Timipre Sylva, Minister of State for Petroleum, has withdrawn from the presidential race in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and has returned to work.

A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who monitored development at the ministry in Abuja on Monday reports that Sylva withdrew having considered the enormous work at hand at the ministry.

NAN reports that the Northern Solidarity Group had on May 9, presented the APC’s Expression of Interest and Nomination form to the minister to enable him to contest the party’s 2023 presidential primaries.

An official at the ministry who chose to remain anonymous said Sylva withdrew from the race to support President Muhammadu Buhari in his quest to achieve a robust oil sector.

“He promised to consult the leader of the country and his political leaders the day he was presented with the form.

“He believes that concentrating on his work will attract more investments for the oil and gas sector.

“He has consulted and he believes that the challenges at the ministry and oil and gas sector are enough issues for him to begin to deal with now than going to pursue presidential ambition at the expense of the nation.

“The oil and gas sector is the mainstay of the economy and it is not like any other ministry somebody can just come in and take over.

“It requires some measures of time for the person to understand what is happening in the system.

“For the interest of the industry and the nation, he has decided to wave that personal ambition to see what he can contribute in the remaining part of President Buhari’s administration.

“The implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 is very critical and he wants to continue to make his own contribution to the day-to-day running of the country and support Mr President for robust achievements,” the official said.

Meanwhile, Mr Horatious Egua, Senior Special Assistant to the minister on media, when contacted, confirmed to NAN that the minister was back to work.

Dame Pauline Tallen, Minister of Women Affairs, has dropped her senatorial ambition.

Tallen made this known in a statement she issued on Monday.

The Minister had purchased the All Progressives Congress (APC) form to contest the Plateau South Senatorial election.

According to her, after consultations with her constituents, she has decided to withdraw from the race.

The statement read in part: “I remain resolute as I continue to relish the opportunity to serve Nigerian Women in my capacity as Minister of Women Affairs under the able leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Consequently, I wish to inform you all that following broad-based consultations and interventions from critical stakeholders, I have decided to withdraw from running for the senatorial seat, mindful of our accomplishments and the notable progress we have recorded under my stewardship at the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.”

Renowned Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, said that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW), was at several points during his lifetime insulted by non-Muslims, yet he refused to attack or even kill persons who assassinated his characters.

Gumi made this known while conducting a religious teaching class in his Kaduna Juma’at mosque.

The Kaduna based scholar, in a video clip obtained and translated by PRNigeria, said the prophet’s refusal to avenge the insults of non-Muslims were raining on him while he was alive, was because he does not want to be regarded or tagged a killer.

He spoke while reacting to the lynching of a female Christian student at Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto, over allegedly blasphemous statements on Prophet Muhammad.

He observed that the best way Muslims can show that they love Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is by adhering to his religious teaching, and totally obeying him, instead of killing people over trivial issues.

According to him, both Nigerian Muslims and Christians have agreed to live harmoniously together, hence no religious law is applied in the country, being a secular State.

“Hence, anyone who kills a non-Muslim who they have agreed to live peacefully with, will not smell the fragrance of Paradise for 40 years,” he said.

Sheikh Gumi, while noting that no one is allowed to take laws into his or her hands in Islam, called on his fellow Islamic clerics to impart sound religious tenets to their adherents instead of instigating them to perpetrate ‘reprehensible’ acts.

“If we think by killing Deborah, people who are not of the same faith with us will stop insulting our prophet, then we are in delusion,” he concluded.

PRNigeria reports that Sheikh Gumi a medical doctor and a retired military officer is the current Mufti and mufassir at the Kaduna Sultan Bello Central mosque. He is the eldest son to late Shaykh Abubakar Gumi, the first Grand Khadi of the old Northern Region who was instrumental to the massive Islamic propagation in Northern Nigeria.

PRESS STATEMENT

Curfew Declaration

(Being a text of curfew declaration statement by Gov. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal [CFR, Mutawallen Sokoto] today May 13, 2022, on the restoration of law and order in the state following students unrest that led to the killing of Miss Deborah Emmanuel, a student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto).

A’uzu Billahi Minas Shaidanir Rajim

Bismillahi Rahmanir Rahim

Wa Sallahu Ala Nabiyyil Karim

Fellow citizens of Sokoto state!

Following the sad incident that happened at the Shehu Shagari College of Education on Thursday and sequel to the developments within (Sokoto) metropolis this morning till afternoon, by the powers conferred on me by sections 176(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; and section 1 and 4 of the Public Order Act; and, also Section 15 of Sokoto State Peace Preservation Law, I hereby declare, with immediate effect, a curfew within (Sokoto) metropolis of Sokoto township for the next 24 hours.

I appeal to the good people of Sokoto state to kindly continue to observe law and order and calm down (on the) restiveness currently pervading in the metropolis.

Everyone should, please, in the interest of peace go back home and observe this measures, with a view of the reestablishment of peace, law and order in the state.

It is not in the interest of anyone for us to have a breakdown of law and order. I, therefore, appeal for restraint; and, for people to observe and respect the rule of law.

Thank you very much!

Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, ex-Minister of Science and Technology has backed the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the possible adoption of a Consensus to determine the party’s presidential candidate later this month.

Speaking through his spokesman, Dr Uche Egenti, when he returned his nomination form, Ogbonnaya Onu, said he has the temperament to lead a diverse nation like Nigeria and stabilize the polity.

He equally explained that he has no objections to the mode of primary the leadership of the party would adopt to produce the candidate of the APC.

He however urged the party to ensure sincerity and transparency in the discharge of the forthcoming special Convention.

Meanwhile, Minister of Labour and Productivity Chris Ngige has announced his withdrawal from the APC presidential nomination battle sequel to an audience he had with President Mohammadu Buhari. He has since returned to his job.

Ngige said he declared to seek the office due to pressure mounted on him by his constituents and associates, adding that after more consultation he has decided to quit.

A governorship and two House of Representatives aspirants have dragged the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja over threats to disqualify them from taking part in the 2023 general elections.

The aspirants, Ambassador Sodique Baba Abubakar, Sodique Lawal Abubakar and Bindir Umar Buba are praying the court to stop APC and INEC from disqualifying them on the strength of their being political appointees and section 84 (11) and (12) of the Electoral Act 2022.

The suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/641/2022 was instituted on their behalf by their counsel, Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN).

The three plaintiffs are contending that section 84 (11) and (12) of the new Electoral Act is discriminatory against them and unconstitutional and therefore should not be permitted by the court to be used to disqualify them on account of their mere political appointment.

In their originating summons filed on May 11, the plaintiffs want the court to determine whether being Nigerians covered by sections 66, 177, 182 of the 1999 Constitution can be subjected to any other conditions, rules or guidelines for the purpose of election into the office of the governor of Bauchi State and House of Representatives respectively by APC under section 221 of the Constitution other than the qualifications and criteria set out in sections 66, 177 and 182 of the Constitution.

They also ask the court to determine whether being card carrying members of APC and political appointees they can be prevented or barred from participating in its conventions, congresses or primaries merely because they are political appointees.

The plaintiffs further sought determination of whether the directive of APC based on section 184 (12) of the Electoral Act 2022 that political appointees must resign their positions 30 days before they can participate in its conventions, congresses or primaries for the purpose of standing as political party candidates in the coming election is constitutional.

Breaking: Jigawa Governor orders appointees, civil servants eyeing political office to resign

The Executive Governor of Jigawa State, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar MON,mni has ordered all political appointees and civil servants eyeing elective office to resigned.

The governor issued the directive at the state’s executive council meeting on Wednesday.

Auwal D. Sankara (FICA),
Senior Special Assistant to the Executive Governor of Jigawa State on New Media

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, has told Justice Abdul Mohammed of a Federal High Court in Abuja, that he is a public servant and not a political appointee.

He, therefore, prayed the court to halt his removal from office, on account of his presidential ambition.

Emefiele had through his counsel, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, applied for an order of status quo ante bellum to be made against INEC and AGF, so that he would not be made to resign from office until 30 days to the general election in 2023.

In an ex-parte application argued in court on Monday, Emefiele denied being a political appointee but a public servant, who is not affected by the provision of Section 84 (12) of the new Electoral Act 2022.

The CBN governor asked the court to invoke section 318 of the 1999 Constitution to bar the defendents from asking him to vacate office until 30 days to the February 2023 presidential election.

Emefiele expressed apprehension that the sale and submission of the presidential nomination forms would expire on May 11, 2022 and that unless the INEC and AGF are ordered to maintain status ante bellum as at May 5 when he filed the suit, he would be made to vacate office before his forms would be accepted by the appropriate authorities.

But the court turned down a request for a restraining order by Emefiele, against the Independent National Electoral Commission and the attorney-general of the federation over his presidential ambition.

Instead, the Judge ordered him to put the defendants on notice and also serve court processes on the them.

Justice Mohammed ordered the defendants to appear before him on May 12 and show cause on why the request should not be granted.

Former Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh, has hit out at Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, following his comments after the Reds’ Premier League 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

Klopp watched as Liverpool drew against Tottenham at Anfield, following goals from Heung-Min Son and Luis Diaz.

But speaking after the game, Klopp hit out at Tottenham for their style of play, insisting: “I don’t like this kind of football.

“I’m sorry; I am the wrong person to ask about [Tottenham’s defending] because I don’t like this kind of football. But that is my personal problem. I think they’re world-class and I think they should do more for the game.”

However, his comments have received heavy criticism from Oliseh, who said the German failed to find the key to win against Spurs with the hugely gifted players in his possession.

“Disappointing with all due respect to Klopp,” Oliseh wrote on Twitter on Sunday.

“There are different ways of playing football; one should always respect the opponent’s style. Up to him to find the key to win with the hugely gifted players in his possession. Football will be boring if we all played the same way.”

ARREST OF FAKE SOLDIER

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a fake soldier, Samuel Msughter, aged 28 on the Epe/Ijebu Road. The suspect specialized in escorting goods in full army uniform.

Investigation is ongoing to unravel the full extent of his criminality especially with the uniform. Suspect will be charged to court at the end of investigation.

The disqualification of Nwachukwu Anakwenze and Cosmas Ndukwe by the 9-member screening Committee led by former President of the Senate, David Mark, was upheld by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday.

Recall that the screening committee had disqualified the two aspirants out of the 17 presidential aspirants that bought the expression of interest and nomination forms.

The two aspirants, who were disqualified because they didn’t meet the requirements, were, however, given the opportunity to appeal according to the party constitution.

Those screened by the committee were former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi and Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal.

Others were Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, Akwa Ibom governor, Emmanuel Udom, former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose and publisher of Ovation Magazine, Dele Momodu.

Also in the race are; former President, Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN), Sam Ohuabunwa; investment banker, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen; Charles Ugwu; Chikwendu Kalu and the only female aspirant, Tareila Diana.

The appeal committee led by the party National Chairman, Senator Iyorcha Ayu, has, however, upheld the disqualification of the two aspirants.

The aspirants, who spent several hours with the appeal committee, refused to speak with journalists, who wanted to find out what transpired between them and the committee members.

While Anakwenze refused to talk to journalists at the end of his session with the Ayu appeal panel, Ndukwe who also appeared before the appeal panel and had already dragged the party to court in protest against his disqualification, was also not different.

Meanwhile, Peter Obi has said that it is disheartening that the noise of 2023 is dominating the space rather than the plight of Nigerian students wasting at home and being exposed to all kinds of danger and degradations.

He lamented that while politicians are campaigning for 2023, the children who should be in school are at home.

Speaking while responding to a question from a Nigerian student when he appeared at a popular Abuja based human rights Radio and Television station known as berekete family in Abuja, the presidential aspirant and former governor of Anambra state said that the N40million and N100million being collected for form from Presidential aspirants from the two leading political parties is enough to meet some demands of ASUU

He noted that the genesis of the ASUU strike is in the inability of government to keep agreements and that “stems from the value we place in education which should be the biggest investment.”

Obi said that if he is elected President of this country, he will make Nigeria a producing nation because that is the only way to have a strong and viable economy.

He remarked that Nigeria economy is down because the operating system is in sharing rather than producing.

When asked how he intend to create a viable economy if elected he said he would start by cutting off excess wastages that is prevalent in the system.

“Yesterday, I sat with Our Leader & our father, @officialasiwajubat together with Mr Governor and my Egbon @jidesanwoolu .

During this meeting i was repeatedly reminded by both mentors, that leadership is defined by results, not attributes or words alone.

It goes without saying that, their records speak to their results.

God bless them. #incomingpresidentofnigeria by God’s Grace #BAT23 #2ndtermiscoming #Lagos

God bless Nigeria. “

Billionaire entrepreneur, Elon Musk, on Wednesday, said Twitter commercial and government users may have to pay to use the micro-blogging platform.

Twitter on Monday, April 25, confirmed the selling of the platform to Musk in a deal valued at $44 billion.

The sale was a dramatic shift for the board, which had originally maneuvered to block Musk from taking the social media network private.

“Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated,” Musk said in a joint statement announcing the takeover.

But confirming fears by the majority that his takeover might lead to commercialisation of the social media platform, Musk in a tweet in the early hours of Wednesday, said commercial and government users will pay for the platform.

He, however, said the micro-blogging site would “always” remain free for casual users.

Justifying his move to commercialise the platform for commercial and government users in a series of tweets, the billionaire entrepreneur said free services led to the downfall of great businesses.

He wrote, “Twitter will always be free for casual users, but maybe a slight cost for commercial/government users.

The entrepreneur in a reply to a tweet added, “Some revenue is better than none!”

In an earlier tweet, Musk said, “Ultimately, the downfall of the Freemasons was giving away their stonecutting services for nothing.”

Mr Abdul Abiola, one of the sons of the late Chief MKO Abiola has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the circumstances that led to the death of his father.

The young Abiola said this via his Twitter handle @AbdulMKO on Tuesday.

He said that it was time for Nigerians to know the truth as to the circumstances that led to the death of his father, adding that the President should look into the archives.

This, he said, would help the President to unravel the mystery behind the death of the late MKO, stressing that it was only such move that would bring about justice.

“It’s time for the Nigerian people to know the Truth as to what happened in the post-June 12, 1993 Elections.

“And also, what led to the death of MKO Abiola and Kudirat Abiola and other unsung heroes.

“I urge President Muhammadu Buhari to look into our country archives for justice to prevail,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Abiola was the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections but his election was annulled by the then head of state, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.

Abiola, however, declared himself as the President in what was called Epetedo declaration, but was subsequently arrested by the government of late Gen. Sani Abacha, the then head of state.

NAN reports that President Buhari had also posthumously honoured Abiola with GCFR, which is the highest title in the land and the exclusive preserved of the President of Nigeria.

Buhari also declared June 12 as Democracy Day against May 29 which was the day it was being celebrated before.

The man in whose care the three-storey building that collapsed in Ebute-Meta was entrusted, said that he gave its occupants quit notice after discovering the house was distressed.

The caretaker, the landlord’s son, spoke anonymously to emergency responders and journalists on Monday.

He explained that he was living in the building with other occupants when he noticed the distress signs.

“I had to leave the building and rent an apartment in the same vicinity,” the caretaker said.

The caretaker said he eventually handed quit notice to the occupants, but they failed to quit.

Also, he said he had not collected rent from the tenants for a long time since he had expected them to vacate the building.

The building collapsed on Sunday night, killing eight occupants, while 23 were rescued alive.

Emergency workers have been working on getting to ground zero of the building.

On Tinubu

Tinubu has the right to run. He is a great man. Perhaps the greatest politician in Nigeria today. But I will not vote or support him. In my view, his profile is very questionable in many ways. If he is president, it may look to some people as the equivalent of Nigeria being ruled by a one-man mafia, some would say, a criminal gang.

This is a very corrupt country, almost a criminal state. Yes, we don’t need saints (we won’t even find them). But we don’t need someone whose important bio data are allegedly falsified or subject to controversy.

We don’t need as President in 2023 someone who is stupendously wealthy; and we think his wealth may have been taken from the public (whether proven or not).

Ahead of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primaries slated for May 28th, former Deputy Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Cosmas Ndukwe has approached Federal High Court sitting in Abuja in a bid to stop the party’s primary election.

Ndukwe asked the court to stop the PDP’s presidential primary because the party has not zoned its ticket to the South East.

The ex- deputy Speaker, through his lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Paul Erokoro, made the plea in an ex parte application marked FHC/ABJ/CS/508/2022 filed at the court presided by Justice Donatus Okorowo.

The application was, however, challenged by counsel to the main opposition party, Agu Kalu, who urged the judge not to grant the request of the plaintiff.

Justice Okorowo, on his part, fixed Thursday next week for the hearing of the suit after considering the argument by the counsel to the PDP.

At the adjourned date, the main opposition party would be expected to show cause why the application should not be granted.

There have been controversy and debates over where the party’s presidential candidate should emerge.

This followed the inauguration of the party’s zoning committee by its National Working Committee on March 24 amid calls that the PDP should zone its presidential ticket to the southern region of the country.

The committee led by Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State was tasked with the responsibility of ensuring fair distribution of the party’s elective offices across the country.

After the committee concluded its assignment, Governor Ortom said members had reached a unanimous agreement on the matter, although he declined to speak on what the position of the committee was.

Rather, he said the committee would forward its report to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.

Some members of the committee included Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwunanyi of Enugu State, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu, as well as former governors, lawmakers and other party stalwarts.

In a bid to have section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act 2022 deleted, President Muhammadu Buhari has enlisted the services of five Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) to battle the fierce legal battle instituted against him by the Peoples Democratic Party PDP on the Electoral Act dispute.

The five SANs are Chief Oladipupo Okpeseyi, renowned Professor of law, Yemi Akinseye George, Abdul Atadoga Ibrahim, Tijani Alkali Gasali and Ehiogie West-Idahosa.

The senior lawyers are mandated to fortify the position of the Presidency that section 84 (12) of the 2022 Electoral Act is unconstitutional, null and void and should be deleted.

Already, Buhari, through the legal team being coordinated by Okpeseyi SAN has filed a Preliminary Objection suit against the PDP suit seeking its outright dismissal on the ground that the suit failed to disclose any cause of action against him.

The President who is the 1st and major defendant in the court action labelled PDP as a busy body seeking to take over the constitutional functions of the National Assembly through the back door.

He had on Thursday at the Federal High Court filed a joint counter-affidavit alongside the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to debunk all allegations made against them by the party.

In the new process, Buhari told the court that PDP was registered as a political party but now seeking to take over the functions of the Senate on law-making and law amendment.

He asked the court to resist the temptation of granting the request of the PDP so as not to impede the growth of democratic governance in the country.

Buhari’s preliminary objection against the suit was predicated on two major grounds among which are that the suit is incompetent as it does not disclose any reasonable cause of action thereby robbing the court of jurisdiction.

He claimed that the suit of the plaintiff is premature as there is nothing before the court showing the existence of any cause of action.

The President also hinged his call for the dismissal of the suit on the reason that it discloses no wrongful act against him or any injury suffered by PDP or any damage likely to be suffered by the party if the Electoral Act’s section 84 (12) is deleted.

Ground two of the objection was premised on abuse of court process in view of a judgment by the same court in Umuahia delivered by Justice Evelyn Anyadike on March 18 in suit No FHC/UM/CS/26/2022 which nullified and set aside section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act 2022.

In the bid to justify his request for dismissal of PDP’S suit, Buhari cited section 240 of the 1999 Constitution which forbids the Federal High Court from sitting as an Appeal Court on its own decisions.

A copy of the preliminary objection sighted by DAILY POST showed it was endorsed by Oladipupo Okpeseyi SAN on the authority of President Buhari and has been served on parties in the suit for hearing on May 16 by Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, on Friday, said the party has not decided on which of the six zones in Nigeria will produce the presidential candidate for the 2023 election, despite the commencement of the sale of nomination forms.

This is even as the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) led by Prof Ango Abdullahi announced fresh moves to pressure the major political parties to throw their tickets open to all sections of the country, saying that the “power shift arrangement is already dead and buried.”

Speaking to newsmen after presenting the Ekiti APC gubernatorial candidate, Abiodun Oyebanji, to President Muhammadu Buhari in the State House, Abuja, Adamu noted that the decision on which part of the country should produce the ruling party candidate was beyond his purview as Chairman.

“The party has not made a decision and I cannot pre-empt what the party decision will be,” Adamu said.

APC had swapped its national offices between North and South, leading to the emergence of Adamu from the North Central as the national chairman.

Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State had said just before the last national convention of the party that even though the APC had not decided on zoning the presidential ticket, the swapping of national offices was an indication that its presidential candidate would come from southern Nigeria.

On the criticism trailing the price tags of the party’s nomination forms, Adamu said the APC has no regrets over the decision as it was meant to separate the serious contenders from pretenders, adding that “we did our homework.”

The APC chairman insisted that the party was poised to discourage parties that have no chance of winning elections to sponsor individuals to destabilise its plans.

He further said the party raised the cost so as to raise sufficient funds to successfully prosecute the forthcoming elections.

There is security beef up at the zonal secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party in Port Harcourt, as screening of aspirants for the governorship is underway.

Aspirants from Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Cross River, and Edo states are already at the venue which is the party’s zonal secretariat along Aba Road in Port Harcourt.

A myriad of security operatives, including the police, DSS, mobile police and mounted the entrance, as proper identification was demanded before even the media were allowed in.

Some of the governorship aspirants from Rivers State seen are the former state chairman of the PDP, Felix Obuah, Senator Lee Maeba, former Transport Minister, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, and David Briggs among others.

The Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC, on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 arrested thirty suspected internet fraudsters in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The suspects, comprising of twenty-eight males and two females were arrested at different locations in Ado-Ekiti based on credible intelligence obtained by the Command.

They are Godspower Falodun, Omoniyi Pelumi, Victor Damilola, Akerele Olugbenga, Oluwatosin Alade, Abayomi Aderinwa, Ologunsoro Ayodeji, Olakunle Bidemi, Emmanuel Olukayode, Ojo Tobi, Ayeni Kayode, Ezekiel Ayomide, Tunde Lukman, Onikoyi Tobi, Busayo Obadu, Abiodun Taofeek, Ajayi Opeyemi and Ebenezer Ayodeji.

Others are Akinola Paul, Jacob Wisdom, Akinrinmola Olumide, Lawrence Abimbola, Tope Abejide, Busuyi Ajewole, Seyi Ajewole, Sunday Pelumi, Sunday Pelumi, Fapohunda Paul and Aguh Henry, while Omowumi Victoria and Peace Beloved were the only females amongst the suspects.

Items including six exotic cars worth millions of naira, forty-seven different brands of phones and sixteen laptops were recovered from the suspects at the point of arrest.

In a related development, operatives of the Command also arrested four persons suspected to have been involved in similar offences over the weekend in Ilorin.

The Suspects: Oyewole Moruf Damilare, Abdul-salam Quzeem, Mohammed Bello and Olusanya Idowu Lukman were arrested in Agric Estate, Sango area of Ilorin following a tip-off on their alleged unwholesome activities.

Some of the items recovered from the suspects at the point of arrest included expensive phones, different brands of laptops and a car.

Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi has paid for his All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to contest the 2023 presidential election.

Mr Yemi Kolapo, Director, Media and Publicity, Yahaya Bello Presidential Campaign Organisation, revealed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

Kolapo said the governor paid the required N100 million for the purchase of the forms early on Tuesday.

“This made him the first to officially seal his aspiration to the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023,” he said.

She recalled that Nigerians from all walks of life stormed the Abuja Eagle Square on Saturday, April 2, to witness the official acceptance of Bello to vie for the 2023 presidency.

According to him, the venue of the declaration was filled to the brim with different support groups while an almost equal crowd was seen outside the venue.

Kolapo said with the payment for the forms, Bello’s teeming supporters should be rest assured that he would be on the ballot paper in the 2023 presidential race.

“We are highly encouraged by the number of APC governors, leaders and stakeholders who have demonstrated their strong support for the candidacy of our principal.

“We reiterate that he is not known for betrayal. He is always very loyal to his own, and his priorities had always been Nigeria, Nigeria and Nigeria.

“Though, the race officially begins now, it is on record that Bello has consistently been at the forefront of the contest.

“He has demonstrated this again by being the first to pay for the APC expression of interest and nomination forms.

“We urge delegates and indeed all Nigerians to shun divisive narratives in the interest of the nation and choose the best of the lot,” she said.

He expressed optimism that the APC Abdullahi Adamu-led National Working Committee (NWC) would put the interest of the party and that of Nigeria first in its activities for the emergence of the party’s 2023 presidential candidate.

He noted that the last few months had witnessed persistent calls by youth, women and professional groups across Nigeria on the Kogi governor to contest the 2023 presidential election.

“With Sen. Jonathan Zwingina as the Chairman of the Hope ’23 Yahaya Bello Presidential Campaign Organisation, and Hafsat Abiola-Costello as the Director-General, the tone is set for hope to be actualised for Nigerians in 2023,” Kolapo said.

HISTORIC

Barça has lost THREE CONSECUTIVE official matches at the Camp Nou (Eintracht, Cádiz and Rayo), within the same season, for the FIRST TIME in its history.

Barca lost 3 in a row in 2 seasons (the last 2 of 97-98 and the first of 98-99).

Barcelona LOSE three straight home matches in the same season for the FIRST TIME EVER