Chioma

An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan will on Friday deliver judgement or ruling on the N500 billion fundamental human rights case instituted by the Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho against the Nigerian Government and Department of State Services (DSS). Meanwhile, the supporters of the agitator are eagerly awaiting the ruling or judgement of the court on the matter, SaharaReporters has learnt. Igboho through his lawyer, Yomi Alliyu, filed a suit challenging the invasion of his house in Ibadan on July 1 by operatives of the DSS, also known as the State Security Service (SSS) or secret police. Igboho is, among others, seeking an order of the court to declare the invasion of his residence by DSS operatives as illegal and an infringement on his fundamental human rights. The three respondents are Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), as the first respondent, SSS as the second respondent and Director of SSS in Oyo State as the third respondent. The court had said on the last adjournment date that the case would be for ruling if the preliminary objections raised by the three respondents in the case succeeded, but would be for judgment if the objections failed in the case marked as M/435/2021. The respondents raised preliminary objections that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case. But the court decided to hear both the preliminary objections and the substantive case together, which made the counsel for the parties open their addresses and conclude the same during the last proceedings on September 7. During the last proceedings, lead counsel for Igboho, Alliyu, and counsel for the second and third respondents, T. A. Nurudeen, presented video exhibits to support their written addresses. But Malami, through his counsel, Abdullahi Abubakar, told the court that he was not involved in the raid conducted by the SSS on Igboho’s residence, adding that he was not a security officer. He stated that the SSS did not inform him before carrying out the raid and that he is not Fulani as alleged by Igboho. The submissions were contained in an affidavit, deposed to on August 18, 2021 by one Thomas Etah, who is a civil servant at the Federal Ministry of Justice Headquarters, Abuja, which was filed before Akintola in the case of fundamental human rights filed by Igboho. “The first respondent is not a security officer and has not authorised any security officer to commit the acts, being complained about, even as the respondent is not a Fulani man, contrary to the insinuations being created by the Deponent/Applicant. That it will be in the interest of justice to dismiss the suit or application in its entirety as it relates to the 1st respondent,” the affidavit read in part. The case, which first came up before Justice Akintola on August 4, had witnessed several adjournments as well as a restraining order against the respondents and their privies not to arrest, harass, intimidate and freeze bank account of Igboho, pending the final determination of the case. The injunction followed ex parte motion moved by the lead counsel for Igboho at the commencement of the suit. The restraining order was extended on each day of resumed hearing on the request of Igboho’s counsel. By SaharaReporters,New York Source:http://saharareporters.com/2021/09/17/igbohos-supporters-await-judgement-today-n500billion-suit-against-lawless-department

On Thursday, a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode officially returned to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Fani-Kayode was presented to President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, by the Chairman of APC National Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni. Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State was also in attendance. While speaking, Fani-Kayode said he was instrumental to the defection of three Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors to APC. However, two years ago when the rumour mill was agog that the former Minister had joined the APC, he completely ruled out the possibility of defecting to the ruling party. Taking to Twitter, he had at the time described the ruling party as “a filthy, rat-infested sinking ship.” He had also christened the party as “darkness” and “the Almajiri Peoples Congress (APC)”. He had said, “The suggestion that l joined the APC is false and insulting. Those that are peddling this fake news should bury their heads in shame. With what we have witnessed, l would rather die than join a filthy, rat-infested sinking ship like the Almajiri Peoples Congress (APC). “I am committed to opposing the APC and those that are in their ranks for the rest of my natural life and I will NEVER join them no matter what! They are nothing but darkness whilst l stand for the light of God and truth: there can be NO fellowship between light and darkness.” Although Fani-Kayode said he returned to the APC for the unity of the country, SaharaReporters gathered that he defected over his corruption cases with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The anti-corruption agency was arraigned in 2016, alongside a former Minister of State for Finance, Nenadi Usman; Danjuma Yusuf, and a firm, Joint Trust Dimensions Ltd over N4.9bn alleged fraud. The former minister, who was also the Director of Publicity for ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential campaign organisation for the 2015 election, was accused of conspiring with the others to, directly and indirectly, retain various sums which the EFCC claimed they ought to have reasonably known were proceeds of crime. In one of the counts, the defendants were accused of conspiring among themselves to “indirectly retain the sum of N1,500,000,000.00 which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: stealing.” The four were also accused of indirectly retaining N300m, N400m and N800m, all proceeds of corruption, according to the EFCC. Fani-Kayode was accused of directly using parts of the money at various times, including N250,650,000.00, which he allegedly used between March 20 and 25, 2015. He was also accused of making a cash transaction of N24m with one Olubode Oke, said to still be at large, on February 12, 2015 “to Paste Poster Co of 125, Lewis Street, Lagos Island.” The duo were said to have made the transaction without going through any financial institution, an act the EFCC claimed was contrary to sections 1(a) and 16(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012, and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act. Months later, the former minister was rearrested and solely arraigned on five counts bordering on money laundering to the tune of N26 million. According to the EFCC, Fani-Kayode allegedly received the sum of N26 million from the office of the former National Security Adviser (ONSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) in 2014. By SaharaReporters, New York Source:http://saharareporters.com/2021/09/16/flashback-i-would-rather-die-join-all-progressives-congress-%E2%80%93-discredited-minister-fani

The level of insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in the Northern region has increased over the years hence the constant military offensive against terrorists, bandits and other criminals. Recently, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), took delivery of the first batch of six A-29 Super Tucano aircraft from the United States. The Air Force had earlier said air fighters from Nigeria were already in the U.S. receiving additional training on the usage and the applications of the fighter jets when eventually added to the fleet of combat aircraft. However, while these aircraft should have helped in the fight against terrorism in the North-East and other forms of insecurity, there have been errors on the part of the NAF officers leading to the death of both civilians and members of the Nigerian Army. SaharaReporters has chronicled incidents where Nigerian military planes accidentally bombed soldiers and civilians. In January 2017, a Nigerian military plane accidentally dropped a bomb inside a settlement in Borno State, leading to the death of several persons. Over a hundred people were injured and taken to the hospital after the incident at a settlement at Kala-balge Local Government Area of the state. At least two people are feared dead from the incident and the injured included officials of the Doctors without Borders, MSF. Confirming the incident, the then spokesman for the military Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar, explained that it was an error deeply regretted by the military. Abubakar explained that soldiers got information of the movement of Boko Haram members in the Kala-balge area and deployed ground troops and air cover to tackle the terrorists. According to him, it was the air support that mistakenly dropped the bomb. On April 26, 2021, an Air Force fighter jet on a mission against Boko Haram extremists mistakenly bombed men of the Nigerian Army, killing over 20 officers The soldiers who were reinforced from Ngandu village were said to be on their way to Mainok, headquarters of the Kaga Local Government Area of Borno state which was under attack by militants from the Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), formerly known as Jamā'at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da'wah wa'l-Jihād. Earlier, the gunmen attacked a Nigerian Army location at 156 Battalion in the community, killing over 30 soldiers. A source told SaharaReporters that a reinforcement team of the Nigerian Army sent to the community was mistakenly bombed by an Air Force fighter jet. “The Boko Haram terrorists disguised in military uniform and gained access to the camp. They came in different groups and could not be counted. The Nigerian Army were pinned down, they requested for reinforcement, the reinforcement got on their way only to get smoked by the Nigerian Airforce. “The (reinforcement team) was coming from Ngandu and were killed by an airstrike. The Air Force mistook them for Boko Haram as both were cladded in similar military uniform and operational vehicles,” a source said. On June 13, 2021 an offensive aerial bombardment of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha jet carried out around Genu town in Niger State resulted in the killing of some wedding guests though many fleeing armed bandits were eliminated in the process. It was gathered that some herds of rustled cows were also killed by an airstrike, which was scrambled from a military base in Katsina State. One of the bombs allegedly strayed at a wedding party in an adjoining village, according to an eyewitness. The eyewitness said: “We saw the small aircraft dropping bombs from afar on the location of fleeing bandits and one of the explosives hit a wedding event in Argida Village. “Two villagers were also killed, unfortunately. We gathered that several others, who were guests at the wedding feast, sustained injuries." The NAF Spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet said the airstrikes at the axis were very successful. “We have no information on any civilian casualty. Our mission is against armed bandits in that Genu axis, after we got intelligence on the convergence of the bad elements planning to terrorise the people,” he was quoted as saying. On September 15, 2021 tragedy struck again in the fight against the terror group, Boko Haram Wednesday, when a fighter jet involved in the counter-insurgency operation in the North-East bombed a village in the Yunusari Local Government Area of Yobe State, killing at least 10 villagers. According to residents, the fighter jet belonging to the military approached from the Eastern part of the town around 8:30 am and started firing sporadically. However, a military source who confirmed the story told SaharaReporters that the Air Force “accidentally” hit the wrong coordinates while targeting a camp belonging to Boko Haram insurgents in the area. The Chairman of Yunusari Local Government Area, Alhaji Bukar Gaji also confirmed the incident. “Yes, it happened; we received the sad news today and the victims are currently in the hospital receiving treatment,” he said. However, Edward Gabkwet, Air Force spokesman denied the incident. Speaking to SaharaReporters, Gabkwet said, “This tweet is false in its entirety. The NAF last conducted a mission into Yobe State (Not Yunusari LGA) on 5 September 2021 and it was an armed recce. No bomb or missile was even expended. Thanks.” He was reacting to a tweet by a media organisation. Villagers in the past have reported some civilian casualties in near-daily bombardments in North Eastern Nigeria. Recently, a military jet that came to repel an attack by Boko Haram dropped a bomb that landed in a compound where civilians were holding a naming ceremony. Some of the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2014 and freed last year also said three of their classmates were killed by Air Force bombardments. By SaharaReporters, New York Source:http://saharareporters.com/2021/09/16/timeline-bombing-civilians-nigerian-air-force-fighter-jets

The Nigerian Airforce, on Thursday, said it has commenced investigation into the reported killing of civilians by a Military jet in Yobe State. An Airforce jet reportedly opened fire on civilians ‘accidentally’, while searching for Boko Haram terrorists in Yobe. The Airforce, in a statement signed by Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, NAF Spokesman, said the incident will be thoroughly looked into. The statement read, “Following intelligence on Boko Haram/ISWAP movements along the Kamadougou Yobe River line, an aircraft from the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai was detailed to respond to the suspected terrorists activities in the area along the Nigeria/Niger border at about 0600hrs on 15 September 2021. “The aircraft while operating South of Kanama observed suspicious movement consistent with Boko Haram terrorists behaviour whenever a Jet aircraft is overhead. Accordingly, the pilot fired some probing shots. It is important to state that the area is well known for continuous Boko Haram/ISWAP activities. Unfortunately reports reaching Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Headquarters alleged that some civilians were erroneously killed while others were injured. “Initial release denying the involvement of NAF aircraft was based on the first report available to the Air Component which was subsequently forwarded to NAF headquarters that civilians were bombed as the aircraft detailed for the mission was not carrying bombs. “Therefore, a Board of Inquiry has been set up to thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the incident.” By Don Silas Source:https://dailypost.ng/2021/09/16/boko-haram-airforce-reacts-as-military-jet-opens-fire-on-civilians-kills-several-others-in-yobe/

The farmer-herder conflict in Nigeria is an issue of growing concern among stakeholders across the country. These lingering clashes, which have claimed several lives and displaced many others, have forced the government to start thinking of initiatives to address the situation. A 2018 report by Reliefweb said violence between Nigerian herders and farmers had escalated, killing more than 1,300 people since January of the same year. The figures are believed to have increased since then as the media is now awash with daily reports of deaths arising from such clashes. For Benue State alone, it is estimated that over 2,000 people have been killed and over 1.5 million people are in Internally Displaced Persons' (IDP) camps in the state, following the sustained clashes between farmers and herders between 2017 and 2021. The farmer-herder conflict is said to have contributed largely to the displacement of millions of Nigerians in the central, north-central, and northwest regions of the country. A recent report by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center says IDPs across the country are 2,730,000 though not all are attributed to the herder-farmer conflict. It is also said to have sharpened ethnic, regional, and religious polarisation. In a bid to curb this menace, President Muhammadu Buhari recently ordered a committee to review 368 grazing sites across 25 states in the country to determine the levels of encroachment but this was met with stiff resistance in some parts of the country. While explaining the situation, the Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Badugu, said some countries of the world have ranches that are bigger than some states in Nigeria. He made the statement when he appeared as a guest on Channels Television. Bagudu, who was speaking on the persistent issues of farmer-herder conflict in Nigeria, said mapping out grazing routes will help to identify the scale of the crisis. He said the president’s directive does not preclude the idea of ranching. He was quoted as saying, “The committee is to identify grazing routes and work with states and map them. It is not to recover grazing routes, it is to identify the scale of the problem.” “Mr President is interested in an audit of grazing reserves. It is a voluntary and collaborative thing with the states. People say we have spoken about ranching. Yes, but what is a ranch? Ranching does not take place in the air, it takes place on a piece of land. “Ranches are as big as grazing reserves. In some countries like Australia, some ranches are bigger than some Nigerian states. “So how do you know what’s available, what can be supported to host those roving, herding communities who need help to modernise?” Claim: The Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Badugu, said some countries have ranches that are bigger than some states in Nigeria. Verdict: The governor's claim is true. Some ranches are as big as 24, 000km² in Australia– which is far bigger than Lagos that is 3,671km² big, and some other Nigerian states. Verification Dubawa ran a check on the landmass of Nigeria as a whole. According to the World Bank collection of development indicators, land area (sq. km) in Nigeria was reported at 910,770 sq. km in 2018. Meanwhile, the Nigerian High Commission, UK specified that the Area Total was 923,770 km2 while the Area Land was 910,770 with a coastline of 853 km. The country is divided into 36 states of the federation with the least (in terms of landmass) being Lagos at 3,671km² followed by Anambra at 4,865 km²; Abia State, 4,900 km²; and Imo State, 5,288 km². Some others are as follows: Ekiti: 5,435km²; Ebonyi: 6,400km²; Akwa Ibom: 6,900km² while 12 other states of the federation are within 7, 534km² and 23, 561km². The report quoted the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET). Screenshot of the area of the Nigerian states Dubawa researched further and discovered that one of the cattle ranches (station) in Australia, referred to as the world’s biggest cattle ranch, Anna Creek Station, covers 23,677 square kilometres (9,142 square miles) of arid central Australia. From further research, it was discovered that Clifton Hills is considered to be the world's second-largest farming property with more than 16,500 square kilometres. Australia has been said to be the world's third-largest exporter of beef - selling more than 1.5 million tonnes a year of red meat - according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The country is recognised as a leading long-haul exporter of live cattle globally, with trade links to supply chains in South-East Asia and the Middle East, although a report said Australia produces only 4% of global beef. Conclusion There are ranches in some countries of the world that are larger than some states in Nigeria as claimed by Bagudu. The researcher, By Elizabeth Ogunbamowo, produced this fact-check per the Dubawa 2021 Kwame KariKari Fellowship in partnership with SaharaReporters to facilitate the ethos of “truth” in journalism and enhance media literacy in the country. By SaharaReporters, New York Source:http://saharareporters.com/2021/09/16/are-cattle-ranches-elsewhere-bigger-some-nigerian-states

A Nigerian Air Force fighter jet has killed nine people in Buhari community, Yunusari Local Government Area of Yobe State, residents say. Several other villagers sustained injuries and are now receiving medical attention at a government health facility in Geidam. According to a resident of Damaturu, Saleh Ibrahim, the jet shelled the village in the early hours of Wednesday when the villagers were preparing to go to the weekly market in Geidam, a neighbouring local government, 200 km from Damaturu. “The villagers were already set to go to the market at Geidam early in the morning when, suddenly, the jet appeared from nowhere and started shelling the village. “Instantly, three people died. The sound of gunshots scared the villagers and they ran for safety, but others sustained injuries as a result. “Some of the injured were attempting to tend to the dead people when they also got hit by bullets from the jet. “As of 5 pm on Wednesday, the number of dead people had risen to nine, while over 30 people sustained injuries and are receiving treatment at Geidam General Hospital,” Ibrahim disclosed. He added, “Buhari village is in Yunusari local government, but Buhari village is closer to Geidam and the entire Yunusari local government doesn’t have facilities to attend to the injured victims.” According to the source, Yunusari local government has a strong presence of Boko Haram terrorists and has Boko Haram camps from where the insurgents often launch attacks against neighbouring Geidam local government and make a retreat back to Yunusari. He said both Yunusari and Geidam share border with Niger Republic. The acting spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Sector 2 Operation Hadin Kai in Damaturu, Lt. Kennedy Anyanwu, said that they were “yet to receive any situation report about the incident.” By Dogara Bitrus Source:https://punchng.com/nine-dead-many-injured-as-fighter-jet-allegedly-bombs-buhari-village-in-yobe-state/

The Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination (NINAS) has reacted to a statement by the Presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu saying they cannot be taken seriously as long as they associate with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). In a statement sent to SaharaReporters on Wednesday, NINAS spokesman, Maxwell Adeleye clarified that the group has nothing to do with IPOB and should not be seen as such. Adeleye said the NINAS Million-Man march is already a success, adding that the group awaits President Muhammadu Buhari's visit to the United States. He said: ”The NINAS Million-Man Freedom March is a SUCCESS. It really rattles the Buhari Government. The Nigerian Government is now begging the Media not to cover our events, trying to paint our March as an IPOB event. “This is a divide and rule tactic that has failed. NINAS has nothing whatsoever to do with IPOB. “We should now prepare for the 24th September 2021 when Buhari will address the General Assembly to stage another march.” SaharaReporters had earlier reported how the Nigerian government reacted to the ongoing protest by NINAS at the United Nations headquarters in New York, United States of America. Members of the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination stormed the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday and Wednesday, urging world leaders to facilitate the conduct of a referendum in Nigeria. The coalition of agitators for self-determination consists of southerners and Middle Belt people, under Ilana Omo Oodua, Lower Niger Congress and the Middle Belt Movement, led by Prof Banji Akintoye, Tony Nnadi and Yusuf Turaki respectively. The Presidency has, however, attacked Yoruba Nation agitators, saying they cannot be taken seriously as long as they associate with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which it accused of committing many atrocities. A statement signed by presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu on Wednesday said, “For Nigerian diaspora groups to use the world’s largest platform – the United Nations General Assembly – to garner attention to their causes is not unexpected. It was, however shocking, to see 'Yoruba Nation' advocates yesterday unequivocally throw their lot in with Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). “IPOB is a designated terrorist organisation. It has now publicly revealed a 50,000 strong paramilitary organisation. It regularly murders security services and innocent civilians, with a significant uptick of violent attacks this year. And it is currently attempting to hold Nigerian states hostage with orders to stay at home under threat of terror. “Without doubt, Nigerians and the entire world will judge Yoruba Nation by the company it keeps. No one can take seriously this organisation if it continues its IPOB association. When their allies systematically trample human rights, it raises sober questions about their claims to uphold the values of the UN. “The cooperation is a worrying development, once parsed with Yoruba Nation’s increasingly violent rallies in Nigeria. Actions and associations speak louder than words. Yoruba Nation’s talk of human rights promotion must therefore be ignored. "Meanwhile, the Nigerian government will continue its work at the UN- to fight against corruption and illicit financial flows, and international cooperation. If we want to see stolen funds returned to their rightful home in Nigeria, the government must continue to campaign for and coordinate global action on asset recovery. “The government will remain the leading regional actor in the fight against global terror – particularly against threats emanating from the Sahel. Through the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps programme, the country also shares technical expertise with countries from the Caribbean, Africa and the Pacific. At the same time, the administration is implementing a programme of environmental sustainability to combat developments which destroys Nigerian communities in vulnerable regions.” “Only through the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development can we secure a prosperous future for Nigeria. As the largest country in Africa, the government takes seriously its leadership role and will continue to strive for continental unity, cooperation, and shared prosperity.” “Our expectation is therefore for the media to work with the government to focus attention on the core issues the President, the leader of the country has on his programme.” By SaharaReporters, New York Source:http://saharareporters.com/2021/09/15/buhari-government-begging-media-not-cover-our-protest-un-headquarters%E2%80%94secessionist-groups

The Kogi State Government has mandated an official registration of all businesses to all business operators within the state with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The government threatened that business operators would be sanctioned if they fail to comply with the provisions of the law. The Point of Sale terminal (PoS) operators, petty traders, miners, contractors handling jobs for the state government and others, have till October 14, 2021, to get registered or face stiff sanctions. This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Gabriel Olofu at a joint press conference organised by the ministry and the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS) in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital. Olofu urged business operators in the state to pay their taxes directly into KGIRS specified account and obtain receipt or teller after which they would proceed to the ministry to obtain their Business Premises certificate. The commissioner explained that direct payment of taxes to the bank is in accordance with the cashless policy of the Governor Yahaya Bello administration. He added that the state tax force on revenue drive would tour all business establishments in the state to enforce the law at the expiration of the one month given by the ministry. He noted that the state Ministry of Commerce and KGIRS have area tax officers in various local government areas and other strategic positions to assist taxpayers to meet up their payments. According to him, the provisions of the law cover a wide range of enterprises and “Kogi State Government of Nigeria Registration of Business Premises Law, 2007; Section 2, Sub Section 4 of registration of business premises law and other matters connected therewith 2007, interprets business premises to mean: the premises on which the company, firm or individual carried or carries on any business, whether fenced or not. “Section 2, subsection 2 interprets business to include any trade, industry or profession and any occupation carried on for profit in Kogi State. “Section 3, subsection 1 of the aforementioned law further provides that premises of business of every company, firm or individual carrying on any business in the State shall be registered in the manner prescribed in this law.” The acting Chairman KGIRS, Mallam Yusufu Abubakar who was represented by Director, roads tax and other revenue, Mr Olubumi Ajayi, warned revenue officers either from the Ministry of Commerce or Revenue Service against collecting taxes by cash from business operators. By SaharaReporters, New York Source:http://saharareporters.com/2021/09/15/kogi-government-mandates-pos-operators-other-small-businesses-register-pay-taxes