The Federal Road Safety Corps, on Thursday, confirmed the death of 21 people, including school children, in an auto crash at Mgbowo in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The Enugu Sector Commander, Mr Ogbonna Kalu, who confirmed the incident to The PUNCH, on the telephone, said the accident occurred on Wednesday afternoon.

He said the accident involved a school bus and trailer.

The commander blamed the accident on speeding beyond the limit and dangerous driving.

Kalu said, “21 persons have been confirmed dead and more than 50 persons were in the school bus.

“Also of note is that not all the deaths were school children. Those working on the roadside were part of the casualties.

It was, however, gathered that the tragic incident occurred when a Lowbed truck belonging to a construction firm working at Oji-River – Awgu Federal Road lost control and rammed into a school bus conveying over 60 pupils of the Presentation Nursery and Primary School, Awgu owned by the Catholic Diocese of Awgu home. (The PUNCH)

Sergeant Eze and Joy Eze

Sergeant Eze Aiwansone, the Policeman who allegedly shot his girlfriend, Joy Eze, in the mouth three weeks ago and disappeared into thin air immediately after committing the crime, has been apprehended by the Lagos State Police Command.

The incident occurred on 8th October, 2020, at Opebi area of Lagos

The fleeing Sgt. Eze was attached to the Special Protection Unit (SPU), Base 16, Ikeja, prior to the shooting incident.

That particular incident had left Joy Eze’s mouth torn open and apart, with heavy bleeding, aftermath of which she was rushed to a hospital for treatment.

Sgt.Eze and his girlfriend were reportedly embroiled in an argument at a bus stop in Opebi, when he allegedly pulled out his gun and shot her.

The suspect, who had been on the run, was said to have been arrested by his elder brother who is an Inspector of police in Lagos and handed over to the Command. 

Meanwhile, the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Panti, has taken over the case on the instruction of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, for further investigation. 

Lagos CP, Hakeem Odumosu

The CP has, however, warned police personnel in Lagos State to desist from any act that can tarnish the image of the Force.

Odumosu appealed to them to be committed to the principles of Community Policing for better service delivery and public safety in the state.

Lagos PPRO, SP Muyiwa Adejobi

By Eleni Giokos, Stephanie Busari, Lamide Akintobi and Eoin McSweeney, CNN

CNN — A week after the killing of activists protesting police brutality in Nigeria’s largest city, a Lagos state government judicial panel began hearings into the violence on Tuesday.

President Muhammadu Buhari tweeted on Sunday that the panel had his “full support”, but protesters say his administration has for years ignored their calls for reform.

Demonstrators took part in daily protests across Nigeria for nearly two weeks over widespread claims of kidnapping, harassment and extortion by a police unit known as the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The eight-person Judicial Panel of Restitution at the Lagos Court of Arbitration will look at the claims against SARS, which was disbanded on October 11 in response to the protests, and also investigate last Tuesday’s deadly incident at Lekki Toll Gate.

Amnesty International told CNN that at least 12 demonstrators had been shot dead at Lekki Toll Gate and another site last Tuesday by Army soldiers, who then took the bodies away. The Nigerian army claimed on Twitter that these reports were “fake news.”

The human rights group said at least 56 people have died across the country since the protests began, with about 38 killed last Tuesday alone.

Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu told CNN’s Becky Anderson on Monday that only two people were killed by the military. CCTV footage from last Tuesday’s incident will be part of the tribunal’s investigation but is not yet known if it will be made public.

Despite condemnation of the killings from the United States, United Nations and others, Sanwo-Olu insisted there was no international pressure on the government or the president to make reforms.

In addition to Tuesday’s session, the tribunal will also hold hearings on Friday and Saturday this week and the public have been invited to submit claims to the court.

It’s the only action government have taken to address the Lekki Toll Gate violence and is seen as a litmus test for the independence of the judiciary. There are two young protesters on the panel who will represent the youth voice.

The anti-SARS marches have recently morphed into protests campaigning for police reform and an end to bad governance in the oil-rich country.

The physical protests have ended but a coalition of protest groups vows to continue online. Many of the protesters said they have received multiple threats and there has been an attempt to blame them for the chaos, looting, and burning that followed the shootings last Tuesday.

“The ones that died are the real heroes,” said DJ Switch, who streamed a live video on Instagram at Lekki Toll Gate when the shooting started. “The giant is asleep. The custodians of the country, the leaders of the country, they’re tiptoeing; they don’t want to wake the giant up, the giants are the people.

CNN

Abuja (Sundiata Post) – Anani Oluwabunmi, a teacher at Concordia College, Yola, Adamawa State, has emerged the 2020 Maltina Teacher of the Year.

Anani, an English teacher was declared the winner at the grand finale held on Friday, October 16, 2020, at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

For emerging the winner of the 6th edition of the Maltina Teacher of the Year, Anani will receive a total cash prize of N6.5 million (N1.5million immediately and N1million annually for the next five years) from the Nigerian Breweries – Felix Ohiwerei Trust Fund.

She would also have the privilege to be part of an all-expense paid capacity development training abroad while a fully equipped computer laboratory or six-classroom block worth N20 million will be built for her school in her honour by the Fund.

Idele Benedicta, a teacher from Asoro Grammar School Senior, Egor, Edo State emerged the first runner-up winning a total of N1.5 Million while Adeeko Folukemi, a teacher from Patterson Memorial Baptist Grammar School, Abeokuta, Ogun State emerged as second runner-up with a prize of N1, 250, 000.00. Other 27 teachers who emerged as state champions were also rewarded with a sum of N500, 000.00 each.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Education, Honourable Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba commended the company’s unflinching commitment in supporting the education sector by rewarding high performing teachers through the annual Maltina Teacher of the Year initiative.

Nwajiuba noted that it was heartwarming to note that the company is keeping faith with this initiative despite the disruptive impact of the coronavirus pandemic on businesses and economy.

In his welcome address, the Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Jordi Borrut Bel explained that the initiative was designed to recognize, celebrate and motivate teachers whose stories have become great reminders of their role in laying the foundation for a good society.

While congratulating the finalists alongside state champions for coming this far, he stated that the role of teachers cannot be underestimated given their contribution to shaping and moulding lives.

Sundiatapost

ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – A former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has accused Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, of mass murder following the shooting of EndSARS protesters at Lekki Toll Gate on 20 October 2020.

In a statement made available to Sundiata Post on Wednesday, the former minister raised 10 posers that the Lagos State governor should respond to.

The full statement reads:

Governor Jide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state, has told the world that,

1. He does not know who deployed soldiers to the streets of Lagos.

2. He does not know who gave them orders to go to the Lekki Toll Gate.

3. He does not know why they shot anyone.

4. He does not know who gave them orders to shoot anyone.

He may well be telling the truth but if he is why did he not step out immediately and go to the scene of the shooting to protect his people?

Why did he not act like a man?

Why did he not call out Buhari and the military immediately.

Why did he not get on the airwaves and tell the world that “they are killing my people!”

Why did he not express more outrage about the carnage and display more empathy for the victims?

Why did he not go to the front line in Lekki himself to face the bullets and protect the children.

Why did he not organise protest marches all over the state against the military immediately after the event and solidarity marches for those that were killed and wounded at Lekki?

This is my grouse with him. No strength, no rage, no power, no fire, no passion and no courage.

Leaders and Kings are meant to enter the fray of battle and fight like men and not tremble and bow before genocidal maniacs and murderers and those that kill their people.

Courage is the greatest of all the virtues but both he and his mentor clearly lack it. The latter actually disappeared for a few days and said nothing which proved that far from being a lion he is as timid as a mouse.

He only resurfaced and boasted that “I am still the Asiwaju of Lagos and the Jagaban” after things calmed down. Yet where was this Asiwaju and his cub Sanwoolu when their people were being slaughtered?

They were hiding under their beds and trying, to no avail, to reach their friend Buhari on the phone. Of course he ignored them and treated them with the contempt that they deserve.

I bet he was saying to himself, “how dare these common slaves call me to disturb my sleep in the middle of the night just because their houses are burning and their children are being killed by my soldiers! Are they the the only ones!”

You supported Buhari, helped to put him in power and turned a blind eye to his consistent crimes against humanity all over the country over the last 5 years.

Now you have experienced just a little of what he, his associates, his allies and his military have been doing to others all over the country for the last 5 years and you appear shocked and dazed.

Did you really believe that you and your people were exempt from the madness of the Buhari regime?

Did you and your mentor think that you were special and safe because you helped put him in power?

If you did, now you know better. The military have now told the world that YOU asked them to come into the streets of Lagos and you know the implications of that . To say the least, for you, they are grave.

It means they are trying to put the blame on you for the shedding of innocent blood.

It means they have betrayed you and thrown you under the bus. It means they have clothed your name with infamy and labelled you as a mass murderer.

It means they have portrayed you as a man that is prepared to call out the military and kill his own people at the drop of a hat.

It means they have made you the fall guy for the atrocities that they committed. It means they have made you a candidate for the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Hague.

It means they have turned you into a man that stands accused of the most heinous, heartless and horrific war crimes.

Poor you. I really do feel sorry for you but frankly this is where cowardice and the accommodation of or acquiescence to evil always leads to.

When you refuse to fight or speak out against the wickedness and barbarity that is visited on others from outside your state and zone it will ultimately consumme you too.

That is the lesson of life. Every leader has a choice to make: to either turn a blind eye to the activities of sadistic and bloodthirsty tyrants and wholesale tyranny or stand up and fight them and we must live with the consequences of that choice.

Your intentions may we have been good but as they say, “the road to hell is always paved with good intentions”.

History proves that those that collude with evil rulers always perish.

It also proves that those who ride on the back of a tiger always end up in its stomach.

It is clear to me that you and your mentor may well have ended up in Buhari’s stomach.

I hate to say it again but we WARNED you!

Permit me to end this contribution with the following.

To all those insulting the grief of the bereaved and traumatized by claiming nobody died at the Lekki tollgate massacre, I urge them to watch the video that has been in circulation and that provides, in my view, incontrovertible evidence.

I should add that reports suggest that the bodies were collected by the soldiers and disposed of after the massacre.

The individual known as DJ Switch who filmed these events with her phone and who gave the public direct evidence about what she witnessed with her own eyes should be commended for her extraordinary courage and not condemned.

Had it not been for her efforts this great evil that was unleashed on our children by Government forces and rogue soldiers would have been covered up and brushed under the carpet like so many other barbaric acts of state-sponsored genocide, ethnic cleansing and mass murder have been covered up before in Nigeria.

Sanwo-Olu initially told the local media that no-one was killed but just a few days later he admitted to CNN that at least two people were killed. I have little doubt that sometime in the next few days and weeks he and others will be forced to admit that far many more were killed than that.

This is especially so given the fact that the main players now appear to be turning against one another and exposing each others dirty secrets and filthy role in this utterly reprehensible event and shameless chapter.

This is what always happens when thieves, rogues, murderers and genocidal maniacs fall apart.

Meanwhile we ask again:

1. WHO DEPLOYED THE SOLDIERS?

2. WHO ORDERED THE SHOOTING?

3. WHO ORDERED THE REMOVAL OF CCTV CAMERAS?

4. WHO GAVE INSTRUCTIONS TO SWITCH OFF THE
TOLL GATE LIGHTS?

5. WHO GAVE THE ORDER TO SWITCH OFF THE STREET LIGHTS?

6. WHO GAVE THE ORDER TO SWITCH OFF THE BILLBOARD LIGHTS?

7. WHO GAVE THE ORDER THAT AMBULANCES & HELICOPTERS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO CARRY AWAY THE BODIES OF THE DEAD & WOUNDED?

8. WHO ORDERED THE SOLIDERS TO SEIZE & CARRY AWAY THOSE BODIES & WHERE WERE THEY TAKEN TO?

9. WHO LED THE SOLDIERS AND WHAT IS THE NAME OF THEIR COMMANDING OFFICER?

10. WHAT ROLE DID BUHARI, SANWOOLU, TINUBU AND HIS SON AND OTHER KEY STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND THEIR ASSOCIATES AND ALLIES PLAY IN THIS MATTER?

Until these questions are answered truthfully none of those that stand accused will have any peace of mind or rest and the matter will not die. The blood of the innocent cries to God in heaven for vengeance: justice will be done and they will be avenged.

As Tanzania holds general elections on Wednesday, 28 October 2020, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat has called for peaceful, inclusive and credible polls.

Former Nigerian President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is leading AU’s Elections Experts Mission already deployed to Tanzania for Wednesday’s elections.

In a statement issued on Tuesday the Chairperson urged all stakeholders, political parties and their supporters “to participate in the voting process peacefully and to refrain from any acts of violence. He further urges the authorities to ensure a conducive environment to enable citizens to cast their votes in a safe and peaceful manner.”

The Chairperson further recalled “the commendable journey that the United Republic of Tanzania has traversed thus far towards building democratic governance and sustaining peace, and urges that the 28 October 2020 General Elections offer a renewed opportunity to deepen democracy and peace in the country.”

Former President Jonathan is coordinating the activities of the AU team of expert observers who are already in Tanzania for the elections.

It is the third time Dr. Jonathan will be leading the AU election observation mission and the second consecutive time he will be observing election in Tanzania, having led the Commonwealth Observer Group to the East African nation’s last general election in 2015.

In a letter of invitation signed by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat, the AU commended Dr. Jonathan’s efforts towards democratic consolidation and peacebuilding in Africa

It said: “Given Your Excellency’s vast experience and commitment in promoting democracy and peace on the continent, I would like to invite you to lead the Mission to the United Republic of Tanzania.”

Since leaving office in 2015, Dr. Jonathan has been actively engaged in numerous international assignments, including leading peace missions and different Election Observer Missions to various African nations including Tanzania, Zambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Mozambique. As the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Special Envoy to Mali, the former President has led several mediation missions to Bamako, a commitment that helped restore peace to Mali after a protracted socio-political crisis.

Nigerian Banks have begun taking stock of their losses to the civil unrest in some parts of the country in the wake of the shooting of protesters at Lekki, Lagos State, According to Thisday reports.

THISDAY gathered at the weekend that preliminary assessment of the damage arising from attacks on financial institutions and their assets by hoodlums, who hijacked the #EndSARS protests, showed that more than 67 bank branches were destroyed and many automated teller machines (ATMs) damaged.

However, insurers have dispatched their officials to the various sites, banks inclusive, to ascertain the extent of damage done to assets under their cover that were destroyed by hoodlums across the country.

The number of banks’ branches affected could be higher than the stated figure as some of the financial institutions said they were yet to ascertain the exact number of their branches and ATMs that were affected.

While the hoodlums torched some bank branches, they broke into others in a bid to loot their vaults, THISDAY gathered.

A breakdown of the number of branches affected across the country compiled by THISDAY showed that 10 branches of FirstBank Nigeria Limited were damaged; Union Bank of Nigeria- 10; Guaranty Trust Bank – nine; Access Bank Plc – eight; Fidelity Bank – seven; and six branches of First City Monument Bank(FCMB) were destroyed.

Also, three branches each of Wema Bank and Sterling Bank were damaged; two of the branches each belong to Stanbic IBTC and Unity Bank respectively while Heritage Bank, Ecobank and Polaris Bank lost a branch each respectively.

Nevertheless, the banks would be looking up to the insurance companies to underwrite the losses.

THISDAY gathered that the insurance cover for banks includes vault, cash-in-transit, ATMs, fire and special peril.

Also, insurers have dispatched their officials to the various sites, banks inclusive, to ascertain the extent of damage done to assets under their cover that were destroyed by hoodlums.

This is to enable the underwriters to determine the amount of claims as well as the modalities for payment to governments, businesses and individuals that were affected by the violent protests.

Insurance experts told THISDAY yesterday that when risks due to civil unrest occur as seen last week, insurance technical persons and adjusters would be sent to see whether the actual cause of the damage was covered by any policy statement or should be accommodated under extensions.

Speaking in a telephone interview, the Managing Director, Corporate Loss Adjusters Limited, Mr. Levi Omoboyowa, said the situation would be critically examined to determine which of them was genuine and payable.

He said adjusters from different parts of the country had been dispatched to the scenes of the destroyed assets, stressing that until they collate the result of their findings and their judgment filed to the respective companies, insurers cannot know how much claims they have to settle.

He said he and his colleagues have started working to come out with the value of claims to be paid by each insured who had undertaken a policy on the damaged businesses.

Also, insurance underwriter and Managing Director of Universal Insurance Plc, Mr. Ben Ujoatuonu, said insurers are already estimating the situation in order to compensate those covered by their policies.

He, however, added that even though insurers are in business to pay claims, the risk in question must be covered by the policy purchased.

He said the risk from the EndSARS protest can only be paid for if the owner of the property or other assets covered bought fire extension.

According to him, “Otherwise there is no insurance cover for strikes and civil commotion risks as they are not basic cover.”

He said the situation the country passed through last week was an eye-opener to Nigerians on the need to buy insurance products for risk management and protection, saying no one knows when such an incident would occur.

The Managing Director of Bof Africa Insura nce Brokers, Mr. Olumide Fatogun, said the unfortunate development would prove to Nigerians that insurance and claims payment are real.

THISDAY