yet made clear whether users could transfer eNaira back into traditional naira, whether they could use cryptocurrency to buy or sell the eNaira or even whether there would be physical locations to use and transfer eNaira, or whether it would be entirely digital.
"There are more questions than answers, even though we are looking at the launch of this digital currency. The fact that this is the case so late in the game is concerning," he told Reuters.
CBN issued a nine-page FAQ, which said eNaira users would access it via the phone app, internet banking or a code dialled from mobile phones, but it did not address transferability or other questions raised by Effiong.
Only three local television channels were allowed to attend the launch, and officials took no questions.
For 28-year-old Ebuka Joseph, an art dealer and enthusiastic cryptocurrency user in the commercial capital, Lagos, the uncertainty means he will stay on the sidelines, for now.
His concerns centre on whether he would easily be able to change eNaira back into normal currency.
"I have had issues trusting the central bank ... because they have already banned crypto," he told Reuters. "I want to hear from people, see people use it, before I venture into it."
Reuters
The World Bank has decried the continued spending by the government on petrol subsidy, which it said is on track to gobble up N2.9tn this year.
Its Country Director for Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri, who spoke on Monday at a panel session during the 27th National Economic Summit, said the country could channel the money being spent on subsidy to primary healthcare, basic education and rural roads.
“This year, Nigeria is on track to spend N2.9tn on PMS subsidy, which is more than it spends on health,” he said.
Also speaking at the session, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, said the Federal Government had made provision for petrol subsidy till the end of June next year.
“In our 2022 budget, we only factored in subsidy for the first half of the year; the second half of the year, we are looking at complete deregulation of the sector, saving foreign exchange and potentially earning more from the oil and gas industry,” she said.
The World Bank director, who likened Nigeria to a malnourished individual needing urgent treatment, said some critical decisions need to be made now for the country to realise its potential.
He said, “I think the urgency of doing something now is because the time is going in terms of retaining the hope of young Nigerians in the future and potential of Nigeria. The kinds of things that could be done right away – the petrol subsidy; yes, I hear that six months from now, perhaps with the PIA(Petroleum Industry Act) coming into effect, this will go away.
“But the fact is can Nigeria even afford to wait for those six months? And there is a choice: N3tn to PMS subsidy which is depriving states of much-needed revenues to invest in basic services.”
Chairman, Presidential Economic Advisory Council, Doyin Salami, said he had argued for a long time that subsidy really needed to go.
He said, “With the PIA essentially it makes illegal petrol subsidy and yes, there is a period where NNPC and the new regulatory agencies must calibrate themselves, but at the end of this period – and I think it is about six months, which explains why the minister has said for the first half of the year, there is provision.
“My view will be if we could get it done sooner than that, it will be excellent. It releases money. The key point is simply this: we are now, any which way, at the tail end of that conversation, except if we choose not to obey the law. My sense is we will obey the law and subsidy will be gone.”
Punch
A group of northern elders have commenced legal process for the secession of Southeast from the Nigerian federation.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/538/2021, the plaintiffs led by Nastura Ashir Shariff, Balarabe Rufa’I, Abdul-Aziz Sulaiman and Aminu Adam are praying the Abuja division of the Federal High Court to compel the National Assembly to hasten the exit of the Southeast before the conclusion of ongoing constitutional amendment.
They averred in their supporting affidavit that their action was informed by the need to stem the tide of violence and destruction allegedly occasioned by the agitation for secession championed by the Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB.)
They claim they did not want a repeat of the 1967-1970 civil war that cost the nation millions of lives and property worth billions of naira.
Listed as defendants in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly.
However, lawyers from the Southeast have applied to the court to join them as defendants in a suit.
They are led by Chuks Muoma with other members as Ukpai Ukairo, Ebere Uzoatu and Obi Emuka.
The lawyers are asking for order of the court to allow them join in the suit as representatives of the people of the Southeast.
In their application for joinder filed by Victor Onweremadu, the applicants claimed that the case by northern elders seeking the exit of the South East from Nigeria has the capability to shape the life of the generation of the Igbo.
The motion on notice for the joinder request was brought pursuant to Order 9 rule 5 and order 26 rule 2 of the Federal High Court civil procedure rule 2019.
The lawyers claimed that they had an interest to protect in the suit, hence, their request to be made defendants in the case.
In a 12-paragraph affidavit in support of their application, the lawyers noted that the northern elders in their suit did not think it necessary to join the people of the Southeast or their representatives to enable the court hear from them.
The affidavit deposed to by one Ekenna Felix Jonathan read in part: “That this suit is so crucial and a sensitive matter which concerns the indigenous Igbo speaking tribe in Nigeria and has the capability to shape the life of the future generation of the people of the Southeast of Nigeria and other indigenous Igbo speaking tribe in Nigeria. That the Igbo Lawyers Association represented by the applicants are an indigenous association of lawyers from the Southeast of Nigeria and other indigenous Igbo speaking tribe in Nigeria. That the Igbo Lawyers Association and its objective is to represent the interest of the Igbo people which said people are indigenous in the Southeast of Nigeria. Thus, the association is interested and is a necessary party to be joined. That it will serve the interest of justice if the honourable court grants the application and join the applicants as defendants in the suit and that the plaintiffs will not be prejudiced if the application is granted.”
In the main suit, the northern elders prayed the court for the following reliefs: A declaration that, by the combined effect of the provisions of Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), and Articles 1, 2, and 20(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act 2004, the 4th defendant (the National Assembly) is empowered to set in motion a framework for a referendum to allow the Southeastern region of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to decide on their bid for self-determination. An order directing the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants to provide a framework that will pave way for the self-determination of the Southeastern states so as to leave the geographical entity called Nigeria before any further step is taken to further amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can be further amended at any time after the question of self-determination must have been resolved by Nigerians.”
Inyang Eden Ekwo, the judge, has fixed November 1 for hearing of the suit.
Sun
More...
Armed men on motorbikes killed at least 18 people at a mosque in Niger state, two residents told Reuters on Monday.
The attackers arrived in the Maza-Kuka community of Mashegu local government area at roughly 5 a.m., the residents said.
"They came and went straight to the mosque and shot at worshippers without sparing anyone," resident Abdulganiyu Hassan told Reuters.
Hassan said they abducted more than 10 others. Bello Ayuba, another resident and witness, said at least 20 were wounded.
A Niger state police spokesman did not immediately respond to calls or messages seeking comment.
Armed bandits operating for cash have kidnapped or killed hundreds across Northwest Nigeria this year, but Niger state and local government officials also recently said that Islamist militant group Boko Haram had taken over multiple communities in the state, offering villagers money and incorporating them in their ranks to fight the government.
Reuters
Journalists on Monday stormed the police headquarters in Abuja to protest over the continued disappearance of their colleague Tordue Salem, a journalist with Vanguard Newspapers.
The journalists dressed in black marched from the Ministry of Women Affairs to force headquarters wielding placards with inscriptions; Enough Is Enough; FreeTordeNow, Journalism Is Not a Crime, Free The Press, Stop Attacking Journalists.
Mr. Salem, who is a native of Tiv, Benue State, covers the House of Representatives.
He was last seen on October 13, 2021.
The NUJ chapter in Abuja had earlier raised an alarm over his sudden disappearance.
They asked the police and DSS to help unravel the mystery surrounding Mr. Salem’s whereabouts.
“For all us journalists in Abuja, we have been on edge these past few days over the mysterious disappearance of our colleague and friend, Mr. Tordue Salem,” the petition, signed by the union’s Chairman, Emmanuel Ogbeche and Secretary, Ochiaka Ugwu, said.
It expressed displeasure at the way and manner police have been handling the matter adding that there is need for police to give information on the whereabouts of the missing colleague since it was formally reported at the National Assembly police station.
It also condemned the harsh environment where the safety of journalists can no longer be guaranteed despite their constitutional role and responsibility of upholding the fundamental objectives of the constitution.
“It is worrying that an adult will simply vanish into thin air without a trace. This is unacceptable and we urge the police and DSS to rise up to the occasion and provide answers to this troubling situation”.
However, during Monday’s protest at the police headquarters in Abuja, the Police PRO addressed the crowd, saying efforts are ongoing to locate Mr. Salem, and assured that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Baba is interested in the case and would see it to the end.
The petition submitted by the NUJ reads ; “The IGP, Sir, as you are aware, a colleague of ours and a journalist of note, Mr. Tordue Henry Salem of the Vanguard Newspapers went missing on Wednesday, October 13, 2021 right in front of the Total Filing Station less than a 100 meters from the Force Headquarters.”
“48 hours after fellow colleagues who cover the House of Representatives realized he had DISAPPEARED, a report was immediately incidented at the House of Reps Police Division. This was followed by a petition to both your office and that of the Director General of the Department of State Security by his employers- Vanguard Media Ltd. This is outside calls by the leadership of the NUJ to senior officers of the Police.
“It is regrettable to note that 12 days after Mr. Tordue Henry Salem DISAPPEARED, nothing much has happened to indicate whether he is alive or dead; whether he is captive of the State, a non-state or an alien.
“The IGP, it is relevant that we remind you that the State owes every Nigerian, particularly a journalist, protection and assurance of safety. Nigeria has continued to fare badly on the Press Freedom Index for six successive years and it will be most unfortunate if the DISAPPEARNCE of Mr. Tordue Henry Salem adds to the poor rating. In 2020, a report of Reporters Without Borders shows that Nigeria went five spots down the Press Freedom Index from 115 to 120 out of 180 countries, with the telling remark that Nigeria remains “one of West Africa’s most dangerous and difficult countries for journalists.”
“Also, a June 2021 report of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and Media Foundation for West Africa revealed that the media industry recorded seven unresolved killings, 300 violations, affecting about 500 journalists, media workers, and media houses in Nigeria.”
“What all these underscore is that the prevailing environment is unsafe, suffocating and dangerous not just for journalists and other media workers but for the sustenance of democracy itself.”
“It is in this wise that we are here to demand that Mr. Tordue Henry Salem not only be found, but that adequate protection be offered journalists going forward. That the culture of harassment, intimidation, brutalization and disappearances ends. Our demand is reinforced by the fact that as we approach 2023, a General Elections year in Nigeria, the political and economic elites become more desperate to hang on to power and because they will not want to be held accountable to the Nigerian people, the media becomes their major target. This culture of impunity should and must be arrested by the Nigeria Police as the primary security agencies as well as other sister agencies.”
“Regarding Mr. Tordue Henry Salem, we demand that the case be transferred to a Special Unit of the IGP. While we appreciate the efforts of the FCT Command, the magnitude of the disappearance demands for a highly tactical, focused and coordinated Unit under the Office of the IGP.”
“We further demand confidential briefing with his family, leadership of the Union and his employers to calm frayed nerves, while we assure of our cooperation in the investigation.”
“Let us reiterate that for every journalist that is harassed, assaulted, disappears and murdered, the constitutional guarantee as contained in Chapter 22 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 as Amended is threatened, democracy is weakened and good governance is impossible. The IGP it is for these reasons and more, that your office urgently needs to provide answer, which is locating and reuniting Mr. Tordue Henry Salem with his family”
President Muhammadu Buhari will on Monday October 25, 2021, depart for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to participate in the investment conference organized by the Future Investment Initiative Institute.
This was disclosed in a press release from the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu obtained by the Nigeriannewstrack.
According to the statement, the President will be joined at the 5th edition of the flagship investment event by business executives from Nigeria, bankers, Captains of industry and energy experts to discuss issues on the future of investments across the globe.
The three-day event, with the theme, INVESTMENT IN HUMANITY, which will host global executives and asset managers, will deliberate on progress and prosperity with energy; true final frontiers in investments; science in action; and impact of climate change on communities among others.
The statement reads that "Buhari will perform the lesser Hajj in Medina & Makka before returning to the country on Friday".
The President will be accompanied on the trip by Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, Director General of National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Abubakar, Managing Director of Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, Uche Orji and Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
Some participants from the private sector include: Mohammed Indimi, Aliko Dangote, Tope Shonubi , Wale Tinubu, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Hassan Usman, Omoboyode Olusanya, Abubakar Suleiman, Herbert Wigwe and Leo Stan Ekeh.
Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola has vowed that all inmates who escaped from the Abolongo Custodial Centre of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Oyo State, on Friday night will be recaptured.
The Minister gave the assurance during an inspection visit to the facility Sunday morning.
In a copy of the speech delivered during the visitation, the minister claimed that attacks on prisons in the country were premeditated and meant to ridicule the government.
He lamented that jailbreaks and attacks on prisons worsened after the #EndSARS protest in the country.
He said, “External attacks on custodial facilities were a rarity hitherto. What was common, and for which our system had been well primed, was an internal breach. But beginning with the spontaneous #EndSARS protests of last year which dovetailed into massive riots, there have been consistent attacks on our facilities in Owerri, Benin, Kabba, and now Oyo.
“This is not just some random happenings. These are premeditated, planned and coordinated attacks meant to make Nigeria unsafe and ridicule the government.
“I’m assuring Nigerians that the Federal Government will pursue not just those who attacked our facility, but those who have escaped lawful custody.
“The attack was unconscionable, I commend officers of the Nigeria Correctional Service and other members of sister security agencies who provided perimeter security for our facility for fighting gallantly and holding the fort before the attackers were able to gain access to the awaiting trial section of the facility, however, those who escaped are already being pursued. Some have been rearrested, many more will still be captured,” the Minister stated.
Giving more details about those who escaped, Aregbesola noted that 446 out of 907 escapees have been recaptured, whilst 69 never left the facility.
“As at the last count, 446 of the escapees have been recaptured leaving 392 still at large. We want to assure Nigerians that the service have an updated database of the escapees which includes their biometrics. We are sharing the database with all security agencies in the country including Interpol, so those who escape our recapture efforts can be nabbed.
“To those on the run, be assured you have nowhere to hide. You can run, but you can’t hide. We’ll fish you out! We are publishing details of those who escaped in the mass media so the public can assist in that effort,” the Minister reiterated.
Also speaking during the inspection, Controller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service, NCoS, Haliru Nababa, noted that so far, the service has successfully prevented internal jailbreaks in all her facilities.
“The NCoS have so far prevented internal jailbreaks in the country. What we have reoccurring in recent times are external attacks on our facilities. We have been retraining our officers not just on securing those in lawful custody but prevent external attacks.
“We are collaborating with other security agencies in the country to make such attacks near impossible and where they do occur, the attackers will live to regret it,” the CG stated.
On the instruction given by the Minister of Interior to immediately begin remediation work on the facility, CG Nababa noted that work has begun already.
“As you can see, workers are already on site fixing damaged doors, broken windows and mounting walls. Before the end of today, work would have been completed on it,” Nababa stated.
Punch