Catalonia forms opposition govt. after Madrid’s takeover

Catalan leaders on Saturday rejected the official takeover announcement of Catalonia regional government by the Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

Carles Puigdemont, the leader of Catalonia, however, called for peaceful opposition to the Spanish government’s takeover.

Puigdemont in a statement refused to accept his firing ordered by central authorities in Madrid, who officially took over command of the north-eastern region.

“It’s very clear that the best form of defending the gains made until now is democratic opposition to article 155,” Puigdemont said.

Spain took formal direct control of Catalonia on Saturday, on paper firing the region’s defiant separatist government a day after lawmakers passed a declaration of independence for the prosperous north-eastern region.

The move came after one of the most tumultuous days in the country’s recent history, as the national parliament in Madrid approved unprecedented constitutional measures to halt the secessionist drive by the regional parliament in Barcelona.

Spain made the takeover official by publishing special measures online early Saturday in the country’s gazette.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who now replaces Puigdemont as the top decision-maker in the north-eastern region, has also dissolved the regional parliament and called a new regional election to be held on Dec. 21.

Still, it was not clear at all whether a new election would solve Spain’s problems with separatists in Catalonia.

Polls suggest pro-independence parties would likely maintain their slim advantage in parliamentary seats but would not get more than 50 per cent of the vote.

“Spain is living through a sad day,” Rajoy said. “We believe it is urgent to listen to Catalan citizens, to all of them, so that they can decide their future and nobody can act outside the law on their behalf.”
Puigdemont and 12 other members of the Catalan Cabinet will no longer be paid and could face charges of usurping others’ functions if they refuse to obey.

There was no immediate sign that top Catalan officials will do so, or comply with the orders.
Beyond any possible resistance from top Catalan officials, it’s unclear how Rajoy’s government in Madrid will be able to exert its control at lower levels of Catalonia’s vast regional administration.
Catalonia had secured the ability to govern itself in many areas, including education, health and policing, since democracy returned to Spain following the death of dictator Gen. Francisco Franco in 1975.

Some among Catalonia’s roughly 200,000 civil servants have said they will refuse to obey orders from Madrid.

They risk being punished or even fired under the special powers granted to central authorities by the nation’s Senate on Friday.

Catalonia held its independence referendum Oct. 1 and declared independence more than three weeks later.
The U.S., France and Germany were among several countries who rejected the declaration.
Source: Fox News

Nnamdi Kanu’s Whereabout: Matters Arising as Court Sits Tomorrow (MUST READ!)

The whereabouts of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has been the concern of Nigerians, especially among political observers.

Facts have emerged that Nigeria president, Muhammadu Buhari, may have questions to answer from stakeholders in the country and with the international community over his whereabouts.
Kanu had on September 8 met with the South East Governor’s Forum in Enugu, the capital of Enugu State over the agitation on IPOB.

His second meeting with the forum was aborted due to the invasion of his home by members and men of 145 Battalion, 14 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Ohafia. The IPOB leaders home were invaded by the Nigerian Army with armor tanks and heavy weapons and killings, abuse and molestations were reported.

After the invasion of the IPOB leaders home, the Nigerian Army declared IPOB and other pro-Biafra groups as terrorist organizations, referring to the activities and actions of its leader, who according to court papers was due to appear in court in mid-October.

In furtherance to the military declaration, a Federal High Court in Abuja granted an order proscribing IPOB group. The IPOB group question the constitutionality of the order and many countries like France and Britain rebuke the idea of the group as a terrorist organization. The pertinent questions hovering over president Buhari is whether he understands the tenets of democracy and separation of its executive powers from other branches of government.

IPOB Leaders And Demand For Kanu’s Whereabouts
Following the unknown whereabouts of the IPOB forerunner, the leadership of the group alleged and insisted that the Federal Government and the military of the country must account for their leader’s whereabouts. IPOB alleged that Kanu is currently in the military’s custody.

But speculations in the country had it that the military might have killed the IPOB leader after he was arrested in the raid at his house.

Owing to this, the government of United Kingdom requested Nigeria government to clarify the status and whereabouts of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

The British government asked Nigerian government if the British national was alive or dead.
The Press Officer, UK high commission in Nigeria, Joe Abuku, stated that the inquiry followed reports that Kanu had been missing since September 14, 2017, when armed soldiers stormed his residence in Abia State.

“We are seeking urgent clarification from the Nigerian authorities about the status and whereabouts of Mr. Kanu, a British-Nigerian man, who has been reported missing since September 14”.
He also clarified that British government was not in tune with Nigeria government’s proscription of the group.
“The Indigenous People of Biafra is not a proscribed organization in the UK,” the mission spokesperson stressed.

Meanwhile, the United States had earlier said it did not consider IPOB a terrorist group and urged Nigerians to de-escalate tension and embrace peaceful resolution of grievances.

The spokesperson for the American Embassy in Nigeria, Russell Brooks, said, “Within the context of unity, we encourage all Nigerians to support a de-escalation of tension and peaceful resolution of grievances. The Indigenous People of Biafra is not a terrorist organization under US law.”

But in what appeared to be a voice for the federal government, a former governor of Abia state, Mr. Orji Kalu, claimed that the IPOB leader has escaped to London through Malaysia. “Kanu was not taken away by the military. Kanu went to Malaysia from where he traveled to the United Kingdom. Nnamdi Kanu is in London right now as we speak. He was not arrested by anybody. He left the country on his own”, Kalu said.
The development ferried another facet of a quagmire in the South East region of Nigeria as the IPOB promised to make life unbearable for the former governor whom they claimed was working for the president of the country.

Why Buhari Must Answer The Question “Where is Nnamdi Kanu?”
The big questions are, does the president of Nigeria elected by the people has the absolute right to order the killings and kidnapped of its citizens or is the president acting outside the ambiance of his powers? There are indications that failure of the president to address whereabouts of the IPOB leader may soon degenerate into a critical situation in the country and the international communities are watching the developments very closely.
Caracal Reports observed that stakeholders in the country, especially from the Eastern region are currently apprehensive that the situation on the ground created by the Nigerian president might lead to chaos in an already tensed country ravaged by economic depression and hardship.

“The current situation which appeared to have been doused by military and Buhari has a serious undertone than what people are currently seeing. With Kanu’s whereabouts unknown to everybody, do you think it is ordinary? Just pray that more calamities do not befall the country. With the manner Buhari is running the country, everyone is concerned because we are not safe”, Titus Calistus, an activist said.

He also noted that the president needs to address questions on the whereabouts of IPOB leader to give a clear indication of the position of his government on the issue if he wants total peace in the country.

Meanwhile, further findings by our correspondent have also shown that several groups from the Southern region of the country are already in support of the IPOB group.

The Oodua People Congress had warned the Buhari led government over how the issue concerning the IPOB was being handled. They said the government, if not careful may plunge the country into a serious problem.

A statement issued by the group and signed by its Publicity Secretary, Yinka Oguntimehin, said the agitation of IPOB could be fruitfully addressed through dialogue rather than the military option adopted by the Federal government.

OPC said it did not believe there was any security threat in Umuahia and its environs to warrant the deployment of soldiers to intimidate and molest innocent Nigerians who were going about their lawful business.

A chieftain of the group who spoke with Caracal Reports, Waheed Ishola, said the group would soon ventilate its position on the government’s silence over the whereabouts of the IPOB leader.

“Soon we will come out with our position on the need for the president to address the issue. Nigerians need to know Kanu’s whereabouts because failure on this means a lot”.

The Ohanaeze Youth Council also warned the federal government that if the causes of the agitation that led to the disappearance of the IPOB leader were not addressed, another group might emerge. The Ohaneze President, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro among others executives said it was not averse to any action that would end the marginalization of Ndigbo in Nigeria.

It was also gathered that the position of the group seems to be in correlation with speculations in the country that the leader of IPOB is already in synergy with Niger Delta group to form a formidable group.
Speaking on the development, a former Minister of Education, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, condemned the manner at which Nigeria government has handled the situation.

The elder statesman described the situation as “a matter of grave concern” saying the situation in the country called for great restraint on the part of all.

“The earlier siege on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s Umuahia home by soldiers of the Nigerian army is a matter of grave concern because it occurred at a time the country is facing destabilizing crisis and threats to its peaceful co-existence”.

Chief Martins Onovo, the presidential candidate of National Conscience Party in last presidential election, said the family of the IPOB leader and international community should hold the military and federal government responsible for whereabouts of the IPOB leader.

“We know he was in his house when Army went there. There is no doubt that army needs to answer the question of his whereabouts because we have a video clip that showed he was there when the army was in his house. We need to investigate the case. There are allegations that army took him away, but the army said they don’t have him, and that is why I said we have to investigate the case.

The issue has already put us in a bad light. Already there is an allegation that he has been killed. If this is true, the international world will not pardon us. You know that international world has accused our government of killing people secretly and anyhow. So, we can’t just continue like this. This country cannot be run like Banana Island.

This is a man who had a case in court. All they needed was to wait for him and come to court, but instead, they launched a python dance at him, what is it for? All the innocent people they have killed what have they gained in it. The president and the military need to answer the question”, he said.

Meanwhile, a top security source, craving anonymity, expressed worry that Kanu’s escape might compound the problem on hand as he believed that the IPOB leader currently is with Niger Delta militant. “The harmless pro-Biafra leader will now be turned to a warlord, as he is surely going to be tutored in the art of war by the militants.”
He also expressed concern over the recently discovered illegal shipment of arms into the country, which may be connected, with activities of IPOB.

“The recent increase in the shipment of arms and ammunition into the country through the seaports is giving the government serious concern and the government intends to probe how these arms and ammunition entered the country.

“We are going to declare a manhunt for those who sponsor these groups and import arms and ammunition into the country”, he said.

The leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, Chief Uchenna Madu, said the IPOB are non-violent bodies seeking the realization of the Biafra state.
“We have no intention of taking to arms struggle; we are non-violent groups. They are calling us terrorists but we are not arm-carrying groups.

“Why should they look for us? Are we criminals? They should go and look for Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen, and then, they should go and look after their dying President.”
He also disclosed that the action of the Federal Government had increased the interest of international communities in the Biafra agitation.

“As a matter of fact, because of the recent happening, the international support concerning Biafra has increased,” he added.

Madu also criticized the government “for attacking France, accusing them of being behind the pro-Biafra groups.”

“The label is government’s antics to suppress us, but nobody can destroy Biafra revolution. It is an ideology, which nobody can separate from an Igbo man,” he argued.

On the proscription of pro-Biafra groups, he described it as nothing but “rubbish”. “Nobody can ban or proscribe the groups. Neither the Southeast governors nor the court established IPOB, and you cannot ban what you did not register.

However, Caracal Reports’ efforts to speak with President Buhari’s spokesperson, Femi Adesina on the issue was not successful as calls put through him received no response.

5 Passengers Burnt To Death After Bus Catches Fire While Travelling To Rivers (Pics)

Tragedy occurred on Saturday after passengers travelling from Ebonyi state to Port-Harcourt, Rivers state capital, were killed in a tragic accident after their bus caught fire. According to Ugwumba Ekwe, five persons were roasted and other passengers landed in the hospital after being injured.

Priest Allegedly Raises 2 Yr-Old Dead Child Back To Life in Auchi

A lifeless child allegedly came back to life after Apostle Johnson Suleman’s prayer at OFM HQ Auchi. Apostle Suleman was pictured holding the child in a joyous mood.

See photos below

ee Shameful Thing A S’African Said About Nig Cos Of Zuma Statue In Imo (Pics)

Panic in Enugu Over Massive Movement of Troops, DHQs Reacts

Reports coming in from Enugu indicate that there is high tension following unusual movement of troops in the city this morning.

Meanwhile, The Defense Head quarters (DHQs) has urged residents of Enugu not to panic as they see sporadic movement of military vehicles and personnel during the Captain and Major Practical Promotion Examination 2017.


Deputy Director Public Relations of 82 Division Nigerian Army, Enugu, Col. Sagir Musa, said this in a statement issued, in Enugu, on Monday.

Col. Musa said the exercise, which would run between Monday, October 16 and Friday, October 20, would involve movement of vehicles conveying troops to selected field locations for the examination.
According to him, members of the public in Enugu city and Nsude – Udi community along 9th Mile general area are hereby informed not to worry when they notice the exercise.

“In line with the directive of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, the 82 Division Nigerian Army is set to host Captain – Major Practical Promotion Examination 2017, from Oct. 16 – Oct. 20.
“The examination is intended to test the intellectual and professional ability of the candidates as well as to improve on their capacity and knowledge base in the discharge of their duties.

“Eligible candidates will be tested on map reading, tactics and low intensity conflicts, communications, staff duties and French language.

“The Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Nigerian Army, will conduct the examination in 82 Division Area of Responsibility.

“A team of observers from Army Headquarters, directing staff and members of the examination panel drawn from formations and units of the Nigerian Army will be involved in the conduct of the exercise,” he said.
Col. Musa said that the Commander TRADOC, Maj.-Gen. Rasheed Yusuf, would address the 130 candidates and the directing staff at the division’s auditorium before the commencement of the exercise.
He said that the General Officer Commanding 82 Division Nigerian Army, Enugu, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Abubakar, would also make some remarks at the occasion.

(NAN)

Anxiety as Nnamdi Kanu’s Sureties Know Fate Tomorrow

TUNDE OYESINA and AKEEM NAFIU

There is a heightened anxiety ahead of tomorrow’s hearing in a treason case initiated against leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, by the federal government, following what will become of his sureties in court as his whereabouts remains unknown. TUNDE OYESINA and AKEEM NAFIU report.


Although there are a few cases rolled into one against the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, fate of his sureties will top one of the issues Justice Binta Nyako will determine in court tomorrow in one of the applications initiated by the federal government.

The federal government in one of the applications has asked the court to revoke the bail granted to Kanu in April on the ground of ill-health which appeared to have been allegedly breached by the IPOB leader since he was allowed home on bail.

But Kanu whose whereabouts had remained unknown since September 14 when the military allegedly invaded his Abia state residence, may have put his sureties on imprisonment path should he fail to show up in court tomorrow for the hearing of the felony case against him.

A surety, under the law, is someone who has presented himself to guarantee the presence of a defendant who has been admitted to bail during trial.

While the Federal Government said that the sureties risked imprisonment should Kanu be absent in court tomorrow, IPOB is insisting that the FG is in the best position to tell the world where Kanu is, and as such, the sureties cannot be held responsible for his absence.


At the moment, it is being rumoured in some quarters that Kanu had escaped to the United Kingdom through Malysia. This is just as members of his group are alleging that it is the military that abducted him when it raided his home.

Kanu was arrested in October 2015 following allegations of treasonable felony by the federal government and was held in the custody of the State Security Service till January 2016 when the court ordered that he be kept in prison custody.

The Federal Government consequently arraigned Kanu and three others before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a five count criminal charge bordering on treasonable felony.

The trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako had on April 25 admitted Kanu to bail on health ground. As part of the bail condition, he was asked to produce three sureties, namely; a highly respected Jewish leader, a highly placed Igbo person and a respected person who resides and owns property in Abuja
.
The Chairman of the Senate’s South East Caucus, Eyinnaya Abaribe; a Jewish priest, Immanuu-El Shalom and an accountant and Abuja resident, Tochukwu Uchendu, were Kanu’s sureties. Each of the sureties was asked to sign a bond of N100 million each.

However, speaking on the legal implication of Kanu’s failure to attend court on the next adjourned date, Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Prosecution, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, in an exclusive chat with New Telegraph Law in Abuja noted that Kanu has violated all the conditions prescribed by the court and government had sought the revocation of his bail.

He said: “Following the military exercise carried out by the military in Umuahia, Abia state and the subsequent proscription of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has not been seen and may have gone underground.
“So, it is not likely that he will appear in court on the next adjourned date for fear of being arrested by the police or security agencies.

“Kanu had sureties that entered into recognizance or signed bail bonds as ordered by the court that led to his release.
“The position of the law as provided under Section 173 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, is that, a defendant whom recognizance was entered on his behalf and who is subsequently released on bail is bound to appear before the court at every time and place to which during the course of the proceedings, the hearing may from time to time be adjourned.

“It follows that if Kanu fails to appear before the Federal High Court on the next adjourned date, the judge will likely order a warrant for his arrest.

“The implication of the failure of Kanu to appear in court on the next adjourned date on those who stood sureties for his recognizance is that his recognizance shall be forfeited”.
In his own submissions on the issue, Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN) noted that it may be hasty to begin to deliberate on what may happen on October 17.

“Why should we be concerned about a surety who is not worried about himself? Let’s wait till that date. Kanu may even show up in court and if he did not show up, the court will decide what to do. I am not supposed to tell the court what to do”, the silk said.

To a former Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Adekunle Ojo, the position of the law is clear on what happens if an accused person fails to show up for his or her trial without genuine reason.

“The sureties will be asked to show cause why they should not face the consequences of the accused person’s action. The defendant may have his bail revoked for not showing up in court to attend his trial. By the time the bail is revoked, the sureties may have to face trial for standing surety for an accused person that cannot be found.

“Primarily, their best bet is to ensure that Kanu attend court tomorrow because the consequences might be too great for them”, he said.
However, IPOB has faulted claims by the president’s aide saying they are capable of influencing the court’s decision.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, IPOB said, “The fact that Nigeria government sued a person or group of people does not allow it to usurp the exclusive judicial discretion of the court or the trial Judge.

“One lawyer, called Obla in the Presidency was heard threatening jail on the sureties of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as if he has assumed the position of the trial Judge in the court.

“It is important for IPOB to educate Nigerians to know that it is still in the discretion of the trial judge to tell the world on October 17, 2017 whether it is Nigerian Army which invaded the compound of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and took him away or his sureties who were not even consulted by the Army before the extra-judicial invasion that should produce him in the court”.

Meanwhile, Kanu’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, had approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to direct the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, to produce his client in court tomorrow.
The originating summons which listed the Chief of Army Staff as the sole respondent was brought pursuant to Section 40 of the Federal High Court Act, F 12, LFN 2005 and Section 6(6)(1)(4) of the Constitution
The lawyer cited Section 40 of the Federal High Court Act which empowers the court to order that a Writ of ‘Habeas Corpus ad Subjiciendum’ be issued on the respondent, to produce the applicant in court, in view of the hearing of his case tomorrow.

Ejiofor submitted that Kanu is the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group largely made up of People from South-Eastern part of the country, mostly Biafra extraction; who are at all times materials lawfully exercising their constitutionally guaranteed rights to self determination, freedom of Association and peaceful assembly.

He further submitted that Kanu was arrested on the 14th day of October, 2015 and consequently arraigned in court along other defendants on the 20th day of January, 2016, on 11-count charge of treasonable felony, conspiracy to commit treasonable felony, belonging to an unlawful society, importation of goods, publication of libelous matters, etc.
“Six out of this eleven count charge had since the 28th day of March 2017, been struck out by the court, including allegation of belonging to an unlawful society.
“The applicant was granted bail on the 25th day of April, 2017, by His Lordship Hon, Justice Binta Nyanko.
“The applicant is still enjoying the bail granted him by the court seized of the matter, when the prosecution filed an application on the 25th day of August 2017, requesting the Court to revoke the bail granted the applicant.

“Hearing on the matter is slated to commence on the 17th day of October, 2017,” the lawyer said.
He further told the court that on the 12th September, 2017, the Nigeria military soldiers acting under express command handed down by the respondent, violently invaded the applicant’s home in Afara-ukwu Ibeku, Umuahia Abia State, wherein scores of his relative were brutally wounded and many killed.
In addition, Ejiofor submitted that on the 14th day of September, 2017, the Nigerian military led by soldiers of the Nigerian Army invaded Kanu’s house on a murderous raid, where life and mortar bullets were fired on unarmed and defenseless populace, leaving 28 persons dead and abducting many.

“The applicant who was in the house during this bloody onslaught by the soldiers, has not been heard from or seen after this bloody attack in his home by the agents of the respondent since the 14th day of September 2017.

“That the invading Soldiers in their desperate bid to ensure that the applicant is caught in the attack climbed stairs to his bedroom upstairs to shoot him; walls of his bedroom were riddled with bullets.

“The invading soldiers who had direct contact with the applicant on this fateful day (14th day of September 2017) should be in a position to produce the applicant before the court. It is either the respondent’s rampaging soldiers abducted the applicant during this raid or must have killed him in the process,” he further said.

In an affidavit in support of the motion deposed to by one, Prince Mandela Umegborogu, it was averred that on the 12th day of September 2017, Nigerian soldiers numbering about 200, armed to the teeth, invaded Kanu’s home in Afarauwku-Ibeku, Umuahia, in Abia State.

It was also averred that the invading soldiers were deployed to the South-East by the respondent in a covert operation tagged, ‘Operation Python Dance II (Egwu eke II), an exercise exclusively under the respondent’s command and control.

The deponent averred that the soldiers, who also drove in a purpose-built sophisticated armored personnel carrier, fired live bullets on the relatives of the applicant, leaving scores brutally wounded.

According to the deponent, on the 14th day of September, 2017, the soldiers invaded the applicant’s home for the second time and raid left 28 persons dead while over 48 persons were arrested and taken away to an unknown destination.

He said Kanu was sitting inside his bedroom when the soldiers invaded his home and that by virtue of this contact, the soldiers must know where he is at the moment, his fate and state of health.