First they went after his media houses setting parts of them ablaze, TV Continental, (TVC), and then his newspaper, The Nation where vehicles were burnt. Now reports filtering in say that angry protesters are within the vicinity of the Bourdillon street, Ikoyi residence of billionaire and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

There are no reports of any damage there.

Following the shooting of protesters at the Lekki Toll gate by men in Army uniforms, there has been a groundswell of opinion against Tinubu, even though he has vehemently denied he has a hand in the shooting or ownership of the gate.

Details soon

There were reports on social media that the home of the mother of Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had been torched by suspected hoodlums in the Surulere area.

It was also learnt that crisis has erupted in the Oyingbo area where some BRT buses have been burnt.

There were also report from some TVC staff that their station is under attack by some hoodlum.

The development was confirmed by YourView host, Morayo and her colleague who noted that hoodlums are at the entrance of their TV station.

Watch the video below;

Breaking News : Morayo just confirmed that hoodlums are in front of TVC office. #EndSARS pic.twitter.com/lcvLU15sdL

— MrJfox (@jfofolarin) October 21, 2020

…Okays policy on plastic waste management

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the establishment of a Council for Traditional, Alternative and Complementary Medicine Practice in the country.

This was disclosed to State House Correspondents on Wednesday by the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, after the weekly virtual FEC meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Minister, who was in the company of three of his colleagues, explained that the memo, which is a bill seeking to explore the qualities of the traditional and alternative medicine fields in the country.

According to him, the bill would also take care of protection for intellectual property rights of the practitioners of the medicine field, adding that the ministry would work with appropriate agencies on research and studies.

“The Ministry of Health presented a memo today, which I presented, and it’s on a bill to establish a Council for Traditional, Alternative and Complementary Medicine Practice in Nigeria and this is a memo that seeks to take traditional and complementary medicine out of obscurity and give it a profile to institutionalise it, as has been done in other countries, particularly China and India.

“The outbreak of COVID-19 has renewed the call for home-grown solutions to all these public health diseases and to find the value in our traditional medicines and this is an opportunity with which traditional medicine’s practice can, not only upscaled, but also regulated because there are also areas of malpractice that should be checked.

“It will also provide for the possibility of trainings, setting up institutions and also being able to research further, working with the Institute of Pharmaceutical Research of Nigeria to actually dig out the values that are in our traditional medicines, where they can be used and be used for research.

“There’s also conversation about protecting the intellectual property rights of who know these medicines. My attention was drawn to the fact that property rights are not so easily protected the way we define them, they are defined differently, but the protection of traditional knowledge is something that can also be established, on which we are going to be discussing with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, to protect the knowledge that has been accumulated over several generations, which is in the custody of traditional practitioners.

“By and large, this is a memo that meets a lot of demands and serves a lot of purposes,” he said.

Also Briefing, the Minister of Environment, Muhammad Mahmood, said the FEC approved a national policy on plastic waste management in Nigeria.

The Minister lamented that plastic waste is the second form of waste the country needs to deal with.

He however said plastic can be recycled to produce blocks, new plastics and palettes for the production of interlocks and many more.

He, however, said the Ministry of Environment had built some plastic recycling plants across the country, which would serve as a pilot scheme, adding that the private sector would have the opportunity to dominate the recycling plants.

“The Federal Ministry of Environment today presented a memo on the National Policy on plastic waste management in Nigeria. Recall that about three months ago, we presented a memo on solid waste management and plastic being one of the compositions of total waste, has a significant place in the total waste regime because of its non-biodegradable nature and we have plastics littered all over the place, which is an environmental hazard to both humans and animals.

“What this policy seeks to do is to seize the opportunity of our paradigm shift from linear to circular economy. The standard procedure in the past was, you produce, you use and dispose and we just realised that we cannot continue to do that and plastic has lent itself to recycling or reuse. Therefore, what this policy intends to achieve is to capitalise on that property of it being reused. Currently,” the Minister explained.

“There is a lot of these waste. Nigeria has a population of 200 million and plastic waste is like the second in terms of quantity of total waste being produced in Nigeria today,” he said.

Meanwhile, the FEC also ratified Nigeria’s membership of International Coffee Organisation.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, who revealed this at the end of the meeting said the ratification now gives Nigeria full membership status at the organisation.

According to him, Nigeria, which had signed the agreement since 2008, had missed out on a lot of benefits available to members of the organisation.

“My Ministry presented a memo on the need for us to ratify our membership of International Coffee organisation. We signed the International Coffee agreement in the year 2008 and yesterday, Nigeria had no ratified this agreement and the result of not having ratified, we only had observer status in the organisation and unfortunately there are a lot of things that come with full membership that the country had been missing on.

“Now that the council has approved the ratification some of the benefits that will come to the country would include allocation of coffee development project, access to consultative fora on coffee sector finance, where our farmers will have access to where they can raise funds to improve farm yield, we will be in the for a where producing and consuming countries create policies relating to international coffee trade and we will also have access to statistical data of the world coffee trade and economy amongst other,” he said. (thenigerialawyer)

Court official said the instruction came from the National Judicial Council (NJC) down to the chief judge that all staff should close for the day.

The instruction, which circulated like a wildfire at about 1:20 p.m, made the judges, staff and other people in the high-rise building, to abruptly stop their official duties as they filed out of the skyscraper.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)’s efforts to get information from staff on why they were leaving their offices for home were unsuccessful.

“We are asked to leave the office now but I don’t know the reason,” one of the workers, who did not want her name mentioned, said.

However, the Deputy Chief Registrar, Admin of the FHC, Memunat Folami, said that there was an instruction from the Special Assistant to the Chief Judge, John Tsoho, that staff should close for the day’s work.

She said further that the instruction came from the National Judicial Council (NJC) down to the chief judge that all staff should close for the day.

“You know the head of the court cannot pass an instruction and we will not carry it out. Even the Ministry of Justice staff did not come to work today,” Ms Folami said.

Earlier in the day, there were sittings at a number of courts.

For instance, Justices Inyang Ekwo, Okon Abang and Ijeoma Ojukwu, were among the judges that sat on Wednesday.

The FHC’s acting Information Officer, Catherine-Oby Nwandu, could not be reached at the time of filing the story. (NAN)

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent a petition to Mrs Fatou Bensouda, Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC), urging her to “promptly investigate reports that Nigerian authorities, military, and some politicians have used/ and are using thugs, soldiers and security agents to intimidate, harass, attack and kill #EndSARS peaceful protesters in several parts of Nigeria, including Abuja, Lagos, Edo, Osun, Plateau, and Kano states.”

SERAP urged Mrs Bensouda to “push for those suspected to be responsible for these crimes, mostly security officials, soldiers, some politicians and other actors who directly or indirectly have individually and/or collectively contributed to the attacks, deaths and injuries, and are therefore complicit in the crimes, to be tried by the ICC.”

In the petition dated 21 October 2020 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “The Nigerian authorities over the years have been unwilling and/or unable to prosecute suspected perpetrators of killing of protesters, which in turn has promoted a culture of impunity and emboldened authorities, the military, politicians and their accomplices who continue to commit human rights crimes against protesters.”

SERAP said: “The violent attacks on peaceful protesters in Lekki, Alausa, and other parts of the country suggest the lack of political will by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to respect people’s human rights, including the rights to life, dignity of the human person, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.”

According to SERAP: “The repeated attacks on peaceful protesters suggest the misuse of the military and security agents by the Nigerian authorities and the failure to apply criminal sanctions to suspected perpetrators.”

The petition, read in part: “Without accountability for these serious human rights crimes against peaceful protesters, the victims will continue to be denied access to justice, and impunity of perpetrators will remain widespread and the result will continue to be a vicious cycle of violence against Nigerians.”

“Nigerian authorities, military and some politicians have failed abysmally to ensure the enjoyment of the rights to life, dignity, freedom of expression and peaceful protest by the people. These events suggest criminal conduct within the jurisdiction of the ICC.”

“SERAP believes that violence against protesters gives rise to individual criminal responsibility of those suspected of perpetrating and/or failing to address the problem. as entrenched in the Rome Statute.”

“The incidents of intimidation, harassment attacks and killings of peaceful protesters also strike at the integrity of the democratic process and seriously undermine President Muhammadu Buhari’s oft-expressed commitment to human rights and the rule of law, and to end impunity of perpetrators.”

“Persistent attacks on peaceful protesters by Nigerian authorities, military, security agents and some politicians seriously undermine the people’s right to participate in their own government, and have resulted in serious human rights crimes within the jurisdiction of the ICC.”

“Ending impunity for attacks on peaceful protesters would improve respect for human rights in the country, and empower the citizens to hold their leaders to account. Unless the citizens are freely allowed to exercise their right to protest, the pervasive culture of impunity will continue to flourish in the country.”

“The government of President Muhammadu Buhari has repeatedly failed to address these grave human rights violations, which amount to crimes against humanity within the jurisdiction of the ICC.”

“The use of thugs and soldiers against peaceful protesters have resulted in several deaths and injuries. Nigerian authorities have failed and/or neglected to prevent these crimes against peaceful protesters.”

“Nigeria is a state party to the Rome Statute and deposited its instrument of ratification on 27 September 2001. It is therefore important to promptly investigate allegations of killings and other attacks on peaceful protesters if the ICC is to contribute to preventing escalations in the coming days, months and years.”

“The CCTV monitoring cameras at the Lekki toll gate and street lights were reportedly turned off before soldiers opened fire on peaceful protesters. This suggests a deliberate ploy by the authorities to cover up these crimes against humanity.”

“Nigerian authorities, military, and politicians have failed to understand the seriousness of killings of peaceful protesters, and have been complicit in the commission of these crimes.”

“According to our information, Nigerian authorities, military, and some politicians have used thugs, the police and soldiers to intimidate, harass, attack and shoot at peaceful protesters campaigning against police brutality across several parts of the country including Abuja, Lagos, Edo, Oyo, Osun, Plateau, and Kano states.”

“The protests began on October 8, 2020, calling on the authorities to abolish an abusive police unit called the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). Just last night, several people taking part in the #EndSARS peaceful protests at the Lekki Toll Gate, and Alausa in Lagos were reportedly shot dead or wounded by soldiers. Several journalists covering the protests have been severely attacked.”

“Nigerian authorities have shot tear gas, water cannons, and live rounds at protesters, reportedly killing at least 60 people and wounding several others. According to Amnesty International, on October 10, Jimoh Isiaka was allegedly killed when police opened fire to disperse protesters in Ogbomosho, Oyo state.”

“At least two other people were killed the following day in protests against Isiaka’s death. On October 12, police officers in Surulere, Lagos, reportedly opened gunfire to disperse protesters, killing 55-year-old Ikechukwu Ilohamauzo.”

“On October 15, the Nigerian army warned ‘subversive elements and troublemakers’ to desist and offered to ‘support the civil authority in whatever capacity to maintain law and order.’ The Nigerian military has also been complicit in human rights abuses, including the use of lethal force against peaceful protesters.”

“Nigeria has a long history of systematic and widespread attacks on peaceful protesters especially since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed power in May 2015. Nigerian authorities have failed to ensure justice for killings of protesters. Hundreds of members of the Shia Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) were killed by the Nigeria army in Zaria, Kaduna State on December 12, 2015.”

“The Rome Statute in article 7 defines “crime against humanity” to include “inhumane acts causing great suffering or injury,” committed in a widespread or systematic manner against a civilian population. The common denominator of crimes against humanity is that they are grave affronts to human security and dignity.”

“The consequences of persistent violence, attacks and killings of peaceful protesters in Nigeria are similar to those of the offences in article 7(1). Senior government officials, the military and some politicians know well or ought to know that their failure to prevent these crimes will violate Nigerians’ human rights and dignity.”

“SERAP considers the apparent failure of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to prevent widespread and systematic attacks on peaceful protesters, and the killing of protesters as amounting to complicity under the Rome Statute. SERAP therefore believes that the widespread and systemic nature of the problem fits the legal requirements of violence against the Nigerian people and crime against humanity.”

“The national authorities of the Court’s States Parties form the first line of defense in addressing the crime against humanity during protests, as they shoulder the primary responsibility for the investigation and prosecution of perpetrators of the crime. But Nigerian authorities have been unwilling or unable to address the problem of attacks on peaceful protesters, and end the crimes against humanity.”

“SERAP urges you to investigate the killing of protesters, and other attacks perpetrated against protesters, and if there is sufficient admissible evidence prosecute officials, soldiers and any politicians for allegations of killing and violence against protesters, as provided for under the Rome Statute, and other relevant treaties, to deter the crimes and end impunity in the country.”

“SERAP believes that substantial grounds exist to warrant the intervention of the Prosecutor in this case. Under Article 17 of the Rome Statute, the Court is a court of last resort, expected to exercise its jurisdiction only if states themselves are unwilling or unable genuinely to investigate and prosecute international crimes.”

“Also, pursuant to the Rome Statute, the Prosecutor has power to intervene in a situation under the jurisdiction of the Court if the Security Council or states parties refer a situation or if information is provided from other sources such as the information SERAP is providing in this case.”

SERAP therefore urged the ICC to:

1. Urgently commence an investigation proprio motu on the widespread and systematic problem of attacks on protesters, with a view to determining whether these amount to violence against the Nigerian people and crime against humanity within the Court’s jurisdiction. In this respect, we also urge you to invite representatives of the Nigerian government, the military to provide written or oral testimony at the seat of the Court, so that the Prosecutor is able to conclude since available information whether there is a reasonable basis for an investigation, and to submit a request to the Pre-Trial Chamber for authorization of an investigation;
2. Bring to justice those suspected to be responsible for widespread and systematic attacks on peaceful protesters across the country;
3. Urge the Nigerian government to fulfil its obligations under the Rome Statute to cooperate with the ICC; including complying with your requests to arrest and surrender suspected perpetrators of the widespread and systematic crime of violence against peaceful protesters, testimony, and provide other support to the ICC;
4. Compel the Nigerian authorities to ensure that Nigerians are afforded their right to life, dignity, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association, and ensure reparations to victims, including restitution, compensation, rehabilitation and guarantee of non-repetition

Armed men on Wednesday set headquarters of Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation ablaze after a commando-like invasion.

A statement by the management signed by Editor, The Nation Mr Adeniyi Adesina, said the invaders “kicked their way into the premises after scaring away security men on duty, brandishing their sophisticated guns.

“They poured petrol on the frontage of the building and set fire to it.

“Some of the vehicles parked within the premises were set ablaze, others vandalised.”

It added: “Many boys came thereafter and swooped on the office, looting everything they could lay their hands on.

“These include desktop computers, laptops, air conditioners and other office equipment.

“At the time of the attack, Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief Mr. Victor Ifijeh, was among those trapped within the office while the fire raged on.

“They were evacuated when men of Operation Mesa security outfit arrived.

“Their arrival ended the free rein of the invaders.

“It was obviously a targeted attack on the free press.

“The Nation had been listed on Twitter and other social media platforms by sympathisers of the ongoing destructive activities, as a target of attack.

“The Nation has robustly reported the protests fairly, giving voice to the agitation of youths for a better Nigeria.

“The Management is at a loss as to why the company should be a target of such unwarranted attack.”

But for the intervention of a detachment of anti-riot policemen, the headquarters of Television Continental (TVC) in Ikosi Lagos would have been razed by a mob that stormed the station on Wednesday morning.

Rampaging youths have taken to arson, vandalism of public and private properties across the state in reaction to the shooting of peaceful protesters at the Lekki Toll Plaza by security forces.

At the time.of this report, more police stations across the state have been torched just as Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) terminals, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) head office in Marina, Igbosere Magistrates Court, Lekki Shopping Mall and many other important facilities have suffered attacks.

At the TVC, it was gathered the hoodlums who could not gain access into the building, set vehicles ablaze and were advancing in when policemen arrived the scene.

The policemen were said to have dispersed the mob, contained the inferno before evacuating occupants of the premises to safety.

It was also gathered hoodlums looted commercial banks in Lekki and carted away cash while cultists were alleged to have capitalised on the impasse to loot, kill people in Ikorodu.

Confirming the chaos, police spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi said: “They are attacking and looting banks and people’s properties. Even taking away cars.

” They are hoodlums and they will be treated as such. Everybody is a target. Police stations and media houses not spared. Minimum force will be applied to curtail them.”

After two weeks of massive demonstrations against police brutality brought Nigeria’s financial hub, Lagos, to a virtual standstill, government security forces using live ammunition opened fire Tuesday on hundreds of protestors rallying against a government-mandated 24-hour curfew.

KEY FACTS

At least seven people were killed during the melee, according to a Guardian report citing a popular African disc jockey, DJ Switch, who was live-streaming the demonstration on Instagram.

The protests began on October 7 with calls to disband an infamous police unit that had long been accused of extortion, torture and extra-juditial killings, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

SARS was dissolved on October 11, but quickly replaced by the Special Weapons and Tactics team, and demonstrations continued, only to be met with “excessive force” by government security forces, according to Amnesty International, including the use of tear gas, water cannons and live ammunition against protesters.

Almost 2,000 prison inmates escaped after crowds stormed two prisons Monday in Benin City in southern Nigeria, according the Associated Press.

On Tuesday, state officials deployed anti-riot forces to protect police and correctional facilities which some demonstrators had begun targeting, and announced a nationwide 24-hour curfew in response to the unrest.

At least 15 people have died during the demonstrations, according to Amnesty International.

KEY BACKGROUND

What began as mostly peaceful protests have turned increasingly violent in recent days. Groups of armed young men who are reportedly being paid to discredit the anti-police movement by powerful interests in Nigeria have allegedly been attacking the demonstrators, fueling the unrest, and provoking the government’s response. Tens of thousands of people have joined in the demonstrations across the country, but as they grow more violent, government security forces have responded in kind. The Nigerian Army said it was standing by in case “subversive elements and troublemakers” continue to cause problems for the police.

BIG NUMBER

21 Million. That’s how many people live in the state of Lagos, according to the Council on Foreign Relations, all of whom are supposed to adhere to the curfew. That’s more people than live in New York State. 

CRUCIAL QUOTE

I have watched with shock how what began as a peaceful #EndSARS protest has degenerated into a monster that is threatening the well-being of our society. Lives and limbs have been lost as criminals and miscreants are now hiding under the umbrella of these protests to unleash mayhem on our state.” said Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos.(forbes)

Below are the dying words of one of the #EndSARS protesters among the over 11 murdered Tuesday night by men of the Nigerian Armed forces at Lekki Toll Gate, Lagos.

One account had it that he was a student of Michael Okpara University, Umudike, Abia State. Another account said he had just finished his National Youth Service Corps and recently got a job in Lagos, where he had only lived for two months. We join millions of mourners and youths of Nigeria to condemn the war crimes, senseless murder that took place in Nigeria yesterday.

His last words will prick the souls of his murderers and world at large who stood by and watched the genocide in Nigeria.

His last words were:

Mama don’t worry I will be back in the morning.
mama I am sorry I failed you, I couldn’t come back, but mama i didn’t mean to go.
Mama those who should protect us shot at me, I waved the flag but it seemed like a gun in their sight.
Mama you know all I wanted was a better life for us, for my unborn
I’m sorry Mama that I couldn’t give you that
They wasted us, Mama. As I journey, I still feel pains. I don’t know if you can handle this news. Look how they took your son.
Heaven knows I tried to stay alive for you, Mama I tried. Be thou proud of me and pray heaven receives me and my friends.
I had a future but I can’t see it anymore.
Be strong, be proud of me as angels guide me home.
Our blood still drips and it will speak, Mama.
Don’t cry for me, Mama.
Pray for Nigeria