Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Monday 25th November 2019
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 25/11/19
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Nigeria Cannot Change Except By Revolution, Says Balarabe Musa
Balarabe Musa, a second republic politician, has said that Nigeria cannot change unless a revolution happens, which sweeps away the ruling All Progressives Congress and opposition Peoples Democratic Party.Balarabe made the disclosure in an interview with Sunday Tribune.He said, “The APC is in power now in Kogi and Bayelsa. It would have been the same thing if it lost to its main contender. There wouldn’t have been any difference if it were to be the PDP.“I think part of the solutions to the lingering mess that exists in the country is to search for a third force outside of both PDP and APC, which is more progressive in reality, and not in nominal sense.“When the suffering is beyond the endurance of the masses, then, there will be social revolution. “Unless this is done, there will be serious problem in Nigeria. “This is because there is no way that Nigeria can survive with political parties like PDP and APC. No, it is not possible!.”
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After Immense Pressure, Senate Removes Death Penalty From Hate Speech Bill
Following public outcry and pressure over the National Commission for the Prohibition of Hate Speeches bill, the Nigerian Senate has removed the death penalty as punishment for anyone found guilty of the bill.
Sponsor of the controversial Hate Speech Bill, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, in a statement on Sunday said the Senate would amend the bill during legislative input by the National Assembly.
While many Nigerians continued to criticise the bill, it was revealed that Abdullahi plagiarised the title and most of the content of the bill from the ‘Protection from Internet falsehood and manipulations bill 2019’, which was recently signed into law by the Government of Singapore.
“We have followed closely arguments for and against the hate speech bill, and seen the reason why some kicked against it.
“Given the high respect which we have for Nigerians, we will make amendment to the death penalty aspect that most Nigerians objected to, so that a bill that meets their expectations is passed into law.
“Clearly from the conversations, Nigerians agree that we have a problem in the society today as a result of hate speech which has fuelled so many killings and violence, and is responsible for cases of depression and suicides,” the statement reads partly.
Abdullahi noted that an Independent National Commission for the Prohibition of Hate Speech would be established, adding that the commission would have executive chairperson, a secretary and 12 commissioners appointed through rigorous process involving the National Council of State, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the National Assembly.
He added that the overall concern is to curb violence and unnecessary loss of lives and livelihoods of Nigerians due to hate-induced violence.
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REVEALED: Humanitarian Affairs Minister Refuses To Approve School Feeding Program Payment For Lagos, Imo, Kogi, Benue
Sadiya Umar Farouk
Sadiya Umar Farouk
There are growing concerns over the refusal of Sadiya Umar Farouk, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, to approve payment for the National Home Grown School Feeding Program for Lagos, Imo, Kogi and Benue states, SaharaReporters has learnt.
The NHGSFP is part of the National Social Investment Programme with the main objective of alleviating poverty through the distribution of funds to the poor and vulnerable in the country.
According to the Federal Government, 27 states excluding Lagos are currently under the school feeding programme.
The school feeding programme was meant to have begun in Lagos in September, according to the state government.
The commencement was later shifted to October as announced by the Public Relations Officer of Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr Kayode Sutton, who said, “In fairness, we ought to have started it in September.
“We hope to kick off in the next one or two weeks. We are working on it.
“Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has given approval and modalities are in place.”
With Lagos yet to begin, Chairman of Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, Wahab Olawale Alawiye-King, said the implementation of the project is being hindered the Federal Government.
He added that the state has done its part but the FG is hindering the commencement.
Investigation by SaharaReporters revealed that the minister intentionally declined to approve payment for Lagos State and the three other states.
A memo for the payment of vendors and caterers in the 27 states have been sent to the office of the minister for approval but she approved 23 states while pending approval for Lagos, Imo, Kogi and Benue states.
“The school feeding programme would come to a halt in the four states if the minister refuses to sign the memo, which has been in her office for over three weeks,” said a staff of the ministry.
Another staff of the ministry said, “The minister only needed to sign as an approval to pay the vendors and caterers in the beneficiary states. She approved other states except the four states.
“There was no explanation till now why the states; two controlled by the opposition and other two by the ruling party.”
It was also gathered that the social intervention programme under the new supervisory role of the Minister of Humanitarian services is set for major setbacks and possible collapse as Farouq is unilaterally making decision concerning the programme.
Staff of the ministry, who spoke to SaharaReporters in confidence, also alleged that politics and favouritism creeping into the school feeding program.
According to staff in the ministry, officials in her office are befuddled at her disposition and particularly inexplicable interest in the implementation of the programme.
With reason for the non-approval yet to be known, it was hinted that the non-approval of Kogi State might be related to the arrest of the state Programme Manager of the school feeding, Khadijat Karibo, and a former state focal person for the programme in the state, Adoga Ibrahim, for alleged N68m fraud.
They were alleged to have diverted large sums of money meant for payments to cooks in the national school feeding programme in Kogi State.
SaharaReporters had previously reported that some Nigerian senators were trying to hijack the budget of the NSIP.
Sources revealed that the senators were lobbying for contracts under the ministry with opportunities to provide vendors in some of the programmes.
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Ondo Police Arrest Robbers Attacking Gas Stations
The police in Ondo has arrested a gang of armed robbers, who attacked a gas station in the Igbokoda area of the state.
The robbers, numbering about four, had on November 18, 2019, invaded Jedo Petrol Station located at Efugbo area of the Igbokoda.
They also wounded the owner of the gas station, one Yedo Blessing, and Manager of the facility, Mr Omotehinse Igbekele, before carting away huge amount of money from the place.
However, three of the suspects were nabbed by detectives last week and they include Bibowei Zeblon, Daniel Peretei and Julius Ekunjumi.
It was gathered that one of the suspect was found with a special ring used during their robbery attacks.
Spokesperson for the police in Ondo, Femi Joseph, confirmed the arrest of the robbers in a statement.
He disclosed that the police was able to recover parts of the money stolen from the station from the robbers, adding that two motorcycles were parts of the items found in possession of the hoodlums.
Joseph said, “The police received a distress call about the activities of the robbers and this led detectives to arrest three of them.
“The suspects are helping the detectives on how to track the other fleeing suspects.”
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SERAP Petitions African Commission Over Harassment Of Sowore’s Sureties, Falana
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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has written an open letter to Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Mrs Soyata Maiga, and the commission’s members, requesting them to urgently intervene and put pressure on the Nigerian authorities and their agents to immediately end the intimidation and harassment of detained activists Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare widely known as Mandate.
In the letter, SERAP urged the ACHPR to also pressure the government to stop harassing the detainees’ sureties and lawyers, particularly Femi Falana (SAN), who are only defending their clients’ rights.
SERAP said, “Nigeria’s State Security Service has stated that it would not release the activists until it is allowed to vet sureties that have already been verified by the court, implicitly harassing the sureties apparently with the aim of pushing them to disown the detained activists.
“Similarly, a group of apparently sponsored ‘protesters’ calling themselves ‘Save Nigeria Movement’ asked Femi Falana to stop intimidating security agencies.
“The harassment of detained activists for demanding strict compliance with court orders, and then their sureties as well as lawyers who come to their defence, shows a steady slide away from the rule of law and underscores the urgent need for the Commission to insist on the restoration of respect for human rights in Nigeria.
“The harassment is emblematic of a broader pattern of official threats to and harassment of Nigerian civil society.
“We are concerned that rather than releasing Sowore and Bakare as ordered by the court, the Nigerian authorities are now implicitly intimidating the activists, sureties, and lawyers, particularly Femi Falana.
“SERAP condemns the use of apparently sponsored protesters to harass and intimidate Sowore and Bakare’s lawyers particularly Femi Falana.
“The intimidation and harassment of Sowore and Bakare’s legal team is intended to, and will most likely lead to, other lawyers being unwilling to defend anyone facing politically motivated and high-profile prosecutions.
“Sureties and lawyers are essential to ensure the effective operation of the justice system, and the rule of law; they need to be protected not harassed and intimidated.
“Lawyers ought to have the freedom to carry out their legal work and should never have to suffer any intimidation and harassment for discharging their professional duties.
“Sowore and Bakare were arrested simply for calling a national protest. Amnesty International has declared them prisoners of conscience detained solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression.
“Sowore, Bakare, their sureties and lawyers particularly Femi Falana continue to face hostility, intimidation and harassment.”
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Lagos Government Seals Firm Over Violation Of Safety Rules
The Lagos State Government has sealed off Multipak Nigeria Ltd., a plastic producing factory situated in the Oregun area of the city, for violation of safety rules and regulations, poor house-keeping and lack of signage, which allegedly led to the death of a worker, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
Director-General of Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr Lanre Mojola, made the announcement on Sunday.
Mojola said the factory was sealed up following the Lagos State Government’s declaration of zero tolerance for factories and private organisations that violate safety rules and regulations.
The DG said, “Lagos State Government seals off Multipak factory for violation of safety rules and regulations, as well as poor house-keeping and lack of signage.
“The poor house-keeping led to the untimely death of Mr Femi Olatunde, a factory worker who got his head stuck while operating one of the machines.
“On no account should any factory operate without putting in place safety equipment, quality house-keeping, signage, good wiring system and a clean environment devoid of hazards to the lives of workers and visitors.”
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E2%80%99s-parliament EXPOSED: Nigerian Senator Plagiarised Internet Bill From Singapore’s Parliament
Senator Mohammed Musa and President Buhari
Senator Mohammed Musa and President Buhari
It has been discovered that the title and most of the contents of the bill currently undergoing debate at the National Assembly was plagiarised by Senator Mohammed Musa of Niger State.
The bill titled ‘Protection from Internet falsehood and manipulations bill 2019’, was plagiarised from an act, which was recently signed into law by the Government of Singapore.
In a video broadcast recently released by Frederick Odorige of the Global Coalition for Security Democracy, he stated that the title of the bill was copied from the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act 2019 of the Republic of Singapore.
The Act was passed by the Singaporean Parliament on May 8, 2019 and assented to by their President, Halimah Yacob, on June 3, 2019.
In the title of the bill, Senator Musa ingeniously substituted the word ‘online’ as used by the Parliament of Singapore for ‘Internet’.
The other parts of the title and most of the other contents of the bill were exactly the same with that of the Singaporeans.
It is unnecessary to duplicate a law, which is already under an existing cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) law passed during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan in May 2015.
Odorige believes that the government was out to cage our freedom of expression and human rights just as they suppress our freedom of association and shield government from public anger at their ineptitude.
The obnoxious laws are means of adding to the intimidation, tear-gassing and shooting to kill whenever Nigerians protest injustice.
In order to give more force to their actions, the Senate is working on another law against hate speech and a commission to be known as “National Commission for the Prohibition of Hate Speeches”, a bill sponsored by the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Abdullahi Aliu Sabi, also from Niger State.
They propose life imprisonment or death sentence for offenders as part of their ‘Next Level’ agenda.
Video of VIDEO: EXPOSED! Watch How Nigerian Senator Plagiarized The Internet Law From Singapore – Odorige.
VIDEO: EXPOSED! Watch How Nigerian Senator Plagiarized The Internet Law From Singapore – Odorige.
VIDEO: Exposed! Watch How Nigerian Senator Plagiarized The Internet Law From Singapore – Odorige.
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$9.6bn Judgment: Nigerian Government To Pay $200m P&ID Deposit Monday, Firm Claims
The Nigerian Government has finally agreed to pay the $200m security deposit ordered by Justice Christopher Butcher of the Commercial Court in London in September in the ongoing gas dispute case between Nigeria and Process and Industry Development Limited, it has been learnt.
The British court had asked Nigeria to pay $200m security payment in the court’s account while granting request to stay execution in the award of $9.6bn award in favour of Process and Industry Development Limited, according to Sunday PUNCH.
In a statement by P&ID on Saturday, the Nigerian Government’s legal team said during a hearing at the London court on Friday that the country would pay the $200m security deposit.
The statement read in part, “Before Justice Butcher today (Friday) in London, the Nigerian legal team acknowledged that President Buhari has authorised the steps to provide a bank guarantee for the $200m in security that was ordered by the English court in September.
“Moreover, the following steps have already been taken by the Nigerian Government: Ministry of Finance has received approval to proceed with obtaining the bank guarantee; Minister of Finance has submitted a request to the Central Bank of Nigeria to proceed with procuring the bank guarantee; the Central Bank of Nigeria has submitted a request to an unnamed foreign correspondent bank to issue the bank guarantee from London and provide the relevant information to the court.”
The Nigerian Government through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation had filed an appeal before the London court to stop the order of September 2019 to pay the $200m security deposit and the $9.6bn Tribunal Award in favour of P&ID.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who was part of the government’s delegation to London late September, disclosed to reporters in Abuja on October 2 that the government had begun the process of filing an appeal against the $200m security deposit.
In August, a court in London gave P&ID the permission to seize Nigerian assets worth $9bn.
The ruling is the culmination of a case, which started in 2010 when an agreement to build a gas processing plant in Calabar, Cross River State, collapsed between Nigeria and the Irish firm after the former failed to live up to its side of the deal.
P&ID had in 2013 won a $6.6bn arbitration case but that figure rose to $9bn when the estimate of what the company could have earned over the course of the 20-year agreement was calculated.
The Nigerian Government had tried to nullify the award, insisting that it was not a case to be heard outside its shores but the British judiciary rejected the argument.
On November 20, the Nigerian Government appealed the $200m security deposit ordered by the court.
The court ordered that the payment must be made before it can give a stay of execution on the ruling by Justice Butcher that P&ID could seize over $9bn worth of Nigeria’s assets pending its appeal in a higher court.
But with the latest development, the dynamics appeared to have changed in the entire case.
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Plane Crash Kills 23 People In DR Congo
Residents react after a small aircraft carrying around 15 passengers crashed in a densely populated area in Goma on the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo on November 24, 2019
Residents react after a small aircraft carrying around 15 passengers crashed in a densely populated area in Goma on the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo on November 24, 2019
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Twenty-three bodies were recovered on Sunday after a small plane crashed on takeoff into a densely populated area of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo, rescue workers said.
“We are up to 23 bodies now,” Goma rescue service coordinator, Joseph Makundi, told AFP.
Goma Airport official, Richard Mangolopa, told AFP no survivors were expected from the disaster.
The Dornier-228 aircraft had been headed for Beni, 350 kilometres (220 miles) North of Goma when it went down in a residential area near the airport in the east of the country.
“There were 17 passengers on board and two crew members,” airline staff, Heritier Mamadou, said.
The airline company has three planes serving routes in North Kivu province.
One of the company’s maintenance workers at the site blamed a “technical problem” for the incident.
The number of casualties on the ground was not yet known.
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68-year-old Man Celebrates 30 Children, 70 Grandchildren In Taraba
A Jalingo, Taraba State-based man, 68-year-old Adamu Loddo, has urged parents to ensure proper upbringing of children as he celebrated the gift of 30 surviving children and 70 grandchildren, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
Loddo, who expressed appreciation to God for the gift, also said the celebration was an opportunity to show the right example on how to bring up children in both scholarship and character.
He said, “I am happy to say that at least 15 of my children and five grandchildren have obtained various degrees from different universities in Nigeria.
“I also derive joy and thank Allah for His favours as several of those children and grandchildren have also memorised the Holy Qur’an.
“I have to do this thanksgiving party (walima) while I am alive not to be silent and other people to do it on my behalf after my death.
“A child that is given appropriate training from home and brought up in the fear of God will not turn to social vices in his later years.
“Before blaming schools or society for anti-social behaviour of our wards, we should examine the type of home training we gave them.
“Our children are a reflection of the home they came from.”
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