9JA VIBEZ HUB

Though I have been preoccupied in recent times, I could not begin the week without commending the various units of the Nigeria Police Force who took the fight against crime and terror to the criminals’ forested hideouts last week. I find this to be a welcome development, given the growing insecurity ravaging different parts of the country. It is always my belief that security agencies don’t have to sit and wait for the criminals to attack first. Instead, they are to go after them in their hideouts and deal with them before they could unleash havoc on vulnerable communities and road users.

Although the relationship between the Force and the citizens they are supposed to protect has always been complicated, the reaction of many Nigerians to the news of the audacious raid seemed skeptical if not dismissive. Some were even asking “where are they 250 bodies”? But I am certain these same individuals will have believed the news had it been it was the other way, when police officers are the victims. Isn’t it insulting to mock those who’ve risked their lives to ensure others live and travel safely”? But that shows you the lack of trust between a lot of Nigerians and this important institution. Nonetheless, I remember when Nigerians were angry at the criminal killing of some of the Force finest men, who were members of the  IGP’s Intelligence Response Team, by soldiers in Taraba while they were conveying notorious kidnap kingpin Hamisu Wadume. It shows the relationship could improve with assurances, cooperation and good gesture from both sides. As they say, actions speak louder than words. So, rather than engage in bribery, extortion, and harassment of innocent citizens as displayed by rogue police officers, the Nigeria Police Force needs to reinvent itself in order to deal with the challenges posed by rising criminality in the country today. Nevertheless, it is good to commend the Force whenever it does something good, just like the way some are quick to criticise and condemn police officials whenever they do anything illegal.

CJN Justice Tanko Muhammad and Abubakar Malami, AGF

 Lawyers have expressed divergent views on the concept of the immunity clause, which has been identified as a major hindrance to the speedy determination of corruption cases in Nigeria. The immunity clause is a legal provision for protecting some categories of public officers from any civil or criminal proceedings during their time in office. 

How this provision became statically ingrained in the Nigerian legal system is surprising considering the high rate of impunity and abuse of rule of law by some political office holders. But legal historians say the concept originated from the English common law system, which Nigeria adopted from her colonial masters. Section 308 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 made the elaborate provisions on immunity for public officers. It provides in sub-section (1) (a) “no civil or criminal proceedings shall be instituted or continued against a person to whom this section applies during his period of office;
“(b) a person to whom this section applies shall not be arrested or imprisoned during that period either in pursuance of the process of any court or otherwise; and 


“(c) no process of any court requiring or compelling the appearance of a person to whom this section applies, shall be applied for or issued.”

“The section provides in sub-section (2) that the provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to civil proceedings against a person to whom this section applies in his official capacity or to civil or criminal proceedings in which such a person is only a nominal party. “(3) This section applies to a person holding the office of President or Vice-President, Governor or Deputy Governor; and the reference in this section to “period of office” is a reference to the period during which the person holding such office is required to perform the functions of the office.” There have been several instances where the immunity clause prevented civil and criminal cases from proceedings against some political officeholders. The cases of some governors have been suspended following their election as governors. Among them are Ahmadu Umar Fintiri (Adamawa), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), who are facing criminal cases in court. However, the cases have been suspended owing to the governors now being covered by the immunity clause in Section 308 of the Nigerian Constitution. Fintiri, who was a former speaker of the state House of Assembly and acting governor, was facing a five-count charge bordering on bribery, and money laundering alongside Mayim Construction and Properties Ltd before Justice A.R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division. He was alleged to have laundered state funds valued at N1.9bn through his Naira and Dollar bank accounts, and making payments for the purchase of landed properties in Abuja. He was alleged to have used N220m to acquire property during his time as acting governor for three months in 2014. The EFCC revisited the case of the former FCT Minister Bala Mohammed in April 2019 shortly before his inauguration as governor. The case was reassigned from Justice Abubakar Talba of the FCT High Court to Justice Yusuf Halilu of the same court. The EFCC alleged that Mohammed made a false statement that he acquired a house at No 2599 and 2600 Cadastral Zone AO4 Asokoro District Abuja and other houses in Abuja through mortgage facility from Aso Savings and Loan Bank Plc when he received them as gratification for performing his official duties. Before the 2019 allegations, the ex-minister was initially charged in December 2016 and May 10, 2017, on allegations of abuse of office, false declaration of assets and fraud to the tune of N864m. He was also accused of receiving N550m in bribes from Aso Savings and Loans Plc concerning properties in Abuja during his tenure in 2014. Also, petitions were sent against former governors who were still serving and the decision was that they can only be investigated not prosecuted pending the conclusion of their tenure. For instance, the EFCC was investigating former governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose over allegations of collecting the sum of N1.3bn from the office of the National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki. He was only formally charged upon his handover in October 2018. Reacting, Prof Ernest Ojukwu (SAN) said the immunity clause is a temporary provision, which lapses at the end of the tenure of political office holders and they can face criminal and civil litigation for the infractions committed during their tenure. “The reason for the immunity provision is not to protect the individual but to protect the state governance from distractions such leaders may bring to governance if while in office they are subjected to criminal and civil proceedings,” he said. On his part, E.M.D. Umukoro Esq posits that the clause has its plus because it prevents unnecessary distractions for some political officeholders. “Unfortunately, the Nigerian politicians in their criminal ingenuity appear to see it as a protective cocoon and an avenue to loot the treasury dry using all manner of criminal creativity to cover their tracks,” he said. “As to the way it can be removed; it is only by amending the constitution. The process is for the National Assembly and the State Houses of Assembly to by 2/3 majority remove same and then is assented to.” Oluwatosin Ojaomo Esq said he has been advocating for the removal of the immunity clause from the constitution because it was inherited from the British who believe that the king can do no wrong. “My point remains that removal of the clause is not just enough because Nigeria has no constitution but military decree cloned in form of a constitution. The Nigerian people have no constitution made by them,” he said. “The immunity clause is a constitutional assault on the Nigerian people because immunity is a licence to impunity,” he added.  

Iyanya For Your Love (FULL ALBUM) 
Download Mp3.

Iyanya For Your Love FULL ALBUM Mp3. Nigerian popular singer, Iyanya bounced back to the music scene with his long anticipated EP tagged, “For Your Love”
The extended play is made up of four Awesome tracks that will definitely blow your mind this season.
Stream and Download Audio Mp3 to For Your Love EP by Iyanya and share your thoughts via the comment section below

Tracklists
1. Iyanya - Over You  | Download MP3

2. Iyanya – Room 305 | Download MP3

3. Iyanya – Believe | Download MP3

4. Iyanya – Days Gone | Download MP3

Following the viral claim that Kogi state Governor Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello issued a strong warning to the leader of the Islamic sects Abubakar Shakau, the Governor through the Chief press secretary Mr Onogwu galaticus has come out publicly to debunk the rumour.
The Kogi state Governor didn’t not issue any statement to president Buhari and Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shakau, it is purely rumour of imagination, he said.
At the moment, we are tirelessly working to bring the dividends of Democracy to the good people of kogi state, by providing jobs, infrastructures and prevent our borders from external frowns of fortune. he stressed.
He however concluded that, with the current level of preparedness and determination on the path of the federal government, insecurities will be history in less than no time.

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday issued a bench warrant for the arrest of former Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Abdullahi Dikko.
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu issued the warrant over Mr Dikko’s sustained failure to attend court to answer to a charge of fraud brought against him and two others by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Dikko’s lawyer, Solomon Akuma, on the last adjourned date, promised to ensure his client’s presence in court.
Mr Akuma, however, presented a medical report on Monday, claiming Dikko was critically ill and hospitalised in London.
Justice Ojukwu noted that Dikko’s address, as shown on the medical report – 6, Amhed Musa Crescent Jabi, Abuja – did not support his lawyer’s claim that he was admitted in a London hospital.
The judge said that if Dikko was actually hospitalised in London, the prosecution should suspend effecting the arrest warrant, but if found to be otherwise, the prosecution should arrest Dikko and produce him in court on March 16, 2020, the next adjourned date for arraignment.
ICPC alleges in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/21/2019
that Dikko and others induced the Managing Director of Cambial Limited, Yemi Obadeyi, to pay N1.1 billion (N1,100, 952,380.96) into the account of Capital Law Office as a refundable ‘completion security deposit’ for the purchase of 120 units of duplexes as residential accommodation for officers of the Nigeria Customs Service.
Others named in the charge as defendants are a former Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Finance, Administration and Technical Services, Garba Makarfi; and Umar Hussaini, a lawyer and owner of Capital
Law firm.
ICPC alleges that Hussaini distributed the money into various other bank accounts and was rewarded with the sum of $3 million.

Gunrunners ferry arms on donkeys, camels via illegal routes   Nigeria is facing a gun pandemic as millions of small arms and light weapons (SALW) have found their way into the country and are being used by different criminal groups. The landmass of the country, hundreds of unmanned borders coupled with shortage of manpower by…

There was confusion on Sunday night when suspected gunmen attacked travellers along Airport Link Road near Rigasa railway station in Kaduna State. The incident according to eye witnessed created panic among passengers who alighted from the train around 8:30 pm.

An eye witness at the motor park who simply identified himself as Isah told Daily Trust that they heard gun shots while passengers were on their way to their destinations. “Yes, it’s true that gunmen attacked travellers along Airport Link road again after they alighted from the train. There was a convoy that was almost caught in the fire which we suspected it to be a minister ‘s convoy but the convoy made an emergency u-turn and go through Rigasa town,” he said.

It was not clear which of the minister’s convoy was almost attacked because the incident happened at night. 
But Isa said soldiers who were stationed around the railway station went after the attackers.

Contacted the State Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Muhammad Jalige didn’t answer his call and didn’t reply text sent to him on the issue. ‎It could be recalled that the Sunday attacked on travellers along that route made it the the third time gunmen lay siege on innocent travellers in less than a month.

The School Boiz Entertainment superstar singer, Skul Boi Singsong drop his official artwork EP Album titled: Black Market.
Dropping on 25th of February, he decided to give his fans this great songs as his happy birthday which he is adding a year to his age.

What Falana Actually Said

On Caution Against Public Protests

The Boko Haram terrorist group rejected the ransom offered by the Federal Government to secure the release of Leah Sharibu, sources at the Presidency told Daily Trust yesterday.

Sharibu, a schoolgirl, is the only Dapchi schoolgirl still held hostage out of the 110 kidnapped by the Boko Haram terrorist group from the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, in 2018. The sources that the money was ready to be delivered when the terrorists, who had made the request for a specific amount totalling millions of Naira in hard currency, changed their minds and rejected any ransom.

They said the Federal Government reached an agreement after a long communication procedure as the channels of communication between top security agents of the government, third parties and the terrorists at times took more than a month to complete one line of messages back and forth.
One of the sources said: “while the Federal Government remains strongly committed to securing the release of Leah and all other identified and unidentified abductees, by any means necessary, the terrorists chose much earlier after Leah’s abduction to use her to fan religious embers and cause devastating division in the country. And that was why the terrorists rejected the ransom government security agencies prepared to pay for Leah’s release.”
The source said top presidential officials still encouraged federal government officials to remain actively engaged with the channels of communication with the negotiators until a positive resolution is secured “because the president has set a firm target and resolve to ensure the freedom of Leah and others by any means necessary.” Meanwhile, a security expert, Salihu Bakhari, yesterday in a chat with Daily Trust, said the Federal Government must renegotiate with the terrorists because Leah Sharibu’s abductors “know that the attention of the world is on the girl. “The girl is an expensive captive and her case is complicated considering the fact that she was not released alongside other girls abducted from Dapchi. “The world will accuse the Federal Government of not doing the right thing if the girl remains in captivity. “The terrorists know her worth and will use it to their maximum advantage. They know government is involved in the negotiation; she is therefore not an ordinary captive. “However, one thing is certain: they will not kill her, but they will also not release her easily.
“They have provided a proof of life and most importantly, she is in the hands of ISWAP, not Shekau and therefore, elaborate negotiation will work out. They are not using her as highly priced captive only, but also a human shield. I suggest that government should not back out from the process. They should negotiate more not necessarily by giving more money, but by using other available options.” Leah’s father, Sharibu Nathan, yesterday told Daily Trust that he was not aware that the insurgents rejected any ransom to release his daughter. He also noted that he had not heard anything about the girl.

HIS ORIGIN AND BACKGROUND
Boko Haram leader, Abu Mohammed Abubakar bin
Mohammad al-Sheikawi, also known by the alias Darul Akeem wa Zamunda Tawheed, or Darul Tawheed (“the abode of monotheism”), in Arabic: ﺩﺍﺭ ﺍﻟﺘﻮﺣﻴﺪ was born in 1975 in Shekau town, in Tarmuwa local government in Yobe State, Nigeria.
Shekau is an ethnic Kanuri, and also speaks Hausa, Fulani, Arabic, and English. In 1990 he moved to the Mafoni area in Maiduguri and studied under a traditional cleric before entering the Borno College of Legal and Islamic Studies (now called Mohammed Goni College of Legal and Islamic Studies). He later left the college for ideological reasons and without earning a degree.

HIS MOTHER AND EARLY BEGINNING
Falmatu / Falmata Shekau is the mother of the religious extremist and current leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau.

She revealed that he was an almajiri boy in search of Islamic education when he joined the Islamic sect that later became a terrorist organisation and was appointed the leader of the group in July 2009.
According to Falmata, Shekau left his hometown as a young boy, begging on the streets to continue his Islamic education in Maiduguri where he eventually met the Mohammed Yusuf, the founder of Boko Haram.
Falmata said she has not seen her son for over 16 years now and disclosed that she prays to God to touch his heart to put an end to his atrocities.

HIS FATHER
His mother also revealed how his late father, simply know as Imam Shekau expressed disappointment at how their son turned out, saying it’s not the values they instilled in him. Hismother also revealed how his father once said; “He just took his own character and went away. This is not the character I gave him. I don’t know what this type of behavior is. It’s only God who knows,”

DEATH STATISTICS AND DAMAGES
Shekau has been the face of Boko Haram’s reign of terror which has led to the death of over 355, 000 and displacement of about 23 million people. He has attacked schools, markets, churces, mosques, civilian settlements, military bases and, at some point, took complete control of some local government areas in the country. His group most notably abducted 276 female students from Government Secondary School in the town of Chibok in Borno State, an act that garnered the group international attention and condemnation.