A human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has called for a Coroner's inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of a 21-year-old lady, Esther Isaac Asuquo, who was murdered on February 25, 2022, in Room 901 at Agete Hotel in Gwarinpa area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Falana & Falana Chambers who is representing the family of the deceased accused the FCT Police of compromising the case by shielding the hotel and its management.

Four months after the tragic incident, the hotel had continued with business while the police authorities refused to carry out an investigation on the matter with the aim of frustrating the case and sweeping it under the carpet.
Esther's death had sparked angry reactions on social media as the brother of the deceased, Isaac Asuquo, shortly after the tragic incident alleged cover up when the hotel management allegedly made attempt to offer the family the sum of N500,000 for burial expenses and forget about the matter.
The letter, dated April 29, 2022 addressed to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 7 Headquarters Abuja signed by a lawyer in Falana & Falana Chambers, Marshal Abubakar, asked the police authorities to order an inquest into the death of Esther. 

SaharaReporters gathered that four months after the incident, the National Hospital, Abuja, allegedly requested for the sum of N1million for the autopsy and certificate of death from the family of the deceased.

The letter read in part, “Miss Esther Isaac Asuquo (the deceased) was gruesomely murdered on or about 22nd day of February, 2022. The circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear. Rather than conduct thorough proper preliminary investigation, the Gwarinpa Police Station and some officers at the FCT Command of the Nigerian police are working in concert with the management of the Agape Hotel, Gwarinpa, Abuja, and have been engaging in all subterfuge cover-up.
“Rather than constitute a Coroner’s inquest to properly investigate and unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of Miss Esther Isaac, (the deceased), one DCP Kabiru A. Shehu (Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation Department, Zone 7, Police headquarters Abuja) purportedly acting under your instructions had requested the Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital, Abuja, to conduct an autopsy on a corpse that is not in their custody. As much as we appreciate the gesture, the modus is fault-able on three mainframes. 
“Firstly, the responsibility to mandate an autopsy is with the Coroner. It is the Coroner himself that has the responsibility of attaching the Coroner's forms that were attached to the letters of 19/04/2022 requesting for the conduct of autopsy.”

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Nigerian Security Agencies have promised to protect all electoral officers during Saturday's governorship election in Ekiti State. 

This was stated by the General Officer Commanding, 2 Div Nigerian Army, Ibadan, Major General GU Chibuisi, the Lagos State Director, Department of State Services (DSS), Sheikh Waziri and the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr Kokumo Babatunde Johnson in a statement released by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Eddy Megwa, and made available to SaharaReporters.

They all promised adequate security for the corps members that would serve as electoral officers during the Ekiti State Governorship Election. 
The Statement reads: "The General Officer Commanding, 2 Div Nigerian Army, Ibadan, Major General GU Chibuisi, the Lagos State Director, Department of State Services (DSS), Sheikh Waziri and the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr Kokumo Babatunde Johnson have all promised adequate security for the Corps Members that would serve as electoral officers during the Ekiti State Governorship Election scheduled for tomorrow."

They stated this on Saturday in Ado Ekiti when the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Muhammad Kaku Fadah paid them separate courtesy visits ahead of the election.
The GOC described the involvement of corps members in the electoral process of the country as a positive contribution to nation-building.
He said every stakeholder must ensure that corps members thrive in a conducive environment that would enable them to contribute their quota to national development.
"We will do our best in whatever way we can, to protect our youth corps members," he said.

General Chibuisi, who described the NYSC as a strong unifying factor in the country, added that the scheme has been fostering national unity through its deployment process.

"Speaking further, the GOC also commended the NYSC for posting corps members to serve at the division, while he pledged more welfare packages and enhanced security.

"He added that the deployment of corps members outside their states of origin has changed many negative stereotype beliefs among different tribes of the nation.

"Also, the Lagos State Director, Department of State Services (DSS), who is coordinating the Ekiti State Gubernatorial election, Mr Sheikh Waziri said corps members are on national assignment and need to be protected at all costs.

 "The safety of corps members is paramount to the service. We will continue to appeal to them not to compromise standard," he said. 

Mr Kokumo on behalf of the police described the corps members as impartial electoral officers that must be given adequate protection.

In a similar vein, the Acting Deputy Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr Haruna Lawal said, "all corps members are safe. We are part of NYSC and NYSC Scheme is part of us. We are at the services of NYSC," he said.

"In all the places visited, General Fadah thanked the security agencies for supporting the scheme, while he also appealed for continued support even after the elections.

"The Director-General also made time to visit corps members at their different Registration Area Centres (RACs) in Ado-Ekiti to boost their morale.

"He charged them to play by the rules and must not compromise their integrity and the good image of the scheme. 

"The Director-General disclosed that over 5,000 corps members have been trained and will participate in the gubernatorial election tomorrow," the circular added.

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Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa

The Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has insisted that he is an Igbo man though he may be from the South-South region.
He was reacting to the outbursts of some groups who described him as “a traitor” after he emerged as the vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa
The governor who spoke on Arise TV on Friday evening said his emergence as the PDP presidential running mate did not stop the Igbos from agitating for the presidency.
Okowa said, “For me, yes I'm from Delta State, I'm definitely an Igbo man, there is no doubt about that. I'm from Delta State in the South-South but if you're looking at Igbos across the country, I'm an Igbo man, I can't be counted out and that is the true situation.
“The issue of the Vice-presidency has not been on the debate where it should go to, it's actually premised on the fact that when the Presidential candidate emerges, he looks for what possible zone and what possible candidate can work with him, I think that this is what informs the decision. I'm just a lucky person, being from the South-South, I’m also an Igbo man.
“I fit into all the divides. My brothers in the South-East, I’m part of them. I’m also part of the South-South. But this does not stop the agitation in the future for the Igbos to have the presidency of this country.”
On Thursday, the PDP flagbearer, Atiku Abubakar announced Okowa as his running mate stating that he selected the latter due to the perceived qualities of the latter in governance and politics.

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The Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Bishop Calistus Onaga has banned the Catholic faithful from attending Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka’s Adoration Ministry.
This comes following Mbaka’s recent comments against the Labour Party's Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, whom he called a 'stingy man'.

SaharaReporters earlier reported that Mbaka apologised to Obi and his supporters on Friday after the Enugu Diocese dissociated itself from the cleric's utterances which it described as divisive and unbecoming of a priest.
It also reported that Mbaka breached canon 220 of 1983 Code of Canon Law which prohibits anyone from illegitimately tarnishing the good name of another person. 
However, in a letter Bishop Onaga personally signed, which was addressed to ‘All the Clergy, Religious and Lay Faithful in the Catholic Diocese of Enugu’, the diocese banned Catholics from having anything to do with the Adoration Ministry.
He said in the letter that Mbaka having refused to heed to the Church’s persistent directives, “and in fulfillment of my pastoral duties as the Chief Shepherd”, “I hereby prohibit all Catholics (clergy, religious and lay faithful) henceforth from attending all religious and liturgical activities of the Catholic Adoration Ministry until the due canonical process initiated by the Diocese is concluded.”
While noting that his decision was based on the fact that Mbaka’s teaching and utterances were not consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church, he enjoined “all Christian faithful to keep praying for Fr. Mbaka.”  

 

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rulaac and buhari

A civic group, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), has raised the alarm over the incessant killings and violence in some communities in Imo State, while urging the Nigerian government to find lasting solution to the insecurity ravaging the country.
RULAAC stated this in a circular released by the union executive director on Friday, claiming that despite the fact that the new Police Act 2020 prohibits profiling and arrest of persons, many young people are still being illegally harassed by the security agencies.

rulaac and buhari
The statement reads: "On the Disturbing State of Violent Siege, Brutal Killings, Extortion and Rape, allegedly by the 'Ebubeagu Security outfit' in some communities in Imo State, and the Inexplicable Inaction by the State Government.
"RULAAC, is seriously concerned about the rampant incidence of  invasion and siege on communities in Orlu and environs and other communities in Imo State by a group of rampaging armed men said to be members of  'EbebeAgu Security Outfit' allegedly set up by the Governor of Imo State ostensibly to combat unknown gunmen. They operate in a convoy of vehicles provided by the state governor.
"There are videos of several incidents depicting acts of savagery by these bloodthirsty armed men who mainly target young people.  They carry out random arrests and invasive bodily checks on the young men for body marks and tattoos. Once they see any mark on any young man, he's automatically labeled IPOB and taken away and may never be seen again alive.
"The Police Act 2020 prohibits profiling and arrest of persons based only on their looks, hairstyle or bodily marks. There have been unverified but widespread reports of harvesting of body parts of some of the victims and burning of their remains beyond recognition.
"Some are allegedly brutalised and asked to transfer money in exchange for not being killed. Young women are allegedly seized, taken to bush paths or inside their vehicles and gang-raped and asked to thank God that they were not killed.
"In some cases, these Ebubeagu operatives are said to carry out joint operations with the police, Civil Defence, military and DSS operatives. Some people arrested during such joint operations have been traced to the Tiger Base office of the IRT in Owerri Imo State.  Torture, killing and extortion have been reported.
"Young men are arrested at random, taken into custody, tortured and disappeared.  In few cases, lucky ones are extorted of huge sums of money and released.
"This siege has forced young people - mainly teenagers and youth - to flee their communities leaving only old women and men and children.
"In a recent video that was shared with RULAAC from different sources, a family in Okporo Orlu was on 16th Of June, 2022, allegedly invaded by so-called Ebubeagu Security outfit in search of youth in the village and they ended up shooting everybody in sight in the compound Including the elderly men, leaving several of them in the pool of their blood. Why would somebody shoot elderly people in the name of security?
"Our preliminary findings reveal that a lot of militant elements without training were handed guns to go after the 'unknown gunmen'. Their only qualifications may have been the fact that they have been shooting in the underworld. Else, nothing justifies or even rationalises the terror being unleashed on the civilian population in Orlu by men who are not by law authorised to bear assault rifles.
"The unknown gunmen seem to have gone underground, now they are feasting on soft targets - assaulting, intimidating, extorting and making a bad situation worse. Their activities have become too egregious and inhuman to condone, and the outrage too loud to ignore.
"We are therefore concerned that despite the outcry by members of the affected communities, security agencies in the state appear helpless while the governor who set up this outfit and to whom alone they report stands aloof as a whole youth population in Orlu and environs are being decimated.
"Whatever may be the explanation for this siege cannot be in interest of public safety and security.
"RULAAC calls on President Muhammadu Buhari in his capacity as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and as the ultimate Constitutional authority in control of security in Nigeria to intervene decisively in aid of these communities affected by insecurity," the circular added.

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The All Progressives Congress Yobe North Senatorial District candidate in the 2023 general elections, Bashir Sheriff Machina, has said he will be going to court and seek legal redress if the party fails to remove the name of Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, which was submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The ruling APC had submitted Lawan as its candidate to INEC despite his (Lawan) non-participation in the senatorial primary – an action Machina on Friday described as illegal and inhuman.

Addressing a press conference on Friday, Machina, who was declared winner of the primary conducted in Yobe North, said he remains the candidate of the APC in the senatorial district.
Machina said, “I remain the candidate of the APC Yobe North senatorial zone as duly elected. I did not withdraw for anybody and I will not withdraw because as a matter of fact it is a mandate given to me by members of our great party, the delegates. So surreptitiously removing my name, I consider (it) as very undemocratic, illegal and of course inhuman.
“I will take measures by first appealing to my party that if this action was truly done, it should be corrected, possibly if it was erroneously done. And it was deliberately done, we are actually seeking redress from the National Working Committee of our party under the leadership of Senator Abdullahi Adamu. I remain the candidate.
“I remain the candidate and it remains so. I hope our leadership will take the necessary measures. We will work hard to exploit and explore all the necessary channels as provided by our guideline. In the event of the contrary, as Nigerian citizens and as law abiding citizens, the constitution of our country being the overall law above every aspect of our lives as Nigerians, I would have no choice but to resort to court (legal) action.”
SaharaReporters earlier on Friday reported that Machina raised the alarm that his life was in danger because he refused to step down for Lawan in his pursuit of senatorial mandate.
This had been disclosed by Machina’s campaign organisation in a statement obtained on Friday.
According to the campaign organisation, some hoodlums are after the life of Machina.
It, therefore, urged security agencies to take necessary measures to protect the Yobe APC senatorial candidate.
The statement had read, “Information at the disposal of Bashir Machina Campaign Organisation is that there is a security threat to the senatorial candidate of APC for Yobe North, Hon. Bashir Sheriff Machina, especially in relation to his refusal to relinquish his legally acquired ticket.
“Credible sources confirmed that some people want him arrested or at worst eliminated. They have resorted to employing diabolical means over unlawful means, in pressurising him to step down.
“We use this opportunity to notify the security agencies of this threat or likely breach of security around our senatorial candidate, we believe the security agencies will rise up to the occasion and take the threat seriously.
"As Campaign Organisation, we warned that the people behind his ordeal in the last four days should be held responsible if any mishap happens to him. By this notice, we are putting everybody on red alert.”
SaharaReporters had reported that Lawan was on the verge of suffering two losses within a week after the winner of the Yobe North APC senatorial primary, Machina, refused to step down for him.
Lawan had challenged for the presidential ticket of the party but lost to a former Lagos governor, Bola Tinubu.

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There was tension on Friday evening as heavy gunshots rented the air around the government house, in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital. 
The shooting came hours before the residents of the state would go out today, Saturday, to vote in the Ekiti State governorship election exercise.

Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Segun Oni of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Bisi Kolawole of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are the leading candidates in the election.
As the gunshots boomed, a helicopter belonging to the Nigeria Police Force was also sighted hovering in the sky.
However, a source claimed that the shooting was coming from a police station, along the old government house road in the state. 
The police authorities had earlier deployed anti-riot policemen to mount strategic locations in the state for a “stop and search exercise”.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that residents of Ekiti rushed for last-minute trade and financial activities on Friday.
Checks around the town by SaharaReporters had showed that residents were making last-minute rush to buy items needed so as not to be affected by the restriction of movement on the day of the exercise.
Long queues had been seen at some of ATM points within bank road, where most financial institutions in the city are located.
“We don’t know what will happen, the event in the last one week is not good at all; clashes between two of the major political parties has led to the death of three people,” a staff of the Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti who identified himself as Segun had told SaharaReporters.
“Some of these politicians are so desperate and as such anything could happen. I won’t even be voting tomorrow, I’ll be at home with my family, I know there won’t be light, so I have bought fuel to power my generator, from there, I’ll be monitoring the poll from my sitting room.”

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that it could not guarantee to stop vote-buying which will likely take place in today’s governorship election in Ekiti State.
According to People’s Gazette, the INEC national commissioner Festus Okoye, stated this on Channels TV on Friday.

“INEC as a commission cannot guarantee that there won’t be any vote-buying in this election,” Okoye said.
He explained that INEC had already partnered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to tackle voter inducement.
Okoye added that INEC had also trained ad hoc staff, who would assist the electoral body on the best way to position the voting cubicles to guarantee and maintain the security of the votes.
“We have also told them (ad hoc staff) to advise the voters when they come to vote not to enter the voting compartment with any electronic gadgets that can take photographs,” explained Okoye.
“By so doing, we believe we can guarantee at least the secrecy of the vote, not that people will vote, snap them when they have voted and show somebody else.”
Okoye added, “We have also held a series of meetings with the ICPC, EFCC, and other security agencies who would have some of their plainclothes officers at some of the polling units by making sure no one comes to the place and corrupts the process.”
According to him, 988,923 are expected to vote in Saturday’s governorship poll in the 16 LGAs and 177 registration areas. The ruling APC, the Peoples Democratic Party and the Social Democratic Party are the leading contenders in Saturday’s election.

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The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, submitted the name of Ibrahim Kabir Masari to the Independent National Electoral Commission as the vice-presidential candidate, an APC chieftain has revealed.

The APC chieftain, Kabiru Faskari, confirmed this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

According to Faskari, picking Kabiru, who hails from Katsina State, does not violate the country’s laws as against the clamour for a Muslim/Christian APC ticket.

The APC, it is believed is putting Kabiru, younger brother to Katsina Governor, as a placeholder to beat the deadline given by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for presidential candidates to submit the names of their running mates.

INEC had given a Friday, June 17th, deadline for the submission of the names.

Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that the APC Presidential Candidate did not disclose the name of his running mate.

A statement from his media office had said, “As stipulated by the electoral law and Independent National Electoral Commission guidelines and timetable, the standard-bearer of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned his duly completed nomination forms to INEC.

”The forms were returned on Wednesday, June 15, two days ahead of schedule. We wish to reiterate that Tinubu now stands ready to contest the February 25, 2023, presidential election to deliver progressive good governance to our people."

Tinubu had days ago promised that he would not present a Northern Muslim as his running mate.

Tinubu on Wednesday said his running mate would be a Christian and would be from the North-East region of the country.

While speaking with journalists on Tuesday at the APC rally in Ekiti State, the APC National leader had said, “The VP slot belongs to the Northeastern region and particularly the Christians, but consultations are yet ongoing as to who will beTinubu Appointed Katsina Governor, Masari’s Younger Brother As Running Mate – APC Chieftain decided.”

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Dr Doyin Okupe, the former Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Friday, said he is the running mate of the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Okupe stated this on Friday in an interview with Channels TV, adding that his name had been submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission by the party.

Okupe said, “I’m standing in as the vice-presidential candidate of the party. Labour party has submitted my name as the VP of the party. Our idea is to bring up the largest political coalition ever in the history of Nigeria because we are facing two giants; the APC and the PDP.

“We cannot work alone, we need to put up a coalition and it is important for us to ensure all stakeholders are carried along. The choosing of VP candidate is an electoral process which does not stop until the process ends. We believe that the Labour Party coming to rule Nigeria is essentially going to be about young Nigerians.

“I’m willing to put down my back so young people can come to the top. The decision of LP to use Okupe is to comply with the Nigerian constitution.”

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday said Ukraine will introduce visas for Russians from July 1, 2022 despite Russia's invasion of his country.

The President disclosed this through his telegram account, stating that “Ukraine is introducing a visa regime for citizens of the Russian Federation."

He said the requirement would take effect on “July 1, 2022”, according to a government decision that he expected “today.”

This move will possibly end visa-free travel for Russians that began when Ukraine became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Ukraine Chief Of Staff, Andriy Yermak, also stated that the move is due to Russia’s invasion that began on February 24 and to bolster his country’s defensive efforts.

He said, “Due to the full-scale war launched by the Russian Federation, we need to strengthen the control over the entry of Russian nationals into our territory. Security is a priority.”

It is noteworthy that the two nations share a border spreading almost 2,300 kilometres (1,400 miles) and share extensive family links.

The rate of Russians travelling to Ukraine, however, dropped after Moscow’s 2014 annexation of the Crimean peninsula, which unleashed a war with pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine that was backed by the Kremlin.

According to 2013 data, 10.8 million Russians visited Ukraine. But in 2014, this chart dropped to 2.5 million. And between 2015 and 2019, it further dropped to some 1.5 million a year, Andrey Demchenko, a spokesman for Ukraine’s border guards, told AFP.

Similarly, in 2020 and 2021 as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, the number of Russian travellers did not exceed 500,000 a year, he said.

Ukraine, where Russian is widely spoken and which has lived through two pro-democracy revolutions since 2004, has also become a popular destination in recent years for liberal Russians fleeing the authoritarian regime of President Vladimir Putin.

By the end of January, nearly 175,000 Russians had residence permits in Ukraine, migration officials told AFP.

But that number is likely far higher as, until now, Ukraine has never had a visa regime with Russia.

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The heads of security agencies in Enugu State on Friday visited the Mgbuji Eha-Amufu, Enugu community besieged by Fulani herdsmen days after an exclusive report by SaharaReporters.

SaharaReporters had reported that Fulani herdsmen killed five residents on Monday and Tuesday, and burnt hundreds of houses, sacking 14 farm settlements while over 3000 residents were displaced.

It had also reported that the police and military did not come when the residents were attacked but only came to carry corpses, and extort money from bereaved families before they could bury their loved ones.

However, following the SaharaReporters’ report, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Abubakar Lawal, alongside the State Director, Department of State Services (DSS), H. M. Daluwa; the Commander, 82 Division Garrison Command of the Nigerian Army Enugu, Brig. Gen. M. K. Ibrahim; Commander, 553 Services Base Group of the Nigerian Air Force Enugu, Air Commodore I. A. Taiwo, and other senior police officers visited the troubled community on Friday.

A statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, titled: "Violent Attack In Mgbuji Eha-Amufu: CP Abubakar And Other Security Heads Visit Community", said the visit was to ascertain and assess the security situation in the area, "alleged to have been caused by farmers and herders’ crises within farm settlements of the community, bordering Enugu and Benue states."

He said that Abubakar, the Police Commissioner had used the visit to address and interact with the members of the community at Obibi-Mgbuji Village Square; and re-assured them of the police and other security agencies' commitment to decisively tackle the violent attacks in the area.

Ndukwe quoted the Commissioner to have called on the members of the community to be vigilant, law-abiding and promptly volunteer useful information that would help the Security Operatives to contain activities of the assailants.

The statement partly reads, "The CP and entourage was received and guided by the Area Commander, Udenu Area Command, ACP Edwin Egwuekwe, and a team of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area leadership, led by the Vice Chairman, Mr. Ogechukwu Nnamani.

"It will be recalled that the yet-to-be identified assailants, on 13/06/2022, attacked and murdered three (3) male victims, at Ogbete-Mgbuji area of the community, who were confirmed dead by doctors and deposited in the mortuary for preservation and autopsy," it reads.

Meanwhile, the community members told SaharaReporters on Friday that the Ikem Divisional Police Officer, Nwachukwu, used a backdoor channel to extort the bereaved families.

A community leader, who gave his name as Clement Odo, said that "after the report of SaharaReporters, the DPO Nwachukwu called the bereaved families that he took corpses of their relations to go and pay N70,000 for mortuary and N40,000 for autopsy."

Odo, however, queried if there was any hospital in Nigeria that would collect N40,000 to conduct an autopsy for a dead body.

 

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The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, has announced that he has submitted the name of his running mate in the forthcoming election to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

This was contained in a statement issued on Friday by Tunde Rahman, an aide to the former Lagos Governor.

Although the APC Presidential Candidate did not disclose the name of his running mate, he said he had submitted “duly completed nomination forms to INEC.”

The forms bear the names of running mates of presidential candidates.

The statement reads, “As stipulated by the electoral law and Independent National Electoral Commission guidelines and timetable, the standard-bearer of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned his duly completed nomination forms to INEC.

”The forms were returned on Wednesday, June 15, two days ahead of schedule. We wish to reiterate that Tinubu now stands ready to contest the February 25, 2023, presidential election to deliver progressive good governance to our people."

Tinubu had days ago promised that he would not present a Northern Muslim as his running mate.

Tinubu on Wednesday said his running mate would be a Christian and would be from the North-East region of the country.

While speaking with journalists on Tuesday at the APC rally in Ekiti State, the APC National leader had said, “The VP slot belongs to the Northeastern region and particularly the Christians, but consultations are yet ongoing as to who will be decided.”

Tinubu, who said that he would choose a Vice President solely on the basis of Nigerians’ preferences, noted that no organisation, institution, or individual could force a Vice President on him.

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Amid the gruelling economic challenges facing the country, the Muhammadu Buhari-led government between January and March 2022 incurred N2trillion in Public Debt, bringing total debts to record N41trillion, according to a release from the Debt Management Office.
According to the DMO, a government agency, in December 2021, the country’s debt stood at N39.556 trillion but within three months of 2022, the country had an additional N2.048 trillion to the debt profile.

Meanwhile, the country in the first quarter of 2022 alone, has spent an average of N9.94billion on debt servicing, a report by a civic group, Dataphyte, noted.
Every day of the last three months, Nigeria has spent an average of N9.94billion daily on debt service.
Combined, the cost of debt servicing in Q1 2022 alone is N895 billion which is already 32% of the total debt servicing figure for 2021.
As contained in the DMO report, between January and March 2022, Nigeria spent N668,685,710,112.98 on servicing domestic debt.
The domestic loan service was broken down as N188.364 billion in January, N103.883 billion in February and N376.437 billion in March.
“The Q1 2022 debt servicing bill is 215% higher than the figures for Q4 2021,” the report noted.
Meanwhile, the country had spent $548,789,178.51 on external loan servicing.
The figure for the first quarter of 2022 is 1,900 times higher than that of the last quarter of 2021.
“This astronomical increase of foreign debt service figures in Q1 2022 is the highest in at least each quarter of the last 12 years,” the analysis stated.
In Q1 2022 alone, N895billion had been spent on debt servicing, an amount exceeding the 2022 budget of each state in Nigeria except Lagos State.
The total allocation to the Health sector in the 2022 budget is N724billion, 23.6% lesser than the bill for servicing Nigeria’s debts in Q1 2022.

”The debt servicing bill for the last quarter is 93.6% of the total allocation to the Education sector in the 2022 budget which is N923.7billion. In fact, the debt servicing figure is 68% of the total revitalisation fund at the centre of disagreements between lecturers and the federal government.
”The debt servicing figure is 66% of Nigeria’s 2022 Defence budget which is N1.2trillion. The budget of Nigeria’s challenged Power Sector, with 5 national grid collapses in the 6 months since the start of 2022 is N306billion and it's 65% lesser than the cost of servicing debts in Q1 of 2022.
”Allocation to the Agricultural Sector touted as Nigeria’s post-oil economy saviour, is N215.8billion and it is 79% lesser than debt servicing costs for the first quarter of 2022."
The increasing debt profile remains a subject of concern. The International Monetary Fund has warned that Nigeria may spend all of its 2022 revenue, N10.74trillion on debt servicing.
With the sum of N2.048trillion borrowed within the first three months of the year, comprising domestic borrowings amounting to N1.28trillion and external borrowings which stood at N762billion. The current debt figure shows that Nigeria has expended 41.88% of its debt target for the 2022 fiscal year between January and March.

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The capital city of Ekiti State, Ado-Ekiti is currently booming with last-minute trade and financial activities as a result of Saturday, June 18 governorship election.
Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Segun Oni of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Bisi Kolawole of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are the leading candidates in the election.

Checks around the town by SaharaReporters showed that residents were making last-minute rush to buy items needed so as not to be affected by the restriction of movement on the day of the exercise.
Security operatives were also stationed at strategic locations while some were patrolling the streets with their loud siren.
Long queues are being experienced at some of ATM points within bank road, where most financial institutions in the city are located.
“We don’t know what will happen, the event in the last one week is not good at all; clashes between two of the major political parties has led to the death of three people,” a staff of the Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti who identified himself as Segun told SaharaReporters.
“Some of these politicians are so desperate and as such anything could happen. I won’t even be voting tomorrow, I’ll be at home with my family, I know there won’t be light, so I have bought fuel to power my generator, from there, I’ll be monitoring the poll from my sitting room.”
Some traders also told SaharaReporters that sales for the week had been very encouraging.
“Sales have been encouraging, people are afraid that anything can happen. It might be tough,” one of the traders at Oba market said.

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A fire incident in Lagos State has stalled the appeal trial of convicted kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike alias Evans, at an Ikeja Special Offences Court.
It was gathered that the inferno made it impossible for Evans and others to reach the court on Friday.

The notorious kidnapper is facing trial alongside one Joseph Emeka for the attempted kidnap of the chairman of Young Shall Grow Motors, Chief Vincent Obianodo.
At the beginning of proceedings today, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo revealed that there was a fire incident which affected the transportation of the defendants.
“I was informed by the Officer in Charge of legal (OC) that there was a fire incident which affected the transportation of the defendants,” the judge said.
In February, SaharaReporters had reported that Evans, and two other defendants were declared guilty of kidnapping and sentenced to life imprisonment by a Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja.
Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos High Court in Ikeja on Friday sentenced the man popularly known as billionaire kidnapper or Evans, and his accomplices – Uche Amadi and Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu to life imprisonment.

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The Spiritual Director, Adoration Ministry Enugu, Nigeria (AMEN) Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka, has tendered a public apology to the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi and all his supporters over his harsh remarks against Obi.
SaharaReporters had reported that Father Mbaka during his midweek prayers declared that Obi, who he described as a stingy man, could not be a Nigerian President.
It had also been reported that following the utterances of the controversial Catholic priest, his supporters and Catholic Diocese of Enugu State disowned him, describing his political utterances as divisive and unbecoming of a priest.
The church noted that his utterances breached canon 220 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law which prohibited anyone from illegitimately harming the good name of a person.
Mbaka in his apology letter titled: "Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka Blesses His Excellency Peter Obi and His Supporters", also said "If in any way, the supporters of Mr Peter Obi feel offended by my utterances or however I was misunderstood by them, I ask for their understanding and forgiveness.”
The statement which the SaharaReporters obtained on Friday, was personally signed by Rev Fr Mbaka Ejike Camillus Anthony.
He however prayed for Peter Obi, that God would grant him his will, asking God to allow for an emergence of a president that would deliver Nigeria from the trouble of bad leadership.
The apology letter reads, "My Dear People Of God, I am grateful to God for His unquantifiable and favorable blessings, miracles, love and life for the Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Nigeria.
"I assure the people of God and Nigerians that I am praying for good governance and good leadership in this country and that God will give us leaders after His own heart.
"As it stands right now, it is obvious that Nigeria is passing through indescribable insecurity challenges, an inestimable unemployment crisis, massive corruption, heinous crimes, and unbearable suffering engendered by bad leadership.
"I bear with my fellow country men and women in whatever we are passing through in this trying time. I call on the adorers and the entire people of God to join hands in praying that God will deliver us from the plans of the devil and its wicked agents.
"I am a servant of God and my intention is not to malign His Excellency, Peter Obi's image, but to pray for him. May God's will be done in his life. I pray to God whom I serve to give our beloved people good and excellent leaders who will take care of them and lead them to the promise land. Anyone who God wishes to make our leader is my choice.
"In this vein, I give my blessings to His Excellency Peter Obi and his supporters, I also give my blessings to the other candidates and their supporters whose intention is also to give Nigeria good leaders. In any way, the supporters of Mr Peter Obi feel offended by my utterances or however I was misunderstood by them, I ask for their understanding and forgiveness. As a servant of the Most High God, I pray that it shall be well with my people. I am an ardent supporter of Good Governance, Justice, Equity, Love, and Godliness.
"At this time our people are passing through the valleys of shadows of death (Ps23.4), I pray for peace, love, and anything that will bring blessings and favour to our people and to our suffering teaming youths. I will always stand with you in all your ordeals. God will take care of you and bless you miraculously for me."
It added, "My intention is not to fight or malign Mr.Peter Obi. He is my friend and remained my friend and brother I love him and I wish him Success May God bless him and his good supporters. God's will be done in his political endeavors (Mk.14:36)
"The followers of Peter Obi are the same youths I am praying for, sacrificing for, fighting for, speaking for, and working for their integral well-being. What the youths are passing through and their conditions give me sleepless nights. It is for this reason that I yearn for good governance and worthy leaders that will take care of them. We are passing through indescribable, unbearable, and undeserved hardship in this country. I pray for Divine intervention.
"I am not in any political party but I support good people and good governance. Any good person that God can give us is my choice candidate. I am a servant of God; For the sake of peace, I ask for forgiveness in any way I am misunderstood. And to Peter Obi himself, I ask God to bless him and manifest his will in his life. When God says Yes, who can say No? And when God says No, who can say Yes? I bless Peter Obi and pray for him. I bless my dear fellow Adores and pray for them. I bless the people of God everywhere and I pray that it shall be well with you all.” 

 

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An Islamic group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), on Friday commended the Supreme Court of Nigeria judgment approving the use of hijab in public schools in Lagos State.
MURIC said all states in the South-West region should embrace the ruling and allow female students freely us hijabs across its public schools.
The seven-man panel of the apex court in its judgment on Friday upheld the judgment of the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos on July 21, 2016, which quashed the judgment delivered by Justice Grace Onyeabo of the Lagos State High Court on October 17, 2014 in favour of the state government on hijab restriction in public schools in the state.

Though two of the panel members opposed the judgment, five other members held that restriction of use of hijab in public schools is a violation of constitutional rights of Muslim female students.
In the ruling written by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun and read by Justice Tijani Abubakar, the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal filed by Lagos State against the Court of Appeal judgment in 2016 for lack of merit.
Reacting to the judgment, MURIC Director, Prof Ishaq Akintola, in a statement described the judgment as a Divine victory over social truth.
Akintola said, “Once again, this pronouncement has infused hope in the Nigerian judiciary. The justices have refused to be swayed by religious sentiment. They stuck to the facts of the case and relied on the supremacy of the Nigerian Constitution. This is evident in the constitution of the panel: only three of them are Muslims while the remaining four are Christians. Yet five of them were in favour.
“We call on the Lagos State Government (LASG) to immediately implement the letter and spirit of this judgment. It becomes imperative for LASG to issue a circular on the approval of hijab in all its public schools without any delay. MURIC had earlier demanded the issuance of this circular but LASG ignored our demand to date.
“But the highest court in the land has now spoken and LASG cannot afford to delay it because this is a constitutional matter and an issue of great public interest. Had it been freely given had been good, but it has been delayed until the victims of oppression and persecution can no longer express gratitude to LASG for having their Allah-given fundamental human rights restored by the Supreme Court.
“We can see the doors of South West prisons opening to admit culprits of contempt of this Supreme Court pronouncement. After all, it is well known that there is no appeal for Supreme Court judgement. It is the last bus stop. All public school authorities, hardliner principals, and classroom teachers in Kwara, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo, etc, are advised to take note.”

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The Kogi State House of Assembly has impeached the Speaker of the House, Hon. Matthew Kolawole over allegations of misconduct and money laundering running into millions of naira.

The impeachment, according to the lawmakers, took effect from Monday, June 13, 2022.

The speaker's impeachment was undersigned by 19 lawmakers including Ahmed Mohammed, the deputy speaker and Bello Abdullahi, the majority leader.

 

According to them, Kolawole's alleged corrupt antecedents had led to the non-payment of members' constitutional entitlements, gross corruption and diversion of funds meant for the Assembly since 2019.

 

They also said the Speaker obtained a personal loan running into hundreds of millions, using the Kogi State House of Assembly account to the detriment of other members.

 

The aggrieved lawmakers alleged that Kolawole diminished the integrity of fellow elected members by serially recording meetings and confidential conversations of members which he used as a tool to blackmail members before Governor Yahaya Bello.

 

The statement reads, “Whereas the Kogi State House of Assembly has been embroiled in an ongoing messy crisis of confidence with the leadership style and corrupt antecedents and tendencies of the former/impeached Speaker, Mr. Mattew Kolawole whose leadership of the Kogi State House of Assembly has led to non-payment of members Constitutional entitlements and gross corruption and diversion of funds meant for the Assembly since 2019.

 

“That the said Mr. Mattew Kolawole used the Kogi State House of Assembly account to collect a personal loan running into Hundreds of millions to the detriment of Members of the House.

 

“That the Said Mr. Mattew Kolawole stepped on and diminished the integrity and status of fellow elected members by serially recording meetings and confidential conversations of members with which he maliciously played for the Governor of Kogi State as a tool to blackmail members and destroy the trust and loyalty of members to the Governor overtime.

 

“That all the undersigned 19 members upon being perplexed and vexed at the obvious evil behaviour and machinations of Mr. Mattew Kolawole met and decided to constitutionally impeach the said Mattew Kolawole to wit signatures were collected and the said Mattew Kolawole impeached and a Speaker Pro Tempore duly elected amongst members.

 

“The standing orders of the Kogi State House of Assembly state that Mondays and Fridays are meant for Committee business and oversight functions and are not plenary days.

 

“For the business of plenary and by extension resolutions to be effected, a proclamation must be made a minimum of 48 hours before the date of sitting.

 

“This then goes to the fact that all the activities of the intimidated and kidnapped members under the impeached Mr. Mattew Kolawole today the 17th day of June, 2022, are null and void ab initio and cannot stand the test of legality.

 

“Finally, all undersigned members pledge their unalloyed loyalty to His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello and the party that brought them all to power: the All Progressives Congress. APC.

 

“We hereby adopt the following Resolutions for their removal and Suspension as follows:

 

“That it be resolved:- and it is so resolved that Rt. Hon. (Prince) Matthew Kolawole, is hereby removed/impeached as the speaker, of the Kogi State House of Assembly with effect from today Monday, the 13th day of July, 2022 in accordance with Section 92 (2) (C) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and suspended from the House pending the final report from the House Committee on ethics and privileges upon investigation of the allegations bordering on gross misconduct in accordance with Order 10 Rule 65 Sub 12 of the Kogi State House of Assembly Standing rules.

 

“For avoidance of doubt, Section 92 (2) (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended provides that: "The Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly shall vacate his/their offices if they are removed from office by a resolution of the House of Assembly by the votes of not less than two-thirds majority of the members of the House."

 

“Accordingly, this Resolution is supported by the following Honourable Members:

List Of Signatories

1.      Rt. Hon. Ahmed Mohammed -Deputy Speake

2.      Hon. Bello Hassan Abdullahi – Majority Leade

3.      Hon. Ndako Idris Muhammed-DML

4.      Hon. Edoko Moses Ododo- DCW

5.      Hon. Enema Paul

6.      Hon. Ibrahim Usman

7.      Hon. Prince Hilarion Collins Musa

8.      Hon. Kilani Olusola Olumo

9.      Hon. Umar Isah Tanimu

10.   Hon. Daniya Ranyi

11.   Hon. Ahande Oke Moses

12.   Hon. Suleiman Attajachi Musa

13.   Hon. Atabor Cosmas Ilemona

14.   Hon. Ujah Alewo Anthony

15.   Hon. Ahmed Dahiru

16.   Hon. Aderonke Aro

17.   Hon. (Alh) Musa Jimoh

18.   Hon. Atule Egbunu

19.   Hon. Mohammed Lawi Ahmed

 

The State Assembly earlier on Friday impeached the House Deputy Speaker, Hon. Ahmed Muhammed.

 

Muhammed was impeached while three other principal officers accused of gross misconduct and arbitrary use of office were suspended.

 

The three principal leaders are Bello Hassan Balogun (Majority Leader), Idris Ndako (Deputy Majority Leader), and Hon. Edoko Moses Ododo (Chief Whip).

 

Hon. Enema Paul, the member representing (Dekina/Okura) State Constituency, who read the urgent motion, during the emergency plenary on Friday, asserted that 17 lawmakers had signed the impeachment.

 

DOCUMENT : Crisis Deepens in Kogi Assembly as 19 Lawmakers Impeach Speaker, Kolawole Over Alleged Misconduc... by Sahara Reporters on Scribd

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