Tension: Ex-Militants Go Wild, Attack Residents In Rivers

Residents of Rivers state where thrown into panic on Wednesday, January 20, as ex-militants allegedly attacked Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Militants (File Photo)

The wild ex-militants reportedly attacked drivers and other road users along Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway, snatching people’s belongings. Sources say the incident stirred chaos, as drivers abandoned their vehicles, running to save their lives.

According to The Sun,  angry ex-militants who were armed with dangerous weapons, set fire at the centre of the road between the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Secretariat down to Waterlines Junction.

However, the police has assured residents that the situation has been brought under control.
Police spokesman, Ahmad Muhammad, urged the people of Port Harcourt to be calm, stressing that normalcy has been restored around the area.

The incident reported caused gridlock along the busy Aba road, as those who abandoned their cars on the road, took a while before returning to take them off.

In a related development, there is great tension in Delta state, following the renewed hostilities by some militants in the state.  A court order calling for the arrest of ex-militant chief Government Tompolo, reportedly caused an uproar.

The militants within the region in their bid to send a message, returned to acts of vandalism, forcing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to close the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries.

Eyewitnesses say the ex-militants chanted “pay us our money”, as they attacked road users. Rumour has it that they had accused their leaders of not paying them the exact amount earmarked for them.

Biafra Protest in Front of President Obama’s Residence

Biafra Protest in Front of President Obama’s Residence (See Video)


The rally was described as a protest against the killings of Biafrans by the Buhari led government of Nigeria. The protesters also want an Independent Republic of Biafra which they said was re- annexed back to Nigeria in 1970.

Few days ago, the EU released a statement in support of the Biafran Referendum, and called on the Nigerian government to respect Human Rights of Nigerian citizens which includes peaceful rallies and demonstrations. The EU stated that while it has strong ties with Nigeria, the issue of Human Rights comes first as a priority.

Dasuki Drags Buhari to International Court

Dasuki Drags Buhari to International Court

Former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (retd), has dragged the Federal Government before ECOWAS Court in Abuja over his continued detention. He is also demanding payment of N500 million damages for alleged rights infringement.

This is even as a Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday ordered the government to produce him by February 16.

Dasuki is also urging the sub-regional court to order his release forthwith.
In the suit filed by his lawyer, Robert Emukpoeruo, the former NSA is urging the court to declare among others, that his continued detention in defiance of orders for his bail granted by three courts, and after fulfilling the bail conditions, was “unlawful, arbitrary and an egregious violation” of his human rights.

The applicant also urged the ECOWAS Court to hold that it was, “a most egregious violation of the treaty obligations” signed by Nigeria under and by virtue of its being a signatory to legal instruments, to have unlawfully detained him under a “de-humanizing condition” after he had  been granted bail and met the conditions for his release.

Similarly, the former NSA would want the court to declare that the alleged invasion of his privacy, home and correspondence at his Abuja and Sokoto residences on July 16 and 17, 2015 and the “forceful and unlawful seizure” of his properties, “without any lawful order or warrant” constituted a gross violation of his fundamental rights and offended the country’s treaty obligations as a signatory to the listed legal instruments.
Meanwhile, Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja yesterday ordered Dasuki be produced in court on February 16 following his absence in court without any reason.

The judge said it was mandatory for a defendant in a criminal matter to be physically present in court at every stage of the prosecution except where the presence was an excuse.
 
Dasuki’s counsel, Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), had also complained that his client was abducted by security agents six weeks ago to an unknown destination. He told Justice Ademola that since the ex-NSA was whisked away, all efforts by his family and his lawyers to access him had been scuttled.

Daudu recalled that in three different High Courts where Dasuki was arraigned by the Federal Government, his client was admitted to bail, regretting that till date, the government and its agents have refused to allow Dasuki go on bail.  He urged the judge to compel the Federal Government and its agents to respect the court’s decision, having joined issues with the defendant in court.

Justice Ademola said: “I am worried that the accused is not here. I do not want to set a bad precedent. Except the court gives express order for the defendant not to be in court, the accused must be brought to court from wherever he is. The accused must be here because I am not sure if what I am doing right now in the absence of the accused is not an illegality.

“Government and whoever is concerned must endeavour to do the necessary thing. The accused having been formally charged in court, must be produced in court for trial on the appointed days in compliance with the provisions of the law,” he said.

Earlier, counsel to the Federal Government, Mr. Dikpo Okpeseyi (SAN), said he applied for withdrawal of an application he had filed, seeking revocation of bail granted Dasuki on November 3 last year.

The judge consequently struck out the application and announced that the ruling would be delivered on February 16 in a pending government application, seeking secret trial of the former NSA.

The government arraigned Dasuki on charges of unlawful possession of fire-arms, breach of trust and money laundering.

Meanwhile, Dasuki’s trial has been fixed for February 16 and 17 before Justice Ademola

Wike Talks Tough, “I Wont Go Down Alone, If I Go Down Everyone Goes Down With Me!”

Wike Talks Tough, “I Wont Go Down Alone, If I Go Down Everyone Goes Down With Me!”

Some aides and close associates of Chief (Barr) Nyesom Wike, the Governor of Rivers State have expressed fears over what they referred to as the “uncharitable threats” by the Governor. Governor Wike who is said to be troubled by the spate of defections that is on going in his party, the People’s Democratic Party in Rivers State has issued a threat while meeting with selected members of the PDP leadership. Worried about the defection he said:

“Everybody is running away to APC and they expect me to stay calm and suffer the brunt alone. It will never happen. We were in it together and we must suffer together. If they say I stole money in the Ministry of Education, I didn’t eat it alone. All of you took part. Some of you built the Almajari Schools, some built the Unity Schools, some supplied books, others supervised projects. I have my proofs. Today everybody is shouting Wike killed to get to power. Did I as a person kill any Rivers man, No. They were killed in your LGAs by your boys. Now all of you are planning to run to APC for protection. I called you here today to inform you that I won’t accept that. I must fight back. If I go down, everybody goes down”
“Chief Awuse is now comfortable meeting with Andrew Uchendu. He does not remind us anymore of how Andrew Uchendu fought against him. Rather he has all of a sudden realized that Andrew Uchendu is Godfather to his son. See Ogiri. He is now running around Emeka Beke and sending people to Dakuku. Everyone wants to play safe, even madam. Nobody is talking; nobody wants to be on our side any more. I will fight oh. You see the way Dasuki did his, that is exact what l will do. I will name all of you one after another.”

One of the sources from Emohua Local Government Area who was also at the meeting said the “Governor has become very desperate and feels that blackmail, intimidation and threats can keep people around him.

BREAKING: Court grants Metuh bail

BREAKING: Court grants Metuh bail

Olisa_Metuh

Justice Abang Okon of the Federal High Court has granted the Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa Metuh bail in the sum of N400million and two sureties in like sum.

According to Abang in his ruling, the sureties must be resident in Abuja and must also swear affidavit of means.

Metuh will remain in prison custody pending when he meets the bail condition.
Details shortly…

#BIAFRA : BABATOPE ADVISES BUHARI, DECLARES TOTAL SUPPORT FOR BIAFRA

Ebenezer Babatope, a former minister of transport, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the federal government to negotiate with pro-Biafra agitators in the interest of peace in the country.

“I am in total support of Biafra,” Ebenezer Babatope said.

According to Today.ng Babatope, who is also a member of the Board of the Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, described himself as a loyal and staunch supporter of Biafra.

The ex-minister advised the demonstrators to be law abiding and avoid violence while making their demands.
“I am in total support of Biafra. I just wrote that in my column in Tribune Newspaper. I have always said that the federal government should talk to them because, not only that they are part and parcel of Nigeria, but they are citizens of this country and subjects of the federal government”.

“The Biafra agitators on their part must stop all the violence if they desire any serious talk with the federal government. They can’t achieve anything by being ruthless and violent. Once they are law abiding, I believe the federal government should dialogue with them,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the ex-president of Nigeria, has opposing opinion about the agitation for Biafran independence.

Speaking during a public discussion on the Biafra issue in Abuja, Obasanjo said: “Biafra as a secession issue is dead, and nobody should follow that way.”

Undoubtedly, his statement caused discontent and anger among members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).

In a swift reaction, the group recalled that the former president had tried to destroy the Biafra group in the past, but the struggle for the actualization of Biafra survived, despite persecution masterminded by him.
Moreover, Comrade Samuel Edeson, the group’s director of information, warned that MASSOB would drag Obasanjo to the International Criminal Court for the killings of over 1000 members in March 2003 in Imo state.

Biafra Agitation: EU High Representative Gives Condition For Independence

Biafra Agitation: EU High Representative Gives Condition For Independence
Against the backdrop of the request by Biafra agitators and the organization of Emerging African States (OEAS) for the referendum to be conducted on the independence of Republic of Biafra, the European Union has replied the agitators.

Federica Mogherini, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security

The Biafra had earlier through OEAS requested that the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security, Federica Mogherini, to wade into the need to conduct a referendum for Biafra’s independence.

Sahara Reporters reported that  the OEAS  also called for the release of those it described as Biafran political prisoners and a stay of action by the Nigerian troops, and for quick referendum to be held within 90 days.

In response to this request, Mogherini told Dr. Jonathan Levy, OEAS chief administrative officer, that while the European Union has strong diplomatic and economic relationship with Nigeria, the “protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms remains a priority for the EU and we encourage the authorities [Nigeria] in every occasion to respect such rights.”

The EU further went on to caution the OEAS and Biafran that the push for self-determination and border changes must be carried out within the ambits of established international law.

It added that Biafra can only be recognized through international law and not through armed secession.
The OEAS had been pushing  for an internationally recognized referendum on Biafra independence or autonomy.

In the same vein, OEAS advised that  all nonviolent means should be utilized including general strikes, economic boycotts, work actions, demonstrations, lawsuits, and civil disobedience. Nigeria is a member of The International Labor Organization (ILO).

The ILO recognizes the right to engage in general strikes and the right to strike is also recognized in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of 1966 (Article 8(1)(d)).
Below is a copy of the letter:

pics