Dear kfbers, we trust you had fabulous Thursday!
Just before you go to bed, here are the major political and crime stories you missed today
EFCC acting wickedly, on vendetta mission - Ekiti Govt
Ekiti State Government has described the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC ) decision to appeal the Abuja Federal High Court judgment, granting Governor Ayodele Fayose’s ally, Mr Abiodun Agbele bail and awarding N5 million damages in his favour as clear demonstration of the anti-corruption agency's wickedness and show of vendetta against the governor.
The government said it was curious that for the first time, EFCC was appealing against a judgment that merely enforced the fundamental rights of Mr Agbele by granting him bail in accordance with the laws of the country. Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka said; "It is now obvious that all that the EFCC desired is to incarcerate Mr Agbele indefinitely just because he is linked with Governor Fayose, who the EFCC and its APC collaborators desired to silence at all cost."
The government said; "We are not surprised by this ignoble action of the EFCC because we know that Governor Fayose is their target. That was the same way they placed the governor on travel ban and invaded the State House of Assembly with men of the Department of State Service (DSS) to force the governor’s removal.
"Justice Olukayode Adeniyi clearly frowned at the EFCC arbitrary abuse of power and unlawful detention of Mr Agbele without arraigning him in court of competent jurisdiction in line with the constitution and we wonder what the EFCC will be appealing and filing stay of execution against.
"We wonder the sense in keeping an accused in EFCC custody indefinitely while the anti-corruption agency goes about looking for evidences to prosecute him.
"If the EFCC is sure of the evidences that it claimed to have, what is the need for keeping Mr Agbele in detention? Why not take him to court? And what interest is the EFCC serving by standing against a court ruling that granted conditional bail to an accused person?"
'FG in talks with Niger Delta Militants' - President Buhari
President Buhari says his administration is talking to Niger Delta militants through oil companies and law-enforcement agencies to find a lasting solution to insecurity in the region.
Speaking at a farewell audience with Michael Zinner, the outgoing Ambassador of Germany to Nigeria at the State House Abuja today, President Buhari said that government is studying the instruments of the Amnesty Programme inherited from the previous administration with a view to carrying out commitments made that were undelivered.
“We understand their feelings. We are studying the instruments. We have to secure the environment, otherwise investment will not come. We will do our best for the country,"he said. The President used the opportunity to thank the government of Germany for its continuing support to Nigeria in the efforts to tackle insecurity and the on-going rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced citizens in crisis areas in the North-Eastern parts of the country.
House of Rep. member slumps and dies in Abuja this morning
A member of the House of Representatives, representing Ifako Ijaiye Constituency of Lagos State, Hon. Elijah Adewale slumped and died this morning Thursday July 21, in his Abuja residence.
Adewale had earlier attended the caucus meeting of the House of Representatives yesterday before his sudden death. He was 65 years old.
Born in 1951, Adewale was a former Special Adviser on Education during former Governor Babatunde Fashola administration. He obtained a bachelor's degree in 1979 from the University of Nigeria Nsukka. The cause of his death is not yet known.
RRS nabs 22 suspected kid robbers in Agege
The operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of Lagos State Police Command have arrested 22 teenagers for robbery, stealing and cultism.
The 22 teenagers, amongst whom are four female, were arrested for allegedly involved in separate incidences of robbery, stealing and cultism around Agege and its environs.
The two leaders of the first gang, which consist of eight members, Babatunde, 15 and Tayo, 15, were arrested on last Thursday, at about 11:30 p.m. in Mulero, Agege for assaulting and robbing one Aladegbo Abidemi with an axe, and snatching her Blackberry Z10.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the arrest of the teenagers. She stated that the Commissioner of Police summoned the parents of the children and he has ordered that the teenagers be sent for rehabilitated without delay.
She added that the arrest of the suspects was an eye-opener to the challenges of crime fighting and breakdown of family values.
Court of Appeal reinstates use of hijab by female students in Lagos State public schools
A Court of Appeal' five man panel sitting in Lagos today reversed the ban on the use of hijab (Muslims head-scarf) by students in public primary and secondary schools in Lagos State. The court reversed the judgment of a Lagos State High Court which on October 17, 2014 banned the use of hijab in public schools, in order to preserve the secular nature of the state institutions. Female students are now allowed to put on Hijab with their school uniforms
OPC issues 14-day ultimatum to militants, warns them to desist from attacking South-West communities
Pan-Yoruba organisation Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) has issued a warning to suspected Niger Delta militants attacking people in South-West communities. According to the OPC, either they allow peace to reign, or face the consequences of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth clash, considering they know where the properties of their leaders’ are situated and where their people reside in the entire South West. Read the full statement titled "Incursion of Ijaw militants into Yoruba land:
Enough is enough “Enough of these invasions, killings and kidnapping of our people right on our own soil. We of the Oodua Peoples Congress (Reformed) have waited for this long, hoping that the government would curb the deadly acts of the Ijaw people on our kinsmen in their fatherland in Ogun and Lagos states. But, it has now dawned on us that the lives and properties of our people and, indeed, the masses are of no importance to those in authorities and the marauding militants. It is a known fact that we, the Yoruba, are the most contented, accommodating and tolerant among all the ethnic groups in Nigeria. We wholeheartedly welcome other tribes coming into our states either to reside or do business. But, if they want to take our hospitality for stupidity, we are ready to prove to them that the gentility of a tiger is not an act of cowardice. Before now, it was the Fulani herdsmen, now it is the Ijaw people that are on the prowl. Enough is enough.
Consequently, we are giving the Ijaw militants a 14-day ultimatum to allow peace to reign in our land. If they fail to heed the warning, it will henceforth be an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. We will prove to them that Lagos belongs to the Yoruba and not a no man’s land that they tend to erroneously claim. If they must care to know, we have information and facts about where their leaders’ properties are situated in the entire South- West and where their people reside in our midst as well.”
Saraki denies joining PDP
Saraki denies joining PDP
Senate President Bukola Saraki has released a statement denying claims in some quarters that he has joined the PDP. Saraki briefly attended a PDP caucus meeting in the senate yesterday July 20th. Many believed his attendance was a move to join the opposition party. In a statement released by his media aide, Bamikole Omishore, Saraki denied the claim.
Read the statement below: The attention of the Senate President's Media Team has been drawn to a false publication that is making the rounds on social media that Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki has defected from the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC). This fabrication is entirely untrue as the Senate President stands committed to the APC; a party that he helped midwife and worked for its victory in the 2015 elections.In his official capacity as Senate President and chairman, National Assembly, he attended the end of session event of the PDP caucus yesterday evening and spent only 30 minutes before leaving the members to continue with the event.
The Senate President would like to assure every Nigerian that he is committed to the APC-led government and appreciates the confidence reposed in him and the APC during the 2015 General Elections.
Signed,
Bamikole Omishore
Special Assistant New Media to President of The Senate.
Bodies of 22 African migrants, including Nigerians found on boat in the Mediterranean
Rescue teams on Wednesday recovered 22 bodies of African migrants from a dinghy in the Mediterranean hours after they set off from Libyan coast to Italy.
Medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said that the MS Aquarius, which it charters along with French NGO SOS Mediterranee, had picked up over 200 migrants, including 50 children, who had been trying to reach Europe via the shores of Italy.
The passengers, who are believed to be mostly from Nigerian and Guinea, had been on a rubber dinghy with the 22 dead bodies; 21 women and a man for hours.
The Italian coastguard said the MY Phoenix, chartered by Malta-based foundation MOAS (Migrant Offshore Aid Station) had picked up another 354 people. But after the migrants clambered to safety on the MSF rescue ship, they discovered a pile of bodies at the bottom of one of the dinghies.
"It is not clear how people died. When team approached the dinghy, dead bodies were at the bottom of the boat in a pool of fuel and water," said Jens Pagotto, MSF' Head of Mission fir Search and Rescue Operations. It is still not entirely clear what happened, but they died a horrible death.It seems that water and fuel mixed together and the fumes from this might have been enough for them to lose consciousness. The survivors, who are mostly believed to be from Nigeria and Guinea, are now being brought to the Sicilian port of Trapani, where they are expected to arrive tomorrow.
Mr Pagotto said the two dinghies had probably left Libya in the early hours of Wednesday and were picked up 17 nautical miles east of Tripoli.
The Italian coastguard received a distress call at about 10am local time yesterday and notified the MSF ship MV Aquarius, which took three hours to reach the scene.
"The survivors had been on the boat with the bodies of these women for hours on end. Many are too traumatised from what they have endured to be able to talk about what had happened."He said a team of trauma specialists would be on hand to help the survivors when they reached land.
A nine-year-old boy who was chained in Ogun State for weeks before his rescue on Friday, was given the horrifying punishment for allegedly stealing, police and the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps have said.
Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, has called for an improved business relationship between Nigeria and Morocco, saying such will create mutual benefits for both countries and advancement of Africa’s economy. This was even as he described the recent decision of Morocco to return to Africa Union, AU, as a welcome development.
There is acute suffering across the country as the present economic downturn worsens, CHUX OHAI writes
