facilities in 2020 following jail breaks in Delta, Edo and Ondo states. 

Five inmates died while trying to escape from prisons in Kaduna and Imo states, according to a Daily Trust report. 

The most recent jailbreak was the escape of 1,993 prisoners from two correctional facilities in Edo State, on October 19, 2020, which the Comptroller of the facility, Andrew Egbobawaye, confirmed shortly after the jailbreaks.

Taking advantage of the #EndSARS protest, hoodlums using local tools and weapons, broke into the prisons and freed inmates.

It was gathered that the armed hoodlums overpowered the prison guards and then freed inmates from the prisons.

Sources said the guards repelled two attempts by the hooligans before they were overpowered.

Many correction officers were said to have sustained gunshot wounds in their effort to restrain the attackers.

The Comptroller of NCS in Edo State, Babayo Maisanda, a few days after the incident, said the number of inmates at large was 1,818, while 163 had either been recaptured or secured.

However, a few inmates surrendered themselves after the state Governor, Godwin Obaseki, gave a two-day ultimatum to the 1,818 at large to return to the facilities or face the full wrath of the law.

A day after the Edo jailbreaks on October 22, 2020, another prison was forced open at Okitipupa in Ondo State, where 58 prisoners escaped. But a similar attempt was foiled on the same day at the Ikoyi Prison in Lagos State.

A total of 2,051 inmates escaped after the jailbreaks in Edo and Ondo states.

Another jailbreak was recorded on Tuesday, April 29, 2020, at the NCS Custodial Centre in Sapele, Delta State, where two inmates escaped and six others were shot.

The jailbreak occurred a few days after the facility was set on fire by inmates who were protesting alleged ill-treatment and “selective amnesty” granted to some inmates of the facility by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. They insisted that they all deserved equal treatment as prisoners.

On May 17, 2020, a prisoner was killed and many others injured during a failed attempt to escape from a prison in Aba, Abia State.

Sources revealed that in that attempt, the prisoners who were mostly old with a few years left for them to regain their freedom, inflicted serious injuries on some armed guards and that while trying to save their lives, the guards shot at the rampaging inmates and one died.

Also, on April 5, 2020, four inmates died while attempting to escape from a Kaduna correctional facility.

Spokesman for the NCS in Kaduna State, Sanusi Danmusa, said in a statement that four inmates sustained injuries while being restrained by correction officers, but that, “The four inmates later died in hospital from the injuries they sustained.”
Danmusa added that, “For the avoidance of doubt, all the deceased inmates were from the condemned section of the custodial centre.”

It was gathered that the inmates at the facility attempted to escape over fear of suspected case of COVID-19 among them.

Other inmates subsequently staged a protest, demanding their freedom to avoid contracting the virus.

The spokesman said the command was not hiding any “truth” on the matter, noting that NCS was not trying to get the inmates infected with COVID-19 as alleged by social media posts.

Days after their escape, a number of convicts immediately returned to murder, armed robbery and posing serious threat to society.

On November 30, 2020, four out of the 1,993 inmates who escaped from Oko in Edo State were rearrested by the police for robbery, carjacking and unlawful possession of firearms in Kaduna State.

The police spokesman, Frank Mba, paraded the suspects in Abuja and gave their names as Adebayo Opeyemi, Onos Benjamin, Peter Felix and Alhaji Hudu Musa.

Also, one of the fugitives ran back to his village on the day he escaped and killed the person who stood as a prosecution witness in the case that took him to prison.

The Edo Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo, while parading the suspect alongside 126 suspected criminals, said that 10 of the suspects were the inmates who escaped from prison earlier.

A security expert advised that the recent prison breaks in the country should serve as a wake-up call to the executive arm of government to commence a total reformation of the prisons in Nigeria.

A research published in the International Journal of Science and Research Publication has attributed the recent prison breaks to two major reasons.

In the research by Onah Oliver O et al (2019) titled: “Increasing Cases of Prison Break in Nigeria: A Theoretical Explanation”, they argue that the Nigerian prison system has been captured by two high-stake interest groups:

One, wealthy prison inmates who live like kings within the prison walls; and two, a powerful cabal within the NCS authority who are involved in selling prison jobs and promotion to the highest bidders.

The researchers further argued that the trend had weakened the NCS operations and contributed to incessant jail breaks. The paper also highlighted the way forward for the NCS.(SaharaReporters)

Mr Odekunle, a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, died Tuesday from COVID-19.

The frantic bid to save Femi Odekunle from COVID-19 complications yielded donations and pledges of over 170 cylinders of oxygen from his family, friends and close associates, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.

Mr Odekunle, a professor of criminology and member of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), battled the highly infectious disease for 12 days.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the professor was left gasping for air during his treatment due to shortages in oxygen supply at the isolation centre at the Abuja University Teaching Hospital Gwagwalada. He died on Tuesday evening at the facility.

In a bid to save him, his friends, largely top government officials and politicians rallied for oxygen from far and near to support his breathing, those familiar with the matter told PREMIUM TIMES.

This resulted in the donation of over 170 oxygen cylinders by friends and associates. It is unclear if some of the pledges were eventually redeemed since the professor died before a good number of the equipment are delivered.

The hospital’s Chief Medical Director (CMD), Bissallah Ekele, admitted there was shortage of oxygen in the facility, a situation he blamed on the recent surge in coronavirus infections officially declared the second wave.

He, however, said Mr Odekunle died because of the “severity of his infection.”

The medical director, in a text message Thursday afternoon to this reporter, said “when we had the crises last week, some patients and other Hospitals in the FCT supported us with cylinders of Oxygen but that was resolved as soon as the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 waged into the matter and we now have adequate supply!”

Scramble for Oxygen

According to details obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, there were multiple interventions by the governors of Lagos and Osun, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Adegboyega Oyetola, the health ministry, the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, and the Air Force to procure oxygen for Mr Odekunle.

Rauf Aregbesola, the minister of interior, led the intervention process, our sources said.

While efforts to get oxygen began over the weekend, many of them did not arrive before Tuesday evening when Mr Odekunle died.

Our sources said the Gwagwalada isolation centre hurriedly sent 100 big cylinders, through the efforts of the Nigerian Air Force, for refill in Yola, the Adamawa State capital. Those were billed to be delivered to Abuja on Tuesday.

The facility was also to receive about 50 big cylinders from Jos on Tuesday. It is unclear who made that donation.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that 10 oxygen cylinders were delivered to Mr Odekunle’s bedside by a donor identified as NHA late Monday.

Also, four big cylinders were stationed at Air Force base, Ikeja, Lagos, to be flown to Mr Odekunle’s ward on Tuesday morning.

Another 10 big oxygen cylinders were also arranged by Olu Aina, a professor, and Mr Aregbesola, from Osogbo, and were scheduled to be flown to Abuja by special helicopter.

This newspaper also learnt that one big cylinder was donated by the Nigerian Air Force and was delivered to Mr Odekunle’s ward by his son, Dayo, and an official of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

“A lot of the oxygen procured for Professor Odekunle were not delivered before he died,” an associate of the late University teacher said. “I think in the interest of humanity, his friends and family should ensure that all the oxygen cylinders donated and pledged are delivered to the isolation centre to save the lifes of patients still alive.”

In a statement he released after Mr Odekunle’s passage, former Minister Olu Agunloye said the late professor’s “friends rose stoutly to his support … but it was just too late.”

“Top Government functionaries amongst them led by Hon Minister Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola along with President’s Spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, SGF Boss Mustapher and two sitting Governors tore through bureaucracies and red tapes and pulled stunts but the damages to Femi’s health appeared to have gone too far for remedy,” Mr Agunloye said.(premiumtimesng)

The sack of Emeka Ihedioha as Imo State Governor by the Supreme Court was a major political event in 2020 that generated ripples in the country’s political space.

The year 2020 was definitely one of the most dramatic years in Nigeria’s modern political history.

Despite the disruption caused by the deadly coronavirus, the country’s political sphere was filled with its usual twists and turns which led to defections, re-appointments, dismissals and more.

In the last 12 months, Nigerian political space witnessed two governorship elections,15 state and national assembly elections, death of key political figures, political ‘moves’ and engagements ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Below are some major political events of 2020 as reported by PREMIUM TIMES.

Supreme Court sacked Ihedioha, declared APC’s Uzodinma Imo governor

Nigeria’s Supreme Court in an unprecedented judgement early January dismissed Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the governor of Imo State and declared Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the March 9 governorship election in the state.

Mr Ihedioha was sacked on the ground that the result of 388 polling units were unlawfully excluded during the collation by the country’s electoral body, INEC.

With the addition of the results from the excluded polling units, Mr Uzodinma polled a majority of the lawful votes and was declared the rightful governor of the state.

Mr Uzodinma came fourth at the March election but was favored because the Action Alliance, Uche Nwosu, who came second, was disqualified.

Supreme Court sacked APC governor-elect, declared PDP candidate winner

While Nigerians were savoring the January controversial judgment of the country’s apex court in favour of the ruling APC, the Supreme Court struck again in February, this time, in favour of the main opposition PDP.

In the February judgement, the apex court sacked APC governor-elect, David Lyon, a day to his inauguration ceremony, and declared the PDP candidate, Diri Douye, Bayelsa state governor.

Mr Lyon was disqualified on the ground that his deputy, Degi-Eremienyo, submitted false credentials to the country’s electoral body, INEC.

Edo political crisis

The Edo political saga took the central stage of Nigeria political discussions a few months to its 2020 governorship race.

At a side was the resounding drum of war between the then APC chairm, Adams Oshiomhole and his political protege, Godwin Obaseki, a development that caused factions among the party loyalists and leaders in the state and at the national level.

This fracas led to the defection of Mr Obaseki to the main opposition PDP after Mr Oshiomhole-led executives denied him a re-election ticket.

Caught in the web of his home state political brouhaha, Mr Oshiomhole was also sacked by the court, a case that lingered till the APC National Executive Council dissolved its excos and appointed a caretaker committee to paddle the affairs of the party for the next six months.

Emir Sanusi removed by Kano government

PREMIUM TIMES review of the 2020 major political events may not be complete without mentioning the controversial dethronement of the former Central Bank Governor, Muhammadu Sanusi, as the Emir of Kano state following a resolution of the stateexecutive council led by Abdullahi Ganduje, on March 9.

Mr Sanusi was removed on the ground of alleged insubordination to the state’s political authority.

The justification of his removal generated public outcry across Nigerian social media platforms and made headline discussion on the country’s daily.

COVID-19 makes Nigeria political space mourn

Still in the business of springing surprises, the Nigeria political space recorded not less than death of five prominent politicians as a result of the deadly coronavirus.

The virus was responsible for the death Nigerian president’s powerful Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari. His death was followed by that of the Oyo State immediate past governor, Abiola Ajimobi, who died in June at the age of 70 from underlying health conditions after contracting the virus.

In another news, the senator representing Lagos East Senatorial representative at the National Assembly, Bayo Osinowo and the Ondo state commissioner for health, Wahab Adegbenro, died after contracting the deadly disease in June and July 2020 respectively.

Edo 2020 Governor Election

In September, 2020, the country witnessed the much anticipated Edo State governorship election.

The election was less of a race between political party candidates and more of a contest between an adamant political son and his troubled god-father who was allegedly bent on correcting his former mistake through another ally.

Edo State was the last foothold of the ruling APC in the South-south region until the animosity between Messrs Oshiomhole and Obaseki eventually cost the party in the September 19 election.

Against all odds, Mr Obaseki surprisingly defeated his closest rival and the 2020 Edo APC governorship candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, by a large margin.

Mr Ize-Iyamu’s defeat arguably silenced Mr Oshiomhole’s  hitherto huge influence in the state.

Ondo 2020 Governorship Election

Like a journey of two fated lovers, the Ondo State 2020 governorship election was also held almost a month after Edo.

Earlier in a turbulent and similar intra-party crisis like Edo, the Ondo chapter of the APC, weeks before the election reached a compromise and rallied round the incumbent governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, to secure his re-election victory.

Mr  Akeredolu defeated his closest rival, Eyitayo Jegede of the PDP and his  deputy, Agboola Ajayi, of the Zenith Labour Party by a wide margin.

Against popular predictions, the APC governorship candidate won in 15 out of the 18 local governments.

Umahi, Dogara, Elisha Abbo ditched PDP for APC

Not less than five prominent members of the PDP defected to the APC in the second half of 2020 under the interim leadership of Mala Buni-led committee.

With the 2023 general elections in view, the former speaker of Nigeria House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, in July, defected to the APC, after alleging the PDP-led government in Bauchi state of poor governance.

The Ebonyi State governor, David Umahi and the Adamawa State senator, Elisha Abbo, also joined the growing list of politicians who defected from the main opposition PDP in the last quarter of 2020.

While many ascribed Mr Umahi’s defection to his 2023 presidential ambition many believed would go to the Southern region, the governor has argued contrary in his defense.

Buhari reappointed Mahmood Yakub INEC chair

The Nigeria political space recorded yet another feat as President Muhammadu Buhari re-appointed Mahmood Yakub as the INEC chairman.

Mr Yakub is the first INEC chair to be re-appointed in the country’s political history.

He succeeded Attahiru Jega after the 2015 general elections and supervised 2019 general election and off-cycle elections in states such as Kogi, Edo and Ondo.

INEC legislative bye-elections, Labour leader’s death, PDP appointed Saraki reconciliatory led

The nine states House of Assembly and six senatorial bye-elections held across 11 states by INEC in November featured as one of the top political events in the year under review.

The elections were conducted to fill seats that became vacant as a result of death or resignation of their previous occupants.

Even though the elections were characterised by low voter turn-out by election observers, the APC won seven of the 11 seats in Lagos, Imo, Kogi, Plateau, Katsina, Bauchi, Borno, while the main opposition PDP won in Bayelsa, Enugu, Zamfara, and Cross Rivers states in the federal and state legislative bye-elections.

To appease its warring members, the PDP has appointed the former senate president, Bukola Saraki, chairperson  of its national reconciliatory team.

Mr Saraki is to lead a six-member committee set up to forge unity among members.

As Nigerians geared for the end of December 2020, tragedy struck the country’s political space as one of its gladiators died.

The National Chair of the Labour Party (LP), Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, was announced to have died in Abuja on Tuesday.(premiumtimesng)

Like a yearly tradition, President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday addressed Nigerians on the occasion of the new year.

The President in his speech, shared his administration’s goals for year 2021 and his expanded vision for his next two years in office.

He also addressed several burning issues in his New Year’s speech; He pledged that his administration will focus on revamping the economy, fight corruption among others. He also expressed commitment to ensuring that the lives and property of the citizens would be protected.

In this piece, The Nation highlights few takeways from the president’s speech;

2020 as a ‘tough’ year – The president admitted that 2020 was indeed a tough year. He lamented that novel COVID-19 pandemic tested the country’s resilience and ability to survive through tough times. He however called on Nigerians to observe COVID-19 prevention protocols to a resurgent cycle of the infection.

Nigeria’s struggle for survival – The president outlined how the nation has journey through as an independent and sovereign country despite the stormy waters. He noted in the 61 years sojourn of the country after independence, the country still stands tall in the comity of nations as one country united under the will of God and also actively growing that indivisible Nigerian spirit.

Recognising the roles of ‘youths’ – President Buhari affirmed that the youths are most valuable natural resource, at home and abroad. He reiterated the commitment of his administration to actively engage with the creative energies of youths by partnering with the legislature to develop an enabling environment to turn their passions into ideas that can be supported, groomed and scaled across regions.

Commitment to implementing demands of #ENDSARS protesters – President Muhammadu Buhari in his speech restated his commitment to implementing the five demands made by youths during the #ENDSARS protests that swept across the country in October, 2020. He equally reaffirmed his commitment to the people of Nigeria, especially the youth.

Re-organising the nation’s security apparatus – President Buhari in his speech, promised to re-energize and reorganize the nation’s security apparatus and personnel of the armed forces and the police with a view to enhance their capacity to engage, push back and dismantle the operations of both internal and external extremist and criminal groups waging war against our communities in some parts of the country.

Revamping the economy in 2021; President Buhari noted that his administration’s focus is on revamping the economy through the national economic diversification agenda that supports the primary goal of national food self-sufficiency, and also rebuilding the country’s infrastructure base.

Diligence and timely prosecution of corruption cases – President Buhari in his speech, promised to work with the Legislature to enact laws that would strengthen the fight against corruption. He promised to ensure diligent and timely prosecution of corruption cases.

Insecurity as a ‘monstrous’ challenge – President Buhari noted that the cycles of violence that have been unleashed by mindless groups like Boko Haram and others have thwarted the efforts of government to undertake the social policy and associated investments that could make a huge difference in the quality of life of our citizens.

Plans to procure COVID-19 vaccines – President Buhari while calling on citizens to take responsibility in keeping the country safe from a resurgent cycle of COVID-19, he noted that his administration is finalizing plans to procure, efficiently and effectively distribute the COVID-19 vaccines.

Play your ‘own’ part – President Buhari has promised to play his own part in 2021 as the elected President of the country without fear or favour. He equally urged every Nigerian to do the same stressing that this is what we all owe the founding generation of our beloved country and also to the coming generation.

Thenigerialawyer

WUHAN, China (Reuters) – Large crowds took to the streets at midnight on Friday in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, celebrating the arrival of 2021 after a year marred by a deadly pandemic that killed thousands there and required the city to be locked down between the end of January and early April.

As per tradition, hundreds gathered in front of the old Hankow Customs House building, one of the city’s more popular New Year’s Eve spots. When the building’s old clock reached midnight many people released balloons into the air, cheered and called out “happy new year”.

“I’m so so so incredibly happy,” said 20-year-old student and tourist Yang Wenxuan. “This is my first time in Wuhan. But it (the countdown) was so spectacular.”

“I hope that I can successfully obtain my bachelor degree and I hope I can find a boyfriend,” Yang added.

There was a heavy police presence and strict crowd control. Some security personnel were seen telling several of the few people without masks that they must put one on if they wished to stay. Still, the countdown appeared to proceed peacefully, in a relaxed atmosphere.

The festivities came 12 months after the World Health Organisation (WHO) said it first received word of cases of a pneumonia of an unknown cause in Wuhan, which later became known as the world’s first outbreak of COVID-19. A team of WHO experts is scheduled to arrive in China in January 2021 to investigate the origins of the pandemic.

Wuhan has been largely virus free for months, and in recent days it has been vaccinating some specific groups of the local population. But a recent small rise in cases in various Chinese cities, including Beijing, has reminded people in Wuhan that the pandemic is not over yet.

“I hope that in 2021 everything goes well in the country and Wuhan can return to normal and I hope that the world can soon defeat the pandemic,” said Wuhan resident Anson Yang.

The 25-year-old ,who works in the international trade sector, said his earnings were hit hard in 2020 and he knows of many businesses in Wuhan who are yet to return to normal trading levels.

Several students yearned for an end to the pandemic so they could get on with in-person studies. One university student, however, drew some positive lessons from the fight against the pandemic.

“If we look at the measures people took, the things people did as part of the epidemic control and the like, a human or friendly touch, something that we would not normally see, was felt by everyone,” said 21-year-old Chen Mengfan.

By Elizabeth Adegbesan

The Central Bank of Nigeria depreciated the naira yesterday by N16.25 kobo depreciated in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window. This represents the third and  biggest daily depreciation of the naira since 2017.

Recall, the indicative exchange rate for the window jumped to N374 per dollar at the close of business from N368.33 per dollar on 11th of March 2020, translating to N5.67 depreciation for the naira.

Similarly,  last month,  CBN depreciated the naira  by N7.75 in the window, as the FMDQ platform, showed that the I&E window rose to N393/$ at the close of business from N385.5/$  November 24 2020. Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative exchange rate for the window rose to N410.25 per dollar from N394 per dollar on Wednesday, indicating N16.25 kobo depreciation of the naira. However, the volume of dollars (turnover) traded in the window rose by 43 percent to $235.75 million from $164.81  million on Wednesday.

Vanguardngr