₦airaland Forum

Engr. Musa Wada has emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer for the November 16 governorship election.

Musa Wada, a younger brother of the immediate past Governor Idris Wada, who also contested for the ticket, scored 748 votes to clinch the party ticket.

He was closely followed by Abubakar Mohammed Ibrahim, the son of a former governor, Ibrahim Idris (Ibro), who polled 710 votes.

The immediate past governor, Capt. Wada, came third with 345 votes while Senator Dino Melaye polled 70 vote to emerge fourth.

Others include Aminu Suleiman- 55 votes, Victor Adoji-54, Erico Joseph- 42, AVM Saliu Atawodi (retd.)- 11, Emmanuel Omebije- 9 votes, Mohammed Shuaibi- 4 votes, Bayo Michael- 2 votes and Jabiru Haruna- 0.

Read Also: Counting continues in Kogi PDP gov primary
Counting resumed on Wednesday in the disrupted Kogi Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary.

The exercise, which was ongoing ended abruptly in the early hours of Wednesday following the invasion of the Lokoja Confluence Stadium, venue of the primary, by gunmen.

Voting by the delegates had however ended and sorting of ballots under way, when the gunmen stormed the venue at around 1.45am, causing pandemonium.

Votes in eight out of the 10 ballot boxes had been sorted and counted before the disruption, following which the Governor Umar Fintiri-led election panel called a meeting of all the 13 aspirants at the end of which it was agreed that sorting and counting should continue.




See more here https://thickmatch.com/breaking-musa-wada-emerges-pdp-gov-candidate-kogi/

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has sounded a warning to the United States against stereotyping Nigerians in that country after the FBI released a list of 80 citizens of the West African country suspected to be involved in internet fraud. The body insists that the suspects may not be guilty.

The chairman/CEO of NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri, in a statement on Friday, said that the actions of a few Nigerians who had gotten involved in criminal activities do not represent the majority of people in the country.

A 252-count Federal Grand Jury Indictment which was unsealed on Thursday charged 80 Nigerians over fraud-related offences. This came a few days after the United State Bureau of Investigation (FBI) charged Obinwanne Okeke, the founder of Invictus Group, to court on allegations bordering on conspiracy to commit fraud of about $11 million.

The 80 Nigerians were accused of taking part in a massive conspiracy to steal millions of dollars via several fraud schemes and also to launder funds through a laundering network based in Los Angeles.

The NIDCOM Chairman in the statement said that an accusation does not necessarily have to mean guilt even as she expressed all the suspects to be given a fair and speedy trial.

Those who were accused were, however, urged to turn themselves into the American authorities so that they could clear their name.
The commission said that a failure to do so could make the Federal Government extradite them if the relevant international treaties which stand between both countries are invoked.



See more here https://thickmatch.com/fg-warns-us-insist-80-nigerians-accused-fraud-innocent/

Reactions have continued to pour in following the ruling of the Kogi State National Assembly/State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal which nullified the election of Senator Dino Melaye.

Deji Adeyanju, a popular activist has reacted to the development calling it scary.

He knocked the judiciary as he said that the election was a straight win for Senator Dino, further stating that Senator Smart Adeyemi had ended up losing at the polls even though he rigged.Deji Adeyanju, a popular activist has reacted to the development calling it scary.

He knocked the judiciary as he said that the election was a straight win for Senator Dino, further stating that Senator Smart Adeyemi had ended up losing at the polls even though he rigged.




See more here https://thickmatch.com/judiciary-scares-everyone-knows-straight-win-dino-deji/

A Multi-National company has announced the closure of its branch in Nigeria following what the company described as extortion of the company by contractors.
According to Jenna Bourgeois, chairman of Dynamics Intelligence, a global company operating in the United States, Canada, and Nigeria, the closure became necessary as the company was unable to cope with fraudulent collaboration between employees and contractors

He announced the closure on his LinkedIn profile on Thursday shortly the Federal Bureau of Investigation released a list of wanted Nigerians who had perpetrated a massive online fraud.

According to the profile of the company, it engages in technology solutions partners with Microsoft and Amazon to create custom cloud-based productivity software.

The software built upon the Microsoft Azure, PowerApps, PowerBI, Flow, and Dynamics 365 technologies is focused on healthcare, retail and government sectors.

Bourgeois said the closure of the company branch in Nigeria is as a result of the continued extortion by its employees and contractors, saying the company can no longer function in an environment of distrust.

He announced: “Effective immediately, we will be closing our operations in Nigeria. Over the last year, we have faced numerous examples of employees and contractors extorting the company,” he wrote.

“While we kept giving Nigerians a chance to gain skills and employment, we cannot run a company when we can’t trust the people who work for us.

“Any company interested in conducting business in Nigeria can reach out to us to learn how to avoid being scammed by technical resources.”
Mr Bourgeois also advised other organisations interested in outsourcing operations in Nigeria to seek Indian-owned companies.

“It is a kick in our face that we spent so much time trying to give Nigerians the benefit of the doubt to have this happen,” he lamented.

“Customers who wish to outsource, are well-advised to seek an Indian-owned company for the best results.”




Read more here https://thickmatch.com/fraud-global-firm-closes-branch-nigeria-extortion/

Following the arrest of 80 people including Nigerians based in Los Angeles by the FBI for involvement in romance scams and wire fraud, the US Federal Trade Commission has released a report on scams that prey on vulnerable people cost Americans more money than any other fraud reported to the agency last year.

According to the new report, more than 21,000 people were scammed into sending $143 million in such schemes in 2018 alone.

"Reports indicate the scammers are active on dating apps, but also on social media sites that aren't generally used for dating. For example, many people say the scam started with a Facebook message," the FTC says.

As online dating becomes more popular and romance scams increase, the FTC warns people to become suspicious of any online relationship if:

The person wants to leave the dating site immediately and use personal email or messaging
The person is fast to claim love
They say they're travelling or working internationally
He or she says they want to visit but don't have the money because, for example, a business deal went sour
They ask for money without meeting face-to-face



See more here https://thickmatch.com/fbi-crackdown-nigerians-americans-lost-143-million-online-romance-scams/

see more here https://thickmatch.com/photos-see-house-hamisu-wadume-hiding-arrest/

Hamisu Wadume, the notorious kidnap kingpin, was hiding in this apartment in Kano state before his arrest by men of the Nigerian police on Monday August 19th.

Hamisu was initially arrested on August 6th but escaped after soldiers attacked the police officers who had him in custody and rescued him. In a confessional video posted online by the police yesterday, Hamids recounted how he was taken to the Nigerian Army headquarters, had his handcuffs removed and allowed to escape.

See more photos of the apartment below



See more here https://thickmatch.com/photos-see-house-hamisu-wadume-hiding-arrest/

watch below https://thickmatch.com/reno-omokri-shares-video-dancing-mocks-wole-soyinka/

Reno Omokri is not done mocking Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka. He shared a video of himself dancing as he mocked Soyinka over his recent faceoff with the presidency.

Recall that two days ago, Soyinka, Falana and others were stopped from holding a state of the Nation press conference in Lagos.

Reno who is a strong critic of President Buhari, posted the video of himself dancing in excitement at Soyinka's faceoff with the Buhari-led government. According to Reno, Soyinka is reaping the bitter fruits of the tree he planted when he worked for the termination of Jonathan's administration.



He wrote

ME DANCING FOR JOY AS THE ‘ANYONE BUT JONATHAN’ WOLE SOYINKA REAPS THE BITTER FRUIT FROM THE EVIL TREE HE PLANTED''.

Watch the video below




https://thickmatch.com/reno-omokri-shares-video-dancing-mocks-wole-soyinka/

The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja, on Wednesday, reserved its judgment on the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to challenge President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory at the February 23, 2019 poll.

The five-man tribunal led by Justice Mohammed Garba announced this after listening to the final arguments of the parties to the case.

Justice Garba said the date for judgment would be communicated to the parties through their lawyers.

“‎Judgment in this petition is hereby reserved and will be delivered on the date to be sent to counsel for the parties,” Justice Garba said.

At the Wednesday’s hearing the petitioners, through their lead counsel, Dr. Livy Uzoukwu (SAN), urged the court to uphold their case by either declaring them the winner of the election or order a fresh one.

But the respondents – the Independent National Electoral Commission, represented by Yunus Usman (SAN), Buhari, whose legal team was led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), and the All Progressives Congress represented by Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) – urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition for lacking in merit.

The petitioners had called 62 witnesses to prove its case.

While the INEC and the APC called none, Buhari called seven in defence.

The tribunal, on August 1, directed parties to file and exchange their final addresses and fixed Wednesday for the adoption of the addresses.



See more here https://thickmatch.com/tribunal-reserves-judgment-pdp-atikus-petition-buharis-election/

President Muhammadu Buhari has commenced the swearing-in of his Ministers.

The Ministers are being sworn-in in batches.

Mohammed Adamu, Uche Ogar, Sharon Ikeazor, Godswill Akpabio, Sharon Ikeazor and Chris Ngige were led into taking the oath of office by Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

This followed the reading of their citation by Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

Senate had last week screened all those on the list after the chamber received the list of ministerial nominees from President Muhammadu Buhari.


On the list are: Lai Mohammed, Chris Ngige, Babatunde Fashola, Hadi Sirika, Rotimi Amaechi, Adamu Adamu, Mohammed Adamu, and Lai Mohammed.

Others in the list are: Uche Ogah, Emeka Nwajuiba, Sadiya Farouk, Musa Bello, Godswill Akpabio, SharonIkeazor, Ogbonnaya Onu, Akpa Udo, and Adebayo (Ekiti), Timipre Sylva, Adamu Adamu, Shewuye (Borno), Isa Pantami, Gbemi Saraki, Ramatu Tijani, Clement Abam.

Also listed as among the nominees are: Rauf Aregbesola, Paullen Tallen, Abubakar Aliyu, Sale Mamman, Abubakar Malami, Muhammed Mamood, Mustapha Buba Jedi Agba, Olamilekan Adegbite, and Mohammed Dangyadi.



See more here https://thickmatch.com/breaking-buhari-begins-swearing-ministers/

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, on Thursday cautioned President Muhammadu Buhari against allowing former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki and the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky to die in detention.

This was as HURIWA pleaded with world leaders to prevail on Buhari to respect the courts by releasing Dasuki and El-Zakzaky who have “languished in underground jails for over three years extralegally.”

HURIWA stated that the, “continuous detention and duplication of charges against the duo by President Muhammadu Buhari is an act of treason against the constitution,” adding that “it is necessary that they are not allowed to die in detention following reports of their deteriorating health conditions.”

In a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko entitled “El-Zakzaky, Dasuki must not die in detention,” the Rights group also condemned the order by the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu for restricting members of IMN to the Unity Foundation in Abuja.

HURIWA wondered how Adamu whose office was a creation of the constitution has assumed the “ultra vires power of overruling the constitution and the Courts of competent jurisdiction.”

The statement reads: “HURIWA condemned the illegal order issued by Mr. Adamu Mohammed the inspector general of police restricting public protests to only within the confines of unity fountain in Abuja as against the clear provisions of the constitution in chapter four and provisions of the constitution guaranteeing the fundamental freedoms of movement and peaceful assembly, including the binding Appellate` court’s verdict clearly stating that police don’t have any legal right to stop protests and against the most cherished values of constitutional democracy built around the tripod of freedom of speech, freedom of association and freedom of movement which are even guaranteed by a plethora of global human rights laws.

“Specifically, we express disbelief that the rest of the developed world had looked on as president Buhari has unleashed venoms and vicious attacks against protesters and has adopted extra-legal measures to detain citizens against binding decisions of the courts of competent jurisdiction as empowered by section 36(5) and section (6) which states: “Every person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed to be

“Innocent until he is proved guilty;

“Provided that nothing in this section shall invalidate any law by reason only that the law imposes upon any such person the burden of proving particular facts.”

HURIWA stated that the President can’t overrule the constitutionally guaranteed judicial powers of the federation conferred on the courts in accordance with section six as follows: “The judicial powers of the federation is vested in the courts of competent jurisdictions and section 36(6) that “Every person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be entitled to

“(a) be informed promptly in the language that he understands and in detail of the nature of the offence;

“(b) be given adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence;

“(c) defend himself in person or by legal practitioners of his own choice;

“(d) examine, in person or by his legal practitioners, the witnesses called by the prosecution before any court or tribunal and obtain the attendance and carry out the examination of witnesses to testify on his behalf before the court or tribunal on the same conditions as those applying to the witnesses called by the prosecution; and

“(e) have, without payment, the assistance of an interpreter if he cannot understand the language used at the trial of the offence.

“We are shocked that whilst constitutional democracy gradually dies away in Nigeria due to deliberate whittling down of respect for human rights by the current administration, world leaders in U.S.A. and U.K. simply don’t care but pretend to be unaware of the global consequences of a deluge of refugees from Nigeria should democracy collapsed under the heavyweight of tyranny and totalitarianism of the current administration”.





Read more here https://thickmatch.com/el-zakzaky-dasuki-must-not-die-detention-huriwa-warns-buhari/

Reno Omokri has reacted to the post made by Literary critic, Ikhide Ikheloa, criticizing the bible.

Ikhide in a post he shared on his Facebook page yesterday July 17th, criticized Africans for still believing in the Bible and the 'White man's God.' He opined that the Bible "is a great work of fiction" and "a tool of oppression created by feuding brothers to oppress women, children, and the vulnerable."

Reacting to Ikhide's post, Reno via his Twitter handle, said the literary critic is under the influence of his father, Satan. According to Omokri, Ikhide should say the same things he said about the bible, about the Quaran and see what happens to him.

Read Reno's tweets below:

See more here https://thickmatch.com/reno-omokri-dares-literary-critic-ikhide-ikheloa-speaking-bible/

Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi will earn €1.5m (N607m) per season at his new club Trabzonspor, Sports Extra has reliably scooped.

Mikel, 32, signed a two-year deal with the option of an additional 12 months joined the Turkish club this summer in a deal that will earn him over €150,000 a week.

The former Chelsea and Middlesbrough will be the highest-earning Nigerian player in Turkey based on basic salary.

“He got a good deal I must confess,” a source, who brokered the deal, disclosed to Sports Extra.

“€1.5m per season for his age, wealth of experience and pedigree earned him that lucrative contract at that age.

Mikel, who has made two appearances for the Eagles at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, will link up with his compatriots Ogenyi Onazi and Anthony Nwakaeme at Trabzonspor, who will compete in next season’s Europa League after finishing fourth in 2018/19 season.

The midfielder made 249 Premier League appearances for Chelsea in an 11-year spell, winning two league titles, three FA Cups, the UEFA Champions League and the Europa League.

He also featured in two World Cups and helped the Super Eagles win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

Mikel, who will retire from international football after the AFCON tournament made his Nations Cup debut in Egypt in 2006.



Read more here https://thickmatch.com/mikel-will-earn-n607m-yearly-trabzonspor/

lalasticlala mynd44

The Chairman of the Kwara State House of Assembly Committee on Land, Housing and Urban Development investigating transfer of ownership of a four bedroom property of the state government, Omotayo Awodiji, has said the committee as of now would not invite former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, and the immediate past governor of the state, Alhaji Abdulfattah Ahmed, to testify before the committee.

The Kwara State House of Assembly on Tuesday during plenary directed its Committee on Land, Housing and Urban Development to investigate the alleged transfer of the property to Saraki.

The resolution of the House was sequel to a Matter of General Importance raised by member representing Irepodun Constituency, Omotayo Felix Awodiji, on the ownership of “Alimi Lodge” on the floor of the House during plenary on Tuesday.

Speaking with our correspondent on the telephone in Ilorin on Wednesday, Awodiji, who said the committee had invited some government officials to acquaint it with information on the alleged transfer of ownership of the property, stated that the officials had honoured the invitation of the committee.

He said the committee felt that there was no need to invite the two past governors to appear before it.

“We have invited some civil servants to appear before the committee with relevant documents on the transfer of ownership of the government property and right now, they are before the committee.”



Read more here https://thickmatch.com/probe-saraki-ahmed-not-needed-now-states-panel-chair/

Petitioners’ Witness 57, Mohammed Yahaya, called by the Peoples Democratic Party and its 2019 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, broke down in tears at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on Wednesday.

Earlier, he had claimed that two persons were shot by All Progressives Congress’ thugs who invaded a polling unit in his ward on the day of the election.

He said the two victims were rushed to the hospital, but one of them died much later.

He said he witnessed violence in the polling units where he voted and the others he visited during the election but could not tell of the situation in the ones he did not visit.

“I ran away for my dear life. Where I did not visit, our agents told me they ran away for their dear lives,” he said.

The witness, who said he was fondly called “Honourable” by his mother whom he said had pampered him before her death, insisted that Aboto Ward had always been the stronghold of the PDP.

He said the PDP would have won in the ward had there been no violence in the ward.

The witness said “It was House of Assembly election and they are challenging it in court.”

He broke down in tears when Olanipekun repeated the question to extract a more satisfactory answer.

“You people are just playing politics with peoples’ lives. People died,” he said.

It took about five minutes for the head of the five-man panel, Justice Mohammed Garba, to pacify him.

Reacting to the development, Olanipekun said, “We are used to people like him. My question had nothing to do with death.”

Under cross-examination by All Progressives Congress’ lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the witness confirmed that the APC won in the 2015 elections in the ward.

“It may interest you to know that I was in APC during the election he is talking about.

“Had there been no violence, PDP would have won this election.”


https://punchng.com/atikus-witness-weeps-at-tribunal-says-apc-thugs-shot-two-during-election/amp/

The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmoud Yakubu has explained why results of last general elections could not be transmitted electronically, contrary to claim by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its last presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Atiku and the PDP, who are challenging the outcome of the last presidential election before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), claimed to have won the election by virtue of some results they got from a certain server, into which they said INEC transmitted the results of the election.

Read Also: Buhari’s lawyer to play video where INEC chair ruled out electronic transmission of results
At the resumption of the proceedings of the PEPT on Tuesday morning, lawyer to President Muhammadu Buhari, Alex Izinyon (SAN), played a video, where INEC Chairman said his commission could not transmit results electronically, because of inadequate communication facilities/coverage in the country and the challenge of cybersecurity.

Izinyon further tendered a digital video disc (DVD) which contained the interview Yakubu granted to a private television station, in which he gave details of the challenges of transmitting results electronically.

The DVD was admitted as Exhibit: P85, while the certificate of compliance, tendered with it, was admitted as Exhbit: P86.





Read more here https://thickmatch.com/breaking-didnt-transmit-results-electronically-inec-chair/