Ikuforiji Speaks On His acquittal

Few hours after the Federal High Court in Lagos, western Nigeria acquitted him of money laundering charges, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has said that he had learnt his lessons.

The lawmaker, while speaking at a press conference that lasted only a few minutes at the House of Assembly on Friday, stated that the biggest lesson he learnt from his three-year travail in the hands of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is that perseverance pays.

Ikuforiji noted that his perseverance in the face of daunting challenges, his faith and hope paid off for him.

[caption id="attachment_3895" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Lagos Speaker Ikuforiji[/caption]

He added that the victory was jointly shared among the lawmakers and staff of the House as well as the state government and journalists who, he said, “stood on the side of the truth, despite being bombarded with lies”.

“Victory is sweet but I have learnt to wait patiently for it. It is a victory for our party, the All Progressives Congress, and everyone who has stood solidly by me in the last three years.

“The struggle goes on; our work is not done. While we savour this victory, we must remember that we still have a lot of work to do.

“This victory is a call to action. As the 2015 general election approaches, we must rally round to ensure victory for our party at all levels. Our politics should not divide us.

“To those who have attempted but failed to humiliate us and defeat the course of justice, I bear no grudge.

“However, I ask them to join me in the big task ahead. By pronouncing me not guilty, in fact, by dismissing the bases on which the needless trial was wrought, the Federal High Court has renewed my commitment to the struggle for a greater Lagos State.

“I am not tired; the task of governance must go on and I will continue to serve Lagos, its people and our country to the best of my ability.

“I promise to never betray the confidence reposed in me; today’s victory is historic; it will spur me to work harder for the growth of our dear state and progress of our people.

“My victory today compels me to rededicate myself to the arduous task of lifting Lagos State to higher heights. It also propels me further in my personal and political struggle to protect the enviable legacy od good governance, sterling leadership and unmatched excellence for which Lagos State has come to be known,” the speaker said.


It would be recalled that Ikuforiji was Friday acquitted of a N600 million money laundering charges after a lengthy trial period at the Federal High Court, Lagos.

The speaker is among those nursing ambition to contest for the governorship election in Lagos State next year.

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Man Gets 6 Months Imprisonment Over 46 Eggs

A resident of Mabushi in Abuja, Musa Abdullahi, has been asked to spend the next six months in prison for stealing 46 pieces of eggs.

This is according to a sentence delivered on Friday, 27 September, 2014  by Senior Magistrate Grace Adebayo-Eisapeat at the Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

The magistrate handed down the judgment after the convict had pleaded guilty to committing the crime, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.

It was gathered that Adebayo-Eisape, who told the convict that the judgment was to serve as a lesson to others who might want to commit the same crime, also gave  Abdullahi an option of N30, 000 fine.

The accused, a sales representative to one Salisu Datti of Wuse Market, Abuja was said to have been carrying out this crime for a long time before he was caught on 21 September.

The Prosecutor, Cpl. Umar Ango, told the court that the case was reported at Wuse Police Station by one Paul Ezeugwu, one of the security guard in Wuse Market.

According to Ango, the convict confessed at the police station that he has been committing this crime for a long time.

The value for the 46 pieces of eggs is N1, 380, Ango informed.

He also stated that the offence committed by Abdullahi contradicts Section 287 of the Penal Code.

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Quack Doctor In Trouble Over Patient's Death

A quack doctor identified as Femi Olabisi Akindele, has landed himself in trouble after a 26-year-old woman, Bose Owoyele, allegedly died in his hospital, Duro Doluwa Medical Clinic and Maternity Home, located at Ijoko-Ota road, Interpol Bus stop, Sango Ota, Ogun State, southwest Nigeria.

According to a report published by P.M NEWS, Akindele, 48, was arraigned at Ogun State Magistrates’ Court 2, presided over by Chief Magistrate S.T. Bello (Mrs) at Ota.

Reading the one count-charge to the accused person in Yoruba language, the prosecutor, Sergeant Ita Ita, said: “That you Olufemi Olabisi Akindele ‘m’ on 22/7/2014 at about 1345hrs at Duro Doluwa Clinic, along Ijoko Road, Sango, Ota in Sango Ota Magisterial District did unlawfully kill one Bose Owoyele ‘f’ aged 26 by carrying out surgical operation when you are not a Medical Doctor and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 316 (3) and punishable under section 319 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006”.

After rejecting the accused plea in view of the nature of the charge, Magistrate Bello ordered that Akindele should be remanded in prison custody pending advice from Department of Public Prosecution, DPP.

The case was adjourned till 14 November, 2014.

However, it was gathered that the victim, a mother of three, allegedly died with pregnancy at the accused hospital on 22 July, 2014, after she was admitted for jaundice treatment for four days.

READ ALSO: Abortion Kills Thousands Of Women In Nigeria

Speaking to newsmen on the death of his wife, the deceased’s husband, Olasunkanmi Owoyele, an auto mechanic resident at 27, Ogo-Oluwa Street, Interpol, stated that he went to the hospital on Friday night with his pregnant wife where she had been earlier treated and was allegedly given injections.

[caption id="attachment_3459" align="aligncenter" width="320"] The late Bose Owoyele[/caption]

Olasunkanmi explained that the late Bose was rushed back to the hospital at about 5.30 a.m. on Saturday when her condition became critical over night and the doctor collected N3,000 out of the N6,000 charged for drip and other treatment.

He added that after collecting the money, the doctor did not allow any of her relations to see her again until the fateful Tuesday morning when he forced his way into the ward where the deceased was admitted and found her in a critical condition.

“I called the doctor’s attention to her condition and I was told that I wouldn’t have met her alive if not for the blood transfusion he carried out on her the previous night and I was asked to pay N20,000 for the blood,” he said.

Olasunkanmi further explained: “I left the hospital helplessly while other family members were also denied access to her despite her condition, only to receive a phone call from someone later that my wife was dead.”

READ ALSO: Trading Drugs Inside Commuter Buses

It was gathered from the spokesman for the deceased’s family, Dare Ibikunle,  that a surgery-like cut and stitches were discovered at the lower part of  deceased abdomen before the matter was reported at Sango Police Division.

The fake doctor was said to be arrested and detained at the station before he was transferred to Ogun State Police Command Headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta.

Investigation revealed that the fake doctor claimed that the cut was as a result of his effort to bring out the foetus inside the victim, claiming that Bose was a Muslim who should not be buried with pregnancy.

However, a source disclosed that similar incident had occurred at the same hospital in October 2013.

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Nigerians Discuss Death Penalty For Maiduguri Mutiny

Nigerians react to the news of  twelve soldiers of Nigerian Army receiving the death penalty for participating in Maiduguri mutiny in May 2014.

It would be recalled that in mid-May, a number of Nigerian Army officers shot at their superior in Maimalari cantonment in Maiduguri, Borno State. They attacked their superior, General Officer Commanding, 7th Division of the Nigerian Army, Ahmadu Mohammed’s vehicle. The soldiers were apparently angered by the deaths of their comrades-in-arms who met their demise in Boko Haram ambush.

On September 15, eighteen army officers, accused of participating in Maiduguri mutiny, were court-martialled and heard their sentences. Twelve were sentenced to death. One officer will have to serve 28 days of hard labour. Five remaining officers were acquitted.

“They signed to defend us even at risk of losing their life. … They are ready to go to any length to protect us even by sacrificing their own life,”  Naij.com reader Sam argued in his opinion piece he wrote on the subject of the Maiduguri mutiny.

“Mutiny is a crime in military and punishable by death. But why not address the root causes? Military authority should please temper justice with mercy. …Why should they receive death penalty for Maiduguri mutiny when they were saying the truth? Remember, they have wives, children and family! Did they deserve to die?”  Mr. Sam asked.

We decided to ask Nigerians the same question to know where they stand on the matter. Below you may find their varying responses.

The majority of almost 800 respondents were unanimous in opposing the death penalty for those who participated in the Maiduguri mutiny. They urged the Federal Government and President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene into the matters. These soldiers should be given a strict warning but not killed, Nigerians say.

Isah Daniel said: “I don’t support this! I am a uniformed man like them. There’s nothing wrong in someone fighting for their rights. If someone kills those soldiers, I bet their own children will die the same way the soldiers died. Nonsense.”

Akinrinlude Zainab said: “Free our husbands, fathers and friends. Please give them a second chance!”

Edu Cool Smith said: “When I got the news that 12 out of the 18 accused soldiers received death penalty for Maiduguri mutiny, I wept for thee o nation. Let not this execution be carried out. Their blood will speak. Injustice! What have we turned into? Jeremiah lamented “Our fathers sinned and are no more, but we bear their iniquities,” (Lamentations 5:7). If so, we bear the horrors of our past leaders. Will our children be able to escape our sins? Blood is too much! Before these soldiers went out of control they complained of bad treatment! These soldiers are death-bound because they are poor. Many Nigerians are standing against this injustice! Let’s stand for them. Once upon a time we were a glorious nation. But today, ‘The joy of our heart has ceased; our dance has turned into mourning. The crown has fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!’ (Lamentations 5:15)”

Theophilus Chinweike said: “Save our soldiers! Don’t touch them. It’s your fault, the government. Why would you send those boys into risk without proper arrangment? You are unable to prosecute the Boko Haram sponsors, but you want to kill our soldiers! Don’t try it!”

Mukhtar Ladan said: “I disagree with this precipitated judgment, this death penalty for Maiduguri mutiny. The presidency should as a matter of urgency intervene. Or else, the nation will do something about. Please, Nigerians, let us stand against the injustice. Silence in the face of injustice is a crime.”

Okechi Kalu-whyte said: “They should fight who is fighting them and not to kill the few they have that will defend the nation. Boko Haram are killing soldiers, and soldiers are killing each other. Doesn’t it sound funny? Please, how sincere is the person at helm of the matter even?”

Seigha Omubo Dede said: “This death penalty for mutiny is injustice of the highest order. It is another ploy to silence the revelation of the Boko Haram sponsors in the Army. If not, why death sentence? These soldiers only reacted to the fact that they were being neglected. Where are our human rights activists? If there’s any time to speak up, now is that time! SAY TO INJUSTICE!”

Ojo Babatunde David said: “This death penalty for Maiduguri mutiny sentence is not final. It is subject to ratification by President G.E. Jonathan who is the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces. If President Jonathan knows nothing about BOKO HARAM, he would not sign the death warrant of the soldiers. He would commute the sentence to a prison term.”

A number of commentators, however, did not think that the participants of the Maiduguri mutiny were as brave as others were calling them.

Bariborve Piinaakaleop Kpegeol said: “Brave by trying to kill their commander? Maybe bravery has got another meaning. Anyway, I am not saying they should be killed… But at least they were not that brave!”

Also, some Nigerians warned to “keep our military out of politics” and insisted that the death penalty was a fair punishment for taking part in the now-notorious Maiduguri mutiny.

Obanya Napoleon Christopher said: “Death penalty for this Maiduguri mutiny is well-deserved! They were not only charged for mutiny but also for attempted murder. Disrespecting a senior officer is an offence, not talking of shooting at him. That’s the highest insult ever. So many soldiers in Nigeria have joined the army only because they couldn’t get a job We need dedicated and loyal soldiers. Death penalty for Maiduguri mutiny of these twelve will serve as a deterrent to others.”

Goa Lekue Charles said: “It is very funny now how people claim to have knowledge of all topics and issues. It is very sad how we speak about military laws without knowing what they stand for. Military is the last place where indiscipline is encouraged! We should stop all this noise-making. Do we want our military guys to start acting like our police? Please, death penalty for mutiny is the punishment, as is for any act of indiscipline in the military. They all know it as they were not forced to join. It is sad, but such is the bitter truth.”

Dafe Philibus Habila said: “They entered a profession, and they must be judged by the rules. They knew death penalty for Maiduguri mutiny will be the ultimate price. They should face it. But the problem is, their general, too, must be court-martialed. I don’t agree with his retirement. He, too, should face the music. In fact, not only him but the other ten generals with fat accounts. What is their fate? All should face the music so as to serve as a deterrence to others.”

Kakka Sppecie said: “What if the GOC was killed in the attempted murder and shooting? Sentiment is one of the root causes of Nigeria’s socio-political decay. We should try to make people know that whoever breaks the law will face its wrath. It’s a pity to judge and sentence these young soldiers! But even insurgents knows this law and will never do what these soldiers did. Maybe we’ll temper justice, but how can we instill discipline in the armed forces if we continue like this?”

What is your own opinion of the death sentences handed out to the twelve Nigerian soldiers who were participants of the Maiduguri mutiny?

Temper justice with mercy for the 12 soldiers sentenced to death for Maiduguri mutiny:

• Yes (83%, 265 Votes)
  


• No (17%, 53 Votes)
  

Total Voters: 318

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How Nigerian Police, Military Torture And Kill Civilians

Torture has become a part of the police system in Nigeria and it is alarming how the authorities who are supposed to protect its citizens subject them to all kinds of torture.

A report published today, September 18, titled, “Welcome to hell fire: Torture and other ill-treatment in Nigeria” has detailed the how the police and the military in Nigeria routinely torture women, men, and children some as young as 12, using a wide range of methods such as beatings, shootings and rape, SaharaReporters reports.

The report which was compiled from hundreds of testimonies and evidence gathered over a period of 10 years by renowned international human rights organisation, Amnesty International also details how civilians are detained and tortured as a means to extort money or force a confession to solve cases which are under investigation.

[caption id="attachment_2542" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Footage showing graphic evidence of multiple war crimes being carried out in Nigeria
Photo credit: Amnesty International[/caption]

Some of the torture techniques include nail or tooth extractions, choking, electric shocks and sexual violence.”

It was revealed how most people who are detained are denied access to the outside world, including lawyers, families and courts.

READ ALSO: Nigeria’s Military Accused Of War Crimes

“Torture has become such an integral part of policing in Nigeria that many police stations have an informal ‘Officer in Charge of Torture’ or O/C Torture,” the report said.

Recounting her ordeal, a 24-year-old woman named Abosede said police abuse left her with a permanent injury.

She said: “A policewoman took me to a small room, told me to remove everything I was wearing. She spread my legs wide and fired tear gas into my vagina.

“I was asked to confess that I was an armed robber…I was bleeding…up till now I still feel pain in my womb.”

Amnesty International also reports that the Nigerian military is committing similar human rights violations, detaining thousands in their search for members of the Boko Haram Islamist sect.

Speaking about his experience, a 15-year-old boy from Yobe state identified as Mahmood, , who was arrested by soldiers with around 50 other people, mainly boys between 13 and 19 years old, said, he was detained for 3 weeks. In that 3-week period, the soldiers beat him repeatedly with their gun butts, batons and machetes, pouring melting plastic on his back, making him walk and roll over broken bottles, and forcing him to watch the extra-judicial execution of other detainees. He was eventually released in April 2013.

According to Amnesty International’s Research and Advocacy Director, Netsanet Belay, torture is not a criminal offence in Nigeria, though it is prohibited in the constitution but the country has yet to pass legislation outlawing the violation.

Baley spoke of 12-year-old boy who was arrested, beaten, forced to clean vomit with his bare hands and alcohol was even poured on him.

“Torture happens on this scale partly because no one, including in the chain of command, is being held accountable. Nigeria needs a radical change of approach, to suspend all officers against whom there are credible allegations of torture, to thoroughly investigate those allegations and to ensure that suspected torturers are brought to justice.

“When internal investigations within the police or the military do take place, the findings are not made public and the recommendations rarely implemented. Of the hundreds of cases researched by Amnesty International, not one victim of torture or other ill-treatment was compensated or received other reparation from the Nigerian government,” he said.

He therefore called on the Nigerian government to act fast by passing a law which makes torture a criminal offence.

Baley said: “Our message to the Nigerian authorities today is clear, criminalize torture, end incommunicado detention and fully investigate allegations of abuse. That would mark an important first step towards ending this abhorrent practice. It’s high time the Nigerian authorities showed they can be taken seriously on this issue.”

About a month ago, Amnesty International had made public a gruesome footage that allegedly shows Nigerian soldiers slitting the throats of insurgents and dumping their bodies in a mass grave.

However, Nigerian Defence spokesman Major-General Chris Olukolade, said the scenes depicted in the video were alien to their operations and doctrines.

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Breaking News! Athelete Oscar Pistorius NOT GUILTY of ”Murder” of his Girlfriend

Oscar Pistorious has been found not guilty of premeditated murder.

However, the court proceeding will resume momentarily. The judge will then deliver her verdict on the charge of manslaughter, culpable homicide, and other firearms offenses, Newsweek reports.

Stay tuned for the final verdict.

Update:

The court session has been adjourned until tomorrow morning.

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