Adegboruwa sues Buhari, others over Biafra killings

Adegboruwa sues Buhari, others over Biafra killingsuman rights activist and Lagos-based lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has dragged President Muhammadu Buhari, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Attorney-General of the Federation before the Federal High Court, Lagos over what he called a constant invasion of Biafra protests by soldiers and policemen, leading to severe human casualties.

In the new suit, which also has the Inspector-General of Police, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Navy Staff and the Chief of Air Staff as defendants, Adegboruwa is asking the court to halt the constant invasion of Biafra protests by security agents.

The lawyer is claiming that all Nigerian citizens are granted the right of free assembly and association, under section 40 of the 1999 Constitution and also the freedom of expression, under section 39 of the same Constitution.


He is therefore contending that members of the Independent Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, are entitled to assemble  in any part of the country, for the purpose of demanding for self determination, without any permit or licence.
“And when they so decide to gather, the police, the army, or indeed other security agencies are not entitled to invade their gathering, or to shoot them or to arrest and detain them, as was done in most parts of the South East, last week.

He, therefore, wants the court to affirm the rights of citizens to express themselves on any areas of grievance without let or hindrance from the security agencies.


In the suit, marked FHC/L/CS/775/2016, Adegboruwa is seeking among other reliefs, a declaration that the applicant and all other citizens of Nigeria are entitled to gather, assemble freely and express their opinions lawfully in the exercise of their fundamental rights guaranteed under sections 39 and 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and Articles 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 (1), 11, 20 and 28 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. 10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 and is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.
He is also seeking a declaration that the arrest, detention and killings of innocent and unarmed citizens of Anambra State, Enugu State, Imo State, Abia State and Ebonyi State (all of the Igbo tribe) while gathering in Nkpor, Ifite-Dunu and Nnewi in Anambra State of Nigeria on the 30th day of May, 2016 to commemorate the International Biafra Heroes’ Remembrance Day by the respondents, their servants and privies constitutes a flagrant violation of the citizen’s fundamental rights guaranteed under sections 39 and 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and Articles2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10(1), 11, 20 and 28 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. 10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 and is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

The lawyer further seeks an injunction restraining the Respondents, whether by themselves, their servants, agents, officers or otherwise howsoever from further violating the fundamental rights of the citizens of Anambra State, Enugu State, Imo State, Abia State and Ebonyi State through unlawful arrest, detention and killing except and in a manner permitted and sanctioned by law.

He is also seeking an order nullifying and voiding actions of the respondents over the massacre of innocent and unarmed citizens of Anambra State, Enugu State, Imo State, Abia State and Ebonyi State in Nkpor, Ifite-Dunu and Nnewi all in Anambra State of Nigeria on the 30th day of May, 2016 while commemorating the International Biafra Heroes’ Remembrance Day to the extent that it violates the liberty and freedom of the citizens of Anambra State, Enugu State, Imo State, Abia State and Ebonyi State as guaranteed under sections 39 and 40 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and Articles 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10(1), 11, 20 and 28 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. 10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
No hearing date has yet been fixed for the suit.

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Buhari sends list of 47 ambassadorial nominees to Senate

President Muhammadu Buhari has sent a list of forty-seven ambassadorial nominees to the Nigerian Senate for confirmation.

The President of the Senate, Sen.Bukola Saraki, who read the letter to the Senate said that President Buhari requested the Senate to approve the list at the shortest time possible.

“I have the honour to forward the attached list of 47 career foreign service officers as ambassador designates for consideration and confirmation by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.


“Copies of their curriculum vitae are attached. It is my hope that this will receive the usual prompt attention of the distinguished members of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Buhari said.
The nominees include: Obinna Chukwuemeka, Salisu Umoru, Iyang Udoh, Okeke Vivian, Liman Munir, Edem Jane, Mohammed Hassan, Martin Cobham, Janet Molegbo, Itegbuoye Sunday, Olatunde Adesesan and Lilian Onu.

Others are: Manaja Isa, Ngozi Ukeje, Bello Husseini, Enoch Ducci, Garba Baba, Usman Aliyu, Umar Salisu, Momoh Omeiza, Kadiri Audu, Balogun Hakeem, Nosa Ahmed, Ibrahim Isa, Bankole Adeoye and Ibidapo Obe.

Other nominees are: Ogundaro Sakirat, Eric Belgam, Ateru Haliru, Ramota Bulima, Musa Mamman, Kabiru Bala, Adamu Shuaibu, D. A. Agiv, T.K. Gonglong, Ibrahim Hamza, K.C. Nwachukwu and Q.R. Wolu.

The list also has: E.K. Oguntuwase, A.I. Paragauda, L.A. Gasharga, Olufemi Abikoye, Abubakar Ibrahim, Rabiu Kawu, Janet Bisong and Adekunbi Habeebat.

According to the letter, the list is made up of only career civil servants in the foreign service.

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Family awaits autopsy on football legend, Stephen Keshi

• He complained of leg pains, never recovered from wife’s death
• Buhari, Osinbajo, Saraki, Atiku pay tributes

Shock gave way to palpable grief. Still, disbelief was etched on the faces of the members of his family: Super Eagles’ former Captain and Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, could not have died.

At his Benin home where he died at the age of 54, his mother and other family members await an autopsy. For now, they do not know the cause of the football legend’s death.

Family sources said Keshi came into Nigeria from his United States base to see the grave of his wife of 35 years, Nkem Kate, who died in December after a long battle with cancer.


A member of the family, Ricky Aburimen, said Keshi complained of pains in his leg and was being rushed to Faith Mediplex Hospital, which is about 15 minutes drive from his Giwa Amu GRA Benin residence when he gave up the ghost. He was ‘brought in dead’ around 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Aburimen said the family would conduct an autopsy to determine the actual cause of death. He cautioned against speculations about the cause of Keshi’s death and debunked some media reports that the late coach died of heart attack.

“He had complained of pains in his leg for some days and they kept massaging it for him. When he complained of it yesterday, they massaged it again.

“About one and half hours after the massage, he was in serious distress and was gasping for breath. That was how we rushed him to the hospital (Faith Mediplex), a distance of about 20 minutes. But by the time we arrived at the hospital, the doctor certified him dead on arrival. That was sometime between 11:30 and 11:45 pm,” Aburime said.
‎
“It was the nurse that first came out. She checked ‎ and said there was no pulse in him. Doctors later came to do all the stuff they did, but nothing came out of it,” he said.

When asked what could have been the likely cause of Keshi’s death,‎ Aburime said no one should speculate the cause of his death until an autopsy was conducted by qualified doctors after which the report would be made public at a press conference befitting of Keshi’s status.

‎Aburimen continued: “After the confirmation, as he was not a patient of the hospital, they could not write any report or present any death certificate. They said we must bring the police and the police came to inspect the body. I am about to take the corpse to Stella Obasanjo pending the autopsy, which the family wants to do. Dr. Wilson Akhiwu will conduct the autopsy.

“‎There is no official statement as to the cause of death. There will be no embalming. It was sudden and we don’t want anybody to speculate. That massage on his leg had taken one hour before the distress. There was no sign of ill health and Keshi had not complained recently.”
Family sources further said that he was billed to travel to the United States to visit his children.

And from London where he is resting, President Muhammadu Buhari has paid tribute to the ‘Big Boss,’ as Keshi was fondly called by football enthusiasts.

Reacting to Keshi’s demise yesterday on his twitter handle the president said: “Nigeria today lost a great sportsman, football player, coach and citizen. Nigerian football will not be the same without Stephen Keshi . He gave this country his all. May his soul rest in peace” he said.


He commiserated “with the family of the late Stephen Keshi, and the entire country on the shock passing away of the former Togo and Mali National teams’ coach and the only Nigerian to have won the African Cup of Nations both as a player and a coach.”

Other leaders across the country among them the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, former Vice President and All Progressives Congress chieftain, Abubakar Atiku as well as former Senate President David Mark have all paid glowing tribute to the late Keshi.

Saraki, who lamented that Keshi had lost his wife late last year said: “This must be a heavy burden for the family to bear. His death at 54 is both a rude shock and highly unfortunate.

“Nonetheless, we must take solace in the fact that he did his utmost for the development of sports in Nigeria, Africa and the world, during his sojourn on earth.

“As a player and coach, he was instrumental to superlative victories for the national team.”In a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki said the sad occurrence was both painful and unfortunate coming at a time the nation is in dire need of wisdom and rich experience of sports professionals like the late international star to stabilise its soccer architecture.

To Atiku, Keshi’s sudden demise is an untimely loss of a sports gem and pacesetter. In a condolence message issued by his media office in Abuja yesterday, Atiku said: “It saddens my heart to learn of the stunning news of the death of the golden boy of Nigeria football. His departure is more touching when one recalls that Keshi also lost his loving wife of 33 years, Kate, to cancer late last year thus rendering their young children hapless orphans.

“While praying for the repose of the soul of this fallen hero, I would also beseech God Almighty to grant fortitude and grace to the mother, four children, family members and friends that the deceased compatriot left behind”, Atiku said.

Mark described Keshi’s death as “a monumental loss to Nigeria and indeed Africa.” Mark in a statement by his Media Assistant, Paul Mumeh said he received “received with shock and disbelief the news of the death of our indefatigable Coach Stephen Keshi. It’s devastating. It’s a sad story.”

According to Mark, “Keshi was one of the greatest and most successful footballers Nigeria has ever produced. Till date, no one has beaten his record.


“As a captain of the Super Eagles in 1994, he won the Africa Nations’ Cup in Tunisia. As the Chief Coach of the Super Eagles in 2013, he led Nigeria to win the Nations’ Cup in South Africa.

“He was forthright and outspoken. He was steadfast. He never compromised his position especially on professionalism no matter whose ox was gored. Keshi was to African football what Mohammed Ali was to boxing.

“Only a very few men in the world has such an intimidating credential. We cannot question the will of the Almighty Creator , but this is one death too many.”

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Rooney fights to prove England worth

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney is facing the biggest fight of his 13-year international career to hold onto his England place going into the European Championship.
England’s talisman ever since he burst onto the scene as a preternaturally gifted 18-year-old at Euro 2004, Rooney has gone to five major tournaments as one of the first names on the team-sheet.

But competition from emerging stars such as Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy, coupled with doubts about his own form and fitness, mean that England’s all-time record goal-scorer is no longer an automatic pick.

“As I’ve said throughout my career with Manchester United and England, I never take my place for granted,” Rooney, 30, conceded recently.

“First of all I want England to be successful and win trophies, and obviously it is great if I can be a part of that.”

The current campaign has already been a historic one for Rooney, who broke Bobby Charlton’s 35-year-old England scoring record in October and now has 52 international goals to his name.

He has also moved onto 111 caps, behind only Peter Shilton (125), David Beckham (115) and Steven Gerrard (114) in England’s all-time ranking.

But he has performed fitfully for United and saw a brief return to form abruptly curtailed in February when he was sidelined by a knee injury.

In his absence, England recorded a rousing 3-2 win over world champions Germany in Berlin.

Dele Alli and Ross Barkley have encroached onto Rooney’s territory as chief creator and there are also doubts about his ability to press with the same intensity as his younger rivals.

England manager Roy Hodgson has toed a diplomatic line with regard to his captain’s status, defending Rooney’s right to a place in the squad but stating that he cannot consider himself a guaranteed starter.

– ‘White Pele’ –
While Rooney remains one of the world’s most famous players, he is no longer the game-changing force of nature who burst onto the scene with Everton at the age of 16, earning himself the nickname ‘The White Pele’.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger described him as “the biggest English talent since I’ve arrived in England”, but the true weight of his achievements remains hard to measure.

With United, who he joined from Everton in 2004, he has won almost everything, including five Premier League titles, two League Cups one FA Cup and the 2008 Champions League.

He is also the club’s second-highest goal-scorer and has Charlton’s United record of 249 goals in his sights.

His goals include some unforgettable strikes, including a stunning overhead bicycle kick against Manchester City in 2011, and he has amassed countless individual awards.

But for all that, there lingers a sense of potential unfulfilled, and nowhere is that feeling more pronounced than when his achievements with England are brought into consideration.

It is now 12 years since he exploded onto the global football consciousness with four goals at Euro 2004 in Portugal and the years since have brought nothing but false dawns and disappointments.

Rooney admitted as much after England’s meek group-stage exit at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

“Obviously I’m not going to be as big a legend as Sir Bobby Charlton,” Rooney said. “He’s won the World Cup.”

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Government orders scaling down of military presence in Niger Delta

Against the backdrop of the threats by the joint Niger Delta Liberation Force, (NDLF) to attack Presidential Villa, strategic place, military installations in the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) and other parts of the country such as Abuja, Kaduna, Lagos, an emergency security council meeting was convened on Tuesday with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo presiding.

The meeting ended with a directive that the heavy military presence in the Niger Delta communities is scaled down considerably, but stressed that the presence of the military in the waterways be sustained in order to ensure adequate security along the waters, while discussions with the leaders of the communities continue.

The Chief of Defence Staff, (CDS) Gen. Gabriel Olonishakin: Chief of Army Staff, (CAS) , Lt. Gen, Tukur Yusuf Buratai and his Naval counterpart, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ekwe Ibas and some governors of the Niger Delta region were at the meeting.

Prominent among the governors in attendance are Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa: Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo: Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole of Edo State and Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom.

The Ministers of Defence, Brig-Gen. Mansur Mohammed Dan-Ali, (rtd): Niger Delta Usani Usani Uguru and Petroleum of State counterpart, Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu were also in attendance.

Delta and Edo State governors, who briefed State House correspondents later, said the meeting was part of the synergy between the federal and state governments, describing the meeting as very fruitful as it afforded them the opportunity of finding a lasting solution to the festering crisis in the Niger Delta region.

According to Okowa, who briefed first, “We governors of the oil producing states, security chiefs and ministers who are concerned met with the Vice President and I believe we had a very fruitful meeting.

“One thing we identified which is the synergy between the Federal Government and the States which is very important and this meeting has raised a lot of issues and we believe that the collaboration will help us to tackle the issues in the Niger Delta.

“Of course, we were briefed by the service chiefs and the governors also have their own perspectives along with the minister of state petroleum. We have taken a lot of decisions which will help us mitigate what is going on currently in the states particularly Bayelsa and Delta.”

He said the meeting agreed on the need for both the federal and state governments to share intelligence which is very important and for there to be a proactive decision, working together with the various stakeholders in the states to achieve a better result going forward.

“We have also agreed that there is a need to distill military operations directly in communities, but the military need to actually remain on our waterways to ensure that we adequately man the waterways itself while we engage the communities and that engagement process is starting any moment from now.”

Explaining the lull in the activities of the Amnesty Programme, Oshiomhole, attributed it to the transition, occasioned by a change in leadership of the organisation. He, however, warned that no matter the skills acquired, it could not be put into any judicious use where there was no peace.

His words, “The amnesty programme is on but you know there was a little transition because there is a new leadership and there is always a time lag. In principle, the programme is on. There are stories about nonpayment and those problems are being addressed, funds are being provided .

“I believe the government recognises that the amnesty programme has to be sustained but also we can improve on it because we have trained people. People have been sent for training and they have come back and they should be able to apply those skills. If they don’t apply the skills they become skilled but then unemployed, then the problem persists.

We need multiple tools to deal with the issues. Fortunately for the people to be able to apply the skills that they acquired in the course of the amnesty training, they need an environment that is investment friendly because unless for example if you have skills in underwater welding, you need the oil companies to be doing business to recruit people like that to carry out those kinds of special skill.

“If you have skill in all sorts of things without economic activity, you cannot deploy your skills. One thing leads to the other. In the first instance, the man has no skill, the first challenge is to give him the skill.

“That is being done and when he has finished and acquired that skill the final challenge is to get him a place to work to earn money and to develop a lifestyle that is sustainable to add and contribute to the development of his community and the rest of our people they need to see the quality of life improving.”

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Obama hosts Indian Prime Minister, unlikely friend

President Barack Obama welcomes India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the White House this week in a low-key nod to the improved ties between the world’s biggest democracies.

That the pair would get along was not a given: When Obama came to office in 2009, the Hindu nationalist was banned from entering the United States over his role in anti-Muslim riots.

But the ban was lifted after Modi was sworn into office in May 2014 and he has since made four US visits — two to Washington — while Obama has twice travelled to India.

Relations between the countries are not always easy — India insists on staying out of formal alliances and forging its own course — but both leaders can boast that ties have improved.

For Obama, who will step down from office in January, this is now a matter of his legacy — friendship with India and inroads into its huge market are a victory for his so-called “pivot to Asia.”

For Modi, Tuesday’s visit is a time to set the seal on what has been achieved and set the stage for what he hopes will be a mushrooming in US-India trade from $120 billion to $500 billion.

Ahead of the trip, India’s Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar told reporters Obama had invited Modi as one of the leaders with whom “he had a close and productive working relationship.”

“So, in many ways you can say it is sort of a consolidation visit,” he added.

On Monday, Modi will head to Arlington National Cemetery for a wreath-laying ceremony and meet with think tank scholars.

He will have a working lunch with Obama on Tuesday, followed by a series of meetings with US business leaders and members of the three million strong Indian-American community.

On Wednesday, he will become the fifth Indian premier to address a joint session of the US Congress, and afterwards will be hosted at a reception for dignitaries and lawmakers.

– Electric deal, military memorandum –
Officials played down the chances of major announcements during the visit, but noted that India is very close to a deal with US electric giant Westinghouse to build a nuclear plant.

“There is a very detailed and advanced negotiation,” Arun Singh, India’s ambassador to the United States, told reporters, adding that only the financing details of the scheme remain to be agreed.

The multi-billion dollar deal to provide power to India’s growing, energy-hungry populace had been on hold because of concerns about site safety in Modi’s home state Gujarat.

But a new location for the six-reactor plant has been found in Andhra Pradesh and concerns about insurance have been ironed out, Singh said.

Another potential arena for greater cooperation is in the military and security arena.

India has made the United States its main arms supplier — spending $14 billion over the past five years — but also spends heavily with French, Israeli and Russian suppliers.

The two countries are negotiating a Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), although it is not clear whether a final draft will be ready for Modi to sign on his visit.

This arrangement, long-sought by Washington, will allow the two militaries to seek supplies and spare parts from each other’s bases.

Singh did not say whether agreement was imminent — India also wants deals to acquire advanced US arms technology — but noted that Indian and US troops now train together regularly.

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Oil prices boosted by dollar slump

Oil prices pushed higher Monday thanks to a softer dollar after last week’s disappointing US jobs report, but gains were limited as producers increased their rig count.

The US Labor Department said Friday that just 38,000 new jobs were created last month, a quarter of what was expected.

With a US interest rate rise not now seen before September at the earliest, the dollar tumbled — making oil cheaper for anyone buying it with other currencies.

At about 0640 GMT, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate was up 42 cents, or 0.86 percent, at $49.04, while Brent gained 36 cents, or 0.73 percent, to $50.00.

Oil is up about 85 percent from the near 13-year lows touched at the start of the year, and key producer Abu Dhabi said the supply glut that had hammered prices was easing quicker than expected.

Ali Majed Al Mansoori, chairman of Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, also predicted prices could rise to as much as $60 this year.

However, analysts said gains would meet resistance as current prices are making it viable for producers to bring rigs back online.

On Friday the Baker Hughes weekly North American rig count showed an increase of nine onshore oil drilling platforms in the US.

IG Markets analyst Bernard Aw told AFP: “The move in oil prices is not in proportion to the dollar retreat.

“One would have expected oil prices to push much higher than what we’re seeing… traders might be waiting for news more related to oil itself.”

Crude has managed to hold up as the refusal last week by export cartel OPEC to agree output limits was offset by another fall in US stockpiles, which fuelled hopes of a recovery in demand in the world’s top oil consumer.

Disruptions to supplies from Nigeria and Canada also provided support.

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