Police Arrest 11 Men For Raping 12-Year-Old Girl

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June 1, 2020

The Jigawa State Police Command said it had arrested 11 men for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl in the state.

The men were said to have raped the victim on different occasions.

The suspects were arrested when one of them allegedly lured the victim to the Limawa Market in of the Dutse Local Government Area of the state.

Upon interrogation, the victim named the other suspects, who had carnal knowledge of her.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abdu Jinjiri, as saying that the suspects were arrested on Saturday after the police received a complaint that one of them tried to have sexual intercourse with the victim.

He said, “A case of rape is being investigated at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department in Dutse following a report received by the police that a 57-year-old man from Ma’ai village, Dutse LGA, was seen in the Limawa Market trying to lure a 12-year-old girl of the same address to seclusion to have sexual intercourse with her.

“In the course of interrogation, the victim listed the names of 11 men, who had sexual intercourse with her at different times, and to this end, the police arrested the listed suspects, who will be charged as soon as investigations are completed.”

Obaseki May Be Disqualified By APC NWC Over Certificate Issue

By

Alex Enemanna

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June 1, 2020

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Ahead of the June 22 governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, there are suspicions that Governor Godwin Obaseki may be disqualified from participating in the primaries by the screening committee set up by the national leadership of the party.

A credible source in the party said aside from the mode of primaries which has become a subject of controversy, there is a likelihood that Obaseki may not scale the screening session of the APC which may scuttle his chances of becoming the party’s flag bearer in the September 19 governorship election.

According to him, the party said it is trying to prevent a reoccurrence of what happened in Bayelsa when the Supreme Court nullified the victory of David Lyon, the governor-elect, on the grounds that his running mate, Senator Biobarakumo Degi-Eremienyo, presented forged certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“The national chairman and his group want to use some lack of original certificates to disqualify Governor Godwin Obaseki at the screening.

“If they succeed, the implication is that the governor may not even participate in the primary, whether direct or indirect,” the source said.

“The Obaseki group are also spoiling for war. They will soon be releasing documents from when Oshiomhole was governor to nail him, how he was moving monies around.

“Already, they are circulating videos of all the negative things Oshiomhole said about Ize-Iyamu during the 2016 governorship election and how he is unfit to rule the state,” he said.

Also on Sunday, governors elected on the platform of the APC met with the party’s national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on the fate of Governor Obaseki and the mode of primaries to be adopted.

According to our source, about nine APC governors, led by Governor Atiku Bagudu, who is the chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, attended the meeting with Tinubu at the State House, Marina.

“Yes, the APC governors, led by Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu, met with Asiwaju Tinubu behind closed doors yesterday. I saw them but I don’t know what was discussed at the meeting,” he said.

In a related development, the Ize-Iyamu campaign organisation on Sunday said Governor Obaseki was plotting to obtain a court injunction to stop Ize-Iyamu from participating in the primaries.

A statement signed by Prince John Mayaki, Director of Communication and Media, Pastor Osagie Ize- Iyamu Campaign Organisation, and made available to our correspondent, read:

“The embattled governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, is plotting to procure an interim injunction at the Abudu High Court or any other court in Edo State barring the APC from conducting its internal primary election scheduled for June 22 and restraining Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu, his main challenger, from contesting the election, according to reliable sources.

“Also named in the plot are Osarodion Ogie, the Secretary to the State Government, Wole Iyamu, SAN, Solicitor General of the State, and Ken Mozia, SAN.

“These officials, acting on the instruction of Godwin Obaseki, have allegedly induced Justice Eborieme of the High Court in Abudu to grant a baseless application for the interim injunction.

“Civil society groups privy to the plan have issued a stern warning to the Edo State judiciary not to avail itself as a tool to scuttle the democracy of the state.

“As the bastion of democracy, the courts are to protect democratic institutions and processes.

“They are not meant to be used by the government of the state, or any government official, to truncate democratic processes or serve personal political ambitions.”

Buhari Set To Approve Reopening Of Worship Centres

By

Alex Enemanna

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June 1, 2020

1

President Muhammadu Buhari is likely to approve the reopening of churches and mosques from Monday this week.

Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 and Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha says appropriate recommendations on the reopening of worship centres have been forwarded to the President for approval.

Mustapha was responding to questions from journalists after he led members of the PTF to brief the President as the first phase of the easing of lockdown restrictions elapses nationwide.

He says the states have a critical role to play in the second phase of the gradual easing of the lockdown.

After submitting the fourth interim report to President Buhari on the gradual reopening of the economy at the Presidential Villa, the PTF said Nigeria is still in the most dangerous stage of the Covid-19 pandemic which is community transmission and its high time states, local governments, traditional and religious institutions take ownership of the next stage of the gradual easing of lockdown.

When asked if Nigeria is truly winning the fight against Covid-19, the PTF Chairman said the country is not out of the woods yet, hence the need for Nigerians to support the government by adhering to all guidelines.

President Buhari is expected to approve the recommendations of the PTF on which segment of the economy will be allowed to open on Monday.

“Your Lopsided Appointments Will Ruin Nigeria” — Umar Dangiwa Warn Buhari

By

Alex Enemanna

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June 1, 2020

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Umar Dangiwa, a retired colonel and former military administrator of Kaduna, says President Muhammadu Buhari’s knack for appointing people from his section of Nigeria into office will ruin the country.

ABN TV reports that Dangiwa flayed the president in an open letter to him, citing the case of the acting appeal court president whose appointment has not been confirmed.

Buhari had extended the protem appointment of Monica Dongban-Mensem, who is a Christian, as the president of the court of appeal without formalising her position as substantive head of the appellate court.

The president has not sent her name to the Senate for the confirmation of her appointment.

This has raised questions regarding the reasons behind the decision of the president.

In the open letter, Dangiwa who served as military governor of Kaduna between 1985 and 1988 under the regime of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, asked Buhari to emulate some past Nigerian leaders who showed great statesmanship.

Dangiwa is renowned for opposing the annulment of the June 12 election in 1993 by the government in which he served.

Dangiwa was arrested for his dissent against the regime but was released. Dangiwa afterwards resigned from the army.

Below is the letter by Dangiwa in full.

OPEN LETTER FROM COL. DANGIWA UMAR (RTD) TO PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI

Muhammadu Buhari, Sunday 30th May 2020

President,

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,

Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Dear Mr. President,

MR. PRESIDENT; PLEASE BELONG TO ALL OF US.

“One of the swiftest ways of destroying a Kingdom is to give preference of one particular tribe over another or show favor to one group of people rather than another. And to draw near those who should be kept away and keep away those who should be drawn near” Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio.

I have been prompted to write you this open letter, Mr. President, by the loud sounds of drums, singing and dancing that erupted within many groups in the last few days on the grounds that you attained the 5th year in office as President of Nigeria. It comes as no surprise that enthusiasm for the celebration is not shared equally by segments of the public. While your admirers and supporters believe you have performed well, many others believe the five years you have been in office as our President has not met the yearnings, expectations and change promised Nigerians.

Mr. President, you know me well enough and my position on issues to realize that I can be neither a rabid supporter nor a fanatical opponent of yours. I believe being a responsible citizen is enough reason to wish you well and to work for your success. As we have seen all too clearly these past few years, your success is ours as is your failure. We swim or sink with you!

You might wish to recall that after the results of the 23rd of February 2019 presidential elections were announced, giving you victory, I addressed a press conference during which I urged the runner-up, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, to concede defeat. The reason was clear: tensions were running high and little missteps by the leaders might ignite violence, as often happened after major elections. Some supporters of Abubakar Atiku disagreed with me and told me off. As it happened, Alhaji Atiku went ahead to mount a legal challenge to the outcome of the elections up to the Supreme Court. Mercifully, his actions did not result in an outbreak of violence as we feared.

At the same occasion, I counselled the declared winner, your good self, to use the opportunity of your second term to redeem your pledge of being a leader and president of all Nigerians.

On the occasion of the first-year anniversary into your second four-year term, I feel there is an urgent need to revisit this subject matter.

Mr. President, you have often expressed the hope that history will be kind to you. It is within your competence to write that history. But you have less than three years in which to do it. You may wish to note that any authentic history must be devoid of myth. It will be a true, factual rendition of the record of your performance.

And truth be told, Mr. President, there are quite a lot of things that speak to your remarkable accomplishments, not least of which is that for the first time in our democratic history, a sitting President was defeated. That feat was achieved by Muhammadu Buhari. The reason was the public belief of you as a man of integrity.

The corollary to this is that at the expiration of your 8-year tenure in 2023, your achievements will not be measured solely by the physical infrastructure your administration built. An enduring legacy would be based on those intangible things like how much you uplifted the spirit and moral tone of the nation. How well have you secured the nation from ourselves and from external enemies?

At this time and in the light of all that have happened since you took office, any conversation with you Mr. President cannot gloss over the chaos that has overtaken appointments into government offices in your administration. All those who wish you and the country well must mince no words in warning you that Nigeria has become dangerously polarized and risk sliding into crisis on account of your administration’s lopsided appointments which continues to give undue preference to some sections of the country over others.

Nowhere is this more glaring than in the leadership cadre of our security services.

Mr. President, I regret that there are no kind or gentle words to tell you that your skewed appointments into the offices of the federal government, favoring some and frustrating others, shall bring ruin and destruction to this nation.

I need not remind you, Mr. President, that our political history is replete with great acts of exemplary leadership which, at critical moments, managed to pull this nation back from the precipice and assured its continued existence.

A few examples will demonstrate this:

In February, 1965, the NPC-led Federal Government was faced with a decision to appoint a successor to the outgoing Nigerian Army General Officer Commanding (GOC), General Welby Everard, a Briton. Four most senior officers were nominated; namely, Brigadiers Aguiyi Ironsi, Ogundipe, Ademulegun and Maimalari. The first three were senior to Maimalari but he was deemed to be more qualified due to his superior commission. He was the first Sandhurst Regular trained officer in the Nigerian Army. His being a Muslim Northerner like the Minister of Defense, Alhaji Muhammadu Ribadu and the Prime Minister, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa granted him added advantage by today’s standards. But to the surprise of even the Igbos, and opposition from some senior NPC members, Minister Ribadu recommended Ironsi, pointing to his seniority. The Prime Minister concurred and Aguiyi Ironsi was confirmed as the first indigenous GOC of the Nigerian Army.

When on 13 February 1976, the Commander-in-Chief, General Murtala Muhammed, was assassinated in a failed Coup de tat, General Olusegun Obasanjo, his deputy and the most senior officer at the time, was sworn in as his successor. The Chief of Army Staff, General T.Y Danjuma, a Northern Christian, was next in line to succeed Obasanjo as the Chief of Staff, SHQ and Deputy Commander in Chief. General Danjuma however waived his right and recommended a much junior officer, Lt. Col. Shehu Musa Yar’adua, for the post. Shehu was promoted two steps up to the rank of Brigadier and appointed Chief of Staff SHQ and Deputy Commander-in-Chief. Lt. Col. Muhammadu Buhari was appointed Minister of Petroleum. This was done to placate Muslim North which was deemed to have lost one of its own, Murtala Muhammed.

Both the chief of staff, Mr. Sunday Awoniyi, and the personal physician Dr Ishaya Audu to the Premier of Northern Nigeria, Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello, a direct descendant of Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio, were Christians.

Barely nine years after the civil war in 1979, the NPN Presidential candidate, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, picked an Igbo, Dr Alex Ekwueme, as his running mate. They enjoyed a truly brotherly relationship as President and Vice President. President Shagari’s political advisor, Dr Chuba Okadigbo and National Assembly Liaison, assistant, Dr K.O Mbadiwe, were both Igbos. His economic advisor, Prof. Emmanuel Edozien and his Chief of Personnel Staff Dr Michael Prest, were of Niger Delta extraction. Remarkably, all his military service chiefs were Christians with the exception of his last Chief Army Staff, General Inuwa Wushishi under whose tenure he was removed in a military coup de tat.

Mr. President, as a witness and beneficiary, it is our expectation that you would emulate these great acts of statesmanship. Which is why we have continued to engage with you.

You may wish to recall that I had cause to appeal to you, to confirm Justice Onnoghen as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria a few days before the expiration of his three months tenure of acting appointment to be replaced by a Muslim Northerner. We were saved that embarrassment when his nomination was sent to the senate by the then acting President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo. When he was finally confirmed a few days to the end of his tenure, he was removed after a few months and replaced by Justice Muhammed, a Muslim from the North.

May I also invite the attention of Mr. President to the pending matter of appointment of a Chief Judge of the Nigerian Court Appeal which appears to be generating public interest. As it is, the most senior Judge, Justice Monica Dongban Mensem, a northern Christian, is serving out her second three-month term as acting Chief Judge without firm prospects that she will be confirmed substantive head. I do not know Justice Mensem but those who do attest to her competence, honesty and humility. She appears eminently qualified for appointment as the substantive Chief Judge of the Court of Appeal as she is also said to be highly recommended by the National Judicial Council. If she is not and is bypassed in favor of the next in line who happens to be another northern Muslim, that would be truly odd. In which case, even the largest contingent of PR gurus would struggle to rebut the charges that you, Mr. President, is either unwilling or incapable of acting on your pledge to belong to everyone — and to no one. I hope you would see your way into pausing and reflecting on the very grave consequences of such failure not just to your legacy but to the future of our great country.

Thank you for your time, Mr. President.

COL. ABUBAKAR DANGIWA UMAR (RTD)

“Social Distancing In Church Is Unbiblical” – Pastor Chris

By

Alex Enemanna

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June 1, 2020

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Chris Okotie, the pastor of the Household of God Church, says the proposed guidelines by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for the reopening of churches are “unbiblical”.

Like mosques, churches have remained closed in several states across the country for weeks as part of measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

But according to The Sun, CAN have last Thursday said it released a 10-point guideline to be presented to the federal government for approval.

Samson Ayokunle, CAN president, said the guidelines, drafted in compliance with the government’s efforts to tackle the COVID-19, would determine the operations of churches when they reopen.

The guidelines, among others, propose that churches should strictly observe social distancing during services.

“Every worshipper must wear a face mask. Social distancing should be observed in the sitting arrangement with the one-meter gap between two worshippers. One and a half-hour service is enough for a start.

“There should be a gap of 25 or 30 minutes between one service and another where there are multiple services to avoid crowd,” Ayokunle had said.

In his reaction, Okotie, in a statement on Sunday, wondered why CAN would allow the coronavirus pandemic to determine the scope of worship in churches.

“Greetings. I am Rev Chris Okotie. I called earlier to discuss a report in today’s Sun Newspaper in which CAN recommend guidelines for the Opening of Churches.

“Social distancing in the Church of Jesus Christ is tantamount to blasphemous infidelity and an impeachment of the integrity of the word of God,” he said.

The clergyman said such directives undermine the divine healing characteristic for which the church is known for.

He went on to call on CAN to reconsider its position, adding that no true minister of God would support such initiative.

“Healing is fundamental to the redemptive work of Jesus. To allow the idol of coronavirus to determine the scope of congregational worship in the house of God is an abomination of gargantuan proportions,” he said.

“No true minister of the gospel will succumb to such travesty of the faith. This is a summary of my objections. I have sent this message hoping that you would respond as one who bears the burden of the cross of Jesus.

“I have restrained myself from making a public outcry of this desecration and profanation out of respect for you and the CAN hierarchy. But be assured that this position is transient.”

Okotie’s statement comes about three weeks after David Oyedepo, the presiding bishop of Living Faith Worldwide, declared that anyone against the rise of the church will die.

Chris Oyakhilome, the founder of LoveWorld Incorporated, had also scolded pastors for shutting down their churches in compliance with the federal government’s ban on religious gatherings.

Nigeria Needs To Scale Up COVID-19 Testing – ActionAid

By

Alex Enemanna

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June 1, 2020

1

ActionAid Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation, says the country needs to scale up its testing capacity for COVID-19.

In a statement issued after its virtual meeting on Saturday, the organisation said Nigeria needs to intensify actions on clinical and preventive measures.

Nigeria has so far tested a little above 60,000 people for the coronavirus, but this is still low when compared to samples tested by other African countries; for instance, as of May 6, Ghana said it had conducted 135,902 tests.

ActionAid said while the country needs to scale up it’s testing, physical distancing advisory should be implemented to the letter.

“The Federal, State and Local governments should develop and include a coordinated approach to manage the relocation and welfare of street children in the local, state and national COVID-19 response strategy,” the organisation said.

“There should be adequate space for the children in their holding locations with guaranteed safety, shelter, physical distancing, sustainable feeding and testing for COVID-19.

“Beyond COVID-19, northern state governors should start to conceptualise ways to fix the Almajiri system by intensifying the campaign for parents to take responsibility for their children while articulating a robust plan that will keep children off the streets for good and reintegrate them in formal education.”

It also called on the government to increase budgetary allocations for agriculture, health and education sectors to aid Nigeria’s recovery from the pandemic.

“Evidence has shown that increased investments in these pro-poor sectors have a strong impact on poverty and inequality reduction, while simultaneously creating employment opportunities,” it said.

“Agriculture employs up to 80% of the population, especially in the informal sector, where the majority of the small-scale food producers are women farmers.

“Financial inclusiveness should be encouraged through increased access to credit for the small-scale farmers.”

ActionAid further said lawmakers should partner with civil society organisations to redraft the controversial Control of Infectious Diseases Bill, 2020, and “replace the oppressive clauses in the proposed bill with provisions that guarantee human rights and privacy in access to healthcare.”

Bandits Kill APC LG Chairman, Take Over Villages

By

Alex Enemanna

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June 1, 2020

1

Bandits have killed the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Batsari Local Government Area (LGA) of Katsina State, Mr Abdulhamid Duburawa.

The lawmaker representing Batsari Constituency at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Jabiru Yauyau, confirmed the killing of the APC chairman in a telephone interview with THISDAY yesterday.

Some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Faskari LGA in the state, yesterday also raised the alarm that the bandits had taken over their villages and communities.

Yauyau said the bandits, riding on motorcycles, stormed the residence of the victim at Sabon-Garin Duburawa village in Ruma ward of the council area about 12:47 pm yesterday.

He said: “It is true, some bandits riding on motorcycles attacked our party chairman, Abdulhamid Sani Duburawa, at his hometown Sabon-Garin Duburawa and shot him severally and left.

“He was rushed to the Batsari General Hospital for treatment but unfortunately for us, he died. His body has been moved to his residence here in Batsari in preparation for burial.”

The lawmaker called on security personnel to intensify efforts in tackling banditry in the area, saying “if not, the bandits will finish us.”

However, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Gambo Isah, a Superintendent of Police, was yet to respond to inquiries as of the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, the IDPs in Faskari LGA in the state, yesterday raised the alarm that bandits have sacked their villages and communities.

The displaced persons, who are currently taking refuge in Faskari Model Primary School alleged that despite the deployment of security personnel by the federal government to flush out the hoodlums in the state, killings had continued unabated in their villages.

The refugees, in separate interviews with THISDAY in the makeshift camp, said the bandits had taken over Birni Kogo, Ungwan Tsamiya, Ungwan Liman, Ungwan Zuru, Bangi and Kafi, among other villages in the local government area.

The Chairman of the camp, Mr Aliyu Lawal, had told THISDAY that there were 2,624 IDPs in the camp and over 3,000 others outside the temporary camp.

According to Lawal, the displaced persons are from 23 villages of Birnin Kogo, Tsamiya, Zuru, Bangi, Kafi, Ungwan Liman, Gago, Gidan Wakili, Makera, Gidan Sharo, Danmairo, Sabuwar Ungwa, Ruwan Kusa, Bika, Kogon Kura, Dan Boka, Maigiya, Gwanki, Dudu, Ungwan Dorawa, Shuwaki, Akwanfa and Rabah.

One of the IDPs, Saratu Maigora, from Zuru, said the marauding bandits ransacked their village and carted away all their belongings, including foodstuffs.

She added that banditry and other heinous activities orchestrated by the miscreants have become a daily occurrence in most communities in Faskari.

“Since the day we were displaced by bandits in Zuru, they couldn’t allow us to return. They have taken over our ancestral homes; we want to go. The police should go and kill these bandits,” she stated.

Another refugee, Mr Abubakar Kabiru, said: “We have been displaced by bandits for almost a month. Many people who survived the invasion are squatting with families and friends or getting shelter wherever they can with untold hardship.”

On his part, Adamu Bangi, said: “Even yesterday (Saturday) bandits killed three people and kidnapped six others in Matsuri village of Faskari.

“They came on motorcycles and attacked Matsuri and adjoining villages; shooting sporadically and in the process killed the victims. The government should put an end to these killings,” he added.