The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Newspapers

  • Why I joined Arsenal, by Nicolas Pepe

    Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe has revealed the club’s aims for the 2019-20 season.

    The Gunners failed to qualify for the Champions League after their fifth-place finish in the Premier League last season and will play in the Europa League.

    Aside from their top-four failure, Arsenal suffered a disappointing 4-1 loss to rivals Chelsea in the Europa League final back in May.

    It was a contrasting run for Pepe in the 2018-19 campaign after helping Lille qualify for the Champions League with 22 goals and 11 assists in Ligue 1.

    While defending his decision to move to the Emirates Stadium, the Ivorian forward disclosed his ambition is to help Unai Emery’s side return to the elite European stage this season.

    “I chose to come here because it’s a club with a lot of ambition. They have the dream of coming back to the Champions League and I am also an ambitious person, so the choice was very logical,” Pepe told Arsenal Player.

    READ ALSO: Arsenal ‘agree £72m deal for Nicolas Pepe’

    “I am attracted to the Premier League because it is an extremely intense championship and the best league in the world.

    “The idea is to win the Europa League and that is a goal of ours. It’s a European event and our goal is to do better than last season. I believe we will.”

    Pepe lauded Emery for helping him settle down at the club after his first few weeks in North London.

    The 23-year-old has played in Arsenal’s opening two games in the Premier League, garnering 63 minutes of action.

    “It’s been really good because he speaks French and it has been much easier for us to communicate,” he continued.

    “I am new, the strategy and tactics are new and it really helps that I can get the coach’s assistance. Now I need to learn English and this is something he is helping me with also.”

    Pepe will hope to play a part when Arsenal visit Liverpool at Anfield for Saturday’s Premier League fixture. (Goal)

  • What you should know about Wadume

    Suspected kidnap kingpin, Bala Hamisu popularly known as ‘Wadume’ fingered in the circumstances that led to the killing of three police officers and a civilian has been re-arrested.

    Wadume was arrested in the Layin Mai Allo Hotoro area of Kano State by Inspector General of Police (IGP)’s Intelligence Response Team on August 20.

    For weeks, Hamisu Bala Wadume, the alleged kidnap kingpin was the cause of the row between the army and the Nigerian Police.

    The IRT’s manhunt to arrest and bring down Wadume’s kidnapping spree began in March 2019 when it received a petition from one Sheriff Umar of Kirikinua South Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    The petitioner reported that his cousin, Usman Mayo, was kidnapped on February 15, 2019, at Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State and his kidnapper demanded the sum of N200 million as ransom for his release.

    The source explained that the family of the kidnapped victim negotiated and paid the sum of N85 million first on March 11, 2019 but the abductee was not released.

    He said they paid an additional N15 million on March 16, 2019, making a total sum paid to the kidnappers N100 million and the kidnappers refused to release their victim insisting that that the family must pay the N200 million they demanded.

    In a bid to curb his continuous kidnapping activities, the Intelligence Response Team led by ASP Felix Adolije acted swiftly upon intelligent report about his moves but came under attack from soldiers while taking Wadume to the Command Headquarters in Jalingo.

    Read Also: Revealed: How Wadume was arrested

    During the attack, Inspector Mark Ediale, Sergeants Usman Danzumi, Dahiru Musa and a civilian died as a result of gunshot injuries, while others sustained gunshot wounds.

    Investigations into the killing of three policemen revealed that the Nigerian Army captain who allegedly ordered the release exchanged 191 phone conversations with him.

    Hamisu Bala was born and brought up in Ibi local government area of Taraba State. His late father, Bala, was Hausa, while his mother was Tiv, from Ukum local government area of Benue state.

    He has his nickname as “Why Do You Mean?” which many mistake for “Wadume”.

    He is a Hausa man whose great grandfather migrated from Katsina state.

    While growing up as a young man, He was a petty fish trader and a painter who had partnership with his brother.

    Bala suddenly became rich that during the 2019 polls, he aspired to become a Taraba State House of Assembly member, representing Ibi Constituency on the platform of the Young Democratic Party (YDP) but lost.

  • South-East Govs dare Kanu over threat against Igbo leaders

    South-East Governors have issued a stern warning to Nnamdi Kanu, Leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) over his threats to attack them and other South-East leaders abroad.

    The Governors, in a statement on Tuesday night,said should Kanu make his threat real, they would by all means repatriate him back to Nigeria to face the wrath of the people.

    The statement was signed by its chairman and Governor of Ebonyi State,David Umahi.

    Senator Ike Ekweremmadu was at the weekend assaulted in Nuremberg Germany where he was invited as keynote Speaker and special guest of honour at the occasion of annual new yam festival and convention of Ndigbo in Germany.

    Few minutes after the attack, IPOB claimed responsibility in a statement by its spokesperson,Emma Powerful.

    This was also followed by a broadcast by Kanu through the group’s rogue Radio station, Radio Biafra, in which he also corroborated the earlier statement and maintained that the Southeast Governors and other Igbo politicians must receive Ekweremmadu’s treatment any time they are seen in public abroad.

    The attack on Ekweremadu by IPOB has received condemnation from all quarters and South-East Governors in the statement described the attack by IPOB as a display of shame and ignorance.

    The Governors said they have noted the threats by Kanu who they alleged is fighting for his self interest but pretending to be fighting for Ndigbo and would soonest expose him if he doesn’t retrace his steps.

    They said if Kanu is serious let him direct his members whom he claimed live in over 100 countries to fight the foreign killer herdsmen in those countries.

    Read Also: I’m vindicated on Atiku’s birth place, says Nnamdi Kanu

    The statement reads: “South-East Governors are saddened with the ugly display and dance of shame by IPOB in Germany in attacking one of the finest leaders of Ndigbo, Senator Ike Ekweremmadu. We totally condemn it as we weep for them as they never knew the implication of their naked dance in public.

    “We have also noted the empty threats by Mr. Nnamdi Kanu (a former ordinary Member of MASSOB) to attack Governors of South-East, Ohanaeze leadership and other Igbo politicians for not supporting the self-acclaimed supreme leader in his self-fight for the raw power and wealth while pretending to be fighting for Ndigbo.

    “We wish to warn that should any Southeast person be attacked anywhere in the world, we shall, by all means, bring back Kanu to Nigeria to face the wrath of our people. It is madness for anyone who wants raw power with no experience to think that we Governors will support the killing of our people giving out our scarce land to herdsmen.

    “If Kanu is serious, let him direct IPOB to fight those foreign killer herdsmen in their countries of origin since he claims the IPOB is in over 100 countries in the world.

    “If Kanu who was previously in MASSOB but needed power and money wants Biafra and he is the self-acclaimed supreme leader, let him come back home with his army and guns to lead us to battle for the empire he desire to lead other than cheap talks. Soonest Ndigbo will know him better.

    The Governors, however, assured the people of the region that they would continue to protect them against killer herdsmen and other insecurity; and won’t be distracted by cheap talks.

    “We assure our people that we are doing so much to protect them against killer herdsmen and other insecurity problems. We have also been kidnapping and cultism in the Southeast to near zero level.

    “We are highly committed to the security and well-being of our people and will never be distracted by cheap talks”, the said.

     

  • Four killed in deputy governor’s convoy

    THREE policemen and a driver were killed by gunmen in an attack on the convoy of Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Dr Emmanuel Akabe.

    The convoy ran into the assailants around Gako hill in Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area at about 8pm.

    The Deputy Governor was on his way to Abuja for today’s swearing-in of ministers, it was learnt.

    Our correspondent gathered that when the escort commander learnt that there were suspected gunmen on the road, he stopped the convoy and went with two officers and the driver to clear the way.

    Read Also: Police foil jailbreak in Nasarawa prison

    A source said upon hearing gunshots from an oncoming Hilux van, the gunmen laid ambush for the police officers and the driver.

    The gunmen were said to have taken away the officers’ rifles after killing them, leaving a magazine behind.

    The remains of the slain policemen and the driver have been deposited at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia.

    State Police spokesman Othman Ismaeel said the Commissioner of Police and other senior officers were at the scene.

    He said he was yet to be fully briefed on the attack.

  • Revealed: How Wadume was arrested

    MONDAY dawn’s arrest of fleeing kidnap suspect Hamisu Bala aka Wadume was carefully planned and masterfully executed by a police special squad, The Nation has learnt.

    Bala, whose nickname Wadume is a corruption of his alias ‘Why do me,’ was declared wanted by the police on August 6.

    He escaped when soldiers at a military check point in Taraba State rained bullets on the police vehicle taking him away after his arrest.

    Three policemen and a civilian were killed in the attack. Wadume escaped and the police launched a manhunt for him before his arrest on Monday.

    The Wadume saga led to a breakdown in the police-army relationship and a plethora of probes by the police, the Defence headquarters and the army.

    While the police accused soldiers of being complicit, the army said the police did not share with it the intelligence on the mission and that the killings were done in error.

    Wadume’s arrest is now expected to throw some light into the incident.

    The Nation gathered from sources close to detectives how Wadume was tracked, traced and arrested around 5am on Monday at his uncle’s house in Hotoro, Kano State.

    The Nation learnt that the suspect bought the house for his uncle in addition to other choice properties in Taraba and Nasarawa states all allegedly from proceeds of kidnapping.

    Announcing Wadume’s arrest Force Spokesman Frank Mba, a deputy commissioner, said: “The operatives of the Nigeria Police have re-arrested the notorious kidnap kingpin, Alhaji Hamisu Bala Wadume.

    “He was re-arrested in the late hours of yesterday, 19th August, 2019 in his hideout at Layin Mai Allo Hotoro area of Kano State.

    “It would be recalled that the Police had been on the massive manhunt for the suspect, Alhaji Hamisu Bala Wadume since 6th August, 2019 following the unfortunate incident in Ibi, Taraba State which resulted in the brutal murder of three (3) Police Officers and two (2) civilians, and injury to five (5) others.

    “The suspect, who was appropriately restrained at the time of the incident, was subsequently released by his “rescuers” after they had destroyed the restraining handcuffs.”

    The statement added that Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu commended the operatives for their perseverance and painstaking efforts and expressed ‘”profound gratitude to all Nigerians for their unparalleled show of love and empathy to the Force and the families of the officers and patriotic civilians who paid the supreme price in the service of their fatherland.

    “It is his belief that the re-arrest of the suspect, Alhaji Hamisu Bala Wadume, will no doubt, help in bringing answers to the numerous but hitherto unanswered questions touching on the incident and the larger criminal enterprise of the suspect.”

    According to The Nation Investigation, the police deployed their best hands in the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) from Lagos, Rivers, Imo, Kaduna states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The detectives were in Abuja for many days to take briefs before embarking on the mission.

    Led by Abba Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), our reporter gathered that the team which also had operatives of the Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU) had earlier arrested six of Wadume’s gang members in Zaria, Abuja and Taraba before zeroing in on him at his Kano hideout.

    Read Also: Unmasking kidnap kingpin Wadume

    A policeman who participated in the operation told The Nation that 13 vehicles were recovered from the suspects and some choice houses belonging to him identified in Taraba and Nasarawa states.

    Prior to the operation that led to Wadume’s arrest, it was gathered that DCP Kyari visited the traditional ruler of Ibi and had several meetings with the locals bringing to the fore his expertise and strategies in cracking difficult cases.

    The source said: “Our boss was at Ibi for many days. He had meetings and interacted with the people. He met with the Serkin Ibi. All these were done to generate information on the possible hideout of the criminal.

    “He has not slept since our colleagues were killed and he vowed that he would stop at nothing to fish him out and we are happy he did.

    “Best IRT officers were drafted from Lagos, Rivers, Imo, Kaduna States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for this operation. The operation was coded. We were briefed for three days in Abuja before eventually going out to track the suspects.

    “Six of his gang members were arrested and when we got information that he was hiding at a house he bought for his uncle, we had to plan again before taking him by surprise.

    “The man is an illiterate and until two-years-ago, he used to steal goats at Ibi. But he suddenly became a multimillionaire and owned choice properties as a result of kidnapping.

    “Even when it was rumoured that the IRT men were everywhere and that Ibi town had been deserted, our boss’ operational strategy showed there was no need for people to flee their homes and they collaborated with the police.”

    The suspect, looking well-fed in a green dress, was picked up following intelligence alert. He was taken to the Louis Edet Force Headquarters, Abuja, for interrogation.

    Wadume escaped in controversial circumstances penultimate Tuesday after he was ‘rescued’ by soldiers from crack police detectives from the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), who arrested him.

    The soldiers, attached to 93 Battalion, Takum, took the occupants of the vehicle conveying Wadume and the detectives for suspected kidnappers, killing three police personnel and a civilian.

    Identifying the victims as ‘stars of the Force, the police gave their names as Inspector Mark Edaile, Sgt. Usman Danzumi and Sgt Dahiru Musa.

    They were killed by soldiers on Ibi-Wukari Road, Taraba State.

  • Alleged misdeeds: EFCC searches Ambode’s home

    OPERATIVES of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday searched the Ikoyi home of former Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

    The anti-crime agency said the former governor is under investigation just like some other “former governors since they no longer constitutionally enjoy immunity against prosecution.”

    The agency said it carried out its assignment “with a high sense of responsibility” and denied that its men raided the former governor’s homes.

    However, despite having a court warrant for the search in Ikoyi and Epe, it alleged that ‘irate youths’ prevented its operatives from searching the house in Epe, adding that its bus conveying the detectives on the assignment, was vandalized.

    The former governor however, said his houses in Ikoyi and Epe were searched “without any incident.” He explained that he had not been contacted by any agency of government in respect of any investigation.

    Spokesman of the former governor, Mr. Habib Aruna, in a statement, said: “This morning (yesterday), operatives of the EFCC visited the Epe country home and Parkview, Ikoyi home of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, former governor of Lagos State, with warrants to conduct a search. These searches were carried out extensively, and at the end of the exercise, the operatives left without any incident.

    “The former governor reiterates that the EFCC has, till date, not had any direct communication with him on any subject matter whatsoever and if or when it occurs, he is ready and willing to respond.”

    Ambode, who reiterated his belief in the rule of law and due process, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to have served the state diligently and conscientiously.

    The former governor urged his supporters and all Lagosians to remain calm and law-abiding as “there is no cause for alarm”.

    Although the EFCC did not give reasons for investigating the ex-governor, it is believed that it is not unconnected with the probe into three accounts opened in the name of the Lagos State government into which N9.9billion was deposited over a period of time. The account was linked to a senior official of the government in the office of the chief of staff to the former governor. The anti-graft agency has got a temporary forfeiture of the amount in the accounts.

    The ex-governor, who said the accounts being referred to were opened and operated by the state government, added that, under his administration, none of his personal accounts contained N9.9 billion, let alone being frozen by the commission.

    The EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said: “The attempt by operatives of the EFCC to execute a search warrant on the home of former Governor Ambode was, on Tuesday, August 20, 2019, resisted by hoodlums loyal to the governor.

    “The thugs attacked the operatives and vandalized their vehicle.

    “The commission had obtained a valid warrant to conduct search on Ambode’s homes in Park View, Ikoyi, and in Epe, as part of the ongoing investigation of alleged malfeasance.

    “However, the commission’s operatives were attacked and prevented from executing the search warrant in Epe by irate youths who injured three officers and damaged EFCC official vehicle.

    “The attack was totally unprovoked as the commission’s operatives were civil and did not molest anybody.

    “The commission, therefore, frowns at the attempt to manipulate the video on the search to create the wrong impression that officers of the agency molested residents at the Epe home of the governor.

    Read Also: Ambode denies links to N9.9bn frozen bank accounts

    “It is also not true that the search was an attempt to plant foreign currencies in the home of the former governor.”

    A video, which went viral, showed some Epe residents barricading the black-painted gate leading to the former governor’s home

    Acting EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Magu who denied that  that the commission “raided” Ambode’s home, said his men went after the ex-governor’s Chief of Staff (CoS), Mr.Olukunle Ojo.

    Magu spoke with State House correspondents during the presidential retreat for ministers-designate, permanent secretaries and other top government officials at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. But the former CoS said he had no house in Epe.

    Ojo, in a statement by his media aide, Cornelius Kayode, said “The former COS doesn’t have a house in Epe …. The House belongs to Bunmi  Ariyo,  Ambode’s PA”.

  • God has put Nigeria’s enemies to shame, declares Cleric at 40- Inter- Faith prayers for Nigeria

    The National Inter-Faith and Religious Organization for Peace (NIFROP) says the enemies of Nigeria’s peaceful co-existence, unity and tranquility have been put to shame by its prayers and supplication.

     

    The inter-religious faith group is currently undergoing an intensive 40-day fasting and prayer at the Unity Fountain for the country’s deliverance from the spirit of disunity.

     

    In an address by its National President, Bishop Sunday Garuba, on Monday, the group reckoned it seemed as though these adversaries were succeeding with the spate of terrorism, banditry, kidnappings, robberies, ethnic strife and other negative occurrences.

     

    They admitted that the blood of those unjustly killed by people that seek personal profits from all manners of evil cried for vengeance and almost ruined the nation.

     

    However, with the timely intervention of the Inter-Faith group, there’s hope for Nigeria, a promise of renewal and rebirth.

     

    According to Bishop Garuba, “God has placed an army of host permanently on standby to frustrate their plans and bring their evil expectations to naught.”

     

    The cleric added that peace is returning to Nigeria, noting that the killer herdsmen are now being exposed; political backers are no longer a mystery while bandits have opened up about what was at the root of the death campaign.

     

    The Inter-Faith group therefore called on Nigerians not to wary or faint, sustaining the same momentum as the county is on the right path to greatness.

     

    Read full statement below

     

    May the peace of God abide with us all at all times. We want to start by thanking brethren that have kept the faith since we began these 40-days of intercession, fasting and prayers to deliver our dear country, Nigeria, from the spirit of disunity.

     

    The period preceding this programme was one of heightened tension, uncertainty, fear and apprehension that our God given country was on the path to falling off the cliff. They were dark days in need of the light that only God can shine on dismal situations. The despondency that blanketed the nation was understandable as most of us feared that the spate of terrorism, banditry, kidnappings, robberies, ethnic strife, increasing incidents of suicides and other negative occurrences meant that the enemies of Nigeria were succeeding.

     

    We thank God that as believers we did not become fixated on our own abilities and wisdom but that we rather resort to God our creator by way of the 40-Days of fasting and prayer centered here at Unity Square in Abuja while brethren were encouraged to intercede on behalf of the country from whatever part of the world they may be. We made that commitment to stand in the space on behalf of Nigeria while pleading for mercy for the things that might have been done wrong in the country in the past and for peace and prosperity to return to the land of our fathers.

     

    In the course of our intercession, we have been led in the spirit to realize that there are yokes to be broken for the captives to be set free. We therefore pleaded for God to break these yokes. We broke the bondage that the country has been put into by the inordinate ambition of men who tainted the land with the blood of the innocent, the blood that cry for vengeance because they were unjustly killed by people that seek personal profits from all manners of evil. We have destroyed the shackles and fetters put on the nation by those that had no qualms handing the country over to the devil in exchange for selfish gains.

     

    Even for those that had consistently prophesied doom into the future of our nation we received a new message from the Most High. As we waited on God we were given the prophecy of hope, a message of renewal and a promise of rebirth. We are now confident that in whatever form the evil ones rise against the country the God has placed an army of host permanently on standby to frustrate their plans and bring their evil expectations to nought. They shall plot evil for the country and have it manifest only in their own lives. Our dear country will only grow from strength to strength and from glory to glory.

     

    Brethren, within days of starting the fasting and prayer programme, we began to see manifestation of the power of God as we experience the signs and wonder that point to the fact that we are beginning to overcome the demon of division amongst us. It all started with one incident after the other that expose those behind the confusion, violence and deaths in the land. Incidents that once appeared spontaneous suddenly begin to appear in different light that clearly exposed the persons behind them.

     

    Peace is returning to Nigeria. The killer herdsmen are now being exposed to be herders of evil from all ethnic configurations across the country, who have no animal to pasture but are rather intent on exploiting that identity to conceal their evil enterprise. The political backers of such criminals have also been exposed such that we now know that some of them are sponsored purely to cause a sense of insecurity. Even the Ohaneze Ndigbo President has confessed that some of his members are committing crimes and alleging that others are involved.

     

    The so called terrorists have also been exposed as the employees of certain interests  that are bent on destroying the country. They have with their own mouth begin to recount how they are being sponsored to cause bloodbath to justify the false claims being made by these sponsors. These confessions have proven useful for the military to hunt down the ones that have refused to repent and embrace peace.

     

    The bandits have opened up about what was at the root of the campaign of death they waged in the north-west of the country. Again, it is disheartening that their evil behaviour was directly tied to the actions and activities of certain people, who ordinarily should have been working for the improvement of the lives of the masses.

    Read Also: President Buhari Doles Out N17.5m To D’Tigress

     

    Our prayers and fasting have brought positive development in the fight against kidnapping. In the period since we began, the workings of kidnap gangs and their extensive network that span across the security agencies have been exposed and major arrests made. We are now assured that even more networks that operate in the dark will soon be burnt as the light of God burns brighter to expose and destroy the evil in our land. We are seeing more results as more kingpins in the kidnappers’ food chain are being arrested as opposed to only apprehending low level operatives. Large caches of arms are also being retrieved from these criminals.

     

    We have in the same period seen that God is not limited by space and distance because even the criminal financial networks that are used to finance some of these evils were busted in far away United States of America. The people who had been stealing from others to finance terrorists have been exposed and have now been arrested. We thank God that were never for once misled into envying their false lifestyles but that we rather waited on the Lord for all our needs.

     

    Our thanks to God for these breakthrough in such a short space of time are limitless. We will now devote the days ahead to thanking God for the turn around going on in the country even as we pray that the Lord will perfect that which he has started. We are confident that more of those carrying out evil against Nigeria will be exposed until there shall be none of the them left to trouble the country. We also pray that the spirit of God should arrest any new plans being hatched to resume the commission of these evil acts.

     

    Brethren, God has given us victory on the spiritual front; we must now as a people affirmatively take steps that will ensure that we win the battles against disunity on the human front. Those that precipitated these problems did so to cause division among us as citizens of a country, it is now up to us to work on uniting ourselves now that the enemies of the country have been put to shame. The demons of division and disunity have been banished from among us and we must do everything to make sure they do not return to torment the people of God.

     

    We appeal to you brethren not to give up praying. We must in the same way not relent in praising and thanking God for what he has done, what he is doing and what he will do concerning the peace and prosperity of Nigeria.

    It shall be well with us.

     

  • Governorship: INEC fixes Sept. 2 for PVCs collection in Bayelsa, Kogi

    THE collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for the November 16 governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi states will kick off on September 2, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said on Tuesday.

    Ahead of the kickoff, the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in both states have been asked to organise stakeholders’ meetings at the state and local government levels between August 26 and 30.

    The RECs are to sensitise the stakeholders on the modalities for the collection of the PVCs.

    The decision was reached on Tuesday at the INEC management meeting.

    The decision reached according to the commission is that “the Resident Electoral Commissioners of the two States shall organise stakeholders’ meetings in the states and local governments between the 26th and 30th of August 2019 to sensitize stakeholders on the modalities for the collection of PVCs from the registration areas and in the various communities.

    Read Also: ‘Presentation of certificate to INEC not mandatory’

    “The collection of PVCs in the two states will take place at the Registration Areas (RAS)/Wards in each of the local governments and Distribution Officers (DOs) trained by the commission will carry out this assignment.

    “There will be two teams of DOs per local government area and the officers will rotate the distribution of the PVcs in the Registration Areas (RA) or from community to community, based on a schedule agreed upon by the REC and the stakeholders.

    “The Commission will commence the exercise on the   September 2, 2019, and this will last till the 30h day of September 2019 between 9.00a.m to 3.00 p.m. (Monday to Friday).”

  • Rabat 2019: Falconents face Cameroon today

    AFTER defeating Basetsana of South Africa 3-0 in the opening group match of the 12th African Games in Rabat Morocco, coach of Nigeria’s women U20 team the Falconets, Christopher Danjuma has shifted attention to the next group matches.

    Falconets defeated South African girls 3-0 and goals from Gift Monday, Zainab Olopade and Cynthia Aku ensured that Nigeria recorded an emphatic victory.

    Danjuma expressed satisfaction over the 3-0 victory over their rivals, he has, however focused on picking the semifinal ticket if his wards defeat another rival, Cameroun in tonight’s game.

    “It’s a positive feeling and we will have two more games to play where we shift our attention to. Says Danjuma.

    The games offer Nigeria the opportunity to show their dominance over every other team and this we will maintain to ensure we give a good outing and make the nation proud.”

    Nigeria will slug it out with Cameroon on Wednesday at the Cenes Stadium.

    Cameroun and Zambia are the other group member in Nigeria group and a win in the next game will take Falconets into the next round.

  • DSS: Sowore plotted to topple govt

    THE Department of State Services (DSS) has said its investigation revealed that #RevolutionNow was a smokescreen for the actual intention of Omoyele Sowore, the candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the last presidential election, and his allies “to topple the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

    The DSS said it was engaged in a painstaking investigation into Sowore’s activities in view of the quantum of evidence gathered.

    The service said it may return to court to seek an extension of the 45 days granted it by the Federal High Court, Abuja, to detain him.

    The security agency stated this in a fresh document it filed at the Federal High Court on Monday in response to an application by Sowore challenging the court’s order, granting the security agency 45 days to detain him pending investigation.

    In the counter-affidavit deposed to by Godwin Agbadua, an official of the DSS, it was stated that Sowore  was arrested on reasonable suspicion of having committed a capital offence, upon his alleged involvement in terrorists’ activities.

    “The respondent/appllcant (Sowore) planned to violently change the government through the hashtag RevolutionNow. The respondent/appllcant hid under the cover of call for mass protest with the hashtag RevolutionNow to mislead unsuspecting and innocent members of the public into joining him to topple the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

    “In his plot to topple the government the respondent/applicant held series of meetings with members at a prescribed terrorists‘ organisation, Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) with a view to mobilising strong forces to realise his agenda at changing the government

    “The respondent formed an alliance with a fugitive, Nnamdi Keno, a self-acclaimed leader of the proscribed terrorists group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to launch series of attacks on Nigeria with a view to violently removing the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

    “After series of closed-door meetings between the duo in the United States of America, they addressed a press conference wherein they both stated their resolve to form alliance against the Nigerian government, The duo stated that they have a well planned out strategy to realize their objective, which is toppling the government.

    “The applicant/respondent is investigating the activities of the respondent applicant as it relates to a terrorists organisation, IPOB. The facts show a conjecture between the respondent/applicant and IPOB activities.

    “There is the need for the applicant/respondent to investigate such reasonable suspicion of the relationship between the respondent/applicant and IPOB.

    “The respondent held series of meetings with some foreign collaborators outside Nigeria including Dubai where millions of dollars were given to him to sponsor a widespread attack on Nigeria with a view to violently removing the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and freeing Ibrahim Yaqub ElZakzaky (Shaikh).

    “In furtherance to the plans to violently free Elzakzaky from lawful custody. the respondent held several meetings with a proscribed terrorists organisation. Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) where they strategized on how to carry out attacks to force the government to free Elzakzaky.

    “The respondent stated in one of his videos that Shiite members, who are members of the proscribed terrorists group, IMN were going to join forces with him in bringing down the government. The statement and the meetings of the respondent/applicant raises issue of grave suspicion of supporting a proscribed terrorists’ organisation, IMN.

    Read Also: NLC to govt: release Sowore, others

    “The suspicions require diligent investigation by the applicant/respondent. The planned action constitutes a threat of violence to intimidate or cause panic in members of the public as a means of affecting political conduct

    “The investigation is still ongoing.  Upon the completion of investigation, the case file will be forwarded to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation for advice and possible prosecution,” DSS said.

    Also, a Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday declined to order the release of Sahara Reporters Publisher Omoyele Sowore and other detainees for their participation in the August 5 #RevolutionNow protest.

    Vacation judge Justice Nicholas Oweibo said he needed to first hear from the Federal Government, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

    He ordered the DSS and IGP to appear before him on September 4 to show why Sowore and other protesters in detention should not be immediately released.

    The judge also ordered Lagos lawyer Mr Olukoya Ogungbeje, who filed the ex parte application seeking the detainees’ release, to put the IGP and DSS on notice.

    Ogungbeje, who said he participated in the #RevolutionNow protest but was not arrested, filed the application on behalf of himself and other participants.

    The lawyer prayed the court to declare as “unconstitutional and illegal police clampdown on the protesters and the arrest of Sowore by the DSS”.

    He also sought an order for the immediate and unconditional release of those arrested and detained.

    Joined as respondents in the application are: the Federal Government, the DSS and the IGP.

    On why the arrested persons should be immediately and unconditionally released, Ogungbeje said: “There has been a grave constitutional infraction committed by the respondents against the applicant and other persons who engaged in the peaceful protest for good governance in Nigeria.”

    The lawyer said he was deprived of his constitutionally guaranteed right to peaceful assembly and association and the right to freedom of expression.

    “On August 3, 2019, the Convener of the protest, Mr Omoyele Sowore’s home was forcefully invaded and put under siege; he was arrested, whisked away and detained in the detention facility of the second respondent (DSS).

    “Mr Sowore has not committed any offence known to law to warrant the infringement and likely infringement of rights by the respondents.

    “By engaging in the peaceful protest, the applicant and other persons have not committed any offence known to law to warrant the treatment meted out to them by the respondents and their agents,” he said.

    Ogungbeje urged the court to order the immediate release of those arrested and detained.