₦airaland Forum

A member of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Justice William Adteze, narrowly escaped death when bandits attacked his country home in Benue State. His kinsmen were however not as lucky as four of them were slaughtered by the marauders. Narrating how the unfortunate incident happened, Hon. Mike Adteze told The Nation in an exclusive interview that Justice William Adteze was home in Ngibo village, Katsina Ala local Local government area in Benue state for Easter holiday.

Mike, a former chairman of Katsina Ala L.G.A, said Justice Adteze who was in the village with his wife, suddenly changed his mind about spending the night and drove back to his base. “Same night, armed bandits numbering over 20 stormed his farm house and slaughtered four persons. The armed men also made away with 28 cows in the farm house belonging to the CCT judge.” He further stated that while the bandits were escaping, they came across a bus driver and slaughtered him before making away with his vehicle.

“On their way they killed four other persons bringing total number of people killed to eleven,” he added. The Nation gathered the killings sparked bloody unrest in Kstsina Ala town, the headquarters of Katsina Ala Local Government Area. The town was engulfed in another round of killings which led to total a breakdown of law and order. The killings and burning of houses continued until the Benue State government imposed a 24hour curfew on the town. Governor Samuel Ortom who was on leave cut short his vacation in China and returned home to tackle the situation

Ortom blamed the killings on criminal elements within the Sankera geo-political axis and called on security agencies to apprehend anyone found tomenting trouble. Meanwhile soldiers have been deployed in the area to contend the situation. Normalcy is gradually returning to the area.

National President, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Abdullahi Bodejo, has dismissed the possibility of the former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu succeeding President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023. In this interview with WILLY EYA, he spoke on a number of issues and stated that power will still remain in the North after Buhari.


After the 2019 general elections, the killings have started again in several parts of the North, what is the problem?

I thank God that nobody is associating the current killings with herdsmen in the country unlike in the past. The killings in Zamfara State, I recall that in 2014, I was part of one committee the Inspector General of Police then, M.D Abubakar set up; we visited Nasarawa, Taraba, Plateau, Kaduna and Zamfara states. We ended the journey in Zamfara State. When we got to Nasarawa State, it was the serious crisis between the Fulani and the Ombatse cult. In Benue, we met the crisis between the Fulani and the Tiv people but in Taraba, even though we did not meet the crisis between the Fulani and the people, we met one between the Tiv and Jukun people. In Plateau, it was when former Governor Jonah Jang was there and he did not like the committee and he did not accord us the desired recognition. But we knew that there was a serious crisis between the Fulani and the Beroms in Plateau. Despite that, nobody cooperated with us in Plateau to end the crisis. We went to Kaduna and signed an agreement with the group from Southern Kaduna but funny enough, when we went to Zamfara, we did not meet the farmers/herders clashes. The people killing themselves there are the same. It is a serious problem between the vigilance groups. Some will go and form a vigilance group and they will not be under any authority like the DPO or Commissioner of Police. They will just be operating on their own. And they will just be killing people. In Zamfara, when they started the killings, they could just go and kidnap a Fulani man and tell him that they were suspecting his son to be a criminal and they would bring him to the market square and burn him to ashes. The bandits there are not Fulani and the authorities should go and fish them out.

The whole thing I know about Zamfara is that the Vigilance groups are one of the causes of the crises there. Politicians in Zamfara are just backing them. What I understand in Zamfara is that the whole thing is politics among the desperate politicians there. They are blood suckers in Zamfara. Thank God the Minister of Defence is from there. A lot of top men are from there. Let them set up a committee and find a way to end the killings there.


What is your reaction to the claim by some people that Buhari having won his election is indifferent to all these killings?

People can say all sorts of things. If Buhari is not concerned about the situation, why did he direct the Army to go there to stop the killings? Even we, sometimes, we are not happy the way the president is giving directive to go there and operate. He should make sure that the real criminals there are fished out and dealt with. The truth is that some people who lost the last election are saying all kinds of things and they will never say Buhari is doing well. But I know that Buhari is trying to do the right things; remember that Buhari will not go and carry out his orders himself in the bush where all these things are happening.


Do you agree with those who insist that all these killings are because of the high level of poverty in your region and that Buhari is not doing enough to reduce the scourge?

Is Buhari the governor of Kebbi, Kaduna, Borno and other parts of the North? The governors get allocations and they should all use that to tackle the problems of their state. It is only the Federal Government that people can make a noise about. The president is in charge of the Federal Government; let the governors also take charge of their states.


Some prominent voices in the North are already projecting that after President Buhari that power will not come down to the Southern region; do you support the North retaining power in 2023?

Yes, power is going to remain in the North. Tell me one person in the South that is nationally accepted that can rule Nigeria like Buhari? The people who made Nigeria what it is today are from the North. People like Awolowo and Zik tried but where are such people in the South now? That time, they were patriotic and they did not allow themselves to be deceived with the issues of religion and ethnicity. They were patriotic and they believed in Nigeria. But most of the people now from the South who say they want to be president of Nigeria are not patriotic. They are selfish. Most politicians from the North are concerned about the unity of Nigeria and how to keep the country together, and not what they will gain from the position. God forbid that some kind of people would start ruling the country; I see some people that if you give them power, they can just concentrate everything in one area.

You are by implication saying that if a Southerner takes over from Buhari that he may just concentrate appointments and infrastructural developments in the South but that is the same thing the president is being accused of with regards to privileges to the North

Let me tell you the truth; in Nigeria, nobody can operate like Buhari. Even if another president comes from the North, he will not be able to lead like Buhari. He gives the people a sense of belonging and not considering anybody as more important than the other. He does not consider people based on tribe, royalty, status and so on; everything he does is based on merit. Nobody can copy or replicate what Buhari is doing.


From the way you are sounding, is it that you do not believe in the rotation of power between the North and South?

Do you know that if you go to some parts of the South, if they see an Hausa man, they would say he is a Boko Haram member or derogatorily, they will say ‘Onye Hausa’. That kind of hatred has been there among some Southerners. It will be difficult for the Igbo to rule this country because they have something in their mind that is not good. The country is more than a tribe coming to hate some ethnic region, religion and so on. They should know that Nigeria is one.


The South West has been supporting Buhari, and power brokers from the region were instrumental to the formation of the APC and the President’s victory in 2015. Why are you not in support of power going to the South West?

You are talking about 2015; it has passed and is now history. Remember that former President Olusegun Obasanjo ruled the country for eight years. In 2019, the South West gave Buhari 50 per cent of their votes and you say they should be supported to be president. They played real politics in 2019. I am not a politician but they played the real game of politics in 2019. They divided their votes 50/50 for the two major parties. Nobody should say the South West made Buhari to win. No; Buhari won the election clearly and he was voted by all Nigerians who love him. Nobody should come out to say, he is the person that made Buhari to win. Even spirits voted for Buhari in the election.


Do you know that without the former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Tinubu, Buhari would not have made it in 2015?

I have told you that 2015 is now history. Even me talking to you now, do you know the role I played in 2015? People played all manner of politics in 2015 and Tinubu was not the only person. What I know is that Tinubu cannot be the president of Nigeria. That is the truth. He is very old and maybe older than President Buhari. Some people see Tinubu like one big masquerade but he is not. Some think that he is the Yoruba leader but he is not. He is also like Obasanjo; some people see the former president as a small god but he is not. In my last interview before the election, I said it that Obasanjo has only one vote like any other person. What happened? Did it not turn out like that? Everybody’s eyes are already open now. If Tinubu is recognized by the Yoruba people as their leader, why did Buhari score 50 per cent there? Why did he not ask them to give him like even 60 per cent at least? Tinubu has failed and that is the truth. Or are you telling me that Tinubu did anti-party activities by telling the South West to share the votes 50/50 to APC and PDP?


How do you see the issue of inconclusive elections in the North like what happened in Kano, Bauchi and others?

You know that a state like Kano is very strategic to this country. Literally speaking, Kano is like a small Nigeria. No ruling party would like to lose Kano because of its importance in the country. If a ruling party loses Kano, it is like losing the whole country. So, I am not surprised that the APC finally won Kano State because you know that Ganduje is the incumbent and President Buhari who is also very popular in Kano is of the APC. What I know is that a lot of politics was played by the power brokers to make the election turn out the way it did. When I say politics, a lot of things are involved.

Then in Bauchi State also, I knew what happened because I am close to the PDP governorship candidate, Bala Mohammed who won the election. I am not surprised that Bala Mohammed won because he is very popular and the people of Bauchi love him. The former FCT minister is a man of the people. All the Fulani in Nigeria are in support of him because he is very good to them. His mother is a typical Fulani person. All my people are in Bauchi and we did a lot of things to make him win the election. I want to tell you that why Bala Mohammed had problem in Bauchi was because some people wanted to rig the incumbent governor in again. If you do a free and fair election between Bala Mohammed and Abdukadir Mohammed, there is no doubt that the former FCT minister will win landslide.


You talked about power remaining in the North; are you saying that any candidate from your region can make it without the South?

People in the South do not have time. Do you think an Igbo man will leave his shop to stay in the queue for six hours just to vote for somebody? Maybe, they can change before 2023. In the North here, people are ready to stand in line from morning till night just to vote for a candidate. The Igbo people are not serious in politics but in business, they are very serious.


Has your organization congratulated your friend, Samuel Ortom, the governor of Benue State for his re-election?

I will write a letter and congratulate Ortom for winning another term. He is a real politician and I know that this time around, he will drop the anti-grazing law. He will be very friendly to the Fulani now. The only thing I don’t like about Ortom is that he uses the anti-grazing law to play politics with people.

KingAzubuike:
[s]This salah is an overhyped bunch of shìt. He is just Willian part 2. Willian is a bit better sef.[/s]

WITH the five-year tenure of the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, due to end in June, the jostle for his seat is already at a crescendo.

Although no one seems to know the mind of President Muhammadu Buhari on the matter, there appears a consensus of opinion that the President is happy with Emefiele because CBN’s policies under him have stabilised the nation’s economy to a large extent.

As it would be expected, lobbyists are all over the place bandying different names as Emefiele’s potential successor.

The names being touted include those of a female banker and a governorship candidate in the just concluded elections.


But the most prominent of the touted names is that of a serving governor who is believed to have won Buhari’s heart with his performance. However, whether the governor in question would prefer being CBN governor to his current portfolio remains a matter of conjecture.

One of the sources said as a sign of how much confidence President Buhari reposes in her, following the active role she played in his presidential campaign, Hadiza is, in fact, said to be involved in compiling the names of would-be members of the new cabinet

By AHURAKA ISAH, Kunle Olasanmi



Until the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill is passed into law any election result that is electronically transmitted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is illegal, a cross section of Nigerian lawyers has said.

In their contributions to the raging controversy over INEC’s purported transmission of the results of the 2019 presidential election, the lawyers told LEADERSHIP Weekend that it amounts to illegality for the commission or its officers to have transmitted the said results when the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018, has not been signed into law.

They argued that Section 52 (2) of the operating Electoral Act 2010 prohibits the use of electronic voting machine in Nigeria, including the transmission of the results electronically. In the same vein, the legal luminaries said that Section 65 of the same Electoral Act 2010 stipulates that election results shall be transmitted manually by INEC presiding officers and that this law which governed the conduct of the 2019 elections has not been repealed.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are into a fierce verbal war over the purported existence of a server where INEC allegedly stored the results of the February 23 presidential poll won by President Muhammadu Buhari. Among the eminent lawyers, who commented on the matter yesterday, were Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN), Alasa Ismaila, Muktar Abanika, Dr. Kayode Ajulon, and Ismail Alahusa.

They asserted that said since the Electoral Bill which mandates the immediate transmission of voting results from polling units to collation centres has not come to effect, the so-called transmitted result is invalid and any reliance on it is null and void. The lawyers drew attention to the 2015 INEC’s Directives, Guidelines and Manuals which provided for the use of smart card reader while Section 49 of the Electoral Act provided for the use of voter cards instead.

According to them, petitioners in previous elections who placed reliance on INEC guidelines by alleging substantial non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act because the smart card reader was not used in the accreditation process and that the election results should be set aside on the basis of the failure to use the smart card reader failed at the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court, the lawyers said held for instance in Wike Ezenwo Nyesom vs Dakuku Adol Peterside and Others that INEC’s directives on the use of the smart card reader has not invalidated the use of the manual accreditation process, even if it was fraught with fraud.

According to Ahamba, ‘’it is left to the tribunal to determine whether INEC actually gave orders to the presiding officers to transmit the election result electronically to the collation centre or the commission’s server or not. ‘’The tribunal will determine precisely after it has listened to all sides and gone through all the available evidence adduced by parties to the suit. But it is trite law that if INEC gave unlawful instruction, the result so transmitted is unlawful and invalid,’’ he said.

In his views, Ismaila who practices law in Katsina and Abuja said: ‘’It is immaterial whether the presiding officer was instructed to transmit the election results electronically or not. We must determine whether such was governed by the new INEC Guidelines and Manual for the conduct of the 2019 general elections. Even then at his level, he cannot claim ignorance that the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill which would have authorised it is yet to be signed to law. ‘

’The Supreme Court judgement in Edward Nkwegu Okereke vs Nweze David Umahi and Wike Ezenwo Nyesom vs Dakuku Adol Peterside and others are enough lessons not to do things outside the law. The apex court held in Wike’s case for example that the introduction of the card reader is certainly a welcome development in the electoral process. Although it is meant to improve on the credibility of those accredited to vote so as to check the incidence of rigging, it is yet to be made part of the Electoral Act.

To Abanika,‘’Section 52 (2) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended which is still in operation prohibits the use of electronic voting machine for the time being in Nigeria, including the transmission of the electronic results. He said: ‘’Section 65 of the same Electoral Act 2010 that dictates that the election results shall be transmitted manually by the presiding officer, yet that law which governed the conduct of the 2019 elections has not been repealed.”

The Electoral Bill which mandates the immediate transmission of voting results from polling units to collation centres is not yet operational, and as such, the transmitted result is invalid and any reliance place on it is null and void,’’ the lawyers maintained.

Dr. Ajulo, who is the founder of Egalitarian Mission in Africa, said that the PDP candidate (Alhaji Atiku Abubakar) has embarked on a fruitless venture with the results he claimed he got from INEC server. Ajulo asserted that the result is not admissible in law, adding that ‘’if President Muhammadu Buhari had signed the amended Electoral Act, which included electronic transmission of results, Atiku would have had a valid case against INEC, but as it is, he cannot even tender the results at the tribunal.”

A Kaduna-based lawyer, Ismail Alahusa, agreed with the submissions of Ajulo. He said that electronic transmission of result is not recognised by the Electoral Act and, therefore, the result Atiku claims he got from INEC server is “just a piece of paper.” ‘’He can’t use it at the tribunal because the law does not even recognize the transmission of result electronically. I want to believe that Atiku was not properly advised before approaching the tribunal to challenge the results of the election,” he said.

But Akinwumi Adisa, a civil rights activist said that Buhari refused to sign the amended Electoral Act Bill into law because of the fraud the APC and INEC perpetrated during the election. He said: ‘’To every sane Nigerian, the last election is the worst in the history of polls in Nigeria. For every Nigerian that is seeking the good of this country, the last election was a sham and should be condemned by all.

‘’As for the result Atiku claimed he got from INEC server, even if it is not admissible in law, the whole world would be made to know the daylight robbery committed during the last election.’’ A Lagos-based lawyer, Emmanuel Majebi said: “It would not have been possible to transmit the results even if INEC had wanted to do so initially because there are areas that have no network and there are areas where the card readers did not work or were not used.

“The figures Atiku brought is very bogus. The combined votes for him and Buhari is more than the total accredited voters, no other candidates got a vote, no cancellation and no voided votes, that in itself has knocked out his INEC server’s claim.

I will not want to say much on the issue because it is in court but I will say the electronic transmission of election results was an ideal that wasn’t possible. “It was not backed by law. It was to be a parallel process but it didn’t work or INEC probably heard that some people had planned to compromise it and abandoned it without announcement.

Transmission to the server of the number of accredited voters, does not translate to the number of votes cast! Another Lagos-based lawyer Jude Omeire said: “I believe we should not be jumping the gun and we should allow the tribunal to determine the merits and demerits of the petition and the defence.

I believe that the law empowered INEC to set guidelines for the conduct of the elections but the question is, can INEC guidelines override the constitution and the Electoral Act? “It is the responsibility of the tribunal to scrutinise the submitted data, and if needs be as to its source and genuineness,” he said.

by IBRAHIM SHA'BAN




Kano state government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a Chinese transportation company with a view to introducing a multi-billion naira Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, service in the state’s metropolis.

A statement signed by the Director – General, Media and Publicity, of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, at first, about 100 busses would be supplied to the state for the services.

According to the statement, the MOU was signed by the Kano state government, Kano Metropolitan Transport Company, Zhengzhou Yutong Bus Company, China and Zhengzhou Public Bus Communication Co. Ltd., China.

The MOU further entails integrated transport solutions that includes routes network and infrastructure planning, suitable bus models, Intelligent Transport System, ITS, modern management of operation and maintenance of the fleet data analysis systems, regulation improvement and local talent improvement.

The statement also quoted Governor Ganduje as saying that the initiative was aimed at revolutionising transport and enhancing ease of doing business in Nigeria’s foremost commercial center.

“Presently, Kano is the most populous state in the country. It has a population of over 16 million people. The main public vehicles are mini buses and tricycles which are not supportive of long – term mega city development.

“Therefore, an efficient modern system of public transportation must be established. This will reflect the position of Kano as a truly megacity,” Mr Ganduje who was represented by the State commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport, Aminu Wudil, stated.

“We decided to partner with Zhengzhou Yutong because it is the world’s largest and reputed bus manufacturer with capacity providing Integrated Solution of Public bus transport system and several decades of experience.

“Kano state government is expected to invest not more than 25 percent of the project cost while the operator, Kano Metropolitan Transport Company is the main shareholder while the Chinese company will serve as the technical partner.”

Deji Elumoye in Abuja




Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Monday declared that former Lagos state governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and his cohorts will fail again like they did in June, 2015 if they attempt to foist a leadership on the Ninth National Assembly due for inauguration in June.

Saraki, in a terse statement issued by his Media Adviser, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in reaction to Tinubu’s allegation on Sunday that the National Assembly leadership padded the budget in the last four years, also described the budget padding allegation as careless, irresponsible and callous.

The Senate President said the grand plan by Tinubu and his co-travellers not to allow the wishes of federal legislators-elect to prevail in the election of presiding officers of the Ninth National Assembly will fail as it was the case at the inauguration of the 8th Assembly on June 9, 2015.

According to him, “Tinubu should know that if there was any mistake made on June 9, 2015, it was the miscalculation by himself and his small cabal in the All Progressive Congress (APC) who felt they could decide for the Senators-elect and House of Representatives members-elect. When they failed after their grand-standing that they could always got whatever they desired, they resorted to undermining the institution of the legislature and waging a campaign of calumny against the law making body.

“It is now clear that those who took Senators away from the chambers contrary to the directive contained in the proclamation signed by President Muhammadu Buhari on June 9, 2015 are ‘mistake personified’.

“It is obvious that if they repeat that arrogance during the inauguration of the Ninth National Assembly, they will fail again because Nigeria is greater than them. The institution of the legislature is bigger than the over-bloated egos of these power mongers and dirty schemers”.

Saraki further emphasised that “it is obvious Tinubu’s arbitrary and tactless interference in the process for the emergence of the leadership of the Ninth Assembly is already falling through.


“The frustration from this experience might have been responsible for this needless and baseless outbursts.
He, however, advised Tinubu for the sake of the stability of the National Assembly to allow the members to elect their leadership in consultations with the party leadership.

“He should stop treating the legislators like hapless pupils receiving orders from a cane-wielding headmaster. A situation where he, Tinubu, is dictating to elected legislators and ordering them to either comply with his directives or get out of the party, will not augur well for the legislature in the next dispensation.

“History should have thought him that only a leadership that truly enjoys the support of members can help the President and his administration to achieve their objectives. It is a good development that the candidates for the various positions are already reaching out to their colleagues and forging alliances. We can see that after he realized that he has misfired, he is trying to retrace his step and in his usual devious manner, he is looking for scapegoats. We advise him to leave Saraki out of his manipulations and “jockeying and maneuvering for influence and power”, as he termed it.

On the allegation that national budgets were delayed, distorted, padded, new projects introduced, funds for projects reduced, “to halt progress of government”, the Senate President described as unfortunate that a man like Tinubu who had been in the Senate (though for 22 months and under a military regime) should not have a better understanding of how the legislature works.


He stated that the passage of budgets is definitely not the exclusive responsibility of the leadership of the Senate as most of the work is done by the various committees. “These committees are headed by Senators representing different parties. It is the level of co-operation between the committees and the MDAs in the timely defence of the budget proposals and the ability of the two chambers of the National Assembly to reconcile their figures that usually determine how soon the budget is passed. To put the blame of budget delay on the Senate President or Speaker can only be mischief, or at best, playing to the gallery”

Thirty-two of the 37 lawmakers who ditched the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the eve of the party’s primaries on July 24, 2018, for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will not return to the 9th House of Representatives in June. Daily Trust on Sunday looks at how the lawmakers lost their re-election bids.

Some lawmakers, spread across 10 states – Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Bauchi, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, Ondo and Oyo – who defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress to other parties shortly before the 2019 general elections, failed to secure the tickets of their receiving parties. And majority of those who secured their parties’ tickets failed to get re-elected, and thus, cannot return to the House of Representatives.

However, the exceptions are Emmanuel Orker-Jev (PDP, Benue) and Barry Mpigi (PDP, Rivers), who both left the APC and got elevated to the Senate. While Oker-Jev defeated incumbent Senator George Akume of the APC to win the Benue North-West senatorial election, Mpigi overwhelmed other candidates to claim the Rivers South-East Senate seat under the PDP.

Also, despite leaving the APC, Mark Gbillah (PDP, Benue) was able to retain his Gwer East/Gwer West federal constituency for the PDP.

Unlike the above trio, however, Aliyu Madaki (PDP, Kano), lost the Kano Central district to former Kano State governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, who defected from the PDP to the APC.

Meanwhile, in the case of Benjamin Okolo (PDP, Kogi) and Lawal Rabiu (PDP, Kaduna), who left the APC for the PDP before the primaries, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared elections in their constituencies inconclusive.

Aside Orker-Jev and Gbillah, the three other defectors from Benue State, namely Hassan Saleh, Dickson Takghir, and Emmanuel Udende, all lost their seats, having failed to secure PDP’s tickets after defection from the APC.

In Kogi, Hassan Omale, an incumbent who secured PDP ticket after defecting from the APC, however, lost at the election to Ali Ibrahim of the APC.

Except Funke Adedoyin who died shortly after the defection episode, the remaining five defectors from Kwara State, who ran on PDP platforms, bowed to the “Otoge” mantra that swept away the Saraki political dynasty.

While Razak Atunwa lost the Kwara governorship election, Zakari Mohammed failed in his senatorial bid, both to the APC candidates.

Aliyu Pategi, Tope Olayonu and Abubakar Amuda-Kanike, who staged return bids to the House, equally lost to their APC opponents.

Unlike Speaker Yakubu Dogara, who also defected from the APC to the PDP, Salisu Ningi, his compatriot from Bauchi State, lost his Ningi/Warji federal constituency to Abdulkadir Abdullahi of the APC.

While Sani Zoro, another defector, failed to get PDP’s ticket in Jigawa, Ahmed Bichi, Garba Mohammed, Shehu Aliyu, Danburam Nuhu, Suleiman Romo, Sule Garo and Musa Tsamiya, all lost their seats in Kano State to APC candidates.

Like Kano, Ahmed Chanchangi, who dumped the APC for PDP in Kaduna, subsequently failed to get PDP’s ticket, and thus lost his Kaduna South federal constituency to Ahmed Muktar of the APC.

In Sokoto State, Aminu Shagari, Kabiru Marafa, Bashir Salihu and Abdussamad Dasuki, who defected to the PDP in solidarity with Governor Aminu Tambuwal of the state, all lost their seats. The four lawmakers lost to newcomers who will be taking their first oath of office at the Lower Chamber in June.

In Kebbe/Tambuwal federal constituency, Abdulasamad Dasuki lost his seat to Kokani Bala, just like Aminu Shehu Shagari lost his Yabo/Shagari federal constituency to Umaru Yabo, both of the APC.

For Tangaza/Gudu and Wurno/Rabah federal constituencies, Bashir Salihu and Kabiru Marafa lost their seats to Yusuf Kurdula and Aliyu Al-Mustapha, both of the APC.

Bode Ayorinde, the scholarly lawmaker from Ondo State, who also defected from the APC to the PDP during the mass defection at the House, lost his Owo/Ose federal constituency seat to the APC candidate.

In Oyo State, all the five lawmakers that left the APC to PDP and ADC, lost at the general polls last February. They include Ogunwuyi Segun, Olasupo Adeola, Samson Olugbemi, Sunday Adepoju, and Akintola Michael of the ADC.

Divergence of opinions trailed the defection of the group of 37 lawmakers from the APC to the PDP and ADC in July 2018.

While Razak Atunwa (PDP, Kwara), spokesman of the defected lawmakers had claimed that they left the APC because of injustice visited on them by the party’s leadership, House Leader Femi Gbajabiamila had countered that the lawmakers were in desperate search for return tickets for the 2019 general elections.

Speaking on the challenges of defection to Nigeria’s democracy, Dr. David Ajayi, a lecturer in the Department of History, University of Ibadan, suggested a constitutional amendment to expunge the clause from the 1999 Constitution. According to him, such amendments should strictly enforce the caveat on defection from one party to another so as not to make mockery of Nigeria’s democracy.

“I suggest a constitutional amendment to expunge every leeway on defection from the 1999 Constitution. The amendment will be very strict, such that whoever defects from his or her original party to another automatically loses his or her seat, either in the legislature or executive,” Ajayi said.

Also speaking, Dr. Chris Ezeibe, who teaches Political Science at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, attributed defection among politicians to lack of political ideologies.

“If you look at all the political parties, you will discover that there is basically no difference among them. They are all the same, whether APC or PDP. This is quite unlike what obtains in developed countries, where politicians’ conducts are regulated, to a large extent, by parties’ ideologies,” Ezeibe said.

Defection, loosely known as cross-carpeting, entails a situation where a lawmaker dumps the original political party that sponsored him or her to parliament for another party. The practice, regulated in Section 68 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution, has been abused by Nigerian politicians for self-aggrandizement.

By Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI




The member representing Ezza North/Ishielu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Anayo Edwin Nwonu, yesterday told the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, that only the lawmakers will determine the leadership of the National Assembly not Oshiomhole and the APC.


He said Oshiomhole’s insistence that APC must determine the leadership of the 9th National Assembly, billed for inauguration June 11 and the party’s endorsement of some newly elected lawmakers, NASS leadership position for would not work.

He noted that only the lawmakers have the say on who leads them and that it is them that will choose their leaders on the day of their inauguration. Nwonu, who was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), spoke to reporters in Abakaliki, Ebonyi the state capital; and vowed that the lawmakers will show Oshiomhole and his APC how to play politics on June 11.

Nwonu described the APC National Chairman a barking dog who cannot near the National Assembly to make any input during election of the new leadership. He words: “Right now, you cannot conclude what will happen in the National Assembly until the day of inauguration.

I want you to forget about party issues and propaganda by the All Progressives Congress (APC), and what the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is saying.


“Lawmakers politics is quite different from what you are seeing. On 11th June, by the special grace of God when we will be inaugurated, you will see a different scenario playing out, you will see a different thing altogether playing.” “By then, the APC chairman will not be in that chamber, Mr. President will not be in that chamber. So, it is the lawmakers that will decide who they give their leadership. So for now, I will not let out the cat out of the bag on the game we are playing.

By Anule Emmanuel




Now I understand the grievance of some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Since the intrigues about the choice of those who will take over the leadership of the Ninth National Assembly began shortly after the 2019 general elections, there have been deliberate attempts to get President Muhammad Bukhara deeply involved.

The Ninth Assembly opens in June this year and stakeholders in the ruling party are not ready to take anything for granted and allow a repeat of the 2015 experience when the lawmakers had a field day and elected presiding officers of their choice.

Both the current President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara emerged as leaders of the two chambers in the parliament against the wishes of their political party, (the APC). They later defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Saraki was returned unopposed as Senate President facilitated by the solid backing of a 49-member strong PDP caucus with unalloyed support from APC Senators from Zamfara, Sokoto, Adamawa, Kogi and Kwara states, knocking out Ahmed Lawan who was the preferred candidate of the party. Interestingly too, with the ‘give and take deal’ orchestrated by PDP and Saracen backed elements in the APC, Senator Ike Ekweremadu of the PDP was also returned as Deputy President of the Senate, the first time a bipartisan leadership was enthroned in Nigeria’s Red Chamber.

The drama inside the Senate at the time also robbed off negatively for the official candidate of the APC in the Green Chamber as Femi Gbajabiamila lost to Dogara who was elected speaker. No one was left in doubt that the ruling party structure and hierarchy, as well as its national leader, former Lagos State governor Ahmed Bola Tinubu, was solidly behind the candidature of Gbajabiamila. APC’s official candidate for the Deputy Speakership, Tahir Monguno had also lost to Lasun Yusuf of the PDP. The battle for the four presiding officers’ positions in the National Assembly therefore witnessed the APC losing to all the candidates backed by the opposition PDP.

Sadly, the outcome of the election in both chambers established a frosty relationship that exists to date between the leadership of the executive and the legislature. What many Nigerians seem to forget easily is the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari as President-elect innocently laid the foundation for what played out in the parliament in 2015. I was among several other people who commended the President for his unique democratic posture of promising never to meddle into the NASS leadership contest.

In a statement by Garb Shah then Director of Media & Publicity of APC Presidential Campaign few days before the President’s inauguration, Bukhara emphatically promised that he was willing to work with any leader of the Senate and Reps, irrespective of what part of the country he or she originated from. He explained that those who wanted him to interfere in the internal affairs of the parliament were still thinking in the past, forgetting that Change had truly come to Nigeria.

Hear him out, “I am prepared to work with any leaders that the House or Senate selects,” General Bukhara said. “It doesn’t matter who the person is or where he or she is from. There is due process for the selection of leaders of the National Assembly and I will not interfere in that process. Nigeria has indeed entered a new dispensation,” he said. “My administration does not intend to repeat the same mistakes made by previous governments.

Following the emergence of Saraki, Dogara and the other two principal officers, President Buhari did not fail to acknowledge that a constitutional process occurred in the election, he, however, wished the process had followed the initiative by the APC.

For the APC and its National chairman, Adams Oshiomhole both the President’s posture at the time and the failure of the party to handle the intrigues of leadership selection in the National Assembly contributed significantly in thwarting the progress which the government would have made in delivering dividends of democracy to Nigerians in the last four years. The minister of Information Lai Mohammed at some point raised the concern that NASS under the current leadership, unfortunately, treated the executive with contempt.

In his view, the 2016, 2017 and 2018 budgets for instance, were deliberately delayed by the lawmakers to frustrate the government. The same thing he said was with appointments, nominations and confirmations for key organisations that could move the government forward like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).

What is certain at the moment is that the APC is not leaving anything to chance in ensuring that all its candidates emerge victorious during the election for the leadership of the ninth National Assembly. The party’s chairman has since embarked on vigorous lobbying of both returning and newly elected members in the green and red chambers to achieve this feat. One other major strategy adopted by comrade Oshiomhole and members of his National Working Committee (NWC) is to get the strong buy-in of President Bukhara and the presidency particularly, in form of an endorsement of the party’s preferred candidates.

Securing the President’s blessing is necessary given the fact that the APC under Oshiomhole plans to even expand the battle frontiers into what can be best described as the winner takes all. Going forward, the game plan is to ensure that all strategic committees in the two chambers are headed entirely by members of the ruling party. As far as the party chairman is concerned, APC cannot afford to do business with the ’devil’ to survive at the parliament.

Oshiomhole and members of the NWC of the APC in the last few weeks have led the lawmakers, (Senate and House), both old and new to President Bukhara at the presidential villa with the view to sealing the deal about the choice of Senator Ahmed Lawan for Senate presidency and Femi Gbajabiamila for the House Speakership. A few members of the party are however not taking likely this supposedly clandestine lobbying of the President by Oshiomhole and his group for these two candidates. One of the aggrieved members is former Senate Leader Ali Ndume who also wants to run for the office of the Senate president. House spokesman Abdulrazak Namdas (APC, Adamawa), Ahmed Wase (APC, Plateau), Umar Bago (APC, Niger) and Dr. John Idyer (APC, Benue) are also challenging Gbajabiamila for the Speakership.

Since the dinner with the Senators and members of the House of Representatives, President Buhari has yet to openly endorse anyone. No member of the APC at the moment can categorically claim to know what position the President has so far taken. The President at both meetings with the lawmakers, however, urged them to embrace unity and stand by the position of the party. While covering events at both the dinner with the senators and the House members, it was not difficult to see signs of unhappiness on the faces of the lawmakers as they emerged from the inner rooms. As far as they are concerned, presenting any candidate before the President while coercing the opinions remained an unfruitful exercise.

The general expectation is that as the APC strives never to make the mistakes of 2015, it must be seen to have worked out an equitable zoning arrangement based on clear, identifiable and acceptable criteria understood by all players to cater for all the geopolitical zones. It is interesting to hear that the party has zoned the Senate presidency to the North East which produced the highest number of votes in the 2019 general elections. I am among those who still do not understand why the position of the Speakership is being zoned to the South West and not the North Central which also polled significant votes, in fact, third after North West and North East during the presidential election. It makes no sense for the South West holding the position of Vice President and at the same time, producing the next speaker in the National Assembly.

You may pardon my position on this matter, but it is one of those numerous and contentious issues of disagreement among the lawmakers which, if not properly handled by both the presidency and the APC, could throw up another 2015 experience during the selection process. Another sensitive issue is that of religion which most people have always pretended to avoid. As it stands today, one particular religion in both chambers may end up dominating as against the spirit of fair and equitable distribution of power which the country has witnessed in the past. Despite these intrigues however, the most important thing we desire is an independent National Assembly that works to make laws for the welfare of all Nigerians and the development of all parts of the country.

Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State — including Abiola Ajimobi, Governor of the state — and their aides are unhappy with Adebayo Adelabu, governorship candidate of the party, following his first public statement since losing the election, SaharaReporters can report.

Adelabu lost the March 9 governorship election to Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), winning only five of the 33 local governments in the state while Makinde won all the rest.

The PDP candidate won in Ibadan North West, Ibarapa East, Atiba, Kajola, Ido, Lagelu, Iwajowa, Afijio, Orelope, Ibadan North East, Ibadan South East, Ibarapa North, Atisbo, Ibarapa Central, Ogbomoso South, Ibadan North, Egbeda, Itesiwaju, Saki West, Saki East, Oyo West, Oyo East, Oluyole, Olorunsogo, Ona Ara, Akinyele, Iseyin and Ibadan South West LGAs.

Meanwhile, Adelabu won in Orire, Ogooluwa, Surulere, Ogbomoso North, and Irepo LGAs of the state.

At the end of the race, Makinde scored a total of 515,621 votes while Adelabu polled 357,982. Olufemi Lanlehin, candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), came third in the governorship poll with 12,375 votes, although he had stepped down a few days before the election in order to support Makinde.

As previously reported by SaharaReporters, Adelabu's post-election reaction has included abusing leaders of the party and blaming them for his loss — a disposition some sections of the party reacted to by revealing how Adelabu “carrying himself like a governor-in-waiting” from the moment he won the governorship primary of the party in 2018.

SaharaReporters understands that Adelabu subsequently travelled to the US and the UK to reflect on events; and following his return to the country on Thursday April 11, he penned a public statement on April 17 in which he "profusely" thanked "my people" and "our supporters" for their "uncommon support" but curiously made no mention of the party's leaders.

Also, his promise to pay "thank you" visits to "all our party members, stakeholders, supporters and fans across the length and breadth of our state to intimate them of our plan going forward" also made no mention of the leaders who were instrumental in his emergence as APC governorship candidate in the firts place.

Adalabu posted the message on his official Facebook page, as well as numerous Whatsapp groups to which he belongs.

"The party leaders, the Governor, his aides and some other people are angry," a source told SaharaReporters.

"Did he single-handedly emerge the party's candidate? In fact, the Governor's aides have been talking about how they warned the party not to use the 'arrogant' Adelabu as the candidate."



Reproduced below, verbatim, is Adelabu's message:

Good day to you my people. 2019 elections have come and gone. I want to thank you profusely for the uncommon support, morally, financially and spiritually that you showed me during the last Gubernatorial election. I'm eternally grateful and indebted to you and I believe it's only the Almighty Allah that can pay you back and in folds too. Once again, God himself knows the sincerity of our intentions and genuineness of our purpose, so our sacrifices are not in vain, but remain an innocent investment in the desired prosperity of our dear state. Whatever happens to a man is either a blessing or a lesson. However in this case, it's both a blessing "in disguise" and a lesson to come out a better and stronger person.

Electoral losses, as read in history, have made great leaders come out stronger, better and more successful and never to depress or discourage them. I take solace in the persistence and tenacity of our 357,000 strong genuine voters (which is larger than what ushered in the last three successive governors) and kindness of history and posterity. The devil is in the details like they say, as a first timer, with 357,000 genuine votes, we remained the single strongest candidate in the 2019 Guber elections claimed to be displaced by the conspiracy or coalition of five other Guber candidates. This also gave out our party as the single strongest and most popular party in the last elections. All these should not go unnoticed and should prepare us better for challenges ahead. My apology for the delay in reaching out, being close to 40days now after the elections.

Like everyone of our supporters, I personally had to struggle for some time to come to terms with the realities of the disappointing results of the election and just returned from a two weeks vacation abroad, where i took some time to rest, spent time with my family and reflected on the way forward. Notwithstanding the shocking and unfavourable outcome of the elections, i still thank the Almighty Allah for seeing us through a well orchestrated electioneering campaign devoid of casualties, which I believe will go down in history as one of the most flamboyant, issue based and all inclusive campaign ever in the history of Oyo state politics. A lot of hitherto politically apathetic and indifferent personalities, showed a lot of active interests and unprecedented supports toward our aspirations to serve our motherland and see to the progress of our dear state, simply for the singular reason of my involvement. Through this, our conscience is clear and our emotions fulfilled for having participated and showed interest in the determination of who runs the affairs of our state. Posterity and history, I believe will be kind to us as having chosen not to ignore the process of choosing those who paddle the canoe of our state to progress. Like they say, the joy of the Olympics is not just in winning medals but in the fulfilment of our participation. And I also know that Politics they say is not a 100mtr dash but a marathon which we know always starts with a single step.

That heavy and decisive step has been taken through the process of this last election and we wont stop until we reach our desired destination. While I believe the results came out the way it was destined, the adduced reasons notwithstanding, our party is collectively convinced that the election was marred by various electoral irregularities and malpractices ranging from front loading of votes to multiple voting cutting across same and multiple polling units, hence the petition submitted at the Tribunal presently being prosecuted and this is left for the Judges to determine. Notwithstanding the outcome of the Election petition tribunal, I'm personally of the opinion that we need not be stagnant in our electoral quest and planning for the next election should start in earnest. Our political structures across the state remain intact while our supporters remain undaunted. We intend to keep and maintain these structures and regularly reach out to our fans and supporters who till date are still left gapping wondering why the results came out the way it did.

The reflections are all over the state as everywhere seems to be in a state of mourning and no signs of celebrations or jubilations ushering in a popularly elected new government. We will be embarking on "Thank you" visits to all our party members, stakeholders, supporters and fans across the length and breadth of our state to intimate them of our plan going forward. We are still thankful to God that our party still occupies the Federal Govt and the National Exco of our party has assured us of consistent and special support to enable us bounce back being the only state in the South West now in opposition. I also want to let you know that I will soon reach out to you on specific plans, programs and activities in our camp and plead that you should not relent in your support for this cause and very soon, we will reach our destination. It is worthy of note that one or two lessons have also been learnt and all these will guide our actions and activities going forward. Thank you and God bless.

Adebayo A. Adelabu FCA, FCIB
Signed

by Yusuf ALLI,



INDICATIONS emerged yesterday on why President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to act on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC) that the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, be retired.

The President, it was learnt, considered NJC’s letter ambiguous, as it did not clearly state why the suspended CJN should be retired.

The President was also said to have received some legal advice to ignore NJC’s recommendations on Onnoghen because the council’s letter did not follow constitutional process.

The ambiguity in NJC’s letter was said to have accounted for the current situation in which the nation is having a CJN and an Acting CJN.

Findings made by our correspondent revealed that NJC’s recommendation to the President only advised him to retire Onnoghen in the “interest of the nation and the Judiciary.”

The council was, however, silent on its findings on Onnoghen or whether or not he committed infractions based on the investigation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

A top source said: “The recommendation of the NJC was a ‘legal soft landing for Onnoghen in order not to expose him to any further criminal trial based on EFCC’s investigation.

“The council advised the President to retire Onnoghen in the interest of the nation and the Judiciary. But Section 292 of the 1999 Constitution gave three conditions for the removal of a Judicial Officer, which include inability to discharge his duties, misconduct and contravention of the Code of Conduct.

“There is nowhere in the constitution where it is expressly stated that a CJN or a Judicial Officer can be retired in the interest of the nation and the Judiciary.

“If Onnoghen is removed or retired as contained in the NJC’s letter, the President’s action might be actionable. “You don’t build something on nothing.

“This is why the President is allowing the development in the Judiciary to follow a natural course.

“Onnoghen has offered to go on voluntary resignation or retirement and the Code of Conduct Tribunal has convicted him.

“There are three exit options for Onnoghen now as follows: retirement by NJC if put in a proper constitutional context; voluntary resignation or retirement if approved by NJC at its next meeting; and the CCT judgment if endorsed by the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

“The President would have acted on any of these options but he has opted to follow due process to avoid being accused of hastiness in removing Onnoghen.

“The President is hamstrung by NJC’s recommendation, which was inexplicit. At a point, the NJC said Onnoghen should be compulsorily retired with full benefits.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “Actually, the President was advised to reject or ignore NJC’s recommendation on Onnoghen until the council is more forthcoming on why the suspended CJN should be retired.”

Section 292 says: “A Judicial Officer shall not be removed from his office or appointment before his age of retirement except in the following circumstances (a) in the case of —(i) Chief Justice of Nigeria, President of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Grand Khadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and President Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja by the President acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate

(ii) Chief Judge of a state, Grand Khadi of a Sharia Court of Appeal or President of a Customary Court of Appeal of a state by the Governor acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the House of Assembly of the state

“…praying that he be so removed for his inability to discharge the functions of his office or appointment (whether arising from infirmity of mind or of body) or for misconduct or contravention of the Code of Conduct. “(b) in any case, other than those to which paragraph (a) of this subsection applies by the President or as the case may be, the Governor acting on the recommendation of the NJC that the Judicial Officer be so removed for his inability to discharge the functions of his office or appointment (whether arising from infirmity of mind or of body) or for misconduct or contravention of the Code of Conduct.”

Another source added: “It is left to the NJC to be decisive in its recommendations and clean the Augean Stable in the nation’s Judiciary. It is really time to move forward. “It is of no use setting constitutional booby traps for the President. Let there be a clear direction to follow.” At press time, it was learnt that the NJC may meet next week to consider the observations of the President, the voluntary resignation/ retirement of Onnoghen and the extension of the tenure or appointment of the Acting CJN, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad as the substantive holder of the office. A source in NJC simply said: “The council may meet next week.”

A reputable civil rights group, the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ) has raised alarm over the alleged involvement of the National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) in the composition of the Appeal Court Panel Judges which lead to the alleged inclusion of Justice Joseph Olubunmi Kolawole Oyewole into the panel.

The group revealed that it was reliably informed by the sources close to the Office of the Court of Appeal President that the leadership of the ruling party (APC) were consulted before the composition of the current Appeal Tribunal Panel on 2018 Osun governorship election, saying that the ruling party were not comfortable with the landmark majority judgment of the Lower Tribunal that declared opposition Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) candidate, Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke as the winner of the September 22nd, 2018 guber election in the State.

To show its grouse over the action, CHRSJ wrote a Petition Letter dated 18th of April, 2018 and forwarded to the Court of Appeal President which is constitutionally saddled with the responsibility of constituting the Governorship Election Appeal Panel over alleged inclusion of Justice JOK Oyewole in the panel. It also copies the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Senate President,Speaker,House of Representatives, National Human Rights Commission(NHRC) and International communities for their urgent and necessary action on the subject matter.

According to the signed Petition Letter by the CHRSJ’s Executive Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi, Alimi Sulaiman and also contained in a Press Statement made available to newsmen on Thursday, demanded for the outright removal of Justice Oyewole from the Panel.

The Petition Letter read thus; “We have it on good authority that Hon. Justice JOK Oyewole is one of the Justices to be appointed by your good self to serve in the Appeal Tribunal of the 2018 Osun Governorship Election Petition. It is our belief that anybody that would serve in such exalted position in the temple of justice must be above board in all ramifications which the said Hon. Justice Oyewole could not be categorized as one of such jurists in the panel.

“It is to inform your good self that Justice JOK Oyewole is a benefactor of the appellants in the said Election Petition and it would be difficult for Justice Oyewole to dispense justice without bias. CHRSJ also wishes to inform you good authority that Mr. Gboyega Oyetola who is the 2nd Respondents (now appellants) in the Governorship Election Petition is a Nephew of APC National Leader, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the then Chief of Staff in immediate past Rauf Aregbesola’s government.

“Going by the history and Oyewole’s background, Mr. Justice Oyewole is a native of Ila Orangun in Ila Local Government area of Osun State but began his( Justice Oyewole) Law Practice in Lagos State as a pupil Lawyer where the Asiwaju of Ila Orangun and Former Acting Chairman of APC , Chief Bisi Akande introduced him( Justice Oyewole) to the then Governor of Lagos State(now APC National Leader) , Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu where Oyewole was nominated as Magistrate in Lagos State and later elevated to become the Lagos State Judge through recommendation to the National Judicial Council (NJC) by the Lagos State government.

“More so, the immediate past Osun State government which the Appellant (Mr. Gboyega Oyetola) serve as Chief of Staff planned to nominate Justice JOK Oyewole through the State Judicial Service Commission to be the Chief Judge of Osun State while he was a Judge in the Lagos State Judiciary. We rose up to forestall their judicial selfish agenda then and even, the Osun State Judges signed a memo to the NJC against this act and it was the effort of the courageous Chairman of NJC and the then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Aloma Muktar that rightly refused to accept the nomination by insisting that the most Senior in Osun bench should be recommended”.

The letter further stated; “Later, the then Osun Governor, Mr. Aregbesola of APC presented Justice Oyewole to the NJC in 2013 to use Osun’s slot to be elevated to the Court of Appeal. There is still rumpus in Osun State today and you will see that Justice Oyewole got to the Court of Appeal through the efforts of Tinubu/ Aregbesola/Oyetola. May Lord ma, how on earth will Oyewole would not favour the above 3 named persons in his dispensation of justice, so, he will be definitely biased.

“Sir, allowing Justice Oyewole in the composition of the Appellate Court jurists on 2018 Governorship Election Petition Tribunal of Osun State would not only subvert the electoral will of the good people of Osun State but scuttle the truth and justice which could uplift any given society in a democratic life”.

“In view of the above points, CHRSJ is rejecting the inclusion of Justice JOK Oyewole in the proposed Election Petition Appeal panel because if Justice Oyewole is part of the Governorship Election Appeal Panel, the panel might have accommodated “a cancer” in its fold and it may get all the body rotten”, the group submitted.

Since when did kissing become so compulsory that even if a couple is not in the mood to lock lips, the wedding guests have to forcibly hold their heads and make them kiss against their will?


[img]https://ocdn.eu/pulscms-transforms/1/ZpNk9kpTURBXy9kMWI3MWZlMGIwMGNhOGUyODA1OTdjMDU0YjMyZTdhNC5wbmeSlQMAKM0CUM0BTZUCzQMHAMPDgqEwBaExAQ[/img]
Wedding guests make unexcited groom and bride kiss by force


A video circulating online shows a groom and his bride being forced to kiss each other at their own wedding, when it is clear on their faces and in their reactions that they simply did not want to do it.


It is not clear if the young couple were marring by consent, but it was more than clear from the bride’s reaction that she is not proud of her groom, as he also appeared to be blushing.


Guests who did not want to miss the kissing episode of the wedding event are seen in the viral video pushing the couple’s heads and forcibly making them kiss.

Chukwudi Nweje




Senator-elect and former Abia State governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has declared that he will reject a ministerial position if he were offered one.

Kalu said this at the second annual lecture of Freedom Online, an online newspaper.

The former Abia governor, who was elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was chairman of the lecture.

He said: “I will not accept a ministerial position if I were offered one. I am the elected representative for Abia North senatorial district.”

Kalu further noted that even though he is elected to represent Abia North, his representation will cover the entire country because his oath of office will be to serve the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I have just been elected to the Senate. I’ve not even been sworn in. Don’t worry yourself; my vibrancy will always be felt by the people I represent. I will give the people quality representation. When I was governor, I represented the people of Abia state to the best of my ability.

“This time I am not going to represent only the people of Abia North, but the people of Nigeria, which oath I am going to take.

“I am not going to be taking an oath that I am senator of Abia North, I am going to take an oath of office as senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. So, even in Elewe, I am going to represent them as well as I represent the people of Abia North.”

Kalu also reiterated he will contest for the position of Deputy Senate President, because equity demands that all the major tribes of the country are represented in the leadership of the Ninth National Assembly.

“It doesn’t matter if I’m the one there, what matters is that, in constituting the leadership, all the major ethnic groups would be represented. It is fair, I am not asking this for anything else, I am asking it for equity justice and fair play. Even this one they are saying we did not vote for APC; President Muhammadu Buhari has not said it. It is only some people in the media that are saying it,” Kalu added.

He, however, said he will respect and abide by the decision of the party on the matter.

“I still hope that the party will be gracious enough to zone the positions. I don’t want to go against the party. It will not be a healthy relationship between me and the party and the party and other people. We are capable of going to war, but, it is not good to always go to war. I want the party to zone the offices; they can say we are giving North East the position of Senate president, we are giving South East position of Speaker; we have given South East deputy senate president, we have given North Central deputy speaker and so on and we will have peace,” Kalu further added.

Kalu, who was also awarded with a plaque for his support towards the lecture ,said the only way Nigeria will make progress is when the private sector drives the economy.

Introducing the lecture’s theme: ‘Fixing the Economy: Less Politics, More Substance’, Kalu said government has no business doing business, but should concentrate on policy formulation as it cannot play the role of policy formulation and implementation at the same time.

He added: “I see our economy as an economy that needs to be expanded. Government has no business doing business. You cannot do policy formulation and implementation at the same time. It doesn’t matter if it is one person buying, what matters is that things are made to work.”

Former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, who was guest of honour disagreed with Kalu on restructuring.

Said Daniel: “Everybody agrees that we need change. Our people have become poorer and there is no hope under the current system. We are setting the stage for corruption with the structure we are running. The democratic system we are running cannot guarantee good governance.”

In his remarks, Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media Mr. Femi Adesina, commended the media organisation for the choice of lecture. He said Buhari is worried by Nigerians’ habit of playing politics with every issue in the country and hoped the lecture would enlighten them.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Mr. Gabriel Akinadewo, publisher of Freedom Online said Nigeria is in need of change.

“Nigeria has a four-year cycle of elections, but, pitiably, there is no four-year cycle of development. The world is moving forward and Nigeria has no choice than to move in the right direction,” Akinadewo said.

A fresh crisis is now looming in the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC over the zoning of the Speakership of the 9th National Assembly to the South -West geo- Political zone of the country despite stiff oppositions from other Zones.

The leadership of the Party which had on Tuesday zoned the position to the South-West and micro zoned it Lagos announced Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as the adopted candidate of the party for the position.

However, addressing news men in Abuja at the National Assembly today, the North Central Caucus of the APC in the House of Representatives rejected the arrangement, describing it as unfair and undemocratic which it stand the text of the time.

According the Caucus, “we are therefore appealing to the Party to have a rethink and rezone the Speakership to the North Central for justice and fair play.”

However, the leader of the Caucus, who addressed the Press, Hon John Dyegh , flanked by other members announced his intention to vie for the position and rolled a seven point agenda to pursue if elected the Speaker.

Leke Baiyewu, Abuja



Another member of the House of Representatives, Mr John Dyegh, from Benue State, has declared his ambition to run for the speakership seat in the 9th National Assembly.

‎Dyegh’s declaration in Abuja on Wednesday came some hours after the ruling All Progressives Congress ‎zoned the seat to the South-West and endorsed the Majority Leader, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, as its candidate.

President Muhammadu Buhari had host members-elect to a dinner on Tuesday where the deputy speaker seat was also zoned to the North-Central.
In his declaration speech, Dyegh alleged that the North-Central geopolitical zone had been marginalised in the leadership of the House since 1999.

Another aspirant from Niger State, Mr Mohammed Bago, had also said aspirants from the zone would reconsider their agitation only if the APC zoned the speakership seat to another zone apart from the South-West.

Lai Mohammed, Nigeria’s information minister, has admitted he did not do due diligence before signing off on a controversial N2.5 billion payment to a private digital broadcast signal distributor.


Mr Mohammed told the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) that he only approved the payment based on the recommendation of the director-general of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) in May 2017, according to those familiar with the investigation.

Anti-graft detectives at the ICPC have been investigating the transaction since June 2018. Already the ICPC has charged Modibbo Kawu, the DG of NBC, for allegedly deceiving Mr Mohammed to perpetrate the fraud.

Mr Kawu strongly denied the allegations, and the ICPC said he would appear in court on Wednesday alongside Lucky Omoluwa, the founder of Pinnacle Communications Limited, a digital broadcasting firm that received the payment in 2017.

Anti-graft officers questioned Mr Mohammed last year as part of their investigation, but he was unable to provide any information beyond his claim that he only acted on the documents presented to him.

Mr Mohammed did not let detectives record the session, saying he needed “clearance” from Boss Mustapha, the Nigerian government secretary, documents seen by PREMIUM TIMES showed.

An ICPC official told PREMIUM TIMES Tuesday that Mr Mohammed “bullied” those detailed to question him because of his “high role” as the top image maker for the government.

Even though Mr Mohammed did not cooperate with investigators, the ICPC had been reluctant about charging him for approving the contract.

Rasheedat Okoduwa, the agency’s spokesperson, told PREMIUM TIMES on Monday that Mr Mohammed was not charged because he said he was deceived into signing the payment.

Mrs Okoduwa, however, added that if further revelations emerged during Mr Kawu’s trial that could necessitate arraigning Mr Mohammed, the ICPC will not hesitate to do so.

Documents seen by PREMIUM TIMES showed that Mr Mohammed played more role than just signing documents. He signed several documents and also took parts in discussions between Pinnacle Communications and embarked on foreign trips to inspect equipment for Nigeria’s digital switchover, according to those familiar with the matter.

Mr Kawu told PREMIUM TIMES he did no wrong in recommending the payment to Mr Mohammed, but did not assume responsibility for the minister’s approval. He explained why the N2.5 billion was paid to Pinnacle, and all the projects the company executed to fast-track Nigeria’s adoption of digital switchover.

The N2.5 was withdrawn from the N10 billion naira that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seized from the NBC in 2016. Detectives said the money was banked in a manner that violated the treasury single account (TSA) policy.

The anti-graft agency later released the entire N10 billion to the NBC and Mr Mohammed to carry on with the digital switchover project. A 2017 memo to the Presidency, seen by PREMIUM TIMES, specifically said the N2.5 billion was to be withdrawn from the NBC account in the TSA system.

The minister declined comments to PREMIUM TIMES on his submission to the ICPC.

Attorney-General Abubakar Malami had already expressed intention to take over the case, but ICPC officials feared it could be politicised and vowed to continue with the prosecution of Mr Kawu and others.

Mr Kawu told PREMIUM TIMES he suspected political forces were out to get him, but not that he had done anything wrong.

“I have been informed from several quarters that there are certain political forces who are determined to use the issue of a court arraignment to force me out of office,” Mr Kawu said. “The plan is to lean on such arraignment to commence a media campaign that will insist I step aside from my position until I have been cleared in the courts.”

Anti-corruption campaigners said they were not convinced by Mr Mohammed’s explanation because it had no legal backing.

“There is no law in Nigeria that says an official could assert ignorance after signing such a humongous amount of money in one of the world’s poorest countries,” Yomi Ogunsanya, a lawyer and an anti-corruption activist. said.

Mr Ogunsanya described Mr Mohammed’s excuse as “pedestrian” and called on the ICPC to charge him alongside others.

“Ignorance does not excuse anybody when it comes to approving public funds,” Mr Ogunsanya said. “Can we say the minister has been approving billions for agencies under his ministry without necessary scrutiny?

“Ordinarily, the minister should have conducted his own due diligence, he has enough officials on public payroll who could do the job for him,” the lawyer added. “The ICPC should immediately charge him as the minister that supervised the payment.”

Mr Ogunsanya said even though the contract was a dent on the administration’s anti-corruption posturing, the trial that had emanated from it should be seen as a bright spot, especially because it has the potential to throw up fresh revelations.

“A lot will probably be revealed in court that will further expose how far the minister was involved,” Mr Ogunsanya said. “But we can also see the ICPC charges against a senior government official as progress.”

Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SANs, under the aegis of Justice Reform Project, JRP, on Tuesday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to extend corruption probe to other judges.

They said the reported voluntary resignation of Justice Walter Onnoghen should not be the end of the corruption allegations leveled against him.

According to them, given the gravity of the allegations against the suspended Justice Onnoghen and his admission, the law should be made to take its course to show that it respects no one.

The SANs called on Buhari to subject all other judges to the same type of probe that Onnoghen went through, so as to fish out all other judges living above their legitimate means.

In a statement on Tuesday, JRP, which consists of about 20 SANs, said it was important for Buhari to take this step in order to convince Nigerians that Onnoghen’s trial was not a politically-motivated witch-hunt and had no ethnic colouration.

The SANs said the details of the allegations of financial mismanagement which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission leveled against Onnoghen in the petition it submitted to the National Judicial Council, and Onnoghen’s response to the allegations, “raised significant questions about the financial practices of the Nigerian judiciary and the various heads of courts.”

It, therefore, called on Buhari not to limit the probe to Onnoghen.

“Beyond Honourable Justice W.S.N. Onnoghen, the JRP believes the revelations that have been made in the course of this affair necessitate that urgent steps be taken to identify and sanction all other Nigerian judicial officers who are found to posses inexplicable wealth that cannot be reconciled with their legitimate income or their asset declarations, two of the allegations made against Justice Onnoghen.

“These steps are necessary for a variety of reasons. First, to ensure public confidence in the judiciary and disabuse the notion that all judicial officers in Nigeria are corrupt and that justice is for sale.

“Second, to disabuse the notion that Justice W.SN. Onnoghen’s travails are a mere witch-hunt motivated by ethnic and political interests rather than the result of a genuine concern for sanitising and reforming the Nigerian judiciary.

“Third, to eliminate the suspicion that the executive arm of government is using the information it has access to, by virtue of its control over the apparatus of the state, to take selective action only against those judicial officers that fail to do its bidding.”

According to Punch, the SANs appealed to all lawyers in the country as well as other members of the public not to hesitate to forward to relevant regulatory agencies corruption information on any judge they know.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has ruled out chances of Femi Gbajabiamila in becoming the next Speaker of the House of Representative as the party had excluded the Northwest and Southwest from the zoning of the Senate President and House Speaker as well as their deputies.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, the party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, said that all the geopolitical zones must be fairly represented both in the executive and legislative arms.

He said with President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo coming from the North-West and South-West respectively, “the party’s leadership should ensure that the zoning arrangement for the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives in the incoming 9th National Assembly reflects the remaining four geopolitical regions of the country.”

The APC Spokesperson warned that if the party does not get it right now, 2023 elections might turn out to be a free for all, with its attendant electoral consequences.

“The APC has elected National Assembly members from all geopolitical zones of the country.

“Hence, the party’s leadership and indeed the presidency must make deliberate efforts to provide a fair and justifiable zoning arrangement for the 9th National Assembly leadership.

“The zoning arrangement must also respect the fact that the North-west and South-west have already produced the President and Vice President respectively.

“So, for equity and adherence to the principle of federal character which is a constitutional requirement, the positions of Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives in the incoming 9th National Assembly must be occupied by APC members from the remaining four geopolitical zones of the country,” he said.

According to the Bayelsa-born APC Chieftain, “the Party’s National Working Committee, NWC, under the leadership of the party National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has already zoned the Senate Presidency to the North-east.

“The Deputy Senate President should be zoned to the South-south while the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives should be zoned to the North-central and South-east in any order agreed by the party’s leadership.

“The South-west already has a slot filled by the Vice President. In any case, the South-west does not necessarily translate to Lagos or Ogun state. This is a sentiment widely shared by our members from the zone.

“As I earlier stated, the party’s leadership must take deliberate steps to provide a fair and justifiable zoning arrangement for the incoming 9th National Assembly leadership.

“Our actions and inactions will have serious implications on party unity and positively or negatively affect our standing ahead of 2023.”

O’tega Emerhor, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta state, has accused Ovie Omo-Agege, senator representing Delta central, of destroying the party in the state.

In a statement on Monday, he said the senator joined the APC from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to destabilise before the 2019 elections.

Omo-Agege had, while reacting to Emerhor’s petition against him, accused the APC chieftain of blackmail and working against the party’s interest.

But in the statement issued by Aghogho Orotomah, his spokesman, Emerhor said “Omo-Agege is the real cancer that invaded and ravaged the body politics of Delta APC.”

According to him, “now that he (the senator) has accomplished his task of distabilizing the party and making it fail in the 2019 general elections, Omo-Agege will soon head back to the PDP, his natural home.”

“Delta APC has known no peace since Omo-Agege was welcomed by Emerhor to the party in 2017. Omo-Agege who used the Labor party to fight President Buhari and APC in the 2015 general elections was magnanimously admitted into APC in 2017,” he said.

“Omo-Agege upon joining APC kept his group of labor party joiners intact and later transformed it into the Ogboru/Agege faction of today Delta APC.

“Omo-Agege’s plan from day one was to ride on the back of Chief Great Ogboru to return back to the senate. He set about this by promising Chief Ogboru of making him Delta State governor in 2019.

“Omo-Agege ended up making Ogboru a laughing stock. Instead of making Ogboru governor, (he) actually sabotaged him after purportedly winning his senatorial bid.”

He said the senator is “delusional” as his ambition to return to senate and also be elected deputy senate president “comes down crashing.”

“Emerhor and Adjogbe do not hate Omo-Agege. Emerhor opened APC doors in 2017 to admit Omo-Agege. Omo-Agege has turned into the Cancer in Delta APC, a virus that has ravaged Delta APC body politics,” he said.

“Emerhor only seeks the restitution of the rights of mainstream APC through the courts and so far so good. Emerhor will represent Delta Central as Senator and shall surely turn around the fortune of Delta APC unlike Omo-Agege who is already negotiating his way back to PDP to actualize his 2023 governorship ambition.”

By Musa Abdullahi Krishi




No fewer than 11 lawmakers-elect have indicated interest to contest for the positions of Deputy Senate President and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives during the inauguration of the 9th Assembly, Daily Trust on Sunday has learnt.

While six senators-elect are jostling for the position of Deputy Senate President, another five reps-elect were reported to have joined the race for Deputy Speaker of the House.

The position of a Deputy Senate President is the second in command in the Red Chamber as Deputy Speaker is next to the Speaker.

In the absence of the Senate President and the Speaker, their deputies step into the shoes of presiding over the two chambers.

Findings by Daily Trust on Sunday showed that those gunning for Deputy Senate President include Deputy Senate Chief Whip Francis Alimekhena (APC, Edo), Ovie Omo-Agege (APC, Delta), Oluremi Tinubu (APC, Lagos), Kabiru Gaya (APC, Kano), Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia) and Ike Ekweremadu (PDP, Enugu).

As for Deputy Speaker, those that have indicated interest in the position are Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila (APC, Kano), Aminu Suleiman (APC, Kano), Garba Muhammad Datti (APC, Kaduna), Magaji Da’u Aliyu (APC, Jigawa) and Abubakar Lado Suleja (APC, Niger).

Our correspondent reports that one of those contesting for the Deputy Senate President and four of those gunning for the Deputy Speaker’s seats are all from the North-West, where President Muhammadu Buhari hails from. They are Sen Gaya, Kawu Sumaila, Suleiman, Datti and Da’u.

Also, two aspirants for Deputy Senate President, Alimekhena and Omo-Agege, are from the South-South, while another two, Kalu and Ekweremadu, are from the Southeast.

One aspirant each for the Deputy Senate President and Deputy Speaker, Oluremi Tinubu and Lado, are from the South-West and North-Central, respectively.

All the contenders, with the exception of Ekweremadu, are of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Daily Trust on Sunday gathered that the aspirants have intensified secret campaigns among their colleagues to realise their ambitions.

It was gathered that some of those that have declared for the position of speaker may later drop their ambition to contest for deputy speaker.

So far, those gunning for speaker are House Leader Femi Gbajabiamila (APC, Lagos), Ahmed Idris Wase (APC, Plateau), Abdulrazak Namdas (APC, Adamawa), Mohammed Umar Bago (APC, Niger), Babangida Ibrahim (APC, Katsina), Muktar Aliyu Betara (APC, Borno) and Nkeiruka Onyeajocha (APC, Abia).


Contenders for Deputy Senate President



Ovie Omo-Agege (APC, Delta)

Omo-Agege first came to the Senate in 2015 under the platform of the Labour Party to represent Delta Central Senatorial District. However, he joined the APC in 2017. He got re-elected to the Senate under the APC’s platform in the February 23 presidential and National Assembly elections.

It was learnt that Omo-Agege has the backing of some APC chieftains to occupy the position of the Deputy Senate President, although the party is yet to zone the seat as it did for the Senate President.

Being from the South-South geopolitical zone, it is believed that Omo-Agege, 55, has high chances of clinching the seat as the zone has two returning APC senators.

Sources at the National Assembly said Omo-Agege has serious interest in the seat and has been lobbying his colleagues to get their support.


Francis Alimekhena

Alimekhena represents Edo North Senatorial District. Also a second term senator, the 71-year-old lawmaker is the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate and the Deputy chairman Senate Committee on Housing.

Soft-spoken and calm, Alimekhena is believed to have commenced secret campaign to become the Deputy Senate President.

Already, the councillor-elect for Wuse Ward in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Mathias Aliu, commenced an open campaign for the Deputy Chief Whip to be Deputy Senate President, saying the South would be cheated if the APC did not endorse Alimikhena for the position.

He said Alimekhena was in a position to promote the party’s agenda in the southern part of the country because of his influence and being a performing senator.

“The South, particularly Edo State will be cheated if the party does not endorse Sen Francis Alimikhena for the position of Deputy Senate President. His track records speak for him, he is one senator who has proven integrity and good leadership skills.

“The ninth National Assembly needs what Alimikehna has to offer and that is why I call on our party chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and other party leaders, to consider my humble appeal.”


Oluremi Tinubu

Remi is the wife of the APC National Leader Bola Ahmed Tinubu. She has been a senator since 2011, representing Lagos Central Senatorial District.

Mrs Tinubu is the first to be rumoured to have nurtured the ambition of becoming the Deputy Senate President. Several media reports linked her with the ambition. But the woman has not publicly said she would be contesting for the seat.

Though her husband is among the top decision-makers in the APC, it is not immediately clear if he is behind her candidature for the seat.

However, what is clear is that Tinubu has thrown his weight behind Gbajabiamila to emerge as speaker. In that case, it is believed that it would be difficult for the same Tinubu to push for another person from Lagos to become Deputy Senate President.


Kabiru Gaya

Gaya, a ranking senator who is returning to the Senate for the fourth time, has since made his ambition to become Deputy Senate President public.

Gaya, senator for Kano North, said he believed his legislative experience, loyalty and contributions to the development of the APC should be considered in making him the Deputy Senate President.

Although he hails from the same geopolitical zone as Buhari, Gaya feels that would not stop him from emerging as Deputy Senate President based on the contribution of the region to APC’s victory at the polls.

Declaring his intention recently, Gaya said: “If the six zones are accommodated in the sharing formula for the National Assembly leadership positions, four of them contributed tremendously to the election of Mr. President.

“The South-West, which has now got the position of the Speaker, North-East which has not got the position of the Senate President, North-Central has the position of Deputy Speaker.

“Considering the zoning arrangement, it is clear that the North-West has been left behind and I am a ranking senator from the North-West. That means the deputy senate president position should go to North-West.”

However, many still believe that the North-West should not enjoy any such position because it already has the President.


Orji Uzor Kalu

Kalu, a former 2-term governor of Abia State, has since made his intention to contest for the Deputy Senate President’s seat public. At first, Kalu wanted to go for the Senate President, but he later backed down to the position of deputy.

A former member of the House of Reps in the Third Republic, Kalu won the seat for Abia North Senatorial District under the APC, defeating the incumbent senator, Mao Ohuabunwa, of PDP.

He became governor of Abia State in 1999 and spent eight years piloting the affairs of the state. Since 2007 when he left Abia Government House, he never occupied any elective office, though he had made unsuccessful attempts to come to the Red Chamber.

Kalu recently made subtle threats to the APC, saying he would be compelled to go for the seat of Senate President should the party fail to zone the position of Deputy Senate President to the South-East.

It was gathered that Kalu was already in talks with a lot of senators-elect, including former governors who are now in the Senate, to clinch the position.


Ike Ekweremadu

Ekweremadu has been the Deputy Senate President for a record 12 years, from 2007. He has been the senator representing Enugu West Senatorial District since 2003.

Though a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ekweremadu was able to wiggle his way to become the Deputy Senate President in 2015, in an APC-dominated chamber.

Like four years ago, Ekweremadu is believed to be keeping his ambition under wraps, waiting for the APC to fumble once again so that he could clinch the seat without any hassle. Should that happen, Ekweremadu would succeed in occupying the seat for 16 years, nonstop.

To realise his ambition, it was learnt that he was making frantic moves to unite the 43 PDP senators-elect in the Senate.

Part of the plan, it was learnt, is to form an alliance with any ‘recalcitrant’ APC senator who is ready and willing to go against his party, like in 2015, for the PDP senators to bring their block votes and make such a senator Senate President against APC’s adopted candidate, Ahmad Lawan.

In turn, the APC senator would persuade some of his colleagues to vote for Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President once again. However, sources said this could be an uphill task this time around.



Contenders for Deputy Speaker


Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila

Kawu had represented Sumaila/Takai Federal Constituency of Kano State for 12 straight years, from 2003 to 2015, before going to contest for the Kano State governorship under APC in vain.

During his stay in the House, he served as Deputy Minority Leader for eight years, a position that many believed has shaped and prepared him for the task ahead. He won the election for the same seat in February.

Besides, Kawu, who was until January this year the senior special assistant to Buhari on National Assembly matters (House of Reps), is said to be very close to and enjoys tremendous goodwill of the President.

Since after the elections, there have been moves by some party chieftains for Kawu to be deputy speaker to Gbajabiamila, who is favoured to be endorsed for speaker by the party.

Those pushing for this are of the opinion that having worked together as Minority Leader and Deputy Minority Leader for eight years and understood each other very well, the duo could make a good combination.

However, Kawu is from the North-West, where the president hails from. Thus, it is believed that the position of deputy speaker should go to another region.

Again, it is believed that Kawu does not enjoy the support of his governor, despite working assiduously for his reelection.


Aminu Suleiman

Aminu Suleiman (Goro) represents Fagge Federal Constituency of Kano State. He has been in the House since 2011 and has established himself among his colleagues as a formidable lawmaker.

He had served as the chairman of the House Committee on Education during the 7th Assembly and now serves as the chairman of the committee on tertiary education and TETFUND.

Though he initially wanted to contest for speaker, he later joined the race for deputy speaker as the position of speaker may be difficult for the North-West, having produced the president.

Because of the large number of APC members from the North-West zone, which stands at about 86, many believe that the zone could comfortably produce the Deputy Speaker and that Suleiman should be given the chance.

However, sources told Daily Trust on Sunday that Suleiman maybe persuaded to go for any other position, possibly House Leader, to be zoned to the North-West as there are plans by the party to pair Gbajabiamila with Ahmed Idris Wase as speaker and deputy, respectively.


Garba Datti Muhammad

Rep Datti, who has been representing Sabon Gari Federal Constituency of Kaduna State since 2007, is one major contender for the office of the deputy speaker. Before coming to the House, he had served as a member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly.

He served as Deputy Minority Whip in the House between 2011 and 2015. Babawo, as he is fondly called, has been a loyal APC member as he was previously in Buhari’s defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC).

Datti is among the earliest to have declared their intention to contest for the Deputy Speaker’s seat. He is also believed to be one of those close to President Buhari.

But like the other two contenders mentioned above, Datti is from the North-West, and that may affect his chances of emerging as deputy speaker too.


Magaji Da’u Aliyu

Aliyu represents Birnin Kudu/Buji Federal Constituency of Jigawa State. He is going for his second term in office.

He recently told journalists in Abuja that he would be gunning for deputy speaker because he believed he has a lot to offer for the position. But his number one albatross is his being from the North-West.


Abubakar Lado Suleja

Lado is the only member from the North-Central to have indicated interest for the deputy speaker’s seat. He first came to the House in 2015 to represent Suleja Federal Constituency of Niger State.

He said as a young person who was once a member of the APC National Working Committee (NWC), he believed he has a lot to offer.

But Lado’s biggest challenge is the fact that he still has a court case hanging on his neck. He is being challenged for the APC ticket for his constituency.

It was gathered that as a result of the court case, INEC did not present certificate of return to him. However, Lado, it was learnt, is keeping hope alive, believing that he would win at the court to carry on with his ambition.

Lado told Daily Trust on Sunday yesterday that “I’m in the race. I’m the top and only contender from the North-Central and the most ranking member in the 9th Assembly, having held the position of the first APC National Youth Leader and member of the NWC and later elected as the first Deputy National Treasurer and NEC member.”

Yusuf Alli by Yusuf Alli



The Federal Government is seeking a jail sentence for the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen in his ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal( CCT).

But Onnoghen who is accused of failing to declare his assets immediately after assuming office is pleading with the tribunal to set him free.

The charges against him, he says, are “inherently defective” and unconstitutional.

The positions of the two parties are contained in the final addresses of their counsel submitted to the tribunal.

The lawyers are due to defend their final addresses tomorrow when the CCT resumes sitting on the case.

The Federal Government had on January 11, 2019 filed an application to commence the trial of the CJN at the tribunal.

While the trial was ongoing, the National Judicial Council (NJC) advised President Muhammadu Buhari to retire Onnoghen.

Although the President is yet to make his position on the NJC’s report known, the CJN on his part resigned from office to “save the Judiciary.”

A 14-man prosecution team, led by Aliyu Umar (SAN) in a final written address of April 11, 2019, asked the tribunal to convict Onnoghen.

The prosecution said: “We humbly submit to your noble lords that the essential ingredients of the offence are:

1) The Defendant is a public officer as stipulated in paragraph 5 of Part 2 of the 5th Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended).

2) That the Defendant in such capacity failed to declare his assets immediately after taking office for Count One of the charge against the Defendant the above the only ingredients of the offence under Section 15 and 23(2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act Cap 15 LFN 2004.

“We humbly submit that the Evidence of PW.1 and PW.2 and also exhibits 2, 3, 5 and 6 conclusively proved that Defendant took oath of office as Justice of the Supreme Court in the year 2005 and as such was under an obligation to declare his assets as provided by the Constitution and Code of Conduct Bureau Act.

“It is our further submission that by exhibit 2, the Defendant declared his asset for the position of Justice of the Supreme Court on 14th December, 2016. The Defendant took oath of office as a justice of the Supreme Court on 8th day of June, 2005. This is also borne out from the testimony of PW.1, PW.2, Exhibit 2 and 6.

“We submit from the above that the Prosecution counsel have proved the essential elements of Count 1 of the Charge being:

1) That the Defendant is a Justice of the Supreme Court bound by virtue of that appointment to abide by the provisions of section 15 of the Code of Conduct Act to declare his assets at least three months after his appointment to that office as stipulated in paragraph 5 of Part 2 of the 5th Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended)

2) That the Defendant was sworn in as the Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on the 8th day of June 2005

3) That the Defendant did not declare his appointment as a Justice of the Supreme Court at the time until when he submitted Exhibit 2 of 14th December, 2016

4) That the Defendant did not declare his assets as a Justice of the Supreme Court at the time unlit when he submitted Exhibit 2 on 14th December, 2016. The failure to submit Assets Declaration months after the appointment of the Defendant to the Supreme Court is a contravention of Section 15(1) of the Code of Conduct Act Cap C15 LFN 2004

5) A contravention of the provisions of Section 15(1) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act Cap C15 LFN 2004 is punishable under Section 23 (2) a, b, and c of the same Act.

“We therefore submit that the Prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt in the circumstance of this case in respect of Count One


“We humbly urge your Lordship to hold that the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and proceed to convict the defendant.”

However, the 21-man Defence team, led by Asiwaju Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) urged the tribunal to “nullify the six counts in the charge sheets.”

The team said: “the counts as laid in this case are confused and therefore are ambiguous, inherently defective and bad in all material particular.”

They alleged that the “drafter of the counts, with respect, seems to be gambling.”

The Defence said: “the counts, with respect, have no basis in law under which they are brought. “It is whether or not the defendant falsified any statement in any declaration and such statement has been verified by any authority or person authorized in that behalf and found same to be falsified. The law does not provide for a hybrid as stated in the counts.”

Onnoghen’s counsel insisted that all the charges were in violation of the 1999 Constitution.

They added: “The drafting of counts 1-6 in the charge sheet violates the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria1999 (as amended). We submit that the prosecutor in drafting his charges or counts must have regard to mandatory provisions of the Constitution

“The six counts against the defendant violate the constitutional right of the defendant because the obligation placed on the prosecution by Section 36(6) (a) and (b) of the constitution were ignored and disregarded.

“We rely on the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Abubakar Saraki v. Federal Republic of Nigeria(2018) 6NWLR( PT. 1646) 405at pages 469, paras. B-D.

“The six counts have no foundation or root in Section 15(2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunals Act. The rules of interpretation of statutes whether constitution or Acts of National Assembly, is that when parliament specifically mentioned a thing or an act, the implication is that any other thing or act not mentioned in the law is excluded.

“We pray that counts 1-6 in the charge sheets be nullified as unconstitutional, null and void because the law has become settled that when an act proceeding and any official act is unconstitutional, it is invalid, null and of no effect, nothing can be based on it including the prosecution of an innocent public officer.”

By TAI ANYANWU and CHIJIOKE IREMEKA


There have been arguments over whether prostitutes and Yahoo guys pay their tithes and whether such tithes and offerings will be accepted as true worship to the Lord. Sunday Telegraph’s visits to the streets, brothels and churches have revealed startling secretes about this controversy. TAI ANYANWU and CHIJIOKE IREMEKA report


There has often been hot arguments over whether prostitutes and ‘gee guys’, popularly called ‘Yahoo guys’ pay tithes or give offering in the church and whether such tithes and offerings will be accepted as an act of true worship to the Lord.

While some sides of the argument, the prostitutes, said they pay their tithes regularly for more jobs, some pastors on their part said they will not collect tithes and offering from this category of members, if they notice a member is paying tithes from proceeds of prostitution or fraud.

However, in the spiritual matters of the Kingdom, it appeared that these scarlets of the night are not left out as they believe that the more offering and tithe they pay, will translate to more and robust reward as such that follows good tither.

Malachi 3 demands Christians to pay tithe, that is, one tenth of their income to the house of God as tithe to God so there will be food in the store house of God; that is from the blessings God has given, Christians are also to give free will offerings, for the advancement of the work of God.

In verse 10 of Malachi chapter three, God commanded: “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

This promise and reward will go to anybody that adheres to the command and one of such prostitute-tither is a 27-year-old Zika T, whose tithes and offerings seemed to be making ways for her.

She said: “If I pay my tithes, and give offerings, it will attract more customers to me. Before I go to work, I will pray and ask God for protection and good business because God is the one that determines what happens.

“I go to church and I belong to the youth fellowship. I pray very well not because I am doing this. I am just doing it to pass away time and to feed myself. I know that what I am doing is wrong but I know that God will help me to stop one day. That is why I pay my tithe and offering for God to open a way for me. I’m a sinner, I know.

“Of course, I have a boyfriend; he doesn’t need to know what I do. But if he finds out on his own, I will explain things to him and if he feels otherwise, then he is free to do his mind.

“Yes, if he can give me what I need, then, there is no need for me to continue with this business. I will be ready to quit the job. We do jobs to pay our bills. Nobody wants to work, so if he will pay my bills, I quit.”

Unfortunately, prostitution in the country has gone digital making difficult even know who is a prostitutes from the mix of other clean ladies.

There are silent prostitutes that have more activities than those on the streets and brothels. There are those clean and well dressed ladies with good command of English and good jobs that you will kill to have as a wife, yet engage in prostituting from home.

They go to work during the day but do the oldest profession at night. If you are waiting for them to be on the street, you will be making a mistake as they control things through phones, facebooks, Instagrams, and whatsapp among other apps.

They go to church because they are targeting some rich guys in the church. Some of them visit big churches and in the process, they join different activities in the House of God. One major factor here is that you don’t chase people away from the church. Church welcomes all manner of people hoping to transform them.

“Of course, they are expected to be in the church because that is where they find their deliverance and meet their change. Church is like hospital where both the sick and the healthy visit,” said Minister Paul Ifeoluwa, of the Vision of God Bible Church, Festac, Lagos.

He noted that these categories of people have found their ways to the ushering department of the churches, saying that they are choristers and committed members of the church and therefore pay tithes, give offerings even without anybody suspecting them.

“They have to be in the church if not, their salvation will be far. Church is a molding point for people with hurts and characters that require remolding and reshaping. If you are sick and stay far away from the hospital, you are gambling with your life as your healing will not be in sight,” he insisted.

One of the scarlets of the night in search of her daily bread, Jessica Onovo, said: “Why won’t prostitutes pay tithes? After all no pastor had ever asked for the source of income of the tithe payers. Their followers pay tithes to ensure and increase the work of God.

“In the tithing world, prostitutes are the saints; we have armed robbers, extortionists, corrupt public servants, drug barons, 419’s, Yahoo boys, and the rest of them all paying tithes. So, why picking on us?”

According to Cassy Blez’s cousin, who was engaged in the oldest profession, prayer is the first thing before going out for the night duty.

She reveals: “Every evening before setting out to business, she should pray and shout “robocatca, remamakatabosa, and all the likes for a full one hour, disturbing our ears and peace every evening.

“I am sure she was a faithful tither because she attends all the Night vigils, mid week service and all other programmes. I guessed the tithing worked because she was catching one white man after another. She was dealing in dollars.”

“I was watching this sermon on TV where a pastor was preaching on how necessary it is to pay your tithe which is 10 per cent of your income but funny enough, he didn’t specify the kind job or how you earn the income that’ll enable you to pay your tithe.

“Rather he focused on the implications of not paying your tithe. So many questions keep ringing in my mind. Should it be considered right or wrong if prostitute pays her tithe? A Yahoo boy nko? What about our politicians?”

For Jessica White, she doesn’t joke what things of the Lord irrespective of what she doing for the moment.

“I go to church to worship God not to catch a man. I know where to get the king of man I want. I pay my tithe, I give offerings and I do other contribution when the need arises,” she quipped.

These people do not see themselves different from others in the country. You need to see them during the day. They are wonderful people but have hidden night identity. They are emboldened by the activities of Nigerian politicians and civil servants, whom they say do worst things than them, yet recognised and respected in the society.

On the Lekki-Ajah axis, the sight of Osamor Orus in any church is to the presiding pastor, as good as hitting a jackpot.

Ordinarily Orus, as he is fondly called, is a young man. But beyond the façade of his kind mien, is an unrepentant ‘Yahoo-Yahoo’ kingpin, whose wealth come from milking the hard-earned resources of others through indecent and ungodly means.

This affluent resident of one of Lekki’s exclusive estates makes it a habit, every Sunday, to visit as many churches as possible.

He dumps stupefying offering, tithe or gifts on the laps of the ‘lucky pastor’ of any church visited.

Orus’ cash gifts are usually so mesmerising that they render the efforts of other worshippers in the prowling ground of Lagos super-rich a Lilliputian’s gift.

Take it or leave it, Orus is a darling of the pastors on the Lekki-Ajah axis; and he is welcome in their churches any time any day as the pastors never bother to ask what the source of his income is and if it is genuine, godly or ungodly.

But, the Head, Media and Public Relations of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Olaitan Olubiyi said: “If I know that a worshiper, who wants to pay tithe is a prostitute, yahoo or earns his or her income from a dishonest source, I will not take the tithe from such people.”

According to him, one thing about tithe is, the pastor is not in a position to tell whether the payer’s source of income is genuine or not.

He explained that paying tithe is a way of appreciating God for giving one a source of income and an act of worship which attracts reward.

“Paying tithe from income that is not genuine or tricking a pastor into collecting from an ungodly income is an absolute waste. Indeed, such tithe is a wasteful venture because the payer will lose the benefits of tithing.

“Invariable, there is a curse for any wrong doing and disobedience to the word of God concerning any issue,” Pastor Olaitan stressed.

Pastor Olaitan finds a soul mate in Rev Stephen Ezechukwu, Head Public Relations, The Salvation Army Nigeria Territory Headquarters.

He said: “Tithe is 10% of someone’s income, from a godly source. Tithe does not belong to the pastor; rather it is God’s and an act of worship of the Almighty God, which attracts reward to a genuine tithe payer.”

He added: “God will not accept tithe paid from ungodly source of income as an act of worship. Hence, the payer will lose the reward if his source of income is not godly.”

For Rev James Akinadewo, Regional Overseer, Lagos Region, Motailatu Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide, without mincing words said: “It is wrong for any pastor to accept tithe from people whose income come through ungodly avenues.

“God will judge, harshly, any servant of God who accepts tithes from prostitutes, yahoo people and those who pay tithe from ungodly means. The Bible says that the truth you know and do will set you free.”

Speaking on the right of any pastor to reject a tithe from a worshipper, Elder Chris Njelita said it amounts to hypocrisy for any pastor to openly say he will not accept tithes from prostitutes and yahoo boys.

He said: “So, the pastor will not collect tithes from a harlots but will but will collect from politicians, corrupt civil servants, murders, blasphemers, sinners, fornicators and adulterers among other sins. It doesn’t make sense. Romans 3:23 says, ‘For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.’

“If you stigmatise these people, how then will you win them over to Christ when you have condemned them? If you are called of God and you know a particular member who does a shoddy job, call him, speak to him or her like a father and brother would, advise him or her per adventure he or she might change but not by stereotyping him or her.

“It’s ungodly. Let’s not be over righteous here. The scripture says, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

Anyone that adheres to this will get that reward because it’s the word of God, he added. “Let the over righteous people and pastors go and read about Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene, perhaps, they will learn something.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Demcratic Party, PDP, for the February 23 poll, Atiku Abubakar has said, by claiming that Atiku is a Cameroonian, can’t challenge Buhari’s victory, APC tells Tribunal the All Progressives Party, APC, was attempting an unconstitutional redefinition of the term ‘Nigerian.’

Atiku, a former Vice President, in a statement on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Paul Ibe, claimed that the APC and its candidate for the election, President Muhammadu Buhari trampled on the will of Nigerians, describing their allegation as ridiculous.

He said his case was based on facts and statistical evidence and challenged both the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the APC, to disprove what he termed ‘factual submissions’ rather than bringing in the baseless allegation of citizenship.

“The fact that the APC chose to base its defence on the ridiculous assertion that the Waziri Adamawa is not a Nigerian should show to Nigerians the type of characters we have in the APC and its government, whose legitimacy runs out on May 29, 2019.

“Our lawyers would, of course, do the needful in court.

But the point I want to draw the attention of Nigerians to is that both the APC and its candidate have, by this infantile logic, admitted to the fact that they trampled on the will of Nigerians and that their only defence is to attempt an unconstitutional redefinition of the term ‘Nigerian.’

“I am, however, confident in the Nigerian judiciary, as well as in the Nigerian people. I trust that the Tribunal will treat such a claim with the contempt it deserves.

“We must maintain our fidelity to the rule of law and to our fountain of origin, the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended).

“Atiku Abubakar has served our nation diligently in various capacities, form the civil service, where he rose through merit, to the top of his chosen field, to public service, where, by the grace of God, he was the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I make bold to state that those who have made Nigeria the world headquarters for extreme poverty are the very people whose Nigerianness should be in doubt, and not a man, who worked with President Olusegun Obasanjo to double the per capita Income of our nation in less than eight years,” he said.

Jesusegun Alagbe



Naval officers and policemen controlling the movement of container trucks into the Apapa port in Lagos are taking advantage of the congestion in the area and making millions of naira per day, investigations by The PUNCH have revealed.

The officers, it was learnt, work together with thugs, also known as area boys, in demanding bribes ranging from N60,000 to N100,000 from every truck driver entering the port.

Drivers who fail to part with the sum are not cleared by the officers to enter the port and such drivers could queue for up to several weeks on the road without getting cleared.

On a hot Tuesday afternoon when our reporter visited Area B in Apapa, a truck driver, simply named Kabiru, told our reporter how he had paid close to N100,000 in bribes to security agencies, particularly officers of the Nigerian Navy and the police.

According to the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, an agency under the Federal Ministry of Transportation, about 7,000 trucks ply the Apapa Wharf Road on a daily basis, even though just about 2,500 of them have genuine business to do at the port.

In a recent survey it conducted, the NSC said the exercise was carried out in a bid to provide a lasting solution to the incessant gridlock along the Apapa Port access road.

Provided that about 2,500 trucks which have genuine business to do at the Apapa port enter therein every day, conservative estimates by The PUNCH showed that naval and police officers could rake in as high as N250m from truck drivers who are being made to bribe them with N100,000 each.

Speaking to our reporter, Kabiru said in the past, he used to leave his base in Sagamu, Ogun State, and load his truck at the Apapa port within just three days.

“But now, I spend about a month, even with the payment of various bribes. I have spent about N100,000 in bribes to the navy, police and other security agencies. The expenses are too much,” he said.

“I started paying right from Costain, to the Marine Bridge, to Area B, and I have spent about N80,000. By the time I get to the final point of entry to the port, I will spend about N20,000 again.”

Lamenting, Kabiru said truck drivers were now being issued call-up letters by the Nigerian Navy.

“Before, we used to park anywhere on the road, but now we park in designated parks first before we are being called to form a queue on the road. Getting the call-up letter costs about N20,000.

“Any truck driver who doesn’t have the letter might pay double of the bribe as they journey to the port, and that is just one of the bribes,” Kabiru said.

The truck driver continued, “We are forced to pay at every checkpoint and there are no receipts for all these payments.”

Despite the bribes being paid by truck drivers, one would think the traffic would have been eased. However, observations showed the traffic at Apapa was still terrible.

Kabiru said, “For a whole day, I might not drive my truck for more than five inches. It is a terrible situation here.

“We sleep here, we bathe here. Some truck drivers defecate inside polythene bags and throw it by the roadside. My phone was stolen two days ago while I slept. The thief used a long stick to remove it from the inside of my truck. Some thieves even steal truck batteries.”

Kabiru described trucks’ movement into the port as “too sluggish” and appealed to the government to find a lasting solution to the lingering problem.

Meanwhile, Kabiru said he observed that drivers who drive trucks belonging to Dangote Group, owned by the richest African Aliko Dangote, usually did not pass through the problem that other truck drivers pass through.

“Dangote trucks are given a specific time of the day to enter the port. At that time of the day, the road is very free and no other truck enters the port with them. They are special,” he noted.

When our reporter visited the Ijora-Olopa area, which is a few miles from the Apapa port, another driver simply identified as Kazeem also alleged naval officers and the police of extorting them.

“I’ve been moving goods from the port for about 18 years, but I’ve never seen anything like this,” the 51-year-old Kwara State indigene said.

“I’ve been queuing on the road for three weeks now and I’ve not been cleared.”

Kazeem also confirmed Kabiru’s observation, saying drivers of trucks belonging to Dangote Group and BUA Group did not usually pass through “tough times” with them.

He said, “As early as 5am, you would see Dangote and BUA trucks coming from behind us and driving freely into the port. They don’t queue, unlike us.

“Things have changed a bit from what was obtainable about two months ago. Now, we are being issued call-up letters by the navy, which we pay for, of course,

“By the time we pay up to N100,000, we will be cleared to enter the port.”

Another driver, Mr Mustapha Salau, whom our reporter met in a long queue of trucks on the Marine Bridge, said he had paid about N60,000 to naval and police officers and was expecting to pay more until the final point of entry to the port.

He said, “As soon as we start approaching the Stadium area, through Ijora, to the port, there are different checkpoints mounted by the navy and police. They say they are controlling traffic, but they are collecting money from us.

“I’ve encountered four checkpoints, where I paid bribes ranging from N10,000 to N35,000. Everything I’ve paid on this trip is N60,000. Before I finally enter the port, I will pay another bribe, maybe N15,000 or N20,000. All these payments have no receipts.”

Another truck driver, simply identified as Segun, said in his 14 years of conveying goods from the Apapa port, he had never witnessed bribery on a large scale like what was currently happening.

He said in the past, he used to part with just a few thousands of naira to get his goods out of the port.

“It’s a different story now. I have spent N80,000 already coming from Ijora,” he said.

“Before I finally make it to the point of entry to the port, I would have spent N100,000,” he added.

Another truck driver, Stanley Nwankwo, said it was surprising how the situation at Apapa port had degenerated.

“It is frustrating to spend weeks on the road, even after paying the navy and police up to N100,000. It was never this bad. Something must be done about this problem,” he said.

A Lagos-based economist and social commentator, Dr Babatunde Abraham, said the situation at Apapa would definitely cause the prices of consumer goods to increase.

He explained that if it cost N100,000 to move goods from Apapa to Ikeja two years ago and now it costs N600,000, the prices of goods would definitely increase.

“The Apapa gridlock is worrisome and the fact that corrupt security officers are now extorting money from truck drivers is sickening. But what do you expect from a country that fails to address its problems squarely?”Abraham asked.

A Lagos-based maritime expert, Mr Oluwole Bello, attributed the persistent gridlock at Apapa, where the country’s main port is, to poor infrastructure and government’s failure to fix it.

“Some businessmen now prefer to use the ports of neighbouring countries like Ghana because of the ease of getting in and out of their ports,” he said.

Findings showed that why some businessmen are now opting to use the ports in neighbouring countries like Ghana and Benin Republic is because getting their goods cleared at those ports takes only about 48 hours.

Horror of doing business


Expectedly, the slow pace of movement of goods and services due to extortion, bureaucracy and other bottlenecks have negatively affected the nation’s economy.

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently estimated that the country loses $19bn (N6.9tn, that is, more than two-thirds of its national budget) annually to the avoidable delays caused by illegal charges, insecurity and traffic congestion.

Speaking with The PUNCH, the Director-General of LCCI, Mr Muda Yusuf, said the chamber would keep on engaging the government on the situation at Apapa.

After carrying out a research in 2018 which indicated that the Federal Government was losing up to $19bn annually due to the Apapa gridlock, he said the chamber met with the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, to discuss the issue and present the report.

Yusuf said the chamber also met with the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Okechukwu Enemalah, as well as President Muhammadu Buhari to present the report.

“That is the best we can do – to let them realise the weighty consequences of the Apapa gridlock,” he said.

He said, “We will continue to engage them. Thankfully, some constructions are going on and we have also seen some efforts by the government at railway construction and the minister of transportation said the rail lines would be extended to the ports.

“We also need to get the pipelines working so that fuel can be transported to different parts of the country, but the pipelines have been vandalised.

“One other solution to the problem at Apapa is to have an efficient transit management system in place. This will ensure that trucks that have no business at the ports are not found in the queue.”

Similarly, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council said the cost of transporting goods from the Apapa port to other parts of Lagos had risen from around N150,000 to about N700,000 due to multiple charges paid to federal, state and local government officials, as well as the need to give bribes to louts and security officials on the roads.

In September 2018, the National Association of Road Transport Owners expressed concern over the Apapa gridlock, saying it was hampering trade.

The association’s vice chairman, Lagos State chapter, Mr Abdullahi Mohammed-Nura, lamented that export-bound produce were getting damaged en route Apapa.

He said that exporters were losing a fortune due to the inaccessible roads to the ports, saying that unlike in the past when exporters were smiling to the bank, many of them had become indebted due to the Apapa gridlock.

The association also in September 2018 said that nine truck drivers had died in 2018 alone due to the inhuman condition caused by the gridlock at Apapa.

President Buhari had said in October 2018 that his administration would ensure that the infrastructural problem at the Apapa port was addressed.

However, experts have said the economy might continue to get worse unless stringent measures are put in place to address the Apapa port’s problem, which has contributed to Nigeria’s poor ranking on the World Bank’s Trading Across Borders survey, which ranked Nigeria 182nd out of 190 countries.

A maritime expert, Mr Paul Osagie, said the situation at the Apapa port had already caused massive economic and job losses.

“Lagos ports employ about 35,000 workers; and it is indeed worrisome that the Federal Government is treating the protracted gridlock with levity. Just look at how many people are getting affected by this problem,” he said.

Referring to a statement by Africa’s richest man, Dangote, in 2017 that the country was losing N140bn weekly to the Apapa debacle, Osagie said this ought to have provoked a swift response by the Federal Government.

Osagie said, “The government should act on time and start fixing the infrastructural problems, especially the roads in order to save other vital economic assets like bridges, which could collapse because of deadweight trailers on them.

“Tank farms and bonded terminals should be decentralised. Railways should be provided to transport goods from the ports and the government should also build more holding bays to keep tanker and trailers away from the roads. This is what is being done in other countries of the world, even in less developed ones than Nigeria.”

The President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Alhaji Razak Jaiyeola, also noted that the impact of the lingering Apapa gridlock had been huge.

“When trucks spend weeks in queue to get to the port, the companies that own them are incurring additional costs and so this issue must be addressed frontally,” he said.

He said there were fundamental issues that should be put in place at the port, without which there would be no lasting solution.

Jaiyeola said, “Having a railway system will ease the pressure at the port. It’s also important that there are alternative routes to Apapa, through Tin Can Island.

“There should also be a route through Ibafo (Ogun State) to ease the congestion. Tank farms should be constructed at different parts of the country so that not every truck goes to Apapa.”

In the meantime, the Head of Transparency International Nigeria, Mr Musa Rafsanjani, said it was time the country’s anti-corruption agencies beamed their searchlight on what was happening at the Apapa port.

He said TI had on several occasions called on the Federal Government to make reforms at the port and that it was time they were implemented.

Rafsanjani said, “Corruption at the ports is one of the problems we have identified in the country. Unfortunately, there has been no beam of focus from the anti-corruption agencies and the Federal Government.

“A lot of Nigerians have been subjected to untold hardship at the ports and reforms must be carried out to ease the movement of goods. Some truck owners are unnecessarily delayed because they refuse to give bribes. A lot of officials of different security agencies have populated the place and there is a high competition in terms of extortion.

“For long, we have been calling on the Federal Government on the need for proper reforms so that extortion can stop. There are many complications at the place.”

“If the Federal Government is committed to fighting corruption, it is time to prove it. Some businessmen have lost their goods because of high tariff, in addition to extortion by security agencies,” Rafsanjani added.

He noted that the seaport usually attracts corruption, being one of the major hubs where the country derives huge income. He suggested the use of technology to ease the congestion.

Navy, police react


When our reporter visited the Western Ports Police Command in Apapa, the spokesperson for the command, DSP Collins Dibie, said he was not authorised to speak on the issue.

He later said the policemen in question were not from the jurisdiction of the ports command, even though information on the website of the Nigeria Police Force indicated that the command was in charge of maintaining law and order at the Apapa port.

The Director of Information, Naval Headquarters, Abuja, Navy Commodore Suleman Dahun, said the navy had at many times denied allegations levelled against them by the truck drivers.

“It’s not true. Anyway, I will connect you with the person you can talk to you (on the issue),” he said.

He had, however, yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.