ABU DHABI APPEAL COURT SENTENCES SIX NIGERIANS TO PRISON FOR FUNDING BOKO HARAM

Abu Dhabi appeal court sentences six Nigerians to prison for funding Boko Haram

SIX Nigerians have been handed jail sentences by an Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after their conviction for funding terrorist sect Boko Haram was upheld.

At the hearing, the appellate court upheld a lower court ruling which found that between 2015 and 2016, the convicts were involved in cash transfers totalling $782,000 to Boko Haram. Two of the convicted Surajo Abubakar Muhammad and Saleh Yusuf Adamu were subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment.

Four others named as Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, AbdurRahman Ado Musa, Bashir Ali Yusuf and Muhammad Ibrahim Isa, got 10-year prison sentences each. Their act was deemed contrary to Article 29, Clause 3 of the UAE’s Federal Anti-Terrorism Law No 7 of 2017.

According to the UAE’s National Security Bureau, the investigation of the Nigerians confirmed their involvement and membership of the Boko Haram. They were arrested between April 16 and 17, 2017 and their homes searched after a search warrant was issued by the National Security Prosecution office dated April 16, 2017.

Abubakar and Adamu were charged for joining Boko Haram knowingly in negation of Article 22/2 of UAE’s Federal Anti-Terrorism Law No 7 of 2017 punishable by death or life imprisonment. Alhassan, Musa, Yusuf and Isa for their part were charged with assisting the sect knowingly, which under Article 31, Clause 1 of the same law, is punishable by life imprisonment or at least five years in jail.

According to the court, most of the transactions were facilitated by two undercover Boko Haram agents based in Nigeria. One of them was named as Alhaji Sa’idu, while the other, one Alhaji Ashiru, was described as a Nigerian government official, who reportedly funnelled misappropriated public funds to terrorists.

According to the court, Sa’idu’s method of operation was using unidentified Arab persons on a visit to Dubai from Turkey to hand over US dollars to one of the convicts, who would then remit naira equivalents to the agent. However, the families of the convicts say they were framed, insisting their bureau de change business in the UAE was legitimate.

IJAW LEADERS MEET BRITISH GOVT, SEEKS SUPPORT TO LEAVE NIGERIA

The leadership of Ijaw nation has met with the British government seeking support to leave Nigeria and end the suffering of the people.

A delegation of the Ijaw leadership led by the President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof Benjamin Okaba made this known during a meeting with representatives of the British High Commission led by Mr John Kekeh, at the Ijaw House in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

 

Okaba who presented a seven-page address on behalf of the Ijaw nation to the British High Commission delegation  lamented that the British government abandoned the Ijaw people after deceiving them to join Nigeria with the assurance that they would be well taken care of.

The Ijaws in their summation said the people are no longer at ease with the contraption called Nigeria.

“Again in the light of truth, good conscience, fairness, equity and justice would the British people and her government be perpetually silent and feign ignorance to the excruciating plight of the Ijaw people.

 

“Furthermore, perhaps the once colonial masters would with all intent and purpose act to rescue the ugly situation- may we ask if not now then when?

“We are indeed eager and anxious to know: is your intervention coming when we are completely ripped off our God given Oil and Gas natural resources and abandoned to our fate in a wallowing and criminally degraded environment without remediation.

“In all honesty, would that not be a crime against humanity where the British government would be seen as accomplices,” he said.

Okaba while reiterating that the Ijaw people would leave Nigeria peacefully and legally called on the British government to come and undo what they did decades ago by forcing them into Nigeria.

“The visitation is about us telling them that you (British) brought us into Nigeria and they should play their role to take us out of this country. The British have the moral duty to take us out. We were deceived to join Nigeria; they abandoned us and deceived us. Let them do the needful. As Ijaw people we are tired of this country. We have suffered in this country; we have carried the burden of this nation on our shoulders for too long. We have placed minimum conditions. The first condition is the restoration of true federalism. Number two, we have to be placed not as balkanised people. We cannot be scattered into different states and make us minorities and slaves. We cannot be slaves in a place where our resources are used to sustain the people. It is unacceptable. So Ijaw people are saying to the Federal Government that if this minimum requirement is not met, we are no longer committed to the Nigerian project. And that if we are leaving as Ijaw republic, we shall do it peacefully and legally. This is the message we are sending to the British High Commission and to the British Government to come and undo what they did.”

Kekeh in his response promised to deliver the message back to the leadership of the British High Commission

BABIES ABDUCTED AS BANDITS RAID KADUNA HOSPITAL

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted babies from the residential quarters of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Centre in Zaria, Kaduna State.

It was gathered that five staff of the hospital, including female nurses, were also abducted.

The bandits, who were said to have stormed the place in large numbers, engaged officers from a nearby police station in a gun battle.

A staffer of the hospital, who did not his name mentioned, told newsmen that 

there was a heavy shootout during the operation.

He also said their principal security guard on duty was among the

people abducted.

“Those kidnapped were our staff living at the staff quarters, some

were abducted alongside their children. So about ten people were taken

away so far,” he said.

Also, confirming the incident, Public Relations Officer of the Medical

and Health Union of the Center, Maryam Abdulrazaq, said she compiled six

names of those abducted.

She said the latest incident made it the third time their staff were abducted by the bandits.

“So far, I have six names of the people abducted but I will try to

get the remaining four names by Monday God willing. The principal

Security guard on duty, two nurses Joy Yakubu and Odor and her baby,

Lab Technician Christiana, Kasim from Auditorium office were among

those kidnapped,” she said.

When our correspondent visited the police division and the centre, bullet holes were visible on the fence.

The attackers were said to have blocked the bridge linking the village with Zaria town, to obviously thwart any reinforcement by the police.

When contacted, the Kaduna State Police Command Public Relation

Officer, Mohammed Jalige, confirmed the incident, saying efforts

are on to rescue the victims.

REVERSE TWITTER SUSPENSION IMMEDIATELY – US TO PRESIDENT BUHARI

The United States Government has asked the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to immediately reverse the indefinite suspension of Twitter operations in Nigeria.

This was made known in a statement on Wednesday by an administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, Samantha Power.

The US official stated that Twitter has over 40 million users in Nigeria adding that the country is home to Africa’s largest tech hub.

She described the suspension by the Nigerian government as nothing more than state-sanctioned denial of free speech.

Recall that the US mission in Nigeria had in a statement condemned the ban on the social media site.

The mission described the Twitter ban as an encroachment to the Peoples right to Freedom.

“Nigeria’s constitution provides for freedom of expression. The Government’s recent #Twitterban undermines Nigerians’ ability to exercise this fundamental freedom and sends a poor message to its citizens, investors and businesses,” its statement read.

“Banning social media and curbing every citizen’s ability to seek, receive, and impart information undermines fundamental freedoms.

As President Biden has stated, our need for individual expression, open public conversation, and accountability has never been greater. The path to a more secure Nigeria lies in more, not less communication, alongside concerted efforts toward unity, peace, and prosperity.”

Recall that Twitter had last Tuesday deleted President Buhari’s tweet wherein he spoke about the civil war experience.

The President threatened to deal with those bent on destroying Nigeria through insurrection.

In a post on Twitter, the president wrote, “Many of those misbehaving today are too young to be aware of the destruction and loss of lives that occurred during the Nigerian Civil War. Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand.”

However, the social media platform deleted the message on Wednesday, following widespread condemnation of the tweet.

According to a statement, Twitter said the post violated its rules, hence the need to delete the post.

Angered by Twitter’s action, the Federal Government last Friday suspended, indefinitely, the operations of microblogging and social networking service, Twitter, in Nigeria.

Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, announced the suspension in a statement signed by his media aide Segun Adeyemi

The minister cited the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.

BREAKING: SERAP, FEMI FALANA, OTHERS, DRAG BUHARI’S GOVT TO ECOWAS COURT OVER TWITTER BAN

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and 176 concerned Nigerians have filed a lawsuit against the President Muhammadu Buhari administration over “the unlawful suspension of Twitter in Nigeria”.

The applicants are against the criminalization of Nigerians using Twitter, and the escalating repression of human rights, rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom.

Following the deletion of Buhari’s tweet, Information Minister, Lai Mohammed last week announced the ban of Twitter operations.

The government has threatened to arrest and prosecute anyone using Twitter, while the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) asked all broadcast stations to suspend the use of the social media platform.

The suit No ECW/CCJ/APP/23/21 was filed today before the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in Abuja.

SERAP threatens to drag Buhari govt to court for suspending Twitter in Nigeria

SERAP and the concerned Nigerians are seeking: “An order of interim injunction restraining the Federal Government from implementing its suspension of Twitter in Nigeria, and subjecting anyone including media houses, broadcast stations using Twitter in Nigeria, to harassing, intimidating, arrest and criminal prosecution, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”

In the suit filed by Solicitor to SERAP, Femi Falana (SAN), the plaintiffs contended that if the application is not urgently granted, federal authorities will continue to arbitrarily suspend Twitter.

They said the Buhari government was on the verge of slamming criminal charges and fines against telecommunication companies, media houses, broadcast stations and others.

The suit read in part: “The suspension of Twitter is aimed at stopping Nigerians from using Twitter and other social media platforms to assess government policies, expose corruption, and criticize acts of official impunity.

Twitter ban: NBC’s directive to TV, radio stations shows political interference – SERAP

“The free communication of information and ideas about public and political issues between citizens and elected representatives is essential.

“This implies a free press and other media able to comment on public issues without censor or restraints, and to inform public opinion. The public also has a corresponding right to receive media output.

“Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right and the full enjoyment is central to achieving individual freedom and to developing democracy. It is not only the cornerstone of democracy, but indispensable to a thriving civil society.”

NLC, ASUU PROTEST SACK OF 18 KADUNA UNIVERSITY LECTURERS

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU have kicked against the sack of 18 lecturers of the Kaduna State University (KASU) for participating in last month’s warning strike the NLC declared in the state to protest the disengagement of some workers by the state government.

The management of the university had sent the names of the affected lecturers with their departments indicated to the state government upon which they were sacked.

In an interaction with newsmen, NLC president Ayuba Wabba, said the union had already reported the state government to the presidency for breaching their truce terms.

Wabba, who threatened that union would embark on another strike if the state government continued to violate the agreement, described the government’s action as a violation of the “no victimisation” clause in the agreement signed by the congress and the state government after a reconciliatory meeting at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment on May 20.

The NLC said the state government had continued to violate workers’ rights as provided for in the labour laws as well as take punitive measures such as sack of workers for participating in the five-day warning strike.

Wabba told correspondent in Abuja on phone that the congress had written President Muhammadu Buhari to draw his attention to the action of the Kaduna State government.

He said, “The National Executive Council (NEC) of the NLC had on May 25, 2021 resolved that in case the Kaduna State government continued to pursue the path of punitive actions against workers and their interests, that it had given the National Administrative Council (NAC) the power to reactivate the suspended industrial action in Kaduna State.

and also call for the withdrawal of all workers in Nigeria without any further notice.”

Meanwhile, the chairman of ASUU), Abuja zone, Professor Theophilus Lagi, has said the governor of Kaduna State as a visitor to that university does not have the power to sack the employees or interfere in the affairs of the school.

Lagi urged the governor to thread with caution, saying that it may be too hot for him to handle.

He said, “Going by what is trending on the social media as regards the dismissal of academic staff, the Governor of Kaduna State as a visitor to that university does not have the right to sack employees or interfere in the affairs of the university. It is the sole prerogative of the governing council of Kaduna State University to employ and fire staff based on clear university procedures.”

When newsmen contacted the new national president of ASUU, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, he said, “I am still sorting for information from our branch in that university on the true situation. Will react when accurate information is available.”

Some senior advocates who spoke to correspondents condemned the action of the state government.

According to them, labour laws in the country permit unionism.

Mr Abdul Balogun (SAN) condemned the state government a for victimising the workers.

According to him, if the state government is insisting on victimising them, they should approach the industrial court for redress.

A Kaduna-based legal practitioner, Murtala Akosile, accused the state government of being intolerant.

He said, ‘’The Kaduna State government should know that the agreement they have with workers in the state is not a master, slave relationship. Their rights to protest perceived injustice is enshrined in the labour laws of the country.”

FG OFFERS CONDITION TO LIFT BAN ON TWITTER IN NIGERIA

The federal government has imposed a condition on the lifting of Twitter’s indefinite suspension in Nigeria.

At a meeting with several envoys, Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama stated that Twitter’s operations in Nigeria will be restored only if the platform can be utilized “responsibly.”

When asked when the ban will be lifted, Onyeama stated there is no set date, but added, “The requirement would be responsible usage of social media, and that has to be it.”

“We are not claiming that Twitter is a threat to the country or anything like that; we have taken this action to prevent them from being used as forums for destabilization, facilitation, or encouragement of criminality,” he added.

TWITTER BAN: IPC, MRA THREATEN TO DRAG NIGERIAN FG BEFORE AU, UN

Two non-governmental organisations, Media Rights Agenda and the International Press Centre have threatened to drag the Federal Government to the African Union and United Nations if it doesn’t immediately rescind the ban placed on microblogging site, Twitter.

The groups stated that the action is an unjustifiable violation of the rights of all Nigerians to freedom of expression and access to information, noting that the action of the government violates the international and African charters the country was a party to.

They listed them to include the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights’ Resolution 362 on the Right to Freedom of Information and Expression on the Internet in Africa, adopted on November 4, 2016, at its 59th Ordinary Session; the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, adopted by the Commission in November 2019, at its 65th Ordinary Session; and recent UN Human Rights Council resolutions touching on the matter.

This was contained in a joint statement signed by MRA’s Executive Director, Mr. Edetaen Ojo; and the Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade.

The statement was titled, ‘MRA, IPC Condemn Federal Government’s Twitter Ban, Threaten to Lodge Complaints Before AU, UN Bodies’.

It reads in part, “In its Resolution 362 of 2016, the African Commission expressed concern at the practice by African States of “interrupting or limiting access to telecommunication services such as the Internet, social media and messaging services.

“Also the Declaration of Principles also provides in Principle 38 (1) and (2) that States shall not interfere with the right of individuals to seek, receive and impart information through any means of communication and digital technologies, through measures such as the removal, blocking or filtering of content, unless such interference is justifiable and compatible with international human rights law and standards and that States shall not engage in or condone any disruption of access to the internet and other digital technologies for segments of the public or an entire population.

“The UN Human Rights Council resolution on the promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the Internet, adopted at its 38th Session in July 2018, asked “all States to address security concerns on the Internet in accordance with their international human rights obligations to ensure the protection of all human rights online, in particular freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of association, and privacy, including through democratic and transparent national institutions, based on the rule of law, in a way that ensures freedom and security on the Internet so that it can continue to be a vibrant force that generates economic, social and cultural development.

“Also, in its latest resolution related to the matter, which was adopted at its 45th Session in October 2020, the Council has also unequivocally condemned measures in violation of international human rights law aiming to or that intentionally prevent or disrupt access to or dissemination of information online and offline, which undermine the work of journalists in informing the public, including through practices such as Internet shutdowns or measures to unlawfully or arbitrarily block or take down media websites, such as denial of service attacks and called on all States to cease and refrain from these measures, which cause irreparable harm to efforts at building inclusive and peaceful knowledge societies and democracies.

“The organizations called on the Federal Government to urgently take steps to comply with these internationally agreed norms and standards and retrace its steps from its current path, which puts Nigeria in danger of becoming a rogue nation that is constantly violating international human rights law as well as the principles of international law.”

BREAKING: PROPHET T.B. JOSHUA IS DEAD

Report reaching our news desk reveals that Pastor Temitope Balogun Joshua popularly known as T. B. Joshua, is dead.

Born on June 12, 1963, he was a televangelist and philanthropist.

He reportedly died in Lagos on Saturday evening shortly after concluding a programme at his church.

TB Joshua was the leader and founder of The Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN), a Christian megachurch that runs the Emmanuel TV television station from Lagos.

According to Wikipedia, Joshua was known for his popularity across Africa and Latin America and his social media presence with 3,500,000 fans on Facebook.

His YouTube channel, Emmanuel TV, had over 1,000,000 YouTube subscribers and was the world’s most viewed Christian ministry on the platform before it was suspended.

The cause of his death was unknown as at the time of this report.

Details Later…

REVERSE TWITTER SUSPENSION OR FACE LEGAL ACTION, NBA THREATENS NIGERIAN GOVT

The umbrella body of Nigerian lawyers, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has threatened to sue the Nigerian government if it fails to reverse its decision to suspend Twitter operations indefinitely in the country.

Many Nigerians have expressed outrage at the ban announced by the information minister, Lai Mohammed, on Friday.

The government had announced the suspension barely 48 hours after the microblogging site deleted a controversial post by President Muhammadu Buhari referencing the country’s civil war, and threatening to treat those attacking government buildings “with the language they understand.”

Reacting to the government’s decision in a thread of tweets posted via his twitter handle, the NBA President, Olumide Akpata, expressed the association’s “great concern” over the implications of the development.

The implications, according to him, extend to “the right of Nigerians to freely express their constitutionally guaranteed opinions through that medium.”

He said there is no Nigerian law that can be cited in support of the ban, reminding the government that the country practises “constitutional democracy” where everything must be done according to recognised rules.

“The Nigerian Bar Association finds no constitutional or legal authority to support the peremptory action of the Federal Government to suspend the operations of Twitter in Nigeria and deprive Nigerians of their right to freely express their constitutionally guaranteed opinions. Beyond the dent on our constitutional democracy, at a time when the Nigerian economy is unarguably struggling, the impact of arbitrary decisions such as this on investor confidence is better imagined.

“Consequently, if this decision is not immediately reversed, the Nigerian Bar Association will have no choice but to challenge same in the interest of the public and our democracy,” the NBA president’s tweet read in part.

Licensing of social media operations

He added that the Nigerian government’s directive to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), to immediately commence the process of licensing all OTT (Over The Top) and social media operations in Nigeria, “is, at best, yet another disguised attempt to regulate social media, restrict freedom of speech and shrink civic space.”