EVENING UPDATES: Niger Delta situation quite tragic– Amnesty International

Niger Delta situation quite tragic– Amnesty International
Global rights watchdog, Amnesty International, on Tuesday described the situation in the Niger Delta as a “human rights tragedy,” saying the Federal Government and the oil companies operating in the region were destroying the environment.
The watchdog said in a statement made available to Punch by email that the rights of the people of the Niger Delta were being abused by oil companies, who were not being held to account by government.
”The Niger Delta provides a stark example of the lack of accountability of a government to its people, and of multinational companies‘ almost total lack of accountability when it comes to the impact of their operations on human rights,” said Audrey Gaughran, Amnesty International‘s Head of Business and Human Rights and co-author of a major new report, Petroleum, Pollution and Poverty in the Niger Delta, released on Tuesday at a press conference in Abuja..
The report examines oil spills, gas flaring, waste dumping and other environmental impacts of the oil industry. The majority of the evidence on pollution and environment damage gathered by Amnesty International, and contained in its new report, relates to the operations of Shell, the main oil company operating on land in the Niger Delta.
Gaughran said, ”People living in the Niger Delta have to drink, cook with and wash in polluted water. They eat fish contaminated with oil and other toxins - if they are lucky enough to be able to still find fish. The land they farm on is being destroyed. After oil spills the air they breathe smells of oil, gas and other pollutants. People complain of breathing problems and skin lesions - and yet neither the government nor the oil companies monitor the human impacts of oil pollution.”
AI said the human rights impact of pollution in the Niger Delta was greatly under-reported, noting that the majority of people in the Niger Delta depend on the natural environment for their food and livelihood, particularly through agriculture and fisheries.
The report also said that communities and armed groups in the Niger Delta had contributed to the problem of pollution, by vandalising oil infrastructure and the theft of oil.


Kidnappers of Oyo governor’s aide demand N20m ransom
The kidnappers of the Executive Assistant to the Oyo State Governor on Administration, Chief Richard Fagbemi, have reportedly demanded a N20 million ransom.
Fagbemi was kidnapped on Sunday evening on his way from Abuja to Ibadan. He was said to have been picked between Edo and Ondo State by some unidentified persons. Fagbemi, who was a retired Permanent Secretary before his appointment, was allegedly hijacked when his vehicle allegedly broke down in company with his sister-in-law and the driver.
A senior aide of the governor, who confirmed the incident on condition of anonymity, said the aide was returning from a private visit to Abuja before he lost touch with members of his family. Our correspondent learnt that the governor had been making frantic effort to secure his release.
A top police source confirmed that he was kidnapped between Ondo and Edo State. The spokesperson of the state command, Miss Olabisi Okuwobi, could not be reached for comments.


States, FG close to deal on N2.2trn illegal deductions
Twenty states that filed a suit against the Federal Government on alleged illegal deductions from the Federation Account on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that they were sure of reaching an amicable settlement of the issues in dispute within one week.
They have therefore asked the apex court to adjourn the case to enable them finalise the deal. Based on this request, the court on Tuesday suspended, indefinitely, further hearing in the case.
The alleged illegal deductions from the Federation Accounts of monies were in excess of N4 trillion by the Federal Government. At the resumed hearing of the case, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, and Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, leading other senior lawyers asked the court to adjourn the case just for a week to enable them complete discussions at reaching a settlement.
The decision of the Supreme Court followed a request by the plaintiff-states.
But the presiding justice of the panel, Justice Niki Tobi, said the apex court would not only give them the one week but that it would allow them up till October to finalise the truce.


‘Jackson/ Rowe not biological parents of three children'
It has been revealed that Michael Jackson was not the biological father of any of his children, nor was Debbie Rowe the biological mother of the two kids she bore for Michael.
A celebrity gossip and entertainment portal, TMZ said all the three children were conceived in vitro -- outside the womb.
Multiple sources deeply connected to the births tell us Michael was not the sperm donor for any of his kids. Debbie‘s eggs were not used. She was merely the surrogate, and paid well for her services in the births of Michael Jr. and Paris.
According to TMZ, ”In the case of Prince Michael II (the youngest), we‘re told the surrogate was never told of the identity of the ”receiving parent” -- Michael Jackson. Three days after Prince was born at Grossmont Hospital in San Diego County, Jackson‘s lawyer came to the hospital to pick the baby up and deliver him to Michael.”
TMZ said, ”We do not know if Jackson chose the sperm or egg donors or if he even knew who they were.”
Although Rowe is not the biological mother, it‘s not a slam dunk that she would lose a custody battle. This type of case has never been litigated in California courts. Since Rowe was married to Jackson when Michael Jr. and Paris were born, there‘s a presumption that she‘s the biological parent. That presumption can be rebutted by other evidence.
We know there are documents outlining the whole arrangement for the birth of all three kids. Nonetheless, it‘s still an open issue with the courts."