NEWS : End SARS ‘I’ve not seen my brother since he was arrested in 2017’ – Petitioner

 

A petitioner on Monday before the Enugu State Police Brutality and Extra-Judicial Panel, Miss Uzoamaka Ugwuoke, says she has not seen her brother, Nnaemeka Ugwuoke, since he was arrested in 2017.

Ugwuoke told the panel on Monday in Enugu that her brother was arrested by men of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) on Jan. 12, 2017 and had not been seen since then.

Ugwuoke, a native of Iheaka in Igboeze South Local Government Area of the state, said that his brother was taken to the SARS office in Enugu after the arrest.

She said that her brother was arrested alongside three other persons, adding that while one person was released after two weeks, the other person was released after six months.

“We made several attempts for the release of my brother to no avail. The last time we went to SARS office was in 2018. We do not know whether he is still alive,” she said.

Ugwuoke said that one Anthony Obi, who was handling the matter, had threatened to kill her brother if they reported the matter to a lawyer.

“At some point, my life was at risk due to threats from Obi and one Alex who was the SARS commander,” Ugwuoke said.

Responding, the chairman of the panel, Justice Kingsley Udeh Rtd., told Ugwuoke to furnish the secretary of the panel with details of the police officers involved so as to invite them.

NEWS : End SARS protest resurfaces in Osun

 

Youths protesting against the brutality and extrajudicial killings by police on Monday hit the streets again in Osogbo, capital of Osun State.

The second wave of the End SARS protest commenced in Lagos, Oyo and Osun States.

DAILY POST reports that demonstrators have returned to Lekki toll plaza, the scene of the military shooting currently under probe.

The youths in Osogbo armed themselves with different placards explaining the reasons for their actions.

“We are not fighting for any political party”, “#End Bad Judiciary in Nigeria”, ” #End fake judicial panel of Inquiry in Osun”, “Unfreeze all the frozen account”, ” We are Nigerian youths” among others.

The youths converged at the Ogo-Oluwa area and marched to the Osun State House of Assembly.

The protesters were demanding the release of all detained protesters and unfreezing of their accounts by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

NEWS : End SARS Fresh protests begin in Lagos, Ibadan

 

The second wave of End SARS protest has commenced in Lagos and Ibadan. Ibadan is the capital of Oyo State.

Demonstrators have returned to Lekki toll plaza, the scene of the military shooting currently under probe.

Teams of policemen and soldiers are around to forestall a breakdown of law and order.

Security has been heightened at other flash points in Lagos, Nigeria’s biggest city.

On Sunday, the police reiterated its ban on gatherings, warning that such might be hijacked by unscrupulous elements.

The End SARS protest initially commenced on October 8 in Lagos. The youth-led outcry spread to other states.

For nearly two weeks, agitators demanded for an end to police brutality. Their resilience forced the police to scrap the notorious unit, Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

But the protest went awry from October 21, one day after the Lekki shooting. Hoodlums, in many states, targeted attack on residences and businesses.

Several public and private property were looted or set on fire.

According to the federal government, the civil disorder, which lasted about a week, caused the death of 100 civilians and security operatives.

BIAFRA NEWS : Ohanaeze appoints ex- senator Nnamani, 2 others to intervene in Umahi, Anyim’s feu

 

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohaneze Ndigbo at the weekend appointed senator Ken Nnamani and two others as mediators in the feud between two prominent Igbo leaders; Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.

The three-man committee consisting of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Igwe Alfred Achebe and Senator Ken Nnamani were charged to stop the duo from continuing in the war of words, which is capable of affecting Igbo’s 2023 ambition.

The President-General of Ohanaeze, Chief Nnia Nwodo made this known during a general meeting ( Ime Obi) held at Nike Lake Resort Enugu.

Chief Nwodo described as unfortunate the media war by the two Igbo leaders in the past weeks and charged the committee to stop at nothing to reconcile them.

The Organisation also received and approved the report of Prof Osita Ogbu led Alaigbo Stabilization Fund Steering Committee.

Nwodo said under the arrangement, Ndigbo Development Foundation and Ndigbo Investment will be set up to serve as a catalyst for the development of Igbo land.

In a related development, Nwodo spoke on the forthcoming general election of Ohanaeze slated for January 10, 2021.

He appointed an electoral committee saddled with the responsibility of conducting elections into various offices and appealed to Ndigbo to be diplomatic in all forms of agitations for the sake of national unity.

Responding, the Governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodinma urged the technical committee to come up with implementable proposals that will benefit Igbos at home and in diaspora and assured that Imo whose turn it is to produce the next President General will ensure that a credible candidate emerges.

He announced that the South-East Governors approved a parting gift of a Prado jeep to Chief Nnia Nwodo, and Igwe Alfred Achebe, the outgoing President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo and outgoing Chairman of the South East Traditional Rulers council respectively.

The ” Imeobi” which is the highest decision making organ of Ohaneze was attended by notable Igbo Sons and Daughters including the Governor of Ebonyi State Engr David Nweze Umahi who was represented by the Deputy Governor Dr Kelechi Igwe.

NEWS : APC remains chosen party for Nigerians – Presidency

 The Presidency has congratulated the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates Mr. Tokunbo Abiru, and Mr. Obafemi Saheed, on their victory in Saturday’s by-election.

Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.

According to him, the results coming out of the by-elections from different states show that the governing party, APC, remains the chosen party of Nigerians.

”We do not take this confidence of the people for granted and we will not fail Nigerians who appreciate the efforts the administration is making to better the life of its citizens.

”We thank them immensely for their trust in the party and government.

”We equally thank the Interim Management Committee of the party under the leadership of Mai Mala Buni, the Governor of Yobe, all our governors and parliamentarians.

“President Muhammadu Buhari in particular is very pleased with the election outcomes.

“The president also urged the party to uphold the spirit of ”hard work, unity, progress, cooperation that form the bedrock of these victories,” the statement said.

NEWS : Fmr Gov Attah advocates parliamentary system of govt, says presidential not working for Nigeria

 

Former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah has advocated a return to the Parliamentary system of government in Nigeria.

He said the presidential system currently practised in the country has failed, as it does not allow the people at the community level feel the impact of government at the centre.

Attah who stated this at the weekend in Uyo during a virtual Public Policy Dialogue, powered by Ricchezza Initiative for Social Empowerment, said the parliamentary system would enable communities directly select and elect people to represent them.

He regretted that the cost of an election in the presidential system has made it difficult for political office holders to do much for the people as they would first satisfy the biddings of their sponsors adding that they assume the votes of the people were not necessary to get them into office.

The former governor also called for a new constitution noting that the parliamentary system would give room for true federalism, where the federating units can take full control of their resources and develop local authorities including security.

He said, “The parliamentary system made it possible for those representing the community to be elected by the community, not the party, not the law court. The people would know who they want. You cannot rig the conscience of the people.

“The cost of the election today is tremendously expensive, making it difficult for public office holders to do what the communities want. They do what the sponsors want. To campaign across the country in the case of presidential elections or for those contesting as governors, you need a lot of money. So the moment you are sworn into office, you focus on your sponsors”.

Throwing light on how he laid the foundation that brought Akwa Ibom to its level, Attah recalled that he raised 32 committees to work with communities across the state to ascertain their needs and how to tackle such needs.

The anchor of the forum, Mr Udeme Etukayin said the policy engagement series was designed to xray views aimed at a solution-driven leadership and governance in Africa.

He explained that the decision to engage the former Governor, Architect Victor Attah as the lead Speaker was due to his wealth of experience, impact and wisdom in the design and development of the Uyo masterplan.

NEWS : Trump aides say Giuliani is angling for a pardon,

Trump campaign witness Melissa Carone was deemed "not credible" by a judge before she spoke during the Dec. 2 Michigan state House hearing on the 2020 election. (The Washington Post)

Giuliani did not respond to a request for comment Sunday afternoon. It was unclear why the president disclosed Giuliani’s condition — or whether he’d asked for Giuliani’s permission.

In recent weeks, Giuliani has taken over the president’s legal efforts, with other campaign lawyers and aides sidelined and mocking his approach. He has had little luck in court, but Trump has appreciated his vociferous defenses on television. Some Trump aides say Giuliani is angling for a pardon, but he has denied it. He so far has not been paid but has sought $20,000 a day, advisers said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to describe private conversations.

As he has led the efforts to challenge Biden’s win, Giuliani has been flying around the country with Trump campaign senior legal adviser Jenna Ellis, regularly not wearing a mask in public.

 Ellis wished Giuliani well Sunday night and said the Trump legal team’s efforts will continue apace.

“Prayers for Mayor @RudyGiuliani,” she said in a tweet. “He is a tough warrior! The Trump Legal Team will continue our important work to fight for election integrity! We have a great team, along with able local counsel in each state. Our work won’t be affected and we press on.”

When he has been around others who have tested positive, Giuliani has not quarantined, including after a news conference last month at the Republican National Committee’s headquarters when his son tested positive.

Giuliani has shared the president’s skepticism of the virus’s severity and has regularly met closely with others indoors.

Early in the pandemic, he told a Washington Post reporter that he was around only six or eight people regularly.