Igbo group demands inquest into murder of IPOB members by Police, DSS

The group said it views with shock and deep concern the extra-judicial killings which happened at Emene, Enugu State, involving Igbo youths and operatives of the Nigerian Police, Department of State Service (DSS) and Nigerian Army.

In a statement to DAILY POST signed by Ngozi Odumuko, its Coordinator and Paschal Mbanefo, Secretary, Nzuko Umunna noted that “there are widespread reports that these extra-judicial killings took place when security operatives invaded a peaceful meeting of the youths, while the Enugu State Commissioner of Police Ahmed Abdurahman conceded that many of the youths ‘escaped with bullet wounds and police have started tracing them.’

“We note with grave concern the constant killing of unarmed Igbo youths by security operatives. This is unacceptable and must stop. However, we urge Igbo youths to refrain from retaliatory attacks.

“It is noteworthy that extra-judicial killings are a violation of the right to life as enshrined in Section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999; Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR), and Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

“Nzuko Umunna commends Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his prompt visit to the scene of the extra-judicial killings. In particular, we urge the Governor to set up a Judicial Panel of Inquiry to unravel the immediate and remote causes of these wanton killings including the exact number of victims, to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“Nzuko Umunna requests the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Honourable Justice Priscilla Emehelu to urgently convene a coroner’s inquest on these extra-judicial killings.

“In finding a sustainable framework towards resolving the longstanding security challenges and extra-judicial killings in the region, we urge the South-East Governors Forum (SEGF) and the South East Joint Security Committee to urgently activate the long-awaited regional security network to reassure citizens on the security of lives and property.”, Startimes joint venture yielded no profit in 11 years – Yakubu, DG

Director-General of Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, Mallam Mohammed Ibn Yakubu on Monday gave shocking revelations on its partnership with Startimes.

The NTA boss disclosed that the joint venture partnership which saw Startimes transmitting through its facilities has not yielded profits for the past eleven years.

The DG made this revelation when he appeared before the Joint Senate Committee on MTEF, saying that the NTA could not remit revenue from that arrangement into the Federation Account.

Reacting, the Committee queried the unprofitable business relationship between the Nigerian Television Authority and the Chinese PayTv Startimes calling for a review of its terms of engagement.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan lamented that Nigeria has allowed itself to be treated in a manner that appears as “if there are no laws governing the nation, insisting that the pact must be reviewed.”

The Senate became more concerned that the Nigerian government spends a huge sum of N10 billion on NTA yearly without contributing revenue to service the nation’s deficit.

Co-Chairman, Senator Ayo Akinyelure expressing his disappointment asked the NTA DG to conduct a review or the parliament would step in.