OHANAEZE:PANIC AS POLICEMAN OPENED FIRE AT NEC MEETING

 Panic as policeman opened fire at Ohanaeze NEC meeting — 23rd July 2016 , ENUGU THERE was panic yesterday at the Enugu Park Avenue National Secretariat of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisa­tion, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, as a policeman attached to one of the leaders opened fire at the beginning of the National Execu­tive Committee (NEC) meeting of the group. The gunshot was said to have jolted the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Gary Enwo Igariwey; the Secretary General, Dr.

Joe Nworgu and other leaders of the organisation who had gathered for the meeting. But when contacted on phone, Dr. Nworgu denied that there was shooting at the secretariat. But Saturday Sun reliably gathered that as the NEC meeting was about to commence two factions of the Ohanaeze Youth Wing (OYC), the youth arm of the pan-Igbo socio-cultural organisation, who had raised questions over the han­dling of funds at the just organised Igbo Unity Forum in Owerri, Imo State, dis­agreed. Trouble was said to have started when the National Publicity Secretary of the youth wing, Obinna Adibe, who belongs to the Arthur Okafor faction, came with some policemen from the Enugu Area Command to arrest one of the youth leaders, Alex Okemiri. Adibe had earlier in a petition to the Enugu Area Command also accused Okemiri, who belongs to the faction of the National President, Ikechukwu Isiguzoro, of using his name without his permission to send out text messages for meetings.

While the policemen from the Area Command who were in plain clothes were trying to drag Okemiri into a wait­ing vehicle, the Deputy Presi­dent of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Hon. Ugochukwu Onyema, was said to have allegedly in­structed a policeman attached to him to stop Okemiri’s ar­rest. Consequently, the mo­bile policeman was alleged to have shut the gates of the secretariat, raised his rifle and fired into the air, thereby caus­ing panic at the secretariat. The Ohanaeze President General who was said to be ruffled by the gunshot started appealing for calm between the warring factions of the youth wing. An eyewitness said Ig­ariwey pleaded with Adibe to tell the plain-clothe po­licemen with him to leave Okemiri and allow him to use internal mechanism of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to resolve the matter. The pleadings were heeded.

The policemen from the Area Command, who repri­manded the mobile police­man for obstructing the ar­rest, later left the Ohanaeze Secretariat while the NEC meeting resumed. The meeting was expected to deliberate on the report of a panel set up by Ohanaeze Ndigbo to resolve the crisis in the youth wing of the or­ganisation, as well as look at the Owerri Igbo Unity Forum handled by Chief On­wuka Ukwa, who they said is yet to give account of the outing bankrolled by Imo governor Rochas Okorocha.

IPOB: OUR FREEDOM IS NEAR

Biafra: Our freedom is near –IPOB — 23rd July 2016  ONITSHA THE Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has said that it will enter the Guinness book of records for be­ing the only freedom fighting organization to organ­ise first peaceful protests worldwide at the same time and hour since the creation of the universe. The group noted that they achieved the feat be­cause members were dedicated and committed to the noble project of restoring the Biafra state. The group also commended the former Vice Presi­dent Dr. Alex Ekwueme, renowned jurist and former Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Prof. Ben Nwabueze, Dr. Arthur Nwankwo, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (retd) and others for shunning and staying away from the ‘Owerri Jamboree’ meeting of Igbo elders. The Media and Publicity Secretary of IPOB Mr. Emma Powerful in a statement urged members to maintain the non-violence approach to their struggle because “the freedom is near.” “We Biafrans should stop seeing ourselves as nothing in the face of our enemies, you are kings and queens of the land of the rising sun, you are all heroes of Biafraland becauseChukwuokike Abiama (God Almighty) used our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB members to fight for the total liberation of Bi­afra people. “They thought we are dead, but they don’t know that we are like seeds in the river side, they try to break our souls with lies and insults, called us war­riors of Facebook but today IPOB and Biafra are ev­erywhere in the world today. “They don’t know that IPOB has entered the Guin­ness book of records in the world because IPOB is the only freedom fighting organization that organ­ised first of its kind and conducted peaceful protests worldwide at the same time and hour since the cre­ation of this universe because we are selected and called for this noble project.”

BIAFRA: LET NNAMDI KANU GO NOW, JOSEPH EVAH TELLS BUHARI — 23rd July 2016 PRESIDENT Muhammadu Bu­hari has been advised to listen to the advice of those calling for re­structuring of the country or risk the nation being set on fire. While describing the calls for restructuring as patriotic, Evah said: “It is better Buhari listens to these voices of reason. He should heed the calls for restructuring. Without restructuring, there will be no peace in Nigeria. Without restructuring, Nigeria is doomed. Those urging him to snub the calls of patriots calling for re­structuring are not only Buhari’s enemies, they are enemies of Ni­geria.” Evah who spoke with SATUR­DAY SUN’s TUNDE THOM­AS in Lagos also talked at length on other national issues including agitations for the state of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu’s detention, recent meeting between South East and South South states Houses of Assembly lawmakers, develop­ments in the Niger-Delta, Federal Government’s negotiation with Niger Delta Avengers and a host of others. Legislators from the South East and South-South geo-political zones recently held a meeting and one of the outcome of their deliberations was the de­mand for 65 percent derivation instead of the present 13 percent derivation for oil-producing communities. What is your re­action to that? That is completely rubbish. Rubbish. What is 65 percent? What we are demanding for is 100 percent Resource Control as true federalism demands. In countries where true federalism is practiced including the United States, resource control is 100 percent – federating states or units control their own resources, they only pay tax to the govern­ment at the centre, that is, the central or Federal Government. So, why should our own be different? Our practice of federal­ism is a mockery and the earlier we do the needful, the better. We are sitting on a keg of gunpow­der which can explode anytime. People are now wise, the era of deceit and oppression is over, and this is why it is better for the President to heed the voices of reason, calling for the restructur­ing of Nigeria. We can’t continue this way. To continue this way, we are toying with fire. The ear­lier we do the needful, the better for all of us. You were saying that we need to do the needful …? Cuts in … Yes. We need to cor­rect the wrongs of the past. It was not like this way before. When Nigeria was practicing true fed­eralism during the First Republic, before the military intervention, each region was in control of its resources, and they were using the resources to develop their regions, but they were paying taxes to the Federal Government. But when the military came, they changed everything. They turned Nigeria into a unitary state, and by doing that, they cancelled the existing arrangement, and took over the resources of the regions and concentrated everything at the centre. This was how oil was hijacked from the oil-producing commu­nities of the Niger-Delta – Unfor­tunately at that time, the people of the Niger-Delta were about to enjoy or have control over their God-given resources. When the military now took over, they became partisan, they abolished federalism, and ad­opted unitary system; an arrange­ment in which power was con­centrated in the centre. The military did not only do this enormous damage, they also became partisan. They started us­ing the wealth from oil produc­tion to develop only a section of the country, the North, mostly and other parts of the country, while the oil owners were ne­glected and abandoned to wallow in poverty. This is why I described all our former military rulers as plunder­ers –they don’t have conscience. They owed the people of Niger- Delta unreserved apology. These military rulers, all of them Ba­bangida, Murtala Muhammed, Gowon, Abacha, Buhari, all pauperised the people of Niger- Delta. They took our oil blocks, shared it among themselves. They used our wealth in Niger- Delta to develop the North. They should seek forgiveness. The only exception is General Yaku­bu who has human face, and even tried his best to develop Nigeria through various programmes he executed for the nation when he was in office. Gowon embarked on National Development Programme in phases, and not only that, he in­troduced NYSC Scheme in 1973 as a way of promoting and forg­ing peace and unity in the country, May Almighty God bless him. He also embarked on massive in­frastructural development of the country. Gowon is the only one I respect among former northern military rulers, but other northern military rulers came to imple­ment the northern agenda. This is why people like Senator Joseph Waku, a man I will describe as an illiterate and going senile, will open his mouth and abuse the people of the Niger-Delta, calling us blackmailers. Not only that, he went as far as saying that the oil in the Niger-Delta belong to all Nigerians. The old man is go­ing senile. They should take him for a check-up. If Waku is not an illiterate, why would he open his mouth and talk rubbish. Did he not attend school? I doubt wheth­er he attended any school at all, how much more, having kmow­lege of the history of Nigeria. Waku should go back to school. He should not try to re­write history. For the people in the Niger- Delta, we have no interest in their groundnut pyramid in Kano, what does not belong to us, we won’t lay claim to it. Let Waku and people like him in the North do whatever they like with their groundnut, they should not say that oil belongs to them in the North. Anybody making such stupid claim needs his head to be reexamined. This restructuring you were talking about, opponents of the calls …? Cuts in … Yes, I have no regret backing the calls for restructur­ing. There is no alternative to it. Let me tell President Buhari the home truth, whether we like it or not, for the next three years before his first term will expire, the calls for restructuring will get louder and louder. This is just the beginning. Buhari can’t run away from restructuring. To do other­wise is to invite more problems to himself. One of the best way out for Buhari is to implement aspects of 2014 Confab Reports organized by his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan. It is one of the ways out of the quagmire. It is unfortunate that some hawks and selfish aides surrounding Buhari are advising the President not to have anything to do with the Jonathan’s confab reports and recommendations. What we are talking about here is not Jonathan’s person­ality or face. You may not like Jonathan’s face, but what we are talking about here is about Nige­ria’s progress and development. If Jonathan’s confab reports and recommendations contained so­lutions to our problems, why not take those parts that will help move Nigeria forward? Buhari should be careful with some of his aides. They are giving him advice that will create problems for him. This is one of the prob­lems our national leaders have been facing, and also one of the reasons they fail. They are surrounded mostly by evil men and women who call themselves advisers–these so-called advisers will never tell our leaders the home truth – they are always in Aso Rock. They were there during Babangida’s time. they were there during Abacha’s time, They were also there during Yar’Adua, Obasanjo and Jona­than’s tenures. They call themselves advisers but in reality, they are enemies of the nation –that Aso Rock needs deliverance. It needs to be purged of evil men and women who always deceive our leaders and prevent them from doing good works. At a time, I was invited to Aso Rock during Obasanjo and Jona­than’s time, and I told all their so-called advisers the truth. I lambasted them. I asked some of them why were they not willing to tell our leaders the truth? Hear what some of them said. Some of them told me that they prefered to tell our leaders what would be sweet to their ears for them to keep their jobs, while others said that to say the truth or tell the truth to the President amounted to changing the status quo. I told them that prosperity and God would not forgive them if they failed to say the truth or tell our leaders the truth. Some of them became annoyed and told the security agents that “why do you allow this troublesome man to come to the Villa? We don’t want people like Evah in the Vil­la. He is a trouble-maker. Before I left the Villa, I told them that I was not interested in visiting the Villa and that anytime I had access to the Villa, I would always say the truth whether in or outside the Villa. The agitation for Biafra, does it fall under the calls for restruc­turing, or where do you place it? The call for Biafra is a genu­ine call. It is part of agitation by people who felt oppressed by the system. If things are normal, if there is no injustice or persecu­tion or a feeling of it, there won’t be agitations for it. It is not only in Biafra that you have agitations, it is all over the country now. Many people, many sections are aggrieved and that is why I ad­vise President Buhari not to pre­tend that all is well or that there is nothing wrong with Nigeria. Many things are wrong with Nigeria today. The earlier Buhari faces the reality, the better. I’m not a prophet of doom, Buhari or let me say, his administration will not have peace unless these issues of injustice and oppression are addressed. But can the Biafra issue be re­solved, and what is your advice to President Buhari? The first solution to the Biafra problem is that Buhari should free Nnamdi Kanu. The man should not have been detained at all. Kanu has not been violent. He is fighting for the interest of his people. How can you brand somebody asking for justice for his people a criminal? Kanu is not carrying arms. He has not called for armed rebellion against the country. The first step towards peace is to release him, and the Federal Government can then commence dialogue with him and other leaders of the South-East geo- political zone about their griev­ances. Like what happened during Obasanjo’s tenure when Asari Dokubo was detained, and his detention led to upsurge in vio­lence in the Niger-Delta. After some time. Obasanjo called the leaders in the Niger-Delta and he was advised to release Dokubo but with a promise that he was released to elders in the region who would act as guarantors that he would not make trouble again, and that arrangement worked. Asari Dokubo was released to the elders from the Niger-Delta with a pledge that he won’t make trou­ble again while solutions were being found to the grievances of the people then. My advise is that Buhari should release Kanu to a respect­able elder statesman like the for­mer Vice-President, Chief Alex Ekwueme with a provision that he won’t make any pronounce­ment again capable of stoking tension. While he gives that as­surance, then the federal govern­ment and leaders from the south east geo-political zone open the channel to dialogue. It is an act of injustice to keep Kanu behind bars. Keeping him behind bars will continue to win sympathy for him among his fol­lowers especially the youths in the South-east. I can assure you that if Kanu is released today, there will be calm in the South east. If late Chuk­wuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu were to be alive, I would have asked Buhari to release Kanu to him, but Ekwueme is also an­other good replacement. Let Bu­hari try this suggestion, and let’s see how it will work out. Buhari should not allow himself to be taken hostage by some selfish and unpatriotic advisers that will not tell him the truth. This meeting between the south east and south south leg­islators, how do you see it? Do you see it as beginning of a new rapport between the two geo-po­litical zones to fight the common interests of the people in their zoned or what? It is too early to jump to con­clusions. Let’s wait and see. You see, you can’t trust politicians, you can’t trust them, neither can you predict them. But I don’t see any genuineness in their meeting yet. I’m yet to see that serious­ness, but let’s fold our hands and watch as events unfold. May be it is the beginning of a new order. Only time will tell. Some people have accused the president of marginalising peo­ple of the South-south and east in his appointments. They have accused Buhari of lopsidedness; that he favours the North more than any other zone in his ap­pointments, what’s your take on this? I’ve heard those accusations. One thing I know is that before people make allegations, they must have some facts. Even some Nigerians have been advis­ing Mr President to see all Nige­rians as part of his constituency, I would have say let’s still watch the President for some time, he has spent just one year in office. My grouse is even against our state governors and their so-called members of the National Assembly from the South-east and from the South-south. Our governors from the Niger- Delta are cowards. Our lawmak­ers from the zone are also cow­ards –they need deliverance. Are they not the ones that are sup­posed to be fighting for the in­terests of their people? Are they not the ones that are supposed to form a powerful block to con­front, challenge or take it up with Buhari? But our governors are cow­ards – they are all cowards – they can’t face Buhari to demand for the rights of their people. They can’t look Buhari in the face and tell him that what he’s doing is wrong. Our governors from the Niger-Delta need spiritual deliv­erance. I’m appealing to eminent men of God from the South-south, like Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome to orga­nize deliverance prayers for our governors. Governors from the south-south are cowards. They are timid. They can’t fight for the interests of their people. What a shame. What a big shame. There is injustice in Nigeria that needs to be addressed. For instance, my state, Bayelsa State which produce oil that fetches Nigeria’s wealth has only 8 local governments, whereas Kano and Katsina that have no resources that give Nigeria any revenue has 44 and 42 local governments re­spectively. What that means is that these two states that are not producing oil are collecting more monthly allocation than oil-producing state. What an injustice? When we talk, some of them will say that Bayelsa is more of water than land but what we are saying is that, the land mass should also be equated with water mass so that we are treated fairly. The water in Bayelsa should be treated as land mass, is it not on water that our people eke a living as fishermen before oil explora­tion destroyed our ecosystem. We want justice and equity. Buhari must strive to be fair to all.

Watch how PDP,APC lawmakers exchange blows

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LAWYERS :WARES BUHARI ABOUT ANTI-GRAFT WAR

Anti-graft war: Lawyers reply Buhari — 20th July 2016 , Abuja Lawyers yesterday tackled President Muhammadu Buhari over his comment that the judiciary was frustrating the speedy determination of corruption cases. President Buhari on Monday said the judiciary was yet to perform its functions to the satisfaction of Nigerians inspite of the reforms brought about by the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. Speaking at the National Judicial Institute, Abuja, while declaring open a workshop for Nigerian Judges organized by the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption in conjunction with the NJI, the president said the Judiciary must take steps to ensure that it was not perceived as being partisan. But reacting, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) said the prosecution of criminal cases follows due processes and laid down procedures recognised by law before arriving at conviction. Besides, president of the NBA, Mr. Austin Alegeh (SAN) said an enabling environment  must be put in place for judges to perform optimally in the discharge of their duties. “The president should put some things in place for the judiciary to perform its role without inhibitions. “In other climes, you don’t necessarily  need to bring an accused person to court before his trial can continue. There are cameras that connect an accused person from prison to court so that he doesn’t need to come to court. “Here, there are no such facilities and the Federal Government who is expected to produce  an accused person in court sometimes don’t do that. In such a situation, Judges and lawyers will be waiting for an accused who is being held in custody by the Federal Government. This is the same Federal Government that wants corruption cases to be speedily dispensed with. “A classical example is the trial of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki who on several occasions, government refused to bring to court. “In this same country, our Judges are till taking notes in long hand instead of by electronic sytstem. These and many more are the problems working against the speedy trial of corruption cases.  I can say that the judiciary is doing its best within its available resources and working environment.” Mr. Joe Agi (SAN) shared the position of the NBA president. “Under our law, every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law. You cannot just come to court and the court will say okay you are guilty, go to prison. “The entire administration of former criminal system starts from the commission of crime, investigating the crime, arresting the suspect and taking him to court. And so, the judiciary alone, without the support of the  prosecution and defence counsel, can do nothing. “So, Mr. President should blame the system which include the Executive and Judiciary, and the lawyers as well. So, it is not just the judiciary problem at all. “In addition, I am sure you are a witness to a situation where an accused person is being charged on 200-count. This makes the whole thing looks like a child’s play. By the time you finish reading count one and goes to the next one, the Judge may have forgotten about the first one. “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should look at the offences and make it more concise. If you charge a man with 40-count, at the end of the day, the witnesses will start giving contradictory evidence and the defence counsel will capitalise on such contradictions and get judgments for their clients. This is not the fault of the judiciary. “I always say this and I will repeat it, EFCC and other law enforcement agencies will do the nation and society a lot of good if they operate within the ambit of the law which say investigation before arrest. “Here, you find them arresting someone before investigations are conducted. So the problem is squarely that of the investigation agencies prosecution; let them do their homework well and then trial will be concluded within six months.” In his reaction, Mr. Amobi Nzelu said President Buhari only expressed his personal opinion on the matter, noting that criminal trials operate within a written law which must be followed by Judges to arrived in conviction or an acquittal. “It is better for 40 criminals to go unpublished than to convict an innocent person,” he said. Nzelu who lauded the anti-corruption war of President, said the judiciary was doing its best. “I appreciate what Buhari is doing and I doff my cap for him for touching those who were perceived to be untouchable. There was massive corruption, the country was looted dry and people are now in pains as a result,  but he (Buhari) should be patient and allow the judiciary to do its work. The three arms of government are inter- independent and no one should be seen as trying to undermine the other.” Another lawyer, Vincent Otaokpukpu said the judiciary was not the only stakeholders in the administration of criminal justice and therefore cannot take the blame alone. He posited that other stakeholders including the police, EFCC, prosecution and prison should share in the blame as they contribute in the delay of cases in court. “I don’t see the judiciary as the problem because there are constitutional rights of an accused person standing trial in court. For instance the constitution allows him adequate time prepare for his defence as well as fair hearing. So, the Judge has a duty to balance the interest of justice and the constitutional rights of an accused person. It is not a one way thing like going to the market to buy some items. In any case, justice hasten is justice denied.”

CONFERENCE TO BEGINS ON AUGUST 3 IN RIVERS

Guild of Editors conference begins August 3 in Rivers — 20th July 2016 The 12th All Nigeria Editors’ Conference (ANEC) will hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State from August 3-7. The theme is “Economic Diversification: Agriculture as Option for a Prosperous Nigeria.” No fewer than 300 Nigerian editors, a collection of mainstream farmers, agribusiness financiers, policy-makers and captains of industry are expected to be in attendance. Host Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, said the conference would afford the state the opportunity to showcase its investment potentials. In a statement signed by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, the governor noted that the conference would be a fitting platform to partner editors and the media to consolidate development in both the state and the nation at large. “Hosting this year’s conference will also make the editors witness first-hand the development projects and programmes of my administration which has improved the living standard of the people,” Wike said. The All Nigeria Editors’ Conference is the largest gathering of Nigerian editors. It is a watering hole of ideas that have shaped government policies and programmes over the years. Acting President of the Guild, Funke Egbemode, said, “the sole emphasis on agriculture for this year’s conference was in response to the falling price of crude oil at the international market which has automatically reduced government’s earnings and revenue base. This is the first time the conference is focusing on agriculture in the most pragmatic sense and it is meant to draw the nation’s attention to the limitless opportunities that abound in agriculture”.

ABIA STATE GOV DECRIES ORDER OF COURT TO REMOVE HIM

Ikpeazu decries  order of court to remove him — 20th July 2016   Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has said if a High Court in Nigeria could give an order for the removal of a sitting governor, the same court can also issue an order for the removal of a president. He stated this when he received a delegation of members of the Senate who paid him a condolence visit on the death of Senator Onyekachi Okoroafor and former Nigeria Ambassador to Canada, Chief Ojo Maduekwe . The governor stated  that the death of the duo was a personal loss to him, saying this is the time  such men were needed to contribute to the stability of the state. “If a High Court can give an order to remove a sitting governor, that High Court can also remove a president and it tells a story about the political stability  of Nigeria. It will impact on how people, investors and the rest of the world perceive us. Nobody wants a country that is atomistic, in turmoil and unstable. If we begin to recount the contributions of the two gentle men, we require a whole day. It’s a personal  loss to me because this is the time we need them most in Abia,” the governor said. He stated that chief Maduekwe particularly struck him as one who was determined to assist him, adding that the state has lost great family members in the two men and prayed God to give the state the fortitude to bear the loss. The Governor  maintained that what Abia is going through today it is passing on behalf of Nigeria as what is being attacked is the very foundation of Nigeria,s democracy. The leader of the delegation,sen Biodun Olujimi said their visit was to commiserate with the Governor over the drath of sen Okoroafor and Chief Ojo Maduekwe who they described their demise as a great loss to the Abia and Nigeria. She said their visit underscores how much  the senate believes in the state and consoled the Governor and Abians over the sad loss. The delegation included former Governor of the state,Chief TA Orji,sen Bernabas Gemade,senSamuel Anyanwu,sen Enyinnaya Abaribe,sen MAO Ohuabunwa and sen Sunni Ogbuoji END

MILITARY TAKE OVER TURKEY

Military coup in Turkey
— 16th July 2016
■ It’s a warning to dictatorial leaders – Obiozor

THE military in Turkey on Fri­day deployed troops and tanks to the streets of Istanbul and capital city, Ankara, claiming a takeover of government even as armed sol­diers stormed government buildings and jets roared over the country’s airspace as Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said a group within the mil­itary had attempted to overthrow the government.

A national curfew was announced, and other security forces had been called in to “do what is necessary,” Yildirim said. “Some people illegal­ly undertook an illegal action outside of the chain of command,” Yildirim said in comments broadcast by pri­vate channel NTV and reported by Reuters.

“The government elected by the people remains in charge. This gov­ernment will only go when the peo­ple say so.”

Istanbul’s Bosphorus bridge and Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridge were both closed by military forces on Friday, local television channels reported, without giving a reason. Istanbul is 320 miles away from An­kara.

The Turkish military, however, claimed in a statement that it had  taken over the country in order for democratic or­der and human rights to remain. In the statement, the military said that all existing foreign relations would continue and that rule of law would be a pri­ority.

A Turkish presidential source said in a statement, according to Reuters, that the statement made on be­half of the armed forces was not authorized by military command.

Footage from NTV showed tanks at the en­trance to Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport, and all flights from the airport were re­portedly cancelled. Many social media platforms were blocked in Turkey during Friday’s events, ac­cording to internet moni­toring groups.

Reacting to the coup in Turkey, former Nigerian Ambassador to the United State, Prof George Obio­zor, advised that leaders must be careful on how to use power, be it in Africa, Europe etc.

According to him, pow­er is delicate, and one must make sure that he doesn’t abuse it. If there is any abuse of power, challenge to such power must come.

The diplomat noted that Turkey is one of the most dynamic countries in the world. They taught the world the history of modernization. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, a mili­tary man built the modern Turkey. He gave turkey the best democracy and modernisation. He was a military man who built a modern nation.

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POLICE PARTNER FOR 2ND NATIONAL SECURITY SUMMIT

Again, police, The Sun partner for 2nd national security summit — 15th July 2016 Barely one year after jointly hosting a successful National Security Summit, the Nigeria Police and The Sun Publishing Limited, publishers of Daily Sun, Saturday Sun, Sunday Sun and SportingSun, are set for another outing. With the theme, “Effective Policing: New Strategies to Combating Insecurity,” the second edition of the National Security Summit holds before the end of the year. The two institutions had hosted the first edition of the Summit on August 17, 2015, which had President Muhammadu Buhari in attendance. Revealing the plan to host the second security summit yesterday, after paying a courtesy visit to the Force Headquarters to congratulate the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Publishing Limited, Mr. Eric Osagie, said there was need to extend the scope of corporate social responsibility (CSR) to issues that bother on global and national security. “We are the Voice of the Nation and we are passionate about utilising our widely read newspapers to stimulate discourse on contemporary national security challenges and provide a collective voice towards achieving a multifaceted approach to proffering lasting solution to insecurity,” Osagie said. The Acting IGP had, during the meeting with Osagie, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, noting that policing was the responsibility of all. He underlined the need for the meeting of relevant stakeholders to make informed input into concerted efforts of the police and other security agencies to ensure a safer Nigeria. The first edition of the police/The Sun National Security Summit had the theme: “The Community Partnership Approach to Internal Security and Crime Management.” The summit attracted all relevant stakeholders, from the top brass of the police and the country’s political leaders, to pre-eminent traditional rulers and the academia. It recommended community policing as a panacea to the problem of insecurity in the country. President Buhari had, at the summit, announced the Federal Government’s intention to recruit 10, 000 fresh police officers and to establish a well-trained and equipped anti-terrorism and multi-agency task force to address the challenge of insurgency in the country. The recruitment exercise in the police is on-going. He had promised to enhance the operational capacity of policemen through a training programme that would give them a civil orientation, with the view to enabling them perform their roles effectively. The summit was timely and successful in raising not only the awareness that security should be the concern of all citizens, but also in proposing far-reaching recommendations for the enhancement of security and effective policing of Nigeria. In a communiqué issued at the end of the summit, it was acknowledged that there was need to bridge the gap and restore trust between the police and communities, and to motivate Nigerians to see security as a collective responsibility.

BIAFRA :I SUPPORT PRO-BIAFRA AGITATORS WOLE SOYINKA

Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has, again, explained his support for Biafran agitators. Soyinka said the Igbo people have been so wronged that they have no choice than to consider opting out of Nigeria. Prof. Soyinka spoke on Al Jazeera, yesterday where he shed light on his support for Biafra agitators. “I am very much pro- Biafra because I recognise that the Igbo have been wronged desperately. “They have been brutalised in a way that justifies their feeling that they were not part of the nation. “Let me also say this, Biafrans are not entirely innocent in this affair. They were not, but the unleashing of such venom, such devastation on them as a people, was sufficient to justify their decision not to be part of the nation. “I was pro-Biafran in the sense that I felt that they needed justice.” Soyinka denied he was a troublemaker, especially in the Biafran crisis, but added, “I grew up in certain circumstances being very conscious politically, in this very Abeokuta; my mother was involved in the politics, my aunt, Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was a leader… “I grew up among political arguments on issues that concern humanity and I find that basically gravitated towards recognising the basic worth of human beings. “Something I disagree when they call me a patriot because I don’t agitate on some certain entity called a nation; I agitate on humanity.” He criticised the removal of History and teaching of the Biafran crisis in schools. “Officials do not want to confront their own history, especially the history in the making of which they feel uncomfortable but, if you do not confront your past, you are going to mess up your future.” On Boko Haram and the breakup of Nigeria, he said ironically, Boko Haram might be part of the reasons Nigeria may stay together. Soyinka said a few years ago, he would have agreed that Nigeria would break, but, now that a section of the country is in trouble, there is some kind of pulling together. He added that the conscience of many Nigerian has been awakened such that they cannot abandon that section of the country. He urged Nigerians to recognise the plurality of Nigeria, how it came together and begin to devise and adopt a method of governance which cannot only be of massive decentralisation. “That way, we can stay together. If we continue to have a centralist government, then, Nigeria is on the brink.”

ATTACK IN FRANCE 73 KILLED

73 killed in France terror attack — 15th July 2016 A French officials have confirmed that they are investigating a terrorist attack and there are reports that there are gunmen on the loose in the city. French TV channel iTele reported that a gunman “holed up in a nice restaurant downtown” had been “neutralized” by police. The channel said it is not believed the man had taken any hostages during the incident. The man is believed to have been in the lorry with the driver and fled on foot to a restaurant called Le Buffalo nearby, where he was killed by an officer with a handgun. French newspaper Le Figaro quoted police sources saying that officers found weapons, guns and grenades inside the lorry cab, indicating it was a premeditated terrorist attack. Police have identified the driver, who was killed during the incident, and it is believed to have been a man who was known to security services. Separate reports emerged that police fear four different trucks are involved, raising fears of a massive organised terror attack.

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HIV INFECTED MORE THAN 700 PREGNANT WOMEN IN BAYELSA

700 pregnant women infected with HIV in Bayelsa — 14th July 2016 A United State-based non-governmental or­ganisation (NGO), PACT has revealed that 700 pregnant women have been infected with HIV in Bayelsa State. According to PACT, out of the 50,000 preg­nant women tested in the state for the Mother to Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS, the 700 pregnant women were discovered to have been infected and have been placed on antiretroviral prophylaxis. The NGO also dis­closed that 300 HIV in­fants were exposed from their mothers. Nigeria’s Director of PACT, Mr. Trevor Maisi­ri, who made this known during the launch of the second phase of the community-based Pre­vention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS (PROMOT 11) project, said the first phase lasted four years. He said though 294,000 were reached with HIV messages, over 50,000 pregnant women tested for HIV, received their results, while al­most 700 pregnant women were placed on antiretroviral prophy­laxis. Maisiri further dis­closed that over 670 people have so far been trained on the latest Prevention of Mothers to Child Transmission (PMTCT) approaches and techniques, just as over 300 HIV exposed infants were tested for HIV at six weeks. According to Maisiri, PACT as an organisa­tion had been working with the Bayelsa govern­ment with funding from Chevron to increase community awareness of the disease. Speaking on the occa­sion, General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs of Chevron Nigeria Lim­ited, Deji Haastrup, said PROMOT 1 was a huge success, saying it reduced Bayelsa State’s prevalence rates from 9.1% to 3.8% in 2010, the third best in the country. Represented by Esi­maje Brikin, the compa­ny’s area manager, West, Mr. Haastrup applauded the programme, say­ing the concept was a private sector-led so­cial sustainable, com­munity-based initiative meant for the Niger Delta people. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Kojo Omietimi, com­mended Chevron for sponsoring the project, saying the programme came at an ideal time

FEAR ON SAUDI MERCENARIES OVER NIGER DELTA AVENGERS

Buhari In Big Shock, Confusion As Saudi Mercenaries Reject $258m Over Fear Of Niger Delta Avengers  A report coming in to our newsdesk has it that the Saudi Arabian mercenaries President Muhammadu Buhari intended to hire to combat the dreaded Niger Delta Avengers have put him in a big state of shock.  According to the report, the Arabian mercenaries conducted their investigations and found out that the Avengers in the Niger Delta are highly trained by professionals in Abroad and cannot easily be taken down without losing much if not all resources which include humans which happens to be the Arabian military forces.  Therefore the best way to win these tactically trained warriors is not to engage them in a battle field because they will wipe everything off without mercy, but to call them to a round table for dialogue. This they said. Read more: 

TOKASONNEWSONLINE: FORGERY:COURT ADJOURNED SENATE PRESIDENT , SARAKI AND HIS DEPUTY EKWEREMADU TRIAL TILL SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

TOKASONNEWSONLINE: FORGERY:COURT ADJOURNED SENATE PRESIDENT , SARAKI AND HIS DEPUTY EKWEREMADU TRIAL TILL SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

FORGERY:COURT ADJOURNED SENATE PRESIDENT , SARAKI AND HIS DEPUTY EKWEREMADU TRIAL TILL SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

Forgery: Saraki, Ekweremadu’s trial adjourned to Sept 28 — 12th July 2016 From Godwin Tsa, Abuja The trial of Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, his deputy and Ike Ekweremadu before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was yesterday adjourned to September 28,2016. They all left immediately after it was announced that the trial would not go on. They were docked alongside former Clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa and his deputy, Benedict Efeturi, for allegedly forging the Senate Rule. They were specifically accused of illegally altering the Senate’s Standing Rule used in electing them into office in June 2015. Although Saraki and other defendants were in court, the matter was adjourned following the annual vacation of the court which began yesterday. The defendants were arraigned before Justice Halilu Yusuf on June 27, but entered a plea of not guilty to the two-count charges. They were admitted to bail and ordered to provide sureties with properties in Asokoro, Garki, Wuse and Maitama areas of Abuja. The trial was fixed for yesterday, but the court registrar, Victor Ifeachor, told journalists that the case had been adjourned till September 28 following the ongoing vacation of Federal Capital Territory High Court, which began on Monday, July 11. The Federal Government maintained that they had by their conduct, committed an offence punishable under Section 97 (1) and 364 of the Penal Code Act. The charge was a fallout of investigation police conducted into a petition by a group of lawmakers under the aegis of the Senate Unity Forum (SUF), who alleged that the Standing Order used for the July 9, 2015, election of principal officers for the 8th Senate, was doctored. Five members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Senate, Abu Ibrahim, Kabir Marafa, Ajayi Boroffice, Olugbenga Ashafa and Suleiman Hunkuyi, in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/651/2015, sought the removal of Saraki and Ekweremadu. The plaintiffs prayed the court to sack the lawmakers on the ground that the version of the Senate Standing Orders that was used for their election was forged. In their suit dated July 27, 2015, the plaintiffs, contended that allowing Saraki and Ekweremadu to continue to run the affairs of the Senate regardless of the fact that they emerged through an act of illegality, would on itself amount to corruption. Cited as defendants in the suit were Saraki, Ekweremadu, the National Assembly and Clerks of the National Assembly. Though the court had concluded hearing on the matter, however, Ekweremadu filed a petition before the Chief Judge of the High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, alleging bias against the judge that handled the case, Justice Ademola Adeniyi. In his petition dated December 18, 2015, Ekweremadu, insisted that Justice Adeniyi was closely related to some chieftains of the APC. He specifically identified the national leader of the party and former governor of Lagos State, Ahmed Bola Tinubu as one of the people he said has personal relationship with the Judge. Ekweremadu queried the ability of Justice Adeniyi to deliver an objective verdict on the matter in view of his alleged closeness with the APC-the party the plaintiffs belong to. Following the petition which was filed four days after the suit was fixed for judgment, the CJ, re-assigned the case to Justice Evoh Chukwu. Nevertheless, Justice Chukwu died earlier this month, thus leaving the case hanging, waiting to be re-assigned to another judge.

FOUR SUSPECTED MEMBERS OF NIGER DELTA MILITANT ARRESTED

Troops arrest 4 Niger Delta Avengers suspects — 12th July 2016 Four suspected members of the militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), have been arrested in Ikebiri community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Investigations revealed that an ex-militant leader and member of the Movement For the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Africa Upkarisia, assisted the Operation Delta Safe (ODS ) in effecting the arrest of the suspects. Upkarisia, who was recently appointed as the Chairman of Waterway Security in the state by Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, acted on a tip off on the activities of the suspected militants and alerted ODS. The troops rounded up the suspects and recovered arms and ammunition. A top security source said the four suspects have been moved to the headquarters of the ODS for interrogation. Upkarisia confirmed the incident. He said the suspects were arrested at the weekend and commended the ODS for its prompt response. He explained that he worked on information provided and ensured that the suspects were arrested before they unleash terror in the state. “These are the boys that have been responsible for the ugly things that have been happening in the area. They are also into kidnapping and other violent crimes which they confessed to when they were arrested. I want to assure the state and federal government that we would keep Bayelsa safe,” he said. He had held a meeting with the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Emmanuel Kachhikwu and Dickson at the state Government house where he declared that the NDA should steer clear of the state. He and other militants in attendance at the meeting had condemned the activities of NDA and warned that they are breaching the agreement reached with the government to grant amnesty to the militants in 2008 by late President Umaru Musa Yar Adua.

PRESIDENCY: NO DIVISION IN SECURITY RANKS

No division in security ranks –Presidency — 12th July 2016  Abuja Nigerians and the international community have been told to discountenance any suggestion of in-fighting or division in the nation’s security ranks. According to a Presidency source, the security chiefs are not only 100 per cent loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, but also working in synergy towards tackling the nation’s security challenges. The co-operation, it said, has made it possible for the team to successful degrade Boko Haram terrorists sect in the North east as well as checkmate other groups threatening the peace and security of the nation. To drive home the point that there was no division, a top government official who spoke with select journalists in Abuja yesterday, said the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Munguno (retd) meets with all the security chiefs or their representatives on a regular basis. The meetings, the source noted, provide the team the needed forum to “brainstorm, work harmoniously and strategise on ways to check criminal activities. There is no discord in the nation’s intelligence community and there will never be. Anyone alleging otherwise is only imagining things. I can assure you there is no friction or disaffection within the rank security.” Specifically, the source said there was no cold war between the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Director-General of the Department of State Security (DSS), as being alleged in some quarters. “I can assure you that no such thing between the two, as far as I know. The DSS boss and other top security officers have been attending meetings, which the NSA chairs to coordinate the intelligence community. Those sponsoring the rumour are bent on causing discord within the intelligence community and security apparatus of the government.” The source appealed to “Nigerians and the international community to disregard any false information questioning the loyalty and cohesion of the security apparatus.” Last month, the umbrella body of militants in Niger Delta, the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force (JNDLF), alleged that some senior military officers were scheming to overthrow the administration of President Buhari. In a letter to President Buhari, the militants group alleged that some military officers were instigating unrests in Niger Delta as part of their strategies to carry out a coup. They also alleged that some military officers have reached out to leaders of militant groups on the coup plot. But the military dismissed the coup theory. “The report is not true and the Nigerian Army hereby distances itself from this weighty allegation. We also see this speculation as a dangerous distraction to our effort in fighting the insurgency and other criminal elements in the country,” the army spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement.

ABUJA:. WIFE OF A PASTOR IN THE FEDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD KILLED IN ABUJA

Outrage over murder of female pastor — 12th July 2016 … Clerics demand justice From  Nsukka Clerics are vexed over the gruesome murder of Mrs. Eunice Olawale, in Kubwa, a suburb in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja last weekend. Mrs. Olawale, wife of  a  pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Abuja, was killed during a routine morning evangelism. She was also a pastor in the same church. From the South East, residents of Nsukka, Enugu State, have described her murder as “abomination that will surely attract the wrath of God.” Residents told newsmen in Nsukka, that what happened was an indication of the level of insecurity in the country. Rev. Jude Uchechukwu, pastor of House of Liberty Church, Nsukka, said “killing of the woman who was on early morning evangelism showed that the end time is here, if preachers of the gospel have become targets for murder. ‘It’s unfortunate and a sign of the end-time that a woman who is preaching the gospel of salvation will be murdered in cold blood. “What is happening in this country now should give God-fearing Nigerians concern as people no longer respect God. Government should wake up to its responsibility of protecting lives and property.” Rev Chika Eze, overseer, of Highway Great Assembly, also in Nsukka, described Mrs. Olawale’s killing as an abomination that was capable of attracting the wrath of God if those behind the crime failed toconfess and ask for God’s mercy. “It is an abomination for one to contemplate to kill a preacher of the gospel of Christ. Those who are trying to dare God should be ready to face consequences of their actions, unless they confess and ask for God’s forgiveness.” Mrs Philomena Ogummah, an evangelist, urged Christians in the country not to develop cold feet in preaching the gospel. “That’s why the Bible says we should not fear those who can kill the body but cannot kill the spirit but should only fear God who can kill the body and the spirit. Those who killed the woman will never know peace in their lives as they have murdered sleep. She will be remembered as a dedicated Christian who died on active service while trying to win souls for Christ. Pastor in charge of Freedom Gospel of God Ministries in Onitsha, Mr. Chuks  said God would condemn the bloody murder by some assailants who might have felt offended in one way or the other by her preaching of the truth. He demanded in-depth, speedy investigation of the murder. “Even if we don’t have the fear of God again in this country, don’t  we have the Constitution that protects people’s rights of worship and religion? Why should Christians be killed like cows and nothing is happening. The other time a woman was killed in Kano market by some Muslim fundamentalists and up till now, we have not heard anything about it.” Pastor in charge of Holy Ghost Power Ministries, Nkpor, Prophet John Nwadike also said the wrath of God would soon befall those fighting the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to protect every citizen in the country including Muslims and Christians, and ensure that those who committed the crime of the killings of men and women of God were brought to book according to the Constitution of the country.

ABIA STATE :OGAH TO REMAINS GOV ELECT COURT INSISTS

Abia guber crisis: Court insists Ogah remains gov-elect, refers motions to Appeal Court — 9th July 2016 ■ Ikpeazu remains gov – Kalu ■ No, he’s on holiday – Ubani FROM: GODWIN TSA, ABUJA AND CHUKS ONUOHA,UMUAHIA THE Abia State governor­ship conundrum continued at the Federal High Court, Abuja and the Federal High Court Owerri, yesterday. The Federal High Court in Abuja, held that the Cer­tificate of Return issued to Dr. Samson Ugah as the governor-elect of the Peo­ples Democratic Party for Abia State was lawful. This is even as the court also refused to set aside the interlocutory injunction re­straining the Chief judge of Abia State and other judi­cial officials from adminis­tering the oath of office on the governor-elect Dr. Sam­son Ogah. Justice Okon Abang also refused to stay the execu­tion of his judgment. But ruling on the appli­cation by the PDP, Justice Abang held that the judg­ment of the court remained valid until it is set aside by the Court of Appeal. He accordingly, dis­missed the application brought by the PDP asking for the stay of execution of the judgment of the court, which ordered Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to vacate office on account of giving false information with re­gards to his tax documents. Justice Okon Abang said the said application by the party constituted an abuse of court process because the PDP filed two motions on the same subject matter. He said, though the appli­cant had sought and applied to withdraw the earlier ap­plication filed on June 28, 2016, issues had already been joined by counsel to Dr. Ogah. Alex Iziyon (SAN) via a counter affi­davit. Justice Abang further held that there was nothing for the court to stay as the judgment had already been executed by INEC. “Judgment of the court has already been executed by the issuance of certifi­cate of return in favour of Dr. Ogah, therefore there is nothing to be stayed. Besides, Justice Abang held that there was no evi­dence before the court that the certificate of return was issued to Ogah before ser­vice of the notice of appeal was served on INEC. “INEC had also told the court that it had issued the certificate of return to Ogah before it received service of the notice of appeal.” In his earlier ruling in the application by Gover­nor Ikpeazu, seeking a stay of execution of its judg­ment, Justice Abang ruled that the Federal High Court has jurisdiction to hear the motion for stay of execution of its own judgment. He however added that the court in the instance case is refusing to take it because it will be presumed it had jumped into the arena as the judgment beneficiary coun­sel Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN) had conceded to the judg­ment debtor, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) submis­sion that the court lacked jurisdiction. “It is my honoured view that I have jurisdiction to en­tertain the motion for stay of execution of the judgment.” Specifically, as the motion in question is on the “final judgment” of this court, Jus­tice Abang said. He disagreed with Olani­pekun’s submission that the court should hands off all matters once an appeal has been entered. He said that a motion for a stay of court judgment, which is final de­cision, must be taken by the trial court. Justice Abang said it was wrong for Ikpeazu to have filed stay of execution at the Court of Appeal without first filing such an applica­tion at the trial court. On the interim injunctive order issued by the Abia State High Court that re­strained the swearing in of Ogah, Justice Abang said that “is absurd for a court that is not cease of the mat­ter to have issued order ob­structing the judgment ben­eficiary.” The judge also dismissed the motion filed by Gover­nor Ikpeazu who had sought an order of the court to va­cate the certificate of return issued to Ogah by the Inde­pendent National Electoral Commission. Justice Abang said the motion lacked merit and awarded N40, 000 cost against Governor Ikpeazu whose led counsel Olanipe­kun attended to after issues have been joined. Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), counsel to Governor Ikpeazu had asked Justice Abang to hands off the mat­ter on the grounds, inform­ing the court that an ap­peal has already been filed against the judgment asking Ikpeazu to vacate office. While not opposing the submission of the coun­sel for the applicant, Alex Iziyon (SAN) counsel to Ogah however said the Court should rule on the ap­plication before it at the last hearing relating to abuse of court process. In the same vein, the Federal High Court sitting in Owerri has dismissed the tax forgery suit filed against Ikpeazu by a chieftain of the PDP in the state, Mr. Friday Nwosu. Delivering judgment on the suit, Justice L. A. Al­lagoa, who resolved other issues in favour of Nwosu, said that Ikpeazu was not the maker of the tax docu­ment. He stressed that the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue, testified that the document emanated from them and was not forged. The judge further ruled that Nwosu failed to prove the case of forgery against the governor. Justice Allagoa also ruled that Uche Ogah who is the 4th respondent in the suit lost his right to benefit from the process as he re­fused to sign the result and petitioned the party to con­duct another exercise. Reacting to the judg­ment, one of the counsels to Nwosu, Ajayi Ilesanmi, said the Court failed to consider issues before it and promised to appeal the verdict. Reacting to the judg­ments, Abia State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Umeh Kalu, said the Federal High Court, Owerri, has affirmed that Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu remains the governor of the state, as he was duly elected. According to him, the court also ruled that the governor didn’t forge any tax certificate as alleged by the plaintiff, Sir F. N. Nwosu in his suit. While the Federal High Court, Abuja, had on June 27, 2016, sacked Ikpeazu as the governor over tax mat­ter, the Federal High Court Owerri, yesterday affirmed that Ikpeazu remains the governor, as he didn’t forge any tax certificate. Chief Kalu, said when courts of coordinate juris­diction make judgments, the latest takes precedence over the former, espe­cially when the parties are the same, like in this case, Uche Ogar is also a party in Nwosu’s suit. On the Certificate of Re­turn Independent National Electoral Commission is­sued to Ogah, the Abia Jus­tice commissioner said it is of the use at the moment as the governor has appealed the judgment of Justice Okon Abang. Also, Barr Monday Uba­ni, said all these illegalities playing out now and all these long holidays being given in Abia State would end by the decision of the court at the end of the day by the grace of God. An order, which I would call a village injunction, was obtained earlier when they saw that there was no order of stay. Now when it became clear to them again yesterday that there is no order for stay, they went ahead to extend that par­ticular interim order. That is an absurdity in the high­est order. There is no way it is done. You don’t extend an ex­parte order when you have not given the other party notice. What you do is to give a return day when you will now hear the motion on notice for the injunction. Here, there is no return day. Under what rules of the High Court of Abia State would the man have extended the exparte order because there must be rules. There are so many things wrong with that particu­lar order in the first place. Because it is a court of co­ordinate jurisdiction, and it cannot overrule a court of competent jurisdiction. Everything about that in­terim order is wrong. Now the man has gone ahead to extend that illegal order the more. The governor in wait­ing is a law abiding citizen and he has said it that he is not desperate to be gover­nor because he is coming to serve. So we will use all judicial and legal means to actualize his being sworn in as governor of Abia State. We won’t take laws into our hands or cause chaos or crisis for our state. We will allow things to be done le­gally, so people would know that we are coming there to really serve the people and not to destroy Abia State.

CHEVRON AND OTHERS SHOULD LIVE NIGER DELTA, NIGER DELTA AVENGERS WARES

… NDA plans to chase Chevron from Niger Delta –— 9th July 2016 FORMER Chairman of the Delta Waterways Secu­rity Committee (DSWC), Warri, Delta State, Chief Ayiri Emami, Thursday, said the Niger Delta Aveng­ers (NDA), wants to pursue the Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), out of operations in Niger Delta with its consistent and deliberate attacks on its facilities. Emami, who spoke to Saturday Sun on phone, called on the Federal Government to rise to its responsibility and protect the oil multinational. “Government should quickly check Avengers before they accomplish the plan to stop Chevron operations in the Niger Delta region. The militant group is sending a very strong signal with its unpro­voked and unchecked attacks on Chevron’s facilities. “The Federal Government should not sit down watch­ing. It is government’s duty to protect life and property and the property of Chevron is daily at risk,” he said. His words: “This is a very wrong message to inves­tors and should not be tolerated. What they are doing is in the long run to send Chevron packing from the region. It has nothing to do with any struggle.”

BREAKING NEWS:TWO AGIP PIPELINES BLOW UP BY (JNDLF )

Militants blow up 2 Agip pipelines in Bayelsa — 9th July 2016  SUSPECTED militants in the wee hours of yes­terday blew up two pipe­lines belonging to the Ni­geria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in Bayelsa State. The incident is coming less than 48 hours after the militant group, Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force (JNDLF) threatened to blow up six oil flow sta­tions in Bayelsa State. The militant group had expressed displeasure over the present govern­ment inability to address the challenges confronting the Niger Delta region. According to the group, in a statement signed by the General Akotebe Darikoro; Commander, General Duties, Gen­eral Torunanaowei Latei; Creeks Network Coordi­nator, General Agbakaku­ro Owei-Tauro; Pipelines Bleeding Expert, and General Pulokiri Ebila­dei, Intelligence Bureau, “the attitude of President Muhammadu Buhari in his stand not to address the basic issues raised by us, which we believed are within the confine of the president to address once and for all.” The affected pipelines include the Teibidada- Brass pipeline and the one at Goulobikiri running through Lasukugbene. According to investiga­tions, the suspected mili­tants came in two speed boats and used dynamites to blow up three points at the Teibidaba- Brass oil pipeline. The Commandant of the Nigeria Civil Defence and Security Corps (NCDSC) in Bayelsa State, Mr. Des­mond Agu, who also con­firmed the development said men of the command exchange gunfire with the suspected militants,which prevented them from car­rying out further bomb­ings. “Reports from the swamp area indicate that last night (early hours of this morning) a gang of heavily armed youths with two double 200hp speed­boats used explosives to blast three different points on the Tebidaba-Brass Naoc pipeline.

Boko Haram attacks claim 9 lives — 9th July 2016 ■10 injured  EIGHT people including two suicide bombers have been killed in a bomb attack in a mosque in Borno’s southern town of Damboa. Boko Haram also killed three persons in another attack on a village. Two bombers believed to be Boko Haram targeting Muslim worshippers in Damboa mosque detonated explo­sive devices yesterday about 5.15am. Sources in the town said nine persons including the bombers were killed while 10 were injured. Army spokesman, Colonel Sani Us­man confirmed the attack in a state­ment, putting the casualty figure at 6. He said the first bomber who was targeting Damboa Central Mosque could not gain entry due to what he called, “stringent security” while, the second one blew herself up “At the early hours of Friday about 5.15am, two Boko Haram suicide bombers attacked Damboa. The first suicide bomber targeted Damboa Central Mosque but due to stringent security measures, he could not gain entry. Obvi­ously frustrated, he detonated the device and died near the central mosque,” he said. “The second bomber veered off and gained entry into another smaller mosque and detonated the bomb kill­ing himself and 6 other wor­shippers and injuring one,” he said in the statement said. He said the injured person has been evacuated to hospi­tal for treatment. “Troops and other security agencies have been mobilised to the area,” he added. Meanwhile, Boko Haram has attacked Gaskeri village near Dalori, killing three vigilantes. They also looted foodstuffs and livestock, the army said.

JOINT NIGER DELTA LIBERATION FORCE(JNDLF)THREATEN TO BLOW UP SIX FLOW STATION

Militants threaten to blow up six flow stations — 7th July 2016   NDA denies holding talks with govt From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa THE Militant group, Joint Niger Delta Libera­tion Force (JNDLF) has threatened to blow up six flow stations in Bayelsa state over the refusal of the President Mohammadu Buhari to address the issues of development affecting the Niger Delta region. This comes with a revela­tion from Niger Delta Avenger )NDA) that they have not entered into negotiations with the Federal Government. They said the govern­ment is negotiating with a ‘fake group’. The militant group led by Generals Akotebe Darikoro (commander, general duties), Torunanaowei Latei (creeks network coordina­tor), Agbakakuro Owei-tauro (pipelines bleed­ing expert) and Pulokiri Ebiladei (intelligence bureau) which had earlier claimed it shelved its plans to fire missiles at national buildings in Lagos, Abuja and Kaduna due to appeal from the Federal Government and the International Community, in a statement issued after its meeting in Yenagoa said the Buhari adminis­tration has not taken any step to demonstrate its sincerity to tackle the Niger Delta problems. The group commended Minister of State for Petroluem, Dr Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu for “the bold steps he personally took to resolve the injustice created and sponsored by the wicked companies and government in Nigeria.” It however regretted that the “initiative he took has been relegated to the background by the self acclaimed Minister of Petroleum Resources, Muhammadu Buhari who has no knowledge about the suffering of the people in the Niger Delta region. The group also told Governor Seriake Dick­son of Bayelsa State to pay civil servants in the state or face their wrath. According to the group if Dickson cannot pay workers salaries from what has accrued to the state he should resign to avoid bloodshed. Meanwhile, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), the militant group responsible for attacks on oil installations in the country, on Wednesday said President Muhammadu Buhari’s government has been “negotiating with fraudsters”. Insisting that it has not entered into any agreement with the federal government, the group also distanced itself from recent violent incidents in the south-west. NDA also said that contrary to the claim of Garba Shehu, senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, made in an interview, the group has not killed “a single policeman” all through its operation. “We the Niger Delta Avengers have not ne­gotiated with anyone… If (FG) they have been negotiating with anybody it clearly shows they had been negotiating with fraudsters and their created militant group,” Mudoch Agbinibo, spokesman of the group, said in a statement. ‘Out of the blue, a group calling itself the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA spouts. They kill soldiers and policemen. They kidnap and kill oil company workers. Piracy on the high seas,” Garba Shehu said in an interview. “They asked oil companies to stop operations and pack out of the Niger Delta region. They attack and kill prominent individuals, ransack­ing homes up and down the coastal areas, including lately, Lagos and Ogun states. All these for what?’” But responding, the group said: “We don’t know where Mr Garba shehu and General Babagana Munguno, the National Security Adviser are getting their information from. “We want Garba Shehu to go and get his record straight. Niger Delta Avengers have not killed and kidnapped oil workers, we are not into sea piracy, and we have never killed policemen.

FORMER DSS BOSS ALHAJI UMARU SHINKAFI DIES IN LONDON

Shinkafi, ex NSO boss, dies in London — 7th July 2016 By Iheanacho Nwosu, Abuja FORMER director-gen­eral of defunct National Security Organisation (now Department of State Securit, DSS) Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi is dead. He died yesterday at a London hospital, aged 79. Zamfara State Informa­tion Commissioner, Al­haji Umar Jibo, as well as Vice Chancellor of Soko­to State University, Prof. Nuhu Yaqub confirmed his death. Jibo further said his re­mains will be flown back to Nigeria tomorrow for prayers at Sultan Bello Mosque, Sokoto before his interment in Sokoto. He was Marafa Sokoto and was also Pro Chan­cellor of the Sokoto State University. A family member also confirmed that the re­mains of the late secu­rity chief, who vied for president on the platform of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) in 1992, will be flown to Sokoto and in­terred same day. He disclosed that the news of Shinkafi’s death was conveyed through a phone call from London to the younger brother of the deceased, Alhaji Mamuda Shinkafi, for­mer governor of Zam­fara between 2007 and 2011. The former governor was with the state chair­man of Peoples Demo­cratic Party (PDP), Aliyu Muhammad Anka when the call came through. According to the fami­ly member, who declined to be named, the late NSO, before being moved to a London hospital, was hospitalised in some top hospitals in Nigeria. The younger Shinkafi said early in the year, the politician fell ill and was admitted at St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos. When his condition did not improve, he was flown to London. Shinkafi, whose sib­lings are predominately PDP members is a father-in-law to incumbent gov­ernor of Zamfara state, Abdullaziz Yari, who is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The late Umaru, would, however, be buried in So­koto because of the tra­ditional title he held in the state, another family source clarified yesterday. Shinkafi, a lawyer, was a household name in Ni­geria both as a security chief and a politician. He joined the Nigerian Police Force in 1959 af­ter passing through the Police College in Kaduna and obtained a Bachelor in Law in 1973 from the University of Lagos. Between 1975 and 1978, he served as a fed­eral commissioner of In­ternal Affairs. When the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo handed power to Sec­ond Republic President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari in 1979, Shinkafi was ap­pointed director-general of the influential NSO. He was, however, shoved aside by the mili­tary putsch of Major General Muhammadu Buhari on December 31, 1983. He was detained and later released by the regime. Shinkafi made a return to national limelight dur­ing the transition of then military Head of State, General Ibrahim Baban­gida. First, he led the then political association, Ni­gerian National Congress (NNC). The association was formed in 1989. It later merged with other political associa­tions and was christened National Republican Convention (NRC). He aspired for the of­fice of president on the platform, but the ticket was later given to Alhaji Bashir Tofa who lost to Bashorun Moshood Abi­ola of the Social Demo­cratic Party (SDP).

GOODLUCK JONATHAN:I'M NOT CONTESTING 2019 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

I’m not contesting 2019 presidential election –Jonathan   — 7th July 2016 FORMER president Goodluck Jonathan has denied a report that he has intentions to contest the 2019 presi­dential election. The report, which was published by an online me­dium, stated that Jonathan declared interest to run for presidency in 2019 in Bayelsa yesterday. It was reported that Jonathan was inundated with calls from Nigerians “to recontest and salvage the economy from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). However, Jonathan’s media aide, Ikechukwu Eze, has denied the former president is considering taking another shot at the presidency. Eze said the former president never made any declaration on 2019 election, either in May or this month. Jonathan contested the 2015 presidemtial elec­tion on the platform of the peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC. Before the final count at the International Confer­ence Centre (ICC) in Abuja, Jonathan called Buhari to congratilate him on his victory.

IGBO GROUP WARNS LEAVE .KANU ,EKWUEME ,OBI ALONE

Leave Ekwueme, Obi, Kanu alone, Igbo group warns — 6th July 2016 From Petrus Obi, Enugu Igbo Youth Movement (IYM) has condemned what it called deliberate attempt in some quarters to sow  seed of discord among some Igbo leaders including former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme and former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi. In a statement issued in Enugu, yesterday, IYM President, Evangelist Elliot Uko described efforts “by faceless political hustlers” to drag the noble names of revered leaders like Dr. Ekwueme, Mr. Obi and Nnamdi Kanu “into their dirty and imaginary dream world as despicable. “Planting unfounded and quite unbelievable fairytales in the social media, aimed at either discrediting or instigating quarrels among these true great leaders is ungodly, evil and a clear enemy action from disgruntled desperadoes, who hope to mislead the public in order to achieve a predetermined ignoble end. “It could also be part of a larger plot by external forces and their internal agents, to keep the great oriental region disunited. “Dr. Ekwueme and Obi, did not speak at the Nike Lake Dinner. “Mazi Kanu and the respected Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) do not have issues with Mr. Obi. “The desperate attempt to drag Kanu, whose current travails have become the greatest event in this political space into the unending dirty politics of Anambra state is disgraceful and wicked. “The people behind these false stories, are clearly afraid of certain popular leaders, hence, their clandestine attempt to rubbish same through planting horrible hogwash in the social media. “Any politician, who feels frustrated by the rising profile of his perceived political opponent, should kindly look for other ways to get at him. “They should kindly leave Dr. Ekwueme and Kanu out of their sinister schemes. “Kanu is presently carrying the burden of an entire generation; it is most unfair for any desperate politician to drag his name into local Anambra politics. “Kanu and the IPOB do not have issues with Obi and are surprised at these vicious falsehoods planted online by those afraid of the former governor. “Igbo know those who authorised the slaughter of unarmed youths at Nkpor on May 30. “They also know why these same characters are determined to rubbish someone else. Politicians are, hereby, warned to play their games the way they choose to, without dragging the names of others in the mud. “Only the guilty and the fearful, plot to drag others into their mess. “If Kanu or the IPOB have issues with anybody, they do not plant stories on Facebook. “Rather, they come out boldly with official statements signed by their globally known officers. This unholy attempt to use Kanu’s name to deceive the public should end forthwith.”

NDA:NIGER DELTA AVENGERS BLOW MORE OIL FACILITIES

 Criticism, anxiety as militants blow more oil facilities — 6th July 2016 From Paul Osuyi, Asaba and Emmanuel Ogoigbe, Warri UNDETERRED by the suspension of its Twitter handle, rampaging militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has blown up two manifolds operated by the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) in Batan community, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State. The Twitter handle, @NDAvengers, was suspended on Monday morning by authorities of the micro-blogging platform. Spokesman for the group, Mudoch Agbinibo, confirmed the suspension on a sister micro-blogging platform, Facebook but added that a new account would be launched soon to “continue the struggle.” Besides, an oil well operated by Chevron Nigeria Limited at Makaraba village of Gbaramatu Kingdom identified as Chevron well 10 was separately attacked. This is barely a week after the NDA destroyed five oil facilities in the region. Several security sources confirmed to Daily Sun yesterday that the bombings took place between 10 and 11.20 p.m. on Monday night without any resistance from the military. The source added that the militants were having a field day because of the scaling down of military operations in the kingdom, the homestead of ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo. Claiming responsibility for the latest attacks, NDA in a statement signed by its spokesman, Mudoch Agbinibo, said: “Niger Delta Avengers blEw up NPDC Manifold close to Banta and two PPMC/NNPC crude oil trunk Lines. Meanwhile, a week into the month of July, civil servants in Delta State are complaining of non-payment of their June salaries The workers are anxious that salaries may not be forthcoming following sharp drop in federal allocation to the state as a result of the activities of militants. A source privy to a meeting between the Permanent Secretary, Government House and heads of various departments said the state might not be able to pay salaries in the next three months if the situation was not addressed. However, the source said the state would give priority to workers on grade level 01 to 12 with the meager allocation and the dwindling internally generated revenue. According to the source, even the payment of the lower cadre of workers would be staggered depending on the amount of money available to the state. “For now, the situation is so bleak, we have never had it this tough. They agreed to pay junior workers but it will be staggered depending on the money available to the state. It is after paying levels 01 to 12 before they will now turn to the senior category who will be paid subsequently from the money generated internally,” the source said. Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, has, however, been criticized for “not deploying the appropriate tactics to draw the devastating militants to the negotiating table,” adding, “we are not hearing of oil wells being attacked in Rivers or Akwa-Ibom. Those people are enjoying their money. “Let the state government engage these militants and speak the language they will understand so that this issue can be addressed. We had bombings during (James) Ibori and (Emmanuel) Uduaghan’s regime but the situation was brought under control.” Meanwhile, condemnations have continued to trail activities of the militants group. A non-governmental organization, Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) in a statement signed by its coordinator, Sheriff Mulade, said the continued bombings of oil and gas facilities was ill-wind that does the region no good.