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  • Falana threatens to dock NHRC over ‘illegal’ naval detainees

    Rights activist Femi Falana (SAN) Thursday threatened to drag the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to court to take action on the alleged illegal detention of 67 persons by the Nigerian Navy (NN).

    This was contained in a follow-up letter addressed to the Executive Secretary of NHRC, where he gave the commission seven days to have the NN release or prosecute those allegedly being detained in naval, other military facilities or face a writ of mandamus before a Federal High Court.

    Falana recalled his earlier letter dated May 19 where he requested the release of 40 Nigerians allegedly being detained by the service without trial.

    Aside the 40, Falana said Thursday that they discovered 57 persons have been held in crowded cells at the NNS BEECROFT in Apapa and 10 others inside a vessel at the Marina Jetty between three and 18 months without a remand order.

    He gave the names of the 57 NNS BEECROFT detainees as Michael Ovie, Simon Onyisike Mike, Umoren Daniel, James Archibong, Graham Brown, Ifeanyi Osadinizu, Matthew Epiagolo, Taiwo Ayodele, Sunday Ojo, Austin Omonisa, Timothy Ajayi, Adeleke Adewale, Onoja Reuben, Pius Paul, Peter Pulle, Ogunmoyero Oluwaseun, Innocent Sunday, Lejoro Friday, Hamza Yakubu, Segun Yusuf, Adebayo Mayoma, Godswill Umoh, Edu Fidelis, Richard David and Daniel Harrison.

    Others are Asaiki Okeoghene, Omogoye Bolaji, Victor Uchendu, Oloyede Ademola, Emomotimi Watchman, Ganabel Sixtus, Olajide Enigbewo, Kehinde Labinjo, Godswill Ebbah, Sikiru Adekoya (SK MARINE), Patrick Ogerugba, Emmanuel Oputa, Kingsley Terry, Melvin Jack, Paul Obi, Matthew Pius, Grace Inyang, Okechukwu Iwuoha, Godwin Etiaka, Lukman Salami, Owei Ukuto, Collins Joel, Victor Jeremiah, Emmanuel Eze, Miebaka Iyalla, Firstman Job, Francis Onyema, Austin Abarowei, Nelson Sokaribo, Victor Okechukwu and Olanrewaju Peter.
    The lawyer further identified those allegedly being held in a vessel at Marina as Oloyede Ademola, Omogoye Bolaji, Umoh Emmanuel, Richard Essien, Edu Fidelis, Umoren Harrison, Simeon Mike, Udom Jerome, Archibong Aniete James and Okeoghene Asaiki Jude.

    According to Falana, the commission has not deemed it fit to sanction the NN in exercise of its powers under the National Human Rights Commission (Amendment) Act, 2010 following their failure to respond to his petition on the alleged illegal detention of 40 Nigerians.

    “However, the Nigerian Navy has publicly denied the detention of any person in any of its cells. Despite such official denial some of the detainees have since been released or transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which has filed charges against them at the Federal High Court.

    “Meanwhile, the illegal detention of several Nigerians and foreigners by the authorities of the Nigerian Navy has exposed Nigeria to ridicule before the comity of civilised nations. As you are no doubt aware, the Swiss Government has filed a suit against the Federal Government of Nigeria in Zurich over the detention of a vessel and its crew members of four Ukranians by the Nigerian Navy for the past 18 months.

    “It may interest the commission to know that the authorities of the Nigerian Navy have continued to detain Navy Captain Dada Labinjo in an underground cell in the detention facility of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) at Abuja since September 12, 2018 in contravention of the Anti-Torture Act, 2017 which has prohibited the detention of any person in any underground cell in Nigeria.

    Read Also: RevolutionNow: 90-day detention must be challenged, says Falana

    “As if that is not enough, the authorities of the Nigerian Navy have refused to comply with the order of the Federal High Court for the release of the detained senior military officer from illegal custody.

    “We have also confirmed, to our utter dismay, that 57 people are being detained in crowded cells at the NNS Beecroft, Apapa, while 10 others are incarcerated inside a vessel at Marina, Lagos.
    “Even though the 67 people have been accused of committing undisclosed criminal offences, they have been detained by the Nigerian Navy for periods ranging from three to 18 months without any remand order issued by a Magistrate Court or any Judge in Nigeria.

    “In view of the foregoing, we urge you to use your good offices to visit the aforesaid detention centres with a view to releasing the detainees or directing the authorities of the Nigerian Navy to arraign them in the appropriate courts if there is reasonable suspicion that they have committed any criminal offence whatsoever.

    “TAKE NOTICE that if you fail or refuse to accede to our request within seven days of the receipt of this letter on grounds of interagency solidarity, we shall not hesitate to file a writ of mandamus against the commission at the Federal High Court,” said Falana.

    Contacted spokesman for the NHRC Lambert Oparah said he was out of Abuja and should be granted a day to be abreast with the issues and react.

    He said: “I will need to find out the true situation of things in order to reply you accurately. Falana is a friend of the commission. We have been working together and we respect his views and opinions. There is no way the commission will not take the right action on the matter.”

    Similarly, the Director Naval Information Commodore Suleiman Dahun said he has seen the report and forwarded same to appropriate naval establishments for action, adding that findings would be communicated.

  • Photos: Toyin Abraham celebrates baby shower party in US

    Nollywood Actress Toyin Abraham’s baby Shower held on Wednesday in the US, with many Nollywood actresses in attendance.

    Below are some pictures from the baby shower.

    Read Also; 10 Nollywood superstars married at least twice

  • BREAKING: Panic as fire guts building in Ikeja

    Fire broke out in Bisi Ogunjobi Lane, off Ladoke Akintola Street GRA Ikeja this evening beside Greenville Schools, Ikeja Lagos state.

    Thick fog of smoke enveloped everywhere as residents tried to put out the inferno.

    It was gathered that a bus which had come to supply diesel to the school caught fire.

    Read Also: Three-storey building razed in Anambra gas explosion

    The Lagos State Fire Service later came after residents had channelled their efforts using fire extinguishers.

    Policemen were also at the scene of the outbreak as residents trooped out en masse to either help or just watch.

    No life was lost as there were also no casualty recorded.

  • Photos: Senate President Lawan returns from Hajj

    Senate President Ahmad Lawan has returned to Nigeria from his pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia for Hajj.

    Lawan said in a tweet that he returned to the country early Thursday.

    He added that he offered prayers for the peace, progress and unity of Nigeria.

    President of the Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan addressing newsmen on his arrival from the pilgrimage, at the Presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Thursday
    President of the Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan (right) on arrival from the Holy pilgrimage and received by Senator Barau Jibrin, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele and others, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Thursday

    Read Also: Lawan names 69 committees, chairmen

    Senator Barau Jibrin, Senator Teslim Folarin and President of the Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, on arrival from the Holy pilgrimage at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Thursday
    President of the Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan (second from right) being welcomed by Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele at the Presidential Lounge of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja from Saudi Arabia on Thursday

  • Why SPIP chair, Obono-Obla was suspended, by FG

    The Federal Government has explained its decision to suspend Chairman, the Special Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), Okoi Obono-Obla.

    It said President Mohammadu Buhari elected to suspend Obob-Obla upon his receipt of an interim report from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on allegations of misconduct and abuse of office against the SPIP Chair.

    A Deputy Director, Public Affairs in the Federal Ministry of Justice, James Odaudu said, in a statement on Thursday, that Obono-Obla trouble was informed by “series of petitions from legal practitioners, concerned public spirited citizens and public officers.

    Odaudu said President Buhari has directed that the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Dayo Apata to immediately take over the affairs of the SPIP.

    Read Also: Buhari suspends panel boss Obono-Obla

    The statement reads: “Following the crisis arising from series of petitions from legal practitioners, concerned public spirited citizens and public officers, alleging abuse of office, intimidation, unauthorized malicious investigation, financial impropriety, administrative misconduct and forgery/falsification of records by the Chairman of the Special Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, President Muhammadu Buhari has directed his immediate suspension from office.

    “The suspension follows the receipt and consideration of the interim investigative report of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on the matter.

    “The President has also directed that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) should conclude its investigations and proceed to prosecute Chief Okoi Obono-Obla.

    “Meanwhile, the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Dayo Apata, Esq. has been directed to immediately take over the affairs of the Special Investigative Panel (SPIP).”

  • Head teacher allegedly rapes six-year-old pupil

    A 30-year-old headteacher of a private school in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has been arrested for allegedly raping a six years old pupil of his school.

    The alleged rapist, Shedrach Nwekeagu who hails from Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State is said to have started by inserting a finger into the minor and raping her a week after the first assault.

    The victim’s father noticed blood stains on her underwear, it forced her to reveal the assault which was reported to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

    Head, Press and Public Relations Unit of NAPTIP, Stella Nezan made the revealed this in a statement.

    She stated, “Operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) have arrested 30 years’ old Shedrach Ozoemena Nwekeagu for allegedly raping a 6 years’ old school pupil.

    “The suspect, who hails from Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, is the Head Teacher in one of the private schools in the Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.

    “According to the victim’s father who reported the matter to NAPTIP, he observed that his daughter complained of stomachache and saw bloodstains on her underwear when she came back from school. Upon enquiry, she informed her parents that the Mr. Shedrach Ozoemena Nwekeagu had inserted his finger into her vagina the previous week, and a week later, he brutally raped her in the classroom after school hours while they waited to be picked up by their parents.

    Read Also: Rape in AAUA: Don’t compromise, students, ASUU tell police

    “Some teachers in the school also informed NAPTIP that they had their suspicions about Mr. Shedrach Nwekeagu sexually molesting pupils in the school, but were afraid of speaking out because the suspect is a relative of the proprietress of the School, and they were afraid they would lose their jobs.

    “Reacting to the news of the arrest, the Director-General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, condemned in strong terms, the alleged rape, and assured that the suspect will be thoroughly prosecuted under the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015.

    “She cautioned school proprietors to “ensure they run a background check on the teacher they employ to teach the children, so as to avoid horrible incidents such as this”. She added, “It is quite unfortunate that the teacher who is meant to guide and shield a pupil is the one who ends up molesting the child”.

    “The NAPTIP Boss also encouraged members of the public to be vigilant and observe any lewd act being meted towards any child, and not to hesitate in reporting such to NAPTIP for investigations.”

  • BREAKING; Court grants Atiku’s lawyer N20m bail

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday granted bail to Uyiekpen Giwa-Osagie, lawyer to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    Justice Nicholas Oweibo admitted him to bail for N20million with one surety in like sum.

    The judge also granted bail to Giwa-Osagie’s brother Erhunse for the same amount, with one surety in like sum.
    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned them on Wednesday for allegedly laundering $2million.

    The sureties must be resident in Lagos and must produce evidence of means through an affidavit, the judge ruled.

    Read Also:  Atiku’s son-in-law gets N20m bail

    Justice Oweibo released them to their counsel Ahmed Raji (SAN) and Norrison Quakers (SAN) for 14 days pending perfection of the bail terms.

    The judge earlier granted bail to Abdullahi Babalele, Atiku’s son-in-law, who was accused of laundering $140,000 during the general elections.

    He pleaded not guilty.

    The judge ordered Babalele’s remand in EFCC’s custody pending when he meets his bail conditions.

    Details shortly…

  • How true are the claims by Fani-Kayode on the aviation sector?

    Claim 1– five plane crashes with a death toll of 453 were recorded the year before Femi Fani Kayode became Minister of Aviation

    Claim 2 – There were no plane crashes during his tenure as Minister of Aviation

    Claim 3 – Plane crashes resumed after his tenure as Minister of Aviation

    Conclusion – Femi Fani Kayode’s claims are PARTLY TRUE. His claim that 453 lives were lost in five plane crashes is not accurate.

    The actual figure is over 333 lives lost in four plane crashes with the fifth crash not having an official death toll.

    Also, there was no plane crash during his tenure but there was a helicopter crash!

    Full Story

    On the 6th of August 2019, former Minister of Aviation took to his twitter page to applaud himself. Femi Fani Kayode, usually denoted with the moniker FFK, boasted about his success as an Aviation Minister in Nigeria; remarking that there had been no plane crash during his tenure.

    He claimed that there were five plane crashes with a total loss of 453 lives in the year prior to his appointment. Asserting this statistic, he continued that there were no recorded crashes during his tenure but that these resumed afterwards.

    “The year before I became Minister of Aviation there were 5 plane crashes with the loss of 453 lives.

    “When I became Minister, the planes stopped crashing. There was not one crash under my watch.

    “When I left the Ministry, planes started crashing again. I must have done something right!”

    Verification

    Femi Fani Kayode was Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation from November 7, 2006 to 29 May 2007. For the limits of this fact check, we would be analysing data from January 2005 to November 2006.

    This is consequent on the timeline being “the year before I became Minister…” Thus, it follows he was referring to 2005 to 2006.

    A report by The Telegraph reveals there were in fact four major plane crashes during the chosen timeline. However, local news media ChannelsTV and TheNationOnline record five plane crashes; although, Harka Airline crash of 2005 does not having any official figures.

    This may or may not be the reason it was omitted from the former. The verifiable claims reveal over 333 lives were lost making claim 1 PARTLY TRUE.

    This is consequent on the fact that local records reveal there were in fact five plane crashes were lives were lost. However, Harka Airlines has no official death toll.

    A breakdown from January 1, 2005 to November 7, 2006 is as follows:

    •October 22, 2005: A Bellview Airlines Boeing 737 with 117 people on board crashed shortly after take-off from Lagos. All on board killed. This included 111 passengers and 6 crew members.

    •December 10, 2005: A Port Harcourt bound Sosoliso Airlines flight 1145 crash-landed in Port Harcourt Airport, killing 109 passengers including 60 students of Jesuit Loyola College, Abuja.

    •September 17, 2006: an 18-seater Dornier 228 Air Force transport plane carrying 15 senior army officers and three crew members crashed in Benue State; leaving three survivors.

    •October 29, 2006: An ADC airliner with 114 passengers on board crashed and burned after take-off from Abuja with reports confirming a death toll of 96–98.

    There were, however, some minor aviation accidents, which include planes overshooting the runway, tires and engines catching fire but no lives were lost.

    Meanwhile, CLAIM 2 which asserts that there was no plane crash during Femi Fani Kayode’s tenure as Aviation Minister is also MOSTLY TRUE. The operative phrase being “plane crash”.

    The reason being that the only aviation crash was a six- seater helicopter belonging to Odengene Air Shuttle (OAS). This crashed in Delta State killing two people on November 10, 2006.

    In June 3, 2012, Nigeria experienced a plane crash – Dana Airlines Flight 9J 992. The airliner, carrying 153 passengers on board crashed at a residential area of Iju-Ishaga, Lagos.

    No one survived the crash. This thus corroborates the former Aviation Minister’s remarks “…When I left the Ministry, planes started crashing again…” It follows, claim 3 is TRUE.

    Other crashes post FFK tenure include but not limited to Cessna 208 aircraft marked 5N-BMJ (October 25, 2012) and Associated Airlines (October 3rd, 2013).

    Conclusion

    Femi Fani Kayode’s claims are PARTLY TRUE. His claim that 453 lives were lost in five plane crashes is not accurate.

    The actual figure is over 333 lives lost in four plane crashes with the fifth crash not having an official death toll.

    Also, there was no plane crash during his tenure, but there was a helicopter crash! There were also crashes after his tenure.

  • Truck runs into building, kills one, injures five in Ogun

    The driver of a truck in the early hours of Thursday lost control and rammed into a building at Ijaye in Abeokuta, killing a nine-year-old boy and injuring five occupants of the building.

    Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi, the Spokesperson, Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abeokuta.

    Akinbiyi, who noted that the incident occurred around 3:46 a.m on Ijaye -Iyana Mortuary axis in Abeokuta, said that the driver of the truck took to his heels immediately after the accident.

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    He alleged that the accident was caused by speeding and loss of control by the truck marked LND-754 XV.

    He explained that there were eight occupants in the building, comprising of one female adult, three female children, two male children and two male adults, when the incident happened.

    “I learnt the truck was coming from the Iyana-Mortuary axis inbound Itoku when it suddenly lost control due to speeding, crossed the culvert and rammed into the shops and the house behind it.

    “The little child who lost his life in the accident was around 9 years old and he has also been taken to Ijaiye General Hospital mortuary,” he said.

    He added that the injured persons were taken to the General Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta, for treatment.

  • Group to EFCC: order arrest, prosecution of former AGF Aondoakaa

    A civil society group, Global Integrity Crusade Network (GICN) have asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to order an arrest and prosecution of the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN within the next seven days on alleged corruption and abuse of office.

    The petition addressed to the Chairman of the EFCC, dated Tuesday, 13th August, 2019 titled “Pending allegations against Mr Micheal Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN bordering on fraud, corruption, flagrant abuse of his office as Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice between 2007 to 2010 as well as involvement in the $182 Million Halliburton scam,” was signed by the director of special duties of group, Akan Augustine Eneji and made available to newsmen in Abuja.

    The petitioners alleged that in year 2010, Mr. Aondoakaa was stripped of the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) by the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee on the strength of several petitions against him for unethical actions taken while serving as Attorney-General of the Federation.

    The petition, reads: “We recall with bitterness how Aondoakaa being a close associate of James Ibori, the disgraced former Governor of oil-rich Delta State, worked openly to undermine the independence of the EFCC and to derail domestic and international efforts to bring Ibori to justice. His strong-arm tactics and near usurpation of the powers of the Commission earned him considerable notoriety.

    “Available information shows that he interfered in many of the EFCC prosecutions and destroyed cases relating to corrupt State Governors mostly by discontinuing hearings and trials – even without clear power to do so. In one such instance, it happened that after the EFCC appealed a decision by the Court of Appeal transferring the case to Ibori’s home State – where Ibori still wielded enormous influence – the Attorney-General ordered that the appeal be withdrawn.

    Read Also: N3b ‘fraud’: EFCC quizzes Head of Service Oyo-Ita

    “Mr. Aondoakaa is also alleged to have interfered in the money laundering case against Ibori and his associates in the United Kingdom. After an English court froze $35 million of Ibori’s assets in August 2007, Mr. Aondoakaa provided Ibori’s lawyer with a letter stating that Ibori had been “investigated” in Nigeria and no charges had been filed against him, despite the fact that the EFCC was still investigating the case and finalizing criminal charges. The letter led the English court to temporarily lift the freeze on Ibori’s assets.

    “According to leaked US State Department cables, Mr. Aondoakaa also refused to negotiate a broad prisoner transfer agreement with British authorities unless the United Kingdom dropped efforts to prosecute Ibori for money laundering.

    “We are aware that the EFCC in November, 2016 invited and quizzed Mr. Aondoakaa for several hours over his alleged role in the $182 Million Halliburton scam. The case into which he was frustrating investigations during his time in office relates to an alleged contract involving a four-company joint venture to build a liquefied natural gas plant on Bonny Island.

    “It is on record that in 2009 one KBR, a former subsidiary of Halliburton, agreed to pay $402 Million after admitting that it bribed Nigerian officials through office of the Attorney-General and that Halliburton paid $177 Million to settle allegations by the US Securities and Exchange Commission without admitting any wrongdoing.

    “It is our demand that investigations into this very sensitive case be reopened as a matter of urgency with a view to arraigning Mr. Aondoakaa before the court.

    “This will go a long way in proving to the overwhelming population of Nigerians who stand on the path of justice that the EFCC is truly committed to tackling the menace of corruption headlong, no matter who gets offended.

    “It is rather unfortunate that Mr. Aondakaa has continued to walk the streets as a free citizen and strengthening his hands in Benue State politics instead of cooling in the prison. We maintain that the inordinate delay on the part of the EFCC to arrest and prosecute Mr. Aondakaa over the aforementioned Halliburton scam is an attempt at shielding him.

    “Our consolation however lies in the fact that there is no limitation to criminal prosecution in Nigeria. Given your commitment to duty, we believe that the arms of our laws are long enough to bring any criminal to book.

    “We do not want to have a negative notion that some persons are above the law under your leadership of the EFCC. Therefore, we unequivocally demand that you act urgently by arresting Mr. Aondakaa and commence the process of his prosecution within 7 (Seven) working days from the date of receipt of this letter.

    “In the event that you do not act as demanded herein, we shall further ventilate our grievances by jump starting mandamus proceedings to compel you to do the needful.”