Tension In Abuja As UK Law Firm Moves To Take Over Nnamdi Kanu Case

 

The Muhammadu Buhari-led administration would have to brace themselves for more legal fireworks following the arrest and extradition of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Reports have emerged that the British High Commission and a law firm in London, Bindmans, have sought the consent of Nnamdi Kanu to take up his case.

According to the IPOB leader’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, he delivered two forms to Kanu on Wednesday during a visit to the office of the Department of State Services (DSS), where he is being detained.

Ejimakor told The PUNCH that the development would open up a new chapter in the trial of Kanu, adding that the Nigerian government would be served with summons to bring him to the United Kingdom, where another case would be heard over the manner of his rendition to Nigeria.

He said, “I went to visit him on Wednesday and went with two forms. One was the consular consent form that the British High Commission required that he signs to consent to consular assistance. There was also a form from his counsel in the UK. The firm is known as Bindmans, one of the largest law firms in the UK.

“The forms will open a whole new chapter of legality, including the filing of a Writ of Mandamus, against the Nigerian government in a UK court to compel it to produce Kanu, because his detention is illegal under the British law. It was an extraordinary rendition, which is an international crime by which a state kidnaps a suspect or a fugitive without the due process of law.

“They will be filing all these processes in the UK and there is a prospect of a UK court assuming universal jurisdiction or extra-territorial jurisdiction and reaching into Kenya so that they can arrest every Kenyan official, either authorised or not, and every Nigerian official involved in this case.”

According to the lawyer of the pro-Biafra activist, the DSS collected the forms, saying they must first go through the vetting of its legal unit.

Ejimakor stated that he had yet to be contacted by the DSS despite being told that he would collect them on Thursday.

South Africa Unrest: death toll from violent Protests rises to 117

South Africa Unrest: death toll from violent Protests rises to 117

 

Residents clean rubble and debris from the streets in Alexandra township after protests and unrest linked to the jailing of former President Jacob Zuma, in Johannesburg, South Africa. © Reuters

The death toll from violent protests in South Africa has risen to 117 with more than 2,000 arrests.

Days of unrest have left a trail of devastation in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces, with officials saying 800 retailers have been targeted.

Several clinics and schools have also been vandalised.

During clean-up operations in streets and shopping centres on Thursday, more bodies were discovered.

But authorities are confident that they have turned the corner in dealing with the mayhem.

An additional 5,000 soldiers were deployed on Thursday – to join the 2,500 deployed on Monday.

But KwaZulu-Natal, where the unrest began following the jailing last week of ex-President Jacob Zuma, remains volatile.

Johannesburg, the main city in Gauteng, is relatively calm, though the threat is far from over.

The BBC has seen vigilante groups there working with police to guard their local malls as looters mobilised themselves in the distance.

Elsewhere long lines have formed outside food shops, following shortages caused by the plundering.

 

See List Of APC Senators That Voted Against Electronic Transmission Of Election Results

See List Of APC Senators That Voted Against Electronic Transmission Of Election Results

Members of the All Progressives Congress in the Senate on Thursday voted against electronic transmission of results.

The Committee had, in the report, recommended in Section 52(3) that, INEC “may transmit results of elections by electronic means where and when practicable.”

But an APC senator from Niger North, Sabi Abdullahi, amended the clause to read, “INEC may consider electronic collation of results, provided the national network coverage is adjudged to be adequate and secured by the Nigerian Communications Commission and approved by the National Assembly.”
Members of the Committee on Communications had earlier informed the chamber that the NCC had declared that only 43 per cent of the country was currently under effective telecommunications coverage.

Senate President, Ibrahim Lawan, ruled in favour of the amendment when he conducted a voice vote.

There was a disagreement and the Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, called for a division which would require individual voting on the floor.

Lawan sustained Abaribe’s point of order and called for a division.

At the end of the poll, 88 senators voted, while 28 were not available to vote.

The outcome of the election showed that 52 APC senators, including the chairman of the Senate INEC committee, Kabiru Gaya, voted against the panel’s report, which gives the electoral umpire the sole power to determine the practicability of electronic transmission of results.

The Peoples Democratic Party members on the floor all voted in favour of electronic transmission of results by INEC without interference from either the NCC or the National Assembly.

The APC members, while casting their votes against the amendment, attributed their decision to the claim of the NCC that only 43 per cent of the country has network coverage.

The PDP senators, on the other hand, said allowing the NCC and the National Assembly to meddle in the affairs of INEC will affect the integrity of the polls

 

Here’s a list of how the lawmakers voted:

A COMPILATION OF SENATORS VOTE FOR OR AGAINST ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF ELECTION RESULTS (A few names still missing)

Robert Ajayi Boroffice YES

Surajudeen Basiru NO

Adenugba Fadahunsi YES

Clifford Ordia YES

Matthew Urhoghide YES

Francis Alimikhena NO

Kola Balogun YES

Ezekiel Ayuba NO

Abubakar Kyari NO

Gyang Istifanus YES

Senator Gyagung Ladi NO

George Sekibo YES

Ali Ndume NO

Opeyemi Bamidele NO

Biodun Olujimi YES

Mpigi Barinada YES

Betty Apiafi YES

Gobir Abdullahi NO

Abdullahi Danbaba NO

Philip Aduda YES

Chukwuka Utazi YES

Mohammed Goje NO

Danbaba YES

Yusuf Yusuf NO

Isa Shuaibu Lau NO

Mohammed Goje NO

Bomai Ibrahim Mohammed NO

Francis Onyewuchi YES

Yau Sahabi NO

Uba Sani NO

Danjuma La’ah YES

Kabiru Gaya NO

Ishaku Elisha Abo NO

Baba Kaita NO

Adamu Aliero NO

Yahaya Abdullahi NO

Yakubu Oseni NO

Isa Jibrin NO

Smart Adeyemi NO

Ibrahim Oloriegbe NO

Oluremi Tinubu NO

Solomon Adeola NO

Tanko Al-Makura NO

Godiya Akwashiki NO

Abdullahi Adamu NO

Musa Mohammed Sani NO

Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi NO

Bima Enagi NO

Patrick Akinyelure YES

FINAL VOTE FIGURES ON ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION

AYES: 28
NAYS: 52
ABSENT: 28
ABSTAIN: 0
TOTAL VOTES: 80
TOTAL NO. OF REGISTERED SENATORS: 109

(as announced by Clerk of Senate and validated by Senate President, Ahmad Lawan)

 

Lagos Assembly Backs Southern Governors On Rotational Presidency, Others

Lagos Assembly Backs Southern Governors On Rotational Presidency, Others

Lagos Assembly

 

Members of the Lagos Assembly on Thursday declared their support for the resolutions reached by the southern governors at a recent meeting held in Lagos.

 

 

The governors had demanded that the south produces the next president of the country while also declaring that they should be informed of any operation likely to be carried out in their states by security and law enforcement agencies.

 

 

While supporting the unity of the country, the governors condemned what they called selective administration of the criminal justice. Among other demands, they called for the establishment of state police.

 

 

In a motion moved by Hon. Akeem Shokunle (Oshodi/Isolo 1) of the Lagos Assembly under ‘Matter of Urgent Public importance’, the lawmakers agreed to commend the governors for the efforts they have made so far for the progress of the country.

 

 

The Lagos Assembly is also called on Speakers and lawmakers of the concerned States in the southern part of the country to support the demands of the governors.

 

 

Concluding the debate on the matter, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, said: “We need to commend the southern governors for their efforts to resolve issues troubling our unity. This is the second time they are meeting. Every point in their communique is important.”

 

 

Obasa said the governors are supposed to be the chief security officers, yet they are rendered powerless in relation to security of their states.

 

 

The Speaker said that it was important that the resolutions of the governors on rotational presidency, state police, ban on open grazing, sharing of resources to the states and others should be accepted by the Federal Government.

 

 

Earlier, lawmakers who contributed to the debate, commended the unity among the southern governors urging them not to relent.

 

 

The Speaker later directed the Clerk of the House, Mr. Olalekan Onafeko, to inform the Chairman of Southern Governors Forum, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state, President Muhammadu Buhari and members of the National Assembly about the position of the House.

 

 

Meanwhile, the lawmakers on Monday held a minute silence in honour of Sumbo Ajose, treasurer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State who reportedly died on Tuesday.

 

 

Speaker Obasa, while commiserating with the family of the deceased and the party, said the late Ajose was a loyal party member adding that her death remained a huge loss to the APC.

 

 

The Speaker also used the opportunity to advise his colleagues to live their lives ensuring they serve well in whatever capacities they find themselves.

Breaking: Gunmen Murder Army Major General In Abuja, Abducts Wife

Breaking: Gunmen Murder Army Major General In Abuja, Abducts Wife

The former Provost Marshal of the Nigerian Army, Maj Gen Hassan Ahmed, has been assassinated in Abuja.
It was gathered that the military officer was killed on Thursday night in the Abaji area.

A further report revealed that the gunmen also abducted his wife.

A source close to the family that spoke with Daily Post disclosed that the couple were coming from Okene when they were attacked.

“They opened fire on his vehicle, he died. The driver pretended to be dead from the wound he sustained, so they took the wife away”, the informant said.

The Chief of Army Staff, Faruk Yahaya recently appointed Ahmed a Director at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

Buhari Appoints Jega, Udoma, Others As Governing Council Chairmen

Buhari Appoints Jega, Udoma, Others As Governing Council Chairmen

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of a former chairman of INEC, Prof Attahiru Jega and Senator Victor Udo Ndoma-Egba as Chairmen of the Governing Councils of the University of Jos and Bayero University, Kano.
Their appointments followed the reconstitution of the Governing Councils of 19 Federal universities and four inter-university centres.

Society gazette reports that the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu performed the inauguration exercise at the National Universities Commission (NUC).

Also appointed are: University of Benin (Dr Sonny Kuku Chairman); Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (Malam Adamu Fika – Chairman); University of Ilorin ( Malam Abidu Yazid – Chairman); Bayero University, Kano (Sen Udoma Udo Udoma – Chairman); University of Abuja (Prof Ahmed Mohammed Modibbo – Chairman); University of Nigeria, Nsukka (Chief Ikechi Emenike – Chairman); University of Maiduguri (Ballama Manu – Chairman); Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Efurun, Delta state (Prof Anthony Gozie Anwuka); University of Jos (Prof Attahiru Jega – Chairman); Federal University of Technology, Owerri (Sen Jack Tilley Gyado – Chairman); University of Uyo (Barr Njideka Bernedette Nwachukwu – Chairman); University of Calabar (Gen Martin Luther Agwai rtd- Chairman) and Modibo Adamawa University (Alhj Bashir Dalhatu – Chairman).

Others are: Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (Ibrahim Ida – Chairman); National Open University of Nigeria (Peter Okebukola – Chairman); Nnamdi Azikiwe Univeristy, Awka (Prof Sulyman Alege Kuranga – Chairman); Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi (Bukar Goni Aji Chairman); and Federal University of Technology, Akure ( Amb Dr. Godknows Igali – Chairman).

The government also presented the new Pro-chancellor and Chairman of Council of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State.

Speaking at the inauguration, Adamu asked the Governing Councils to take control and exercise their rights and not to allow outside influence in the selection process of new Vice-Chancellors of their respective institutions.

Adamu warned the Council members that President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the visitor to the Federal Universities, will not hesitate to dismiss any Council found to be corrupt or incompetent.

 

Journalist, Two Others Killed As Armed Robbers Attacks Bank In Ondo

Journalist, Two Others Killed As Armed Robbers Attacks Bank In Ondo

Armed robbers on Thursday afternoon attacked a commercial bank in Ilara-Mokin, Ifedore LGA of Ondo State, killing three persons, including Olubunmi Afuye, an Ondo-based journalist.

The late Afuye, who was inside his car when the robbers stormed the bank, was hit by a stray bullet.

Afuye was the Public Relations Officer of Elizade University, which is in the town where the robbery took place.

Before his appointment as the university spokesman, he worked at the state-owned Orange FM, Akure.

A policeman and one other person were also gunned down in the attack which has thrown residents into panic.

A resident of the town told SaharaReporters that the robbers came to the bank around 3 pm and shot into the air to scare those within the vicinity of the bank.

The resident said the robbers used dynamite to blow open the entrance and carted away an unspecified amount of money.

“Bank staff and customers who were around for one thing or the other scampered to safety. There was confusion everywhere,” the resident said.

“A journalist, policeman, and motorcyclist were killed by the gunmen.”

Senate Confirms Prof Adam As INEC National Commissioner

Senate Confirms Prof Adam As INEC National Commissioner

The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Prof. Sani Adam for appointment as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to represent North Central.
Recall that the Senate had stepped down the confirmation of Professor Sani Adam because of the petitions against him.

But his confirmation on Thursday followed consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on INEC, which was presented by the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Kabiru Gaya (Kano South).

Gaya, in his report, said: “After a thorough investigation into the petition against the nominee (Adam), the Committee found out that the petition against him was paltry and that the reason for the termination (not dismissal as alleged by the petitioner) was not based on gross misconduct but on rationalisation policy of the Federal Government.

“The court judgement was based on whether or not his appointment should have been terminated and this has nothing to do with his integrity or moral uprightness.”

Society gazette reports that the Senate on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of five National Commissioners for INEC.

The nominees of President Muhammadu Buhari, who were confirmed were, Prof. Muhammad Sani Kallah (Katsina); Prof. Kunle Ajayi ( Ekiti); and Saidu Ahmad (Jigawa), Baba Bila (North East) and Abdullahi Zuru (North- West).

 

No Room For Criminals in Lagos As Odumosu Arrests 66 Suspects

No Room For Criminals in Lagos As Odumosu Arrests 66 Suspects

 

Odumosu

Hakeem Odumosu led Lagos State Police Command has arrested 66 armed robbers within two months in the State.

 

This was made known on Wednesday when the State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu paraded some arrested alleged criminals at the Command headquarters.

 

 

During the parade, the CP emphasized that there is no room for criminals in the State.

Odumosu stated further that securing life and properties is their priority.

 

 

He unveiled how they have been tackling insecurity in less than three months as 66 Armed Robbers, others were arrested.
The paraded suspects were arrested in various locations across the state with arms and ammunition.

 

 

One of the suspects, Ridwan Akeem told NAOSRE that truly he is a cultists along with others in Eye confraternity and they are using gun to protect themselves because they have other opponents with whom they exchange guns together during battles.
He confirmed that the police did not lie against them saying that they are truly cultists.

 

 

Ishola Ibrahim, another suspect also said he was arrested for armed robbery.
He said he gives information to robbers adding that the police didn’t lie against him.

 

 

Meanwhile in the summary of the Lagos command achievements, 66 Armed Robbers, 110 Arms Recovered, 125 Ammunition, 72 cultists re-arrested, 620 Miscreants, others were arrested from May 1st to July 13th

How 6 Finalists Will Emerge from FirstBank’s Sponsored The Voice Nigeria Season 3 Second Live Show

How 6 Finalists Will Emerge from FirstBank’s Sponsored The Voice Nigeria Season 3 Second Live Show

By Israel Bolaji

 

Six finalists are expected to emerge through the viewers votes following the second live show of the FirstBank Sponsored The Voice Nigeria Season 3.

 

UN1TY Limited and Livespot360, producers of the global talents reality series, explained how to vote on the voice Nigeria season 3, sponsored by FirstBank, Baba Ijebu and Airtel.

 

To keep their favourite vocalists on the show, viewers have to dial *894*7*talent’s code#.

 

To know the voting code of your preferred contestant to save, visit the Bank’s official Instagram handle and get voting:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CRPIjiBL4CF/?utm_medium=copy_link

  •  Voting closes tonight 

The International talents reality series designed to discover and harness music talents in Nigeria is in its third season in Nigeria. Scores of vocalists have performed on the highly competitive show but dropped out going through the Auditions, Blinds, Knockouts, Battles and Live Shows stages.

 

With an electrifying mix of pulsating musical performances, music training, glamorous fashion and life enriching entertainment, the The Voice Nigeria 3 continues to glitter to the very grand finale

Voting opens on Saturday at 9:00pm and closes at 11:59pm on Thursdays.

 

Lead show sponsor, FirstBank in a statement by its Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Folake Ani-Mumuney, reiterated that The Voice Nigeria 3 is a Reality TV show designed to discover and promote talented singers to actualise their dreams of becoming international stars which aligns with FirstBank’s commitment to providing a platform for nurturing and showcasing talents and driving social cohesion.

 

So what are you waiting for, get voting so your favourite is among the six victorious vocalists with the highest votes that would be expected to perform selected songs and keep hope alive for the grand finale as they face the third live show by the weekend.

 

 

More details on the show is on https://www.firstbanknigeria.com/the-voice-nigeria/

Exit mobile version