Adamawa imposes curfew after Boko Haram killings

The Adamawa Government has declared a dusk to dawn curfew in major towns across the state, following Friday incident in which unidentified gunmen killed 12 people in a church in Yola.

The Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Abdurrahman Jimeta, who disclosed this on Saturday, said that the curfew affected major towns like Mubi, Numan, Michika and Gombi.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that unidentified gunmen in two separate attacks killed 14 people between Jan. 5 and Jan. 6.

Jimeta urged the people of Adamawa to remain calm and be law abiding, noting that government had taken necessary steps to contain the situation.

Also speaking on the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the command, Mr Altine Daniel, an Assistant Superintendent of Police confirmed that 12 people were killed in the church attack while four other victims injured were receiving treatment.

Altine also confirmed that 14 people died in the two separate attacks that took place in Mubi on Thursday and Friday.

She said that the police had not ascertained the perpetrators of the act but had drafted men to strategic places for stop and search exercise.

Altine appealed to the public to assist the police and other security agencies with necessary information that could led to the arrest of the perpetrators.

Meanwhile, Gov. Muritala Nyako, has announced a N25 million reward for any person that could give information to the arrest of the culprits. (NAN)

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Over 50 Injured As Angry Youths Attack Muslims in Sapele

 ENRAGED youths, numbering over 2,000, armed with battleaxes, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons went on rampage, Friday, sacking and inflicting injuries on over 50 Muslims at the Hausa quarters, Sapele in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State.


A northern security guard was shot dead in a separate incident by a gang of armed robbers that attacked a school in Sapele on Thursday.


Vanguard gathered that the youths were incensed by the uninhibited attacks on churches and killing of Christians in the northern part of the country by the Islamic Boko Haram sect.


Two of the persons suspected to have carried out the onslaught were, however, arrested by the police in Sapele.


There was pandemonium following the attack on Muslims, who were ordered to vacate the town in their own interest since Boko Haram members had also issued ultimatum to Christians to leave the north.


Secretary of a Muslim Media group in Sapele, Sadiq Oniyesaneyene Musa who spoke to Vanguard on the attacks by Sapele youths said, "We are disturbed by this attack on Muslims in Sapele and the order that all Muslims in Sapele should return to the north. I am a Muslim and an Itsekiri from Delta state, where do they want me to go to, this is my homeland".


Musa said the youths besieged Muslims in the town very close to the mosque that was bombed, last year, and injured a lot of faithful.


"We called the director of the State Security Service, SSS, Asaba and the Area Commander and they responded. The Joint Task Force, JTF, on the Niger-Delta also deployed soldiers to take care of the situation", he said.



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Govt’s move against Labour backfires

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday condemned the invasion of its Secretariat, Labour House, Abuja by youths right under the noses of the police. 


According to the Acting General Secretary of the Congress, Comrade Owei Lakemfa, “the youths numbering about 70, who were hired by government agents, later apologised for their action, claiming that they were not told they were being brought to the NLC. 


“They revealed that they were promised N1,000 each to carry out the invasion. Subsequently, they forced the agents that brought them to pay the N1,000 fee right in the presence of the cameras.”
NLC further noted that the aim of the invasion was to cause a fracas and claim that workers are divided over the issue of fuel price increase. 


The statement reads in part: “It is instructive that while the invasion was on, the FCT Police Command ignored calls by NLC officials to come and escort the thugs out of the Labour premises.  Also, the heavily armed security men who had cordoned off part of the NTA Link Road where Labour House is situated, did nothing to stop the invaders. 


“The NLC views this incident as another desperate attempt by the increasingly isolated and unpopular Jonathan administration to stop the mass movement against its insensitive and ridiculous fuel price increases of between 120-220 per cent.


 “As part of its desperate moves to abort the people’s mass protests and intimidate Nigerians, the Presidency this morning turned out heavily armed units of the Presidential guards.  The troops blocked roads, cordoned off parts of the city, harrassed and frisked passersby.
“We condemn this “show of force” designed to intimidate peace-loving Nigerians.  The NLC also condemns this misuse of the army and warn that the police and armed forces are citizens like the rest of us who are equally affected by the negative impacts of the fuel price hike, and should therefore not be taken for granted.


“The Labour Movement specifically asks Abuja residents to  hold demonstrations in  various parts of the city and its surburbs, and march to the city centre  by 8 am from Monday 9th January, 2012.


 “Fraudulent text messages were sent around this morning, claiming that government had reverted PMS (petrol) price to N65 and that on the strength of this, Labour had called off the general strike, rallies and mass protests which commence on Monday 9th January, 2012.  Another text message claims that the strike and commencement dates have been shifted.  There is no truth in these claims. 


“The NLC informs Nigerians that on this issue of strikes and protests, only statements or messages from the Labour Movement should be taken as authentic.
“We reiterate that the right of Nigerians to peaceful assembly and protest is a fundamental one which no government can abridge.  The NLC will work with the patriotic Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) to bring those who brutalise Nigerians and their bosses who issue the orders  to justice.”


The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, could not be immediately reached for comments.
The Assistant Director of Press in the ministry, Mr. Solomon Olowookere, who spoke to our reporter, said the ministry knew nothing about it.
‘’I know nothing about it. As you are speaking to me, I’m not even in Abuja,’’ he said on the telephone.


In a related development, the National Industrial Court (NIC) yesterday restrained the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) from embarking on the indefinite strike planned for Monday.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Muhammad Bello Adoke (SAN), had gone behind the labour unions to get the court injunction.
The three-member panel of Justices, chaired by the President of the NIC, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, granted the exparte application filed by the minister and moved by Matthew Echo. 
The motion was brought pursuant to Order 11 Rules 1& 2 of the National Industrial Court Rules 2007, Section 19 of the National Industrial Court Act 2006, Section 254C (1c) of the 1999 Constitution and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
The order was granted after the Minister undertook to indemnify NLC and TUC in the event that the motion exparte is later ascertained by the Court as one which ought not to have been granted.
Other members of the panel are Justices Benedict Kanyip and Maureen Esowe.
Ruling on the application, the panel said it was mindful of the decision of the Court of Appeal in Oshiomhole V. Federal Government delivered in 2007, which stated conditions under which industrial strike could be stopped.
Taking a cue from the above decision, the panel granted reliefs 1, 4 and 5 as follows:
*An order restraining the Defendants from embarking or compelling other persons to embark on a strike action or general strikes, mass rallies and street protests across Nigeria pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.
*An order restraining the Defendants from embarking and/or inciting the general public to embark on and/or incite the Nigerian citizenry and the general public to embark on general strike, street protests, mass rallies or any other action that would be inimical to the economic affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.
•An order granting leave to the Claimant/Applicant to serve the NLC and TUC with the originating processes in this matter vide substituted means to-wit by publication in national dailies……
Justice Adejumo, however, struck out two reliefs sought by the AGF.
They are: "An order restraining the Defendants from interfering with the exercise of the constitutional powers of the executive arm of the Federal Government of Nigeria in the allocation and use of the scarce resources of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, including but not limited to the transfer of resources previously allocated to the subsidy of premium motor spirit (PMS), among others, for the medium and long term socio-economic benefit of present and future generations of Nigerians.
"An order restraining the Defendants from interfering in any way with the executive implementation (in ways and means) of the 2012 Appropriation Act and other connected duties of the Executive Arm of the Federal Government of Nigeria in the management of the economic affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.’’
Justice Asejumo said the court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the issues raised by the claimant/applicant.
The case was adjourned till January 12 for hearing of the motion on notice. 
In a 30-paragraph affidavit of urgency deposed to by Mr. Yusuf Mok, an assistant director, Civil Litigation in the Ministry of Justice, the AGF averred : *That the Defendants' call for general strike was made without any formal declaration of a dispute right relating to labour relations or employee rights.
•That prior to the Defendants' call for strike action or general strike, mass rallies and street protests across Nigeria, there was no reference of any dispite by the Defendants to Arbitration.
*That the Defendants Joint Communique dated 4th January, 2012, calling for indefinite general strike, mass rallies and street protests be held across the country with effect from Monday 9th January, 2012 was made to the general Nigerian public over and beyond their respective members.


•That the Defendants, by their Joint Communique dated 4th January, 2012 threatened that from Monday, 9 January 2012, all offices, oil production centres, air and sea ports, fuel stations, markets, banks, amongst others will be shut down.
*That the removal of subsidy is not a dispute of right of the defendants or their members adding that the defendants did not also raise any dispute arising from a collective and fundamental breach of contract employment on their part, among others.’’
Reacting to the restraining order of court yesterday, the NLC asked members of the public to ignore what it called a black market injunction.
The congress said in a statement signed by its Acting General Secretary, Owei Lakemfa: ‘’There are rumours circulating that the desperate Jonathan administration has purchased a black market injunction possibly from the National Industrial Court (NIC). The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is not aware of any such injunction. We were not served any paper of court appearance. We were not present in court nor were we represented in any capacity. Also, the NLC was not served any court summons nor were we served any court order. 
‘’The cretins in the Jonathan administration imagine that by seeking to drag the judiciary in the mud, they can avert the general strike, rallies and mass protests that will begin on Monday 9th January, 2012. They cannot make the simple analysis that the whole populace is angry and that Nigerians do not need any group to ask them to protest an evil policy that seeks to impoverish them. 
‘’The NLC asks Nigerians to ignore this childish ploy and rumour. There is no going back on next week’s protests and shutdown. 
‘’The issue of the strikes and protests against an obnoxious policy is not an industrial relations one; it is not between an employer and an employee. Rather, it is one between the Nigerian people versus the Jonathan government. 
‘’So, if the issue was taken before the National Industrial Court, then it is the wrong place to shop for a black market injunction. To obtain an injunction from a court that has no competent jurisdiction is to try playing ping pong with the judiciary. 
‘’Labour reiterates that the constitutional and fundamental right of Nigerians to protest cannot be annulled. 
‘’The NLC asks Nigerians to ignore such rumours. The strikes, mass rallies and protests will go on as scheduled. The NLC advises the Jonathan administration to listen to the people or face their justifiable wrath.’’ 

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Nigeria court orders halt to planned strike

Abuja - An industrial court in Nigeria ordered unions to stop a planned nationwide strike over spiralling gasoline prices, giving authorities legal power to break up any work stoppages by labour groups.

The order by the National Industrial Court came on Friday as protests continued in other Nigerian cities over the removal of government-sponsored fuel subsidies. The nation's House of Representatives said it would meet on Sunday to address the concerns of the people, but Nigeria's president appears unwilling to pull back from eliminating the subsidy.

Gas prices have risen from $1.70 per gallon (45 cents per litre) to at least $3.50 per gallon (94 cents per litre) since the subsidy ended Sunday. That's caused prices to inflate for food and transportation across Nigeria, a nation of more than 160 million people where most live on less than $2 a day.

The court order by Justice Babatunde Adejuwon came after a filing by the federal government to stop the Nigeria Labor Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria from holding a planned strike on Monday. Only government lawyers attended the hastily called court hearing in Nigeria's capital Abuja.

"Economic activities within the country will be adversely affected, as will the health and safety of the citizenry, if the impending strike is allowed to hold," Adejuwon wrote in his order.

The Nigeria Labour Congress issued a statement after the ruling dismissing the order. "There is no going back on next week's protests and shutdown," it said.

Peter Esele, the president of the Trade Union Congress, said on Friday night he hasn't seen the court's ruling. "We will respond after we study what's happening," Esele said.

The order does not specify any punitive actions or fines the groups could face if they hold a strike Monday. It does allow authorities to interfere with any strike action — though others can still protest.

Acts of violence 

Meanwhile, Nigeria's federal police promised on Friday to protect peaceful protesters ahead of the planned strike, but security forces blocked others from demonstrating near the oil-rich country's seat of power.

Inspector General Hafiz Ringim said he met with other leaders of Nigeria's security agencies over the protests that began after the government ended the subsidy on Sunday. While promising to protect the peaceful, Ringim gave a strong warning that security agencies would use force if necessary.

"I want to urge the organisers and participating groups in the strike to be conscious, take charge of their members and refrain [from] any acts of violence or any conduct likely to cause breach of the peace as government will deal decisively with acts of" violence, he said.

However, Ringim's promise to allow peaceful demonstration clashed with what occurred only a short distance away from police headquarters in Abuja. A heavy presence of police, soldiers and other security agents — some carrying gas masks — blocked protesters from demonstrating in the national parade ground near federal offices.

An Associated Press reporter saw about 100 protesters at one point.

"The president of Nigeria is asking us to make sacrifices, but our question is: 'What sacrifices has he shown he's ready to make?'" asked protester Henry Okelue.

Few have seen any benefit from the country's vast oil wealth over decades of production that have seen Nigeria become a top crude oil supplier to the US While the government has promised to invest part of an estimated $8bn in savings from the elimination of the subsidy back into needed projects, many remain convinced kleptocrat leaders will embezzle the money.

No meaningful infrastructure 

Nigeria, an OPEC member nation, produces about 2.4 million barrels of crude oil a day. However, virtually all of its petroleum products are imported after years of graft and mismanagement at its refineries.

Speaking in Abuja on Friday, President Goodluck Jonathan again defended eliminating the subsidy, saying the majority of Nigeria's capital budget last year came from borrowed money.

"No meaningful infrastructural development is possible in such an environment," Jonathan said, according to a statement from the presidency.

Whether the strike goes forward or a settlement will be reached remains unknown, though the public largely remains angry about the subsidies being suddenly removed. Hackers upset with the government targeted the website of the country's Ministry of Transportation on Friday, replacing its home page with a defiant message that said officials "sabotaged this country into a monolithic tyranny."

"Nigerians are stirring and with it, revolution is brewing," the message read.

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PDP Worries Over Gov Poll In Adamawa, Bayelsa, Others

As violent reactions have continued to trail the removal of fuel subsidy in some parts of the country, palpable tension and  anxiety have gripped the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over possible backlash as it prepares for elections in five states.

The party, according to a source, who is a member of PDP’s National Caucus, is “in shock and disbelief” over the timing of the action of the Federal Government on New Year day.

But the National Legal Adviser, Chief Olusola Oke told Saturday Tribune that there were no reasons for the party to entertain any fears about the elections, saying, the effects of the government’s action, “whether positive or otherwise, are to be borne by all Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliations, religion and ethnic placement”.

The source told our correspondent that the party was taken aback by the sudden action of the government, claiming that not even the Acting National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, knew about the New Year day shocker.

“The issues were actually well discussed at the party level; we were convinced of the government’s intentions for the economy, but our problem now is that no one, not even the acting national chairman of the party was in the know of this sudden action.

“In the first place, the wrong time of the festive period cannot be wished away; how do you expect someone who had gone home, for instance for celebration, with the aim of returning to his base with the little he has as transport fare to react to this ugly development?

“Secondly, as a party, we are going into some very crucial elections in about four or five states. With the reactions still on, how do we face the people to sell our party because the whole thing will be pushed back to the PDP at the polls; in some states? Elections are holding as early as January and February this year, in states like Adamawa and Bayelsa for instance. For an enlightened electorate, this is enough to vote out a party from office. To be candid with you, we are in deep shock and disbelief,” he said.

Meanwhile, there are indications that the Bayelsa State governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, may unveil his new political platform on which to contest the February 12 governorship election in the state.

A source close to the governor told our correspondent that already, Sylva was on the verge of completing his nomination form.

He however, declined to disclose the political party the embattled governor had found as an alternative after he was disqualified from contesting the governorship primaries of PDP.

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