Killing of paramilitary commander: Iraqi court orders arrest of Trump as invasion of US congress by pro-Trump rioters dies

An arrest warrant has been issued for the outgoing president of the United States of America, Donald Trump.

The warrant was issued by a court in Baghdad, Iraq on Thursday, January 7, as part of its investigation into the killing of top Iraqi paramilitary commander, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in 2020, Forbes reported.

President Donald Trump speaks at the "Stop The Steal" Rally on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC. Photo by Tasos Katopodis

Al-Muhandis was killed in a targeted US drone strike alongside Iranian Revolutionary Guard general, Qassem Soleimani, outside the Iraqi capital’s airport in January last year.

The US president later disclosed that he ordered the strike on the motorcade that killed the two men.

“Was made after the judge recorded the statements of the claimants from the family of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis."According to Aljazeera, the court said the decision to issue the warrant:

The warrant was issued under Article 406 of the penal code which provides for the death penalty in all cases of premeditated murder.

The order by the Baghdad court comes after Iran issued its own arrest requests, via the international police agency Interpol over the drone strike that killed Iranian general, Qassim Soleimani.

A Tehran prosecutor, Ali Alqasimehr, accused Trump, and more than 30 others of being involved in the attack that killed the general.

In a related news a yet to be identified woman was shot inside the US Capitol on Wednesday, January 6, when pro-Trump rioters invaded the building to stop the certification of Joe Biden's victory by Vice President Mike Pence and lawmakers.

CNN reports that the woman was pronounced dead at an area hospital, citing a statement from the Metropolitan Police Department's spokesperson.

Trump Supporters Hold "Stop The Steal" Rally In DC Amid Ratification Of Presidential Election Photo credit: Samuel Corum

The police spokesperson, Dustin Sternbeck, was quoted to have said the woman was pronounced at an area hospital.

Sternbeck added that further details will soon be released as the police have started investigating the death.

Reacting to the development, the US president-elect, Joe Biden, asked President Trump to go on national television to demand an end to the siege by his supporters.

Meanwhile, President Trump has called on Americans protesting in his support at the US Capitol to be peaceful.

The American leader in a series of tweets via his official Twitter handle on Wednesday, January 6, urged the people not to be violent.

Trump in reaction to the protesters breaching of the US Capitol appealed to the people to respect the law and officers in blue uniforms.

In another report, Mick Mulvaney, President Donald Trump’s former chief of staff and current special envoy to Northern Ireland has resigned.

CNN reported he told CNBC in an interview this morning that he called Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last night and resigned.

He called Pompeo on Wednesday, January 6, to notify him of his resignation, stressing that he could no longer stay
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Panic as fire guts petrol tanker in Lagos state

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A tanker explosion has occurred on both lanes around Toyota bus-stop inwards mile 2, along Oshodi/Apapa expressway in Lagos state.

Social media posts seen  suggest emergency response teams are already on ground to control the inferno.

The incident is said to have caused huge traffic along the axis as many motorists have been caught-up close to the accident scene.

Governor Sanwo-Olu. Photo credit: @jidesanwoolu

Cases of fire outbreaks in Lagos state have become a perennial problem in recent times.Some residents say the incident happened close to a fire station hence the quick response from firefighters.

Many people have faulted the responsiveness of fire services and emergency first responders in the country, who have been reputed to always arrive late and without sufficient equipment to the scene of fire incidents.

There have also been renewed calls for the federal and state governments to adequately fund the fire department and emergency agencies, while the culture of insuring properties is not imbibed by Lagos residents to mitigate the damage and misery of the misfortune.

Experts say incessant cases of fatal fires in Lagos state resulting in loss of lives and property has resulted in huge economic losses.

Two months ago, a tanker explosion that took place at the Mile 2 area of Lagos led to the destruction of at least 4 vehicles.

The tanker exploded with large flames near Fatgbems Fuel Station, along Apapa -Oshodi Expressway, burning at least three other vehicles close by.The tragedy struck when a tanker laden with petrol overturned as it tried to avoid potholes but landed on the road around the Lacasera spot outwards Mile- 2 Oke.

Around the same period, an accident at the Kara end of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway involving a fuel-laden tanker went up in flames overnight.

The tanker spilt its contents on the road and on another truck while other cars were not spared as they also got burnt.

Anthony Joshua drops retirement hints

 

Two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has hinted he is gradually drawing closer to the end of his boxing career.

The 31-year-old currently holds the WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO titles having won 24 of his 25 professional fights so far.

He recently defended his titles against mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev where he ended the bout in the ninth round.

Since he won the IBF heavyweight world title in 2016, the Watford-born boxer of Nigerian descent has never looked back after adding the WBA crown to his collection in 2017 and then picked up the WBO a year later as reported by Talk Sport.

Joshua's only defeat came when he was beaten by Andy Ruiz Jr in the summer of 2019 but bounced back to triumph six months later in a rematch staged in Saudi Arabia.

Anthony Joshua and Kubrat Pulev show the spirit of sportsmanship after their heavyweight bout last year. Photo by Andrew Couldridge/PA Images.

"This isn’t the start of my career. I’m coming towards the end of my career. I’m not someone who lives in the moment and thinks that everything is just for now. I’m always planning ahead so I’m coming towards the end of my career.

“Five years left and that’s basically an Olympic cycle. I’ve got an Olympic cycle and a little bit more left. So when you see the next Olympics happen is when I’ll be coming to the end of my career and the next generation will be coming through.”

Joshua has been tipped to face countryman Tyson Fury in a unified heavyweight bout where the winner takes all. He, however, said this about the Gypsy King earlier:

Odion Ighalo sends q big message to ex-Premier League club ahead of cup game this weekend

“Fury has been professional much longer than me. He should be looking to retire soon. If he wants to cement his legacy, I’m here and ready.”

Following his victory over Kubrat Pulev, British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua has moved to number one position in the latest Ring Magazine Heavyweight Ranking.

Joshua brutally stopped Pulev in round 9 of their epic bout at the 02 Arena in London on December 12 to defend his WBA, WBO and IBF titles.

In the latest ranking, Joshua secured his No.1 position in The Ring Magazine's rankings, behind Tyson Fury who's still The Ring Magazine champion.

Elon Musk beats Jeff Bezos to become richest person on planet

 After several months, Elon Musk of Tesla has finally become the richest man on the planet, displaying Amazon Boss Jeff Bezos.

What made that possible was a 4.8% share price increase of Tesla Inc on Thursday, December 17, which secured Elon’s first place amond the world’s 500 richest people, Bloomberg reports.

As of 10:15 am, the co-owner of the electronic car company was worth $188.5 billion as he made a gain of $1.5 billion over the Amazon chief.

Recall that the businessman was projected to soon become the richest person in the world as he trailed Jeff Bezos after his net worth soared to $184.5billion (N70,331,400,000,000.01).

It was gathered that Tesla's stock price jumped 4.9% on Wednesday, January 6, making it possible for Musk to trail Bezos by $3 billion (N1,143,600,000).

It should be noted that Bezos has held the position since October 2017. The new richest man is also his strong competitor with his SpaceX in the private space business.

One of the things that also contributed to that was how Tesla stock price rose by 743% in 2020, a year that marked a streak of continuous profit for him.Over several months, Musk, like other billionaires who got stupendously richer during the pandemic, had his net worth grow by $150 billion.

In similar news, Facebook founder's, Mark Zuckerberg, wealth passed a $100 billion (N37,900,000,000,000) mark for the first time on Thursday, August 6, 2020 after his company Facebook Inc hit a record profit after the release of Reels.

Zuckerberg joined the league of centibillionaires of Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates. It should be noted that his fortune largely comes from his 13% stake in Facebook.

This development adds to the fact that American tech titans have had their fortune take a huge surge this year as the coronavirus pandemic makes people conduct their activities online more than before.

Confusion: NERC. Minister disagree over electricity tariff hike - Mamman, Keyamo speaks out

 

The federal government has asked the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to revert back to the old electricity tariffs.

This was contained in a statement issued by the minister of power, Engineer Saleh Mamman on Thursday, January 7.

Minister of Power  PhotoEngr.Saleh Mamman. Photo credit: @EngrSMamman

Part of the statement read:

“The Nigerian government continues to fully subsidise 55% of on-grid consumers in bands D and E and maintain the lifeline tariff for the poor and underprivileged.

“These measures are all aimed at cushioning the effects of the pandemic while providing more targeted interventions for citizens.”“Those citizens have experienced no changes to tariff rates from what they have paid historically (aside from the recent minor inflation and forex adjustment). Partial subsidies were also applied for bands A, B, and C in October 2020.

The last few days have been filled with confusion with the constant back and forth concerning the tariffs.

The minister's direct intervention is expected to douse the tension the news has generated in the last few days.

Hours after new electricity tariff was introduced by the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the minister of state for labour and employment, Festus Keyamo, has said that the government never approved the hike in the tariff.

Channels TV reports that the minister explained on Tuesday, January 5, that what was done was to adjust certain bands and to ensure that persons who are supposed to be on some bands are not wrongly put on some other bands.

 Keyamo's position was contrary to a statement by NERC issued earlier on Tuesday, January 5, admitting that the rates for service bands A, B, C, D, and E have been “adjusted” by N2 to N4 per kilowatt-hour (KWH).

The agency had said that the adjustment was aimed at reflecting the partial impact of inflation and movement in forex.

The minister of state for labour and employment, Festus Keyamo, Photo . Credit: @fkeyamo

Keyamo, who is the chairman of the sub-committee mandated to go round the country to interact with stakeholders and the discos to find a cost-effective tariff that Nigerians can pay, maintained that there has been no increase in tariff.

Meanwhile, we previously reported that amid outrage that the federal government approved a fresh hike in electricity tariff, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) refuted the report of a 50% increment.

It was reported that the commission in a series of tweets via its Twitter handle @NERCNG on Tuesday, January 5, said no approval was granted for such an increase that took effect on January 1, 2021. 

But, some Nigerians say the confusion over the matter suggests there is no coordination between the ministry of power and the agencies under its purview.

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NLC says it will embark on industrial resistance over electricity tariff increase

 

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has reacted angrily to reports on the increase in electricity tariff by the Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The union in a statement  on Wednesday, January 6, threatened to call for an industrial resistance if the new tariff is not reversed.

NLC said it is opposed to any tariff increase. Photo: @NLCHeadquarters

The president of the union, Ayuba Wabba, accused the federal government of trying to further imperil the local economy with the tariff hike.

He said:

"This increase would be the umpteenth time in a space of less than one year. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) vehemently condemns this attempt to start the year 2021 for Nigerians on the grinding stone.

The NLC president said it is questionable that NERC denied any new increase in tariff but announced that electricity tariff would be adjusted from N2 per kilowatt/hour to N4 per kilowatt/hour – a 100% tariff increase."It is even colder that this tariff increase was announced without recourse to the negotiation process that the government and organised labour in Nigeria signed up to about three months ago."

Wabba stated that the announcement by NERC was contrary to the agreement the government signed with the NLC.

The organised labour asked the government to stop the new tariff or face opposition from Nigerian workers.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has been tagged a betrayer. This is the position of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC).

The union was reacting to the recent hike in electricity tariff approved by the NERC, Channels TV reported.

This is contained in a statement signed by TUC President, Comrade Quadri A. Olaleye. He said the government increased the tariff despite the fact negotiations were still ongoing with organised labour over the issue.

NIN: Nigerians must pay N15,000 to correct details, says NIMC

 The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) on Tuesday, January 5, announced that Nigerians who wish to make corrections on their National Identity Number (NIN) will have to pay some charges.

Funmi Opensanwo, the NIMC regional coordinator in Alausa, Lagos made this known, adding that correction will attract N15,000.

According to her, modification of name and address attract N5,000 as the same goes with other services like card renewal.

NIMC says correction of date of birth will attract N15,000. Credit: NIMC website /Adobe stock.

What may attract charges?

As observed, these modifications attract charges.

1. Correction of name and address - N5,000.

2. Renewal or replacement of NIN plastic card - N5,000

3. Correction or change of date of birth - N15,000.

Why the charge?

According to NIMC regional coordinator, the charges which are payable to the Treasury Single Account (TSA) of the federal government, “are for services and (things) to be corrected."

"For the date of birth correction, there is a processing fee of N15,000. For card renewal or card replacement, there is a processing fee of N5,000. For the modification of address or name, it is N500. So, people misconstrue this to mean that in NIMC they are asking them to pay money. No, those are for services.”She further clarified on the charges:

Background

It will be recalled that the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) mandated the telecommunications operators across the country to block all the SIM cards not linked with NIN.

Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC director of public affairs, made this disclosure on Tuesday, December 15, in a statement in Abuja.

Adinde said the new rule applies to new Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards, stressing that those not linked with NIN will be disconnected in two weeks time.

NIN: Stress-free steps to download NIMC mobile app, print national identity card online (photo)

Downloading NIMC mobile app

Meanwhile. NIMC said it has launched a mobile app in a consolidated effort towards encouraging Nigerians to enrol for the NIN.

The technical assistant, information technology to the Ministry of Communication, Femi Adeluyi, made this known in a statement issued on the night of Thursday, December 31, 2020, in Abuja.

He said the development was part of the federal government’s policy to improve the process of obtaining NIN and linking it to Subscribers Identification Module (SIM), and also aligning with the national digital economy policy for a digital Nigeria.

Offa robbery: We were threatened to implicate Saraki, petitioners open up

 

The Kwara state judicial panel of inquiry on the EndSARS protest continued its sitting on Wednesday, January 6, in Ilorin, the state capital.

Two petitioners narrated how they were tortured and humiliated by men of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The petitioners, Alhaji Kehinde Gobir and Alhaji Shuaib Jawando, who accused the SARS officers of the alleged high depth of impunity and human rights abuses, said they were arrested for alleged involvement on April 5, 2018, in Offa robbery incident.

The petitioners, who said they spent over 73 days in police detention in both Ilorin and Abuja, added that the police accused them of collecting guns from the former Senate president, Bukola Saraki, to allegedly participate in the robbery operation.

Bukola Saraki . Credit: @bukolasaraki

They, however, denied being used by Saraki for criminal activities, telling the panel that they were tortured and subjected to dehumanising conditions in both Ilorin and Abuja police detentions.

The petitioners said they were only political supporters of the former Senate president, adding that the police threatened them to implicate Saraki during their alleged ordeal in detention.

They also accused the disbanded SARS officers of confiscating their property, which includes two Toyota Corolla, handsets and N250,000 collected before they were granted bail.

The petitioners said:

“In view of the foregoing and in the interest of justice, we urge your esteemed office to intervene swiftly to this situation by returning our property as this action is tantamount to infringement on the fundamental human rights to be enjoyed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

The police counsel, Adekunle Iwalaye, in his response, urged the panel to dismiss the petitions in their entirety.“We did not participate in any crime nor involve in any Offa robbery killing or having any criminal records whatsoever as being wrongfully alleged by the SARS officers. We urge the panel to do the needful by facilitating the quick recovery of our property.”

The chairman of the panel, retired Justice Tunde Garba, later adjourned the matter to January 13, 2021.

Electricity tariff: No 50% increase, we only raised kilowatt from N2 to N4, says NERC -Nigerians react over new tariff

 

Amid outrage that the federal government approved a fresh hike in electricity tariff, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has refuted the report of a 50% increment.

Our source gathered that the commission in a series of tweets via its Twitter handle @NERCNG on Tuesday, January 5, said no approval was granted for such an increase that took effect on January 1, 2021.

The commission further noted that no 50% increment was approved in the tariff order for electricity distribution companies.

The NERC explained that it only raised the kilowatt rates for service bands A, B, C, D, and E from N2 to N4 to reflect the partial impact of inflation and movement in forex.

NERC says it did not approve a 50 per cent increase in electricity tariff. Photo credit: George Osodi

Though both the federal government and labour unions once  temporarily agreed to subsidized the electricity tariff for three months following the massive outrage over the new tariff.

The resolution was reached at the end of a long meeting of the ad-hoc technical committee on electricity tariff between representatives of the federal government, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

This was made known in a communique released by the minister of state for labour and employment, Festus Keyamo, in a series of tweets via his Twitter account @fkeyamo on Monday, October 12, 2020.

In a related development, after sealing a deal with organised labour, the federal government on Thursday, October 29, 2020, said the collection of Service-Based Electricity Tariffs (SBT) will resume.

The federal government had suspended the new electricity tariff following a massive outrage capped by the partially aborted nationwide protest of the organised labours.This development was confirmed by Ahmad Zakari, the special adviser on infrastructure to President Muhammadu Buhari, during the 51st virtual Power Dialogue in Abuja, organised by Nigeria Electricity Hub.

Electricity consumers have reacted angrily to a report that the federal government approved a fresh hike in electricity tariff.

The report which emanated on Tuesday, January 5, stated that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) approved over 50% hike in electricity tariff payable by customers of the 11 distribution companies (Discos).

However, the report has generated huge backlash from Nigerians who faulted the decision.

A check  on Facebook showed that majority of comments were opposed to the increase.

A section of the commentators wondered why the government would increase electricity tariffs twice in less than six months.

Others who reacted to the issue said they would take advantage of solar power to reduce the amount they spend on electricity.

Dauda Birma: Powerful northern leader dies at 80

 

Alhaji Dauda Birma, a former minister of education, has breathed his last.

The late Birma marked his 80th birthday in July 2020.

The news was broken by the deceased's son, Musa Dauda Birma, on his Facebook page.

He wrote:

“Innalillahi wa inna ilaihin rajiun, I lost a part of me that can never be replaced. May Allah forgive your sins and grant you janna.”

A former minister of education, Alhaji Dauda Birma, died on Tuesday, January 5. Source: Nigerian Tribune

According to the report, Birma who was also a presidential aspirant under the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) died in the early hours of Tuesday, January 5, at his home in Yola, the Adamawa state capital.

Speaking on his death, one of his associates, Alhaji Suleiman Yerima, said that he was with the deceased in the afternoon of Monday, January 4.Birma who was the Sarkin Gabas Adamawa and Waziri of Garkida was said to be hale and hearty on Monday, January 4.

Birma was born 1940 in Garkida, Gombi local government area of Adamawa state. He served in various capacities in the defunct northern region government.

Disputes between FG and ASUU is far from over

 

An emerging report indicates that lecturers in public universities may soon begin another strike if the federal government fails to fulfil its own part of the agreement reached in December 2020.

The Academic Staff Union Of Universities (ASUU) stated that a fresh industrial action could commence as early as next week.

Government officials discussing with representatives from ASUU. Photo: Festus Keyamo

The union made the disclosure in a tweet on Monday, January 4.

In another tweet on Tuesday morning, January 5, ASUU advised the government to honour the agreement reached to avert the planned strike.

Meanwhile, Nigerian university teachers have accused the federal government of reneging on the agreement reached with ASUU.

In a statement sent to journalists, ASUU noted that the government was yet to pay their December salaries, while “illegal” deductions were still to be refunded.The allegation comes two weeks after the lecturers suspended their nine-month-old strike.

In another report, the University of Benin (UNIBEN) has announced a date for resumption of students back to classes.

In a statement by its spokesperson Benedicta Ehanire on Monday, January 4, the university said the 2019/2020 academic session will resume on January 30, while the 2020/2021 session will resume in April 2021.

UNIBEN urged the old and new students to comply with necessary protocols including compulsory use of face masks and maintaining social distancing.

Similarly, the Senate of Bayero University Kano (BUK) has approved the cancellation of 2019-2020 academic sessions.

The decision which was announced on Monday, January 4, affects both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the university.

The cancellation was contained in a memo signed by the university registrar, Fatima Binta-Mohammed
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Bandits kidnap 3 girls in Niger village - Barkuta,Boko Haram abducts UN aid worker, 50 passengers in Borno

 

It seems bandits in the north have resumed their evil business of kidnapping locals, especially little, helpless children.

An unknown set of criminals kidnapped three girls in Barkuta village of Bosso local government area of Niger state on Saturday, January 3, AIT reports.

It was gathered that the bandits invaded the area on the night of Saturday and scared villagers with the noise of gunshots.

At the moment, it is yet to be reported if anyone was wounded or killed in the attack.

There has been no official police report to confirm the Barkuta abduction (Photo: @PoliceNG)

On the same day, without giving a moment of respite to Nigerians even in the festive season, a set of Boko Haram terrorists on Saturday, January 2, unleashed another attack in Borno state.

The insurgents abducted about 50 passengers along the Maiduguri-Damaturu expressway, including a United Nations (UN) aid worker, Abubakar Garba Idris, Vanguard reports.

A security source who spoke with journalists and confirmed the development revealed that the UN captive is a senior protection assistant with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Abubakar Garba Idris is a UN aid worker abducted by Boko Haram members on Saturday, January 2, in Borno (Photo: Vanguard)

The source added:

“The terrorists ambushed vehicles conveying commuters near Matari village between Minok to Jakana highway. One of them, Alooma was seized around 8:30am."

A security source who spoke with journalists and confirmed the development revealed that the UN captive is a senior protection assistant with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).The insurgents abducted about 50 passengers along the Maiduguri-Damaturu expressway, including a United Nations (UN) aid worker, Abubakar Garba Idris, 

The news naturally moved Shehu Sani, a former Nigerian federal lawmaker from Kaduna to react.

Speaking on the disturbing development via his Twitter page on Sunday, January 3, the former senator described the incident as tragic and unfortunate.

Sani lamented that this was one of the roads which has been declared safe for travel by the state and even federal authorities.

He said:

"The reported kidnapping of the @unhcrnigeria Senior Protection Assistant Mallam Abubakar Garba Idris along Maiduguri-Damaturu Road by terrorists is tragic and unfortunate.

Idris' kidnap is one of the latest examples of the festering issue of insecurity in all parts of the country, especially in the northern region."The same road said to be secured after mass abductions few days ago.