BREAKING NEWS: Nigerian Military Sentences 54 Soldiers To Death For Mutiny

Nigerian Military Sentences 54 Soldiers To Death For Mutiny

The charge sheet said the soldiers conspired to commit mutiny against the authorities of the 7 Division on August 4, at the Mulai Primary School camp, opposite AIT Maiduguri, Borno State. The soldiers are the second batch of Nigerian soldiers condemned to death by Nigerian Military courts for mutiny. 

A military court in Nigeria has sentenced 54 soldiers to death after they were found guilty of mutiny.

The soldiers were convicted Wednesday in Abuja on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy to commit mutiny. Represented by Femi Falana (SAN), the brunt of the defense's case argued that the soldiers were not guilty of mutiny as accused.
"My Lords, contrary to the general belief in military circles, protest by soldiers does not constitute mutiny," Falana argued in his defense, obtained by SaharaReporters. Imploring the court to uphold precedent as established in the case Cpl Segun Oladele & 22 Ors. v Nigerian Army supra, Falana said "Can we safely conclude that the prosecution has proved all the ingredients in this charge of mutiny against the accused soldiers?"
"The answer is in the negative," he said.
"In the instant case, the Prosecution did not prove that the order given to carry out a military act followed the standard or proper procedure of giving such an order; that the accused soldiers deliberately and by collusion disobeyed the order; that the disobedience and the acts strike at the foundation of discipline in the Army; that the accused persons used violence or threat of violence; and that the acts of the convicts 'were deliberately designed to put the Nigerian Army in imminent danger'."
Despite a thorough 48-page defense, the 54 soldiers were sentenced to death today.
Four other soldiers were acquitted.


The convicted soldiers, mostly officers involved in the fight against the Boko Haram terrorists in Northeast Nigeria, are to die on stakes, by firing squad.
The soldiers, attached to the 7 Division, Nigerian Army in Maiduguri include two Corporals, Cpl, nine Lance Corporals, LCpl and 49 Private soldiers.
The charge sheet said the soldiers conspired to commit mutiny against the authorities of the 7 Division on August 4, at the Mulai Primary School camp, opposite AIT Maiduguri, Borno State.
The soldiers are the second batch of Nigerian soldiers condemned to death by Nigerian Military courts for mutiny.

 The trial of the soldiers began on October 15 on allegations they disobeyed orders to join operations against the extremist group, Boko Haram.
All the accused soldiers pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecutor, J.E. Nwosu, an army Captain, alleged that the accused soldiers had on August 4, in Maiduguri, refused to join the 111 Special Forces Battalion troops, commanded by Timothy Opurum, a Lieutenant Colonel for an operation.
Mr. Nwosu said the operation was meant to recapture Delwa, Bulabulin and Damboa in Borno State from the Boko Haram terrorists.
According to him, the offence is punishable under Section 52(1) (a) of the Armed Forces Act Cap A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The prosecution called the commander of the 111 Special Forces, Lt.-Col. Opurum, as one of the witnesses.
The statement of the commander was admitted by the court and marked Exhibit P1.
Mr. Opurum, in his testimony in October, said the Special Forces were tasked with advancing to recapture Delwa to clear the way for other battalions to pass through to recapture Babulin and Damboa from the insurgents.
He said he took off for the operation with only four officers and 29 soldiers as “tasked” after majority of the 174 soldiers in the unit refused to join the operation.
The witness said after he took charge of the Special Forces, he addressed and assured them that they could achieve the task given to them.
He, however, said the soldiers were “hesitant to partake in the operation” in spite of the assurances.
Under cross examination by Femi Falana, who represented the accused soldiers, Mr. Opurum said 47 of the soldiers who initially refused, later re-joined the forces for another operation.
Mr. Opurum said the 47 soldiers joined, after he called for reinforcement, as they came under attack from terrorists, who out-numbered them and had superior weapons.
Asked if the soldiers refused to fight or refused to join the operation because of lack of superior weapons, he said all units in the North-East had requested for weapons.
On the disciplinary measure taken against the 47 soldiers, who initially refused, he said the process for that was to begin when they were court-martialled.
Mr. Falana in an oral application asked to the court for the record of weapons recovered from the 47 soldiers, when they initially refused to join the operations.
The President of the Court, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yusuf, said the application had been noted "for action."
The General Court Martial was inaugurated on October 2 to try 97 soldiers, including 15 senior officers for mutiny.


 by Premium Times—Nnenna Ibeh

MOSCOW (AP) — Vowing never to let the West defang his proud nation, President Vladimir Putin promised Thursday to fix Russia's economic woes within two years by diversifying and voiced confidence that the plummeting ruble will soon recover.

In a live, three-hour news conference that has become a Putin holiday tradition, the Russian leader demonstrated unwavering confidence in his domestic policies despite the catastrophic collapse in the ruble. His fierce defiance toward the United States flared throughout as he insisted the West was trying to destroy Russia to grab Siberia's great natural resources.

This year Putin held his televised extravaganza from a particularly strong vantage point: An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll released Thursday showed his approval rating among Russians stood at 81 percent — a level far above the ratings for other world leaders.

Putin accompanied his message with trademark images of Russian pride, with video showing him surrounded by Sochi Olympic athletes, petting a baby tiger and greeting Russian cosmonauts. And his most stirring quotes evoked a famed Russian symbol — the bear.

In his speech, the man who has led Russia for 15 years sought to soothe market fears that the government could use administrative controls, such as fixing the ruble's rate or obliging exporters to sell hard currency, to help stabilize the battered currency.

Putin said the nation's hard currency reserves are sufficient to keep the economy stable, adding the Central Bank should not aimlessly "burn" its $419 billion in reserves.

"Our economy will overcome the current situation. How much time will be needed for that? Under the most unfavorable circumstances, I think it will take about two years," he said.

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In this Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014 file photo, a man walks by a sign advertising currencies of an exchange …

Putin also acknowledged that Western economic sanctions over Moscow's actions in Ukraine were just one factor behind Russia's economic crisis, estimating they accounted for roughly 25 to 30 percent of the ruble's troubles. He said a key reason for the currency's fall was Russia's failure to ease its overwhelming dependence on oil and gas exports.

After Putin finished his performance, the Russian currency traded at 60 rubles to the dollar late Thursday, the same level as Wednesday. Still, the currency has lost about half its value since January.

Russia's benchmark MICEX index rallied 4.3 percent by late afternoon Thursday, but consumers voted with their feet, buying cars, electronics and home appliances in a desperate attempt to protect their savings before prices go up.

Audi was the latest major company to suspend deliveries in Russia amid the ruble's turmoil. Apple halted online sales earlier this week.
Putin struck a defiant note against the United States and the 28-nation European Union, saying the sanctions they slapped on Russia after it seized the Black Sea region of Crimea in March were part of a historical campaign to weaken Russia. He accused the West of trying to infringe on Russia's sovereignty, saying the Ukrainian crisis was just a pretext for Western action.
To get his point across, he brought in the metaphorical Russian bear.

CLICK IMAGE for slideshow: Ukrainian soldiers sing the Ukrainian national anthem during a rally in K …

"Sometimes I think, maybe it would be better for our bear to sit quiet, rather than chasing around the forest after piglets. To sit eating berries and honey instead. Maybe they will leave it in peace," said Putin. "They will not. Because they will always try to put him on a chain, and as soon as they succeed in doing so they tear out his fangs and his claws."

By fangs and claws, Putin said he meant Russia's nuclear weapons, which are protecting its valuable natural resources.
"Once they've taken out his claws and his fangs, then the bear is no longer necessary. He'll become a stuffed animal," he said. "The issue is not Crimea. The issue is that we are protecting our sovereignty and our right to exist."
Putin urged a political solution for the crisis in Ukraine, where pro-Russian insurgents have been battling Ukrainian government troops since April, leaving more than 4,700 people dead.
He said Ukraine must remain one political entity, meaning that its pro-Russian, rebellious eastern regions should not break away. He also suggested the two sides hold a prisoner swap before Christmas.

Yet he defended Russia's increased military activities, including stepped-up Russian military flights in the Baltics that NATO says are putting civilian flights at risk, as a necessary response to what he described as aggressive Western action.

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko gestures at a news conference with European Union High Repr …

"We aren't on the offensive, we aren't attacking anyone, we are only defending our interests," he said.

Putin said he was sure that Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko sincerely wanted a peaceful solution to the crisis but other forces in Ukraine don't. He urged the Ukrainian government to grant amnesty to the rebels and offer broad rights to eastern residents.

Putin said Russia wants to have normal economic and security ties with the West but wants to cooperate on equal terms.
In Brussels, the EU beefed up its sanctions against Russia with a ban Thursday on investment in Crimea and other economic penalties, including measures aimed at keeping tourists away.

Beginning Saturday, Europeans and EU-based companies cannot buy real estate or businesses in Crimea, finance Crimean companies or supply services. EU operators will no longer be allowed to offer tourism services to Crimea's Black Sea beaches or other destinations. Cruise ships owned by any EU-based companies or flying an EU member state's flag will also no longer be allowed to call at Sevastopol or other Crimean ports except in an emergency.

Despite his strong rhetoric, Putin still held out hope for normalizing ties with the West, saying Russia stands ready to expand its gas supplies to southern Europe using a prospective hub on Turkey's border.

Turning to the ruble's collapse, he said the government should work with exporters to help stabilize the plummeting currency but not through formal orders. He said he had talked to the leaders of some of Russia's major companies to encourage them to sell more rubles — and one promised to sell $3 billion to help stabilize the currency.

Putin shrugged off the dangers of any "palace coup" by some of his lieutenants amid Russia's economic crisis, noting his broad public support. He also raised the performance of Igor Sechin, his longtime confidant who heads the Rosneft state-controlled oil giant, ignoring a question about Sechin's hefty paycheck.

In an apparent goodwill gesture hours before the press conference, a Russian tycoon under house arrest since September, Vladimir Yevtushenkov, was released.

Shares in Sistema, a company that Yevtushenkov controls and manages, shot up more than 100 percent on Moscow's MICEX stock exchange on Putin's words that he hopes that the company will regain its stance on the market.

One of Sistema's most lucrative assets — the oil company Bashneft — was transferred to the government this month, but Putin said money-laundering charges against Yevtushenkov have been dropped.

John-Thor Dahlburg in Brussels contributed to this report.

Source: Yahoo News.

PHOTOWALK Through Shiloh 2014 at Raji Oba

Shiloh 2014 Winners’ Chapel Raji Oba Viewing center

The just concluded Shiloh 2014 which held between Tuesday 9^th – Saturday 13^th December, 2014.

The Raji Oba church is the founding building of the Winners’ Chapel that grew over to the years to what Canaanland is.

And since many could not attend the yearly event at Ota, here are exclusive pictures of the viewing centre on Raji Oba Street in the Alimosho LG area of Lagos, opposite Gowon estate.

 More pictures...

Photos taken by Yomi Dare exclusively for The Hub.

I like Chimamanda.But his time around she goofed. 
Chimamanda Adichie is a very vocal feminist. That she doesn't attempt to hide. A lot of chauvinistic men may not like her much but I'm very comfortable with such strong willed ladies. 

But In the interview below, she really made a mountain out of a mole hill. Even without being asked she begins to say she doesn't want to take up her hubby's surname, that's absolutely fine. Anyone can respect that. But no one is fighting you over it. And if she wants to continue being referred to as 'Ms' (Miss) as a prefix to her name even after being married, its totally up to her. We all can respect her decisions bothering on her life. Chimam please answer me this; in the opening part of this interview, who asked you? 

Nigerian writer, novelist and orange prize winner, Chimamanda Adichie in a recent interview said she should not be addressed using Mrs: 
‘Before we start, please, I just want to say that my name is Chimamanda Adichie. That’s how I want it; that’s how I’m ad-dressed, and it is not Mrs but Miss. Ms: that’s how I want it’ 

 INTERVIEWER: You started by telling me that you’re not “Mrs.”… (cuts in) My name is Chimamada Adichie. If you want to put label for me, put Ms. *TheCommentsHub: haba chi! Na fight?* 

INTERVIEWER: But people know that you’re married. As an Igbo girl, you know our culture… (Cuts in again) What does our culture do? Let me tell you about our culture. This thing that you are calling our culture –that when you marry somebody, you’ll start call-ing her Mrs. Somebody –is not our culture; it is Western culture. If you want to talk about our culture, you need to go to people in real Igbo land. But it is true. My grandfather’s name is David. His name is also Nwoye. They call him Nwoye Omeni. Omeni was his mother. You know why? It is to help distinguish him, because there are often many wives. So, it was his mother that they used to identify him. They know that all of these people came from the same compound, but whose child is this one. You may go and ask people who is Nwoye Omeni, and they’ll tell you it is my grandfather. So, conversation about culture is a long one. I don’t even want to have it. 

 INTERVIEWER: But, at what point would you change your name? Yes; because it’s all fused. You cannot then come and impose something on somebody. Nobody should come and impose something on somebody, because, if you come and tell me it is our culture, I’ll tell you it is not our culture. Where do you want to start counting? Do you want to start counting in 1920, or do you want us to start counting from 1870? 

INTERVIEWER: But culture is dynamic… Exactly my point, which is why this is new. If culture is dynamic, you cannot use it as conservative tool. We can-not then say it has to be this because it is our culture. My point is that it is a new thing. Things are changing. We live in a world now where women have a right to bear the name they want. So, we cannot say this is how we do it. If some women want to do it that way, that’s fine! God bless them. Some women won’t do it. I am one of those women, and nobody will come to use culture to tell me that I should do what I don’t want to do.
 http://liveofofo.com/57500/force-change-surname-chimamanda-adichie/ 

TheCommentsHub found an interesting comment: After reading the interview, 'Birdman' commented 

"Lol. Sensible (and mature) guys run from women like these. Her outward rebellion is a sign of something internal. I pity the poor dude who allowed her fame to cloud his judgement and jumped on the bandwagon. Dude is going to bed with fire on a nightly basis. First it was feminism, then gays, now culture is whatever suits her. I know there are a few oyinbo NGOs licking their chops...they have found another "educated" african they can use tear up our social fabric. I expect her invitations to speak to double, now that she has shown she is willing to drag her culture on the floor if need be. For those saying this is a strong, intelligent woman, you insult the memories of real strong African women. Our strongest women (and men) are recognized by the sacrifices they made. What we have here is vanity, selfishness and pride, and there is nothing strong about that."

 Oops! Is Chimamanda loosing her female followers with her constant outbursts on sensitive issues? Because her comments on homosexuality in africa certainly didn't go down well with many guys and ladies alike. And certainly didn't go down well with me. She could try to balance her thoughts on modernization and culture especially, of Africa.

Ironic Awards.

Professor Wole Soyinka was saying “I would have preferred that the entire day of infamy be ignored altogether. I’m even thinking favourably of just ignoring the obscenity, then turning up at the counter-event,”. The man and grammar sha! Anyways, this morning, I woke up to a visit from my cousin, Ola. He's a hip-hop artist; song writer and entertainer. Upcoming though. And he greeted me with a good news! What a very kool way to start the day, weekend and new month! And then a message came in from Precious, a friend of mine with a very sweet heart wishing me "peace, love, blessings,favour,grace n mercy of the lord this month. Av a fun filled month!!" A big Amen to that. 

The Nigeria Centenary Celebrations came to mind. I didn't watch it live last night. On my way from Akoka, I had a short talk with Sodiq over stuff and the centenary celebrations award was going on! I even got my utility phone missing while we talked. Small old nokia phone but important! Or at least, because its houses bulk of my contacts. Sodiq sent a message he saw it. 

 Well, back to the awards.

Fela Vs Obasanjo.
I had read a piece earlier where Femi Kuti had hinted that the Kuti family was going to reject the posthumous recognition awarded his father, the Legendary Fela 'Anikulapo' Kuti. He was asking the Federal Government to first apologize for the death of his grandmother, and the burning of 'Kalakuta Republic'. Ironically, Obasanjo the same man responsible for the many troubles of Fela in the 70s and who Fela sang vehemently against received an award. Yes, the Kutis refused the award. Fela Vs. Obasanjo.

 Abiola Vs. GEJ
 MKO Abiola's family rejected the posthumous award to their patriarch. Abiola's family and President Jonathan sef! GEJ attempted to rename UNILAG to Moshood Abiola University and up went the dust! What does the family have against GEJ? But seriously, don't you think Abiola who won the free and fair election in 1993 should be award the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) at the very least? And quite revealing is that his family allege that the Government owes Abiola debts? I wish we can get more on this. 


 Gani Fawehinmi Vs. IBB
Late famous lawyer and activist Gani Fawehinmi didn't get his award because his family refused it saying it will be morally and psychologically 'debilitating' to stand on the same podium with IBB! Gani was tortured and imprisoned by the military dictator, IBB. His family allege that while in the Gushua prisons, Gani's cell was sprayed with toxic substance which led to lung cancer. And eventually, his death in 2009. 


Considering current issues in the political arena, isn't ironic to know Obasanjo, General Buhari and President Jonathan were together for the awards? Anyways, we should be celebrating so no need fighting each other for now...

A Song To Victims Of Burni Yadi Insurgence.

Earlier in the week we were all saddened by the news from Federal Government College, Burni Yadi Yobe State, Nigeria. The terrorist group Boko Haram set a block ablaze with students in it on 25th Febraury. Those that attempted to escape were shot. 

Due to previous activities of these blood-thirsty evil group, soldiers were deployed to patrol the entire state. So you'd understand my concern when I ask: For the entire 3 hours they raided and razed the school, where were the soldiers? It was said that they arrived the school in a convoy, no signal was picked on? And for 3 hours, the school was burning and children were dying and no help came until they died. 

Our military is very competent, yes! No doubt about that. And that is why there should be accountability. Those assignned to patrol that area has to answer these disturbing questions and more. Later info coming from some survivors said the terrorist group whose name is interpreted 'Western Education Is Taboo' released female students and urged them to fore-go 'western education' and go get married! After which the male student were brutally assaulted. But I ask: if you wipe out the male counterpart of a generation, whom are the females getting married to? Alhaji Yerima's age group I guess? 

Well, since that day a song has stuck with me. Its from the Isley Brothers. And the part that got deep to my soul sang: "...Every woman, every man Join the caravan of love..." Get the audio, its worth the listen.

Meanwhile Governor Fashola in Lagos politely asked to rename a hall being constructed by the NUPENG in his honour to 'Peace Hall', hear him: “I appreciate NUPENG’s gesture but I will rename this edifice `Peace Hall`, in memory of the lives of the children that were brutally slain in Yobe by insurgents."

My condolences to the mothers and entire families whose children were slain unjustly. May God comfort you. Posterity will book Boko Haram.

Unexpected Day Off.

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