Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Thursday 12th March 2020
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 12/03/20
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E2%80%98courage-difficult-times-award%E2%80%99 Agba Jalingo To Receive ‘Courage In Difficult Times Award’
Agba Jalingo, the Nigerian journalist facing trial for alleged acts of treason, terrorism, cybercrime and attempt to topple the Cross River State Government, will on May 12, 2020 receive the Spaces for Change ‘Courage In Difficult Times Award’.
Jalingo, who spent 179 days in detention before being admitted to bail, said he was informed of the award via email by Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, Executive Director of S4C.
He said, “The organising committee of the Clement Nwankwo Annual Lecture on Civil Society, S4C a few days ago informed CrossRiverWatch’s Publisher, Agba Jalingo, that he alongside other activists in their prime will be honoured at the inaugural lecture slated for May 12, 2020 in Abuja.
“According to the mail, the award ceremony aims to ‘honour and recognise the contributions of pioneer activists (dead and alive), who played courageous roles ‘at the very beginning’, by forming and leading credible human rights organisations that pushed back against political tyranny, and whose selfless sacrifices inspired the institutionalisation of civic engagement at all levels of governance in Nigeria today.
“S4C said Jalingo is the ‘only young person to receive this honour alongside the pioneer activists of the 80s and 90s.”
The maiden lecture supported by the Open Society Foundation, will be chaired by Bishop Mathew Kukah and not only represents an effort towards preserving the sector’s iconic history, but also forms part of a broader effort to celebrate courage in difficult times and mobilise civil society actors to work together to defend the civic space.
Jalingo is billed to appear in court on April 6, 7 and 8, 2020 for the prosecution to open and close its case as ordered by trial judge, Justice Sule Shuaibu.
Meanwhile, Jalingo was listed in November’s edition of Time Newspaper’s #OneFreePressCoalition as one of the ‘Top 10 Most Urgent Cases Of Injustice Against Journalists’.
Amnesty International also declared him alongside activists Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare as ‘prisoners of conscience’ in November 2019.
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E2%80%99s-son%E2%80%99s-property Court Okays Forfeiture Of Bauchi Governor’s Son’s Property
A Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Taiwo Taiwo, has refused to set aside the order of interim forfeiture of some properties linked to Shamsudeen Bala, son of Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for money laundering.
Shamsudeen is facing trial before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on an amended 14-count charge.
He is standing trial alongside Bird Trust Agro Allied Limited, Intertrans Global Logistic Ltd, Diakin Telecommunications Ltd and Bal-Vac Mining Nigeria Ltd.
In the course of the trial, the EFCC had on October 18, 2017 secured an order for the interim forfeiture of some properties traced to Shamsudeen, which are believed to be the proceeds of illegal activities.
Justice Dimgba had made the order pursuant to a motion brought before the ourt by the EFCC seeking for the interim forfeiture of the properties.
Dissatisfied with the order, Shamsudeen sought the order of the court to set aside the interim forfeiture order of Justice Dimgba.
However, delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Taiwo refused to set aside the interim forfeiture orders of some of the properties as contained in the order of interim forfeiture made by Justice Dimgba.
The properties include a mansion located at Sunrise Estate, Asokoro, Abuja; three four-bedroom semi detached duplexes located at Green Acres Estate, Apo-Dutse, Abuja; and a four-bedroom semi detached duplex with BQ, located at Maitama, Abuja. The trial judge held that in relation to three other properties listed in the schedule, “those who laid claims showed sufficient proof of ownership and no pending charge against them”.
Furthermore, Justice Taiwo also took judicial notice of counts three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine and 10 and also refused to set aside the properties listed in the counts “because they are subject to pending criminal proceedings before Justice Dimgba”.
Meanwhile, Shamsudeen is expected to continue with his trial before Justice Dimgba on March 24, 2020.
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Court To Decide On Bank’s CCTV In Belgore’s N450m Fraud Trial March 12
Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, adjourned until March 12, 2020 to rule on the admissibility of the Closed-Circuit Television footage and its Certificate of Identification sought to be tendered in evidence by Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN).
Belgore is standing trial alongside a former Minister of National Planning, Prof Abubakar Sulaiman, on a five-count charge of conspiracy and possession of proceeds of crime to the tune of N450m brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The defendants allegedly received the sum of N450m on March 27, 2015 out of the $115,010,000 paid into Fidelity Bank Plc by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential election.
The defendants also allegedly handled the huge sum without going through any financial institution, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.
At the resumed sitting, E.O. Shofunde (SAN), counsel to the first defendant, Belgore, sought leave of the court to recall him (Belgore) into the witness box.
Consequently, Shofunde asked Belgore to confirm the subpoena served on Yinka Omar, Branch Manager, Fidelity Branch, Ilorin, Kwara State, asking him to produce the CCTV footage of the events that took place in the bank and its Certificate of Identification, which he did.
Belgore also said that after the documents were produced before the court, he viewed part of the footage, adding that he was aware that some people in his legal team had also seen the footage.
Shofunde, thereafter sought to tender the CCTV footage contained in a flash drive and the Certificate of Identification attached to it.
In his response, counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, objected to the tendering of the documents on the grounds that the defendant was not the maker, so he could not give direct oral evidence or be cross-examined on it.
“In view of the fact that the device and Certificate of Identification were not made by the defendant; and the fact that he was not privy to the making, direct oral evidence will not be admissible, according to Section 84 of the Evidence Act,” Oyedepo said.
He further argued that “the defence did not apply to tender the document in their subpoena, but to only produce it; hence, the admissibility of the document is to be determined by the court.”
Oyedepo, therefore, urged the court to reject the documents.
Shofunde however, submitted that the defendant was not giving direct evidence but only identifying the documents before him.
The defence counsel also argued that Section 84 does not say that documents cannot be tendered without the maker but only stipulates what needs to be done for a document to be tendered in evidence.
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First Case Of Coronavirus Confirmed In Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast has recorded its first case of the deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The case involved a 45-year-old man, who had recently travelled to Italy, the health ministry said on Wednesday.
The patient, according to the government, was being treated at a hospital in Abidjan, the capital, and he is said to be in a stable condition.
Ivory Coast is the eighth country in sub-Saharan Africa to confirm a case after Nigeria, Senegal, Cameroon, Togo, South Africa, Burkina Faso and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
South Africa announced six new cases of the virus on Wednesday, bringing the confirmed case of the COVID-19 to a total of 13 in Africa.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation has declared Coronavirus as a pandemic, urging countries to “double-down” on their efforts to stop the spread of the virus.
“WHO is deeply concerned by the alarming levels of the #Coronavirus spread, severity and inaction, and expects to see the number of cases, deaths and affected countries climb even higher. Therefore, we made the assessment that #COVID19 can be characterised as a pandemic,” Director-General of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said.
Latest data indicates more than 118,000 cases of infection in 114 countries, and 4,291 deaths – a 13-fold increase outside China in the past two weeks, and a threefold rise in the number of affected countries.
While 81 countries have not reported any cases of the virus, 57 countries have reported 10 cases or less.
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Okada Ban: Lagos Government Orders Arrest Of Military Officers Riding Motorcycle Commercially
The Lagos State Government has ordered police, military officers to stop riding motorcycles on restricted roads or risk arrest.
The government said this on Wednesday as it affirmed that it would not be rescinding its ban on motorcycle and tricycle in the state.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, made the announcement while speaking with journalists after the conclusion of the State Security Council meeting.
He said the government would ensure that no military officer was allowed to use motorcycle for commercial purpose.
He noted that the act was illegal as anyone caught violating the order would be arrested.
He said, “Matters concerning uniform men engaging in commercial motorcycle operation came up in our discussion and there has been an order restricting them from doing that.
“Only a uniform man who is fully kitted and who rides motorcycle as his own personal mode of transportation is allowed.
“If any uniform man ventures into commercial motorcycle operation or Keke, the action of such a person is illegal and such persons are going to be arrested if caught.”
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Ten Aides Of Ganduje In False Assets Declaration Saga
Ten aides of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano have been caught in false assets declaration saga.
This is coming about a month after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arrested the Commissioner for Special Duties in Kano, Mukhtar Ishaq, over an alleged N86m fraud.
Aides to the governor have failed to declare all of their assets with hidden assets running into billions of naira kept in local and foreign currency accounts, an investigation by PRNigeria has revealed.
A list compiled by the Code of Conduct Bureau has full details of Ganduje’s aides and staff, who have not only failed to fully declare their assets but also defaulted the statutes of the Code of Conduct Bureau.
On the list is the Director-General, Media to Governor Ganduje, Salihu Tanko Yakasai; Uba Tanko Mijinyawa, Special Assistant on New Media in the cabinet office; Engr. Mansur Ahmed, Special Assistant on Critical Infrastructure; Tanko Indi Sarki, Special Assistant on Intelligence; Mr Ado Abba Tiwada, the Director-General in charge of Youth; and Alhaji Kabiru Baita, the Special Assistant on Sports.
Others are Habibu Saleh, Special Assistant on Revenue; Saleh Shehu K, Special Assistant on IGR; Zulyadawi Sidi Mustapha, Senior Special Assistant on SDGs; and Haruna D. Zago Special Assistant on Food Security.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that top officials of the state government are mounting pressure on the Code of Conduct Bureau not to submit the list of defaulters to the CCT.
The Kano Government is trying to ensure a safe landing for the alleged corrupt officials and guard them against prosecution by the anti-graft agency.
As at the time of this report, sources however, revealed that the document had already been prepared for despatch to CCT with the prosecution to commence soon.
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Police Parade 105 Kidnappers, Armed Robbers, Drug Dealers, Gun Manufacturers In Abuja
The police in Abuja have paraded 105 individuals over alleged criminal activities.
Those paraded by the police are suspected to have been involved or caught in different criminal acts in the Federal Capital Territory.
According to the police, those paraded are suspected to be kidnappers, armed robbers, gun manufacturers, drug dealers supplying kidnappers.
“Over 50 AK47 rifles and other dangerous weapons, drugs, motorcycles and cars modified to conceal and transport rifles were all recovered,” the police said.
The police claimed that the suspects confessed to multiple kidnappings and killings in several states including the attack on the Emir Of Potiskum convoy along Zaria-Kaduna Road in December 2019.
The force added that efforts were being made to arrest remaining gang members and recover more weapons.
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Turkish Airlines To Cancel Flights To Nigeria Over Coronavirus
Turkish Airlines has announced that it would be undergoing flights cancellation in Nigeria over the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The airline, in a statement released on Wednesday, also said it was yet to fully suspend its flight operations to/from Nigeria.
Turkish Airline however, remarked that it had been changing its flight schedule to several destinations around the globe in accordance with international and national authorities.
The statement reads, “We would like to inform our passengers that due to the lowered load factors caused by the suspension of other routes, several of our flights to/from Nigeria will be undergoing cancellations in March.
“Passengers with tickets to the cancelled flights will be able to refund or change their tickets free of charge until the end of May, if they start the process until March/April depending on the route.”
The airline stated that it always put the travel security at the forefront, adding that it will continue to monitor latest developments on the situation with the national and international health authorities and take appropriate precautions.
The airline also urged passengers to complete the self-reporting form distributed by Federal Ministry of Health in order to curb the spread of the virus.
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E2%80%93nigerian-army Social Media Crucial In Tackling Terrorism In Nigeria –Nigerian Army
Lt.-Gen Tukur Buratai
Lt.-Gen Tukur Buratai
The Nation
The Nigeria Army has said that the social media was crucial in tackling terrorism in the country.
Director, Civil-Military Affairs, Maj. Gen. Usman Muhammad, stated this at a one-day interactive session in Akure, Ondo State.
According to Muhammad, the social media was an important platform for the dissemination of information, therefore efforts must be made for it not to be used wrongly by criminal elements, who could spread false items.
He said, “There is need to engage those using the social media to propagate news because when they spread the right information, there is the tendency that insecurity will reduce in the country.
“But if wrong information or fake news are shared on the social media, this has the tendency to undermine the security of the country.
“When you get information, you can verify it if you are not sure of it, and more importantly is for you to know the source of such information before sharing.
“The social media is indeed a powerful and important tool and it represents a key role in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria.”
Journalists, bloggers and others using the social media to share information and other materials were encouraged to always put national security in mind while carrying out their duties.
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E2%80%99s-younger-brother-assault-harassment Church Member Accuses Bishop Oyedepo’s Younger Brother Of Assault, Harassment
A member of Living Faith Church also known as Winners Chapel, Nosa Aigbogun, has called for help over what he describes as the continued harassment he and other members of the church at the Uwasota, Benin Branch, have been facing at the hands of Pastor Gideon Oyedepo.
Aigbogun said he was the latest person to be slapped by the pastor, who is the younger brother to General Overseer of the church, Bishop David Oyedepo.
According to him, Oyedepo, who is the presiding/resident pastor of the Uwasota Branch of the church, had turned himself to an emperor and now tormenting the lives of members for no reason.
Narrating his ordeal while still recuperating from a physical attack by the pastor, Aigbogun said he feared for his life especially if the excesses of the younger Oyedepo was not urgently curbed.
He said, “I want concerned authorities to save us from him (Gideon Oyedepo).
“We have received enough slaps. We are begging his elder brother, Bishop David Oyedepo, to save us from the emperor before it’s too late.
“Since his arrival in our branch, he has slapped two persons and keeps saying that nobody can do him anything. He has turned the branch to something else.
“He called for unit meeting on Sunday, and I was part of those that attended. He was talking about how he will dissolve the unit and all of a sudden, he turned to me and started calling me devil, idiot.
“Before I realised what was happening, he slapped me and said there was nothing I could do to him. He went on to say that he had been planning to deal with some of us in the church.
“Though I wanted to retaliate, other church members pleaded with me not to and I restrained myself.
“But later, his personal assistant brought in soldiers who claimed they were from Supply and Transport Barrack.
“I had to hide myself but they found and ordered me to follow them. When I asked where they were taking me to, they beat me up mercilessly.
“I have reported the case at Okhoro Police Station. All I want is justice in this matter.”
Calls and text messages sent to the pastor in question by our correspondent for him to respond to the allegation were not responded to.
Aigbogun is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed private hospital in Benin.
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