How come life is becoming so brutish and worthless in Nigeria like this? If the federal government can't pay ransom for "ordinary" citizens, why not allow international bodies to take over the negotiations?
It appears the government is clearly incompetent and has failed to defeat Boko Haram in six months as they promised in 2015 before election.
The Federal Government has expressed shock and sadness over the killing of another aid worker by the Boko Haram despite all actions taken to avert the shedding of blood.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, described the killing as dastardly, inhuman and ungodly.
In a statement yesterday, he described the killing as dastardly, inhuman and ungodly, saying nothing can justify the shedding of the blood of innocent people.
He commiserated with the family of the aid worker, and said the Federal Government did all within its powers to save her life.
”It is very unfortunate that it has come to this. Before and after the deadline issued by her abductors, the Federal Government did everything any responsible government should do to save the aid worker.
”As we have been doing since these young women were abducted, we kept the line of negotiations open all through. In all the negotiations, we acted in the best interest of the women and the country as a whole.
”We are deeply pained by this killing, just like we were by the recent killing of the first aid worker. However, we will keep the negotiations open and continue to work to free the innocent women who remain in the custody of their abductors,” the Minister said.
He thanked all the friendly governments that have continued to work with Nigeria for the safe release of the abducted women, and the clerics across religious lines who have been pleading for their release.
The possibility of the All Progressives Congress (APC) fielding candidates in the 2019 general elections in Zamfara State may have been sealed.
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said yesterday that the commission’s stance on the issue has not changed.
INEC had barred the APC chapter from fielding candidates in the elections after allegedly failing to conduct primary elections.
The commission had set October 7, 2018 deadline for parties to conclude their primary elections. But divisions within the APC state chapter prevented an INEC-supervised election from taking place for the governorship and legislative positions.
Consequently, a letter signed by INEC’s Acting Secretary, Okechukwu Ndeche, and addressed to APC’s National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, stated that the party could no longer conduct any primary elections outside of the originally-stated window.
It added that the state APC would not be allowed to participate in the governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly elections in Zamfara next year.
The APC is insisting to participate in the election.
But, the INEC boss yesterday stuck to his gun, saying that the commission has not changed its earlier decision on the issue.
Yakubu spoke yesterday in Abuja at the end of the opening of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Network of Electoral Commission (ECONEC) meeting in Abuja.
The INEC boss, who was responding to questions from reporters, said: “We have issued a statement on Zamfara and nothing has changed. We stand by the statement that we issued.”
He also added that the October 18 date for the submission of list of candidates by the political parties is sacrosanct.
There are 91 parties. But only 89 notified the commission of their intension to conduct primaries.
Yakubu said: “I am sure we have made some progress, but the deadline as we say is on October 18.”
He ruled out any possibility of extension as he declared, “we will give a full report after the October 18. No extension”.
A mother stunned doctors when she reportedly woke up from a 23-day coma the moment her newborn son was placed in her arms.
Amanda da Silva, 28, who suffers from epilepsy, had a seizure while 37 weeks pregnant, which she claims was triggered by a heated argument with her husband.
Since the seizure could kill both mother and her unborn baby, doctors sedated her and delivered her son Victor via an emergency C-section...
This happened last February. Complications set in immediately, forcing medics to place Mrs da Silva in a medically-induced coma to stabilise her, while 4.6lbs (2.1kg) Victor was taken to intensive care.
After spending weeks unable to move or communicate, nurse Fabíola Sá suggested placing Victor on Mrs da Silva's chest, which immediately caused her heart rate to quicken and tears to cascade down her face.
Mrs da Silva, from Fortaleza, North East Brazil, slowly started to improve until, 20 days after she first held her son, the pair were finally able to go home.
'We don't have a scientific answer to what happened but it's evident we should never underestimate the importance of skin-to-skin contact between mother and child,' Ms Sá said.
Mrs da Silva, who has no memory of giving birth, said: 'The first thing I remember was having Victor in my arms, seeing his little head and smelling his lovely scent.
'It was an amazing situation but at the same time confusing.
'I asked my dad if the baby was mine. I put my hand on my belly and realised I was no longer pregnant.'
Ms Sá, an intensive care nurse at Ceara's Assis Chateubriand Maternity Hospital, where Victor was born, said: 'Her response was immediate.
'After 23 days in a coma her reaction was inexplicable.'
'We never expected such a quick change and everyone in the medical team wept with happiness and relief.'
Mrs da Silva, who also has a four and two-year-old, was rushed to hospital with an acute seizure while around nine months pregnant.
The convulsions threatened both of their lives due to the low amount of oxygen reaching her brain and womb.
Doctors therefore performed a C-section, which led to her being placed in a coma.
Victor was born with a weak immune system and respiratory problems due to the medication his mother had been taking to stabilise her epilepsy during pregnancy.
He was therefore sent straight to neonatal care where he stayed for six days before going to a semi-intensive care unit.
Mrs da Silva was transferred to intensive care where she remained in a deep coma.
The young mother later managed to open her eyes but was unable to respond or react to any communication.
Obstetrician Carlos Alencar said: 'Just over a week after she was admitted to hospital we began removing the sedatives that kept her asleep, but she didn't respond as we expected.
'Although all the exams testified she had a good neurological response, she didn't move.
'We applied pain stimuli, but she didn't react. The exams showed brain activity, but the areas of activity weren't responding to anything specific, not even to the voices of relatives.
'She didn't move her arms, legs or anything.'
The medical team were running out of ideas and were on the verge of sending her to another health facility when nurse Ms Sá suggested putting Mrs da Silva and her son together.
Due to Mrs da Silva being motionless and unable to hold her child, Ms Sá wrapped the new mother's arms around her son, cradling him on her chest.
To everyone's surprise, the moment the baby was placed 'skin-to-skin', the unconscious Mrs da Silva's heart rate quickened, and she started crying and producing milk.
'As soon as Amanda felt the touch of the baby's skin on hers, tears started pouring down her cheeks. It was a cry of love,' Ms Sá said.
'More than that it was a cry that said: "I'm still here, I'm alive, I want to live''.
A group of unidentified policemen have been praised forutheir timely intervention in rescuing a man who had a health emergency while driving along Abuja/Kaduna federal highway.
The man identified as Alhaji Lawal Jet Kaugama, had a health challenge which saw him park his car by the roadside and laid down in pains after vomiting.
The officers who were on patrol along the highway - notorious for armed robberies and kidnappings, assisted the man and took him to a hospital where he was treated.
His friend Na-Allah Mohammed Zagga shared the story;
The man in this picture is Alhaji Lawal Jet Kaugama my very close friend who was saved by the bell on account of the timely arrival of the police "Operation Yaki" anti-crime crack team. Lawal had a sudden and severe malarial attack along Abuja/Kaduna federal highway, and had to park his car in emergency by the roadside.
He was vomiting profusely, and worse still, he was alone in an inhospitable area where kidnappers operate.
As luck would have it, out of nowhere, a police team spotted him by the side of the parked car and stopped. They met him lying down in pains and asked him what was the problem, but he was too weak to respond. The police team finally decided to drive him to a hospital in Kaduna where he was given an emergency admission and treated.
Alhaji Lawal said he was overwhelmed by the police show of compassion, offering help to a man in distress. According to him, the policemen didn't even leave their phone numbers for him to contact them after he was discharged to show his appreciation.
A tenant, Yemi Daramola has allegedly bitten her landlord, Mr Paul Ajayi on the lower lips, cutting off a part during a misunderstanding over unpaid rent in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
An eyewitness explained that the suspect (Yemi) is the wife of one Ojo Daramola who rented a room apartment and had been living in the house for more than three years, but recently had issues with the landlord over their failure to pay rent for over a year.
The source said they suddenly heard noise
from the house and found the landlord’s lip cut off while his cloth was socked with his own blood and a part of the lip was still on the suspect’s mouth.
Speaking with Radio Nigeria, Mr Ajayi narrated that he had met with the family a previous night to ask for the owed rent but the husband promised to see him the following day.
Ajayi who is a cobbler said “They owed me 18 months rent and I went to meet the husband when he arrived from work at around 8 o’clock at night.
"The husband begged me to exercise patience that he would see me in the following morning.
"I warned them to stop postponing payment because I have been asking them to pay till the rent piled up to eighteen months.
The eighteen months rent they owe me is # 28,000 as well as electricity bill which is about #6,000.
"On the following morning, the husband came to me, begging, which I insisted that they have to pay.
"Later, I saw out my friends that visited me and as I was coming back, the wife attacked me. She hit me and tried to target my scrotum.
"As I was trying to bend to save my scrotum, she bit my lips and cut it off. That was when I reported the case at Fanibi Police Station.” Ajayi narrated.
The incident which occurred at Fanibi area is now before a Magistrate Court sitting in Akure.
The landlord added that that was not the first time the suspect would attack neighbours whenever she had misunderstanding with them.
“Three years ago, she bit her step son and was arrested but it was later settled. Last year, she also injured her co tenant, who was later taken to local orthopaedics for treatment.”
He explained that court would sit on the case this week.
A source said the magistrate had ordered that the woman be remanded pending the next hearing.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ondo State Command, Femi Joseph said he had not been fully briefed on the matter.
Mr Joseph however explained that once it had been established that the case is in court, the Police must have prosecuted the suspect.
Meanwhile, the Dental Section of the State Specialists Hospital Akure has recommended a plastic surgery for Paul Ajayi and a sum of Five Hundred Thousand naira would be needed to carry out the surgery on his lip.
He has therefore been referred to the Obafemi Awolowo University teaching hospital in Ile-Ife for the surgery.
A referrer letter signed by Dr Olasehinde and addressed to the plastic surgery team of the OAU Teaching Hospital, states ‘Ajayi, age 63, Male suffered avulsion of the lower lip“ when his co-tenant bit him on his lip .”
PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar met with ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday for consultation and strategic support ahead of the 2019 election. Jonathan was one of those who told Atiku that it was important for him to get the backing of Baba Obasanjo. More photos...
A TV Presenter, Alex Kramer, who suffered 35 miscarriages in 7 years, has narrated her ordeal after her last devastating blow which was losing her twins.
Though the 40-year-old woman has two children with fiance Scott – Isobella, six, and four-year-old Josh – she is desperate for a larger family.
Alex who lost her first baby and miscarried another nine times before eventually giving birth to her daughter in January 2013, told the Star on Sunday;
“I am blessed to have two beautiful children and I know there will be people out there thinking, ‘Why is she still doing this?’
“But for every person who thinks that way there will be those who will understand my longing for another child – the dream of holding tiny newborn hands and kissing little feet, as well as the grief and pain I feel every time I miscarry.
“To those people going through what I am, I just want to say you are not alone.”
The TV Presenter who had her son Josh after suffering 5 more miscarriages, further said;
“I genuinely thought I was done. But I always wanted a big family. Since trying for a third I’ve suffered a further 20 losses.
“I’ve had every test and investigation going as they tried to find out why I was having recurrent miscarriages. Nothing ever showed up.
“And having carried two children to full term I keep thinking, ‘What if this month is the month that I get my third baby?’
“But seven years on and after 35 miscarriages, I don’t think I’ll ever know the truth.”
Alex who has spent £30,000 on fertility treatment – now says an upcoming round of IVF will be her last.
Do you need NYSC certificate to contest primary? What if you are a graduate but decide to submit your WAEC since constitution requires just School Certificate for elective position?
Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, has filed a lawsuit against the ruling APC for disqualifying him as a governorship aspirant in Oyo state on account of not presenting NYSC discharge certificate.
The National Working Committee had on September 27th (read here) disqualified Shittu from the Oyo state governorship primary after it was reported on a news platform that the Minister did not participate in the mandatory one year NYSC scheme when he graduated from the faculty of law from the Obafemi Awolowo University in 1978. He graduated at age 25 and failed to observe the mandatory one year service.
65-year-old Shittu, had in his defence, said upon his graduation, he contested for a seat in the state House of Assembly and won. According to him, serving in the state House of Assembly should suffice for his NYSC certificate. Read here.
In the suit filed by his counsel, A.U Mustapha, Adebayo asked the court to declare that the submission/presentation of NYSC Discharge Certificate to APC is not part of the requirements for him to participate in the primary election for Nomination of Governorship candidate of the party in Oyo State for the 2019 General Election. He asked the court to determine five issues. They are:
*”whether by the provision of Section 2(1) of the National Youth Service Corps Decree No. 24 of 1973 and/or any other provision of the Decree being the law in force as at 1978 when the Plaintiff graduated at the University of Ile-Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife) he was under any legal obligation to have warranted the plaintiff’s participation in the National Youth Service Corps in the absence of a call-up instrument duly served on the Plaintiff by the National Youth Service Corps.
*”whether, by the combined reading of Sections 176-183 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria [as Amended] and Article 20(iii) & (iv) of the Constitution of the All Progressive Congress; it is a condition that the gubernatorial aspirant of the 1st Defendant (APC) and/or any political party for that matter in Nigeria must present the National Youth Service Corps Discharge/Exemption Certificate;
*”Whether it is ultra vires the powers of the 1st defendant to have disqualified the plaintiff from participating in its primary election for nomination of the governorship candidate of the 1st defendant in Oyo State for the 2019 General Election on the ground that the plaintiff does not possess National Youth Service Corps Discharge/Exemption Certificate;
*”Whether it does not amount to denial of fair hearing as enshrined in Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution of as amended for the 1st defendant to have purportedly disqualified the Plaintiff from contesting for governorship election in Oyo State under the platform of the 1st defendant without availing the Plaintiff an opportunity to be heard on the allegations that the plaintiff avoided the National Youth Service Scheme; and
*”whether by the combined reading of the provisions of Sections 147(5), 65(1)(b) & (2), 66 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 12 of the National Youth Service Corps Act, Cap N84 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, the plaintiff was qualified to have been appointed as a Minister capable of holding the office, and/or any other governmental office at any level notwithstanding the fact that he did not participate in the National Youth Service Corps Scheme.”
The court paper further reads;
"I was liable but not obligated to have participated in the National Youth Service Corps Scheme both at the time I graduated from the said University and as at the time I was called to the Nigerian Bar.
“I know as a fact that no “call-up instrument” was served on me as at 1978 when I graduated from the said University by the National Youth Service Corps to have warranted my participation in the scheme.
“I know as a fact that I was also not served any Notice or notified in any manner to proceed to participate in the National Youth Service Corps Scheme.
“I know as a fact that participation in the National Youth Service Corps programme is not one of the requirements to be satisfied under the 1st Defendant’s constitution to enable me participate in the primary election for Nominating the party flag bearer for the office of Governor of Oyo State in the 2019 General Election. A copy of the Constitution of the 1st Defendant is hereby attached and marked as “Exhibit SHITTU 8”.
“I also know as a fact that under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) it is not a requirement for me to have participated in National Youth Service Corps Scheme to be eligible for participation in the 1st Defendant’s primary election for Nomination of its flag bearer in Oyo State for the 2019 General election.
“I know also as a fact that the Electoral Act 2010 [as Amended] did not make participation in the National Youth Service Corps Scheme a condition precedent for contesting any elective office whatsoever.
“I know also that participation in NYSC Scheme is not one of the requirements to enable me take part in primary election for Nomination of the 1st Defendant’s flag bearer for the office of Governor of Oyo State in the 2019 General election.”
Mathew Kukah, Catholic bishop of Sokoto diocese, has explained how he convinced ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo to reconcile with Atiku Abubabar, former vice-president.
Obasanjo had on Thursday played host to Kukah, Ahmad Gumi, a Kaduna-based Islamic cleric; and David Oyedepo, founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, and some top politicians and civil rights activists at his hill-top residence in Abeokuta, Ogun state.
The ex-president, during the occasion announced his endorsement of Abubakar as his preferred candidate for the 2019 presidential election, saying he has forgiven his former deputy.
Criticisms had trailed the visit, with many accusing the religious leaders of swimming in the mud of politics.
Oyedepo has since absolved himself of the criticisms, saying his presence during the meeting was that of a mediator.
Kukah followed suit in a wordy statement, to explain his role in the meeting. Both Oyedepo and Kukah said they received no financial tipping from any politician.
Kukah said he only went to Obasanjo’s residence to complete the reconciliation agenda which he had been pursuing for years.
He expressed delight that the meeting took place, saying he remained eternally grateful to God.
According to him, he had planned for the meeting to be between just the three of them, but his host requested the presence of other parties, a plan he says he was not comfortable with.
“I was not interested in the politics of reconciliation but the spiritual angle. Although trying to reconcile President Obasanjo and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was something I had been working on intermittently in the last few years, nothing could have prepared me for the way things finally shaped up,” Kukah said.
“My focus all along had been with President Obasanjo and I had never brought Alhaji Abubakar into what I was doing. Quite fortuitously, a chance meeting changed the tide in favour of reconciliation.
“I am therefore very clear about the boundaries, the slippery slopes and the contexts. Unlike Shaikh Gumi and Rev. Oyedepo who were invited to this event, I am a central actor.”
The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has ordered the arrest of four policemen who allegedly shot dead a young lady identified as Anita Akapson, at Katampe Extension area, in Abuja, over the weekend.
Anita who returned from the UK last year and was a staff of NEMA, was shot dead by the police officers at a check point close to her house.
Reacting to the sad news, spokesperson of the force,
Jimoh Moshood, in a statement released on Monday, said the IGP has directed the FCT Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma, to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The IGP deeply commiserate with the family of the deceased and hereby assure them that justice will be done in the matter. The Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command is already in touch with the family as directed by the Inspector General of Police.
The public will be informed of the outcome of investigations into the incident.
The police boss also commiserated with her family and assured them that “justice will be done on the matter.”
Former president Goodluck Jonathan was pictured having a good time with his grandchildren, during a visit to his daughter, Faith and her husband, Prince Godswill Edward, on Sunday at their home. More pics...
Some committed worshipers in Anambra state have resiliently held their church service in open air after their church got submerged by flood, which has affected many Nigerian communities.
A resident of Anam, Anambra West area, Mike Obiajulu, revealed that the Christians insisted on holding their Sunday Service within the small portion of land they could find around their submerged church.
BBC shares a pic of the man that exposed Kano state Governor Umar Ganduje's bribery on video. Daily Nigeria journalist, Jaafar Jaafar, said his life is under threat over the trending video.
The APC federal government, which claims to be fighting corruption, are said to be at a loss on how to handle or react to the shocking video.
Friends have taken to social media to mourn the loss of a hardworking staff of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), who was allegedly killed by a police officer near her residence in Maitaima area of Abuja.
It's said that the lady, Anita Akapson was shot dead on
Saturday night by the police who claimed it was a case of 'mistaken identity'.
It was revealed that the family of the deceased has reported the issue at the police station but have not gotten any response.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is under pressure from some strong political players in the Presidency to return the National Commissioner on Health and Welfare, Mrs Amina Zakari, to her former operations beat from where she was posted last week by the National Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
There are allegations that she's used that office to help APC.
The Presidency also said yesterday that it was seeking the understanding of the National Assembly over the funding of INEC’s budget for the general elections billed for the first quarter of 2019, saying it would not confront the federal legislature over its virement of funds from the Special Intervention Programme (SIP) estimates instead of the National Assembly’s projects votes as requested by President Muhammadu Buhari.
THISDAY sources said at the weekend that INEC had come under intense pressure to return Zakari, a relation of Buhari to operations, which is the engine room of election management of the commission.
Zakari and four other national commissioners had reshuffled by Yakubu last week after leaders of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Senate President Bukola Saraki, marched on INEC and Police Headquarters, protesting the handling of the governorship election in Osun State last month.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, had defeated the PDP’s Senator Ademola Adeleke after a controversial run-off that international and local observers carpeted for what they called undue interference by security forces.
Zakari, who had been variously accused of skewing election processes in favour of the ruling APC, obviously on account of her relationship with Buhari, was particularly accused by the PDP of turning the tables against it in Osun State.
The INEC National Commissioner in charge of Osun, Oyo and Ogun States, Mr. Adedeji Soyebi, also got caught up in the web of the protest and was posted to the commission’s electoral institute.
But THISDAY was told that the presidency had been uncomfortable with the postings, coming few months to the general elections and want them reversed.
Sources however said that INEC National Chairman, Yakubu, is resisting the pressure but wondered how long he would hold his ground.
We can't tell if it's the man's hight or the fact that he's way older that is making her sad. But whatever the case, they both need better counselling moving forward.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youths (Worldwide) has commended the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubaka, for choosing an Igbo son as the vice presidential candidate for the 2019 general elections.
The commendation was given through
a statement issued in Owerri on Sunday by its Acting National President, Dr. Kingsley Dozie; and Emeka Odom, its Assistant National Legal Adviser.
It said that assistance of Igbo youths would be made available to the PDP, having chosen Dr. Peter Obi as its presidential running mate.
The group said it had already started discussing and liaising with youths of other ethnic nationalities on how to have a productive and people-oriented election.
“To restructure Nigeria is our priority now and we’ll get it right this time.
“The choice of the former governor, Peter Obi, is great. He was not wasteful in the management of resources while serving as governor.
“Peter Obi is a good choice. He will bring business intelligence into governance.
“He is not corrupt and as a governor, he was not wasteful. Igbo youths are very happy .
“Obi’s success story as a businessman would help in reviving the nation’s economy, if elected in 2019.
“The decision to pick him, we believe, is based on his outstanding performance as governor of Anambra State,” it said.
The group said that as a successful businessman, it expected Obi to translate his wealth of experience into good governance for the nation.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) have asked President Muhammadu Buhari to withdraw the travel ban imposed on 50 high profile criminal suspects under Executive Order 6 (EO6).
Falana, in a statement titled: “Allow the courts to impose travel ban on suspected looters”, said only the courts could impose travel ban on the suspected high profile persons”.
He argued that since the power of the anti-graft agencies and the courts to place criminal suspects on watch list or subject their passports to temporary seizure has never been in doubt, “the directive to place the 50 high profile suspected persons on watch list and restrict their movement is highly superfluous, completely unwarranted and totally uncalled for”.
The rights lawyer said the travel ban “is an ingenious design to expose the Buhari administration to ridicule”.
Falana added that since the high-profile suspects covered by EO6 had been placed on a watch list and their passports seized by either the anti-graft agencies or the courts, the travel ban slammed on them by President Buhari ought to be withdrawn without any delay.
Falana said the travel ban was a sad reminder of the placement of political opponents on security watch list and seizure of their passports by the defunct military junta.
He noted that a Federal High Court last week upheld the constitutional validity of the Executive Order 6 (EO6) issued by Buhari on July 5.
The lawyer added that the government, acting on the ruling, directed the Nigeria Immigration Service and other security agencies to place no fewer than 50 high-profile persons directly affected by EO6 on watch-list and restrict them from leaving the country pending the final determination of their cases.
He said even though the names of the “50 high profile persons” have not been published by the Federal Government, they are presumed to be either standing trial in the various high courts or being investigated for corrupt practices by the anti-graft agencies.
“If the Federal Government had done some background checks, it would have discovered that the names of the 50 VIPs have long been placed on a security watch list while their passports have been impounded by the anti-graft agencies or the courts as one of the conditions for admitting them to bail.
“It is public knowledge that whenever the defendants wish to travel abroad for medical treatment, they usually apply for the interim release of their passports.
“Since the courts have taken judicial notice of the perilous state of medical facilities in the country, such applications are usually granted. And once the suspects return from the foreign medical trips, their passports are returned to the registry of the trial courts,” he explained.
Falana, however, regretted that indigent accused persons standing trial for stealing, fraud or other economic crimes are not entitled to such a privilege because they have no money to acquire passports not to talk of paying for foreign trips and medical treatment abroad.
Notwithstanding such judicial indictment of politically exposed persons seeking medical treatment during trial, he contended that the law has not authorised the executive to restrict the movement of criminal suspects.
He counselled the Buhari administration to wage the war against corruption within the ambit of the rule of law.
SERAP, in a statement, said Executive Order 6 (EO6) banning 50 alleged high-profile corrupt Nigerians from travelling abroad was illegal and repressive.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary Akinloye Oyemiyi, the ANN said: ”We know that Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution as amended legally guarantees the right to freedom of movement to all Nigerians and this right can only be tampered with by established laws as enshrined in the Section 45 of the same constitution and not by any draconian executive order targeted at political opponents by a president that is scared of electoral defeat.”
