JUDICIAL PANEL: I’M UNAWARE NIGERIAN ARMY CALLED LEKKI SHOOTING “FAKE NEWS” ON TWITTER – GENERAL TAIWO

   Brig. Gen. Ahmed Taiwo

Brig.-Gen. Ahmed Taiwo, Commander of the 81 Division, Military Intelligence Brigade, Victoria Island has said that he was unaware that the Nigerian Army Headquarters had described the shootings at the Lekki Tollgate as “fake news” on Twitter.

Taiwo made the disclosure on Saturday while being cross-examined at the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry for Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and Other Matters.

Responding to questions from Mr Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), the counsel for some of the #EndSARS protesters, Taiwo said he was unaware of the denial by the headquarters of the Nigerian Army because he did not own a twitter account.

“Why did you tell lies, why did the army deny being at the scene?” Olumide-Fusika queried.

Taiwo denied telling lies and said that the Nigerian Army made the first statements because they did not have the full facts and the army was not sent to Lekki to break up the protest.

“I have not seen the denial that the Nigerian Army on twitter called their presence at the tollgate as fake news,”he said.

Following the General’s denial, Olumide-Fusika questioned him further about the Army’s denials.

“There is controversy between you and our Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, when you (Army) denied saying that it was fake news and the governor came out to say he saw some footage.

“Based on the Army’s tweets, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) said the people that went to the tollgate must be hoodlums in army uniforms.

“Are you aware of the Army HQ handle on twitter? If you go to your HQ’s verified twitter account right now the denial is still there. I challenge you to go online now to see it.

“Are you not aware that information posted on the Nigerian Army twitter handle on Oct. 21 still exists till this day, aren’t you an intelligence officer?”the SAN queried.

Responding, Taiwo said Sanwo-Olu had made the assertion about seeing some footage before the army made any verification.

“I’m not aware of what the AGF said, I’m not on twitter. I’m speaking here as the most senior Army officer on ground and on behalf of the 81 Division.

“I’m not aware of the Nigerian Army HQ twitter handle, I do not follow it because I’m not on twitter,” he said.

#EndSARS PROTEST: DAVIDO, FALZ, BURNA BOY, SAM ADEYEM, 46 OTHERS SUED

Davido, Burna Boy, Sam Adeyemi and Falz

Singers, Davido, Falz and Burna Boy; Pastor Sam Adeyemi and 46 others have been sued by an activist, Kenechukwu Okeke over their roles in #EndSARS protest which led to the destruction of his properties.

Okeke instituted the suit at a Chief Magistrate’s court in Abuja on Monday.

According to him, his propeties were destroyed in the aftermath of #EndSARS protest, saying that the promoters of the protest must be brought to justice.

Those sued are: Singers Burna Boy, Davido, Falz, Mr Macaroni, Taooma, Peter and Paul Okoye, Innocent Idibia aka Tuface, Banky W, Tiwa Savage, Don Jazzy and Yemi Alade.

There are also the Senior Pastor, Daystar Christian Centre, Pastor Sam Adeyemi; activist, Aisha Yesufu; ex-Super Eagles legend, Kanu Nwankwo; a former Director-General, Bureau for Public Sector Reform, Dr Joe Abah; journalist, Kiki Mordi, and actors, Yul Edochie, Uche Jombo, Feyikemi Abudu, Olorunrinu Oduala, Pamilerin Adegoke, Japhet Omojuwa, Ayo Sogunro and Deji Adeyanju.

He said, “I shall instigate a private criminal prosecution against all the alleged perpetrators and coordinators of the #EndSARS riots on Twitter. The nation bled, lives lost, and properties worth billions destroyed as a result of the sheer recklessness of some persons.

“Having initiated criminal proceedings against the #EndSARS riots promoters at exactly 1052hrs WAT, 09/11/2020, we shall ensure that same is diligently prosecuted in the interest of defence, public safety and public order. The Federal Republic of Nigeria is country of laws.”

Okeke, in a supporting affidavit said the defendants played key roles in the #EndSARS protest which later snowballed into violence.

He alleged that the 1st to 50th accused persons between the 3rd day of October 2020 and the 28th day of October 2020, using Twitter, an Internet web source with URL https://www.twitter.com within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did conspire among themselves to commit misdemeanour, to wit, promoting and acting in such a manner, with intent to assist in the promotion of #EndSARS and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97(2) of the Penal Code Act, C53 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.u

The affidavit added that the 1st to 50th accused persons with intent to carry out some common purpose, assemble in such a manner or being assembled under the composition of #EndSARS as to cause persons in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to fear on reasonable grounds that such assembly needlessly and without any reasonable occasion may provoke other persons tumultuously to disturb the peace.

It said properties belonging to the complaint were egregiously destroyed by some riotous and tumultuous persons instigated and incited by the 1st to 50th accused persons.

UAE CONVICTS 6 NIGERIANS FOR WIRING $782,000 TO BOKO HARAM, FG OFFICIAL INDICTED

An Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has convicted six Nigerians over alleged funding of Boko Haram.

The conviction was upheld by the appellate court after they lost an earlier appeal at a lower court.

Daily Trust reported on Monday that Surajo Abubakar Muhammad and Saleh Yusuf Adamu were sentenced to life imprisonment.

The rest, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, AbdurRahman Ado Musa, Bashir Ali Yusuf and Muhammad Ibrahim Isa, got ten-year imprisonment each.

Court documents show that between 2015 and 2016, the convicts were allegedly involved in cash transfers totalling $782,000.00 to Boko Haram.

The act was contrary to Article 29, Clause 3 of UAE’s Federal Anti-Terrorism Law No 7 of 2017.

National Security Bureau said 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 according to the search warrant issued by the National Security Prosecution office dated April 16, 2017.

Abubakar and Adamu were charged for joining Boko Haram knowingly.

This negates 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 were charged with assisting the sect knowingly.

The crime, under Article 31, Clause 1 of the same law, is punishable by life imprisonment or at least five years in jail.

Most of the transactions were facilitated by two undercover Boko Haram agents based in Nigeria. One of them is “Alhaji Sa’idu”.

The other “Alhaji Ashiru” was described as “a Nigerian government official”.

He also reportedly funnelled misappropriated public funds to terrorists.

Sa’idu’s modus operandi is using unidentified Arab persons on a visit to Dubai from Turkey to hand over US Dollars to one of the convicts, who then remit Naira equivalent to the agent.

Families of the convicts say they were “framed up”, insisting their bureau de change business in the UAE was legitimate.

NIGERIAN MILITARY OFFICERS ORDERED SHOOTING OF PROTESTERS IN LEKKI - SANWO-OLU

The Governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo-olu has admitted that Nigerian Military officers ordered the shooting of unarmed #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate last week Tuesday.

Sanwoolu, during a live interview on CNN, disclosed that according to CCTV footage gotten from the scene of the shooting, officers of the Nigerian Army were responsible for the attack.

POLITICS NIGERIA earlier reported that the Lekki shooting generated a massive outcry from human rights organisations and the international community, with many calling for a thorough investigation into the incident.

When asked about who ordered the shooting and which security branch carried out the order, Sanwoolu said;

"From the footage that we can see, there are cameras at that facility. It seems to me that there were men in military uniform, should be Nigerian Army."

The Interviewer pressed further,"So you're saying that it was Military officers who ordered peaceful protesters to be shot in lekki?"

Sanwoolu replied; "Yes, they were there. That's what it shows".

When asked if anyone will be held accountable, Sanwoolu said; "They certainly would....I mean, we'll do everything to ensure that they are held accountable"

"I'm not the C-in-C, I'm Governor of the state."

https://politicsnigeria.com/breaking-nigerian-military-officers-ordered-shooting-of-lekki-protesters-sanwoolu/

WIKE, YOU ARE FINISHED – NNAMDI KANU ATTACKS RIVERS GOVERNOR

Nnamdi Kanu of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has launched a verbal attack and threat on the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.

This was after Governor Wike, had on Friday proscribed all activities of the IPOB, in the State.

Wike made the declaration in a statewide broadcast over the recent happenings in Rivers State, where the Police Command reported that IPOB members are responsible for the mayhem in the State.

He stated that his administration had severally pleaded, warned and even advised IPOB and its members to discontinue its insurrectional actions in Rivers State to no avail.

Kanu said if he and his group could face the government of Nigeria, Wike cannot stop their operations.

“If you know Nyesom Wike tell him that I, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, fight DEMONS not mere thieving mortals like him,” Kanu said.

“If the Satanic British created enclave called Nigeria is crying to the UK Government to save them, who the hell is Wike to challenge God’s project which IPOB is?

“Wike should have regard for the following points as contained in the plea letter Nigeria sent to Britain begging them to help stop IPOB…. Wike you are finished.” He declared.

EBONYI GOVERNMENT PROSCRIBES ASUU, NASU, OTHERS IN STATE UNIVERSITY

The Ebonyi State Government on Thursday announced the proscription of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, the Non-Academic Staff Union and others at the Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki.

The only body currently allowed to exist in the university is the Students’ Union Government.

The Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, who met with leadership of the unions, said, “The decision was taken in order to ensure that academic and non-academic unions’ activities do not negatively affect the resumption of EBSU and commencement of academic/non-academic activities in the state-owned university.”

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Education, Dr Onyebuchi Chima, said approval had been given for the release of N500m for the payment of staff salaries.

He added that the institution was also granted a loan of N300m for the commencement of SMEs towards boosting its Internally Generated Revenue, while the state’s mushroom and the citrus farms were also donated to the school.

Chima said, “All teaching and non-teaching staff members are encouraged to resume normal university activities immediately. All teaching and non-teaching staff shall be paid 80 per cent of their monthly outstanding salaries except those who refused to immediately commence work. Accordingly, EBSU management and SUG are encouraged to keep records of staff that resume for work.

“In order to ameliorate the hardship of parents/students in the payment of school fees, the Visitor of EBSU/Governor of Ebonyi State University, Dr David Nweze Umahi, has approved that EBSU University Management should implement ‘staggered school payment’ system.”

BREAKING: BUHARI TO MAKE NATIONAL BROADCAST AT 7 PM TODAY

President M. Buhari

Following detailed briefing by security chiefs on the current situation in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari will make a national broadcast Thursday, October 22, 2020, at 7 pm.

A statement issued by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) in Abuja, therefore, advised television, radio and other electronic media outlets to hook up to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Radio Nigeria respectively for the broadcast.