Get your troops out of Ukraine- Nigeria orders Russia

The Federal Government has met with envoys of the G7 countries in Nigeria, expressing worries over the Russian-Ukraine conflict with a call for peace to resolve the conflict.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, met with the envoys on Friday in Abuja, saying that the Nigerian government called for peace and the use of diplomacy in resolving all differences.

Onyeama said Nigeria does not condone the approach of aggression by Russia, calling on Russia to pull back.

“Peace and diplomacy to be prioritised by both sides.

“We support every effort being made to stop the aggression and Russian troops to return to Russia,” Onyeama said.

Speaking to journalists after the closed-door meeting, German Ambassador to Nigeria, Birgitt Ory, who is also chair of the G7 Group, appreciated the African Union on its statement on the situation.

Ory, who also commended Nigeria for putting in its weight, said Nigeria is a very important voice that the world needed to hear.

He said that what is also clear is the unanimous condemnation of the attacks by all United Nations member states in the light of Russia’s military action.

Ory said there will be resolutions in the United Nations Security Council, as well as the General Assembly and other United Nations fora such as the Human Rights Council where Nigeria is a very important voice and member.

Also in attendance were; United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard; British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing; Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Samuela Isopi.

According to NAN, others who attended were the representatives of the Embassies of Japan and Canada.

Nigeria needs more rebels- Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said the Nigerian nation “needs more rebels” to speak the truth to power without minding whose ox is gored.

This, according to Obasanjo, is one of the greatest steps towards rebuilding the nation.

Obasanjo spoke on Saturday during the unveiling of the autobiography of the Babanla Adinni of Egbaland, Chief Tayo Sowunmi, in Abeokuta, ‘Footprints Of A Rebel’, to commemorate his 80th birthday.

Speaking at the event, Obasanjo noted that for Nigeria to move forward, it requires those he called “rebels” who would stand and speak the truth without fear or favour.

The Balogun Owu maintained that whoever wants to live a life of honesty and integrity must be a rebel

His words: “Looking at the title of the book, I ask myself, why would someone call himself a rebel. But it is good.

“But the truth is that if you have to leave a life of honesty and integrity, you have to become a rebel. There would be some time you would be asked to do something, but you would say no, this is not right. And when you say that, you will become a rebel. You may even become a persona non grata

“This is our country, there is no country that we can call our own except Nigeria. Our country, Nigeria, needs more of rebels. Those who would look at things straight in the face and say this is not right; this, I will not be part of; this is not good for Nigeria.”

BREAKING: Armed robbers attack Bullion van in ibadan [VIDEO]

ARMED robbers have attacked a bullion van transporting money to a bank at Idi-Ape in Ibadan North East Local Government area of Oyo state, killing three police officers and four others.

Trio news reports that the armed robbers, who were said to have dressed in police uniform, trailed the van to Idi-Ape and, tried unsuccessfully to intercept the bullion van at the area.

Eyewitnesses, however, told our correspondent that the robbers allegedly fired several shots at the escort van in a bid to intercept the van and cart away the money.

Unconfirmed report said the robbers were not able to loot the van as the driver managed to escape with the van.

It was further learnt that the police command launched a manhunt for the fleeing robbers, with the assurance that they would be arrested.

One policeman shot and other citizens gasp in fear

Bad fuel: FG Vows to investigate

The Federal Government on Wednesday said it would carry out a major investigation into the adulteration of fuel in Nigeria

Timipre Sylva, the Minister of State for Petroleum, said the investigation would reveal the cause of the unsafe quantity of methanol in petrol imported into the country.

Sylva spoke while addressing State House Correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting.

The minister disclosed that those responsible for importing adulterated fuel would be revealed during the investigation.

“There will be a major investigation to unravel everything. We need to get to the bottom of it before we can come back to tell you what will happen to the culprits,” the Minister said.

He also disclosed that the Federal Government would put into consideration Nigerians whose cars were damaged after using the adulterated fuel.

“We know that some people’s vehicles must have been damaged, that is also going to be taken into consideration in dealing with the situation,” Sylvia said.

Reps pressure Buhari to declare national emergency over ritual killings

The House of Representatives on Wednesday called on the Federal Government to declare a national emergency on ritual killings across the country.

The development followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Toby Okechukwu, the Deputy Minority Leader, at the plenary on Wednesday in Abuja.

Presenting the motion, Okechukwu said incidents of ritual killings had assumed an alarming rate in Nigeria while decrying the upsurge of reported ritual killings with increasing cases of abductions and missing persons in different parts of the country.

He added that in most cases, the culprits also rape, maim, kill and cut out sensitive body parts of unsuspecting victims for rituals.

He said the Red Cross Society in 2017 said it received 10,480 reports of missing persons in Nigeria.

“On January 22, three teenage suspects and a 21-year-old reportedly killed one Sofiat Kehinde, severed her head and burnt it in a local pot in Abeokuta, Ogun.

”The police command in Ogun on Feb. 7, reported that one of the suspects confessed that he learned the act of ritual killing from a video he watched on Facebook,” he stated.

He said the death of Sofiat attracted national outrage and condemnation considering the age of the suspected killers.

The lawmaker said merchants of such wicked acts often use social media as a tool to advertise their evil acts.

He also mentioned the grievous killing of Iniobong Umoren, a young woman in her 20s, who was lured to a particular location in Uyo, Akwa Ibom for a job interview, as widely reported in the national dailies.

He also cited the gruesome killings and heinous activities of Badoo Boys in Lagos State, which was also reported in the national dailies.

“Ritual killing had become a predominant theme in most homemade movies which if not checked, our younger generation may begin to view it as an acceptable norm,” he said.

The House thereafter declared a national emergency on ritual killings and urged the National Orientation Agency (NOA), stakeholders and the media to initiate a campaign towards changing the situation in the country.

The House tasked the Executive Director, National Film and Video Censors Board to rise to the mandate of the agency as the clearinghouse for all movies produced in the country.

Trio news reports that ritual killing has recently become a trend across the country as videos clips of such activities involving adults and even teenagers continue to emerge online

2023 election: A call for Rochas Okorocha

YOUTH OF All GEOPOLITICAL ZONE (YG6)
Supporters of Ndi-Igbo have thrown their weight behind Senator Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha to declare his interest in the 2023 Presidential election.

Speaking on behalf of the groups in Abuja on Thursday, Chairman of the Group comrade Elaigwu john pointed out that it is the turn of Southeast geopolitical region to produce the next president since other regions have had a someone from their region at the helm of affairs of the country.He said that their decision to support Senator Okorocha is based on his pan Nigerian records over the years, saying that his election will advance the already threatened unity of the country.

Nigeria comprises of three major ethnic groups that are representing the over 300 ethnic entities in the country and a country with diverse ethnic groups as Nigeria can only develop, live in peace, unity, harmony and progress if justice is served through the rotation of national leadership.

Igbo leaders meet Buhari, demand Kanu’s release, Signs petitions.

Igbo leaders under the aegis of Highly Respected Igbo Greats have appealed to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to ensure the release of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra’s leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

The group led by First Republic parliamentarian and former Minister of Aviation, 93-year-old Mbazulike Amaechi, made the appeal during a visit to the State House, Abuja, on Friday.

Other members of the delegation were former Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Bishop Sunday Onuoha of the Methodist Church, former President of Igbo socio-cultural group, Aka Ikenga, Goddy Uwazurike and Tagbo Amaechi.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said Buhari while responding to the Igbo leaders, stated that though the demand was heavy, he would consider it.

Buhari said unconditional release of the IPOB leader, who is currently standing trial, runs contrary to the doctrine of separation of powers between the executive and judiciary.

The President said, “You’ve made an extremely difficult demand on me as the leader of this country. The implication of your request is very serious. In the last six years, since I became President, nobody would say I have confronted or interfered in the work of the judiciary.

“God has spared you (referring to the ex-minister), and given you a clear head at this age, with a very sharp memory. A lot of people half your age are confused already. But the demand you made is heavy. I will consider it.”

During the meeting, the nonagenarian described the situation in the South-East as “painful and pathetic,” lamenting businesses had collapsed while education was crumbling amid fears.

He promised that if Kanu was released to him as the only First Republic minister still alive, “he (Kanu) would no longer say the things he had been saying.”

Meanwhile IPOB has sought the intervention of the United Kingdom, urging the British Government to embark on an “aggressive diplomatic engagement” to ensure Kanu was released unconditionally. ‘‘in the shortest possible time.’’

It also alleged that over 300 IPOB members were being held across detention camps nationwide.

The lead lawyer to IPOB, Chief Ifeanyi Ejiofor, stated these in a letter to the British High Commissioner in Nigeria dated November 17 

The petition read in part, “The British Government is respectfully urged to do everything to protect the life of its national, our client, who, from every indication, is gripped by the vice-like, vengeful, and unrelenting stranglehold of the present Federal Government of Nigeria. Britain cannot afford to shirk the obligation it owes our client.

Similarly, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has condemned the condition Kanu was allegedly subjected to at the detention facility of the Department of the State Services.

The spokesman for Ohanaeze, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, who spoke to our correspondent in Enugu, noted, “Ohanaeze advises that Nnamdi Kanu should be handled with care and whatever is happening should fit into the global best practices; trial of Nnamdi Kanu, condition he stays should be made open.”

This is just as the Abia State High Court sitting in Umuahia issued an order restraining security agencies from deploying their personnel to the court premises each time Kanu’s case is being heard.

The court, presided over by Justice Benson Anya, also restrained them from arresting anybody who attends the court to witness Kanu’s proceedings.

The order was prompted by over 100 security agents who cordoned off the premises of the Abia State High Court in Umuahia at the resumed hearing of Kanu’s human rights suit against the Federal Government and seven others filed by his special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor.

The suit is aimed at challenging Kanu’s abduction in Kenya and his extraordinary rendition to Nigeria.

The matter was adjourned to December 10, 2021 for adoption of processes and a hearing on the substantive application seeking Kanu’s release from detention and his repatriation to Britain.

Meanwhile, IPOB has alleged a plot by the Federal Government to kill Kanu in detention and declare a state of emergency in ‘Biafraland.’

#EndSARS report: US seeks justice for victims

The United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has said America is keenly waiting for the federal and Lagos State governments to take action on the report of the judicial panel of inquiry, which probed the alleged killing of #EndSARS protesters by soldiers and policemen on the night of October 20, 2020 at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos.

The eight-man panel, led by retired Justice Doris Okuwobi, had submitted a 309-page report on Monday, indicting soldiers and police and affirming that security agents killed peaceful protesters.

Affirming the widespread description of the Lekki toll gate incident as a massacre, the panel, in its report, declared at least nine persons were killed by security agents at the toll gate.

The panel report listed 48 names as casualties of the Lekki incident out of which 22 protesters sustained gunshot injuries, while 15 others were assaulted by soldiers and police.

It listed the names of the deceased as Victor Sunday Ibanga, Abuta Solomon, Jide, Olalekan Abideen Ashafa, Olamilekan Ajasa, Kolade Salami, Folorunsho Olabisi, Kenechukwu Ugoh and Nathaniel Solomon.

The report also listed Abiodun Adesanya, Ifeanyi Nicholas Eji, Tola and Wisdom as “presumed dead.”

 The panel said, “The atrocious maiming and killing of unarmed, helpless and unresisting protesters, while sitting on the floor and waving their Nigerian flags, while singing the National Anthem can be equated to a ‘massacre’ in context.”

During a meeting with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Thursday in Aso Rock, Abuja, the US Secretary of State, Blinken, had said America “anticipate and look to the state and the Federal Government’s response to the findings, and expect those to include steps that ensure accountability and address the grievances of the victims and their families.”

On Friday, the US Secretary of State met with members of the civil society in Abuja, reiterating that the US’s demand for justice.

Blinken told the CSOs: “We saw the conclusion this week of the independent Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry’s work and the transmission of its final report. And this is clearly an important step toward accountability for the killings and other abuses alleged to have been committed by security forces during the EndSARS protests, a year ago.

“So, we’re very much looking forward to the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government and other state governments taking measures to address the alleged abuses, as well as the grievances of victims and their families.

“Reports are critical, but what counts as much and even more is whether there’s action that follows those reports.”

75,000 Nigerians sign ICC petition, demand Buhari’s prosecution

Meanwhile, a petition by Reno Omokri, a former Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan, on the change.org platform received 76,420 signatures on Friday.

The petition, which was filed on Wednesday, was directed at the International Criminal Court and comes after the Lagos #EndSARS panel indicted the Buhari administration in its report.

At over 75,471 signatures, the petition is the first of Nigerian origin to hit that number in two days.

The petition is titled, ‘A Petition to The International Criminal Court to Arraign Muhammadu Buhari for Crimes Against Humanity’.

The petition sought to have Buhari tried and imprisoned by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity believed to have happened at Lekki tollgate on October 20, 2020.

Omokri wrote in the petition: “Following the murders of these protesters, the Buhari administration denied that the incident ever occurred. They threatened those, like myself, who insisted, with proof, that this massacre happened. The government even threatened to jail people who called for those behind the murders to be brought to book.”

There was massacre at the Lekki Toll gate – Lagos ENDSARS panel

The Lagos state Judicial panel on restitution for SARS victim and other matters has reported the Lekki Tollgate shootings on the 20th October 2020 as a massacre.

The Panel implicated Soldiers and Nigeria security in the killings and forced disappearance of harmless and unarmed youths who were protesting at Lekki Tollgate on 20th October 2020.

The Justice Doris Okuwobi-led panel made revelations in a report submitted to the Lagos state Governor, Sanwo-Olu.

According to the report, nine protesters were confirmed dead, four presumed dead. The report listed 48names of those who were casualties of the Lekki incident. Among the 48 casualties, 24 sustained gunshot injuries and 15 others were assaulted by Soldiers and Police.

The Panel also found out that the conduct of the Nigerian Army was exacerbated by the refusal of ambulance to assist wounded victims.

At the Lekki Toll gate, officers of the Nigerian Army, injured, killed and brutalized harmless and helpless protesters who were waving the Nigerian flag and singing the Nigerian anthem.

The Panel found out that the Nigerian Police deployed its officers on the night of 20th October 2021 and between that night and morning of 21st October 2021.

BREAKING: Nigeria Police fires tear gas at peaceful #ENDSARSMEMORIAL protesters [PICTURES]

The Nigeria Police has fired teargas on peaceful protesters present at Lekki toll gate, Lagos Nigeria

Recall that the Nigeria youths embarked on a protest today to mark the rememberance of peaceful protesters who were shot at by the Nigerian Army this time last year.

The Protests was centered on the continuous police brutality on the Nigerian youths.