The Edo state police command have arrested and paraded six suspects in connection with the rape and murder of Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, a 100-level Microbiology student of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), inside a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

It will be recalled that 22-year-old Vera who went to read the RCCG church located at Edo Province 10, Ikpoba Hill, Benin, was attacked with a fire extinguisher, raped and then killed on Wednesday, May 27.

Her gruesome rape and murder sparked a nationwide outrage against Gender-based violence, with protests being staged both online and all over the country; demanding justice for the murdered student.

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Following months of investigation, the state police command has arrested and paraded the six suspects involved in the murder, identified as Nelson Ogbebor, Akato Valentine, Mrs Tina Samuel, Mrs Mary Ade, Nosa Osabohien and Collins Ulegbe.

A breakthrough in the investigation came after the police traced the phone of the deceased to one of the suspects, Nosa Osabohien. Nosa, who claims to be a phone repairer, said he bought late Vera’s phone from the prime suspect, Collins Uyegbulen. He then led the police to arrest Collins who confessed to have directly participated in the murder.

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Collins told the police that he used the fire extinguisher in the church to hit late Vera after the other suspects took turns to rape her. He gave the names of other members of his gang as Akato Valentine and Collins Ogbebor.

 He told the police that one Mary Ade gave them N1m to kill the suspect and then use a handkerchief she gave them to clean the blood from the private part of the deceased.

 Another suspect, Tina Samuel, was arrested for allegedly obstructing the police from arresting her son, Lucky, who is one of the suspects.

The state Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo, who paraded the suspects, said a post-mortem conducted on late Uwaila, confirmed she was raped.

“The matter was of great concern to the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Muhammed Adamu who sent to us here in Benin, Homicide experts to work with our policemen at the state criminal investigation department.

What we are seeing today, is a result of the uniting efforts of the police to get at the root of the crime and today, I announce to you and making public through this medium that the perpetrators have been arrested.

The postmortem results had actually confirmed that she was raped”, he said.

He also added that he had earlier told the people of the state that the police would do all in their powers to unmask those behind her death, adding that the parade of the suspects had made good their promise.

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We were paid N1m to kill Uwa- UNIBEN Student's Killers

The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, on Wednesday, commissioned a seven-member presidential panel to look into the crisis going on in the University of Lagos; and submit recommendations that would put the school back on course.

Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja on Wednesday, Adamu charged members of the panel to conclude its assignment and submit its report within two weeks from the time of the inauguration.

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According to Adamu, members, by the terms of reference of this panel, are expected to view the report of the council sub-committee on review of the university of Lagos since May 2017 and make appropriate recommendations, after affording all those indicted an opportunity to defend themselves.

“They are to examine the steps taken by the council leading to the removal of the Vice-chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, and ascertain whether due process was followed as stipulated in the universities amendment act 2003, and the principle of fair hearing adhered to.

“To determine whether the process (if any) leading to the appointment of the acting Vice-chancellor for the university was consistent with the provisions of the enabling Act.

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“To make appropriate recommendations, including sanctions for all those found culpable by the special visitation team, on allegations contained in the report as well as other subsequent actions arising therefrom.

“And make any recommendations that will assist government to take decisions that will ensure peaceful, stable and effective administration of the university,” he said.

Adamu, however, urged stakeholders in the University to fully cooperate with the panel and to allow it to work unhindered.

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Responding, the Chairman of the panel, Prof. Tukur Sahad, thanked the minister for finding the members of the committee worthy of carrying out the national assignment.

He promised that they will put in their best to ensure the resolution of  the crisis rocking the university while calling on the university’s  governing council as well as the university senate to give them full cooperation in the course of discharging their duty.

The ongoing crisis in the university began after the sacking the vice-chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe on August 12 over allegations of infractions and gross misconduct by the school’s Governing Council, headed by Dr Wale Babalakin.

The federal government has suspended both Babalakin and Prof. Ogundipe pending the outcome of the investigations to be carried out by the Sahad-led panel.

The members of the panel include Prof. Adamu Usman, Board Chairman, UBEC; Prof. Ikenna Onyedo, former Vice-chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike and Prof. Ekanem Braid, former Vice-chancellor, Cross River State University.

Also on the panel are Prof. Victor Onoha, Alhaji Jimoh Bankole, a former Bursar, University of Ibadan and Mrs Grace Ekanem, Director, Legal Services, Ministry of Education.

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The Oyo State House of Assembly on Tuesday called on the state Ministry of Public Works and Transport, the Police and other agencies to restrict motorcyclists, tricyclists and commercial drivers from plying Agodi GRA road and other adjoining roads.

The assembly also called on the police and other security agencies to mount all-round surveillance in the area to reduce the activities of armed robbers, car and bag snatchers and other criminals.

The call for a ban on motorcyclists and other commercial drivers came few hours following the killing of a 45-year-old man, Taoreed Olusola, by some armed robbers around Oyo State Government House.

It was gathered that Taoreed Olusola was killed by some armed robbers on Monday after withdrawing a huge sum of money  amounting to over 400, 000 Naira from a commercial bank around Bodija, Ibadan.

In his reaction, the member representing Ibadan South West Constituency 1, Hon Yusuf Adebisi, raised the need to ban motorcyclists, tricyclists and commercial vehicles from plying Agodi GRA road and other adjoining roads.

Adebisi recalled that a man was macheted last week in the same area by men of the underworld who pretended to be seeking for a free ride.

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The House after series of deliberations then urged the Police in collaboration with officers of Oyo State Road Traffic Maintenance Agency (OYRTMA) to put inscriptions showing restriction of movement on the said roads.

It warned that any motorcyclist, tricyclist or commercial driver who flouts this order would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

The Oyo State Government through the state Ministry of Public Works and Transportation was equally asked to see to the possibility of procuring and installing CCTV cameras along Secretariat, Government House and Ibadan Civic center road to track and expose perpetrators of those heinous crimes.

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Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin, while speaking, said it was a bad commentary that armed robbers operate with impunity and even maim and kill their targets on Agodi GRA road and its adjoining road.

Ogundoyin noted that okada riders and other commercial tricycles and drivers should not have thoroughfare especially in such reserved areas.

Ban motorcyclists from plying Agodi GRA roads – Oyo Assembly 

A civil society group, Human Rights Writers Association Of Nigeria, HURIWA, has berated President Muhammadu Buhari for his failure to stop the members of his inner caucus from embarking on medical trips abroad, despite the ban on international flights still being in place.

HURIWA also lamented Buhari’s lack of political will to set up a panel to investigate the allegations of corruption at the State House clinic.

According to the rights group, the President Muhammadu Buhari government has shown no interest in investing massively in reviving the moribund health sector despite the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The group pointed out that annual budgetary allocation of the State House Clinic is a lot more than what is allocated to each of the 16 major teaching hospitals across the country with over a total of N13.59 billion having reportedly been budgeted for it since the administration came into being.

“A breakdown of the total budgetary provisions within this period showed that N3.94 billion, N3.87 billion and N3.20 billion were budgeted in 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively. While in 2018, 2019 and 2020, the budgetary provisions dropped to N1.03 billion, N823.44 million and N723 million respectively,” HURIWA said in a statement to newsmen on Tuesday by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko.

“Despite these huge allocations it receives, the Clinic has left more to be desired as those the facility is meant to serve are still spending millions of taxpayers’ money to seek treatment in other private facilities within and outside the country on health matters that could be well managed here in the country, yet no panel of investigation has been set up to investigate the scandals and allegations of corruptions oozing out from there, even as a bulk of the allegation had come from members of the first family.

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“In 2017, the wife of the President; Aisha Buhari had attacked the management of the State House Clinic over poor equipment and non-availability of drugs. This attack by the Wife of the President had followed the earlier criticism by her daughter; Zahra Buhari, who took to one of her social media accounts to criticise the Permanent Secretary of the State House; Jalal Arabi, for his inability to provide even Paracetamol tablets to the clinic despite a budget of N3 billion for the provision of drugs to the hospital.

“Although in October 2017, the House of Representatives said it would investigate the “deplorable condition” of the State House Clinic but till date the outcome of that inquiry remains unknown.

“Again, President Buhari in the build up to his election in 2015, had on his campaign trail, itemized the abolition of medical tourism as one of his key objectives in government.

“Although his administration officials vowed to put an end to the practice, Buhari has been Nigeria’s most prominent medical tourist. He has visited the United Kingdom for at least five medical trips since becoming president, including an extended stay of more than five months in 2017.

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“According to the calculations made in one of the editions of Saturday Punch Newspaper, in the first three years of his first tenure from May 2015 to May 2019, President Buhari was outside the country for a combined 404 days (one year and 39 days) in 33 countries.

“In 2016, President Buhari spent a total of 17 days in a London hospital treating an undisclosed ailment. Shortly after that, in 2017, he reportedly spent a total of 152 days in London on medical vacation when he became inaccessible, except for a few politicians. He equally made frequent trips to the UK on ‘private visits’ believed to be for medical reasons. On May 8, 2018, he again embarked on a six-day medical vacation to London.

“More worrisome is that the medical treatments of the President are still an official secret as Nigerians are not told how much of their cash has been deployed for the medical treatments of the President for months.

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“Apart from the Nigerian President, his son; Yusuf, in December 2017 was flown to Germany after suffering injuries from a bike accident in Abuja. These trips were embarked upon despite a huge sum of above N10bn allocation to the State House Clinic from 2015 to 2018.

“In a recent development, the Wife of the President; Aisha Buhari, and a Nephew and close confidant of the President defied the lockdown and the shutdown of airports to gallivant all over UK and Dubai for the so called medical tourism.

“In addition, if he is spending his money how is it that the Presidency is being quoted by newspapers to be saying Mamman Daura is not ill and the phone conversations are being shown to Nigerians through the instrumentality of the publicly funded media office of the President?

“That of the first lady is more shocking because she was said to have neck pains and that was the reason for deploying a presidential jet to jet off to Dubai for weeks at public costs.

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“HURIWA is pleased and indeed happy that God was on our side to have stopped an unforeseeable air disaster from ever happening following the reported incidents with the homebound Presidential jet in connection with the weather, but to convey the idea that the First Lady had to fly out to treat neck pain is to tell the World that the Nigerian health sector has totally collapsed. This is sad and unfortunate,” he said.

The human rights group demanded that “This penchant of government officials and those close to the corridors of power jetting abroad to receive medical care for undisclosed ailments even as the rest of the population relies on an underfunded and overworked public healthcare system has been the bane of our health sector and the economy has been worse hit for it.

“The problems associated with the poor healthcare system also indict the governors of the 36 states because in those states, there are virtually no functional health centres to care for the residents. However, the pathetic situation afflicting the State House Clinic is even more disturbing.

“The expenditures of the released budgetary funds for the State House Clinic over the years must be investigated in addition to a comprehensive audit of the spending on the State House Clinic and the health sector in the country.

“It is unjustifiable that the State House Clinic would be guzzling billions of taxpayers’ money and those the facility is meant to serve would still be spending millions to seek treatment in other private facilities within and outside the country.

“If the N13bn budgetary allocations over the years have been actually used for the State House Clinic, the situation would have been different and same applied to the general health sector in the country.

“Therefore, the failure of President Muhammadu Buhari in setting up a panel to investigate the scandals that is happening at the State House Clinic is a deviation from the cardinal trails of a government who rode to power on the mantra of integrity.

“This is because clearly there are issues of corruption as alleged by Aisha Buhari, which is the simple explanation for the frequent medical tourism by the first family and their cronies.

“Whether the Presidential Officials are persons of integrity is a big question, but how would one classify the integrity of a government that has been in place for five years but till date the President and other government officials embark on several trips abroad; many of them enveloped to look like official travels when in fact they are for medical reasons?

“We demand to know what the $3.4bn World Bank loan on COVID-19 has been used for. We condemn the fact that till date the COVID-19 pandemic, which allegedly claimed the life of the powerful former Chief of Staff to the President; Abba Kyari and other top political office holders is not strong enough to assist in confronting not only the State House Corruption, but also compelling the government to invest massively in reviving the moribund health sector.

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“We are strongly disappointed that General Sani Abacha who is abused as a thief could build several Federal Medical Centres and his wife built the National Hospital in Abuja but yet this government has been in power for five years and has built no single tertiary Medical Centre of repute in any part of Nigeria but the officials frequent foreign jurisdictions for medical treatments. This is a monumental shame on this government.

“This is perhaps the time to declare a state of emergency to transform the nation’s health facilities to bring them up to speed with the 21st century.

“As such, the time for the government to champion the complete overhaul of the health sector by instituting and implementing the necessary reforms to transform the sector.”

Buhari under fire for granting family medical trip abroad despite int'l flight ban

Some Igbo socio-cultural organisations, including town unions, have expressed their displeasure over the killing of members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra by security agencies.

The Department of State Security, Nigeria police force and the Indigenous People of Biafra had a clash on Sunday, which led to the death of some IPOB members. The incident was said to have happened while the IPOB members were in a prayer meeting in Emene area of Enugu State.

Ten persons were reportedly killed, however, the casualty figures have been controversial as the police said only four persons were killed but the IPOB group insisted that 21 of their members were killed during the incident while 47 were arrested. The DSS also claimed that two of its operatives were killed.

Condemning the killings on Monday, the Association of South-East Town Unions (ASETU) said it was wrong for the security operatives to have opened fire on unarmed civilians.

ASETU, in statement on Monday by its National President and Secretary, Chief Emeka Diwe and Chief Gideon Adikwuru respectively, called on the Federal Government to set up a judicial panel to unearth the immediate and remote causes of the incident.

The statement was titled, ‘We condemn the killing of unarmed civilians on Sunday in Enugu; security forces must observe rules of engagement.’

It read in part, “We are deeply worried over the gory images and videos of the bodies of unarmed civilians alleged to be members of pro-Biafra groups, reportedly shot dead by security agencies and littering the streets of Emene in Enugu State.

“It is further perplexing that despite the deafening hues and cries from our people over the killings, rape, destruction and havoc against us by Fulani herdsmen, there has never been any clash between the herdsmen and security agencies, neither have the agencies demonstrated any seriousness in tackling the problem.

“No progressive nation thrives on double standards and injustice. We reject completely the killing of Igbo people, no matter the pretext or guise under which it occurs.

“We, therefore, call on the Federal Government to promptly set up a judicial panel of inquiry to ascertain the causes of the massacre in Enugu, and urge both the pro-Biafra agitators and security agencies to apply restraint, civility, professionalism and respect for human lives in all their activities.”

Another group, the Nzuko Umunna, also called for a coroner inquest into the killings.

In a statement on Monday by its Coordinator, Ngozi Odumuko, Nzuko Umunna said it noted “with grave concern the constant killing of unarmed Igbo youths by security operatives. This is unacceptable and must stop.”

In the statement titled, ‘Press Statement by Nzuko Umunna on Extrajudicial Killings at Emene, Enugu State,’ the group called on Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, to set up a judicial panel of inquiry “to unravel the immediate and remote causes of these wanton killings, including the exact number of victims, with a view to bringing the perpetrators to justice.”

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Meanwhile, commercial bus drivers in Enugu State on Monday embarked on a strike action and withdrew their services to protest the killing of their members during the clash.

The situation interrupted commercial activities in the state as residents were seeing stranded at various locations in the state capital, while some other business premises were locked up.

Some of the routes affected include ESBS – New Layout road, Ogui -Obiagu road, Obiagu – New Haven road, Emene – Old Park road, among other routes.

Reacting to the clash, IPOB released a statement on Monday that security agencies in Nigeria were worse than the dreaded Boko Haram and ISWAP.

The group, which was referring particularly to the army and the police, said the way the security outfits had been killing IPOB members without provocation shows that the army and police are terrorist organisations.

In a statement signed by its spokesman, Emma Powerful on Monday, IPOB said, “When it comes to killing Biafrans, they are infinitely worse than Boko Haram and ISWAP put together.”

The statement reads in part: “Oduduwa’s Amotekun are armed, Fulani Miyetti Allah are armed, Fulani terror herdsmen are armed, Fulani funded bandits are armed, Fulani Ansaru Brigade are armed.

“They all gather in public without any military interference. But as soon as Biafran youths congregate in any location to pray, every Nigerian military formation, including police, DSS, Army, Air Force stationed in Biafraland, will descend on them, firing indiscriminately with the intention of killing as many innocent people as possible because IPOB is a peaceful movement.”

This comes as the Enugu State Police Command said members of the separatist group arrested during the bloody clash on Sunday would be charged to court after its investigation.

The state police spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe, who stated this on Monday, explained that investigation into the incident had begun, adding that five persons arrested on Sunday were in their custody.

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Femi Fani-Kayode, former Aviation Minister, has urged the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to stop its security operatives from attacking members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

Fani-Kayode said this while condemning the clash that occurred between IPOB members and security operatives in Enugu on Sunday, in which some people lost their lives. that left some people dead on Sunday. The former Minister made these comments in a series of tweets, in which he warned that the ranks of IPOB would continue to swell if the security agency continues to attack them.

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According to Fani-Kayode: “I deplore and condemn the slaughter of young IPOB members in Enugu yesterday by the FG-controlled security forces. Butchering innocent and defenceless young people who were not carrying arms simply because they were having a meeting does not make sense & does not help matters.

“Rather it strengthens their cause, hardens their hearts, emboldens their resolve, legitimises their struggle and wins them sympathy and new friends all over the world. It is also a crime against humanity and those that carry out such murderous operations and dole out such orders become automatic candidates for the ICC at the Hague.

“Repression fuels the struggle for liberation and freedom rather than stifle it. The more IPOB youths are killed the more their ranks will swell. I call on the Buhari administration to stop this open display of madness and gratuitous violence against its own citizens and to be more tolerant, accommodating and restrained.I call for a cessation of hostilities and state-sponsored violence & on the FG to lift the ban on IPOB and enter into negotiations with them before it is too late.

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“We must build bridges and not burn them. We must have the courage to talk to those who we may disagree with but who genuinely feel hurt and aggrieved and bring them back to the table.

“We must find a more civilised and humane way to resolve our differences.”

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DSS vs IPOB: Stop this madness – Fani-Kayode to FG on Enugu clash

The Oyo State Police Command has disclosed how Sunday Shodipe, the prime suspect in the series of killings that occurred in Akinyele Local Government Area of the state, was rearrested on Sunday. 

It will be recalled that Shodipe had earlier been arrested and paraded in July this year but later escaped from custody on August 11th, 2020, after he had been charged to court.

Following Shodipe's escape from custody, the Oyo state police command placed a bounty reward of five hundred thousand naira on his head, as reward for anyone with useful information that would lead to his re-arrest.

The Public Relations Officer (PPO), of the state police command, Mr. Olugbenga Fadeyi, in a statement released on Sunday night, declared that Shodipe had been rearrested at about 1030hrs around Bodija, Ibadan. He also added that the suspect is presently in Police custody.  He stated that Shdipe's rearrest was made possible through human intelligence and collaborative efforts of members of the public.

The statement read in part, “The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Police Command, CP. Joe Nwachukwu Enwonwu, psc wishes to inform the general public that the prime suspect in the serial killings at Akinyele Local Government Area, Moniya Ibadan, Oyo State, Sunday Shodipe ‘m’ a 19yrs old who escaped from lawful custody on 11th August, 2020 has been re-arrested today 23rd August, 2020 at about 1030hrs at Bodija Area of Ibadan and presently in Police custody.

“The arrest of Sunday Shodipe was made possible through human intelligence and collaborative efforts of members of the public. It can be recalled that the Commissioner of Police implored the general public to be on his lookout, arrest and immediately inform the officers and men of the Command when sighted for immediate handing over for further action.

“Sequel to this, Police Tactical teams including Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS), personnel from State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku Ibadan, (CID), Swift Response Squad (SRS), State Intelligence Bureau (SIB), Anti-kidnapping Squad (AKS), Skynet Squad, Puff Adder, e.t.c. were all deployed for his manhunt.

“Through concerted efforts from these teams and credible information from the good spirited members of the public, this eventually yielded result and the culprit who has been hiding and evading Police arrest was arrested at Bodija Area of Ibadan.

“The Commissioner of Police further use this medium to thank the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, NPM, mni, the Government and people of Oyo State, the Traditional leaders, leaders of thought, political leaders, and the general public for their patience and understanding.

“He reiterated the Command’s resolve to continue to rejig our security architecture for maximum protection of lives and properties of the good people of Oyo State while he sternly warns criminal elements who wants to hibernate in Oyo State to relocate as the Police in Oyo Police Command is battle ready to crush any individual or groups who is bent on disturbing the relative peace and tranquility being enjoyed by the good people of Oyo State.

“Finally, he urged all the citizens of Oyo State to go about their lawful businesses without any fear, threat or intimidation from any group or individuals whatsoever, while the Oyo Police Command will not relent in the performance of its professional constitutional responsibilities of the protection of lives and properties of the good people of Oyo State.”

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Sunday Shodipe, Ibadan Serial Killer Rearrested 

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has tested positive for coronavirus.

This was disclosed by the Lagos Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, in a Press statement on Monday.

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The statement, which was titled, ‘Press release on the positive COVID-19 status of Lagos Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi’, read, “Subsequent to close contact with persons feeling unwell and testing positive for the COVID-19 infection, the Honorable Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has tested positive for the virus.

“Professor Abayomi became aware of his status following the required testing protocol of contact tracing procedures. However, he is doing well, with no symptoms. Adhering to the protocol of the home-based strategy in Lagos State, the Honorable Commissioner will be isolating in his home for the next 14 days but will continue to discharge his duties both as the Deputy Incident Commander of the Incident Command System for COVID-19 and most especially, as the Honorable Commissioner for Health.

“Our prayers are with him and his family during his period of isolation.” Omotoso also urged the public to pray for Professor Abayomi's recovery.

As of Sunday, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control announced 322 new COVID-19 cases in the country, bringing the total number of infections to 52,227.

Lagos Commissioner for Health, Abayomi tests COVID-19 positive

The Governor of Zamfara State, Mallam Bello Matawalle, has approved Friday, August 21, as a public holiday for all categories of workers in the state in commemoration of the Islamic New Calendar Year 1442.

This announcement was made in a statement signed by the Press Secretary to the Governor, Jamilu Iliyasu, and made available to journalists in Gusau, the state capital, on Thursday.

It will be recalled that the Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar Saad, had announced Friday as the first day of Muharram, which is the first month in the Islamic calendar 1442 after Hijrah (AH).

According to the Press Secretary to the Governor, “All Federal and State Ministries, Departments, Agencies and financial institutions, including Banks, are to observe the holiday.

“The governor enjoined Muslim faithfuls in the state to use the new Islamic year to pray fervently to almighty Allah for the sustenance of peace, tranquility and economic prosperity of the state and the nation at large,” he said.

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Matawalle congratulated the Muslim Ummah for witnessing another new Islamic year, and assured them of his administration’s commitment to restoring peace in all parts of the state.

Islamic New Year: Zamfara declares Friday public holiday

The Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED) has announced its analysis and criticism of the provisions of the amended Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, which was assented by President Muhammadu Buhari on August 7, 2020.

According to CHRICED, going by the intrusive, repressive and obnoxious provisions concerning incorporated trustees as contained in the new law, it is apparent that the government has turned its lawmaking function into a sinister conspiracy against citizens.

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In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Dr. Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, which was released on Wednesday, the group said, “We make no mistake about the fact that the target of the draconian sections of the law are the critical voices and organizations amplifying citizens demands for transparency, accountability and good governance. ”

CHRICED condemned and rejected the act, describing it as suffocating and basically rehashed from the discredited NGO Regulation Bill that was overwhelmingly rejected by Nigerians last year.

“It is those same despicable provisions that the government has surreptitiously smuggled into the CAMA Act. The subversion of the lawmaking function of the State, and the use of a rigged legislative process to foist oppressive and unworkable laws on citizens are tell-tale signs of a government that has lost the confidence and legitimacy of the people,” the group stated.

“The opaque, nocturnal and non-inclusive manner in which the amendments in the CAMA were effected, without recourse to exhaustive consultations, through public hearing and robust debates involving citizens, robs those horrible provisions of their legitimacy.

“One of such vexatious CAMA provisions, as it affects registered associations, is the power grab by the government, as seen in Section 839 of the law.

“With this particular section, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) is empowered to suspend the trustees of an association and appoint an interim manager. Also, Section 842(2) gives the CAC the powers to dissolve associations ‘for unsatisfactory response to CAC request for evidence of activities over dormant accounts.’

“This gives the CAC draconian powers to shut down associations, without recourse to the courts. It also means that the CAC without recourse to the judicial process, can wake up one day, and use the ground of ‘unsatisfactory response’ to dissolve an association of citizens. The bottom line is that even if such an association is eventually proved innocent the damage to its brand, reputation and operations is already done.

“It is an irony that a government which has not been able to summon the political will to dissolve national challenges such as chronic insecurity, employment, lack of quality health services, dilapidated national infrastructure and extreme poverty, is so eager to dissolve associations formed by citizens. Unfortunately, even some NGOs, which should know that the CAMA Act 2020 with these toxic provisions constitutes an attempt to clamp down on the people, have been the ones applauding and giving dubious thanks to the government. For us, such a position of some NGOs is akin to thanking someone for giving you poisoned food.

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“It is, therefore, our considered position that the lack of transparency, consultation, and inclusive debate on the provisions affecting registered associations, amounts to a coup against the constitutionally guaranteed right of citizens to associate freely. No legislation passed through the back door can usurp the rights of citizens as conferred by the Constitution.

“Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) states that ‘Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons, and in particular he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his interests.”

CAMA is Buhari’s conspiracy against Nigerians – Civil Group

Reverend Chris Oyakhilome, founder and Senior Pastor of Believers Love World, popularly known as Christ Embassy Church, has flayed pastors that have refused to reopen their churches due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Oyakhilome said such pastors have denied the faith, and emphasized that they are no longer believers.

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Oyakhilome made the statement while addressing his members yesterday. He said, “If you refuse to open church for fear of being infected, you were never a believer.

“This is a great concern because there were churches that were thought to be churches until recently. We find a lot of ministers who were thought to be advocates of the gospel advocating for shutting down the churches because they cannot guarantee safety.

“It is pressure like this that reveals what is a church and what is not. Do they really believe in God, the same God of the patriarchs in the Bible?”

“When you get to that point where you are afraid of opening churches for fear of being infected, you have denied the faith. You never believed,” he said.

It will be recalled that pastors like the Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church (CGCC), Tunde Bakare, had warned against the reopening of churches.

Bakare had told Christians not to allow any religious leader or government official, to lead them like a sheep to the slaughter house.

In addition, Pastor Sam Adeyemi of Daystar Christian Centre had said his church would open when it’s safe.

Pastors who have not opened churches are unbelievers – Oyakhilome 

The United Kingdom has opposed the death sentence meted out to a Northern Nigerian musician, Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, by an upper Shari’a court in Kano.

According to the United Kingdom, individuals have the right to freely express their opinions and peacefully challenge authorities, and emphasized that this is essential to a free and open society.

The Shari’a court had imposed the death sentence on Sharif-Aminu, aged 22 two Mondays ago, for committing blasphemy against Prophet Mohammed in a song he sang and circulated via WhatsApp. This was after angry youths in his community had razed down his family house and marched to the police station, demanding action. 

The decision to sentence the musician to death by hanging had sparked nationwide outrage, with several civil society groups, both local and international, condemning the court’s decision. Despite the outrage, the Shari’a Council, however, implored Governor Umar Ganduje of Kano State to sign the death warrant.

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However, commenting on the sentence in response to an inquiry from newsmen, the British High Commission in Nigeria said it would continue to monitor the situation.

In a statement by the Senior Press and Public Affairs Officer, British High Commission, Christopher Ogunmodede, the Commission said the UK Government opposes death penalty in all circumstances.

The statement read in part, “The United Kingdom is firmly committed to promoting and protecting the right to freedom of religion or belief around the world, and to being a strong voice internationally in defence of this fundamental right.

 “We believe that the rights of individuals to express opinions and peacefully challenge authorities are essential to a free and open society. We will continue to monitor the situation closely. It is a longstanding policy of the UK Government to oppose the death penalty, in all circumstances, as a matter of principle.”

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Blasphemy: We are monitoring the situation - UK

Nigerian newspapers,on one page.