Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Saturday 26th June 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 26/06/21
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US President, Biden Says Chauvin’s Sentence ‘Seemed To Be Appropriate’
President Joe Biden
United States President, Joe Biden has said the sentencing of Derek Chauvin to 22 years in prison, ‘seemed to be appropriate’ for the offence.
Biden stated this at the Oval Office in his response to Derek Chauvin’s jail term, BBC reports.
President Joe Biden
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On Friday, Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill sentenced former Minneapolis police officer, Chauvin to 22 years imprisonment.
Chauvin has been held in solitary confinement since April after he was found guilty on three charges: second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter.
Speaking with reporters, Biden said he was not familiar with all the details, but said that from the guidelines the sentencing “seemed to be appropriate”.
Biden is currently meeting with Afghan leaders at the White House.
Meanwhile, Minnesota’s Attorney General, Keith Ellison described Chauvin’s sentencing as accountability bot necessarily justice.
He said, “My hope for our country is that this moment gives us pause.
“This is one of the longest sentences a former police officer has ever received for deadly force.
“Today’s sentencing is not justice, but it is another moment of real accountability on the road to justice.”
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90% Of Senior School 2 Students In Kano Fail Qualifying Exam, Increase Chances Of Dropping Out
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About 90 per cent of Kano students, who took the state qualifying examination performed poorly.
The qualifying examination gave students the chance or otherwise to be sponsored by the state government to take the Senior School Certificate Examination.
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For students to qualify for sponsorship, they are expected to score credits in seven subjects, including Mathematics and English.
But the result, which was released just three days before the deadline for the National Examination Council registration, showed that the students failed woefully.
A report by Daily Trust stated that the dateline for NECO registration was too short for the students who failed the qualifying examination to get the required money to register for the exams.
The registration fees are around N12, 000 to N13, 000.
According to a teacher in one of the schools, only six students passed, out of over 300 students that took the examination.
The teacher noted that this will result in many of them repeating the class or dropping out of school.
“Cases like these are usually what discourage the students from continuing with their studies.
“Many of those that failed the examination don’t have money to pay for themselves.
“And instead of them to repeat, they rather abandon the school because they have no certainty in the next year.
“This is what adds to the number of dropouts we have in this region,” the teacher said.
Another teacher said only 60 out of 200 students passed the qualifying examination in the school he works at, adding that students who have paid and registered for the NECO examination are not up to 40 out of the 140.
According to him, the government released the result very late. He also said many parents could not provide the NECO fee within three or four days.
A student, Usama Sa’adu, said he had already given up on taking the NECO examination since he did not have the means to pay for it.
“My father cannot pay for me honestly and I don’t have the means to pay for myself.
“So, I don’t know what to do now. All I know is if I didn’t take this examination, I will not go back to school because I don’t know if I will still win next year.
“There is no certainty honestly because the person sitting next to me is not always coming to school but he passed the examination.
“He only comes once or twice a week, while I always attend school. I never missed classes but he passed while I failed,” he complained.
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Black Lives Matter: Derek Chauvin Sentenced To 22 Years Imprisonment For Murder Of George Floyd
Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer found guilty of murdering George Floyd, was on Friday sentenced to 22 years in prison, Telegraph reports.
Chauvin, 45, was convicted in April on charges of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for his role in Floyd’s death.
NDTV.com
In ruling, Judge Peter Cahill said the decision was based on the law and not “emotion, sympathy or public opinion” but he went on to acknowledge the deep pain all families involved are feeling “especially the Floyd family.”
Chauvin’s mother had earlier told the judge that her son is a “quiet, thoughtful, honourable and selfless man” who should not receive a lengthy sentence.
Carolyn Pawlenty made the statement in court before her son, Derek Chauvin, heard his sentence on a second-degree murder charge. She did not mention Floyd by name.
“Derek has played over and over in his head the events of that day,” Ms Pawlenty said.
“I’ve seen the toll it has taken on him. I believe a lengthy sentence will not serve Derek well.”
She told Judge Peter Cahill: “My son’s identity has also been reduced to that as a racist,” she said.
“I want this court to know that none of these things are true and that my son is a good man.”
People outside the courthouse shook their heads and gasped in exasperation as Chauvin’s mother spoke, breaking out into chants of “No justice, no peace!”.
Chauvin, who showed little emotion until his mother spoke, also chose to address the judge, though spoke only briefly, which he said was due to legal reasons.
“I just want to give my condolences to the Floyd family. There will be some information in the future that will be of some interest and give you some peace of mind,” he said cryptically.
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E2%80%94-military-source Boko Haram Attacks Borno Community, Kidnaps Scores Of Civilians — Military Source
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Members of the deadly Boko Haram terrorist group, have allegedly kidnapped scores of residents in Auno town, Borno State and taken them into the bush.
A military source confirmed this to SaharaReporters on Friday. However, the number of persons abducted cannot be ascertained at the time of filing this report.
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Auno town is about 15 miles to the west of Maiduguri, the state capital.
SaharaReporters recalls that components of the Nigerian military’s Operation Hadan Kai in Borno State recently conducted strikes on the joint sects of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists who were camping around Wartek in the general area of Lamboa forest the State.1
SaharaReporters learnt that an ISWAP commander, Modu Sulum, as well as 20 other fighters, were killed by airstrikes on Sunday.
The ISWAP fighters were reportedly part of the network responsible for the killing of evasive Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau as well as the destruction of power transmission towers at Malanari along Maiduguri-Damaturu Highway.
They were taken out by airstrikes conducted by Alpha-Jets, L-39, and MI-35 helicopters.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, said in a release that the terrorists were killed in land and air offensives.
He said, “Nigerian Army troops of Sector 2 Joint Task Force North East Operation Hadin Kai in conjunction with the Air Task Force on Sunday 20 June 2021 inflicted heavy casualties on Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorist groups who were camping around Wartek in the general area of Lamboa forest.
“Acting on credible intelligence, the troops with close air support from the Nigerian Air Task Force component swiftly carried out a simultaneous land and air offensive, penetrating deep into Lamboa forest in Borno State.
“The troops overran the position of the terrorists with a heavy volume of fire from both land and air, killing over 20 insurgents.”
Also, he stated that six others were killed when they attempted to infiltrate an army base in Kumshe.
He said, “Troops of Operation Hadin Kai deployed at the Forward Operational Base (FOB) of 152 Battalion, Kumshe on Sunday, dealt with elements of Boko Haram terrorists on a suicidal infiltration attempt into the camp.
“The terrorists mounted on four gun trucks and several motorcycles attempted to infiltrate and attack the camp through the northern part of the troops’ deployment, but were met with fire leading to the death of six terrorists.”
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Four Die, 159 Missing Following 12-Storey Building Collapse In United States
No fewer than four people have died while 159 are missing following a collapse of a 12-storey building in Miami, the United States of America, official reports say.
The tragic incident happened on Thursday around 1:30 am American time as the 40-year-old Champlain Towers South condominium collapsed in the small, beachside town of Surfside, about 6 miles north of Miami Beach.
The mayor of Miami-Dade, Daniella Levine Cava announced that the emergency agencies “still have hope” of finding survivors. Rescue teams deployed to the scene are working tirelessly and have reported hearing people banging beneath the debris.
At least 102 people have now been accounted for, but it is not clear how many were in the building when it came down. It was also gathered that dozens of people have been evacuated from what is left of the building.
President Joe Biden has approved an emergency declaration for Florida, meaning the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will help state agencies with the relief effort.
According to BBC reports, overnight hundreds of rescuers used sonar cameras and specially trained dogs as they scoured the rubble for survivors. Also, search teams were tunnelling from an underground car park below the building in an effort to reach victims.
The mayor of Surfside, where the tragedy struck, Charles Burkett, said at an early-morning news conference that some 15 families had walked out of the building.
“It’s heartbreaking because it doesn’t seem to me… that we will find people alive,” Mr Burkett said.
However, on Friday Miami-Dade Mayor, Levine Cava said they would do “everything possible” to locate survivors.
“We will continue search and rescue because we still have hope that we will find people alive,” she said.
The report also revealed that a full investigation will begin into what caused the downfall of the building after the rescue mission.
As the building has stood since 1980, it was due to its standard 40-year review. The building was undergoing its “recertification” process and required repairs, officials said.
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Twitter Ban: ECOWAS Court Forbids Nigerian Government From Imposing Sanctions On Users
ECOWAS court.
The Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) Court sitting in Abuja has given an order restraining the Nigerian government from imposing sanctions or harassing, intimidating, arresting, or prosecuting Twitter or its users in the country.
SaharaReporters obtained the court ruling dated June 22, 2021, in which the injunction prevents the government from carrying out those actions against other social media platforms, media houses, radio, and television broadcast stations.
ECOWAS court.
The order of the ECOWAS court stands on Nigeria pending the determination of the case.
The court gave the order with Ruling Number ECW/CCJ/RUL/03/21 in the suit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and 176 concerned Nigerians against the Federal Government over the suspension of Twitter in the country.
After hearing arguments for and against the matter, the Court decided that it was cloaked with jurisdiction.
As a suit bordering on the infringement of human rights, the Court determined that it had the right to hear the case.
The Nigerian government had suspended the microblogging site earlier in the month after it deleted a tweet by President Muhammadu Buhari, which mentioned that there would be civil war-like consequences for those drumming secession for the country.
Subsequently, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, had ordered the prosecution of anyone found using the platform.
This was met with varying levels of criticism which eventually led to the suit filed by SERAP.
SERAP has also filed a claim against the government in the Federal High Court on the same matter.
SERAP’s suit is one in the string of cases filed or threatened to be filed against the Nigerian government on this issue.
In the suit filed before the ECOWAS Court, SERAP was represented by human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, as well as Oluwadare Kolawole and Opeyemi Owolabi.
SERAP was the applicant while the Federal Republic of Nigeria was the respondent. The case was heard before Justice Gberi-Be Ouattara, Justice Keikura Bangura, and Justice Januaria Moreira Costa.
The court ruling obtained by SaharaReporters partly reads, “The court having considered all the submissions made by the parties therein, is convinced that the granting the Applicant’s prayer to lift the suspension under the conditions stated will amount to chasing the wind. The court, therefore, declines to order the respondents and their agents to lift the dispersion on Twitter.
“For the reasons stated above, the court sitting in public after hearing both parties; one, declare that it has jurisdiction to hear and determine the application; two, dismisses the preliminary objection of the respondent on both grounds.
“Three; orders that the application be heard expeditiously; four, orders the respondent and its agents to refrain from imposing sanctions on any media house or harassing, intimidating, arresting or prosecuting the applicant or concerned Nigerians for the use of Twitter and other social media platforms, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”
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E2%80%94-federal-agency Why We Can’t Fix Nigeria’s National Assembly Complex’s Leaking Roof— Federal Agency
The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) has explained why it cannot immediately fix the National Assembly Complex’s leaking roof or do a total rehabilitation of the complex.
It said the contract for the project is currently undergoing procurement processes.
The National Assembly leadership had on Tuesday come under attack following an embarrassing viral video showing flooded chambers, lobby, and offices being mopped up by cleaners following a downpour.
The situation forced senators to abruptly suspend sitting.
Richard A. Nduul, Head, Public Relations and Information at the FCDA, said the management of the National Assembly had in 2019 approached the FCDA for total rehabilitation of the facility.
The statement reads, “The attention of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) has been drawn to the recent flooding of the lobby of the National Assembly Complex, Abuja resulting from leakages from the roof. Our findings indicate that the leakages are traceable to blockages of drainages leading to seepage of water through expansion joints in the roof slab.
“Full waterproofing of the roof of the White House building is a major aspect of the proposed renovation of the National Assembly Complex.
“The Management of the National Assembly approached the FCDA in 2019 for total rehabilitation and upgrading of the NASS Complex to bring it in tune with Parliamentary Buildings around the world.
“This contract is currently undergoing procurement process in line with the Procurement Act of 2007 and will therefore be awarded as soon as it is concluded in conformity with the requirements of the Act and also considering all other relevant parameters.
“The Authority (FCDA) therefore assures that when the time comes, this project will be executed meticulously in order to ensure that the nation gets value for the funds that will be expended as this has been the tradition with every other assignment which the Authority has undertaken.”
By design, all public buildings in the nation’s capital, including the Presidential Villa are under the purview of the FCDA in terms of maintenance.
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Tension At Nigeria-Cameroon Borders As Security Operatives Arrest Ambazonian Separatist Commander, Others— Biafra Group
The Nigerian security operatives have allegedly arrested a senior commander of the Ambazonia separatist fighters, General Black Mamba around the Ikom border town.
According to Biafra Nations League (BNL), scores of Ambazonians were also arrested alongside the leader, which has caused tension and panic at the Nigeria-Cameroon boeders, Daily Post reports.
The security agencies are said to be carrying out the arrest after the Ambazonians attacked Nigeria security men and took their guns.
In a statement signed by its Deputy National Leader and Head of Operations BBs Media, Ebuta Akor Takon, the group said it has directed its members at land borders of Cameroon, especially those of Ejagham extraction to suspend any cross-border dealings with Southern Cameroons until the situation is calm.
Recall that BNL, based in the Bakassi Peninsula, had told companies operating under Nigeria in the Bakassi peninsula to vacate the area.
The group alleged that Nigeria gets 60 per cent of the oil in the region and uses the money to “sponsor” the Nigerian military against the secessionist agenda.
A BNL commander, alias ‘Aso Rock’ accused the Nigerian government of “killing armless pro-Biafra supporters in Imo State and Rivers State”.
The native of Bakassi revealed that Nigeria does not have rights over the area since its territorial ownership was ceded to Cameroon.
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Ex-Corps Member, Others Who Worked During 2019 Elections In Rivers Lament Non-Payment Of Allowances
A former National Youth Service corps member who served in Rivers State has complained that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state has not paid him his allowances for partaking as an official in the conduct of the general elections in 2019.
The ex-Corps member, who only identified himself as Babajide, said he tried his best to get the remuneration packages but was told by an indigene to desist from demanding it because it could put his life in danger.
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Babajide said he would not like to reveal his full name for security reasons.
He said while others attached to work with him during the elections were paid part of their money, he was not paid at all.
According to him, he lodged complaints at the local and state offices of INEC in Rivers, but his efforts were futile.
He said one of the ladies who worked with him during the elections had her leg broken after an attack by political thugs.
Babajide who officiated for the INEC at Odiabidi and Okporowo in the Ahoada East local government area, on Thursday lamented that election malpractice, corruption, and political thuggery are the bane of good governance in the Nigerian society.
“It was about the last election in Rivers State; not only in that Odiabidi East and Okporowo. There are also other places that the Ad-hoc staff were not paid. When I went to make enquiries at the local government, the person in charge of the ward actually gave flimsy excuses. It got to a time that I saw that the man was tired. He also told me that it was the Head Office that did not respond to my plight. He was equally tired as many people were demanding their money to pay them.
“The official at the local government-led everybody involved to the state office. When I got there, I was angry but they asked me to come back. Before going, I asked the man from the local government to follow me and he did. He also helped in asking them questions. We checked the record and saw my name with others.
“I was particular with other people that worked with me. I was one of their executives when I was serving in the local government. Maybe out of appreciation, the LGI called me to come and participate in the conduct of elections in the state,” Babajide said.
He also narrated how they were attacked by hoodlums that caused mayhem in Rivers State during the elections, adding that a lot of Corps members in the state refused to officiate because of threats to their lives by thugs.
“The Corps members didn’t want to partake in conducting elections because of the information they had gotten. There was a lady I was attached to as the polling officer but I actually performed that task. On our way to the place, we were attacked by armed thugs. They ambushed us including the soldiers following us. We had to go back.
“During the presidential elections, everything was peaceful though we were under tension. Thugs were guarding us. But the elections went peacefully.
“When it got to the time of payment, they didn’t pay. But the LGI went to fight for them. I couldn’t reach the LGI again before I left for another community in the state to go and work. That was Eleme. When I heard that the corps members have been paid, I went to confirm and met the LGI. There he told me they would pay the rest. When I was not paid, I went to the local government to ask questions.
“When nothing happened, I went to the state office of the INEC. I told them I would expose them. But, till now, they have not paid me. One of the girls that worked with me that was also affected can testify to this. Her name is Comfort.
“Two others, Comfort and Daniel, and I as far as I know from my local government are the ones that have not been paid. The reason why I didn’t go further with it was that someone advised me to drop the case because they can kill people for even N1, 000 here. I decided that I would make the complaint elsewhere after leaving the state.”
A native of the area, who resides in Port Harcourt, Ms Comfort Lawrence, who corroborated the story, said she was paid N13,500 out of N30,000 agreed.
Comfort who worked with Babajide confirmed that he had not been paid, adding that she did not know why his name was omitted.
“At the time of elections, he performed very well. I worked with him directly being an ex-corps member but he was not paid after the elections. They were saying his name was not in the record or that his name was omitted.
“Actually, I was paid N13,500 but the amount I was supposed to collect, which was N30,000. Babajide was not paid at all. There was another guy at that time too,” Comfort said
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In Defense Of Andy Uba… Serves Heritage Bank Right! By Bayo Oluwasanmi
Weep not for Heritage Bank. But cry your eyes out for the former Anambra Senator Andy Uba for the public affront and humiliation brought upon him by the ignorant staff of Heritage Bank who invaded his home to protest against non-payment of loans Uba took from Heritage Bank.
Nigerian banks are known for their notoriety. They are partners with thieves, swindlers, corrupt and rogue senators like Uba to rob depositors of their hard earned money. The banks openly engage in accounting fraud, bill discounting, check kiting, forged or fraudulent documents, forgery and altered checks, fraudulent loan applications, and fraudulent loans.
Our banks discriminate against poor Nigerians and people without god farthers in high places or people who are not connected with politicians, the rich and the famous. It’s an uphill battle for average Nigerians to secure loans. The banks seem to be fishing for the wrong reasons to say no to these group of Nigerians. The disproportionate denials help explain why gap between poor Nigerians and the rogue elites continues to explode at alarming rate. Regular Nigerians cannot get personal loans, loans for start ups, and loans to grow or expand their businesses.
Since we have no reliable credit rating and verification system as it obtains in advanced economies, Nigerian banks don’t base their decisions on each loan applicant’s credit profile. We know the only qualification used by the banks for the Ubas of the world is their political status. The Ubas in our society need no collateral requirements to obtain loans. Uba is one of millions of our political elites who are responsible for the collapse of many banks. People like Uba who default on loans are not to blame. The blame rests squarely on the shoulders of the bank executives and board of directors who serve as accomplices in such fraudulent activities by abdicating their oversight functions.
It’s common in Nigeria to see bank directors being paid “ten per cent” out of the loans approved for applicants. What’s more sacrilegious is for managing directors of the banks, the supposed monitors of the financial health of the banks engage in reckless plundering of the same bank.
The invasion of Uba’s house by Heritage Bank workers further amplifiers that Nigeria is governed by organized chaos. In a civilized society, Heritage Bank would simply have seized Uba’s assets to recoup its loans or drag Uba to court. But this is Nigeria where the blind lead the sighted. It serves Heritage Bank right!
bjoluwasanmi@gmail.com
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