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Anambra Guber: IPOB Suspends The Proposed One-Week Sit-At-Home Exercise

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has made a U-turn on their stance regarding the proposed one-week sit-at-home exercise which was scheduled to commence today, November 5 to November 10, 2021, as they suspended the exercise just 48-hours to the Anambra State gubernatorial elections.

The announcement comes as a huge relief for several stakeholders who believed that a one-week sit-at-home exercise would have been counter-productive to the people of the state (with the governorship elections in mind) and also the entire South-East at large.

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has since come out to commend the IPOB on the decision to cancel the one-week sit-at-home exercise. The group made their feelings known through the President-General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide (OYC), Mazi Okwu Nnabuike.

He said:

“We are delighted over the cheering news that the IPOB has cancelled the one-week sit-at-home, which we earlier said would be of great consequence on the entire Igboland. It is a thing of joy that the IPOB has finally looked at the larger picture by cancelling this action. Although it came late, it is still better than never.

“We commend the Uchenna Madu-led Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, for standing firm over Saturday’s Anambra Governorship election. At this point, we re-echo our appeal to our people to go out en-mass and cast their ballot for their preferred candidate in the Anambra guber election.”

IPOB in its own statement released through its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, revealed that the reason for the U-turn was the passionate appeal by several respected Igbo elders, esteemed traditional rulers and religious leaders.

The statement also called on indigenes of the state to go out and exercise their civic rights and vote for their preferred candidates without fear. It also encouraged them to ensure that their votes are counted.

Read the statement in full:

WE HAVE CANCELLED OUR ONE WEEK SIT-AT-HOME – IPOB

“Following the genuine intervention of our elders, esteemed traditional institutions/rulers and religious leaders, and after due consideration of the positive impacts of their engagement, and sequel to the fact that our elders have spoken in our terms, the leadership of IPOB ably lead by MAZI NNAMDI KANU hereby and immediately CALL OFF THE ONE-WEEK SIT-AT-HOME earlier declared to commence tomorrow, November 5 to November 10, 2021.

“We have equally considered several appeals by our mothers who earn their living based on their daily economic activities which will obviously be affected if Biafra land is locked down for one whole week. It’s never our intention to add to the pains of our people, hence our decision to suspend the sit-at-home.

“IPOB leadership is only interested in our referendum and peaceful agitation for self-determination, and cannot by under any guise be seen to be interfering with any electoral process.

“The people of Anambra State should go out en-masse and peacefully exercise their franchise come 6th November 2012 and accordingly, choose a leader of their choice and should not be intimidated by anybody, group of persons or security agents.

“Anambrarians should vote and standby to protect their votes. No rigging of any kind will be tolerated in the Anambra State governorship election. It must be transparent, free and fair to all.

“We wish to thank Biafrans, IPOB members worldwide, friends of Biafra and lovers of freedom for their continued support for our dogged struggle for independence.

“May we, therefore, warn detractors, traitors and enemies of Biafra not to cause confusion by imputing motives to our decision. IPOB doesn’t expect anybody to observe, monitor or enforce the suspended order otherwise such action will be considered a rebellion to the highest leadership of our global movement.

“On the other hand, our oppressors should not take our decision as an act of cowardice. IPOB still believes that our elders, religious leaders, political leaders and various stakeholders will live up to their promises in their engagements and efforts towards securing the unconditional release of our leader.

“We, therefore, urge all Biafrans and residents of Biafra to go about their lawful businesses without fear of any molestations. All agents of darkness recruited by our enemies to inflict pains on our people under the guise of enforcing the sit-at-home are hereby warned to steer clear or brace up for the consequences of their evil action.

“IPOB will not relent in our pursuit for Biafra freedom. Nigeria government must give us a date for the Biafra referendum to decide where we want to belong.”

News

FULL LIST: Covenant emerges Nigeria’s best university for 2024

Covenant University has again secured the top spot in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024.

The ranking, which evaluates universities across various performance metrics, placed the Ota-based institution ahead of other leading Nigerian universities, reaffirming its position as a higher-education leader.

The rankings, which surveyed 1,907 universities across 108 countries, assessed the institutions based on 18 performance indicators across five key areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry, and international outlook.

CU emerged as Nigeria’s best, outperforming the University of Ibadan, the Federal University of Technology Akure, and the University of Lagos, which ranked second, third, and fourth respectively

The 2024 list also reflected a shift in the global higher education landscape, with more than 134 million citations from 16.5 million research publications analyzed and survey responses from over 68,000 scholars collected globally.

Other Nigerian universities making the top ten include Bayero University, University of Ilorin, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and Afe Babalola University. The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta also earned a spot in the top tier, securing 10th place.

1. Covenant University

2. University of Ibadan

3. Federal University of Technology Akure

4. University of Lagos

5. Bayero University

6. University of Ilorin

7. University of Nigeria, Nsukka

8. Afe Babalola University

9. University of Benin

10. Federal University ofAgriculture, Abeokuta

11. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

12. Lagos State University

13. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

14. Obafemi Awolowo University

15. University of Port Harcourt

16. Abia State University

17. Akwa Ibom State University

18. Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike

19. Babcock University

20. Baze University

21. Bells University of Technology

22. Benson Idahosa University

23. Delta State University, Abraka

24. Edo State University, Uzairue

25. Edwin Clarke University

26. Elizade University

27. Evangel University, Akaeze

29. Federal University of Kashere

30. Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun

31. Federal University of Technology, Minna

32. Federal University of Technology, Owerri

33. Fountain University

34. Landmark University

35. Nasarawa State University, Keffi

36. Niger Delta University

37. Plateau State University, Bokkos

38. Thomas Adewumi University

39. Veritas University, Abuja

40. Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kan

News

Court bars VIO from confiscating vehicles, imposing fines on motorists

A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a ruling prohibiting the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, commonly known as the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), from stopping vehicles on the road, impounding or confiscating them, and imposing fines on motorists.

The judgment, delivered by Justice Evelyn Maha on October 2, stems from a fundamental rights enforcement suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023) filed by human rights activist and public interest attorney Abubakar Marshal.

In her ruling, Justice Maha affirmed Marshal’s assertion that there is no legal basis for the VIO and its officials to stop, impound, or confiscate vehicles or to levy fines against motorists.

The order also extends to the Director of Road Transport, the Area Commander in Jabi, and the Team Leader in Jabi, with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) listed as a respondent

Additionally, the court issued a restraining order against the respondents, preventing them and their agents from impounding or confiscating vehicles or imposing fines, labeling such actions as wrongful, oppressive, and unlawful.

Justice Maha further granted a perpetual injunction to protect the rights of Nigerians, ensuring their freedom of movement, presumption of innocence, and right to own property without lawful justification.

This landmark ruling is expected to have significant implications for traffic enforcement practices and motorists’ rights in Nigeria.

Celebs

Falana denies demanding ₦10m from Bobrisky for Presidential Pardon

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana has dismissed the allegation that Idris Okuneye aka Bobrisky while serving his six-month jail sentence from a purported private apartment reached out to him to seek a presidential pardon.

In a recent viral video, Martins Otse aka VeryDarkMan, claimed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) dropped the money laundering charges against the popular cross-dresser after receiving ₦15 million.

In a recorded conversation Otse played online, a voice believed to be Bobrisky’s was heard saying Falana and his son, Folarin Falana aka Falz, tried to get him a presidential pardon in exchange for ₦10,000,000.

While releasing the audio conversation aimed at exposing the alleged corruption involving Bobrisky and officials of the EFCC and the Nigeria Correctional Service, Otse said the Falanas would lose the respect he has for them if the cross-dresser’s claims about them were true.

In response to the allegation, the lawyer while speaking on Channels TV on Thursday, October 3, 2024, debunked the claim, saying he has never met Bobrisky.

“Bobrisky never spoke to me. I have never met him. I do not know him from Adam. He allegedly spoke to my son, Folarin (Falz),” he said.

Contrary to the presidential pardon claim, Falana said the cross-dresser approached Falz his son on May 4, requesting for ₦3 million to be placed in a special part of the prison.

“My son said this guy (Bobrisky) was appealing to people for assistance and called my son on May 4 or thereabout this year and said can you give me ₦3 million to be placed in a special part of the prison — we call it VIP section.

“And my son said, ‘are you calling me under the authorization of the superintendent of prisons?’ He said no. Then Falz said ‘don’t call me again. I’m unable to assist you to bribe the prison authorities. And be very careful, since you are already in jail for an offence. Please, if you are going to call me next time, you either do it through the superintendent, or you write a letter endorsed by the prison authorities.” the Lagos lawyer said.

Falana emphasized that his son has never negotiated fees on behalf of anybody.

Having threatened to institute legal action against Otse, the human rights lawyer described his action as infantile radicalism, saying he would make him a deterrent to other social media users who use their platforms to defame people.

Meanwhile, the EFCC’s head of the prosecution team, Bilikisu Bala, has denied the bribery allegation against the commission.

While appearing before the House of Reps committee investigating the matter, Bala said the anti-corruption agency legally dropped the money laundering charges against the controversial cross-dresser because the EFCC could not sustain the charges.