The Kebbi High Court 7, sitting in Birnin Kebbi and presided over by Justice Shamsudeen Jafar, has sentenced three people to life imprisonment for raping an 18-year-old married deaf woman. The convicts are Amiru Sani, Aliyu Umar, and Bashar Dan-Inno of Wararin Zaromawa village.

The Prosecution Counsel, Faridah Muhammad, in her submission, said the convicts, who were facing two counts of criminal conspiracy and rape, perpetrated the acts at Wararin Zaromawa village in Gwandu Local Government Area of the state.

“The defendants broke into the victim’s house while she was asleep and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her. They choked her with a thick piece of cloth and tied her hands with a rope before having carnal knowledge of her one by one,” she said.

The counsel prayed the court to convict the defendants as charged because the law imposed a mandatory sentence. She said criminal conspiracy and rape were offenses punishable under sections 259 and 60 of the Kebbi State Penal Code Law, 2021.

The prosecution had earlier called three witnesses and tendered six exhibits, including both English and Hausa statements of the three prosecution witnesses, in support of her case.

The Defense Counsel, Ahmed Abubakar-Filgila, called the three convicts to give evidence and testify in their defense without tendering any documents or exhibits. The defense counsel prayed the court to temper justice with mercy.

In his judgment, Justice Jafar said the prosecution had established all the elements of carnal knowledge of the victim (name withheld). He said this was done through the corroborated statement of the victim and the first defendant, and found all their evidence uncontroverted by the defense.

“I am of the firm view that all the defendants conspired in perpetrating the act. Meanwhile, the convicts conspired and raped the victim, who is an 18-year-old deaf woman, at her husband’s residence. All ingredients needed to establish criminal conspiracy to commit rape were established beyond reasonable doubt by the prosecution. The court has no option but to act upon the evidence before it,” he said.

The judge stated that the court holds the view that it has found the first, second, and third defendants guilty as charged.

“Having found you guilty of the charge, you Amiru Sani, Aliyu Umar, and Bashar Dan-Inno, are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment for finding all of you guilty under sections 259 and 60 of Kebbi State Penal Code Law, 2021,” he declared.

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has dismissed a report alleging it has withdrawn from the proposed national protests.

This is even as labour said that it stands in solidarity with the Nigerian people over the current economic hardship and worsening hunger in the country.

In a release on Wednesday by its president, Joe Ajero, NLC said it cannot withdraw from a protest that it did not organise.

Ajero maintained that it is only the organisers of the speculated national protest that can decide whether to pull out or continue with the protest.

“A news report of the withdrawal of the Nigeria Labour Congress from the widely discussed national protest has been brought to our attention. The Nigeria Labour Congress debunks such story as patently false.

“The truth is that the Nigeria Labour Congress cannot withdraw from a protest that it did not organise. It is only the organisers of the speculated national protest that can decide to pull out or continue with the protest. The Nigeria Labour Congress has internal trade union mechanisms especially leadership decision-making processes that its industrial actions such as protests pass through before such activities are undertaken.

“Yet, the fact that the Nigeria Labour Congress is not the body organising the protest does not mean that organised labour is oblivious of the dire living conditions Nigerians have been subjected to by the harsh economic policies of government. The Nigeria Labour Congress stands in solidarity with the Nigerian people in this very trying and excruciating times.

“Pursuant to proactive engagement with the issues canvassed by the protest organisers, we have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to invite the leaders of the protest movement to dialogue on their demands. We have advised that it would be counter- productive for government to meet the widespread anger in the land with brute force.

“Once again, we implore the Federal Government and the sub-national governments to listen to the cries of the Nigerian people and do the needful. After all, it is said that the voice of the people is the voice of God,” the statement read.

Cristiano Ronaldo could join Lionel Messi in the Major League Soccer, MLS, if Peterborough owner Darragh MacAnthony follows through with his plans to buy an American team.

Ronaldo’s current contract at Al-Nassr runs out in the summer of 2025.

And there are speculations over whether the 39-year-old plans to retire or if there is another move left for him.

MacAnthony has now revealed his plans to buy a side in the the United Soccer League, which is below the MLS, with players like Inter Miami’s Messi making the sport in North America more attractive to investors.

“I believe valuations are taking off in the next ten years with the Apple deal with the Messi effect and Cristiano Ronaldo will probably go out there when he’s finished in Saudi Arabia,” MacAnthony told talkSPORT.

“Football will be on the map in America in a big way and I believe if I get a USL club right now for £8-10million, even though it’s not in MLS, that could be worth double or triple in the next five years.”

Embattled American music mogul, Sean Combs, aka Diddy, has been implicated in the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur.

The Bad Boys Records boss is accused of paying $1 million for Shakur’s assassination by suspect Duane “Keefe D” Davis, who was arrested for the murder last year, in new court documents, according to the U.S. Sun.

In the papers filed on Thursday (July 18), Diddy is named 77 times by his various pseudonyms: Puffy, Puff Daddy, Puff and his government name, Sean Combs.

“Defendant [Keefe] has asserted publicly that he only told on himself and wasn’t trying to provide evidence against anyone else in his conversations with police. However, this statement belies this claim, as he suggested that Sean Combs paid Eric Von Martin a million dollars for the killings,” the documents read in part.

In one of the transcripts, Davis reportedly testified to Diddy’s involvement in 2Pac’s murder.

Police asked Davis, “Puffy Combs….Does he play a role in this thing?…” and Davis replied, “Yeah, I think he did.” Davis said Diddy told him and a group of about 45 people how he “would give anything” for Knight’s “head” because he was “scared” of him and also had a problem with Shakur after he had released a diss track about him.

Prosecutors filed the documents in a bid to oppose Davis’ latest bail request. His $112,500 bail bond was rejected last month over concerns about the source of the money.

However, it’s still unknown if Diddy will be subpoenaed or indicted as part of the case.

Popular singer and activist, Charles Chukwuemeka Oputa, better known as Charly Boy, has urged Nigerian youths not to back down on the planned nationwide protests against bad governance.

Charly Boy said those in power should embrace scrutiny and protest, not suppress it, if they are confident in their integrity.

He made this known in a post on his X handle on Wednesday, while dismissing a report asking Lagos residents to ignore the protest as the Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s government is already doing enough for them.

However, Charly Boy countered the advice, saying they resort to silencing dissenting voices and avoiding accountability because they have secrets to hide.

He said: “A Season of Lies, Wayo, Deceit, Propaganda and the more you Look………..

“If those in power are confident in their integrity, they should embrace scrutiny and protest, not suppress it. But when they resort to silencing dissenting voices and avoiding accountability, it’s clear they have secrets to hide. The ‘skeletons/cemeteries in their cupboard’ are a testament to their corruption and abuse of power.

“In a true democracy, governments must be transparent and answerable to the people. They should welcome criticism and engage in open dialogue, even when it’s uncomfortable. By doing so, they can earn trust and demonstrate their commitment to serving the public interest. But when they try to hide behind secrecy and intimidation, it’s a clear sign of guilt and a betrayal of the people’s trust.

“Nigerian youths don’t ever back down. If dem no fear us, dey can never respect us.

Nonsense. Dia fathers.”

…It’s Abuse Of Power – Labour Party

…Egbetokun Cannot Benefit Retroactively – HURIWA

 

The decision to amend the Nigeria Police Act 2020, which the National Assembly effectively did on Tuesday is tearing the force apart as senior officers have moved against it.

Already, there are grumbles and expressions of dissent with some going as far as warning that loyalty and hard work in the face of public hostility cannot be guaranteed.

Recall the National Assembly expeditiously passed an amendment of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020 (“Principal Ac”) on Tuesday granting the Inspector General of Police a four-year tenure regardless of his age or years of service.

The executive bill as passed into law enables the person appointed as IGP to remain in office until the end of term stipulated in the letter of appointment, in pursuance of Section 7 (6) of the Police Act of 2020.

Section 7 (6) of the Police Act of 2020 states: “The person appointed to the office of the Inspector-General of Police shall hold office for four years.”

The executive bill, however, sought that Section 18 of the Principal Act is amended by adding a new subsection (8A) – “(8A) Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-section (8) of this section, any person appointed to the office of Inspector-General of Police shall remain in office until the end of the term stipulated in the letter of appointment in line with the provisions of Section 7(6) of this Act,” it said.

But Section 18(8) of the Police Act 2020, which makes direct reference to the civil service rule on retirement, states: “Every police officer shall, on recruitment or appointment, serve in the Nigeria Police Force for a period of 35 years or until he attains the age of 60 years, whichever is earlier.”

Egbetokun, who was the principal officer of President Bola Tinubu when he was governor of Lagos State, was appointed as IGP in June 2023, two years before he clocks 60 on September 4, 2024.

Now, having established a firm working relationship with the president, and would be the direct beneficiary of the law, senior officers who feel they have been denied a possible IG position are crying wolf warning loyalty and hard work would be tested.

The officers who are next in line to take over as IG if Egbetokun retires in September disapprove of the development.

“Even though not everyone can be an IG, it’s wrong. It will crash the morale,” a senior officer also qualified for the position told THE WHISTLER on condition of anonymity.

He said it’s alarming that “nepotism is creeping into a once admired force. It’s getting worse. How would the rank and file think when at the top nepotism and favouritism is being given utmost consideration?

“I think the only fair thing is if the occupant of that office is not the first beneficiary otherwise it will spell doom for the future of the force,” he warned.

Another senior officer said, “What can we say but to watch and see. It’s a terrible day because the manner and speed the whole thing was done leaves much to be desired.”

Also, a retired senior police officer who said he doesn’t want to invite the wrath of the powers that be opined that “in our days, even though we were underfunded, we tried not to give prominence to favouritism and nepotism. What everyone would be looking at is who is the president and who’s the IG and who is the first beneficiary of this law.

“I don’t think it’s a good thing, it doesn’t look well. Tongues would wag, people would be demoralised and that’s the last thing you need in the already troubled force,” he said.

Also speaking, the Chief Spokesman of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Mr Yunusa Tanko said “it’s a blatant abuse of power. If you want to even do something that is meaningful for the interest of the people, the office holder should not be a beneficiary of that particular law.

“Absolutely. If you’re doing it genuinely for the interest of the country, the person who is holding the office should be seen to be following another person, not for him to benefit from it, that is a selfish interest. That means there’s a hidden agenda.

“Nigeria is not meant for one person,” Tanko said, noting that “even the president, whether he likes it or not, one day, will leave that office.

“But the fact is that when you make the institution as solid and very, very impeccable for corrupt people, it makes the country stronger.

“So therefore, this particular bill, even if it’s meant for the interest of the people, then the office holder should not be a beneficiary.”

Similarly, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, coordinator of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria or HURIWA said in an interview with THE WHISTLER that the only sane thing the president should do is to deny the current holder of the office the benefit of the law.

Onwubiko said, “If the current IG who was appointed over almost a year ago benefits from the bill that was passed one year after coming into office, it means one day this National Assembly will perform a magic of passing a bill abrogating the death penalty and then say that all those who have been executed under the previous law that authorised death penalty should be woken up from the dead.

“It means that if they perform this magic, they can equally say one day that they have abrogated the death penalty and all those who have been executed since the 1970s, should all be woken up from the dead.

“Egbetokun cannot benefit retroactively, it would be wrong. This National Assembly continues to perform magic in the manner the lawmakers are conducting their affairs.

“The passage of this bill shows they are puppets and can do anything,” Onwubiko said.

Amid calls for protest, the Presidency has said progress comes from dialogue and not through chaos and violent dissent.

Senior Special Assistant on Digital and New Media to President Bola Tinubu, O’tega Ogra, said the federal government has put out many developmental programmes aimed at ameliorating economic hardship in the country.

On his X handle on Wednesday, Ogra argued that these interventions by the federal government were enough to stop the protest planned and enable discussion.

“Minimum Wage Bill…Passed by the National Assembly less than a week after Mr President’s intervention meeting with organized Labour.

“When you add this development to the Student Loan Act (which was amended and passed just as quickly as the Minimum wage bill), the setting up of credicorp, a reduction in the number of taxes people pay, removal of levies/duties on essential food commodities, the holistic Presidential CNG Initiative (which seeks to reduce our dependence on ‘Premium’ Motor Spirit in favour of the cheaper, safer CNG which we have in abundance in Nigeria), then you will see a comprehensive, structured, and sustainable approach to providing a better life for Nigerians whilst other temporary palliative measures are being put in place.

“So that you know, Mr. President Bola Tinubu is eager to assent to the bill so workers can start enjoying this new wage structure as soon as possible,” he said.

The Digital and New Media aide to President Tinubu said the policies of the government on minimum wage, reduction in taxes and levies and CNG vehicles would increase workers’ disposable income and support their well-being.

Ogra added, “These measures will contribute to increased disposable income for workers by reducing the financial burden of tertiary education school fees as well as providing free CNG kits for commercial vehicles. Moreover, the reduction in the number of taxes for individuals/businesses and improved access to credit via Credicorp will further support workers’ well-being.

“Koko of The Matter: True progress arises from dialogue at the table, not from the chaos of violent dissent.”

Former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Kingsley Moghalu, has said Nigeria’s economy only works for the rich and not for the poor citizens.

Professor Moghalu said the issue between President of Dangote Group – Aliko Dangote and Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), as it concerns Dangote Refinery, showed government’s inability to create an economy that works for the citizens.

Moghalu said unholy ties and vested interests between government and businesses were responsible for economic failures in the country.

In a statement on Wednesday, on his X handle, Moghalu said, “The NNPCL and AlikoDangote saga is a sad tale of how successive governments of Nigeria have failed to create a real economy that generates wealth for its citizens. Our economy works only for a very few who get rich while Nigerians continually get poorer.

“The economic failure of Nigeria’s leaders because of loyalties to vested interests and unholy ties between “business” and government is deeply unfortunate.

“Nigeria government is, and has been unable, to stimulate through effect economic policy a set of strategic oligopolies across sectors under which smaller businesses and supply chains thrive, making up a successful national economy as in South Korea.

“Neither has the government, on the other hand, been able to create a truly competitive, level playing field for business in Nigeria so that wealth creation can be more democratic. So it’s just failure, corruption and incompetence all around.

“Instead, we are regaled with sensational accusations on all sides when sweetheart deals go sour for reasons that actually lie outside the immediate subject of dispute.”

The President of Institute for Governance and Economic Transformation, Africa said foreign investors would interpret Nigeria’s business environment as risky because of the issues surrounding Dangote Refinery.

He added that unless patriotic leaders take over Nigeria’s leadership, the country may not make economic progress in the future.

“Meanwhile, what will investors and potential investors think of all this? That Nigeria is a truly risky business environment, that’s all. Until our more selfless and competent leaders arrive on the scene, I am afraid our country’s economy has little real prospects in the immediate future,” Moghalu added.

One Dasu Kassa,  a Police Inspector, has committed suicide in Adamawa State.

Kassa was found dead at his residence in Anguwan Yungur, Girei Local Government Area, on Monday.

It is gathered that Kassa had reportedly come back from a hospital in Yola earlier that evening.

Family sources attributed his decision to take his own life to financial difficulties and medical expenses.

The Police are investigating the matter with a view to finding out the circumstances that led to Kassa’s demise, according to reports.

His death underscored the crippling hardship and suffering the majority of Nigerians are grappling with as it becomes extremely hard to afford basic needs.

To express their dissatisfaction with the state of the nation and prevailing economic realities, a nation protest has been fixed for August 1.

Activist lawyer, Femi Falana, says no amount of threat from the government can stop the nationwide protest slated for August 1.

Recall that some organisations and even the presidency have decried the planned nationwide protests aimed at drawing the attention of the Federal Government to the perennial hardship in the country.

Falana advised the FG to identify the organisers of the protest and engage them in productive dialogue.

He gave the advice during an interview on Channels TV on Tuesday.

He noted that threatening people was counterproductive and that such move would make the protest even more popular.

He said: “They have a way of contacting themselves and I think the government can draw some lessons from that 2020 (#EndSars) experience. Identify those who are planning the protest and then engage with them productively.

“Threat will not work. In fact, the action of the government has a way of popularising such protests.

“Nobody listens to such warnings. This time around, the government should identify the leaders of the movement and have some dialogue with them. There are demands that are being raised, the government should address those demands.”