Breaking News Today Thursday 10 Sept 2020

#* Agenda 2050: Buhari inaugurates National Steering Committee

Part of the task before the group is to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within the next 10 years.

“The main objectives of these Successor Plans are to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within the next 10 years, particularly given the World Bank’s projection that Nigeria will become the world’s third most populous country by 2050 with over 400 million people,” President Buhari said.


#* Osinbajo: Never blame the victim of sexual harassment




Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has debunked the notion that victims or potential victims of sexual harassment are architects of their fate.

Osinbajo expressed this view on Wednesday at a webinar on Anti-Sexual Harassment.

He said it was wrong to believe that victims of sexual harassment triggered it by their attitude, dressing or willingness to be in a compromising place with their violators.

The theme of the webinar was, “Finding Safe Spaces for Female Students in Nigerian Universities.”

It was organised by the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.

The event was based on the book authored by notable journalist and former presidential spokesman, Mr Olusegun Adeniyi, titled Naked Abuse: Sex for Grades in African Universities.

The vice president said the idea of blaming the victim should be resisted in every situation.






#* Buhari’s govt has failed Nigerians —Secondus

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, said on Wednesday President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration had failed Nigerians.

Secondus, who stated this while addressing PDP supporters at the party’s National Secretariat, Abuja, added that the party identified with citizens who had been exposed to unprecedented hardship, poverty, hunger and death by the government which had failed to fulfill its pre-election promises.

The PDP members were protesting the recent hike in petrol pump price and electricity tariff by the Federal Government.

Secondus also knocked the government for applauding itself over unverifiable claims of achievements.

He said: “When they were looking for power in 2015, they promised to provide jobs for our youths, they promised to reduce the pump price of petroleum products and protect lives and property.

“But what do we have today? When they took over, a bag of rice was N18,000 today it is N35,000 is this progress?”




#* Edo 2020: Butchers endorse Obaseki for 2nd term

Butchers in Edo on Wednesday shutdown abattoirs, meat markets and shops in the state in solidarity for the reelection of Gov. Godwin Obaseki.

The butchers took to major streets in Benin with a life cow to demonstrate their trade in solidarity with the state governor with their usual slogan of 4+4 and re-echoing of ‘Togba’ meaning complete.

Speaking with newsmen in Benin, the President, Association of Edo State Practicing Butchers, Mr Paul Odigie, said they were out to drum support for Obaseki based on his developmental strides in the state.






Nnamdi Kanu Warns Orji Uzor Kalu On Biafra Agitation, Reveals When He Will Return To Nigeria

In a statement released in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital on Tuesday, the former governor had said Kanu will listen to him. He stated this in reaction to the recent altercation between members of IPOB and security personnel in Enugu state.

Senator Kalu had said he is a believer in one Nigeria and believes that people of the country are so entangled with each other that no one should be talking about separation. He added that what the country needs is to focus on taking advantage of the country’s population to build a stronger economy.

“If the Federal Government permits me, I will go to the United Kingdom and negotiate with Nnamdi Kanu to return to Nigeria. I will convince him to drop the agitation for Biafra because our people don’t need it,” Kalu had said.






#* PDP Crisis: ‘I Will Face You Squarely If You Come To Ekiti’ – Fayose Warns Makinde

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has been warned against meddling in the affairs of the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti and other South-West states.

Ayodele Fayose, the former governor of Ekiti State on Wednesday, September 9 when he led the National delegates of Peoples Democratic Party including council chairmen of the party in Osun, Ekiti, Lagos to Abeokuta, stated that Makinde has no right to meddle with local politics in the South-West.

The politician stated that he is ready to fight anyone that wants to take over the structure of the party in Ekiti from him.






#* Fuel, Electricity Hike: PDP, Atiku’s Stance Height of Hypocrisy – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has slammed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate in the 2019 election, Atiku Abubakar over its stance on the recent increment in petrol price and electricity tariff.

In a statement on Wednesday by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yekini Nabena, the ruling party described their stance as the height of hypocrisy.

The APC accused Atiku of being double-faced and lacking in integrity if after promising to deregulate the economy during the campaigns, he can now turn back to criticize the President Muhammadu Buhari administration for doing exactly what he (Atiku) had promised to do if elected.






#* Nigeria’s total debt hits N31 trillion

The Debt Management Office on Wednesday put the country’s total debt at N31 trillion.

The figure, according to the DMO, was an increase of N2.38trillion over a period of three months.

The agency disclosed this while releasing Nigeria’s total public debt stock as at June 30 this year.

The country’s total public debt stock includes the debt stock of the Federal Government, the 36 states, and the Federal Capital Territory.

The DMO also released reports on the country’s external debt service in the second quarter of this year.






#* Nigerian govt’s debt hits N24.52tn –CBN

The total debt of the Nigerian government (not including states and the Federal Capital Territory) came to N24.52 trillion at the end of March, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said in its ‘Economy Monthly Report’ for May issued on Tuesday.

It further stated that the Nigerian government posted a revenue shortfall of N561.71 billion in the month in question.

“Federation account operations driven by the slump in crude oil prices in March 2020, federally collected revenue in May 2020 declined by 31.6 per cent and 12.0 per cent to N625.91bn, relative to its levels in April 2020 and May 2019 respectively. The receipt was 52.4 per cent below the monthly benchmark.

“Retained revenue of the Federal Government in May was N276.99bn, while total expenditure was N838.71bn, resulting in an estimated deficit of N561.71bn.

“Total FGN debt outstanding at end-March 2020, stood at N24.52tn, 59.3 per cent of which was domestic and 40.7 per cent external,” the report said.






176 new cases of COVID-19 as Nigeria’s total rises to 55,632; death toll now 1,070

#* Nigeria on Wednesday recorded 176 fresh COVID-19 cases.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), which disclosed this on its Twitter handle, said the cases were recorded in 16 states of the federation and Abuja.

It added that three people died from complications resulting from the virus on Wednesday.

Consequently, the number of COVID-19 fatalities increased from 1,067 to 1,070.

Also, the total number of confirmed cases increased to 55,632.

Meanwhile, 43,610 patients have been discharged from various isolation facilities across the country as at Wednesday night.

#* Soldiers dragged Benue warlord, Gana, out of govt convoy before he was killed – Community leader


More facts on Wednesday emerged about how a notorious militia leader in Benue State, Terwase Akwaza, aka Gana, was killed by the military on Tuesday despite embracing amnesty.

A community leader, who confided in one of our correspondents in Makurdi, the state capital, said Gana was in a government convoy when he was dragged out of a car by soldiers at a checkpoint in Gbitse, near Yandev roundabout in the Gboko Local Government Area of the state.


The community leader said the militia leader was thrown into a military vehicle and driven away. The Commander of Operation Ayem A Kpatuma, Major General Ali Gadzama, had on Tuesday told Channels Television that Gana, who recently embraced amnesty, was killed in a gun battle with soldiers.
#* Pipeline repairs cost NNPC N41.98bn in six months

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has said it spent a total of N41.98bn on pipeline repairs and management cost in the first half of this year.

The NNPC disclosed this in its latest monthly oil report, saying, “Products theft and vandalism have continued to destroy value and put NNPC at disadvantaged competitive position.”

A total of 1,067 vandalised points were recorded between June 2019 and June 2020, according to the corporation.
#* I regret granting pardon to Bauchi serial rapist –Mohammed

The Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has said he regretted pardoning a convicted serial rapist during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Recall that the police in the state had arrested the rapist, Yusuf Bako, for defiling a four-year-old girl inside a mosque in Bauchi. Bako was among several others who were granted state pardon by the governor during the lockdown.

The governor, who spoke when the state Action Committee on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, led by his wife, Hajiya Aisha Mohammed, paid him an advocacy visit at the Government House late Tuesday, said, “we must apologise to the women for doing this. It is not our wish to do that. Had it been that I was aware, he would have served his full jail term. I didn’t know, I wouldn’t have appended my signature.”
#* Nigeria borrowed N18.89tn under Buhari – Report

Nigeria’s debt public debt hit a total of N31.01tn at the end of June, the Debt Management Office announced on Wednesday.

This means that in the last five years under the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), the country’s debt rose by N18.89tn.

As of the end of June 2015, one month after the present regime came into power, the country’s debt profile stood at N12.12tn. This means that within a period of five years, the nation’s debt profile rose by N18.89tn.
#* Insecurity: North-Central breaks away from ACF, announces new group

Prominent leaders from the North-Central geopolitical zone have announced their exit from the Arewa Consultative Forum, citing the worsening insecurity in northern Nigeria.

The leaders announced the formation of the North Central Peoples Forum as a platform to fight insecurity and marginalisation. Addressing journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, the group said in spite of the abundant mineral and human resources in the zone, the North-Central was bedevilled by vices, like kidnapping, banditry and other forms of criminality.

The ACF currently has as its Chairman, the immediate-past Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, who is from the North Central zone, while the new North-Central group is being led by a former Minister of State for Health, Gabriel Aduku, who is the interim chairman.
#* I’ll confront Makinde over Ekiti PDP leadership, others –Fayose

The former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has warned the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, against tampering with the leadership of Peoples Democratic Party in South-West states.

Fayose insisted that the Oyo governor had no right to interfere in the local politics being played in each South west state despite being a zonal leader of the party.

The former governor said this on Wednesday when he led the national delegates of the PDP, including the chairmen of the party in Osun, Ekiti, Lagos, to Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
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#*. BBNaija 2020: Erica's Tantrums Started After Spotting Nengi Talking To Kiddwaya During Party - Lucy

Evicted Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) housemate, Lucy says that Erica’s drama that led to her disqualification might be about Nengi talking to Kiddwaya.

reports that Erica had gone to disrupt Nengi’s dance with Kiddwaya during the 7th Saturday night party and when it was over she took swipes at Laycon over claims that she tried to kiss him.
#* Biafra: Sen. Orji Kalu Pleads For Return Of IPOB's Nnamdi Kanu

Senate Chief Whip and erstwhile governor of Abia state, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has appealed to Federal Government of Nigeria to allow the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to return to Nigeria.
#*. Election Tribunal: CJN To Swear In 85 Judges On September 10

Ahead of the Edo and Ondo state governorship elections and other legislative By-elections in different parts of the country, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad will on Thursday swear in 85 judges to serve on the election petition tribunal panels at the forthcoming elections.

Making this disclosure in a statement on Wednesday, the media officer of the Court of Appeal Sa’adatu Kachalla, said the swearing-in ceremony will hold at the ceremonial hall of the Supreme Court in Abuja. .
#*. Ondo Decides 2020: Akeredolu Known For Reckless Talk - Ondo Deputy Governor

Ondo State Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi has said that his boss Rotimi Akeredolu is known to have a loose mouth.

Agboola who reacted to comments made by Akeredolu on Arise TV said the Governor's comments were a fruitless effort to demean the constitutionally established the office of the deputy governor. .
#* IPOB Threatens Nigerian Police Over Arrest Of Its Members

The banned Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) has demanded the immediate release of one Ofornedu Okoafor, others in police custody.

In a recent statement signed by its spokesman, Emma Powerful alleged that men of the Enugu State Police Command and soldiers had picked up Okoafor alongside his grandfather on August 23rd, 2020 while receiving treatment at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in the State. .
#* CBN, Nigerian Economic Group Clash Over President Buhari's Economic Policies

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) clashed over the current economic policies of President Muhammadu Buhari, which the NESG said is making Nigerians poorer. However, the CBN said the policies have done the opposite.

According to the CBN, the policies of the government prevented Nigeria from experiencing a major food crisis during the major outbreak of COVID-19 and the lockdown of the economy. AllNews recalls that the CBN had placed more than 41 items on a forex banned food list that can't be imported into Nigeria. .
#* EFCC Probe: I'll Honor Invitation To Salami Panel- Malami

Abubakar Malami, the Attorney General Federation (AGF) has said that he is ready to testify if he is invited by the Justice Ayo Salami-led panel.

Malami who said this during an interview on Arise TV on Wednesday was reacting to a letter by Ibrahim Magu, the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) requesting that Salami be summoned before the panel. .
#* Fuel Price Hike: SERAP To Challenge Increase In Court

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has said that it will challenge the recent increase of fuel price and electricity tariff if President Muhammadu Buhari led administration does not immediately reverse the increment.

Describing the recent increment as a patently unfair and arbitrary hike by the Federal Government, SERAP in a letter by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare said the hike was a retrogressive measure against the Nigerian People. .
#*. Benue Gang Leader: Gov. Ortom Questions Military Over Gana’s Death

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has questioned the military over the arrest of wanted Benue gang leader Terwase Akwaza popularly known as Gana.

News had reported earlier that the wanted Benue gang leader Gana was killed after he and 172 other militiamen had all surrendered before priests, local government officials, and traditional rulers in the Katsina-Ala Local Government Area in Benue State. .
#* Kaduna Spends N400,000 In Treating COVID-19 Patients - El-Rufai

The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, disclosed that the state spent N400,000 in the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

He disclosed this during his address to the Northern Traditional Rulers Council's National Executive Council headed by the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, in the state. .


#* Electricity, Fuel: Legislative, executive bond under threat

CHUKWU DAVID reports that the Senate has failed to be on the same page with the executive arm of government on the current increases in the pump price of petrol and electricity tariff in the country There are two popular slogans for which the President of the Ninth Senate, Ahmad Lawan, is known for. The …



#* Winning terror war won’t come cheap – Odeyemi


Comrade Oladimeji Odeyemi, a security analyst and a counter-terrorism expert, is the Convener of the Coalition of Civil Society Groups Against Terrorism in Nigeria. In this interview, he speaks on the war against insurgency and banditry and the need for improved funding of the military, among other issues. Wale Elegbede reports The Coalition of United …


#* Ghana, Nigeria rivalry: Matters arising


The frosty relation between Ghana and Nigeria dates back to the colonial era when both states were agitating for flag independence from the same colonial master, Great Britain. Each country wanted to achieve the status of unencumbered statehood before the other. Ghana ultimately won when the dominant Ahmadu Bello-led Northern Peoples’ Congress (NPC) insisted that …
#* Relief as Delta Airlines resumes services to Lagos

Travellers to the United States, North America and beyond can now heave a sigh of relief as Delta Airlines, yesterday, resumed direct flight operations from Atlanta to Lagos. Starting from yesterday, the airline will fly four times a week with departures on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Delta’s Commercial Director (Africa), Bobby Bryan, said. “We …
#* Deregulation to change Nigeria’s status as petrol net exporter – Marketers

Nigeria can develop intotherefininghub for West and Central Africa becoming a net exporter of refined products following Federal Government’s new policies on alternative energy, total deregulation, liberalization of the petroleum downstream sector and the coming on stream of new modular refineries, the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) has said. The association, in a …
#* Bamidele, SMEDAN empower 1,000 youths in Ekiti

Determined to tackle youths’ restiveness following scarce jobs unrest, Chairman Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele in partnership with Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN had empowered no fewer than 1,000 youths in Ekiti State. This took place through what he described as a well-designed training …
#* Fuel pump, electricity tariff increase: Don’t take Atiku, PDP serious, APC tells Nigerians

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday called on Nigerians to disregard the comments by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate in the last election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, over the recent increase in fuel pump price and electricity tariffs. The party accused the opposition party and its presidential candidate of speaking …


#* Ogun community seeks Abiodun’s intervention in Onitele stool

Scores of Adeogun Atele Family members of Itele Awori in Ado Odo/Ota, Local government Area of Ogun State stormed Governor Dapo Abiodun’s office in a peaceful protest, alleging misrepresentation and impersonation by Olota of Ota, Oba Kabiru Obalanlege and Ademola Asorota over contentious Onitele stool. The protesters, who were led by the heads of four …
#* NEMA gives flood victims N800m palliatives in Abia

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has donated over N80 million worth of relief materials to victims of flood and landslide disasters in Abia State to enable them cushion the effect of the disaster. Head of Imo/Abia Operations office of NEMA, Mr. Evans Ugoh, confirmed this yesterday in Owerri. He said the beneficiaries of the …


#*PDP to Nigerians: Buhari, APC deserve our sympathy

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) deserved the sympathy of Nigerians because they lacked ideas on how to run a country. The party said what the president and his party required was to hire competent Nigerians to help them run the government. PDP’s National Chairman, Prince …


#* NDLEA Intercepts 1000kg Of Cannabis, Parades Six Drug Barons In Adamawa

One thousand kilograms of cannabis sativa have been intercepted and six suspected illicit drug barons paraded in Adamawa State.
The Adamawa State Command of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Wednesday in Yola, the state capital, paraded the suspects and displayed the seized illicit substance.





Commander of the agency, Idris Bello, who paraded the suspects, said the seizures were made in Mubi, Numan, and other parts of the state.
He said, “Six people are in our custody on allegation of dealing in illicit drugs and related offences.
“One particular suspected cannabis dealer in Mubi is at large though, but we are on his trail.”
The commander lauded Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri’s role in the sustained war against hard drugs.
He noted that the governor’s support to NDLEA had been instrumental to the agency’s success.
Fielding questions from journalists, Bashar Umar, one of the arrested dealers of cannabis sativa, said that he regretted his actions.
He disclosed that he gets his supplies from Ondo and Edo states and distributes same to middlemen for sale to consumers.

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#* 30,000 Policemen, 17,000 Ad Hoc Staff To Be Deployed For Ondo Governorship Election



At least 30,000 policemen would be deployed to provide security for the governorship election in Ondo State.
Commissioner of Police in Ondo, Mr Bolaji Salami, said the officers would be drafted to the 18 local government areas of the state to ensure a hitch-free exercise.
He said, “We have already started the preparations for the election and we have trained our men to ensure a violence-free election on October 10.


“We are taking directive from the Force (Police) headquarters and 30,000 policemen would be providing security for the Ondo governorship. They would be deployed to all polling units in all 18 local government areas.”
He also added that the command would soon begin a show of force together with other security agencies in the state to send a signal to anyone planning to cause violence in the election.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission has said it would deploy over 17,000 ad hoc staff for the Ondo governorship election.
The commission also explained that 15,000 members of the National Youth Service Corps would assist as polling officers from that figure.
Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voters Education, made the disclosure during a workshop for journalists in the state ahead of the election.
Okoye said the ad hoc staff would include civil servants and senior lecturers from tertiary institutions, who would serve as collation and presiding officers for the election.
Speaking on the controversial Z-Pad technology, which was recently used during the Nasarawa Central state constituency election, Okoye said the commission had been able to rectify some of the challenges with the innovation.
He said, “In the Nasarawa election, the commission introduced Z-Pad as secondary verification solution to the smart card reader. If the smart card reader is unable to identify your fingerprints, the Z-Pad will identify you and capture your facials and then you can vote.
“Some of these problems we have noticed in the Z-Pad, we need to rectify them before we introduce them in big elections.
“But for the purpose of uploading Form EC8A from the polling units to a dedicated portal, we are going to continue with the Z-Pad.
“I want to assure and reassure you that this commission is committed to the conduct of credible election both in Edo and Ondo states and in all the 14 by-elections we are going to conduct.”


#* Ghanaian Pastor Shoots Wife Dead In United States

A Ghanaian pastor, Sylvester Ofori, has been arrested for shooting his wife dead in the United States of America.
Ofori killed his wife, who was identified as Barbara Tommey, outside the Navy Federal Credit Union branch where she worked.
Orlando Police Department Chief said she was shot and killed as she arrived for work on Tuesday morning.

Ofori shot Tommey multiple times and immediately fled the scene.
He was later arrested by detectives of the Orlando Police Department.
Police said a warrant was served at the suspect’s apartment and Ofori taken into custody.
“You can tell that she’s trying to get inside (the credit union). Unfortunately, he killed her,” Police Chief Orlando Rolon said.
“You can tell she was surprised by what was happening.”
An eyewitness, who only provided her first name as Lisa, spoke with local media, saying Ofori was walking behind her before he brought out his gun and shot her.
“The guy was walking behind her. The next thing I knew, he raised his hand with the gun in it and he shot her.
“I started running and as I’m running, I hear three or four more shots.
“I’m shaken up right now, I’m still shaken up,” she said. The police added that the shooting was captured on surveillance video, adding that Ofori will face a charge of first degree murder with a firearm.


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#* Septuagenarian Alleges Plan By Ekiti State University Registrar, Siblings To Forcefully Take Over Land

A 73-year-old man, Sola Martins Ojo, has accused the Registrar of Ekiti State University, Akinwumi Olusola Arogundade, and his family members of planning to take over his three plots of land at lle-Ileri Adehun Area of Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Ojo, who claimed he bought the land about 40 years ago, said he became a target of harassment, intimidation and victimisation by Arogundade and his siblings following the death of most the senior member of the family in 2014.
He said they were at his house on June 6, 2020 with armed thugs and destroyed his property.

The septuagenarian alleged that his wife and daughter were physically assaulted.
He said, “I purchased the land about 40 years ago. In 2009, this group invaded my premises with men of the state police headquarters and accused me of occupying the land illegally.
“A lawyer among them destroyed some of my survey pillars while a woman beat up my 16-year-old daughter for daring to ask questions.
“I led them to the High Chief who sold the land to me. He confirmed the sale of the property, the receipt and affidavits. Even with this, I was detained at the police station for many hours.
“At the death of this Chief in 2014, the most senior member of the family replaced him. Then, l became a target of harassment, intimidation and victimisation by the siblings.
“The lawyer, who is the Registrar of Ekiti State University, Olusola Arogundade, used the institution’s staff to spray off my crops to expand his plantain and palm tree plantations.
“On August 13, 2019, a senior immigration officer among them invaded my premises with security men armed with guns and tear gas. While one stood behind me pointing his gun at my head, others stood around threatening members of my family.
“The immigration officer threatened to return with greater force soon if I failed to surrender a part of the land.
“They were around again on June 6 with thugs armed with cutlasses. They destroyed my crops, yams, cassava and plantain. They pushed me down. That lawyer beat up my 19-year-old daughter while a state civil service director among them beat up my son to the point of exhaustion.
“My wife was also beaten until she collapsed and was rushed to the teaching hospital.”
Ojo begged Governor Kayode Fayemi and the state Commissioner of Police to rescue him from the Arogundade family.


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#* 13-year-old Boy Sentenced To 10-year Imprisonment For Blasphemy Appeals Judgment

Farouq Omar, a 13-year-old boy sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for blasphemy, has appealed the judgment that convicted him at the Kano State High Court.
Omar was convicted on August 10 by Aliyu Kanu, the same judge, who sentenced a musician, Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, to death for blaspheming Prophet Mohammed.
Baba-Jibo Ibrahim, spokesperson for Kano Region Justice Ministry, said the teenager was sentenced to 10 years in prison for making derogatory statements towards Allah.


The development has stirred an outcry among many Nigerians.
In a suit filed at the Kano State High Court on Monday, Kola Alapini, Omar’s counsel, on behalf of the Foundation for Religious Freedom, asked the court to set the judgment aside.
The respondents in the appeal included the Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, Commissioner of Police and the Attorney-General of the state.
According to a copy of the court document seen by SaharaReporters, the teenager pleaded that the court should set aside the judgment because the law used to convict him was unconstitutional and conflicts with the Nigerian constitution, African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
He added that the Sharia law is only applicable and permissible in Islamic theocracies or countries whose constitution allows for such laws and not in Nigeria — a secular state with constitutional democracy.
“The offence of blasphemy is no longer a cognisable offence in Nigerian by virtue of Section 10 standing alone or in conjunction with Sections 38 and 39 of the constitution respectively. A capital offence seeking to terminate human life must comply strictly and especially with the right to life provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The Kano State government lacks the constitutional authority to adopt legislative mechanism to exclusively compensate Muslims for its lack of performance in providing good order and security by enacting unconstitutional laws that curtail the right to freedom of expression and freedom of conscience and blasphemy laws essentially censored religious opinions, critical expression of human conscience and thoughts and significantly,” he said.

The FRF in a statement condemned the earlier judgment.
“On Monday, 7th September, 2020 we on behalf of the Foundation for Religious Freedom successfully filed an appeal with number K/40CA/2020 on behalf of Omar Farouq at the Kano State High Court.
“Omar Farouq is a 13-year-old boy (a minor in the eyes of the law) sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with menial labour for blasphemy. In the same Sharia court in Filin Hockey, Kano, by the same judge that sentenced Yahaya Sharif-Aminu. Both boys were convicted the same day.
“This is a violation of the African Charter of the rights and welfare of a vhild. A violation of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Kano State Government will have their day in court,” the group said.


I-fight-you-if-you-come-ekiti-fayose-warns-oyo-governor-makinde PDP Crisis: I’ll Fight You If You Come To Ekiti, Fayose Warns Oyo Governor, Makinde

Ayodele Fayose

Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Ekiti State, has warned Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, against tampering with the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti.
Fayose said he was ready to fight anyone, who wants to take over the structure of the party in the state from him.
He disclosed this on Wednesday when he led national delegates of the PDP including the chairmen of the party in Osun, Ekiti, Lagos to Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Ayodele Fayose

He said, “There has been a reasonable cold war of who and who becomes the executive of the zone. Governor Makinde has demanded that the zonal executive be sacked and a caretaker be fostered on the zone which the party did.
“But, since the caretaker committee came into being, he has not allowed them to function because he produced the chairman.
“Beyond that, the fact that there is a sitting governor does not say I should go to another man’s state. Nobody should come to my state; if you come to my state, I will face you squarely.
“I will continue to respect him because he is my brother, I love him so much and I was part of his emergence.”


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#* EXPOSED: Real Reason Military Killed Benue Militant, Gana

Terwase Akwaza

SaharaRepoters has uncovered the real reason Nigerian military killed a wanted militant in Benue State, Terwase Akwaza widely known as Gana, on Tuesday.
Said to be the most wanted criminal in the state, Gana was eliminated to prevent him from implicating top politicians sponsoring his activities.
A former governor of the state, Gabriel Suswam, is said to be one of Gana’s main sponsors, military sources confided in SaharaReporters.

Terwase Akwaza

The sources also disclosed that the late militant was also close to some top military officers in the country and was therefore killed to conceal these facts.
Recall that Suswam was arrested in 2017 by the Department of State Services for illegal possession of firearms following a raid on his Abuja residence.
The DSS claimed a pistol with two magazines and 29 rounds of ammunition were recovered from him.


#* Nigerian Army Kills Benue Most Wanted Criminal, Gana


Other items recovered from his residence, according to the DSS, include a Mini-Uzi with two magazines containing 10 rounds and four rounds respectively; 42 extra rounds of ammunition in a pack; one AK-47; 21 Certificates of Occupancy and one offer of statutory right of occupancy; 23 luxury watches; and 45 keys to various cars.
He was subsequently arrested in June 2018 over security issues in Benue State.
SaharaReporters gathered that Suswam was released after he struck a deal with the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress following the defection of Governor Samuel Ortom to the Peoples Democratic Party.
He became a senator in 2019 and was a top member of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal matters, which investigated DSS invasion of a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The report of the committee, which reportedly indicted the Director General of the DSS, Yusuph Magaji Bichi, was never released to the public.
The late Gana, who had a N50m bounty on his head by the state and federal governments, had been on the wanted list for close to four years over his alleged criminal activities.
In 2015, Governor Ortom granted amnesty to over 500 criminals and the late militia leader was among those, who took advantage of it to surrender over 700 arms to the government.
However, he was said to have reneged on his promise to repent and returned to his hideout in the Sankera axis of the state alongside his followers and gang members.
This was shortly after being fingered in the murder of an aide of the governor on Special Security, Deneen Igbana, in 2016 in Makurdi.
He was said to be heading to Makurdi on Tuesday to surrender under a new amnesty arrangement by the state government when he was killed by the military.
Governor Ortom has since tackled the Nigerian Army for killing Gana.
He stated that the military was carried along in the amnesty programme for militias in the state.
He said, “We were waiting for the repentant militias when I received a call that Gana and others have been arrested close to Yandev Roundabout in Gboko by soldiers.
“Many of the repentant militias had weapons in which they were bringing to surrender to us.
“The process of the amnesty programme was known to the security operatives, so I don’t know why they have to be arrested.”
Commander, 4 Special Forces Command, Doma, Nasarawa State, Major General Moundhey Ali, said that Gana was killed following exchange of gunfire with the army.
Ali said about 40 members of Gana’s gang were captured in the process.


#* Election: Thugs Invade Market In Edo, Chase Away Traders Supporting APC

L-R: Godwin Obaseki of Peoples Democratic Party; Osagie Ize-Iyamu of All Progressives Congress.

The popular Oliha Market in Benin City, Edo State, was thrown into confusion on Wednesday as thugs invaded the market and chased away both traders and customers.
The thugs are alleged to be loyal to the state government and Peoples Democratic Party.
They are said to have barred anyone from selling goods in the market, according to some traders, who spoke with SaharaReporters.

L-R: Godwin Obaseki of Peoples Democratic Party, Osagie Ize-Iyamu of All Progressives Congress.

The people claimed the thugs were infuriated because a trader in the market was seen with Adams Oshiomhole of the All Progressives Congress.
“I was asked to send a woman away from the market because she was seen with Oshiomhole during campaign.
“They then said I should mobilise traders to follow Obaseki to PDP and vote for him but I told them that everybody had the choice to vote for whoever they want.
“Suddenly today, over 10 PDP thugs in the area came into the market and started shooting sporadically.
“Everybody had to run for their lives. As it is now, nobody has been able to return to the market,” Chief Sunny Erahengbo, Chief Security Officer of the market, narrated to SaharaReporters.
He added that the thugs were escorted by some police operatives.
He urged the state police command to ensure the safety of residents in the community.
“The Commissioner of Police should please do the needful and secure our lives and our traders.
“The police should take action before things turn around and people are being killed,” Erahengbo added.



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Rights Group Slams Buhari Over Comments Justifying Petrol Price Increase, Vows To Occupy NERC Headquarters

A coalition of civil society groups, Nigerians Against Bad Policies, has slammed President Muhammadu Buhari for saying Nigerians should brace up for more petrol price increase as the price of crude oil in the international market recovers.
He also justified the latest increase in electricity tariff, which has left Nigerians worried.
The group described the statement as insensitive and unjustifiable, adding that it was nothing but a support for the fraudulent contraption of privatisation.

At a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja jointly addressed by Dimeji Macaulay of Movement for Socialist Alternative, Kathy Gerald of Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, and Botti Isaac of Social Action, the coalition condemned the statement in its entirety, describing it as ridiculous.
The group called on Nigerians to rise up and fight for their rights.
They also vowed to occupy the headquarters of National Electricity Regulatory Commission to drive home their demand for the reversal of the new tariff.



#* President Buhari Blames COVID-19 For Increase In Petrol Pump Price, Electricity Tarif

Macaulay said, “This period requires citizens to be ready to ensure they are not short-changed by corrupt and cruel government.
“While hinging the recent thoughtless increment in price of petroleum on the gradual recovery of oil prices internationally, President Muhammadu Buhari stated that there will be further increment in the price of petroleum.
“We consider this statement unfortunate and unjustifiable for any reason. It is nothing short of support for the fraudulent contraption of privatisation.”
He said to change the present reality in the oil sector and ensure that Nigerians enjoy the benefits of oil production, the sector must be nationalised and placed under the control and management of working people.
“This will mean building of new refineries and revamping the old ones to make satisfactory production for Nigerians and put an end not just to the corrupt practice of subsidy payment but also the reign of oil cartels and marketers who continue to feed fat on the oil sector.
“We have started our rejection of anti-people policies by picketing the NLC secretariat on Monday. Just as we have made known, we are determined to continue this protests until the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government reverses the increment in the price of petrol and electricity tariff.
“We call on Nigerians to join us in resisting these outrageous policies aimed at making life miserable for the working masses of Nigeria. It is only by fighting against such bad policies that we can get freedom.
“Furthermore, we wish to register our displeasure with the docility of the leadership of the NLC and TUC, who have not been able to go beyond mere condemnation of these anti-people policies of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.”
The activists called on labour leaders to mobilise Nigerian workers for protest and strike against the injustice by the government.


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#* Court Orders Service Of ‘Hearing Notice’ On INEC For Excluding AAC From Edo Governorship Election

A federal high court sitting in Abuja has ordered a service of hearing notice on the Independent National Electoral Commission over the exclusion of the African Action Congress and its candidate, Edith Isokpan, from the September 19 governorship election in Edo State.
The vacation judge, Justice A.R Muhammed, gave the order on Wednesday following a letter addressed to the court by lawyer to commission seeking for the adjournment of the matter because he was indisposed.

The judge granted the application for the adjournment by the defendant and ordered the court registrar to issue and serve a hearing notice on the commission in the suit.
Meanwhile, in his own submission, counsel to the applicant, Barr. O.A Otamere, had opposed the application for adjournment by the defendant considering the urgency of the matter.
He argued that the election had been slated for September 19, 2020 and there was need for accelerated hearing.
Otamere said, “Today, counsel to the defendant wrote a letter and applied for adjournment. We opposed the application considering the urgency of the matter but the court in its wisdom granted the application for adjournment for the fact that this matter was adjourned for mention.
“Considering that the election is holding on September 19, we have drawn the attention of his Lordship to that. However, by the relevant rules of court and practice direction, the court has 180 days to hear and determine pre-election matter and the court is working within that timeframe irrespective of the date the election has been so fixed.”
The judge therefore adjourned the matter to 15th September 2020 for hearing.
The Edo State Chairman of the party, Lawal Afeez, called on supporters of the AAC to remain calm, saying that justice can only be delayed but not denied.
He said, “To me, I see this as a delay tactics but we will continue to assure our supporters all over the world to remain calm as justice will be done.
“It can only be delayed but can never be denied. We are winning this election by the grace of God.”
Recall that INEC excluded AAC from political parties to contest the election in Edo even after the party had successfully conducted its primary election and produced Isokpan as its candidate.
The primary election, which was peaceful and orderly, was witnessed by INEC officials.
However, while releasing the list of parties approved to contest the election, INEC omitted AAC from the log without any concrete explanation.