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Court of Appeals rejects another Trump lawsuit over Michigan election

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The Michigan Court of Appeals on Friday rejected an appeal from the Trump presidential campaign challenging Michigan’s election results, in the latest in a series of court defeats for the president.

In a 2-1 decision, the court chastised the campaign for dragging its feet on the appeal, said the certification of Michigan’s election results by the Board of State Canvassers in the interim had made the lawsuit moot, and said that if the Trump campaign wanted to challenge the results it could have requested a recount, but did not.

“Plaintiff failed to follow clear law in Michigan relative to such matters,” the court said.

Trump and his supporters have filed a series of lawsuits in battleground states around the country and in Michigan, where no judge has given credence to any of the claims.

The ruling upholds an earlier decision by Michigan Court of Claims Judge Cynthia Stephens, who said Nov. 5 there was no legal basis or evidence to grant what the campaign requested in a suit filed the day after the Nov. 3 election.

The Trump campaign tried to appeal that decision Nov. 6, but the “emergency” appeal was rejected because lawyers for the campaign did not file the required paperwork. They then did not correct the filing until Nov. 30. In the meantime, the Board of State Canvassers certified Michigan’s election results Nov. 23.

The campaign wanted an order directing Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to require “meaningful access” for campaign poll watchers to the counting of state ballots, plus access to videotaped surveillance of ballot drop boxes installed around the state after Oct. 1. It had asked for a pause in ballot counting while the case was heard.

Even before the appeal, Stephens said the ballot counting in Michigan, which showed Democrat Joe Biden receiving about 150,000 more votes than Trump, was already completed, making the request moot.

Further, she said Benson already had issued a directive for meaningful access for poll watchers at local ballot counting places, which made special allowances to get around coronavirus social distancing requirements when needed. As for the videotapes, Stephens said there is no legal basis for Benson to provide — or be expected to provide — access to video surveillance of ballot drop boxes installed by local officials, who were not named as defendants in the suit.

In Friday’s decision denying the appeal, Judge Patrick Meter dissented, saying the “issues are not moot because state electors have not yet been seated, the Electoral College has not yet been assembled, and Congress has not yet convened” to consider the matter.

The Electoral College convenes in state capitals around the nation Dec. 14.

But Judges Stephen Borrello and Amy Ronayne Krause said the assertions in Meter’s dissent “are not supported by law or by fact.” Trump’s legal recourse once Michigan’s results were certified was to request a recount, they said.

Borrello and Krause were appointed to the court by former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, a Democrat. Meter was appointed by former Republican Gov. John Engler.

There was no immediate word from the Trump campaign on a possible appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court.

FEC Approves N120.7bn For Streets, Other Projects

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The Federal Executive Council, FEC, has approved an entire amount of N120,717,387,596 for an assortment of projects that cut across states of the federation.

Of this figure, roughly N117.5 billion has been for both rehabilitation and construction of bridges and roads.

Briefing State House correspondents at the end of this 26th virtual FEC assembly, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fasola, stated that he introduced three memoranda on behalf of his ministry to the council of N117,485,081,325, which was approved.

Read also: Buhari signs Order 007 to boost projects

He explained that two have been in respect of different roads and bridges works, while the third has been for a banking software program for the Federal Mortgage Bank.

According to him, “Council announced an entire sum of N18,923,846,198.47 billion for roads and bridges. First is the rehabilitation of 26 kilometres of Kano — Kazaure — Daura — Mai’adua Road in Kano-Jigawa-Katsina States at N8.767 billion. Omor — Umulokpa Road in Anambra and Enugu N1.712 billion.

“Bridge in kilometre 22 +700 meters along Bida -Zungaru road in Niger in N1.022 billion.

“Another memorandum concerning streets is for the total sum of N98,73,840,842.81 billion. The streets are in Rijiya — Gusau Road in Zamfara N1.799 billion; Jega-Kwanar Sanagi-Kebbi-Gunmi Road at Kebbi N31.539 billion; Koko- Mahuta Road at Kebbi, N19.713 billion; Kukar Babangida — Gangara Road in Katsina N11.731 billion, Ihiala-Orlu -Umuduru Road to Uko in N16.750 billion, Oye Ama Etitte street to Umuawulu Road in Anambra at N2.155 billion and rehab in Bichi Road in Kano State N8.34 billion.

ALSO READ: Lockdown: Army nabs soldiers that harassed Delta residents
“The third memo has been that the procurement of a core banking software for Federal Mortgage Bank in the amount of N487.394,285.71 million for Messers FINTAX applications to empower Federal Mortgage Bank provide all the frontline services which other banks now supply across its branches nationwide.

“Contrary to other banks, national mortgage lender remains not able to send automated notices, statements and all of those to federal housing fund subscribers.

“This application will now enable the national mortgage bank to provide those sorts of services and do a good deal of reconciliation and automation credit and loan processing when fully equipped.”

Additionally, briefing, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, said his ministry introduced two memoranda to Council which were the furnishing of this already completed technology building, that’s the communication and data command and control centre in the purchase price of N2,100,080,759.65 billion.

He explained an endorsement was obtained for the purchase of 44 operational vehicles meant to boost the efficiency of their officers, including Comptrollers, Assistant Comptroller Generals, Deputy Comptroller Generals and for patrol responsibilities, in the purchase price of N768,077,08 million.

He said,”Council also approved a contract to the furnishing of the technology construction, that is the information and communicating command and control centre, it will also act as the support Headquarter of Nigeria Immigration Service. The award is currently favour of messers Julius Berger Nigeria Plc in the total amount approved is N2,100,080,759.65 billion.

“Council accepted the procurement of usable vehicles to boost efficiency in the service for people who were recently promoted from the Nigeria Immigration Service, Comptrollers, Assistant Comptroller Generals, Deputy Comptroller Generals as well as patrol vehicles.

READ ALSO:  Boko Haram-ISIS fighters ditch fasting, regroup in ‘unholy Ramadan alliance’
“The council approved procurement of 44 usable vehicles at a total contract sum of N768,077,08 million.

“While the last stage of consultancy was awarded to Messers APTECH Practice Ltd, an architectural design consultant. The ward is an entire amount of N163,956,232.03. The length of the project is four weeks .”

FEC also approved a memo that sought the award of a contract to the reversed cost for an extension of the period of the consultancy solutions in Tadasungai Irrigation job in Kwara state.

Briefing on this, the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu noted that Council had okayed the reversal of the total cost of the primary job and obtained approval to expand the help of the advisor, Messers Tech Consult Consultancy International and partners Ltd for another 12 months.

He explained,”It had been 24 months and 12 months expansion plus 12 months accountability interval, making it 36 for an entire sum of N200,192,200 million inclusive 7.5 percent VAT.

“All these are high priority project along the banks of River Niger and has the potential to improve production in the country especially rice production.”

He stated the council also approved the award of contract for a dedicated power line for mid Ogun Irrigation project phase one that is in Iseyin in Oyo State.

Adamu clarified that the irrigation system has been powered by diesel generators,” but because of deregulation and gas, it has gotten so expensive and not sustainable.

He said, “Thus, we have to search for further ways and means to power irrigation methods. We are considering either National solar and grid.

“In this example, we have obtained an interim structure to enlarge electricity for national grid power to irrigation strategy and later on, until it’s finished, we’ll take it into solar.

“The power coverage is about 3,000 hectares and right now about 1,300 hectares are finished but because of lack of power, we can’t irrigate the land. Also, the land is just being used for rare…irrigation,” he explained.

Also, briefing, the Minister of Special Duties, Senator George Akume, as well as Minister of State for Science and Technology, Mohammed Abdullahi, gave reports of their visits for their home states, Benue and Nasarawa states respectively, according to President Buhari at the Wake of this #EndSARS protests.

The President had led all of the Ministers to relocate to their various states and constituencies to port with the youths on the attempts of this Government in attending to the requirements made by the protesting youths on Police brutality.

Nobody can stop FG from investigating #EndSARS protesters — Lai Mohammed

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THE Federal Government has said the law is a leveller and being a member of a group, regardless of its status, should not preclude a person from being investigated or prosecuted when the law is breached.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated this on Friday in Lagos at a meeting with editors of newspapers.

He made the statement while responding to a question on the alleged arrest of some #EndSARS protesters and sponsors.

“Being a member of #EndSARS protest does not grant you immunity if you have committed any crime against the land. The key thing is that you must be treated according to the laws.

“Even those whose accounts were frozen, the Central Bank of Nigeria went to court to seek permission to freeze the accounts. I am also aware that some of them whose international passports were seized had been returned.

“None can stop the government from investigating anybody, including #EndSARS protesters. Whoever you are and whatever you are doing, you must not take the laws into your hands.

“You must follow the due process because where your rights end is where someone else’s rights start,” he said.

According to the minister, the purpose of the meeting is “to review what transpired during the protest and subsequent crisis and draw the necessary lessons to forestalling a recurrence, especially of mindless violence that followed the hijack of the peaceful protests.

Mohammed said there was no clampdown on the protesters and their supporters, adding that the government is following the due process in the investigations being carried out.

Read also: FEC Approves N120.7bn For Streets, Other Projects

FEC approves N120.7bn for streets, other projects

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The Federal Executive Council, FEC, has approved an entire sum of N120,717,387,596 for a number of jobs that cut across countries of the federation.

Of this figure, about N117.5 billion has been for both rehabilitation and construction of bridges and roads.

Briefing State House correspondents at the end of this 26th Digital FEC meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fasola, stated that he introduced three memoranda on behalf of his own ministry to the council of N117,485,081,325, which was approved.

He clarified that two have been in regard to different streets and bridges functions, although the third was to get a banking software for the Federal Mortgage Bank.

According to him,”Council announced a whole amount of N18,923,846,198.47 billion for roads and bridges. First is that the rehabilitation of 26 kilometres of Kano — Kazaure — Daura — Mai’adua Road at the Kano-Jigawa-Katsina States at N8.767 billion.

Read also: FG owes road contractors N306b, says Fashola

Okpokwu Bridge along Ogoja — Okuku — Aliforkpa-Benue Road at Cross River N1.057 billion.

“Bridge in kilometre 22 +700 meters across Bida -Zungaru road in Niger at N1.022 billion. Nkwumi Bridge linking Abia and Enugu states at N1.072 billion, and Chalawa — Runku — Sawa — Kayi Road in Kombotso, Kano State N2.787 billion.

“Another memorandum concerning streets is for the entire sum of N98,73,840,842.81 billion. The roads are in Rijiya — Gusau Road at Zamfara N1.799 billion; Jega-Kwanar Sanagi-Kebbi-Gunmi Road in Kebbi N31.539 billion; Koko- Mahuta Road at Kebbi, N19.713 billion; Kukar Babangida — Gangara Road at Katsina N11.731 billion, Ihiala-Orlu -Umuduru Road to Uko at N16.750 billion, Oye Ama Etitte road to Umuawulu Road in Anambra at N2.155 billion and rehabilitation in Bichi Road in Kano State N8.34 billion.

ALSO READ: Highlights of President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2020 Democracy Day Broadcast

“The next memo was the procurement of a core banking software for Federal Mortgage Bank in the sum of N487.394,285.71 million for Messers FINTAX applications to empower Federal Mortgage Bank to provide all the frontline services that other banks now supply across its branches nationally.

“Contrary to other banks, federal mortgage bank is still not able to send automated notices, statements and all those to national housing finance contributors.

“This application will enable the national mortgage lender to provide those kinds of services and also do a lot of reconciliation and automation loan and credit processing when fully installed.”

Also, briefing, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, stated his ministry introduced two memoranda to Council that was the furnishing of the already finished technology construction, that is the communication and data command and control center in the price of N2,100,080,759.65 billion.

He said that an endorsement has been obtained for the purchase of 44 operational vehicles intended to enhance the efficiency of their officers, including Comptrollers, Assistant Comptroller Generals, Deputy Comptroller Generals and for patrol duties, in the purchase price of N768,077,08 million.

He said,”Council also accepted a contract for the furnishing of the tech construction, that’s the information and communicating command and control facility, it will also act as the support Headquarter of Nigeria Immigration Service. The award is favour of messers Julius Berger Nigeria Plc at the entire amount approved is N2,100,080,759.65 billion.

“Council accepted the procurement of usable vehicles to boost efficiency in the support for people who were recently promoted from the Nigeria Immigration Service, Comptrollers, Assistant Comptroller Generals, Deputy Comptroller Generals as well as patrol vehicles.

READ ALSO: Buhari’s poverty alleviation, job creation programmes best in Nigerian history – Lai Mohammed

“The council approved procurement of 44 usable vehicles in an entire contract amount of N768,077,08 million. The beneficiaries are messers PAN, Kawra and Wanla Motors Nigeria Ltd.. .

“While the last phase of consultancy was awarded to Messers APTECH Practice Ltd, an architectural design adviser. The ward is an entire sum of N163,956,232.03. The period of the project is four weeks ”

FEC also approved a memo that sought the award of a contract to its reversed cost to get an extension of time of their consultancy services in Tadasungai Irrigation job in Kwara state.

Briefing on that, the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu noted that Council had okayed the reversal of the entire cost of the principal project and obtained approval to expand the services of the advisor, Messers Tech Consult Consultancy International and partners Ltd for the following 12 months.

He explained,”It had been 24 months and 12 months expansion plus 12 months accountability interval, which makes it 36 to get an entire sum of N200,192,200 million inclusive 7.5 per cent VAT.

“All these are high priority job along the banks of River Niger and has the potential to improve production in the country notably rice production”

He stated the council also approved an award of contract for a dedicated power line for middle Ogun Irrigation project phase one that is in Iseyin in Oyo State.

Adamu explained that the irrigation system was powered by gas generators,” but because of deregulation and gas, it has gotten so expensive and not sustainable.

He explained, “So, we have to search for additional ways and means to power irrigation systems. We are looking at either National grid and solar.

“In this example, we have got an interim structure to enlarge power for national grid electricity to irrigation strategy and later on, before it is finished, we will take it into solar.

“The power coverage is about 3,000 hectares and now about 1,300 hectares are completed but because of lack of electricity, we can not irrigate the property. Also, the property is only being used for rare…irrigation,” he said.

Also, briefing, the Minister of Special Duties, Senator George Akume, as well as Minister of State for Science and Technology, Mohammed Abdullahi, gave reports of the visits to their home states, Benue and Nasarawa states, according to President Buhari at the Aftermath of this #EndSARS protests.

The President had led all of the Ministers to relocate to their respective nations and constituencies to port with all the youths on the attempts of this Government in attending the demands made by the protesting youths on Police brutality.

Ndume to withdraw as Maina’s surety

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The Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Ali Ndume, has said he will direct his legal team to begin the process of terminating the surety bond he signed for former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Force Team, Abdulrasheed Maina.

Ndume disclosed this in an interview he granted journalists on Saturday in Abuja.

Ndume, who doubles as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, stood surety for Maina, prominent member of his constituency standing trial for money laundering at a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

Ndume took the decision to stand as surety for Maina because he satistified all bail conditions required by the court.

The judge had as part of the bail conditions, demanded among others, that Maina should produce a serving senator as his surety.

Things went awry when Maina jumped bail and his whereabouts became unknown even to his relatives.

The judge subsequently remanded Ndume in the Kuje Correctional Centre following his inability to produce Maina when the case came up for hearing.

A legal battle ensued and Ndume was left off the hook while Maina, the fugitive, was arrested in Niger Republic and extradited to Nigeria on Thursday.

He was subsequently remanded in Kuje prison by the FCT High Court on Friday.

With the decision by Ndume to sever surety bond with Maina, the Senator will be the second person to end an erstwhile intimate relationship with the former Chairman of PPRT.

Earlier today, Joe Kyari-Gadzama withdrew his services as lawyer to Maina.

Reacting to the development in the said interview, Ndume commended the Inspector General of Police. Mohammed Adamu, and other security personnel that were involved in the arrest and extradition of Maina.

Ndume said, “I commend the Nigeria Police Force for executing the bench warrant issued on Maina by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

“This has shown that the NPF is not a write-off.

“They are professionals under the able leadership of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.

“With the successful arrest, extradition and subsequent remand of Maina at the Kuje Correctional Centre, I will proceed to direct my legal team to begin the process of withdrawing my suretiship for Maina with immediate effect because his action has shown that he is not trustworthy.”

The Senator also thanked all Nigerians especially members of the National Assembly, the political class, family, and friends, who showed serious concern when the court moved against him following the disappearance of Maina, who subsequently jumped bail.

US House of Representatives votes to legalize marijuana

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The US House of Representatives on Friday passed a bill that would legalize marijuana at the federal level.

The bill would remove marijuana from the federal drug scheduling system, the basis for much of federal drug policy, and eliminates criminal penalties for anyone who possesses, distributes, or produces marijuana.

The Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act would expunge records for people with prior federal marijuana convictions. It would also impose a tax on marijuana products, which would fund new programs intended to support “individuals and businesses in communities impacted by the war on drugs.”

The bill would also take numerous steps to reverse the collateral damage of cannabis prohibition: It would open up federal loans to marijuana businesses, ban federal officials from denying public benefits to people with previous marijuana convictions, and prohibit the denial of US citizenship based on marijuana-related events, among other changes.

It’s unlikely, however, that the bill will make it much further in the current Congress, with the Republican-controlled Senate still opposed to legalization.

There is a Senate version of the MORE Act, should the legislative body, in a very unlikely scenario, decide to take it up. It’s sponsored by Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), who’s now the vice president-elect.

Although Harris now supports legalization, President-elect Joe Biden has said he only backs more moderate efforts and decriminalization (which would remove criminal penalties for possession but leave other penalties in place). So it’s unclear if the MORE Act will fare better under Biden.

President Donald Trump has voiced support for letting states decide their own marijuana laws, but has so far rejected full legalization at the federal level.

The MORE Act wouldn’t legalize marijuana nationwide. While it would remove a giant hurdle to full legalization by eliminating federal restrictions, it would still be up to states to decide if they want to legalize marijuana within their borders. So far, 15 states and Washington, DC, have legalized marijuana, although DC doesn’t allow recreational sales.

Several states recently voted to legalize marijuana — in the same election Biden won — including conservative Montana and South Dakota.

One potential hurdle to legalization: It would technically put the US in violation of a series of international drug control treaties, which prohibit signatories from allowing marijuana — and various other currently illicit drugs — for recreational purposes. But other countries, like Canada and Uruguay, have legalized marijuana by effectively ignoring the treaties.

Supporters of legalization argue that it eliminates the harms of marijuana prohibition: the hundreds of thousands of arrests around the US, the racial disparities behind those arrests, and the billions of dollars that flow from the black market for illicit marijuana to drug cartels that then use the money for violent operations around the world. All of this, legalization advocates say, will outweigh any of the potential downsides — such as increased cannabis use — that might come with legalization.

Opponents, however, claim that legalization will enable a huge marijuana industry that will market the drug irresponsibly. They point to America’s experiences with the alcohol and tobacco industries in particular, which have built their financial empires in large part on some of the heaviest consumers of their products. This could result in more people using pot, even if it leads to negative health consequences.

Lagos-Ibadan train tickets will cost N3,000 to N6,000 —FG

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THE Federal Government has approved charges on the new Lagos-Ibadan rail standard gauge which would begin operations by January 2021.

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, made the disclosure during the inauguration of the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria in Abuja on Friday.

He said the train ticket would cost between N3,000 to N6,000.

Amaechi said, “I have received the mandate of President Muhammadu Buhari to inaugurate the Lagos/Ibadan rail project by January 2021 which will make Nigerians see the way the standard gauge railway looked like.

“Today I approved the charges on passengers from Lagos to Ibadan, we just transfer how we charged from Abuja to Kaduna.

“We charge N3,000 per Economy seat, N5,000 for Business class, and N6,000 for First class, the same is applicable to Lagos to Ibadan.

“It should have started running by now before Mr. President inaugurates it by January.”

The minister said that the ministry would collaborate with CIOTA to enable them to achieved their objectives.

He said CIOTA role was critical to the growth of transportation in Nigeria, adding that the country had advanced a lot in the area of transportation.

Fayose granted permission for medical trip

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A Federal High Court in Lagos has granted permission to former governor of Ekiti State Ayodele Fayose to embark on medical trip.

Mr Fayose and his firm Spotless Investment Limited are being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged N2.2billion fraud.

Justice C.J. Aneke granted the permission on Friday following an application by Fayose’s lawyer Ola Olanipekun.

EFCC counsel Rotimi Jacobs did not oppose the request.

The judge adjourned further hearing in the case till January 22, 2021.

In the charges, the EFCC alleged inter alia that Fayose, on June 17, 2014, “took possession of the sum of N1, 219, 000,000 to fund your 2014 gubernatorial campaign in Ekiti State, which you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: criminal breach of trust/stealing.”

The ex-governor was also alleged to have on the same day “received a cash payment of $5,000,000 from Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, the then Minister of State for Defence, which sum exceeded the amount authorised by law and you thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 1 and 16(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 16 (2)(b) of the same Act.”

In January, a video of Fayose dancing with a white woman on a cruise ship abroad surfaced on social media.

The ex-governor was on a medical trip at the time granted him by the same court in his trial for allegedly receiving and keeping N1.2 billion and $5 million stolen funds from the office of National Security Adviser (NSA).

Maryam Sanda’s death penalty stands as Court of Appeal rejects appeal

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A Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday dismissed the appeal filed by Maryam Sanda against the death sentence handed her for killing her husband Bilyaminu Bello.

In his two-hour judgement, Justice Steven Adah held that the court was duty-bound to do justice according to law and not sentiments.

Justice Adah said Sanda’s appeal lacked merit.

Justice Yusuf Halilu of an FCT High Court had on January 27 given the sentence.

He sentenced Sanda after she was convicted for stabbing Bello to death on November 18, 2017.

Bello was the nephew of former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Haliru Bello.

In the notice of appeal predicated on 20 grounds, Sanda had prayed the appellate court to set aside the verdict of the lower court and acquit her.

She claimed Justice Halilu was tainted by bias and prejudices.

Sanda alleged that the judge gave the verdict despite the reasonable doubt that was created by evidence of witnesses, lack of confessional statement, absence of murder weapon, lack of corroboration of evidence by two or more witnesses, and lack of autopsy report to determine the true cause of her husband’s death.

Those killed in Zarbamari were Boko Haram informants, not farmers -Community Source

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By Yemi Itodo

Contrary to the believe that victims of Boko Haram attack last Saturday in Borno were rice farmers; fresh fact has emerged Friday morning that they were actually informants and logistics suppliers to the insurgents.

About 48 persons were reportedly slain Saturday morning in Zarbamari, a town in Borno State, North East Nigeria, by the Boko Haram insurgents, who later claimed responsibility.

The recent attack which was believed by many to be on rice farmers, has elicited commentaries and condemnations from all spheres of life.

But Mallam Kabiru Zanna, a local of Zarbamari, who spoke with this Correspond Friday morning, said those affected were mainly collaborators of Boko Haram who hailed from Zamfara and Sokoto states.

“The people that were killed were actually logistics suppliers and collaborators with Boko Haram. They supply them food, fuel. They also help the insurgents in selling rustled cows”, he said.

Zanna who spoke in Hausa, also narrated what actually transpired on that fateful Saturday and how the transaction between the insurgents and their erstwhile collaborators went awry.

“Last week, these same people were on their way to meeting the insurgents for business when they were accosted by soldiers and after the soldiers couldn’t find anything on them they let them go.

“Meanwhile, the insurgents who were waiting saw them with the troops who later killed 5 of them after an ambush, so the insurgents accused those guys of providing Intel to the soldiers. This is the main reason why the terrorists began killing them.

“The insurgents called them to meet on Thursday but they said they wouldn’t be able to make it unless on Saturday. They agreed to meet early morning 5:00am on that Saturday. They even had their morning prayers there.

“From there, the insurgents began to tell them about those guys who used to supply them food, who also betrayed them by providing Intel to the troops.

“Normally if there are betrayers in a town the entire community would pay the price for such acts. At that moment, the insurgents ordered that everyone be tied. They instructed that no gun should be fired in other not to attract troops.

“That was exactly what happened. Those people mostly are collaborators of the terrorists”, he added.

Zanna, who has been keeping tabs with activities of Boko Haram in the state, said, though some that were killed were innocent, “but very few of them. I swear most of them are traders with the insurgents. None of them is a rice farmer, they are all in trade with the insurgents”.

When contacted on phone, a Media Aide to Governor Babagana Umar Zulum, Mr. Ahidjo Abdu Likita, confirmed the revelation.

“Yes, it has been confirmed that the victims slaughtered were agents of Boko Haram”, he told our reporter on phone, adding that, further investigation was being carried to reveal more.

When asked why did the Governor go ahead to disburse money to perceived family members of the victims, since they were collaborators, Likita said, the Governor didn’t “know the real of all the scenario till today”.

He said, “everybody was thinking it was the real people of Zabarmari village”, until the information got to the Governor Friday morning.