WHO ARE HIGH CHIEF O.B. LULU-BRIGGS’ BIOLOGICAL CHILDREN; AS WIDOW, SEINYE RUSHES TO READ WILL?

Introduction:

Seinye has gone ahead to read her own version of the Will in a manner that many observers say exposes her intentions to grab her husband’s estate at the expense of his older biological sons.

Investigation reveals that until 2002, Chief O. B. Lulu-Briggs did not know that he had other biological children beside his three male children and one female child namely: Senibo, Dumo, Sofiri and Rachael.

When Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs realized that Mrs. Seinye Lulu-Briggs had lodged a Will and asked that it be read on the 12th of April, he in collaboration with his two other brothers, got a court order to stop the reading of the Will and an order against the executors, requesting to know who authorized them to take a date to read the Will.

Recall, that Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs had also lodged a Will which, he said, was giving to him by their father but wants it read after the burial in due reverence to their father. According to Dumo, there was no need to distract the family from the primary purpose of giving their father a befitting burial.

High Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs blessing his son, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, ahead of the 2014 Rivers State PDP governorship primaries

Adamant on reading a Will before her husband’s burial, Seinye went to court to vacate the court order that Dumo and his brother got stopping the reading of her own version of the Will.

On the 25th of July, the court granted Seinye her request and struck out the suit filed by Dumo and his brothers on the basis that no reasonable action was brought against Seinye as a person.

Commenting on the ruling, Dumo says that the court did not take into cognizance that, there were other executors apart from Seinye. If the court struck out the suit because there was no reasonable action brought against Seinye, what about the two executors who have said with an affidavit in court that they were not aware that the Will was to be read? Instructively, the action was brought against the executors and Seinye is only one of them.

The ruling that struck out the suit to stop the reading of the Will was given as late as 3:15pm on Thursday, 25th of July that got tongues wagging that the Rivers State Government may have shown interest, considering that Dumo is a prominent politician, whose political status could be boosted exceedingly, if allowed to inherit a reasonable portion of his late father’s humongous wealth.

Armed with the judgement, Seinye’s lawyer on that same 25th July, informed Dumo via an email, that having vacated the court order stopping the reading of the Will, the Will would be read the next morning the 26th July at 8am in the Chief registrar’s office. Dumo said that he got the information at about 7pm, when he saw the email.

Consequently, Dumo’s lawyers wrote to Seinye’s lawyers, stating that the notice for the reading of the Will ought to have been issued by the probate registry indicating the particular date and time and not by Seinye’s lawyers. Therefore, they (Dumo and brothers) have not been giving a proper notice.

Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs who lives in Lagos was unable to be in court the following day 26th July, his two brothers were also unable to be in court and none of the five executors that were listed were said to be in court other than Seinye.

 

Below is the full text of Seinye’s version of the will as circulated in the media:

“I Chief Olu Benson Lulu-Briggs, of the Briggs family of Abonnema in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area in Rivers State, now residing in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, hereby make publish and declare this to be my Last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former wills, codicils and any other form of testamentary bequest.

“First, I wish to be buried and for my wife Seinye Lulu-Briggs, if she survives me, to take active part in my funeral services. I direct that my funeral service be simple and done in Kalabari tradition as allowed by my Christian beliefs in recognition of the dignity of my position as head, Young Briggs House. I request that there be no mourning or weeping. Any member of my family and a beneficiary under this will, who refuses to participate in my burial, shall be completely excluded from the benefit under this will, as if such person had predeceased me.

“For the reasons specified in a letter, I have executed on the date of this will, I have not made any provision in this will for my sons, Dumo, Senibo or Sofiri. If this will is contested by any of my sons, I request that such letter be introduced as evidence of the reasons why I have not made any such provision.

“I will establish a trust in Nigeria, the Ebuye Trust, and for the purpose procure the incorporation of holding trust company (ies) in Nigeria. The Ebuye Trust shall be set up broadly in accordance with the following directions;

“The trustees of the trust and directors of the trust holding company(ies) shall, at all times, comprise a maximum of 4 persons, who in the first instance will be His Excellency Donald Duke, Mr John Sassine, Dr A. Odaga and Seinye; and in the event that any of them decline to act as trustee or a vacancy otherwise occurs, shall include such other persons as the remaining persons nominated as trustees shall decide.

“The executive trustee and director of the trust holding company (ies) will be Seinye, whilst the other trustees of the trust and directors will act in a non-executive capacity.”

In another schedule, the Will reads:

“I, High Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs, on this 2nd day of October, 2012, being of a clear mind and without neither duress nor persuasion do make the following declarations:

That my following children namely: Senibo Lulu-Briggs, Dumo Lulu-Brriggs and Sofiri Lulu-Briggs are expressly excluded from all forms of inheritance from my assets, estates, companies and all forms of property (ies), acquired) by myself or accruing from my interest and all money in all my Bank accounts, both personal, joint and companies where my interests are in existence.

That the female by name Nwamma Opusunji brought to me by my cousin, Madam Soton Tom Briggs, who hails from Opobo, is not my daughter and I have never acknowledged her as such. Therefore, I hereby declare that on no account should she be entitled to inherit directly or indirectly from my estates, assets, property (ies) belonging to me or any interest in such business/companies both on my personal acquisition and interest in various companies”.

Comment

It is mindboggling how High Chief O. B. Lulu-Briggs would in 2011, install his son Dumo Lulu-Briggs, as Chief of the Lulu-Briggs family and head of the family in his absence, only for the High Chief to state a year after that Dumo is “expressly excluded from all forms of inheritance from my assets, estates, companies and all forms of property (ies), acquired) by myself”.

How does Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs get the heirlooms of the Lulu-Briggs’ chieftaincy if he is “expressly excluded from inheritance”? Does it mean that High Chief O. B. Lulu-Briggs, having not named another person to head the Lulu-Briggs family in the so-called Will, has put an end to his own chieftaincy lineage – a legacy he fought for all his life?

The so-called Will made Mrs. Seinye Lulu-Briggs “The executive trustee and director of the trust holding company (ies)” forever, without a successor even when she dies.

The purported Will also disinherited Chief O. B. Lulu-Briggs daughter, Nwamma, with the likely intent to put her out of the way, since she is older than Seinye’ daughter, Solate and could play the role of first daughter instead of Solate.

Most importantly, the Will that was read, presupposes that Chief O. B. Lulu-Briggs had forgotten the condition on which his three sons handed over their shares in Moni Pulo to their father which is in “fostering family relationship, for continuing love and affection”. For which Senibo, Dumo and Sofiri transferred to their father a total of 268,445,000 shares, which was 67.1% of the total shares of Moni Pulo.

Would Chief O. B. Lulu-Briggs be said to be “fostering family relationship, for continuing love and affection” by bequeathing assets handed over to him on very clear conditions to Seinye?

Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs has since lodged objections in court that, that can’t be the Will of their father who he said was a very traditional person, saying that “we are sure that our father, knowing the basis of that settlement could not have done any such thing”.

It is however instructive to note that the 2004 consent judgement stated in very clear terms that all the conditions contained in the Consent Judgement shall be subject to strict compliance with the terms of the Settlement Deed. It was further agreed that the settlement parties or any of them and the defender shall be at liberty to set aside this Consent Judgement upon a breach of any of the terms of the Settlement Deed.  The so-called Will has obviously breached the terms of the 2004 settlement.

Who are High Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs’ children?

Investigation reveals that until 2002, Chief O. B. Lulu-Briggs did not know that he had other biological children beside his three male children and one female child namely: Senibo, Dumo, Sofiri and Rachael.

However, in 2002, when Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs got married to Seinye, she came with her twenty years old daughter, Solate and later adopted a son, Iyowuna in 2008. A male child, Dateim was introduced into the family in 2007 by a his mother. The chief had earlier adopted a male child of his former wife and renamed him, Onimim while a female child, Nwanma who is older than Solate, was also introduced to the family.

Senibo 69, Dumo 55 and Sofiri 48 are the older sons. Rachael was born in 1992. These are children of High Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs on whom he either performed the Kalabari “Iya” ceremony or got married to their mothers.

Family sources revealed that the birth of Rachael was of great joy to the O.B. Lulu-Briggs family who until her birth neither had a daughter nor a granddaughter. At the time, there were only three male children and the eldest, Senibo already had five boys of his own. There was no girl in the family.

Rachel’s birth broke the jinx and Chief Lulu-Briggs was said to be so happy that he named her after his beloved mother, Rachel. – The name of his hotel which he named after his mother.

Dateim was born in 1993, but was said to be unknown to High Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs until 2007, when he was brought to the chief at the age of 14 as chief’s biological son.

When Dateim was brought, Seinye was said to have raised serious issues that the boy could not have been her husband’s child. But Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs reminded his wife, Seinye that she had also brought in her daughter, Solate in the same manner.

With the coming of Dateim into the Lulu-Briggs family, it was learnt that Seinye felt threatened and she had to quickly adopt a boy of her own, Iyowuna in 2008.

The introduction of Solate into the family is said to be the root cause of the current crisis that has befallen the Lulu-Briggs family after the death of their patriarch.

The story is that in 2002, when Seinye became the wife of Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs, she came with her tall and dark daughter, Solate (the Lulu-Briggs are mostly tall and dark), claiming that Solate was chief’s biological daughter.

Some adult sons of Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs who had known Seinye long before she married their father and who also knew the daughter, Solate, raised objections, saying that for the long period they had known Seinye, before she got married to their father, she never told them that the girl was their father’s child.

These adult sons of Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs argued that if their father knew that he had a daughter in 1982, he won’t have named Racheal born in 1992 after his mother and expressed the joy of having the first female child in the family. Coincidentally, Solate is dark and tall like their father’s mother and should have been the proper person to be named Rachael if her birth were known to the family.

It was revealed that Seinye insisted and Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs agreed that they both had a relationship in 1981 at the Federal Palace Hotel when Chief was the Deputy National Chairman of the National Party of Nigeria, NPN.

It was revealed further that Seinye said that she couldn’t bring Solate to Chief Lulu-Briggs at birth because the chief was married at the time.

But family members reminded her that Chief was unmarried from 1983-1990, having separated from his wife. Why couldn’t Seinye in those seven years bring her daughter?

Investigation reveals that after the death of Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs, in the Will Seinye allegedly deposited, it was stated that Solate is not the biological child of Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs but his adopted child. Then in a subsequent codicil, it was said that Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs could not have adopted Solate because she was over 18 years old at the time she was brought to him, so she is neither his biological child nor adopted child but he accepted her as his child anyway.

As it stands, Mrs. Seinye Lulu-Briggs does not have any biological child for the late Head of Oruwari House, Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs.

Seinye got tongues wagging when she referred to her husband’s sons as children born out of wedlock whereas, she was legally married to Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs in court.

“Does she not know that in 1988 when she was still a complete stranger to the family, Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs did the Kalabari “Iya” ceremony on Senibo and Dumo, conferring on them the highest level of legitimacy? Does Seinye not know that Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs married Sofiri’s mother in the Anglican Church in 1971? Has Seinye forgotten that the chief performed “Iya” ceremony on Rachael in 2013, this time, witnessed by Seinye herself?

“Was it not Dumo that bailed Seinye from Olu Obasanjo Police Station and took her to his father’s house and talked to his father to take her as his wife? Is that the woman that is now calling Dumo names and fighting him?

“How many children did Seinye have in her two marriages, first to a man said to be 14 years younger and later to a man 28 years older?” they asked.

“No child. Her two daughters were born to two different men out of wedlock”, they muttered.

“Seinye needs to be told that Senibo’s mother was the first love of young O.B. Lulu-Briggs when he was a fisher boy in Abonnema. Dumo’s mother was given to O.B. Lulu-Briggs by her father, Late Chief I.S. Danagogo in 1963, when all he could afford was “Ari Ibara emi” and they went to live together as Mr.  & Mrs. O.B. Lulu-Briggs in Lagos.

“These were the wives of Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs in his years of long suffering in social and economic wilderness.

“Mrs. Seinye Lulu-Briggs should allow the O.B. Lulu-Briggs family thrive even after the burial of her husband and not bury the name of the illustrious family that was attained through decades of hard work and service, together with him.

“Like the Kalabari Chiefs of old, High Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs populated his household and built a great family” they concluded.

AUTHOR: SOTONYE IJUYE-DAGOGO

Writer, communication/education consultant at Jack Edmund's Consults Nig. Ltd.

NORTHERN GOVERNORS DUMP RUGA SETTLEMENT POLICY FOR LIVESTOCK PLAN

Governors of 19 Northern states on Thursday dumped the proposed controversial Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) policy for the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP).

The governors who met in Kaduna, capital of Kaduna State under the aegis of the Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) said the new plan will tackle regular clashes in the region between herders and farmers.

The governors also resolved to continue to adopt a sustainable and holistic approach towards tackling the security challenges in the region.

Forum Chairman and Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong said at the opening that the NGF had raised a committee under the chairmanship of Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari to develop a comprehensive regional action plan to tackle insecurity in the North.

He said: “Another major issue we shall also deliberate on is the livestock management in the country and, in particular, our region, which has continued to generate discourse, controversy, misinformation and even politicisation.

“At this meeting, we shall deliberate on the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP), which was commissioned by the National Economic Council chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) and seeks to support and strengthen the development of market-driven ranches in the livestock ecosystem for improved productivity through breed improvement, pasture production, efficient land and water utilisation.

“As a region that holds the comparative advantage in livestock management as an economic and socio-cultural vocation, we need to come up with a common front on how to synergise and draw from the funds available for the programme and ensure that we derive maximum benefits for our people.

“This is important because of the urgent need to cultivate the buy-in of all stakeholders and provide a conducive environment for nomadic herders and those who rear livestock, using the private/public partnership model to key into the National Livestock Transformation Plan of the Federal Government.”

Lalong told reporters that the NGF adopted the NLTP, which according to him, “lays out clear path for modernising pastoral activities”.

He said: “On agriculture, the forum was well-informed about the NLTP and its disparities with the RUGA plan. It is expected that the plan would ensure resettling and addressing the dislocated populations in the key conflict zones to enable them become part of the agricultural modernisation process.

“In the same vein, it would provide a mechanism for peaceful dialogue and reconciliation in the affected communities towards a harmonious mutually beneficial future.

“The forum, therefore, adopted the National Livestock Transformation Plan which lays out clear path for modernising pastoral activities. It further encouraged other states not included as pilot states to endeavour to join the plan.”

On the security challenges, Lalong said: “The current challenges of insecurity which seems to be persisting despite the concerted efforts by all tiers of government was also deliberated based on insightful analyses and the best possible ways to address the menace which is currently bedeviling the region.

“Consequently the forum resolved to continue to adopt a sustainable and holistic approach towards tackling this challenge in the region.

“It is the forum’s unwavering determination to rescue the region and reposition it to meet the yearnings and aspirations of our people, especially in the areas of security, economy and social development.”

Lalong said the forum has received a brief on the almajiri phenomenon in Northern Nigeria, which he said, is not only endemic but pandemic.

He said: “We noted the challenges of the system despite its conception on high religious and moral importance. Currently, many children are increasingly exposed to vulnerability and resultant exploitation, thereby making them susceptible to criminal activities.

“The forum after in-depth discussions, resolved to collaborate with experts in this field with a view to finding implementable recommendations to solve the almajiri phenomenon and take children out of the streets.”

Benue State Deputy Governor Benson Abuonu gave a condition for the implementation of NLTP.

The deputy governor, who represented Governor Samuel Ortom at the meeting, said: “One thing is fundamental, as far as the implementation is concerned, whichever state that has keyed into the programme will have it as its own programme, in other words it is going to be owned by the state even if some help regarding the funding is going to come from the Federal Government.

“Of course, it depends on whichever state is willing to key into it. But at this initial stage, there are seven states at the pilot stage but with regards to Benue, whatever is going to happen in this area of animal husbandry that thing has to be in conformity with the local laws of Benue that is in existence.

“Principally that law says there should be no open grazing and there should be ranching of animals that anybody is going to rear.

“Therefore, as long as the programme is in conformity with our laws then it would be acceptable to us.”

WHY WE DISMISSED ATIKU/PDP'S PETITION CHALLENGING BUHARI/APC'S IN ITS ENTIRETY - TRIBUNAL

The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, dismissed the petition of Atiku Abubakar challenging President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election, in its entirety.

The five-man panel of justices led by Justice Mohammed Garba, held that the petitioners (Atiku, PDP) failed to “evidently prove” their case beyond “reasonable doubt.”

“The petitioners have a duty to prove all the allegations which are criminal in nature beyond reasonable doubt,” the lead judge (Mohammed Garba) said in his ruling.

He listed some of the allegations the PDP and Atiku raised in their petition to include, ‘compromised printing of election materials’, ‘manipulation of ballot boxes’, ‘manipulation of card readers’, and ‘manipulation of accreditation and collation'.

Others are, manipulation of security agencies and militarisation of election, manipulation of election materials’ delivery, arbitrary arrest of petitioners’ supporters and massive thumb-printing of ballot papers.

“Under these issues, the petitioners alleged the election was marred by irregularities, misuse of scarce resources, manipulation of result sheets, over-voting, wrongful recording of results, intimidation of voters among others in 11 ‘focal states’,”Justice Garba said.

The petitioners’ 11 focal states are, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Yobe and Zamfara States.

The tribunal insisted that the allegations levelled under issues 4 and 5 (above) were criminal in nature that must be proved beyond reasonable doubt.

The tribunal also said the petitioners failed to discharge the burden of proof that Buhari was not elected by a majority of lawful votes.

Reports have it that three members of the five-man panel of justices agreed with the lead judge (Mohammed Garba) in his ruling.

The Tribunal, therefore, stroke out the entire petition of Atiku and the PDP against Buhari and the APC, for lacking merit, and failure to evidently prove their case beyond reasonable doubt.

WHY LIFE BAN VERDICT AGAINST ME SHOULD BE UPTURNED - SIASIA

     Samson Siasia

FORMER Super Eagles’ Chief Coach Samson Siasia has appealed the life ban slammed on him by world football governing body FIFA.

Siasia disclosed at a press briefing held at the Media Center of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium yesterday that his lawyers filed the appeal to FIFA on August 27, 2019, while the other appeal was sent to the Court of Arbitration for Sports on the 29th of August, 2019.

Siasia, however, denied involvement in the illegal activities that are contrary to the ethics of football.

“I wish to state that I have never been and would never be a party to any form of unethical conduct or perversion in the discharge of my duties in any capacity. I built my career in the football industry on the foundation of hard work, integrity, consistency and God.

“In all my career, I have done nothing but serve my country clubs to the best of my personal and professional ability, with all my strength and might, with discipline, pride and passion and an awareness that it is a privilege to be an ambassador of our great nation. It is my greatest hope and belief that my Country also stands by and with me at a time like this.

“The entire proceedings and decision were only brought to my notice on the 16th of August, 2019 when the news broke in the public domain and friends and family started to call. I was unaware of the proceedings until I heard about FIFA’s decision.

“While I may not be able to publicly divulge the details and specifics, I think it fit to inform you that I have appealed against FIFA’s Decision and you all will probably hear the results as you hear about the ban. I am currently taking legal advice. My lawyer Mr Austin Otah has been liaising with the NFF and their counsel.

“I thank everyone who has supported me in one way or the other. I must state that this is the most trying period of my life. I am still dealing with the pain and challenges of my mother being kidnapped again and fighting to secure her release. I urge the nation to support me with prayers, goodwill and support of all kinds. The demands are very heavy”, Siasia disclosed.

His lawyer Mr Austin Otah also reacted on the appeal. “We have assisted Mr Samson Siasia to file his appeal and we are awaiting FIFA to acknowledge the receipt of the appeal. We are awaiting feedback from FIFA and CAS.

WHY RIVERS STATE GOV’T SUSPENDED MUSLIM PILGRIM BOARD – JNI

Jamaatu Nasril Islam, (JNI)

The Vice President-General of Jamaatu Nasril Islam, (JNI), Alhaji Abubakar Orlu said that Rivers State government suspended the state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board because of fraudulent activities and the unsatisfactory manner the board was being run.

Alhaji Orlu in a press statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday also said that the state government did not demolish a completed Mosque building in the state.

He alleged that some fraudulent persons had in the past hijacked hajj seats in Rivers State to other states given credence to why the state government suspended activities of Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board. 

On the alleged demolition of a Mosque, Alhaji Orlu said that some people wanted to use the issue to stoke the embers of disunity among Christians and Muslims and tarnish the image of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.

DELTA STATE ELECTIONS TRIBUNAL SACKS JAMES MANAGER, ORDER FRESH ELECTION IN DELTA SOUTH

James Manager

The Delta State election petition tribunal, panel two, sitting in Asaba, has sacked Senator James Manager of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP as Senator representing Delta South in the National Assembly.

The three man panel presided over by Justice C O Onyaebo, said the election was marred by irregularities and ordered the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued Senator James Manager and conduct a fresh election.

Delta South Senatorial Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC and immediate past Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan had dragged Senator James Manager to the tribunal, arguing that the election was marred by fraud and irregularities.

Also, the Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege defeated Evelyn Oboro of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Evelyn Oboro had dragged Senator Ovie Omo-Agege of the All Progressives Congress, APC to the tribunal citing election  irregularities.

But the tribunal in its judgment declared that Evelyn Oboro could not sufficiently prove her case.

ROBERT MUGABE IS DEAD

Robert Mugabe, Ex-President of Zimbabwe

Report reaching our news desk host that the former president of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe is dead. He died at the age of 95.

Mugabe reportedly died in a hospital in Singapore on Friday morning.

Recall that Robert Mugabe served as prime minister of Zimbabwe from 1980 to 1987 and then as president from 1987 to 2017.

Fadzayi Mahere, Zimbabwe’s Education, Sport, Art and Culture Secretary, tweeted: “Rest In Peace, Robert Mugabe.

“My response to your passing is complicated. I’m going to write a long piece. However, for now, deepest condolences to his family”, his tweet read.

Emmerson Mnangagwa, the Zimbabwean president, also confirmed the incident on Twitter.

It is with the utmost sadness that I announce the passing on of Zimbabwe’s founding father and former President, Cde Robert Mugabe (1/2)

President of Zimbabwe

✔@edmnangagwa

It is with the utmost sadness that I announce the passing on of Zimbabwe's founding father and former President, Cde Robert Mugabe (1/2)

7,860

UPDATED: SOUTH AFRICA SHUTS DOWN HIGH COMMISSION IN NIGERIA​

The South African high commission in Nigeria has shut down operations temporarily. This is definitely not unconnected with the Xenophobic reprisals by some Nigerian youths.

The shut down, According to eNCA (a South African media house),  was necessitated by the need for safety of workers in the commission.

Lunga Ngqengelele, spokesperson to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation said: "We have been in communication with the Nigerian government and we have been assured of the protection of the businesses belonging to SA".

Why We Closed Our Embassy In Nigeria – South Africa

The South African Acting High Commissioner to Nigeria, Bobby Moroe, on Thursday confirmed the closure of the country’s missions in Nigeria.

Ms Moroe told News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Thursday that the closure was sequel to the directive from his country’s government.

The envoy said she had subsequently directed the Abuja and Lagos offices of the mission to suspend all consular activities until the situation improved.

The acting head of mission said that the closure was necessitated by fear of attack by some Nigerian youths.

The South African Government had in a statement by Naledi Pandor, the Minister of the Department of International Relation and Cooperation, on Thursday announced the closure of its Nigerian mission.

Ms Pandor expressed disappointment over the decision to support the closure of the South African High Commission in Abuja and the Consulate in Lagos.

She said both offices were closed following concerns reported to the minister by officials working in those places.

Ms Pandor said the closure “followed the receipt of threats against mission staff as well as the property of South Africa’’.

“After extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders as well as a security assessment of threats, the mission and the department took the decision to close the offices.

“At this point, there has been no direct physical threat to any of our diplomats and citizens.

“However, we view their safety as a priority and have thus taken the precautionary measure of closing while the situation remains somewhat unpredictable.’’

The official expressed displeasure at misleading reports circulating on social media about a direct physical attack on the acting head of mission.

She described the reports as totally false.

“Our acting head of mission is in constant communication with the department and with the authorities in Nigeria, who are providing extra security at South African offices.

“The department has received reports of marches by demonstrators to South African companies as well as attempts to attack them.

“We are communicating with businesses that have branches in Nigeria and have requested their senior managers to remain in close contact with the department and the ministry,” she said.

She said tradition in foreign policy provides that diplomatic missions enjoy protection from host countries but added that the department remained perturbed at threats directed at the mission.

“We are grateful to note that the security forces and the government of Nigeria are upholding this long-established practice of foreign policy.

She, further, confirmed directive to the mission that links be encouraged between the youth of South Africa and Nigeria and that the Nigerian students’ association visit South Africa.

She said that several meetings with students’ organisation were held at the mission and that a committee had been established to sustain their dialogue and work towards the proposed visit.

Ms Pandor said the department and the ministry would remain in constant contact, continue to assess the situation on ground and provide feedback as new information was made available.

She, however, said that the ministry planned to meet the African Heads of Mission to South Africa next week.

BREAKING NEWS: HIV POSITIVE RAPIST FREED AFTER PAYING N370,000.

This is 75-year old CHIEF SHEDRACK EJINWA who raped a 14-year old girl in WARD 3, KENDOX MEDICAL SERVICES, PORT-HARCOURT.

He was arrested by Harrison Gwamnishu, Mandela Washington Fellow and Human Rights Activist in collaboration with officers from the Elelewon Divisional Police Station in Rivers State.

After the said victim was raped, a file was opened for her in the hospital and was placed on medication. It was reported that the wife of the Medical Director, Kendox Medical Services warned the victim to keep whatever transpired in the hospital to herself and never to disclose it to anyone.

Harrison, who received the information from a Facebook follower, quickly left Asaba for Portharcourt, carried out thorough investigation and later reported the case to the  Divisional Police Station, Elelewon.

Suspect was arrested, medical director's wife was also arrested for compounding felony and case transferred to SCID.

Harrison handed the case over to a lawyer who happens to be part of his NGO's Rivers State representative and returned back to Delta State to handle other pending issues.

The lawyer teamed up with suspect's family and sweet talked the victim's father to accepting money and forgetting about the case.

Attached herein is the settlement agreement prepared and duly signed by the lawyer who ought to defend the victim, the suspect's signature and other witnesses. They collected N370,000 and other undisclosed amount and set the perpetrator free.What a world we live in...

The14-year old victim who cried on the phone said she was "forced to agree for  settlement".

Please, a dangerous paedophile is on the loose. Lets tweet, share and repost this so that the authorities can take appropriate action.

Harrison can be contacted via  09068773333 harrison4rights@gmail.com

Mabel Blossom
Concerned Nigerian

CC  Gwamnishu Emefiena Harrison

PRESIDENT BUHARI TO WADE INTO MINIMUM WAGE IMPASSE

 President Muhammadu Buhari

Nigerian workers would have to wait for the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari before enjoying the new national Minimum Wage signed into law on April 18, 2019.

Negotiation between the Federal Government and the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, which resumed on Friday, once again ended in a deadlock as both parties failed to arrive at a decision.

The meeting, which held at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, had Permanent Secretaries of Ministries of Finance, Labour and Employment, General Office of the SGF, and Representative of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.

Our correspondent was informed that the government team resolved to take the position of both parties in the negotiation to the President and report back on September 4th for continuation of the meeting.

A source close to the meeting resolved to adjourn the meeting to September 4 and allow President Buhari weigh into the disagreement of relativity and consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage.

The source said both parties are still insisting on their position, stressing that nothing has changed from the earlier position of Labour as well as the government team.

“We are demanding 30 percent for grade levels 07 to 14 and 25 percent adjustment for grade levels 15 to 17.

‘’We came down to 29 and 24 respectively. But they have not even moved from their earlier position of 9.5 and 5 percent respectively.

“We are saying they should make a substantial movement in their offer but they have refused to do that and that has not gone down well with us.

‘’If they make a substantial movement, we will go back to our principals who are the workers. But they have not.

“So, we have asked them to report back to their principals; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the President so that the President can intervene and for us to put this thing behind us once and for all.

“So, we have agreed to meet again on the 4th of September so that we can resolve. We want them to shift ground because they have not even moved from 5 percent to 5.5 if we see reasonable movement, we will go back to the workers and get further mandate.’’

A member of the Labour group in the negotiating council, Lawrence Amaechi, confirmed that both parties have agreed to consider their stances and allow Buhari to decide on the issue.

He said: “Both parties have agreed on their different positions on the relativity/consequential adjustment of salaries and it will be submitted to Mr President, let him weigh into it.

“We have however adjourned till September 4, to get the outcome from submission to the President.”

Amaechi, who is the National President, Nigerian Civil Service Union, said the payment of the new minimum wage was long overdue, adding that government must be proactive in order not to accumulate arrears which may create another round of agitations by employees.