₦airaland Forum

Number of casualties still unknown, more than five people killed. Despite the presence of security personnels, yet there is total break down of laws and orders.

The slapping techniques as means of correcting any erring member or student was leant from thier founder,Oyedepo. I blame those students or members for not retaliating immediately. Regardless of your position, you can't slap me and go Scott free.

kingzizzy:
If it is our home "by force" then it is a home for some and a 'prison' for others. Those who are not happy with Nigeria should be left to go their way

The earlier you bury this your Biafra's dream, the better it is for you to move forward. You got no option!

kingzizzy:
Our dear country? Who told you it is your country? This is a country created by Federick Lugard. Did you ask his pernission before caiming his creation as your country?

Regardless of whoseover gave us the nomenclature, Nigeria. One fact remains, this is our home

Biafra died the same moment Ojukwu gave up, and flee to Cote d ivoire,after allowing thousands of innocent souls to be killed. Its of no point to keep agitating for a dream or vision that died long ago, as no amount of protests, displays can resurrect it. This is high time all hands must be on deck to support the progress and development of our dear country Nigeria, with no hope of secession. I am always proud to be a Nigerian

MOG

That some passengers are been deported upon their arrivals in the US port of entry should not be used to discourages other intending and genuine travelers to the United States, it has been happening before now,even during Obama's administration,and its normal,a Senator of the federal republic of Nigeria was once deported during Obama's administration,when the immigration officials couldn't justifies the purposes of his entry,and its repartration was done regardless of is status . I have personally witnessed several people In JFK, heathrow airport, OR Tambo etc been deported upon their arrivals. The fact remains, you should be able to prove to the immigration officials your purpose of entry into the country,if they are not adequately convinced that you have genuine reasons for gaining entrance into the country,you risk been deported. It happens everywhere,i wouldnt know of Nigeria.To me possession of Visa is an entry documents,for your onward travel to your chosen country,and to report to the immigration officials at the port of entry,your final entrance is determined by the officers on duty.

despam:
I tried paying for website subscription using GT Bank and Skye Bank without success. I have been using GT Bank card to do the payment before now.

have you made any international transaction with your card this month?Take note,you are limited to 100usd spending limit for each month. I am used to using GTB mastercard for my international transactions with no difficulties

Majority of cards in Nigeria work for international transactions , provided the transaction is not more than 100usd either a single transaction or total cumulative for a given month.

engrpheleeks:
How can geography be in social science?

What best faculty do you expect it to be?Science right?You got it wrong.Check most Universities that offer the course,they are placed under Faculty of social Science,Including Obafemi Awolowo University and others

Mrbigman1:
Geography in social science?

Isiorite.

What faculty do you want it to belong?

kayzat:
Please nobody should blame or accuse the op of lying. What he posted was picked from the official program of the event and truly no where did he acknowledge Tinubu in the official program distributed probably because they never expect him to show up at the ceremony.



It is possible the new governor's speech was later altered to accommodate his acknowledgement of Tinubu before he read it out .



Acknowledgement or not Aketi is the new Governor of Ondo state while Tinubu remains the General supremo of the SW politics .




cc : oxtonguy , Babatundecash

" it is possible the new governor's speech was later altered to accommodate his acknowledgement of Tinubu before he read it out" that was what really happened

Chuksonyeike:
Tinubu did not play any role in his election so he is not obliged to recognize him.Tinubu is just like any other APC leader

True talk

Below is the excerpt of the inauguration speech of Rotimi Akeredolu, where the new Ondo State Governor failed again to acknowledge Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Humbled by the uncommon kindness of the Almighty God and an unequivocal expression of preference by the good people of Ondo State, exemplified by the victory of our great party at the last gubernatorial election, I am extremely delighted to share with you all the joy of this day of glory.We are grateful to Almighty God for granting this state such a beautiful day and a beautiful moment like this. I thank the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and leader of our great party, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, for his leadership and unwavering stance to support what is just and noble. Today’s celebration would, perhaps, have been impossible without his steely disposition to always stand against all acts not in consonance with decency, probity and justice. I thank the President of Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Yakubu Dogara. I thank all APC Governors who stood to be counted with us in our hour of need andother eminent Nigerians too numerous to mention. An especial reverence must be reserved for our indefatigable party chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, whose strict adherence to lofty principles and doggedness laid the foundation for our resounding victory at the polls. This exemplary leader behaved like a true elder, whose sagely presence in the village square not only professed rectitude but acted it, resolutely, affirming nobility of the human spirit. Our party benefitted, tremendously, from his vast experience in public service. We are eternally grateful. The verdict of history shall be kind to him. Akeredolu takes oath of office as new Ondo state Governor We express our profound appreciation to all the leaders of the party, at the national, state, local government, ward and unit levels, for their untiring and selfless efforts during the election. May I also use this opportunity to pay tribute to those who have served this state in this capacity, both living and departed, for their invaluable contributions to the development of the state. On behalf of our State, I pay tribute to Governor OlusegunAbdulramanMimiko for his several years of service toOndo State. I thank all our guests and friends both far and near who have taken it upon themselves to be here or sent words. I thank all citizens of Ondo state, particularly our resilient youths and women. I come to you this day, with a message of hope, a clear agenda of prosperity and a vision of life abundant. I believe the greatest expression of faith in our ability is to be strong enough to look upon our imperfections and decide that it is in our power to remake our society to align with our highest ideals. We can rise out of this dust and build a new Ondo state where honesty, prosperity and confidence can once again be our self-identity. We can pull ourselves by the bootstraps and shake off our current frustrations and disappointments. We must recognise the need for a cohesive platform, indispensable to an effective and efficient implementation of policies and programmes of both government and party, respectively. Divergence of opinions is integral to party politics. We are bound to disagree as politicians but we must cast aside bitter recriminations and destructive predilections. Democracy thrives on infinite multiplicity of ideas. Popular participation is one of its fundamental norms. The subordination of individual preferences for the collective will is essential if we are to avoid anarchy. Party supremacy should be respected at all times. This should not be difficult for us to accept if we are truly desirous of bringing about positive change in the lives of our people. We listened to the voices of our people in the course of our campaigns to all the nooks and crannies of the state. We heard themloud and clear through their votes. We witnessed, first hand, the deplorable conditions under which they exist. To those who cast their ballots in favour of our programmes, your trust is not misplaced. We are determined to make the difference with the specific mandate of redemption liberally handed over to us. Those who expressed other preferences are no less patriotic. Before long their anxieties will be addressed, realistically. All of us will be involved in the reconstruction project. The collective interest of the state must be our paramount focus. Consequently,we stand before you to pledge, with the guidance of God and our resolve not to renege on our promise, that your welfare shall form the basis of all our activities. To achieve this, the main mission of our administration is therefore to lead a patriotic, highly inspired and competent team to rescue the ship of our state. We intend to help rebuild our economy, resuscitate damaged infrastructure, restore hope and return our state to a prosperous land. We are determined as an administration to break down the barriers that have made stagnation possible. We will break down the barriers to honest leadership, to comprehensive development, to physical growth and social security. These we intend to do through the promotion of transparent leadership, rule of law, extensive consultation, quality and accessible public utilities and social security; all in a sustainable manner. We acknowledge the enormous challenges faced by the state and the severely limited resources available to meet these ever-increasing and compelling demands. In readiness for this enormous task ahead, I have two months ago inaugurated a Strategic Development and Policy Implementation Committee comprising of eminent and very knowledgeable Nigerians to produce and articulate a compressive change policy and programme blueprint. They have since submitted their preliminary report. This blueprint is anchored on five cardinal programmes, which are popularly known as our Platforms for Change (JMPPR). These are: Job creation through Agriculture, Entrepreneurship and Industrialisation. 2. Massive Infrastructural development and maintenance. 3. Provision of functional Education and Technological growth. 4. Provision of Accessible and Qualitative Health care and social service delivery. 5. Rural Development and Community Extension services. This platform for Change is erected on strong pillars, which consist of the core sectors of government activities that our blueprint lays emphasis on. These are Finance and Management of state resources, Health and Social Services, Infrastructure and Public utilities, Agriculture and Natural resources, Commerce and Industrial development, Education and Technology, Land, Housing and Environment, Women Affairs and Social Development, Youth and Sports development, Culture and Tourism as well as Information, Civic orientation and Mobilisation among others. Our blueprint when unveiled shall explain in details our philosophy, vision, sectoral policies and comprehensive Programmes of action clearly calendared over a period of a tenure of four years. With this document our pact with the people will be clear, our path well defined and expectations clearly understood. In building the structure to deliver on our campaign promises, I come to you with a clear mind and an honest heart, to serve and give the very best of my ability to restore Hope and Happiness to our people. I urge you to see hope the way I see it. I see hope with limitless boundaries for endless opportunities for all of us. I see hope for progress, stability and prosperity for all people of goodwill who are willing to contribute their quota to developing our state to a land of honourable, contented, smart, honest, diligent and patriotic people. I see hope for self-confidence, job security and increased commerce and economic production. I see hope for redemption and renewal of our broken infrastructure, and social values. But make no mistake about it; our journey to redemption will not be without stress and undulating curves. There are mountains before us to climb. As we climb up these steep mountains. Sometimes we may trip or slip, we will get back up. We will focus on the journey. We will never stop. We will never stop. We will never stop. In the end we will reach our goal, which is to bring back jobs to our youths, food to families, safety, confidence and prosperity to this land. For all these to happen, I am humbly going to ask ONLY one thing from you, good people of Ondo state. What I ask for is Attitude. We need to come with an attitude of belief and transformation. Indeed, in all successful cultures and societies, attitude is the spirit and driver of victory. Ladies and gentlemen, for us to see the change we all desire, we must be ready to constitute ourselves into change evangelists with exceptional missionary zeal to succeed. We must know that the man in the mirror is you and I. We need to have faith and find courage in the words of the good scripture thatsays, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint.” I believe if we combine these abilities with the force of Providence, a lot of great deeds will happen. We shall not subject ourselves to any specious and unproductive stereotypes, which find expression in the usual egregious celebration of the passage of time spent in office as achievement. We will be too busy to notice the pace of the itinerary of the administration. Our state is particularly lucky. We have men and women of quality. We set the pace for others in the not too distant past. The country depended, to a very great extent, on our resourcefulness. We contributed, immensely, to the GDP of the country at a time when agriculture was the mainstay of the country’s economy. Our people were exemplars in virtually all fields of human endeavour. The story is, painfully, different today. The fault, as the saying goes, is not in our stars but in ourselves that our fortunes have dwindled, considerably, and we have become underlings. We have transited, regrettably, from a producing economy to a basically consumptive society, which depends, almost solely, on handouts to survive. The resultant effect of this unproductive attitude is grinding poverty, desperation and hopelessness among our people. It is a cruel irony that a state, richly endowed in material and human resources, wallows in inexplicable privation. Our unproductive taste has sustained the dichotomy between the rural areas and the urban centres. All attempts at improving infrastructural deficits seem concentrated at the capital of the state. Government intervention, where available, has been grossly inadequate in addressing the socio-economic challenges faced by the masses. Our administration shall, decidedly, try to close the gap between the hinterland and urban centres. Real development can only be actualized and accentuated through an active symbiosis between the two, an understanding predicated on collaboration and co-existence designed for amity and progress. Our people will be encouraged to participate in the massive reconstruction contemplated by our administration in this regard. Any honest indigene of the state must be disturbed by the crisis in the educational sector at present. The philosophy of education, conceived on the idea of functionality for improved living by our forbears, has been reduced to a routine certification ritual, the culmination of which is the award of certificates, diplomas and degrees to graduates who are left more confused than when they enrolled in school. The unemployment crisis, apart from being a global socio-economic phenomenon, is self-inflicted. If education is the nurturing, training and mobilization of those who live in a society to confront the challenges of development, faced, primarily, by the people in that environment, the current situation confirms that we have since departed from that well-trodden path for a very long time now.It is a big shame that a state, which was a clear leader in education in the country, now lags behind. It appears that our curricula at all levels of training have failed to produce experts whose contributions to the growth of the economy are needed. Our administration will strive to reverse this unfortunate trend by promoting functional education aimed at real development. We shall also revisit the issue of vocational training with a view to improving the skills of our artisans. We recognize that the issue of unemployment is endemic. We equally understand that the greatest employer of labour, at a time such as this challenging period, is the private sector. The government will ensure that the environment remains peaceful and conducive for economic activities. In addition, we shall deploy considerable energy into agriculture. Through this, we hope to generate employment for the teeming youths. This administration will do everything possible to encourage investment in agriculture. Our youths must be ready for training necessary to kick-start this mission. We must begin to deemphasize white-collar jobs. The era of unproductive civil service is winding to a close, gradually. The current economic realities make the deployment of the unemployed to other sectors, other than agriculture and rural development, unsustainable. We must train our youths to acquire entrepreneurial skills as a corollary to our programme on agriculture. The health care delivery system currently operating in the state will be sustained and improved upon. We shall adopt a deliberate policy to ensure that our people have access to health care regardless of their social status. We intend, within the available resources, to provide qualitative primary health care delivery system to the rural populace. Health care centres in the rural areas will be accessible and functional. Our policy on massive infrastructural development will seek to open up the hinterland through our roads and waterways. Our state has the longest coastline in the country. It is unthinkable that all economic activities are restricted to land while our waterways are abandoned. Opening up the hinterland will reduce, drastically, the perennial rural-urban drift and encourage our sons and daughters who live outside the state to consider returning home to contribute their own quota. The economic propensities of such a venture will be, unimaginably, exponential. We are all witnesses to the negative impact that our local economy has been subjected to as a result of over-reliance on federally allocated funds for even the most basic recurrent expenditure items. It is high time that we looked inwards and come up with a solution that ensures we are sustainable and viable as a collective entity. We shall develop a comprehensive Development Plan that focuses on leveraging our collective resources and areas of comparative advantage for the benefit of our people. The plan will detail our philosophy and response to surviving in this harsh economic climate. In addition to this, it will also take a medium term view to our economic development on an overall basis, and more importantly ensure that we remain consistently above board during economic booms and bursts. We will adopt a collaborative approach to get this done by ensuring that we engage with the other segments of the public sector, as well as the private sector in developing and implementing our ideas of transforming the economy of our great State within the shortest possible period. All these lofty aspirations will remain a mirage if those saddled with the responsibility of implementing the decisions of the government do not support with dedication, honesty and patriotism. I acknowledge the very important role that the Civil Service has played, and continues to play in the development of our beloved State. I understand the challenges, and these are quite apparent to those within and outside the system. We will work towards addressing these challenges in delivering on our mandate to our people. We particularly seek the support and cooperation of the Civil Service and all organs of labour. We will drive efficiency through capacity building and training needs assessment targeted at retooling our civil servants. Be rest assured that your welfare, training, capacity building and the overall interests of our people will be one of the highest pillars of our mandate. We acknowledge the constraints that our current financial situation will place on our ability to deliver on our mandate. We however, believe that an adequate focus on transforming the current socio-economic status of our State will lead to substantial internally generated revenue for our State. We believe that Ondo State has the required resources – human and material to ensure our sustainability in the short, medium and long term. We are looking at building on our existing relationships with local and international development partners. Many of them have been there for us in the time past, and we reach out to them, especially at the new dawn in the administration of our State.I am therefore using this opportunity to reach out to businesses, manufacturers, private investors as well as potential international partners. You are welcome to Ondo State. We commit to partner with you in developing the economic potentials of our State for the benefit of all our stakeholders. The collective deployment of our resources, combined with those of our neighboring and sister States cannot be over-emphasized. Our administration believes that we can achieve a lot more if we work with a number of our sister State Governments to ensure that certain development efforts (infrastructure or otherwise) are channeled in such a way as to deliver maximum benefits for the participating States. We believe we don’t have to build or develop everything ourselves. There is a lot we can gain if we harmonise efforts and resources to build enduring assets that can cater for the needs of every one of us. Security of lives and property shall be guaranteed. Our administration will protect all and sundry. We will act in the interest of everyone. We will be there for all. All those who will add value to governance in the state shall be engaged. We believe that the inputs and participation of every stakeholder is required for us to succeed and deliver our mandate. We will provide numerous avenues for direct engagement with our people. Whether you are civil servants, market women, students, vulnerable groups, artisans, professionals, we will have specific means of reaching out to you to feel your pulse, and more importantly to seek inputs into programs and policies that will directly impact your lives. Ladies and gentlemen, it is indeed a brand new day! With the assistance of the Almighty God and the good people of Ondo State, we hope to take the state out of the morass of privation, hopelessness and desperation. The welfare of our people shall be the fundamental objective and directive principle of governance in Ondo State. Your Excellencies, My lords, ladies and gentlemen and my good people of Ondo state, the hour is here and our Journey to Redemptioncommences now. And to God Almighty, the creator of heaven and earth, the author and finisher of all things perfect and excellent I say: “Forth in thy name oh Lord I go, my daily labour to pursue, thee only thee resolved to know, in all I think or speak or do. The task thy wisdom has assigned o’ let me cheerfully fulfil in all my works thy presence find and prove thy acceptable will”. Long live Ondo State, Long Federal Republic of Nigeria. I thank you very much for listening. God bless.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/02/akeredolus-inaugural-speech-new-ondo-state-governor-full-text/

pyyxxaro:
Tani gogoro Banigogoro

you read novel a lot.. Read this novel before where, Tanigogoro Banigogoro was mentioned, about a baby that was born with Teeth.. Can u remind me the novel's name again..

JEDDAH: The Ministry of Interior said Prince Turki bin Saud bin Turki bin Saud Al-Kabeer was executed on Tuesday in Riyadh for killing Adel bin Suleiman bin Abdulkareem Al-Muhaimeed, a fellow Saudi citizen.
According to a ministry statement, the prince shot to death Al-Muhaimeed during a mass brawl.

The ministry said security officers arrested the offender and after a series of investigations charged him with murder.
The case was referred to the General Court, which convicted him of the charges brought against him and sentenced him to death. The ruling was supported by the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court, and a royal decree was issued to carry out the ruling.

The Ministry of Interior said the penalty confirms the keenness of the government to ensure security, justice and safety for all

http://www.arabnews.com/node/999511/saudi-arabia

NWU PhD graduate makes history at 23

Johannesburg - At just 23, North-West University’s Musawenkosi Saurombe is about to graduate with a PhD in industrial psychology. This will make her the youngest woman in Africa to qualify for a PhD, according to the Golden Key International Honour Society.

Eagerly awaiting official graduation in October, Saurombe describes this time in her life as surreal.

“Coming to terms with everything is slowly happening. To be the youngest woman in Africa to have studied this far is big. You never really prepare yourself for when you actually obtain what you’ve been working for, for so long. I asked God to do it for me and he did,” she said.

The bubbly and optimistic Saurombe now has her sights on working towards a professorship, but as to what the future holds, she said: “It is all in God’s hands.”

Born in Harare, Zimbabwe, on May 24, 1993, she was just 3 weeks old when her family relocated to Gaborone, Botswana.

It was there that she went to school, but proved too brainy for her age“I was such a hyperactive child.
At 5, I was sent to Grade 1 because my teachers saw that I adapted and finished my work quicker than other children. They felt I needed something more challenging,” she said.

Another jump for the rising star was when her Grade 3 teacher favoured a move to Grade 4.

At 13, she began high school. At that time, the Botswana government had introduced a new system, which meant all pupils who completed grades 8 and 9 with an excellent average would skip Grade 10.

“For me, it became a matter of excellent results or nothing, despite the fact that at that time in my life, I was feeling so playful.”

The education system stood in her favour, because at 15 she completed her matric in life, physical and chemistry sciences, as well as maths and English.

At 16, when some of her peers were starting high school, she began her tertiary education at North-West University’s (NWU) Mahikeng campus, registering for a degree in HR management.

The transition to a different country and a different academic system was not an easy one.

“I always tried to enjoy myself, but found the campus social scene very foreign, except for a few parties I attended where I could at least dance because I love to dance.

“I never wanted to be a geek or that nerd walking around with books all the time, but I knew I could not let whatever fun that was around me influence my character and the teachings of my upbringing,” she said.

Saurombe went on to complete her under-graduate studies in three years, Honours degree in one year, Master’s in a year and PhD over a two years.

“My honours and former academic supervisor Mr Joel Maubane, I think his strict approach to research geared me to all higher levels of research. I remember how my current supervisor, Professor Nicolene Barkhuizen, pushed me to get my Master’s done in one year instead of two - all this enabled me to get through my PhD at such a young age.”

Her thesis focused on a topic titled “Talent Value Proposition”, commonly known as labour value proposition.

The study is on the mutual benefits stated on the contract of employment, looking at what the employee takes home after performing their duty versus what the employer expects of an employee to deliver in order to support the employee’s experience title.

“I also established that organisational branding, employment branding, are what comprise the imperative elements of talent value proposition particularly for academic staff in a South African higher education institution,” she said.

With her research topic requiring her to investigate the managerial perspective of corporate institutions, she “was met with business executives who would not co-operate with me”, she said.

“I grew impatient during the process and would sometimes feel like everything was not worth it,” she added.

Her parents’ consistent drive for excellence laid the foundation to all she has achieved thus far.

Her mother would give her a hiding every time her percentage dropped by even 1 percent in high school; her father would insist she read academic books meant for an advanced grade and age, from the time she was 4, to ensure she stayed ahead.

“What I really admire about my father is that he doesn’t reprimand and speak a lot, but he prays for me.

“My mother on the other hand is a smart woman; despite the fact that my father is an educator and people give him credit for my academic achievements, I actually get it all from her,” Saurombe said.

NWU vice-chancellor Professor Dan Kgwadi said: “We are very excited; the increasing research capacity at our institution is enabling us to see more students like Musa.

“When I think of her, I get excited to see a researcher who is able to maintain a social life, yet still perform.”

He cited another young PhD graduate from their Mahikeng campus, Lehlohonolo Phali, 28, as testament to NWU’s growth in research capacity.

Phali, who faced challenges after her dad died in 2004, obtained a PhD in maths.

The downloading speed depending on the location. You might be lucky that your location favours airtell network. I dont see myself using airtell sim anymore for Internet use, too slow for my liking.

Ado-Ekiti- Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has faulted the refusal of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to make public the statement it has extracted from the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki, in its ongoing probe of money meant for the purchase of arms and the funding of the last general elections in the country.

Fayose, who also asked the anti-agency to publish his personal accounts it has frozen to let the whole world know what are contained therein, said by publishing Dasuki’s statement, it would at least show whether the ex-NSA gave money to former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro or anybody to give him (Fayose).

The governor threw the challenge at the weekend while featuring on an interview programme on a radio station, Fresh FM.

In a statement on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, the governor opined that “what I am facing in Ekiti is a war of the elite and incidentally, it is the masses that vote people into office. We know some failed Ekiti politicians who now resume daily in EFCC office to concoct stories and give same to their commissioned newspapers to publish.‎ It is only one or two newspapers that always have their so-called exclusive stories and they follow the same pattern.

“The EFCC is only engaged i‎n mind game. They think they can wear me out, that is not possible as God is on my side because I stand for the truth. EFCC has not told Nigerians how money was wired to me.‎ They must be responsible to do investigation that would not be a media issue. What the EFCC and their APC collaborators are trying to do is to set the people of the state against me and they have failed.

“In my two accounts that they have frozen, I have N300 million in the fixed deposit one and N82 million in the other. Both accounts and my properties were duly declared in my Asset Declaration Form. They are treading the same 2006 path and they will fail woefully by the grace of God. What they did in 2006, the Supreme Court declared it illegal and I came back to office exactly eight years after. It means one of us lied and was mischievous,” he said.

Fayose also challenged the APC and its leaders to also tell the people how their own elections were funded, noting that a defector from the PDP to the APC should not suddenly become an angel or a saint.

“We cannot all be in the APC, if we are then, we are no longer practising democracy. There must be opposition and that is to keep those in government on their toes, but if you now make silencing the opposition as your main programme, then, you are short changing the people.

The people are hungry, they are ravaged by poverty and what you think is the best step to take is to kill the voice of the opposition. If the situation was this bad, the PDP would have been removed from office long time ago,” he added.
‎On the June 21, 2014 governorship election that brought him to office, Fayose said Dr Kayode Fayemi and APC leaders conceded defeat and that both local and international observers described the poll as free and fair.

“After the APC leaders failed to stop my inauguration, get me impeached, they know that they will still lose again in 2018. What they are trying to do is to create a wedge between me and the people of the state who love me. As far as I am concerned, their project is dead on arrival. The voice of the people is the voice of God,” he stated.
‎

On t‎he claim by the APC-led Federal Government that massive fraud during the Goodluck Jonathan administration was responsible for its poor performance, Fayose said it was only a lazy worker that would complain about his tools.

“President Barack Obama, despite what he inherited from the Republican administration, still made the difference. The problem we have is not about the vehicle, but the driver. Let them give account of what they have realised as revenue, as recovered funds and the billions of dollars found in people’s houses all over the world. We want to knwo what has become of the funds,” he stated.

The governor urged Nigerians to always carefully dissect every information churned out by the party in power, saying th‎e APC was leading the country as if it was still seeking the votes of the people.

This, the governor noted, “is why the government ‎is more involved in propaganda than really informing the people about what is actually happening

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/publish-dasukis-statement-accounts-fayose-dares-efcc/

Send me a private message, got a guy in Creek Dubai, who culd be of great help.

No be by force to go dubai

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has questioned the Director General and 24 other officials of a Federal Government parastatal under the Foreign Affairs Ministry over the questionable withdrawal of the sum of $219,000.00 (about N66 million) from the account of the Nigerian Technical Cooperation Fund, NTCF.

The money, which was meant to provide some development projects for some African countries in the 2013 fiscal year, is jointly managed by the African Development Bank and the NTCF and domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

Vanguard learnt that the head of the parastatal, who is from Borno State, connived with 24 other Nigerian officials in the parastatal and illegally siphoned the amount for personal use, thereby triggering petitions to the EFCC from aggrieved insider staff of the agency.

Based on the series of petitions fired by insiders, the EFCC immediately dispatched operatives, who posed as auditors and spend days to scrutinise the accounts of the agency.

“It was clear to use that the money in question had been withdrawn by the officials but what we want to know is on what the money was used for,” one of the sources close to the investigation, told our correspondent in Abuja.

“Having established a prima facie case of illegal withdrawal, we invited the DG and the 24 staff and they were interrogated between Tuesday and Thursday and all of them made useful statements to the commission.

“They were all admitted to administrative bail having accepted to refund the money to the last kobo and we have asked them to report back on Thursday,” an EFCC source confirmed llast night.

It was however gathered that some influential politicians from Borno State, where the DG hails from, have attempted to prevail on the EFCC to tamper justice with mercy and grant the man what they term “soft landing

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/219000-cash-withdrawal-efcc-questions-dg-24-others/

The holy book says, let your words be few. The inability of Fayose to guide his tongue finally landed him into great misfortunes and troubles.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has commenced moves to seize some properties linked to Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, The PUNCH has learnt.

According to the EFCC, houses to be seized are four duplexes on Victoria Island in Lagos State and one located at 44 Osun Crescent, Maitama, Abuja.

A reliable source told our correspondent on Thursday that the houses were allegedly purchased with illegitimate funds, stating that the EFCC could invoke the Assets Forfeiture clause to seize the properties in line with sections 28 and 34 of the EFCC (Establishment Act) 2004 and Section 13 (1) of the Federal High Court Act, 2004.

The EFCC is currently investigating Fayose for allegedly receiving N1.219bn from the Office of the National Security Adviser through a former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, who is currently in school in the United States of America.

After freezing Fayose’s Zenith Bank accounts, the anti-graft agency alleged that it had uncovered details of how the governor had been receiving kickbacks from state contractors.

The source added, “Investigations showed that the properties were bought with bribes from Ekiti State contractors. Some of the properties were not bought in Fayose’s name but through proxies. So, we will seize all the properties by God’s grace.”

The EFCC had, in a 10-paragraph counter-affidavit deposed to by Tosin Owobo, accused Fayose of using the proceeds of crime to purchase properties.

The affidavit reads in part, “Apart from fraudulently retaining the sum of N1,219,490,000 being part of the N4,745,000,000 stolen from the treasury of the Federal Government through the Office of the National Security Adviser, the applicant (Fayose) has also received gratification in form of kickbacks from various contractors with the Ekiti State Government such as Samchese Nigeria Limited, Tender Branch Concept Nig. Limited, Hoff Concept Limited and Calibre Consulting Limited.

“The applicant (Fayose) received these kickbacks and gratification through Still Earth Limited and Signachorr Nigeria Limited. In turn the applicant (Fayose) instructed the Still Earth Limited and Signachoor Nigeria Limited to use the funds to acquire properties for him.

“In complying with the applicant’s instruction, Still Earth Limited and Signachoor Nigeria Limited acquired properties on behalf of the applicant (Fayose) in the name of a company, known as J.J. Technical Services Limited, belonging to the applicant (Fayose) and his wife (Feyisetan).

“That the applicant (Fayose) also used the name of one Mrs. Moji Ladeji (the applicant’s sister) to acquire a property situated at 44 Osun Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, from the proceeds of the alleged offences of receiving gratification and kickbacks.”

In his reaction, however, Fayose said all the properties linked to him were not bought with stolen funds.

In a statement by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor said any property that might be linked to him or his company was “bought legitimately and his properties were duly declared in his assets declaration form and sources of such funds were not illicit.”

He said since the money he got for his election was from legitimate sources and not from the ONSA, “how the money is spent remains his own business and not that of anyone.”

http://punchng.com/efcc-set-seize-fayoses-n1-35bn-properties/

A popular pastor, Solomon Oladimeji, who is founder of Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Orisun-Ayo, with branches at Alapere, Ketu, and Odogunyan in Ikorodu area of Lagos, has confessed to being a member of the Ogboni confraternity.

Oladimeji, 65, says that there is no stigma that should be associated with the cult which is rumoured to be a gathering of evil doers by most Nigerians.

In this interview with SUN, Oladimeji, who is also a member of the Christian Association of Nigeria talks about blood sacrifices, charms and his views on the misconceptions of practising Christians in Nigeria.

Excerpts:

When did you become a member of the Ogboni, and what were the cir­cumstances that prompted you to be a member?

Although, my journey as shepherd for Je­sus Christ’s flock is over 40 years, I became a member of theOgboni society over 20 years ago. Initially, I was initiated into the Aborigi­ne Ogboni fraternity, that is the one they call Ogboni Ibile, but later I joined Saala Ogboni fraternity, and since I made that decision, I have no regret.

As a member of Ogboni fraternity, my life is having a meaning. I have prospered. My coast has been enlarged. Members of my congregation are increasing everyday. I also thank God that due to my diligence as a committed member, I have been able to rise to the enviable position of Oluwo within the Ogboni fraternity.

Are your members, that is mem­bers of your church aware that you belong to Ogboni fraternity?

What is there to be hidden? I am not ashamed of my association with Ogboni So­ciety, and I don’t hide it from members of my church. They all know that I’m a leader in the Ogboni group. When you even come to my house, I openly display my regalia as Ogboni chief. Let me quickly tell you this, by making my members know that I’m Ogboni mem­ber, it makes me popular among them. They describe me as an open and honest person. For that, many of them have been voluntar­ily coming to me pleading to be initiated as a member of Ogboni fraternity.

Some people would think that you use charms on them?

Why should I use charm on them or to charm them as some people will say? God forbid. I’m a child of light; darkness or any­thing evil has no place in my life or church. Your member will like you, when they know that the power you are using to solve their problems is power from Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour. I have never committed evil in my life and I will never do so till the day my Lord calls me home.

Are you saying that charm doesn’t exist?

No. I’m not saying so. Charms do exist, but it depends on how you use it. I used herbs and leaves combined with other items to pre­pare soap, anointing oil for members and oth­er people that are having spiritual problems.

It is unfortunate that today a lot of Chris­tians are suffering out of ignorance. You see some saying it is what my pastor or what my prophet tells me I believe. I will never use any soap, cream, oil by just any minister of God, but only if those members know what those pastors are doing.

Some of these pastors and prophets come to people like me to acquire power to per­form miracle and wonders. Some of them are even Ogboni members like me. But they are hypocrites. I will never deny somebody who is my benefactor, and that is why you see me wearing and displaying beads and other items being used by Ogboni fraternity. To me, what matters again is saving life, and it doesn’t matter where you get saved whether it is in the house of babalawo or any juju priest. We are all calling on the name of the same God.

In my neighbourhood, both at Alapere and Odogunyan, many residents know me both as a cleric andOgboni leader. In fact, Baale of Odogunyan, that is the community leader, knows me as the Oluwo ofSaala Ogboni. I’m highly respected in the community. I joined the Ogboni fraternity because I like their ways of life. They are decent people. Contra­ry to misconception some people have about Ogboni, that we are evil people. Far from it, rather I will say that Ogboni members are not only children of Light, but we are also mes­sengers of the Most High God because, we don’t kill but only save lives.

But some people believe that Og­boni is evil, and that it is an evil asso­ciation condemned by the Bible.

Those who say so are ignorant. They have been brainwashed by our colonial masters. But thank God, we are now in a different era, and we can all be reading the Bible without relying or depending on what the imperialist swould want us to believe in order to suit their own purpose. Some will tell you that Ogboniis evil because they use juju, they still carry out sacrifices of various forms by shedding blood of animals, and birds. Some even out of ignorance say we eat human flesh. Rubbish. May Almighty God forgive our traducers.

If you are talking about sacrifice, where did the Bible condemn sacrifice? Let our accusers point it out either in the old or the New Testament. Throughout my years at the seminary and the Bible school, I never come across such.

Then the sacrifice you are talking about, on several occasion especially in the Old Testa­ment, sacrifices were carried out to atone for the sins of the Israelites.

It was also often carried out when the chil­dren of Israel were looking for one favour or another.

But coming down to the New Testament, don’t mind those confusionists who say that Jesus Christ, my own Lord and Saviour con­demns sacrifice, what a big lie. If you can still remember when Jesus Christ himself was born the day His parents Joseph and Mary were taking Him to the Synagogue, Joseph has to sacrifice doves, and pigeon. He took the birds to the church. You can read in the book of Matthew and Luke.

So, if the parents of Jesus, my Master, the Author and Finisher of my Faith were in­volved in sacrifice, why would I say I want to distance myself from such?

Again, they accused us pastors of asking some people that have problems to go and bathe in a running stream, what is wrong with that, did such not happen in the Bible? Have we forgotten the story of Naman, the Syrian Army General who had leprosy and was look­ing for a cure, how Prophet Elisha asked him to go bathe inside River Jordan, and Naman was healed after complying with the prophet’s instruction, and this is why I said some people are dying due to ignorance.

Sacrifice is biblically ordained. I sacrificed animals and birds to offer prayers to cure and heal people of their ailments.

When I pray for you and it is revealed to me that I should kill duck, cow or even goat to offer prayers for you, I will tell you to make available such animals for sacrifice, and the moment we do that, you receive your healing.

When I kill fowl, goat, duck or even cow for sacrifice to heal somebody, I have not in any way transgressed. I’m only doing the will of Jesus Christ, who is my personal Lord and Saviour. Whatever is outside the Bible, you will never see me doing it.

Even in the book of Revelation, the use of leaves and herbs was recommended for heal­ing. And for those who describe Ogboni fra­ternity as a cult, this is wrong. Ogboni is a society. We are transparent and honest people. Ogboni abhors evil. We are organized and dis­ciplined. A cult is a group of people involved in secrecy, we are open to scrutiny. Let those who out of hearsay say evil about Ogboni be bold and come to our meeting and see wheth­er it is true that we drink blood.

All those pastors saying rubbish about Og­boni are doing so to attract membership.



You say you sacrifice animals, if that is what is needed for someone’s prayers to be answered, but the Bible says Jesus has done that by His death, are you not going against the Bible?

Far from it! Whatever I do as Ogboni Pastor is biblically ordained and inspired. If you read your New Testament very well, Apostle Paul who is regarded as one of the most dynamic evangelists of his era says that without shedding blood, that there is no redemption. Am I the one that put that in the Bible? Even when Jesus Christ was about to be dedicated, His parents, Joseph and Mary took pigeons and doves to the church which were slaughtered as a sacrifice.

You also read in several other places both in the Old and New Testament where blood sacrifice took place. You remember the case of Cain and Abel. I even read Bible before I carry out this killing of animals as sacrifice in order to save souls.

Thursday’s issuance of a Certificate of Return to Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah by the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja has complicated the dispute over the governorship seat of Abia State.



Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had, on Monday, ordered the removal of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and ordered INEC to issue a Certificate of Return to Ogah, who was the first runner-up in the state governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Justice Abang had ordered the removal of Ikpeazu after finding him guilty of not presenting relevant tax certificates along with his forms submitted to INEC.

He held that Ikpeazu, who emerged as the candidate of the PDP in the state for the 2015 governorship election on the strength of the primary, was not qualified to be the candidate of the PDP.

INEC Commissioner in charge of the South-East, Ambassador Lawrence Nwuruku, presented the Certificate of Return to Ogah in Abuja in accordance with the judgment of the court.

Nwuruku told journalists that the court directed the commission to issue the certificate with immediate effect.

He said, “The situation is we are simply obeying the court order. The court said with immediate effect, we should issue him a Certificate of Return, and that is what we have done.

“If the court tomorrow issues (another) order, we will obey the same. By the grace of God, I am the INEC commissioner in charge of the South-East.

“In this case, the court ordered us to issue certificate to the person who won the election, that is Uchechukwu Ogah. I was the person that issued the same Certificate of Return to Governor Ikpeazu because he was declared the winner.

“One thing is that we are not above the law and we cannot disobey the law of the land.”

A few hours after Ogah collected his Certificate of Return in Abuja, an Abia State High Court in Osisioma stopped the Chief Judge of the state or any other judge in the state from inaugurating Ogah as directed by Justice Abang on Monday.

The presiding judge in the court, Justice C. H. Ahuchaogu, equally made a belated order stopping INEC from issuing a Certificate of Return to Ogah as the winner of the 2015 governorship election in the state.

In a suit, HOS 52/2016, by Ikpeazu, Justice Ahuchaogu ordered “that the third Defendant (state CJ) or any other judge of the court or any judicial officer are hereby restrained from swearing in the first Defendant (Ogah) while the claimant remains in office in accordance with Section 143(1) and (2) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and pending the determination of the motion on notice.”

The issuance of the Certificate of Return to Ogah and the pronouncement of the Abia State High Court have created confusion on who is the valid governor of the state.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Bonnie Iwuoha, on Thursday, announced that the government had declared Friday (today) and Monday next week as work-free days in memory of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, who died on Wednesday.

He said the gesture was in recognition of the immense contribution of the deceased, who hailed from the state, to the development of the state and Nigeria in general.

Similarly, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Eme Okoro, expressed surprise at the sudden death of Maduekwe, who he said worked tirelessly for the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.

But the Peoples Democratic Party in the state described the order of the Federal High Court in Abuja as a threat to democracy in the country.

Addressing newsmen at Government House on Thursday, the state chairman of the party, Chief Johnson Onuigbo, said the party would resist any attempt by any person or group to undermine the peace in the state.

Ogah arrives in Owerri, assures people of democratic dividends

In a similar vein, Ogah described his success at the Federal High Court, Abuja, as a further vindication of the confidence reposed in the nation’s judiciary as the last hope of the common man.

Speaking with newsmen on arrival at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, from Abuja, where he was issued a Certificate of Return on Thursday, Ogah stated that by his eventual success, the people of Abia State would not only enjoy more democratic dividends, but would be accorded equal opportunities in all facets of his government.

Ogah added, “This is a new dawn in Abia, a fresh air has come to the people. There is joy all over the land. I assure the people of Abia State that this is the beginning of good things for them.”

A few hours later, however, there were reports that some suspected hoodlums had invaded Umuahia, the Abia State capital, following information that Ogah had arrived at the state capital and headed straight for the office of the Department of State Services.

The suspected thugs, who were said to be carrying sticks, were allegedly seen with some security agencies along the Akanu Ibiam Road, leading to the Government House.

Unconfirmed reports, however, said Ogah might be sworn in by a Chief Judge from a neighbouring state following the order of the Abia State High Court, stopping the Chief Judge of Abia State from swearing in Ogah.

CNPP, lawyers speak on stalemate

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties has commended INEC for promptly issuing a Certificate of Return to Ogah as the Abia State Governor in line with the ruling of a Federal High Court in Abuja.

The CNPP stated that the development was a positive indicator that Nigeria’s democracy was advancing.

It added that the action of the commission was a pointer to the level of non-interference in the electoral and judicial processes by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The conference stated this in a statement in Abuja on Thursday by its National Chairman, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, and the Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu.

It said, “What has happened in Abia State shows that the era of impunity is behind us.

“There is hope in our democratic future as a country as any country, where impunity is the norm, never survives.

“President Muhammadu Buhari administration and INEC must be commended for this singular demonstration of courage to do what is right in line with the court judgment that ordered the issuance of the Certificate of return to Ogah, who came second in the Abia State PDP governorship primary.”

In his reaction, a former Chairman of the Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Monday Ubani, justified the issuance of the Certificate of Return to Ogah, arguing that the notice of appeal filed by Ikpeazu did not operate as an order for a stay of proceedings.

Ubani added, “Note also that the appeal of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu before the Court of Appeal does not operate as a stay over the judgment of Justice Okon Abang.

“In the absence of any express order of the High Court or the Court of Appeal, ordering a stay of execution, the judgment of the Federal High Court should be obeyed by all the parties.”

Ubani also faulted an order of an Abia State High Court, restraining the Chief Judge of the state from swearing in Ogah as the governor of the state.

The lawyer said the Abia High Court, being of coordinate jurisdiction with the Federal High Court, lacked jurisdiction to make such an order, and as such, the restraining order, and as such, the restraining order against the Chief Judge of the state was invalid.

He stated, “I understand that a High Court in Osisioma Ngwa, the area where the governor hails from, has issued an interim order, restraining the Chief Judge from swearing in Dr. Uche Ogah as the governor of the state.

“The point must be made that this order cannot stand as it is invalid in law.

“The order did not emanate from a higher court but from a court of coordinate jurisdiction and does not in any way vitiate or invalidate the earlier judgment of the Federal High Court in which the Chief Judge of Abia State was ordered to swear in Dr. Uche Samson Ogah.

“Only a higher court, in this case, the Court of Appeal, has the jurisdiction to reverse the judgment of the Federal High Court.”

But a former National Secretary of the Labour Party, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, argued that the Supreme Court had the final say in governorship election petitions, saying it would be treasonable felony to swear in Ogah.

He said, “The Supreme Court therefore has the final say in the evaluation of the two lower courts mentioned above.

“As it is, Governor Ikpeazu, who is presently the occupier of the seat of Governor of Abia State by Section 143 (1) and (2) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) has 21 days to file an appeal, and, within this period of 21 days, the occupant statutorily remains in office, notwithstanding the decision of the Election Petitions Tribunal or any court, including the Court of Appeal and also has a statutory period of 14 days from the day of the judgment of the Court of Appeal to file his appeal at the Supreme Court.

“Any attempt to swear in Ogah, under any guise at this stage, is not only satanic, it is uncharitable and crystal clear and sheer violation of the Electoral Act. It should also be noted that such an attempt or contemplation is without precedent in our jurisdiction on election matter.

“The speculation of swearing in Otti on the strength of the Court of Appeal judgement was not only without precedent and will only amount to self-help, which will make Ogah to be wittingly and or unwittingly committing treasonable felony.”

Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and Sebastine Hon (SAN), however, described INEC’s decision as hasty and amounted to nullity since Ikpeazu had filed a motion for a stay of execution and a notice of appeal, challenging the Federal High Court’s judgment.

Ozekhome said the step taken by the commission was “hogwash, unnatural, curious and questionable.”

Hon called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the acting Inspector-General of Police to intervene in the matter to avert constitutional crisis in the state.

THE National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, on Thursday dismissed the petition brought before it by the Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Daniel Onjeh.

Onjeh had, on March 13, 2016, filed a petition against the former Senate President, Senator David Mark, challenging the victory of the former senate president.



The presiding Judge, Justice Gloria Anulude, in her ruling, said that the petition was filed in one day out of no time.

She disclosed that all other motions and applications filed on March 13 were, ‘thereby, struck out.

Justice Anulude further ruled that the petitioner while filing his petition, substantially refused to state the day of declaration of result.

“This tribunal is bound by the decision of the Supreme Court being the highest court of the land.

“By Arithmetical calculation, the day of declaration is inclusive in computing the mandatory 21 days of filing an election case. Therefore, the tribunal had no jurisdiction to entertain the petition, and as such, the petition is hereby struck out,” she stated.

Onjeh had filed the petition challenging the victory of Mark, who he said, was wrongly declared as the winner of the election in the February21, 2016 Benue South senatorial rerun election.

Counsel for the petitioner, Mr. Adetunji Oso, did not agree with the ruling, adding that there was an opportunity at the higher court. He said emphatically that his client would surely appeal the ruling.

The media aide to the former Senate President, Chief Adakole Elijah, said that the position taken by the tribunal was sound and noble because it was a validation of free mandate given to the senator.

He recalled that people of Benue South senatorial district unanimously voted Mark in, which the appeal court overruled, thus prompting the rerun. He said the people of the senatorial district also re-validated their support for Senator Mark, which he said the tribunal had judiciously ruled on, saying that, ‘The court is the last hope of the common people.’

In a teleconference from Abuja, the defeated APC candidate, Daniel Onjeh said he totally dissatisfied with the ruling of the tribunal and had already instructed his team of lawyers to immediately commence the process of filing appeal at the appeal court.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has seized 29 properties from the immediate past Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu; a former Chief of Accounts and Budgeting in NAF, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun (retd.); and a former Director of Finance and Budget, Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo (retd.).

No fewer than 11 properties were seized from Amosu; 12 were seized from Adigun and six from Gbadebo.

Our correspondent learnt on Sunday that the properties included three plazas, six mansions, a quarry, a hospital, a block of flats, animal farms, a school, two hotels, some uncompleted buildings and some parcels of land.

According to documents made available exclusively to The PUNCH, the properties were acquired mostly in 2014.

The properties seized from Adigun were said to be worth N9.6bn.

Some of the properties include a shopping plaza known as Capadar Plaza on Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse 2, which is worth N980m; a residential mansion on Lake Chad Street, Maitama, Abuja, worth N450m; an executive mansion in Imo River Close, Off Dandube Crescent, Maitama, worth N710m and a four-unit terrace on Agadez Street, Off Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, worth N720m.

Other properties, said to belong to Adigun, include a 35-room uncompleted hotel on Salt Lake Street, Maitama, Abuja; a parcel of land located on Bourdillon Street, Ikoyi, Lagos; a block of 12 service flats, located on Agodogba Street, Park View Estate, Ikoyi, said to be worth N1.8bn and a quarry in Bwari area of Abuja worth about $694,000.

The source added that all the properties had been temporarily seized.

He added, “Adigun spent most of his own share of the money on properties and so we did not recover much cash from him. Amosu, however, returned over N2.3bn and raised two bank drafts.”

He added that some of the properties seized from Amosu included a house on Adeyemo Alakija Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, worth N250m; a duplex at House 11, Peace Court Estate, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, worth N110m; a N40m property located at NAF Harmony Estate, Asokoro Base and a five-bedroomed house at Valley NAF Estate, Port Harcourt, worth N33m.

Others include a hospital on Adeniyi Jones Avenue, Ikeja, known as St. Solomon Hospital with equipment worth $2.15m and a N95m house on Umaru Dikko Street, Jabi, Abuja.

The properties seized from Gbadebo include a fish farm worth N10m; a N20m poultry, located at Musa Close, Oyibo Ayobu, Lagos and a school known as Bloomsville International School, Divine Estate, Isheri-Olofin , off Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The three suspects will be arraigned by the anti-graft agency this week.

The retired military officers were accused of diverting public funds to the tune of N21,467,674,707.43 in 2014.

Others charged alongside the accused persons are Delfina Oil and Gas Limited, McCallan Oil and Gas Limited, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Limited, Trapezites BDC, Funds and Pricey Limited, Degree Oil and Gas Limited, Timsegg Investment Limited and Solomon Healthcare Limited.

One of the charges read in part, “That you (accused persons) on or about the 5th day of March 2014 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit conversion of the sum of N21,467,674,707.43, property of the Nigerian Air Force which was derived from stealing which is contrary to Section18 (A) of the Money Laundering Act of 2012 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

According to other charges, the accused persons had allegedly used some of the aforementioned companies, which they own, to award phantom contracts to themselves.

A prosecution witness for the EFCC, in a case against a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (retd.), had revealed in court how N558m was diverted from the accounts of the air force monthly.

The EFCC was said to have based its investigation on the alleged diversion of N558m and the diversion of funds allocated to the Nigerian Air Force for the procurement of arms, fighter jets and other equipment.

Amosu and his predecessor, Badeh, were, in January, arrested for the non-specification of procurement costs, absence of contract agreements, award of contracts beyond authorised thresholds, transfer of public funds for unidentified purposes and general non-adherence to provisions of the Public Procurement Act.

The investigation also centred on the payment of N4,402,687,569.41 for unexecuted contracts; the procurement of two used Mi-24V helicopters instead of the recommended Mi-35M series at $136,944,000.00; four used Alpha-Jets for the NAF at US$7,180,000, funded by ONSA; the cannibalisation of engines from NAF fleet to justify procurement of jets; and the excessive pricing of 36D6 Low Level Air Defence Radar at $33m instead of $6m per one.

I like him more whenever i remember is roles in The state of emergency movie, i simply like is character displayed . Continue to rest in peace Tom-West

A last-minute effort by the leadership of the Senate to frustrate the scheduled arraignment of its presiding officers, Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, at a Federal Capital Territory High Court, failed on Wednesday during a closed session that lasted for about two hours.

The PUNCH learnt that the leadership had suggested the withdrawal of the case by the litigants, who are members of the Senate Unity Forum, a suggestion that the affected persons turned down on the grounds that the case was now being handled by the Federal Government.

Saraki, according to a Senator, who spoke to one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity because it was against the Senate convention to disclose issues discussed in the execute session, appealed to the litigants to withdraw the case in line with the recommendations of the peace committee.


The Senate Peace and Reconciliation Committee, led by Senator James Manager, had, in its report, recommended among others, the withdrawal of the suit, the recomposition of the committees and the disbandment of groups within the Senate.

One of our correspondents learnt that members of the SUF, who took the case to court, said the matter was now beyond them as the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, had taken over the case.

The source added, “The senators, who went to court, were of the opinion that the case had attained another dimension because it was the Federal Government that is now prosecuting those who allegedly produced the fake document.”

A copy of the document obtained on Wednesday showed that the panel accused Saraki of unduly favouring some members in appointments to juicy committees.

The panel recommended the restructuring of the committees so that the aggrieved senators would be pacified.



I can’t face CCT, forgery trials together, Saraki tells court

Meanwhile, Saraki, has asked a High Court of the FCT, Jabi, Abuja, to quash the forgery charges instituted against him and other co-defendants.

He urged the court to, in the alternative, adjourn the case indefinitely.

Saraki, in the application, which his lawyer, Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), filed on Wednesday, said compelling him to face the fresh forgery charges alongside his ongoing trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal would jeopardise his right to fair hearing.

The Senate President is currently being prosecuted before the CCT on 16 counts, including false and anticipatory asset declaration.

On June 10, the Federal Government preferred two counts of criminal conspiracy and forgery of the Standing Rules of the Senate, used for the leadership election of the presiding officers of the Senate in June, 2015, against him (Saraki), Ekweremadu and two others.

The two other co-accused persons are a former Clerk to the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, and his then deputy, Benedict Efeturi.

The Federal Government stated that the offence of criminal conspiracy was punishable under Section 97 (1) of the Penal Code Act; and offence of forgery with “fraudulent intent” was punishable under Section 364 of the same law.

Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court in Jabi, Abuja, in whose court the accused persons were charged, had, on Tuesday, ordered that the charges preferred against them be pasted to the notice board of the National Assembly.

The judge fixed Monday (June 27) for the arraignment of the four accused persons.

But in his fresh motion, Saraki challenged the competence of the charges, which he said disclosed no prima facie case against him.

He also contested the mode of service by pasting of the court summons alongside the charges to the notice board of the National Assembly on Tuesday.

He asked the court to set aside the service for being invalid.

He also sought as his alternative prayers, “An order of this Honourable Court suspending or adjourning sine die all the proceedings against the 3rd Defendant in the instant Charge No. CR/219/16 between FRN v. SALISU ABUBAKAR MAIKASUWA & 3 ORS., pending hearing and determination of the Charge against the 3rd Defendant at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Abuja in Charge No. CCT/ABJ/01/15 between FRN v. DR. OLUBUKOLA ABUBAKAR SARAKI.”

Raji stated as grounds of the motion that, “No prima facie case has been disclosed against the 3rd Defendant (Saraki) in this charge.

“There is no link between the proof of evidence and the allegations made against the 3rd Defendant in the charge.

“The 3rd Defendant is currently standing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal over alleged offences under the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act in Charge No. CCT/ABJ/01/15 between FRN v. DR. OLUBUKOLA ABUBAKAR SARAKI.

“Accelerated hearing has been ordered for the prosecution of the said trial, in consequence of which the proceedings therein are being conducted on virtually day-to-day basis.

“The 3rd Defendant requires adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence.

“The prosecution of this charge concurrently with the other one being tried at the CCT will not only work great hardship against the 3rd Defendant, but will also deny him an opportunity to a fair trial.

“This honourable court has inherent judicial powers to grant all the relief sought above.”

An affidavit deposed to by a lawyer in Raji’s law firm, Mr. Dolapo Kehinde, and filed in support of the motion, stated that the forgery charges were preferred against Saraki in bad faith.

The affidavit stated that compelling the Senate President to face the fresh charges would distract him from giving full attention to his legislative functions in a time of economic emergency in the country when the cooperation of the three arms of government was most needed.

The affidavit read in part, “I know that sometime in September 2015, the said Charge in Exhibit ‘B’ was filed and served on the 3rd Defendant, and he is still standing trial in respect of same, particularly because the prosecution is yet to close its case.

“It is common knowledge that the legislative roles, administrative duties and national obligations of a Senate President can neither be underplayed nor undermined.

“It is also common knowledge that the country is currently wading through tough economic situations, while the national stability is at a precipice, thus, requiring constant need of immediate legislative interventions.

“I am aware that the Nigerian people have enough economic hardship at this time, requiring the full attention and cooperation of the three arms of government, instead of these attempts to distract and politicise governance; especially because the country is in a state of economic emergency such that what the National Assembly needs at this time are executive bills and proposals aimed at resolving the crises of unemployment, currency depreciation, inflation, crime, insecurity etc.

“I know that the charge in Exhibit ‘B1’ has consistently constituted a distraction, although the 3rd Defendant has dexterously managed the situation to the amazement of all and sundry.

“The preferment of the instant Charge is a precipitated decision made in bad faith, not only with an odious intention to scuttle legislative business at the Senate, but also a move to further throw the country into greater instability, such that distract senators from their oversight functions and accountable governance.

“I know that the concurrent prosecution of this Charge with the other one at the CCT will not only work great hardship against the 3rd Defendant, but will also deny him an opportunity of a fair trial.

“In the interest of justice and fair play/trial, it is imperative that proceedings in this suit are suspended or adjourned sine die, pending the determination of the proceedings/trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.”

Challenging the competence of the charges and the service further, the supporting affidavit added that no attempt to personally serve Saraki was made.

The affidavit stated, “No attempt was made by the Complainant to effect personal service of the Information/Charge on him.

“The oral application of complainant’s counsel to serve him by substituted means was made mala fide.

“This Honourable court has inherent judicial powers to grant all the relief sought above.

“It is in the interest of justice to grant this Application.”

The affidavit also stated that the petition written and sent to the Inspector-General of Police by the Unity Forum senators on June 30, 2015, did not mention his client’s name, adding that the document allegedly forged was also not included in the proof of evidence.

He said there was no proof of investigation of the case and that none of the proposed prosecution witnesses mentioned his name in their written statements.

The affidavit also read, “The said Petition does not mention the name of the 3rd Defendant or anybody at all suspected to have participated in the alleged forgery, but only implores the Police to cause an investigation to be conducted on the matter.

“The proof of evidence is not supported with either the Old Standing Rules or the allegedly forged Standing Rules.

“The Statements of the 1st & 2nd Defendants neither state that the purported Standing Rules was forged nor does it name the 3rd Defendant or any person at all as part of those who carried out the alleged forgery.

“Listed as witnesses to be called by the Prosecution are: Senator Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi, Senator Ita Enang, Senator Solomon Ewuga, Dr. Ogozy Nma, Adem J, D.I.G Dan’ Azumi J. Dama, ACP David Igbodo, Senator Ahmed L. Lawan, Senator Abdullahi A. Gumel, Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Senator Robert Borofice, Senator Abu Ibrahim, Senator Ojudu Babafemi.

“The aforementioned persons all volunteered statements to the Police, except D.I.G Dan’ Azumi J. Dama and ACP David Igbodo, who neither volunteered any statement nor presented any report of investigation.

“The statements of all the intended witnesses neither mentioned the 3rd Defendant nor any other name at all as participants in the alleged forgery.”

Forgery charges against Saraki, others in order –Falana

Also, a human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), said on Wednesday that there was nothing wrong in preferring the fresh forgery charges against Saraki and other co-defendants.

Falana, who spoke with one of our correspondents on the telephone, said the Senate also lacked the power to summon the AGF, Malami, over the case.

He stated that once charges had been filed, the only appropriate forum to challenge them was the court.

The SAN added, “Some people wrote petition to the police. The police have investigated the case and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions of the Federation issued advice and charges have been framed.

“If anybody has anything against the charges, you challenge them in court.

“The Senate said they have summoned the Attorney General of the Federation, to do what? To discuss the charges that have already been filed in court? Do they have the power to summon the AGF?

“Under the Senate rule, any matter in court cannot even be discussed on the floor of the Senate.”

He said the stance of the Senate on the case, which informed its decision to summon the AGF, was part of the growing wave of influential people in the country attempting to get immunity from criminal prosecution through all sort of means.

Falana also justified the freezing of the bank account of the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, saying the governor only enjoyed immunity from prosecution and not from investigation.

In a statement on Wednesday, Falana stated, “While not challenging the allegation by the EFCC that the sum of N1.3bn has been traced to his personal account, Mr. Fayose has attempted to hide under the immunity clause to shield himself from investigation.

“Contrary to the governor’s claim, he does not enjoy immunity from investigation with respect to his criminal involvement in treasonable conduct and corrupt practices.

“It is trite law that all the public officers protected by Section 308 of the Constitution can be investigated for corruption and other criminal offences.”

http://www.punchng.com/last-minute-effort-stop-saraki-deputys-prosecution-fails/