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Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • FG must balance human rights, national security – Falana

    Human Rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has advised the Federal Government to comply with Nigerians’ human rights while securing the country and her interests.

    Falana said both security and human rights can coexist and are necessary to prevent breakdown of law and order, but that it was problematic to place state security above individuals’ rights.

    He said the purpose of national security should be to protect democracy. He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to make advancing human rights a central pillar of Nigeria’s national security policy.

    The lawyer warned the government not to allow itself to be used by those seeking to undermine “these fundamental values” as a ploy to “destroy democracy through the use of violence in its most inhuman form.”

    Falana spoke on Wednesday in Abuja while delivering a paper ‘Rule of law and security’ at the 2018 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

    Buhari, in an address at the opening ceremony of event on Sunday, suggested that individual rights of alleged offenders would have to take a back seat when national security and public interest were threatened.

    “Rule of Law must be subject to the supremacy of the nation’s security and national interest.

    “Our apex court has had cause to adopt a position on this issue in this regard and it is now a matter of judicial recognition that where national security and public interest are threatened or there is a likelihood of their being threatened, the individual rights of those allegedly responsible must take second place, in favour of the greater good of society,’’ the President said.

    But Falana noted that placing security concerns in direct opposition to human rights “creates a false dichotomy.”

    Read Also: How to stop SARS’ brutality, by Falana

    He said: “Each is essential for ensuring that a society is both “free” and “secure.” Privileging one over the other can have unintended negative consequences. It is therefore important for Nigeria to strive to nurture the synergies between the two, and to incorporate human rights into national security strategies.

    “I recognise that it can be difficult to find a balance between ensuring national security on the one hand, and preserving human rights and the rule of law on the other. Nevertheless, I firmly believe that both security and human rights can fully coexist and are absolutely necessary to prevent breakdown of law and order. I posit that the purpose of national security should be to protect democracy and enhance democratic principles.”

    According to him, the government has a legal responsibility to preserve and promote all human rights as well as the rule of law.

    “Undermining these fundamental values would go in the direction wished by those whose aim is to destroy democracy through the use of violence in its most inhuman form,” the lawyer added.

    He berated the police and security agencies for concentrating on monitoring the activities of human rights activists and opposition figures in the country, while failing “to foil illegal take-over of government, through coup de tat and rigging of elections, kidnapping, hostage taking, religious riots and civil disturbances which have continued to threaten national security.”

    He warned the executive against detaining citizens for security reasons and disregarding court orders “for the release of such persons if it is found that the detention has nothing to do with national security.”

    Falana berated the Nigerian Bar Association for failing to sanction the activities of Attorneys-General and senior lawyers “who engage in the subversion of the rule and national security.”

     

  • Atiku faults Buhari on PIGB

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has faulted President Muhammadu Buhari’s rejection of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB).

    In a statement on Wednesday, which he personally signed, the former Vice President said it was rather unfortunate that President Muhammadu Buhari rejected the bill as passed by the National Assembly.

    Describing the President’s action as a monumental mistake, Atiku said the reason given by the President for rejecting the bill betrayed the fact that the current administration is out of touch with global best practices.

    The presidential aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) said the President’s claim that the bill would whittle down his powers was unfortunate.

    The statement said, “A leader must be secure in himself before he can secure his or her people. A President is not powerful because he holds the Presidency. Neither is he only powerful because laws confer powers on him.
    “In truth, a secure leader brings power and influence to the office he occupies instead of taking power from that office. He also gives laws the force of power by obeying and implementing them.

    “The Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) will be a great catalyst for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and has the capacity of stabilising our host communities, boosting our reserves and creating the enabling environment that attracts the type of investment that will make Nigeria a world leader in the petroleum industry.

    Read Also: Buhari’s remark on rule of law

    “In recent months, Nigeria became the world headquarters for extreme poverty, having overtaken India as the nation with the most people living under $2 a day (81 million people). If we are to change the situation and bring our people out of poverty, we must support legislation such as the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill.

    “As the late great President Ronald Reagan once said, the greatest leader “gets the people to do the greatest things”. The Petroleum Industry Governance Bill will help Nigeria to do great things and I urge President Buhari to put aside his insecurities over the loss of his power and let the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill be”.

  • Buhari to Theresa May: 2019 Election will be free, fair, credible

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja assured the United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister, Theresa May of his commitment to conducting free, fair and credible elections in 2019.

    He made the remark during a bilateral meeting with the visiting Prime Minister at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    President Buhari, according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, welcomed UK’s support at strengthening democratic institutions in the country.

    He said ‘‘I assure you that I’m all out for free, fair and credible elections. I’m very pleased that my party is doing very well. The High Commissioner will brief you more. The recent successes in polls in Katsina, Bauchi, and Kogi have boosted our morale greatly.

    ‘‘Nigeria has accepted multiparty democracy and that is putting politicians on their toes, forcing them to work harder,’’ he said.

    On the anti-corruption campaign, the President applauded the British support to the country, noting that the success of the fight was very important to ordinary people in the country.

    He went on “We had great opportunities and resources between 1999 and 2014, due to high oil prices. But when we came in 2015, oil prices plunged to as low as 37 dollars per barrel.

    ‘‘What we have been doing since 2015 is to focus on infrastructure development, despite low earnings. Work is ongoing in roads, rail, power, and many others.”

    On Brexit, President Buhari noted that it provides an opportunity to strengthen the historic ties between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

    Read Also: Buhari visits Theresa May in London

    ‘‘We are nervously watching the development about Brexit because we know that the relationship had been on for a long time.  I assure you that I am prepared to strengthen the relationship between our two countries.’’

    The President also thanked the UK government for the support on security and the fight against insurgency in the North Eastern part of Nigeria, and the improved trade relations between both countries.

    ‘‘I am very grateful to the British government under you leadership for the help in security, particularly your training team that is in our institution in Kaduna,’’ he said.

    Speaking earlier before the bilateral meeting, the Nigerian leader underscored the need for UK support on reviving of Lake Chad, which is a means of livelihood for millions of people.

    The President told the visiting Prime Minister that Europe and China were already conducting an in-depth study on recharging the Lake through inter-basin transfer from the Central African Republic.

    In her remarks, Prime Minister Theresa May, who welcomed the assurance by the Nigerian government on credible elections in 2019, said she was pleased to be in Abuja to continue the ‘‘excellent discussions’’ she started with President Buhari in London in April, this year, particularly on security, trade, asset recovery and the fight against corruption.

    ‘‘Security and defence cooperation are very important steps to address Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa,’’ May said.

    On asset recovery, the Prime Minister told President Buhari: ‘‘We do not want to hold anything that belongs to Nigeria people, but we follow the judicial process, which can be slow.’’

    The Prime Minister appealed to President Buhari to use his position as ECOWAS Chair to keep the issue of human trafficking on the front burner in the sub-region.

    President Buhari and Prime Minister May witnessed the signing of two agreements: Security and Defence Partnership and Economic Development Forum Agreement.

     

  • Buhari has no respect for rule of law – Afenifere

    The pan Yoruba socio cultural organization, Afenifere on Tuesday said President Muhammadu Buhari’s call for the placement of national interest above the rule of law was illogical.

    It noted that the claim was a proof of the President’s lack of respect for the rule of law since assumption of office.

    The group in a communique issued at the end of its monthly meeting held yesterday at the residence of its leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti in Akure, the Ondo State capital said Buhari’s statement undermined his belief in democracy.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the group, Yinka Odumakin who read the communique said the All Progressives Congress (APC) and president Buhari have failed Nigerians, even as he declared that the president lacks the ability to deliver his campaign promises.

    Besides, he noted that the APC and President Buhari do not believe in restructuring which he said remains the only solution to the problems confronting the country.

    According to the communique “We maintain that restructuring remains the major issue in Nigeria and the meeting reviewed the comments made by the Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo at town hall meeting in USA.

    The Vice president was quoted as saying “the problem of our country is not the matter of restructuring and we must not allow ourselves to be drawn into the argument that our problems is drawn from geographical destructuring , it is about managing resources properly and providing for people properly. ”

    “The statement of the Vice president should be viewed against the background that in 2016 the APC as a party inserted restructuring into its manifestos and in 2017 when the argument about restructuring became so loud, they set up the El-rufai committee to go and provide their own idea of restructuring and up till now they have not told us their new definition only for them to be telling us that restructuring is not our problem.

    “That shows clearly that restructuring for the APC is an issue to play gallery with,  they don’t believe in it, they are not committed to it,  and for the Acting President to say the problem of Nigeria is managing resources, we want to ask them how much of it they have done in the last three years ?

    “How much of providing for the people have they done? How much of managing resources have they done with the monumental corruption? The Transparency International has said Corruption has worsen under this administration.

    Read Also: Fasanmi to Afenifere: ignore Obasanjo

    “Apart from the question of lack of coordination and incompetence in this government, it is clear that there is structural issues that is making it difficult to deliver to the people. And in any case, the issue confronting us today is not all about good governance, we have bad governance and bad structures and this is why we are experiencing bad governance within a bad structures, but even if we have good governance,  there are issues in our polity that good governance alone cannot resolve.

    “There is no any amount of good governance that can alter the derivation formula, good governance cannot address resource control, there are issues of restructuring that are outside the scope of good governance which is an essential ingredient of restructuring.

    “This remains the only condition for any political party to earn the support of Nigerians and Nigerians should not allow  anybody to deceive them again by playing on their emotions and after the election they will give another definition to restructuring, we have had enough of political fraudsters.

    “The meeting observe the recent statement by the President at the NBA conference  to defend the concept on the rule of law in all established democracy should be subject to some nebulous national interest or security.

    “Afenifere says and must be clear to everybody that this present government has done everything possible in the last three years to show clearly that it observes the rule of law in a breach and we have had disobedience of court orders,  detention of citizens without trials, arbitrary arrests,  extra judicial killings, invasion of National Assembly, invasion of National Assembly by thugs and till date no action has been done in it.

    “And many other clear subversion of constitutional role which is a great knock to our constitutional  democracy has been witnessing in the last three years” The communique stressed.

  • Group drags TETfund Boss, Baffa to EFCC

    A Civil Society Organization, Centre for Public Accountability (CPA), has dragged the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) Dr. Abdullahi Baffa, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, over allegations of abuse of office and cases of contract deemed improperly awarded by the TETfund Chief Executive.

    The group led by its Executive Director, Comrade Olufemi Lawson, in a petition submitted today at the Lagos Office of the EFCC, said “It is with a deep sense of responsibility, that the Centre for Public Accountability (CPA), find it compelling to lodge a formal complaint, for investigative activities, of the Abuse of Office and arbitrary award of Contract, against laid down principles and law, by the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Dr. Abdullahi Baffa, since assumption of Office, till date.”

    The group accused Dr. Baffa of violating several provisions of the laws, guiding the operation of TETFund, among which stipulated, that TETFund shall ensure that funds generated from education tax are utilized to improve the quality of education in Nigeria WITHOUT DIRECT CONTRACT AWARDING.

    CPA also accused the TETfund Boss, of issuing instruction to public owned universities to reserve 20% of all contracts on the intervention fund provided to them by TETFund for “stakeholders”.

    “We strongly believe that these “Stakeholders” are none other than Dr. Abdullahi Baffa himself, his cronies and immediate family, many of who he has used as fronts, in executing the numerous illegal contract being awarded to several Higher institutions in clear violation of laid down procedures.” the petition further stated.

    “We are worried, that rather than focusing on the primary objective of the establishment of the fund, Dr. Baffa has converted the agency to a market of political patronage and contract bazzar, to the extent that many intervention projects are no longer advertised as stipulated by law. Indeed, what Dr. Abdullahi Baffa has been engaging in, contrary to the spirit and letter of the anti-corruption war of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. It is disheartening that Dr. Baffa is working in opposite direction to the cardinal policy thrust of Mr. President by promoting abuse of Office and corruption, in such a sensitive organization.”

    The group called for the thorough and credible investigation of the allegation by the anti-graft body without minding whose ox was gored.
    The petition, which was received in the Lagos office of the anti-graft agency on Tuesday, was also forwarded to President Muhammadu Buhari, Honorable Minister of Education, Honorable Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Chairman, Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions, His House of Representatives counterpart, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Bankers Committee of Nigeria and the Federal Inland Revenue Services FIRS.

  • Why we prioritized fight against corruption – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday explained why the Federal Government prioritized the fight against corruption.

    He said corruption had become a cancer in the lives of Nigerians, hence the need to fight it.

    The president spoke at the 40th anniversary of the Commonwealth Association of Technical Universities and Polytechnics in Africa (CAPA), holding in Abuja with the theme: ‘Enhancing technical capacity and partnerships for industrial and sustainable economic development in Africa.’

    Buhari, who was represented by Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu stated that Nigeria has sought the collaborations of relevant international organizations and agencies to ensure that illegally acquired proceeds are confiscated and brought back to the coffers of the Federal Government.

    The President said: “In order to entrench good governance, the present government has been waging a war on corruption, indiscipline and poor governance.

    “Corruption has become a cancer in our daily lives, which is why government decided to prioritise the fight against it and in this, it has also sought collaboration with relevant international organisations and agencies, ensuring that all illegally acquired proceeds are confiscated and brought back to the coffers of government.

    “It is part of the patrimony that ought to have been used to fund TVET.

    The president stated that the challenges of matching training to employment and lack of institutional capacity were major problems confronting African countries.

    He said these challenges have fueled many criminal activities like rebellion and insurgencies which threaten good governance and democratic institutions on the continent.

    Read Also: Buhari will rid Nigeria of corruption, says Emenike

    Buhari said: “Today, the challenges of matching training to employment, lack of institutional capacity, as well as the growing problems of youth unemployment and underemployment have become one of the central concerns for most African governments.

    “At one level, these have fueled many criminal activities, rebellion, insurgencies, social instability and unrest that threaten good governance and democratic institutions in our nations.

    “It is imperative that government and non-governmental organizations rise to meet these challenges by all means possible and proffer alternative means of redefining our common heritage- a heritage defined by hard work, integrity and concern for community.”

  • Oil sector reform has made more money available to government – APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the reforms in the nation’s oil sector has made more money available for government to address the social and infrastructural needs of the country while encouraging increased private sector participation in the sector.

    Reacting to allegations made by the main opposition, Acting National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena said the reform in the sector is a clear indication that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has not copied the corrupt template past PDP-led administrations used to criminally siphon oil revenues.

    He said “The oil sector reforms has provided government more revenue to address social and infrastructural needs of the country; is curbing the perennial fuel scarcities; increased private sector participation and resulted remarkable investments in both Refineries and Retails. The country is now poised to achieve self-sufficiency in terms of refining petroleum.”

    The statement said that the issues being raised by the opposition include “Leaked memo detailing alleged underhand oil contracts to the tune of N9 trillion at the NNPC and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, which are under the direct supervision of Mr President.

    “The subject of a leaked memo purportedly written by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources to the President which came to the fore sometime in October 2017 has since been overtaken by events. It is a matter of public knowledge that the author of the memo openly proclaimed that the issues raised in the letter were not on fraud, but on governance and suggested ways to go about it.”

    Nabena quoted the Minister as saying “I think a lot of people got it wrong. People dwell much on issues of sensationalism and leave the main substance.”

    He said further that “it was clearly stated then by the NNPC in response to the leaked document that apart from the 618km Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project and the Nigerian Petroleum Development Corporation (NPDC) production service contracts: All the other transactions mentioned in the memo were not procurement contracts. The NPDC production service contracts have undergone due process, while the AKK contract had not reached the stage of contract award”.

    Read Also: PDP suffering from selective amnesia, says APC

    According to the APC spokesman, the NNPC also stated then that: “It should be noted that for both the Crude Term Contract and the Direct Sale and Direct Purchase (DSDP) agreements, there are no specific values attached to each transaction to warrant the values of $10billion and $5billion respectively placed on them in the leaked document”.

    In view of the explanation offered by the corporation, Nabena said it was inappropriate to attach arbitrary values to the shortlists with the aim of classifying the transactions as contracts when they are merely the short listing of prospective off-takers of crude oil and suppliers of petroleum products under agreed terms.

    On the allegation of diversion of crude oil worth N1.1tr, using 18 unregistered companies, he said “It also in the public domain that within the last three years, there have been massive and verifiable reforms in the sales, marketing and general management of the various grades of Nigeria’s equity crude oil.

    “The reforms have manifested in the now popular public opening of bids for the sales and purchase of Nigerian crude grades in what is known as annual crude term contract.

    “As at last check, the Crude Oil Marketing Division (COMD) of the NNPC had achieved 98 per cent automation of all transactions involving the supply, marketing and sale of the various grades and blends of Nigeria’s crude oil across the world.

    “The automation has also helped in the following: enabled the open bid process of customer selection for lifting and purchase of Nigeria’s crude oil grades, emplacement of efficient crude for product import processes, leading to savings of $1 billion in one year as well as the introduction of improved pricing system, which has evolved into a robust and auditable pricing mechanism.

    “Based on what we have today, the NNPC COMD is enabled to achieve an end-to-end monitoring of every barrel of crude oil sold in the country. At a click of a button, the NNPC can tell you how much crude oil is sold, at what price, who bought it and where it has gone to etc. It is therefore inconceivable that the PDP or anybody could ascribe such patently bogus transaction to NNPC.”

    On the alleged billions of unremitted revenue from sale of crude which has led to deadlock at the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) severally, especially the last deadlock which was largely triggered by the contentious June 2018 monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting, he said “it is imperative to state that current NNPC Management assumed office a few years ago with a clear mandate to promote accountability and ensure efficiency in the running of the affairs of the Corporation.

    “The remittances to the Federation Account have never been flat as asserted. While the provision of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) were based on plans on the assumption of 2.3 million barrels/day (industry wide) and $50 crude oil price, actual production has averaged 1.9 million barrels/day (industry wide) and the average crude oil price has fluctuated between $50-$70.

    “Therefore remittances to the Federation Account have been based on actual monthly performance for crude oil production and price as dictated by international market forces.

    “The Corporation during the FAAC meeting presents relevant data to support amounts remitted to the Federation Account which is verifiable. This increase in price was the major reason for NNPC remittance to the Federation Account in June 2018 despite 400,000 barrels/day below projected production for the month.

    “To conclude, going by the current oil sector reforms, it is clear that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has not copied the corrupt template past PDP-led administrations used to criminally siphon oil revenues.

    “The oil sector reforms has provided government more revenue to address social and infrastructural needs of the country; is curbing the perennial fuel scarcities; increased private sector participation and resulted remarkable investments in both Refineries and Retails. The country is now poised to achieve self-sufficiency in terms of refining petroleum.”

  • Projects: Yari decries delay in delivery of 61Kms Road

    Gov. Abdul’aziz Yari of Zamfara, on Tuesday decried delay in the delivery of the ongoing 61 Kilometres road linking Dauran Town in Zurmi Local Government Area to Birnin Magaji and Kaura Namoda Towns.

    Yari expressed the concern while inspecting the ongoing projects in the state.

    The News news reports that the contract was awarded in 2016 at the cost of over N4 billion to Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company.

    Yari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Enlightenment, Malam Ibrahim Dosara, directed the company to increase its pace and complete the finishing touches to the project before the stipulated time.

    “Considering the huge resources invested in the project, the company has no reason whatsoever to delay it, especially as the inhabitants of the area have been expecting its completion,’’ he said.

    Read Also: Freezing of Benue govt account unconstitutional, says Yari

    The governor said that the road was scheduled to be inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari in September.

    He also expressed his disappointment with the low performance of contractors handling the ongoing reconstruction and expansion of Birnin-Magaji General Hospital.

    Yari urged the contractors to work in line with the contractual agreement and intensify efforts toward the completion of the projects.

    The governor, accompanied by the State Chairman of the All Progressive Congress ( APC ), Alhaji Lawal Liman, and other government functionaries, also inspected the Birnin-Magaji Township road project.

  • 2019: APC will win South East, says Presidential aide

    The Special Adviser to the President on Justice Reform Sector, Mrs Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu, says the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) will win majority of votes in the South-East in 2019.

    Ibekaku-Nwagwu disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Enugu.

    She said that her confidence hinged on the excellent performance of the APC-led administration in fixing hitherto abandoned infrastructure in the South East.

    The presidential aide said that the zone had not had it so good in terms of infrastructural upgrade since the return to democratic rule in 1999.

    She said that it was only logical for the region to repay President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC with bloc vote.

    “The APC will win election in most of the South-East states or at least secure a minimum of 25 per cent of total vote cast in appreciation for this love.

    “President Buhari has demonstrated his love for our people through the over 69 roads and bridges projects currently ongoing in the zone,” she said.

    Ibekaku-Nwagwu described the gesture as a clear departure from the style of the previous regime that awarded most of these roads but never funded them.

    Read Also: Akpabio can’t win Akwa Ibom for APC, says Attah

    “The president in his wisdom and frankness continued with the road contracts to avoid abandoned projects.

    “He also awarded new ones and released funds to ensure work in progress.

    “Work may not be very fast on site because of the economic crunch the administration is battling but is certainly in progress,” she said.

    The special adviser said that the president had proven critics wrong adding that Igbos was indeed very grateful to him.

    “We will reciprocate this gesture in 2019 by casting our vote massively for him.

    “Political heavy weights are already joining the APC across the zone,” Ibekaku-Nwagwu said.

  • Leah Sharibu: Parents confirm voice

    … Her voice and Picture has rekindled our hope – Parents

     

    The Parents of Leah Sharibu, the only girl still held captive by Boko Haram insurgents amongst other school girls abducted at Government Girls Science and Technical College Dapchi have confirmed the voice from an audio message from an Online publication, The Cable as that of Leah, their daughter.

    The Nation reports that Leah Sheribu’s audio message was published by The Cable online news platform with her recent picture wearing a brown hijab dress.

    In the message, Leah made an appeal for her release from Boko Haram captivity.

    The audio is translated thus:

    I am Leah Sharibu, the girl that was abducted in GGSS Dapchi. I am calling on the government and people of goodwill to intervene to get me out of my current situation.

    “I also plead to the members of the public to help my mother, my father, my younger brother and relatives. Kindly help me out of my predicament. I am begging you to treat me with compassion, I am calling on the government, particularly, the president to pity me and get me out of this serious situation. Thank you.”

    Our reporter called Leah’s parents to confirm the veracity of the voice and both were in agreement that it is their daughter, Leah’s voice.

    Both Mr. Nathan Sheribu and his wife Rebecca told our correspondent on phone that their hope has been re-iginited by the recent development having heard their daughters voice and seeing her recent picture.

    Read Also: Government keeping mum on Leah Sharibu – Father

    “I can confirm to you that the voice that spoke is that of my daughter Leah. It is her voice no doubt. I am happy that I can hear my daughter speak. This has giving me hope that she is alive. I am also happy to see her recent picture displayed.

    “My request is the same with my daughter. The government should play their part now by intensifying efforts to secure her freedom” Nathan said.

    For the mother, her hope never died, though it has now doubled. She will however become happier the day her daughter is free.

    Like her husband, Mrs Sheribu also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to without delay swing into action to free her daughter.

    She also called on her daughter’s captors to unconditionally release her daughter to her so as to save her from the trauma she is going through.

    The Nation reports that Leah along with her school mates were abducted in February from their school. Her mates were however released after one month but Leah was held back by the insurgents for the reason that she refused to renounce Christianity, her faith.

    In the last seven months, there have been doubts as to whether she was still alive as well as whether she was still holding on to her Christian faith.

    More than a month ago, the Excutive Director of Complete Care Foundation, Barr. Aisha Wakil popular known as Mama Boko Haram told reporters in Maiduguri that Leah was still alive hold on to her Christian faith.

    “I am really worried about Leah Sharibu and her freedom from Boko Haram is very important to me. Leah did not renounced her faith in Christianity, that I can assure you and we shall do everything with both the government and the international orgamisation to ensure she regain her freedom just like her colleagues that were reunited with her families,” Mama Boko Haram said.

    Today’s development has gone to vindicate her statement of the proof of life of the innocent girl still held by the insurgents in the last seven months.