News

Sit@home: Stop threatening our traditional ruler, Aguleri Community warns Simon Ekpa

Published

9 months ago

August 16, 2023

The Aguleri Community Assembly in Anambra East Local Government Area, has told Simon Ekpa, the Finland-based, self-acclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to stop threatening HRH, Dr Michael Idigo, the traditional ruler of the town.

The Community sent this message at a press conference jointly held by the Aguleri Town Union leadership and Aguleri Royal cabinet at the Palace of Eze Idigo on Wednesday.

The community said Eze Idigo did not at any time visit Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the detained Leader of IPOB, or spoke to him on the protracted sit-at-home issue in the Southeast and so there was no need for any form of threat by Ekpa.

Chief Ifeanyi iloakasia, President-General Aguleri Community Assembly who spoke on behalf of the Community, said they were taken aback by the threat from Ekpa on their traditional ruler.

Iloakasia said it was Eze Chukwuemeka Eri, the traditional ruler of Enugwu Aguleri, one of the villages of the larger Aguleri Community, that made the visit and public announcement.

He said “Chukwuemeka Eri had the right in his capacity as ‘Eze Akajiovo’ and as a concerned stakeholder in the Southeast to visit Nnamdi Kanu and make public statements thereon without being subjected to the unwarranted backlash that we have witnessed.

“Aguleri Community Assembly has noted with displeasure and bewilderment, the various comments made by Simon Ekpa and some other members of the IPOB against Igwe Aguleri over his purported meeting with Nnamdi Kanu at Abuja.

“That Igwe Idigo, Ezeudo Aguleri, did not at any time visit Mazi Nnamdi Kanu at Abuja whether alone or in company of anybody.

“That Igwe Idigo, Ezeudo Aguleri, is probably being mistaken for Eze Chukwuemeka Eri, Eze Akajiovo, who visited Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and made public statements thereafter,” he said.

When contacted, Eze Chukwuemeka Eri said he visited Kanu and had received a similar threat but was not fazed by it.

He said he had fruitful discussion with detained Kanu who reiterated his message for an end to the sit-at-home order on Mondays in the Southeast.

Headline

Prince Harry visits sick Nigerian soldiers in Kaduna

Published

6 days ago

May 11, 2024

Alero Danjuma

Prince Harry and his team visited the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna to interact with wounded soldiers who are receiving treatment.

The Duke of Sussex is in Nigeria with his wife to champion the Invictus Games, which Harry founded to aid the rehabilitation of wounded and sick servicemembers and veterans.

Nigeria joined the Invictus Community of Nations in 2022 becoming the first African country to join.

Prince Harry’s visit to Kaduna came 68 years after his late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II visited the state during the time of the late Premier of Northern Region Sir Ahmadu Bello.

News

Senate approves death penalty for drug traffickers

Published

1 week ago

May 9, 2024

Alero Danjuma

Senate on Thursday, May 9, approved the death penalty for those convicted on the charge of drug trafficking in the country.

The punishment prescribed in the extant NDLEA Act is a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The resolution of the Senate followed its consideration of a report of the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters and Drugs and Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

The Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters presented the report during plenary, Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno North).

The bill, which passed its third reading, aims to update the list of dangerous drugs, strengthen the operations of the NDLEA, review penalties, and empower the establishment of laboratories.

Section 11 of the current act prescribes that “any person who, without lawful authority; imports, manufactures, produces, processes, plants or grows the drugs popularly known as cocaine, LSD, heroin or any other similar drugs shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to be sentenced to imprisonment for life” was amended to reflect a stiffer penalty of death.

Although the report did not recommend a death penalty for the offence, during consideration, Senator Ali Ndume moved that the life sentence should be upgraded to the death penalty.

During a clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, put the amendment on the death penalty to a voice vote and ruled that the “ayes” had it.

But Senator Adams Oshiomhole objected to the ruling, saying that the “nays” had it.

He argued that matters of life and death should not be treated hurriedly, but Barau said it was too late, as he failed to call for division immediately after his ruling.

The bill was subsequently read for the third time and passed by the Senate.