Sahara Reporters Latest News Saturday 2nd November 2019

Sahara Reporters Latest News Saturday 2nd November 2019

Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 02/11/19

UN Urged To Speak Up Against Unlawful Detention Of Journalists In Nigeria

The United Nations have been called to condemn the unlawful detention of Omoyele Sowore and other media practitioners in Nigeria.
Ademola Bello, a Nigerian journalist and playwright, who studied at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, urged the UN to speak against the repression of media rights while also calling for the immediate release of Sowore and others in detention.
Bello, in a post published on Council on Foreign Relations, wrote, “On September 24, President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria delivered a speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
“In it, he assured the world that his government believes in freedom, tolerance and the rule of law.
“The rule of law remains the permanent, the unchanging foundation of the world order.
“But on the same day that President Buhari spoke, his government ignored a court ruling ordering the release on bail of Omoyele Sowore, founder of Sahara Reporters, a New York-based online news website that has reportedly extensively on government corruption in Nigeria.
“In fact, several Nigerian journalists and activists are unlawfully held in detention by the Nigerian Government for reporting on widespread corruption and human rights violations.
“Justice Taiwo Taiwo, who initially ruled that the Department of State Services could detain Sowore for 45 days, granted him bail on the condition that he surrender his passport.
“Sowore did so on September 25, but DSS did not release him, arguing that, among other things, he was not entitled to bail.
“On October 4, a second judge, Ijeoma Ojukwu, presented new bail conditions that were much more stringent, including a demand to find two private landowners in Abuja who controlled land worth roughly $500,000 and who would stand for him as guarantors to meet his bail conditions.
“The judge also banned him from speaking with the press, not to participate in any rally, and not to leave Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.
“He has not yet met these new conditions.
“Sowore was detained on August 3 by the DSS. He had called for a peaceful protest, tagged “Revolution Now,” to demand, among other things, that the Nigerian Government end wholesale corruption, fight poverty, and provide universal education.
“He was charged with treasonable felony and insulting and harassing the Nigerian president based on comments made in a press interview.
“Usually based in New York, his trip to Nigeria was his first since revealing Nigeria’s Central Bank loss of about $1.4bn in a failed private investment scheme.
“Sahara Reporters obtained and published audio recordings made by a whistleblower at the Central Bank of Nigeria. The recordings included Godwin Emefiele, the bank’s governor, and other officials discussing how to cover up the loss.
“The detention of Sowore comes as press freedom and free speech continue to be curtailed by President Buhari.
“The nonprofit Committee to Protect Journalists has documented widespread harassment of journalists in the country, including unlawful detention and assaults.
“Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
“It is time for the UN and UNESCO to speak up about the Nigerian government’s unlawful imprisonment of journalists and activists like Omoyele Sowore.”

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Lagos Auto Dealer Remanded In Prison Custody Over Alledged N207.1m Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday arraigned an automobile dealer, Sarumi Babafemi, alias 606 for money laundering.
Babafemi alongside his companies – 606 Autos Limited; 606 Music Limited; and Splash Off Entertainment Limited – was arraigned on five counts before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The EFCC accused him of laundering a total of N207.1m between 2013 and 2018.
He was accused of transferring N37.6m to one Omojadesola Allison; N93m to one Olanrewaju Oriyomi; N1.5m to one Abiola Ayorinde, alias ABK; N25m to one Bartholomew Ezeudoka; and N50m to one Amobi Uchenna.
The EFCC said 6O6 “ought to have reasonably known that such funds form part of an unlawful act, to wit: obtaining money by false pretence”. Prosecuting counsel for the EFCC, Mr A.B.C. Ozioko, said 606 and his companies acted contrary to Section 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and were liable to be punished under Section 15(3) of the same Act.But 606 and his companies pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.The defence counsel, Dr Muiz Banire (SAN), TOLD Justice Chukwujeku Aneke that he had filed an application for his client’s bail and had served it on the prosecution.
Banire, who said the offence was bailable, urged the court to grant bail to his client in liberal terms.
But the prosecutor, Ozioko, urged Justice Aneke to decline the bail application based on the defendant’s antecedents.
Ozioko said the charges against 606 were informed by intelligence from the American Federal Bureau of Intelligence.
He told the judge that there was another charge against 606 pending before another court.
Justice Aneke adjourned till November 4, 2019 to rule on the bail application.
He ordered that 606 be remanded in the prison custody until then.

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International Collaboration Helped In Apprehending FBI-wanted Criminals -Magu

Acting Chair of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu

Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, Ibrahim Magu, has said that the agency has been able to track down most of the cyber-criminals declared wanted by the FBI in August.
Magu made this known on Friday while meeting with some stakeholders on the battle against Internet fraudsters.
He said, “Some of the Nigerians mentioned in the infamous FBI list of cyber fraudsters have been tracked, arrested and are being prosecuted in courts across the country by the commission.
“We recorded over 200 arrest of suspected Internet fraud suspects in carefully coordinated operations across our offices.
“However, the major talking point for us was the recent arrest of celebrated social media personality and alleged Internet fraudster, Ismaila Mustapha also known as Mompha, and his Lebanese accomplice, Hamza Koudeih.”
Magu said the joint operation between his agency and the FBI yielded a lot of dividends.
He added, “The exercise was meant to dismantle the network of organised criminal gang that specialise in business email compromise schemes designed to intercept and hijack wire transfers from businesses and individuals.
“The operation resulted in the seizure of nearly $2.4m, and the disruption and recovery of approximately $14m in fraudulent wire transfers.”
He also mentioned that with the collaboration of some international agencies in seven countries, EFCC had been able to arrest 62 individuals and recovered some items.

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* SHOCKER: Afe Babalola University To Punish Students Seen Holding Hands With Member Of Opposite S**

Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, owned by foremost lawyer, Afe Babalola, has enacted a new rule demanding any student of the institution caught holding hands or publicly displaying affection for a member of the opposite s** to be severely flogged.
The rule was said to have been laid down by Babalola himself through the Dean of Students Affairs, Mr Babatunde Wahab, in a bid to curb immoral acts from taking place in the school.
A voice recording of Wahab giving the new directive was obtained by SaharaReporters.
In the recording, the students were told that the order was to ensure that students live an upright life as they were considered not to be adults yet.
Wahab said, “You are not adults yet. When you are 18, 19, 20, you can do whatever you like with your lives but outside the university.
“We are begging you all in the name of everything that you so much cherish in your life not to allow any boy or anybody to hold your hand.
“We will chase you and enter the hostel for you to know the level we are taking the operation to. You are going to see 20 to 30 men with horse tail and a powerful torchlight.
“Anywhere we find any act of immorality, we will reject it outrightly. I don’t want people that will say we are happy because he is a fundamentalist, he is a Muslim.
“It is not a matter of Muslim, the founder has given the directive. The founder no longer enjoys the scene.
“So, please and please warn your friends, put it on your social media pages.
“Anybody found doing anything amorous, we are going to deal with that person.”
When SaharaReporters reached out to Wahab for his comments on the matter, which has been tagged “Operation Koboko”, calls and texts to his telephone number have yet to be replied.

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Anambra Restricts Movement Of Petrol Trucks After Tanker Explosion

To guard against another deadly tanker explosion, the Anambra State Government has restricted the time, which trucks laden with petroleum products can move in the state.
Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment in the state, Mr Don Adinuba, made the announcement in a statement on Friday.
According to him, the move was aimed at safeguarding lives and property in the state.
Adinuba said, “With effect from Saturday, November 2, 2019, such vehicles can be allowed to move within Anambra State from only 8pm to 5am.
“The restriction is to enable agencies like the Anambra State Fire Service, the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Civil Defence the Anambra Traffic Management Agency and indeed all other law enforcement and safety agencies to respond effectively and in good time to emergencies created by such accidents which sometimes result in conflagrations, as was the case in Onitsha on October 16, 2019, when a tanker loaded with petroleum product fell on the Enugu-Onitsha Highway and caused a fire that spread up to Ochanga Market through the open drainage.”
According to Adinuba, security agencies are to “religiously enforce” the restriction order on the movement of trucks carrying petroleum products in the state.

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Israeli Embassy Resumes Diplomatic Operations In Nigeria

The Embassy of Israel in Nigeria on Friday re-opened after a two-day closure of all Israeli embassies and consulates because of strike by diplomats and military attaches over allowances, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
The embassy had via its social media page announced that the closure was due to decision of the Israeli Ministry of Finance to breach the understandings that were agreed upon.
The embassy said the agreement was signed by the Director-General of the Ministry of Finance on July 21, 2019 and to apply a one-sided procedure that alters protocol that had been in place for several decades.
It said, “We are forced to close the diplomatic mission; no consular services will be provided and no one will be allowed to enter the Embassy and Consulate.
“Israeli diplomats are committed at all times to strive to enhance Israel’s strength and resilience.
“Unfortunately, the decision of the Ministry of Finance does not leave us any choice, but to take the above-mentioned action.
“Since the vital interests of the State of Israel have been harmed, we hope that this crisis will be resolved as soon as possible.”
The Embassy of Israel in Nigeria is a window to Israel-Nigeria relations and the promotion of diplomatic ties between both countries.
Israel, a small country approximately the size of Niger State, is the only Jewish country globally with population of nine million people of whom Jews comprise around 80 per cent.

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Four Corps Members Get Extension In Ondo

Four members of the National Youth Service Corps of the 2018 Batch “C” (Stream 11) have gotten their service year extended in Ondo State.
Coordinator of NYSC in Ondo State, Grace Akpabio, made the disclosure during her farewell message to discharge the 2018 stream of the corps.
Mrs Akpabio explained that the “recalcitrant corps members” did not measure up to required standard at their various places of primary assignment.
She also revealed that another set of 14 corps members were dealt with for absconding from the service in Ondo State.
According to her, the corps members were recommended for re-mobilisation subject to approval of the Directorate Headquarters of the NYSC in Abuja.
Speaking further, Akpabio disclosed that a total of 1313 corps members received their certificates of national service in the state.
She added that out of the figure, three corps members were given state awards, stressing that 15 also collected commendation certificates.
While tasking the corps members to be independent and earn the respect of the society, the NYSC also asked them to all use the training acquired during their service to advance the cause of the society.
Akpabio said, “I want you to face tomorrow with zeal and determination to succeed in whatever capacity you may choose to make a decent living.
“Tap the several opportunities that abound in the country and become the next generation of entrepreneurs and successful business moguls.
“Your participation in Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development training and other empowerment programmes should be a launch pad for you to tell the world that investment on you has never been a fluke.”

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EFCC Boss, Magu, Refuses To Answer Question On Petition Against Tinubu

Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has failed to respond when asked about a petition calling for investigation into two bullion vans seen entering the Ikoyi, Lagos, house of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, on the eve of the 2019 presidential election.
Magu, who was addressing journalists on the high rate of corruption in the country and the involvement of youths in Internet fraud, was asked for an update on the petition submitted by rights activist, Deji Adeyanju.
Refusing to answer the question, Magu said, “You want me to talk about a petition here? Next question please.”
SaharaReporters had exclusively reported that the EFCC had deliberately snubbed acting on the complaint with the petition currently “lying fallow” at the office of the anti-graft agency.
The source, who disclosed that the petition is “just hanging somewhere”, added that there is no effort or desire by the leadership of the commission to consider the petition for its merit or lack of it at the moment.

Oil Executives Guilty Of Bribery Schemes Involving Foreign Officials To Be Sentenced In 2020

The National

The former CEO and chief operations officer of a Monaco-basedintermediary company have pleaded guilty for their roles in a schemeto corruptly facilitate millions of dollars in bribe payments toofficials in multiple countries.These included Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, the Democratic Republic ofCongo, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Libya, and Syria.The company’s former business development director also pleaded guiltyfor his role in paying bribes in Libya.Cyrus Ahsani, 51, and Saman Ahsani, 46, both of United Kingdom (UK),each pleaded guilty March 25 to one count of conspiracy to violate theForeign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), for conspiring to facilitatebribes on behalf of companies in foreign countries in order to secureoil and gas contracts.UK resident Steven Hunter, 50, former business development director,pleaded guilty August 2, 2018, to one count of conspiracy to violatethe FCPA.Cyrus and Saman Ahsani are set for sentencing April 20, 2020, beforeU.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore of the Southern District of Texas.Hunter’s sentencing is scheduled for March 13, 2020, before U.S.District Judge David Hittner.According to court documents, former U.S. resident and CEO CyrusAhsani and former COO Saman Ahsani managed a Monaco-based intermediarycompany that provided services for multinational companies operatingin the energy sector.From approximately 1999 to 2016, the Ahsanis conspired with others,including multiple companies and individuals, to make millions ofdollars in bribe payments to government officials in Algeria, Angola,Azerbaijan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan,Libya, and Syria.Additionally, court documents reflect Cyrus and Saman Ahsani launderedthe proceeds of their bribery scheme in order to promote and concealthe schemes and to cause the destruction of evidence in order toobstruct investigations in the United States and elsewhere.Hunter participated in the conspiracy to violate the FCPA by, amongother things, facilitating bribe payments to Libyan officials betweenabout 2009 and 2015.The FBI, IRS-Criminal Investigation and U.S. Postal Inspection Serviceconducted the investigation. Trial Attorneys Dennis R. Kihm, Gerald M.Moody Jr., Jonathan P. Robell and Gwendolyn A. Stamper of the CriminalDivision’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Elmiladyof the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs also providedsubstantial assistance in this matter.The governments of Australia, Canada, France, Guernsey, Italy, Monaco,the Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland, and UK provided significantassistance in the matter as did the U.S. Securities and ExchangeCommission and Eurojust.

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#Don’tForgetSowore: Timeline Of An Activist’s 90 Days In DSS Detention

Photo Speaks: Omoyele Sowore’s Timeline

SaharaReporters Media

Nigeria’s vocal pro-democracy activist, Omoyele Sowore, has been in the detention of the Nigerian government since his abduction by operatives of the Department of State Services on the midnight of August 3, 2019.Sowore had organized a peaceful protest tagged #RevolutionNow, which was scheduled for August 5, 2019.The #RevolutionNow protest was targeted at demanding better governance and improvement in the welfare of Nigerians as millions of people grapple with multidimensional poverty, often living on less than $2 a day.His call for peaceful protests across the nation was met with stiff opposition by the President Muhammadu Buhari regime.Two days to the protest, Sowore was abducted, Gestapo-style in his apartment by heavily armed operatives of the DSS.Since then, he has been in detention, charged to court, granted bail but was not released.Here is a timeline of Sowore’s treatment by the Nigerian government.July 29: Sowore announced a nationwide #RevolutionNow protest scheduled for August 5.August 3: Sowore was illegally arrested and detained by heavily armed DSS operatives in the wee hours of August 3.August 3: Local and international human rights groups condemned the arrest, detention of Sowore, demanded his immediate release.August 4: The DSS confirmed arresting Sowore, gave reasons.August 5: #RevolutionNow started peacefully in Lagos, Osun, Ondo, Ogun, and Cross River states but protests were violently disrupted and about 100 protesters arrested across the country. Journalists too were not spared by security agents who manhandled them.August 6: Nigerian government sought a court order to detain Sowore for 90 days for it to conclude its investigation.August 8: Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the federal high court sitting in Abuja issued a court order to detain Sowore for 45 days.August 7: Four #RevolutionNow protesters charged with breach of public peace in Ogun State.August 9: Nigeria’s ruling party, All Progressives Congress, accused Sowore of treason.August 9: Pressure mounted on the Nigerian government to release Sowore.August 10: Sowore appealed court order detaining him in DSS detention for 45 days.August 14: Nigerians in Abuja, protested the detention of Sowore. They were initially barred from holding the protest by security agents.August 19: Femi Falana, Sowore’s lawyer, vowed that Nigerians would defeat another dictator in President Muhammadu Buhari.August 19: Security agencies sealed off the venue of a symposium organized by civil societies and non-governmental organizations to discuss the detention of Sowore and repression of human rights by the Buhari regime.August 28: Justice Nkeonye Maya refused to hear the bail application filed by Sowore.August 29: Abubakar Marshal, a member of the legal team representing Sowore challenged Justice Maya in an open court on why she refused to send Sowore’s case file back to the chief judge since she recused herself from the case.September 4: Opeyemi Sowore, wife of the pro-democracy activist Sowore said the Nigerian government had no ground to detain her husband.September 16: Sowore sought bail from detention again.September 18: Members of the Coalition for Revolution held a rally in Lagos to demand the release of Sowore and other protesters arrested on August 5.September 20: The Nigerian government filed a fresh seven-count charge of insulting President Buhari, money laundering, and treasonable felony against Sowore.September 23: Nigerian government lined up witnesses to testify against Sowore.September 24: Justice Taiwo Taiwo ordered the immediate release of Sowore from detention. Sowore was asked to drop his passport as a condition for bail.September 24: Sowore fulfilled the bail condition.September 25: The DSS refused to let Sowore go.September 25: Sowore’s wife led a protest at UN General Assembly.September 26: Court threatened imprisonment of DSS Director General over non-compliance with the court order to release Sowore.September 27: The DSS refused to receive documented proof that it collected Sowore’s passport. The security agency chased Sowore’s lawyer and the court clerk away from its office.September 27: The Nigerian government threatened to report and punish Justice Taiwo for granting Sowore’s bail.September 27: Fifty civil society organizations approach UN, AU over Sowore’s continued detention.September 29: The Nigerian Bar Association condemned the DSS disobedience of the order of Justice Taiwo Taiwo to release Sowore on bail.September 30: Sowore arraigned in court again but this time on the fresh seven-count charges.September 30: Sowore made first public appearance after 60 days after his detention.September 30: DSS operatives manhandled Sowore for speaking with journalists.October 1: “My trial will end in favour of Nigerians,” Says Sowore.October 4: Court grants Sowore N100-million bail.October 4: Falana kicked against stringent bail conditions.October 5: US-based Columbia University condemned the continued detention of its alumnus, Sowore.October 7: TakeItBack Movement launched GoFundMe account for SoworeOctober 15: Court fixed October 21 for hearing on Sowore’s bail variation application.October 21: Court reduced Sowore’s bail to N50 million.October 28: Americans, Africans in New Jersey, US, held a rally demanding release and the return of Sowore.October 30: US congress member, Karen Bass, condemned the continued detention of Sowore, called on UN to intervene.

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