October 18, 2021

[GIST] Travel Restrictions: Shiites Leader, El-Zakzaky, Wife Slam N4Billion Lawsuits Against Attorney-General Malami, Nigeria's Secret Police

[GIST] Travel Restrictions: Shiites Leader, El-Zakzaky, Wife Slam N4Billion Lawsuits Against Attorney-General Malami, Nigeria's Secret Police

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Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenah have each slammed N2 billion lawsuit against the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami and the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi. 

SSS is Nigeria's secret police also known as the Department of State Services (DSS). 

According to the relevant court documents obtained by SaharaReporters, the IMN leader and his wife, Zeenah seek relief from the court following the restrictions placed on their passports despite their serious health challenges.

In the suit filed at the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Abuja by the Falana & Falana Chambers on behalf of El-Zakzaky, the reliefs sought include:

“A declaration that the seizure of the Applicants Passport No A50578740 since May 2019 is illegal and unconstitutional as it violates his fundamental right to freedom of movement guaranteed by Section 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) and Article 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights Act (CAP A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

“A declaration that the Red Flag Travelling Restrictions placed on the Applicants Passport and land borders by the Respondents without a court order is illegal and unconstitutional as it violates his right to fair hearing guaranteed by Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights Act (CAP A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

“A declaration that the refusal of the Respondents to allow the Applicant to travel abroad for medical treatment constitutes a threat to his life guaranteed by Section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights Act (CAP A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

“An order of this Honourable Court mandating the Respondents to release the Applicant's international passport number A50578740 to him in order to enable him to access prompt and adequate medical attention as recommended by his physicians.

“An order of this Honourable Court mandating the Respondents to lift the Red Flag Restrictions (and all or every form of restriction howsoever) placed on the International Passport number A50578740 of the Applicant by agents of the Respondents forthwith.

“An order of this Honourable Court mandating the Respondents to pay over to the applicant the sum of Two Billion Naira (N2,000,000,000.00) as general and exemplary damages for the violation of the Applicant's rights to freedom of movement, fair hearing and property. 

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the Respondents from further violating the Applicants fundamental rights in any manner whatsoever and howsoever without lawful justification.”

Providing the basis for the reliefs, the legal practitioners argued that the applicant's right to Freedom of movement, right to own property and fair hearing is guaranteed by Sections 41 (1), 38 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution, Articles 12, 14 and 10 of United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and Article 7 (b) and (2) of the African Charter of Human and Peoples Rights respectively.

They also stated that the Red Flag Travel Restrictions Placed on the travelling documents of the Applicant violates the Applicants right to Freedom of movement, right to own property and fair hearing respectively citing sections of the constitution.

“The Applicant is entitled to general, aggravated and punitive damages for the unlawful seizure and travel restrictions placed on his International Passport number A50578740 and other travelling documents,” they added. 

Also, reliefs sought in court by Zeenah include:

“A declaration that the seizure of the Applicant’s Passport No A50578739 since August 2019 is illegal and unconstitutional as it violates her fundamental right to freedom of movement guaranteed by Section 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) and Article 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Act (CAP A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

“A declaration that the ‘Red Flag’ Travel Restrictions Placed on the Applicant’s International Passport number A50578739 without a court order to that effect is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void as it violates the Applicant’s right to own property as guaranteed by Section 44 of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 as Amended, Article 10 of United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and Article 14 of the African Charter of Human and Peoples Rights respectively.

“A declaration that the Red Flag Travelling Restrictions placed on the Applicant’s Passport and land borders by the Respondents without a court order is illegal and unconstitutional as it violates her right to fair hearing guaranteed by Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) and Article 7 (b) and (2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Act (CAP A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

“A declaration that the refusal of the Respondents to allow the Applicant to travel abroad for medical treatment constitutes a threat to her life guaranteed by Section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Act (CAP A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

“An order of this Honourable Court mandating the Respondents to release the Applicant’s international passport number A50578739 to her in order to enable her to access prompt and adequate medical attention as recommended by her physicians.

“An order of this Honourable Court mandating the Respondents to lift the ‘Red Flag’ Restrictions (and all or every form of restriction howsoever) placed on the International Passport number A50578739 of the Applicant by agents of the Respondents forthwith.

“An order of this Honourable Court mandating the Respondents to pay over to the applicant the sum of Two Billion Naira (N2,000,000,000.00) as general and exemplary damages for the violation of the Applicant’s rights to freedom of movement, fair hearing and property. 

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the Respondents from further violating the Applicant’s fundamental rights in any manner whatsoever and howsoever without lawful justification.”

On July 28, Justice Gideon Kurada of the Kaduna State High Court acquitted and discharged the leader of the IMN, El- Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenah who had been standing trial in the court for four years and detained since December 2015.

According to Justice Kurada, the case was not proved by the prosecutor.

El-Zakzaky and Zeenah were standing trial on eight counts bordering on alleged culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, disruption of the public peace, among others.

The defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.

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[GIST] 'Ex-Ogun Governor Amosun Fuelling Crisis In All Progressives Congress Party In Oyo'—Group Seeks Buhari's Intervention

[GIST] 'Ex-Ogun Governor Amosun Fuelling Crisis In All Progressives Congress Party In Oyo'—Group Seeks Buhari's Intervention

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The United Front (TUF), a group within the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday alleged that a former governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun is fuelling crisis in the Oyo State chapter of the party.

The group alleged that Amosun is working hard to hijack the party's structure in Oyo.

TUF, therefore, called on President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders of the party to intervene and stop Amosun from causing more crises in the party. 

The group stated this in a statement made available to newsmen in Ibadan on Sunday. 

It accused Amosun of sponsoring members of the Unity Forum in the state, which include Prof. Adeolu Akande, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, Bayo Shittu, Dr. Ismail Adewusi to divide the party. 

"Amosun takes absolute delight in the fragmentation of Oyo APC for the purpose of extending the web of schism he established in Ogun APC to other parts of the South-West. His divisive ego-trip in Oyo State can be traced to the build-up to the 2019 elections when he extensively bankrolled Unity Forum to tear the fabrics of the party's wholeness apart - a move that triggered the inevitable lacklustre performance of the party in the gubernatorial polls. 

"When Oyo APC restricted his petulant kicks aimed at opening cracks in the party's leadership, Amosun later established a strong foothold in the ADC along with his bedfellows in the Unity Forum to scuttle the chances of his own party. It is on record that he channelled a large junk of Ogun State resources to finance the mobilisation and campaigns of ADC candidate, Senator Femi Lanlehin. However, his dream to glide ADC to power was built on illusionary hopes, as the party fell flat in the senatorial election which made Amosun's camp to become completely rattled. With no other options up his sleeves, he lent formidable support to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate, Engr Seyi Makinde," the statement reads in part.

The group also alleged that Amosun had given out a huge amount of money to Unity Forum to allow them to take over the party. 

It said, "Recently Amosun's political hatchet men have returned to the drawing board with a view to sowing seeds of discord among the age-long party faithful. It has been revealed that the former governor has released up to 200

Million Naira to the likes of Prof. Adeolu Akande, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, Barr. Shittu, Senator Ayo Adeseun, and Dr. Ismail Adewusi with a mandate to either take over the party structure in the state or cause endless crises that will mar the chances of the party in the 2023 elections."

The group while recalling the role played by the former governor during the 2019 general elections in Ogun State said, "Amosun has consistently shown, with his divisive inclination and high-handedness that he lacks the requisites expected of managing a party even at the ward level. We can't forget in a hurry how he almost succeeded in running Ogun APC into a state of inoperable rigidity, as he openly backed Adekunle Akinlade of APM in the 2019 gubernatorial polls. His eyes are kept on devising the same template in Oyo State.

"We hereby appeal to our revered leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) and all esteemed leaders of APC in the South-West to look critically into all contentious issues in Oyo APC and prioritise oneness of all party members. Oyo APC might start swinging in a downward spiral unless the likes of Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Prof. Adeolu Akande, Barr. Bayo Shittu, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, Dr. Adewusi, Sen. Adeseun, Senator Akanbi and other divisive elements are made to sit out of the party's affairs."

The group also urged the APC CECPC to investigate the alleged forgery of sensitive documents by some party chieftains in Oyo State, which led to the postponement of the October 16 state congress in the state.

"APC CECPC must investigate the matter with a view to bringing the erring members of the party to book. Punishment of the fraudulent members will serve as a deterrent," the statement concluded.

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[GIST] Lagos Police Make U-turn, Approve #EndSARS Protests, Frown On Road Closures

[GIST] Lagos Police Make U-turn, Approve #EndSARS Protests, Frown On Road Closures

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The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has made a U-turn on its earlier warning against any gathering or organisation of protest in commemoration of the first anniversary of last year's #EndSARS protest in the state. 

Addressing journalists on Saturday while monitoring the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state congress election in Lagos, Odumosu described protests as a right citizens are entitled to. 

Lagos State Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu.

He added that the state police command would be ready to protect protesters. 

Meanwhile, an earlier statement by the Lagos Police Command had said, “The police in the state will not fold their arms and allow some misguided elements disrupt the peace and serenity currently being enjoyed in the state.

“To forestall breakdown of law and order, the police will use all legitimate means within their constitutional powers to suppress the planned protest...”

But Odumosu has made a U-turn, saying the police only want the organisers of such protests to work together and have a meeting point, NAN reports.

He said: “If you want to protest, it is your right under the law but you don’t have to block the road because, in the process of obstructing the road, you are no longer protesting for a better life for people.

“However, what happens to pregnant women in an emergency, what happens to collapsed buildings, fire incidents when the roads are blocked?

“Don’t forget that this is Lagos, it is the economy of the country and it is equally a working day and you can imagine those lives that earn their living on a daily basis.

“There are some people that cannot feed their families when protesters block the road definitely."

The commissioner appealed to the #EndSARS protesters to give the police adequate information to ensure their protection and free flow of traffic.

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[GIST] Breaking: Candidates Loyal To Nigeria's First Lady, Aisha Buhari Win APC Party Congress In Adamawa

[GIST] Breaking: Candidates Loyal To Nigeria's First Lady, Aisha Buhari Win APC Party Congress In Adamawa

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A unity list of candidates, purportedly endorsed by Nigeria's First Lady, Aisha Buhari for the State Congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State, is what has decided the winners in the state congress polls.

SaharaReporters gathered that all contestants whose names are on the unity list would shortly be declared winners in the keenly contested state congress in the party.

As things stand and going by the mode of election adopted, ballots so far cast indicate that contestants supported by by the First Lady were those elected at the congress.

For instance, Ibrahim Bilal, state chairman, supported by Aisha Buhari, has scored 1,640 to defeat his keenly contesting rival, Vrati Nzonzo, who garnered 224 votes.

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[GIST] Groups To Hold Lecture On #EndSARS, Memorial Of Celebrated Murdered Journalist, Dele Giwa

[GIST] Groups To Hold Lecture On #EndSARS, Memorial Of Celebrated Murdered Journalist, Dele Giwa

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The African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), in partnership with some other bodies will hold a lecture and public presentation in commemoration of the first anniversary of #EndSARS protest on Tuesday. 

The lecture and public presentation, in partnership with Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria, National Consultative Front (NCF), PLAYYA and MILID Foundation, will also be about

Remaking Nigeria: Sixty Years, Sixty Voices – a book of sixty essays by sixty young Nigerians which salutes sixty years of Nigeria’s independence and points the way towards a better country. 

Chido Onumah, Coordinator of AFRICMIL disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, made available to SaharaReporters. 

According to the statement, the event, which will start at 10am at NECA House, Hakeem Balogun Way, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, is themed: “One Year After #EndSARS, 35 Years After Dele Giwa and the Quest to Remake Nigeria." 

The #EndSARS advocacy made global headlines last October when young Nigerians across the country and in major cities around the world embarked on protests against persistent brutality and rights violations by the Nigeria Police Force.  

“One year after the protests and the reprehensible violent response by the Nigerian Army which led to the death of unarmed protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, it is important to cast a critical eye on that incident and see what lessons have been learnt and what needs to be done going forward,” Onumah said in the statement on behalf of the group.  

Significantly, the first-year remembrance of these protests coincides with the 35th anniversary of the murder via letter bomb of the celebrated journalist, Dele Giwa, editor-in-chief of Newswatch magazine. 

“It is a measure of the acute dysfunction of the Nigerian state that till date, no one has been arrested let alone brought to trial for this heinous crime," Onumah noted. 

The statement further read, "All of this and more including the rise of separatist agitations which has fuelled the search for a new direction for the country will be dissected at this event which will be chaired by renowned public intellectual, Prof. Pat Utomi. 

"The keynote speaker is the irrepressible human rights lawyer and social crusader, Femi Falana. Other speakers include Richard Akinnola, journalist and executive director, Centre for Free Speech (CFS); Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, founding director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre; and Lanre Arogundade, journalist and executive director, International Press Centre (IPC). 

"On hand also is a panel of discussants featuring Motunrayo Alaka, Olanrewaju Ogunmefun (Vector), Inibehe Effiong, Rasheedat Adeshina and Femi Adeyeye. Moderator is Anike-Ade Funke Treasure."

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