Court stops APC  Convention indefinitely 

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has restrained the  All Progressives Congress (APC) from proceeding with its planned national convention until the case against the party pending before the court is heard and determined.

The plaintiff in the suit marked FHC/HC/CV/2958/2021, Salisu Umoru dragged the party (APC), the Chairman Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee and Governor of Yobe state, Mai Mala Buni and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC before the court to challenge the planned convention.In the motion number FCT/HC/M/9655/21, the plaintiff prayed the court for an order interlocutory injunction restraining the 1st and 2nd defendants, allies, agency, representative, associates or whoever is acting for them through or through them from organising, holding or conducting a National Convention of the All Progressives Congress in January and February or at any other date either before or after pending the hearing and determination of the suit. After listening to counsel.

The matter, justice Bello Kawu of the court granted the order and restrained the party from going ahead with the convention and also warned that the subject matter of the case is now subjudice and must nor be tampered with.

Already, a contempt application has been file before the court against the March 26 national convention of the party. The claimant informed the court that the mere inauguration of sub-committees for the March 26 National Convention when the order of the honourable court is in force is a demonstration of disdain for the rule of law in the country.

While 30th March, 2022 was fixed for the continuation of hearing of the substantive suit,  no date has been fixed for the commencement of contempt proceedings against the APC.The claimant also commended INEC for standing by the provisions of the law and the order of the court which is still in force.

Recall that the electoral umpire, INEC, had last week wrote to the APC, insisting that the commission does not recognize Abu Bello’s leadership, and also informed the APC that it has not performed one of the requisite requirements for a valid NEC meeting or National Convention.

In the letter signed by Rose Onaran Anthony, Secretary to the Commission, the attention of the APC was drawn to section 82(1) of the electoral act which provides, “Every registered political party shall give the Commission at least 21 days’ notice ofany convention, congress, conference or meeting convened for the purpose of “merger” and electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any of the elective offices specified under this Act”.

The implication of the above provision is that the APC will have to send a fresh letter of 21 Days notification to INEC the moment the Court Order is vacated in order to hold its national convention.

Senior lawyers who spoke to our correspondent also highlighted that the inability of APC to vacate the court order and send the 21days notice in fulfillment of the requisite constitutional requirements will render the party’s March 26 national convention invalid in the eyes of the law.

It was also noted that the party leadership risked imprisonment for contempt of court when they went ahead with convention plans against a subsisting court order restraining the party from doing so.

Some of the senior lawyers have also advised the APC to postpone the National Convention indefinitely and focus on the forthcoming primaries so as to produce candidates for the 2023 General Elections.

Credit: Sun

14 Vigilantes, 5 Others Killed in Terrorist Attacks in Niger

Fourteen vigilantes from Rijau local government area of Niger state who went to assist their colleagues in fighting bandits in Kebbi State have been killed.

The Nation learnt that the residents of Darin Daji in Sakaba local government area of Kebbi state were under attack of bandits and the Vigilantes sent an SOS to their colleagues in Tungan Magajiya community of Rijau local government.

The Vigilantes who went en masse to Kebbi state battled the bandits but over 52 people were said to have been killed in the attack.

The Chairman of Rijau local government area, Alhaji Bello Bako said that contrary to reports making rounds, no recent bandit attack has taken place in Rijau local government area.

“15 vigilantes were killed when they went to assist their colleagues in Kebbi state to fight the bandits who were attacking the community. The attack was nit in Rijau local government, they only went to support their colleagues and unfortunately met their death”, the Chairman told The Nation.

The Nation learnt that 52 people were killed in the attack which occurred on Monday morning in Sakaba local government area of Kebbi state which shared a boundary with Rijau local government area of Niger state.

In a related development, five people were killed and others seriously injured in  Paikpa village in Munya local government area of Niger state.

The attack which occurred at midnight on Monday saw the terrorists invade the community on motorcycles carrying sophisticated weapons and shooting into the air.

The terrorists were said to have entered the village through Luwi community.

Several cattle were rustled and unconfirmed report has it that some people were abducted.

 The attack in Munya local government area was confirmed by the Secretary to the Niger State Government, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Matane but he did not give out the number of casualties.

“There was a raid of some Communities in the state a few days ago as they, (gunmen) entered Paikpa late on Monday during which they killed some people, abducted some people and rustled a lot of cattle.

“Men of the Civilian JTF and local vigilante engaged the bandits in battle which lasted hours making the gunmen escape into the bush”, the SSG said.

Credit: The Nation

7 Children Die In Stampede As Residents Flee From Terrorists In Katsina

Seven children have been reported dead in a stampede as residents of Shimfida, a community in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina state on Thursday, March 10, 2022, fled their homes a few hours after soldiers serving in a joint security task force were withdrawn from the community.

The soldiers were stationed at Government Secondary School, Shimfida, about 27 Kilometres from Jibia town, the local council headquarters, until their withdrawal on Thursday.The security agents had been in the community for eight years but they were suddenly evacuated from the area on Thursday without any notice to the residents in the community.

A source told Saturday Vanguard that the commotion was triggered when residents of the community heard series of gunshots suspected to be from the bandits camp, causing them to run helter skelter.

Kabir Haruna, the councillor for Shimfida ward in the local council said the presence of the security agents had provided the community a sense of protection from attack by bandits, thus the residents feared that the withdrawal of the soldiers on Thursday had suddenly made the community vulnerable.

Their fear appeared to be confirmed when they heard volleys of gunshots in the surrounding hills.

However, it was gathered from the residents that the bandits were only celebrating the withdrawal of the security agents from the neighbourhood, an indication that the coast was clear for their criminal activities.

“The presence of the security agents in the community gave the residents the courage to continue to live here despite the incessant bandits’ attack recorded in the area but since they have been withdrawn, our people felt they could no longer remain in the community without the protection of the military”, a resident said.

According to one of them, “over a thousand people from Shimfida are presently seeking refuge at Tashar Furera, a pilot primary school in Jibia town while others have escaped to Gurbin Baure, a community in Niger Republic”.

Both the police and the military are yet to issue an official statement on the development. Jibia is one of the worse hit local governments by bandits terrorrising Katsina State.

Credit: Vanguard

Abba Kyari: Malami Has Always Played Hide-And-Seek Game: HURIWA Says

…Calls for Abubakar Malami’s sack

…Calls for forensic investigations of circumstances surrounding death of DIG JOSEPH EGBUNIKE

Leading Civil Rights Advocacy Group- HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has called for the dismissal of the federal attorney general and minister of Justice Abubakar Malami for disgracefully playing politics with the demand by the United States of America to extradite the disgraced Deputy Commissioner of Police Alhaji Abba Kyari to the United States of America to face prosecution over fraud allegations. 

HURIWA has also asked the Anambra State government and the Governors of the Soith East to demand that investigations about the sudden death of the most senior Igbo police officer in Nigeria hitherto charged with the investigation of the disgraced police officer Abba Kyari be opened because there have been many accounts of how he died alongside insinuations that his death was connected to his principled stand to indict the disgraced police officer who however has been in jail before the death of the Senior police officer. 

HURIWA said: “We are not pointing accusing fingers on any one in particular but the interest generated by a section of federal government officials on the case of Abba Kyari and the crude determination by these officials to frustrate any talk of extraditing their beloved ‘super cop’ shows that some desperate agents even working independent of the accused persons,  may have masterminded the death of DIG JOSEPH EGBUNIKE.  So his death should be investigated independent of the police or government since both the police and federal government are in collusion to undermine the entire legal process of extradition application”. 

The Rights group said categorically that the plots allegedly by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, to save a former Commander of the Police Intelligence Response Team, Abba Kyari, from facing criminal prosecution for alleged money laundering by writing a second and contradictory advice, has rubbished what is left of the international image of Nigeria and the World will view Nigeria as a criminal empire. “If President Muhammadu Buhari has any honour left in his administration,  then he must sack Abubakar Malami with immediate effect or leave him in office and surely his government has gone down in history as that which sabotaged the constitution and the principle of rule of law to massage their ethnic and tribal egos and interests.”

HURIWA further stated that the second contradictory opinion by Abubakar Malami which attempts to free the police officer, shows that all the while that the Federal Attorney general and minister of Justice and by extension the federal government of President Muhammadu Buhari has never planned to hand over the disgraced police officer to the Federal Bureau of Investigation but were simply deceiving gullible Nigerians.

The Rights group said the volte -face by the incredibly ridiculous Attorney-General is a confirmation of the alarm we raised last week stating that all the while the government does not want to extradite the indicted police office Abba Kyari to the USA even with the abundance of evidence allegedly linking him to several crimes of advanced fees fraud allegedly masterminded by Hushpuppi. 

HURIWA said although the current administration may get away with this clear case of covering up for someone they see as their errand boy,  but in the long term the image of Nigeria will suffer near irreparable damage of distrust due to this mess the Attorney-General has created. How the Attorney-General could change opinions like he is changing bathroom slippers,  is a monumental body of shame and is so despicable,  disgusting,  atrocious and vexatious.”

Recall that HURIWA had on March 5th alleged that, “the AGF and some northern political forces must be on a conspiratorial mission because as long as Kyari is facing charges in Nigeria, he cannot be extradited to the U.S. based on the Extradition Treaty between Nigeria and the United States.”

The group quoted the law thus: “Attorney General of the Federation however has the power to refuse extradition. According to section 3 of the Extradition Act, which places restrictions on extradition, ‘A fugitive criminal – (a) who has been charged with an offence under the law of Nigeria or any part thereof, not being the offence for which his surrender is sought; or (b) who is serving a sentence imposed in respect of any such offence by a court in Nigeria, shall not be surrendered until such a time as he has been discharged whether by acquittal or on the expiration of his sentence or otherwise.’

HURIWA added: “Apparently, it would seem that either that the AGF is not even aware that NDLEA, which is an agency under his Ministry had filed charges or he knew and he still authorised filing of extradition application even when aspects of the Extradition Treaty between Nigeria and U.S. says no extradition will happen if the accused person is facing same or another charge or charges at the time of filing the extradition application.

HURIWA had also accused the minister of justice of connivance to undermine the extraditionnof Abba Kyari  thus: “So, it is either that the government is taking Nigerians for a ride by muddying up the extradition application so their sacred cow does not go to the U.S. to face charges of 419 alongside Hushpuppi or the justice minister need to explain why his office did not ask the NDLEA not to file charges so the extradition application goes first and is successfully obtained because as it is, the accused person can’t be extradited since he now has an advantage of the provision of the extradition treaty not to be extradited.”

HURIWA in a statement  by the National  Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko said the clearest evidence of collusion to undermine the extradition of the disgraced police officer has emerged because weeks after directing the police to probe Abba Kyari for allegedly receiving 33 proceeds of crime, stating that a case of money laundering had been established against Kyari, the justice minister in a new legal advice said there was no evidence to show that money was laundered by the senior police officer. HURIWA said this clear crass incompetence that even a year one law student wouldn’t commit is a bug slap on the face of Nigerians and is absolutely repugnant to good reasoning.  

HURIWA said this contradiction by the Federal Attorney general and minister of Justice has painted Nigeria graphically as a lawless contraption whereby anything goes and a kingdom of filth whereby if you have a big man in government, then you can literally commit murder in Broad daylight and you walk freely on the corridors of power in Abuja same way armed Fulani terrorists have killed over 6, 000 farmers all over Nigeria and the Federal Attorney general shamelessly told HURIWA in writing that he can’t prosecute the alleged mass killers because there is no case file. 

HURIWA recalled  that the embattled police man Alhaji Abba Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, who is wanted in the United States for alleged involvement in a $1.1m scam carried out by the then Dubai based advanced fees fraud kingpin Abbas Ramon also known as Hushpuppi. 

HURIWA stated that it is a shocking and disappointing that the AGF affirmed in January that investigations carried out by the police indicted the former IRT commander for money laundering.

Malami, in a legal advice, therefore, directed the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, to carry out further investigations, noting that a prima facie case of money laundering had been established against the DCP.

He also said the force should intensify investigation into 33 crime proceeds received by the ex-IRT commander.

HURIWA recalled that police investigations revealed how the international scammers led by Hushpuppi paid N235,120,000 to Kyari’s younger brother.

The police report also said Kyari equally funnelled N44 million into his sibling’s bank account in multiple transactions.

Then in January the AGF’s legal advice read in part, “That there exists prima facie case of conspiracy, collaboration, receipt, conversion, transfer and/or retention of proceeds of unlawful activities contrary to the provision of sections 15, 17 & 18 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004 and Section 17 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, Cap E, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, against DCP Abba Kyari and other suspects in view of the overwhelming evidence showing the nature of his disguised financial transactions and activities with Abbas Hushpuppi, Efe Martins, Usman Ibrahim Waziri, Sikiru Adekoya, Hussaini Ala and Sharon Festus, who are all confirmed members of an international Internet fraud network.

“Although the facts and circumstances of this case as contained in the case file are suggestive to money laundering offences against DCP Abba Kyari and his accomplices namely: Abbas Hushpuppi, Efe Martins, Usman Ibrahim Waziri, Sikiru Adekoya, Hussaini Ala and Sharon Festus; to successfully prosecute them, there is a need for a more thorough dissecting and tracing of the suspected 33 proceeds of crime received by DCP Abba Kyari directly or indirectly through the said accomplices.”

HURIWA lamented that in a sinister attempt to free the sacred cow and the good boy of the Northern political class, who used him in the past for all kinds of allegedly abominable assignment, However, Malami, in his latest advice contradicted his January directive that Kyari should be probed for money laundering and for receiving 33 proceeds of crime.

HURIWA stated that in a letter dated February 4, 2022, with reference number, DPPA/LA/814/21, the AGF sought to exonerate the embattled senior officer, saying there was no link between Kyari and the Hushpuppi gang.

According to the letter written on behalf of the AGF by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Abubakar, the evidence contained in the case diary “was not sufficient to indicate or show that the said monies (N279mn) were laundered directly or indirectly by Kyari to disguise their origin.”

The new position of the attorney-general was contained in a letter titled, ‘Re: Forwarding of the investigation report of the Nigeria Police Force Special Investigation Team and request for legal advice with regards to allegations of criminal conspiracy, aiding and abetting Internet fraud, wire fraud, identity theft and money laundering against DCP Abba Kyari’.

The letter addressed to the IG, read in part, “I am directed to inform you that after a careful study of the said response wherein you stated that ‘the monies have been traced to Zenith Bank account no. 2255416115 belonging to Usman Ibrahim Waziri; Guaranty Trust Bank account no. 0130665392 belonging to Adekoya Sikiru; Zenith Bank account no. 2080537566 belonging to Hussein Ala and other funds went to Sharon Festus. The monies were withdrawn and utilised by the aforementioned account holders and the lady.

“It is our view that the above response has not linked the suspect, DCP Abba Kyari, to the offence of money laundering as the evidence contained in the case diary is not sufficient to indicate or show that the said monies were laundered directly or indirectly by Kyari to disguise their origin, more so that the aforementioned recipients or receivers exonerated him in their statements as having nothing to do with the monies.”

HURIWA in its reaction to the latest volte face of the Federal attorney general and minister of Justice Abubakar Malami said it is one more evidence of crass incompetence and/or alleged collusion to undermine any attempt to extradite Abba Kyari to the USA. 

HURIWA said the impression being created by this turn around and a show of shame by the AGF is that the Federal government recognises impunity as its official mantra and the officials don’t give a damn  to do all kinds of things because they think that they are above the law. 

HURIWA stated that the current Attorney General and minister of Justice Abubakar Malami has entered the national book of infamy and will for generations to come be looked upon as one of the worst lawyers to have held the post of Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. Such a shame really!”

Like APC, Like Nigeria, Buhari’s maladministration infectious: HURIWA

The administration crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress is evidence of the inept misgovernment of President Muhammadu Buhari in all aspect of the governance in Nigeria in the last seven years, civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria(HURIWA), has said.

HURIWA, in a statement on Friday by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the power tussle shaking the boat of APC whose leader is said to be the President has shown that the APC government cannot competently run the affairs of the country going forward.

The group pointed out that the President and APC governors run the affairs of the party like headmasters, with no regard for constitutional and legal provisions by the Independent National Electoral Commission, thus the many woes confronting the party.

According to reports, Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, said the President ordered the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, to remove Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State as Chairman and replace him with his Niger State counterpart, Abubakar Bello.

But INEC rejected a letter inviting it to an emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee of the governing party where Bello’s chairmanship, among other things, is to be ratified.

The commission drew  the attention of CECPC to the fact that the letter of invitation was not signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary of the CECPC, Buni and Dr John Akpanudoedehe, respectively.

It said this was contrary to the provision of Article 1.1.3 of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Party Operations (2018).

Also, the APC, due to maladministration is currently battling no fewer than 208 court cases with some of them challenging the leadership of the party in various states and the legitimacy of the caretaker committee appointed by the President at a meeting on June 25, 2020 after the dissolution of the national leadership led by Adams Oshiomhole. 

But the party has battled many crises since the Buni committee took over, threatening its March 26 planned convention of the party hurriedly put together in 2017 to oust then President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Commenting on the commotion rocking the APC, HURIWA faulted the appointment of Buni as caretaker chairman in the first instance and the subsequent appointment of Bello, noting that it is illegal for an elected governor to hold a very top position in any political party.

HURIWA’s Onwubiko said, “How on earth will a governor who is elected for four years on full time job for a specific state government and governance territory be clothed with the extra judicial executive office of the national chairman of a national political party for years and the Independent National Electoral Commission looks on as if the commission is not to be concerned about the ethical and constitutional wellbeing of political parties given  all the constitutional guidelines made on how parties should be administered transparently?

“How on earth are President Muhammadu Buhari and governors behaving like head masters of their political party as against their oaths of office which obliges them to be loyal to the constitution and be 100 per cent dedicated to the mandates that the voters and those who never voted delegated and clothed them with as the legitimate permission to exercise their authorities as governors or President and not to mix these up with party administration?

“The persistent crises rocking the APC and the blatant violation of guidelines governing the affairs of political parties by the APC is condemnable. The party should learn from best practices in the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom.

“These abuses if not rectified within seven working days will be challenged in court by HURIWA so we get the Court to make pronouncements on how political party administration should be for the sake of national security and national health.”

March 11, 2022

Emmanuel Onwubiko

National Coordinator – HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA). 

Sparing Bello Turji, persecuting Nnamdi Kanu hypocritical, unjust, unconstitutional: HURIWA slams FG

Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), on Sunday, lambasted security agents and the Federal Government for being dishonest in its fight against banditry and insurgency in the country. HURIWA also accused heads of security agencies who are mostly Moslem Northerners of looking the other way as Fulani terrorists import sophisticated weapons into Nigeria through the North West with which they use to terrorise Nigerians. 

HURIWA, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said it was hypocritical of the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari to continue persecuting the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu; while leaving notorious bandit kingpin, Bello Turji, to continue terrorising residents of North-West zone.

The group said Turji, emboldened by the fact that security agents have continuously failed to arrest him, granted a full-fledged interview to Daily Trust recently, detailing his criminality and his many deadly assaults on innocent Nigerians. HURIWA carpeted the National Broadcasting Commission for doing nothing even after the terrorist was granted live interview but the same NBC almost took away the licence if Chajnels television just for interviewing the Spokesoerson the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Comrade Emma Powerful. HURIWA said the current administration is full of double standards.  

HURIWA’s Onwubiko said, “It is unthinkable that Fulani bandits and terrorists continue to wreak havoc on Nigerians yet they are spared by security agents who flex muscle to victimize a self-determination agitator in the person of Kanu. 

“Whereas terrorism is a world crime, self-determination is legally recognized by the constitution and Article 20 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights which states thus: “All peoples shall have the right to existence. They shall have the unquestionable and inalienable right to self-determination. They shall freely determine their political status and shall pursue their economic and social development according to the policy they have freely chosen.

“The persistent threats posed by armed Fulani herdsmen across the country is alarming and they are having a field day because security agents look away. The fact that till date, not a single of the armed Fulani herdsmen responsible for hundreds of deaths has been arrested, prosecuted and punished press home this point.

“Where are the 400 Bureau De Change operators indicted for terror financing? Has the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), published their names or prosecuted them for over a year now?

“It is, however, ironical that the same minister has been illegally prosecuting Kanu for over eight months now since the IPOB leader was abducted from Kenya has continuous demonised the leader of IPOB in the media.

“President Buhari, Malami, security agents must be patriotic enough to fish out Bello Turji and his gang. If a reporter without arms from Daily trust can locate Turji, what excuse does our security agents have not to bring down the notorious terrorist? A criminal who should be sent to where he belongs now grants television interviews like a celebrity because of his tribe. It is sad.

“It is again unfortunate that for about a month since brazen Fulani herdsmen invaded some communities in the Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, forcibly displacing autochthonous dwellers to plan permanent settlement, security agents have not arrested any of the invaders. FULANI herdsmen are busy killing citizens all across Nigeria but the Federal Government pampers them. 

“The President and the entire heads of internal security agencies who are all Fulani and Moslem northerners should blame themselves for allowing Fulani herdsmen to amass weapons of mass destruction at the disadvantage of the nation’s armed forces. 

“There should be an honest, patriotic, transparent and open investigation by the National Assembly to resolve this huge threat which may undermine the conduct of the 2023 polls.”

March 13, 2022

Emmanuel Onwubiko

National Coordinator – HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA)