TheNewsGuru

Tag: Treason

  • Children as coup plotters – By Etim Etim

    Children as coup plotters – By Etim Etim

    By Etim Etim

    The Nigerian Police routinely outcompetes itself in absurdities, but the arraignment of 30 children last week in Abuja by the police for allegedly plotting a coup to topple the Tinubu administration was the lowest point the police has ever sunk to.  It is the biggest embarrassment and ridicule this country has been thrown into in decades and I think that the IGP should apologize for humiliating the country before the international community.

    The children are among the 70 people brought to court last Friday, charged with treason and inciting a military coup after they took part in the protests last August. Aged between 12 and 16, they were arrested in different parts of Northern Nigeria, and incarcerated in Abuja in a terrible detention centre, something that didn’t happen even under Gen. Abacha. We all know how Abacha was unbelievably cruel, but he never locked away children to starve them to death. The police authorities should be ashamed of themselves for perpetrating such a heinous abuse of minors.

    At the Abuja High court, the kids looked famished, emaciated, tormented and traumatized. Four of them even fainted, forcing the presiding judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who was visibly alarmed and irritated at the sight of the young, famished and sickly boys, to adjourn sitting abruptly. On resumption of sitting, the court adjourned the case till January. If those kids are detained till January in the same conditions, a few of them will not come out alive. The scene at the court was despicable, a throwback to what might have happened in Idi Amin’s Uganda.

    The prosecution counsel, Audu Garba, told the court that the four kids were rushed outside because there was no space in the courtroom for all of the accused persons. He lied. However, the judge insisted that space should be created for all of them as he wanted the all in the courtroom. The prosecution then proceeded to ask the court to strike out the names of the sick defendants and discharge them pending when they are well enough to stand trial. But the defense counsel, Marshall Abubarkar, asked the court to discharge and acquit them.

    The court eventually discharged the four sick children – Umar Yunusa; Usman Suraju; Musa Isiyaku and Abdul Ganiyu – pending when they recover, and admitted the rest of the kids on stringent bail conditions. I’m shocked that this is happening in Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu, who was once a prodemocracy activist. The outrage across the country reflects our overall shock and disbelief.

    I am relieved that the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, has asked the police for the case file, possibly to intervene and set the children free. But does it mean that the AGF was not aware of the fate of these kids all this while? If these children had died, who would have held the police responsible? Who regulates the activities of the Nigerian Police police?

    A week earlier, the government had accused The Guardian newspaper of inciting the military to take over the government. In a press statement issued on Saturday, October 26, Bayo Onanuga, the President’s spokesman, said the paper’s lead story published the previous day, ‘’openly incites unrest against President Bola Tinubu and advocates regime change under the guise of journalism’’.

    He argued that ‘’The Guardian’s agenda is unmistakable from the cover illustration to the article. In attempting to create a balanced veneer, the author condemns military rule while fanning the flames of military intervention’’. The paper had in its Friday lead story, published a lengthy feature article in which it reported that faced with harsh cost-of-living crisis, Nigerians have resorted to extreme measures, including calling for military coups. The Guardian has launched a robust rebuttal to the government’s allegation.

    But why is the Tinubu administration so obsessed with the fear of a military coup? Why does the government seem to habour a phobia for coups despite repeated assurances from the Defence Headquarters that the military will never be involved in unconstitutional change of government? There are two theories that can explain this. One, by frequently accusing the opposition of coup-baiting, the government wants us to live in fear and silence, weaken critics and frighten the civil society. Second, effect of a terrible experience.

    Between President Tinubu and Bayo Onanuga, there could be something in the past that triggers an irrational dread for the military coups. Both men were very active in the prodemocracy struggle of the 1990s. The former was a journalist while the later was initially a politician and later a pro democracy activist. In 1995, Onanuga’s colleague at The News magazine, Kunle Ajibade, was jailed for life by the Abacha junta for the story the magazine published.

    Tinubu and many other activists had fled into exile overseas, and those who did not leave the country were murdered by junta’s snipers. After Abacha’s death in 1998, Tinubu returned, contested election and was elected Lagos State Governor in 1999. He then picked a young police officer, Kayode Egbetokun as his chief security officer and ADC. On taking office last year, the president appointed Egbetokun as the IGP and Onanuga as spokesman.

    Psychologists believe that past traumatic or negative experiences can have long-lasting impacts on our behaviors and outlook on life. This is known as ‘’Negativity Bias’’ in psychology and could be the reason Onanuga and Egbetokun are obsessing about coups. Dr. Eric Nass, a clinical psychologist in Belmont, Massachusetts, has done extensive work on how anxiety, traumatic experiences and fear impact negatively on the ability of leaders to make informed decisions.

    I should also note that both Presidents Obasanjo and Buhari also lived through terrible experiences during the military era. So, why did they not publicly display symptoms of anxiety and fear for coups? Buhari in particular was constantly demonized in the press and called all sorts of names, but I can’t remember Femi Adeshina issuing press statements claiming that a newspaper was engaged in ‘’coup baiting’’. What is different now? Any psychologist around?

    Etim is a journalist and author.

  • Treasonable teenagers and other matters – By Hope Eghagha

    Treasonable teenagers and other matters – By Hope Eghagha

    By Hope O’Rukevbe Eghagha

    Adiele: Nigeria is a crime scene. We must start documenting evidence against the day of reckoning. We hope that some day all the criminals will be arrested and brought to trial. Looting of the nation’s coffers. Impunity at the highest level. Judicial corruption even in the Supreme Court. Flagrant abuse of power by the executive and legislative branches of government. We cannot go on like this for much longer. The elites are having a field day and do not see the need to stop the descent into anarchy. But mark my words: the end is around the corner!

    Henry: Long overdue, it’s long overdue my brother!

    Gboyega: There you go again, Mr. Extremism! How can a whole nation be a crime scene? What do you mean?

    Henry: It’s an extended metaphor; do you understand what it means?

    Adiele: My brother, you live in the wrong side of town; that’s why you cannot feel the pulse. There is hunger, there is anger. People can barely feed. The people are boiling oil to pour on the criminals in power. The government is introducing all sorts of taxes. I assure you of one thing: the end-bad-governance protest was a signal of things to come!

    Gboyega: What came out of it, eh, what came out of it? Misguided elements in society taking to the streets to protest government policies is not new. Vapour! Nothing! It fizzled out as it started – without direction and a sense of purpose!

    Racheal: Is that what you think? That nothing came out of it?

    Gboyega; Did you see the pictures of those teenage traitors on social media last week? That’s what came out of it!

    Adiele: Are you for real? You have the temerity to mock those kids who waved the Russian flag? Did you think they were traitors to the fatherland?

    Racheal: I do not need to go into an argument with you if you entertain such preposterous ideas in your head. Come on! Those kids are the real heroes of the struggle for a true Nigeria.

    Gboyega: Such idealistic nonsense ended in the 20th century. Join the fray and have a bit or a mouthful of the pie. Those who sit by the side will die of hunger!

    Adiele: Let us have a context here so we can understand what befell those kids. Organisers of the mass protests on October 1st drew attention to the level of hunger and anger in the land. Some innocent kids were given Russian flags to wave as if they were inviting the Russians to come and deliver them from the shackles of poverty in the hands of their government. The government did not address the main issues. It simply arrested those teenagers and minors from Kano, dumped them in a cell in Abuja and totally forgot about them. Is this how to govern?

    Gboyega: If you do anyhow, you will see anyhow too! Period! The president had no choice. The country was on the brink of bankruptcy. The harebrained policies of the previous government took their toll on the nation. The naira was being shored up with foreign exchange that was borrowed. Some one had to take the tough decision.

    Racheal: Some people are ‘kept critics’, you know the tradition of mistresses who were kept by a big man and she must sing praises of the big man. No matter how bad the situation is, they would always look for ways to praise the government or justify its actions. Some news commentators are like the proverbial kept mistresses. There is one sitting in this room with us right now.

    Henry: I wonder if such people shop in a special market where hangers-on are treated specially.

    Racheal: There is no such market. But we primordial instincts are still very strong and powerful in the country. Look at the list of security personnel currently in circulation. What does the government hope to achieve with such a lopsided appointment scale?

    Adiele: That itself is the end of the exercise. All but two positions are occupied by appointees from the north and southwest. Southeast and south-south had only one appointee each. Put simply, the federal government is the property of politicians from the north and southwest. Infantile nepotism!

    Gboyega: Did the other zones vote for the president? No! They played politics of hate, of ethnic divide. Look, if you want the dividends of democracy, you must vote for the winning team.

    Henry: That is contrary to the spirit of democracy. The winner becomes president to everyone, whether you voted for them or not. That is the ideal. When some parts of the federation see themselves as superior, then you are creating room for anarchy.

    Adiele: Noting seems to be working. Look at the power sector. People are paying through their noses for power supply. The universities are crying foul over the new rates. Why should a president who was supposedly elected by his own people implement the agenda of world financial institutions to the detriment of the people?

    Racheal: The rate of people suffering from mental health issues has increased. You often meet people talking to themselves along the road. What about suicide attempts? Horrible ways of dying have entered the minds of people. What makes a man jump into industrial fire that is used to melt iron? Frustration! The president is not engaging with the people.

    Adiele: He cannot engage with the people because he is minding his health. His visits to France and the UK are not for fun!

    Gboyega: come on! Is a man is entitled to looking after his health? Do you want him to die suddenly?

    Adiele: He was ill before he came into office!

    Gboyega: Yet the people voted for him massively.

    Racheal: Did they vote for him?

    Gboyega: Of course, the national institution that is charged with declaring the winner pronounced him winner. The losers went to court to challenge his victory and lost all the way! What else can you say if the umpire said he won, and the courts gave him victory?

    Adiele: Those officials were severely compromised. We know, they know, and you know it!

    Racheal: Gbam!

  • *52 Kids detained on alleged charges of treason, minister assures of fair judicial process*

    *52 Kids detained on alleged charges of treason, minister assures of fair judicial process*

    The Ministry of Women Affairs expresses deep concern over the recent detention of 52 children who were reportedly arrested on August 3, 2024, during the End Bad Governance protest in Kano and Kaduna states. Public concern about the treatment, safety, and rights of these detained children is duly acknowledged, and the Ministry is taking active steps to address these issues.

    Ensuring the rights of every child is paramount, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Child Rights Act, and international treaties to which Nigeria is a signatory. Every child, regardless of circumstance, is entitled to protection, dignity, and a fair judicial process under the law.

    Demonstrating her commitment to the welfare of these children, the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs made a personal visit to the detention facility late at night, where she engaged directly with the children. In this interaction, she offered comfort, listened to their concerns, and assured them of her commitment to their well-being. The Minister has also held discussions with authorities to ensure the children are receiving appropriate care and that their rights are being safeguarded.

    Communications are underway with relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Justice, the judiciary, and correctional institutions, to ensure that these children’s cases are expedited and heard in juvenile courts as mandated by law. Active monitoring of their welfare is ongoing, and the Ministry is collaborating with child rights advocates to ensure no child suffers undue harm, discrimination, or maltreatment.

    Plans are in place to work closely with child protection services to provide post-release psychological counseling, social support, and rehabilitation to facilitate these children’s reintegration into their communities. In partnership with stakeholders, the Ministry is also exploring educational opportunities for the children to support their growth and well-being beyond this challenging experience.

    To further address the public’s concerns, the President has directed the Attorney General of the Federation to review the cases of these minors swiftly. The Ministry is confident that justice will prevail, in alignment with Nigeria’s commitment to the rule of law and the principles of child protection.

    In addition, the Ministry is adopting a Whole-of-Society Approach (WoSA) to address juvenile delinquency. Through collaborative efforts with all relevant stakeholders, the goal is to strengthen existing systems and structures, with a focus on reforming the juvenile justice system. Key initiatives will include revising laws to address juvenile delinquency and fostering multi-sectoral engagement to empower communities and authorities to prevent juvenile delinquency across Nigeria.

    The Ministry of Women Affairs assures all concerned citizens that it will continue to advocate for the rights of these children and work tirelessly to secure a just outcome. Protecting the rights of all children remains a priority, and every effort will be made to guarantee their safety, welfare, and justice.

  • Days of rage when reason is treason – By Owei Lakemfa

    Days of rage when reason is treason – By Owei Lakemfa

    THE thuggish criminality in the United Kingdom exempted, mass protests have been sweeping through many countries with people standing up for their right to decent lives. Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Uganda, Sudan, Eswatini, South Africa and, of course, Bangladesh.

    They have been sad days in Bangladesh where bloody mass protests, mainly driven by students, under the banner of Students Against Discrimination, SAD, swept away Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The discrimination referred to are job quotas in public jobs in which 30 per cent was reserved for descendants of nationalists who fought in the 1971 War of Independence against Pakistan. Another 26 per cent was reserved for various groups. This had become quite contentious where in a population of 170 million, 32 million youths are unemployed.

    But rather than address the issues raised, the government first blamed the opposition parties, the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, BNP. Then it claimed the protesters were “rajakaar” or pro-Pakistani terrorists.

    In July, over 150 persons were killed in the protests. The Supreme Court on July 21, ruled that 93 per cent of employment should be on merit. So the main reason for the protests had been seemingly addressed. But the protesters returned to the streets last week to demand the unconditional release of all arrested protesters, reopening of the campuses, restoration of internet connections and a public apology from Hasina for the violence. The demands seem simple but were not readily met. This second seismic eruption, proved far more devastating.

    Last Sunday, the protesters made a determined push and some 100 were killed. This eruption on August 5, forced Hasina who had just in January claimed a fourth term electoral victory, to flee to India. The parliament also became history. Power was lying in the streets and the military tried to pick it up. But the protesters who were obviously too young to rule but too strong to resist, forced the military to retreat. They must be good students of history because as happened in Sudan, the military in many countries, is predatory and opportunistic; always on the look out to cash in to any situation. Besides, the Bangladeshi military had since 1971, staged 29 coups and counter-coups.

    So, the Bangladeshi students settled for Nobel Laureate Muhammed Yunus, who had been endlessly vilified by the ousted government, to run an interim government. This is designed as a stop-gap before an inclusive and democratic government is elected. The direction of the new leadership is uncertain and the dead are still being mourned. The open sores remain. The aftershocks are still being felt.

    The ten-day mass protests in Nigeria began on August 1, 2024. Its main oxygen is hunger, powered by hyperinflation and assisted by wild winds of anger. The immediate reason for this is self-inflicted. When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was sworn-in on May 29, 2023, he immediately announced the abolition of fuel subsidy. This greatly fuelled inflation in an oil-rich country with no single functional refinery. The reason for the fuel subsidy is simple: governments in the 25 years since the return to civil rule, have been incapable of refining the petroleum product needs of the 220 million populace.

    So the simple solution is to refine. However, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, IMF, are ever breathing down the necks of Nigerian governments not to refine, but increase fuel prices. But with the on-going protests, the lousy representatives of these shark institutions have been silent, making the Tinubu administration to carry the can alone. They wield power without responsibility and would be the first to flee the country were the situation to get out of hand.

    The second reason for the Nigerian hyper- inflation is the water-boarding of the Naira, again, as the IMF and World Bank have always insisted since 1981. This has always been devastating for an import-dependent country. It is these, coupled with the banditry and terrorism which have forced many farmers off their farms, that have led to the sorry state of the Nigerian nation. The solution is to address these concrete matters rather than dissipate energy looking for those carrying the Russian flag in the protests or detaining the alleged leaders of the protests.

    Some observation. The Nigerian Generals have been too intrusive in their loud media campaigns before and during the protests. Their involving soldiers from the very first second of the protests, is not in the interest of democracy and constitutional governance. As one of those who fought military misrule in Nigeria for decades, my antenna is up when I observe the lurking of a tiger.

    The Kenyan protests were triggered by a Finance Bill powered by the same IMF and World Bank breathing down the necks of underdeveloped countries, as the country descended into chaos. The IMF tried to exonerate itself. Its Director of Communications, Julie Kozack, claimed all it had tried to do was to help Kenya “overcome the difficult economic challenges it faces and improve its economic prospects…” This came at the cost of dozens of lives and massive destruction.

    Even after President William Ruto withdrew the bill and reshuffled the cabinet, protesters are insisting he steps down. This is because Kenyans are tired of high food prices, rising poverty and corruption. Whatever the outcome, the Kenyan democratic project has suffered a serious setback and, healing is far off. Ruto had come from the streets and his greatest fear might be returning there.

    The July 2024 protests in Uganda were against alleged massive corruption and a demand that Parliamentary Speaker Anita Among, steps down.

    Ghana used the courts to block ‘The Gen-Z Demo’ planned for seven days from July 31, 2024. There had been massive protests in June against power outages. The protests in September and October, 2023 were mainly against hyper-inflation and mass unemployment.

    Zimbabwe detained and charged over 70 persons for allegedly gathering with the intent to promote violence. They were denied bail.

    In Angola, the June 6, 2023 mass protests were against fuel price increases and the massive devaluation of the Kwanza. Over a dozen extra-judicial executions were traced to its security forces.

    Perhaps, the most massive protests in South Africa this season took place on May 11, 2024 over the sack of 4,002 mine workers. On Wednesday, August 7, 2024 the street protests were restricted to the Western Cape Province.

    Generally, the protests, especially in Africa, are against the implementation of the poverty-inducing policies of the IMF and World Bank, and democracies that do not yield dividends. They are a sort of plebiscite against political independence without economic independence. In many instances, the issue boils down to the fact that the people know what they want, but that is not what the governments want.

  • Court discharges Sowore, Bakare, orders DSS to release seized items

    Court discharges Sowore, Bakare, orders DSS to release seized items

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, discharged Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare of alleged treasonable felony preferred against them by the Attorney-General.of the Federation (AGF), Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.

    Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling after counsel for the AGF, A.R. Tahir, withdrew the charge, struck out the matter.

    “In view of the application made by the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation, this charge, between Federal Republic of Nigeria and Omoyele Sowore and another, is hereby struck out and the defendants discharged,” he declared.

    Justice Nwite also ordered the Department of State Service (DSS) to immediately release three phones and the sum of N10, 000 seized from Sowore during his arrest.

    The judge equally ordered the DSS to release a phone belonging to Bakare and the sum of N1, 500 confiscated from him on his arrest.

    Justice Nwite further ordered that Sowore’s international passport be released to him forthwith.

    The orders followed an application by lawyer to Sowore and Bakare, Mr Femi Falana, SAN.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sowore and Bakare (1st and 3nd defendants) were earlier arraigned before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu in 2019 before the matter was reassigned to Nwite after Ojukwu was transferred to another jurisdiction.

    The Federal Government had dragged them to court on allegations of treason and attempts to overthrow former President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

    When the matter was called, Tahir, an Assistant Chief State Counsel from the Federal Ministry of Justice, informed the court that she had a notice of discontinuance of the case dated Feb. 14 but filed Feb. 15 before the court.

    Tahir, said the application was filed pursuant to the powers conferred on the AGF in Section 174(1), Paragraph C of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 107(1) of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

    “We intend to discontinue the charge number: FHC/ABJ/CR/235/2019 against the 1st and 2nd defendants,” she said

    The lawyer, who said that presently, hearing in the matter was yet to commence, urged the court to strike out the charge.

    But lawyer to Sowore and Bakare, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, disagreed with Tahir’s submission.

    Falana, who argued that contrary to her submission, the matter had been partly heard, prayed the court to dismiss the case.

    The senior lawyer reminded that before the matter was reassigned to Justice Nwite, the 1st prosecution witness had been taken before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu.

    “My learner friend did not remember then. it was Mr Hassan Liman that was prosecuting the matter.

    “To that extent, the matter ought to be dismissed,” he added.

    Falana, however, commended the AGF and Minister if Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, for taken the bold step.

    “I wish to appreciate the position of the AGF and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbermi, SAN, for taken a hint from this honourable court because the court said in the last adjournment that this matter would be dismissed, even if heaven will fall.

    “Finally, we are compel to profess our sincere gratitude to this honourable court for the threat to have this matter dismissed for want of diligent prosecution,” he said.

    He said though he would not be asking for a cost on behalf of the defendants who had been standing trial since 2019, he, however, urged the court to make an order compelling the DSS to return Sowore’s three phones and the sum of N10, 000 seized from him during his arrest.

    Falana also prayed the court to order the DSS to release a phone belonging to Bakare and the sum of N1, 500 seized from him during arrest.

    The lawyer equally urged the court to make an order for the release of Sowore’s travel documents and the title deeds submitted to the court as conditions for his bail.

    Tahir, however, opposed Falana’s application for court to dismiss the case.

    She argued that it was in the court record that the matter started denovo (afresh) after it was reassigned.

    “My lord, the learner silk pointed out that there was a counsel handling the matter but it was not within my knowledge to confirm that,” she said

    She insisted that since the charge had not commenced before the court, the proper thing to do is for the charge to be struck out

    Delivering his ruling, Justice Nwite aligned with Tahir that the matter started afresh before him after reassignment.

    He held that in any criminal proceeding, the AGF had the power to discontinue a matter, even where a suspect had been committed to prison or was on bail.

    “Without much ado, the provision of ACJA is clear and unambiguous,” he said, while striking out the charge.

    The judge had, on Feb. 14, threatened to strike out the charge for lack of diligent prosecution.

  • FG terminates treason charge against Sowore

    FG terminates treason charge against Sowore

    The Federal Government has terminated the treasonable felony case instituted against politician and media owner, Omoyele Sowore.

    The decision to discontinue the trial was communicated to the Federal High Court in Abuja via a notice of discontinuance, dated February 14 but filed the next day by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).

    The notice  reads: “By virtue of the power conferred on me under Section 174 (1) (c} of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, Section 107 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and all other powers enabling me in that behalf, I Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN intend to discontinue charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/235/2019.

    Sowore and Bakare were arraigned in 2019 before the Federal High Court in Abuja following his staging of a protest rally in Abuja which he tagged “Revolution Now.”

  • Putin accuses Wagner mercenaries of treason, vows to punish takeover of Russia

    Putin accuses Wagner mercenaries of treason, vows to punish takeover of Russia

    Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the armed rebellion, led by Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, is a `stab in the back`

    Putin, in a televised address to the Russians on Saturday, said that necessary orders have been given to the troops to neutralise those who have orchestrated the armed rebellion.

    The president addressed the nation as Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin’s armed forces declared to have gained control over the Russian city of RostoV and his army continued to ‘march’ towards the capital to oust the military leadership of the country.

    Putin appeals for ‘unity’, says won’t allow civil war
    “I appeal to the citizens of Russia, to the personnel of the Armed Forces, law enforcement agencies and special services, to the soldiers and commanders who are now fighting in their combat positions, repelling enemy attacks – they are doing it heroically. I know. Today, I once again spoke with the commanders of all directions. I also appeal to those who, by deceit or threats, were dragged into a criminal adventure, pushed onto the path of a grave crime – an armed rebellion,” Putin said, in his address.

    “This is a battle when the fate of our people is being decided, it requires the unity of all forces, unity, consolidation and responsibility, when everything that weakens us, any strife that our external enemies can use and use to undermine us from the inside must be thrown aside”.

    Putin calls Wagner chief’s actions ‘stab in the back’, ‘betrayal’
    “The actions that split our unity are, in fact, apostasy from our people, from our comrades-in-arms who are now fighting at the front. This is a stab in the back to our country and our people. We will protect both our people and our statehood from any threats, including from internal betrayal, and what we are faced with is precisely betrayal to the cause for which, side by side with our other units and subunits, the fighters and commanders of the Wagner group fought and died,” the Russian president said.

    “I believe that we will save and defend what is dear and sacred to us. Together with our homeland, we will overcome any trials, we will become even stronger. Everyone who deliberately took the path of betrayal, who prepared an armed rebellion, took the path of rebellion and terrorist methods will suffer inevitable punishment, will answer before the law and before our people,” he added.

    The Wagner chief is facing accusations of “incitement to armed rebellion” as he asked Russians to support his 25,000 Wagner fighters against Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. Prigozhin has been charged with armed mutiny and can face up to 20 years of imprisonment, as per TASS.

    “Amid the seriousness of the situation and the threat of escalation of confrontation in the Russian Federation the FSB has opened a criminal case into the fact of a call for an armed rebellion on the part of Yevgeny Prigozhin,” the Federal Security Service’s Public Relations Centre said.

    Russia, which has been engaging with Ukraine in one of the longest wars, is on the brink of civil war and feared a coup as it faced a rebellion from the Wagner group. Amid the escalating situation, an “anti-terrorist operation regime” has been declared in Moscow and all public events have been cancelled.

  • Peter Obi replies Lai Mohammed over allegation of treason

    Peter Obi replies Lai Mohammed over allegation of treason

    Finally, Mr Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election has replied Lai Mohammed after the Minister of Information and Culture accused him of treason.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Mr Obi described the allegation of treason against him by the Minister as the height of rascality.

    Recall that Lai Mohammed made an allegation of treason against Peter Obi during engagements with journalists in Washington DC in the United States of America (USA) recently.

    Mohammed accused Obi of inciting people to violence over the outcome of the February 25 presidential election, saying it was treasonable.

    “Obi and his Vice, Datti-Ahmed cannot be threatening Nigerians that if the President-elect, Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is sworn in on May 29, it will be the end of democracy in Nigeria.

    “This is treason. You cannot be inviting insurrection, and this is what they are doing.“A democrat should not believe in democracy only when he wins election,” he said.

    Speaking on Arise TV on Monday, Obi condemned the allegation, even as he berated the federal government over the resources expended towards the media rounds where Mohammed made the claim.

    “That is the height of rascality. It was even announced in Washington. I committed a treasonable offence and I’m in Onitsha, and my minister went to announce it in Washington. This is the waste in governance we are talking about and people don’t want to understand.

    “The amount it cost Nigeria for him to go and announce that in Washington can build a block of six classrooms in a primary school. I’m sure if you go to his village there are so many places where children don’t even have desks or classrooms to go to school.

    “Instead of using that money for this purpose, he went to Washington to announce treason against someone in Onitsha. He doesn’t need to do that.

    “From there he went to London, announcing the same thing when I’m in Nigeria. He should have come to see me or invited me and tell me my offence,” Obi told show host, Charles Aniagolu.

  • BREAKING: Peter Obi, Datti Baba-Ahmed accused of treason

    BREAKING: Peter Obi, Datti Baba-Ahmed accused of treason

    Mr Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections and his running mate, Dr Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed have been said to have committed treason.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed accused them of treason in Washington DC during his official engagements with some international media organisations.

    “Obi and his Vice, Datti Ahmed cannot be threatening Nigerians that if the President-elect, Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is sworn-in on May 29 , it will be the end of democracy in Nigeria.

    “This is treason. You cannot be inciting insurrection, and this is what they are doing. Obi’s statement is that of a desperate person. He is not a democrat that he claimed to be. A democrat should not believe in democracy only when he wins an election,” Lai Mohammed said.

    The Minister of Information and Culture admonished Mr Obi to stop inciting people to violence over the outcome of the presidential elections.

    Mohammed is in Washington to engage with international media organisations and Think-tanks on the just concluded 2023 polls. He has so far engaged with the Washington Post,  Voice of America, Associated Press and Foreign Policy Magazine.

    During the respective interactions with the media organisations, the minister said it was wrong for Obi in one breadth to seek redress in court over the outcome of the polls and in another breadth incite people to violence.

    Mohammed said in challenging the election results, there was no pathway to victory for either Obi or Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). According to the minister, both Obi and Atiku failed to meet the constitutional requirements to be declared as president.

    “The constitution has stringent criteria for any body who want to be president of the country. Not only must he has the plurality of vote cast in an election, he must also have scored one quarter of votes cast in at least 25 states.

    “Only the President elect met the criteria  by scoring 8.79 million votes and having one quarter of all the vote cast in 29 states of the federation,” the Minister said.

    Mohammed went further to say Atiku who came second with 6.9 million votes was only able to make one quarter of votes cast in 21 states, adding that Obi came third with 5.8 million votes but won only one quarter of votes cast in 15 states.

    “You cannot win election in a poll where you came a distant third position and failed to meet constitutional requirements. Peter Obi, while complaining of fraud has not disown his victory in Lagos,” Mohammed said.

    Elaborating on his mission to the U.S., the minister said he was there to correct the negative narratives being promoted by naysayers and opposition on the election. He said the opposition, having lost in the election were alleging fraud, calling for its cancellation and constitution of interim government.

    “We have come here to balance that skewed narratives and to tell the world unambiguously that the just concluded general elections in Nigeria is the fairest, most transparent and authentic in the history of Nigeria.

    “The election is the most fair and credible because of the introduction of the Bimodal Voters Verification System (BVAS), which I regard as a game changer. BVAS technology had helped to  weed out ghost and illegal voters, eliminate multiple voting and return sanity to the elections,” he said.

    Relying on INEC report, the Minister said BVAS, during the polls worked 97 per cent giving unparalleled credibility to the elections.

  • Biafra’s sovereignty and independence is untouchable- IPOB

    Biafra’s sovereignty and independence is untouchable- IPOB

    The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has reiterated that its stand on Biafra’s sovereignty and independence is untouchable and real.

     

    The group in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said it is currently conducting an international information campaign tailored towards demanding the release of its leader, Mazi Nnmadi Kanu.

     

    It said Biafra for the first time, has been placed in its history in the minds of the government and people of Corsica during the just concluded E Ghjurnate Internazionale Conference.

     

    The statement reads in part, “As a result of the consistent and unwavering push for the restoration of Biafran Sovereignty and independence by the peaceful movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under Mazi Nnamdi KANU, we wish to inform IPOB family worldwide and all Biafran people, friends of Biafra and all lovers of Biafra freedom across the world that IPOB has once again accomplished another precious milestone in our unceasing work to extricate the land of Biafra from the bondage of British and Fulani hegemony in Nigeria.

     

    “IPOB has placed Biafra for the first time in its history in the minds of the government and people of Corsica during the just concluded E Ghjurnate International conference which hosted the IPOB delegation representing Biafra, a country of about 70 million people currently ruled by Nigeria. IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra) has been fighting for the rebirth of an independent state for almost half a century after the proclamation of the Republic of Biafra (1967-1970).

     

    “IPOB is currently conducting an international information campaign tailored towards demanding the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra Mazi Nnmadi Kanu.

     

    “Mazi Chika Edoziem, IPOB Head of Directorate of State of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, addressed the emerging nations on behalf of the IPOB movement worldwide. It is very important for every Biafran to know that one of the major agenda of the IPOB delegation to the E GHJURNATE Internazionale is to secure the support of all the delegates to this Conference for the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi KANU the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra.

     

    “The Conference also provided us with new genuine friends who have collectively added their voice to the immediate and unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra worldwide.”