National
BRGIE drags Nigerian govt to AU over Nnamdi Kanu’s detention, Biafra referedum
Biafra Republic Government In Exile, BRGIE, has petitioned the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, an organ of the African Union in Banjul, Gambia, over the continued detention by the Nigerian government of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB and the declaration of the Restoration of independence state of Biafra.
Jonathan Levy, a BRGIE attorney and international legal consultant, made this known in a statement he issued on Friday during an online international press briefing.
In the letter, BRGIE, headed by Simon Ekpa, requested that the Commission appoint a Special Rapporteur to address alleged economic and human rights abuses in the Southeastern region.
BRGIE demands rectification of the ongoing Biafra Self Referendum to avoid the calamity that may befall Nigeria.
The Commission acknowledged the petition in a letter dated May 23, 2024, addressed to BRGIE by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the ACHPR) in Banjul, Gambia.
“The Commission is asked to take jurisdiction over the matter of Biafra on an urgent basis owing to the state of near armed conflict in the region; the BRGIE Sit at Home civil disobedience campaign and the continued unlawful detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and pro-Biafra supporters. The BRGIE also informed the Commission of the ongoing Biafra Referendum, due to conclude at the end of November 2024, which is expected to result in the declaration of the restoration of Biafra’s independence and the need for a swift governance transition.
“The BRGIE has advised the Commission and Nigeria that despite its best efforts to prevent civil strife and bloodshed, the legitimate rights of the Biafran people to self-determination shall no longer be
thwarted by Nigeria’s security operatives.
Recall that BRGIE, in a statement on May 8, condemned the alleged attack on the Igga community in the Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State by security operatives, where several persons were reported killed.
The statement followed a report by an online news platform alleging that a combined security operatives led by the Nigeria Police Force burnt down the community, killing some villagers.
According to the report, the attack followed the killing of two policemen and three members of the Enugu State Neighbourhood Watch Group by hoodlums in the area.
Reacting, BRGIE, in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Prime Minister, Ekpa, described the development as an act of terrorism and human rights abuses.
General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, has assured that all security challenges facing the nation will be effectively addressed by the year’s end.
This statement was made during the launch of attack drones and the demonstration of locally produced bombs, developed by a homegrown technology firm.
The event was attended by security specialists and senior government officials, as General Musa showcased the indigenous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to the audience.
Accompanied by Ajao Adewale, the Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of Police, and Caleb Mutfwang, the Governor of Plateau State, General Musa emphasized the ongoing bureaucratic obstacles in acquiring military equipment from abroad.
Governor Mutfwang stressed the urgency for decisive measures against insecurity, calling on leaders to prevent any entity within the nation from possessing military capabilities.
The operational features of the UAVs were also demonstrated, with General Musa expressing satisfaction with this advancement, labeling it a pivotal step in combating insecurity in the country.
The Supreme Court has set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja recognising Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP).
In a unanimous judgment on Friday, a five-member panel of the apex court held that the Court of Appeal lacked the jurisdiction to have pronounced Abure National Chairman of the LP having earlier found that the substance of the case was about the party’s leadership.
It held that issue of leadership was internal affair of a party over which courts lacked jurisdiction.
The court allowed the appeal filed by Senator Ester Nenadi Usman and one other and held that it was meritorious.
It proceeded to dismiss the cross-appeal filed by the Abure faction of the LP got being unmeritorious.
Details shortly…
Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, special adviser on political matters to Vice-President Kashim Shettima, has resigned from his position, According to Daily Trust.
The newspaper quoted sources as saying that the former spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) resigned two weeks ago.
President Bola Tinubu appointed Baba-Ahmed as special adviser on political matters to Shettima in September 2023.
Baba-Ahmed is the elder sibling of Datti Baba-Ahmed, vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election.
Baba-Ahmed served as chief of staff to Bukola Saraki, former senate president, from 2017-2019.
CONFRONTATION WITH MATAWALLE OVER NEF
In April 2024, Bello Matawalle, minister of state for defence, described the NEF as a “political paperweight” after the group stated that the north made a mistake voting Tinubu in 2023.
In his reaction to Matawalle’s remarks, Baba-Ahmed said it would have served the Tinubu administration better if Matawalle had listed his achievements as minister — and the achievements of the other northern appointees — instead of attacking NEF.
“Scathing criticism of NEF by a junior minister of defence, Matawalle, is ill-advised. He could have done a better job for this admin if he identified contributions of especially northern ministers and other appointees like me to improving security and reducing poverty in the North,” Baba-Ahmed said.
In a riposte, the minister said any appointee must defend and promote the administration they work for.
“Dr. Baba-Ahmed’s relationship and affinity with Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) is well-known,” Matawalle said.
“The fact now is that he is an appointee of the administration as Special Adviser and it is incumbent on him to work for the success of the government he is part of, protect and defend the government against unjust and vicious attacks from those who hide under ethnic and other primordial interests to heat up the polity for myopic reasons.
“It is pertinent to state that every appointee of President Tinubu including Dr. Baba-Ahmed owes the government a copious duty to promote, elucidate and advance the good works and commendable efforts of the government across all sectors.”
He added that northern appointees must defend the government or take their exit.
Matawalle is a native of Zamfara while Baba-Ahmed hails from Kaduna.