Kabiru Sokoto files N300m suit against FG

ABUJA — The alleged mastermind of the Christmas day bomb blast that killed about 44 persons and wounded 75 others at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State, in 2011, Kabiru Umar, a.k.a Kabiru Sokoto, yesterday, instituted a N300 million suit against the Federal Government.

In an application he filed before Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, Sokoto, who is answering to a two-count terrorism charge, urged the court to award the money to him as exemplary and general damages against the Federal Government over alleged torture and beatings he suffered in the hands of operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS.

He made the application shortly after his team of lawyers, led by Mr. Sheriff Okoh, urged the trial court to discharge and acquit the accused person for want of incriminating evidence linking him to the Boko Haram Islamic sect.

It was the contention of the alleged Boko Haram kingpin that the government failed to establish a prima-facie terrorism charge capable of warranting his conviction.

“We urge this court, based on facts, to discharge and acquit the accused person for want of evidence and inability of the prosecution to establish a prima-facie terrorism charge against him.

“The accused in count two is being accused of having information about terrorism attack at St Theresa Catholic church, contrary to section 7(1) of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2001, an allegation he has denied.

“For a person to be guilty under this section there must be a ‘Mensrea’ which goes to knowledge and believe that the offence will be committed or has been committed.

20 killed as Boko Haram, troops clash in mosque attack

Maiduguri - Boko Haram claimed five lives in an attack on a mosque in Borno State over the weekend, before being repulsed by soldiers who killed 15 of the insurgents, the military said in a statement Sunday.
The latest attack by the extremist group, which has been waging an insurgency since 2009, struck on Saturday morning at Damboa town in Borno state, the group's stronghold.
"The terrorists... attacked worshippers in a mosque and killed five of them who came to perform their morning prayers," said the military's statement quoting captain Aliyu Ibrahim Danja, army spokesman for the region.
"They also set ablaze the official residence and palace of the District Head along with some shops.
"While they were unleashing their mayhem, troops under 7 Division engaged the terrorists, killing 15 in the process while others fled in disarray."
Borno was placed under a state of emergency in mid-May, when the military shut down the mobile phone network to block militants from coordinating attacks in an operation aimed at crushing the insurgency.
With the communication network switched off, details of attacks have been slow to emerge and difficult to verify.
Boko Haram has said it is fighting to create an Islamic state, but its aims have shifted and the group is believed to consist of different factions.
The group has attacked churches, mosques, schools, newspaper offices, the security forces, politicians and a UN building, among other targets.
The Boko Haram conflict is estimated to have cost more than 3,600 lives since 2009, including killings by the security forces, who have been accused of major abuses.

Breaking News: Plane crash in Lagos

Lagos - A charter plane with 20 people on board suffered an engine failure Thursday shortly after takeoff in Lagos, crash-landing on the runway and killing at least eight people, officials told AFP.

"We have recovered eleven bodies so far, while one person who is badly injured is being taken to the hospital. The rescue operation is still on. It was a small (charter) plane operated by Associated Airlines," Ibrahim Farinloye of the National Emergency Management Agency said.

An aviation official confirmed the plane, with 20 people on board, suffered engine failure after takeoff.

Troops comb forest in pursuit of Yobe Students killers

Following the killing of 40 students, there were strong indications last night that the Boko Haram insurgents, who perpetrated the gruesome act, had been sighted in a forest between Yobe and Borno states.
Heavy shelling of the forests was ongoing last night, it was learnt.
The troops have secured the College of Agriculture, Gujba and its vicinity.
Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim had ordered deployment of more troops in Yobe for a battle-to-the-finish with the insurgents.
A top source said: “Our troops are in pursuit of those who perpetrated the incident in Gujba. These insurgents have been sighted by troops in the forests between Yobe and Borno states.
“The troops have boxed the insurgents in the forests and they are advancing towards them. Heavy shelling is going on as I speak with you.
“I cannot give you an update more than this now.”
On the situation in Gujba, the source added: “The place has been secured and the vicinity is under control.
“Troops are doing their best to protect all public institutions which had been major targets of the insurgents.”
Another source however said: “There had been clashes between troops and the insurgents in the last six hours.
“We learnt the insurgents opened fire at troops who also hit back at them. There might have been casualties on both sides.”
Spokesman of Defence Headquarters, Brig-Gen. Chris Olukolade, last night, said: “There are troops already deployed in and around the school. At the moment, there are no insurgents around the school.
“Troops are still in pursuit of the terrorists. There is an ongoing operation in a forest area between Yobe and Borno states where the terrorists were sighted.

Boko Haram shoot dead 40 students in night attack

No fewer than 40 students were shot dead yesterday by men believed to be Boko Haram terrorists in an attack on a school hostel in Yobe State.
The students of College of Agriculture, Gujba, 40 kilometres from Damaturu the state capital, were asleep when the agents of death stole into their hostel. It was one of the most horrific attacks ever carried out on defenceless people by the insurgents.
The gunmen also set the school buildings on fire as they retreated after the attack.
The attackers numbering about 30 drove into the school around 1:30am and moved straight to the students hostel where they assembled them in various groups and opened fire on them.
“They ar
rived at the school around 1:00am.
We thought they were security personnel on surveillance, but they later invaded Admin Hostel and beat up the victims outside the hostel and opened fire on them,” Ibrahim, a survivor, said.
An employee of the College, Musa Amadu, said the gunmen stormed the college in Toyota Hilux trucks, Volkswagen Golf cars and motorcycles, killing the students, after closing all the gates to prevent them from escaping.
He said about 18 students were abducted by the attackers. Others hid in the ceilings, Amadu said. He said the gunmen ordered the students not to flee before shooting them in the three-hour attack.
Governor Ibrahim Gaidam wept on seeing the bodies of the slain students with gun shot wounds on various parts of their bodies at mortuary. There was also a picture of the victims packed in a truck, their bodies drenched in blood.
Damaturu Specialist Hospital Medical Director Dr Garba Fika confirmed that 40 students were killed.
He told the governor who visited the hospital that five students, including three with fractures, one with bullet wound and another with abdominal injury, were at the hospital.

33 feared dead as herdsmen, farmers clash in Benue

MAKURDI—No fewer than 33 persons were feared dead in a fresh outbreak of fighting between suspected Fulani herdsmen and native farmers in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.

Eyewitnesses that the crisis, which erupted Saturday and lasted till yesterday, some of the victims burnt beyond recognition. It also led to the burning down of over 30 houses and huts, including several farmlands and fish ponds owned by the natives.

According to the source, “the Fulani herdsmen had invaded Ojantele, Okpagabi and Ibadan in Agatu council on Saturday, killing close to 10 people.

“From there, they ambushed about three people from Agatu, who were going to a neighboring village in Apa Local Government Area of the state and slaughtered them in cold blood.”

The unwarranted killing and destruction of houses, huts and farms prompted a reprisal attack on Sunday at the Fulani settlement in a boarder village between Apa and Agatu, where a free for all ensued leading to the death of many more people.

“The development has led to villagers living at the border of both Apa and Agatu councils fleeing their abode and taking refuge in neighboring towns and villages for fear of being killed by the mercenaries, who have taken over the fighting.”

When contacted, Secretary, Miyette Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Benue State chapter, Garus Gololo told Journalists that last night, no fewer than 20 Fulanis were killed in the fighting.

Court awards Oshiomhole N25m in libel suit

A High Court sitting in Benin, Edo State, on Wednesday, awarded Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole N25m as compensation in a libel suit the governor instituted against Doclands Communications, publishers of News of the People magazine and its editor.

Oshiomhole had dragged the magazine to court over a report that he allegedly impregnated a student of the state-owned Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.

The trial Judge, Justice Efe Ikponmwoba, in his verdict also ordered that the defendant published a retraction in an edition of its publication.

Justice Ikponmwoba held that evidence adduced by the governor proved that the magazine’s publication was libelous.

26-yr-old to hang for robbery, rape

WARRI— FOR robbing a couple at gunpoint and raping their teenage daughter, a Delta High Court sitting in Warri, yesterday, sentenced a 26-year-old furniture maker, Chijioke Ede, to death by hanging.

The condemned armed robber and rapist was arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, armed robbery and rape before the court presided over by Justice Marshall Mukoro.

He was found guilty on all the charges and sentenced to death on count one and two, while he got life imprisonment on the charge of rape.

Prosecution from Delta State Ministry of Justice had told the court that Chijioke, from Enugu State, with another person still at large, on or about October 12, 2009, at Okoro Street, Warri, off Marine Gate, within the Warri Judicial Division, robbed his victims of a DVD player, a laptop computer, cash, jewelries and other valuables at gunpoint and also raped their teenage daughter.

The convict was arrested by the vigilante group in the area as his gang made to escape with their loot.

Justice Mukoro held: “With the avalanche of facts and evidences before this court, for the accused to say he was not involved in the crime is laughable and an afterthought.

“For the court to hold the evidence of the accused will amount to denial of justice, thereby bringing the bar and the bench to disrepute.

“I hereby uphold the evidence of prosecution as all the ingredients of the offence have been proved beyond reasonable doubt and sentence the accused to death by hanging on count one and two.

Jang cleared of crime against humanity

The International Court of Justice has exonerated Plateau State governor, Jonah Jang, in the allegation of crime against humanity.
The ICJ gave the governor a clean bill while delivering judgment on a case pending before it since 2009.
It would be recalled that the  Hausa Muslim community in Jos dragged the Plateau government before the ICJ in 2009, accusing the governor of masterminding killing of Hausas and Muslims in the city during the 2008 political crises.
The appellants accused Jang of genocide, ethnic cleansing and mass killing when the governor allegedly issued a shoot- at-sight order to the police in November 2008.
They also alleged that the state police command, acting on the governor’s orders, killed about 750 Muslims during the 2008 crises.
However, the ICJ after lengthy investigations declared that the appellants have failed to proof their allegations.
Responding to questions from journalists on Wednesday, the Plateau State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Adward Pwajok, said, “The ICJ has vindicated Plateau State government and the governor of all allegations.”
He said, “The state government was dragged before the court for genocide, ethnic cleansing and mass killing. The case was instituted by aggrieved parties in 2009.
“When the case was instituted, the state government did not wait to be invited. We went there to respond to the case almost immediately. We then left the court to conduct its own investigations.
“Apart from the court, there are several civil society organizations across the globe that also conducted independent investigations into the allegations. But at the end of the day, none of them, including the court has any fact that could link the governor to the crime.”

Boko Haram leader Shekau resurfaces

Abubakar Shekau, the Boko Haram sect leader the military claimed to have died in a shootout and sect members said they had deposed, has resurfaced.
The militant leader has resurfaced in a video sent to journalists where he threatened to continue spearheading terror acts.
In the latest video mailed from Maiduguri, Shekau said he remained invincible and mocked world leaders including United States President Barack Obama, French President Francois Hollande and Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan.
In the video, Shekau who spoke in Hausa, laughed off reports of his demise.
"The world should know that I cannot die except by the will of Allah. I have told you that all that I do is prescribed by the Quran. The essence of it is to carry out the injunctions. Don't bother yourselves stopping me because I cannot be stopped. The war is more grievous than you think, and it will consume you,” he said.
"I swear by Allah that there will be no democracy in Nigeria. We are going to rise against it and we
shall soon defeat it, the concept of government of the people by the people, for the people cannot continue to exist. It shall soon, very soon, be replaced by 'Government of Allah, by Allah for Allah'."
He added, "It was said that I was killed, but here I am. I deliberately refused to respond on time but here I am talking and laughing at Nigerian authorities that misled the world that I am dead. I believe by now Lt Col Sagir Musa, who issued the statement of my death, should bury his head in shame.
"President Jonathan should bury his head in shame. President Barrack Obama should bury his head in shame and President François Hollande should bury his head in shame." 
He further mocked, "How shameful is it for Nigerian military for a man they called inconsequential to defeat them and seize their tankers and arms. We have celebrated our victory in Monguno, Benisheikh and surrounding villages, and we shall not relent until total victory comes our way, by Allah's will."
In the video, the leader of the sect is seen surrounded by dozens of his lieutenants all dressed in military camouflage. The current video was believed to have been recorded in a bush as birds were chirping in the background.
Until he was declared dead, Shekau was in the list of terrorists the Nigerian Government wanted.
A bounty of N50 million was offered for his captures while the US offered $7 million.
In August, the military in Borno state issued a statement that Shekau may have been mortally injured in a military shootout in June and later died somewhere in Cameroon.