SaharaReporters gathered that the soldiers were on patrol to clear some Boko Haram elements in the area following credible intelligence when they were ambushed by the insurgents.

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by SaharaReporters, New York Feb 09, 2021

About 48 hours after Boko Haram/Islamic States West Province (ISWAP) terrorists repelled an attack by the military, killing at least 20 soldiers in Malari, Borno State, the Nigerian army has yet to officially speak on the incident.

SaharaReporters gathered that the soldiers were on patrol to clear some Boko Haram elements in the area following credible intelligence when they were ambushed by the insurgents.

A senior military officer said the gunmen subsequently engaged the troops with an overwhelming firepower, killing about 20 soldiers.

The terrorists also destroyed about three operational vehicles of the Nigerian army.

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The attack comes few days after six soldiers were killed in an ambush along Goniri-Gorigi Road while returning from a clearance operation.

Authorities of the Nigeria army have however been silent on both incidents.

“They have contacted their families as usual, they will be buried in a cemetery here in Maiduguri during the week,” a source told SaharaReporters.

Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province, have killed thousands and displaced millions in North-Eastern Nigeria.

Nigerian army has repeatedly claimed that the insurgency has been largely defeated and frequently underplays any losses.

In the past months, soldiers have been targeted by the insurgents, waiting in ambush for them.

The Boko Haram insurgency has caused over 30,000 deaths and displaced millions of individuals, mainly in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states. (SaharaReporters)

MTN has introduced new initiatives that aimed at increasing its capacity to provide enrolment services across its customer interaction touch points, including rural locations, in a bid to support the Nigerian Government’s drive towards the National Identification Number (NIN) registration.

MTN said the initiatives would support a reliable and sustainable National Identity Management system for the country, which is a critical enabler that will deliver multiple benefits to the telecoms industry and the country as a whole.

It added that it would aid national economic planning and enhance security, governance and service delivery at all levels.

At locations where enrolment services have been introduced, alongside its standard COVID-19 safety protocols, MTN said it had deployed a dynamic onsite appointment booking system designed in limiting indoor crowding at its service centres and planned to launch an online version shortly.

The Chief Customer Relations Officer for MTN Nigeria, Ugonwa Nwoye, was quoted by Alexeh.com to have said: “Following the approval of our NIN enrolment licence from the Nigerian Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in December, MTN Nigeria commenced enrolment for NIN at a limited number of its service centres across Nigeria.

“This forms part of a broader commitment to roll out thousands of enrolment devices across all geo-political zones as earlier stated.

“We seek the continued patience and understanding of our esteemed customers and the public as we continue scaling up capacity.

“We are working closely with NIMC and the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to expand the number of enrolment centres, and ensure that they provide an access point for as many Nigerians as possible. This involves close collaboration between other Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and NIMC to ensure certification and technical integration is seamless while offering maximum possible protection from COVID-19.

“Ensuring that every Nigerian has access to a location where they can enrol in the NIN system, while simultaneously registering their SIM cards, is critical to the expansion and deepening of our digital economy, and we are committed to collaborating with the government in their efforts to achieve this.” (theconclaveng)

The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights has confirmed the appointment of Hon Justice Dumisa Buhle Ntsebeza SC and Hon Justice Modibo Sacko.

Their appointment was made Friday at the 34th African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government Ordinary Summit.

A statement signed by the Court’s Registrar, Dr Robert Eno disclosed that they will be sworn-in during the 61st Ordinary Session scheduled for June 2021.

Hon Justice Dumisa Buhle Ntsebeza SC is from the Republic of South Africa while Hon Justice Modibo Sacko from the Republic of Mali.

The statement further related that Hon Justice Rafaâ Ben Achour from the Republic of Tunisia and Hon Lady-Justice Imani Daud Aboud from the United Republic of Tanzania were re-elected. They will serve for the second and final term of six years as required under Article 15 of the Protocol establishing the Court.

Ntsebeza SC and Hon Justice Modibo Sacko are replacing Hon Justice Sylvain Oré from the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire (2010-2021), the current President of the Court, and Hon Justice Justice Ângelo Vasco Matusse (2014-2021) from the Republic of Mozambique.

Part of the statement reads:

“The President of the Court, Hon Justice Oré, has warmly received the election of the two new Judges (Ntsebeza and Sacko), and re-election of Justices Achour and Aboud, and said that  the Court is fully convinced of their deep commitment to human rights and to further strengthen protection of human rights in Africa.”

The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights is composed of eleven Judges who are nationals of Member States of the African Union elected in their individual capacity.

More so, it is the judicial arm of the African Union and one of the three regional human rights courts together with the European Court of Human Rights and the Inter-American Court of Human rights.

The Court meets four times a year in Ordinary Sessions and may hold Extra-Ordinary Sessions.

Established to protect the human and peoples’ rights in Africa principally through delivery of judgments, the Court has its permanent seat in Arusha, the United Republic of Tanzania.

Ebun Adegboruwa, representative of civil society on the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry investigating the shooting of EndSARS protesters at Lekki tollgate, says the panel has not received the camera the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, found at the tollgate.

The minister had on Sunday, October 25, 2020, purportedly found the camera at the tollgate during his visit to the toll plaza alongside governors and ministers from the South-West, five days after soldiers shot at protesters at the place.

Fashola, who picked up the camera with a handkerchief, handed it over to the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who in turn promised to give it to the panel.

While handing it over to Sanwo-Olu, the minister said, “I think this will help with the ongoing investigations into the shootings at the Lekki Toll Gate. It requires forensic analysis and could be used in the investigations to unravel the mystery surrounding the shootings at the Toll Gate, I believe.”

But according to Adegboruwa, over three months after the discovery of the camera, it is yet to be handed to the panel investigating the incident.

The lawyer said, “The Lagos State Government has been summoned by the Panel and it is yet to appear, to offer its own testimony of the accounts of 20th October, 2020. The Governor of Lagos State in an open broadcast, promised to hand over a camera picked up by the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, to the Panel. That has not happened. The Nigerian Army made very serious allegations against the Lagos State Government during its testimony, on the incident at the Lekki Toll Plaza, which are yet to be responded to.”

Explaining why he opposed the reopening of the tollgate, Adegboruwa said, “Allegations have been made against the company responsible for the Bill Boards at the Admiralty Toll Plaza, as to who did what and why electricity was switched off on 20th October, 2020, prior to the invasion by the Army. The company is yet to appear before the Panel.

“Summons have been issued for the appearance and testimony of the Chief Pathologist of Lagos State, to appear and to tender autopsy reports of deaths and CCTV footage of all mortuaries in Lagos State, from 20th October, 2020. They are yet to appear before the Panel.”

Since the panel controversially approved the reopening of the tollgate, Nigerians on social media have been arguing over the decision of the panel.

While many agreed with the panel’s decision, others criticised the panel for making a decision when four of its members were not present during its sitting on Saturday, February 6, 2021. (Thelagostimes)

— Says State Going Through Challenges And Requires Judiciary
— Says Newly Sworn CJ is God’s Choice Despite Events of Nine Months

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has sworn in Justice Akon Ikpeme as the substantive Chief Judge of Cross River.

Swearing in the Chief Judge on Monday at the Executive Chamber, Governor Ayade charged her to be fair to all to move the state judiciary forward.

The Governor noted that the state was passing through a challenging period in its history and would want the judiciary to remain rancour-free to join hands with the Executive and Legislative arms to tackle those challenges.

Describing the new Chief Judge as the right person for the plum job, the Governor said Ikpeme was being sworn in at the right time and that despite the episodes of the last nine months which worked against her, she was indeed God’s choice.

“As God touched my heart over your matter, so has He touched the heart of every other person on your behalf. You must put behind you any ordeal you passed through in the course of your emergence.

“As a child of God, I expect you to dispense justice fairly, knowing that it was God who fought your battles. We need no distraction again in our judiciary”, he stated.

Responding, Justice Ikpeme lauded the Governor and members of the House of Assembly for making the day a reality and described the Governor as humane.

“Let me assure His Excellency and the people of Cross River State that the judiciary under my watch shall cooperate with the Executive and the Legislative arms to move Cross River state forward.

“We have put the past behind us. It would be foolhardy to dwell there. Every member of the Cross River State Judiciary shall be carried along and we shall ensure Justice and fairness to all,” she stated.

Recall that the State House of Assembly had, nine months ago, rejected Justice Ikpeme on the basis of her ethnic background, prompting the Governor to swear on two Junior Judges on acting capacity between March 2020 to January 2021.

The House, however, had a change of mind two weeks ago and confirmed her as a substantive Chief Judge, allegedly due to pressure from the National Judicial Commission which reportedly insisted on the most Senior Judge in the state judiciary, Ikpeme, as a substantive Chief Judge.

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(AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pleaded not guilty on Monday as his trial on corruption charges resumed in a Jerusalem courtroom just weeks before national elections in which he hopes to extend his 12-year rule.

Netanyahu was indicted last year for fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate cases. In recent months, Israelis have held weekly protests calling on him to resign over the charges and criticizing his government’s response to the coronavirus crisis. Protesters gathered outside the courthouse could be heard inside the room where the hearing was being held.

He stands accused of accepting lavish gifts from wealthy friends and offering to grant favors to powerful media moguls in exchange for favorable coverage of him and his family. The latest hearing was postponed last month due to lockdown restrictions on public gatherings.

Israel’s longest serving leader is also the first sitting prime minister to go on trial for corruption. Israeli law requires Cabinet ministers to resign when charged with criminal offenses, but does not specifically address the case of a prime minister under indictment.

Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing and has dismissed the charges against him as a “witch-hunt” orchestrated by biased law enforcement and media. He has refused to step down and has used his office as a bully pulpit against critics and the criminal justice system.

At Monday’s hearing, Netanyahu’s lawyers submitted a written response pleading not guilty. They then argued against the cases on procedural grounds, saying the attorney general had not properly approved the investigations in writing.

After around 20 minutes, Netanyahu left the courtroom without explanation and his motorcade departed.

The hearing continued in his absence, with his lawyers arguing for more than an hour that constitutional procedures had not been followed. The judges appeared skeptical and repeatedly called on the defense lawyers to wrap it up. The prosecution then rejected those arguments, saying the attorney general had approved the investigations in dozens of meetings.

Outside the courthouse, around 150 protesters chanted against Netanyahu. Many carried banners reading “Crime Minister.”

“We want a new government, a clean government, no corruption” said Sharon Sagy, a protester, “We don’t want Bibi Netanyahu, we want him to go, he needs to go,” she said, using his nickname.

At the start of his trial last May, Netanyahu was flanked by a cohort of Likud party allies as he railed against the media, police, judges and prosecutors. He said the trial aimed to “depose a strong, right-wing prime minister, and thus remove the nationalist camp from the leadership of the country for many years.”

Netanyahu has served as Israel’s prime minister since 2009, and in the past two years has managed to hang onto power through three tumultuous, deadlocked elections. His flimsy ruling coalition collapsed in December, and he now faces a major battle for reelection in March 23 parliamentary elections.

Netanyahu hopes to campaign on having pulled the country out of the pandemic through one of the world’s most successful vaccination campaigns. He boasts of having personally secured millions of doses from major drug makers, allowing Israel to vaccinate more than a third of its population of 9.3 million. He hopes to vaccinate the entire adult population by late March.

But his government has faced heavy criticism for other aspects of its response to the crisis. The country is only now starting to emerge from its third nationwide lockdown, and the closures have sent unemployment skyrocketing.

An emergency government formed last May to combat the coronavirus outbreak has been mired in bickering. The country’s leaders have struggled to enact consistent policies and repeatedly accused each other of playing politics with the pandemic. Israel has meanwhile reported nearly 700,000 cases since the outbreak began, including 5,121 deaths.

One major controversy concerns Israel’s ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, many of whom have openly flouted restrictions on public gatherings. Netanyahu will need the ultra-Orthodox parties to form a ruling coalition, and his critics accuse him of turning a blind eye to their violations.

Polls show Netanyahu’s Likud winning the most seats but struggling to form a 61-seat majority coalition in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. The margin of victory could be extremely tight, potentially allowing a small, fringe party to decide who heads the next government. (Thenigerialawyer)

— Says Judicial panel Did not form quorum before sitting to hear application.
— Says LCC is not a proper party before panel and has no locus to make such an application
— Faults grant of Plaza to LCC, as it would compromise investigation.

Four members of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Enquiry and Restitution for Victims of SARS related abuses and the Lekki Toll Gate incident have alleged that the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) of withholding critical information from forensic experts probing the plaza for evidence of shootings.

Delivering its dissenting opinion today, the 6th of February 2021, the Senior Advocate noted that the panel cannot have formed the requisite quorum to have a hearing, as the representative of the youths and the Civil Society Organization [CSO] were not present at the sitting of the panel on the 6th of February, 2021.

Furthermore, the Learned SILK opined that given that Investigations were still ongoing and that the Toll plazas were made part of the terms of reference of the panel, it was premature for the panel to have handed over the Toll plazas to the LCC, and that even entertaining such an application from the LCC, in contravention of the terms of reference of the panel is ultra vires. Moreso, Adegboruwa SAN noted that the LCC not being a valid party before the panel could not even be heard making such prayers.

They claimed that LCC, which operates the toll plaza, denied the experts access to their servers and failed to provide them with information on who ordered the extraction of CCTV footage; date & time of extraction of the footage from the CCTV; a method used for the extraction, among others.

Three other members of the Panel, Ms Patience Patrick-Udoh, representing civil society, Miss Rinu Oduala and Mr Temitope Majekodunmi, both representing the youth EndSARS protesters, also dissented and opposed the opening of the toll gate.

In full dissenting opinion:

IN THE LAGOS STATE JUDICIAL PANEL OF INQUIRY ON RESTITUTION AND COMPENSATION FOR VICTIMS OF SARS ABUSES AND OTHER RELATED MATTERS
HOLDEN AT LCIA, LEKKI, LAGOS
THIS 6TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2021

IN THE MATTER OF LEKKI TOLL GATE INCIDENT OF 20TH OCTOBER, 2020

IN RE: APPLICATION BY LEKKI CONCESSION COMPANY TO TAKE OVER TOLL PLAZAS 1 AND 2 FOR INSURANCE CLAIMS AND TO MAINTAIN SECURITY THEREAT

BEFORE:

THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE DORIS OKUWOBI RTD
MR. EBUN-OLU ADEGBORUWA, SAN
MRS. OLUWATOYIN ODUSANYA
D.I.G. TAIWO LAKANU, RTD
MS PATIENCE PATRICK-UDOH
MR. OLUWASEGUN AWOSANYA
MR. LUCAS KOYEJO
MISS OLORUNRINU ODUALA
MR. TEMITOPE MAJEKODUNMI

APPLICATION BY LEKKI CONCESSION COMPANY TO TAKE OVER TOLL PLAZAS 1 AND 2

DISSENTING OPINIONDELIVERED BY:

EBUN-OLU ADEGBORUWA, SAN

PRELIMINARIES

JURISDICTION

At the inauguration of the Panel, it was made clear to the members that the Panel could not form a quorum without the youth representatives, such that the Panel could not sit until the youth representatives were sworn in to join the Panel.

When after the Panel started sitting, the youth representatives withdrew from the Panel on account of freezing of the account of the youth members of the Panel, the Panel had to suspend its sittings. Indeed precisely on 7th November, 2020, the Panel delivered a ruling that it could not form a quorum in the absence of the youth representatives.

Furthermore, in its meeting of 18th December, 2021, the Panel also decided on the issue of its quorum to the extent that if the members of the civil society and the youth representatives on the Panel are absent for tenable reasons, then the Panel would not form a quorum.

Thus, the quorum of the Panel is not based on majority but rather on representation, which is why there are two representatives each of civil society and the youths in the Panel, such that at every point in time, one of them have to be present for the Panel to form a quorum.

Thus, the sitting of the Panel on 6th February, 2021, did not constitute a quorum at all. In any event, in a Panel of nine members, five members do not constitute majority of the members.

LEKKI TOLL GATE INCIDENT

Upon the inauguration of the Panel, members were informed that the Lagos State Government had decided to add the Lekki Toll Gate Incident of 20th October, 2020, to the terms of reference of the Panel. Members insisted on an amendment of the original terms of reference to reflect this addition and same was provided by the Honourable Attorney-General of Lagos State.

SUMMONS TO LEKKI CONCESSION COMPANY

Consequent upon the amendment of its terms of reference, the Panel issued a Summons to invite LCC to appear before it to testify and tender documents.

INSPECTION OF ADMIRALTY TOLL PLAZA

On 30th October, 2020, the Panel visited the Admiralty Toll Plaza 1, led by the Managing Director of LCC, for inspection. Proceedings have continued before the Panel on the Lekki Toll Gate Incident of 20th October, 2020 thereafter.

TESTIMONY OF LCC

The LCC has appeared before the Panel on several occasions, to testifty. It has tendered video clips of the CCTV footage of 20th October, 2020 and other materials.

FACTS NOT IN DISPUTE

From the testimony of the Managing Director of LCC and the Nigerian Army before the Panel, the following facts are not in dispute:

1. LCC is fully owned (100%) by the Lagos State Government;
2. There was an incidence of shooting at the Admiralty Toll Plaza 1 on 20th October, 2020;
3. The shootings involved both blank and live ammunitions;
4. There are claims and counter-claims of fatalities, resulting from the shooting incidence at the Admiralty Toll Gate, pending before the Panel;
5. Investigation and proceedings are still ongoing on the Lekki Toll Gate Incident of 20th October, 2020, before the Panel.

APPLICATION BY LCC TO TAKE OVER TOLL PLAZAS 1 AND 2

Virtually at every proceeding of the Panel involving the LCC, the company has made repeated applications to the Panel to take over and re-open the Admiralty Toll Plaza and the Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge Toll Plaza, for the purposes of assessing insurance claims and to maintain security at these locations.

DISSENTING OPINION

I have had the privilege of the mindset of some other members of the Panel favourable to the application of the LCC. I do not agree with or subscribe to the decision of majority members of the Panel on this matter, to permit LCC to takeover the Toll Plazas, leading to the Dissenting Opinion delivered herein.

WHY LCC CANNOT TAKE OVER THE TOLL PLAZAS

JURISDICTION

1. The Toll Plazas were handed over to the Panel by the legal owner thereof, that is the Lagos State Government, through the amendment of its terms of reference to include the Lekki Toll Gate Incident of 20th October, 2020. Therefore, the Panel has jurisdiction over the Toll Plazas for the duration of its assignment. By the Amended Instrument and Terms of Reference of the Panel, it lacks the jurisdiction to hand over the Toll Plazas until it has concluded its assignment. It is ultra vires the Panel to entertain any application from the LCC to take over the Toll Plazas.

INVESTIGATION STILL ONGOING

2. Investigation by the Panel over the Lekki Toll Gate Incident is still ongoing. It will therefore be premature to hand over the Toll Plaza that is still subject of Panel’s investigation and proceedings, to LCC.

3. The Panel is yet to come to any finding in respect of the Lekki Toll Gate Incident of 20th October, 2020. A takeover of the Toll Plazas by LCC will be prejudicial to the ultimate findings of the Panel. It will overreach whatever decisions the Panel may reach and foist a situation of complete helplessness and a fait accompli, on members of the Panel, in respect of any recommendation that it may make, on the general operations of the Toll Plazas.

4. The Panel is yet to ascertain the claims and counter-claims of fatalities and massacre of citizens on 20th October, 2020. If indeed such is established eventually, taking over the Toll Plaza at this time, upon the blood of the innoncent citizens, will be insensitive, callous and totally uncharitable to the memories of those who may have died.

PENDING PETITIONS ON THE LEKKI TOLL GATE INCIDENT

5. There are not less than ten independent petitions still pending before the Panel in respect of the Lekki Toll Gate Incidence of 20th October, 2020. It will be prejudicial and overreaching those petitions for LCC to takeover the Toll Plazas before these Petitions are heard and determined, by the Panel.

APPEARANCE OF LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT

6. The Lagos State Government has been summoned by the Panel and it is yet to appear, to offer its own testimony of the accounts of 20th October, 2020. The Governor of Lagos State in an open broadcast, promised to hand over a camera picked up by the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, to the Panel. That has not happened. The Nigerian Army made very serious allegations against the Lagos State Government during its testimony, on the incident at the Lekki Toll Plaza, which are yet to be responded to.

7. Allegations have been made against the company responsible for the Bill Boards at the Admiralty Toll Plaza, as to who did and why electricity was switched off on 20th October, 2020, prior to the invastion by the Army. The company is yet to appear before the Panel.

8. Summons have been issued for the appearance and testimony of the Chief Pathologist of Lagos State, to appear and to tender autopsy reports of deaths and CCTV footages of all mortuaries in Lagos State, from 20th October, 2020. They are yet to appear before the Panel.

FORENSIC REPORT NOT CONCLUDED

9. The Panel commissioned a forensic expert to undertake a forensic examination of the Toll Plaza, to examine documents, videos and CCTV footages submitted to the Panel and to submit a comprehensive report thereon. The Panel is yet to receive the full details of the forensic report.

LOCUS STANDI OF LCC

10. The LCC is not a party to any pending before the Panel, to enable it make a valid application before the Panel, to take over the Toll Plazas. LCC is only appearing before the Panel upon a Summons. The time for LCC to submit its own petition before the Panel has already elapsed on 22nd December, 2020.

OVERREACHING FINAL REPORT OF THE PANEL

11. The final report of the Panel will lose credibility, if ever before it is submitted the subject matter of its investigation and proceedings, is already compromised.

12. From the evidence tendered by LCC before the Panel, there is adequate security at the Toll Plazas presently, to the extent that all attempts made by hoodlums and thieves to steal thereat, have been frustrated by the security agencies. This cannot therefore justify the application to takeover the Toll Plazas.

13. A takeover of the Toll Plazas, at this time, is hasty, premature and will overreach the work and eventual recommendations of the Panel. (Thenigerialawyer)