UN, UK, Spain, Others Condemn Borno Mosque Killings

United Nations, United Kingdom and Spain joined others on Tuesday to condemn the killings of no fewer than 44 people in a mosque in Konduga, Borno State on Sunday by suspected Boko Haram members.

Others included the Arewa Consultative Forum, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Christian Association of Nigeria and Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.

In a statement by its spokesperson on Nigeria, the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, who expressed condolences to the bereaved families, called on all extremist groups to stop their attacks.

He said, "The Secretary-General reiterates his firm conviction that no objective can be attained through such violence. He calls on all parties to resolve their differences through dialogue and other peaceful means."

In a related statement on Tuesday, the UK Foreign Office Minister for Africa, Mark Simmonds, said the attack was a "contemptible and cowardly" act.

He said, "I strongly condemn the attack on worshippers in a mosque in Borno state, Nigeria, that took place on Sunday.

"Attacking innocent people in a place of worship is a contemptible and cowardly act. My thoughts are with all those who were caught up in the attack, and their families."

Spain's Foreign Ministry, in its own statement, called on the authorities "to advance their efforts to arrest the offenders, probably part of the Boko Haram terrorist group, bring them to justice, and put an end to the activities of the group which threaten the peace and coexistence in the country."

In its own reaction, the ACF described as "sad" the killing of 40 Muslim worshipers in Konduga, Borno State, by the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

National Publicity Secretarry of ACF, Anthony Sani, said in a statement sent to one of our correspondents in Kaduna that the killing was not only sad but condemnable.

The Forum noted that apart from being a heinous crime, the incident sought to desecrate the name of a religion of peace, "which is unfortunate."

It, therefore, urged the sect to lay down their arms and embrace peaceful means of addressing their grievances.

The Secretary-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, said the killing of people, whether muslim or Christian or any other person was an abomination.

In a telephone interview with one of our correspondents on Tuesday, he said killing of the people was sad and unIslamic.

He added that a thorough and discreet investigation should be carried out to identify the real perpetrators.

He said, "But whether those who killed people that were praying in the mosque are Boko Haram members or not, I think it is too hasty to name the perpetrators. Let us wait and see. I want to be on the ground to have the first hand information.

"It is condemnable to kill anybody whether Muslim or Christian, whether praying or not praying. Killing anybody is an abomination. It is unIslamic."

In his reaction, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, condemned the attacks by the terrorists in Borno State.

Tambuwal said the incident was "barbaric", expressing shock over the killing of innocent worshipers and security operatives.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Imam Imam, the speaker called on security agencies to go after the attackers and bring them to book.

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State on Tuesday also condemned the attack.

Shettima, who gave N250,000 to each of the deceased families and N100,000 to owners of the destroyed houses, stated this at the palace of the District head of Konduga.

Noting that Konduga has a very reach history, the governor urged the people to complement the government effort in restoring peace.

The Christian Association of Nigeria described the perpetrators of the attack as "brood of vipers that must be chased out."

The CAN Public Relations Officer in the Northern States and Abuja, Mr. Sunny Oibe, stated this in an interview with our correspondent on Tuesday, it appealed to Muslims to cooperate and join in the crusade to chase "the evil men out of the system."

He said, "We condemn the attack on the mosque in its entirety because it is a crime against humanity and this is what we have been saying that when evil is perpetrated anywhere, it is against all humanity. We condole with the family of those who lost their beloved ones in this trying moments."

Nigerian Polytechnics May Embark On Fresh Strike Next Week

Polytechnics in Nigeria are gearing for a fresh round of strikes after the federal government failed to address a "single thing" in their agreement, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a mass protest organized in Lagos to call government's attention to the poor state of public education, Chibuzo Asomugha, stated that a fresh strike is inevitable."The time we gave after the suspension of the strike will expire next week and up till now government has not done any single thing in the agreement," Mr. Asomugha, ASUP's National President, said.

"We joined this protest because we want to identify with the spirit of the Nigerian people to prevent the decay in the education sector," he added.

Last month, ASUP suspended its nearly three month old strike after the intervention of the Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Education.The committee had said that it would liaise with the relevant government ministries, agencies, and parastatals with a view to tackling all the union's demands.

ASUP had embarked on a nationwide industrial action on April 29, 2013, to force government to carry out a comprehensive overhaul of polytechnics across Nigeria.

Some of the union's concerns include the failure to constitute Governing Councils of federal polytechnics; snail speed of works on the amendment of the Federal Polytechnics Act/Scheme of Service; and the worrisome state of State owned polytechnics in the country.Other concerns are the refusal of most state governments to implement the approved salary packages (CONPCASS) for their polytechnics, and the 65 years retirement age; as well as the continued appointment of unqualified persons as Rectors and Provosts of Polytechnics, Monotechnics, and Colleges of Technologies by some state governments, among others.

The union had given the government representatives one month to accede to its demands.The ASUP boss accused the federal government of insensitivity because "they do not have their children in the polytechnics.""Government should stop paying lip service to public education. The closer you get to this people in government, the more you lose hope," Mr. Asomugha said.

NGF Crisis: Governor Amaechi, Jang May Step Down

Strong indications emerged from the Monday meeting by President Goodluck Jonathan, President Goodluck Jonathan and governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP that governors Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State and Jonah Jang of Plateau State who both chair two Secretariats of the Nigeria Governors' Forum, NGF may step down for a neutral governor as part of moves to resolve the lingering NGF crisis.

We gathered that this was one of the decisions reached at a meeting between ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Peoples Democratic Party governors on Monday night.

Both Amaechi and Jang attended the meeting which was held inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Chairman of the party, Bamanga Tukur, were not at the meeting which lasted till 11pm.

All the PDP governors, except the Governor of Bauchi State, Mallam Isa Yuguda, were in attendance.

A governor, who was at the meeting, said the governors were frank in their submissions while Obasanjo, who presided over the meeting, was said to have listened attentively.

First to be raised was the issue of the chairmanship of the NGF, which the majority of the governors said ought to be decided by the ruling party.

The governors who backed Jang during the election reportedly argued that it would be better to obey party's directive and instructions on any issue while some of the state chief executives suggested that both Amaechi and Jang should step down to pave the way for the emergence of a neutral person to chair the forum.

The governor who briefed our correspondents said, "Some of us felt that we should not allow the opposition to determine who leads us anywhere the party has majority.

"We cited the case of the office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, which was taken away from the party's choice because of the connivance of the opposition.

"We said we should be seen to be one and that this was the only way there would be cohesion and discipline in the party.

"What we want is peace and some of us argued that it could only be achieved if the two men (Jang and Amaechi) step down. That is why we asked them to consider that in the interest of the party."

"The Governor of Adamawa State, Admiral Murtala Nyako, has been asked to work on that by speaking with the two parties in the NGF matter."

The governors were also said to have told Obasanjo that no one should be given automatic ticket during the 2015 elections.

"We argued that after all, Obasanjo himself contested the presidential primary with other people in 2003. So, why should we be talking about automatic ticket now," the source added.

The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, said the meeting with Obasanjo was part of the process of rebuilding the party and ensuring total reconciliation.

Akpabio, who is the Chairman of the PDP Governors' Forum, spoke with State House correspondents on Tuesday shortly after a meeting with Jonathan in his office.

He said that he was convinced that the NGF factions would be reunited at the end of the exercise, stressing that all the steps being taken so far by the party leaders were meant to ensure cohesion and bring back all the party faithful.

Though Akpabio said he was at the Villa to give the President a progress report on the preparations for the PDP national convention, our correspondents learnt that the Akwa Ibom governor on Tuesday briefed Jonathan on the outcome of the Monday's meeting between the governors and Obasanjo.

He said, "I have just met with the President to report on the progress we are making towards the South-West congress that is coming up on August 24 and also the national convention that is coming up on the August 31 and you know I am a member of the planning committee.

"I am the chairman of the finance committee and by 3pm this afternoon (Tuesday), the entire finance committee will be meeting so that tomorrow (Wednesday), we report to the entire body of the National Planning Committee towards a hitch-free congress in the South-West and national convention.

"The meeting with Obasanjo was part of the processes of rebuilding the party and ensuring total reconciliation.

"All the steps being taken at the moment are steps in the right direction to ensure cohesion and bring back all the party faithful, particularly the body of governors will come together to work as one for the interest of Nigeria and the interest of the PDP."

When asked whether the meeting with Obasanjo had succeeded in calming the nerves of the five aggrieved Northern governors, Akpabio said he was not aware that any governor in the party's fold was aggrieved.

He said he was aware that all the PDP governors were working towards the success of the party.

ASUU Strike: FG, ASUU To Continue Negotiations Next Week Monday

A common ground is yet to be reached between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government as negotiations towards calling off the ongoing ASUU strike action will continue on Monday.

The Chairman of the Universities Needs Implementation Committee and Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam made this known to newsmen in Abuja yesterday after a three-hour meeting between ASUU and the government team.

According to him, the grey areas would soon be resolved going by the progress made so far.He said "Well the meeting continues next week Monday. We made some progress, we had very fruitful discussion with ASUU and we have agreed we are to meet again on Monday at about three o'clock. When we meet again we will be able to arrive at some decisions."

Reminded that he had made same promise last week, before, Suswam said "No, I said between one and two weeks. There is nothing wrong; you know we introduced some new faces, the minister of finance; you agree with me she is attending the meeting for the first time and also the Director General Budget. Now that Finance is coming, we are getting close to resolving it because the strike is about settling some debts and also intervening in the universities and so she is here and she also has contributed."

"We believe that when we meet next week Monday with ASUU we would have moved from where we are to the next stage. I can assure Nigerians that the President has taken this seriously as you can see the Minister of Finance and two ministers of education, Distinguished Senator, DG Budget, Minister of Labour, every person who should be here is here to show concern."

He went on: "I have spent so much time as governor being part of this which shows the seriousness which the President attaches to what is happening in the education sector. As I leave here, we are going to the second meeting which is on the Needs Assessment. We want to make sure that we solve this problem so we are holding meetings round the clock."

"We are making progress in the negotiations and we hope that we will be able to solve this problem soonest. The stage that we are now we are hoping that when we meet next week, we should be able to conclude on the discussion.""The fact that we were unable to conclude today does not mean that the meeting is deadlocked; very fruitful meeting and I believe that when we meet next week, we will arrive at some conclusion. That is what I can tell you." He stated.

The ASUU President, Comrade Nasir Isa Fagge, however, declined to comment on the agreements so far reached at the closed door meeting.

Soldiers Attack, Injure Policemen In Delta

There was confusion on Monday in in Koko, Warri North Local Government Area, Delta State, as soldiers attacked and injured police officers from Delta State Police Command, who were on escort duty with the state Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Anthonia Ashiedu.

The soldiers beat a police corporal, who drove one of the police vehicles, to pulp for allegedly blaring siren in the premises of the Warri North Local Government Council, which is close to a military outpost.

The corporal fainted because of the severe beating and was rushed to hospital for medical attention.

At press time, junior police police officers were spoiling for a showdown with soldiers in the state, saying it has become a tradition for soldiers to attack police officers in the state without justifiable reason.

State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, confirmed the incident saying the soldiers accused the police officers of blaring siren inside the secretariat of the council.

He said: "It is sheer brutality. I have reported the matter to the Inspector General of Police and contacted army authorities in the state, but they said they did not authorise the assault.

"They told us that there is no bad blood, but there is bad blood. Why did they attack fellow uniformed men in such a manner in the course of their duty? We are making a formal report on the incident.

"My stand is that the soldiers responsible for this attack should be fished out and made to face the music."

A source who spoke to us said: "The police officers from the B' Operations Department of the Delta State Police Command were on escort duty with the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Anthonia Ashiedu. It was an empowerment programme for the less privileged by the state government and because she was carrying some money for the programme, they requested police escort.

The frog jump

"As it is usual on such occasion, the siren was on when they entered the premises of Warri North Local Government Coucil and about eight soldiers came from a nearby outpost and asked the police driver, Corporal Ekome, to frog-jump.

"The police officer that led the team came to tell the soldiers that they should stop the confrontation, but the soldiers attacked him, seized his rifle and tore the button on his uniform.

"With the atmosphere charged, more soldiers joined their colleagues and insisted that the police driver must frog jump, which he resisted.

"The soldiers descended on him, ignoring the appeal from other police officers to stop creating a bad impression of Nigeria security officials in the eyes of the public.

"Some of the policemen wanted to retaliate, but were prevailed upon by the crowd, which watched the show of shame with dismay.

"The commissioner was shocked by the incident as she stood watching without knowing what to make out of the ugly show of power."

A junior police officer said: "We are waiting to know what the Commissioner of Police and others will do on this matter. If they sweep it under the carpet, I can assure you that we will attack soldiers in isolated places in the state because this is own is getting too much.

"Come to think of it, the job of internal security is that of the police. If not overzealousness, what is wrong in the police blaring siren in the premises of a local government council? Is that a reason for soldiers to attack policemen?"

Lagos Drags Al-Mustapha To Supreme Court Over Kudirat Abiola’s Murder

The Lagos State Government has gone to the Supreme Court to appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Lagos, which freed Maj. Hamza al-Mustapha and Lateef Shofolahan, who were accused of killing Mrs. Kudirat Abiola.
Kudirat was the wife of the acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola.

The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, at a briefing in Lagos on Tuesday, said there were "good grounds of appeal" in the case.

Ipaye said his ministry filed two separate notices of appeal against the judgment on Monday.

Al-Mustapha, a former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, and Shofolahan, a Personal Assistant to Kudirat, were on January 30, 2012, sentenced to death by hanging by Justice Mojisola Dada of a Lagos High Court.

The Justice Amina Augie-led appellate court on July 12, 2013, however, set aside the judgment of the lower court.

Ipaye, who refused to give details of the appeal, said the apex court would provide the final resolution of the case.

He said, "I can report that we have indeed appealed the judgments, one in respect of al-Mustapha and the other in respect of Lateef Shofolahan.

"Both have been studied closely and we came to the conclusion that there were good grounds for appeal and we have since filed all the necessary papers.

"We did that on Monday. Officially, we have put in our indication that we want to contest the judgment of the Court of Appeal at the Supreme Court.

"This step will also ensure that all issues are fully articulated and the victim's family, the defendants and the society are not deprived of the last window of opportunity provided by the constitution for the resolution of the case."

Obasanjo Explodes: Nigeria Is Cursed with Very Bad Leaders , Mentions Names

Obasanjo said all these on Tuesday in Ibadan, while reviewing the history of Nigeria as a keynote speaker at the 4th Annual Ibadan Sustainable Development Summit by the Centre for Sustainable Development, University of Ibadan, and African Sustainable Development Network.

Former President Olusegun Obsanjo has a strong message for us.

"We had some people who were under 50years in leadership positions. One of them was James Ibori, where is he today? One of them was Alamieyeseigha, where is he today? Lucky Igbinedion, where is he today?  
"The youngest was the Speaker, (Salisu) Buhari; you can still recall what happened to him. You said Bola Tinubu is your master. What Buhari did was not anything worse than what Bola Tinubu did.  

"But in this part of the world some people covered up the other man. The man claimed he went to Government College, Ibadan but the governor (Oyo State) went to Government College and packed all the documents so that they would not know that he did not go there.

"I wanted someone who would succeed me so I took Atiku. Within a year, I started seeing the type of man Atiku is. 

"And you want me to get him there? 

"I once went to Tanzania because Julius Nyerere recognised Biafra. He told me not to mind his aides and others in government. They would say they have one house in town but their five year old sons and daughters would have houses all over. 

"Some of you who are condemning the leadership would get there tomorrow and it will be a different story. Only very few are actually good.

"Abacha, my predecessor got $750m. Through our lawyer in Switzerland we recovered $1.25bn and the lawyer still said there is probably still another $1bn to be recovered. In 1979 we had 20 new ships specially built for Nigeria. When I came back 20 years after, the national shipping line had liquidated. 

"The whole thing is not just about leadership. If we talk about good leadership you should also talk about good followers. If you talk about human right you should also talk about human duties and obligations. 
"It is sad that after 53years of independence we have no leader that we can commend. The problem in Africa is that when one person takes over he would not see any good thing that his predecessor did. Let us condemn but with caution,"

Chelsea Tell Barcelona To Step Up David Luiz Bid To €50 Million

Barcelona have been told to double their opening offer for Chelsea centre-back David Luiz if they want to sign the Brazil international this summer. 


After rejecting a bid worth a potential €25 million, the Blues have placed a valuation of €50m on the versatile defender.
    
Such a fee would represent a new high-water mark for a defender, exceeding the €42m Paris Saint-Germain paid to beat Barcelona to the signature of Thiago Silva last year. The Spanish champions have spent the entire summer attempting to solve the problem left by that transfer market failure.

Funke Akindele confirms there's another Jenifa movie in the works

Funke Akindele just confirmed she's making another part of her hit movie, Jenifa, which already three parts. This time the movie will be about Jennifer's new life in the US. Looking forward to it?

Palace confirm Chamakh capture with former Arsenal striker signing one-year deal

Crystal Palace have completed the signing of Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh.
Chamakh has joined the Barclays Premier League newcomers after competing a medical, and will wear the number 29 shirt.
The 29-year-old France-born Morocco international has signed a one-year deal with the Eagles.

New man: Crystal Palace have completed the signing of former Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh

Chamakh becomes Palace boss Ian Holloway's seventh new signing since they clinched promotion from the Championship.
The 29-year-old striker had fallen out of favour at Arsenal and endured a dismal spell on loan at West Ham last season.
Holloway, speaking after Palace had lost 1-0 against Lazio last weekend, said: 'I normally do okay with people whose careers are faltering. I love them up and work with them, and hopefully I can get him back to how he was after he joined Arsenal.
'There was nothing wrong with him then when he scored eight in nine. But I wouldn't fancy being Robin van Persie's understudy, it can't have been fun.'

All smiles: Chamakh watched his new side take on Lazio at Selhurst Park on Saturday

I want to play for Arsenal! Bayern midfielder Gustavo pleas for Wenger to seal £14m switch

Luiz Gustavo would welcome a move to Arsenal in order to gain more first team football ahead of the World Cup in Brazil next year.
The Bayern Munich defensive midfielder, who has found himself playing second fiddle to Javi Martinez at the European champions, is close to completing a £14million move to the Emirates this week.
Believing first team opportunities would continue to be scarce under new manager Pep Guardiola, the 26-year-old is keen to increase his time on the pitch and boost his international chances by coming to the Premier League.

World Cup vision: Bayern Munich's Luiz Gustavo (left) favours a move to Arsenal in order to gain more first-team football and secure a place in the Brazil side next summer

On the hunt: Arsene Wenger is ready to beef up his squad

'My contract with Bayern runs until 2015 but it is very important that I play first-team football to keep getting called up for Brazil,' he said upon arrival in Basel for Brazil's friendly with Switzerland on Wednesday.
'I am in a very delicate situation at Bayern and this needs sorting out. I have personal and professional reasons to move.
'I have heard about the Arsenal interest. It's a big club we're talking about here so of course I'd like to play for them.'

Second choice: Gustavo, seen here challenging Uruguay's Luis Suarez in the Confederations Cup, has found regular first-team football hard to come by at Bayern

Wanted man: Luiz Gustavo

He added, in quotes reported on The Guardian: 'Arsenal play an attractive brand of football and are in the Champions League. They also have a very clever manager in Arsene Wenger.
'Even when Bayern beat them in the last Champions League [on away goals] you could see they are not pushovers.'
These comments suggest Gustavo, who was central for Brazil in their Confederations Cup win this summer, is more keen on joining Arsenal as opposed to Napoli and Wolfsburg, his other suitors.
Gustavo started only 20 games for Bayern in their Treble-winning season and believes that the arrival of Spain Under 21 international Thiago Alcantara will further undermine his chances.
'Nobody earns a place in the Brazil squad with past glories. I need to be playing to show I am in proper shape for the team, especially now that we have only friendlies before the World Cup,' he added.

Two British girls who 'tried to smuggle £1.5m of cocaine out of Peru in their suitcases'

Pictured at the moment when they were arrested, these are the two British girls accused of trying to smuggle cocaine worth more than £1.5million out of Peru in their suitcases.
Police in Lima claimed last night that Melissa Reid and Michaella McCollum Connolly had confessed their guilt.
The pair, who face lengthy sentences, have yet to be formally quizzed because officers have not been supplied with an English-speaking translator.

Moment of truth: Dancer Michaella McCollum Connolly (left), 20, from Dungannon, County Tyrone, and former shop worker Melissa Reid (right), 19, from Lenzie near Glasgow, were arrested last Tuesday at Lima airport

Weighed in: Anti-drugs squad officers found nearly six kilos of cocaine (right) hidden in food products (left) in each of the women’s suitcases

British girls accused of trying to smuggle £1.5m of cocaine...

But Major Manuel Siclla, who heads the investigation, said: ‘They have admitted it informally to me and officers at the airport who arrested them.
'They are okay but are obviously worried about their families and what the future holds for them.

‘Like anyone else involved in drugs smuggling, they will be tried and face long prison sentences if convicted. We take this problem very seriously in Peru and courts are very strict about enforcing the law.’
Former shop worker Miss Reid, 19, from Lenzie near Glasgow, and dancer Miss McCollum Connolly, 20, from Dungannon, County Tyrone, were arrested last Tuesday morning as they prepared to board an Air Europa flight from Lima to Madrid before taking a second plane to their final destination in Majorca.

Shock: The parents of Melissa Reid said they have yet to come to term's with their daughter's arrest

Unsure future: Miss Reid (left) and Miss McCollum Connolly (right) are currently being held in jail in Lima, Peru

Anti-drugs squad officers found nearly six kilos of cocaine hidden in food products in each of the women’s suitcases.

Shocked: Miss Reid's parents William and Debra are struggling to come to terms with the news

The pair are thought to have been recruited as drug mules on the promise of an all-expenses-paid holiday to Peru plus £8,000 each in cash by gang masters in Ibiza, where they had gone to work in bars and clubs over the summer.
It had been reported they were being held in the tough Santa Monica women’s jail in the Lima suburb of Chorillos.
But officers from the Peruvian anti-drugs squad revealed yesterday that they were in police cells.
Major Siclla, who has another week to interrogate them before handing them over to an investigating judge for further questioning, said: ‘They have a bed each and share a bathroom with other women. All the guards are female.
‘The women get three meals a day, typically porridge and bread for breakfast, lentils or refried beans for lunch and the same sort of dinner along with water and tea.
'British consular staff have been to visit the women and they have been able to speak to their families with phone cards they left them. I can assure you they are not being held in hellhole conditions.’

Yet to be formally quizzed: Miss McCollum Connolly (pictured), 20, has been arrested in Lima, Peru

Airport: The pair were arrested in Lima (pictured) on Tuesday while trying to board a flight to Madrid

Vanished: Miss McCollum Connolly was at the centre of a Facebook and online social media appeal after she went missing from Ibiza (file picture)

source: daily mail

Femi Falana: The Lagos Deportation And The Law

Mr Femi Falana

Deportation of dissidents : In 1885 the British colonial regime deported King Jaja of Opobo to a remote island in West Indies where he died in 1889. His offence was that he had challenged the imperialist control of the coastal trade. In 1941, Comrade Michael Imoudu, President of the Nigerian Union of Railwaymen, was deported from Lagos and banished to his hometown, Auchi in the Benin Province as he was considered “a potential threat to public safety” . He only returned to Lagos in 1945 following the revocation of Sections 57-63 of the General Defence Regulation, 1941 under which he had been detained. There were other nationalist agitators and labour leaders who were deported and banished to prevent them from taking part in the struggle against colonialism. The barbaric practice of deporting Nigerians was resuscitated by the defunct military dictatorship. In particular, the reactionary regimes of Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha resorted to the crude harassment of political opponents by deportation.

In 1992, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN, Dr. Beko Ransome -Kuti and I were deported from Lagos and detained at Kuje Prisons for challenging the unending military rule of the Babangida junta. The retired Gen. Zamani Lekwot was deported from Kaduna and detained with us in the prison. The following year, we were also repatriated from Lagos and banished to the same prison for leading peaceful rallies in Lagos against the criminal annulment of the June 12 presidential election. In June 1994, the winner of the presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola was deported from Lagos and detained in military custody in Kano, Borno and Abuja.

In 1995, the chairman of the Campaign for Democracy, Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, alerted the world that the secret trial of Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo and others by a Special Military Tribunal had been concluded and that the convicts were being prepared for execution. For leaking such information to the media the human rights leader was tried in Lagos, jailed for life and deported to Katsina Prison. The CD vice-chairman, Shehu Sani, was arrested in Kaduna, jailed for life in Lagos and banished to Kirikiri Maximum Prison in Apapa. Four journalists viz: Chris Anyanwu, Kunle Ajibade, Charles Mbah and Charles Obi, who were convicted for being accessories after the fact of treason i.e. the 1995 phantom coup, were deported from Lagos and kept in separate prisons in the northern states.

In 1996, Fawehinmi was once again deported from Lagos and detained at the Bauchi prison while Femi Aborishade and I were deported from Lagos and held at the Gumel and Mawadashi prisons (in Jigawa State) respectively. Comrade Frank Kokori who was arrested in Lagos was banished to Bama prisons in Borno State for four years. General Obasanjo who was convicted in Lagos was deported to Yola prison. His ex-deputy, General Shehu Yar’Adua was deported from Kaduna, convicted in Lagos and held at various times in Kirikiri, Port Harcourt and Abakaliki prisons.

Like King Jaja both Abiola and Yar’Adua died in suspicious circumstances while they were in custody. But as deportation of colonial subjects could not be justified even under colonial rule it was carried out pursuant to special regulations. In the same vein, the military dictators engaged in deportation of citizens under the preventive detention decrees and the Prison Act.

It is common knowledge that the beautification project of the Babatunde Fashola administration has led to the deportation of hundreds of the flotsam and jetsam from Lagos State to their states of origin. The elite and the media have been celebrating the ban on “Okada” from the major roads and the removal of traders and area boys from the streets. For understandable reasons, most of the hundreds of thousands of poor people who have been displaced and dislodged in the operation “Keep Lagos clean” are of the Yoruba extraction.

In fact, on April 9, 2009, when the Lagos State Government deported 129 beggars of Oyo State origin and dumped them at Molete in Ibadan, the Governor Adebayo Alao Akala administration alleged that the action was aimed at sabotaging his government. Just last week, some beggars of Osun State origin were also deported by the Lagos State Government and dumped at Osogbo.

It is sad to note that most Nigerians never took cognisance of the war being waged by state government against the poor and disadvantaged citizens in the urban renewal policy until the much-publicised case of the 14 “beggars” of Anambra State origin who were deported in Lagos and dumped in Onitsha about three weeks ago. In fact, it was the condemnation of the deportation by the Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, that drew the attention of the elite to the unfortunate development. However, in defence of its action, the Lagos State Government stated that it entered into an agreement with the Anambra State Government through its liaison office in Lagos on the controversial deportation.

Although the Anambra State Government has not denied the allegation that it was privy to the deportation of the beggars, it is on record that in December 2011, the Obi administration had deported 29 beggars to their states of origin i.e. Akwa Ibom and Ebonyi states. Apart from such official hypocrisy, the Obi administration did not deem it fit to protest when the Abia State Government purged its civil service of “non-indigenes” in 2012. Many of the victims of the unjust policy who hail from Anambra were left in the lurch.

In June 2011, the Federal Capital Territory administration deported 129 beggars to their respective states of origin. In May 2013, hundreds of beggars were also removed from the streets and expelled from Abuja. Of course, it is common knowledge that the FCT authorities have continued to demolish residential houses without following due process in order to “restore the Abuja Masterplan” which was distorted through corruption and abuse of office. The majority of the victims of such illegal demolitions who are poor have been dislocated and forced out of the FCT.

Last week, the Rivers State Government removed 113 Nigerians from the streets of Port Harcourt and deported them to their states of origin. The Akwa Ibom State Government has just contacted its Lagos counterpart of the planned deportation of two “mad” Lagosians roaming the streets of Uyo. Many other state governments are busy deporting beggars, mad men and other destitute persons in the on-going beautification of state capitals. Those who are defending the Igbo beggars out of sheer ethnic irredentism should be advised to examine the socio-economic implications of the anti-people’s urbanisation policy being implemented by the federal and state governments in the overall interests of the masses.

Since deportation has been resuscitated under the current political dispensation it has become pertinent to examine the legal implications of the forceful deportation of a group of citizens on account of their impecunious status. Although street trading and begging have been banned in some states it is submitted, without any fear of contradiction, that there is no existing law in Nigeria which has empowered the federal and state governments to deport any group of Nigerian citizens to their states of origin.

To be concluded tomorrow.

•Falana, SAN, is a Lagos-based human rights lawyer

Photos: Nollywood Actress Iyabo Ojo Opens Beauty Shop In Lagos

Over the weekend, Yoruba movie star, Iyabo Ojo opened her beauty shop, Fepris world, in Omotayo street, off Allen Avenue, Lagos! The occasion was graced by her colleagues in the movie industry...see photos below:

Ghanian Star Jocelyn Dumas falls on stage trying to rock Denrele Edun's boots

Dear Jocelyn and everyone else, only Denrele can rock those boots. Only Denrele! The Ghanaian TV personality joined Denrele on stage during the launch of Channel O ONews Live in Ghana last night and for some reason felt confident she could dance in Denrele's very high boots. She took off her Louboutins and put on Denrele's boots...and well, you can see what happened next in photos. hmmmmm Photocopy ko easy*winks*

Judge Orders Mom To Change Name Of Child From Messiah

A Tennessee judge has ordered a baby's first name changed from "Messiah" to Martin, saying that the only true messiah is Jesus Christ, a ruling the boy's mother promises to appeal, a Tennessee television station has reported.

"The word 'messiah' is a title, and it's a title that has only been earned by one person, and that one person is Jesus Christ. And the child would likely struggle with his given first name because he lives in Cocke County, a predominantly Christian area in eastern Tennessee", the Judge said.

The baby's mother Jaleesa Martin said she would appeal against the judge's order.

"I didn't think a judge could change my baby's name because of her religious beliefs," she said.

According to her, she chose the name because she liked how it sounded with her two other children's names, Micah and Mason and not because of its religious beliefs.

Doris Simeon shows off her bikini bud on magazine cover

Movie star, Doris Simeon is so sexy!

This is Doris Simeon's first ever bikini shoot and her most revealing photo shoot ever - on the cover of  REEL E magazine putting on a light blue bikini wear partially covered by a lingerie top.

Nice one Doris

Police Arraign 18yr Old Motorcyclist For Allegedly Snatching Handbag

(NAN) – The police on Monday arraigned a motorcyclist, Kabiru Suleiman, 18, of Tudun Wada Village, Abuja in a Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ Court for allegedly snatching a woman’s handbag.
The Police Prosecutor, Cpl. Paul Anigbo, told the court that on Aug. 6, the accused was dragged to the Lugbe Police Station, for allegedly snatching a handbag belonging to one Ms Faith Ufomadu.He said that at about 6:45 a.m,, the accused snatched Ufomadu’s bag which contained seven thousand naira and some documents.
Anigbo informed the court that when the accused was apprehended, he was found in possession of the handbag.He said that the accused was standing trial for the offence of theft which he said, was contrary to Section 287 of the Penal Code.
Section 287 of the code stipulates that whoever commits theft shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or with fine or with both.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the offence.The Senior Magistrate, Mrs Nafisat Ibrahim, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N5,000 with one reasonable surety in like sum who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.
She adjourned the case to Aug. 22, for hearing.

Omotola, Genevieve, Others Make African Oscar List [Full List]

The nominees for the third annual African ‘Oscars’ organised by Nollywood and African Film Critics, USA Washington DC has been released with Omotola Jolade Ekeinde, Genevieve Nnaji, Monilsa Chinda and Uche Jumbo Rodriguez among A-rated Nigerian actresses nominated in various categories of the awards.
Organisers say the ceremony which holds on the 14th of September 2013 at Warner Theatre, will air worldwide with over 500 Million viewers expected to tune in to the glitz and glamour of NAFC Awards Night.
Here’s the full list of the nominees for various categories…
DIASPORA CATEGORIES
Best film in Diaspora
1. Le Silence Pure
2. Page 36
3. One Night in Vegas
4. Boys Cry
5. Unguarded
Best Drama Diaspora Film
1. Turning Point
2. Page 36
3. Boys Cry
4. Unguarded
5. One Night in Vegas
Best Screenplay Diaspora Film
1. Turning Point
2. Page 36
3. One Night in Vegas
4. Boys Cry
5. Unguarded
Best Cinematography Diaspora Film
1. Turning Point
2. Page 36
3. One Night in Vegas
4. Black Money
5. Le Silence Pure
Best Actor in leading role Diaspora Film
1. Igoni Archibong-Turning Point
2. Pascal Atuma- Secret Past
3. Egbi Perez-Page 36
4. Montel Swaray-Temperamental
5. John Dumelo – One Night in Vegas
Best Actress in leading role Diaspora
1. Yvonne Nelson –One Night in Vegas
2. Jackie Appiah-Turning Point
3. Uche Jombo- Unguarded
4. Marie Solo Peters– Le Silence Pure
5. Fatima Koroma – Nurses from Hell
Best Actor in Supporting role Diaspora Film
1. Ernie Hudson- Turning Point
2. Jimmy Jean Louis-One Night in Vegas
3. Ash Da Vito-African Connection
4. Van Vicker – One Night in Vegas
5. Michael Blackson- One Night in Vegas
Best Actress in supporting role Diaspora Film
1. Merlisa Langellier -Page 36
2. KD Hubert-Turning Point
3. Sarodj Bertin–One Night in Vegas
4. Gloria Washington- Nurses From Hell
5. Chisom Oz Lee – Unguarded
Best Director in Diaspora Film
1. Mitchel A Jones–Boys Cry
2. John Uche-One Night In Vegas
3. Robert Peters– Le Silence Pure
4. Don Okolo-Page 36
5. Bethels Aguomoh-Ungurded
NOLLYWOOD & AFRICAN PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS
Favorite Actor
Benedict Johnson
·2. Joseph Benjamin
·3. Majid Michel
·4. Emmanuel Mensah
· 5. Chamberlyne Okoro
Favorite Actress
·1. Ify Hollywood
· 2. Omotola Ekehinde
· 3. Fatima Jabbe
· 4. Monalisa Chinda
· 5. Queen Amina
Favorite Director
·1. Kunle Afolayan
· 2. Prinze Whyee
· 3. Ibrahim Ceesay
· 4. Pascal Amanfo
· 5. Kathryn Fasegha
Favorite Screenwriter
·1. Emem Isong
· 2. Andrew Campbell
· 3. Pascal Amanfo
Best Actor in leading Role
1. Majid Michel – The Price
2. Ramsey Nouah-Weekend Getaway
3. Adjetey Anang – The Hunters
4. Jim Iyke-Blood or Wine
5. Anurin Nwunembom-Ninah’s Diary
Best Actress in leading role
1. Beverly Naya-Alan Poza
2. Jackie Appiah-The Hunters
3. Iretiola Doyle– Torn
4. Mbufung Seikeh-Ninah’s Diary
5. Genevieve Nnaji-Weekend Getaway
Best Actor in Supporting role
1. Adjetey Annang-Letters to My Mother
2. Eddie Watson-Letters to My Mother
3. John Ijie-The Hands of Fate
4. Kofi Adjorlolo-The Price
5. Uti Nwachkwu-Weekend Getaway
Best Actress in supporting role
1. Kalsume Sinare-The Price
2. Patience Ozokwor – American Mama
3. Ini Edo-Weekend Getaway
4. Beverly Naya-Weekend Getaway
5. Monalisa Chinda-Weekend Getaway
Best Child Actor in a Film
1. Oley Saidykhan -The Hands of Fate
2. Elijah Kondeh-Boys Cry
3. Boakai Kimbo-Boys Cry
4. Ceareh Hamilton–Boys Cry
5. Marisha Nayee-Angel & the Mailman
Best Director in a Film
1. Charles Novia-Alan Poza
2. Pascal Amanfo- Letters to My Mother
3. Tom Robson-Mrs. Somebody
4. Desmond Elliot –Weekend Getaway
5. Victor Viyuoh-Ninah’s Dowry
Favorite Male Artiste Diaspora
· 1. Koby Maxwell
· 2. Sky J
· 3. Dacapo
Favorite Female Artiste Diaspora
· 1. Katumbella
· 2. Twissa
· 3. Soleil Diva
·4. Uba Unwudiwe
Favorite Artiste of the Year
1. Yemi Sax
· 2. 2Face Idibia
· 3. P Square
Favorite Song of the Year
·1. Flavour
·2. 2 Face Idibia
Favorite Video of the Year
·1. Timaya
·2. P Square
·3. Flavour
GENERAL CATEGORIES
Best Film
1. Alan Poza
2. Ninah’s Dowry
3. Weekend Getaway
4. One Night in Vegas
5. Le Silence Pure
Best Indigenous Film
1. The Blessed Curse
2. The Hands of Fate
3. Le Silence Pure
4. Deceit of the gods
Best Drama
1. Alan Poza
2. The Hunters
3. Le Silence Pure
4. Weekend Getaway
5. Ninah’s Dowry
Best Comedy
1. Alan Poza
2. Mrs. Somebody
3. American Mama
4. Wife for Ozobia
5. Unguarded
Best Docu-Drama
1. A Wish-Brest Cancer
2. The Hand of Fate- HIV
3. Boys Cry-Bullying
4. Ninah’s Dowry-Dowry
5. Le Silence Pure
BestTV/Online Series
1. Wife for Ozobio
2. African Connection
3. Adams Apples
Best Short Film / Trailer
1. Fetus
2. Unspoken
3. Hungry For You Honey
4. Five
Best Cinematography
1. A Wish
2. Alan Poza
3. Ninah’s Dowry
4. Weekend Getaway
5. One Night in Vegas
Best Screenplay
1. Letters to My Mother
2. Boys Cry
3. Alan Poza
4. Ninah’s Dowry
5. One Night in Vegas
Best Editing
1. Weekend Getaway
2. Alan Poza
3. Ninah’s Dowry
4. One Night in Vegas
5. Boys Cry
Best Sound
1. Page 36
2. Ninah’s Dowry
3. Turning Point
4. One Night in Vegas
5. Boys Cry
Best Original Score
1. America the True Dream-The Fetus
2. Crazy World-Somewhere in Baltimore
3. Zahara Loliwe-Pink Poison
4. False Engagement-False Engagement
5. Pariwo-Mind of the Enemy
Best Visual Effects
1. The Blessed Curse
2. One Night in Vegas
3. The Hunters
4. Temperamental
5. The Fetus
Best Costume
1. The Price
2. Unguarded
3. Page 36
4. African Connection
5. Le Silence Pure
Best Makeup
1. The Blessed Curse
2. The Fetus
3. Temperamental
4. Ninah’s Dowry
5. The Price

Woman Delivers Siamese Twins With 3 Legs In Benue

(Leadership) – The birth of conjoined twins by a housewife, Mrs. Ene Musa Andrew, at the St. Daniels hospital, Otukpo, came as a great mystery to the people of Jerusalem street in Otukpo Local Government Area in Benue state.

There has never been any incident of this mysterious birth in any part of the various communities of the local government. Otukpo is the ancestral home of the Idoma nation, a minority tribe in the agrarian state.

We gathered that the incident occurred penultimate Monday when the mother of the twins delivered through cesarean operation. The honed twins are still in the hospital without anyone to come for assistance.

It was gathered that the joined twins have four hands and three legs, two heads, two chests and noses, and that they posses the same pelvic girdle.

The proprietor of St. Daniels Hospital, Dr. M. O Daniel, said that the twins are joined together at the abdominal region with a shared female organ, with one having a healthy traces of surviving than the other.

He stated that the twins were eating well but it may result to complications if an urgent high-tech operation is not carried out outside the state and appealed to government agencies, philanthropists and religious institutions to come to the aid of the parents.

Mr. Andrew Musa, a corporal with the Nigeria Police currently serving with the Otukpo division is the father of the joined twins. He said “there has never been such strange delivery in his family lineage.

“I’m Challenging Obama”, Boko Haram Leader, Shekau Says In New Video

Shekau

 

(AFP) – The leader of Nigeria’s Boko Haram Islamists has claimed a series of recent deadly attacks on security forces in the northeast, in a video obtained by AFP Monday.
Abubakar Shekau also insisted that he was in “good health” despite an ongoing military offensive aimed at crushing the Islamist insurgent group he heads.

“You have not killed Shekau,” he said in the video distributed through a local intermediary in a similar manner to previous Boko Haram messages.

Seated on a short stool with a kalashnikov rested on his right shoulder, Shekau said Boko Haram was “responsible” for several deadly raids over the past month.

These include attacks on the police and military in the towns of Malam Fatori and Bama, which sparked clashes that killed at least 35 people, according to the military.

The video contained what Shekau claimed was footage of Boko Haram gunmen opening fire on the military in Bama, using heavy weapons mounted on flat-bed trucks.

Shekau also referred to fighting in the towns Baga and Gamboru Ngala near the border with Cameroon, .

The Boko Haram leader has been declared a global terrorist by the United States, which in March put a $7 million (5.3 million euros) bounty on his head.

“I’m challenging Obama,” Shekau said in the video. He voiced similar challenges to French President Francois Hollande and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“They are no match for me,” he proclaimed.
Boko Haram is believed to be made up of different factions, with Shekau leading the most radical Islamist cell.

He has ruled out any dialogue with the government and says he is fighting to create an Islamic state in Nigeria’s north.

The northeast is currently under a state of emergency as the military pursues an offensive seeking to end Boko Haram’s four-year insurgency.

The insurgency is estimated to have claimed more than 3,600 lives since 2009, including killings by the security forces.

Nigeria’s 160 million population is roughly divided between a mainly Christian south and mostly Muslim north.

EFCC Interrogates Ex-Kwara Governor, Bukola Saraki Over Alleged Fraud

 The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday quizzed a former Kwara State Governor, Bukola Saraki, over his alleged role in the collapse of the Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria.

Saraki, a former executive director of the bank, reported on Monday to the Abuja office of the anti-graft agency.

As of the time of filing this report, the former governor, reportedly interrogated by detectives led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Magu, was still in the EFCC office.

The Senator, representing Kwara Central, was also said to have faced another panel of interrogators led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police, Yahaya Bello.

Our correspondent gathered that the Bello-led team grilled the Senator over the control and management of state funds during his eight-year reign as a governor.

Bello is the second in command in charge of economic governance at the EFCC.

The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that Saraki was with the commission but declined comments on the reasons for his visit.

He said, “Yes, he is with us but I cannot say more than that.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria withdrew the SGBN operational licence in 2005 following its inability to increase its capital base to N25bn.

However, the bank got back its licence in 2010 following a court’s judgment nullifying the action of the CBN.

Saraki on August 1, in a statement by his media aide, Bamikole Omisore, denied that the anti-graft agency invited him for interrogation.

The statement read, “We will like to emphasise and categorically state that Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki has not received any letter of invitation from the EFCC.

“For the avoidance of doubt, those, who have been a keen observer of this unfolding drama, will recall that the agency has conducted an investigation in 2010, 2011 and 2012 without finding the Senator wanting.

“These are not new issues and Senator Saraki has stated that if he receives an invitation from the agency to assist them in their findings, he will be more than happy to honour the invitation as he has nothing to hide, with regard to his tenure as a governor.”

The statement added, “As regards the SGBN, again, this is not new as investigation on this was done over 10 years ago and during the investigations, Senator Saraki, as the governor of Kwara State, waived his immunity to answer questions by the EFCC officials in Lagos as regard his time at the bank.

“To set the record straight, there has been no invitation notice to the Senator prior to the newspaper publication even as of the time of preparing this press statement, there is still no invitation from the EFCC. These are facts that can be easily correlated.”

Farmer Arrested For Allegedly Killing His Daughter’s Lover

 Detectives in Ondo State have arrested a farmer in Idanre Local Government Area of the state, Mr Ojo, for allegedly killing his daughter’s lover.
However, it was alleged by the mother of the deceased that after his son was killed, the suspect hanged him on a tree to create impression that he committed suicide.
But Police were still investigating the matter.

The deceased, Ego George, 22, who was a commercial motorcycle rider was dating the suspect’s 20-year-old daughter, Feyi, a secondary school student.

We gathered that the suspect allegedly committed the crime at Jemgbe Camp, a settlement in Idanre.He is said to be a native of Kabba in Kogi State while the deceased is from Orogun in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

Narrating how the suspect allegedly killed his son, the mother, Mrs Grace George, said prior to the unfortunate incident there had been threats from Ojo to kill Ego should he not leave his daughter alone.

Mrs George alleged that after killing his son, Ojo hanged him to create impression that he committed suicide, explaining that a day before the tragic incident, he came with a policeman to arrest his son.
She said: “Ojo came to Ego’s house in Jemgbe with the policemen to arrest him on Wednesday night, July 31, 2013 but did not meet him at home.

“The following day, which was Thursday, August 1, Ego was reportedly missing. They later saw Ego’s corpse in the bush on Monday August 5.”

Confirming the incident, the Police image maker, Wole Ogodo, said the body of the deceased had been taken to hospital for autopsy.

The suspect, according to him, had been arrested and transferred to state CID, Akure.
Ogodo said “From the briefs I have gotten so far, I think what happened was that a case of suicide was reported to DPO Idanre.

“As police was trying to take action, we went to that place to remove the boy from the hanging tree, they said the Baale of that place said before the boy is removed, that it was a taboo and some rituals had to be performed.

“So, while doing that, the DPO saw Ojo and tactically brought him to station and arrested him.
“While doing that, the mother of the deceased alleged that about four days ago, there was a rift between her son and one Ojo alleging that he was dating his daughter. That she never believed that her son could commit suicide.

Ogodo said “So, the case was transferred to State CID. The corpse was removed from the hanging tree. They have taken it to hospital for autopsy to determine whether it was suicide or murder”