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Hoodlums strike again, loot NYSC camp Abuja

The current looting of government facilities in the country continues ion Tuesday as hoodlums invaded the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Kubwa, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja to cart away anything on sight.

The angry youths masquerading as #EndSARS protesters struck at the NYSC camp in Kubwa Tuesday morning to loot the orientation camp.

Some of the items carted way by the rampaging looters include food items,
beds, home appliances, vehicles, furniture and motorcycles among other things.

It was also gathered that few police men who came to stop the looting were overpowered and they have to scamper for safety for fear of attack by the irate looters.

As at the time of this report, CONCLAVE NEWS check shows that Commercial Banks in the area have been closed down.

Theconclaveng

The Illegality of Mobile Courts in Nigeria.

By: Douglas Ogbankwa Esq.

Section 6 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 (As Amended) puts the Judicial Powers of the Federation on the different Judicial Bodies created by Law .Before any Court can function it must derive its power from an existing Law .

The Code of Conduct Tribunal ,The High Courts of States ,the Federal High Court , the National Industrial Court,the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court were all specifically created by the relevant Sections of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ,1999 (As Amended ).

The Magistrate Courts, Customary Courts,the Elections Tribunals ,the Investment and Security Tribunal ,Census Appeal Tribunal ,Tax Appeal Tribunal and even the the Judiciary Panels of Enquiry of the different States of Nigeria are creations of different enabling Laws of those States ,which specifically created them.

In the said Laws ,there is a specific section that says There shall be a …Court/Tribunal/Panel That is what essentially confers such Courts/Tribunals/Panels with Jurisdiction to adjudicate over any Matter .The Law that creates a Court delimitates the Jurisdiction of the Court and jurisdiction is intrinsic to adjudication .It is the live wire of adjudication and the essence upon which the power of the Court Rests .For this proposition See APC v . Engr. Suleiman Aliyu Lere (2020) 1 NWLR (Part 1705)254

The Mobile Courts in any State of the Federation are not Courts created by any written Law in the Federal Republic of Nigeria .A Practice Direction of a Chief Judge of a State can not create a Court .A Practice Direction only gives directives on the Procedure to be adopted by a Court that has been created by Law .

In the same vein ,the mere mention of the Mobile Court in any Law does confer the Mobile Court with Jurisdictional Competence as the Court is not in existence in the first place .You can not put some thing on nothing and expect it to stand .See UAC v.Macfoy (1962) A.C.150 at 160

Another thorny issue in this Matter is that the Mobile Courts are operated in many instances as a Native Court and not a Court of Proper Records ,with just the records books of the Presiding Officer and a scribbled sheet paper called Charge Sheet and the Presiding Officers until very recent,churned out very obnoxious and unreasonable penalties, including sending the poor and the vulnerable to Prison Custody .

There are in most cases no Statements of Witness , no Statements of Defendants ,No Investigation Reports of the alleged infractions of the Defendant. Every thing is left to Viva voice evidence and the Powers of the Presiding Officers all which are against Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 ,(As Amended ).

Some times ,Defendants ask for time to enter their Defence ,but they are refused ,but coerced to give evidence contrary to Section 36 (11) of the Constitution of Nigeria which provides that :

No Person who is tried for a Criminal Offence shall be compelled to give evidence at the trial

In another vein Section 36 (6) & (8) provides thus :

(6)Every person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be entitled to:

(a) be informed promptly in the language that he understands and in detail of the nature of the offence;

(b) be given adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence;

(c) defend himself in person or by legal practitioners of his own choice;

(d) examine, in person or by his legal practitioners, the witnesses called by the prosecution before any court or tribunal and obtain the attendance and carry out the examination of witnesses to testify on his behalf before the court or tribunal on the same conditions as those applying to the witnesses called by the prosecution; and

(e) have, without payment, the assistance of an interpreter if he cannot understand the language used at the trial of the offence.

(7) When any person is tried for any criminal offence, the court or tribunal shall keep a record of the proceedings and the accused person or any persons authorised by him in that behalf shall be entitled to obtain copies of the judgement in the case within seven days of the conclusion of the case.

The above sections are clear and unambiguous ,they need no further adumbrations.

For Civic Wrongs,many Citizens have been sentenced to Prison Summarily.They are tried right there with out being afforded an opportunity or time to be able heard or to prepare for their Defence/ and to be represented by a Counsel of their Choice as provided for by Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ,1999 (As Amended ).

It does follows that any Judgment obtained from these Mobile Courts alien to the Nigerian Jurisprudential Trajectory are liable to be set aside the those illegally convicted can sue for damages from the State or be compensated by the State .

Nigeria is a Society guided by Laws and not the whims and caprices of Officials of Government .

I hereby call for the immediate disbandment of all Mobile Court’s in Nigeria .A Court can not Mobile .A Court is avowed for its certainty of venue ,certainty of purpose,certainty of procedure/Law and strict adherence to Laws of the Land !

Police Arrest Alleged Mastermind Of Calabar Conference Centre Looting, Recover Over 1,000 Chairs

The Cross River State Police Command has arrested one Johnson Richard Inem, an indigene of Akwa Ibom State for allegedly masterminding the recent looting and vandalisation of the Calabar International Conference Centre (CICC).

The Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo said the suspect was arrested at Esuk Otu Community with various items based on report gathered during the house to house search which started on Sunday in the state as ordered by the state Governor, Professor Ben Ayade.

The Police spokesperson explained that the suspect is an automobile mechanic based in Calabar and has confessed to the crime.

“He made a confessional statement on how some of his boys came and carried out this crime. So, most of these people that vandalized government properties are not from Cross River. Most of them are from Akwa Ibom State.

“He has given us some names and we are going after them. For now, we are going on a house to house search and if we find anyone with any government property, any personal individual property, we are going to arrest them,” she said.

The suspect, however, denied looting or vandalising the conference centre.

He claimed that he was sleeping when the police came to arrest him in his house.

The Police spokesperson announced that the command will stop at nothing until other perpetrators are brought to justice as she applauded residents for sharing information and complying by returning stolen items in their possession.

Over 90 other suspects were arrested for allegedly looting chillers, over 1,000 pieces of customised chairs, customised designer carpets among other items.

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THE PRESIDENCY: A MATTER OF GRAMMAR

Nigerian Law School teacher, MR. SYLVESTER UDEMEZUE dissects the lexical nexus between ‘The Presidency’ and ‘The President’ and points the way forward 

The purpose of this piece is to demonstrate that it is incorrect and unfitting for any media aide to a Nigerian President to issue or sign any Public Statement or Press Release in the name or on behalf of “The Presidency,” and to suggest appropriate options to comply with extant law and procedure.

The discussion would be undertaken under four heads: Administrative & English grammar; the Law of Agency; and the Rule of Law (Constitutional). Part four would then discuss Conclusion and Recommendations

(1) The Administrative & English Grammar Angle

First, although the term, “the Presidency” is generally used to refer to “the administration or the executive, the collective administrative and governmental entity that exists around an office of president of a state or nation,” (see Wikipedia), that term is not a person known to any law in Nigeria and on behalf of which/whom a person may act as an agent. Down here in Nigeria, “the presidency” is a term/noun used to refer collectively to the following offices: “Office of the President; Office of the Vice President; Office of the Secretary to the Federal Government; Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation; Office of the National Security Adviser; and the entire Statehouse Administration” (see https://statehouse.gov.ng/presidency/). This term is a creation done by people in power, in Nigeria, merely for convenience, and without any legal foundation and as such having no legal power or capacity. This being the case, when you say you issue a statement on behalf of “the presidency,” you give the erroneous impression that all the occupants of the above-named offices had met and agreed to issue the affected statement. It is my humble observation (I stand to be corrected) that each of the above-mentioned offices and officers within the presidency, has its/their own Media Aides who issue statement or press releases on their respective behalf. This is one major reason it is imperative that those appointed and retained for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, should learn to sign or issue public statements or press releases emanating from that office, in the appropriate form/capacity so as to leave no one in doubt that they act specifically for the office of the president, and not for the entire presidency, except where the latter is the case, although I think this is still rendered inappropriate by the reasons advanced hereinbelow.

(2) The Agency Angle

In the Law of Agency, an agent cannot act on behalf of a non-juristic person. Put differently, the principal in every agency relationship must be a juristic person, a person in law, capable of suing or being sued in his name; the principal must be legally capable of doing that which he purports to do through his agent. Is “the presidency” a legal person capable of holding property, or of entering into a contract or of suing or being sued in that name? No, to the best of my knowledge and honest belief. The next question is, Which law crates “the presidency?” None that I know of! Consequently, if the “presidency” lacks the legal capacity to enter into any contract in that name or to sue or be sued in that name, then it lacks any capacity to sign any Public Statements or Press Releases, and hence cannot delegate/appoint any media aide to validly issue or sign any such statement or releases on its behalf. In conclusion, no one can validly act on behalf, or in the name of “the presidency,” since ethe presidency is not a legal person; the legal defect which “the presidency” suffers cannot be cured by getting another to do anything on its behalf which itself cannot legally do. This principle is usually expressed in the maxim “Nemo Potest Facere Per Alium, Quod Per Se Non Potest” which means that “no one can do through another what he himself cannot lawfully do.” There is yet another principle in agency which is related to the above-expressed: Qui Facit Peralum Facit Per Se Ip Sam Facere Vindepur, which means, he who does an act through another is deemed in law to do it himself. See the cases of Anyaorah vs. Anyaorah (2001) 7 NWLR (Pt 711) 158; Amadiume v. Ibok (2005) LPELR-5730 (CA). Both Pastor Femi Adesina and Alhaji Garba Shehu are each agents of Mr. Muhammadu Buhari, in his capacity as the President and Commander in Chief of Nigeria’s Armed Forces, having been separately employed, the former as the “Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” and the latter as the “Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” Neither of the duo was employed by or to act for “the Presidency.” Accordingly, when they sign or each signs statement, they ought to recognize, acknowledge, and disclose their principal, and state the fact that they act for the disclosed principal, in line with the rules of the Law of Agency.

(3) The Rule of Law (Constitutionalism) Angle

Section 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended provides that “(1) This Constitution is supreme and its provisions shall have binding force on the authorities and persons throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria. (2) The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall not be governed… except in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution. (3) If any other law is inconsistent with the provisions of this Constitution, this Constitution shall prevail, and that other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void.” The practical implication of the above provision is that the provisions of the Constitution are binding on all authorities and persons within Nigeria, including all the media aides to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who, as a matter of strict legal obligation, must comply with all the provisions of law in all their conducts and actions. In the famous case of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi v. INEC & 2 ors (2008) 1 SCNJ 1; (2008) 5 NWLR (Pt. 1080) 227), His Lordships, Pius Olayiwola Aderemi, JSC had this to say: “in all countries of the world which subscribe to and operate under the rule of law, all actions of both private and public persons are always adapted to the laws of the land. We ought to allow this time-honoured principle to sink well into our heads and hearts.” The Black`s Law Dictionary describes rule of law as predominance that is absolute of the ordinary laws of the land over every citizen and institution regardless of status, position, power. The rule of law, as explained by Oputa, JSC (now late) in Military Governor of Lagos State and others vs Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, simply means, inter alia, that the state is subject to the law, which implies that all actions and conduct of or by the state or by state actors or officials must be as sanctioned by extant laws of the land
This takes us to the next important question, what is the position of law, in the present instance? Beside the explanations already given in relation to the Law of Agency, section 5 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended vests the Executive Powers of the Federation of Nigeria, not in “the Presidency,” but in the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as follows:

“Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the executive powers of the Federation shall be vested in the President, and may subject as aforesaid and to the provisions of any law made by the National Assembly, be exercised by him either directly or through the Vice-President and Ministers of the Government of the Federation or officers in the public service of the Federation.”

This is one reason the respective Letters of Appointment of each of Pastor Femi Adesina and Alhaji Garba Shehu states that they were/are appointed respectively as the “Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” and the “Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” This being the case, and in view of section 5(1) of the Constitution (cited above), it is inappropriate, even illegal, for any one of them to sign any Statements or Press Releases on behalf of “the Presidency” (an office unknown to law), instead of The President who appointed them and for whom they are legally authorized and entitled to act. Besides, the Constitution makes it clear that the powers vested in the President of Nigeria may be exercised either personally and directly by the President, or through the Vice-President and Ministers of the Government of the Federation or officers in the public service of the Federation. I am not aware of any Law made by the National Assembly of the Federal Republic empowering any office known as “The Presidency” to act for or on behalf of the President of the Federal Republic, neither is there any extant legal instrument by which the holder of the executive powers of the Federation (Mr. President) has authorized “the presidency” to act on/in his behalf. By the way, this next question is also relevant, Does Mr. President even possess any powers to delegate any of his powers or responsibilities to “the presidency?” The answer is “no” because there is no such office in existence in Nigeria, which is known or called “the Presidency.” I have already explained (see above) what the term, “the presidency” stands for or represents.

May I point out that I have heard of a body/office known as “the presidency” and being a creation of law only in relation to the International Criminal Court (ICC). According to https://www.icc-cpi.int/about/presidency/Pages/default.aspx (accessed October 25, 2020), “the Presidency” as an arm of the ICC is “one of the four Organs of the Court. It is composed of the President and First and Second Vice-Presidents, all of whom are elected by an absolute majority of the Judges of the ICC for a three-year renewable term. The judges composing the Presidency serve on a full-time basis. The Presidency has three main areas of responsibility: judicial/legal functions, administration and external relations.” The current presidency of the ICC was elected by the judges of the Court on 11 March 2018, in line with Article 38 of the Rome Statute (the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, often referred to as the International Criminal Court Statute or the Rome Statute, is the treaty that established the ICC; it was adopted at a diplomatic conference in Rome, Italy, on 17 July 1998 and it entered into force on 1 July 2002). (se <https://www.icc-cpi.int/resource-library/documents/rs-eng.pdf> accessed October 25, 2020). Conversely, there is no law establishing “the presidency” within Nigeria, either as an office, or as a branch or segment of governance/government within the country to which power could be delegated or from whom any legal authority emanates or to whom legal capacity could be ascribed. How then, can anyone purport to act to act or to be acting for a legally non-existent body? This is why I shudder on each of the several occasions that I have seen public statements or press releases signed on behalf of, or in the name of “the presidency” by any one of Pastor Femi Adesina, Alhaji Garba Shehu, or indeed by anyone else, for that matter.

(4) Conclusion & Recommendations

In view of the above, it is my humble suggestion to my friends, Pastor Femi Adesina and Alhaji Garba Shehu, to forthwith cease and desist from issuing statements for or on behalf of “the Presidency” because such action, apart from being unconstitutional and therefore illegal, is administratively inappropriate and grammatically misrepresentative, as I believe I have explained. In line with the horizons of their appointments and job specifications, I respectfully recommend the following options of signing/issuing Public Statements or Press Releases as being each apposite and in compliance with the Constitution, rule of law and administrative procedures:

1) Option One:
Signed:

Pastor Femi Adesina,
For: The President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces,
Federal Republic of Nigeria.✅

2) Option Two:
Signed:

Pastor Femi Adesina,
Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to
the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.✅

3) Option Three:
Signed:

Alhaji Garba Shehu,
For: The President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces,
Federal Republic of Nigeria.✅

Or
4) Option Four:
Signed:

Alhaji Garba Shehu,
Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to
the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.✅

▪️The options below (5 and 6) are inappropriate and legally unacceptable:

5) Option Five:
Signed:

Alhaji Garba Shehu,
Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity,
The Presidency❌

6) Option Six:
Signed:

Pastor Femi Adesina,
Special Adviser, Media and Publicity,
The Presidency.❌

Respectfully,
Sylvester Udemezue (udems)
(Coordinator, English For Lawyers Forum, Nigeria)
([email protected], 08109024556)

Breaking: banks shut down, 6 arrested, as police foil hoodlums attempt to invade radio house, supermarket, warehouse, main market in fct.

Breaking: banks shut down, 6 arrested, as police foil hoodlums attempt to invade radio house, warehouse, supermarket, main market in fct.

TEC NEWS

The police on Tuesday foiled attempts by hoodlums to break into Agricultural Development Project Fadama Warehouse, a nearby main market, radio house and a supermarket in Gwagwalada, Abuja.

It will be recalled that three persons including a pregnant woman were allegedly died while 12 people collapsed as hoodlums invaded a warehouse in the same Gwagwalada on Monday.

Hoodlums destroyed a government warehouse in the city to cart away a lot of palliatives materials under a serious unstoppable violent in spite the efforts of security operatives to restore normalcy.

As residents were still counting losses and yet to come out Monday tragedy, the city was woken with another pandemonium on Tuesday morning as hoodlums gathered in their thousands to unleash mayhem on a warehouse and market.

Some groups of youth had moved to invade an Agricultural Development Project Fadama Warehouse close to the main market of the town.

However, because the place was closed to the divisional police headquarters of the council as they were easily alerted, the police moved into swift action to prevent the attack.

The police quickly took over the streets that link the market and the warehouse to resist access by anyone.

The DPO of the Division, Wilson Dankwabo who personally and practically led the team against the hoodlums confirmed the incident and an explanation was given by one of his men who would not want any public exposure that the intervention of the men and officers of the force prevented another vandalism of properties in the area.

He explained that in order to avoid confrontation, they took time and explained to those boys that the place was not a palliative warehouse but FADAMA house.

He said he had to take some of them inside the building and showed to confirm that there was no food or palliative stored in the location.

One of the senior officers also said that the action led to the withdrawal of some of them, adding that few of them however still proved stubborn and wanted to invade the place.

He said six of them were arrested while others were dispersed.

He explained that the Police swiftly moved into action because of their commitment to safe lives and properties.

However, an officer who craved anonymity also lamented the level of discouragement inflicted on the hearts of the police force.

He said that the morales of some officers were down because of the fact that till this moment, the government had not said anything in regard to police stations attacked and destroyed or even the police personnel that lost their lives all over the country.

“No promise that the perpetrators would be brought to book, nothing is promised to be paid but rather, agitation continued by the people against the Nigerian police with accusation of brutality,” he said.

He said that since the people wanted police to be demoralised which he believed it was a criminals’ plot, he said that the hoodlums and other criminals would have field days on the populace.

The officer said the Nigerian Police was the only security outfit that could handle criminals if supported by the government and the good people of Nigeria.

He said the military are trained to kill and defend the government apparatus and the citizens from external aggression but police are trained to handle the affairs of civilians and protect them alongside their properties.

The moment the interview ended, the police received an alert that the hoodlums in their numbers have invaded the premises of the major supermarket in the city along SDP Road in the same Gwagwalada. The police team moved immediately and began to shoot into the air in other to disperse the hoodlums and on arrival, the hoodlums have taken to their heels. It was gathered that the key to the back door had already been destroyed and about to access the building before the police arrived.

The attack was repelled and no casualty recorded as at the time this report is been put together. Gwagwalada is tensed with businesses closed including all banks in the city.

A staff of one of the banks who pleaded anonymous confirmed that they were ordered to shut down when the sound of gun shots filled the air and people running helter skelter. The ‘city mart’ has banks such as Uba, Fidelity, fcmb around it. He further said to resume normal activities, security improvement would necessitate it.

The police confirmed that hoodlums have really been on rampage in the area this week and the police is equal to the task. The hoodlums went to attack Radio Nigeria where the police repelled them and one arrested with power cable.

The hoodlums were also stopped by the police when they began to attempt attack on an area along the army barrack road.

“It was however glaring that civilians are already getting to know that the development is far beyond #EndSars protest but criminality setting in. This is evident in the numbers of civilians that have join the security team to protect the city mart”. Said one of the officers.

He advised that parents etc talk to their ward never to be a part of this criminal act as he is for seeing that the objective of ‘endsars protest’ might be eroded if things continue this way.

The million dollar question: Who owns the Lekki Toll Gate? …As Nigerians still link it to Tunji Olowalafe

By Tejumola Obisesan

Yes, Olatunji Olowolafe was in Dubai when Lagos was on fire! Alas, the cackling cacophony of gunshots as captured real-time by avid smart phone users is still reverberating. Many of the injured are still writhing in excruciating pains. Those whose lives were tragically ended may have been committed to mother earth. Because of the Gestapo-like operation of the soldiers that rained bullets on harmless, peaceful protesters on the night of Tuesday, October 20th at the Lekki toll plaza, the number of deaths is still shrouded in mystery. The Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwoolu, who initially denied that there were fatalities, later, confessed that a protester, indeed, died at the Reddington Hospital, Lagos, due to brutal force trauma to the head. The military authority maintains that its men were not deployed to the scene in a tone reminiscent of the iconoclastic Afrobeat maestro, late Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s ‘Unknown Soldier’.

Earlier on that tragic day, the state government had announced a curfew for 4pm. This was around midday. It was an announcement that further incensed the protesting youths who decided to stay put, waving the green white green flag of Nigeria and enthusiastically singing the national anthem. Around 6 pm, some cameras were removed from the toll plaza. As dusk fell, the luminous toll gate lights and street lights were switched off throwing the entire place into a sprawling canvas of darkness. Minutes later, the soldiers  allegedly descended on the protesters shooting sporadically as the world watched in crippling shock. But one question subsists; yes, one question; what is the level of complicity of the owners of the Lekki tollgate?

Instructively, the Lekki tollgate is managed by the Lekki Concession Company established as a special purpose vehicle to operate the Lekki tollgates and Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge. Many Nigerians believe that the LCC is owned by Dr Tunji Olowolafe, a popular but self-effacing billionaire businessman who is reputed for being Lagos’ Number One Contractor. The assumption is not misplaced. During the administrations of former Governors Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Raji Fashola, Olowolafe was the go-to contractor. The Ekiti-born businessman got bigger and busier and wealthier during Fashola’s administration as he executed virtually all its legacy projects.

Through his construction firm, Deux Projects Limited, Olowolafe constructed and equipped all the maternal and childcare buildings across many general hospitals in the state, built the Bola Tinubu Diagnostics, a private diagnostic centre located within the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, and its burns unit located inside the General Hospital, Gbagada; and the Lagos State Cardiac and Renal Centre, a multi-billion naira health facility in Gbagada. The contracts are numerous. No wonder the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arrested him on Friday, April 23rd 2010, to answer to allegations of being a proxy to the then Governor Fashola. Olowolafe spent three days in detention.

It is, therefore, not farfetched that Nigerians at home and abroad have been cursing him for purportedly engineering the switching off of the lights at the toll gate last Tuesday. However, sources say that Olowolafe may have relinquished his chairmanship of the LCC board after the takeover by the Lagos State government in 2015.  But Nigerians would have none of it as they believe that he is culpable in the Tuesday bloodshed as his collaborators like Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu.

Curiously, however, a number of respondents who spoke to this medium say the management of LCC and even Olowolafe’s condescending silence on the incident is the more aggravating considering that whether or not he has relinquished his chairmanship of the LCC, he has made good money from the tollgate and it behoves him to, at least, sympathise with the victims. Will he shed his toga of indifference and silence on the matter? The world waits with bated breath.

Lekki massacre: 15 people killed, soldiers took their bodies away, says DJ Switch

Nigerian artiste, DJ Switch, who was present when soldiers shot at peaceful protesters in Lekki, Lagos, in Tuesday, has shared her experience.

The artiste said armed soldiers and police officers shot at her and other peaceful #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki toll gate on Tuesday night.

She said at least 15 people were killed in the shootings and that she and other survivors took the victims’ bodies to the soldiers who took them away.

“Something I think about in hindsights that I wished we hadn’t done was that we carried dead bodies and dropped them at the feet of the soldiers, when I asked their unit commander why they are killing us.

“I wished we didn’t do that because they ended up throwing the bodies into their vans,” she said in a video she posted on social media.

She also displayed spent bullets she recovered from the scene of the shooting.

The attack on the unarmed protesters occurred hours after the Lagos State Government imposed a curfew in Lagos. The protesters continued their sit-in despite the announcement of the curfew which was to start by 9 p.m. in Tuesday.

The shooting started before 9 p.m. with the celebrity live streaming the protest and the shooting until she could not continue.

DJ Switch’s statement appears the clearest explanation yet from a witness about what happened in Lekki. It also seeks to clarify the claims that there was no shooting because bodies of victims could not be found.

The army has denied shooting at the protesters, despite contrary evidence, and Governor Sanwo-Olu has only admitted that two people died from the shooting.

The governor has promised an investigation while President Muhammadu Buhari has kept mum about the Lekki shooting.

The military reports to the president and the governor has said he never authorised the deployment of the soldiers.

Amnesty International has said that at least 12 people were killed on Tuesday at both Alausa and Lekki toll gate.

The Lekki shooting has been condemned by many Nigerians and members of the International Community including the U.S. government.

PREMIUM TIMES

Supreme Court Ruling: Mob Chases Away Osun Monarch, Seals Palace

Irate mob on Monday reportedly attacked Oba Olatunde Falabi, the Akire of Ikire, Osun, where they allegedly chased  away the king and sealed off the palace.

Oba Falabi was taken into safety by military personnel who rescued him from the mob suspected to be on a mission to forcefully evict him.

The youths were protesting the non-implementation of a Supreme Court judgement, which declared Oba Falabi’s continued stay the throne as illegal.

The police Spokesperson in Osun, SP Opalola Yemisi, confirmed the development to newsmen and added that no life was lost during the incident.

The battle for the throne had started in 1987 after the demise of the former traditional ruler, Oba Oseni Oyegunle.

When the process of appointing a new monarch started, one of the five ruling houses, Aketula, presented a candidate, Mr Tajudeen Olanrewaju, in line with the Akire of Ikire Chieftaincy Declaration of 1958.

Before the process of Olanrewaju’s installation could be completed, two ruling houses, Ladekan and Lanbeloye, went to court to challenge the inclusion of Aketula in the ruling houses.

An Ile-Ife High Court, Ile-Ife, where the matter was instituted, consequently stopped Olanrewaju’s installation as the monarch, while the incumbent, Oba Olutunde Falabi, was installed in May 1993.

Even though he lost at the Appeal Court, Ibadan, Olanrewaju proceeded to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court, in its judgment on April 11, 2014, affirmed that Aketula was one of the ruling houses, as provided in the 1958 Akire of Ikire Chieftaincy Declaration.

The Supreme Court also held that in view of the evidence on record, “it shows that the 1958 Declaration, in respect of the Akire of Ikire Chieftaincy stool, has not been amended or repealed.’’

Following the judgment, the incumbent monarch approached an Osun High Court, praying it to restrain the state government from deposing him because he had not committed any offence warranting his removal.

He also pleaded with the court to restrain the state governor, the Commissioners for Justice, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, from deposing him while his incumbency subsisted.

Justice Abdulkareem of Osun High Court, in his judgment of June 29, 2020, however, said that Falabi could no longer occupy the stool, based on the 1958 Akire Declaration and the rotational procedure contained therein. (NAN)

Police Arrest Pastor In Kogi Over N1.2bn Looted Medical Equipment

From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

As the hoodlums continue the looting spree across states in Nigeria, luck ran out of Pastor Sunday Edino and his accomplices, who were arrested with medical equipment in Lokoja by the state’s Commissioner of Police, Ede Ayuba and his men on Monday.

Medical equipment worth over N1.2b kept in warehouse in Lokoja were vandalized and looted by hoodlums.

The hoodlums carted away some CT/MRI machines and other equipment while others were retrieved from bushes around the warehouse.

The Commissioner of police in Kogi State and his men swiftly launched a manhunt on the criminals which led to the arrest of Pastor Sunday Edino and others.

Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello had earlier warned that youths should conduct themselves peacefully while protesting but threatened that his administration will not spare the protesters  engaged in criminal activities.

The #EndSARS protest has been under control in Kogi State owing to the fact that the state governor, Yahaya Bello had earlier lend his voice in support of the youths, who were protesting against police brutality across the nation.

However, hoodlums invaded the Agricultural Development Project office along Lokoja-Okene road in the early hours of Monday and carted away fertilizers and other agrochemicals procured to assist farmers during the dry season farming.

The hoodlums extended the looting to another warehouse where relief materials for flood affected persons were kept.

The rampaging hoodlums broke into the warehouse and carted away materials such as mattresses, roofing sheets, beddings, and other materials meant for victims of flood disasters in the state.

#EndSARS Protests: Pope Francis Weeps For Nigeria

From Jude Dangwam, Jos, Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

The Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis, yesterday expressed sadness over the social, economic and political unrest in the Nigeria and called for prayers for the country.

The Pope, in his verified tweeter handle @Pontifex, called on everyone, particularly Catholics all over the world to pray against every form of violence brewing in the country in the aftermath of the #EndSARS protest.

Amidst tension, killings, looting and vandalism across the country, the Pope in his statement added: “Let us pray to the Lord for Nigeria, so that every form of violence might always be avoided, in the constant search of social harmony through the promotion of justice and the common good”.

CAN Berates Govt for Hoarding Palliatives

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna state chapter, berated government officials for hoarding COVID-19 palliatives that would have been distributed to the citizens.

In a statement signed by the state chairman of CAN, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, yesterday in Kaduna, he said: “Two wrongs cannot make a right.

“Following the event of yesterday 24th October, 2020 in some parts of Chikun and Kaduna South LGA of Kaduna State, where looting and vandalism of public and private properties was reported to have been carried out, which necessitated the enforcement of 24 hours curfew in those areas and later in the entire 23 LGAs of Kaduna State, the leadership of CAN Kaduna State Chapter, held a virtual meeting today 25th October, 2020 with church leaders and other stakeholders in the affected communities to have an objective understanding of the matter, assess it and chart a way forward.

“Against this background, CAN Kaduna State Chapter, condemns in strong terms the vandalisation and looting of public and private properties in Kaduna State by youth.

“We are sad to know that palliatives were discovered in warehouses located in Barnawa in Kaduna, as a result of which the youths fell into the temptation of vandalising the property and looting the said palliatives stored there going as far as searching for other warehouses in other locations within Kaduna. CAN frowns at such actions and condemn it in strong terms.”

Meanwhile, the peaceful protest embarked upon by #EndSARS agitators, but hijacked by hoodlums has now turned to massive looting of government property, warehouses, banks and lawmakers houses.

DAILY ASSET nationwide monitor revealed that places like Kaduna, Cross Rivers , Akwa Ibom, Lagos and Kogi states, were worst affected by the looting. 

We gathered that the hoodlums were particularly about items preserved as COVID-19 palliatives, which include food stuff, provisions and confectioneries.

Lalong Father- in- Law, Dogara’s House Attacked

In Jos, the Plateau state capital yesterday, hoodlums reportedly attacked the residence of Plateau Governor Simon Lalong’s father –in-law’s house at Tudan Wada, and looted the residence of former Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara at Lamingo quarters.

The School of Home Economy, the Local Government Secretariat in Riyom, the warehouse as well as the NSCDC office were reportedly vandalised.

The Commander, Operation Safe Haven, Major General, Chukwuemeka Okonkwo, said the suspected looters were apprehended during an operation.

According to him, 13 male and 17 female were arrested at the former Speaker’s residence.

He said Items recovered include five grinding machines, three grinding machine heads, two unassembled Keke NAPEP, 1 Keke NAPEP engine, and one bundle of clothing material.

No fewer than 97 youths were arrested after looting, vandalising and destroying several properties in search of COVID-19 palliatives items.

The rampaging youths broke into State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) warehouse located along Bukuru express way and carted away assorted food items donated to the state government by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Disaster and Social Development Management recently.

DAILY ASSEY gathered that about 73 trucks loaded with grains stored in the warehouse had been emptied by youths who became united for the free for all exercise.

The office of the Plateau State Rural Water and Sanitation Agency (PRUWASSA) along Vom Road in Zawan, was not spared either as documents scattered all in the name of search for palliatives.

The head office of the Plateau Publishing Company, publishers of The Nigerian Standard Newspaper, came under attack even as the Sunday morning incident led to wonder the re-enacted 24 hours curfew on Jos North and Jos South LGA by Governor Simon Lalong.

The rampaging youths also looted the Plateau Agricultural Development Programme (PADP) and made away with bags of fertilizers, deferent types of machines, amongst other things.

Meanwhile, security operatives repelled hundreds of youths, Sunday morning with gun shots, teargas, who matched to the Federal Secretariat with the aim of loot offices,

The Plateau State Commissioner of Police (CP Edward Egbuka through the Command’s PPRO ASP Bonbey Peter said “97 suspects were arrested by STF personnel from Dutse Uku who entered PADP and looted properties.” 

Governor Simon Lalong had earlier on explained why the reinstatement of the 24 hours curfew became eminent considering the fragile nature of the state.

In his State broadcast of Saturday he said, “Today, some hoodlums broke into the warehouses where palliatives delivered to the State by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development last week were stored awaiting distribution and carted them away.

“This looting has spread to other facilities and is gradually degenerating thereby threatening the peace and security of the State.”

He added, “To avoid further escalation, I hereby direct the immediate reinstatement of the 24-hour curfew earlier relaxed from 4pm today 24th October 2020 in Jos South and Jos North Local Government Areas till further notice.

“By this, security agencies are directed to enforce the curfew and ensure that all violators are arrested and prosecuted.  

I call on all citizens and stakeholders to continue to cooperate with Government in ensuring the peace and progress of Plateau state.”

Protesters Cart Away Palliatives  in Kogi

No fewer than 500 unidentified persons invaded the warehouse , housing the COVID-19 palliative materials  in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital..

The warehouse located along the Murtala Mohammed way, very close to Kpata market in Lokoja were invaded as early as 7 am on Saturday  by mostly women waiting for the door to be opened.

Although , it was learnt that the  state government had last week commenced the distribution of the COVID-19 palliatives to all the 21 local government Councils, but it was not clear wether  the items burgled were part of the ones the government  had directed its distribution

In a shift reaction ,  the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, said contrary to insinuations that the items were burgled, the items were distributed under the watchful eyes of security operatives monitoring the exercise.

“The crowd you saw  there were in response to the governor’s directive that the remaining items should be given out to the people and the exercise have been going on without any hitch” the commissioner told our correspondent.

Lagos Needs N1trn for Re-construction — Gbajabiamila

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has revealed that Lagos state alone will require  a minimum of N1trillion to reconstruct the damaged properties by hoodlums across the state.

Gbajabiamila, who spoke with state house correspondents, said: ” We stand in solidarity with Lagos state government and the people of the state. This is indeed a difficult period. This is not Lagos of our dream. It’s indeed very sad. I don’t want to take ethnic dimension. but I urge us to shut our ears to ethnic conspiracy theory. Nation building is a joint task.

“Whatever the House can do in rebuilding Lagos and other states it will do. We are now in a state of reconstruction. What must be done will be done.

“You have fought a good fight, government, National Assembly have listened. It’s time to take stock and ensure it would never happened again. What has happened has happened.

“However, we want to know what exactly happened at the Lekki Toll Gate. The judicial panel must reveal this. However, I want to encourage Nigerians to allow peace to reign.

 “I learnt from the governor of Lagos State that it will take N1trillion to rebuild what had been lost and asked him what’s the budget size of the state, he said about N1trillion. You can see we are moving backward.

“Hence, we must consider the consequences of our actions before embarking on any venture. I, therefore, appeal to the youths to allow peace to reign. I still believe in unity of Nigeria”.

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