The Independent National Electoral Commission has countered a claim by a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, that Permanent Voters’ Cards have expired.
Tinubu had made the claim while addressing women leaders of the APC who paid him a visit in Abuja, on Tuesday.
The former governor of Lagos State also lamented that there had been a decline in the number of eligible voters in recent times.
Reacting, Chief Technical Adviser to the Chairman of INEC, Prof Bolade Eyinla, stated that PVCs previously registered to remain valid.
This is as he advised those who already have PVCs not to bother about registering for another one.
“This information is not correct. The PVC issued to all previously registered voters remains valid. This kind of statement will certainly push eligible voters to register more than once thereby creating the problem of double and multiple registrations,” he said as quoted by Daily Trust.
Buttressing Eyinla’s point, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Lawrence Oyekanmi, pointed out that registering for PVC more than once is an offence under the law.
“In fact, double registration is an offence under our laws. Eligible Nigerians are entitled to register only once. Once a name appears on the National Register of Voters, it stays there permanently.
“One of the very few instances where a name could be removed from the register is if there’s a strong and verifiable proof that the person bearing the name has died,” Oyekanmi said.
Austin Eguavoen’s men sealed their dominance in Group D with another win at the Roumde Adjia Stadium on Wednesday
Nigeria defeated Guinea-Bissau 2-0 to finish their group campaign at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations with a 100 per cent win record.
After a goalless first half, goals from Umar Sadiq and William Troost-Ekong helped the three-time African champions grab nine points after three games in Group D.
After victories over Egypt and Sudan in previous games, Eguavoen made eight changes to his starting XI which included Sadiq, goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, Semi Ajayi, Chidera Ejuke and Kelechi Nwakali.
A 1-0 victory over Egypt in their opening game set the tone, before a 3-1 win over Sudan sent Nigeria through to the knockout stages with a game to spare.
That means they have the luxury of resting players should they choose, thought Nigeria would be the only team with a perfect record in the group stage should they win tonight.
For Guinea-Bissau, there is far more resting on the match. A draw against Sudan is the only point they have managed in the tournament so far, but with the four best third-placed teams making it through to the last 16, there is every chance that a shock win against the Super Eagles could send them through.
German ex-chancellor Angela Merkel has said no thanks to an offer of a job with the United Nations, her office said Wednesday, as she settles into retirement after 16 years in power.
UN sources confirmed that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had asked Merkel to lead an advisory panel on a “common agenda” for governance after the pandemic that he set out late last year.
Merkel “spoke with the UN Secretary-General last week, thanked him and told him she would not be accepting the offer”, her office said in a statement, confirming media reports.
The 67-year-old Merkel left office last month and was succeeded by Social Democrat Olaf Scholz at the helm of a three-way coalition with the Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats.
Despite feverish speculation as to what she might do next, Merkel remained tight-lipped, hinting only at a quiet life of books and sleep.
However, her long-time aide Beate Baumann revealed last month that they were collaborating on Merkel’s political memoirs, a project she said would take two to three years.
After serving as an MP for 30 years, Merkel still has an office provided by the Bundestag.
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has pledged N460 million to the 23 local government area chairmen to fight oil bunkering in the state.
This implies that each chairman will receive N20 million to destroy illegal refinery sites that have been identified in their respective domains.
Wike made this pledge on Wednesday when he met with the local government chairmen, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers, Friday Eboka, and the State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Aliyu Bature.
According to the governor, the decision to fight illegal refineries in the state is aimed at sending a strong message to oil bunkers.
He equally directed the police commissioner to provide security cover for the local government chairmen in the clearance operations.
“All of you should hire bulldozers, clear all those creeks,” the governor ordered the LG bosses. “The government will give you some money so that they will know that we are serious.
“Those of you who are from the riverine areas, I don’t want to hear it is the creek. Go and clear those areas, apply to the state government, each of you, at least N20 million for a start to hire the equipment.
“That does not mean you will wait before you start. You must start today, tomorrow. CP, please give them the security to do this work. Don’t give them two policemen.”
This comes a week after the governor asked the police commissioner to collaborate with heads of other security agencies in Rivers, council chairmen, and traditional rulers to fish out all those involved in illegal bunkering and artisanal refining for prosecution.
He had accused persons engaged in illegal bunkering and artisanal refining of being responsible for the soot polluting the air and endangering the health of residents of the state.
The governor also declared that the state government has resolved to curb the activities of those involved in crude oil theft and refining once and for all.
Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, on Wednesday, asked the Federal Government to apologise to Nnamdi Kanu and pay him the N1bn damages awarded to him by a High Court in Abia State,
National Coordinator of HURIWA, Emmanuel Onwubiko, made this known in a statement titled, ‘Pay Mazi Nnamdi Kanu N1 Billion, Apologise Now, HURIWA Tells President Buhari’.
ABN TV had reported that the court ordered the Federal Government to pay the sum of N1bn to the embattled leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and issue a letter of apology to him.
Kanu had approached the court demanding N5bn over the invasion of his father’s house by the military on September 10, 2017.
Justice Benson Anya on Wednesday stated that the Federal Government violated Kanu’s fundamental rights through the invasion of his father’s house. The judge also recommended political solution to resolve Kanu’s detention and agitation.
Reacting, HURIWA said it “strongly endorses the decision of the Hon judge of the Abia State High Court in Umuahia which today directed the Federal Government to pay a sum of N1bn to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu”.
“HURIWA supports the order for Government to tender an apology to Nnamdi Kanu. The matter was about the invasion but we do think that the landmark judgment suffices for the illegal abduction that the Nigerian government subjected him to in Kenya,” the group added.
Chief Whip of the Senate and Former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has declared ahead of the 2023 general elections that though he is ready for the campaigns and capable to lead the country he is not desperate to become President.
Fielding questions from journalists at the National Assembly on Wednesday, a day after he visited President Buhari at the Presidential villa on Tuesday night, the Senate Chief Whip emphasised that the Presidential contest will be the collective decision of Nigerians and the zoning arrangement of the Political parties particularly his party the ruling All Progressive’s Congress.
The former Governor however maintained that the Southeast region was overdue to Produce the next President of the country, he added that there were only two zones yet to produce the President which were the Southeast and Northeast geo Political zones.
Kalu stressed that his visit to President Buhari was a usual one adding that their relationship has spanned for years before he became President. He disclosed that their discussions were centered on national issues with regards to security, electoral laws and the welfare of the country.
He said; “This is not the first time I’m going to see the President. People usually go in the afternoon but I went in the night to avoid the press.
“I go there regularly.It’s a family affair and I went there to discuss national issues with regards to security, well being of our country and the issue of the electoral law and the discussion was very fruitful.
When asked if he informed the President of his Presidential Ambition.
He responded “Has the party zoned the ticket to the Southeast? It’s only when the party zone is officially to the South. I have said before that there are only two zones that have not been President : the Southeast and the Northeast. Once it’s zoned to the Southeast I have the capacity and the capability I will roll out my campaign and rock like a hurricane”.
“It’s overdue for an Igboman to become a Nigerian President, I believe the Southeast should produce the next President and it’s going to happen’.
Kalu said those against the Igbos from producing the next president of Nigeria were not being fair to the South-East and North-East geopolitical zones which had never produced the President since 1999.
He said those already pushing are not being fair to the feelings of Nigerians.
“They are not serious. A serious minded person will like to be fair to Nigeria, to be fair to the society and be fair to the atmosphere because this party is not owned by me or by you the press people. It is only APC people that can decide where the party ticket will go,If they zone it to the Southeast I have all it takes to make a good President”.
The Abia North Senator said that he would pursue his Presidential Ambition with other geopolitical zones of the Nation, while stressing that he will commence Nationwide consultation at the right time.
Responding to questions on the APC’s forthcoming February 26th convention Kalu expressed optimism that the exercise will be raucous free saying that the outcome will make Nigerians proud.
When asked about President Buhari’s body language to the contentious electoral act and 2023 Kalu responded saying “He’s body language is where other Nigerians are . His body language is for Nigeria and Nigerians.”
Recall that Kalu’s declaration came barely 24 hours after former Governor of Lagos State and National Leader of APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu met with President Buhari to express his interest in the top job. The Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi had also met with Buhari to declare his ambition to take over from him in 2023.
Following the order of the court that the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, be compensated with N1bn for total violation of his fundamental human rights, Counsel to the Army, Amos Tory, Wednesday said the military would respond after studying the judgement.
Recall that Abia State High Court sitting in Umuahia had ordered the Nigeria Army to pay N1billion compensation to the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu for invading his house in September 2017 during Operation Python Dance ii.
The court also ordered the Army and the federal government to apologize to Kanu in three national dailies for the infringement of his fundamental human rights following the September 10, 2017, military invasion of his house.
Justice Benson Anya who gave the orders while delivering judgement on the suit filed by Kanu against the federal government, the Army, and six others for allegedly violating his fundamental human rights, declared the raid as unlawful.
Kanu, had through his Special Counsel Aloy Ejimakor, filed a suit against the federal government, the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; the Chief of Army Staff, COAS; and the Inspector General of Police, IG for violating his fundamental rights.
Other Respondents are the Director-General of the Department of State Services, DSS; the Abia State Director of DSS; the state Commissioner of Police; and the Army Brigade Commander, Ohafia.
He sought, among other reliefs, ”a declaration that the military invasion of his building and premises at Isiama, Afaraukwu Ibeku, Abia State on 10th September, 2017 by the Respondents or their agents is illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and amount to infringement of the Applicant’s fundamental right to life, dignity of his person, his personal liberty and fair hearing as guaranteed under the pertinent provisions of Chapter IV of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (hereafter, CFRN) and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (hereafter, the Charter)”.
Justice Anya who read the judgement from 10:05 am to 11:09 am, declared that the issue of the military invasion of Kanu’s house on September 10, 2017 “was so notorious that the court cannot turn a blind eye to it”.
He said that the federal government the Army and other security agencies made flimsy and ineffectual denials of their involvement in the said invasion instead of proving otherwise.
The Judge put a poser to the Respondents: ”Assuming you were not responsible for the invasion, what steps did you take as Government and agents of state responsible for the protection of all citizens including the Applicant, to investigate the invasion and bring the perpetrators to book”?
Justice Anya held that “Nigeria is an integral part of the comity of democratic nations who must respect human rights”, adding that violence, adoption and torture do not resolve but fertilise conflicts.
The court further advised the federal government to embrace dialogue and political solution in handling the issue of Nnamdi Kanu in the interest of peace.
The court however declined Kanu’s prayer to be returned to Britain, his country of abode before his rendition from Kenya.
It also said that it lacked the competence to abdicate on the issue of Kanu’s “abduction” in Kenya and extraordinary rendition, saying that only Federal High Courts have jurisdiction over extradition matters.
According to the Judge, Kenya is outside the territorial jurisdiction of the court, hence, the court cannot entertain the issue of extradition.
The court also struck out the preliminary objections by the Respondents that a state High Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain suit against agencies of federal government, ruling that the objections were “misconstrued and frivolous”.
Responding, Counsel to the Army, Amos Tory, said he was waiting for the copy of the judgement which he would transmit to his clients for study and determination of the next line of action.
In his response, Ejimakor who led Kanu’s defense team, hailed the judgement, saying it has proved that Kanu contrary to allegation, did not jump bail but only escaped for his dear life.
He said that “the judgement means that the bench warrant against Kanu in Abuja court has to be vacated”.
Ejimakor hailed the courage of the court in declaring the military invasion of Kanu’s house illegal.
On the Court’s decline from abdicating on the issue of Kanu’s rendition for lack of jurisdiction, Ejimakor said the legal team would consider other options after careful study of the judgement.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, Ugochinyere Ikenga, who said he was at the court in solidarity for Kanu, urged President Muhamnadu Buhari to heed the advice of the court, Igbo elders and other eminent Nigerians, to embrace dialogue and political solution in Kanu’s matter.
He called for the immediate release of the IPOB Leader, arguing that if the federal government could grant amnesty to bandits, it should not be reluctant to do same to a freedom fighter.
Ikenga, thanked Kanu’s legal team for its efforts, and urged senior Igbo lawyers to join the struggle for Kanu’s defense.
Responding also, the Leader of the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Mr. Uchenna Madu, applauded the judgement but said it looked like it had a dictation of the powers from above as some of Kanu’s prayers were turned down.
He said that Kanu’s represents head of the struggle for Biafra liberation and that any persecution against his is persecution against entire Biafra.
Expressing full solidarity for Kanu, the MASSOB Leader said no amount of intimidation or persecution would suppress the agitation for Biafra.
Igboayaka O Igboayaka with other Igbo youth leaders was at the court to solidarise with Kanu.
Meanwhile, there was heavy security presence at the court premises as all roads leading to the premises were cordoned off, and human and vehicular traffics diverted to alternate routes.
Governor Ben Ayade of Cross Rivers State has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts at addressing insecurity in Nigeria, saying the country would have collapsed if not for his drive.
The governor said this on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, explaining that the President’s military background helped in making that possible.
According to him, there was an international conspiracy against the country, particularly the northern regions.
“Perhaps, if it was not Buhari’s administration with his military background, the country would have collapsed at this stage,” he added.
“People don’t know that because if you have been able to avoid risk, nobody can see it because it was avoided. I think the situation could have been worse.”
He noted that apart from addressing insecurity, the present government is also repositioning the economy, adding that there have been moves to tap into other sources of revenue.
“Today, the APC government is coming up with a robust programme. We have 42 billion tonnes of bitumen deposit in Nigeria, making us the third after Canada and Venezuela. This government has a robust plan to put in place a proper bitumen processing plant which has never existed,” the governor added.
The governor, who thanked the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for his time with the main opposition party, however, called on them to advise the government when necessary.
Nigerians, he said, should look beyond party lines and put the nation first in whatever they do.
“I will not want to speak on party lines because party lines is what has kept this country backwards. We should think like a country; we should think like a nation,” the former PDP member noted.
“There is nothing wrong with a PDP government; the PDP people making inputs to bring value.”
Aisha Umar, a female Internally Displaced Person (IDP) in Borno State, has taken her life after allegedly being raped by an official of an International Non-Governmental Organisation (name withheld).
The deceased, who was into menial jobs for survival, was reportedly lured to the apartment of the suspect at 303 Housing Estate, near Dalori IDP camp, Maiduguri, under the guise of cleaning the place.
The suspect identified as Huzaif Adam, 35, was said to have forcefully had sex with her when she came into his apartment.
According to a source, the victim’s cry for help attracted neighbours to Adam’s apartment, but he had already raped her by then.
The neighbours were said to have forced his door open.
The source said the victim, who was traumatised rushed to Adam’s kitchen where she picked up a knife that she used to stab herself.
A police officer, who confirmed the incident to Daily Trust, said the suspect was detained at Gwange Division of Borno Police Command after his arrest but he was later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).
“We arrested the perpetrator but he has now been transferred to the SCID. His case file is in Gwange Divisional of Police,” the officer said.
Executive Director Women in the New Nigeria and Youth Empowerment initiative, Comrade Lucy D Yunana, said she visited both Gwange Police Station and the University of Maiduguri to ascertain the incident.
“I was contacted via my office and I called Commissioner of Sport after. The incident happened around our Area 303/202 EFCC area. I saw the perpetrator and interviewed him, and also saw the corpse of the innocent girl at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH). It’s a really sad incident; justice should be served.
“The girl was crying and quoted as saying, ‘Why would you do this to me?’ Instead of bringing shame to my parents after deflowering me, I rather die than go home.”
US President Donald Trump asserted Thursday he does not need congressional approval to launch strikes on land against Venezuela despite criticism that he is...
