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Communities In Oil-rich Niger Delta Poorest In Nigeria – Report

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A new report by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has shown that towns in the Niger Delta live in deplorable conditions.

The findings do not corroborate the enormous wealth derived from locations in the region where the Nigerian government generates majority of its revenue.

The 82-page report SERAP launched on Wednesday in Lagos is titled: ‘We Are All Vulnerable Here: How Lack of Transparency and Accountability is Fuelling Human Rights Violations in the Niger Delta’.

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The report, presented by Dr. Olubunmi Afinowi of the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos (UNILAG), stressed that “communities in the Niger Delta remain the poorest in the country”.

The academic decried that the South-South “remains deeply in the grips of squalor, poverty, and environmental degradation”.

The report shows corruption contributing to poverty and consequential suffering of many people in the Niger Delta.

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SERAP said the right of the people to a clean, safe and healthy environment is routinely violated and abused by the government and oil companies.

“Social, economic, and environmental degeneration has largely affected the lifestyles and wellbeing of the people. Also apparent is the continued disregard and abuse of the human rights of the people”, the group noted.

In his reaction, Femi Falana, SAN, declared that management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by interim administrators was illegal.

Falana advised the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, to advise President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently reconstitute the NDDC board of directors.

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The lawyer said since the appointment of interim administrators is unknown to the NDDC Act, the contracts awarded by them are null and void.

The rights activist called on the government to release the report of the forensic audit of the NDDC to enable communities to demand accountability from contractors who collected funds but abandoned projects.

The event was attended by Speaker of Cross River House of Assembly, John Etim; ICPC Chairman, represented by Dr Grace Chinda; NEITI Executive Secretary, represented by Kareem Lamidi; Dina Sabi, Second Secretary, Embassy of Netherlands.

Director-General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), represented by Egbe Ekpe; AGF Malami represented by Barrister Raji Rasaki; NHRC Executive Secretary, represented by Saliu Musa; Niger Delta leaders, among others.

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READ ALSO: SERAP Writes INEC, Seeks Details Of Safeguards On Privacy, Security Of Election Data

SERAP urged President Buhari to instruct the Ministries of Niger Delta, Humanitarian Affairs, and other agencies overseeing the NDDC to publish the 2021 forensic report on NDDC.

The organization urged the National Assembly to ensure that the relevant committees collaborate to initiate enquiries and fact-finding on how public funds have been spent by government parastatals.
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JUST IN: Court Stops Police, SSS, Military From Evicting Emir Sanusi

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The Kano High Court sitting on Miller Road has stopped the police, the State Security Service (SSS) and Nigerian military from evicting the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, who was recently reinstated.

Granting the order, Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu of the Kano High Court also restrained the security agencies from arresting or harassing the emir and his kingmakers.

The judge held “that an order of interim injunction is hereby granted restraining the Respondents either by themselves, their agents, privies, representative, and assigns from further harassing, intimidating.inviting, arresting and or invading the personal or official residence of the Applicants (Gidan Rumfa);

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READ ALSO: JUST IN: Federal High Court Orders Emir Sanusi’s Eviction; State Court Halts Enforcement

“…his servants and or any of the Kano Emirate kingmakers of doing such acts that would be capable of interfering with the Applicants’ rights generally in relation to this suit pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

“That an order of interim injunction is hereby granted restraining the Respondents from attempting to hijack, pick, commandeer, confiscate any of twin spear of authority, the Royal Hat of Dabo, the Ostrich-feathered shoes, the knife and sword of the Emir of Kano as well as symbols of authority pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

“That an order of interim injunction is hereby made restraining the Respondents from taking further steps in connection with the matter or maintaining status quo of staying all action pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

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“That it is further ordered that the Respondents are restraining from interfering with the functions, duties of the 1″ Applicant as the Emir of Kano pending the hearing and determination of the mation on notice dated 28 May, 2024.”

The case was filed by the emir alongside the four kingmakers of Kano: Madakin Kano Yusuf Nabahani; Makaman Kano Ibrahim Sarki Abdullahi; Sarkin Bai Mansur Adnan and Sarkin Dawaki Maituta Bello Tuta.

The motion on notice is adjourned to June 13, 2024 for hearing.

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Recall that Justice Aliyu had ordered for the eviction of the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero from the Nassarawa mini palace on Monday.

 

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JUST IN: Federal High Court Orders Emir Sanusi’s Eviction; State Court Halts Enforcement

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A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has ordered the eviction of the reinstated Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, from Gidan Rumfa Palace.

The court also ordered the police to ensure all rights and privileges due to the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Bayero be given to him.

Recall that the Emir Bayero was deposed last week following the passage of amended Kano Emirate council bill into law and its eventual assent by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

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The presiding judge, Justice S. A. Amobeda, who gave the exparte order on Tuesday stated that the order wqs made in the interest of justice and maintenance of peace in Kano.

The order states, “An order of interim injunction restraining the Respondents either by themselves, their agents, servants, privies or any other person or authority from inviting, arresting, detaining, threatening, intimidating, harassing the Applicant, raiding, tempering with;

READ ALSO: Nigerian Arrested For Cocaine Possession In Malawi

“…or visiting the Applicant’s in order to arrest or infringe on his right or in any other way infringe or attempt to infringe the Applicant’s rights pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Motion.

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“An order restraining the 3th, 4th and 5th Respondents and all other Respondents from denying the applicant to use his official residence and palace at the Emir’s Palace, Kofar Kudu;

“…as well as enjoyment of all rights and privileges accrued to him by virtue of being Emir of Kano State and to evicting anything, anybody residing within the palace illegally pending the hearing and the determination of the originating summons.”

The suit was adjourned to June 4, 2024 for hearing.

This is coming shortly after a state high court presided over by Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu granted order restraining eviction of Emir Sanusi II.

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The judge held “that an order of interim injunction is hereby granted restraining the Respondents either by themselves, their agents, privies, representative, and assigns from further harassing, intimidating.inviting, arresting and or invading the personal or official residence of the Applicants (Gidan Rumfa);

“…his servants and or any of the Kano Emirate kingmakers of doing such acts that would be capable of interfering with the Applicants’ rights generally in relation to this suit pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

READ ALSO: Delta Police Arrest Suspected Robbers, Cultist

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“That an order of interim injunction is hereby granted restraining the Respondents from attempting to hijack, pick, commandeer, confiscate any of twin spear of authority, the Royal Hat of Dabo, the Ostrich-feathered shoes, the knife and sword of the Emir of Kano as well as symbols of authority pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

“That an order of interim injunction is hereby made restraining the Respondents from taking further steps in connection with the matter or maintaining status quo of staying all action pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

“That it is further ordered that the Respondents are restraining from interfering with the functions, duties of the 1″ Applicant as the Emir of Kano pending the hearing and determination of the mation on notice dated 28 May, 2024.”

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Police Arrest Four Soldiers, Others Over Truck Hijacking, Stealing In Rivers

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The Police Command in Rivers has arrested a 13-member criminal gang that specialises in hijacking articulated vehicles carrying goods.

The suspects include four Nigerian Army personnel, an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and eight civilians.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said in a statement in Port Harcourt on Tuesday that the suspects had been implicated in several armed robbery attacks in the state.

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She said that the command first received reports of the gang’s activities on March 4.

“The command received a distress call around 11 p.m. regarding burglars attempting to vandalise warehouses in Elimbgu community, Rivers.

“Upon receiving the call, the command promptly mobilised to the scene and arrested five suspects who had been severely beaten by a mob.

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“The injured suspects were immediately taken to the police hospital, and thereafter, investigation began,” she said.

Iringe-Koko mentioned that in the course of investigation, it was discovered that one of the suspects, West Isaac (08NA/61/2653), was a Corporal in the Nigerian Army serving in Delta.

She said that another suspect named Jabila Kammangar, with the nickname Kaka, was also identified as an NSCDC officer serving in Kabba, Kogi.

“Both the soldier and NSCDC officer confessed to abandoning their posts to partake in criminal activities in Rivers,” she added.

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The police officer further said that West, a 36-year-old father of four, joined the army in 2008 and was assigned to the 3 Battalion, Warri.

READ ALSO: Police Arrest Delta Poly Accountant For Possession Of Arms, Others

She said that investigation revealed that West sought and was granted sick leave but overstayed it about one month before his arrest.

“West told investigators that he met Kammangar while serving in the army’s anti-bunkering unit and that they have been engaging in various unlawful acts.

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“He mentioned that he travelled to Port Harcourt at Kammangar’s request for the warehouse raid that led to their apprehension.

“Further probing revealed that West and Kammangar were part of a larger criminal network specialising in armed robbery, hijacking, and diversion of goods,” she said.

Iringe-Koko alleged that West confessed to police officers that the criminal syndicate included other army personnel.

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According to her, the gang also collaborates with a network of informants who supply them with details about the schedules of truck-bearing goods.

She said that the suspects, who always dressed in full military gear during operations, used intelligence from their informants to locate the movement of target trucks.

They will intercept the truck with their Toyota Hilux van, beat, and intimidate the drivers before diverting the trucks to already waiting receivers,” she said.

Iringe-Koko said that three other army personnel, Abdul Musa (13 NA/70/10545), Mgbe Jeoffrey (16 NA/75/6896), and Innocent Okwoli (12 NA/68/6552), were apprehended following West’s revelations.

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She said that the four soldiers had been dismissed by the Nigerian Army and handed over to the police for further inquiry and legal action.

The police spokesperson further said that eight civilian collaborators of the gang were arrested in the process.

She said that a man identified as Okwoli, stationed at Intel Logistics, Onne, Rivers, was identified as the gang’s key coordinator.

The police image maker said that Okwoli and his associates successfully hijacked a trailer carrying fertilisers valued at N25 million, belonging to Alhaji Sadiq Adams, on Feb. 17.

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“In February 2024, the group intercepted and diverted a 40-foot container loaded with imported clothing from China, while on March 4, they attempted to burgle warehouses belonging to Emmanuel Nwagwu and Ndifreke Ekanem.

“In February, the gang commandeered a truck transporting POP cement, but the police was able to recover the goods.

“We are also making efforts to retrieve a trailer load of fertiliser from their accomplices. The white Toyota Hilux used in their operations has been recovered from the NSCDC officer,” she disclosed.

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She said that the Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu, commended the military for their cooperation and affirmed the command’s commitment to ensuring effective prosecution.

(NAN)

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