Headlines

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have served a 14-day strike notice on the Federal Government, raising the spectre of nationwide industrial action if their demands are unmet.

The unions, in a statement, said they are furious over the government’s failure to implement a 16-point agreement signed in October 2023. The agreement aimed to address the “massive suffering” caused by the hike in petrol prices and naira devaluation, policies blamed for worsening economic hardship.

“Despite our efforts to ensure industrial peace, the government seems unperturbed by the mass suffering and hardship across the country,” NLC and TUC leaders said in a joint statement. They accused the government of neglecting the welfare of citizens and workers, leaving them with “no choice” but to resort to strike action.

Effective February 9, among others, the two Labour Centres said, “Constrained by this development and recognising the urgency of the situation and the imperative of ensuring the protection and defence of the rights and dignity of Nigerian workers and citizens, the NLC and TUC hereby issue a stern ultimatum to the Federal Government to honour their part of the understanding within 14 days from tomorrow, the 9th day of February 2024.”

A member of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) serving in Adamawa State died during the penalty shootouts of the match between Nigeria and South Africa of Wednesday evening.

It was gathered Thursday morning that the youth corper, identified only as Samuel from Kaduna State, died just before the last kick that ensured Nigeria’s victory in the match.

A witness, who gave an account of the incident in a social media post, said: “We lost one Nigerian during our victory celebration over south Africa at our sports viewing center here in Numan.

“The corps member who is serving in Numan from Kaduna State fainted before the kick of the winning goal.

“He died before they could reach the hospital in Numan. May his soul rest in peace.”

The NYSC Coordinator in Adamawa State, Jingi Dennis, said he was awaiting greater details of the incident.

The coordinator said in a conversation Thursday morning: ”I received the news of his death last night. I hope to have more details today.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced that SIM cards not linked to National Identity Numbers (NIN) will be deactivated by the end of February.

The compulsory linkage between SIM cards and NINs was initiated in December 2020 to improve security by preventing unregistered and unlinked phone numbers for criminal activities.

Despite deadline extensions, there has been a significant number of phone lines that remain unlinked.

The NCC Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Aminu Maida, emphasized that pre-registered or illegally registered SIM cards have been challenging, and the SIM-NIN connection was intended to address this issue.

Maida made the comment on Tuesday in an interactive session with journalists, noting that the commission will now adopt a data-driven decision-making approach and hold telecom service providers accountable for service delivery to consumers.

“You are going to see a change in the way we make decisions; we are going to be very data-driven. All our decisions are going to be backed up by data as much as possible. We want to reduce subjectiveness and make the right decisions that will improve the industry.

“We intend to hold our licensees accountable for all services. After all, the consumers pay for the services, and they expect the service to be at a certain level or point, so we will be holding our licensees accountable to ensure they deliver on their obligations to their licenses.

“We need to put smiles back on the faces of consumers. NCC is clear on this: we need to protect the interest of consumers. They remain number one because that is where you extract values from.

“Yet, the interest of licensed operators will also be protected while we put eyes on their activities to see the level of compliance,” he said.

He further mentioned that the commission will prioritize three critical stakeholders: consumers, the industry, and licensees.

According to him, the NCC aims to address consumer complaints more effectively by monitoring licensees’ customer service systems and identifying the reasons for delays in issue resolution.

He added that the decision to deactivate SIM cards without NIN is part of the government’s efforts to enhance security measures and combat activities of bandits and terrorists.

The armed bandits, who recently kidnapped women accompanying a newlywed bride to her matrimonial home at Damari, Sabuwa LGA of Katsina State, have threatened to remarry the bride and sell off the other women.

LeadingReporters gathered that the daredevil bandits had on Thursday last week, attacked the bride and those accompanying her, around the Sabuwa area while travelling in an open van.

The gunmen killed at least four members of a vigilante group during the unfortunate attack.

At least 55 wedding guests were abducted during the attack and the victims have since then been held hostage, according to villagers.

However, in a video clip currently in circulation on social media, the killer bandits were sighted threatening to marry the bride and sell the other captives if ransom was not paid on time.

LeadingReporters learnt that the assailants had contacted families of the victims, demanding N100 million as the only condition to free the captives.

In the video clip, a gang leader, clad in police uniform, claimed responsibility for the abduction, saying nobody can rescue the women.

“I am the one who abducted them, and I will never release them until ransom is paid. And if there is anyone who thinks they could rescue them, they should try it,” he said.

Over 150 suspected armed herdsmen have attacked Agojeju-odo in Bagaji-Odoh District of Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State, killing four persons.

The lawmaker representing Omala State Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon. Umar Yahaya disclosed this on Wednesday in Lokoja shortly after submitting a report on the attack to Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo.

Yahaya, who condemned the incident, described the recent attack in his constituency as one too many.

According to the lawmaker, “At about 3:30 pm on Tuesday, the 30th of January 2024, the peaceful community of Agojeju-odo in Bagaji-Odoh District of Omala LGA was attacked by Fulani herdsmen numbering over 150.

“The militant herdsmen took the village by surprise and were shooting sporadically as they invaded the village in a broad daylight through the eastern part of the town.

“During the attack, a sick woman who was on admission in a local private clinic (St. Peter Clinic) was slaughtered. Two men namely: Mr. Attai John Idagboyi and one Mr. Daniel Shuaibu were also gruesomely murdered.

“The remains of a man was also found butchered in the bush, bringing the total number of the dead to four. That’s one woman and three men.

“They came in through Bagana in Omala LGA which borders the Agatu area of Benue and Umasha community in Nasarawa States.

“The Bagana community has been under attack for a long period now and some of our people have not been able to return home for many years now due to the incessant attacks by these Fulani herdsmen militants.”

He requested the governor’s support in directing the State Commissioner of Police and other heads of Security Agencies to be deployed to provide armed security personnel to the affected area.

Continuing, Yahaya said, “The presence of military or armed personnel will scare the militants away pending further long term measures to prevent reoccurrence or possible solutions.”

He also appealed to the governor to direct the State Emergency Agency to provide relief materials to the victims in Bagana and Agojeju-Odo.

The Intelligence Response Team of the Nigeria Police Force has smashed a notorious bandit group in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, led by one Isa Dei-Dei.

A statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the operation, which was carried out on Monday. led to a gun battle between the officers and the killer bandits.

According to the statement, the notorious Isa Dei-Dei was neutralized during the gun duel, while other members of the syndicate managed to escape with gunshot injuries.

The Force PRO called on the general public, particularly medical practitioners, to raise an alarm if a patient is seen with gunshot wounds.

“We therefore urge members of the public, especially medical practitioners, to call our attention to anyone or patients seen with gunshot wounds for further investigation”, he said.

Paradigm Initiative (PIN) has charged the Senegalese authorities to respect citizens right and stop further move to shut-down internet in the region.

Paradigm Initiative in a press release on Tuesday stated that the continuous weaponisation of Internet shutdowns and blockage has been on the rise lately.

PIN noted that this will not be the first time Senegal is shutting down the Internet for its people, as is now characteristic of African governments during protests or when elections draw near.

PIN explained that on Monday, 31 July 2023, Senegal restricted access to Internet services when the opposition leader Ousmane Sonki was formally charged to court for “fomenting insurrection” by the authorities.

These shutdowns go against Article Eight of Senegal’s 2001 Constitution which guarantees citizens’ freedom of opinion, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, freedom of association, freedom of assembly, and freedom of movement.

Article 9 (1) of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights also provides access to information as the right to receive information and is echoed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights under Article 19(2).

Furthermore, shutdowns create significant obstacles that damage the free flow of information, which may in turn, erode trust in electoral processes and increase the likelihood of hostilities and violence.

PIN added that shutdowns may also lead to the disruption of financial transactions, commerce, industry, labour markets, and the availability of platforms for the delivery of services, and above all, threat to the values of democracy,

As spelt out by Principle 37 of the Declaration of Principles On Freedom Of Expression And Access To Information In Africa, States must facilitate the rights to freedom of expression and access to information online and the means necessary to exercise these rights.

They must also recognise that universal, equitable, affordable, and meaningful access to the Internet is necessary for the realisation of freedom of expression, access to information, and the exercise of other human rights.

The government’s explanation of “hateful” and “subversive” messages on social media was inadequate to warrant such drastic measures, including their legal basis and underlying grounds.

Furthermore, PIN calls on the government of Senegal to adhere to the objective of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance under Article 2(10) to promote the establishment of necessary conditions to foster citizen participation, transparency, access to information, freedom of the press and accountability in the management of public affairs.

An open internet will ensure this compliance and the promotion of human rights under Article four of the same.

We urge the government authorities to respect their citizens’ rights and desist from further attempts at future shutdowns.

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday nullified a criminal charge preferred against a former Chief of Air Staff, Adesola Amosu, and two others over alleged N21.5 billion money laundering.

LeadingReporters gathered that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had re-arraigned the defendants on an amended 13-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N21.5 billion.

Justice Aneke on Tuesday upheld a preliminary objection by the defence counsel challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the case on the grounds that the defendants were serving officers of the military at the time.

It had argued that the defendants were, therefore, only subject to trial by a court martial, since they were still officers during the period.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday quizzed Abubakar Ahmad Sirika over an alleged N8.06 billion contract fraud in the Federal Ministry of Aviation.

Abubakar is the brother of immediate-past Minister Hadi Sirika, believed to have awarded the contracts to his sibling.

Abubakar’s arrest on Sunday was part of the ongoing probe of alleged fraudulent practices in the Ministry of Aviation during the tenure of the ex-minister.

EFCC is probing allegations of conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, contract inflation, criminal breach of trust and money laundering.

Of the contract sum, about N3, 212,258,930.18 has been traced to Engirios Nigeria Limited, owned by Abubakar, who is a Level-16 officer, a deputy director, in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

It was learnt that four big contracts were awarded to Abubakar’s Engirios Nigeria Limited when his brother was in charge of the ministry.

According to EFCC investigators, Abubakar Sirika is listed as the company’s Managing Director (MD)/Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Besides, it was found out that he is the sole signatory to the two accounts linked to the firm with two banks.

The four contracts the ex-minister awarded to his brother are:

• Construction of the Terminal Building in Katsina Airport (N1,345,586,500.00);
• Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre in Katsina Airport (N3, 811,497,685.00);
• Procurement and installation of elevators, air conditioners and power generator house in Aviation House, Abuja (N615,195,275.000);
• Procurement of Magnus Aircraft and simulator for Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria (N2, 296,897, 404.00).

A top official of the anti-graft agency said: “In connection with the ongoing probe of the Ministry of Aviation during Hadi Sirika’s tenure, EFCC’s crack team was able to uncover four contracts, worth about N8,069,176,864.00, which were not executed.

“The sum was for four aviation contracts from the former minister to Engirios Nigeria Limited, owned by his sibling.

“While profiling the contracts, there was a payment of N3,212,258,930.18 out of the total contract sum to Engirios Nigeria Limited, which is owned by the younger brother of the ex-Minister of Aviation.

“Apart from being listed as the company’s MD/CEO, Abubakar is the sole signatory to the company’s two accounts.

“Investigators further discovered that upon the receipt of the payment, Abubakar allegedly transferred it to different companies and individuals.

“There is no trace of work done on any of the contract items to date.

“These developments led to the arrest and detention of Abubakar on Sunday by the EFCC.

“He was grilled for several hours yesterday. He is providing the commission with additional useful information on the financial activities of the Aviation Ministry under the supervision of his elder brother.”

It was learnt that the contract awards and the timelines were between August 2022 and May 2023.

A document obtained by The Nation reads in part: “It is suspected that the ex-Minister, Hadi Sirika awarded the contracts to his brother Abubakar, knowing that he is a senior civil servant, working since 2000.

“The first of the controversial contracts awarded to Engirios Nigeria Limited was on August 18, 2022, for the construction of the Terminal Building in Katsina Airport.

“The second was awarded on November 3, 2022, for the establishment of the Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre in Katsina Airport.

“The third contract was on February 3, 2023, for the procurement and installation of elevators, air conditioners and power generator’s house in Aviation House, Abuja.