History made as Biden picks Black ex-general as defense secretary

US President-elect Joe Biden has chosen retired General Lloyd Austin as his defence secretary, US media report.

Gen Austin, aged 67, will become the first African-American to lead the Pentagon.

Gen Austin, who led US Central Command during the Obama administration, would need a congressional waiver as it is less than seven years since he retired.

Mr Biden’s reported decision comes two weeks after he announced other senior members of his national security team.

Mr Biden and Gen Austin have so far made no public comments on the issue.

Earlier media reports suggested that the Democratic president-elect would nominate veteran Pentagon official Michèle Flournoy for the job. She would have been the first woman to hold the position.

Mr Biden defeated Republican President Donald Trump in the 3 November election, and is due to be inaugurated on 20 January.

Mr Trump continues to refuse to accept defeat in the election, alleging, without evidence, there has been widespread fraud.

Who is Gen Austin?

Politico first reported about Mr Biden’s decision to appoint Gen Austin as defence secretary, citing three people familiar with the situation.

It said Gen Austin had once been viewed as a long-shot candidate – but that in recent days he had emerged as a top-tier contender and a safe choice.

CBS, the BBC’s US media partner, later quoted multiple people familiar with the plans. 

It said Gen Austin’s emergence as a potential choice came amid growing calls from national civil rights organisations and Democratic Asian, Black and Latino caucuses to ensure that Mr Biden nominated minorities and women to senior cabinet posts. (BBC)

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Insecurity: Kaduna to commence community policing

Kaduna state government on Monday commenced screening youths in its preparation kick start community policing to tackle the general insecurity in the state.

The Acting Governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, chaired a meeting which is part of the consultations in the three senatorial districts on how to address insecurity on Monday.

The meeting had senators, members of the House of Representatives, state House of Assembly members, and chairmen from the 15 local government areas in Kaduna North and Kaduna Central senatorial zones as well as District Heads in attendance.

Speaking with journalists after the meeting, the senator representing Kaduna Central zone, Malam Uba Sani, said they came together to look into the security problem facing Kaduna, stressing that insecurity needs to be tackled collectively.

Uba Sani, noted he was working on a bill to restructure police architecture, to meet contemporary challenges, adding that if it scales through, the bill will create state police.

“I’m working on a bill to restructure the policing architecture that will pave way for federal and state police. We want to solve insecurity in the state and Nigeria as a whole,’’ he said.

According to Senator Sani, ‘’we will involve the community in tackling insecurity in the state, through traditional and political leaders. Our governor is determined to end insecurity in the state.”

Also, speaking member representing Kajuru/Chikun federal constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Yakubu Umar Barde, commended Governor Nasir El-Rufai for his efforts in tackling insecurity.

Hon Barde argued that insecurity affects everyone in society, irrespective of political affiliations, ethnicity or religious beliefs.

“The Commissioners of Local Government and Internal Security have briefed us during the meeting. You know State governors have no control over security. We are working on restructuring the policing architecture to enhance our ability to solve insecurity,’’ he added.

On his part, the Commissioner of Local Government, Alhaji Ja’afaru Sani, said the state will commence a thorough screening of selected youths by their district heads for community policing to fight insecurity.

“We plan to adopt community policing in our communities to complement security. We asked district heads to select honest youths and send them to the local government for thorough screening for community policing. We are confident that community policing will solve the insecurity issue,” he said.

Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, who made a presentation on government efforts and steps in tackling insecurity, said the government will continue to engage traditional, community, political leaders among others to end it. (The Nation)

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Lagos govt forms ‘Anti One Way Squad’, impounds motorcycles for plying restricted routes

state government: “Motorists driving against traffic in Lagos will now face stringent penalty as the Lagos State government, on Monday, launched a special security team to checkmate one-way driving and other traffic offences.

“The new operation, code-named “Anti-One way and Other Traffic Offences Squad,” was raised by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, at the instance of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu with the specific mandate to arrest and impound vehicles plying one way, BRT lanes and also motorcyclists operating in restricted areas.

“The outfit, being led by the Commander of policemen in Governor’s Monitoring Team (GMT), Shola Jejeloye, will complement activities of the existing Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Enforcement Agency (Task Force) being led by Yinka Egbeyemi, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP).

“In the first enforcement of the outfit on Monday, the team combed Ikeja, Ojota and Maryland axes, arresting Okada riders who defied the state’s traffic restriction order.

“The team also bust a residential area in Ikeja harbouring Okada riders that are flouting the state’s Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018, taking away various motorcycles from the building.

“Jejeloye promised that the team would not be lenient on those flouting Lagos traffic regulations, warning motorists who may have intention of driving on one-way lanes to desist from the act.

He said: “We have been mandated by the Commissioner of Police to stop acts of indiscipline by some motorists who are in the habit of flouting traffic regulations of Lagos State.

“We will discharge this duty without fear or favour, and our activities will be professionally exercised in line with the mandate of the team. I, therefore, urge motorists to obey the traffic laws and be patient when driving on the roads.” (Nigerian Tribune)

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#ENDSARS: I have not seen my brother since he was arrested in 2017 — Petitioner

A petitioner before the Enugu State Police Brutality and Extra-Judicial Panel, Miss Uzoamaka Ugwuoke says she has not seen her brother, Nnaemeka Ugwuoke, since he was arrested in 2017.

Ugwuoke told the panel on Monday in Enugu that her brother was arrested by men of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) on Jan. 12, 2017 and had not been seen since then.

Ugwuoke, a native of Iheaka in Igboeze South Local Government Area of the state, said that his brother was taken to the SARS office in Enugu after the arrest.

She said that her brother was arrested alongside three other persons, adding that while one person was released after two weeks, the other person was released after six months.

“We made several attempts for the release of my brother to no avail. The last time we went to SARS office was in 2018. We do not know whether he is still alive,” she said.

Ugwuoke said that one Anthony Obi who was handling the matter had threatened to kill her brother if they reported the matter to a lawyer.

“At some point, my life was at risk due to threats from Obi and one Alex who was the SARS commander,” Ugwuoke said.

Responding, the chairman of the panel, Justice Kingsley Udeh Rtd., instructed Ugwuoke to furnish the secretary of the panel with details of the police officers involved so as to invite them.

Meanwhile, the panel witnessed a rowdy session on Monday following a report of alleged assault on a petitioner’s lawyer, Mr George Enekwechi by a police officer, Mr Emmanuel Ehirim.

Ehirim is one of the respondents in an alleged case of kidnap and attempted murder filed by  Enekwechi on behalf of his client, Mr Kenenna Obiatuegwu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that shortly after the panel had adjourned hearing on the matter brought against Ehirim, the petitioner’s counsel who had left with his client ran back to the court hall panting.

Enekwechi told the panel that Ehirim, who happened to be the Investigation Police Office (IPO) when the instant case was with the police, assaulted him outside the court hall.

The lawyer said that the assault must not be unconnected to the fact that he was the counsel to the petitioner.

He said that his client had been receiving threats to his life from strange phone numbers since the matter was brought to the panel.

“I was just passing and Ehirim attacked me on the pretext that I touched him. I did not touch him. If as a lawyer, I cannot feel free for fear of being attacked, I do not know how safe my client will be,” he said.

Enekwechi appealed to the panel to call the police officer to order and for him to desist from threatening them.

However, Ehirim, who was summoned by the panel, denied assaulting the lawyer.

“I was with my lawyer outside and he (Enekwechi) passed. I asked him why he pushed me while passing.

“He touched me and I said why?” Ehirim said.

Responding, the Chairman of the panel, appealed to police officers and lawyers to allow the panel to do its job.

The chairman said that the panel would not tolerate any form of intimidation by anybody no matter how highly placed.

He said that the panel would discharge its duties in line with the facts before it. (NAN)

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Notorious Fake Pilot in police net, 13 kidnap victims rescued

No fewer than thirteen persons abducted at Gatakawa village in Ƙanƙara Local Government Area of Katsina State have been rescued by police on Monday.

Their rescue trailed a report that bandits in their numbers, on motorbikes, armed with AK 47 rifles, shooting sporadically, attacked the village, broke shops and carted away food items, and kidnapped thirteen persons.

Subsequently, the Divisional Police Officer of Kankara Division led a team of ‘Operation Puff Adder’ to the village at about midday and engaged the bandits into a gun duel thereby dislodging the hoodlums.

In a press briefing held at the command headquarters, Katsina, the Police Spokesman, SP Gambo Isah, told reporters that besides rescuing the kidnapped victims, the police team has also succeeded in recovering all the stolen items by the bandits.

He said search parties are still combing the area with a view to arrest the wounded bandits and recover their dead bodies as investigation according to him is ongoing.

In the meantime, the Command has arrested a notorious fraudster, a thief who specializes in defrauding and stealing from unsuspecting members of the public by posing as a Nigerian Air Force Officer.

The suspect simply identified as Khamis Abdullahi, ‘M’, of W02 Quarters at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna was arrested based on credible intelligence since on November 12th, 2020 at about noon.

Abdullahi was reportedly using fake bank transfer alerts and similar other tricks.

According to the police Spokesman, Gambo Isah, “nemesis caught up with the hoodlum when on 24/11/2020 at about 10:11hrs, he dressed in Nigerian Air force Uniform, bearing the name K. Abdullahi with Captain rank, approached one Muhammadu Isah Girka, a car dealer in Alfrah Motors LTD, IBB Way, Katsina and introduced himself as Air Force Captain who returned from the United Kingdom and posted Katsina on special duty as a Pilot.

“He demanded to buy a motor vehicle, Toyota Corolla S, 2016 Model, blue in colour, valued five million four hundred thousand naira (N5,400,000:00K) from the car stand. He promised to come later and pay for the vehicle. Subsequently, on 02/12/2020 at about 10:45hrs, he called the said car dealer, Muhammadu, and asked him to meet him at First Bank, Yahaya Madawaki way, Katsina, and collect his money for the vehicle.

“In the process, he deceitfully filled a bank transfer teller for the sum of (N5,400,000:00K), stamped with his fabricated fake stamp and asked the victim to sign. He later created a fake bank alert of the said amount and showed it to the victim who believes it to be true and genuine. They later proceeded to Alfra motors where the fake military captain deceitfully took the vehicle and left to an unknown destination. Hence he reported the matter to the police. In the course of the investigation, the suspect was accosted with the stolen vehicle at Hunkuyi Junction on the highway along Danja to Zaria.

“Suspect also confessed to have used the same modus operandi on that fateful date and deceitfully collected one I-Phone X valued one hundred and eighty-five thousand naira (N185,000:00K), from one Abdulwahab, of Unguwar Alkali Quarters, Katsina which was also recovered in his possession,” Isah noted.

During the police search, the following items were recovered in the possession of the suspect:

One T-Shirt with Captain rank and UN Badge, one Toyota Corolla, 2016 Model,

Three I-Phone GSM handsets and one Infinix phone.

Other items recovered in his possession include one fabricated fake First Bank rubber stamp, two fake stamped First Bank Tellers, Motor vehicle documents

Stamp pad.

The investigation also revealed that the suspect is a habitual offender and an ex-convict who has been convicted severally for similar offences in Kaduna state. (Channels TV)

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Ghana’s electoral commission removes officials tampering with ballot sheets

Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC) removed some of its officers from polling station duties on Monday for tampering with ballot papers in the ongoing general election, according to a statement.

The EC said, “there have been isolated cases of presidential ballots being tampered with at some polling stations in Awutu Senya West and Bawku Central constituencies.

“The commission, working with the police has identified the suspected officers and removed them from post pending further investigation,” said the statement.

It said that some of the polling officers had allegedly issued out presidential ballot papers with only 11 instead of 12 candidates.

It was later detected that these officials had torn the ballot papers at the wrong place, leaving the portion of incumbent President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in the booklet.

Polls opened in all 16 regions across Ghana early Monday for eligible voters to elect new political leaders for the country. (Xinhua/NAN)

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Joblistnigeria.com – Jobs in Nigeria

Tearfund is a Christian international relief and development agency working globally to end poverty and injustice, and to restore dignity and hope in some of the world’s poorest communities. We are.....

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