Crisis looms in APC over registered members, consensus arrangement by John Alechenu.

A major crisis is looming in the All Progressives Congress over a plan by the leadership of the party to conduct ward, local government and state congresses without an authentic register of members. Our correspondent gathered in Abuja on Tuesday that besides the disagreement over the register, a plot to adopt a consensus arrangement during the congresses was being strongly opposed by many members. It was further learnt that only 19 out of the 36 states had so far submitted some forms of data of members, which a party insider said, were “highly compromised.” The congresses were earlier scheduled to begin at the ward level on July 24, local government area, August 14 and state congresses on September 18. The party has shifted the commencement of the exercise to July 31. The PUNCH on Tuesday learnt that the party leadership was considering a consensus arrangement for choosing officers at ward, LG and state levels. A member of the party caucus, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said, “We have a delicate situation on our hands. We have yet to establish a full-fledged data centre to upload what we expect to receive from states. “What we have at the national secretariat are the raw figures which we even suspect have been compromised. We only have figures but the names, photographs of these people are still with the states. We need to upload this to a database in order to build a register. “How do you justify Kano having four million APC members and Lagos having over two million? What is their voting population? What was the total number of people who registered and voted during the last general elections? Let’s not deceive ourselves, there is a problem. “The data from the states are still in their raw forms. What are you going to use for accreditation of voters for the congresses? “There are two options. If we must go for congresses where members will vote, we require a register. Members will have their membership authenticated when they show their membership cards and their names can be verified on the register. “The truth is this, the register is not ready. Recall, only a few days ago, the party extended the registration in about four states. But we all know that registration is ongoing in several states.” Another party source, who confided in The PUNCH, also said, “The only safe option left for us is to go for consensus to elect ward, local government and state party officials. This also has its own problems especially in states where opposition party governors who have no structure within our party are desperate to get everything. “For consensus arrangement which is the first mode which is also constitutional, you only require a simple yes or no vote. “Up till now, our materials are in the states. What we have here are the figures. The raw data are still in the states arising from the fact that the numbers from the states are already compromised. “Lagos has 2.5 million even during the 2019 general elections. How many people were registered to vote? And Kano said it had close to four million. As we speak, the registration is ongoing in a number of states.” It was learnt that the problems of the party were worsened by the battle between the Peoples Democratic Party governors, who had just joined the ruling party and the old members. In Zamfara State for instance, the national party leadership announced the dissolution of the state executive which was replaced by a three-member caretaker committee. The appointees are said to be loyalists of the state Governor, Bello Matawale. This has not gone down well with other party stakeholders especially, former Governor Abdulaziz Yari and Senator Kabiru Marafa. In a telephone interview with The PUNCH, Marafa who has since gone to court to challenge the dissolution, described the decision of the Buni-led caretaker committee as illegal and an attempt to destroy the party. Spokesperson for the Concerned APC Members, a pressure group within the party, Abdullahi Dauda, while speaking on the issues said, “What this caretaker committee is doing will bring the entire party down if care is not taken.” Attempts to get the official position of the party to the issues raised were futile. Calls to the mobile telephone number of the party’s National Secretary, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, who is also the party’s spokesperson, were neither picked nor replied. A response to a text message sent to him was still being expected as of the time of filing this report. PUNCH.

Okorocha’s alleged suspension: Fifth Columnists lifted signatures from leaked INEC memo -APC By Omeiza Ajayi

The ruling All Progressives Congress APC has dismissed a letter in circulation purporting to have emanated from it and suspending a former Governor of Imo state, Sen. Rochas Okorocha. National Secretary of its Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee CECPC, Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe disclosed this in a statement issued Tuesday night in Abuja. Urging the public to be circumspect, the party said the senator and some chieftains of the party were recently at its national secretariat in Abuja where they discussed on how to move the party forward and equally pledged their commitment to its peace building efforts. The statement reads; “It has come to the attention of the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that a fake letter of a purported suspension of Senator Rochas Okorocha from the party is circulating in the public space. “Fifth columnists and forgers have obviously taken advantage of the unfortunate and recent leaks of our official correspondences with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to copy and paste forged signatures of the CECPC Chaiman and Secretary on equally fake letters. “The APC does not currently have a ‘National Working Committee’ as stated in the fake letter, but a Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) which has been saddled with the mandate to reposition, unite and strengthen our great party. “We call on the discerning public to be wary of fifth columnists and jobbers relentlessly scheming to use every opportunity to stoke crisis in the party and polity through fake news. We also urge the media to always rely on our well-known and official communication and punlicity channels to get information on the activities of the party. “We urge everyone to discountenance the fake letter as it is a figment of the imagination of fifth columnists”. The fake letter which bore the forged signatures of Messrs Buni and Akpanudoedehe and dated 12th July, 2021 had “ratified” the suspension of Okorocha by the state chapter of his party.

NYSC And The Kemi Adeosun Case By Reuben Abati

This is an interesting case that has the prospects of becoming a locus classicus, in its present form or on appeal (if that happens) with regard to the issues of citizenship. It is not often that cases before a court of law become so important that they get discussed in beer parlours, open places, other rooms and generate so much public attention beyond the court room, even after judgment has been delivered by a court of competent jurisdiction. But it happens, presenting, relative to context, the spectacle of concurrence and/or populism or a conflict between the court of law and the court of public opinion. This in itself is a reaffirmation of the role of the judicial system as a social modulator, beyond strict positivism, rather than a derogation from the relevance of the judiciary. Such cases are known in legal circles as “cause celebre” either for the attendant popularity and public interest or the precedence that they establish. Nigeria found itself confronted with such a case recently with the decision taken by the Court of Justice Taiwo Taiwo (Federal High Court, Abuja) in the matter between Oluwakemi Adeosun, former Minister of Finance of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Attorney General of the Federation. This is an interesting case that has the prospects of becoming a locus classicus, in its present form or on appeal (if that happens) with regard to the issues of citizenship, appointments into public office and participation in Nigeria’s National Youth Service Corps Scheme (NYSC). I will tone down the legalisms involved, but what are the facts before us and what conclusions can we draw from this particular case? In November 2015, Kemi Adeosun, born in 1967 in London, England, to Nigerian parents from Ogun State Nigeria, was appointed Nigeria’s Minister of Finance by the Muhammadu Buhari administration. Before that appointment, she had worked in the United Kingdom as an accounting assistant at British Telecom, London, also at Goodman Jones as a senior audit officer, as a manager at London Underground, and later at Prisms Consulting. She was also a senior manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers. In 2002, she returned to Nigeria and took up an appointment as a Financial Controller with Chapel Hill Denham Management. She became Managing Director of that company in 2010. In 2011, Adeosun was appointed Commissioner of Finance in Ogun State by then Governor Ibikunle Amosun who promised to turn around the fortunes of his home-state. Four years later, Kemi Adeosun was further elevated when she ended up as Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, after President Buhari and Governor Amosun won a second term in office as President and Governor respectively. It was widely assumed Mrs Adeosun earned that promotion due to Amosun’s influence. Amosun is a well-known Buhari ally and a prominent member of the ruling party. As Minister of Finance of Nigeria, Adeosun, an Economics graduate of the University of East London and a Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, further ended up as Chairman of the Board of the African Export-Import Bank (AfreximBank). Her profile was something made out of a fairy tale: amazing, well supported. In 2018, that fairy-tale turned sour when an online newspaper, Premium Times Online alleged that Mrs Adeosun illegally obtained her NYSC exemption certificate. In Nigeria, no citizen, who is a graduate, is allowed to be employed in either the private or public sector, without having gone through a mandatory one-year national service. This requirement is spelled out in Section 12 of the NYSC Act and embedded in the 1999 Constitution. Premium Times, after calling out Mrs Adeosun, promised to conduct an investigation. And it did, with unsavoury outcomes. This generated tension, ethnic politicking and a heavy dose of blame game. In the middle of all that, and the ugly implications for the integrity of the Buhari administration, Kemi Adeosun resigned from her position as Nigeria’s Minister of Finance on September 14, 2018. Her resignation letter, addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari is available online. But let me quote the following paragraph from it. She writes: “I have today become privy to the findings of the investigation into the allegation made in an online medium that the Certificate of Exemption from National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) that I had presented was not genuine. This has come as a shock to me and I believe that in line with this administration’s focus on integrity, I must do the honourable thing and resign.” Kemi Adeosun’s resignation was an unusual thing to do in Nigeria. Most of her compatriots would never have done so. Resign from such a “juicy position” as Nigerians call it? No! But she did. And there were questions about whether she jumped or she was pushed. Other questions were asked: was she set up and sacrificed by the same man who made her Minister of Finance, her former boss, Governor Amosun? Did she herself get too big for her boots, and forgot her own beginnings? Who blew the whistle about her NYSC Exemption Certificate? As pundits went to town, Adeosun left town. She has now returned three years later, with a bang. A month ago, she got a generous mention in the newspapers as the founder of a Foundation – “the Dash Me Store”, an online thrift-for-charity initiative that she has now established to support the vulnerable in society. It was her first major public appearance in 3 years. And it wasn’t meant to be just one of those events. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was in attendance for all the possible symbolic reasons, as Chair of the occasion. That was great optics. Adeosun may have left the country in 2018 for controversial reasons, but she has returned on a high note, with perfect timing. For me, this was particularly confirmed by the court ruling dated the 7th Day of July 2021 in suit No: FHC/ABJ/CR/303/2021 between Folakemi Adeosun - (Plaintiff) and Attorney General of the Federation – (Defendant) before His Lordship Hon. Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo in the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Abuja Judicial Division. As it were, Kemi Adeosun had approached the Federal High Court to seek declaratory reliefs to the effect that (i) she was not under any constitutional disadvantage or prohibition at the time of her appointment as Minister with regard to her participation in the NYSC scheme, (ii) she cannot be subjected to any disability or disadvantage on the ground that she did not participate in the NYSC and that ((iii) being a United Kingdom Citizen as at 1989 when she graduated from the University of East London, UK, at the age of 22 years, she was ineligible to participate in Nigeria’s NYSC. The learned Judge observed as follows: “In brief the fact of this case is that sometime in 2018, while the plaintiff was serving as the Minister of Finance of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it was being paraded in the public space that she did not participate in the NYSC scheme and as such ought to have been disqualified from holding the office. It was further alleged that the said insinuations have remained unabated, thereby, consistently putting the plaintiff at disadvantageous positions in the pursuit of her career, both within and outside the country, this has therefore necessitated the plaintiff to file this action.” Counsel for the defendant relying on Section 12 of the NYSC Act and Sections 147 (5) and 192 (4) of the 1999 Constitution responded accordingly. The Court decided in favour of the plaintiff and granted the declaratory reliefs in her prayers before the Court. The ruling has been heavily criticised in the court of public opinion, and that has generated as much interest as the substance of the case itself. First, there is this argument that the court did not address the issue of certificate forgery which was the basis for Mrs Adeosun’s resignation in the first place. Those who push this line of argument forget that this was not the matter before the court. A court of law is not duty bound to embark on a voyage of discovery or offer what has not been pleaded before it with admissible evidence. Procedure is critical in law and in common parlance, the court is not a Father Christmas. In this matter, a civil suit by the way, Kemi Adeosun had approached the court to protect her reputation, to which she claims much damage had been done by the circumstances of her exit from the Nigerian government in September 2018. It is perfectly within her rights to do so, one’s reputation being so fundamental to everything else. Second, some persons have expressed concern about the citizenship question raised in the ruling. They ask: Granted that as of 1989, when she graduated Kemi Adeosun was not a citizen of Nigeria, and therefore ineligible for participation in the NYSC scheme, under the then extant 1979 Constitution, when she then returned to Nigeria to work, what steps did she take to become a Nigerian citizen? They point out that the 1999 Constitution after all, does not automatically confer citizenship. There is a proper definition of citizenship under Chapter 3 of the 1999 Constitution, so at what point exactly did Mrs Adeosun become a Nigerian? And how could she have been appointed a state Commissioner of Finance and later, a Federal Minister if there was no understanding that she had become a Nigerian citizen although entitled to dual nationality? And why would she sue the Attorney General of the Federation? Again, these questions were not raised by the defence counsel before Justice Taiwo Taiwo. The issues for determination were clear and specific. What has been offered is a technical, Constitutional interpretation of what the law says with regard to participation in the National Youth Service Corps Scheme of Nigeria, and the legal status in that regard of all persons, of Nigerian parentage but foreign nationality, caught between the 1979 and 1999 Constitutions with regard to eligibility to participate in the scheme and the question of their citizenship. But does the ruling of the Court meet public expectations? No. Third: Will the office of the Attorney General of the Federation appeal this ruling? I doubt. Will the Federal Government now file a suit to accuse the former Minister of Finance of the forgery of a certificate that everyone is saying is the main issue? Hmm. That won’t happen. This is Nigeria. Mrs Kemi Adeosun’s reputation with regard to the NYSC matter has been judicially restored, and all insinuations about her involvement in this quasi political-legal tango have been laid to rest. Her brother Dele Ogun has been quoted as saying Premium Times, the online newspaper, has questions to answer. So, should she sue Premium Times that generated the storm in the first place? She shouldn’t bother. There is no point fighting a battle she can’t win. Only the naïve would pick up battles with the media like those thick-headed characters who believe that they can restrict the freedom of information in society. I hope their advisers have seen the robust push-back by the Nigerian media community which started yesterday. Nigerian newspapers are now carrying placards against the government: from front-page advertorials to editorials! It has been said that Kemi Adeosun’s legal victory is a victory for all Nigerians who were born abroad before the 1999 Constitution and who do not have to participate in the NYSC. Except that this is one case where the law does not answer all the questions. It must indeed be a fit and proper thing to serve one’s country, or even die for it. The NYSC was introduced in 1973, to move Nigeria beyond the pains and tragedy of the civil war and to promote national unity and integration. If things were normal, there would have been no reason for anyone to avoid the opportunity to serve the country. Kemi Adeosun was 22 in 1989, and she was not a Nigerian citizen. When she returned to Nigeria in 2013 at the age of 34, she was already beyond the age of eligibility for the NYSC. She has now succeeded in proving her case in court. But other foreign-born Nigerians with an eye on the future should study her case closely and learn a critical lesson about the importance of one’s roots. They need to realise that the Adeosun case does not automatically offer them any protection under the law. Adeosun probably never imagined that she would ever have anything to do with public life in Nigeria. Many Nigerians in diaspora, a growing generation of children with Nigerian parents and foreign citizenship often overlook the umbilical manner in which they are linked to Nigeria by blood. They are proud to say that they have nothing to do with Nigeria and that they belong to other countries. But the pull of home and ancestral roots is forever strong. Most of the athletes in the D’Tigers Basketball team who represented Nigeria a few days ago and made history beating Team USA, the most dominant basketball team in the world, probably do not have a Nigerian passport, and may never have been to their ancestral home. They wore shirts emblazoned with the message: “Naija no dey carry last”. They stepped up and proved it. Every Nigerian child born in diaspora should look beyond Kemi Adeosun’s legal victory. A sense of home and roots, is the strongest DNA in our veins. The river may flow downstream into the oceans, without looking back, but it is bound to dry up if it loses touch with its source. What is most unfortunate, however, is the crisis at home that drives a wedge between Nigerians at home and those in diaspora. While we urge the latter to identify with home, connect and remember, Nigerians born and bred at home, are in despair. They are either seeking to emigrate or secede. If they are lucky to graduate from a higher institution, they are not even happy to participate in the NYSC or serve the country. Nigeria is so insecure parents do not want their children posted to certain parts of the country. Nigeria has a way of killing dreams. The NYSC is one of those dying dreams. And that is why the Adeosun case, controversial as it seems, is bound to end up as just one of those things in the court of public opinion.

NSITF faces Reps over fresh N17bn illegal transfer, 50 queries listed by Leke Baiyewu

The House of Representatives’ Committee on Public Accounts, on Tuesday, grilled the Managing Director of the National Social Insurance Trust Fund, Michael Akabogu, over the transfer of a total of N17,158, 883,034.69 to persons and companies without payment vouchers and other supporting documents provided for audit. The Office of the Auditor-General of Federation, in an audit query issued against the NSITF, said the transactions were carried out in 2013. The query was contained in the 2018 report of the AUGF which listed 50 queries against the NSITF. According to the report, vouchers shall be made out in favour of the person or persons to whom the money is actually due and under no circumstances shall a cheque be raised, or cash paid for services for which a voucher has not been raised. The report said, “Audit observed from the fund’s Statements of Account No. 1750011691 with Skye bank Plc, for the period 1st January, 2013 to 20th December, 2013, and Statements of Account No. 2001754610 with First Bank Plc for the period 7th January, 2013 to 28th February, 2013, that amounts totalling N17,158,883,034.69 were transferred to some persons and companies from these accounts. “However, payment vouchers relating to the transfers together with their supporting documents were not provided for audit. Consequently, the purpose(s) for the transfers could not be authenticated.” The auditor-general said where funds were transferred without adequate records, there may be the possibility of diversion of such funds for personal use. The report recommended that the NSITF MD be required to account for the sum of N17,158,883,034.69, failing which the amount should be recovered and paid back to the Consolidated Revenue Fund and sanctions should apply. Other queries against the fund in the 2018 report are the alleged diversion of N5.5bn to a commercial bank account not approved by the accountant-general and irregular payment of unapproved allowances to the tune of N1.87bn among others. PUNCH.

Senate passes campaign hate speech bill, offender risks 10-year imprisonment Sunday Aborisade

The Senate on Tuesday passed a bill seeking to establish the Electoral Offences Commission. The red panel prescribed among others, at least 10 years imprisonment or at least N20m fine or both against any person who uses hate speech to stir up ethnic, religious or racial hatred, social or political insecurity or violence against anyone or group of persons during electioneering. It also prescribed a 20-year jail term or a N40m fine against any candidate or agent who damaged or snatched ballot boxes, ballot papers or election materials before, during and after an election without the permission of election official in charge of the polling station. The Senate also approved at least 15 years imprisonment for any person who influenced voters. It also prescribed three years’ imprisonment for any employee who directly or indirectly exerts undue influence on a voter in his employment. The upper chamber also gave the nod to prohibit any campaign against national interest. It provided a 20 year-jail term without option of fine for any person who propagated information that undermines the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, or unity of the federation. The Senate also gave its nod to a term of at least 10 years upon conviction for any election official who prevented any person from voting at the polling station, rejected or refused to count any ballot paper validly cast. The upper chamber in Clause 20(2) approved at least 15 years imprisonment for any judicial officer or officer of a court or tribunal who corruptly perverts electoral justice, during or after an election. Senate okays 20-year jail for candidates snatching ballot materials It also gave at least 15 years jail term or N30m fine for any security personnel or election official engaged by the Independent National Electoral Commission or State Electoral Commission who attempted to influence the outcome of an election. The bill also prescribed punishment against anybody who defame the character of any candidate in an election or his family members. The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Kabiru Gaya (APC, Kano South), in his presentation, said the bill became imperative in view of Independent National Electoral Commission’s inability to prosecute electoral offenders in accordance with the provisions of a section 149 and 150(2) of the Electoral Act (as Amended). He said, “It is unrealistic to expect INEC to conduct free, fair and credible election and simultaneously prosecute offences arising from the same elections.” The Senate during consideration of the INEC Committee report approved the establishment of the National Electoral Offences Commission. The Commission’s membership consists of the Chairman, Secretary and representatives from the Justice, Interior, Defence, and Information Ministries. PUNCH.

Buhari set to represent Onochie, PDP, Senator differ over rejection John Alechenu, Sunday Aborisade, Friday Olokor and Stephen Angbulu

Despite the Senate’s rejection of the nomination of Lauretta Onochie as Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Presidency on Tuesday reaffirmed its confidence in her. A Presidency source told The PUNCH, “The fact that President Muhammadu Buhari — who made the nomination — had not chosen to withdraw it shows that he still has faith in the process and Onochie’s candidature is viable. So far, he hasn’t withdrawn his confidence in Onochie.” Onochie’s nomination attracted public outcry because of her open partisanship and the fact that her appointment would have amounted to a breach of the federal character principle. The Chairman of the Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission, Senator Kabiru Gaya (APC, Kano South), had disclosed that the petitions against the Presidential aide were against the backdrop of her involvement in politics and alleged membership of a political party. Gaya said, “In the case of Ms. Lauretta Onochie, we studied her curriculum vitae and other relevant documents, followed by exhaustive interaction around the petitions against her nomination which she responded to accordingly, including attesting that she is not a registered member of any political party.” Attempts to get a response from the Special Assistant to the President of Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu were futile. Calls to his mobile phone indicated that he was unreachable. He had yet to respond to a text message sent to him as of the time of filing this report. Senators have distinguished themselves, Says Jega While reacting to Onochie’s rejection by the Senate, a former INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, commended the Senate for rejecting her nomination. An elated Jega told The PUNCH late on Tuesday, said that by their action, the Senators have “Distinguished themselves.” He said “The Senators had on this matter ‘distinguished’ themselves. We hope that they would do better on the Electoral Bill 2021. Speaking in a similar vein, the Peoples Democratic Party, welcomed the decision of the Senate to listen to the voice of reason. National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbodinyan, told The PUNCH, “It was a victory for Nigerians, it was a victory for reason and morality in the interest of democracy. “The fact remains that the All Progressives Congress is desperate to hang on to power by all means. Allowing people like Onochie to get into INEC would have compromised any election even before the first ballot is cast.” In response, a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Yekini Nabena, dismissed the PDP’s claim. He told one of our correspondents in a telephone interview that the opposition party was sulking that it was losing members “by the minute.” Nabena said, “The argument that her political affiliation is enough reason to reject her is not even an argument. As we speak, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Edo State, Johnson Alalibo, was a member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, he is a card-carrying member of the PDP appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan; so what is the PDP talking about.” ‘Why we rejected Onochie’ Gaya also explained that the presidential aide was not rejected based on political affiliation. Gaya said this while addressing journalists after Tuesday’s plenary. He said, “We couldn’t approve the appointment of Onochie because she is from the same state as an INEC commissioner from Delta State, Mrs Agbamuche-Mbu, whose tenure may expire by December this year. “Agbamuche-Mbu is still serving in INEC till December this year. That’s why we cannot clear another candidate from the state.” Gaya said the committee considered various legal implications of the confirmation or otherwise of the nominees and also studied the mood of Nigerians before coming up with its report. The Senator said his panel did not rely on the submissions of Onochie when she told the committee that Agbamuche-Mbu was actually representing Cross River State on the board of INEC. “President Buhari actually specified her (Agbamuche-Mbu) state, which is Delta, in the letter. “Also, during her confirmation by the 8th Senate, I was there when two senators from Delta, Messrs Ovie Omo-Agege and James Manager, stood up to congratulate the Senate for confirming her. “We also got records from the past senate screening that Agbamuche-Mbu was a nominee from Delta State.” On her membership of the APC, Gaya said the committee could not disqualify Onochie based on the records before it. He said, “Madam Onochie has said she has ceased to be a member of the APC. “The law said we can only disqualify a card-carrying member of a political party and since she denied her APC membership, we cannot hold that against her.” Gaya had said in his report at plenary said the Committee received several petitions against the nominations of Onochie and Adam. The Senate had earlier confirmed the appointment of five nominees as National Commissioners of INEC. The upper chamber also stepped down the confirmation of Prof. Sani Adam (North Central) for further investigation by the committee. The confirmation of the nominees followed the consideration of a report by the Gaya-led Senate Committee on INEC. Those confirmed include Prof. Abdullahi Abdu Zuru (North-West), Prof. Muhammad Sani Kallah (Katsina), Prof. Kunle Cornelius Ajayi (Ekiti), Dr. Baba Bila (North-East), and Saidu Babura Ahmad (Jigawa). However, a PDP Senator from Benue State, Abba Moro, insisted that the nominee would still have been rejected even if not for the federal character principle. Moro stated this in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents on Tuesday. He said the Senate Committee on INEC, gave her a soft landing. Moro said, “The truth of the matter is that the majority of Nigerians objected to the nomination of Lauretta Onochie, right from when she was presented to the Senate. PUNCH.

Human Rights: IHRC report absolves Nigeria, Kenya authorities by Soni Daniel

Human Rights: IHRC report absolves Nigeria, Kenya authorities Keyantta…Clears Kenya of rights violation in IPoB’s leader’s arrest, repatriation to Nigeria …Says Kenya played no role in arrest of Kanu to face trial in Nigeria …Expects FG to handle Kanu’s trial in line with laws and respect to human rights …Resolves to monitor Kanu’s trial to ensure his rights are not violated The International Human Rights Commission based in Geneva has admitted receiving no fewer than 25 petitions from individuals and groups worldwide in respect of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, who was recently re-arrested and repatriated to Nigeria to face trial over alleged treasonable felony. The International human rights body said in a statement dated July 7, 2021 and seen by Vanguard on Monday night that majority of the petitions, which came from Nigeria, urged it to conduct an independent inquiry into human rights violations and possible breaches to established international and regional diplomatic protocols. The statement which was signed by the IHRC’s Special Envoy for Africa Region, Evans M. Mutavi, and International President for Kenya, said that it accordingly, conducted an independent investigation into the matter and found out that there was no violation of Nnamdi Kanu’s human rights in the events leading to his re-arrest and repatriation to Nigeria. “The IHRC is committed to safeguarding the rights of citizens across the globe in line with the organization’s core mandate,” the agency said. “The commission upon investigation is unable to establish a case of human rights violation of Nnamdi Kanu in Kenya by the special Police Forces. “The Commission is convinced that the Kenyan Government played no official role in the event that led to Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest. “The Commission expects the Nigerian Government to follow up the trial of Nnamdi Kanu in line with the country’s laws and respect to human rights. “The commission has resolved to monitor the trial of Nnamdi Kanu to ensure his human rights are not violated by the Nigerian Government,” the IHRC stated.