The National President Mupun Cultural and Development Association MUCDA, Chief Pedro Ardiyel Dafur, FCA says it is an unacceptable act cutting short the life of a human being due to recklessness or overzealousness of one.

He made this known while reacting to the killing of a 20yr old boy,Rinji Peter Bala by a personnel of the Operation Safe Haven in Jos the Plateau State Capital.

Describing the act as senseless and inhuman, Dafur said this was purely an issue for the Police to handle but the STF took it upon itself wrongly which has resulted in this loss.

“The Mupun Nation mourns the death of yet another promising Nigerian amongst so many that have been happening unabated as a result of recklessness from those saddled with the responsibility of protecting lives and calls for a full investigation saying a precedence must be set with this so as to check more that may occur”.

The Mupun Nation offers condolences to the family of the deceased, the Ngas Nation,Plateau State and Nigerians over this unfortunate incident and prays God consoles us all.

” We are therefore charging the authorities concerned to open up the trial of the officer they said they have arrested so that it can show impartiality as being envisaged by many as this will help put the Operation Safe Haven in good light and redeem its image among the people.

The statement then encourages Plateau people to continue to stand by one another for the overall progress of the state.

KENZY NGUPAR
NATIONAL PUBLICITY SECRETARY
MUCDA.
15,May 2020

In line with the Plateau state Governor’s directive ,the management of Avis Restaurant has announced that it would be opening its restaurant on Friday ( May 15th to 17th ) .

Managing Director of Avis Bar Hon Jide Olagbemiro ,who spoke with our correspondent said the restaurant would operate from 10 am to 6 pm on the above mentioned dates .

He said that” we are adhering strictly to Governor Simon Lalong’s directive on how restaurants would operate in the state .”

He said that ” Our restaurant would only sell food in take away packs to our customers to avoid crowding. “

Jide further said that nobody would be allowed into the restaurant without a facemask .

Hon Jide further said , Avis bar remains shut” , .

He commended Governor Simon Lalong for his efforts to curtail the spread of the dreaded disease and appealed to citizens to continue to observe the lockdown directives put in place towards curbing COVID-19.

He called on all Nigerians to continue to pray for the country at this trying times .

I join the people of Plateau State in condemning the cold blooded murder of Mr RINJI Bala , a 20 year old Student of the University of Jos. May his soul Rest In Peace .My heart goes out to the immediate family over this sad irreparable loss.

I only need to add that it is possible for justice to be done and I call upon the State to ensure that the culprit is made to face the full wrath of the law. This will need vigilance and steadfastness by the family , friends of the deceased and the State Government . May I cite a similar case which I prosecuted in the Supreme Court to drive home the point.

In Ochiba v The State (2011) LPELR 8245(SC) the Supreme Court delivered judgement on the 16 th December , 2011,in that case and confirmed the death sentence upon the appellant Sergeant Emmanuel Ochiba for the murder of Godwin Momoh.on the 12 th day of September , 2001 in the heat of the Jos crisis.

A team of Police officers had stopped a group along Tafawa Balewa street in Jos and asked them( Godwin Momoh, Jonathan Mawaiyau, who later became the state Attorney General, and one other person) to kneel down and raise their hands. The group of three complied but Constable Emmanuel Ochiba ( that was the rank of the accused) took a gun from one of his colleagues and shot the deceased point blank on his chest.Mr Momoh died instantly.

The Plateau State Ministry of Justice prosecuted the case in the high Court in Jos.Though the accused denied committing the offence , Yargata Nimpar J, as she then was, found him guilty and sentenced him to death in line with the law.

The appeal to the Court of Appeal was dismissed whereupon the Appellant further appealed to the Supreme Court where I led a team of lawyers of the ministry of Justice for the State.
Justice I T Muhammad ( now the Chief Justice of nNigeria) who presided over the case after dismissing the appeal commended the
Ministry of Justice for for the steadfast conduct of the case from the trial court up to the Supreme Court.

However. I learnt the convict has been pardoned by the present Governor in exercise of his powers of prerogative of mercy. The suspect in the killing of RINJI needs to be prosecuted to ensure that Justice is done.

Edward G Pwajok , SAN

COURT OF APPEAL JOS DIVISION ORDERS EFCC, THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE PLATEAU STATE TO PAY N5MILLION NAIRA TO VICTIM OF VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHT

In a Judgement delivered on Thursday 14th May, 2020 the Court of Appeal Jos Division Ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Commissioner of Police Plateau State Command and others to pay one Ephraim Kapara Galadima the Sum of Five Million Naira (N5,000,000.00) as Compensation for Violating his Fundamental Human Rights.

The Judgement which was unanimously agreed by the three Justices of the Court of Appeal was delivered by his Lordship Hon. Justice Mudashiru Nasir Oniyangi of the Court of Appeal Jos Division in Appeal No. CA/J/349/18 filed by the Applicant/Appellant through his Counsel Gyang Zi Esq.

The Court of Appeal set aside an earlier
Judgement delivered on the 9th may 2018 by Hon. Justice I. I Kunda of the High Court of Plateau State in Suit No. PLD/J/631/ 2017 wherein he dismissed the Appellant/Applicant’s Suit against the Commissioner of Police Plateau State Command, A.M. Awal (DCO A Police Division), Fidelis Odey (DPO, A Police Division) Austin Ogah (Branch Manager FCMB, Jos), First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

It is the case of the Appellant that his account with First City Monument Bank (FCMB) was frozen and when he approached the Bank to inquire why his account was frozen, he was arrested, beaten and taken to A Division, Jos Plateau State Command by the Police where he was detained for over Five days before his subsequent transfer to Abuja and Portharcourt where he was further detained without informing him of the offence he committed.

While discharging First City Monument Bank (FCMB) of the alleged Violation of the Rights of the Appellant on the ground that the Bank only acted on the instruction of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Court condemned the action of the EFCC, Commissioner of Police Plateau State Command and their agents and Ordered them to pay the Sum of Five Million Naira (N5,000,000.00) to the Appellant having found that his Fundamental Human Rights under Chapter IV of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended) were violated.

* Extra-Judicial Killings Threat to Human Rights – Rep. Dr. Simon Mwadkwon

The Honorable Member representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency Plateau State, Rep. Simon Mwadkwon, Ph.D has called for the immediate prosecution of the culprits involved in the gruesome murder of 20 year old Mr. Rinji Peter Bala, a 300 Level Student of History and International Studies in the University of Jos by a trigger-happy security personnel attached to Operation Safe Heaven on Tuesday 12th May, 2020 without any form of provocation.

Dr. Simon Mwadkwon said the perpetuators of the heinous must face the full wrath of the Law to serve as deterrent to others.

“This killing is one of the many extra-judicial killings the State has recorded which must not be swept under the carpet but heavy penalty should be meted on the culprits”

“Nigerians have come under serious cases of human rights violation by personnel expected to protect them and their property, this is the fate of the vulnerable in my Constituency” Dr. Mwadkwon posited.

The Federal Lwamaker described the ugly incident as utterly odious, wicked, inhuman, barbaric and callous happening when the Nation is battling with the public health challenge of COVID-19 Pandemic.

While praying for the repose of the soul of the deceased, the Federal Legislator said the people will no longer condone acts of extra-judicial killings and unprofessional conduct by security personnel while carrying out their duties in the State henceforth.

He charged all security personnel to discharge their duties in more professional manner and with high sense of responsibility making protection of lives & property of citizens their priority.

Rep. Simon Mwadkwon console with the family, government of Plateau State and all youths in the State over the untimely demise of the promising Rinji whose life was cut in his prime.

Rep. Dr. Mwadkwon concluded by appealing for calm as the issue is being handle to a logical end.

Cmr. Friday Bako
Director, Media & Publicity to Rep. Simon Mwadkwon, Ph.D

Hon KOMSOL ALPHONSUS LONGGAP , member representing Mikang, Qua’anpan and Shendam Federal Constituency is saddened upon receiving with dismay, the news of the unfortunate murder of late Rinji Peter, a 300level student of the University of Jos, by a security personnel.

He describes the gruesome killing of the young promising son of the soil as one too many that have been over tolerated.

According to the Hon. member, the era of speeches and condemnations with less actions has passed, hence the need to match words with actions.

Therefore, as a law maker in Plateau State, he has vowed to support every legal action taken to ensure justice is served by making those culpable to serve as deterrent to other security personnels who do behave out of the general pattern of their line of duty.

The Hon member believes that defending Plateau people and its heritage is a collective duty of all the citizens of Plateau State and all hands must be on deck to put a stop to the killings of all kinds on the Plateau.

He wishes the soul of the late Rinji to find peace with the lord and the parents the heart to bear the painful lost.

@KMT

Chief Micheal George’s Maqual leads Larger House Of Plateau Youths To seek Justice for Slain Rinji Peter Bala by yet to be identified Security officer.

Chief Maqual is reaching out to all Plateau People of good conscience to stand up beyond social media rhethorics to come out and demand Justice as enough is enough.

In a message sent on social media,The veteran activist and grassroots mobiliser is calling on volunteers to join him in taking action.

“COURT ACTION TO SEEK FOR THE EXTRA JUDICIAL KILLINGS , VOLUNTEERS TEAM OF LAWYER’S AND PATRIOTS .I WANT TO LEAD THE CRUSADE .INDICATE INTEREST “

Hon. Aminu Zang a former commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, an Aspirant for Chairmanship of the peoples democratic party (PDP) Plateau State expresses shock and sadness over the killing of RINJI BALA a student of History and international studies in the University of Jos by an officer of the special task force (Operation Safe Haven).

Aminu Zang who registered his displeasure over the act expresses sadness on how an Innocent young and vibrant man’s life will be cut short due to the negligence of an officer on duty.

He further urged the authorities responsible to carry out their investigations as a matter of urgency and bring the said officer to book.

JUSTICEFORRINJIBALA……

Sign...

Hon Aminu Zang media team.

Disbursements from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee to the three tiers of government in the first quarter of 2020 was the highest first-quarter disbursements since 2014.

This is according to the quarterly review released by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) on Monday.

The three tiers of government received N1.95 trillion in the first quarter of 2020.

A breakdown of the disbursements shows that N791.4 billion went to the federal government, N669 billion was shared by the states and about N395 billion was shared by the 774 local government areas.

The balance went to the North East Development Commission, the excess crude account, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Department of Petroleum Resources.

“Total disbursements were N1.648 trillion in Q1 2015, N1.132 trillion in Q1 2016, N1.411 trillion in Q1 2017, N1.938 trillion in Q1 2018, and N1.929 trillion in Q1 2019,” the publication stated.

“While total disbursements in Q1 2020 were slightly higher than Q1 2019 and Q1 2018, disbursements to the three tiers of government in Q1 2020 were slightly lower than Q1 2019 and Q1 2018.

“This is due to transfers to other accounts in Q1 2020 which were not done in either Q1 2019 or Q1 2018. These include allocations to the North East Development Commission and transfer to the excess crude account.”

According to the agency, the COVID-19 pandemic has made it almost certain that second-quarter disbursements will drop following a trend that has occurred since 2015 with the exception of 2018.

“In light of the ‘double whammy’ of declining oil demand and oil prices as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, government revenue would likely continue to fall in subsequent months.

“As global crude oil prices plummet in the midst of the global oil supply glut arising from lockdown of economic activities in many countries of the world, all tiers of government will struggle to fund their 2020 budgets.”

On the disbursements to states, 31 states received less than N20 billion as total net FAAC disbursements in the first quarter of this year while five states received more than N20 billion.

The states are Lagos (N26.23 billion), Bayelsa (N35.14 billion), Rivers (N39.99 billion), Akwa Ibom (N40.61 billion), and Delta (N52.03 billion).

States were advised to follow the federal government’s lead by making adjustments to their revenue and expenditure plans for the year.

PRESS STATEMENT: Gruesome Killing of Rinji by Army in Jos; Plateau Bloggers and Online Media Association Raises Concerns for Justice #JusticeForRinji

The Plateau Bloggers and Online Media Association, strongly condemns the killing of 20 year old Rinji Peter Bala, a student of History and International Studies, University of Jos by the Nigerian army on the 12th of May 2020.

At a time when humanity is united in the fight against a common unseen enemy in COVID-19 Pandemic, it is entirely unacceptable that those who are placed to help are causing more harm. The killing of Rinji Peter Bala is totally condemnable and should be investigated to logical conclusion and anyone found culpable must be brought to justice.

The safety and security of all citizens must be upheld, the impunity that has prevailed to date must end, and perpetrators must be held accountable.

We send our deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Late Rinji Peter Bala and those impacted by this abhorrent incident.

Plateau Bloggers and Online Media Association initiated our major process for justice by activating the #JusticeForRinji tag after our attention was called an hour into the incident and we drove the conversation and information across all social media platforms until it got national and international attention calling for justice.

It is becoming a recurring decimal that security personnel kills innocent civilians with impunity and this must stop in demanding for justice on behalf of Rinji Peter Bala. We also implore Governor Simon Lalong and all those in positions of power to step up to their responsibilities and see that Plateau citizens are not continually killed carelessly.

While praying for the soul of the deceased, we enjoin all citizen to exercise calm, support and cooperation with government and security agencies to ensure justice is served. Let’s not allow any individual or group break our resilience as a people especially at this difficult period that the world is battling to overcome COVID-19. Any public gathering or procession would be risky, a potential for spreading the dreaded coronavirus as social distancing won’t be adhered by persons.

Plateau Bloggers and Online Media Association also calls the attention of Plateau citizens as it wishes to to be in the front for Justice, beaming its lights on any issue of injustice by calling the attention of the wider community just like it did in this situation.

Matthew Tegha
Vice Chairman
Plateau Bloggers And Online Media Association
13th May, 2020.