₦airaland Forum

Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) could be close to using delivery drones for attacks in the Lake Chad Basin. Weaponising and adapting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is a new trend in the group’s operational strategy, and could worsen the conflict.

Institute for Security Studies (ISS) research shows that ISWAP is already trialling delivery drones to carry improvised explosive devices. This includes assessing the weight that can be carried, how far they can go and how long they stay in the air. The threat goes beyond military targets and may impact humanitarian service delivery.

Ongoing operations by Nigeria’s military and clashes with Boko Haram faction, Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad (JAS), have inflicted heavy losses on ISWAP and significantly reduced its space to operate. And successful intelligence-driven strikes resulting in arrests of ISWAP members outside the North-east are preventing the group from expanding. These setbacks may be forcing ISWAP to adapt its strategy, as it has done before.

So far, ISWAP’s use of drones has been limited to propaganda, surveillance and communication. ISS research, including analysis of publicly available propaganda materials and interviews with former combatants and associates, reveals an elaborate use of communication technology (see Chart 1). This includes satellite and android phones, drones, social media (Telegram and WhatsApp), high-speed printers, laptops, high-definition digital cameras, Wi-Fi, clip-on microphones, walkie-talkies, and data compression and archiving software.

All these tools are used by the media team headed by Abba Yusuf (Abu Rumaisa), son of late Boko Haram founder Mohammed Yusuf. The team’s primary function is to showcase ISWAP as a successful jihadist group. That propaganda will encourage recruitment and present a positive image that cements its position as the top Islamic State affiliate globally. The media department also handles relations with other violent extremist groups, including Islamic State.

Former ISWAP members, including from the media unit, told ISS how the department functions. Staff are recruited from within the group and taught the basics of operating the equipment, mostly cameras. They accompany fighters and wait at a distance to be invited to take photos and videos, usually when things go ISWAP’s way.

The raw footage and pictures are sent to Islamic State, which produces the propaganda material. The group shares the content with ISWAP’s media team, which distributes it through a private and members-only Telegram account, Nashir News Agency (see Chart 2).

ISWAP relies heavily on high-speed satellite internet to communicate with Islamic State and other groups. Sources told ISS that ISWAP used Thuraya Wi-Fi and spent about $6,000 monthly on data. They said Lagos was the main supply source but that ISWAP encountered a problem with the supply, forcing it to switch to Chad. Although Thuraya satellite phones and internet services are illegal in Chad, they are used in secret.

A particular Thuraya model stands out as a possible device used by ISWAP. It is available in Nigeria but mainly in Lagos. The Thuraya XT-Hotspot is marketed as the ‘world’s fastest Wi-Fi via satellite for communication needs beyond GSM coverage … for quick and secure Internet connectivity in the remotest of locations.’

The sources claim ISWAP has dedicated vehicles fitted with internet services to facilitate communication and data sharing on the go. The media team uses one of these vehicles when it accompanies fighters, enabling them to immediately share material from the battlefield. This explains how ISWAP can release information quickly, including images and videos, sometimes within hours of attacks.

ISWAP’s public communication also suggests it can easily share data with Islamic State using data compression and archiving software. In addition to speed and encryption, the software reduces bandwidth costs.

There is no single way to deal with the problem of ISWAP’s use of technology. The solution lies in various measures working together.

ISS research has detailed how ISWAP exploited Lake Chad Basin trade routes to get vital supplies. The group’s remote location should be an advantage for security forces who could disrupt its supply lines. Checkpoint searches have proved successful and can be used again. Those bringing in equipment and accessories should explain their destinations, which security agents should verify. Collaboration among security forces in the four affected Lake Chad Basin countries can help.

The ISS report also showed how civilian and military collaborators helped ISWAP get supplies. Security force leaders in the region must hold their personnel to the highest standards and use an independent ombudsman to deter corruption. To prevent civilians from collaborating with terror groups, authorities should work with communities and trade unions to identify and disrupt networks helping ISWAP. The criminal justice system can also play a deterrent role.

A future concern is that violent extremist groups like ISWAP become involved in cybercrime. Given Nigeria’s enormous financial powers and growing tech industry, authorities should prepare for this. Investing in technology and collaborating with tech companies to prevent their products, platforms or services from falling into ISWAP’s hands is a start.

Going after ISWAP’s money is vital. The group should be forced out of its current location using targeted and joint military operations. This would cut ISWAP’s access to its major revenue base. In using these tactics, care should be taken to avoid adversely affecting civilians, either by destroying their livelihoods or inflicting human rights violations.

Curtailing ISWAP’s access to technology will prevent it from using tech to plan and execute attacks, spread propaganda and recruit. That will reduce the damage the group inflicts on civilians and aid workers in the Lake Chad Basin.

Amid Renewed Attacks: Villagers Mobilise, Kill 50 Bandits In Self-defence

A local vigilante group at Ibbi town in Niger State has taken the battle to the invaders of the community, killing no fewer than 50 bandits who had been terrorising and kidnapping its residents for ransom.

LEADERSHIP learned that the vigilantes launched the attack on the bandits and destroyed their camps at the bottom of a mountain within Kainji National Park, following the abduction of 12 people from the community about two weeks ago.

A source from the community said the vigilante group, with support from their colleagues from Niger South, went after the bandits in a raid that started from four days to yesterday. During the raid, the vigilantes were said to have lost two of their men, while the bandits killed nine of the 12 people in the captivity.

Among the nine killed was a Sharia Court registrar abducted around Ibbi in Mashegu local government area of Niger State.

The source said, “While the bandits were waiting to receive the ransom on the 12 people they had abducted, the vigilantes struck, killing no fewer than 50 of the bandits. Annoyed by the attack, the bandits killed nine (of their hostages) and three others escaped unhurt.

“Among those killed was the registrar of the Sharia Court in Ibbi; about six women and three men, but three other men were able to escape from the bandits. As I am talking to you now, the vigilantes have destroyed their camps and chased them out of the national park.”

He added that the vigilantes dumped the bodies of the bandits at the Kainji National Park.

A resident of Ibbi, Abdul Ahmed, told LEADERSHIP that some bandits had recently taken over some unmanned parts of the National Park, from where they launched attacks on the people of the area.

He said the incessant attacks prompted the vigilante groups from other parts of the state to join forces with the local unit in flushing out the bandits, killing no fewer than 50 of them, and that, unfortunately, the terrorists killed nine of the 12 villagers in their custody.

When contacted, the telephone number of the Niger State commissioner of internal security, Emmanuel Umar, could not be reached, but a senior official confirmed that the operation of the vigilante had the backing of the authorities.

Also, the police public relations officer, Niger State Command, Wasiu Abiodun, did not respond to calls by press time, but a senior officer of the command, who preferred anonymity, confirmed that vigilantes were engaged in complementary operations in and around Ibbi and the National Park area.

The officer said that, as usual, the police would usually provide cover for the vigilante during such operations, which was what they did in Ibbi.

Resurgence Of Kidnappings And Banditry

Meanwhile, in Kaduna State, bandits have killed nine villagers, including four local vigilantes, at the Sabon Layi community of Birnin Gwari Local government area of Kaduna State.

The bandits were said to have stormed the area in large numbers, shooting sporadically and killing nine persons before abducting over 20 others and rustling several animals.

But in swift response to this attack, the Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch yesterday neutralised some of the fleeing bandits in Sabon Layi village in Birnin Gwari local government area of Kaduna State.

The commissioner for internal security and home affairs, in a statement, said at about 9:44am yesterday, the ministry received a distress call of bandits attacking Sabon Layi village.

He said the bandits were shooting, rustling cattle, looting property and committing other heinous crimes, a situation which sent residents scampering for safety.

Aruwan explained that immediately the Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch was contacted for action, the unit mobilised promptly to the location. According to him, on arrival at Sabon Layi, a thorough scan revealed normal human activities at the reported location.

“However, about four kilometres North of Sabon Layi village, the bandits were sighted fleeing for cover from the aircraft. They were engaged and neutralised in several passes. No further movement was observed after the strike. The aircraft sustained its presence overhead before withdrawing,” Aruwan said.

The statement said while the government awaits a formal report on the initial attack in Sabon Layi village, Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has praised the Air Component for the prompt action in neutralising the fleeing bandits.

It would be recalled that acting on credible intelligence, troops of ‘Operation Forest Sanity’ under 1 Division, Nigerian Army, ambushed and neutralised a notorious bandit leader, Isiya Danwasa, and one of his cohorts.

It was gathered that the bandit leader had sent one of his errand boys, Yunusa, to procure some arms and ammunition in Kaduna town.

The 1 Division Nigerian Army spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Musa Yahaya, revealed in a statement yesterday that, subsequently, Yunusa was trailed and picked up by plain clothes soldiers and later used him to lure two of the bandit leaders to a pre-selected ammunition collection point.

The federal government said yesterday that many foreign commentators were astonished by the outcome of the 2023 Presidential election because of their wrong mindset, prior to the polls.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, stated this in London during his engagements with some international media organisations and think tanks.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports the minister is in London to defend the legitimacy of the just concluded general elections and correct the imbalance in the skewed narratives which had pervaded the air regarding the polls.

The minister has so far engaged with three international media organisations, namely The Economist, The Guardian and African Confidential, as well as Think Tank, Royal African Society.

During his respective meeting with them, the minister said some of the commentators had the wrong mindset that the Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, would win the election.

He said the wrong mindset was premised on the hyped activities of Labour Party and their supporters on the social media, as well as the outcomes of various opinion polls which were unrepresentative of the situation in Nigeria.

The minister said: “In the course of my interactions, particularly with the Economist, I referred them to an earlier article they wrote, in which they rated the Labour Party Presidential candidate as the front runner in the polls.

“I explained to them that there was no way a presidential candidate who has no political spread and a grassroots base could win an election in Nigeria.

“I also explained to them that many of them were ignorant of the constitutional requirements for a presidential candidate to win an election in Nigeria.

“For instance, not only that the candidate must have the plurality of votes, he must also have one-quarter of the total vote cast in at least 25 states of the federation.

“When you look at the results, only the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress and the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, met these requirements.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, came short of these because he came second and had 25 per cent in 21 states. Obi came far behind with 25 per cent in 15 states.

“This means that Obi, who was wrongly adjudged as a front runner in the election, was virtually unknown and unpopular in 22 states.”

He reiterated his position that there was no pathway to victory for either Atiku or Obi in the poll because they did not meet the conditions to be declared president.

“For any party to ignore the North-East and the North-West Zones of Nigeria during a presidential election, it will be impossible for it to win.

“The election had thrown up a lot of surprises and it is precisely those surprises that made it credible and transparent, “he said.

On the issue of large turnout of youths for voter registration before the election, the minister explained that winning an election was beyond registration.

`What INEC did was to ensure the extension of voter registration exercise for about 18 months so that people will not be disenfranchised.

“However, it is one thing to register to vote and it is another thing to come out to vote on an election day.

“Those 24 million people that came out to vote during the polls were the authentic people that concluded the processes of election,” he said.

The minister said INEC should be praised for the introduction and the strict usage of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

He said BVAS was a technology that paved the way for check-and-balance and prevented fraud and other irregularities during the elections.

According to the minister, BVAS cut out fraudulent votes, ghost voters and multiple votes.

Mohammed said from the outcome of his engagements so far, the international community had come to the viewpoint that the 2023 elections were the fairest and most transparent in Nigeria history.

He also said there was no fake news in his comment that Labour Party’s reaction to the outcome of the presidential election was “inviting insurrection”.

Edwin Clark, an Ijaw national leader and convener of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, had called for prosecution of the information minister for being a “mastermind and disseminator of fake news” against Obi.

Clark accused the minister of basing his comment on “propaganda and falsity” adding that it was “unpatriotic and wicked” to label such an accusation on Obi.

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirant in the coming governorship primary in Kogi State, Senator Dino Melaye, has accused the Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike, of attacking him because of his refusal to support his presidential ambition.

Reacting to comments by Governor Wike that he does not have what it takes to be the Governor of Kogi, Melaye accused Wike of mismanaging Rivers’ resources, saying his prison uniform is being sewn.

According to Melaye, “the pain of Wike is he wanted my support for his misplaced aspiration to become the Flagbearer of the People’s Democratic Party in the 2023 Presidential election, but knowing his avowed credential to be eminently unworthy of the ticket I deployed support for Atiku Abubakar, a cosmopolitan and cultured statesman who ignored all the tantrums of Wike throughout the period of the election.

“If Wike were a reflective mind he should now be more concerned about his post-tenure survival, because with the recklessness he exhibited in mismanaging the resources of Rivers State, his prison uniform must have been sewn and his inmate number must be waiting for his allocation.

“As for me I will not only continue to savour my freedom, I will be sending relief assistance to Wike from Government House Lokoja, by the grace of God,” he said.

Melaye said Wike sees nothing good in the leadership of the PDP, “yet he can not move to another Party, because which Party will accept Wike in his irredeemable state of ignominious liability.

“As the good people of Kogi State prepare for the Gubernatorial election, the choice is theirs to make. All the evil machinations and self-destructive conduct of Wike will fail. I have neither sought for nor expected support from Wike. My aspiration is on course.”

Melaye also boosted that his specialty is to tame lions, “whether they be white or black, dwelling in rocks or floating on Rivers.”

He also said, “Wike should be reminded that Kogi is not Rivers, and the people of Kogi State would not worship any foreign God. Above all, Wike should also understand that power belongs to God, and He gives it to whoever he wants, even the basest of men. And but for this absolute and indiscriminate dispensation by God, how did a person like Nyesom Wike become a governor? Is it his oratory, diligence, finesse, wealth or intellectual endowment?

“Today, Wike can take a swipe at me, and mark me down as unqualified to govern my state, but has he forgotten that he believed my Gubernatorial aspiration in 2019? Can he be reminded that I have served as a member of the Federal House of Representatives and have also been elected twice into the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?”

The Delta State police command have arrested a man identified as Samuel following the death of his teenage friend after allegedly overdosing on tramadol in Samuel’s apartment.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the deceased died on Thursday, April, 7, 2023, “at about 2.00 pm in the afternoon” in Samuel’s apartment located at Okuku Street in Ovwian town in Udu Local Government Area.

A resident of the area, who gave her name as Jane, told our correspondent that the deceased, who was known as ‘Bros,’ was seen on that Thursday taking the drug after the culprit, Samuel, had sent someone to buy drug which he and his friend (the deceased) took.

She narrated that after the duo had taken the drug, Samuel went to play football in a nearby field but on getting home not long after, he met his friend (the deceased) lying unconscious in his apartment. Unfortunately, the victim was later confirmed dead by a nurse in the neighbourhood.

Also commenting on the incident, a neighbour, who would not want her name in print, told newsmen that she “knew that it would come to this with the way Samuel and his friends took drugs and misbehaved. It was way too much for any sane person,” she observed.

Our correspondent gathered that the suspect, Samuel, was still being kept in custody at the Ovwian Police Station as of the time of filing this report.

Efforts to get details of the incident from the Divisional Police Officer, Ovwian Division, Mr. Ayodele Kunle was futile however, when contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer for Delta State Command, DSP Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident.

by Rachael Omidiji


Nollywood actor Yul Edochie’s latest action has sparked reactions from netizens, as one wrote, “DNA result don land.”

Yul Edochie has deleted Instagram posts of his second wife, Judy Austin, and their son on his verified Instagram page weeks after the death of his first son.

A post in April 2022, where he publicly announced a new son and a second wife, has also been deleted. The post of him celebrating Judy on her birthday in January 2023 has also been deleted.

Meanwhile, he still has photos of his first wife, May Yul Edochie.

Netizens reacted below

Hot gist Forum wrote, “I noticed Yul has deleted all Judy pictures from his page”

La creamy Golf wrote, “Eya ooo, he has taken down all your pictures”

Mz Rma wrote, “Why has Oga remove all your pics from his page na or DNA result don land”

Linamz cakes and catering wrote, “I no see your picture for Yul page . Is it on Mr Obasi’s page?”

Recall the popular Nollywood actor lost his first son and second child a few days ago.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has condemned FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC, makers of Peak Milk, over an offensive Easter advert that has sparked outrage among Christians in the country.

In the controversial advert, the company used the crucifixion of Jesus Christ as a metaphor to promote their product on Good Friday, a move that CAN described as “totally unacceptable” to the Christian population.

The General Secretary of CAN, Barrister Joseph Daramola, warned the company to retract the advert, tender an apology to Christians or face legal action and boycott of their products by Christians.

“We find this advert to be insensitive, offensive, and totally unacceptable. Good Friday is a solemn day for Christians all over the world, a day we commemorate the death of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who was crucified on the cross for our sins. It is not a day to be used for crass commercial purposes,” he said.

Daramola added that FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC’s action was disrespectful to the Christian faith and an affront to millions of Christians in Nigeria and beyond.

“We are deeply disappointed that a company of such repute would stoop so low to exploit the religious sentiments of its customers for profit,” he said.

CAN further said that it was considering imposing sanctions against FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC, including a boycott of their products by its members and other well-meaning Nigerians who share its concerns.

“We call on the company to issue an unreserved apology to the Christian community and withdraw the offensive advert immediately,” it said.

The Christian body also recalled a similar incident in the past when Sterling Bank Plc used crucifixion imagery to promote its product, stating that it condemned it then and now.

“We, therefore, urge all companies and organizations to be mindful of the religious and cultural sensitivities of their customers when promoting their products. We will not tolerate any attempt to trivialize or disrespect our faith. Be warned,” the statement added.

Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson was struck on the face by assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis in a remarkable incident just after the half-time whistle of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Arsenal.

The Scotland captain approached the linesman, who then thrust his elbow into Robertson’s chin.

Robertson was then shown a yellow card by referee Paul Tierney as he furiously protested.

Arsenal led 2-1 at half-time as the Gunners aim to take a step closer to the Premier League title.

Michael Olugbode in Abuja


The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, has debunked the speculations that he was suspended from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for refusing to embark on a campaign of blackmail against the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi.

Onyeama was reported to have been suspended from the APC for allegedly refusing to travel to the United States to launch a “campaign of calumny” against the presidential candidate of the LP, Obi, who is in court to reclaim the presidential ticket he claimed to have won at the February 25 election.A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday and signed by its spokesperson, Mrs. Francisca Omayuli, said there was no iota of truth in the allegations.

The statement read: “The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to a story circulating on social media that the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama has been suspended by his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) because as alleged, ‘he was sent to the United States to blackmail Peter Obi, and he declined the request.

“The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs states that there is no iota of truth to the mischievous allegations.“The general public is therefore called upon to disregard the story.” The Enugu State Secretary of the party, Robert Ngwu, at a press conference in Enugu last Thursday had announced the suspension of former Governor Sullivan Chime; former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Eugene Odoh; Director General of Voice of Nigeria, Osita Okechukwu; former Commissioner for Tourism, Ozor Joe Mmamel; Special Assistant to Foreign Affairs Minister, Flavour Eze; and former House of Representatives candidate in 2019, Maduka Arum.

The party had earlier expelled the former chairman of APC in the state, Dr. Ben Nwoye and a former deputy state chairman of the party, Mr. AC Udeh. Ngwu at the end of the party’s State Executive Committee (SEC) meeting, presented the party’s Disciplinary and Fact-Finding Committee’s recommendations which he said were ratified by the SEC during her meeting.

While the party accused Nnamani and Chime of openly endorsing and campaigning for the governorship candidate of the PDP, Mr. Peter Mbah, Onyeama was accused of campaigning for the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi.

He was also accused of working for the governorship candidate of PDP, Mbah, using federal government’s palliatives like cooking stove, wrappers, rice and garri.

Nigerian afrobeat superstar, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido has disclosed that he spent a staggering $2 million (almost one billion naira) on his third studio album ‘A Better Time’.

The singer said this during his media tour for his new album ‘Timeless’ in the United States.

Speaking on the Ebro in the Morning Show on Hot 97FM, New York, the OBO crooner explained that the figure covered features, videos, and promotions.

He revealed he spent more on his third album than his current one ‘Timeless’ yet has already made more money from it.

He said, “My last album, I will tell you, I probably spent $2 million. That is for everything. You know what I’m saying?

“I haven’t even spent $300k on this album [Timeless]. And I made more already in three days. It just shows me the level of where African music is going.”

Davido’s third studio album ‘A Better Time’ was released in 2020 with guest features from American heavyweights such as Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown, Young Thug, Lil Baby, and Summer Walker.

author Paul Ogbuokiri


The World Bank said though Nigeria’s oil industry has been recording rapid production increase in the first three months of 2023, the country’s oil driven economic growth would still not be sufficient to reduce the number of people living in extreme poverty in the country this year. The World Bank made its prediction known in its latest Global Economic Prospects report released this week, titled: “Leveraging Resource Wealth During The Low Carbon Transition.” The report reads in part: “In Nigeria, growth is projected to strengthen somewhat to 2.8 per cent in 2023.”

About 88.4 million Nigerians live in extreme poverty while 133 million Nigerians are multi-dimensionally poor, according to recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). While projecting that Nigeria’s economic growth will fall to 2.8 per cent in 2023 from 3.3 per cent in 2022, the World Bank also said that the incoming administration faces many policy challenges including subdued crude oil production, high inflation among others. The Bank stressed the need to complement anti-inflation policies with income support measures, including cash or food transfers, to protect the most vulnerable from stubbornly high inflation—particularly food inflation. Similarly, KPMG predicted that Nigeria’s economy will likely experience a slow growth rate in 2023.

A report issued by the financial institution cited various reasons, including inflation, debt. It also predicted that sluggish growth will be experienced across sub-Saharan Africa because of uncertainty in the global economy. It further stressed that Nigeria’s economy would underperform due to a weaker local currency, foreign exchange scarcity, and rising inflation. KPMG also mentioned the challenges in the foreign exchange market, Naira redesign policy, inadequate government revenue, high debt, global economic slowdown, and contraction in the oil sector. KPMG also expects inflation to remain above 20 per cent in 2023 and predicts that the unemployment rate will rise further to 40.6 per cent in 2023.

The Chadian government has expelled the German ambassador to the country, Jan-Christian Gordon Kricke, because of his “impolite attitude”, the government said in a statement on Saturday.

The decision was “motivated by the impolite attitude and the lack of respect for diplomatic customs by the German ambassador, as prescribed by the Vienna Convention,” a government spokesman said.

No further explanation was given, but according to local media reports, ambassador Kricke’s criticism of the current transitional government might have been the reason for the move.

Kricke, who has been serving as Germany’s ambassador to Chad since 2021, was given 48 hours to leave the country.

The oil-rich country of 17 million in the Sahel region has been ruled by a transitional military government headed by President Mahamat Idriss Déby since April 2021.

Déby took over after his father, long-time ruler Idriss Déby, was killed by rebels looking to overthrow his government.

Déby had promised to hold democratic elections within a year and a half but they had repeatedly been postponed.

Last autumn, opposition demonstrations were bloodily put down.

Many diplomats in the country, which borders Libya, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Central African Republic and Sudan, sharply criticised the violence.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) plans to remove accounts not linked to the Bank Verification System (BVN) from the financial system. The objective is to clean up the sector and reduce the growing incidence of fraud.

Blaise Ijebor, director Risk Management Department and Chief Risk Officer, CBN said this at the Prembly Compliance Breakfast Dialogue on Thursday 6 April. He was joined on a panel by Olufemi Shobanjo, head of Broker-Dealer Regulation, NGX.

According to Ijebor, the apex bank has been working with the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) to address the growing incidence of fraud in the sector. Although he said the financial regulator is looking at doing this very soon he did not however give an indication of when the CBN intends to commence the clean-up.

He listed three loopholes that cybercriminals are exploiting. The Tier-1 account is top of the list of loopholes. A Tier-1 account refers to a bank account that can be opened with minimal or without any form of documents. This account can be opened with a passport photograph. The account has a limit of N50,000 deposit and an operating balance of N200,000 and N300,000.

They are mostly not linked to BVN and it is mostly targeted at the unbanked population and people living in rural communities. This is the account mostly dominated by digital banks also known as fintech firms. They also present the easiest entry point for hackers because they involve customers with little knowledge about cyber security and who are mostly not taking the necessary measures to protect their accounts, according to Ijebor.

The second loophole for fraud is the activities of some banks, especially digital banks that are not meeting all the regulatory requirements.

The third loophole is the ability of hackers to exploit every vulnerability that grants them access to anyone’s bank account.

“We are doing a lot about agency banking. We are moving towards agents being able to do BVN registration which moves a lot of Tier-1 accounts to Tier-2,” Ijebor said.

Banking agents used to be able to open an account for users and also link them to BVN. However, the CBN suspended their access temporarily to enable the apex bank to come out with new guidelines that will soon be released.

The new guidelines are expected to enable the banking agents to regain their access to account opening as well as ensure that all necessary know-your-customer (KYC) are followed.

Ijebor said the CBN is targeting a more inclusive compliance regime which involves the regulator getting to know more about the operators and creating guidelines that are tailored to their specific needs in the industry.

Efforts will be made to collaborate with other regulators such as the Nigeria Exchange Limited (NGX) and ensure that rules benefit operators in both markets. But the CBN said it is not going to change its position for certain segments such as the cryptocurrency market.

“Our position has not changed (on crypto) and I am not sure it will ever change. If you want to use digital assets, use eNaira. It has all the properties of a digital asset,” Ijebor said.

THERE is panic among homeowners, property owners and other residents of Surulere neighbourhoods covering Masha Roundabout, Adelabu Road and some inner streets, as their traditional ruler, the Onikate of Ikate, Surulere, Lagos, Oba Lateef Atanda Adams, is laying claim to the entire land measuring 315.9 acres in the enclave.

No fewer than 300 buildings which fall within the land area have been marked with the inscription ‘IKD/288/68 possession taken today 30/3/2923 by court’.

Oba Adams is threatening to reclaim the entire land from the present occupiers on the grounds that the state government did not pay compensation to the family/original landowners when the land was acquired about 40 years ago, as stipulated by the Land Use Act, 1978.

He said the present property owners did not recognise or buy the land directly from the family and as such, they must present the receipts or other documents on such property and enter new agreements with the family.

Oba Adams is relying on a judgment delivered by Justice Olusan Bada of the Lagos State High court in suit No 18/118/68 on November 10, 1975 between Kasali Idewu and ORS V Ayisatu Yaya and ORS, which declared land measuring 315.9 acres as captured by survey plan number ‘AGW/263’ to the defendants/judgment creditors and affirmed by the ruling delivered by Justice M.A. Lawal of the Ikeja Judicial Division of the High Court of Lagos State on December 9, 2022.

The traditional ruler urged owners of the affected property to come with whatever documents they have to facilitate a settlement.

Oba Adams said: “They should let us sit down and settle this thing before it gets out of hand. They should come to regularise with us. They cannot win in court. They should come or else I will demolish everything. We need their cooperation. Let government call me so that we can have a roundtable.”

Recalling what really happened, one of the homeowners, Tunde Oladeji, said some individuals accompanied by about 50 men of the Mobile Police force invaded the neighborhood last week, pasting posters and marking buildings with the notice ‘Possession Taken’.

He said the situation caused jitters among most residents. He called on the government who he claimed allocated the land in the first place to come to their aid.

According to Oladeji, over 300 houses are affected.

“These are houses that were built as far back as 1972. All of these houses have been stamped with notices. There is no copy of the said court judgment. They are picketing houses at Masha axis with zinc and metal sheets,” he said.

Many other homeowners also said they never saw a copy of the court judgment.

When contacted, one of the spokespersons of the Lagos State Development and Property Company (LSDPC), Mrs Yewande Cole, said the agency was aware of the matter but urged the homeowners and residents to calm down.

According to Cole, owners of the affected buildings have been directed to provide such as receipts, survey plans and Certificate of Occupancy.

“The management is on top of it. Landlords have been asked not to panic; nothing will happen to them,” the LSDPC spokesperson said.

Ekaete Bassey


AMichigan couple has welcomed the first daughter in the family in 138 years.

On March 17, Carolyn and Andrew Clark welcomed baby Audrey into the world, making her the first girl to be born on Andrew’s side of the family since 1885.

Carolyn revealed they were shocked when they learned they would be having a baby girl, having been left stunned when her husband revealed his family’s unique gender history.

Speaking to Good Morning America, the lovebirds detailed the huge surprise that was bringing Audrey into their family.

Carolyn explained she first discovered that Andrew’s family hadn’t had a girl in over 130 years when they were dating.

She added that when Andrew initially told her the story, she didn’t believe him.

Andrew’s family told her that they ‘hadn’t had a girl in our direct line’, explaining that while his ‘uncles and cousins have had girls’, there has not been a girl in his lineage.

Welcoming the first daughter in 14 decades was even sweeter because Carolyn tragically suffered a miscarriage in January 2021.

She noted that when they learned she was expecting she was just overjoyed to be having a healthy baby and didn’t care if it was a boy or girl.

Carolyn noted, ‘It was just icing on the cake that it was a girl.’

When the family gathered last September to celebrate their pregnancy and reveal the baby’s sex, they were ‘shocked.’

‘We kept it a secret to ourselves as well. So I just assumed it was going to be blue in the center of the cookies and it’d be another boy in the lineage,’ Andrew stated.

He added that he was ‘shocked’ when he saw the center of the cookies that revealed their baby’s sex were pink.

‘It was a good surprise for us,’ he added.

Carolyn explained the family is ‘so happy’ that they can finally experience life with Audrey and that she is healthy.

Actress Sarah Martins has advised women to feel free to snatch a good man from an undeserving woman.

Martins made case for good men being mistreated by their women, insisting such men deserved to be loved the right way.

The controversial film star added nobody was in fact about being above snatching while hinting on implementing her advice soon enough.

She wrote: “Never be afraid to snatch a good man from a lousy and careless woman!

“He deserves to be loved right… Same goes to women….

“Nobody is above snatching because everyone deserves to be loved right.

“Out to snatch your papa.”

Peer-to-peer Bitcoin platform, Paxful, with 1.5m users in Nigeria, has announced that it is shutting down its operations.

This was disclosed by the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Ray Youssef, in a blog post on Tuesday.

He said, “Today, Paxful will be suspending its marketplace. We are not sure if it will come back.

“This will probably come as a big shock to many. While I cannot share the full story now, I can say that we unfortunately have had some key staff departures. Also, regulatory challenges for the industry continue to grow, especially in the peer-to-peer market and most heavily in the U.S. While we work through these issues, we have taken the most secure option and ask you to explore self-custody and trade elsewhere.”

According to Decrypt, Youssef, during a Twitter Space said that the decision to close the platform was also influenced by a lawsuit brought by a Paxful co-founder who is suing Paxful and Youssef after being “kicked out of the company” over a year ago.

“My co-founder sued the company and sued me. I have a lawsuit over my head right now,” he was quoted as saying on the Twitter Space.

Though he did not name the plaintiff explicitly, Youssef is likely referring to co-founder Artur Schaback, who filed a lawsuit in Delaware Chancery Court against Youssef in January, based on a court docket hosted on CourtConnect.

Although cryptocurrency is banned in Nigeria, the 2020 Geography of Cryptocurrency Report by Chainalysis, ranked Nigeria eighth in crypto adoption and usage among 154 countries included in the study.

Nigerian cities, Lagos and Ibadan, have also been listed as cryptocurrency hubs across the globe by crypto accounting services firm, Recap, which put together a list of the top 50 crypto hubs in 2022. Nigerian cities made it to number 14 (Lagos) and 24 (Ibadan) respectively.

Paxful is credited with pioneering the use of peer-to-peer technology in the country, thus helping to expand the crypto industry in Nigeria.

In an interview with Business Africa Insider in 2022, Paxful’s CEO said that Nigeria is the firm’s largest market, with 1.5 million users and over $1.5 billion volume to date (since 2015).

The Central Bank of Nigeria banned cryptocurrencies and transactions related to them in 2021. CBN claimed that cryptocurrencies are being used for illegal activities including money laundering, terrorism financing, purchase of small arms and light weapons, and tax evasion.

A few weeks after the February 25 presidential election, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, was enmeshed in a controversy as a phone conversation between him and Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church, aka Winners Chapel, leaked on social media.

The leaked audio generated heated conversations with many Nigerians condemning Obi for weeping up sentiment in a multi-religious country like Nigeria.

In a viral leaked audio published by an online medium, People’s Gazette, on Saturday, Obi was heard begging Oyedepo for support. He was heard telling the Bishop to help him get votes from Christians in the South-West.

“Thank you Daddy, I need you to speak to your people in South West and Kwara, the Christians in South West and Kwara, this is a religious war,” Obi said in the leaked audio.

In a statement in the wee hours of Sunday, Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign, confirmed the authenticity of the audio but claimed it was taken out of context by critics.

But Obi’s is just one among a couple of leaked audios involving notable politicians in Nigeria. Daily Trust takes a look at other leaked audios, especially those that are election-related.


OBANIKORO/FAYOSE’S CONVERSATION

An audio recording revealing how some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains allegedly connived with security agencies to rig the Ekiti State eelection was released by an army officer in 2014.

At the meeting, as evidenced by the recording, the then prominent chieftains of the PDP were heard discussing strategies for rigging the 2014 Ekiti governorship election, a poll in which the party eventually won by a landslide.

But some of the actors, including Musiliu Obanikoro, a former Defence Minister, and Ayo Fayose, who defeated the incumbent governor, denied being a party to the plot to rig the election and questioned the authenticity of the recording.

Obanikoro had also threatened a court action against news organisations who had published the conversations in the audio tape.

Despite their denials, the then Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan, who also attended the meeting, confirmed that the tape was authentic.

He, however, disagreed with the context of the discussion, saying the meeting was never about plans to rig the Ekiti State election.


MELAYE’S DISCUSSION WITH JUDGE

Dino Melaye, former Senator representing Kogi West was also thrown into controversy when an online newspaper, Sahara Reporters, leaked his phone conversation with Justice Akon Ikpeme, the tribunal judge who handled his election case in 2015.

The media outfit later claimed that the judge in a bid to get a soft landing confessed to receiving bribe twice from Melaye because he handled the lawmaker’s cases twice.


ATIKU’S AUDIO ON CONTRACTS

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was also caught on tape in January 2023 admitting his involvement in a complex conspiracy that for years took advantage of federal contracting expenditures.

In a viral audio shared by Atiku’s former aide, Michael Achimugu, the former vice-president was heard narrating how he took charge of setting up onshore shell businesses to serve as a conduit for syphoning significant sums from public work contracts for himself and former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Atiku also revealed how the government designated some funds stolen during the process to political allies to fund their party’s activities without traces.

“What happened was when we came into office and I advised the president against open corruption.

“I told him to give me three people you trust and I will prepare three companies in which they will be subscribers or rather the directors.

“So that if there is any contract that we give they will act like consultants and they are given a fee. That fee is what we use to fund the party,” he said in the audio.

Althought Atiku’s campaign team said the audio was doctored, the former aide who leaked it stood his ground.


FAYOSE/WIKE’S CHATS OVER RIVERS POLL

Sahara Reporters also leaked an audio of a telephone conversation between Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and his counterpart in Ekiti State, Governor Ayodele Fayose, in which both men discussed Wike’s role during the December 10, 2016 rerun of legislative elections in Rivers State.

In the leaked telephone conversation, the two governors can be heard having an excited conversation about how Wike stormed a collation center during the election.

The tone of the exchanges made it clear that Wike’s aim was to manipulate the results of the elections in favour of his candidates.

In a tone that showed how he outmanouvred the Nigerian Army, Wike declared in the conversation that, “Nigeria Army does not exist again.”

Suspected gunmen, on Monday, have reportedly kidnapped a yet-to-be-identified man at Molete area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, whisking him away in his Lexus Jeep.

Tribune Online gathered that the gunmen, who were dressed in black, stopped the car on the Molete fly-over bridge in Ibadan with sporadic gunshots which forced residents of the area to scamper for safety.

Our reporter learnt that one of the two people inside the car managed to escape by jumping off the Malete flyover bridge while the car owner was whisked away to unknown an destination by the gunmen.

Narrating his experience, the escaped passenger who pleaded to be anonymous, stated that they were finally stopped by the gunmen at Molete after being tailed for a while.

He said, “We were trailed and stopped here on the bridge, they fired gunshots, and because of the fear of being shot, I ran for safety by jumping off the bridge.

“They snatched car keys and fled with the car and the owner.”

The young man added that the car owner had just bought the car after he won a sporting bet recently.

No fewer than 25 cars were destroyed on Saturday as youths from two communities in Ilorin, Kwara State, clashed over a girl.

City & Crime gathered that a disagreement started after the two youth group leaders from Itamerin and Ode Popo communities lay claim to be the boyfriend of one Aisha, a JSS 2 students.

A community leader in Ode Popo, Alhaji AbdulRazaq, told our correspondent that, “They started the incident around 1:30am on Saturday because of a girl, Aisha, a JSS 2 student of about 18 years.

“They started mobilising themselves for the clash on Friday and left over 25 vehicles destroyed in the process on Saturday,” adding that, “We called on the police to wade in before the issue got out of hand.”

He further said about 30 suspects, mostly teenagers, had been arrested.

Another resident, Omotayo, said the police arrested the girl, Aisha, on Sunday morning, adding that the leaders of the two groups, one Ismail and his rival, fled the communities after the incident.

When City & Crime visited both communities, the police from G Division, Oloje, were still raiding the areas and arresting suspects.

The DPO of Oloje, Dare Afonja, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent during a visit to the station, said he “was not in a position to provide further detail.”

EKITI: 4 petitions

The National and State Assemblies Election Petitions Tribunal in Ekiti State has received four petitions on the February 25 National Assembly elections.

Secretary of the tribunal, Salihu Umar, said there were three petitions over the senatorial election and one for the House of Representatives poll.

Umar said, “National Assembly member and Peoples Democratic Party senatorial candidate for Ekiti South, Biodun Olujimi, and her party are challenging the victory of House of Representatives member and All Progressives Congress candidate, Yemi Adaramodu, in the election in a petition.

“Also, Isaac Agboola of the Labour Party is challenging the victory of Adaramodu in another petition”.

Umar added that LP senatorial candidate for Ekiti Central, Odunayo Okunade, is challenged the victory of the APC candidate for the district and National Assembly member, Opeyemi Bamidele.

He said the fourth petition was filed by the PDP candidate for Ekiti North Federal Constituency II, Samuel Ajayi, and his party against the victory of APC candidate, Akinlayo Kolawole.

PLATEAU: 16 petitions

In Plateau State, the National and state Houses of Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal has received 16 petitions from the petitioners.

Aggrieved candidates for the governorship and State Assembly elections are yet to file petitions.

Secretary of the tribunal, Mrs. Belemo, gave the breakdown of the petitions as she said the Senate has five petitions while the House of Representatives has 11.

She said, “So far, we have received 16 petitions, for the Senate seat, five petitions received are from Plateau North and Plateau South.

“The House of Representatives seats have 11 petitions from across the federal constituencies in the state.”
For the Senate seats, Sunday Vanguard gathered that Governor Simon Lalong of the APC and Timlok Fyenda of the NNPP have separately petitioned against the victory of Napoleon Bali of the PDP in Plateau South.

Gyang Zi of the LP, Suleiman Kwande of the PRP, and Chris Giwa of the APC also separately petitioned against the victory of Simon Mwadkwon of the PDP for Plateau North.

For the House of Representatives, Yaknan Yarnap of the YPP and Bulus Venman of the APC separately petitioned against Beni Lar of the PDP for the Langtang North/Langtang South Federal Constituency.

Adamu Alkali of the PRP, Daniel Asama of the LP, and Ibrahim Baba-Hassan of the APC also separately petitioned against Musa Agah of the PDP for the Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency.

Gideon Dandareng of the APC and Iliya Ajang of the LP separately petitioned against Musa Bagos of the PDP for the Jos East/Jos South Federal constituency.

Ibrahim Bawa of the PDP petitioned against Idris Maje of the APC for the Wase Federal Constituency and John Dafaan of the APC also petitioned against Isaac Kwallu of the PDP for the Mikang/Shendam/Qua’an Pan Federal constituency.

Chrysanthus John of the PDP petitioned against Yusuf Gagdi of the APC for the Kanam/Kanke/Pankshin Federal Constituency as Fom Chollom of the LP petitioned against Peter Gyendeng of the PDP for the Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituenc

ANAMBRA: 31 petitions

In Anambra State, the election petition tribunal has received 31 petitions challenging the February 25 National Assembly elections.
Seven of the petitions are for the Senate, while 24 are for the House of Representatives.

In Anambra South senatorial zone, the candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chris Azubogu, his LP counterpart, Dr. Obinna Uzoh, and the PDP candidate, Chief Chris Uba, are challenging the declaration of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah of the YPP as senator-elect.

In Anambra North Senatorial Zone, Senator Stella Oduah of the PDP is challenging the declaration of Dr. Tony Nwoye of LP as senator-elect for the zone, while Honourable Dozie Nwankwo of APGA and Mrs. Helen Mbakwe of the NNPP are challenging the declaration of Senator Victor Umeh of LP as senator-elect for Anambra Central.

Secretary of election petitions tribunal, Mr. Muazu Ibrahim Bagudu, explained that the filing of petitions for the National Assembly election had already elapsed, while that of the state assembly election was still on.

It was gathered that most of the House of Assembly election results were also being challenged by the losers, although the Secretary of state tribunal could not give the specific number.

Those certain to challenge their defeat include the Speaker of the House, Hon Uche Okafor, who lost his third term bid to represent Ayamelum Constituency and Emeka Oforka, Deputy Majority Leader who lost his second term bid to represent Orumba North Constituency.

KANO: 23 petitions

The Election Petition Tribunal in Kano State said it has so far received 23 petitions related to the National Assembly elections.
A source in the tribunal said, “As at Tuesday afternoon, we have so far received 23 election petitions with regards to the National Assembly elections.

“Out of the 23, two were pertaining to the Senate while the remaining 21 were on the House of Representatives election. Initially, the petitions all together were 24 but one was later withdrawn.

ADAMAWA: 8 petitions, inconclusive gov’ship poll

The Election Petition Tribunal in Adamawa State has received eight petitions on the National Assembly elections held in the state.
Mrs Elsie Akpabio, Tribunal Secretary, disclosed this in Yola.

She said that six of the petitions were for House of Representatives poll while two were for the Senate.

Akpabio said that Magaji Abubakar of APC filed a petition challenging INEC, Rufa’i Jingi and PDP for the Maiha/Mubi-North Mubi-South Federal Constituency election.

According to her, petition number two was filed by Yusuf Yakubu of APC challenging James Barka of PDP and INEC for the Gombi/Hong Federal Constituency.

The Secretary added that another petition was filed by Ibrahim Usman, candidate of APC, challenging Basai Inuwa of PDP and INEC on the Ganye/Jada/Mayo-Belwa/Toungo Federal Constituency election.

“The Michika/Madagali Federal Constituency election has Ayuba Kwada of APC challenging INEC, PDP and Nyampa Dauda”, Akpabio said.
“And for the Yola-North/Yola-South/Girei Federal Constituency are Zango Abubakar of APC challenging Mohammed Salihu of PDP and INEC”.

She added that Taslim Iya, candidate of AA, is also challenging the state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner and PDP for the Ganye/Jada/Mayo-Belwa/Toungo Federal Constituency election.

Akpabio said that the two petitions for the Senate were filed by Sen. Abdulaziz Nyako of APC challenging Aminu Abbas of PDP and INEC, while Rev. Amos Yohanna of PDP is challenging the election of Ishaka Clif of APC for Adamawa North Senatorial District.

The state House of Assembly results are yet to be challenged at the tribunal as most of them remain inconclusive.

KEBBI: 6 petitions

The Kebbi State tribunal confirmed receipt of at least six elections petitions, two for Senate involving Kebbi Central and Kebbi South and two from the House of Representatives.

Secretary of the tribunal, Abdul-Rahaman Muhammad, in an inquiry in Birnin Kebbi, said Bala Ibn Na’Allah, the candidate of APC for Kebbi South, filed a petition challenging the declaration of Garba Musa of the PDP as senator-elect. He added that APC candidate for Kebbi Central, Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, also filed a petition challenging the declaration of Muhammad Adamu Aliero of the PDP as senator-elect.

The Secretary said that petitions were also filed by candidates challenging the outcomes of Birnin Kebbi/ Kalgo/Bunza; Yauri/Shanga/Ngasko; Gwandu/Jega/Aliero; and Suru/ Bagudo federal constituencies’ elections.

BENUE: 17 petitions
Benue State National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal has, so far, received 17 petitions from litigants.

But the governorship and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal is yet to receive petitions from aggrieved candidates.
Tribunal Secretary, Mrs. Titi Pankwat, said the petitions received comprised of four senatorial and 13 House of Representatives.
“Two election petition tribunals have been set up in Benue to separately hear petitions arising from the February 25 presidential and National Assembly election as well as the March 11 governorship and State Assembly elections”, she said.

“So far we have 17 petitions and they are broken down into two; there are four senatorial and 13 House of Representatives petitions.

“No petition has arisen from the governorship election because they have 21 days to file their petition from the date the winner of the election was announced.

“And are aware that the National Assembly elections were held before the governorship and State Assembly elections; that was why the petitions from that election came in earlier.

ENUGU: 14 petitions

In Enugu State, a total of 14 petitions were filed at the National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal about to begin sitting.
A breakdown of the number shows that two of the petitions were for Senate and 12 were for House of Representatives.

Though the Secretary of the tribunal could not be reached to confirm details of petitions, it is believed the one of the petitions is from the LP candidate for Enugu West Senatorial District challenging the declaration of the PDP candidate as senator-elect while the other is from the APC candidate challenging the election of LP candidate in Enugu East Senatorial District.

The 12 House of Representatives petitions were filed mainly by PDP candidates challenging the election of LP candidates. LP won 7 of the 8 House of Representatives seats in the state.

NIGER: 9 petitions

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, incumbent senator for Niger South, Bima Muhammed Enagi, and Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, Niger East, top the list of those to be dragged before Niger State Election Tribunal by their opponents.

The tribunal is, however, yet to be constituted.

Bello’s victory at the February 25 National Assembly elections is being challenged by Shehu Mohammed Abdullahi of the PDP while Enagi of the APC is challenging the victory of Jiya Peter Ndalikali of the PDP.

The third senatorial seat is in contention between Ishaku Ibrahim of the PDP who is challenging Musa of APC.
The other eight cases are on the House of Representatives election.

One of them is between Abdullahi Abubakar Lado, APC, and Tanko Adamu, PDP.

Others are between Abdullahi Usman, APC and Gana Joshua Audu, PDP; Abubakar Shehu, PDP and Abdullahi Garba, APC; Haruna Abubakar Magaji of APC and Tanko Adamu, PDP; Mohammed Nazeem Abdullahi, PDP and Shehu Saleh Rijau of APC; Abdulmalik Mohammed, PDP and Baraje Yusuf Kure, APC; Saidu Abdullahi, PDP and Mahmud Abdullahi, APC; and Abdullahi Mohammed Ricco, PDP and Ismail Musa Modibbo of APC.

ABIA: 35 petitions

At least 35 petitions are pending before the Election Petition Tribunal currently sitting in Umuahia, Abia State capital.
The three-man panel headed by Justice Halima Saleeman has Justice Ani Ebong and Justice Mohammed Haruna, respectively as members.
Secretary of the panel, Belo Hassan, who spoke with Sunday Vanguard, said nine of the petitions were on Senate election while 26 were on House of Representatives.

According to him, the petitioners include Senator Mao Ohuabunwa (PDP), who is challenging the emergence of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC) for Abia North.

LP candidate, Chief Nnamdi Iro Orji, also filed a petition challenging Kalu’s declaration as the winner of the contest which both petitioners argued was inconclusive.

Both petitioners argued that the election did not hold in over 90 polling units in Abia North especially at Ohafia and Arochukwu considered their respective strongholds.

According to them, affected polling units have over 55,000 registered voters which is far higher than the margin of lead in the election. Col. Austin Akobundu (retd.), PDP, candidate for Abia Central; and his APC counterpart, Chief Sam Onuigbo; as well as Chief Ahamdi Nweke of APGA have, on their part, all filed petitions against the victory of Hon. Darlington Nwokocha of the LP.
They argued that the outcome of the poll was manipulated in favour of the LP candidate.

Chief Onyeizu Chiemeze of LP is also challenging the victory of Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe of APGA in Aba South.

He claimed that the election was marred by over voting in some polling units in favour of the APGA candidate.
For the House of Representatives, Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives and the APC candidate for Isuikwuato-Umunneochi Federal Constituency, Rep Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, filed a petition against the victory of Amaobi Ogah.

The fourth term lawmaker alleged that the outcome of the poll was not a true reflection of the will of the voters at the polls.
Similarly, Okuji Oreh of APGA petitioned against the winner, Okwara Osonwa of LP, in Arochukwu-Ohafia Federal Constituency; just as the incumbent Rep., Chimaobi Ebisike, PDP, petitioned against Emeka Nnamani of LP.

There is no petition yet from any governorship or House of Assembly candidates according to the panel.

TARABA: 6 petitions

The Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Jalingo, Taraba State capital, has received 6 petitions and one motion for the inspection of election materials in the state.

An official of the tribunal, who did not want his name in print, confirmed that one petition was received on the senatorial election while five petitions were received for the House of Representatives election.

He also said a motion for the inspection of election materials was filed for the governorship election.

He however noted that the tribunal was yet to get any petition in respect to the State Constituency elections.

All the elected state House of Assembly members are from APC. Three constituencies, Birninkudu, Dutse and Yankwashi, were declared inconclusive.

KATSINA: 11 petitions

In Katsina State, 11 petitions has so far been received for the National Assembly elections while none has been received yet for the governorship and State Assembly elections though they are still within the window to do so.

Secretary, Katsina Election Tribunal Panel, Ms Lilian Ogbodo, disclosed this.

Of the 11 petitions, two were from PDP senatorial candidates for Katsina Central and Katsina South.
The remaining nine petitions were received from candidates for the House of Representatives election.

GOMBE: Two potential petitions

The situation in Gombe State is not clear but feelers indicated that the governorship candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Muhammadu Jibrin Barde, is heading to the tribunal to contest the victory of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya at the polls.

Also, the only female member of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Asmau Mohammed Iganus, representing Shongom East under APC, was defeated and she has threatened to contest her defeat at the tribunal.

BAUCHI: 15 petitions

The Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Bauchi has received 15 petitions from aggrieved candidates in the national and state assembly elections.

The Secretary of the tribunal, Ibrahim Kala, disclosed that five of the 15 petitions received are contesting the result of the senatorial election while the remaining 10 are for the House of Representatives poll.

He said that the petitions were received by the registry of the Election Tribunal between March 16 and 21.
Meanwhile, the APC gubernatorial candidate, Air Marshal Saddique Abubakar, has gotten a motion to inspect election materials used for governorship election of March 18.

GOVERNORSHIP, National Assembly and state House of Assembly candidates of the different political parties, who the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared as losers, in the February 25 and March 18 elections, have approached the respective Election Tribunals set up in their states, with about 327 petitions against the electoral umpire, and the declared winners


Among the losers are at least three governors: Ben Ayade (Cross River State), Abubakar Bagudu (Kebbi) and Simon Lalong (Plateau) who contested the senatorial election.

Sunday Vanguard learned that the petitions came in as of Wednesday, and more were likely to come before the expiration of the deadline for the submission of petitions.

Petitions filed in Abia State (35) top the list, followed by Anambra (31), Lagos (30), Delta (25), Kano (23), Benue (17) and Plateau (16) while the least (three) are from Yobe.

There had been no petitions filed in Oyo and Ogun as of the time of this report.

Election losers under the Electoral Act 2022 have 21 days from the date of declaration of results to challenge the outcome.
The situation in affected states is causing anxiety as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been accused of tardiness in the conduct of the 2023 general elections, and the implication is that, should the lapses be proven at the different Election Petition Tribunals across the country, many of the election results may be overturned.

The presidential election result is already being challenged at the Appeal Court, which is the tribunal for the poll, by the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Mr Peter Obi respectively.
INEC had declared Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner.

The trial of the National Assembly and state assembly elections’ petitions begins at the tribunal and ends at the Appeal Court while the governorship begins at the tribunal but stretches up to the Supreme Court.

DELTA: Omo-Agege, Nwaoboshi, Elumelu, others file 25 petitions

In Delta State, 25 candidates, who participated in the polls, including governorship candidates of the APC, Social Democratic Party (SDP) and LP, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Chief Kenneth Gbagi and Ken Pela respectively, petitioned the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in the state, querying the conduct and outcome of the election.

The tribunal has already granted leave to Gbagi and Pela leave to inspect the electoral materials that INEC used in the conduct of the election.

The Young Progressive Party, YPP, governorship candidate, Europe-based Comrade Sunny Ofehe, however, chose not to approach the tribunal, insisting that he would deploy international instruments to challenge the “hoax”.

Omo-Agege, in his petition, said INEC breached the Electoral Act 2022 in the collation of the results of the governorship poll across Delta.

He expressed dissatisfaction with the correctness of the results that INEC declared in Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Ika North East, Ika South, Oshimili North, Oshimili South, Ukwuani, Ndokwa East and Ndokwa West local government areas in Delta North.
In Delta South, Omo-Agege frowned at the results from Bomadi (only Wards 07, 08, and 09, that is, Akugbene1, Akugbene 2, and Akugbene 3), Burutu, Patani, Warri North, Warri South West, Warri South, and Isoko North local government areas.

In Delta Central, he disputed the results from Ethiope East, Okpe Ughelli South (only Wards 04, 05, 07, and 08), and Sapele (only Wards 02, 03, 05, 08, and 10).

Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and PDP House of Representatives candidate for Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, Hon Ndudu Elumelu; Hon Evelyn Oboro, PDP House of Representatives candidate for Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency; Hon Solomon Ahwinawhi, PDP House Representatives candidate in Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituency, have gone to the tribunal too.

At the senatorial level, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi of the APC, Delta North has petitioned INEC over the declaration of Hon Ned Nwoko as the winner of the election; Senator Ighoyota Amori, PDP, Delta Central, has also kicked against INEC’s announcement of Chief Ede Dafinone of APC as the winner.

Chief Michael Diden, PDP, Delta South, and his All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, counterpart, Hon George Timinimi, who lost to APC’s Hon Thomas Joel –Onowakpor, have also gone to the tribunal to upturn his victory.

At the House of Assembly level, all those who lost have dragged their opponents to the tribunal to challenge the results.
There are three panels set up in Delta State: the National Assembly Petitions Tribunal, Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, and State House of Assembly Petition Tribunal to adjudicate over the rocky petitions.

LAGOS: 25 petitions against Gbajabiamila, others

Aggrieved political parties have so far filed 30 petitions before the Lagos State National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal.

The petitions were displayed on the wall of the Rosaline Omotosho Court House Ikeja, venue of the tribunal sitting.
In one of the petitions, the candidates of the Labour Party for the House of Representatives in about seven constituencies in Lagos are challenging INEC, APC, and the declared winner of each constituency.

The candidates are challenging the winners declared in Oshodi Isolo, Kosofe, Lagos Mainland, Surulere, Shomolu, Mushin and Ikorodu federal constituencies

In their petitions filed by their counsel, Wakeel Olawale-Liady, the petitioners are challenging INEC for non-compliance with the provision of the Electoral Act 2022.

They alleged that the electoral body unlawfully excluded them from the elections held on February 25.

Specifically, in the petition filed by Adeola Adebanjo and LP against the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajaabiamila, the petitioner alleged that INEC failed to comply with the provisions of the law.

For Ikeja Federal Constituency, Mutiu Okunola and his party (LP) are challenging the declaration of James Faleke as the winner of the election because the election was invalid for non-compliance with the provision of the Act.

Okunola prayed the tribunal for a declaration that the election conducted by INEC in respect of the constituency seat was marred by substantial irregularities and non-compliance with the provision of the Electoral Act and guidelines.

He also prayed for the court to nullify the election and order a fresh one.

CROSS RIVER: Ayade, Onors, others file 13 petitions

In Cross River State, the Secretary of the three-man Election Petition Tribunal sitting over the February 25 National Assembly elections in the state, A.D Bambur, acknowledged that they had received 13 petitions from the different political parties.

Of the 13 petitions, three candidates challenged those INEC declared as winners in the three senatorial districts of the state, just as 10 others queried the conduct of the House of Representatives poll.

Bambur said the tribunal had commenced sitting, and already granted leave to parties to inspect materials used for the elections, following their respective applications. He added that the parties were currently serving summons and petitions to each other.

A passing look at the cases shows that Governor Ben Ayade, who lost his bid to return to the Senate to the incumbent senator, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, filed petition number EPT/CRS/Sen/2/2023 against Jarigbe.

Ayade vied for the Cross River Northern Senatorial District seat on the platform of APC.

The PDP candidate in Cross River Central, Hon Bassey Eko Ewa, filed a petition listed as EPT/CRS/SEN/1/2023 against Rt. Hon Eteng Williams of the APC, who is the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly.

Cross River Southern Senatorial District petition is from Rt. Hon. Daniel Asuquo of the Labour Party, and others versus Mr. Asuquo Ekpenyong Jnr of the APC in suit number EPT/CRS/SEN/03/2023.

Former House of Representatives member, Hon. Atta Ochinke, also filed a petition against APC’s Hon Victor Abang in Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency.

The PDP governorship candidate, defeated in the March 18 governorship poll, Senator Sandy Onor, has also vowed to challenge the process that made INEC to declare Sen. Bassey Otu as the winner.

Onor alleged that the exercise was characterized by irregularities, including over-voting, and vote-buying amongst others.
Hon. Thomas Aruku of the APC, who contested the Ogoja State Constituency seat, is also going to the tribunal to challenge the victory of Hon Riya Ayim of the PDP.

Sunday Vanguard learned that there was still time for the submission of more petitions, as many of those who participated in the House of Assembly polls were putting finishing touch to their petitions before submission.

AKWA IBOM: Eyiboh, others file 15 petitions

The 2023 National Assembly and Governorship Election Tribunal in Akwa Ibom State said it had received 15 petitions in respect of the elections from five political parties.

Secretary of the tribunal, Ibrahim Usman, said candidates of the APC, YPP, New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), LP and the Allied People’s Movement (APM) brought the petitions.

He disclosed that of the 15 petitions, 11 were for the House of Representatives, while four pertain to the Senate. This implies that the tribunal has not yet received any petition from losers in the governorship and House of Assembly polls as of March 29.
However, reliable party sources told Sunday Vanguard that the governorship candidates were still preparing to file their petitions before the 21 days lapses.

APC candidate, Martins Udoinyang, was among those who filed petitions challenging the declaration of PDP’s Dr. Ekong Sampson as senator-elect for Ibom South (Eket). Emaeyak Ukpong of the APC and the LP candidate, who contested for the Akwa Ibom North-East (Uyo) Senatorial District seat have also headed to the tribunal.

From the body language of PDP’s Emmanuel Enoidem, a key contender for Akwa Ibom North-West (Ikot Ekpene) Senatorial District, he seemed to have conceded defeat to Senator Godswill Akpabio.

Of the 11 House of Representatives petitions received by the tribunal, we gathered that the majority are from the APC. Hon. Eseme Eyiboh of the APC, who lost the Eket Federal Constituency seat (comprising Eket, Esit Eket, Ibeno, and Onna LGAs) to Okpolupm Etteh of the PDP, was, reportedly, the first aggrieved candidate to file a petition at the tribunal.

APC candidates in Oron, Etinan, Ikot Abasi, Ukanafun/OrukAnam, and Itu/ Ibiono Ibom federal constituencies have filed petitions at the tribunal.

EDO: Alimikhena, others file 14 petitions

The Secretary of Edo State Elections Petitions Tribunal, Muazu Sanusi, revealed that aggrieved PDP, APC, and LP candidates have filed 14 petitions in respect of the National Assembly and state House of Assembly elections in the state.

Sanusi said: “As of today (Wednesday), the tribunal has received a total of 14 petitions. Of the 14 petitions, three are on the senatorial election, and 10 are with regard to the House of Representatives election.

“One petition is, however, on the conduct of the state House of Assembly election, and the results were announced on March 21, 2023.”

A peep into the petitions so far showed that for the Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency, a former Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Kabiru Adjoto, and the PDP, through their lead counsel, Ray .I. D. Okezie Esq, in suit No. EPT/ED/HR/01/2023, filed their petition on March 15 against INEC, Hon. Akpatason Peter, and APC.

Likewise, Omobayo Marvelous Godwin and LP challenged, through a petition marked EPT/ED/HR/10/2023 filed on March 18 by their lead counsel, Ken. E. Mozia, the election of Akpatason and the APC, as well as the conduct of INEC.

Senator Francis Alimikhena and the PDP, in petition EPT/ED/SEN/02/2023 filed March 19 through their lead counsel, R.O. Isenalumhe, dragged INEC, senator-elect, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, and the APC to court over the conduct of Edo North senatorial election.

A former Edo State representative on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Matthew Aigbuwhenze Iduoriyekemwen, and PDP petitioned against Imasuen Neda Bernards, LP, and INEC in suit number EPT/ED/SEN/03/2023 filed on behalf of the petitioners by Ken Mozia, on March 19.

In Oredo Federal Constituency, Sunday Izuhunwa Aguebor and PDP dragged INEC, Iyawe Esosa, and LP before the tribunal in suit number EPT/ED/HR/02/2023, just as in Owan East and Owan West Federal Constituency, Jimon Iruokhaime Ijegbai and PDP brought a petition marked EPT/ED/HR/03/2023 against INEC, Prof Julius Ihonvbere and the APC.

Meanwhile, Ezehi Magnus Desmond Igbas and LP, through their lead counsel, Effort Omon Ayere, in suit number EPT/ED/HR/04/2023, filed March 17, complained about Okojie Henry Odianose, APC, and INEC before the tribunal over the conduct of the Esan North and Esan South East Federal Constituency election.

Hon. Obazee Osaro and his party, APC, in a petition filed March 17 and marked EPT/ED/HR/05/2023, are challenging the declaration of Iyawe Esosa and LP by INEC as the winner of the Oredo Federal Constituency election.

Through a petition marked EPT/ED/HR/06/2023, and filed by his lead counsel, U. T. Udochi, on March 17, Mr. Okhuarobo Henry Osamuede and PDP filed an action against Mr. Omoruyi Murphy Osaro, INEC, and the LP over the outcome of the Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency election.

In the same vein, Epele Asemota Bridgitte Osayula and LP, in suit no. EPT/ED/HR/07/2023 filed March 16, through their lead counsel, K.O. Obamogie, are challenging INEC, Mr. Dennis Idahosa, and APC over the outcome of the election in Ovia North East and Ovia South West Federal Constituency.

The APC and its candidate, Eribo Crosby Osadolor, filed a petition marked EPT/ED/HR/08/2023 on March 17 through their lead counsel, Emmanuel Usoh, challenging INEC, LP, and Mr. Murphy Omoruyi Imasuen, for the Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency.

Hon. Omosede Gabriella Igbinedion and the PDP, through a petition marked EPT/ED/HR/09/2023 and filed by Ken .E. Mozia, SAN, March 17, are challenging INEC, APC, and Dennis Idahosa over Ovia North East and Ovia South West Federal Constituency.

On his part, Valentine Owamagbe Asuen and his party (APC), in suit number EPT/ED/SEN/01/2023, petitioned INEC, LP and Neda Bernards Imasuen over the outcome of the Edo South Senatorial District election.

BAYELSA: 9 petitions

Though the Bayelsa State Election Petition Tribunal is yet to commence sitting, it has received nine petitions challenging the outcome of the February 25 National Assembly elections in the state.

An official, who spoke anonymously, said five of the petitions were for the Senate, while four were for the House of Representatives.

The official, who refused to disclose the names of petitioners and the parties, however, said sitting would commence in April.

On the state House of Assembly, the source said there was no petitions yet as “they are filing motions at the moment for inspection of election materials after which they will commence filing of petitions.”

ONDO: 9 petitions

Nine petitions on the February 25 National Assembly elections in Ondo State have been submitted before the Election Petition Tribunal.

Their claims majorly centered on exclusion of their party logo on the ballot papers by INEC.

The tribunal hasn’t received any petition on the outcome of the House of Assembly election held on March 18, 2023.

According to the Secretary of the tribunal, Musa Adam, “the doors of the tribunal are open to receive petitions on the outcome of the House of Assembly election in the state.

“For now, the tribunal has received nine petitions on the February 25 National Assembly elections; seven are on the House of Representatives election and two on the Senate”, he said.

Adam said Olusegun Phillips-Alonge, candidate of NNPP in Ondo North Senatorial District, had filed a petition challenging the election of Olajide Ipinsigba of APC.

“Labour Party candidate for Ondo Central, Morounfoluwa Bademosi, has also filed a petition on the election of Adeniyi Adegbonmire of the APC”, he added.

The Secretary said petitions were also filed challenging the elections in Akoko South-East/Akoko South-West, Ese Odo/Ilaje, Okitipupa/Irele and Ondo East/Ondo West federal constituencies.

He said other federal constituencies include Akure South/Akure North and Akoko North-East/Akoko North-West.

OGUN: Unknown number of petitions

Ogun State Election Petitions Tribunal said it has received a few petitions in relation to the general elections.

A member of the tribunal in the state, who spoke in confidence told our correspondent who visited the Isabo premises of the Magistrate Court where the body is located, said he needed to seek for permission for our correspondent to access information.

But unconfirmed reports said the governorship candidate of the NNPP in the state has filed a petition seeking the nullification of the March 18 governorship election, claiming that INEC omitted its name on the ballot paper, claiming that this disenfranchised many of its followers from voting for him.

It was also gathered that the state chapter of the PDP will soon file its petition against the declaration of the APC governorship candidate, Governor Dapo Abiodun, as winner of the election.

OYO: No petitions yet

None of the candidates who lost election in the governorship, senatorial, House of Reps or House of Assembly has indicated interest in going to the tribunal.

Majority of them said there were still studying the election results and would make their intentions known in due course.
Similarly, no election panel has been set up in the state.

OSUN: 11 petitions

11 National Assembly candidates of the APC in Osun State have filed petitions before the Election Petition Tribunal in the state.
PDP candidates were declared winners in the three senatorial districts and nine federal constituencies in the state.

Tribunal’s Secretary, Muhammed Magaji said, “We have received 14 petitions, three from the senatorial election and eleven from the House of Representatives contest.

“The three petitions for the senatorial contest were submitted by the Action Alliance (AA). The party (AA) also submitted petitions in respect of the nine House of Representatives seats, one from APC’s Benjamin Adereti, and another one from NNPP’s Tijjani Adekilekun against PDP’s Bamidele Salam.

“We are no longer expecting any petition in respect of the National Assembly elections because the 21 days stipulated by the Electoral Act has been exhausted.

“But we are still expecting petition in respect of the House of Assembly election which was conducted on March 11. We are yet to receive anyone in respect of the outcome”.

The leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) appears to have worked out a zoning formula for the election of the presiding officers of the 10th National Assembly ahead of its inauguration in June 2023, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.

The ruling party, it was learnt, is now awaiting the return of the President-elect, Senator Bola Tinubu, for a final decision on the matter. This is coming as strong indications have continued to show that the South-south and South-east are favoured to produce the Senate President.

THISDAY gathered at the weekend that the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) already has a draft of the zoning formula for the selection of the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, House Speaker, and Deputy Speaker, among the returning members of the two chambers.

It was learnt that the party’s NWC at a recent meeting agreed on the template for choosing the presiding officers of both the Senate and the House of Representatives but is only waiting for input from the national leader of the party and President-elect, Tinubu.A member of the NWC of the APC, who spoke to THISDAY last night, disclosed that the party’s leadership has worked out a proposed formula for sharing the principal officers of the incoming National Assembly.“The party has not been sleeping. Consultations started before the governorship elections and a proposed template is ready and will be presented to the President-elect,” he said.He told THISDAY that for the office of the Senate President, the party is looking in the direction of South-south and South-east.It was learnt that the senators from the two zones have stepped up their lobby at the level of the party’s leadership by selling their candidature to the leaders and members of the NWC in the last few days.

Tinubu had last month travelled to Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj from the United Kingdom and is said to be in Paris, France at the moment, where he is said to be holding consultative meetings on his proposed cabinet ahead of his inauguration on May 29, 2023. THISDAY gathered that the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who joined him earlier yesterday in France, also broke the Ramadan fast with him in the evening.

Before he travelled, Tinubu had revealed that he had no preferred candidates for the leadership of both chambers. Tinubu, who was represented by the Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima, disclosed this at the meeting with the new members-elect of the National Assembly. It was gathered that in the proposed zoning formula, only the South-west and the North-east zones which produced the President-elect and Vice President-elect, respectively, are exempted from vying for the leadership of the legislative arm of government.

Though the South-east and South-south are said to be favoured, the North-west and North-central zones are also eligible to vie for Senate President and Deputy Senate President.The APC currently has 57 Senators-elect as against 27 by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while the Labour Party has eight seats, NNPP and SDP got two seats each while APGA and YPP won a seat each.

Eight senatorial elections have been declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and are to be concluded on April 15, 2023.Already, some Senators-elect have made public their intention to vie for the Presidency of the 10th Senate. They include Senate Chief Whip,Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (South-east); former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio (South-South); Senator Sani Musa (North-central); Chairman of Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Barau Jibrin (North-west); former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari (North-west) and outgoing Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi (South-east).

Just last week, a former Governor of Abia State and a contender for the position of Senate President, Senator Orji Kalu was at the State House in Abuja to solicit the support of President Muhammadu Buhari for his ambition.Kalu told journalists after a closed-door meeting with the President at the State House that he briefed him about his intention to vie for the number three in Nigeria.

Enugu state governor-elect, Peter Mbah, Commissioner of Police and a host of others scampered in various directions on Thursday to safety following a loud bang in the hall where the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) issued Certificates of Return to those who won various electoral positions in the last polls.

Mbah, his deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai, 23 members-elect of the Enugu State House of Assembly and hundreds of supporters and security chiefs had gathered in the hall of Bon Platinum Hotel, Enugu where the presentation took place.

Halfway through the presentation, there was a loud bang in the hall which sent the people scampering out of the hall, causing a stampede.

Sources who witnessed the incident told SaharaReporters that after an interlude of about 30 minutes, the exercise resumed but many stayed outside for fear that the building might collapse.

"I myself didn't go back to the hall. The bang was much that everyone thought that the building would not stand for another next minute. I haven't witnessed such a thing in my entire life. We thank God that the worst didn't eventually happen," an eyewitness said.

The unusual interruption turned what could have been a joyous moment into anxiety on an occasion witnessed by prominent personalities including the outgoing deputy governor, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo, among other dignitaries.

Speaking at the occasion, the INEC National Commissioner for Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo states, Mr Kenneth Ukeagu, urged the elected persons not to disappoint the people who gave them the mandate.

He said the commission was resolute in conducting credible elections using modern gadgets such as the BVAS (Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System) to ensure that the people’s expectation was met.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged the Department of State Services (DSS) to disclose identities of those planning to instal an interim government.

On Wednesday, the secret police, in a statement by its spokesman, Dr. Peter Afunaya, said it had confirmed a plot by some key players to install an interim government and stop the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu from being inaugurated on May 29.

The DSS said the plot includes embarking on violent protests nationwide to engineer the declaration of a state of emergency as well as securing frivolous court injunctions to stall the inauguration.

But Atiku, in a statement by his media aide, Timi Frank , alleged that the alarm of a plot to prevent Tinubu from being sworn in as president was a calculated move to arrest the PDP presidential candidate and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and clampdown on protesters before May 29.

“The DSS’ purported intelligence is fake. It is a plot to crackdown on protesters and arrest opposition political leaders before May 29,” he said.

“We have credible information that the DSS issued the statement in preparation for its planned disruption of ongoing protest by Nigerians who are demonstrating peacefully to demand justice and the restoration of their stolen mandate.

“Where was their intelligence when the Independent National Electoral Commission and Mahmood Yakubu were compromised to rig the 2023 general election?,” he asked.

He contended “Nigerians have been under siege by bandits, kidnappers and terrorists for a long time now, but the DSS never gave intelligence to foil kidnapping, heinous attacks, maiming and killing of innocent Nigerians.

“The only time you see the DSS coming up to talk about intelligence is whenever Nigerians are preparing to either protest against obnoxious government policies, rules, human rights abuses or carrying out lawful political activities.

“The DSS must stop this method of intimidating Nigerians, especially politicians, whenever they want to exercise their constitutional rights.

“In fact, we dare the DSS or any other security outfit in the country to arrest Atiku and Obi before May 29 and see the wrath of Nigerians.”

He called on protesters not to be intimidated by “this DSS’ fake intelligence of a phantom ING plot.”

He enjoined the UK, US and EU to immediately call on the Nigerian government to allow Nigerians to exercise their democratic rights which are to ensure that the stolen mandate of the Nigerian people is restored through peaceful protests and the judicial process.

“We are aware that the DSS is planning to sponsor counter-protests across the country to clash with the peaceful protesters and use that as an excuse to clampdown on them.

“We dare the DSS to name those involved in the phantom plot if they genuinely have the ‘intelligence’ about a plot to instigate an ING so the world will know those who plan to stop the inauguration of the president.

“But we know they are not being sincere. This is often their style whenever they want to engage in propaganda and do a hatchet job.

“On the contrary, let them name the purported politicians involved in the plot. Their real intent is to clampdown on protesters and arrest Atiku and Obi before May 29. Nothing more.

“We use this opportunity to call on the international community to prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the DSS to order and stop them from meddling in the democratic process.

“The DSS is the one that is about to scuttle democracy in the country at this moment by plotting to arrest Atiku and Obi and other top opposition politicians,” he said.

He admonished the DSS not to allow the agency to be used to truncate democracy or as purveyors of fake news.

He claimed that the DSS had recently attempted albeit unsuccessfully to arrest and prosecute the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele for allegedly financing terrorism in the country.

“They later pulled back following the outcry that trailed the move. This is another of such hoaxes and it is one too many,” he said.

•Count us out

Reacting yesterday, LP denied plotting an insurrection.

Yunusa Tanko, spokesperson of the party, described the development as a “conspiracy against the state” in which the LP had no part.

He, however, accused the DSS of not reacting to attacks on his party members during the elections but only speaking afterward.

“When we went on the streets to campaign and our members were maimed and attacked, where was the DSS? When our member was killed, where was the DSS? When MC Oluomo made inflammatory statements saying people of certain tribes should not come to vote in Lagos, nobody said anything. In fact, it was alluded that the statement was a joke. He wasn’t invited by the DSS,” Tanko said.

“Is it now that the Nigerian people are speaking to defend the sovereignty of the country that the DSS is making statements?

“For us, we are following the due provisions of the federal republic of Nigeria. Protests are part of the democratic system. In fact, the DSS and the security agencies should come out and protect us even if we are on the streets protesting.

“We are ready to follow the rules of engagement in our democratic setting. That is why we went to court. We are not making any inflammatory statements or mobilising anybody to come out on the streets to fight.

“We are not part of any insurrection plans whatsoever. But what I am saying is that we would protect the interest of Nigerian people based on the provisions of the law which provides that where you are hurting, you have the right to protest and that you would do so with the defence and protection of the Nigerian security apparatus. That is what we would do but we would not support any insurrection in any way.”

•Interim government unconstitutional

Meanwhile, Olisa Agbakoba, former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has said there is no provision for an interim government in the country’s constitution.

The senior lawyer said “the gravest possible consequences must be applied” to those allegedly behind the plot.

Reacting in a statement yesterday, Agbakoba said the “secret plans” must be rejected by all Nigerians.

He said parties aggrieved by the presidential election should approach the courts for possible redress.

“It is shocking to learn from the Department of State Security that secret plans are underway to undermine Nigeria’s democratic process and transition, by arrangements of what is described as an interim government. This will be a major set-back and we must all resist.

“I suggest that the gravest possible consequences must be applied to all who are associated with this treasonable intent. The general elections have held, albeit under the most challenging circumstance.

“But a president-elect has emerged and we must respect and accept this as fact. At least for now. All leading Presidential candidates have approached the courts with grounds of complaint concerning what they consider as electoral irregularities.

“If the presidential candidates have accepted the democratic process by lodging petitions before the courts, then it is very difficult to understand upon what basis anyone considers that an interim government is a viable and legal alternative. We must all reject this nonsense and respect our Constitution, which has no provision for interim arrangements.

“As the President-elect is sworn into office on May 29, the judicial process will ultimately render a decision. As Nigerians, we must turn to the Courts to render a decision on the petitions before them. The Judicial process will certainly carry a huge responsibility in the process of democratic consolidation.”

Agbakoba added that the “contraption referred to as interim government has no place in our lives and our constitution.”

•Avoid treason

Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, also described the alleged call for an interim government as an act of treason and synonymous with joining a terrorist group.

“Nigerians, especially youths, must avoid treason in promoting any so-called interim government, a high crime, on the same scale as joining Boko Haram, ISWAP or any terror group. All gains will be lost,” he wrote on Twitter.

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has awarded N30 million against Mrs Marianne Ahmadu Ali, wife of a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmadu Ali, for locking up her personal assistant, Ms. Deborah Longs Nanpon, in a filthy dog’s cage for three days.

Justice Akanbi- Yusuf held that Ms. Deborah was unlawfully detained by the politician’s wife in a dehumanising condition.

Besides the monetary compensation of N30 million, the court further ordered Marianne to tender a public apology to her personal assistant in a national newspaper. The case was supported by the Human Rights Radio and Television, Abuja with the services of lawyers from the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA).

The bizarre story broke out sometime in April 2022, about how Dr. Mrs. Marianne Ahmadu Ali, wife of a former National Chairman of the PDP, Ahmadu Ali dehumanised her personal assistant.

Mrs. Ali had her personal assistant beaten and locked up in a dog’s cage for three days without food or water. She was constrained to defecate and urinate on herself in that cage. However, the matter got to Ordinary Ahmed Isah of the popular reality radio programme, Brekete Family, which is broadcast daily from Abuja on Human Rights Radio and Television.

Ordinary Ahmed Isah then requested the attention of FIDA and it immediately swung into action and sought the enforcement of the victim’s fundamental human rights as NAPTIP was not keen on prosecuting Mrs. Ali under the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015 (VAPP Act).

FIDA had, in an originating motion filed on May 4, 2022, sought the sum of N500 million in damages and an apology in a national newspaper. The matter was conducted on behalf of FIDA by Ogechi Abu, Firstrate Attorneys and a member of the organisation. Responding to the judgment of the court, FIDA expressed gratitude to the court for doing justice to the case.

“FIDA is exceedingly glad and conveys its gratitude to the court, for the quick resolution of the matter as should be the case in the enforcement of fundamental human rights as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap 10) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 (As Amended).”

FIDA, in its originating process, had sought the following reliefs: “a declaration that the detention of the applicant at the home of the first respondent by the first respondent between Sunday, March 20, 2022 and Tuesday, March 22, 2022 without a warrant, court order or legal justification is illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and a flagrant violation of the applicant’s fundamental right to personal liberty guaranteed by Section 35(1) (a-f) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended) and Article 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap 10) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 (As Amended).

“A declaration that the vicious beatings inflicted upon the applicant by the first, second and third respondents at the first respondent’s home on Sunday, March 20, 2022, and her subsequent confinement in the first respondent’s filthy dog’s cage by the first respondent between Sunday, March 20, 2022 and Tuesday, March 22, 2022 without a warrant, court order or legal justification is illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and amounted to torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in gross violation of the aplicant’s fundamental right to human dignity guaranteed by Section 34(1)(a) and (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended) and Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap 10) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 (As Amended).

“A declaration that the applicant’s written undertaking to pay N1,200,000.00 to Mr. Idris Salim, which was forcefully extracted from the applicant by the first respondent at the first respondent’s home, on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, without any opportunity given to the applicant to consult with a legal practitioner of her choice is illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and of no legal effect whatsoever.

“An order setting aside the applicant’s written undertaking to pay N1,200,000.00 to Mr. Idris Salim, which was forcefully extracted from the applicant by the first respondent at the first respondent’s home on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, without any opportunity given to the applicant to consult with a legal practitioner of her choice; for being illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and of no legal effect whatsoever.

“An order perpetual injunction restraining the first, second and third respondents, whether by themselves or through their agents, servants, privies, employees or howsoever named from further harassing, intimidating and or threatening the applicant, in respect of any matter pertaining to the applicant’s former employment with the first respondent or for any other reason whatsoever.

“An order directing the first, second and third respondents to jointly issue a public letter of apology to the applicant to be published in ThisDay Newspaper or any other newspaper with national circulation for their violation of the applicant’s fundamental rights to personal liberty, human dignity, private and family life; and in accordance with Section 35(6) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended).

“ Damages in the sum of N500 million against the first, second and third respondents for the violation of the applicant’s fundamental rights to personal liberty, human dignity, private and family life and the pain, anguish, mental, psychological and emotional torture/trauma they inflicted upon the applicant; in accordance with Section 35(6) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended).

By Esther Blankson


The Federal Government has filed charges against First Bank of Nigeria Limited, its managing director and three others over allegations bordering on forgery.

The charge sheet, marked CR/266/2023 before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, also includes two lawyers, Muftau Ande and Dibiaezue Chuks, as well as the Utako Branch Manager of First Bank, Abuja.

In the charge sheet filed by the Federal Ministry of Justice, the five defendants were accused, among other things, of forging a “tripartite legal mortgage without the consent of the proprietor of Whiteplain British School, Mr Francis Chukwumah Nwufor, with intent to commit fraud.”

The defendants were also accused of dishonestly dispossessing Nwufor of his property using the forged tripartite legal mortgage.

The prosecution claimed that the defendants had sometime in 2016, within the jurisdiction of the court, conspired to forge a tripartite legal mortgage without the consent of the proprietor of Whiteplain British School, Mr. Francis Chukwumah Nwufor, with the intent to commit fraud.

In the first count, the defendants were charged with forgery and criminal conspiracy contrary to sections 96 and 363 of the Penal Code.

Furthermore, the prosecution alleged that the defendants committed a criminal breach of trust contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code and said they are liable to be punished under Section 312 of the same law.

In the third count, the defendants were accused of dishonestly dispossessing Nwufor of his property while being entrusted with the tripartite legal mortgage.

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie adjourned till May 8 for arraignment after the prosecution lawyer, Ndidi Ezinwa-Ukoha, said all the defendants had yet to be served with the charge.

When contacted, an official of the bank said he would need to speak with the bank’s legal team and get back to our correspondent.

As of the time of filing this report, however, he had yet to get back.

The Theater Commander, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Major General Ibrahim Sallau Ali, has narrated before the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, now the deceased leader of the Boko Haram terrorist sect, Abubakar Shekau, abandoned his wives and fled when Nigerian Armed Forces attacked his camp.

The top Army officer who appeared to testify before a panel the Commission constituted to investigate allegations of human rights violations against the Nigerian military, disclosed that one of the wives of the late terrorist leader that was left behind by her husband, was heavily pregnant.

He said the woman was subsequently handed over to government authorities that took care of her needs till she gave birth.

Boko Haram leader taunts new service chiefs
Major General Ali denied the allegation that women were maltreated by soldiers engaged in counter-terrorism operations in the North Eastern part of the country.

He described a report by an international media organization, Reuters, which accused the Nigerian Military of running a secret, systematic and illegal abortion program in the North East region of the country, as false and lacking in credibility.

It will be recalled that the report specifically alleged that the covert abortion program, which it said was backed by the government, had led to the illegal termination of at least 10, 000 pregnancies in the crisis torn states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, since 2013.

Irked by the report, the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Lucky Irabor, had on December 16, 2022, stormed the NHRC, asking it to investigate the allegation.

Following the request, the Commission constituted a seven-man probe panel which is chaired by a retired Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice Abdu Aboki.

Meanwhile, the Commission, in a statement it made available to newsmen through its Deputy Director, Public Relations and External Linkages, Hajiya Fatima Agwai Mohammed, revealed that Major Ali testified before the panel which sat in Maiduguri, on behalf of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

According to the statement, responding to questions by the general counsel to the panel, Mr. Hilary Ogbonna, Major General Ali, maintained that the illegal abortion report by the media outlet was “not just possible”.

He said the military was doing its best to restore peace and normalcy in the region.

Major General Ali said before he took over the counter-insurgency operations, terrorist hitherto controlled most things.

“Terrorists were in the city, going to various houses and we made sure we arrested them”, he added.

Continuing, the witness said: “When I came on board an officer was shot in the mouth inside Damaturu by the insurgents in an unsuccessful attempt to kill, but he escaped and later on, there was a Bomb blast because the enemy’s vehicle was laden with explosive device”.

He further narrated to the panel, how he was injured by the insurgents on two different occasions.

He said the insurgents who were initially living in the cities with their families, later relocated and occupied the bushes.

On how his team encountered the Boko Haram leader, Major General Ali said: “The military moved against them and neutralized those who wanted to kill us.

“When we attacked them at one point during a clearance operation, the leader, Abubakar Shekau escaped, leaving his wives and we arrested and brought them to the State government lodge.

“One of Shekau’s wives was pregnant at that time and I think she even delivered successfully and I never had the experience of clearance operations targeted at women and children.

“We don’t arrest the women in the cities but rather focus on the men that carried arms against the State”.

On the allegation of massive killing of children on the premise that they were fathered by Boko Haram insurgents, Major General Ali who was formerly the Deputy Director of Logistics at the Army Headquarters, said the military operated with a high sense of professionalism and utmost regard for human life.

He said the military medical facility in Damaturu was not equipped to do surgery, adding that women were often referred to the University of Maiduguri when the need arose.

Similarly, the Borno State Coordinator of Civil Joint Task Force (CJTF), Mr Abba Aji Kalli, in his oral evidence before the panel, said they usually assist the military to navigate through pathways in the communities since they were more familiar with the terrain as indigenes of the state.

According to him, the CJTF members took an oath to remain fair to every member of the public, irrespective of whether they were friendly with them or not.

The CJTF leader told the panel that the military is professionally minded in their operations both on and off the battlefield.

He, therefore, dismissed the report of alleged illegal abortions by the military as false and unfounded.

Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere has suspended the national publicity secretary, Jare Ajayi and national organising secretary, Akogun Kole Omololu, for “uncouth activities and unauthorised statements in its name and to the constant denigration of the organisation.”

Afenifere dissociated itself from any statement against Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu in a viral video alleging indictment of the Yoruba as political rascals.

In a communiqué issued after its monthly meeting, a copy of which was made available to LEADERSHIP, Afenifere said the message credited to Iwuanyanwu was based on account of ethnic violence deployed by politicians of the ruling party in Lagos State.

Afenifere in the communiqué which was signed by the leader of the group, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, and the secretary-general, Chief Sola Ebiseni, noted that the analysis of the video and information at the disposal of the group by people at the Anambra State gathering, the group was convinced that Iwunayanwu rightly asserted that the Yoruba and Igbo were not at war and truly condemned the shenanigans of some political rascals.

According to the communiqué, “Afenifere re-asserted that for equity, fairness, national cohesion, and peaceful corporate existence, the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be a person of its southern part and specifically the South-East.”

The group condemned in the strongest terms, “The campaigns of calumny and acts of ethnic violence deployed by some politicians and their hired criminal gangs in several parts of the federation during the gubernatorial election, particularly Lagos State.”

The group said the Lagos State election was made to appear like,” an inter-ethnic war between the Yoruba and Igbo which greatly led to voters’ suppression and other forms of deliberate disenfranchisement through brigandage.”

On the suspended officers, the group disclosed that, “ After due consideration of the unending embarrassing conduct of the two officers, the meeting resolved that they be and are hereby removed immediately from their respective offices and their membership be suspended sine die pending further decisions after their appearance before and recommendations by the Disciplinary Committee.”

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The communiqué reads,” We restate our position that by the hallowed Yoruba culture of civilized conduct, Afenifere assures all person resident in Yorubaland, indigenes, and non-indigenes, of protection in the conduct of their lawful duties and thus warn all threats mongers and merchants of violence to desist therefrom.

“Express our belief in the judiciary as an integral part of the democratic process and expect that it proves itself in the election litigations now pending before it without fear or favor and by the judicial oaths of its members, in covenant with the Nigerian people.

“Call on the president and government of Nigeria to restore the patriotic confidence and hope of the Nigerian people in the continued corporate existence of the federation which will guarantee their safety throughout Nigeria.

“Appreciate the genuine and renewed interests of the international community in the security and democratic health of Nigeria and urge that as a prominent member of the global community, the affairs of Nigeria should continue to be of concern to the world.