House Of Representatives Drops Motion Inviting Buhari Over Insecurity, Members Apologise To Presidency

The House of Representatives is no longer keen on inviting President Muhammadu Buhari to address it on the security challenges in the country, a report by The Nation said.

On December 1, the House passed a resolution summoning the President, following the killing of more than 70 farmers in Borno State.

The motion was moved by Satomi Ahmad, lawmaker representing Jere Federal Constituency, and nine others from Borno, who had insisted that Buhari should to address the lower legislative chamber of the National Assembly on the government’s efforts to address insecurity in the country.

Thereafter, Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House, on December 2, said the President had agreed to address the lawmakers.

But Abubakar Malami, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), had argued that the National Assembly has no constitutional powers to summon the President.

Quoting a source in the House as saying the invitation had assumed an ethnic and political dimension, the newspaper said some of the lawmakers behind the motion to invite Buhari had apologised to the Presidency.

READ ALSO: Rivers Residents Kick Against Lockdown, Seek Ban On Foreigners, Lagosians, Others

The source said, “The House of Representatives has foreclosed or dropped any immediate or future plans to invite President Muhammadu Buhari over insecurity in the country because a harmless motion has become political,” the source was quoted to have said.

“I can tell you that we will no longer revisit the invitation. But we will be interacting with service chiefs and other ministers in charge of the nation’s security.

“The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its lawmakers capitalised on the motion to cast aspersions on the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. What we never intended for became the issue.

“Some governors and strategists in government insinuated that the House leadership was working for a different political interest. That was why they pulled the strings from the Senate.

“At a point, the row over the invitation was turned into a North-South divide, if not for the political dexterity of the House leadership (sic).

“We also got intelligence that some of those lawmakers who sponsored the motion because of Borno rice farmers went through the back door to the presidency to apologise over their insistence that the President must appear before the National Assembly.”

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Posted by Admin December 27, 2020

Ahmodu Mohammed: PDP chieftain in Niger state killed by bandits

Ahmodu Mohammed, PDP chieftain in Niger state, has been killed by bandits. Credit: @PoliceNG

- Suspected bandits have plunged Bosso community in Niger state into panic and grief 

- This is as PDP chieftain, Ahmodu Mohammed, was reportedly killed on Thursday, December 24 

- A powerful businessman and farmer, Mohammed's three children were also kidnapped by the bandits 

Fear has gripped the people of Bosso local government area of Niger state following the murder of Alhaji Ahmodu Mohammed, a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). 

Mohammed was said to have been killed by bandits on Thursday, December 24, and also kidnapped his three daughters, ThisDay reports. According to eyewitnesses who described the incident as “unfortunate and pathetic”, the suspected bandits numbering 15 stormed the community wielding different weapons and started shooting to scare people. 

Source: UGC The armed men were said to have previously attacked traders at the popular Beji market before coming to Bosso LGA. 

They were said to have paid two previous visits to the PDP chieftain's community. 

Although Niger police command is yet to confirm the tragic and unfortunate incident, a close relative of the deceased said Alhaji Mohammed was the target of the attack because he was very powerful. 

READ ALSO: BREAKING: Many Feared Dead As Boko Haram Terrorists Attack Communities, Burn Churches In Borno

“This is the third time that the bandits are attacking the man. 

They have been coming before but they couldn’t succeed because the man is very powerful. 

He was shot several times before he eventually died." The PDP chieftain has been buried in accordance with the Islamic rites the same day he was killed. 

In a related development, Legit.ng reported that Philip Shekwor, the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa state was kidnapped. Shekwor was kidnapped by gunmen on Saturday night, November 21, at his residence along Dunamis Church, Bukan Sidi in Lafia. 

According to media sources, the kidnappers were yet to establish contact with members of the APC chieftain. 

Meanwhile, the effort of the police to ensure the safe release of the APC leader was abortive as he was found dead. 

A source close to the family and leader of the APC in Nasarawa confirmed Shekwor's death. Read more: 

Posted by Admin December 27, 2020

BREAKING: Many Feared Dead As Boko Haram Terrorists Attack Communities, Burn Churches In Borno

Many persons are feared dead as gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram terrorists on Saturday night attacked three communities in the Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State.

The villages attacked include Debiro, Tashan Alade and Tirgitu.

 Naija Gist ReportersMedia

A source told NaijaGistReporters that the insurgents came in about 10 gun trucks and began to fire indiscriminately at anything within sight.

The gunmen burnt down two Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN) churches, also known as Church of the Brethren, in Tashan Allade.

The attack came a few days after a similar incident occurred in Pemi, a ward in the Chibok Local Government Area of the state, where about eight people were killed.

READ ALSO: How Security Operatives Assaulted, Spat On Us, Treated Us Like Killers– Osun Peaceful #RevolutionNow Protesters

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Posted by Admin December 26, 2020

Influential Nigerians Who Spent Christmas In Jail

Indeed, Christmas is a very special period, not just in Nigeria but in the entire world. Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25, and the day has also become synonymous with merrymaking.

Some influential figures in Nigeria however did not spend Christmas with their families but behind the cold bars of prison cells.

JOSHUA DARIYE

A top shot currently in prison is Joshua Dariye, a former Governor of Plateau State.

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court had in June 2018 sentenced Dariye to 16 years in prison for N1.126 billion fraud. He was to serve two-year and 14-year jail terms concurrently, with no option of fine, but a Court of Appeal reduced his term by four years.

He was convicted for two main categories of offences, namely criminal breach of trust and criminal misappropriation.

In 2007, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged him with money laundering, accusing him of diverting the amount from the Plateau government’s ecological fund through Ebenezer Reitner Ventures, an unregistered company. 

READ ALSO: UPDATED: Boko Haram Attacks Adamawa Community, Kill Policeman, Seven Others

IBRAHIM EL-ZAKZAKY

Though a Muslim, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), on Friday spent his sixth consecutive December 25 behind bars. El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat, were arrested by security operatives on December 14, 2015, after a clash between his followers and officers of the Nigerian Army.

At least 500 Shiites were killed during the incident with no army officer charged for the crime ever since.

But, El-Zakzaky and Zeenat have remained in detention despite several court orders for their release.

They are both facing eight counts of culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of public peace, among others.

The government accused the IMN of not recognising the Nigerian constitution and authority. 

His prolonged detention has fuelled several protests by members of the Shiite movement in many Nigeria cities.

READ ALSO: Adamawa Governor, Fintiri Condemns Boko Haram Attack On Garkida Town

JOLLY NYAME

Another convict who probably had his Christmas meals inside the prison is Jolly Nyame, a former Governor of Taraba State

Upon leaving office in 2007, Nyame was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for a fraud of N1.64 billion in 41 counts of fraud.

In 2007, the former governor admitted to misappropriating N180 million out of N250 million meant for stationery in Taraba State and offered to return the same.

On May 30, 2018, Nyame was convicted by the High court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, under the ruling of Justice Adebukola Banjoko for the charges against him and was sentenced to 14 years in prison. He was also asked to refund the monies he diverted.

In November 2018, The Court of Appeal in Abuja affirmed his conviction on 29 counts.

The Appellate court however reviewed the sentences imposed by the trial court and sentenced him to five separate 12-year jail terms which were to run concurrently instead of the initial 14-year jail term, and ordered him to pay a fine of N185 million.

On 7th February, 2020, the Supreme Court affirmed the 12-year jail term judgment and set aside the fines imposed on him by the courts on the grounds that they were outrageous and done without any prompting.

READ ALSO: Three Nigerians To Be Deported From India Over ‘Fake Visa, Passport’

ABDULRASHEED MAINA

Maina in court ChannelsTV

Another influential person currently in prison is Abdulraheed Maina, former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT).

In July 2015, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Maina alongside former Head of Service, Steve Oronsaye, Osarenkhoe Afe and Fredrick Hamilton B Global Services Limited for alleged procurement fraud and obtaining by false pretense.

Four months after, the former pension chief was declared wanted by the EFCC for N2 billion Pensions Biometric Scam after he fled to Saudi Arabia.

Maina was arraigned before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja on October 25, 2019, by the anti-graft agency alongside his firm, Common Input Property and Investment Ltd.

Although he is now facing 12 counts bordering on money laundering to the tune of N2 billion, he had pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Maina was extradited to Nigeria after his arrest in Niger Republic in November 2020. He had jumped bail, leading to the arrest of Ali Ndume, a serving Senator, who stood as his surety.

News Reports AddThis : Featured Image : Original Author : NaijaGistReporters, 

Posted by Admin December 26, 2020

How Kaduna Community Residents Paid Fulani Militia N3m To Allow Them Harvest -- Group

Some residents of Gbagyi community in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State paid over N3 million to Fulani militia to allow them harvest their crops and spend Christmas in their ancestral home without fear of being attacked, Southern Kaduna People's Union (SOKAPU) disclosed on Friday.

The group, in a statement, said it discovered the situation on Thursday when it took palliatives to at least 1,600 Gbagyi Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who had fled surrounding villages taken over by armed Fulani militia.

It described the development as unfortunate, adding that such was indicative of the worsening security situation in the country.

READ ALSO: Be Thankful Bombings Don’t Happen Daily, Femi Adesina Tells Nigerians

The statement read: "We took drugs, sleeping mats and clothes to these traumatised citizens who Barde visited once and gave N50,000 for their feeding. They told us of the shocking impunity exhibited by the invaders, how they collect huge sums of money to allow the villagers to harvest their crops.

"We also spoke to victims of kidnapping who were ruined economically and more. We spoke to those who lost loved ones and property. We were told that the entire Chikun ward was under the mercy of the armed killers. It is unbelievable that we have a government."

It also said "a certain community paid N3m to the militia to be allowed to stay and spend Christmas”. “We were told that the entire Chikun ward is under the mercy of the armed killers. These people will spend their Christmas in sorrow and pain. No assistance to them is too small," the statement read.

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Posted by Admin December 26, 2020

Sharia: Kano Govt Seizes Truck With N25m Worth Of Alcoholic Drinks

The Kano State Government has impounded a truck laden with alcoholic drinks worth over N25m.

Nabilusi Abubakar, Public Relations Officer of the State Road and Traffic Agency (KAROTA), disclosed this in a statement.

The agency is a member of the state’s task force on unwholesome products, drug abuse and expired products.

Abubakar said the truck, which was intercepted around 2:30 am on Thursday along Hadeja Road in Kano metropolis, was on its way to Bello Road to offload its contents when the personnel of the agency, following an intelligence report, intercepted the vehicle.

He said the agency had warned that its men would continue to be vigilant to check the activities of persons transporting such prohibited items into the state.

The statement read, “The Managing Director of the agency, Baffa Dan’agundi, reiterated that KAROTA’s doors were always open to members of the public who had information that could aid his men in the discharge of their duties.

READ ALSO: Katsina Court Stops Arrest Of Human Rights Activist, Mahdi Shehu

“The truck and its content have since been handed over to the State Hisbah Board for further investigation and necessary action.”

The Kano State House of Assembly enacted a law in 2004 banning the production, haulage, sale and consumption of alcohol. The action was based on the prohibition of the consumption of alcohol by Islam. Kano is a Sharia state and has been impounding and destroying alcoholic drinks since it set up the state Hisbah Board, also known as Sharia police.

For instance, in November 2020, its Hisbah Board destroyed well over 1,975,000 bottles of beer- worth over N200 million.

This tradition has been criticised by many Nigerians who argue that such actions violate the Nigerian Constitution, which does not prohibit the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Many Nigerians have also argued that Section 10 of the Nigerian Constitution says: “The Government of the Federation or of a State shall not adopt any religion as State Religion.”

 

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Posted by Admin December 26, 2020

Electric Cable Falls In Ibadan, Kills Food Vendor, Commercial Motorcyclist

A motorcyclist, Kabiru, popularly called Oluyole, and a female passenger were reportedly electrocuted in the Iwo Road area of Ibadan, Oyo State capital on Thursday evening.

NaijaGistReporters learnt that the motorcyclist was negotiating with a woman when the cable fell on them, killing both of them.

Our correspondent gathered that the woman, a food vendor, was in Iwo Road to get N1,000 balance of food a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers had bought from her.

An eyewitness told NaijaGistReporters that officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps evacuated the remains of the two victims of the accident.

READ ALSO: Influential Nigerians Who Spent Christmas In Jail

"Nigeria is doomed. An incident happened yesterday and nobody reported it. Two people were electrocuted by a cable that fell on them around Iwo Road. In fact, there are still two wires there giving signs that they will also fall but nobody cares. I wish government officials would take note and do something about it now.

"That woman was a food vendor. I heard she was in the area to collect money for the food a member of the NURTW bought from her in the morning. In fact, the N1,000 that was paid to her was in her hand when she got electrocuted. Some officials of the FRSC in the state evacuated their corpses."

When contacted by NaijaGistReporters, the sector commander of FRSC, Mrs Uche Chukwurah, confirmed the incident on Friday.

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Posted by Admin December 26, 2020