The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Butcher

  •  80 gbosas for Dan the “butcher”

     80 gbosas for Dan the “butcher”

    Dan Agbese, writer, editor and journalist extraordinaire, has just climbed the eighth floor, as they say. When I worked under his supervision at Newswatch, the top flower of journalism in its day, reporters and senior editors called him Dan the Butcher. I think I first heard the term from the lips of Dele Omotunde, a senior editor. A few years ago, when I told him about it, Agbese was more than a little puzzled. We called him the butcher because of efficiency with the text. He kept the flab at bay and married elegance with

    precision. Agbese had a column that brimmed with poetic discipline.

    Read Also: Opponents of state police are enemies of Nigeria – Gani Adams

    He expected every reporter to write with an ear to rhythm and abhor waste. So, if you wrote a 20-paragraph story, he could cut them to nine and ask you to fill it up with material, not fluff. It was an early education for me as a professional. A Time magazine editor described it as painting within the lines. Agbese propagated a stern and imperious exterior that intimidated some staff   but he was the funniest, a play behind the stare. Happy 80th.

  • A judge as butcher!

    His name is Butcher and he is a judge in the commercial court in the United Kingdom (UK). The judge has become popular in Nigeria, especially in government circle, where he is seen as more of a butcher than a judge. Literally, a butcher cuts up and sells meat in a shop. But this is no such butcher.

    From the bench, he ordered Nigeria to pay a firm, Process and Industrial Development Ltd (P&ID) $9.9 billion for breach of agreement. Since the arbitral award, officialdom has been running from pillar to post trying to explain how the country found itself in this multi trillion naira judgement debt. The $9.9 billion award is equivalent to N3.24 trillion, which is nearly half of this year’s N8.83 trillion budget.

    So, you can understand where they are coming from if those close to power are complaining. Like everything Nigeria, we brought this undeserving judgement on ourselves. We had all the time in the world to stop the case from getting this far, but the government did nothing. As usual, they decided to play politics with a mater that is not political and which should have been handled with all the seriousness it deserved.

    It all started on January 11, 2010 when the Ministry of Petroleum Resources signed a gas supply and processing agreement with P&ID. The deal was for the firm to build and operate an accelerated gas development project at Adiabo in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State. The deal went awry, with P&ID accusing the government of reneging on its obligation after the firm entered into negotiation with Cross River State for land for the project.

    At this stage, there was still time to settle the matter amicably but the politics then did not allow that. The late President Umaru Yar’Adua was then battling for his life in hospital and the hawks around him grounded the machinery of government. They did not allow the man to transfer power to then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan before he was admitted into hospital. Perhaps, if the right thing had been done then, the nation would not today be struggling to wriggle out of this humongous debt.

    Arbitration is an alternative dispute resolution, it is not like a court where the parties have to argue to no end in order to prove their cases. At arbitration, all the cards are laid face up. The parties come out plainly, as everything is written in black and white, and admit their fault unlike the court scenario where all manner of lies are told in order to cover up the truth. Since it knew it had a strong case, P&ID resorted to arbitration.

    At the arbitration tribunal comprising Lord Hoffmann, Anthony Evans and Nigeria’s Bayo Ojo (SAN), former attorney-general and minister of justice, Nigeria argued that P&ID’s failure to acquire land for the building of the gas processing facilities was ‘’a fundamental breach of the agreement’’. According to it, no gas could be delivered until this is done. The tribunal rejected Nigeria’s argument and upheld P&ID’s request for damages.

    What should be the damages became a contentious issue among the members. Hoffmann and Evans calculated it to be $6.597 billion, but Ojo, in his minority report, put it at $250 million. The matter also came up before the United States (US) District Court in Columbia and the US District Court of Appeal which ruled in the petitioner’s favour. But can a sovereign country like Nigeria be bound by the decisions of these domestic courts?

    Yes, says P&ID, which claims that Nigeria is bound by a treaty to pay up having waived its right to immunity as a sovereign nation when it signed the agreement. In its application seeking the enforcement of the award, the firm said: ‘’The final award is governed by the New York Convention. So, Nigeria’s status as a foreign sovereign does not deprive the court of jurisdiction to confirm the award”. Justice Butcher agreed and the rest, as they say, is history.

    The law, we are told, does not help the tardy. Nigeria’s indolence has put it in this awkward position. Our nonchallance of yesterday is costing us a fortune today. Apparently just waking up from slumber after being slammed with this multi trillion naira award, Solicitor-General of the Federation Dayo Apata said the court lacked the power to give such an order against a sovereign state. Speaking legalese, he said what is actually being touted as “default judgement is default entry”.

    ‘’Under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA), a defendant has up to 60 days to answer to a petition filed against it.  Where no response is entered for the defendant, the court clerk, upon application by a petitioner makes a default entry, which in this case was made on June 5, 2018’’, he added. Well said. But why didn’t the country follow through the plan to pay the firm  $850 million in 2015?

    What stalled that arrangement? If the firm agreed to accept $850 million four years ago and we refused to pay up after entering into that agreement, who then do we blame today for the multi trillion naira award slammed on us? The government and its officials, of course. There is nothing they can say that will absolve them of blame. They have let Nigerians down at a time it mattered most. This is not how to defend our sovereignty.

    This is not the time to grandstand or play to the gallery. Those talking from both sides of their mouths should watch it. A court has confirmed the arbitral award. We should just go back there and sort things out. We should be spared such statement as ‘’we know the implication of that judgement and its impact on monetary policy. That is why the CBN is going to step forward and very strongly too to ensure we defend the country and defend the reserves of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’’.  How do we do that when they have our balls in their hands?

    Did Nigeria default in its pact with P&ID or not? If it did, is the arbitral award justified or not? Justice Butcher may have butchered us with his verdict, but can we blame him for doing his job? The fault is in us and not in him for upholding the scale of justice.

  • Butcher ‘waylays’ truck driver

    Butcher ‘waylays’ truck driver

    A 30-year-old butcher, Saheed Ibrahim, yesterday appeared before a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court for allegedly waylaying a truck driver on Carter Bridge and dispossessing him of N170,000.

    Ibrahim, who lives at 3, Ogbayo Street, Sangotedo Lekki, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Prosecuting Inspector Philip Osijiale told the court that the accused and three of his accomplices, who are  at large, committed the offences on November 28, at about 8:00pm.

    Osijiale said the accused and his team waylaid Mohammed Bukankwato on Carter Bridge, Idumota, Lagos Island, when his truck broke down.

    He said the accused and his accomplices forcefully collected N170,000 from the driver.

    “The truck driver was coming from Mile 12 and heading to Ijora when his truck broke down on the bridge. The accused and his gang accosted him and threatened to throw him in the Lagoon if he did not give them all he had. They collected the sum of N170,000 from him and ran away.

     

     

     

  • Butcher jailed 30 days for stealing goat

    A Minna Magistrates’ Court in Niger State has sentenced a butcher, Abdulrahman Umaru, to 30 days imprisonment for stealing a goat.

    Umaru, 28, was arraigned on a count charge of theft.

    The offence is contrary to Section 287 of the Penal Code.

    The Magistrate, Amina Musa, held that the prosecution had proved its case against the accused beyond reasonable doubt and she had taken note of the guilty plea of the accused.

    Musa convicted Umaru of the offence and sentenced him to 30 days in prison.

    However, the magistrate gave the convict an option of N5, 000 fine.

    Musa ordered Umaru to pay N25, 000 to the complainant as restitution for the goat stolen.

    The prosecutor, Alfred Auta, had told the court that Amina Mohammed of Maitumbi in Minna reported the matter at the police station on July 24.

    Auta said Mohammed reported that Umaru stole a goat belonging to her, valued at N25, 000 and slaughtered it in an uncompleted building.

    When the charge was read to Umaru, he pleaded guilty, but implored the court to show him mercy.

    The prosecutor urged the court to try the convict in line with Section 157 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

    He prayed the court to order Umaru to pay N25, 000 as restitution to the complainant for the stolen goat.

  • Butcher bags 30 days in jail for stealing goat

    Butcher bags 30 days in jail for stealing goat

    A Minna Magistrates’ Court in Niger on Wednesday sentenced a butcher, Abdulrahman Umaru, to 30 days imprisonment for stealing a goat.

    Umaru, 28, was earlier arraigned on a count charge of theft.

    The offence is contrary to Section 287 of the Penal Code.

    In her ruling, Magistrate Amina Musa said that the prosecution had proved its case against the accused beyond reasonable and she had also taken note of the guilty plea of the accused.

    Musa, therefore, convicted Umaru of the offence and sentenced him to 30 days in prison.

    However, the magistrate gave the convict an option of N5, 000 fine.

    Musa also ordered Umaru to pay N25, 000 to the complainant as restitution for the goat that was stolen.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Alfred Auta, had told court that one Amina Mohammed of Maitumbi in Minna had reported the matter at the police station on July 24.

    Auta said that Mohammed reported that Umaru had stolen a goat belonging to her, valued at N25, 000 and slaughtered it in a uncompleted building.

    When the charge was read to Umaru, he pleaded guilty, but urged the court to show him mercy.

    Consequently, the prosecutor urged the court to summarily try the convict in line with Section 157 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

    He also prayed the court to order Umaru to pay N25, 000 as restitution to the complainant for the stolen goat.

     

  • Adekunle Gold turns butcher in ‘Work’ video

    Adekunle Gold turns butcher in ‘Work’ video

    Adekunle Gold in celebration of May 1; workers day, released a new single titled ‘Work’, saying he respects the hard work of the people.

    Speaking on the new song, he stated, “The value of hard work my country people have to put in daily to survive cannot be dulled down. I respect your every profession no matter how little and I am thankful for you keeping our country running in spite of it all.

    “I give you “Work” as you rest on Workers day,” he added.

    The new single artwork shows the singer in a market square, as a butcher, with onlookers at the background.

    Commending the new work, Falz the bald guy stated, “From musician to Eleran in Oshodi that’s a unique move I salute you.”

    Adekunle Gold, who is under YBNL Nation released the making of the video on Sunday on his social media handles and in the clip of video which he posted, the singer is seen wearing a blue apron and working as a butcher, cutting meat in a market amidst other meat sellers as well as his fans.

    For a novice, the singer handled two knives expertly, sharpening one against the other, before proceeding to cut a large piece into smaller chunks.

    “My name is Jack … #ofalltrades,” Adekunle Gold captioned the short video.

    “Work hard, play harder or do both at the same time. #MorufuEleran #MeatBae.”

  • Court remands butcher in prison

    An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court yesterday remanded a butcher, Abubakar Abdullahi, in Kirikiri Prisons, pending when an interpreter would be available to translate the charges to him in Hausa.

    Abudullahi, 40, who claimed that he does not understand English Language or Pidgin English, is facing a two-count charge of breach of the peace and assault.

    Magistrate A.A Adesanya, ruled: “The accused should be remanded in prison pending when an interpreter will be available to explain the charges to him.’’

    Earlier, Prosecuting Inspector George Nwosu said the accused committed the offence on April 22 at Agege abattoir in Lagos.

    He said the accused stabbed Suleimon Isah with knife during a fight at the abattoir.

    Nwosu said the accused breached the peace by fighting at the abattoir.

  • Boko Haram attacks Borno as ‘butcher’ recounts killings

    Boko Haram attacks Borno as ‘butcher’ recounts killings

    Boko Haram Chief Butcher, Zakari Mohammed Ardo, has said that he slaughtered “only five people” while operating with his fellow sect members.

    Ardo, who  was yesterday paraded before reporters at a police facility in Abuja, said it took him two minutes to slaughter a human victim marked for the slab.

    The suspect said he was the leader of a five-man team of butchers. According to him, the four other members pinned the victim down while he cut the throat.

    The 30-year-old suspect, who spoke to reporters through an interpreter (he spoke in Kanuri) said he joined Boko Haram in 2012 and operated with the sect until his arrest on July 12, 2014.

    Zakari Mohemmed was arrested by the police along Darazo-Basrika road, Bauchi while fleeing from the Balmo Forest.

    He has since been under arrest until news filtered in at the weekend that he had escaped from police custody.

    Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba said the police authorities decided to parade the suspect to debunk reports of his purported escape.

    According to him, the suspect was still being interrogated and investigated.

    Boko Haram attacked Gwoza town in southern part of Borno State yeaterday, killing scores of people.

    The town’s police station, two churches, the local government secretariat and some other buildings were burnt down by the invading insurgents who shot indiscriminately in the down onslaught. The town is 135 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital.

    A resident of the town Yahaya Mbursa recounted attack when he spoke with reporters yesterday. He said after setting the churches on fire and snatching unspecified number of vehicles at the Motor Park near the burnt police station, they fled into the hill tops of Mandara Mountains and the Sambisa Forest.

    “The Boko Haram dawn attacks were very shocking and terrifying. The gunmen burst into this town through the mountain tops and western forest of Sambisa. Some of the residents had to flee into nearby bushes and the hills, near this market square.

    “I cannot tell you the exact number of people killed yesterday while fleeing, but about a dozen were shot dead,” he said.

    Another source in the town said: “We had to run for our dear lives when the gunmen attacked the motor park and warned us not to panic but surrender all the vehicles; including the ones being loaded with passengers.” He added that they took many vehicles away.

    A former Vice-Chairman of Gwoza local government  Mr. Francis Mbala, confirmed the attack.

    Military sources in Maiduguri to ld reporters that that troops in the Bama-Gwoza axis and the ones in Damboa town and Bulabulin Ngarwa village in Borno state, were on Special Military Operations against insurgents.

    “The insurgents are on the rampage, as they have no any other place to hide now, other than to attack vulnerable towns and villages near the

    Mountain tops and Sambisa Forest,” the military source, said because he is not authorised to speak to reporters.

  • Anxiety over fate of Boko Haram ‘butcher’

    Anxiety over fate of Boko Haram ‘butcher’

    Whereabouts of key suspect unknown

    Military source: we don’t have him

    There was anxiety yesterday over the whereabouts of the suspected Boko Haram “chief butcher” Mohammed Zakari in police custody.

    The suspect was arrested on July 15 after a counter-insurgency operation in Balmo forest in Bauchi State, which was rated as the major armoury of the sect.

    The suspect had been undergoing interrogation in a police facility.

    A source claimed that the suspect was in Bauchi; another said he had been transferred to a secret location in Jos.

    It was gathered that the tension over the  suspect’s whereabouts was heightened by the fact that he had not been grilled by the military and other security agencies.

    A top security source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, confirmed that there was disquiet over the fate of the suspect because the police did not state the extent of their investigation into his activities.

    “No one can also explain who is keeping the suspect in the last two weeks. There are different claims on whether he is in Bauchi, Jos or Abuja,” the source said, adding: “It could also not be confirmed whether he is still alive or dead during encounters. The situation is creating fears in the states under emergency rule.

    “Those from these states have been raising concerns on Zakari’s actual status.”

    It was also learnt that there were issues about the lack of coordination between the police and  the military and security agencies.

    A military source, who spoke last night, said: “Well, the police arrested the suspect they should be in the best position to account for his whereabouts.

    “So far, we have not been involved in the quizzing of the suspect.”

    Attempts to get official confirmation from the police last night did not yield results.

    A text message to the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Frank Mba, was not replied as at 8pm.

  • Police arrest Boko Haram ‘chief butcher’

    The police authorities Tuesday said they arrested a Boko Haram “chief butcher”, Mohammed Zakari along Darazo-Baasrika road in Bauchi State.

    A statement by the Force spokesman, Frank Mba said the 30-year-old suspect was arrested on Saturday while fleeing security bombardment at the Balmo forest in Bauchi.

    “The suspect, who hails from Kaigamari Village, Daptchari in Darazo Local Government Area, Bauchi State is the self-styled “chief butcher” of the insurgent group at the Balmo Forest Camp and is linked with the recent slaughter of seven (7) people, including women and children.

    “The suspect, who investigation reveals, was tutored in the art of insurgency at Gombe Forest under the leadership of a fleeing insurgent, one Abba Taura and moved to Balmo Forest only three months ago, is discovered to have actively participated in the April attack against Customs officers at Kari Town, along Maiduguri Road, Bauchi State.

    “Findings as well as disclosures from the suspect will assist the law enforcement agencies in tracking down some other members of the terror cell”, the statement added.

    The police have called on residents in the affected areas in the state to be on the look out for any suspicious or strange character fleeing from Balmo Forest.

    The Force also called for the understanding and support of members of the public in the counter terrorism campaign embarked upon by the security agencies.