Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has appointed another service chief.

Maj. Gen Samuel Adebayo has been appointed as Nigeria’s new Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI) and Head of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

The Nigerian government made the announcement via its twitter handle on Saturday, February 13.

Politics Nigeria learned that Adebayo will succeed Air Vice Marshal Muhammed Usman, who recently retired from service. Adebayo was a former director at the DIA and previously served as a military intelligence chief. Speaking on the development, Adebayo said; “Security agencies are also doing their best but much more still needs to be done.”

“In particular, the DIA has continued to raise the bar in the intelligence state craft and considering the achievements of the former CDI, I know that the task ahead is daunting but clearly achievable.” (ireporteronline)

Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Bashir Magashi (rtd) has said that the Nigerian government will use minimum force to deal with #OccupyLekkiTollGate protesters.

Magashi made this known In Kano on Saturday while reacting to the #OccupyLekkiTollGate protest.

The minister added that the government will not sit down and watch hoodlums and criminals destroy lives and vandalize properties under the guise of #EndSARS protest.

He stated that the Buhari-led administration will not be governed the way some people want it.

He further commended the government for appointing new service chiefs while expressing optimism that the move will yield the desired result of winning the war against insurgents.

“If some people are seeing this country, that it has to be governed the way they want, they are mistaken,” Magashi said.

“We are not elected to serve a particular people. We were elected to serve this country. Whoever is involved in this thing, the military or the government will not allow it to happen.” (globalexcelenceonline)

The new crime thriller about a magnetic leader of the Black Panther Party is a sharp criticism of the FBI’s surveillance of social movements past and present

“The Black Panthers are the single greatest threat to our national security. Our counterintelligence program must prevent the rise of a Black messiah from among their midst.” And so begins Judas and the Black Messiah, with an ominous speech from the FBI director J. Edgar Hoover (played by Martin Sheen) in 1968. The film, which debuted yesterday in theaters and on HBO Max, is part crime thriller, part civil-rights historical drama. It tells the story of the rise of the Black Panther Party’s deputy chairman, Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya), and the informant who helped the FBI orchestrate his assassination, Bill O’Neal (Lakeith Stanfield). Judas, directed by Shaka King, profoundly illuminates COINTELPRO’s legacy of repressing Black freedom movements, the effects of which can still be felt today with regard to the Black Lives Matter movement (theatlantic)

Why I’ve made it my mission to teach others about Prince Hall

Independence in proclaiming that all “men are born free and equal.” In this statement Adams followed not only the Declaration but also a 1764 pamphlet by the Boston lawyer James Otis, who theorized about and popularized the familiar idea of “no taxation without representation” and also unequivocally asserted human equality. “The Colonists,” he wrote, “are by the law of nature free born, as indeed all men are, white or black.” In 1783, on the basis of the “free and equal” clause in the 1780 Massachusetts Constitution, the state’s chief justice, William Cushing, ruled enslavement unconstitutional in a case that one Quock Walker had brought against his enslaver, Nathaniel Jennison.

Many of us who live in Massachusetts know the basic outlines of this story and the early role the state played in standing against enslavement. But told in this traditional way, the story leaves out another transformative figure: Prince Hall, a free African American and a contemporary of John Adams. From his formal acquisition of freedom, in 1770, until his death, in 1807, Hall helped forge an activist Black community in Boston while elevating the cause of abolition to new prominence. Hall was the first American to publicly use the language of the Declaration of Independence for a political purpose other than justifying war against Britain. In January 1777, just six months after the promulgation of the Declaration and nearly three years before Adams drafted the state constitution, Hall submitted a petition to the Massachusetts legislature (or General Court, as it is styled) requesting emancipation, invoking the resonant phrases and founding truths of the Declaration itself.

Here is what he wrote (I’ve put the echoes of the Declaration of Independence in italics):

The petition of A Great Number of Blackes detained in a State of Slavery in the Bowels of a free & christian Country Humbly shuwith that your Petitioners Apprehend that Thay have in Common with all other men a Natural and Unaliable Right to that freedom which the Grat — Parent of the Unavese hath Bestowed equalley on all menkind and which they have Never forfuted by Any Compact or Agreement whatever — but thay wher Unjustly Dragged by the hand of cruel Power from their Derest frinds and sum of them Even torn from the Embraces of their tender Parents — from A popolous Plasant And plentiful cuntry And in Violation of Laws of Nature and off Nations And in defiance of all the tender feelings of humanity Brough hear Either to Be sold Like Beast of Burthen & Like them Condemnd to Slavery for Life.

In this passage, Hall invokes the core concepts of social-contract theory, which grounded the American Revolution, to argue for an extension of the claim to equal rights to those who were enslaved. He acknowledged and adopted the intellectual framework of the new political arrangements, but also pointedly called out the original sin of enslavement itself.

Hall’s memory was vigorously kept alive by members and archivists of the Masonic lodge he founded, and his name can be found in historical references. But his life has attracted fresh attention in recent years from scholars and community leaders, both because he deserves to be widely known and celebrated and because inserting his story into the tale of the country’s founding exemplifies the promise of an integrated way of studying and teaching history. It’s hard enough to shine new light on an African American figure who has been long in the shadows, one who in important ways should be considered an American Founder. It can prove far more difficult to trace an individual’s “relationship tree” and come to understand that person, in a granular and even cinematic way, in the full context of his or her own society: family, school, church, civic organizations, commerce, government. Doing so—especially for figures and communities that have been overlooked—gives us a chance to tell a whole story, to weave together multiple perspectives on the events of our political founding into a single, joined tale. It also provides an opportunity to draw out and emphasize the agency of people who experienced oppression and domination. In the case of Prince Hall, the process of historical reconstruction is still under way.

From the October 2020 issue: Danielle Allen on the flawed genius of the Constitution

When I was a girl, I used to ask what there was to know about the experience of being enslaved—and was told by kind and well-meaning teachers that, sadly, the lack of records made the question impossible to answer. In fact, the records were there; we just hadn’t found them yet. Historical evidence often turns up only when one starts to look for it. And history won’t answer questions until one thinks to ask them.

John adams and prince hall would have passed each other on the streets of Boston. They almost certainly were aware of each other. Hall was no minor figure, though his early days and family life are shrouded in some mystery. Probably he was born in Boston in 1735 (not in England or Barbados, as some have suggested). It is possible that he lived for a period as a freeman before he was formally emancipated. He may have been one of the thousands of African Americans who fought in the Continental Army; his son, Primus, certainly was. As a freeman, Hall became for a time a leatherworker, passed through a period of poverty, and then ultimately ran a shop, from which he sold, among other things, his own writings advocating for African American causes. Probably he was not married to every one of the five women in Boston who were married to someone named Prince Hall in the years between 1763 and 1804, but he may have been. Whether he was married to Primus’s mother, a woman named Delia, is also unclear. Between 1780 and 1801, the city’s tax collectors found their way to some 1,184 different Black taxpayers. Prince Hall and his son appear in those tax records for 15 of those 21 years, giving them the longest period of recorded residence in the city of any Black person we know about in that era. The DePaul University historian Chernoh M. Sesay Jr.’s excellent dissertation, completed in 2006, provides the most thorough and rigorously analyzed academic review of Hall’s biography that is currently available. (The dissertation, which I have drawn on here, has not yet been published in full, but I hope it will be.)

Continue reading

(Theatlantic)

A 29 year old farmer, Sunday Jackson of Dong community in Demsa Local Government Area, Adamawa state has been convicted and sentenced to death by hanging for killing a herdsman.

Sunday Jackson who was tried by Honourable Justice Fatima Ahmed Tafida led High Court for culpable homicide punishable with death contrary to section 221 of the penal code law, was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging.

The convict was found guilty of causing the death of the herdsman, Buba Ardo Bawuro by stabbing him with a knife on the neck in a bush in Kodomti community, Numan LGA.

In his extra judicial confessional statement admitted in evidence, Sunday Jackson narrated that while he was working in his farm in a bush in Kodomti, the deceased came and put his cattle in his farm, but when he asked the Fulani herdsman why did he do so, the herdsman did not say anything.

According to him, he pursued the animals out of his farm, but the Fulani herdsman brought out his knife and advanced towards him with the knife and that on his part, he had nothing in his hand to defend himself.

Sunday Jackson said that he started running and screaming but no one came to his rescue, saying that as he was running, the herdsman trailed him and stabbed him with the knife at the back of his head.

He added that he then turned back to hit the deceased with his left leg, but he was not lucky as the deceased used the knife and stabbed him on the left leg.

At that point, according to him, he got scared when he discovered that the Fulani herdsman was trying to to stab him again, saying that he held the hand of the deceased, and that as they were struggling, he collected the knife, stabbed him 3 times on his neck and threw away the knife.

But when he was arraigned before the court earlier, the defendant and now the convict pleaded not guilty to the offence, and in an effort to establish its case against him, the prosecution called 2 witnesses.

Arguing his case earlier, the defence counsel, F. A. Ogbe, told the court that the action of his client was in self defense, and prayed the court to discharge and acquit the farmer and former student G.D.S.S Zangun in Numan LGA.

On his part, counsel to the prosecution, N. J. Atiku, urged the court to convict the defendant solely on his confessional statement, and based on the fact that the death of human being had actually occurred.

In its verdict on Wednesday, the court presided by Justice Fatima Ahmed Tafida, said that the defendant had confessed to be the one that actually killed the herdsman, and that his confessional statement alone is enough to warrant his conviction.

Justice Fatima held that the defendant having disarmed the deceased, had the opportunity to escape for his life but failed to so do, saying that having considered the evidence (exhibits) tendered and the fact that they were not discredited, the prosecution has proved its case against the defendant and sentenced him to death by

A 29 year old farmer, Sunday Jackson of Dong community in Demsa Local Government Area, Adamawa state has been convicted and sentenced to death by hanging for killing a herdsman.

Sunday Jackson who was tried by Honourable Justice Fatima Ahmed Tafida led High Court for culpable homicide punishable with death contrary to section 221 of the penal code law, was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging.

The convict was found guilty of causing the death of the herdsman, Buba Ardo Bawuro by stabbing him with a knife on the neck in a bush in Kodomti community, Numan LGA.

In his extra judicial confessional statement admitted in evidence, Sunday Jackson narrated that while he was working in his farm in a bush in Kodomti, the deceased came and put his cattle in his farm, but when he asked the Fulani herdsman why did he do so, the herdsman did not say anything.

According to him, he pursued the animals out of his farm, but the Fulani herdsman brought out his knife and advanced towards him with the knife and that on his part, he had nothing in his hand to defend himself.

Sunday Jackson said that he started running and screaming but no one came to his rescue, saying that as he was running, the herdsman trailed him and stabbed him with the knife at the back of his head.

He added that he then turned back to hit the deceased with his left leg, but he was not lucky as the deceased used the knife and stabbed him on the left leg.

At that point, according to him, he got scared when he discovered that the Fulani herdsman was trying to to stab him again, saying that he held the hand of the deceased, and that as they were struggling, he collected the knife, stabbed him 3 times on his neck and threw away the knife.

But when he was arraigned before the court earlier, the defendant and now the convict pleaded not guilty to the offence, and in an effort to establish its case against him, the prosecution called 2 witnesses.

Arguing his case earlier, the defence counsel, F. A. Ogbe, told the court that the action of his client was in self defense, and prayed the court to discharge and acquit the farmer and former student G.D.S.S Zangun in Numan LGA.

On his part, counsel to the prosecution, N. J. Atiku, urged the court to convict the defendant solely on his confessional statement, and based on the fact that the death of human being had actually occurred.

In its verdict on Wednesday, the court presided by Justice Fatima Ahmed Tafida, said that the defendant had confessed to be the one that actually killed the herdsman, and that his confessional statement alone is enough to warrant his conviction.

Justice Fatima held that the defendant having disarmed the deceased, had the opportunity to escape for his life but failed to so do, saying that having considered the evidence (exhibits) tendered and the fact that they were not discredited, the prosecution has proved its case against the defendant and sentenced him to death by hanging. (tgnews)

An ambush that appeared targeted at the Niger State Governor’s Chief of Staff (CoS), Mallam Ibrahim Balarabe, on Sunday appears to have gone awry with 18 passengers in a commercial bus taken in his stead.

The 18 were part of guests returning from a wedding ceremony in Rijau, Rijau Local Government Area (LGA).

Police spokesman in the state, Wasiu Abiodun, was not available for comments and did not respond to messages to his phone line.

The Niger State Transport Authority (NSTA) bus that appeared at a road block believed to have been put in place for Balarabe was stopped, its passengers, except a woman and her baby, were herded into the forest.

Balarabe’s convoy arrived to the sorry state of the woman, her baby, and an empty bus; picked up the woman; and is believed to have scrambled a security response to the unfortunate incident.

Sources said the bandits numbered about 40, based on information gathered from the nursingmother..

The CoS was on his way from Kagara, his hometown in Rafi LGA, where he had gone early Sunday morning to participate in the All Progressive Congress (APC) revalidation and registration exercise.

The late afternoon incident took place at Kundu village, less than a quarter of a kilometer from Zungeru Bridge on the Minna -Tegina road in Rafi LGA.

A top government official in the CoS entourage confirmed the incident, adding in a telephone interview, “The only thing I can tell you now is we have rescued the woman and her baby and she is in the vehicle with us and we are on our way to Minna. She told us that the bandits blocked the way and went away with other 18 passengers in the bus.

“No government official was among those kidnapped. I can’t give more than that for now because the woman is traumatised and we cannot be asking her too many questions for now.” (Everyday)

Anambra judicial panel of Inquiry on Police brutality and Extra judicial Killing has suffered setbacks following resignation of five members of the panel.

The members, mainly youth representatives were Mr Chijioke Ifediora , Mr Henry Ugwu, Mr. Osonwa Chukwuka and Mr Ebelechukwu Ngini and Chibuike Obiwuzie.

Announcing their resignation in a letter to Governor Willie Obiano, their representative, Chijioke Ifediora said their decision followed alleged government insincerity towards the panel set up to address the plight of victims and families of police brutality.

He also accused government of failing to provide the panel with the necessary logistics and support to function effectively.

He alleged the government had ignored the Panel to playing to the gallery, regretting that the society had viewed members of the panel as conniving with government to deny them right to fair hearing.

He said they were giving the government a two-week ultimatum to fulfill all condition to reconvene the panel, warning that the youths would hit the streets on failure to do so.

He said: “The state government had demonstrated through the way it had treated the panel that it was not set up to genuinely address the plight of victims and families of police brutality.

“Over 250 pending petitions from the 310 submitted but no word had been heard from government since the panel adjourned early December whereas it was supposed to have resumed on Jan. 14.

“The application for more sitting days to enable the panel attend to the plethora of cases had not been granted and that the society was now seeing members of the panel as conniving with government to deny them right to fair hearing.

“It is imperative to mention that Anambra, under your watch and that of your predecessor, was the cynosure of Police brutality, extortion, and even extrajudicial killings in Nigeria.

“The notorious defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Awkuzu and numerous other Police outfits in Anambra State have become infamous around the world for outrageous, unconscionable, and iniquitous violations of the fundamental rights of Nigerians, including the right to life.

“We were impressed when the Government promptly constituted the Panel to investigate cases of Police brutality and recommend compensation to victims among other points in its terms of reference.

“Sadly, the sittings of the Panel were characterised by inefficiency and poor organisation because the state government failed woefully to adequately provide for logistics for anything at all involving the proceedings of the Panel.

“We are however now convinced beyond peradventure that the Anambra State Government has no regard for the victims of the many human rights violations by the Police in the State.

“Many victims and other interested stakeholders have been communicating the Panel’s secretariat or its members in a bid to know why the Panel is no longer sitting despite more than 250 petitions which have been unattended to.

“We firmly refuse to be pawns in the game of the Government, so we hereby resign our appointments into the Anambra State Panel and completely dissociate ourselves from all the charade put up to give lip service to the plights of residents of Anambra State.” (thenigerialawyer)

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJA) Justice Ibrahim Muhammad has advocated for a unified legal system for the continent of Africa to allow for mutual legal development.

Justice Muhammad observed: “The African legal system or Judiciary is like a broken mirror, reflecting different directions, especially the directions of the various colonial homes of the respective countries.

“Yet, Africans are the only people, who in the past, resolved disputes and issues through traditional institutions.”

The CJN, who spoke in Abuja, while hosting a delegation from the African Bar Association (AFBA), urged the association to “work hard for the unification of African Judiciary and mutual legal development.”

The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the CJN on Media, Ahuraka Yusuf Isah, said in a statement on Sunday that Justice Muhammad expressed gratitude for the visit but urged the association to ensure that African lawyers can compete favourably among the best of lawyers around the world, in content and good character.

He quoted the CJN as stressing that his admonition was informed by the fact that the continent’s Bench cannot be clean if its origin is filthy.

The delegation led by AFBA’s President, Hannibal Uwaifo, was received by the CJN and some Justices of the Supreme Court namely, Justices John Inyang Okoro, Amina Adamu Augie, Uwani Musa Aba-Aji and Abdu Aboki.

Uwaifo told the CJN that the visit was on behalf of the Chairman of AFBA Governing Council, Joseph B. Daudu (SAN), adding that it was also part of the association’s continuous consultations with Chief Justices of the Supreme Court across the continent.

’The visit is to afford us the opportunity to brief Your Lordship firsthand, about our activities, our positive impact in the legal profession and judicial sector across the continent, and also to enable us to make suggestions for post COVID-19 era for the African Judiciary,’’Uwaifo said

He added his association’s 2021 Annual Conference, which was scheduled to hold between February 28 and – March 5 in Niamey, Niger Republic has been rescheduled for August 2021 because of the COVID-19 crisis. (Thenigerialawyer)