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Mailafiya Goes to Court as Police Plot Double Jeopardy
UGAR UKANDI ODEY, JOS
A former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr Obadiah Mailafiya has proceeded to a High Court in Jos to enforce his fundamental human rights in a matter he regards as plot by the Nigeria Police to cause him double jeopardy.
According to Mailafiya, the letter of invitation from the Police Criminal Investigation Department to him is a photocopy, noting further that the issue over which the Nigeria Police wants to investigate him is not unconnected with an internal security charge already before the Department of State Security, and that another proceedings by the Nigeria Police could only amount to double jeopardy.
In an address on the development presented by the head of Mailafiya’s legal team, Yakubu Nawa, Mailafiya was advised to shun the Police invitation as the legal team argued that the matter under investigation is an internal security issue, and only the Department of State Security is statutorily saddled with the responsibility to handle matters of internal security, insisting that presently, the matter is still being investigated by the DSS.
“However, as legal defence team to Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, we have carefully and meticulously analysed the letter of invitation served on him
as well as the intention of the Nigeria Police Force as clearly stated in the said letter of invitation”, Nawa noted, adding that “we immediately approached the High Court of Justice Plateau State and filed an action for
the enforcement of his fundamental rights to personal liberty and fair hearing as enshrined in our Constitution”.
“At same time”, Nawa contended further, “we are challenging the letter of invitation served on him by the office of the DIG Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja which is a photocopy”.
According to the legal team, “we are praying the Honourable Court to make judicial pronouncement on the letter of invitation served on Dr. Obadiah Mailafia”, and “we are equally
subjecting the invitation made by the office of the DIG Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja to Dr. Obadiah Mailafia to appear for an interview under judicial scrutiny”.
Nawa also said the team believes that “it is significant to hear the decision of the Court on these germane issues”, as “it is necessary also for the office of the DIG Force CID to wait for the judicial verdict in order to know whether it is appropriate and in tandem with our extant laws for the Nigeria Police Force to invite Dr. Obadiah Mailafia in the midst of an ongoing investigation by the DSS on a matter that is related to internal security”.
August 25, 2020
Eurafic Power Limited sues FG over sale of Sapele Power Plant
By Samuel Itsede
Eurafic Power Limited through its legal counsel, Chief Godwin Obla,SAN has dragged the federal government to court over the sale of Sapele Power Plant.
He is claim that Niger Delta Power Holding Company, NDPHC, acting on behalf of government was expropriating its assets shortly after its handover by severing a substantial portion in favour of Ogorode Power Generation Company.
He said that the federal government through the National council of privatization had issued share certificate to it approving the sale of the power plant.
The power firm said it entered into a share sale agreement, SSA, with the Bureau of Public Enterprises and the Federal Ministry of Finance both acting on behalf of the Federal Government to purchase the plant in 2013 at the sum of $201 million.
It said that after several fruitless attempts to get to the federal government and Bureau of Public Enterprise to honour the terms of the SSA, it was constrained to invoke the provisions of clause 15 of the agreement against federal government.
It said that the SSA envisaged the transfer of all property and asset of Sapele Power Plant including Sapele II and that the actions were of federal government in severing a portion of its asset were unlawful.
It also said that several months after exchanging written submission/ oral and evidentiary hearings, the arbitral tribunal had rendered its award dated 28 0f September 2017 in favour of Eurafic Power Limited.
Eurafic Power Limited through its legal counsel also asked the federal government for the prompt settlement of its judgment debts.
August 24, 2020
Dogara speaks on vice presidential ambition
By Iyke Durumba
Former Speaker house of Representatives Rt Hon. Yakubu Dogara has denied claims he left the PDP to join the APC to contest the 2023 election as vice president to the APC national leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Dogara who spoke through his media aid Hassan Turaki Sunday, decried that the stories which is been fueled by the Bauchi state government was borne out of deliberate mischief as he has no such ambition but rather working to Strenghten the APC in Bauchi state.
See fuul statement below:
“It has come to our notice that stories and images are being circulated on social media to the effect that His Excellency, Rt. Hon Yakubu Dogara, is running for the office of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Sen Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for President in 2023.
Our initial decision was to ignore them since they are utterly baseless but it appears that the promoters of this fallacy are unrelenting in spreading the falsehood and have now succeeded in making it sound believable to the extent that even some conventional and ‘credible’ media platforms are beginning to take it up.
In order to stop the further spread of this deliberate mischief whose objective is yet to be ascertained, the public is hereby, advised to disregard and totally discountenance the purported story and pictures for what they are – handiwork of mischief makers.
These stories and pictures we understand are being sponsored by officials of the Bauchi State government in their desperate bid to lend credence to the infantile delusions of their principal, captured in his ludicrous postulations that Rt. Hon. Dogara left the PDP just because he was “deceived” by the APC with the promise of a position come 2023.
Recall that the Bauchi state Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed had publicly alluded to this and has continued to push these narratives all in an effort to malign and disparage the person of Rt. Hon. Dogara and divert attention of the people from issues of poor governance in the state.
Twenty twenty three (2023) is still years away and, therefore, it is unnecessary, distracting and insensitive to start making unfounded declarations at this time when all hands ought to be on deck in tackling the challenges of our nationhood.
Furthermore, to our best knowledge, no political party sells nomination and expression of interest forms for the post of a running mate as he/she is only appointed or selected by a flag bearer. It is therefore preposterous for anyone to claim that someone is running for the position of VP when no flag-bearer has emerged.
His Excellency, Rt. Hon Yakubu Dogara, is busy helping to rebuild and reposition the APC in Bauchi State and wishes to be allowed to focus on just that”.
Turaki Hassan
Office of the Rt. Hon Yakubu Dogara
August 23, 2020
Over 86 medical personnel contracts COVID-19 in Bauchi
The Chairman, Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed has said that about 86 out of 986 samples collected from medical personnel came out positive for COVID-19.
Rilwanu Mohammed said this over the weekend when he received two of the 107 renovated and rehabilitated primary health care centres from UNICEF.
He said “966 samples were taken, 85 of them tested positive for Covid-19. This is why we want our people to observe pandemic protocol.”
While applauding UNICEF and EU, he said, “They have partnered with $200,000 through Mutual of Understand. Out of this money, they spent $147,000 on COVID-19. Not only these, they have been equipping our facilities across the state.”
Rilwanu added that the Agency has been supportive in the areas of immunisation, community outreach, public enlightenment and community resource group. He urged the benefiting LGA to ensure maintenance facilities and encouraged usage.
August 23, 2020
Adamawa CAN chairman, Mamza, test positive for COVID-19
The Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria, Adamawa State, and the Bishop Catholic Dioceses of Yola Most Reverend Stephen Mamza has tested positive for COVID-19.
Samples from the Catholic Bishop, who is also a member of the Adamawa State Containment Committee for COVID-19, taken after he took ill for testing by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control returned positive for COVID-19.
Mamza, who has since gone into isolation after confirmation by NCDC urged the people of Adamawa to take all preventive protocols seriously in order to help stop the spread of the pandemic.
He told the people not to see COVID-19 as a death sentence while urging prayers for himself and all others who have tested positive for COVID-19.
He said, “One lesson I want people to appreciate and understand is that everybody has to make himself available for testing if need be. Testing positive for COVID-19 is not a death sentence.”
August 23, 2020
Shi’ites, Police clash leaves three dead in Kaduna
The Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky -led Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) has alleged three of its members were killed in a clash with Police during their annual Ashura mourning procession in Kaduna .
Daybreak gathered that the incident took place at Hayin Bello neighborhood close to Rigasa in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
IMN spokesman, Malam Ibrahim Musa, in a statement alleged: “Yesterday, Saturday evening, at Hayin Bello neighborhood, a team of policemen attacked a gathering of members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria holding the annual Ashura mourning commemorating the brutal assassination of Imam Husein, the Grandson of Prophet Muhammad (S) and killed 3 persons instantly.
“Those killed are: Abubakar Talle, Ali Rigasa, and Hassan Umar Aliyu, with many people injured by gunshots. The police also vandalise the vehicles of those who attended the mourning session.
“A police vehicle caught fire when it fell into a gutter as they tried to hurriedly run away after the shooting spree. That resulted in the burning of a nearby house.
“This year’s Ashura mourning was started on Thursday 20/08/2020 coinciding with the beginning of new Islamic calendar 1442 in two other neighborhoods peacefully and is scheduled to culminate on the tenth of Muharram next week.
Kaduna Police Command’s spokesman, ASP Muhammad Jalige said, he will get back to The Nation with Police response.
August 23, 2020
ANDP distances self from suit nullifying Bayelsa guber
By Jennifer Omiloli
Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP) has distanced itself from the the nullification of the November 16, 2019 governorship election in Bayelsa State by the election tribunal vowing to contest the Judgment of the tribunal at the Court of Appeal as an interested party.
The state governorship election tribunal sitting in Abuja had in a split judgment of two to one nullified the election and ordered the National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election in the state.
Two members of the tribunal in their majority judgment held that the INEC was wrong to have excluded the ANDP and it’s candidate from participating in the election.
Governor Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has since lodged a 12 grounds of appeal asking the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal to set aside the majority judgment of the tribunal.
The National Executive Council (NEC) of the party led by James Pere Femowei dissociated itself from the judgment saying the party did not file any petition challenging the outcome of the Bayelsa gubernatorial election held on November 16, 2019.
Speaking at a press conference at the weekend, the National Chairman of the party, Femowei together with the party’s national Secretary, Quadri-Adu Kehinde said both the ANDP Bayelsa State and National level did not sue INEC, the PDP nor governor Douye Diri.
He disclosed that the “purported Chairman of ANDP, Charles Ogboli who has been parading himself as the Chairman of the party had been expelled from the party since December 8, 2019.
“Reasons for this expulsion are well documented in a report submitted to the Election and Party Monitoring (EPM) unit of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC on December 12, 2018.
“Therefore, Chief Charles Ogboli does not have the locus standing to sue on behalf of ANDP having been constitutionally expelled by a comfortable 2/3 majority of members of the National Executive Council of the party, guided by the party constitution and which action was known to INEC.
“Suffice to say that Chief Charles Ogboli did not contest his expulsion at that time and until date he has not done so.
“ANDP Bayelsa State did not present any candidate for the purpose of contesting November 16, 2019 governorship election, as it had earlier adopted Senator Douye Diri of the PDP.
“The National Working Committee (NWC) or state Exco did not attend any purported ANDP primary in Bayelsa before the election. How, where, when, which and how was the primary held without the involvement of the party organs in the state? Barrister Ogboli should thus produce the list of members who attended the primaries, or, INEC can equally produce the attendance list of the National Working Committee members and the state Exco who were present at the ANDP primaries.”
August 23, 2020
Gov El-Rufai docks Bishop for saying he Will Never Be Nigeria’s President
By Joseph idebia
The Kaduna State Government has arraigned Abiodun Ogunyemi, Bishop of Zaria diocese, Anglican Communion, in court for saying that the state governor, Nasir el-Rufai, will never be President of Nigeria.
Ogunyemi made the statement in November 2019 over the demolition of churches in Kaduna State.
He said that the governor should stop embarrassing himself with demolition of churches in any part of Kaduna State, noting that any attempt to demolish shops or properties in Sabongari Market is evil, callous and wicked and will be associated with the wrath of God.
“The whole of the Sabongari Market is our land acquired in the early 1900s with genuine C of O which we have submitted to the state government for recertification. Any attempt by el-Rufai to demolish any of our properties in that market will be a direct assault on the church in the whole of Nigeria.
“The governor should know that he will never be President of Nigeria. I speak prophetically as a servant of the living God,” the hadbishop said.
Ogunyemi was arraigned before a chief magistrate’s court in Kaduna on charges bordering on criminal defamation, injurious falsehood and criminal intimidation.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against him and was granted bail by the court.
A member of the Kaduna Synod and a canon of the Cathedral Church of St Michael, Kaduna, stood in as surety.
However, Director of Public Prosecutions, who led the state legal team, told the court that there were ongoing consultations, which could lead to a peaceful resolution of the case.
The magistrate adjourned the case until October 28, 2020, for continuation.
August 23, 2020
BREAKING: Police rearrest Ibadan serial killer
Suspected Ibadan serial killer, Sunday Shodipe, has been rearrested by operatives of the Oyo State police command.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Olugbenga Fadeyi, confirmed the development Sunday to newsmen.
“The suspect has been rearrested and is currently in police custody.”Fadeyi said.
There was wide spread uproar when Sunday Shodipe who is suspected to have killed about six women at Akinyele Local Government Area of the state, escaped from the Mokola police station two weeks ago.
The state Commissioner of Police, Joe Nwachukwu Enwonwu, had assured that everything had been put in place to ensure the rearrest of the suspect with a N500000 bounty placed on his head.
August 23, 2020
Police, IPOB clash leave several people dead in Enugu
By Linus Ossai
Many people were feared dead Sunday in Emene, Enugu state when members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, and security agents clashed in an attempt to disperse a meeting of the pro Baifra group by the police.
Trouble started early Sunday morning when some policemen invaded Emene Community Secondary School where members of IPOB were alleged to be having a meeting.
Daybreak gathered that an attempt by the police to disperse the meeting was resisted by the IPOB members which led to the clash that turned bloody.
The police who where overwhelmed called for reinforcement.
A truck load of armedpolicement, army and DSS personnel arrived at the scene and engaged the IPOB members.
Eye witnesses who spoke with Daybreak at the time of filing this report said several people were killed by the armed security men while several others were injured.
The police were yet to issue an official statement as at the time of writing this report.
August 23, 2020