The Osby Blog : Army Sentences 54 Soldiers To Death Over Mutiny

The Osby Blog : Army Sentences 54 Soldiers To Death Over Mutiny: The Nigerian Army, yesterday sentenced 54 soldiers to death after they were convicted on a two count charge of criminal conspir...

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Army Sentences 54 Soldiers To Death Over Mutiny

The Nigerian Army, yesterday sentenced 54 soldiers to death after they were convicted on a two count charge of criminal conspiracy to commit mutiny. Five others were however acquitted.

 The soldiers were the second batch of Nigerian soldiers sentenced to death by the Military courts for mutiny sometime in October.
According to the charge sheet, the soldiers conspired to commit mutiny against the authorities of the Army 7 Division where they were attached on August 4 at the Mulai Primary School Camp, opposite AIT Maiduguri, Borno State.
The convicted soldiers who were mostly officers involved in the on- going fight against the Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East, were sentenced to death by firing squad. The soldiers include two Corporals, Cpl, nine Lance Corporals, LCpl and 49 Private soldiers.
The trial of the soldiers began on October 15 on the allegations they disobeyed orders to join operations against Boko Haram. But the soldiers pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecutor, Army Captain J.E. Nwosu, alleged that the accused soldiers had on August 4, in Maiduguri, refused to join the 111 Special Forces Battalion troops, commanded by Lt Col. Timothy Opurum, for an operation.
Nwosu added the operation was meant to recapture Delwa, Bulabulin and Damboa in Borno State from the Boko Haram terrorists. According to him, the offence is contrary to Section 52(1) (a) of the Armed Forces Act Cap A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The prosecution called the commander of the 111 Special Forces, Lt.-Col. Opurum, as one of the witnesses.
The statement of the commander was admitted by the court and marked Exhibit P1.
In his testimony in October, Opurum said soldiers Were tasked with advancing to recapture Delwa to clear the way for other battalions to pass through to recapture Babulin and Damboa from the insurgents.
He said he took off for the operation with only four officers and 29 soldiers as “tasked” after majority of the 174 soldiers in the unit refused to join the operation.
Opurum further said after he took charge of the Special Forces, he addressed and assured them that they could achieve the task given to them. He, however, said the soldiers were “hesitant to partake in the operation” in spite of the assurances.
Under cross- examination by lawyer to the accused, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), Opurum said 47 of the soldiers who initially refused, later re-joined the forces for another operation.
Opurum said the 47 soldiers joined after he called for reinforcement as they came under attack from terrorists, who out-numbered them and had superior weapons.
Asked if the soldiers refused to fight or refused to join the operation because of lack of superior weapons, he said all units in the North-East had requested for weapons.
On the disciplinary measure taken against the 47 soldiers, who initially refused, he said the process for that was to begin when they were court-martialled.
But Falana I had in an oral application, asked to the court for the record of weapons recovered from the 47 soldiers, when they initially refused to join the operations.
The President of the Court, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yusuf, said the application had been noted “for action.”
The General Court Martial was inaugurated on October 2 to try 97 soldiers, including 15 senior officers for mutiny.

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How Uduaghan’s loyalists sweep Delta Assembly tickets

        Governor Uduaghan
 Loyalists and appointees of Delta State governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, were last Saturday declared winners of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, House of Assembly primary election in 21 out of the 29 state constituencies, as some aggrieved aspirants vowed to challenge the outcome of the exercise.
It was reported that the exercise however did not begin until late Saturday evening against the earlier slated time.
Those who emerged winners in the governor’s camp are: Angela Nwaka, Aniocha South; Uzoma Idabor, Aniocha North; Isaac Ulebor, Ika South, Tim Owhefere, Isoko North; Orezi Esievo, Isoko South I; Johnson Erijo, Isoko South II; Peter Onwusanya, Oshimili South; Pat Ajudua, Oshimili North; Erhiatake Ibori, Ethiope West; Izeze Rume Reuben, Ughelli South; Samuel Mariere, Ughelli North; Prince Eric Oharisi, Ughelli North II; Arthur Akpowowo, Ethiope East and Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, Okpe.
Others are Efe Ofobruku, Uvwie; Godwin Toristseju Abigor, Warri South I; Denis Omovie, Warri South II; Daniel Mayuku, Warri South Wes; Dan Yingi, Burutu I; Jude Sinebe, Burutu II; Monday Igbuya, Sapele; Azuka Azaka, Ndokwa West; Alphonsus Ojo, Ukwuani and Pius Labo, Bomadi.
Okowa’s supporters clinched Ika North East and Warri North with Tony Elekeokwuri and Michael Diden respectively, while Elumelu’s campaign manager, Moses Odibo won in Udu with Obielum taking Ndokwa East as Friday Osanebi picked the ticket.
Other gubernatorial aspirants defeated in their various state constituencies include: Victor Ochie, Sylvester Monye and Elumelu.
It was gathered that some of the aspirants are already negotiating with the Obuh camp with the possibility of stepping down for him in the forthcoming primary.
The outcome of the election spurred wild celebration in the camp of one of the prominent gubernatorial aspirants, Tony Obuh, believed to be enjoying Uduaghan’s support.
However, it was reliably gathered that some aggrieved aspirants who lost in the weekend’s PDP primary, were already making moves to join forces with the opposition parties to test their popularity at the 2015 general elections.
One of the embittered aspirants confided in National Mirror that the development is true following the manner they were arm twisted to step down for aspirants believed to have been endorsed by the governor.

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Gunmen attack Damaturu, Yobe state capital

Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, came under heavy attack by gunmen  suspected to be members of Boko Haram sect this morning.
Yobe State University located in Damaturu was one of the first places to come under attack .
Eyewitnesses  said the gunmen attacked the town as early as 4am, and exchanged fire   with operatives of  the Police Mobile Unit.
“A military jet was deployed to push the insurgents back and the situation is now under control. The entire town has been cordoned off,” a source added.
Though casualty figure is not known, residents of the town were reported to be running in different directions, for safety

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How Diezani Emerged First Female OPEC President

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke has been elected as the first female President of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, at the 166th meeting of the OPEC Conference in Vienna, Austria.

Her election comes as oil prices plunged further after the members of OPEC admitted that the cartel had lost its power to determine the price of crude oil in the world market.

Against popular expectation, the organisation rose from its crucial meeting in Vienna, Austria with the decision to leave its crude oil output unchanged at 30 million barrels per day.

The decision was taken mainly because of the awareness that non-member states, especially United States and Middle East nations now have the capacity to produce and export commercial crude oil to the world market.

Specifically, members of OPEC felt it would not make sense to effect a cut in its output as that would not impact positively on the global oil market.

Alison-Maduke takes over from Libya’s Vice-Prime Minister for Corporation, His Excellency Abdourhman Atahar Al- Ahirish, and her tenure takes effect from January 2015. Before her emergence, she was the Alternate President of the Organisation.

The Conference also elected His Excellency, Dr Mohammed Bin Saleh Al Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry of Qatar and Head of its delegation as Alternate President.

Speaking at the meeting, Alison-Madueke said the US Shale oil and gas had a lot of impact on all major oil and gas producing economies stressing that it is a major game changer for all stakeholders in the energy mix across the globe.

The Petroleum Minister noted that in the months ahead, OPEC would provide a veritable platform for member countries to find a remedy and deal with the issue frontally noting that there are no quick fixes to the sliding oil prices.

The newly elected OPEC President stated that the burden of falling oil prices is impacting on both OPEC and non OPEC member countries.

Alison-Madueke said that the current trend would make Nigeria to look very stringently again at the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, which is already before the National Assembly to ensure that the enablers therein are explored to make it more and more competitive in the global energy market.

On the plans by the Federal Government to prepare for the global fall, she said Nigeria has no recourse at this point in time other than to fully develop her gas infrastructure for domestic use.

The OPEC conference however confirmed the readiness of member countries to respond to developments which could have an adverse impact on the maintenance of an orderly and balanced oil market.

OPEC also directed its secretariat to step up its close monitoring of developments in supply and demand as well as non fundamental factors such as speculative activity and keeping member countries fully briefed on developments.

OPEC source, who preferred not to be named, stated in a telephone interview that the Alison-Madueke’s election was based on the confidence of the international community on Nigeria.

He stated, “Nigeria is a big player who deserves to be recognised and given increased responsibility in OPEC.”

“Moreover, past leaders, including Dr, Rilwanu Lukman, who served in that capacity did not disappoint OPEC member states,” he stated.

The minister, who is expected to work closely with the Secretary General would serve in that capacity for one year.

Specifically, she is expected to work towards the accomplishing the goals and objectives of OPEC, the intergovernmental Organisation that was created at the Baghdad Conference on September 10–14, 1960, by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.

The five founding members were later joined by nine other members: Qatar (1961); Indonesia (1962) – suspended its membership from January 2009; Libya (1962); United Arab Emirates (1967); Algeria (1969); Nigeria (1971); Ecuador (1973) – suspended its membership from December 1992-October 2007; Angola (2007) and Gabon (1975–1994).

OPEC’s objective is to co-ordinate and unify petroleum policies among member countries, in order to secure fair and stable prices for petroleum producers; an efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to consuming nations, and a fair return on capital to those investing in the industry.

OPEC’s formation by five oil-producing developing countries in Baghdad in September 1960 occurred at a time of transition in the international economic and political landscape, with extensive decolonisation and the birth of many new independent states in the developing world.

The international oil market was dominated by the “Seven Sisters” multinational companies and was largely separate from that of the former Soviet Union and other centrally planned economies.

But OPEC developed its collective vision, set up its objectives and established its Secretariat, first in Geneva and then, in 1965, in Vienna.

It adopted a ‘Declaratory Statement of Petroleum Policy in Member Countries’ in 1968, which emphasised the inalienable right of all countries to exercise permanent sovereignty over their natural resources in the interest of their national development. Membership grew to 10 by 1969.

OPEC rose to international prominence during this decade, as its member countries took control of their domestic petroleum industries and acquired a major say in the pricing of crude oil on world markets.

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Bomb Blast Rock Kano Central Mosque, Scores Feared Dead

Another bomb blast has occurred at Kano Central Mosque today during Juma’at prayers. Many people observing their prayers are feared dead.
Kano Central Mosque is where the Emir of Kano usually leads prayers on Friday.
More details later.

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Youths Are Veritable Tools for Peace, Development- Onoja

A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Benue State, Chief Mike Onoja has said that Nigerian youths can help tremendously to foster peace, unity, development, free and fair elections by engaging in a positive attitudes and actions.

Chief Mike Onoja who stated this in Abuja, said the youths are vibrant and more effective than the elderly and should be engaged in more productive ventures, rather then been used as political thugs by politicians.  

The former Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Defence who is aspiring to represent the people of Benue South Senatorial District in the Senate in 2015, said he is in the race to give the people of his Senatorial District quality representation.

While calling on the people of the state to support his candidature, he assured he’ll use his influence to attract federal government’s presence to the senatorial district and Benue State in general.

Chief Onoja also condemned the agitation for automatic ticket for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senators to return back to the National Assembly in 2015, describing it as undemocratic and unfair. 

He said those calling for automatic ticket for serving Senators do not mean well for the people of Nigeria. He stressed that the only bases for Senators to be re-elected are their outstanding performance, adding that Senators should be bold enough to stand before their people to seek their mandate if they think they’ve lived up to the people’s expectations.

Chief Onoja further debunked the alleged reports that he has dropped his Senatorial ambition, saying, “It is not possible for me to drop my Senatorial ambition, I have been cleared by the screening committee and I have my certificate of clearance and in the next few days I am going to tour the Senatorial districts to let them understand my vision for running. And somebody of my standing and caliber cannot stat a project and not end it properly. I have to bring it to its logical conclusion, because I know the implication of dropping out”.       

“The youths can ensure transparent elections by making sure that the election is not rigged and by protecting the masses by ensuring that their votes count. The youths are more active and more vibrant in the process of voting than the elderly people. And if you do not really have the support of the youths, it will be difficult for you to carry out the elections properly. And so they can aid positively in protecting voter’s rights by not been involved in rigging and malpractices and contribute their own development to the process. Because without the youths you cannot have a very credible election, because they are more vibrant and useful in the electioneering process.

 “The issue of automatic ticket is undemocratic. What the automatic ticket issue seeks to address is whether you performed well or not, automatically you should be given the ticket. It does not take into cognizance the performance of the particular Senator. It doesn’t work that way, you have to go to the people and seek their mandate. You cannot stay in Abuja and give somebody an automatic ticket without considering the wishes of the people. It is undemocratic, it is unfair and unthinkable. Your ticket should be based on your performance and then if the zoning in your own state still favours you, then you can go and seek the people‘s mandate for a re-election. If you are not performing and you want an automatic ticket, it’s unfair, it’s undemocratic, it’s not practiced anywhere in the world”.

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