News

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, departs Abuja today and will be representing Nigeria at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in London. 

The spokesperson to the Vice President, Laolu Akande, stated in a statement he released on Saturday, September 17, 2022. 

According to the spokesperson, the Vice President will be among the guests and dignitaries to be received by King Charles III at a reception in Buckingham Palace on Sunday and the state funeral on Monday.

He also stated that on the sideline of the funeral is a scheduled bilateral meeting with UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.

Part of the statement reads: “Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, will be representing Nigeria at a number of events tomorrow and on Monday, during the State funeral for the late Queen Elizabeth ll of the United Kingdom.

Prof. Osinbajo departs Abuja today and will join members of the Royal Family, world leaders – including members of the Commonwealth, Heads of State, Governors-General, Prime Ministers, and foreign royal families – at the ceremonies, including the funeral service scheduled to hold at Westminster Abbey on Monday.”

By Uzair Adam Imam

Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State has advised Federal Government to create an efficient system and structures which will remove administrative bottlenecks in the justice sector service delivery process.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Hassan Musa Fagge, said the Governor stated this on Friday while declaring open the maiden retreat for top management of the Federal Ministry of Justice held in Kano.

The Governor was represented by his deputy and APC Gubernatorial Candidate, Dr Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, in the event themed, “Enhancing system and structures in the Federal Ministry of Justice for effective justice sector service delivery”.

“The retreat, therefore, comes at appropriate time for the top management of the ministry to explore right mechanisms which will guide them in discharging the primary function of the ministry that is the administration of justice in the country,” the statement quoted Ganduje.

He added that “The retreat will achieve its objective of articulating activities and programmes which will change the present state of affairs by enhancing the efficiency and fairness of justice delivery, improved integrity, accountability, transparency across the sector, strengthening coordination and cooperation among the various stakeholders.”

On his part, the organiser of the event, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami SAN, said the retreat would afford them the opportunity for review and self-assessment of their achievements.

He added that the retreat would also “identify the challenges and areas requiring revitalisation and then come up with innovative ideas to enhance their capacities to be more efficient and effective in achieving their institutional mandate.

“I am assured that we have here with us in this retreat legal experts and management professionals who will share their wealth of knowledge and experience to keep us abreast with contemporary issues that could support us in actualising this mandate,” Malami said.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Zamfara State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted to the Federal High Court decision that nullified the state gubernatorial primary election, which produced Alh. Dauda Lawal as its flag bearer in the forthcoming general election.

The Daily Reality reported Friday that the court, preceded by Justice Aminu, has invalidated the PDP’s primary election and ordered that a fresh primary election must be conducted to ensure just and fairness.

Alh. Ibrahim Shehu Gusau, a former federal lawmaker, who contested against Dare in the primary election, took the case to the court seeking justice, adding that there had been many irregularities in the election.

However, reacting in a statement by the state it secretary, Faruk Ahmad, the party said we “wish to acknowledge the Federal High Court Gusau Judgement which ruled that, the Primary election conducted by our noble party is null and ordered for fresh primaries.

“We in the PDP are known to be law-abiding and grassroots politicians who respect and believe in the supremacy of law and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that of our party as well as the guidelines enshrined to guide us in the party affairs.

“As defendant in suit failed by some of our aggrieved members concerning the Governorship primary election which produced Dr Dauda Lawal as the flag bearer of the PDP in Zamfara State, we received the court’s decision in good faith, and a team of our lawyers are studying the judgment with a view to coming up with the next line of action within the ambit of the law.

“The PDP in Zamfara state did well in conducting the primary election in a well manner for fairness and justice, but the Federal High Court, Gusau, after intense debates, ruled against our party and other defendants in the suit.

“Meanwhile, we remain committed and determined to reclaim Zamfara State and bring it back to life and make it work again for the betterment of our people who are now living under abject tension, restlessness, fairness, hunger and other atrocities. We shall (Insha Allah) cross these hurdles and ensure the solid unity of our members.

“Our decision as regards the judgment will be made available after our lawyers conclude the study of the judgment and present to us their recommendations which the PDP leadership will decide on.

“We are therefore calling on our members to be calm and remind resolute in ensuring the success of the PDP in Zamfara State and county in General. We employ you to continue giving support and cooperation to party leaders at all levels,” the statement added.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Real Madrid have condemned the “racist and xenophobic” attack on their Brazilian player Vinicius Jr. 

Real Madrid said, in a statement released via its website on Friday, that the club has instructed its legal staff to pursue legal action against anyone using racist remarks toward its players before this weekend’s LaLiga clash against Atletico Madrid.

“Real Madrid CF rejects all kinds of racist and xenophobic expressions and behaviours in the field of football, sport, and life in general, such as the regrettable and unfortunate comments made in recent hours against our player Vinicius Junior.

“Real Madrid wants to show all its love and support for Vinicius Junior, a player who understands football as an attitude towards life-based on joy, respect and sportsmanship.

“Football, which is the most global sport that exists, must be an example of values and coexistence.

“The club has instructed its legal services to take legal action against anyone who uses racist expressions towards our players,” Real Madrid said in the statement

Remember that for his dancing celebration, Vinicius was the target of a racial comment made by Pedro Bravo.

The Brazilian international is well-known for dancing at the corner flag in front of fans, whether they are in the home or away end of the stadium, to celebrate the majority of his goals.

Pedro Bravo, the head of Spanish football agents, did make a statement on Vinicius’ celebration while appearing on El Chiringuito.

Bravo said, “You have to respect your opponents. When you score a goal, if you want to dance Samba, you should go to sambodromo in Brazil. You have to respect your mates and stop playing the monkey.”

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

There was a clash between the men of the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, and the supporters of former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, on Saturday. 

According to reports, the police dispersed the supporters of the former governor who gathered at the Pastoral Centre in Abakaliki on Saturday morning for a solidarity march for the Labour Party presidential candidate.

Some of the supporters who spoke to newsmen disclosed that they were harassed and some of their members have been illegally detained by the police. 

However, all efforts to reach the State Police Commissioner, Aliyu Garba, for comments have been futile.

By Uzair Adam Imam

An aggrieved lecturer at the University of Maiduguri has put his personal library for sale as the dispute between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) lingers.

The lecturer, Othman Abubakar, disclosed this in a short note, which The Daily Reality verified, titled, “Goodbye To Education In Nigeria, No Hope”.

The Daily Reality recalls that ASUU has been on strike since February 14, 2022, resulting in the shutdown of public universities nationwide for over seven months.

The union is protesting against alleged infrastructure decay at various institutions and neglect of its members’ welfare.

Abubakar said, “With the destruction of university education in Nigeria today, and the starving of university lecturers by the insensitive APC government, I no longer need these books. 

“Those that still believe that education in Nigeria is important, please come to my office at the address below and buy these books at your own price l am available in the office from 9 am to 5 pm daily, including weekends.

“Access Address: Department of English and literary studies, University of Maiduguri. Sign. Dr Abubakar Othman,” he stated.

Currently, the case between ASUU and FG is in court as the FG dragged the union before the court to put an end to its lingering strike that led to the shutdown of all public universities nationwide.

By Uzair Adam Imam

A Federal High Court in Zamfara State has invalidated the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) primary election that produced Alh. Dauda Lawal as the state gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 general election.

Alh. Ibrahim Shehu Gusau, former federal lawmaker, who contested against Dare in the primary election, took the case to the court seeking justice, adding that there had been many irregularities in the election.

However, the court, preceded by Justice Aminu, invalidated the election and ordered that fresh primary election must be conducted to ensure justice and fairness to all parties.

Barrister Ibrahim Ali, counsel for the plaintiff, while speaking to journalists shortly after the judgement, said, “The court looked at the merit of the matter and decided the case in favour of the plaintiffs.”

He added, “Our prayers were that the primary elections conducted by a committee led by Adamu Maina Waziri be nullified by the court and order be given by the court for the conduct of a fresh election in line with the PDP’s constitution and guidelines. All our prayers have been granted.

“The judgment was well evaluated because we proved our case beyond reasonable doubts and we are happy with the decision of the court.”

By Uzair Adam Imam

A 52-year-old man who raped and impregnated his 18-year-old daughter wept for mercy as Ikeja Special Offences Court sentenced him to 21 years imprisonment on Thursday.

The convict identified as Akin Isaac knelt down in tears to plea with the court for mercy, saying he had an aged mother to look after.

During the court sitting, the prosecutor said that the defendant had started having intercourse with his 18-year-old daughter while she was six years old.

The Daily Reality recalls how police in Ogun State had arrested a 46-year-old Olusegun Oluwole for allegedly raping his 17-year-old daughter on weekends.

His arrest followed a complaint lodged at Ibara police station in Abeokuta by the man’s owned daughter (name withheld).

This was disclosed in a statement Sunday by the state Police Spokesperson, Abimbola Oyeyemi.

Oyeyemi said the father forcefully raped his own daughter and threatened to kill her if she dared to tell anyone about the incident.

He stated that, “the girl said while she was sleeping in their one room apartment at Amolaso area of Abeokuta, on a night, her father, having observed that others were fast asleep suddenly grabbed her and forcefully had sex with her.

“On interrogation, the father of six, who confessed to the crime pleaded for forgiveness, claiming not knowing what came over him when he committed the crime,” Oyeyemi said.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Anambra State Police Command disclosed that its personnel has arrested one Chisom Nwedeke, 26, accused of using charms to defraud POS operators in the state.

The Command Spokesperson, Ikenga Tochukwu, in a statement issued on Thursday said the suspect has confessed the crime.

He stated that Nwedeke was arrested yesterday at about 9am along Amawabia, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The suspect said he used to cut plain white papers in the size of money and gave them to POS operators for deposit.

Tochukwu told Journalists that investigations were on top gear to arrest his other gang members.

By Uzair Adam Imam

A rival battle broke out between the late Abubakar Shekau’s Boko Haram faction and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants.

The Thursday incident also led to the killing of notorious commander Kundu and several other fighters at Dikwa and Bama local government areas of Borno State.

Reports disclosed that Kundu and his team members were on a robbery mission when ISWAP stormed them on six motorcycles, conveying three fighters on each, carrying deadly machine guns.

A security analyst and a counter-insurgency in Lake Chad, Zagazola Makama, confirmed the fight.

He said, “A heavy fight ensued between the terrorists resulting to dozens of casualties on the side of the Boko Haram terrorists, while few ISWAP terrorists were wounded.

“The Boko Haram terrorists took to their heels, leaving their motorcycles to the ISWAP terrorists.”