Egypt Sentences Five to Death for Police Killings

An Egyptian court on Monday sentenced to death five men convicted of killing 13 policemen in a town near Cairo during a deadly security crackdown on ousted president Mohammed Morsi’s supporters in 2013.


The officers were killed in an attack on a police station in Kerdasa, on the outskirts of Cairo, on August 14 2013 – the same day that police killed hundreds of demonstrators in clashes as they dismantled two massive pro-Morsi protest camps in the capital.


The five men were part of a group of 183 defendants sentenced to death in February for killing police but were on the run at the time and tried in absentia.


The fugitives were later arrested and received the same punishment Monday after a retrial.


Rights group say that since the army deposed Morsi on July 3 2013, at least 1 400 people have been killed in a police crackdown on protests, mostly Islamists supporting the ousted leader.


Hundreds of his supporters have been sentenced to death in swift mass trials which the United Nations says were “unprecedented in recent history”.


Critics of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the former army chief who ousted Morsi, say authorities are using the judiciary to repress any form of dissent, including from secular activists.

But Sisi’s regime is supported by a large section of Egyptians who are tired of political turmoil since the ouster of long-time autocrat Hosni Mubarak in early 2011.

President Goodluck Jonathan Is Culpable of the Death of Damilola Fajana- Father

The father of the slain Oluwadamilola Fajana, the pregnant lawyer who was killed in a clash between the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and some oil vandals in Arepo, Ogun state, Mr. Ojo Babafemi, has blamed President Goodluck Jonathan for the death of his daughter, saying the president empowered the OPC to kill her.

Reacting in a press statement signed by him on Monday, Babafemi described the president’s decision to empower APC as unconstitutional.

“The outgoing president, Goodluck Jonathan, has, by the virtue of his empowering miscreants who go by the name Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), sent me and my family into a deep mourning since last Wednesday,” he said.

“The president, by the unconstitutional empowerment of the ethnic militia which has through their clashes with pipeline vandals, killed so many innocent Nigerians, particularly in Arepo area of Ogun State.

“My daughter, Oluwadimilola Adebimpe Fajana-Ojo, was killed in crossfire while driving back home after a hard day’s job.” On April 29, Damilola, a 26-year-old of graduate of Ekiti state University, Ado Ekiti, was hit by a stray bullet as she innocently on her way home from work.

“President Jonathan is linked to her the death by the reason of his patronage of people who have no basic training in arms and weaponry in the business of pipeline protection, which is a very dangerous security enterprise supposed to fall under the purview of the trained Nigerian security agencies.

“President Goodluck Jonathan is culpable of the death of Damilola Fajana and that of others by the virtue of his morbid desperation for political power, which led him to awarding this senseless contract of his to OPC in return for political support in Lagos state.

“He is equally guilty of my daughter’s death by his withdrawing the trained security personnel, the police, the army and the civil defence corps from doing their constitutional duties of protecting Nigerian people and their properties and replacing them with untrained miscreants by the name of OPC.”

Prior to the 2015 elections, Jonathan was said to have given out oil deals to the national leaders of the OPC, Gani Adams and Frederick Fasehun alongside some other ex-militants from the Niger Delta, an act largely criticised across the country.

“President Jonathan’s hands are soiled by the blood of my daughter by his promoting ethnic militias groups, which rubbished our established security system and allow armed thugs and touts to go after pipeline vandals in a high density civilian area in an unorganized manner.

He has, by this, shown that he has lost confidence in the Nigerian security system,” the aggrieved father continued.

“Jonathan’s actions and inactions have directly led to the death of Mrs. Oluwadimilola Fajana and many other innocent Nigerians who were lawful and obedient people going about their lawful businesses.

“My take on this is that President Jonathan has openly displayed an undying hunger for political powers but pretending to be meek and humble, but thank God that Nigerians have not failed in seeing this by voting him out in last month’s presidential election.”

He went pleaded with President-elect Muhammadu Buhari to undo the contract Jonathan made with the ethnic militia group.

“It is my hope that the incoming General Buhari administration will revoke this obnoxious and misplaced pipeline contract, and restore peace and normalcy back to Arepo and its environment.

“This can only be done by returning the Nigerian security agencies back to the area. This will stop the current bloodletting and unnecessary blood shedding of innocent Nigerians, just because a desperate man like Dr Jonathan wants to win elections.

“By this, the death of my pregnant daughter Mrs. Damilola Fajana Née Ojo, my unborn grandchild, and that of others will not go unsung.”

He called on the Ogun state government to probe his daughter’s death, and prayed that the president gets paid in his own coin. “It is my hope also that the Ogun state government, will institute a probe panel into this notorious and inhuman killing and maiming of innocent Nigerians resident in Ogun state all in the name of protecting petrol pipe lines.

“As for Dr Jonathan, I will not curse but will not also pray but all I will say is that God will judge him accordingly if his decision of arming ethnic militias has done more harm to the Nigerian people than good.

And to his co-travellers in the business of looting and killing Nigerians in the name of protecting pipelines, may peace and harmony be strangers in their homes just like they did to my home over the avoidable killing of my meek and promising daughter whose light they extinguished in her prime.

“May the good Lord grant Barrister Damilola Adebimpe Fajana Née Ojo and other innocent Nigerians who were victims of President Jonathan and his OPC killer contractors eternal rest and our families the fortitude to bear the loss.”

Ramires Hospitalized with Kidney Problem

Chelsea midfielder Ramires has been hospitalised after suffering problems with his kidneys, according to reports.

The Brazilian was originally included in Jose Mourinho‘s starting XI for the Crystal Palace game on Sunday at Stamford Bridge, but he was withdrawn from the squad before kick-off with Juan Cuadrado taking his place.

According to reports, the midfielder spoke to Chelsea‘s medical team before the game and admitted that he felt sick and didn’t feel well enough to compete.

After speaking to the medical staff, Ramires was sent straight to hospital and according to reports, it’s a problems with his kidneys.

After the game, Mourinho said: “He went to the hospital. He was feeling so bad we had to take him out of the dressing room. He was feeling really bad.”

However, Chelsea eventually went on to win the game 1-0 thanks to an Eden Hazard goal and the three points were enough to secure The Blues’ fifth league title.

FG Hands Over NITEL To Core Investor

After fourteen years and five failed attempts to sell the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited, the Federal Government on Tuesday finally handed over the beleaguered first national telecommunications company to new core investor, NATCOM Consortium. At a ceremony attended by notable persons in the privatisation circle, the Bureau of Public Enterprises handed over instruments of ownership and licences of operation to the Chairman of the NATCOM Consortium, Mr. Tunde Ayeni, who said over $1 billion was required to revive the company.

Speaking at the ceremony, Vice President Namadi Sambo, who chairs the National Council on Privatisation said the formal handover was a clear indication that where there is focus and determination, there is a way. Sambo who was represented by a member of the technical committee of NCP, Mr. Emmanuel Amadi, listed the several failures in the past and added that the success at this time was a reflection of the determination of the NCP and the BPE to increase competition in the telecommunications industry. He said, “It was the realisation that Nigeria will not attain the desired economic growth without adequate reforms and liberalisation of the telecommunications sector that informed commencement of the telecoms sector reforms in 2001.

“These led to the attempted privatisation of NITEL and M-Tel through strategic/core investor sale to Investors International London Limited. Unfortunately, that flagship transaction failed as the preferred bidder could not meet the deadline for the payment of the purchase consideration.”

He continued, “Failure of first strategic investor sale led to the execution of a management contract with Pentascope in 2005. The management contract did not improve the operational and financial position of NITEL and M-Tel and was terminated.

“Orascom Telecoms emerged the highest bidder with $256m during the second privatisation attempt. Its bid was however rejected by the Federal Government as it was below the reserve price.” NCP in 2006 adopted the ‘willing buyer-willing seller’ strategy.

The strategy which threw up Transnational Corporation as the core investor was adopted to shorten the transaction period since the financial position of NITEL was deteriorating. Following the inability of Transcorp to turn around the fortunes of NITEL, the NCP on June 1, 2009 revoked the sale of the telecommunications company and its mobile subsidiary.

In another strategic/core investor sale in 2011, both New Generation Communications Limited and Omen International Limited that emerged preferred and reserve bidders could not pay the purchase price and the transaction had to be cancelled again.

Consequently, NCP approved the privatisation of NITEL and M-Tel through guided liquidation. It also on November 11, 2013 approved the appointment of Chief Olutola Senbore as the liquidator of NITEL/M-Tel.

At the financial bid opening on December 3, 2014, NATCOM emerged the preferred bidder with an offer of $252.25m bid price. NATTAG which had been prequalified by BPE to participate in the process was disqualified as a result of the failure of the company to include a $10m bid bond as had been prescribed in Request for Proposal document. Speaking at the handover ceremony, Ayeni said immense gaps and opportunities still exist in the Nigerian telecommunications market despite the competition in the industry. According to him, with a good team of investors and management, NATCOM was ready to make the difference required to succeed. He indicated that the company would roll out services soon after rebranding.

Barring AIT from Covering Buhari Dangerous for Democracy, Says PDP

Olisa Metuh

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described as unacceptable the Monday’s directive by the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to bar a television house, the AIT, from covering his activities. The PDP pointedly declared that the suppression of the media, under any guise, portends danger for the nation’s democracy.

The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh on Tuesday, said that after carefully studying the defence posited by General Buhari’s campaign spokesperson as well as the smokescreen statement by the APC to cover and mitigate his anti-media posture, the PDP and indeed all lovers of democracy are persuaded that the action was not only unjustifiable, but also unconstitutional and completely against the spirit of liberty and the rule of law in a democracy.

According to Metuh, “the PDP, as a party that has nurtured the nation’s democracy in the past 16 years, cannot afford to fold its hands and watch the constitutional rights, media freedom and personal liberty of Nigerians, the basic tenets of democracy being demolished.

“We ask: is this a beginning of the feared erosion of the freedom and personal liberty the media and Nigerian citizens have been enjoying in the last 16 years under the PDP led-administration?

“Has our dear nation finally fallen into the clutches of totalitarianism and impunity where government actions will based on egocentric decisions and impulses of individuals rather than the rule of law?

“While we assure the President-elect of our resolve to run a mature and responsible opposition based on issues, we are disturbed by this emerging development and reassure the Nigerian people that we will continue to stand with them on issues of democracy and freedom at all times.

“Perhaps, we need to remind General Buhari that part of the challenge of his new position, even as President-elect, is that he has lost his private life which is now subject to public scrutiny and media interrogation, as required of the custodian of the mandate of the Nigerian people.

“The PDP is not oblivious of the background of the President-elect especially as it relates to the freedom of the media, but we had thought that having declared to be a converted democrat, he would make himself amenable to the basic principles of democracy by following the due process of the law on any circumstance.

“General Buhari may also wish to be reminded that the Nigerian constitution upon which provisions he emerged President-elect, also gave the media powers to cover activities of public office holders while at the same time providing legal avenues for redress in the event of any violation.

 “If the right of the President-elect was in anyway violated by the AIT or any media house for that matter, he is expected to act within the law and seek redress in the courts otherwise one would have no option than to conclude that he is out for personal vendetta.

“The APC and the President-elect may have one or two lessons to pick from President Goodluck Jonathan, who though the most maligned and abused President in the history of our nation, even by the APC, allowed his actions to be sufficiently guided by humility, tolerance and the rule of law”, the PDP said. 

The party called on Nigerians not to despair but remain steadfast and unite in resisting any anti-democratic tendencies intended to instill fear in them and set the stage for a dictatorial order and the erosion of their personal freedom and liberty as citizens, which they have been enjoying in the last 16 years under the PDP.

Abacha’S $370m Loot; Switzerland to Assist Nigeria Recoup Money

The Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Hans Rodulf Hodel, on Monday revealed that the new loot of $370 million traced to the former Military Head of State, late Sani Abacha has been discovered in Luxembourg, and promised that his country is ready to help Nigeria reclaim the money.

Hodel revealed that his country has tightened its monetary policies to avert deposits of ill-gotten money from foreign countries in its banks. The ambassador made this known to Journalists on Monday during a congratulatory visit to Nigeria’s president-elect, General Mohammadu Buhari in Abuja. “This is a long standing issue. Our laws are there to help all countries which are fighting corruption. We will help this government.

If you remember, many years ago we gave back the Abacha money to Nigeria. The situation in Switzerland has changed. The policy is no longer the same. In the past, people came to deposit money in Switzerland without too much controversy.”

“Now, it is not possible to deposit money in Switzerland because of legal origin. Before the bank has to prove that the money is illegal. But now, before you deposit money in Swiss bank, you have to prove that you have earned that money legally.

“If you are a wealthy businessman, you have money in billions legally, but if, for example as a Journalist, you come to Switzerland with two million dollars and say you earned it because you did a very good job, nobody will believe you.

“There was another request by Nigeria to the Swiss authority to look for Abacha money and some amount, 370 million dollars, has been found in an account, but in Luxembourg. That is now between the Abacha family and the government.

They have tried to find a deal so that this money can also come back.” He said When asked when the money would be released, the ambassador said it would only be when the Nigerian government makes official request for assistance. “The Swiss government is not involved. The Nigerian government has asked for legal assistance.

When the government makes a request to my government, we work together on it. But this case is different. That is the Abacha family directly with the Nigerian government finding a deal. “So, the Swiss government is not involved and the money is in Luxembourg. They have asked for legal assistance and we have provided the with this information.

If is not a classical case and we would have preferred a classical case where we can give the money back and make sure that if is used in the interest of the people. Now it is up to the Nigerian government”, he said. Also present was the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Carlos Trejo Sosa who said that Nigeria and Cuba share understanding in the area of health.

“First of all, Cuba’s collaboration with African countries is not new and not difficult. If you remember, a large number of Cuba people as doctors came to West Africa to fight Ebola, the first contingent of doctors.

We have doctors in almost all African countries, about six thousands Cuba doctors working in Africa. “We also have about 50,000 doctors working in Latin America and in some other places. So, it means that if requested by Nigerian government, we can come and share our experiences about the comprehensive system of health care. Cuba is not known to kill people but to prevent people from been sick”, he said.

Explosion Rocks Kogi Radio Station, Four Killed

A blast from suspected improvised explosives, Monday, killed many at Ta’o FM Radio station, located in Kuroko town of Adavi local government area of Kogi state, witnesses have told PREMIUM TIMES.

The radio station, which broadcasts mostly in Ebira language, is known for its radical stance on political analysis of the people of Ebira land.
The blast, according to witnesses, occurred at about 7pm after sporadic gunshots that lasted for about 10 minutes were heard by residents.

“The attack on Ta’o FM started at about 7PM when we began to hear series of gun shots and everyone began to scamper to safety before the blast went off. After the explosion everything became quiet. It was later that we heard that four persons within the FM station got killed and several others were injured. I saw many injured people being helped to the hospital by volunteers, most of them were soaked with blood”, said Medinatu Ajayi, a resident of Kuroko.

The incident is the first of such bombing in that part of Kogi state.

Helen Paul: I’m disappointed by Buhari’s statement on Chibok girls rescue

HELEN PAUL

In a country like Nigeria where people believe so much in spiritual powers, I expect someone to have used same power to rescue the girls, if they truly exist.

Hmmm… it’s one year and some days now since the Chibok girls have been missing. Yet, the days are still counting because we have no clue about their whereabouts. This is a very sad development indeed. No doubt, it was a disappointment that the outgoing government failed to locate and rescue the girls from the hands of their Boko Haram abductors.

As a mother, who knows what the pains of child labour and child upbringing are all about, I heaved a sigh of relief when Muhammadu Buhari emerged winner of the presidential election. It was not because I like him more than Jonathan, but because I listened to one of his campaigns, where he promised to bring back the girls if elected into office. Perhaps, Nigerians elected him on that premise.

I feel that, at least, it will be a great achievement for whoever locates and brings back the girls to their respective families. In fact, whoever achieves that will be celebrated as a hero all over the world. But then, I have seen another reason to believe that all politicians are the same.

Their modus operandi may only be different. A few days ago, exactly when it clocked one year that the girls had been missing, Buhari broke my heart, just like that of other Nigerians when he said his government could not promise to bring back the girls! I felt really devastated because that comment was a sharp contrast to the promises he made to all Nigerians and the world at large during his campaigns.

Honestly, I try not to be disappointed because you can always expect anything from Nigerians, politicians in particular. They can promise heaven on earth during campaigns, but the moment they get to power, they promptly renege on their promises. Such is life in this part of the world where we find ourselves.

I tried to put myself in the shoes of the parents, relatives and neighbours of the missing girls, who, perhaps, solicited votes for the retired General after hearing his campaign promise that he would bring back the girls. How will they feel now hearing him say something to the contrary?

There is an adage in Yoruba that says ‘omo eni ku san ju omo eni sonu lo,’ meaning that it is better for someone’s child to die than to be missing. I can imagine the different thoughts and imaginations that would have saddled the minds of those girls’ parents. If the girls are dead (which I don’t pray for anyway), the parents will mourn for sometime and recover, but that they are missing is another experience entirely.

More worrisome is the fact that the parents have to nurture the wound till this moment, and not even
with any hope of sort in sight. Wahala dey o! Come to think of it, where are those prophets, Imams and native doctors who claim to have all the powers in the world? Where are those native doctors we watch on Africa Magic who can disappear and appear to make things happen? Or they only exist on Africa Magic? Where are the prophets and Imams who always claim to us that they communicate directly with God?

Are they all sleeping or they have just been deceiving people all along? In a country like Nigeria where people believe so much in spiritual powers, I expect someone to have used same power to rescue the girls, if they truly exist. I have been thinking aloud on this issue for a long time.

Can’t the association of witches and wizards also do something about it with their powers? After all, Oyinbo men have witches and wizards to, but they use their own powers positively. Some of the results of it are the aeroplanes, computers and other things we call technology. But black men use their own witch and wizard powers to destroy fellow humans. They can be here in Nigeria and use spiritual powers to ‘control’ someone in faraway Australia, but they cannot ‘control’ ordinary Boko Haram here to release our precious girls. This is just my imagination.

Those spiritual powers may not be true anyway; perhaps we have such a mentality about them because of the movies we watch. But in every nonsense, there can be some iota of sense. I’m just thinking aloud with my ‘jargons,’ but I’m sure there are lessons we can learn from it. See you next week.

Man hangs himself after being duped of millions by ex-lover

Samsideen Akinwunmi, a carpenter based in Abeokuta has reportedly killed himself after getting jilted by his lover.

He was found dead after hanging himself on a ceiling fan in his room on Saturday, 23 August, in Aboaba Street, Itori-Odo, Abeokuta.

A witness said the middle-aged Akinwunmi around 2:45pm on the day of the incident, when he sent his children on an errand, after which he killed himself.
He said, “He indicated that his estranged lover had duped him of millions of Naira and that he had to kill himself.”

Chief Omolaso Ojedele, a community leader and Alapinni of Egbaland, reportedly described the suicide as a ‘tragedy’

Police have reportedly taken the corpse away, however, Muyiwa Adejobi, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, could not be reached for reaction.

Two children found dead in deep freezer in Delta state

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Oseni recently discovered the corpses of two of their children, David Oseni, 6, and Shedrack, 4, inside their parents’ deep-freezer, used for their ‘iced block’ business.

This occurred at Owa Alero, Ika North-east local government area of Delta State,
According to reports, the children were found frozen, having been there for some time. All efforts to revive them proved abortive, as they were confirmed dead from hypothermia.

Neighbours revealed that the parents had locked the children indoors and went to conduct their daily businesses after they came back from their holiday classes, only to discover the tragedy upon their return.

The father, Oseni,  said he had taken the generator for repairs and, upon returning, powered it on to confirm its state, before loading it for the next day’s business.

“After 25 minutes, I lifted the top to check if the freezer was working optimally, only to behold the lifeless bodies of David and Shedrack in the freezer. I raised the alarm, calling the public to the scene.

The children were immediately rushed to a private hospital where they were both confirmed dead by the doctor on duty. The police at the Divisional Office, Owa Oyibu, were contacted and investigations are on to unravel the mystery behind the tragedy,” Oseni said.

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