The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), says he has directed the Department of State Security Services to release the duo of the immediate-past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, and ‘RevolutionNow’ protest convener, Mr. Omoyele Sowore from custody.
As of the time of filing this report on Tuesday, our correspondent learnt that final documentation was being concluded for the release of the two men at the headquarters of the DSS in Abuja.
Pro-government activists in Nigeria on Monday attacked civil society protesters who were demanding the release of people they say are illegally detained, a Reuters witness said.
About 60 attackers descended on the group of around 40 protesters outside the government’s National Human Rights Commission in the capital Abuja, sending them running for safety.
The protesters were planning to deliver a list of demands to the Commission, including the release of prisoners such as activist Omoyele Sowore, founder of Sahara Reporters, an online news organization.
The attackers targeted a leader of the group, Deji Adeyanju, and chased him before beating him. Police did not immediately intervene when the attack began.
A police spokesman did not immediately respond to calls and text messages.
Adeyanju, a human rights activist who was imprisoned for more than two months this year, was taken to hospital for treatment.
Isa Sanusi, a spokesman with Amnesty International, which helped organized the protests, said the incident showed that Nigerians “no longer have the right to come out and express themselves peacefully without being attacked”.
A government supporter, Ibrahim Kabiru Dala, said: “We are here to commend the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and the security personnel … we will not allow any other foreign mercenaries or opposition to come and sabotage the government.”
The police in Lagos State have reportedly arrested and detained a member of the House of Representatives, Shina Peller, at the Moroko Police Station.
Peller, who is representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa Federal Constituency, Oyo State, was allegedly arrested while trying to take the bail of some clubbers.
The lawmaker is the owner of a popular Lagos club, Quilox.
A statement by Peller’s Press Secretary, Kola Popoola, claimed that the lawmaker’s offence was not disclosed to him as his phones were seized.
He said, “Peller was at Moroko Police Station to bail some of Club Quilox’s customers who had allegedly parked on the road during a show at the club.
“Prior to the kickoff of the 36 hours non-stop show which usually holds every year at Quilox, Peller had informed the concerned Lagos traffic authorities to avoid unnecessary traffic gridlock.
“On getting to Moroko Police Station, the police started harassing Peller and even went as far as seizing all his phones for no reason.
“The continuous harassment and unjust detaining of a member of House of Representatives,Peller, by the police calls for urgent attention of the media, and the Commissioner of Police.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, did not take his calls and had yet to respond to a text message on the incident.
Controversial journalist, Kemi Olunloyo, has dropped another hit for fans as she announces her retirement for journalism to pursue a spiritual path as an evangelist.
To achieve this she deleted all her social media pages on Twitter and Instagram, leaving only her YouTube channel.
She then took to her new Instagram page @evangelistkemi to explain her decision as well as reveal when Jesus will come back.
The Presidency has said there is nothing wrong in having ‘cabals’ around the President, Muhammadu Buhari, which help him to run government.
It said every government around the world had such people.
It also re-emphasised the need to regulate the social media, saying its abuse had wrecked many homes and lives.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, stated this while addressing a cross-section of journalists in Abuja.
He said, “What is the meaning of a cabal? I just googled the Thesaurus and among many other definitions, what they are saying is that a cabal means ‘conspire, intrigues, mystique, occult, secret.’
“There is no government in this country that we have had that some people were not accused of being a cabal in that government and it is because every administration and every president must have a secretariat.
“Every president must have people who advise him. It is not a sin, it is not an offence to have people that you take into confidence.
“Elsewhere, they call it ‘kitchen cabinet,’ but in our own country, we are being derogatory and we term them cabals so that it will tarnish their own good standing.”
Shehu said many of the people that were wrongly referred to as members of cabals were successful people, who were making extreme sacrifices to serve in government.
He said, “Some of them have no need to be around government. In fact, to some of our elite, the President is a bad man because you cannot go to him and say give me oil well and he will sign the paper and give you.
“So, we understand the game that is playing out and there is always a price, in any case, to pay for that kind of exposure. Even the kind of things that are being said of the President himself, if he did not offer himself to serve, people would not even have the chance to say them against him. So, we will live with it, we will accept it because it goes with the territory.”
Highlighting the need for regulation, Shehu lamented that social media had become a problem for many families because the rights of women and children were being abused.
He said, “There is a need to protect vulnerable members of the society. There is a need to protect those in the minority, whether tribal or religious, in our own country. So, it makes sense that you, as media stakeholders, come around the Minister of Information and Culture and formulate the kind of regulation you want so that it is not a top bottom approach, so that government will not be accused of imposing a regulatory mechanism on the media. The minister is saying come, sit down with me and let us talk about it. And I was told that the day he called on members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, they walked out on him. If that report is true, I think it is very unfortunate.
The former NUJ President stated that the move to regulate social media was not political.
Everton and Arsenal played out a dire goalless draw at Goodison Park as respective new bosses Carlo Ancelotti and Mikel Arteta watched from the stands.
Three-time Champions League winner Ancelottii was confirmed as successor to sacked Marco Silva on a contract until 2024 shortly before kick-off on Saturday, and the Italian was present in the directors’ box.
Arteta, who was appointed the Gunners on Friday, was sitting nearby – but there was little to excite either man.
Arsenal, under interim manager Freddie Ljungberg for the last time, came closest to scoring as Gabriel Martinelli shot wide in the first half, before Everton keeper Jordan Pickford saved superbly from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after the break.
The hosts, led by caretaker boss Duncan Ferguson for the fourth and final time, rarely troubled Arsenal, although the Scot once again showed he was not afraid to take bold decisions by substituting a substitute.
This time it was striker Cenk Tosun, who had come on early for the injured Alex Iwobi, and he was clearly unhappy at being replaced by Cenk Tosun.
Ferguson gives Ancelotti a base
No-one can deny this was a dreadful affair, but caretaker manager Ferguson can take credit for the points he has picked up from a run of league games that looked hazardous – and plenty of Everton fans stayed behind at the end to warmly applaud a figure they regard as a hero.
This was all despite the Toffees failing to record a shot on target in a Premier League home game for the first time since they lost 2-0 to Manchester United on 1 January 2018.
Ferguson has got five points from a home win over Chelsea, a battling draw at Manchester United and this stalemate. The Carabao Cup quarter-final defeat by Leicester City only came on penalties after a stirring comeback from 2-0 down.
Everton were in a deep hole when Ferguson stepped in after Silva’s sacking, and the pure theatre of the Scot on the touchline and the manner in which he has reignited the crowd means 60-year-old Ancelotti can start work on the back of an unbeaten league run.
Ferguson will now remain a key part of Ancelotti’s backroom staff with his reputation enhanced; his short spell has proved to be a memorable one.
The decision to replace substitute Tosun raised eyebrows and the player himself was clearly furious, but this was very different to the substitution of Kean at Old Trafford.
Tosun had been given plenty of time to make an impact. He did not and, on reflection, he can have no complaints.
Ferguson will now step back – but he will be an important figure in the new Ancelotti era.
Arteta’s huge task
As with Ancelotti, new Arsenal boss Arteta faces a massive job to revive a giant club, and nothing he saw here will have come as a surprise.
Indeed, he may be happy that the Gunners came away with a point having had a ringside seat to witness just how average this side are when his former club Manchester City romped to a 3-0 win at Emirates Stadium on 15 December.
Arsenal actually had the better opportunities but there was a lack of cohesion and confidence about this performance, and their fragile defence escaped without being seriously tested by a tired-looking Everton.
Defender David Luiz was too impetuous and dangerman Aubameyang was a relatively subdued presence before being substituted late on.
Arteta watched impassively and the serious work begins on Sunday when he gets his new charges on the training ground.
Man of the match – Yerry Mina (Everton)
Yerry Mina was a solid presence for Everton in defence, winning over 70% of his duels while completing all 37 of his passes.
Rare goalless draw for youthful Gunners – the stats
Everton have kept consecutive league clean sheets against Arsenal for the first time since August 1978.
This was Arsenal’s first 0-0 in 77 Premier League games, since an away match at West Ham in December 2017.
Arsenal’s first shot came in the 44th minute – the latest in one of their league games since May 2015 against Manchester United (51 minutes).
At an average age of 24 years 50 days, this was the Gunners’ youngest Premier League starting XI since May 2011 (24 years 24 days against Fulham).
It was the also the first time Arsenal have started with three teenagers – Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe – in a league game since March 2007 against Reading.
‘I feel like I’ve steadied the ship’ – what the managers said
Everton 0-0 Arsenal: Ferguson ‘can’t wait’ to work with Ancelotti
Everton caretaker manager Duncan Ferguson: “I think a point was fair. We struggled with energy levels and they probably had the better chances, but we’re happy with a point. The players dug deep today.
“I’ve enjoyed it but I knew it was going to be tough today. The boys were on their last legs to be honest, after working so hard in the past three games.
“We still covered every blade of grass – we just lacked a bit of quality in the final third.”
On Carlo Ancelotti: “What he’s done in the game is incredible so I can’t wait to get started working with him. I’ll be here as long as the club want me here – so I’ll be back on Monday.”
Arsenal 0-0 Everton: ‘Arteta knows the club well’ – Ljungberg
Arsenal interim boss Freddie Ljungberg: “We dominated possession but we would have liked to get more out of it. We put a lot of young players out because I wanted to reward players who had trained well.
“I’ve learned a lot and it’s been a proud time for me to lead this amazing club. I knew I was interim manager to steady the ship and I feel like I’ve done that. It’s great the club has taken the decision and now we move forward.”
On Mikel Arteta: “Mikel knows the club very well – he’s been here a long time. The club has told me they want me to stay, so I will speak to Mikel tomorrow and go from there.”
The United States of America has placed Nigeria on a special watch list of countries that have engaged in or tolerated “severe violations of religious freedom.”
A statement on Friday by the Secretary of State Michael Pompeo explained Nigeria was added to the list alongside Cuba, Nicaragua and Sudan.
The United States of America also designated Boko Haram as an Entity of Particular Concern alongside al-Nusra Front, al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula, al-Qa’ida, al-Shabab, the Houthis, ISIS, ISIS-Khorasan and the Taliban.
Other countries that have been on the list under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 include Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
The US Department of State also renewed the placement of Comoros, Russia and Uzbekistan on the Special Watch List (SWL).
Nigeria may have joined the list because of the clampdown on Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) popularly known as Shiite Muslims as well as the killing of Christians in the north.
The Department explained: “These designations underscore the United States’ commitment to protect those who seek to exercise their freedom of religion or belief.
“We believe that everyone, everywhere, at all times, should have the right to live according to the dictates of their conscience.
“We will continue to challenge state and non-state entities that seek to infringe upon those fundamental rights and to ensure they are held to account for their actions.”
US-based human rights lawyer Emmanuel Ogebe described the placement of Nigeria on the list as long overdue.
He said the killings of Christians and burning of churches in the north were enough to penalize the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
According to him: “We are happy to note that despite these shortcomings, the US government saw enough to escalate Nigeria’s designation to the penultimate Warning Watch list.
“Nigeria is the most dangerous place in the world to be a Christian and it is high time this is recognized.
“It is to be noted however that the US is launching an international alliance of countries for religious freedom early in the New Year.
“I understand that if countries like Nigeria agree to work to improve their standing by joining this alliance, it may help turn around the nation’s current negative ranking.”
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Nigeria Customs Service on Friday alerted their respective officers about the outbreak of the deadly anthrax disease in neighbouring Niger Republic.
Alerting its veterinary officers, the FMARD described anthrax as a deadly zoonotic disease with a high rate of mortality in humans and livestock.
The Chief Veterinary Officer of the Federation, Oniya Alabi, said it had become important to strengthen surveillance systems across all entry points in border communities considering the mass movement of animals and products across the Niger Republic and Nigeria.
He appealed for adequate measures to prevent the incursion of the disease into Nigeria.
This came as the Nigeria Customs Service alerted its zonal, regional and other officers across the country about the outbreak of the disease in the Niger Republic.
The Comptroller, Enforcement, NCS, Victor Dimka, said the alert was necessary to ensure that the disease does not spread into Nigeria.
The alert notice from the NCS headquarters, dated December 12, 2019, was issued to all zonal coordinators, customs area controllers, comptrollers North-West, North-East, Marine Command, zonal commanders, headquarters strike force, among others.
In the alert to its officers, the NCS said, “The headquarters received a report which reveals that the Nigerien Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock had notified the World Organisation for Animal Health of an outbreak of Charcoal Anthrax disease, Bacterium Bacillus Anthracis variant, in sheep and cattle in the country.”
The service further explained that the transmission of the disease to humans occurs directly or indirectly from infected animals or due to occupational exposure to contaminated animal products.
It noted that given the supply of cattle and sheep from Niger to Nigeria, the comptroller-general of the service had directed that there be an urgent need to place additional precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the disease into Nigeria through the country’s land borders.
The impeachment of Donald Trump, the United States President, earlier this week was a surprise and a no-surprise. In the African light, it may have been an impossible task, making the outcome almost a surprise to followers of international politics from that standpoint. Too many variables would have prevented the impeachment in almost all African countries. South Africa could only get Jacob Zuma to resign after the ANC elected Cyril Ramaphosa as its leader, almost leaving them no choice but to “recall” Jacob Zuma; that’s how far democracy has taken us when it comes to removal of a nation’s leader. Whatever got the leaders of northern African nations removed wasn’t democratic; it was a revolution.
The House had impeached Trump from office after voting for two articles of impeachment – abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Trump was said to have used the powers of his office to solicit foreign interference on his behalf in the 2020 election. Trump was accused of withholding US security assistance and a White House meeting from Ukraine in a bid to get the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, to publicly announce investigations into his political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter. The impeachment couldn’t have surprised keen followers of American politics.
The Democrats haven’t hidden their plot to impeach Trump. It has trailed him almost all his Presidency. Michigan Democrat-Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib was once quoted as saying “we’re gonna impeach the motherfucker”. Followers of international politics know the Democrats will stop at nothing to make history and become only the third House in American history to impeach a serving President. Speaker Nancy Patricia Pelosi made sure of that. She is the first woman-Speaker in U.S. history.
At no time was it reported by any of those against Trump and seeking his removal from office that he intimidated and/or harassed them with any formation of government; no African leader has been that refined. If they don’t personally do it, they will look sideways when it’s been done in their stead. As imperfect as the process with America sounds, it was devoid of personal and physical threats. As quick-mouthed as Trump is, he never deployed the instrumentality of the state at his disposal to as much as threaten any of these congressmen and congresswomen.
Nigeria, as an Africa example. No Nigerian National Assembly has ever really seen the removal of a President through. Rather, a President from the South West removed 3 Senate Presidents (that I can recall at the moment). A sitting governor was once “abducted”. Nigeria is a country where any attempt to bring justice to the rulership is perceived as treason, leaving Nigerians with a leadership without the proper checks and balances; and the constitution and rule of law, sometimes, forlorn.
No attempt has been made to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari but we have “prisoners of conscience” in the dungeon of the Nigerian government. The American system of government we so console ourselves we modelled our democracy after operates an almost entirely different system of government from ours. The “impeachment” is an eye opener for some as to how the American polity works.
In Nigeria, the Senate and the House of Representatives will most likely have a joint sitting as against the US House’s unilateral assembly. After the back and forth between the Nigerian National Assembly (the Senate and the House of Representatives), the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the seven-man panel of “unquestionable Integrity”, the National Assembly is expected to come to a decision. The President will stand impeached immediately after two-third of both chambers of the National Assembly agree to the removal. The Nigerian President is no more leader of government from that point and is an ordinary citizen of the state.
In the United States, the system is less cumbersome and tedious. It’s a three-step procedure. “The Congress investigates the President after which the House of Representatives must pass, by a simple majority of those present and voting, articles of impeachment, which constitute the formal allegation or allegations”. The Senate then tries the President. Impeached by the House, Donald Trump is still the President of the United States until the US Senate, after the trial, finds him guilty as the House.
If the voting by the House is anything to go by, Trump is set to remain President until the end of his constitutionally possible tenure. The House voted heavily along party lines. The House voted 230-197 to charge Trump with abuse of power and 229-198 to charge him with obstruction of Congress. Only two democrats voted against both articles. The Republicans have 53 senators as against the Democrat’s 45. Independent senators make-up for the remaining 2 of the 100 member-Senator. It is safe to believe Republicans will stand by their own; nevertheless, anything is possible.
Nigeria is no where near the United States. And it will be unwise to set the American stage with Nigeria actors. We shouldn’t put ourselves in a situation there might be no coming back from. Happy weekend.
It’s a showdown of the Premier League chasing pack as Manchester City and Leicester City slug it out at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
The Foxes are four points clear of the Citizens and with a better goal difference, last suffering defeat at the hands of top dogs Liverpool.
For the Citizens, their most recent defeat came a fortnight ago against bitter city rivals Manchester United.
Manchester City vs Leicester City Latest Odds
Despite City lying four points behind Leicester, they are favourites to bag all three points at (1.39).
Brendan Rogers’ side, on the other hand, are tipped at a whooping (7.60) to cause an upset.
Two of the last five meetings between these sides have ended in a draw and a third draw in six is tipped at (5.40) .
Manchester City vs Leicester City Team News
Oleksandr Zinchenko is fit to play having completed 90 minutes in City’s 3-1 EFL Cup quarter-final victory at Oxford United in midweek. Sergio Aguero, David Silva and John Stones are all doubtful while Leroy Sane and Aymeric Laporte are long term absentees.
Leicester have a 100% fit squad available for selection.
Manchester City vs Leicester City Preview
Manchester City have won four of their last five Premier League meetings with Leicester, losing the other in December last season (1-2 at the King Power Stadium).
Leicester have lost their last three Premier League away games against Man City, having won four of their first five visits to Maine Road/Etihad Stadium in the competition (L1).
Manchester City vs Leicester City Tips and Predictions
Pep Guardiola’s side were able to keep a first clean sheet in nine competitive outings when they thrashed Arsenal 3-0 at Emirates Stadium.
They also managed to keep the Foxes at bay in their last meeting at the Etihad.
This is, however, a very different Leicester side who have averaged two goals in their last 12 league games. The last time they failed to score was on September 14.
With Jamie Vardy in a rich vein of scoring form, City have a tough job on their hands.
The Sky Blues failing to keep a clean sheet looks a done deal and that’s at a nice price of (1.53) .
