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The Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone in collaboration with the Freetown-based think tank – Centre for International Law and Policy in Africa (CILPA), commemorated today the 20th anniversary of the formal end of Sierra Leone’s civil war and the signing, two days earlier, of the Agreement between the United Nations and the Government of Sierra Leone which set up the Special Court.

The declaration of the end of the war put an end to a conflict which saw tens of thousands killed and maimed, and hundreds of thousands displaced or in refugee camps.

The signing on Tuesday was followed by a ceremonial burning of arms in Lungi, across the river estuary from the capital Freetown.

On 16 January 2002 the Special Court Agreement was signed between the United Nations and the Government of Sierra Leone, setting up the world’s first hybrid tribunal, mandated to try those deemed to bear the greatest responsibility for serious crimes committed during the war, after 30 November 1996.

The Court closed in December 2013 after successfully completing its mandate.

Tuesday’s event, held at the Sierra Leone Peace Museum on the grounds of the former Special Court, heard from representatives of Parties to the Agreement, with UN Under-Secretary General for Legal Affairs Miguel de Serpa Soares, Under-Secretary representing the United Nations, and former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Anthony Y. Brewah representing the Government of Sierra Leone.

Justice Jon Kamanda, the President of the Residual Special Court gave the welcoming statement on behalf of the Court and the Judges. Welcoming and opening remarks were also given by RSCSL Registrar Binta Mansaray, and CILPA founder Prof. Charles C. Jalloh.

Other keynote speakers were David M. Crane, the Special Court’s first Prosecutor, Simone Monasebian, the Special Court’s first Principal Defender, and Madam Musu Jatu Ruhle, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps.

A panel discussion, Reflections on the Legacy of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, moderated by Prof. Charles C. Jalloh, was comprised of representatives of the Residual Special Court, Civil Society, academia, and a representative of Sierra Leone’s Paramount Chiefs.

A second panel discussion, Reflections on the Legacy of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, moderated by former Special Court Deputy Prosecutor Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara, included former national and international Commissioners of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, former principals of the Special Court, a representative of the Paramount Chiefs, and a representative of the War Wounded and Amputees Association.

The event ended with a tour and dedication of the Peace Museum’s Memorial Garden. The Garden was dedicated in a solemn ceremony by Sierra Leone’s former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, the Chief Justice, the President of the Residual Special Court, and war victims.

The Memorial Garden includes symbolic mass graves from each of the country’s 16 districts, which were unveiled by war victims.

Last week, a 10-man delegation from Haiti flew from the North American country to Enugu state in Nigeria in search of their Igbo ancestral origin.
The delegation was led by Senator Moise Jean Charles on the search mission.   

They were welcomed by the secretary to the state government, Professor Simon Ortuanya who stood in for Enugu state governor, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuenyi as they take the bold step to adopt the new Igbo names to complete their process.

The secretary said in his speech that, the governor “appreciates them for keeping a date with history, for following your heart and for following your roots and getting back to your roots.”

He added that “today is a new beginning for all of us. We open our doors to you and we are ready as we have demonstrated. We also want you to know that changing your names is in agreement with the Igbo tradition that you have a new for a newborn. Today, you are born new in Enugu State and in the land of your fathers. Congratulations”
The delegates were thankful for being welcomed back to their roots after 218 years.

Sean Jean-Charles who is part of the delegation stated “I have visited many countries, many places around the world but this is the first time I have visited a country that everybody looks like me. I have not come here as a foreign person. I have come home. Before I keep talking, I want to on behalf of all Haitians, all the blocks in Haiti to thank you for receiving us after 218 years.”

He went further to add that, “we have decided that people in the whole continent of Africa and all of us who are there in Haiti is a wind following the bird from the African continent and it has brought bear in America, which means all of us are one.”

There have been some striking similarities in the cultures of the Igbos and Haitians and history has it that, Haiti was in the days made up of a record number of captives, mostly of Igbo extraction who got their freedom in places around the United States of America.

Tobi Ayodele-Keeney Speaks Formerly widely known for its expertise in slimming down business and skin-related problems, Quincy Herbals has evolved. Now Quincy Wellness and Naturopathic Centre, the healthcare services provider founded 26 years ago have upgraded to a full-fledged integrated healthcare centre offering a blend of western and traditional medicines in a modernized way to treat all forms of illnesses the human body grapple with.

Quincy Wellness and Naturopathic Centre boasts of a team of seasoned, well-trained and duly certified medical personnel with grounded knowledge in combining western medication with traditional medicine for the treatment of patients with any form of illness, especially chronic ones.
A duly registered healthcare centre with the Lagos state government, Quincy Wellness and Naturopathic Centre is a renowned leader in preventative health, nutrition medicine, provision of natural therapies, stress management among others.

While speaking with a few journalists at the centre’s new office in {koyi, Lagos, on Wednesday, 19 January 2022, the Managing Director of Quincy Wellness and Naturopathic Centre, Dr (Mrs.) Tobi Ayodele-Keeney reiterated that the integration of the healthcare centre became necessary owing to the directives by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that African traditional medicine should be integrated into the healthcare system of Africa.

“The World Health Organisation (WHO) said that African traditional medicine should be integrated into the healthcare system of Africa. Some countries that are proactive have gathered themselves together and started doing it. If you go to the medical field, they will say herbs are bad, don’t use them and the traditional medicine practitioners will also condemn western medicine. WHO realized this gap and directed that there should be an integration of traditional medicine and practices into our regular healthcare system. For instance, if you go to a Chinese hospital, you will see the traditional healthcare practitioner and the western one and they have the highest life span in the world.

Actress Eniola Badmus has dismissed reports of a rift between her and popular filmmaker Funke Akindele.
She said insinuations that they are not on good terms are false.
The insinuations started when the Omo Ghetto actress didn’t attend the 20th anniversary on the stage of Eniola Badmus months ago.
They also stopped commenting on their social media posts, further fuelling the speculations they were not on good terms.

Busty, as she is fondly known, reacted to the insinuations on her Instagram page.

Eniola Badmus wrote: “ Guys, I’m sick and tired of y’all insinuating @funkejenifaakindeke and I are fighting for no singular reason…. In case y’all don’t know this woman right here is my ride till the end, I love her from the bottom of my heart and what we share is beyond friendship.
good and forever good….

“Maybe not necessary but just need to put this out here for clarity! That’s my homegirl here!
“ Oya e file fun lafunky”
Commenting on the post by Eniola, Funke wrote   “Eniola ode ni e.”

Why I abducted, killed 5-year-old pupil, by school proprietorAdmin  16 hours ago Crime, News, Security Leave a comment 174 Views
The police in Kano State have arrested the abductors and killers of five-year old Hanifa Abubakar, a pupil of Noble Kids Academy in Kwanar Dakata, Nassarawa local government area of Kano State.

The principal suspect, Abdulmalik Mohammed Tanko, 30, who turns out to be the victim’s teacher, had initially demanded N6 million ransom for her release.
But realising the minor recognised him, he poisoned her to death despite collecting N100,000, it was learnt.

Upon his arrest, Tanko, who confessed the crime, led a combined team of operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS), the police medical team and a team of police Operation Puff Adder to the shallow grave where he and his accomplice, Hashim Isyaku, buried the minor.

The deceased body was exhumed and taken to the Mohammed Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital for examination before it was released to the family for burial according to Islamic rites, police said.
A statement by the police spokesman, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said: “On December 4, 2021 at about 2030hrs, we received a complaint from a resident of Dakata Quarters, Nassarawa local government area of Kano State, that one Hanifa Abubakar, aged 5 years, was kidnapped and a ransom of N6 million was demanded.

“On receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, Sama’ila Shu’aibu Dikko, met with heads of security agencies in the state, strategised for effective service delivery and raised a team of Operation Puff Adder led by SP Shehu Dahiru to rescue the abductee and arrest the culprits.

“Sustained efforts led to the arrest of one Abdulmalik Mohammed Tanko, aged 30 years, of Tudun Murtala Quarters, Nassarwa, Kano State and one Hashim Isyaku, aged 37 years, of the same address.
“The suspects will be charged to court upon completion of investigation.”
Father of the slain girl, Abubakar Abdussalam, who was in the crowd of onlookers at the Police Command where the suspects were paraded, demanded the full length of justice.

He appealed for “immediate prosecution” of the principal suspect (Tanko), screaming in tears.
“Kill this bastard now. Please do not spare him, please I beg you in the name of Allah,” he told police officers.
More facts emerged on how Hanifa was murdered with “rat poison bought for N100.”
The suspected killer, a father of three who is said to be the proprietor of the school, said he abducted the girl because he was indebted to the owner of the building housing the school.

He told newsmen: “I demanded a ransom of N6 million but was paid N100,000 which I used in paying the salaries of my teachers.”
Following the development, Kano State government on Friday ordered the closure of the Noble Kids Academy, where the body of the slain child was buried.
Commissioner for Education, Muhammad Kiru, announced closure of the school in a statement after detectives discovered the corpse of the victim.

He expressed sadness over the incident, stating that apart from the closure of the school, the state government would commence investigation of unregistered private schools and teachers to check such criminal activities.
He appealed to parents whose children attend the affected school to stop them, pending when investigation would be completed.

Former national team winger, Emmanuel Amunike, has said it is too early for Nigeria to be targeting the Africa Cup of Nations’ title despite the commanding performance against the Pharaoh of Egypt in their opening game at the Cameroon 2021 championship. 

Speaking in an interview, the former Zamalek of Egypt forward said the most important thing is to continue taking the game one after another.
He praised the Super Eagles for sticking to the game plan against the Pharaoh of Egypt in the team’s opening game. “I think the good thing about the game was that Nigeria came out with a plan and they were able to execute it very well,” he said.

“In the game, Egypt was trying so hard to build from the back, but they find it difficult to connect with their strikers upfront, that’s what football is all about. “When you come with a plan, make sure you execute it and at the end of the day take the three points at stake. Congratulations to them, I know Egypt will qualify but it is always sometimes difficult especially after losing against a potent team. Most big teams always want to make a statement against each other, I wish the two-team success in their remaining games. 
“The important thing is for them to continue to win their games, pick points because there are other teams here in Cameroon also targeting the title, it will be wrong to make noise about it now because there are other teams also as good as Nigeria.”

Former President of Mali, Ibrahim Keita is dead.
The former leader, who was ousted in a military putsch led by young officers died at the age of 74.
According to a family member and several others, “President IBK died on Sunday at 0900 GMT in his home” in Bamako.

But it would be recalled that Keita suffered a mini-stroke in 2020 and was sent to the United Arab Emirates for treatment.
This was coming after Keita was forced out of office on August 18, 2020, by young military officers who staged an uprising at a base near Bamako before heading into the city, where they seized Keita and other leaders.
Keita was two years into his second five-year term when he was deposed by the military.

In the weeks before the coup, he was reported to be struggling with protests fed by his handling of a jihadist insurgency and failure to turn around Mali’s floundering economy.

Under pressure from the West African bloc ECOWAS, the junta who emerged from the rebellion released Keita on August 27 and returned him to his residence in Bamako, under surveillance.
The ruling junta staged another coup in May 2021.

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday rescinded its earlier decision on making direct primaries the only method of electing candidates by political parties.
The House has now amended Clause 84 to allow for direct, indirect, and consensus options of nominating party candidates for party elections.

Daily To State Govt The Lagos State Government has signed an agreement with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, for the collection of Informal Transport Sector Levy of ₦800 from commercial motorists.

This levy is to harmonize dues collected by the state government from commercial motorists at parks and garages across the state.
Henceforth, each commercial driver in the state will pay a consolidated levy of ₦800 which will then be remitted to government agencies and local governments.

The government agencies to share the ₦800 levy collected include LAWMA, LIRS, LASEPA, Ministry of Transportation, and Local Governments.
Local government and councils will not collect levies from commercial drivers anymore as their shares are included in the ₦800 levy.
All commercial bus drivers will now be issued tax cards by the Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS).

Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Rabiu Olowo said “The consolidated transport levy will include the personal income tax of the drivers, include the cost of taking care of parks, include money for Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA; LG money and others”.

According to the commissioner for finance, a commercial bus driver pays as much as ₦3,000 in form of levies to the various unions, and government agencies daily. Dr. Rabiu said that these payments have now been pegged at ₦800 per driver.

“We want to reduce the fees payable. The levy will consolidate all levies; we want to build a reliable database to know those who are doing business in our state. Bus drivers will get a tax card. We want to bring about a collaborative effort. It is imperative for Lagosians to know this is a remarkable achievement. An average danfo driver pays ₦3,000 daily. Once they pay from the point of entry, that is all. It is ₦800 charge per day”, Olowo said.

However, the NURTW leader in Lagos, Musiliu Akinsanya (MC Oluomo), has said that this ₦800 levy does not affect the daily collections of the union’s levies from motorists.

Toyota has said that it expects to see fewer cars roll off its production lines in the 2021 and 2022 business years due to semiconductor supply issues.
Toyota is likely to miss its forecast of 9 million vehicles manufactured worldwide by the end of March 31, the company said in Tokyo.
For the time being, the company did not name a new production target for the fiscal year.

Toyota said that production was set to start slowing down as soon as February, owing to the pressure COVID-19-related disruptions was putting on supply chains.

Operations will be suspended in 11 lines in eight plants, out of 28 lines in 14 plants.

The company now expects to produce 700,000 vehicles globally in February, 150,000 fewer than planned.
The Japanese carmaker has made repeated adjustments to its production plans following the shortages of parts, a problem that has also plagued other vehicle makers.