₦airaland Forum

by Faith Yahaya, Abuja


The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the appointment and deployment of 37 Command Commissioners of Police for the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.

Their appointment came following recommendation by the acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu to the Commission.

With the approval, Lagos, Kwara, Kogi and other states now have new Commissioners of Police while the Commissioners of Police in charge of FCT, Borno and few other states’ appointment were revalidated.

With the approval, CP Mu’azu Zubairu will take over from CP Edgal Imohimi as the new Commissioner of Police Lagos State.

Details of the approval and deployment is contained in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday by the Commission’s Spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani.

The Commissioners of Police and the states they are deployed to are: “Buba Sanusi, Katsina State; Mohammed Wakili, Kano State; Rabiu Ladodo, Jigawa State; Ahmed Iliyasu, Ogun State; Mu’azu Zubairu, Lagos State; Ibrahim Sabo, Niger State; Alkassam Sanusi, Taraba State; Garba M. Mukaddas, Adamawa State; Omololu Bishi, Benue State; Bola Longe, Nassarawa State; Isaac Akinmoyede, Plagos, teau State; Odumosu Hakeem, Edo State; Olushola David, Bayelsa State; Adeleke Yinka, Delta State; Austin Iwero Agbonlahor, Cross Rivers State; Bashir Makama, Akwa Ibom State; Awosola Awotunde, Ebonyi State; Belel Usman, Rivers State; Bello Makwashi, Gombe State and Abdulrahman Ahmed, Kaduna State.”

Others are: “Bala Ciroma, FCT; Egbetokun Kayode, Kwara State; Hakeem Busari, Kogi State; Asuquo Amba, Ekiti state; Galadanchi Dasuki, Imo State; Suleiman Balarabe, Enugu State; Dandaura Mustapha, Anambra State; Etim Ene Okon, Abia state; Ibrahim Kaoje, Sokoto state; Celestine Okoye, Zamfara State; Garba Danjuma, Kebbi State; Abiodun Ige, Osun State; Undie Adie, Ondo State; Olukolu Shina, Oyo State; Ali Janga, Bauchi State; Damian Chukwu, Bornu State and Sumonu Abdulmalik, Yobe State.”

According to the Commission, the CPs are expected to proceed immediately to their new Commands ahead of the 2019 general elections.

The Chairman of the Commission, Alhaji Musiliu Smith charged them to quickly settle at their new posts and ensure that the forth-coming general elections in their various Commands are peaceful, free, fair and transparent.

He also stated that the country cannot afford any disruption of the elections anywhere as the world was looking up to Nigeria for a proof that its democracy has continued to mature.

The Commission also said its approval has been conveyed to the acting Inspector General of Police for implementation.

Mohammed Shosanya and Chidi Ugwu



Lagos /Abuja – The Federal Government has assured Nigerian workers that it had no plans or agenda to sell any of the nation’s refineries or the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The Federal Government said anybody who was nursing plans to sell the assets does not have the interest of Nigerian workers at heart.

Speaking at the 12th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of the NLC in Abuja, on Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, said government was determined to attain the decent work agenda, which involves opportunities for workers, saying it will deliver a fair income, security at work places, and social protection for families.

“I want to reassure you of the commitment of this administration to the issue of welfare of workers. This is evidence of numerous programmes and policies that have been initiated by this administration in promoting the interest of the wellbeing of our workforce.

“Meanwhile, the administration is committed to addressing other labour issues that are still pending,” Mustapha said.

In the meantime, the NLC has called for reversal of the power sector privatisation due to what it called chronic failures by the distribution companies (DisCos) to deliver quality power supply to Nigerians.

National President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said: “Since the privatisation of electricity distribution, Nigerians are yet to see the fulfilment of promises of efficient service delivery.

“Instead, the electricity situation has gone worse with chronic failures by DisCos to supply prepaid meters, exploitation of Nigerians through estimated billings and reluctance to attend to basic complaints.

“Even with N39 billion bailout funds from government, the supposed private entrepreneurs have failed to turn anything around except, maybe, their pockets, unfortunately, at the expense of Nigerians. This must stop.

“We call on government to reverse the power sector privatisation because it has failed.

“Privatisation of public utilities has not generally proven to be the correct thing to do in most countries, even developed ones, according to a study released by Public Services International.”

He urged the Federal Government to resuscitate Nigeria’s ailing refineries in order to liberate the downstream sector.


Malabu: JPMorgan Asks UK Court To Stop $875m FG’s Suit

In another development, JPMorgan Chase & Co. on Tuesday asked a London court to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the Nigerian government that accuses the bank of failing to prevent $875 million in corrupt payments.

The global company insists it got the correct approvals from Nigerian officials before transferring the funds to accounts controlled by a former oil minister, Dan Etete, who has been convicted of money laundering, and that the government’s claim has no real prospect of success.

The Federal Government had last year filed a claim against JPMorgan Chase for more than $875 million, accusing it of negligence in transferring funds from a disputed 2011 oilfield deal to a company controlled by the former oil minister.


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We Won’t Sell NNPC, Refineries, FG Assures
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Mohammed Shosanya and Chidi Ugwu

Lagos /Abuja – The Federal Government has assured Nigerian workers that it had no plans or agenda to sell any of the nation’s refineries or the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).


The Federal Government said anybody who was nursing plans to sell the assets does not have the interest of Nigerian workers at heart.

Speaking at the 12th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of the NLC in Abuja, on Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, said government was determined to attain the decent work agenda, which involves opportunities for workers, saying it will deliver a fair income, security at work places, and social protection for families.

“I want to reassure you of the commitment of this administration to the issue of welfare of workers. This is evidence of numerous programmes and policies that have been initiated by this administration in promoting the interest of the wellbeing of our workforce.


“Meanwhile, the administration is committed to addressing other labour issues that are still pending,” Mustapha said.

In the meantime, the NLC has called for reversal of the power sector privatisation due to what it called chronic failures by the distribution companies (DisCos) to deliver quality power supply to Nigerians.

National President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said: “Since the privatisation of electricity distribution, Nigerians are yet to see the fulfilment of promises of efficient service delivery.

“Instead, the electricity situation has gone worse with chronic failures by DisCos to supply prepaid meters, exploitation of Nigerians through estimated billings and reluctance to attend to basic complaints.

“Even with N39 billion bailout funds from government, the supposed private entrepreneurs have failed to turn anything around except, maybe, their pockets, unfortunately, at the expense of Nigerians. This must stop.


“We call on government to reverse the power sector privatisation because it has failed.

“Privatisation of public utilities has not generally proven to be the correct thing to do in most countries, even developed ones, according to a study released by Public Services International.”

He urged the Federal Government to resuscitate Nigeria’s ailing refineries in order to liberate the downstream sector.

Malabu: JPMorgan Asks UK Court To Stop $875m FG’s Suit

In another development, JPMorgan Chase & Co. on Tuesday asked a London court to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the Nigerian government that accuses the bank of failing to prevent $875 million in corrupt payments.

The global company insists it got the correct approvals from Nigerian officials before transferring the funds to accounts controlled by a former oil minister, Dan Etete, who has been convicted of money laundering, and that the government’s claim has no real prospect of success.

The Federal Government had last year filed a claim against JPMorgan Chase for more than $875 million, accusing it of negligence in transferring funds from a disputed 2011 oilfield deal to a company controlled by the former oil minister.

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The suit filed in British courts relates to a purchase of the offshore OPL 245 oilfield in Nigeria by oil majors, Royal Dutch Shell and Eni in 2011. At the core of the case is a $1.3 billion payment from Shell and Eni to secure the block that the lawsuit says was deposited into a Nigerian government escrow account managed by JPMorgan.

The suit said JPMorgan then received a request from finance ministry workers to transfer more than $800 million of the funds to accounts controlled by the previous operator of the block, Malabu Oil and Gas, itself controlled by former oil minister, Dan Etete.

It added that JPMorgan then transferred the funds to two accounts controlled by Etete, without sufficient due diligence to make sure the money did not leave accounts controlled by the Nigerian government.

But the Federal Government says that JPMorgan acted with gross negligence by allowing the transfer of the money without further checks.

It said JPMorgan should have known that, under Nigerian law, the money should never have been transferred to an outside company.

“If the defendant acted with reasonable care and skill and/or conducted reasonable due diligence it would or should have known or at least suspected that it was being asked to transfer funds to third parties who were seeking to misappropriate the funds from the claimant and/or that there was a significant risk that this was the case,” the filing said.

Last year, a Milan judge ruled that Shell and Eni must stand trial in Italy, where Eni is headquartered, for a separate legal case in which Milan prosecutors allege bribes were paid to Etete and others as part of the same oilfield deal, including sums that went to Etete’s Malabu.

Both Eni and Shell denied any wrongdoing in relation to that case. There are also ongoing investigations regarding the deal in Nigeria and the Netherlands, where Shell is based.

The licence for the offshore block was awarded to Malabu in 1998 under then-Head of State Sani Abacha, but Shell finalised a deal for the block with the Nigerian government in 2011. A British court, in a judgment late last year that agreed to return to Nigeria $85 million in frozen funds related to the deal, said that Malabu was controlled by Etete.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Tuesday said a total of 735 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (mscfd) was delivered to gas fired-power plants in November 2018 compared with October 2018 where an average of 627mscfd was supplied.

Details of the report contained in the NNPC Monthly Financial and Operations Report for the month of November 2018 showed that out of the 212.93 billion cubic feet (bcf) of gas supplied during the period, a total of 123.29bcf of gas was commercialised, consisting of 36.14bcf and 87.15bcf for domestic and export markets, respectively.

The report said this translated to a total supply of 1,204.76mmscfd of gas to the domestic market and 2,905.06mmscfd of gas supplied to the export market for the month, implying that 57.91% of the average daily gas produced was commercialised while the balance of 42.09% was re-injected, used as upstream fuel gas or flared.

The total gas supply in November 2017 to November 2018 stood at 3,071.13bcf out of which 466.44bcf and 1,317.77bcf were commercialised for the domestic and export markets, respectively.

A further breakdown of the report indicated that gas – injected, fuel gas and gas flared – stood at 1,286.92bcf.

The November report, the 40th edition in the series, announced a trading surplus of N2.06 billion which represented a laudable improvement of 116% over the previous month’s deficit of 12.66 billion. This increase in performance month-on-month was primarily attributable to improved efficiency of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company’s (NPDC) operations.

NNPC also posted a total crude oil and gas sale of $668.57 in November 2018 which is 26.13% higher than the previous month. Crude oil export sales contributed $574.95 million (86.00%) of the dollar transactions compared with $425.00 million contribution in the previous month.

The November 2017 to November 2018 crude oil and gas transactions indicated that crude oil & gas worth $5.97 billion was exported.

Alex Enumah and Udora Orizu in Abuja



The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, continued his battle for survival yesterday, hinting at agriculture as the source of his wealth with a petition to the acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, over alleged threat to the lives of workers on his farm in Masaka, Nasarawa State.

Onnoghen was suspended a couple of weeks ago by President Muhammadu Buhari and has a February 13 date with the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), where he is being arraigned for alleged asset declaration offences.

He has, however, asked the CCT Chairman, Mr. Danladi Umar, to stand down from the panel of three on the grounds of likelihood of bias.

In an apparent bid to force the CJN out of office, the federal government had acted speedily on a petition by a non-governmental organisation alleging that the apex court justice had failed to declare his assets fully, complaining that he failed to disclose some domiciliary accounts habouring huge forex.

Few days later, the media was awash with details of the said hidden accounts with insinuation that the hefty cash could be proceed of illicit transactions.
In a nationwide broadcast, the president complained that while he was being upbraided for unlawfully suspending the CJN, no one was talking about the funds found in Onnoghen’s account.

Analysts said yesterday that Onnoghen’s petition complaining about ‘herdsmen’ attack on his farm, might be his strategy of explaining the source of his wealth already being assailed by the federal government.

Under the 1999 Constitution as altered, public officers are allowed to engage in farming.

In the petition dated February 2 and filed February 4, his counsel, Mr. Ogwu Onoja, SAN, said his client, the CJN informed him that “some men who appeared to be herdsmen were at the farm yesterday afternoon and also later at night, inquiring about the owner of the farm and issued frightening threats to the farmers.

Onoja stated that the workers are now living in dreadful fear and have consequently stopped all farming activities.

According to Onoja, the farm, which belongs to the family of Onnoghen, is a large commercial venture that provides employment to a large number of people who live on the farm and tend to the commercial poultry, piggery, livestock as well as cash and food crops on the farm.

While the petitioner said the threat of the herders was being considered as an indication of imminent attack on the lives and property on the farm, he called on the IG and police to urgently move in and forestall any possible destruction of lives and property at the farm.

He said in part: “We implore you, in the discharge of your constitutional duty as the Chief Police Officer of the nation, to deploy your men to secure the farm to avoid a breakdown of law and order, the possible unleashing of mayhem on the workers, destruction of the farm, including the property thereon and the disruption of ongoing farming activities particularly in this season of harvest.

“We also call for a thorough, exhaustive and stringent investigation into this matter so as to unearth the identities of the persons behind this menace.
“We trust that you will use your good offices to quash this impending threat and help restore confidence of the people in the farm and its immediate environ.”


Asks CCT Chairman to Stand Down

Meanwhile, the CJN has asked the Chairman of the CCT, Umar, to disqualify himself from handling his case of alleged failure to declare his assets pending at the tribunal.

The federal government is seeking to prosecute Onnoghen on a six-count charge bordering on failure to declare his assets.

Following a petition filed against Onnoghen by a non-governmental group on January 9 at the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), the bureau accordingly approached the tribunal for the prosecution of Onnoghen.

Responding, the tribunal fixed January 14 for arraignment of the defendant, who though did not appear in court over improper service of the charge by the tribunal. However, he challenged the jurisdiction of the tribunal to hear the case.

In the motion on notice dated February 4 and filed on his behalf by his lawyer, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, the applicant submitted that going by the manner the tribunal chairman has conducted himself so far, he is not sure of getting a fair trial at the tribunal.

He added that comments and behaviour of the chairman were enough proof that he is acting a prepared script with the aim to convict the defendant to the pleasure of his ‘paymaster.’

The motion on notice, which is brought pursuant to rule 12 (1) and (1A) of the revised code of conduct for judicial officers of Nigeria, 2016 under the inherent jurisdiction of the tribunal is seeking an order of the tribunal for the chairman of the tribunal, Umar to disqualify/recuse himself from further participating in the adjudication of the case on the grounds of real likelihood of bias.

The application is predicated on the grounds that the chairman constructively convicted the defendant sought to be arraigned before him without either hearing from him or being formally arraigned before him.

Another ground is that the CCT chairman authored and signed an exparte order directing Onnoghen to step aside as CJN, even when he has not been convicted of wrongdoing, on account of a charge not yet before the tribunal and the defendant was yet to take his plea.

In further support of his claims of bias against the CCT chairman, the applicant noted that Umar had on January 23, entertained a motion exparte that was not moved by any known prosecutor bearing the same title, charge number as that of the defendant dated January 9, which he said substantially predetermined the guilt of the defendant without an arraignment.

The applicant also stated that Umar in the course of presiding over the case showed acts of partisanship by making decisions and orders as well as expressing opinions that were antagonistic to the applicant.
He submitted that going by the forgoing, the applicant has no confidence in the tribunal chairman to do justice fairly between parties in the suit, “as he is a man on a mission to please his masters.”


CUPP Alleges FG Wants to Force CJN’s Resignation

In a related development, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) yesterday alleged that it had uncovered a plot by the federal government to force Justice Onnoghen to resign.
The spokesperson of the coalition, Mr. Imo Ugochinyere, in a statement, said the decision was taken after Onnoghen turned down all mouth-watering offers made to him.

Ugochinyere also alleged that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Department of State Services (DSS) are threatening the legal team of the embattled CJN to withdraw from the case.

”The CUPP has uncovered yet another dastardly plot by the federal government in their continued victimisation of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Onnoghen. This time around, the presidency has concluded the plot to force the CJN to resign at gunpoint, after all the mouth-watering offers was turned down by the courageous Justice Onnoghen.”

“The federal government has resolved on the dual action that the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo would weigh in and coerce his colleagues, Senior Advocates to withdraw from defending the CJN and to resort to the use of security agencies to intimidate the legal team of the CJN. “Some of the Senior Advocates on the team of the CJN have been trailed, their offices and homes being circled and monitored, their telephones bugged and most of them have had reports from their bankers that their account statements have been obtained by the security agencies and certain instructions placed on some types of transactions.”

He further said the workers in the farm of the CJN located in Uke in Nasarawa State have been threatened to leave their place of work in the farm or pay with their lives by persons who disguised to be Fulani herdsmen.

He said, “We have credible intelligence that the visitors to the farm were arranged by government all to ensure the farm is crumbled and every other source of income of the CJN is blocked. The legal team of the CJN has written to the appropriate security agencies complaining of the warning and threats by the so called Fulani herdsmen.”

Ugochinyere lamented that Presidency is clearly playing hide and seek with the security of the country, adding that the government has been encouraging and motivating the spread of fake news against the CJN.

By Seun Opejobi



A highly placed official in the Federal Government, who confided in DAILY POST on the grounds of anonymity disclosed that the president will go after Obasanjo because his administration wasted the sum of $16bn on power which yielded little or no results all through his eight years in power.

He also disclosed that Buhari government would ensure that Jonathan’s connection to the slush funds allegedly misappropriated by the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki would be considered, after which the former President would be prosecuted.

The source explained that the recent tone of the president on anti-corruption, “tells you about what to expect if elected.”

According to the source: “Buhari will unleash his venom if elected on February 16. People like Obasanjo will be probed for wasting $16bn on power.

“Despite wasting such huge funds on power, you will discover that Nigeria has remained in perpetual darkness. I can assure you that he won’t be spared if Baba is elected.

“Look at Jonathan, are you trying to tell me that he was not aware of the billions Dasuki was sharing during the last election? When Buhari returns, he will ensure that Jonathan’s link is established and well prosecuted. At least, you can hear from the horse’s mouth at different rallies that all those linked to corruption will not be spared.

“Some of Jonathan’s aides who were linked to Dasuki funds have linked the former president to this funds so we will look into it and ensure that no loosed end is left untied. Buhari’s second term will be tough, mark my words; it will be tough especially for Obasanjo and Jonathan.

“Buhari was seen as been silent in his first tenure but the silent support of both Jonathan and Obasanjo to remove him from office will re-awake him.

Suspected bandits have killed Ade Marafa, elder sister of Kabir Marafa, senator representing Zamfara central, and abducted her husband.

Abubakar Tsafe, an aide to the senator, who confirmed this to TheCable, said the bandits struck at the residence of the senator’s sister located at Ruwan Bore area of Gusau local government area on Tuesday.

The aide said the suspected bandits numbering about 100 set the village ablaze after raiding it.

“More than half of Ruwan Bore village has been burnt by the bandits. The villagers are now seeking refuge at Mada, a neighbouring community,” he said in a statement.

Tsafe said at the time of issuing the statement, the senator’s in-law had not been found.

The senator has, on many occasions ,expressed concern about the high level of insecurity in the state.

In November, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered a military crackdown on the bandits but the killings have continued unabated.

Due to the overwhelming activities of the bandits, Abdulaziz Yari, governor of Zamfara, said he was no longer chief security officer of the state because he had no control over security machinery.

“As chief security officer, the nomenclature is just a name,” Yari had said.

Speaking at a town hall meeting in September, the governor said from 2011, at least 2,300 people have died as a result of insecurity in the state.

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu on Saturday suggested a breakthrough in negotiations with the striking university lecturers.

At a media conference in Abuja, he said an agreement was reached with the union which was expected to cancel the strike.

He said on Saturday, “The strike will be called off from today or tomorrow and certainly, there won’t be strike next week.”

The lecturers under the umbrella of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) started an indefinite strike on November 5, 2018, after the failure to reach agreement with the government over their demands.

The strike was said to have disrupted activities at the universities as well as student achievement.

By Our Reporter

The Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal continued sitting Thursday with the All Progressives Congress (APC) trying rationalise alterations of election results as reflected in the forms EC8As, submitted as exhibits by the Petitioner, Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP), Senator Ademola Adeleke.

APC counsels led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN) attempted to shift the legality of the alterations to the INEC ward collation agents and the provisions of the guidelines issued for the conduct of the election.


While the court admitted the INEC guidelines for the election despite PDP’s counsel’s Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu’s objection, the witnesses produced by APC failed to toe the line marked out by the APC legal team.

The witnesses all admitted that any alteration of the result should have reflected on the pink copy, and signed by all party agents at the polling centers, thus confirming that in most cases, the alterations did not reflect on the pink copies, party agents’ names/signatures were either not written at all or were forged.

The petitioner’s counsel were able to extract these facts from APC witnesses thereby buttressing PDP’s allegations and submissions that several election results were doctored to reduce the margin of PDP victory on September 22.


Another APC witness equally proceeded to confirm that the disparity between the pink and the purportedly certified true copies violated the INEC election guidelines.

The guidelines had stated that in case of any alteration of results at collation centres, such must be reflected on the carbonated pink copies. In several cases, it was not the case as confirmed by APC’s witnesses.

After taking three witnesses, lawyers to the APC abruptly stopped calling more witnesses when It was evident that the witnesses were inadvertently strengthening PDP’s case instead of theirs.


The tribunal continues sitting today.

Peter Dada, Akure


The senator representing the Ondo South Senatorial District, Yele Omogunwa was on Thursday assaulted by the residents of the Okitipupa, the headquarters of Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State during the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to the palace of the monarch of Idepe town, Oba Michael Adetoye.

Similarly, a member of the House of Representatives, representing the Idanre/ Ifedore Federal Constituency, Mr. Bamidele Baderinwa too was beaten blue black by some youths in Idanre on Wednesday during the Osinbajo’s visit to the traditional ruler Idanre town.

It took the intervention of the security details of the Vice President, who took the lawmaker away from the scene, to save him.

Senator Omogunwa, who is the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the forthcoming general election, was said to be in the company of the Vice President when the incident happened.

It was gathered that the angry youths carried out the attack on the senator following his alleged woeful performance and poor representation of the district.

One of the youths of the town, speaking on the condition of anonymity said, “He ( senator) was beaten because he neglected us in the senatorial district, he carried out no constituency projects in the past three years we have elected him”

“He does not have any constituency office in this town, he was not accessible, we couldn’t reach him for over three years, so what does he want here? Election is coming now, so he wants to cajole us again, that will not be possible” he added.

Meanwhile, the Vice President, in the last three days, had visited the traditional rulers and market women in Akure, Ondo, Okitipupa, Idanre, Ile Oluji and Akoko area of the state.

During Osinbajo’s visit to the Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Victor Kiladejo appealed to the VP to expedite action on the process of upgrading the Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo to a university of education.

The traditional ruler also urged Osinbajo, that if the current administration wins the next election, he should influence the dualization of Akure-Ondo-Ore road project.

In his response, Osinbajo said all the requests of the traditional ruler would be looked into, promising that something would be done.

He said, “All your requests will be looked into, the ACE deserves a university status and it would be done. The dualisation will be done. We are investing in infrastructure.

“We have put a substantial amount of money on Lagos-Kano railway project and the first phase of the project has been completed and will be inaugurated in a few days from now.”

There were serious jubilations within the opposition parties in Zamfara state as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday disqualified all the candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state from contesting the 2019 general elections in the state.


According to the governorship candidate of the PDP in the state, Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle, the official release from the commission which excluded the state wing of APC from contesting the elections was a very transparent development.

According to him, INEC has proved to Nigerians that the 2019 general elections would be free, fair, credible and acceptable.


According to him, INEC has obeyed the judiciary, noting that the Federal High court’s judgment supersedes a state High court, appealing to the commission to ensure that Justice prevails in the 2019 general elections.

In another reaction, the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Alhaji Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi noted that he was waiting for APC in the state to flag off its campaign before going to the appeal court, noting that the INEC has done what was expected of the commission to do.

The presidential candidate of Nigerian Elements Progressive Party (NEPP) Comrade Ishaka Paul Ofemile said he appreciated the decision of INEC.


He noted that Nigeria is so big for anybody to use federal might or power of incumbency to manipulate the decision of over one hundred and fifty million citizens.

On his own part, Senator Garba Kabiru Marafa representing Zamfara central senatorial zone in the Senate pointed out that Governor Abdulaziz Yari wanted to prove to the world that he was the alpha and omega in the State.

The senator noted that Abdulaziz Yari came to the political limelight from nowhere through the political influence of senator Ahmad Sani Yarima.

Senator Marafa noted that even though he was not going to contest the governorship election, he was satisfied that Governor Abdulaziz Yari did not achieve his selfish interest after all.

Meanwhile, all the APC candidates and their supporters have remained silent, waiting for the Governor to enter the state Government House and make a public statement.

It could be recalled that the faction of the governor within the party had conducted the party primary elections in the state which the G8 group, the national headquarters of APC and INEC rejected.

The rejection of the primaries forced the camp of the governor to proceed to court against both the national headquarters of the party and INEC, praying the court to uphold the primaries.

However, the state court 3 sitting in Gusau, the state capital upheld the primaries while the Federal High Court Abuja declared the elections non-acceptable, thereby, upholding the decision of the INEC not to allow the APC candidates in the state to contest the general elections.

It was not yet known what would be the next line of action by the state chapter of the party even though our correspondent gathered that President Muhammadu Buhari is now set for his presidential campaign in the state.

Awka – The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has announced that anyone who went out to vote in the presidential poll on February 16 would become enemy of the separatist group.

It said such voter would be deemed to have voted against Biafra and for the people of Biafra to continue to live under intimidation and hardship.

In a statement by its media and publicity secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, the group declared: “We, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), wish to categorically declare that anybody who does not stay indoors or happens to venture outside on the day of the presidential election would be regarded as having voted against Biafra.


“Such person or persons would be seen as supporting one Nigeria and responsible for the continued suffering, kidnapping, killing, and total marginalisation of our people.”

It said February 16, 2019 was a rare and golden opportunity to make an everlasting impression on the world to the effect that Biafrans were prepared to sacrifice everything that could be sacrificed, including the position of the vice president, to prove to the world that they valued their freedom more than any earthly or material consideration.

IPOB stated that it would ensure that “Biafraland is completely locked down”.

It described Nigeria as “one giant fraudulent cave where ethnic nationalities are held down in bondage in an unworkable artificially created purgatory”.

According to the group, the only option facing those in Biafraland was to support Biafran freedom by sitting at home on February 16 because going out to vote would amount to re-validating their “slave status in Nigeria”.

By Owen Akenzua




Angry mob in Abraka community in Delta State in the early hours of Monday lynched a suspected ritualist, identified as Chief Josaiah Akpedafe, for allegedly stealing boxers underwear belonging to some students of the Delta State University (DELSU), including male residents of the community.


It was gathered that the suspect, a middle-aged man, was caught by the mob who raised the alarm that attracted the attention of others to scene where he (the suspect) was lynched before he was rescued by the university’s security agents, who later handed him over to the police.

But men of the Abraka police division, who confirmed the incident on the condition of anonymity, said that the suspect, upon interrogation, confessed to the crime, adding that investigation was ongoing

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, who spoke to newsmen in Asaba, confirmed that the suspect confessed to be a ritualist, who uses both male and female pants for rituals, adding that he will be charged to court upon completion of investigation.

Aniamaka said, “the suspect was caught with 124 boxers and many of it were for the students while others were for male residents of the Abraka community. Upon interrogation, the suspect a middle aged, said he is a ritualist, he being detained at Abraka police station for further investigation.”

Eyewitness, Anthony Gbare said the suspect’s hands were tied to trees as he allegedly flogged amidst several slaps and hard punches by the angry mob who were about setting him ablaze before the intervention of security agents at the Abraka police division.

The National Committee of Yoruba Youth (NCYY) has taken exemption and frowned at the recent comment by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in a recent 16 pages statement he released to Nigerians titled “Point of Concern and Action”, accusing President Muhammadu Buhari amongst other things of returning the country to the Abacha Military era, and being responsible for some of the challenges presently being witnessed in the country.

Obasanjo, a former President had stated that the Buhari’s administration is planning to rig the 2019 Presidential election, and that Nigeria is presently facing failure of leadership, stressing that the “growing spate of mindless shedding of innocent blood” has brought a new dimension to the reprehensible state of insecurity in the country. “That is not what Nigerians voted for in 2015,″ Obasanjo had said.

Reacting however, the youth group which is an umbrella body of various youth organizations in the Southwest geopolitical zone of the Country, through its President, Comrade Odeyemi Oladimeji, stated that it is very disheartening to see people who were in the helms of affairs in the old regime known for wastage, nepotism and grand corruption to cast aspersions on the person of President Muhammadu Buhari. Odeyemi warned Chief Obasanjo that he should not throw caution into the winds. According to him, Nigeria relapsed into a recession shortly after the take off of the present administration because of the failures of the PDP administration, pioneered by the Obasanjo’s of this world.

He said: “Obasanjo as a matter of fact has undermined the war on corruption by supporting his former deputy, Atiku Abubakar, whom he has severally accused of corruption.

“Where was Obasanjo while billions of public funds are being squandered in the name of the electorate without commensurate achievements and why the desperation to force President Buhari out of office, through illegitimate means. To us in the National Committee of Yoruba Youth, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to any discerning and prescient mind possess a mindset and idiosyncrasies, a certain human function no doubt which pretends to be something that is not.”

The statement further said, the group has observed that in the period that, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo came in the Nigerian national scene from the time of the civil war , a clear pattern has also emerged.

“A clear pathological egoism, laced with psychological hedonism, in all of Obasanjo’s books, letters and statements inclusive, it is easy to see a man of immense ego, who is ready to bring the roof down whenever he feels his personal and selfish interest are not protected. Even in his last book, ” My Watch “, Obasanjo shifted the blame of his failed Third Term bid on the governors who he said were the ones who wanted him to continue to be President for the unprecedented and unconstitutional Third Term and not himself.”

The NCYY while “calling on security agencies to immediately place Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on a security surveillance, laid emphasis that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has written inciting statements against all Presidents since President Shagari in 1982, is not our question.

“That he has yet written such inciting statement these times, most especially with the renewed activities of the decimated but now very desperate Boko Haram terrorist group and it’s affiliate, the Islamic State of West Africa is our focus.

“This insidious statement by Chief Obasanjo should be seen as suspect is the very reason of this press statement.”

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Samuel Onnoghen is, again, absent at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) as the tribunal resumes sitting in the case of non-declaration of assets against him.

When the case was called, the tribunal official announced that the defendant was not in court.

Prosecution counsel, Aliyu Umar (SAN) thereafter, said the business of the day was for the arraignment and the hearing of the two applications from the prosecution and the defendant.

He said the prosecution’s application was asking for an order directing that the defendant step down as the CJN and chairman of NJC while the defendant’s application was challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal.

“It is obvious that arraignment can not take place because the defendant is not in court. Last time, the tribunal could not proceed because there was no proper service on the defendant,” he said.

Responding, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), who led over 30 other senior advocates as the CJN’s counsel, said the record of the tribunal shows that the matter was adjourned to today for hearing of the motions.

He said there have been a lot of intervening factors since the last sittings.

He said there have been some orders from the Federal High Court, Abuja, adding that the life span has been further extended to January 28.

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja




The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has again called on President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate former President Olusegun Obasanjo for the alleged misdeeds during his tenure.

He said Nigerians should hold the former president responsible for 65 per cent of the problems that have bedeviled the country in recent times, since he superintended over the affairs of the country for 13 years.

Addressing the party’s presidential campaign rally in Yobe State, yesterday, Oshiomhole accused Obasanjo of allegedly bribing legislators during his tenure.

Oshiomhole said: “President Obasanjo ruled the country for 13 years, so whatever are the sins of Nigeria, Obasanjo carries 65 per cent of the burden of that sin. He introduced corruption to the National Assembly giving every senator N100 million, and House of Representatives N50 million.

“Where did he get that money from? Mr. President, in the name of Almighty God, you have a duty when you are re-elected; you have a duty to use this broom. We know it will be shorter, and you know the shorter the more effective it will be. You must find answers, with all due respect, to the mismanagement that Chief Obasanjo did,” he said.

Oshiomhole who also addressed the party faithful in Hausa, said Obasanjo was exhibiting desperation because he was afraid of his betrayal having seen the turnout everywhere President Buhari has gone for campaign.

He also alleged that Obasanjo and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were jittery that the president has been able to withstand the rigour of campaigns and has pulled large crowd at every rally.

According to him, Obasanjo and his PDP collaborators believe that the President Buhari will not be able to campaign.

“They said the president is not campaigning when he said that Bola Tinubu will lead the campaigns.

“As a matter of a man of honour, he said Asiwaju you will lead my campaign, which is just a statement of modesty, acknowledging that there are other parties.

“They said he should come out, lead it by himself. When he decided to lead the campaigns, they said that everyday he is campaigning,” the APC chairman said.

On his part, President Buhari used the opportunity to thank the people of Yobe State for supporting his election in 2015, noting that he had fulfilled the promise made to reduce the cost of fertiliser to enable farmers improve on their productivity.

The president cautioned that the federal government will not tolerate any attempt to hoard or sell fertiliser above approved price.

Buhari who spoke to an excited crowd of party supporters who thronged the Yobe Township Stadium also vowed to deal with those engaged in smuggling of food stuffs, particularly rice.

Tony Nwoye, Director of Youth Mobilisation, All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Council, says youths will be heads of Ministries and Prastatals if President Muhammadu Buhari is re-elected.

Mr Nwoye stated this on Monday in Abuja at a news conference to launch a nationwide campaign for Buhari’s re-election in Abuja.



He said the nationwide youth mobilisation campaign was targeted at convincing Nigerian youths and students that they could trust Buhari.

This, he said, was especially so, based on the positive youth development credentials of President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to date.

Mr Nwonye, who is also a member of the House of Representatives, said he had secured the commitment of President Buhari to change the involvement of youths in his administration when re-elected.

He further said that youths in the country were committed to mobilising and giving President Buhari over 20 million votes in the coming elections.

This, he said, would ensure a landslide victory for Buhari in the presidential election slated for Feb. 16.

The director also said that he had embarked on a nationwide consultation with youths, engaging them on the need to vote massively for Buhari in the coming election.

“During the over one week of non-stop nationwide consultations that l spearheaded, I became convinced that Nigerian youths deeply appreciate the improved regime of youth development and empowerment under Buhari from 2015.

“The polity is ready for Buhari-Osinbajo 2019 if only the leadership team is ready to take its youth development programme to the Next Level of higher youth inclusion in leadership and the economy.

“Upon this realisation, I and my assistants and deputies came back to Abuja to consult with President Buhari,“he said.

He added that he got the commitment of the president after consulting with him for two days.

Mr Nwonye stressed that President Buhari was poised to take his youth development programmes to the `Next Level’ of higher youth inclusion in leadership.

This, he said, the president would do through: ” a youth quota in the headship of Ministries, Departments, Agencies and other policies.”

“After extracting these commitments from Mr President, the

directorate quickly reverted to the leadership of Nigerian youths and had regional consultations and engagements.

“There upon, the youths and students of Nigeria and the directorate agreed that Nigerian youths will deliver an avalanche of over 20 million votes to Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo,” he said.

He maintained that youths had resolved to support Buhari despite attempts by some would be detractors to blackmail his administration based on sentiments that had no grounding in our national reality.

He noted that the record of visible and impactful poverty alleviation strategies, such as the Traders’ Money Scheme which had empowered over 350,000 Medium and Small Scale Businesses across the country was enormous.

He listed the national School Feeding Programme, the Anchor Borrowers Programme which had added over three million metric tonnes to annual food supply as some other achievements of the Buhari administration.

Others he said were the N-Power Volunteers Scheme which had recruited 500,000 graduates and the N-Build category which had so far trained over 10,000 non-graduates in vocational skills in 23 states of the federation.

NAN

By Henry Ojelu


The Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, BOSAN has resolved to tackle the Federal Government over the trial of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen and the President of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Paul Usoro, SAN.

The body is currently holding an emergency meeting at the conference room of Nigeria Law School, Lagos. As at the time of filing this report, the body has constituted a committee to draft a communique on their position which will be issued later today.

The meeting which started at about 10:00am had in attendance over 50 Senior Advocates of Nigeria.

A very reliable source who was at the meeting told Vanguard that most of the senior lawyers at the meeting expressed their displeasure with the procedure adopted by the Federal Government in prosecuting the CJN.

According to the source, the trial of the President, Nigerian Bar Association, Paul Usoro, SAN before the Federal High Court Lagos over allegation of fraud was also extensively discoursed.

The source also disclosed that most of the SANs who spoke at the meeting expressed their displeasure with manner that FG appears to have declared war against the judiciary.

Vanguard also learnt that a Senior Advocate who is among Federal Government’s prosecuting team was also at the meeting.

A comprehensive communique on the full resolution of the body will be issued later today.

By Juliana Francis


Lagos State is a melting pot where the sublime and the ridiculous exist side by side. The Centre of Excellence is never short of dramas and the latest in these unending spectacle unfolded earlier in the week in the full glare of bemused citizens. On that day, specifically Tuesday, January 15, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi was supposed to handover the baton of leadership to Deputy Commissioner of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, but a phone call from the Force Headquarters stopped the ceremony, retaining Imohimi as the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, while compelling Egbetokun to move back to his former office.

It is worthy to note, that the call came some minutes after Mohammed Adamu’s decoration as the new Inspector General of Police. “On the day that Adamu was decorated, was also the day that Edgal was supposed to handover. But even on that day, Edgal was just delaying, nobody knew why. It was as if he was waiting for something. And then the phone call came. After he listened to the caller, he handed the phone to Egbetokun, who also listened. We are, however, not sure whether the phone call was directly from the new IG himself or he gave directives to a senior police officer to stop the handover ceremony,” said a police source.

A lot of forces were at play, with the incoming Inspector General of Police Adamu and outgoing IG, Ibrahim Idris, displaying massive power play between the new and old order. The new order triumphed. The seat of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police is and had always been a coveted one. Most CPs often find it difficult to relinquish power whenever it is time to hand over the reins of power. The seat comes with glory, power and influence. The desires of every ambitious policeman. It will be recalled that Imohimi was appointed as the Lagos State Commissioner of Police in a controversial circumstances and during a controversial era.

His appointment came just when many policemen were beginning to grumble that their colleagues were allegedly buying promotions, making junior officers to become senior, and senior officers to become junior. The Police Service Commission (PSC) and Idris were fingered to be those selling promotions to policemen not qualified or due for such ranks. The PSC and Idris repeatedly denied the allegation and nothing was proved against them. Imohimi was accused and alleged to be among those that bought his promotion. It was further alleged that his classmate, the sitting governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, paid for him. It all turned out to be mere allegations, which no one, even policemen that wrote a series of petition against Imohimi, couldn’t prove. In August 2017, Imohimi was appointed the Lagos State Commissioner of Police.

He replaced Fatai Owoseni. Before then, he was Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, Lagos State Police Command, working directly under Owoseni. Before Imohimi took on the mantle of leadership, Lagos State was in the grip of blood suckers called Badoo cult groups. These cult groups killed women, men and children. Nobody was spared.

The Badoo cult groups had a pattern and signature. Even as a DCP, Imohimi led an operation to Ikorodu area of the metropolis, into Badoo cult enclave, beginning the demystification of the cult groups. He was daring and treaded even were angels feared to. While many of his seniors were said to be seething over his promotion and appointment, Imohimi knew it was up to him to prove himself.

Without wasting time, he hit the ground of Lagos State running. He tackled the Badoo cult with a ferociousness that was electrifying, declaring alleged sponsors and supporters wanted. He wormed his way into the hearts of many Lagosians and security watchers. He then focused on issues that had to do with children and women.

Many people may not like Imohimi, describing him as rude and brash, but nobody could take it from him that he was one of the best and most hardworking CPs the state had ever had. As he was driving himself hard, working round the clock, he was also driving his men, making them crazy with fatigue. So many alleged corrupt policemen, especially members of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) under his watch, were arrested, detained, defaulted and sometimes dismissed for misconduct. But while things were working out for Imohimi in the state, the same couldn’t be said for his benefactor, friend and classmate, Ambode. Party members were not too happy with Ambode for many reasons.

Ambode lost in the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries. Nobody needed a soothsayer to know that the political powers that be, had chosen and anointed Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the next governor of Lagos State. No matter how hardworking Imohimi was, the thinking was that some politicians in the state had trust issues with him. They knew how close he was to Ambode; they were uneasy. It is election year and chances should not be taken.

The thinking is that it was at this point that the plotting to oust Imohimi from the seat of power began, in order to bring in a trusted hand. The politicians needed just one mistake to take Imohimi out. The much needed reason soon came. The campaign rally of APC held on January 8, at Skypower Ground Ikeja, Lagos, turned bloody, with political thugs shooting and wielding machetes like they were in a Wild West Hollywood movie. Party supporters scampered for safety, while armed men, believed to be members of National Union Road Transport Workers (NURTW), unleashed hell. Many people were injured, including journalists.

MC Oluomo, a strong member of NURTW and supporter of the APC was stabbed after he mounted the podium to dance. Ambode and Sanwo- Olu were guarded and guided off the venue in a human-shield. There was outrage that such a bloody drama occurred just a few walks away from the Lagos State Police Command, where Imohimi has his office. Many of the party people alleged Imohimi, deliberately working against the party, didn’t secure the venue properly. A police source, who spoke with our reporter after the phone call that retained Imohimi as CP Lagos, disclosed: “The transfer of Edgal is just political. APC used the MC Oluomo case to attempt to remove him. The truth, however, is that policemen, operatives of Department of State Services (DSS) and officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence corpse were all there. Why did they pick only on Edgal as not doing his job? It’s all about politics.”

As the plot to kick out Imohimi thickened, the gods were preparing to usher the IG, Idris, out of Louise Edet House. He had reached the mandatory 35 years in service and the hope that President Muhammadu Buhari might extend his tenure was dashed. There are speculations that the APC leadership had already reached out to Idris. Just as Idris was taking a bow to leave the stage for Adamu, he played a fast one. He made a series of transfers; one of those transfers was Imohimi.

He was transferred to the Explosive Ordinance Unit at the Police Headquarters, Abuja. He was to resume immediately, while Egbetokun was to take over. Imohimi’s transfer attracted a lot of outrage among many Lagosians. Those who knew he was hardworking and had done well in terms of security didn’t care about party politics and wanted him to stay.

Shockingly,among those that cheered his transfers were policemen. “Imohimi has put many policemen and women in detention because of misconduct. In fact, right now there are some of them still in detention in command cell for stealing. They were happy when they heard he had been transferred. SARS were not happy about his transfer.

SARS men like him because he likes them. They know he likes them. He gives SARS a lot of supports. Edgal is a disciplinarian. Once you understand that, you can work with him. There are also some senior officers, who don’t like him,” said a police source. While Idris was penning down names of those to transfer, the Presidency had pencilled down three names of those likely to be the next IG. Adamu was among those picked. The lot however fell on Adamu. Imohimi, who knew how to play the game of political intrigues, had already heard that Adamu, his course mate, was one of those pencilled down. When Adamu was selected, Imohimi’s joy knew no bounds. He quickly reached out to him. And Adamu, with a simple phone call, stopped the handover ceremony in Lagos.

The move caused a shockwave, which rippled throughout the nation. It was a master move in a chessboard game. Egbetokun, miffed, left in a huff, while Imohimi’s laugh came last. When the call came, many had wondered who it came from. It was later discovered that Adamu had played his first hand, testing the swiftness of power. The handover, which commenced about 3pm, was about to go into full swing when Imohimi received the phone call. After receiving the call, Imohimi looked at the faces of policemen, Egbetokun and journalists and said: “The status quo remains! There’s no change of guard for now.” Before the call, Imohimi had expressed shock at the number of journalists that came to witness the handover ceremony.

Earlier, he had cleared the office of his personal effects and was showing Egbetokun the place that would soon be his office. Speaking after the phone call, Imohimi said: “There is no change of guard for now. I remain the Lagos State Commissioner of Police. I’m sure that Kayode Egbetokun is an old timer in the command.

Our first job as policemen is to obey orders and directives. We were about concluding the handover and taking over procedure when we were instructed by our bosses from Abuja to suspend action for now. There is no change of guard for now. Of course, we will keep the press in touch with latest development.”

Egbetokun, who was standing beside Imohimi when he made the comment, tried to look unruffled. He calmly returned to the seat he had been sitting before the tour of ‘his new office’ commenced. Clearly uneasy as whispers re-echoed, Egbetokun walked out of the office, made a beeline for his car which was parked downstairs and drove off, followed by his escorts. Egbetokun was said to have parked his car right at the parking spot reserved for only Lagos State Commissioner of Police. In fact, he and Imohimi parked their cars on the spot, which is meant for just one car.

The two cars appeared to be fighting for right of space, which symbolically mirrored the dispositions of Imohimi and Egbetokun. The news that Imohimi remains the number policeman in the state travelled like wildfire. Senior policemen, who were waiting to have a meeting with Imohimi in the Mohammed Abubakar Conference Hall, were the first to erupt into shouts of joy and jubilation. Policemen attached to Imohimi’s convoy shot four times into the air to celebrate the news. One of the policemen got injured in the course of the celebration. To underscore the fact that his allowing Imohimi to maintain his former position was nothing personal, Adamu reportedly said that the status quo should be maintained while he carries out proper investigations into the last minute transfers made by his predecessor. Imohimi turned out to be the cat with nine lives. A policeman disclosed: “Adamu and Edgal were course mates. In fact, when Edgal was Deputy Commissioner in charge of Operations, Lagos State Command, Adamu used to visit him. They are very close.”

A senior police officer noted: “Edgal made moves to cancel the posting through the new IG because they are course mates. They were appointed together in1986 and did training together. The new IG directed that the status quo be maintained pending his reassessment of the whole situation. This is why the posting was reversed.” Describing the new IG and mentioning his intervention in Imohimi’s case, a senior officer said: “The IG is a calm, target driven officer with good disposition. He has spent a large part of his active period in the police with Interpol. He also served at Interpol Headquarter in Lyon, France, for more than five years and left a good impression of the country and the Nigerian Police Force. To the best of my knowledge, he had never held a position as a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) or Area Commander. Even if Edgal is the new IG’s course mate, I don’t think it counted in his decision to suspend Edgal’s transfer. A series of transfer, demobilization done in the eve of Idris exit from the Force were cancelled as many believed it may have been myopically driven.”

Egbetokun is said to be a former Chief Security Officer to Bola Asiwanju Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State, powerful and influential, believed to be the brain behind Lagos successful politics. Egbetokun was further alleged to have been picked by Tinubu to become the next Lagos State Commissioner of Police, which Adamu, whether knowingly or not, truncated. Egbetokun, described as a nice, fine and intelligent officer was minding his job as the Deputy Commandant, Nigeria Police College, Ikeja Lagos, when he was appointed the Lagos State Commissioner of Police. The dream, however, was a stillborn. Right now, Adamu seems to hold all the aces, but one wonders how long Imohimi will be allowed to hold forth in Lagos State.

by Bisi OLANIYI and Rosemary NWISI, Port Harcourt


TRANSPORTATION Minister Rotimi Amaechi yesterday dismissed as another blatant lie, a statement by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, that he (Amaechi) masterminded alleged plot to pull down the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

The minister, who doubles as the Director General of the Buhari/Osinbajo Reelection Campaign Organisation, said in an online statement that the governor’s allegation was aimed at putting him (Amaechi) on collision course with the judiciary.

“Amaechi is not a judicial officer and he is not part of whatever is happening in the judiciary. We challenge Wike to mention the name of the APC’s chieftain he falsely alleged that Amaechi discussed the ‘destruction of the CJN with,” Amaechi’s media team said in the statement.

It recalled how Wike, during the Ikoyi-Osborne-gate scandal, claimed that Amaechi was the owner of the $43 million cash found in the Osborne apartment and that the money was stolen from Rivers State government’s treasury.

It said: “In Wike’s usual chicanery, up till today, he has refused to go to court to claim the $43million found in the Ikoyi apartment, which he claimed was Rivers money stolen by his predecessor. Even when a court of law openly asked anyone laying claim to the money to come forward and collect it, Wike ran far away from the court.”

The transportation minister said Wike should remember that the immunity he currently enjoys against prosecution for his many libelous attacks on him would not last forever.

Coninuing, Amaechi’s media office said: “At the appropriate time, he (Wike) will no doubt face the full wrath of the law and ultimately that of the Almighty God.

“Wike should by now know that Nigerians are tired and are no longer interested in his ranting and cock-and-bull stories against Amaechi.

“Wike’s outburst against Amaechi is diversionary. Rivers governor knows too well that he has nothing to show Rivers people for his almost four years in office, in a state obviously with one of the highest allocations, thereby resorting to casting aspersions on Amaechi, instead of telling the people what he has done for Rivers State.”

Transportation minister also called on Rivers people and other lovers of democracy to ignore Wike, whom he described as a frivolous.

The Rivers State governor had, on Thursday, accused Amaechi of working against his Southsouth brother (Onnoghen).

The present trend by some grooms opting for their female friends taking up the best man duties at their weddings has elicited divergent reactions from some residents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Traditionally, the role of a best man is usually for a male close confidante of the groom.

Most times, this female “best man’’ wear tuxedo, suit or the traditional attire “agbada’’ also known as “babanriga.’’

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that notable celebrities like Etinosa Idemudi was part of the groomsmen during Daniel K Daniel’s wedding and Kemi Adetiba at Banky W and Adesua Etomi’s traditional wedding in 2017.

Similarly, musician Simi was among the groomsmen during OAP Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi’s wedding, as well as Sameera Ahmed, Don Jazzy’s Personal Assistant was part of her brother’s groomsmen in 2016.

Mr Taiwo Micheal, a businessman said he picked his twin sister to play the role of his best man because they were close and she was most suited for the job among his friends.

“We are very close and who better to serve as my best man on that special day than her? Moreover, I met my wife through her’’ he said.

According to him, he sought for the consent of his then wife to-be and his twin before carrying out the act.

“I had to seek their opinion individually to ensure they will be comfortable with the idea to avoid any embarrassment,’’ he said.

Similarly, Emmanuel Sunday, a media practioner said he opted for a female best man during his wedding because of their friendship, loyalty and to honour her.

“There are some of us who have females as best mate, genuine friends without any string attached who have stood and supported us through thick and thin.

“I am so fortunate to have a female friend that is like a “brother to me, who supported us throughout our courtship, introduction and traditional marriage that was why I asked her to be my best man and she accepted.’’

Also, Reuben Sarki an artiste said though he was unmarried, he would prefer a female best man at the appropriate time to avoid any clashes or envy amongst his numerous male friends.

“I wouldn’t want a situation, where any of my friends might feel bad about my choice of best man over them, so I would prefer my long time female friend to take that role.

“Moreover, they said what a man can do, a woman can do it better, so would give it a try because women are good in planning and ensuring a hitch-free events without any mishap.

On her part, Miss Faith Samuel, a make-up artist said she was indifferent about the trend.

“I am indifferent to this trend because the female might be his best friend or a close relation, and as long as the bride is comfortable with it, I see nothing wrong with it,’’ Samuel said.

Deborah Joseph, editor of Brides magazine, said that the key for many people is to break with convention.

‘People are keen to have an individual, bespoke wedding,’ she says.

‘They hope people will remember the day by the fact that they have done something different. I have seen mums walking brides up the aisle. (NAN)

By Anthony Ogbonna


Former Vice President of Nigeria and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has replied the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government of the All Progressives Congress, APC, party, saying President Buhari is unaware of the allegations brought against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, because cabals are the ones running his government.

Atiku also said that President Buhari is not aware of anything about his government, including how the “2016 budget was stolen.”

Abubakar said this while responding to a statement credited to the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, wherein he absolved his principal, Buhari of any prior knowledge of the allegations and planned trial of the CJN until last Saturday.

According to Osinbajo, “I must tell you in clear terms that President Muhammadu Buhari, his whole approach is that institutions should just do their work, I can tell you for a fact that he did not even know about this until Saturday evening.

“He did not even know that there was going to be any kind of trial until Saturday evening, he has said categorically don’t interfere with whatever institutions are doing, sometimes it has consequences such as we have today, such that people say how can such an important person be subjected to trial without the Federal Government but I can tell you without any equivocation that he is not aware”.

But Atiku, in a statement through his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr. Phrank Shaibu , said by virtue of President Buhari not being aware of the development involving the CJN proves that he is incompetent to lead the country.

Atiku also said that President Buhari does not deserve a second term in office because he is not in control of hisgovernment. Atiku urged Nigerians to vote for him because, according to him, he remains the only credible and candidate with clear cut plans on how to move the country to greater growth.

The statement further reads thus: “This president has exhibited gross incompetence, ignorance, poverty of ideas and lack of innovation.

“This president doesn’t know anything. They may have mentioned the plot to him but he does not remember anything! “He didn’t know who stole the budget in 2016. He never knew his Chief of Staff was on the board of the NNPC.

“President Buhari never knew dead people were on the list of board appointments he signed. “He never knew Abdulrasheed Maina of the pension scam incident was reinstated into the civil service.

“Mr. President was not aware that soldiers stormed the premises of Daily Trust newspapers. “What does this president know? In fact, I am so sure President Buhari is not aware he is contesting the February 16 election!”

“The truth is that President Buhari never even intended to act as president for one day and this is one presidency that would be neither here nor there, everywhere and nowhere, visible yet ineffectual, present yet absentee in nature and action; all of which have lent further weight to the complaints of his wife that other people and not her husband are, indeed, in charge of Nigeria.”

“A government which has been defined in the AtikuPlan to get Nigeria working again, will ensure that the interest, welfare, wellbeing and goodwill of all Nigerians will be at the centre of every action and decision of the leadership and not the interest and selfishness of two persons who have hijacked Nigeria for themselves at the expense and suffering of the rest of the people.

“The only politician now who has the capacity, capability, intelligence and experience to break this wicked hold of a few people on Nigeria is Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the formidable pan-Nigerian coalition of seasoned and tested leaders, who are now poised to liberate Nigeria from the cabal and open up the country to growth and development which two people have prevented President Buhari from achieving in his four years as Nigeria’s President, according to his wife,” Shuaibu added.

A former speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and Chairman, Media Publicity and Image Making of President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign groups in the state, Engr. Ignatius Edet, on Wednesday, decamped from APC to the PDP carrying about 5000 supporters with him to the party.

Edet disclosed this at the Uyo township stadium during the flag-off of Governor Udom Emmanuel’s re-election campaign.

Speaking at the event, the former Speaker expressed joy for rejoining the PDP, a party he described as sensitive to the wishes and aspiration of members, According to dailypost.

He explained that he left the APC because of high handedness of some party chieftains including a Senior aide to Buhari, Senator Ita Enang who with other chieftains, according to him hand-picked candidates of the party in the last primaries.

The ex-Speaker expressed disappointment and sadness with the manner at which the APC in the state was run and expressed confidence that the PDP which had been on ground in the state with sustainable structures would sweep the polls.

His words, “I’m happy to come back home. The things that made me to leave PDP are no more there.

“When I was in APC, some people tried to play God. They imposed candidates on us. Sen. Ita Enang thinks he’s God. He tries to impose things on our people, but he has forgotten that There is only one God.

“I have the privilege of bringing over 5000 supporters of mine to support Udom Emmanuel in 2019”

Receiving the decampees, the State PDP chairman, Mr Paul Ekpo expressed pride in what he described as a homecoming by the former speaker and others.

He promised that the umbrella is large enough to accommodate everybody and added that the ex-speaker and other members would surely be accorded their pride of place.

By Aruga Joe Omokaro


It was carnival-like as the new acting IGP Abubakar Adamu Mohammed arrived Police Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House Abuja on Tuesday.

All the seven floors of Force HQ were lively and faces of policemen were beaming with smiles, discussing freely with senior officers.

He arrived with the outgoing controversial IGP Ibrahim Kpotun Idris at about 1.30pm.

After a brief handing over ceremony Idris hurried away.

Daily INDEPENDENT gathered that the new IGP paid a courtesy call on the chairman Police Service Commission, Alhaji Musiliu Smith, a retired IGP with the DIGs.

When Mohammed stepped out, both police officers, rank and file as well as well wishers formed a crowd hustling to greet him.

He had to move DIG R&P office where he received both officers and civilians visitors till 6pm.

It took the Commissioner of Police in charge of Provost and her Deputy much time to control the crowd.

From 6.18pm till 6.32pm when he came to ground floor to go to the front of the building where his staff car and escort cars were packed, the crowd barricaded his car, blocking him from entering, cheering and using their phones to take his photograph while some used their phones to video him and the crowd. All along he was waving and smiling.

By Solomon Fowowe




The People’s Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has taken his campaign to Britain, presenting his ideas while faulting the tenure of Nigeria’s incumbent president Muhammadu Buhari.

Atiku, who will contest the February elections against Buhari and over 50 candidates, wrote in UK’s Daily Express an article titled “Beyond Brexit – Nigeria wants a new trade deal with Britain”.

Britain’s Prime Minister, Theresa May, visited Nigeria in August 2018 to discuss trade deals and economic partnerships and to sign defence and security partnerships. She also pledged to assist in bolstering the rule of law and in the fight against organized crime.

However, Atiku stated in the article that while the trade deals and partnerships are welcome and necessary, Buhari’s government cannot deliver on the deals. The former vice-president pitched that a change was necessary if Africa’s most populous country is to progress, hence, deliver on the deal.

“Unfortunately for Mrs May, the government that she met with led by President Muhammad Buhari ­cannot deliver any of this. For Nigeria to move forward, a change is required.”

With the possibility of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union, May sought to improve commercial links and trading opportunities between Nigeria and Britain in her three-day trip to Africa. The UK looks to help development in Africa and take a greater market share amidst competition from the US, China and France.

However, Atiku believes that the current administration’s handling of the country is a clog in Britain’s trade routes into Nigeria.

“In the four years of President Buhari’s Administration, Nigeria has regressed by almost every domestic and international metric. We have fallen in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business report; we have fallen in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index; we have fallen in the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index.

“And Nigeria suffered the indignity of being named officially the poorest country in the world: We now have more people in extreme poverty than any other country in the world.”

Atiku, who hopes to become president of Nigeria after the February 16 election, said “President Buhari had his chance: but the international rankings do not lie”

Despite Buhari’s promise to the international community for a free and fair election, Atiku called on the UK to put pressure on the Nigerian government to “ensure that Nigerians have the right to determine their own futures, and to do so free from harassment, vote-suppression or outright fraud.”

“The Federal Government, the Nigerian Election Commission (INEC), and local and State officials must understand that the international community is watching and will not accept anything less than a fully free and fair election.

“This must include an end to the government’s ongoing use of state apparatus to hassle and harass opposition candidates and supporters.”

Buhari became president in 2015 with the promise of a strong anti-corruption drive but there are talks of his anti-corruption campaign being selective and partisan against the opposition parties.

“A real anti-corruption process is required so that Nigerians, and foreign investors, can have confidence in our domestic laws, not show trials perpetrated as ‘crackdowns’ on corruption, where corrupt cronies were allowed to flourish,” Atiku said.

Atiku tacitly promised to “create jobs, stimulate economic activity, and provide long-term benefits to people across the 36 Nigerian states.”

“I foresee a new trade partnership between Nigeria and Britain, enhanced cooperation on security and counter-terrorism, and deepening our historic links of culture, family and language.”

By Emmanuel Onani, Abuja




A drama ensued earlier today at the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Ceremony in Abuja, as the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, refused to acknowledge salute from the 19th Indigenous Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris.

Shortly after Saraki, who arrived in company if the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Him. Yakubu Dogara, took the General Salute at about 10:43am, he walked pass Idris without a handshake, to the surprise of many present, who discussed the development in hushed tines.

The arrival of Saraki, and Dogara was preceded by that of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, who looked calm and unruffled, in the face of attempts to arraign him over alleged non-decoaration of assets.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the Reviewing Officer, was led into the National Arcade – venue of the solemn occasion – by the Pipers.

The President, who rode in a Limousine, immediately inspected the Guard of Honour.

The President and other dignitaries were then led in a slow March to the Cenotaph, where wreaths will be laid in honour of the fallen heroes.

Former Nigeria international, Nwankwo Kanu, cut a pitiable sight in Lagos on Monday as he revealed how suspected vandals invaded his The Hardley Apartments situated along Waziri Ibrahim Crescent on Victoria Island, making away with his football medals, trophies, plaques and other valuable items.

The hotel has been sealed up since 2015 sequel to an alleged default in transaction between it and Skye Bank (now Polaris Bank), leading to series of litigation that is still pending at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos. The last hearing came up in November last year after which the case was adjourned till 31 January 2019.

But a shocked Kanu, who was in London for the Yuletide, learnt from relatives and business associates in Nigeria last week that the Apartments, with registration number 509102, had been occupied by some authorized persons who had also commenced renovation of the facility in disregard of the seal order and litigation, forcing him to arrive in Nigeria over the weekend to verify the claims.

“It was a rude shock to me,” Kanu, who fought back tears at what the hitherto sprawling facility had become since the renovation started, told TheCable.

“I almost couldn’t recognise the hotel as belonging to me anymore. This is the saddest day of my life as I cannot understand why this happen to me when the matter has yet to be settled in court.


https://f5p3e9e4.stackpathcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/hardley-768x576.jpg

The Apartments

“All the medals I have earned, in addition to the Olympic torch that I cherished are all gone and I don’t even know who to ask for all these prized assets.”

TheCable learnt that a man who was seen supervising the illegal renovation of the Apartments declined identifying himself nor who he was working for, although upon being pressed revealed that he was a staff of the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), leading to suspicion that the assets managers may have also disregarded the court proceedings by taking over the property.

“This is unacceptable in all ramifications. I have not been served any notice that I have lost this property and until I am served the notice, it remains my legal property,” the former Super Eagles’ captain said.

“Even cars and buses belonging to the hotel can no longer be found and I wonder where they could have been moved to without my knowledge,” Kanu further said, even as he lamented how the four-year seal of the facility had adversely affected treatment for numerous patients that his Kanu Heart Foundation planned to rescue from their ailment. “We have used proceeds from the hotel business to effect treatment for the patients over the years and now we are being forced to seek funds elsewhere, a situation that has stalled the treatment considerably especially since 2016.”

An emotion-filled Kanu submitted: “During my service to this country in football up to year 2000, I made many Nigerians happy. I don’t think I deserve this sadness in retirement.”

By Biyi Adegoruye, Juliana Francis and Anule Emmanuel




At least, seven Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) and a number of Assistant Inspectors-General (AIGs) are expected to be swept away by the announcement of the appointment of the new Inspector General of Police (IGP) today.

Yesterday, it was gathered that President Muhammadu Buhari had shortlisted three AIGs, including Adamu Mohammed, as possible replacement for IGP Ibrahim Idris, who retires from the service today.

The DIGs who may be forced out after the new appointment include the DIGs in charge of Department of Finance and Administration, Mr. Maigari Abbati Dikko (fdc); Department of Operations, Mr. Habila Joshak and his counterpart in the Department of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Mr. Emmanuel T. Inyang (mni).

Others are the DIG, Department of Logistics and Supply, Mr. Agboola Oshodi-Glover; the head of Department of Research and Planning, Mr. Musa Katsina Muhammed; Department of Training and Development, Mr. Mohammed Sani Usman and that of Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation, Mrs. Peace Ibekwe-Abdallah.

The expected action was reminiscent of the March 21, 2016 incident when Idris’ appointment as replacement for Solomon Arase, culminated in premature retirement of seven DIGs – Danazumi Doma, Sotonye Wakama, and Mamman Tsafe. Others were Kakwe Tsatso; Hashimu Argungu; Jubril Adeniji and Chintua Amajor-Onu.

The retired AIGs included Bala Hassan; Yahaya Ardo; Irmiya Yarima; Danladi Mshebwala; Tambari Mohammed; Bala Magaji Nasarawa; Musa Abdulsalam; Adisa Bolanta and Mohammed Gana.

Others were Umaru Manko; Lawal Tanko; Olufemi Adenike; Johnson Ogunsakin; Adenrele Shinaba; James Caulcrick; Olufemi Ogunbayode; Edgar Nanakumo; Kalafite Adeyemi; Patrick Dokumor; Joseph Mbu and Sabo Ringim.

Top presidency sources confirmed the selection of the three AIGs yesterday, stating that Idris, who clocked 60 years today, January 15, actually paid “a goodbye visit” to President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Idris arrived the Aso Villa at about 4:30p.m. yesterday and proceeded straight to the President’s office for the meeting.

Buhari had just returned from an official function in Abuja before meeting with the IGP.

A similar meeting was also held on Friday, January 4, shortly after the Jumma’at prayer between the President and the IGP.

Details of the closed door meeting between President Buhari and the IGP was not known as at the time of filing this report.

However, Presidency sources told New Telegraph last night that the President has picked Adamu Mohammed, who is serving at the Nigerian Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, near Jos and had served as AIG Zone 5, Benin, Edo State.
He was a Director of Peacekeeping Operations and is a former police commissioner in Enugu State.

Born on November 9, 1961, he enlisted in the police in 1986. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geography.

A source close to the presidency, who preferred not to be named, confirmed that a replacement to the retiring IGP would be named today, among the shortlisted candidates.

“Yes, the IGP Ibrahim Idris is retiring tomorrow (today) and possibly an acting Inspector-General may be named immediately. But I will advise that you wait for official statement to that effect,” the source maintained.

Idris’ retirement today is pursuant to the Nigeria Public Service Rules (2008) Section 020818, which stipulates “the compulsory retirement age of all grades in the service shall be 60 years or 35 years of pensionable service, whichever comes earlier.”

Idris, who was born on January 15, 1959 attained the mandatory 60 years of age today having enlisted in the police in 1984, after graduating from the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria with a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture and has put in 35 years in service.
Idris was appointed by President Buhari on June 21, 2016.