Tuesday, 31 May 2016
Messi’s tax fraud trial opens in his absence in Spain
Messi’s tax fraud trial opens on Tuesday in his absence in Spain.
Messi and his father Jorge, who manages his financial affairs, are accused of defrauding Spain of more than €4m (£3m; $4.5m) between 2007 and 2009.
The authorities allege that the two used tax havens in Belize and Uruguay to conceal earnings from image rights.
The Spanish tax agency is demanding heavy fines and prison sentences. They deny any wrongdoing.
The trial is expected to last for three days, with Messi appearing in court on Thursday.
The income related to Messi’s image rights, including contracts with Banco Sabadell, Danone, Adidas, Pepsi-Cola, Procter and Gamble, and the Kuwait Food Company.
I’ll soon reveal how Abacha, Abiola died, says Al-Mustapha
Former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, yesterday, said he would soon reveal how his boss and the acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief Bashorun MKO Abiola, died.
Disclosing that Abacha and Abiola’s deaths were from same source, Al-Mustapha said he would make the comprehensive revelation in his new book, Mustapha’s Memoirs, which, according to him, is still in the works.
Al-Mustapha, who addressed journalists in Lagos yesterday, on a number of issues relating to his 15-year travails in detention, said Abiola and Abacha were very good friends before some fifth columnists caused disaffection between them.
He said: “For instance, when Chief MKO Abiola was in prison, many notable Nigerians visited him. They will visit him in the morning, and when they come back to the Villa in the evening to see Abacha, they would say a different thing entirely.
On video
“Unknown to these notable Nigerians, particularly notable Yoruba personalities, who visited Abiola, their visits were recorded on video. I did the video recording without their knowledge.
“These people would visit Abiola and come back to tell government a different thing about him.
These same people would still go and tell Abiola a different thing about government. They are on video. The agencies of government have these videos evidence.
“These same people told MKO Abiola never to accept any compromise or negotiations. They advised him never to come back home without his mandate. All these things are on video.
“Of all the Yoruba leaders, only Oba Tejuosho told MKO Abiola the truth: to accept the conditional bail and go home.
“Only Oba Tejuosho told MKO Abiola that Abacha was his friend, urging him to reconcile with Abacha who was ready for reconciliation. It was Oba Tejuosho who told MKO Abiola that he still had the goodwill and would win if he re-contests after Abacha.
“What killed Abacha is what killed MKO Abiola. But I would reveal that after my court case, still at the Supreme Court. I would publish a book which has three volumes— the Mustapha’s Memoirs, which will tell what happened under Abacha and how he died.”
On Abacha loot still being returned to the country from abroad, 18 years after his death, Al-Mustapha said he was shocked the first time he heard of Abacha’s loot.
He added that most of what was today known in the media as Abacha’s loot were mere media campaigns aimed at smearing the late Sani Abacha’s image by local and international persons he stepped on their toes while he was Head of State.
… killer squad
Also, Al-Mustapha reiterated his call for a public debate, where former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, would come to substantiate claims in his infamous 18-page letter that he (Al-Mustapha) was contracted to head a killer squad of 1,000 snipers for former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, ahead of the 2015 general elections.
Al-Mustapha debunked insinuations that the ex-President, Jonathan, interfered with court process to facilitate his release from prisons, to enable him (Al-Mustapha) help train the ‘killer squad’ or procure Jonathan’s success in the North during the last election.
Al-Mustapha said, ab initio, he had no case to answer but for the plots of his persecutors to see him eliminated because he stepped on their toes while he served as the Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, adding that the appellate court acquitted him when it determined that he had no case to answer on all the charges levelled against him.
‘Obasanjo’s had his day’
He said: “Nobody contracted me to catch 1,000 mosquitoes under the Jonathan administration, let alone human beings. I am Al-Mustapha. I have my background away from the propaganda peddled by the likes of Obasanjo.
“Obasanjo has had his day. I am doing my investigation and I have discovered so many things as to what made him (Obasanjo) make such allegation. I have it. I will release it very soon and that is why I have challenged him to an open debate.
“Obasanjo is my senior in the force; he was a former Military Head of State, but when issues of law and rights of man are being discussed, definitely equality comes to the fore.
“You cannot put an allegation against your junior because you are a senior, and you believe the junior would keep quiet. No, I would not. That would amount to ignorance. I am not ignorant about our laws.
“I challenge Obasanjo to an open debate so that he can substantiate his allegations before the whole world; but he is yet to oblige the challenge.
“Thank God a new government is here today, where he (Obasanjo) can bring up the issue, requesting it to investigate and, if there is any contract between Jonathan and I to catch one single mosquito, I want to say that I am guilty and want to be tried.”
2015 polls: Jonathan shocked me for conceding defeat- Buhari
One year after he became the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has said he was still shocked at how former President Goodluck Jonathan conceded defeat in the March 28, 2015, presidential elections and handed over the reins of power to him. The President said it was such an incredible development that a man who had occupied various political offices as a deputy governor, governor, vice president and president could easily relinquish power to the opposition party, adding that Jonathan had by this gesture, distinguished himself as generous and gracious man.
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Buhari, who gave glowing tribute to his predecessor while hosting State House Correspondents to a luncheon at the new banquet hall of the Presidential Villa yesterday, was offering retrospective highlights of his early days in office after his inauguration. He said that the last one year had been “a tumultuous year for everyone in the villa”, revealing that it was the congratulatory call from Jonathan made that prompted him to visit the Villa in the company of former Head of State, Abdusalami Abubakar, for appreciation.
He said: “I will talk about my experience here in Aso Villa. I underrated the influence of the PDP for 16 years, watching from outside as 8 consecutive governments. The experience of the staff, their commitment and zeal is different from what it is now. 16 years of development in the life of a developing nation is a long time. “When we came, there were 42 ministries. We cut it to 24. This is where I pay my respect to former President Goodluck Jonathan. This is actually a privileged information for you. He called me at a quarter past five in the evening. He said good evening Your Excellency Sir and I said good evening.
‘’He said I have called to congratulate you that I have conceded defeat. Of course, there was dead silence on my end because I did not expect it. I was shocked. I did not expect it because after 16 years, the man was a deputy governor, governor, Vice President and was President for six years. “For him to have conceded defeat even before the result was announced by INEC, I think it was quite generous and gracious of him.
“Abdulsalam recognized the generosity of Jonathan to concede defeat and said we should go and thank him immediately and that was the first time I came here.” The President stated that reducing the Ministries to 24 from 42 was the best decision to take in the face of the circumstances his government found himself. “We had to do it on our own we found out that government could not continue with 42 ministers and the paraphernalia of office. So, we cut it down to 24. We had to cut down half the number of permanent secretaries and then do some cross postings”, he said.
On what civil servants did to 2016 Budget
President Buhari, however, regretted that some civil servants within the budgetary system “padded” his first budget for the country. He said it was a “nasty experience” for him and his Ministers, who spent sleepless nights putting the document together. He said: “For somebody like me, for the first time I heard what is called padding. ‘’I think we will recover by the fourth quarter of the year. There were very serious development which I never knew about.
“So, really it was a nasty experience for us. It was also a nasty experience for some of the ministers who were never in government. For them to sit down day and night to work. I saw them. Some of them literary lost weight because they were sleeping less and eating less. Working on every kobo to be spent.
“Because we became a mono-economy of oil-rich Nigeria, everybody relied on oil and forgot about solid minerals, agriculture, making and exploring things. We recently just found out that we are poor because we don’t have anything to fall back on. This is the condition we found ourselves and this change mantra had to go through hell up till yesterday”, he said.
I pitied Lai Mohammed
The President said he pitied the Minister of Information, Mr. Lai Mohammed who took pains in explaining the actions and inactions of government to the people. “For you to talk to whoever came to visit us throughout that year, I wonder how each of your diaries would be, because people were expecting this change mantra in their own way. “How do you define change? Luckily our party identified three major items, security, economy and corruption. One of the man I pitied is Lai Mohammed. Everyday, he is on TV explaining our performance or lack of it.
Our shock over $2.1 billion arms deal
One shocking discovery of the government, according to the president, was the “sharing” of the $2.1 billion meant for the purchase of arms for the military to fight insurgency in the north east. “People were trusted and the most recent one which we haven’t recovered from is the $2.1billion dollars which was given by the government then, to the military to buy hardware to fight the insurgency which had taken over part of the country and they just sat just the way you are sitting now and shared the money into their own account. They didn’t even bother. So we are still trying to get the cooperation of the international community and so on and we have to do it with a lot of respect to the judiciary.
“We can’t go out and talk too much. We have to allow the judiciary to do their work. We give them the facts,the name, country, bank account. If you talk too much, technicalities will come in, then, we will realize less than what we want to realize. “So please when next you want to interrogate out visitors try and do some research so that when they are coming next time, they will do research themselves”, he said.
Nigeria loses N13bn to oil theft, vandalism in one month
Nigeria has lost N12.566 billion in one month due to petroleum products theft and vandalisation of the facilities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
Giving a breakdown of the losses, the NNPC, in its Monthly Financial and Operations Report for March 2016, disclosed that crude oil loss amounted to N5.94 billion; petroleum products losses stood at N1.757 billion, while N4.87 billion was spent on pipeline repairs and management cost.
According to the report, the losses negatively affected NNPC’s transfer to the Federation Account from the domestic sale of crude oil and gas.
Specifically, the report noted that transfers to the Federation Account by the NNPC dipped by N9.23 billion to N69.544 billion in March, compared N76.614 billion recorded in the preceding month.
Domestic sale of crude oil
However, the report highlighted that NNPC’s total payment to the Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, in the month under review stood at N75.874 billion, due to the payment of N6.33 billion, which was for the repayment of a N450 billion debt to the Federal Government.
The NNPC, the report added, earned N67.01 billion and N2.535 billion from the domestic sale of crude oil and gas respectively, bringing the total sales receipts in the month under review to N69.544 billion.
To this end, the NNPC stated that the sum of N1.118 trillion had been paid to the Federation Account being domestic crude oil and gas and other receipts from April 2015 to March 2016.
Also, the report noted that in the last one year, between April 2015 and March 2016, the NNPC had recorded crude oil losses of N15.456 billion; petroleum products losses of N42.93 billion, while N95.118 billion had been expended on pipeline repairs and management.
In addition, the NNPC expended N249.329 billion on subsidy in the last one year, from April 2015 to March 2016, while it earned N918.8 billion from crude oil sales within the period under review.
The report further disclosed that incessant vandalism and products theft had continued to destroy value, putting the NNPC at disadvantaged competitive position.
It argued that a reduction in vandalism will indeed unlock several industry upsides which include improved upstream oil production due to reduced pipeline disruptions, improved refinery utilization due to increased crude oil feed from restored pipelines, and reduction of crude/product losses.
According to the report, a total of 3,153 vandalized points were recorded between April 2015 and March 2016, adding, that crude and products losses had continued to cost NNPC and the country huge amount of money.
In particular, the report stated that the 48-inch Forcados Oil Terminal (FOT) Export line was vandalized in February 2016, which crippled the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC and all Joint Venture, JV, partners’ ability to export crude oil from the terminal.
It noted that this situation led to the declaration of force majeure by Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, occasioned by production shut-in of about 300,000 barrels of oil per day.
However, the report stated that the, “NNPC leadership is already addressing the Corporation’s key business and operational challenges as well as currently undergoing a comprehensive restructuring exercise aimed at repositioning it for efficiency, profitability and value creation for the common good of the Corporation and its stakeholders.
“NNPC restructuring is also on-going. The program intends to restructure the Corporation into value adding autonomous entities in congruency with the overall corporate vision.”
FG deploys 5 warships, 100 gunboats, fighter jets to Delta creeks
The federal government, yesterday, deployed an armada of five warships, 100 gunboats and fighter jets to the creeks of the Niger Delta, in response to continued bombing of oil and gas pipelines by Niger Delta Avengers, NDA.
This heightened tension in the coastal communities of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, even as helicopter gunships were seen hovering at low altitude in the predominantly riverine council.
It was gathered that while the Airforce deployed the fighter jets and helicopter gunships, the Army swooped on four more Ijaw communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area, Delta State, for the militants.
Bayelsa travellers from the hinterland, confirmed the large military presence in the tricky mangrove swamp of the council, which at the height of youth militancy, had the largest concentration of militant camps in the Delta.
“There is a massive security operation going on in the area. Fighter jets and helicopter gunships have been hovering around the airspace at low level, apparently on surveillance mission. Many of the natives are worried about the development,” said Ayebatari, an indigene of the area.
However, an Agip source told Vanguard that the company had, amid tight security, commenced repair of the damaged section of Tebidaba-Brass delivery line destroyed on Sunday by militants.
“Yes, the repair work is being done under the radar,” he said in reference to the aerial coverage by the military.
Meanwhile, the invasion of Ijaw communities, which started about 1.52a.m., on Saturday, with the take-over of Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of the kingdom and Kurutie, also known as “Little London,” the country home of ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, Okerenkoko, Kokodigbane and Benikrukru, yesterday, has caused food crisis in Gbaramatu clan.
Residents, who fled Oporoza, three days ago to the neighbouring Azama community, are famished, as they had not eaten for the period, while soldiers were reportedly not allowing them to return to the community to look for food and pick their clothes.
The traditional ruler of Gbaramatu kingdom, HRM Williams Ogboba, Oboro Gbaraun II, narrated the ordeal of the people when the Special Adviser to the President on Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, Brigadier-General Paul Boroh (retd), visited him at his palace in Oporoza, Delta State, on Sunday.
He said he was under house arrest and had not taken his bath since soldiers invaded his kingdom, while his subjects in Oporoza had all fled.
Commander, NNS Delta, Commodore Raimi Mohammed, confirmed, yesterday, that the security agencies were now working in synergy to rout the Avengers.
Surveillance
He said: “We (Navy) use helicopter. If you spot it, you will clearly identify it as belonging to us. You see Navy written on it. The jet fighters and surveillance craft were deployed by Air Force to watch over the high risk areas against activities of the oil assets vandals and anyone else involved in criminality in the area.
“There is now strengthened synergy among the security agencies to stop this vandalism. The synergy is there. I will advise those involved to steer clear and employ peaceful ways of agitating and engaging their minds.”
The fighter jets and surveillance aircraft were also seen flying around communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom and Ogulagha area in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State about 10a.m.
Ijaw leader, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, and Public Relations Officer of Oporoza Youth Executive, Paul Kirifade, confirmed the movement of the jet fighters and aircraft in the communities.
It was learned that the fighter jets and surveillance aircraft were deployed to enable the armed forces locate the militants, believed to be running helter-skelter and hiding in the mangrove swamps after the occupation of Oporoza and fly down on Kurutie and other communities, yesterday.
Our source said soldiers stormed Kurutie in six gunboats at 4.30a.m., while the people were still asleep.
A 70-year-old man, identified as Mr. Dogood Ikekama, was allegedly molested and forced by the soldiers to take them round some houses in the community.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has been asked to focus more on intelligence gathering and collaboration with host communities in identifying the location of Niger Delta Avengers.
Chairman of Grassroots Initiative for Peace and Social Orientation and one of the facilitators of the amnesty programme, Mr. Richard Akinaka, who condemned the renewed attacks as not representing the intention and interest of the Niger Delta, blamed it on protection of individual business interests of some unscrupulous people from the region.
To avoid collateral damage and hurting innocent villagers whose lives, he said, had been battered by neglect and lack of development, Akinaka said soldiers should desist from mass arrest but focus on identifying where the Avengers were located and take them out.
He said: “What is happening in the region does not reflect the common interest of the people of the Niger Delta. It is orchestrated by a few disgruntled people for their selfish interests. We just finished six years of a Presidency headed by one of us, former President Goodluck Jonathan, why didn’t the Avengers carry out their agitation during his regime?
‘’We produced a President, who did nothing in six years to better the lot of his people, not even the road to Otuoke was touched under him while the East-West Road was left undone; so what justification do they have to protest now?”
Vanguard gathered that Tompolo’s father had since fled the community, following the hunt for his son but one of his wives, who was in town managed to run into the bush with other villagers before the soldiers reached the house.
She wept uncontrollably in her location as soldiers rummaged the house, but the soldiers, who also broke into and ransacked other homes in the town departed at about 6a.m.
The soldiers marched into Okerenkoko, Kokodiagbene and Benikrukru community when they left Kurutie.
According to the chairman of Kokodiagbene community, Sheriff Mulade: “In the wee hours of yesterday, the Joint Military Task Force, codenamed Operations Pulo Shield, invaded more Ijaw communities in search of vandals and militants bombing oil and gas facilities in Delta state.
“The communities include Benikrukru, Kokodiagbene, Kurutie and Okerenkoko, all in Warri South West Council. According to the JTF, the operations, named Cordon and Search, was aimed at unmasking the militants and vandals, who are perpetrating the heinous crimes, requesting the communities to produce them,” he said.
Oil production plummets to 1.2 mbpd
Nigeria’s oil production has continued to plummet as it, yesterday, stood at 1.2 million barrels per day, against the 1.4 million barrels recorded last week.
Group General Manager, Public Affairs, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Garbadeen Mohammed, said: “Our production is not less than, but about 1.2 million barrels per day.”
The decline has been attributed to increased vandalism of crude oil pipelines by vandals, as well as increasing blow up of international oil companies’ platforms in the last two weeks.
Onokpasa decries seizure of pots of soup by soldiers
All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain in Delta State, Mr. Jesutega Onokpasa, criticized the confiscation of household appliances and even pots of soup by invading soldiers in Oporoza, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West council, saying such act would only present the military as unruly and unethical.
Calling on the Niger Delta Avengers to have a rethink and embrace dialogue, he said: “Everyone in Gbaramatu cannot be an Avenger and we cannot be talking of negotiation and at the same time invading Oporoza.
‘’What is required is intelligence, not brute force. These vandals could be operating from anywhere. Would they bomb a pipeline and then remain in the area waiting for the military to come after them?
“Stopping further destruction of our oil and gas infrastructure is of utmost priority, invading communities and going so far as confiscating household appliances and even pots of soup, will only present the military as undisciplined, untidy and unprofessional.”
Vanguard gathered that the greatest threat to the lives of residents, particularly Oporoza villagers, who fled to neighbouring Azama community since Saturday, is hunger.
Chief Gbenekama and Oporoza youths spokesperson, Kirifade, said the helpless villagers had not eaten for three days, as there was no food in Azama community, where they escaped to.
Also, National President of Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative, IPDI, Mr Austin Ozobo, who confirmed that hunger had hit the displaced persons, said: “There is hunger everywhere as there is no food for the people to eat. Food supply to the kingdom has been cut off by the military, which is not allowing boats to come in from Warri and other areas to bring food to the people.”
Kirifade added: “It is sad that soldiers are not even allowing the trapped villagers to get canoes to go to their homes in Oporoza to look for food and pick up clothes. Some of them have not taken their bath since last Saturday.
“We are not Niger Delta Avengers, why should government classify every Gbaramatu man as a Niger Delta Avenger, they should withdraw the soldiers because it is obvious that their aim is to commit genocide. Though, we thank God that in their indiscriminate shooting, nobody has been killed.”
I’m under house
arrest- Monarch
Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom, HRM Oboro Gbaraun II (Aketekpe) Agadagba, who raised the alarm when Brigadier-General Boroh (retd) visited his palace, said: “I am in pains, deep pains, this is the third time the military has invaded the community. They came with large number of soldiers, harassing and beating up women, there are kids missing now.”
Unrepentant Avengers mocks Tompolo, threatens bloody attacks
NIGER Delta Avengers, NDA, Monday evening, derided former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, over the sufferings and untold hardship soldiers have subjected innocent people of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State, particularly women and children to in the past four days .
The militant group, in a statement, by its spokesperson, Col Mudoch Agbinibo, said it warned Tompolo when he took sides with the Nigerian government against it, but he refused to listen.
Describing the Army as cowardly for taking the battle to helpless civilians, the group said it was going to carry out more attacks, go personal against business mogul and pipeline contractor, Captain Okunbor Idahosa and army officer, Major B. Yahaya, who is leading the assault against unarmed Gbaramatu people.
NDA scorned: “Our dear brother, Tompolo, how is your friendship with the Nigerian Government. The people you took side with against us (the Niger Delta Avengers). We offered you the olive branch by beckoning you to join us in this struggle, but you refused.”
It asserted: “It is not our business what goes on in Gbaramatu Kingdom but our concern is the innocent children, women and aged people, whom the Nigerian military has chased away from their homes now taking refuge in the forest. We warned you before hand that the Nigerian Government, can never be trusted.”
“To the Nigeria military, why are you looking for soft targets? If you are looking for the Avengers, you know how to find us. Don’t deceive your President.
“Information gathered by the Intelligence unit of the Niger Delta Avengers revealed that Oil Marine Services (OMS) whose Chairman and CEO is Capt. Okunbor Idahosa also known, as Capt. Hosa, is the company Nigerian Government awarded the Pipeline surveillance contract to, spanning from Escravos to Lokoja,” the group said.
Col Agbinibo alleged that in collaboration with an Itsekiri leader, some military officers were bribed with N250 million to destroy Gbaramatu kingdom “in the guise of looking for the Niger Delta Avengers.”
The militant group said: “The question is, why the innocent people of Gbaramatu, why the innocent pregnant women, why unleash terror on the aged people of Gbaramatu, Capt. Hosa, Major Yahaya, Ayiri and Brig. Gen Faruk – must you waste all these innocent blood just to secure the pipeline surveillance job?
“Why making the innocent people of Gbaramatu suffer? This act of the Nigerian Army to us is the greatest act of cowardice. This fight we believe is against the Avengers and not the innocent villagers of Gbaramatu Kingdom,” it stated.
NDA asked: “Where is the International community and the United Nations when all these unspeakable injustice are served the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom by the very unprofessional Nigerian Military? Are they not aware of the raping of young girls, looting and destruction of properties by the Nigeria military in Gbaranmatu kingdom?
Not done with Tompolo, it said: “As for you Tompolo, what do you have to say about the horrible treatment meted your people by Nigerian Military, are you still going to call the Niger Delta Avengers criminals, are you still going to take sides with the Nigeria Government against your people?
“What happened to you (Tompolo)? We respect the love you have for your people, the Niger Delta. What is really happening to you when the likes of Mr Ayiri, Capt Hosa and co are unleashing this kind of atrocities on your people.
“Has the wealth you acquired made you soft that you do not know what to do anymore? It jabbed at him.
To the military, the group insisted: “The Nigerian Military cannot intimidate us by harassing innocent Niger Deltans. Gbaramatu is just one kingdom in Delta State. The Niger Delta is made up of seven States.”
“It is, therefore, very funny to lure us to halt our well-planned line of actions that will shock the whole world by harassing innocent villagers,” it remarked.
The militants asserted: “To you, Capt. Hosa the new pipeline protector; the intelligence unit of the Avengers has your full data, we know where all your assets are located and that most of your businesses are in the Niger Delta. For this single act of injustice against the innocent people of Gbaramatu you, your wife and entire family will suffer.”
“To Major M.B. Yahaya, we are sure you have not seen real combat before; how did you rise to the rank of a Major, this is to show that Nigerian Military is finished if it is to depend on people like you.
“You are only good at harassing innocent women and children in the name of looking for the Niger Delta Avengers. We are not surprised because all Nigerian Military are corrupt. Be assured that we are making this fight personal with you as we shall make your life a living hell.
“Can anyone tell the difference between Major MB Yahaya, Brig. Gen Faruk Yahaya and Boko Haram? We are asking because we cannot spot any difference.
“Is the Nigeria military now a hired gun for the rich? The Amnesty International should take note of these officers, who authorized the harassing of the innocent people of Gbaramatu,” it added.
The group went on: “To the International Oil Companies and Indigenous Oil Companies, it is going to be bloody this time around. Your facilities and personnel will bear the brunt of our fury, which shall fall upon you like a whirling wind.”
4 killed, church, others burnt as religious violence breaks out in Niger
Following the outbreak of religious violence in Pandogari, Rafi local government area of Niger state and the killing of a Christian, over alleged blasphemous comments about Prophet Mohammed on the social media, the Nigerian Army has imposed a dusk to dawn curfew in the town.
A statement signed by Major NC Agwu, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, said the curfew came into effect as rioters embarked on violence, looting shops and blocking the Lagos – Kaduna Road, a major artery connecting the northern and southern parts of the country.
“Regrettably, one church, one house and a shop were burnt while 25 other shops were looted following the violence. Three other persons including personnel of the NSCDC also lost their lives” it said.
Continuing it said, “Some arrests have been made in connection with the violence and the suspects handed over to the police. The military and other security agencies are currently embarking on confidence building patrols in all nooks and crannies of the town.
Giving further details on the violence, Major Ugwu said, “At about 6pm on Sunday, 29 May 2016, one Mr. Methodus Chimaije Emmanuel, a 24 year old trader based in Pandogari, Rafi LGA of Niger State was attacked and killed by a mob in the town on allegation of posting a blasphemous statement about Prophet Muhammad on the social media.
“Troops of 31 Artillery Brigade of 1 Division, Nigerian Army on operation MESA quickly intervened and restored law and order while a dusk to dawn curfew was imposed in the town.
“Early Monday morning however, the rioters embarked on further violence, looting shops and blocking the Lagos – Kaduna Road, a major artery connecting the northern and southern parts of the country.
“Again, troops in conjunction with the personnel of Nigeria Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) took control of the situation to forestall escalation of violence and any threat to the peace in the town.
“As part of the measures to de-escalate tensions and ensure a lasting peace in the town, the military is working with the Local Government Council authorities and community leaders, including the Kagara Emirate Council to pacify all aggrieved parties and build on the peace so far established.
“However, while the military will continue with its current non-violent approach to maintaining peace in Pandogari town, it will not take kindly to any unscrupulous element who would attempt to visit violence on innocent and law abiding Nigerians.
“The general public is therefore warned to abide by the conditions of the curfew so far emplaced. All law abiding citizens are enjoined to go about their legitimate businesses without any fear of intimidation.
“They are to be rest assured that the security forces will remain fully present to guarantee their safety and security across the length and breadth of the town, within their rules of engagement.”
South-East burns as Biafra Day turns bloody
Biafra Day anniversary celebration turned bloody, yesterday, in South-East states as soldiers and policemen clashed with pro-Biafra groups.
In the commercial city of Onitsha, our reporters quoted eye witnesses as saying that about 40 people, including a soldier, were killed, while over 50 were arrested.
The incident, according to eye witnesses, started at about 3 a.m. when security forces entered the premises of St. Edmund’s Catholic Church, Nkpor Agu, near Onitsha and allegedly opened fire on the worshippers, accusing them of being Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, members, during which five were killed, while 10 others were injured.
The source further stated at 8 a.m., the security forces, who patrolled all nooks and crannies of Onitsha, Nkpor, Ogidi and environs, allegedly swooped on another batch of suspected IPOB members, where about 20 were allegedly killed and scores injured.
At about 11 a.m, the patrol team allegedly killed another 15, thus bringing the total casualty rate to about 40.
However, the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, said it was not involved in the protest that paralyzed commercial activities in the area.
It was alleged that at 6 a.m, members of IPOB took to the streets, some naked, and were confronted by soldiers of the 312 Artillery Brigade, an action that allegedly led to scores of people losing their lives.
The pro-Biafra groups blocked most major streets in Onitsha and Niger Bridge head, which made most people to remain indoors. All markets in Onitsha were also closed.
Most of the killings were done at Nkpor, a suburb of Onitsha, where IPOB had chosen to celebrate Biafra Day.
Two killed at Niger Bridge head
According to Area Administrator of Nnewi Region of IPOB, Mr Sonny Chukwuebuka, two of IPOB members met their untimely death at the Niger Bridge Head as they were coming from Asaba, Delta State capital, with others to join their Anambra State counterparts in the celebration.
They were said to have ran into soldiers, who denied them passage into Onitsha and in the process, a heated argument was said to have ensued.
Vanguard learned that this later resulted in a bloody clash and consequently, a policeman was killed, while a soldier was stabbed.
MASSOB not involved
MASSOB leader, Mr. Uchenna Madu, said in a telephone interview that his organization was not involved in the protest, explaining that he had earlier issued a statement that this year’s Biafra Day should be celebrated quietly and that all MASSOB members should stay at home.
Madu said though MASSOB was not involved in the protest, it was not enough reason for securitymen to open fire on innocent people.
He said: “Security operatives of the Federal Government are arresting and killing people who are non-violent. Is it because we are not armed? It appears the only language the Nigerian security understands is violence.
“This issue is not about MASSOB or IPOB. It is about Ndigbo generally. In the ongoing killings, innocent people were also targets.”
IPOB protest illegal —Anambra govt
In its reaction, Anambra State government said the protest by IPOB, in Onitsha was illegal, noting that the group did not obtain the necessary police permit for the rally.
In an announcement shortly after the Onitsha incident, government, through the state Commissioner for Information and Communications Strategy, Ogbuefi Tony Nnacheta, said: “The attention of Anambra State government has been drawn to illegal demonstration by a group of individuals causing anxiety at Nkpor/Onitsha axis of the state. The law enforcement agencies are on top of the situation and are currently working to restore normalcy and free movement for all law-abiding citizens.
“Ndi Anambra are, hereby, advised to remain calm and vigilant and go about their lawful businesses. All should note that there are laws against disturbance of public peace.”
50 members arrested, IPOB alleges
Also reacting to the clash, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of IPOB, Mr. Emma Powerful, alleged that apart from about 40 people killed, security operatives also arrested over 50 members of the group and took them to an unknown destination.
He said: “We were celebrating Biafra without any form of violence and the question we are asking is whether we no longer have our fundamental rights.”
National Publicity Secretary of Campaign for Democracy (CD), Mr. Dede-Uzor-Dede, said the Federal Government should arrest those involved in the killings of the harmless youths, with a view to bringing them to justice, in line with Chapter 4, Sections 33 to 41 which centred on fundamental human rights and in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended.
Enugu Police arrest MASSOB, BIM members
Also, yesterday, no fewer than 13 suspected members of Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra,MASSOB, and Biafra Independent Movement, BIM,were arrested by the Police at the Edinburgh axis of Enugu metropolis where they converged as take-off point to embark on peaceful demonstration to commemorate their independence.
An eyewitness told Vanguard that the pro-Biafra members stormed the venue at about 7.40 a.m. in a Toyota Hiace bus with number plate XG 265 UWN with flags and T-shirts bearing Biafra insignia and inscriptions.
They were said to have formed a circle, holding hands in prayers before the commencement of the protest when the police swooped on them.
Confirming the arrest, Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ebere Amaraizu, Superintendent of Police, said the protesters were rounded up following intelligence report on the would-be protest which made the command ban any form of protest.
“They converged on Edinburgh axis and the arrested suspects in their reactions maintained that they are members of MASSOB and BIM. They further stated that they were to converge and pray at the spot before embarking on procession with their flags to commemorate their independence.”
Chekwas Okorie urges Buhari to release Kanu
Meanwhile, Founder, United Progressives Party,UPP, Chief Chekwas Okorie,yesterday, urged President Muhammad Buhari to release detained Nnamdi Kanu, Director Radio Biafra, as a prelude to dialogue with the aggrieved members of MASSOB, IPOB, and other affiliate groups demanding for Biafra secession.
Similarly, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, declined to comment on the activities of MASSOB, IPOB, BIM and other affiliate groups involved in the averted protest.
President General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Gary Enwo Igariwey, told Vanguard on the phone: “I do not want to talk about anything concerning MASSOB and others involved in any protest.”
40 MASSOB members arrested in Nsukka church
In Nsukka, MASSOB raised alarm that the police arrested 40 of it members at St. Theresa’s Cathedral, Nsukka, yesterday, while attending a special thanksgiving mass in commemoration of 49th anniversary of the declaration of the defunct Biafran Republic by the late warlord, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.
The zonal leader of MASSOB in Enugu North, Chief James Omeke, said it was surprising that police circled the Catholic Cathedral, sneaked into the church and arrested the members at the special thanksgiving mass.
He said: ”The arrest, harassment and intimidation of the members would not deter the movement but would spur the struggle to freedom. Nigerian government has not been fair to the freedom of Biafra.”
Efforts to get confirmation from the Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu. proved abortive as several calls to his line were not answered. However, a senior police officer in Nsukka who spoke on condition of anonymity, denied any arrest.
Pro-Biafra protesters shot in Umuahia
In Umuahia, a member of MASSOB was said to have sustained gunshot wounds when police allegedly shot at the members, who held peaceful rally to mark 49th anniversary of Biafra.
He was said to have been rushed to an undisclosed hospital in the Abia State capital.
Also, 10 members of the group were said to have been arrested by the police during the rally.
Meanwhile, Ohanaeze Youth Council has condemned the killings, saying it was wrong for the security to shoot citizens on a peaceful protest.
According to the Council, it is against international laws and conventions to attack unarmed protesters with live bullets and called on the security operatives to respect the laws.
Reacting to the Onitsha killing and shooting in Umuahia, President General of the council, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, also said the mood of the nation required that the security agencies tread with caution so as not to heat up the polity.
Isiguzoro, therefore, called on the Federal Government to call the security operatives to order and caution them against incessant attacks on armless citizens.
The Abia State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Udeviotu Onyeke, when contacted, denied that any protester was fired at by the police. He also denied that 10 protesters were arrested, saying police only arrested four activists.
IPOB, MASSOB loyalists arrested in Imo
In a similar development, the Imo State Police Command said it arrested only 17 loyalists of MASSOB and IPOB, including two women, as against the 50 claimed by the groups.
The MASSOB and IPOB members kicked off the road show at Waterside Primary School Owerri, from where they moved to Rotibi Street to Oguamana Street before linking Douglas Road where heavily armed security men threw teargas at them at Ama JK.
Mr Okechukwu Nwogu, a leader of MASSOB, who spoke to journalists in Owerri, regretted the arrest of members of the group who, according to him, were on a peaceful march to commemorate the 49th anniversary of Biafra and 17th anniversary of MASSOB.
The PPRO, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, who paraded those arrested, yesterday, before newsmen in Owerri, on behalf of the CP, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, saidthe MASSOB and IPOB loyalists were arrested along Tetlow/Okigwe Road Park, Owerri, by policemen who were on routine patrol.
Police stop protest, arrest 92 in Ebonyi
In Abakaliki Ebonyi State, the state police command said it stopped the proposed protest by MASSOB to mark their independence day in the state
In a statement by the spokesperson of the command, ASP George Okafor, about 92 members led by one Vincent Nwamini and several other sub-leaders were arrested.
According to him, the command also discovered that the protest was a plot by miscreants to cause mayhem in the state.
7 die as MASSOB protests in Asaba
No fewer than seven persons have been confirmed dead following protest by members of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), in Asaba on Monday. The Acting Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), in Delta, SP Charles Muka, who confirmed this in a statement, added that the police recorded two casualties. He said in the statement that five members of MASSOB were killed by military officers who had confrontations with the group along the Asaba-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba. It stated that the military arrested and brought eight members of MASOB to the police and “are now in custody in Asaba.” According to him, the protesters turned violent and attacked the policemen deployed to monitor the protest, killed two and injured two others. “We had to deploy our officers to ensure that the protest was peaceful but we were surprised that the people turned violent. “To our surprise, they started attacking our men and at Okwe Junction in Abraka area of Asaba, the group killed a police corporal and took his AK47 rifle.
“Also along the Dennis Osadeby Way in Asaba, they wounded a police officer and took his anti-riot gun. “This group also attacked and wounded two policemen, suspected to be marine police, and threw them into the River Niger at Cable Point in Asaba and in the process one died and one was rescued. “This brings the casualty to two with two others injured on the side of the police. “The protesters also attacked military vehicles along the Asaba-Onitsha Expressway which left four members of the group dead and eight others arrested and brought to the police headquarters.” It added that a pregnant woman was hit by a stray bullet during the fracas but now receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba. The statement advised parents and guardians to warn their children and wards to follow the part of peace and pursue their agenda constitutionally.
12 pro Biafra protesters arrested in Rivers
In Rivers state, twelve members of Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign state of Biafra, MASSOB were arrested yesterday at Oyigbo local government area by the Police during a peaceful protest by the body.
Oyigbo Regional Administrator of the body, Mr Sunday Amuzie and the Rivers south Director of Information and Publicity of the group, Mr Anukem Anthony condemned the arrest, saying it will not stop them from their peaceful agitation.
They further called on the Inspector General of Police to order immediate release of their members arrested.
Amuzie said : “Today is a big day for Biafra people because it is the anniversary of Biafra independence. It is what we are celebrating today. You know the mentality of Nigeria Police, they don’t maintain the law.
If, in deed, they are people that maintain law, not just enforcing it, they do not have any reason whatsoever, to arrest any group of persons who are carrying out a peaceful activity.
“MASSOB is a non-violent movement and would continue to remain so, till the actualization of the freedom. No matter the level of harassment, we will continue to maintain the non-violent principle”.
We don’t need this distraction now—Okorocha
Reacting to the development, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State said the development was a distraction which the South-East does not need at this point.
A statement signedby his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, said: “What the South-East and her people need at the moment is economic revolution to reposition the area for development and growth. Anything short of this lofty dream is a distraction. What the people of the zone need to do now is to tap into President Buhari’s administration to get their due. They should forget these distractions.”
Former Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nduka Eya, has said IPOB had no reason to confront soldiers if it was engaged in peaceful demonstration.
Eya, who spoke against reports that soldiers opened fire on IPOB members who were celebrating Biafran heroes at Nkpo, near Onitsha, warned those agitating for Biafran to remember that Biafra died in 1970 when the secessionist war ended in the country.
“I had always said that Nigerians must be disciplined and also imbibe the habit of engaging in peaceful demonstration.
“Anybody who wants to embark on peaceful demonstration must obtain police permit.
“If you do so, the police will provide security and ensure that hooligans do not hijack it. This is the standard behaviour all over the world.
“If it is true that the IPOB people actually killed a soldier, the natural reaction would be for his colleagues to open fire on the demonstrators.
Many of us still have Biafra in our hearts but nobody should engage in illegality. They kill you and you are out.
As long as we continue to engage in illegality, we will not get our bearing.
Efforts to get the Presidency’s reaction proved abortive as the Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Femi Adesina could be reached.
I pity Lai Mohammed — Buhari
The President Muhammadu Buhari has said that he pittied the Minister of Information, Mr. Lai Mohammed who took pains in explaining the actions and inactions of government to the people.
“For you to talk to whoever came to visit us throughout that year, I wonder how each of your diaries would be, because people were expecting this change mantra in their own way.
How do you define change? Luckily our party identified three major items, security, economy and corruption. One of the men I pitied is Lai Mohammed. Everyday, he is on TV explaining our performance or lack of it,” he said.
Buhari, made the comment while hosting State House Correspondents to a luncheon at the new banquet hall of the Presidential Villa yesterday, was offering retrospective highlights of his early days in office after his inauguration.
Our shock over $2.1 billion arms deal
One shocking discovery of the government, according to the president, was the “sharing” of the $2.1 billion meant for the purchase of arms for the military to fight insurgency in the north east.
“People were trusted and the most recent one which we haven’t recovered from is the $2.1billion dollars which was given by the government then, to the military to buy hardware to fight the insurgency which had taken over part of the country and they just sat just the way you are sitting now and shared the money into their own account. They didn’t even bother. So we are still trying to get the cooperation of the international community and so on and we have to do it with a lot of respect to the judiciary.”
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