The commissioner of the police in the state, Mohammed Aliyu, through the command's spokesperson, Daniel Ndukwe said the injured persons who were victims of what seemed like an unprovoked attack have been taken to the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital.
Aliyu directed his deputy to investigate the circumstances that led to the officer's unruly and dangerous behaviour.
In a previous report, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi condoled with the victims of the shooting during his visit to the hospital.
Apart from promising the injured persons that he will pay their medical bills, Governor Ugwuanyi also mourned with the families of the deceased.
The Buhari-Osinbajo led administration has vowed to put an end to the act of terrorism in Nigeria as it bothers on the security of lives of the people.
Following this development, the Federal High Court today in Abuja finally heeded the call of Nigerians by declaring acts of banditry as an act of terrorism.
Justice Taiwo announced specifically that activities of the Yan Bindiga Group and the Yan Ta’adda Group and other similar groups in the country are now tagged as acts of terrorism.
The Judge also proscribed all other groups in the country, irrespective of their names, but whose activities and objectives are similar to those of Yan Bindiga Group and the Yan Ta’adda Group.
Men of the Nigeria police force are seen outside the Federal High Court, during the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, in Abuja, Nigeria, on October 21, 2021. Photo credit: Photo by Kola Sulaimon / AFP Source: Getty Images
Justice Taiwo said he was convinced that such orders were necessary in view of the nefarious activities of bandits and their effects on the nation’s life, particularly on the people and its economy.
He noted that the activities of the groups include but are not limited to “Banditry, kidnappings for ransom, kidnapping for marriage, mass abductions of school children and other citizens, cattle rustling, enslavement, imprisonment, severe deprivation of physical liberty, torture, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, other forms of sexual violence, attacks and killings in communities and commuters and wanton destruction of lives and properties in Nigeria.”
The Nigerian leader gave the marching orders on Thursday, November 25, after receiving briefs from all security chiefs, security agencies and intelligence organizations for security nationwide.
In another report, Rauf Aregbesola, the minister of interior made the disclosure at the end of the National Security Council (NSC) meeting presided over by President Buhari at the Presidential Villa.
Few days ago, Malam Mele Kyari, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), stirred heated reactions when he said Nigerians will pay between N320 and N340 per litre after the removal of petrol subsidy in 2022.
Crowd seen gathered at the NNPC mega petrol station in Calabar, on November 14, 2015. Photo credit: NurPhoto Source: Getty Images
Amid the heated discussions on the government's plan. The Index shows that Nigeria’s petrol pump price is the lowest in West Africa.
The Globalpetrolprices.com, a platform that tracks retail fuel prices in over 150 countries and used the FX rate of N411.64 per dollar to arrive at the prices of petrol in some selected African countries made this available.
All countries have access to the same petroleum prices at the international markets. However, they impose different taxes or bear cost through subsidy payments.
According to Globalpetrolprices, the differences in prices across countries are due to the various taxes and subsidies they impose on the product.
According to the Index's findings, Nigeria has the third cheapest petrol price in Africa and the lowest in West Africa.
The N165.89 per litre price also places Nigeria as the seventh cheapest nation in terms of fuel pump price in the world.
The president of the congress, Ayuba Wabba, in a statement released in Abuja said members of the NLC would not take the bait thrown by the federal government.
Wabba said the announcement made by Kyari that fuel would cost as high as N340 by February 2022 is comical.
Senator Shehu Sani, former federal lawmaker from Kaduna state, has spoken on what Nigerians will experience if the price of petrol becomes N340 per litre.
Sani's comment follows a statement by the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) that the price of petrol may range between N320 and N340 per litre after the removal of subsidy in 2022.
Photo credit: Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Shehu Sani Source: Facebook
Taking to his Facebook page, the former senator listed what will happen if the product is being sold at such a high price.
He said though the minister of finance, budget and national planning, Zainab Ahmed, said the subsidy will be replaced with a N5000-a-month transportation grantto the poorest Nigerians, Senator Sani said the government's plan cannot solve "all these problems".
The WorldBank already advised the Nigerian government to remove the petrol subsidy, arguing that it does not benefit the poorest Nigerians.
The Bank, however, advised the government to come up with programmes to protect the poor from the burden of the subsidy removal
It also advised the government to redirect the savings from petrol subsidy to finance primary health, basic education, and rural connectivity projects.
Malam Nasir El-Rufai, the governor of Kaduna state, while in his reaction said all state governments are in support of the federal government's plan to exit fuel subsidy regime.
In its November 2021 Nigeria Development Update,theWorldBank released among other things.
The report revealed that Nigeria no longer benefits from high oil prices, owing to record low revenues and exorbitant fuel subsidies.
President Buhari. Photo credit: Femi Adesina Source: Facebook
The report also noted that Nigeria has the worst revenue-to-GDP ratio among 115 countries monitored by the World Bank.
To address the nation's economic challenges, the World Bank recommended some important policy decisions President Muhammadu Buhari and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) should take, starting from the year 2022.
Here are seven key things the Bank advised the Nigerian government to do:
For the umpteenth time, the Bank also advised the Buhari government to stop subsiding petrol, arguing that the poorest Nigerians do not benefit much from the subsidy regime.
It also noted that increase in the price of petrol, which is bound to happen after subsidy removal, will have minimal adverse effects on poor households.
According to World Bank, the poorest 40 percent of Nigerians consume less than 3 percent of the total petrol consumption in Nigeria.
The Bank also stated that the Nigerian government has already removed subsidies for other liquid fuels such as kerosene and diesel.
If the Nigerian government eventually removes petrol subsidy, the country will experience inflation which will largely impact the poor and vulnerable, according to the World Bank's forecast.
To address this, the Bank advised the government to come up with programmes to protect the poor.
It also advised the government to redirect the savings from petrol subsidy to finance primary health, basic education, and rural connectivity projects.
In order to generate more revenue, the World Bank advised the federal government to increase taxes on what it termed as “sinful goods".
The sinful goods include cigarette, alcohol, sugary drinks.
The World Bank advised the Buhari administration to cut the loans (overdrafts) it gets from the CBN through the Ways and Means financing system.
It asked the FG to keep overdrafts to levels stipulated by the nation's law.
If Nigeria's current debt accumulation levels are maintained, the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio will hit 40 percent by 2025, the World Bank projected.
As part of the move to improve the economy, the World Bank advised Nigeria to build digital public platforms, digital financial services, digital entrepreneurship, digital skills, and digital infrastructure.
It noted that a leading beading barrier is Nigeria’s underdeveloped fixed broadband infrastructure, which is partly caused by burdensome regulations from federal and state governments.
To further improve the economy, the Nigerian government was advised to speed up port clearance.
According to the Bank, this can be achieved "by simplifying and harmonizing documents, streamlining, automating procedures, and introducing risk-based customs interventions,”and fix the forex policy.
Stating that increase in parallel market rate (not official market rate) equals increase in inflation, the World Bank advised the government on what to do.
Apart from recommending the enhancement of the “flexibility and predictability of exchange rate management” to address inflation, the bank also asked that all land borders be fully open for trade.
Malam Mele Kyari, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), has said Nigeria should be out of subsidy regime by the end of February 2022.
The NNPC boss stated this at the presentation of the World Bank Nigeria Development Update, November 2021 edition titled “Time for Business Unusual”, Kyari added that by February 2022, there will be no provision for subsidy legally, he however, said the Nigerian government has a bigger social responsibility to cater for the ordinary and will ensure that the subsidy regime is exited in the most subtle and easy manner.
The NNPC chief added that the price of the product may range between N320 and N340 per litre after the removal of subsidy
Meanwhile, Zainab Ahmed, the minister of finance, budget and national planning, has said the subsidy will be replaced with a N5000-a-month transportation grant to the poorest Nigerians.
According to Zainab, the grant will go to about 20 to 40 million people who make up the poorest population in Nigeria.
The minister went on to note that the final number of beneficiaries will depend on the resources available after the removal of the fuel subsidy.
National airliner, Air Nigeria, is expected to take off by April 2022, the Minister of Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika has disclosed.
The Minister spoke to State House Correspondents on Wednesday after the week’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to Sirika, the national carrier will be run by a company in which the government will hold a 5% stake, Nigerian entrepreneurs holding 46% while the remaining 49% will be reserved for yet to be assigned strategic equity partners, including foreign investors.
He further noted that the national carrier, when operational, will create about 70,000 jobs for Nigerians.
With the hope to curb gender-based violence in Nigeria and ensure that perpetrators of such criminal activities face justice, the British Council has partnered with the Nigerian government to carry out a mock Sexual and Gender-Based Violent Court.
The mock court will take place between Monday, November 29 and Wednesday, December 1, from 10 am to 4 pm at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja.
It would provide a platform to demonstrate what survivor-centred justice processes could look like in the Nigerian context.
Photo: Nnenna Ibeh Source: Original
This was announced by Hannatu Essien, the programme office for the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) programme of the British Council, at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, November 23.
The initiative is organised by the British Council in collaboration with the federal ministry of justice, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT judiciary and the National Agency for the prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
It is also part of the activities streamlined in commemoration of 16 Days of Activism 2021 - The Survivor Project.
Continuing Essien said the mock court will also provide an opportunity to model court hearings, police investigations and prosecution scenarios that could support compassionate justice for survivors of gender-based violence.
It would help in the gathering of lessons learnt for what judges and police investigators should do differently while handling cases of sexual and gender-based violence.
According to the United Nations Women, nearly one in three women have been abused in their lifetime and these numbers rise in times of crisis as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic or in conflicts.
A new report from UN Women, based on data from 13 countries since the pandemic, shows that two in three women reported that they or a woman they know experienced some form of violence.
The report also said that women are more likely to face food insecurity.
However, only one in 10 women confirmed that victims of these crimes would go to the police for help.
In Nigeria, since the establishment of the Sexual Assualt Referral Centre (SARC), 23,207 survivors of sexual assault combined have been assisted between July 2013 and September 2021, with over 70 per cent of the survivors being children under the age of 18 years.
Essien said despite the robust spread of SARC in Lagos and 19 states of Nigeria - totalling 32 centres across the country, the number of SGBV cases reported to centres is still a poor representation of the scale of sexual assault in Nigeria.
She said:
"For many years, there has been a steady call for the establishment of specialised courts for SGBV in Nigeria to address delays in the justice process."
"Most recently, this call was echoed by the attorney general of the federation and the minister for justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN)."
"The AGF's call followed the inauguration in 2020 by the president, of an Inter-Ministerial Management Committee on Eradication of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, a demonstration of the government’s renewed commitment to comprehensively address SGBV and protect victims."
She said that the RoLAC programme supports this call with the aim to explore relevant policy options, guidelines and recommendations for establishing or designating special courts for SGBV across Nigeria.
In addition to the mock trials, Essien reeled some of the activities lined up by the team to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV 2021.)
This event would take place on Thursday, November 25, with a plenary session on practical approaches as well as policy options for establishing or designating specialised courts to handle SGBV cases.
At the event policymakers, heads of government institutions, ministries and departments, civil society organisations, heads of state governments ministries, SARC centre managers would be attending.
Hear Word! is a theatre production that presents an intimate view of the obstacles that Nigerian women face.
This will include telling stories of domestic violence, the absence of women from positions of power, resilience and resistance, shattering the culture of silence, overturning the status quo, abuse, disrespect, bravery, sisterhood and joy.
The event would take place on Thursday, November 25 by 6 pm.
This would take place between Monday, November 29 and Wednesday, December 1 (10 am to 4 pm daily) at the Federal Ministry of Justice and Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
The event is organised by the European Union and the British Council in collaboration with the ministry of justice FCT judiciary and NAPTIP.
There would be free counselling and a legal clinic for survivors in the FCT. Survivors will be offered free legal advice, counselling and access to broader support services.
A public presentation of the first-ever Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act in Nigeria (VAPPA) Annual Report by the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in fulfilment of Section 42 of the VAPP Act 2015.
This presentation will take place on Wednesday, 3 December 2021 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel by 10 am.
Meanwhile, the traditional leader of the Galadimawa community in the suburb area of the Federal Capital Territory said he uses various approaches to stem possible triggers of gender-based violence among residents.
The Esu of Galadimawa Community, Abuja, His Royal Highness Tanko Zhamiko said the sensitization of residents of the community has been key to identifying early warning signs of GBV.
He also said that to achieve this, he established a team of council members whose tasks included sensitizing the people of the dangers of GBV and identifying early warning signs of GBV.
According to Zhamiko, members of the Galadimawa community are constantly informed about the need to always speak up and speak out in the face of any form of abuse or violence.
Fani-Kayode was nabbed and subsequently taken to the Lagos Zonal Office of the anti-graft agency for alleged manipulation and forgery of documents.
The ex-minister who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) recently is expected to answer questions on possible forgery of hospital documents to deceive the court handling his money-laundering case with a view to stalling the hearing.
The anti-graft agency after receiving the defendant’s latest letter observed the trend in Fani-Kayode’s letters getting adjournments.
Taking a hard look at the development, EFCC observed all the letters were supposedly issued from the Kubwa General Hospital, Abuja, except one.
It was gathered that Fani-Kayode might be deploying a contrived method with medical personnel to enable him to evade trial.
The International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) had reports stated that the Lagos command of the EFCC was expecting Fani-Kayode on Wednesday, November 24.
Justice Daniel Osaigor gave the order on Wednesday, October 13, saying that having gone through the court’s file, he observed five different letters by the defendant seeking adjournment on the same medical grounds.
When the case was called, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari announced the appearance for the prosecution. The prosecutor told the court that on July 15, the prosecution had moved the court to adjourn the matter for a re-arraignment of the defendants.
Ahmed Saheed, a lecturer at the Michael Otedola College of Primary Health Education (MOCPED) in Epe local government area of Lagos state, has been shot dead.
The lecturer was said to have been killed around Poka town in Epe.
Michael Otedola College of Primary Health Education (MOCPED). Photo credit: Jority Omo-Agbeke Source: Facebook
An undergraduate student of the college identified as Razak Bakare was also shot dead on the campus.
The incidents according to the police occurred within 48 hours interval.
It was gathered that the deaths of the lecturer and the student were confirmed by lawmakers and traditional rulers of the communities.
Our source stated that while the student was trailed and killed on Wednesday, November 17, the lecturer was also shot dead on Friday, November 19.
Presently, there is uneasy in the academic community of Poka, according to the Aladeshoyin of Odo-Noforija, in Epe Division.
Oba Babatunde Ogunlaja, the traditional ruler of the community, has expressed sadness over the incidents.
He said the peaceful nature of Noforija town had been shattered by the unfortunate killings.
Oba Ogunlaja called on the management of the institution to install Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras within and around the school premises.
The monarch also appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the commissioner of police, Hakeem Odumosu, to deploy more security personnel in the community.
He asked the Lagos state government to reconstruct the collapsed fence of the institution.
Also speaking, the Alara of Ilara Kingdom, Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, condemned the incidents and urged the law enforcement agencies to fish out the perpetrators
He also pledged that the traditional institution would ensure that all efforts were taken to fight against such an ugly trends in the community.
The director-general, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Jelani Aliyu, has disclosed that various automotive companies in Nigeria are already producing/assembling world-class vehicles for exportation to African countries.
Mr. Aliyu made the disclosure while speaking at a panel discussion, moderated by CNN's Eleni Giokos, at the just-concluded Intra-Africa Trade Fair, IATF, in Durban, South Africa.
Mr. Aliyu and other panelists at the CNN forum in Durban. Photo credit: NADDC Source: Facebook
The NADDC director-general reiterated Nigeria's commitment to electric vehicles and general increase in local vehicle production for both the nation itself and exports to other African countries.
According to him, this development would translate to more job creation in the country.
According to the NADDC director-general, the recent assembly of Electric Vehicles by the Hyundai Kona EV and the assembly of AutoGas powered OMAA CNG Minibus by a division of KOJO Motors are all testimonies to the effort the country is making in that direction.
Mr. Aliyu also stressed that Nigeria could not afford to be left behind as nations around the world advance technologically.
It was a gathering of jurists and eminent lawyers cut across the country with a focus on justice reforms, as they all discussed with the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, and Chief Wole Olanipekun who celebrated his 70th birthday in Lagos on Friday, November 19.
The forum was the second justice summit organised by Wole Olanipekun & Co, one of Nigeria's foremost law firms.
VP Osinbajo exchanging pleasantries with Chief Olanipekun, at the event. Photo credit: Tolani Alli Source: Facebook
Speaking on the importance of integrity of the legal process and its key actors, judges, and lawyers, VP Osinbajo said:
“Most of us who are here and have practiced in our courts and who still practice know, at least anecdotally, that many important cases today are under a shroud of doubt as to whether the outcomes would be influenced one way or the other.
“Regarding delays in Nigerian courts, the UK Court of Appeal had occasion to comment in the case of IPCO and NNPC in 2015, where a challenge to the enforcement of a Nigerian seated arbitration tribunal award came before an English Court of Appeal.
“The Court of Appeal referred to the delays in the parallel proceedings in a Nigerian court as catastrophic and that it would take a further 30years to resolve.”
Highlighting the implementation of justice sector reforms in the country, speakers at the summit identified judicial autonomy and integrity of relevant stakeholders, among other factors, as critical elements of the reform process.
Recalling Prof. Osinbajo’s tenure as Lagos State Attorney General, Human Rights Lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN said, the VP’s effort at the time transformed the system in the state, but noted that more work needs to be done in the Customary Courts.
Falana called for the reorganisation of the National Judicial Council and the Judicial Service Commission, as well as the adoption of alternative dispute resolution in addressing disagreement between and among parties.
Praising the work done by the VP as Lagos State Attorney General, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Hon. Justice Paul Galumje, said:
“The vice president when he was Attorney General in Lagos, did abracadabra, and corruption in Lagos crumbled.”
He urged Osinbajo to support the actualization of autonomy of the judiciary, stating that justice sector reforms and all other issues would be addressed if the judiciary gets its independence.
He also recommended the adoption of technology and other models of court practices from other parts of the world, to address challenges faced by judges and the system in Nigeria, noting that it would be a step in the right direction.
In the same vein, former NBA President, Mr. Abubakar Mahmoud praised Osinbajo’s support for the judiciary, saying:
“You have been a strong pillar of the judiciary in this country. We know that when you get the chance you are going to do more about the much-needed justice sector reforms.”
Referring to the reforms initiated by the VP as Lagos State Attorney-General that transformed the State judiciary, Mrs. Funke Adekoya said more efforts would be needed by stakeholders to sustain the gains recorded at the time.
She said the adoption of technology and other innovations would help in the speedy dispensation of cases and many other court processes.
