The court, on July 23 granted an ex-parte application by the applicants and, among others, ordered the DSS to produce them on July 29 and to show cause why they should not be granted bail.
At the resumed hearing in the case, the DSS failed to produce the applicants, but made effort to justify its inability to comply with the court’s order.
DSS’ lawyer, I. Awo apologised for his client’s inability to produce the applicants in court, but argued that they were being detained based on an order from another court pending the conclusion of investigation.
Awo said the order got for their detention would lapse on August 2 and prayed the court to allow the DSS time to conclude its investigation after which it would decide on whether or not to release or charge them to court.
The lawyer noted that as against the applicants’ claim that 12 of them were being held, the DSS has three – Amoda Babatunde (aka Lady K), Diokola Adeyemo Admola and Bamidele Sunday – in its custody.
However, lawyer to the applicants, Olajengbesi faulted Awo’s claim and insisted that all his clients were being held by the DSS.
Buratai met with the Beninese President during the official presentation of his letter of credence. Also, the Ambassador of Germany to Benin Republic, Michael Derus; as well as those of Ghana, Gabon, and Norway also presented their letters of credence to Talon.
In a statement, the Beninese Government said the Head of State granted audience to each of the new ambassadors and discussed with them on the revitalization and strengthening of bilateral cooperation between these different countries and Benin.
Talon was also said to have received a brief update on the state of cooperation between Benin, Nigeria and the other countries.
“The President of the Republic also took the opportunity to invite the new Ambassadors to work more on consolidating and strengthening the warm relations that already exist between their countries and Benin,” the statement added.
It was, however, not clear whether or not Buratai discussed Igboho’s extradition with the Beninese President.
The Permanent Secretary, State House, Tijjani Umar stated this at the administration of Oath of Secrecy and Declaration of Secrecy to 42 staff members of the State House, POLITICS NIGERIA reports.
The Oath of Secrecy was administered by Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
‘‘We discovered that due to deployment of officers and retirement, a number of our staff need to be placed under the radar so that they will be aware that their jobs, the kind of documents or information they are handling from day to day and beyond, are so important and must be safeguarded.
‘‘That’s the reason we decided to do the needful by administering the Oath of Secrecy, highlighting the importance of letting them know what information they are managing and the consequences of the breach of such information,’’ he said.
‘‘We have not had any breach. We don’t anticipate having any breach.
‘‘But then it’s our duty to let them understand that if there is any, there will be consequences after investigations and that also include after they have retired from the Civil Service,’’ he added.
‘‘The essence of this exercise is to ensure the safety and security of government information, documents and facilities,’’ he said.
Ibrahim Salami, one of the Cotonou, Benin Republic-based lawyers of Sunday Igboho, disclosed the new charges after hearing, where Igboho was ordered to remain in police custody in Benin Republic.
Some of the allegations, which he said could not be proved, are trafficking in arms, inciting violence that could result in social disturbance and causing disunity in Nigeria.
“First, the judge ruled that Sunday Igboho entered into the Benin Republic through an illegal means. They also want to investigate how Sunday Igboho conspired with others to enter Benin Republic through wrong means.
“They also want to know how long he has been in Benin republic and his plans in the country. They also raised a charge on whether he wants to come and cause unrest or social disturbance in Benin Republic,” the lawyer said in an interview with BBC Yoruba.
This was disclosed to State House Correspondents by Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matter (House of Representatives), Umar Ibrahim el-Yakub.
According to the el-Yakub, the newly signed Act will largely focus on funding security and health concerns.
The National President of MDCAN, Prof. Keneth Ozoilo, gave the ultimatum at a press conference in Jos.
He said the decision to issue the ultimatum was reached during the association’s emergency National Executive Council meeting held on July 19, 2021.
The MDCAN president said, “After extensive deliberations, NEC observed as follows: The income loss being suffered by consultants who are clinical lecturers in the Universities has gone on for over 10 years.
“It is the direct result of the fact that they do two full-time jobs in both the Universities and the Teaching Hospitals, yet receive a combined emolument that is less than that of one job.
“That the income loss extends into retirement as their retirement benefits are much attenuated too, due to the income loss incurred in the University.
“That this income loss is the result of the fact that their work in the Teaching Hospital is under-compensated, and also the fact that the remuneration system in the University does not recognise them as doctors, despite the fact that the University primarily employs them because of the fact that they are doctors.
“That this income loss has led to the increasing difficulty in attracting the brightest and the best of consultants into the University as lecturers, a steady exodus of the few doctors in academia to service centres and a worsening of the brain drain phenomenon.
“That all efforts at engaging various arms and agencies of government with the aim of achieving a negotiated peaceable solution in the past 10 years has proved an unmitigated failure.
“That efforts have been made by some Federal Universities (about 6 out of 17) to ameliorate this income loss by payment of clinical lecturers in those institutions on CONMESS Salary Scale in the University, relying on appropriate and relevant circulars issued by government.
“That the letter from NSIWC directing the removal of consultants from CONMESS in those few Universities is absolutely the last straw.
“Consequently, NEC has resolved to withdraw the services of its members from all public institutions to press home its demand for an appropriate, fair and just compensation for the work of clinical lecturers.
“NEC therefore hereby issues a 21-day ultimatum effective from today, Monday 26th July of 2021, to government and its agencies as a notice of its resolve.”
The trial of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, resumed at the Federal High Court Abuja without Kanu’s presence in court.
When the matter was called up, the prosecution counsel, M. B. Abubakar, informed the court that the matter was slated for hearing and that they were ready to continue.
Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, informed the court that there was a pending application before the court to transfer Kanu from the custody of the DSS to the correctional centre.
Justice Binta Nyako stated that the trial cannot continue in the absence of Kanu since he is not available to stand his trial.
Justice Nyako also called the DSS to produce the IPOB leader in court for trial.
The court adjourned to October 21, 2021, for continuation of hearing.
This was contained in a statement by the president’s media adviser, Femi Adesina, titled, ‘President Buhari attends global education summit in London’.
According to the statement, the president is expected to return to Nigeria by the second week of August 2021.
The statement read, “President Muhammadu Buhari will today Monday July 26, 2021, travel to the United Kingdom to participate in the Global Education Summit on Financing Global Partnership for Education (GPE) 2021-2025.
” The Summit, which will be co-hosted by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, and the President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, will bring together Heads of State and Government as well as stakeholders and youth leaders, and provide a platform for partners to chart a way forward towards transforming education systems in partner countries, through exchange of best practices.
” It will also offer the opportunity for leaders to make 5-year pledges to support GPE’s work to help transform education systems in up to 90 countries and territories.
“Deliberations at the Summit will focus on: The Power of Education –A Conversation between Global Champions; Transforming Education for Girls; Financing for Impact and Recovery and; What Now? Priorities for Transforming Education in the Coming Five Years, among others.
There is tight security at the premises of the Federal High Court Abuja leading up to the trial of Nnamdi Kanu.
Journalists at the entrance to the court are barred by officers of the Department of State Service from entering the court on the ground that they were not accredited to cover the trial.
The media organisations the DSS accredited are Daily Post, ThisDay, Premium Times, The Nation, Daily Independent, The Herald, National Television Authority, Television Continental, African Independent Television and Channels Television.
The DSS did not give reasons for picking 10 media houses while barring others from covering the trial.
A call to the DSS spokesman, Dr. Peter Afunnaya, rang out, while a text message sent to him on the action of the secret police had yet to be responded to as of the time of writing this report.
Days after arrest of embattled Yoruba Nation agitator Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho at the Cardinal Bernardin International Airport, Cotonou Benin Republic, the legal battle which would determine his release, will be decided on Monday(Today).
In a virtual session monitored by newsmen, they (Igboho’s supporters) are planning to throng the court where the hearing will hold.
Clarifying the court proceedings, Ibrahim Salami, a Beninese Yoruba and law lecturer, during an interview monitored by newsmen explained Igboho has two more stages before his freedom will be decided.
Salami explained: “In Benin here, there are three stages (judicial protocol) of trial.
“The next phase is on Monday. The first phase with the prosecutor has been concluded.
“When we get to court on Monday, we will be facing the investigation judge, and after that, we will face the judge that will determine whether he should be sentenced or not.
“Before the end of Monday, we will know if the Benin Republic government wants to jail or release him. That will be clear on Monday.”
LatestNewsUpdates 