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MRA Calls on Lagos State Government to Obey Court’s Order
MRA Calls on Lagos State Government to Obey Court’s Order
…Investigate Reporter’s Death and Prosecute Killers
By: Our Reporter
Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has called on the Lagos State Government to comply with the order of a Federal High Court in Lagos directing it to ensure an investigation into the death of Mr. Pelumi Onifade, a 20-year reporter with Gboah TV, who was reportedly arrested by the Police while covering the #EndSARS protests in 2020 and later found dead, and to identify and prosecute those responsible.
In a letter written on the organization’s behalf by its lawyer, Mr. Kingsley Kenechukwu, of the law firm of Charles Musa and Co., dated August 22, 2024 and addressed to the State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, MRA urged the Government to “comply with the directives of the honorable court so that justice would be seen to be done and hope given to the common man that there is still justice in the judicial system.”
Mr. Kenechukwu reminded the Attorney-General of the July 19, 2024 decision by Justice Ayokunle Olayinka Faji, citing page 15 of the judgment where the court directed him to take “all necessary steps to see to the investigation of the circumstances of the death of Pelumi Onifade and to conduct a coroner’s inquest to ascertain the cause of the death.”
The lawyer also referred to paragraph 14 of a counter-affidavit dated March 20, 2023 filed in the suit by the Attorney-General in which he stated that he would prosecute anyone found to have a prima facie case established against him in relation to the death of Mr. Onifade.
Mr. Kenechukwu recalled in the letter that during oral arguments which took place on May 13, 2024 in the suit instituted by MRA against the Police and the Lagos State Government over the death of the journalist, Mr. A. Amu, who represented the Attorney-General, also indicated willingness and readiness of the Attorney-General to conduct an inquest into the death.
He said in the light of these, MRA is praying the Government to comply with the court’s directives in the interest of justice.
MRA filed the suit against the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of Lagos State, asking the Court, among other things, to declare that Mr. Onifade’s shooting in Oko Oba in Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State, by policemen on October 24, 2020 in the course of his journalistic work is unconstitutional and a gross violation of his fundamental rights while his arrest and subsequent restriction on his liberty by the Police were unlawful.
Although Justice Faji held in his judgment that there was no evidence before the court to support MRA’s claim that the late journalist died in the custody of the Police after which his body was deposited at the Ikorodu Mortuary in Lagos, he however granted the organization’s request to order an investigation and directed the Attorney-General to take all necessary steps to see to the investigation of the circumstances of Mr. Onifade’s death; conduct a coroner’s inquest to ascertain the cause of the death; and identify and prosecute those responsible for his death.
MRA Calls on Lagos State Government to Obey Court’s Order
Breaking: Kanu fails to open defence, cites former counsel’s retention of case file
By: Zagazola Makama
The detained leader of the proscribed separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on Friday failed to open his defence in his ongoing terrorism trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Kanu attributed his inability to present his defence to the failure of his former legal team, led by former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Kanu Agabi, to hand over his case file, preventing him from adequately preparing.
The defendant was initially slated to open his defence on Thursday but instead announced the sacking of his legal team and requested a short adjournment until Friday.
On Friday, the prosecuting counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), informed the court that the case was scheduled for Kanu to open his defence. When called, Kanu informed the court he could not proceed as those responsible for delivering his case file to the Department of State Services (DSS) facility, where he is being held, had failed to do so.
Kanu prayed for an adjournment until Monday, October 27, to access the case file and familiarise himself with its contents. He further stated he was expecting witnesses from the United Kingdom, the United States, Kenya, and Ethiopia, and requested an order allowing him to meet with them over the weekend for preparation.
The court granted his request, instructing the DSS to allow Kanu receive visitors on Saturday and Sunday. Justice James Omotosho adjourned the trial till October 27 for Kanu to open his defence, warning that the six days initially granted for his defence, which began on October 23, will not be extended.
Breaking: Kanu fails to open defence, cites former counsel’s retention of case file
Farmer injured in herders’ attack in Konduga
By: Zagazola Makama
A farmer has been hospitalized after sustaining severe machete wounds in an attack by suspected herders at Jakana Village, Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.
The incident occurred on Wednesday when a group of herders reportedly led their cattle into a beans farm belonging to locals and grazed on the crops.
During an attempt by Mohammad Ali Fantami, 30, of Kadamari Lamboa bush, to drive the cattle away, one of the herders allegedly attacked him with a machete, severing his left hand and inflicting deep cuts on his neck before escaping.
The victim was evacuated to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), where he is said to be responding to treatment.
Efforts are ongoing to trace and apprehend the perpetrators as investigations continue into the incident.
End
Troops repel another ISWAP ambush, recover arms, motorcycles in Magumeri
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation Hadin Kai have foiled a series of ambush attacks by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists along the Damasak–Gubio road in Magumeri axis of Borno State.
Zagazola Makama gathered that the troops, who were on a fighting patrol as part of Operation Desert Sanity IV, came under fire from suspected terrorists on arrival at Binduldul.
Sources stated that the troops responded with superior firepower, forcing the terrorists to flee in disarray. Reinforcements led by the Commanding Officer of the Battalion later exploited the scene, recovering two motorcycles, one AK-47 rifle, five blankets, three praying mats, a spare motorcycle tyre and two gallons of engine oil.
The sources added that one terrorist was neutralised during the encounter.
Furthermore, at about 3:05 p.m. on the same day, while withdrawing from the area, the troops encountered another ambush involving an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack followed by heavy gunfire from ISWAP fighters near Kardio village.
The soldiers successfully repelled the assault, safely detonated another IED along their main supply route, and returned to base without any casualty.
Photographs from the operation indicated successful recovery of items and neutralisation of threats in the area.
Troops repel another ISWAP ambush, recover arms, motorcycles in Magumeri
Breaking: Kanu fails to open defence, cites former counsel’s retention of case file
Decomposed body of kidnapped man found in mining pond in Jos South
Man abducted after delivering ransom for kidnapped child in Kogi
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