Angry students of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo in Ondo State on Friday took to the streets to protest the death of their colleague, Alayori Folarera Ademola, who was killed by operatives of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that the operatives of Amotekun killed a student of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo.

The student was identified as Alayori Folarera Ademola.
He was shot by the operatives of Amotekun corps, who invaded a students’ area around the school last week.
Sources told SaharaReporters that the deceased was rushed to Federal Medical Centre in Owo where he died on Thursday night.
“Amotekun busted their villa and this guy got shot. He was taken to FMC but died last night,” the source told SaharaReporters on Friday.
It was learnt that the security operatives also killed another person in the town during the operation but the identity of the deceased could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report.
Another source added, “This set of useless Amotekun (personnel) came to Owo to kill my church member; till now, none of them has been arrested.”
The security outfit was recently accused of randomly checking mobile phones and laptops of residents of the state.
They were also said to be arresting drivers without licences and impounding vehicles without tinted permits.
However the protesting students on Friday carried the deceased corpse to the gate of the state Government House in Akure.
The angry students that were armed with placards singing different songs demanded that the Amotekun agents that allegedly killed Ademola be brought to book.
 

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Former Angolan President José Eduardo dos Santos died Friday in a clinic in Barcelona, Spain, the Angolan government said.

Santos, who ruled Africa's second-biggest oil producer for nearly four decades, has died aged 79, according to Washington Post.

The Angolan presidency who made the announcement via Facebook on Friday said he died following a long illness, describing him as “a statesman of great historical scale who governed the Angolan nation through very difficult times.”

He was hospitalised in Spain and placed in intensive care after suffering a cardiac arrest on June 23.

Dos Santos, one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, stepped down five years ago. His rule was marked by a brutal civil war lasting nearly three decades against the US-backed Unita rebels – which the former president won in 2002 – and a subsequent oil-fuelled boom.

He was replaced in 2017 by Lourenço, who, despite being from the incumbent’s People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola, swiftly moved to investigate allegations of multibillion-dollar corruption during the Dos Santos era, targeting the former leader’s children.

Dos Santos, who was married four times, is survived by his current wife, Ana Paula, with whom he has three children. He is known to have at least three other children and various grandchildren.

Dos Santos had mostly lived in Barcelona since stepping down in 2017 and he reportedly had been undergoing treatment there for health problems.

Angola’s current head of state, Joao Lourenco, announced five days of national mourning starting Friday, when the country’s flag will fly at half-staff and public events are cancelled.

Dos Santos came to power four years after Angola gained independence from Portugal and became enmeshed in the Cold War as a proxy battlefield.

His political journey spanned single-party Marxist rule in post-colonial years and a democratic system of government adopted in 2008. He voluntarily stepped down when his health began failing.

In public, dos Santos was unassuming and even appeared shy at times. But he was a shrewd operator behind the scenes.

He kept a tight grip on the 17th-century presidential palace in Luanda, the southern African country’s Atlantic capital, by distributing Angola’s wealth between his army generals and political rivals to ensure their loyalty. He demoted anyone he perceived to be gaining a level of popularity that could threaten his command.

Dos Santos’ greatest foe for more than two decades was Jonas Savimbi, leader of the UNITA rebels whose post-independence guerrilla insurgency fought in the bush aimed to oust dos Santos’ Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola, or MPLA.

The MPLA had financial support from the Soviet Union and military support from Cuba in its war against UNITA. Savimbi was backed by the United States and South Africa.

The war would last, with brief periods of U.N.-brokered peace, until 2002 when the army finally tracked down Savimbi in eastern Angola and killed him.

Dos Santos abruptly shed his Marxist policies after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s. He moved closer to Western countries, whose oil companies invested billions of dollars in mostly offshore exploration.

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Benue Governor Samuel Ortom

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has again condemned the incessant terrorist attacks going on across Nigeria.

Ortom described Nigeria as being under siege due to the activities of terrorists who have been killing, maiming, kidnapping, and raping Nigerians, and recently attacking churches and Christian clerics.

Benue Governor Samuel Ortom

The governor stated this in London while addressing Nigerian nationals in the diaspora and friends of Nigeria at the Freedom of Religion and Belief International Ministerial Fringe Events on Nigeria, organised by Para-Mallam Peace Foundation and the International Peace-Building and Social Justice.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Diaspora Affairs, Rev. Peter Ichull on Friday.

He advised that Nigeria should uphold certain freedoms for all people as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, the constitutions of most nations, including Nigeria and other rights documents to end the menace.

He said: “The bombing of Churches and killing of worshippers was a calculated attempt to send fear into the living to restrict their religious freedom.”

Ortom said his government enacted the ‘Benue State Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017’ and other security measures to curb inter-ethnic conflicts in Benue.

He advised President Buhari to reflect federal character while making political appointments. He said such a move will promote national unity and peaceful coexistence in the country.

He also encouraged the Buhari government to ensure the return and rehabilitation of all Internally Displaced persons to their ancestral lands.

According to Ortom, the government should pay full compensation to all victims of religious persecution and insecurity while ensuring that victims of religious persecution get justice.

Eighty-five-year-old Baroness Caroline Cox, a member of the British Parliament (House of Lords) noted that Ortom’s voice on topical issues in Nigeria had attracted international attention.

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The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) and convener of #RevolutionNow, Omoyele Sowore, has condemned in the strongest terms a petition calling on the microblogging app, Twitter to ban Reno Omokri on the platform.

Omokri was a Special Assistant to former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan.

Sowore called on those behind the petition to take it down as it poses a direct threat to Omokri’s life, his family and his freedom of speech.
 
Good Nigeria started a petition to Twitter, Inc, Twitter Chief Executive Officer, Parag Agrawal and @BusinessInsider, asking the social media giant to ban Omokri from Twitter & rescind his "Business Insider Influencer of the Year Award."
 
The petition which had gathered 38,468 signatures by 1:58 pm on Friday followed tweets by Omokri, a former presidential aide, about the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, whose supporters have tagged themselves ‘Obidients’.

One of Omokri’s tweets said, “While his Obidients are applauding that interview, if you watch it with an unbiased mind, you see that Peter Obi considers himself a pilot and (Rabiu) Kwankwaso (presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party) a mere driver and substitute player. The people of Kano heard that. The North heard that. Other Nigerians heard!
 
“Kwankwaso bashine Dan takaran shugaban kasa da nake so ba amma shi ba "Direban mota" da yake so ya "tuka jirgin nijeriya" ne ba kaman yadda Peter Obi ya fada yau a Arise.Kwankwaso ya gina abubuwa da yawa har da gina mutane.Jahilci ne a kwatanta shi da Direba mota.”
 
Reacting to the tweet, the petitioners wrote on Change.org that “Given the historical relationship between the northern and southeastern parts (Peter Obi hails from the Southeast) of Nigeria, both tweets from @renoomokri have a massive risk of inciting ethnic violence in the northern part of Nigeria and subsequent reprisals in the east, especially since Kwankwaso has a huge following in the North and Peter Obi has a large following in the southeast.
 
“Ethnic violence against the people of eastern Nigeria perpetuated in the northern part of Nigeria was one of the things that led to the Nigerian Civil war. Since then there have been multiple reports of ethnic violence in various parts of Nigeria. A lot of them are targeted at Ibos. In the east, some violence against northerners has occurred too.
 
“For @renoomokri to make such tweets to his 1.7million followers given the history of Nigeria is not only reckless and dangerous, but it is also extremely callous to try and stoke ethnic violence for political gain. @renoomokri is very knowledgeable about Nigeria's history so he knows this only too well.
 
“It should be noted that this is not @renoomokri first tweet with the potential to incite violence in the North. Only a few weeks ago, he tweeted images of a Muslim prayer mat and insinuated that haram was being perpetuated by Obi's supporters in the North. This tweet was also dangerous because only on the 12th of May, 2022 a student was burnt to death because she was accused of committing haram in the north.
 
“@renoomokri should be stopped from continuing to use his Twitter influence to create the risk of ethnic or religious violence in Nigeria.
 
“Twitter already has a precedent for banning accounts that try to incite violence. They banned Trump!
 
“We are therefore calling for Twitter to immediately ban @renoomokri from its platform.
 
“We are also calling on @BusinessInsider to rescind the "Business Influencer of 2022" award granted to @renoomokri. One comment that may result in ethnic violence is more than enough for @BusinessInsider to do this. @renoomokri has made multiple tweets in this regard.
 
“The risk to human life and property is too great if he remains on the platform and he continues his tweets.”
 
But Sowore described the petition as a digital resort to mob justice against the personality of Omokri.
 
“There is a petition circulating on @Change against Nigerian social media personality, @renoomokri. This petition asking @twitter to ban Mr. Omokri are largely signed by @PeterObi supporters. I condemn this digital resort to mob justice by those behind this particular petition.
 
“It is matter of time before this gets physical and Mr. Omokri gets hurt. This was how Ivory Coast descended into crisis during Mr. Laurent Gbagbo’s re-election in 2010. The rest is now history. I denounce the petition for targeting Reno over exercise of free speech.
 

There is a petition circulating on @Change against Nigerian social @media personality @renoomokri, this petition asking @twitter to ban Mr. Omokri are largely signed by @PeterObi supporters. I condemn this digital resort to mob justice by those behind this particular petition. pic.twitter.com/jthgVvaNsH

— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) July 8, 2022
“I urge those behind the petition to take it down as it poses direct threat to Reno Omokri’s life, that of his family and his freedom of speech!” Sowore wrote on his Twitter page on Friday.

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The chants , Youth O'Clock, is deservedly a well coined parlance which aptly, described and capture the whims and desires of a demographics in the country. It was supposed to provoke a national conversation around many things -- youth participation in politics, youths involvement in governance, and total reawakening to current realities in the country.

  Since the return to democratic rule, in 1999, same crop of leaders whom had hitherto been within the corridors of power, or had been in and out of power, and still influence the instrument of power in the country are still calling the shot in Nigeria's brand of democracy.   The age long and most incongruous statement; Youths are the Leaders of Tomorrow, has turned out, as it were to be unrealistic, at least in Nigeria. What is more intriguing and appalling is, every formidable policies or structure which would guarantee seamless youth participation in politics has he been rendered ineffective by same class of people.   Education,  for instance, which is roundly the surest path to escape ignorance has become a thing of luxury, only few could have access to it -- children of our political leaders and the privileged. How best can one describe the aloofness of even the youths, to the nearly five months old industrial strike by university lecturers, ASUU? The supposed youths refused to take the proverbial destinies into their own hands, rather awkwardly remain a ready tool or pawn in the hands of politicians who, sadly mortgage their future. Everyone's attention is fixated on 2023 presidential elections. Sadly, it is the same youths who are largely pursuing and amplifying these campaigns, which has reached fever pitch.    From Obidients, to BATist, Atikulated to Kwankwasiyya, the message is resonating so loud it has dwarfed the call to attention on FG-ASUU impasse. While it is in their democratic rights to do so -- choosing who to support or not,    the question is, what becomes of their efforts in post elections spoils, should their respective candidates win?   Usually, from experience, youths do not negotiate for a position, neither are they consulted or considered suitable for any cabinet positions after helping a government come to power. In appointing a minister of Youth, for instance, a quinquagenarian is most likely to be chosen, against a vibrant, energetic youth. The system has been skewed to perpetually keep newbies, and commoners out of political equation, in the  country. Whenever a youth makes a political headway, it's usually a son of some big name, as evidenced in the just concluded party primaries, where children of ex governors and ministers got their party's nomination slot. The rigours and realities of 21st century, is predicated upon technology --a comfort zone of youths. Having a competent individual of a youthful demeanor should be a no issue.    Oddly, it seems, the youths don't even believe in themselves. currently, there are a number of youthful candidates vying for different positions, outside the fold of the front line or dominant political parties, in the country. For instance, YPP, which is the young people's party, AAC, PRP, ADP, AC, AA, etc. Candidates of these parties are youths, in the right sense if it. But, befuddlingly, most youth would rather opt for a known personality, probably an ex this or ex that, whom had stolen from their commonwealth. Clearly, such youth had abandoned his own. These are fundamentally what is wrong with us as a nation. We celebrate mediocres and big names without recourse to processes of scrutiny of such individuals.   If a candidate says he's competent, regardless of his age, then, we must note here, competence requires sound brainpower and moral judgement, which according to clinical psychologist, declines in humans as they aged.  Again, some other candidates would boast of their capabilities. Most often than not, capabilities are hinged largely on what one is capable of doing, like being bold, fearless and natural risktaker. But research has shown, people in their 30s, 40s and up to 50s are most likely to take serious risk than  older demographics. Some other candidates would claim to have the capacity to rule, no matter the seeming natural law of decline, which includes fragility, slow comprehension, distorted or slurred speech and to some extent, dementia. Nature cannot be manipulated, hence one cannot cheat it.    Most of the frontline candidates in the upcoming elections are well past their prime, while others are within a grudgingly appreciable or acceptable limits, like Labour Party's Peter Obi and Sen. Rabiu M Kwankwaso of the NNPP.   Those putting up an argument, around issue of age in governance and making sly comparisons with Joe Biden's America ought to be reminded about the latter's strong, independent and formidable institutions which checkmates and  governs the country. Same, however, cannot be said of Nigeria.   Nigerian youths constitutes about 45% of the entire population, making them highest in terms of numerical strength and value. If they put up and support a candidate for elections, no matter the gerrymandering and rigging, such candidate would win, certainly. Pathetically, no such strength of valor is expended toward any youthful presidential or other positional candidate.   It is about five months now, Nigerian students, mostly youths are idling away as a result of strike action precipitated by insensitivities of political actors that the very youth help bring to power. This should strike a cord and provoke a change of narrative on the conduct of our leaders. World over, youths are the agents which bring about real change from the status quo. From Hong Kong to Latin America, and Arabia. As they desire change, they had their way.   For us in Nigeria, there is no better way to do it than through the ballot box, which, fortunately the youths has the numerical strength to do just that. Rather than allowing a generation which care less about them, the time to provoke that change is certainly now, especially as 2023 in staring at us right in the face.   Abdullahi D Mohammed is with the Department of Political Science, at the Ahmadu Bello University-Zaria. He writes from Kano.   Opinion AddThis :  Original Author :  Abdullahi D Mohammed Disable advertisements : 

Unable to match Atiku's $20,000 dollars to each delegate at the convention and other big Dollar spenders in the PDP primaries; the same Atiku that he was Vice presidential candidate to, in the 2019 General Elections, Peter Obi chose to cross carpet to the Labour Party (LP). With little or no competition, he was able to fulfill all of the under the table demands of the labour bureaucrats to become the presidential flag bearer of the LP. 

  This tradition of party ticket for sale to the highest bidder from the losers or rejects of the ranks of politicians from the major big capitalist parties of the PDP, APC etc by the labour bureaucrats has continued to hold the party down since 2002, when it was registered. This has also made the LP completely unattractive to the working masses.The labour leaders up until now have preferred to keep the LP locked up in box, completely irrelevant to the challenges, struggles and aspirations of the working masses, but at intervals open it up during the electoral period for these bourgeois refugees, who lost out in the primaries of their preferred ruling class parties.    The question to ask is how much did Peter Obi dole out to catapult himself as the presidential flag bearer of the LP, less than a week that he became a member of the party?  So what is this Labour Party, this Peter Obi rebranded Labour Party that is generating interest and has made even some “socialists” to endorse the call to join the electoral train. What is he bringing to the party that is making it different from what it has been in the past, and at the same time is eliciting some joy and excitement for the possibility of a brake, and an end to the dominance of the APC and PDP over the polity.   It is undeniable that there has been a recorded flood of new eligible voters desperately seeking to be registered in Lagos and other urban centres in different parts of the country, and the possibility that the 2023 general elections could witness an unprecedented mass turn out. This cannot be divorced from the emergence of Obi, and the birth of a growing crowd of followers identifying themselves as “Obi-dient”, with the character of a mass movement, mostly in the urban centres. So what has Obi brought on board the LP that has brought all this on?    Should this be taken to mean that a qualitative shift has occurred in terms of programme that would fundamental change the course and history of the country, with the potentials of meeting the aspirations of the working population? It is appropriate to acknowledge the trends observed above, and admit that there is a quantitative new entrant into the LP, which is indicative of the desire of “change seekers” to have little or nothing to do with the APC and PDP, which are all indications that these change seekers know what they don’t want. This however, cannot now be taken to mean that the people have now hit on the magic wand that would transform the fortunes of the working masses.   While welcoming the call by the trade unions for workers to join the party as part of the process of reclaiming the party, there is no assurance that this call would automatically propel workers to rush over to join the party. Most of the working masses still have fresh in their consciousness all of the refusal of the labour leaders to consistently provide the needed leadership in their struggle against the ruling class and their ruinous policies of deregulation and privatisation.    If anything, what many workers see is the same pattern of the past period, some efforts to make the LP as attractive as possible to woo their intending “customers” from the rich capitalist parties to come pick a ticket for the right bargain.If anything is significant about the name; labour party, it is that it should be a party for workers and the poor masses. A party that should allow the working class the opportunity to take on the ruling class, and not trade it to members of the ruling class to play pretense that they are same and one with the working class and can so represent their interest and should be voted for.    The same is true of the bureaucrats in the Ayuba Wabba’s led NLC who issued a political charter of demands to be presented to all candidates who seek the vote of workers. But would Peter Obi abide with such a charter?    Interestingly this would not the first time Peter Obi is presenting himself to the electorate, so there is nothing significant about him that has changed when he contested and was governor of Anambra state under APGA for two terms, crossed over to the PDP, and like pointed above contested as Vice President to Atiku in the 2019 General Elections. Interestingly the latter is now one of his opponents. In terms of ideas and philosophy, he does not differ from Atiku of the PDP, or Tinubu of the APC, he is a supporter of big business and neoliberal ideas of the capitalist class, defending a continued domination of the key sectors of the economy by private capital both foreign and national.    This much has been revealed by his tenure of Anambra state as governor, the case of his plunging state fund into private enterprise, instead of investing same to develop the same interest for the state.    Unwilling to pay the new minimum wage then, is indicative of how he is not in any sense workers friendly. It is completely painful and sad that this is the very person now presented to workers as a Labour candidate.    Must we not provide knocks on the Wabba’s led NLC with its defined political charter of demands as a letdown for the whole working class and indeed a step backwards, limiting working people to just the right to vote without the right to be voted for, which is the same attitude adopted by members of the ruling class? What about the right to be voted for, to own an independent political party for the working people?   A political charter for the Labour Movement should be defined by first and foremost an independent political organisation of the working people and for the working people. Such should be free from control by the members of the ruling class, defending not just the right to vote but the right of workers to stand as candidates to be voted for, campaigning on a programme and manifesto that seeks to mobilise the entire working class and all of her allies to fully come on board the arena of struggle so as to build the necessary force that can take on the ruling class, dislodge it from power and commence on the road of Social Revolution, to accomplish and build a new country for all on a socialist manifesto.   To call workers to join the LP, as presently so done, is nothing more than a call to vote for Peter Obi and endorse his neoliberal, capitalist ideals. This would also not be the first time the people will be presented with a suppose “fresh face” or “fresh breath” as Goodluck Jonathan was so branded, with nothing whatsoever to show for it, and leaving the working masses worse off. The same was done with Buhari in 2015 as he was repackaged and presented to the electorate as someone who was feared given his hatred for corruption. But to the extent that the creed of governance remained that of promoting big business continued dominance of the economy as oppose to a total break from it, so long will living conditions worsen for the working masses.      While we will not fundamentally oppose the call for workers to reclaim the Labour Party, this cannot be defined and limited to the context of the 2023 General Elections. Joining merely for the purpose of canvassing and voting for Peter Obi completely defeats the purpose of the call.    To insist also that Socialists should join the LP now, without the opportunity within the context of the 2023 General Elections to stand as candidates to be able to articulate its own vision of the LP directly to the electorate is simply ending up monkeyed by the monkey one was attempting to catch.   Rather the quest to reclaim the party, should encompass making it impossible for the likes of Peter Obi to be ever attracted to joining the LP, without first committing class suicide, and even at that not to immediately take the front seat and dictate policies and direction for the party.    There can be no sowing or sharing in the illusion that there is a shortcut to reclaiming Nigeria from the stranglehold of the ruling class without a confrontation with it. Yes, the working class would necessary seek alliances, but not with any of the wings of the ruling class, but with other strata of the oppressed and poor people. And this it cannot begin to attempt without a clear independent political organisation of the working class built on a socialist programme.    The rot in the country is huge, no single individual or a messiah, which Peter Obi does not even claim to be, can rescue the country, not even millions of Nigeria voting and him winning the presidency can on its own begin to turn things around without bringing an end to capitalism and nationalising the commanding sectors of the economy. This is a task that calls for the working class taking over the saddle of leadership, and birth a workers and poor farmers’ government.   Neither Tinubu or Atiku, nor can we then for a want of anything else now put forward Obi. This does not now mean we are cutting ourselves from history or from political engagement, we must continue to fight both from inside the trade unions and outside for a party of workers that canvasses politics to be conducted differently, and for the trade unions to bring their structure and resources to build such a party. And this does not in any way exclude the call for the trade unions to be fully reclaimed as fighting organs of the working class.    Capitalism, most especially its neocolonial variant, remains incapable of meeting the needs and aspirations of the working masses, and it will not refrain from launching attacks upon attacks on the working masses.Our duty therefore is to prepare the working masses to resist through struggles, and on account of such struggle build a movement for political power.    This is not a period to be dispirited but to more than ever hold up the correctness of our socialist programme, pointing it out that no section or member of the ruling class can fundamentally turn things around and that the working masses can only rely on itself and its strength, our time is coming. We must not dismiss the working masses even with their illusions, but be ever patient, constantly continue to reach out to them. Opinion AddThis :  Original Author :  AJ. 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The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has released the names and photographs of some Boko Haram inmates who recently escaped from Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The NCoS on Friday released 48 names and pictures Boko Haram terrorists held at the prison facility.

SaharaReporters earlier on Tuesday reported that the facility was under attack by gunmen.

 

The Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram, known as the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on Wednesday in a video claimed responsibility for the attack.

 

In the video, the terrorist sect showed some of its men were shooting their way into the facility.

 

Though the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi claimed that 64 Boko Haram members escaped, security sources told SaharaReporters that over 201 members of the group were unaccounted for.

 

“The prison management and Nigerian government are playing down the numbers of Boko Haram inmates for some reasons.

 

“Over 200 escaped not 64 as claimed. There were over 150 of them in that facility before, so they brought 46 from Kogi State after the Kanna Jailbreak. They were transferred to Kuje about 5 months back.

 

“Then another set of Ansaru members arrested by the police from Nasarawa State were taken to Kuje, about 17 of them. They were taken to Kuje around November last year,” a top security source told SaharaReporters.

 

Giving an update on the attack on Friday, NCoS in a Facebook post said, “PHOTO NEWS: Faces of Boko Haram/ Terrorist that escaped from Kuje Medium Security Custodial Center on Tuesday 5th July at about 2200hrs. Please more pictures of other escapees will be uploaded.”

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Most Rev. Dr. George Jonathan Dodo, the pioneer Catholic Bishop of Zaria Diocese is dead.

This was announced by the Diocesan Vice-Chancellor of Zaria, Reverend Father Abraham Bisan through a statement on Friday.

According to the statement, the pioneer Bishop of the Diocese was said to have died in the early hours of Friday after a brief illness.

The statement urged people to pray for the deceased, adding that “information regarding his burial will be announced as soon as possible.”

The brief statement read, “With gratitude to God I have been directed to announce the passing unto glory of our Bishop, Most Rev. George Jonathan Dodo, the pioneer Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Zaria.

“This sad event took place in the early hours of Friday, July 8, 2022, after a brief illness.

“While we enjoin all to pray for his peaceful repose, information regarding his burial will be announced as soon as possible.”

 

 

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The vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed says the only reason why he accepted to be the running mate of the party’s presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi is to rescue Nigeria.

 

Baba-Ahmed, a 46-year-old academic, businessman and politician stated this in his acceptance speech, shortly after he was unveiled as the LP vice-presidential candidate in Abuja.

 

He said he believes in the genuineness, integrity and capacity of Obi to rescue Nigeria and he had no choice but to be part of the movement to rescue the country.

 

Baba-Ahmed, who praised the Almighty Allah for making it possible, thanked Labour Party presidential candidate and his team for finding him worthy to be his running mate in their journey to rescue Nigeria.

 

"I wish to begin by uploading my endless praises to Almighty Allah who gives power to whom he wills, when he wills and how he wills.

 

"Also, I will remain ever submissive and indebted to my leader and my principal, the President (Peter Obi) and his team who worked diligently, researched and found me worthy. I will remain forever humble and appreciate him for this honour. My task is simple to accept this nomination at this time, but in doing so, I will normally give justification as follows:

 

"The undeniable, unchallengeable fundamental reason for being on this ticket is to rescue Nigeria. And the whole logically and without saying it that you can only rescue that which you are involved in for Nigeria to be able to transform. I cannot afford not to be part of this movement to rescue Nigeria.

 

"The second reason is that I believe in the greatness of Nigeria, I believe there will be peace and prosperity, I believe that Nigerian people will unite; in fact, let me say that having come from educational background; I belong to the system where you walk into the classroom, after one hour you come out a changed person.

 

"Ever since I met his Excellency Peter Obi, I have been changing every day,” he said.

He said Obi told him land mass in the North is the “crude oil of Nigeria”.

“How much more nationalist can you be? How much more detribalised can you be? I see a brighter future for Nigeria from such comments,” he said.

 

He continued, "Then I want to justify it, who was motivated by success in the private sector and fought ...and after those eight years, has maintained his integrity and honour till this day, is the one that will not fail in his campaign promises, Mr Peter Obi.

 

"Someone who believed in financial propriety will not engage in financial rascality. He who believes in credibility and integrity no matter who he associates with will not mismanage personal, human and public resources and he is Peter Obi.

 

"This is the high point in my life, in my career and I think this is pure. Having said this with all trust to Almighty Allah; with my belief that I am doing this for the sake of Nigeria, with all humility, I accept your generous invitation to be your running mate."

    Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  saharareporters, new york Disable advertisements : 

Ifeanyi Ejiofor

A human rights lawyer, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor has called on Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo to caution officers of the state task force to desist from further harassment of innocent civilians in the guise of enforcing the law.

 

Ejiofor, who is the lead counsel for Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), said the gross abuse of public office by the power-drunk officers is a grave disregard for the sanctity of human life which he described as ridiculous and unacceptable.

Ifeanyi Ejiofor

Ejiofor disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja while reacting to the assault and humiliation of Prophet Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere aka Odumeje in a viral video by security operatives.

 

Officials of the task force on Thursday physically assaulted the controversial cleric.

 

The founder of the Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention and Deliverance Ministry was said to have received a beating while trying to stop the state task force from demolishing his church in Onitsha.

See Also Sahara Reporters Soldiers, Policemen Who Brutalised Prophet Odumeje Must Be Arrested, Prosecuted – AAC Presidential Candidate, Sowore Condemns Attack On Anambra Cleric 0 Comments 1 Week Ago

The ministry, popularly known as 'Land of freedom and miracle centre' was shortly after the former Central Bank Governor, Professor Soludo got into office as state governor, marked for demolition in what residents have tagged as a witch-hunt for not supporting him during the governorship election that brought him in November 2021.

According to Ejiofor, the governor must condemn in unequivocal terms, the violent attack, molestation and manhandling of Odumeje by his overzealous enforcement officers.

See Also Sahara Reporters Anambra Task Force Officials Beat Up ‘Dancing Prophet’ Odumeje, Demolish Church Building For Violating State Code 0 Comments 1 Week Ago

The lawyer said the action of the officers was wrong, barbaric, uncivilised and in gross violation of the extant rights of the cleric.

He also demanded reparation for the infraction to assuage the trauma the clergyman must have gone through, which he said must be followed by an unreserved apology.

 

The statement read in part, "Yesterday, being the 7th day of July 2022, video clips of the grievous assault on Prophet Chukwuemeka Odumeje surfaced online. We were not quick to jump to conclusions until necessary contacts were made to ascertain their authenticity.

 

"I personally called Prophet Odumeje to confirm the authenticity or otherwise of the degrading video clips.

 

"Governor Soludo should be properly guided to immediately (keep a tight) rein on the lawless enforcement officers he deployed to torment an innocent civilian, in the guise of task force.

 

"It is sad to note that this is not a palatable start for the hitherto, highly rated Governor of Anambra state, who is just spending his first 100 days in office, still issuing statements without tangible results yet.

 

"We, the Anambrarians are not averse to his Excellency's people-orientated policy, geared towards bringing the proceeds of good governance home "

 

The statement urged the governor to maintain civility by sanctioning the activities of these lawless officers around him.

It also condemned the reckless killings and genocidal massacre of innocent civilians by overzealous law enforcement agents deployed to Anambra to maintain law and order.

 

He added that the gory pictures and video clips of youths in Ogbaru hacked to death in their prime were heart-wrenching.

 

The statement, therefore, called for adequate profiling and strict adherence to professional rules of engagement to avoid the killing of innocent citizens as we witnessed in Ogbaru weeks ago.

 

"For the records, I am among the few, who publicly condemned the heinous criminal activities of the men of underworld going on in our land, as well as the senseless killings by the enemies of our people which criminality also led to the unfortunate kidnapping of my Aunty. I never hesitated in urging our youth and fellow Anambrarians to join hands in reclaiming our lands from these monsters.

 

“I still stand by this position and shall continue to encourage all and sundry to resist these criminalities.

 

"However, in so doing by the relevant law enforcement agents and volunteers, caution must not be thrown to the wind.

 

"There must be adequate profiling and strict adherence to professional rules of engagement to avoid killing of innocent citizens in the process, just as the unfortunate situation we witnessed in Ogbaru weeks ago.

 

"I, therefore, urge Governor Soludo, to set proper machinery in motion to ensure that the activities of these trigger-happy Law Enforcement Agents are strictly monitored and regularly appraised. Ejiofor added.

 

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The General Overseer of Salvation Ministry, Pastor David Ibiyeomie on Friday told Nigerians, particularly those in the North to defend themselves against terrorist attacks.

The cleric urged Nigerians in areas ravaged by terrorism in the North to buy arms for self-defence, adding that until residents begin to defend themselves, there will be no peace in such areas.

According to Daily Post, this was contained in one of his sermons at the church’s headquarters, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in which he urged Nigerians to shoot back when they are shot at.

He said, “All of you in the North, hear me: don’t do that Christianity; you too carry your walking stick. Buy walking stick and be walking with walking stick.

“All of you in the North, brothers and sisters, get good walking stick so that when you walk, the walking stick can support you.

 

“All of you in Kaduna, hear me: get good walking stick so that it can support you when you are moving. They are not the only ones who know where to buy walking stick.

“If they shoot, you too shoot; if they fire, you fire. Then there will be peace. Defend yourself.”

SaharaReporters earlier reported that the Zamfara State Government advised the residents of the state to acquire guns to defend themselves against terrorist and bandit attacks.

The directive was contained in a special government announcement signed by the State Commissioner for Information, Hon Ibrahim Magaji Dosara.

In the special announcement, the government said it had directed the state police commissioner to issue licences to all those who were qualified and were wishing to obtain guns to defend themselves.

It said the state was ready to facilitate people, especially farmers to secure basic weapons to defend themselves, adding that it would establish a centre for the collection of intelligence on the activities of informants.

Zamfara is not the first state that has called for self-defence amid deteriorating insecurity across the federation. Recently, Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, noted that the governors “can no longer fold their arms or rely exclusively on the distant federal police to adequately protect the lives and property of residents.”

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A fresh crisis is currently brewing in the Lagos chapter of the Labour Party (LP) over the alleged imposition of candidates for the 2023 elections.

 

Some aggrieved members said the leadership of the party has shown that there is no difference between it and other political parties it had been condemning.

“We refused to believe in PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) and APC (All Progressives Congress) because they impose candidates on party members, so we moved to Labour Party and other lesser but more democratic parties or what we thought.

 

“After the leadership of these parties took our money, we realized that we will have to displace others, who had laboured for the party. Although we were persecuted in PDP and APC, we see nothing wrong in coming to Labour Party with our supporters and turning them into members of the new party without first educating them, and inducting them into the clauses of the manifesto of the new party.

 

“We the oppressed now become the oppressor in our new party. Against the above, Labour Party, Lagos, has shown that there is no difference between it and the other political parties it had been condemning.

 

“Ayodele Ademiluyi, Esq and over 23 members of Labour Party, Lagos, emerged from a convention organized by Labour Party, Lagos State only for their names to be substituted by Labour Party National while submitting names of candidates to INEC,” a Labour Party member said.

 

Meanwhile, some of the aggrieved aspirants had approached the Federal High Court in Lagos over the matter.

 

The aspirants are seeking an order of the court to include them as candidates for “elections into the respective senatorial and House of Representatives’ Constituencies to wit, National Assembly seats for 2023 General elections”.

 

They are also asking “Whether the 1st Respondent ought to submit the names of the Applicants, who were the successful candidates emergent from the Primaries of the Senatorial and House of Representatives Constituencies held at the Lagos State Chapter of the Labour Party to the 2nd Respondent.

 

“Whether the 2nd Respondent ought to be ordered by this Honourable Court to include the Applicants as Candidates for elections into the respective Senatorial and House of Representatives’ Constituencies to wit, National Assembly seats for 2023 General elections”. They noted that “where the questions are resolved in favour of the Applicants, the Applicants seek 3 relieves among which are; a declaration of this honourable court that the failure, refusal and neglect of the 2nd Respondent to include the names of the Applicants on the Final List of Candidates is a violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended) and the Electoral Act (2022 as amended).”

They seek “an order of this honorable court ordering the 2nd Respondent to include the names of the Applicants on the List of Candidates for National Assembly seats for the 2023 General Elections in compliance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended) and provisions of the Electoral Act (2022 as amended.”

 

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Swiss Federal Criminal Court on Friday acquitted former FIFA president Joseph Blatter and former UEFA president Michel Platini in a FIFA fraud trial.

 

The two men were indicted in 2021 following a six-year investigation into the payment that Blatter authorised to be paid from world football’s governing body FIFA to Platini in 2011. Blatter and Platini said the payment was for backdated salary, Daily Mail reports

“This payment damaged FIFA’s assets and unlawfully enriched Platini,” Switzerland’s OAG said.

 

They were charged by federal prosecutors in Switzerland with defrauding FIFA in connection with a payment of two million Swiss francs (2.07 million dollars) Platini received.

 

The Frenchman had received the money from FIFA in 2011 for work done as a consultant between 1998 and 2002.

 

The OAG accused Blatter and Platini of “fraud, in the alternative of misappropriation, in the further alternative of criminal mismanagement as well as of forgery of a document”. Platini, a football great who captained France to victory in the 1984 European Championship, was also charged as an accomplice.

 

The prosecution had wanted a suspended sentence of one year and eight months for both men.

 

Platini was also to be fined some 2.2 million Swiss francs, the original payment plus social security taxes FIFA also paid.

 

Blatter and Platini had protested their innocence, with FIFA not in a financial position at the time to fully pay the Frenchman Platini who for his part spoke of a fabricated case.

 

Blatter, who had said the two had a verbal agreement for the payment, said shortly ahead of the verdict he expected to be found not guilty.

 

“I expect nothing else but an acquittal. I am not innocent in my life but I am innocent in this case,” he said before entering the Bellinzona court house.

 

Platini had spoken of a politically-motivated case which ended his ambition to take over from Blatter as FIFA president, a position now held by former UEFA secretary general Gianni Infantino.

 

Both men were banned from football by the FIFA ethics committee, and their careers were over even though the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) later reduced the bans.

 

Platini, 67, said in a statement distributed by his lawyer said “my fight is a fight against injustice. I have won a first game.”

 

“The truth has come to light in this trial,” he said, vowing “we will meet again”.

 

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A global self-determination group, the United Indigenous People of Africa (UNIPA), has raised the alarm about the re-introduction of the Water Resources Bill by the Nigerian government.

The bill seeks to give the Federal Government of Nigeria control of all resources accrued through water on the surface or in the ground across the country.

UNIPA described the government’s new move to regulate water sources in the country as a mockery of the country's “already Quasi-Federal Principles” and “an Attack on Universal Principle of Federalism.”

 

The group, while calling on the people of the South and Middle-Belt region of the country to wage war against the bill by all lawful means, said the bill spells danger for Nigerians as it grants control of boreholes, stream water, and beaches under the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and abolishes powers of Lagos State Government to operate revenue-generating activities such as boat service on the Lagoon.

 

UNIPA in a statement by Ms Jean May stated that “The bill is an Attack on Universal Federalism and an Exhibition of Wickedness on the part of the Nigerian Government to be attempting to further weaken the States and Local Government Areas of Nigeria who are already in bankruptcy due to usurpation of their functions by the Central Government.”

It further noted, “Moves by the Central Government of Nigeria to take over the control of all Water Banks, including its streams and all resources therein is an attempt to completely take over assets of the already oppressed indigenous people in the country.

 

"We have studied the Water Resources Bill and we found no sense in it. Our Country Representative in Nigeria reported that this is a facade and a complete hijack of the assets of Indigenous People, especially, in the South and Middle-Belt parts of the Country.

 

"For the sake of ordinary people who may not understand the danger ahead, the implications of the Water Resources Bill is that Osun-Osogbo River, Erin-Ijesha Water Fall, Asejire Water and others which are Tourist Sites that generate millions of naira monthly to Osun State Government will now be administered by the Central Government. Specifically, it means that the administration of the Osun-Osogbo Festival will now be determined by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources in Abuja.

 

"The Implication of the Water Resources Bill is that the administration and control of Ipole/Iloro WaterFall, Ikogosi Warm Spring, Ado-Ekiti Water Works, Ero River, Ogidigbi Stream, Iyemero Water all in Ekiti State now belongs to the Central Government of Nigeria.

 

"The Central Government of Nigeria already hijacked the resources of the States and LGAs by pocketing 53% of the entire Revenue accrued to the Federation Account. Now, the same government is extending its penchant for asset grabbing by attempting to hijack, for instance, Oguta Lake from the people of Oguta in Imo State, Awhum Waterfall and Cave from the people of Amaugwe village of Awhum town in Enugu State, Enemabia Warm Spring from the people of Benue State, Agbokim Waterfalls from the government of Cross River State, among others.”

 

UNIPA further noted that by placing the management and control of all River Banks under the Control of the Nigerian Government, the State Governments of Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom, Rivers and Cross River can no longer collect revenue from anyone or corporate entities doing businesses at the bank of Atlantic Coastal Lines neither can the Lagos State Waterways Agency operate its Boat Services at the Bank of Lagos Lagoon without the express approval of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources in Abuja.

 

"For the fact that the Water Resources Bill places both surface and underground water Resources under the administration of the Central Government, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources now control the Boreholes in the homes of ordinary people who have no access to pipe-borne water.

 

"Water is very much in the South and Middle-Belt Parts of Nigeria unlike in the North Western and Eastern Nigeria. Knowing the antecedent of the Nigerian Government, we view this bill with suspicion and concluded that it is part of the agenda by some oligarchies in the country to extend their hegemony and control over the South and Middle-Belt People of Nigeria.

 

"Nigeria claims to be a Federation but it is simply a Unitary State in practice with 75% of the Federation Resources and Powers concentrated in the hands of the central government, including sharing functions like conduct of marriage, management of primary health center and primary education, etc. with States and Local Councils.

 

"The new bill, if it succeeds, will further make a mockery of the country's federal structure, hijack more revenues from the smallest federating units and make the indigenous people poorer and wallow in more squalor than they are at the moment with poverty at a world topping 100 million people.”

 

"Our message to the indigenous people, especially, in the South and Middle-Belt of Nigeria is to rise up, unite, and curtail this anti-people bill from seeing the light of the day. They should vigorously engage all their political representatives, especially those in the National Assembly and the Governors, to demand that this bill is killed once and for all and never introduced again. We are willing to assist all Self-determination Activists in Nigeria to ensure that the obnoxious water Resources bill does not see the light of the day by all lawful means necessary," the group maintained.

 

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The Labour Party has unveiled Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed as the running mate of its presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi.

 

Baba-Ahmed is a 46-year-old academic, businessman and politician.

He was a member of the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2007 and was elected Senator for Kaduna North, in Kaduna State, Nigeria in April 2011 on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

 

Baba-Ahmed has four degrees; a BSc and MSc in Economics from the University of Maiduguri, an MBA from the University of Wales, Cardiff and in 2006, he successfully completed his PhD studies, earning the title of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Westminster.

 

After his service year at the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun state, he worked as Projects Coordinator, Baze Research and Data Services Ltd. and as Officer II in the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, Lagos.

 

He worked as a Banking Officer, First Bank of Nigeria Plc from July 1997 to December 1998 and then came back to become the Managing Director of Baze Research and Data Services Ltd in July 1999 - January 2003, before venturing into politics.

 

In 2011, Senator Baba-Ahmed established Baze University, an independent University located in Abuja, Nigeria.

In 2015, Yusuf Baba-Ahmed was appointed as Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Hope Alive Foundation - which campaigns for the post-service economic survival of corps members who suffered permanent disability during service.

 

Baba-Ahmed is currently the Pro-Chancellor of Baze University; Managing Director, Baze Research & Data Service Ltd, and Chairman, Baze Construction Ltd.

Unveiling Baba-Ahmed on Friday, the LP presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi said he wants himself and his running mate to replicate their success stories in the private sector in the public space.

 

 

 

 

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A lawyer, Dalhatu Shehu-Usman who is defending Kano-based cleric, Sheikh Abduljabbar Kabara, who is standing trial over alleged blasphemy reportedly walked out on the trial judge on Thursday.

 

Abduljabbar Nasuru Kabara Abduljabbar is an Islamic cleric and a Qadiriyya scholar based in Kano, Nigeria.

He is standing trial for alleged blasphemy, incitement, and sundry offences he was said to have committed during his sermons.

 

The Kano State Government charged Kabara with four counts bordering on making blasphemous comments against Prophet Muhammad on August 10, October 25 and December 20, 2019.

 

Daily Trust reports that the defence counsel on June 23, prayed the court to discharge his client on the grounds that the entire charge slammed against him was not based on law.

 

At the resumed trial on Thursday, Shehu-Usman prayed the court to allow the defendant to move a no-case submission, saying no prima facie case was established against his client.

 

But the defence counsel opposed the cross-examination made by the prosecution team and threatened to walk out of the court.

 

“Why will the prosecution be asking the defendant when his father died? It is not contained in the charge,” he said.

 

The judge had permitted the prosecution to go ahead with cross-examination and the defence counsel picked up his belongings and walked out of the court.

 

Shehu-Usman also requested a copy of the proceedings, adding that he will challenge the ruling before an upper court.

 

Subsequently, the court adjourned the case to July 21, 2022, for the continuation of defence.

The Upper Sharia Court in Kofar Kudu, Kano State in September 2021 ordered Abduljabbar to undergo mental and hearing checks.

 

This followed his refusal to respond to all the new charges filed against him by the state government.

 

 

Sheikh Abduljabbar had suddenly gone quiet after the court approved the inclusion of fresh charges filed by the Kano State government, which his lawyers had objected to.

 

The presiding judge, Sarki Yola, had overruled their objections and ordered Abduljabbar to respond to the new charges, but his lawyers asked him to keep mute, and he obliged.

 

Yola subsequently gave the order after the prosecution counsel, Surajo Sa'ida made the request.

According to reports, Abduljabbar was facing a serious health condition in detention.

 

SaharaReporters earlier reported that the embattled Sheikh's lawyer, Rabiu Abdullahi previously disclosed that his client's grave health condition had been confirmed by a medical consultant from a government hospital in the state.

 

Abduljabbar Kabara was said to have undergone some tests before the ailment could be determined.

 

However, Abdullahi later said his client was put on some medications by health personnel to manage the situation.

 

"Yes, he is not healthy. He is in a serious health situation because he is even bleeding from the anus.

 

"Medical personnel has confirmed that he is not healthy. He asked if he was having health issues before he was arrested and he said no. If he was diagnosed with a stomach ulcer and he said nothing was wrong with him before his detention. He was also asked if he had ever had this type of bleeding before and he said he never experienced it in his life.

 

"The doctor then advised him on what to do and prescribed some drugs. This is pending the outcome of some tests that will confirm his exact condition,” he had stated.

Kabara is famous for his controversial religious commentaries and statements, which some Muslims have regarded as sacrilegious to Prophet Muhammad.

 

The state Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammed Garba had said in a statement that Abduljabbar was sued following the receipt of the first information report from the police by the Office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, which prepared charges against the cleric.

 

“Abduljabbar was subsequently arraigned on Friday, July 16 before an Upper Sharia Court Judge, Kofar Kudu, Alkali Ibrahim Sarki Yola, where the charges included blasphemy, incitement, and sundry offences were mentioned,” it had noted.

 

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Malam Jibrin Abdu, an intending pilgrim who could not board a flight to Mecca, Saudi Arabia due to some irregularities from the stakeholders declared that he was going to perform and complete his pilgrimage at the Hajj Camp in Kano.

Jibrin, who hails from the Gezewa local government area of Kano state, said he sold his farmland just to go for the pilgrimage “but some unruly leaders made it impossible”.

He was sighted dressed in a white robe and declaring that he had already started his pilgrimage at the Kano Muslim Pilgrimage camp.

It was gathered that at least 745 intending pilgrims were left stranded at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) in Kano on Thursday after the last Saudi-bound flight departed the airport at 3:45 pm.

 

Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Muhammad Abba Danbatta, who also missed the pilgrimage, along with several directors of the board, blamed the last-minute disappointment on the failure of the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) of Nigeria (NAHCON) to honour the rescue mission arrangement after the initial disappointment from Azman Airline, which led to an extension by the Saudi government.

SaharaReporters earlier reported that some Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia had lamented the non-provision of accommodation for them since the day they arrived in the Holy land.

According to a video seen by SaharaReporters, the Muslim pilgrims who claimed to be from Kwara State said they had been without accommodation because the stakeholders could not make provisions for them.

One of the women in the video is heard, lamenting, “They didn't give us hotel or any accommodation. We have been sleeping outside."

A relative of one of the victims told SaharaReporters that they had also lodged a complaint with the State Welfare Pilgrims Board concerning the issue.

 

He said the Kwara State Amir Hajj, Awa Ibrahim, claimed that it was not the responsibility of the state board to make such provisions.

 

"The man told us that accommodation for the pilgrims is the responsibility of the National Hajj Commission," the relative told SaharaReporters

 

SaharaReporters gathered that the National Hajj Commission announced earlier this year that, “Nigerian pilgrims for 2022 Hajj from Southern Nigeria are to pay N2,496,815.29, while their counterparts from the Northern part of the country will pay N2,449,607.89.

“For Adamawa and Borno states, they are to pay N2,408,197.89 due to proximity to Saudi Arabia. The air ticket cost is the major difference in the Hajj fare.”

The NAHCON Chairman, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, during an extraordinary meeting with Chief Executives of Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards in the NAHCON Hajj House headquarters in June, made the announcement.

 

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A Nigerian man, Tajudeen Olarotimi Durodoye, 55, has been arrested on multiple sex offence charges after police investigated his conduct with an inmate while he worked at the county jail.

Durotoye, who was arrested on Thursday, is a former Anne Arundel County corrections officer.

Durotoye of Glen Burnie, resigned from his position at the Jennifer Road Detention Center in June shortly before detention department staff and Anne Arundel County Police detectives spoke with a female inmate who said he had sexually assaulted her between 40 and 50 times in recent months, police wrote in charging papers.

According to The Baltimore Sun, police wrote that the jail’s surveillance footage showed Durodoye reaching into the woman’s cell and touching her after she had lifted her shirt up one night in May.

The woman told investigators that the correctional officer would approach her cell and tell her to take off her clothing and would ask her over an intercom to perform sex acts in front of an in-cell camera.

 

Interviewed by detectives later, Durodoye admitted to touching the woman’s bare genitals multiple times but said the contact was consensual.

 

A District Court commissioner charged Durodoye with 20 sex offences and assault charges, including five counts of second-degree rape, but prosecutors from the Anne Arundel State’s Attorney’s Office filed a notice in court that they would not be pursuing those charges due to a lack of evidence.

 

Durodoye is being held without bail in the detention centre pending a bond review on Friday. He did not have an attorney listed in court records.

 

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A 52-year-old Nigerian man, Rotimi Adeyemo from Carrickdale Gardens in Portadown, has been jailed for attacking his ex-partner, as he believed she cast a voodoo spell on him which caused erectile dysfunction.

 

A father-of-six who appeared at Belfast Crown Court via a videolink was jailed on Wednesday

 

Mr Justice Fowler who imposed an eight-year sentence revealed the sustained attack involved strangulation, kicks, punches and the use of a knife.

 

The domestic incident was further aggravated as it was carried out in the presence of the woman’s eight-year-old daughter, who begged Adeyemo to stop the attack on her mother, Fowler said.

 

The suspect appeared at Belfast Crown Court via a videolink with Maghaberry, where his sentence was divided equally between prison and supervised licence.

 

According to Irish Times, the man was initially charged with attempted murder, which he denied, but later pleaded guilty to a charge of causing grievous bodily harm to his ex-partner with intent.

 

She sustained multiple injuries including a collapsed lung, bleeding to the brain and fractures to her ribs, nose and jaw and spent three days in the Royal Victoria Hospital.

 

The court ruled that prior to the attack, which occurred on August 3rd, 2019, the defendant and the accused had been in a relationship which had ended.

 

Adeyemo started dating one of the woman’s neighbours which caused acrimony between the former couple, following this break-up.

 

Crown barrister Barra McGrory QC said that two days before the attack, Adeyemo called at his ex’s home and accused her of casting a voodoo spell on him that had affected his potency.

 

Saying it was the Crown’s case that this was a “key factor in the offending in terms of motivation”, Mr McGrory said the woman told Adeyemo there was no spell and he should go to see a doctor.

 

At 7.15am on August 3rd Adeyemo returned to her house and, once inside, he launched an immediate attack which started by him grabbing her by the throat leaving her unable to speak or breathe.

 

Adeyemo proceeded to carry her by the throat to the kitchen where the attack continued. Threatening to kill her, Adeyemo picked up a knife with his free hand which he used to try to cut her throat.

 

The woman fought back in an effort to keep the knife from her throat and was put to the floor where the strangulation continued.

 

At this point, she managed to grab a plate and smash it over Adeyemo’s head, causing a bleeding wound, which she later told police caused Adeyemo to “completely lose it”.

 

The attack continued in the backyard and was seen by neighbours who called the police. It was also witnessed by the woman’s daughter, who begged Adeyemo to stop.

 

The badly injured woman was also punched and kicked in the face, lost consciousness and came round while being tended to by police on her sofa.

 

The aftermath of the attack was captured on police body-worn footage and was described as “harrowing” by Mr Justice Fowler.

 

In this footage, the woman can be seen with serious facial injuries, while Adeyemo was recorded complaining she had put a spell on him to stop his penis from working.

 

While the woman was taken to the hospital where she was treated for multiple injuries, Adeyemo was arrested.

 

He told police during his interview that his ex-partner was into witchcraft, reiterated the claim about the spell and said he drank half a bottle of Baileys before going to her house.

 

Mr Justice Fowler said that after reading a Victim Impact Statement, it was clear the violent incident has had a lasting effect on her.

 

She now avoided going out and had become isolated, installed security cameras so she could feel safe in her own home and now suffered from nightmares, the judge revealed.

 

Mr Justice Fowler said he had considered submissions by defence barrister Gavan Duffy QC, which included Adeyemo’s clear criminal record, his good work record while living in Northern Ireland for the past 16 years, a complete lack of any prior domestic violence and the remorse he has since displayed.

 

The judge said he also accepted medical reports which suggest that at the time of the incident, Adeyemo was experiencing a mental health episode.

 

The attack was said to have occurred in the woman’s home where she should have felt safe and in the presence of a child, Mr Justice Fowler imposed an eight-year sentence and put in place a five-year restraining order.

 

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A 52-year-old Nigerian man, Rotimi Adeyemo from Carrickdale Gardens in Portadown, has been jailed for attacking his ex-partner, as he believed she cast a voodoo spell on him which caused erectile dysfunction.

 

A father-of-six who appeared at Belfast Crown Court via a videolink was jailed on Wednesday

 

Mr Justice Fowler who imposed an eight-year sentence revealed the sustained attack involved strangulation, kicks, punches and the use of a knife.

 

The domestic incident was further aggravated as it was carried out in the presence of the woman’s eight-year-old daughter, who begged Adeyemo to stop the attack on her mother, Fowler said.

 

The suspect appeared at Belfast Crown Court via a videolink with Maghaberry, where his sentence was divided equally between prison and supervised licence.

 

According to Irish Times, the man was initially charged with attempted murder, which he denied, but later pleaded guilty to a charge of causing grievous bodily harm to his ex-partner with intent.

 

She sustained multiple injuries including a collapsed lung, bleeding to the brain and fractures to her ribs, nose and jaw and spent three days in the Royal Victoria Hospital.

 

The court ruled that prior to the attack, which occurred on August 3rd, 2019, the defendant and the accused had been in a relationship which had ended.

 

Adeyemo started dating one of the woman’s neighbours which caused acrimony between the former couple, following this break-up.

 

Crown barrister Barra McGrory QC said that two days before the attack, Adeyemo called at his ex’s home and accused her of casting a voodoo spell on him that had affected his potency.

 

Saying it was the Crown’s case that this was a “key factor in the offending in terms of motivation”, Mr McGrory said the woman told Adeyemo there was no spell and he should go to see a doctor.

 

At 7.15am on August 3rd Adeyemo returned to her house and, once inside, he launched an immediate attack which started by him grabbing her by the throat leaving her unable to speak or breathe.

 

Adeyemo proceeded to carry her by the throat to the kitchen where the attack continued. Threatening to kill her, Adeyemo picked up a knife with his free hand which he used to try to cut her throat.

 

The woman fought back in an effort to keep the knife from her throat and was put to the floor where the strangulation continued.

 

At this point, she managed to grab a plate and smash it over Adeyemo’s head, causing a bleeding wound, which she later told police caused Adeyemo to “completely lose it”.

 

The attack continued in the backyard and was seen by neighbours who called the police. It was also witnessed by the woman’s daughter, who begged Adeyemo to stop.

 

The badly injured woman was also punched and kicked in the face, lost consciousness and came round while being tended to by police on her sofa.

 

The aftermath of the attack was captured on police body-worn footage and was described as “harrowing” by Mr Justice Fowler.

 

In this footage, the woman can be seen with serious facial injuries, while Adeyemo was recorded complaining she had put a spell on him to stop his penis from working.

 

While the woman was taken to the hospital where she was treated for multiple injuries, Adeyemo was arrested.

 

He told police during his interview that his ex-partner was into witchcraft, reiterated the claim about the spell and said he drank half a bottle of Baileys before going to her house.

 

Mr Justice Fowler said that after reading a Victim Impact Statement, it was clear the violent incident has had a lasting effect on her.

 

She now avoided going out and had become isolated, installed security cameras so she could feel safe in her own home and now suffered from nightmares, the judge revealed.

 

Mr Justice Fowler said he had considered submissions by defence barrister Gavan Duffy QC, which included Adeyemo’s clear criminal record, his good work record while living in Northern Ireland for the past 16 years, a complete lack of any prior domestic violence and the remorse he has since displayed.

 

The judge said he also accepted medical reports which suggest that at the time of the incident, Adeyemo was experiencing a mental health episode.

 

The attack was said to have occurred in the woman’s home where she should have felt safe and in the presence of a child, Mr Justice Fowler imposed an eight-year sentence and put in place a five-year restraining order.

 

    CRIME International News AddThis :  Original Author :  saharareporters, new york Disable advertisements :