THE KEY WITNESS IN ABDULAZIZ MURTALA NYAKO; SON OF IMPEACHED GOV OF ADAMAWA STATE, MURTALA HAMMA-YERO NYAKO CASE IS DEAD. The key witness in the suit against Abdul-Aziz Nyako, son of the impeached governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, is dead. He is Maadai Dan-Tsoho. The family and political sources reported that Mr. Dan-Tsoho died of asthma attack on Tuesday in Yola, the Adamawa State capital. Mr. Dan-Tsoho took over as the regional manager of Zenith Bank, North Eastern operations. Kashim Shetima, the current Governor of Borno State . He was suspended from his job when he agreed to testify in this suit. He was noted for his aggressive investments and had major stakes in the new Azman Airlines, Azman petroleum and a chain of real estate holdings in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. He was also the owner of Dan Tsoho hotel, a high brow Hotel in Malamre District in Jimeta, the state capital. His death is expected to introduce hiccups in the prosecution of the younger Nyako, who was taken to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The EFCC through its Head, Media and Publicity Wilson Uwujaren, said that the organization did not have information on the death of their principal witness. “I don’t have this information right now,” he said and added that he needed to get in touch with those involved in the case for more details. The younger Nyako was declared wanted by the EFCC after they instituted a case of stealing, abuse of office and money laundering against him recently. He is currently being interrogated over alleged illicit funds traced to companies in which he has interest. The younger Nyako have been asked by the commission to explain how over N15 billion belonging to Adamawa State was allegedly laundered into the accounts of five companies – Blue Opal Nigeria Limited, Crust Energy Nigeria Limited, Blue Ribbon Multilinks Limited, Tower Assets Management Limited and Blue Ribbon Bureau De Change – said to be owned by him.

HUMAN RIGHTS Amnesty International: 'unprecedented' impact of conflict on African citizens' lives and rights. Amnesty International's annual report 2014/15 says conflict and insecurity have afflicted the lives of countless people across Africa. DW spoke to Amnesty's Africa Director for Research NETSANET BELAY. The 2014/2015 State of World Human Rights report calls the global response to human rights shameful and ineffective, but it also refers to the remarkable achievements of many states in pursuing the UN's Millennium Development Goals. So what are the key issues affecting African countries in this year's report? Africa is seeing deepening violent conflicts in several countries. Its impact on peoples' rights, lives, safety and security is unprecedented. 2014 was the 20th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide. The African Union (AU) committed itself to ending conflicts by 2020 but what we are seeing is a gross violation of international humanitarian law and human rights in the context of conflicts in Africa. We've seen a persistent pattern of war crimes being committed. Thousands of civilians have died as a result of these conflicts, millions are facing displacement and other forms of abuse including sexual violence and abductions. So that is one key challenge that Africa was facing last year. And given that most of the underlying causes have not been addressed, our projection is that the likelihood of violent armed conflict in Africa escalating even further seems evident. These conflicts affected human rights in Africa? In almost all cases, the conflicts are marred by gross violations of human rights laws. Civilians have been subjected to indiscriminate attacks by conflicting parties. We're not only talking about acts by armed radical groups like al-Shabab and Boko Haram, but the response of government forces to conflict has been equally brutal. We have seen this in Nigeria. In cases like South Sudan and the Central African Republic, we have seen how civilians have fallen victim in the cycle of violence. What about freedom of expression? We have seen the restriction of the freedom of expression and free assembly in far too many places in Africa. Some of them include those countries that have a consistent record of restricting fundamental freedoms, like Eritrea, Ethiopia or Burundi. We've also seen new legislations introduced in the name of counter-terrorism. These measures are being used to suppress dissent and affects journalists and activists. We've seen this in Ethiopia and Gambia. In countries like Angola, Burundi and Gambia, we've also seen the violent crackdown on peaceful protestors. One group that has frequently been subjected to human rights violations is sexual minorities. Has there been any improvement in this? Indeed, we believe that 2014 has seen a couple of landmarks in that area. In May 2014, the African Commission of Human and Peoples' Rights passed a resolution calling for the protection of the rights of all individuals irrespective of their sexual orientation or gender identity and religious belief. We've also seen some progressive judicial decisions coming in from countries like Uganda, where the infamous anti-homosexuality bill was struck down by a court. We saw a similar ruling in Botswana – a high court overturned a refusal by the Department of Labor and Home Affairs to register an organization representing the LGBTI community. So these are small signs of hope that we've seen in the last year. However we continue to observe worrying signs, attacks and the discrimination of the LGBTI community in Africa. Some countries have introduced regressive legislation, such as Gambia, which has introduced new crimes like "aggravated homosexuality", as they call it, subjecting people to long sentences and including punishments like the death penalty. A similar legislation was introduced in Chad. People are also seeing harassment by the police, various forms of discrimination by the state and continuing failure by governments to protect citizens. What do you think should be done to address the violations of human rights? One of our specific demands calls on the UN Security Council members to renounce their veto right in situations of mass atrocities like genocide and crimes against humanity. We believe a similar robust response is needed on the part of regional bodies such as the African Union Peace and Security Council. Secondly we are calling on governments to stop paying lip service and take action to assist those fleeing conflict and persecution. NETSANET BELAY is Amnesty International's Africa Research and Advocacy Director. But that's to be expected given the atrocities committed in Syria, Iraq, Nigeria, Central African Republic and other countries. "This has been a devastating year for those seeking to stand up for human rights and for those caught up in the suffering of war zones," the secretary general of Amnesty International, Salil Shetty, wrote in the foreword. And the human rights campaigning group strongly criticises governments. "In the year marking the 20th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, politicians repeatedly trampled on the rules protecting civilians, or looked away from the deadly violations of these rules committed by others," Mr Shetty said. "The United Nations was established 70 years ago to ensure that we would never again see the horrors witnessed in the Second World War. "We are now seeing violence on a mass scale and an enormous refugee crisis caused by that violence. "There has been a singular failure to find workable solutions to the most pressing needs of our time." 'Powerful signal' One such workable solution, Amnesty International suggests, would be for the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the United States, China, Russia, France and Britain - to agree not to use their right of veto to block action in response to situations of genocide and other mass atrocities. Salil Shetty takes the view that this would be a "game changer" for the international community and the tools it has at its disposal to help protect civilian lives, He also believed it would send a powerful signal to perpetrators that the world would not sit idly by while mass atrocities took place. The idea that the five powers would voluntarily renounce their veto rights in such circumstances has been around for some time. Indeed the French government has been at the forefront of such an initiative, and it seems to have been gathering momentum. Amnesty says it intends to get the weight and influence of its seven million supporters and activists behind it. It argues that if the use of the veto in the Security Council had already been restrained in this way then it could have prevented Russia using its veto repeatedly to block UN action over the violence in Syria. This might have resulted in President Bashar al-Assad being referred to the International Criminal Court, in achieving greater access for badly needed humanitarian aid and in further ways of helping civilians. The British government has not yet made a specific commitment in favour of the voluntary renunciation of the veto. But the Foreign Office said in response to the Amnesty report: "The proposal put forward by France offers an important contribution to the wider debate on reform of the Security Council. "The United Kingdom wholeheartedly supports the principle that the Security Council must act to stop mass atrocities and crimes against humanity. "We cannot envisage circumstances where we would use our veto to block such action." Amnesty International fears that 2015 could be another bleak year for human rights. It predicts that more civilian populations will be forced to live under the quasi-state control of brutal armed groups. There will be deepening threats to freedom of expression and other rights including violations caused by new draconian anti-terror laws and unjustified mass surveillance. It also says and there will be a worsening humanitarian and refugee crisis. But Amnesty says its aim is to get governments to "stop pretending that the protection of civilians is beyond their power". Cycle of violence It acknowledges that the coming into force last year of the Arms Trade Treaty was a success. But it wants much more to be done to tackle what it calls "the bloody legacy of the flooding of weapons into countries where they are used for grave abuses by states and armed groups". Anna Neistat, Amnesty's senior director for research, said: "Huge arms shipments were delivered to Iraq, Israel, South Sudan and Syria in 2014 despite the very high likelihood that these weapons would be used against civilian populations trapped in conflict. "When IS took control of large parts of Iraq it found large arsenals, ripe for the picking." The human rights group also argues that further restrictions on the use of explosive weapons, which cannot be precisely targeted or which otherwise have wide effect in populated areas, could have helped to save thousands of lives lost in recent conflicts. If Amnesty is robust in its challenge to governments, the British government maintains that it is an exaggeration to accuse the international community of paralysis. The Foreign Office said the Security Council had acted effectively on a number of issues over the past year for example, 100,000 peacekeepers were deployed globally, to address conflicts and help states build peaceful societies. "The underlying drivers of abuse are discrimination, impunity and inequality," said Mr Shetty. "If we do not stop these, all we will have is a cycle of violence."

BOKO HARAM TERRORISTS KIDNAPS HONG LOCAL GOVT COUNCIL VICE CHAIRMAN. The Adamawa State Police Command on Wednesday confirmed the abduction of the Vice Chairman of Hong Local Government, Mr Bijida Yakubu, by gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram. The Public Relations Officer of the command, Othman Abubakar, who confirmed the incident, said three vigilante members that were with Mr Bijida Yakubu lost their lives in the encounter. Mr Abubakar, who did not give details, however, said the police officers investigating the incident have so far recovered the vice chairman’s shoes which is part of an evidence of the abduction. A resident of Hong who identified himself as Hussaini said that the incident occurred in Gaya-fa'a Village of the area. “You know, insurgents attacked the village last week. The vice chairman who hailed from the village was on an assessment visit with some hunters when the insurgents attacked and over-powered them. “About seven insurgents were killed in the encounter before they over-powered the hunters and took away the vice chairman,” he said. Mr. Hussaini claimed that the abducted vice chairman was later allowed by his captors to call his wife with his cell phone before the device was switched off. The Chairman of Adamawa branch of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Sahabo Gurin, also confirmed the incident. Adamawa is one of the three states most affected by the Boko Haram insurgency. The insurgency has caused the death of about 20,000 people in northern Nigeria with hundreds of thousands of others displaced. The Nigerian military recently began a major offensive against the group, reclaiming some of the territory initially seized by the insurgents.

THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO HAVE LAUNCHED AN ATTACK AGAINST RWANDAN HUTU REBELS IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY. The Democratic Republic of Congo's army on Tuesday launched an assault against Rwandan Hutu rebels in the volatile east of the country, military and official sources said. "Operations against the FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda) began in South Kivu early this morning and will last as long as these people resist," an officer in the armed forces (FARDC) said, asking not to be named. "We hear explosions here in Lemera, 30 kilometres from Mulenge," said Innocent Ndaheba, a local leader, referring to towns in South Kivu. "We've seen FARDC deploying over the past two days." Rwandan rebels have been active in North and South Kivu provinces since older members of the movement fled across the border in 1994. The Hutu rebels are accused of taking part in the mass slaughter in 1994 of some 800,000 people in Rwanda, mainly from the Tutsi minority, before a Tutsi-led rebel front seized power. "We're worried about collateral damage from these attacks," said Gode Mutama, who lives in Mulenge. "We live a few kilometres from the operations ground." Without elaborating, the army source said, "We have taken steps to protect the population." An official said the operation began in Uvira in the south of South Kivu and that the Congolese troops were acting without the support of troops in the large UN mission deployed in the DRC. The army officer confirmed that "unilateral operations" were taking place under the command of Brigadier General Espera Masudi in the Mulenge region, on the Uvira plateau. The assault was first announced by President Joseph Kabila's regime last month, with strategic, logistical and operational support initially offered by the UN mission MONUSCO which includes a brigade with a special UN mandate to take the offensive against armed groups. However, MONUSCO withdrew the offer when Kinshasa refused to remove two generals designated to lead the campaign, Bruno Mandevu and Sikabwe Fall, with both men having been accused of abuses by the United Nations. The FDLR is believed to number between 1,500 and 2,000 fighters. The rebels have been implicated in serious human rights violations, including killings, rape, looting and the forcible enlistment of children, in the two Kivus. The international community last year told FDLR to surrender by January 2, but barely 300 fighters turned themselves in. They included none of the leaders wanted by Rwandan and international justice.

IRAQI ARMY DOWNS TWO BRITISH PLANES CARRYING WEAPONS FOR ISIL TERRORISTS. Al-Anbar province, a senior lawmaker disclosed on Monday. “The Iraqi Parliament’s National Security and Defense Committee has access to the photos of both planes that are British and have crashed while they were carrying weapons for the ISIL,” Head of the committee Hakem al-Zameli said, according to a Monday report of the Arabic-language information center of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq. He said the Iraqi parliament has asked London for explanations in this regard. The senior Iraqi legislator further unveiled that the government in Baghdad is receiving daily reports from people and security forces in al-Anbar province on numerous flights by the US-led coalition planes that airdrop weapons and supplies for ISIL in terrorist-held areas. The Iraqi lawmaker further noted the cause of such western aids to the terrorist group, and explained that the US prefers a chaotic situation in Anbar Province which is near the cities of Karbala and Baghdad as it does not want the ISIL crisis to come to an end. Earlier today, a senior Iraqi provincial official lashed out at the western countries and their regional allies for supporting Takfiri terrorists in Iraq, revealing that US and Israeli-made weapons have been discovered from the areas purged of ISIL terrorists. “We have discovered weapons made in the US, European countries and Israel from the areas liberated from ISIL’s control in Al-Baqdadi region,” the Al-Ahad news website quoted Head of Al-Anbar Provincial Council Khalaf Tarmouz as saying. He noted that the weapons made by the European countries and Israel were discovered from the terrorists in the Eastern parts of the city of Ramadi. Al-Zameli had also disclosed in January that the anti-ISIL coalition’s planes have dropped weapons and foodstuff for the ISIL in Salahuddin, Al-Anbar and Diyala provinces. Al-Zameli underlined that the coalition is the main cause of ISIL’s survival in Iraq. “There are proofs and evidence for the US-led coalition’s military aid to ISIL terrorists through air(dropped cargoes),” he told FNA in January. He noted that the members of his committee have already proved that the US planes have dropped advanced weaponry, including anti-aircraft weapons, for the ISIL, and that it has set up an investigation committee to probe into the matter. “The US drops weapons for the ISIL on the excuse of not knowing about the whereabouts of the ISIL positions and it is trying to distort the reality with its allegations. He noted that the committee had collected the data and the evidence provided by eyewitnesses, including Iraqi army officers and the popular forces, and said, “These documents are given to the investigation committee … and the necessary measures will be taken to protect the Iraqi airspace.” Also in January, another senior Iraqi legislator reiterated that the US-led coalition is the main cause of ISIL’s survival in Iraq. “The international coalition is only an excuse for protecting the ISIL and helping the terrorist group with equipment and weapons,” Jome Divan, who is member of the al-Sadr bloc in the Iraqi parliament, said. He said the coalition’s support for the ISIL is now evident to everyone, and continued, “The coalition has not targeted ISIL’s main positions in Iraq.” In late December, Iraqi Parliamentary Security and Defense Commission MP disclosed that a US plane supplied the ISIL terrorist organization with arms and ammunition in Salahuddin province. MP Majid al-Gharawi stated that the available information pointed out that US planes are supplying ISIL organization, not only in Salahuddin province, but also other provinces, Iraq TradeLink reported. He added that the US and the international coalition are “not serious in fighting against the ISIL organization, because they have the technological power to determine the presence of ISIL gunmen and destroy them in one month”. Gharawi added that “the US is trying to expand the time of the war against the ISIL to get guarantees from the Iraqi government to have its bases in Mosul and Anbar provinces.” Salahuddin security commission also disclosed that “unknown planes threw arms and ammunition to the ISIL gunmen Southeast of Tikrit city”. Also in Late December, a senior Iraqi lawmaker raised doubts about the seriousness of the anti-ISIL coalition led by the US, and said that the terrorist group still received aids dropped by unidentified aircraft. “The international coalition is not serious about air strikes on ISIL terrorists and is even seeking to take out the popular (voluntary) forces from the battlefield against the Takfiris so that the problem with ISIL remains unsolved in the near future,” Nahlah al-Hababi told FNA. “The ISIL terrorists are still receiving aids from unidentified fighter jets in Iraq and Syria,” she added. Hababi said that the coalition’s precise airstrikes are launched only in those areas where the Kurdish Pishmarga forces are present, while military strikes in other regions are not so much precise. In late December, the US-led coalition dropped aids to the Takfiri militants in an area North of Baghdad. Field sources in Iraq told al-Manar that the international coalition airplanes dropped aids to the terrorist militants in Balad, an area which lies in Salahuddin province North of Baghdad. In October, a high-ranking Iranian commander also slammed the US for providing aid supplies to ISIL, adding that the US claims that the weapons were mistakenly airdropped to ISIL were untrue. “The US and the so-called anti-ISIL coalition claim that they have launched a campaign against this terrorist and criminal group – while supplying them with weapons, food and medicine in Jalawla region (a town in Diyala Governorate, Iraq). This explicitly displays the falsity of the coalition’s and the US’ claims,” Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri said. The US claimed that it had airdropped weapons and medical aid to Kurdish fighters confronting the ISIL in Kobani, near the Turkish border in Northern Syria. The US Defense Department said that it had airdropped 28 bundles of weapons and supplies, but one of them did not make it into the hands of the Kurdish fighters. Video footage later showed that some of the weapons that the US airdropped were taken by ISIL militants. The Iranian commander insisted that the US had the necessary intelligence about ISIL’s deployment in the region and that their claims to have mistakenly airdropped weapons to them are as unlikely as they are untrue.

KEEP GENERATOR FAR FROM WINDOWS AND ROOM ALWAYS. THE CARBON MONOXIDE IT RELEASE KILLS IN MINUTES. Carbon Monoxide could be called the “suicide gas, each year thousands of people deliberately inhale it, usually in the exhaust fumes of their own cars. But carbon monoxide (CO) has also caused more accidental deaths than any other poison in history, not just because its deadly, but because it slips under the radar of the human senses: you can’t see, smell or taste it, and it doesn’t irritate the skin or mucous membranes. And its fast-acting. By the time you notice symptoms of poisoning, its often too late. COMMON CARBON MONOXIDE SOURCES. Carbon monoxide is produced as a result of the incomplete combustion of any carbon-based fuel (petroleum, gas, paraffin, oil, coal, wood, charcoal, etc). Combustion produces other toxins too, but none as lethal as CO. When people die of smoke inhalation during fires, it is again CO that is the primary killer. Thus potential sources of dangerous CO levels include motor vehicle exhaust fumes, and the combustion fumes from fuel-burning appliances – such as charcoal braai grills, camping stoves, fireplaces, gas stoves and heaters, wood and coal ovens, and petrol generators and power tools. When these appliances are kept in good working order and used correctly with sufficient ventilation, they don’t carry a high risk for CO poisoning. But faulty appliances used in enclosed (or even semi-enclosed) spaces, for example a charcoal braai grill burning in the kitchen or a car engine running in a closed garage, can cause CO to build up to fatal levels. GENERATORS ARE LIFE-THREATENING HAZARD. World Occupational Care (WOC) is concerned that power outages in recent years led to many members of the public purchasing generators and Nigeria is no exception. A purchase that introduces a life-threatening hazard into the home or workplace. In its safety advisory on the issue, WOC points out that: “A generator's exhaust contains poisonous CO which can kill you in a matter of minutes.” Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Low levels of CO poisoning are often mistaken for those of other common ailments, like ‘flu, and may include: headache, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, weakness and shortness of breath. You can strongly suspect CO poisoning if these symptoms improve when you go outside. With higher levels of poisoning, symptoms become more severe, and include worsening headaches, vomiting, fainting, confusion and impaired vision and hearing. At very high levels, CO causes loss of consciousness, coma and eventually death. Symptoms can occur within minutes of exposure to the gas, and you can succumb to its effects before you’re able to seek fresh air and safety. People who are sleeping or intoxicated can die from CO poisoning even more easily. Unborn babies, infants, and people with anaemia or a history of heart or respiratory disease are especially susceptible to the effects of CO exposure. Breathing low levels of the gas can cause increased chest pain and fatigue in people with chronic heart disease. Even healthy people who survive breathing high levels of CO can be left with permanent heart or brain damage. If you think you’re experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning, Get fresh air immediately. Turn off any fuel-burning appliances, and go outside. Call emergency medical services if anyone shows signs of losing consciousness, or if other symptoms do not quickly improve. Even if you start to feel better, call your doctor at once and tell him or her that you suspect CO poisoning. If you’ve been suffering from chronic ‘flu-like symptoms, ask your doctor if it could be low-level CO poisoning, and have any fuel-burning appliances professionally checked. HOW TO PREVENT CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be avoided simply by making sure you know how to use fuel burning appliances correctly with sufficient ventilation, and getting them professionally periodically. The following guidelines from WOC as regards portable generators can be applied to other fuel-burning appliances also:- 1. Never use a portable generator inside a home, garage, shed or other partially enclosed space, even if doors and windows are open. 2. Use portable generators outside only, far away from the home. Keep the generator away from openings to the home, including doors, windows and vents. 3. Read the label on the generator and the owner's manual, and follow the instructions carefully. 4. Install CO alarms with battery backup in the home outside each sleeping area. WHY CARBON MONOXIDE FORMS DURING INCOMPLETE COMBUSTION. When carbon-based fuel burns efficiently (i.e. there is plenty of oxygen), then each carbon (C) atom in the fuel bonds with two oxygen (O) atoms from the air to form carbon dioxide (CO2), the same gas we normally exhale. But when there isn’t enough oxygen available for the fuel to burn completely, then each carbon atom bonds with just one oxygen atom to form carbon monoxide (CO). Please be careful about this and never refuel Generators while it is on.

WHY SEAT BELTS ARE IMPORTANT SAFETY MEASURES WHILE DRIVING. Seat belts are designed to give a high level of protection in the event of a crash. They are designed to adjust automatically to fit the user, to be convenient and easy to use. New drivers are disproportionately involved in accidents, especially in the first months after passing a driving test. It has been proven that drivers who have taken hazard perception test training have much better hazard perception test skills. Wearing the seat belts can reduce the injuries of that person as it stops that person to come out of his seat and hit other interiors of the car which is also called second impact. Despite the risk of serious injuries, and the facts that seat belts can be effective in saving the life of people sitting in the vehicle, many people still neglect the use of seat belts while driving. Nigeria Road Safety law : 1. By law, you must wear a seat belt in cars and goods vehicles where one is fitted. There are very few exceptions to this. The driver is liable to prosecution if a child under 14 years does not wear a seat belt or child restraint as required or the driver who is alone in a vehicle. 2. Children up to 135cms tall must use the correct child restraint for their weight (not age) when travelling in the front or back seat of any car, van or goods vehicle. In this case; Child restraint' means any of baby seat, child seat, booster seat or booster cushion which should be use to provide safety measures for the kids while driving. 3. A child can use an adult belt when they reach 135cm or their 12th birthday, whichever comes first. 4. In buses and coaches with seat belts fitted, passengers aged 14 years and above must use them. Why you should wear seat belt? 1. In a crash someone not wearing a seat belt is more likely to die than someone using one. Report indicates that in 2007, about 1,432 car occupants where killed, research also indicates that some 34 per cent were not wearing a seat belt. 2. While few people admit to regularly travelling without a seat belt, research shows that 24 per cent of people admit they sometimes don't wear a seat belt when travelling in the back, and 10 per cent in the front. There is also evidence that people are less likely to use seat belts on short or familiar journeys or at low speeds. This puts them at serious risk of injury in a crash. 3. You are twice as likely to die in a crash if you don't wear a seat belt. 4. Nearly 300 lives would almost certainly have been saved in 2007 if all car occupants had been wearing a belt. Roughly, that's one life a day. Tips for using the seat belt: 1. Do not twist seat belt, wear it close to the body. 2. The shoulder belt should lie across the chest across the chest and over the shoulder away from the neck. 3. Do not leave any slack in the belt - the belt can only do its job properly in a crash if it starts off close to the user's body. 4. Do not use 1 adult belt for 2 people. 5. The driver MUST ensure that all children under 14 years of age in cars, vans and other goods vehicles wear seat belts or sit in an approved child restraint. 6. Child seat belt - It has to be installed if you have small children and 1 thing to remember that baby seat belts should not be fitted in front seat of those cars which are equipped air bags. There are various sources through which you can get details or information on safety measures i.e. road signs, highway code signs, theory test practice, traffic signs, theory test, driving theory test practice, driving theory test, road safety signs, road traffic signs are available from the Road Safety Corp, The V.I.Os' and Road Safety Marshals. Always fasten your seat belt while driving. This is for your safety and others.

WHO KILLED PROFESSOR AHMAD MUSTAPHA FALAKI? This is very sad! Ridiculous, devastating and unacceptable. The extra-Judicial killing of the Professor is terrifying, act of inhumanity and abuse of human right. Professor Ahmad Falaki was with his driver and younger brother Aliyu Falaki returning from Bauchi on Saturday February 14, 2015. Professor Ahmad Mustapha Falaki, the director, Institute of the Agricultural Research (IAR) of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria who was murdered by the Nigerian Police after duely identifying himself was shot dead by the Police. Torture and extra-judicial killing Torture, according to the UN General Assembly, constitutes an aggravated and deliberate form of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment. To the European Commission on Human Rights, the word ‘torture’ is often used to describe inhuman treatment, which has a purpose such as the obtaining of information or confessions, or the infliction of punishment, and is generally an aggregate form of inhuman treatment. Section 34(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides that. “No person shall be subjected to torture or inhuman or degrading treatment”. ‘Extra-judicial’ means happening out of court; out of the jurisdiction of the proper court. Thus, extra-judicial killing means killing; not sanctioned by a court of competent jurisdiction in the process of criminal trial. The 1999 Constitution, in section 33(1) guarantees the right to life in the following terms: Every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of a sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty. The only permissible limitations on the right to life are contained in section 33(2) of the Constitution, which provides that a person shall not be regarded as having been deprived of his life in contravention of this section, if he dies as a result of the use, to such extent and in such circumstances as are permitted by law, of such force as is reasonably necessary: (a) For the defence of any person from unlawful violence or property. (b) In order to effect a lawful arrest or to prevent the escape of a person lawfully detained. ( c) For the purpose of suppressing a riot, insurrection or mutiny. It must be noted that the general omnibus derogation and limitation clauses in section 45 of the Constitution does not apply to the right to life. Thus, any killing not within the context of section 33(1) & (2) above will be unlawful and illegal. The pertinent question is whether the limitation clauses allow intentional killing in the circumstances enumerated in section 33(2) (a)-(c). It is respectfully submitted that the killing permitted under section 33(2) should have the objective of achieving one of the specified aims and the killing is merely a consequence of using an absolutely necessary amount of force in doing so. The European Commission on Human Rights, in construing a similar provision, ruled that if disproportionate force is used and death results, the Convention is violated, even if death was unintentional. While the use of force may sometimes be necessary, conduct resulting in death, whether intentional, negligent or accidental, should always have to be justified. The duty of the state is to secure life. Though the Constitution made no express provision on this matter, it can be implied from the spirit and some other provisions of the Constitution, that there is a duty on the State to act to secure life. Furthermore, though section 33 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the right to life, appears to have merely imposed a negative obligation on the State not to take life, when that section is read together with section 14 (under the Fundamental Objectives, and Directive Principles of State Policy), it will be clear that the State has a duty to act to save life. Section 14 enacts that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. Furthermore, the Constitution provides that Nigeria shall be a democratic nation, which implies the doctrine of the rule of law. The European Commission on Human Rights, while interpreting a provision under the European Convention similar to section 33(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, maintained that right to life imposes obligations on states to take appropriate steps to safeguard life. This will, for instance, entail taking appropriate steps to promote security and to prevent murder and other crimes threatening life. The United Nations Human Rights Committee has equally noted that the right to life includes a duty to prevent wars, acts of genocide and other acts of mass violence causing arbitrary loss of life. Having examined the concepts of democracy, torture and extra-judicial killing, and the circumstances in which some extra-judicial killing can be justified under the Constitution, and having stated the obligation on the part of the State to act to save life, let us now bring theory and practice into focus by juxtaposing the realities of Nigerian nascent democracy with the principles stated above. Torture and extra-judicial killing in Nigeria’s 4th Republic. There have been numerous cases of torture and extra-judicial killings since the advent of the Nigerian nascent democracy. This is notwithstanding the constitutional guarantee of right to life in provision against torture, inhuman or degrading to treatment. Members of the POLICE regularly beat up, kill or maim innocent persons. These trends has continued without necessary steps to correct the abnormalities by the legal authority. To this effect; Human rights groups across a broad spectrum are engaged in the vocal and public campaign for the promotion of human rights in Nigeria. Among the most active are: the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO); the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CDHR); the Constitutional Rights Project; the National Association of Democratic Lawyers; Human Rights Africa; the Legal Research and Resource Development Center; the National Association of University Women; the International Federation of Women Lawyers; and the Human Rights Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association. A number of prominent authors, including Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, artists, educators, and jurists, in addition to professional and labor organizations, have spoken out frequently on human rights issues. All the afformentioned organizations are hereby called upon to set up strong delegations to properly investigate and bring those responsible for gruesome killing of Professor Ahmad Mustapha Falaki as required by Chapter 4, Section 33 of Nigerian Constitution of the Fundamental Human Right. They are nothing, but criminals in disguise and must be brought to justice,”

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN SIDELINED RENO OMOKRI, APPOINTS ASIKA AS NEW SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST. President Goodluck Jonathan has retooled his social media team, sidelining his increasingly controversial point man, Reno Omokri by appointing Obi Asika (Owner of Storm Record and main organizer of Big Brother Nigeria) as the new senior special assistant on social media. Mr. Jonathan move is seen as an apparent maneuver to re-energize his social media image following a growing slide in his electoral fortunes as well as a series of scandals involving Mr. Omokri which may be connected with the 25million rubbery scandal, Mr Omokri who until now shaped and ran the incumbent president’s campaign on social media. Report confirmed that Mr. Omokri, who returned from California to boost President Jonathan’s political campaigns in 2011, had become a huge liability and source of distraction. Mr Omokri, who also doubles as a pastor, came to be known as “Wendell Simlin, a name that was said to have been stolen identity” after tech-savvy Nigerian social media activists caught him red-handed as he circulated reports on the Internet that claimed to have found a link between former Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, and Islamist terror group Boko Haram. Enterprising social media sleuths discovered that the so-called reports implicating Mr. Sanusi as a sponsor of Boko Haram were first created on and disseminated from Mr Omokri’s personal computer in Abuja. A few weeks ago, a California-based woman, Deborah Campbell, who was once married to a relative of Mr Omokri, said that the presidential aide had stolen her son’s identity to engage in the circulation of fraudulent news that smeared Mr Sanusi, who is now the Emir of Kano. Mr Reno never denied the woman’s allegations. Last week, Mr. Omokri was accused of leading policemen to burglarize a house in Warri, Delta State that belonged to his late mother. The occupants of the house, including Alex Oyoro, a well known PDP political figure in Delta State, alleged that Mr Omokri had led a group of thugs and mobile police officers who broke into the property and stole N25 million in cash. The money, according to Mr Oyoro, was meant for Mr Jonathan’s re-election campaign. Mr Omokri denied being physically present at the scene of the burglary, claiming he was at his desk in Abuja and also doing some pastoral work at the time of the reported burglary. A source Reported that, in an attempt to present a more humane outlook as his electoral fortunes slip and his popularity plummets at home and abroad, Mr Jonathan decided to push Mr Omokri aside. Mr Obi Asika, who has been elevated to serve as the new presidential strategist on social media, was described as one of the co-organizers of “Social Media Week” in Lagos. “Obi Asika is a serious personality who is also refined and self-controlled,” a source at the Presidency said. Apart from his dubious activities and cantankerous personality, Mr Omokri has committed a series of blunders in recent months that cast Mr Jonathan’s campaign in bad light. He organized two online polls that eventually showed that President Jonathan would lose the 2015 elections to the opposition APC presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, by a wide margin. Several sources at the Presidency said Mr Omokri’s cup became full after he engineered a poll on Twitter where informal posts showed that Mr Jonathan’s electoral prospects had become wretched. “That ill-advised Twitter poll backfired and caused embarrassment to the President. In a short email earlier today, presidential spokesman Reuben Abati confirmed Mr Asika’s appointment to take charge of the president’s social media coverage. A source in the Presidency disclosed that Mr Omokri was now in a subordinate position to Mr Asika in the hierarchy of aides working on the president’s social media image. “If Reno decides to remain here, he will have to be reporting to Obi Asika,” a source at the Presidency revealed. Mr Obi Asika is known to be a humble gentleman of character; before the Big Brother Nigeria event, Mr Obi Asika organised a programme "Doctors Quarter" (DQ) that was showcased on Mnet and I happened to be part of the event through a friend Tunde. Immedietely after the DQ, BBN was hosted at same venue at 23 Adeyemo Alakija GRA Ikeja where Katung won the 10,000.00USD price. Mr Obi Asika founded Storm records immedietely after the BBN with lots of Nigerian artists which includes Ikechukwu, GT Da Guitarman etc. Mr Omokris' exit will be seen a better decison by President Jonathan, this is because of the lack of principle and knowledge of social media and how to woe supporters. Mr Omokri has been busy posting images of Tokumbo Trains online day by day, which is seen by many Nigerians as stupidity.

ECOWAS ASKS NIGERIA’S PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES TO RESPECT CONSTITUTION. The Economic Communities Of West African States (ECOWAS) has appealed to Nigerians and all the major gladiators in the Nigeria’s presidential election to be calm and show understanding and respect to the constitution, as the oil rich nation prepares for its general elections. The President of the ECOWAS, Mr Kadre Ouedraogo, made the appeal at a meeting with Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Jonathan, in Abuja on Monday 16 Feb 2015. At the meeting, Mr Ouedraogo presented a document he called the findings and recommendations of the commission towards a peaceful conduct of elections to President Jonathan. According to him, the ECOWAS has been monitoring situation in Nigeria following the postponement of the election date and has been meeting with the major presidential candidates to intimate them on their findings. The meeting with the ECOWAS President came after President Jonathan had met with the European Union observer group led by Mr Santiago Fisas. President Jonathan assured the group that the May 29 handover date was sacrosanct. The leader of the EU election observer group, Mr Santiago Fisas, said that they were in the presidential villa to exchange views with the president about the elections. He said that the group had met with the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Mohammadu Buhari. The president also told the EU commission that there was no room for interim National government as being speculated in some quarters saying that those who are talking about that were just being mischievous. That is not the agenda of government,” president Jonathan said. President Jonathan was apparently referring to a statement made by a former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, about a plan for an interim government. Addressing a gathering in Ogun State, after he withdrew his membership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, Obasanjo said: “Anybody in his right senses talks of interim government. Where is it in our constitution? But some of them are working for it. God will not allow them.

NIGERIA'S FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT. The FOI was passed into law on May 28 2011, after the longest legislative debate in Nigerian history. The law was passed to enable the public to access certain government information, in order to ensure transparency and accountability. The bill was developed by the Freedom of Information Coalition. (1) The act aims to make public records and information more freely available, and to protect public records and information in accordance with the public interest and protection of personal privacy. It enables citizens to hold the government accountable in the event of the misappropriation of public funds or failure to deliver public services. It also seeks to protect serving public officers against any adverse consequences from the unauthorised disclosure of certain kinds of official information, and to establish procedures for the achievement of these purposes. The act further regulates conflicts between its provisions and those of other legislation (eg, the Criminal Code, Penal Code or Official Secret Act) that prescribes criminal penalties for actions connected to the disclosure of information. Section 27 of the law provides that no civil or criminal proceedings may be brought against an officer of any public institution, or against anyone acting on behalf of a public institution, for the disclosure in good faith of any information pursuant to the act. Section 30(1) further provides that the act is intended to complement, not replace, the existing procedures for access to public records, and is not intended to limit public access to information. In any economy, freedom of information is a fundamental indicator of economic development and progress, civic engagement and a properly functioning democracy. Although the act is a promising start in ensuring good governance and rule of law in Nigeria, several hurdles will need to be overcome before it can be fully implemented. The act recognises a range of legitimate exemptions and limitations to the public's right to know, although these are subject to a public interest test which, in deserving cases, may override such exemptions and limitations. Exemptions As mentioned, the public's right to know is subject to certain exemptions. Access may be denied if the information sought could compromise national security, the conduct of international affairs or trade secrets, pertains to administrative enforcement proceedings or has been compiled by a law enforcement agency, provided that the public interest in disclosure does not outweigh the injury that the disclosure may cause.(2) Section 14 of the act provides that public institutions may not disclose personal information, except where the public interest in disclosure outweighs the individual's right to privacy. However, such disclosure is subject to the consent of the individual, or may otherwise be effected only where the information is publicly available.(3) In addition, access may be denied to information that is subject to legal privilege, medical privilege, journalistic privilege and any other professional privilege conferred by law.(4) Also, a public institution may deny access to information or research materials prepared by faculty members.(5) These exemptions grant broad discretion to public institutions to deny information, and as such may be subject to abuse. However, this risk is somewhat mitigated by the provision for judicial review and the requirement that an application for information not be denied where the public interest in disclosure outweighs any injury that such disclosure may cause. Public interest disclosure As a means of overriding the exemption provisions and preserving access to information, the act includes a public interest test, under which information cannot be withheld where the public interest in disclosure outweighs the interest in denying access to the information. This allows for the disclosure of information even where this is likely to cause harm to a protected interest, if the overall public benefits of disclosure outweigh any potential harm that might result. However, the determination of what constitutes 'public interest' will present a challenge, except in obvious cases, and will ultimately be determined by the courts. The courts will have to balance these exemptions against the public's right to know. The act does not define the term 'public interest'. In determining this issue, the courts are likely to rely on English case law, which is of persuasive authority in Nigeria. An applicant who has been denied information may apply to court for judicial review within 30 days of the denial or deemed denial.(6) The court also has the power to extend this timeframe. All applications for judicial review must be heard and determined summarily. The public institution bears the burden of proving that it is authorised to deny the application for information. If the court determines that the information should have been disclosed, it will order its disclosure to the applicant. Barely weeks after passage of the act, Justice Binta Murtala Nyako of the Federal High Court in Lagos granted leave to the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) to apply for a writ of mandamus compelling the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to disclose information to the effect that the CDHR's executive director and leadership had received the sum of N52 million in order to smear the EFCC. Application to states Another question arising from the act is whether it will apply throughout Nigeria. Some argue that the various state houses of assembly must implement it before it can apply in those states; otherwise, it will apply only in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. Whether this is legally correct will eventually be decided by the Nigerian courts. As it stands, the act is a law of the National Assembly,(7) which is empowered to make laws for the Federation of Nigeria with respect to archives and public records. The state houses of assembly may make laws for each state with respect to its own archives and public records. Opinion is thus divided as to whether the act applies to state archives and public records. The problem lies in the distinction which the 1999 Constitution makes (in Part II, Paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Second Schedule) between 'public records of the Federation' and 'public records of the State.' It is also argued that under the Constitution, only a state house of assembly may make laws in respect of its public records, and thus the act does not apply to state public records. This view is reinforced by Section 29 of the act, which provides for public institutions to report to the attorney general of the federation, who in turn must report to the National Assembly. If the law were intended to apply to the states, provisions should have been included on reporting to the state attorneys general and the state houses of assembly. As it stands, only one state in Nigeria(8) has implemented the act. Until the act has been tested in the courts, it may be of limited effect until other states have passed similar legislation. Therefore, in order for the act to become effective in other parts of the country, the state houses of assembly must implement its provisions, because at present it is a federal law only and is thus applicable only to federal institutions and agencies. It is envisaged that other states are likely to follow in the same vein. Comment The freedom of information must be balanced against other equally important interests, such as the right to privacy, protection of reputation and national security. The public interest is a broad concept which is difficult to define. Its definition or interpretation may vary depending on the circumstances of each case. It is a matter for the courts, acting in good faith with the specific aims of the act in mind, to develop jurisprudential guidance as to the appropriate meaning of the public interest in specific situations. Where information is improperly denied, the act allows the court to compel the public agency or official to grant the application for access. Section 2(6) of the act provides that anyone denied access to information may apply to court to compel disclosure of the information. However, this process may prove both costly and slow, and could have been better dealt with in the act through the inclusion of a provision for the establishment of an independent administrative body to promote compliance with the act. Such a body would be more accessible and affordable than the courts, and could resolve disputes relatively quickly. The establishment of such an independent body would have proved invaluable in addressing the culture of secrecy which is often the greatest barrier to transparent disclosure. It would also have helped to expose and embarrass public authorities with poor disclosure records, or which actively seek to undermine the objectives of the legislation.(9) In spite of the merits of the act, certain challenges remain to be addressed, such as the ongoing culture of secrecy, the slow process of judicial review, the lack of political will to implement the act and the fact that public officials still retain significant discretion as to whether to disclose information under the act.

ABDUL-AZIZ NYAKO, SON OF EX GOV MURTALA NYAKO HAVE BEEN ARRESTED BY EFCC. The Economic and Financial crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Abdul-Aziz Nyako, son of impeached governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako. EFCC said the younger Nyako was arrested in Gombe, capital of Gombe state, and was immediately flown to Abuja “where he is currently being grilled by a crack team of detectives who had been working on the Adamawa investigation for several months”. A statement issued Friday by Wilson Uwujaren, head of media and publicity of the EFCC reads in part: “Abdul-Aziz, who was declared wanted by the EFCC in the case of stealing, abuse of office and money laundering, is currently telling investigators all he knows about illicit funds traced to companies where he has interest. “Specifically, he will have to explain how over N15 billion funds belonging to Adamawa State was laundered into the accounts of five companies owned by him. Blue Opal Nigeria limited, Crust Energy Nigeria Limited, Blue Ribbon Multilinks Limited, Tower Assets Management Limited and Blue Ribbon Bureau De Change”. According to the statement, the funds were funneled into the accounts of the companies from Adamawa state accounts domiciled in a new generation bank by the account officer, who incidentally is the manager and an in-law to ex-governor Nyako. The manager claimed he transferred the funds through verbal instruction from the former governor for purposes, which are not stated”, he added. Investigations revealed that from 2007 to 2011 within Nyako’s tenure in office, before he was impeached in 2014, he had directed that all of the state-owned accounts domiciled in various banks be transferred to the new generation bank. Abdul-Aziz’s company, Blue Opal, is said to own, among other investments in Nigeria, an estate in Abuja, while his father’s account officer owns several properties and investments scattered around Abuja, Yola and Kano.

THE BORDER-LINES OF A MILITARY TAKE-OVER IN NIGERIA. One thing is certain; no one knows where this country is headed. Not the president, the media, the international community or the people on the street. But another frightening possibility that has begun to take shape in the hearts of common people on the street is that of a military take-over. One they may accept without remorse. Of course this seems least likely given the stage to which Nigeria’s development has gotten, but it’s a possibility. One cannot help but wonder while walking on the streets of Ikoyi Lagos state only a few days ago, and seeing that armored tanks had blocked the roads in anticipation for a civilian response to the postponement of elections. Or a more recent inclusion of the Nigerian military in daily activities in form of road-blocks on several main highways in the capital city of Abuja. One cannot also help but notice the complete lack of trust that Nigerians have developed for the institutions of government, and this is a dangerous scenario; all military governments that took to power in the past have followed a trend most noticeable in writer Max Sillouns ‘Soldiers of Fortune’ by capitalizing on the distrust in the government by the Nigerian people, civil unrest, protests, riots and general insecurity. One may argue that democracy has gone too far to allow for this kind of change. But no one can dispute the leadership failures that can easily be blamed on democracy. Three problems have become obvious following the change in 1999 from a military to a democratic government. In the first place a reversal of democratic gains in the form a dismantling of democratic institutions by manipulating elections, control of independent television and newspaper outlets, and clamping down on opposition activities by the different presidents that have emerged. A second problem is that although power had shifted from those in the uniforms to those in other garments, the elite structure remained the same. General Olusegun Obasanjo who emerged as a democratic president in 1999 was quick to transfer leadership to Umar Musa Yar’Adua; a younger brother to his former compatriot Shehu Musa Yar’adua showing in the most subtle form, that although many authoritarian elites were ready to welcome a democratic institution, a majority had no interest in implementing democratic institutions that would dilute their power. The third and most important is in the failure of political systems to deliver the basic services that people demand from their governments. In the case of Nigeria, what is most noticeable is that after 16 years; power cuts, unemployment, poverty and security has remained a major problem that isn’t even about to be solved. All this difficulties have slowly eroded the confidence of Nigerians in existing institutions. If Nigerians cannot march non-violently against their government on issues about their security and well-being, or demand accountability from their leaders, or demand for change and get it, then there will exist no difference in their understanding between a civilian government and a militarized country. This, the Nigerian military knows all too well. So when Africa’s most populous country and largest contributor to the AU forces cannot tackle a home bred insurgency, when for the first time since our democracy the military has begun to dictate on how and when elections will be run, and when the common man on the street can comfortably state that he would prefer a military regime to what he sees on the television, one can conveniently reach the conclusion that once again, the rules of political engagement may witness a drastic change. I cannot speak for all Nigerians; I will speak for myself and the few people I have discussed with on the issue because we all share a common perspective. If just days before the election scheduled to hold on March 28, the government throws out another illogical reason why it cannot hold elections on that date, what do you think Nigerians will do? Protest? Riot? Be ready to die to ensure that their democratic rights are safe-guarded? With the current statistics, it is more plausible to assume that many Nigerians would simply return to their lives in earnest of another government solution than take to the streets. If on the other hand armored tanks and masked soldiers moved out to block several highways and streets in Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna and Port-harcourt as had been the method in the past to force a declaration from televisions stations, radio stations, print and other media that the nation had changed hands from a democratic to a military leadership, what do you think Nigerians will do? Protest? Riot? Be ready to die to ensure that their democratic rights are safe-guarded? We all know what the answer to this will be. The man on the street is as confused as the man in suit inside an office somewhere in Abuja. He also doesn’t care much about the workings of democracy or who is in power. He doesn’t share a spirit of democratic values or Nigerian-ness, and would not lift a finger to fight in a battle that isn’t his. This attitude has been developed by years of a hopeless demand for change. This attitude can see the rise of another military regime, without any qualms. Written by Tahir Sherriff; Articulated by Media-Links!

These are very strong presidents of some African countries that ruled with Stiff and rigid laws; but were either brutalized, arrested, escaped or killed. These men were men, some were richer than their country, some were very brilliant, some were dictatorial by leadership style; but have left legacies; some of their legacies were lessons to other leaders such as Nigeria. These leaders includes Emperor Jean-Bedel Bokassa, Mobutu Sese-Seko, Field Marshal Idi Amin Dada of Uganda, Charlse McArthur Ghankay Taylor, Sekou Taure, Macias Ngume, Siad Barre, Hissene Habre, Mengitsu Haile Mariam, Kamuzu Banda, Gnassingbe eyadema, Laurent Gbabo etc. Reflecting back into how these men leads their countries, but end-up in various calamities; ours should have learnt lesson had it been he is well equiped with the history of Africa and the world at large. Leadership can be sweet, but always end so bitter than the taste of Mahogany roots especially when you struggle to remain on power by all mean. A word is enough for Goodluck Jonathan.

Please Download and Share the HawkVision Election Rigging Monitoring App Ahead of Elections here - http://hawkvisionapp.com/ The HawkVisionApp is a revolutionary election and social irregularity documenting mobile application that has been developed with priority to checkmate election rigging during the February 2015 general elections. The App has been presented and demonstrated to major political parties in Nigeria. The HawkVision application, which currently runs on android mobile devices, captures events (images and videos) real time and stores them with date and location stamp to a central secure server. These files can then be called up and the exact location, mapped using Google maps, with the data accessed with exact time and sender information. How it works: All Nigerians with Android phones download the App to their phones and ready to protect the voting process. At all polling locations, proactive citizen volunteers are urged to capture pictures and videos of any usual, unusual and suspicious activity including availability and access to grounds, behavior of the electorate, the police and electoral officers. Captured images and video only need to be uploaded through the App and the work is done. All images are automatically filed according to Polling booth location and stored with time stamp, geographical location and user phone number for confirmatory contact and possible follow-up. Access to the data is available to the media, government officials, the police, international monitors and other concerned individuals and groups wishing to investigate and review the captured electoral process. The HawkVision team diligently scours through the data to identify infractions and proceeds to investigate and refer such evidences to necessary authorities and organizations. The geographical and time and date stamp ensures authenticity and credibility of all evidence gathered. The HawkVisionApp further enables election monitoring in remote and terrorized locations like the Boko Haram plagued northeast where safety-conscious citizens are available and have downloaded the App and share to friends and family. Note; this application works on Android, iPad, and other devices including Techno Pads. Media-Links!

HARD CORE:’ JORDAN’S KING ABDULLA COMBATANTLY GEARED, FLEWED OVER AMMAN AND STRIKED AT ISIS TARGER. WHAT A LEADER! EXAMPLARY COURAGEOUS. Jordan’s King Abdullah is reportedly personally involved in executing air strikes against Islamic State positions in the aftermath of the terrorist group’s brutal execution of Jordanian pilot 1st Lt. Moaz Kasasbeh. Abdullah is personally involved in conducting the air strikes. What remains unclear is whether Abdullah is personally suiting up and flying a plane, or instead commanding units involved in the mission. “The Jordanian King Abdullah II participated personally on Thursday in conducting air strikes against the shelters of the terrorist ISIS organization to revenge the execution of the Jordanian pilot 1st 5:22:52 PM Kasasbeh by the ISIS. Jordanian Author Waleed Abu Nada Tweeted on Wednesday afternoon, “Local reports here in Jordan say that King Abdullah will personally fly and lead the airstrikes against ISIS. Middle East commentator Joseph Braude wrote on Twitter: “Reports that Jordanian King Abdullah, himself a pilot, flew sorties on ISIS targets.” Before assuming the throne, Abullah II was a Major General in charge of Jordanian Special Forces. Abdullah is also certified as a Cobra Attack Helicopter Pilot. In 1980, he joined the UK’s Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the British Army. Jordanian air strikes on Wednesday neutralized at least 55 Islamic State jihadists, including a top ISIS commander who was known as the “Prince of Nineveh,” The strike comes just hours after Amman vowed to step up role in US-led coalition against jihadists. The Jordanian air force carried out air strikes against ISIS targets in Mosul, killing 55 including a top IS commander known as the "Prince of Nineveh," Iraqi media reported Wednesday. The strikes came just hours after Jordan's King Abdullah II vowed a "severe" response to ISIS after it burned alive a Jordanian fighter pilot captured in Syria. "The blood of martyr Maaz al-Kassasbeh will not be in vain and the response of Jordan and its army after what happened to our dear son will be severe," the king said in a statement released by the royal court. Abdullah held talks with senior military and security officials Wednesday after cutting short a trip to Washington following ISIS release of a video showing Kassasbeh's killing. Information Minister Mohammad al-Momani told AFP Amman was "more determined than ever to fight the terrorist group Daesh," using an Arabic acronym for ISIS, after the brutal murder of its airman. A government spokesman said that Jordan will step up its role in the US-led coalition against ISIS militants, with all military options on the table. US President Barack Obama, who hosted Abdullah in a hastily organized and brief Oval Office meeting Tuesday night, led widespread international condemnation of the latest graphic murder, decrying the "cowardice and depravity" of ISIS. During the meeting Obama offered "his deepest condolences" to the king. White House spokesman, Alistair Baskey, said that "The president and King Abdullah reaffirmed that the vile murder of this brave Jordanian will only serve to steel the international community's resolve to destroy ISIS. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered his condolences to Abdullah as well, saying that radical ISIS "cruelty knows no borders, the greatest threat to humanity would be if these extremists get their hands on nuclear weapons," referring to Iran's nuclear program. Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman also sent his condolences to Jordan for the pilot's "barbaric" murder. Lieberman also applauded King Abdullah for "for his powerful actions against the heinous terror," and called on world leaders to follow Jordan's example with fighting terror "because it is impossible to beat terror with words and declarations." Earlier in the day, Jordan executed two jihadist prisoners by hanging in response to the killing of Kassasbeh, government spokesman Mohammed al-Momani said. The executions came just hours after ISIS militants released a video which showed al-Kassasbeh being burned alive in a cage. Kassasbeh's father said the two executions were not enough and urged the government to do more to avenge his death. "I want the state to get revenge for my son's blood through more executions of those people who follow this criminal group that shares nothing with Islam," Safi al-Kassasbeh said. Jordanians are demanding that the state and coalition take revenge with even more painful blows to destroy these criminals," he concluded. The European Union, which had released a statement of solidarity with Jordan over the brutal killing of al-Kassasbeh, condemned the executions. While all efforts must be made to counter terrorism and hold the perpetrators accountable, our reaction to the threat posed by ISIS needs to be consistent with our common values on justice and the rights of prisoners," foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said Wednesday. Even for a group infamous for its brutality, the execution of al-Kassasbeh marked a significant escalation, with the group hoping to sow division and fear among their opponents. end up in videos that are even more horrific and will do lasting damage to public opinion in your countries," said Romain Caillet, an expert on jihadist movements. No "head of state wants to see a young soldier end up in one of these videos," he said. "It was a huge opportunity for ISIS to inflict maximum pain on the international coalition, especially to Muslim countries that took part in it," he said. The main purpose of this video is to send a message that retribution against fellow Muslims who assist the United States in its fight against the group will be unimaginable. Iraq-based security expert Hisham Alhashimi agreed, saying the gruesome execution method was intended to evoke the maxim "an eye for an eye". Jordanian state media said Tuesday that al-Kassasbeh appeared to have been killed on January 3 2015, suggesting the group never planned to exchange the pilot. It preferred instead the shock and propaganda value of killing him, said Hassan Hassan, an expert at the Delma Institute, a research center based in Abu Dhabi. The video, more than 22 minutes long, seeks to justify burning Kassasbeh alive by showing footage of the air strikes launched by the US-led coalition in Syria since September. Sources in Raqqa reported that big screens were set up across the city and played the video throughout the night. Syria Kurds mourn Jordan pilot as 'martyr' of Kobane. Syrian Kurdish fighters in the battle ground town of Kobane commemorated al-Kassasbeh as a "martyr" after his brutal execution by their jihadist foes, an activist said Wednesday. "After the killing of Maaz was announced, troops from the People's Protection Units (YPG) in Kobane and in liberated villages nearby gathered to mourn the pilot's death, and to hold a minute of silence in his honour. "He is one of Kobane's martyrs, everyone is proud of him," Ebdi said, referring to the slain pilot's participation in the US-led air campaign in Syria, which helped Kurdish fighters liberate the town from the ISIS group last week. The YPG's political arm, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), vowed to avenge ISIS's killing of al-Kassasbeh and Japanese fellow captives Kenji Goto and Haruna Yukawa. The recapture of Kobane "is just the beginning of the defeat of those monsters, so that humanity can be free from them for ever", it said. Media-Links report!

OBASANJO MISSING AS BUHARI, BABANGIDA, GOWON, SHONEKAN A AND OTHERS TURN UP FOR COUNCIL OF STATE MEETING IN ABUJA. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is the only living Nigerian leader absent at the ongoing Council of state meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja. Present at the meeting are Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), former President Shehu Shagari, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.), Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd.), Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar and Chief Ernest Shonekan. Others at the meeting include Vice President Namadi Sambo; President of the Senate, David Mark; Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN); Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyin Pius Anyim; National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki. Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP governors at the meeting include those of Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Cross River, Niger, Kogi, Bayelsa, Adamawa, Ondo, Taraba, Delta, Enugu, Ekiti, Plateau, Jigawa, Katsina, Gombe and Bauchi States as well as the Minister of the FCT, Bala Mohammed. Opposition Governors in attendance include Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Aliyu Wamako (Sokoto), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Abdulfatahi Ahmed (Kwara), Tanko Almakura (Nasarawa), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara) and the deputy governors of Borno and Yobe States.

I WOULD RATHER RESIGN THAN POSTPONE ELECTION - INEC CHAIRMAN PROFESSOR ATTAHIRU JEGA. The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega has threatened to rather resign his appointment than postpone the scheduled February general elections. He said nobody's demand, including that of the National Council of States (NCS), or any other institution, will make INEC to postpone the February general elections as scheduled. The source further said that Jega confided in them that he will appeal even a court order on this issue, and that only a Supreme Court order will make him shift ground. A highly reliable source close to the INEC Chairman who pleaded anonymity said that Prof Jega told a group of close friends to which he belongs this morning that he would would rather resign his appointment and save his personal and professional integrity as an academic than be humiliated by the act of postponing the elections. The INEC Chairman was said to have dropped this hint against the backdrop of stories making rounds in the media that the NCS may advise against holding the February election, using the inexcusable excuse of poor distribution of PVCs. He said in spite of all the efforts put by his commission and with over 80% of PVCs made available, it will be dishonest for anybody to use this exercise to call for the postponement of the elections.Our source said Jega told them that if postponement is forced on the commission, then the only honourable option open to him is to resign. The source concluded by saying that it is Jega's view both as a professor of Political Science and his experience as INEC's Chairman that any postponement of the election would cause more harm to the country than good. The issue of postponing the February elections has been making waves for sometime now, and it took a new dimension when the National Security Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Sambo Dasuki, joined the fray in London last week.

FORMER ADAMAWA STATE GOV MURTALA NYAKO BLASTS EFCC AND PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN FOR DECLARING HIM WANTED. The embattled former Governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, on Wednesday blasted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC] for declaring him and his son wanted. He described the anti-graft agency’s latest ambush on him as the last kicks of a dying horse, saying President Goodluck Jonathan, will soon be kicked out of office. Nyako who spoke through his media assistant, Ahmed Sajoh, also noted that the Jonathan administration is intimidated by the soaring support he (Nyako) has continued to get even after he left office. “I am not aware of being declared wanted. But that is good,” Mr Nyako said. “If you are wanted by a rouge system, it means you are a good person. Has this government gone after anybody that is bad? They only run after the good people and allow the bad people to roam around them, live happily and enjoy whatever bad things they are doing.” Mr Nyako said he is not surprised at the latest action of the EFCC and noted that many more Nigerians will be declared wanted by the government. He argued that the government is being intimidated by the mammoth crowd that turned out for the All Progressives Congress, APC, rally in Yola, the Adamawa State capital. According to him, the Jonathan government is afraid that even when he (Nyako) was no longer in office, the people of Adamawa State still love and support him. He drew attention to how the crowd went wild with dancing when one of the songs eulogising the former governor was played at the APC rally in Yola, saying no amount of blackmail can stop the people from loving Mr Nyako. “When the time comes for them to be declared wanted nobody will sympathise with them,” he concluded. The former Adamawa governor was earlier declared wanted by the EFCC. Also wanted by the anti graft body is the son of the ex-governor, Abdul Aziz Murtala Nyako, a retired Naval officer. Both are wanted in a case of criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering. The EFCC had in June 2014, shortly before the former governor was impeached, frozen the bank accounts belonging to Adamawa in what it then called a precautionary measure to safeguard the state treasury amidst evidence of looting uncovered by its operatives. The commission had alleged massive looting of the treasury by top officials of Adamawa State government under Mr. Nyako, a development that, at the time, led to the arrest and questioning of key officials, including then Secretary to the State Government, the then State Commissioner for Finance, the then Commissioner for Higher Education, the then Accountant General of the State and the then Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Local Government. The EFCC said at the time that its investigation was triggered by petitions alleging massive looting of the treasury by the governor and his cronies through an illegal department called Special Programme and Project Units, SPPU, which engaged in over invoicing and inflation of contract. “In the course of investigation, a critical analysis of the Joint State/Local Government account reveals massive cash withdrawals,” a source at the commission said. The EFCC official accused the then Permanent Secretary of Local Governments of making cash withdrawals of over N2 billion in 181 different transactions, scattered in tranches of N3 million, N4 million, N8 million and N9 million per transaction from the State/Local Government account domiciled with First Bank between 29th of August 2011 and 2012. He also allegedly made similar cash withdrawals amounting to over N500 million between March 6, 2008, and March 4, 2011, from another Joint account domiciled in Keystone Bank, the source added. “Other officials of the ministry who allegedly looted the Joint Account include Justina Jari, a Principal Accountant with the ministry who made cash withdrawals to the tune of N600 million from the Joint Account between October, 2009 and February, 2011. “Another staff of the ministry, Abdulhakeem Mohammed was also alleged to have withdrawn about N3 billion from the account between February 2007 and May 2011. Two other staff, Mercy Wanje and Jumai Salihu were also said to have made withdrawals of N1 billion and N160 million from the account respectively,” the source said. “On a single day, another staff called Haruna Hamali, a principal store officer made a cash withdrawal of over N70 million from the same account,” he said. “The withdrawals were made and the money returned to top officials of the state government as narrated and confirmed by the officials who made the withdrawals. “The state officials were arrested in connection with the withdrawals and other ongoing investigations,” the source said at the time. - culled from premium times. The question is simple - Are they guilty of what EFCC wants them for or not? Is there any government official that can come to equity with clean hands? Considering the high level corrupt dealing the President Goodluck Jonathan is directly involve in? Especially the draining of Excess Crude foreign reserve? Only time can tell. - Media-Links reports.

EFCC DECLARED FORMER ADAMAWA STATE GOVERNOR MURTALA NYAKO WANTED. A former governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, has been declared wanted by the anti- graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC]. Also wanted by the EFCC is the son of the ex-governor, Abdul Aziz Murtala Nyako, a retired Naval officer. Both are wanted in a case of criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering. The EFCC had in June 2014, shortly before the former governor was impeached, frozen the bank accounts belonging to the state government in what it then called a precautionary measure to safeguard the state treasury amidst evidence of looting uncovered by its operatives. The commission had alleged massive looting of the treasury by top officials of Adamawa State government under Nyako, a development that, at the time, led to the arrest and questioning of key officials, including then Secretary to the State Government, the then State Commissioner for Finance, the then Commissioner for Higher Education, the then Accountant General of the State and the then Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Local Government. The EFCC said that its investigation was triggered by petitions alleging massive looting of the treasury by the governor and his cronies through an illegal department called Special Programme and Project Units, SPPU, which engaged in over invoicing and inflation of contract. “In the course of investigation, a critical analysis of the Joint State/Local Government account reveals massive cash withdrawals,” a source at the commission said, the EFFC official accused the then Permanent Secretary of Local Governments of making cash withdrawals of over N2 billion in 181 different transactions, scattered in tranches of N3 million, N4 million, N8 million and N9 million per transaction from the State/Local Government account domiciled with First Bank between 29th of August 2011 and 2012. He also allegedly made similar cash withdrawals amounting to over N500 million between March 6, 2008, and March 4, 2011, from another Joint account domiciled in Keystone Bank, the source added. “Other officials of the ministry who allegedly looted the Joint Account include Justina Jari, a Principal Accountant with the ministry who made cash withdrawals to the tune of N600 million from the Joint Account between October, 2009 and February, 2011. “Another staff of the ministry, Abdulhakeem Mohammed was also alleged to have withdrawn about N3 billion from the account between February 2007 and May 2011. Two other staff, Mercy Wanje and Jumai Salihu were also said to have made withdrawals of N1 billion and N160 million from the account respectively,” the source said. “On a single day, another staff called Haruna Hamali, a principal store officer made a cash withdrawal of over N70 million from the same account,” he said. “The withdrawals were made and the money returned to top officials of the state government as narrated and confirmed by the officials who made the withdrawals. “The state officials were arrested in connection with the withdrawals and other ongoing investigations,” the EFCC official said at the time. Nyako was later impeached by the State House of Assembly. His whereabouts have remained unknown ever since. Media-Links!

THIS IS HOW NEWSPAPERS' HEADLINES WILL LOOK LIKE ON FEBRUARY 17TH, 2015 AFTER GENERAL BUHARI IS DECLARED WINNER OF 2015 GENERAL ELECTION. 1. "INEC declares Buhari President-Elect with 26.4 million votes! PDP rejects result" - VANGUARD! 2. "Buhari declared winner!". "This is the worst election in Nigeria's history" (Olisa Metuh) - PUNCH! 3. "APC in a historic victory!". "Godswill Akpabio flee to Ghana, begs for forgiveness". - PM NEWS! 4. "This is the most rigged election in the world, Jega must be arrested and imprisoned immediately. We are heading to court" (Ruben Abati) - DAILY INDEPENDENT! 5. "South-south boils as INEC declares Buhari winner, Militants threatened war." - NIGERIAN TRIBUNE! 6. "APC wins Aso Rock, 70 Senate seats and 65% House of Reps. We are studying the results" (Mimiko) - SUN NEWSPAPER! 7. "Militants Protests Buhari's Victory, Demands Cancellation Of Polls In 21 States" - TRIUMPH NEWSPAPER! 8. "How Jega Rigged The Polls In Favour Of Buhari" - Premium times 9. "Obama, Cameroon, Hollande, Ban Ki Moon, World Leaders Congratulate Buhari" - THE NATION! 10. "I Will Finish All The Gambaris In Niger Delta Before May 29" (Asari Dokubo) - SAHARAREPORTERS! 11. "Jega Rigged For The Opposition, We Will Obtain A Court Order And Arrest Him" (SSS spokeswoman, Marylin Ogar) - LEADERSHIP! 12. "It Can Never Be Possible, It Is Either Jonathan Or No Nigeria" (Ayo Fayose) - DAILY TRUST 13. "Senate President, David Mark In A Secret Meeting With The Military To Stop May, 29 Handing Over To Buhari" - THISDAY NEWSPAPER 14. "No President That Has His People At Heart Will Hand Over Power To Someone Who Doesn't Care About The Masses" (Doyin Okupe) - NTA NEWS 15. "Nigeria Will Be Better Without Jonathan" (United Nation) - NEW YORK TIMES In the next 12 days it will surely come to pass!

DO NOT VOTE BUHARI, HE ASSOCIATE WITH CHRISTIANS - VP NAMADI SAMBO STATED AT PDP PRESIDENTIAL RALLY IN JIGAWA. At the Presidential campaign rally of GEJ/Sambo in Jigawa state on January 21st, 2015, in the presence of President Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo stated in Hausa: “Buhari ya dauko pastor a matsayin mataimakinsa kunsan coci nawa yake dashi? Yanada coci 5000, don haka karku zabesu.” The translation is – “Buhari has selected a pastor as his running mate, do you know how many churches he has? He has 5000 churches, so based on that, don’t vote for them“. Sambo used religious sentiments in his attempt to divide the country and incite Muslims against Christians. Sambo also said at the rally that the PDP is the most Islamic Party in Nigeria because nobody can be more Muslim than him. He said that his name is Namadi which is a derivative of Namadina, meaning someone from the Medina in Saudi Arabia. At the Rally in Jigawa State Sambo also stated that he goes for the Hajj every year. In his determination to whip up religious sentiments and divisions, the vp stated at the Jigawa state rally that all the security chiefs in the Jonathan administration are Muslims and based on that, those alleging that Jonathan is supportive of Boko Haram are not being fair. He mentioned the names of some key ministers in the Jonathan administration including Defence Minister, Aliyu Gusau, NSA, Sambo Dasuki, Inspector General of Police, Abba whom he emphasized are all Muslims. He also mentioned all the Muslim ministers from Kano, including Aminu Wali, Foreign Affairs Minister and Shekarau, Minister of Education. Sambo then asked if anyone could claim to be more Muslim than him Namadi Sambo. Then he shouted Allahu Akbar (Allah is great several times). To close his speech he recited the AlFatiha, (The Opening, the first seven verses of the Holy Quran, which for Muslims is the Mother of the Book, highly revered by all). Sambo’s outburst against Christians and Pastor Osinbajo would not surprise close watchers of political events in Nigeria but it does reconfirm the outcome of late General Azazi thorough and extensive investigation of Boko Haram and in which he concluded that the PDP founded Boko Haram and finances its terrorist activities. Commentary; How could such words come from a sitting Vice President of a country make such bigotry comment just to influence voters? This is a man that was a Governor of Kaduna State and couldn't do anything meaningful as dividend of Democracy, but instead left the state in pandemonium that resulted in various religious crisis and siphoned the security votes meant to cover security of life and properties of Kaduna State indigenes. If this is the type of leaders struggling by hook or crook to clinch onto the seat of power; then, there is so much doubt in actualizing the peace Nigeria is yearning for. The PDP is same platform that Tagged General Buhari as a religious fanatics, to an extent that he wanted to Islamize Nigeria. But now, it is very obvious that the current Vice President Namadi Sambo is capable of causing severe electoral crisis in Nigeria and deserved to be arrested for his derigatory comments.

KENJI GOTO, ISIS HOSTAGE, PURPORTEDLY BEHEADED IN NEW VIDEO. Japan, Obama, Harper condemn apparent killing of Japanese journalist. Japan has condemned with outrage and horror an online video that purports to show an ISIS group militant beheading Japanese journalist Kenji Goto. The video posted on militant websites late Saturday Middle East time ended days of negotiations to save the man and heightened fears for the life of a Jordanian fighter pilot also held hostage. "I feel indignation over this immoral and heinous act of terrorism," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters after convening an emergency Cabinet meeting. "When I think of the grief of his family, I am left speechless," he said. "The government has been doing its utmost in responding to win his release, and we are filled with deep regret." He vowed that Japan will not give in to terrorism and will continue to provide humanitarian aid to countries fighting the Islamic State extremists. The White House released a statement, saying President Barack Obama also condemned "the heinous murder" and praised Goto's reporting, saying he "courageously sought to convey the plight of the Syrian people to the outside world." Obama applauded Japan's "steadfast commitment to advancing peace and prosperity in the Middle East and globally, including its generous assistance for innocent people affected by the conflicts in the region. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper sent out a tweet late Saturday, says: "Canada condemns the reported execution of Kenji Goto. We'll continue to work with our allies to defeat ISIL. Thoughts & prayers are with Japan." "I was hoping Kenji would come back alive to thank everyone who had supported him," Goto's brother, Junichi, told Japanese public broadcaster NHK TV. "I am filled with sadness he couldn't do it." Goto's mother, Junko Ishido, told NHK TV her son's death showed he was a kind, gentle man, trying to save another hostage. That hostage, Haruna Yukawa, was shown as purportedly killed in an earlier video. The fates of Goto, a 47-year-old freelance journalist, and the Jordanian pilot, Lt. Muath Kaseasbeh, had been linked by the militants, but Saturday's video made no mention of the airman. Jordan's government spokesman, Mohammed al-Momani, declined comment. Earlier this week, Jordan had offered to free an al-Qaida prisoner for the pilot, but a swap never moved forward. Saturday's video, highlighted by militant sympathizers on social media sites, bore the symbol of the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq's al-Furqan media arm. Though the video could not be immediately independently verified by The Associated Press, it conformed to other beheading videos released by the extremists, who now control about a third of both Syria and neighboring Iraq in a self-declared caliphate. Authenticity of video in question The video, called "A Message to the Government of Japan," featured a man who looked and sounded like a militant with a British accent who has taken part in other beheading videos by ISIS. Goto, kneeling in an orange prison jumpsuit, said nothing in the roughly one-minute-long video.  "Abe," the militant says in the video, referring to the Japanese prime minister, "because of your reckless decision to take part in an unwinnable war, this knife will not only slaughter Kenji, but will also carry on and cause carnage wherever your people are found. So let the nightmare for Japan begin." Kenji Goto was captured in October, after he travelled to Syria to try to win the release of Haruna Yukawa. Officials in Japan and the U.S. said they were trying to confirm the authenticity of the video. "We have seen the video purporting to show that Japanese citizen Kenji Goto has been murdered by the terrorist group ISIL," said Bernadette Meehan, a spokeswoman for the White House's National Security Council, using an alternate acronym for the extremist group. "The United States strongly condemns ISIL's actions and we call for the immediate release of all the remaining hostages. We stand in solidarity with our ally Japan." In Tokyo, Goto's friend Hiromasa Nakai said he was still hoping that the video was not authentic. "I only can say I'm hoping this is not true," he said. Goto was captured after he travelled to Syria in October to try to win Yukawa's release from ISIS.  Yukawa reportedly was killed previously, though authorities have yet to authenticate the video claiming that. The Jordanian pilot was captured after his fighter plane went down in December over an ISIS-controlled area of Syria. $200M demand shifts to prisoner release Earlier this week, Jordan had offered to release an al-Qaeda prisoner for the pilot. However, in a purported online message earlier this week, the militants threatened to kill the pilot if the prisoner wasn't released by Thursday. That deadline passed, and the families of the pilot and the journalist were left waiting in agony. Late Friday, Japan's deputy foreign minister reported a deadlock in efforts to free Goto. Jordan and Japan had reportedly conducted indirect negotiations with the militants through Iraqi tribal leaders. The hostage drama began last week after militants threatened to kill Goto and Yukawa in 72 hours unless Japan paid $200 million. Later, the militants' demand shifted to seeking the release of the al-Qaeda prisoner, Sajijda al-Rishawi, 44, who faces death by hanging in Jordan for her role in triple hotel bombings in Amman in 2005. Sixty people were killed in those attacks, the worst terror attack in Jordan's history.    Al-Rishawi has close family ties to the Iraq branch of al-Qaeda, a precursor of ISIS.