Drama As Lawyer Storms Supreme Court In ‘Herbalist’s’ Attire
A Lagos-based Human Rights Lawyer, Malcom Omoirhobo raised eyebrows on Thursday when he appeared at the Supreme Court, Abuja in traditional outfits, making him look like a herbalist.
Security operatives at the court made effort to stop the legal practitioner but was left alone when he gave his reasons for approaching the court in that manner.
Giving his reasons, Malcom said a recent judgement by the Supreme Court which allowed all Nigerians to express their way of worship and the use of hijab in schools and public places, validated his choice of dress for the proceedings today.
Recall that the Supreme Court had last week given approval to female Muslim students to wear hijab to school in Lagos State.
The decision was reached following deliberations among seven members of the court’s panel. Five out of the lawyers are said to have given consent to the wearing of a Hijab in schools while two others dissented.
The Supreme Court, in the end, ruled in favour of the hijab.
Malcom who arrived at the court at about 9:05 am today, attracted attention to himself as his colleagues who had been seated were taken by surprise to see him robed in traditional attire to look like a herbalist.
The lawyer entered the court barefooted with feathers attached to his wig. Malcom was also spotted wearing a gourd on his necklace with cowries and a red wrapper tied around his waist.
His arrival at the court caused commotion and the proceedings were abruptly stopped. The presiding justice reportedly declared a short break but it was not clear if the lawyer’s appearance was responsible for the short break.
A large number of people were said to have thronged the courtroom to witness the dramatic event while others make use of their mobile phones to take his pictures.
“I am very grateful to the Supreme Court just last week Friday they made a very resounding decision that promotes Section 38 of the constitution. That is our right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. That we are free to express our way of worship in our schools and in our courts. That decision was reached on Friday and that has encouraged me.
“Because I am a traditionalist and this is the way I worship. Based on the decision of the Supreme Court this is how I will be dressing henceforth in court because I am a strong adherent to “Olokun” the god of rivers,” Daily Post quoted Malcom as saying during an interaction with journalists.
According to the lawyer, the Supreme Court’s judgement last week implies that every Nigerian, including doctors, police, military students, and journalists, can now wear their mode of worship in public places.
He added that he was not against the judgement rather he was happy with the decision because it strengthened and enriched the rights of all Nigerians as stipulated in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
Organ Harvesting: Ekweremadu, Wife Risk Life Imprisonment Under UK Law.
Former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, Beatrice, may face life imprisonment if found guilty and convicted to maximum sentence under the United Kingdom’s Modern Slavery Act 2015 (MSA 2015).
The couple were arrested and charged with bringing a child to the UK for organ harvesting. They were consequently arraigned on Thursday before Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court.
The London metropolitan police said investigation was launched on the duo after detectives were alerted to potential offences under modern slavery legislation in May 2022.
According to Daily Trust, MSA 2015 frowns at human trafficking, under which organ harvesting falls, and is punishable with maximum sentence of life imprisonment upon conviction.
The act partly reads, “Under s 2, an individual commits an offence if they arrange or facilitate the travel of another with a view to that person being exploited. It is irrelevant whether that person consents to the travel, or whether they are a child or an adult.
“Under s 3 of MSA 2015, exploitation includes: slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour; sexual exploitation (which involves the commission of an offence under s 1(1)(a) of the Protection of Children’s Act 1978 (indecent photographs of children), or Pt 1 of SOA 2003 (eg, rape or sexual assault); removal of organs where a person is encouraged required or expected to do anything which involves the commission of an offence under ss 32 or 33 of the Human Tissue Act 2004 (prohibition of commercial dealings in organs and restrictions on use of live donors); securing services etc by force, threats or deception; securing services etc from children and vulnerable persons (eg, physically or mentally ill or disabled).”
It further stated that anyone found guilty of “human trafficking is liable on summary conviction to 12 months’ imprisonment and/or unlimited fine,” adding that “on conviction on indictment, the maximum sentence is life imprisonment.”
Gunmen Abduct Ebonyi Traditional Ruler
Gunmen on Thursday abducted the traditional ruler of Isu community in Onicha local government area of Ebonyi State, Chief Ambrose Ogbu.
Ogbu was abducted alongside his security guard by the kidnappers who stormed the palace on motorcycles at about 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
The spokesman for the state police command, hris Anyanwu, confirmed the incident to journalists on Thursday in Abakaliki.
He said: “Yes, we are aware of the abduction of the traditional ruler. It happened in Isu, Onicha. The fact now is that we are yet to get the full details.”
The abduction of traditional rulers has become a regular occurrence in South-East states in the last few months.
About 10 monarchs had been kidnapped in the region since the beginning of the year.
Ekweremadu, Wife Arrested In UK
A Nigerian, Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, Beatrice, have been arrested and charged for alleged conspiracy to harvest the organ of a child.
Ekweremadu and his wife were arrested in London by the Specialist Crime Team of the UK Metropolitan Police.
In a statement on Thursday, the Metropolitan Police confirmed that the pair conspired to facilitate the travel of a child to the county in order to harvest the minor’s organ.
According to the police, the pair have been charged to court following an investigation by its special crime team.
The police added that the investigation was launched after detectives were alerted to potential offences under modern slavery legislation in May 2022.
It, however, disclosed that the child has been taken into protective custody.
The statement reads: “Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu, 55 (10.9.66) of Nigeria is charged with conspiracy to arrange/facilitate the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.
“Ike Ekweremadu, 60 (12.05.62) of Nigeria is charged with conspiracy to arrange/facilitate the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.
“They have both been remanded in custody and will appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court later today.
“Charges were brought against the pair, who are from Nigeria, following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime team.
“The investigation was launched after detectives were alerted to potential offences under modern slavery legislation in May 2022.
“A child has been safeguarded and we are working closely with partners on continued support.
“As criminal proceedings are now underway as we will not be providing further details.”
Ike Ekweremadu Officially Applied For Kidney Transplant Visa For ‘Homeless’ Boy
Former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu officially applied for a kidney transplant visa for Ukpo David, a 15-year-old ‘homeless’ Lagos boy.
A letter sighted revealed that Ekweremadu informed the UK authorities that he was taking David abroad for a kidney transplant for his daughter, Sonia Ekweremadu.
The former Deputy Senate President applied for visa for David Ukpo on December 28, 2021, the documents showed.
“I am writing in support of the visa application made by Mr Ukpo Nwamini David who is currently having medical investigations for a kidney donation to Ms Sonia Ekweremadu.
“David and Sonia will be at the Royal Free Hospital London, and I will be providing the necessary funding. I have enclosed a statement of my bank account,” the letter said.
It was earlier reported that one Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, were arrested over alleged organ harvesting.
Ekweremadu and his wife were arrested in London by the Specialist Crime Team of the UK Metropolitan Police.
In a statement on Thursday, the Metropolitan Police confirmed that the pair allegedly conspired to facilitate the travel of a child to the country in order to harvest the minor’s organ.
The police added that the investigation was launched after detectives were alerted to potential offences under modern slavery legislation in May 2022.
The pair were later denied bail after been charged to court following an investigation by the special crime team.
FG Moves To Enforce NIN Linking On Sports Betting Accounts
Online sports betting customers in Nigeria may henceforth have an additional hurdle to cross as the House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to ensure gamers link their accounts with their National Identity Numbers.
The resolution was reached on Thursday, June 23 after the lower chamber of the National Assembly read and assented to a motion by the member representing Ifo/Ewekoro constituency in the 9th National Assembly, Ibrahim Isiaka.
The Ogun State lawmaker explained in the motion that the global gaming market is undoubtedly a huge one estimated to generate between $400 to $500 billion yearly and with the consistency of the current trends, by 2022.
He observed that the platform is set to be worth around $565 billion with increasing amounts of revenues coming from online gaming in its many forms.
Isiaka expressed concerns that the customers are mostly anonymous, noting that with the level of transactions, it is risky to have poor data.
“Mindful that with age-restricted businesses like casinos and online gaming platforms, the critical barrier to entry for customers is age and identity verification, therefore there is an increased need for such verifications in virtual situations in order to secure both the customers and the operators.
“Imperative for regulators to place a premium on data security of gamers and gaming operators and one readily available way to achieve this is to integrate the National identity Numbers (NIN) into the data collection of both new and existing customers,” the lawmaker was quoted as saying during a plenary.
Isiaka’s motion was received by his colleagues without hesitation.
The House has since directed the National Lottery Regulatory Commission to ensure that all gaming operators in Nigeria integrate the National Identity (NIN) in their data collection.
The House also mandated the Committee on Governmental Affairs to ensure compliance.
Recall that the Federal Government had sometimes in May through the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), vowed to weed out some Sports betting companies in the country.
The decision was taken following the discovery of some sports betting companies operating in Lagos State with forged permits.
NLRC Director-General, Lanre Gbajabiamila, in a statement made available to newsmen through the commission’s spokesperson, Magnus Ekechukwu, said some officials of the defaulting companies have been arrested and would be made a scapegoat to their likes still ghosting around.
Gbajabiamila said that the Commission will deploy every available legal instrument to weed out all criminal elements operating within the Nigerian gaming industry.
He reiterated that the arrested criminals are being prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others who could be nursing similar ideas.
ADC Presidential Candidate, Kachikwu, Explains US Tax Evasion, Fraud Allegations
Dumebi Kachikwu, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, on Wednesday, denied claims of tax fraud and evasion in the U.S made against him, calling them unfounded and politically motivated.
An online newspaper has carried a report that a US court had ordered the seizure of Kachikwu’s assets due to tax evasion.
The report further alleged that Kachikwu was not a first-time offender because he had previously been charged with fraud.
In a statement released in response to the accusations, Kachikwu accused his political rivals of waging a smear campaign against him.
The statement reads: “Yesterday, I was inundated with calls and messages over a libellous and defamatory publication by an online blog known as Peoples Gazette.
“The publication not only accused me of tax evasion but also accused me of delivering cash bribes to former US Congressman. These are untrue. Here are the facts of the matter:
“A few days ago, my campaign team received information that one of the aspirants who lost out in the just concluded ADC presidential primaries was planning a series of smear campaigns against me.”
The presidential contender claimed that he was not startled by the revelation and that, in contrast to the information being spread, the US Inland Revenue Service had previously charged him an additional $9 million.
“This amount was reduced to $2million and when the IRS sued to collect the amount, my lawyers didn’t contest it and instead waited for a default judgement in order to go to the next stage which is making an offer in compromise to reduce the amount to be paid.
“This is a standard legal practice in tax matters. People’s Gazette also claimed I was not a first-time offender having been previously indicted in a fraud case in 2009. He claimed I had delivered a $100,000 cash bribe to curry the favour of the former US congressman.
“This is another lie as multiple evidence abounds online clearly showing I was the victim who reported the US congressman to the EFCC and the FBI for defrauding my company”, he added.
Kachichuku claimed that the “infamous blog’s” creator purposefully turned the truth on its head in order to accomplish a set goal.
He claimed that they actively spread the rumor through different media in a series of well-coordinated operations to harm and ruin his reputation.
“I have now instructed my lawyers to sue all digital media organisations who participated in the dissemination of this falsehood.
“They will also petition the police to arrest and prosecute all those who have breached the Cybercrime Act by using twitter to defame, harass and threaten me. I will no longer tolerate this persistent attacks from sore losers,” he said.
PMB Speaks On Contesting For A Third Term
The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has declared he is not interested in seeking a third term in office as the country’s leader.
President Buhari made his position known on Thursday during a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Boris Johnson on the sidelines of the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali, Rwanda.
During the meeting, Johnson had asked Buhari categorically if he would be seeking another term in office as the President of Nigeria.
Responding, the Nigerian President declared that he is not interested.
He went on to make a veiled reference to the failed ambition of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to run for a third term in office.
“Another term for me? No! The first person who tried it didn’t end very well,” the special adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, quoted him to have said at the meeting.
The Nigerian constitution provides a maximum limit of two terms for a democratically elected President.
Buhari was first elected in 2015 and got re-elected in 2019. He would complete his tenure in May, 2023.
Gunmen Kidnap DPO In Nasarawa, Demand N5m
There was palpable tension in Nasarawa State on Thursday after some unknown gunmen reportedly kidnapped a Divisional Police Officer in the State.
Reports reaching Naija News have it that CSP Haruna Abdulmalik who is in charge of Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area was whisked away on Wednesday night while on Patrol along Akwanga road.
The gunmen suspected to be bandits reportedly ambushed the DPO last night just around Bakyano and later reached out to his family.
Vanguard reported that the kidnappers reached out to the family today and demanded the sum of N5m as a ransom for the release of the senior police officer.
Confirming the report, Deputy Chairman of the Local government area, Benjamin Kuze told reporters that the CSP was kidnapped at about 9 pm in the area, adding that efforts to reach the DPO have not yielded positive results since the incident took place.
The police command is yet to issue an official state on the development.
CSP Abdulmalik’s abduction is coming barely three months after bandit terrorists killed a Divisional Police Officer and some security operatives in Nasko, Magama Local Government Area of Niger State.
Reports had it that the terrorists who attempted to invade Nasko were engaged by security operatives, comprising the police, military and local vigilantes.
The incident was confirmed by the spokesman of the state police command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun.
According to Abiodun, two other policemen, and four vigilante members were killed during the gun battle.
Biafra: “Let Him Defend All That He Has Said” – PMB
President Muhammadu Buhari has ruled out any immediate chances of releasing the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Speaking on Thursday during a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Boris Johnson, the Nigerian leader said there’s no assurance that Kanu won’t jump bail if he is granted bail again.
Recalling that the IPOB leader once jumped bail and fled the country, President Buhari said Kanu should defend all that he said while outside the country.
Buhari and Johnson met on the sidelines of the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali, Rwanda.
The Nigerian leader however declared that there’s no truth in some claims that Nnamdi Kanu is being denied access to his lawyers.
Buhari according to a statement by his media aide, Femi Adesina submitted that Kanu has “to justify all the uncomplimentary things he had been saying against Nigeria in Britain.”
He added that “He (Kanu) felt very safe in Britain, and said awful things against Nigeria. We eventually got him when he stepped out of the United Kingdom, and we sent him to court. Let him defend all that he has said there. His lawyers have access to him. Remember he jumped bail before, how are we sure he won’t do it again, if he’s admitted to bail?”
On Boko Haram insurgency, President Buhari condemned those killing innocent people in the name of religion, adding that it was wrong to kill “and say Allah Akbar (God is Great). God is justice. You can’t take innocent souls, and ascribe it to God. And the education process is working, the people now understand Boko Haram as anti-God, and not about religion.”
On his part, PM Johnson said he was delighted about the good news on trade between the two countries, adding that the UK was further reducing tariffs on some goods going to Nigeria.
He added that the relationship and partnership between Nigeria and Britain is strong.
It is a “very strong attachment,” he said, adding: “I just want to be sure that we are doing enough. It’s a massive partnership for us, and we need to capitalize on it.”
Southern, Middle Belt Leaders Didn’t Press For Zoning Of Presidency To South-East – Gov Okowa
The Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, on Thursday defended his acceptance of nomination as running mate to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
The Pan Delta Forum (PANDEF) had last week accused the governor of betrayal for accepting to run a joint ticket with the former Vice President despite spearheading the Southern governors’ push for zoning of the presidency to the region last year.
Okowa, who featured in a Channels Television programme, Politics Today, said he aligned himself with the PDP’s decision to throw its presidential race open for all zones in the country to test their strength in the primary election.
He stressed that while the leaders of the Southern and Middle Belt Forum (SMBLF) were pushing for the zoning of the presidency to the Southern part of Nigeria, they did not specify whether it should be situated in the South-East.
Okowa, however, insisted that the North-East and South-East have legitimate claims for the presidency.
The governor said: “We are in a democratic process. And in the process, it’s not just enough to be able to push for something. As you push, you continue to do so. It may not come that time. It stays on the table and will obviously come at a particular point in time. Both the North- East and South- East feel they are entitled to the presidency, and both were right.
“If when we were talking about the issue of the presidency, PANDEF, Afenifere, Ohaneze Ndigbo and others had collectively insisted that the presidency be zoned to the South-East, it would have gone there. The real truth is they were just asking for a Southern presidency without trying to situate it where ordinarily it should be.
“People had opinions and the tendencies were different based on the lines of argument. As it’s today, both regions have continued to lay claims. As we move forward and the Igbo continue to make requests, the time for the Igbo presidency will eventually come.”
Economy Under You Worse Than It Was In 2015 – MAN Tells Buhari
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has slammed President Muhamamdu Buhai over his claim that the economy under him is better than it was in 2015.
Recall that Buhari had in a recent interview with Bloomberg said that the country’s economy is now better than what he met in 2015.
The Nigerian leader pointed to increased investments in infrastructure, recovery of stolen funds and improved security as key achievements.
Buhari had said: “We leave Nigeria in a far better place than we found it.
“Corruption is less hidden, for Nigerians feel empowered to report it without fear, while money is returned; terrorists no longer hold any territory in Nigeria, and their leaders are deceased, and vast infrastructure development sets the country on course for sustainable and equitable growth.”
Reacting to the claim, MAN President, Ola Adebayo, said Buhari’s regime’s policies have not translated into positive economic growth and real sector development.
Adebayo faulted the regime’s implementation of policies under Buhari, stressing that his regime would not score a pass mark.
He said, “One thing I have observed is that policy formulation is different from implementation. With the recent events, I don’t think the government has passed. We only have very good policies on paper, but the implementation has been lacking. Once there is no implementation, it becomes just an idea.”
It is understood that Nigeria experienced two recessions – one in 2016 and another in 2020 fuelled by COVID-19 under the Buhari government.
As at the fourth quarter of 2014, Nigeria’s unemployment rate was 6.2 per cent, according to data by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS. As at the fourth quarter of 2021, the NBS disclosed that the rate in the economy had risen to 33.3 per cent, making it one of the worst in the world and signifying a 437 per cent increase over the seven-year period.
As at May 2015, Naira exchanged for dollars at N197/$ at the interbank market and N217/$ at the parallel market.
Naira is N415-N420 to a dollar at the Importers and Exporters Window and nearly N603-N610 at the parallel market and subsidy has since risen from N100 million in 2015 to N4 trillion in 2022.
Inflation is not spared as prices have risen by over 70 per cent since Buhari came to power. Inflation has since 2015 risen from 9.01 per cent (average number in 2015) to over 17 per cent in May 2022.
The Misery Index in 2015 was 47.7 points but it has risen to 50.48 points, meaning that more Nigerians are now more miserable than they were in 2015.
Similarly, in 2018, Nigeria was adjudged by the World Poverty Clock as the world’s poverty capital.
According to the World Bank, the poverty rate was 33.1 per cent by the end of 2014/ beginning of 2015, but poverty rate will likely sit at 42.6 per cent in 2022.
FG Lifts Ban On International Basketball Competitions
The Federal Government has lifted the ban on Nigeria’s basketball teams from all international competitions following a letter of appeal.
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had in May approved the withdrawal of Nigeria from all international basketball competitions.
Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, who confirmed the development said the suspension will last for two years.
According to Sunday Dare, the development would allow the government to concentrate on efforts to revamp the sport.
However, at a conference in Abuja on Thursday, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Ismaila Abubakar said the government reinstated the team based on a letter of appeal from the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), signed by Mr Musa Kida.
He added that intervention by concerned stakeholders, former Nigerian international basketball players and well-meaning Nigerians to seek solutions to the issues triggered the decision.
Northern Elders Berate Buhari, Ngige, Amaechi Over ASUU Strike, Kaduna Train Abductions
The Northern Elders Forum has issued a scathing critique of President Muhammadu Buhari; former Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi and Labour Minister, Chris Ngige, over the current state of affairs in the country.
Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the NEF spokesman, issued this criticism, via a series of tweets on Wednesday.
According to him, the Buhari administration had left the education sector to fester as a result of the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) which commenced on February 14.
Furthermore, some victims of the Kaduna train abductions are yet to be rescued by the Federal Government, while Amaechi engaged in politicking in the interlude, Baba-Ahmed railed.
His tweets read, “Ngige was going to leave the ASUU strike and students at home to run for the Presidency of Nigeria. Rotimi Amaechi left a stalled train service and passengers with kidnappers to ask us to make him President of Nigeria. President Buhari does not care who runs a country in a mess.
“If anyone said the KAD-ABJ Train kidnap victims will spend 80 days with kidnappers, most of us would have said, no, not this type of high profile victims. But we would have been wrong. The victims too would have been wrong in thinking they will not stay for longer than a day or two.”
PDP May Soon Form Majority In Senate – Aduda
The new Senate Minority Leader, Philip Aduda, has boasted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) might soon form the majority in the Red Chamber.
While addressing journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Aduda stated that his comment is based on the number of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators defecting to the PDP.
Aduda said that there would surely be challenges as the new Minority Leader, expressing hope that those challenges would be surmounted.
The lawmaker, however, promised to give meaningful leadership to the minority in the Senate.
He stated, “There are a lot of challenges as 2023 approaches; we will manage them. This is the season you have aggrieved members from all sides, various defections by those who are aggrieved and those who got their parties’ tickets. I can assure you that we will ensure we give meaningful leadership to the minority in the Senate.”
Speaking further, Aduda stated that the opposition party was not worried about the mass appeal the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, was getting across the country.
He said, “Make no mistake about it, grassroots politics is different from Internet politics. You can have a lot of followership on the Internet but when you go to the grassroots, it is not so.
“The hype is not what is in the grassroots. It doesn’t matter if Peter Obi is gathering followership, because, in politics, we lose some and gain some.”
