Jonathan receives certificate of return, suspends interior minister.
President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that the conduct of Saturday’s governorship and state assembly elections was better than those of the presidential and National Assembly polls.
Before he gave the order, after collecting his Certificate of Return at INEC’s Electoral Institute in Abuja, the President suspended the Minister of Interior, Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho.
Jonathan, who commended INEC’s leadership for its efforts so far, said the conduct of the April 26 governorship and state assembly elections was also important to the country.
The President also advised the commission to start preparations for the 2015 general elections. He said that many Nigerians and the international community had thought that it would be difficult for Nigerians to elect their leaders without rancour.
However, he stated that feelers from the media, the international community and observers had shown that such a notion was not true.
Jonathan said, “It is God that made today (Tuesday) possible. I appreciate Nigerians for the cooperation they have given INEC, the government and for coming out to vote for us.
“This is a new beginning in our electoral process. The chairman of INEC (Prof. Attahiru Jega), his team and all the ad-hock staff have made Nigeria proud.
“For some time now, our elections used to be controversial according to local and foreign observers. But now, these observers are giving us pass mark.
“That has to be because of the competence of the INEC chairman and the staff who refused to compromise their positions.
“This is a beginning of economic development and major changes in the polity. The governorship election should be better.”
Jonathan expressed sadness that some people went on the rampage in some parts of the country.
Promising to ensure that such violence did not happen in the country again, he disclosed that the government would take inventory of the property destroyed and those killed.
But he was silent on whether those who lost their relations or property would be compensated or not.
The President appealed to political leaders in the country to speak out and condemn the violence.
Jonathan, however, added that reports at his disposal showed that majority of those involved in the riots were unemployed youths.
He promised that government would make sure that all it created jobs in order to engage the youths in productive ventures.
Earlier, Jega had handed over the certificates to both Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo. Both the President and his deputy signed to show that they had collected them.
The commission had on Monday declared Jonathan the winner of the presidential election.
But just as the ceremony was ongoing, news spread that Iheanacho had been suspended by Jonathan because “his personal and official conduct had led to lapses in the political leadership of the Interior ministry.”
A statement from the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ima Niboro, said the suspension was with immediate effect.
The statement stressed that Iheanacho’s continued leadership of the ministry was not in the interest of the nation.
Jonathan consequently directed Iheanacho to hand over to the Minister of Labour and Productivitiy, Mr. Emeka Wogu, who will oversee the ministry of interior, alongside his original portfolio.
The statement reads, “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has ordered the immediate suspension of Capt. Emmenuel Iheanacho as Minister of Interior and member of the Federal Executive Council.
“Captain Iheanacho has been directed to hand over to the Minister of Labour, Mr. Emeka Wogu, who will, in addition to his present portofolio, oversee that ministry.
“Captain Iheanacho’s suspension comes as a result of a number of lapses in the political leadership of the ministry traceable to his personal and official conduct.
“For now, his continued manning of the ministry is not in the interest of the nation.”
Following the development, Imo State is the only state without a minister in the Federal Executive Council.
Interestingly, the state governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, met Jonathan in the Presidential Villa on Monday night.
Facts have, however, emerged that Iheanacho’s removal had a political undertone.
It was gathered in Abuja that the President succumbed to pressure from Ohakim, a known political foe of the minister, and the South-East Zonal Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The zonal chapter of the party had vowed to ensure that the minister was “adequately punished” for allegedly working against the party’s interest during the National Assembly elections on April 9 in Imo State.
The PDP National Vice-Chairman (South-East) , Chief Olisa Metuh, had told journalists in Enugu that the Imo PDP state chairman had forwarded a petition to the national headquarters of the party against the minister.
He said, “The party received reports from people in the field who complained that Iheanacho claimed he had the support of Jonathan to work against candidates of the party.
“In the case of Iheanacho, we received reports that he and some of our members worked against the interest of the party in Imo State and some other states in the South-East during the National Assembly election.”
Owerri Senatorial zone where Iheanacho hails from was won by Mrs. Chris Anyanwu, the candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance.
Besides, when Jonathan visited his presidential campaign office in December, 2010, security men barred Iheanacho’s convoy from entering the premises, citing an order from above, which was interpreted to be a directive from the governor.
Similarly, the Imo State House of Assembly had within the same period, passed a resolution, demanding the sacking of the minister by Jonathan.
The legislature urged the governor to take necessary steps to ensure that Iheanacho was replaced with a person from the Orlu area of the state.
Poll: Buhari disowns rioters !
The defeated candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change in Saturday’s Presidential election, Maj.- Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has distanced himself, the CPC and its supporters from the violence that rocked some northern states.
The violence started on Sunday when results of the poll showed that President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party was coasting to victory.
Scores of people were either killed or injured while houses, including the family home of Vice-President Namadi Sambo and the palace of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim, were torched by the rioters.
The British Broadcasting Corporation quoted the Red Cross on Tuesday as saying that some 16,000 people were displaced in six of the states where the violence occurred.
Pockets of the mayhem were reported in Kaduna, Katsina and Sokoto states on Tuesday. Over 100 suspected rioters were arrested in Katsina and more than 49 others in Sokoto.
Media reports have said that the rioters were the supporters of one of the political parties whose candidate lost in the presidential election.
But Buhari, in a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, condemned the violence as “totally unwarranted.”
He said, “In the last 24 hours, there has been a spate of violence across certain parts of the country. What started mainly as a political protest reportedly included the burning of worship places.
“It is a sad, unfortunate and totally unwarranted development. I must say that this dastardly act is not initiated by any of our supporters and therefore cannot be supported by our party.
“I must emphasise that this is purely a political matter, and it should not in any way be turned into an ethnic, religious or regional one.”
Also on Tuesday, the Netherlands as well as religious groups and leaders flayed the violence and advised that political differences should not lead to bloodshed and division along ethnic and religious lines.
Some of the religious groups and leaders are the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, the League of Imams and Alfas and the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Makinde.
They also enjoined those behind the mayhem to sheathe their swords in the interest of the nation.
Admitting that disagreement was natural and a core ingredient of democracy, they pointed out that the resort to violence was a travesty of religious teachings and a betrayal of our faith.
NIREC, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator Secretary, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, on behalf of its Co-chairmen, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar and Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, said the riots which resulted in deaths and destruction in the affected states were very disappointing.
It appealed to aggrieved Nigerians to explore constitutional means of seeking redress rather than taking laws into their hands.
The group said, “It is our opinion that at this stage of our socio-political history, we should be able to address our differences when they arise in a civilised manner without bloodletting.
“As the whole world is watching us, let us be mindful of our actions and reactions. At a point that many observers are commending a general improvement, largely in the conduct of our elections, even if still not 100 per cent perfect, it is unfortunate that a sad commentary is being scripted through the eruption of violence and carnage among our fellow citizens.”
The group urged political leaders to exercise restraint in their actions and utterances and called on governments at all levels to be alive to their responsibilities.
It also appealed to security agencies to be more vigilant and firm in discharging their constitutional duties.
The statement expressed the readiness of NIREC alongside other civil society groups in the country to mediate in the crisis, through dialogue
Also, the League of Imams and Alfas in the South-West, Edo and Delta states condemned the post-election riots, saying that, “Nigerians must eschew violence and support constituted authorities in line with divine injunctions.”
The league, in a statement by its president, Sheik Mustafa Ajisafe, described the emergence of Jonathan as “God-ordained.”
Makinde, in a statement by the Media and Public Relations Officer of the church, Rev. Oladapo Daramola, urged aggrieved parties to seek constitutional means of expressing their grievances.
He said, “The news filtering in since the conclusion of the presidential election, especially in the North is disheartening and shocking. We have worked so hard to move this nation beyond this manner of barbaric and insensitive actions which only portend danger for our democracy and unity and if not stopped could set us back as a country.
“There is need for this madness to stop immediately and I urge our security agencies to do everything to nip the crisis in the bud before it further escalates.”
Also on Tuesday, former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, described the violence as primitive.
Babangida, in a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Kasim Afegbua, urged Nigerians to shun uncivilised conduct such as violence, religious intolerance and killing in the name of politics.
The former dictator also congratulated Jonathan on his victory at the presidential poll, describing it as “a collective victory for the country.”
In Abuja, the Netherlands, through its Ambassador in Nigeria, Mr. Bent Rohaar, said that post-election violence was inimical to democracy.
Rohaar, in an interview with one of our correspondents on Tuesday, urged aggrieved politicians and their supporters to seek legitimate means to express their grievances.
He stated that the violence was counter-productive and could retard gains of democracy in the country.
Meanwhile, the police in Sokoto State has confirmed the arrest of 39 persons in connection with the riot in the state.
The state Police Commissioner, Mr. Olusegun Solomon, who spoke with journalists, added that more suspects were picked up for participating in fresh violence in Sokoto on Tuesday.
“We had earlier arrested 39 suspects during the beginning of the protests around 9 pm on Sunday. Around midday today (Tuesday) again, a group of some hoodlums also began the protests in some parts of the city and its environs. We have also arrested some of them who will soon be charged to the courts,” Solomon added.
Jega, RECs in crucial meeting over April 26 polls.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Tuesday met with resident electoral commissioners from 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory over the April 26 polls.
Investigations at INEC headquarters in Abuja showed that the meeting, which started at 9am and ended at 3pm, also reviewed the National Assembly and presidential elections.
It was gathered that the commission would further collaborate with security agencies on the need to beef up security during governorship elections, especially in states that had recorded post-election violence.
The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, who confirmed the meeting said, “Just like we have been doing since the postponed election on April 2, these meetings are held to review the previous week’s lapses and then see how we can plan for the next one so as to improve on our performance.”
Idowu, who said that the commission was ready for the April 26 polls, stated that the INEC chairman had promised to ensure that every election was better than the previous one.
On the agenda of the meeting, he said, “Everything is being looked at. Not just security, the commission is looking at issues of logistics, operation and security. All those things that have to do with elections are being reviewed.”
Meanwhile, the police have allayed fears over the April 26 polls. They said adequate security would be provided during the elections.
The police said the post-election violence in some Northern states like Gombe, Kano, Kaduna and Bauchi would not change the security strategy they had put in place for the elections.
The police said that it was however collaborating with the military to stem the tide of violence in the states, adding that reinforcement of riot policemen had been deployed to the affected areas.
The Force Public Relations Office, Olusola Amore, who said this in Abuja on Tuesday added that policemen posted to polling units would not bear arms in accordance with the Electoral Act.
He assured that adequate security had been put in place to ensure security of lives and property in every part of the country for the remaining election.
He said, “We are on top of the situation in the troubled spots; we have deployed a reinforcement of PMS and are collaborating with the Army. On the number of casualties in the affected states, we are still collating the figures command by command.”
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Why we refused to sign presidential result sheets – CPC, ACN
Representatives of some of the opposition parties said they refused to sign the 2011 presidential result sheets as compiled by INEC because they noticed some irregularities.
The parties are Congress for Progressive Change and Action Congress of Nigeria.
NAN reports that besides the ruling PDP, it was only the representatives of ACN and CPC that were in attendance at the National Collation Centre as party agents out of the 20 participating candidates.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, the party agent of CPC, Mr. Hadi Sirika, said the party observed electoral fraud in both South East and South South.
He said the party hierarchy had submitted a copy of its petition to the Chairman of INEC, Prof Attahiru Jega, who also doubled the Chief Returning Officer of the presidential poll.
Sirika, a CPC senator-elect from Katsina, said the leadership of the party would hold a crucial meeting where its next line of action would be discussed.
Speaking in the same vein, ACN party agent, Garba Abari, said he refused to sign the result sheets because “we have issues with the result especially those coming from the South East and South-South of the country.”
He added, “From the reports we received from our agents on the field, as well as print and electronic media alongside interim reports of the observers, there were low voter turnout there and the result being returned are in excess of 98 per cent.”
“After due consultations, we will let the international community as well as the observers know about our next line of action.”
Commenting on the outcome of the presidential election result, PDP agent, Mr. Phillip Aduda, expressed happiness with the outcome and thanked Nigerians for reposing their confidence in the party.
Aduda, an FCT Senator-elect said, “I am happy at the turn of event. This is democracy in action. We thank God that it was free, fair and credible.”
Concern Mounts over Governorship Polls.
The Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) has said the gubernatorial and state Assembly elections scheduled for next Tuesday will go ahead all over the country despite the post-election violence and security concerns in some parts of the North.
This is coming on the heels of a warning by election observers of high tension in some states of the federation which needs to be addressed by security agencies before the polls can go ahead as planned.
Also, killings continued in different states Tuesday as protests over last Saturday’s presidential elections persisted.
Of the states in the North where violence erupted following the declaration of President Goodluck Jonathan as the winner of last weekend's presidential poll, only Sokoto and Adamawa are exempted from the gubernatorial poll due to a court verdict which held that the tenure of the incumbent governors will end next year.
Speaking to THISDAY Tuesday, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, said all necessary arrangements for the elections were going on in states where such polls are due.
He said despite the curfew in some states like Kaduna, Kano and Plateau, the expectation of the commission is that normalcy would be restored in the affected areas for the polls to go ahead.
Idowu, however, said the commission was studying the situation closely and would act if the situation warrants.
A team of observers, who monitored the conduct of security officials during last Saturday’s presidential election, has warned that there will be tension on April 26 when the governorship and state Assembly elections will be conducted in states.
Addressing journalists in Abuja Tuesday, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Cleen Foundation said INEC as well as security agents must be fully prepared for the governorship election because “tensions are very high in the states on the outcome of the elections of April 16th”.
The Project Coordinator of the NHRC/United Nations Development Programme Election Security Project, Mr. Tony Ojukwu, who presented a preliminary report on the conduct of security agents during the presidential election, said extra security arrangements should be made for the conduct of the governorship and state Assembly elections.
He said: “Since observers have been warned generally on the tension in the various states on the April 26 governorship/Houses of Assembly elections, there is need for security agencies involved in managing security deployments during the April 26 elections to make extra security arrangements.”
Although the team admitted that the conduct of the presidential election was generally free and fair, it stated that there were breaches in security in North-central and South-south.
It pointed out that there was no provision of security at some collation centres in the two zones mentioned above.
“Security of election materials and personnel at collation centres remained the weakest link during the presidential election as in the National Assembly elections,” he added.
The groups also stated that the security agents did not act fast enough to forestall post-election violence which took place in some states in the North and resulted in loss of lives and properties.
They noted that the rapid spread of the violent protests suggested that the early warning system for post-election conflict was ineffective.
They also said that new security threats were identified in the presidential election. They are kidnap and arrest of election observers by security agents and political thugs as well as the kidnap of a female voter in Enugu State, they added.
They also noted that security agents were partisan in some states and advised that they should be redeployed in certain states.
The groups called for a comprehensive review of the performance of security agents in the following states: Benue, Plateau, Kebbi, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Imo, Cross River, Ogun, Delta and Rivers.
In the meantime, the violence in Kaduna has spilled over to other parts of the state claiming many lives with property worth millions of naira said to have been destroyed.
There were reports of serious skirmishes in Zaria, Ikara, Kafanchan and Zangon Kataf and other places where several people were said to have been killed while places of worship were set ablaze.
This is in spite of the 24-hour curfew imposed by the state government.
It was gathered that in Zaria and Ikara, the hoodlums, armed with sticks, machetes, guns, knives, bows and arrow go from house to house and unleashed terror on the people.
Areas worst affected, according to sources, included the Poly Quarters, Samaru and Congo campus of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
Chairman of the Kaduna State Chapter of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop David Bakare, told THISDAY in a telephone interview that about 10 churches in Zaria had been burnt while several people were killed.
Bakare said the most challenging time was during the nights when the attackers regroup and unleash terror by which time the security agents found it difficult to trail them.
“When the police chased them, they will later regroup. The security people have done well, but it appears they have not been given decisive instructions to deal with them.
“The boys were engaging the police; their time for attack is in the night between 11:00pm and 2:00 am. They will be chanting Sai Buhari. Because of the curfew our people find it difficult to run to safe zones. The curfew is already taking its toll on the people as they have no food or water and they cannot go out to get these basic needs.
“Why is the church being asked to pay for this matter which is a political issue? Why are Christians being killed because of an issue which is purely political? Why are Christians being made a scapegoat over a political matter? Right now, we are under siege and our churches are being burnt and our people are being killed. We called on government to as a matter of urgency take adequate steps to halt this massacre of Christians,” Bakare said.
In Kafanchan, reports said heavy fighting started by 8pm on Monday and lasted till yesterday afternoon. However armed riot policemen have been deployed to the area.
Sources said some groups alleged to be CPC supporters in the town had gone around shooting PDP supporters and non-Muslims and setting their homes and churches ablaze.
Mosques and churches were said to have been burnt with several people said to have lost their lives.
“I saw the body of a man beheaded after he was killed by these men. They are using explosives and guns. The police in Kafanchan were said to have been overwhelmed with the situation, after youths from surrounding villages teamed up and entered Kafanchan to challenge the group suspected to be CPC members,” a source said.
Meanwhile, the 24-hour curfew is beginning to take its toll on families and businesses as many people are said to be running out of food and other basic necessities.
In Gombe, it has now been confirmed that 17 people lost their lives during the pro-Buhari violence which lasted for three days.
Also, 100 suspects have been arrested and are currently in police custody awaiting questioning.
While speaking to newsmen in Gombe Tuesday after an on-the-spot assessment tour of the affected areas, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations at the Force Headquarters who was in the North-east zone for the general election, Audu Abubakar, declared that 100 suspects had so far been arrested.
Easter: FG Declares Public Holidays.
Federal Government has declared Friday, April 22 and Monday, April 25, 2011 as public holidays to commemorate Good Friday and Easter Monday celebrations respectively.
This information was contained in a statement signed from the Office of the Minister of Interior by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Sheidu Ozigis, on behalf of the President Goodluck Jonathan.
Federal Government also used the opportunity to urge all Christian faithful to fervently pray for the successful conclusion of the general elections.
In another development, Federal Government has expressed regret over loss of lives and properties through the post-election violence in the northern part of the country.
The statement which was issued from the office of the Minister of Interior called on all politicians, political parties and their supporters to eschew violence and seek peaceful means to address their grievances. "The Federal Government has observed that certain individuals under the guise of political disgruntlement and agrievement have taken to the streets in some parts of the country.
PHCN sale: Geometrics, Hayatudeen’s firm, others fail technical evaluation .
Two companies linked to prominent current and former actors in the Federal Government are among firms that failed to meet the criteria to proceed with their intention to acquire any of 18 successor companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria.
Investigations by our correspondent revealed that Geometrics Power Limited, in which the Special Adviser to the President on Power, Prof. Bath Nnaji, was the Chairman, and Alpine Investment Services Limited, belonging to the former Chairman, Technical Committee, National Council on Privatisation, Mr. Mohammed Hayatudeen, were disqualified by an intra-agency committee set up by the Bureau of Public Enterprises.
The agency was established to evaluate 331 Expressions of Interest for the 18 power firms, which have been put up for sale by the Federal Government.
Geometrics Power is an Independent Power Producer, while Alpine Investment Services is a project finance and development firm.
Our correspondent also gathered that an India-based multinational corporation, the Essar Group, which is involved in steel, energy, power, communications, shipping ports and logistics, as well as construction, also failed the evaluation.
The BPE had recently set up an intra-agency committee to evaluate the EOIs submitted for the power firms. Membership of the committee was drawn from bureau, Ministry of Power, Presidential Task Force on Power Reforms, PHCN and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
A source close to the committee informed our correspondent that some of the firms that were disqualified could not submit some essential documents but had believed that they could leverage on their close relationship with government to scale through the screening process.
Geometrics had expressed interest to acquire the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, while Alpine had expressed interest to acquire the Kano and Kaduna electricity distribution companies.
Geometrics, which already has a power generation plant under construction in Aba, Abia State, is an indigenous private firm, whose goal is to construct and operate independent power plants for the generation, transmission and distribution of power to industrial clusters, commercial entities and the general public.
When contacted on Tuesday, Nnaji said he had relinquished his chairmanship of Geometrics before he took the Federal Government offer to work with it and could not confirm whether the company applied for any of the PHCN companies since he was no longer involved in its running.
He said, “I have resigned from Geometrics. I don’t work for the company; I work for the Federal Government. I have submitted necessary documentation as required by the law of the country.
“I am not aware whether the company applied or not. To be honest with you, I don’t know who did not make the technical evaluation.”
Alpine is not known for any interest in power but had put up a consortium for the purpose of acquiring interest in the power firms that the Federal Government is in the process of selling.
Hayatudeen, who owns the firm, recently resigned his membership of NCP to avoid conflict of interest as he confirmed that he was going to bid for the power firms.
Apart from his membership of the privatisation council, he is also a member of the Presidential Advisory Council put together to advise President Goodluck Jonathan after he was inaugurated as Acting President on February 9, 2010.
The BPE had between December 13 and 20, 2010, invited prospective core investors to express interest in the 11 distribution companies unbundled from PHCN.
It also invited prospective core investors to express interest in the four thermal power stations and as concessionaires for the two hydro power stations.
The initial deadline for the receipt of EOIs was Friday, February 18, 2011, but it was later moved to March 4, 2011
By the end of the new deadline, 174 applications were received from prospective investors/concessionaires interested in acquiring the four thermal stations and the two hydro stations.
On the other hand, 157 applications were harvested from prospective investors interested in acquiring the 11 distribution companies that are up for privatisation.
The 11 distribution companies that are up for sale include the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Benin Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company Plc, and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company Plc.
Others are Jos Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Kano Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company Plc, and Yola Electricity Distribution Company Plc.
The thermal power stations slated for privatisation are the Ughelli Power Plc, which is situated in Delta State with total installed capacity of 972 megawatts, and Geregu Power Plc, situated in Kogi State with a total installed capacity of 414MW.
Others are the Afam Power Plc, comprising of Afam I-V, located in Rivers State with installed capacity of 776MW, and the Sapele Power Plc located in Delta State with installed capacity of 1,020MW.
The hydro power generating companies are the Kainji Power Plc, comprising the Kainji and Jebba Power Plants located in Niger and Kwara states respectively, and the Shiroro Power Plc located at the Shiroro Gorge, Niger State.
Security beefed up around Jega.
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega had a heavy security protection at the INEC National Collation Centre, yesterday. Security around the centre was also reinforced.
The tight security around the INEC boss came in the wake of reported orgy of violence in some northern states. In a manner that cast doubts in the minds as to the possibility of continuing the announcement of the results, securitymen from the airforce, brigade of guards and SSS stormed the venue.
The airforce team led by an Air Commodore and the Brigade Comander, Brigadier-General Atewe came around 2:00pm ostensible to observe the security arrangement in place.
Later, men of the SSS suspected to have come from the presidential villa and led by a director showed up and went into one of the rooms at the collation centre, before they took their leave. It was gathered that the SSS men were around to assure the INEC boss of his safety against the background of reports of tension in Abuja.
There were also reports that people stayed off the streets, following rumours of spontaneous protests in some areas of the FCT.
Commercial motorcycle operators were said to have been off the roads in suburbs like Mararaba, Kubwa and Dutse areas of Abuja.
‘Why Al-Mustapha is not freed’
The Lagos State Government has cleared the fog on the delay in the trial of former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to late General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha.
Al-Mustapha, who was recently acquitted of the charge of attempted murder of the Publisher of Guardian Newspaper, Alex Ibru, is still standing trial before Justice Ayoka Dada, of the Lagos High Court for alleged murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, wife of the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, the late Chief Moshood Abiola.
Solicitor-General/Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Pedro Lawal yesterday told reporters that the delay was caused by frivolous applications filed by Al-Mustapha’s counsel.
He absolved the state government of any blame in the delay.
Lawal said: “The delay in Al- Mustapha’s case is from the defense counsel and not the state government. The defence counsel was always coming up with different types of application and the court, in recourse to due process and fair hearing, would have to listening.”
He also attributed the delay to the absence of some of the prosecution witnesses, some of whom were either dead or have been transferred.
Plane with Michelle Obama aborts landing.
A White House plane carrying Michelle Obama came dangerously close to a 200-ton military cargo jet and had to abort its landing at Joint Base Andrews on Monday as the result of an air traffic controller’s mistake, according to federal officials familiar with the incident.
FAA officials confirmed that the first lady was aboard the plane but had no additional immediate comment. They expected to release a statement later Tuesday. The first lady’s office also had no immediate comment.
The Federal Aviation Administration, already dealing with a series of controversies involving controllers sleeping and watching a movie on the job, sent a team of investigators Tuesday to the Warrenton radar control center, where the mistake was made.
The first lady was returning from a television appearance and other events with Jill Biden in New York and was aboard a Boeing 737 that is part of the presidential fleet of jets when the error occurred on final approach to Andrews.
The controllers in the tower at Andrews recognized that the massive C-17 and the Obama flight, designated EXEC1F, a classification for a plane carrying members of the president’s family, were far too close when the Warrenton controller handed off responsibility for the two aircraft.
They ordered the Obama plane to execute a series of S-turns in an effort to create a safe distance between it and the C-17, federal officials said.
Rioters lock in 50 NYSC members, set building on fire !
THEY never knew that evil was on the way. All was calm in the neighbourhood, although the news had been broken that rioters were on the rampage in the city.
Suddenly, it got noisy and rowdy outside the building where no fewer than 50 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members huddled together, feeling safe, away from the madness that had seized the city by the throat.
Angry youths protesting the results of the presidential election stormed the Nigerian Christian Corpers Fellowship (NCCF) Secretariat in the heart of Minna, the Niger State capital.
They forcibly locked the Corps members in and set the building on fire.
But the leader of the Corps members, fondly called Papa by his colleagues, found the strength to break down the door and set his colleagues free.
“Some had burns,” one of the lucky boys and girls told The Nation at the Army Barracks, where they are taking refuge.
He said they were initially few at the “Family House”, as the secretariat is called by NCCF members, but many rushed in to escape the rioting near their homes in other parts of the city.
“We were taken by surprise. We couldn’t retrieve anything from the fire,” he said, pleading for anonymity so that, according to him, his relatives would not panic over his safety.
The building was smouldering yesterday.
The irate youths also burnt the NCCF 18-seater bus, which was bought two months ago, and a motorcycle belonging to the fellowship.
The development has forced the NYSC to direct all Corps members in Chanchaga (Minna) Local Government Area to relocate from their homes to the Nigeria Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) barracks on the outskirts of the city.
Two NYSC officials were taking care of about 200 “refugees” at the barracks. Religious organisations have sent relief materials to them.
The Family House of the NCCF, a fellowship centre and a lodge for Christian corps members, was one of the seven worship centres burnt by the youths who said they were protesting the emergence of Dr Goodluck Jonathan as winner of the presidential election.
If the “Minna 50” were lucky, not so four of their colleagues and two police officers in Bauchi. They were killed by rioters.
Christian Association of Nigeria {CAN} chair Bishop Musa Tula said more than 20 people died in the violence unleashed on innocent people by those he suspected to be political thugs.
Several churches, cars, homes and business houses were burnt.
The police said over 200 suspects had been arrested in connection with the violence in Bauchi metropolis, Misau and Azare Dambam.
Banks and government businesses in the state capital have closed. Three churches, including Gospel Life Church and Deeper Life Church in the state capital, were burnt. Another one in Bara, Alkaleri Local Government Area, was burnt.
It was learnt that trouble started when some youths said to be CPC supporters suddenly went berserk over the results of the election.
The new police commissioner deployed to the state to ensure a hitch-free election, Ammama John Abakasanga, told reporters yesterday that over 200 suspects had been arrested.
He said four Youth Corps members were killed in Itas Gadau during the election. He added that no fewer than 20 other Corps members were still missing.
The Commissioner said the police rescued 20 of the 51 corps members in Itas Gadau, Jamare and Dabam local government areas.
The rescued Corps members are at the Police Officers’ Mess, Bauchi.
But the NYSC secretariat in Bauchi yesterday kept quiet over the corps members.
Abakasanga said a Divisional Crime Officer (DCO), Police Division, Jama’are Local Government Area and a woman Corporal were killed in Giade. The Divisional Police Officer and DCO of Dabam Local Government were injured. They are hospitalised.
The police boss said his men recovered three ballot boxes and 10 locally made guns from the suspects, who include two under age children.
There were looting and burning yesterday by youths who seized shops, business premises and the streets as early as 7a.m., attacking innocent citizens.
Residents of Igbo quarters, Zango, Railway and most parts of the metropolis fled to the Army and Police barracks as the arson continued.
The INEC offices in Bauchi, Jamare, Misau, Dabam and Itas Gadau were torched.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Senator Iliya Audu, told reporters that all the offices were looted before being set ablaze.
Audu said at the INEC office in Bauchi, 500 laptops, 16 power generating sets, cabinets and burglary proof belonging to the commission were stolen before the building was set on fire.
No fewer than 6,000 persons have been displaced, Abubakar Adamu, Bauchi State Secretary, Nigeria Red Cross Society, said.
According to Abubakar, about 23 others, who are injured, have been hospitalised.
On the over 6000 displaced, the Red Cross boss said: “No food or any kind of aid has been supplied to them. They desperately need food. And the State Emergency Management Agency is yet to respond, despite their knowledge of these people’s situation.”
He said residents who ran away for fear of being attacked were returning to their homes.
Men of the Lagos State Police Command on Monday paraded three robbery suspects arrested in Araro in Ikorodu area of the state. The suspects are Amusan Olawale; 25, Olamide Oladayo; 27, and Ogunnowo Babatunde, 32.
Although the police recovered a locally-made single-barrel gun, three live cartridges, charms and two wallets from the suspects, they claimed that they were plumbers and not armed robbers.
But one of the suspects, Olawale, who claimed to be a graduate of Economics from Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, admitted that when he was a student, he used to keep arms and ammunition for cult members.
When asked how he came in possession of the gun, he said, “When I was an undergraduate at Tai Solarin, Aye cult members used to keep their arms and ammunition with me. I’m not an armed robber; I only kept guns for the cult members.
“The police did not recover any money or valuables from us. If indeed I stole, where are the valuables? Or if indeed I was an armed robber, would I have handed the gun over to the residents?”
Olawale, who is married and has two children, said he was being framed up because he was arrested in the territory of a rival gang.
Olawale said he received a distress call from his friend, Oladayo, who was being attacked by some touts in Araro, adding that he took the gun and went to the scene of the clash with his friend, Ogunnowo.
Asked how he sustained gunshot injury, the suspect said he was shot in the leg by the police after they were arrested.
However, the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Samuel Jinadu, insisted that preliminary investigation showed that the men were robbery suspects.
He said, “At about 4pm on Sunday, there was a distress call to the police that three armed robbers at Araro in Ikorodu were operating. The men allegedly robbed a house when all the occupants had gone out. Unfortunately for them, one of the occupants of the house arrived and raised the alarm.
“Residents of the area were able to comb the area and apprehend them. The police recovered from them a locally-made single barrel gun, three live cartridges, charms and two wallets.”
The Baale of Araro however, alleged that the three men were armed robbery suspects, having stolen N400,000 from a resident some weeks ago.
Olawale’s wife, who spoke to PUNCH METRO, on Tuesday, said her husband was innocent and that members of their community in Ogun State could vouch for him.
She however complained that the bullet wound that her husband sustained was not being treated and it could fester.
The three men have since been taken to Special Anti-Robbery Squad for further investigations.
Lecturers, students, others killed in Kaduna.
The violence that broke out in Kaduna metropolis and Zaria on Monday has spread to Kafanchan and Zonkwa in the southern part of the state.
On Tuesday in Samaru, Hayin Dogo area of Zaria near the Basawa Army Barracks, eyewitnesses alleged that soldiers killed about 10 persons suspected to have killed some lecturers and students at the Kaduna State Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic, Zaria on Monday.
Christians in Zaria were said to have complained of being trapped in the violence and unable to run for safety due to the curfew imposed by the state government to curtail the violence.
They also complained of lack of access to food and water.
Many residents of the state capital were caught unawares by the violence and left without money and foodstuffs at home while those who have the cash also found it difficult to buy foodstuffs as markets in the state remained closed.
Reacting to the orgy of violence and killings, the Federal Government on Tuesday deployed about 200 additional riot policemen in Kaduna to quell the violence in the state.
Trucks conveying hundreds of anti- riot policemen were seen at the Presidential Lounge of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, at about 4.30pm on Tuesday.
The policemen, who were initially scheduled to take a special flight to Kaduna, later went through the Nigeria Air Force hanger, where they boarded two Hercules C130 military aircraft expected to convey them to Kaduna.
In Sabo area, a suburb of Kaduna, traders who attempted to sell their wares in front of the market were chased away by security agents to prevent further looting of the shops by criminals.
Chairman of the state chapter of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Bishop Tunde Bakare, told our correspondent on the phone that more than 10 churches were set ablaze in Zaria while several people were killed by the rioters in the town.
Bakare listed most of the churches burnt in the town to include those in the Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic quarters as well as those located within the Samaru and Kongo campus of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
The PFN boss added that in spite of the 24-hour curfew imposed by the state government, the hoodlums armed with knives, sticks, bows and arrows moved about, especially around 10.00 pm and 2.00am from house to house attacking people and burning their homes.
He claimed that apparently because the security agents were not given orders to shoot, the hoodlums ignored them, adding that the most challenging period for the residents was during the night when the rioters normally regrouped to unleash terror.
Bakare said that it was unfortunate that the security operatives found it difficult to contain the hoodlums.
He said, “When the police chased them, they will regroup later. The security agents have done well, but it appears they have not been given decisive instructions to deal with them.”
“The boys were engaging the police; their time for attack is in the night between 11:00pm and 2:00 am. They will be chanting Sai Buhari. Because of the curfew our people find it difficult to run to safe zones. The curfew is already taking its toll on the people as they have no food nor water and they cannot go out to get these basic needs.
“Why is the church being asked to pay for this matter which is a political issue? Why are Christians being killed because of an issue which is purely political? Why are Christians being made a scapegoat over a political matter?
“Right now we are under siege and our churches are being burnt and our people are being killed. We called on government to take adequate steps to halt this massacre of Christians” Bakare said
In Kafanchan and Zonkwa in the southern part of the state, heavy fighting broke out between Christians and Muslims at about 8pm on Monday night. The fighting did not subside until about noon on Tuesday with some of the residents alleging that those involved in the fight may have been brought into the area from elsewhere.
“I saw the body of a man beheaded after he was killed by these men. They are using grenade launchers, and the guns they are firing are not mere AK47s”, a resident who pleaded anonymity said.
It was gathered that the Police in Kafanchan could not contain the situation as youths from surrounding villages teamed up and entered the town around midnight to take on the alleged CPC armed men.
The youths reportedly used bows and arrows, cutlasses and sticks to slow the advances of the attackers in some areas but many churches and homes of Christians were complete razed.
Our correspondent gathered that in Kagoro, Afana, Kurdan and Garage a detachment of Special Task Force unit from Jos moved into the towns to restore order.
Eye witnesses in Zonkwa said that Fajumali Hotel was set ablaze by the rioters, resulting in a reprisal attack and burning of the houses of suspected CPC supporters. Unspecified number of mosques were also razed in the Christian-dominated town.
The Emir of Jema’a, Alhaji Isa Muhammadu told the Hausa service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that even though there were security agents in the area, they were so overwhelmed and could not do much to restore order to the town.
The Emir lamented that the security personnel were incapacitated, adding that those unleashing terror were so much that even if they were blocked from one end of the town, they would regroup and start attacking from the other end.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Apple Sues Samsung for 'Copying
Apple's iPhone 3G (L) and Samsung Electronics' Galaxy S mobile phone
Apple is suing its rival Samsung Electronics for allegedly copying the design of its iPad and iPhone, reports the BBC.
It claims Samsung's Galaxy range of mobile phones and tablet "slavishly" copy the iPhone and iPad, according to court papers.
Apple's claims focus on Galaxy's design features, such as the look of its screen icons.
Samsung said it had conducted its own research and development and would contest the allegations.
Galaxy products use Google's Android operating system, which directly competes with Apple's mobile software.
As well as being a competitor, Samsung supplies Apple with microchips that are used in some Apple products, such as the A4 and A5 processors, as well as memory chips used in MacBook Pro computers.
In the world of smartphones and tablet computers, being sued for alleged patent infringements could be considered a badge of honour, a sign your products are cutting edge, a threat to rivals.
Apple is suing the likes of Motorola, HTC and Samsung; Nokia is suing Apple; everybody counter-sues each other. Poor Sony Ericsson; its products don't seem to merit a law suit.
These legal machinations are not that much about who wins them. Mobile innovation is accelerating and the window to exploit each new technology is getting smaller. Lawsuits are a chance to sow doubt, distract, slow down the competition.
They are not even about Samsung, HTC or Motorola, who have become proxies in a much bigger battle: the fight between Apple and Google, and their respective mobile operating systems iOS and Android.
Unless one side lands a killer blow, consumers should be able to sit back, and enjoy the fruits of this fierce competition.
The lawsuit was filed on Friday and alleges Samsung violated Apple's patents and trademarks.
Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet said in a statement: "This kind of blatant copying is wrong."
However, Samsung said that its products are a result of research and development carried out by the company.
"Samsung's development of core technologies and strengthening our intellectual property portfolio are keys to our continued success," the company said in a statement.
The Korean electronics maker also said that it will contest the allegations "through appropriate legal measures to protect our intellectual property".
John Jackson, an analyst with CCS Insight, said Samsung is essentially Apple's only real tablet competitor at this stage.
Nokia has sued Apple, which in turn has sued handset maker HTC Corp.
Apple is bringing 16 claims against Samsung, including unjust enrichment, trademark infringement and 10 patent claims.
In March Apple sued HTC alleging patent infringement over the iPhone.
In October 2010, Apple sued Motorola, saying its smartphones use Apple's intellectual property.
THE Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is working on a bye-law to tackle incessant flight delay that is fast taking joy out of travel.
Essentially, the bill which will become part of the civil aviation authority regulations is to help ameliorate frustration passengers suffer at different airports waiting to catch their flights.
Spokesman for the NCAA, Sam Adurogboye, told The Guardian the bill is to be subjected to debate by stakeholders in the industry, adding that the law will make passengers get compensation when they are not airlifted, or when they are delayed.
According to Adurogboye, international travel is different domestic operations, stressing that in a situation where an international airline fails to airlift passengers or is involved in long delay, the affected airline is obligated to lodge the travellers in hotel and provide them with food and other amenities.
But in domestic travel, affected travellers are assumed to reside in areas around the airport and are expected to return home in the event of cancellation or flight delay.
In a related development, early morning passengers on Arik Air Monday witnessed flight delay at the Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja as workers of a handling company refused to provide ground handling services to the airline.
The Guardian learnt that the airline was indebted to the ground handling company, Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCOL), on services rendered.
Some workers of SAHCOL who preferred anonymity told reporters that they were instructed by the management not to provide services to the airline until it had paid its debts.
Passengers affected by the delay frowned at the situation, saying it could eat into their time of departure and arrival.
Confirming the situation, the Managing Director of SAHCOL, Mr. Isaac Orolugbagbe, said the company had a commercial disagreement with Arik Air.
“We need money to pay our workers. We also need to pay our bills. The passengers are paying so we need to be paid,” he said. Orolugbagbe, however, said he was discussing with the management of the airline to resolve the issue.
But the airline, in a reaction by its Media Officer, Mr. Ola Banji, said Arik was not owing SAHCOL. “What we have with SAHCOL is a problem of reconciliation of account, which is being sorted out,” Banji said. He added that the situation did not affect the airline departure time.
FG approves funds for payment of ex-bankers’ benefits.
There are indications that reprieve may have come the way of the ex-staff of non –consolidated banks following the approval of their terminal benefits by the Federal Government through the intervention of the Ministry of Labour and Productivity.
Counsel for the Association of Ex-staff of Non-consolidated Banks, Mr Emenike Azubuike, who broke the news in a press briefing in Umuahia, said the presidency had approved the sum of N9,784,617,646.07 for their payment , but added that the approval was still waiting for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to issue a promisory note to the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Commission (NDIC) to effect payment.
While applauding the Federal Government for its sensitivity to the plights of the affected staff, Azubuike appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan, to prevail on the Central Bank to live up to its expectations.
He regretted that many lives had been lost as a result of the delay in the payment of the terminal benefits of the ex-staff of the non-consolidated banks.
‘’From a bank alone, 23 ex-bankers have died due to suffering and hardship. Most of them can not get job because of age barrier. Some developed full, and some partial stroke due to their inability to pay their children’s school fees,”Azubuike lamented.
POLITICS
Ogun crisis: Daniel set to meet Jonathan .
The Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, will on Wednesday (today) meet with President Goodluck Jonathan over the state governorship election.
Investigations on Tuesday by our correspondents revealed that the meeting was a last minute effort by the President to resolve the crisis in the state Peoples Democratic Party before the April 26 polls.
It was gathered that PDP members and Daniel’s supporters in the Peoples Party of Nigeria were worried that the governorship seat of the state might elude both parties, if the crisis was not resolved.
The crisis in the state PDP worsened in December last year when two factions of the party led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Daniel held parallel primaries.
At the primaries conducted by the Obasanjo faction, a former military governor of Oyo State, Maj.-Gen. Tunji Olurin (retd.) was picked as the governorship candidate.
A former Managing Director of Gateway Holdings, Mr. Gboyega Isiaka, emerged the winner of the Daniel faction’s governorship primaries.
Following the recognition of Olurin’s candidacy by the Independent National Electoral Commission, Isiaka defected to the PPN, where he was named the governorship candidate.
Although Daniel remains in the PDP, he has been supporting Isiaka’s candidacy in the PPN.
The PDP and the PPN lost three senatorial seats in the state to the Action Congress of Nigeria during the April 9 National Assembly polls.
But Jonathan defeated the ACN candidate, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, during the April 16 presidential election in the state.
Our correspondents gathered that PDP and the PPN leaders were concerned that both Olurin and Isiaka could lose the governorship election to the ACN candidate, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, if the crisis was not resolved.
When one of our correspondents wanted to know Daniel’s stand on the meeting, he said the correspondent should meet him at the Presidential Villa.
I’m ready for INEC panel – Ngige.
The candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria in Anambra Central Senatorial election, Dr. Chris Ngige, has said he is ready to face the panel set up by the Independent National Electoral Commission to investigate the controversies surrounding the election of April 9.
Ngige, who was declared the winner of that election, said the panel would give Nigerians an opportunity to see what transpired during the election.
He also expressed confidence that the panel would ensure fairness in the discharge of its duties as Anambra people were watching.
Ngige’s position was contained in a statement by the Publicity Secretary, Action Congress of Nigeria in Anambra State, Mr. Okelo Madukaife.
He said, “We are confident that the findings from that investigation would vindicate our position that Dr. Ngige is the senator-elect in the National Assembly elections of April 9, 2011.
“We call on INEC to issue the Certificate of Return without further delay.”
On April 11, 20011, the Senatorial District Collating and Returning Officer, Mr. Alex Anene, declared Ngige the winner, having scored the highest number of votes in that election.
Madukaife said, “We note for the avoidance of any doubt that Ngige’s victory is not in question despite vicious and wicked propaganda illegally paid from Anambra State’s resources.
“Ngige scored the highest number of votes in the election, and has since been declared the winner by the Returning Officer in charge.
“In addition, we wish to note that his opponents have not claimed that they won the election or that Ngige lost.
“Rather, they are seeking selective cancellations and rerun in a match that has been blown as over by the appropriate referee.
“The opponents’ resort to gutter language and personal attacks in attempts to bait the Senator-elect into school-yard brawl is not only infantile and crass, but also futile, because Ngige is an accomplished statesman who would not descend to such juvenile level.
“We caution that those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.”
Similarly former governorship aspirant of the Progressive Peoples Alliance in Anambra state, Mr. Etiaba, has described the victory of Ngige as final.
He contended that INEC had no right to reverse the declaration made by the Returning Officer.
Etiaba noted that after the declaration, anybody that felt short-changed should go to the election petitions tribunal to seek redress.
“My view is that anybody who feels that the declaration was wrongly done should go to court.
“That is what the Electoral Act tells us. Once a declaration has been made INEC becomes fontus ofitio. INEC cannot do anything about it. Anybody that feels that Anene made a wrongful declaration should go to the tribunal.”
Etiaba contended that the INEC panel was to advise INEC on future election and not to determine what had happened.
CRIME FILE
Car crashes into pepper soup joint.
Some customers at a local delicacy (pepper soup) joint in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital narrowly escaped death, when a driver lost control and drove into where they were relaxing.
When NEXT visited the scene yesterday, the car was still stuck inside the building which is located beside the road, with the structure completely damaged. Some of the lucky customers who escaped from the rubbles of the damaged building told NEXT that they were full of gratitude to God for saving their lives.
“It was like a child’s play when the car was coming towards us. We quickly realised that there was danger ahead, in view of the fact that the driver lost control. And I want to believe God was on our side; we all escape unhurt.” One of the lucky customers said.
The owner of the outfit could not speak to journalists on the accident.
Four persons have been burnt and 45 inmates released from the Federal Prisons in Funtua, Katsina State as the police and other security agencies battled to suppress the orgy of violence that had gripped the state since Sunday.
Although state Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema, had imposed a curfew between 9pm and 7am on Monday, several churches and homes were burnt in the cover of darkness between Monday and the early hours of Tuesday.
A security source told our correspondent that situation could have been worse if the governor had not imposed the curfew.
“It was a cat and mouse game between these uncoordinated miscreants and the combined security agencies in the state,” the source said.
Violent protesters had besieged the prison and set the inmates free. They burnt the official vehicles of the prison authorities.
The Commissioner of Police in the Katsina State Police Command, Mallam Ibrahim Mohammed, said the violence in other states of the North had reached Katsina.
“These people, who I will call miscreants, arsonists, criminals and murderers, went on the rampage in some towns in different local government areas, burning tyres, places of worship and people in their homes. This is unbecoming of human beings. It is barbaric. I was shocked with what I saw in Funtua,” he said.
Mohammed confirmed that at least four persons were burnt in their homes while household property, cars and churches were destroyed.
Mohammed said it was “sadism of the highest order,” saying the police would not tolerate it.
“I have a list of those behind this violence, they will all be arrested and prosecuted, no matter their status,” he said.
Mohammed said he had already summoned a meeting of religious and community leaders to ensure that the violence did not escalate.
He said over 107 suspects had been arrested in connection with the mayhem.
Our correspondent gathered that massive destruction of property took place in Malumfashi, Kankari, Daura and Gibia.
At least five churches were burnt in Daura and Funtua. The Peoples Democratic Party secretariat in Kankari; private residents of local PDP leaders; the Shema campaign office were destroyed in the orgy of violence.
The police said the violence in Malumfashi had a peculiar sinister motive to it.
“In Malumfashi, they will evacuate the homes, tell the occupants to come out and then set them ablaze,” the police boss.
Mohammed said security agencies were working hard to ensure that the violence did not escalate or remain till Tuesday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections.
“I appeal to everybody to assist the police with information. I want information from the public about those behind these barbaric acts,” he said.
2 sisters arraigned for killing mother.
Two sisters of the same parents, Rasheedat Olasunkanmi and Taibat Olasunkanmi, have been arraigned before an Osogbo Magistrates’ Court for allegedly killing their mother, Mrs Alimotu Olasunkanmi.
Charged along with them was Aremu Oyebade, the husband of Rasheedat.
The three accused were alleged to have clubbed Mrs Olasunkanmi to death at her home, Number 12, Atelewo Street, Osogbo.
The prosecution alleged that the three accused conspired together to commit felony to wit murder by hitting the deceased with turning sticks and grinding stone at about 8.30 a.m on the fateful day.
According to the prosecutor, Sergent Suleiman Olorukooba, the three accused persons accused the woman of witchcraft, which they alleged, was responsible for their woes.
The offence, the prosecutor alleged, was contrary to and punishable under Section 316 (1) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Volume 2 Laws of Osun State of Nigeria.
No plea was taken from the accused.
The trial Magistrate, Mr Olalekan Ijiyode, ordered that the accused be remanded at the federal prison, Ilesa, pending the time that they would be arraigned before an appropriate court that would try the case.
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