FirstAfricaTimes

  A Kaduna State High Court yesterday adjourned the trial of the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN),  Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat, until March 31. Justice Gideon Kurada who presided over the resume of the trial of the IMN leader, adjourned until  March 31 to allow the prosecution to close its case. The lead prosecution, Chris Umar also Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Justice confirmed this to reporters shortly after the  trial that lasted for over six hours (11am to 5:15 pm). Umar said that the prosecution had so far presented 14 witnesses in the case. He said that the court had admitted several items in evidence, but declined to mention the items. Also speaking, the Femi Falana, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) told newsmen that items including video recordings, Dane guns, SIMCARDS among other items were admitted in evidence by the court. Falana said his team will open defence in the case after the prosecu...

  The Federal Government is working towards the establishment of specialised courts and judicial divisions that will focus on sexual and gender-based violence (GBV). The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, made this known while speaking at a virtual session on `Special Event on Gender Dimensions of Criminal Justice Responses to Terrorism’. The event was organised by the UN office on Drug and Crime as part of events commemorating the 2021 International Women Day holding at Kyoto, Japan. It focused significant attention on the  issues of sexual and gender based violence. Malami recalled in 2020, he inaugurated the Inter-Ministerial Management Committee on Eradication of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence with the hope that it will be an important tool in helping Nigeria to address gender based crimes He said the Complex Case Group under his office in collaboration with relevant stakeholders lead in the efforts to bring suspected terror...

  Some suspected homosexuals have been arrested following a raid by the police on Sunday in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State. The police officers were said to have raided a hotel in the area, where the suspected gays were having a party. The Ukpo Police Division stormed the venue following a tip-off after trouble ensued at the party. File Photo: Homosexuals arrested in Nigeria According to an indigene of the community, “The homosexuals were holding a party at the facility when trouble ensued, leading to invitation of policemen from the Ukpo Police Division. The suspects attempted fleeing in all directions when the policemen arrived, leading to the destruction of ceilings and other items in the hotel. “The suspects were taken to the command’s anti-cult office in Ukpo for investigation.” Numbers of the suspected gays arrested who are mostly men of different age brackets are undisclosed. A police source said, “The officers arrested an undisclosed number of them, mostly...

  The Kwara Government has announced that the 10 grant-aided missionary schools will remain closed until further notice. The decision was taken over the Hijab (religious veil) controversies. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Mrs Kemi Adeosun on Monday, said; “The government, therefore, directs school children and teachers in the affected schools to remain at home until the contrary is announced. ”The government remains committed to fairness, pluralism, and respect for the law and rights of every citizen at all times,” she said. The 10 schools were on Feb.19, closed down temporarily over the Hijab controversy in the state. A committee was set up by the government to find a solution to the issue. However, on Feb. 26, the state government announced March 8, for the reopening of all the closed schools, after stakeholders agreed in a meeting held that Hijab should be accepted as part of school uniform in schools. The affected schools are C...

  South African authorities have seized hundreds of falsified COVID-19 vaccine vials containing thousands of doses, in another example of criminals exploiting the pandemic. Some 400 ampoules – equivalent to around 2,400 doses – containing the fake vaccine were found at a warehouse in Germiston, Gauteng. According to Interpol, which issued a  warning  in December that coronavirus vaccines would be a prime target for criminal networks, the authorities officers also recovered a large quantity of fake 3M face masks and arrested three Chinese nationals as well as a Zambian national. There’s no word on how any people may have received the fraudulent injections, which could put them at risk of serious side effects such as infections if the vials were not produced in a sterile environment. Interpol is linking the case to a recent operation in China, in which police identified a  network  selling tens of thousands of counterfeit COVID-19 vaccines that turned out to be vi...

  The Borno Government has uncovered about 550 fake Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), after conducting a headcount of displaced persons at Mohammed Goni College of Islamic Legal Studies camp in Maiduguri. File Photo:IDPs This is contained in a statement by Malam Isa Gusau, Special Adviser on Communications and Strategy to Gov. Babagana Zulum on Sunday in Maiduguri. “At about midnight on Sunday, Gov. Babagana Zulum visited Mohammed Goni College of Islamic Legal Studies in Maiduguri, where Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Abadam were being camped. “Zulum immediately sealed entrance and supervise a headcount to identify actual IDPs, to put a stop to rampant cases of dubious residents pretending to be IDPs, claiming food rations meant displaced persons. “The governor discovered that out of the 1,000 IDP households in the records of humanitarian officials, only 450 were genuine IDPs, while the rest 550 were ghosts. “In the humanitarian system, a household normally consists of...

  Some road users have decried the deplorable state of the Abaranje-Okerube Road located in the Igando-Ikotun Local Government Development Council (LCDA) of Lagos State. They appealed to the government to urgently rehabilitate the road to alleviate the suffering of the residents of the area. In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, they complained that the state of the road had become worrisome as the rainy season approaches. Mr Samuel Ubong, a businessman, said that going to work had become a herculean task as a result of the several bad portions on the road. “Oftentimes its difficult moving around, the road is in a terrible state; and as the rainy season approaches, it is going to get more difficult. “As there is no proper drainage on the road, it will be in a sorry state this upcoming rainy season. “Time, they say is money, it is going to take more time to keep an appointment when plying the road. “I want to appeal to the government to help fix the...

  A pro-democracy anti-corruption and justice sector Civil Society Organization (CSO) in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, Global Integrity Crusade Network (GICN),has  added its voice to the calls for quick passage of the Nigerian Peace Corps Bill (NPC). The CSO working to implant   integrity, justice, transparency and peace in the society with a view to promote sustainable development for the overall benefit of the masses at the weekend, called on the National Assembly to as a matter of urgency pass the Nigerian Peace Corps (NPC) Bill, pending before the two legislative chambers.   President of GICN, Barr Edward Ejembi Omaga President of GICN, Barr Edward Ejembi Omaga, who made the call in a statement, obtained by FirstAfrica Times in Abuja, spoke against the backdrop of   the current wave of insecurity in the country. Omaga noted that the high level insecurity in the sub-regions of the country characterised by kidnappings, wanton destruction of property an...

  Abuja based  pro-democracy anti-corruption and justice sector Civil Society Organization, Global Integrity Crusade Network(GICN) has appointed Josephine Ejeh as Media Officer.  The appointment which was announced on Thursday, March 4th, 2021 by the Chairman Board of Trustees/President of GICN, Edward Ejembi Omaga, Esq. is with immediate effect. Josephine who hails from Ogene-Amejo in Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State is a media and communication expert with many years of experience in the print, online journalism, blogging, website management, social media management and public relations. Having served with International Non-governmental Organisations (NGO) like the    United Nations International Children Education Fund(UNICEF), Mercy Corps, other local NGOs as well different media organisations cutting across the print and online publications as a seasoned journalist    with over 12 years of experience, she developed    huge pa...

  President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), have publicly received the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. The President and his Vice received their vaccine on Saturday at the New Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa Abuja. The President was injected with the vaccine by his Chief Personal Physician, Dr Shuaib Rafindadi Sanusi, while the Vice President was injected by Dr Nicholas Odifre, Personal Physician to the Vice President. Earlier at the Banquet hall, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire thanked the President for always supporting the health sector in meeting its challenges. Osagie lauded Buhari for deciding to take the vaccine publicly, adding that the move would help to convince Nigerians on the effectiveness of the vaccine. However, all governors in the 36 States in Nigeria will be vaccinated on Wednesday March 10. Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib, disclosed this at the se...

  Seven passengers who were abducted along the Osogbo-Ibokun Road have been released, the Osun State Police Command, confirmed on Saturday. The travellers were abducted on Tuesday, with one person killed, w hile two others were injured by gunmen who attacked commuters near Ajebandele Village, in the Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State. According to a statement released by the spokesperson for Osun Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, the perpetrators of the crime released the victims following pressure from the police and other security outfits involved in the search and rescue operation. “The Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, CP Olawale Olokode, in his frantic efforts, and support from other security outfits, has secured the release of seven abductees kidnapped along Ibokun/Osogbo Road on 2nd March 2021. “The victims were released due to the pressure mounted on the abductors by the police and other security agencies. The victims will soon be reunited with their famili...

  Herdsmen have returned to Ibarapaland in Oyo State, putting farmers in despair as they grazed their cattle on their farms. Ibarapaland was the scene of an ethnic flare-up between Yoruba and Fulani herdsmen in January, leading to the intervention of Yoruba activist Sunday Igboho. The Fulani chief was evicted in Igangan and herdsmen left in droves, causing a national uproar. But it appears, no lesson has been learnt by the herdsmen, according to a report by Saturday Punch. The report, quoting farmers, said herdsmen have not only returned to the area, but also resumed destruction of farms. They have also threatened to attack farmers when challenged. The Chairman of Real Farmers Association of Nigeria, Igangan branch, Mr. Abiodun Adegoke, spoke of several incidents at Olukosi and Asunnara villages, in which herdsmen invaded farms, sometimes at night. Adegoke said complaints had been lodged at police stations and wondered why the herdsmen have returned to ‘their wicked ways’.