News
Security: NAF Inducts 117 Special Forces In Bauchi
Published
3 years agoon
By
Editor
The Nigerian Airforce on Friday, February 28 inducted no fewer than 117 Special Forces (SF) as part of its efforts to boosting security in the country.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony and Commissioning of ‘Obstacle Course and Rappelling Tower’ at Commando village, NAF base, Bauchi, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, said the security challenges in the country necessitated the training of more personnel as special operations operatives.
Abubakar, who was represented by Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Grand Training Command, Headquarters, Air Vice Marshal Idi Amin, said those operatives enable the force to achieve effects outside the perimeter and additional advantages to confront threats.
READ ALSO: Coronavirus: How To Protect Yourself Yourself – WHO
“As we all know, the contemporary security challenges we are currently witnessing, necessitated the training of more personnel as Special Operations operatives.
“These operatives enable us to achieve effects outside the perimeter thereby conferring upon us the necessary advantages to confront asymmetric threats,” he said
He said he had desired to transform the NAF into a highly professional force, through capacity building initiatives in response to security urgency in the country.
“I would like to note that since coming on board, I desired to transform the NAF into a highly professional and disciplined force through capacity building initiatives for effective, efficient and timely employment of airpower in response to our national security imperatives.
READ ALSO: Centre For Disease Control Reveals How To Be Safe From Coronavirus
“One of the key drivers of this vision hinges on human capacity development for improved professional performance,” Abubakar said.
The Chief of Air Staff further appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for priority attention given to the force, adding that the support provided by the Federal Government had positively impacted on the Nigerian Airforce.
He assured the President of the NAF unalloyed loyalty and reiterated its commitment to continuing to supporting the Federal Government in its policy thrust of providing security, improved economy and fighting corruption in the country.

Air Vice Marshal Idi Amin, Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Grand Training Command, Headquarters representing the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar
Earlier speaking, Commandant, Regiment Training Centre Annex Bauchi, Wing Commander Kehinde Akinyosade, said, in line with the vision of the Chief of Air Staff, NAF has completed the construction of a 23-course obstacle and rappel tower for the training of special operatives in Bauchi.
He revealed that the course is aimed at equipping trainees with the necessary skills, tactics and procedures required to function effectively as operatives in a NAF Special Operation Force unit.
READ ALSO: Supreme Court Judgement: Accept It In Good Fate, APC Begs Bayelsans
The commander also revealed that 275 personnel were initially nominated for the special forces screening, however, only 117 personnel comprising 7 officers and 110 airmen/airwomen were inaugurated.
He said 82 were reported to be medically unfit, 67 failed physical examination while nine voluntarily withdrew from the course.
You may like
-
Bauchi Enrollment In Public Schools Hits Over 2m
-
Analyst Blasts FG Over Persistent Insecurity In Nigeria
-
Insecurity: Avoid 12 Nigerian States, UK Advises Citizens [SEE LIST]
-
Inflation: Governors To Meet Buhari Over Economic Woes, Insecurity
-
Insecurity: Suspected Terrorists Arrested In Lagos
-
Insecurity: There Are Plans To Islamize Nigeria – Political Critic, Musa
News
Court Admits In Evidence Two Video Clips Supporting Obi’s Petition
Published
9 hours agoon
June 10, 2023By
Editor
The Presidential Election Petition Court admitted in evidence two video clips tendered by the Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in aid of his petition challenging the conduct and outcome of the February 25 presidential election.
At the resumed hearing on Friday evening, the petitioners, through their counsel, Jubril Okutekpa, SAN, informed the court that they had subpoenaed Channels Television to produce the recordings contained in two flash drives.
Okutekpa disclosed that two separate subpoenas, dated May 30 and June 6, were served on the TV station, which he said sent one of its staff members, to tender the requested evidence.
Justice Haruna Tsammani-led’s five-member panel admitted the subpoenas in evidence and marked them as Exhibits PBH-1 and PBH-2.
One of the flash drives is said to carry video clips of an interview that the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmoud Yakubu granted before the general elections, where he assured that the results of the election would be electronically transmitted in real-time.
READ ALSO: Presidential Tribunal: Peter Obi Tenders Results Of 8 More States In evidence
The other contains a press conference by a national commissioner of the commission, Festus Okoye, who reiterated the commitment of the body to electronically transmit the results.
In a move to present the content of the video clips in the open court, a senior reporter and editor at Channels TV, Lucky Obese-Alawode, was summoned to the witness box.
However, the respondents in the petition vehemently opposed the move by the petitioners.
Counsel to President Bola Tinubu, Akin Olujinmi, SAN, queried the competence of the witness on the grounds that his statement was not filed alongside the petition.
Relying on Paragraphs 4 (5) and (6) of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act 2022, Tinubu’s lawyer argued that the law is clear that a petition must be filed within 21 days after the declaration of the result of an election.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: ‘I Must be President Of Nigeria’ – Peter Obi Insists
He contended that the petitioners ought to have attached all the necessary documents as well as the list of witnesses they would call in support of their case at the time the petition was filed.
“A petition which fails to comply shall not be accepted, that is what the law says. My lords, it was after the proceeding started today that the statement of this witness was served on us.
“This is over three months after the declaration of the result of the election was made.
“This witness was not listed by the petitioners, and his statement was not attached to the petition. To that extent, he is not a competent witness who can testify before this court,” Tinubu’s lawyer insisted.
He contended that the petitioners were aware that they would rely on the said video recordings, at the time they filed the petition, yet did not attach it to the list of their documents.
Aligning with the disapproval by Olujimi, SAN, the INEC, through its lawyer, Kemi Pinhero, SAN, argued that Obi and LP should have listed the proposed evidence in their petition.
However, counsel for the petitioners, Okutekpa, SAN, contended that the witness was competent enough to testify as the subpoena was an order of the court that he had no command over.
The objections, notwithstanding, the panel admitted the two flash drives in evidence and marked them as Exhibits PBH-3 and PBH-4.
READ ALSO: Presidential Tribunal: Obi Tenders 136 Exhibits From Lagos, Edo, 4 Other States
Again, when the counsel to the petitioners applied for the contents of the flash drives to be played in the open court, the respondents disagreed except for the electoral commission which was indifferent.
Olujimi maintained that his client was not served with any copy of the flash drive.
He further stated that playing the video clips without his clients’ foreknowledge of their content could rob them of the right to a fair hearing.
He said, “This case is not hide and seek. We are entitled to be served with a copy so that we can know the content and be able to prepare. Until we are served, we will oppose allowing it to be played.”
On his part, the counsel for the All Progressives Congress, Solomon Umoh, SAN, said it would amount to an ambush for the petitioners to play the content of the flash drives without first serving the same on the respondents.
Ruling on the matter, the chairman of the five-man panel, Justice Tsammani, held that the position of the respondents is not prejudiced against playing the video clips but on their non-service beforehand.
However, for time constraints, Tsammani adjourned the matter to Saturday afternoon, June 10, for the video clips to be played in the open court.
PUNCH
News
10th NASS: South-West Caucus Writes PDP, Demands Minority Leader Position
Published
9 hours agoon
June 10, 2023By
Editor
Members-elect of the House from the South-West geopolitical zone on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party have demanded the position of Minority Leader in the coming 10th National Assembly.
The PDP caucus urged the national leadership of the opposition party to take the position from the South-South to the South-West.
The South-West caucus made the demand in a letter to the National Working Committee of the PDP, through the acting National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum, dated June 9, 2023, a copy of which our correspondent obtained on Friday.
It was titled ‘Appeal for Your Intervention on the Zoning of the Position of Minority Leader in the 10th Assembly of House of Representatives.’
READ ALSO: 10th NASS: 109 Senators-elect, 359 Reps-elect Take Oath Of Office Tuesday
The members-elect wrote, “We, the undersigned, being elected members of the House of Representatives from the South-West zone of the Federal Republic of Nigeria wish to respectfully invite Your Excellency to intervene on the issue of the zoning of the Minority Leader in the 10th Assembly, which is due for inauguration on Tuesday 13th June, 2023.
“Your Excellency will note that the position of the Minority Leader in the 8th and 9th Assembly of the House of Representatives was occupied by the Rt. Hon. Leo Ogor and Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, respectively, who were both from the South-South zone of the country. This is a cumulative period of eight successive years.
“We wish to also draw your attention to an agreement among members-elect of the minority caucus of the House of Representatives that the position of the Minority Leader should be ceded to the Southern part of the country for the next Assembly. It is, therefore, our considered view that in the interest of fairness, equity and justice, the South-West should be duly considered to fill this position of Minority Leader in the 10th Assembly of the House of Representatives. Apart from fulfilling the core values of inclusiveness and justice which our Party is noted for, this will also greatly boost the morale of our party members and help in the strengthening of our party in the zone and the country at large.
READ ALSO: NASS Passes Bill To Punish S3xual Offenders In Tertiary Institutions
“We assure Your Excellency and the entire leadership of our continuous loyalty and commitment to the growth, stability and progress of the Peoples Democratic Party. We thank you most sincerely for your support and pray that the Almighty God continues to guide you in the discharge of your responsibilities. Please, see the attached list of signatories to this very important request.”
News
NLC Vows To Fight Against “Black Market” Court Injunctions
Published
9 hours agoon
June 10, 2023By
Editor
The Nigeria Labour Congress, Friday night said it would no longer respect “black market” court injunctions. The congress said this following a recent court injunction obtained by the Federal Government to stop the organised labour from going on a strike to protest the removal of fuel subsidy.
The union in a statement signed by its national president, Joe Ajaero said, “We at the Nigeria Labour Congress are concerned by the frequent issuance of ex-parte injunctions restraining us from lawfully protesting against negative policies of government or employers in exercise of our right as contained in the provisions of ILO Conventions, Trade Union Act, Trade Dispute Act, the 1999 Constitution, the African Charter on Human Rights and other legal instruments.
“The latest of these injunctions was the order made by Honourable Justice O.Y. Anuwe in Suit No: NICN/ABJ/158/2023 between the Federal Government of Nigeria & Anor Vs. Nigeria Labour Congress & Anor. on the 5th day of June 2023 restraining NLC from protesting against the massive increase in the pump price of pms. We consider the frequency of these orders against the Congress an abuse and a violation of the pronouncement of the Supreme Court against frivolous use of ex parte.
READ ALSO: Man, 45, Arraigned For Roofing Wheets, Planks Theft
“More importantly, we consider these injunctions a violation of the extant laws aforementioned as well as an infringement of our right to lawful assembly and free speech.We are similarly concerned by the conduct of pliant Judges who often bend backward to accommodate the whims and caprices of the executive branch of government by way of granting frivolous injunctions which we shall hereinafter refer to as black market injunctions.
“We must warn that black market injunctions constitute inherent and present danger to the image of the judiciary as the judiciary risks being ignored. Given our experience, the greatest threat to the judiciary comes from within the judiciary by way of some compromised Judicial Officers.
“We are sounding a note of warning that any further black market or jankara injunction will not be respected by us. To show our capacity and resolve, we will show active resistance by picketing such a court.
READ ALSO: Man Steals N7m Cattle In Gombe
“We are also letting the public know that we have taken precipitate steps to vacate the extant injunction in question by briefing our lawyers.
“We wish to warn that when the citizenry lose faith in the judiciary, the probability of resorting to self-help could be quite high with unpredictable consequences.In light of these, we are calling on the Supreme Court and indeed NJC to speedily deal with erring Judges who issue frivolous injunctions.”

I Would Have Slapped Kwankwaso If I Met Him In Aso Rock – Ganduje Fumes

Troops Neutralize 6 Bandits, Recover Arms In Kaduna

Burna Boy Continues World Stage Onslaught

Communal Clash Claims Seven, Injures Scores In Delta

BREAKING: COVID-19 Heath Workers Block Hospital Management Board’s Entrance, Demand Payment Of Allowances In Edo

Edo Guber: ‘Oshiomhole’s Triumphant Entry Has Left You In Trauma, Demoralised,’ APC Mocks PDP
Trending
-
Business1 week ago
BREAKING: NNPCL Confirms Increase In Fuel Pump Price
-
Headline1 week ago
President Biden Falls On Air Force Stage
-
News6 days ago
Fuel Subsidy Removal: Embrace Bicycle – FRSC Urges Nigerians
-
Metro7 days ago
JUST IN:Yahaya Bello Escapes Death As Gunmen Attack His Convoy, Injure Security Aides
-
Headline3 days ago
Tragedy As Nigerian Woman Of Four Shot Dead By US Neighbour Over Children’s Disagreement
-
News6 days ago
EFCC Seals Off Abuja, Rivers Properties Of Delta Federal Lawmaker-elect Over Corruption Allegations
-
Headline6 days ago
Sweden Declares S3x As Sport, To Hold First Competition Thursday
-
News5 days ago
BREAKING: Federal High Court Restrains NLC, TUC From Embarking On Strike