President Muhammadu Buhari has sent names of two new ministerial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.
A source close to the Senate told our correspondent that the letter arrived the Senate late Tuesday.
The source revealed that the two nominees are from Kogi and Gombe state.
Our correspondent gathered that the Kogi nominee will be replacing the late Minister of State for Labour, Barr. James Ocholi while the nominee from Gombe would be replacing former Minister for Environment Ms Amina Mohammed who had gone to serve in the United Nations as a deputy Secretary General.
The list of ministerial nominees is coming at a time when the Senate stood down for two weeks consideration of the request of President Buhari for the appointment of Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).
The Senate based its decision on what it termed disregard for its resolutions.
The upper legislative chamber specifically berated the President for appearing to be doing nothing about the rejection of Ibrahim Magu a the Chairman of the EFCC but allowing him to function in acting capacity.
The senate stressed that it was wrong to leave any appointee in acting capacity even after he had been rejected twice by the senate.
The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Anambra State Police Command, yesterday stormed the Ogbaru office of the Chief Ralph Uwazuruike-led Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), otherwise called Biafra Independent Movement (BIM), and arrested the group’s Anambra North Security Commander, Christian Oguchi Kato and four other members.
Following this, MASSOB has given the police 48 hours to release the arrested members, threatening to paralyse business activity in Anambra State if this is not done.
News gathered the invading policemen first arrived the MASSOB office in the morning, arrested the five MASSOB members and also took away documents and other property.
The police team returned two hourslater, but was confronted by MASSOB members, leading to the invitation of soldiers, who arrived in three Hilux vans.
Reacting, the Anambra North Zonal Leader of MASSOB, Emmanuel Omenka, said: “They should not take our posture for weakness. After 48 hours, if our security man is not released, we will ground business activities in Onitsha and environs.”
According to him, “we do not know where they have taken our five members. The police took two of our motorcycles and ransacked the office and even invited the soldiers to help them deal with us.”
In her reaction, the Ogbaru Regional Director, Mrs. Virginia Ubazuonu, condemned the action of the police and military, adding: “Enough is enough; we can no longer take this.”
When contacted for comments, the police spokesperson in the state, Nkeiruka Nwode, said she would get back to our reporter, but never did as at the time of filing this report.
MESSAGE BY THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF BIAFRA TO ALL BIAFRANS LIVING IN NIGERIA AND IN THE DIASPORA
Fellow Biafrans and salutation to all the people of goodwill worldwide.
Introduction:
It has become necessary for the Council of Elders of Indigenous People of Biafra to address the world and nation of Biafra whose children are scattered all over the world since after the Nigeria-Biafra war that ended in the battlefield in 1970. As some of you may be aware, we are in the Court at the moment with the Federal Government of Nigeria seeking to exercise our right to self-determination. Our legal argument as advanced by our formidable legal team is that we are Biafrans by indigenous identity but Nigerians by nationality. This was forced upon us by the British Government and sustained by Nigeria. We are the indigenous people of Biafraland whose maps existed in the ancient map of Africa over five hundred years before Nigeria was created in 1914. The laws protect the rights of indigenous people to self-determination. We are in court seeking for justice because the Nigerian Government has continued the battle against Biafra in another form through lack of security of lives and property, marginalization, discrimination and hatred resulting in the destruction of our ancestral way of life.
The Council of Elders constitutes the Customary Government of Indigenous People of Biafra under Customary Law. We are the Council of Elders which signed the documents that authorized Bilie Human Rights Initiative to institute action against Nigeria on behalf of the Biafrans. We have been advised by our lawyers that the Customary Law under which the Council of Elders was established as a Government of Indigenous People of Biafra is in consonance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999. The only limitation is that the Government of Indigenous People of Biafra under Customary Law is not yet sovereign. We remain under the sovereignty of Nigeria until we gain independence.
Directives:
Though we are not yet sovereign, we nonetheless have a legitimate organization under our customary law as a people. That government is led by the Council of Elders of the Indigenous People of Biafra with administrative Staffers under the Administrator. The law of governance requires the people to be under a legally constituted authority. As declared in the Federal High Court of Owerri, the Council of Elders is the government of indigenous people of Biafra, overseeing, managing and controlling the affairs of indigenous people of Biafra. Pursuant to this role, we hereby give the following directives to all indigenous people of Biafra who are presently in court with the Federal Government of Nigeria in Suit No. FHC/OW/CS/192/2013 as represented by Bilie Human Rights Initiative as follows:
1. The Government of Indigenous People of Biafra headed by the Council of Elders is the only leadership organ that speaks for all indigenous people of Biafra who are presently in Court with the Federal Government of Nigeria seeking to exercise their right to self-determination. We have defined in court that the indigenous people of Biafra whom we represent are those inhabiting the South East geopolitical region of Nigeria, parts of the South-South geopolitical region of Nigeria, and parts of the Middle Belt region of Nigeria.
2. All people who identify themselves as Biafrans are required to take directives from the Council of Elders of Indigenous People of Biafra under the Customary Law administration.
3. We give credit to the Federal Government of Nigeria and testify that the Nigerian Government has been cooperative and obedient to the rule of law in the ongoing case. We preach the rule of law and follow due process of law in our struggle for independence.
4. We hereby advise all indigenous people of Biafra to support the current legal and diplomatic struggle to restore Biafra.
5. We have noted the fears of some Biafran businessmen and investors whose wealth and riches are located outside Biafraland. It is necessary to allay their fears by stating that when independence is achieved, no investments outside the territory of Biafra will be lost. It will be similar to having investments in a foreign country just as some Nigerians have properties in Britain, America and beyond.
6. We condemn in the strongest possible terms, the news that the Nigerian Police and military personnel have often killed Biafran’s who belong to some organizations without legal backing. We advise all pro-Biafra activists to come under the supervision and governance of the Council of Elders. We still recognize and encourage rights to freedom of association. We also advise the Government of Nigeria to refrain from harassing, intimidating or killing Biafra activists. It is important that the principle of an accused person remain innocent until proved guilty is rigorously adhered to at all instances, Nigeria is still a democracy.
7. Finally, we implore that all Biafran’s wherever they are in the world to support the projects we have at hand which is building the community of Biafrans under the Law and pursuing our self determination case.We ask that you help in ensuring that these projects do not suffer due to lack of financial support. I wish you success in all your legitimate endeavors.
MENTAL SLAVERY IS THE WORST FORM OF SLAVERY.IT GIVES YOU THE ILLUSION OF FREEDOM ,MAKES YOU TRUST,LOVE AND DEFEND YOUR OPPRESSOR WHILE MAKING AN ENEMY OF THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO FREE YOU OR OPEN YOUR EYES
WHEN A WELL-PACKAGED WEB OF LIES HAS BEEN SOLD GRADUALLY TO THE MASSES OVER GENERATIONS,THE TRUTH WILL SEEM UTTERLY PREPOSTEROUS AND ITS SPEAKER A RAVING LUNATIC
The Indigenous People of Biafra has asked its supporters not to leave their homes on May 30.
IPOB said the ‘sit-at-home’ order was issued to honour the Biafran indigenes who lost their lives in sectarian killings in the country from 1945 to date.
It enjoined Igbo, Ijaw, Annang, Efik, Idoma, Igallah and all those who believe in the Biafra ideology to shut down their businesses and stay at home on the day.
The IPOB spokesperson said prayers would be held at designated places to mark the day.
The statement read in part, “The Indigenous People of Biafra and its leadership worldwide would like to use this opportunity to inform Biafrans, friends of Biafra, and lovers of freedom all over the world, to prepare for the historic annual Biafra Day of Remembrance 2017.
“Our heroes and heroines of the class of 1967-1970, who paid the ultimate price in defence of the dignity of the black race during this genocidal war against the people of Biafra, will be remembered and honoured in the finest traditions of IPOB.
“This annual event for 2017 has been designated a day of prayer, fasting, supplication and introspection.
“Also, all victims of state-sponsored genocide, from the Jos massacre of Biafran people in 1945 to the most recent Asaba massacre in 2017 at an IPOB meeting by the Nigerian Army, will all be honoured.”
Two young legal practitioners were caught discreetly watching a p*rnographic content in the court room as a hearing progressed.
According to social media reports, two male counsels were pictured enjoying a visual of a scantily-clad curvy lady twerking on their Smartphone.
The incident reportedly took place in DC Congo. The lawyers were oblivious of the fact that their discreet actions were recorded on camera by a third party.
The leaked video has gone viral and nosy people are making frantic efforts to unveil the identities of the counsels involved in the questionable act.
A Nigerian bishop and his female secretary have been jailed after they sexually assaulted a teenage girl and a woman during private prayer sessions at their south London Christian centre.
Benjamin Egbujor, 55, of Harold Avenue, Belvedere, Kent, was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court to three years and four months’ imprisonment on Friday, March 31, after he was found guilty of sexual assault and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
Rose Nwenwu, 43, of Thurlestone Road, West Norwood, London, was convicted of helping and encouraging Egbujor in relation to one of his victims, and taking part in that sexual assault herself. She was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.
The offences took place from March 2011 to January 2013, at the Jubilee Christian Centre in Penarth Street, Peckham, where Egbujor was a bishop.
Officers in the Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Command (SOECA) started an investigation in January 2014 after a teenage girl disclosed to her family she had been abused by Egbujor.
The victim, who was under the age of 16, said Egbujor told her she had been chosen to attend an individual prayer session.
After being taken into his private office, the girl was forced to undress and oil was poured over her.
As a result of further enquiries, officers also interviewed a woman in her 30s who disclosed she had also been sexually assaulted by Egbujor.
The adult victim said Nwenwu, who worked as Egbujor’s secretary, also took part in the sexual assault by taking her clothes off and pouring oil over her.
Egbujor and Nwenwu were both found guilty on March 9 after a five-week trial at Inner London Crown Court.
Egbujor was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for the sexual assault and four months, to be served consecutively, for inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
Nwenwu was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for sexual assault and three years, to be served concurrently, for helping and encouraging Egbujor.
Both were made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will have to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register.
Detective Inspector Angela Craggs, of the Met’s Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Command, said:“Egbujor and Nwenwu exploited the trust of their congregation when they targeted and abused these victims. They believed their position within the church would protect them from facing justice, but the court has held them accountable for their actions. I hope this conviction serves to empower victims of sexual violence to come forward and report to police, and as a warning to offenders who think they can use their position to protect them from the law.”
Police Constable James Bell, of the Met’s Offences and Child Abuse Command (SOECA) said:
“Egbujor and Nwenwu preyed on their victim’s vulnerabilities, whilst satisfying their own sexual urges under the guise of private prayer. I commend the victims for their courage and commitment in this case. I fear there may be other victims who have not yet come forward and I urge them or any victim of sexual abuse to tell the police what happened.”
In this interview with OVIE OKPARE, the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, speaks on the Niger Delta crisis and other national issues
Many Nigerians have criticised you for investing in other countries when you could have done that in the Niger Delta.
I don’t believe in Nigeria. In December 2013, I was arrested based on the allegation that I was the leader of Boko Haram. How is Nigeria faring now under the All Progressives Congress. The fact that the President holds the people in so much disdain and cannot speak with the people who are supposed to have elected him is a shame. But it’s Nigeria, anything goes. I owe Nigeria no apology. I can’t establish my institutions and businesses in a hostile environment. Business ought to be in a conducive environment that will engender profit and so on. The Nigerian environment is still hostile to me. I had the opportunity of going to South Africa and other places to establish my business but I chose to be next door because I believe that would create an opportunity for my people.
Is the Nigerian government still hostile to you?
This is the most hostile government. This is the most insensitive government in the life of this country. All our (bank) accounts were put on surveillance, till today, but they found that this man did not steal any money and he is not involved in any criminal activities. We just thank God. A lot of people think I must be corrupt but they have looked everywhere and they found nothing. This government wrote to us that it was going to pay what they were owing us for contracts we concluded and they certified that the contracts were excellently concluded but they refused to pay.
Does it mean that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been investigating you?
No, every (bank) account was under surveillance. The BVN was actually introduced to place every account on surveillance but they could not find anything. The EFCC cannot come to me because they know I have no skeleton in my cupboard. I never stole any money. I never did anything criminal. The truth is that when you have a pedigree, you are always careful of what will stain your image and that is what has kept me on.
How can Nigeria overcome the present economic crisis in the country?
This is a deaf and dumb regime. Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo is trying to placate (Niger Deltans) but that is not enough. We are talking about fundamental issues of self-determination and this issue cannot be swept under the carpet by palliative measures and all sorts of things that people are demanding. This is the worst government in Nigeria because they came with the mindset to kill but unfortunately, they found it very difficult to kill us. People are racketeering with the foreign exchange to the detriment of others. Some people are buying a dollar for N520, while others are buying it for as low as N185 from the Central Bank of Nigeria. So, when people are talking about fighting corruption, I laugh. What manner of corruption could be greater than giving some persons dollars at N185/N190 and others are buying at N520? Now that Osinbajo is trying to block those cracks, the dollar and other foreign currencies have started coming down. When I was driving recently, somebody asked me to come down but I told him I have a waist problem and I cannot walk a far distance. I am not ashamed to tell somebody I cannot walk a far distance. People like Femi Fani-Kayode, Ayodele Fayose and I raised the alarm that Buhari was not (feeling) fine but people said we would be the ones to die first. We will all die but why should one lie?
This is the question of integrity and Buhari has no iota of integrity.
Are you not surprised about the revelations of massive corruption which took place under former President Goodluck Jonathan?
Which corruption? Has anybody been convicted? Is it a crime in Nigeria today for me to keep my money in my house? We have all become ‘Animal Farm.’ So, I can’t keep my money in my house or is it compulsory for me to keep my money in another man’s bank? What is the relationship between Buhari and Justice Ademola, who was handling his case that he sent his lawyer to give him N500,000?
How can the Federal Government solve the re-emergence of militancy in the Niger Delta region?
I’m not a militant but it is very simple. Convene a sovereign national conference to allow the people decide where they want to be. The people should have the right to choose where they want to be. Nobody can force one to be what he doesn’t want to be. Scotland has held one referendum and Britain just held a referendum to exit the European Union. South Sudan also did. Let’s hold our own referendum. We (Niger Deltans) cannot be conquered by anybody. He that doesn’t want peaceful change would be confronted with a violent change.
What happened to your schools in Cotonou in the Benin Republic?
I have four institutions -King Amachree International Schools (from crèches to secondary school), King Amachree Royal Academy — automotive ICT, King Amachree Art Academy (with different entrepreneurial courses like music, dance and the rest of it). We have the biggest studio in the Sub-Saharan Africa. We bought it over from a company where people like Fela and other big names have recorded before. We bought it in 2012.
Then we founded the King Amachree University but after the 2015 election, the Minister of Higher Education in Benin surprisingly withdrew our accreditation from the university. We have been struggling to get back our accreditations. It was really a big mess because students had registered and a lot of things that had been going on, but at the end of the day, we thank God. Everything is in the hands of God. It’s God that giveth, it’s God that taketh. We believe we were doing a good work. Our university had one of the lowest fees even though we had the best quality of lecturers and facilities. This has affected all our schools because we believe that some forces were against my establishment of the school. That is only my line of business. I’m hardly involved in other types of business except for education. It has really affected us but we hope that it will be fine.
There was a time I had nothing, there was a time I had so much. I have seen it all. As a young man, I saw so much comfort and wealth but when I grew up, I chose the path of struggle. I started to see poverty and all sorts of things. I chose poverty for myself and after that, I saw extreme wealth. I went to prison. I was underground. These are issues that will go on and on in life. Life is a cycle. Once you have decided to be on the path of the people, you will have these issues to confront you. You take it; that is how life is and I have taken it. I’m only sorry for the students who had paid their fees and they had started lectures and even finished an academic section and at the end of the day, they had to look for somewhere else to complete their education. They would not have the opportunity we gave to them in our own schools. It’s really unfortunate.
