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Tag: Protest

  • $9.6bn judgment: Massive protest rocks UK High Commission Office

    $9.6bn judgment: Massive protest rocks UK High Commission Office

    A massive protest has rocked the United Kingdom High Commission Office in Abuja following $9.6 billion award granted to Process and Industrial Development Ltd against Nigeria by a UK court.

    The award is to be levied on Nigeria’s assets anywhere in the world.

    The protest was led by a coalition of Civil Society Groups.

    According to the protesters with various placards, they would continue the protest for the next one week until the judgement is reversed.

    The inscriptions in some of the placards read: “$9.6bn judgement is a fraud,” “No to illegal take over of our national assets,” “Nigeria rejects fraudulent judgment from British judge,” “Nigeria and Britain are friends, not enemies” and “Boris Johnson help President Muhammadu Buhari fight corruption.”

    There are also captions such as “Both Local and International conspirators behind the P&ID fraud must be punished,” “We say no to second slavery, this judgment cannot stand,” among others.

  • BREAKING: Shiites temporarily suspends protests nationwide

    The Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky- led Shi’ites group, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, (IMN) has apparently bowed to pressure from its recent proscription by a Federal High Court resulting from the renewed clashes with the police, as the group on Wednesday announced suspension of its streets protests.
    IMN said the suspension of its protests, which it termed temporary, was out of respect for eminent people and groups, who have genuinely waded into resolving the problems.
    IMN, in a statement on Wednesday by its spokesman, Ibrahim Musa, said the movement suspended the protests in good faith and out of respect for eminent people and groups, whose input in the resolution of the problems appears genuine.
    While reiterating IMN’s demand that their leader, his wife and several others in detention be given their freedom denied to them since 2015, Musa said the movement is committed to exploring the new openings to resolve the protracted issues with the government.
    He added: “If at all any protests occur anywhere in the country, it might be this notice hasn’t reach those in the field or this message is misunderstood or it is some security agents who are mischievously behind it as they have been doing in an attempt to smear our image and be seen as unruly people rather than as victims of savage oppression since 2015.
    “The Islamic Movement in Nigeria do hereby announce to the general public and the international community that it has temporarily suspended its Free Zakzaky street protests to allow for some new openings into the resolution of the problems, especially the court case instituted by our lawyers on the proscription order made by the federal government this week.
    “We sincerely hope an amicable way could be found to solve the crises surrounding the illegal detention of our leader for almost four years now.
    “The Islamic Movement wishes to thank both national and international civil rights activists and organizations who have been busy demanding the protection of our fundamental human rights as enshrined in the constitution.
    “We also thank the press, both national and international, and the social media activists for the full coverage of our activities throughout the struggle for justice,” he said.

  • Group fingers IMN terrorists behind August Mass protest

    Group fingers IMN terrorists behind August Mass protest

    Stand Up for Nigeria, a civil society group has fingered the Islamic Movement in Nigeria behind the planned protest across the country in August by Coalition for Revolution (CORE).
    The group said IMN was only using CORE to cause panic among Nigerians following its proscription by the Nigerian Government.
    Comrade Sunday Attah, National Secretary, while addressing newsmen on Monday, informed the law enforcement agencies that the planned protest was a ploy to evade the designation of the former as terrorist organization and to enable terrorists to continue gathering freely on the streets.
    His statement below.
    Gentlemen of the press, recent weeks had seen extremists and radical militants take over the streets of Abuja under the aegis of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), which was supposedly demanding the release of their leader, Ibrahim el-Zakyzaky. It must be noted that el-Zakyzaky is on trial for murder, treason and ancillary crimes before a Kaduna State High Court.
    The state does not have control of the police and other security agencies so it is logical that while the IMN leader has a case to answer with Kaduna state, he can only be kept in the custody of federal agencies, which is not the same as the Federal Government or the government of President Muhammadu Buhari holding him.
    The implication of this is that the violent protests held on the streets of Abuja, and later other Nigerian cities, have nothing to do with the detention of el-Zakyzaky. The protests rather have all the signatures of a terrorism enterprise that is intended to cow the Nigerian state and subjugate all citizens to the reign of IMN, which so happens to be a proxy for Iran.
    The measured responses from the Nigerian Police Force and other security organizations, even in the face of aggravated provocations by IMN members, are well documented. Its members often throw projectiles at policemen and in some instances used slingshots to inflict grievous injuries on those whose responsibility it was to prevent the arson that the IMN protestors are intent on committing and also prevent them from manhandling Nigerians.
    A side note of use is the reminder that IMN does not believe in the Nigerian state. For every ministry of government that exists it has a corresponding department, which confirms that it is running a parallel country to the one we all know. It also does not believe in the current political configuration of the country be it political parties or offices that result as a consequence of their activities. Effectively, IMN at its most moderate is an anarchist group that later branched into full fledge terrorism.
    We were therefore not surprised when the Federal Government, on the strength of a court order, proscribed IMN as a terrorist organization. Let us not forget that militants of IMN executed a Deputy Commissioner of Police on the streets of Abuja in the course of their violent protest on the same they executed a journalist and wasted the life of a dozen others in the course of expressing their so called rage. Before that they have attempted to overthrow the legislative arm of government, being the premier branch of government, when they stormed the National Assembly and laid siege to the place for several hours. That invasion resulted in deaths.
    As a matter of emphasis, the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Nkeonye Maha, in addition to proscribing IMN as a terrorists organization, further restrained “any person or group of persons” from participating in any form of activities involving or concerning the IMN “under any name or platform” in the country.
    Gentlemen of the press, we are therefore concerned that rather than desisting from “as acts of terrorism and illegality” as ordered by the court, IMN members have, in contravention of the court, regrouped under the name of the COALITION FOR REVOLUTION (CORE) in order for them to continue with their violent protests and continue killing Nigerians. CORE’s manifesto openly threatened violence by saying “We have the right to be in rage and to protest,” an agenda that not only tallies with IMN’s creed but is also consistent with the behavior of the terrorist organization in recent months.
    Further confirmation that CORE is nothing but a rebranded IMN can be found in the second of the five demands of the group:
    “For an effective and democratic end to insecurity and insurgency, combined with the immediate dismissal of the security chiefs and release of all political prisoners including the Shiite leader Ibrahim el-Zakzaky.”
    Recall that there have been reports that the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Mr Atiku Abubakar has been financing the IMN protests in addition to specifying what targets the group should attack. The other four points of CORE’s demand are consistent with Atiku’s propaganda. What we have learnt is that PDP/Atiku has transferred the existing mandate and funding from IMN to CORE in order for the violent street protests to continue with the assassination of policemen later escalating to include senior government officials.
    We are using this opportunity to draw the attention of law enforcement agencies to this mutation of IMN into CORE. It is a ploy to evade the designation of the former as terrorist organization and to enable terrorists to continue gathering freely on the streets.
    This poses a great danger to the country as they will again be able to resume killing security personnel before adding public office holders to their kill list. It is imperative that the coordinators of the planned protests beginning August 5, 2019 are identified before that date for the purpose of further investigating and establishing their links with IMN.
    Nigerians are advised to note that rather than fighting for their cause, CORE is an agent of subjugation that is representing the interest of Iran and a desperate opposition that is eager to reestablish corruption as a norm. All right thinking people must therefore shun the deceptive protests being called by CORE as they are nothing but a ruse to make people support IMN.
    Stand Up For Nigeria, a coalition of 22 Civil Society groups and youths groups is challenging CORE to prove that it is not a mutated IMN with the same mandate and funding source. We will soon expose more details of how the promoters of IMN are the very sponsors of IMN protests in Nigeria.
    We re-affirm our commitment, the commitment of Nigeria and Nigerians to the unity and indivisibility of the country. We solemnly pledge that Nigerians will defend the country from any uprising being instigated by disgruntled politicians, sectarian terrorists and commercial protesters in the country.

  • UPDATED: Channels TV reporter, Owolabi shot during Shi’ites protest is dead

    The Channels Television reporter shot at the scene of the clash between members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), better known as Shiites, and the police is dead.
    His death was announced during the 10pm news bulletin of the station.
    He was identified as Precious Owolabi, a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
    The 23-year-old died of a gunshot wound he sustained while covering the clash between the police and the Shiite protesters on Monday in Abuja.
    Reacting to the news of Owolabi’s death, the management and staff of Channels Television said they are greatly saddened by the untimely and unfortunate death of such a promising journalist.
    They pray that God will grant his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss, and avail his soul eternal rest.
    Similarly, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, FCT Council, described the death of Precious Owolabi on Monday as one too many.
    The NUJ in a statement Monday night expressed deep sadness over Owolabi’s death, stressing that it was another sad day for the journalism profession in Nigeria.
    “The death of Precious Owolabi signifies how brutish and short life has become in Nigeria and signposts the danger faced by journalists daily in carrying out the constitutional mandate of holding government and its officials accountable to Nigerians,” a statement by Emmanuel Ogbeche, chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, read.
    According to Ogbeche, the federal government should take responsibility for the senseless death of Owolabi as it was its constitutional duty to safeguard his welfare and security as well as those of other Nigerians.
    He called on the federal government to demonstrate its seriousness in addressing the pervading insecurity by finding an amicable resolution to the grievances of the IMN to avoid further needless deaths in the country.
    The NUJ chairman said that while death was inevitable, journalists should always take into account the environment they were reporting from and not become the ‘story.’
    Ogbeche expressed the hope that the government will compensate the family of the deceased who was on a national assignment.
    The NUJ prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest while condoling with his family, Channels TV and journalists in general.

  • JUST IN: Super Falcons stage sit-in protest in France over unpaid allowances

    Nigeria’s Super Falcons have begun a sit-in protest at their hotel in Grenoble France, until all their outstanding bonuses are paid.

    ESPN reported that the protest began after their elimination by Germany in the Women’s World Cup on Saturday.

    The players told ESPN that they would not leave the hotel until they are paid the bonuses they are owed from two past games, against Gambia and Senegal, from two and three years ago.

    The bonuses totalled about $5,600 U.S.

    The players alleged that they have only been paid half of the money.

    Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick told ESPN that all the remaining allowances have been paid.

    According to ESPN, the Super Falcons also claimed that they are owed five days of daily allowance while at the World Cup.

    The players are also demanding their share of the World Cup participation fee from FIFA, which is not scheduled to be paid out until September.

    The Super Falcons also staged a protest over bonuses after winning the 2016 African title in Cameroon.

    The team also sat in at a South African hotel for three days in 2004 after winning the African title until outstanding allowances were paid.

  • Owo Poly shut following ASUP’s protest

    The management of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO), Ondo State, on Tuesday closed down the school.

    The Acting Registrar of the polytechnic, Mr Sule Atiku, said this in a press statement he released on Tuesday.

    He said that the management took the decision to avert any likely crises that might arise following the protest embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), RUGIPO chapter on Monday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the students of the institution were supposed to have started their first semester’s examinations for the 2018/2019 academic session on Monday, June 17, 2019.

    This was disrupted by ASUP’s protest.

    The Acting Registrar in the press statement on Tuesday said, “I have the mandate of the management to announce to the public that Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, is hereby closed down until further notice.

    “In view of this development, all students of the institution are hereby advised to vacate the institution not later than 3:00 p.m., today, Tuesday, June18, 2019.

    “This closure has become imperative in order for council and management to forestall any breakdown of law and order within the institution’s environment, “Atiku stated.

    Meanwhile, the Chairman of ASUP in the institution, Mr Oluwadare Ijawoye, told newsmen that the association was only expressing its grievances toward opposition, injustice and ill treatment from the school management.

    Ijawoye noted that the policies and decisions of the Acting Rector of the polytechnic, Mr Gani Ogundahunsi, were hostile and against the welfare of ASUP members in the school.

    He said that the management withheld almost N500 million out of N1.7 billion released by Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to offset nine months’ salary arrears and emoluments of the institution’s staff.

    According to him, courses in RUGIPO are on the verge of de-accreditation by the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE).

    He also stated the non-payment of staff salaries and emoluments as well as no promotion of staff for a long time as some of their grievances.

    The ASUP’s chairman, who said that it was disheartening that his members had not been promoted for three years, attributed the faults to Ogundahunsi-led management’s policies.

    He also accused the management of non-remittance of six-month salaries deduction, amounting to N630 million, to various cooperative societies in the school.

    While appreciating efforts of the state governor on improving standards of the institution, the chairman urged him to nip in the bud the alleged hostility of the school management to its staff.

    “Ogundahunsi-led management wants to cause crisis in RUGIPO and we are not going to allow it. He wants to sabotage the efforts of the governor.

    “We know that he is being used by some politicians to taint the integrity of Gov. Akeredolu but we have passed a vote of confidence on Mr Governor for his magnanimity toward education, especially, in RUGIPO,” he said.

    Ijawoye also advised the governor to appoint a substantive rector for the school, saying that the current acting rector was inexperienced and incapable to lead the polytechnic.

    He commended the students for their understanding as the union continued to fight for its rights.

  • Three feared dead in Adamawa as soldiers ‘open fire’ on protesters

    Three feared dead in Adamawa as soldiers ‘open fire’ on protesters

    At least three protesters were killed and four others injured when soldiers allegedly opened fire on demonstrators in the border community of Gurin, Fufore Local Government of Adamawa State.

    According to sources, over 2000 youths took to the streets on Thursday, to protest against military harassment and selective enforcement of the ban on the use of motorcycles.

    They explained that the villagers were angered by the fact that their impounded motorcycles are being used by the soldiers or their errand boys.

    This frustration has been building, but yesterday the soldiers tried to seize a particular young man’s motorcycle which he resisted.

    However, reports indicate that three persons were shot dead by the soldiers, while six others sustained wounds as a result of the clash.

    Meanwhile, the brigade commander, 23 Armoured Brigade Yola, said he is yet to be briefed on the number of casualties.

    Only recently, the Adamawa State Police Command announced the ban on motorcycles as a measure to checkmate activities of kidnappers and other criminals in the state.

  • Alleged fraud: Protesters move for removal of CBN Deputy Gov over corruption

    Alleged fraud: Protesters move for removal of CBN Deputy Gov over corruption

    Fraud: Protetsers move for removal of CBN Deputy Gov over corruption

    Hundreds of protesters this morning besieged the presidential villa gate to demand the immediate removal of a Central Bank of Nigeria deputy governor, Dr Joseph Nnana over corrupt activities.

    Nnana who is presently a Board Chairman at the Nigeria Export Import Bank,NEXIM is being fingered to be behind some corrupt and fraudulent activities going on in the bank.

    The protesters under the aegis of the Awareness For Good Governance Group (AGGG) said It is disheartening to note the absolute misgivings and unethical conduct of some cursed breeds occupying sensitive position of offices most especially in the financial sector which is supposed to operate on a clean slate.

    The Convener of the group, Princess Ajibola said, “we observed with stark dismay the recent dubious engagements of one Dr Joseph Nnana, a former Deputy Governor (Economic Policies) at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) who was appointed barely one year ago to serve as the board chairman of NEXIM

    “We regret to publicly announce the fraudulent and nepotistic crave of Dr Nnana who has soiled his already filthy hands with cans of worms without traces of professional approach and have proven to the world that he is not fit to occupy any public office; not even a treasurer of any hamlet developmental Union talk less of a reputed public treasury like NEXIM Bank.

    She said as a group, the Awareness For Good Governance platform is a formidable front vested with the sole interest of encouraging good leadership style in the public and financial sector of the economy.

    “We all know our beloved country is rated among the third world country. However, our developmental stride is not limited because Nigeria under the pragmatic leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari accord zero tolerance to corruption.

    “As an unrepentant Apostle of corruption, the said Nnana who is unqualified to occupy the position of the organization’s Chairmanship is personalizing the affairs of the Bank by allowing his emotions to take the lead while he steers activities of the bank to the murky waters of frustration, looting and scandals.

    She said recently, Nnana

    authorized the payment of over 100 million naira as severance package for his girlfriend, one Saratu Umar who was once a staff of the bank but was sacked due to her widely attested negligence and incompetence.

    “Furthermore, our group noted the latest scheming of Dr Nnana and his cabals by illegitimately recommending and approving mass sack of staff of the bank perceived to opposed his corrupt minded posture, abuse of public office and lack of due process in his self-seeking and serving interest as an dictator without focus.

    “The ongoing mass sack through threats and intimidation by Nnana is to allow him his cronies and allies, mostly from his State of Origin amass illegitimate public fund at the expense of the formerly standard but now crippling organization under the watch of corrupt stenched filled Nnanna.

    “AGGG further gathered that Dr Nnana’s latest hobby is the comic act of threatening to use the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to witch hunt many of his staff who are contributing their best quota towards the organizational development of the establishment.

    “We want to equally caution the EFCC and the entirety of its hierarchy to desist from allowing the fake helmsman of a revered organization to use them for shaming purposes without proper investigation. In effect, we are tasking the EFCCC to investigate Dr Nnana’s role when he served a Board Member in Nigeria’s apex bank before his appointment as Chairman, NEXIM bank.

    “It is also worthy of note, NEXIM bank is not just a financial sector but a trade policy financial institution aimed at diversifying the Nigerian economy into a non oil dependent economy.

    “To this end, allowing a renowned rogue to pilot the affairs of this noble institution is a clog in the wheels of Nigeria’s developmental goals and in effect painting our beloved nation on a negative timeline.

    “We are calling on Mr President and the relevant authorities to invoke punitive measures against the newly identified advocate of corruption – Dr Nnana – before he totally infect the few good personnel remaining in the hierarchy of NEXIM bank.

    “It is time to save NEXIM Bank and its staff from this ugly quagmire embodied in the misdeeds of a supposed public officer drenched and dripping the filthy gown of corruption”she said

  • President resigns few days to end of tenure

    Algerian President Bouteflika has resigned, bowing to mass protest, Algeria’s state news agency APS reported on Monday.

    He will give up his office before his designated end-of-term date on April 28.

    The decision came after hundreds of people demonstrated in Algiers against Bouteflika’s new government.

    Protesters carried slogans describing the new cabinet as “a blow to the people’s demands.”

    Bouteflika, who has faced mass protest against his rule for over a month, had maintained his position as defence minister in the caretaker government that was revealed on Sunday.

    The government, headed by Noureddine Bedoui, composed of 27 ministers, including six members of the former cabinet.

    Bouteflika kept as military chief of staff the powerful Gen. Gaid Saleh, who earlier this week called for the president to be declared unfit for office on health grounds.

    Media report says Bouteflika’s resignation means there will now be a transitional phase.

    The opposition Labour Party had described the new cabinet as a new face for an old government.

    “It is unclear on what basis these figures were chosen,” the party said in a statement.

    The party said “the so-called new government” aims to ensure “the continuity of the regime and the repressive presidential system rejected by the overwhelming majority.”

    Former prime minister and opposition politician Ali Benflis had also criticised the move, saying “it is authoritarian practice that provokes the people.”

    In March, Bouteflika appointed Bedoui, a former interior minister, as prime minister after the ailing president renounced a bid to run for a fifth term in office after mass street protests.

    In recent weeks, thousands of Algerians have taken to the streets, with protests centering on the departure of Bouteflika and radical change to the political system in the energy-rich country.

  • BREAKING: PDP protests at INEC office, demands release of original election results [+Photos]

    BREAKING: PDP protests at INEC office, demands release of original election results [+Photos]

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is demanding the release of the original election results from the February 23, Presidential elections.

    Members of the party in their numbers led by the National Chairman, Uche Secondus, took their protest to the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The party is asking for a commitment from INEC that the elections on March 9, 2019, will be void of irregularities adding that the military should stay away from the elections.

    Addressing the officials of the commission, the party chairman said the protest is peaceful noting that they are expressing their displeasure with the conduct of the elections siting military involvement in the polls.

    They also register the alleged rigging across the country and he is asking if the alleged rigging will happen on the 9th of March.

    He insists that the military must not be involved in the elections on the 9th of March

    He alleges that the party leadership including himself are constantly being harassed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    DP