₦airaland Forum

John Ameh, Abuja


Lawmakers from Ghana were on a visit to the National Assembly on Wednesday when the hoodlums invaded the Senate chamber and stole the mace.

The Ghanaians, who were also as confused as the Nigerians scampering to safety, watched in amazement.

They entered the House and sat at the gallery to observe proceedings as members debated the invasion.

Gbajabiamila, feeling embarrassed that the visitors saw what played out, apologised to them on behalf of the National Assembly.

“It is unfortunate that we have visitors from Ghana, who are on a parliamentary visit to Nigeria.

“We apologise because this is not usually how our legislature operates,” he added.

A member from Anambra State, Mr. Gabriel Onyenwife, supported the motion, calling the invaders terrorists.

He spoke more, “The National Assembly is under a terrorist attack; that is the appropriate description.

“If the legislature is no more, what is the fate of democracy? Today, it is the mace, it could have been a senator or a member that the terrorists came to attack.

“The security personnel in the National Assembly must explain the role they played in this saga.”

A lawmaker from Osun State, Prof. Mojeed Alabi, captured the invasion as a “failed coup”, that should be meted with the appropriate penalty for coups.

“There is punishment for a coup, a failed coup.

“The punishment for this invasion should be the same punishment for coup plotters”, Alabi said.

More members spoke in support of the motion, condemning the attack.

The crisis rocking the Ohanaeze Ndigbo has reached its peak following the reported sack of its President-General, Chief John Nnia Nwodo.

DAILY POST reports that Nwodo has been in a running battle with the leaderships of both the Youth and Women wings of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization.

He was earlier suspended by the two wings, a development he brushed aside then.
It could also be recalled that the group had earlier shortlisted three names as his possible replacement.

However, in a statement obtained by DAILY POST on Wednesday, the Ohanaeze Youth Council said he has been replaced with Prince Richard Ozobu.

The statement was signed by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, President, Ohanaeze Youth Wing, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, Secretary-General and Comrade Achuonye Obinna, Vice President.

It read in part: “We, the leadership of the Ohanaeze Youth Wing, OYW, have the mandate of the respectable Igbo elders, leaders of thought, captains of industries and intelligentsias that recently met at Enugu, to brief the Igbo nation and general public that another expanded meeting of SAVE OHANAEZE GROUP meeting held today at Enugu and after series of consultations and meeting, it unanimously sacked the suspended President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo for playing games with the Igbo Nation and been anti-social with Igbo’s socio-political and economic interests.

“It is open to the watching public that Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has with the kind of Chief Nnia Nwodo’s leadership, seen Igbos missing in the political radar of Nigeria and losing grips of Igbo citizens and as well, plummeted to the lowest ebb, seeing Ohanaeze Ndigbo becoming an appendage of political platform to politicians, to the extent that Nwodo has decided on 2019 presidential election without any negotiation.

“It could be recalled that last Enugu meeting agreed to not only sanitize but constitute a National Steering Committee, Ohanaeze Ndigbo before the end of the week. Three persons shortlisted for Nnia Nwodo’s replacement are Prince Richard Ozobu, Sir OAU Onyema and Prof Eche Ugwu, who are verily tested products of tradition.

“In another follow up meeting held at Enugu today, the SAVE OHANAEZE meeting has also asked Ohanaeze Youth Wing to brief the press – especially announcing a change in Ohanaeze Ndigbo Leadership.

“The meeting attended by Igbo Leaders, Save Ohanaeze Group, Ohanaeze Youths and Women, screened all the 3 shortlisted candidates for Nwodo’s replacement, namely Prince Richard Ozobu, Sir OAU Onyema and Prof Ugwu, after which Prince Ozobu emerged new President General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and he will be sworn-in on 21st April, 3018 at Owerri, Imo state.

“The meeting also plead swith the Igbo nation, Southeast Governors, Igbo Leaders of Thought, intelligentsias and captains of industries, Ohanaeze Youths and Women to support the new President General, Prince Richard Ozobu and his team to be announced later.

“As a consequence, Nwodo has been banned from carrying any action and or political hobnobbing with Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s sacred identity; and he is banned from entering Ohanaeze Ndigbo Secretariat and if seen there, he will have himself to be blamed.

“The meeting also observed that Nnia Nwodo had also alienated the Ohanaeze Youths and Women Wings to the level of calling for elective convention on both wings, just to rival and silence the Igbo youths and women who are watchful and opposed to his preference for recycling another politician of the old brigade, as President Buhari’s alternative.

“The meeting observes also that the Ohanaeze youth and women wings were merely victims of Nwodo’s political brigandages because they after reviewing the Nwodo’s political gambit and permutation and commended the youth and women for their resiliency and protection of Igbo identity.

It said also that Igbo youths, women and politicians may dash to politics but not using Ohanaeze Ndigbo platform to serve a political clearing house.

“The meeting went further to caution the Igbo nation on presidential election and drew the attention of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo/Igbo Elders led by Pa. Mbazulike Amaechis, Dozie Ikedifes, Ben Nwabuezes, Ralph Obioha on the pre-2015 adoption of a presidential candidate.

“In view of the foregoing, the save Ohanaeze meeting, also said that there is no need deciding in a hurry against the incumbent – President Muhammadu Buhari and there must be a thorough negotiation without hurting anyone or region.

“It would not be business as usual and South-East Governors and Leaders (political and traditional) and especially Ime Obi, must be involved.”

Femi Makinde, Osogbo



The management of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has suspended Prof. Richard Akindele, whose telephone conversation in which he demanded for sex from a female student was recorded and released on social media.

A member of the committee who pleaded anonymity confided this to our correspondent in Osogbo on Wednesday.

He said the committee recommended the suspension of the professor in a report of the committee set up by the university to probe the matter and to authenticate the veracity of the telephone conversation, where the lecturer demanded to have sex with the student five times before he would upgrade her mark from 33 to a pass mark.

In the leaked telephone conversation, the female student, who our correspondent gathered was a postgraduate student doing her Masters in Business Administration, initiated a call and asked the professor about their earlier discussion on the matter.

The member of the committee said, “The committee recommended the indefinite suspension of the professor pending the time the final report will be ready.

The committee established a prima facie case against the professor. But note that this is the interim report of the committee.

“The committee invited the professor and the female student. We identified the student and invited her, but she did not appear. Only the professor honoured our invitation. I don’t want to tell you what he said on the telephone.”

The committee member said the lady was an MBA regular student and added that the final report would be submitted after the lady might have appeared before the panel.

However, the Public Relations Officer of the OAU, Mr. Abiodun Olanrewaju, when contacted on the telephone, told our correspondent that he would find out to know if the report was ready and get back. But he had yet to do that as of the time of filing this report.

The Vice Chancellor of the OAU, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, had, on Sunday, told our correspondent that the report of the committee would be ready on Wednesday and that it would be released to the public.

It will be recalled that the the lady had released a telephone conversation she allegedly had with the professor; and the lecturer was heard demanding sex with the lady.

The lady eventually rejected the condition given during the conversation.

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INDEPENDENT has exclusively obtained the names of the five suspects who were on Wednesday arrested by the FCT Police Command after they brazenly entered the Chambers of the National Assembly and forcefully made away with the Mace, the symbol of authority of the nation’s Legislative arm of government.

The suspects, who were allegedly led into the Red Chambers by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, are all from Delta State, further fueling the rumours that the suspended Senator may have masterminded the Mace snatching.

The names are:

Tuoyo Mabiaku – Warri North Local Government Area

Peter Orede – Warri South LGA

Blessing Edjeke from Abraka In Ethiope East LGA

Lucky Okomu from Oghara in Ethiope West LGA

Prince Enayemo – Ughelli South LGA

John Charles Makurdi


Fulani herdsmen on Tuesday afternoon unleashed mayhem on Chembe settlement in Ukemberagya/ Tswarev council ward of Gaambe - Tiev , in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, killing a village head, Mr. Iyongovihi Ninge .

An eye witness from the area , Joseph Anawah, told our correspondent through a text message that the attackers came with hordes of cattle , plundering yam seeds that have been planted.

He said that the invaders opened fire on Ninge who was clearing his field in readiness for cultivation .

“ The village head was shot on the back and he died on the spot, ” the eyewitness said .

He added that no arrest was made despite the nearness of the scene of the incident to a military camp stationed in the area .

“ The marauder. opened fire on Chief Iyongovihi Ninge who was clearing his field in readiness for cultivation .

“ On hearing the gunshots , everyone within the area ran away , though we cannot at the moment ascertain if more persons were killed , as several families were lamenting that they could not trace their family members , ” he said .

Anawah further disclosed that the Chembe community and adjourning villages at the moment have been deserted , while the rampaging herdsmen freely graze on people ’ s farmlands .

When contacted , the Logo LG council chairman, Mr. Richard Nyajo , who confirmed the attack , said he had received report that the Chembe village head was killed in the attack .

“ It is very true; herdsmen attacked Chembe and killed the village head. That was the information that reached me this afternoon.

“We learnt that after killing the village head, the herdsmen pursued the people of the community who fled from their farms and homes on hearing the sound of gunshots . ”

Nyajo , who could not give the number of casualties at the time of this report , said he had already notified security personnel about the attack and they had moved to the community to repel the attackers from the area and also assess the situation.

“ As we speak , I cannot tell you that more persons were killed until we get the feedback from the security personnel that went into the bush. ”

When contacted , however , Police Commissioner in charge of Benue State, Fatai Owoseni , said he was yet to receive reports of the attack .

By Eugene Agha



Detectives from the Edo State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), at the weekend raided a hostel, Igbinedion male hostel, which some undergraduate students used as a gay club in Ekpoma.

It was gathered that five suspected members of the club were arrested during the raid which was conducted at the wee hours of Friday.

Those arrested were identified as Osareinti Omo, 23, Odigie Matthew, 20, Sunday George, 20, Festus Akinbayo, 25 and Ibrahim Duru.

It was learnt that the suspects were arrested based on a tip-off from members of the public on the activities of the group.

It was also gathered that the group was allegedly performing initiation ceremony for some teenage boys who were recently introduced into the club.

 A police source said the gang collected the sum of N10,000 from new intakes with the promise that they were going to be given protection throughout their stay in Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma.

In his confessional statement to the police, Ibrahim Duru said he was initiated into the club by one Osanyade Michael in 2015 while he was in year one.

 He said Michael, who is the leader of the club, is presently on the run, and that he was wanted by the police.

 He said: “I see nothing wrong in my being gay. It is my life. Our meeting place is in Igbinedion male hostel, Ekpoma. We meet there mainly at weekends but it was later extended to Tuesdays and Thursdays. Other members of the gang are Osazuwa Samuel, Williams Aghedo, Agala Christian, Atamamin Uyi Festus and Omolegie Samuel.

 “I was arrested in 2015 along with Osanyade Michael when police raided Igbinedion male hostel. We were detained but Osanyade jumped bail and since them we have not seen him. Others were later allowed to go on bail with the promise that we were going to put an end to gay activities in the area. Some of us went back recruiting members secretly. Presently we are about 20 in number. People pay us.”

 The Edo State police spokesman, DSP Moses Nkombe, could not be reached on phone as calls and text messages were neither answered nor returned.

By Saawua Terzungwe 




The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the National Assembly to avert what it termed constitutional crisis over President Muhammadu Buhari's trip to London. 

The party said the President was "shrouding his private visit to London as official" but failed to transmit a letter to the National Assembly.

In a statement on Thursday, in Abuja, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, observed that Buhari has not conducted a single business of government 72 hours after his arrival in the UK.

"More astonishing is the fact that President Buhari did not transmit a letter to the National Assembly indicating that he was going on a week's vacation ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM).

"PDP demands that the National Assembly save the nation from an imminent constitutional crisis by immediately commencing processes to address the current power vacuum in the country, following President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to embark on a private trip abroad without officially transmitting power to the Vice President.

"The intervention of the federal legislature has become a national imperative, as the President’s action has put the nation in clear danger.

"Nigeria is at the moment bereft of statutory leadership, including the apparatus of security command, particularly as President Buhari had not indicated a date of return to the country.

"The PDP and of course, Nigerians at large, are particularly worried that in the event of any national emergency, there is no sitting commander-in-chief to take charge.

"It is incontrovertible that President Buhari is on a private trip to the United Kingdom (UK) as he was not received on arrival, by the government of that country; has not had any contact with the British Prime Minister, Theresa May or any high officials of the UK government and has not conducted any official business since his arrival to the country on Monday.

"Since Monday, President Buhari has been holidaying in London and has been unable to discharge the functions of his Office, in total disregard to the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, disdain to Nigerians and flagrant abuse of his presidential office.

"By embarking on this vacation and abdicating his official functions without transmitting a written declaration to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and holding on to power while on vacation, President Buhari acted in gross violation of Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).


"We know that Mr. President is billed to attend the CHOGM meeting scheduled to hold between April 16 and 20, but has been in London since Monday attending to private matters, while the ship of state is left bare of statutory leadership as nobody even knows when he is due to return to the country," the PDP said.

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A South African writer with the Twitter name , @ awkward _ah, took to the social media platform to reveal why she dumped her fiancé .

The writer , in a series of tweets , said she was engaged to a man who would not let her pay for anything.

The woman who has as her header photo the inscription , “ Single not desperate , ” said it might sound like a dream come true for some ladies , but it was her own worst nightmare .

She said a day would come, if she eventually gets married to him , he would tell her she owns nothing but owes him a lot .

According to her , during the course of dating, he was already hinting at her quitting her job and taking care of his own books.

She wrote, “I was engaged to a man who ’ d never let me pay for anything . Like it got him mad when I bought things . I left him because that may sound like a dream come true for some , but it ’ s a nightmare . It’ s not generosity , it is control .

“ He started hinting that I worked too hard. I should quit and take care of his books .

When I asked what my salary would be, he laughed . Said I don’ t need a salary when there’ s ‘ our money ’ . No , brother… could never be me

“ He bought me a new phone and sim card . It would be best if we were on the same network for free minutes , he said . I saw that he just didn’ t want others to have my number and also he would have access to my itemised bill.

“ For some reasons , this man thought that by putting a ring on my finger he could now shape me into a mould of his own design . I saw through it all. I’ m really thankful that I did or who knows how my life would be today .

“ Every time I ’ d say no, he ’ d buy me things. I don’ t want to grow my hair, he got expensive flat irons . I don’ t like heels , he showed up with an Aldo box. . . It never stopped.

“ Then he would hint that we should go to Mac. He knows a lady who can sort me out. He ’ d like me to wear makeup all the time .

You know , the business was picking up and we had to appear a certain way. I’ m a jeans and T kinda girl . He met me as such . ”

lalasticlala

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE


A 28-year old housewife, Mrs. Rita Esosa Ogbuenyi has landed in trouble for displaying her strength on her husband, Mr. Henshawell Ogbuenyi, 42, by intimidating and constantly beating him up in their matrimonial home.

The alleged assault took place at their matrimonial home located at House 18, Diamond Estate in Ikeja area of Lagos where they resided.

It was learnt that the husband married Rita some years back but did not know that she had enormous strength until she started beating him up constantly and eventually intimidated him.

It was gathered that whenever there was a little quarrel between Rita and her husband, Henshawell, she will grab him and beat him mercilessly until he becomes helpless and plead with her.

According their neighbours, the intimidation and beating continued but the husband was ashamed to reveal what he was passing through in his home.

However, the man became afraid that the constant beating by Rita might lead to his untimely death if she did not stop and he decided to open up.

Henshawell then went to the police and reported the intimidation and assault. Rita was arrested and charged to court for assault.

She was arraigned at Ogba Magistrates Court before the Presiding Magistrate, Mr. Peter Nwaka for the alleged offence.

The court granted Rita bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum. The court ordered that the surety must show evidence of tax payment tax in Lagos State.

The prosecutor, Mr. Christopher John did not object to her bail condition because it was a bailable offence.

However, Rita was remanded in prison custody pending when she will perfect her bail condition.

The matter was adjourned till 22 May, 2018.

TonyeBarcanista:
You are happy because the cost is now clearer for your RM

By Wale Odunsi 



A Pastor, Joshua Ibeneme, on Wednesday, approached an Igando Customary Court in Lagos to end his 21-year-old marriage to his wife, Uzoamaka for allegedly having sex with two of his church members.

Ibeneme told the court that his wife was messing around with his male members, NAN reports.

“My wife had sexual affair with two of my church members, a deacon and a bishop.

Both were boasting telling my other members that they slept with my wife because she enticed them.

“Whenever I return from a trip, my last born always tells me that men came to pick and drop my wife. Even God told me to divorce her or else she will destroy my ministry,” he claimed.

The petitioner said that his wife denied him sex for five years.

“My wife starved me of sex for over five years. Whenever I want to sleep with her, she will be given one excuse or another, in fact, she had moved out of my room to a separate room.

“But she gives it to my members freely,” the pastor said.

The 53-year-old pastor said that his wife was always mocking and embarrassing him in public telling people about his sexual performance.

He said that Uzomaka always accused him of having affairs with any female member who came to the house for counselling.

“She accused them of dating me and also goes to their houses to fight them. Her behavior and attitude have chased members away from my church,” he said.

According to him, Uzomaka instigated their children against him, they do not respect him and they refused to run errands for him except when their mother permitted them to do so.

He begged the court to divorce the loveless union claiming he was no longer in love with his wife.

However, the respondent, Uzomaka, denied having sex with their church members but accused her husband of infidelity.

“It is women that cause our frequent fighting, they are the problem in our home and my husband’s lust for them is very high.

“I never slept with the two men who claimed that they slept with me, they just wanted to tarnish my image, my husband is dating the wife of the deacon,” she said.

The mother of three said that she starved her husband of sex because she hated sex adding that she married him because she wanted children.

The 45-year-old teacher said that her husband became sexually inactive five years ago.

“He calls me derogatory names in public such as ‘prostitute’. I did not instigate the children against him,’’ she explained.

She begged the court not to grant her husband’s wish to dissolve the marriage claiming she was still in love with him.

The court president, Mr Akin Akinniyi, urged the couple to maintain peace and adjourned the case to May 10 for judgment.

By Chijioke Jannah 


A housewife, Zuwaira Abdulaziz, has asked a Magajin Gari Shari’a Court, sitting in Kaduna, to dissolve her marriage to her husband, Musa Dantsoho, over the latter’s failure to pay outstanding balance of her dowry.

Zuwaira, the petitioner, on Wednesday told the court that Dantsoho, only gave N7, 000 out of the agreed N20,000 dowry prior to their marriage, with a pledge to pay her the outstanding N13, 000 after.

She said the defendant has reneged on the agreement even after the marriage had produced two children.

According to her, the agreement between her and her husband was not written and was never disclosed to her parents.

“I never told my parents that he didn’t pay the complete dowry because I trusted him; unknown to me, he is a man with no integrity”, she told the court.

The petitioner begged the court to dissolve the marriage through `Khul’i, a permission granted wife to initiate divorce in Islam, and pledged to return the N7, 000 as dowry to her husband.

However, the defendant denied the allegation, saying he had since paid his wife the outstanding N13, 000 as dowry.
Dantsoho was made to swear to an oath over his claim.

In his judgement, the Khadi, Malam Dahiru Lawal dissolved the marriage and ordered Zuwaira to return the N20, 000 paid as her dowry.

He said, “following the oath the defendant took, I Dahiru Lawal hereby dissolve the marriage between Musa Dantsoho and Zuwaira Abdulaziz.

“She will return the dowry of N20,000 she received from him.”

lalasticlala

TonyeBarcanista:
Barcelona will score a late goal to advance...


Up Barca

A wedding ended in tears and disgrace when a UK - based groom had his wedding disrupted by the family of his first wife .

The groom , Lesley Amos, 52 , who recently married a local nurse, was previously married to a woman named Dorothy and had kids with her .

However , he failed to give his first wife a token of divorce that would have freed him to live his life however he chooses.

He was forced to leave his guests for almost three hours as he engaged policemen when his former in- laws crashed the wedding venue , threatening to stop the ceremony .

Lesley’ s ex - father in- law led some family members to confront the officiating officer , Bishop Paradise .

Paradise had declared Lesley and Mavis , husband and wife , based on a certificate he said was given to them on February 3 at Harare Magistrates Court .

Lesley was , however , accused of making false allegations that his ex - wife ’ s cousin, Margret Dongo, was aware of his intention to marry Mavis .

He apologised over the false statement .

Dorothy ’ s family showed the officiating minister the bride price list which Lesley confirmed as true, while insisting that he was angered by Dorothy ’ s character which forced him to arrange to marry Mavis secretly .

“ We are here to prove that you are still our son in-law, because you never gave Dorothy a token of divorce and you have kids with my daughter, ” said Dorothy ’ s mother , fuming .

Lesley, whose mother was not part of the guests , blamed his sisters Moleen and Lynet for not giving the token of divorce to his first wife .

“My sisters advised me not to give Dorothy a token of divorce, saying there was no need and that I should go ahead with my plans to marry Mavis .

“ I went to court on February 3 and tied the knot , ” said Lesley.

lalasticlala

A middle aged housewife , Umma Bashir , on Tuesday dragged her husband , Ibrahim Bashir , to a Sharia Sourt II at Magajin Gari , Kaduna State for renting out her bedroom without her knowledge .

The complainant told the court that her husband had provided two rooms for her and her two children but decided to rent out the bedroom without her consent .

She said “ I returned home from an errand , only to see my bedroom locked and belongings moved to the sitting room.

“When I confronted my husband, he told me that it was his room and that he had the right to do whatever he wished with it . ”

Umma, who had left for her parents’ house for five days , told the court that she won ’ t return to her matrimonial home until her husband provides good shelter for her .

She also disclosed that her two co - wives were living in a two -bedroom apartment each with their children but she was left with one room to manage .

The defendant agreed that he truly rented out the room, but denied his wife ’ s claim of not being informed prior to it .

He said , “ I informed her that I would rent out one of the rooms , to enable me to renovate an apartment I was planning to relocate her to . ”

Ibrahim added that he promised his wife that he would use the money collected from the tenant to renovate the proposed apartment.

The Judge , Malam Musa Sa ’ ad , after listening to both parties , emphasised the importance of shelter in marriage .

He said it was the responsibility of the husband to provide shelter for his family , stressing that “in Islam , it is wrong for husband and wife to live in one room with two teenagers. ”

The judge adjourned the case until April 18 for the court to be able to inspect the house and assess its condition .

lalasticlala

by Taiwo Adebulu



On Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari announced that he will be seeking a second term in office.

He made the public declaration while meeting with the national executive committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja.

The president said he is seeking re-election because of the “clamour by Nigerians”.

Prior to the public declaration, some Nigerians publicly canvassed against the president’s re-election bid.

Here are five of the figures who left no stone unturned in driving home their message against Buhari’s presidency come 2019.


OLUSEGUN OBASANJO


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The former president could have been instrumental to the election of Buhari in 2015 through his unbridled endorsement, but that has not stopped him from wielding his lethal letter writing skills against the president.

On January 23, Obasanjo wrote a strongly-worded letter to Buhari, asking him to forget about the 2019 election. In the ‘letter bomb’, the Owu chief said the president had performed below expectation.

He wrote, “The lice of poor performance in government – poverty, insecurity, poor economic management, nepotism, gross dereliction of duty, condonation of misdeed – if not outright encouragement of it, lack of progress and hope for the future, lack of national cohesion and poor management of internal political dynamics and widening inequality – are very much with us today.”


AYODELE FAYOSE


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Fayose, governor of Ekiti state, is a foremost critic of Buhari and he would never hold back his emotions when it comes to criticising the president. Some see him as the strongest voice of the opposition.

While reacting to Obasanjo’s letter to Buhari, Fayose described the letter writer and its recipient as “expired” leaders and that both leaders have “outlived their usefulness” to Nigeria. At another time, he said those who voted for the president in the 2015 general election ought to beg God for forgiveness.


FEMI FANI-KAYODE

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Fani-Kayode, former aviation minister, has written a myriad of letters and articles to lampoon the Buhari presidency. Recently, he claimed that the $1bn approved by the president for the procurement of security equipment to fight Boko Haram insurgency will be used to fund his 2019 re-election campaign. He appealed to Nigerians to vote against Buhari.


IBRAHIM BABANGIDA

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The former military president asked Nigerians to co-operate with President Buhari until his tenure ends — but vote for a new generation of leaders in 2019. On February 4, in a statement titled “Towards a national rebirth”, he said the 2019 elections offer “a unique opportunity for Nigerians.”

Babangida, who overthrew Buhari in 1985 and ruled till 1993, said: “In the fullness of our present realities, we need to cooperate with President Muhammadu Buhari to complete his term of office on May 29th, 2019 and collectively prepare the way for new generation leaders to assume the mantle of leadership of the country.

While offering this advice, I speak as a stakeholder, former president, concerned Nigerian and a patriot who desires to see new paradigms in our shared commitment to get this country running.


ANGO ABDULLAHI

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Abdullahi, spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum, has described as corrupt act the recent endorsement of the president for a second term by the APC governors.
On March 24, he led a coalition of northern groups to pass a vote of no confidence on President Buhari and other northern politicians, saying they have failed the region.


OLUBUNMI OKOGIE

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In January, the archbishop emeritus of the Catholic archdiocese of Lagos, advised Buhari to respect himself and retire quietly.

The fiery cleric who has rated the current administration low said it is an insult to Nigerians for the president to be talking about 2019 election. He advised Buhari to be thinking of finding solutions to the problems confronting Nigerians.

“What has he done in the years he had been in the saddle? He has performed woefully; that’s the verdict of Nigerians,” Okogiehad said.

“Let the president respect himself and retire quietly. Coming out to talk of 2019 is insulting not only to those who voted him to power but to all Nigerians. There are so many problems confronting the people and he should be thinking of what to do about them. For second term, he must be a joker.”

Posted By: Onyedi Ojiabor



Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki has said that lack of due engagement with the parliament may force majority of senators to oppose President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval to withdraw $1 billion to fund purchase of security equipment.

Saraki also blamed unending Executive, Legislature friction on lack of consultation and collaboration between the two arms.

He said that some senators who spoke to him on the approved $1 security fund were uncomfortable that the President would approve the expenditure of such huge some of money without recourse to the National Assembly.

The Senate President did not however say whether the upper chamber will block the use of the fund for what President Buhari intended.

Saraki spoke in Jos, Plateau State on Saturday at a retreat on “Strengthening Executive-Legislature Relations”.

It is expected that President Buhari’s approval of $1 billion for purchase of security equipment would be one of the topical issues for debate when the Senate resumes plenary on Tuesday.

The Senate President who insisted that Nigerians must be prepared to defend and protect the institution of the parliament, noted that government was all about institutions and not individuals.

He said that the number of blackmails some of them have received for doing the right thing was simply alarming.

He said that it is obvious that the National Assembly is constantly under attack by individuals who abhor the principles of separation of powers as enshrined by democratic doctrine.

Saraki insisted that protection of the institution of the parliament was the only way sustainable democracy could be guaranteed in the country “because without the legislature there will be no democracy.”
He also stressed the need to always do the appropriate thing at the appropriate time for things to work in the country.

On the approval of the $1 billion security equipment fund, Saraki said: “There is no way the security architecture of this country can work without a strong synergy between the executive and the legislature.

When you see certain agencies who by their actions and utterances frustrate the relationship between the two arms, you begin to wonder what is going on..

“What do we need to do? Do the police need more funding or more powers? Do they need new legislations to strengthen them. These are the issues where the executive and the legislature must work together. What do we need to do?

“Just few days ago, the issue of providing funding for the purchase of security equipment was in the news. In a good environment, such an issue needed to have been discussed with lawmakers. Already, some senators are angry. They said they were not consulted by the executive before such a decision was taken.

These are the issues we are talking about. Some people have already taken position because they were not consulted. That is why I stressed the issue of collaboration between the two arms. The issue of engagement is important.”

The Senate President who said that friction between the two arms of government goes beyond party affiliations, noted that “even during the last administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, the executive and legislature, had some frictions.”

According to him, “It means it is not about the party. It is not about any individual. It is about the system.”

Saraki said that it seemed officials of the executive arm have formed the habit of always blackmailing senators and members of the House of Representatives.

He expressed concern over the release of names of senators tagged as looters by the Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed.

He said, “In a situation where a particular arm of government stands up and calls people from another arm of government thieves, looters and other names, how can we work together? How? It is not possible. It is not realistic. If we collaborate, the country will be better for it.”

He also wondered how President Buhari could write the National Assembly to endorse N4.6 trillion capital market bond without first discussing the issue with the leadership of both chambers.

“Imagine the Federal Government wants to raise a N4.6 trillion bond from the capital market. The leadership of the National Assembly first heard about it through a letter written by the President. This is what happens.

“I needed to be here to speak on these issues. It is not just about today. Posterity will be here to judge us that what I am saying is true. If we do not change the way we behave, we will remain like this for many years to come.”

Also on how heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are allegedly frustrating the passage of the 2018 budget, the Senate President said that the executive arm should be held responsible.

“If you want to strengthen democracy, the priority of everybody should be to strengthen the legislature. If you do not defend the legislature, there is no way our democracy will be strengthened because government is not built on individuals. It is built on institutions.

“That is why in developed countries, governments can change, but it does not affect the stability of their democracy because their institutions are strong. We decided to run a presidential system of government. By its nature of checks and balances, there is bound to be frictions.

The question now, how healthy is that friction?
“If you take the 2018 budget for example, even before people had bothered to find out where the cause of the delay is coming from, people were already attacking and blaming the legislature.

“When I led the leadership of both chambers of the National Assembly, with the Speaker of the House of Representatives to see Mr. President, he came to the meeting briefed as if the delay was that of the National Assembly. He was humble enough at the end of the discussion to render an apology.”

On confirmation of nominees, Saraki said that the executive must realize that the legislature has the constitutional duty to confirm, while nomination lies with the executive.

He said that no attempt must be made to weaken the legislature in the interest of sustenance of democracy in the country.

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE


A 30-year old jilted man, Kabul Jajudeen has vented his anger and frustration on a lady over rejection by attacking and inflicting injury on her face during a squabble between them in Lagos.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Omoroga Street, close to pipeline area of Meiran in Alimosho Local government Area of Lagos where they resided.

The lady, Omowumi Omoroga was said to have shocked Jajudeen who took her for granted and made passes on her with the intention that she will accept easily. It was gathered that Omowumi rejected him outrightly, he was ashamed and targeted her for revenge.

On the day the incident took place, they had a disagreement and Jajudeen saw it as an opportunity to deal with her for what she did to him. He seriously attacked her, targeted and inflicted serious injuries on her face.

The victim was taken to a hospital where she was treated while the matter was reported to the police at Meiran Division.

The police arrested Jajudeen and detained him at the police station. At the station, Jajudeen told the police that Omowumi insulted him but refused to disclose the details of what transpired between them until Omowumi opened up.

The police later charged him to court and he was brought before Ogba Magistrates for assault by inflicting injuries on Omowumis face.

He pleaded not guilty.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. Jadesola Adeyemi-Ajayi granted Jajudeeen bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The prosecutor, Mr. Akeem Raji did not object to his bail because it was a bailable offence.

However, Jajudeen was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail condition.

The matter was adjourned till 7 May, 2018.

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by Dyepkazah Shibayan


The Conference of National Assembly Legislative Aides (CONASSLA), a forum of current and former aides to members of the national assembly, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo to reveal their running costs.
They also asked to know what Aisha Buhari, wife of the president, ministers, heads of agencies and parastatals of the government receive in running costs.

In a statement on Saturday, Abdullahi Al-Mustapha, chairman of CONASSLA, said the executive should reveal its running costs in-line with the transparency agenda of the federal government.

CONASSLA said the information should be published “in seven days”.

Mustapha said failure on the part of the executive to do so would be an infringement on the trust of the citizens who elected the government to curb excessive spending.

“This request stems from openness of the national assembly in recent times, with the disclosure of the running costs of senators and the inexplicable 2018 budgetary provisions that show that the president alone, has budgeted over N900million for the running costs of his cars in 2018,” the statement read.

“The national security adviser (NSA) has budgeted over N1.14billion for the cleaning of his office in 2018; and the minister of transport has budgeted N10billion for his transportation vehicles in 2018.

“These figures, when combined with the fact that the Directorate of State Security (DSS) intends on spending over N2.2billion on social media running costs, and the minister of communication, has owned up to receiving $800,000 in estacode, begs the question – how much does the executive spend in running costs?

“We call on the executive branch to publish the full list of running costs of all the offices and individuals within its purview in seven days.”

The call for the executive to reveal its running cost is sequel to the revelation of Shehu Sani, senator representing Kaduna central, who said lawmakers in the upper legislative chamber receive N13.5 million monthly as running costs.

By Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti


GOVERNOR Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has raised the alarm over the approval by President Muhammadu Buhari of $1 billion for the procurement of security equipment to fight Boko Haram insurgency, saying it was rather for the conduct of the 2019 election.

Fayose in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, on Wednesday, alleged that “it as a pooling of public funds for the purpose of funding President Buhari’s reelection as well as the coming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States.”

The governor demanded to know whether or not the $1 billion was from the Excess Crude Account (ECA), saying “it will be illegal and against the principle of federalism that operates in Nigeria for the President, who is the head of just one of the federating units to approve spending of fund belonging to the three tiers of government without the consent of heads of other federating units.”

Governor Fayose asked: “When did the National Assembly approve the spending of the $1 billion? Or can the President spend $1 billion belonging to Nigerians without the approval of the National Assembly?”

He said “Nigerians required explanations from the federal government as to where the $1 billion will be sourced because the President lacked the power to unilaterally spend money from the Excess Crude Account. Not even when there is a pending suit by Ekiti State Local Council Chairmen, challenging the powers the 36 state governors to purportedly execute the constitutional duty of the Federal government without their consent.”

“Since they said they have defeated Boko Haram, and later told Nigerians that they had a ceasefire agreement with the insurgents, what else do they need a whopping sum of $1 billion (over N370 billion) for; if not to fund the 2019 elections?

“Also, up till now, the government is yet to give satisfactory explanations as to the abduction and return of the Dapchi School Girls. With the hurried approval of $1 billion, is it not being reinforced that the Boko Haram insurgency has become a source of looting public fund by this government?

“It is on record that Transparency International (TI) once said in its report that some top military officials in the country were feeding fat from the war against Boko Haram by creating fake contracts and laundering the proceeds in the United States, United Kingdom and elsewhere.”

The governor reiterated his challenge to the federal government to make available to Nigerians, how the money released by international donors for the fight against Boko Haram was spent.

He said; “Like I have maintained, they are building a huge financial war chest towards the 2019 elections and our treasury is daily being looted to achieve this. One of such means is the $1 billion approved by the President, purportedly for the procurement of arms to fight a Boko Haram insurgency they claimed to have defeated.”

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CYRIACUS IZUEKWE


A woman who brought a 15-year old girl from Akwa Ibom State, kept her in a popularly hotel and set sex targets for her has been arrested in Lagos.

The incident happened at the popular Kolabo Hotel located at Ige Street in Iyana Ipaja where the victim, Gloria Asuquo was rescued by the police.

It was gathered that the suspects arranged and brought the victim to Lagos under the false pretence of securing a good work for her.

However, when she was brought to Lagos, they disconnected her from her relations and gave her a room at the hotel.

It was then they informed her that she will be sleeping with men, collect certain amounts of money and make returns to them.

They then set a target for the amount of money she will be paying as returns to them daily as such she had to worked till late in the night to meet the target.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that it was the condition under which the underaged victim and others were kept before information got to the police. The 25-year old Elizabeth Ita was arrested alongside the manager of the hotel, Thompson Emmanuel and both are cooling their heads behind bars.

They were charged before Ikeja Magistrates court for conspiracy and using the victims as prostitute in a hotel.
They pleaded not guilty.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O.Sule-Amzat granted them bail in the sum of N100,000 each with two sureties in like sum.

The prosecutor, Mr Benson Emuehi did not object their bail condition.

The were remanded in prison custody pending when they will perfect the bail condition.

The matter was adjourned till 5 July, 2018.

The Nigerian Embassy in Washington, DC, has said that the recent disengagement of some workers at the embassy followed due process.

Senior officials at the embassy told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the benefits of the 15 local workers, who were recently laid off, would be paid soon.

They said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, approved the disengagement of the workers due to some ongoing rationalisation of workers at the embassy.

The officials, however, said the ministry had also approved the payment of gratuities to the workers, some of whom had worked with the embassy for more than 30 years.

Some of the affected workers had alleged that the decision to lay them off was arbitrary.

They also alleged that the embassy had no plans to pay their gratuity and other severance benefits.

Further, the local staff, who were mostly Nigerians, had accused the Mission of retaining the non-Nigerian employees at the expense of those who are of Nigerian nationality.

However, the embassy officials denied that there was no prior notice to the disengaged workers, saying they actually agreed to the arrangement since February 2017.

They also assured the workers that the processes for the payment of their entitlements had reached an advanced stage.

One of the officials said: “In February 2017, there was a decision to disengage some of the local staff.

“However, they pleaded to an arrangement to be on contract for another one year, which lapsed in February 2018. The ministry from Abuja approved their disengagement.

“As I am talking to you, we have received approval from Abuja to pay their benefits and they would be paid very soon. It is true that some of them have put in up to 30 years of service.

“They were engaged on contracts and it is the decision of the government to either continue to renew their contract or to terminate it if their services are no longer needed.

“Some whose contracts were terminated in 2013 were not paid in full but we are working out their benefits to make sure that those whose appointments were terminated receive their full benefits.

“It is also not true that they were arbitrarily disengaged; they were aware of the contract and they signed on to it since last year”.

NAN recalled that the embassy, in 2017, had several disagreements with the local workers over the non-payment of salaries spanning several months, leading to protest at the embassy at the time.

Some of the workers also embarked on work to rule, which disrupted consular services at the embassy before they were paid following approval of three months’ salary by the ministry. (NAN)

Samson Folarin



A 30- year - old banker, Chidi Agu , has been accused of drugging and impregnating a 13- year - old orphan in SSS Quarters, Jikwoyi, Abuja .

Agu was alleged to have taken advantage of the victim while his in- law , a pastor, whom the victim served as a maid, travelled out sometime in 2017 .

A neighbour was reported to have observed the victim ’ s bulging stomach and called the attention of the pastor and his wife to it.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the victim was taken to a hospital where it was confirmed that she was five months ’ pregnant.

Our correspondent was told that when the minor was interrogated , she alleged that Agu was responsible for the pregnancy .

Her uncle , John Inyang , said he reported the case to the police at the Jikwoyi division, adding that he was shocked by the pastor’ s family’ s response to the incident .

He said his niece had been living with him since her parents died .

He said , “ I was approached by a member of my church that the pastor’ s wife needed someone to help her around the house . He asked me to give them my niece and promised to take care of her .

“ I released her to the pastor and his family took care of her as they promised . But Chidi (Agu ), who is the pastor’ s wife ’ s brother, usually visited them . He started to take advantage of her whenever they travelled .

“ The girl told me that each time Chidi gave her a drink, she would sleep off . By the time she woke up, she would see blood all over her private parts . She said she could not explain what happened to her until it happened the second time .

“She said when she asked Chidi if he did it , he threatened to deal with her if she told anyone . She said he also threatened to kill me and her . The girl was in fear and could not speak out. She is always indoors; they don’ t allow her to go out.

“ This continued until she became pregnant. The girl said he even attempted to abort for her by giving her drugs which she refused to take . ”

The uncle claimed that he had a meeting with the pastor’ s family during which the victim recounted the story, which was not denied by Agu .

He said for the past one week , efforts to resolve the matter amicably with the family had been abortive, adding that the pastor and his wife asked him to take his niece back to her hometown in Akwa Ibom State.

Inyang said the family promised to send money into his bank account for her upkeep .

“ But I refused the proposal. I told them that was not the way I took her to their house . I thought I could handle it alone , but when I saw their plan , I decided to bring in some more family members .

“ We tried to reach some terms of settlements, but the pastor has refused to sign the agreement . He said the thing did not happen in his house and he cannot be a party to it .

His wife also said she did not want anything that will tarnish their reputation . Meanwhile , I did not hand over the girl to Chidi . It was the pastor and his wife that took her from me , ” he added .

He said he was aware that the suspect and his family had taken the victim to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, without his approval.

A resident , Samantha Joseph , said the suspect had also refused to pay N 10 , 000 per month for the upkeep of the victim until she was delivered of the baby .

She explained that the victim , according to a scan result, was billed to be delivered of the baby between August and September .

“The problem is that the guy said he cannot pay the girl N 10, 000 per month for her upkeep because he cannot afford it , ” she added .

A legal practitioner and human rights activist , Harrison Gwamnishu , urged the police to arrest the suspect and charge the matter to court .

“ The man should be arrested first . If there will be any settlement, let the court decide . It should not be a private arrangement, ” he said .

When our correspondent contacted the suspect, he claimed to be in transit and promised to call back after reaching his destination.

“ First , are you recording this conversation ? If who you claim to be is who you are, I will call you back after I reach where I am going, ” he said .

Subsequent calls by our correspondent to his telephone line rang out.

The pastor’ s family could not be reached for comment as of press time .

However , the FCT Police Public Relations Officer , DSP Anjuguri Manzah , said the command would look into the case and ensure the right thing was done.

He said , “ It appeared like there was an agreement between the two parties and the police were brought in after the arrangement failed . Investigation is ongoing and we will ensure that the proper thing is done. ”

By Chijioke Jannah



A Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, yesterday backed calls by former Minister of Defence, Lieutenant General Theophilus Danjuma (Rtd) that Nigerians should defend themselves against the unending violence in some parts of the country.

Shehu, who appeared as a guest on Channels Television’s political programme, Sunday Politics, however, warned that it must be within the ambit of the law.

“There is absolutely nothing wrong with you defending yourself in line with the law,” he said.
“The security services in the country will probably not be telling Nigerians to do nothing when they come and attack,”.

DAILY POST reports that a day earlier, the Buhari-led government had
appealed to prominent Nigerians, who have national influence, to watch what they say.

Meanwhile, on the reaction of the President to the Former Defence Minister’s outburst, Shehu said he believed that President Buhari was taking the pleas made by Nigerians seriously in dealing with the issues raised.

“This is a listening government and the reaction then was of silence to say to them that we have heard you.

“We will listen to the useful advice you have given us. We will take what we can use from what you have said,” he noted.

The Presidential aide, however, exonerated the military of condoning attacks that have led to bloodshed in the land.

He was of the view that members of the Armed forces were there to defend citizens of the country even to their own detriment.

DAILY POST recalls that Danjuma had on March 24 accused the military of complicity in the killings within Taraba, Benue and other “riverine states” in the country.

According to Danjuma, during a convocation ceremony of Taraba State University, “The peace in this state is under assault. There is an attempt at ethnic cleansing in this state and, of course, in all the riverine state of Nigeria. We must resist it.

We must stop it. Every one of us must rise up,”
Following his outburst, many Nigerians have expressed their views, with many criticizing the President Muhammadu Buhari administration for failing to address the security challenges in parts of the country.

Posted By: Ernest Nwkolo,


https://thenationonlineng.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/OKORO-128x170.jpg


A young apprentice, Okwudili Okoro, has explained why he murdered his master, Azubuike Okoro and his wife, Jacinta, when the couple were having their meal.

Okwudili and his accomplice barged into the home of the the victims and hacked them to death on Saturday.

They pulled out two cutlasses hidden underneath their wears and hacked the victims to death.

Okwudili said he elected to kill his brother and wife because the man refused to settle him after completing his three years apprenticeship.

The attackers fled the scene after the incident but Okwudili was arrested after one Joseph Nwagu reported the matter at Sango Police Station.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed this in a statement, said the suspect claimed he killed his master for not settling him after serving for three years.

Oyeyemi said: “Upon his report, the DPO Sango Division, SP Nasirudeen Oyedele, led detectives to the scene where the suspect was arrested but his accomplice escaped.

“On interrogation, the Ebonyi State born suspect claimed to have served his deceased elder brother for good three years, and when it was time for him to be settled, his brother kept on posting him from time to time.

“He stated that when he realized that his brother is not ready to settle him, he contracted one Kenneth who is now on the run and they both bought two cutlasses, sharpened it to the edges and headed to his deceased elder brother’s house in Ijako.

“On getting there, they met the deceased eating with his wife and before he can utter a word, they descended heavily on them with the sharp cutlasses and hacked them to death.

“The two corpses have been taken to the general hospital Otta mortuary for post mortem examination.

“The Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, has directed that the suspect be transferred to the Homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for discreet investigation.”

Leo Ogor, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, has hurriedly mobilised contractors to sites of various uncompleted projects in his constituency out of fear of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), SaharaReporters has learned.

A security aide to Mr. Ogor, who represents Isoko Federal Constituency in Delta State, confided in our correspondent that since the EFCC turned its attention to his boss, the former Majority Leader has been overcome by fear, a development that has worsened his blood pressure.

"Because of the trouble, my boss has decided to get some of the contractors back to site and they restarted work on some of the abandoned projects for which he may have collected the money," said the aide.
P
Mr. Ogor, whose battle with the EFCC began in 2017 over alleged corrupt practices, including 20 constituency projects branded as “suspiciously unexecuted”, SaharaReporters, gathered, hand-picked contractors said to his fronts, relatives and cronies.

When SaharaReporters visited some of the project sites last week, contractors were seen working. Among sites visited werethe N2.1 billion Aviara-Uzere Road, awarded by the Federal Government in 2013; the 26.5 kilometre Isoko Ring Road Project traversing Ofagbe, Orie, Okpe-Isoko, Uro, Ada, Idheze to Ozoro, which was awarded in 2015; and the Araya Bible Site electrification project.

Others were Oleh, Ofagbe Aviara and Ozoro communities where four 500KVA transformers are to be delivered. Equally visited were two communities in Isoko South and North Federal constituencies as well as the Isoko Development Union (IDU), where transformers are also expected to be delivered.

Mr. Ogor has also got contractors back to Aya Primary School in Araya-Aviara and Uro Primary School in Uro-Irri, where classroom blocks are being built; Ekwerigbe Primary School, Egware Primary School, Ozoro and Uruogbe Primary School in Owhelogbo, where classrooms are being renovated. Contractors have also returned to Olomoro Health Centre, Okpadi community in Iyede, where they are installing solar-powered street lights.

Mr. Ogor distributed one note book each to primary pupils in his constituency and flagged off N200 million free medical treatment programme. In addition, he delivered classroom desks to primary schools in Aviara, Uzere, Idheze and Orie, contracts for which were awarded to his relatives and fronts, but abandoned.

In 2016, members of the House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC), during the defence of the commission's budget by the then Acting Managing Director, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, accused Mr. Ogor of hijacking projects to his community to exclusion of other communities.

Two weeks ago, the Delta State Bureau Chief of Daily Trust Newspapers, Mr. Victor Sorokwu, narrowly escaped being killed by unidentified armed thugs suspected to have been hired by the Rector of the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, Mr. Job Akpodiete; Registrar, Mr. S. O. Onaibre; and the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the institution, Mr. Simeon Eduke.

SaharaReporters reliably gathered that the journalist was attacked while working on a report on the NDDC ICT Centre project at the Polytechnic, which has been abandoned by Mr. Ogor.

The journalist alleged that he was harassed, molested, arrested and detained by the Divisional Police Officer, (DPO), for over 10 hours at the Ozoro Police Station.

"I was on an official assignment to the abandoned NDDC ICT Centre at the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, where I was attacked by thugs working on the instructions of the school rector, registrar and the CSO. "I lost cash, phones and other valuables during the incident. I thank God for saving my life," Mr. Sorokwu said.

The EFCC, in June 2017, froze over N116 million in the accounts of five of the six companies with which Mr. Ogor secured contracts from some government agencies as constituency projects.

The EFCC is also looking into a “curious” payment of over N318 million to two of the companies by NDDC as well as the discovery of 30 accounts, including six belonging to his companies.

Last month, the commission secured a warrant to arrest Mr. Ogor over 20 constituency projects, which were tagged “suspiciously unexecuted”. The contracts, valued at over N500 million, were alleged to have been awarded to companies linked to Mr. Ogor.

The scandal around Mr. Ogor centre around contracts awarded by the NDDC, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons.

He was implicated in a Mr. Abdulmumin Jibrin's petition against House leadership in the 2016 budget padding saga and insertion of bogus constituency projects.

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By Aliyu M. Hamagam,



Tragedy occurred at the Federal Polytechnic, Kazaure in Jigawa State, as a 200- Level Accountancy student, Tolu Joshua, stabbed his ex-girlfriend, who is also his course mate, in the neck.

The victim was then left in a pool of her blood, it was gathered. It was rumoured that the victim died but it was later discovered that she is in coma at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano.

Daily Trust on Sunday learnt that the victim, Fa’iza Misa, who hails from Kogi State, but lives in Kaduna, was a girlfriend to Joshua for a long period, but the relationship crashed recently. It was gathered that Joshua, who was alleged to be a gold digger, was not ready to quit the relationship as the victim is said to be from a well-to-do family.

Sources said Joshua had an unfettered access to her account because her ATM card was always with him.

It was also gathered that despite insisting that he should return her ATM card since there was nothing between them anymore, Joshua did not only refuse, but continued to withdraw money from the victim’s account.

Our correspondent further gathered that not comfortable with the situation, the victim opened a new account.

On the day of the incident, it was gathered that the suspect lured his victim from her hostel around 9 pm and walked her towards the football field, where he attacked her.

The victim was rushed to the General Hospital Kazaure, from where she was referred to the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano.

Joshua has since been arrested in connection with the crime.

When contacted, the Rector of the institution, Architect Shamsudeen Salisu Danbatta, declined to give details about the incident. He only said the fight was between a boyfriend and his girlfriend and that the girl was still alive.

“The information that she died is not true. She is responding to treatment. I will be going to see her at the hospital later. I don’t have details of what happened because everything was handled by the security office of the school. You can only get details from the security and the DPO,” he said.

All efforts to reach the Jigawa State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abdu Jinjiri, proved abortive as our correspondent could not get him on phone and he did not reply the text massage sent to him.

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Pioneer Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Justice Mustapha Akanbi has urged the Federal Government to release the full names of all that have looted the country’s treasury.

The former Appeal Court President said the naming of corrupt Nigerians should cut across all political parties in order to give credibility to President Muhammadu Buhari led administration’s efforts in fighting corruption.

Justice Akanbi told reporters in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital shortly after a special prayer organised for him by members of Muslim Charitable Women Association of Nigeria founded by the wife of the Emir of Ilorin, Hajia R.A. Zulu Gambari at Justice Akanbi residence, Agbadam street, G.R.A Ilorin.

According to him, the announcement of those who looted government money should not be limited to members of opposition party (PDP) alone but should cut across members of ruling party too if government is sincere about war against corruption.

Justice Akanbi who said the release of looters of Nigerian funds was long over due stated.

“If there are members of APC or any other political parties, they should mention them so that there will credibility to what they are doing because fighting corruption should not be one sided.

“I have always said that why do they have to hide the names of those who have looted the nation’s treasury.

“If you know they have looted nation’s fund, let the public know and then take them to court so that people will feel confidence in what you are doing” he added.

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