₦airaland Forum

More than 24 students of the Federal University of Gusau were abducted in the early hours of Friday after bandits invaded the Sabon-Gida community of the Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

A student of the school, who asked to be anonymous for security reasons, told Channels Television that over 24 schoolmates, mostly ladies, were abducted during the attack.

A resident of Sabon-Gida identified as Nazeer Sabon-Gida confirmed that the gunmen invaded the community around 3 am and started shooting indiscriminately.

According to him, three students’ hostels were attacked and all the students in the hostels were taken away by the bandits.

“They entered the town around 3 am and started shooting indiscriminately,” he said.

“We have yet to confirm the number of students kidnapped because the bandits entered three hostels and kidnapped all the students there. It is difficult to ascertain their numbers now.”

Another source told Channels Television that the bandits were engaged with troops of the Nigerian Army in a fierce gun battle but that did not stop the bandits from escaping with the kidnapped victims.

“They were seriously engaged with the army troops but the way these bandits operate, they will divide themselves into two, one group will move with the kidnapped victims while the other will stay behind to protect the first group,” he said.

“The first group had left with the students while the second group engaged the army in a gun duel.”

In June, some students of the university protested the spate of abductions involving their schoolmates in Sabon-Gida and Damba.

Sabon-Gida village is a community opposite the main campus of the Federal University of Gusau that is about 20 km to the state capital, Gusau.

Efforts to reach the school authorities were not successful as the spokesperson for the school, Umar Usman, did not respond to several phone calls to him by our correspondent.

Seyi Tinubu didn’t donate N15m to Mohbad’s kid or family. I would know, because I have been discussing with him on the issue for several days.

Bell Schmurda mentioned Seyi in a tweet and I immediately forwarded it to him. The same way I have forwarded tweets around policy interventions to him and he’s gone ahead to help advance causes. When I know the source of the relevant tweet, I message them to let them know I am helping to push the matter. This time, he called me and asked what he could do. I shared my thoughts.

I said not to get sucked into the social media thing because whatever he said or did would be politicised. I then went on to say, irrespective of that, we should prioritise his family, especially his kid. He said he’d commit to the kid’s education and also support the wife immediately. But we also knew there was still a danger of that getting used against him politically - that’s the world we now live in. It is what it is, it’s why one can only move the best way one can.

I sent a message to one of my friends in the industry who himself has also been involved with the Mohbad issue - without making any social media noise whilst getting dragged for not tweeting lol.

Without knowing what I had shared with Seyi, he also advised to hold on. That he would do the necessary connections when it is convenient to do so without appearing to be getting in the way of anything. Any rational person wouldn’t need an explanation for the hesitations around the issue. It’s the intersection of a criminal matter and social media narratives.

I’d ordinarily ignore these things. I have come to know that for all its power and essence, some things cannot be done by tweeting.

Just to be clear, the N15m making the rounds that Seyi donated is not true. My position is obvious - if you can comprehend what you read - I was involved with him on this matter from the get go.

And if you want to know how he is ultimately supporting the kid and the wife, I don’t think that’s my business to say. And frankly speaking, I don’t think it matters. That’s left for those who received what to say.

This post was made for those who need clarity on the matter. Love and light to every sensible person out here. And especially everyone who genuinely care about Mohbad, his memory, family and his legacy. Including those not doing social media posts.

Rest in peace Mohbad. As we stay in pursuit of justice, it is my hope that the kid he left behind gets all the support he needs, long after social media moves to the next thing. Because it will. 🖤🖤🖤

Fresh attempts to export various quantities of methamphetamine and skunk by members of some transnational drug trafficking organisations through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja and courier companies in Lagos have again been thwarted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, who intercepted the illicit drug consignments concealed in different items.

At the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday 12th September intercepted an intending passenger going to Oman, Ugwu Peter Tochukwu, while trying to board a Qatar Airways flight. Upon a thorough search of his luggage, 7.50 kilograms of skunk were discovered concealed inside crayfish mixed with dry bitter leaf.

In the same vein, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations attached to some courier companies also intercepted Dubai-bound 2.9 kilograms of skunk and 14 grams of methamphetamine concealed in bags of semovita and soles of ladies’ high heel shoes respectively.

In Imo state, operatives on patrol along Aba-Owerri expressway on Wednesday 13th September intercepted five pregnant teenage girls suspected to be victims of child trafficking used as baby factory. They were picked up while being relocated from their hideout in Naze area of Owerri to Ikenegbu area of the state capital.

The victims include: Chioma Emmanuel, 15; Uma Faith, 15; Divine Adimonye, 17; Opara Gift, 15; and Amarachi Mbata, 16. In their statements, they claimed they didn’t know the men who impregnated them. The Imo state command of the Agency has since been directed to hand them over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, for further investigations.

While two suspects: Moses Akowe, 32, and Sunday Gabriel, 31, were arrested with 227.1kgs of cannabis on Tuesday 11th September at Ikebe village, Ankpa LGA, Kogi state, a female suspect, Bilikisu Salako, 35, was nabbed with 108kgs of same substance on Saturday 16th September in Ifo area of Ogun state.

A total of 100 blocks of cannabis weighing 55kgs and 600 bottles of codeine-based syrup seized from the duo of Salisu Murtala and Shafi’u Dahiru on Tuesday 11th September along Abuja road have been traced to two other suspects: Muntari Nasiru and Yusuf Ali who were arrested in follow up operations in Kano.

In FCT Abuja, a 27-year-old Kingsley Chimaobi was arrested with 6,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup along Lokogoma-Abuja road on Tuesday 11th September.

Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday 13th September sentenced to five years imprisonment a drug dealer, Segun Odeyemi for trafficking and dealing in 3,842 kilograms of skunk. He was arrested on Saturday 1st July while conveying 89 jumbo bags of the illicit substance in his truck around Eleganza area of Ajah, Lekki. He was subsequently charged in suit number FHC/L/388C/2023 presided over by Justice Akintayo Aluko.

Across the country, various commands of the Agency continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities in the past week taking advocacy messages to the stakeholders. Instances of this include, WADA advocacy visit to the head of Kadiria Islamic Sect of Africa, Sheikh Qaribullah Nasiru Kabara, in Kano; WADA sensitisation lecture for men and officers of Nigerian Army, Sobi barracks, Ilorin; lecture for Muslim community in Kaduna; WADA sensitisation lecture at Enugu State College of Health and Technology, Oji- River; advocacy lecture for members of Ram Sellers Association, Osogbo as well as officers and men of the Nigerian Navy School of Music, Ota, Ogun state, among others.

While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Imo, Kaduna, Ogun, Kogi, FCT and Lagos Commands as well as those of DOGI for intensifying their drug control efforts, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) equally applauded the commitment of all the commands across the country to work with other stakeholders to take the WADA sensitization lectures and advocacy messages to the communities, schools, worship centres, work places and traditional institutions. He charged them not to relent.

Femi Babafemi
Director, Media & Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters Abuja
Sunday 17th September 2023

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*Election Petitions: Delta State APC Expresses Surprise At Tribunal Judgments Against Party*

Following the decision of the NASS Elections Petitions Tribunal sitting in Asaba against Hon. Francis Ejiroghene Waive the member representing Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency, the All Progressives Congress, APC, Delta State wishes to express its utmost shock and dismay at the judgment which has declared the PDP Candidate, Hon. Solomon Awhinawhi of the PDP as the winner of the February 25, 2023 House of Representatives election for Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency.

The decision of the tribunal today, which has now followed a familiar string of recent decisions emanating from the various tribunal panels in the State against the candidates of the Party, has become a serious cause of concern as it tends to create the impression that there is a grand conspiracy to use judicial subterfuge to hijack our hard won victory and mandates at the polls, through the instrumentality of the elections petitions tribunal panels delivering questionable judgments against our Party.

While stating categorically that our Party will continue to hold the judiciary in high esteem and confidence as the last hope of the common man and the bastion of a decent society, it has become necessary and desirable to question the grounds upon which these judgments are based, particularly when delivered against well- established principles of law and the strength of evidence given in the course of trial, thereby leading to a perversion of the cause of justice.

It is pertinent to reiterate the fact that the Delta State APC, though presently alarmed at the decisions from the various tribunals in Delta State so far, will refrain from arriving at the irresistible conclusion that these decisions delivered are tainted with corrupt practices and financial compromise by the opposition party in the State.

However, the Party uses this opportunity to assure members of the APC in the State and the general public to remain calm, peaceful and law abiding as we have, unwavering faith in the judiciary, particularly at the appellate courts, where we honestly believe that justice will be done in due course to redress the injustice encapsulated in these judgments which are not based on grouds known to the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

Signed

Valentine Onojeghuo Esq State Publicity Secretary APC Delta State
11/9/2023.

The National Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal sitting in Jos, Plateau State, has nullified the election of a two-term member of the House of Representatives in the state, Dachung Bagos.

Bagos, who represents Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party during the February 25 National Assembly poll.


Nullifying Bagos’s election, the tribunal declared the Labour Party candidate, Ajang Alfred, as the rightful winner of the poll and ruled that the PDP candidate was not validly nominated by his party to contest the poll.

The PUNCH reports that Bagos was the third PDP candidate whose elections had been nullified in the state by the tribunal.

The other two were Senator Napoleon Bali who represents Plateau South, and Peter Gyengdeng who represents Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency.

Again, tribunal rules that the petitioners APC and Vincent Venman could not prove noncompliance.

Also that, PDP is not qualified to sponsor, Hon. Beni Lar of the house of representatives, representing Langtang north/south federal constituency of Plateau State.

The PDP had a faulty foundation and could not have sponsored, Hon. Beni Lar.

Hon. Beni Lar of the PDP sacked, Hon. Vincent Venman of the APC in, as member representing Langtang north/south federal constituency of Plateau State.

The Parliamentary Election Petitions Tribunal has invalidated the election of Thaddeus Attah of the Labour Party as the winner of the House of Representatives vote in the Eti-Osa Federal Constituency.

In its ruling on Monday, the tribunal also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a supplementary election in 32 polling units within the next 90 days.

The decision aligned with the claims made by Bankole Wellington, also known as Banky W, of the Peoples Democratic Party and Babajide Obanikoro of the All Progressives Congress, asserting that elections did not take place in approximately 40 polling units.

It is possible. Still.

It was all smiles at the tribunal court when it was confirmed that there would be a supplementary election in several polling units under the Eti-osa Federal constituency where the election did not take place.
I believe that our justice system is on the right track and I praise the judges for this ruling which adheres to the components of the Constitution.

Work starts now.

#IBO2023 #YourNeighbour2023 #YourNeighbour #RenewedHope2023 #reels #reelect

No cause for alarm!
I am here to clarify that I was not sacked. The Tribunal has simply ordered a re-run (supplementary election) in the 32 polling units where elections did not hold. We will continue working for Etiosa.

I urge constituents to keep calm as we are unshaken. We will get through this together.

Constituency's progress! 💪🗳️ #EtiOsaConstituency #ElectionUpdate

National assembly election Petition tribunal sitting in calabar, has sacked and ordered INEC to retrieve certificate of return from APC house of representatives member representing Akamkpa/Biase federal constituency, Dr. Emil Lemke Inyang. And conduct a fresh rerun election in affected 19 polling units.

On March 10, INEC announced Inyang won with 13,998 votes while the petitioner Hon Austine Aidam garnered 11,194 votes.

Labour Party came third with a total of 6402 votes.

The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal Sitting in Umuahia, the Abia State capital has declared the February 25th elections of Obingwa/Osisioma/Ugwunagbo Federal Constituency null and void.

The court also ordered for a rerun within the next 90 days according to the constitution. The tribunal noted that the LP candidate was declared in error and therefore cannot stand.

Reading out the judgement, Prof. Muhammad Mahmud on behalf of the three man panel headed by Hajaratu Hajjo Lawal, said the number of lead is more than the number of voters who were disenfranchised in some polling units but collected their Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs.

The candidate of the Young Progressives Party, YPP, Hon. Ibe Michael Nwoke had approached the court after the declaration of Labour Party's Munachim Alozie as winner of the February 25th elections demanding nullification.

Nwoke prayed the court to among other things nullify the election of LP's Alozie as he was not duly elected and his election invalid based on the margin of lead.

While counsel to YPP's candidate adjudged the ruling as fair, the LP's counsel insists on appealing the case.

NASS Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Minna sacks member representing Lavun-Mokwa-Edati Federal Constituency, Joshua Audu Gana of the PDP, orders election rerun in 23 Polling Units.

INEC declared Jerry Gana's son, Joshua got 47,942 votes while Adamu Usman Gbatamaigi got 40,002 votes

DATKEM Plaza Is An Illegal Structure, Contravenes Ogun Physical Planning Laws

Ogun State Government on Sunday said DATKEM Plaza, Ijebu Ode is an illegal structure without an approved plan.

The structure, the state government added, also contravened the state’s physical planning laws.

The government, in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Engr. Olayiwola Abiodun said the structure violated the building codes of the state with numerous defects.

He said several efforts made by the state government to halt further development on site were ignored by the developers.

He said government officials requested the structural engineer in charge of the building to avail the state of the structural equilibrium of the building, a request that was ignored.

The statement recalled the various incidences of building disasters across the country, adding that the Ogun State Government will not fold its arm and allow and such occurrence.

It noted that many of such disasters, such as fire outbreaks at Ikorodu, led to the loss of precious lives.

According to the permanent secretary, what the government did in partially pulling down the defective building was to be proactive.

Engr. Abiodun challenged the owners of the structure to produce evidence of government approval in their possession.

He said that for a commercial building of that status, there must be parking space to accommodate vehicular traffic within and outside the facility for workers and visitors. The provision of the law is for 45 to 50 per cent of available land for construction as a buildable area.

The permanent secretary added that the building lacked stage certification, which is usually issued at every stage of construction.

He said that owners were served the necessary notices, including abatement, contravention, stop work and demolition between May and October 2022, which were ignored.

According to the statement, DATKEM Enterprises Limited submitted application for an office building, located along Ibadan Road, Ijebu Ode in 2009 with registration number CB/05/299/2009.

“The proposal was for five (5) floors with airspace of 3 metres at the right, 5m at the left, 5metres at the rear and a setback of 32.5516 metres to the middle of Ijebu Ode/Ibadan road, Ijebu-Ode.

“The Zonal Town Planning Office observed during routine monitoring that the construction on site did not conform with the plan granted as there was a deviation from the airspaces and setback.

“In addition, the building had been modified and enlarged with an additional storey building at the back thereby becoming over density.

“In view of the above, the following actions were taken:

“Contravention Notice with Serial No. 0106983 was served on 24th May 2022.

“Stop Work Order with Serial No. 000623 was served on 24th May 2022.

“Another Stop Work Order with Serial No. 001065 was served on 22nd July 2022 when the first notice was ignored.

“Demolition Notice with Serial No. 0007549 was served on 11th October 2022.

Notice to seal with Serial No. 000815 was served on 4th October 2022.

The statement noted further that despite all these notices, the developer was recalcitrant and continued with the construction work.

“This prompted the re-sealing of the site on 1st August, 2023. But the sealing did not stop the developer from further construction as work continued on the site.

“However, the developer wrote an appeal for unsealing, which was considered so as to evacuate the belongings in the premises. Thereafter, quit notice with Serial No. 0030750 was served on 31st August, 2023.

“In view of the above, since the developer had remained recalcitrant, the Zonal Town Planning Office’s recommendation for the demolition of the office building was upheld,” the statement added.

The state government reiterated its avowed commitment to ensure the safety of its citizens, adding that any defective buildings in any part of the state will be demolished to safeguard the lives of the people.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have intercepted consignments of skunk concealed in tins of tomato paste and methamphetamine hidden in used clothes, meant for export to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

While the skunk in tomato pastes consignment weighing 20.00 kilograms was intercepted on Friday 8th September at the SAHCO export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja, the meth shipment with a gross weight of 1.60kg was seized at a courier company in Lagos.

Another consignment of 556 grams of Canadian Loud sent from Canada to one Tunji Adebayo in Ikorodu, Lagos was also intercepted by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, attached to courier firms. Though Adebayo was not home when operatives visited his house at 52, Aina Atoloye street, Ikorodu, he however directed his younger brother to sign for the package on his behalf. The brother was promptly arrested.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives on Monday 4th September raided the enclave of a notorious drug lord in Akala, Mushin, Lagos, Abdul Rauf (aka ‘Na God) where 1,101kgs of Ghanaian Loud were recovered and three suspects arrested while the wanted kingpin remains at large.

In Kogi, 22-year-old Agada Emmanuel was arrested with 77.400kgs cannabis on Thursday 7th September along Okene - Lokoja - Abuja expressway while a total of 369,980 pills of opioids were also recovered on the same road on Monday 4th September and the suspect linked to the seizure, Kabiru Ahmad Abdullahi arrested in a follow up operation in Gombe state.

No fewer than 399 pieces of improvised explosive devices were recovered by NDLEA operatives from one Asana Oluwagbenga Leke, 39, along Mokwa-Jebba road on Thursday 7th September. In his statement, the suspect said the explosives were handed to him at a park in Ibadan to be delivered to someone in Kaduna. The suspect and exhibits have since been transferred to the military authorities in Niger state.

In Ogun state, a follow up operation led to the arrest of Yinka Azeez at Sabo Lafenwa, Abeokuta on Tuesday 5th September following the seizure of 41kgs cannabis from Titilayo Adetayo at Sagumu Interchange the previous day. At least, two suspects: Muhammad Aliyu, 38, and Abdullahi Zakariya, 40, were arrested in Zaria-Kano Road and Haye Arewa, Hotoro, Kano, respectively over 426.5 kilograms of skunk seized from them on Tuesday 5th September.

While Onyeka Uzor, 25, was arrested at Idemili, Anambra state, with 64.8kgs skunk and tramadol, another suspect, Destiny Irabor was nabbed on Friday 8th September with over 180kgs of opioids loaded in his Toyota Sienna bus. In Kaduna, two suspects: Ahmed Yusuf and Rilwan Nura were arrested on Wednesday 6th September in connection with the seizure of 100 blocks of cannabis weighing 55kgs along Abuja road.

In Edo state, operatives stormed the Ekudo forest, Onwude LGA where they destroyed cannabis farms measuring 4.236347 hectares. In the same vein, operatives on Thursday 7th September raided the house of one Amuodu Egwehide, 40, in Iloje Okpuje, Owan West LGA, where they recovered 22 bags of skunk weighing 261.4kgs, while a 60-year-old grandma, Mrs. Eunice Egwehide was arrested in the town same day with 17kgs of same substance seized from her.

A suspect, Gapchiya Modu, 26, was arrested with 60kgs of cannabis along Kano-Nguru Road, Nguru, Yobe state, while in Imo state, 200 blocks of the same substance weighing 57kgs were recovered from Usim Orji, 45, along Aba-Owerri road on Wednesday 6th September.
After over two months of surveillance, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday 6th September arrested a wanted kingpin, Idoko Festus Ifesinachi, 40, linked to the importation of 76.9kgs Canadian Loud intercepted in a container marked MSDU6686346 at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers state on 2nd June. He was arrested at his hideout in Lagos and taken to Port Harcourt.

Beside the various drug control efforts, the state Commands and other formations also continued the Agencys War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaigns to schools, worship places, palaces and local communities among others. Among them include WADA advocacy visit to His Royal Highness, Emir of Hadejia, Alhaji Adamu Abubakar Maji; the sensitization lectures conducted for members of Hairdressers Association, Ila Orangun; at RCCG, Dominion Tower, Port Harcourt, and for Muslim faithful at Harmony Estate central mosque, Ilorin, among others.

While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Ogun, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Kogi, Anambra, Niger, Edo, Yobe, and Imo Commands of the Agency as well as those of DOGI, for their balanced efforts in drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction activities, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) urged them and their compatriots across the country to keep up the good work.

Femi Babafemi
Director, Media & Advocacy
NDLEA National Headquarters Abuja
Sunday 10th September 2023

PEPC Says on the 25% votes in the FCT, the interpretation of section 134 (2) A & B by the Labour Party team of Lawyers is completely "fallacious if not outrightly ludicrous"

PEPC says the use of "and" doesn't imply anything special as submitted by Peter Obi of the Labour Party. The court further adds that section 134 (2) A & B of the constitution only refers to the FCT as one of the 36 States of the federation.

Peter Obi's Petition Dismissed for lack of merit.

On the allegations made by the LP that President Tinubu was not qualified to contest in view of the $460k fine in relation to narcotics charges in the US, the court held that trial and conviction by a court is the only way to prove guilt.

The case was a civil forfeiture case as it is a unique remedy which rests on the property being the target and not the person.

The case was in the civil docket of the United state north district court Illinois.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has withdrawn the alleged money laundering suit it filed at the Federal High Court against Lagos Speaker Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa.

Naija News understands that the anti-graft did not give any particular reason for its application for withdrawal.

Following the application to withdraw, Justice Nicholas Oweibo discharged the ‘lien/Post No Debit’ placed on Obasa’s three accounts in Standard Chartered Bank.

The accounts are (US Dollars) 0001852063; (Current) 0001852056 and (Saving) 5002309624.

The judge also set aside the ex-parte orders he made on September 15, 2020, which led to the freezing of the accounts.

Recall that the court on September 15, 2020, granted an interim order freezing Obasa’s accounts following the EFCC’s application in a suit marked FHC/LCS/1064/2020.

The agency had said it was investigating the Speaker for the alleged offences of conspiracy, diversion of funds, abuse of office and money laundering.

But Justice Oweibo, on August 16, 2023, heard the application to unfreeze the accounts in his chamber.

During the hearing, the EFCC was represented by Mr. Sulaiman I. Sulaiman, while Obasa was represented by Mr. Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN).

The EFCC lawyer told the court that the application to unfreeze the accounts was pursuant to Section 44(2)(K) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Sections 26, 29 and 34 (1) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004, and under the court’s inherent jurisdiction.

Section 44 of the Constitution concerns constitutional rights to property.

Justice Oweibo held: “It is hereby ordered that an order is hereby granted to the respondent/applicant setting aside the ex-parte orders of this court made on the 15th day of September 2020 upon the ex-parte motion of the Applicant/ Respondent in relation the funds of the Respondent/Applicant domiciled in the accounts stated in the following schedule:

“ACCOUNT NAME, FINANCIAL ACCOUNT INSTITUTIONS, TYPE OF ACCOUNT, 1. Mudasiru Ajayi Obasa, Standard Chartered, (US Dollars) 0001852063 2. Mudasiru Ajayi Obasa, Standard Chartered (Current) 0001852056 3. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, Standard Chartered (Saving) 5002309624.

“Issued at Lagos, under the seal of this Honourable Court and by the hands of the Presiding Judge this 16th day of August 2023.”

A Kano State High Court has set aside the suspension of the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) from the party.

Justice Usman Na’aana on Tuesday granted an interim injunction restraining Boniface Aniebonam, Agbo Major, and 16 other respondents from parading themselves as national officers or leaders of the party pending the hearing and determination of the motion of notice.

The judge also set aside “the purported suspension of Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as member of the applicant (NNPP)”.

Ajuri Ngelale, spokesperson to President Bola Tinubu, says his principal is not worried about possible outcomes of the judgment of the presidential election tribunal.

The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals as well and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots & Engineers have mandated their members to embark on a 2-day nationwide warning strike in solidarity with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) declaration beginning from Tuesday 5th to Wednesday 6th September, 2023.

In a circular letter addressed to all aviation workers notice of NLC’s 2-day nationwide warning strike dated September 4th, 2023 made available to journalists on Monday, said as affiliates of NLC, all state councils and branches are directed to embark on the strike action.

“Aviation workers are hereby directed to stay at home during these periods. All must comply,” the circular letter signed by both NUATE Secretary General, Comrade Ocheme Aba and ANAP Secretary General, Comrade Abdul Rasaq Saidu stated.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have intercepted various quantities of ephedrine, skunk and nitrous oxide, popularly known as laughing gas concealed in semovita packs and dry pepper being shipped to South Africa and Kenya through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos by members of Transnational Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTO), some of who were promptly arrested, their mansions raided and their luxury vehicles seized.

Through credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives on Friday 25th August intercepted a notorious drug trafficker, Suleiman Babatunde Oba who is a member of a cartel distributing Cocaine, Heroin, Methamphetamine and Ephedrine between Nigeria, Brazil, Ghana, South Africa, Mozambique, and Europe. He was arrested while attempting to board a Rwanda Air flight to South Africa with two boxes loaded with ephedrine sealed in semovita packs. The recovered substance is a precursor chemical and active ingredient in the production of methamphetamine.

In his statement, Suleiman who holds a South African passport, married to a South African lady and has lived there for over 20 years, identified Hakeem Babatunde Salami who equally lives in Lagos and South Africa as the head of the drug ring. A follow up raid in the house of Salami located at 75 Wosilatu Dawodu Street, Ijesha, Aguda area of Surulere, Lagos on Monday 28th August revealed that he had fled the country on the same day Suleiman was arrested. However, a white Toyota Venza car with registration number LSR 410 HT, a Mercedes Benz SUV marked LSD 998HP, phones and vital documents needed for further investigation were recovered from the house.

In August 2021, the Agency had seized 25.60kg ephedrine from a trafficker, Arua Emmanuel Onwuka at the Lagos airport, a seizure that has also been traced to the same cartel whose identified members are currently on the run. An official of the airport, Godwin Shedrack (a.k.a Goddy) fingered as a member of the syndicate is also under investigation.

In the same vein, attempt by another syndicate to export 10.40kg skunk concealed with scent leaf and pepper, going to Nairobi, Kenya, was equally thwarted by NDLEA operatives attached to the NAHCO export shed of the airport on Saturday 26th August. A suspect, Ekechukwu Sixtus Ndubuisi, has already been arrested in connection with the seizure.

Another bid to export a consignment of 180 cannisters of laughing gas to South Africa by a freight agent, Oyekola Gbenga Akeem for a fee of Two Million Naira (N2, 000, 000) was also frustrated by operatives who seized the cargo and arrested the suspect.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives on Friday 25th August succeeded in arresting a drug kingpin, Ngene Emmanuel Onyedikachi, who recruited the fake couple, Ilonzeh Kingsley Onyebuchi and Ilonzeh Roseline Nonyelum arrested for ingesting 1.822kg and 1.50kg of Cocaine respectively at the Lagos airport on 1st August while on their way to India. The kingpin was picked at his residence located at 28 Afolabi Brown Street, Akoka, Yaba, after an intensive surveillance that lasted 25 days.

During his interview, Onyedikachi confessed that the two suspects: Ilonzeh Kingsley Onyebuchi and Ilonzeh Roseline Nonyelum were introduced to him by another member of his syndicate, who he claimed he met at Zion Church in Cele area of Lagos. He explained that the drug was sourced from Guinea Conakry.

The suspect revealed that when he got information about the arrest of the fake couple, he threw away his old mobile phone along with the SIM cards to avoid being traced, adding that he became relaxed and refused to leave his house because the two couriers do not know his house since they have only met twice at different locations. He said he was living in India before he returned to Nigeria in 2022 after the Indian authorities discovered that he was using Ivory Coast International passport. A blue Acura Legend car was part of items recovered from his home during his arrest.

While operatives of the Lagos state Command of the Agency on Monday 28th August, arrested a suspect, Peter Iwebema, at Ikorodu with 79 and a half bags of cannabis sativa, weighing 864.5kg, their counterparts at Tincan port command intercepted 27 parcels of Colorado, weighing 13.5kg. The seizure was made from a container, MSMU 5664550 coming from Toronto via Montreal, Canada during a joint examination with men of Customs Service.
The synthetic substance was discovered concealed in a bag hidden a Ford Edge SUV, which was part of three units of used vehicles and motor parts in the container.

In Sokoto, operatives on Tuesday 29th August arrested two male suspects: Nafiu Arzika, 30, and Jamilu Aminu, 35, with 330kg skunk, while another suspect, Ismaila Razak, 38, was nabbed with 34.5kg of same substance and 9.5 grams of methamphetamine on Saturday 2nd September at Olodo area of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

Across the states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, NDLEA Commands intensified the Agency’s War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaigns to schools, worship places, palaces and local communities among others. For instance, the sensitization lectures were conducted at Holy Trinity Gospel Church, Ogbomoso, and for Muslim faithful at Jammatul Nasirul Islam mosque, Ilorin; members of the Association of Hair Stylists in Ado Ekiti; leaders of road transport union in Abeokuta; traders at Kwata market, Awka; pregnant women at primary health care centre, Bonny; Dekara district palace, Babana community in Borgu LGA and at Noorul Huda Islamiyya school, Kafin Maiyaki.

While commending the officers and men of the Agency across the Commands for their efforts in drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction activities, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) charged them to remain steadfast.

Femi Babafemi
Director, Media & Advocacy
NDLEA National Headquarters Abuja
Sunday 3rd September 2023

28th August, 2023

Governor Inuwa Yahaya Orders Immediate Closure Of All 'Gala Houses' In Gombe State

...Directs Security Agencies To Ensure Strict Compliance

Governor State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya CON has directed the immediate closure of all 'Gala Houses' within the State.

The Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, who announced the directive, said the measure followed series of complaints from the general public on the incessant immoral, criminal activities and security breaches being perpetrated in such night clubs.

The Governor has, consequently, ordered the the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Civil Defence Corps and the Operation Hattara to mobilise their personnel to effect the directive and ensure strict compliance.

For the avoidance of doubt, the affected Gala Houses are: Jami’a Gidan Wanka located at Mile 3 Yola Road, Gombe, White House Theatre (Babban Gida) located at New Mile 3 Yola Road, Gombe; Gidan Lokaci General Merchant located at Mile 3 Reservoir Road, Gombe and Farin Gida Entertainment II located at Wuro Karal, Kalshingi Road, Gombe.

Others are: Gidan Zamani Entertainment New Mile 3, Yola Road, Tumfure, Gombe; Albarka Entertainment Located at Wuro Karal, Bypass near Hara Form, Gombe; Gala Houses Located at Kuri Town, Lubo village and Kurba village all in Yamaltu Deba Local Government Area.

Also affected are Tauraren Wash located at Trailer Park, Bauchi Road, Gombe and Gala House located at Bajoga Town in Funakaye Local Government Area.

Ismaila Uba Misilli
Director-General
( Press Affairs)
Government House
Gombe

Attempt by a 29-year-old South African, Erasmus Jean Pierre, to export 2.6 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in his luggage to the Middle East through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA Abuja on Wednesday 23rd August, 2023, was thwarted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, who arrested him and recovered the illicit drug.

The suspect was intercepted by NDLEA operatives during the outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 404 from Abuja to the Middle East via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A thorough search of his luggage led to the discovery of the whitish powdery illicit substance factory packed in different parts of the bag.

Preliminary investigation reveals that the suspect arrived Lagos through Abidjan, Côte dIvoire on Saturday 19th August, came to Abuja on Tuesday 22nd August, and took possession of the brown bag containing the drug consignment on Wednesday 23rd August before heading to the Abuja airport for his flight out of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, NDLEA officers in Gombe state on patrol along Darazo road on Monday 21st August recovered an abandoned Volkswagen Sharon vehicle marked GME 76 XD containing a total of 373,420 pills of opioids including tramadol and diazepam. In the same vein, operatives in Ogun state on Wednesday 23rd August raided the home of a drug dealer, Ifeanyi Orji in Ibafo area of the state where 81,000 tablets of tramadol 225mg weighing 32.4kgs were recovered.

In Adamawa state, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday 22nd August recovered 60,000 pills of tramadol from a suspect, Ibrahim Abba, 25, who was travelling in a commercial Toyota Starlet car from Kalaa village to Mubi. Equally, in Abuja the Federal Capital Territory, operatives intercepted two consignments of skunk with a gross weight of 1, 242.1 kilograms. The first consignment of 665.1kgs was seized from a truck around Area 3 on Sunday 20th August while the second one weighing 577kgs was recovered during a stop and search operation along Lokoja- Abaji expressway same day. The consignment was concealed in Jumia goods delivery packs inside a container Mercedes truck, whose driver, Yusuf Yakubu Asokomhe, and his assistant, Tunde Ogundare, were arrested.

In Kwara state, operatives on patrol along along Jebba - Minna road on Tuesday 22nd August, intercepted a commercial truck conveying goods from Lagos to Katsina with 37.5kgs of cannabis sativa hidden among other items. The driver, Abdulazeez Usman and his assistant, Halidu Musa were arrested for further investigation. Similarly, In Yobe state, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday 23rd August intercepted an ash colour Sharon Galaxy vehicle marked AKK 484 XA along Potiskum-Gombe road coming from Baissa, Kurmi local government area of Taraba state. Three suspects in the vehicle: Ya'u Yahuza, 30; Yahaya Muhd, 29, and Tanimu Salisu, 20, were arrested with 133 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 62kgs.

Operatives in Edo on Thursday 24th August stormed the Uzebba forest in Owan West local government area of the state, where they arrested Esazobor Ohioze, 33, with 54.3kgs cannabis recovered from a hut while a total of 2.995696 hectares of cannabis farms were destroyed.

Efforts by transnational drug cartels to move a consignment of 117 grams of ketamine neatly concealed in a pair of leather male slippers being shipped to Indonesia and 2.14 kilograms of skunk clinically hidden in the walls of a local wooden drum, were equally frustrated by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, attached to courier firms in Lagos.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) while commending the efforts of the officers and men of the NAIA, Gombe, Ogun, Adamawa, FCT, Kwara, Yobe, Edo Commands as well as those of DOGI for a job well done in the past week, he charged them and their colleagues across the country to intensify their drug supply reduction operations and equally balance that with drug demand reduction activities.

Femi Babafemi
Director, Media and Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters Abuja
Sunday 27th August 2023

WEDNESDAY WISDOM: “You Make Your Own Heaven and Hell Right Here on Earth” by The Undisputed Truth is one of my all-time favorites from our Barewa College days. Enjoy the music and reflect on the lyrics on this beautiful Wednesday morning.

It appears that I permanently occupy the brains of some people even while I am chilling in my little corner. To these souls, I say - calm down, forget about @elrufai and enjoy the music if you can.

You Make Your Heaven and Hell

Born into this world a baby,
You're mind is clear as the air
Time passes...
You learn to walk and talk
Time passes...
You learn right from wrong
Time passes...
You leave home seeking a life
Of your own...
I'm tellin' you the natural facts
For way this world
Listen to me people...
You make your own heavens and hell
Right here on earth
I'm tellin' you the natural facts
For way this world
You make you own heaven and hell
Right here on earth
On earth, on earth, on earth...
Time passess...
And your values change
Life becomes a strange, confusing game
Suddenly you want the finer things in life
But you find it takes a lots of hard work
Now you're standing
At the crossroads of life
To satisfy your personal wants...
Will you do wrong
Or will you do right?
Well one thing you must admit,
And you know it's true
The final decision,
Is still up to you
I'm tellin' you the natural facts
For way this world
Listen to me people...
You make your own heaven and hell
Right here on earth
Let me tell you one more time...
I'm tellin' you the natural facts
For way this world
You make your own heaven and hell
Right here on earth
Listen people...
Life is a giant, invisible scale with two sides;
Good and bad
You and your beliefs
Are the weights
The things you do each day
Determine the balance
Your conscience is a flawless
Judge and jury;
The only question is what you want
I'm tellin' you

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Barrett Strong / Norman J. Whitfield / Norman Whitfield
You Make Your Own Heaven and Hell Right Here on Earth lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

youtu.be/XRvR5HRpP18

Chief Spokesperson of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council (LP-PCC) Yunusa Tanko says the rumoured merger between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the New Nigeria People Party (NNPP), and the LP is unattainable.

The LP stalwart made this known on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday hours after the news made rounds with regard to what seemed like a merger among the PDP, NNPP, and LP.

According to him, a merger connotes that the parties would be validated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as one.

“When you talk about merger, it means that political party from different parts of the country submit their document to INEC and then they will be pronounced as a new political party and that isn’t obtainable at the moment.

“So, the merger is out of the question technically. But, when you talk about the discussion of the possible working alliance with the political party – very true, that is very possible,” he said.

The spokesperson also revealed that talks about a possible merger were ongoing before the election.

“Even before elections, there were discussions. I will not say ABC is right on the table at the moment because we need to have this particular fact before we can go public about it,” the LP chieftain said. “At the moment we are having a discussion with ourselves”.

He added that discussions with political parties of like minds who believe in the ideology and the principles of the party is a welcome development.

“And so most of the political parties who are progressively minded would not allow that particular situation to happen in Nigeria,” the spokesman maintained.

“Therefore, there is a need for a lot of people not even the political party alone but those in the civil society, those who believe in Nigeria’s emancipation of people from the shackles of poverty would definitely come together and see how we can restore power to the interest of the Nigeria people, that is very possible.

He reiterated that there is no “foreclosure on the matter” but “all I know is that we’ve had discussions”.

Gearing up for possibilities as the country continues its transition process, the trio of Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and Peter Obi have begun to discuss the possibility of a merger, with the ultimate goal of setting up a formidable party that can more effectively challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), THISDAY has learnt.

The meeting of these three political leaders, which had been going on for a while, it was gathered, started with the one between Atiku, the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Kwankwaso, who was the presidential candidate of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) at the last presidential election.

After the first leg of the meetings was adjudged successful, another one between Obi, the presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) and face of the OBIdient Movement, and other critical elements in PDP started to take shape, after the other two stakeholders agreed to bring him in. The discussions, which were said to still be at the preliminary stages, had been hinged on two pillars.

The first, according to insiders, the three leaders have decided to wait and watch the outcome of the election petitions in court, which would determine the second leg of the decision, should the court verdict go south.

For instance, sources privy to some of the discussions hinted that the leaders were hopeful that the presidential election tribunal would be “just and fair” enough to establish that the election that brought President Bola Tinubu to office could not stand any decent electoral test and, as such, do the needful.

By this, the leaders were said to be hopeful that the tribunal would call for a re-election or rerun, which would see them come together in a merger for the election and challenge Tinubu and APC in the second opportunity.

However, if the tribunal decided otherwise, the leaders were said to be considering setting up a formidable party ahead of the 2027 general election, during which they planned to take over the reins of power from the ruling APC.

A source said, “The meeting started with Kwankwaso and Atiku and they have agreed to bring Peter Obi in to set up a formidable opposition after the court cases. Although they have not got to the point of discussing who will lead the opposition, they are leaving it out for now till after the court cases.

“After the court cases, they will plan and come together for a re-election or stand together ahead to fight the 2027 election battle. They are considering a formidable party comprising the PDP, Labour and NNPP.”

Multi-billion naira worth of illicit drugs were again seized at a warehouse tucked in the midst of popular International Trade Fair Complex, Alaba, Ojo area of Lagos by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA on Saturday 19th August.

Recovered from the warehouse owned by a wanted billionaire drug baron, include: 1.4 million (1,400,000) pills of tramadol 225mg weighing 826kgs; 3.2 million (3,200,000) pills of codeine with gross weight of 3,360kgs; and 2,841 cartons of codeine syrup containing 284,100 bottles with 28,410 litres of the psychoactive substance, with a combined street value of Four Billion Eight Hundred and Twenty Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N4,820,500,000) only. During the operation that lasted hours, a suspect, Paulinus Ojukwu, who is Chief Security Officer to the wanted drug baron who parades as automobile spare parts dealer, was arrested and now assisting ongoing investigation.

The latest drug warehouse bust is coming on the heels of the arrest of a drug baroness, Faith Ebele Nwankwo who was nabbed on Wednesday 9th August with Two Million Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand (2,750,000) pills of tramaking, a brand of tramadol 225mg and 250mg recovered from her residence at House 6, C close, 3rd Avenue, Festac area of Lagos and a warehouse located at Plot 3432 Sola Akinsola Street, Divine Estate, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives on Friday 18th August intercepted Twenty Million US Dollar notes ($20 million) suspected to be counterfeit during a stop and search operation along Abaji - Lokoja road, within the Federal Capital Territory. The suspected fake money was recovered from a bus coming from Lagos to Abuja, while the 53-year-old driver of the vehicle, Onyebuchi Nlededin was arrested. The previous day, Thursday 17th August, Jude Ndubuisi, 52, was arrested with 2.2 kilograms of methamphetamine during a raid operation at Kabusa village, FCT. The suspect was initially arrested with 20.75kg cannabis on 7th July 2022 and was on court bail following his ongoing prosecution when he was nabbed for yet another drug crime. Another raid of two notorious drug joints within the FCT: Dei Dei and Tora-Bora Hills led to the recovery of 82.8kg skunk, 1.8kg rohypnol and 1.2kg diazepam on Wednesday 16th August.

In Osun, NDLEA operatives in the early hours of Saturday 19th August destroyed clusters of cannabis farms measuring about 3.49000 hectares (over 7.5 tons) at Mopatedo in Ifedayo local government area of the State. Two suspects: Sunday Otogbo, 40, and Peter Andel Makra, 35, were arrested inside the cannabis farms. Additional 30kg cannabis weeds and 16.9kg of cannabis seeds were also recovered from the farms.

At least, three suspects: Ndubuisi Okorie, 44; Ebilima Emmanuel, 38, and Okechukwu Anthony Smart, 40, were arrested in connection with the seizure of 168kg cannabis consignment from them when their vehicle was intercepted along Owerri-Onitsha expressway, Imo state on Saturday 19th August. Another shipment of controlled drugs containing 6,000 capsules of tramadol, 1,200 tablets of swinol, 155 bottles of codeine syrup and 20 tabs of Molly was equally seized on the same road on Sunday 13th August while a follow-up operation in Oyigbo area of Port Harcourt, Rivers state led to the arrest of the owner of the consignment, Remigius Ogechukwu, 33.

While a teenager, Boniface Odinakachukwu, 19, was apprehended with 99.4kg skunk at Isikwe Road, Achi in Oji-River LGA, Enugu state on Friday 18th August, a wanted teenage bandit, Aliyu Mohammed Altine, 19, was arrested by NDLEA operatives along Illela- Sokoto road with some wraps of skunk on Thursday 17th August. The suspect who is on the wanted list of the police has since been transferred to the police in Sokoto state for further investigation.

While expressing his satisfaction with the professional conduct of the officers and men involved in the Lagos, FCT, Sokoto, Osun, Imo and Enugu operations as well as the results of the raids, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) charged operatives of the Lagos command to ensure that the fleeing baron is smoked out from his hiding to face charges. He urged them and their colleagues across the country to intensify the heat on drug cartels.

Femi Babafemi
Director, Media and Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters Abuja
Sunday 20th August 2023

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, says its engagement with music star, Afeez Adeshina Fashola popularly known as Naira Marley is to encourage him to use his skills and platforms to put out content that will discourage millions of his followers and Nigerian youths from substance abuse.
The artiste had on Thursday 17th August 2023 led members of his team on a visit to the National Headquarters of the Agency in Abuja to express his preparedness to join the fight against drug abuse in the country.

This clarification became necessary following continued misrepresentation of the purpose of the visit especially on online platforms where some reports suggest that the British-Nigerian singer was appointed as an NDLEA Ambassador. This is misleading and absolute falsehood as the pictures of the visit and the short video containing Naira Marley’s advocacy message to his followers were properly captioned and shared by the Agency without any suggestion of such appointment.

The decision by the Agency to encourage Naira Marley with over seven million followers, half the population of those who abuse drugs in Nigeria, use his platform share anti-substance abuse messages as against using same to promote and glamourize drug abuse with the dire consequence of misleading millions of Nigerian youths into their peril, is to create a balance between our drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

This is also in line with the Agency’s whole society approach to the fight against drug abuse, and in tune with global best practice as well as the theme for this year’s World Drug Day; People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention.

When an artiste, who professes marijuana is good to seven million followers turns a new leaf after some serious counselling, do we reject him, turn our back to him and allow him continue in his old habit or we accept him, give him a chance so he can reach out to his followers to quit substance abuse. In other words, why should we take our anti-drug abuse advocacy messages to schools, churches, mosques, market places, motor parks, Nollywood, kannywood, traditional rulers, labour and the entertainment industry but when one of their members accepts to turn a new leaf, we turn our back to him?

These are questions those opposed to Naira Marley’s needed change may have to ponder on.

Indeed, no one is better suited to take the message against drug abuse to the Marlians than the head of the same movement. This is no time for mischief or cynicism but the right moment we all need to encourage the singer and hold him accountable to his public commitment against substance abuse in his video message to his followers in the overall interest of our youths.

Femi Babafemi
Director, Media and Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters Abuja
Saturday 19th August 2023

DSS Arrests NIRSAL Boss, Masanawa Over Alleged Conspiracy With Suspended Central Bank Gov., Emefiele To Loot Printing, Minting Company