Court Restrains IGP, Bayelsa CP From Arresting Brass Council Chair

A High Court of Bayelsa State sitting in Yenagoa has granted an exparte order restraining the Inspector General of Police, the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police and the police from arresting Mr. Victor Inodunimi Isaiah.

Mr. Isaiah, who is the caretaker chairman of Brass Local Government Council in the state, had approached the court to enforce his fundamental human rights after no fewer than 20 policemen stormed his residence in Yenagoa in September to arrest him on the orders of the IGP following an alleged political crisis in the council area.

The Presiding Judge, L.M. Boufini, who granted the order, restrained the defendants from arresting or detaining him pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The Judge also ordered that the defendants be put on notice while the matter was adjourned to the next hearing date.

A chieftain of the APC and member of the state legislature, Israel Sunny-Goli, who is at the centre of the crisis, had petitioned the IGP, who was said to have deployed his men to arrest the council chairman.

On the same day, the police also made an unsuccessful attempt to arrest a former state chairman of the APC, Mr. Tiwei Orunimighe, shortly after he defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Eyewitnesses said the policemen attempted to gain entry into their residence but were resisted by some youths who thronged their abodes.

Isaiah however said the attempt to arrest him was an act of brigandage and that the unidentified armed men, who claimed to be policemen, wanted to abduct him.

He said the act was carried out without prior police invitation or laid down protocol.

He also claimed that the armed men came in two buses and a Tundra SUV, which reportedly belonged to an APC stalwart in Brass.

Isaiah noted that he had earlier responded to the invitation of the police that were investigating an incident that resulted in the death of two persons in Brass and that they were satisfied that he cooperated with them. 

He described the bid to arrest him as an assassination attempt on his life.

A Tribute And Call For Action In Memory Of Jamal Khashoggi

A Tribute and Call for Action in Memory of Jamal Khashoggi, killed October 2 by Saudi authorities inside the Saudi Arabia consulate in Turkey. 

A minute silence for the faithful departed.

With deep grief and greatest sorrow in memory of journalists killed in Nigeria and around the world, the Coalition of Nigerian Media and Civil Society Groups are gathered here to make 3 statements:

First, we are gathered here to commiserate with the family and friends of journalist, Jamal Ahmad Khashoggi, and the good people of Saudi Arabia. 

We are gathered here to tell the people of Saudi Arabia that you deserve better. You deserve better than a blood thirsty government that kills its citizens at will, and with total impunity. 

No human being should ever have to face such a bestial death. Jamal did not deserve to die, let alone in the one place where he should have felt safest in a foreign land – the Saudi Arabia Consulate. 

Let us think about it critically. Do we know how many people have died in similar circumstances at Saudi Embassies and Consulates around the world? 

Jamal Khashoggi’s blood is crying for Justice! 

And that is why we are gathered here, to tell the Saudi government that injury to one is injury to all. The world abhors the evil perpetrated against Jamal. We are here to say Jamal’s life and death will never be in vain. His blood will keep speaking for generations to come and his legacy will forever remain. 

We are here to demand only one thing from the King and the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: 

The person(s) who gave the order for the bestial murder of journalist, Jamal Ahmad Khashoggi, and the person(s) who carried the order, All of them MUST be brought to account. 

The Second reason we are gathered here is in memory of our own Nigerian journalists, too many killed in the line of duty, and in total impunity. 

Just as we call on the Saudi government, so also, we call on the Nigerian government to put an end to impunity for crimes against journalists. 

This month, 32 years ago, we still remember the murder of journalist, Dele Giwa, killed via a parcel bomb delivered to him on October 19, 1986. That case smacks of government conspiracy. 

We are here to tell the Nigerian government to take into account that in 32 years since Dele Giwa’s assassination, countless murders of journalists have occurred, and not one has been conclusive to bring the perpetrators to justice. 

We therefore call on Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, to do what any conscionable government would do: 

Order the reopening of impartial, independent, and transparent investigations into the murders of all journalists killed in the country and ensure their killers don’t go unpunished. 

The Third reason we are gathered here is to remind ourselves that:

when Injustice Becomes Law, Resistance Becomes A Duty! The call was sounded, even on short notice, yet we all turned up and decided to take action to defend our civil rights.

We want to say ‘Thank You’ for your presence and your time. Together, we will keep holding our governments accountable to the people. 

Signed 

Peter Nkanga    

Chido Onumah

For: Coalition of Nigerian Media and Civil Society Groups

KTSG Provides Venture Capital For Commercial Transformation Sub-sector

The Katsina State Governor, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari had earlier today handed over to the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) 84 motor vehicles secured for commercial transportation sub-sector in the State.

Katsina Media and Publicity reports that Masari who explained the arrangements in form of a recycle loan (venture capital) which is repayable over a period of 36months and is interest free

The aim according to the Governor is to regrade the amount and make purchases of new vehicles until it becomes satisfactorily available to the teeming Katsina populace.

The Governor, while analyzing the job creation and capacities of the investment said, “we have now provided 84 vehicles with each having an assistant. It is an express job provision for over 160 people and each having a family to survive with, with this we have reduced unemployment as well as create job for our good people.”

Earlier, the Commissioner of Industry and Commerce, Abubakar Yusuf said the government had been fulfilling it’s promises on job creation, industry, small and medium scale empowerment, calling on the NURTW to ensure the payment of the loan so as to purchase more and create more jobs.

@katgovmedia reports that the Chairman NURTW Katsina Chapter, Alh. Haruna Kafur, thanked the Governor for this unique gesture as it is the first of it’s kind since the inception of Katsina State, he further noted that for over 16 years, they have been demanding same from previous government but all efforts proved abortive. 

Kafur said they owe the government for this support as all and sundry belonging to their family will surely re-elect Masari/Buhari and the entire APC aspirants come 2019.

It will be recalled that earlier this week, the State own transportation sector, the Katsina State Transport Authority (KSTA) had also secured over 25 brand new vehicles to upgrade and make effective the public transportation sub- sector.

Prove Your Faith by Supporting Buhari, Cole for 2019", Eze Charges Wike

• Lists out Ten Reasons Why President Buhari is a True son of Niger Delta 

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has been charged to back his praises for President Muhammadu Buhari's vision for the Niger Delta by supporting his 2019 ambition.

Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, who charged the Governor in a statement made available to the media in Port Harcourt on Friday, also described President Buhari's completion and commissioning of the International Wing of the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, as monumental, historical, an example of the President's faith-keeping and love for the people of the State and the entire Niger Delta region.

Eze, who commended Governor Wike for being truthful about President Buhari's positive intents for both Rivers state and the entire region, noted that the Governor's positive comments on the President is an acknowledgement of the fact that the people of the state and Niger Delta have grown to trust their President and will always prefer him to lead them into a more developed and morally upright Nigeria.

While speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the ultramodern international wing of the Airport on Thursday, an elated Governor Wike had said “the people of Rivers State and the South South region are happy with you for what you are doing in the region. I would have made a demand but my friend, the Honourable Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika has told me that the Local Wing will be commissioned by December." 

Commenting on Wike's 'vote of confidence' on the President, Eze said “this is the first time Gov. Wike is commending the developmental efforts of President Buhari in Rivers State and the entire South South region", urging the Governor to validate his good faith towards President Buhari by supporting his 2019 presidential bid as well as that of the President's preferred candidate for Rivers state Governorship, Pastor Tonye Cole, for the state to breath a new life.

Eze, while describing President Buhari as the best option for Nigeria's economic and social growth, highlighted some of the steps the administration had taken to make life easier for Rivers people, saying "if we are to consider the following feats and projects so far executed by the present administration at the centre in Rivers State and South-South zone as a whole then he will win massively in the region come 2019. Some of these projects are listed as follows:

"Not minding that Wike denied the Federal Government land to enable her construct an Industrial Park, which benefits from start to completion and inauguration, would be enormous to Rivers State and her people,  the Federal Government still went ahead to buy 10,000 acres of land on which the complex, an envisaged city on its own, would stand.

 

"The Federal Executive Council (FEC) just few months ago approved contracts of N47 billion for road projects in the country, including redesigning and reconstruction of the Aba/Port-Harcourt section of the Enugu/Port-Harcourt Expressway.

 

"Apart from this intervention, the Federal Executive Council on the same date also approved dredging of Port Harcourt Seaport and provision of navigational aids for Escravos, at the sum of N13 billion.

 

"President Muhammadu Buhari's administration released a whopping sum of N900 billion owed the Niger Delta Development Corporation (NDDC) by previous Federal Administrations, including the Administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, to assist the body complete most of its projects in Rivers state and other States in the Niger Delta region.

 

"Rivers State will benefit from the unprecedented allocation of over one hundred and twenty five billion Naira (N125 billion), out of the N8.612 trillion appropriation bill presented by President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, November 7, 2017 to the National Assembly to fund capital projects in 2018 in the Niger Delta region.

 

"Rivers State will surely benefit from the N53.89 billion earmarked for the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and N71.2 billion for Niger Delta Development Commission for capital projects, also to benefit from the budgetary allocation for the Niger Delta amnesty programme retained at N65 billion, with the budgetary allocation of N17.32 billion earmarked for the completion of the East-West Road.

 

"Rivers State will benefit from the Maritime University located at Okerenkoko in Delta State, with N5 billion budgeted in the 2018 budget for its formal take off. This is a University aimed to assist in the development and emancipation of the Niger Delta region.

 

"To demonstrate the seriousness over the full implementation of the Ogoni clean-up exercise and the execution of the multi-billion naira Bodo/Ogoni-Bonny road project, budgetary provisions were all made in the 2018 budget, which when completed, would open up the economic potential of the Niger Delta region beyond the shores of Nigeria, all in Rivers state.

 

"The APC-led Federal Government, apart from the above-named projects, embarked upon the following projects: the Calabar-Lagos Rail Line that cuts across Rivers state, the renovation/reconstruction of both Enugu-Port Harcourt Road and the West-East Road, the renovation of the Afam Power plant in Rivers state, resumption and reconstruction of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Rail Line, among other projects. All these projects were abandoned by the PDP governments. Appointment of sons and daughters of the region into key and crucial ministries and agencies", he said.

 

Eze recalled that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, a son of the Niger Delta region, in his six years as the President of Nigeria, acknowledged that he failed Rivers State and the Niger Delta region by not embarking on any meaningful project in the region, apart from imposing Chief Nyesom Wike as the Governor of Rivers state, to promote insecurity in the state and the Niger Delta region.

 

Eze concluded by stating that now Buhari has proved that he is a patriotic son of the Niger Delta region, urged people of the Niger Delta to reciprocate by voting massively the APC candidates during the 2019 general elections.

Nigeria Police Terrminates Partnership With Wesley of Skytick Technology Global Limited

The Nigeria Police has has terminated its partnership with Skytick Technology Global Limited on the establishment of Nigeria Police Broadcasting Service (NPBS).

In a press release signed by Force Public Relations Officer Ag. DCP Jimoh Moshood, for the Nigeria Police, he said that the termination is due to discovery of several inadequacies, status bars, flaws and impracticability of the project, which has been discovered to run contrary to the policy of the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Government of Nigeria’s constitutional and statutory restrictions on the Force not to be an internally revenue generating agent. 

The Force Spokesperson further reitraited that  the Inspector General of Police has also dissolved the Board of Trustees and terminated the appointment of the Directors of the Nigerian Police Broadcasting Service (NPBS) in view of the constitutional and statutory implications of the establishment of the Nigeria Police Broadcasting Service and thanks them immensely for their selfless service and invaluable contributions so far.

Below is the full text of the press release:

The Inspector General of Police during the management meeting of the Nigeria Police Force held on 15th October, 2018 where the entire Partnership and Memorandum of Understanding between the Nigeria Police Force and Mr. Edirin Jerry Wesley of Skytick Technology Global Limited on the establishment of Nigeria Police Broadcasting Service (NPBS) were exhaustively deliberated on and other activities of the Force, directed that all involvement of the Nigeria Police Force with Mr. Edirin Jerry Wesley of Skytick Technology Global Limited on the establishment of Nigeria Police Broadcasting Service (NPBS) and the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Force with Mr. Edirin Jerry Wesley of Skytick Technology Global Limited, his associate(s), agent(s), partner(s) or benefactor(s), privies or any other party related to Mr. Edirin Jerry Wesley of Skytick Technology Global Limited on the establishment of Nigeria Police Broadcasting Service (NPBS) be terminated.

2.    This is consequent on the discovery of several inadequacies, status bars, flaws and impracticability of the project, which has been discovered to run contrary to the policy of the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Government of Nigeria’s constitutional and statutory restrictions on the Force not to be an internally revenue generating agent.

3.    The National Broadcasting Commission’s code is explicit on the setting up and running of a broadcasting station in Nigeria. The Commission therefore considers it constitutional and statutorily unacceptable the setting up of the Nigeria Police Broadcasting Service to be operated on commercial basis by the Nigeria Police Force or its agents or partners under the name of Nigeria Police Broadcasting Service. The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) is incontrovertible and has reiterated that it will only consider an application for a broadcast licence from the Nigeria Police Force on the condition that the Police has full control and authority over the licence and the broadcast station established by it to be operated as public station for the propagation of information on security and other related issues similar to what obtains in the cases of other security organizations. This position was upheld by the supervising Ministry to NBC which further advised that fresh application may be submitted separately by the Nigeria Police Force for licence solely under the control and authority of the Nigeria Police Force only.

4.    It is imperative to let the public know that the Inspector General of Police accompanied by some Senior Officers of the Force held a meeting with the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture which had in attendance the Director General of National Broadcasting Commission at the Ministry of Information and Culture Complex and all the gamut and salient issues relating to the entire project, the Memorandum of Understanding and the relationship between the Nigeria Police Force and Mr. Edirin Jerry Wesley of Skytick Technology Global Limited on the establishment of Nigeria Police Broadcasting Service (NPBS) were exhaustively discussed. The outcome was that the Frequency Licence being sought for by Mr. Edirin Jerry Wesley of Skytick Technology Global Limited on the establishment of Nigeria Police Broadcasting Service (NPBS) has been suspended by the National Broadcasting Commission and that the Police should apply afresh to operate a broadcast Station solely under the control and authority of the Nigeria Police Force.

5.    The Nigeria Police Force, therefore, wishes to inform the general public that all Partnership and Memorandum of Understanding between the Nigeria Police Force and Mr. Edirin Jerry Wesley of Skytick Technology Global Limited on the establishment of Nigeria Police Broadcasting Service (NPBS) has been terminated.

6. The public are hereby implored and advised to desist forthwith any engagement, association, collaboration, contribution, relationship or partnership with Mr. Edirin Jerry Wesley of Skytick Technology Global Limited, his associate(s), privies, agent(s), partner(s) or benefactor(s) or any other party on the establishment of Nigeria Police Broadcasting Service (NPBS).

7.    Any individual or organization both public and private that does so is at their own risk. Henceforth, Nigeria Police Force shall not take any liability or responsibility for the activities of Mr. Edirin Jerry Wesley of Skytick Technology Global Limited, his associate(s), agent(s), partner(s) or benefactor(s), privies or any other party on the establishment of Nigeria Police Broadcasting Service (NPBS).

8.    Furthermore, all Police Formations across the Country are by this disclaimer notified of the present position of the Force on the establishment of Nigeria Police Broadcasting Service. They are to desist forthwith any relationship, dealings and involvement in all the activities of Mr. Edirin Jerry Wesley of Skytick Technology Global Limited, his associate(s), agent(s), partner(s) or benefactor(s), privies or any other party on the establishment of Nigeria Police Broadcasting Service (NPBS).

9.    The Inspector General of Police Monitoring Unit have been directed to commence investigation into all the activities of Mr. Edirin Jerry Wesley of Skytick Technology Global Limited, his associate(s), agent(s), partner(s) or benefactor(s), privies or any other party on the establishment of Nigeria Police Broadcasting Service (NPBS) and also to recover all Nigeria Police Force properties in the possession of Mr. Edirin Jerry Wesley of Skytick Technology Global Limited, his associate(s), agent(s), partner(s) or benefactor(s), privies or any other party. 

10. Members of the general public are enjoined to feel free to report any contribution both monetary, landed or other property to have been made or extorted from them on account of the establishment of the Nigeria Police Broadcasting Service (NPBS) by Mr. Edirin Jerry Wesley of Skytick Technology Global Limited, to the IGP monitoring unit via the following: 08036242591, igpmonitoringabuja@yahoo.com.  

11.   The Inspector General of Police has also dissolved the Board of Trustees and terminated the appointment of the Directors of the Nigerian Police Broadcasting Service (NPBS) in view of the constitutional and statutory implications of the establishment of the Nigeria Police Broadcasting Service and thanks them immensely for their selfless service and invaluable contributions so far. While he wishes them well in their future engagement, service to humanity and our dear nation, Nigeria and the Nigeria Police Force, he directed that they hand over all properties of the Nigeria Police Force in the name of NPBS in their possession to the Commissioner of Police in charge of the IGP Monitoring Unit.    

Ag. DCP Jimoh Moshood

Force Public Relations Officer

Force Headquarters

Abuja  

FOR: The Nigeria Police Force 

 

Nigerians Are Fast Losing Confidence In INEC Says Coalition of Democratic Watchdog of Nigeria

A group known as the Coalition of Democratic Watchdog of Nigeria has shown displeasure over the activities of the Independent National Electoral Commission especially on the on the APC party primaries conducted in Zamfara State.

This was disclosed at a joint World press conference in Abuja on Thursday by Bob Robert Opara, Engr. Hugo Okafor, Alhaji Danfulani Umar and Momodu Olayinka.

The coalition called on INEC to rectify the Zamfara primaries issues to save Nigeria from the unending laughing stock for which the commission has plunged the nation.

Excerpt is the full text of the press conference:

  

A WORLD PRESS CONFERENCE BY THE COALITION OF DEMOCRATIC WATCHDOG OF NIGERIA ON THE APC PARTY PRIMARIES CONDUCTED IN ZAMFARA STATE AND INECs POSITION.

Welcome Gentlemen of the fourth realm.

We, as a coalition has been monitoring events as it unfolds as a result of the fallout of the APC Primary elections held on the 3rd and 4th of October, 2018 in Zamfara state.

This primaries held in the presence of the Zamfara State Resident Electoral Commissioner, 2 Assistant Inspector General of police, the state Commissioner of police, the State Director DSS, etc. across the 147 wards that make up the 16 Local Government Areas of the state. Violence erupted in 7 wards out of the 147 wards that make up the state. This led to the cancellation of the elections in the affected 7 LGAs which held the next day being 4th of October, 2018.

But to the dismay and chagrin of everyone, INEC headquarter Abuja already issued a statement stating that the elections did not hold in the state consequent to violence.

Now, the questions are:

1. Why was INEC Headquarters, Abuja so much in a hurry to issue a statement even while the Primaries was still ongoing?

2. Could an election primaries that held in 140 wards but could not hold in 7 wards which later held on the 4th of October, 2018 be nullified and     assumed to be marred with violence? What is the percentage of 7 to 140?

3. Could election primaries witnessed, observed and signed by the state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, 2 Assistant Inspectors General of Police,  State Commissioner of police, etc be assumed to be all violent prone or void?

4. Is it possible that INEC is replicating a script written by some clandestine group in Abuja who are not in consonance with the outcome of the  primaries?

5. Could there be an external force muzzling INEC to do its bid against her constitutional role of neutrality and supposed Independence?

In line with the provisions of section 153 of the Electoral Act (2010 as Amended), INEC is empowered to make regulations governing any election. In this instance, INECs stipulation that party primaries should end on the 7th of October was adhered to. Then what on earth could have pushed INEC to this great blunder of our time especially considering the recent macreba dance of shame in Ekiti and Osun?

Ordinarily as a civil society coalition, we do not really mind which political party is involved because we are neutral, but with the countdown to 2019 General elections, Nigerians are fast losing confidence in INEC daily and whether or not INEC still retains any iota of integrity to conduct credible election in 2019 is a billion dollar question yearning for answer but has malignantly remained bizarre in the mind of Nigerians.

The international community is also watching with keen interest how an entire state controlled by the ruling party (the APC) is barred from fielding candidates in a primary that was well conducted.

Democracy in Nigeria is under threat and Nigeria in the league of Nations is being consistently mocked.

There is a deliberate attempt to truncate due process and thwart democratic due diligence and procedure in Nigeria. The reputation of INEC is fast eroded.

Fortunately, INEC still has some time to correct these orchestrated shame and national disgrace by doing the needful.

INEC, by this medium is given the maximum of a fortnight to rectify these issues to save Nigeria from the unending laughing stock for which the commission has plunged the nation.

MAY GOD SAVE NIGERIA.

Thank you.

Signed:

1.        BOB ROBERT OPARA

2.        Engr. Hugo Okafor

3.        Alhaji Danfulani Umar

4.        Momodu Olayinka.

For the coalition.

Allow IGP Idris To Concentrate On Making The Country Safer, United And Peaceful, Young Professionals Tells Detractors

The United Young Professionals has called on the Inspector General of Police to ignore the sponsored publication by the National Daily claiming that his tenure has been extended. 

In a press release in Abuja on Thursday, the Coordinator of the group, Adewole Kehinde said that some disgruntled element are behind the publication to cause discontents in the Nigeria Police. 

"The Inspector General of Police is currently pursuing his mission to ensure that the country is safer and also to ensure that Nigeria remained united and peaceful. He remained focused on promoting the international core values of policing with integrity, ensuring that the rule of law prevails in our actions and activities, and to strictly respect diversity, courage, compassion and professionalism, Adewole said.

He further said it is within the constitutional power of President Muhammadu Buhari to extend the tenure of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, as he has been operating within the principles of democratic Policing which is an institution that is responsive and accountable to its citizens at all times.

"We wish to state categorically that there was never any lingering discontentment over the tenure elongation of IGP Ibrahim Idris neither any controversies trailing the tenure of the IGP especially on the so called "discriminatory promotion of Police Officers". 

"IGP Idris is in good working relationship with Chairman of the Police Service Commission against the insinuation in the media that the Nigeria Police and the Police Service Commission are not in good term, the statement concluded.