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Lauretta Onochie: Senate urges ‘Aggrieved Nigerians should write petition’

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The Senate on Wednesday directed its Committee on INEC to screen Ms Onochie despite criticism trailing her appointment.

He told journalists this at a press briefing on Wednesday.

His comment was in reaction to the Senate’s resolution to commence the screening exercise of Ms Onochie and other nominees.

Ms Onochie, a controversial presidential aide, was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in October 2020 as an INEC resident electoral commissioner to represent Delta State.

Ms Onochie was one of the Nigerian politicians identified in a PREMIUM TIMES analysis who use fake news as campaign strategies online.

The president, in a letter to the Senate, announced the appointment and sought the lawmakers’ confirmation.

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, had directed the Senate Committee on INEC to screen Ms Onochie and five other nominees.

This directive has also triggered outrage among Nigerians on social media.

Her appointment generated outrage as many described it as unconstitutional. Nigerians have since called on the president to withdraw the nomination on grounds that Ms Onochie is partisan and so it would be undemocratic for her to be appointed into such an office.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how her appointment violates Section 14(2a) of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution as amended which states that “a member of the commission shall be non-partisan and a person of unquestionable integrity.”

‘Petition us’

When asked to comment on reactions that have trailed the latest move to screen her, Mr Basiru challenged Nigerians who feel her appointment is inappropriate to petition the Senate panel.

“As Nigerians, if you feel she is not qualified, you are entitled to file a petition before the committee. I challenge Nigerians who strongly believe that the nomination is inappropriate to approach the committee and challenge it in the exercise to see that the country is governed according to the law.

“Until the committee comes up with its recommendation, there is nothing I can say,” he said.

He also said the committee is not obligated to confirm Ms Onochie or any nominee alike.

“The fact that a matter is referred to a committee does not mean that the committee will affirm to such confirmation and I agree in the past, there have been instances where references have been made to committees, and they were returned unconfirmed or stepped down by the committee

“I’d rather say that we keep the gunpowder till the committee comes up with recommendations.”

#TwitterBan

The lawmaker was also asked the Senate’s stand on the government’s decision to indefinitely ban the operations of Twitter in Nigeria.

“On the twitter ban, I will say that the Senate has not considered the issue so if I give an opinion, it will be my personal opinion and of course, there is always the tendency that my opinion will be judged to be that of the Senate.

“So I don’t have the mandate of the Nigerian Senate to talk on the Twitter Ban and I will exercise restraint so that I will not be misquoted.”

And just like he said on Ms Onochie, the senator asked journalists and Nigerians who disagree to challenge the Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, who had ordered the prosecution of violators of the #TwitterBan.

“I also believe that journalists have access to the AGF to challenge him and come up with a better basis for whatever action he has done.

“As a lawyer, I am just of the opinion that whatever the basics of the Rule of Law…is that there will be a legal basis for legislative and executive actions so, I’m not here to talk about that but if the Senate considers it, we’ll be able to have a front. We will address it at the appropriate time.”

Culled from the Premium Times

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Nigeria: chibok abduction anniversary spurs demands for justice

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Militants, alongside relatives of victims of the infamous abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls that sparked global outrage in 2014, gathered in Lagos on Sunday, April 14, to renew calls for the release of the remaining girls in captivity.

The Sunday meeting was organized to mark the 10th anniversary of the abduction that affected 276 schoolgirls from the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, northeastern Nigeria.

“What I would ask the government is to find a way to work towards bringing back our sisters because I know it is only the government that can help us bring back these girls,” said Grace Dauda, a rescued Chibok schoolgirl.

Another rescued schoolgirl, Rebecca Malu, added, “They should stay safe. They should stay strong, one day, they will be released like us.”

While some girls managed to escape on their own, others have been freed over the years through intense campaigns by civil society organizations and government negotiations. But this human rights activist, Ayo Obe, is calling for more action from the authorities.

“We know that we started with missing persons numbering two hundred and fifty-six; it is already an improvement that we are down to 91. But of course, 91 is 91 lives unaccounted for. We appreciate the fact that so many of them escaped during the abduction itself. We appreciate the fact that the government has brought back so many more of them, but we say that we don’t stop here. We need the momentum that has happened since the mass return during the Buhari administration in 2016-2017 to be maintained. We expected that the remaining girls would have been brought back,” she said.

Mass school children kidnapping in Nigeria has continued nearly unabated since Chibok. Around 1,700 students have been kidnapped in raids since 2014 according to Amnesty International.

A member of the Bring Back Our Girls movement and convener of the 10th-year anniversary in Lagos, Opeyemi Adamolekun, lamented this as unfortunate.

“Unfortunately, it became political between 2014 and 2015, part of the amplification of the movement was part of the 2015 presidential campaign. And we saw the effect of the first batch of 21 that were released with the help of the Red Cross and the Swiss government. The second batch of 82 that were released with the help of the Red Cross and the Swiss government as well. But unfortunately, it seems that energy sort of dissipated because the government doesn’t feel as much pressure as they used to feel,” she said.

For this group of Nigerians, the government must match words with more action to stem the tide of mass school kidnappings in the country.

According to the Murtala Muhammed Foundation, a charity that advocates for the Chibok schoolgirls, about 90 girls still remain in captivity while dozens of the schoolgirls freed over the years are living inside a military-run rehabilitation camp with surrendered Boko Haram fighters they married in the Sambisa forest, Boko Haram’s main hideout.

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Nigeria suspends permit of 3 private jet operators

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Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has taken action against private jet operators flouting regulations by suspending the Permit for Non-Commercial Flights (PNCF) of three operators caught conducting commercial flights.

This crackdown follows warnings issued in March 2024.

Acting Director General Capt. Chris Najomo stated that increased surveillance at Nigerian airports led to the grounding of three operators found violating their PNCF terms. Specifically, they breached annexure provisions and Part 9114 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2023.

In response, the NCAA announced a thorough re-evaluation of all PNCF holders to ensure compliance with regulations, to be completed by April 19th, 2024. PNCF holders have been instructed to submit necessary documents within 72 hours to expedite the process. Najomo emphasized these actions highlight the NCAA’s commitment to enhancing safety in Nigerian airspace.

Furthermore, the NCAA warned the public against using charter operators without a valid Air Operators Certificate and urged legitimate industry players to report any suspicious activities promptly.

This crackdown comes after the NCAA’s stern warning in March against PNCF holders engaging in commercial operations.

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Senator Cory Booker Leads a Congressional Delegation to Nigeria

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Photo: Senator Cory Booker (In the back) and a Diplomat from the US Department of State, joins with members of the Academy for Women Alumnae Association including Mercy Ogori of Kokomi Africa and Adebisi Odeleye of Moore Organics.

Senator Cory also met women entrepreneurs from the Academy for Women Alumnae Association

Last week, US Senator Cory Booker from New Jersey led a congressional delegation to Nigeria, which included House of Representatives members Sara Jacobs and Barbara Lee from California. The purpose of the visit was to discuss a partnership on sustainable development. During the talks, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu expressed his administration’s dedication to strengthening democracy through upholding the rule of law and ensuring good governance, justice, and fairness for all citizens. Senator Booker emphasized the shared values of democracy, the rule of law, and commitment to peace and good governance that bind Nigeria and the United States as partners.

The delegation also met with women entrepreneurs from the Academy for Women Alumnae Association, who had participated in US-sponsored exchange programs. Led by Adebisi Odeleye of Moore Organics, the businesswomen shared their experiences and discussed their entrepreneurial endeavors. Other Academy members were Mandela Washington Fellow, Nkem Okocha of Mama Moni, Inemesit Dike of LegalX, and Mercy Ogori of Kokomi.

The partnership between the United States and Nigeria has lasted over six decades, focusing on addressing security challenges, enhancing health security, and responding to global health crises. Despite obstacles like corruption, poverty, and insecurity, the US remains dedicated to supporting Nigerian institutions and promoting free, fair, transparent, and peaceful elections.

During the visit to the State House, Senator Booker reiterated the shared values of democracy, the rule of law, and commitment to peace and good governance that unite Nigeria and the United States as partners.

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