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Ike Ekweremadu: Have mercy – Obasanjo writes UK court

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Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has written to the Chief Clerk of the Central Criminal Court in London to temper justice with mercy over the conviction of former Nigerian Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

Ekweremadu and his wife, alongside Nigerian doctor Obinna Obeta, were recently found guilty of attempted organ harvesting of a Nigerian trafficked to Britain to provide a kidney for their ailing daughter.

However, Obasanjo, in a letter dated April 3, 2023 and addressed to the Chief Clerk of the court titled “Re: Ike Ekweremadu,” said even though Ekweremadu’s action was condemnable and unacceptable, he has contributed his quota to the socio-political development of Nigeria, adding that his punishment should consider his past records of good deeds and the plight of his ailing daughter.

Obasanjo’s letter reads in part: “Mr. Chief Clerk, I am very much aware of the current travails and conviction of Ike Ekweremadu and his wife in the United Kingdom resulting from their being charged with conspiring to arrange the travel of a 21-year old from Nigeria to the UK in order to harvest organs for their daughter. I do realise the implications of their action and I dare say, it is unpleasant and condemnable and can’t be tolerated in any sane or civilized society.

“However, it is my fervent desire for the very warm relations between the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Nigeria; for his position as one of the distinguished Senators in the Nigerian Parliament, and also for the sake of their daughter in question whose current health condition is in danger and requires an urgent medical attention, you will use your good offices to intervene and appeal to the court and the government of the United Kingdom to be magnanimous enough to temper justice with mercy and let punishment that may have to come take their good character and parental instinct and care into consideration.

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“I do hope Mr. and Mrs. Ekweremadu have learnt from this distressing experience of theirs to guide their future actions or inactions so they will continue to be outstanding members of their community and will continue to contribute fully to the good of the society in particular and the nation in general.”

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We don’t have power to determine tenure of IGP – Police Service Commission

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Police

The Police Service Commission, PSC, has said it has no constitutional powers to determine the appointment or removal of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP.

Gatekeeper recalls that the Police Service Commission had last week directed all serving police officers who have served for 35 years, or attained the age of 60 years, to proceed on immediate retirement in line with existing laws.

Since the directive several public commentators have argued that the directives should also affect the tenure of the IGP.

But Ikechukwu Ani, Head, Press and Public Relations of the PSC, in a statement on Monday, said, “By virtue of Paragraph 30, part 1 of the third schedule to the Constitution, and clause 6 (1) of the Police Service Commission (Establisment) Act, 2001, the Commission is charged with the responsibilities of appointment, promotion, dismissal and exercising disciplinary control over persons holding offices in the Nigeria Police Force (except the Inspector General of Police).

“The law is clear on the mandate of the Commission and it does not extend to the Inspector General of Police who is an appointee of Mr. President with the advice of the Police Council.

“The Commission wishes to state that it is comfortable with the size of the powers which the Constitution has bestowed on it and is not interested in shopping for more powers that obviously are not backed by law.”

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Electricity, telecom tariffs increase unconscionable, should be stopped – Shehu Sani

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Former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has described the planned increase in electricity and telecom tariffs as unconscionable.

The statement comes after the telecoms regulator last week approved the increase in mobile tariffs.

The federal government also recently said that plans were ongoing to increase electricity tariffs “over the next few months.”

However, Sani, who said the government’s plan is unreasonable, insisted that it should be halted.

The ex-lawmaker also expressed his support for the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over the scheduled protest against the government’s proposal, calling it a welcome development.

“The planned increase in electricity tariffs in the midst of poor power supply and the proposal to increase telecom tariffs is unconscionable and should be halted. The scheduled labour union protest is a welcome development,” he posted on X.

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Trump to cut off funding to South Africa, gives reason

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Donald Trump

The United States President, Donald Trump, has revealed his decision to cut off all future funding to South Africa, citing poor treatment of “certain classes of people.”

Trump made this known on Sunday in a post on Truth Social, his social media platform.

According to Trump, South Africa was seizing land and mistreating some citizens without concern for the violations of their rights.

“South Africa is confiscating land and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY.

“I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has been completed!” Trump wrote.

Reports suggest that the American leader may be defending White South Africans, some of whom have alleged that the South African policy is unfair to them.

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