Man kidnapped and Murdered Wife to Inherit her Properties
The police in Ebonyi State have arrested four (4) suspects in connection with the abduction and murder of the late Mrs Nneka Nwanyi-Sunday Emeh Kalu who was earlier reported missing and later found dead in a cassava farm on August 29, 2021 in Ngugworo Community in Nguzu Edda in Afikpo South, Ebonyi State.
Police spokesperson, Frank Mba, stated that the suspects identified as Irem Ifeanyi Mbah, Igwe Anya Chima, Okorie Okam and Emeh Kalu – the husband of the deceased and the principal suspect. The suspects are within the age bracket of 25 – 40yrs and all native of Nguzu Edda village in Afikpo South Local Council Area of Ebonyi State.
Read his statement below ;
”Investigations by the Police team revealed that Emeh Kalu – the husband of the deceased, in a bid to fraudulently and hastily ‘inherit’ his wife’s numerous assets including landed property, houses, money in bank and thriving business, etc, procured the services of five (5) other criminal elements to stage the abduction of his wife by luring her to meet him at a junction to pick up somethings for the house.
Investigations further revealed how the criminals strangled her to death after obtaining necessary information on the whereabouts of title documents and other relevant papers of her possessions. Efforts are being intensified to arrest other suspects and persons indicted in the matter with a view to concluding the investigations.
(Yabaleft)
IPOB: Nnamdi Kanu is Tortured Daily and Poorly Fed – Lawyer
Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the lead counsel to the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has tackled the Department of State Services over claims that the IPOB leader is living a luxurious life in detention and not maltreated.
In a press statement on Wednesday, Ejiofor said his client is tortured mentally and psychologically on a daily basis in detention.
Contrary to claims by DSS’ spokesperson, Dr Peter Afunanya, the IPOB lawyer claimed that Kanu is subjected to 23 hours daily solitary confinement.
Ejiofor in a statement titled, ‘Press statement in rebuttal of the wrong narrative being fed the public by the DSS vide their spokesperson’, said Kanu is not also allowed to change his outfit since he was repatraited from Kenya.
Part of the statement read, “Our client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu needs not be subjected to daily beatings and flogging by the personnel of the DSS before he can be qualified as being tortured – No!
“Section 2(b)(iv) of the Anti-Torture Act 2017, defined torture to include:
“(b) Mental or psychological torture, which is understood as referring to such cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment calculated to affect or confuse the mind or undermine a person’s dignity and morale.
“We were unable to find in any place throughout his statement where Mr. Afunanya clearly denied the fact that our client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not subjected to 23 hours daily solitary confinement.
“In his desperate effort to deny the obvious, Mr. Afunanya stated that our client is allowed the opportunity of daily changing of his clothes. This is a blatant falsehood! Our client has not changed this cloth since June 2021 he has been in the DSS facility till date.
It is pertinent to inform the public at this juncture that even our client’s family voluntarily bought his prayer shawls and holy book, which items meant for prayers were submitted for the detaining authority’s scrutiny but they vehemently rejected the items and consequently returned them to us, insisting that they will procure the said items for him. Till date, the DSS has woefully failed and/or refused to provide our client with these items, even when the Court recently ordered that our Client be allowed to practice his religion.
“The fact that our client’s potassium level is depleted, which is a serious medical condition that the medical department of the DSS is struggling day and night to address is beyond denial.
Onyendu’s blood sample has been drawn for well over 21 times for laboratory examinations but till date, no solution is in sight. Their trial and errors has continued unabated.
“To be very fair to the DSS, from June 2021 when our client was taken into custody up until 10th November 2021, when he was openly threatened in court by one of the DSS personnel that escorted him to court, our client never complained to us that he was either being poorly fed or starved.
“However, since that officer boasted in open court that he would deal with Onyendu during the altercation, which threat was captured in a short clip, they started feeding him with poorly prepared food, and later graduated to starving him. If they have reverted back to status quo, it may be after we raised alarm, but this is still subject to confirmation.”
(punch)
Breaking: Lawmaker Killed by bandits in Kaduna
Hon Lirwan Aminu Gadagau, A member of Kaduna state House of Assembly has been reportedly shot and killed by Bandits,
According to report, the lawmaker who is from Giwa Local Government Area of the state was killed on his way to Kaduna.
He was among the motorists attacked by Bandits along Zaria-Kaduna Express way yesterday, December 14.
His death was confirmed in a social media post by former Kaduna state senator, Shehu Sani.
(IgbereTv)
Intriguing Facts About Chimamanda Adichie
1. Her Heroes Are Ordinary Women:
In an interview with Vogue Magazine When she was asked if she sees herself as a feminist heroine, she said “The real heroes are the nameless women in the market, who are holding their families together. They are traders and their husbands are out drinking somewhere… It’s those women I admire. I am full of admiration for them.
2. She Comes From A Long Line Of Strong Women:
Adichie’s mother was the University of Nigeria’s first female registrar, serving as the head of the administrative section of the university. Her sister operates a medical practice in Coventry, Connecticut.
3. Celebrities Are In Love With Her:
So many celebrities love her work including Beyonce whose song, “Flawless,” included an excerpt from a talk that Adichie gave at TEDxEuston in December 2012. The talk, entitled “We Should All be Feminists,” discussed the way women are raised and what it means to be a feminist. “We teach girls to shrink themselves to make themselves smaller,” Adichie said. “We say to girls: ‘You can have ambition, but not too much. You should aim to be successful, but not too successful. Otherwise, you will threaten the man…’” Adichie defined a feminist as a person who believes in the social, political, and economic equality of the S*Xes. Also, Hollywood superstar, Will Smith, is a fan of her work.
4. She Is A Fashion Icon
Adichie’s mother was always very concerned about her daughter’s appearance, and instilled the same value in her children. When Adichie first burst onto the writing scene in the U.S., she tried to dress more subdued in an attempt to be taken seriously, but soon realized that her personal style had the right to shine through.
5. She Dropped Out Of Medical School To Pursue Writing:
Following her father’s wishes, Adichie enrolled in medical school in Nigeria, but dropped out at age 19 to attend Drexel University in Philadelphia on a scholarship. She ended up graduating from Eastern Connecticut State University with a degree in communication and political science.
6. She Was Inspired By Chinua Achebe:
After reading Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart,” Adichie was inspired by seeing her own life represented in the pages. She once said, “I realized that people who looked like me could live in books.” Using that inspiration, Adichie has been writing about the Nigerian experience throughout her career.
7. She Grew Up In A House Once Owned By Achebe
She is the fifth of six children and grew up in a house that was once used by Nigeria’s and one of Africa’s finest writers, Chinua Achebe, whose book Things fall apart she read at the age of 10.
8. Giving Back
She’s been organising Creative Writing Workshop annually since 2008 to encourage and help Nigerian youth.
9. “Half Of A Yellow Sun,”
Her second novel, Half of a Yellow Sun (2007), which was first published as a short story, has been adapted into a movie of the same name. The film adaptation, directed by Biyi Bandele, features Hollywood acts like Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Anika Noni Rose and Nollywood’s Genevieve Nnaji. The book is set before and during the Biafran war, and its title reflects the flag of the short-lived independent nation.
10. She Doesn’t Like To Be Referred To As MRS
Though she once described marriage as a ‘dangerous’ institution for women; she is happily married to Dr. Ivara Esege, a doctor based in Maryland, United States and she doesn’t like to be called MRS. In an interview with Naij, she said: “Addressing me as Mrs. Chimamanda (Esega), i dont like this at all. So my name is Chimamanda Adichie, full stop.
(Facebook)
Biafra Agitation and Good Governance: The Implications on South East Economic Development- Anaenugwu N.V
.Biafra Agitation and Good Governance: The Implications on South East Economic Development
Introduction
Several books and articles have been written on the subject- Biafra .The name evokes both fears and admiration in Nigeria and in the International community .To many young and old people from Eastern Nigeria ,it evokes hope and an imaginary heaven on earth but to other Nigerians including those who deny their Biafran identity, the name evokes fear,hatred ,death and jealousy .
The name – Biafra is like an intimidating masquerade of the Igbo Nation that keeps corrupt Nigeria Leaders in state of depression . To many people, Biafra represents light ,goodness ,freedom ,equity ,fairness and justice. Since the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914 to Independence in 1960 and thereafter ,Nigeria has never given Nigerians hope to believe in Nigeria system .Upon several transitions from one Government to the other ,the story has remained the same with very few people benefiting from the commonwealth while the majority gnashed their teeth in agony and total submission to destiny. It is the failure of leadership at all levels of our society that created gap for non state actors to emerge in leadership positions .
The agitation of new state of Biafra started in 1999 by Chief Ralph Uwazurike’s Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State Of Biafra( MASSOB) .It should be noted that Uwazurike founded MASSOB to protest against marginalization of Ndigbo in Nigeria especially the outcome of PDP primary election where the most favoured Alex Ekwueme was dumped for Obasanjo who was handpicked by few Northern Leaders. This is the foundation of current agitation for equity ,fairness and justice in Nigeria .
Ndigbo who were disappointed with the outcome of 1999 election took solace with Uwazurike separatist movement to create a new state for South east and south south. Uwazurike being an Indian trained Lawyer told the unsuspecting masses that he has 25 stages to follow before achieving the new state of Biafra . Many believed him and were fanatical about the dream Biafra until the arrival of Indigenous People of Biafra headed by the supreme council of Elders with Late Eze Ozobu as the Chairman of the Customary Government of IPOB ,Late Dr Dozie Ikedife ,the Deputy Chairman and Late Col Joe Achuzia as the Secretary . The philosophical foundation for the formation and existence of IPOB was provided by a London-based solicitor – Barr Emeka Emekesiri with Nnamdi KANU as the Media Director of IPOB using Radio Biafra as the media outlet. Emeka Emekesiri advocated the use of Customary law to organise and govern the Indigenous People of Biafra based on provisions of the Nigerian constitution. He mounted a legal challenge in Nigeria court for the right of self -determination of the remnants of the Indigenous People of Biafra not consumed in the war between Nigeria and Biafra .Emeka Emekesiri’s legal methodology to Biafra agitation was convincing enough to attract professionals from different works of lives including Igbo elder statesmen who constituted the Customary Government Of Indigenous People of Biafra . As at 2013 , the legal battle between Biafra represented by Bilie Human Rights Initiative and Federal Republic of Nigeria was ongoing at Federal High court ,Owerri. The case with suit no FHC/OW/CS/2013 in the Federal High ,Owerri was to determine the following : 1. Whether it is an offence to answer a Biafran in Nigeria .2. Whether Biafrans have right for Self determination.3. To submit executive bill to National Assembly for a law dissolving Nigeria along the compatible ethic regions instead of allowing the Country to break up in bloodshed. The failure of Nigeria government to toe the peaceful path motivated Nnamdi KANU led IPOB to declare war via social media against Nigeria . In 2015 ,Nnamdi KANU was arrested not because of Biafra but because of several threats against Nigeria as a State. Buhari handling of the Biafra agitation when he came to power in 2015 catapulted a once Radio broadcaster – Nnamdi Kanu to national hero and the leader of the ordinary people . Buhari refusal to address the issues of good governance ,equity ,fairness and justice have encouraged armed struggle and bloodshed everywhere in the Country.
Good Governance
One of the leading groups fighting for self determination in Nigeria – Good Governance Ministry being led by Asuzu Chinedu Peters believed that the issues of Indigenous people of Nigeria could be resolved by restructuring the Country into Regions . Good Governance Ministry is solution driven and has since been reaching out to the ordinary people through weekly radio program on the need for the people to fully participate in the political process to elect revolutionary and visionary people into positions of political power. Good Governance Ministry believes that the political elites in Nigeria are in one accord when it comes to the issues of resource allocation and sharing of commonwealth . The problem of agitation will be addressed by good governance in line with international standard. Good governance includes but not limited to putting the right governmental structures in place, operating effective and efficient system,running an inclusive and participatory government and adherence to the rule of law. If Nigeria has a system of government that recognises and respects all indigenous people of Nigeria,agitation for new nations from Nigeria will no longer be attractive .The unitary system we have today in Nigeria is obsolete and rather unsustainable, hence the cause of anger and frustrations from every part of the country. Therefore ,agitation and good governance have inverse relationship .When there is good governance ,the level of agitation will go down .It is on this note that Good Governance Ministry (GGM) recommends good governance to south eastern Governors as this will create an enabling environment for massive economic development .
Ndubuisi Anaenugwu is the Deputy Leader of Good Governance Ministry(GGM)
Breaking: UK Takes Nigeria off England’s Travel Red list
The United Kingdom, UK, has taken all 11 countries off England’s travel red list. It will be made official tomorrow, Wednesday, the health secretary, Sajid Javid, has announced.
The decision means England will no longer require hotel quarantine for travellers from Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
However, testing measures — a pre-arrival negative test and then another PCR test after arrival — remain in place for all travellers.
The health secretary has set out in Parliament the rationale for ending the travel red list, saying that as the new variant is spreading in the UK, travel restrictions are “now less effective in slowing the incursion of Omicron from abroad”.
Travel rules are set by the four nations of the UK independently, but the other nations’ governments often follow proposals from Westminster.
Deputy PM Dominic Raab earlier said people in England will be able to spend Christmas in a way they could not last year because of Plan B restrictions
MPs are currently debating the new measures in the Commons, with a big Tory rebellion expected over Covid passes for some venues.
…in South Africa; Nigeria’s threat over ban
A top South African doctor says the country is mainly seeing “mild disease” and intensive care units are not overwhelmed.
Labour’s shadow health secretary, Wes Streeting, told the Commons sincere beliefs are held on all sides, but he hopes the debate on Plan B measures can be worthy of Parliament.
He criticised the comparison by one Tory MP of Covid passes to Nazi Germany’s policies, saying: “We are not living in the 1930s and the secretary of state and his team are not Nazis.”
Streeting says the health secretary has a responsibility to protect our NHS and calls the measures “a necessary response to the Omicron threat”.
But he says that confronting the challenges of this winter has been made much harder “because we went into the pandemic with record waiting lists, 100,000 unfilled vacancies in the NHS and shortages of care staff.
Health Minister seeks advice ‘hotel quarantine’
Sajid Javid has told MPs he is seeking “urgent advice” about people currently in quarantine hotels being permitted to leave early.
Labour MP Ben Bradshaw asks the health secretary if the government will now release people in isolation in quarantine hotels, given that all 11 African countries are to be removed from the red list.
Javid says: “I am told that the practice in the past has been requiring them to complete their quarantine period. However, I do understand the importance of that.
“I have asked for urgent advice about what this means and I hope to act very quickly on just that.”
(Journalist101)
List of Groups Supporting Terrorism in Nigeria Named by NSA
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Major-General Babagana Monguno (rtd), on Tuesday listed groups/organizations which he said are enabling terrorism in Nigeria and Africa.
Moguno who made the revelation while speaking at the 14th Workshop of the League of Ulamas, Preachers and Imams of Sahel countries in Abuja said the groups include: Jama’at Nasr al-Islam Wal Muslimin (JNIM), Islamic and Muslim Support Group as well as Islamic State in Greater Sahara (ISGS).
“Terrorism and the rapid escalation of violent activities by militant Islamist groups in the Sahel since 2016 have been primarily driven by the Islamic State in Greater Sahara (ISGS), which mainly operates in Mali and extends to Niger Republic and Burkina Faso,” he said.
It is bolstered by activities of groups such as Jama’at Nasr al-Islam Wal Muslimin (JNIM), the Islamic and Muslim Support Group (GSIM) and ISGS, which have continued to pose an imminent threat to the stability of the region.
“In Nigeria, Boko-Haram and Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) dominate terrorist activities, especially in the North-Eastern part of the country.
“In Nigeria, Boko-Haram and Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) dominate terrorist activities, especially in the North-Eastern part of the country.
The situation in the Sahel has never been grimmer, extremist violence continues to spread; the number of internally displaced persons (IDPS) is growing; and food insecurity is affecting more people than ever before.”
(Journalist101)
We’ll Embark on an Indefinite Strike- ASUU Warns FG
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Owerri Zone, has threatened a total showdown with the Federal Government over the non-implementation of the 2009 agreement.
The union said during a press conference at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, on Monday that it would embark on an indefinite strike as “the magnanimity of ASUU that resulted in various MOUs and MOAs arising from the 2009 agreement has been spurned by the Federal Government.”
Leaders of the union from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State University, Owerri, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, were in attendance.
Addressing journalists, the ASUU Zonal Coordinator, Mr Uzo Onyebinama, explained that some lecturers are being owed as much as 10 months’ salary.
“As we speak now, the Federal Government is in arrears of major components of the agreement, and that includes funding for the revitalization of public universities, earned academic allowances, and the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement.
“The consequences of the Federal Government’s refusal to implement the 2009 agreement is that the union has resolved to go on an indefinite strike any moment and once it begins, it will not stop until all agreements are fulfilled.”
Also, ASUU Benin Zone, has said the impending strike by the nation’s university lecturers is a last resort to draw government attention to their plights and not to derail academic activities.
The zonal Coordinator of the Benin Zone ASUU, Prof. Fred Esumeh, stated this in Benin, Edo State.
Esumeh said, “Strike is less frequent in the western world because their governments act. But here in Nigeria, you have to go on strike frequently before government can act.”
The zonal coordinator, who described members’ remuneration as slave wage, demanded a new condition of service.
He said, “The Nigerian universities are no longer attractive to foreign lecturers, including those from neighbouring countries.
“This is due to the prevailing slave wage where the highest ranked professor earns less than a thousand dollars monthly.”
(punch)