TheNewsGuru

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  • Impeachment trial of Trump to get under way

    Impeachment trial of Trump to get under way

    The Senate trial of President Donald Trump is due to get underway in earnest at 1 pm (1800 GMT) on Tuesday, only the third impeachment trial of a president in U.S. history.

    The 100 members of the upper chamber will gather for what is likely to be the first full day of proceedings in the case.

    Last week, senators and the chief justice were sworn in.

    Since then, the Democratic Party lawmakers who will head the prosecution, known as the House managers, have filed their legal brief and Trump’s defence team has done the same.

    The president is accused firstly of having abused the power of his office to pressure Ukraine into announcing an investigation of his domestic political rival, Joe Biden, in order to potentially help Trump’s re-election campaign.

    The second article of impeachment says he obstructed Congress’ investigation of the Ukraine affair.

    Both articles were approved last month by the House of Representatives.

    The president denies wrongdoing.

    His legal team said on Monday that the president “is the victim” of a “rigged process” motivated by politics and that he has done nothing wrong.

    The brief argues that the case is “flimsy” and that the two articles of impeachment “allege no crime or violation of law whatsoever”.

    Later on Monday Republicans proposed 12-hour daily sessions for the trial, setting a gruelling pace for the start of the case.

    Democrats immediately expressed their anger, calling the proposal “a national disgrace”.

    Trump is framing the impeachment as an attempt to overturn the 2016 election.

    Democrats say the president’s behaviour is threatening the integrity of the election later this year.

    Senators must remain silent during proceedings, which are due to take place every day except on Sundays, until a decision is reached.

    Two-thirds of members are required to remove a president from office.

    The Senate is controlled by Trump’s Republican party and the most likely outcome is an acquittal.

  • Debate on Amotekun’s legality: Compendium of lawyers views

    Debate on Amotekun’s legality: Compendium of lawyers views

    In the past week, Amotekun, the security initiative by Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Osun and Lagos, states that originated from the defunct Western Region, generated lots of controversies that propped up several topical issues that dominated the national discourse space in Nigeria.

    The Amotekun debate was immediately triggered when the attorney general of the federation, Abubakar Malami, asserted that the setting up of the initiative is illegal, citing specifically that by virtue of item 45 of the second schedule of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, policing and other government security services are on the exclusive list.

    This development, expectedly, did not go down well with many Nigerians and has been a subject of hot debate. Therefore, in this unsolicited but imperative legal opinion, efforts would be made to dissect the legal position of the Federal Government on Amotekun and other ancillary matters arising therefrom.

    While the initiative majorly got praised in the Southern part of Nigeria it has also attracted condemnation from some sections of the country, especially some leaders in the North, who say such arrangement was unconstitutional in a federal state and called for its scraping.

    In this report, TheNewsGuru, (TNG), compiled the views gathered from some notable lawyers to help throw light on the furore over Amotekun’s legality or otherwise. TNG positioned the centre of its compilation to answer the following fundamental questions on Amotekun: The security question and the federalism question.

    Aare Afe Babalola:

    In a statement titled, ‘No law prohibits the establishment of Amotekun,’ Babalola said, “The issue of Amotekun is an issue of public safety and protection of property. There is no law in Nigeria, which prevents citizens from being able to secure their life and property. The Nigeria Police does not enjoy exclusive jurisdiction when it comes to the protection of life and property. As a matter of fact, in many parts of Nigeria, various outfits such as Civilian JTF, Hisbah Police and vigilantes have been performing the duty of protecting life and property.”

    He added: “Given the provisions of the Criminal Code in Sections 272-275, the right of citizens to arrest any person for committing an offence is legal and may be exercised individually or communally. In any event, the regional community security outfit known as Amotekun cannot be set aside by oral pronouncement by the Attorney General or any other body. Only the court of law can declare the establishment illegal.”

    Kunle Edun, publicity secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)

    “In civilised climes, security is everyone’s concern and not the exclusive responsibility of a particular organ of government.”
    He described Amotekun as a good and commendable initiative, noting: “Similar outfits exist in the north and they were reported to have assisted the Nigerian military to stem the tide of armed banditry and insurgent activities.”

    Edun said since the floaters of Amotekun have “promised to work with the official regular security apparatus for proper coordination and collaboration, what is needed now is collaboration and partnership on security between the southwest governors and the Federal Government.”

    Lagos based lawyer, David Fadile
    The Federal Government declaration of the Amotekun as being illegal is in order. There is no law to the best of my understanding which established this group of people known as the Amotekun nor regulate their activities within the South Western States. Society is governed by law and order. Assuming that this security groups misbehave today how do we check their excesses.

    In Lagos for instance, the activities of Lagos State Traffic Management members or groups otherwise known as LASTMA is regulated by the Lagos State Traffic Management Laws of Lagos 2015, same for Neighbourhood watch. Someone should tell me under which specific laws do Amotekun operate. I concede to the argument that the governor is the chief security officer of the state he/she governs but this constitutional provision is not at large. The 1999 constitution Section 214 stipulates that there shall be a police force for Nigeria, which shall be known as the Nigeria Police, and subject to the provision of these sections no other police force shall be established for the Federations or any part thereof. This is the extant law except and until the various Legislative Houses of the South West States legislate Amotekun into existence; their functions remain that of the Nigerian Police.

    Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption, PACAC, Prof. Itse Sagay

    “I am positively disposed towards it. I think it is a good beginning not to depend completely on the Federal Government for our security.
    “We should begin to rely more and more on ourselves so that those who feel the pain are those who try to take control of the security situation.
    “We know that the Police are few; they are stretched; we have about 250,000 policemen in a country of almost 200 million. So, I think these regional security institutions are necessary.
    “I believe the police should cooperate with them and help with their training. And I believe eventually, they should even be armed so that we can have a lot more hands and local people involved in security.
    “Perhaps that can lead to other benefits, such as economic cooperation and wealth creation; and gradually, we’ll begin to regain what we lost when we lost the regions in the 60s. So, yes, I support it.
    “It’s not state police. I think the people who created it have been careful. Yes, there is a security outfit, but there is nothing in the Constitution that precludes either states or association of states from taking care of their security.
    “There is this popular saying that the governor is the chief security officer of a state. That’s not an empty statement.
    “They get a lot of money for security, and I look at this as part of the responsibility of the governors acting jointly to provide greater security in the Southwest.”

    Femi Falana (SAN)
    No doubt, section 214 of the Constitution stipulates that there shall be only one police force in Nigeria. But the federal government has breached the Constitution by setting up other police forces. For instance, the Nigerian Security and Defence Corps is another police force established by law. The State Security Service is also a police force established by law. Its operatives are well-armed. They wear masks even in broad daylight. The federal government has also authorised the officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Offences Commission, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Correctional Service and other paramilitary agencies to bear arms. To that extent, the federal government cannot stop any state from setting a security outfit. In fact, having lost control of the monopoly of violence to armed gangs in the various parts of the country the federal government lacks the legal, political and moral right to challenge security outfits set up by state governments and individuals to protect the lives and property of the people of Nigeria.
    It is pertinent to point out that as chief security officers in the respective states, governors have the power to adopt measures deemed fit within the ambit of the law to ensure the maintenance of law and order.

    Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN)
    The Attorney General does not have the power to declare Amotekun illegal. He advised Malami to go to court if he feels strongly about the matter.
    “I see no controversy about this matter. Do I need court pronouncement to engage private security guards and provide them with vehicles and uniforms? There is nothing strange in what the southwest governors did. They can see Malami’s comment as his opinion and not the position of the law, which only the court can interpret.”

    Barr Osigwe Momoh

    The security of lives and property is the principal objective of the state as copiously provided for in Section 14 of the constitution, the function is vested in the states and federal government and by implication, the president and governors of each state.

    However to avoid friction and executive overlaps the constitution has provided and empowered each unit of government each being limited and restricted to the 2nd schedule of the constitution.

    Part one of the 2nd schedule deals with the exclusive list excludes the state government from matters relating to police and military – that being the case, although no budget can be created for this organisation, nothing stops the governor in line with Section 14 of the constitution to empower citizens and organise them in a bid to stem out crimes

    Barr Gloria Ballason

    Amotekun is a creation of the South-West Governors to tackle Kidnapping and other criminal activities.

    The incidents of kidnapping and killings on farms and rural areas by persons often identified as Extremist Fulani herdsmen have particularly become worrisome.

    Curiously, while the International community through the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) has noted its notoriety as the fourth terrorist group in the world with Boko Haram as second, the Nigerian government has not recognized herdsmen Extremism as a terrorist group.

    That in itself is problematic especially in the light of the mind boggling casualties that this group has created in the Middle Belt & South West. It should be a welcome development that the South-West Governors as chief security officers of their states have taken a coordinated action to protect the territory of their influence more so as there is Civilian Joint Task Force in the North-East.

    The Attorney General of the Federation through his declaration of Amotekun as an illegal outfit clearly believes that the South-West Governors have usurped the defence item on the exclusive legislative list.

    I will argue to the contrary more so as the AGF and the Federal Government make no commitment to secure the people from the menace of kidnapping. The AGF can go to court so we can test the legitimacy of Amotekun.

  • Boko Haram cuts off Maiduguri from National Grid

    Boko Haram cuts off Maiduguri from National Grid

    Maiduguri, capital of Borno State has been plunged into darkness since 17 January, after Boko Haram insurgents destroyed its connection to the national grid.

    The blackout also affected the city’s environs.

    Ndidi Mbah, spokesperson of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), explained what happened and the efforts of the agency to restore power.

    “The Transmission Company of Nigeria hereby inform the public that Maiduguri and its environs have been cut off from the National Grid since January 17, 2020, due to damages to TCN’s equipment by insurgents,” Mbah said.

    “The incident affected the 330kV transmission line between Maiduguri and Damaturu. Also, the Damboa – Maiduguri 132kV transmission line has equally been disconnected from the grid for sometime, for the same reason.

    “TCN has located the fault on the Maiduguri – Damaturu line and has arranged to repair the line. Bulk electricity would be restored to Maiduguri on or before January 20, 2020.

    “TCN pledges to continue to work to ensure bulk electricity transmission and grid expansion nationwide. The company wishes to use this opportunity to commend the Nigeria Armed Forces for their continued support especially in areas prone to insecurity.

    “TCN regrets inconveniences caused by this problem to electricity consumers in the affected areas.”

  • Amotekun: Arrest Yoruba leaders, ignite fire, Fani-Kayode dares Miyetti Allah

    Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode has dared Miyetti Allah to instigate the arrest of Yoruba leaders for supporting Operation Amotekun.

    Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, the umbrella body for Fulani herders in the country has called for the arrest of Yoruba leaders backing Amotekun.

    National President General of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Bello Abdullahi Bodejo alleged that the security outfit was established to ban Fulani herdsmen from Yorubaland.

    They should not only ban it, but should arrest the leaders of this group. Like I said earlier, nobody or group has more security intelligence than the Police. The Army is doing enough; the DSS is also doing enough, likewise the Civil Defence,” he said.

    Reacting to this development, Fani-Kayode said “Go ahead, arrest us and ignite a fire. Do your very worst and make heroes and martyrs out of us. Do even more than arrest.

    “We are ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of our loved ones and children and for the future generations of our people.

    “We will never bow to you and we will not be intimidated by your bullying ways and childish barrack-room threats. When you take one of us down millions will rise up in his or her defence and in his or her place.”

    Fani-Kayode added: “We have lost all sense of fear. We have no fear of arrest, no fear of death, no fear of torture, no fear of failure and no fear of tyranny because the Lord is with us!

    “Amotekun is here to stay and damned be he who says this is not so. Permit me to add this: In as much as the control of one’s own destiny is the pre-condition for progress, a conflict with the Islamic North is inevitable if the South truly desires to successfully reform itself.

    “The struggle for Biafran secession in 1967, the Kaduna Nzeogwu coup d’état” of January 15th 1966 and the Gideon Orkar coup d’etat of April 22 1990, which all aimed at breaking the Islamic North’s political stranglehold and the centrifugal ethnic nationalism of today, have all been abundantly vindicated.

    There is no realistic prospect of working, in equal partnership, with the Islamic North towards any shared enlightened vision of the future. It is time for us to go our separate ways.”

  • Border closure not meant to punish Neighbouring countries – Buhari

    Border closure not meant to punish Neighbouring countries – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari says border closure is not meant to punish neighbouring countries.

    Buhari at a meeting on Saturday with a select group of the Nigerian community in London, however, said the closure is to strengthen the country’s security and economy.

    In a statement issued after the meeting, Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, said the president explained that the period of closure will be used for stock-taking on threats to the nation’s security and economy.

    “He noted that Nigerian farmers have been celebrating the closure which has drastically reduced smuggling of agricultural produce as well as arms and ammunition,” the statement read.

    “President Buhari attributed the country’s virtual food security position to the ‘very good last three rainy seasons;’ the federal government’s reduction in the price of fertilisers by 50 per cent and the presidential directive to the Central Bank of Nigeria not to give foreign exchange for food imports thereby saving the nations billions of naira.

    “Commending Nigerians in the Diaspora for their huge home remittances – more than $25 billion in 2018 – the President also lauded their individual performances in their various fields of expertise.

    “Explaining the achievements of his administration in implementing its three-point campaign agenda by focusing on fixing the economy, providing security and tackling corruption, the President said Nigeria’s ‘huge, vibrant youth population’ have been encouraged to go back to the farms and are “living decent and respectable lifestyles.”

    “On security, he said ‘it is common sense that you can only run the country if it is secured,’ adding that the country ‘has not done badly in the northeast.’”

    The president added that his administration has now focused on retrieving stolen fixed assets and returning the proceeds of the sale to the treasury through the treasury single account (TSA) “so that nobody can return them back to the convicts even after his tenure.”

  • Trouble in paradise! Davido, Chioma unfollow each other on Instagram over alleged mistrust

    – Twitter on fire as Davido’s assurance for Chioma is threatened

    There is trouble in paradise for Nigerian superstar, Davido Adeleke, a.k.a Davido. Rumours are swirling around that Davido and her famous lover, Chioma may be suffering relationship woes, with multiple sources claiming there are problems between the two.

    Apart from the fact that the Davido had invested multi-million naira in the relationship (assurance); the couple had done their introduction ahead of their wedding plans – in fact, Chioma has already given birth to Davido’s son, Ifeanyi Adeleke.

    However, the twist making the rounds that the love birds are privately facing a relationship storm was given a credence today after the talented artiste unfollowed his lover, Chioma on Instagram, a feat that may spell doom for the future of the lovers.

    Chioma said to be Peruzzi’s Side-chick Before He Gave Her To Davido

    Recall there is an ongoing war between Davido and the owner of Peruzzi’s erstwhile record label (Patrick of Golden Boy Entertainment).

    There’s another twist to the Davido/Peruzzi fight with the Golden Boy Entertainment CEO, Patrick – Chioma has now been dragged into it.

    The soon to be wife of Davido who was said to be Peruzzi’s cousin is now revealed to be his side chick.

    Patrick burst the whole bubbles by giving a response to Davido after the self-acclaimed OBO threw subs at him.

    In Patrick’s response, he revealed Chioma who Noah has a baby boy for Davido was Peruzzi’s side chick.

    Patrick went on to say Davido has been popping babies and giving girls STDs.


    Reactions on Twitter:

  • FG vs Amotekun: Where is Bola Tinubu?

    By Remi Oyeyemi

    “Òro se ni wò, ká lè m’eni tó fé ni.” – Yorùbá Aphorism; Translation: “Be afflicted and know those who love you.”

    “Ká rìn gèrè, ká f’esè ko, ká w’eni tí ó se ‘ni pèlé.”– Yorùbá Aphorism; Translation: “You know your true friends in time of trial.”

    Time is a very powerful element in nature. Time derobes and robes. It disarms and arms. It convicts and acquits. Time exculpates and exonerates. Time vindicates and rehabilitates. It corroborates and extenuates. With time, assumptions are confirmed or thrown to the curb as baseless and vacuous. Time is never oblivious. Neither is it ever stagnant. It is ever conscious. It never sleeps.

    In Nature, there are legion of variables. These variables are centripetal to the definitive characteristic of Nature. But there are very few tools of Nature. Among the few tools is Providence which some would understand or characterize as a sort of Divine Intervention. Providence intervenes at auspicious times, to salve, save, salvage or sink, sag or submerge.

    The awesomeness of the ways of Providence is why it is viewed as Divine Intervention by many. It is why it is viewed with amazement by not a few. This is because at the intervention of Providence, all doubts are erased. All prevarications are vacated. All caviling are crammed. All carping are cramped. The rain would be gone, completely. And the people would be able to see very clearly, crystally. Translucently.

    As to the true identity of Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT), with every passing second, every passing minute, hour, days, weeks, months and years, we are finding out who he is and what he is about. With the manifestation of every important event in the trajectory of the Yorùbá Nation, we are finding out what he is about.

    The Yorùbá Nation in every hour of its need had found Bola Ahmed Tinubu wanting. It has found him absent. The Yorùbá Nation is earnestly searching for him in its hour of acridity

    BAT has had several opportunities. He has had several chances of rebirth. He has missed them all and has continued to miss them.

    When the Yorùbá were murdered in Ile-Ife, Bola Tinubu was nowhere to be found to defend the Yorùbá people. He was nowhere to be found in the defence of the people he claims to lead. The rest of Yorùbá sons, who escaped being murdered by the prowling Fulani territorial adventurists were rounded up and taken to Abuja to be tried, Tinubu had no courage to stand up for them. He could not be found.

    When the Fulani went on rampage at Ketu in Lagos, burning and murdering the Yorùbá owners of the land, the self-acclaimed “Asíwájú” could not be found. He could not stand up for the Yorùbá victims of usurpers of the Oòduà land. He was silent deafeningly. He was not willing to offend his Fulani masters to whom he has sold the Yorùbá Race, the Yorùbá Nation. The Yorùbá people who have offered him support when he needed it.

    Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been found wanting when Yorùbá farms were being invaded, when our investments were being destroyed by Fulani herdsmen, when our sons and daughters were being murdered on their farms. Tinubu has repeatedly refused to stand up for Yorùbá sons and daughters, when they were being kidnapped, killed and extorted.

    Not a word on record has he said unequivocally, in support of the Yorùbá sons and daughters across the aisle. He was silent when Chief Olu Falae was kidnapped and his farm invaded. He was silent when Chief Falae’s guard was kidnapped and killed. When the daughter of Afenifere leader was murdered, Tinubu’s way of commiserating was asking, “Where are the cows?”

    Now, Àmòtékùn has become an issue, Bola Ahmed Tinubu Tinubu is nowhere to be found again. The self-acclaimed “Asíwájú” has become an absentee one. At every turn when he is expected to stand up for the Yorùbá people, the Yorùbá Nation, the Yorùbá sons and daughters, Tinubu has always been found wanting.

    Bola Ahmed Tinubu at every turn, at every opportunity, at every chance he gets or he has gotten, he has had no qualms, he has had no problems, throwing under the bus, the Yorùbá Nation to please his Fulani masters. To Tinubu, it does not matter how many Yorùbá sons and daughters are murdered or maimed. It doesn’t matter to him how much of the Oòduà land is appropriated by the Fulani aggressors and neo-colonialists.

    To Bola Ahmed Tinubu, anything, everyone and everything is expendable. It does not matter how much gnashing of teeth is going on the streets of the Yorùbá Nation. It does not matter to him how much tears is being shed by the Yorùbá sons and daughters. It does not matter to him, how much suffering, agony and misery is inflicted on every corner and cranny of Yorùbá Nation, on Oòduà land by his Fulani masters, as long as he is protected and his ambition is on course, he is perfectly alright.

    The question now remains, how many sons and daughters of Oòduà have to lose their lives for Tinubu’s ambition to be realised? How much more blood have to flow for his Fulani masters to be happy to be able to guarantee him the Presidency, if ever they would? How many more have to die needless deaths? How much more land do we have to give up? How many more have to be kidnapped and killed? How much more of have to be maimed and deprived? Obviously, “Tí ikú ilé ò bá pa ni, t’òde ò lè pa ni.”

    Bola Ahmed Tinubu has to understand that it was never enough to get himself the title of “Asíwájú.” (thank God, it was the “Asíwájú of Eko Island” and not the “Asíwájú of the Yorùbá Nation” as many of his paid sentries have always wanted to portray him). Was the purpose of his title to lead whoever follows him to the Golgotha to be slaughtered? Was that the purpose and or the objective?

    The creation, launching and the continued subsistence of Àmòtékùn Project is an act of Providence. It is an act of Providence incubated by Nature to identify the true enemies of the Yorùbá Nation. The role of Nature here is the affirmation of its very first Law – self-preservation. In this trajectory, the ever conscious TIME has vindicated the characterization of Tinubu’s politics as mercantilist and not beneficial to and or in the interest of the Yorùbá Nation.

    Thus if you did not hear anything from Bola Ahmed Tinubu on this matter of Àmòtékùn, you now know why. But never the less, we must still ask this question:- ÀMÒTÉKÙN: Where is Bola Ahmed Tinubu?

    “In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility – I welcome it.
    -John F. Kennedy, January 20, 1960

    *©️Remi Oyeyemi*

  • DSS frees five aid workers abducted by Boko Haram

    The Department of State Services (DSS) has secured the freedom of five aid workers abducted by Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State.

    Security sources confirmed yesterday that they were released following a negotiation with the sect, although it could not confirm if any ransom was paid to secure their release.

    The humanitarian workers comprising two females and three males were abducted on December 22 last year, three days to Christmas when the rebels ambushed their convoy en route Maiduguri from Monguno.

    They are, George Michael of International Organisation for Migration (IOM); Jennifer Samuel of Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA); Arthur Chima of Solidarity International, Asabe Musa of ALIMA and Adamu Ozeshi.

  • TRENDING: Wike insults Rivers traditional rulers on live TV

    Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has been a target of attacks by many people on social media over a trending video in which he showed contempt and utter disregard for traditional rulers.

    The video was shot during the governor’s quarterly meeting with the chiefs recently. And some of the commenters on social media generally upbraided the governor for being drunk with power.

    His rival for the River’s governorship seat in 2015, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, now Director-General of NIMASA has also posted his own criticism.

    In a statement, Peterside said Wike must be called to order.

    “Well-meaning Rivers people must call him to order. He is turning himself into a feudal lord and an emperor at the same time. History is replete with his likes who ended up badly after turning themselves to tiny gods,” he stated.

    Peterside appealed to the traditional rulers to overlook the “shame and disrespect” meted on them, pointing out that as fathers, they should regard the governor’s utterances as that of a “child who lacks home training.”

    “Wike should know that history is watching. Rivers people typically respect traditional rulers and traditional institutions. The governor must stop desecrating our traditional rulers and traditional institutions,” he summed up.

    However, in a swift reaction, the Rivers State Government lashed at Peterside in a press statement signed by Paulinus Nsirim, Commissioner for Information and Communication

    See video below as shared by a Twitter user:

  • PHOTOS: Buhari lays wreath for Armed Forces Remembrance Day

    PHOTOS: Buhari lays wreath for Armed Forces Remembrance Day

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja presided over the wreath laying at the National Memorial Arcade to mark the end of the 2020 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration (AFRDC).