IT’S FAKE NEWS, THERE’S NO PLOT TO IMPEACH ME – AKPABIO
Dons Eze
- October 16, 2024
MILITARY IDENTIFIES PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR KILLING OF SOLDIERS IN DELTA COMMUNITY
MILITARY IDENTIFIES PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR KILLING OF SOLDIERS IN DELTA COMMUNITY A militant leader known as “General Amagbein” has been identified as the mastermind behind the massacre of soldiers in Okuama village, according to General Christopher Musa, who is the Chief of Defense Staff. He divulged the information that Amagbein and his accomplices were the ones responsible for the planning and execution of the attacks. During an interview with Arise TV, General Musa stressed how important it is to hold all responsible parties accountable for the activities that they have undertaken. He brought attention to the fact that variables that contributed to the violence included cultism as well as other illicit activities that were prominent in the area. In addition to assuring the Nigerian people that Amagbein and his friends would be subjected to the full force of the law, he encouraged them to refrain from supporting entities that were involved in criminal activity. In General Christopher Musa’s words: “[General Amagbein] is the mastermind who executed this [the killing of soldiers] with his boys. You know they have a lot of issues of cultism within the general area.”Because they were making money illegally they feel that they are above board, but that is one mistake they have made. They have tried the wrong guys and this time around the full weight of the law is coming after him and his own team. That is why we want to appeal to Nigerians, please do not support them”
ENUGU GOVT TO PARTNER WITH COMMUNITIES ON CLEAN WATER
ENUGU GOVT TO PARTNER WITH COMMUNITIES ON CLEAN WATER The Enugu State government has announced plans to partner with rural communities in the state on the provision of clean water. Briefing newsmen in her office in Enugu, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), Chika Mbah, said the partnership would be government-driven and financed but community-led. “The people of Enugu State are already aware of Governor Peter Mbah’s 180-day water challenge for the Enugu metropolis. “What is less known is his drive for rural water provision. The governor is not only interested in urban water; rural water is very much in his plan,” she said. Explaining how the partnership would work, the governor’s senior aide on WASH stated that potable water would be provided to the various rural communities as they wanted it. “It is up to each community to decide on what and how they want the provision and management of water and come with that plan to the WASH office at the State Ministry of Water Resources. They can, for instance, decide if they want a borehole or a spring harvest. “The government is also interested in reticulated water facilities, especially those that can serve more than one community. Adjoining communities can therefore present a joint plan outlining the management structure. “In this way, communities will own and manage the facilities, with the government being a stakeholder. However, a benefiting community must also work on ending open defecation within their locale. “The provision of water is thus tied to a number of behavioural change indicators. One is community-led sanitation; another is ownership and management of public facilities. This type of ‘counterpart’ is both novel and sustainable,” she explained. She noted that a state-wide survey of the water situation in the state by the WASH office showed that the situation was dire, disclosing that Enugu State has close to 400 non-functional public boreholes, while open defecation is a common practice.She said the government was working towards ending open defection in the state, saying this informed the passing of a bye-law by the 17 local government councils in the state in that regard, as well as a state-wide stakeholder sensitisation on the safety of water and control of water-borne diseases, also aimed at reducing the under-5 mortality rate in the state.
- Biafra News
- April 5, 2024
- 47 views
NNAMDI KANU APPEALS HIGH COURT RULING ORDERING CONTINUATION OF TRIAL
NNAMDI KANU APPEALS HIGH COURT RULING ORDERING CONTINUATION OF TRIAL The detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has appealed against the decision of a Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja dismissing his objection to his trial continuation. Kanu, in a notice of appeal dated and filed March 28 through his team of lawyers led by Aloy Ejimakor, prayed the Court of Appeal, Abuja to allow the appeal and set aside the trial court’s decision. The IPOB leader had filed a preliminary objection seeking an order for some conditions to be met by the Federal Government before his trial at FHC could proceed. He had alleged that the Department of State Service (DSS) personnel often seized documents of his lawyers during visitation, stopped his lawyers from taking notes, eavesdropped on his consultation with his lawyers on matters pertaining to his defence, among others. He alleged that he had not been given adequate time and facilities to defend himself in accordance with Section 36(6)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). But Justice Binta Nyako of a FHC had, in a ruling on March 19, declined to grant the objection of the detained IPOB leader. The judge, who ordered accelerated hearing of the trial, also dismissed his application for bail. However, Kanu, in the notice of appeal, listed the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the sole respondent. He argued that the trial court erred in law when the court assumed jurisdiction to proceed with the hearing of the criminal trial against him when he was glaringly denied the constitutional right to fair trial. He alleged that he was denied adequate facilities to prepare for the defence of the criminal allegations against him and his right to counsel of his own choice, thereby occasioning a grave miscarriage of justice. “The denial of the appellant (Kanu) the opportunity to interact and brief his counsel on what line of defences the appellant tends to agitate in the trial court and rely on was adequately brought to the attention of the trial court by motion. “The trial court failed and neglected to make necessary orders that would protect the appellant’s aforesaid rights but rather held that the court cannot dictate how the respondent carries out its work,” he said. He said the trial court had the power to order the respondent to cease and desist from interfering with his constitutional right. Besides, Kanu said the lower court had the power to order an alternative custodial arrangement or non-custodial arrangement for him, where it is impossible for the respondent to comply or where the respondent persists in the act. He said: “Denial of the appellant’s right to adequate facilities to prepare defence as enshrined in Section 36 (6) (b) of the 1999 Constitution is a jurisdictional issues in the absence of which the trial court cannot assume or proceed with the jurisdiction over the case unless and until such facilities are accorded to the appellant.” Kanu argued that though he had prayed the court to stop the DSS alleged unconstitutional acts of forcibly seizing and photocopying confidential legal documents brought to him by his lawyers meant for his defence of the charges against him, the court declined to grant the plea. He said the trial judge erred in law when the court ordered for accelerated hearing despite the consistently refusal of the respondent to afford him the right to adequate facility to prepare for his defence of the charges levelled against him and his right to counsel. According to him, the order for accelerated hearing of the case in face of the constitutional breaches of fair hearing/trial rights of the appellant is a credence to the respondent to proceed on the unconstitutional denial of the appellant…
KANO GOVT DRAGS EX-GOV GANDUJE, WIFE SIX OTHERS TO COURT OVER BRIBERY, DIVERSION OF FUNDS
KANO GOVT DRAGS EX-GOV GANDUJE, WIFE, SIX OTHERS TO COURT OVER BRIBERY, DIVERSION OF FUNDS The Kano State Government has dragged former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his wife, Hafsat Umar, Umar Abdullahi Umar and five others to court on eight count charges relating to bribery allegations, misappropriation and diversion of funds among others running into billions of naira This was contained in a charge sheet dated 3rd April, 2024 with 15 prosecution witnesses list attached. The listed defendants are: Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Hafsat Umar, Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited and Lasage General Enterprises Limited. One of the counts said that Abdullahi Umar Ganduje Sometimes between the period of January 10, 2016 or there about, at Kano in the Kano Judicial Division, while serving as the Governor of Kano State and being a public servant in the government of Kano State corruptly asked for and received the sum of $ 200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) being benefit for himself from one of the beneficiaries of contracts awarded by the Kano State Government on his instruction and approval as part of his function as the Governor of Kano State. The document said such action amounted to official corruption contrary to and punishable under Section 22 of The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission Law 2008 (as amended), Law No2 of 2009, Laws of Kano State of Nigeria. The count document reads further: “That you, Abdulahi Umar Ganduje Sometimes between the period of February 10, 2017 or there about, at Kano in the Kano Judicial Division, while serving as the Governor of Kano State and being a public servant ni the government of Kano State Respondents agreed to do or caused to be done an illegal act, to wit, dishonestly and/or corruptly to your own advantage collected a kick back of the sum of $ 213,000 (Two Hundred And Thirteen Thousand United State Dollars) being money generated from people and entities seeking or holding the execution of Kano State Government contact and or project for the remodeling of Kantin Kwari textile market as a bribe through one of the contractors (agent).The document stated that the former governor thereby committed the offence of official corruption contrary to and punishable under Section 22 of The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission Law 2008 (as amended), Law No2 of 2009, Laws of Kano State of Nigeria.
NORTHERN ELDERS FORUM BERATES TINUBU OVER INCREASE IN ELECTRICITY TARIFF, SAYS PRESIDENT HAS BETRAYED NIGERIANS
NORTHERN ELDERS FORUM BERATES TINUBU OVER INCREASE IN ELECTRICITY TARIFF, SAYS PRESIDENT HAS BETRAYED TRUST OF NIGERIANS The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the recent increase in electricity tariff, saying that he has betrayed the trust that Nigerians had in him. In a statement which was released by NEF and signed by its Director Publicity and Advocacy, Abdulazeez Suleiman, the forum said that the increase in electricity tariff shows a total disregard for the well-being and welfare of the masses. According to the report by Nigerian Tribune, NEF said what it means is that under the new electricity tariff plan, having 24 hours of light will cost N5,400, which will amount to a staggering sum of N162,000 per month. The forum said that the amount is too much for the ordinary citizens who are already battling economic hardship and struggling to make ends meet. The forum said, “The breakdown of the new tariffs reveals an alarming burden that the average Nigerian will face in affording electricity on a daily basis. Under the new tariff plan, 24 hours of electricity per day will cost a staggering N5,400, amounting to an unbearable monthly total of N162,000 and an astounding yearly total of N1,971,000. “These exorbitant amounts are simply unaffordable for the majority of Nigerians, who are already grappling with economic hardship and trying to make ends.” The forum said that the decision to implement the new tariff plan without considering the impact it would have on the people is callous.NEF also called on the government to reconsider the decision and take into account the economic situation that the masses are currently dealing with.
FUBARA PLOTTING TO OBTAIN COURT ORDER TO DECLARE RIVERS ASSEMBLY ILLEGAL – APC; ALLEGATION BASELESS, STATE GOVT
FUBARA PLOTTING TO OBTAIN COURT ORDER TO DECLARE RIVERS ASSEMBLY ILLEGAL – APC; ALLEGATION BASELESS, STATE GOVT The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of plotting to procure an interim order of Court, which will declare the present Rivers State House of Assembly illegal. APC caretaker committee chairman in the state, Chief Tony Okocha, who made allegation while speaking with journalists in Port Harcourt on Thursday, said the contemplated court order also intended to render null and void, all the laws which the Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule-led House vetoed against the governor. Okocha stated that Fubara intended to leverage on the interim order to appoint caretaker committees for the 23 local government areas in the state. He said: “I want to use this opportunity to inform Rivers people and Nigerians of the move by the governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, to procure interim orders from judges that I will not name here, but I will put in my petition to the NJC. “What is the intention? He wants to procure interim order stopping the implementation of the laws he was vetoed over. He wants to procure an order to announce as illegal, the Rivers State House of Assembly, as constituted and led by Rt. Hon. Martins Chike Amaewhule. “The governor is in the business as we speak and I speak with all authority because the walls have ears. We live in their kitchen, we live in the parlour, their sitting room. We live in their bedrooms. These are the plans that are on. You may get this plot confirmed before Monday next week. “He is doing that so that he will now leverage on the interim order to go ahead to appoint caretaker committees for local government councils against the warning of the man he says he respects, the President.” The APC caretaker chairman said the party, as the leading opposition in the state, will do everything legitimate to ensure that the plot does not come to fruition. Okocha said: “But, let’s put it clearly here that we will stoutly, vehemently oppose such negative subterranean moves by a man who ought to protect the dignity and integrity of a state called Rivers State. “I have said that Rivers State cannot be turned to a pariah state because of the actions of one person. Rivers State is a state to be reckoned with in the comity of states, duly respected and regarded.” But, when contacted, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Communications, Warisenibo Joe Johnson, described the allegation by the APC as baseless. Johnson said the APC was only panicking due to the show of organic love for the governor by the people of the state.He said: “Baseless! They are panicked because they know their fall is near. Rivers people spoke yesterday (Wednesday) through the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and that organic love expressed, threw the camp of the factional acting Party chairman of APC into this feverish situation.”
NIGERIAN GOVT, INTERPOL COMMENCE EXTRADITION PROCESS FOR BINANCE CHIEF NADEEM ANJARWALLA
NIGERIAN GOVT, INTERPOL COMMENCE EXTRADITION PROCESS FOR BINANCE CHIEF NADEEM ANJARWALLA The Federal Government and the International Criminal Police Organisation have commenced extraditing a Binance chief, Nadeem Anjarwalla, who escaped detention in Nigeria on March 22. Security agencies had arrested Anjarwalla and Tigran Gambaryan, two executives of the crypto-currency firm Binance Holdings Limited, over alleged money laundering in February. They were detained in ‘a safe house’ in Abuja on the order of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. Among other charges, the firm and the two executives were arraigned for $35,400,000 in money laundering at the Federal High Court, Abuja. But on Friday, March 22, Anjarwalla escaped detention and left the country using a Kenyan passport. On Tuesday, top government sources confirmed to The PUNCH that extraditing the fugitive had begun. The sources noted that Anjarwalla’s absence would not affect the arraignment of Binance, Tigran and Gambaryan in court on Thursday over a five-count money laundering charge. “Mr Anjarwalla’s extradition process has begun. The Federal Government is working as did with INTERPOL to extradite the fugitive to Nigeria. He’s a fugitive that escaped from lawful custody, and his other partner is still in custody and would be arraigned on Thursday alongside their company, Binance,” a source noted. Another source revealed, “It is true that the Federal Government has commenced the process of extraditing Binance’ Anjarwalla in order to bring him back to Nigeria to answer to his money laundering case in court, among others. The arraignment of Binance and Gambaryan in court on Thursday will also aid Anjarwalla’s extradition.” Meanwhile, a top security source said the soldiers detailed to monitor Anjarwalla were being grilled by special investigators from the military, Department of State Services, the police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the National Intelligence Agency.His words: “The soldiers detailed to monitor Anjarwalla have been detained, as you know, and they’re still being grilled by special investigators drawn from various security and intelligence agencies and services- the military, DSS, NIA, and the police, all hands are on deck as it is a matter of national security.”
UPROAR AS ASARI DOKUBO CALLS HIMSELF AN IGBO MAN
UPROAR AS ASARI DOKUBO CALLS HIMSELF AN IGBO MAN In a video that is currently going viral, former freedom fighter, Asari Dokubo, identifies himself as an Igbo Man, and it has sparked reactions on social media since the former agitator have always bashed Ndi Igbo on social media. So, many netizens were surprised for the change of mind. Recall that Dokubo is from Kalabari in Rivers State and although, there are some ethnic groups in Rivers like the Ikwerres and others who can be said to be Igbos, since they speak a variation of the language, the Kalabari people are usually referred to as an Ijaw people. Also, Doubo had been antagonistic to the prominent Igbo personalities like Nnamdi Kanu, Peter Obi, and others who enjoy massive Igbo followership. His recent claim that he is an Igbo man has generated lots of dust. These are some of the comments by netizens concerning the matter: @Uchez2 writes: “Hehehehe na his way. Make una no take Asari serious o!” @JamesAgwu_E writes: “If the Ogogoro don finish make dem give you another one, biko.” @macchidula writes: “Asari is Kalabari and they are Igbos with a tiny mix of Ijaw. Asari didn’t lie.” @Eagleseyelid writes: “ASARI is Fulani, he can’t be an Igbo man no matter how he tries to claim Igbo.” @IDOWUTopeOlani1 writes: “Asari can never say this, igbophobic person.” @AkukariaSA writes: “Trust Asari Dokubo at your own peril. He has reduced the great Igbo people(his kith and kin) to a bargaining chip. He knows there’s nothing Nigeria fears more than the unification of the Igbo. So if they refuse to play ball with him, he’ll come out and say he’s Igbo.” @eduhandsome_ writes: “Today Asari Dokubo is Ijaw, tomorrow He is Igbo & of Igbo heritage. Then drags anambra of Soludo into his ancestry. When does it finally end with this nuisances? In 2024 your youths are still living in the delusions y’all put them through in Nigeria. Biko it’s getting boring.” @chuxenyi writes: “Today Ijaw, tomorrow Igbo. He should stay in one place and stop confusing the thunder.” @NkyEzenwa writes: “I don’t care what scorecard he is reading from but respectfully we Igbos don’t care.” @Uchez2 writes: “He should go and sit down and stop speaking from both sides of his mouth not.”@TheBull113 writes: “So which Igbo did he proudly claim his father’s enslaved? Leave this opportunistic propagandist. We know the truth that they are Igbos but coming from him it is obviously political. This man is just been a fox. Tinubu did not give him what he wanted and he has changed his game.”
BREAKING: NIGERIANS TO PAY MORE FOR ELECTRICITY, TARIFF GOES UP BY OVER 300%
BREAKING: NIGERIANS TO PAY MORE FOR ELECTRICITY, TARIFF GOES UP BY OVER 300% The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has given the go-ahead to raise the electricity rates for customers in the Band A category. At a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, the Vice Chairman of NERC, Musliu Oseni, announced that there will be a rise in electricity tariffs. This adjustment will result in customers paying N225 per kilowatt-hour, up from the current rate of N66. “We currently have 800 feeders that are categorised as Band A, but it will now be reduced to under 500. This means that 17 percent now qualify as Band-A feeders. These feeders only service 15 percent of total electricity customers connected to the feeders. “The commission has issued an order which is titled April supplementary order and the commission allows a 235 kilowatt per hour.” Meanwhile, here are new electricity charges for DisCos as subsidy goes The new cost per unit of electricity (kWh) is expected to vary depending on the distribution company (DisCo) and the customer’s consumption level on the back of the increasing inflation rate and the impact of the foreign exchange rate and high cost of gas, which may push up the amount paid by customers without government’s subsidy. BusinessDay findings showed customers under Yola, DisCo will pay between N234 and N179 per kWh, while those under Jos DisCo will pay between N166 and N101 per kWh. Ikeja Electric customers will pay between N143 and N69 per kWh, while Abuja DisCo customers will be charged between N153 and N74 kWh. Eko DisCo’s rates range from N125 to N79 per kWh. Benin DisCo’s charges fall between N137 and N100 per kWh. Enugu DisCo customers will pay between N154 and N95 per kWh, and Port-Harcourt DisCo’s rates range from N142 to N100 per kWh. Kano DisCo charges vary between N159 and N90 per kWh depending on the customer’s band. In Kaduna DisCo, the rates range from N163 to N88 per kWh, while Ibadan DisCo’s charges are between N140 and N97 per kWh. Experts has however stated that the continued payment of electricity subsidy was not sustainable as it constitutes a huge financial burden on the federal government.According to the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the federal government spent the sum of N225 billion on electricity subsidy in 2015; N308 billion in 2016; N351 billion in 2017; N440 billion in 2018; N528 billion in 2019; N501 billion in 2020; N251 billion in 2021; N144 billion in 2022; N645 billion in 2023.
FRESH CONTROVERSY OVER 13 VACANT PLATEAU ASSEMBLY SEATS
FRESH CONTROVERSY OVER 13 VACANT PLATEAU ASSEMBLY SEATS As confusion continues to trail 16 vacant seats in the Plateau State House of Assembly, the 13 candidates of the Labour Party (LP) assembly election have vowed to press on for the enforcement of the court judgments they secured against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) The candidates had prior to the February 2023 election, the candidates had secured a court judgment that the commission should include their names and party logo on the ballot papers which were omitted from the list of candidates for the election. Contrary to the judgment, INEC went ahead to conduct the election without implementing the judgement. Speaking, spokesman for the aggrieved LP candidates, Honourable Henry Yunkwap of the Shendam constituency, explained that the INEC did not allow them to participate in the election, despite court orders.. According to him, there are two subsisting judgments that the INEC has refused to comply with until the candidates finally got an injunction stopping the Speaker of the State House of Assembly from swearing in either the All Progressives Congress (APC) or the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) laying claim to the seats. “We feel surprised, which is why we are dragging the matter with the INEC. The commission didn’t do well for us, despite a court order. It is either the INEC conducts another election or faces contempt of court charge. “We want justice and fairness to be done. The action is against democracy. We are appealing for justice to be done to the 13 constituencies of the Labour Party that were disenfranchised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Already, we have two judgments against the commission.” Meanwhile, the APC has threatened to take a legal action against Governor Caleb Muftwang and the Speaker, Plateau State House of Assembly for their alleged refusal to swear in the 16 APC lawmakers affirmed by the Court of Appeal.The party, in a statement, stated that it would no longer tolerate the deliberate ploy to continue to frustrate its members from being sworn.