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APC Deputy Spokesman Accuses Wike of Killing Governors Forum by Raphael Bichene

APC Deputy Spokesman Accuses Wike of Killing Governors Forum by Raphael Bichene

Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress APC, Yekini Nabena has accused the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike of playing a leading role in “killing” the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, challenging him to explain the part he played when the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Administration introduced the “16 is greater than 19” political formula in the Forum.

Addressing journalists Tuesday in Abuja, Nabena, said Gov. Wike is still living in the past when impunity was the order of the day, adding that the governor needs to wake up to the reality of a new era of justice, fairness and true democracy under the administration of the APC.

The governor had on Monday described the Nigerian Governors’ Forum as “a toothless bulldog”, accusing the APC-led Federal Government of destroying the forum immediately it came to power in 2015.

Nabena, however, asked Nigerians to disregard Wike’s comment, saying the Governors Forum is well alive under “a civilised Governor”, Dr. Kayode Fayemi

He said; “Does Gov. Nyesom Wike think Nigerians can forget in a hurry the major role he as a PDP minister played when the then Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi scored 19 votes, but former Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang who scored 16 votes was recognized as Chairman of the Forum?

Wike also needs to be reminded on the major role he played as a foot soldier who engineered the banning of the then Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva from participating in the PDP governorship primary election in 2011.

“If the Forum has been ‘killed’ as Wike states, it is clear who the killer and grave digger is”, Nabena submitted

President Buhari Summons IGP Over Rising Rape Cases by Raphael Bichene

President Buhari Summons IGP Over Rising Rape Cases by Raphael Bichene

Buhari summons IGP over upsurge in rape cases

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Monday summoned the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu over the increasing rate of sexual-based violence, especially rape in the country.

The meeting, which took place in the President’s office, State House, Abuja, was held behind closed doors.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, the Inspector General of Police said that there has been an upsurge on sexual-based violence as a result of the lockdown imposed by the government to contain the spread of the ravaging Coronavirus pandemic.

IGP Adamu, who was flanked by the Ministers of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen and the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said within five months, the Police have recorded 717 rape incidents, arrested 799 rape suspects, 631 of the cases investigated and charged to court, while investigations are ongoing on 52 of the cases.

The Police boss, who said that some people indulge in rape for ritual purposes, assured that all those involved in the criminal act will not go scotched free.

According, “We are here to brief you on sexual and gender-based violence and the action that the government has been taking, particularly the Nigeria Police.

“It has come to the public knowledge now that because of the COVID-19 restrictions, we have surged in cases of rape and gender-based violence. These are cases that are now coming up but we want to let members of the public know that, rape and gender-based violence have been there.

“The law enforcement agents have been dealing with these cases, in most cases, members of the public are not aware of the actions that the law enforcement agents have been taking.

The Nigeria police so far from January to May 2020, we have recorded about 717 rape incidents that were reported across the country, about 799 suspects have been arrested, 631 cases conclusively investigated and charged to court and 52 cases are left and under investigation.

“The police and other security agencies and other Non-Governmental Organizations have been collaborating, to see to it that these cases of rape and gender-based violence are dealt with.

The NGOs and CSOs (Civil Society Organizations) that have the capacity to deal with this kind of offenses, have been cooperating with law enforcement agencies in capacity building, management of victims of rape and similar offenses and procedures for collecting evidence, towards successful prosecution.”

IGP Adamu said the upsurge of rape cases in recent times has made the government take a more drastic approach towards curbing the menace.

He called on every Nigerian that has or comes across to any victim of sexual offenses or rape or gender-based violence, to quickly report to law enforcement agents.

He said, “Keeping it without reporting it will give room for the perpetrators to continue to commit the offenses. It is a very wicked offense, it is a very serious offense, it is very wicked of an individual to engage in rape or defilement

And there are a lot of causes, some are doing it for ritual purposes, some are doing it because they are within the family and they see the victims and have the urge to go into it and do it.  But such people should not be allowed to go scotch free.

“I am just to inform you that the government is doing something about it and you can see me with the Ministers of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed and Women Affairs Development, Pauline Tallen.

From now onward, a national partnership with every stakeholder is what we are going into. It will not only be within the country but within the sub-region. We have to partner with organizations that are involved in this.”

IGP Adamu said the Police and the government have been working with UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) and other civil society organizations to curtail sexual-based violence in the country.

25% Cut Looms for EFL And PFA Players in April by Jessy Samuel

25% Cut Looms for EFL And PFA Players in April by Jessy Samuel

The English Football League and Professional Footballers’ Association have proposed that clubs defer up to 25% of players’ wages in April because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The agreement applies to Leagues One and Two, with Championship clubs expected to make individual decisions.

Under the limits of the deferral, players earning less than £2,500 a month would still be paid in full.

Any reduction in wages must not take a player below earning that amount.

In a joint statement, the EFL and PFA said the move was a “recommendation and not a directive as there are clubs who have stated no requirement to take immediate action at this time”.

In addition, the two bodies said that they will “form a working group of six club captains/PFA delegates from the third and fourth tiers, supported by a representative nominated by the PFA, to engage in dialogue in respect of players’ wages”.

The statement continued: “In establishing the new group, the EFL and PFA acknowledge the common problems faced by the League and member clubs, and the need for all parties to be part of a solution.

“Dialogue with the working group will enable the League both to listen to the concerns of players and to explain the extent of the financial challenges.

“It will focus not just on the short term (May and June) but will address the medium-term position from the start of July onwards and into next season.”

‘Clubs at every level are at risk’ – the financial nightmare facing football

The statement added that a number of Championship clubs have made local agreements with players and other teams will hold talks this week.

English football is stopped indefinitely and there has been no play in any of the top four tiers since Tuesday, 10 March.

At present there has been no suggested date for when football could return.

On Tuesday, Luton Town chief executive Gary Sweet said that clubs throughout the EFL were “at risk” unless the game’s authorities took action.

On 3 April, the Premier League agreed to advance £125m in payments to the EFL and National League, although only £2m of it will go to the 68 National League clubs.

However, the situation in the EFL is so bad that Tranmere Rovers chairman and former Football Association chief executive Mark Palios said that without a strong plan this week it “will potentially lead to carnage, for clubs players, owners and fans alike.”

Writing in the Daily Telegraph on Tuesday he said: “This week is absolutely critical for the EFL and the survival of many of the 71 clubs that it represents.”

Source: BBC

Atlanta Police Chief Resigns As Officer Kills Black Man by Raphael Bichene

Atlanta Police Chief Resigns As Officer Kills Black Man by Raphael Bichene

The police chief in the US city of Atlanta resigned after an officer fatally shot a black man during an arrest, the mayor said Saturday, with the new killing injecting fresh anger into protests against racism and police brutality.

Images on local media showed hundreds of protesters in the streets on Saturday and flames engulfing the Wendy’s restaurant where 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks was killed.

The officer who shot Brooks was dismissed Saturday and identified by Atlanta police as Garrett Rolfe. The second officer was placed on administrative duty, according to ABC News.

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms — who has been touted as a potential running mate for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden — earlier announced the resignation of Chief Erika Shields.

Wendy’s employees called police on Friday night to complain that Brooks was asleep in his car and blocking other customers on the premises, an official report said.

He failed a sobriety test and resisted when police tried to arrest him, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) said.

Surveillance video showed “that during a physical struggle with officers, Brooks obtained one of the officer’s Tasers and began to flee from the scene,” the report continued.

“Officers pursued Brooks on foot and during the chase, Brooks turned and pointed the Taser at the officer. The officer fired his weapon, striking Brooks,” it said.

Brooks was taken to hospital but died after surgery, it said, adding that one officer was injured.

An attorney acting for the dead man’s family said disproportionate force was used in the confrontation.

“In Georgia, a Taser is not a deadly weapon — that’s the law,” L. Chris Stewart told reporters.

“Support came, in I think 2 minutes. He would have been boxed in and trapped. Why did you have to kill him?”

“(The officer) had other options than shooting a man in the back.”

Brooks has four children, Stewart added, and had celebrated the birthday of his eight-year-old girl earlier on Friday.

His death is the 48th shooting involving an officer the GBI has been asked to investigate this year, according to local newspaper the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Fifteen of those incidents were fatal.

The unrest comes as the US faces a historic reckoning on systemic racism, with mass civil unrest ignited by the May 25 killing of another African-American man, George Floyd, while in police custody.

Floyd died after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

Protests which spread first around the country then the globe, have forced a conversation on the legacies of slavery, colonialism and white violence against people of color, as well as the militarization of police in America.

Police chief Shields had worked for Atlanta’s police department for more than two decades.

“Because of her desire that Atlanta be a model of what meaningful reform should look like across this country, Chief Shields has offered to immediately step aside as police chief,” the mayor said in televised comments.

Source: AFP

UK Bows to US Pressure, Bans Huawei From 5G Network by Jessy Samuel

UK Bows to US Pressure, Bans Huawei From 5G Network by Jessy Samuel

The United Kingdom announced Tuesday that Huawei would be banned from its high-speed 5G telecommunications network, in a decision that will anger China but please the United States.

The United Kingdom announced Tuesday that Huawei would be banned from its high-speed 5G telecommunications network, in a decision that will anger China but please the United States.

The role of the Chinese tech giant has become a central theme in London’s increasingly uneasy relationship with Beijing.

The U.K. has faced months of pressure from Washington, which says Huawei is a security risk because the company could be used by the Chinese government to spy on the West. Both China and Huawei have repeatedly denied this.

“There’s no such thing as a perfectly secure network,” Media Secretary Oliver Dowden told the House of Commons, but he said that the U.K. had to make sure its system was “as secure as it possibly can be.”

He announced that all new Huawei 5G equipment would be banned in the U.K. starting next year, and that the government would remove all of the company’s existing infrastructure by 2027.

The decision attempts to balance technology, geopolitics and the practical impact on consumers. Dowden conceded that banning Huawei would delay the U.K.’s 5G rollout by two years and cost up to 2 billion pounds, around $2.5 billion.

Source: NBC News

Uncertainty Over Resumption of Domestic Flights in Nigeria by Raphael Bichene

Uncertainty Over Resumption of Domestic Flights in Nigeria by Raphael Bichene

The Federal Government says civil aviation authorities will determine the resumption of domestic flights in the country, This comes after an earlier information that operators were to work towards resuming 21 June.

The National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Sani Aliyu, said this during a briefing in Abuja on Thursday.

While giving his update on Thursday, he said the PTF was yet to receive any update from the aviation sector on its preparedness to restart commercial flight operations.

According to Aliyu, “What we said to the aviation authorities is; you need to let us know from the 21st of June onwards if you are ready to start opening the skies. We didn’t say 21st of June skies open.

“We gave them a window of three weeks to prepare and I believe they are still preparing. We did not ask them for updates on how things are going but we expect them to get back to us.

“The aviation industry is highly regulated. There are certain things they have to do before they start flying such as retraining of pilots, recalibrating the aircraft, and ensuring safety at the airports to make sure people are safe”.

“We don’t have an update on that yet but we expect them to come to us by the 21st of June. If they come back to us by the 21st of June and they say, ‘we are ready’, we will open the skies for domestic travellers and that’s when we will address the issue of interstate restrictions and curfew but at the moment, there is no plan right now to say, 21st of June, here we go. It’s aspirational if anything.”

Gunmen Kill APC Chairman,District Head,Others by Raphael Bichene

Armed bandits have reportedly killed at least 27 people in different attacks across the country, including a district head, injuring many others and stole thousands of livestock.

Yesterday, armed bandits shot dead the district head of Yantumaki, Abubakar Atiku, in Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Residents said the armed men spent at least two hours at the Yantumaki community during a downpour, trailing their prime target, the district head, Mr Atiku, until he fell to their bullets a few minutes to midnight.

A source added that a palace guard sustained an injury during the attack. The bandits’ mission was, allegedly, to assassinate the traditional ruler as they did not hurt anyone, apart from the palace guard, who was obviously hit by stray bullets, a source said, asking not to be named for security reasons.

Also, in another separate attack, gunmen also killed the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chairman of Batsari Local Government Area, Abdulhamid Sani, following alleged inability of the deceased to secure the release of one arrested bandit.

An eye-witness, Sadiq Hasaan, said the men headed with the stolen livestock towards other villages in the Batsari local government area, and thousands of residents had fled their homes.

The late APC chairman was a member, reconciliation committee working to ensure peaceful coexistence between Fulani residents, who are predominantly living in the bush and Hausa communities, who live in the town.

Residents said the APC chairman was killed by a faction of unrepentant armed men, who accused him of failure to secure the release of one of them arrested by the security agents, weeks ago.

The police spokesperson in Katsina, Gambo Isah, confirmed the incidents.

Six people, including a female suicide bomber, were reportedly killed in separate attacks on communities of Kwabula and Kondori villages of Askira-Uba and Konduga Local Government Areas of Borno state

Three people were, yesterday, confirmed killed in Kondori village of Konduga Local Government Area of the state by suspected terrorists, leaving scores injured, while others fled into Jakana town and Maiduguri for safety.

Kondori is about 30km from Maiduguri, the state capital and a stone throw to Jakana town located on the busy Maiduguri-Damaturi-Kano road.

It was gathered from sources that “on May 30, 2020, at 11:45 pm armed terrorists suspected to be from Shekau’s faction stormed Kwabula village of Askira-Uba LGA.

“The terrorists came in large number with four gun trucks, enclosed the main entrance of the village and fired at the heart of the village.

“During the attack, many residents fled into surrounding mountains for safety, unfortunately, two civilians were killed and many others sustained injuries without confrontation.”

In Kwabula, two civilians were killed when suspected members of Boko Haram sect invaded the village, weekend, just as a female suicide bomber infiltrated part of Konduga Local Government Area and detonated her Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, killing herself and injured three civilians.

Secretary of the Local Government, Alhaji Mai Bukar, who confirmed the two incidents to our correspondent on phone, yesterday, said: “It is unfortunate that communities in my local government area came under Boko Haram attacks.”

3 killed as gunmen invade three villages in Oyo

Also, the Oyo State Police Command, yesterday, confirmed the killing of three people by gunmen that invaded three villages in Akinyele Local Government Area of the state.

While confirming the attack, the Oyo State Public Relations Officer, SP Gbenga Fadeyi, said: “Yes, the hoodlums attacked a village, Olanla, and shot three men. Two of the suspects have been arrested while police detectives have been dispatched to the village to get other suspects arrested.”

According to sources, the hoodlums invaded Ikereku, Pade, Olanla and Babalola villages with dangerous weapons in the early hours of yesterday.

A lawmaker representing one of the constituencies in Akinyele said three people were killed in his constituency, wards 1 and 2.

Source: Vanguard

Derek Chauvin Guilty Plea Deal Falls Apart by Raphael Bichene

Derek Chauvin Guilty Plea Deal Falls Apart by Raphael Bichene

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was considering a guilty plea in the death of George Floyd, but the deal fell apart, ABC News has learned.

The Hennepin County prosecutor’s office confirmed to ABC News that Chauvin and his attorney were negotiating to plead guilty to local murder charges and federal civil rights violation charges before it fell through.

The prosecutor’s office would not elaborate on the specific charges Chauvin was considering pleading guilty to, or why the deal collapsed. It added that these negotiations in high-profile cases are not unusual, nor is the fact that a deal wasn’t reached.

Floyd, a black man, died on May 25 in Minneapolis after he was pinned down by Chauvin, who is white.

In a cellphone video taken by a bystander, Floyd, 46, was heard pleading for help and saying, “I can’t breathe,” as Chauvin’s knee pressed against the back of his neck. Prosecutors say Chauvin held his knee there for nearly nine minutes.

Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter in Floyd’s death. He has not yet entered a plea.

On Monday, Chauvin, 44, made his first court appearance. He waived his right to appear in person, instead appearing via video from the state prison where he is being held.

During the hearing, a judge ordered Chauvin held on $1.25 million bail. Prosecutor Mathew Frank argued that Chauvin could be a flight risk because of the case’s high profile.

Bail conditions included surrendering guns;,not working in law enforcement or security, no contact with the victim’s family and not leaving the state without permission. Chauvin’s attorney, Eric Nelson, did not object in court.

Chauvin’s next court date was set for June 29.

The three other officers who were at the scene of Floyd’s death have been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting manslaughter.

All four officers were fired.

One of those ex-officers, Thomas Lane, posted conditional bail on Wednesday.

The Department of Justice is also looking into whether the former officers violated federal civil rights laws.

Floyd’s death has sparked nationwide protests calling for police reform.

On Wednesday, Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo announced that the department is withdrawing from contract negotiations with the police union as part of reform efforts. The department will also introduce a system that tracks police behavior, he said.

The Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously last week in an emergency hearing for immediate reforms within the police department, including banning chokeholds and other neck restraints.

Source: abc News

Pogba Scores First Goal in Over One Year by Raphael Bichene

Pogba Scores First Goal in Over One Year by Raphael Bichene

Manchester United should see success as winning the Premier League, not just making the top four, said Paul Pogba after netting his first goal for over a year in another comfortable 3-0 win for the Red Devils at Aston Villa.

United became the first side in Premier League history to win four straight games by a three-goal margin as they closed to within a point of fourth-placed Leicester with the in-form Bruno Fernandes and Mason Greenwood also on the scoresheet.

Pogba missed the majority of the season prior to the coronavirus shutdown due to injury, but believes United must aim higher next season in the pursuit of newly-crowned champions Liverpool and Manchester City.

“We are really pleased with ourselves, but we know we have to carry on as well,” Pogba told Sky Sports.

“We are talking in training that we have to carry on, that’s what Manchester is, it is a big club and the performances the last few weeks are the standard of Manchester.

“We didn’t win the Premier League, that’s the standard, we didn’t win anything yet so there is a lot of work to do.”

United could still end the season with two trophies as they face Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals on July 19 before restarting their Europa League campaign in August.

“This year we have two goals, to go for the Europa League and the FA Cup so we go for that,” added Pogba.

AFP

At Least 50 Feared Dead in Fresh Katsina Attacks by Jessy Samuel Ejah

At Least 50 Feared Dead in Fresh Katsina Attacks by Jessy Samuel Ejah

At least 50 persons are feared dead following a fresh attack on Kadisau town in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Channels TV gathered that the bandits who were armed with sophisticated weapons arrived in the town at about 4:30 pm on Tuesday riding on over 100 motorcycles.

The attack happened hours after residents of Yantumaki Town in Danmusa Local Government Area of the state took to the streets to protest the rising insecurity particularly kidnapping in their area, following the abduction a man along with his daughter in the early hours of Tuesday.

Security operatives reportedly came to the aid of the residents about three hours after the attackers had left at about 6:00 pm.

The spokesman of the Katsina State Police Command, SP Gambo Isah was yet to respond to inquiries as at press time.

It could be recalled that on Sunday last week, the 55-year-old chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Batsari Local Government Area of the state, Abdulhamid Mamman Sani, was killed by bandits after he resisted them from kidnapping him.

In the meantime, no fewer than 12 district heads operating in the eight Frontline Local Government Areas of Katsina state have reportedly threatened to run away from their respective communities.

Drawn from Batsari, Dandume, Danmusa, Faskari, Jibia, Kankara, Sabuwa and Safana LGAs, the affected district heads have visited the emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir Usman on Monday to lament the renewed bandits attacks bedevilling their respective communities.

A member of the Katsina Emirate Council told Channels Television that the unhappy district heads informed the emir that their lives are in great danger in recognition of the fact that it was just last week that their counterpart in ‘Yantumaki town of Danmusa LGA of the state, Alhaji Atiku Maidabino was killed by bandits.