Biafra Apparel: HURIWA Carpets Army For Brutalizing Actor Chiwetalu Agu

The alleged brutalization and physical harassment and torture of the popular Nollywoods Actor Mr Chinwetalu Agu over his recent viral photo of him putting on the clothes made from the flag of the defunct Biafra Republic has been described as animalistic, insensitive, irresponsible, irrational, despicable and reprehensible.
Canvassing immediate redress by the military high command, the prominent Civil society and pro-democracy group:- HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) said it was illegal to harass, a law abiding citizen like Mr. Chinwetalu Agu who has deployed his monumental creative talents as an actor to mobilize the society and to advocate for an ethically sensitive and humane society, must not be allowed to be swept under the carpets of impunity.
“Where is that valid law within the federal Republic of Nigeria under constitutional democracy that denies the citizens their choice of apparel? Why is the flag of the defunct Biafra if turned into a clothe now made offensive and why is the Nigerian Army seeking to polarize the society and deepen the misperception that the military exercise in the South was meant to subject the citizens to ordeals of gross Human Rights Violations when this is not so? We condemn this overzealous tendencies of the military troop that undertook this abysmal and primitive act of humiliating a citizen for putting on his choice clothes when the primary duty of the Army is to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria? In which way has Mr. Chinwetalu Agu disrespected any provisions of the law and assuming without conceding that the putting on of apparel displaying the flag of the defunct Biafra Republic is unlawful, are there no human rights and law based procedure for bringing him to justice without metting out such level of brutality despite his age and his immense contributions to the entertainment industry?” 

HURIWA spoke further: “We hereby appealed to the Chief of Army staff Lieutenant General Yahaya Faruk to arrest  and sanction the Soldiers captured on the viral video for harassing and torturing the elder statesman or alternatively, we urge the victim of this Human Rights violation to seek redress in the Court of law under section 6 of the Constitution”.
Specifically, section 6 states thus: “(1) The judicial powers of the Federation shall be vested in the courts to which this section relates, being courts established for the Federation. (2)  The judicial powers of a State shall be vested in the courts to which this section relates, being courts established, subject as provided by this Constitution, for a State. (3)  The courts to which this section relates, established by this Constitution for the Federation and for the States, specified in subsection (5) (a) to (1) of this section, shall be the only superior courts of record in Nigeria; and save as otherwise prescribed by the National Assembly or by the House of Assembly of a State, each court shall have all the powers of a superior court of record. (4)  Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this section shall be construed as precluding:- (a)                        the National Assembly or any House of Assembly from establishing courts, other than those to which this section relates, with subordinate jurisdiction to that of a High Court; (b)                        the National Assembly or any House of Assembly, which does not require it, from abolishing any court which it has power to establish or which it has brought into being.(5)  This section relates to:- (a)  the Supreme Court of Nigeria; (b)  the Court of Appeal; (c)   the Federal High Court; (d)  the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; (e)   a High Court of a State(f)   the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja;(g)   a Sharia Court of Appeal of a State; (h)  the Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; (i)    a Customary Court of Appeal of a State;(j)    such other courts as may be authorised by law to exercise jurisdiction on matters with respect to which the National Assembly may make laws; and (k)  such other court as may be authorised by law to exercise jurisdiction at first instance or on appeal on matters with respect to which a House of Assembly may make laws.(6)  The judicial powers vested in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this section – (a)  shall extend, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this constitution, to all inherent powers and sanctions of a court of law(b)  shall extend, to all matters between persons, or between government or authority and to any persons in Nigeria, and to all actions and proceedings relating thereto, for the determination of any question as to the civil rights and obligations of that person; (c)   shall not except as otherwise provided by this Constitution, extend to any issue or question as to whether any act of omission by any authority or person or as to whether any law or any judicial decision is in conformity with the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy set out in Chapter II of this Constitution; (d)  shall not, as from the date when this section comes into force, extend to any action or proceedings relating to any existing law made on or after 15th January, 1966 for determining any issue or question as to the competence of any authority or person to make any such law.                     
HURIWA condemned the action of those soldiers because it violates section 42(1) which provides thus: “A citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, by reason only that he is such a person:- a)    be subjected either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any executive or administrative action of the government, to disabilities or restrictions to which citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions are not made subject; or b)   be accorded either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any such executive or administrative action, any privilege or advantage that is not accorded to citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions.(2)                        No citizen of Nigeria shall be subjected to any disability or deprivation merely by reason of the circumstances of his birth.  Section 36. (1) In the determination of his civil rights and obligations, including any question or determination by or against any government or authority, a person shall be entitled to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by a court or other tribunal established by law and constituted in such manner as to secure its independence and impartiality.  Section 35.(1) Every person shall be entitled to his personal liberty and no person shall be deprived of such liberty save in the following cases and in accordance with a procedure permitted by law – a)    in execution of the sentence or order of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty; b)   by reason of his failure to comply with the order of a court or in order to secure the fulfilment of any obligation imposed upon him by law; c)    for the purpose of bringing him before a court in execution of the order of a court or upon reasonable suspicion of his having committed a criminal offence, or to such extent as may be reasonably necessary to prevent his committing a criminal offence; d)    in the case of a person who has not attained the age of eighteen years for the purpose of his education or welfare; e)    in the case of persons suffering from infectious or contagious disease, persons of unsound mind, persons addicted to drugs or alcohol or vagrants, for the purpose of their care or treatment or the protection of the community; or f)      for the purpose of preventing the unlawful entry of any person into Nigeria or of effecting the expulsion, extradition or other lawful removal from Nigeria of any person or the taking of proceedings relating thereto: Provided that a person who is charged with an offence and who has been detained in lawful custody awaiting trial shall not continue to be kept in such detention for a period longer than the maximum period of imprisonment prescribed for the offence. And Section 34. (1) Every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person, and accordingly – a)    no person shall be subject to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment; b)   no person shall he held in slavery or servitude; and c)    no person shall be required to perform forced of compulsory labour.” 
HURIWA cited news reports  that popular Nollywood actor, Chinwetalu Agu, was reportedly brutalized by Nigerian soldiers for wearing an outfit with colours of the Biafran flag.

It was gathered that the incident occurred in the Upper Iweka area of Anambra state.

According to an eye witness, the Nigerian soldiers had stopped the Nollywood actors, bringing him out of his vehicle for interrogation.

Recall that Chinwetalu Agu had recently rocked the Biafra flag attire in a post on social media.

Nigeria’s Christian Association President, Ayokunle, Sultan Of Sokoto Demand Arrest Of Muslim Mob That Killed Kano Pastor

The Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) has appealed to the Nigeria Police Force to thoroughly investigate the murder of Pastor Shuaibu Yohanna who was killed by an irate mob in Kano last month. 

Astatement signed by Cornelius Omonokhua, the Executive Secretary of the council, NIREC condemned the brutal killing of the pastor and attack on his residence, stating that there is no justification for the attack. 

It further said justice must be served while calling for calm in the affected area. 

The statement reads, “NIREC under the leadership of the co-chairmen, His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Dr Samson Olasupo Adeniyi Ayokunle, received the sad news from the Kano State Branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Wednesday, September 22, 2021, that Pastor Shuaibu Yohanna was murdered by some irate youths of Masu community where he had lived and pastored the New Life for All Nations Church for about 10 years. 

“NIREC appreciates the leadership of Kano State Branch of the Christian Association of NIGERIA (CAN) and the Assistant Coordinator, CAN, Sumaila LGA for being proactive in visiting Masu to manage and prevent further conflicts and reprisal. 

“NIREC also appreciates the role of the security agents in ensuring peace by protecting lives and property in the community. Those who did not take the law into their own hands by contacting the DPO of the Gani Police Division are well appreciated.

“NIREC condemns the killing of the Pastor, the attack on the Church building, School, staff office and the destruction of his house. No reason can justify this criminality.

“NIREC, therefore, condoles with the family of Pastor Shuaibu Yohanna and prays that God grant him eternal repose. We pray that those arrested and all those involved in this criminal act must be seen to be dealt with in accordance with the law of the land. 

“NIREC appeals to the Kano State Command of the Nigeria Police Force to honestly do the needful. NIREC also calls on all the relevant security agencies to properly investigate this gruesome murder and ensure that those found culpable are made to face justice. 

“NIREC calls on the citizens of Kano and Nigeria to continue to strive for peaceful coexistence in the various communities of the nation. We call for calm as NIREC is already in touch with Rev. Adeolu Samuel Adeyemo, CAN Chairman, Kano State, and the Emir of Kano, His Highness, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, to find the way forward out of this unfortunate incident.”

A Muslim mob had killed a pastor Yohanna Shuaibu in Massu, a village in the Sumaila Local Government Area of Kano State.

According to the Hausa Christian Foundation (HACFO) in a statement, the mob also burnt down the slain pastor’s house, church, and mission school.

The incident reportedly happened when a young Muslim man who had converted to Christianity allegedly killed his brother’s wife during a fight and the mob suspected that the pastor had a hand in his alleged conversion.

[Saharareporters]

Attorney-General Malami, Others Sacrifice Presidential Ambitions For Buhari’s 3rd Term Agenda As President Plans To Visit Scotland, France, Others

Members of the Aso Rock cabal are pushing a third-term agenda for President Muhammadu Buhari and for the amendment of the Nigerian Constitution to allow the President to stay beyond 2023, Presidency sources have told SaharaReporters.

Section 137 (1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), provides that “a person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if he has been elected to such office at any two previous elections”.

A similar move was made about 14 years for former President Olusegun Obasanjo, which failed.

The so-called Third Term Agenda collapsed on May 16, 2006, when the Nigerian Senate threw out the Constitutional Amendments Bill. Obasanjo left office a year later on May 29, 2007.

Sources in the Presidency told SaharaReporters on Wednesday night that members of the Aso Rock cabal are in on it and that some of them who had presidential ambitions ahead of 2023 elections had been told to step down.

One of them is the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who had been eyeing the Presidency, as SaharaReporters had earlier reported. 

The cabals comprising some members of the President’s extended family, friends, and some northern governors and leaders are described as the powers behind the throne. 

The recent clamour by Northern elites has also been linked to the third-term agenda, with strong northern voices stressing that the region could retain the Presidency following Buhari’s departure from office. 

One of the sources added that Buhari is expected to visit Glasgow, Scotland; Paris, France, and Dubai, the United Arab Emirates before the end of 2021.

The source, however, did not disclose if the trips have anything to do with the President’s third-term agenda.

“Recently, members of the cabal with interest in Presidency were told to step down. Malami is now back as Kebbi State APC (All Progressives Congress) Governorship candidate after initially telling people he could run for President,” one of the sources told SaharaReporters.

“Also, the recent strong clamour for the presidency to remain in the Northern part of the country is as a result of this. Guess who they want to use to push the agenda? It’s the same person you know, the APC candidate in the November governorship election in Anambra, Andy Uba. 

“Uba is expected to start the third term campaign when he wins as Anambra governor. He did it before for Obasanjo, paying off lawmakers in the failed third term campaign. He is the one being used by the cabals to do the dirty job again many years after.”

“Buhari to visit Glasgow, Scotland, Paris, France and Dubai, UAE before the end of 2021 amidst strong rumour of third term agenda,” another source said. 

This comes two years after an APC chieftain, Charles Enya filed a suit, seeking the amendment of the constitution to allow Buhari to get another term in office.

Enya, who served as Organising Secretary to Buhari during the 2019 general elections had filed the suit (FHC/AI/CS/90/19) before a Federal High Court in Abakiliki, Ebonyi State.

He asked Malami, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, as well as the National Assembly, to remove constitutional clauses hindering elected presidents and governors from seeking a third term in office.

The APC member sought for possible expungement of both sections. According to him, “that section 137(1)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 (as amended) restricting the president to only two terms of four years each, is inoperative by virtue of its discriminatory nature in relation to the executive and legislative branches of government in Nigeria, and therefore null and void and thus inapplicable”.

He also sought an “order of the court nullifying and setting aside Sections 137(1)(b) and 182(1) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). And directing the first and second defendants to delete and expunge sections 137(1)(b) and 182(1)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, (as amended).”

A few days after, Buhari claimed he wasn’t going to make the mistake of attempting a third term.

“I’m not going to make the mistake of attempting a third term. Besides the age, I swore by the holy book that I would go by the constitution and the constitution said two terms,” the President had said during the APC NEC meeting on November 22, 2019.

[Saharareporters]

Bandits Kill Eleven in Latest Katsina Attack

At least eleven persons have been reported killed after deadly armed bandits launched an attack on Yasore community in Batsari local government area of Katsina state, North West Nigeria.

The attack was made known by Activist Yusuf Anka who has been consistently reporting the activities of bandits in the North-West region of Nigeria.

According to a tweet put forward on his twitter handle, Anka reported that the bandits also injured ten villagers during the deadly attack. He further said that houses were destroyed by the bandits.

This attack is coming barely 24 hours after bandits killed 18 people in Kuryan Madaro communit in Kaura local government area of neighboring Zamfara state.

Katsina the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari has been under repeated armed bandits attack with almost a dozen local government area alleged to be under the control of the bandits despite ongoing military operations in the region.

Nigeria’s Police Inspector-General Brings Back Notorious Police Unit, SARS

The Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman has revived a notorious unit of the Nigeria Police Force, which was disbanded last year after #EndSARS protests, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). 

SARS was notorious for brutality, extrajudicial killings, and human rights abuses. 

In a statement obtained by SaharaReporters, the IGP was said to have released new terms and conditions on the operation of SARS officials. 

The Police Force also made phone numbers available for citizens to report harassment.

According to Baba Usman, SARS has been reformed and the new rules of engagement are stated below:

“No SARS personnel is allowed to interface in any civil matter.

“They are not allowed to interfere in cybercrime (yahoo yahoo).

“No SARS personnel is allowed to conduct a stop and search exercise unless there is a distress call from victims or members of the public.

“They are not allowed to be involved in commercial matters, debt recovery, (landlord vs tenant issues).

“They are not allowed to interfere in any social/relationship cases (marital matters, boyfriend/girlfriend relationship).

“They are strictly for armed robbery and kidnapping cases!”

Also, citizens are encouraged to report cases of harassment by any of its officials to the following office: DIG, Department of Operations:

08037025670, IGP X-SQUAD 0902 690 0729, 08078662130, 08174041000 – CALLS.

0903 227 8905 – SMS.

0903 562 1377 – WhatsApp

Last October, there were massive protests in some states tagged #EndSARS, largely organised by youths, to call for an end to police brutality. 

They also demanded that SARS, a police unit, notorious for human rights abuses, extrajudicial killings, and other atrocities should be disbanded.

But during the protests against police brutality, the Nigeria police unleashed more terror on peaceful protesters in many parts of the country, including at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, the epicentre of the struggle. 

The repressive regime of Muhammadu Buhari was forced to disband SARS. 

It thereafter introduced the Special Weapons and Tactics Team, which many Nigerians described as not different from the disbanded SARS. 

Meanwhile, the police inspector General, Baba Usman once said the disbandment of SARS had created a vacuum in policing the country.

He added that the morale of police officers in the country had been low since the #EndSARS protests in October 2020.

[Saharareporters]

BREAKING: Abdulrasheed Maina’s son sentenced to 24 years imprisonment

A federal high court in Abuja has sentenced Faisal Maina, son of Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Taskforce Team, to 24 years in prison.

In the judgment delivered on Thursday, Okon Abang, trial judge, found Faisal guilty on a three-count money laundering charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Okon, who handed down a five-year jail term for count one bordering on money laundering offenses, sentenced Faisal to 14 years imprisonment on count two.

The judge, thereafter, sentenced Faisal to five years prison terms on count three which bordered on asset declaration offense.

Okon ruled that the prison terms would run concurrently.

Justice Abang had fixed the matter for judgment after the then Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s lawyer, Mohammed Abubakar, adopted the commission”s final written address and urged the court to convict Faisal in all the three counts leveled against him, “the prosecution having proved the case beyond all reasonable doubt.”

(Guardian)

JUST IN: Bandit Who Indicted El-rufai Makes U-turn, Says “That was not what I meant” During fresh Interrogation

A new twist has emerged in the interrogation of Ado Namarai, an arrested bandit from Katsina state who was part of a deadly bandits gang operating in Kaduna state, North-West Nigeria.

Middle Belt Times on Saturday exclusively reported that the bandit during interrogation indicted the Kaduna state Governor for “knowing about the place” where the bandits operate in a village called Sabon Filli in Giwa local government area of Kaduna state.

In a new video obtained by MBT, the bandit was seen speaking during a fresh Interrogation organized by the Katsina state police command where he was asked to clarify on his comment indicting El-rufai during his previous interrogation. The bandit speaking in Hausa language then said he didn’t mean that the governor was supporting the bandits activities.

The reason why I said El-rufai knows about the place is because last year, over a year and some months ago, I did 28 of the Ramadan fasting there in Sabon Filli before I came back here to Katsina and did the 29th and since then God hasn’t given me the grace to return there.

Certainly the reason why I said El-rufai knows where the bandits are is because, if El-rufai wants to work sincerely because of God like the Katsina state Governor is doing, he would have done so.

An airplane came to Sabon Filli and was releasing bombs, there were 4 Hilux vehicles on the ground, I was in my farm working that day. The aeroplane was shot and it managed to return back to the airport.

I hid in my farm and saw when one of the Hilux driver was shot, the others turned and left. This battle went on from 8am to 4pm. After the battle, the Hilux was burnt by the bandits. If you go there now you will see the burnt Hilux.

That is just what I meant by saying El-rufai knows about the place where the bandits are, because in his position as governor, he has the capacity to send in security to clear the place.

Am sure where he is seated now, in my own thinking, he is aware and sees everything that is happening

It would be recalled that Middle Belt Times on Saturday placed a call to the Katsina state police PRO, Gambo Isah to comment on the bandit’s indictment of El-rufai but he refused saying;

I cannot comment on the matter

As at the time of filing this report, MBT could not ascertain why a fresh interrogation was organized for the arrested bandit and under which circumstances he was brought to talk to the press.

Kaduna state has been ravaged by insecurity in the last decade with the situation becoming worse since the coming of the current APC administration in 2015. Several communities have been sacked by rampaging Fulani herdsmen and bandits while thousands have been killed along the line.

It would also be recalled that in 2016 the Kaduna state Governor during an interview session on Channels TV, confessed to offering the herdsmen carrying out killings of genocidal proportion in Southern Kaduna monetary compensation to stop the killings in the region, an action that further intensified the killings in the area.

Last Thursday, 38 victims of Fulani terrorists attack in Madamai and Abun communities were laid to rest during a mass burial covered by MBT.