December 8, 2021

[GIST] Lagos Policemen Shoot Teargas Canisters At Students Protesting Mates Crushed To Death By Truck

[GIST] Lagos Policemen Shoot Teargas Canisters At Students Protesting Mates Crushed To Death By Truck

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Men of the Lagos State Police Command have shot teargas canisters at students of the Babs Fafunwa Millennium Secondary School, Lagos State, protesting the death of their mates, who were crushed to death by a truck. 

According to a video recorded by Punch on Wednesday, the policemen shot the teargas at the students during the protest along Ojodu-Berger area of Lagos. 

The reporter said, "It is messy right now as the police are shooting teargas at students protesting the death of their mates who were crushed yesterday." 

SaharaReporters had earlier reported this morning that students of Babs Fafunwa Millennium Secondary School and their parents flooded the streets to protest the death of their mates. 

About 17 students were reportedly injured and two dead by an articulated truck on their way home from the school on Tuesday. 

Eyewitnesses said some of the students were in the hospital following severe injuries they sustained. 

The accident occurred at the Grammar School Bus Stop, Ogunnusi Road, along Ogba-Ojodu/Berger axis. See Also Accident Lagos Students Storm Streets To Protest Death Of Colleagues Crushed By Truck 0 Comments 3 Hours Ago

The truck driver was said to be evading arrest by Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) and men of the Lagos State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA) from Berger Division, Ikeja when he rammed into the pupils.

Parents who joined in the protest on Wednesday had stormed the school demanding justice for the dead children, while others wanted their children and wards home.

Some of the aggrieved parents and guardians protested that the school should not have opened Wednesday.

The Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo, had addressed them in a bid to calm the tensed situation.

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[GIST] BREAKING: Court Orders Secret Police, DSS To Pay Human Rights Activist, Sowore N2 Million, Apologise Over Illegal Seizure Of Phones

[GIST] BREAKING: Court Orders Secret Police, DSS To Pay Human Rights Activist, Sowore N2 Million, Apologise Over Illegal Seizure Of Phones

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A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to pay N2,000,000 to human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore for breach of his fundamental rights.

Sowore, the publisher of SaharaReporters, had instituted a suit against the DSS to compel the agency to return his phones seized since August 2019 when he was first arrested.

In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, Justice Anwuli Chikere described the action of the secret police as illegal and a violation of the activist’s rights.

She also asked the DSS to apologise to Sowore in two national dailies.

The activist’s lawyer, Mrs Funmi Falana had prodded the DSS lawyer on the illegality of the seizures when the case came up on December 1.

But the agency’s lawyer could not provide a valid court order that led them to seize the phones and take N10,000 from his hotel room during his abduction in August 2019.
 
The DSS had told Justice Chikere that the phones were “recovered” during his arrest and not seized. 
 
The agency added that the phones were still being checked for links to terrorism.
 
Two lawyers from the Ministry of Justice also argued that they were raising preliminary objection to the lawsuit because Sowore was undergoing trial before another federal judge.
 
Falana, however, faulted the positions, while informing the judge that apart from not obtaining a court order to seize the phones, the government had also refused to return the phones and monies despite entreaties.
 
She further stated that the charge sheets produced in court did not state that the phones were part of the evidence before the federal judge.
 
She urged the judge to dismiss the preliminary objections and order the return of Sowore’s phones as well as pay N20 million in damages to the applicant.
 
SaharaReporters had on December 24, 2019, reported that though the DSS released Sowore following an order by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), officials of the secret police failed to return his mobile phones apparently in an attempt to monitor his communication and deprive him of important contacts stored on the devices.
 
Sowore was first arrested on August 3, 2019, for calling on Nigerians to take to the streets in peaceful demonstrations to demand a better country from the government.
 
He had remained in detention until December 5, 2019, when he was briefly released on bail.
 
On December 6, he was rearrested inside the Federal High Court, Abuja by DSS operatives and was kept in custody until Tuesday, December 24, 2019, when Malami gave the latest release order.
 

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[GIST] Lagos Students Storm Streets To Protest Death Of Colleagues Crushed By Truck

[GIST] Lagos Students Storm Streets To Protest Death Of Colleagues Crushed By Truck

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Students of Babs Fafunwa Millennium Secondary School, Ogba, Lagos State, accompanied by some of their parents flooded the streets on Wednesday to protest the death of their mates.

An articulated truck crushed some pupils on their way home from the school on Tuesday.

According to the Lagos State Police Command, two pupils died and 12 were injured in the truck accident.

The accident occurred at the Grammar School Bus Stop, Ogunnusi Road, along Ogba-Ojodu/Berger axis.

The truck driver was said to have been trying to evade arrest by Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) and men of the Lagos State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA) from Berger Division, Ikeja when he rammed into the pupils.

According to Nation, parents who joined in the protest on Wednesday stormed the school demanding justice for the dead children, while others wanted their children and wards home.

Some of the aggrieved parents and guardians protested that the school should not have opened Wednesday. See Also Accident Lagos Police Say Two Pupils Died, 12 Injured In Tuesday's Truck Accident 0 Comments 4 Hours Ago

The Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo, addressed them in a bid to calm the tensed situation.

She said the safety of the pupils was paramount.

The pupils were eventually allowed to go home, but they took to the streets in protest.

Policemen were seen yesterday shooting in the school compound after the students protested, an action which was profoundly condemned by the general public.

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[GIST] UK-based Intending Nigerian Couple Kick Against Omicron Travel Ban After N8million Wedding Plans In Nigeria

[GIST] UK-based Intending Nigerian Couple Kick Against Omicron Travel Ban After N8million Wedding Plans In Nigeria

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United Kingdom-based intending couple, Emmanuel and Urenna Okonkwo, have lamented how the travel ban slammed on Nigeria by the British authorities over the spread of the Omicron Variant of COVID-19 will disrupt their wedding plans.

It was learnt that the intending couple arrived in Nigeria to tie nuptial knots on December 29 but after inviting over 600 people, they were now doubtful if the wedding would go ahead.

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According to them, they have already spent £15,000 (N8,700,000) but are now anxious that their family and friends in the UK might not grace the wedding, due to costs that are involved after the UK placed Nigeria on red list. 

MyLondon reports that with Nigeria placed on the UK's red list, whoever leaves England to celebrate with them faces a £2,285 (N1,325,300) per person hotel quarantine bill.

The couple based in Blackheath, South-East London, were hoping to be joined by friends and family, but said they have not been able to sleep due to worries.

After picking December for the traditional wedding because their family would already be flying back home to spend Christmas with their loved ones, they thought it was the ideal time.

 Miss Okonkwo said, "We booked hotel rooms for guests, money we can't get back if this doesn't go ahead, it's a nightmare.

"The past few days have been very stressful, finding out alternative solutions, I've barely slept since Saturday evening, I don't want to dwell too much on the problems, right now we are thinking of solutions.

"I have a very big family so quarantine would be an extra £20,000."

The wedding plans will be a waiting game with the red list reviewed every three weeks, meaning they will not know more until December 20.

Alongside this, the couple will also be spending £25,000 (N14,500,000) on their English wedding next summer.

They disclosed they have been left with no choice but to look for alternative plans.

"We don't know how rules will change so we are looking at going somewhere else after Nigeria, rather than coming directly back to UK," the bride-to-be added.

"We are exploring different options, because no one can pay that £2,000 unless you're a millionaire, then you add up Covid tests - my whole family won’t be able to do that.

"Also, some of my immediate family work in healthcare so they cannot take time off work to quarantine or go somewhere else, they have January exams, they can’t even have the extra ten days - they wouldn't be able to go there at all if it stays on red list.”

Recall that the UK added Nigeria to its travel ‘red list’ over the weekend, meaning arrivals from there will be banned except for British and Irish residents.

The Nigerian government on Monday criticised a travel ban imposed on the country by the British government amid fears about the new Omicron coronavirus variant as “punitive, indefensible and discriminatory.”

The British travel ban is “not driven by science” and is “unjust, unfair, punitive, indefensible and discriminatory,” Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said.

 

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[GIST] BREAKING: UK Parliament To Debate Petition For Sanction Against Human Rights Abuses Of Buhari Administration

[GIST] BREAKING: UK Parliament To Debate Petition For Sanction Against Human Rights Abuses Of Buhari Administration

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The United Kingdom Parliament will, on Wednesday, debate a petition submitted to it which called for sanctions against the Nigerian Government and its officials over cases of human rights abuse during the #EndSARS movement. 

Members of the Parliament will hold a debate on Magintsky sanctions and human rights abuses today (Wednesday) at the Westminster Hall. 

The debate which will start at 2:30 pm (1.30 pm Nigerian time) will be led by parliamentarian Chris Bryant.

In October 2020, a petition was filed which condemned the illegal activities of the now disbanded unit of the Nigeria Police force, Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) which led to a protest and consequent shooting of peaceful protesters by members of Nigeria's security force.

The petitioners argued that deploying sanctions against the government would serve as a deterrent to anyone involved in human rights abuses.

It reads, “Implement sanctions against the Nigerian Government and officials

The Government should explore using the new sanctions regime that allows individuals and entities that violate human rights around the world to be targeted, to impose sanctions on members of the Nigerian government and police force involved in any human rights abuses by the Nigerian police.

”There have been deeply concerning reports of a Nigerian police force unit (SARS) engaging in illegal activities and human rights abuses, and there have also been reports of police firing at protestors calling for SARS to be disbanded.

“Deploying sanctions would provide accountability for and be a deterrent to anyone involved in violations of human rights.”

All petitions run for six months and by the time the petition closed, it had gathered 221,258 signatures and the United Kingdom government responded on November 11, 2020.

Responding in a statement issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the government said it is concerned by violence during the protests and was waiting on the outcome of Nigerian investigations into reports of police brutality. 

The response stated, “The UK Government is deeply concerned by violence during recent protests in Nigeria, which tragically claimed lives. Our thoughts are with the families of all those affected.

“The Foreign Secretary issued a statement on 21 October calling for an end to the violence and for the Nigerian Government to urgently investigate reports of brutality by its security forces and hold those responsible to account. 

“The Minister for Africa tweeted on 16 October, noting that the Nigerian people’s democratic and peaceful calls for reforms, and again on 21 October, encouraging the Nigerian authorities to restore peace and address concerns over brutality towards civilians. 

“He reiterated these messages when he spoke to Foreign Minister (Geoffrey) Onyeama on 23 October. The British High Commissioner in Abuja has also raised the protests with representatives of the Nigerian Government and will continue to do so.

“We welcome President Buhari’s decision to disband the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and the establishment of judicial panels of inquiry to investigate alleged incidents of brutality by the security services. 

“They must investigate all incidents, including in Lagos, fully. The Minister for Africa tweeted on 29 October stressing the importance of the police and military’s cooperation with the panels. He raised this, and the need for the panels to urgently start investigations, when he spoke to the Governor of Lagos on 11 November.

“The UK Government will continue to work with the Nigerian Government and international and civil society partners to support justice, accountability and a more responsive policing model in Nigeria. 

“We will continue to push for the Nigerian security services to uphold human rights and the rule of law, investigate all incidents of brutality, illegal detentions and use of excessive force, and hold those responsible to account.

“On 6 July, the Government established the Global Human Rights sanctions regime by laying regulations in Parliament under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018. 

“In a statement to Parliament, the Foreign Secretary set out in full the scope of the UK’s new Global Human Rights sanctions regime. He announced the first tranche of designations, as well as the Government’s approach to future designations.

“This sanctions regime will give the UK a powerful new tool to hold to account those involved in serious human rights violations or abuses. 

“The sanctions regime is not intended to target individual countries. It will allow for sanctions to be imposed on individuals and entities involved in serious human rights violations or abuses around the world.

“We will continue to consider potential designations under the Global Human Rights sanctions regime. It is longstanding practice not to speculate on future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce the impact of the designations.

“The UK Government will keep all evidence and potential listings under close review.”

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