Three Dead, 11 Injured As Mining Pit Collapses In Zamfara

Three Dead, 11 Injured As Mining Pit Collapses In Zamfara

Three Dead, 11 Injured As Mining Pit Collapses In Zamfara

Most of the artisanal miners operating in the state are operating without licences and permissions to explore minerals.

No fewer than three artisanal miners have died while 11 others were injured 

when a mining pit collapsed in Dan Kamfani, Anka Local Government of Zamfara State.

According to an eyewitness who also works around the area, the incident happened on Thursday around 4 pm.

The eyewitness who pleaded anonymity because of security reasons told Channels Television on Saturday that three artisanal miners were confirmed dead while 11 others were critically injured.

He said the injured are currently receiving treatment at the Anka General Hospital

“The mining collapsed a few minutes to 4 pm on Thursday, we don’t know the exact number of people inside the mining pit, but three dead bodies were recovered, and 11 others are seriously wounded.

“The three people that died are from Yar Tsabaya district of Anka local government. Up till now, we don’t have the actual figure of the people inside, and we cannot confirm the number of people because the mining pit is about 275 meters deep,” he stated.

Zamfara is rich in solid minerals which include gold, iron ore, limestone, and granite, among others.

The Federal Government and the state government had banned any forms of mining activities and ordered security agencies to enforce the ban.

Most of the artisanal miners operating in the state are operating without licences and permissions to explore minerals.

U.S. Envoy To Meet Tinubu, ECOWAS Leaders Over Niger Republic

U.S. Envoy To Meet Tinubu, ECOWAS Leaders Over Niger Republic

U.S. Envoy To Meet Tinubu, ECOWAS Leaders Over Niger Republic

ECOWAS highest authority led by the Nigerian president, Bola Tinubu, slapped a range of sanctions on Niger in a desperate bid to restore constitutional order.

The US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Molly Phee, has visited Nigeria to mediate on the political situation in Niger Republic, which has been under military rule since July 26.

This was disclosed in a statement on the website of the US Secretary of State.

According to the statement, the US envoy arrived in Nigeria on Friday and will hold talks with the Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu, as well as leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The meeting with regional leaders gathering for the ECOWAS Heads of State Summit is slated for Monday, December 10, the statement read.

“During her visit, she will consult with West African leaders on how the United States can best support regional efforts to return Niger to a democratic path and to promote security, stability, prosperity, and democracy in the Sahel,” a statement from the U.S. Department of State said.

Phee’s visit to Nigeria comes four months after some Nigerien military officers led by Abdourahmane Tchiani toppled President Mohamed Bazoum.

The July 26 coup has since been condemned, with Western countries supporting the efforts by the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) bloc led by President Tinubu.

In a pushback to the military takeover, the ECOWAS highest authority, led by the Nigerian president, Bola Tinubu, slapped a range of sanctions on Niger in a desperate bid to restore constitutional order.

Niger holds strategic economic and geopolitical significance internationally considering its two natural resources, uranium and oil, which are sought after in the international market.

Junta leaders have justified toppling the democratic government of Bazoum, who was accused of not containing the incessant insecurity situation in some parts of the country.

Ondo Commissioner Writes Aiyedatiwa, Raises Alarm Over Akeredolu’s ‘Forged’ Signature

Ondo Commissioner Writes Aiyedatiwa, Raises Alarm Over Akeredolu’s ‘Forged’ Signature

Ondo Commissioner Writes Aiyedatiwa, Raises Alarm Over Akeredolu’s ‘Forged’ Signature

The commissioner said that after his discovery, the forensic expert had confirmed that the governor’s signature was forged.

The Ondo State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Razak Obe, has alleged that the signature of the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, on a ‘certain document’ was forged.

In a letter dated December 7 and addressed to the deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the commissioner explained that the irregularities were first noticed when a file from his ministry, out of the five submitted to the governor’s office for approval, was returned.

The letter was obtained by Channels Television on Saturday.

“I write to bring to your attention a critical matter that requires immediate action. It has been confirmed that the signature of Mr. Governor on a certain document has been forged,” the letter partly read.

The commissioner said that after his discovery, a forensic expert had confirmed that the governor’s signature was forged.

“The irregularities in the signature were first observed when a file from my ministry was returned through the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). This is the only file that has been returned so far out of the five files that were sent for Mr. Governor’s approval about two months ago.

“Upon closer inspection, I noticed significant differences between the suspicious signature and handwriting and Mr. Governor’s known signatures and handwriting in the file.

“Concerned about the gravity of the situation, I decided to seek a forensic review before disclosing my discovery. I sent the suspicious signature, handwriting samples, and copies of the old regular signatures to forensic experts, who have now confirmed that the suspicious signature and handwriting were indeed forged.

“Despite the inherent risks involved, I have chosen to fulfil the obligations of my office by reporting this alarming development to you as the highest-ranking member of the State Executive Council after Mr. Governor.

“I firmly believe that this is the course of action our esteemed leader, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, would take in such a situation.

“Considering the possibility that such forgery may be widespread, this heads-up is of utmost importance to the government and people of Ondo State. I have attached a copy of the forensic report and relevant pages from the file for your reference,” he stated.

The Ondo governor has been absent from the state since June due to medical reasons. Upon returning to Nigeria after a three-month medical leave in Germany, Akeredolu has been in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

Look Away From National Politics If You Want To Succeed, Group Tells Fubara

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Look Away From National Politics If You Want To Succeed, Group Tells Fubara

“Nobody should cajole him to dabble into national politics if he wants to write his name in gold,” he added.

River State Governor Siminalayi Fubara. 

 

As the political crisis in Rivers  State persists, Governor Siminalayi  Fubara has been advised to look away from national politics and concentrate on Rivers State to bring the desired development to the oil-rich state.

The National Co-ordinator of Ogoni Solidarity Forum Celestine Akpobari handed the advice while speaking with journalists on Thursday in Port Harcourt.

“He should stay away from national politics because that is the drain; conduit that has eaten deep into the resources of Rivers State,” Akpobari said.

“Nobody should cajole him to dabble into national politics if he wants to write his name in gold,” he added.

Akpobari, who is also a renowned environmental activist, noted that instead of exhausting energy into the political tussle and federal politics, the Governor should maximise the support he is presently enjoying from Rivers people and harness the untapped treasures that lie in the green economy and tourism in Rivers State.

He urged the Rivers governor to spread development to other parts of the state instead of just the capital, Port Harcourt.

“There are a lot of things he can do in this state. The first is to ensure that the one-city state syndrome is destroyed,” he added.

Earlier, the Leader of the Ogoni Peoples Assembly, Reverend Probel Williams, appealed to genuine elders in the state to wade into the crisis in the state,  admonishing some persons he alleged are fueling the crisis to allow peace to reign.

While condemning the political crisis, he described the development as avoidable and an embarrassment.

“We are using this opportunity to call on elders of Rivers State to wade into the crisis in the state and give all necessary support to the Governor [Sim Fubara],” he said

UK Mobile Phone Giants Face Class Action For Alleged Overcharge

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UK Mobile Phone Giants Face Class Action For Alleged Overcharge

The big four operators allegedly overcharged on up to 28.2 million contracts, resulting in damages sought totalling £3.285 billion.

Britain’s biggest mobile phone operators are facing a class action lawsuit that seeks damages of almost £3.3 billion ($4.1 billion) after lawyers on Friday alleged that customers had been overcharged.

Vodafone, EE, Three and O2 are accused of “loyalty penalties”, leaving existing customers paying more than new customers for the same services, stated law firm Charles Lyndon, which has brought the case along with an adviser on consumers’ legal rights, Justin Gutmann.

In reaction, the accused refuted the claim and said they were awaiting more detail.

The claim relates to contracts whereby a customer had bought a phone together with airtime services.

It alleges that the firms failed to reduce the overall amount charged once the minimum contractual term expired, despite the fact that consumers had fully paid for the phone.

The class action has been filed with the Competition Appeal Tribunal in London, with all qualifying consumers are automatically included in the claim for free unless they decide to opt out.

The big four operators allegedly overcharged on up to 28.2 million contracts, resulting in damages sought totalling £3.285 billion.

Gutmann said if successful, a consumer who bought a contract made up of a mobile phone and services such as data, minutes and calls with one of the mobile operators could receive as much as £1,823.

“I’m launching this class action because I believe these four mobile phone companies have systematically exploited millions of loyal customers across the UK through loyalty penalties, taking over £3 billion out of the pockets of hard-working people and their families,” Gutmann said in a statement.

“These companies kept taking advantage of customers despite the financial crisis of 2008, Covid and now the cost-of-living crisis. It’s time they were held to account.”

Responding, EE said “we strongly disagree with the speculative claim being brought against us”.

Vodafone said it had yet to “have sufficient detail for our legal team to assess”.

An O2 spokesman added: “To date there has been no contact with our legal team on this claim. However, we are proud to have been the first provider to have launched split contracts a decade ago which automatically and fully reduce customers’ bills once they’ve paid off their handset.”

‘Bottle FC Is Back’, Ozil Mocks Tottenham’s Winless Run

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‘Bottle FC Is Back’, Ozil Mocks Tottenham’s Winless Run

Spurs lost 2-1 to West Ham United on Thursday night London derby after taking the lead, making it their third home defeat on the bounce.

 

Former Arsenal star, Mesut Ozil, has taunted old rival Tottenham following their latest defeat, labelling them “bottle FC”.

Spurs lost 2-1 to West Ham United on Thursday night London derby after taking the lead, making it their third home defeat on the bounce.

The defeat also marked the first time a Premier League side has taken the lead in five straight matches and not gone onto win the game.

The string of disappointing results has derailed Spurs who enjoyed a superb start to the season, briefly moving top of the league in late October.

They have only managed to pick up one point since a 4-1 defeat at home to Chelsea in a game where they had both Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie sent off while losing James Maddison and Micky van de Ven to injury.

The Chelsea defeat was followed by a late defeat away to Wolves and a home defeat to Aston Villa.

Before last night’s loss, Tottenham rescued a late point in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Manchester City at the Etihad last weekend.

Sharing post containing statistics of Tottenham’s recent woes, Ozil wrote: “Who else should be able to break that record? Bottle Job FC is back”.

Tottenham have now slipped down to fifth place, eight points behind North London rival Arsenal, who currently lead with the pack with 36 points.

Sacked Burundi PM Gets Life In Prison For Trying To Overthrow Govt

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Sacked Burundi PM Gets Life In Prison For Trying To Overthrow Govt

Bunyoni, whose trial opened three months ago, was prime minister from mid-2020 until September 2022 when he was fired, days after President Evariste Ndayishimiye had warned of a "coup" plot against him.

Burundi’s Supreme Court sentenced ousted prime minister Alain-Guillaume Bunyoni to life in prison on Friday on charges including attempting to overthrow the government and threatening the life of the president, a judicial source said.

Bunyoni, whose trial opened three months ago, was prime minister from mid-2020 until September 2022 when he was fired, days after President Evariste Ndayishimiye had warned of a “coup” plot against him.

He was “sentenced to life imprisonment (on charges)… including plotting against the head of state to overthrow the constitutional regime”, a judicial source told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The army general was also accused of using witchcraft to threaten the life of the head of state, undermining national security, destabilising the economy and illegal enrichment, among other charges.

He had pleaded not guilty to all charges and said he should be acquitted because of a lack of evidence.

The court, which met in the political capital Gitega, also ordered the authorities to confiscate four houses and buildings as well as a land parcel and 14 vehicles belonging to Bunyoni, the judicial source said.

Five others in the dock including the two main co-defendants, a police colonel and a senior intelligence agent, received “sentences ranging from three years to 15 years,” the source added.

The seventh defendant, a driver, was acquitted, according to the same source.

Chief Justice Emmanuel Gateretse delivered the verdict on Friday afternoon, with the court sitting in session at the prison where Bunyoni was detained.

Bunyoni was arrested in April in Burundi’s economic capital Bujumbura on the eve of his 51st birthday.

A former police chief and internal security minister, Bunyoni was seen as the head of a cabal of military leaders known as “the generals” who wielded the true political power in Burundi.

A close ally of former president Pierre Nkurunziza, Bunyoni was an influential figure in the ruling CNDD-FDD party since it took power in 2005.

He had long been seen as de facto number two in the regime since a 2015 political crisis.

Ndayishimiye took power in June 2020 after Nkurunziza died of what the Burundian authorities said was heart failure amid widespread speculation he succumbed to Covid-19.

He has been hailed by the international community for slowly ending years of Burundi’s isolation under Nkurunziza’s chaotic and bloody rule.

But he has failed to improve a wretched human rights record and the country of 12 million people remains one of the poorest on the planet.

In 2015, Nkurunziza oversaw a crackdown on political opponents and made Burundi a global pariah amid turmoil after he launched a bid for a third term in office, in violation of a peace deal that ended a bloody civil war in 2006.