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HURIWA Tells Buhari To Respect Human Rights In South-east, South-south

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Arrest Northern Terrorists As You've Arrested Nnamdi Kanu - HURIWA Tells Govt

A civil rights advocacy group, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari and the military chiefs who took a decision on what they called new security measures for South-east and South-south of Nigeria to be mindful of the constitutional obligations of adhering strictly to the rules of engagement and absolute respect for the fundamental human rights of civilians.

Whilst carpeting Buhari for his persistent marginalisation of the South-east from any commanding position of significance in the defence institutions to such a ridiculous extent that no Igbo military officer attended the last meeting during which a decision to introduce new security measures for the South-east and the crude oil-rich Niger Delta region was taken, the rights group said Buhari’s legendary aversion for respect of the fundamental freedoms of the citizens would continue to haunt the government and make it impossible for civilised nations to sell weapons to it.

“This government is notorious for gross human rights violations and this is the fundamental reason the USA and most first world countries do not want to provide technical assistance or sell arms for the prosecution of the war on terror because it is believed that a tyrannical regime could divert the weapons to kill civilians like is the case with the Muhammadu Buhari’s junta. This is why this government has to make sure that the operatives to be deployed to the South-east and South-south do not under any circumstances resort to the use of such self-help measures like shoot-on-sight which constitutes a gross violation of the right to the life of the citizens provided for and protected under the provision of section 33(1) of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended).

” We condemn in totality any decision to adopt a shoot-on-sight policy by the military. This is a crime against humanity and must never be tolerated”.

READ ALSO: Northerners Are With Us On Restructuring, Others – Akeredolu

HURIWA warned the government to take note that the activities of the soldiers on internal security operations are diligently monitored by many international and local non-government individuals and platforms in such a professional manner that all the violations of the human rights of the citizens by soldiers and security forces would be exposed to the world and if the perpetrators are not prosecuted, then Nigerian military chiefs would inevitably be taken to the International Criminal Court in The Hague Netherlands for crimes against humanity.

“We have already drafted a petition on the recent extrajudicial killings of Imo citizens that the Army of Nigeria committed and the hierarchy has refused to name and prosecute the perpetrators just as the petition is about to be despatched to the International Criminal Court in The Hague Netherlands after the Moslem festivity”.

In a media statement the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director Miss Zainab Yusuf stated as follows: “The military under the democratic setting is governed by constitutional norms. The Nigerian Constitution being the grundnorm absolutely prohibits the use of extralegal killings of citizens under section 33 (1). Under section 36 (5) citizens are guaranteed fair hearing. There is no legal support for the infliction of mass killings as a consequence of the deliberate attacks on security formations and operatives by unknown gunmen in the South-east and South-south of Nigeria .

“The military authority is not allowed to resort to self-help because Nigeria is not a banana republic but a nation governed by laws. The soldiers are not immune from prosecution for offences of genocide.”

HURIWA reiterated that the Nigerian Armed Forces when deployed for either internal or external operations, are bound by the laws of war and international law in the conduct of the operations.

It submitted that the laws regulate and limit the conduct of operations by acting as checks against arbitrary use of force just as the rights group said these rules of engagement are intended to minimize unnecessary suffering by combatants and non-combatants during internal military operations.

The rights group said even under a conventional and non- conventional or asymmetric warfare,  the laws of war and international law are therefore sources of military law in Nigeria and include the following: (a.) The four Geneva Conventions of 1949; (b). The two Additional Protocols of 1977 to the Geneva Conventions of 1949; (c. )  Multilateral and bilateral agreements to which Nigeria is a signatory and have bearing on military service or operations.”

READ ALSO: Southern Governors Seek Restructuring, Want Buhari To Convoke National Dialogue

HURIWA reminds the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru that the Nigerian military does not perform its roles in a vacuum as it derives the roles from the constitution, presently the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.

HURIWA affirmed also that: “As stated earlier, the Constitution is the grundnorm or supreme law that voids any other law that is inconsistent with it to the extent of the inconsistency. Sections 217-220 provide for the establishment, roles, command and operational use of the armed forces and related matters. For clarity, section 217(1) and (2) provides as follows:”(1) There shall be armed forces for the Federation which shall consist of an Army, a Navy, an Air Force and such other branches of the armed forces of the Federation as may be established by an Act of the National Assembly.”

HURIWA further maintained that constitutionally, “(2) The Federation shall subject to an Act of the National Assembly made in that behalf, equip and maintain the armed forces as may be considered adequate and effective for the purpose of (a) Defending Nigeria from external aggression; (b) Maintaining its territorial integrity and securing its borders from violation on land, sea or air; (c)  Suppressing insurrection and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore order when called upon to do so by the President, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly; and (d) Performing such other functions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.”

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BREAKING:Lagos Govt Arraigns Chrisland School, Principal, Others Over Death Of Pupil Whitney Adeniran

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Chrisland pupil Whitney

The Lagos State government has arraigned Chrisland School, Opebi, its principal, vice principal and two other employees over the death of one of the school’s pupils, 12-year-old Whitney Adeniran.

On Wednesday, the government of Lagos State had filed charges against Chrisland School and four others over the death of the 12-year-old pupil, Whitney Adeniran.

The school and its workers were accused of involuntary manslaughter and reckless and negligent acts.

The workers who were arraigned before Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja include Ademoye Adewale, Kuku Fatai, Mrs Belinda Amao, Nwatu Ugochi Victoria and Chrisland School Limited.

The school principal, Mrs Belinda Amao, broke down in tears while in the dock as the court and counsel tried to agree on a date for the commencement of the trial.

Whitney died during the school’s inter-house sports competition at Agege Stadium in Lagos on February 9.

Blessing Adeniran, her mother, had accused Chrisland of negligence over her daughter’s death.

The school’s management, however, dismissed insinuations that there was foul play in the death, saying she slumped in public.

Chrisland also argued that Whitney complained about “not-too-buoyant health” a few days before she died.

However, an autopsy conducted at the Lagos State University Hospital (LASUTH) confirmed that the deceased died from “asphyxia and electrocution”.

In the charges filed on behalf of the state government by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Babajide Martins, who disclosed that their negligence killed Whitney because they failed to ensure her safety.

The charge also disclosed that they all acted in a reckless and negligent manner that endangered human life.

The offences are contrary to Sections 224 & 251 of the Criminal Law, C17, Vol.3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015

If found guilty, the offences carry a penalty of life imprisonment and two-year jail terms respectively.

On Tuesday, the state government granted access to Chrisland High School, Opebi branch, to open for physical learning ahead of the school’s forthcoming examination after parents’ appeal.

The state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu had ordered that the school be shut down on March 3, 2023, following the investigation into Whitney’s death.

Sanwo-Olu through the state Ministry of Education said the closure of the school would pave the way for unhindered investigation and afford all stakeholders, including parents, students, staff and friends of the deceased, time to grieve.

The reopening followed an appeal by the Parents of all Chrisland School Units who visited the Ministry of Education on Monday to seek the government’s understanding for “the sake of 500 plus students some of whom also have terminal examinations.”

The management of the school had tendered an apology over Whitney’s death.

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BREAKING: Abacha’s Ex-chief Of Staff Oladipo Diya Dies

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Diya

Retired Lt.General Donaldson Oladipo Oyeyinka Diya, the former Chief of Staff in General Sani Abacha’s military government, is dead.

His death was confirmed by Prince Oyesinmilola Diya. He said the former military administrator of Ogun State passed on to glory in the early hours of 26th March 2023.

Born on the 3rd of April, 1944, Diya was military Governor of Ogun State after the Buhari-Idiagbon coup of December 31st, 1983.

Diya joined the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna and fought during the Nigerian Civil War.

He later attended the US Army School of Infantry, the Command and Staff College, Jaji (1980–1981) and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru.

While serving in the military, Diya studied law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he obtained an LLB degree, and then at the Nigerian Law School, where he was called to bar as Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

He held other top military posts like GOC, 82 Division and finally the Chief of General Staff (military Vice President) to Gen Sani Abacha

The statement read: “On behalf of the entire Diya family home and abroad; we announce the passing on to Glory of our dear Husband,Father, Grandfather,brother, Lt- General Donaldson Oladipo Oyeyinka Diya (Rtd) GCON, LLB, BL, PSC, FSS, mni.

“Our dear Daddy passed onto glory in the early hours of 26th March 2023. Please keep us in your prayers as we mourn his demise in this period. Further announcements will be made public in due course.

“Barrister Prince Oyesinmilola Diya, on behalf of the family.”

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Breaking: Appeal Court Retains Adeleke As Osun Governor

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BREAKING: Adeleke Freezes Osun Accounts , Reverses Appointments After Swearing In As Governor
Governor Adeleke

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has vacated the tribunal judgement that nullified the election of Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State.

The appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of Justices, on Friday held that the appeal Adeleke lodged to challenge his sack by the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, was meritorious.

Aside from setting aside the judgement of the tribunal, the court, in its lead judgement that was delivered by Justice Mohammed Lawal, awarded N500, 000 cost against the All Progressive Congress, APC, and its candidate, Gboyega Oyetola

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