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I paid N1,000 As “Gate Fee” Every Time I Visit My Late Brother In SARs Cell

The petition was filed against Insp Cletus Atuma, other officers of SARS, FCT commissioner of police, and Inspector-General of Police.

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A petitioner, Francis Awulu, told the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)’s Independent panel, that he was asked to pay N1, 000 as a” gate fee” every time he visits his late brother in the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) cell.

The panel is investigating alleged human rights violations by the disbanded SARS and other units of the police force.

Testifying on a petition by his family, Awulu alleged that his brother, Emmanuel, was killed in spite of the fact that the police collected N60, 000 from him.

The petition was filed against Insp Cletus Atuma, other officers of SARS, FCT commissioner of police, and Inspector-General of Police.

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He told the panel that Atuma and other SARS officers beat his brother beyond recognition and killed him at the SARS headquarters.

Led by his counsel, Uche Uwazuruonye, Awulu said the deceased, a poultry farmer, was arrested on Aug. 20, 2019, by Atuma at about 2 a.m. in Gwagwalada, FCT.

”Immediately my brother was taken into custody, he was denied access to his family and until he died.

“For every visit, we were asked to pay N1, 000 as gate fee to get to where my brother was detained unlawfully which did not yield any result.

“On one of my visits, one Insp Wisdom advised me to pay N4 million to make sure that I get a listening ear from the SARs ogas.

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”I told him I could not afford such an amount. He collected the N8,000 I had on me. After the payment, Atuma informed me that my brother was a cultist.

”After much negotiation, Aruma demanded money and I gave him N60,000 for the release of my brother. On Aug. 26, 2019, we were told that Emmanuel had died,” he said.

Awulu, pleaded with the panel to order compensation from the police for being responsible for his younger brother’s death adding, he was the breadwinner of the family, he had six dependents.

”We also pray the panel to ensure that the perpetrators of this inhumane act are punished,” he said.

The Chairman of the panel, rtd Justice Suleiman Galadima, adjourned the hearing until April 16 for cross-examination.

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BREAKING: PDP BoT holds emergency meeting amid Anyanwu, Ude-Okoye crisis

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The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Board of Trustees, BoT, is currently holding an emergency meeting.

The meeting was called to find lasting solutions to the current leadership crisis bedeviling the party.

Those who have arrived include the BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara; Secretary of the BoT, Senator Ahmed Makarfi; and former Governors Achike Udenwa, Sam Egwu, Babangida Aliyu, Senator Ben Obi, and Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola, among others.

The meeting is holding amid the crisis surrounding the struggle for who occupies the position of the PDP National Secretary.

Last week, at the PDP national secretariat, a fight broke out between Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye during its BoT meeting.

The crisis between the duo started when Anyanwu left to contest for Imo State governorship election and Ude-Okoye was was selected by the Southeast arm of the party to replace him.

This led to a lawsuit, after which the Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu declared Ude-Okoye as the substantive National Secretary.

But Anyanwu said Ude-Okoye has no authority to assume the position, despite the ruling.

Anyanwu cited his appeal of the ruling at the Supreme Court as grounds for maintaining the status quo

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BREAKING: Senate approves termination of appointment of 3 Resident Electoral Commissioners

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The Nigerian Senate has approved the termination of three Resident Electoral Commissioners who have been suspended since 2023 for flouting the provisions of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Act

The approval followed the request from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging the Senate to terminate the appointments of the embattled State Resident Electoral Commissioner for Adamawa, Sokoto and Abia.

Sponsor of the motion and Leader of the Senate, Michael Bamidele Opeyemi sought the invocation of Section 157 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, saying that the law empowers the Chamber to approve the request.

Those whose appointments will be terminated include, Dr Nura Ali, Sokoto State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari, Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner and Professor Ikemefuna Chijioke Uzochukwu, Abia State Resident Electoral Commissioner respectively.

He said, “Aware that the aforementioned Resident Commissioners were earlier suspended in 2023, bordering on allegations of infractions of the Electoral Act; compromise of elections and abandonment of duty without cogent reasons.”

A copy of the motion sighted by Newsmen on Wednesday revealed that the Office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, and the Department of State Services, DSS, indicted Dr. Nura Ali in their reports, having confessed to corruption, incompetence and receiving bribe to the tune of $150,000 from politicians.

According, the plenary which was presided by the Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio activated the relevant provisions of the Constitution and approve the termination of appointment of the affected Commissioners.

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Tinubu Departs for France Ahead of AU Summit

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President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja on Wednesday for a private visit to Paris, France, before proceeding to Addis Ababa for the 46th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council and the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU Heads of State.

“The president will arrive in Addis Ababa early next week for the AU summit,” Mr Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesman, said in a statement.

The AU Summit is scheduled to hold from Feb. 12th to 16th.

“In Addis Ababa, President Tinubu will join African leaders at the 46th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council and the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU Heads of State, scheduled for Feb. 12th to 16th.

Hea said while in France, President Tinubu would meet with his French counterpart, President Emmanuel Macron.

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