₦airaland Forum

A Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Joseph Egbunike and Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) deployed to Anambra State for Saturday’s governorship election have resigned from the assignment.

The two senior Police Officers have been redeployed by the Inspector General of Police Baba Alkali but no reason was given for their action.

But the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, Princess Nkeiruka Nwode, said nobody resigned.

She said only DIG Egbunike was sent to another important assignment

She described as untrue the reports making the rounds that another AIG also left, adding that the media should shun fake news at all times

The Nation gathered in Awka that they resigned based on alleged underground moves by some politicians to compromise them.

A source said: "We learnt they were being disturbed by some of the political parties to work for them and some of these officers want their integrity intact and they decided to leave the assignment.

But the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room on the November 6 governorship election expressed worry over the incessant deployment of the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State.

The group was reacting to Friday’s unannounced removal of Deputy Inspector General, Joseph Egbunike as head of the special police team providing security to the State.

Addressing reporters in Awka, Convener,
Ene Obi said the State had had six Commissioners of Police in six months, wondering what could be responsible for the development.

She said: “This State has been a bit notorious in terms of Police deployment. I remember we were on the ground a month ago when we had a meeting with the security agencies.

“We just finished speaking with the CP who had been around less than 2months and around 8.30 pm, he was removed before the close of the meeting.

“There has been six CPs in Anambra State in 6 months. What is going on is only the AIG and IGP that can tell us why they’re deploying and redeploying at this last minute.

“This same DIG that addressed us yesterday is ironically from this state, we don’t really know what is going on.”

According to Obi, the Situation Room would work with her over 70 partners and networks to observe the election and receive reports from across the 21 local government areas of the State.

Situation Room is counting on the assurances of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigeria Police Force that they are fully prepared for the election, with INEC assuring that logistics and deployment are fully under its control and the Police assuring that it will keep the security situation under check,” she added.

On the ongoing distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), Obi said, “Our reports indicate a seamless distribution process at the various centers, although the distribution started late due to late arrival of the PVC.

“Obviously, some persons may be disenfranchised if they were not able to move out today. But I don’t think INEC will deliberately want to disenfranchise people. They just have to be held accountable for late arrival of the PVCs.

“I believe the reason for the public holiday by the government is to enable the workers to collect their cards. But we’ve not heard of any incident of confrontation in any of the centers.

Obi further added that the sensitive materials were duly escorted to their various destinations by security agencies.

“Both the police and INEC have promised to deliver on their mandate and we must hold them by their words. We’ll continue to monitor them,” she noted.

She listed the areas of monitoring to include early distribution and deployment of personnel and materials, the timely opening of poll, adherence to COVID-19 Protocols on Election day.

“Other areas of monitoring include knowledge of election procedures by INEC ad hoc staff, voting procedures particularly the efficacy of the new Bi-modal Verification Accreditation System (BVAS), the transmission of polling units results and transparent collation process,” she added.

A body beloved to be the owner of the building, Femi Osibona has been recovered on Thursday.

Combined team of emergency responders recovered the body which has been taken to morgue.

As gathered, the lifeless body of Osibona, was recovered Thursday, after painstaking efforts from emergency responders.

However, there were conflicting reports on when the body was actually recovered. While a report said the body was recovered early Thursday, another stated Thursday evening. As of press time, there was no official confirmation on the report.

The 16 floors building was owned and constructed by the late Osibona’s company Fourscore Heights Limited.

After over 72 hours of rescue and search operations since the incident occured, a vehicle belonging to one of the trapped victims was removed from the scene on Thursday evening by rescue team.

The details of the vehicle that was removed from the scene is YAB655AZ, Toyota Highlander, dark colour

He owner was said to be the owner of an aluminium fabrication company. He came there with some of his workers who include one Kenneth Otu.

Vulcanheph:
Abeg na who score for Chelsea

Oyo jailbreak: You’ve no power to install CCTV at Abolongo prison, Aregbesola tells Makinde

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Wednesday, advised Governor ‘Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, to jettison the idea of installing security cameras in Abolongo prison, just as the governor disclosed the aftermath of the attack on the custodial centre.

Aregbesola’s reaction, came on the heels of the visit of the governor to the custodial centre, to assess its level of damage, following the attack by gunmen on the prison located in Oyo town that led to the escape of not lesser than five hundred inmates.

Vanguard recalled that Makinde had promised that his government would take immediate steps to protect the facility.

The governor, while speaking after an inspection of the attacked centre during the weekend, said that he has ordered that the main road leading to the facility be immediately graded.

He had also promised to install security cameras in the facility and link same with the security situation room in the state.

Reacting in an interview by an Ibadan-based private radio station monitored by Vanguard on Wednesday, Aregbesola’s media adviser, Sola Fasure, said that: “With due regard to Governor Makinde, I am not sure if the governor has such power that something of such nature should be done in a correctional facility.”

“It would be taken as an advisory opinion. In the spirit of the moment, everybody is so concerned as some statement would be made but not necessarily because they are the right one to be made.”

“There is an ongoing upgrade programme of all correctional facilities in the country.
“It is unfortunate it has not got to Abolongo before the incident happened. As you are aware, more per cent of all inmates in correctional facility are awaiting trial. That really creates problem for accommodation.”

“So the federal government is building a 3000-capacity facility in the 6 geo-political zones.

“Two are almost ready-the ones in Abuja and Kano. Each facility will have its own court. So the problem of taking suspects to court will be sorted.”

“But what we need more than anything else is for state government, because 99 per cent of most offenders are state offenders. They are the one awaiting trials and occupying most of the spaces.”

“The federal government had proposed at a time that they should build holding centres that the NCS will help them staff and manage.

“And then to accelerate the wheel of justice so that justice will be quickly dispensed. So that we don’t have awaiting inmates facing trial in custody for long.”

“The state government can help tremendously along this line, building holding centres and accelerating the wheel of justice.

“The lawyers use adjournment to frustrate justices. The state government can actually do a review and eliminate adjournment so that justice will be quickly delivered.”

“The upgrade of the facility is ongoing and it will get to every facility in the country where modern facility will be installed.

“So what we need, more than anything, is decongestion, especially of the awaiting trial inmates which fall within jurisdiction of state government.”

“If the state government wants to help, no problem. At least, every assistance would be appreciated. I am just making clarification. You can’t give what you don’t have. You can’t direct another agency on what to do. That is what I am trying to say.”

“The issue of the upgrade of facility is squarely within the jurisdiction of the ministry of interior and the NCS. State government do not have holding centres of correctional facility.”

“But like I said the other time, if the state governments want to assist, they will make their intention known to the appropriate authorities. And the help will be greatly appreciated,” he said.

THE crisis in Edo State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, continued Monday evening as the party in Ward 2, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, suspended 10 of its members for alleged anti-party activities.
Most of the allegedly suspended members are the new PDP that defected from the All Progressives Congress, APC with Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu.

The letter for their suspension was signed by the Ward Chairman, Suileman Momodu, Secretary, Elamah Abdulganinu and 17 others.

They listed their offences to be: “Breaching of the party constitution and manifesto, disobedience and neglect to carryout lawful directive of the party organ and officers of the party;

“Engaging in anti-party activities, engagement in a conduct likely to cause disaffection among members of the party and is likely to distrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient conduct of the business of the party.”

Other offences are: “Engaging in unauthorised publicity within the party, creating a parallel organ at the ward LGA level and promoting actions that belong to another group under the guise of the party by name, New PDP.”

Several calls to one of the allegedly suspended member, Hassan Bawa, was not answered.

But a member of the party from the area said the alleged suspension is of no consequence.

However, Momodu said the action was in line with the party’s constitution.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the right to 14-day paternity leave for male Federal civil servants to allow them to bond with their infants.

This was disclosed to State House Correspondents on Wednesday by the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, after the week’s virtual FEC meeting presided over by Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

She said this is to enable for proper bonding between the father and a newborn, either natural-born or adopted, especially at the early stages of the child’s life.

Mrs. Yemi -Esan further explained that fathers of adopted babies of less than four months will also enjoy this gesture.

Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, posters of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo flooded the streets and areas in Osogbo capital of Osun State.

The residents of the city woke up to see the walls covered with posters, displaying Osinbajo for President in 2023

Our correspondent, who went round some areas in Osogbo on Monday, observed that people gathered around the places where the posters were pasted.

Areas, where the posters were spotted, include Oke Onitea Junction, Lameco, Oke-Baale, Ataoja Palace, Aregbe area, Dele Yes Sir, Abere, Old Garage, Orita Gbemu, Ogo-Oluwa, Gbodofon area, November 27 bridge, Ilesha garage, Ilesha garage, Housing Estate entrance and Ayetoro area.

The leader of the group that pasted the posters, Peter Ogundeji, told The Nation they were backing Osinbajo for the presidency because he is eminently qualified.

He said: “Our group, which has membership across various geo-political zones both young and old, re-established that the Vice President or any of his relations nor his staff members has a hand in how the organisation was formed or being run as we wholly a volunteer group.

“Whether Prof Yemi Osinbajo has shown interest to run for 2023 presidency or not, “Osinbanjo For All Volunteer Group “ remains firmly committed to its stance that Osinbajo has all that it takes to take our country it places in destiny comes 2023 and beyond.”

The Federal Government says the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) will continue to collect Value Added Tax (VAT) following the ruling of the Court of Appeal on the matter.

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York while speaking on the disagreement over the collection of VAT between FIRS and Rivers Government.

The chief law officer of the Federation explained that the ruling of the Court of Appeal that FIRS and the Rivers Government maintain status quo, favoured FIRS.

He said that it was Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) that had been collecting the VAT before the dispute arose, over which the Rivers government approached the High Court.

“The position of not only the Federal Government but indeed the judiciary is the fact that status quo associated with the collecting of VAT should be maintained,” Malami said.

“And as far as the judicial system is concerned, the status quo as at the time the parties approached the court, it was the Federal Inland Revenue Service that was indeed collecting the value added tax.

“So with that in mind, the Federal Government has succeeded in obtaining an order that establishes the sustenance of the status quo, which status quo is that the Federal Inland Revenue Service should continue collection.
This is pending the determination of the cases that were instituted by states, particularly the Rivers State Government and the Lagos State government. The cases are being determined by the court.”

Rivers government had urged the Supreme Court to set aside the Court of Appeal’s Sept. 10 ruling ordering it and FIRS to maintain status quo on the issue of VAT collection.

A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal headed by Haruna Tsammani, issued the order being challenged at the Supreme Court by the Rivers government.

The State also urged the apex court to disband the panel of the appellate court, which gave the interim order and ordered another one to be constituted to hear the case.

“But one thing of interest is the fact that the Federal Government had indeed taken cognisance of the fact that where there exists a dispute between a State and Federal Government, it is the Supreme Court that should naturally have the jurisdiction to determine the dispute between the state and the federation.

“And we are taking steps to consider the possibility of instituting an action before the Supreme Court for the purpose of having this matter determined once and for all,’’ Malami said.

President Muhammadu Buhari has written the House of Representatives to seek approval of N894.842bn supplementary budget to fund purchase of COVID-19 drugs and weapons for the Armed Forces.

In a letter addressed to Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila read at Tuesday plenary, the President said the supplementary budget is limited to some critical needs, stressing other needs will be contained in the 2022 budget.

The President indicated the 2022 Appropriation Bill will be presented to the National Assembly in September.

The President said COVID-19 drugs will be procured from the supplementary budget as the Federal Government intends to vaccinate about 70 percent eligible Nigerians before the end of 2022.

National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francis Wale Oke, has stated President Muhammadu Buhari has failed woefully.

He said he has started praying God should remove him for Nigeria to experience peace.

Nigeria, he said, was bleeding and under siege, attributing the situation to failures of the current administration.

He said even during the civil war, Nigeria didn’t witness as much killings, saying unlike then when only the East was boiling, all parts of the country are reeling with attacks.

Oke, who is also the presiding Bishop of The Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Ibadan, called for the removal of the President if that would pave way for desired peace in the country.

He spoke at his church’s vigil at the auditorium of the Precious Cornerstone University (PCU), Garden of Victory, Ibadan.

He said: “In the 1960s when Nigeria fought civil war, Eastern part of the nation was the theatre of war.

“Sadly today, everywhere in Nigeria is theater of war with much killings and bloodshed going on in the country every day.”

He added it was a shame that government couldn’t do anything when gunmen invaded Greenfield Private University in Kaduna and abducted students.

According to him: “Some wicked people kidnapped some students and demanded N800m for their release; they killed them.

“The government could not lift a finger and you are telling me that the President has not failed? Buhari has failed!”

“For the first time, I have found myself praying that God should remove Buhari. They kidnapped students without the government doing anything and you are telling me that the government has not failed?

“Are you saying we can not move against an incompetent government whose security apparatus has collapsed?”

He added: ” I am not afraid of anybody. I am not! I am the prophet of the Most High, He watches over me. No bullet of the enemy can kill me; I can’t die in the hands of a man.”

Oke accused the Buhari’s administration of treating killer herdsmen who have been holding the nation to ransom with kid gloves.

He said: “Fulani,a tribe less than ten percent, troubling the whole nation. God will trouble them and when the table turns against the Fulanis, they will be consumed to the roots.”

Leading the congregation, Oke prayed: “We invoke the judgment of God on these people. Oh arrow of the Lord,we release against them. Sword of the Lord,cut them off.

“Give us peace by all means even if it means removing an incompetent and a failed President.

“Oh God, do it quickly and give us peace by all means. Give us a quick and rapid change at the top level of government of Nigeria.

“Father, anybody standing in the way of your glorious agenda for Nigeria,clear them out; father,we decree and command, the breaking of a new and glorious day for Nigeria.”

President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived the country via the Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport from the United Kingdom where he went on medical vacation for two weeks.

Before his departure, the presidency had explained that Buhari’s travel to the UK was not on an emergency case and that the Nigerian leader was not sick, dousing insinuations from critics who raised the alarm that the 78-year-old was not feeling well.

“It is a routine medical check-up; the President has undertaken this with a set of doctors that he has retained over many years,” said Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity.

He also explained that Buhari did not transmit power to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, noting that the President will not be away for so long to contravene the law.

“The requirement of the law is that the President is going to be absent in the country for 21 days and more, then that transmission is warranted. In this particular instance, it is not warranted,” the presidential aide said when he featured as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

Buhari’s departure was also widely criticised by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which described the move as an indictment of his government.

“It is indeed worrisome that under President Buhari, even the hitherto highly rated State House Clinic, has become so moribund that it cannot provide a simple medical checkup service for Mr. President,” the PDP noted.

Former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, said he received with shock, news of the death of Afenifere spokesman, Yinka Odumakin.

Tinubu, in a statement on Saturday, described the deceased as a committed fighter for democracy, dedicated civil society activist, courageous and outspoken defender of whatever ideals and principles he believed in.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) leader said Odumakin remained fearless and unrelenting in speaking up in promoting the cause of justice and what he perceived as the best interest of the citizens of Nigeria.

Tinubu recalled his participation in the various students and youth struggles against successive military dictatorships in the 1980s and 1990s.

“In the process, he was arrested, harassed and even detained several times. Yet, he never allowed himself to succumb to tyranny or be pressured into submissive and pliant silence.

“In the struggle against the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election and the perpetuation of military dictatorship, Odumakin was never found wanting. He was at the vanguard of the battle even at the risk of his life and liberty.”

Tinubu said the late activist never held public office, but was a constant feature and part of our public consciousness over the last two decades of Nigeria’s unbroken democratic dispensation.

“He epitomized the true definition of the citizen; a patriot who was ever conscious of the fact that his life could not be complete or his humanity meaningful if he did not take an active interest in and join like minded fellow citizens in seeking always to promote the common good of his community and country.”

Tinubu condoled with the family and prayed that God will comfort and strengthen them as they take solace in the massive outpouring of grief.

He expressed condolences to Chief Ayo Adebanjo, the Afenifere leader, other leaders and members of the Yoruba apex group as well as all Yinka’s associates in the civil society movement.

One of the umbrella bodies of herdsmen in Nigeria, the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, says herders are facing so many challenges from hostile host committees including vigilante groups and other criminal elements who rustle cows in the country.

The group said some displaced herders in the country, who were dispossessed of their cows, end up becoming bandits carrying out several attacks including kidnapping on Nigerians.

Spokesman for the group, Saleh Alhassan, spoke on Wednesday while featuring on PUNCH Online interview programme, The Roundtable.

Alhassan said it was unfair to label every herder as a criminal, adding that it was sad that herders have been singled out for victimisation.

He said the herders now turned bandits were fighting an economic fight and not an ideological fight.

The spokesman said states banning open grazing and chasing out herders from their domains are creating crisis unbeknownst to them.