Home Blog Page 2605

Nigerian Army 2019 Inter-Brigade Sports Competition Kicks-off in Port Harcourt

-
0
Nigerian Army 2019 Inter-Brigade Sports Competition Kicks-off in Port Harcourt

The Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai has charged officers and men of the Nigerian Army to continue to imbibe the spirit of comradeship amongst themselves.

Gen. Buratai gave the charge Wednesday in Port Harcourt while declaring open the 2019 Inter-Brigade Sports Competition in Port Harcourt.

Represented by the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Nigerian Army and Land Component Commander (LCC) Joint Task Force Operation Delta Safe (JTF OPDS), Maj Gen Jamil Sarham, Gen. Buratai enjoined participants to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship, fair-play and esprit de-corps throughout the period of the competition.

In his remarks, the General Officer Commanding 6 Division of the Nigerian Army Maj. Gen. Sarham represented by the Chief of Staff (COS), Headquarters 6 Division, Brig Gen Olatokumbo Bello described the event as a landmark that would bring together both officers and soldiers from various formations and units under the Division.

He expressed the hope that the competition would also serve as an avenue to promote mutual cooperation and comradeship amongst the participants.

He emphasised that, training and retraining of personnel in the Nigerian Army remain pivotal in achieving the required regimentation, professional responsiveness and maintaining combat efficiency needed to tackle the various security challenges facing the Nation in line with the vision of the COAS which is -“To have a Professionally Responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of its Constitutional Roles”.

The GOC reiterated the belief that a well trained personnel would effectively command men and equipment placed under command to achieve the best results. He charged the participants to see the competition as an important professional exercise, urging them to take advantage of the opportunity to enhance their level of alertness and overall professional standing.

The ceremony taking place at the 6 Division Sports Ground in Port Harcourt Barracks, Rivers State, heralds several sporting activities including Football, Volleyball, Basket ball and Tug-of-War between the various formations and units under the Division.

The event is an annual activity in the Nigerian Army Calendar and will last from Monday 24th to Friday 28th of June 2019.

Gambia’s Jammeh ‘handpicked’ women for rape, abuse

-
0
Gambia’s Jammeh ‘handpicked’ women for rape, abuse

Former Gambian president Yahya Jammeh “handpicked” women to rape or sexually coerce by offering cash, gifts and other privileges, international rights groups alleged.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Swiss NGO TRIAL international said three women accused Jammeh of rape and sexual assault while he was in office between 1996 and 2017.

Jammeh’s administration was notorious for its brutality and corruption, but it was the first time that sexual abuse of women was extensively and publicly documented.

“Yahya Jammeh treated Gambian women like his personal property,” said Reed Brody, HRW’s legal counsel.

“Rape and sexual assault are crimes and Jammeh is not above the law – and no woman is beneath it,” he added.

‘Protocol girls’

The investigation was based on evidence from four women, eight former Gambian officials, and several other witnesses, the rights groups said.

Jammeh had “protocol girls” who were required to be on call to provide him with sex.

He “handpicked young women to satisfy his sexual fantasies”, according to a top aide quoted.

The findings also alleged as an inducement, Jammehwould lavish gifts on them or provide support for their impoverished families, or offer a scholarship to study abroad.

They were required to live next to his residence and were barred from leaving without his authorisation. If they refused his sexual demands, he would threaten or hit them, according to testimonies.

The “protocol girls” were overseen by his female cousin, Jimbee Jammeh, who also procured other women for him, the statement said.

One of the victims was Toufah Jallow, then an 18-year-old drama student, who was the 2014 winner of the main state-sponsored beauty pageant, which Jammeh had lauded as “a means to empower girls”.

Over six months, she refused his advances, rejected his offer to become a “protocol girl”, and a proposal to marry him, Jallow said.

After aides brought her to attend a pre-Ramadan Quran recital at the State House, Yahya locked her in a room, hit and threatened her, injected her with a liquid and raped her, according to her testimony.

AFCON 2019: Rohr drops Mikel, makes five changes in Eagles to face Guinea

-
0
AFCON 2019: Rohr drops Mikel, makes five changes in Eagles to face Guinea

Gernot Rohr has dropped his captain, Mikel Obi, for the second group game against Guinea at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Egypt.

Many Nigerians had asked that Mikel be dropped to the bench after his below-par performance against Burundi.

Other changes made to the starting 11 are: Odion Ighalo, who scored the only goal against Burundi, replaces Paul Onuachu; and Moses Simon starts ahead of 20-year-old Samuel Chukwueze.

With Shehu Abdullahi still out injured, Chidozie Awaziem consolidates his hold at right back with his first Eagles start since October 2017 while Leon Balogun starts his first AFCON game ever, replacing the slightly injured William Troost-Ekong. Ahmed Musa also starts after his substitute appearance against Burundi.

The starting 11: Daniel Akpeyi, Kenneth Omeruo, Leon Balogun, Ola Aina, Chidozie Awaziem, Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo, Alex Iwobi, Ahmed Musa, Moses Simon, and Odion Ighalo.

The Eagles won their first match against Burundi 1-0 while the Syli Stars of Guinea drew 2-2 against debutants Madagascar.

The match between Nigeria and Guinea kicks off at 3:30 p.m.

HIJAB CONTROVERSY: COURT STRIKES OUT CASE AGAINST U.I

-
0
HIJAB CONTROVERSY: COURT STRIKES OUT CASE AGAINST U.I

A judge, Ladiran Akintola of an Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, on Tuesday struck out a fundamental human rights suit challenging the refusal of the University of Ibadan International School to allow female Muslim students wear hijab on their school uniforms.

The suit against the school, UI, its Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), who also doubles as Chairman of the Board of Governors in the school and the school’s principal, Phebean Olowe, was filed by some parents of female Muslim students in the school on behalf of their children and wards.

The plaintiffs argued that the continued refusal of the defendants to allow the students use hijab on their school uniform within the premises of the school was unconstitutional and constituted violation of the applicants’ rights to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

But, Mr Akintola in his ruling on Tuesday, maintained that the originating summon of the applicants contravened the provision of the constitution of Nigeria.

Mr Akintola said that the provision of the constitution does not allow filing of a joint action in a fundamental human right suit.

He said that the section of the constitution on fundamental human right allows ”separate filing of an action on the matter”.

Mr Akintola upheld the preliminary objection filed by Abdul-Aziz Jimoh, one of the counsels to respondents in the matter, and struck out the suit.

Mr Jimoh had earlier moved preliminary objection which was not objected to by the applicants’ counsel, Sulayman Alabi.

TORTURE IS STILL RIFE IN NIGERIA – AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

-
0
TORTURE IS STILL RIFE IN NIGERIA – AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

Nigerian authorities must do more to end the ongoing use of torture and other forms of ill-treatment by law enforcement agencies, Amnesty International said today, marking International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.

It said despite recent government measures aimed at reducing the use of torture in the country, “it continues to receive regular reports of torture and other ill-treatment in military and police custody. ”

“Moreover, victims are still being denied justice, with the Nigerian judicial system failing to prevent or punish torture, perpetuating a culture of impunity,” the global agency said via a press release on Wednesday.

“Although steps have been taken to address torture in Nigeria, including the enactment of the Anti-Torture Act in December 2017 and the setting up of the presidential panel on reform of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) the use of torture by the police and others is still widespread,” said Osai Ojigho, Director Amnesty International Nigeria.

The statement also reads:

“Our research also shows that despite an existing law against the use of torture, no police officer has been charged under the act. Moreover, the Nigerian police is yet to amend Force Order 237 which allows police officers to shoot at fleeing suspects, giving room for lethal use of force that sometimes leads to extrajudicial killings.

“On 5 March 2018 a high court in Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State ordered the Nigeria Police Force to pay compensation to Ugochukwu Oraefo for extortion, illegal arrest, unlawful detention and torture after he was arrested by officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Awkuzu, Anambra state. The police have neither paid the victim nor ensured that the police officers involved have been brought to justice.

“Amnesty International highlighted rampant torture and ill-treatment especially by the SARS police unit in the report: Nigeria: ‘You Have Signed Your Death Warrant’ in 2016, yet shocking incidents of torture still continue. Every now and then videos of police officers or soldiers torturing suspects surface and generate outrage.

“It is time Nigerian authorities declare, in strong terms, that security personnel will be held accountable for torture and that victims of torture will get justice, including rehabilitation and compensation.”

Torture is prohibited under international law.

Malabu Scandal: Ex-Russian diplomat who claimed Goodluck Jonathan received kickback appears in Italian Court

-
0
Malabu Scandal: Ex-Russian diplomat who claimed Goodluck Jonathan received kickback appears in Italian Court

A former Russian diplomat, Ednan Agaev, on Wednesday appeared before an Italian court in Milan over the controversial Malabu scandal.

Mr Agaev, a middleman and defendant in the case, once claimed that former president Goodluck Jonathan may have received $200 million in the controversial deal.

The Russian middleman helped negotiate the transfer of the OPL 245 oil block to Shell and Eni, two multinationals at the heart of the scandal.

In 2017, a report based on Italian court documents obtained by BuzzFeed and Italian business newspaper, Il Sole 24 Ore, quoted Mr Agaev as saying that Dan Etete, the former Petroleum Minister at the heart of the oil scandal, said he intended to dole out as much as $400 million in bribes if the deal went through.

If Mr Etete actually paid out such an amount in bribes to Nigerian officials, “Agaev stated that he would think President Goodluck Jonathan got at least $200 million of this money,” BuzzFeed quoted an excerpt of FBI submissions to Italian authorities as saying.

The revelations were made when the FBI interviewed Mr. Agaev, whom prosecutors also said met with Mr Jonathan on more than one occasion in Nigeria during the OPL 245 negotiations.

Mr Agaev, who at some point served as Mr Etete’s representative in the negotiation, said the convicted former petroleum minister told him of the $400 million bribe to Nigerian politicians when he approached him for his payment.

The Russian also repeated the claim in a follow-up interview with Italian prosecutors, led by Fabio De Pasquale in Milan.

“I said that if it’s true, that he paid, he had to pay 400 million, I assume that at least 200 went to Goodluck (Jonathan).”

“I heard from Chief (Etete), he claims that he had to pay 400 million, so, if this is true, if he paid 400 million, then most probably the President, as the biggest boss, took at least the half of it,” BuzzFeed wrote, quoting documents prepared by Italian prosecutors.

Mr Etete eventually recevied over $800 million of the $1.1 billion paid by Shell and Eni for the block. The former petroleum minister would later admit that of the amount he received, only $250 million was meant for him.

Mr Jonathan has, however, denied wrongdoing and none of the officials during his administration has publicly admitted receiving the bribe.

On Wednesday, Mr Agaev is expected to appear as the first of the defendants in the OPL 245 trial to take the stand. Eni and Shell executives on trial had earlier declined to give evidence.

All the defendants deny wrongdoing.

Last December, details emerged that Russia asked Italy to drop charges against Mr Agaev.

Reuters reported that legal documents showed that authorities in Russia planned to ensure charges against Mr Agaev, a former ambassador, were dropped.

The defendant just appeared on the stand at the Italian court at the time of filing this report Wednesday morning.

Youths block Benin-Ore road over woman’s killing by suspected herdsmen

-
0
Youths block Benin-Ore road over woman’s killing by suspected herdsmen

Some youths in the Ofumwengbe community in the Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, on Tuesday, blocked the Benin-Ore Expressway to protest the death of a yet-to-be-identified woman, who was allegedly raped and killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

It was gathered that the victim, who had gone to her farm on Monday, failed to return, prompting the community to raise a search party for her.

It was gathered that the victim, who got married last year, was allegedly raped by the suspected herdsmen before she was killed.

It was also learnt that herdsmen in the area had fled for fear of being attacked by the youth.

The angry youths took the body of the victim to the expressway, where a bonfire was made to protest her death.

The protest, which caused a gridlock on the expressway, was later brought under control by security agents.

An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told one of our correspondents that he spent four hours in the gridlock before the security agents were able to disperse the crowd.

He said, “I was coming to Lagos State when we suddenly encountered the gridlock. I learnt that a woman went to the farm and herdsmen raped her on the farm before killing her. The villagers took the body of the woman, brought it to the expressway and stopped vehicular movement on both sides of the road.

“The youth went after the herdsmen and got hold of one of them, who had a gun on him, but there was no bullet in the gun. They got hold of him and killed him, cut his leg and brought his body to the expressway.

“It took the intervention of policemen, soldiers and other security agents before we were able to go. The security agents at first tried to pacify the youth but when they were not listening, they had to use force to disperse them.”

However, when contacted, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, DanMallam Muhammed, denied the alleged clash between the herdsmen and the youth, adding that the cause of the woman’s death had not been ascertained.

He said, “The youth blocked the road, because a woman died on the farm and they alleged that herdsmen killed her. They did not wait for police investigation but blocked the road and brought hardship on travellers, who did not know anything about it.

“The woman went to the farm and this morning, she was discovered dead. The youth suspected it that herdsmen killed her but nobody saw the herdsmen killing her.”

MAN SELLS OWN CHILD FOR N150,000 IN ANAMBRA

-
0
MAN SELLS OWN CHILD FOR N150,000 IN ANAMBRA

A 27-year-old man, Chukwuma Enemuo, has allegedly sold his three-day-old baby boy for N150,000 in Anambra State.

The incident occurred in Ozubulu in the Ekwusigo Local Government Area of the state.

A source said the man allegedly conspired with 45-year-old Obi Chidubem to sell the baby to one Anulika Okafor by lying to his wife that their baby died shortly after birth.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the State, Haruna Mohammed, confirmed the incident to our correspondent.

He said the baby had been recovered and was in good condition, while the matter was being investigated by the police.

Mohammed stated that the incident occurred on Monday and that the three suspects involved had been arrested.

The PPRO stated, “Police detectives attached to the Ozubulu Division arrested one Chukwuma Enemuo, 27, of Okwutu Amawka village, Ozubulu in the Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State.

“The suspect (Chukwuma) conspired with one Obi Chidubem, 45, of Umuabuche Eziama village, Uli in the Ihiala Local Government Area, and sold his three-day-old baby boy for the sum of N150,000 to one Mrs Anulika Okafor, 39, of Uruokwe village, Ozubulu.

“The suspect lied to his wife, one Oluchi Enemuo, 20, of Okwutu Amakwa by telling her that the baby died shortly after delivery.

“All the three suspects have been arrested, the baby was also recovered and the case is under investigation, after which suspects will be charged to court.”

NOLLYWOOD ACTOR DROWNS IN DELTA

-
0
NOLLYWOOD ACTOR DROWNS IN DELTA

A Nollywood writer, actor and director, Kagho Harley Akpor, has reportedly drowned in a swimming pool at a popular hotel in Asaba, Delta State.

Although the details of the incident were still sketchy as of press time, sources said Akpor was at a location shooting a movie with other crew members when he fell into the pool.

The source stated that the director might have drowned as a result of lack of swimming skills, adding that as of the time he was rescued from the swimming pool, it was already too late.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Adeleke Adeyinka, who confirmed the incident on Tuesday, however, said he could not give details.

Adeleke said contrary to rumours, the deceased was not at a movie location when he drowned, but simply went to the swimming pool for other reasons.

ISWAP, Boko Haram dealt deadly blow as troops intensify clearance operations in North East

-
0
ISWAP, Boko Haram dealt deadly blow as troops intensify clearance operations in North East

Kill 3 terrorists, capture 2 gun trucks and 2 anti aircraft guns.

The sustained aggressive clearance operations by troops in the North East of Nigeria has continued to record tremendous successes in the fight against terrorism and insurgency.

Dozens of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters have been annihilated with large cache of assorted arms, ammunition and so many variants of gun trucks and other fighting vehicles were captured.

The operations have equally resulted in the rescue and eventual liberation of over 100 women and children from the grip of the terrorists.

Consequently, troops of 112 Task Force Battalion deployed at Mafa in Borno State effectively dealt a deadly blow on fighters of the Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists in Mafa, when they attempted to attack the location two nights ago.

According to the Acting Director of Army Public Relations Colonel Sagir Musa, the terrorists failed attack on Mafa was as a result of available intelligence indicating the desperate longing for food and other logistics by terrorists necessitated by the recent, incredibly tireless and ferocious troops’ operational exploits.

The statement further added that during the failed attack, terrorists in 5 gun trucks and several motor cycles were seen. In a swift reaction, the troops with heavy fire power forced the terrorists to scamper for their dear lives, and recovered 2 Gun Trucks mounted with Anti Aircraft Guns and a motorcycle and the extermination of three (3) terrorists. There were indications that some of the insurgents members were wounded in an exchange of fire.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division and Commander Sector 1 Operation Lafiya Dole, Brigadier General Abdulmalik Bulama Biu had since visited the conflict location with reinforcement.

While being conducted round the camp to assess the situation, the GOC urged the troops to remain focus and not to be carried away by the successes. He directed them to redouble their efforts and doggedly maintain the momentum until they win the war on terrorism for Nigeria through total victory against the bandits.

1...2,6042,6052,606...2,797Page 2,605 of 2,797
© Newspaper WordPress Theme by TagDiv