Saudi officials refuse to address journalists who stormed Abuja embassy over Khashoggi

Some journalists and civil society organisations (CSO) on Friday stormed the embassy of Saudi Arabia in Abuja to protest the death of Jamal Khashoggi, a journalist, killed in Turkey.

Khashoggi was last seen on October 2 when he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. He was allegedly killed on the orders of the Saudi government.

At the embassy, journalists and members of the CSOs held placards which read: ‘Protect journalists’, ‘Justice for Jamal Ahmad Khashoggi’ among others.

No official of the embassy addressed the protesters.

Speaking at the event, Peter Nkanga, a co-convener of the Coalition of Nigerian Media and Civil Society Groups, said no human being should be made to face “such a bestial death.”

“Jamal Kashoogi’s blood is crying for justice and that is why we are here. We are here to tell the Saudi government that injury to one is injury to all,” he said.

“His life and death would never be in vain. His blood will keep speaking for generations to come. His legacy will remain forever.

“We are here to demand only one thing from the King and the crown prince of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the person or persons who gave the order for the bestial murder and those who carried out the murder, all of them must be brought to book.

“The second reason why we are here is in memory of our own Nigerian journalists who have been killed in the line of duty and in total impunity, just as we call on the Saudi government, so also we call on the Nigerian government to put an end to the impunity for crime against journalists.

“The United Nations set aside November 2 that means the world has taken notice crimes against journalists. And we are here in solidarity with that call. This month in October 32 years ago, we still remember the murder of Journalist, Dele Giwa, killed in a letter parcel bomb delivered to him on 19 October 1986. That case is marked on government’s conspiracy.

“We are here to tell the Nigerian government to take into account that in 32 years since Dele Giwa’s murder, countless other assassinations have occurred and have remained inconclusive. We therefore call on the president to order the reopening, impartial and transparent investigation into the murder of all journalists killed in the country and ensure their killers don’t go unpunished.”

Khashoggi: Nigerian journalists, CSOs protest at Saudi embassy

A group of media rights activists on Friday protested at the Saudi Arabian embassy in Abuja to demand justice over the gruesome murder of Saudi journalist, Jamal Khashoggi.

Mr Khashoggi was assassinated on October 2 at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Turkey when he had gone to receive some documents for his planned marriage.

A team of assassins were reported to have flown into Turkey from Saudi Arabia to kill Mr Khashoggi.

The journalist had departed Saudi Arabia, his country, for the United States, following growing fears about his safety, but was killed in what has been described by officials as premeditated murder.

Mr Khashoggi’s death has drawn wide criticism on the Saudi Arabian monarchy, especially the country’s crown prince, Mohammed Bin Salman, who is accused of ordering the attack.

On Friday, in Abuja, activists under the platform of the Coalition of Nigerian Media and Civil Society Groups demanded justice for Mr Khashoggi. They also asked the Nigerian government to re-open similar cases of journalists murdered by suspected government officials across the country.

According to a statement signed by Peter Nkanga and Chido Onuma, the group urged Saudi Arabian citizens to understand that they deserve better than what they described as “a blood thirsty leadership.”

“With deep grief and greatest sorrow in memory of journalists killed in Nigeria and around the world, the Coalition of Nigerian Media and Civil Society Groups are gathered here to make three statements:

“First, we are gathered here to commiserate with the family and friends of journalist, Jamal Ahmad Khashoggi, and the good people of Saudi Arabia.

“We are gathered here to tell the people of Saudi Arabia that you deserve better. You deserve better than a blood thirsty government that kills its citizens at will, and with total impunity.

“No human being should ever have to face such a bestial death. Jamal did not deserve to die, let alone in the one place where he should have felt safest in a foreign land – the Saudi Arabia Consulate.

“Let us think about it critically. Do we know how many people have died in similar circumstances at Saudi Embassies and Consulates around the world? Jamal Khashoggi’s blood is crying for Justice!”

The group said the protest is to prove to the world that Mr Khashoggi’s murder is a crime against the world.

“And that is why we are gathered here, to tell the Saudi government that injury to one is injury to all. The world abhors the evil perpetrated against Jamal. We are here to say Jamal’s life and death will never be in vain. His blood will keep speaking for generations to come and his legacy will forever remain.

“We are here to demand only one thing from the King and the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia:

“The person(s) who gave the order for the bestial murder of journalist, Jamal Ahmad Khashoggi, and the person(s) who carried the order, All of them MUST be brought to account.

“The second reason we are gathered here is in memory of our own Nigerian journalists, too many killed in the line of duty, and in total impunity.

“Just as we call on the Saudi government, so also, we call on the Nigerian government to put an end to impunity for crimes against journalists.”

The group also recalled the death of late Nigerian journalist, Dele Giwa.
“This month, 32 years ago, we still remember the murder of journalist, Dele Giwa, killed via a parcel bomb delivered to him on October 19, 1986. That case smacks of government conspiracy.

“We are here to tell the Nigerian government to take into account that in 32 years since Dele Giwa’s assassination, countless murders of journalists have occurred, and not one has been conclusive to bring the perpetrators to justice. We therefore call on Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, to do what any conscionable government would do:
Order the reopening of impartial, independent, and transparent investigations into the murders of all journalists killed in the country and ensure their killers don’t go unpunished.

“When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes a duty! The call was sounded, even on short notice, yet we all turned up and decided to take action to defend our civil rights,” the group said.

TCN recovers 693 abandoned power equipment containers at ports

The Transition Company of Nigeria (TCN), on Friday said it had recovered more than 693 containers of power equipment abandoned at ports for about 15 years due to tariff. The Managing Director (MD) of TCN, Mr. Usman Mohammed, said this in a statement in Lagos.

electricity Mohammed said some of the power equipment had been auctioned by the Nigeria Customs Service, but said that TCN would go after the auctioneers to recover the containers. “TCN still has over 200 other containers auctioned by the Customs outside the ports,” he said. According to him, the recovery was achieved last week, as it revealed that some of the containers had been stranded at various ports for about 15 years. Mohammed said: “we were able to recover 693 containers as of last week, out of a total of 800 containers that have been in the ports. “Some of these containers have been there for 15 years. “Others have been auctioned and we had to trace the auctioneers to get the containers. “The government is supporting us. And with the same way they are supporting us, I know that as government have beamed its searchlight on the distribution companies, they are going to solve the problems with power distribution,’’ he said. Mohammed said government was set to solve the problems in the distribution arm of the power sector. He disclosed that the government has approved that the TCN anchor the N72 billion the Federal Government planned to invest in the 11 electricity distribution companies in Nigeria.

Pompeo, top North Korean official plan summit as Lavrov meets Kim

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a meeting in Pyongyang on May 31, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / TASS/POOL / Valery SHARIFULIN[/caption]

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a top North Korean official are set to continue talks in New York on Thursday to try to salvage next month’s nuclear summit, as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov flew into Pyongyang for discussions with Kim Jong Un.
Kim Yong Chol, considered the North Korean leader’s right-hand man, is the most senior official from Pyongyang to visit the United States in 18 years.

Pyongyang’s envoy joined Pompeo at the apartment of a US diplomat on Manhattan’s East side for talks over an evening meal that lasted about an hour and a half. Two more meetings are scheduled for Thursday.

“Good working dinner with Kim Yong Chol in New York tonight,” Pompeo tweeted. “Steak, corn, and cheese on the menu.”

It was the third meeting between the two officials who are working to finalize planning for a June 12 summit designed to end a nuclear standoff that has threatened to plunge Korea back into war.

“They are meeting to see what needs to be done in the two weeks that remain,” a senior US official said.

“Between now and if we’re going to have a summit, they’re going to have to make clear what they’re willing to do.”

US and North Korean envoys have also been meeting in Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea, and an American team is in Singapore to make logistical arrangements for the meeting.

Washington wants North Korea to quickly give up all its nuclear weapons in a verifiable way in return for sanctions and economic relief.

But analysts say North Korea will be unwilling to cede its nuclear deterrent unless it is given security guarantees that the US will not try to topple the regime.

Russia cheers
Meanwhile, Russia’s foreign minister arrived in Pyongyang for talks with Kim Jong Un, saying before the meeting that Moscow “welcomes” the recent flurry of diplomacy on the peninsula

“We also cheer the summits that have already taken place between Pyongyang and Seoul, and the next planned summit between the leaders of North Korea and US,” said Lavrov, on his first visit to the North since 2009.

Photos and video released by Russian state media showed Kim and Lavrov shaking hands.

Lavrov passed on greetings from President Vladimir Putin to the North Korean leader and invited him to visit Russia, according to a statement from the Russian foreign ministry.

Russia is the latest major nation to reach out to North Korea since Trump accepted Kim’s proposal for a summit to defuse tensions. Kim has already had two meetings each with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, South Korean President Moon Jae-in, and Pompeo — once as CIA director and then as secretary of state.

Lavrov spoke with Pompeo by telephone for the first time Wednesday, ahead of his Pyongyang trip.

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump suddenly announced a cancellation of the summit, before reversing course 24 hours later.

Frenetic meetings
Pompeo has scheduled a news conference on Thursday, at the end of his meetings with Kim.

The recently-appointed secretary of state called his South Korean and Singaporean counterparts over the weekend, and Japan is also keenly watching summit preparations.

Kim Yong Chol, who is making his first US visit, is the most senior North Korean on US soil since Vice Marshal Jo Myong Rok met then-president Bill Clinton in 2000.

The general has played a key role during recent rounds of diplomacy aimed at ending the nuclear stalemate on the Korean peninsula.

He sat near to Trump’s daughter Ivanka during February’s closing ceremony for the Winter Olympics in South Korea, an event that was seen as a turning point in the nuclear crisis.

He also accompanied Kim Jong Un on both of his recent trips to China to meet President Xi Jinping, and held talks with Pompeo in Pyongyang.

The key task ahead of the June 12 summit is to settle the agenda. The main stumbling block is likely to be the concept of “denuclearization” — both sides say they are in favor of it, but there is a yawning gap between their definitions.

Two migrants die, 80 saved in Sahara ordeal

 Two African migrants died of thirst and 80 were saved after they were stranded in the Niger desert while trying to reach Europe, the International Office of Migrations (IOM) said Tuesday, in the second Sahara rescue drama in less than a month.

“Last Saturday, 80 migrants were saved in the desert, 382 kilometres (237 miles) from the town of Agadez,” the IOM’s Niger office said on Facebook.

“Sadly, two others died from extreme dehydration.”

The migrants had been heading to Libya, the crossing point for the hazardous voyage to Europe,when their vehicle broke down and they were “abandoned by their smugglers,” the OIM said.

They were stranded for three days before help arrived.

The agency says it has helped to save more than 3,000 people this year through search-and-rescue teams, run with Nigerien NGOs, which comb the desert for stranded migrants.

On May 22, the OIM, a UN-related organisation, said 386 migrants had been picked up in a rescue operation the previous week between Arlit and Assamaka, a town on the border with Algeria.

Niger has become one of the main routes for poor migrants heading north to the Mediterranean coast in the hope of crossing to Europe.

The Saharan route is notorious for its dangers, which include breakdowns, lack of water and callous traffickers who abandon migrants in the desert.

In 2015, Niger introduced a law making people-smuggling punishable by a jail term of up to 30 years. The armed forces, for their part, have also stepped up patrols in the desert.

However, these measures seem to have had little effect on the trafficking, and may have prompted smugglers to use more dangerous off-road tracks to avoid interception

Dino Melaye: How police attempted to kill me with chemical – Senator

Dino Melaye, Kogi West Senator on Wednesday insisted that men of the Nigeria Police Force, attempted to kill him twice.

Melaye made the disclosure on the floor of the senate while announcing hisintention to defect from the All Progressives Congress, APC, to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The embattled lawmaker said police officers first used “chemical substance and the second time through injection.”

According to the lawmaker, he would have died if not for the intervention of God.

He said, “Mr President, I want to say that the Nigerian police attempted to kill me twice, one through the application of a chemical substance and the second time through injection. They actually came with an injection but God intervened.

“Having appreciated God for his love and kindness and protection upon my soul, I want to specially acknowledge the Nigerian senate under the capable leadership and irremovable president of the senate. I want to thank you for your love, for your concern, for speaking for me and the course of democracy.

I will not also conclude my appreciation without appreciating the indomitable speaker of the house of representatives and indeed the house of representatives. I thank them immensely for showing that an injury to one is an injury to all.

“The national chairman of PDP and the executive of the PDP in Kogi state I salute you. I thank Nigerians for their support. The battle to salvage this country from financial scavengers and economic cankerworms, to me, is a battle of no retreat, no surrender.

We must salvage this country together; we don’t have any other to call our own. As my voice gets better, it will get louder. I shall not cease to ask questions where necessary.”

3 killed as cultists invade Rivers community

PORT HARCOURT
—No fewer than three persons were killed as gunmen believed to be cultists invaded Ibaa community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The gunmen, alleged to be Iceland cult group members, stormed the community yesterday morning in a reprisal attack and killed the three persons.
It was gathered that their rival cult group in the area, Deygbam, had recently sacked them (the Icelanders) from the community.

A source, who spoke to Vanguard in confidence, said the three victims were innocent persons, adding that the invaders may have gunned them down to cause panic in the area.

The source said: “Iceland boys invaded our community today (yesterday) and killed three innocent people.
The community is in fear as we talk now.”
Police could not confirm the development at press time, as the Public Relations Officer of Rivers State Command, Nnamdi Omoni, could not be reached.

UK, US, EU, others seek free, fair 2019 polls

The United Kingdom, United States of America and  European Union, in collaboration with no fewer than 19 developed nations, have lauded Nigeria for sustaining the ideals of democracy since the country returned to participatory governance in 1999.

Nigerians voting on an election day The countries’ applause for Nigeria was contained in a special joint statement released on their behalf by the British High Commission in Abuja, yesterday.

In the message, the countries particularly lauded Nigerians for a peaceful transition of power from a ruling party to an opposition party in 2015.
The countries, however, pleaded with Nigerians to consolidate and deepen democracy as Nigeria heads for another important election next year.

They maintained that while they were not interested in who will emerge the winner of the next election, they would want to see a process that is fair, free and inclusive of under-represented groups, such as women, youths and persons with disabilities. The statement read: 
“We join Nigerians today in celebrating the day on which democracy and civilian rule were restored.

“In Nigeria, as in so many of our countries, the right for all citizens to enjoy equal participation in the democratic process was achieved after considerable struggle and suffering. We remember and celebrate all those who sacrificed so much for the freedoms we enjoy today.
“The struggle to achieve democracy gives it a special value and places responsibility on all of us to support the democratic process.  

We congratulate Nigeria on its progress since 1999, including the first peaceful transition of power from a ruling party to an opposition party in 2015.
“As we celebrate your progress, we encourage and support Nigeria and its people to consolidate and deepen democracy as the country heads towards important elections next year.

“Who will win the general elections in 2019 is a decision for the Nigerian people. Our concern as partners of Nigeria is to see a process that is free, fair and inclusive. 
We are particularly keen to see greater participation in politics from under-represented groups, including women, young people and people with disabilities.”

2019 elections: Uncertainty beclouds passage of petroleum bills

THE Petroleum Industry Governance Bill, PIGB,  as well as the remaining segments of the broken down Petroleum Industry Bill are at risk of suffering the same fate that had befallen it over the last 18 years, due to forthcoming elections.

The PIGB was first introduced at the National Assembly in year 2000, in the Fourth Assembly. Since then, the bill had never been passed, suffering one form of delay or the other, mainly due to political and economic interests.

The National Assembly, had in March, successfully passed the PIGB, which was introduced in the current 8th Assembly by the legislators.

The Bill is currently awaiting the assent of the President for it to eventually become law. However, the Bills remaining to be passed include the Petroleum Industry Administration Bill, Petroleum Industry Fiscal Bill and the Petroleum Host Community Bill. These Bills are currently at the public hearing stage, after going through the first and second readings at the Senate. After the public hearing, the bills are expected to undergo Third Hearing.

The Bills are also expected to  undergo similar processes in the House of Representatives.
After that, the bills would be harmonised by a committee that would be set up by both chambers of the National Assembly,  after which the harmonised bills would be passed by both chambers. It would then be sent to the President, who after careful consideration of the bills, would be expected to assent to or reject them.
However, with the 2019 elections around the corner, stakeholders are skeptical about the passage of the remaining bills before the tenure of the current National Assembly runs out.

The stakeholders are concerned that the legislatures would be occupied with seeking re-election than the passage of the bills.
It had also been touted that President Muhammadu Buhari may refuse to assent to the PIGB and the other bills after their passage, due largely to his political differences with the leadership of the National Assembly.
Wise counsel Commenting on the issue, Chairman, Council of the Institute of Oil and Gas Research and Hydrocarbon Studies, IOGRHS, Professor Akin Akindoyeni, cautioned against allowing politics to interfere with the assent of the PIGB and passage of the remaining petroleum industry bills.
Akindoyeni, said the passage of the remaining petroleum industry bills is critical, as it is needed to right the wrongs witnessed in the Nigerian petroleum industry over the years.
According to him, speedy passage of the bill would send a strong signal that the country is ready to take a bold step in going a bit further to making the Nigerian petroleum industry a world class industry. “We believe if the bill is passed into law, it is a start, and we believe we can still go a lot farther.

We hope the provisions in the new bill would be enacted,” he stated. Explaining his expectations from the Bill, Akindoyeni said, “What we would have expected the government and the legislature to adopt is to yield more equity to local people, the landowners where these minerals are being exploited; to improve their life, their environment and to make alternatives available to them.
“The exploitation of oil and gas in their environment had made it difficult for them to earn better income or have better living standards.”

Also speaking, Professor Charity Emaviwe, Deputy Chairman of the Institute of Oil and Gas Research and Hydrocarbon Studies, also advised that timely passage of the bill would address most of the challenges confronting the petroleum industry. We will pass the bills

– Senate However, the Senate insists that the forthcoming electioneering and politicking ahead of the 2019 elections would not disrupt the passage of the remaining portions of the Petroleum Industry bill. Speaking at an Oil and Gas Public Lecture Series in Abuja, organized by the Institute of Oil and Gas Research and Hydrocarbon Studies, IOGRHS, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said the National Assembly would not allow politics interfere with the passage of these critical bills which would help in the development of the Nigerian economy. Saraki, who was represented at the meeting by the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum, Upstream, Senator Gershom Bassey, said the country is losing up to $30 billion annually in terms of foreign capital, due to the absence of a clear legal framework for the petroleum industry.
He said, “We are going to start public hearing on the three bills in two weeks time. We are encouraging everybody to attend the hearing and make input so that they can be carried into the law.”

Toke Makinwa offers to help 1 woman suffering from fibroids

- Toke Makinwa recently revealed she underwent surgery

- The media personality and author spoke on how she had 12 fibroids removed from her body

- She also offered to help one woman who is currently suffering from the ailment

If you’ve been wondering why Toke Makinwa has been missing from public view in recent times, the famous media personality revealed that she recently had surgery to remove fibroids from her body.

Writing via Instagram, Toke detailed how 12 fibroids were removed from her body.

She decided to go for the surgery after years of dodging.
As a result of her experience, she announced a plan to help one woman suffering from the ailment.

According to obgyn.ucla.edu, fibroids, also known as uterine myomas, leiomyomas, or fibromas, are firm, compact tumors that are made of smooth muscle cells and fibrous connective tissue that develop in the uterus.

It is estimated that between 20 to 50 percent of women of reproductive age have fibroids, although not all are diagnosed.

Innoson files motion to suspend execution of order declaring him wanted

Chairman of Innoson Motors, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, who was declared wanted by the order of an Ikeja High Court, Lagos has filed a motion for stay of execution of the order.
It will be recalled that Justice Mojisola Dada of Ikeja High Court declared Chief Innocent Chukwuma wanted for failing to appear before the court on May 24 2018.

Founder and chairman of Nigeria’s automobile company, Innoson Motors, Innocent Chukwuma. However, in a motion filed by his counsel, Professor J N Mbadugha, Chief Chukwuma is praying for an order staying the execution of the order granted on May 24 2018 declaring him wanted pending the determination of his appeal against the order.

A statement issued yesterday by Head, Corporate Communications, Innoson Group, Cornel Osigwe said “Chief Chukwuma has expressly stated that he is not afraid of arraignment but must be arraigned through due process of the law.
“It must be noted that Chief Chukwuma failed to appear before the court because he had challenged the jurisdiction of the Lagos State High Court to hear the forgery charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at the Court of Appeal Lagos Division on ground of, inter alia, the charge is an abuse of process.
“A similar charge on the same subject matter, transactions and issues is ongoing at the Federal High Court Lagos Division between the same parties, in charge No: FHC/l/565c/2015. The last hearing of the charge at the Federal High Court was this month, May 22nd 2018”.

IPPIS: FG threatens to stop salaries of civil servants from Monday

THE Federal Government, yesterday, threatened to stop, with effect from Monday, payment of salaries to civil servants who failed to update their records in the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System, IPPIS.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, HoCSF, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, who disclosed this at the one-day sensitization workshop on strategy and implementation in Abuja, also said her office was already working with the Presidential Committee on Minimum Wage for an upward review of civil servants’ salaries. Oyo-Ita said government has exceeded its extension limit for civil servants to update their records, stating that the IPPIS portal would be closed next Monday.
She warned that any civil servant who failed to do so by Monday, May 28, 2018, would be automatically shut out of the pay roll system.

Mrs. Oyo-Ita said:  “The on-line records update is a key requirement for the implementation of the HR Module of IPPIS and must be completed by every employee of the Federal Government to maintain their records on the IPPIS platform.
“I wish to inform you that the portal will close officially today, May 23, 2018, but will be opened for corrections until Monday, May 28, 2018, and those that are yet to update their records are advised to do so not later than the date as failure to do so will lead to stoppage of the salary of the affected employee on IPPIS platform. ‘’The sanction is that they will be dropped automatically from the IPPIS pay roll system. 
I want to use this opportunity to draw your attention, that in spite of several circulars and advertisements in the print, radio and television requesting employees to update their records online, some employees are yet to update their IPPIS records via the on-line portal.”

“For those that had genuine reason for not updating their records before the deadline, will be considered after investigations are carried to confirm their excuse for not updating.
“We will still have such cases but for now we have been extending and extending for so many months. We have to stop and start the verification process now.”