14:06:00
Showing posts with label Breaking News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Breaking News. Show all posts
Thursday, 14 March 2019
Thursday, 17 January 2019
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A prominent American anchorwoman on Iranian state television has been arrested by the FBI during a visit to the U.S., the broadcaster reported Wednesday, and her son said she was being held in a prison, apparently as a material witness.
Marzieh Hashemi, who worked for the network's English-language service, was detained in St. Louis, where she had filmed a Black Lives Matter documentary after visiting relatives in the New Orleans area.
She was then taken to Washington, according to her elder son, Hossein Hashemi.
The FBI said in an email that it had no comment on the arrest of the woman who was born Melanie Franklin in New Orleans and has worked for Iran's state television network for 25 years.
Hossein Hashemi said his mother lives in Tehran and comes back to this country about once a year to see her family, usually scheduling documentary work somewhere in the U.S. as well.
"We still have no idea what's going on," said Hashemi, a research fellow at the University of Colorado who was interviewed by phone from Washington.
He also said he and his siblings had been subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury.
The incident comes as Iran faces increasing criticism of its own arrests of dual citizens and other people with Western ties.
Those cases have previously been used as bargaining chips in negotiations with world powers.
Federal law allows judges to order witnesses to be arrested and detained if the government can prove their testimony has extraordinary value for a criminal case and that they would be a flight risk and unlikely to respond to a subpoena.
The statute generally requires those witnesses to be promptly released once they are deposed.
Marzieh Hashemi, an American citizen, had not been contacted by the FBI before she was detained and would "absolutely" have been willing to cooperate with the agency, her son said.
Asked whether his mother had been involved in any criminal activity or knew anyone who might be implicated in a crime, Hashemi said, "We don't have any information along those lines."
Hashemi said his mother was arrested as she was about to board a flight from St. Louis to Denver.
A spokesman for St. Louis Lambert International Airport declined to comment and referred questions to the FBI.
The constitutionality of the material witness law has "never been meaningfully tested," said Ricardo J. Bascuas, a professor at the University of Miami School of Law. "The government only relies on it when they need a reason to arrest somebody but they don't have one."
No matter the reason for Marzieh Hashemi's detention, she should have been granted a court appearance by now, Bascuas said.
She apparently was unable to call her daughter until Tuesday night.
The family is trying to hire an attorney, but it has been difficult because she has not been charged with a crime, her son said.
Iran's state broadcaster held a news conference and launched a hashtag campaign for Hashemi, using the same techniques families with loved ones held in the Islamic Republic use to highlight their cases.
"We will not spare any legal action" to help her, said Paiman Jebeli, deputy chief of Iran's state IRIB broadcaster. Iran's Press TV aired footage of her anchoring news programs and discussing the war in Syria, set to dramatic music.
There were no references to any case against Hashemi in U.S. federal courts, nor in Missouri.
Hashemi describes herself online as having studied journalism at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.
She converted to Islam in 1982 at age 22 after meeting Iranian activist students in Denver.
She married a man she met while in journalism school.
They had two sons and a daughter. Her husband is dead, said Hashemi's brother, Milton Leroy Franklin of the New Orleans suburb of Metairie.
Last week, Iran confirmed it is holding U.S. Navy veteran Michael R. White at a prison, making him the first American known to be detained under President Donald Trump's administration.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi told state TV that Hashemi's arrest indicates the "apartheid and racist policy" of the Trump administration.
"We hope that the innocent person will be released without any condition," Ghasemi said.
At least four other American citizens are being held in Iran, including Iranian-American Siamak Namazi and his 82-year-old father, Baquer, both serving 10-year sentences on espionage charges.
Iranian-American art dealer Karan Vafadari and his Iranian wife, Afarin Neyssari, received 27-year and 16-year prison sentences, respectively.
Chinese-American graduate student Xiyue Wang was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Also in an Iranian prison is Nizar Zakka, a permanent U.S. resident from Lebanon who advocated for internet freedom and has done work for the U.S. government. He was sentenced to 10 years on espionage-related charges.
Former FBI agent Robert Levinson, who vanished in Iran in 2007 while on an unauthorized CIA mission, remains missing as well.
Iran says that Levinson is not in the country and that it has no further information about him.
His family holds Tehran responsible for his disappearance.
Source: YahooNews
Monday, 8 May 2017
On Friday 05. 05. 17, his Chaperons showcased him at the Aso Villa Mosque as having gone to attend Jumat and shake hands with other attendees as evidence that he is "hale and hearty" and less than 48 hours later, he has jetted out of Nigeria back to London to continue spending our depleted foreign reserve on medical treatment of an ailment that Nigerians have no clue about not even his Doctors
This is his message informing Nigerians of his departure
"Tonight I leave for London, to see my doctors. When I came back in
March, I hinted that there might be a need to return soon, for a
follow-up medical consultation.
I have sent the required letters regarding my trip to the Senate and
the House of Representatives, in line with Section 145(1) of the 1999
Constitution.
Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo will take charge in my absence. Government will continue to function smoothly and efficiently.
I'd like to assure all Nigerians that there is no cause for worry. I
appreciate your prayers and kind wishes.
May God continue to bless the
Federal Republic of Nigeria."
How long shall this continue?
Friday, 21 April 2017
Mr. Olisa Agbakoba has filed a Fundamental Rights Class Action against the Federal Republic of Nigeria for himself and on behalf of the South East Zone on grounds of discrimination pursuant to Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution.
His action was by Originating Summons supported by an affidavit of 99 paragraphs and a statement.
The grounds of Mr. Agbakoba’s application are summarized as follows;
(a) Total neglect of the Applicant’s Geopolitical Zone by the 1st Respondent in terms of infrastructure and general federal presence making the Applicant feel not part of the 1st Respondent.
(b) Abandonment of the Niger Bridge to collapse and failure to build the ‘Second Niger Bridge’ making the Applicant feel isolated from other parts of 1st Respondent and causing him apprehension about disaster on crossing the existing bridge.
(c) Abandonment of Federal Roads, which are death traps and robbery baits and occasioning and constraining on the Applicant grueling road journeys within the Geopolitical Zone. Failure to develop strategic new roads especially the Anam-Nzam Federal Road linking the South-East with the North-Central at Idah in Kogi State to give the Applicant easy access to the northern part of Nigeria.
(d) Failure to exploit the Oil/Gas Reserves in the Anambra Basin and stalling the Applicant’s legitimate expectation from employment and derivation funds for development of the Applicant’s South-East Zone.
(e) Abandonment of the Enugu Colliery and depriving the Applicant of his legitimate expectation from employment and derivation funds for the development of the Applicant’s South-East Zone.
(f) Failure to develop trade-friendly ports and customs policies and establish ‘ease-of-business’ platforms to assist the Applicant’s trading brothers and sisters to do better and operate on a higher and modern scale in trading, which makes the Applicant to spend money to support relatives.
(g) Failure to have an operational international cargo airport at Owerri to aid trading, which causes the Applicant to spend huge sums of money to support trading relatives to haul airborne goods by road from Lagos, , with the attendant risks.
(h) Failure to dredge the Lower Niger and establish a Port at Onitsha to aid trading which causes the Applicant to spend huge sums of money to support trading relatives to haul seaborne goods by road from Port Harcourt or Lagos, with the attendant risks.
(i) Disparity in States structure which puts the Applicant’s South-East Zone behind every other Geopolitical Zone in political and judicial appointments and representation at the National Assembly, as well as in revenue allocation.
(j) Foisting low revenue allocation status on the Applicant’s South-East Zone as a result of failure to exploit Oil/Gas and Coal and as a result of the said structural imbalance.
(k) Over-policing and police menacing of the South-East with alarming number of police ‘check-points’ at which massive extortion of billions of naira annually go on, even while violent crimes continue as if there were no police operatives.
(L) Abandoning the South-East to be swallowed up by erosion; failing to respond to calls to check widening gullies in the South-East, especially in Agulu, Nanka and Obosi all in Anambra State, which have claimed expansive farmlands and homelands and leveled homes, displacing people.
The reliefs sought are:
1. A DECLARATION that the Structural Composition of the States in the 1st Respondent in this distribution: North-West, Seven States; North-Central, Six States; North-East, Six States; South-West, Six States; South-South, Six States; and South-East, Five States; creates a structural imbalance against the Applicant and the Group/Class he represents to their political and economic disadvantage in federal legislative representation, ministerial/political and judicial appointments, and revenue allocation contrary to Section 14(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, which requires reflection of federal character in conduct of public affairs, and accordingly a violation of Section 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, which prohibits discrimination against the Applicant and the Group/Class represented based on Ethnic Grouping and place of origin.
2. A DECLARATION that in view of the provisions of Section 162(2) Constitution of the Federal Republic Nigeria 1999, which prescribes not less than 13% of federal allocation accruing directly from natural resources to be paid to the area from where such is derived, the neglect by the 1st Respondent of the huge Coal reserves under the rocky hills of Enugu and the environs in relation to the Applicant and the Group/Class he represents, of its exclusive responsibility by Item 39 in the Exclusive Legislative List, Part I Second Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, to extract the said coal deposits in commercial quantity in accordance with Section 16(2)(b)of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, while extracting solid minerals in other Geopolitical Zones, is discriminatory and a violation of Section 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.
3. A DECLARATION that in view of the provisions of Section 162(2) Constitution of the Federal Republic Nigeria 1999, which prescribes not less than 13% of federal allocation accruing directly from natural resources to be paid to the area from where same is derived, the neglect by the 1st Respondent of the huge Oil/Gas reserves in the Anambra Basin in relation to the Applicant and the Group/Class he represents, of its exclusive responsibility under Item 39 in the Exclusive Legislative List, Part I Second Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, to extract the same Oil/Gas for commercial purpose in accordance with Section 16(2)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, while extracting and exploring same in other Geopolitical Zones, is discriminatory and a violation of Section 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.
4. A DECLARATION that the neglect by the 1st Respondent of the Federal Roads in the South-East Geopolitical Zone, the neglect of the Niger Bridge which is nearing collapse and failure to put in place a Second Niger Bridge to connect the South-East with other parts of the 1st Respondent, in accordance with Section 15(3)(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, when the 1st Respondent does so in other Geopolitical Zones, is contrary to Section 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.
5. A DECLARATION that the over-policing of the South-East highways with numerous check-points by operatives of the 1st Respondent’s Nigeria Police Force (NPF) at every stretch of road wherein sums in excess of N9 Billion annually are extorted from the South-East people, while kidnapping and other crimes still go on unchecked in violation of Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999; when such extortion and high level of crime are not obtainable in any other Geopolitical Zone, is discriminatory and a violation of the provisions of Section 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.
6. A DECLARATION that the 1st Respondent’s failure to develop friendly ports and customs policies to assist traders from the South-East Geopolitical Zone to do better in trading and on higher scale; failure to have an operational international cargo airport at Owerri to aid trading and failure to dredge the Lower Niger and establish a Port at Onitsha to aid trading, in accordance with its constitutional obligations under Section 15(4), 16(1)(a) and (2)(a) and 17(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, when it responds to the people of other Geopolitical Zones in respect of their areas of strength in the economic map of the 1st Respondent, are discriminatory acts which violate Section 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.
7. A DECLARATION that the poor revenue allocation rate foisted on the South-East Geopolitical Zone by the 1st Respondent as a result of failure to exploit Oil/Gas and Coal in the Zone and as a result of the structural imbalance of the States in the South-East vis-Ã -vis other Geopolitical Zones where the 1st Respondent is mandated under Section 16(2)(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to promote “a planned and balanced economic development”, is discriminatory and contrary to the fundamental right of the Applicant guaranteed by Section 42(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.
8. A DECLARATION that the worsening menace of Erosion in the South-East Zone generally and in particular in Agulu, Nanka and Obosi in Anambra State, under the watch and neglect of the 1st Respondent, who responds to similar or less-threatening ecological problems in other Zones with dispatch and commitment, is discriminatory and a violation of the fundamental right of the Applicant and the Group/Class represented guaranteed under Section 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.
9. AN ORDER directing the 1st Respondent to forthwith prepare and release for immediate execution a comprehensive South-East Development Master Plan (SEDM) for urgent turn-around of the infrastructure in the South-East Geopolitical Zone, and the phased execution of such Master plan to be pursued with dispatch and vigour; which Master Plan must include immediate relief in the following identified areas of neglect:
(a) Complete overhauling of all Federal Highways in the Zone and designing and construction of new ones, including the Anam-Nzam Federal Road linking the South-East with the North-Central at Idah in Kogi State
(b) Exploration of Oil/Gas Reserves in the Anambra Basin
(c) Reinvigoration of modernized mining activities in Enugu
(d) Re-engineering of Niger Bridge at Onitsha and construction of a Second Niger Bridge at Onitsha
(e) Dredging of the Lower Niger and construction of a Lighter Berth at Onitsha, and
(f) Developing a modern international cargo airport in the Eastern Heartland at Owerri
10. AN ORDER directing the 1st Respondent to forthwith prepare and send to the National Assembly for enactment, a bill to establish the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) and for ancillary matters, which body shall be charged with the execution of the said Master plan and the general development of the South-East Geopolitical Zone.
11. AN ORDER directing the 1st Respondent to forthwith put all its machinery, including but not limited to legal and political apparatus, in motion, with a view to urgently creating TWO ADDITIONAL STATES in the South-East Geopolitical Zone to balance with the Seven States in the North-West, and thereby bring to an end the discriminatory practices against the South-East Geopolitical Zone in terms of legislative representation, political and judicial appointments and net federal allocation accruing to the Geopolitical Zone.
12. AN ORDER directing the 1st Respondent to take immediate steps to check the excessively aggressive and nefarious, yet ineffective policing of the South-East Geopolitical Zone and putting an end to the extortion going on at the ubiquitous police check-points on the highways in the South-East Geopolitical Zone.
13. PERPETUAL INJUNCTION restraining the 1st Respondent, whether by itself, its agents, servants or privies, or otherwise howsoever from further acts of discrimination against the Applicant or any member of the Group/Class represented.
14. GENERAL DAMAGES in the sum of N1,000,000,000,000 (One Trillion Naira) against the 1st Respondent to be shared among the Five States of the South-East Geopolitical Zone.
The key arguments in support of the application are contained in the written brief to the summons. Section 42 of the constitution provide thus;
(1) A citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, by reason only that he is such a person:-
(a) be subjected either expressly by, or in the practical application of, government, to disabilities or restrictions to which citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions are not made subject; or
(b) be accorded either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any such executive or administrative action, any privilege or advantage that is not accorded to citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religion or political opinions.
(2) No citizen of Nigeria shall be subjected to any disability or deprivation merely by reason of the circumstances of his birth.
Mr. Agbakoba’s main point is that everyone is entitled to equal treatment.
The application was filed at the Federal High Court Enugu and is pending before Mr. Justice A.R. Mohammed.
You can receive further information from the Counsel to Mr. Olisa Agbakoba SAN
Source: Facebook
Sunday, 19 February 2017
A Bank Manager in one of the new generation banks in Asaba, Delta State (name withheld) has allegedly put in family way mother and daughter (names withheld) after their relationship which started as customers.
Reports said that the Bank Manager was on Tuesday bathed by his wife in Benin City, Edo State with soap washing water and allegedly smashed his car’s windscreen when she got wind of the shocking news and had attempted to know the true story from the husband, when the trouble started.
It was gathered that the Manager hails from Benin City, Edo State and was transferred to Asaba to head the Bank Branch.
But sources said trouble started two weeks of his resumption in office when the woman, a first class business woman at the popular Ogbeogonogo market during financial transaction at the bank and interaction with the manager, discovered kind hearted services’ a situation she allegedly asked for his GSM number after which she left the banking hall.
It was further learnt that the bank manager a graduate of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) resumed Asaba branch of his office without his wife moving with him and since had been living like a bachelor in a self contained room he rented around Infant Jesus.
More often, our informed sources said, the woman-customer who barely three weeks of her relationship with the allegedly turned herself into housewife for which often she cooks and washes his clothes.
Family sources said that the woman’s husband alleged to be “vegetable” after he allegedly survived strange illness, was rendered impotent and can no longer perform his civil and conjugal responsibilities ‘a situation he lost his wife to other man outside.
While the philandrous act of the woman had been talk of the town in Asaba and its environs, the woman by share of providence became the house bread winner.
She was said to have introduced her daughter, a final year student of the state owned university, Awai, Asaba during which she became an errand girl and allegedly find her way into the heart of the banker who in most of her visits on behalf of the mother, allegedly spoils her with money.
Insider said that the girl, 22 years old, suddenly “assumed” the hottest in the heart of the banker who allegedly confided in a friend that the girl does the “job” better than the mother.
Investigation revealed that while their relationship lasted, the banker got a shocker from the mother, a 48 year old that she was pregnant and the following week on her news, the daughter reportedly “stamped” the banker with the same news.
The revelation of their pregnancies, further investigation revealed, had created tension in the family of the housewife and her property had been thrown out by the husband’s relations who described the act as an abomination.
One of the family members, Ogbueshi John Ikwunebo said “we as family members have asked the mother and the daughter to pack out of our brother’s house, it is a taboo and they cannot live there again”.
The housewife a native of Ogbeokaze Quarters in Asaba, had allegedly been “sleeping around” after the husband was reportedly hit with strange illness, while the daughter an under graduate of DELSU allegedly lives same like the mother.
Source: Facebook
Leadership.
Wednesday, 8 February 2017
Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo has nominated Walter Onnoghen as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria.
This is coming a day the Acting President said Mr. Onnoghen’s name could still be forwarded before the February 10 deadline stipulated by the Constitution.
Osinbajo made the nomination known via the twitter handle of President Muhammadu Buhari, @NGRPresident on Wednesday.
Recall that much concern was raised some days back following the delay by the Presidency to send the name of Mr. Onnoghen to the Senate for confirmation. Chief Justice of the Federation,
According to the tweet, “Hon. Justice W.S. Onnoghen’s name has been sent to the Senate for confirmation as the next CJN.” Justice Onnoghen now stands to be confirmed by the Senate in order to assume full duty as the Chief Justice of the Federation.
However, the senate is currently on recess till February 21, although an emergency sitting could be held to confirm him. The confirmation of Onnoghen would make Nigeria have the first southern head of the apex court since 30 years. But the initial delay by the presidency in sending his name to the Senate for confirmation raised allegations of ethnic bias.
Hon. Justice W.S. Nkanu Onnoghen was born on the 22nd December, 1950 at Okurike Town, Biase L.G.A. of Cross Rivers State. He attended the Presbyterian Primary School, Okurike Town between 1959 and 1965. He later proceeded to Accra, Ghana to attend Odorgorno Secondary School, Adabraka, Accra, Ghana between 1967 and 1972 for his West African Examination Council (WAEC) Exams. He was at Accra Academy, Accra Ghana between 1972 and 1974 for his WAEC (A-Levels) before proceeding to the University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana between 1974 and 1977 to obtain his Bachelor of Law Degree (LL.B (Hons)) and graduated with 2nd Class Upper Division. He attended the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos between 1977 and 1978 for his B.L certificate. Her previous professional appointments/positions held include: Pupil State Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Ikeja, Lagos, Ogun State (1978 – 1979) Partner in the Law Firm of Effiom Ekong & Company, Calabar (1979 – 1988) Principal Partner/Head of Chamber of Walter Onneghen & Associates, Calabar (1988 -1989) High Court Judge, Cross Rivers State Judiciary (1989 – 1998) Chairman, Cross Rivers State Armed Robbery and Fire Arms Tribunal (1990 – 1993) Chairman, Judicial Enquiry into the Crisis between Student of the University of Calabar and Obufa Esuk Orok Community, Calabar (1996) Chairman, Failed Bank Tribunal, Ibadan Zone (1998) Judge, High Court of Rivers State (1992 – 2004) Justice of the Court of Appeal (1998 – 2005) A Fellow, Chaterred Institute of Arbitrators, Hon. Justice W.S. Nkanu Onnoghen has attended several conferences and seminars around the world. He is a member of the Body of Bencher and Life Bencher. Hon. Justice W.S. Nkanu Onnoghen was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (JSC) since 2005.
Source: VanguardNgr
Thursday, 19 January 2017
Buhari to go on ten days medical vacation
Posted By: Onyedi Ojiabor, Abuja on: January 19, 2017 THE NATION
President Muhammadu Buhari has written the Senate on his intention to go on ten days medical vacation.
In a letter addressed to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, President Buhari said he was writing in line with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 constitution as amended.
According to the letter which was read at plenary on Tuesday by Saraki, President Buhari said he will be away from Monday 23rd January to Monday 6th February.
“In compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 constitution as amended, I wish to inform the Distinguished Senate that I will be away on a short medical vacation from Monday January, 23 to February 6th, 2017 and while I am away, the Vice President (Osinbajo) will perform the functions of my office. “Please, accept, as always assurances of my highest esteemed consideration.”
Source: Facebook Group: Anambra Updates
Tuesday, 17 January 2017
Contributed By: Obed Douglas
Goodluck Jonathan deserves some respect, Dickson tells Buhari’s govt
Seriake Dickson, governor of Bayelsa state, has expressed dissatisfaction with the way the current administration is treating former President Goodluck Jonathan, whom he described as his “elder brother”.
According to reports, Dickson said this when he received some journalists in Yenagoa, the state capital.
Commenting on the recent invasion of the house of the former first family in Abuja, Dickson advised security agencies to tread softly and treat Jonathan with the decorum and the respect he deserves.
He said the treatment being meted out to Jonathan’s family is sending the wrong signal about the anti-corruption war of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“President Jonathan is from my state and no doubt an elder brother. Someone we regard as a leader and former president of our country deserves every respect and to be given a fair treatment even as the private citizen that he has now become,” he said.
“As President Jonathan said, we need to be careful about commenting on some of these processes because a number of them are just unfolding, a number of them have not really been taken to their logical conclusion for things to be proven in one way or the other so we should be very careful about that.
“Talking generally now, not just about President Jonathan and his family, I feel that the perception that some of the policies of the present government are selective or are targeted at some persons or some sections is inimical to a number of reforms that the federal government is pursuing and that is not helpful; that perception should be addressed.
“It may just be a perception and probably it is not real but perceptions are also as important as realities. That should be addressed. Like every leader, he and his family should be treated with decorum and respect that he rightly deserves. Let us see how things play out, there should be less sensationalism.”
Recalling the unfolding events in Gambia, Dickson said with time, Nigerians will appreciate the kind of sacrifice made by Jonathan.
While Jonathan did not wait for the result of the 2015 election to be announced before congratulating Buhari, President Yahya Jammeh of Gambia, hailed Adama Barrow, his opponent, for his victory but later recanted, alleging that the election was fraught with irregularities.
West African leaders are still trying to talk Jammeh into stepping down in order to avoid a crisis.
Dickson said Jonathan did not use power in a crude manner.
“This country, with time, will appreciate the kind of sacrifice and service that Jonathan’s presidency gave,” he said.
“Jonathan as a person tried his best and particularly in the area of the use of power and authority. He never used his public authority to harm anybody and the democratic process.
“You can see what is happening in Gambia now. Gambia is in crisis and for some of us when with time our memoirs come out, people will know some of the difficult decisions that people had to take in the national interest.”
Source: Obed Douglas
Tuesday, 20 December 2016
Three aviation unions on
Tuesday shut down the operations of Arik Air, leaving hundreds of the airline’s
passengers stranded across Nigeria.
The strike was embarked
upon by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air
Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the
National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers(NAAPE).
The unions embarked on the
joint strike following the airline’s failure to pay seven months salary arrears
and refusal to alter its anti-labour practices.
The unions said the
industrial action would continue indefinitely until their demands are met by
the management of Arik Air.
They shut down Arik Air’s
flight operations at both the local and international wings of the Murtala
Muhammed Airport, Lagos and also barricaded the airline’s corporate
headquarters within the airport premises.
As early as 6:00 a.m, the
aggrieved workers stormed the airport chanting solidarity songs and carrying
placards with various inscriptions, denouncing the actions of Arik Air’s
management.
Addressing the protesters,
Mr Olayinka Abioye, General Secretary, NUATE, said the unions decided to ground
Arik Air for safety reasons. Abioye said : “Arik Air has refused to pay workers
salaries for seven months and we know that a disgruntled worker is an accident
waiting to happen. “The airline has been defaulting in taxes and other
statutory deductions from workers remunerations. “The management has refused to
allow total unionisation of its employees, in compliance with extant labour
laws and with respect to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
He also demanded for the
immediate reinstatement of five of the airline’s employees who were sacked for
their involvement in unionism.
They want management of
Arik Air allows to allow for total unionisation of its employees, in compliance
with extant labour laws and with respect to the constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria.
Other demands included the
Arik Air’s recall of all sacked employees who have been victimised for their
roles in the effort to bring about unionisation in Arik Air.
They also called for the
immediate review of all employee remunerations which had remained the same
since the inception of Arik Air, over ten years ago.
The unions further
demanded for immediate commencement of negotiations of Conditions of Service to
be concluded within four weeks and remittance of Pension, Tax, and statutory
deductions to the appropriate authorities.
They also urged the
management of Arik Air to comply with the Nigerian Expatriate Quota law.
Abioye further alleged
that Arik Air was owing about N13 billion and N6 billion to the Federal
Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Airspace Management
Agency (NAMA), respectively.
According to him, the
airline is also indebted to its aviation fuel suppliers and ground handlers and
should therefore be declared insolvent by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority
(NCAA).
Also speaking, Mr Frances
Akinjole, General Secretary, ATSSSAN, said the unions were prepared to embark
on the strike for as long as possible. “Things cannot be business as usual for
Arik. A pilot who is disgruntled can crash an aircraft deliberately. An
engineer who is being owed salaries can sabotage the aircraft. “So we need to
ground Arik Air until the management shows that they are responsible,” Akinjole
added.
Arik Air’s passengers at
the General Aviation Terminal resorted to changing their travel plans as there
was no staff to attend to them at the airline’s counter.
One of the passengers, Ms
Tomisin Olukare, said that she bought a one-way ticket from Lagos to Abuja at
N42, 000 three days ago. “I came this morning and there is nobody to attend to
me and my flight is supposed to leave by 10:00 a.m., so I am really confused,”
she said.
Another passenger, Mrs
Chika Emmanuel, said an agent assisted her in buying an Air Peace ticket for
Abuja immediately she sensed that there was going to be a disruption on Arik
Air operations. Emmanuel said she would be demanding for a refund of her ticket
from Arik Air when she returns from her trip.
The Corporate
Communications Manager of Arik Air, Mr Ola Adebanji, said the airline would
soon issue a statement on the situation.
Source: Vanguard News
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