Demolition of a structure inside NUJ Secretariat premises by Development Control,FCT and attacked on Photojournalists,of Vanguard National Mirror Newspaper in Abuja on Friday.
FCT Development Control demolishes NUJ Secretariat in Abuja brutalizes Photo Journalists, seized their cameras
Today saw what appears to become continued pattern from yesterday’s brute disperse of protesters staged in front of the NNPC towers who had gathered to protest against the unaddressed corruption within the petroleum sector.
Information made available to 247ureports.com indicates that the Nigerian Union Journalists [NUJ] Secretariat Abuja Council, today, Friday June 29, 2012 received the growing dictatorial tendencies of the Nigerian leadership. This was as confusion overtook the NUJ premises – as over 70 mobile policemen, 4 bulldozers and FCDA Officials invaded the premises of the secretariat and pulled down a structure within the premises of the Council while brutalizing two Photo Journalists attached to Vanguard Newspapers and National Mirror, seizing their cameras.
The incident resulted in the Journalists into mobilizing themselves to the Head office of Department of Development Control where they demanded for the release of their cameras .The matter became worsened just as officials of Development control mobilized thugs and area boys to join the stern looking mobile policemen at the gate to disperse the journalists. It took the intervention of National Executive of NUJ led by the National Secretary, Shuaib Liman who came to intervene in the matter and got the seized cameras released.
The Director, Development Control, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Yahyah Yusuf who addressed the angry journalists apologized for the overzealousness of the mobile policemen for manhandling the photo journalists. He described the action of the team as illegal operation because they were not sent for such operation.
As 247ureports.com gathered from the Director of the Development Control FCT, the demolition group was not officially dispatched to the NUJ premises. The group was sent to an area in Kubwa to carry out a demolition but they abruptly decided to demolish a structure within the NUJ gated premises instead. It remains unsure the reasons behind the illegal demolition. Some of the members of the NUJ pointed to the upcoming executive election within the NUJ Abuja council and internal squabbles within the executive council – as a probable cause for the needless demolition.
Independent inquiry by our correspondent gathered that the agents from the Director’s office has arrived the demolished site to assess the monetary value of the damaged property. The Director has expressed the structure will be rebuilt by his office at no cost to the NUJ.
Gov Peter Obi Swears-in New Commissioners/Cabinet Members [photos]
The Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi has sworn-in new commissioners/cabinet members today Friday June 29, 2012. The Governor had previously dissolved his cabinet on May 29, 2012.
- Mr. Oseloka Obaze – SSG
- Chief Joemartin Uzodike – Information
- Barr. Peter Afuba – Justice
- Mr. Vincent Ezenwajiaku – Special Duties
- Lady Henrietta Agbata – Women Affairs
- Dr. Chike Collins Ohamobi – Transport
- Engr. Patrick Ifeanyi Obi – Housing
- Dr. Edozie Aroh – Sports
- Mr. Robert Okonkwo – Commerce
- Mr. Emeka Nwankwu – Utilities
- Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna – Economic Planning and Chief of Staff
- Mrs Azuka Enemuo – Local Governemnt Area
- Arc. Calistus Ilozumba – Works
Benin Crown Prince lauds Oshiomhole
The Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom and Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Italy, His Excellency Prince Ehenede Erediauwa, has commended Edo state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, for the massive infrastructural development in the Benin Kingdom.
Prince Erediauwa, who spoke in Benin City at a grand reception organised
to mark his return from ambassadorial tour of duty to several countries, said he was impressed with massive turnout for him, which would make him do more for the Edo people.
According to him, “this reception will even ginger me to do even more for the Edo people. You will note that I said the Edo people, not just the Bini people because the Bini people are the origin of all other people. And our Comrade Governor has always emphasised that; and I know that he has gone through some travails over that, that why is he developing Benin, why not other places?
“The Governor told me a simple philosophy, that Your Highness, if a visitor comes to your house, where will he enter first, is it your bedroom? It is the sitting room. So he has started focussing on the job at hand.
“I’m not campaigning, I’m just stating the facts. I’m following my father’s footsteps. So I want to thank the Comrade Governor. So the prayer that our father said we should pray for the gubernatorial candidate that God has made it to come through, that God has brought it to reality in the person of my friend, not political friend but personal friend, God has brought it to fruition in the person of Comrade Governor ably supported by his Deputy, Pius Odubu.”
The Crown prince announced his intention to set up a trust fund that would support and assist youths in Edo state learn a trade of their choice as well as establish community centres in all local government areas of the state where the youth can benefit in one way or the other.
Ambassador Ehenede Erediauwa served last in Italy with concurrent accreditation to Albania and the Vatican. He had previously served in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland.
His Royal Majesty, Oba Erediauwa of Benin will hold another reception for the Crown Prince, the Edaiken n’Uselu, on Saturday, July 7 in his Palace.
Fresh Assassination In Rivers Shocks Gov. Amaechi
THE seeming return of hired political killers in Rivers State, a frontline oil and gas producing state in Southern Nigeria, is currently unsettling the state Governor, Chibuike Amaechi.
Between 2002 and 2007, the state was a hot bed of politically inspired killings and violence.
However, Amaechi, who is also the Chair of Nigeria’s Governors’ Forum, has angrily ordered the police to fish out the killers of Julius Nwaofu, the State Chairman of All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, an opposition party.
The ANPP leader, Julius Nwaofu, was allegedly assassinated by unidentified gunmen in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
Chief Press Secretary to Governor Amaechi, Mr. David Iyofor, in an online statement to AkanimoReports on Friday, said the governor decried the dastardly act describing it as “wicked and atrocious” at this time in the life of the country and the oil-producing state.
While consoling the bereaved family and ANPP members, the governor made it abundantly clear that the police ”must” get to the root of the murder.
He directed that all security agencies in the state ”must work assiduously” to ensure that the perpetrators of the ”evil crime” are caught and brought to book in no distant time.
“As a state government, we will ensure that the security agencies do not relent until the criminals behind this heinous act are captured and face the full wrath of the law,” Amaechi said.
He further urged everyone in the state to remain calm as the government is working closely with law enforcement agents to rid the state of such inhuman and unlawful activities.
Kofi Annon wants Iran at Syria talks: U.S. official
United Nations envoy Kofi Annan has proposed inviting Iran to a multinational meeting to discuss a political transition in Syria this week, but is leaving it up to the U.S. and Russia to decide whether Iran can participate, U.S. officials said Monday.
Annan wants an “understanding” between Washington and Moscow on Iran, other potential guests and the agenda, officials said, before he issues formal invitations to the meeting of an “Action Group on Syria” that he wants to convene in Geneva on Saturday.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the diplomacy.
The U.S. is adamantly opposed to Iran taking part, while Russia supports its inclusion. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has said Iran’s participation would be a “red line” for the United States because it has been overt in its support of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s brutal crackdown on the opposition.
Annan has previously said that Iran “should be part of the solution” to the Syria crisis but has been coy about whether he believes Iran’s presence at the meeting is vital.
Annan has now said that Iran would be part of an “optimum” roster for the meeting, according to the officials, who said the U.S. has not changed its position on the matter. However, the officials stressed that Annan also believed that a U.S.-Russia understanding is essential.
Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov have discussed the matter and are due to meet again in person in St. Petersburg, Russia on Friday, but the officials said Annan wants an answer from the two countries by late Tuesday.
In addition to Iran, the officials said Annan has proposed inviting the foreign ministers of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council – Britain, China, France, Russia and the U.S. – along with Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
Annan has also suggested that U.N. chief Ban Ki-Moon, the Arab League secretary general and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton be invited.
It was not clear on Monday what the final invitation list would look like or whether the planned conference would proceed as planned on June 30.
N 7.7Bn Police Equipment Scam: Appeal Court Orders Retrial of Kenny Martins, Three Others
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has ordered the retrial of Chief Kenny Martins and three others in respect of the embezzlement of Seven Billion, Seven Hundred and Forty Million Naira (N7,740,000,000.00) belonging to the Police Equipment Fund.
In a well-considered judgment delivered by Justice Regina Nwodo, JCA, Leading two other justices on Thursday June 28, 2012, the appellate court among other issues, held that the four accused persons have a case to answer and that Justice Mohammed Talba of the FCT High Court misdirected himself and was wrong to have discharged the accused persons on a no-case submission.
The Appeal arose from a criminal charge preferred by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Chief Kenny Martins, Ibrahim Dumuje, Yaro Gella and Nigerstalg Limited.
After the trial at the High Court, the accused persons were discharged on a no-case submission. However, dissatisfied with the ruling, the EFCC filed an appeal.
On the issue of bias, on which basis an Abuja Magistrate court and a Federal High Court, Abuja had disqualified prosecution counsel, Festus Keyamo from prosecuting the accused persons, on the grounds that he had written several petitions against the accused persons in the past, the Court of Appeal held that a prosecutor cannot be disqualified from prosecuting a matter based on allegations of bias.
The court ordered that the case file be remitted to the Chief Judge of FCT for reassignment and re-trial of the accused persons.
EFCC Arraigns Two Over Illegal Bunkering
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday 26th June, 2012 arraigned the duo of Uyi Edohen and Moses Odanman before Justice Okereke of the Federal High Court II, Benin City , Edo State on a two count charge of conspiracy and illegal dealing in petroleum products.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to both count.
The defence counsel P. C. Ebeye immediately applied for bail, with prosecuting counsel, A. Olatunji objecting on the grounds that the accused persons could jump bail and stall proceedings.
Justice Okereke, after listening to both counsel, adjourned the case to 4th July, 2012 for ruling on the bail application, and ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody.
The accused persons were arrested on 3rd May, 2012, at Presco Junction, along Benin/Sapele Road , Benin City by Army Officers attached to the Headquarter 4, Brigade Sector 1 Op. Polu Shield, with a white Leyland Truck with registration number AA 828 BEN, conveying 30 drums of locally refined automotive gas oil without waybill.
Protest At NNPC: Heavily Armed Police Disperse Protesters [photos]
Today, the vicinity around the NNPC towers in Abuja saw glimpse of dictatorial tendencies as protesters gathered in front of the NNPC towers to protest against perceived ills in the petroleum sector of the economy.
The protest as gathered by 247ureports.com was coordinated by the a group under the auspices of the united democracy for action [motto: system change now]. They had gathered to ‘occupy the NNPC’ against the corruption within the NNPC and the non-passage of the PIB bill.
But the abrupt intrusion of the Nigerian police force in numbers depicting a force ready to attack its citizens changed the free and democratic protest into a near bloodshed event. The heavily armed force moved in forcefully to quickly disperse the protesters. After the disperse, the police force remained at the supposed protest groups – and ‘occupied the area’.
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PhotoNews: Former IGP, Sunday Ehindero Arraignment At Abuja High Court
Former Inspector General of Police, Sunday Ehindero with his wife at Abuja high court being arraigned for financial misappropriation during his tenure as IG in Abuja – today June 28, 2012
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