News & Announcements

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken travels to Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal soon, where he will discuss ending the Covid-19 pandemic and battling climate change, his spokesman said Thursday.

Blinken will meet with the president of each country to “advance US-Africa collaboration on shared global priorities,” state department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.
Other topics of conversation on the agenda for the Monday to Saturday trip include revitalizing democracies, advancing peace and security, and a more inclusive global economy, Price said.

Blinken travels first to Nairobi, where he will meet with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and other government officials, and underscore US support for peaceful 2022 elections.

Next, he travels to Abuja, to meet with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and deliver a speech on US-Africa policy.
He will end his trip in Dakar where he will meet with Senegalese President Macky Sall and other officials.

The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, (COSEYL) the umbrella body of all the youth groups in the South-East geopolitical zone has disagreed with the police on what killed Vanguard’s reporter, Torlue Salem.

A statement on Friday by the President General of the group, Goodluck Ibem, described police report of his death as a “tales by moonlight” rather alleged that there was a high conspiracy involved in his death.

Goodluck urged the police to dig further and unravel the true cause if his death and bring all those involved to book.

He emphasized that the killing of the journalist is a form of gagging the press which he appealed to the authorities not to allow that to happen.

  “The assassination of Salem is the wickedness of the highest order and we condemn it in strongest terms. The perpetrators no matter how highly placed must be brought to justice.

“The gruesome assassination of Salem contravenes the commitment undertaken in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to protect everyone’s freedom of opinion and expression and to create the conditions for its effective exercise, and mindful that this right is an essential prerequisite for the progress and development of a democratic society, governed by the rule of law and respect for human rights,” Goodluck stated.

He however added “From all indications, the gruesome assassination of Salem is a calculated attempt by some power brokers to intimidate the men of the fourth realm from performing their civil duties and responsibilities.

“The entire process sounds like tales by moonlight. For the police to find the corpse of Salem means that some suspects involved in the murder of Salem took them to the place where they kept his corpse.

“We want the police to tell us who the suspects are. Who hired them to kill Salem and the reason why he was murdered.

“There is no Killing without a motive. Salem is a professional journalist and not a common criminal that will be assassinated over sweets or biscuits. We demand that the police must expose and bring to Justice all the actors involved in the murder of Salem Torlue.

“We want to let the Federal government, state governments and all state actors know that we will not entertain any form of impunity against journalists. The tales by moonlight story on Salem is totally unacceptable to us.

“We call on the Inspector General of Police IGP Usman Alkali Baba to within 3 working days make public the names of those involved in the gruesome killing of Salem or we will lawfully occupy the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters Abuja until the needful is done.

“The entire scenario surrounding the sudden disappearance and death of Salem Torlue shows that there is a high powered conspiracy and the conspirators and perpetrators must be brought to Justice.

“We call on the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Scholarships, and all Nigerians to rise up in defence of our democracy.

“Injustice against one is injustice against all. The gruesome murder of Torlue Salem by enemies of our democracy is totally unacceptable. The apple of our democracy’s eye has been touched by enemies of our Society and we will not take It lying down.

“We call on the International Community and the United Nations to come to the aid of Nigerians before our journalists and media practitioners are wiped out by some anti-democratic forces who are hell-bent on truncating our democracy for their selfish and pecuniary gains , ” Goodluck said.

A Lagos High Court in Ikoyi has ordered all commercial banks to furnish it with comprehensive statements of account of Imagine Global Holding Company Limited, Imagine Global Solutions Limited, and a couple, Bamise and Elizabeth Ajetunmobi within seven days.
Justice Oyekan-Abdullahi made the order sequel to a motion filed and argued by the plaintiff’s counsel Adetunji Adedoyin-Adeniyi of AAA Chambers.

The two firms and the Ajetunmobi couple have been linked with an N11,795,090,000 investment scam, by the claimants/applicants who are aggrieved Nigerian investors.
According to the plaintiffs’ motion, the N11.795b is the outstanding investments and return on investments accruing to them from the defendants.

Adeniji, in urging the court to grant the application, argued that the reports the banks had already provided were faulty and could not be relied on.
He prayed for an order compelling the banks to furnish the court and serve the claimants’ counsel and Central Bank of Nigeria {CBN} not later than seven days from the date of receipt of the order of the court.

The items the banks are to provide include comprehensive statements of account of the 1st – 4th defendants from the 1st of January, 2020 till date and all the statements of account linked with BVN: 22168443525 {3rd Defendant} and BVN:22141952749 {4th Defendant}.
“The ‘Know Your Customer’ {KYC} duly completed forms of all the accounts in the name of the 1st – 4th defendants from the 1st of January, 2020 and all the approval and detailed information of all the foreign transactions coupled with the Telex/swift copies of all FX related transfer made by the 1st – 4th Defendants.

Others include the names, phone numbers, and all the referees provided by the 1st – 4th defendants at the point of opening the accounts and all the accounts linked with BVN: 22168443525 {3rd Defendant} and BVN:22141952749 {4th Defendant}.
An order compelling the CBN to place before the court a verifying affidavit to ascertain the correctness or otherwise of all the entries in the statement of accounts, documentation, and details of all transfer of funds and ‘Know Your Customer’ {KYC} forms served on it by the following commercial banks, among others.

It also includes an order directing seven United Arab Emirates and United Kingdom firms to furnish before the court and serve on the claimants’ counsel.

The Ethiopian government has set out conditions for possible ceasefire talks with leaders of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), following days of international diplomatic efforts aimed at halting intensifying hostilities.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government has been locked in a year-long war with fighters from the northern Tigray region who have pushed south in recent months and have not ruled out a possible march on the capital, Addis Ababa.

“In order for there to be a peaceful solution, they say it takes two to tango,” Dina said.
“There are conditions: First, stop your attacks. Secondly, leave the areas you have entered [Amhara and Afar]. Third, recognise the legitimacy of this government,” he said.
“By the way, don’t misunderstand, it’s not being said a decision has been made to enter into negotiations,” he added.

TPLF spokesman Getachew Reda has previously said that pulling out from Amhara and Afar before talks begin is “an absolute non-starter”. The Tigrayan forces said last week they had seized Kemise, 325km (200 miles) from Addis Ababa, but the government has accused their rivals of exaggerating their territorial gains and insists that the conflict “is not coming to the capital”.
The TPLF is demanding the end of what the United Nations describes as a de facto humanitarian blockade on Tigray, where hundreds of thousands of people are believed to be living in famine-like conditions.
No aid has gone into Tigray by road since October 18, and 364 trucks are stuck in the capital of Afar “pending authorization from the authorities to proceed”, the UN said on Thursday in a weekly report on the humanitarian situation.
“It is estimated that 80 percent of the essential medication is no longer available in Tigray while most health facilities are not functional due to damage and lack of supplies,” it said.
Tigray’s biggest hospital, Ayder Referral Hospital in the capital, Mekelle, has been forced to close its cancer treatment program, “leaving some 500 patients without treatment”, it said. They live in Ethiopia, not in space’

Last week, the government imposed a nationwide state of emergency, triggering a fresh wave of mass arrests that have further hobbled the aid response.
Some 22 UN staffers have been arrested in the raids that rights groups say target ethnic Tigrayans, and nine remained in custody as of Wednesday.
The UN has also sounded the alarm about 72 drivers contracted by the World Food Programme who have been arrested in Afar.
The government describes such arrests as part of a legitimate effort to stamp out the TPLF.

Asked about the detentions, Dina said UN workers “who reside in Ethiopia should respect the law” of the country. “They live in Ethiopia, not in space. Whether it is a UN or AU staff member, they shall be held accountable,” Dina added, though he acknowledged that “mistakes can be made” and would be investigated.
Separately, a government statement said all landlords have a week to provide information about their tenants to the police “to assist security forces in their efforts to clean those who pose a threat to public safety”.
Speaking to Al Jazeera on Wednesday, the head of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission expressed concern about the mass arrests of ethnic Tigrayans.

“There appears to be an ethnic element to these arrests, which worries us, in a sense that largely ethnic Tigrayans have been targeted for house searches and arrests,” Daniel Bekele said, adding that the state-appointed commission had been monitoring the arrests of “hundreds” of people.
“I do understand that the state of emergency gives powers to police to arrest people on grounds of reasonable suspicion but we are concerned about the risk of the state emergency and its directives being applied in a wrong way,” he added.
The government says the arrests are not ethnically motivated.
“There is no systematic arrest … because of your profile,” Redwan Hussein, state minister for foreign affairs, told Al Jazeera. 
“People are vigilant so citizens are watching out in their neighborhoods and each other for possible attacks. So people might inform the police if they see something unusual,” he said. “If the police do not have adequate reasons to suspect, then the people would be released.”
Meanwhile, more than 27,500 youths have also been recruited to help in security operations in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA) quoted a city official as saying.

High-level talks international envoys have in recent days stepped up efforts to broker a cessation of hostilities.
Jeffrey Feltman, the US special envoy for the Horn of Africa, left Ethiopia on Wednesday following several days of meetings there and in neighboring Kenya, according to officials briefed on his movements.

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, the AU’s special envoy for the region, was due to leave on Thursday after a final meeting with Abiy, the officials said. He also recently traveled to Mekelle to meet TPLF leaders.
US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken spoke with Obasanjo on Wednesday and offered “strong support” for his mediation efforts, expressing hope that there was a “window” for progress, the State Department said.
The spreading conflict has killed thousands of civilians and forced more than two million people from their homes.

The Federal Government is not averse to political solutions in the cases involving self-determination agitators Sunday Adeyemo (a.k.a. Sunday Igboho) and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami said on Wednesday.
The AGF, who confirmed that no such proposal was before the Federal Government, said the government will consider it if proposed by anybody or group.
Igboho – the Yoruba nation promoter —escaped being arrested by security operatives from his Ibadan home before he fled to the Republic of Benin, where is being detained.
Kanu, who was accused of engaging in activities capable of destabilising the country, has been charged with terrorism and treasonable felony.
His trial was yesterday adjourned to January 19, next year.
Malami said: “Well, as far as securities situation is concerned, as far as governance is concerned, and administration, you cannot rule out all possibilities.
“But, crime is a crime. When there are criminal undertones associated with certain conduct, you cannot take away the right of the government to take steps with particular regard to ensuring that the people that are in one way or the other operating in breach are brought to book.”
The AGF, who spoke in Abuja yesterday, said the issue of pardon was not limited to repentant Boko Haram members but could be extended to deserving cases.
He said: “Generally speaking, that is why I am telling you that no possibility is ruled out. But then, there has to be an approach for the government to consider.
“So, I cannot be pre-emptive in telling you clearly and outrightly that reconciliation perhaps, is being considered without an approach to be made.
“It is the approach to be made. If at all any is made, that we will look into for the purpose of looking at its weight, the authenticity of it, the good fate associated with it, and then perhaps bring about the considerable factors related to the negotiations or otherwise.
“So, it is not a conclusion that one can outright make without juxtaposing associated facts relating to the reconciliation.
“You cannot operate a conciliatory approach in the blues. It is never one-sided.  There has to be an approach and then a counter concentration.
“So, no approach in that respect is on the table for consideration yet. So, we will cross the bridge when eventually we get to that; when a perhaps a type of request is made, we will consider it.”
On why the Mambila Power Project was still being held down, Malami said the remaining obstacle to the project has been removed.
He said the arbitration commenced against Nigeria by Sunrise Power Transmission Company of Nigeria Ltd has been discontinued.
“Well for the Sunrise, perhaps one good information or perhaps the hope for celebration that I wish to present for your consideration is the fact that Sunrise has indeed withdrawn its pending arbitral proceedings in respect of which it was claiming against the interests of the Federal Government an amount in the region of around $1 billion.
“So, the information that calls for celebration is the fact that there is no any pending impediment relating to the Mambilla project with the discontinuation of the Sunrise proceedings in Paris,” the minister said.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Prof Chukwuma Soludo as governor-elect of Anambra State.
Reacting to the outcome, former National Chairman of APGA, Senator Victor Umeh, urged those who lost in the election to accept and join the party to move the state forward

He said the Anambra people have spoken and they must be respected.
Also speaking, a chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Chinuzo. Obiako said the party will sit down and decide on the next line of action.

Nomthi Odukoya, the wife to the senior pastor of the Fountain of Life Church, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, has passed on.

 This was confirmed by the church’s official Twitter account on Tuesday.
The statement read: “With deep regret and gratitude to God, we have to announce the passing of our Senior Pastor’s wife, Pastor Nomthi Odukoya.
“She battled cancer for the better part of 2 years, she stood on the Word of God, and she fought. “We loved her with all our heart, but who are we to fight with the will of God.

“The truth is, at one point in our lives, we all will have to say goodbye. So for now, till we meet again in glory, Goodbye Pastor Nomthi,” the statement added.

The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has warned that bribe-seeking officers at the country’s airports will be barred for life from working at its airport terminals.

Managing Director of the agency, Capt. Rabiu Yaduda issued the warning.
Yaduda had held an emergency FAAN’s management, some airport managers, and the Special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing Business, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole.

Some videos made by foreigners, complaining about the alleged extortion being carried out by some airport workers, had gone viral on social media.
Reacting to the videos, Yaduda described them as embarrassing and vowed to deal with any erring airport worker, whether the violator works in the government or private sector.

“Recently, we had videos showing the acts of indiscipline and extortions at our airports. 
“They are embarrassing to FAAN, the aviation industry, and Nigeria. So we had a management meeting comprising all FAAN airport managers, with the special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing Business.

“They will inform them that any violation or acts of indiscipline, recorded or caught, FAAN will escalate. We will write to their companies and any violator will lose his or her On Duty Card (ODC) permanently, which means you will lose your access card into the airport terminal permanently,” he said.

 Two suspects aged 36 who were arrested in the past weekend in Zakariyya Park, northeast of Elandsfontein in Gauteng after being found with a stripped SUV, will remain in custody.
The suspects appeared in the Lenasia Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday and faced a charge of possession of a stolen vehicle, Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo said

They were remanded pending further investigations around the discovery of the Toyota Fortuner.

A Tracker company, assisted by the JMPD & SAPS, tracked & recovered a Toyota Fortuner in Zacharia Park after it was stolen in Randburg. 
Two suspects were arrested as they were caught red-handed, busy stripping it. 

The pair were arrested while at a house on Clove Drive in Zakariyya Park.

Law enforcement agencies including SAPS and Johannesburg Metro Police and a tracking company followed up on the coordinates of the Toyota Fortuner.

Sierra Leone declares three days of mourning as the death toll from a fuel tanker explosion rises to 101

 Relatives of the dead and injured from Friday’s fuel tanker explosion in eastern Freetown, Sierra Leone, have been gathering at hospitals across the city, searching for their missing loved ones.

Dozens were waiting inside the compound of Connaught Hospital, central Freetown, on Sunday, where the largest numbers of injured were taken.
On one wall were lists – some typed, some handwritten – of patients who had been identified. A young man asked for a pen so he could write his phone number beside his brother’s name, saying he still had no information about his brother’s condition. Another man said his son was in the hospital but wasn’t too “damaged”, and he hoped to take him home soon.
The mental health toll of survivors in Sierra LeoneThe death toll of the Friday night disaster has risen to 101, according to officials from Sierra Leone’s National Disaster Management Agency. The West African country has declared three days of national mourning.
The explosion happened after a fuel tanker, which was turning on a busy road, was hit by a speeding truck. In the aftermath of the crash, dozens of people rushed forward to collect the leaking fuel in containers, with the hope of using or selling it.
Ibrahim Tucker said he was visiting his sister in the area when the explosion took place.
“I didn’t see what caused the fire, I just saw flames,” he told Al Jazeera.
“I ran away … People were really, really damaged [injured] – the people who didn’t die. Many people lost their lives and some really needed medical attention, a lot of them.”
Hassan Kanu, 52, a local community worker who had contacts at the Red Cross, said he called them to take away bodies in the aftermath. “They arrived dressed like they were fighting Ebola and took the bodies to their vehicle,” he said.
Kanu said the people close to the tanker when the explosion happened had “turned to ash so you cannot recognize their faces”.
He described a motorbike driver trying to put out the flames engulfing him by speeding towards a water tank with his bike on fire. “He’s at the hospital [now] and we don’t know if he is alive or if he passed away. The fire was over his body.”

Kanu said many people in the area have lost their livelihoods due to the widespread destruction.
“Today is a sad day for us and we cannot even have food or anything to eat … We need assistance,” he said.

Many of the victims were female traders who sell small goods on the side of the usually busy road.“A lot of my friends are missing,” said Aminata Susan Kamara, 27, who sells soft drinks.
She said she heard the sound of the vehicles crashing before people started rushing forward and calling their relatives on the phone to come and gather fuel with them.

Like other witnesses, she said the driver of the tanker disembarked, shouting at people to stay away. After that, she left to go home, but from a distance realized that fire had broken out.
Chaos ensued, and Kamara said some people trapped in minibuses died because the conductor refused to let them out until they had paid their fares – a story repeated by another witness.

Aminata Susan Kamara, 27, who sells soft drinks in the area of the blast, said a lot of her friends are still missing after Friday’s explosion.
On Saturday, young men were scavenging for scrap metal close to charred vehicles and areas of ash-covered ground that were still smoking. A crowd stood gaping at what some of them said was a piece of burned flesh.
The World Health Organization said it was working to deploy burn-patient care experts and will send 6.6 tonnes of emergency medical supplies to help the victims.

Victims who survive will have significant long-term needs, including plastic surgery, physiotherapy, and counseling on living with a disfigurement said Colonel Dr. Stephen Sevalie, who oversees medical care in the 34 Military Hospital, where seven people died after they were admitted and roughly 20 were being treated in what was once a COVID-19 ward.
“We have to deal with what we have. We are putting together plans,” Sevalie said.

President Julius Maada Bio cut short a visit to the United Kingdom, where he was attending the COP26 climate conference, to return and meet victims of the disaster. He visited the site of the explosion on Sunday morning.
“Let us be law-abiding,” he told the gathered crowd. “We have lost over 100 of our compatriots in a single instance and now we are struggling with about one hundred survivors in the hospitals. This is a moment to come together and avoid the blame game … We must say never again will we make such a mistake.”

“This national tragedy is heart-rending,” he added in a televised address on Sunday evening while saying he had reassured victims of the government’s commitment to supporting them.