₦airaland Forum

Peter Onyuike, a phone repairer arrested and detained illegally by the police on the demands of Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Chairman, Danladi Umar, has said he will not take any legal action against him.

Onyiuke told PREMIUM TIMES on Monday that his decision was hinged on the fact that he did not want to be at loggerheads with any influential person in the country.

While responding, he said he would not "want any more trouble from any big man in this country."

"Whatever happened, I leave it to God who has seen me through all my troubles in the hands of that big man," Onyiuke said.

Onyiuke, a phone repairer at one of the outlets at Banex Plaza, Wuse, Abuja, where Umar physically attacked Clement Sargwak, the plaza’s security guard, was detained without charge from March 29 till April 6 by the police at Wuse Zone 2, Abuja. See Also News Police Leave CCT Chairman, Umar, Arrest Trader For Assault 0 Comments 1 Week Ago

Witnesses at the scene of the incident, in separate interviews with PREMIUM TIMES had said Onyuike was severely beaten by the security agents who reportedly acted on Umar’s order before he was driven away.

Umar, according to the witnesses’ account, accused Mr Onyuike of being rude in an encounter they had shortly after the CCT chairman assaulted the plaza’s security guard.

Onyuike had helped the CCT boss to pick up his phone that fell to the ground without him knowing, and was trying to return it to him when the Umar started an argument with him.

He was later picked up by security agents suspected to be the Department State Services (DSS) operatives who later handed him over to the police.

The police detained him from then till last Tuesday, clearly violating constitutional provision that prevents the detention of any person without charge for more than 48 hours.

When asked about his efforts to get justice, Onyiuke said on Monday that despite how he was beaten, with his clothes torn and the harsh treatment meted out to him in detention, he would not want to risk another ‘trouble’ from a Nigerian big man.

He said, “Sir, I do not want any more trouble from any big man in this country. With what I went through throughout last week in the detentions of the police and DSS, my brother, I was only saved by God. And I do not want to go back to it.

“I was beaten and my clothes were torn down to my underpants. When I was taken away to DSS custody, I was still beaten. They (SSS operatives) said I caused them body aches.

“I was put in a small cage; the same place I was urinating for more than two days before I was later taken to the police station.

“Whatever happened I leave it to God who has seen me through all my troubles in the hands of that big man, (Mr Umar).”

He added that he did not have a lawyer and his family members from whom he could have got support were not resident in Abuja.

“I don’t have a lawyer, my family are in the village and I am not sure any of them knew or was aware of my ordeals,” he said.

Speaking further about his experience, Onyiuke, added, “He said I insulted him, but I did not.

“All I did was to help him (Mr Umar) pick up his phone that fell to the ground and which I returned to him (Mr Umar). So I leave him to God.

“I don’t want him or anyone to come back for me or any of my friends here (plaza) who have been supportive and begin to intimidate us.”

Despite the accounts of several witnesses and the victim of the involvement of DSS operatives in the arrest and detention, the agency’s spokesperson, Peter Afunaya, had debunked it.

“Not true, no SSS (also known as DSS) operative did that,” he stated in a text message sent to our reporter.

Asked about Samuel Ihensekhien, the lawyer who broke the news of his detention to Sagwak, he said, “I don’t know any lawyer or anyone; it was just God that helped me all through.”

His position not to pursue justice contradicts that of Sagwark, the plaza’s security guard, who had Mr Ihensekhien file a petition against Umar at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), asking for a probe into the March 29 incident.

Mr Sagwak, in the April 9 petition signed by his lawyer, Mr Ihensekhien, accused the CCT chairman of abuse of power, assault, torture, and ‘xenophobia’.

When contacted over Onyiuke’s case on Monday, Mr Ihensekhien said, “I don’t have instructions for representation from Mr Onyuike.”

“I just had to assist out of my own benevolence to get him (Mr Onyuike) out of jail,” he said, adding that “But both Sargwak and the security company instructed me to represent them and that was why I filed a petition before the National Human Rights Commission.”

“So, if he (Mr Onyuike) approaches me, as my own practice I would represent him,” the lawyer also said.

Aside from the case filed at the NHRC on behalf of Mr Sargwark, a petition was also filed by two national officers of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), at the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) seeking Umar’s trial for what they described as his “unlawyerly and ungentlemanly conduct”.

Umar was caught on camera assaulting the security guard, Mr Sargwak an employee of Jul Reliable Guards Services Limited.

In the five minutes video footage that went viral, the tribunal chairman was seen slapping and kicking the 22-year-old, on March 29.

According to witnesses who spoke with our correspondent, the altercation was over the space where the CCT chairman parked his car on the premises of the mall.

Despite video evidence, the CCT chairman denied the assault allegation.

One person was reportedly killed on Wednesday in Adeoyo and Yemetu area of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

SaharaReporters learnt that a 12-year-old boy known as Ikoko (Wolf), who recently relocated to Ibadan from Lagos, led somethugs to displace residents of Yemetu and kill one person.

Eyewitnesses told SaharaReporters that the incident resulted in the blocking of roads leading to Agodi-Gate and Molete areas in the city.

However, the residents could not ascertain the cause of the crisis that caused confusion in the city.

A resident of Beere, simply identified as Kabiru, told saharaReporters that two people had already been killed in Yemetu area of Ibadan.

"The problem started around 7am. That boy called Ikoko is behind the whole crisis. As we speak, I saw one person killed already. Those police have taken over the place but I fear that there will be a reprisal. If nothing is done to curb this, those guys may extend the fight to the other side.

"The boy is just 12 years old but he is deadly," one of the eyewitnesses said.

An Ibadan Mogaji (chief), Wale Oladoja led some chiefs in Ibadan to the base of the hoodlums last December to mediate between the government and the hoodlums.

When contacted, Chief Oladoja said, "Well, I have done my best. I have talked to the hoodlums on behalf of the government but the governor did not follow up. For how long can we continue with this crisis?"

By Idowu Isamotu


The erstwhile Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has formally handed over to the newly appointed Acting Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba.

The handing over, which is currently holding at the IGP’s conference room at Louis Edet House, Abuja, has top serving officers in attendance.

Daily Trust reports that Usman Baba had earlier been decorated by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Baba was announced on Tuesday to replace Adamu in acting capacity following the recent attacks in the country particularly in the SouthEast.

Meanwhile, mixed reactions have continued to trail the appointment of the Acting IGP.

Some police officers, who spoke to Daily Trust, said although they have nothing against the acting IGP, a substantive DIG should have been appointed for the position.

”Our new Acting IG was formerly Acting DIG, I expect that a substantive DIG would have been appointed as his replacement.

”I don’t have anything against the duo and I don’t know any law that goes against the recent appointment but I just feel that some things are not done correctly,” one of the police officers told Daily Trust in confidence.

Another policeman said officers of the force are praying fervently for the Acting IGP to find a lasting solution to the current attacks on police officers and the formations.

By QueenEsther Iroanusi

The Senator representing Cross River North, Stephen Odey, has said the recent judgement by the Supreme Court on the Cross River North senatorial seat did not sack him as a senator.

He also said that he will not vacate his seat because the Supreme Court didn’t declare it vacant.

He insisted that he remained the duly elected candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the December 5 bye-election – to replace Rose Oko, who died in March, 2020.

Mr Odey, who addressed journalists in Abuja, also faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which he said, erred by issuing a certificate of return to Jarigbe Agom, relying solely on the verdict of the Supreme Court.

Messrs Odey and Agom are of the same political party, PDP. Both men claim they are the elected senator representing Cross River North senatorial district.

However, official documents from INEC and its website show that Mr Odey was the PDP candidate of the December 5 bye-election as well as winner of the election. He was issued a certificate of return on December 7 and sworn in by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, on December 16, 2020.

Mr Agom had filed suits in Port Harcourt and FCT High Courts seeking revocation of his nomination as the PDP candidate and restraining the senate president from swearing in Mr Odey respectively.


Conflicting judgements

Two conflicting judgements from the FCT and Cross River High Courts initially upheld Messrs Jarigbe and Odey respectively as the winner of the bye election.

The FCT Court of Appeal also upheld the High Court ruling that he should (Mr Jarigbe) be accorded the rights of the PDP candidate.

Sequel to this ruling, the electoral umpire issued Mr Agom certificate of return on December 18 – an act which Mr Odey has faulted.

Both men currently hold separate Certificates of Return issued by INEC and are awaiting the decision of the senate president.

‘INEC erred, I was not sacked’

In his interaction with journalists, Mr Odey said not only did INEC err in issuing a certificate of return to Mr Agom, but that the recent judgement by the Supreme Court is being misinterpreted by many.

Part of the ruling in the judgement seen by PREMIUM TIMES read “that the preliminary objection on the competence of the service of the notice of appeal succeed.

“That the need to consider the issues raised in the appeal would therefore automatically abate” that means they were not ready to listen to anything that I wanted to talk about

“That the improper and ineffective service complained of, strike out.”

The lawmaker maintained that the ruling did not declare his seat vacant or asked that he be sacked.

“The supreme court struck out my appeal. I walked away. The order is clear.

“Did you see where they said ‘sack senator Odey’ here? Did you see where they said they invalidated his certificate here? He even wrote a letter to the Clerk, saying the Supreme Court judgement is in his favour, how?

“All court orders must be expressed. You don’t read intention into a court order. If a court does not say this, you can’t force the court to say it.”

He further said the stage where the rightful candidate was determined was resolved in two separate rulings by the Court of Appeal in Calabar.

When asked the current situation, Mr Odey said “There is no situation. I am comfortably seated as the senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He can be going about with his certificate.”

He added that the PDP played its role well by issuing a letter to INEC saying ‘this is my candidate’.

The party, he said, also appealed to the Supreme Court saying that Mr Jarigbe was not their candidate.

Reacting to Mr Odey’s claim, INEC spokesperson, Festus Okoye, said “the matter is completely out of the hand of the commission.”

“As at the day of the election, the commission issued a certificate of return to Odey based on the election and law.

“Thereafter, there was a court judgement and the commission issued a certificate of return to Jarigbe based on order.

“This is not the first time the commission is doing this. We have in the past issued a certificate of return and then a judgement will come and we will issue another and another judgment will come and we will issue and so on,” Mr Okoye told PREMIUM TIMES on Monday.

“As far as the commission is concerned, we have done our own part based on its understanding of the law. It is now left for the leadership of the National Assembly, the Senate President to make the decision.”

The Northern Youths Council of Nigeria has called for the removal and prosecution of Danladi Umar, Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, for alleged abuse of power.

Umar had been caught on video assaulting a security guard, Clement Sargwak, a 22-year-old employee of Jul Reliable Guard Services Limited at Banex Plaza, Abuja, who had told him that the justice’s vehicle was wrongly parked.

In his attempt to justify his action, the CCT spokesman, had said the guard was rude and could not provide a reasonable explanation why the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal should not park in the said space, alleging that the guard threatened the CCT chairman.

The spokesman had alleged that after the assault by Danladi Umar, a mob of “Biafran Boys” came to the guard’s rescue and attacked the CCT chairman.

In a statement obtained by Daily Post, the NYCN President, Isah Abubakar, expressed dismay at the CCT Chairman's use of “Biafran Boys” to describe Nigerians who are going about their lawful businesses.

The youths noted that it was an attempt to stir division in the country so that he would escape public scrutiny and the consequences of his action.

The statement further noted that assuming without conceding that the guard actually threatened the CCT chairman, he (Umar) shouldn’t have taken the law into his hands, noting that the conduct of the judicial officer has succeeded in inspiring millions of Nigerians to start taking the law into their hands anytime they feel slighted.

The youths, therefore, called on Danladi Umar to resign from his position as the CCT chairman, stressing, “We have every reason to believe that anybody from Eastern Nigeria that appears before CCT can’t get justice, following the “Biafran mindset he holds against them.”

The youths appealed to the Inspector General of Police to immediately arrest and prosecute him (Danladi Umar) for assaulting a law-abiding Nigerian on his duty post.

They called on the presidency to as a matter of urgency replace Danladi as the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal if he fails to resign voluntarily.

The youths also called on the National Assembly to stop appropriating money to the CCT if Umar fails to resign and the presidency decides to retain him.

“The members of Northern Youths Council of Nigeria will prepare for grand protest if the above demands are not met,” the statement added.

The South Korean electronics manufacturer, LG, is closing its loss-making mobile phone business.

The board of directors approved the move on Monday, LG Electronics said in a statement released in Seoul.

The shutdown of LG’s mobile phone sector is expected to be completed by the end of July.

“LG’s strategic decision to exit the incredibly competitive mobile phone sector will enable the company to focus resources in growth areas such as electric vehicle components, connected devices, smart homes, robotics and artificial intelligence.

“It will also focus on business-to-business solutions as well as platforms and services,’’ the statement added.

LG wants to “continue to leverage its mobile expertise and develop mobility-related technologies such as 6G to help further strengthen competitiveness in other business areas’’.

Core technologies developed during the two decades of LG’s mobile business operations are to be retained and applied to existing and future products, the company said.

LG’s withdrawal from the smartphone business had been on the horizon for some time.

The division has shown an operating loss for years.

dpa/NAN

I laughed upon remembering Chief Zebrudaya Okoroigwe Nwogbo alias 4:30, and a proverb came to mind: “If death are strike dead the slow-motion chameleon with reckless abandon, why shall it not quench the jumpy-jumpy frog with instant automatic alacrity? Tell me!”

Chief Zebrudaya, the patriarch of Nigeria’s funniest English sitcom, New Masquerade, didn’t vocalise the above-written proverb, that’s my inexpert creation.

If he verbalised the proverb, Zebby, as his beautiful wife, Ovularia, lovingly calls him, would crack up viewers with his bombast while the funniest clowns in the history of clowning, Giringory Akabogu and Clarus, would burst out from the kitchen dragging an empty pot of soup between them and arguing over who owns Nigeria, cows or citizens.

In relation to Nigeria’s political context, the imagery of the chameleon in the first paragraph is a symbolism for the June 12 1993 presidential election won by the late Chief MKO Abiola but which was truncated by the northern oligarchy in collusion with a few greedy collaborators from other parts of the country.

Conversely, the presidential ambition of a National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, I typify with the ‘jumpy-jumpy’ frog, patiently being awaited by the same oligarchy that killed MKO’s dream, along with their collaborators.

I plead not to be misinterpreted. Asiwaju enjoys the rights in the Nigerian Constitution to aspire to any political post in the land. But something is morally amiss if Tinubu – without publicly apologising for the 2015 deadwood presidential ambition he sandpapered and sold to Nigerians – is preparing to succeed the Katsina general whose maladministration has run Nigeria aground.


I wonder what would be Tinubu’s catchphrase in the 2023 presidential election. Would it be, “BAT: Consolidation of Sai Baba’s inglorious years?” or “Vote Jagaban to correct APC’s disastrous years?” or “Asiwaju: Leave story, jeun soke.”

Seriously, wailing and laughter are strange bedfellows. But when they work hand-in-glove, the Yoruba would say, “Oro buruku tohun terin.” Sometimes, nature could be as naughty as the proverbial case of Ibiye, whose goat was blind in the left eye while Ibiye was blind in the right.

The current situation of Nigeria is tragic, no doubt. What’s staring Nigeria in the face is no laughing matter at all. But in our tragic haven, the mind must escape to laughter, occasionally, otherwise mortuaries and asylums will boom in doom.

Although it’s obvious that Nigeria should declare national emergency in critical aspects of the economy, the Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) regime is totally clueless in halting the drift into abyss.

The green-white-green ‘abiku’ has snatched the sacrificial pot at the crossroads, and smashed it on the bald head of the tall and bony herbalist. The old soldier called upon to help kill the roving hyena in the farmland has ended up in the belly of the beast.

Sadly, Nigeria’s plight is akin to the case of Senegalese-born French midfielder Jean-Pierre Adams who underwent surgery for a knee injury in 1982, but hasn’t come out of coma 39 years after due to negligence on the part of the surgeon that performed the surgery.

For the unfortunate Adams, his surgeon carved him the pathway to eternal dungeon just like Nigeria’s messiah, Buhari, has unblushingly broken the covenants of hope he made to the people in 2015 and 2019, making the country worse than he met it.


Shortly before he became President, Buhari, during his famous 2015 Chatham House speech in England, urged Nigeria to choose either voting for continuity of failure or progressive change.

At the Chatham House, Buhari thundered, “Boko Haram has sadly put Nigeria on the terrorism map, killing more than 13,000 of our people…What has been consistently lacking is the required leadership in our battle against insurgency…”

Then he told a fat lie, “If I am elected President, the world will have no cause to worry about Nigeria…No inch of Nigeria will ever be lost to the enemy because we will pay special attention to the welfare of our soldiers in and out of service…

“We will ALWAYS ACT ON TIME (emphasis mine) and not allow problems to IRRESPONSIBLE fester. I, Muhammadu Buhari, will always lead from the front.”

Today, Buhari, who promised to ‘lead from the front’, is in obodo Oyinbo for a ‘routine’ medical check when his country’s medical doctors are on strike and his kingdom has been lost to insecurity.

If Buhari’s trip was truly routine, why didn’t he show sympathy to sick Nigerian masses who can’t afford to waste taxpayers’ money on frivolous medical trips abroad, by commenting on the strike and giving the people hope?

If the head injury suffered in a lone motorbike racing accident by Yusuf, his son, had occurred on the day of his departure to England, would Buhari have travelled without his son?


Twice, Nigerians were scammed big time by Buhari and his co-political adventurers. When thunderclaps bellowed six years ago, the masses hurriedly emptied their earthen pots in anticipation of fresh rainwater. Now, the thunderclaps have ceased without a raindrop.

More than half of the land was fooled. Gauntness was mistaken for lack of greed. Stony eyes were mistaken for penetrating focus on integrity. Now, everything has gone skyrocket with the wind.

How did we not know that this messiah had his children in schools abroad? How did we ever think he was part of us? How did we not know he would fail to publicly disclose his assets? How did we not know that Goodluck Jonathan was only shoeless and clueless but Buhari is visionless and listless? How did we not know that messiah Buhari would turn the presidential fleet of planes into playthings for his daughter to hop on for photoshoots?

During the government of Saint Buhari, corruption abandoned its posh house at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and built a mansion inside the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, shedding its milk teeth of Jonathan years for the fangs, premolars and molars of the Buhari years.

My country people, I repeat, wailing and laughter are strange bedfellows. When they work hand-in-glove, the Yoruba would say, “Oro buruku tohun terin.”

Since our President has left us to our fate, we mustn’t wait in sadness for the merchants of death that kill daily. I mean, let’s amuse ourselves before the kidnappers storm; let’s share a laugh before herdsmen arrive to rape, maim, kill and get rewarded in return.

It’s only in Buhari country that the police would arrest the trader assaulted in Abuja by the Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, who is a judge. It’s only in Buhari land that the coach of the Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr, would leave out players scoring goals in top-class leagues and invite players without teams for matches.

Ethnically and religiously, Buhari has polarised the land, otherwise, the type of heavy fine meted out to the ‘misyarning’ pastor in obodo Oyinbo should have been meted out to all the leaders misleading Nigerians into believing that COVID is unreal, sending many to their graves.

It’s only in Buhari’s Nigeria that corruption presses charges against integrity. Insanity, please, give us a break.

Boko Haram would have been recorded today (Friday), as the terrorists ambushed a convoy of Borno State Resettlement and Relief Committee officials.

The Relief Committee, made up of mostly commissioners and other top government officials, were coming from Baga town after routine distribution of relief items to Internally-Displaced Persons, IDPs, when they were ambushed along Maiduguri-Gajiram-Monguno Road at Jigalta village of Guzamala Local Government Area.

Recall that Governor Zulum and his entourage spent a night in Monguno last Tuesday, distributing relief items.

However, the governor joined up with his colleagues in Abuja for the inauguration of the newly-elected President of the Niger Republic.

He directed the Committee to proceed to troubled Baga for the same exercise, which went on successfully on Thursday, until the return trip on Friday(today) when the entourage was attacked.

Aside three soldiers that sustained injuries, none of the troops and the officials, including the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Kaka Shehu Lawan, came to any harm, as all of them returned to Maiduguri safe.

However, scores of the terrorists were killed by the troops with support from men of the Anti-Robbery Squad and Civilian JTF.

The incident, it was gathered, took place today (Friday) at about 12:30 noon.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice confirmed the ambush to Vanguard in a telephone chat in Maiduguri.

He said: “Yes there were some elements of Boko Haram ISWAP that ambushed troops escorting us from Baga to Maiduguri.

“The incident took place around Jigalta village, on our way back. Our military troops did a wonderful job by neutralising all the terrorists.

“Unfortunately, three of the military troops sustained minor injuries during the attack, and are now stable condition.

“This is a huge success, as the attackers were suspected to be the ones terrorising and laying ambushes in the roads almost on daily basis.”

Governor Zulum and his entourage had suffered same attack/ambush while on their way to Baga town for the same mission.

A member of the House of Representatives, Haruna Maitala, is dead.

A family member confirmed his death to PREMIUM TIMES Saturday morning.

He died in a road accident along Bade-Gitata road Friday night on his way to Jos.

He died alongside his son, driver and security aide, who were all in the vehicle, our source said.

Until his death, he represented Jos North/Bassa federal constituency of Plateau State.

His death comes barely a month after another lawmaker, Yuguda Killa from Jigawa State, passed on.

Mr Maitala is the third federal lawmaker to die this year.

Ten federal lawmakers have died since the inauguration of the ninth assembly in 2019.

ADEBOLA AJAYI

President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to make insecurity part of Nigeria’s history, trusting in the country’s newly appointed service chiefs to make that happen.

“I am convinced that the new resolve within the security personnel to make sure that insecurity in the country becomes part of our history will come to pass,” said Mr Buhari in his Easter message to Christians.

The statement was issued by Femi Adesina, the president’s media aide.

The clumsy phrasing of Mr Buhari’s statement suggests that insecurity will be part of the country’s history rather than saying insecurity will be history.

Mr Buhari is no stranger to gaffes. He had once referred to Angela Merkel, the chancellor of Germany, as “President Michelle” of “West Germany.”

Mr Tinubu said the 50 million was a slip of the tongue. He recanted and put forward another figure: five million, which was still considered ludicrous by critics. Then, his media handlers issued another statement that Mr Tinubu meant that the federal government should recruit 50,000 youths into the army.

Mr Tinubu said the 50 million was a slip of the tongue. He recanted and put forward another figure: five million, which was still considered ludicrous by critics. Then, his media handlers issued another statement that Mr Tinubu meant that the federal government should 5,000 youths should recruit into the army.

It is not clear whether Mr Buhari’s Easter statement is just a blip.

Continuing in his message, he stated, “I congratulate our brothers and sisters once again on this occasion and wish everyone a Happy Easter celebration.”

He urged Nigerians to observe the Easter holidays with caution due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Today, we are able to congregate and worship together, cautiously,” said Mr Buhari, thanking frontline health workers, “who have made the difference in saving lives and ensuring the reduction of the spread of the virus.”

He added, “I thank Nigerians who have religiously adhered to various interventions to curb the spread of COVID-19, including regular hand washing; safe distancing, wearing of face masks, and embrace of vaccination.

“We are united in our belief that if we do the right things, take the right decisions and act responsibly, the pandemic, like others before it, will no longer be a threat.”

The president also emphasised the need to maintain peace and unity.

He said, “We should not allow the antics of a few mischief mongers to fragment the unity and faith that the vast majority of citizens of this country cherish and believe in. As I’ve said before, we are better and stronger as one nation under God.”

Yoruba freedom fighter, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho has explained why he did not accept an invitation by the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.

In a press statement issued by Igboho's media aide, Olayomi Koiki, a letter was sent on Thursday to his boss via a courier service and another with about 15 police officers.

Olayomi explained that both were not received by Igboho's security operatives due to safety reasons as such a letter had purportedly led to the death of Nigerian journalist, Dele Giwa.

The statement read, “We would like to tell the international communities and every Nigerian that this morning 1st of April, 2021, a letter was sent via DHL to Chief Sunday Igboho but the letter was not received by his security operatives.

“Later around 3 pm of the same day, a team of about 6 men without uniform arrived in a Corolla car and another 9 were in police uniform but all were identified as police officers.

“They wanted to see Chief Sunday Igboho with a letter said to have been addressed to him by the Inspector General of Police. Again, the letter was not received by Chief Sunday's security team.

“Chief Sunday would like to know why a letter was sent to him and for what purpose. If the IG of police wants to invite him, we would like him to first send the same letter to all the bandits and Boko Haram members killing our mother's and farmers and those kidnapping them.

“Since the IG of police wants to invite him, he should make a public statement addressed to Chief Sunday Igboho.

“We should all remember how letters had been sent to previous Yoruba sons like the late Dele Giwa.”

A team reportedly comprising policemen, soldiers and others had in February attempted to arrest Igboho on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The security operatives, however, failed in their attempt to arrest him.

From Joe Effiong, Uyo

State of insecurity in Akwa Ibom appears to have gone out of control as women go to farm with riffles to protect themselves from bandits’ attacks.

Ini Local Government Area Chairman, Isreal Idaisin, disclosed as he sent an SOS message to the Federal Government to intervene in the protracted Nkari boundary crisis. He said members of the communities now move about with weapons.

Idaisin said the perennial attacks on the people of Nkari community, allegedly, by their neighbours from Usaka Uko community in Ikwuano council of Abia State has, over the years, conditioned the minds of the people to resort to self help.

The council boss lamented while speaking with newsmen in Uyo that even women and children from Nkari community now go to farm with either short or long riffles.

He cautioned both the federal and state governments that the situation, if not nib in the bud, would breed a future generation of bandits who may become thorns in the flesh of government.

“The daily crisis we have in Ini Local government area is the Nkari crisis. The people there, including women and children now go about with weapons to protect themselves. Everyone there is either with a long or short riffle to protect themselves from the Ikwanno people.”

By David Adenuga, Bauchi


A mild drama played out in Azare Local Government Area of Bauchi State when two unidentified youths angrily booed Governor Bala Mohammed.

Mohammed was on an inspection tour of projects awarded by his administration across the state at the Urban Primary Health Care centre in Azare on Thursday when the incident occurred.

The Nation correspondent, who was in the Governor’s entourage reports the two youths, not minding the presence of security personnel shouted “Ba mayi!” in Hausa language, which translates to “we are not supporting you.”

Though Mohammed did not bat an eyelid, security operatives attached to his convoy arrested the duo.

They were given a hot chase by security agents, who gave them resounding slaps before shoving them into the police van.

A member of the Rapid Response Squad of the Bauchi Police Command, who spoke to THE NATION in confidence, faulted the audacity of the youth saying it’s disrespectful.

” Just imagine, how will you tell a Governor to his face that you don’t want him and you are not in support of his government, it’s an insult.

However, it could not be ascertained whether they were later released or not as of press time.

Tanker drivers, at the weekend, threatened to cause fresh fuel supply crisis with another industrial action if the Federal Government fails to enforce the compulsory installation of safety valves in all petroleum trucks to protect the inflammable contents from spilling over in the event of road mishap.

Rising under the auspices of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), the tanker drivers also threatened to withdraw services of its members if the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) failed to negotiate the renewal of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for new working conditions for petroleum tanker drivers.

PTD, in a communiqué signed by its National Chairman, Comrade Salmon Akanni Oladiti, obtained by New Telegraph, issued a 14-day ultimatum to NARTO to initiate new conditions of service for petroleum tanker drivers effective March 27, 2021.

Also, it urged the Federal Government to ensure that the installation of safety valves was made mandatory in all petroleum trucks with effect from May 1, 2021.

The communiqué read: “The Branch Executive Council in session is not unmindful of the pains and discomforts our decisions and intending actions will have on the general public, but these are hard and difficult decisions we must take for the sake of our members and even the general public.

“The meeting in session noted with deep pains that the expiring collective bargaining agreement has been in operation for the past six years even when the country has been experiencing spiral inflationary trend that is further complicated by destructive powers of COVID 19.

“The council in session expressed deep worries that petroleum tanker drivers have been going through harrowing financial situations even while rendering selfless national services, to ensure delivery of petroleum products to homes and factories in every nook and crannies of this country, day and nights, in good and bad weather and on highly deplorable highways.

“The Branch Executive Council in session, therefore, resolved that following the continuing agitations of our members and the seeming hesitation of NARTO to negotiate the renewal of the CBA, the branch will no longer be able to guarantee the continued service of our members in the petroleum products distribution across the country if a new condition of service for petroleum tanker drivers is not provided for in the next fourteen days with effect from today, 27th day of March 2021.”

The Branch Executive Council in session, according to the communiqué, “discussed with sadness, pains and deep worries, the increasing rate of fire incidences involving petroleum trucks with accompanying massive destruction of lives and properties of our members and general public.

“The council in session noted with deep concerns the government’s dilly dallying attitude towards the enforcement of the compulsory installation of safety valves in all petroleum trucks to protect the inflammable contents of these trucks from spilling over in a situation of road mishaps.

“The council in session expressed disappointment over the failure of the Federal Government to live up to its various commitments with various stakeholders in several meetings called by the government on the same matter.

Insensitive government officials and unscrupulous businessmen will no longer be allowed to keep destroying the lives of our members and innocent general public. These fire accidents are becoming too many, but definitely avoidable.

“It is in the well informed opinion of the council in session that these safety valves, if installed, will go a long way in reducing the rate of fire accidents involving petroleum trucks and, therefore, save precious lives and properties.

“In the light of the above, the executive council in session resolved to direct all our members to withdraw their services if installation of safety valves is not made mandatory in all petroleum trucks with effect from 1st of May 2021, in view of the fact that our members are usually the first casualties in any situation of fire accidents involving petroleum trucks.”

Ibrahim Magu’s fate remains uncertain five months after the submission of the report of the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the former acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to President Muhammadu Buhari.

There have been concerns about the fate of Magu after the appointment and confirmation of Abdulrasheed Bawa as the new Executive Chairman of EFCC in February.

Although sources in the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), said the panel faulted some procedures in the management of recovered assets under Magu, the presidential white paper on the report was yet to be announced.

One of Magu’s lawyers, Tosin Ojaomo, informed Daily Trust that Magu remained in the service of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) though the police was yet to post him anywhere after his suspension as EFCC chairman.

Magu has not been sighted in uniform or in any police command five months after his removal as EFCC boss.

Two previous EFCC chief executives, Nuhu Ribadu (2003-2007) and Ibrahim Lamorde (2011-2015) seconded from the police returned to police service after being removed from the EFCC.

Part of the recommendations of the Salami panel, which sat from June to November, 2020, is for consideration of other law enforcement agencies in the appointment of the chairman of EFCC as provided under the EFCC Act 2004.

The panel also recommended an exit plan for 970 policemen comprising 114 drivers, 641 mobile policemen and 215 others (operations) on secondment to the EFCC to address the issue of lack of promotion of core staff of the agency for over nine years.

The report of the panel reads in part: “Your Excellency, our thinking here is that whoever you are appointing other than a core EFCC staff should be in transitional capacity of two years during which period arrangement would be made for appointment of any of the core staff who has been commended by the National Crime Agency (NCA), UK, and other international law enforcement for their professionalism.”

The panel said Magu appeared during its hearing alongside 113 witnesses and that it received 46 petitions and memoranda against the former acting chairman and the commission from individuals and organisations.

Findings at the EFCC revealed that although Magu’s name is no longer on the payroll of the commission, he is still with the police.

Born on May 5, 1962, Magu is due to retire from the police on the same date next year when he would have attained the age of 60.

An official of the commission who spoke under condition of anonymity, said: “He is one of the Commissioners of Police (CPs) in the NPF. He’s yet to retire since he has not clocked 35 years in service or 60 years of age as spelt out in the condition of service.

“Though he has not been deployed for a new assignment by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) after his travails as acting EFCC chief, I’m sure his entitlements have not been stopped for any reason.”

When asked for his whereabouts, the official said, “I can confirm to you that he’s still in the country, but staying largely at home. As of now, he can’t travel out of the country despite the fact that he has been removed finally.”

The spokesman of the commission, Wilson Uwuajaren, told one of our correspondents on phone that he would not want to speak on any matter concerning the former helmsman of the anti-graft agency.

He remains suspended, administrative processes ongoing – AGF

Malami, in his reaction through his media aide, Dr Umar Gwandu, on Friday, said Magu remained suspended as EFCC chairman.

He said, “Other administrative processes are being carried out including study and consideration of the report submitted by the judicial commission of inquiry.”

He is still in police service – Legal team

Reacting, a counsel in Magu’s legal team, Ojaomo, confirmed that Magu was still on the payroll of the police, and that he would surely be posted because the allegations against him were not proven.

“Since the AGF, who was the accuser, failed to appear before the judicial panel led by Justice Ayo Salami to substantiate the allegations; don’t forget that the panel issued a subpoena requesting the AGF to come forward and prove the allegations, but he declined.

“It is a fundamental legal principle that he who alleges must prove. Where the accuser fails to prove his allegations, it definitely buries the allegations.

“The IGP will soon post Magu when there is a special assignment for him. He is back to the police force since the appointment of a new chairman by the president, ” the lawyer said.

Case shows FG’s tardy, directionless – Ozekhome

A constitutional lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), said the uncertainty over Magu’s status was “consistent with the present administration’s tardy and directionless approach to matters of urgent national importance” .

He said it was Magu’s alleged indictment by the Salami panel that might have informed the appointment of a new substantive Chairman of the EFCC, adding that it was a disservice to the nation for the report of the panel not to be made public and acted upon to guide the future conduct of other officials.

He further said, “If there were serious cases against him of corruption, infractions, which were criminal in nature, then why is he not being prosecuted by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation under Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution?

“If Magu had been indicted, then what is he still doing in the Nigeria Police Force which is supposed to be peopled by men and women of integrity who have not been indicted one way or the other? Why has the government not taken a decision either to retire him or retain him and post him to another division?”

But a Lagos lawyer, Paul Ananaba (SAN), said he viewed the Magu impasse as an employer-employee relationship which should not occupy too much public attention since there were more serious issues bedeviling the country.

Ananaba said, “His employers are not complaining (that he is collecting salary without working) and he is not complaining himself. If Magu had said that he has been victimised, then it is a different situation. But he has not said so, instead he is waiting for government to post him. So, we should allow government time. We should not poke our noses into everything.”

A former governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, was on Tuesday named a member of the All Progressives Congress' contact and strategy committee to ensure former Lagos State Governor and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, drop his 2023 ambition, top sources in the party have revealed.

According to Daily Trust, Ambode's appointment was to whittle down the influence of Tinubu in the South-West, as the ruling APC continued to bring in political actors, who are perceived to be opposed to Tinubu.

Earlier, a serving minister in President Muhammadu Buhari's cabinet stated that the President is not convinced that Tinubu should be his successor by 2023.

Since then, Ambode had been out of Lagos' political scene and at the federal level until his appointment by the APC on Tuesday.

Aside from Ambode, the party has harvested top shots in the South-West political zone, including a former deputy governor of Osun State, Iyiola Omisore; a former governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel, and former Speaker Bankole, among others.

There are reports that they were cajoled by the APC towards demystifying Tinubu ahead of 2023.

Talking about the relationship between Buhari and Tinubu, a source in the presidency said, "President Buhari has never had a cordial relationship with Asiwaju. He believes that the former governor of Lagos State should be used to achieve his ambition. After the 2015 elections, you will recall that Asiwaju was abandoned.

"He was brought close again before the 2019 elections. So, there is no need to worry about their relationship. It is the same scenario that is playing out," he said.

The cabinet member told Daily Trust that the President had not hidden the fact that he is not interested in Tinubu's candidature.

"The president is not interested in Tinubu's candidature because he is not convinced that Asiwaju is the right person to succeed him," the minister said.

The crack between Buhari and Tinubu has conspicuously widened as sources in the Presidency explained why Buhari would not support Tinubu's 2023 ambition.

A member of the first family stated that there are efforts to convince the President to support a candidate who would protect his (Buhari's) interest when exiting the presidency in 2023.

A ranking APC lawmaker also stated that the President was not happy with the South-West happenings even as he accused Tinubu of doing nothing visible to quench the region's rising agitations.

A recent study by Amnesty International has revealed that women and girls who were victims of rape by Boko Haram insurgents are neglected by the Nigerian government.

The report, made available to SaharaReporters on Wednesday, showed during raids in Borno communities, Boko Haram fighters raped women and girls who were caught at home or trying to flee.

Amnesty International, however, said none of the survivors appeared to have accessed formal health services, linking it to a significant underreporting of such events.

It read, “Rape and other sexual violence survivors and witnesses described attacks involving sexual violence in at least five villages in the Magumeri local government area of Borno State. During raids, usually at night, Boko Haram fighters raped women and girls who were caught at home or trying to flee.

“One woman was physically assaulted by Boko Haram fighters as she fled from an attack in late 2020. She crawled to home and hid there with her children, and saw fighters return and enter a nearby home.

“She said: 'In the next house, I started hearing some women were shouting and screaming and crying. I was very afraid. After some minutes, maybe 30 minutes, I saw the men come out of the house. There were five or six of them with their guns. Then afterwards, the women were confused. Their dresses were not normal.”

Amnesty International said it also interviewed three other witnesses who similarly described the same attack, including hearing women’s screams and seeing them extremely distressed after Boko Haram left.

According to the group, a traditional healer said she cared for several women following the attack, who had been raped.

“The same healer had previously treated two other survivors, including one who was under 18 years old, after a Boko Haram attack on another village. She said: 'I could see the pain on their faces. [The first survivor] told me what happened. I saw her private parts. They were very swollen. So I understood it was more than one or two people who had raped her. She was suffering.'

“Another woman told Amnesty International that during the same attack, fighters shot people who were running away, then came to her house and sexually assaulted her. She said: 'The men entered my room. I asked what they wanted. They took my jewellery and belongings. Then they fell on me.'

“Access to abortion is illegal in Nigeria, except when life is at risk, which means survivors of rape do not have access to safe and legal abortion.”

On the method of abduction, some of the witnesses who spoke with Amnesty International described Boko Haram abducting women during several attacks, taking them away on motorbikes. The women were returned to their village days later, with clear signs of trauma.

The report said residents of these communities under attack fled to areas within the Nigerian military’s established perimeters. Some settled less than a kilometre from an internally displaced persons' camp outside Maiduguri.

It said when some tried to move into the camp, they were told it was full.

It reported that many of the women are frustrated that no one from the government or the humanitarian community has spoken with them to understand the targeting of women during attacks, and what support is needed now.

Some reportedly wished the government would acknowledge and apologise for what happened, and bring the perpetrators to justice.

According to the Amnesty International report, months after settling near the IDP camp, the communities have still not received any assistance, including food, shelter, or health care.

Early this month, a young child died, and her family told Amnesty International she was malnourished and that they believed that factor contributed to her death.

Those who spoke with Amnesty alleged that the officials of the IDP camps send the women away.

One woman told Amnesty International: “We need food assistance. All around us are malnourished children. Some of the women go to the camp, [but they’re] told to go away. Some are begging. Some [of us] are selling our things.”

Also, the report concluded that Boko Haram fighters killed people trying to flee and looted livestock, money, and other valuables.

The Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Osai Ojigho, alleged that these affected communities are abandoned by the military forces that should protect them.

He said, “As Boko Haram continue their relentless cycle of killings, abductions and looting, they are also subjecting women and girls to rape and other sexual violence during their attacks. These atrocities are war crimes.

“The targeted communities have been abandoned by the forces that are supposed to protect them, and are struggling to gain any recognition or response to the horrors they’ve suffered.”

He called on the Nigerian authorities to urgently address this issue while urging the International Criminal Court to immediately open a full investigation into the atrocities committed by all sides, and ensure those responsible are held accountable, including for crimes against women and girls.

After repeated displacement, the affected communities have mostly moved to military-controlled areas, but many have yet to receive any humanitarian assistance.

Also, Amnesty International submitted that Boko Haram fighters, during raids on communities, stole everything they could find.

Residents of affected communities who spoke with Amnesty International said fighters arrived on motorbikes and foot, before firing into the air.

They said Boko Haram targeted and murdered civilians who tried to flee from attacks. Also, they claimed, several older people who were unable to flee were killed inside their homes. They also alleged that fighters went house-to-house, rounding up livestock and stealing valuables, including money, mobile phones, jewellery, and clothes.

“Witnesses described fighters loading the looted property onto their motorbikes, or on donkeys from the village. To steal livestock, fighters often forced young men to herd the animals into the forest,” the report added.

A 40-year-old man whose village was raided told Amnesty International: “Before now, if you came to our house, you’d see we had cows and goats. I didn’t have many, just a few, but with that I was content. Now, we have nothing… They took everything from us.”

The residents said some of the insurgents wore Nigerian military uniforms, while others wore the traditional dress of the region. They said they knew the perpetrators belonged to Boko Haram, and not the Nigerian military, for several reasons, one of which was that they could hear the fighters speaking languages common among Boko Haram members.

Also, residents said the fighters came on motorbikes, not military vehicles; and that the fighters dressed in a combination of attire.

“Even those fighters wearing stolen Nigerian military uniforms often wore sandals or had bare feet, instead of military boots.”

Like other reports, witnesses who spoke with Amnesty said some children, aged between 15 and 17, were among the attackers, along with men in their 20s.

“This is a humanitarian crisis that is getting worse day-by-day. The Nigerian authorities and partners must act now to support those most in need, and ensure this horrendous situation doesn’t continue to deteriorate,” said Ojigho.

The conflict in northeast Nigeria has created a humanitarian crisis, with more than 2,000,000 people now displaced. Boko Haram has also frequently targeted aid workers trying to respond to the crisis.

The Nigerian authorities have not taken any genuine steps towards investigating and prosecuting crimes by Boko Haram or the Nigerian security forces, including crimes of sexual violence.

Last December, the chief prosecutor of the ICC announced that her office had concluded a decade-long preliminary examination into the situation in Nigeria, saying that it had found sufficient evidence of crimes to open a full investigation.

No formal investigation has yet been opened. The conflict continues to have a dire impact on civilians, as documented in Amnesty International reports on the experience of women, children and older people.

As the 2023 politicking begins to gather momentum, the crack between the camps of President Muhammadu Buhari and that of a national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has widened, Daily Trust reports.

But while some sources admitted there are issues between the two strongmen, a university lecturer with a good understanding of Nigerian political schemings, said the purported rift was tactically created to push Tinubu aside and pave way for another candidate to clinch the presidency.

Our correspondents report that the last time the two leaders met was on January 7, 2020, when Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State, visited the State House, Abuja.

Daily Trust could not establish the last time the president and the former governor spoke through phone, but multiple sources said all is not well between the duo.

After three attempts for the presidency, Buhari aligned with Tinubu and others to form the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013, leading to his victory.

Daily Trust reports that soon after Buhari took over, Tinubu was not seen around the presidency until 2018 when the politicking for the 2019 general elections commenced.


Another lull by Tinubu

Since the commencement of President Buhari’s second term, the former Lagos State governor has only visited the president on few occasions even as, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the president has been hosting top members of the party.

On Friday, he received three APC governors, Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa) and Mai Mala Buni (Yobe) who is the national caretaker committee chairman of the ruling party.

On Monday, he met with former Governor Gbenga Daniel and ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole.

On Tuesday, the president met with Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State.

Though Asiwaju is reportedly out of the country, his “distance from the Villa” is being interpreted in many quarters as a manifestation of a rift between his camp and that of President Buhari with the 2023 presidential election as the bone of contention.

During his last visit on January 7, 2020, Tinubu described President Buhari as a man of character and courage who will never accept the offer of a third term in office.

Before then, they have held a similar closed-door meeting on November 2, 2018. But Tinubu declined to comment on the outcome of the parley.

Tinubu had earlier on October 31, 2018, met with President Buhari and dismissed the call for the resignation of the then national chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

How governors weakened Tinubu’s influence

Despite the spirited efforts by Tinubu to save Oshiomhole, a key figure in his camp, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the APC sacked him.

The sacking of Oshiomhole, with the blessing of Buhari, weakened the camp of Tinubu as the party machinery has been taken over by governors.

After the sack of Oshiomhole, Governor Buni was made the chairman of the caretaker committee of the party.

Twice, the tenure of the committee has been extended and there are reports that the national convention of the party, scheduled for June this year, might be extended to pave way for the continuation of the caretaker committee.

The claims by Jigawa State governor and chairman of the party’s Strategy and Contact Committee, Badaru Abubakar, on Tuesday that the convention would not be shifted was received with a pinch of salt by party stakeholders.

Daily Trust reports that the party’s machinery is being controlled by the governors, especially the trio of Buni, Badaru and Bagudu, with the support of the presidency.

In October last year during the #EndSARS protest, Tinubu was in the eye of the storm as he was accused of being one of the sponsors of the protest; an allegation those in support of Tinubu described as lies, insisting that he was among those that suffered serious losses during the protest and therefore could not have been a sponsor.

Speaking during a Channels TV programme, Tinubu said some people lied to the presidency that he was behind the protests.

‘Buhari under pressure not to support Tinubu’

A member of the first family said there are efforts to convince the president to support a candidate that would protect his (Buhari’s) interest when he exits the presidency in 2023.

“We believe that Tinubu will not protect Buhari’s interest after his tenure, hence the need to look elsewhere.

“We are working hard to convince the president to support a candidate that would protect his interest after his tenure,” the source, who sought not to be named, said.

Similarly, a cabinet member, said: “The president is not interested in Tinubu’s candidature because he is not convinced that Asiwaju is the right person to succeed him.”

Daily Trust reports however that Tinubu has not formally declared his intention to contest for the presidency but different groups are openly campaigning for him.

Ambode, Omisore, others to ‘tame’ Tinubu

As part of measures to whittle down the influence of Tinubu in the South-West, the ruling APC has continued to bring in people who are perceived to be opposed to the former Lagos State governor.

A former governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, whose second term bid in 2019 Tinubu worked against, was yesterday named as a member of the contact and strategy committee of the party.

Aside Ambode, the party has harvested top shots in the South-West political zone, including a former deputy governor of Osun State, Iyiola Omisore; a former governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel, and former Speaker Bankole, among others.

There are reports that they were cajoled by the APC towards demystifying Tinubu ahead of 2023.

Why crack will persist – APC chieftains

Talking about the relationship between Buhari and Tinubu, a source in the presidency said: “President Buhari has never had a cordial relationship with Asiwaju.

“He just believes that the former governor of Lagos State should be used to achieve his ambition. After the 2015 elections, you will recall that Asiwaju was abandoned.

“He was brought close again before the 2019 elections. So, there is no need to worry about their relationship. It is the same scenario that is playing out,” he said.

A ranking APC lawmaker also told Daily Trust that the president was not happy with happenings in the South-West even as he accused Tinubu of doing nothing visible to quench the rising agitations in the region.

“I can bet you the president will not come out openly to support him (Tinubu) to become president even though the former Lagos State governor believes that this is payback time considering the huge investment he made in Buhari and the APC.

“Also, the president has had reservations about Tinubu’s personality because he sees him like any other politician in the country. But he became suspicious of him when Tinubu started claiming the title of a national leader of the party after the 2015 elections.

“As you know, the national leader of a ruling party should be the president. You know, the former Lagos governor is arrogant and the president is stubborn, the two cannot go together,” he said.

‘Crack between Buhari, Asiwaju hearsay’

But an influential member of the party close to both President Buhari and Tinubu said there was no crack between the two personalities.

In a phone interview, he said: “You know when an election is approaching people will want to fuel crisis and all sorts of theories will be in the media.

“To me, this is normal in the political setting of the country. With or without Buhari, Tinubu’s influence in the South-West cannot be wished away.”

Asked why Tinubu has not visited the villa in the last 14 months, he said: “My friend, he is abroad.

“There are a lot of things that are not meant for public consumption. If Tinubu is going to contest, he will not be doing so against Buhari. So, what is the area of conflict?

“Two, the time is not ripe for the president to show or endorse any of the aspirants; the real politics has not started. Tinubu has been away for about a month.”

Tinubu’s supporters explore options

In the South-West, especially Lagos, where the agitation for Tinubu’s presidency has been rife, his numerous disciples are said to be keenly watching the unfolding scenarios and exploring other options ahead of the election.

Many of them believe the alleged move by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to open a fresh investigation against him was the product of a rift between him and the president.

But his loyalists say they were unperturbed by the seeming gang-up, describing the purported probe as a “campaign of calumny against the national leader of the APC.”

Speaking with our correspondent, the founder of Tinubu 2023 Non-Negotiable, Kunle Okunola, insisted that the recent move to probe the assets declaration of Asiwaju by the EFCC was politically motivated.

He vowed that all forms of scheming against him would fail.

According to him, the 2023 presidency of Tinubu is not about him or Buhari, saying Asiwaju remained the choice of Nigerians of all divides.

He said: “I don’t want the politics of bickering and speculation that there is a problem between Asiwaju and Mr President as if Nigeria belongs to Mr President or one person. Nigeria is not for Asiwaju, neither for Mr President.

“Nigeria belongs to all of us and any good person who wants the best for this nation would do the needful at the right time.

“We saw the same thing when Buhari came. Despite the speculation that he had no certificate, nobody was able to investigate him. So, the same thing would happen to Asiwaju.

“We are less concerned, we are moving on with our vision,” he said. The spokesman of the APC in Lagos, Seye Oladejo, agreed with Okunola and stressed that the sponsored attacks against Tinubu cannot stop him.

He said, “The rift remains in the realm of rumour-mongering and idle speculation.

“However, the history of this dispensation will be incomplete without the leadership role of Tinubu in the unprecedented dislodgement of the then ruling PDP by a galvanized opposition.

“The cabal should continue to live in self-deceit until the appointed time.”

Presidency being manipulated to diminish Tinubu – Don

Dissecting the situation, an Associate Professor of Political Sociology, University of Abuja, Dr Abubakar Umar Kari, said the presidency is being manipulated to diminish Tinubu.

In an interview, Kari said: “There may not be any real crack between the two leaders as par deteriorating personal relationship or political differences.

“I am not aware of any incident, issue, disagreement or bone of contention indicating a parting of ways between the two.

“By nature, Buhari is very aloof, does not openly socialise, nor is he given to display of amity. This is why some people accuse him of not caring about others.

“For the same reason, some people believe Buhari is selfish and is not concerned about anyone, particularly now that he is not looking for anything from anybody.

“I am one of those who think PMB will not play any significant role in the 2023 politicking.

“This indifferent attitude is bad news for Tinubu who would expect Buhari to support him if just to return the favour he did to him in 2014/15.

“Buhari’s nonchalance is what is fuelling the speculation that there is a crack between the two.”

According to Prof. Kari, there are some powerful individuals, close to the president who have been invoking his name to pursue and achieve their political goals.

“Most of them are implacably opposed to Tinubu and his presidential ambition. They are the ones creating and propagating the impression that all is not well between Tinubu and the president. They are deftly using and manipulating the presidency and the party machinery to diminish Tinubu’s influence and support base.

“This will continue and intensify going into 2023, even as Buhari’s characteristic indifference will also likely worsen, notwithstanding the adverse consequences of same to Tinubu and many others in the APC, including the party itself.”



Buhari, Tinubu relationship cordial, productive – Media aide

Tinubu’s media aide, Tunde Rahman, told Daily Trust the relationship between President Buhari and Tinubu is a good and productive one.

“The insinuation of a cold war between them is the stuff of idle gossip by people who profit from causing controversy where there is none.

“Asiwaju Tinubu is a loyal man and devoted patriot who stands committed, in any capacity he can, to supporting President Buhari realise his policy objectives for the benefit of all Nigerians.

“It is a testament to the quality of the relationship between them that President Buhari has so kindly agreed to chair the 12th annual colloquium marking Asiwaju‘s birthday on Monday.

“We expect the colloquium to be a productive and enlightening event where important issues are discussed and serious recommendations made. This is the type of interaction that will help Nigeria achieve its better self,” he said.

Presidency mum

Efforts to get the reaction from the presidency were not successful as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, did not reply to a text message sent to him after phone calls.

By Abankula
Petrol price in Nigeria will go higher from its present N165 if the price of crude keeps going up, Zainab Ahmed, the finance minister has said.

Zainab spoke on Monday during her contribution in an interaction arranged by the Presidency Media team and State House reporters.

According to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, the Federal Government will allow the prices of petroleum products to be determined by the market forces in line with the deregulation of the oil sector.

“We simply cannot afford the subsidy, we don’t have the money to pay for subsidy”, she said.

“We do recognise that there will be some increased hardships on a segment of the society. But we are looking at how to address that,’’ she added.

In another report published by Reuters, Ahmed called the rising price of crude a “double-edged sword,” as the Federal Government seeks a deal with Organised Labour over fuel prices.

She said the central government forecasts an optimistic outlook on the rising crude prices.

But simultaneously, it must deal with the “tussle” with Labour over subsidies and rising local prices of fuel.

According to her, the rising oil price is a double-edged sword for Nigeria.

While it boosts revenue, it creates fuel price headache at the same time.

Oil prices are averaging around $64 per barrel, above the $40 per barrel projected in the N13.6 trillion ($35.74 billion) budget document.

Early in March, the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) created national uproar, when it released the price template for petrol for the month.

The template indicated that the retail price should go to N212 per litre, from N162-N165.

Labour unions vowed to resist the increase.

Government halted the increase, as it apparently shouldered the subsidy burden, calculated at over N103 billion for the month.

For how long will government be able to put the lid on price increase as crude prices go up and exchange rate worsens?

By Kingsley Nwezeh

The military yesterday put the number of Boko Haram terrorists who have been prosecuted at 1,000 while 500 have been jailed.

In addition, more members of the terror group are to go on trial in June.

The decision to put the insurgents on trial came as the federal government affirmed its determination to secure the country against threats to its corporate existence.

It also expressed the readiness of the military to execute the presidential directive to the armed forces and other security agencies to end all threats to national territorial integrity, including banditry, terrorism and kidnapping.

The United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), the United Kingdom (UK) and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue have also met in Abuja to chart a new course to contain the humanitarian crisis in the North-east, where over eight million people have been displaced.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, said at a meeting tagged: “The North-east Symposium on Reintegration, Reconciliation and Resettlement,” that 1,000 insurgents had been prosecuted since the inception of Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC), saddled with the responsibility of deradicalising repentant insurgents, while 500 were jailed for five to 60 years.

Irabor, who was represented by the OPSC Commander, Maj. Gen. Bamidele Ashafa, said: “The federal government of Nigeria does not condone Boko Haram. Over 1,000 Boko Haram members have been prosecuted. I want to use this opportunity to say that over 500 have been jailed and are serving various jail terms for up to 60 years, the minimum term is five years.

“Arrangements are also being concluded to begin the trial of another set of Boko Haram suspects. That will start between now and June.”

In her remarks, the Country Director, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, Ms. Millicent Ojomo, said the two-day event was a continuation of its policy dialogue to ensure that the objectives of ensuring rehabilitation, reconciliation and resettlement were realised.

She called for synergy on the part of all stakeholders to make the summit a reality.

In his goodwill message, Deputy Head of Mission and Team Leader, Economic Cooperation and Energy, Alexandre Borges-Gomez, harped on the need for stakeholders to go beyond humanitarian challenges and evolve an integrated approach and a sustainable strategy.

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Wendy Laing, said the UK was worried about the Boko Haram insurgency and the concomitant humanitarian crisis that has to be confronted.

She said there was the need for governors of the North-east and the heads of state of the Lake Chad Basin to work in synergy to enable communities to recover their livelihoods.

Meanwhile, at a national defence and security summit in Abuja, Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd), expressed the determination of the federal government to end security challenges in the country.

“The federal government’s first line charge priority of ensuring the safety of lives and property of the citizenry is sacrosanct. There is no going back on this national aspiration.”

He stated that the presidential directive to the armed forces and other security agencies “was clear on the need to decisively end all forces of threats to the the national territorial integrity including banditry, terrorism and kidnapping”.

The minister, therefore, described the summit themed: “Kinetic Operations, a Major Plank for Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Insurgency in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Prospects,” as timely.

He called for concerted efforts to support the current efforts to promote peace and stability, while identifying various security instruments emplaced by the federal government to address internal security challenges, which include Operation Lafiya Dole, Operation Safe Haven and strategic empowerment of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) as well as intervention mechanism such as North-east development.

Also at the event, Irabor said the military would enhance its kinetic operations in dealing with the prevailing security challenges confronting the nation.

Irabor said the one-day summit would discuss the promotion of kinetic operations by leaders and eminent personalities in Nigeria.

“Our strategic objectives are manifold and imbued to neutralise non-state-actors and other agents of violence in our communities, forests and countryside to stabilise the security situation across the nation to facilitate law and order and lastly to provide the enabling environment for peace and development.

“These presuppose that the military would need support from other security agencies during the operations and would be required to give support to others at different stages of the internal security effort,” he added.

Established with a mandate to make its assets and operational account details public annually, the Nation Pension Commission (Pen- Com) has run into dilemma in this regard as it has not posted the information in the last eight years due to delay in constitution of a substantive board by the Federal Government.

Findings by New Telegraph revealed that the commission, which supervises activities with regard to the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), last published its account details about eight years ago in 2012.

The development is contrary to what obtained in the past where details of the commission’s accounts and assets are regularly posted on its website. Findings by our correspondent revealed that the accounts were last made public in 2012 when Chinelo Anohu-Amazu was still in charge as the Director-General of the agency. According to details of the last report, value of the commission’s assets increased from N3.82 billions.

lion in 2011 to N4.06 billion in 2012. The breakdown in the document signed by Anohu-Amazu as Director- General, Dr Ahmadu Adamu Mua’zu as Chairman, and Barrister Adesoji Olaoba-Efuntayo as Commissioner, Finance and Investment/ Chief Financial Officer, shows that cash and bank balances increased from N368.89 million in 2011 to N482.55 million in 2012, while other assets increased from N1.173 billion in 2011 to N1.183 billion as at the end of business on December 31, 2012.

Following in the same stead, the value of property and equipment grew from N1.28 billion in 2011 to N1.54 billion in 2012, just as the value of intangible assets also increased by over 100 per cent from N439.16 million in 2011 to N850.60 million in 2012.

For liabilities, the amount dropped from N3.43 billion to N2.589 billion with details showing payables and accruals dropping from N434.79 million to N167.42 million, while deferred capital grants also dropped from N2.99 billion to N2.42 billion.

Further details, however, show that general reserve increased from N394.21 million to N1.47 billion, while liabilities and equities also increased from N3.82 billion to N4.06 billions.

The breakdown also revealed that contingent liabilities and other obligations on behalf of the Federal Government and its employees dropped from N197.49 billion to N124.07 billion.

The balance sheet, which covered the period as at December 31, 2012, was approved by the commission on November 18, 2014, and endorsed by the aforementioned signatories.

While the pension assets, which the commission oversees, had grown steadily over the years to over N12 trillion, the current assets and account details of the commission have been unknown to the public for eight years.

Funds from operational licences, penalties and other sources are part of what make up revenue for the commission. Justifying the need to shield the account from public scrutiny, Head of Corporate Communica-tions Department, Pen- Com, Mr. Peter Aghahowa, blamed the action on delayed constitution of a board for the commission by the Federal Government.

Although he said the commission’s assets and account details were regularly audited, the information can only be made public, henceforth, as the board has finally been put in place.

In a telephone chat with our correspondent, he recalled that a board was only put in place at the commission in November last year, adding that without a board to sign the account, it would be difficult to make the details public.

He said: “The non-constitution of a board in past made it difficult to publish the details on the internet. For such a sensitive document, the board has to endorse it.”

The outcry to constitute a board for the commission in past was widespread before it was finally put in place last November with the confirmation of Oyindasola Oni (Kwara, North- Central) and Dahir-Umar (Adamawa, North- East) as Chairperson and Director- General respectively In 2015, the Federal Government dissolved the boards of all federal parastatals including that of PenCom. Since that time, board issues of PenCom were referred to Mr. President through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) for approval.

Specifically, the Nigerian Employer Consultative Association (NECA) had cause to describe the nonconstitution of a supervisory board for the commission as risky considering the huge pension assets it supervises.

Besides worries expressed by other stakeholders, the House of Representatives’ Committee on Pension had also planned to summon the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, to explain reasons behind non-constitution of a board for the commission as well as non-confirmation of the Director General.

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has asked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to zone its 2023 presidential ticket to the South-South.

Speaking at the weekend in Benin, during a reception in honour of Chief Dan Orbih, who was recently elected National Vice Chairman (South-South) of the PDP, Obaseki said for equity to prevail, the South-South region should be allowed to produce the next president.

The South-South produced President Goodluck Jonathan who took over the mantle of leadership in 2010, after President Umaru Musa Yar’adua’s death.

Jonathan later contested in 2011 and won and administered the affairs of the country until the 2015 elections when he lost to then opposition candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

But Obaseki said, the “Presidency must come back to South-South and you (Orbih) must go round the country to let them know that we can’t be cheated. We expect you to deliver the presidency to the zone.”

But, the Kaduna State chairman of a group under the auspices of Bala Mohammed Vanguard (BAM-V), Comrade Musa Haruna, has asked the PDP to zone its ticket to the North-East, saying it is the turn of the region to field a presidential candidate.

He said this at the weekend while inaugurating executive members of the group across the 23 local government areas of the state.

He said the North-East deserves the presidential slot because “it’s the least developed zone in the country.”

He said: ”With the current insecurity and other challenges facing the country and especially the North-East, we need a detribalized leader from the North-East with a track record of service, commitment, and readiness to serve the people.”

In his remarks, the director-general of the group, Muhammad Abubakar Jibbo, said they had already consulted some key stakeholders within the party to encourage the Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, to contest the presidency.

Less than two years to the 2023 presidential election, the unresolved issues of zoning among the two main political parties as well as cash crunch are said to be reasons why none of those nursing ambition to contest the poll has publicly declared interest.

New Telegraph gathered from some chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), at the weekend, that the lingering debate over where power will shift to in 2023 among the leadership of both parties, is slowing down politicians, who want to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari from launching their respective bids.

The newspaper also learnt that the harsh economic situation in the country explains why most of the presidential hopefuls have refrained from making their ambitions public. The belief is that this will help them to avoid unnecessary spending ahead of the primaries and main election.

Our correspondents further gathered that part of the reason for the lull in political activities ahead of the 2023 presidential election is the battle for the structures of the leading parties by the presidential hopefuls and other interests within both parties; President Buhari’s disposition and likelihood of a fresh political alignment that may produce a Third Force.

The President is said not have any candidate in mind, but people around him have one or two p[b]eople already penciled down.

A source, who revealed this said: “One of those being speculated in the APC from the South-West has many things working against him.

The first is the issue of religion. For someone like him to come out, the President must give him the go-ahead.” He added that an underlying issue about the lull in political activities is that the incumbent president is not returning, which makes it critical to any interest within his party and the PDP to tarry before taking decisions.
[/b]
His words: “In 2007, former President Olusegun Obasanjo singlehandedly selected late Umaru Yar’adua and that is the power of incumbency. But in the present scenario, it is either President Buhari is not strong politically enough to back an aspirant or he does not want to get involved in the process that will produce a likely successor from his party.

“Interestingly, the situation in the APC is also affecting the PDP from knowing where it will come from ahead of the election. It seems the two of them are tending towards the South, but the ruling party usually takes the first shot, such that when people know where it is going, they start to chart their own course.”

It would be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced February 18, 2023 as the date for the next presidential election, but unlike in previous presidential elections, no member of the APC and PDP has publicly declared interest for the tickets of their respective parties.

Some of the gladiators, hoping to succeed President Buhari within the APC and PDP folds, have mainly announced their ambitions through campaign posters sponsored by either cronies or support groups on the various social media platforms, thereby raising concerns over the seriousness or otherwise of their aspiration among party stakeholders.

On paper, power is expected to shift to the southern part of the country by the time President Buhari’s tenure elapses in 2023 given the zoning arrangement between the North and South, which took effect from 1999.

However, recent developments in the polity show that the 2023 presidency will go beyond a southern affair as gladiators from both sides of the country’s political divides – North and South – are gearing up for the contest.

This has left the leadership of the APC and PDP at crossroads as both parties, unlike during the 2015 and even the 2019 general elections, are yet to declare their stand on the zoning arrangement, thereby leaving their members and the rest of Nigerians in the dark.

However, a chieftain of the APC, Chief Chekwas Okorie, who spoke on the zoning impasse as it affects the two leading parties, told one of our correspondents that until both parties decide on where their respective presidential tickets for the 2023 elections will go to between the North and South, no serious party member will declare his or her ambition public.

According to him, “anyone who does not belong to either the APC or PDP, who has come out to say that he or she is running for the office of president at this time is wasting his or her time because politicians have to appreciate that parties must have structures in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory to win Nigeria’s presidency.”

On how the impasse over zoning is hampering the APC and PDP presidential hopefuls from publicly declaring their ambitions,

Okorie said: “I can authoritatively tell you that the debate over the zoning arrangement is the major factor delaying the 2023 presidential hopefuls from publicly declaring their ambitions, and until the issue is resolved, no serious would-be presidential aspirant will come out to publicly declare his or ambition.

“Although the PDP is likely to throw the contest for its ticket open going by the recommendation of its committee, the belief is that anyone who declares for the 2023 presidency now would be taking a political gamble as his or her geopolitical zone may be shut out by the time the leadership of the leading parties finally settle on where their respective presidential tickets will go to.”

When reminded of the belief in some political quarters that some of the presidential hopefuls, especially those in the opposition, are being cautions with the declaration of their ambitions to avoid being hounded by the ruling party,

Okorie said: “It is wishful thinking for anyone to believe that the Buhari administration will use the anti-graft agencies against anyone for showing interest in the presidency except those who have something to hide.

A former Deputy Chairman of Lagos State chapter of the PDP, Prince Ola Shakiru Apena, who corroborated the zoning argument, said: “The two major political parties, PDP and APC, are in serious internal cri-sis situation.

So, because of the crisis, there is struggle for power. The presidential gladiators are trying to position themselves to hijack the structure of both parties.

“That is why most of the hopefuls are running away. If you take APC for example, ex-Governor Bola Tinubu is not even sure of what is going to happen to him because some members of the cabal have positioned themselves to rubbish him. Don’t forget that the APC membership revalidation and re-registration exercise that is going on is part of the game plan to whittle his influence.

However, nobody among them is sure where the pendulum will swing. “In PDP, we have former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso; two prominent personalities who have shown interest. But then, there are still struggles because there are moves in some quarters to remove the PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus.

“Basically, what is responsible for the lull in presidential race has to do with the stability of the two major parties.

The two parties should have their national convention this year and the picture will be clearer on where and how the zoning arrangement will be.”

Another chieftain of the APC, Osita Okechukwu, who spoke on the issue, said besides the issue of zoning, the new political culture in the country as a result of belief in what he described as “stomach infrastructure,” by most Nigerians, partly explains why most of the presidential hopefuls are keeping their plans to themselves.

Okechukwu, who is the Director General, Voice of Nigeria (VON), insisted that it is not a question of being cautious among the presidential hopefuls as he revealed that he is aware of some of them who have already acquired buildings for campaign headquarters in Abuja.

“I know some people who have acquired buildings for campaign offices in Abuja and it is clear that people have started attending meetings,

So, I don’t think that people are afraid to declare their ambitions for the2023 presidency, but I believe that the lull in political activities is because of the mood of the nation.

Things have changed as it has become a culture of stomach infrastructure. “Immediately anyone declares ambition now, you will see people besiege him and he will start spending. You and I know that such an individual is likely to run short of funds before the main race commences,” he said.

A social commentator and Executive Director, Rights Monitoring Group (RMG), Mr. Olufemi Aduwo, who said that the 2023 presidential election is going to be dicey because there is not much difference between APC and PDP, added that “most of the gladiators are scared of President Buhari because you don’t know the mind of a man who is not even talking on an issue, so they must stay calm to see the direction.”

Governors elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party have alleged some ministers of surrendering to activities capable of causing distability in the country.

They made the allegation in a statement titled ‘Attempt on governor Ortom, an invitation to anarchy: Enough is enough’ on Sunday.

The statement was signed on behalf of the governors by Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, who doubles as the Chairman, PDP Governors Forum.

The governors warned the ministers against supporting actitivites that could lead to anarchy or distability in the country.

The statement read, “The PDP-Governors Forum has received with shock the assassination attempt on the Governor of Benue State, H.E. Dr Samuel Ortom.

“We wish therefore to warn that any attempt to harm any Nigerian will be viewed by the Forum as an attempt on all of us.

“We believe strongly that any dispute or perceived dispute should be and must be resolved amicably without resort to violence. Nigeria is not a Babana Republic, even though certain retrogressive elements and centrifugal forces are trying to consign Nigeria into a failed state.

“It remains the primary responsibility of government, especially the Federal government, who have monopoly of the coercive forces of state, to secure the lives and livelihoods of our people, however low or high. Every Nigerian deserves equal protection of the laws.

“Every citizen is entitled to freedom of speech and free exercise of all rights guaranteed in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, subject only to law.

“Nigeria is still a democracy and a nation of laws and not men.

Nobody, or group however highly placed should take the laws into their hands, even though some highly placed Federal government ministers seem to have surrendered to the nefarious activities of miscreants and mischief makers, bent on destabilising the nation. Self help is an invitation to anarchy and must be nipped in the bud.

“The PDP GOVERNORS are solidly united and are behind His Excellency, Governor Dr Samuel Ortom and will do the utmost to defend the rights and prerogatives of the Benue people who elected him.

“We expect the security agencies and other authorities of state to investigate this matter swiftly and thoroughly and bring the perpetrators to justice. Enough is clearly enough.”

President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote yesterday said the multi billion dollars and 650,000-barrel per day (bpd) integrated refinery and petrochemical project will be completed by the end of this year, just as granulated urea fertiliser plant at Ibeju Lekki corridor will begin production of fertiliser products next week.

This was even as the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu promised to support the ongoing multi-bilion dollars investments on the axis with massive road infrastructure to further open up the economy of the axis and create a more conducive environment for the industries springing up in the area.

The duo spoke with journalists during Governor Sanwo- Olu’s two-day working visit to the Lagos Free Zone, saying that the investments would turn around the state and the nation’s economy.

Speaking on the economic potential of the refinery, Dangote also added that though the Africa’s biggest oil refinery and the world’s biggest single-train facility expected to generate about 230,000 indirect jobs would be completed by the end of this year, production of petroleum products would commence by first quarter of 2022.

The Africa’s richest man disclosed this while fielding questions from journalists after the tour of the project by the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu who went on a two – day working visit with members of his cabinet to the burgeoning industrial hub located in Lekki area of the state. He also stated that the granulated urea fertiliser plant at Ibeju Lekki corridor will commence production of fertiliser products next week.

He said: “OK the fertilizer you will actually see fertilizer within the next one week. The refinery will be finished by the end of this year and product will start coming out by first quarter of next year. ”

He commended the governor for finding time out to visit the refinery during his working visit, saying: “First of all let me thank His Excellency for taking off about five hours to be with us today.

The governor has been around this area for the past two days. Really Mr. Governor we are very grateful for your support for making this place to be investors friendly and all the support you have been giving. Not only to Dangote but to almost everybody and I can assure that this place will be the hub of industrialisation in the country going forward.

On his part, Governor Sanwo-Olu said there is urgent need to assess the level of investment on the Lekki Corridor, saying efforts were being made to address the issues the investors are facing and avert haphazard development in the new Industrial hub informed the working visit.

Sanwo-Olu said the development of Lekki Port being propelled by the operators and owners of Lagos Free zone has gone up to about 60 per cent , saying the state government would ensure that the problems being experienced in Apapa port.

To regulate and guide against haphazard development, Governor Sanwo-Olu said agencies of government would be located in the axis to ensure that the right things are done.

“The ministry of Environment, Physical Planning, Waterfront and Tourism would also have a full presence here.

Physical planning are things we cannot afford to miss out. We need to ensure that the master plan of this area is kept and the new ones we need to look at we will certainly pick them up for approvals that is required so that government can indeed take the position,” he said.

A nephew to President Muhammadu Buhari and member of the House of Representatives, Fatuhu Muhammed, has showed off a new house he built in Abuja.

Mr Muhammed, who represents Daura/Maiadua/Sandamu Federal Constituency on the platform of ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, said he build the house “within four years”

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The lawmaker shared a stunning angular view of the massive house in a Facebook post, asking friends to join him in prayer for attaining the feat.

“Alhamdulillah I’ve completed building my house in Gwarinpa (Abuja) which took me about four years but once again Alhamdulillah and I need your prayers.

“The date for moving in will be notified soon InshaAllah,” he posted.

Shortly afterward, the lawmaker deleted the post.

In September last year, Mr Fatuhu threatened to attack a Facebook user, Abdulbasi Maiadua, for criticizing him.

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Fatuhu Muhammed

The lawmaker issued the threat in a recorded telephone conversation, saying “I want you to record this call. I am warning you not to try me again because I am not your mate, neither your boss. If you do not get out of my way, yo will be dealt with. You can report to whomsoever you wish in Katsina or even Nigeria.”

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A woman in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, who tried to commit suicide on her birthday, said she would “return as a man” in her next life.

The woman, Dorothy Edet, was found unconscious in her apartment in Uyo on Sunday morning after taking some poisonous substances, apparently, according to multiple posts on Facebook from people familiar with the incident.

Rescuers, prompted by her suicide note which she posted on Facebook, broke her door, rushed her to the hospital where she was revived.

Her sister confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES, Sunday morning, that Ms Edet was “fine.”

Friends and sympathisers have taken to Facebook to mobilise support, including financial support, for the woman, who appeared to have been battling depression before the suicide attempt.

Ms Edet has been a volunteer on sexual assault, according to her Facebook page. “I am a leader that is empathetic, compassionate, understanding, selfless and open-minded,” she said of herself, on the social media site.

Her suicide note, written in the form of a poem, revealed the turbulent she has been going through.

“ITS MY BIRTHDAY!!!” She wrote.

Sweet, sweet, suicide


Will you visit me tonight/

Tired of feeling suicidal when my aspirations are stifled

Fighting back tears while smiling from ear to ear

I know God won’t help

He’s good

I need to believe in myself

I would

But every time I try

Dark forces pull me behind


My unfulfilled dreams haunt me incessantly

They depend on me to thrive.

Its My BIRTHDAY Anyways.

But I have to Go.

Tired of All this headaches and Pains.

Smiling outside while bleeding inside.

Saying I’m Okay when I’m Not.

I will return as a Man

To fight for women and young girls

I will not spare any RAPIST

I’ll be a Judge with a difference.

I’ll speak for the voiceless.

And Bless the Poor.

My second coming will be AMAZING.

LET ME REST!!!

Ms Edet, in the suicide note, wrote on how she would love to fight for women’s rights, be hard on rapists, and be a voice for the voiceless.

It is unclear, for now, if she has been a victim of gender violence.

Her note, however, mirrors the challenges some young women in Nigeria go through and their feelings of helplessness.

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi, at the weekend tasked Nigerian youths to forget about government jobs which according to him, add no profit to their destiny.

Umahi made this known while addressing the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, during the 65th emergency senate meeting that took place at the Christian Ecumenical centre, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital.

He, however, called on the youths to shun all forms of cultism in their various institutions, adding that the development and future of Nigeria is in their hands.

The governor further blamed the increasing rate of kidnapping, armed robbery, bandits, cultism and killings in Nigeria on youths’ quest for quick wealth.

He equally tasked the youths to resist being used by politicians to destroy the future and image of the leaders in the country.

According to him: “Which qualified leader in Nigeria will the youths follow? I say to our youths, you have followed so much, and it is time to take the future in your hands. Your leaders (NANS) are qualified leaders. We expect our children to be more than us.

“If you do not prepare a future for your children, your children will suffer more than you. You are struggling and if you don’t take time, your generation will not take over leadership and you will become old.

“If we do not take care of you, how will you take care of us? And I believe in you (Youths).

“We say there are no jobs, but it is not true. You are waiting for government jobs, but it doesn’t work. It makes you lazy and you grow old. What the government should do is to create the environment. It is only a few people that are employable.

“Put yourselves together to produce the future leaders of this country. If you are hired to destroy people, you are rather bringing curses upon yourselves. Success has a pattern, likewise failure. Resist to be hired to destroy others, for he who will destroy to succeed will surely get destruction waiting upon him.

“Without the youths there will be no kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism. Let me tell you, those doing cultism in schools are those who are weak. These weak people come together to kill and to protect their weakness.

“You cannot see any intelligent young man or woman going into cultism. When you partake in killings, killing will flow in your generations,” he said.

Umahi in a related development kicked against fuel subsidy in Nigeria, adding that It is not for the interest of the country.

A 42 year-old man in Kano state identified as Babagana Usman has committed suicide by hanging himself.

Usman who lived in Tsamiya in Gezawa LGA, hanged himself in his room.

He however left a note confirming he killed himself and that the act was an act of God.

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Suicide note of Babagana Usman

The letter said, “His death was from God, so no one else did it to him.”

Usman hailed from Borno State but was married in Babba.

DSP Abdullahi Kiyawa, Kano State Police Command spokesperson, confirmed the suicide.

He said the police were investigating, reported BBC Hausa Service.

DSP Kiyawa said the police were worried that suicide was on the increase in Kano.

In recent days, a man in Sauna Kawaji and a young man in Masukwani area of ​​Kano also committed suicide.

At least three soldiers were killed in a shootout with armed bandits in Kabasa village of Magami District in Gusau local government area of Zamfara State.

Residents told Daily Trust that armed men arrived at the community on motorcycles on Tuesday, firing at people.

A resident said apart from the soldiers, seven other persons were killed in the incident.

“The whole community was thrown into pandemonium as several other residents trying to escape the attack were injured. Seven people were confirmed dead in the attack,” a resident identified Saminu Usman told Daily Trust.

Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle through the commissioner of information Alhaji Ibrahim Dosara, said he received with shock the report of an attack by some “recalcitrant bandits” who unleashed mayhem on innocent people in Kabasa village of Magami district in Gusau local government area of the state.

Dosara said the Executive Governor is saddened and disturbed by the sad event that led to loss of lives in the village and strongly condemned it.

The Governor also extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and prayed God to grant the souls of the departed, eternal rest.

“The government has already directed security agencies in the state to carry out a full investigation into the incident and report back to the government for action. The standing committee for the assessment of damages constituted by the state government has been instructed to visit the community to assess the level of damages inflicted on the community,” Dosara said.

However, attempts to get the reaction of the army failed as the spokesman of Operation Hadarin Daji in the state, Captain Ibrahim Yahaya, did not return several calls by our correspondent at the time of filing this report.

The Police have arrested a lecturer in the Department of Business management at the Covenant University Ota, Ogun State, Dr. Stephen Ukenna, for allegedly raping 17-year-old student of the institution.

The 41-year-old lecturer was arrested following a complaint lodged at Ota Area command by the parents of the victim.

The parents reportedly told the police that the daughter informed them over the phone that the lecturer raped her in his office.

They quoted the daughter to have said that the suspect invited him to the office under the pretence of a surprise birthday party for her by a friend.

According to them, on getting to the lecture’s office, he locked the office door and forcefully had sex with her on top of the table in his office.
The Spokesman of the Ogun Police Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, on Tuesday told newsmen that upon receipt of the report, the Area Commander Ota, Acp Muyideen Obe swiftly deployed his team to the school where the lecturer was promptly arrested.

“On interrogation, the suspect admitted having carnal knowledge of the victim, but was unable to give any reason for his action,” the police publicist quoted him to have said.

He said the Commissioner of Police, Edward Awolowo Ajogun, had ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, for further investigation.