₦airaland Forum

Nigeria’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has displayed the forms of the incumbent Governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the forthcoming election in the State, Godwin Obaseki, and those of 13 others.

The Commission displayed the particulars at its annex office, located at the former state secretariat of the PDP on Sapele Road in Benin, Edo State on Thursday.

INEC’s Information reveals that Governor Obaseki obtained the West African School Leaving Certificate in 1973 and Bachelor of Arts (B.A. Hons.), 1979, as his qualifications.

The Governor did not present his Higher School Certificate (HSC)

Obaseki will face his main challenger and candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and others in the September 2020 governorship election in the state.

APC’s Ize-Iyamu possesses an LLB from the University of Benin, Uniben.

Recall that Ize-Iyamu walked out of the PDP platform in 2016 while Obaseki enjoyed the support of the ruling APC during the same duration.

The reverse is the case this time.

The APC disqualified Obaseki from participating in the June 22 primary election alleging inconsistency in his certificate.

This was after the Governor raised the alarm, alleging that the former National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole was planning to announce his disqualification.

Following his disqualification, Obaseki resigned from the ruling party.

He later joined the PDP where he participated in the party’s primary election and emerged as the party’s sole candidate for the September 2020 governorship election.


https://www.inform.ng/post/edo-gubernatorial-election-inec-displays-qualifications-of-obaseki-ize-iyamu-others

The police in Abuja have busted a gang that abducted and killed the zonal officer in the office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, Mohammed Danjuma.

After killing him, the gang withdrew the money in Danjuma’s bank account with his Automated Teller Machine card and bought a Mazda car with the money. The vehicle was recovered by the police.

Those in custody in connection with the crime are Chukwuebuka Obiekulia, aka Ebuka-Jesus, 25; Sadiq Abubakar, aka Alhaji or Doggy, 21; Daniel Owowo, 26; Friday Musa, aka Afra, 20; and John Shedrach, 24.

They were arrested by detectives from the Federal Capital Territory Police Command at their hideout in Tasha 1, Gwagwa, between May 20 and 27, 2020.

Danjuma’s remains were recovered in the Gwagwa-Kagini area on March 16, 2020, after he was dispossessed of his valuables, including his ATM card, which was used to withdraw money from his account.

Preliminary findings revealed that the deceased boarded the syndicate’s cab as a passenger from Berger en-route the Tipper Garage, Katampe, but was diverted by his assailants to an unknown location, where he was attacked with a wheel spanner and dispossessed of his valuables.

Confirming the incident on Wednesday, the FCT police spokesman, DSP Anjuguri Manzah, said the detectives recovered from the suspects a Mazda 626 car with number plate KWL 132 CN and another Mazda 323 car with number plate CF 123 KSF.

“They will be arraigned after investigation,” he stated.

https://www.inform.ng/post/police-burst-gang-that-kidnapped-robbed-and-killed-fg-staff

Justice Aminat Ishaq of a Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin, has sentenced two armed robbers to death by hanging.

Adeyemi Aderinkomi and Timothy Ajayi were found guilty of conspiracy, culpable homicide and armed robbery.

The two convicts according to the court, killed Mr and Mrs Michael Signed of Fate quarters in Ilorin, the state capital in December 2016.

According to the court, they allegedly tied the victims hands with ropes, and dumped them inside a well.

The convicts then made away with the victims’ car, money, clothes and other valuables after murdering them.

INFORM NG reports that a family member of the deceased couple, Bernard John had on December 21, 2016, reported at the ‘F’ Division of the Nigeria police, Tanke, Ilorin, that he visited the house of the deceased to convey him to work but they were nowhere to be found.

Acting on Bernard John’s report, police detectives swung into action, visited the house and found blood stains in the room of the couple.

A former Police Commissioner in the state, Mr Olusola Amore revealed that a search in the compound led the police detectives to where the bodies of the deceased couple were found in a well within the premises and recovered.

He said, ”Investigation led to the arrest of the convicts who were the masterminds of the crime.

“They confessed to the crime. Ajayi also confessed to raping the woman before killing her and the husband, carting away their property, which included one Toyota Camry car, and two mobile phones among others.”

“They also confessed to have dumped the victims in the well to prevent being caught,” Amore added.

The suspects sold some of the stolen items to Akingbade Ademila and Toyose Alade who were arrested and exhibits recovered while “they set the Toyota Camry car ablaze in a bid to cover their tracks,” he stated.

Ajayi who claimed to be a teacher, had disclosed that he turned an armed robber because of financial problem, adding that ” I regret it. I have only tried to dupe one person, but I was not successful. I am a teacher.”

His partner in crime, Adeyemi said, “The couple did not offend them, but that they robbed the family after they got information that they were in possession of important documents.”

https://www.inform.ng/post/for-killing-couple-and-dumping-bodies-in-well-court-sentence-two-men-to-death

The family members of the late king Anele Orlu Oriebe of Akpor Kingdom, in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, who allegedly died of coronavirus complications, on Wednesday pleaded with the Rivers State Government to release his remains for burial in his kingdom.

It was learnt that the state Ministry of Health immediately buried the late king at the state cemetery without conducting the traditional funeral rites on the grounds that the deceased was COVID-19 positive.

However, the king’s family members insisted that the late king did not die of COVID-19 as claimed by the state government.

The head of Orlu Oriebe family and immediate elder brother to the late king, Kingsley Kinika Orlu, described the state government’s action as a taboo.

He said, “It is a taboo in Akpor Kingdom that a king is buried outside the community. It is a taboo. We call on well-meaning Nigerians to help us to plead with the government; they should give us even his bone so he can come back to his kingdom.

“The king did not die of COVID-19. His death is as a result of an accident he had in 2017. Before his death, he went to the hospital on his own on Saturday, and Monday he died"

https://www.inform.ng/post/your-excellency-release-our-king-obioakpor-community-begs-wike

Manchester City have been banned from the UEFA club competitions for the next two seasons by Uefa and fined €30m (£25m) after they were found to have seriously misled European football’s governing body and broken financial fair play rules.


UEFA handed down the punishment to the Premier League giants for breaching Financial Fair Play rules.

A statement read: "The Adjudicatory Chamber, having considered all the evidence, has found that Manchester City Football Club committed serious breaches of the UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations by overstating its sponsorship revenue in its accounts and in the break-even information submitted to UEFA between 2012 and 2016.

"The Adjudicatory Chamber has also found that in breach of the regulations the Club failed to cooperate in the investigation of this case by the CFCB.

"The Adjudicatory Chamber has imposed disciplinary measures on Manchester City Football Club directing that it shall be excluded from participation in UEFA club competitions in the next two seasons (ie. the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons) and pay a fine of € 30 million.

"The decision of the Adjudicatory Chamber is subject to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). If Manchester City Football Club exercises that right the full reasoned decision of the Adjudicatory Chamber will not be published prior to publication of the final award by the CAS.”

"As noted by the Adjudicatory Chamber, the club has the right to appeal this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Therefore, UEFA will not be commenting further on this decision at this stage."

https://www.inform.ng/post/man-city-banned-from-uefa-competitions-for-2-seasons-fined-30m

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, 30 prominent Nigerian activists, academics, and other professionals, have formed a new political movement called National Consultative Front.


The group’s objectives include mobilizing Nigerians for a popular mass action towards political constitutional reforms that are citizen-driven and process-led in engendering a new peoples’ constitution.


This was contained in a communique after a month-long nationwide consultations and virtual meetings. It was made public by the new group’s National Secretariat, in Abuja, on Wednesday.

Listed as members of the 30-member strong steering committee for the NCF include: Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’abba; former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Obadiah Mailafia; Olisa Agbakoba, SAN; Femi Falana SAN; Col. Abubakar Umar (retd.), Dr Oby Ezekwesili; Prof Jibo Ibrahim; Yabagi Sanni; Amb, Nkoyo Toyo, Isa Aremu, Prof Chidi Odinkalu, and Senator Shehu Sani.


Others include: Prof. Remi Sonaiya, Mallam Tanko Yinusa, Alhaji Shettima Yerima, Lady Funke Awolowo, Peter Ameh and Ogbeni Lanre Banjo, among others.

The group will be unveiled to the public later this month. Part of the resolutions adopted after the meeting read in part, “A new ideological mass Movement shall be initiated to embark on immediate mass mobilisation of the nooks and crannies of the country for popular mass action towards political constitution reforms that is citizens-driven and process-led in engendering a new Peoples’ Constitution for a new Nigeria that can work for all.


“The new movement shall also, without delay, mobilise for the economic wellbeing and prosperity of all Nigerians by demanding and ensuring that Chapter 2 of the present Constitution i.e.; “Fundamental Objectives & Directive Principles of State Policy becomes justiciable once and for all, while also mounting an articulate and vigorous campaign to deconstruct and reconstruct obnoxious election laws which have provided leeway for opportunists in the corridor of power to subvert the will of the electorate making voting irrelevant in determining who actually becomes elected in Nigeria.”


Members of the group expressed sadness that the nation’s political leadership has failed to protect Nigerians from the activities of bandits, armed robbers, and terrorists.


They also said it was time for Nigerians of good conscience to come together to deliver the nation from descending into chaos due to the absence of credible leadership.

The communique further read, “Our Political Coalition wish to assert that the current factionalisation and imbroglio rocking dominant political parties in Nigeria as well as the heightening political tension in the country, especially within the Nigerian ruling class, have further given credence to our resolve and intervention to provide a credible alternative political class and leadership for Nigeria as most of those who pride themselves as Leaders of our country in the last twenty-one years of civil rule have proved to be huge failures and burden to the wellbeing of our people


“To this end, we decry in categorical terms, the ongoing mindless massacre and kidnappings in the North West, North East, Southern Kaduna, the Middle Belt, Southern part of Nigeria and in fact the country at large by armed bandits and insurgents, who invade our communities, especially at night to inflict terror and murder on hapless residents and unsuspecting indigenes.

“We hereby call on those presently in charge of our Federal Government, military, and security apparatus to immediately wake up and do everything to stop the ongoing senseless pogrom against the masses of our people.”

https://www.inform.ng/post/utomi-oby-others-float-new-party-ahead-of-2023

Meanwhile, findings have shown that the remains of Ajimobi will not be buried at the Ishaq Abiola Ajimobi Central Mosque, Oke Ado, Ibadan, contrary to earlier reports.

The Oyo State Coordinator, National Council of Muslim Youth, Daud Afolabi; and the Chairman, Management Committee, Ishaq Abiola Ajimobi Central Mosque, Alhaji Abidemi Siyanbade, made this known in separate interviews with our correspondent.

Afolabi said, “As you can see, no place was marked within the premises of the mosque for graves. The body of the former governor will be laid to rest in one of his houses or anywhere the family decides; and not in the mosque.

“I can only tell you that we would pray for him in the mosque. He contributed a lot to the development of Islam and we want to honour him. He died while he was sick and as Muslims, we believe that he has a rest already before Allah.”

Corroborating this view, Shiyanbade said, “Ajimobi will not be buried on the premises of the mosque but a short prayer will take place there.

“His corpse will not be brought to the mosque because it is against Islamic injunction to do so. He would be buried anywhere the family decides and we would pray for him in the mosque.”

He stated that the former first lady, Florence Ajimobi, would determine where the former governor would be buried.”

https://www.inform.ng/post/late-ajimobi-wont-be-buried-inside-mosque-officials

Drsnives:
I wept.. but now she want to come back after messing herself with some of my close friends. I wrote a thread about her sometime last year. don't know if I should accept her back cos presently am still single

With due respect sir, you are a simp

1Sharon:
Cos they're easier to control right?

Cos one can actually find REAL wives amongst them.

Unsubmissive, arrogant and competing wives are useless to men. They are only sweet for side chiks

The worst mistake you will.make as a man is to settle down with Nigeria ladies in diaspora.

They lack respect, they aren't submissive, they are full of themselves, they can be very arrogantly slutty and wouldn't mind to send you to jail or kick you out of the home.

Nigeria women in Nigeria are far better!

The Former Vice President and the Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate in the 2019 election, Atiku Abubakar, has directed the activation of his over 150 independent support groups in Edo State in preparation for the state governorship election fixed for September 19.

The Deputy Director in charge of Atiku Support Group/Mobilization in the defunct Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation and PDP Presidential Campaign, Hon. Oladimeji Fabiyi, confirmed the directives of the former Vice President to newsmen in Benin City yesterday.

According to Fabiyi, Atiku directed that all Independent Atiku Support Groups in Edo State should be activated with immediate effect as part of mobilization for the victory of Godwin Obaseki, the governorship candidate of the PDP.
‎He said the former Vice President as a major stakeholder of the PDP, considers expedient to put in place winning structures and machinery that will guarantee total victory for the party in Edo State.

“You know we need to complete the circle in the South South region that naturally and originally belonged the PDP.

“Having received the directive with joy and enthusiasm, I have no doubt that all our support groups in Edo State will be very glad to receive this news and run with the directive of Atiku Abubakar for the benefit of Governor Obaseki and our great party in Edo State”, Fabiyi said.



https://www.inform.ng/post/deliver-edo-to-obaseki-atiku-charges-support-groups

The suspended National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has reacted to the dissolution of the party’s National Working Committee.

Briefing journalists on Saturday in Abuja, the ex-chairman said he has formally accepted the dissolution of the party’s NWC under his leadership.

Oshiomhole, however, pledged his loyalty to the ruling party, saying that his loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari remains unshaken.

According to him, the real test of his loyalty is not when things are going smoothly but when things suddenly become rough.

“Of course, we have now been dissolved and I have accepted that dissolution in good fate. I have always assured the President of my loyalty.

“I know it is easy for people to speak of loyalty when the going is good but loyalty is brought to the test when the going gets really tough,” he said.

He also expressed his joy that the APC under his leadership was able to work hard to ensure that unity returned to the Ninth Assembly.

Oshiomhole added that the emergence of Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has helped the executive arm of government to succeed.

His remarks followed the dissolution by the APC National Executive Committee (NEC).

The party’s council took the decision at a virtual emergency meeting, based on the recommendations of President Buhari.

Meanwhile, Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, has been appointed as the chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Governor Buni was sworn in by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami.

Similarly, Senator John Akpan Udo-Edehe was appointed as the secretary of the caretaker committee.

https://www.inform.ng/post/nwc-dissolution-oshiomole-resigns-to-fate-pledge-loyalty-to-buhari

Daddy Freeze has replied his attackers on social media who tagged him 'accomplice' after an old video of him dinning with Hushpuppi (who was recently arrested by Dubia police for fraud) was brought up on social media.



Hushpuppi and his alleged accomplice were arrested by Dubai police officers in an operation that was dubbed Fox Hunt 2.

Daddy Freeze posted a new video on Instagram where he recalled how he met Huspuppi and and how he told him that he’s an influencer.

Daddy Freeze said Hushpuppi never did anything suspicious around when they met as he got calls from international fashion brands during their meeting.

Daddy Freeze said that he would never have hung out with Hushpuppi if he was a known criminal.

He earlier maintained that he won’t discriminate as Jesus never discriminated.

See video below.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMelmtNatjg

https://www.inform.ng/post/i-never-knew-hushpuppi-is-a-fraudster-freeze

Kogi State Governor, Mr. Yahaya Bello has expressed confidence that his party, the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) will continue to wax stronger not withstanding the crisis threatening the soul of the party in recent times.

Bello, who said this on Friday while featuring on a Channels programme, *"Politics Today" anchored by Seun Okinbaloye, said the party will not disintegrate as being insinuated in some quarters.*

He said, *“APC is waxing stronger. It will not disintegrate. We are going to exercise our resolve in Edo, Ondo, Anambra and Ekiti states. We are stronger than before".*

“What existed in the APC in the last few weeks was misunderstanding among members expressing themselves in different ways and the leader of our party; the leader of the nation, President Muhammadu Buhari came in and called the children together and has addressed the matter.”

The governor debunked allegations that the happenings in the party was grand plot to scheme out the party's National Leader, Ahmed Bola Tinubu out of 2023 political arrangements.

“Asiwaju remains a leader of our party; he is a founding member of our party. Nobody no matter highly or lowly placed can undermined the position of Asiwaju in this country".

“He has been playing a fatherly role in Nigeria and that is why you can see that both APC and PDP members are gravitating towards him for counselling and his opinion on national and party issues,” Bello said".

The governor said President Buhari did nothing wrong by holding the NEC meeting at the Presidential Villa saying, “Mr President doesn't work alone; he doesn't work illegally, he consult extensively before taking his action and he has legal advisers.”

On the possibility of Oshiomhole returning as national chairman again, Bello said it was up to him to decide adding that the ousted national chairman has already paid his dues for the party.

“Adams Oshiomhole did not offend anyone and no one offended him. He has done very well for the party. He has produced Reps members, Senators, Governors and Mr President. He has served the party and has paid his due so, if he decided to run again, it is up to him, and if he decides not to run, nobody will force him,” he said.

https://www.inform.ng/post/tinubu-is-a-national-leader-in-apc-bello

Elder statesman and Chairman of the Northern Elders’ Forum, Prof Ango Abdullahi, who is also a former Vice-Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, tells OLALEYE ALUKO about the worsening state of insecurity in the North, the zoning and power rotation arrangement between the North and South, among other issues.

The Presidency has blamed some traditional rulers for the worsening state of insecurity especially banditry in the North, do you agree with that assertion?



Are traditional rulers in charge of Nigeria’s soldiers, police and other security agencies? Why are monarchs being accused of not being able to stop banditry and other security problems? It is just a clear indication of the failure which I referred to in the statement I issued some days ago. For a long time now, we have been calling them out so that the masses will realise that this is a failed government; and we didn’t hide it before now. We said so and we gave reasons why we talked and insisted that this (Muhammadu) Buhari’s government did not worth re-electing. But Nigerians re-elected it and, as such, I don’t see why they should be complaining now. So I don’t know what the problem is. They (the government) have to find scapegoats. They have to find people to blame for failing to do their work. If you look at the constitution, traditional rulers are not meant to be in charge of our security. Are they? We know those who the chief security officers are and what instruments they have in their hands. Traditional rulers are not listed as officers under the constitution of this country. They can probably be asked for advice; and even on that, it is only on matters bordering on traditional issues. In my statement on Sunday, my points were very straightforward and I think there is no doubt.

Do you think state governors from other regions of the country should also set up a regional or community policing outfit like the Amotekun in the South-West?

If you read the law, state governors are loosely referred to as the chief security officers of their states. If you go into the nitty-gritty of who actually does security works, won’t you refer to the police and the army? The Police Commissioner in a state will not take instruction from the governor without referring to the Inspector-General of Police. So, it is really not the state governor that is effectively in charge of security matters in the state. Therefore, it is still the Police High Command that is responsible. As far as I am concerned, it is a loose talk to say that somebody is in charge of security – whether at the state or local government levels – when he is really not in command or in charge of the security apparatus in the state. On it (Amotekun), what have they (the governors) done? This is something that is always pronounced on paper. But we know that when the chips are down, those who are officially supposed to handle insecurity are the police. In fact, what perhaps they (the governors) are saying is that they are willing to assist the security agencies operating in their states in as many ways as possible. But they cannot with the current situation take over the duties of the army, police and so on. No, they cannot. It will just lead to more complications in the way things are being run in this country.

President Buhari is from the North-West where insecurity is currently on the rise, have you sought an audience with him on this issue of rising banditry and related killings?

Buhari is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; he is not the President of Daura; he is not the President of Katsina State. He is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with all the state security apparatus directly under his command. So, where he comes from is totally irrelevant to the discussion. The responsibility to secure every citizen from every part of the country rests on him. So, the question of the sentiments of his birthplace and so on does not arise at all. And in fact, if it had gone the other way, it would show he paid special attention to the areas of his birthplace. Why should you pay particular attention to your areas instead of every part of Nigeria that you are supposed to be presiding over? So all these excuses and arguments are not what the public should be paying attention to. The President is supposed to take advice from every Nigerian. He is supposed to listen to Nigerians. The fact that you are in Lagos does not mean you cannot give advice on Daura or on the North. Every Nigerian has the right or privilege of giving advice on matters relating to the Nigerian state. I think what is happening now, on the contrary, is an indication that the system is breaking down, if it has not already broken down.

Some persons have suggested that governors of the states affected by banditry should engage in dialogue with the bandits. Do you think bandits are persons of reason that can be brought to a negotiation table?

Doesn’t that offend our collective sensibility? This means that the government has been overwhelmed by criminals. And this is to the extent that a governor or somebody else in that position will call criminals to a conference in terms of ensuring security, and with conditions given to him by these criminals? Thus, this is a confirmation that things are already out of control. Where do you find it in the world? Where? Where do you see a state calling criminals to a conference or a dialogue? And they are giving you conditions that you are accepting. This then means that you have given up on your responsibilities to secure your areas.

The military are currently conducting several land and air bombardments in the North. Do you think previous and current military operations in these crisis areas have achieved anything?

Well, I don’t know because I am not in the military and they do not report to me; so I don’t know. But the government itself said it had defeated the Boko Haram terrorists. You journalists are supposed to be taking them up on this. You are supposed to put them on their toes. They claimed that they had defeated the Boko Haram and secured the areas that were formerly under the control of insurgents.

Do you think there is any problem with our present military architecture that it appears they cannot tackle insecurity?

I don’t need to answer that question at all. What we have on the ground is that we have security forces and they have responsibilities for our security and for the country. You don’t need Ango Abdullahi for you to conclude whether they are ineffective or not. You should be able to judge whether they have been effective or not. You should be able to judge whether their claims are correct or not. If the government say, “yes”, the country is secure; then why are we having all these security problems everywhere now? So, it is up to you to conclude based on your investigations. In my statement, I noted that the masses are angry and fed up. Already, there are protests in some parts of the country and what we are saying is that the protests should be as peaceful as possible, in as much as the people have a right to protest.

In July 2019, NEF made a call to Fulani herdsmen to return home with their cattle because they were not safe in the southern part of the country. Have they started returning or have you changed your stance?

Our advice to them was conditional. When there was so much noise in the areas where they were operating with many notable indigenes calling on them to quit, we asked them to appeal to the leadership of these areas that they wanted to live in peace in the communities. We also told them that if this became impossible, rather than stay and engage in conflicts, they should move to areas where they felt relatively safe. You should remember that the reaction of the government then was that who was I to advise the Fulani to move from one part of the country to another one. But we know that Nigerians should be at peace wherever they are. Whenever the Igbo’s movement from the North to their region was being debated, we were reminded that Nigerians should earn their livelihoods wherever they are. So we thought that the Fulani should be able to earn their livelihoods from every part of Nigeria. But I think the matter has been laid to rest since last year.

Aside from banditry, there seems to be a resurgence of the Boko Haram violence in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states; do you think the government has lost this war?

This is something that you should be reporting on. You should be the one to tell me.

The Presidency has hit back at NEF and at your person, saying you are a general without soldiers and that you have no credible membership or hold on the North; how do you react to this?

Yes, the government has described me as a general without troops. I replied them on Monday that Ango Abdullahi indeed has millions of Nigerians as his troops; Nigerians who acknowledge that this government has failed to secure the country. The Federal Government is in charge of the security apparatus of this country. I have no apparatus but from what Nigerians are saying in the newspapers, radio and everywhere, there is a total failure in terms of security in this country. Incidentally, the general who is supposed to be commanding the country’s armed troops must have been the one who failed – not Ango Abdullahi. This is the least of the responsibility that we can offer to the Nigerian people. We see and say things the way they are and this is what we have been doing at NEF in the past 10 years that we have been in existence; we don’t engage in sycophancy or praise-singing. If somebody is contending with what we are saying, then he should come out with counter-facts so that we can argue in the public space.

The Presidency also claimed that Nigerians could see how the government was tackling insecurity; do you think there is anything wrong with their method?

If there is security, why are Nigerians complaining about insecurity? If we are complaining about banditry, killings, and burning of villages by unknown gunmen, then there is insecurity. And this was why I issued the statement on this topic last week. Last week’s statement was not the first one which the media man in Aso Rock (Femi Adesina) would be responding to that Ango Abdulllahi is a general without troops. Millions of Nigerians acknowledge already that the country is suffering from insecurity. I am sure he (Adesina) will also think of the general who has troops and controls the nation’s security apparatus and yet we (citizens) are insecure. We are saying there is insecurity in the country and this is the consensus among Nigerians. Many Nigerians believe that Nigeria is insecure. It is not about Ango Abdullahi.

What is your take on the recent shooting incident in Aso Villa following a disagreement between some presidential aides and the Aide-de-Camp to the First Lady, Aisha Buhari?

Believe me, I just heard this from you. Unfortunately, this may not sound fair but I don’t watch Nigerian televisions. I get African and Nigerian news from other sources.

What signals are there for Nigeria if the President appears not to have a good grasp of his family affairs?

You can extrapolate that, it is not for me to extrapolate. I am only concerned about the official level of operation in our Presidency. I don’t want to get involved in family affairs.

There are insinuations that Buhari is not in charge of his government and unnamed members of a cabal are calling the shot. What would you say about this?

Well, I don’t know whether we have had a new election since 2019. All I know is that Buhari is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He took his oath of office on May 29, 2019. And I don’t know who else is in charge of Nigeria except Buhari. So, the buck stops on his table and I don’t want excuses at all. I don’t accept excuses.

Most of the political parties believe in zoning and power rotation. Going by this arrangement, another region is expected to produce the next President by 2023? Do you agree with this arrangement?

No! I was part of it in 1998 and 1999; but now I don’t believe in it again. I don’t believe in it and I say that Nigerians should find the best material that will run the country for them, irrespective of whether he is Ijaw, Hausa, Kanuri, Efik or whatever. This is my new thinking now. I think we have tried this zoning and it appears that it has failed. It has created more problems for us. I gave an interview recently where I said that there were some changes we have to make and be looking out for. Of course, this (zoning) is political, it is not even constitutional.

We should move away from the presidential system of government to parliamentary system. This is because the presidential system that we have tried for almost 40 years now has not worked; the parliamentary system was adopted for only five years and we abandoned it without any reason. We didn’t give any reason why it was less efficient or less effective than the presidential system that we now run. Presidential system is too expensive for a poor country and this is responsible for the corruption, incompetence and lack of accountability in Nigeria. So, let us go back to parliamentary system of government. I am one of those who would vote for a parliamentary system of government in a referendum, if there is a referendum tomorrow for a change of system from presidential to parliamentary.

Some people believe Nigeria cannot make progress with its current structure and that it needs to restructure, but it is also believed that the North doesn’t want it. Why is the North opposed to it?

What is restructuring? You have to give me the content of the restructuring with the details of the restructuring the country requires. Is it the political system it operates vis-à-vis the system it operated before independence or after independence? And for me, this country really was working before independence with the regions. The regions were virtually independent. Each region had a constitution – northern, southern and western; this is the region we inherited from the British and we used it for only four or five years. For me, if we had kept these regional structures (because they were working for us), we would have been better. The Western Region was doing very well with free education without oil money. The Northern and Eastern regions had their trades too. But now, we have got into what you called presidential system of government and you have billions coming from petroleum. But where are the services, schools, universities, health services and security despite the billions of dollars coming in from the oil sector? So, what I am saying is that the basic structure you want to change is the basis for restructuring. And this is it – go back to the parliamentary system and you will see a lot of differences between this present system which is unaccountable, full of indiscipline and corruption. But the government does not want to change – each governor thinks he should be a governor forever in his state. We can be five regions but the structures will be working better-schools, amenities, hospitals, and other places will be working well. So, we need to go back to that political structure because the political structure we have now (the presidential system of government) is not working. And the simple challenge we have for everyone who is talking about restructuring is that we need to have a referendum and make a decision to return. This is where we should go. We should not waste time talking about an imaginary restructuring.

https://www.inform.ng/post/buhari-doesnt-deserve-second-term-ango-abdullahi

Delta Governor, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa has welcomed his Edo counterpart, Mr Godwin Obaseki to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the September 19 Governorship election in the state.

Okowa who was in Benin City, the Edo State Capital on Sunday addressed newsmen shortly after a meeting with the Governor and top members of the PDP in Edo State at Government House Benin.

He said he was in Benin to formerly welcome his brother Governor, Obaseki to PDP and to assure him of the support of the Governors of the South South in the oncoming election in the state.

According to him, PDP is a great party built around the people and would always work in the interest of the people.

He appealed to all members of the party to ensure they work together going forward to deliver the party in the coming elections.

"I came here today to felicitate with my brother Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki for joining us at the biggest party in Africa.

"I welcome him today because in the spirit of the old Bendel, we are united as brothers.

"I want to thank our party people in Edo State for opening their arms to welcome the Governor.

"I know that he has been doing a great job in the state with several restrictions and I know that having come to PDP where there are no restrictions, he will do more for the people," he said

On his part, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki thanked his Delta counterpart for the visit assuring that he will do everything possible to ensure victory for the party in the state.

He said the PDP is a big United party in Edo adding that whoever emerges in the governorship primaries will get the support of the people.

"I made it a point of duty not to take the PDP membership card until i must have visited all the aspirants for Governorship in the PDP as a mark of respect for them.

"As I have come to join you, my doors are opened. There are lots of work to do. As a united House we can go home and conquer. I want to thank you for welcoming me to the party. By the grace of God we will return power to the people in the state," he stated.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Governor, Comrade Phillip Shaibu; former Governor Lucky Igbinedion; National Vice Chairman, PDP Elder Emmanuel Ogidi; Edo State PDP Chairman Mr Tony Aziegbeni; former Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Ogiadhome; Senator Matthew Urhoghide, Chief Tom Ikimi, former Works Minister Arc. Mike Onolememem among others.

https://www.inform.ng/post/governor-okowa-welcomes-governor-obaseki-to-pdp

The Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Abgoola Ajayi on Sunday formally withdrew his membership of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Ajayi who tendered his resignation letter to the Chairman of Apoi Ward 2, Samuel Ajayi and David Turo, the ward Chairman of his hometown of Kiribo in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo was welcomed into the PDP fold shortly after denouncing his APC membership.

This medium had exclusively reported that in the past days, Ajayi had been meeting with party leaders over his planned move to the PDP.

The resignation of the Deputy Governor was in preparation for his formal defection to the PDP at the State secretariat in Akure with the National Chairman, Uche Secondus and other PDP stalwarts set to be in attendance.

The defection of Ajayi confirmed months of speculation of the frosty relationship with his boss, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

Recall that less than 24 hours ago tension heightened in the state when the deputy governor was prevented from leaving the Government House over allegations of looting by his aides.

https://www.inform.ng/post/ondo-dep-gov-ajayi-switches-to-pdp

Two failures

All appears set for the emergence of Pastor Osagie Ize -Iyamu as the candidate of the APC for the 2020 governorship election. This is sequel to the decision of the two other aspirants, cleared by the screening committee to contest the party’s primary, to withdraw from the race.

The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, confirmed the development in a telephone interview with Sunday PUNCH, in Abuja, on Friday.

Although he did not name the aspirant left in the race, our correspondent gathered that Ize-Iyamu had emerged as the candidate of the party.

Asked how many contestants were participating in the party’s governorship primary, Issa-Onilu said, “We have only one person. The two other persons have written to us to withdraw from the race.”

With the coast cleared for Ize-Iyamu, he is still required to receive the endorsement of party members in line with provisions of Article 20 (iii) (a and b) of the APC Constitution 2014 (As Amended).

It stipulates, among other things, that …“where a candidate has emerged by consensus for an elective position, a vote of “Yes” or “No” should be called to ensure that it was not an imposition which could breed crisis.”

However, the APC was silent on the number of members expected to participate in the direct primary.

When contacted, the APC National Organising Secretary, Emma Ibidiro, said the Hope Uzodinma-led Election Committee would be better placed to provide such details after assessing the situation on the ground.

However, figures released by the party during the 2018 direct primary for the nomination of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), as the party’s standard bearer for the 2019 Presidential Election showed that 505,827 party members voted for Buhari to emerge as the party’s candidate in the election.


https://www.inform.ng/post/ize-iyamu-emerges-apc-candidate-as-two-aspirants-withdraw

Ahead of the governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State on Monday (tomorrow) the party has dismissed the order gazetted by the state government that political parties must obtain approval of the governor to hold any political gathering.

The APC maintained that it did not require a permit from the state governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, to hold direct primary as its preferred mode of choosing candidate for the September 19, 2020 governorship election in the state.

Obaseki had in a gazette signed on May 28 and published on June 5, banned political gatherings that could make direct primary possible in the state stipulating that only indirect primary could be held in the state and in only one location, Benin City.

The order partly reads, “That in respect of political gatherings for the purpose of conducting primaries for any of the parties desiring to field candidates in the forthcoming gubernatorial election, gatherings of more than 20 persons may be allowed, subject to the written approval of the governor, if such gatherings do not exceed 5,000 persons; hold in Benin City and in a single facility with a large seating capacity of not less than 10,000 persons; are provided with adequate health, safety and sanitary facilities and are COVID-19 response compliant with social distancing policy, hand-washing and proper use of face masks fully observed.”

The governor had explained that the law was in line with the determination of his administration to stop the spread of COVID-19. But the APC argued that it was a political move to stop it from conducting its direct primary to choose its candidate. The Independent National Electoral Commission had revealed that of the 15 political parties participating in the election, 14 chose indirect primary while only the APC chose direct primary.

But responding to Sunday PUNCH’s enquiries on Saturday, the APC Acting National Chairman, Abiola Ajimobi, who spoke through the National Vice Chairman (South South), Hilliard Eta, said in a telephone interview that the APC as a law-abiding party believed that only the Federal Government was currently empowered to enact the kind of order, Godwin Obaseki, gazetted.

He said, “Under the law as it is operational in Nigeria today, it is only the Federal Government that has powers to make laws under a pandemic such as the coronavirus as we have it today. The gazette that Obaseki has signed says not more than 50 persons can gather.

“In any case, since we now have only one aspirant left, we don’t have to have any permit to conduct our affirmation.

“All we need to do is to ask the question, “Do you want Pastor Ize-Iyamu yes or no finish. If he (Obaseki) likes, let him say people should not gather at all, we will do the affirmation in the various houses of our members.”

One of our correspondents had also gathered from sources that the two other aspirants cleared by the party’s screening committee; Osaro Obazee and Dr Pius Odubu, had withdrawn from the primary, leaving only Pastor Ize-Iyamu in the race.

But in his response, the governor, through his Media Adviser, Mr Crusoe Osagie, told Sunday PUNCH that the gazette was still in force and would be enforced. He said the state was prepared to ensure that every gathering in the state complied with the COVID-19 prevention protocol.

He explained that there was nothing political about the law, saying it was meant to protect the people of the state from deadly diseases.

According to him, as a responsible leader, Obaseki owed it a duty to the people and residents of the state to protect them from unnecessary exposure to diseases especially during a pandemic such as the one being experienced across the globe.

He also explained that as of 9pm on Saturday, the relevant agencies of the state had not received any request for a permit from the APC.

Osagie stressed, “We have not received any request for a permit by the APC to hold primary. The state gazette is still in force and will be enforce. It is a requirement.”

The APC governorship primary holds on Monday, June 22 while that of the PDP is scheduled for Thursday, June 25, 2020.

Police deploy mobile policemen from Delta, Bayelsa, others to Edo

The Edo State Police Command on Saturday said the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had on the request of the state Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo, approved the deployment of policemen in the state for the conduct of the primaries.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Chidi Nwabuzor, told one of our corrrespndents in an interview that the state had received two detachments of Police Mobile Force from Delta and Bayelsa states, noting that some were already in Benin City others expected.

He, however, did not disclose the number of policemen for the election.

He said, “The Edo State Police Command is ready to ensure that there are peaceful primaries and in doing that adequate security arrangements have been made by the Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo. He is not doing it alone, he is working with the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Department of State Services, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in the state.

“Critical stakeholders have been reached. We have 192 wards in Edo State and the tactical teams from command levels will move to these wards according to their posting.”

Also, the Head, Public Relations, NSCDC Edo State Command, Mr Efosa Ogbebor, said the command would make use of armed and unmarked personnel for the exercise.

He added, “We do not disclose the number of personnel for security reasons. However, we have deployed adequate personnel, both armed and unarmed as well as intelligence for the party primaries. They are specifically for the exercise. We are fully on the ground with other security agencies to ensure that the exercise is carried out peacefully.”

https://www.inform.ng/post/apc-shuns-obaseki-order-as-police-deploy-men-to-monitor-edo-primary

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Etsako Ward 10, Mr. Oshawo Stephen, has dismissed claims that the suspension of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as a member of the party has been lifted, insisting that the ward executives stand by their suspension of the erstwhile National Chairman of the APC.

In a statement, Mr. Stephen said the ward executives who were elected into office in 2018 remain intact and have not been displaced by anybody, describing the claims of the lifting of the suspension as a charade.

According to him, “The suspension of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole by the ward executives remains valid. The statements to the contrary in the media are false and should be disregarded. We stand by our decision and have no reservation on the action as it is in the best interest of the party.

“The ward executives as well as our counterparts at the Etsako West Local Government level stand by the suspension of Comrade Oshiomhole for his divisive role in the crisis rocking the APC in Edo State."

Meanwhile, the Chairman APC in Etsako West LGA, Ezolomhe Rabiat, also affirmed that the LGA executives are still members of the party in the state and stand by the suspension of Comrade Oshiomhole.


https://www.inform.ng/post/oshiomhole-remains-suspended-insists-ward-chairman-oshawo

...Condoles with deceased's family

*As Speaker directs immediate shut down of Assembly complex

The Enugu State House of Assembly said it received with rude shock, news of the death of its member representing Isi-Uzo Constituency, Hon. Chijioke Ugwueze(Aguiyi) who died on June 19, 2020, after a brief illness.

A statement by the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Communication, Hon. Jeff Mbah, disclosed that
"in order not to err on the side of caution while the remote and immediate cause of his death is being ascertained", the Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edward Ubosi, has ordered the immediate closure of the Assembly complex for decontamination, as well as the suspension of all activities in the complex till further notice.

The statement added that "our heartfelt sympathies go to the Ugwueze family, the wife and children, the people of Isi-Uzo Constituency, all our distinguished colleagues in Enugu State House of Assembly and Enugu State government for this irreparable loss".

While beseeching God to grant his gentle soul eternal rest, Hon. Mbah stated that the late Hon. Ugwueze "was one of the rallying points of the fresh members of the 7th Assembly, an astute politician, a team player, a kind hearted, brilliant and vibrant young man with great leadership potentials".

Enugu State is in the hands of God! ##


https://www.inform.ng/post/enugu-state-legislators-express-shock-over-death-of-colleague

The police officer, who found the bodies of Nigeria’s first prime minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and his minister of finance Festus Okotie Eboh after their assassinations in 1966, has died.

According to a source, Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed Babankowa died in the early hours of Saturday at the age of 74. A devout Muslim, he will be buried in his village, Ringim, Jigawa State today.



A former police commissioner of the old Gongola State, he served in the Nigerian Police Force, starting in the First Republic until he retired in the 80s.

Upon his retirement, he ventured into politics and aspired to become governor of Kano State on the platform of National Republican Convention (NRC) in 1991.

Like Sule Lamido, who was then the top contender in Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kano State, Babankowa too was leading member of the NRC

https://www.inform.ng/post/policeman-who-found-the-corpse-of-late-nigeria-pm-is-dead

THE leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has condemned the arrest of the convener of the Katsina protest over the unending killings of the people there, saying that more protest would be witnessed in the north over the spate of insecurity.

He wondered why the convener was arrested for organizing a protest over the killing of his people on daily basis and blamed it on what he called “Fulani cabal” ruling the country.

“ The people of Katsina protested something that is even their right as is being done around the world in the name of “black lives matter”, the organiser of the same protest in Katsina, Nastiwa Sharif, was arrested.

“Amnesty international has reported that they have arrested this man because he is crying out about the killing of his people by bandits. What is happening today we foretold it, and we knew they will happen”.

Saying that misrule, injustice and hardship are hitting hard on the people of Nigeria who are neglected by their leaders, Kanu noted that “for the first time in the history of Nigeria, the indigenous People of Katsina have risen up and have asked for a state of emergency.

According to him, “if the Federal Government does not call him and IPOB to discuss Biafra exit, with what happened in Katsina, they will lose Sokoto also.”

He condemned the killing of Christians in the north, saying, with the number of Christians in the north, which he said outnumbered the Muslims, if they retaliate, it would be fatal.

Urging the Federal Government to take action and stop the killing, the IPOB leader warned what he called the Fulani cabal that “very soon, you are going to lose your emirate in Sokoto, if you keep delaying people’s right to separate”.

He berated Church leaders in Nigeria for not speaking out against the bad governance, injustice, killings and other atrocities going on in the country-

“The problem with the churches in Nigeria is that you are just about money; you keep quiet with all the happenings in the country. You don’t condemn the killings in Nigeria.”

According to him, “IPOB is light and it wants the light to shine on the people of Biafra. I want people to understand that we have proof for the migration of our people from Israel.

“The book of Zephaniah 3:10 says, after Ethiopia you will see my people there. Look at the map, after Ethiopia, it is Biafara.

“I told you that Biafra is the kingdom of God on earth. Everywhere they are, they represent light. How else do you need me to tell you that you are special? Biafra is not like any other nation of the world and we make no apologies to that”.

Kanu emphatically condemned Igbo traditional rulers and community leaders who give out land to killer herdsmen in return for money, who turn back to main, rape and kill the owners of the land.

He also cautioned IPOB members and Ndigbo that “not everyone that shout Biafra, Biafra is one of us. To be one of us, you must be committed. If you are not a family member, you are not one of us.

He said: “There will be no tolerance of cabals in IPOB. For those in the USA, there must be financial transparency, no body must be in possession of cash; everything must go though the banks.”

“And back home in Biafra land, nobody is allowed to levy anybody in Biafra land, if you know you did so, you should resign before Sunday or be disgraced on air.”

https://www.inform.ng/post/biafra-invite-me-for-talks-nnamdi-kanu-tells-buhari

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has ordered a probe into the allegations of rape levelled against Music Icon, Oladapo Oyebanjo aka D’Banj.

This is contained in a letter with reference number CB.7000/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOl.484/801 signed by the Principal Staff Officer to the IG, DCP Idowu Owohunwa.

The letter was addressed to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department, Area 10, Garki, Abuja.

The IG’s letter was in response to a petition written to the IG by Mr. Tommy Ojoge-Daniel, a lawyer to Miss Seyitan Babatayo, who accused D’Banj of raping her in 2018.

The letter written by the IG is titled, ‘Re: Petition Against (1) Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo (Aka D’Banj) for Rape Indecent Sexual Assault, Attempted Assault on Miss Seyitan Temidayo

The letter read in part, “I forward herewith copy of letter dated June 5, 2020 received from Ojoge, Omileye and Partners on the above underlined subject. I am to respectfully convey the directive of the Inspector-General of Police that you treat.

“Accept the assurances of my esteemed regards please.”

Seyitan’s friend, Benjamin Ese, in a Twitter thread in early June had told the story of how D’Banj allegedly raped Seyitan at a hotel two years ago – in December 2018.

She said it happened at an all-white party where D’Banj allegedly offered her friend some money to spend the night which she rejected until he surprisingly showed up in Seyitan’s hotel room around 2 in the midnight.

“D’Banj drove all the way from Eko hotel where he was lodged and came down to glee hotel in Victoria Island at midnight 2.40 am and collected the spare key from the receptionist,” Ese said in the thread which has since sparked an outrage.

She said D’Banj allegedly “got into my friend’s room and forcefully threatened he would walk her out of the room naked, kept his fingers in her Vagina and repeatedly raped her.”

The rape experience, Ese said had caused Seyitan some trauma since the incident happened.

One month after Ese’s tweets, Seyitan came out publicly to present herself as the lady who was allegedly raped by D’Banj in December 2018.

The musician, however, denied the allegations levelled against him and asked his accuser to make a public apology and also pay him the sum of N100m in damages.

On Tuesday, however, some policemen allegedly acting on the instruction of the Oliver Twist crooner detained Seyitan for over 24 hours and intimidated her, making her delete all chats, social media posts and other vital information from her phone.

The incident has sparked an outrage on social media with D’Banj trending on social media for the last two days

D’Banj is one of Nigeria’s biggest artists having won several music awards, including the awards for Best African Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2007, Artist of the Year at the MTV Africa Music Awards 2009, Best International Act: Africa at the 2011 BET Awards, and Best-selling African Artist at the 2014 World Music Awards and the Evolution award at the 2015 MTV Africa Music awards.

Feminists and several rights groups have called on the police to ensure that justice is served regardless of the musician’s status. 

https://www.inform.ng/post/igp-orders-probe-of-dbanj-over-allegation-of-rape

The Police in Ebonyi State, on Thursday, arrested a former Commissioner for Border Peace and Conflict Resolution in the state, Donatus Ajah, aka Zentus, over murder allegations.

Ajah was accused of having a hand in the death of a 46-year-old-man, Azubuike Inya.

Both Ajah and Inya are from Amankwo village, Nkpoghoro community, Afikpo North Local Government Area of the state.
This Medium had reported that the killing took place during a communal crisis, involving two factions in Amankwo.

One of the factions is said be led by Ajah, while the other is led by one Ifeanyi Obila.

The two groups have constantly clashed in the community as they battle for supremacy.

Inya’s killing, which occurred on May 23, 2020, according to sources, was as a result of another clash between the groups.

It was gathered that the suspected killers approached some villagers at a pub in the village and inflicted machete cuts on them, a development that threw the community into chaos.

Inya, on hearing the cries of the people at the pub, was said to have rushed to the scene and begged the attackers to stop what they were doing.

It was at that point that the hoodlums attacked him and dealt several machete blows on him until he died.

Ifeanyi’s brother, Joel, claimed that the killers’ targeted his brother, who is a surveyor.

He said, “When these people came and could not find my elder brother, who I think was their target, they started attacking everyone there and people were running helter-skelter.

“That was when Azubuike Inya came from the village. He pleaded with them not to do such a thing, because it was not good. They attacked him and killed him with their machetes.

“It was Zentus’s (Ajah) boys, who killed Azubuike on May 23, 2020, around 8pm.”

Ajah, however, denied any involvement in the incident.

He said, “The truth is that I was not at home and so cannot tell how the crisis that led to Azubuike’s death began, apart from what I heard from eyewitnesses.

“There is no way I could have directed anyone to kill Azubuike or any other human being. Was he a goat or an animal that I can kill to eat the flesh? Was he not a human being created like everyone else? Which problem did I have with Azubuike that would make people believe that I have a hand in his death? Am I contesting his father’s property with him? Was he working under me, to say he stole my money? What did he do to me to warrant being killed and what will I benefit from his death?

“It was the same Ifeanyi Obila, who started telling people that I had a hand in Azubuike’s death. I believe God is the giver and taker of life and will always disappoint Ifeanyi and his cohorts, who feel that they will only be satisfied if they hear that I am dead.”

The state police command confirmed Ajah’s arrest on Thursday.

Its spokesperson, Mrs Loveth Odah, who confirmed the arrest, added that the suspect was apprehended for his alleged involvement in Inya’s death.

“Yes, he (Ajah) is in custody. We are still investigating the matter,” Odah stated.

https://www.inform.ng/post/police-arrest-ex-ebonyi-peace-commissioner-for-murder

ADAMAWA State Police Command has arrested a 30-year-old woman, Zainab Jafaru, said to be a member of a nine-man rape gang that violated her 33-year-old friend in Yola, the state capital.

Zainab allegedly deceived the victim into the rapists’ den.

The police said they have arrested five members of the gang, while four others are on the run.

Police spokesman Suleiman Nguroje, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said Zainab deceptively took her friend to the gang and disappeared.

Nguroje said: “On June 13, 2020, following a report received from a 33-year-old lady being raped by a syndicate of nine at Gerio, a remote area of Jambutu in Yola North Local Government Area, police operatives attached to the command’s monitoring team arrested five people: Ahmadu Ismail (20); Salu Buba (25); Muhammed Ali (78); Abubakar Ali (28) and Zainab Jafaru (Female) 30 years.

“The incident happened on June 12, 2020 when the fifth suspect, Zainab Jafaru, deceived the complainant to accompany her to a certain place to meet her boyfriend.

“Upon arrival, Zainab’s boyfriend (now on the run), invited his gang, who forcefully had sexual intercourse with the complainant one after another.”

https://www.inform.ng/post/woman-arranged-8-men-to-rape-her-friend-in-adamawa

Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, the Spokesman for the Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, has been arrested by the Nigeria Police Force.

Ugochinyere was arrested yesterday at his residence in Abuja in connection with the allegation of bribery made against the House of Representatives and the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila.



This was contained in a statement made available to DAILY POST by his team of lawyers on Thursday, who claimed that the CUPP Spokesman was manhandled while being arrested.

The arrest happened despite a Federal High Court in Abuja, on June 4, restricting the police and the Department of State Services, DSS, from arresting the opposition party’s Spokesman.

Recall that Ugochinyere had accused the House of Representatives of bribery over the infectious disease bill.

The lawmakers in a resolution, directed that Ugochinyere be arrested and questioned by the security agencies.

However, in a suit with number FHC/ABJ/CS/475/2020, the Court had earlier granted the prayer by the opposition Spokesman that the Green chamber be barred from proceeding with its plan to hold a hearing on the allegation.

In his ruling, Justice Othman Musa, in the suit number FCT/HC/BW/CV/120/2020, ordered the security agencies not to give any effect to the resolution of the House for disobeying previous orders granted by the court.



https://www.inform.ng/post/real-reason-cupp-spokesman-was-arrested

Police record 42 rape cases in Kano


JUNE 18, 2020



The Police Command in Kano State said it has recorded 42 rape cases in the state between January and May.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abdullahi Haruna, made the disclosure in an interview on Thursday in Kano.

Haruna disclosed that the command investigated 42 alleged rape cases within the period, adding that the suspects had been charged to courts in the state.

He said statistical analysis of the cases indicated that 33.3 per cent of the rape incidents were committed in uncompleted buildings and 17.7 per cent at farmlands.

“15.6 per cent in shops; 15.6 per cent at the suspects’ residents and 8.9 per cent in schools, while 6.7 per cent and 2.2 per cent of the cases were committed at the victims’ residents and market places, respectively.

“The police is dealing with all reported rape and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases in the state,” he said.

Haruna noted that the number of rape cases had drastically dropped as against what was recorded within the same period last year.

While calling on the residents of the state to report cases of molestation and other forms of abuse to the police, Haruna reiterated the commitment of the command to address the menace.

The spokesman added: “Keeping quiet without reporting rape cases will encourage the perpetrators to further commit the crime.

“Our doors are open for advice; in this era of community policing, the Command incorporates community problem-solving approach in handling issues in the state.”

https://www.inform.ng/post/kano-records-42-rape-cases-in-5-months

Popular Nigerian Instagram celebrity, Hushpuppi arrested 10 June in Dubai is being held by Dubai Police and not America’s FBI or Interpol as widely reported.

UAE’s online newspaper, The National reported Wednesday that he was arrested on multiple fraud charges, along with 12 other accomplices.

The paper also revealed his real name as Raymond Abbas and his real age as 38 years.

His case has been referred to the Dubai public prosecution and is currently being questioned by prosecutors at the Bur Dubai section, the paper reported.

“The prosecutors have charged him for “obtaining money from others through fraudulent means.”

According to UAE National, security officers in the emirate arrested Mr Abbas and 12 others for online fraud that targets companies and individuals.

“They would send out letters from email addresses almost identical to those of legitimate companies, targeting customers of these companies, with the purpose of diverting payments to themselves,” said a senior prosecutor, quoted by the paper.

“Initial information includes that he was part of this gang which fraudulently obtained cash and cars from people.

“His statement was taken by prosecution but this is just the beginning of prosecution investigations.”

The paper also reported that Raymond Abbas is wanted for fraud crimes in Europe, the United States and Nigeria.

Mr Abbas has over two million followers on Instagram. He is known for his display of wealth on social media.

He often posts pictures with his luxury cars like Ferrari and Rolls Royce and a private jet.

https://www.inform.ng/post/fraud-uae-prosecutor-explains-why-hushppupi-others-were-arrested

by Editor MediaOrchid on 04:01 in News


Yet another incident of Rape and Murder of a lady has been recorded in Idi-Ori Area of Shasha in Akinyele Local Government Area in Oyo state.


The 21 year old female recently got admission and celebrated her matriculation on the 14th of February 2020 as a National Diploma student in Business Administration at Oke Ogun Polytechnic in Oyo state.


On Saturday 13th June 2020, Grace Oshiagwu was attacked, Sexually assaulted and killed at a church where her parents reside in Idi-Ori Area of Shasha which is under Akinyele Local Government Area in Ibadan.
People living in the community have expressed fear and worry owing to the fact that weeks ago, an 18yr old Barakat was raped and Killed in Akinyele.

Also, about 10 days ago, Azeezat Shomuyiwa a post graduate student in University of Ibadan who was seven (7) months pregnant was also raped and Killed in same Akinyele, Local Government Area.

There have been speculations over the death of Grace that; besides Raping and Killing her, her killers perhaps have plans to perform some sort of rituals as her body was found with her hair shaven off.

Her corpse has been deposited at Adeoyo state hospital Ibadan for autopsy while the police has commenced investigation.

https://www.inform.ng/post/oyo-undergraduate-raped-and-murdered

Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has commiserated with the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi over the death of his elder brother, Charles(Dede) Amaechi.

In a statement issued in Port Harcourt today, Governor Wike described the demise of the deceased as a great loss not only to the family but the entire State.

He prayed God to grant the Minister and his family the fortitude to bear the loss.

Wike’s condolence message is coming a few hours after President Muhammadu Buhari condoled with the Former River governor over the loss.

The Amaechi family is yet to issue an official statement on Burial arrangements


https://www.inform.ng/post/wike-reacts-to-death-of-amaechi-brother