Dupsy

The police in Rivers State have arrested three suspects for allegedly detonating devices suspected to be dynamite at the Christian Universal Church Incorporated located at No. 25 Azikiwe Street, Mile 3 area of Diobu, Port Harcourt. The church, which is also known as ‘God’s Power House’, is allegedly owned by Governor Nyesom Wike’s father, who is a cleric. This is as the state police command said the attackers might be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra. Eyewitnesses told our correspondents, who visited the scene, that five men wearing face masks strolled into the church as if they were worshippers before carrying out the attack. One of the eyewitnesses said the arsonists came in from Ojoto, an adjourning street, walked round and detonated the explosive devices around 10pm on Saturday. He explained, “We were all outside because people don’t sleep early in Azikiwe. Even by 2am, you will still see people moving about here peacefully and enjoying themselves, because there are some hangouts here. “I saw the boys; they were three when they went inside the church, but we didn’t suspect anything. The next thing we heard was a loud sound and people started running.” Another eyewitness said the attackers were first spotted by some hangers-on in the area, adding that one of the hoodlums, who was holding a gun, was held from behind and the weapon fell. In the process, an alarm was raised and the local security group known as the Diobu Vigilantes moved in and immediately arrested him and rounded up two others, who shot indiscriminately to pave the way for their escape, not knowing that the vigilantes had spread their dragnet. “In the ensuing melee, some of the vigilante members sustained injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment, while the attackers, including those arrested, also suffered injuries. It was gathered that the explosion affected the foundation of the church building and shattered windows, doors and some equipment, even as some residents said it shook their buildings. “I was inside when I heard the deafening sound. It shook our building and we were all afraid. We didn’t come out till later when we heard that some persons had been arrested,” a woman said. When our correspondents visited the scene around 7.25am on Sunday, the both ends of the street from Ikoku and UBA had been condoned off, while armed policemen and machete-wielding members of the Diobu Vigilantes were seen preventing people from coming into the street. While the church gate remained open, seven patrol vans, including the Operation Sting vehicle, were stationed on the street and motorists were asked to make a U-turn. Speaking on the incident, Assistant Chief Security Officer of the Azikiwe Street, Collins Johnbull, who said he was in the area when the incident occurred, noted that some of his men were hit by bullets, while chasing after the suspects and were receiving treatment in hospital. He stated, “I was on my duty post and we observed some movement between 8pm and 9pm. We saw some strange faces, about five of them. They entered into the governor father’s church. “We thought they were church members having their normal evening programme or something, but not up to five minutes when these guys entered, we heard the sound of an explosion from that direction and we approached. “Immediately the hoodlums started jumping out with masks on their faces and bearing guns; they started running and shooting at my men. We said, ‘No, we can’t be here and such an act will take place without apprehending these boys.’” Johnbull also said some of his men sustained injuries and were receiving treatment in hospital He added, “By God’s grace, we were able to apprehend three of them, while two escaped; we did everything in our powers, even taking risks to apprehend the hoodlums. Some of my men are receiving treatment at the Life Care Hospital. “During the #EndSARS protests, some hoodlums tried to attack this church and the Azikiwe vigilantes came out and did a nice job.” The spokesman for the state police command, Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the attack, saying the perpetrators were suspected IPOB members, adding that the Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan, had launched an investigation to ascertain the motive behind the attack as well as apprehend other fleeing suspects. Omoni stated, “Some hoodlums suspected to be IPOB members attacked the church. We are investigating. The church suffered substantial destruction. “Our bomb unit was there. The personnel swept the place in the early hour of today (Sunday) and they are still there. The Area Commander is leading the operation. Policemen will be there until further notice. “But I can tell you that normalcy has been restored. So far, we have arrested three persons. The Commissioner of Police has launched an investigation into the incident. Our bomb unit is here. “They have been able to sweep the place and clean-up is going on as we speak. The engineer will come to ascertain the integrity of the building for habitation.” The Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, and some senior police officers were also at the scene of the incident. By Dennis Naku and Sampson Itode Source:https://punchng.com/police-finger-ipob-arrest-three-as-explosion-rocks-wike-fathers-church/

The estimated 25 million Nigerians that will benefit from the Federal Government’s Solar Home Systems that commences this week will be expected to pay about N4,000 monthly, the presidency has said. The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday titled, “25m Nigerians to own 5m solar systems at N4,000 monthly.” Akande was giving further insight into earlier reports that the Federal Government will, from next week, commence the process of installation of five million solar home systems in underserved and off-grid communities across the country. The installation is in continuation of the implementation of the government’s Economic Sustainability Plan. The earlier report, however, elicited questions from Nigerians who wanted to know the cost of owning the solar system. Akande explained that beneficiaries would be expected to pay about N4,000 monthly over three years. He said the solar programme, nicknamed Solar Power Naija, for which installations starts in December, is being implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency. “An important aspect of the scheme is the option of outright ownership by beneficiaries at a cost ranging from N1, 500 per week to N4, 000 monthly depending on the capacities, for three years,” Akande said. He noted that that the arrangement allows as many as 25 million Nigerians to own personal solar systems in their homes. He added that as indicated in the Economic Sustainability Plan, the five million connections initiative is a private sector-led electricity access acceleration scheme to be facilitated by a low-cost loan facility from the Central Bank of Nigeria and implemented by REA. “Because of the scale of materials required, solar equipment manufacturers/assemblers will be incentivised to set up facilities in Nigeria, thereby offering additional job opportunities to Nigerians. “Also, installation, servicing and payment collections are expected to provide thousands of other jobs. In all, at least 250, 000 jobs will be created.” It was further learnt that the World Bank, which is also participating in the plan, is providing a grant to finance 20 per cent of the retail cost of the solar system across the country. The REA, which is the lead implementing agencies of the Solar Home System, had through its off-grid solar programme connected the people of Olooji community (Ijebu East) in Ogun State to electricity, for the first time in 200 years. Olooji solar hybrid has a total capacity of 100KW completed with 304 solar panels, 72 batteries and over 30KM of distribution network cables, serving over 4,000 people. BY SAHARAREPORTERS, NEW YORK SOURCE;http://saharareporters.com/2020/11/29/nigerians-pay-n4000-monthly-solar-system-%E2%80%94presidency

President Muhammadu Buhari has reacted to the killing of 43 farmers in Zabarmari village in Jere Local Government of Borno State, by Boko Haram insurgents. The Nigerian President who stated that the entire country is hurt by senseless killings, said his government had given all the needed support to the armed forces “to take all necessary steps to protect the country’s population and its territory.” A statement released by his media aide Garba Shehu read; President @MBuhari has expressed grief over the killing of farmers on rice fields at Zabarmari, in Jere Local Government of Borno State, describing the terrorist killings as insane. “I condemn the killing of our hardworking farmers by terrorists in Borno State. The entire country is hurt by these senseless killings. My thoughts are with their families in this time of grief. May their souls Rest In Peace.” President Buhari said the government had given all the needed support to the armed forces “to take all necessary steps to protect the country’s population and its territory.” By PH Source;https://nigeriana.news/buhari-reacts-to-the-killing-of-43-rice-farmers-by-boko-haram-in-borno.html

Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello has appealed for understanding of civil servants and political appointees over a reduction in their November salary, as a result of the shortfall from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FACC). In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mary Noel Berje, Bello described the situation as unfortunate, especially now that the economy is hitting hard on people due to recession. The governor added that the government’s decision is temporary, and hopefully soonest, the situation will improve. Bello, who attributed the shortfall to the present poor economy, pointed out that the situation is not peculiar to Niger State alone and promised that his administration will expedite action towards improving its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to complement whatever is coming from FACC. He disclosed that he and his deputy are also affected by the salary cut. By Yahaya Bida, Minna Source:https://guardian.ng/news/niger-cuts-salary-of-civil-servants-political-appointees/

Hisbah Conducts Door-to-door Search To Fish Out ‘Sinners’ In Kano Officials of Hisbah in Kano State on Friday conducted a door-to-door search at Hills and Valley, a holiday and relaxation resort located at Dawakin Kudu, Kano metropolis. SaharaReporters gathered that staff of the resort were made to take Hisbah personnel round all parts of the building. During the search, operatives of the Islamic security outfit searched all rooms and spaces to detect 'sinners’. Despite condemnation from Nigerians, Hisbah group has continued its push for Islamic agenda in the North. The agency established to enforce Sharia law in some states in the region recently banned stylish haircuts, sagging of trousers, playing of music at social events by disk jockeys and seizing tricycle from riders for adorning them with pictures considered to be obscene and against the tenents of Islam. Hisbah also banned commercial motorcycle and tricycle riders from carrying two women at a time. This was in addition to other unusual directives reeled out by the Islamic police. Hisbah recently made headlines for shaving stylish haircuts of young men in Kano and arresting people for improper dressing Earlier in the month, the group destroyed bottles of beer worth over N300m in Kano, Kaduna and Katsina states. BY SAHARA REPORTERS SOURCE:http://saharareporters.com/2020/11/27/hisbah-conducts-door-door-search-fish-out-‘sinners’-kano

With tears streaming down his cheeks, 20 years old Samuel Shekwo, son of the assassinated All Progressives Congress Chairman in Nasarawa State, could not fathom why unknown gunmen would cut short his joy by killing his father. The late Philip Shekwo was abducted by some gunmen last Saturday at his Lafia residence opposite Peace House on Kurikyo Road, Bukan Sidi in Lafia before his body was found the next day a few metres away from his house. According to The Nation, Samuel recalled that the late politician was captured by his killers in the toilet after searching extensively for him in the house. He said, “On Saturday night, we were all at home. My father went to play golf and came back in around 8 pm, and I went to the parlour to greet him. He had just finished eating and was telling us how the game went when I went into my room and left him in the parlour with others as they were watching the news on television. “A few minutes before 10 pm, one of my course mates at Nasarawa State University called me and we were discussing the whole strike issue. Then from nowhere, I started hearing gunshots all over the house. “I dropped my phone without even ending the call and rushed out of my room. I went into my parents’ room first to see whether they were fine, and I saw my father coming out from his room. I started switching off the lights because I noticed that we were under attack, so that they (attackers) would not be able to see through the house. “They surrounded the entire house and were shooting from different directions. While four of them were trying to gain entry into the house through the front door, another four were at the backdoor trying to gain access into the house. “I was also making contacts to see if help could come. I called a friend, Mr Dominic Bako’s son, who is actually a close friend to my father and I am friends with his son too. So, I called him and he told his father that we were under attack. When I called him the second time, I could hear his father making contacts, saying that the Chairman was under attack. “Throughout this period, my father was in his bedroom. But when I noticed that the pressure was much, I thought that they were armed robbers. So I went back to my room and started picking certain valid items and documents to hide. I also took my car key and laptop and hid them. “Later on when I started hearing their voice, I locked my door and lay down together with my cousin sisters and we were just praying. Later on, I heard two gunshots in the direction of my parents’ room. I thought they had gained access into my parents’ room and I started crying and praying. “That was when I started hearing voices inside the house. I also noticed that one of them was opening the back door, and I started hearing more voices inside the house. I couldn’t come out at that time because I had locked my door already. “They were searching round the house but they could not find my father, so they went out through the back door and were lamenting. They appeared frustrated that they could not find my father. That was when they got our security guard who normally sits at the back of the house before moving to the security post at the gate. “When they got the security guard, they started beating him. We were hearing them from the room as they were asking him where is Oga. He told them that Oga had travelled but they said it is a lie, that Oga was around. They were actually beating him with their machetes because even from the sound, we could hear it. “Later on, they asked what about the children. We heard he has a son. They were speaking in Hausa. From their ascent, you would know that they were Fulani, and they were not covering their faces. When they came to my room and noticed that it was luocked, they pushed the door and forced their way in. They saw us lying down together with my cousin sisters, because my blood sisters were not around. “They now asked us to stand up. They asked the security guard, ‘Is this Oga’s son?’ He reluctantly nodded his head in the affirmative. Their leader now held me by my shirt and dragged me up. The other one now said since they couldn’t find my father, they should just go with me. “They asked me to stand up and follow them; that my father must give them the money he was enjoying from the government. As they were about going out with me, one of them with a gun noticed that one of the rooms was locked, so their attention shifted to the place. They now detailed one of them to keep an eye on me and the security guard, that if I moved, he should shoot. “They broke the door and entered but they did not see anybody. On their way out of the room, they decided to check the toilet and noticed that it was locked. That was when they forced their way into the toilet. There they saw him and my mum. Even when they had broken the toilet door, they still were not able to enter because my father was pushing from the back and they could not push their way in. Their leader now said since the door was not opening, they should shoot. One of them was about to shoot when my father released the toilet’s door and they got him. “One thing that baffles me is that they did not manhandle him. They were not even sure if he was the one. They were calling him Moses. They assured us that they were not going to harm him; that it was just money they wanted. He was pleading with them, begging them. My mum too was begging and pleading with them, but they said there was no need begging, it was just money they wanted. “They left with him and we were at home throughout that night, praying and hoping that they were going to call since they said it was money they wanted, only for us to get the sad news on Sunday afternoon that they had found his body.” BY SAHARAREPORTERS, NEW YORK SOURCE:http://saharareporters.com/2020/11/28/how-my-father%E2%80%99s-killers-captured-him-toilet-after-heavy-gunshots-%E2%80%93son-murdered-nasarawa

.asks court to fire Buni caretaker committee .seeks nullification of NEC meeting chaired by Buhari A former National Vice Chairman and ex-acting chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Hilliard Eta, has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to nullify the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the party and declare him as the Acting National Chairman of the party. The National Executive Committee of the APC had at its meeting held at the Presidential Villa on June 25, 2020 dissolved the party’s National Working Committee, led by the then National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole. The NEC, at the meeting presided over by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), set up the caretaker committee and appointed the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, to head the committee. He was sworn in by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami. The meeting was attended by the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; Senate President, Ahmed Lawan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; governors elected on the platform of the party and other party stakeholders. Prior to the June 25 NEC meeting, the party had been enmeshed in serious crisis, during which about three persons laid claim to the position of the national chairman at the same time, coupled with conflicting court judgements obtained by the warring factions. The raging crisis had prompted the NEC to summon the meeting, during which it passed a resolution to give the Buni-led interim committee a six-month tenure within which to organise a national convention to produce the substantive leaders of the party. Few hours after the dissolution, 18 members of the NWC loyal to Oshiomhole said in a statement that the NEC meeting was illegal. In the statement signed by the then acting National Chairman, Eta, and acting National Secretary, Waziri Bulama, the group made it clear that they were consulting other stakeholders and their lawyers on the dissolution as well as other decisions taken by the NEC. Eta, who was initially the National Vice Chairman, South-South, had emerged as the acting National Chairman of the party following the inability of the then National Vice Chairman, South, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, to assume the position. The chairman’s position became vacant following the sacking of Oshiomhole by the Court of Appeal in Abuja. Meanwhile, Eta on November 26, 2020 filed his fresh suit challenging the dissolution of the Oshiomhole-led NWC which he was part of. He sought various orders of injunction to restrain the Buni-led committee from taking any further steps on behalf of the party which may include planning the party’s convention. The suit was instituted on his behalf by his lawyer, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), with the APC made the first plaintiff and Eta the second. Listed as defendants in the suit are Buni in his capacity as chairman of the caretaker committee; John Akpan Udoedehe as the National Secretary; as well as Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State; Governor Sani Bello of Niger State, and Stella Okotete, as members of the committee. The plaintiffs joined the Independent National Electoral Commission as the sixth defendant. The plaintiffs argued among others that by virtue of Section 183 of the Nigerian Constitution and Article 17 (iv) of the constitution of the APC, it was an illegality and a void act for a person to hold an executive office in the government simultaneously with an office in any organ of the APC at any level, in whatever capacity. They also argued that by virtue of same Section 183 of the Nigerian Constitution, Article 17 (i) and (iv) and 20 (i) (a) of the APC constitution, the purported removal of the duly elected officers of the party on June 25, 2020, was void and did not affect the rights of the duly elected officers of the APC to continue with the discharge of the duties for which they were elected. In an affidavit deposed to by Etagbo Eta in support of the originating summons, the NWC had reacted to the proposed illegal meeting in a document captioned “Press Statement by the APC NWC,” clearly expressing that the proposed meeting violated the APC Constitution. He explained that the 1st to 5th defendants (members of the Buni-led committee) and those who projected them were duly alerted of the illegality of their act, yet they persisted in such illegality and willful disregard of the organic document of the 1st plaintiff. He expressed concerns that INEC “no longer deals” with the duly elected executive of the APC but on the contrary recognised the 1st to 5th defendants in all matters concerning the 1st plaintiff, which contravenes the constitution of APC. The plaintiffs therefore sought, among others, an order setting aside and nullifying the appointment and constitution of the 1st to 5th defendants into a caretaker/extraordinary convention planning committee of the APC. They also sought another order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants “from continuing to hold out, present and or parade themselves as the caretaker/extraordinary convention planning committee of the APC or from taking any steps whatsoever as National Chairman, National Secretary or members respectively of the caretaker/extraordinary convention planning committee of the APC”. They also prayed for an order of perpetual injunction restraining INEC “from recognising and/or continuing to recognise the 1st to 5th defendants as National Chairman, National Secretary or members respectively of the caretaker/extraordinary convention planning committee of the APC.” They also sought an order mandating the sixth defendant (INEC) to recognise and deal with the second plaintiff (Hilliard Eta) as the Acting National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress”. The suit has yet to be assigned to a judge. Govs lobby non-NWC members over tenure extension for Buni, others Meanwhile, governors elected on the platform of the APC on Thursday night met with non-elected members of the party’s National Executive Committee with a view to getting their cooperation in the plan to extend the six-month tenure of the Buni-led committee. The chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, Abubakar Bagudu; Governors Yahaya Bello (Kogi) and Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa) represented their colleagues at the meeting which was held in Abuja. The caretaker committee was represented by a member, Professor Tahir Mamman (SAN). The emergency NEC meeting of June 25 appointed the caretaker committee with the core mandate of reconciling all aggrieved members of the party and conducting the party’s national convention for the election of a new National Working Committee. Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, the former National Vice Chairman (North-East), Mustapha Salihu, who convened the meeting as patron of state chairmen of the APC and non-NWC NEC members, said, “We had a very fruitful deliberation. “In attendance, we have the representative of the Caretaker Committee in person of Professor Tahir Mamman, who we deliberated intensively with and he gave us all the legal efforts made to harmonise and streamline the transition processes of the caretaker committee. “Also in attendance were three governors; the leadership of the Progressives Governors Forum was here. They gave their assurance and support to the caretaker committee, the welfare of the non-NWC NEC members, the forum of state chairmen, the rank and file of the party and their commitment to building the party from bottom to top.” By John Alechenu and Tunde Ajaja Source;https://punchng.com/apc-crisis-sacked-oshiomhole-led-nwc-drags-party-inec-to-court/