CNN investigation sheds new light on anti-brutality protest 06:06

(CNN)The Nigerian army admitted on Saturday that soldiers were given both live and blank bullets when they were deployed to protests at Lekki toll gate on October 20. The admission seems to confirm a key finding of a CNN investigation into the shooting.”The soldiers they were both given both live and blank bullets. In this particular case, we saw that these protests had been infiltrated by some hoodlums,” Brig. Gen. Ahmed Taiwo said in his testimony to the Lagos Judicial panel of inquiry into the incident.Brig. Gen. Ahmed Taiwo attends a judicial panel investigating the shooting of protesters in Lagos, Nigeria, on November 14, 2020.”You had peaceful protesters no doubt. But there were also hoodlums who sought to take advantage. That is why they were armed (with) blank bullets in addition to the live (bullets) they were carrying.”This is the first time the Nigerian army has admitted having live rounds at the Lekki toll gate. The army statement also contradicts previous statements about the incident including from Taiwo himself who told the judicial panel previously that the soldiers were firing in the air and firing blank ammunition.In the aftermath of the shooting, the army denied any involvement, describing reports of the incident as “fake news,” before backtracking and saying that soldiers were present but fired their weapons in the air and used blanks, not live rounds.The CNN investigation included evidence that bullet casings from the scene matched those used by the Nigerian army when shooting live rounds, according to current and former Nigerian military officials.Two ballistics experts also confirmed with CNN that the shape of the bullet casings indicate they used live rounds, which contradicts the army’s previous claim they fired blanks.CNN’s report was based on testimony from dozens of witnesses, and photos and video obtained and geolocated by CNN. The Nigerian army did not respond to numerous requests for comment prior to the broadcast and publication of CNN’s story.Verified video footage — using timestamps and data from the video files — shows soldiers who appear to be shooting in the direction of protesters. And accounts from eyewitnesses establish that after the army withdrew, a second round of shooting happened later in the evening, by police, according to witnesses who spoke to CNN.The police would not comment to CNN, but did deny ever shooting at protesters in a tweet.It painted a picture of how members of the Nigerian army and the police shot at the crowd, killing at least one person and wounding dozens more.

Read and watch CNN’s full investigation

Saturday’s admission by Nigeria that live rounds were deployed is yet another in a series of constantly changing narratives as to what happened on October 20 at Lekki toll gate, where protesters had gathered to demonstrate against police brutality.On Thursday, Minister for Information and Culture Lai Mohammed said that the military “fired blank ammunition in the air.” He also dismissed the CNN investigation as “fake news” and “misinformation.”A US State Department spokesperson told CNN on Saturday, that they were “closely following the Government of Nigeria’s response” to the events at Lekki Toll Gate and said, “We urge that the investigation be thorough, impartial, and appropriately transparent and that perpetrators be held accountable.” (CNN)

Cops Alleged of Killing UNIZIK Law Student Freed from Police Custody

The five policemen who allegedly killed a final-year Law student at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Augustine Ugwu, have reportedly escaped from police custody.

Augustine was said to have been arrested in a bar by a local anti-cult outfit set up by the late Chairman of Nsukka Local Government Area, Patrick Omeje, on April 23, 2020.

They were reported to have handed him over to the officer-in-charge of the Enugu Police Anti-Cult unit in Nsukka, DSP Nnamdi Ochin.

The police later claimed the student was not in their custody.

Following the development, his father, Andy Ugwu, a retired police officer, petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, who ordered an investigation into the incident.

A six-man panel led by ACP Gabriel Elaigbwu was constituted to unravel the matter. The panel from the Force Headquarters, Abuja came to Enugu in June for investigation.

It was gathered that the panel found that Augustine had been killed and buried in a shallow grave by five policemen.

The OC anti-cult unit, three sergeants working under him: Emmanuel Ibiam, Godwin Abel, Abu John and Nsukka Divisional Crime Officer 3, ASP Peter Adu, were indicted by the panel.

However, Second-in-Command, Enugu State Police Criminal Investigation Department, ACP Fidelis Ogarabe, reportedly prevented the panel from being taken to Abuja.

He allegedly insisted that they should remain in police custody in the state, pending the outcome of autopsy.

Police sources told newsmen on Tuesday that immediately the panel left, the suspects were released and redeployed to other police divisions.

One of the sources said, “The panel came last week to continue with the investigation possibly to take them to Abuja. As I am talking to you, none of the policemen accused of the killing appeared before the panel until they left for Abuja on Saturday.”

When contacted on the telephone, Ogarabe described the allegations as baseless and untrue.

He said, “My brother, how can I do such a thing? My father died and I travelled to bury him. I am not even around. So, how am I aiding them? They are serving members of the Force. My opinion is that everybody is responsible for their action.”

Efforts to get the response of the state police command on the development were unsuccessful as neither the Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Abdurrahman, nor the Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, answered their calls.

They also did not respond to text messages sent to them as of the time of filing this report.

A Nigerian-American, Robert Olusola Okojie, has been inducted into the U.S’s National Aeronautics Space Administration‘s (NASA) Inventors Hall of Fame.

Okogie, according to NASA, joined the silicon carbide research group at agency’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland in 1999 and has gained worldwide recognition as the leading expert on silicon carbide-based microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) for use in extreme environments.

The successful scientist who has been working with NASA for 20 years has 21 patented inventions to his credit.

“He holds more than 20 patents relating to high-temperature devices, including several licensed for commercial use that could reduce spacecraft weight, and thereby launch cost and fuel consumption, while leaving additional space for scientific payloads. He has also published more than 50 peer-reviewed papers relating to his field,” NASA stated on its website.

While at Glenn, Okojie has received numerous accolades, including in 2009 the NASA Abe Silverstein Medal for Research and in 2012 the Glenn Research Center Distinguished Publication Award.

He was also recognized in 2002 as the Scientist of the Year by the National Technical Association for his “exceptional accomplishments in advancing the state–of–the–art of MEMS for use in harsh environments” and in 2007 was a recipient of the Cleveland Executive Board Wings of Excellence award.

Okojie has a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from New Jersey Institute Of Technology.

He has mentored several students at Glenn, all of whom have gone on to achieve high academic and professional success in their various fields.

Currently, Okojie’s research focus is in single-chip integrated multifunctional sensing for extreme environments.

Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo state, has sacked Adekola Olawoye as the commissioner for justice and attorney-general of the state.

Segun Ajiboye, chief press secretary to the governor, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

No reason was given for his sack.

Akeredolu appointed Charles Titiloye as Olawoye’s replacement.

“Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has rejigged his cabinet. Following this, he has appointed front line human rights lawyer, Sir Charles Titiloye as his new Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice,” the statement said.

“Titiloye is a human right activist and a renowned social critic. He was former Secretary of the Nigerian Bar of Association (NBA), Akure Branch. His name will be forwarded to the state House of Assembly for confirmation.

“Mr. Governor thanks the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice that has just been removed for services rendered to the state. He wishes him success in his future endeavours.”

An advocacy group under the aegis of Access to Justice (A2Justice) has called on the African Commission for Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) to adopt a resolution and take specific action on Nigeria in view of the alleged “deteriorating human rights situation” in the country.

In a statement dated 22nd November, 2020, made available to TheNigeriaLawyer, A2Justice said it wrote the Commission via a letter dated 20th November, 2020 condemning the response of government to the EndSars protest.

Giving account of the human rights violations, Access to Justice said it made reference to the Lekki Toll-Gate incidence in their letter, where soldiers allegedly shot at the protesters.

“The use of significant military force in the shooting appears to be targeted at sending a strong and chilling message to those taking part in protests across Nigeria, insinuating to them that the government would not tolerate the expression of political speech that may threaten its grip on power”. The statement partly reads

The Group said they had also informed ACHPR of “the continuing intimidation, arrests, and prosecution of citizens by the Nigerian government saying faces in the #ENDSARS protests are being harassed, arrested, and prosecuted.”

And according to them, “some other persons who participated in the protests have had their bank accounts frozen and some have had their travel Passport seized. Additionally, that Nigeria’s independent media have also been a victim of government’s intimidation with some media houses penalized with heavy fines for disseminating information of the protests.”

Furthermore, A2Justice said it has informed ACHPR of an attempt by the Nigerian government to gag citizens from freely exercising their freedom of speech because Police Chiefs say that protests are now illegal

They noted also that the Nigerian government has “renewed its interest in the passage of the Social Media Regulation Bill with the intent on clamping down on social media activism.”

Access to Justice further noted that the threats and actions undertaken by the Nigerian government “have had a chilling effect on citizens, fostering a sense of palpable fear as well as escalating already high social tension within the civil society”.

A2Justice said they thereafter urged the Commission to “adopt a Resolution on Nigeria while keeping the human rights situation in Nigeria under close observation.” and to “call on the Nigerian government to make good its promise to reform the police since it had acknowledged the need for wide-ranging reform of the force while acceding to the #ENDSARS demands.”

Also, A2Justice said it requested the ACHPR “to demand, from the Nigerian government the release of all those who have been arrested and detained as well as end the harassment of #ENDSARS protesters. It also urged the Commission to call on the Nigerian government to end the use of military forces to police protests and ensure that Nigeria carries on with its commitment to ACHPR on rights-based policing.”

Lastly, they said they urged the Commission to “call on the Nigerian government to stop misusing counter-terrorism measures to target peaceful protesters.”

African soccer confederation president Ahmad Ahmad was banned for five years by FIFA on Monday for financial misconduct.

The ban was announced during the Madagascan official’s campaign to be re-elected for four more years as the head of African soccer. His position also makes him a FIFA vice-president.

The FIFA ethics committee found “Ahmad had breached his duty of loyalty, offered gifts and other benefits, mismanaged funds and abused his position as the CAF President.”

Ahmad, a former government official in Madagascar, was also fined 200,000 Swiss francs ($220,000).

Ahmad’s first four-year term was clouded with allegations of financial wrongdoing and misconduct at the Confederation of African Football headquarters in Cairo.

He was detained by French authorities in Paris on the eve of the Women’s World Cup for questioning about a CAF equipment deal with a company that appeared to have little connection with soccer.

“The investigation into Mr. Ahmad’s conduct in his position as CAF President during the period from 2017 to 2019 concerned various CAF-related governance issues, including the organization and financing of an Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca, his involvement in CAF’s dealings with the sports equipment company Tactical Steel and other activities,” FIFA said in a statement.

An audit of CAF finances pointed to irregularities under Ahmad’s leadership. The report was ordered by FIFA while it effectively took over running the organization for six months.

CAF appeared to pay about $100,000 for 18 people, including Ahmad and the heads of some of the continent’s 54 national member federations, to travel on the pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

The CAF election is scheduled for March 12 in Rabat, Morocco.

Ahmad had been supported by FIFA leaders in Zurich when he was elected in 2017, ousting FIFA senior vice-president Issa Hayatou after 29 years.

A former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Kingsley Moghalu has said to fix Nigeria’s ailing economy, the country needs to return to true federalism.

In a statement on Sunday, Moghalu said it is no surprise that Nigeria has entered its second severe economic recession in five years since 2015.

He said, “According to Dr. Yemi Kale, Chief Executive and Statistician-General of Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics, Q3 2020 Real GDP contracted for a second consecutive quarter by -3.62 per cent. Cumulative GDP for the first nine months of 2020 stood at -2.48 per cent.

“This decline was led by the oil sector, which contracted by 13.89 per cent in Q3, while the non-oil sector contracted by 2.51 per cent in the same period.”

He said leading inclusive growth for economic transformation in Nigeria now required far-reaching actions in the political realm.

According to him, No amount of “defensive” approaches to economic management, akin to the labors of the mythical Sisyphus, can adequately reverse Nigeria’s worsening economic crisis and put the country on a path to real development if the underlying issues that have created our weak economic framework are not addressed.

“Chief among these structural factors is the urgent need for a constitutional restructuring of Nigeria to true federalism. Nigeria’s economy cannot make real progress as long as it is organized on the basis of the 1999 Constitution,” he said.

Moghalu lamented that the Nigerian constitution had no incentives for wealth creation through economic production because it gives the government at the centre too much power.

He said, “On the contrary, it creates massive incentives for a “sharing” economy based on earnings from crude oil sales, which belong primarily to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“This in turn creates an embedded incentive to rent-seeking as economic activity, an absence of deep reflection by the political leadership on the nuances of competing economic frameworks as a basis for economic policy, and the commodity dependence that has created frequent economic distress through externally induced oil price shocks. Our distress is now further entrenched with extreme levels of foreign borrowing that have essentially mortgaged the future of Nigeria’s youth.”

Moghalu said that while the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns imposed in the early months of the pandemic contributed significantly to this recession, it was not a valid excuse to avoid confronting the more important causative factor of the longstanding, weak fundamentals of the Nigerian economy.

He noted that the Nigerian economy was distressed long before COVID-19T as demonstrated by the recession of 2016-2017 and the fragile recovery.

The former presidential candidate added, “Moreover, the Nigerian government’s already-weak fiscal position left it unprepared and unable to support its citizens adequately during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“While South Africa’s government announced a $26 billion fiscal stimulus package in April 2020 in response to the pandemic, the Nigerian government’s budgetary response was N500 billion ($1.3 billion) and Central Bank of Nigeria intervention funds of N1 trillion ($3 billion).”

He said, “This fiscal and monetary-authority response was grossly inadequate to meet the magnitude of the challenge, and, in my estimation, at least 95 per cent of the 100 million Nigerians living in extreme poverty did not receive any support from the government during the lockdowns and the pandemic more generally. This indicates extremely weak state capacity.

“The second political response to Nigeria’s longstanding and escalating economic crisis should be the conscious selection and election of intellectually competent leadership for our country.”

Such leadership, with political will and visionary politics backed by sound economic thinking, he said, will identify and work with the best minds among our compatriots to create economic transformation.

He said said it was the duty of Nigerian citizens to ensure the emergence of this kind of leadership at the ballot box, while holding the government in office accountable for the performance of the economy as is the case in every democracy.

A Federal High Court has ordered Sen. Ali Ndume to be remanded at Kuje at Kuje Correctional Centre for failing to produce the former Chairman of the defunct Pension Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina.

Ndume stood, who is representing Borno south, as surety for Maina’s bail, who is standing trial on alleged money laundering charges. (Theexpressng)

There was pandemonium at Queens Court Hotel bar at Ologede area in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State on Saturday when a police officer opened fire at football fans, killing one of the spectators, identified as Olaoye Abayomi.

The victim was said to be with his friend, Idris Adebayo at the bar , when four police officers arrived at the scene with a vehicle with “PF 600 – WSH” registration number.

An eyewitness disclosed that the officer allegedly alighted from the vehicle and shot into the crowd, with a  bullet hitting Abayomi in the stomach while his friend, also reportedly sustained bullet wound on the leg.

Abayomi died on the spot while his friend was rushed to the hospital by other police officers at the scene of the incident. The policeman who allegedly shot the victims took to his heels.

The incident was reported to have occurred, during a football match between Manchester United and West Brom at about 9.30pm. Another witness, Adetunji Olaniyi who affirmed the sad incident said, “I went to watch a football match at Queens Court at Ologede area in Ado Ekiti when the incident occurred around 9:30 p.m,”

“The police drove into the hotel as people were watching football and drinking. All of a sudden, we heard gunshots, and those of us watching football scattered in an attempt to run away for our lives’, he explained.

“Before we could know what happened, we saw that police that entered have shot at people drinking, killing one person while the other was brutally injured on the leg”, the witness added.

Another witness, Seun Olaifa, in his account said the atmosphere was calm and police should not have shot at peaceful citizens, adding, “they came in their usual way looking for who to raid and all we heard were gunshots and the perpetrator immediately ran leaving his colleagues who took the injured person to the hospital.

The Ekiti State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, confirmed the incident, adding that the policeman who fired the gunshot has been apprehended.

“The policeman who was involved in the fatal shooting at Queens Court Hotel for the reason which is still under investigation has been arrested by Ekiti State police command, disarmed and detained for investigation and disciplinary action. Ekiti State Police Commissioner implores all the good people of Ekiti State to be calm as he will ensure justice prevails” (Thepodiummedia)