There’ll be uproar if truth about Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest comes out —Soyinka by Sodiq Oyeleke

Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, has warned that there will be a “huge squawk” if the truth is known about how the Federal Government arrested the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu was arrested becomes known. He said this during a recent interview with BBC Pidgin. The eminent professor asked the federal government to show eagerness in arresting bandits and terrorists. He said, “It’s not for me to tell the president to prepare itself because it’s going to be a huge squawk when the truth about how Kanu was arrested comes out. People are alleging this or that. That is one phase whether Nigeria has acted outside international law. “The second issue, however, has to do with Kanu’s conduct outside the nation. There’s been a level of hate rhetoric which has been unfortunate, from Kanu. Hate rhetoric is an issue that can only be judged by the laws of any nation. “Was it right ‘to have been kidnapped?’ You can say intercepted as much as you want but I think Kanu was kidnapped. That is wrong internationally and morally. “The government can not wash itself clean on what seems to be a kind of comparative energy in pursuing the destabilised forces in the nation,” he said. “If we take ourselves back, once when I threw a challenge to Buhari, what I expect from a true leader is to issue an order, give a deadline that any illegal occupant of any villages, farms is given 48hours to quit after which the mighty forces of the nation will be unleashed on them. It was ignored. “Years later, he came to say ‘we will respond to these people in the language they understand’. This is what I expected him to have said years ago, at the beginning of the insurgency. “Their leadership–the Miyetti Allah — should have been arrested years ago, long before IPOB was declared a terrorist organisation.” Kanu, who is facing an 11-count charge of treason, treasonable felony, terrorism and illegal possession of firearms, among others, jumped bail in 2017 and left the country. The former London estate agent disappeared in 2017 after being released on bail, only to re-emerge in Israel and then in the United Kingdom. He was re-arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday and ordered to be remanded in the custody of the DSS, while the case was adjourned till July 26 and July 27. The Federal Government said security and intelligence agencies were on the trail of Kanu for over two years before he was re-arrested, adding that the head of the outlawed IPOB movement was detained again on Sunday – without giving details on the location of his arrest. Kanu was initially arrested in late 2015 after calling for a separate state for Biafra, in South-East Nigeria. His detention sparked mass protests and clashes with security services. Election offices have also been attacked by suspected members of the group. However, IPOB – which agitates for a separate Igbo state – has denied being behind the violence, accusing the government of a smear campaign.

Nigerian-born footballer shot dead after killing neighbour in UK —Police Sodiq Oyeleke

Police in the United Kingdom have said that a Nigerian-born footballer, Odichukumma Kelvin Igweani, was gunned down after killing a neighbour. UK-based newspapers, DailyMail and TheSUN quoted the police as alleging that the 24-year-old Nigerian also held a toddler captive. The police said Richard Woodcock, a 38-year-old council highways officer had raced to help after hearing screams during a domestic dispute at the first-floor property when he was killed by the footballer. The security agency also claimed that Woodcock body was found on the floor of Igweani flat in Milton Keynes, Bucks. David Bannister from The Independent Office for Police Conduct told Milton Keynes Coroner’s Court that the young footballer was shot four times and a taser was discharged. Igweani, known as Kelvin, was pronounced dead at the scene and Mr Woodcock died of head injuries. “The toddler remains in a life-threatening condition in hospital,” the IOPC said today. Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Blaik told a linked inquest into both deaths that officers had been called by neighbours to an “ongoing disturbance” at about 9.40 am on Saturday, June 26. He said, “Neighbours reported hearing a female screaming and shouting for help. A female and young child managed to flee the address prior to police arrival. “Richard Woodcock from the neighbouring property had gone to the address to help save a young boy as it was believed he was still in the property and at risk of significant harm.” He added: “Having had to force entry, the officers immediately saw a deceased male, who has now been identified as Richard Woodcock, on the floor and were also aware of a distressed young child within the address.” DCI Blaik told the brief hearing, attended by Richard’s widow and family members: “As entry was gained another male, now known to be Kelvin Igweani, immediately became aggressive towards the officers. “A Taser was discharged but this was ineffective, and Igweani barricaded himself within the main bedroom. “A child could be heard crying along with sounds of an ongoing assault. Entry was gained to the bedroom at which point a police firearm was discharged. “Police officers and ambulance staff gave immediate first aid but Kelvin Igweani was declared deceased at 10.33hrs.” A post mortem examination performed by Dr Lockyer showed that Mr Woodcock died from traumatic head injuries. DCI Blaik added the Kelvin Igweani is suspected of his murder and the serious assault of the young male child within the address. “It is understood that Kelvin’s mental health had been deteriorating in the weeks preceding this incident,” he said. The sportsman’s devastated parents were in court, accompanied by a lawyer, to hear how their son was slain by officers in his home in Milton Keynes, Bucks, on Saturday morning. Mr Bannister told how police had been called to a “domestic incident” at about 9.40am on June 26 at a block of flats in Denmead, Two Mile Ash, on the outskirts of the town. He said, “Thames valley Police received a 999 call after reports of a domestic incident. A double armed auto response was deployed to the scene. “On their way they were informed that another male was injured and a child was at risk. “Officers forced entry and they immediately came across a deceased male. They were confronted by Mr Igweani. A taser was deployed but it was ineffective. “Mr Igweani moved into another room and closed the door. He was in the room with a young child. Officers believed Mr igweani was harming the child and forced entry. “One officer fired four shots at him and a taser was also discharged. He was pronounced dead at 10.39.” Igweani died from gunshot wounds to the chest. His body was formally identified by his family. In a statement, his family said, “We have always been so proud of Richard and everything that he has achieved in life. “We are devastated that Richard has been taken from us in such circumstances but we are also so immensely proud of the sacrifice that he has made to try and save a little boy’s life. “His actions on Saturday morning were the type of man he was and that is how we would like him remembered. “A lot of people loved Richard, probably more than he ever realised, and he will be a huge loss to all of his friends, family and work colleagues.” His wife, who has not been named, said, “Richard, it has been a blessing to share my life with you, my dearest friend, my biggest love, my soul mate. My kind, generous, funny, clever, cheeky husband. “Thank you for loving me and being the best father to our children. I’ll love you and cherish our time together forever.”

Group assembles Yoruba lawyers for Igboho’s aides, Lagos protesters by Olufemi Olaniyi

The Ilana Omo Oodua has said it is assembling senior Yoruba lawyers to ensure the release of aides of Chief Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho, arrested during the raid by the Department of State Services on the activist’s house. Igboho, who is a promoter of the Yoruba Nation, has gone underground following the invasion on Thursday, during which the secret police said it killed two persons and 13. Speaking with our correspondent on Sunday, the Communication Secretary of the Ilana Omo Oodua, Mr Maxwell Adeleye, said the group which is being led by a renowned historian, Prof Banji Akintoye, would not abandoned Igboho and others. The group’s spokesman also said the group would make sure that those arrested during the Yoruba Nation rally held in Lagos on Saturday were released. He said Igboho’s aides did not commit any crime just like the protesters also did not violate any law by their actions. Adeleye said, “The counsel for Igboho, Chief Yomi Aliu (SAN), has written the DSS, Inspector General of Police. “Igboho is a law abiding person and he has not violated any law. None of his family member was attacked by herdsmen but his love for his people made him to rise up to speak for Yoruba people who are being oppressed in their land. He never killed anyone, but he is being hunted while tknown criminals are being pampered. “Igboho has debunked the claims of the DSS. He said the weapons displayed by the DSS did not belong to him. He said two guns were taken away from his house and the two guns belong to the police orderlies of his guests. He said other things were not from his house. “Ilana Omo Oodua is with Igboho and we are going to stand by him. Those arrested at his house will be released very soon. We are working on that. After all, they did not find them with guns or anything incriminating. Their only offence is that they were at Igboho’s house and I don’t know when that became an offence. “What is the off made of Lady K, she is a blogger who was reporting the action live. She lives in Igboho house and I don’t know if that is a crime.” “Nigerian government will be surprised by the number of senior Yoruba lawyers that will represent them. We won’t tell you their names and their number now because we won’t discuss all our strategies publicly.” PUNCH.

PIB: Dangote refinery, others to buy crude in naira Femi Asu

Holders of refining licences in the country can pay for domestic crude oil supply in naira, according to the Petroleum Industry Bill passed by the National Assembly on Thursday. Companies holding refining licences include Dangote Oil Refinery Company, Waltersmith Refining & Petrochemical Company Limited, OPAC Refineries, Niger Delta Petroleum Resources, BUA Refinery & Petrochemicals and Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited. The Senate and House of Representatives, according to copies of the passed bills seen by our correspondent, recommended that payment guarantees to be provided by refinery licence holders shall be in dollars or naira. “Since refiners themselves may only be paid in naira for deliveries to the domestic market, it may be onerous to require US dollar payments,” the Senate Joint Committee on Downstream Petroleum Sector; Petroleum Resources (Upstream); and Gas said in its report. The bill provides that two regulators be established, namely the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority. In Section 109 subsections 2 and 3, the National Assembly said, “The commission may issue regulations or guidelines on the mechanism for the imposition of a domestic crude oil supply obligation on lessees of upstream petroleum operations, including applicable penalties. “The authority shall supply the commission on a regular basis the crude oil requirements of refineries in operation and where shortages or inadequate supply conditions occur report such conditions to the commission.” Petroleum Industry Bill and quest for a New Nigeria The bill sent to the National Assembly provides that “the commission shall ensure that the domestic crude oil supply obligation contains the following: (a) crude oil may only be sold to holders of crude oil refining licences, whose refineries are in operation. “b) the supply of crude oil shall be commercially negotiated between the lessee and the crude oil refining licensee, having regard to the prevailing international market price for similar grades of crude oil; and (c) holders of crude oil refining licences shall provide payment guarantees as required by the applicable lessee and payment for crude oil purchased pursuant to obligations shall be in US dollars.” The lawmakers, however, recommended that “holders of crude oil refining licences shall provide payment guarantees as required by the applicable lessee and payment for crude oil purchased pursuant to obligations shall be in US dollars or naira, as may be agreed between the lessees or suppliers and the licensee of the refining licence.” The Senate said possible penalties should apply to the crude oil supply obligations in order to strengthen possible enforcement. PUNCH.

17 southern govs discuss Buhari’s land recovery order for herders Kayode Oyero

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari’s (retd.) order on the recovery of grazing routes for herders will top the agenda of today’s meeting of 17 southern governors, The PUNCH has learnt. It was gathered that the meeting, which would hold eight weeks after the governors met in Asaba, the Delta State capital, would further assess decisions taken in Asaba on the open grazing ban, restructuring, fiscal federalism and the call for state police. The governors would be hosted by Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the meeting which would start by 10am today (Monday). Aside from the host governor, others expected at the meeting are Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Emmanuel Udom (Akwa Ibom), Diri Duoye (Bayelsa), Willie Obiano (Anambra), Ben Ayade (Cross Rivers), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), David Umahi (Ebonyi), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun), Oluwaseyi Makinde (Oyo), and Nyesom Wike (Rivers). Recall that the governors in a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting in Asaba, banned open grazing as part of moves to address killings and kidnapping by herdsmen. But a few days after the meeting, the Presidency faulted the ban on open grazing. The Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, had, in a statement, said, “It is equally true that their (governors’) announcement is of questionable legality, given the constitutional right of all Nigerians to enjoy the same rights and freedoms within every one of our 36 states (and FCT), regardless of the state of their birth or residence.” Also, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, slammed the southern governors for banning open grazing. According to the AGF, open grazing ban is the same thing as Northern governors banning spare parts trading in their own region, considering the fact that southerners comprise a majority of spare parts traders in the North. The President, during a recorded television interview in June, also backed Malami’s position, adding that he had directed that grazing routes be recovered. When asked if he agreed with the AGF’s position, Buhari had responded, “You want me to contradict my attorney-general?” Explaining further, he said, “What I did was to ask him to go and dig the gazette of the First Republic when people were obeying laws. There were cattle routes and grazing areas. Cattle routes were for when they (herdsmen) are moving up country, north to south or east to west, they had to go through there. “If you allow your cattle to stray into any farm, you are arrested. The farmer is invited to submit his claims. The khadi or the judge will say pay this amount and if you can’t the cattle is sold. And if there is any benefit, you are given and people were behaving themselves and in the grazing areas, they built dams, put windmills in some places there were even veterinary departments so that the herders are limited. Their route is known, their grazing area is known. “But I am telling you, this rushing to the centre (sic) so I asked for the gazette to make sure that those who encroached on these cattle routes and grazing areas will be dispossessed in law and try to bring some order back into the cattle grazing.” Herders face fines as Bayelsa seizes 34 cows during grazing Speaking to The PUNCH on Sunday, a top source close to one of the governors said the southern governors were disturbed about Buhari’s order on grazing routes, adding that they suspected a hidden agenda. The source also stated, “The governors will meet physically tomorrow (Monday) in Alausa, Lagos. All the 17 governors in Southern Nigeria will be present at the meeting. They will speak on some of the issues they raised in Asaba.” Asked of the issues that would top agenda at the meeting, another source close to one the governors in the South-West, South-South and South-East said the governors would deliberate on the pronouncement of the President. The source, who wished to remain anonymous because he was not authorised to speak on the matter said, “They would discuss the issue of security and open grazing ban. They are going to focus on topical political issues. The governors will be deliberating on the recent order by the President that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, recover some lands for herdsmen to graze in the country. They believe it is an agenda to Fulanise the country.” Also, one of the information managers to one of the governors in the region, said, “The meeting will address killings in spite of the ban on open grazing. Aside from open grazing, restructuring, autonomy for judiciary will also be discussed. “The attorney general of the federation is not an attorney general of the Federal Government. He is an attorney general of the federation behaving like the attorney general of the Federal Government. So, any case involving anybody with the Federal Government is a lost case because you have an attorney general of the federation behaving like the attorney general of the Federal Government. “When the southern governors banned open grazing, the AGF declared the act as illegal. They didn’t react when he said that. That is how mature people behave. But tomorrow (Monday), the governors will take a position on the Federal Government’s reaction,” the source said. Asked whether the governors would also discuss the raid by the Department of State Services on the Ibadan house of Yoruba activist Sunday Adeyemo also known as Sunday Igboho, the source stated, “Igboho is not nationalistic. The agenda of the Southern governors is broader than Igboho but you can’t rule it out that when they are talking of regional security, they would talk about him. “They spoke about him when Igboho spoke against herders-farmers crisis but they stopped talking about him the moment some people entered into his head and he started Yoruba nation rally. It is not a right time at all.” PUNCH.

Kwara Assembly attacks Lai Mohammed, faction reports minister to NWC by John Alechenu and Tunde Oyekola

Members of the Kwara State House of Assembly, have dismissed claims by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, that he financially supported their electioneering campaigns. They also distanced themselves from his statement that Ward congresses will not hold in the state until a fresh membership registration and revalidation exercise was carried out. The lawmakers insisted that the congress will go ahead on July 24, 2021 as scheduled. They spoke at a press conference in Ilorin, on Sunday. Speaker of the Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu who was represented by the Deputy Speaker, Raphael Adetiba, at the event said “Alhaji Lai Mohammed is not an official of the party and cannot speak on behalf of the party. “The right information we have from the governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq who is the leader of APC in Kwara State is that the Ward Congress of our party will hold in Kwara State like in all other states on July 24. “The Minister should be sanctioned by the party for giving wrong information to members of the APC in the state.” Twenty other members of the assembly also attended the conference. It was also gathered that the party leadership is considering sanctions for the minister and his supporters for opening a parallel secretariat, in Ilorin, on Saturday. One of our correspondents gathered in Abuja, on Sunday, that the party leadership is unhappy with his decision to “fight his governor.” A highly placed member of the party caucus said, “We are disappointed that someone who should know the rules of our party is acting like this. “When we had no governor, he (Mohammed) was the party leader. Now, we have a governor, and under our rules, the governor is the leader of the party in the state. “The problem is that the minister does not want to accept the governor’s leadership which is unfortunate. “During our last meeting with all of them, the governor offered the minister and his supporters cabinet positions they refused. One thing is sure, no individual is bigger than the APC, we will apply sanctions if it comes to that.” Also, the state chapter of the APC has sent a formal complaint to the National Secretariat of the party. It was learnt that the state chapter of the APC loyal to the governor has written to the national headquarters accusing the minister and his supporters of anti-party activities. When contacted, the State APC Publicity Secretary, Folaranmi Aro in an interview with one of our Correspondents, said, “The National Caretaker Committee of APC has recognized governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq as the leader of the party and he is the leader of the party in the state. “We don’t have a problem with the faction of APC led by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed in Kwara State, which opened another Secretariat in Ilorin, the state capital on Saturday. “The National Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee, Governor Mai Mala Buni, has clarified this on Sunday by sending messages to the officially recognized Secretariat of the party in all the 36 states. “He also sent the names of the Chairman and Secretary of the party in each state. The Chairman of APC in Kwara state is Alhaji Abdullahi Samari and the Secretary is Mustapha Isowo. So, he has settled the matter.” “The APC in Kwara state is one, we don’t have factions, those that gathered on Saturday at that place are wasting their time.” Another APC leader in the state, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “We won’t respond to Alhaji Lai because we have reported him to the national secretariat of the party and I can tell you that the national headquarters will take action against the minister because what he had started in Kwara is very dangerous; it’s a very bad precedent. The national body is not happy with what he has done.” Attempts to get an official response from the National Secretary of the party were futile. Calls to his mobile telephone number were neither picked nor returned. A response to a text message sent to him was still being awaited as at 8:42pm. PUNCH.

BREAKING: 17 abducted Kaduna Baptist students return

No fewer than 17 kidnapped students of Bethel Baptist High School, Kaduna have returned, Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Jalije, has said. The PUNCH had reported that gunmen attacked the Baptist school, located at Damishi town of Chikun Local Government Area in Kaduna State, and took away scores of students. A teacher at the school, Emmanuel Paul, told AFP that the bandits took away 165 students. On his part, the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Kaduna Chapter, Rev. John Hayab, told NAN that as of Friday, there were 180 boarding students in the school. NAN quoted Police PRO Jalije as saying “17 of the students have been rescued.” Jaliye said that the exact number of students abducted by the bandits had yet to be ascertained, adding that details would be made public in due course. “Tactical police teams went after the kidnappers,” he added. “We are still on the rescue mission.” Hayab, who is also a member of the Baptist Church, said that so far, 26 students had returned and he was hopeful that more would escape from the bandits. The attackers were said to have scaled a fence to break into the School in Kaduna state in the early hours of Monday. “The kidnappers took away 140 students, only 25 students escaped. We still have no idea where the students were taken,” Emmanuel Paul, a teacher at the school told AFP. Around 1,000 students and pupils have been abducted in different Nigerian states since December last year. Most have been released after negotiations with local officials, although some are still being held. Bethel Baptist High School is a co-education college established by Baptist church in 1991 at Maramara village in Chikun district outside the state capital Kaduna. Monday’s attack was the fourth mass school kidnap in Kaduna State since December.