Biafra: U.S attorneys storm Nigeria, meet 10 witnesses over torture and killings of IPOB

Two United States Attorneys, Bruce Fein and Bruce DelValle of Fein& DelValle PPLC have met with ten Nigerian witnesses on the suit filed in the United States District court of Columbia against 14 Nigerian defendants for their complicity in the 2016 torture and extra-judicial killings of pro Biafran agitators during their peaceful protests.

The two attorneys who arrived Nigeria three days ago met with the families of the victims at an undisclosed location and also extracted various statements from them which were deposed as affidavits of facts to the suit.
Ten Biafran plaintiffs are seeking millions of dollars as damages to compensate for their grievous losses and suffering following the alleged gruesome killings of pro Biafra agitators in Nkpor and Onitsha , Anambra State and Aba, Abia State in 2016 during the peaceful demonstration for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.

The identities of the plaintiffs are hidden for security reasons while the case name is John Doe , etal vs Tukur Yusuf Buratai etal civil action No. 1:17-cv-01033. The case has been assigned to United States District Judge Ellen S. Huvelle, appointed by President William Jefferson Clinton.

Speaking to Daily Sun in an exclusive chat, Attorney Bruce Fein said they were in Nigeria as a follow up to the suit already in court because of Biafra agitators who were murdered as a result of high level military and security agencies infringement of their rights to freedom of assembly and expression while the state governors could not also protect the demonstrators.

He explained that under the United States law, those human rights crimes are prosecutable in the United States courts even though the plaintiffs and defendants are citizens of the country, Nigeria.
Fein said after filing the case in the US court, they were able to convince the judge that revealing the identities of the complainants /plaintiffs in the suit could result in retaliations and danger against their families, hence the reason the court settled for the name John Doe etal so that it can proceed anonymously.
He confirmed that 13 defendants out of 16 have been effectively served with the court summons and noted that the Igbos and Christians have the right to live in the country and enjoy their full rights as citizens of Nigeria.

The Nigerian facilitators, Emeka Umeagbalasi, board chairman, International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law and Okpalaezenri Emeka Onyeso of the Forum for the Promotion of National Ethos and Values, in their separate remarks noted that the struggle to ensure justice for the victims and families of those who died through the use of state power of coercion while engaging in peaceful protest is a noble cause that must be pursued to a logical conclusion.

They thanked the Ekwenche Organisation of Chicago, USA for their role in the suit, noting that the capability of countries to set up laws that regulate and protect all fundamental rights of man within the context of the United Nations Declarations, Covenants, Conventions and other multilateral treaties, and punish offenders, to a very large extent, influence the level of human development in most countries of the world

Other defendants in the suit included former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, former Commander 302 Artillery Regiment, Onitsha, Col Ibrahim Maigeri and Governors Willie Obiano and Okezie Ikpeazu of Anambra and Abia States among others

Tiemoue Bakayoko involved in ‘horror’ car crash on way home from Chelsea training

Tiemoue Bakayoko involved in ‘horror’ car crash on way home from Chelsea training

21st September 2017. 

Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko has been involved in a car crash, according to The Sun.

Bakayoko has been brilliant at the start of his Blues career, and it seems like only a matter of time before he forces his way into Antonio Conte’s starting eleven and makes one of the two midfield spots his own.

It has been plain sailing for the France international in SW6, until now. As per The Sun, Bakayoko has been involved in a car crash while on his way home from Chelsea’s Cobham training ground.

The Sun report that the incident occurred at 3:30pm while Bakayoko was driving down Blundel Lane near the training ground. It is yet unclear whether he sustained any serious injuries in the crash, but The Sun have described the crash as ‘horror’.

All we can do at the time of writing is pray to whatever God that you believe in that Bakayoko has escaped unscathed. We’ll keep you updated with the news as we get it.

Video: Watford 0 – 6 Manchester City [Premier League] Highlights 2017/18

Sergio Aguero made it nine goals in his last five games against Watford with a hat-trick in Manchester City’s 6-0 win at Vicarage Road.

Manchester City moved to the top of the Premier League and extended their unbeaten run to 13 games with a 6-0 win over Watford inspired by a Sergio Aguero hat-trick.

 

Pep Guardiola’s men made light work of a Watford defence that had been impenetrable in the Hornets’ previous three games, with Gabriel Jesus, Nicolas Otamendi and Raheem Sterling all joining Aguero on the scoresheet.

Aguero made it nine goals in five games against Watford and with two simple first-half strikes from close range and a brilliant second-half solo goal, while Jesus scored his 11th goal in 13 Premier League starts since joining the club in January.

The game was reminiscent of City’s previous visit to Vicarage Road in May, when Jesus scored and Aguero got two in a 5-0 win, and Watford manager Marco Silva must prepare his reeling troops to bounce back when they travel to Swansea City and West Brom before the end of September.

Meanwhile, Guardiola can reflect on a week in which his side scored 15 goals without reply ahead of four games in three different competitions over the next two weeks.

Watford withstood City’s early pressure, with goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes saving well from Fernandinho and Christian Kabasele making a superb tackle to deny Aguero a one-on-one after 18 minutes.

Watford’s Brazilian forward Richarlison glanced a header wide of the post after 24 minutes but the breakthrough arrived at the other end three minutes later when Kevin De Bruyne floated a free-kick onto the head of Aguero, who made no mistake from five yards out.

Four minutes later, Jesus skipped down the left flank before feeding the ball to David Silva inside the box and the Spaniard squared it across the face of goal where Aguero arrived unchallenged to poke the ball home.

City’s South American forwards made a mockery of Watford’s burgeoning reputation for being a tough team to break down by making it 3-0 after 37 minutes when Aguero dribbled to the edge of the box and threaded a pass to Jesus, who picked his spot in the far corner of the net and dispatched the ball clinically.

Richarlison curled a shot just wide of Ederson’s goal as Watford looked to re-assert themselves early in the second half but Gomes remained the busier of the two keepers and he saved Silva’s powerful rising shot brilliantly on 62 minutes.

But Gomes’ hard work was undone one minute later when Silva sent over a cross that evaded the yellow shirts in the box and picked out Otamendi, who powered a header beyond the goalkeeper to make it 4-0 with just over an hour played.

Etienne Capoue blazed a free header over the crossbar 19 minutes from time, before Aguero scored the pick of the goals when he danced through Watford’s defence and rolled the ball into the net.

Sterling than completed the rout, slamming home an 88th-minute penalty after he was brought down in the box by Kabasele.

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UCH JOHESU gives FG 14-day ultimatum to pay salary, promotion arrears

The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) of the University College Hospital (UCH) has given the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum to pay, without further delay, the arrears of promotion and salaries of its members from 2013 till date or risk industrial action.
JOHESU gave the ultimatum at a press conference on Thursday.
Health workers associations present at the conference includes the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Tertiary Institutions (NASU), Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), and Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institution (SSAUTHRIA).
Chairman of NUAHP, Mr. Olusegun Sotiloye, who spoke on behalf of JOHESU, said: “The promotion arrears for 2013, 2014, 2015, abd 2016 be paid without further delay.
“All salary arrears due to shortfall experienced by UCH in 2014, 2015, and 2016 be settled without further delay. All unremitted union dues and deductions made for Cooperative Societies be remitted without further delay.
“We are therefore giving the Federal Government of Nigeria 14 days with effect from Thursday September 14, 2017 to meet the above stated demands, failing which all the unions shall not hesitate to mobilise all our members to withdraw their services.”
JOHESU, however, pleaded for the understanding of the public.
“We are not unaware of the hardship this decision may expose them to, but we want to let them know that this came as our last resort”, he said. “It shall also be appreciated if the public can prevail on the Federal Government to accede to our demands and give us what rightly belongs to us.”
Sotiloye stated further that it was highly pathetic to observe that “it is difficult, if not impossible to get what rightly belongs to you from the government, through any other peaceful means other than industrial action.
“If the claim that fund has been released for this purpose is true, then we want to observe that it does not take eternity to disburse same into the accounts of our members.”

PDP stakeholders pick Fayose’s deputy as governorship candidate for 2018 election

Less than twelve months to the 2018 governorship election in Ekiti State, some stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state have adopted the Deputy Governor, Kolapo Olusola, from
Ekiti South Senatorial District, as the preferred candidate of the party.
Adoption of the deputy governor, who is a professor of Building Technology from the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, Osun State, was the major decision reached at the party’s stakeholders meeting in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday.
The meeting was attended by 177 councillors, 177 ward chairpersons, 16 Local Government party chairpersons, 16 Local Council chairpersons, Chairpersons and members of boards and parastatals, State Executive Council, Ekiti State House of Assembly members, serving and former members of the PDP State Working Committee, former Deputy Governor, among others.
The communique issued at the end of the meeting reads; “After due consultation, without prejudice to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), we formally endorse His Excellency, Prof Kolapo Olusola (the current deputy governor), from Ekiti South Senatorial District, as our preferred aspirant/candidate.”
Those who signed the communique are: Anifowose Mustapha, for councillors, Amuda Sunmonu, for ward chairpersons; Femi Bamisile, for Local Government party chairpersons; Dapo Olagunju, for Local Government chairpersons (ALGON); Bode Ola, for chairmen of boards and parastatals; Modupe Alade (Secretary to the State Government), for State Executive Council; Kolawole Oluwawole,
Speaker of the State House of Assembly and the State Chairman of the party, Gboyega Oguntuase.
Speaking with journalists after the adoption, Mr. Oguntuase said the party organs will abide by the decision taken by the stakeholders in the overall interest of the party and the entire people of Ekiti State.
He, however, said that the adoption will not preclude any member of the party that is interested in the governorship ticket from contesting, adding that open and transparent primary election will be held in
accordance with the rules of the party.
The Chairman of Forum of Ward Chairpersons, Amuda Sunmonu, also hailed the decision to adopt Mr. Olusola, maintaining that “Wherever Governor Fayose goes, we will follow him.”
Also speaking on behalf of local council councillors, Anifowose Mustapha said all the 177 councillors in the state were solidly behind the governor and “the decision of the party’s stakeholders remained
binding on all of us.”
The Secretary to the State Government, Modupe Alade, described the deputy governor as a competent and loyal member of the Governor Ayodele Fayose political family, adding that his adoption was a reward for loyalty, dedication and commitment.

BREAKING NEWS! ASUU Finally Calls Off Strike…See When School Is Resuming

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has reached an agreementwith the federal government.

The accord comes after a meeting, which lasted 12 hours, between the leadership of the union and a government delegation led by Adamu Adamu, minister of education.

Speaking with journalists at the end of the meeting, Biodun Ogunyemi, national president of ASUU, said the dialogue yielded “a concrete proposal”, but that the union would have to reach its members for a decision.

“Now we have some concrete proposal that we will take back to our members for consideration,” he said.

Also addressing journalists, the minister of education said the demands of the union had been taken care of and that it would call off its strike within a week.

Since ASUU embarked on strike on August 14, the government has held meetings with the union, which were deadlocked, until that of Thursday.

ASUU went on the strike owing to the failure of the government to implement the 2009 agreement it reached with the union.

The union is asking, among other things, the government to pay its members their earned allowances and to increase funding for universities.

Singer and actress Selena Gomez has revealed that she is recovering from a kidney transplant, the reason why she has been out of the public eye recently.
In an Instagram post on Thursday, the singer, who has opened up about living with Lupus before, said she looks forward to sharing more of her journey with fans and shared the Lupus Research Alliance’s website for people who want to know more about the disease.
She also thanked her friend, Francia Raisa, for donating a kidney to her.

She wrote: “It was what I needed to do for my overall health. I honestly look forward to sharing with you, soon my journey through these past several months as I have always wanted to do with you. Until then I want to publicly thank my family and incredible team of doctors for everything they have done for me prior to and post-surgery. And finally, there aren’t words to describe how I can possibly thank my beautiful friend Francia Raisa. She gave me the ultimate gift and sacrifice by donating her kidney to me. I am incredibly blessed. I love you so much sis”.

There has been a major shake-up in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) with a total of 55 top management staff affected in the exercise.
The move, according to an NNPC statement, is part of an ongoing restructuring across the value chain of its operations.
Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Dr. Maikanti Baru, told NNPC staff shortly before the announcement was made public that the new appointments would not only help to position the Corporation for the challenges ahead but would help fill the gaps created due to statutory retirements of staff.
The top appointments and deployments are as follows:

• Malami Shehu, Executive Director Operations, of the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, KRPC, was appointed Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC)
• Adewale Ladenegan, former MD of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, WRPC becomes MD of KRPC
• Muhammed Abah, former Executive Director Operations of WRPC succeeds becomes MD of Warri Refinery.
• Roland Ewubare, formerly MD of the Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL) becomes Group General Manager of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS)
• Diepriye Tariah, former GGM and Senior Technical Assistant to the NNPC GMD takes over as MD of IDSL.
• Umar Ajiya, former GGM in charge of Corporate Planning and Strategy, (CP&S) now assumes duty as MD of the Nigerian Products Marketing Company (NPMC). This follows the retirement of Alhaji Farouk Ahmed
• Bala Wunti, former, General Manager, Downstream, GMD’s Office takes charge as GGM CP&S.
• Usman Yusuf takes over as GGM/STA to the GMD
• Adeyemi Adetunji confirmed as MD NNPC Retail alongside
• Dr. Bola Afolabi takes over as GGM in charge of Research and Development Division of NNPC
• Mrs. Ahmadu-Katagum appointed GGM (Shipping) in the Downstream Autonomous Business Unit
• Kallamu Abdullahi takes over as the GGM in charge of the Renewable Energy Division in the Downstream ABU.
• Dr. Shaibu Musa was promoted MD of the NNPC Medical Services Limited
• Ibrahim Birma is the new GGM in charge of the Corporation’s Audit Division now renamed Governance, Risk and Compliance Division.

Oyo records best WASSCE result in 18 years

Oyo State government has disclosed that the state recorded its best result in WASSCE examinations in 18 years,
Oyo State government has disclosed that the state recorded its best result in WASSCE examinations in 18 years, saying that its 54.18% passed rate of students with minimum of 5 credits including Mathematics and English is very encouraging when compared to the National passed average of 59%.
The government stated that 29,174 candidates representing 54.14 have a minimum of five (5) credits pass out of the 53,850 who sat for the exam, noting that the 29,174 candidates comprise of 13,884 males and 15,290 females.
The State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun who released the figures on Wednesday in Ibadan, posited that the 2017 average results have an improvement ratio of above 100% over the 2016 results which stood at 22.12%
The commissioner pointed out that the improvement was as a result of government’s renewed commitment and efforts to reverse the downward trend in the performances of students in WAEC examinations as well as NECO, noting that the state also came second in the 2016 NECO results ranking.
Arulogun stated that the State government is awaiting the statistics on state basis from WAEC which was said to have been concluded on September 5, 2017 and will soon be dispatched to each state according to a correspondence from WAEC Head of National Office, Mr. Olu Adenipekun to the Secretary to the Oyo State Government.
He stated that the state recorded 4.40% in 1999, 3.59% in 2000, 8.7% in 2001, 6.93% in 2002, 6.13% in 2003, 9.17% in 2004, 7.89% in 2005, 10.40% in 2006, 6.16% in 2007, 9.14% in 2008, 11.92% in 2009, 13.40% in 2010, 16.97% in 2011, 21.35% in 2012, 21.79% in 2013, 19.19% in 2014 and 21.61% in 2015.
The Commissioner said that the improved performance did not come as a surprise, saying that the State Government introduced several policies to re-engineer the education sector in the state for improved performances at both the internal and external examinations.
Arulogun said that Iseyin Local Government recorded 67.64%, followed by Ibadan South West 67.53%, Irepo 66.18%, Oyo West 63.95%, Ido 63.62 as the top five local governments, adding that Ibarapa North with 34.89, Surulere with 29.11, Ogbomoso South with27.95, Itesiwaju 21.01 with and Iwajowa local Government with 10.28 have the least of candidates with a minimum of 5 Credits including Mathematics and English.
According to him, “this is below our target as we are competing both within ourselves and at the national level. We want to reclaim our status as the Pace Setter and so many policies have been introduced to ensure that our aspirations regarding quality education for the people of the state are achieved.
“We have cancelled automatic promotion in our schools, introduced the School Government Board (SGB) OYOMESI, Education Trust Fund ETF, WAEC Boot Camp, and Extra Mural classes, Staff review for optimization of workforce. These and many other state government’s Initiatives are already yielding fruitful results and we will not rest on our oars,” the government spokesman explained.

Jonathan Reacts To South East Crisis: Nigerians Must Never Turn Against Themselves,No Matter What Happens

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, former president of Nigeria, has called on all sides involved in the south east crises, to exercise restraint
The former president urged all Nigerians to seek the face of God to find a lasting solution to this challenge, and stressed that Nigerians must never turn on themselves, despite the circumstances
The former president expressed worry over the unfolding events in the region, and stated that it was time for the Council of State to intervene
Jonathan appealed to all citizens to exchange ideas instead of insults, as he condemned the violence which was witnessed in the south east over the past few days The immediate past President of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has reacted to the crisis in the south east region of the country.

In a statement put out on his Facebook page, Jonathan appealed for peace and restraint from all sides involved.He stated: “The reports I have received about recent developments in the country lead me to appeal to all men of good will to use whatever influence they have to push for peaceful coexistence and restraint on all sides.
“Perhaps it is time for the Council of State to intervene and offer its wise counsel. “Irrespective of whatever provocation, Nigerians must never turn on each other.
Even in the face of difficult circumstances, we must have faith that God in His infinite wisdom will guide us to finding a way out that is fair and just to all concerned. “In as much as there may be a need to enforce order, there is a greater need to reinforce our humanity and treat Nigerian citizens humanely whether they be from the North or South.
“Nothing justifies the desecration and destruction of religious places of worship or a police station. But even more so, nothing justifies the endangering of human life. “Let us exchange ideas instead of exchanging insults and threats.
Nigeria is going through tough times because God wants us to grow through tough times. “We must be resolute as a people even as we know that it is impossible to deny the brotherhood of all Nigerians after over a century of a shared commonwealth.”

BREAKING!! Biafra: Weaken Nnamdi Kanu & Crush IPOB Before I Return – Buhari Orders Nigerian Military

President Muhammadu Buhari ​was said to have issued a matching order to the Nigeri​an military
​to weaken Nnamdi Kanu and his group, the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) before he returns from the trip he is set to embark on Sunday.
​Buhari will attend the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 72).
​He will​ join other world leaders at the welcoming reception to be hosted by the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, and also hold a bilateral meeting with the UN scribe.
​The​ Nigerian leader ​is billed to have a a lunch meeting with President Donald Trump of the United States of America, along with other world leaders.
​Buhari, who will be accompanied by the governors of Zamfara, Ebonyi and Ondo States, and key cabinet ministers, will transit through London on his way back to the country.
​Although it is still unclear how long the president will be away, DAILY POST gathered on Friday that he spoke to the nation’s security chiefs earlier in the week.
The president, angered by the audacity of IPOB in declaring that they were ready to fight Nigerians ordered the military to move in and quell their violent clamour.
”Buhari will never negotiate the unity of Nigeria and I can tell you that the declaration by the military that IPOB are enemies of the state is ​the outcome of the go-ahead by the president.”

“Rules of engagement will be respected but force will be applied where necessary. My advice is for the agitators to clam down and use wisdom,” a reliable source told DAILY POST.
The Nigerian military in a statement by Major General, John Enenche, Director Defence Information, declared IPOB a terrorist organisation.
A statement he signed gave reasons for the decision.

The military had said, “after due professional analysis and recent developments, it has become expedient, to notify the general public that; the claim by IPOB actors that the organization is non violent is not true.
“Hence, the need to bring to public awareness the true and current state of IPOB.
“In this regard, some of their actions, clandestinely and actively, that has been terrorising the general public among others include;
“The formation of a Biafra Secret Service; Claimed formation of Biafra National Guard; Unauthorised blocking of public access roads; Extortion of money from innocent civilians at illegal road blocks.
“Militant possession and use of weapons (stones, molotov cocktails, machetes and broken bottles among others) on a military patrol on 10 September 2017.
“Physical confrontation of troops by Nnamdi Kanu and other IPOB actors at a check point on 11 September 2017 and also attempts to snatch their rifles.
“Attack by IPOB members, on a military check point on 12 September 2017, at Isialangwa, where one IPOB actor attempted to snatch a female soldier’s rifle.”
The source told our correspondent that the onslaught against Kanu and IPOB will commence on Monday.
He said the military is fully ready and will clampdown on Biafra agitators in response “to the battle line drawn by Nnamdi Kanu”.
“If you go to the extent of forming a secret service all in the name of agitation, you have declared war on the state and no responsible government will just watch and do nothing”.
“So come Monday, those who think they have grown so much that they can threaten a whole country should be ready to face the consequences”.

BREAKING!!! Biafra : South-East Governors Ban IPOB

The South-East Governors’ Forum on Friday proscribed all activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
The Governors said the ban would be totally enforced in their respective States.
An 11-point communique issued after the meeting was read by Chairman of the Forum and Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi.
The decision was taken at an emergency meeting held at the Enugu Government House.

Recall IgbereTV  reports that the meeting was also attended by Governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Willie Obiano of Anambra and the Deputy Governor of Imo State.

The Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, Ohanaeze President, Nnia Nwodo were also in attendance‎.
The Governors equally called on the Nigerian Army to withdraw all troops from the South-East deployed for the Operation Python Dance.
More to come…

A popular man of God and the General Overseer of the Inri Evangelical Spiritual Church, Oke-Afa, Lagos, Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele, has released a list of new prophesies in the ongoing agitation for Biafra.
He said he sees shootings in Aso Rock, Nigeria's seat of power while also adding that the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu may not be the one to actualize Biafra.
The popular man of God whose predictions seldom fails added that Nigeria will break in 6 countries and that would happen in 2032.

Kanu, he said , will certainly have problems with the bail conditions granted him resulting from his activities when next he appears in court soon.
“The current leaders clamouring for Biafra now may not be the ones that will make the dream come true. Nnamdi Kanu may not be the one to actualize this dream. I foresee that he will have problems due to his activities in relation to the bail granted him.”
Ayodele also disclosed that the Name Aso Rock and location of Aso Rock will change, while there will be shootings and death in the Villa.
He wrote:  “The voice of God says the name Aso Rock will be changed in the nearest future and the location may also change. Let us pray to rebuke death and shootings in the villa.

“I forsee that from 2032, Nigeria will not be one country again as I foresee five nations coming out of Nigeria. In 2024, there may be a natural disaster and in the nearest future, the name Lagos may change and Ibadan may become a state.