₦airaland Forum

Abuja – After a brief foray in the All Progressives Congress (APC), 140 support groups, which had earlier withdrawn their support from the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, have returned to the party.

About 145 PDP Support groups had earlier abandoned their support for Atiku for the APC on allegations of marginalisation, ingratitude and lack of support.

Addressing newsmen on Monday at a World Press Conference in Abuja, the Coalition of Atikuate Leaders Forum, announced their return to the party and their collective resolve to end their support for the APC and its Presidential Candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari.

The groups explained that reassurances from the Director General of Atiku Support Group, Math Yeduma, made them to return and work for the successful election of Atiku Abubakar.

The Group’s National Coordinator, Pastor Franklin Eze, who spoke on their behalf, further explained that they have resolved to put their grievances behind.

He said: “We have come to state categorically that of the alleged 145 support groups, not less than 140 groups, as you can see, are still with His Excellency Alhaji Atiku Abubakar except for ‘Atiku reloaded’ support group, led by El-Mikedo and a few others like him who have decided to reduce the nobility associated with politics and politicking into a bread and butter business.

“Therefore, let nobody use the names of our various groups to go about collecting money from APC as that amounts to impersonation, outright falsehood and political prostitution orchestrated on the altar of the spirit of Balaamism. That is the spirit of avarice and kleptomenia.”

The group national coordinator added that the ruling party and its government has no respect for democratic institutions and uses official institutions to its advantage.

Eze said: “We cannot associate our groups to a government that have absolute and outright disregard for the rules of law that allows for a just and fair society, a government that has annexed the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as an extension of her party.

“The All Progressive Congress (AFC); as evidenced by the brazen show of the appointment of Hajiya Amina Zakari as the INEC National Commissioner in charge of the election collation panel and the refusal to retire the IGP Ibrahim ldris, who have served out his constitutional tenure in office. All this scheming we perceive is in attempt to perpetrate their rigging agenda.

“Consequent upon the foregoing, we make it clear to the world that the about 140 Coalition of Atikulate Leaders Forum formally known as Coalition of All Aggrieved Atiku Support Groups (AASG) are still with His Excellency Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Waziri of Adamawa and His Excellency Peter Obi.

“We are still with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and we shall keep Atikulating until we get Nigeria working again. This is to say that we have decided to vote Atiku and Obi for the 2019 presidential elections, and there is no turning back to our collective resolution.”

A group of concerned Nigerians under the umbrella of Civil Society Groups for Accountability and Probity have accused the Federal Government of shielding a former Governor of Akwa Ibom state and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Godswill Akpabio.

The group also urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to synergize with the Code of Conduct Bureau and the Code of Conduct Tribunal to ensure Akpabio is brought to book.

Secretary-General of the group, Jonathan Ogwuche, who spoke on Monday in Abuja while making a submission to the EFCC, explained that the group is committed to the fight against corruption and strengthening of institutions, which the present administration and the EFCC have led with unprecedented milestones achieved already.

He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to commence actions and activities that would lead to the prosecution of Akpabio.

He noted that for such fight to be sustained, there should be no sacred cows, stressing that the Senator who has gotten his hands contaminated with proceeds of corruption and abuse of public also must also be made to face the consequence of their actions.

The group recalled that in October 2015, the commission quizzed Senator Godswill Akpabio over allegations of fraud to the tune of N108.1bn following a petition by one Leo Ekpenyong and is still awaiting the outcome of that investigation as unfortunately nothing has been heard to that effect while the suspect moves around freely.

“Consequently, sequel to our independent investigation, we want to bring the following crucial findings to the notice of your esteemed Office for further investigation and prosecution.

“In 2007 Senator Akpabio claimed to have eight ( buildings, while in 2011 he declared 10 (ten) buildings.

“Curiously however and of worrisome note, in 2016 following an investigative report by an online media, it was alleged that he was among those with properties in Dubai ( annexure 1 https://twitter.com/SaharaReporters/status/690109742329544705)”, it stressed.

According to the group, contrary to claims by Sen. Akpabio, “the following outlandish properties located at the underlisted addresses could also be traced to him as follows: Plot 5 Ikogosi Spring Close, off Katsina-Ala Crescent, Maitama-Abuja; Plot 28 Colorado Close, Maitama; 22 Probyn Road, Ikoyi, Lagos and Plot 23 Olusegun Aina Street, Parkview, Lagos”.

The rest of their allegations made available to newsmen reads: “Clearly, these properties have been linked to the Senator. It has become pertinent that we bring to your notice the salient fact that these properties are conspicuously missing in the asset declaration forms of Senator Akpabio (see annexure 2)

“With the exception of a Bedford armour Bus which he claimed to be a gift, cars declared in 2007 were copied and pasted in 2011. This doesn’t represent the reality on the ground as he is known to move about in a fleet of cars.

“His child, Iniabasi who is said to have a property (duplex) in Abuja (in 2007 declaration) (at Games village) acquired on 1-1-2005 worth a value of N16.9m has an annual income of just N350,000, while in 2011declaration, the value remains unchanged.

“The source of the house is questionable. We can incontrovertibly submit that Senator Akpabio freely dished out the finances of Akwa Ibom State to his children, friends and other family members while corruptly enriching himself with same at the detriment of the State.

“We thus humbly request that the Chairman of EFCC use his esteemed office and investigative arsenal to review all prevailing and emerging findings on the Senator to unravel allegations of fraud against him.

“This investigation has become expedient in order to disabuse the minds of Nigerians with the notion and perception that the anti-corruption war has some sacred cows. If the Chief Justice of Nigeria can be dragged before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, we see no reason why Sen. Godswill Akpabio is being shielded from prosecution.

“Therefore, in the spirit of equality before the law, the EFCC is hereby called upon to synergize with the Code of Conduct Bureau and the Code of Conduct Tribunal to ensure Akpabio is brought to book”.

Racoon:
Going by the afore precedence, the curious questions for this APC government, CCB and the petitioners are:

-1).How did the petitioner accessed the CJN's asset declaration forms @ the CCB since only the declearer is allowed by law to order the CCB to allow public access to such info contain therein?

Just as Cambridge Syndicate replied that only Buhari have the right to authorized the release of his alleged certificate who conducted the then exam on behalf of WAEC.

-2).Is it no clear & certain that the CCB & petitioner committed a grave criminal breach of trust & thereby violate the right of privacy of the CJN by this malicious act?

-3).Why did the FG/presidency via the morally corrupt AGF bypassed the NJC protocol, does the CCT have any juridiction to trial a judicial officer without the NJC's approval? Why did the FG asked the CJN to vacate office when he have not been tried or found wanting?

Why wait till the eve of a crucial election wherein the president Is a stakeholder before this "prosecutorial misadventure" according to Mr.Femi Falana? Is the govt not obviously up to sometime sinister?

-4).Why did the corrupt & morally depraved APC-govt hasten up this show of shame with supersonic speed while the same regime have annoying footdraggged on the numerous corrupt indictment of many top & low members of it fold up till date?

The most sensational is the bias failure of the EFCC to investigate the Gov.Ganduje dollar bribe scandal? The government have simply took on more than it can contain.

beamtopola:
You dont read just like your boss. Read again and tell me if the body is the same with this your writeup

Ade Adesomoju, Abuja

About 30 Senior Advocates of Nigeria with a battery of about 100 other junior lawyers have so far appeared before the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja in defence of the Chief Justice of Nigeria who is scheduled to be arraigned on six counts of non-declaration of assets on Monday.

The defence team led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), is appearing against the Federal Government’s prosecution team with only one Senior Advocate of Nigeria and four other junior counsels.

Some of the SANs appearing for the CJN that have arrived court included Olanipekun, Chief Kanu Agabi, Chief Chris Uche, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, Mrs. Victoria Agabi, Sebastine Hon, Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, Garba Tetengi A.T Kehinde, and Effiong Offiong.

Others also include, Yusuf Ali, Sylva Ogwemoh, Paul Erokoro, Tawo, among others.

As of 9.47am, the CJN has not been seen on the tribunal’s premises for the proceedings scheduled to start by 10am.

Meanwhile, the lead prosecuting counsel, Umar is a former Director of Public Prosecution in Kano State.

Umar arrived the CCT at about 9.10am.

‎He was one of the senior lawyers appointed in 2016 by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), as part of what was meant to be the government’s Special Prosecution Team.

The then special prosecuting team which appears to be technically disbanded comprised 20 SANs and 60 other lawyers.

Umar led the government’s prosecution team that was to prosecute the Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu for alleged forgery of Senate rules.

The charges were later withdr‎awn from court by the Umar-led legal team.

Ade Adesomoju, Abu

A team of lawyers led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), has arrived the Code Conduct Tribunal in Abuja to defend the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, who is scheduled for arraignment before the tribunal in the Monday’s proceedings.

As of the time of filing this report at about 9.17am on Monday, the CJN has not been seen on the tribunal’s premises for the proceedings scheduled to start by 10am.

Some Senior Advocates of Nigeria in his defence team who were already seated before 9am awaiting the commencement of the proceedings included, Olanipekun, Chief Chris Uche, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, Sebastine Hon, Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume, Kehinde Ogunwumiju,and A.T Kehinde.

‎All the senior lawyers are in court with their teeming juniors.

But the team of lawyers comprising a handful of senior lawyers and other junior ones has been technically disbanded.

Meanwhile, a former Director of Public Prosecution in Kano State, Aliyu Umar (SAN), is going to lead the government prosecution’s ‎team.

Umar arrived the CCT at about 9.10am.

He was one of the senior lawyers appointed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), as part of what was meant to be the government’s prosecution team in 2016.

Umar led the government’s prosecution team that was to prosecute the Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu for alleged forgery of Senate rules.

The charges were later withdrawn from court by the Umar-led legal team.

Abuja – The presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, his wives and the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus on Friday mocked President Muhammadu Buhari over the relegation of women to the kitchen or the bedroom which the President famously referred to as the ‘other room’ in one of his interviews.

They all spoke in Abuja during the Women Conferences with the theme “Call for Action.”

While Atiku promised to give women more than 35 percent in his government and would not be put in the other room, his wives said their husband, Atiku didn’t put them in the other room, but give them free hand and allowed them to do their businesses.

Atiku said: “We have no fear of handing over the country to you. In my three decades of politics, the most consistent voters in the Nigeria political process are women. I have practically seen it, if I stand as a candidate and I turn my back to look at the lines that are supporting me, the women lines are always three times that of the men.

“It is the reason why we said we are going to give you more than 35 percent, because your numbers and your pattern of voting justified that commitment.

“Therefore, between youth and women you have 70 percent of the government. This is to prepare you to take over governance, to take over this country and make it work again.

“So, this is your opportunity, your are not going to be put in the other room, I promise you because you have seen my wives here, they are not in the other room.”

Princess Rukayat Atiku Abubakar, the second wife of Atiku said that women have always been at the centre of events and called on them to reject the narrative that the place of women is in the kitchen.

Also speaking, Hajiya Titi Atiku Abubakar, his first wife said, “the candidate of today is a sellable candidate. As you can see, Atiku has not relegated us to the other room. He allows us to go wherever we want, he allows us to do our businesses, so we are not relegated to the other room.

“Atiku is an educationist, he wants to kick out hunger. Our children go to school but there is no jobs, Atiku is a creator of jobs.

“Atiku has about 26 children and all his children are involved in his businesses except one who is working for the government and that one is a technocrat. Go out there and propagate Atiku so that we can make Nigeria a place to live.”

Secondus on his part, pointed out the difference between the incumbent and incoming President, adding, “the incoming President is energetic, he is resourceful, he is industrious. Governance is a 24 hours demand and if you are not energetic, you will outsource the presidency.

“When he wins, Atiku will sit in his office to attend to the needs of the country and will not outsource anything.”

He warned the federal government that security agencies should not brutalise women during elections.
In her goodwill Speech, Mrs Margret Peter Obi, wife of the PDP Vice presidential candidate, said that any politician that has no business with women will have a problem, stressing that any thing endorsed by women excels.

She called on women to come out en masse and vote for Atiku for guaranteed jobs, security, food on the table and to get Nigeria working again.

Some Nigerians in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have reacted to the strange drift of women making marriage or relationship proposals to their male counterparts.

They expressed mixed views over the trend in separate with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

They noted that although the development was alien to Nigeria’s culture, but it was becoming trendy in recent times due to increasing influence of western lifestyle, modernisation and pressure to get married.

According to some Nigerians, women who make marriage proposals to men should be applauded for their confidence, rather than ridiculed, condemned or labeled “desperate’’.

However, others said they were against the trend, adding that such proposals have been and should remain the sole responsibility of the man.

Mr Abdul Sarki of Garki 2 said : “Some men of marriageable age delay proposing to ladies they love due to indecisiveness, poor financial status and other economic realities.

“Thank God for modernisation, women are not restricted to seek what they want, and even asking men to marry them when they feel they are suitable ”.

“The society should stop judging or condemning women that propose marriages to men, but rather applaud and encourage them for taking the bold step,’’ he urged.

Mrs Julie Fadason, a resident in Asokoro said she proposed to her husband due to age factor and the need to start bearing children before menopause.

“I had to take the bull by the horn when I felt no marriage proposal was forthcoming despite being in a relationship for over five years with my husband.

” We were both not getting younger and we needed to act fast since we both wanted children,” she said.

According to her, they have been married for over 10 years now, and she has no regrets for taking the initiative to propose to him.

Similarly, Mrs Jummy Okewole, a mother of two, said she was advised to propose to her husband four years ago by some friends and close relatives.

” As at the time we were dating, he had no stable job, but had prospects and was responsible that was why I heeded to advise from people close to me and proposed to him.

“Now, God has blessed him with a very good job, that he has even asked me to resign from my work and opened a business for me.”

Okewole, therefore stressed that financial status should not be used as a yardstick for Marriage proposal, rather love and loyalty should be considered.

Mrs Jummai Adamu, said she was under a lot of pressure from her family and close friends that was why she proposed to her husband.

” Even though we have talked about settling down in the future, but my family and some friends contributed in making me to propose to my husband.

“Two of my younger sisters were already planning for their wedding, and they wanted me as the eldest to settle down before them.

“That was why I asked him to marry me or else I will settle down with another suitor, ”she said.

However, Miss Joy Obaseki, a spinster living in Karu said she could not make a marriage proposal to a suitor despite its growing trend in modern societies.

“I can not, because he might not respect me in future, especially when we have misunderstandings.

Similarly, Mr Anthony Adams a resident of Jabi said as a man it was his responsibility to propose to a woman and not the other way round.

“I feel that makes me less of a man because I am the one to take care of her and our children, so I will propose when I am ready.

“Since she is not paying the dowry, why would she make the marriage proposal?’’ he said. (NAN)

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that some female have recently taken the bull by the horn by proposing to their partners, like Judge Judy, a American TV courtroom personality.

Another example is Alecia Moore, popularly known as Pink, an American singer who proposed to her husband Carey Hart in June 2005.

Security personnel attached to the Presidential Investigative Panel on Friday invaded the Nigeria Football Federation to effect the arrest of the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick and four other top officials.

The Policemen who were armed arrived the NFF glasshouse at about 11am with a warrant of arrest to pick up Amaju, NFF first and second vice presidents, Seyi Akinwunmi, Shehu Dikko, NFF Secretary general, Mohammed Sanusi and NFF technical committee chairman, Ahmed Yusuf Fresh. Unfortunately, none of them were around.

A source who witnessed the drama informed Sportinglife.ng that the security guards at the federation made an attempt to challenge the policemen, but had to withdraw after they shown the warrant of arrest.

“They searched the offices and did not find anything or the people they were looking for, after the security guards allowed them access.

“I just wondered what would have happened if they were around,” our source said.

Recalled Chairman of the panel, Okoi Obono-Obla had on Wednesday said the five officials must clear their names following alleged fraud, mismanagement and misapplication of funds leveled against them.

But they failed to show up thus leading to the panel applying the use of force.

Gunmen have killed a man, his only son, wife and grand-daughter over piece of land.

The man identified as Edebiri and his family were shot dead at the residence at Ugbogun village in Uhunmwode local government area.

Two of his daughters narrowly escaped death by the whiskers as they were in the room when the gunmen opened fire.

Narrating what happened, elder brother of the deceased who gave his name as Pa Osaretin Oteh, said his brother might have been killed for refusing to give his land to the Community Development Association in the village.

Pa Osaretin said CDA activities was still operational in the community despite the proscription of CDA activities in the state.

He said his late brother refused to allow the CDA members take possession of the land.

A daughter of the deceased, Sandra, said the gunmen pointed a gun on her head and demanded for money, phones and jewelries.

She said she heard gunshot and opened her eyes to see her parents and siblings dead.

Sandra stated that her father had informed them about threat to his life but they did not take it seriously until the gunmen struck.

Her sister, Princess said the gunmen fired at all of them in the room to ensure that they were killed.

“They killed our father, mother, brother and my niece. We want the police to find the killers.”

Police spokesman, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, could not be reached for comments.

Corpses of the victims have been deposited at the mortuary.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it was not responsible for the job losses in the economy in the last three years.

National publicity secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Isa Onilu, made the declaration on Tuesday while speaking with newsmen in Abuja.

According to statistics made available by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released by its Labour Force Statistics on December 19, 2018, about 3.3 million Nigerians became unemployed between December 2017 and September 2018. It has since deteriorated to 20.9 million according to data from the same source.

But addressing newsmen, the APC spokesman said: Nigerians should draw a line between job losses and unemployment rate. Mallam Onilu said the blame for the latter should be put at the doorstep of the erstwhile ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Onilu further submitted that there have been no job losses in the federal institutions in the last three years and further noted that whatever job losses in the economy could be attributed to the organised private sector and what he called the locust years that was 16 years of PDP misrule

He said: “The statistics you refer to, I don’t know what specific statistics you are talking about, if it’s about unemployment, you need to go and check the statistics again, and you need to compare the difference between unemployment and job loss. If it’s about job loss then you will commend this government, that since this government came, all those factors that will lead to job loss are not there. The private sector is being encouraged.

“The issue of agriculture, we all know what agriculture has done to this country, nobody can deny that anymore, it is very obvious. And the biggest employer of labour is that sector, and that is the sector where Nigeria has recorded the biggest growth in the last three years.

So, what about job gains from such sector? From government institutions, is there any government institutions you would say has laid off any worker in the last three years? Rather, what we have is a situation where salaries are paid regularly, allowances are paid regularly. Pensions are paid to those who have left the service and have not been paid for donkey years. So, what factors will lead to that job loss that we are talking about?

Unemployment is a different issue, it is not the same as job loss. What account for unemployment is a progressive degeneration that happened to this country over the cause of the period that PDP was in power, and what this government has done is to continue to create the environment, where we are moving gradually from that mono-economy, complete dependent on oil to an economy where people have choices, and that is the environment that encourages individual to be creative, to be able to apply himself to all the opportunities that are available. So, today any able Nigerian who wishes to employ himself can do so, because the support system is in place and it is working.

He equally dismissed insinuations that the federal government has been selective in its anti-corruption crusade as he vowed that any erstwhile member of the PDP who has joined the ruling party would not be spared, if a case of corruption was established against such individual in a court of law.

“If it is about people who were hitherto members of PDP who came into APC who are now occupying strategic positions. The idea was never to import people from the mass. The idea was to create a new environment where Nigerians that we all know, including ourselves will turn a new leaf and do things according to rule of law, ensure that we apply decency into our actions and patriotism is defined by our quest to promote the interest of this country ahead of our personal interest.

That was what all these is all about. And without prejudice to whatever actions that may have been taken by anyone in the past, the fact that you are in APC has proven by several cases in courts regarding corruption that is not an excuse for you to escape justice.

So, even those who came along during merger were accepted with the impression that they have turn a new leaf but has events shown later they turn out that they only came that is going to be business as usual. And when they found out thinking it was going to be business as usual. When they found out that it wasn’t going to be, they went back to their evilness called the PDP.

And those who are still in APC membership of the party wouldn’t assail for you if you had taken any step that makes you to deserve justice. Justice is being applied to everyone irrespective of what party you belong.

We have seen examples. We have two governors who are presently in jail who were members of APC, they were jailed under this government. We know several cases that are still in court, and are being pursued vigorously. All these government need to do is to file the case; it’s not within the jurisdiction of this government to pass a judgment.”

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has constituted an anti-rigging committee to counter alleged plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to suppress votes in his stronghold in the February 16, 2019 election.

A source close to the former vice president told New Telegraph that Atiku’s major concerns about the 2019 presidential election are the security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“In a free and fair election, Atiku is confident of defeating President Muhammadu Buhari. However, given the intelligence reports at his disposal, INEC and security agencies are the main obstacle to his winning the 2019 election. This informed the setting up of the anti-rigging committee,” the source said.


The identities of the anti-rigging committee are still being guarded.

Atiku is hoping to make a big haul of votes from South-South, South-East and North-Central geo-political zones in the presidential election.

But there are fears that APC might militarise the zones to whittle down the chances of the party in these areas to favour President Buhari.

The anti-rigging committee is to work directly with the presidential candidate, the PDP Presidential Campaign Council and the organs of the party.

Its duty is to, among other things, pre-empt any rigging strategy of APC, raise early rigging alert, check plot by the ruling party to rig the election, as well as mobilise local and international groups against electoral malpractice.

According to the source, PDP’s fears that the election might not be free and fair were heightened by President Buhari’s refusal to assent to the 2010 Electoral Amendment Bill passed by the National Assembly.

He further disclosed that the party does not have confidence that the electoral umpire will conduct free and fair elections.

“What happened in Ekiti and Osun states is clear to everybody. Buhari is not ready for free and fair election. That is why we are taking pre-emptive measure,” he stated.

Another source stated that PDP has uncovered plot by the ruling party to suppress the support base of its presidential candidate.

“We know that the Operation Python Dance campaign by the military is to help APC rig the presidential election.

“There will be heavy military presence mostly in the South-South, South-East and then, North-Central. These are PDP areas.

“That is why our party is rejecting it. We are not in a war situation. The military should go to North-East and Zamfara State where there are insurgents and cattle rustlers.

“There is no threat to peace in the South and North Central zones,” the source who asked not to be named, said.

Kola Ologbondiyan, Director, Media and Publicity of PDP, however, said he was not aware of any plan by the party to create anti-rigging committee.

He disclosed that what the party is demanding from INEC is transparency in the conduct of the election.

“We are demanding that international and local observers should be allowed into INEC’s situation room where the transmission of votes will take place.

“You recall in 1993, it was clear that Abiola was winning because of transparency.

“So, instead of INEC locking themselves in one situation room and manipulate the election, they should allow the European Union (EU) and United States (U.S.) observers to participate in the collation of results. That is how we can guarantee transparency,” Ologbondiyan stated, Spokesperson of APC presidential campaign, Festus Keyamo (SAN), said PDP is suffering from depression.

“They have ran out of ideas, ran out of what to say. They are now talking like demented fellows. They have said this million times without proof. That is sign of depression,” Keyamo said.

INEC said the position of PDP did not represent the general opinion of Nigerians.

Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said the allegation has become the familiar song by the party, which Nigerians were tired of hearing.

Oyekanmi advised PDP that it is not compulsory for any political party to field candidates in the 2019 general elections, especially if that political party does not have confidence in the electoral body organizing it.

“If you are a student who wants to sit for the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and you don’t have confidence in the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), then you don’t have any business sitting for the examination. You can go to Ghana, Sierra Leone or the Sudan to sit for an equivalent examination.

“There are 74 political parties taking part in the presidential election. Let those who have confidence in INEC participate and we will not disappoint them.

“Nigerians have confidence in the Commission and we are happy about the feedback we are getting,” he added.

Also, INEC said it is not considering the party’s demand at the moment.

INEC’s Director, Voter Education and Publicity (VEP), Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, said that there is no country that allows international observers in its situation room.

Meanwhile, New Telegraph has learnt that disbursement of PDP’s campaign funds would be done at ward level and “not to an individual.”

“Other members of the ward will have to be present and the money has to be accounted for.

“We discovered that in 2015, many people collected campaign money and disappeared. We don’t want it to happen this time around.

“The national chairman has given orders that every party member must deliver his or her ward. If you are strong go to your ward and work. We don’t want Abuja politicians. Many of these people hanging around Wadata Plaza (PDP National Secretariat) are not known in their wards,” the source said.

Before now, PDP had declared “operation deliver your ward” to its members as basis for political reward.


Atiku, at a meeting with members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) immediately after securing the party’s ticket, insisted that reward system would be based on electoral performance of members.

by By Tajudeen Adebanjo



https://thenationonlineng.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/IMG-20190102-WA0013.jpg


A 43-year-old Islamic studies teacher Abdulsalam Salaudeen has been arrested by the police for defiling a five-year-old girl.

Salaudeen, who lives 16, Awoyemi Street on Igando Road, Ikotun Lagos, was recorded on video while engaging in the act.

The suspected pedophile was allegedly engaged to teach the girl Islamic studies.

A Good Samaritan last Friday took the video evidence to the headquarters of the Lagos State Police Command.

After watching the heart-rending video, Commissioner of Police (CP) Imohimi Edgal, directed the command’s undercover operatives attached to the State Intelligence Bureau to immediately arrest the culprit and hand him over to the Gender Section for detailed investigation.

The operatives went in search of Salaudeen and arrested him near a mosque in Igando, a suburb of Lagos.

A statement by police spokesman Chike Oti, a Chief Superintendent (CSP), said Salaudeen was taken to the Gender Unit, where the Officer-in-Charge, Abimbola Williams, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) confronted him with the video of him defiling the child by penetrating her anus and private parts.

“On seeing himself captured like an actor in a movie, the suspect broke down in tears and owned up to the crime,” Oti said.

The case, he added, will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.

Oti said: “The CP, while commending the courageous act of the good Nigerian, warned parents and guardians to keep constant watch over their children and wards.

“Nobody should be trusted. Be friends with your children and let them be free to share things with you.

“Do not cover up any crime, no matter who is involved. Raise the alarm on child molesters in your neighbourhood so they can face the law and other nursing such thoughts can be deterred.”

National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has hit the ground running following his appointment as co-chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).

Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State, has met with members of his political family, who are members of the PCC to strategize on task before the committee.

Tinubu was named as co-chairman of the committee announced on December 28, 2018, and which has President Muhammadu Buhari as chairman.

Among his associates on the list are Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; former Interim National chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande; former governor of Lagos State and current Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; former deputy governor of Lagos State, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and a former speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Senator Olorunnibe Mamora.

Others are Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Senior Special Adviser to the President on Foreign Affairs and chairman, Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa; a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos State, Dele Alake; former Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State, Wale Edun and Alliance for Democracy (AD) gubernatorial candidate in the 2016 governorship election in Ondo State, Chief Olusola Oke (SAN).

Osinbajo, who served as Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General in Tinubu’s government, is the deputy chairman of the PCC, while Akande, a former governor of Osun State is a member of the council.
The House leader, Gbajabiamila, was appointed as a member of the Special Advisory Council.

Fashola, who served as Tinubu’s Chief of Staff and later succeeded him, was appointed Director, Election Planning and Monitoring, while Orelope-Adefulire is to serve as Deputy Director, South.

Dabiri-Erewa, who represented Ikorodu Federal Constituency of Lagos State in the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2015, is the Deputy Director, Strategic Communication of the campaign council, while Alake was appointed the Secretary. Oke and Edun are to serve as Zonal Director (South-West) and Director of Finance, respectively.

Other members of the PCC, who are Tinubu’s loyalists, are APC serving governors, serving senators and members of House of Representatives, zonal women leaders as well as gubernatorial candidates.

A source close Tinubu told New Telegraph that immediately after the announcement of the APC campaign council, the former governor, who was announced as the campaign co-chairman, hit the ground running by calling a meeting of his associates.

“Asiwaju has met with members of his political family, who were appointed as members of the PCC, and I will tell you that they have come up with strategies to ensure that APC wins bulk votes in the South-West,” the source said.

He added that apart from pulling together some of his top senior aides and political strategists, Tinubu is also reaching out to other directors and members of the campaign council in other zones.

“Most importantly, Tinubu is said to be planning to meet with President Buhari as soon as possible to confer with him on next critical steps. After this meeting, he will meet with the rest of the campaign leadership towards a campaign schedule.

“Tinubu believes that work has started and there is no time to waste. He is happy with the cast and thinks everyone on the council brings value to the campaign and that APC is set to overrun the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general elections,” he added.

Al Jazeera


The United States and Israel have officially quit the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Day, the culmination of a process triggered more than a year ago.

The withdrawal is mainly procedural yet serves a new blow to UNESCO, co-founded by the US after World War II to foster peace.

The Trump administration filed its notice to withdraw in October 2017 and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu followed suit, accusing the UN agency of anti-Israel bias.

The Paris-based organisation has previously criticised Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem and granted full membership to Palestine in 2011.

UNESCO is best known for its work to preserve heritage, including maintaining a list of World Heritage sites, and programmes to promote education in developing countries.

The withdrawals will not greatly affect UNESCO financially, since it has been dealing with a funding slash ever since 2011 when both Israel and the US stopped paying dues after Palestine was voted in as a member state.

Since then officials estimate that the US – which accounted for around 22 percent of the total budget – has accrued $600m in unpaid dues, which was one of the reasons for President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw. Israel owes an estimated $10m.

Officials say that many of the reasons the US cited for the withdrawal do not apply any more, noting that since then, all 12 texts on the Middle East passed at UNESCO have been consensual among Israel and Arab member states.

The State Department couldn’t comment because of the US government shutdown.

Earlier, the department told UNESCO officials the US intends to stay engaged at UNESCO as a non-member “observer state” on “non-politicised” issues, including the protection of World Heritage sites, advocating for press freedom and promoting scientific collaboration and education.

The US could potentially seek that status during the UNESCO Executive Board meetings in April.

The US has pulled out of UNESCO before. The Reagan administration did so in 1984 because it viewed the agency as mismanaged, corrupt, and used to advance Soviet interests. The US re-joined in 2003.

By John Owen Nwachukwu



Preminent oil and gas businessman, Scott Tommey, has reiterated his apolitical status in the country in spite of being named as one of the Advisory Council of the President Muhammadu Buhari campaign team.

Tommy was named in the President Buhari’s advisory team constituted by Hajia Aisha Buhari, wife of the President.

He was named alongside some popular Nigerians like Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd), IGP Suleiman Abba (Rtd), General Buba Marwa, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, Professor Pat Utomi, Prince Tonye Princewill, Festus Keyamo (SAN) and Muiz Banire (SAN).

But in a statement signed by his Media Aide Femi Ajayi, on Tuesday, the billionaire oil magnate, said he was honoured by the appointment but added that he would rather remain apolitical.

The brief statement added, “It has become pertinent to clarify the status of Mr Scott Tommey, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Osmoserve Global Limited, named into the Advisory Council of President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign team.

“While Mr Tommey is honoured to have been considered for this appointment, he feels obliged to let the public know that he is not into partisan politics neither is he a card-carrying member of the APC.

By Jeremiah Oke,



No fewer than 30 commuters were killed by a trailer around 11:45 pm on Monday at the second gate, Gbagi tuntun, along Ife road in Ibadan.

According to an eyewitness, who confirmed the incident to the Dailytrust in Ibadan, the driver of the trailer enroute Iwo-road was drunk at the time of the incident.

by Mayowa Tijani



A federal high court sitting in Lagos has given its final approval to the scheme of merger between the Cement Company of Northern Nigeria and BUA Group’s Kalambaina Cement Company.

According to a statement by the group, this comes on the back of “overwhelming shareholder approval” as well as final approvals by the regulators – Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) and Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

“With this development, the Nigerian Stock Exchange is expected to list the shares of the expanded entity in what has been described by the regulator as the largest deal of the year in Nigeria in 2018 at its recently held NSE CEO Awards,” BUA said.

Speaking on the development, Abdul Samad Rabiu, founder/executive chairman of BUA Group, praised the effort of all stakeholders in bringing the merger to fruition.

He said the expanded CCNN will remain the market leader in north-west Nigeria – the third largest market for cement in the country by consumption, whilst continuing to explore the huge opportunities that exist in the export markets of Niger, Burkina Faso and the West African region.

“Traditionally, the huge cost of transportation to CCNN’s home region from other cement plants in Nigeria – the nearest being about 900km away – has always given us a strategic advantage in that region over competing cement companies and brands,” he said.

“The expanded entity will leverage on the cost and energy efficiency of the newly commissioned Kalambaina Plant whilst providing additional value through its products in terms of better quality, higher yields and a stronger cement than competing premium cement brands.”

With the merger, the total installed capacity of the merged entity is expected to be two million metric tonnes per annum (MTPA).

The development will bring the total capacity of BUA’s cement operations to eight million MTPA as the group recently announced the completion of its three million MTP Obu II Cement Plant in Okpella Edo state.

Chukwudi Nweje


A group of Niger Delta militants yesterday said it had backed out of the ceasefire agreement it reached with the Federal Government.

The militants gave the Federal Government a long shopping list and warned that if the demands were not met, they would be left “with no choice than to resume hostility in the Niger Delta region.”

The group also demanded that President Muhammadu Buhari make “a categorical statement on restructuring the nation in other to bring the nation in one roof.”

The militants comprising the Niger Delta Creek Warriors, Ogunuma Camp of Niger Delta, Niger Delta Republic Seekers and Niger Delta Revolutionary Crusaders, alleged that the Buhari-led government was toying with the relative peace the region has enjoyed.

It accused government of nonchalance in implementing the agreement it reached with the pan-Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF) on behalf of the people of the region.

“It has come to our notice that President Muhammadu Buhari and his subordinates do not want the relative peace we’re having now in the country. Having been waiting for long without his implementing the demands by the panNiger Delta Elders Forum on behalf of the people of Niger Delta, we have no option than to withdraw our ceasefire deal with Federal Government.

“We, therefore, give Federal Government seven days ultimatum to address our demands immediately as we cannot continue to be continuously deceived.”

The militants also warned the Federal Government not to renew the crude oil prospecting licences of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) because the multinational has not done anything for the Niger Delta region.

“We are aware that Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) applied for the renewal of oil blocs in Niger Delta and we have not seen what they have done before. Let them go offshore,” the militants said.

They demanded that the Federal Government immediately resettle the displaced Bakassi communities and implement the Green Tree agreement reached when the International Court of justice (ICJ) transferred the disputed territories in Bakassi to Cameroon jurisdiction.

Other demands include the cleanup of Ogoni and entire Niger Delta region, immediate take-off of Brass Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), adequate funding of Okerenkoko Maritime University and upgrading of the Maritime Academy, Oron to University status.

They also want immediate take off the Gelegele seaport in Edo State, budgetary allocation for the Strategic Work, Implementation Plan for Niger Delta (SWIP), the immediate award/construction of Bonny, Bodo, Abonny, Idamo Abissa, Kula road to Soku, Edem Sanga, Nembe Brass road to Akasa, Warri/Escravos/Warri to Ogulagha roads and the immediate implementation of the seaport in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Emma Nzomiwu, Chukwujekwu Ilozue and Seyi Taiwo-Oguntuase



The determination of the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) to return the incumbent president Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 by all means may be responsible for the divisive and bitter carrots being dangled by Vice president Yemi Osinbajo and secretary to the government of the federation, Boss Mustapha and Minister of Works, Housing and power, Babatunde Fashola on the 2023 presidency.

The development has set the people of South East and South West on what analysts regard as confusion, even as quiet animosity is creeping in gradually with the two zones laying claims, based on the promises from the three top government and party officials.

Specifically, last week, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo told his Yoruba kinsmen to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 to guarantee the return of presidency to the Southwest in 2023.

Osinbajo who spoke when he visited the Alaafin of Oyo, Lamidi Adeyemi III warned that if Buhari did not return in 2019, then it would take a long time for a Yoruba man to occupy the presidency again.

Earlier in the year, Fashola had urged his kinsmen to vote for the reelection of Buhari for the assurance of clinching the presidency in 2023.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the last Yorubaman who was President, held power from 1999 to 2007.

Before Osinbajo and Fashola rekindled the controversy over which zone should produce the President after President Buhari in 2023, the South East was already positioning itself for presidency in 2023, based on what the proponents allude to the principle of equity.

Although the South East had been clamouring for a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction even from the inception of this democracy in 1999, the Secretary to the Federal Government, Boss Mustafa raised the hope of the zone in April this year when he said South East would have a brighter chance if its votes for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

The SGF made this commitment at a pro-Buhari rally organised by Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, which held at Owerri, the state capital.


Since then, some APC leaders in the South-East had been leveraging on the statement of SGF to ask Ndigbo to vote for Buhari until last week when Osinbajo reechoed the South West permutation into 2019 presidency politics.

Reacting in an interaction with journalists on Christmas Eve, Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Senate President and highest political office holder from the South East, said the issue was not about making promises but fulfilling them.

On the promise of the ruling APC to give Ndigbo presidency in 2023, if they vote for Buhari, Ekweremadu said, “This is the nature of politics. So, promises will be made. So, we just hope that those who make promises will be able to keep their promises.”

But, Ohanaeze flayed Osinbajo over his comment that Yoruba should vote for Buhari in 2019 to guarantee 2023 presidency

Speaking through Chuks Ibegbu, Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze described as unfortunate comments credited to Vice President Osinbajo that the presidency would go to the Southwest in 2023.

Ibegbu, warned of the consequences of taking Ndigbo as fools in the Nigerian project.

Disclosing that it would meet in January to review the country’s political situation and adopt a position against the coming elections, Ohanaeze said that the Igbo remained an integral part of Project Nigeria and as such should be treated with respect.

Goddy Uwarurike,Former President of Aka Ikenga says Presidency coming to Igbo is not a favour and it should not be a campaign issue, insisting that “anybody canvassing that is arrant nonsense and anybody canvassing such a bill is a charlatan, it is not a true son of Igbo land, he is just a merchant. Presidency coming to Igbo is not a favour and we are not looking for any favour. They should bury that taught we will get it as a right and not as a faovur.”

Monday Ubani, legal practitioner says” I think the Igbos must be a little more organised. Any ethnic group that is hoping to take presidential seat in 2023 without taking into consideration the Igbos must be all “joking, selfish and highly insensitive of the unity of the country. This is because the Yoruba have taken presidential seat for 8 years and currently a Yoruba man is the vice president, and it will be a great insensitivity on the part of the Yoruba again to be canvassing for another 2023 when the Igbo have not been given that opportunity.”

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Sir Chris Obikwelu beleived that Igbo have toiled for Nigeria and, therefore, deserve the presidency. Obikwelu said: “The South East has laboured enough to occupy the Presidency of this country. We fought for independence. Some people will say the Igbo have occupied the seat through the great Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, but let me tell you, Zik was a ceremonial president which was virtually not active”.

Also, the Zonal Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Igboeli Arinze Napoleon felt that after President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term in office, power would come to the Southeast irrespective of what any one wants to believe.

According to Arinze, “The talk that power would go to the Southwest in 2023 by Igbo leaders rooting for Atiku Abubakar as self-defeatist.

“By 2023, all the major ethnic groups in Nigeria except the Igbo who are the single largest ethnic group in Nigeria would have produced an occupant for the highest office in the land.”

However, some politicians are not enthusiastic about the Igbo clinching the Presidency in 2023.

Anambra State chairman of PDP, Chief Ndubisi Nwobu is one of them. Nwobu said that hoping on APC to make Igbo presidency a reality in, 2023 is an illusion.

His reason: “You heard Mr. Babatunde Fashola say that by 2023, the Presidency will go to the West. So, anybody talking about that is talking nonsense. You have heard the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo say it too. The Igbo in APC are not even near the corridor of power. They don’t go near where the matter is discussed, talk less of getting close.


But, Osita Okechukwu, Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON) described the development as a wake-up-call for Ndigbo.

According to Okechukwu, it is a wake-up-call for Ndigbo in the true sense of the word that equity, natural justice, and good conscience, are the advantages on their side.

He noted that the South East is the only geopolitical zone in the Southern Belt that has not presided over Nigeria since 1999 that the rotation of president convention took off.

“President of Nigeria of Igbo extraction in 2023 is a Win-Win-Scenario, and golden opportunity for Ndigbo to end the vexatious issue of marginalisation and create a sense of belonging in the Nigerian family.

On the issue of 4 years, he said Buhari’s remaining 4 years post 2019 was cast in constitutional stone, while His Excellency Atiku Abubakar’s own could at best, be seen as a pledge.

“Atiku’s manifesto is six year plan. Therefore Buhari’s option is the quickest and surest route to Nigeria president of Igbo extraction,” Okechukwu said.

But Senator Ben Obi, a member of the PDP Presidential Council and Director of the Campaign’s CUPP/Inter-party Directorate, said the comment by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on 2023 elections was insensitive and height of mischief.

Obi berated Osinbajo for asserting that the presidency would revert to the South West after Buhari in 2023.

“Apart from the fact that the PDP will win the 2019 presidential election in which case Osinbajo’s reckless and morally outrageous scenario will never come to pass, the mere thought of making that insensitive declaration after Obasanjo’s 8-year presidential tenure and Osinbajo’s 4-year vice presidency, in the context in which power is yet to rotate to the South East, is the height of political intolerance and mischief-making,” he said.

Nonetheless, the South East zone of Nigeria appear to be divided for now over who to support between Buhari of APC and former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of PDP..

While a summit of Igbo leaders chaired by Professor Ben Nwabueze endorsed Atiku alongside his running mate, Peter Obi, the Igboezue Cultural Advancement Initiative led by Chief Chekwas Okorie threw the weight behind President Muhammadu Buhari

In a communiqué read after the first session of the summit by Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), the Igbo leaders threw their weight behind the candidature of Obi/Atiku, acknowledging that it puts Ndigbo back at the centre of governance.

The communiqué read in part: “We identify with the Atiku/Obi ticket on the restructuring agenda as has been reiterated by four zones of the country, namely, South-South, South-West, North Central and South-East.

“We believe that as long as the federating units remain weak, the centre will continue to be weak. We equally move to appreciate the position of Atiku/Obi ticket in promoting national unity.

The summit reiterated that the time is now for Ndigbo to mobilize and organize effectively to realize the Ati/Obi ticket.

“We are not campaigning against anybody. We are simply campaigning for our very survival. Igbo votes must count wherever Ndigbo live in Nigeria,” it stated

But, the Igboezue Cultural Advancement Initiative led by Chief Chekwas Okorie rejected the decision of the Nwabueze group to support Obi/Atiku ticket, saying it was taken without consultation.

Rather, Igbozue adopted President Muhammadu Buhari of APC as its candidate for 2019 presidential election.

Okorie, the National Leader of Igboezue, made their position known at a press briefing in Enugu last Thursday.

According to Okorie, their decision to adopt Buhari was taken after an extensive consultation and liaison with extant Igbo Associations, institutions and stakeholders on the state of the Nigerian nation.

The Igboezue leader who doubles as National Chairman of United Progressives Party (UPP), said four more years for President Muhammadu Buhari would be by far, better and more bearable than the possible eight years of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, which would bring back sad memories of PDP emasculation of Ndigbo.

“We are conscious of the truth that the PDP has not made any form of commitment to the restructuring of Nigeria or the much desired Igbo president of Nigeria any time in the future. Anything that PDP says now will definitely be an afterthought. Ndigbo be wise,” Okorie said.

wOkorie said it was the conviction of Igboezue that the relevance of the Igbo as critical stakeholder and factor in Nigeria’s power equation can no longer be left solely in the hands of political leaders who purport to represent the Igbo people in their public pronouncements without consultation of any kind with stakeholders.

“We find it too compromising and unacceptable. In this regard, Igboezue has taken time to establish an effective network that has linked up all identified Igbo organizations, associations and professional bodies to what we refer to as the Igbo National Grid.

“It is our confirmed observation that after the great and legendary Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe led our people on the platform of the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) to form a coalition Government with the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) with the active collaboration of defunct Igbo State Union and a similar political alliance in the Second Republic in which the Late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe led the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) to enter into an accord to form a Joint Government with the National Party of Nigeria. Igbo political leaders have failed since then to provide selfless leadership that will chart the path for the continued political relevance of Ndigbo in Nigeria,” Okorie stated.

Kemi Busari


The year 2018 will not be quickly forgotten in a hurry as far as the 8th Senate led by its President, Bukola Saraki, is concerned.

The outgoing year witnessed some controversial moments, some making history in legislative business in Nigeria. From mace theft to in-house controversies, below are the major ones.


1) Electoral Amendment ‘Targeted Buhari’

February 14 is widely known as lovers’ day world over but there was no Valentine celebration at the Nigerian Senate on this day.

The lawmakers were divided over the adoption of a report by the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on the Amendment to the Electoral Act.

The amendment sought to re-order the election sequence with the federal lawmakers’ election coming first in 2019, before that of the state lawmakers and state governors, with the last being the presidential election.

The adoption did not go down well with some senators who accused the Senate President of not allowing them to lend their voices to the debate. While the plenary was still on, 10 of them left the chamber to address the press, insisting that the sequence change was targeted at Mr President. Two senators, Ovie Omo-Agege and Abdullahi Adamu were more vocal.


2) Axing Abdullahi Adamu

In the northern part of Nigeria, age and experience are considered a revered attribute but this didn’t play out in the removal of Abdullahi Adamu as chairman Northern Senators’ Forum in February.

The removal came a week after Mr Adamu led nine others to oppose the Senate passage of the amendment to the electoral act.

Mr Adamu had questioned the conduct of the Senate president in the passage process.

He specifically noted that the Senate president did not allow some of his colleagues to talk despite indicating so in the debate that led to the adoption.

Mr Saraki had in the chamber said that it was the custom of the Senate to adopt a conference committee report without questioning.

In a controversial move, he was replaced by Aliyu Wammako, a former Sokoto State governor.


3) Monkey Tale

Perhaps, this is the most trended story out of the upper legislative chamber in 2018.

A senator, Shehu Sani (Kaduna-APC), said Mr Adamu’s removal bordered on financial mismanagement. He alleged Mr Adamu mismanaged a N70 million belonging to the forum.

But Mr Sani did not state the obvious in simple terms. Instead, he alleged that about N70 million belonging to the group was claimed to have been carted away by monkeys in a farmhouse. He was subtly referring to Mr Adamu.

Mr Adamu later denied the allegation.


4) Mace Theft

For the very first time in Nigerian history, hoodlums invaded the Senate chamber carting away the mace which serves as a symbol of authority in the legislature.

The robbery, executed in the full glare of lawmakers, journalists and other observers in the Senate Chamber of the National Assembly bore the imprints of a security operation with at least two of the attackers identifying themselves as police officers.

They entered the chamber with a senator, Ovie Omo-Agege, although the lawmaker has continually denied being involved in the incident.

After gaining entrance, one of the hoodlums went straight for the mace, grabbed it and made for the exit.

In the company of some others who were waiting with four vehicles, the thugs left the National Assembly without being challenged by security operatives.

The mace was later retrieved at a location close to Abuja city gate. Nobody has been arrested for the incident.


5) Omo-Agege’s Suspension

Following recommendations by a committee set up to investigate Mr Omo-Agege’s comment on election sequence, the lawmaker was suspended for 90 days.

Mr Omo-Agege was among the 10 senators who left the chamber to address the press while the plenary was still on.

He was suspended for accusing his colleagues of working against President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election

However, a judge, Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court nullified the suspension of Mr Agege after faulting the decision of the Senate.


6) Saraki’s Defection Ripples

Following his defection from APC to PDP in August, the Senate President instantly became an object of possible axing from his opposition colleagues.

While many openly called for his resignation as Senate president, others were rumoured to be lobbying the needed two-thirds to remove him. While this was on, a major event happened on August 7.

Six days after Mr Saraki’s defection, the National Assembly was in the early hours of the day cordoned off by officers of the State Security Services in an alleged move by some senators to remove Mr Saraki.

It was rumoured that APC senators planned to disallow opposition senators entrance into the chamber while they removed the Senate President. This turned out to be partly true.

The SSS operatives for many hours locked out senators and representatives before eventually allowing them entrance. The siege was lifted in the afternoon.

The event led to the removal of SSS boss, Lawal Daura, by the then Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo.


7) Controversy Over Party Majority

There was confusion over which party controls the majority in the Senate between APC and PDP on August 5 following the defection of 15 senators from the APC.

The senators, in a joint letter to Mr Saraki, made their intention known. With 14 of them joining the PDP, it became immediately difficult to determine which party is the majority at the Senate. Prior to the defection, APC officially had 64 senators while the PDP had 42.

With 14 leaving the party (for PDP), the instant calculation favoured PDP which would then have 56 as against APC (50). But this soon changed as some senators renounced their defection while some clarified that they defected to another party other than PDP.

The situation also forced the Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan to present a list to show that APC had 52 senators while PDP had 50.

by Adeola Ogunlade


The All Progressives Congress Deputy Governorship candidate in Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, has disclosed that he rejected $5million alleged bribe from former President Goodluck Jonathan during the electioneering campaign in 2015.

He made the disclosure at the launch of Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat Advocates held on Friday at Fidimaye Hall, Oko-Oba, Abule-Egba, Lagos.

The event had over 1000 APC members and party chieftains who came him in from around Alimosho, Agege, Agbado-Ijaye, and its environs.

He said that in 2014, “I contested with the current Governor, Akinwumi Ambode for the Governorship ticket of the party and as we all know how it went, the then President Goodluck Jonathan offered me bribe of $5miillion and I refused it. Some of you here are my witness, I mean some of you that were sent, are here to testify. I refused because I was thinking about the future and I don’t want to spoil my name. Let us remain calm, our turn will come.”

Hamzat appealed to party faithful who are aggrieved to work for the interest of the party because their time will come.

“Our work as Nigerians is simple and our campaign will be very easy because PDP destroyed this country for 16 years. They spent N1.7trillion on power for 16 years and they were unable to give the country just 2,950 megawatts.”

Hamzat, a former Commissioner for Works, Lagos State, added, “In the last three years, I worked as a Special Adviser Technical to the Minister for Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, we travelled round the 36 states by road, the opposition party has spoiled this country because since 1999 to 2015, federal government did not finish any road project except the Lagos- Abeokuta road.”

He posited that the present administration inherited 206 road projects that were incomplete, whereas the present administration has completed 84 in three years.

He said that between 1999 to 2015, the country spent N1.7, trillion on power sector which is the budget of 11 states and imported 900 containers which were abandoned at the port for three years.

He lauded the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for his foresight saying, “In 1999, when Asiwaju became Governor, Lagos State was a pariah state, it could only generate N600million monthly and the salary of civil servants was N1.2billion and they have to borrow to pay salaries but today the state is generating close to N35billion monthly.”

He said some people worked to make this possible, adding that successive administrations in the state have worked to improve the state’s internally generated revenue.

According to him, “Our party (APC) will make Nigeria great, the party is making Lagos a better place and is poised to do more to make Lagos progress to the next level.”

A federal high court in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, has ordered the interim forfeiture of the $2.8 million intercepted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.

A. Mohammed, a judge, gave the order following an application by EFCC through Anasoh Onyedikachi, its counsel.

The judge directed the publication of the order in national newspapers in line with section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, 2006.

The commission had arrested Ighoh Augustine and Ezekwe Emmanuel, workers of Bankers Warehouse, on December 20.

Toni Orilade, spokesman of the EFCC, had said the suspects, who were caught with consignments of two suitcases containing $1.4 million each, confessed that they had been in the business of conveying cash for some banks for over six years and were in the process of doing same for another bank when they were arrested.

Tony Orilade, acting spokesman of the commission, said they were arrested based on intelligence report.

Union Bank had said it commissioned those arrested to carry out the transaction on its behalf.

The bank dismissed the allegation of the EFCC that the suspects were carrying out an illegitimate act when they were arrested.

Bankers Warehouse also reacted to the development through a letter to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

In a letter addressed to the CBN deputy governor, Lawrence Ijebor, Bankers Warehouse head of operations, sought the intervention of the apex bank.

“Despite the information provided, the EFCC insisted on detaining our employees, taking possession of our goods and threatening to confiscate the currency, without making themselves available to our senior managers or other agencies familiar with our movements,” the letter read.

“We seek your intervention as our regulator, to address this issue of constant harassment of our staff, by security agencies.”

Former Governor of Ekiti State Mr. Ayodele Fayose has said that he hope that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will patronise ‘barbing saloons in Ajegunle Lagos, Baga in Borno or those armed bandits controlled towns in Zamfara.’

Fayose reacting to Osinbajo’s visit to Luxor Salon and Spar, Wuse 2, where he had a haircut and one on one interaction with barbers, customers and residents of the area who trooped out to welcome him to their neighbourhood said: ‘It is only election fever that will drive a VP to that high class barbing saloon in Abuja, something he never did in the last three & half years.

‘I hope to see the VP patronising barbing saloons in Ajegunle Lagos, Baga in Borno or those armed bandits controlled towns in Zamfara.’

Professor Osinbajo on Thursday visited New Kushingoro Village, a suburb of FCT, in continuation of his family chats ahead of the 2019 general elections. Osinbajo, who spoke partly in Pidgin English, explained to the residents of the community that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was doing a lot to impact on the life of the common man.

He said that TraderMoni was on the schemes deployed by the government to help petty traders.

Osinbajo said that since majority of the residents were farmers, a similar programme would be deployed to empower them.

“TraderMoni wey we dey give, na for people wey dey sell for market. Everybody dey farm; we go see how we go help for farm because President Buhari wants to see how he will help common man.

“Anybody wey dey work; wey dey try to look for work; he go see how him go help them make find work; make them find money do the work; “If na farm you dey farm, how we go help you with your farm.’’ Jubilant women of the village sang and danced in appreciation of the vice president’s visit.

Earlier at the Abuja Games Village, Osinbajo visited the family of Dr Olatunji-David Sanwo where he had a warm chat with the family and restated the government’s commitment to addressing challenges confronting the country.

Speaking with newsmen, Hajia Aisha Musa, Environmental Secretary, Games Village Association, said she was excited that the vice president visited the estate. She pledged to moblise 7,000 residents of the estate to the president 100 per cent of their votes in the forthcoming election.

Another resident, Mr James Green, said that the visit was a welcome development as it was not common for a vice president to visit a neighbourhood to find how the residents fared.

Osinbajo also took out time to visit a Suya spot (skewered slices of meat) in the estate where he patronised the seller.

Afterwards, Osinbajo headed to Luxor Salon and Spar, Wuse 2, where he had a haircut and one on one interaction with barbers, customers and residents of the area who trooped out to welcome him to their neighbourhood.

He advised them to vote wisely as the Buhari-led administration was determined to empower the youths and root out poverty. (NAN)

By Aliyu M. Hamagam,


Jigawa state government has spent over N90 million to conduct mass weddings for 270 orphan girls.

It selected 10 couples from each of the 27 local government areas in the state, according to Mustapha Kwalam, a special adviser on religious affairs to the state government.

Only orphan girls with suitors ready to take them as wife were considered eligible.

But the suitors must have a resident and a source of income, said Kwalam.

Speaking at Dutse Central Mosque, Kwalam said the N93m was spent on furniture for the bride at N336,000 each.

By Eugene Agha

https://cdn.dailytrust.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/One-of-the-car-dealers-collapsed-after-discovering-that-he-lost-16-cars-to-the-inferno-559x367.jpg
One of the car dealers collapsed after discovering that he lost 16 cars to the inferno


Petroleum pipeline vandals triggered a morning fire that burnt exotic cars houses and shops in Lagos.

A combined team of security operatives and officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) are still going round the Abule Egba neighbourhood and taking head count of people and the number of houses burnt in last Tuesday morning pipeline fire that ravaged the community.

But, at least over 100 houses and several shops and about 50 vehicles were destroyed by fire which started from a vandalized pipeline of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) at Abule Egba and Agege.


https://cdn.dailytrust.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Ruth-and-her-duaghter-explaining-their-plight-to-the-Lagos-State-Commissioner-of-Police-Imohini-Edgal-when-he-visited-the-scene.jpg
Ruth and her duaghter explaining their plight to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Imohini Edgal, when he visited the scene


The vehicles burnt included 19 parked in an auto sales stand belonging to Usman Hamzat. Fortunately however, a supermarket near the Samar Petrol station was spared. Aside Hamzat’s cars parked at Samar Petrol station, three other car shops were razed.

Rescue team went through scorched homes and vehicles on Thursday morning to ascertain the exact number affected. According to an unconfirmed report, 15 persons are missing as a result of the inferno but it is unsure if they are dead or relocated.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, who made an on the spot visit to the area tasked the Divisional Police Officer to take a head count of all injured persons. He also directed that those injured be taken to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja for free medical treatment

Authorities attributed the damage done to property partly to the speed with which flames spread through the pipe route due to the harmattan wind.

Hamzat said about N500 million worth of cars were lost in the inferno. He said many auto dealers took delivery of new cars in November ahead to the Christmas and New Year sales but now have to contend with finding ways of repaying for loans collected to purchase the vehicles.

According to him, model of cars destroyed are mainly 2015 and 2017 Toyota Corolla, Lexus and Mercedes Benz, and that the cheapest of them was about N2.9 million.

He said it was really a nightmare when he was woken by a call from a security guard around 2am that fire had gutted the patrol station and was spreading to the parked cars. According to him, when he arrived, only two cars were on fire. “We battled to put off the fire for fear that it might spread. I quickly put a call across to the fire service, but before they arrived, the fire had spread and gutted other cars,” he said.

“Then we did not know the source of the fire because it was coming from a vent from the underground drainage. The stream of fire was so intense that we battle with it without any success. When the Fire Service men came there was little or nothing they could do. The first two water tanks they came with were emptied within 30 minutes. They tried to dampen the flame without success until officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) arrived. Officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) arrived an hour later. It was then that we knew that the fire started from a vandalized pipe.

It was gathered that the fire which started at a private school situated at No: 4, Segun Akinola Street, opposite Tipper Garage, near Awori Bus stop, Abule Egba, was triggered by activities of vandals, who brought in three tankers and siphoned Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).


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A resident, Kamoru, said the vandals dug a hole to connect their hose to the pipes but dropped it inside the drainage without shutting the valves.

The PMS was said to have circulated through the drainage to the abattoir where it apparently sparked the fire.

A resident, Stella John, said people fled their homes as soon as they heard the explosions, adding that several persons sustained injuries as a result of stampede.

She said: “I did not care to pick anything. The first thing that came to my mind was to run to safety. People were wailing, running in different directions. So many people sustained injuries.”

The General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Adesina Tiamiyu said the fire affected nine streets, destroyed 38 vehicles, four tricycles, 71 shops, 30 rooms, two blocks of flats and a church auditorium but no lives was lost.

It was gathered that the areas affected included Arowolo, Shogbawole, Adefegba, Katonwi, Santos, Taiwo Adewole, Wamon Taofeek, Owode and Akinlere streets. Others are Charity Road Junction opposite Oko Oba Market and parts of Ile-Epo.

The Commissioner of Police accused residents of complicity, adding that they cannot claim they were not aware of activities of vandals in the area.

He noted that intelligence report gathered by some security operatives revealed that the area is notorious for activities of pipeline vandals.

The police boss pointed out that: “Already, I have received credible intelligence on some of these vandals and their locations. I can assure Lagosians that very soon, I will be leading the operation to arrest some of those vandals and the reason is obvious; we will not allow the greed or unpatriotism and economic sabotage of a few to affect the vast majority of Lagosians.”