60 soldiers face trial for mutiny today

Another set of 60 soldiers are to be arraigned before a General Court Martial by military authorities in Abuja on Tuesday (today)   for mutiny.

The soldiers allegedly committed mutiny on August 4, 2014 by refusing to join troops in Maiduguri for “an operation.”

Their arraignment which is to take place at the Sani Abacha Barracks in Abuja comes as The PUNCH gathered on Monday that some of the 12 soldiers convicted on September 15, 2014 by the GCM had notified the Court of Appeal of their intention to challenge their sentences.

The   GCM headed by Brig. Gen. C. Okonkwo   had sentenced 12 out of 18 soldiers facing trial guilty of mutiny among other offences and sentenced them to death. Five of them were however discharged and acquitted   and one sentenced to 28 days’ imprisonment with hard labour and reprimand.

The soldiers were charged with mutiny among other offences, including   attacking the former General Officer Commanding the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army, Ahmed Mohammed.

A copy of the charge sheet filed against the 60 soldiers   was obtained by The PUNCH in Abuja on Monday.

The charge sheet revealed that the soldiers, comprising two corporals, nine lance corporals and 49 privates, are to be arraigned on two counts of conspiracy to commit mutiny and mutiny.

The accused allegedly committed the offences at the Mulai Primary School, opposite African Independent Television in Maiduguri, Borno State on August 4, 2014 by refusing to join “111 SF Bn troops” led by Col. E.A. Aladeniyi to Maimalari Barracks in connection with an operation.

According to the charge sheet, they “conspired to commit mutiny against the authority of 7 Division,” an offence said to be punishable under Section 91(1) of the Penal Code Cap P89 LFN 2004.

The soldiers were also accused of committing mutiny which is said to be punishable under Section 52(1)(a) of the AFA CAP A20 LFN 2004.

The charges   are said to be triable in the GCM under Section 114 of the AFA Cap A20 LFN 2004 and punishable under Section 91(1) of the Penal Code Cap P89 LFN 2004.

The two corporals   are Andrew Ogolekwu and Saturday Efa.

The charge sheet reads, “Count One: Criminal conspiracy to commit mutiny triable by the General Court Martial by virtue of Section 114 of the AFA Cap A20 LFN 2004 and punishable under section 91(1) of the Penal Code Cap P 89 LFN 2004.

“Particulars of offence: In that you at Mulai Primary School Camp opposite AIT Maiduguri on or about 4 August 2014 conspired to commit mutiny against the authority of 7 Division.

“Count 2: Mutiny contrary to and punishable under section 52(1)(a) of the AFA CAP A20 LFN 2004.

“Particulars of offence: In that you at Mulai Primary School Camp opposite AIT Maiduguri on or about 4 August 2014 refused to join 111 SF BN troops led by Col. E.A. Aladeniyi (N/9695) to Maimalari Barracks in connection with an operation.”

Indications had emerged on Sunday that lawyers seeking to file an appeal challenging the conviction of some of the 12 soldiers by the GCM     had not been able to have access to them.

There were reports that the convicted soldiers had been moved from the Defence Headquarters Garrison, Abuja to a detention facility at the Directorate of Defence Intelligence, Lagos.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Godwin Obla,   who brought the process of appeal on behalf of three of the convicted soldiers, said   his chambers had made unsuccessful attempts to get in touch with them   without success.

The soldiers are Iganmu Emmanuel, Steven Clement and  Andrew Ngbede.

Obla told one of our correspondents on the   telephone that the military did not volunteer information on where the convicts were being kept.

He said that the inability to locate them had hampered the completion of the appeal process as they had not been available to sign some documents required for the appeal.

The SAN said, “We have been trying to get them (the soldiers) to sign for the process; and because we have not been able to get them, we have not been able to complete the process; there are things for them to sign.

“Nobody has been able to tell us where they are being kept; nobody is volunteering information; nobody has been able to tell us where they are.

“We are just hearing that they have been moved to the Directorate of Military Intelligence Cell in Lagos.

“We   will make the move so that the process would be filed on their behalf.”

Obla also said that the filing process at the Court of Appeal had not been completed   because the findings against and the sentencing of the soldiers by the GCM had not been promulgated and communicated to them.

He said that the filing could only be made after the findings and the verdict of the court martial had been promulgated and communicated to them.

Obla said, “The findings and sentence by the General Court Martial need to be promulgated and it is to be communicated to the convicts. It has not been communicated to them.

“It is after the findings and the sentence have been communicated to the convicts that the filing can be made.”

A lawyer from Obla’s law firm, Mr. Enokela Onyilo-Uloko,   said     that the law firm of a former President of the Senate, Chief Amah Ebute, was handling the defence of six of the   convicted soldiers.

He listed those being represented by Ebute’s law firm as Jasper Braidolor, Friday Onuh, Alao Samuel,   Linus Alan,   Ifeanyi Alukagbe and Amadi Chukwudi.

He said, “Nine of the soldiers are already before the Court of Appeal; the appeals are within time; we are awaiting the hearing date from the Court of Appeal.

“A motion for Stay of Execution is being filed to make sure they don’t tamper with them.”

When The PUNCH sought to know from the   Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Olajide Laleye,   if the conviction of the soldiers had been confirmed by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah,   he said he was not aware.

“I am not aware if the judgment has been confirmed or not; I don’t have that information,” Laleye said

The PUNCH had reported on Friday   that the Army might soon arraign 13 soldiers for cowardice and failure to obey orders from their superiors to advance at the (war) front.

The soldiers were said to have been directed to join their counterparts at the 7 Division, entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating the ongoing counter-terrorism operation in the North-East early in the year.

culled from PUNCH

The CHAMPS Media

details shortly

Mignolet shrugs Valdes, Liverpool link

Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet defended his position in the wake of scathing criticism, and waved away fears of losing his spot.
Belgium international Mignolet has kept just one clean sheet so far in the 2014-15 campaign, most recently conceding late on in the Merseyside derby in a 1-1 draw with Everton.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher and ex-Manchester United captain Gary Neville have led the criticism of the 26-year-old.
The Anfield club has been linked with former Barcelona custodian Victor Valdes, but Mignolet said he is not bothered by the reports.
"If I had to look into all the players who are linked with Liverpool, then there would be another team on the pitch. Every week there would be a different 11 playing," Mignolet said, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.
"If you play for a big club, you have to accept that is the way it is, but I don't read anything into that.
"I am here to play my game and to do my best every week. I can only work hard in training, be positive and make sure I play well."
Mignolet claimed the only expectations he has come from his own ambitions,
"The only pressure is what you put yourself under. What is pressure? Pressure is what is happening in Iraq at the moment where there is a war. That is pressure," the 14-time international said.
"We are football players and we are here to do our best. I can only do my best, work hard in training, be positive and confident and believe in myself. That is the only thing I can do."
The ex-Sunderland shot-stopper did concede the Reds' defence - which has conceded in the 90th, 88th, 120th and 90th minutes in their past four respective outings - were continuing to work on their deficiencies.
"We're not happy with some of the goals we've conceded in recent games," Mignolet said.
"But we've worked hard on things. We want to do better and that showed against Everton.
"We worked on it during the week and I think it showed. Everyone was organised and spoke a lot with each other.
"Everyone was loud on the pitch and showed the authority that was asked of them. From that perspective, there were a lot of positives to take."

Mourinho open to move within Premier League

Jose Mourinho did not rule out moving to another Premier League club when his reign at Chelsea finishes.
The Portuguese won two Premier League titles, one FA Cup and two League Cups in his first spell at Stamford Bridge, but failed to add to that haul of silverware upon his return to the club last season.
Mourinho is famous for never staying in one job too long, often moving on to find new challenges after two or three years.
And the 51-year-old said he would be open to taking another post in the Premier League once his current stint at Chelsea comes to a close.
"If it had to be, yes, but my priority will always be Chelsea and never think about the interest of others," he told Record.
"I know football and know I won't be here five, eight, 10 years if I don't manage to win. Of course not. When I have to think about the matter then we'll see.
"The difference is that last time I didn't have the aim of staying many, many years. Now I'll stay as long as they want me to. I really am the happy one.
"I will only leave when Mr Abramovich calls me to tell me it is over.
"Last time [at Chelsea] it was different because even though I was heart and soul in the project I was leading, I always asked myself 'which will be the next one?' Now it's the first time I don't think about it."

The founder and General overseer of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, Prophet T. B. Joshua has said Boko Haram may be responsible for the collapse of a six-storey building in the church premises.

Joshua, who told members of his church on Sunday not to be afraid, said the attack was targeted at him and not at them.

The prophet made it clear that the collapse of the six-storey building at around 11.45am on Friday which led to the death of no fewer than 16 persons was a Boko Haram attack.

Joshua buttressed his claim by showing to his congregation on the Emmanuel TV the chronology of events shortly before and after the accident as captured by the church’s CCTV.

He said, “I received a phone call immediately I got here, just 10 minutes later when I was in the church, that there was a jet hovering over the mountain where I had just left. They said it was hovering at a close range. Before I knew it, I received another phone call that the same jet was now at the church hovering over the building, passing it four times at a very close range before the building collapsed.”

Joshua read to the church a letter which he said was addressed to him by a Boko Haram member, confessing how he had attempted to plant a bomb inside the church.

Joshua said his church was being attacked to scare away members.

“This environment at Ikotun Egbe, we have never witnessed an accident of a building collapse. This is a very stable terrain. I have been here for the past 30 years. I am pregnant with words, but we have left the security agencies to do their job. Let us believe and educate our people and be alive.”

Assuring his congregation that God would bring the perpetrators of the attack to book, Joshua said that the decision of the insurgents to focus on his church might be the end of the Boko Haram’s activities in the country.

He said,“I know you will ask why the church? It is because of the spiritual blessings that God has bestowed upon us. A big head wears a large hat.

“Don’t forget about the Ebola issue too, it was God that rescued the church. Probably they would have dropped an Ebola patient inside the church, so that they would said, ‘there is an Ebola patient in the church, don’t go there.’

“They are trying to scare you from coming to church. Don’t be scared, you are not the target, I’m the target. I know my time has not yet come. I have not yet finished my job.

“I want to assure you that our God will get back at them and you will know when he gets back to them. May be this would be the end of the whole thing.”

Meanwhile, the death toll had officially risen to 44, while 130 people were said to have been rescued alive.

The National Emergency Management Agency on Sunday said that 44 dead bodies had been recovered, while 130 people trapped in the collapsed Synagogue building had so far been rescued.

The Public Relations Officer of NEMA, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, confirmed this via a text message to our correspondents.

Farinloye, however, told the News Agency of Nigeria that 80 per cent of people rescued from the collapse building were women.

He said that two female children, aged four and eight years, were among those rescued from the building.

Meet the richest man in Africa

The continent's wealthiest businessman talks about job creation, success and the opportunities Africa provides.
Meet Africa's richest man: Aliko Dangote.  Forbes  magazine estimates his wealth at $25bn, making him the 23rd richest man in the world with a growing portfolio of investments across Africa.
The Nigerian business magnate began with a small trading firm in 1977. Today his businesses cover everything from cement manufacturing, food processing to freight.
Dangote group now employs about 25,000 people in Nigeria. It is building cement factories in 16 African countries and buying mining licences from Kenya to Zambia.
“Africa is full of opportunities and I think what we did was actually harness fully the opportunities that we met on the ground,” he says.
“We have done quite a lot in various areas. We started with trading, after we succeeded in training what we did was go into manufacturing, which is normally a very difficult area, especially in this part of the world because of lack of power. But we have been able to resolve those issues and we are able to succeed in most of what we are doing.”

They say it is better to be humble, they say that no condition is permanent. So I want to always run my [own] life – whether I have money or I don't have money, I can alwayrun it.
Aliko Dangote, Nigerian businessman
Dangote's is not a rags-to-riches story however. He comes from a wealthy Nigerian family. After losing his father at the age of eight, he was brought up by his uncle, who gave the businessman his first loan, which he then turned into the most successful business conglomerate in Africa.
“I paid [the loan] back in three months because business was so good” Dangote says.
His story, many say, shows what is possible about Africa.
On being the poorest continent's richest man for the fourth year in a row, Dangote says “it feels a little bit odd, yes it's true, but then it gives you a lot of thinking and responsibility. You ask 'what do I do to impact humanity?' And that is why we do quite a lot [philanthropically] in terms of our [Dangote] foundation.”
He adds: “We are giving back because we are creating quite a lot of jobs. We are not doing like other Africans, where most of the money is in the bank. We don't keep any money in the bank; whatever we have we fully invest and we keep on investing – and that's what we do.”
Because of his success, Dangote has taken on the aura of an economic folk hero for some. But to others he is a villain who has used his political connections to sideline the potential competition.
The post Aliko Dangote: Africa's richest man appeared first on Pointblank News .

Anelka joins Mumbai

Former France international Nicolas Anelka has joined Mumbai City ahead of the inaugural Indian Super League (ISL) later this year.
The 35-year-old striker has played for a host of Europe's top clubs during his nomadic career, including the likes of Arsenal, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Juventus.
Anelka was sacked by West Brom in March after making a quenelle gesture, which is deemed to have anti-Semitic sentiments, in a Premier League clash with West Ham.
It looked as though he would join Brazilian outfit Atletico Mineiro, but the club announced in April that the deal was off, citing complaints about Anelka's late arrival into the country.
On Monday it was announced Anelka would join Mumbai to link up with former Germany international Manuel Friedrich, while Anelka's compatriots David Trezeguet and Robert Pires have also signed up to play in the ISL for other franchises.
"I'm pleased to join Mumbai City FC & very exciting in joining Indian Super League," Anelka posted on his official Twitter account.
"Talented international players & top Indian talent will make matches thrilling affairs. I look forward to using my ability to do well for my team in the matches we will play.
"Are you ready @mumbaicityfc ? Here I come. Looking forward to it!"
The Mumbai franchise is co-owned by Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor, while former Sunderland and Manchester City boss Peter Reid will manage the side.
"We are delighted to announce the signing of Nicolas Anelka and thrilled that a player with a stunning pedigree such as his is part of our team," Kapoor said.
"His abilities and experience are known the world over and I am certain his presence will give us the firepower required up front. We welcome him to the Mumbai City FC squad."