Accessing the place of the constitution in preventing Military torture in Nigeria

Justine Nwankwo; a torture survivor

By Evelyn Okakwu

During the recent briefing by internationally acclaimed human rights group, Amnesty international titled; “Welcome to hell fire”; torture and other inhuman treatments in Nigeria” it indicted the Nigerian Military, stating that the arm of government, which is expected to protect the people is involved in serious acts of torture meted against Nigerians without cause.

To buttress its point, Amnesty international’s research and advocacy director, Netsanet Beley stated that torture is not even a crime in Nigeria,

2014 Christian Pilgrimage: Israel reiterates support for Nigeria

John Kennedy Opara

By Evelyn Okakwu

Israeli has reiterated its support for Nigeria to ensure a hitch free 2014 Christian pilgrimage.

A statement from the head of media and Publicity, Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (CNPC) Celestine Ogugua said Isreali’sDeputy Director of General Ministry of foreign Affairs, Mrs. Ahova Zaken stated this while receiving the Executive Secretary of the NCPC, Mr.  John Kennedy Opara, during a working visit to the Israeli General Ministry of Foreign Affairs in raediness for this year’s  pilgrimage exercise.

 According to the statement, Mrs. Zaken commended the leadership of the Commission for its contribution towards the growth of the commission, experienced within the last four years

It added that in his response, the Executive Secretary of NCPC, informed his host that the Commission and the Conference of State (CPWB) have come to Israel to ascertain the State of readiness of Ground handlers and also to sign the Ground Handlers Agreement for the 2014 Pilgrimage Exercise. It further stated that the Executive Secretary sympathised with Israel over the loss of their citizens in the recent crisis within the area, praying God to grant eternal rest to all the deceased

It further stated that the NCPC helm’s man thanked the Israel for reducing the number of days for Visa procurement from 10 days –5 days, adding that the 5 days visa procurement procedure should also extended to the Easter pilgrimage and Family Pilgrimage to enable the Commission procure visas easily for Pilgrims.

Terrorism allegations allegations; CAN says APC is desperate for 2015

CAN President Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor

By Evelyn Okakwu

The President of the Christian Association Nigeria Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor has described as an act of desperation, the claims of some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) accusing him and President Goodlick Ebele Jonathan of been behind the terrorist activities in the country.

A statement signed by the director of national issues (CAN) Mr. Sunny Oibe and the head of management, Project Eagle air Mr. Emmanuel Ohaeri said the APC members made the accusation during a campaign program in the United Kingdom.

Part of the statement reads:

Suntai: House inaugurates medical Panel

governor Danbaba Suntai

By Evelyn Okakwu

TheTaraba state house of assembly has inaugurated a medical team to ascertain the health condition of the state governor Pharm. Dambaba  Danfulani Suntai.

 A statement from the office of the state’s speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Osiah Sabo Kente said the committee was set up, following an earlier decision by the Taraba state Executive council; 

“Consequent upon the receipt of the resolution of the Taraba State Executive Council sitting on the

10^th September, 2014; Evoking the provision of section 189 (1)  (b) and 189 (4) of the 1999 constitution (As amended) which requested me to appoint a medical panel to verify the health condition of the executive governor of Taraba state, Pharm. Danbaba Danfulani Suntai;I hereby constitute the medical Panel as follows: Prof. Shehu; Chairman; Dr Inusa  Chairman Samaila; Member prof. Peter Alabi, member, Dr shehu Sule, Member, Dr ahmed Kara; Personal Physician to the governor”.

The findings of the committee will determine the position of the state governor

Nigeria’s Military, rife with human torture, says Amnesty intn’l

Justine Nwankwo; one of the torture survivors

By Evelyn Okakwu

International Human rights group, Amnesty international has accused Nigeria’s military authorities of inflicting grave torture on innocent Nigerians in a bid to extort information from them

 Amnesty’s senior director of research Nicola Duckworth stated this yesterday in Abuja, while delivering the latest report by the agency titled “Welcome to hell fire”

Duckworth said; “Nigeria’s police and military routinely torture women, men, and children; some as young as 12, using a wide range of methods including beatings, shootings and rape.”

Speaking also at the event, the agency’s Africa research and advocacy director, Netsanet Belay stated that 5000 Nigerian have been abducted since the military began its battle with the Boko haram terrorist group. He said the report reveals how people are often detained in large dragnet operations and tortured as punishment, to extort money or to extract “confessions” from them.

 Also addressing journalists at the event was a survivor, Mbezuigwe Onyekachi, who said he was arrested for stealing a vehicle. “They came to my house on the 10^th of March and arrested me. They took me to a place where they tortured me to compliance, by stating that I had actually stolen the vehicle.”

Another survivor Justine Nwankwo said he was arrested in the hotel premises where he worked as a manger, and was stripped necked after the police headed to a particular room 102, following the directives of one of them, and found human skull. “They took us to a cell in Awkuzu SARS, Anambra state where they used robe to pull me by the neck. 2 officers stood at opposite points with the rope pooling it till it injured me on the neck, so they stopped and used a cloth round my neck before continuing. The torture went on till I was forced to sign a blank paper

He stated that the man who lodged in the controversial room, came to the hotel as John Obi, but investigations later revealed that his name was Olisah Ebuchiem; adding that no arrest has yet been made of the man by the police.

“Rather they have continued to threaten me to drop my case in court, because the case has been filed in court. In fact just last Wednesday, before I came to Abuja, this week an MTN number; 08034138116, called me threatening to waste me if we failed to drop the case”, he added

How far have we come in Nigeria’s Democracy?

The president and delegates at the recently concluded national confab

By Evelyn Okakwu

On the 15th of this month, Nigeria and indeed the rest of the world marked the international Democracy day. Consequently, we analyze the views of some stake holders on the impact of Nigeria’s democracy towards national development.

According to

September 11 and Nigeria pinch of global terrorism

Nigeria:s Military has not had it smooth with terror wielders in the country

By Evelyn Okakwu

A major significance of the September 11 attack is that it marked the beginning of the global war against terrorism.

After the terror attack on the United States World Trade Center by the Al-Qaida Terror leaders, Osama Bin Laden on September 11, 2001, which claimed the lives of about 4 000 people and destroyed goods worth over $150 US dollars, the then US President, George Bush visited the trade center and vowed to hunt down the perpetrators of the dastardly act and combat terrorism.

13 years after that day, the fight against terrorism has continued. However

N1.6tr invested in first half of 2014 – NBS

The Nigerian economy attracted a total investment of $9.71bn (N1.6tr) within the first half of 2014, figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics have revealed.

The bureau in the capital

Flash Back on September 11 and Nigeria's pinch of global terrorism

terrorism has become a global plague

By Evelyn Okakwu

A major significance of the September 11 attack is that it marked the beginning of the global war against terrorism.

After the terror attack on the United States World Trade Center by the Al-Qaida Terror leaders, Osama Bin Laden on September 11, 2001, which claimed the lives of about 4 000 people and destroyed goods worth over $150 US dollars, the then US President, George Bush visited the trade center and vowed to hunt down the perpetrators of the dastardly act and combat terrorism.

13 years after that day, the fight against terrorism has continued. However

Ebola: How bad can it get?

Cumulative deaths up to 5th of September

By James Gallagher Health editor, BBC News website

This isn't just the worst single Ebola outbreak in history, it has now killed more than all the others combined.

Healthcare workers are visibly struggling, the response to the outbreak has been damned as "lethally inadequate"