By OLALEKAN ADETAYO, Abuja

Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, on Thursday said Northern states were not against the scrapped  Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police.

Lalong, who is the Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum, said the unit had been useful in the fight against insecurity in the Northern region.

The governor made his position known in an interview with State House correspondents after a meeting he had with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

While noting that Buhari had already approved the scrapping of the police unit, Lalong said northern states do not believe in throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

He, however, admitted that the unit needed reforms. (The PUNCH)

By SUNNY OKIM

The post-humous celebration of Fela Anikulapo’s birthday has kicked off with activities lined up for the annual celebration.

Earlier today at 5pm, there was a webinar symposium tagged, “The Fela Debates #13 Symposium” with topic “Colomentality”.

Guest Speakers at the symposium moderated by Dr. Vincent Magombe were Ambassador Arikana Chihombori Quao, Kweku Mandela and Dele Farotimi.

First daughter of the late Afrobeat legend Yeni Kuti further informed News Express that the celebration will continue by 8pm today at the Africa Shrine where five top artistes will be performing.

The music stars, according to Yeni, are Femi Kuti, Made, Joeboy, Niniola and Seun Kuti.

She also informed that there are other scheduled live performances online and on Hip Tv, YouTube, Instagram and others.

It will be recalled that the fearless Afro beats king and leader of Egypt 80 Band died on August 2, 1997 at age of 58. He was born on October 15, 1938.

October 15 is celebrated every year with the tag Felabration.

The Government of Anambra State has expressed sadness over the passing of Emeritus Professor John Pepper Clark-Bekederemo, popularly known as JP Clark, who passed away in the early hours of Tuesday, October 13, at age 85.

A legendary poet, dramatist and folklorist, JP Clark was in his lifetime an endearing friend to Anambra State’s illustrious literary legends Professor Chinua Achebe and iconic poet Christopher Okigbo.

According to a statement in Awka by the Anambra State Commissioner for Information, C. Don Adinuba, Governor Willie Obiano has extended his condolences to the great Clark family of Kiagbodo in Delta State led by elder statesman Chief Edwin Clark.

“Incidentally, a younger sibling of JP Clark, General Henry Clark, was married to Anambra’s celebrated scholar and public servant, Professor Marian Ikejiani-Clark, whose father, Dr Okechukwu Ikejiani, was one of Africa’s foremost medical scientists and chairman of the Nigerian Railways Corporation (NRC) in its heyday and played a key role in the struggle for Nigeria’s independence,” Adinuba said in the statement.

Born in Kiagbodo of present-day Delta State to an Ijaw father and an Urhobo mother, JP Clark was educated at the famous Government College, Ughelli, before studying at the University College, Ibadan.

A precocious poet, Clark was among the prime-movers of the literary club, Mbari in Ibadan, alongside Christopher Okigbo, Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe.

It was under the imprint of Mbari that he published his first collection of poems entitled “Poems” in 1961. Clark then forged ahead to publish other collections such as “A Reed in the Tide”, “Casualties”, “A Decade of Tongues”, “State of the Union”, “Mandela and other Poems”, etc.

Clark’s much-anthologised poems like “Night Rain”, “Abiku”, “Streamside Exchange”, “Ibadan”, “Casualties”, among others, have been studied extensively for the West African School Certificate (WASC) examinations.

JP Clark made history as Africa’s first Professor of English, a coveted feat he achieved at the University of Lagos, Akoka.

Christopher Okigbo had given the manuscript of his poems “Path of Thunder” before he was killed at the beginning of the Nigeria-Biafra war, and Clark duly published the poems posthumously in the magazine “Black Orpheus”.  

“The Anambra State Government is in the end comforted that JP Clark left a celebratory legacy even in his demise as a world-famous poet, playwright, folklorist, and a dear friend of Anambra State – ‘Light of the Nation’,” Adinuba said in the statement.

Protesters against police brutality and extrajudicial killings have again blocked sections of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway grinding vehicular activities to a halt.

The protesters occupied the inbound and outbound sections of the expressway singing solidarity songs and chanting ‘#EndSWAT’‘#EndSARS’ ‘#EndPoliceBrutality.’Motorists and commuters were trapped in the gridlock as a result of the demonstration by the protesters.

The protesters regrouped after the early morning attack on them carried out by armed thugs on House of Assembly drive, in Alausa area of Lagos State.

By midday, they walked 1km from Alausa to Allen roundabout, where they stayed for some minutes chanting solidarity songs.

The protesters later moved to the Lagos-Ibadan expressway blocking both sides of the road.

For the past few days, hundreds of protesters demanding an end to police brutality, extrajudicial killings, and extortion by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force have blocked the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. (Channels TV)

By SUNNY OKIM

The National Consultative Front, NCFront, has declared its unalloyed support to the ongoing protests by Nigerian youths across the country tagged #EndSARS.

The leadership of the political group which prides itself as an emerging alternative to Nigeria’s ruling class, has also commended its youth network and allies across the country for the strategic roles so far played in sustaining the protests rocking the nation.

In a press statement issued on Thursday, signed by its spokesperson, Dr Tanko Yunusa and made available to News Express, the Front also decried the panicky hiring and criminal attacks on peaceful protesters by hoodlums with the aim of undermining the peaceful and orderly protest of the large section of responsible and resourceful Nigerian youths.

The statement reads in part:

“NCFront wishes to applaud the ideological dimension brought into the ongoing #EndSARS struggle by its teeming youth members and allies in depicting SARS as symbolic of every negative, irresponsible, anti people’s element of government misrule and state collapse in Nigeria.

“We, therefore wish to state in clear terms that, this emergent ideological dynamics, as embraced by the the Coalition of Northern Youths today in Kaduna, is the most formidable line to tow towards achieving a Nigeria that works for all under a government that has been deaf and irresponsive to all entrities of popular demand for democratic change in mal-adminstration of the country.

“NCFront hereby enjoins and directs all its teeming youths members and allies, especially in the Nigeria Intervention Movement (NIM), Citizens Advocacy Network, Revolution 2023, and the entire Third Force, Fresh breed Movement of Nigeria not to be deterred by casualties, injuries and loss of lives recorded while pursuing this noble cause but to ensure everything is done in solidarity to sustain the current revolutionary momentum until all forms of SARS are brought down as the present political class have been a monumental failure and disappointment.

“They must be brought to their knees to account for the blood of innocent and defenceless youths maimed and cut down by state forces during the ongoing peaceful protests.

“All past and present politicians, especially political office holders, who have contributed in one way or the other to bring the country to the current ‘SARS’ brutal situation in all spheres of its existence, must immediately be declared persona non granta and made to account for their destructive contributions to making Nigeria a failed state, a criminal enterprise and the poverty capital of the world.”

NCFront further said it has already convened an emergency stakeholders’ meeting for 8pm today to rewiew the gains and losses and the tactical way forward for the emerging popular revolution in Nigeria.

It called on all its leaders, stakeholders, members and allies to attend this all important review meeting.

A 17-year-old boy on Thursday appeared in a Zuba Upper Area Court, FCT, for allegedly threatening to kill his mother and a neighbour.

The police charged the teenager who lives in Ikwa Zuba, FCT, with criminal intimidation.

The prosecution counsel, Adefioye Mayowa told the court that the matter was reported by the complainant, Mr Akinyemi Rotim of IKwa  Zuba, FCT at the Zuba Police Station Abuja on Oct. 11

Mayowa alleged that the teenager committed the offence at about 7 a.m. He said that the teenager had a little misunderstanding with his mother and when the complainant tried to make peace, he threatened to kill her and the complainant, who is a neighbour.

The prosecution said that the defendant’s mother suffered fear due to the threat. The prosecution said that the complainant suspects that the defendant is a member of an occult group. The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 397 and 406 of the Penal Code.

The judge, Alhaji Gambo Garba, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N100,000  with one surety in like sum. He ordered that the surety must have a reasonable means of livelihood and must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

Garba adjourned the case until Nov. 19 for hearing. (Vanguard)

The End Insecurity Now protest is regrouping in Kano after suspected thugs attacked protesters on the streets, injuring many and destroying protest banners.

Thugs disrupted the protest meant to begin Thursday morning across the 19 northern states.

“We were marching peacefully when thugs and hoodlums invaded the protest, injuring up to 30 people, tearing our banners,” a protester Dr Mohammed Ibrahim told Daily Trust in Kano.

They were attacked along BUK Road at Kofar Famfo.

The movement had issued public notice of its protest to begin Thursday and informed police for protection.

Protesters said police abandoned them at the start of the attack.

“The police was supposed to be guarding us, because we had told them exactly the roads we would be following,” a protester said.

They say police reappeared after the attack, and protesters are regrouping to resume.

The End Insecurity Now protest has also been on in Kaduna, protesting banditry, kidnapping, rapes, Boko Haram insurgency and killings in the region. (Daily Trust)

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector General of Police Muhammed Adamu “over ongoing intimidation, harassment and attacks on peaceful protesters campaigning against police brutality and corruption across the country.”

The suit followed widespread protests demanding reform of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

Joined as Respondents in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, SAN, and Commissioner of Police Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu.

In the suit number FHC/L/CS/1451/2020 filed this morning at the Federal High Court, Lagos, SERAP is seeking: “an order to protect and secure the fundamental rights of peaceful protesters across the country participating in the #EndSARS/#SARSMustEnd protests or any other peaceful protests, to wit: their rights to life, dignity, personal liberty, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.”

SERAP is also seeking “an order of injunction restricting the Federal Government and the police whether by themselves, their officers or agents, from stopping the protests and from harassing, arresting, detaining, or violating in any other ways the fundamental rights of Nigerians participating in peaceful protests across the country.”

SERAP said: “The right to protest constitutes the very foundation of a system of participatory governance based on democracy, human rights, the rule of law and pluralism. Failure to respect and ensure the right to peaceful protest is typically a marker of repression.”

SERAP also said: “In a democracy, people must be given the freedom to come together to express their opinions on issues they care deeply about. The role of government is to facilitate that democratic participation, and not to restrict or criminalize it.”

The organisation is asking the court for “an order directing the Federal Government and Nigeria police to identify all perpetrators of brutality and human rights violations against peaceful protesters across the country, and bring them to justice without further delay.”

SERAP is also asking the court for “an order compelling and directing the Federal Government and Nigeria police to disclose the total number of protesters in the #EndSARS/#SARSMustEnd protests arrested across the country, their places of detention and details of allegations against them.”

The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Opeyemi Owolabi, reads in part: “The fundamental human right to protest enables individuals to express themselves collectively and to participate in shaping their societies. The right of peaceful assembly is important in its own right, as it protects the ability of people to exercise individual autonomy in solidarity with others.

“A protest is a form of expression of views on current issues affecting government and the governed in a sovereign state. It is a trend recognised and deeply entrenched in the system of governance in civilized countries. It will not only be primitive but also retrogressive if Nigeria continues to stifle or cripple this right.

“Peaceful assemblies can play a critical role in allowing participants to advance ideas and aspirational goals in the public domain and to establish the extent of support for or opposition to those ideas and goals.”

SERAP is seeking “an order for the immediate and unconditional release of all those still being detained across the country solely for peacefully exercising their rights. The court should direct the Federal Government and Nigeria Police to immediately identify all victims of police brutality during the protests and adequately compensate each of the victims [and their families] by paying each the sum of N200,000,000:00.

“SERAP is also seeking a declaration that the action of the Federal Government and Nigeria Police to intimidate, harass, threaten, arrest, beat, shoot, kill and detain unarmed peaceful protesters in the #EndSARS/#SARSMustEnd protests since 7th October, 2020 to date is wrongful, unlawful and constitutes gross violation of the protesters’ human rights.

“SERAP is seeking a declaration that the response by the Federal Government and Nigeria Police to protests across the country since 7th October, 2020 to date is wrongful, unlawful and constitutes gross violation of the protesters’ rights to life, dignity, personal liberty, freedom of expression, and peaceful assembly guaranteed under Sections 33, 34, 35, 36, 39, 40 and 41 of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 [as amended.

“Paragraph 3[e] [i]-[v] of the Preamble to the Fundamental Rights [Enforcement Procedure] Rules 2009, provides that the court shall encourage and welcome public interest litigations in the human rights field and no human rights case may be dismissed or struck out for want of locus standi.

“The Rules also provide that the applicant in a case like this may include any of the following: anyone acting in his own interest; anyone acting on behalf of another person; anyone acting as a member of, or in the interest of a group or class of persons; anyone acting in the public interest, and association acting in the interest of its members or other individuals or groups.

“The fundamental right of citizens to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and freedom of association are guaranteed by Sections 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution and Articles 9 and 10 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Right. These provisions are clear, direct and unambiguous.

“These rights are formulated and designed to confer on every person the right to assemble freely, protest, and associate with other persons.

“The right to protest on matters of public concern are rights which are in the public interest and that which individuals must possess and which they should exercise without impediment as long as no wrongful act is done.

“In a democracy, it is the right of citizens to conduct peaceful processions, rallies or demonstrations. It is a right guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution.

“The obligation to respect and ensure peaceful assemblies imposes negative and positive duties on States before, during and after assemblies.

“The negative duty entails that there be no unwarranted interference with peaceful assemblies. States must also protect participants against possible abuse by non-State actors, such as interference or violence by other members of the public, counterdemonstrators and private security providers.”

According to Amnesty International, “at least 10 people have died in the ongoing protests over police brutality. The excessive use of force by the police in response to the protests reveals the longstanding disregard for the right to life by Nigerian security forces.”

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

By OZIEGBE OKOEKI

Hoodlums on Thursday stormed Lagos Government House, Alausa and attacked #EndSARS protesters.

They arrived in BRT buses chasing the protesters away with clubs and cutlasses.

The hoodlums were also reported to have stormed the Berger end of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway to disrupt the peaceful protests.

According to the protesters, who slept overnight in the area, the hoodlums arrived around 8:00 am in large numbers.

They were said to be well-organised and armed.

An eye witness said they came in about 20 buses.

“We managed to copy one of the bus serial number: S/N 240171,” a protester said.

Debo Adebayo, popularly known as MC Macaroni, in a series of tweets, also recounted how they were chased away.

As the time of this report, the protesters have regrouped and returned to the entrance of the Lagos Assembly. (The Nation)

The Federal Government has announced the re-opening of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps across the country.

The announcement was made on Thursday by the Minister of Youths and Sports, Sunday Dare.

The orientation camps are scheduled for reopening on November 10.

“The Resumption of the NYSC Orientation Camp for prospective Youth Corpers has been approved and opens on November 10th, 2020. Full COVID-19 Protocols will be enforced,” Dare posted on his official Twitter handle.

The Resumption of the NYSC Orientation Camp for prospective Youth Corpers has been approved and opens on November 10th 2020. Full COVID-19 Protocols will be enforced.

— Sunday Dare (@SundayDareSD) October 15, 2020

The Federal Government on March 18 ordered the closure of the NYSC orientation camps nationwide due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NSCDC) on Wednesday announced that the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country has increased to 60,834 with 52,143 patients discharged. Also, 1116 fatalities have so far been recorded. (Channels TV)