NEWS in Nigeria This Afternoon, Saturday, November 7th, 2020

NEWS in Nigeria This Afternoon, Saturday, November 7th, 2020

THIS IS TODAY'S BREAKING NEWS THIS AFTERNOON. THIS NEWS IS VERY HOT. IG HAS ASKED HIS MEN TO ME STRICT ON PROTESTERS. WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON IT?

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1. IGP Orders Policemen To Use Force On Protesters.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has ordered all Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police across Nigeria to use force on peaceful protesters.

In a statement by spokesperson for the police, Frank Mba, on Saturday, Adamu warned that the Nigeria Police Force would not allow any form of protests in the country.

2. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Reveals Major Step WTO Has Taken Over Her Appointment.

Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has given an update on her possible emergence as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Naija News recalls that reports emerged on Wednesday, 28th October, suggesting that Okonjo-Iweala had emerged as the new Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), defeating fellow finalist, South Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee, by a wide margin.

Okonjo-Iweala, a former Nigerian Minister of Finance, polled 104 votes from 164 member countries to defeat Myung-hee of South Korea in the final stage of the race for the international job.

However, the United States of America (USA) rejected Okonjo-Iweala’s emergence hours later, arguing that the WTO must be handled by someone who is experienced in trading, hence their preference for South Korea’s Myung-hee.

Okonjo-Iweala, a former Vice President of the World Bank is believed to be in pole position to clinch the WTO Director-General job but still faces competition from South Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee, her fellow finalist for the keenly contested international job.

The former Nigerian Finance Minister has now taken to the micro-blogging site, Twitter, to reveal that the WTO has done a formal recording of her “leading position” as “most likely to attract consensus for WTO DG”.

Okonjo-Iweala added that “every step is important” and that she looks “forward to further progress at the appropriate time.”

She tweeted: “Thank you @WTO for today’s step in the formal recording of my leading position as Most Likely to Attract Consensus for WTO DG. Every step is important. ‘Look forward to further progress at the appropriate time.”

3. Igbo presidency: Group petitions IGP over SEFORP2023, alleges fraud.

An Abuja-based lawyer, Nkem Okoro has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu, seeking the investigation of the coordinator of a group championing the Igbo presidency project, Rev. Okechukwu Obioha.

DAILY POST gathered that the petition against Okechukwu is at the instance of Obiezu Nwachukwu, also an indigene of the South-east of Nigeria, and other members of a group, Youths For Better Nigeria, a non-governmental organization focused on transparency, accountability and unity of Nigeria.

They told the IGP that Okechukwu was allegedly using the Igbo presidency project to extort money from unsuspecting members of the society using a cooperative society, South-East For President 2023, SEFORP2023.

The group argued that “SEFORP2023, is a registered acronym under the Nigerian Cooperative Societies Act. It is further our client’s instructions, that by the said Act, cooperative societies are only limited to the socioeconomic interest of its members as provided in the Act, and the registered bye law of every cooperative society. Hence, cooperative societies are forbidden from meddling or dabbling into politics, infraction of which is a criminal offence.”

They claimed that “he converted the cooperative society to a political group, through which he has consistently been extorting monies from unsuspecting Southeast politicians on the guise of organizing conferences and seminars for the emergence of a southeast president, in 2023.

“It is further our client’s instructions that the said Rev Okechukwu Christopher Obioha has also been using the said group to illegally recruit youths preparatory to the 2023 presidential elections.

“Our client believes that recruiting youths preparatory to the 2023 presidential election, will likely cause a breach of public peace and violence.

“It is further our client’s instructions, that upon the registration of the SEFORP2023, in 2019, by the said Okechukwu Christopher Obioha, that he opened several bank accounts using the registered name through which he has been laundering huge sums of monies extorted from the unsuspecting politicians.

“It is further our client’s instructions, that the said Okechukwu Christopher Obioha, who is also the president of SERFOP2023, has printed flyers by which he has consistently been misleading and extorting monies from politicians of the southeast extraction in the guise of organizing conferences.”

“The said Rev Okechukwu Christopher Obioha has deceived people into believing that the cooperative society of which he is the president, is a political group formed for the realization of Igbo presidency in 2023, whereas the group is registered as a cooperative society, for the socioeconomic benefits of only its registered members alone." the group further alleged.

Meanwhile, Okechukwu is yet to respond to their claims.

4. 2 dead, 29 vehicles burnt in Kara bridge explosion – FRSC.

The Federal Road Safety Corps, (FRSC) has confirmed that no fewer than two persons died with 29 vehicles burnt at an early morning accident on Kara bridge on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, FRSC Corps Marshal, disclosed this in a statement issued by the Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO) Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM), Mr Bisi Kazeem, on Saturday in Abuja.

Oyeyemi described as unfortunate, but avoidable, the fatal crash that occurred at Kara bridge on the outward Lagos lane of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, stating that the crash involved a single tanker fully laden with PMS.

He stated that frantic efforts were being made to curtail tanker explosions, pointing out that the crash investigation by FRSC personnel deployed for the rescue operation, revealed that the driver lost control of the vehicle as a result of a tyre pull-out which caused the tanker to skid on the expressway in a wild inferno.

“From the crash investigation report submitted, a total of 2 male adults were killed and burnt beyond recognition. Destruction of properties caused by the fire also left 29 vehicles, parked by the roadside, burnt down completely, ” he said.

Oyeyemi lamented the actions of hoodlums who prevented the combined rescue teams of the Fire Service and the FRSC from approaching the scene of the crash.

“When our personnel got to the scene, they met teams of the Lagos State Fire Service who advised our men against approaching the scene of the crash.

“The firefighters said they were equally deployed to the scene for the same reason, but on arrival they were chased away by some hoodlums, carrying dangerous weapons. Both teams had to run to the Isheri Division of the Nigeria Police for cover, ” he said.

The Corps Marshal said that the Corps was seriously engaging critical stakeholders to find a lasting solution to tanker explosions on the roads, including enforcing the use of safety valves to prevent spillage after falls by tankers.

He called on governments at all levels to expedite action towards working out modalities that would support and hasten existing efforts on fleet renewal as most of the articulated vehicles on our roads were aged.

Oyeyemi urged the public not to panic as the crashed vehicles had been successfully removed from the road and all obstructions cleared with the road now opened to use.

“We urge road users already on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway or intending users who have not explored alternative roads should please exercise caution and drive safe.

“Avoid speeding, road rage and driving against the flow of traffic as FRSC wishes you a safe journey to our various destinations, ” he said.

NAN

5. Banditry: Katsina to document Children of parents killed by bandits.

The Katsina State Government has announced plans to conduct a census of children whose parents were killed by the armed bandits across the state.

The State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari who made the above disclosure when he received the leadership of Vigilante Group of Nigeria, VGN, led by its Commandant General. Dr. Usman Mohammed Jahun on courtesy visit, said a committee has already been set up to carry out the assignment.

He said; “the result of the exercise would enable the state government to design suitable assistance to these affected children.

‘’living such children unattended could lead to another thing, peace can can only be restored in the state if same approach is adopted in Zamfara where mainly the leadership of bandits resides.”

While appreciating the leadership of the vigilante group for its resolve to join hands with government in the fight against bandits, he urged them, particularly those from the border areas of the state to be more vigilant & report to the nearest authority, any untoward activities and importation of prohibited goods into the country.

Masari further observed that the influx of arms, ammunitions and drugs into the country were major contributing factors to the deadly operations of the bandits.

He reaffirmed the desire of the state government to assist any group willing to partner in securing the state.

Earlier, the Commandant General assured the governor about their preparedness to assist in securing the state from banditry activities.

He said the group would deploy members from across the country to team up with the over twenty six thousand members in the state to clear the state from bandits within three months.

He pleaded with the state government to support the group with vehicle and office accommodation and also promulgate a law that would provide level ground for their activities.