Connect with us

News

IPOB, MASSOB jubilate as court quashes charges against Kanu

Published

on

Fresh terrorism charges against Nnamdi Kanu

 

Members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) went into wild jubilation in the Southeast on Thursday following the discharge and acquittal of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

IPOB members, who had besieged newsstands along the Edinburgh road, Enugu, where offices of national newspapers are located in the state, erupted moments after the news was broken.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja had declared as illegal and unlawful, the abduction and rendition of the Biafra nation agitator and leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, from Kenya to Nigeria and quashed the entire terrorism charges brought against him by the Federal Government.

Striking out the charges against him, the court held that the Federal Government breached all local and international laws in the forceful rendition of Kanu to Nigeria in June 2021, thereby, making the terrorism charges against him incompetent and unlawful.

Reacting to the development, IPOB said the ruling has shown that some judges are good and they know the law. IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, said the judges know that Kanu did not commit the crime.

According to Powerful: “We are happy to hear that our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been acquitted and discharged. That is to show that some judges are good and know the law and understand that Nnamdi Kanu did not commit crimes and his extraordinary rendition was very illegal.

See also  IPOB insists on April deadline for Fulani cow ban in South-East

“Biafrans, both home and abroad, including our friends should rejoice because Almighty Chukwu Okike Abiama has done it again. Biafra realisation is the next target and nothing will stop IPOB from achieving Biafra freedom. If you know you are a criminal terrorising our people, just run because you are going to meet your Waterloo.”

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide has appealed to the Federal Government to resist the temptation of appealing to the Court of Appeal’s verdict on the illegality associated with the abduction of Kanu in Kenya and illegitimate extradition to Nigeria.

In a statement, Secretary-General of the body, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said: “FG should be mature enough to know that Kanu’s victory is no victor no vanquished status quo, the best way for FG to reconcile with Biafra agitators should be through dialogue, they will kick off the process of reconciliation by not appealing Kanu’s victory. This should be the guarantee’s offer for IPOB to dialogue with FG. This is the rarest chance in history to end insecurity challenges in the Southeast.”

Ohanaeze also advised FG to extend the hands of fellowship to Southern agitators in line with President Buhari’s commitment to end insecurity and handover a more united Nigeria in 2023.

See also  Groom, two others die moments before wedding in Bauchi

“Dialogue should be the next phase and option for the Federal Government to achieve peace in Southeast. Igbo leaders are ready to accompany Kanu to Buhari for genuine dialogue, it’s up to Federal Government to do the needful,” he said.

Leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of Biafra (MASSOB), Uchenna Madu, said the decision of the court was “ progress towards Biafra actualisation and restoration”, adding that it is a triumph of light over darkness.

Madu said: “His release has opened a new dimension to Biafra struggle, which must continue to be anchored on non-violence, mutual understanding and unity of purpose. As Kanu is being discharged from DSS detention, MASSOB will continue with other progressive groups and individuals to press further for the release of other pro-Biafra detainees across Nigeria prisons.

“Though the people of Biafra are celebrating all over the world, our most desired joy is attainment of Biafra sovereignty from Nigeria State,” he said. MASSOB warned the DSS to quickly obey the order of the appellate court.

WHEN contacted for reaction, Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations to Malami, Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, was unavailable for comments as his mobile phone was switched off, but FG’s lawyer, Kasuwe, said when the Ministry gets the Certified True Copy of the judgment, they will then determine the next line of action.

See also  Relief as IPOB suspends Monday sit-at-home order in south-east 

However, earlier before the court ruling, Gwandu had in a statement, said Malami remains a true democrat who believes in the rule of law and tenets of democracy and Constitutional order.

The statement reads: “The attention of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been drawn to a false and fictitious report alleging that there was a secret memo emanating from the Office to the Presidency. Members of the public are hereby asked to disregard the report as fabrications of anti-Constitutional democratic stability in Nigeria.

“Malami remains a true democrat who believes in rules of law and tenant of democracy and Constitutional order. The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice is a constitutionally recognised one with its role and responsibilities embedded in the Constitution.

“It is antithetical to common sense to think that the holder of such coveted office will stoop to what was printed by the media. The government does not operate in secrecy, as it is not a clandestine operation. Hence, Malami discharges his constitutionally recognised mandate in compliance with principles of transparency, openness and accountability.”

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Two Oyo commissioner, special adviser resign

Published

on

By

Two senior officials in the Oyo State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning have resigned their appointments from Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration.

The officials are Ayobami Ojo, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, and Simeon Oyeleke, the ministry’s Special Adviser on Budget and Economic Planning.

In separate letters dated November 2, and addressed to Mr Makinde, both officials said their resignations would take effect immediately, while thanking the governor for the opportunity to serve but did not give specific reasons for their decisions.

In his letter, Ojo referred to his appointment letter dated 22 June 2026 and formally announced his resignation as commissioner.

“With reference to your letter dated 22nd June, 2026 (SP.S.662/2/VOL.IV/192), I respectfully write to formally resign my appointment as Honourable Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, with effect from today, 2nd November, 2026,” he wrote.

He described his time in government as an honour and said he appreciated the opportunity to serve the state.

See also  Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer sues DSS for alleged human rights violation

Oyeleke also tendered his resignation with effect from 2 November.

In his letter, he thanked Mr Makinde for the confidence reposed in him and the opportunity to contribute to the administration’s policies and development programmes.

He also expressed appreciation for the governor’s leadership, support and encouragement during his time in office.

“I remain grateful for the opportunity to have been part of this administration and to have contributed to its laudable achievements. I also remain committed to the peace, progress and development of Oyo State,” he wrote.

The latest resignations come amid a series of exits of political appointees and other officials from the Makinde administration in recent months.

It would be recalled that Segun Ogunwuyi resigned as the governor’s chief of staff on 12 October, a position he had held since July 2021. His resignation took immediate effect, although he did not state a reason for his departure.

A few hours after Ogunwuyi’s departure, Makinde appointed Bashorun Akinwole, popularly known as Wolekanle, as his replacement.

See also  Nnamdi Kanu: Ohanaeze, IPOB describe S’Court judgment unfortunate

On the same day, Tara Adefope, the Director-General of the Oyo State Due Process Office, also resigned from her position, while in late October, Kabiru Salami, the governor’s Executive Assistant on Security Coordination, also tendered his resignation.

Other officials who have left the administration include Funmi Arulogun, a Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Matters, who resigned in August, citing personal and political considerations.

Babatunde Oduyoye, a member of the Oyo State Advisory Council, also resigned in July, while Fatai Owoseni, a former Commissioner of Police who served as the governor’s Special Adviser on Security resigned in May.

Continue Reading

News

Good morning! Nigerian Newspapers Headlines: Campaigns: OK Movement insists on independence

Published

on

By

1. The OK (Obi/Kwankwaso) Movement has declared that it will maintain its independent identity while mobilising support for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and its candidates ahead of the 2027 general election. 

Movement’s leader John Ughulu said the group remained committed to its original mission of securing the election of former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and erstwhile Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

Speaking in an interview, Ughulu dismissed suggestions that the movement’s decision to campaign independently would undermine its support for the NDC, insisting that the focus should be on achieving a common  political objective.

2. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid got a big boost at the weekend with endorsements from across the country. His achievement, the need for consolidation, national cohesion, and other reasons were adduced for the show of solidarity. The presidential election is billed for January 16, 2027

3. The Federal Government has vowed to crack down on inflated public contracts and procurement violations, warning heads of government-owned agencies, corporations, councils, authorities and commissions that they risk sanctions for breaching procurement regulations. The government raised the alarm over contract awards that exceed approved price benchmarks.

See also  Nnamdi Kanu: Ohanaeze, IPOB describe S’Court judgment unfortunate

4. The African Democratic Congress has rescheduled its presidential campaign kick-off in Sokoto State to Wednesday, November 4, despite alleging threats, attacks on its members and attempts by the state government to frustrate the event. The party said its decision to proceed with the campaign was a demonstration of its determination to exercise its constitutional rights despite what it described as growing political intimidation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

5. Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have neutralised four leaders of the Islamic State West Africa Province, including two Arabs, a commander and several of their foot soldiers in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State. The Army said they were neutralised on October 31, 2026, by combined troops of the Joint Task Force deployed to Kukawa following a massive ISWAP terrorists attack on their locations.

6. United States President, Donald Trump, has agreed to grant an immediate visa to the mother of a 15-year-old Ghanaian boy shot dead in New York, following a request by the city’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani.
Mamdani announced the development on Saturday after speaking with Trump, saying the visa would allow the teenager’s mother to travel to the United States and attend her son’s funeral.

See also  Relief as IPOB suspends Monday sit-at-home order in south-east 

7. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested two Nigerians based in Europe after they allegedly ingested 200 wraps of cocaine weighing 3.46kg while attempting to travel from Abuja to Paris, France. The suspects, identified as Aliocus Odife and Sam Blackborn, were arrested on Wednesday during the outward clearance of an Air France flight, AF 832, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

8. Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a 100-level female student of Plateau State University, Bokkos, while another person sustained injuries during an attack on off-campus student residential areas in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State. It was learnt that the incidents, which occurred on Saturday evening at about 8:40pm, had heightened concerns over the safety of students residing outside the university campus.

9. An early-morning fire outbreak at the weekend destroyed no fewer than 110 buildings and structures at Kofar Ruwa Timber Market in the Kano metropolis. The Kano State Fire Service, while confirming the incident in a statement on Sunday, said the inferno razed 75 permanent buildings and 35 temporary structures across different sections of the market.

See also  'He should quit sulking and salvage some respectability' — APC knocks el-Rufai for inviting opposition leaders to SDP

10. The immediate past National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, has declared his readiness to align with President Bola Tinubu or former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 presidential election, while ruling out support for the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi.

Continue Reading

News

Relief as suspected Ebola cases in Adamawa tested negative

Published

on

By

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said that there are currently no laboratory-confirmed cases of Ebola  in Adamawa.

The NCDC had on Saturday said that there were two suspected cases of Ebola in the north-east state, adding that the individuals had been isolated while contact identification was ongoing.

But in a statement on Sunday, the director-general of NCDC, Jide Idris,
said samples collected from the two individuals, who had symptoms suggestive of Ebola, tested negative after two rounds of testing.

“The report was received by the Adamawa State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) in the early hours of 30 October 2026, following the identification of two individuals presenting with symptoms suggestive of Ebola, requiring further investigation,” the statement reads.

“Hence the alert that was released early this evening. The individuals have been isolated, and appropriate public health measures have been initiated.

“Samples were collected for laboratory testing to establish the cause of the illness. Fortunately, the samples turned out negative for EBV after two rounds of testing.”

See also  We have no plans to disrupt 2023 elections in south-east, says IPOB

Idris commended the Adamawa health commissioner and his team for their “proactive approach”, adding that the NCDC was working closely with the state government to investigate the report of suspected Ebola cases.

“Currently, there is no laboratory-confirmed Ebola case in Adamawa state,” he said.

“The index case previously confirmed in the Federal Capital Territory remains the only confirmed case reported in Nigeria to date.”

He urged the public to remain calm and avoid sharing unverified information or speculating about the situation.

“The public is encouraged to obtain information from official government and public health communication channels,” he said.

Idris described Ebola as a serious infectious disease that requires prompt identification, appropriate clinical management and effective infection prevention and control measures.

“Anyone experiencing symptoms such as fever, severe weakness, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding, particularly following relevant exposure, should seek immediate medical attention and inform healthcare workers of any relevant travel or contact history,” he said.

See also  War in Ukraine: Satelite images reveal 40 mile long Russian convoy on way to Kyiv

“Individuals should avoid self-medication and follow the advice of healthcare professionals.”

Nigeriaconfirmed its first Ebola case in more than a decade on October 20, after a 42-year-old Swiss woman tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain in Abuja.

The patient, who had travelled from Uganda to Nigeria, was subsequently isolated and treated by Nigerian health workers.

On Monday, the federal governmentevacuated the patient to Switzerland aboard a medical plane.

Her husband, who was identified as a close contact, was also evacuated to Switzerland.

Ali Pate, coordinating minister of health and social welfare, said the patient was clinically much improved, stable, conscious and communicating, with her laboratory test results approaching baseline levels.

Continue Reading

Trending News