Headline

IPOB: Soludo Under Attack As Plan To Release Nnamdi Kanu Backfires

Published

1 year ago

January 22, 2023

A week after calling for the release of the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has come under attack by prominent Igbo leaders and groups.

Soludo had while speaking at the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, campaign rally in Awka, a week ago, admitted that Kanu was central to the resolution of the insecurity devastating the South East and urged the FG to release the separatist leader unconditionally.

He had assured that if Kanu could not be released unconditionally, he would stand surety for him.

Kanu has been in detention since his repatriation from Kenya in June 2021. The FG has refused to release him despite multiple court orders.

Recall that the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja had on October 13, discharged Kanu of all counts of terrorism charges preferred against him by the government.

This is after the UN Working Group on Human Rights and Arbitrary Detention, had in July, directed the FG to immediately and unconditionally release the IPOB leader from the unlawful detention and pay him adequate compensation for the flagrant violation of his human rights.

The international body also indicted the Kenyan and Nigerian for the unlawful abduction, torture, rendition, and continued detention of Kanu.

Soludo is a coward —Ohanaeze Youth

The Ohanaeze Youth Council, OYC, the apex socio-cultural youth organization of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, yesterday, described Soludo’s call for the release of Nnamdi Kanu as an insult to Ndigbo and a mockery of the self-determination struggle by the IPOB.

The OYC, through its National President, Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, said Soludo’s call was a mere political statement to excite people, noting that his words could not be taken seriously.

According to him, the governor’s outburst was a mere show-up which lacked executive honour.

He said: “It’s not in the blood of an Igbo man to be a coward. If Soludo is not a coward, he could have respected his office and paid a special visit to President Mohammadu Buhari and demanded the release of Kanu like Chief Mbazulike Amaechi did.

“Soludo has demonstrated cowardice. Soludo could bring out his time and write a volume of pages about how Peter Obi will not make it for the Presidency, but he couldn’t make out the same time to write to Mr President why they should obey the court order and release Nnamdi Kanu.

“I am still waiting when the Anambra governor should show bravery like a man, put down in writing why Nnamdi Kanu should be released and summon the courage to visit President Buhari and secure the release of Kanu”.

‘Laundering battered image’

Similarly, Igbo youths under the aegis of Coalition of South East Youths Leaders, COSEYL, picked holes in Soludo’s volunteering to surety the detained IPOB leader saying the offer was not borne out of pure motive.

President General of COSEYL, Comrade Goodluck Ibe, told Sunday Vanguard that the former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, boss only wanted to use Kanu to possibly launder his battered image following his recent unwarranted media attacks on the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr. Peter Obi.

He argued that instead of volunteering to stand surety for Kanu, Soludo should rather be mounting pressure on the government to comply with the court judgements which ordered the unconditional release of the IPOB leader.

“The demand is not borne out of a genuine desire to defend Igbo interest but to enhance his political interest. Soludo just wants to use Nnamdi Kanu for political advantage and to launder his image”, he asserted.

Soludo not sincere —INC

Igbo National Council, INC, through its National President, Chilos Godsent, on its part, stated that Soludo was not sincere in his demand for the IPOB leader’s release.

According to INC, Soludo’s action was an attempt to repair his alleged battered image in Anambra State.

He stressed that Kanu had since been discharged and acquitted by a competent court and there was no need for anybody to beg for his release.

The pro-Igbo group said: “The INC views the demand as a political strategy for Soludo to regain his bartered political image and reputation.

“Nigerians will recall that Soludo has lost popularity and acceptance in his state and South East since his open opposition against the candidature of Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP.

“Soludo is not sincere. His call is part of his media populist strategy to deceive the Igbo Nation and Nigerians at large.”

Call unnecessary — Okeke, ex-PSC boss

For Chief Simon Okeke, a former Chairman of the Police Service Commission, PSC, the call by the Anambra governor was unnecessary since he has been discharged and acquitted by the court.

He, however, agreed with Soludo that Kanu’s release would ensure peaceful elections in the South-East as IPOB is not against the election in the region.

“Soludo’s readiness to sign surety for the release of Kanu is unnecessary since he has been discharged and acquitted by the court. The continued detention of Kanu is a breach of fundamental human rights because he has been discharged and acquitted of all charges.

“So Nnamdi Kanu should be released without further delay, that is my view and it should be the view of every responsible and peace-loving Nigerian, I believe strongly that his release will ensue peaceful election in South East as IPoB is not against elections in the region”, he stated.

FG’s silence worrisome — Okoro

Meanwhile, Professor Okee Okoro of the Department of Library and Information Science, Imo State University, Owerri, expressed dismay over the silence of the FG on Soludo’s request.

He said: “As a premier governor statesman, it is unbelievable that the government remained askance and adamant to Soludo’s presentation. We urge the FG to respect the judgements of courts of competent jurisdictions; pleas of well-meaning persons across the globe; appeals by ebullient individuals and stakeholders as a way of restoring peace in the South-East and Nigeria”.

Welcome development — Ezeife

But for a former governor of Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Soludo’s demand was a welcome development and a call that should be fully supported by other Igbo leaders.

According to Ezeife, the cases against Kanu “have been quashed. We, therefore, beg President Buhari to release the IPOB leader, especially and because of the 2023 election, and for it to go well in South East and for people not to be afraid of coming out to vote.”
VANGUARD

Headline

Sad Story: Nigerian Who Relocated To UK In 2022 Beat Wife To Death With Skateboard

Published

5 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Editor

A United Kingdom-based Nigerian man, Olubunmi Abodunde, has beaten his wife, Taiwo, to death with their son’s skateboard, Daily Mail reports.

The couple, who had three children, arrived in the UK from Nigeria in 2022 and always clashed over alleged affairs and arguments about bills.

According to the news platform, 48-year-old Abodunde had been repeatedly investigated by Suffolk Police about domestic violence and was due to go on trial for murder but changed his plea to guilty on Wednesday after a jury had been sworn in.

During the abuse, officers heard ‘a number of bangs’ inside the house, which Abodunde had gone into, despite bail conditions imposed the day before that banned him from the property following another violent episode.

When they finally entered 25 minutes later, they found the wife, 41-year-old Taiwo, with her ‘skull smashed in’.

However, Judge Martyn Levett, sitting at Ipswich Crown Court, warned him the only possible sentence was life imprisonment.

Suffolk Constabulary has referred itself to the Independent Office of Police Conduct, which confirmed three officers were under investigation.

An IOPC spokesman said, “We advised two Suffolk officers that they are under investigation for potential breaches of the police standards of professional behaviour at the level of gross misconduct.

“We advised another officer that they are under investigation at the level of misconduct.”

Abodunde had a history of jealousy and suspicion and accused his wife of having affairs. He had been investigated by police a number of times over alleged domestic violence incidents before his wife’s death.

He was arrested on April 27 last year when police arrived at the couple’s home in Newmarket, Suffolk, and found Mrs Abodunde with a split lip.

Later that day, he was freed on police bail with the condition that he stayed away from the marital home and didn’t approach his wife.

But after working a night shift at Tesco, he went home just after 9 am to allegedly pick up his mobile phone.

Two officers arrived at 9.20 am to take a statement from Mrs Abodunde about the previous night’s incident and heard repeated banging noises inside.

But it wasn’t until 9.55 am that they forced their way in after getting approval from senior officers and found Mrs Abodunde ‘obviously dead’ near the front door.

A post-mortem examination later showed she had been throttled until she fell unconscious, then stamped on until her ribs were broken before her husband used the skateboard to finish her off. The blows were so violent that the skateboard was damaged.

Prosecutor Simon Spence KC told the court the banging officers heard was likely to have been Abodunde continuing to attack his wife after she was unconscious or dead.

Mrs Abodunde had a job as a care home assistant in Cambridge, but her husband, who had trained as a civil engineer, was unable to find work in his profession and took shifts at Tesco and Wickes.

After his arrest for the murder, Abodunde was taken to hospital “because he appeared to have some sort of mental episode”.

He later claimed in a police statement he had acted in self-defence, saying, “My wife has subjected me to physical abuse for a number of years.

“On November 28, we got into an argument. She ran at me with a knife, I grabbed the knife and cut my hand. I was defending myself.”

But the court heard while he did have an injury to his hand, there wasn’t a knife near his wife’s body.

Nneka Akudolu KC, defending, said the level of violence was ‘completely out of character’ for her client and might have been affected by medication he was taking. But she said no medical evidence would be provided to support this claim.

Detective Inspector Dan Connick, of Suffolk Police, said after the hearing, “This was an awful attack on a woman that has had a lasting impact on the community and, most importantly, on the victim’s family.

‘We are pleased that Taiwo’s family will no longer have to go through the pain of a trial.

‘Our thoughts remain with Taiwo’s family and friends and hope this result will bring some small comfort to them.’

Taiwo Abodunde worked for Cambridge Manor Care Home, which provides dementia care and residential and respite care.

A spokesman for the facility, which is owned by TLC Care, said: ‘We are all deeply shaken and upset by the tragic death of Taiwo, who was a much-loved member of our home community.

‘Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with her family. Taiwo always cared for those we support with compassion and kindness, and she will be greatly missed by all of us and our residents.’

Abodunde was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on May 9.

Headline

GWR: Ghanian Student Sets New Record For Hugging 1,123 Trees In One Hour

Published

8 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Editor

A 29-year-old Ghanaian environmental activist and forestry student, Abubakar Tahiru, has etched his name in the Guinness Book of World Records by hugging 1,123 trees in one hour.

The Guinness World Record announced this on Friday, adding that Tahiru’s accomplishment not only makes him the record holder but also the first person to ever hold this title as he “easily surpassed the minimum requirement of 700.”

The event was said to have taken place at the Tuskegee National Forest in Alabama, USA, where he embraced nearly 19 trees per minute.

According to GWR, Tahiru grew up in a farming community in Tepa, Ghana, where he developed a keen interest in nature and its conservation.

After completing his undergraduate degree specialising in forestry at one of Ghana’s top universities, he moved to Alabama last year to begin his master’s degree in forestry at Auburn University.

Describing the challenge, GWR disclosed that a successful tree hug is defined as both arms wrapped around a tree in a close embrace. No tree may be hugged more than once, and no damage can be caused to any tree, or else the attempt is disqualified.

It further stated that Tahiru attempted this challenge while he was fasting during Ramadan, preventing him from drinking water despite the strenuous activity.

He also had to move quickly between trees while ensuring that each hug met the required standards.

Speaking with GWR, Tahiru said, “Not being able to drink water throughout the attempt posed a significant challenge, especially given the physical exertion required.

“However, this also proved to be helpful in a way, as there was no need to pause for water breaks, allowing me to continue the attempt uninterrupted from start to finish.

“Achieving this world record feels incredibly rewarding.”

Headline

LIST: 25 Countries Where TikTok Is Banned

Published

8 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Editor

United States President Joe Biden recently signed a bill that could potentially result in the ban of TikTok in the US if its Chinese-owned parent company, ByteDance, fails to sell it within a year.

US lawmakers are concerned about the potential national security risks associated with the app, particularly if the Chinese government were to gain access to the data it collects.

Many countries have taken action to limit or ban TikTok, citing worries about privacy, security, or ethical issues.

Different approaches have been taken by various countries, with some implementing comprehensive restrictions and others focusing on particular features of the app or a partial ban on government devices.

Here is a list of countries that have implemented various forms of restrictions:

Countries with a complete ban

China

TikTok’s international version is not accessible within China. Instead, users are required to download Douyin, the Chinese counterpart of TikTok, which is subject to strict content control by the Chinese Communist Party.

Senegal

Senegal implemented a complete ban on the application following allegations that an opposition candidate had utilised the platform to disseminate “hateful and subversive messages.” The Senegalese government has declined to restore the app until a system is created that enables them to delete individual accounts.

Somalia

The Somali government officially outlawed TikTok, Telegram, and 1XBet, an online betting platform, in August 2023.

North Korea

Access to the internet is heavily restricted for the majority of North Korean citizens. While a select few websites and apps are allowed for the privileged elite, TikTok is not included in this list.

Afghanistan

In April 2022, the Taliban government decided to ban TikTok, citing concerns about its influence on young people.

India

India banned TikTok in 2020, including on personal devices, following a border clash between China and India in 2020. The ban was prompted by concerns about data theft and the government’s claim that certain apps were stealing. Many creators migrated to YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels.

Iran

TikTok, along with other globally popular social media platforms like X and Facebook, has been banned by the Islamic Republic.

Uzbekistan

Since July 2021, TikTok has been inaccessible in Uzbekistan due to the authorities’ claim that the app does not adhere to the country’s personal data protection laws.

Countries with a partial ban on TikTok

Indonesia

In October 2023, Indonesia took action against TikTok Shop, a feature of the app that enables creators to sell products to their followers, due to its violation of the country’s e-commerce laws.

Kyrgyzstan

In August 2023, the small country, which was once part of the Soviet Union, decided to ban TikTok. The government justified this action by stating that the application harmed the growth and well-being of children.

Russia

There are limitations on the content that Russians can access on TikTok, resulting in a primary focus on videos created by Russian users. Recent reports indicate that the Russian government is planning to prohibit the use of TikTok, to promote the adoption of local social media platforms among its citizens.

Countries with bans on government-owned devices

In April 2023, the Australian government decided to ban TikTok on their devices. However, it remains accessible on devices owned by the general public.

Austria

In May 2023, TikTok was banned on all devices used by government employees in Austria.

Canada

On February 28, Canada banned the use of TikTok on all devices provided by the government because of concerns regarding privacy and security.

Denmark

In March 2023, Denmark’s Ministry of Defence decided to ban the use of the app on its employees’ work phones. Additionally, the country’s main public service broadcaster implemented specific protocols, requiring journalists to obtain special approval before using the app for reporting purposes. This action was taken in response to a warning from Denmark’s Centre for Cybersecurity.

Estonia

In March 2023, the use of TikTok on the work phones of state officials in Estonia was banned.

European Union

Employees of the European Parliament, European Commission, and E.U. Council are no longer allowed to have TikTok on their work phones, as the three main institutions of the E.U. implemented a ban.

France

In March of 2023, France banned the use of Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok on government employees’ mobile devices.

United Kingdom

In March 2023, the U.K. banned all government employees from using TikTok on government-provided mobile devices.

United States

The US military and US Congress have both taken action to block access to TikTok on all of their personnel’s devices.

Nearly half of the states have outright banned the app on state-owned devices, and in March 2023, the federal government followed suit.

Ireland

In April 2023, the Irish government implemented a ban on TikTok for use on government devices.

Belgium

The Belgian government announced in March 2024 the ban of the app on all government devices. TikTok remains accessible on devices not associated with government entities.

Taiwan

In December 2022, Taiwan implemented a ban on the usage of Chinese-made software, including TikTok, on all government devices. This decision came after a warning from the FBI.

Latvia

The Latvian Foreign Ministry banned the app from official company phones in March 2023.

Malta

In Malta, government-provided cell phones have restricted access to TikTok and other non-government applications.