Oluwasegun Adesuyi, Author at SocietyGazette.com

Court Issues Trial Notice In FG’s Treason Charges Against Nnamdi Kanu

A trial notice has been issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja on the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu in the treasonable felony charges filed by the Federal Government.

The trial notice entitled “Federal Republic of Nigeria Versus Nnamdi Kanu” was marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/15 and served on Kanu’s lawyer, Mr Ifeanyi Ejiofor and that of the Federal Government Mr Shuaib Labaran.

The trial notice was issued following the resumption of the charges levelled against the IPOB leader.

The court in the notice instructed the lawyers involved in the case things to put in place ahead of the proceeding.

The IPOB leader is expected to be arraigned before Justice Binta Nyako.

The notice reads “This case will be transferred from the General Cause List to the hearing paper for Thursday 21st October 2021at 9 o’clock forenoon and will come on to be on that day if the business of the court permits or otherwise on some adjustment day of which you will receive no further notice.

“If either party desires to postpone the hearing, he must apply to the court as soon as possible for that purpose and if the application is based on any matter of fact, he must be prepared to give proof of those facts.

“The parties are warned that at the hearing, they are required to bring forward all the evidence by witnesses or by documents which each of them desires to rely on in support of his case and in contradiction of that of his opponent.

“The proof will be required at the hearing and not on a subsequent day, and parties failing to bring their evidence forward at the proper time may find themselves absolutely precluded from adducing it at all, or at best only allowed to do so on payment of substantial costs to the other side, and such other terms as the court fits to impose.

“Parties desirous to enforce the attendance of witnesses should apply at once to the court to issue one or more summonses for the attendance of the witnesses required.

“It is indispensable that the application should be made to allow time for reasonable notice to the witnesses required.

“If the witness is required to bring books or papers, they must be particularized in the summons sufficiently to enable him to understand what is meant.

”Any party summoning a witness through the court thereby becomes liable to pay such witness reasonable sum of money to be fixed by the court for his expense and loss of time.

“The court may refuse to enforce the attendance of a witness unless such sum has been fixed and deposited in the court.

“If either party desires to use in evidence at the hearing, any book or document in the possession or power of the other party, he must give the other party, reasonable notice in writing to produce It at the hearing, failing which he will not be allowed to give any secondary evidence of its contents.”

PDP ready to reclaim mandate in 2023, says Saraki

FORMER Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has said the Peoples Democratic Party is now prepared and ready to reclaim its mandate from the All Progrssives Congress come 2023.

Saraki said this at the Kwara State Congress of PDP held at the Atlantic Event centre, Ilorin, on Saturday. He told party members to go and prepare to win the 2023 elections.

He said, “As soon as you leave this venue work should begin. The peaceful conduct of this Congress has confirmed to me that we are indeed ready to take back power in Kwara.”

Members of the new state party executive were elected via consensus. At the end of the exercise, a former Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Alhaji Babatunde Mohammed, emerged as the chairman.

In his acceptance speech, the new chairman said, “We will start work from the grassroots and work our walk our way up. We will use the next local government to tell Kwara people that we are back.”

Northern youth group commences 20 million votes mobilization for Osinbajo

A coalition of northern youths in Kano, has launched a campaign to galvanise support for Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, ahead of the 2023 presidential elections.

The group has unveiled a platform to mobilize 20 million youths across the 19 northern states and the Federal capital Territory (FCT), while stating that Osinbajo is the one man who can continue with President Buhari’s transformation agenda.

“We are launching the awareness campaign across the northern states to mobilize support for Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo towards making him our next president,” says National Coordinator of the group, Mubarak Haruna.

“None of us has ever met him in person but from all we know, we are convinced that the vice president is the only tested and trusted candidate that can continue the good works started by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“It is obvious that Professor Osinbajo is a visionary leader, a patriotic citizen whose loyalty to one indivisible Nigeria is never in doubt; he is a detribalised Nigerian who is widely accepted, irrespective of religion and tribe across the country. We will support him to make sure he wins,” Haruna adds.

The group also acknowledges that Osinbajo hasn’t yet expressed a desire to throw his hat in the ring ahead of the presidential contest.

Haruna however adds that it will be in the APC’s best interest to cede its presidency ticket to the southern geopolitical region, from where Osinbajo hails.

Other such groups have been vociferous in their desire for an Osinbajo presidency in recent times.

The vice president has remained coy on his political ambitions ahead of the vote, with his team repeatedly stating that he remains primarily focused on helping President Buhari deliver on his electoral promises to Nigerians.

Police directs Area commanders, DPOs to intensify search for missing Vanguard reporter

The Commissioner of Police FCT, Mr Babaji Sunday has said that operatives of the Command are working round the clock to unravel the whereabouts of missing Vanguard House of Representatives Reporter, Mr. Tordue Salem who has been unseen since Wednesfay last week in Abuja.

Mr. Tordue was said to have been seen around the Total Filling Station, opposite the Police headquarters on Wednesday Evening and since then has not been seen again.

Speaking on the development on phone, CP Babaji acknowledged that the matter was reported at the National Assembly Police Station and when he was briefed, he immediately ordered a radio alert to all police divisions and area commands to commence the search for the jourrnalist.

“We are seriously on the matter. However, we have not received any information about any kidnap or demand for ransom. My men have not received any information about any dead corpse either on the road or abandoned corpse from the mortuary. But we are seriously on the matter and searching” he said.

The CP said he was further made to understand that the journalist did not carry his car to the National Assembly complex on that Wednesday, hence there is possibility he may have gone out with some other persons.

He however assured that the Police will not rest on its oars until the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the Journalist is unraveled.

Also, a senior officer at the office of the Inspector General of Police when intimated with the development promised that the IGP will leave no stone unturned in getting at the root of the Vanguard journalists’ disappearance.

The senior offiver said, ,”This matter is noted. We will trace and deal. Will do our possible best to assist the process of unravelling it all. Regards”.

Despite AGF Malami, National Assembly’s Intervention, 16 Army Generals ‘Unjustly Sacked’

Sixteen Army Generals, comprising of nine Major Generals and seven Brigadier Generals, ‘arbitrarily’ sacked by the Nigerian Army in 2016 for not justifiable reasons have been technically eased out of the service.

This is despite the interventions of Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, court orders and the National Assembly.

It was gathered that the affected generals have reached their run out date this year and cannot be reinstated into the military.

The affected military generals were among the 38 Army Officers that were compulsorily retired on 9 June 2016 without any good reason.

Several attempts by AGF Malami to resolve the impasse between the Army Generals and their military authorities were also futile.

According to PRNigeria, the Army Council, then presided by the trio of Mr. Mohammed Mansur Dan-Alli (then Minister for Defence), General AG Olonsakin (then Chief of Defence Staff) and Lt Gen TY Buratai (then Chief of Army Staff) sat and announced the compulsory retirement of the 38 Army officers.

The affected officers ‘technically’ eased out of service while waiting for justice are Major Generals F. O. Alli, E.J. Atewe, I.N. Ijioma, L.C. Ilo, T.C. Ude, L. Wiwa, S.D. Aliyu, M.Y. Ibrahim and O. Ejemai.

The Brigadier Generals arere D. M. Onoyeiveta, A.S.O. Mormoni-Bashir, A.S.H Sa’ad, L.M. Bello, K.A. Essien, B. A. Fiboinumama and I. M. Lawson.

Meanwhile, three brigadier Generals: D. Abdusalam, A. I. Onibasa and G.O. Agachi can still be reinstated as they still have active years to serve.

The announcement of the compulsory retirement of the 38 officers was made via the media even before the affected officers were informed via text.

While announcing the compulsory retirement to the media, the Nigerian Army claimed that the 38 Army officers that were compulsorily retired have been investigated and found professionally corrupt in defence procurement and/or election-related offences in the 2015 General Elections.

But one of the sources familiar with the case stated that none of the 38 Army Officers that were compulsorily retired was ever investigated or court-martialed before their public compulsory retirement.

The source, a senior serving military personnel, who asked not to be named, said: “None of the affected officers was ever at any time before their public compulsory retirement queried, notified of any culpability, or subjected to any military police investigation and none was ever court-martialed – these are the mandatory disciplinary process in the military as recognized by law!

“The Army records will show that none of the 38 Army Officers that were compulsorily retired was ever charged with any infraction in accordance with expressed procedures in Armed Forces Act CAP A20 The Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”

Another source said that after their public retirement, many of the victimized officers wrote to the Army leadership under Lieutenant General Buratai, asking to be furnished with facts that constitute any alleged offense as stated in their respective letters of compulsory retirement, but regrettably, the Army failed to respond to this simple request over 5 years now.

“Some of the affected officers also sent letters of redress to both the Senate and the House of Representatives on the victimization of the 38 Army officers. The Nigerian Congress through their respective Public Petition Committees investigated the matter and were shocked that the Army could not provide any allegation of wrongdoing against the officers whose careers were publicly cut short.

“After their respective investigations of the matter, both Houses had admonished the Nigerian Army over arbitrary disengagement of officers without any wrongdoing and due process and warned that such abuse of office would discourage serving officers and soldiers from giving their full commitment to the service of the nation. Both chambers of the National Assembly further recommended the immediate reinstatement of the affected officers.

“The resolutions were duly forwarded to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Chief of Army Staff, but these resolutions of Congress have been completely ignored which indicates a deliberate pattern of abuse against these innocent officers,” he told PRNigeria.

It was gathered that after the refusal of the Nigerian army to reinstate the officers based on the resolutions of the National Assembly and court orders, Malami, through the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, wrote letters and reminders to the military authorities in October 2019, November 2020 and even in February 2021 seeking clarification “over grave acts of injustice and unlawful compulsory retirement from service Senior Officers.”

Source: Naijanews

Nigerian Air Force pays bandits N20 million to avoid shooting down Buhari’s plane

The gun truck with 12.7 caliber anti-aircraft fire was reportedly disassembled and transported back to the military on motorbikes after the deal was concluded.

The.Nigerian Air Force coordinated ransom payments to armed bandits in exchange for an anti-aircraft gun seized from the Nigerian Army, The Wall Street Journal said, in a desperate deal that was brokered as President Muhammadu Buhari was planning a trip to Katsina.

The U.S. outlet said N20 million was delivered to the bandits in Rugu Forest by a Nigerian Air Force official, who leaked details of the operation under anonymity, because the military realised that it would be too risky to leave the weapon in the hands of violent criminals operating in an area the presidential jet would fly over.

The rugged, lawless jungle that covers parts of Kaduna, Zamfara and the president’s home state of Katsina has served as a vast haven for bandits terrorising Nigeria’s northwestern communities. A large portion of kidnapping plots emanates or terminates in or around the forest, security agencies have previously warned.

“The mission to buy back the antiaircraft gun began with a handoff from a high-ranking air force intelligence officer in the capital Abuja: a black zip-up bag he said was full of 20 million Nigerian naira,” the paper reported, after stating that such military hardware in the hands of bandits “posed a threat to President Muhammadu Buhari, who had been planning to fly to his hometown about 80 miles away.”

The gun truck with 12.7 caliber anti-aircraft fire was reportedly disassembled and transported back to the military on motorbikes after the deal was concluded.

The Journal did not specify when the deal was brokered or the presidential trip that was planned. The president has been in his hometown at least twice this year that his office disclosed to the public. The first trip was in late January and another in July.

Although the Nigerian government claimed combat victories against armed bandits, several military bases have been sacked by the violent criminals dreaded largely for their abduction of schoolchildren and prominent personalities, including politicians and emirs.

Last month, a forward operating base crucial to the military campaign against banditry was raided in Zamfara, leaving at least 12 officers killed. The bandits also seized military equipment when they captured the base in Dansadau, about 80 kilometres south of the capital Gusau, in the September 11 operation.

Less than two weeks later on September 24, bandits again struck a joint base of security forces in the neighbouring Sokoto State, killing several soldiers, Civil Defence officers and civilians.

The Nigerian Air Force also confirmed on July 19 that bandits had shot down one of its fighter jets, but the pilot was able to eject without and there were no casualties. The incident came as Mr Buhari was visiting his hometown for this year’s Sallah.

It was not immediately clear why service chiefs opted for a ransom payment in the operation described by The Journal. Military weapons that fell into the hands of Boko Haram insurgents and bandits were usually destroyed by airstrikes.

Whereas Mr Buhari has promised to be tough on the bandits and publicly railed against governors negotiating with them, his government has been known to pay ransom to terrorists and other violent criminals.

The government paid millions of dollars to free some of the Chibok girls seized in 2014 under President Goodluck Jonathan. It also facilitated hundreds of millions of naira in ransom to bandits who seized schoolchildren in Niger State earlier this year.

The Gazette has yet to hear back from the Nigerian Air Force about the reported N20 million ransom to bandits.

Source: People’s gazette

Seven Dead, Many injured As Customs, Smugglers Clash In Ogun

Seven people are suspected to have been killed, while others have sustained injuries in a gunfight between operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) and smugglers in Ogun state.

The incident occurred in Kobape village, along Abeokuta – Sagamu expressway in Obafemi – Owode local government area.

The Custom operatives from the Federal Operation Unit (FOU) were on routine duties when they stopped some vehicles the smugglers were using to convey large quantities of foreign rice to an unknown destination.

The goods were seized and one of the drivers was arrested. A source told newsmen that things turned sour when the Custom operatives refused to collect bribes from the smugglers while also declining to let the driver go.

The refusal to collect bribes made the smugglers angry thus the fight began and both sides suffered losses. It took the intervention of the Nigerian Army and police to diffuse the situation.

The Public Relations Officer, FOU Zone A, Theophilus Duniya revealed that two of the smugglers lost their lives in the gunfight while two custom operatives were injured.

He said: “Customs patrol team from Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Lagos was attacked without provocation on Saturday afternoon during an operation along Shagamu Inter-change in Ogun State.

“The patrol team had intercepted twelve vehicles of different kinds, laden with bags of foreign parboiled rice and were on their way to the government warehouse before smugglers mobilized themselves with the support of their sympathizers and attacked the team with dangerous weapons.

“During the exchange of gun fire, two of the attackers lost their lives and one suspect was arrested. Out of 12 vehicles in the convoy of the smugglers , our operatives were able to leave with 4 of them laden with smuggled foreign parboiled rice

“The arrested suspect and the seizure have been brought to the Unit Headquarters, Ikeja”.

Voice Note Of Kpokpogri Allegedly Confessing To Having S3x With Janemena Leaks

A voice note of Prince Kpokpogri allegedly confirming that he had sex with Janemena while she was married has been released.
It was earlier reported that Janemena sued Tonto Dikeh for N500m for character defamation and cyber stalking.

She maintained in her suit that according to Tonto’s statements she had sex recently with Kpokpogri as a married woman and he was also in possession of her sex tape and could use it to blackmail her at any point in time .

Jane demanded for a retraction of Tonto’s statement which is to be publish in four dailies in Nigeria.

In response to the lawsuit Tonto revealed that a sex tape actually exist and also revealed that Jane was privately begging her to save her marriage.

A back and forth began which involved Jane daring Tonto to leak the alleged tape and also stating that she never begged the Nollywood actress to save her marriage but simply spoke to a friend of hers known as Doris.

The scandal continued with Doris speaking up to collaborate Tonto’s story and revealing that there was actually a sex tape.

In recent development, an audio recording allegedly containing a conversation between a man who is alleged to be Kpokpogri and a woman, also alleged to be Janemena, has been leaked.

Listen to the audio

https://www.societygazetteng.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/245760844_399746688282819_5517939160735009635_n.mp4?_=1

Source: Naijanews

Abducted Zamfara Emir regains freedom after 32 days in captivity

The Emir of Bungudu, Zamfara state, has been freed after 32 days in captivity. Themonarch who was abducted on Kaduna-Abuja road was released on Saturday, October 16.

His release was confirmed by a relative, Gazali Shehu Ahmad, who is also a Special Adviser to Zamfara State Governor on Strategy.

The traditional ruler, Hassan Atto was kidnapped on his way to Abuja on the 15th of September.

Confirming his release, Ahmad stated on his Facebook page:

“On behalf of the family and Bungudu Emirate, we wish to thank everyone for the prayers and support during this trying time,” Ahmad said on Facebook, on behalf of the family and Bungudu emirate.

“We appreciate all the efforts of Kaduna State Government throughout this challenging period.

“Our immense gratitude to the Zamfara State Government in playing a key role to see our father returned home safely.”

“We salute the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) for the support in facilitating the release of the Emir.

“We wish to plead with the public to respect the privacy of the Emir in the coming weeks as he receives medical attention and post-trauma management.”

Mr Atto was the Secretary to the Government of Zamfara State during Governor Abdulaziz Yari’s tenure before he was turbaned the Emir of Bungudu.

Prophet Joshua Iginla Set To Bury Mother In Grand Style

The General Overseer of Champions Royal Assembly, Prophet Joshua Iginla is set to bury his beloved mother, Dcns. Mrs Lasisi Iginla in grandstyle. She slept in the Lord on Thursday, 15th of April, 2021.

The funeral arrangements for mother of the internationally acclaimed prophet Iginla have been pegged to be a three-day event starting from Friday, 29th – Sunday, 31st of October, 2021.

Several dignitaries from home and abroad are also expected at this special funeral event to celebrate the life and times of Mama Iginla who lived an exemplary life.

While announcing her death, Prophet Joshua Iginla described her as the queen of peace and love, while revealing the many great qualities he got from her

‘’ The Queen of peace and love , the vehicle that brought me to the world. You are my hero of childhood mum. You held my hands when I was small, you caught me when I fell and you taught me love, forgiveness and how to be a giver.

I remember your last word mum, today you have gone to be with the Lord. Death takes the body. God takes the soul and the spirit. Our mind holds your memories. Our heart keeps your love. Our faith let us know, we will meet you again.

Your 83years on earth was a blessing. Your memory a treasure. I love you mum forever.’’