IPOB faults reasons jugde gave for denying Kanu bail

– Group says President Buhari is bias with Nnamdi Kanu’s case
– IPOB says it is being pushed to the wall
– Justice reportedly believes Kanu is a threat to national security

The United Kingdom branch of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has reacted to the bail judgment on its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

The group, according to Vanguard, faulted the reasons given by Justice John Tsoho of the Abuja Federal High Court Abuja for not granting the bail application of the Radio Biafra director Emma Nmezu and Dr Clifford Chukwuemeka Iroanya who issued a statement on behalf of the group said the justice had three reasons for the judgment.

The statement read: “The reasons according to him are, that Mazi Kanu was a threat to national security, secondly, that if released might commit the same offence again and thirdly, that there was a probability that Nnamdi Kanu might jump bail because he possessed dual citizenship.

“While the first and the third reasons are very clear, but unsustainable statements, we are at loss with the second reason and do not know exactly what the Hon. Justice meant by ‘might commit the same offense again’.

“To the best of our knowledge, Mazi Kanu has not even been tried in the court not to talk of being convicted, therefore, we do not understand the offence he was found guilty of committing and for which he will likely commit again if released, according to Hon. Justice Tsoho.

“Is it a possibility that the Hon. Justice Tsoho misspoke or that he never actually uttered this travesty of a statement. On the first reason adduced, we are yet to get detailed information on what the Judge meant by ‘threat to National Security’ because we know that Mazi Kanu is not associated with Boko Haram or any terrorist organization. Again we are pushed to believe that Hon. Justice Tsoho misspoke.

'We are however shocked on the third reason, to hear that a denial of bail will be based on the accused person’s dual citizenship, even though the Honourable Judge did not mention the other country to which Nnamdi Kanu is a citizen, we know he was referring to Britain.
 
“But we also know that there is extradition agreement between Nigeria and Britain and extraditing Mazi Kanu to Nigeria, should he flee to Britain will not be a problem for the Nigerian government,therefore, we conclude that the judgment of Hon. Justice Tsoho is inappropriate, biased, wrong, and must be overturned by an Appeal Court Judge.”

Emma Powerful, who is the publicity secretary for the Biafran group faulted the denial of bail to Kanu, saying that the entire south eastern Nigeria is being indirectly deprived of their right.

He said: “We are being pushed to the walls, our members who were engaged in peaceful protest in Aba, Abia state and Port Harcourt Rivers State were shot by the Army and taken to Military barracks in Afikpo Ebonyi state and Bori camp in rivers State with bullet wounds.

“The victims are undergoing torture and other inhuman treatments, as they bring them out every morning, torture and engage them in all manners of hard labours and ask them about their missing guns as if IPOB members carry guns.

“We do not carry guns and do not intent to carry in the nearest future, we are therefore calling on Amnesty International, all human rights organizations and the international community to prevail on the Nigerian government respect the rule of law and the orders of the courts, as at the last count our members arrested in Aba are 25 while those in Port Harcourt are 18 in number, totaling 43 people detained in the two Army barracks in Ebonyi and rivers States respectively.”

Reports emerged yesterday that Goran Sluiter, a lawyer at Dutch human rights legal firm Prakken d’Oliveira, filed the complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on Friday, January 29 against President Buhari.

Speaking with journalists, Sluiter said that there has been “an intensification of violence and crimes committed against Biafrans since Mr Buhari became the Nigerian president.”

FG playing politics with Kanu’s detention – MASSOB

 Worried by the continued detention of the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and Director Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign States of Biafra, MASSOB, has accused the federal government of playing politics with the detained activist.

In an interview with Vanguard in Aba, National Director of Information, MASSOB, Chief Sunny Okereafor, lamented that Kanu’s detention has assumed a political dimension where the federal government appears determined to jail him at all cost.

According to him, “How can the federal government continue detaining Nnamdi Kanu when he has been granted bail? What is the difference between the first bail granted him and now the one denied him last week by Justice Tsoho? It is all about politics. There is no doubt that the federal government is playing politics with his detention. But MASSOB wants to let them know that they are playing with fire.

“How can Nigeria claim to be practicing democracy in this prevailing situation where a court of competent jurisdiction will grant bail only for the federal government to disagree? Since they don’t have evidence to prosecute him, they should set him free. Is it because he is of Igbo stock?

“During the trails, did you not see the discriminatory treatment being given to suspects where people like Olisa Metuh and Nnamdi Kanu were handcuffed while Sambo Dasuka, Jafaru Isa and even the terror suspect, Kabiru Sokoto, were allowed to walk freely? In Biafra, people’s rights will be respected. Nobody will be detained unnecessarily. There will be total obedience to court orders.”

Okereafor contended that the continued detention of Kanu has created problems for Nigeria and warned that the federal government is playing with fire.

“The detention of Nnamdi Kanu has been creating more problems. You can see that all cities and territories of Biafra; Asaba, Ijaw land, Ogoja, Aba, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Ikwerre, Ogoni and others are calling for his release. They should release him. It is just one of the many instances that Ndigbo have been reduced to second class citizens and not wanted in Nigeria.”

On allegation that MASSOB founder, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike is envious of the IPOB leader, Okereafor said: “Chief Ralph Uwazurike is a father. He brought up Nnamdi Kanu and other pro Biafra activist including expelled members like Uchenna Madu. So, how can Uwazuruike now turn around to fight his children? He cannot stoop so low?”

Dickson warns Buhari against political conquest

– Governor Dickson of Bayelsa state has warned that there are hard times ahead of the nation.
– Dickson believes the federal government is not focused on the most pertinent issues besetting Nigeria.
– He has warned President Buhari to

focus on more pressing issues than focus on political conquest.

The governor of Bayelsa state, Seriake Dickson, has warned the federal government against majoring in minor, he has advised president Muhammadu Buhari against concentrating on political conquest other than the things which affect Nigerians as a whole.

In a recent interview with The Vanguard, Dickson said that there is an insufficiency and insensitivity that thrives within the federal government, a problem which he says stems from the team put together by President Buhari to manage the affairs of the nation.

Reacting to a question regarding his being worried over dwindling oil revenue and a potential return of militancy in the Niger Delta because of arms not retrieved from youths in the region, Governor Dickson said: “Well, I do know that we are heading to some tough time because of the steady decline in oil prices and revenue in the last one and a half years. It is possible that the APC didn’t see that coming; so I have made this call over and over. What I have rather seen is an insufficient and insensitive team around President Muhammadu Buhari  and his government.

“For example, they seem to have taken their eyes off the economy, they seem to have taken their attention off core-national security imperatives and are now focusing more on political conquest and expansion of the sphere of authority of their party and all the intrigues going on even within their party. I am of the view that the President doesn’t have the best of  advice; I am of the view that the President is not expansive and broad enough. I am seeing a lot of unnecessary restriction, unnecessary concerns about political ego. This President took over the reins of this country at a time that calls for all hands to be on deck. This is when we should be forming national consensus. For example, more people have died in the hands of Boko Haram between when the president took over till date than under the last administration.

“What this means is that, contrary to the public proclamations, Boko Haram threat remains a serious challenge. Our men and women in uniform are doing their best and we should all give them support, but what it means is that the national security team needs to have their eyes on national security instead of concentrating on political conquest. The President’s men should show more interest in the economic downturn the country is facing, how to make progress in 2016 and going forward and not wasting time on issues that are myopic and less beneficial to Nigerians at the end of the day.

“Now with Iran getting fully involved in oil trade again, we are going to have more oil glut in the market with attendant reduction in the current price of crude. That is a serious matter because it will have an impact even in the maintenance of law and order, because a hungry man is an angry man. If the economy is weak, it may make it difficult for states to pay salaries of workers while the Federal Government might find it equally difficult to pay its workers, soldiers, law enforcement agencies and judicial officers.

“These are the real challenges facing the country and I am surprised and shocked that, in spite of all these challenges, what we see is that people are more interested in battles rather than making friends and building national consensus. After elections, no matter how you feel about the candidates and parties, you address the problems of the state and country and move forward. But, sadly, that is not happening and I am very concerned, therefore, the way the country is going in the area of security; not just in the Niger Delta but across the nation.

“In the Niger Delta, I don’t think the approach of being selective in law enforcement and deployment of military and security personnel is the solution,” Dickson opined.


Adding that: “Security agencies should promptly arrest and punish those who use youths to cause mayhem in the Niger Delta and other parts of Bayelsa to discourage others from engaging in criminality. There are different accounts of  how Boko Haram started and one account is similar to this and I keep raising the alarm that security agencies should pick up these guys, cause investigation and deal with them appropriately. However, no action has been taken.”

Dickson who called for understanding and for support from the federal government said his was in a bid to aid “keep Bayelsa and the country safe again.”

“Economically, Bayelsa is in a better position now than when I started my first term. The good thing in Bayelsa is that we have spent the first term laying the foundation and we are now moving to consolidate the achievements we recorded in the first term. We have completed 90 percent of our schools with heavy investment made in infrastructure. For instance, our airport is about 70 percent ready. We just need to monitor and see to its completion.

But then, there are challenges of meeting the recurrent obligations and of expanding social security that has been going on in the form of paying school fees, WAEC forms, GCE, NECO, scholarships and all those people as all those things will be unfortunately affected. But, let’s get it clear, our country is in a very difficult economic situation with the drop in oil revenues and that again calls for seriousness on the part of the federal government to bail the economy out of the doldrums,” Dickson noted.


Dickson who recently celebrated his 50th birthday, stressed that to win an election, one has to go to one’s people because he believes that the power comes from God as well as the people. Hence, the government must be people centred, stressing that it is in there satisfaction that one can say he has ruled through service.

Boko haram is embarrassing my govt-Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday said that Boko Haram sect was embarrassing his government with their renewed onslaught against the people of the north-east.

 

Speaking against the backdrop of plethora of suicide bombings in Chibok market, Dolari Internally Displaced Person’s (IDP) camp in Borno State and the Gombi market in Adamawa State in the passing week, president Buhari said that the insurgents had become more desperate, saying that the recent bombings were attempts to gain public sympathy and attention having suffered terribly in the hands of Nigerian military.

President Buhari said the terrorists had been rendered weak, confused and homeless after repeated bombings and ravaging of their camps and hide outs by the military, forcing them to find their way back into the society to wreak havoc, like the case of the Dolari IDP.

The President also noted that the materials for the Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were locally sourced by the insurgents.

He therefore urged Nigerians especially residents of the north-east region to be more vigilant and circumspect.

“Having lost the war, they are seeking ways and means to gradually find their way back into society. They are not returning to contribute but to cause more havoc. They are so desperate to embarrass the government and the people that they have no qualms attacking isolated communities and markets.

“I urge all citizens wherever they live to own the war against terror and to be part of the fight because it is the only way we can finish the remaining work that needs to be done to make our country safe again,” the President said.

A statement by the senior special assistant on media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu stated that President Buhari “extended his condolences to all the people of Chibok, Gombi and Dolari who lost loved ones in the recent attacks and prayed that the Almighty God will comfort them and grant the injured persons quick recovery.”

Group releases names of Chibok residents killed in Boko Haram attack

Group releases names of Chibok residents killed in Boko Haram attack

Road to Chibok

 

The Bring Back Our Girls group, BBOG, has released the names of individuals who were killed and those injured during Wednesday’s suicide bomb attacks in Chibok, Borno State.

Two suicide bombers suspected, to be fema
1. Peter Tusha (Kuburmbula)
2. Hajara Mutah (Pemi)
3. Mainta Fali Kulfa (Likama)
4. Awa Wantha (Kwada Bila Girma)
5. Athawa Kollo Yahi (Kwada Bila Girma)
6. Yankye Wantha (Kwada Bila Girma)
7. Garba Bulama (Likama)
8. Hamman Dabal (Bamzir)
9. Kuma Barka (Garu Line Mission)
10. Ali Abana (Likama)
11. Mallum Fali’ ka (Whuntaku)
12. Kollo Sule (Bwalakila)
13. Mohammed Sule (Bwalakila)
14. Ba. Galang Bulama (Whuntaku)
THOSE WOUNDED
1. Abdullahi Musa Birma (Likama)
2. Ba Nkye Yaga Butu (Garu)
3. Falmata Tella –
4. Mohammed Ali –
5. Bulama Zaman –
6. Kuva Batah (Garu)
7. Yaga A. Smai (Garu)
8. Daniel Thumur (Likama)
9. Jummai Kalau (Whuntaku)
10. Mohammed M.C.
11. Dauda Garba (Garu)
12. Mohammed Bukar (Dambo’a)
13. Jacob Fali’ka (Whuntaku)
14. Habiba Usman (Kwada)
15. Dauda Musa (Garu)
16. Maji Dzakwa –
17. Hauwa Dauda Ali (Garu)
18. Zaki Wavi –
19. Yana Mutah (Pemi)
20. Ngiladar Fali (Whuntaku)
21. Margret Moses –
22. Alhaji Mohammed –
23. Abba Abaji –
24. Lydia Tella (Kautikari)
25. Bukar Akawa –
26. Kuma Woi –
27 . Dinnah Yakubu (Garu)
28. Yunana Madu (Shikarkir)
29. Ba Taru Abana (Garu)
30. Zara Mustapha (Whuntaku)
31. Pogu Kurdiya (Garu)
32. Modu M. Kauji (Garu)
33. Dibal Dunya (Mifa)
34. Alhaji K. (Likama)
35. Aji Mallum (Garu)
36. Lydia Philip –
37. Madu Maigana –
38. Yahaya Ibrahim –
39. Ba Fali Madu –
40. Abigaial Pogu –
41. Mustapha Maina –
42. Musa Dawa Dauda (Garu)
43. Kyeri Tella (Garu)
44. Kolo Goni (Likama)
45. Uwani Kachalla (Garu)
46. Saraya Daniel Mustapha (Whuntaku)
47. Raina Madu (Garu)
48. Bulama Wassa (Whuntaku)
49. Wadir Buba (Whuntaku)

The BBOG group said it was yet to see any statement by the Nigerian government on the January 2t attack.
le, on January 27 detonated their


explosive devices at the main market, as well as at a military check point in Chibok town.
Chibok is the town where over 200 teenage girls were kidnapped from their school dormitory over a year ago by the Boko Haram.

The BBOG has since been engaged in creating awareness and seeking for the return of the girls from their captives.

The group in a statement by its spokesperson, Sesugh Akume, on Sunday said 15 people were killed, while 49 others were injured in the January 27 attacks.

The movement also said one soldier is among the dead victims.

“Our sources in Chibok have relayed the names and identities of all the victims: 15 deaths (including that of soldier of the Nigerian army). Some died on the spot, others eventually; and 49 injured, some at critical stages,” the group said.

“Two of the victims of the attacks are cousins of Aishatu Musa, one our 219 missing Chibok girls. Both are daughters of Mutah Adamu Ntikawar. One died on the spot, the other is in a critical condition presently.”
Below are the names and communities of the victims as released by the BBOG group:

APC MEDDLES INTO CHURCH AFFAIRS, CONDEMNS MBAKA’S TRANSFER

The All Progressives Congress (APC), on Sunday, condemned the decision by the leadership of the Catholic Church, Enugu Parish to transfer the fire-brand cleric, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka from Christ the King Parish, Government Reserved Area, GRA, of the state to Our Lady Parish, Emene, a suburb of the state.

Rev-Father-Mbaka

The fiery priest and Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry has presided over Christ the King Parish for 20 years but is expected to servd under another priest at the Emene Parish.

Spokesperson of the APC South-East Caucus, Osita Okechukwu, “It was wrong to punish the fearless priest for his prophecies which has proved to be from God.”

Okechukwu while expressing concern over Mbaka’s safety alleged that the transfer was influenced by outside forces, adding that worshippers may find it difficult to get to Emene for programmes of the Adoration Ministry.

He said, “Whereas we accept that the transfer of priests is a routine exercise of the great Catholic Church, However we do not wholly accept a situation where the church allows external forces to influence transfers as the Mbaka’s case suggests.

“Otherwise, future liberation clergy who speak truth to power will be hamstrung to the detriment of the society.

“Our major concern is the security implications and the fate of his flocks who are mostly the downtrodden who may find it difficult to go to Emene for salvation and healing.

“We frown at anything which will put Fr. Mbaka in harms way or deny his flocks healing.”

Okechukwu, while stating that the priest has been under attack from President Muhammadu Buhari’s opponent since he prophesied that the President will win the last election, noted that the party was in solidarity with the priest and condemn all attacks on him.

He alleged that the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo influenced Mbaka’s transfer to a new parish where he will serve under someone else.

Okechukwu said, “As a party, we have watched with concern and trepidation the criticism, attack, assault and unpleasant comments hurled at Fr. Mbaka since he providentially prophesied that President Buhari would win the 2015 elections.

“Even the Church did not spare him, he was called unprintable names, yet his prophecy came true. We are happy that Fr. Mbaka was vindicated.

“It must be pointed out that accusing fingers were pointed at the direction of some anti-Buhari elements like Ohanaeze Ndigbo, a group that didn’t want to hear the name of Buhari – even though Ohanaeze denied the allegation, doubt still persists.

“For we are still at a loss why a senior priest will be demoted to an assistant parish priest.
“We repeat that we are in solidarity with Fr. Mbaka and our major concern is the security of Fr. Mbaka and the suffering of his flocks, mostly the poor who need his healing powers.

“We had thought that His Lordship Bishop Calistus Onaga could have retained him at the Adoration Ground, as the Bishop Emeritus Gbuji did because of security of his life and easy access by his flocks,” he said.

EXPLOSIVE! Metuh’s torn statement linked Jonathan to N400m –EFCC

• National Publicity Secretary, Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Olisa Metuh, appearing for his trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja… on Tuesday. Photos: Olatunji Obasa

Ade Adesomoju
Details have emerged about what the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, allegedly wrote in the torn statement which he made under caution while in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on January 5.

The statements of the operatives who were said to have witnessed the incident and the “incidence record book” which gives details of the occurrence were part of the documents filed along with the charges of destruction of evidence preferred against him by the EFCC before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.

The court papers obtained by our correspondent on Sunday indicate that five operatives of the commission witnessed the incident which was said to have happened on January 5, 2016, the day the PDP spokesperson was arrested.

Metuh allegedly tore his statement on January 5, 2016 while being investigated for an alleged fraudulent receipt of N400m from the Office of the National Security Adviser and money laundering allegation involving a separate sum of $2m.

The court documents indicate that the pieces of the torn statement have been kept with the commission’s exhibit keeper.

The entry number 049 in the incident duty log which was recorded at 4.30pm by an EFCC detective, Junaid Sa’id, on January 5, 2016, reads, “Destruction OF Written Statement: I have booked the incident of tearing into pieces of statement by Mr. Olisa Metuh, who was given his statement to endorse after volunteering his statement and he decided to tear into pieces the third page of his four-page statement.

“The torn statement has however been registered with the Exhibit Keeper. Entry made by Det. Junaid Sa’id.”
The document gives the timeline and details of how Metuh’s arrest was effected at about 10.55am in his residence at Prince and Princess Estate in Gudu, Abuja, on January 5, up till when he allegedly tore part of the statement at about.4.25pm on the same day.

It also indicates that Metuh had stated in the part of the torn statement that the account in which the N400m was paid was requested for by former President Goodluck Jonathan, for payments to be made to settle some debts owed by the PDP.

It reads in part, “12.30 hours: Mr. Metuh Olisa began to volunteer his statement under words of caution.
“15.30 hours: Mr. Metuh Olisa concluded his statement which was of four pages. I passed the statements to the team leader, CSP Ibrahim Musa, to read over and endorse accordingly but in the process of reading and after endorsing pages one and two, he swiftly tore into pieces page three of his statement which read that former President Jonathan had asked him to make available, account details owed by his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, and the debts owed him personally and some media houses.

“He further stated that he gave the account details of Destra Investments Ltd. to the President and thereafter he received the payment of N400m into his company’s accounts which he used for specific assignments given to him by the President of which he was not willing to disclose for what purpose.

“I thereafter refused to give him page four of his statement for endorsement because I did not want him to tear it as well. This incidence (sic) happened in the presence of the following officers: Mr. Ibrahim Musa, Mr. Wetkas Michael, Mr. Bello Umar, Ms. Ibrahim, who were all carrying out their various assignments.
“16.30 hours: