Headline

Freedom: Nnamdi Kanu Agrees to Abide by All FG’s Terms and Conditions

Published

4 months ago

July 4, 2024

Eric

Incarcerated leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPoB), Nnamdi Kanu, has agreed to abide by any condition the Federal government would give for his release from custody.

Leading South East senators to a meeting with the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi on Wednesday to demand Kanu’s release, the Senator representing Abia South, Enyinnaya Abaribe, said that he had already met with the IPoB leader at the headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Abaribe, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said he is optimistic that the AGF would persuade the government to show compassion, and order Kanu’s release.

He argued that the continued detention of the IPoB leader is responsible for the rising level of insecurity and agitations in the South East region.

According to him, unless Kanu is released, social and economic activities within the region would remain stagnant.

The meeting between the lawmakers and the AGF came barely one day after the governors from the South East region resolved to approach President Bola Tinubu to beg for Kanu’s freedom.

Earlier, about 50 members of the House of Representatives from various parts of the country had urged President Tinubu to free the detained IPoB leader.

The representatives, who identified themselves as “Concerned Federal Lawmakers for Peace and Security in the South East”, urged President Tinubu to direct the AGF to invoke Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, to terminate the terrorism-related charge that is pending against Kanu before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.

Kanu was first arrested in Lagos on October 14, 2015 upon his return to the country from the United Kingdom.

On April 25, 2017, Justice Binta Nyako granted him bail on health ground, after he had spent about 18 months in custody.

Upon the perfection of the bail conditions, he was on April 28, 2017, he released from the Kuje prison.

However, midway into the trial, the IPoB leader escaped from the country after soldiers invaded his country home at Afara Ukwu Ibeku in Umuahia, Abia State, an operation that led to the death of some of his followers.

Abaribe, who initially stood as his surety, alongside two others, subsequently applied to the court to be allowed to withdraw from the case.

Not satisfied with Abaribe’s claim that he was not aware of the whereabouts of the defendant, the trial court ordered him to forfeit the N100 million he deposited as bond to secure Kanu’s bail.

Meanwhile, Kanu was later re-arrested in Kenya on June 19, 2021 and extraordinarily renditioned back to the country by security agents on June 27, 2021.

Following the development, the trial court, on June 29, 2021, remanded him in custody of DSS, where he has remained till date.

On April 8, 2022, the court struck out eight out of the 15-count charge that Federal government preferred against him, on the premise that they lacked substance.

On October 13, 2022, the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal ordered Kanu’s immediate release from detention, and quashed the charge against him.

Dissatisfied with the decision, the Federal government took the matter before the Supreme Court, and persuaded the appellate court to suspend the execution of the judgment, pending the determination of its appeal.

While deciding the appeal last December 15, the Supreme Court vacated the judgment of the appellate court, and gave the Federal government the nod to try the IPoB leader on the subsisting seven-count charge.

Headline

Humphrey Nwosu Dies in US, Ohanaeze Rues Non-Recognition of Ex-Electoral Commissioner

Published

1 day ago

October 24, 2024

Eric

A former Chairman of the National Election Commission (now the Independent National Electoral Commission), Prof. Humphrey Nwosu is dead.

He died at the age of 83.

Nwosu, who conducted the June 12, 1993 election annulled by former President Ibrahim Babangida, served as Chairman of NEC from 1989 to 1993.

He hailed from the Ajali community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Although no official statement has been released by the family, a source close to the family said the deceased, born on October 2, 1941, died in a hospital in Virginia, United States of America in the early hours of Thursday.

The source said, “Yes, Prof died this morning in a hospital in Virginia, USA, after a brief illness. The family will soon issue a statement on it.”

He presided over the June 12, 1993 election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest.

Chief Moshood Abiola of the Social Democratic Party defeated Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention.

However, the subsequent annulment of the election plunged the country into political turmoil and prolonged military rule until Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.

Reacting to the news in an interview, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, lamented that the deceased died without being celebrated by the country, despite his significant contributions to Nigeria’s electoral system.

The acting National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Damian Ogene, who reacted on behalf of the body, pointed out that while the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, the late MKO Abiola, was remembered and immortalised, the late Humphrey Nwosu was never honoured.

He said, “Until his death, no one, including the Federal Government, recognised this man, despite the fact that he put his life on the line to save the country’s democracy.

“Late Humphrey Nwosu was my brother; we belong to the same Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State and as a matter of fact, he is my kinsman. It is sad that successive administrations in the country never acknowledged him, not even by naming a federal institution after him.

“There are others in his position who might have compromised, but he stood his ground and ensured that the electoral wishes and aspirations of the Nigerian masses were realized.

Headline

Tinubu Reshuffles Cabinet, Sacks Five Ministers, Merges Ministries

Published

3 days ago

October 23, 2024

Eric

President Bola Tinubu has dismissed five ministers from his cabinet and appointed seven new ones as part of a cabinet reshuffle.

The President re-assigned 10 ministers to new portfolios and nominated seven new ministers for Senate confirmation.

He dismissed Uju-Ken Ohanenye as Minister of Women Affairs, Lola Ade-John as Minister of Tourism, Tahir Mamman as Minister of Education, Abdullahi Gwarzo as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, and Jamila Ibrahim as Minister of Youth Development.

Among the nominees, Tinubu selected Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Nentawe Yilwatda as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, marking the official end of suspended Betta Edu’s tenure.

Other nominees include Maigari Dingyadi for Minister of Labour and Employment, Jumoke Oduwole for Minister of Industry, Idi Maiha for the newly established Ministry of Livestock Development, Yusuf Ata for Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, and Suwaiba Ahmad for Minister of State for Education.

“The appointment of Shehu Dikko as Chairman of the National Sports Commission.

“The appointment of Sunday Akin Dare as Special Adviser to the President on Public Communication and Orientation working from the Ministry of Information and National Orientation,” the President said.

The President appreciated the outgoing members of the Federal Executive Council for their service to the nation while wishing them the best in their future endeavours.

He then charged the newly appointed ministers and their reassigned colleagues to see their appointment as a call to serve the nation.

Source: Nairametrics

Headline

FG Drops Money Laundering Charges Against Binance Chief, Gambaryan

Published

3 days ago

October 23, 2024

Eric

The Federal Government on Wednesday withdrew the money laundering charges preferred against Binance Holdings Limited executive, Tigran Gambaryan.

Binance, its U.S. head of financial crime compliance, Gambaryan, and the exchange British-Kenyan regional manager for Africa, Nadeem Anjarwalla, were facing money laundering charges to the tune of $35 million brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Gambaryan and Anjarwalla were initially both detained in the custody of the office of the National Security Adviser.

Anjarwalla, however, fled lawful custody on March 22, 2024, while his counterpart, Gambaryan, was arraigned in April.

Following his arraignment, the court ordered his remand to Kuje Correctional Facility.