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Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency, CESJET, has dragged Amnesty International before the International Criminal Court ICC, over its report which accused Nigeria of human rights violation. CESJET through its lawyers, Mr. Wolfgang Bendler and Edward Omaga, accused Amnesty International of promoting and protecting human rights, a development which it said has been derailed into an incendiary and partisan goal. In a petition submitted to the office of The Prosecutor, International Criminal Court, ICC, Madame Fatou Bensouda, the group said going by its recent comments and stand over certain issues, it appears that they have taken side. Part of the petition reads: “Against the background of its 2015/2016 annual report in which it raised questions on the appalling human rights situation across the globe and scores Nigeria low as an abuser of human rights, it is pertinent to state that the ombudsman mission of Amnesty International in promoting and protecting human rights has ...

The Federal Government has unveiled plans to borrow the sum of N952.04bn ($3.02bn) with new issues of Treasury Bills from September 15 to December 1, 2016. In its latest TBs issuance calendar, the CBN said it would sell N264.47bn worth of threemonth bills, N204.88bn of sixmonth bills and N482.69bn of one-year bills. The Federal Government is expected to borrow around N900bn from the local market to bridge its budget deficit, which is estimated at N2.2tn in the 2016 budget. According to the Debt Management Office, the Federal Government is also planning to borrow N120bn ($387m) in localcurrency denominated bonds at an auction on September 14. Similarly, the DMO said earlier that it would raise N40bn each from debt maturing in 2021, 2026 and 2036, using the Dutch auction system. All the bonds are re-openings of previously issued debt. Furthermore, the apex bank will also borrow N1.77bn via Treasury Bills in the next three months of the year. Meanwhile, in its fourth quarter Treasury Bill...

It was mild drama and total disbelief at the Chief Magistrate Court 11in Lokoja when Mohammed, the eldest son of former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Audu, was arraigned for armed robbery yesterday. Mohammed was arrested on Wednesday night when he honoured the invitation of the men of the Special Anti- Robbery Squad at the “A” Division Office in Lokoja where he was subsequently detained and charged to court the following day. The First information report stated among charges preferred against Mohammed includes criminal conspiracy, causing mischief and grievous hurt as well as attempted culpable homicide, all contrary to section 97 (1), 248, 327, 298 and 229 of the Penal Code. Also in the FIR, the uncle of Mohammed, Alhaji Yahaya Audu, had alleged that prior to the attack on him on the 30th of last month, Mohammed had threatened to deal with him, adding that it was by sheer miracle that he escaped, when some hoodlums stormed his home at Ogbonicha, in the eastern flank of the stat...

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday launched “Change-Begins-With-Me” campaign, in what could be described as a re-introduction of the War Against Indiscipline, WAI, campaign when he was military Head of State over 30 years ago. The campaign is meant to institutionalise values of accountability, integrity laced with positive attitudinal change in Nigerians. At the event, which took place inside the State House Conference Centre, Buhari appealed to Nigerians to be part of the campaign, stressing that the change they desire to see starts with themselves. The campaign, spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Information, is in line with the change mantra of the present administration. Buhari stressed that the campaign was part of the determination of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to carry Nigerians along on the journey to a better and greater society that we all can be proud of. According to the president, Nigeria is currently passing through a challenging moment where hard...

The Federal Government is to spend N6.5trn in the 2017 fiscal year. This was contained in a budget call circular issued by the office of the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs. The circular was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Abuja yesterday. According to the circular, the budget estimate is in accordance with the 2017-2019 Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, and Fiscal Strategy Paper, FSP. It said the aggregate Federal Government retained revenue for the 2017 fiscal year was projected at N4.1trn, while the aggregate expenditure level was projected to be N6.9trn. “This aggregate expenditure is made up of statutory transfers of N370.7bn, Debt Service of N1.63trn, Recurrent (non-debt) expenditure of N2.56trn and Capital expenditure of N1.76trn. “The N1.63trn in respect of Debt Service is made up of N1.47bn for domestic debt; N159.6bn for foreign debt and N177.4bn for sinking f...

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday disclosed that he and the United States are ready to drive ISIS from its Syrian stronghold of Raqqa. Obama(L), Erdogan Erdogan said US counterpart Barack Obama floated the idea of joint action against the militants when they met at the G20 summit in China. “Turkey will have no problem with such action,” Erdogan said. Last month Turkey launched an operation inside Syria, targeting both ISIS and Kurdish rebels. Turkish-backed militia drove ISIS from the border town of Jarablus, but Turkey has also been concerned with checking the advance of Kurdish forces whom it regarded as terrorists. The offensive continues, and Deputy Prime Minister Nurettin Canikli said Turkish forces might push deeper into Syria after securing a stretch of land along the border. Canikli also said 110 Islamic State and Kurdish militia fighters had been killed since the operation began. Russia, who is allied to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, said it was deeply...

Real Madrid will welcome back the added firepower of talisman Cristiano Ronaldo and striker Karim Benzema when they entertain promoted Osasuna in La Liga tomorrow. Real’s all-time top scorer, Ronaldo, missed their first two league games of the season and their European Super Cup triumph over Sevilla while recovering from a knee injury he sustained playing in the Euro 2016 final for Portugal. Cristiano Ronaldo He told reporters yesterday, however, that he would face Osasuna, declaring: “I’m ready”. But FIFA, also yesterday, dismissed appeals by Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid against a ban on registering new players in the next two transfer windows for irregularities in the signing of foreign players under 18. Real and Atletico – last season’s Champions League finalists – were also fined 360 000 euros ($358 000) and 900 000 Swiss Francs respectively. However, the Spanish giants still have a final right of appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). “The FIFA App...

The Peoples Democratic Party has rejected the postponement of the Edo governorship election saying that the Saturday September 10, 2016 Election Date should remain sacrosanct since there is no tangible reason(s) evident to tamper with the Election. In a statement issued in Abuja Thursday, the spokesman of the party, Prince Dayo Adeyeye said the “postponement of the Election by top hierarchy of the security agencies predicated on alleged security threat was a less than ingenious attempt to buy time for the APC which is clearly heading for a major electoral catastrophe on Saturday. “It is shameful and indeed a major constitutional breach for the security agencies to act in concert with the APC to truncate an Election that had been planned for months. Nigerians were not deceived by the obvious concoctions of the security agencies whose performances during elections have been less than average since the advent of the Buhari Administration. Indeed they have become instruments in the ha...

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has described the postponement of the Edo State governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a very bad signal and beginning of the end for democracy in Nigeria, adding that; “it is obvious that the All Progressives Congress (APC) feared that it can’t win the election and is ready to employ whatever crude means to subvert the wish of the people.” Ayo Fayose   The governor, who said he was alarmed by the APC government of President Mohammadu Buhari’s use of security agencies to arm-twist democratic process; “I warned Nigerians not to elect Buhari because he lacked the capacity, mentally, morally and intellectually to superintend over any civilised society, now we are all seeing the results. Our economy is in recession and democracy is also in recession!” In a statement on Thursday, signed by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose s...

There was pandemonium Thursday in Okpella, Estako East Local Government area of Edo State as supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP clashed with those of the All Progressives Congress, APC. It was gathered that the incident started brewing in the early hours of yesterday when some PDP supporters were alleged to have threatened to carry out attack on any Okpellan supporting the ruling APC in Okpella. The clash came barely some hours to the announcement of the postponement of Saturday, September 10 Edo State gubernatorial election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. The clash is also coming barely three days after a youth body in Okpella, Okpella Youth Council, warned in a recent publication of a possible inversion of the community by thugs hired by unknown politicians in Okpella. It was also gathered that the youths were initially reacting to an alleged gun shot at the gate of a PDP stalwart in Okpella that took place at about 3am on Thursday. According to ...

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Thursday, agreed to extend the date of the Edo State governorship election by two weeks.  Details later…

The much speculation of possible increase in price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, otherwise known as petrol, may not be considered mere, as the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Thursday warned of threat to product availability in the country, as it is gripped with series of challenges confronting the petroleum sector. This came as expert blamed marketers of insensitivity to price moderation when government placed a cap on petrol price in May. But, other operators have argued that the price of petrol is driven by laws of economies, which cannot be altered for a long time, and as such is expected to increase giving the current challenges of FOREX and others. The National President, IPMAN, Mr. Chinedu Okoronkwo, stated that flexible way to assessing FOREX has been given rather than black market dependence for the purpose of importing critical items to the country. He said, “But I will advice for total deregulation. The price moderation, which is the cap pl...

Chelsea are willing to send Diego Costa back to Athletico Madrid  in exchange for Antoine Griezmann. Diego Costa  The Telegraph says the Blues are set to do battle with Manchester United over the France international. Costa could hand the west London outfit an immediate advantage over their Premier League rivals if a bidding war ensues. The fiery hitman was heavily linked with a return to Atletico this summer. And the Spanish giants may well be prepared to let Griezmann leave for Stamford Bridge if it meant Costa moving the other way.

With Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho and Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola set for the 17th instalment of their bitter rivalry in Saturday’s derby at Old Trafford, AFP Sport looks back at five classic encounters between the old rivals: – Inter Milan 3 Barcelona 1, Champions League semi-final first leg, April 2010 Responding in bullish fashion after Inter were brushed aside by Guardiola’s Barcelona in the Champions League group stages, Mourinho insisted he would relish a semi-final rematch. Mourinho got his wish in an acrimonious clash that lit the fuse on the pair’s rivalry. Pedro gave Barca the lead, but Inter roared back with goals from Wesley Sneijder, Maicon and Diego Milito. Even in the afterglow of such a famous result, Mourinho couldn’t resist taunting Guardiola over several rejected Barca penalty appeals, referencing Chelsea’s controversial Champions League semi-final against the Spaniards: “A year ago Chelsea were crying and Barca were laughing with the referee”. ...

The Federal High Court, Abuja, has directed, Sen. Buruji Kashamu, to execute the two previous court judgments he obtained stopping the Federal Government from extraditing him to the U.S. Kashamu Buruji Kashamu, had in a fresh application, urged the court to prohibit the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) from arresting and extraditing him to the U.S to answer charges on drug-relates offences. The judge, Justice Okon Abang, declined the request, saying that the serving senator, representing Ogun West in the Senate did not need the order. Abang held that if Kashamu was sure that police and the DSS were taking steps to arrest and extradite him, he should execute the two earlier judgments obtained against the Federal Government. He said that it was not necessary for the court to issue a fresh order against the defendants in the matter since the same court had delivered two judgments in his favour on the subject matter. The judge said: “on this issue of the alleged plan...

Mr Issa Aremu, Secretary General, Textile Workers’ Union of Nigeria ,on Thursday hailed the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to postpone the Edo Governorship Election. Aremu, in a press statement issued in Kaduna, said that the decision had reinforced confidence in the ability of the commission to protect the sanctity of elections. The labour chieftain said INEC’s resolve to defend its independence “is a practical demonstration of the fact that “Change truly begins with INEC”, in line with the new national reorientation campaign. “The sanctity of electoral calendar is the minimum requirement for free and fair election. “If the electorate trust that INEC keeps to its announced dates and times for polls, they have no cause to mistrust and doubt the integrity of its results,” Aremu said. He canvassed support for security agencies to ensure that the plot to scuttle the polls by desperate elements fail. “Labour also called on all the contesting parties i...

Russian President Vladimir Putin is “far more” of a leader than Barack Obama, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said Wednesday, echoing previous praise for the Kremlin strongman. Putin is “very much of a leader,” Trump said in a televised interview, where he and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton were separately grilled over their national security and military credentials. Trump has made no secret of his admiration for Putin, who last year praised the US businessman as “very outstanding.” Putin “has very strong control over a country,” Trump said. “It’s a very different system, and I don’t happen to like the system. But certainly in that system he’s been a leader, far more than our president has been a leader.” Before Trump spoke, Clinton too was asked about her security smarts, but also faced questions on the sprawling email scandal that continues to overshadow her White House run. The interviewer, NBC’s Matt Lauer, asked why it wasn’t “disqualifying” for Clinton to have h...

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Thursday dispelled rumours of postponement of the Sept. 10 governorship election in Edo. Mr Solomon Soyebi, INEC National Commissioner in-charge of Voter Education and Publicity, said during a press conference held at INEC’s office in Benin, that “the governorship election will go ahead on Saturday, Sept. 10 as scheduled.” Soyebi, who said INEC as the body statutorily set up to conduct elections in the country, would not take orders from any institution with regard to the performance of its constitutional duties.