Ogun okays Amotekun bill

 

     Ogun State Government has approved a bill for the establishment of State Security Network Agency otherwise known as ‘Amotekun Corp Bill of 2020.’ 

Nigeria And Ethiopia Sign Visa Waiver Agreement

 

   Nigeria and Ethiopia have signed a visa waiver agreement for diplomatic, official passport holders, and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the field of Defence.

   President Muhammadu Buhari and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed witnessed the signing of the agreement on Tuesday in Addis Ababa by their Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and Gedu Andargachew, respectively, during the State Visit of the Nigerian leader. This was disclosed in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Garba Shehu.

   The statement added that President Buhari while meeting with the Ethiopian Prime Minister also discussed how to explore new areas of collaboration to further enhance and expand Nigeria-Ethiopia bilateral cooperation for the mutual benefits of the two countries.  “The Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation is important to both countries in the coordination of efforts in the fight against terrorism and securing peace and stability in their respective sub-regions, as well as on the continent of Africa.

Full address of Bishop Kukah at funeral of slain seminarian

   Homily of His Lordship Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah at the Funeral Mass of Seminarian Michael Nnadi at Good Shepherd Seminary Kaduna (11th February 2020).

1. We have gathered around the remains of Michael in supplication but also as solemn witnesses to the penetrating darkness that hovers over our country. I have the rare honour of being considered the principal mourner in this ugly tragedy. It is not an honour that I am worthy of receiving. The honour belongs to God Almighty who created Michael and marked out this moment and pathway for him. The greater honour goes to his immediate family whose devotion as Catholics laid the foundation for his faith and vocation. To his grandmother, Mrs. Eunice Nwokocha, a most simple, beautiful and devout Catholic woman whose devotion and dedication saw Michael and his siblings, Chukwuebuka, Francis, Augustine and Raphael brought up in all the fine principles and disciplines of the Catholic faith.

2. The way that Mama and her grandchildren handled this family tragedy has shown clearly the depth of their faith. I got to know Mama only after the sudden death of her daughter, Caroline, who had been a devoted Lector in our Cathedral. On the day we learnt that Michael and the other Seminarians were kidnapped, breaking the news to Mama and the children was not an easy task. She took the news with equanimity and we focused on praying for their release. She and the grandchildren lived through the torments of the brutal, harsh and senseless haranguing of the kidnappers who are totally empty of any show of human emotions.

Court orders Malami to pay Sowore N200,000 for delaying trial

 

  Ijeoma Ojukwu, judge of a federal high court in Abuja has ordered Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), to pay a cost of N200,000 to Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare, his co-defendant. The judge said the cost is the consequence of the prosecution’s attempt to delay the trial.

   At the court session on Wednesday, Aliyu Halilu, prosecution lawyer, said the charges against the defendants have been amended but that they are yet to be served on them. He asked the court to adjourn the case till Thursday for trial to commence. Olumide Fusika, Sowore’s counsel, opposed Halilu’s request for an adjournment and asked the court to strike out the case for “lack of diligent prosecution”. He said even if the adjournment is granted, the trial cannot commence on Thursday because the prosecution is yet to comply with the order of the court which asks it to furnish the defence with statements of the witnesses they intend to call.

Soldiers kick as 1,400 Boko Haram suspects are released

   Some soldiers at the war front in the north-east have expressed disappointment over the release of 1,400 ”repentant” Boko Haram suspects.  Babakura Jato, commissioner of information in Borno state, told The Punch that 1,400 had been released in three tranches since Operation Safe Corridor programme was launched.

   Operation Safe Corridor is an initiative for the deradicalisation and rehabilitation of all ex-Boko Haram members. Jato said the majority of them are cleared suspects. “These were people who were suspected of being members of Boko Haram and it was discovered that they were not,” he said.

   “The rest are children of Boko Haram or actual Boko Haram members. I cannot give you a breakdown of the figure now for security reasons.” He also said he was aware of the allegation that some of those released had gone back to terrorism, but he added that some of these claims were mere speculation.

Two suspected cases of coronavirus in Nigeria tests negative

  Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, on Wednesday in Kano confirmed that two suspected cases of Coronavirus have so far tested negative in the country.

Two letter bombs explode in Dutch post offices

 

   Two explosions have hit postal offices in the Netherlands after suspected letter bombs were delivered. Blasts went off in two separate mail depots, one in Amsterdam city centre and another in the city of Kerkrade, 120 miles to the south.