₦airaland Forum

Posted By: Robert Egbe


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A man was killed on Thursday afternoon after he was run over by a passenger bus on the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane at Irawo Bus Stop, Ikorodu Road, Lagos.

The Nation gathered that the unidentified man was knocked down by a Primero bus as he tried to cross the expressway at 12:10 p.m.

The accident occurred less than 50 metres away from the Irawo pedestrian bridge.
The vehicle with passengers onboard sped off as a crowd gathered at the scene of the incident.

His corpse was put in the back of a truck by onlookers and taken away after lying on the road till 12:42 p.m.

An eyewitness said the man erroneously took the double- lane road, which is used exclusively by the Primero buses, for a one way road.

Another resident of the area, who gave his name as wale, said he was a few metres away from the scene when the man attempted to cross the road.

Wale said: “I live in the neighbourhood. I was standing at the Irawo bus-stop layby when the accident happened. The guy was trying to cross the road, unfortunately the BRT was speeding. Immediately it hit the guy, the guy fell and rolled under the BRT and was crushed. That was how we discovered that he was dead.

“We picked up his phone and tried to call his parents or family but just one person responded. We couldn’t gain access to his phone because it had a password. So, we removed the sim card and put it in another phone. The guy didn’t look properly before crossing and actually, there is a bridge just nearby. This place is not meant for crossing.”

Officers of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) and the police, who arrived soon after the accident, assisted in crowd control at the scene.

They declined to speak to journalists, but an LNSC official told The Nation that he learnt the man died after falling off a commercial motorcycle (Okada). But this was disputed by those at the scene.

Another witness, who refused to give his name, said: “I just hear noise ‘gba!’ When I look like this, na so I see BRT pass. Na so dem say man don die o. There was no Okada passing by then. It was only that BRT.”

The accident caused a build- up of traffic on both sides of Ikorodu Road.

An attempt by a stick-wielding mob to vandalise Primero buses trapped on the highway was thwarted by policemen from Owode-Onirin Division, Ajegunle.

The Owode-Onirin Divisional Police Officer (DPO), E. Bernard, approached the mob and persuaded them to allow the vehicles to pass.

lalasticlala

by Dyepkazah Shibayan


A technical room in the senate wing is of the national assembly is on fire.

The room is located in the basement of the national assembly, where banks and a mosque are located.

The cause of the fire is not yet known but there are spirited attempts to put it out.

There was no one hurt in the incident as of the time of filing this report. Staff and business officials are moving to secure areas for their safety.

Senators, who were initially seated in the chamber, have moved out.

Plenary has been adjourned to next week because of the incident.

lalasticlala

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja


The Federal Executive Council (FEC) wednesday said it had completed the design for the reconstruction of a major part of Apapa-Oworonshoki expressway in Lagos meant to be concessioned to Dangote Group and consequently handed it to the company.

The council also approved the augmentation of the contract cost for the construction of trailer and truck park on Tin Can Island in Lagos from the initial N8.66 billion to N9.55 billion.

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, who made the disclosure while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the weekly FEC meeting in the State House, said the truck park project which was part of the move to ease acute traffic crisis along the collapsed Oshodi – Apapa express way, would be completed this year.

“The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing presented only one memo – a memorandum seeking the augmentation of the price due to the need for increased scope of work especially shoreline protection of the Tin Can Trailer and Truck Pack, which is almost finished.

“It is an ongoing project. We sought council’s approval to augment the price from N8.66 billion to N9.553 billion which was an augmentation of N892.177. 289 million. We expect that truck pack will now be completed this year and it will be one of the many multi-prong efforts being pursued to give relief to the Apapa area, to facilitate vehicular truck and trailer movement and also maritime and import and export business and general economic activity for Apapa in particular, Lagos at large and the country as a whole. The memorandum was approved,” Fashola said.

Fashola who also provided clarification on the planned concession of the reconstruction of some parts of Apapa – Oshodi express way as well as Ijora end to Wharf Road, disclosed the planned collaborative reconstruction agreement between Dangote Group, Flour Mills and Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) as their corporate social responsibility. He also highlighted the challenges posed by the move.

According to Fashola, the portion conceded to Dangote Group for reconstruction between the Apapa Creek Road and Coconut bridge had been designed and handed over to the Dangote Group, explaining that the next move is to go for procurement and eventual FEC approval before the eventual kick-off of the reconstruction.

He said: “I think road development is clearly the mandate of the Ministry ofPower,Works and Housing, especially the work sector by legislation. There is multi-agencies’ collaboration. The Nigerian Port Authority, the Apapa Port, Tin Can Island that are critical to the economy are affected. So, there is multi-agencies’ interaction and that is what we have been having really and truly.

“You will recall that I briefed you about a four-kilometre stretch between the bridge from the Apapa Police when you are coming from Ijora, just to the junction of Point Road right through to Wharf Road, to the entrance of the Apapa Port. That is the stretch that the Dangote Group, the Flour Mills, and the NPA agreed to do as Corporate Social Responsibility as soon as possible. That is going on. It is a problem because after the works started, we found that the gas lines that supported most of the industries there and keep them in operation were within the right of way.

“Now we are faced with two choices – relocate the entire gas line which will cause a lot more in terms of relocation of services and reinstallation which was essentially outside the scope of what was a donation to them or to change the alignment of the road so that we don’t damage that gas pipeline.

So, that is what we are dealing with and those who know will tell you that construction in built up areas like where vehicular traffic has to also pass through – cargo gas to move in and out of the port – is not a construction that is always easy to do because we can’t shut down as it were.

“The other side from Creek Road, Liverpool Road to the Coconut Bridge Tin Can Island part, is the part that is going to be concessioned to the Dangote Group which showed interest to take it over, build it under the tax credit scheme of the federal government. That requires first a design so that we can know what the quantities are.

We have finished the design. We have handed over the designs to them. It also requires for them to get their engineers to say this is the price of this item or that item. And then, we will now go to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), fix the price because it is public funds, even though they are advancing the money, they are going to claim it back.

“So, we are at that process. We have finished the evaluation process on the sections involving Liverpool Road and the first five kilometers out of the Tin Can. So, as soon as we get BPP approval, we will come back to FEC because this is public fund for which they will claim tax credit back. So, we might as well get the price right,” he stated.

In his own briefing, the Minister of Budget and Planning, Udo Udoma, said in pursuit of the implementation of Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), the government is organising a focused laboratory in March with a target of $25 billion investment.

According to him, the programme will bring in investors with focus on specific sectors such as agriculture, transportation, power, manufacturing and processing, pointing out that a number of federal ministers will be brought on board to drive the programme. He also said the move is aimed at generating a significant sum of money for domestic investment.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had while inaugurating a Nestle project in Agbara, Ogun State last week announced the plan of the government to generate $24 billion from focused laboratories on the implementation of ERGP. The vice-president had also stated that the planned project would generate 150,000 jobs.

Udoma stated that the ongoing implementation of ERGP is yielding positive results as evident in the increasing level of capital inflow, improved foreign reserve which he said now stood at over $40 billion while inflation has continued to trickle down.

According to Udoma, the development only shows that all indices of a growing economy are visible.

Posted By: Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja



The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday advised former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida to join retirees’ club and take pensions.

The leaders had sent open letters, accusing President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration of ineptitude and sectionalism.

But reacting to questions on Obasanjo and IBB’s statements while speaking with selected journalists after meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Tinubu said: “I don’t address those shadows. We should let our former presidents join retirees’ club and take pensions. But they can participate in our politics if they are interested.

“It is a free world. But this freedom is not served a la carte but they should allow us to move our country forward. It is a challenge to every Nigerian.”

On the chances of APC in 2019, he added: “You are asking me an obvious question. I belong to this party. My commitment is to this party. We have a better chance and we are strongly determined to prosecute election in a most transparent and democratic manner and we will win.”

And on his appointment as the head of APC Presidential Reconciliation Committee, the former Lagos State Governor said he felt greatly honoured with the mutual confidence the President has reposed in him.

“I feel greatly honoured with the mutual confidence that the President has reposed in me which is a very strong political challenge. We have started in earnest.

“He has given me free hand to put cohesion, confidence and trust in the party.

Democracy is about conflict resolution process. You can’t do it without resolving conflicts.

“We can’t build it without understanding the conflicts and sources where we are coming from. But we want to leave the country with a legacy. It’s not about Mr. President. That is what he’s telling the country.

“It’s about our country and no other choice to democratic tenets than through political party platforms. He’s one of those rare beings around the country, around Africa who had experienced both worlds. He fought a battle to save Nigeria and came to politics to save Nigeria.

“Very rare people have such an opportunity in their life time and that’s what we talk about legacy, and where we have all the challenges, do what we should do. I’m enjoying the challenges so far,” he concluded.

Judex Okoro, Calabar


Palpable tension has gripped Itigidi community of Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State following alleged murder of a community leader and mortician, Mr. Isong Nkanu.

Nkanu, a.k.a” Isong No Joke,” was allegedly killed by the Nigerian Police, on Monday, when the youths went to Police Station in the community, to protest against the arrest of their chief over the killing of one of Fulani cows.

The arrest of the chief, it was gathered was as a result of the complaint by the Fulani herdsmen, in Itigidi, where they claimed that one of their cattle was shot dead by the community, in 2017.

This development led to a disagreement between the herdsmen and the local community, fuelling speculation of possible outbreak of war.

An eyewitness, Chief Dave Oko, said they thought the matter had been resolved not until Monday when the Itigidi Police Division invited the chiefs and the youth leader on the matter.

Oko said: “When the chiefs and our youths leader were invited, as law-abiding citizens, they honoured the invitation, but on getting to the Police Station they were detained and this infuriated the entire community which led to a peaceful demonstration.

“The youth only went on a peaceful demonstration to register their grievances over the arrest of the arrest of the custodian of the traditions and culture of people without any weapon or arms.

“For the fact that they honoured the invitation in their capacity shows they have respect for the authority and the law. It was in the process of protesting that Isong, one of the community leaders, was allegedly shot dead by police.

“To be honest with you the matter was politicized because we do not see the reason why a matter about a cow that was shot dead in October 2017 will suddenly come up now.”

Wondering why the case should come up now when the herders do not reside in the area, Oko disclosed that the case might have been politicised as the Divisional Police Officer is from Fulani extraction.

Another witness, who simply gave his name as John, said: “It was a demonstration. We did not attack any police man neither did we burn down ant part of the police station.

“It will interest you to know that the building that houses the Itigidi Police station is a rented apartment belonging to an Itigidi man ,so there is no way the place could have been burnt down as it is been insinuated by mischief makers .

“We will never take the laws into our hands rather we want the right thing to be done.

Isong has two wives and children that need to be taken care of. We would not sleep until the police man that his that I brought to book.”

Speaking on the matter, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Irene Ugbo, said some herdsmen had complained, some months back, that indigenes of the Itigidi community killed their cows.

She said: “The youths got wrong information they thought the police at Ugep were taken their chief and youth leader to Calabar not knowing they were only invited for a peace talk and for the matter to be resolved amicably.

“On that strength, we invited the community leader in order to make peace, unfortunately the youths in the community read a different meaning to the invitation of their community leader.

“They became restive and threatened to burn down the Itigidi Police Station. There was intervention by the police and in the process, one person died. They tried to attack the police and the police retaliated it was in the process that one of them died,” the police image maker said.

The Nigerian Army says credible information indicates that factional leader of the Boko Haram sect , Abubakar Shekau , now dresses as a woman in an effort to escape from the Theatre of Operation .

Army Spokesman , Brig . - Gen . Sani Usman, who confirmed this in a statement on Tuesday , said Shekau could no longer bear the heat and had abandoned his followers .

“ He is running for his dear life . He is desperately trying to escape the theatre , disguised as a woman and dressed in Hijab.

“We reliably gathered that to avoid detection, Abubakar Shekau alternates between blue and black coloured hijabs . He was last seen in a black hijab.

“ We, therefore, call on all those remaining Boko Haram terrorists to know that they are following a coward moving about in hijab and disguising as a woman.

“ We also request all the remaining Boko Haram members to come out from hiding and lay down their arms and be treated humanely, ’’ Usman said .

He said concerted efforts were ongoing to track and apprehend the fugitive terrorist leader.

The army spokesman , therefore , appealed to members of the public , especially the residents of Adamawa , Borno and Yobe States to be more vigilant and security conscious .

He also asked them to be on the lookout for Shekau and other terrorists who might disguise as women to escape.
(NAN )

The Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District , Shehu Sani , on Tuesday stormed the headquarters of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board in Bwari , Federal Capital Territory, with snake charmers .

The senator also seized the opportunity to present JAMB with snake repellent chemicals .

Sani said the visit was to enable stakeholders to get to the bottom of the issues surrounding the reported case of missing N 36m from the JAMB office in Makurdi , Benue State.

One Philomena Chieshe , a sales clerk in the JAMB office , Makurdi , told JAMB registrar and his team that she could not account for the N 36 m she made in previous years before the abolition of scratch cards.

“ In the course of interrogation , Philomena denied the allegations that she stole the money , but confessed that her housemaid connived with another JAMB staff to spiritually (through a snake) steal the money from the vault in the account office , ” the report said .

Sani said his visit to JAMB was in response to the story that a snake swallowed N 36m .
He lamented that it was of concern that such a huge sum of money was reported to have been swallowed by a snake.

“ I believe that the contribution I can make is to bring snake charmers from my constituency to the JAMB office and to help them fish out the snake and weed out snakes from their premises . ”

Sani further said that if a snake could actually swallow N 36m , one day , Nigerians might wake up to say that a snake had swallowed the country’ s foreign reserve .

“ Even if it is a spiritual matter, we believe that these people I brought are some of the best snake charmers in the country and they will help in arresting both physical and spiritual snakes if there has been any in the JAMB office . ”

He explained that it was very clear the incident did not happen during the tenure of the JAMB Registrar , Prof. Ishaq Oloyede.

“We are very proud of him . We believe he is someone who should continue to run this agency .

“ It is good for Nigerians to know this is what happened before he came into office . I believe the best thing we can do is to continue to support him .

“ It is time Nigerians knew that there may be other dirty things happening in other places , but this place has exposed it for us . We know the truth and I’ m very happy about that. ”

Sani presented snake repellents and chemicals to the board .

Responding, the Spokesperson for JAMB, Mr. Fabian Benjamin , explained that on assumption of duty, the incumbent registrar, Oloyede , discovered that there were loopholes in the sale of scratch cards.
“ We discovered a lot of loopholes. The registrar thereafter introduced PIN vending.

“ After introducing the PIN vending , it was natural for him to call for an audit of the former use of scratch cards.

“ After taking stock , it was discovered that in some offices , they could not account for what they sold .

“ Ms Philomena Chieshe was entrusted with a number of scratch cards which she sold , but N 36 m could not be accounted for.

“ When asked , she actually said she sold them at the said amount , and kept the money in the public vault . According to her , a snake swallowed the money . ”

Benjamin further explained that in the spirit of transparency , inclusiveness , and openness , the agency felt that Nigerians should know what was happening .

He said Chieshe had been queried and has also appeared before a disciplinary committee.

“ A report has been put together and sent to the Minister of Education , Mallam Adamu Adamu . As soon as that report is approved , she will be disciplined and handed over to the appropriate security agency for proper profiling . ”
( NAN )

lalasticlala

By Nuruddeen M. Abdallah



Senior civil servants in Benue, Kogi, and Plateau states are among the highest paid in the country despite their low revenue generation profile, Daily Trust investigations have shown.

The annual total wage bills of the three states are also high compared to the local revenues they generate.

The three states generated less than N10 billion each as IGR in 2016, according to official data published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Nearly all the states in the country were weighed down by huge salaries and wages bills to the detriment of development projects.

The situation worsened with the dwindling oil revenues as more than two-thirds of the states could not pay workers’ salaries even with the federally-accrued revenue shared to them every month.

The situation remained unchanged even after a majority of them resorted to securing loans, apart from their IGR, federal allocation, as well as the tranches of bailout approved for them by President Muhammadu Buhari.


Huge budgets for salaries

A recent report by this newspaper showed that more than half of the N17.5 trillion total budgets of the federal and state governments will be spent on salaries and overheads this year.

Analysis of the budgets revealed that of the N17.5 trillion, N9.35 trillion will go for recurrent expenses, leaving only N8.17trillion for power, roads, rail and other development projects.

Breakdown of the 2018 estimates shows that the federal government is spending N8.61 trillion, with personnel salaries, overheads, statutory transfers and debt servicing guzzling N5.96 trillion, leaving N2.65 trillion for capital projects.

The 36 states have a total budget of N8.95 trillion. The sum of N5.52 trillion is for capital and the N3.39 trillion for recurrent.

In 2016 for instance, 30 states of the federation generated a cumulative internal revenue just enough to settle one-third of their workers’ salaries and allowances.

According to published NBS data, the 30 states reviewed, minus Lagos, generated N515.61 billion internal revenues or one-third of the N1.479 trillion they spend on workers remuneration annually.

Despite this apparent fiscal difficulty, very few states are ready to downsize their bloated workforce for fear of political backlash from the public and labour unions particularly as the country moves into another round of elections next year.


States with huge salary, low revenue

Benue state is paying its director N280, 000 monthly, deputy director (N210, 000) and assistant director (N155,000). The state generated N9.5 billion as IGR in 2016.

The state is also spending N94.8 billion annually as salaries for its 44,000 workers, the third in the country, after Kano and Rivers states.

Plateau state is monthly paying its directors (N236, 456), deputy directors (N186, 420), and assistant directors (N125, 862); despite its poor internally generated revenue base of N9.5billion as of 2016. Plateau is spending N20.4 billion annually on a total workforce of 21, 000.

Kogi state generated N9.57 billion in 2016, according to the NBS data, but it is paying its directors N230,172, deputy directors N181,106, and assistant directors N131,504. The state is spending N30 billion on its 13,080 workers every year.


States with huge salaries, huge revenue

Lagos with the biggest economic base in the country, generated three-digit IGR of N302.42 billion in 2016, and it pays its directors N347,733, deputy directors N182,253, and assistant directors N147,318 per month. It is spending N72 billion annually to pay its 100,433 workers.

The oil-rich Rivers state is paying directors N285, 000, deputy directors N265, 000, and assistant directors N230, 000. It is spending N100.8 billion on its 25, 000 workers every year. It generated N85.29 billion in 2016, according to NBS data.

Kano, the most populous state in the country, is generating N30.96 billion annually, while its directors get a monthly salary of N150,000, deputy directors N98,000 and assistant directors N98, 000.

It is also the state in the country with the highest wage bill, spending N110.4 billion annually to pay 160, 000 workers.


States with moderate salaries, poor revenue

In Katsina state, an assistant director receives N88, 547 monthly; a deputy director, N121, 538 while a director gets N150, 174 per month.

However, in some ministries like the judiciary, there are some little adjustments with a director receiving between N285,879 and N372,562.

Katsina state spends N60 billion annually on its 39,775 workers, even though it generated only N5.5 billion in 2016 as internal revenue.

Kebbi state is paying a director N136,000, deputy director N103,000, and assistant director N80, 000 every month, even though it generated only N3.13 billion in 2016.

Kaduna state pays a director N106, 000 monthly, deputy director N86,000 and assistant director N66,000. It spends N26.4 billion every year on its 100,000 workers. The 2016 NBS data shows that the state generated N17.5 billion.

Lawyers have expressed legal opinions on the outcome of a suit challenging the senate’s rejection of Ibrahim Magu as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Thursday.

The lawyers, one of them, senior advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, also condemned the action of the senate for celebrating only a segment of the judgement and ignoring other parts.

An Abuja Division of the Federal High Court gave the ruling to a suit filed by a private lawyer, Oluwatosin Ojaomo.

Mr. Ojaoma had in his suit demanded the determination of two issues by the court: namely whether the senate had powers to reject a validly nominated candidate for the position of EFCC chairman, by the presidency.

He also asked the court to determine if the senate was not bound by the provisions of the EFCC act 2 (3) to confirm any candidate nominated by the presidency for the said position.

On the one hand, the court held that against the arguments proffered by the applicants, the senate’s position was not a rubber stamp meant only to affirm any decision of the presidency, but that the senate indeed had powers to either affirm or reject a candidate from the presidency.

However, the court in its other opinion on the matter noted that fundamental to its determination of the suit is the need to first ascertain if the applicant had the “locus standi” to file the application in the first instance.

Locus standing is the right to bring an action or to appear in a court.

Media reports emphasised the court pronouncement dealing with the power of the senate to reject the confirmation of a presidential nominee.

But lawyers including Mr. Falana and Jiti Ogunye said the other part of the judgement which bordered on “locus standi” was held higher by the court than its opinion on the Senate’s position about Magu.

“The case of the plaintiff was struck out by the Federal High Court for want of locus standi. It is trite law that once a case is dismissed or struck out by a court for any reason whatsoever, it cannot be relied upon to assert any right or exercise any power.

Accordingly, the view expressed by the learned trial judge on the power of the Senate to confirm or reject a person nominated for the post of the chairman of the EFCC by the President pursuant to section 2 of the EFCC act, is of no legal value as the case had been struck out by his Lordship in the same ruling,” Mr. Falana said.

He added that contrary to the notion celebrated by the senate, the applicant did not ask the court to remove Mr. Magu and therefore “no such order was made by the court”.

In a similar opinion, Mr. Ogunye said the court primarily held that the applicant lacked locus standi and as such the suit and every opinion expressed regarding it, were struck out by the judge.

“The decision of the Federal High Court Abuja, given by His Lordship, Jon. J.T Tsoho in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/ CS / 59/17 (Olutosin Ojajomo v The Senate President, National Assembly of Nigeria & Anor) essentially struck out the claim of the Plaintiff, initiated by Originating Summons . The Court primarily held that the Claimant, a legal practitioner, did not show by affidavit evidence that he had the locus standi (standing or capacity) to sue for the reliefs he was seeking in the Suit. Thus, the Honourable Court struck out the Suit,” Mr. Ogunye said.

He added that the action of the senate to commend the judgement, based only on the part that suit them, (senate) was mischievous.

“It is our considered opinion, that the slant being given to the ruling by the Senator who spoke on the outcome of the suit is diversionary and misleading. It amounted to clutching to a straw. Why would the Senate pick the part of the ruling that affirms their right to reject a nominee under the EFCC Establishment Act, and de-recognise the primary part that struck out the suit, before that part was determined, if not for reason of mischief?”

Also speaking on the matter, an Abuja based lawyer, Emanuel Ejeh, said neither the upheld version by the senate and the entire decision of the court could be considered a judgement capable of removing Mr. Magu.

“Having struck out the action, the matter is dead. The opinion of the Court serves no purpose. Now, in the event the matter gets to the Appellate Court, and the learned Justices of the Court of Appeal decide that the Applicant has the locus standi to sue, then that opinion becomes a Declaratory Judgement.

“The character of such a judgment is that it is basically not executory. It is only a statement as to the rights of the parties therein with no bite; as there is no order as to what any of the parties should do or should not do,” Mr. Ejeh said.


Before affirming the senate’s rejection of Mr. Magu, the court had this to say about the locus standi of the applicant.

“The issue of utmost importance in this suit is the issue of locus standi of the plaintiff to institute the suit. The term locus standi simply put means the standing or title to sue. That is to say the plaintiff’s capacity to sue or the competence of the plaintiff to institute an action before the court.

”The issue of locus standi is threshold matter and must be first dealt with,” said Mr. Tsoho who cited a previous court decision to back his position.

“See Prince Adetona’s case (Supra). It is also trite law that the nature of the claim and/or the cause of action determines the locus standi of the party bringing the action,” Mr. Tsoho added and cited three other court cases to support his stand on the locus standi of the applicant.

“Haven regards to the questions for determination and the reliefs sought in the originating summons by the plaintiff in the suit, his locus standi in my humble opinion is doubtful. The affidavit deposition which give background information of the plaintiff have not disclosed sufficient stake or peculiar interest of the plaintiff above others that entitles him to institute the action. On this premise the suit is liable to be struck out for lack of premise.

“The point must be made that it is trite law generally that where a plaintiff claim is unchallenged and uncontroverted the court will accept the available evidence and act on it. There is however exception to this: where the court finds that the plaintiff’s action is not maintainable, despite being unchallenged. This I humbly hold to be the position of the instant suit, I regard as doubtful the plaintiff’s capacity or competence to maintain the action. Consequently, this suit is struck out”.

lalasticlala

By Baba Negedu, KADUNA 


For allegedly saying he and his deputy were responsible for the insecurity in Zamfara state, the state governor, Abdulaziz Yari has threatened to kill the Senator representing Zamfara Central, Kabiru Marafa politically in 2019.

The Governor who spoke through one of his Special Advisers, Alhaji Salisu Isah at a press conference in Kaduna said, “the Senator displayed his fraudulent character and l made it a duty to respond to these reckless allegations with the view to among other reasons let the world know the character of Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa and why he cannot be taken seriously.

“Most importantly to bring to the public notice the laudable efforts Governor Yari is making to tackle the security menace confronting the good people of Zamfara state and why he should be commended rather than castigated in a manner the Senator did.”

Answering questions from Journalists on the allegation that Senator Marafa said if anything happened to him, Governor Yari should be held responsible, Alhaji Salisu said, “Yes we are going to kill him politically, we are going to bury his political ambition in 2019. He wants to be Governor, he is not going to get it, even the Senate he is not going to return”.

Reading from a prepared speech the Governors Adviser stated that, ” It is irresponsible and cheap blackmail for Senator Marafa to state that Gov. Yari and his deputy were responsible for the insecurity in Zamfara state.”

According to him, this is because, “On his inauguration, Governor Yari has stated among his administration’s key priorities is to address the menace of insecurity in the state; especially cattle rustling, kidnapping and armed banditry that has denied Zamfara people of sound sleep for many years.

“Shortly after assuming office, Governor Yari has paid several visits to the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces as well as Military Service Chiefs to appeal for the federal government assistance to tackle the menace of insecurity occasioned by cattle rustling, armed banditry and criminality in the state.
“This is to underscore the commitment of the governor towards ending insecurity and criminality in Zamfara State as against what Senator Marafa alleged.”

He, however, said, “There is no record anywhere to‘ indicate the contributions of the Senator towards addressing the problem. What is in public domain is the Senator’s politicking and noise making to seek undue relevance and hypocritical display of fake loyalty to President Buhari”.

Salisu said, “the Senator should not be taken seriously because the allegations are baseless, mischievous and unfounded.

Instead of Senator Marafa to look for ways to assist the state government he is busy making noise and seeking undue relevance.

“The question one should ask is what is the contribution of Marafa towards solving the insecurity problems in Zamfara State If he claims to be concerned as a Senator representing the people of Zamfara Central Senatorial Zone?

” He should bury his face in shame for playing politics with such an important issue as the security of lives and properties of the good people of Zamfara state.

“For Senator Marafa to accuse Gov. Yari of romancing with the criminals causing insecurity in Zamfara State is not only mischievous and callous but also very misleading.

” Apart from the federal government intervention, Governor Yari sought self-help by mobilizing local vigilante to confront the security challenges in the state.

“Yari went out of his way to reach a peace agreement with the leaders of these known criminal gangs all in an effort to ensure government guarantees security of lives and property in Zamfara state.”

He also berated the Senator, Saying “Senator Marafa has always posed as a friend and supporter of President Buhari but behind the President, he is an enemy, I am calling on President Buhari and the Senate President to be careful of slippery people like Senator Marafa. Such people are serpents moving around with venom, seeking for an opportunity to strike. They are unreliable and cannot be trusted”, he said.

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A 28-year old housewife, Mrs. Bola Olanrenwaju was shocked as their neighbours ran away from her, mistaking her for a ghost that came to attack them in the market after she had died in Lagos.

The confusion followed the wild rumour her neighbour, Mr. Goke Ogunyakin had carried that she had died and her corpse has been deposited at the mortuary.

The incident happened at Elaloro Street in Itire, Lagos where both were doing their businesses.

P.M.EXPRESS learnt that Olanrewaju fell sick and did not come to her shop where she sold clothes for some time because of the ailment. When Ogunyakin did not see her after a long time, he started spreading the rumour to both their neighbours and her customers that she had died.

The rumour was still on when Olanrewaju came to her shop to resume business. She noticed that their neighbours were scared and ran away from her. She was surprised and wanted to know what was happening.

It was then that one of their neighbours who mustered courage to come closer informed her that her close neighbour, Ogunyakin had told them that she was dead, so they thought she was a ghost and had to run away from her.

She tried to convince them that she was still alive and then confronted Ogunyakin. A fight ensued between them and in the process her clothes got torn.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that while they were fighting publicly, the police patrol team saw them, arrested them and took both to the police station.

They were subsequently charged before Isolo Magistrates court for conduct likely to cause breach of public peace.

They pleaded not guilty.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. A.O. Teluwo granted them bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.

They were remanded in prison custody pending when they will perfect their bail condition.

The matter was adjourned till 19 February, 2018.

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By Damilola Oyedele in Abuja


The Senate wednesday advocated the impeachment of any president and governors who do not act in line with their constitutional mandates.

Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe (Abia PDP) said this while contributing to the debate on a bill seeking to prescribe punishments for acts and conducts that are undemocratic by elected officials and persons.

Expressing opposition to the bill, Abaribe argued that impeachment is already prescribed in the constitution, adding that there are further consequences for non performing officials at the polls.

“This is a very difficult bill to pass. Elections have consequences. When you choose in an election, you must be able to accept the consequence of that choice you have made. Nigerians chose APC, they must live with the consequence of that.

Nobody can wake up now and tell us that some people are undemocratic, we know that therefore but they are going to suffer the consequence of their misdeeds in office with another election.

“That means we actually do not need this bill to punish those that are undemocratic.

The way to punish them is to make sure that they don’t come back to office. That is the only way and of course if you are in office and you commit a crime the consequence of the crime is also there, it is up to the executive to do the needful using the institutions that are available,” Abaribe added.

“The penalty is there in the constitution. If a president refuses to act, then impeach him. There is no other thing you need to do,” he added.

His position which elicited laughter from the lawmakers, did not go down well with Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, who cited a point of order to the effect that Abaribe has strayed away from the subject being debated.

Lawan accused Abaribe of casting aspersions on the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the president.

Senate President Bukola Saraki agreed with Lawan.

Abaribe however cited a portion of the lead debate presented by Na’Allah who quoted former United States President, Richard Nixon, as saying ‘if you dodge from your responsibilities, you cannot escape the consequences.”

“What does the law say about consequences of dodging from your responsibility? I was simply explaining that. Let me withdraw that of the president and say any governor that leaves his responsibility should be impeached,” Abaribe said.

Meanwhile, the South-east Senate Caucus has said its fears on the manner of administration of Nigeria by President Muhammadu Buhari have been confirmed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, particularly regarding the lopsided appointments.

The leader of the caucus, Abaribe, in a statement issued yesterday, said the caucus had issued several warnings on the nepotic appointments, but was largely ignored.

“What is happening? What former President Obasanjo said is what we have said and predicted long ago. No one should be surprised over what is happening or the shape of the political appointments made by President Buhari,”

“To be fair to him, the president made himself clear during his state visit to the United States of America, with his now unfortunate theory of 95 percent and 5 percent reward for support. The whole thing has come to bear negatively on the entire country and every body is now shouting but we predicted what is going on,” the statement read.

Abaribe said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may have deliberately chosen to run a government which alienates a sizeable portion of its people and promotes exclusivity, unlike the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which ran an all inclusive government.

The statement read further in part:
“For any party, there should not be any political barrier or alienation of any constituent part, because after elections, the president is the president and father of all Nigerians irrespective of the political leaning,”

“My hunch is that the appointments so far, which have surreptitiously thrown up the prevailing circumstance, have failed to encourage our people’s hunger and quest to build a nation state out of a heterogeneous Nigeria. The appointments, as they were, do not also support the effort to weave a more cohesive country that would metamorphose into a nation where unity and love will prevail.”

“The founding fathers of our country had this in mind when the notion of ‘federal character’ was inscribed in the constitution and a commission created for that purpose. That a president of elder statesman status would willfully breach this fibre that holds this country together is highly regrettable.

“Well, my take is that ‘it is a Buhari country,’ it is the reality, so he can play around with his choice as his mind and conscience direct him. After all, he did not win election in the South-east and South-south and yet he became president, therefore, the South should be orphaned for not voting for him. Perhaps that is the stark reality that the people of the South in Nigeria should face.

“There is an idiom in Igbo language that says: “20, years or more is not eternity.” The Buhari government will also come to an end one day.

“Nonetheless, it could have been good and politically expedient if President Buhari sees himself as president of Nigeria, which is the hallmark of a statesman and not that of president of a section of the country.”

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A 42-year-old housewife, Fatimot Abiola, on Wednesday in Lagos lost her 22 -year-old marriage to her husband, Rasheed, for wearing trousers against her husband’s wish.

Delivering the judgment, the president of Igando Customary Court, Lagos, Akin Akinniyi, said it appeared that the estranged couple were tired of the marriage and all efforts to reconcile both parties had failed.

“Since both parties consented to the dissolution of their marriage, this court has no choice than to dissolve the marriage.

“The court pronounced the marriage between Mr Rasheed Abiola and Mrs Fatimot dissolved, both parties henceforth cease to be husband and wife.

“Both are free to go their separate ways without any hindrance and molestation,” Mr. Akinniyi ruled.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mrs. Abiola had earlier told the court that his wife wore trousers which he had warned her repeatedly against.

“My mother and I had warned Fatimot severally to stop wearing trouser but she will not listen, I can no longer cope with her way of life and her deviant attitude,” he said.

The 47-year-old custom officer said his wife was threatening him from marrying another wife.

“Fatimot is threatening to harm me if I make any attempt to marry another woman.

“But Fatimot and I have not been sleeping together as husband and wife for years,” he said.

“She once left the house and never returned until after a year,” the man said.

According to him, he is experiencing depression because he does not have peace of mind.

He begged the court to dissolve the union that he did not love her again, he wants to move on with his life.

However, Fatimot said that her husband kicked against her wearing trouser claiming she wanted to become a prostitute.

She said she never threatened him not to marry another wife.

The mother-of-three children urged the court to grant her husband’s wish.

(NAN)

Posted By: Joseph Jibueze, Adebisi Onanuga and Robert Egbe



Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) chairman Prof Itse Sagay (SAN) last night said it was insulting for former President Olusegun Obasanjo to ask President Muhammadu Buhari not to run for second term.

Sagay urged Obasanjo, who he said sought third term, to show Buhari some “respect”.
He said: “I saw Obasanjo’s comments and I could not believe my eyes, that a man who tried to get a third term is discouraging someone else from getting a second term. It doesn’t make sense.

“I think Obasanjo should try and respect other people. He has achieved a lot. He is a great man and I respect him. But he should learn to respect other people and think of them as being, at least, as good as himself.

“I think it is insulting for a man who wanted third term to tell somebody else not to want second term. It is most inappropriate, and for a former head of state to say so is most improper.”

But, a former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and leader of the National Intervention Movement (NIM) Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) said President Buhari has nothing more to offer.

He described Obasanjo’s suggestion for Buhari not to run for second term as “great”.

Agbakoba said: “It (Obasanjo’s call) is a great idea as Buhari hasn’t anything left to offer. We at the Third Force will build a new coalition to take power.”

Activist-lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) described Obasanjo’s statement as a wake-up call for President Buhari. He advised the President to shed himself of the influence of “an incompetent and corrupt cabal”.

Falana said: “President Olusegun Obasanjo’s intervention is a vivid expression of the frustration of the Nigerian people with the Buhari administration.

“The statement is a clarion call on President Buhari to remove the incompetent and corrupt cabal of power mongers that has hijacked political power from him. Through sheer nepotism and cronism, the regime has lost the massive goodwill that heralded it to power.

“The success recorded in the fight against insurgency in the northeast zone has been eroded in the wave of kidnapping and reckless killing of unarmed Nigerians by AK47-bearing herdsmen.

“The success of the fight against corruption and impunity has been rubished by the inability of the regime to remove corrupt public officers.

“President Obasanjo’s challenge has been taken up by many Nigerians who have already formed a coalition of genuine progressive forces to liberate Nigeria from internal colonialism and imperialist control.”

Mr. Dele Adesina (SAN), declined to comment on the contents of ex-President Obasanjo’s letter because he considered it a purely political matter, not a legal one.

He, however, observed that “there’s nothing one can say that will determine whether the President should run or should not run; it is his constitutional right to do so. I don’t want to join in any controversy.”

Although Vice President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Monday Ubani felt Obasanjo’s letter was long overdue, he warned that Obasanjo should not see himself as the determiner of Nigerians’ fate.

He said only Nigerians could choose who they would vote for.

Ubani said: “Former President Obasanjo’s letter to President Muhammadu Buhari was long expected and, for coming now, I will say it is even belated.

“Recall that former President Obasanjo has written such letters to virtually everyone that took over from him and if you will remember such letters were even written to former military leaders like IBB and Abacha.

“Such scathing and virulent attacks on leaders before and after him are therefore not novel. What is novel is that he did not initiate the attack on President Buhari timeously, due to some personal reasons known to him.

“However, former president Obasanjo should not allow this idea to get into his head that he has become the ‘power and principality’ that will always determine the political direction of Nigeria. “Nigerians should always know when they are tired of any government and should determine the fate of their leaders, including President Buhari if at all he decides to contest in 2019, and when they so decide it is not because former President Obasanjo instructed them but because they are tired of the ‘Change.’

“My humble take about Nigeria is that the destiny of Nigeria should not be seen to be in the hands of these supposed ‘powers and principalities’ of Nigerian politics but in the hands of the majority of Nigerians who must always have their way. That is the way for us to go and it is my dream for my dear country.

“Nigerians will not reject President Buhari in 2019 because former President Obasanjo said so but because President Buhari may have wittingly or unwittingly rejected Nigerians. He alone by now should know his status with Nigerians. A word is enough for the wise.”

Former member, Ogun State Judicial Service Commission, Abayomi Omoyinmi described the letter as one-sided.

Omoyinmi said: “President Obasanjo is entitled to his opinion on how he has perceived President Buhari. The fact of the matter is that every individual has his or her own way of approach to governance as it’s in this case. Ex-President Obasanjo has only highlighted what he believed are President Buhari’s flaws in his style of governance.

“I am of the opinion that the content in the letter is one sided in that it lacked constructive criticism, because Obasanjo failed to at least highlight the good things that have been achieved by President Buhari within just three years and under an extremely difficult circumstances created by many years of previous administration misrule.”

A 37-year jilted man, Shinugande Victor has been arrested for allegedly posting his estranged lover’s nude pictures on the internet after their relationship crashed in Lagos.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that apart from posting the nude pictures to all the contacts the victim had on her phone on the internet, he also threatened to kill her.

The incident happened at the Police Highway Patrol Barrack in Ikeja where both the suspect and the victim resided.

What made the suspect to go to that extent was not farfetched considering what the police sources told P.M.EXPRESS correspondent. It was gathered that the victim jilted the suspect after she decided to quit the relationship and informed Victor of her decision.

However, the suspect kicked against her decision and pleaded with her to no avail.

He then resorted to threatening her in order to bring her, back but it did not work also before he reportedly posted her nude pictures on the internet.

The matter was reported to the police, Victor was arrested and detained at the police station where he denied doing so.

However, during investigation Victor reportedly admitted that he did so because of what the victim did to him. He was then charged before Ikeja Magistrates court for the alleged offence.

He pleaded not guilty.

The presiding Magistrate, Mrs. B.O. Osunsanmi granted Victor bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that Victor was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail condition.

The matter was adjourned till 1 February, 2018.

By Emma Okonji


About six telecommunications operators may lose their operational licences for their involvement in call masking and refilling, despite repeated warning from the telecoms regulatory body, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

NCC said it just concluded its investigation on call masking and refilling and discovered that six telecoms operators were involved in the illegal act that poses a national security risk and threat to the Nigerian economy, and described the act as an offence punishable by law.

In technical parlance, call masking and refilling is an attempt by callers to hide their true numbers when making calls, especially international calls which are not charged, because the caller’s identity is completely hidden on the network.

NCC’s investigation showed that the six operators were in connivance with international callers to operate masked calls in Nigeria.

The operators include: Medallion Communications, Interconnect Clearing House, Niconnx Communications Limited, Breeze Micro Limited, Solid Interconnectivity and Exchange Telecommunications Limited.

According to NCC, call masking and refilling pose a serious national security risk, since most people threaten the lives of innocent citizens through calls with masked telephones numbers that cannot be traced to them.

NCC also said most telephone numbers were masked just to defraud the economy.

The operators involved often alter local numbers to get international status in order to avoid been charged with the international rate for terminating such calls on international network, but the operators will charge the local caller with the international rate and pay at the local rate to the international network where the call was terminated.

Following the involvement of the six operators, NCC has written reminding them of the implications and the risk they face in losing their operational licences.

In one of the letters written by NCC to Medallion Communications, dated January 12, 2018, and jointly signed by the Head, Legal and Regulatory Services, Yetunde Akinloye and Head, Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement, Efosa Idehen, NCC said: “The Commission, pursuant of section 45 (1) and (3) of the NCC Act 2003, hereby gives notice of its intention to suspend the interconnect exchange licence granted to your company due to your involvement in call masking and refilling and your failure to rectify the breach, despite repeated interventions by the commission.”

Part of the letter to Medallion read: The Commission has recently been inundated with complaints regarding the prevalence of cal, masking and refilling in the industry.

Considering the economic and security implications of the development, the Commission, in 2017, wrote, directing relevant licences to ensure the cessation of call masking or refilling activities on their respective networks.

The deadline for compliance with the directive was July 28, 2017. At a stakeholders meeting on August 3, 2017, it was resolved that a comprehensive investigation would be carried out by the Commission to determine the companies/licences involved in the illegal activity of call masking and refilling.

At the meeting, licences were warned to desist from the practice, while it was also agreed that identified culprits would be sanctioned as part of measures to forestall the negative impact on national interest.

Having carefully analysed all the relevant data collected in the course of investigation, the Commission has established a direct and indirect evidence against your company in the illegal and unwholesome activity of call masking and call refilling.

NCC has therefore asked the six telecoms operators to state reasons why the Commission should not suspend the said licence, and has equally asked the operators to send in their responses on or before January 31, 2018.

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Nizibone Meyaphi pulled a shocker at everyone in the court when she pleaded with her ex - husband, Fikile Mathonsi , to surrender all the panties she left at his house when he sent her packing .

Meyaphi claimed that when Mathonsi divorced her , he didn’ t give her the chance to pack some of her belongings , particularly her underwear .

A Zimbabwean court heard that, for the past months , Meyaphi has been reportedly frequenting her ex - husband place demanding that she be given her pants .

The case was taken to court after Mathonsi went seeking a protective order against his ex -wife claiming she is disturbing his peace , IHarare states .

She said , “ It is not true that I am disturbing his peace , but whenever I went to his house , I will be demanding that he give me some of my belongings which I left there when he chucked me out , most importantly , I want my pants .

“ Whenever I went to his place , he denied me access to the bedroom where he keeps them .

“ If he wants me not to come to his house , he should give me my pants and that ’ s only what I want. Whenever I visited him , it was not that I wanted him but my pants . ”

Meyaphi’ s plea came after Mathonsi accused her of disturbing his peace by frequently visiting him at his residence.

“ Nizibone Meyaphi is my former wife and we have one child together. I am applying for a protection order against her because she is disturbing my peace . She comes to my place without being invited and at times, she would refuse to go back .

“ By so doing , she is emotionally abusing me and may the court help me by granting an order which stops her from coming to my place, ” requested Mathonsi .

Meyaphi, however, refuted the abuse claims , saying she only asked Mathonsi to surrender her pants which she left at his place when they separated .

In his ruling , Bulawayo magistrate , Tinashe Tashaya , ordered the two estranged parties to keep the peace by not verbally and emotionally abusing each other .

In addition , the magistrate also ordered Mathonsi to allow his ex - wife to collect her pants in the presence of police officers.

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By Nwafor Sunday


President Muhammadu Buhari no doubt celebrated Christmas with sadness and a broken heart. Whereas most Nigerians had joy to the fullest amidst the country’s bad economic shape, the imbalance in the country’s socio-economic position and perhaps some family challenges deprived the number one person the joy he should have had during the yuletide.

A look at the yuletide season spoke louder how dismal Buhari had felt considering a sharp change in his ‘change mantra’ , anti- corruption fight, insecurity and perhaps looking at most of his campaign promises unfulfilled.

We should also note that our dear president is not alone in this sorrowful path. Correct me if I am wrong that many of us who cared less about the fuel scarcity had our various meals enjoyed together with all our individual families.

When no one disturbs you about the situation of the country that revolves around ethnicity, marginalization, insecurity, herdsmen and farmers, militancy and fuel scarcity to mention but a few, why won’t you enjoy your celebration?

When no one is missing in your family, no accident, your cabinet’s reason along with you, why won’t you laugh and have merriments together.

When people bombard and lambast you despite your struggle to make a positive change in the country’s political system; tell me how would you feel? Especially when it comes from a clergy, someone you know is the mouth piece of God on earth.

As it stands now, I don’ t know if the number one fighter of corruption has eaten since the pushy increase in petrol, hoarding, accusations and counter accusations between, NNPC, DAPPMA, FG, APC and PDP started.

Recall that on the 26th of this month, the young, energetic and of course the intelligent son of Buhari had an accident with his power bike around Gwarimpa in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

An accident he had that resulted to a head injury and a broken limb. According to media reports Yusufu Buhari has undergone surgery at a clinic in Abuja and is in a stable condition.

If you where the father, the President and Commander in-chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, will you have appetite for food?
However, instead of gloating and smirking in his pains as many of us are doing, why can’t we key in to his pains? Why can’t we help him and pray him out of his problems.

Yes! I know there are some decisions a leader might take rather influencing positively on his people it affects them negatively. But know also that no leader will feel happy seeing his people in anguish and pains because of his decision.

I think it is time for us to pray for our dear country Nigeria, Buhari and other leaders especially now we have entered a new year rather vilifying and cursing him and our dear country ‘Nigeria’.

Going by the words of Desmond Ekwueme, in his article on Vanguard titled ‘I disagree on Yusuf Buhari’, “With heartaches and pains, I read comments by some Nigerians suggesting that Yusuf Buhari, the son of President Muhammadu Buhari who recently had an accident with his power bike deserves the condition or situation he finds himself. His condition is critical according to reports. How could these people be celebrating the misfortune of Yusuf Buhari.

“Honestly, I cannot understand why we always reason like this. Wishing the young man evil just because you disagree with his father’s style of leadership or government, his policies, programs, principles or political party should not translate to such despicable wishes or thoughts. Why will any sane person reason like this for crying out loud?”
This calls for a rethink amongst Nigerians.

Rather being happy in his pains, why can’t we pray for him and share in his pains with us.

Also, the same thing happened when Buhari went for a medical check-up according to Ekwueme, “We are a very wicked, heartless and mindless race. I really wonder why things have degenerated to this point.

I recall how Nigerians in their hundreds if not thousands including governors, senators, ministers, a few staff of the presidency and a couple of former leaders openly and secretly wish Mr. President dead while he was on medical vacation in London.

Please don’t ask me which Minister or governor or presidency staff? We are all in this country and read comments from many concerning the health challenges of Mr. President.”

In view of these therefore, I solicit we say ta-ta to tatty behaviour that has eaten deep and speedily tries to destroy the peace, unity and respect for one another in this country.

Our president has achieved 17 cardinal agenda in 2017 according to the report made known to newsmen by Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity.

Among these are in agriculture, power, pension, exiting recession and Naira stability against Dollar.

All these achievements were made possible amidst the tough times, family and health challenges Mr. President passed through and still passing through till date.

So please let’s pray for him and Nigeria for more achievements and stop cursing Nigeria.

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In this piece , IFEANYI ONUBA examines the unemployment crisis facing the country and what the government needs to do in order to reposition the economy on the path of sustainable growth


From official statistics, the rising unemployment rate in the country has become a source of concern. The labour statistics report released by the National Bureau of Statistics, for instance , showed that between January and September 2017 , about 4 . 07 million Nigerians became unemployed .

The bureau in the report stated that the number of Nigerians that became unemployed rose from 11 . 92 million in the first quarter of 2017 to 13. 58 million and 15 . 99 million in the second and third quarters respectively .

It said that between the second quarter and third quarter, the number of economically active or working age population (15 – 64 years of age ) increased from 110 . 3 million to 111 . 1 million .

The NBS report said the increasing unemployment and underemployment rates implied that although the Nigerian economy is officially out of recession , domestic labour market is still fragile .

It added that economic growths in the past two quarters in 2017 had not been strong enough to provide employment in Nigeria ’ s domestic labour market .

The report reads in part, “The labour force population increased from 83. 9 million in Q 2 2017 to 85. 1 million in Q 3 2017 . The total number of people in full - time employment (at least 40 hours a week ) declined from 52 . 7 million in Q 2 2017 to 51. 1 million in Q 3 2017 .

“ The unemployment rate increased from 14 . 2 per cent in Q 4 2016 to 16. 2 per cent in Q 2 2017 and 18. 8 per cent in Q 3 2017 .

“ The number of people within the labour force who are unemployed or underemployed increased from 13 . 6 million and 17. 7 million respectively in Q 2 2017 , to 15 . 9 million and 18. 0 million in Q 3 2017 .

“ Total unemployment and underemployment combined increased from 37 . 2 per cent in the previous quarter to 40 per cent in Q 3 2017. ”

It said that during the third quarter of 2017, 21 . 2 per cent of women within the labour force that were between the ages of 15 years and 64 years and willing, able , and actively seeking work were unemployed , compared with 16. 5 per cent of men within the same period .

The NBS noted in the report that in the third quarter of the year , 16 . 4 per cent of rural and 23. 4 per cent of urban dwellers within the labour force were unemployed . It added that the rate of unemployment was increasing at a slightly faster rate for urban dwellers than it was for their rural counterparts.

“ Underemployment is predominant in the rural areas, 26. 9 per cent of rural residents within the labour force in Q 3 2017 , are underemployed , compared to nine per cent of urban residents within the same period .

“ For the period under review , Q 3 , 2017 , the unemployment rate for young people stood at 33. 1 per cent for those aged 15 to 24 , and 20 . 2 per cent for those aged 25 to 34 , ” it added .

In terms of geographical spread , the NBS said in the report that as at the end of the third quarter, Rivers State reported the highest unemployment rate at 41. 82 per cent, followed by Akwa -Ibom (36. 58 per cent ), Bayelsa State (30. 36 per cent ), Imo state (29. 47 per cent) and Kaduna State (28. 96 per cent ).

It added that the unemployment population were heavily distributed in Southern states , North- Eastern states , North - Western states especially Kaduna and Sokoto , and two Central states , , Nasarawa and Plateau.

It explained that South -Western states including Oyo , Ogun and Lagos which have large labour forces reported relatively low unemployment rates .

Comparing Nigeria’ s third quarter’ s unemployment rate with the international rates , the report stated that Nigeria ranked 28th among other countries .

Against this backdrop , finance and economic experts on Friday warned that the situation may get worse if something urgent was not done to change the rising unemployment rate.

They said the combined forces of double - digit inflation , high unemployment rate and a fragile Gross Domestic Product growth which is still below the rate of population growth may conspire to prevent any significant economic improvement .

The President , Institute of Productivity and Business Innovation Management , Mr. Remi Dairo, said the magnitude of jobs created in the economy has not been sufficient to meet the ever - growing labour market , thus resulting in the continuous rise in the level of unemployment in the country.

The huge number of unemployment, he noted , was a reflection of the current economic realities as only few businesses were growing and employing while many others were shedding jobs .

He advocated a comprehensive education policy that would help to address the skill gaps in the country , noting that there was an urgent need to close the existing gaps between the extant programmes of educational institutions and the requirements in the industry .

This , according to him , could be achieved through the restructuring of the educational system to meet the present and future needs of the country.

He said , “ The lack of productive skills in both the private and public sectors is one of the major reasons for the country’ s under development and there is need for a comprehensive education policy that would help to address the skill gaps in the country.

“ In order to close the existing gaps in skills between the extant programmes of educational institutions and the requirements in the industry , the government needs to restructure the educational system to meet the present and future needs of the country.

“ While the potential of the economy is so huge, the requisite skills for young minds to match the pace of this growth are inadequate and this is one of the causes of unemployment.

“ We have to be productive as a nation . Productivity is not just a policy on paper; it should be practicable for every Nigerian so that we can maximize our output . ”

Also commenting , a developmental economist , Odilim Enwagbara , said in a telephone interview that a liquid foreign exchange market coupled with the Federal Government ’ s increased investment in the value chain segment of the agriculture sector would unlock the job creation potential of the economy .

He said , “ This country cannot develop without those who are passionate and ready to show us the unconditional ways of dealing with our fundamental economic problems . Let ’ s know that economic development is 70 per cent political decisions and 30 per cent economics.

“ Agriculture, particularly food processing , can create a lot of jobs because we don’ t need to import raw materials and it costs little or nothing to get food processed , we can process a lot of cassava and turn it into so many products and this will create a lot of jobs for the people .

“ To drive economic growth , there is need for investment in infrastructure. Without improving infrastructure, there is no way you can expect growth in an economy because industrialisation which is an essential way of creating jobs in an economy needs to be supported by infrastructure. ”

A former Managing Director , Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation , Ganiyu Ogunleye , explained that while the country may have been out or recession , there were structural challenges that needed to be addressed to improve the momentum to creating jobs.

He said , “The fact that we are out of recession is not yet uhuru as we still have some fundamental problems in our economy .

“ The structure of the economy itself is a challenge because we have relied heavily on the oil sector and efforts are on to diversify the economy . This cannot happen overnight; it ’ s going to take time .

“ So , for us to sustain our economy particularly now that we are out of recession , there should be a focus on agriculture which can lead to food sufficiency, create a lot of jobs and also provide raw materials for the industrial and manufacturing sectors . ”

The Director- General , Industrial Training Fund , Mr Joseph Ari , said the agency would increase its collaboration with both the public and private sectors this year so as to equip more Nigerians with skills for employability and entrepreneurship .

Ari said the modern skills acquisition programme would help to stem the current wave of illegal migration , especially by the youth that has culminated in loss of lives and enslavement of thousands of productive Nigerians.

He said there was need to take the issue of youth unemployment seriously , adding that if serious action was not taken , the problem would further escalate going by projection that by 2050 , Nigeria ’ s population would have grown to about 500 million .

The ITF boss added if equipped with the requisite skills, the large population would become advantageous to the country.

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The Managing Director of Abuja Market Management Limited (AMML), Abubakar Faruk has filed a suit bordering on child custody against former governor of Gombe, Senator Danjuma Goje and his daughter, Fatima.

In the suit before a Grade 1 area court in Abuja, Faruk is seeking a court order compelling his ex-father-in-law, Goje, and his former wife, Fatima, to return his daughter from London to Nigeria to enable her continue with her studies in Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja.

He said he got married to Fatima Goje under Islamic Law on December 20, 1997 and the marriage was blessed with three children, Fatima, 18; Othman, 15 and Mohammad, 10 before they got divorced on August 31, 2014.

He said his ex-wife thereafter conspired with her father to take his daughter to London, which has put a clog on the daughter’s chance of completing her education in Nigeria as she was already a 300-level Civil Engineering student before she was taken abroad.

Faruk, a son of the first military governor of North-Western State, Alhaji Usman Faruk, is also praying the court for an order restraining the defendants from taking any of his three children outside Abuja without his consent or meddling in their affairs.

However, at the resumed hearing yesterday, counsel to the defendants, Kennedy Anoba, challenged the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit on the ground that since it also relates to the international passport of the plaintiff’s daughter, the court lacks the jurisdiction to hear the matter.

Faruk, had in a letter dated November 6, 2017, also urged the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to stop the defendants from taking his daughter out of the country.

His lawyer, Mohammed Shuaib, however contended that the Gojes misconceived the matter before the court, noting that it is not basically about the withdrawal of an international passport but the protection of the plaintiff’s right to guardianship.

He added that the claim that the daughter is no more a child, having clocked the adult age of 18 is a non-issue under Islamic Law which states that until a daughter gets married, the father still maintains guardianship over her.

The judge adjourned the matter to January 25, 2017.

By Andrew Agbese, Kaduna


The Etum Numana, Mr. Gambo Makama and his pregnant wife were reportedly killed in Arak, a village in Sanga local government area of Kaduna state.

The attackers were said to have stormed his house in the early hours of the New Year.

Makama, who was one of the second class traditional rulers in the Southern Senatorial district of Kaduna had travelled from his palace in Gwantu, to his village, Arak, to celebrate the New Year with his second wife when the incident happened.

A source in Arak said the gunmen who covered their faces with masks entered the house and began shooting, killing him and his wife while wounding his other son who was close by.

The wife was said to be pregnant.

The gun men after killing the chief and his wife also set the house and his car which was parked in the premises ablaze before taking to their heels.

Chairman of Sanga Development, Prince Bala Audu, who spoke on the incident on phone said it happened few minutes after midnight.

"He was seated with his second wife who is pregnant; then suddenly gunmen which I was told covered their faces with masks invaded the house and opened fire at them, alongside his son who is about 45 years.

"The chief and his wife died on the spot, the son did not die but he sustained serious injuries and was rushed to the hospital.

"The gunmen set the house ablaze and burnt a vehicle which was recently given to the chief as a gift.

"Immediately they committed the dastardly act, they fled into the bush and escaped," he said.

Kaduna state police spokesman Aliyu Mukhtar confirmed the incident.

"We got a distress call about 4am that armed men stormed his house and shot him with his wife. Before our arrival to the house, the hoodlums set place ablaze and fled. We were not able to arrest them but we are intensifying efforts to ensure that," he said.

Posted By: TONY AKOWE, ABUJA,



The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC ) has said that the failure and inability of President Muhammadu Buhari led government to address the infrastructural deficit and other related problems, especially in he oil industry has dashed the hope placed on the change promised Nigerians by the APC led government.

The congress said Nigerians have continued to be at the receiving end, with over 4 million Nigerians losing their job in 2017 according to statistics provided by the National Bureau of Statistics as against the three million jobs annually promised the party.

In his new year message to Nigerians, NLC President, Comrade Abubakar Wabba lamented that rather than work to create jobs and improve the condition of Nigerian working people and Nigerians in general, leading elements in the ruling APC government, like Governor Nasir el-Rufai, have been taking measures to further chastise and ruin Nigerians by throwing tens of thousands of workers into the already saturated unemployment market and wretchedness.

According to him, 2017 saw the working people, pensioners and other Nigerians facing series of daunting socio-economic and security challenges, “even though we had hoped that the year would offer succour for the masses of the people.”

Wabba said the deplorable economic situation in 2017 is aptly captured by the statistics recently released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) which indicated that over 4 million Nigerians lost their jobs in 2017.

He said: “Against the background of the campaign promise of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government to create three million jobs annually, this statistics from the NBS underscores the grave and depressing situation of the Nigerian economic landscape in 2017.

“Rather than work to create jobs and improve the condition of Nigerian working people and Nigerians in general, leading elements in the ruling APC government, like Governor Nasir el-Rufai, have been taking measures to further chastise and ruin Nigerians by throwing tens of thousands of workers into the already saturated unemployment market and wretchedness.

“In the same vein, despite the huge revenue that the states have received through the Federal Government intervention funds to clear arrears of unpaid salaries and pensions in many states of the federation, coupled with additional payment of three tranches of windfall, (Paris Club debt refunds), states like Kogi, Osun, Benue, Ekiti, Bayelsa and several others entered 2018 with huge arrears spanning up to ten (10) or more months of wages and pensions.

“Under these conditions, Nigerian workers, pensioners and their families remained the most despondent group in an economy that even the well-to-do are groaning and struggling to survive. No wonder, our country is one of the worst, known for having many hungry people in the world according to the World Hunger Index report 2017.”

He stressed that in recent times, Nigerians have witnessed one of the worst shortages in the supply of petrol in the history of the country in spite of Federal Government’s repeated claim that with the complete removal of subsidy on petroleum products, scarcity of petroleum products would become a thing of the past.

Wabba said that the position of the congress regarding the prevailing situation in the petroleum industry has been that the crisis in the industry is due to the inability or refusal of our ruling elite to refine all petroleum needs in Nigeria, adding that Nigeria remain the only major producer of crude oil in the world that depends on importation of refined products from abroad.

He said “For us in the Congress, and for majority of working people in Nigeria, the hope placed on the capacity of President Buhari to bring about positive change is being undermined by his government’s inability to address the infrastructural deficit and other related problems in the oil industry, such as making our existing refineries work at optimal capacity by refining products for domestic consumption.

“Not only is government unable to achieve this for almost three years now, but moving forward more refineries, especially modular refineries which can be built between 12 and 18 months are required to address the reoccurring challenge of fuel scarcity and price hike in Nigeria and stop the exploitation of ordinary Nigerians. The inherent corruption in the system has made this impossible for more than three decades and should be addressed headlong.”

On the new minimum wage, Wabba said the tripartite committee recently inaugurated should expeditiously conclude its assignment and ensure that a new minimum wage is put in place before the third quarters of the year and urged the National Assembly to give accelerated hearing g to the bill that will be produced by the committee.

On local government autonomy the NLC President said: “Congress appreciates the recent passage of three core bills on Local Government autonomy in Nigeria by the National Assembly. It is our belief that the passage of the constitutional amendment to guarantee Local Government autonomy will promote good governance and deepen democratic culture at the grassroots level.

“We therefore call on the State Houses of Assembly to demonstrate courage, patriotism and assert their desired independence by passing these constitutional amendment bills designed towards emancipating our local governments and freeing their finances from being usurped by governors who are determined to truncate the quest for democratisation at the local government level.”

Wabba wants the National Assembly and State Houses of Assemblies to ensure that payment of primary school teachers’ salaries is put on first line charge of the Federation Account to assuage the fears of all stakeholders in the local government system.

“Over the years, the Congress has advocated for good governance as a basis for sustainable development of our country. We have in similar tone campaigned against corruption in our body politics, as this malady has remained the greatest impediment to our quest for national development.

“We believe that the ascendancy of the APC to power was rooted on the personal integrity and anti-corruption pedigree of President Buhari. As we move into 2018, our expectation is that the executive arm of government would push for the implementation of key anti-corruption protocols and good governance principles in our public and private institutions.

“In the same vein, we call on the government to increase the tempo of the fight against corruption in a way that is fair, just and all encompassing.”

By Malik Abdulganiy


Globacom desperately wants to acquire 9mobile — but it would take a miracle for the nation’s second largest mobile network to get its wish, those with inside knowledge of the goings-on have told TheCable.

The company formerly known as Etisalat Nigeria was taken over in July 2017 following a N541 billion debt overhang.

Mubadala Group, the major investor from the United Arab Emirates, pulled out of Nigeria’s fourth largest mobile operator as a result of the debt owed to a consortium of 13 banks, and insisted that the brand name be dropped, leading to the birth of 9mobile.

The telco is now up for sale, with five bidders making the final list of potential buyers: Teleology Holdings Limited, promoted by Adrian Wood, the pioneer CEO of MTN Nigeria; Smile Telecoms Holdings, a telco operating in Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Congo DR and South Africa; and Helios Investment Partners LLP, an investment company.

Others are Bharti Airtel, an Indian telco that owns Airtel Nigeria, and Globacom, the Nigerian company owned by Mike Adenuga Jnr.

Of the lot, Globacom has done the most extensive media campaign — albeit unofficially — with the hope of swaying the deal its way.

An Glo insider told TheCable that the driving force for Adenuga’s pursuit is to claim the bragging rights of the largest telecom company in Nigeria.

Glo is currently the second largest operator in Nigeria with 37 million voice and 26.8 million internet subscribers, according to the October 2017 statistics from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the industry regulator.

If it acquires 9mobile, it will automatically become the biggest network in Nigeria by adding 17 million to voice and 11.5 million to internet subscription base.

Combined, the new entity’s 54 million voice lines and 38.3 million internet subscriptions will surpass MTN Nigeria’s 50.7 million and 32.5 million respectively.

“This, in sum, is why Adenuga wants 9mobile badly, despite the serious challenges Glo itself is facing in its business model,” the source said.

Glo would move from its 26.4% share of the market to 38.5%, including the benefit of recording more subscribers porting to its network.

Adenuga’s company currently has the lowest number of gains from porting — an average of less than 1,000 per month — while 9mobile recorded a monthly average of 12,000 porting subscribers in 2017, industry’s highest by a distance.


WRONG NUMBER

Although the transaction is being handled by Barclays Africa, an arm of the Barclays Group, the telecom regulator, NCC, and the banking watchdog, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), are expected to play a key role in the final decision.

NCC controls 9mobile’s operating licence while CBN regulates the banks. Both intervened to save 9mobile when it was going down.

The involvement of CBN and NCC, which had previously complained about “lack of transparency” by Barclays in the transaction, is not likely to do Adenuga any favours.

And for good reasons, some will argue.
Glo is the second national operator (SNO), licensed to provide national backbone for other networks as well as roll out landlines across the country.

“Since Adenuga got the SNO licence in 2003, he has not yet fulfilled the conditions of the licence. This is 14 years and counting,” a senior government official told TheCable on the condition that he would not be named.

“By now, it should have rolled out landlines nationwide and provided broadband access to millions of homes. The huge benefits to the economy have been lost over time. The notion that Globacom can get such an important licence and refuse to fulfill the conditions is unacceptable.”

Globacom was recently kicked out of the Republic of Benin after failing to meet conditions for the renewal of its licence, despite the fact that it took years for the company to roll out its service as a result of regulatory requirements.

The telecom company’s services in Ghana are also not well rated.

“It is public knowledge that 9mobile is in dire need of real financial injection because of the debts, as well as a strong governance culture in view of its recent history,” the official said.

“Glo is not the most financially buoyant to revive 9mobile, neither does it have the best-practice governance culture that 9mobile requires. Adenuga runs Glo like a kiosk or corner shop, and this cannot help the situation of 9mobile.”

However, Globacom remains confident that it would win the bid.

“Dr Mike Adenuga Jnr is never tired of pushing for improvement. Globacom boasts of arguably the most inspired and most passionate workforce in the industry.

We have the edge,” an insider told TheCable, refusing to be named because of internal rules.

In a matter of days, though, the final picture will put the questions and permutations to rest.

By Latwell Nyangu


A woman ran amok and caused a stir when she undressed at a local graveyard demanding money she was owed by the deceased.

The woman only identified as Wasu (Mai Runga) by mourners at the gathering was ‘uncontrollable’ as she ran around the graveyard stark naked.

In a video which has gone viral the woman is seen hammering the coffin, demanding money.

However, some of the mourners seemed to be enjoying her actions and applauded her.

She was however, whisked away by an unidentified lady who covered her much to the disappointment of the male mourners.

“Haa musiye, dzoka dzoka dzoka.”
“Haa Mai Runga hamuna kumbokwana,” shouted another woman.

The burial procession later resumed with one of the male relatives, complaining over Wasu’s conduct.

“We left our duties to come and bury the deceased.

Some were heard saying, she was a girlfriend to the deceased.

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Onyekachi Eze ABUJA


There is palpable fear among leaders of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that many of them might be guests of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the New Year, given what has happened to some of them in recent weeks.

National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, further heightened this fear when he alleged at a two-day retreat for newly elected members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and state chairmen last week, of a plan by the Federal Government to arrest some of their members.

According Secondus, the APC has declared war against PDP and its leaders.

“We learnt they are coming after our members in January. Let them continue. How many people will they put in jail?” Secondus asked.

President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) may have launched a brutal crackdown on the main opposition, PDP, beginning with the arrest and detention of prominent chieftains of the party.

The clandestine agenda of the ruling party, Sunday Telegraph learnt, is designed to arrest and detain as many leaders of the opposition as possible on corruption charges in order to cripple their investments, confiscate their assets and whittle down their capability to cause any upset in the 2019 elections.

Buhari had subtly indicated interest in the 2019 presidential race last month, when he addressed the Nigerian community in Abidjan, the Ivorian capital, during his visit to that country.

His perceived interest in seeking a fresh mandate appears to have set the EFCC and other anti-graft agencies against the president’s perceived political enemies.

In Abidjan, the president told his audience that the presence of Governors Udom Emmanuel and Mohammed Abubakar of Akwa Ibom and Bauchi respectively, as members of his entourage would enhance his success in future elections.

“When we are going to meet you, (and) when you are going to meet the rest of Nigerians, if you tell them that their governors were in the accompany of the president, I think that will be another vote for me in future. I’m very pleased that they were able to turn up,” he said.

Similarly, Buhari, while on a state visit to Kano State, told a crowd of supporters who came to welcome him that he was confident he would win their votes if another election were to be held there and then.

“I’m overwhelmed by the sea of heads I see, and by what I see today, if elections are contested, I have no doubt I will win it,” he said.

Since these subtle declarations, some key members of the PDP have been arrested by the anti-corruption agency. Those arrested included two former Presidents of the Senate, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim and Senator David Mark.

Anyim was arrested on November 17, while it was the turn of Mark on December 15, shortly after the PDP’s December 9 National Convention.

The EFCC said Anyim was arrested in connection with the Centenary City project as well as N396 billion ecological funds.

On the other hand, Mark was quizzed over allegations that the PDP paid the sum of N2billion into one of the bank accounts of the National Assembly and shared among legislators when he was President of the Senate in 2010. He was also accused of illegal acquisition of his current residence at the Legislators’ Quarters, located in Apo, Abuja.

The main opposition party believes that the renewed onslaught against its members by the Federal Government using the EFCC as an attack dog, was because of President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election bid in 2019.

Secondus noted that there was nowhere in the world where former presiding officers of the parliament were being harassed like the situation in Nigeria.

“APC should stop intimidating our leaders. We will no longer take it; enough is enough. They don’t need to attack us; they should fulfill what they promised us,” Secondus said.

Former National Publicity Secretary of the party, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, had about a fortnight ago alleged that 50 PDP leaders had been penciled down for arrest by the EFCC as a means of emasculating the opposition party.

Two members of the party – Anyim and Mark, were arrested since the alarm was raised, in addition to the four others arrested earlier.

Those who had been guests of the anti-corruption agency in recent times were former governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada, former acting governor of Taraba State, Sani Danladi, Senator Grace Bent and Adamu Wakil.

Former Jigawa, Niger and Benue State governors have been off and on in EFCC detention and courtroom since Buhari became president.

Other leaders of the party have been arrested and charged to court on alleged corrupt charges since 2015. It was also alleged that some PDP leaders were penciled down for arrest before the National Convention.

Just before the last national concention, PDP had on its official twitter page, raised the alarm that the ruling party had concluded plans to embarrass the party by using the anti graft agency, the EFCC to arrest and detain key members of the party before the Convention held on Saturday December 9, 2017.

“This is totally unacceptable and another plan of the APC-led administration to create a one-party state in the country. The only reason the APC is afraid of a strong opposition in Nigeria is due to the non-performance and abysmal failures of the party at all levels.

“We therefore call on all well meaning Nigerians and lovers of democracy worldwide to resist such uncanny attempt to destabilise our hard earned democracy. Nigeria belongs to all of us and we must not allow a few people destroy this great country,” the PDP said.

Sunday Telegraph also gathered that as the 2019 presidential race gets hotter, the president is likely to go after members of his party suspected to be nursing presidential ambitions.

President of Senate, Bukola Saraki whose earlier acquittal on charges of false assets declaration by the Court of Appeal early this month is believed to be a target of the looming clampdown on perceived political enemies and possible contenders for the APC presidential ticket.

Though Saraki has not indicated interest in the president’s job, the defection of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to PDP has been causing a stir in the president’s camp and Saraki is seen as Atiku’s acolyte.

Even Atiku had his own fair share of the harassment and intimidation when a long standing contract between his company, Intels Logistics and Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) was terminated by the Federal Government over allegations of non-compliance with the Treasury Signal Account (TSA).

Political analysts believe that Nigerians are likely to see more hounding of the opposition as the 2019 presidential election draws closer. The PDP has also blamed the emergence of a splinter group, Fresh-PDP as the handiwork of the ruling party, wondering how such group of unknown faces secured a party secretariat in the highbrow Asokoro District within a short time.

Deputy National Chairman of the PDP (South-West), Dr. Eddy Olafeso told Sunday Telegraph that he won’t dignify the splinter group with a response.

He said the party will soon petition the Inspector-General of Police to arrest them for using PDP’s name.

However, another leader of the PDP who chose to remain anonymous, said the ruling party had gone for broke by using state aparathus against the opposition in the country.

“We have it on good authority that the APC led government is going to descend heavily on our leaders. This is part of their grand plan to whittle down our performance in the 2019 elections. But we shall remain resolute as we continue to rebuild public confidence in our party,” he said.

Responding, APC spokesman, Bolaji Abdulahi said the party is not a law enforcement agency, he asked PDP members who have graft cases to face the music.

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Biyi Adegoroye


A young adventurous Nigerian from Irua, in Edo State, has narrated how he was driven by poverty to sell his kidney for the sum of N15million in Malaysia.

The man, identified simply as Abu, said he had travelled to Kuala Lumpur in 2008 in search of greener pastures, when he ran into some Malaysians, who told him he could make good money by parting with one of his kidneys.

According to one of his associates, Sam Otarumene, who spoke to Sunday Telegraph, Abu was introduced to some medical agents in Malaysia who briefed him about the “business” and allayed his fears that he could die.

“He was told he could survive on one kidney, and was also assured that he had nothing to lose. Within a few days, some tests were conducted on him, and his organs were certified healthy,” Otarumene said.

Upon completion of the test, he was allegedly told he would be paid in Malaysian Ninggit, which when converted to Naira amounted to N20million. But the agents insisted on receiving 25 per cent of the sum, part of which covered his post-surgery recovery expenses.

An agreement was said to have been duly signed by himself, the agent and the family of the benefitting patient before the operation. He said that was a major requirement before the hospital accepted to perform the surgery.

He was checked into an unnamed hospital on a Friday in the February of 2009 and after preliminary medical procedure, sedated and his kidney harvested. Abu, allegedly received the money and after recovering from the surgery, returned to Nigeria.

Upon his return in 2010, he informed some of his friends about the “business,” and invested his money into private business.

“He first erected a storey building in Irua, and has since then been working with some politicians,” the associate mentioned earlier said.

Attempts to speak with him were rebuffed by Otanumene, who said the action was a guarded secret, because Abu only revealed it to a few of his associates, adding that he even showed them the scar left behind by the surgery.

He, however, showed our correspondent a video recording purportedly showing Abu spraying cash when a local musician described as Emperor Wadada, celebrated his 25 years on stage last year.

Clad in white attire, the fair-complexioned Abu danced excitedly before the musicians, spraying money as his accolades resonated from the local amplifiers. He said Abu is married with children and living happily by following his dietary instructions.

Otanumene said that contrary to reports of organ theft, many Nigerians enter into deals to sell off their kidney for a fee, adding that only in few cases were those organs actually sold without the consent of their owners.