Impose visa ban on Buhari after May 29, PDP urges international community

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Friday demanded an international travel ban on President Muhammadu Buhari after the May 29 inauguration of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.

PDP’s spokesman, Debo Ologunagba, made the call in reaction to Buhari’s comment that PDP and the Labour Party, LP, lost the presidential election due to overconfidence.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, Ologunagba said Buhari was “gloating over the All Progressives Congress, APC, reckless rigging,” while demanding “international sanctions and travel ban after May 29.”

Ologunagba said:
“We have called you up again today to address the unfortunate, reckless, unpresidential conduct and subjudice comment credited to the President, General Muhammadu Buhari which is already causing apprehension and capable of destroying our corporate existence as a Nation.

“As you are aware, the February 25, 2023 Presidential election has been adjudged across the nation and Globally as the worst in the history of our country.

“The Presidential election was marred by brazen violation of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2023, INEC Regulations and Guidelines; manipulation of processes, alteration of genuine results from Polling Units, announcement of fabricated figures and climaxed by the vexatious declaration of the defeated candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Winner.

“The general despondency, resentment and anger across our country; the damning reports by election observers and the pervading international contempt against Nigeria since the declaration of the APC candidate as President-elect are ominous testaments that he does not have the mandate of majority of Nigerians derivable ONLY from a credible electoral process.

“As you are also aware, the PDP is already at the Tribunal with the prospects of reclaiming the mandate freely given to our Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar at the Presidential election.”

Daily Post 

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Nigerians Should Back Tinubu, Politics Time Is Over – Wike

 

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State is asking Nigerians to rally around President-elect Bola Tinubu, saying the time for politics is over.

Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) defeated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) to clinch the seat in the hotly-contested February poll.

Although Wike belongs to the PDP (did not support the party’s candidate but worked for Tinubu), the Rivers leader is asking Nigerians to back the incoming administration which is set to be sworn in on May 29th, 2023.

‘Time for Governance’

“Elections have come and gone. The winner has emerged and therefore is it necessary for all Nigerians to give him the necessary support for the interest of Nigeria,” Wike told journalists after meeting with Tinubu at the Defence House in Abuja on Friday.

“I am confident that he has what it takes to turn Nigeria around,” the governor added.

Wike was accompanied by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State who also re-echoed his Rivers counterpart’s comment.

“I came here to basically pay homage to the President-elect and to let him know that elections are over and this is [time for ]governance and we would do our best to give him support for the good governance of Nigeria,” the Oyo governor noted.

Makinde, Wike and other members of the PDP G-5 did not back Atiku for the presidency, insisting that the position should return to southern Nigeria after eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

They, therefore, argued that Atiku from the northern region of Nigeria, same as Buhari, is unqualified to contest the election with Wike and Makinde backing Tinubu instead.

On his part, a member of the G-5, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State supported Labour Party’s Obi (who is from southern Nigeria) but lost his senatorial bid.

Source: https://www.channelstv.com/2023/04/28/wike-asks-nigerians-to-rally-around-tinubu-says-politics-time-is-over/

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Sperm Donor Who Fathered 550 Children Ordered To STOP

 

Dutch judges have ordered a man suspected of fathering more than 550 children through sperm donations to stop donating, in the latest fertility scandal to shock the Netherlands. 

The man, identified in Dutch media only as Jonathan M, 41, was taken to court by a foundation protecting the rights of donor children and by the mother of one of the children allegedly fathered from his sperm.

Dutch clinical guidelines say a donor should not father more than 25 children in 12 families, but judges said the man had helped produce between 550 and 600 children since he started donating sperm in 2007.

The court therefore “prohibits the defendant from donating his semen to new prospective parents after the issuing of this judgment”, judge Thera Hesselink said on Friday.

Jonathan M may also not contact any prospective parents “with the wish that he was willing to donate semen … advertise his services to prospective parents or join any organisation that establishes contact between prospective parents”, Hesselink said in a written judgment.

Should he continue with his donations, he would face a €100,000 (£88,000) fine for each transgression, as well as additional fines, the judge ordered.



The mother of one of the children in the court case, identified only as “Eva”, said she was grateful that the court had stopped the man from “mass donations that [have] spread like wildfire to other countries”.

“I’m asking the donor to respect our interests and to accept the verdict, because our children deserve to be left alone,” she said in a statement.

More than 100 of Jonathan M’s children were born in Dutch clinics and others privately, but he also donated to a Danish clinic – named as Cryos in court papers – which then dispatched his semen to private addresses in various countries.

“The donor deliberately misinformed prospective parents about the number of children he had already fathered in the past,” the district court in The Hague said.

“All these parents are now confronted with the fact that the children in their family are part of a huge kinship network, with hundreds of half-siblings, which they did not choose,” it said.

The court considered it “sufficiently plausible” that this has or could have negative psychosocial consequences for the children.

This included psychological problems around identity and fears of incest.

FG Secures Court Leave To Bring Nine New Grounds Against Kanu’s Release

FG secures court leave to bring nine new grounds against Kanu’s Release.

by Justina Mboho 1 hour ago

FG secures court leave to bring nine new grounds against Kanu’s Release

Key highlights

The Supreme Court has granted the FG leave to file nine new grounds of appeal against Nnamdi Kanu.

The apex court also granted the FG leave to add the nine grounds as part of its amended notice of appeal dated 28th October 2022.

The FG through the AGF had approached the Apex court seeking to restore the criminal charges against Kanu.

The Federal Government has been granted leave by the Supreme Court to bring nine new grounds of appeal against the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.


Justice John Okoro who led a five-member panel of justices granted FG the leave on Thursday while ruling on a motion by the FG’s counsel, Tijani Gadzali (SAN).

Recall that Kanu had before now approached the court challenging his continued detention at the Department of State Services facility.

The court proceeding
When the matter was called up, Mike Ozekhome, Kanu’s lawyer told the apex court that they had two motions before the court.

He said one is seeking his client’s bail and the other is seeking the transfer of Kanu to the Kuje Correctional Facility from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) to enable him get proper medical attention.


He told the court that his client’s health was deteriorating in DSS custody, as he also went ahead and contended that both the Court of Appeal Rules of 2021 and Court of Appeal Act, 2004, “did not make any provisions of stay of execution of a Court of Appeal judgment in a criminal appeal.”

He prayed the court to set aside that stay of execution order as well as restrain the further detention and prosecution of Nnamdi Kanu.

FG’s Response
FG’s lawyer stated that his client brought a motion seeking to introduce nine new grounds in its amended notice of appeal against Kanu.


He however asked the court for an adjournment to enable him file a counter affidavit, as he just took over the matter.

He further told the apex court to afford his office time to respond to certain processes filed by Kanu’s lawyers.

Court ruling
The judge stated that seeking the transfer of Nnamdi Kanu may likely delay the hearing of the main suit, as he advised Ozekhome to withdraw the pending motions so as to focus on the main appeal.

The court also granted FG leave to include the nine new grounds as part of their amended notice of appeal dated 28th October 2022.

In addition, the court also granted FG’s prayer and adjourned till May 11 for a hearing on the pending motion and the main appeal.

Backstory
On October 13, 2022, the court of appeal cleared Kanu of Alleged treason and terrorism charges leveled against him, as the court also dismissed the remaining six counts leveled against him by the Federal Government.

However, on October 28, 2022, the court reversed the decision and ordered a stay of execution pending a hearing and determination of the appeal from the supreme court.

The FG filed an appeal before the Supreme Court urging it to restore the criminal charges against the IPOB leader.

https://nairametrics.com/2023/04/27/fg-secures-court-leave-to-bring-nine-new-grounds-against-kanus-release/

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Massive Jubilation As First Flight Lands In Ebonyi International Airport

There was massive jubilation as Air Peace 5N-BXF landed safely today at the Ebonyi International Airport at about 03:50pm, IGBERETV reports.

According to Ebonyi state governor, Dave Umahi, the plane which departed the Abuja Airport at 11am landed in Ebonyi state as part of the test flight of the completed International Airport.

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Buses That Dumped Nigerian Students At Sahara Desert Finally Move

Abike Dabiri Erewa gives update on the Nigerian students that were dumped at the Sahara Desert over non-payment of buses.

I have just spoken to the @nemanigeria . They have started moving and the issues between NEMA and the transport company have been resolved.

https://twitter.com/abikedabiri/status/1651603250469117955?t=bnaii3D33HxusUTXrlvqCA&s=19

Previous thread https://www.nairaland.com/7668644/sudan-buses-evacuating-nigerian-students

N4,600 TVT: Customs Agents Kick As Lagos Slams New Charge On Imported Vehicles

Customs agents have kicked against a new charge of N4,600 imposed by the Lagos State government on all imported vehicles coming out of ports in the state.

Known as the Temporary Vehicle Tag, TVT, the charge was introduced by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation; Motor Vehicle Administration Agency, MVAA.

Vanguard gathered that this development is generating tension as port users and vehicle importers have vowed to resist the introduction of the new charge.

It was also gathered that the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, has reportedly linked TVT payment to the Terminal Delivery Order, TDO, and directed terminal operators not to release any vehicle without evidence of payment.

Confirming the development, the Managing Director of the Lagos State Wharf Landing Fee Collection Authority, Mr. Gboyega Savaldor said the introduction of the charge is for the security of everybody living in Lagos.

Savaldor also said the new charge will check the use of unregistered vehicles by dealers who sometimes use these categories of vehicles for criminal purposes.

Savaldor also disclosed that after payment of N4,600, the clearing agents would be issued a sticker that would be placed on the vehicle. This allows the vehicle to be driven within Lagos for the period of one month.

Reacting to the development, clearing agents at the port lamented that they were being overtaxed by the Lagos Government because already, Wharf Landing Fees are being collected on all cargoes, including vehicles.

Salvador however said: “The Wharf Landing Fee is being operated under a law. The money collected is not for Lagos State Government, it is to assist the operators. The Lagos government is inconveniencing itself to do this, the money is being collected to eradicate area boys harassing truck drivers on Lagos roads, and the money is shared among local government areas” he said.

But the Youth Leader of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) at Tin Can Island Port, Comrade Remilekun Sikiru counted Salvador, saying that the Lagos State Government first came to the port in December 2022 and claimed that the TVT would replace the Wharf Landing Fees.

“They came around last year around December, they claim this will replace the Wharf landing payment, I called and spoke with the coordinator whose phone was on the flyer, he told me that with the sticker which cost about 4,600 the vehicle can be driven within Lagos for the period of one month

“I told him this sticker should be directed to the dealers who take their vehicles around before they are sold.

“The truth remains that they want to take advantage of the fact that lots of vehicles come out of the port and want to compel the clearing agents to make this payment, furthermore they will begin operation with task force to enforce payment for the sticker” he said.

He added that “They have been forcing terminals to include TVT receipt and confirmation as part of the documents for TDO (Terminal Delivery Order).”

Another Customs agent, Emeka Mba, General Manager, Zenith Customs Brokers said that the introduction of the new charge will be resisted adding that there are some charges with no services rendered.

Reacting to the development at the Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC, the port economic regulator told our Correspondent that the Council is not aware of the introduction of the charge.

Speaking to Vanguard, Chief Agu Cajetan, Director, Consumer Services of the NSC said that the Council still views the development as a rumour adding that until the affected people come with their complaints.

He said: “We are not aware of the development, we have heard it like a rumour, and we are waiting for complainants to come forward. This is a country where anybody can wake up in the morning and impose any charge without recourse to the Nigerian Shippers Council.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/04/customs-agents-kick-as-lagos-govt-slams-new-charge-on-imported-vehicles/