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NBA Wants Curfew Reviewed In Edo, Alleges Police Extortion Of Innocent People

Published

3 years ago

March 21, 2021

The Benin branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called on Governor Godwin Obaseki for a review of the 10pm to 6am curfew imposed in the state as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, allegingbthat security agencies were using the opportunity to extort innocent persons.

A statement signed by the branch’s Chairman and Secretary, Pius Oiwoh and Andrew Lawani said the NBA has received several complaints about the attitude of policemen, alleging further that the security forces have turned it into an extortion ring and a huge money spinner.

The statement alleged that a matron who was conveying a diabetic student to St Philomena Hospital in Benin was detained by the police on Friday night until the intervention of the Deputy Governor, Comrade, Philip Shaibu “who had to personally come to the scene at Dawson, Akpakpava to facilitate movement of the matron and the patient to the hospital where they could access medical attention.

“Prior to this latest incident, we have had reports of some security personnel who detain pregnant women and their family members enroute labour wards and are only released after they have been extorted. The Commissioner of Police has been kind enough to intervene at the behest of the Bar in some of these very pathetic situations.

The statement cautioned the security personnel to be mindful of the fact that it was the several cases of injustices against people that triggered the #EndSARS protests last year.

But when contacted on phone, the Police Public Relations Officer, Kotongs Bello (SP) denied the allegation of extortion saying “the issue of the deputy governor is not an issue of extortion it is an issue that they stopped them from moving.

“There is a law set by the state government which we are enforcing when it is 10pm, except for reason of ill-health, there is no other reason that you are to move. When apprehended, you are taken to a mobile court where you will pay a fine for violating the law so it is not extortion, police are not doctors, if somebody is sick you have to seriously verify that the person is sick before the person can be considered.

“We are working by the directive of the governor through the Commissioner of Police, if you don’t want to be taken to a mobile court to pay a fine then don’t come out,” he added.

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Man, 38 Escapes Assassination Attempt In Benin

Published

9 months ago

July 22, 2023

Editor

Innocent Omoruyi

By Omokha Andrew

A 38-year-old activist, Innocent Omoruyi, narrowly escaped assassination in the early hours of Wednesday, July 19, 2023 as his residence at Obe Community,Sapele Road in Benin city was attacked by yet to be identified gun men.

The attack which eye witnesses say was viciously executed on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 bore the markings of a dreaded cult group terrorizing Benin City, the state capital.

The Obe, Sapale Road incident, it was learnt, happened soon after Omoruyi left the house to attend to matters of interest some few metres away from his home.

The assailants were said to have shot sporadically in their frustration as residents scampered for safety.

However, Omoruyi escaped unharmed.

One of the eye witnesses who craved anonymity said: “The felons apparently went for the kill, weilding guns and other dangerous weapons. “We are shocked that they didn’t see Innocent Omoruyi who was just some few metres away from home when they arrived”.

“How that happened, only God knows and it was obvious that it wasn’t his time to die yet and just before that not long ago his business place on Lagos Street, Benin City was burnt down in the middle of the night by unknown arsonists.

“This sequence of events is not ordinary. We know it’s politically motivated due to the role he played in the last general elections. He has been advised to go into hiding at the moment for his personal safety”, he concluded.

When contacted, the police Public Relations Officer Chidi Nwabuzor said he was yet to get any information as regards the latest incident. He promised to feed our correspondent with relevant details as soon as they become handy.

Our information source however revealed that the matter has already been incidented at the Love World Police station on Sapele Road, Benin city.

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Nigeria To Earn Over $4bn Revenue As FEC Okays Concession Of Abuja, Kano Airports

Published

11 months ago

May 18, 2023

Editor

Nigeria will earn over $4 billion in nominal revenue as the Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Wednesday okayed the concession of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, to the Corporacion American Airport Consortium, a Luxembourg-based company.

James Odaudu, the Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the Minister of Aviation, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

According to him, the Council also approved that the Federal Ministry of Aviation would be renamed the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace.

The statement noted that the company would make combined upfront payments of $8.5 million for the concession of NAIA and MAKIA.

He added that the development would spur evidential growth within the Nigerian aviation industry.

“In alignment with the Aviation Roadmap, approved by Mr President on 18th October 2016, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace is delighted to inform all stakeholders, both local and international, and the media, that the concession of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano has been approved by the Federal Executive Council,” the statement said.

In December 2022 and January 2023, Corporacion American Airport Consortium was announced as the preferred bidder for the airport’s concession after scaling through a series of evaluations of technical and financial bids.

Nominal revenues mean income not adjusted for inflation and decreasing purchasing power.

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Russia Expelled From Council Of Europe Amid War With Ukraine

Published

2 years ago

March 16, 2022

Editor

The Council of Europe says it has expelled Russia with immediate effect after 26 years of membership because of the Ukraine war.

The Committee of Ministers took the decision in a special session, the rights body announced in the French city of Strasbourg on Wednesday.

Earlier, Russia had already declared its withdrawal from the Council of Europe after it had taken steps to exclude it.

On Tuesday evening, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe voted unanimously in favour of Russia’s exclusion.

Russia joined the Council of Europe on Feb. 28, 1996.

Together with the formal notification of the withdrawal, the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe also received information from the Russian Federation on Tuesday about its intention to denounce the European Convention on Human Rights.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, the leaders of the Council of Europe once again condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

They expressed their solidarity with the Russian people, who continue to belong to the European family and share its values.

The body said it would continue to stand by Ukraine in the fight against the aggressor.

The Council of Europe monitors the observance of human rights in its 46 member states and is not part of the European Union.

The body reacted to the Russian invasion of Ukraine two weeks ago by suspending Russia’s membership, this decision was considered historic.