Family members of passengers abducted by terrorists from the Abuja-Kaduna train on March 28, 2022, have written to the Office of the National Security Adviser, urging the government to establish a channel of communication with them.

The aggrieved relatives said the Nigerian government had no representative who communicated with them, regarding the status of their loved ones who are currently in captivity.

The letter signed on behalf of the families by Alhaji Aliyu Mahmood, Idayat Yusuf, Aminu Othma and Dr. Baabs Muhammed was addressed to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno on Monday.

It reads, “We the families of victims of the Nigerian Railway Corporation train attack AK9 departing from Abuja on 28th of March 2022 to Rigasa Kaduna have come together on behalf of the victims that are in captivity.

“We write to express our concern that there is no representation from the government to communicate with us on the status of our loved ones. Even though we know the information may be of confidential nature, families need to be reassured and be carried along in a safe manner to ensure their release from captivity safely.

“We humbly request your facilitation to ensure that the Federal Government is in touch with the victims’ families.”

SaharaReporters had on Tuesday reported that the terrorists who attacked an Abuja-Kaduna train about a month ago released a picture of the male passengers kidnapped from the train.

The gunmen had on March 28 ambushed the train heading for Kaduna from the nation’s capital city after bombing its rail track.

The terrorists earlier released a photograph showing the kidnapped female passengers alongside little children.

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Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, met with members of the business community and the leadership of political parties at an Iftar dinner organised by the President in Abuja.

Buhari urged all political parties in the country to keep elections and election-related differences aside and join his administration’s drive to defeat insecurity which he described as a ‘‘common enemy’’ bedevilling the country.

Muhammadu Buhari

He said, “Without mass, popular support to our hardworking Armed Forces, it will take us much longer to finish off the successful war we are waging against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping. Our country must be kept safe for progress and prosperity to be entrenched.

‘‘I look forward to seeing the reflection of this spirit in the relationship between the parties and the government, especially as the electioneering season will soon be upon us.”

The President said the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had tremendous success at its meeting last week, stating that the party will continue to push for the creation of democratic principles at all levels.

He added, “Today, we can proudly say that we have a political system that allows political parties of all views and persuasions, reflecting the diversity of our nation to co-exist, and contest for elections at all levels of government without fear or institutional bias and pressure.”

Buhari also boasted that his administration had done exceedingly well in improving the business climate, urging the private sector to complement the government’s effort in poverty reduction and job creation for the young people.

He said, “No administration has done as much as we have done in the creation of a climate best suited for business, big and small, to thrive. The ease of doing business index that is globally recognized has acknowledged that the ease with which business is carried out in the country has never been better than it is today. We will continue to make it better.

“We’ll equally continue to count on the support of the private sector to improve economic growth and create new job opportunities for our teeming population. Employment is critical to the stability and prosperity of our country. Government and the private sector, working together, have an opportunity to transform the lives of people in ways that was hard to imagine in the past.”

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Two Nigerian Army personnel have been killed by Improvised Explosive Device planted by terrorists in an ambush in Katsina State.

SaharaReporters learnt that other soldiers also sustained various degrees of injuries while a patrol vehicle conveying the troops was burnt.

The deceased were identified as Salami Dare (12NA/68/5958) and Hayatudeen Armayau (18NA/77/0055).

The soldiers were said to be on a special operation at Kaiga community when one of their vehicles stepped over the planted IED.

A military signal obtained by SaharaReporters on Wednesday also confirmed the incident.

The signal read, “At about 250820A Apr 22. own ptl team from Cbt 1 in Danmusa LGA of katsina state move from Mara- Kaiga were ambushed by bandits aided with IED at Kaiga (12°18'16" N 7° 13' 48" E) within Danmusa LGA. Own cas KIA 2, 12NA/68/5958 LCp Salami Dare and 18NA/77/0055 pte Hayatudeen Armayau. Eqpt cas. 1X AK 47 Rifle and 1 HK21.

“The KIA and the WIA were evacuated to BMC Katsina. The EOD was drafted to the area to scan, however no other IED was found.”

Katsina, despite being the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari, has witnessed sporadic attacks by bandits and kidnappers that have claimed the lives of many.

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Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed Tuesday there is an “ongoing threat” against past and present American officials by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,

This is coming just weeks after reports revealed the State Department is paying millions of dollars to protect former Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, from threats.

Blinken acknowledged details made public last month in a sensitive State Department report, while testifying before a Senate panel, that outlined a security arrangement for the former secretary involving round-the-clock government protection.

“I’m not sure what I can say in an open setting, but let me say generically that there is an ongoing threat against American officials, both present and past,” Blinken said. “We are making sure, and we will make sure for as long as it takes that we’re protecting our people, present and former if they’re under threat.”

Pompeo, a former U.S. secretary of state and CIA director under President Donald Trump, was one of the architects of the Trump administration’s hard-line approach to Tehran, re-implementing sanctions after the U.S. withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal and supporting the assassination of Qassem Soleimani, a top Iranian general.

All former secretaries of state automatically receive protection from the State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security for 180 days after leaving office.

According to the report, Blinken has repeatedly extended that protection for 60-day increments due to “a serious and credible threat from a foreign power or agent of a foreign power arising from duties performed by former Secretary Pompeo while employed by the department,” according to the sensitive State Department report to Congress last month.

The department is said to be spending over $2million per month to protect Pompeo and one of his top former aides, Brian Hook, and has spent over $13million to date, according to the report.

Blinken was responding to questioning from Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who asked the secretary whether the Biden administration was requiring Iran to pledge “not to murder a former secretary of state.”

“They know what they’d need to do to address this problem, and that’s pretty straightforward,” Blinken said. “Within the context of any engagements we have, directly or indirectly with Iranians, one of the strong messages we send to them is, they need to stop targeting our people — period.”

The State Department did not respond to a request for additional comment. A representative of Pompeo did not provide comment.

The Biden administration has been concerned with the threats against Pompeo and Hook since January.

“Make no mistake: the United States of America will protect and defend its citizens,” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said at the time. “As Americans, we have our disagreements on politics. We have our disagreements on Iran policy. But we are united in our resolve against threats and provocations. We are united in the defence of our people.”

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United States Defence Secretary, Lloyd Austin, expressed sharp criticism, on Tuesday, going by a warning from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov regarding a pending World War III and the possible use of nuclear weapons.

“You’ve heard us say a number of times that that kind of rhetoric is very dangerous and unhelpful,” Austin said following an international conference on supplying weapons to Ukraine held at the U.S. airbase in Ramstein, Germany.

“Nobody wants to see a nuclear war happen. Dangerous rhetoric is clearly unhelpful. And something that we won’t engage in.”

Speaking on Monday, Lavrov said the danger was real and should not be underestimated. He compared the current situation to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

After the Ramstein meeting that drew in some 40 countries, Austin said that an international contact group to support Ukraine’s military would meet monthly in the future.

“The contact group will be a vehicle for nations of goodwill to intensify efforts, coordinate assistance and focus on winning today’s fight and the struggles to come,” he said.

The goal is to provide long-term military support to Ukraine beyond the current crisis. Austin welcomed Germany’s “major decision” to support Ukraine with armoured anti-aircraft systems.

The transfer of 50 of the Cheetah vehicles, known as Gepards in German, marked a “significant” step that brings important additional capabilities to Ukraine, he said.

“We are all determined to help Ukraine win today and build strength tomorrow,” he said, describing the meeting as “an important session on long-term support for Ukraine’s defences, including what that will take from our defence industrial bases.”

The U.S. Department of Defence made clear that the conference was not under NATO auspices. Non-members were among those attending.

Many representatives participated via video.

Speaking at the airbase, German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht said Ukrainian soldiers were to be trained to use artillery systems on German soil.

President Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine meant that Russia had “taken its leave of the circle of civilised nations,” she said.

The situation remained dire in Ukraine on Tuesday, with officials reporting multiple dead and wounded across the country due to continuing Russian attacks.

The Russian military claimed it had captured the entire southern region of Kherson and made territorial gains in eastern areas. It also said it had destroyed four Ukrainian ammunition depots in the Slovyansk area through airstrikes.

According to the Ukrainian account on Tuesday evening, there has been little change in Russian attacks or gains in eastern Ukraine.

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Former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, has opened up on why the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, government failed in its attempt to remove him from office.

Saraki who spoke in Calabar on Tuesday during a consultative forum with the People’s Democratic Party delegates as well as other party members said he had the capacity to hold people together, Vanguard reports.

The ex-governor of Kwara State who came to canvas support from PDP delegates ahead of the presidential primaries scheduled for May 2022 assured Nigerians that he was prepared and capable to lead the country into a better future if given the opportunity to lead.

He said, “We are inching into a failing state, cost of living has skyrocketed, unemployment is high; we don’t have the luxury to let emotion define who leads us today. We don’t have the luxury of saying I will vote for him because we speak the same language or we practise the same religion, Nigeria needs a president who is a team player.

“I will leave Nigeria a better country than I met it, if given the opportunity to serve. As we speak, Nigeria spends 80 percent of its revenue to service debt; there is no way we can develop as a country with this kind of indices.

“I have held people together before in the Senate, the reason their ploy to remove me failed was because I related very well with my colleagues, people I worked with even in such a hostile environment, I stood my ground; they wanted to borrow, we need a president who can afford to hold everyone together as well as stand his ground on the right policies that will move us forward.”

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Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday made a veiled reference to his boss, President Muhammadu Buhari, saying he (Osinbajo) if elected into power will not spend two years trying to understand the country but will “hit the ground running.” 

He said this on Tuesday while addressing his supporters during a visit to Ogun state.

Osinbajo, who is seeking the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said he is fully prepared to take a shot at the presidency.

“After all I have learnt, if called upon to serve the nation, should I say no? I have decided that I will run for the office,” he said.

“I have sworn an oath to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is an oath to our people; our children and the future of Nigeria. I owe nobody else any allegiance outside the oath.”

He said his experience serving under President Muhammadu Buhari has provided him with enough experience to take over the reins of power in 2023.

Osinbajo said if elected into office as president, he will “hit the ground running from day one”.

“After I was appointed as vice-president, I had the unique opportunity of serving under President Muhammadu Buhari, who exposed me to practically every aspect of governance. He exposed me to various things in government, and I had the opportunity to serve as acting president on several occasions,” he said.

“I know that governing at a high level requires some experience. And after a period of seven-and-a-half years of working as vice-president, seeing what many people have never seen, being able to participate at both local and international levels of governance, I know that God didn’t provide those opportunities simply so that I’ll go and sit down and write my memoir. No. God does not make mistakes. He provided those opportunities such that one day, I will be called upon to serve in a higher capacity — to serve as president.

“The opportunity to do so is an important one. And let nobody tell us any stories. The truth of the matter is that everywhere where I have served, I’ve served with utmost loyalty, commitment. I have put my reputation on the line — sometimes, even life. There is nowhere that those I served will not say I put in everything to make sure they succeed.

“With utmost humility, it is now evident that if there is anybody, any candidate, or aspirant, who on day one can hit the ground running, who on day one knows what to do, who will not spend another two years trying to decide what to do, that person is your son, Oluyemi Osinbajo. That is the objective truth.”

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Zenith Bank Plc has emerged as the Best Bank in Nigeria in the Global Finance Magazine’s Best Banks Awards 2022, retaining the award for a third consecutive year. The Bank was among other banks from 36 countries in Africa recognised as the prestigious Global Finance announced its 29th Annual Best Bank Awards Winners.

The editors of Global Finance made the selections after extensive consultations with corporate financial executives, bankers and banking consultants, and analysts worldwide. Global Finance considered factors that ranged from the quantitative objective to the informed subjective in selecting the top banks. Objective criteria considered included: growth in assets, profitability, geographic reach, strategic relationships, new business development and innovation in products. Subjective criteria included the opinions of equity analysts, credit rating analysts, banking consultants and others involved in the industry.

Commenting on the award, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank, Mr Ebenezer Onyeagwu said: “This award is a testament to our tenacity despite a very challenging macroeconomic environment. Indeed, being recognised, for the third consecutive year, is an acknowledgement of the resilience of the Zenith brand as the leading financial institution in Nigeria.” He lauded the contributions and efforts of the Bank's key stakeholders – the Founder and Chairman, Jim Ovia, CON, for his pioneering role in building the structures and laying the foundation for an enduring and successful institution, the Board for the outstanding leadership they provide, the staff for their commitment and dedication as well as the Bank’s customers for their unwavering loyalty and support.

Global Finance’s “Best Banks Awards” are recognised amongst the world’s most influential banking/finance and corporate professionals as the most coveted and credible awards in the banking industry, with winners chosen in 150 countries and territories across Africa, AsiaPacific, the Caribbean, Central America, Central & Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, North America and Western Europe.

Founded in 1987, Global Finance regularly selects the top performers among banks and other financial services providers, and the awards have become a trusted standard of excellence for the global financial community. Joseph D. Giarraputo, publisher and editorial director of Global Finance, said: "With the financial world in a state of turmoil from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, corporate leaders face a new set of challenges concerning the choice of their banking relationships." According to him, "following on the enormous difficulties wrought by the pandemic, these changes demand increased attention to global commercial relationships. Our awards support decision-makers in selecting the best financial partners.”

Zenith Bank's track record of excellent performance has earned the brand numerous awards, including being voted as Best Commercial Bank in Nigeria in the World Finance Banking Awards 2021, Best Bank in Nigeria in the Global Finance World's Best Banks Awards 2020 and 2021, Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in The Banker's Bank of the Year Awards 2020, and Best in Corporate Governance 'Financial Services' Africa 2020 and 2021 by the Ethical Boardroom. Also, the Bank emerged as the Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria in the Banker Magazine Top 500 Banking Brands 2020 and 2021, Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital in the "2021 Top 1000 World Banks" Ranking by The Banker Magazine and the Retail Bank of the year at the BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BOFI) Awards 2020 and 2021.

Similarly, Zenith Bank was honoured as Bank of the Decade (People's Choice) at the ThisDay Awards 2020 and emerged winner in four categories at the Sustainability, Enterprise, and Responsibility (SERAS) Awards 2021, carting home the awards for "Best Company in Reporting and Transparency", "Best Company in Infrastructure Development", "Best Company in Gender Equality and Women Empowerment", and the coveted "Most Responsible Organisation in Africa.

 

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Zenith Bank Plc has emerged as the Best Bank in Nigeria in the Global Finance Magazine’s Best Banks Awards 2022, retaining the award for a third consecutive year. The Bank was among other banks from 36 countries in Africa recognised as the prestigious Global Finance announced its 29th Annual Best Bank Awards Winners.

The editors of Global Finance made the selections after extensive consultations with corporate financial executives, bankers and banking consultants, and analysts worldwide. Global Finance considered factors that ranged from the quantitative objective to the informed subjective in selecting the top banks. Objective criteria considered included: growth in assets, profitability, geographic reach, strategic relationships, new business development and innovation in products. Subjective criteria included the opinions of equity analysts, credit rating analysts, banking consultants and others involved in the industry.

Commenting on the award, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank, Mr Ebenezer Onyeagwu said: “This award is a testament to our tenacity despite a very challenging macroeconomic environment. Indeed, being recognised, for the third consecutive year, is an acknowledgement of the resilience of the Zenith brand as the leading financial institution in Nigeria.” He lauded the contributions and efforts of the Bank's key stakeholders – the Founder and Chairman, Jim Ovia, CON, for his pioneering role in building the structures and laying the foundation for an enduring and successful institution, the Board for the outstanding leadership they provide, the staff for their commitment and dedication as well as the Bank’s customers for their unwavering loyalty and support.

Global Finance’s “Best Banks Awards” are recognised amongst the world’s most influential banking/finance and corporate professionals as the most coveted and credible awards in the banking industry, with winners chosen in 150 countries and territories across Africa, AsiaPacific, the Caribbean, Central America, Central & Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, North America and Western Europe.

Founded in 1987, Global Finance regularly selects the top performers among banks and other financial services providers, and the awards have become a trusted standard of excellence for the global financial community. Joseph D. Giarraputo, publisher and editorial director of Global Finance, said: "With the financial world in a state of turmoil from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, corporate leaders face a new set of challenges concerning the choice of their banking relationships." According to him, "following on the enormous difficulties wrought by the pandemic, these changes demand increased attention to global commercial relationships. Our awards support decision-makers in selecting the best financial partners.”

Zenith Bank's track record of excellent performance has earned the brand numerous awards, including being voted as Best Commercial Bank in Nigeria in the World Finance Banking Awards 2021, Best Bank in Nigeria in the Global Finance World's Best Banks Awards 2020 and 2021, Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in The Banker's Bank of the Year Awards 2020, and Best in Corporate Governance 'Financial Services' Africa 2020 and 2021 by the Ethical Boardroom. Also, the Bank emerged as the Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria in the Banker Magazine Top 500 Banking Brands 2020 and 2021, Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital in the "2021 Top 1000 World Banks" Ranking by The Banker Magazine and the Retail Bank of the year at the BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BOFI) Awards 2020 and 2021.

Similarly, Zenith Bank was honoured as Bank of the Decade (People's Choice) at the ThisDay Awards 2020 and emerged winner in four categories at the Sustainability, Enterprise, and Responsibility (SERAS) Awards 2021, carting home the awards for "Best Company in Reporting and Transparency", "Best Company in Infrastructure Development", "Best Company in Gender Equality and Women Empowerment", and the coveted "Most Responsible Organisation in Africa.

 

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Fifty bodies of victims of Friday’s illegal refinery explosion in Imo State have been buried in mass graves.

They were buried yesterday in Abaezi forest in Abacheke Kpofire community of Ohaji Egbema council in the state.

Speaking at the grave site, chairman of the council, Marcel Amadioha, said only 50 victims who could not be identified were given mass burial.

The exercise was witnessed by security agents and officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

Over 130 people died in the blast, some reports claimed. The victims were buried, at about 5pm, in three graves dug by locals.

Journalists and security agents waited for more than six hours for the arrival of health officials who were expected to fumigate the area after the bodies were collected from various spots where the fire caught them as they fled from the raging inferno.

A youth leader, Ben Marcus, said some of the victims were identified by their relatives and allowed to carry them for burial.

He urged the government to provide employment for the teeming youths of the community to dissuade them from getting involved in such illegal and risky business.

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The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Tuesday declared that the state would support Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s presidential bid.

The governor had been in dilemma over who to support between Osinbajo and former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu.

Meanwhile, both Osinbajo and Tinubu were instrumental to Abiodun’s victory when he battled former Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s anointed candidate, Abdulkabir Akinlade in the last election.

Insiders said the duo expects loyalty and support from the governor who is now in dilemma.

Also, his cabinet members are divided as some are backing Osinbajo’s bid while others are in firm support of Tinubu.

A source close to the cabinet, however, told Daily Trust that Abiodun had not given a directive to his aides on who to support between Tinubu and Osinbajo.

But Abiodun on Tuesday said Ogun would back Osinbajo, an indigene of the state from Ikenne in Ikenne LGA.

He said the support would enable him to continue with some of the laudable projects of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led’s administration.

Speaking at a stakeholder meeting with the VP held at the Akarigbo Palace Sagamu, the Alake Palace in Abeokuta and the Presidential Lodge, Ibara, Abeokuta, as well as the Palace of Olu of Ilaro and Paramount ruler of Yewaland, Abiodun said Osinbajo in the last seven years, had contributed to the many successes recorded by the federal government, noting “He is eminently qualified to lead the country.”

The governor, who extolled the VP’s academic exploit, recalled how he stood behind his gubernatorial election and described him as a man who is interested in fairness, justice, equity and the rule of law.

In his speech, the VP said he was not in the state to campaign, but to inform his people of his intention to run for the office of the president.

Osinbajo said he had consulted widely across all sections of the society, including with President Muhammadu Buhari before he threw his hat into the ring to succeed his boss.

Recounting his contributions to the present federal government, Osinbajo said he was actively involved in the judiciary reforms and its repositioning to work optimally and ensure that judges are adequately enumerated.

The paramount ruler of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, in his remarks, posited that the vice president was competent with the required qualification to lead the nation, observing that his performance as the acting president is there for all to see.

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The Delta State chapter of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest against the state Head of Service, (HoS), Reginald Bayoko, for allegedly imposing leaders on them.
They also accused Bayoko of using some persons to cause disunity in the association.

The protesting senior civil servants displayed placards with different inscriptions such as, "We want election not imposition", "Justice must prevail", "Our amiable roadmaster, we need election," among others.
They described the head of service as an interloper who does not have respect for the rule of law and fundamental legal principles.
According to the protesters, Tuesday's protest was triggered by a letter and publication from the offices of the directorate of establishment and pension, and the head of service concerning the association's 5th quadrennial delegates conference.
It relates to a case between the association and a group of persons allegedly being forced on the association by Bayoko. 
In a protest letter addressed to the state governor, signed by some leaders of the association namely Emmanuel Egodo, Promise Obi, Lucky Iriferi, Robinson Omonigjo and Charles Isiayei, the protesters accused the head of service of forcing one Bolum on them.
The letter said, "An emergency meeting was held on April 26, 2022, by the caretaker committee, units chairmen and their secretaries as a result of the letter/publication from the office of the directorate of establishment and pension and office of the head of service concerning the 5th quadrennial delegates conference.
"In total disregard to the existing fundamental legal principle of 'subjudice', the head of service made a publication dated April 22, 2022, which is tantamount to mocking the judicial system, a manifest disrespect to a competent court and sabotage to the course of justice which you strongly defend and uphold.
 
"On this note, we want to humbly solicit that the Attorney General should confirm that the content of the letter/publication made by the head of service was not strictly on his advice as the honourable commissioner for justice of Delta state whom we believe represents the epitome of justice, equity and fair play.
 
"Your Excellency sir, the head of service who ought to play the role of the father in the matter has taken sides with Comrade Martin Bolum that was not elected and has chosen to feed the government with wrong information. Furthermore, to the foregoing sir, the action of the head of service shows that he is the one fuelling the crisis of the association in the state."
Addressing the protesters, the state information commissioner, Charles Aniagwu, commended the association for the peaceful manner they conducted themselves and assured them that the governor will look into their grievances.

 

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The Bengaluru police have arrested two Nigerians and a Ghanaian for allegedly creating fake websites mimicking that of various city hospitals and luring prospective kidney donors for transplants with fake advertisements offering up to Rs 4 crore (about N217 million).
 
The arrested persons have been identified as Matthew Innocent, Matthew Miracle from Nigeria and Collins from Ghana. When prospective donors contacted them, they made them pay lakhs of rupees upfront in the name of various charges such as registration fees and later cut contact, Indian Express reports.
 
The incident came to light when the medical director of Sagar Hospitals filed a complaint with the southeast division CEN (cyber economics & narcotic crimes) police station, saying that some miscreants had launched a website in the name of their hospital.
While Sagar hospitals website was sagarhospitals.in, the website created was sagarhospital.site, said the police.
 
The police found the accused in an apartment at the Amruthahalli police station limits. Upon interrogation, they found out that Innocent and Miracle had arrived in India on student visas and those had expired. Collins is in India on a business visa, the police said.
 
“The accused created fake bank accounts in the name of multiple hospitals in the city. However, when checked, there was no money in these accounts. We found out that the money was transferred to other accounts and we are probing. We have taken court permission to go through their digital wallets and other accounts. Presently, they are in judicial custody,” the police said.

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Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State have frowned on what they described as excessive borrowing by the state governor, Seyi Makinde, who is a member of their party.
A former deputy governor in the state, Alhaji Azeem Gbolarunmi, who addressed a press conference along with other party stalwarts said they are worried about how to campaign for the party in 2023.

At the press conference in Ibadan, the state capital, on Tuesday said, Gbolarunmi said, "The governor's excessive borrowings keep getting huge, and all of these are contrary to the major vision of supporting his candidature in the first place."
SaharaReporters reports that the Nigerian Debt Management Office (DMO) in March said Oyo State’s foreign debt stood at $85.27 million (N35.46 billion) while domestic debt was N142.56 billion as of December 31, 2021.
 
Gbolarunmi said, "It is established that one of the major political objectives of the PDP, which is to provide good governance that ensures probity and participatory democracy, and which guarantees human rights and fundamental freedoms of all person resident within the state, has not been fulfilled, despite all proposed interventions by stakeholders of the party.
"Some of the expected achievements from the governor, by members and elders of the Oyo State PDP that worked assiduously for him to be elected on the platforms of PDP, he has grossly disappointed them on, particularly, economy, insecurity, education, agriculture, healthcare, rule of law, the entrenchment of democracy, etc.
“Engr. Seyi Makinde never wanted to relate to the PDP platforms for deliberations and suggestions on how to move Oyo State. forward, to the credit of the state.
 
"He’d rather decided to run the state and the party singularly, particularly to discredit the party and all the well-meaning people that offered their unreserved support and labour. The scandal deliberately smeared on the party leaders and members was that they were all aggrieved because he did not open the treasury for them!”
He added, “Meanwhile, the governor's excessive borrowings keep getting huge, and all of these are contrary to the major vision of supporting his candidature in the first place.
"Another major political objective of the party expected in Oyo State is using political power for securing the state. Many members and elders of the party are at present, also feeling quite unsafe in the state, as there had been various attacks on some members of the party, either at events venues or their residences.
“Whereas, the National PDP frowns on any form of recruitment, engaging, or sponsoring. encouraging or funding thugs or terrorists in whatever form, the Party stakeholders, therefore, do express dissatisfaction with the efforts of the governor. Not promoting the established political stability within the Party nor fostering unity and integration among the members, and also not safeguarding our core values in PDP are other significant deliberate attempts of the Governor, to undermine the party in Oyo State.
 
"It has even been a public mockery on the Party that for almost the entire three-year tenure of the Governor, his Deputy, a man much older than him for that matter, has been treated with much disdain and relegation, all of which have been major concerns, displeasure, and sadness to the stakeholders in Oyo State PDP.
“Unfortunately, HE, the Governor has no iota of respect for wise counsels and suggestions from State Members and Leaders of the Party, meaning, the Governor has never been ready to promote and nurture democratic ideals and traditions of the Party on a sustainable basis. These can be corroborated by various Reconciliatory Teams that PDP National had set up at various times, solely to address all the internal problems of the Party, in Oyo State.
 
"Taking a cue from National PDP, the political objective of the Party in the state would have been, to offer equal opportunities to hold political offices, and protect, defend safeguard the interests of all members state, including the minorities. The Party also expected to promote geopolitical balancing as a principle of power-sharing, with principled character.
 

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A yet-to-be-identified young man was killed close to the Ali-Iwo family house of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, allegedly by members of the Motor Park Manager System (PMS) on Tuesday evening.
SaharaReporters learnt that the members of PMS were shooting indiscriminately while returning to Iwo Road motor park from the Challenge bus terminal, which had just been opened. It was learnt that a stray bullet hit the young man during the shooting by the trigger-happy members of the state road transport union, killing him on the spot. 

Our correspondent learnt that the killing led to a protest in the area as some youths trooped out to demonstrate against the killing of the young man and the violent activities of the PMS in the state.
Lamidi Mukaila, alias Auxiliary, is the leader of the state Motor Park Manager System.
A resident who simply identified himself as Solomon said; "They are Auxiliary boys. They have killed the young man. You can hear the sound of gunshots. This is terrible at this time."
Makinde was joined by his Edo State counterpart, Governor Godwin Obaseki, to inaugurate the Ojoo and Challenge Bus Terminals in Ibadan.
Governor Obaseki, who was the special guest of honour at the event, commended Makinde for delivering the two massive bus terminals among many others, despite the economic challenges in the country.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, also indicated that the Edo State governor equally lauded the people of the state for supporting Makinde.
Obaseki said: "Coming here today to see that my brother, His Excellency ‘Seyi Makinde, is commissioning two bus terminals and the quality of the structure, I am very proud of you.
“I am also surprised about how you got this land because during my days at the University of Ibadan, I used to go to IITA and I did not know you can get a big land like this here let alone build a good structure like this. We are truly proud of you.
“Listening to you speak a few minutes ago, I said to myself that, indeed, Nigeria still has hope. When we have people like you in government – people who make decisions not on emotions but on data and facts, people who make decisions that affect the majority of the people – we have hope."
According to Governor Makinde, the terminals will be managed through the public-private-
partnership system and in a sustainable manner.
He said: "Today is an exciting day, and I am delighted to be here, joined by my brother, His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki. I want to especially thank His Excellency for journeying down from Edo State to be with us on this day as we commission two of the four bus terminals that we embarked on building about two years ago.
"One of the things we knew Ibadan needed when we came into office was an effective transportation system. I remember how we went round and spoke to you, the good people of Oyo State, in 2019, just after we came into office. We made a case for having to demolish some buildings around here, and I thank you for listening to us then."

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Bruce Fein, the American counsel for the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has filed a petition against the Director-General of Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi, to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Fein, an international lawyer and spokesperson for Kanu, addressed the petition to Karim Khan, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, in The Hague.

The international lawyer asked the ICC to charge the head of Nigeria’s secret police with conspiracy, genocide, and crimes against humanity against Biafrans and their leader Nnamdi Kanu.
He alleged that Bichi knowingly part participated in the “protracted and systematic murder, extermination, starvation, denial of necessary medical care, arbitrary imprisonment, torture, rape, persecution based on political, religious, and ethnic grounds, industrial-scale theft of property, and protracted arbitrary detention and torture of Biafran leader Nnamdi Kanu”.
Fein said the Nigerian Government, after more than ten months of Kanu’s arbitrary detention, has yet to proffer a crumb of evidence implicating him in terrorism or violence.
“In October 2020, five human rights experts of the United Nations Human Rights Council asked President (Muhammadu) Buhari within 60 days to submit evidence of Mr. Kanu’s terrorism. Mr. Buhari sneered at the overture, probably reflecting, ‘Being a tyrant means you never need to obey the law,’” part of the document obtained by SaharaReporters on Tuesday said.
Kanu is being held by the Department of State Services (DSS) at its headquarters in Abuja, after the Nigerian government repatriated him from Kenya in June 2021, an action his lawyers termed “illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional extradition”.
He is standing trial on charges bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism before the Federal High Court, Abuja.
In the document, Fein further said, “In violation of Article 36, the British High Commissioner has been denied access to Nnamdi Kanu despite repeated requests of Nigerian authorities by both persons.
“Nigerian authorities have concealed material facts about Nnamdi Kanu’s kidnapping, torture, and extraordinary rendition in hiding behind a concocted cover story by Attorney General Malami that he was captured with the assistance of INTERPOL.
“For more than ten months, Nnamdi Kanu has been detained by Defendant Bichi in solitary confinement in extremely confined quarters and denied necessary medical care and legal counsel without a trial. The harsh conditions under which Nnamdi Kanu is subsisting satisfy the definition of torture under the Convention Against Torture, Article 1, paragraph 1. “Among other things, Defendant Bichi had withheld necessary and urgent medical care from Nnamdi Kanu. Defendant Bichi has drawn Nnamdi Kanu’s blood at least 21 times with no indicated medical reasons. Defendant Bichi has starved Nnamdi Kanu. Defendant Bichi has blocked visits from Nnamdi Kanu’s family.
“Defendant Bichi has also repeatedly prevented Nnamdi Kanu from meeting with his counsel of choice in violation of court orders or otherwise. Defendant Bichi has prohibited Nnamdi’s counsel from reading and writing materials necessary to prepare an adequate defense. Defendant Bichi has systematically violated confidential attorney-client communications between Nnamdi Kanu and his lawyers.
“The theory of Nnamdi Kanu’s indeterminate detention without trial is that Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is a terrorist organization, and that IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu has incited Biafrans to commit terrorist acts with broadcasts on Radio Biafra from London, UK. No evidence has been forthcoming in ten months to support the theory.
“In September 2017, IPOB was proscribed as a terrorist organization by a Nigerian court in an ex parte proceeding without notice or an opportunity to respond to the fact-free terrorism edict of co-conspirator Muhammadu Buhari. IPOB’s proscription has been denounced by five human rights experts of the United Nations Human Rights Council in a letter to a co-conspirator.
“Buhari on October 1, 2020: Fionnuala Ni Aolain, Special Rapporteur on promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism; Agnes Callamard, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; Clement Nyaletsossi Voule, Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceable assembly and of association; and, Fernand de Varennes, Special Rapporteur on minority issues.
“Among other things, the five human rights experts respectfully urged co-conspirator Buhari ‘to reconsider the proscription of IPOB as a terrorist group and address the legal concerns on the regulation of assembly, freedom of expression, and due process outlined in this communication.’”
Fein noted that experts had reminded Buhari that, “[p]ursuing minority rights protection or the recognition of the existence of a minority…or even calls for self-determination do not on their own amount to terrorist activities.”
“Indeed, United Nations General Assembly Resolution 49/151 reaffirmed ‘the importance of the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination…,’ a right fortified by Article 1 (1) of the ICCPR,” the document said.
According to the petition, the experts asked that within 60 days Buhari should detailed information about the rationale and justification for designating IPOB as a terrorist group and its activities as unlawful, among other things.
Fein noted that “nearly 20 months have elapsed since that request and co-conspirator Buhari has yet to reference any law or facts justifying IPOB’s proscription as a terrorist group”.
“No other country in the world has proscribed IPOB despite the sleepless lobbying of Nigeria.
“Knowing that proof of Nnamdi Kanu’s guilt is impossible, President Buhari directly or through agents commanded DSS Director-General Bichi to detain and torture Nnamdi Kanu without a trial indefinitely and to block access to counsel of his choice,” he said.
He, however, concluded the petition, saying, “There is a reasonable basis to conclude that DSS Director-General Yusuf Magaji Bichi is guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity as defined in Articles 6 and 7 of the Rome Statute by arbitrarily detaining and torturing Nnamdi Kanu indefinitely without a trial and denying him access to counsel of his choice as part of an ongoing scheme to destroy or persecute Biafrans in Nigeria because of their ethnicity, religion, or political opinion.
“The Chief Prosecutor has a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation of DSS Director-General Bichi for genocide and crimes against humanity and should submit to the Pre-Trial Chamber a request for such authorization under Article 15, paragraph 3 of the Rome Statute.”
 

Nnamdi Kanu Petitions ICC, Wants Nigerian Secret Police, DSS Boss, Bichi Charged For Genocide, Crimes Again... by Sahara Reporters on Scribd

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Journalists who were trying to cover proceedings in the trial of Chidinma Ojukwu, the alleged killer of the Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, Usifo Ataga, on Tuesday were harassed in court by some prison officials.
 
Chidinma, a 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, is standing trial alongside one Adedapo Quadri at the Lagos High Court, Tafawa Balewa Square for the alleged murder.

The officers numbering about eight, in an unusual manner formed a ring around the defendant in an effort to shield her from public glare, while she was being led away from the court after the proceedings.
 
It was learnt that four other fully armed officers, in a dangerous manner, pushed and harassed journalists, and covered their camera lenses, all in a bid to prevent them from filming and recording.
 
The incident led to a shouting match between the officers, journalists, some lawyers and other litigants present but the correctional officers ignored everyone as they swiftly led the defendants away to their waiting vehicle, Channels TV reports.
 
The Lagos State Deputy Director of Public Prosecution, Adenike Oluwafemi, during proceedings, called the representative of Access Bank to the witness box to tender the statement of accounts of the late Usifo Ataga.
 
The witness, Taofeek Lawal, an account officer told Justice Yetunde Adesanya that the bank got a subpoena from the court requesting it to present the statement of account as well as a certificate of identification of the deceased.
 
The prosecution then sought to tender the documents presented by the witness. With no objections from the defence team, the court admitted the documents in evidence.
 
Chidinma’s counsel, Onwuka Egwu then sought to cross-examine the witness. This move was resisted by the prosecutor who argued that the witness was in court based on a “subpoena duces tecum” and could not be cross-examined.
“The bank official is in court to produce the statement of account of the deceased in court.
“There was a need to do this because the investigating police officers as part of their investigations had come across the deceased’s statement of account and being a computer-generated document, there was a need for it to be presented by the bank on whose system it was generated from.
“That’s the main reason why the bank had to send a representative to present the document in open court based on subpoena duces tecum.
“A subpoena duces tecum is a court summons which requires the witness to produce a document in court.
“It is trite that the subpoena is simply for the witness to present the document in court for it to be admitted as evidence for the purpose of the trial. Such a person needs not speak to the document. He is not placed on oath and there’s no examination in chief and therefore cross-examination would be baseless and not have any foundation,” said Mrs Oluwafemi
The defence counsel however countered by arguing that the witness as the account officer of the bank was in a position to give evidence in relation to the account.
He said, “It is trite that every legislation is subordinate to the constitution and one of the cardinal principles is fair hearing as provided for Under Section 36 of the constitution. Where the defendant raises the issue of fair hearing, he is entitled to be heard”.
In her ruling, Justice Adesanya held that “by the combined reading of Section 218 and 219 of the Evidence Act, a person summoned to produce a document does not become a witness just because he is summoned to produce same.
“A subpoena duces tecum issued to deliver a document can be done either in person or through a representative who is discharged afterwards.
“The officer of Access bank is done at the point the document was produced in court. Adhering to the provisions of the Evidence Act will not breach the provisions of a fair hearing.
“If the defence counsel wants to cross-examine the witness, he can bring him back to court by serving him a subpoena ad testificandum which allows him to give oral testimony. In the absence of that, the witness cannot be cross-examined,” the judge ruled.
The court also admitted another computer-generated statement of account of the late Usifo Ataga from a representative of GT Bank.
Further proceedings in the matter were then adjourned to April 28 for the continuation of the trial.
 
 
 
 

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Terrorists who attacked an Abuja-Kaduna train about a month ago have released a picture of the male passengers kidnapped from the train.
The gunmen had on March 28 ambushed the train heading for Kaduna from the nation’s capital city after bombing its rail track.

The terrorists earlier released a photograph showing the kidnapped female passengers alongside little children.
At least eight passengers were killed in the incident, while many others were kidnapped or declared missing.
A few days after the incident, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Bank of Agriculture, Alwan Hassan, was released alongside others.
Hassan, who was seen in a video released by the bandits, said he was freed on compassionate grounds.
However, sources told SaharaReporters that a ransom of N100 million was paid before he was released.
Meanwhile, the families of 22 of the passengers have declared them missing.
 

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The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has ruled that all proceedings including the contempt proceedings initiated by Nigerian businessman, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim and Co should be stayed pending the hearing, and determination of the substantive appeal.
 
In Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/269/2022 in the case between the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) vs Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, the businessman was neutralised from executing the said contempt proceedings order, which he obtained under questionable circumstances.
 
The application for stay was argued on behalf of AMCON by its defence counsel A.U. Mustapha SAN & Co on March 30, 2022, and after listening to the arguments, the Court of Appeal delivered its ruling on Friday April 22, 2022.
 
 
Recall that Ibrahim, NICON Investment Limited, NICON Insurance Limited, Nigerian Reinsurance Corporation owe the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) N69.4billion. The agency said he had shown no intention whatsoever to pay the money.
 
AMCON over the years had tried various strategies to recover the debt from Jimoh Ibrahim but to no avail.
The recovery agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, AMCON, had approached the Federal High Court (FHC) in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/760/2021 to seek justice, and accordingly received an order of the trial court to take over the businesses of Jimoh Ibrahim. AMCON further received the backing of the trial court to appoint a Receiver/Manager to oversee the businesses on behalf of AMCON.
 
Following the trial court’s ruling, Jimoh Ibrahim claimed that he was directed by the court on March 9, 2022, to commence contempt proceedings against the Executive Management of AMCON, which led AMCON to challenge the said ruling by filing a Notice of Appeal before the Court of Appeal on March 14, 2022.
 
“The matter between Ibrahim and AMCON has been interminable since the loan was purchased by the government debt recovery agency during the first phase of Eligible Bank Assets (EBA) purchases from Union Bank in the early days of AMCON.
 
“AMCON is however not deterred to recover the outstanding N69.4billion debt owed it by Barrister Ibrahim and his companies in the interest of the Nigerian economy and the public in general,” Jude Chiedozie Nwauzor, spokesperson of the agency said.

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Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has tackled President Muhammadu Buhari over his handling of the insecurity situation in the country.
 
The senior lawyer spoke in Ilawe-Ekiti, Ekiti State, during the 10th coronation anniversary of Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, Ajibade Alabi.
 
At the event, Falana said the worsening insecurity in the country informed the recent call by Afe Babalola, the renowned lawyer, for an interim government after Buhari's tenure.
 
He said: “While you may disagree with the call for an interim government, you must at the same time address what has led to the call, which is the state of insecurity in the country.
“Apart from issuing press statements, the government does not bother about insecurity in the country; they issue statements from time to time and President Buhari will assure Nigerians of the safety and security of their lives and property but after that, we are waiting for the next attack."
 
Falana also said the 2023 elections would come under threat if nothing is done about the insecurity.
 
He added: "Since many parts of the country have been taken over by terrorists, it is difficult to talk of having credible elections next year. There are some states and several local governments that have been completely overrun by terrorists.
 
“There is no way you can hold elections in such states and local governments. We are working towards a crisis which is going to lead to inconclusive elections if registered voters cannot exercise their franchise due to insecurity and negligence of the government.
“Whoever is declared winner will have problems because those who lose elections will insist that you must go and conduct elections in the areas where they are popular but which must have been taken over by the terrorists.”
 
 
 
 

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