Despite his ailing health, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Rivers State, Farah Dagogo, was on Friday, brought to court on the orders of the State Governor, Nyesom Wike, his media aide has alleged.
Dagogo was recently remanded in police custody, following an order made by a Magistrate Court sitting in Port Harcourt, presided over by Chief Magistrate Amadi Nna.

Wike had asked the police to arrest the lawmaker representing Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives over activities related to cultism.

The governor claimed Dagogo hired cultists to attack the PDP secretariat in Port Harcourt.
After two weeks in detention, Dagogo was released on bail on Thursday.
However, barely 24 hours after this, Wike allegedly caused the Commissioner of Police, Friday Eboka, to drag the accused person before a court, according to a statement by Dagogo's Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ibrahim Lawal.
Lawal said this was despite court adjournment to Monday, May 16, while noting that Wike and his cronies disobeyed the law and brought the matter forward before Justice Chiwendu Nwogu, on Friday, May 13.
He wrote, “On Friday, May 13, the Rivers State Government under the orders of Governor Nyesom Wike caused his willing ally and tool, the State Police Commissioner, Friday Eboka, for Hon. Doctor Farah Dagogo to be presented in Court despite his very deteriorating health conditions. Chief of Staff to the Governor, Emeka Woke led police officials from Government House to the Court.
“In fact, the Police forcefully brought Hon. Doctor Farah Dagogo on stretcher, and the Chief of Staff, Emeka Woke, was busy harassing and threatening journalists at the Court from taking videos or pictures of how he was brought in on a stretcher. The journalists were further barred from going into the courtroom.
“The High Court, where Hon. Doctor Farah Dagogo was arraigned and had adjourned to May 16, 2022 only for Governor Nyesom Wike and CP Friday Eboka to break all known laws in the Country by bringing the matter forward before Justice Chiwendu Nwogu, today, May 13.
“Hon. Doctor Farah Dagogo lawyers were not served neither were they aware of the change of date nor the reason for the change of date and as such were not available to defend him.
”This renewed judiciary onslaught by the Rivers State Governor and Police Commissioner, Friday Eboka, was  pre-determined to disobey and make mockery of the Federal High Court Order of May 12, 2022 that granted Hon. Doctor Farah Dagogo's bail but which was ignored and disobeyed by the Commissioner of Police, Friday Eboka.
“All these are orchestrated and well planned plot to gradually kill Hon. Doctor Farah Dagogo in police custody. If anything untoward happens to Hon. Doctor Farah Dagogo, the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, the State Commissioner of Police, Friday Eboka,  Camp Commandant to the Governor, Efeturi Irikefe, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Emeka Woke and others should be held responsible.
“This information is for the world to be aware of the impunity, disregard for the court of law, executive rascality and other known norms alien to a sane society under democratic clime, being perpetrated by the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, who is a lawyer and Police Commissioner, Friday Eboka.
“The judiciary is being raped in Rivers State and the police have effectively proven to be a political tool of the Rivers State Government. We await to see the actions and reactions of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, whose temple of Justice is being desecrated and the Inspector General of Police, who was supposed to ensure that the Police are responsible for the protection of lives and properties.”

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A presidential aspirant in the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, on Friday withdrew from the 2023 presidential contest.
Olawepo-Hashim who said his “own day will come" in a statement from his media office in Abuja asserted though his decision to contest was to offer a national platform for progressive forces and bring prosperity to Nigerians, “certain developments have necessitated my withdrawal from the 2023 presidential race, as a result of which I did not pick the nomination form.”

Olawepo-Hashim appreciated those who had connected with his messages and those who had offered support and prayers, while assuring that putting his presidential run on hold was not that he quit the struggle.
He said, “Retreating not out of the lack of will to fight for our resolve and collective aspiration for a New Nigeria, a struggle which has attracted enormous support. Sometimes WILL and RESOLVE, Energy and Preparation may not be enough to engage in an encounter.
"My aspiration is not an ambition but an historic burden, as a team player. My current political pursuit must now bow to our collective National interest. It is not about me but about Nigeria.
“I stepped aside believing that another day will come. I hope our party will still be able to find a candidate for the 2023 election that will unite and secure our country. One that will lead an inclusive government, and build a prosperous economy that will not leave anyone behind. I leave the race believing that by the Grace of God my own day will come.
“It is a tough decision for me, but in the present circumstance, it is the best thing in my judgement to do.”

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The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Nigige, on Friday said he has withdrawn from the 2023 presidential race and he hence remains in President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet as a minister.
In a press statement obtained by SaharaReporters signed by the minister and titled, “Withdrawal of my presidential aspiration”, Ngige said he took the decision after consulting with his constituents and political associates.

“Today, May 13, I had an audience with the President, Muhammadu Buhari, as a follow-up to the one I earlier had with him on May 11, 2022. Having also consulted widely with my family, constituents, supporters and well-wishers, it is my pleasure to announce the withdrawal of my interest and earlier decision to contest the office of the President in the 2023 general elections,” he said.
On Wednesday, Buhari had asked all members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) contesting elective positions in 2023 to resign.
They were asked to submit their letters of resignation on or before Monday the 16th of May, 2022.
According to the Minister of information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, the order excludes the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo because he is an elected member of the cabinet.
Mohammed added that if the need arises, the directive might involve political appointees.

 



 

DOCUMENT: Labour Minister, Chris Ngige Withdraws From 2023 Presidential Race, Remains In Buhari’s Cabinet by Sahara Reporters on Scribd

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The Nigerian Humanist Association has condemned the killing of Deborah Samuel, a 200-level Home Economics student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto State.
SaharaReporters had reported how the female student was burnt to death by her colleagues for allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

Meanwhile, the gruesome murder of the young lady has been connected to a voice vote the deceased sent to her class WhatsApp group.
Reacting in a statement, the Humanist Association urged the Nigerian government to review the practice of Islam in northern Nigeria, citing similar cases of murder in the past.
The group, in a statement by Leo Igwe, a human rights activist, said Deborah's death could not be alienated from extreme religious practices by Muslims in the Northern region.
The statement reads, “Humanists are outraged by the gruesome murder of a female college student in Sokoto in Northern Nigeria. Such a horrific act is a sordid reminder of the threat of Islamic extremism in Nigeria.
“As the case of this Christian woman has shown, these bloodletters are usually motivated by their religious belief in the prophet of Islam; Islamic teachings and orientations, and by their quest to placate Allah and inherit the paradise in the hereafter.
“So if Nigeria wants to end these horrific attacks and killings, it should take a critical look at how Islam is professed and practised in Northern Nigeria. Nigeria needs to determine if Islam is a religion or a death cult; if Muslims operate within the law or above the law and if Islamic privilege is a state policy. Look, Islam has a history of violence and bloodletting that persists.
“The government must admit that jihadist Islam is entrenched and pervasive. Boko Haram militants are not only in the Sambisa forest. Islamic extremists exist and operate in several mosques, courts, police, and army stations. Boko Haram jihadists and their sympathisers are not a small minority as some people claim. They populate government houses, schools, colleges, and universities.
“So it is high time Nigeria confronted this big elephant in the room; that is Islamic extremism. Muslim leaders should stop living in denial; they should stop pretending that jihadist Islam is not a huge problem.
“Muslim leaders should stop deceiving the world and saying that blasphemy killings and attacks have nothing to do with religion, in this case, Islam. No, these killings have everything to do with Islam as practised in Northern Nigeria. And the way Islam is preached and practised in Northern Nigeria must change.
“The government must address this toxic tendency and habit that makes Muslims value their religious and prophetic icons more than human lives. Nigeria must tackle this savage and dreadful inclination of Muslims to kill, attack or maim others at the slightest provocation.
“Nigerian authorities should monitor the activities of Muslim clerics because these religious actors use their preaching and Quranic indoctrination programs to radicalize young Muslims and turn them into merchants of hate, violence, death, and destruction.
“The government should protect the rights of those who criticise the teachings and traditions of Islam and its prophet because it is through a critical examination of Islamic doctrines and practices that these extremist ideas and tendencies could be exposed and expunged.
“Nigeria should take measures to end impunity and ensure that those who indulge in blasphemy-related attacks or killings are brought to book. Those who carry out these barbaric acts should not go scot-free.
“They are murders and criminals and should be arrested, prosecuted, and jailed to serve as a deterrent to others. Usually, when Muslims attack or kill for blasphemy, no arrest is made, in cases where arrests are made, nobody is prosecuted; and in situations where some are charged to court, they are later acquitted.
“This culture of impunity must end if Nigeria must make progress in this 21st century. There should be serious consequences for blasphemy-related attacks.
“The Nigerian government should repeal blasphemy laws because as long as there are provisions that criminalise insults on religion, freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression will not be guaranteed and these savage attacks in the name of Allah or Prophet Muhammad will continue.”

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Malami

Nigeria's Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, has pulled out of the Kebbi State governorship race, multiple sources told SaharaReporters on Friday.

Malami had in April declared interest in the Kebbi State governorship race.

Malami
He also distributed over 200 exotic vehicles to party members ahead of the governorship primary in the state.

See Also Scandal 2023 Elections: We Shared 200 Cars But They Were Angry, We’ll Soon Distribute Hundreds Of Aeroplanes –Nigeria’s Attorney-General, Malami Boasts 0 Comments 1 Week Ago

On Wednesday, he submitted his N50 million nomination form at the International Conference Centre.

Several sources close to the minister said he withdrew from the race over fear that he may not get the ticket. 

There has been a cold political war between the incumbent governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu and the political arrowhead of Kebbi, Senator Adamu Alieru over who succeeds the former.

While Bagudu, who chairs the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), is rooting for Malami as his successor, Aliero, a two-term governor of the state, has Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi as his preferred candidate for the APC governorship ticket.

See Also Breaking News BREAKING: Malami Joins Kebbi Governorship Race Despite Fraudulent Purchase Of Multi-billion Naira Properties As Nigeria’s Attorney-General 0 Comments 3 Weeks Ago

Aliero’s camp has Bala Sani Kangiwa, who was removed during the last state congress of the party as their chairman, while the camp of the governor has Abubakar Kana Zuru as chairman.

Two secretariats of the APC now exist in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital. 

Fearing he may not get the ticket under the current circumstances, Malami was said to have changed his plan and pulled out of the governorship race. 

“He (Malami) actually pulled out of the race because he knows he can’t win without being the Attorney General,” a source told SaharaReporters.

Malami, a lawyer from Kebbi State who was hardly known before 2015 when he was appointed into the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, is today one of the richest men in Nigeria.
 
In 2020, a series of detailed investigations carried out by SaharaReporters showed that Malami had acquired several properties whose value run into many billions of naira since being appointed into the administration of President Buhari as Nigeria’s chief law officer.

See Also Exclusive EXCLUSIVE: Nigeria’s Attorney-General, Malami Opens Multi-billion Naira Hotel Few Days After Distributing Exotic Vehicles To APC Supporters 0 Comments 2 Weeks Ago
 
For example, the AGF has an underground hotel in Sokoto, three houses at Peace Estate, Abuja, a brand-new state-of-the-art school in Kebbi, two houses for his sons worth N100 million each and a new hotel under construction in the Jabi area of Abuja.
 
Malami also bought a house worth N150 million in the Gwarimpa area of Abuja.
A school located at the back of NITEL in Gesse Phase 1, Birnin Kebbi and a house worth N600 million on Ahmadu Bello Way, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, are among properties acquired by Malami since he became a minister under President Buhari.
 
The houses he built for his sons in Kebbi are 200 metres apart in a posh part of the city.
 
That is not all. Malami also built N3billion multipurpose event centre in Kebbi State named Azbir Arena, for his son.
 
The facility is said to be an entertainment centre with a plaza and a kids’ playing section.
 
This is apart from Rayhaan Hotel located on Zaria Road, opposite Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, which the AGF massively upgraded using unexplained wealth.

See Also Exclusive EXCLUSIVE: Nigeria’s Attorney-General, Malami’s Ongoing Rice Mill Construction Worth N5billion Uncovered Amid Corruption Allegations 0 Comments 2 Weeks Ago
 
Ever since SaharaReporters published a series of detailed reports exposing these illicit acquisitions, the online news medium has been a target for the AGF’s camp.
 
Apart from falsely claiming to have sued SaharaReporters over the expository reports he said had damaged his reputation before the world, Malami also issued a petition to the former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, on the issue to arrest the publisher of the online newspaper, Omoyele Sowore.
 
Despite these questionable acquisitions, Malami continues to portray a saintly stance in the Buhari government whose fight against corruption has been called into serious question in recent times. 

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British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing.

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, has decried the killing of Deborah Samuel, a student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education who was burnt by irate muslim students in Sokoto State.
The UK High Commissioner asked the Nigerian government to make sure appropriate actions were taken against those who killed Deborah.

British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing.
“I condemn the murder of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto, and urge the police and relevant authorities to ensure the perpetrators of this horrific act are made to face justice in line with the law,” Ms Laing tweeted on Friday.
There have been condemnations from various quarters trailing the murder of the female Christian student with Nigerians calling for the arrest and prosecution of the irate muslim mob.
Bishop Matthew Kukah, Catholic cleric in Sokoto, had said on Friday, "We condemn this incident in the strongest terms and call on the authorities to investigate this tragedy and ensure that all the culprits are brought to book. The only obligation that is owed to her immediate family, her fellow students, and the school authorities is the assurance that those who are guilty of this inhuman act, no matter their motivation, are punished according to our extant laws of the land.”
SaharaReporters reported on Thursday that the level-two female student was accused of making a post that blasphemed Prophet Muhammad (SAW), a crime for which a mob, mostly made up of fellow students, killed her.

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The Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has said he is a strong proponent of zoning and rotation of the presidency in 2023 to the South of the country.
Diri spoke on Friday when former Vice President and a PDP presidential aspirant, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, visited him at the Government House, Yenagoa.

According to a press release, the governor noted that no individual political ambition should be allowed to disorganise and disorientate the party.
The governor said, “I am one of the strong proponents of power rotation and zoning and I still believe that power should rotate to the southern part of Nigeria.
"However, our party has taken a decision and there is nobody that is greater than the party. As a party member, I cannot stand above our party. I am carefully choosing my words as an umpire because I am holding a very sensitive position as deputy chairman of one of the electoral committees."
Diri, who described Atiku as one of the strong contenders for the party’s presidential ticket, noted that the PDP was more interested in wresting political power from what he described as “the rudderless, directionless and failed government of the All Progressives Congress."
Speaking earlier, Atiku stressed that the PDP must put its best candidate forward in order to wrest power back from the APC.
The former vice president called on the party to brace up and be united for the sake of Nigeria, emphasising that the PDP could not afford to be in the opposition again from 2023.
Atiku said, “We must put our best forward. Meaning who we believe can bring us back to power. It is very important. We must brace up as a political party. We must unite to return our political party back to power. We cannot afford to be in opposition again.
“There must be peace and unity before this country can be governed. That is why I emphasise unity and the need to unify the country. What I mean is that; I am going to give every part, every section, religion and faith, a sense of belonging in this country.”

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Parents of pupils attending the Shell Petroleum company's Primary School located at Edjeba Estate, Warri, Delta State, have expressed displeasure over the recent hike in school fees by the school authorities without any consultation with the parents.
SaharaReporters learnt that the parents are now at daggers drawn with the school management board over the increase in school fees imposed on them.

An executive member of the Parents Teachers Association, (PTA) of the school who pleaded for anonymity for fear of sanction said the action of the school management board without carrying the parents along was pitiable, adding that there could be crisis in the school if the increment was not reversed.
"The timing of this unjustified hike in the school fees is deliberate by the school management to arm-twist us parents to pay these new imposed fees because it won't be easy for parents to pull their children out of the school during the third term.
“This is never done even in public schools anywhere in Nigeria. The management is desperate to extort parents using such illegal, provocative and unconventional method. Why didn't the school management take such decision before the start of a new academic session that begins in first term so as to enable parents decide early enough whether to continue to have their children in the school or not? Why did they have to wait till this third term to do this?
"This is criminal breach of contract. The school management must be warned of the dire consequences of this crime. Despite the peaceful moves made by parents and their Parents Teachers Association (PTA) to resolve this impasse, the school management board on Tuesday locked out our children from their classrooms and dumped them in a hall for hours like common criminals.
“Our children were so traumatised that many cried all through the day till they got home because they had never had this sad experience.”
Another parent said, “By this decision, SHELL is now imposing a new school fee of about N200,000 per term on primary school pupils at a time that the economic situation in Warri had crashed and become almost hopeless after this same company pulled out its administrative structures and offices from Warri.
“What else does Shell want from the people whose oil it exploited for years, made huge money from but ended up abandoning? Even the standard of education and management of the school have deteriorated and become very poor but we just try to tolerate even if we have to recruit private home lesson teachers for our children to make up for the gross inadequacies in the teachings.”
SaharaReporters gathered that the chairman of the Parents/Teachers Association, Lucky Edun had issued a stern warning to the school management board that he was ready to mobilise parents to "rock the boat.”
The school management had in a circular obtained by SaharaReporters, titled "Attention! Attention!! Attention!!!" to parents read thus: "Good Afternoon Highly Esteemed Parents. We wish to thank you all for your measure of understanding and cooperation in the present trying economic situation. NOTICE OF FEE DRIVE. This is to formally inform all parents that fee drive starts Monday, 9th May, 2022. All receipts of fee payment should be registered in the bursar's office latest Monday morning, if not done already. By this notice, any learner without an evidence of part payment by Monday, 9th May, 2022, will not be allowed into the classroom. Thanks for your anticipated usual cooperation. Management."
In another circular by the school management to the parents titled "A Final Reminder To All Basic 4 Fees Defaulters", reads thus: "This is to remind all basic 4 parents/guardians who are yet to pay at least 80% of their children/wards' fees to do so between now and Friday 13th May or keep them at home as such learners shall not be allowed into classes as from Monday 16th May, 2022. The new extension is in consideration of the fact that some parents have come to seek our understanding and appealed for a little more time. We do hope to get your maximum cooperation in this regard. Thanks. School management."
Some other parents appealed to the state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, to as a matter of urgency intervene in the matter.

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A former minister and human rights' activist, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, has declared her withdrawal from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference which is billed to hold in Sokoto State over the murder of Deborah Samuel, a Shehu Shagari College of Education student.
Ezekwesili stated this on Friday on her verified Twitter, while urging the NBA to use “this period” to think of how the union could strengthen the principles of democracy in the country.

She tweeted, "I have decided to withdraw my Speaking commitment to @NigBarAssoc for its event holding in Sokoto.  I was billed to speak from abroad via Zoom but even now will no longer do so.
"NBA should seize this moment to reflect on how relevant its actions are in a troubled democracy. This would have been my session at the @NigBarAssoc conference in Sokoto:
"I shall no longer participate. NBA owes citizens like #DeborahSamuel #EuniceOlawale #BridgetAgbaheme the judicial activism to enforce Justice.
"It is not late. Start now @OlumideAkpata . Thank you," she said.
The Nigerian Bar Association, Section of Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) had planned to hold its much-awaited annual conference in Sokoto State.
The Chairman of SPIDEL, Monday Ubani, had said on Wednesday that the incident of Deborah’s murder should not make the lawyers withdraw from the conference, while arguing that the state government was not complicit in the ugly incident – a comment which had since attracted condemnation.
The conference which is scheduled to hold from May 22-26, 2022, has the theme “Rule of Law and Democratic Evolution in Nigeria.”

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Two soldiers attached to the Forward Operations Base (FOB) in Galadi, Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State have been arrested for collaborating with terrorists in Zamfara State.
 
The soldiers are identified as Ehoda Monday (15NA/74/3063) and Shehu Muhammad (15NA/74/5023).

Their arrest comes a few hours after another soldier from the operational base, Bala Nura (19NA/78/3870) was arrested by the military police for selling ammunition and military uniforms to armed bandits in the state.
 
“ALSO MN 15NA/74/3063 LCPL EHODA MONDAY AND 15NA/74/5023 LCPL SHEHU MUHAMMAD AS BANDITS COLLABORATORS. SLDRS TRANSFERRED TO JIFC FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION,” a military signal exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters read.
 
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Leo Irabor recently condemned the increase in the number of cases involving military personnel aiding and abetting terrorists and bandits in the country.
 
Irabor, in a letter sent to all commanders of various operations, which was exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters, asked them to sensitise their officers to the implication of collaborating with the enemy.
 
“Recent happenings in various TOOs reveal an increase in cases of aiding and abetting by personnel. This development was revealed in different reports of arrests of military personnel within a short period of time. It would be recalled that a soldier was arrested by a covert Intelligence Team for conniving with a confirmed terrorist informant known as Babagana Kura in Bama LGA, Borno State,” the letter had read.
 
“Similarly, another soldier was arrested with 162 rounds of 7.62mm (special), 60 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and IEDD making materials concealed in his travelling bag without a valid ID card.
 
“The arrests of this personnel are indicative of insider action that has continued to aid the adversary, pertinently with immediate or potential impact on operations.”

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ex-President Goodluck Jonathan

Reactions have continued to trail former President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to pick the presidential nomination forms of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC).
Many Nigerians reacting to his defection to the APC as a former president, elected on the platform of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), say Jonathan’s action is ridiculous.

ex-President Goodluck Jonathan
An APC chieftain in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, Vrati Zonzo, has lambasted Jonathan, saying the former president had by this action destroyed his hard-earned integrity.
According to him, Jonathan was disgraced out of office by the APC just seven years ago; wondering what would be his message while on the same APC's campaign podium.
Zonzo urged the former president to jettison his ambition in his own interest, asserting that Jonathan might just be up for a second electoral disgrace.
He said, "I don't think former President Jonathan has any business contesting for the office of the president under any political party.
"He was in office for six years. What did he forget in the office; why would he subject his hard earned integrity to ridicule? He ceded power to APC seven years ago, and now what makes him think he's marketable in 2023? I don't think it's a good idea for Jonathan to run, particularly looking at the mess embedded in the buildup to the 2023 elections.
"Assuming he wins the APC ticket, what would he tell the electorates about PDP? Or better still, what would he say about the APC party that vilified him as a clueless leader when it wrest power from him?
"I bet you this move by former president Jonathan will end with a huge disgrace for a second time", he said.
Zonzo, who is running for a seat in the House of Representatives from Adamawa State, on the APC platform, also lambasted his party for high costs of nomination forms.
He said, "As a youth, as a commoner, I'm not happy with the high cost of nomination forms of my party. This is not justifiable at all.
"They argued that the high rate was to fend off unserious contestants. This is absurd because you cannot determine seriousness by the depth of a person's pocket. Why not set standards like getting endorsement from credible persons in the society, or educational qualification and may be by track record of community service?” he queried.

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Chidi Odinkalu

Human rights' activist and lawyer, Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, has berated the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL), Monday Ubani, over his statement on the killing of a female student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto State.
Odinkalu described Ubani’s statement as a “gratuitous insult to a traumatised people.”

Chidi Odinkalu
“It will be preposterous for someone who is a lawyer to be suggesting that we should cancel our conference that is billed to take place in Sokoto because of the acts of law breakers in the state. The barbaric act was not authorised or approved by the State Government to our knowledge.
“It is absolutely wrong for our colleagues without locus to be calling for boycott of the conference when the state government that is hosting is not complicit in this heinous crime unless there is evidence to the contrary,” Ubani had earlier said in a statement.
In a statement signed by himself, Odinkalu blasted his fellow lawyer (Ubani) for being more concerned about the SPIDEL conference billed to hold in Sokoto State rather than the tragic killing of the Christian female student by the Muslim mob in the state.
Odinkalu stated that the contents of Ubani’s statement were beside the point and the “other parts are gratuitously insulting.”
According to him, “It seems clear his statement is more focused on saving a conference, which can take place anywhere, or on NBA politics, which is unending rather than on valorising human life and responsible government.”
Odinkalu who was supposed to participate in the SPIDEL conference also announced his decision to cancel his participation.
He noted that “If his (Ubani) comparison with Owerri & Imo State was meant to make any point, it fails. I would oppose the scheduling of any such conference by the NBA or any of its organs in Imo State right now without thinking twice about it and with a clear conscience. That part of his statement I found both cheap and self-defeating.”
He berated Ubani for saying that he sent a text message to the Sokoto State Governor over the incident while still emphasising on the scheduled SPIDEL conference.
“So, MoU sent an SMS to the state governor - who, by the way, was characteristically out of the state when this happened & did not see fit to return immediately. And he says that the state government did not do the killing, as if anyone said it did. That is worse than setting up a proverbial straw-man in order to demolish it.
“If all that MoU has done is send sms to the state governor & HAG, he sadly fails to get the point about this. You mean, all that bloviating evidence on the face of his statement was done in order to convey the point that he has sent a mere SMS to the state governor?! And on the back of that he accuses colleagues of lacking "locus" whatever that means.
“The reality is life has lost meaning in Nigeria. SPIDEL was set up to defend the meaning of human life in Nigeria. I know because I did. In case my brother does not recall, the guarantor of life under our constitution is not the state governor. It is the president. I may have missed it but I am yet to see what the President or Federal Govt has said about this incident. Nor has MoU said that he sent an sms to the President or to Abubakar Malami, since, in his view, an SMS is all that this incident requires. But an SMS addressed to the wrong recipient is not an SMS at all.”
According to Odinkalu, “We do not need to be lawyers going to a conference in Sokoto to care about pre-Neanderthal killings of Nigerians anywhere in Nigeria. His line about people lacking locus is a gratuitous insult to a traumatised people.”
The human rights lawyer said that based on what he just heard from the leadership of SPIDEL, “It is clear to me that they do not get the significance of this issue. I am now convinced that I will be unable to accept an invite to participate in the SPIDEL conference.
“So, I, Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, am cancelling my participation. I will, in addition, actively campaign against the meeting. Everyone has to take their own decision. The SPIDEL leadership has taken its decision. I have taken mine. This is a matter of conscience,” he held.

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Chidi Odinkalu

Human rights' activist and lawyer, Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, has berated the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL), Monday Ubani, over his statement on the killing of a female student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto State.
Odinkalu described Ubani’s statement as a “gratuitous insult to a traumatised people.”

Chidi Odinkalu
“It will be preposterous for someone who is a lawyer to be suggesting that we should cancel our conference that is billed to take place in Sokoto because of the acts of law breakers in the state. The barbaric act was not authorised or approved by the State Government to our knowledge.
“It is absolutely wrong for our colleagues without locus to be calling for boycott of the conference when the state government that is hosting is not complicit in this heinous crime unless there is evidence to the contrary,” Ubani had earlier said in a statement.
In a statement signed by himself, Odinkalu blasted his fellow lawyer (Ubani) for being more concerned about the SPIDEL conference billed to hold in Sokoto State rather than the tragic killing of the Christian female student by the Muslim mob in the state.
Odinkalu stated that the contents of Ubani’s statement were beside the point and the “other parts are gratuitously insulting.”
According to him, “It seems clear his statement is more focused on saving a conference, which can take place anywhere, or on NBA politics, which is unending rather than on valorising human life and responsible government.”
Odinkalu who was supposed to participate in the SPIDEL conference also announced his decision to cancel his participation.
He noted that “If his (Ubani) comparison with Owerri & Imo State was meant to make any point, it fails. I would oppose the scheduling of any such conference by the NBA or any of its organs in Imo State right now without thinking twice about it and with a clear conscience. That part of his statement I found both cheap and self-defeating.”
He berated Ubani for saying that he sent a text message to the Sokoto State Governor over the incident while still emphasising on the scheduled SPIDEL conference.
“So, MoU sent an SMS to the state governor - who, by the way, was characteristically out of the state when this happened & did not see fit to return immediately. And he says that the state government did not do the killing, as if anyone said it did. That is worse than setting up a proverbial straw-man in order to demolish it.
“If all that MoU has done is send sms to the state governor & HAG, he sadly fails to get the point about this. You mean, all that bloviating evidence on the face of his statement was done in order to convey the point that he has sent a mere SMS to the state governor?! And on the back of that he accuses colleagues of lacking "locus" whatever that means.
“The reality is life has lost meaning in Nigeria. SPIDEL was set up to defend the meaning of human life in Nigeria. I know because I did. In case my brother does not recall, the guarantor of life under our constitution is not the state governor. It is the president. I may have missed it but I am yet to see what the President or Federal Govt has said about this incident. Nor has MoU said that he sent an sms to the President or to Abubakar Malami, since, in his view, an SMS is all that this incident requires. But an SMS addressed to the wrong recipient is not an SMS at all.”
According to Odinkalu, “We do not need to be lawyers going to a conference in Sokoto to care about pre-Neanderthal killings of Nigerians anywhere in Nigeria. His line about people lacking locus is a gratuitous insult to a traumatised people.”
The human rights lawyer said that based on what he just heard from the leadership of SPIDEL, “It is clear to me that they do not get the significance of this issue. I am now convinced that I will be unable to accept an invite to participate in the SPIDEL conference.
“So, I, Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, am cancelling my participation. I will, in addition, actively campaign against the meeting. Everyone has to take their own decision. The SPIDEL leadership has taken its decision. I have taken mine. This is a matter of conscience,” he held.

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The official Emirate News Agency, WAM, has announced the death of the President of the United Arab Emirate, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan.
 
Sheikh Khalifa who has been described as one of the richest monarchs in the world died at the age of 73.

“The Ministry of Presidential Affairs mourns to the UAE people, Arab and Islamic nations and the world the death of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who passed away on Friday, 13th May, 2022, wishing Allah Almighty grant him eternal peace and the UAE people patience and solace,” WAM announced.
 
The Monarch became the second UAE president in 2004 (18 years ago) and succeeded his father as the 16th ruler of Abu Dhabi.
 
However, reports have it that Sheikh Khalifa’s role had become merely ceremonial since 2014 when he got struck by a stroke.
 
Meanwhile, the BBC reported that the late president’s half-brother, Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, has taken charge of state affairs.
 
While serving as UAE President, Sheikh Khalifa was also the ruler of Abu Dhabi, which is the oil-rich capital of the seven emirates that make up the UAE.
 
As such, the al-Nahyan family is believed to be one of the richest families in the world, with about $150bn (£123bn) worth.
 
The ministry of presidential affairs has declared 40 days of mourning with flags at half-mast from Friday, while works have been suspended in the public and private sectors for the first three days.
 
“The UAE will observe a forty-day national mourning with the flag flown at half-mast starting today, the ministry announced, adding that work will be suspended at all ministries, departments, and federal, local and private entities for three days.”

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A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, has granted the embattled governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Farah Dagogo, bail.
 
The High Court judge presiding over Dagogo’s case, Justice E. Obile, granted him the bail on the basis of fundamental rights and ex parte application sought by his legal representatives, The PUNCH reports.

Announcing the court’s ruling, Justice Obile ordered the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Friday Eboka, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal and Investigation Department, the Deputy Superintendent of Police, the state’s Attorney General and Chief Magistrate, Amadi Nna, to release the plaintiff from police detention and restore his personal liberty.
 
Justice Obile further issued an order of interim injunction to the police, the commandant of the Government House, DSP Efeturi Irikefe, the fourth respondent, the state Attorney General, Chief Magistrate A. I. Amadi Nna and all the respondents, restraining them from further instigating, threatening, harassing and invading the personal liberty of Dagogo.
 
Also, Justice Obile in his ruling ordered the respondents to desist from further actions that could obstruct or hinder Dagogo from attending his governorship screening during PDP primaries and any other electoral processes in the state.
 
Speaking shortly after the court proceedings, Dagogo’s lead lawyer, Innocent Ekwe said the police brought a letter from the office of the DCR to the Federal High Court, confirming and verifying the order and warrant which admitted the plaintiff to bail.
 
“That verification has just been done. Our client is now to be released by the Commissioner of Police,” Ekwe said.
 
He explained that he filed an application for his client's bail and it was heard and determined, and the terms of the bail have been fulfilled, leading to the court’s ruling.
 
Dagogo, who is a House of Representatives member representing Degema-Bonny Federal Constituency, was arrested in April after Governor Nyesom Wike declared him wanted.
 
Speaking on the outcome of the court ruling, Barrister Ekwe said that the PDP knows the consequences of not giving Dagogo an opportunity to be screened as a governorship aspirant in the state.
 
He said, “And the fact that he was not screened due to the fact that he was abducted from the venue. We promptly write to the party informing them of the scenario and asking them to give him another fate for him to be screened.
 
“And we know the party will screen him now that he has been given bail because the party knows the consequences of excluding him unlawfully. The people who are pursuing prosecution may wish to continue, but we have filed a preliminary objection challenging the information as incompetent and has been politically motivated.”

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Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River state has sacked the paramount ruler of Calabar south council, Itam Hogan Itam for attending a meeting organised by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
 
Mr. Itam had reportedly attended a meeting of the Cross River South Senatorial District PDP caucus.

The PDP at the meeting presided over by the former Cross River Governor, Donald Duke, reportedly endorsed the Chancellor of Arthur Jarvis University, Arthur Jarvis as a consensus governorship candidate of the party for the 2023 general elections.
 
Itam’s attendance at the meeting was said to have violated the Cross River State traditional edict. He was therefore accused of meddling in politics.
 
In a letter signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Chieftaincy Affairs, Adoga Victor, Governor Ayade directed Itam to immediately return the certificate of recognition to the state’s department of chieftaincy affairs in the governor’s office.
 
The letter dated May 11 and quoted by TheCable read, “Following the report of the panel set up by the Cross River State Traditional Rulers Council (CRSTRC) and the approval of His Excellency, you have been removed as the village head, clan head of Ukem and paramount ruler of Efuts with immediate effect to enable you go ahead to do your partisan politics,” the letter reads.
 
“You have therefore ceased to be so recognised and cannot operate as such forthwith.”

Ayade who became the governor on the platform of the PDP later defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) where he is currently among the party's presidential aspirants.
 
However, Ayade was recently quoted as saying he would step down for former President Goodluck Jonathan if he (Jonathan) secures the APC presidential ticket.

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CJN Tanko before the Senate

In 2007, while giving one of his rulings, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad (then as Justice of the Supreme Court), stated categorically certain conditions before a defendant could be liable for the offence of blasphemy under Sharia in Nigeria.
According to the head of the judicial arm of the government, the rule in Islam is that the defendant must be a mentally fit and mature Muslim before Sharia decree could be applied to them for the offence of blasphemy within the area of jurisdiction.

CJN Tanko before the Senate Punchng

Justice Tanko made this verdict in the case of Abubakar Dan Shalla v. State (2007) LPELR-3034 (SC) where it was alleged that a group of persons, including the appellant, had stated that one Abdullar Alhaji Umaru (now deceased) made certain remarks which were insulting to Prophet Muhammed (S.A.W.) and that the deceased ought to be killed as prescribed in the Holy Quran for making the alleged remarks.
They went in search of the deceased, laid their hands on him and slaughtered him with a knife. The incident was reported to the police on July 14, 1999. The appellant and five other persons were arrested for killing the deceased.
Muhammad had said: "The trite position of law under Sharia is that any sane and adult Muslim, who insults defames or utters words or acts which are capable of bringing into disrepute, odium contempt, the person of Holy Prophet Mohammed (SAW) such a person has committed a serious crime which is punishable by death. See Alkhursi, commentary on Mukhasar Al-khalil Vol. 8 page 70, Hashiyatul vol. 2 page 290.
“However as observed by the court below, Islamic law has not left the killing open in the hands of private individuals. The offence alleged has to be established through evidence before a court of law. The court itself will have to implore its professional dexterity in treating the case by allowing fair hearing and excluding all the inadmissible evidence or those persons who may fall within the general exemption clause such as infant, imbecile or those who suffer mental delusion.
“Thus the killing is controlled and sanctioned by the authorities..... The law will thus, [would] have set a dangerous precedence if private individuals were authorized to take law into their hands as the appellant and others did in this case Sharia guarantees and values the sanctity and dignity of human life. That is why it outlaws unlawful killing of human life..."


Meanwhile, something similar to the 2007 Dan Shalla's case was what happened in Sokoto on Thursday, but the victim, Deborah Samuel, was a Christian. 
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that Ms Deborah, a female Christian student, was killed and burnt on Thursday by her fellow students for allegedly insulting against Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
The Sokoto State police command on Thursday confirmed the arrest of two students suspected to be involved in the killing of a female student.
 

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Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, promised to help South Sudan fight insurgency and restore cohesion to the country.
Buhari made the promise amid the prevailing insecurity that is threatening the corporate existence of Nigeria.

The President spoke when he received in audience Hon. Albino Mathom Ayuel, Special Envoy of President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan.
 
He told the Special Envoy about the situation his administration met on the ground in the North East in 2015, and that his administration had improved the situation.
 
“We will study your situation, and see how we can help,” President Buhari said.
 
The Special Envoy had intimated his host about the situation in his country, particularly how an insurgent group, “just like your Boko Haram here kills, maims and destroys.” He then appealed for “close collaboration on security, particularly the training of our forces, since you have experience in this area.”
 
Mr Albino Ayuel said South Sudan was keen on ending the insurgent activities, “hence this appeal to our big brother.”
 
Meanwhile, SaharaReporters had reported on Wednesday how seven soldiers, including senior officers were gruesomely murdered in Taraba State when Boko Haram terrorists ambushed their convoy.

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The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has condemned the gruesome murder of Deborah, a 200-level Home Economics student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto State.
 
The female student was mauled, killed and burnt on Thursday by a mob of Muslim youths who accused her of blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad.
 
The young lady’s killers posted videos of their actions on social media, attracting public outrage and condemnation.
 
While the Sokoto State Police Command, on Thursday, confirmed the arrest of two students suspected to be involved in Deborah's death, the Christian Association of Nigeria has called on the government and security agencies to ensure the prosecution of the culprits.
 
A statement from the General Secretary, Joseph Daramola, reads, “The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) condemns in strong terms the gruesome murder of a Christian, 200 Level student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, Deborah Samuel by some extremist fellow students on alleged blasphemy.
“The unlawful and dastardly action of the perpetrators must not only be condemned by all right-thinking people but the security operatives must fish them out, prosecute them as it is expected of them.
“It is the failure of the security agencies and the government to rise up to such criminalities in the past that gave birth to terrorists and bandits. And as long as the state fails to bring these beasts and criminals amidst us to justice, so also the society will continue to be their killing fields.”
CAN commended the swift reaction of the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar who condemned the criminal action and also called on the security agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice.
 
The Christian body noted that it is looking up to Governor Aminu Tambuwal to ensure that the matter is not swept under the carpet.
 
“We also call on all teachers and preachers of religious intolerance, extremism and terrorism to repent before the wrath of God descends on them if the state failed to bring them to justice. They are agents of death amidst us.
 
“We recall the provocative and demeaning advertisement of the Sterling Bank where the bank compared the Resurrection of Jesus Christ to ‘Agege bread’, up till now, nobody was attacked and even the CAN leadership has accepted the apology tendered by its Chief Executive, Abubakar Suleiman.
“Killing for any God in the name of blasphemy is ungodly, satanic, foolish, reprehensible and totally unacceptable. This is not a Stone Age and Nigeria is not the Banana Republic. Nigeria remains a non-religious state where no religion is supreme to the other.
“We acknowledge and commend the restraint of the Christian students of the College who refused to embrace self-help and reprisals against those who murdered their colleague.
“It is our prayers that those vampires in religious garments will not push the country to a religious war. This is why both the government and the security agencies must stop treating them with kid gloves. Enough is enough.
“CAN commiserates with the family of Deborah and other bereaved. May God console and comfort them in Jesus’ Name.
 
“Thanks to many other Nigerians who condemned this heinous crime. It was quite an unfortunate development in 21st century Nigeria."
 

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The Director of The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Professor Ishaq Akintola has criticised the killing of a student, Deborah Samuel, over alleged blasphemy in Sokoto on Thursday.
This was circulated in a statement released on Friday, May 13, 2022. Through the statement, the MURIC leader regarded the murder as horrible and without legal justification.

The statement reads: "A female student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, Deborah Samuel, was on Thursday killed for allegedly blaspheming against the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The blaspheme statement was reportedly posted on a WhatsApp group.
“She was asked to withdraw the statement but she allegedly refused to do so. The school’s security unit and police were overwhelmed by the crowd when they tried to rescue her.
“MURIC strongly condemns this killing and all others that have been happening in Nigeria in recent times. Those aggrieved by the student’s post should have reported her to the security agencies or the Shariah police, the hisbah. Mob killing is archaic and bohemian. It belongs to the Stone Age. Nobody has the right to take the law into his hands. 
“The Glorious Qur’an compares the killing of a single person to the killing of the whole of humanity just as it compares the saving of life to the rescue of all homo sapiens (Qur’an 5:32) In like manner, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) himself condemned all acts of violence and advocated peaceful conduct at all times.
 
“But this incident should not be condemned in isolation. The recent trend whereby Nigerians now freely shed their brothers' blood should be condemned by all patriots. In this regard, we also strongly denounce the killing of several Northern Muslims in the South East in the past few months.
“We frown on the recent burning last week of a truck fully loaded with cows in the South East as well as the killing of many Muslims of South-East origin by their Igbo brothers in the same South East. We note with keen interest that Muslims in the North did not retaliate when these killings were taking place.
 “MURIC calls on the Sokoto Police Command to do everything within its power to get to the bottom of yesterday's killing of the female student over alleged blasphemy. We appeal to members of the public to remain calm and law-abiding. Nigerians should allow the police to carry out their investigations on the case. The Sokoto Police Command has started well as it already has two suspects in detention for the killing.
“Meanwhile we remind Nigerians to always exercise restraint on matters of religion. Free speech is no longer free if it amounts to religious provocation. Even the European Court has ruled that the utterance of derisive statements against the prophet of any religion is a crime.
“We affirm clearly, categorically and unequivocally that there is a symbiotic relationship between provocation, violence and extremism. While MURIC will not condone extremism and violence, the anatomy of terrorism is becoming clearer day by day. We must all ponder over the causal-effect theory. Violence and terrorism are mere symptoms. The real disease is a provocation. Violence and terrorism are mere smoke. Provocation is the fire and we all know that there is no smoke without fire.
 
“We, therefore, appeal to Nigerians to desist from insulting, deriding or abusing the prophets of other religions. Muslims should continue to respect Jesus (peace be upon him) whom the Christians hold very dear. In the same vein, Christians should avoid casting aspersion on the person of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). We have experienced enough religious crises in the land," the statement added.
MURIC is an Islamic human rights organisation.
 

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