Five Pro-Biafran Agitators Killed in Onitsha

Pro-Biafran agitators who were delighted with the release of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, took to the streets to express their joy but the moment of jubilation turned sour.

The wild jubilation by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Onitsha, Anambra State, over the decision of a Federal High Court in Abuja to unconditionally release the Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, turned soar yesterday, when soldiers attached to the 302 Artillery Regiment in the commercial town allegedly shot at them, killing five instantly and injuring 25 others.
According to ThisDay, the soldiers erroneously thought the IPOB supporters had trooped out to protest against the detention of their leader, Kanu, not knowing that they were celebrating his release.
The incident happened at the Onitsha end of the River Niger Bridge and immediately caused panic among motorists and commuters who scampered for safety as tension pervaded the city.
It was gathered that the IPOB members had on hearing the court’s ruling ordering Kanu’s release, trooped out in their numbers and converged around the statue of the late Biafran leader, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumewu Ojukwu.
They were singing and jubilating preparatory to a procession but were stopped by policemen and soldiers who were around the area.  Trouble for the IPOB members, an eyewitness who identified himself as Jimmy Okechukwu, said started when the IPOB members were accosted by the soldiers and asked to stop their march towards the bridge, an order the group allegedly defied.  An argument, he said, ensued between the soldiers and the group which later degenerated into violence.
At this point, the soldiers, he said, started shooting sporadically to scare the swarming crowd of IPOB members, but unfortunately, they shot at five of them who died on the spot with about 25 others wounded.  During the shooting, people ran for their lives but some IPOB members who mustered the courage threw pebbles at the soldiers who retaliated by shooting at the defenseless people.
ThisDay reports that the Chairman of the Fundamental Rights League International (FRLI), Mr. Mike Umezulike, while reacting to the incident, said that the procession by IPOB members was peaceful and wondered why the soldiers shot at harmless people.

When contacted, the divisional police officer in charge of the area, Mr. Rabiu Garba, said he was not in town, though he was told of the procession.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

MTN Drags Nigerian Communication Commission to Court

Africa's telecommunications giant, MTN, is set for a legal showdown with the Nigerian Communications Commission over the fine slammed on the firm which was recently reduced to N780bn.

 

 

The mobile giant, on Thursday, December 17, said it will not pay the N780 billion fine imposed on it by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) over subscriber identity module (SIM) card fraud.

The company said It will rather challenge the authority of the regulator in court. MTN said it had sought legal advice and would challenge the fine and the manner of its imposition which it argued went beyond the constitutional powers of the regulator. The deadline for the payment was set for December 31.

 But the NCC said it was yet to receive MTN’s court papers. Its Director, Public Affairs, Tony Ojobo, wondered why the volte face after MTN had admitted committing the crime and pleading for leniency in a letter to the commission.

 A statement issued by MTN Group Corporate Affairs reads: “Further to the SENS announcement issued by the company on 4 December 2015, shareholders are advised that all factors having a bearing on the matter have been thoroughly and carefully considered, including a review of the circumstances leading to the fine and the subsequent letters received from the NCC.

 “MTN Nigeria acting on legal advice has resolved that the manner of the imposition of the fine and the quantum thereof is not in accordance with the NCC’s powers under the Nigerian Communications Act and therefore there are valid grounds upon which to challenge the fine.

 “Accordingly MTN has followed due process and has instructed its lawyers to proceed with an action in the Federal High Court in Lagos seeking the appropriate reliefs.

 “MTN is advised that in the current circumstances in line with the lis pendens rule (pending legal action) the parties are enjoined to restrain from taking further action until the matter is finally determined. This is consistent with previous judicial decisions in Nigeria.

 “Notwithstanding this action, the company will continue to engage with the Nigerian authorities to try and ensure an amicable resolution in the best interests of the company, its stakeholders and the Nigerian authorities.”

 NCC imposed a fine of N1,4trillion on MTN for “criminally harbouring” some 5.2million pre-registered SIMs on its network.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Scientists Develop Super Condoms That Kill HIV Virusl, Boosts Sexual Pleasure

The new hydrogel-based condom

A team of scientists in America have invented a new type of condom that is capable of killing the HIV virus while enhancing pleasure.

A new hydrogel-based condom that contains antioxidants has been invented by a team of Indian-American scientists at the Texas A&M University Health Science Center.

 

It was gathered that not only does it contain plant-based antioxidants, which kills the HIV-virus in case of condom breakage but it also uses antioxidants to enhance pleasure.

 Experts say it is the new big player to join the fight against AIDS

 "We are not only making a novel material for condoms to prevent the HIV infection, but we are also aiming to eradicate this infection if possible. Supercondom could help fight against HIV infection and may as well prevent unwanted pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases. If we succeed, it will revolutionize the HIV prevention initiative"

 Choudhury, the lead researcher and assistant professor at the Texas A&M Health Science Center's Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, said the researchers hope to test the condom within the next six months and then get it released for general usage.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Woman to Marry Two Men

A very weird account of romance has taken place in Africa with two men striking a mutual agreement to marry the same woman and have kids together.

 Against all odds Slyvester Mwendwa and Elijah Kimani of Mombasa County in Kenya have decided to marry the love their lives, Joyce Wambui.
When Mwendwa, 26 and Kimani discovered they were in love with the same woman, they struck an unusual deal that allows both men to live with Joyce and raise all the children she bears together.
David Okwembah of BBC reports that the marriage will only be accepted if they can prove polyandry is an accepted cultural practice in Kenya. Sadly, no tribe in Kenya accepts polyandry.
When contacted by BBC Focus on Africa, Mwendwa stated that he understands that his marriage might not be legal, but because he loves Joyce he would rather go into a contract with Kimani so as to avoid any conflict.
Daily Nation reports that a community police officer, Adhalah Abdulrahman confirmed that he saw the two men fighting over the woman in Mombasa county. Joyce is reportedly a widow with twins who didn’t want to leave any of the two men.
“We discussed everything and they agreed that even if the woman gives birth they will raise the child as their own since they have been taking care of the woman’s children together and paying her rent equally,” Abdulrahman said.
Two husbands mean double dowry right? Joyce parents have already been informed and plans to pay Joyce dowry is already being made.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

House of Reps Kicks Off Probe Into Obasanjo's Administration

Following the pledge of the President Buhari-led administration to curb corruption in the nation, the Senate has kicked off probe into the administration of former President, Olusegun Obasanjo. 

The House of Representatives has commenced investigations into how a $5m grant given to the Lake Chad Basin Commission during the administration of former president Olusegun Obasanjo was spent.

 The House on Thursday, December 17, noted that the money was meant to carry out study on how to direct rivers to the lake but nothing came out of it, Punch reports.

 Mr Ahmed Abu, a member of the House, said the office of the auditor-general of the federation released a report in October that showed that the fund was not utilized.

 Abu explained that Nigeria and neighbouring countries were to contribute to the commission’s annual budget but that Nigeria has been funding it.

 “The House is aware that the percentage contribution towards the commission’s annual budget is 40 per cent by Nigeria; 18 per cent by Libya; 20 per cent by Cameroon; seven per cent by Niger; 11 per cent by Chad and four per cent by Central African Republic," he said.

 “The House is informed that the sum of $5m was released by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to the commission for feasibility studies on how to divert rivers from the Central African Republic to Lake Chad, which was drying up, in addition to funding the Lake Chad Basin Commission’s annual budget through the funding formula, to which Nigeria contributes 40 per cent.”

 The House pointed out that the absence of the $5m in the report was an example of how huge amounts of money were put into projects without adequate monitoring to find out how the fund was used.

 “The House regrets that transaction of this magnitude paid for with tax payers’ money has not been given the due attention it deserves by way of follow-up,” Abu added.

 Yakubu Dogara, the speaker of the House, has also directed the committee to begin investigation and report within eight weeks.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Samba Winifred Elected 1st Deputy Mayor of Nkambe Council

Madame Winifred Samba being installed by SDO

As speculated, Madame Samba Winifred Murkwi is the 1^st Deputy Mayor of the Nkambe council in the Donga Mantung Division of the Northwest Region. After being endorsed by local party officials, her ambition to enter late Shey Emmanuel’s shoes was validated today December 18, 2015 by 28 councilors. She was voted during an extraordinary session that brought together councilors of the Nkambe council.  

Madame Samba stood unchallenged given that the candidature of John Nforgwei could not be validated due to the intrigues orchestrated by the so-called party hierarchy. Though John Nforgwei was nominated by the fon of Wat, HRH Fon Ngorake Valentine sources say no one seconded the nomination yet 8 councilors reportedly voted against the candidature of Madame Samba while two others casted empty ballots. Indications are rife at that if the process wasn’t flawed, John Nforgwei would have emerged given his capability. But since politics is all about interest and majority of the councilors thought Tabenken should be compensated, they also thought is wise to voted for Madame Samba Murkwi who hails from Tabenken and had the blessing of local party hierarchy. More so, Madame Samba Winifred is the mother in-law to Donga Mantung II Section President, Abdou Borno. She is therefore the second female deputy mayor in the five man team led by Ngabir Paul Bantar, the Mayor of Nkambe council.

Nominated by Musa Shey Nfor and seconded by Emmanuel Sayani, Madame Samba’s nomination by implication already casted doubts whether Mbu warr councilors had formed a common front.

Madame Samba Winifred

Councilor John Nforgwei: Victim of political intrigues?

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Orange Cameroon Donates Multimedia Equipment to Bamenda II Council

The handing over ceremony took place at the esplanade of the Bamenda II Sub Divisional Council today December 18, 2015 in the presence of Chairman Ni John Fru Ndi and the Di visional Officer for Bamenda II.

The multimedia equipment worth FCFA 10 million donated by Orange Cameroon is as the result of the champions’ league of the 2015 Orange Football club championship won by Atua-Azire Football club. The equipment handed to the mayor of Bamenda II Council Balick Awah Fidelis were made up of 10 desktop computers, 10 tables and chairs, an Orange Flybox, an internet connector of 1 Megabyte per month for a period of 12 months.

Balick Awah Fidelis said that when he got the letter informing him that his municipality has won that equipment worth FCFA 10 million, he almost took it for joke given that if “the winner of the Cameroon cup gets FCFA 10 million, how can a local cup organized be worth FCFA 10 million”. He continued that what he thought to be a dream started concretizing when they crushed Bafut in the final on August 15, 2015 to emerge champion in the North West Region. “Today I now have faith in Orange Cameroon, and do urge you all here present to have faith in Orange Cameroon” According to Balick Awah Fidelis, “Orange Cameroon is good, faithful and a trustworthy partner”. He used the opportunity to plead on the population of Bamenda II council area to encourage their children, friends and loved ones to trust orange for it never fails. He expressed gratitude to the General Manager of Orange Cameroon for the timely support which according to the mayor of Bamenda II will improve access to information in the municipality, reduce underemployment and create jobs.

Before handing the equipment to the beneficiary, the regional Chief of Orange Cameroon for North West and South West congratulated the Bamenda II Council adding that the idea is to encourage the youths as well as football. He said Orange Cameroon has reached over 90% of Cameroonians and that Orange Cameroon in its corporate social responsibility shall continue to support development initiatives. After Bamenda, Orange Cameroon is expected to carryout similar donation in Douala and Yaounde.

 

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Snap Cameroon Presidential Polls is Electoral Fraud!

 Fellow Cameroonians, the press of late forecasts President Paul Biya pressing for early presidential elections in Cameroon for frivolous reasons which include Boko Haram, hosting of female and male Africa football marches in 2017 and 2019!
In democracies, for any governance date to be changed, the country must be in total crisis – Nigeria head quarter of Boko Haram terrorists recently organized a successful presidential and allied national polls. Countries worldwide respect their electoral and governance calendars irrespective of whether they are organizing /hosting international or national sport or other events. Meaningful nations and their leaders conduct elections and plan events out of their mandates irrespective of whether or not there are terrorist attacks. Cameroon however is different – an individual here stays in power as president for over 33 years (incumbent Paul Biya) for flimsy, absurd reasons. Now precipitated elections are to be held because of terrorist attacks and football matches taking place in Cameroon. Such peculiar snap elections are again rigged in favour of the Biya ruling party! In the era of Biya predecessor – President Ahmadou Ahidjo long stay in office was justified by false claims of maintaining national unity against UPC terrorists who were instead Cameroon independence freedom fighters. This was to see, thousands of nationalist Cameroonians killed and multiparty democracy scrapped from Cameroon. The French presidents then despite practicing democracy in France shamelessly helped to perpetuate the Cameroon dictator and used our country as their farm and market. Today incumbent president of France - Francois Hollande apologizes for those past atrocities of the 1950s, 1960s…..
We advice Biya not to tamper with the electoral calendar of 2018 for Cameroon presidential and allied polls! We advice Biya to scrap the pro CPDM ELECAM that passes for Cameroon elections managing body, we counsel the regime to revamp the constitution to ensure separation of powers. Mr. Biya should allow smooth succession and continuation of the country’s governance, and activities and event by his successor irrespective of whether he/she (the successor) comes from CPDM or other Cameroon political parties - this history has shown practiced by successful civilizations. Should our advice fall on deaf ears, as usual, I, Felix Teche Nyamusa together with other meaningful Cameroonians will lead Cameroon to freedom as was recently done on President Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso (27years on seat). Nigeria, south Africa, the developed world are glaring examples of countries that have led their citizens to progress and freedom through force where their leadership remained intransigent to good governance and the people’s wish. Let Biya be told the open secret that Cameroonians are aware that our parliament is rubberstamp. Any decision taken by these socalled legislators who got their mandates due to regime electoral fraud is regarded with contempt. Summoning the parliament to pass anti people decision including snap polls ahead of the 2018 presidential and other polls is worthless!

 By Felix Teche Nyamusa, SDF 2018 presidential hopeful (pending primaries)

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Muslim Seleka Rebel Leader Declares Autonomous State in Central African Republic

A Muslim rebel leader in the Central African Republic (CAR) has declared an autonomous state in his northeastern stronghold after rejecting upcoming elections aimed at ending years of conflict.

A spokesman and chief lieutenant for Nourredine Adam, the leader of a splinter faction of the Muslim Seleka rebel group, said the Republic of Logone was proclaimed in the northeast on Monday.

"What we want first of all is autonomy. Then we'll look at how to move towards independence," Maouloud Moussa told Reuters from the group's headquarters in the town of Kaga-Bandoro.

"Muslims are marginalised ... The north has been abandoned by the central government. There are no roads, no hospitals, no schools."The spokesman for Central African Republic's transitional government immediately denounced the rebels' declaration, Reuters reported. "We call upon the international community and the international forces present in Central African Republic to do everything possible to neutralise the capacity to do harm of these terrorists," said Dominique Said Panguindji.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Election of Deputy Mayor of the Nkambe Council: Stakes and Implications

An extra ordinary session to elect the first deputy mayor of the council holds today Friday December 18, a communique issued by Ngabir Paul Bantar has indicated. The forty councilors of the Nkambe council are expected to elect one of them to enter into the shoes of the former first deputy, Shey Emmanuel Yunwe who died last October after a lengthened illness.

Sources say today’s extra ordinary session shall be chaired by the Senior Divisional Officer for Donga Mantung Division, Ngone Ndodemesape Bernard. Though the exercise is only restricted to councilors, a school of thought holds that several forces have entered into the game. Notably, local party officials of Donga Mantung I allegedly have imposed a candidate on grounds of party discipline. More so, it is alleged that since Shey Emmanuel Yunwe hailed from Tabenken, the people want one of the councilors of that area to replace him. A woman name withheld has been tipped by party officials with the support of his in-law.  Allegedly, this decision has not been easy for some councilors to swallow as some councilors have vowed to challenge it. Tussle over the decision to impose a candidate by local party hierarchy is putting the party at cross roads. The issue of capability and aptitude has also resurfaced given that majority of the councilors would prefer someone who can do the job than someone who is handpicked to please this or that person. Ye a classified source hinted this reporter that three councilors of Tabenken held a secret meeting to endorse one candidate to contest against the one imposed by the party. Though Madame Samba is tipped as the next 1st Deputy mayor by local party officials, she might not have an easy ride sources say.
Adamu Musa of Binshua, Chifu George of Chup, Nforgwei John of Mbu-warr, Nformi Ali of Nkambe popular opinion holds could make good deputy mayor for Nkambe. Though Adamu Musa and Chifu George are not resident in the municipality, Nformi Ali (head of the council list) and Nforgwei John may sweep sympathy yet it is not clear whether any of them is interested . This is however pertinent because only one deputy mayor is constantly in the office and the work load demands at least two of them to assist Ngabir Paul Bantar.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

When Judges Are The Criminals

 By Ayah Paul
The Justice and Peace Committee of People’s Action Party is investigation a very serious allegation about the criminal conduct of the Buea State Counsel’s Chambers. We have not verified the accuracy of the story; but because of the gravity of a probable sadistic infliction of debilitating pains on an innocent Cameroonian by the very persons who have taken oath to do justice to all manner of people, we have decided to publish the story as it is told. Besides, insistence on the veracity of the story by an eye-witness does compel us to raise the alarm forthwith!

The story goes that some resident of Great Soppo, Buea, kept a dog. The dog fought with a neighbour’s dog and the latter dog died. Many Cameroonians being hopelessly ignorant and of average intelligence, the keeper of the dead dog lodged a criminal complaint against the keeper of the surviving dog with the State Counsel’s Chambers in Buea…
When the “suspect” reported to the State Counsel’s Chambers, he was not even allowed to talk. He was immediately remanded in prison custody where he has been awaiting trial for eight (8) months now. Our informer was categorical that he shared the same “ward” in prison with the victim in question. His declaration was corroborated by another inmate of the prison. And a lawyer who recently visited the prison was in no doubt that similar cases could be legion in that prison.
We were unable to find an answer as to whether anyone properly trained in the law could be so daft as to boldly adumbrate and apply such obnoxious new principle of law as vicarious liability in criminal law. Nor could we stop wondering if the relevant officer of the court voyaged into customary law where tenets are rife that persons do get transformed into animals; and that that was what probably led to the conclusion that the “suspect” was in the dog: a dog-man? … Unbelievable!
We are seriously investigating the matter; and the details will be yours the soonest possible. But reading this story already into the recent report that close to 63% of inmates in Camerounese prisons are awaiting trial, few would seriously be in doubt about the veracity of the story. Is not it a notorious fact that some Camerounese judges are prone to overzealous sadistic excesses?
Be the situation as it may, our own thinking is that the real question is what the judicial council is doing about such homicidal callousness of judges who persistently trample human rights underfoot in a country that has ratified the Geneva Convention on civil and political rights!

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

New Climate Science Plans for Africa

Aaron kaahYancho (PAMACC TEAM PARIS)

Africa has lost close to 9billion US dollars to climate related challenges since 1980. Yet more near future climate change related challenges are expected to retard the development of the continent. Rain fed Agriculture is dwindling and more people are likely to die from starvation and malnutrition. Floods and droughts are bound to multiply.

In search of solutions, there is now need  to connect  climate weather information with decision makers in a bid  to effectively manage this risk in the near  future according to Jean-Pierre Roux of the Climate Development and  knowledge Network CDKN Africa.

Future Climate for Africa-FCFA is a new ongoing project for Africa that will advance scientific knowledge understandingand predict climate variabilities in the next four years .It will support the integration of science in to decision making and demonstrate how this improved knowledge can be useful.

Considering the setbacks that Africa has not been improving in climate science in the last decades on like other continents, this FCFA project will develop climate information in four regions of Africa. According to Jean-Pierre Roux focus will be to examine how climate science integrates with other challenges and how this important development tool can add or subtract to the worries that communities already face. “So we will be demonstrating and also learning new ways on how to improve lives  for Africa over these exiting challenges” Jean –Pierre remarked.

Taking in to the existing  plethora of challenges on the ground, science laps will be created and demonstration grounds planted in urban and rural settings to give access to decision makers, budding researcher’s scientist and communities to reconcile their idea with science data  and to strategize how best these information and scientific  data can be useful for Africa. “Research on visible climate science will be undertaken on a pan African and Regional level so that this data and  research will and can help give a foray in to how development can be supported” Jean –Pierre added.

In Jean Pierre vision this project will give birth to a new determined breed of African climate and weather scientists whose output will encourage and motivate development. “This will be felt in the grass roots as food will boost food crop production and other livelihood projects for the people of Africa will be boosted  and good practices will be shared as well” He remarked.

This FCFA project which is a low cost effective opportunity to enhance the prosperity of Africa through better climate change adaptation is worth 30milion US dollars. It is funded by the UK Department for International Development and the National Research Council that promotes the use of climate information in development projects.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)