₦airaland Forum

The Appeal Court sitting in Owerri, the Imo State capital, has struck out a suit challenging the emergence of the son-in-law to former Governor, Rochas Okorocha, Uche Nwosu as the authentic Imo State governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) in the 2019 general elections.

In his ruling, the Presiding Judge, Justice R.C Agbo, said that the appeal was statute barred in line with the virtue of the 4th Alteration of the 1999 Constitution section 285(12).
Leonard Okolienta, the plaintiff had appealed the judgment of the lower Court, which earlier ruled that Nwosu was the authentic governorship candidate.

Read more here https://thickmatch.com/okorochas-son-law-nwosu-wins-court/

Scores of councillors from the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of Ogun on Thursday protested their suspension by the resolution recently passed by the State House of Assembly.

The protesters, carrying placards with different inscriptions in front of the Assembly complex, also prevented some of the assembly members from entering the premises with their cars, thereby forcing them to walk through.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there was heavy presence of security personnel within and around the assembly complex to prevent breakdown of law and order.

The Assembly had on May 31 passed a resolution urging the state government to immediately dissolve all chairmen and members of statutory boards and parastatals, having been paid their severance allowance by the immediate past administration.

The lawmakers, through a resolution, equally suspended political functionaries in all LGAs and LCDAs in the State.

Consequently, it directed all political office holders to hand over to the Head of Local Government Administration in their respective councils and LCDAs.

Speaking with newsmen, the spokesperson of the aggrieved councillors, Mr Azeez Oyedele, described the suspension of the lawmakers as unnecessary; particularly at the beginning of a new administration in the state.

Oyedele, who noted that the tenure of the political office holders of the council areas would expire in December 2019, urged the lawmakers to urgently pass another resolution to reverse their decision in order to promote healthy democratic rule in the state.

“We were able to see the Speaker, Mr Suraj Adekunbi, but we are not pleased with the way he addressed us.

“They did not have the power to suspend us.

“If the National Assembly cannot dissolve the state assembly, how can the state assembly suspend the local government legislative arms and the chairmen?

“This 8th legislature tenure will be over in another 24 or 48 hours, why are they passing this kind of resolutions at this late hour? We want them to reverse the purported resolution,” he said.



Read more here https://thickmatch.com/ogun-heavy-security-house-assembly-councillors-protest-suspension/

It is not easy to fight govt at all

The Chairman emeritus and founder of DAAR Communications Plc, Raymond Dokpesi, on Thursday, accused the Presidency of frustrating the company’s broadcasting outfits: Africa Independent Television, AIT, and Raypower FM.

He alleged that the Presidency was using the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, to frustrate his broadcast stations.
Speaking during a press conference in Abuja, the media mogul lamented that under the current leadership of the NBC, press freedom has been greatly eroded.

According to him, “I believe very strongly that under the leadership of the current director-general of the NBC (Is’haq Kawu), press freedom has been greatly eroded.

“If this was not protected by the president, is it possible that his body language is being interpreted?

“I have it on strict authority and very assured information that the highest echelons of government, the presidency, queried and challenged the NBC that they were not doing their jobs.
“How on earth could they be hearing and seeing on AIT what they termed hate speech? Any criticism of this government is hate speech. The NBC is acting under the authority of the president and Commander-in-Chief.

“The licensing fees in Nigeria is one of the highest in the world. There is no country in the world where you have this type of exploitative fees. I have appealed for a reduction because the payments cannot be sustained by private broadcasters in Nigeria.
“This economy has plummeted. This government has called this organisation unprintable names which has deterred several advertisers from patronising AIT.

Read more here https://thickmatch.com/buhari-govt-frustrating-ait-raypower-fm-dokpesi/

APC things doesn't precise me at all

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The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi ll, is said to have been queried by Governor Umar Ganduje for allegedly misappropriating the Emirate Council’s N3.4 billion.

Our Correspondent reliably gathered that the Emir was queried after the submission of a report by the State office of the anti-corruption and Public Complaint Commission who investigated him on the alleged squandering of the Emirate Council’s funds.
The report which was submitted to the Government late Tuesday is said to have recommended for the immediate suspension of the Emir.
The government has consequently handed down a query to the Emir through the Office of the Secretary to the Government, Usman Alhaji late Tuesday.

Similarly, the Source who pleaded that his name should not be mentioned, explained further that the government after receiving the reports of the State Anti Corruption Commission indicting Sanusi plans to set up a panel that would recommend what would happen to the Emir.

The Emir in the reports has been accused of squandering the sum of N3.4 Billion and his interference in the investigation of the anti-corruption commission by blocking all his staff that were invited for questioning before the anti-corruption office.
Our correspondent also reliably gathered that the government is planning on the complete deposition of the Emir when a final report of its forthcoming panel of inquiry comes out indicting Sanusi.
Governor Ganduje is alleged to have completely sidelined Emir Sanusi in his activities, with the Governor attending Durbar traditional ceremony at far away Bichi, leaving the Emir to grapple with Thugs who disrupted his Hawan Daushe, resulting in the killing of one and injuring of many.
See more here https://thickmatch.com/ganduje-finally-queries-emir-sanusi-alleged-loot-n3-4-billion/

Senator Danjuma Goje has withdrawn from the 9th Senate Presidency election expected to hold on June 11.

According to Vanguard, the lawmaker also endorsed the Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan, for the position.

This was disclosed by the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, after their meeting behind closed doors with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday.

El-Rufai was accompanied by Senators Lawan, Goje and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, while briefing State House Correspondents on the latest development.

Read more here
https://thickmatch.com/breaking-senator-goje-withdraws-senate-presidency-race-endorses-lawan/

https://dailypost.ng/2019/06/06/breaking-senator-goje-withdraws-senate-presidency-race-endorses-lawan/amp/

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Award-winning rapper, Kanye West has opened up on his struggles with bipolar disorder. West, who has been campaigning against the stigmatisation of people with mental health issues, in his new season of David Letterman’s Netflix show,

“My Next Guest Needs No Introduction”, confessed that he has health issues. Husband to the reality star, Kim Kardashian, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder two years ago, explained how he feels whenever he notices a change in his health.

Award-winning rapper, Kanye West has opened up on his struggles with bipolar disorder.

https://thickmatch.com/kanye-west-opens-struggles-bipolar-disorder/

West, who has been campaigning against the stigmatisation of people with mental health issues, in his new season of David Letterman’s Netflix show, “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction”, confessed that he has health issues.

Husband to the reality star, Kim Kardashian, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder two years ago, explained how he feels whenever he notices a change in his health.

“I wouldn’t be able to explain that as much just because, you know, I’m not a doctor.

“I can just tell you what I’m feeling at the time, and I feel a heightened connection with the universe when I’m ramping up. It is a health issue.

“This — it’s like a sprained brain, like having a sprained ankle and if someone has a sprained ankle, you’re not going to push on him more.

“With us, once our brain gets to a point of spraining, people do everything to make it worse.

“You have this moment [where] you feel everyone wants to kill you. You pretty much don’t trust anyone.

“When you’re in this state, you’re hyper-paranoid about everything, everyone. This is my experience, other people have different experiences.

“Everyone now is an actor, Everything’s a conspiracy. You feel the government is putting chips in your head. You feel you’re being recorded. You feel all these things,” West said.
https://thickmatch.com/kanye-west-opens-struggles-bipolar-disorder/

Activities at the Lagos headquarters of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) came to a halt on Friday when the death of the association’s president, Mr Francis Johnson, was announced.

According to NAN, scores of workers at the union’s office wore gloomy faces, an indication that they were devastated by the development.

The workers declined to talk on the life and times of Johnson, saying that the union had already issued a statement on the death.

They, however, described the unionist, who hailed from the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, as hard working.

No fewer than 30 union leaders from various affiliates of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria had signed the condolence register opened at about 9am.

A statement earlier issued by Mr Frank Esanubi and Mr Lumumba Okugbawa, Deputy President and General Secretary, respectively said that Johnson died in the early hours of Friday in Abuja.
https://thickmatch.com/pengassan-workers-reacted-francis-johnsons-death/

Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday, dismissed an application filed by Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel Udom, seeking to quash the entire charge preferred against Paul Usoro, SAN, President, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Usoro was charged alongside Udom and others in a case of money laundering to the tune of N1.4 billion, belonging to the Akwa Ibom State government.

The NBA President was first arraigned before Justice Muslim Hassan of the same court on December 18, 2018.

He was later re-arraigned before Justice Aikawa on a 10- count charge.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Paul Usoro, SAN, Emmanuel Udom (currently constitutionally immune against criminal prosecution), Uwemedimo Thomas Nwoko (still at large), Nsikan Linus Nkan, Commissioner of Finance, Akwa Ibom State (still at large), Mfon Jacobson Udomah, Accountant-General, Akwa Ibom State (still at large) and Margaret Thompson Ukpe (still at large) sometime in 2015 in Nigerian, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit: conversion of the sum of N1,410,000,000, 000.00 property of the Government of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity to wit: criminal breach of trust and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”

At today’s sitting, Justice Aikawa, in his ruling, held that the application filed by Udom lacked merit due to the fact that the charge before the court did not include the Governor and his aides as defendants.

The Judge held that “In a criminal suit, there are two segments: the complainant and the defendant(s).

“In this charge before me, the complainant is the EFCC and the defendant is Paul Usoro.

“Given the fact that the name of the applicant was mentioned in counts one to four does not make him a defendant in this case.

“It is also unconstitutional for the Federal Government to investigate and prosecute a serving governor. Gov. Udom cannot be charged in view of the immunity he enjoys, including his aides, and also due to the fact that the N1.4 billion were funds belonging to Akwa Ibom State and not Federal Government.”

The Judge further held that the applicant could not apply to the court to quash the charge or seek fair hearing as prayed in the application because he is not a defendant in the case.

Justice Aikawa adjourned the case to June 3, 2019 for continuation of trial.
https://thickmatch.com/akwa-ibom-gov-emmanuel-loses-efcc/

The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, has once again called on the opposition party in the state, the All Progressives Congress, APC, to teem up with his administration to take the state to a greater height.

Emmanuel let out the olive branch on Wednesday, while delivering his second term inaugural speech at the Nest of Champions Uyo, venue for the swearing-in ceremony.

According to him, “The time then has come for the healing of our land. As I said in my victory speech, I extend again my hands of fellowship and bond of friendship to my brothers and sisters on the opposite side of the political divide. I call on them to join me in building a State that we all, irrespective of political affiliations will be proud to call our home. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.

“Today, we remain the proud sons and daughters of Akwa Abasi Ibom State, and no fleeting passion of politics should break the cords of our brotherhood. We must encourage civility in our daily engagements and not throw bricks and bats at our fellow compatriots.

“I urge you to de-robe the garment of hatred, of mutual recrimination, and replace such with the shining apparel of love, of togetherness, of unity and deep faith and belief in our common essence and values.”

Recounting his achievements in his first term in governance, Gov. Emmanuel said he has been able to establish no fewer than sixteen industries, which had employed teeming unemployed youths in the state.


He maintained that he invested so much in education such that the free and compulsory education policy was expanded, the payment of over 600 million Naira WAEC fees annually for candidates actualised. Remodelling, refurbishing and equipping of schools were achieved.

He also said he achieved a great feat in floating a commercial airline- “Ibom Air” which according to him would turn around the economic fortunes of the state and also prove to the world that a viable commercial airline can be achieved.

The governor, who scored himself high in the areas of health, agriculture, security, diversification of the economy and youth empowerment noted that the five-point agenda of his first administration, which were predicated on wealth creation, economic, political inclusion, poverty alleviation, infrastructural consolidation and expansion and job creation were positively touched.

Emmanuel, however, disclosed that his second term administration has eight-policy thrust, which included Industrialization, Aviation Development, Security, Infrastructure, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, Human Capacity Development, Agriculture, and Rural and Riverine Area Development.

He added that the second administration which anchored on ‘Completion Agenda,’ would raise the bar of performance in all these areas and lift the State to such an enviable height.
https://thickmatch.com/akwa-ibom-must-not-enemies-gov-emmanuel-extends-hands-fellowship-apc-others/

The Anambra State Police Command, said on Wednesday it had discovered a child-stealing kidnapper’s den and arrested two female suspects and rescued a victim.

According to the News Agency Nigeria (NAN) the command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Haruna Mohammed, in a statement said that the suspects were arrested at about 06:30 am following intelligence report to Police detectives attached to the Command Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS).

The suspects are Ifeyinwa Ezename (50) and Caroline Mbonu (75).


The PPRO said that the suspects had in 2012 conspired with one David Nwachukwu now in prison custody and had stolen the seven-year old child from the biological mother one Azubuike Jennifer.
He said “the stolen child has been rescued and reunited with his parents”.

He also said that another eight-year-old child was equally rescued from the suspects as they could not give satisfactory account of how the victim came to be with them.

He added that after investigations the suspects would be charged to court for prosecution.

The PPRO further said that on May 28, at about 10:22pm, operatives attached to Awada Division on Stop and Search at Ezeiweka road, Onitsha, by NEPA junction arrested one Stanley Ekegbobe (31) of Obosi in Anambra.

He added that the suspect was intercepted inside a “Keke’’ tricycle and on sighting the Police took to his heels but was overpowered and arrested.
According to him, exhibits recovered from the suspect include one fabricated revolver pistol and one life ammunition.

He said that the case was under investigation and effort was ongoing to arrest fleeing accomplices in order to bring them to justice.
https://thickmatch.com/police-discover-kidnapers-den-anambra/

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OAM4J lalasticlala mynd44

The Ebonyi State Police Command says police authorities are working to unravel the cause of the death of a popular prophetess in Ebonyi, who was recently found dead along Ezza Road, Abakaliki.

Mrs Loveth Odah, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), who briefed journalists in Abakaliki on Tuesday on the incident, said that investigation is ongoing to ascertain the actual cause of the death of the deceased.

According to police report, the deceased, Mrs Felicia Agwu, a native of Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, was found dead along Ezza Road area of Abakaliki.

Agwu was a popular prophetess in one of the new generation churches, while her ministry is located in Ezza North Local Government Area, NAN reports.

“A woman in her early 50s was found lying lifeless along the Ezza Road axis of Abakaliki on May 18, when a good-spirited Nigerian called the attention of the command, which quickly mobilised to the scene.

“Our men got to the scene, took the woman to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead by a medical expert.

“The cause of her death is yet unknown, but we have launched investigation to ascertain the real cause of death.

“There were no injuries found on her body to establish a case of criminal attack on the deceased, so, for now we are having a case of ‘sudden’ death until we conclude our investigation.

“We implore the family of the deceased and the public with vital information that would help the police in their investigation, to contact the command,” Odah said.

Meanwhile, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the deceased was recently treated of hernia and was still recuperating before embarking on the journey from Oshiegbe in Ezza North, when she met her sudden death.
See more graphics here https://thickmatch.com/thunder-strikes-popular-prophetess-dead-ebonyi/

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mynd44 what did you think

The Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi has said that there is no faceoff between him and the Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha.


He said that his relationship with Okorocha was cordial, adding that this was proven by the latter awarding him the Grand Commander of Imo.

According to NAN, Umahi stated this in Abakaliki yesterday when he took journalists on his performances in four years and projections for his second tenure.


There had been feelings of a strained relationship between both South Eastern governors over the past four years.

The governor noted that contrary to insinuations of a strained relationship between them, his relationship with the outgoing Imo governor is cordial.

“Okorocha is our leader, a great son of Igboland and we are in very good terms,” he said.

Umahi also noted that he would support the re-election of Mr Francis Nwifuru as the Speaker of the state House of Assembly if the members support his re-election.

“This Speaker is God-sent to the state as people should not pry into such matter because it concerns another arm of government.

“The House members will take care of themselves as the Speaker has worked so hard to emerge.



“It will be in the best interest of the House that he emerges because he not only attracts things to it but is very knowledgeable in legislative matters,” he said.

Umahi noted that the Permanent Secretaries designate who perform poorly within two months in office would be retired from the state civil service, while those who perform creditably will be retained.

“The opposition petitioned me before the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) for not appointing permanent secretaries and I saw it as a folly.

“We have appointed 21 new permanent secretaries to complement the existing five and trained them for 10 days on physical fitness, morals and ways of doing business among other areas,” he said.

He noted that the permanent secretaries were selected from grade level 14 and above with emphasis on those who have from four years to stay in the civil service.

“I, however, offered a waiver to the Accountant General of the state and the Director of Works in the Ministry of Works who have one year in service because their experience is still needed,” he said
Get more gists here https://thickmatch.com/gov-umahi-hails-rochas-okorochas-achievements/

Aspirant for the 9th House of Representatives Speakership, Femi Gbajabiamila, has reacted to clashes between staff of the electricity distribution companies and their customers.

Several video clips have emerged online where distribution companies’ officials are seen being beaten by angry customers over estimated billings. Watch here https://thickmatch.com/gbajabiamila-reacts-electricity-consumers-fight-discos-officials-crazy-bills/

Gbajabiamila, while noting this, stated that the House have completed passage of the bill to address estimated billing.

He tweeted, “In the last few days I have watched clips of distasteful exchange of blows between staff of electricity distribution companies and their customers over ‘crazy’ estimated bills.

“I foresaw this situation earlier hence my sponsorship of the Bill to criminalize estimated billing.

“We have completed passage of this Bill in the @HouseNGR to address estimated billing, energy theft etc but for whatever reason it’s still in the @NGRSenate awaiting concurrence and passage.

“I trust my colleagues and I will ensure the speedy passage of the Bill in the 9th Assembly.”
Watch the fight video here https://thickmatch.com/gbajabiamila-reacts-electricity-consumers-fight-discos-officials-crazy-bills/

A Niger Delta group, the Centre for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade, CHURAC, has taken an appriasal of the first term of the current federal government, stating that President Muhammadu Buhari has failed in his three focal areas of security, fighting corruption and the economy.

The group stressed that the president failed in his terms of his performances in office, warning that “the country should not continue in this miserable path in his second term”.

It claimed that Buhari’s first tenure has been characterised by economic repression, ethnocentrism, nepotism, lack of parity in the composition of government, gross abuse of human rights, persecution of old-time enemies as well as political rivals in the name of anti-corruption war as well as unbridled abuse of all known democratic ethos.



This was contained in a statement signed and made available to us in Warri by the CHURAC’s national president, Cleric E. Alaowei, Esq, ahead of President Buhari’s inauguration for second term in office on Wednesday.

CHURAC said further, “The vain-glory and ego-boasting achievements in the four years of office by President Muhammadu Buhari is rather a mishmash of economic disaster, which has been ennobled as achievements by the sugar-coated propaganda of image laundering being anchored in the present Government.

“However, in the real sense, the Government’s celebrated achievements are democratic attrition to the nation.”

“This APC led-Government after mesmerizing Nigerians with its edited but failed to be executed 2015 campaign promises to entrust the Party with their votes, has shown that it’s four years was far worst than the PDP’s sixteen years rule.

“One eventful but excuses-coated four years have gone down the drain, yet this APC Government of propaganda has not formulated and or implemented any policy to recoup Nigerians of the mass feelings of distrust and gross incompetence displayed by the Government to pilot the affairs of the nation.

“High point of the Government’s shenanigan is its decision to go back to the APC’s vomit when the later was in opposition.

“The then opposition party, (APC), now groping around for help at the alter of governance, spared no minute in rebuking and reproving the PDP led-Government over the removal of fuel subsidy.

“We are surprised why this APC led-Government find the fuel subsidy removal parody as its best democracy gift to the economically pauperised and beleaguered Nigerians in his first term?

“Despite the social pariahs former President Jonathon’s Government was being subjected to, the Buhari’s Government is virtually doing everything left on the table of governance by the immediate past PDP led-Government.

“Prominent among those areas are the railway and road constructions which the present Government is celebrating as its achievements
Read more here https://thickmatch.com/president-buhari-failed-scurity-corruption-economy-ndelta-group/