Inquiry Line (Signal only)

Live Broadcast

An HTTP error occurred during file retrieval. Error Code: 405

Nigeria to buy fighter jets from Czech Republic

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Pocket
WhatsApp

The Federal Government would soon procure three surveillance aircraft from Czech Republic

as part of its border control measures and war against organised crimes.

Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja when he received a delegation from Czech Republic led by its Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Pavel Mike, and Deputy Commander of Czech Air Force, Brig.- Gen. Sebesta Jeromir.

He said that Nigeria would cooperate with Czech Republic on internal security and border management.

Earlier in June, Moro had told National Mirror that he had secured approval of the Federal Government to procure the aircraft from Czech Republic.

The minister expressed happiness that after his visit to Czech Republic, the country was willing to cooperate with Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.

Moro said he hoped that the visit would further strengthen the desire and that with approval of the relevant authorities, Nigeria would urgently purchase the aircraft to complement the efforts of the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, in combating cross-border crimes and security of Nigeria.

“In order to strengthen bilateral relations with the Republic of Czech, a committee was set up to design ways of implementing series of agreements and Memorandum of Understanding that were signed between the Nigerian government and government of Republic of Czech.

“And so, on this visit, in furtherance of our desire to widen the horizon of cooperation between the Ministry of Interior and the Czech Republic, I wish to state the possibility of transfer of convicted prisoners, the possibility of visa waiver between Nigeria and Czech Republic, including diplomatic and official passports,” he said.

Earlier, the Czech Republic ambassador had said that his country would continue to partner Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.

“We are here to accompany Nigeria in its struggle against the insecurity in the North-East of the country. We are here to work together, to cooperate and as a friend without demand and without any requirement,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters, DHQ, yesterday said that it would begin coordinated operations with the Camerounian military to stamp out Boko Haram insurgency.

In a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, DHQ said that the Camerounian military delegation was in Nigeria already to sign a bilateral military agreement.

“In furtherance of various international contacts by Nigeria in the efforts to stamp out the scourge of terrorism in the sub-region, a bilateral defence meeting between Nigeria and Cameroun is scheduled to commence on Wednesday at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.

“The three-day meeting which is being hosted by Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, will have in attendance his Cameroonian counterpart and his country’s military delegation.

“The forum, which is a follow-up to previous international and regional meetings to foster a common ground in the fight against insurgency and terrorism, is to fashion out ways of strengthening the existing working relationship and cooperation between the two Armed Forces in the war against terror in the West African sub-region.

“The bilateral talk is expected to advance the collaboration to contain the activities of terrorists in the two countries through coordinated military operations along the borders.

“The meeting between the two countries is coming at the heels of a similar parley of foreign ministers of Nigeria, Chad, Cameroun, Niger and Benin Republic held earlier in the week on appropriate legal framework for cross border military operations against the Boko Haram terrorists in the region.”

The new-found relationship, it was gathered, would ensure that the insurgents did not have a hiding place in Cameroun after being pursued from Nigeria.

In another development, human rights group, Socio- Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has instituted a suit before a Federal High Court, Lagos, against the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, over its failure to expose persons involved in alleged money laundering through the bank to fund Boko Haram.

The suit, FHC/L/ CS/1547/2014, filed by the Executive Director of the organisation, Adetokunbo Mumuni, is sequel to a Freedom of Information request by SERAP to the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, and dated September 15, 2014, which did not yield any result.

In the suit, SERAP argued that “a necessary implication of the rule of law is that a public functionary and institution can only act in accordance with the law, as to do otherwise may enthrone arbitrariness”.

The group added that those who publicly took oath of office to protect and preserve the constitution should adhere to the oath.

“In a democratic society, this is meant to be a norm; it is an apostasy for public institutions like the CBN to ignore the provisions of the law.

“The CBN has so far failed, refused and/or neglected to provide the plaintiff with the details of the information requested.

“By virtue of Section 1(1) of the FOI Act 2011, the plaintiff is entitled as of right to request for or gain access to information which is in the custody or possession of any public official, agency or institution.“By the provisions of Section 2(7) and 31 of the FOI Act 2011, the defendant is a public institution.

“By virtue of Section 4 (a) of the FOI Act, when a person makes a request for information from a public official, institution or agency, the public official, institution or agency to whom the application is directed is under a binding legal obligation to provide the plaintiff with the information requested for, except as otherwise provided by the Act, within seven days after the application is received,” SERAP stated.

The group maintained that the information requested did not fall into the category of information exempted from disclosure by the provisions of the FOI Act.

It added: “The information requested for, apart from not being exempted from disclosure under the FOI Act, borders on an issue of national interest, public peace and security, public concern, social justice, good governance, transparency and accountability.

“The defendant will not suffer any injury or prejudice if the information is released to the plaintiff.”

The rights group also said that “unless the reliefs it was seeking were granted, the defendant would continue to be in breach of the FoI Act, and other statutory responsibilities.”

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the application.

Facebook Comments
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Pocket
WhatsApp

Never miss any important news. Subscribe to our newsletter.

Recent News

Follow Radio Biafra on Twitter

Editor's Pick