Michael Ojuroye Initiative (Ngo)

INSPITE of international outrage and imminent sanctions, Nigeria, has indicated clearly that she is serious with her anti-gay law. An Islamic court in Bauchi State has put on trial 11 Muslim men accused of being homosexuals in violation of their religion. A 12th person arrested, a Christian, according to agency report would be tried under secular law. If convicted of homosexuality, the 11 Muslim men may be sentenced to death by stoning according to Islamic law. President Goodluck Jonathan signed the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill into law on January 7. The new legislation applies across Nigeria, affecting all citizens. The law prohibits homosexuals from even meeting in groups of two or more, bans marriage or civil unions between people of the same sex, and criminalises gay clubs, events and shows of same-sex public affection. Those convicted may be imprisoned for 14 years. The Commissioner, Bauchi State Sharia Commission, Jibrin Danlami Hassan, said the alleged homosexuals were...

Ogun State Police Command, yesterday, said it arrested  four  members of a syndicate which specialised in the production of fake Customs papers. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, who paraded the suspects at the SARS office, Magbon, Abeokuta, said the  suspects were arrested by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, in Ogun State. He also disclosed that a 39-year-old man (name withheld) had been nabbed for allegedly producing fake Naira notes. According to Adejobi, items  recovered from the suspects include fake seal of the Presidency, fake stamps of Nigeria Customs Service and Nigeria Police, computers, typewriters, printers and forged tinted glass permit. He added that eight stolen vehicles, 10 assorted guns and various cartridges were recovered from suspected robbers. The PPRO said six suspects were already being held in connection with the recovered vehicles. According to him, four members of the syndicate involved in alleged...

President Goodluck Jonathan has given a firm commitment to the international community that the 2015 elections will be freer and fairer than the 2011 general elections. Speaking at a reception for the diplomatic corps in Nigeria, President Jonathan called for international support for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to realize the goal of surpassing the benchmark attained in 2011. The cocktail reception on the lawns of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, is an annual ritual during which the president interacts with the diplomatic corps in Nigeria. The president used the occasion to intimate the diplomats on preparations towards the 2015 general elections and to assure them on his determination to set a benchmark for free and fair elections. “The general elections will take place early next year but the processes that will lead to the elections will commence this year. Parties will select their candidates through primaries this year, campaigns will commence thi...