News
Leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu pleaded not guilty to charges including terrorism in an Abuja court on Thursday, three months after his trial was delayed when authorities failed to produce him in court.
The charges against Kanu, a British citizen, also included calling for secession, knowingly broadcasting falsehoods about President Muhammadu Buhari, and membership of an outlawed group.
The military considers Kanu's IPOB a terrorist organization.
IPOB wants a swathe of the southeast, homeland of the Igbo ethnic group, to split from Nigeria. An attempt to secede in 1967 as the Republic of Biafra triggered a three-year civil war that killed more than 1 million people.
Security services barred journalists from entering the court and forcibly dispersed crowds of supporters who gathered nearby.
In selfies with his lawyer circulating in local media, Kanu looked healthy and in good spirits.
Kanu was first arrested in 2015, but disappeared while on bail in April 2017. His social media posts during his absence, and his Radio Biafra broadcasts, outraged the government, which they said encouraged attacks on security forces.
Security agents produced him in court in Abuja on June 29 after detaining him in an undisclosed country. His lawyer alleged he was detained and mistreated in Kenya, though Kenya has denied involvement.
Kanu has filed charges alleging that he was illegally taken from Kenya and asking that he be repatriated to Britain.
On Thursday, his lawyers also asked, unsuccessfully, for Kanu to be transferred to the Nigerian Correctional Centre instead of the state security custody for easier access to his lawyers.
Kanu's lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, said they have an application challenging the competence of the underlying charges, most of which reference Radio Biafra broadcasts made out of London.
"I can't see how someone would make a statement in London and it becomes a triable offence in this country," Ejiofor told reporters.
The trial was adjourned until Nov. 10.
Reuters
Cameroon's five-year conflict could be taking a significant new turn with reports that its English-speaking separatist groups are getting help from an armed group in neighbouring Nigeria.
After two attacks by Anglophone militants which cost the lives of 15 Cameroonian soldiers last month, the army issued a statement declaring that "the separatists have used heavy weapons for the first time, in violation of international humanitarian law".
It went on to add that "the rise in power of these terrorist groups... is largely due to their co-operation with other terrorist entities operating outside the country".
Contacted by the BBC, Cameroonian defence forces spokesperson Cyrille Atonfack Nguemo did not specify which foreign groups were allegedly working with the Anglophone separatists, who say they face discrimination in the country dominated by French-speakers.
It is therefore unclear whether the military believes it is one or several armed groups, and also where they are located.
But the separatist Ambazonia Defense Forces (ADF) has confirmed an alliance with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), an ethnic Igbo group waging a sometimes violent campaign for autonomy in southeastern Nigeria, some of which lies just 150km (90 miles) from the border with Cameroon's English-speaking regions.
A video posted on the ADF Facebook page earlier this year shows Cho Ayaba, leader of the Ambazonia Governing Council - one of the two main English-speaking separatist groups, and IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu announcing a "strategic and military" alliance.
Both separatist leaders explained that the two groups would "work to secure their common border and ensure an open exchange of arms, intelligence and personnel".
How big a deal is this?
Analysts are divided. "For the moment, the contribution of this alliance on the ground in the Anglophone zone is not yet clear," says Elvis Arrey, senior analyst for Cameroon at the research group International Crisis Group (ICG).
However, Raoul Sumo Tayo, a historian and security analyst in the region, says it should not be downplayed, as it offers both groups rear bases where they can retreat, beyond the reach of their respective countries' armed forces.
This is especially significant in Cameroon, where he said the "army was practically absent [from the areas hit by conflict] before the insurgency and therefore has extremely limited knowledge of the area".
The two countries have previously discussed giving each other's security forces the right to cross the border, especially when chasing members of the Boko Haram Islamist militant group further north, but a deal was never reached.
Where do the heavy weapons come from?
The Cameroon authorities have not gone into much detail about what kind of weapons they say are being used, beyond briefly referring to anti-tank missiles and rocket launchers.
Some actually come from attacks on the defence and security forces, says the ICG's Arrey.
"Other weapons come from Nigeria," he adds.
According to Tayo, even "before the crisis in the Anglophone regions, the Niger Delta area was an important hub for arms trafficking in the sub-region".
Weapons bound for the Anglophone region of Cameroon have often been seized by the Nigerian authorities.
Over the past three years, scores of people have been arrested on charges of trafficking arms to Cameroon.
Tayo believes that some weapons are likely to come from "countries with a large Anglophone diaspora". Some Cameroonians from English-speaking regions have been charged in the US with alleged arms trafficking, although none has yet been convicted.
IPOB has this year been accused of ransacking police stations and stealing weapons, which could potentially be smuggled across the border.
How easy is it to cross the border?
Even before the latest unrest in the two countries, the border areas were poorly controlled on both sides.
It is partly made up of the Niger Delta, a huge forested area full of creeks and inlets and multiple clandestine ports, which borders both English-speaking Cameroon and the Igbo heartland, where most IPOB attacks are concentrated.
There are ethnic and cultural ties between some groups found on either side of the border, which could further smooth links.
What are the Cameroonian authorities doing?
The government in Yaoundé seems to be concerned about the situation and has announced a strategic change in its military intervention in the area, without giving details.
At the end of August, the two countries agreed to step up security along their 2,000km (1,240 mile)-long border, which is threatened by the separatists, as well as by Boko Haram.
The two countries also co-operated when Cameroonian separatist leader Julius Sisiku Tabe and eight others were arrested in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, in 2017.
They were sent back to Cameroon where they were given life sentences for terrorism and other crimes, which they are challenging.
What is the fighting about?
Both Nigeria's Igbo community and English-speaking Cameroonians have long complained of discrimination by their respective governments.
The Igbos declared the independence of Biafra from Nigeria in 1967, sparking a war that ended in 1970 following the death of an estimated one million people.
Although the federal army won, Nnamdi Kanu's IPOB is the latest group to take up the Igbo cause. He was arrested in June and is currently in detention on charges of treason, which he denies.
Scores of people have been killed in unrest over the past year.
Amid reports of atrocities on both sides, the conflict has caused thousands of deaths and forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes - many have crossed over into Nigeria.
Why does Cameroon have both English- and French-speakers?
■ On 1 January 1960, the French colony of Cameroun gained independence and became Cameroon.
■ On 1 October 1960, Nigeria gained independence from the UK.
■ The UK also controlled the former German colony of Cameroon. At independence, its citizens were given a choice of joining either Nigeria or Cameroon.
■ Southern Cameroonians opted to unite with Cameroon, while Northern Cameroon joined Nigeria.
BBC
Hundreds of women in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State on Thursday blocked Gusau-Kaduna Road to protest against persistent attacks by bandits despite security measures by the state government.
Gusau-Kaduna road is the busiest road as it links the state to several other states both in the North and the South.
The women, who were with their children and belongings, sat on the road and prevented movement for motorists and passersby on the road.
The protesters caused gridlock and hundreds of motorists were left stranded as they could neither move forward nor backward.
One of the women, who gave her name as Sadiya, told our correspondent that they decided to protest because bandits were always attacking and raping them and there had been no action taken to protect them.
Sadiya said, “We blocked the road in order to draw the attention of both the government and the security agents to come to our rescue.”
Another woman, Talatu Sani, said she left her village of Cediya because bandits used to go to the village to rape women and steal their food and animals.
“I join the protest because the authorities are not doing anything to protect us from this hopeless situation.”
A commercial driver, Musa Shehu said he was coming from Funtua to Gusau, lamenting that he spent more than four hours before the road was cleared by security agents.
Efforts were made to talk to the spokesperson of the state police command, Mohammed Shehu, without success as he didn’t pick up his calls. He had yet to reply to a text message sent to him on the protest.
Punch
Four months after abduction, 27 students and 3 staffers of the Federal Government College, Yauri, Kebbi State have been released out of the 90 persons in the captivity of bandits.
T he students were abducted at the Federal Government College, Yauri, Kebbi State in June.
The freed students were brought to the Government House in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday in company of combined security operatives of the DSS, Mobile police, Army and Civil defence in three buses around 3pm.
The students were also accompanied by medical personnel and other support personnel of the state government and were received by Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and top government officials at the Government House in Birnin Kebbi.
While receiving the students, Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu said President Muhammadu Buhari upon their abduction had issued directives to all security operatives to ensure the students were rescued from the bandits.
He said the Army, DSS, Police, Civil Defence and Vigilant group were instrumental to the release of the students.
“I also commend the efforts of Senator Adamu Aliero, Minister of Justice Malami and a host of others”, he said.
A statement by the media aide to the governor said the students were brought to the state capital following their release by their abductors.
The statement added that efforts were still on to secure the release of the remaining students that were still with the bandits.
It said the students would undergo medical screening and other support while being reunited with their families.
The United States Mission to Nigeria has reacted to the EndSARS memorial protests in the country, advising protesters to take a political approach to addressing their demands.
The US Mission Nigeria disclosed this on its verified Facebook handle on Wednesday.
"Today is a day to reflect on the loss of life and property during last year’s #EndSARS protests. We appreciate the work done by the various judicial panels and look forward to the implementation of recommendations and compensation to victims of police brutality.
"We support ongoing police reform efforts. We encourage those who demonstrated for change to engage politically to achieve it,” the post read.
Nigerian youths in a bid to remember the lives lost during the Lekki Tollgate killings on October 20, 2020, came out enmass to commemorate the one year anniversary of the movement.
With the backing of high-profile celebrities from around the world, thousands of mostly young Nigerians, took to the streets last year in the biggest show of people power in decades.
However, signs of that brutal night are still visible in the minds of the protesters, with imagery of walls riddled with bullets and shattered glass windows to tell the ugly incident.
Protesters who are supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari have staged a protest in Abuja, saying the claim of shooting at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos last year during the #ENDSARS protest was a hoax.
This is to counter a parallel protest by some aggrieved Nigerians in the nation’s capital, seeking justice for the victims of nationwide protests against police brutality in the country.
It was learnt that the pro-Buhari protesters stormed the Unity Fountain Ground on Wednesday around 10:30am.
They berated the #EndSARS memorial protesters for being too critical of the Buhari government and security agencies.
Bearing banners with inscription such as: ‘EndSARS was an insurrection against the state’, the pro-Buhari group also accused the #EndSARS protesters of presenting Nigeria in a bad light before the world through their mass action in Lagos, Abuja and other major cities in the country.
They further alleged the #EndSARS memorial protest was a ploy to instigate an unlawful change of government.
“We have come here because we found out that some miscreants hiding behind #EndSARS have planned to come here to hold #EndSARS memorial. We are here to set the records straight. If there was a massacre, where are the bodies?,” a leader of the group said.
Egba sons and daughters, home and abroad have been advised to associate more with their root to enhance development in Egbaland.
The Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo gave this advice during the installation of a popular estate developer, community leader, politician and philanthropist, Chief Toyin Amuzu as the Asiwaju Leragun Egba at his Ake Palace in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The paramount ruler, who advised every Egba descent to always try to visit their homestead said “the Egba Kingdom is well known for its innovations and developmental strides of being the first in civilization thus, it is our responsibility to keep up the pace of growth”.
According to Oba Gbadebo, “the chieftaincy title of Asiwaju Leragun Egbaland bestowed on Chief Toyin Amuzu is a warrior or warlord Chief title peculiar to the Igbehin people where Amuzu was formally the Leragun Igbehin. He was also the Okanlomo Ijeun, but now he has been promoted to the Asiwaju Leragun of Egbaland home and abroad, due to his steadfastness and selflessness in developing our communities “.
“I hereby implore you to continue your good works and protect the interests of Egba kingdom and its people at all times", the Alake said.
Chief Toyin Amuzu who is the founder and Chairman of the Toyin Amuzu foundation, while reacting in an interview with journalists promised to continue to serve God and humanity at all times.
He also called on the Nigerian youths to take their destinies in their own hands by participating actively in politics and make their leaders accountable to the society.
"If we keep saying we don't want to get involve then who is going to get involve to change our society?We all have to do it together”, he said.
"As at yesterday, Toyin Amuzu football championship kicked off. It is just a way of bringing the youth together and to encourage them.
"There are other things you can do rather than stealing and breaking into people's house but we need to engage them and that is what we are trying to do, when you engage them and they have other things they are doing they will turn out good.
"The country has become so bad, no job, I remember those days when our parents were sending us to school to have masters degree. Today Masters is just like ordinary degree and every one on the streets without jobs all have masters, how many people have employment?. If you have gone to school and you don't have any job and the country is not doing anything the youth will have no option than engage in yahoo, I am not encouraging it, but we have to always remember that there is no flame without a cause, having said that we need to improve this youth, develop them and encourage them.
I have a foundation which is called "TA Foundation" Toyin Amuzu foundation , I cannot tell how many persons we have empowered because we have empowered a lot of persons , our motto is we rise together , and we have helped a lot of people and we are still helping.
"I have been doing this for 2years now , and I am not doing this because of any political ambition . I am not your normal politician that will give gifts two Months to election just to buy the hearts of the people. I have never occupied any political position . If I do what I do today I feel I can improve the economy of our people. Toyin Amuzu foundation is not about any political thing but it's all about the people
When asked about the huge borrowings of government, he said “If we keep borrowing and we are not seeing what we are borrowing that means we are not in a safe trade, lately we have borrowed a lot and I think if it is well utilized it would positively affect the economy, but when we spend lavishly and do not have means of paying back the loan, we are in big trouble, the economy won’t be better.
Chief Amuzu in his words explained that, if the youths don't come out to join politics, the elders will continue to rule and will drive the future of the country to wherever they so wishes, but if the youths can get themselves involve in politics things will change for good.
He also advised youth to be positive and invest their lives in anything that could better their lots rather than engaging in negative acts.
The Akinruyiwa of Owu kingdom, Chief Olumide Aderinokun who was also at the event congratulated the new Asiwaju Leragun Egba saying, “Chief Toyin Amuzu is my friend, my brother and I am so happy because he deserves the honour of the chieftaincy and I wish him well.
“I believe he is going to be a good chief to Egbaland because he has always done the right thing and he will continue to do the right things”, said Chief Aderinokun.
Dignatories at the event include a chieftain of the Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP and a former member of the house of representatives, Chief Oladipupo Adebutu who is the Lisa Aje Egba, the Osi Egba , Chief Bode Mustapha and a host of friends , family members and well wishers who later held a reception at Park-inn , Kuto Abeokuta.
A staff of Abestone Microfinance Bank Abeokuta, Olagoke Dare has been arrested by men of the Ogun state police command for planning with another person to rob himself of cash sum of N3 million naira belonging to his employer.
The arrest was contained in a release made available to newsmen by the police Spokesman, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi.
According to the statement, the suspect was arrested following a distress call received by the police at Ibara divisional headquarters, that armed robbers have attacked the duo of Olagoke Dare and Mary Agbejo while coming out from a commercial bank at Oke-ilewo area, where they had gone to withdraw money.
The statement stated further that “after the distress call, the DPO, Ibara division, SP Segun Ajao quickly mobilised his men and moved to the scene where one Idowu Tunde was arrested with the assistance of members of public”
”The arrested suspect, who was armed with a mock gun, informed the police during interrogation that it was Olagoke Dare who informed him that his employer will be sending him and one other person to withdraw the sum of three million naira, and that they should come and rob them of the money” the statement stated .
“The suspect stated further that it was the same Dare Olagoke who gave him the toy pistol for the operation. He confessed further that while Dare and his other colleague were in the Bank, he had already hid in their car which was deliberately left opened by Dare in accordance with their plan”
“While they got into the car, Idowu Tunde explained that he came out suddenly from the back seat and pointed the gun to the lady who was in possession of the money “.
"But the lady noticed that the gun did not look original consequent upon which she dragged the gun with him and raised alarm”
“It was the alarm that attracted people who pursued them and called the police.” the statement concluded.
Meanwhile, the acting commissioner of police, DCP Abiodun Alamutu, has ordered the immediate transfer of the two suspects to the state Criminal Investigation and intelligence Department for discreet investigation.
He therefore advised that companies should endeavour to always run background checks on their members of staff before employing them.
Unknown gunmen on Sunday attacked the offices of the Directorate of State Services (DSS) and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Nnewi, Anambra State.
As at the time of filing this report, it was unclear if there were casualties in any of the two offices attacked, but it was gathered that a passerby was hit by a stray bullet.
The gunmen, according to eyewitnesses, drove from Owerri Road in four Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), stopped at Emecourt Road Junction where they released some gunshots which made passersby to scamper for safety, before they headed to the offices, which they also set ablaze.
“They later drove through Nkwo Triangle Roundabout and moved towards Nnobi Road.
“Military armoured vehicle later surfaced and drove round town passing through Emecourt Road. But there was no exchange of fire as the military and the gunmen did not meet,” the source said.
The State Police Command’s spokesperson, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga confirmed an incident of fire in Nnewi, but refused to state categorically the offices involved.
He said: “At about 2pm, of 3rd Oct 2021, the command received a distress call of fire incident in Nnewi. The Police Operative are currently on ground and the area has since been cordoned off. Further details shall be communicated,” he said.
Daily Post
..HE FAILED ON ALL POLICIES HE CAMPAIGNED WITH
Human rights lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, has alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari has destroyed Nigeria.
The senior lawyer noted that Buhari has failed in his tripodal policies through which he campaigned and won election in 2015 which are: Economy, security and anti-corruption.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria spoke at a human rights lecture organised by the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, with the theme: Nigerian School Children; Insecurity and Human Rights, held in Abuja.
He pointed out that many children can no longer go to school, adding that more than seventy percent school children in Nigeria are out of schools.
According to him, from Jangebe to Chibok; from Dapchi to Kaduna between December 2020 till date, over 700 hundred school children have been kidnapped with some of them being killed or forced into marriage.
“[They were] not kidnapped in the forests but from their schools. It got so messy in Kaduna that the kidnappers demanded bags of rice, vegetable oil, salt, beans and other condiments to be cooking for their children pending when they will get enough money to get them released on ransom,” Ozekhome lamented.
He went on to say that Nigeria is currently a failed state and cannot even be called a country anymore, explaining that non-state actors such as Boko Haram, bandits and other terrorists now possess enough powers to challenge the government.
“Is that a country? Does any of you who have children living in hostels and dormitories sleep with your two eyes closed? Not knowing of when next they’ll strike? He queried.
“When President Muhammadu Buhari was campaigning for this office…I like my President but I do not like his governance style and policies.
“Policies that have impoverished Nigeria. Policies that have made Nigeria the poverty capital of the world, overtaking India. Policies that have made Nigeria that was until 2015 the biggest economy in Africa overtaking South Africa and one of the seven fastest growing economy in the world.
“His tripodal policies were on economy, security and anti-corruption. The bad news is that he has dismally failed in all of them. Security is worse right now…Boko Haram we used to have that time at least people were able to vote for him in 2015 and he won in the North East, showing that though Boko Haram existed, they were not so rampant to prevent people from voting.
“Boko Haram has since graduated, strutting around like a proud peacock. Armed banditry has escalated, kidnapping is the order of the day. In security, he has failed.
“In economy, I have already told you, we’re now the poverty capital of the world. What of anti-corruption? Go and check, we’re 168 out of 180 covered by Transparency International.
“In West Africa, we’re the 3rd most corrupt country. So where have the President and the government helped Nigeria? I had on television and in my write-up challenged Nigerians that anyone who can carry the Holy Quran or take up the Holy Bible or if you’re an atheist, pick up a piece of Sango Iron and say your life is better off today than you were in 2015.
"I challenge the person for a national debate but until now no one has taken up the challenge because everybody knows things are not right. The deaf can hear it; the dumb can speak it; the blind can see it and even the numb can feel it.
“So it’s not a question of whether you are in APC, PDP, APGA, Labour, Zenith or PPA. Hunger knows no strike, religion or nationality. The fact is that things are bad for everyone whether Muslims or Christian, atheist, old men, women, youth and children .
” Things are bad and it could be worse except Nigerians come together and go back to the drawing board. Some people are saying that Nigeria is a failing state and I say no. I don’t agree.
“If you asked me, with all due respect, I’ll say Nigeria is a failed state. Do you know why? It is because one of the greatest indices of a failed state is when non-state actors like Boko Haram, kidnappers, armed bandits have efficient and commensurate powers to match state actors like security forces. That’s a failed state.
“When Boko Haram, bandits and kidnappers begin to tell the government, ‘this is what we want.’ Taking over lands and planting their flags as Governor Zulum of Borno State and Bello of Niger State have cried out that in some lands in their States, they have planted flags; they’re demanding for taxation; they issue identity cards and give pass to people to pass.
“We don’t need any other evidence of a failed state. It’s not about liking or not liking a government, it’s about saying the reality on the ground. Please Nigerians, let’s go back to the drawing board. If you like, bring all the helicopters and fighter jets you can, the truth is that the problem is more endemic than you can see.
“Because on the surface, it looks insecurity but beneath it is what we call social injustice and lack of egalitarianism…Nigeria is wobbly, gobbling and fumbling because it was not neatly packaged on the 1st of January, 1848 by Lord Lugard.
“It started with Lady Flora Louise Shaw on the 8th of January, 1897 in an article she wrote on Economic Times where she gave Nigeria her name “Niger Area”. And we agreed to live together. And if we agreed, let us live together in peace and unity. Let’s not always say ‘Nigeria is indivisible; it’s indestructible.’
“We don’t say that by words of the mouth, we nurture it. Pakistan and India used to be one country; Eritrea and Ethiopia used to be one country as well as Sudan and Southern Sudan. So it’s not by merely saying it, you have to nurture it.
“We must have peace and social justice… we are talking about the kind of peace and social justice Chief M.K.O Abiola preached…Let us reformat and reengineer Nigeria. Let’s make a new constitution for ourselves. A constitution that will be… Indigenous, owned by the people and respected by all and legitimate.
“Not a constitution that was imposed by the General Abdusalam Abubakar government when they were going back to the barracks. How many of you know that Nigeria actually contested the 1999 elections without a constitution? Nigerians never made the constitution by themselves but even if we’re to manage it, Section 14 of that constitution said that the primary purpose of the government is to provide welfare and security for the people, are we having it?”
Daily Post
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Ladi, Son of Chief Rotimi Williams, has reportedly died of COVID-19 complication.
Chief Ladi was said to have passed away at about 3:00 am at St Nicholas isolation hospital from Covid-19 complication, despite being vaccinated.
His death was confirmed by his younger brother, Chief Kayode Rotimi-Williams.
“I just lost my elder brother, Chief Ladi Rotimi Williams (aged 74+) to Coronavirus. He passed on at 3am this morning,” he said.
Adewale Daniel Jayeoba, a 24 year old, has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged investment scam.
The EFCC said Jayeoba, a native of Ori-Ade Local Government in Osun State, used to live at Suit 1004, Providence Centre, MKO Abiola Way, by NNPC Mega Station, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
“The public is hereby notified that Adewale Daniel Jayeoba of Wales Kingdom Capital is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the alleged case of an investment scam,” the anti-graft agency’s Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, said on Monday.
It was gathered that the commission had in June arrested Jayeoba’s parents, Emmanuel and Victoria Jayeoba for allegedly defrauding people in a N935million Ponzi scheme.
At the time, Uwujaren said the couple, in complicity with their son (still at large), “operated the scheme in the guise of forex trading.”
The couple was said to have been arrested at their residence in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
“They are parents to Adewale Daniel, Marketing Director, Wales Kingdom Capital Limited,” it was said at the time.
The father, Emmanuel, was described as a Director in Wales Kingdom Capital; operating about five bank accounts with which he had allegedly received N18,397,913 before he was arrested.
The mother, Victoria, had six bank accounts through which she reportedly received up to N916,607,715.
The EFCC urged anybody with useful information about the wanted man’s whereabouts to contact any of its offices across the nation.
..as hotel guests threaten legal action, says operatives barged into rooms while naked
Celia Suites, one of the three Hotels, recently raided by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC in Abeokuta, has faulted the gestapo approach in which the operation was carried out, describing it as unprofessional.
The Compliance officer of Celia Suites, Idowu Mosope stated this while giving update about the raid by the EFCC operatives, revealing that some of the guests have threatened to sue the hotel over the invasion .
It will be recalled that the EFCC operatives at the early hours of Monday had invaded three hotels including the government-owned MITROS annex, Celia Suites and Daktad Suites in Abeokuta and whisked away 56 suspected fraudsters .
The EFCC Head of Public Affairs, Ibadan, Mr. Tokunbo Odeniyi confirmed the incident .
When Celia’s compliance officer spoke, he narrated that the EFCC operatives numbering about 25 and fully armed to the teeth, stormed the hotel in a commando-like manner, without any warrant of arrest.
Mosope revealed that EFCC operatives went to the hotel’s front office at gun point, and threatened workers to lead them to the CCTV.
He further revealed that the operatives allegedly went to the hotel’s server room, took their gadgets and DVR.
He added, “After that they collected the hotel master cards, they did not allow our staff to lead them ,they were opening the rooms one after the other with the master cards”.
Guests at one of the hotels that were raided by the operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday narrated how their privacy was allegedly violated during the sting operation.
The guests who raised complaints to the Compliance officer of Celia’s Suites, Idowu Mosope disclosed that the EFCC operatives allegedly forcefully entered their rooms and met many of them naked.
Mosope however said some guests complained that they were naked when the EFCC operatives barged into their rooms around 3:00 am on Monday in search of internet fraudsters .
The Compliance officer who claimed that he has attended series of training by EFCC on money laundering and fraud, said the operatives pointed guns at the guests and later went away with three guests that arrived Nigeria from Dubai.
He further said, “They invaded into privacy of these guests without allowing our staff to guide them in line with the international standard and hotel practices. That was not what they told us in the training .
“They did not knock , they did not spend more than 20 minutes here, it is like they are tracing somebody . If they had told us we would have shown them and other guests would not have known . They opened all the rooms and some guests were naked and scared .
“Now , the guests want to sue the hotel and not EFCC .They said why did we allow their privacy to be intruded , why did we give them master cards . We did not say they should not work, our boss hate anything like internet fraud . We don’t take them.”
He added that the EFCC operatives checked all the 15 rooms in the hotel, entered all the rooms and took away three guests.
“The guest came in on Saturday with his pregnant wife from Dubai and two of his friends .
“We collected his profile when he came and kept it .
“On his luggage we called police because the EFFC did not take his luggage away and his wife left the second day . We called police and they came to document it before we packed the load so that anytime he comes we can handover this luggage to him .
He however advised that the operatives need to be professional by arming themselves the warrant.
He said ” they should have come with warrant of arrest of somebody they are tracing , we are partners in progress.
“They have told us that we should cooperate and we are cooperating, anybody that they are tracking they should show us so that other people will not be affected. This has given us bad image, our reputation has gone bad this is demarketing on its own .”
Platform Times
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and foremost human rights activist, Femi Falana will be representing the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) in their legal battle against the Federal Government.
The chairman of Communication and Communique of the NARD, Dr Julian Ojebo, disclosed this on Monday.
Barely two weeks after the resident doctors started the strike, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, through the Minister, Dr Chris Ngige, took the doctors to the National Industrial Court to explain why the “no work no pay” rule should not be applied against them.
The court however adjourned the case till September 15, 2021.
The NARD started the work to rule on August 2, 2021, after the Federal Government failed to fulfill its agreement made with them through a memorandum of understanding (MoU).
Chief among the 12 demands by the doctors are: the payment of salaries owed 114 House Officers who are on the GIFMIS platform, withdrawal of the circular by the Head of Service removing House Officers from the Scheme of Service, payment of death in service insurance benefits to families of 21 doctors who died of COVID-19 in the line of duty, among other demands.
The Nation