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U.S. House still in turmoil with no speaker elected on 2nd day of voting

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U.S. House still in turmoil with no speaker elected on 2nd day of voting

The U.S. House of Representatives remained in turmoil with no speaker elected on the second day of voting.

House members voted on Wednesday night to adjourn until noon Thursday, prolonging a historical political stalemate that has paralysed the lower chamber.

U.S. Congressman, Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, failed to secure enough votes three times earlier in the day due to intra-party division.

House members voted three times on Tuesday the opening day of the divided 118th Congress, but McCarthy fell short of the necessary votes to be the next speaker.

It was the first time a House speaker who maintained order, managed its proceedings, and governed the administration of its business on the lower chamber’s floor hadn’t been elected on the first ballot in 100 years.

The 435-seat House will have to vote until a speaker is elected with a majority of votes.

Before that, members cannot be sworn in and committees cannot be formed with the rest of the business stalled.

U.S. Congresswoman, Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat, tweeted that the infighting “isn’t just a shame for Republicans, it’s bad for the entire country.”

U.S. President, Joe Biden, a Democrat, reacted to the political drama surrounding the House speakership vote on Wednesday morning.

According to him, it’s embarrassing the way it’s taking so long.

“How do you think this looks to the rest of the world?

“It’s not a good look. It’s not a good thing,” Biden told reporters at the White House before leaving for Hebron, Kentucky.

McCarthy has the support of most House Republicans and former U.S. President, Donald Trump.

But a handful of hardliners have opposed his bid to lead the conference by arguing that he is insufficiently conservative while refusing to decentralise the speaker’s power.

The House has elected a speaker 127 times since 1789.

There have been 14 instances of speaker elections requiring multiple ballots.

Thirteen of 14 multiple-ballot elections occurred before the Civil War, when party divisions were more nebulous, according to Congressional historians.

The last time a speaker election required two or more votes on the floor happened in 1923.

Harvard legal scholar, Laurence Tribe, tweeted on Wednesday that the House of Representatives, unlike the Senate, was not a continuing body.

“It must reassemble itself without full constitutional authority every two years, like someone rebuilding a ship on the open seas.

“But when the voyage is this rough, that’s a sign of dysfunction,” Tribe said.

All House Democrats have voted for Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat, to be the speaker.

Though it’s unlikely for Jeffries to attain the position, he is set to become the first African American lawmaker to lead a party in either chamber of the U.S. Congress.

Republicans flipped the House in the 2022 midterm elections while Democrats held onto their majority in the Senate.

The new Congress convened for the first time on Tuesday, with U.S. Vice President, Kamala Harris, presiding over the opening of the 100-people upper chamber in which Democrats control 51 seats versus 49 for Republicans.

Chuck Schumer from New York and Mitch McConnell from Kentucky remain the Senate majority leader and minority leader, respectively.

U.S. House still in turmoil with no speaker elected on 2nd day of voting

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NHRC Condemns Killing of 16 soldiers

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NHRC Condemns Killing of 16 soldiers

By: Michael Mike

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has condemned in strong terms the killing of 16 soldiers (officers and men) and some civilians on Thursday, March 14, 2024.

The killings were allegedly carried out by youths from Okuama community in Ugheli South local government area of Delta State while soldiers were on a peace mission to the community.

The Commission, in a statement on Monday, rejected the practice whereby aggrieved individuals and groups take laws into their hands attacking and killing law enforcement agents, insisting that such behaviors occasion human rights violations and distrust.

It said: “To this extent, it specifically amounts to violations of the right to life and dignity of human person as guaranteed under Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), and other international instruments to which Nigeria is a signatory. Furthermore, everyone is entitled to life and security of their person under section 33 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended).”

NHRC said: “These senseless killings of security agents which has been going on in several parts of the country are not acceptable. Citizens must engage and collaborate with the Law Enforcement Agents (LEAs), by providing them with the necessary information that will assist them in fishing out those behind these heinous and dastardly acts and ensure that they are prosecuted and punished in accordance with the law.”

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu in the signed statement, urged authorities to put necessary mechanisms in place to arrest everyone allegedly involved in the gruesome murders. This is aimed to bring all perpetrators to to justice and prevent further occurrence in the future.

He said: “We are keenly monitoring the situation and official investigation in this case to ensure that those who are behind this inhumane and wicked act are quickly arrested, prosecuted and punished in accordance with the relevant international, regional and municipal laws.”

The Commission urged everyone, including the affected community and the Nigerian Armed Forces to sheath their sword and refrain from any form of reprisals while awaiting for the outcome of the investigation. This is to avoid further escalation of the crises that could worsen tension and human rights violations.

The Commission expresses condolence to the Chief of Defense Staff, Chief of Army Staff, the Nigerian military, and the families of the slain soldiers and urges everyone to remain calm and trust that justice will be served accordingly.

NHRC Condemns Killing of 16 soldiers

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KACRAN Advocates for Peace and Unity

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KACRAN Advocates for Peace and Unity

By: Michael Mike

The Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) has urged its members nationwide to refrain from engaging in any form of violence but rather foster peace and unity within the country.

The National President, KACRAN, Khalil Muhammad Bello, made the plea in a statement made available to journalists.

Bello insisting that KACRAN is as an organisation committed to harmony and progress, however strongly condemned any acts of vandalism and lawlessness, noting that such behavior poses a threat to the nation’s fragile security and contradicts our values as a civilized society.

He added that: “KACRAN acknowledges the challenging times Nigeria faces, particularly about insecurity. It is during such critical times that the solidarity of all Nigerians, irrespective of ethnic or religious backgrounds, is paramount. We must unite to prevent any actions that could further destabilize our nation.

“With a focus on enhancing our security system and maintaining peace, KACRAN calls upon its members to avoid demonstrations. While peaceful protests are a constitutional right, there exists the risk of such events being co-opted by malicious individuals seeking to cause disorder and damage.

“Furthermore, KACRAN wishes to express its profound appreciation for the North East Development Commission (NEDC) and its extensive efforts to implement development projects and support internally displaced persons in the region. This commendation stems from positive feedback from our members and reflects the commission’s dedication to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of rebuilding and restoring hope in the affected areas. The NEDC is indeed trying towards the recovery process in the region”.

KACRAN urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to increase the funding for NEDC to enable them discharge their mandate efficiently.

He said: “We also acknowledge the exceptional leadership of His Excellency, Borno State Governor Professor Babagana Umara Zulum. Governor Zulum’s initiative of establishing a committee to foster peace between cattle rearers and farmers in the state is laudable. The committee’s mandate to address the root causes of conflicts and to promote longstanding harmony in Borno State is a testament to his exemplary governance”.

Bello however called on other state governors to emulate Governor Zulum’s proactive approach, stating that: “His transformative projects in Borno State serve as a model for leadership not only in Nigeria but globally.”

KACRAN reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to assist the federal, state, and local governments in seeking lasting solutions to Nigeria’s security challenges, calling on members to extend their full support and cooperation to achieve our collective goals of peace, unity, and development.

KACRAN Advocates for Peace and Unity

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Court dismisses Nnamdi Kanu’s appeal on unlawful arrest, detention

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Court dismisses Nnamdi Kanu’s appeal on unlawful arrest, detention

The Court of Appeal on Monday dismissed the appeal filed by Felix Okonkwo, one of the lawyers to the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu over his unlawful arrest and detention by the Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) .

Justice Okon Abang dismissed the appeal for want of merit.

Delivering judgment, Justice Abang held that the appellant failed to establish miscarriage of justice in the judgment of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in the matter.

The appellants comprising of Felix Okonkwo, Ikenna Chibuike and Okafor Ugochukwu had dragged the Nigeria Police Force and the DSS before the high court for the enforcement of their client’s fundamental human rights.

The appellants specifically accused the two security agencies of violating their fundamental rights by their unlawful arrest and detention on September 27, 2021, during which they claimed that they were tortured, harassed and intimidated while in the custody of the Police.

Justice Samaila Bature had, in his judgment delivered on March 24, 2022 found the police liable for the unlawful arrest and detention of the the appellants and subsequently imposed a fine of N2 million against Police to be paid to the appellants.

Justice Bature however did not make any order against the DSS because the appellant, then plaintiffs did not disclose any cause of action against the state services.

Not satisfied with the findings and decisions of the high court, the three plaintiffs had approached the Court of Appeal praying for an order to hold that SSS was also culpable in their arrest and detention.

They claimed that the N2 million imposed on the police as fine, was paltry and ridiculously low and asked the appellate court to jerk up the fine as compensation for their unlawful arrest and detention.

In a unanimous judgment by a three-man panel of the appellate court, Justice Abang held that from the video footage tendered as exhibit by the appellants at the trial court, there was no where the operatives of the SSS were found at the scene of their arrest in the house of Ifeanyi Ejiofor in Anambra state.

He disagreed with the appellants in their claims that the N2 million compensatory damages was grossly insufficient.

According to Abang, the decision to award compensatory damages is at the discretion of a Judge and cannot be dictated by any plaintiff or appellant.

In the instant case, Justice Abang agreed with Justice Bature that perculiar facts and circumstances of the unlawful arrest and detention of the appellants were carefully considered at the trial court before arriving at the amount.

Besides, Justice Abang said that the appellants did not point out irrelevant facts in the judgement of the high court and did not also disclose their status in the society, they did not point out their monthly or yearly income and also did not point out what they lost in the course of their detention.

“In my opinion and going by the perculiar facts and circumstances of this case, the N2 million compensation to the appellants was properly awarded.

“I cannot fault the award because the appellant did not give any good reason for them to have been awarded a much higher amount.

“In the final analysis, the appeals lacks merit and it is accordingly dismissed, the decision of the trial court is hereby affirmed. There is order as to cost”, Justice Abang held.

Justices Joseph Oyewole and Abba Bello Mohammed endorsed the unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Abang.

Court dismisses Nnamdi Kanu’s appeal on unlawful arrest, detention

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