₦airaland Forum

By Wale Odunsi



The Oba/Mapo Court C Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State has adjourned till August 1, the divorce suit brought by one Beauty Nathaniel against her husband, Odinye Nathaniel.

Beauty, who said her husband was violent and failed to satisfy her in bed, prayed the court to dissolve their 12-year-old marriage and grant her custody of their two children.

The applicant on Friday also declared that the kids were not her husband’s.

“My lord, I’m tired of my husband and our wedlock because he never ceases to beat me because I often challenge him to live up to expectation as the head of the home”, Tribune quoted her as saying.

“He neglects me and doesn’t bother whether I eat or put a decent dress on while we share no intimacy as husband and wife.

“He accuses me of being unfaithful to him. My lord I admit that this is true because he has failed to satisfy my sexual need. I need someone who will give me total attention. I deserve to be happy and have therefore sought for happiness outside home.

“My lord, the truth is that my husband is impotent. I have not enjoyed sex with him since we got married. He lies beside me like a log of wood every night while I burn.

“I’m declaring before the court today that he’s not the father of our two children; he’s not capable of fathering a child.

“I no more love him. I, therefore, want to leave his house and start life all over again. I pray the court to grant me custody of the two children because they are not his.”

Reacting, the husband insisted that the children were his.

“Those two children are mine. She lied that I’m impotent. I have impregnated two women at two different occasions but asked them to terminate the pregnancies because I wasn’t interested in marrying them.

“Despite playing my role adequately as husband and father, she still flirts around.

“I bought her a car and also put her in charge of our building project since my job demands travelling a lot. She was actually the one handling the money meant for the project.

“There was no time I denied her what was necessary to live a comfortable life. I tried to satisfy her to the best of my ability”.

The court president, Chief Ademola Odunola after listening to both parties stated that more evidence would be needed.

He adjourned the case and ordered the couple to appear in court with their children, parents and eyewitnesses.

By Peter Duru, Makurdi




A political drama is currently playing out in Benue state and indications just emerged that powerful forces are bent on stopping Governor Samuel Ortom from running for a second term in office over his innocuous decision to stand with the Benue people to end the herdsmen killings in the state with the enactment of the open grazing prohibition law which was a bill the people in unison presented to the government for enactment.

Curiously, some powerful forces from within and outside the state are obviously not at home with the development especially with the Governor’s rising profile and are bent on sacrificing him on the altar of personal delirium without regards to the wishes and aspirations of the people.

Though all government officials in the state have kept sealed lips over the matter, but a highly placed source in the state who craved anonymity told Saturday Vanguard that the powers that be in Abuja had put their feet down that the Governor would not be availed the All Progressive Congress, APC, ticket in the coming general elections for daring to enact the law against their wishes.

According to the source, “The entire thing emanated from the fact that the governor assented to the bill on open grazing prohibition and had insisted that the law would not be repealed when they asked him to.

“So today they are bent of denying him the ticket of the APC in the coming election because of his insistence to flow with the people and not repeal the law after several threats and intimidation.
“We had expected it will come to this but we never knew it will be taken this far.

“How would any sane person want the governor of a state to go against the wish of his people just to satisfy the whims and caprices of a group of persons who have failed to realize that power is transient.

“Well, we are not saying that Governor Ortom has met our expectations as a people but we also understand the challenges he is faced with especially since the beginning of this year when the killings which were obviously supported by this group of persons started in the state.

“Perhaps they want to test the resolve of Benue people, we will stand with our Governor in this matter and we are prepared to stake our lives for him to ensure that our grazing law is not suspended as they are planning.

“I want to sound a note of warning, we know all our sons who are collaborating with these vampires to take over Benue land for their herdsmen brothers who have destroyed our communities and rendered our people homeless.
“In due time we will resist them and make them realize that power belongs to God and He gives it to whoever He desires because no man has God in his pocket.”

Meanwhile the elders and leaders of Masev, Iyarev Nongov Development Association also known as the MINDA block of Tiv land which Governor Ortom as a Nongov man belong to, two days ago vowed to resist any attempt by anyone to deny the Governor a second term in office.

After a General meeting of the elders’ council they maintained that all candidates of blocks in the state particularly Tiv tribe have had the opportunity of ruling the state for eight years insisting that Ortom’s case should not be different.

At the end of the meeting of the elders and members of the council they resolved to reach out to other blocks in the state to inform them of their position on the matter and the need for Governor Ortom to be supported to complete an eight year tenure as governor of the state.

Also, a statement by the ethnic leaders of the state under the aegis of Mdzough U Tiv. Idoma National Forum and Omi Ny‘ lgede vowed to stand with the Governor in the implementation and enforcement of the grazing law in the state.

In a statement signed by the leaders, Chief Edward Ujege, President General Mdzough U Tiv, Mr. Amali Adoya Amali President General ldoma National Forum and Comrade Ben Okpa President General Om Ny ‘Igede, they vowed to stand with the Governor in the implementation of the law which was a product of the entirety of the people of the state.

They also passed a vote of confidence on the governor over his dogged determination to ensure the smooth implementation and enforcement of the law in the state.

They further commended troops of the Operation Whirl Stroke, a spike operation by the armed forces to end militant herdsmen killings in the state even as they commiserated with families of the personnel who had lost their lives in the operation.

They commended Governor Ortom for his resilience to ensure that the will of the people of the state prevailed in the face of adversity.

Reacting to the unfolding drama in the state, the Convener of the Middle Belt Movement for Justice and Peace, MBMJP, Comrade Joe Bukka cautioned that the move to stop Governor Ortom from running for a second term could be counterproductive.

“Those behind the plot are failing to learn from history because the more you try to oppress someone the mote he gains the acceptability of the people.

“Governor Ortom has not done anything wrong, if his party and those who are playing God do not want him to continue to be their flag-bearer he should immediately abandon that platform for another, after all he has the right of first refusal wherever he goes. That is the beauty of democracy. It’s all about the alignment and realignment of forces, he said.

By Abdulaziz Abdulaziz



Some senators have provided insights into why the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has remained exceptionally generous in funnelling billions of naira to federal lawmakers, sometimes even against the wishes of her bosses at the presidency.

PREMIUM TIMES had in a series of reports revealed how the minister repeatedly enriched lawmakers , including by funding unapproved projects and making unappropriated cash payments to the legislative arm of government.

In April, this newspaper reported details of the controversial release of N10 billion to the National Assembly by Mrs Adeosun.
The lawmaking arm then wasted the money on exotic cars and dubious contracts.

Some of the companies to which the contracts were awarded were not even registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and the Bureau of Public Procurement.

In June, this newspaper reported how the minister spent about N12 billion to finance projects the presidency wanted removed from the 2017 budget.

The minister’s action generated uproar nationwide, especially among civil society activists who wondered the motive of such curious financial relationship with federal lawmakers reputed for being self-centred, greedy and corrupt.

Two months of asking questions is beginning to provide some insights into the real reason the minister has maintained such cosy relationship with the lawmakers.

At least five senators who spoke to this newspaper said the abnormal actions of the minister were activated by the top echelon of the legislature.

“We have never had a finance minister so generous to the National Assembly,” one senator said. “But it is not for nothing. The truth is we were able to dig up something unsavoury about her and our leaders are holding her by the jugular.”

One ranking senator simply said, “The minister is being gagged by our people”.
He however said he was not sure what his colleagues were using to “gag” the minister.

Yet another senator said, “What I am aware of is some of our people said they have an ammunition they can use to silence her.

That has given way for the leadership (of the National Assembly) to intimidate her, knowing that they could get her out of her job if she doesn’t cooperate.”

Another ranking senator, who also asked not to be named, said Mrs Adeosun was indeed being blackmailed by lawmakers.

“Not everything is out in the public because every single one of us are beneficiaries of this situation,” he said. “But I can tell you the woman is being harassed and blackmailed into doing many things she would ordinarily not so. She is helpless in the hands of our people.”

The minister is said to be afraid of being exposed or investigated by the legislative body, which may lead to her losing her position.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the real “ammunition” is known only by a few high profile leaders of the National Assembly who have turned it into what an official called “a secret tool for extortion.”

But when contacted, the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, said the finance minister was not being blackmailed in any way.

“There is nothing like that and I am very sure of that,” Yusuph Olaniyonu, the spokesperson to Mr. Saraki, told PREMIUM TIMES. “If there is anything like that I would know. Oga will hint or she will tell me. There is absolutely nothing like that. It is not true.”

Mr. Olaniyonu described Mrs Adeosun as the “most cooperating minister” who answers lawmakers’ summons at all times. But he insisted that her conduct was not because of fear of any blackmail.

The spokesperson to the finance minister, Oluyinka Akintunde, also denied his boss was being blackmailed by lawmakers.

“I wish to state that there is no such thing,” Mr. Akintunde said. “The Honourable Minister has always operated within the ambit of the law in the discharge of her responsibilities.”

This newspaper is however working hard to uncover what the real “ammunition” being used against the minister is, and will provide updates as information becomes available.

By Musa Abdullahi Krishi & Ozibo Ozibo



Some aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House of Representatives indirectly demanded for automatic return tickets to resolve the ongoing impasse within the party, Daily Trust has learnt.

The aggrieved Reps told the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole and some members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) at a meeting in Abuja yesterday that they were not satisfied with the way most of them were being treated.

A lawmaker who attended the meeting that held at the National Assembly said Oshiomhole had conceded that there were issues that needed to be resolved within the party in order to prevent members from leaving it.

However, the source said Oshiomhole did not give any commitment regarding the issue of automatic tickets but assured that he would do his best to address some of the issues raised.

“Some of us felt that since governors have hijacked the party at the states’ level by installing their choices as party leaders and shutting away most of us lawmakers, the only way to appeal to us is to allow us come back without hassle.

“It’s our belief that this would be the way to reconcile us with the governors. But there was no commitment whatsoever from the national chairman. It was only platitude here and there,” the lawmaker said.

But another lawmaker told Daily Trust that there was no direct mention of automatic tickets at the meeting, only that some members suggested that the party should reconcile lawmakers that had issues with their governors.

“We said the issue of high turnover rate should be addressed by reconciling members with governors, senators and other party leaders so that we won’t have many first term lawmakers. Law making is all about experience and we can’t afford to have many new comers,” the lawmaker said.

Yet another lawmaker said the meeting could not be said to be fruitful as Oshiomhole could not clearly say he could resolve the problems in the party, saying “his responses were not assuring.”

“From the look of things, he (Oshiomhole) can’t stop those that want to defect from doing so. People want to go to where they’ll be given automatic tickets to contest,” the lawmaker said.

After the meeting, Oshiomhole told journalists that “We had a very robust conversation. We expect total commitment to our party to deepen internal democracy to eliminate any attempts to impose anybody. We reassure everyone that we are committed to justice.”

“Much more important is to discuss issues as they affect all members of our party and members of the House of Reps, and issues affect the Executive and the Legislature,” he said.

Also, Speaker Yakubu Dogara expressed confidence in Oshiomhole, saying only justice and fairness could keep the party united.

He expressed optimism that “the party would be committed to undivided justice in their dealings as panacea to the various challenges.”

The splinter faction of Nigeria’s ruling party, APC, has named its national and state leaders.

The faction, which calls itself “Reformed APC” addressed a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday.

Buba Galadima, who read the text of the press statement, was announced as the national chairman of the faction; while Kassim Afeguba, a spokesman to ex-military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida, is the National Publicity Secretary.

See full list of the officials as announced by Mr Galadima below.

Some of the National Officers of the R-APC include:
1. Yobe State – Buba Galadima (National Chairman)

2. Kano State – Bala Muhd Gwagwarwa (National Deputy Chairman, North)

3. Abia State – Chief Theo Nkire (National Deputy Chairman, South East)

4. Ondo State – Hon. Eko Olakunle (National Vice Chairman South West)

5. Kaduna State – Hon. Hussaini Dambo (National Vice Chairman North West)

6. Kogi State – Mahmud Mohammed Abubakar – (National Vice Chairman, North Central)

7. Benue State – Hon. Godwin Akaan (Deputy National Secretary)

8. Oyo State -Dr Fatai Atanda (National Secretary)

9. Edo State – Kazeem Afegbua (National Publicity Secretary)

10. Adamawa State – Daniel Bwala (Financial Secretary)

11. Jigawa State – Abba Malami Taura (Deputy National Auditor)

12. Kwara State – Hon. Kayode Omotosho (National Treasurer)

13. Anambra State -Barr. Nicholas Asuzu (National Youth Leader)

14. Rivers State – Barr. Baride A. Gwezia (Legal Adviser)

15. Katsina State – Haj Aisha Kaita (National Woman Leader)

16. Bauchi State – Mrs. Fatima Adamu (National Welfare Secretary)

17. Ogun State -Alh. Isiak Akinwumi (Deputy Financial Secretary)

18. Zamfara State – Alh. Bashir Mai Mashi (Deputy National Treasurer)

19. Abuja – Hauwa Adam Mamuda (Deputy Welfare Secretary)

20. Sokoto State – Hon. Shuaibu Gwanda Gobir (Deputy National Publicity Secretary)

21. Katsina State – M. T. Liman (National Organising Secretary)

22. Niger State – Dr Theo Sheshi ( Deputy National Organising Secretary.


11. Some of the State Chairmen include:
1. Adamawa – Dimas Ezra
2. Anambra – Sir Toby Chukwudi Okwuaya
3. Bauchi – Sani Shehu
4. Benue – Noah Mark Dickson
5. Jigawa – Hon. Nasiru Garba Dantiye
6. Kaduna – Col. Gora (Rtd)
7. Kano – Umar Haruna Doguwa
8. Katsina – Sada Ilu
9. Kogi – Alh. Hadi Ametuo
10. Ogun – Alhaji Adeleke Adewale Taofeek
11. Ondo – Hon. Otetubi Idowu
12. Oyo – Alh. Ali Alimi Isiaka Adisa
13. Yobe – Mohammed Burgo Dalah
14. Zamfara – Alh. Nasiru Yakubu
15. Niger – Hon. Samaila Yusuf Kontagora
16. FCT – Adaji Usman

By Ozibo Ozibo



The House of Representatives yesterday mandated its committees on Labour, Employment and Productivity to review age limits on employment into Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) beyond 30 years.

The House also urged all MDAs to re-open their online portals to enable qualified Nigerians between 30 and 40 years to apply, while its Committee on Legislative Compliance is to ensure full compliance to the directive.

This followed a matter of urgent public importance by Babajimi Benson (APC, Lagos), who expressed concern that most vacancies advertised by MDAs require applicants to be less than 30 years.

Leading debate on the motion, Benson said restriction on the basis of age was a breach of eligible applicants’ fundamental human rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

He said, “I am worried that citizens who served at the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) at 30 will be denied employment opportunity, which may lead young Nigerians into falsifying their age.”

According to him, a 2016 data by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that unemployment rate for persons between 25 and 34 years in Nigeria has risen to 15.4 per cent.

He further noted that since 55.9 per cent of Nigeria’s 198 million people were between 15 and 64 years, capping age criteria for job entry below 30 years would leave majority of the population without jobs.

The lawmaker added that instead of age barrier, employment into the civil and public service should be based only on merit, competence and Federal Character.

After due consideration, the motion was unanimously adopted by the lawmakers.

lalasticlala

Posted By: Augustine Ehikioya,






President Muhammadu Buhari said on Wednesday the world would see if his successors would return the loots and assets recovered by his administration from those who looted the nation’s treasury.

He recalled that stolen assets seized from looters during his military regime were returned to them when he was ousted in 1983.

Buhari said the present administration has been selling off assets recovered from looters and putting the money in the government coffers to forestall the incidents of the past.

The President was responding to a question on Nigeria’s anti-graft battle during a joint press briefing at the end of Namibian President Hage Geingob’s visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said: “We are pursuing people who have declared assets. But we find out that they have much more than they have declared.

We follow them through their bank accounts to the companies they formed to the contracts they got.

“Sometimes they swear to Almighty God that their structures that cannot develop feet and run away does not belong to them. Then they are confronted with their bank accounts.

“Again, using my experiences when I was arrested and detained, people were given back what they have appropriated. This time around, I said we are going to sell them and put the money into the treasury and I will see whoever comes after that will have the courage to take money from the treasury and give to anybody.

“So, we are winning. But it’s very difficult under this multi-party democracy system.

And we are getting the cooperation of countries. We are trying to sell the assets wherever we find them and bring the money into the Nigerian treasury.”

Buhari also said his administration would soon reorganize the nation’s judiciary to ensure effective fight against corruption in the country.

His administration, he said, plans to dedicate some judges to deal with corruption cases where all those found wanting in their dealings will be prosecuted.

The President added: “We are going to dedicate some judges to deal with corruption cases and try to put forward and prosecute all those that investigations proved that they have questions to answer.

“So that is what I’m telling you that we haven’t given up. We are doing our best and we will recover as much as humanly possible.”

On his part, President Geingob thanked Nigerian government for his support and assistance to Namibia via the deployment of Nigerian volunteers under the Technical Aid Corps.

The Namibian leader said he came to Nigeria to pay his last respect to late Prof. Adebayo Adedeji, whom he described as his mentor.

For allegedly beating his wife to death over a N200 gift , Henry Anaele was , on Wednesday, remanded in prison for the next 30 days by an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court .

The Chief Magistrate , Mr . O . O . Olatunji , said the accused should be remanded at the Ikoyi Prisons pending advice from the State Director of Public prosecutions .

Anaele , 40, whose plea was not taken , had appeared on a charge for murder.

Earlier , Inspector Cousin Adams told the court that the accused committed the offence on June 15 , at about 11. 45 p. m , at No . 72, Goodness Estate , Satellite Town , Lagos .

Adams said that the accused had found out that someone gave his wife , Chinyere , 35, the sum of N 200 , which did not go down well with him .

“ This angered the accused who beat his wife to death for collecting the money , ’’ he said .

The offence contravened Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 which prescribes a death sentence for offenders .
The magistrate adjourned the case until August 6 .
( NAN )

by Dyepkazah Shibayan



Enyinnaya Abaribe, senator representing Abia south, says he met Gabriel Suswam, former governor of Benue state, while in custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Abaribe said this on the floor of the senate on Wednesday while explaining his recent ordeal.

This is the first time the senator would be speaking publicly after he was arrested and released by the secret police.

On June 22, the lawmaker was arrested for allegedly sponsoring the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). He spent four days in detention.

“On Friday 22nd of June I was arrested at the gate of the Hilton hotel while the International Press Institute congress was going on. I was taken to the office of the DSS by 11:30 in the morning and subsequently by 5pm I was taken to my house for a search of my residence. When we got to my house, it was at the point I was formally informed of why I was arrested,” Abaribe said.

“The search warrant that was used stated clearly that I’m being accused of sponsoring a proscribed organisation, IPOB, and so that the search was to look for evidence of such.

“After the search, which took about five to six hours, I was taken to the office of DSS about 12 midnight and now kept there. The late musician that Nigerians know very well called Fela said ‘when you are inside, you are in inside world, when you are outside, you are in outside world’.

“So when I was the inside world, the first person that received me and who helped my transition from freedom to incarceration was the former governor of Benue state, governor Gabriel Suswam. He had been arrested on Tuesday, I was arrested on Friday. As at the time I was released last Tuesday, he told me he had not been told why he was arrested.”

Abaribe also said he had been reporting to the DSS headquarters since the court granted him bail.

The fiery lawmaker vowed not to be cowed into silence, disclosing his plan to challenge the action of the DSS in court.

“Let me also say Mr President that nothing has been found on the allegation that was made. Up till this moment, I am still on bail, administrative bail by the DSS and so every morning, I have to report to the DSS but these things are going to be challenged [in court]. What everybody has asked me is that where do we go from here?” he said.

“I want to crave your indulgence to tell every Nigerian where I want to go. I will do it by giving you Mr President and my distinguished colleagues, a quotation from the 26th president of the United States of America, Theodore Roosevelt.

“That quotation reads ‘patriotism means to stand by the country, it does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official, same to the degree to which a president stands by the country. It is patriotic to support a president if so far as he efficiently serve the country.

It is unpatriotic to not to oppose a president whose fails to stand by his duty to do well for the country. And it is unpatriotic not to tell the truth whether about the president or anyone else.’

“I will continue to tell the truth, I will continue to stand by this country, I will continue to say that no person is bigger than this country.”

On his part, Senate President Bukola Saraki said the ordeal of Abaribe is a sacrifice he had to make to deepen democracy in the country.

“Senator Abaribe we are all happy to see that you are back. Unfortunate situation, we hope that things will be restored to normal as the issues concern you. It is one of these sacrifices we all have to make in deepening our democracy,” Saraki said.

By Esther Onyegbula


Gbengà Tonade and his British wife Mrs. Amy Riley -Tonade are still in shock after suspected hoodlums attacked them and their one year old daughter in Lagos.

Mrs. Amy Riley a British citizen residing in Birmingham West Midland in United Kingdom and the couple’s one year old daughter were visiting her husband Mr. Gbengà Tonade in Lagos but the happy moment the family was spending together turned sour when suspected hoodlums attacked them with dangerous weapon along Ladipo/Mushin Road in Lagos.

Mr. Tonade who is recovering from injuries inflicted on him by the hoodlums recalled that awful moment his family came face to face with death.


https://www.vanguardngr.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/the-suspects1.png
the suspects


He said “My British wife and our one year old daughter came from United Kingdom to visit me. We went out to spend quality family time together but on our way back home, some men hoodlums armed with dangerous weapon such as cut to size gun and meat cleaver attempted to seize my wife Mrs. Amy Riley Tonade and our baby daughter she was carrying on her hands in a tricycle.

The hoodlums were saying “today is your doom day and today you have nowhere to run to” I pleaded with them to spare our lives but one of the hoodlums pulled out a meat cleaver to cut me but I quickly held on to it and struggled with him.

Another hoodlum hit me with an object on my neck but I refused to let go of the meat cleaver. One of the hoodlums shouted “Kill them, kill them if they don’t want to cooperate.


https://www.vanguardngr.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/the-victim1.png

At this point my wife and daughter were screaming. Their shout attracted the attention of passers-by who came to our rescue. Seeing that they were unable to carry out their sinister motives against us, the hoodlums fled and left us alone. At this time, I had sustained a stiff neck and injuries.

My wife and daughter were rushed to the Genera Hospital at Isolo in Lagos. My wife and daughter were in shock and as soon as they were released from the hospital, my wife hurriedly took my daughter and they have since returned to United Kingdom while I am recuperating from the injuries after I was treated in the hospital.

Kunle Oderemi, Taiwo Adisa and Dare Adekanmbi



THE plan by the opposition parties to form a grand alliance to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which is certain to present President Muhammadu Buhari as its standard-bearer in the 2019 election, is finally taking shape as the parties have almost concluded the terms of the alliance.

Sunday Tribune learnt at the weekend that the leading opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Labour Party, African Democratic Congress (ADC), New PDP (nPDP) and about 34 other parties and groups are close to signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the alliance.

The four-member committee working on the MoU, it was gathered, was expected to perfect the document earlier in the week but could not finish it. This, it was said, was to give the legacy aligning parties enough room to digest the contents of the MoU and come up with suggestions before a final draft is produced and signed.

It was learnt that the opposition leaders are mindful of time and are determined to conclude work on the document and sign it within weeks.

According to a source within the coalition, Nigerians would begin to witness serious activities in the coalition.

“We are hoping to conclude all plans in the next three weeks. I can assure you that Nigerians would begin to see serious activities in the next few days,” he stated.

Talks were said to have reached a critical stage among the leaders of the opposition parties, who were said had agreed on how best to go about the alliance in a way that will make the 2019 presidential election a walkover for the opposition.

Sources told Sunday Tribune that the PDP, nPDP group and other aggrieved groups within the APC had shown strong commitment towards the alliance which they said was necessary in the interest of the country, which they said is drifting towards disintegration.

A significant number of serving governors and a majority of the National Assembly members across party lines, it was revealed, had bought into the alliance, as well as former presidents who are worried that the country is tottering on the precipice with a troubled economy, escalating killings, vices and growing corruption in the country, without decisive action from the sitting government.

Sunday Tribune gathered that the one of the pending issues among the groups is the platform to adopt, particularly on whether to use ADC, PDP, SDP or any other acceptable party as the platform to drive the alliance.

Sunday Tribune, however, gathered that the issue of platform would not be a sore point, as the overriding consideration for the stakeholders is the need to save the country from total collapse under the Buhari government.

The stakeholders expressed worry that the Buhari-led government is not ready to arrest the sliding economy or protect the citizenry against armed invaders, especially in view of the ceaseless killings across the country as a result of the unchecked activities of herdsmen and other unscrupulous elements.

Meanwhile, a crucial meeting has been scheduled for Makurdi, the Benue State capital, on Tuesday, by Southern and North-Central leaders of the country on the possibility of a candidate of that zone extraction squaring up with incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari in next year’s elections.

Sources hinted that the option is among current permutations in the major groups of political parties and mass-based organisations trying to forge an alliance before the polls.

Some Northern leaders privy to the planned meeting in Makurdi, told Sunday Tribune that a couple of politicians from the North-Central nursing presidential ambition had indeed reached out to influential groups and individuals from the South for possible endorsement.

Checks indicated that the leaders will hold a zonal rally, similar to the ones organised in the three zones in the South in the last few months to test the strength of the movement that will coalesce in the grand alliance.

The leaders, it was also gathered, would use the opportunity of the meeting to extract commitments of the various interest groups to the current renaissance, especially on the overall agenda of the movement.

Part of the demands of the leaders include restructuring of the country, implementation of the 2014 National Conference report; shakeup in the nation’s security architecture, as well as in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to guarantee free, fair and credible elections next year.

Details have also emerged as to how leaders of the Middle Belt Forum picked four of its 12 presidential hopefuls for the 2019 election.

Sources close to the Forum told Sunday Tribune in Abuja that the Forum X-rayed credentials of the contenders including Senator Barnabas Gemade, Dr. John Dara; Professor Iyotshe Hagher and one former military officer whose name was given as Colonel Kontagora (retd).

It was gathered that the plan of the Middle Belt was to checkmate the core North in the race for 2019 election, as sources said that the Middle Belt had always been overlooked anytime the presidency was coming to the North.

“The move is a massive one and there is the determination to checkmate the North this time. The core North has always taken the slot each time the presidency is zoned to the North. This time, we are presenting quality candidates, who are seasoned technocrats and we will market them to the whole country,” a source in the know said.

It was also gathered that during the week, leaders of the Middle Belt would present the shortlisted four aspirants to leaders of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, the pan-Igbo group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and the South South Forum in a bid to determine the ultimate candidate for the job.

Sources said that the four regional groupings would hold another screening session to bring up a ‘unity candidate’ which will ensure that the North is checkmated this time.

“If you look at the electoral map of elections of 1983 and 1999, you would discover that the Middle Belt delivered the presidency to Alhaji Shehu Shagari and ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo in the two rounds of elections. The Middle Belt has always played a key role in resolving the electoral direction of Nigeria,” a source stated.

It was gathered that the four emerged after a rigorous screening exercise, featuring a dozen aspirants.

The screening panel, which was chaired by Air Commodore Dan Suleiman (retd), according to sources, shortlisted Olawepo-Hashim as the youngest presidential hopeful from the Middle Belt due to his display of verse knowledge in business and economy.

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE


These days, men appeared to be competing with women in prostitution following the recent discovery in a popular hotel in Lagos where male sex workers were arrested.

Two men, Mr. Ben Thomas and his colleague, Mr. Oshileye Idowu, were arrested for engaging themselves as sex workers; trading their bodies in romps for fees in a popular hotel Lagos.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspects were arrested at the popular Grand Hotel located at Obawole area in Ifako Ijaiye area of Lagos. Also arrested in the same hotel were female sex workers namely, Comfort Williams, Bright Sunday, Rejoice Simon and Opeyemi Akintosho.

The women were said to be operating in the same hotel with the male sex workers offering different kinds of sexual services as the clients demanded. It was gathered both the male and female workers there solicited for customers, committed other vices and threatened the peace in the area with violence over fights for clients.

However, their illicit activities got to the police who raided the place, arrested the suspects while others escaped and were said to be at large.

The police also recovered substances suspected to be Indian hemp, cough syrups, codeine tablets, tramadol tablets among others which they used in the course of their illicit activities.

They were charged before Ogba Magistrates court for trading their bodies and involving in illicit drugs dealings.
They pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Mr. Raphael Donny did not object their bail. Thus, the Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O.A. Adedayo granted them bail in the sum of N50,000 each with one surety in like sum.

They were remanded in prison custody pending when they will perfect their bail condition.

The matter was adjourned till 22nd July, 2018.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the arrest of the male workers surprised many people who resided in the area because they had believed it was only women that were into prostitution in the area.

The raid at the hotel has revealed that so many things had been going on in many hotels in the state including the activities of male sex workers not known to exist in the past

lalasticlala

A randy motorcycle rider popularly known as Okada, Mr. Uche Godwin, has been arrested for impersonation in Lagos after he posed as a military officer, fooled a young lady, Amaka, and impregnated her.

Amaka was said to have moved into his house as wife but all the while did not know that he was a motorcycle rider as he had lied to her that he was an army officer. But the scam was exposed after Godwin was arrested along Ajao Estate wearing military uniform.

He was accosted by police officers on surveillance who asked for proper identification as he had claimed that he was an army officer. He was unable to provide a means of identification and was taken to the Ajao Police Division. The police then asked him to contact the military authorities to confirm his claims. At that point, he then confessed that he was not an army officer. He pleaded with them not to tell his wife that he was a fake army officer.

P.M.EXPRESS scooped that Amaka was invited to the police station and asked what her husband’s job was. She said that he was an army officer and informed the police that he had military uniforms and went to work every morning with his motorcycle.

The following was the conversation between Amaka and Godwin at the police station:

Amaka: Darling! What happened?

Godwin: The police arrested me in the morning when I was going to work

Amaka: What was the offence they said you committed?

Godwin: They said I was wearing a military uniform and claimed to be one.

Amaka: Yes, what was wrong with that? Did you not introduce yourself and show them your ID card as an officer?

Godwin: I did, but they took me to the station for investigation and asked me to contact my Commander.

Amaka: Yes, call your commander and inform him so that they will release you to go to work.

Godwin: I have no Commander that I will call

Amaka: what! Are you not an army officer?

Godwin: Yes, I ride Okada, please forgive me. I will explain everything to you later. Find a way to get me released and if I come out we will sort out the whole thing.

P.M.EXPRESS confirmed that at that point Amaka who was heavily pregnant broke down in tears and told the police that Godwin had lied to her that he was an army officer. She got married to him on that premise only to discover at the police station that he was an Okada rider. Amaka left the police station in anger and frustration.

Godwin was charged before Isolo Magistrates court for impersonation and using army uniform to deceive members of the public.
He pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Mr. Oje Uagbale did not oppose the bail condition. Thus the Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O.A. Teluwo granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum.

He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail condition.
The matter was adjourned till 18th July, 2018.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that Amaka is now in dilemma on what to do because she was already pregnant for Godwin. It was learnt that she was advised to accept her fate and plan how to get him released from custody so that he can take care of her and the baby.

debaj10:
islie.

bubu wii do it.

victorazyvictor:
Following the Otedola bridge inferno on Thursday, which claimed the lives of several people and destroyed over 50 vehicles, the social media was agog with messages and information about the incident. One of such was a juice firm, Fresh Serve, which also made a post that circulated just as fast, offering free wild honey and Aloe Vera to help in the treatment of the survivors who suffered injuries in the explosion.
The offer also included a 30-day fresh fruits and vegetable juice delivery to hasten the healing process. The post also included a contact number for friends and families of the victims to contact them. However, when Sunday Telegraph spoke with the contact person, who preferred to remain anonymous, he said since the post, they have been getting many calls of thanks along with death threats from several callers who may be their competitors.
When the heat became too much, they went ahead to issue a disclaimer about the nutritional information of the products.
Concerning the response so far, they said that they have been the ones going to the victims who are in various burns centres and hospitals. Initially, the survivors had to be stabilised in the first hospices they were taken before being transferred to specialist hospitals for better handling of their conditions. “So far, we have been to Trauma and Burns Centre in Gbagada General Hospital, Gifted Hands Medical Centre and Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). We do not have access to all the patients for now as some of them are still in shock, bandages and all.

https://newtelegraphonline.com/category/news/

By Biyi Adegoroye and Tai Anyanwu



The controversy trailing the 2018 budget may not have abated as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Electricity, Iron, Steel and Meteorology, Senator Eyinaya Abaribe says he would open a can of worms that must have precipitated his arrest when the Senate resumes plenary on Tuesday.

Responding to Sunday Telegraph’s enquiry on the heels of his release last week after spending five days in custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Senator representing Abia North in the National Assembly declined comments, but said would keep sealed lips till that day.

Sources close to the Senator, however, said his recent arrest and detention was designed cow because of his protest over unlawful padding of the power budget by N30billion by yet to be identified highly placed person(s) in the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing after its passage by the National Assembly.

“In the 2018 Appropriation Act, the National Assembly discovered a disparity to the tune of N30billion in the budget passed by them and the one assented to by the President.

A new item under code 1010927, titled: ‘Expansion and Reinforcement of Infrastructure in 11 Distribution Companies to Reduce Stranded Generation Capacity,’ was noticed by lawmakers,” the source said.

The discovery, our source said, has compelled other committees in both houses to carry out a comparative study of what they approved in the Appropriation Act, and what was contained in the copy signed into law by the President.

“I was when the report was to be made known by Abaribe, Senate Spokesman and his counterpart in the House of Representatives that Abaribe was arrested.

“I was there during the arrest. Eight security operatives visited the house; two manned the gates while the other six searched through every document in the house.

We were told they were looking for weapons, but no such was found. “They even saw Mrs. Abaribe marking some school scripts, but they took her laptop computer and examined it for any incriminating content.

But again nothing was found. During his detention, he was given statement sheets on many occasions to see whether he would contradict himself, but he failed to do so,” the source said. The source added that the leadership of the National Assembly which believed the arrest was designed to intimidate the senator also visited the Director of SSS over the matter, to formally lodge a complaint over the matter.

The National Assembly wondered why the executive complained about alteration in the budget because the former introduced 6,403 projects critical infrastructures totaling N578 billion and slicing other allocations, when it inserted new project after its passage.

However, when contacted, Senator Abaribe declined comments on the issue, he rather said he could only speak extensively on it when the National Assembly resumes this week.

Responding to the allegation, Special Adviser to the Power, Works and Housing Minister, Mr. Hakeem Bello, said it is illogical for anyone to claim that a new item was introduced into a budget already passed by the National Assembly, just before Mr. President signed it into law.

“It is very illogical to make such claim. If anyone injects a new item into the bill before the President signs it into law, will the Ministry of Finance release such fund for it?

I don’t know what they are talking about, and if the Senator wants to open any can of worms, we are waiting to see it,” he said

By Correspondents



The Patriarch of Lagos Catholic community and Archbishop Emeritus, Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie, has taken a swipe at President Muhammadu Buhari, describing him an all-round failure, who must now tow the part of honour and relinquish power in the interest of the nation.

In an open letter to the President, which was made available to the Sunday Telegraph, the Archbishop said that the President had failed to tackle the menace of Fulani herdsmen in the country, guarantee the safety of citizens and their properties pointing out that the anti-corruption fight of the Buhari-led administration is also selective and partisan and have failed to punish wrong doings of public officers.

He maintained that there is one question that Mr. President has a duty to answer saying: “Dear Mr. President, we must call a spade a spade. You were elected to protect the land and its people. But neither is protected under your watch. You, therefore, have the most important decision of your career to make. And that decision is this: Are you for Nigerians or not?”

Okogie’s letter is coming against the background of government’s failure to halt the incessant killings of innocent Nigerians by Fulani herdsmen. According to him, every human life is precious. He stressed that the life of every Nigerian, irrespective of ethnic, regional or religious affiliation is to be treated with dignity; adding, “all around the world, citizens look to their government to protect them.

But, here in Nigeria, the blood of the innocent flows like water despite Nigerians’ demand that government secure their lives and property.” “Not too long ago, Chief Olu Falae, a senior citizen of Nigeria, was abducted on his farm by herdsmen. Since then, others have struck in Enugu, Delta and Oyo states. In the middle belt, they have robbed, raped, and slaughtered human beings like cows.

They have taken over other people’s land in the name of grazing. “Dear President Buhari, I am compelled to write to you again because, since the bloodshed of the first day of this year, there has been more bloodshed in Zamfara State and in the middle belt. The latest killings in Plateau State makes us wonder: where were you, Mr President, while innocent lives were being wasted in Plateau State?

Where were your service chiefs when babies were being ripped out of their mothers’ wombs by men who claim to do so because of their cows, Okogie further asked? He, however, noted that the atrocities were committed during the ruling party (APC’s) National Convention insisting that it was simply “scandalous that at about the time innocent Nigerians were being slaughtered like cows in Plateau State last weekend, some members of your party were dancing and feasting at your party convention in Abuja, while some were throwing chairs at each other, and some others were exchanging blows.”

He added: “That, in itself, points to the absence of democracy in your party, as is the case in virtually all the political parties in Nigeria. The absence of internal democracy in yours and in other parties is itself a threat to security. It points to a scarcity of politicians with credible democratic credentials and temperament.

It signals that our democracy is in danger. Okogie said: “Where democracy is in danger, civil liberties are in danger. The right to life cannot be guaranteed in a country where those who aspire for public office resort to violence and other undemocratic practices at their party convention. He said that the number killed under President’s watch, provides more than convincing evidence that “the government you lead has failed to secure our lives.

You are commander in chief of the armed forces. If, more than three years into your administration, you have been unable to stop these killings, why don’t you seriously consider the option of an honourable renunciation of the presidential seat?”

He said that one of the major factors behind the patent failure of the Buhari-led government is the fact that the President surrounded himself with men and women who fail to tell him the truth about Nigeria and who shield him from seeing what is happening to the ordinary Nigerian.

“Instead of assisting you in the governance of this country, they insult those whose dissenting opinions you need if you are to succeed. How does one explain the fact that, under your watch as commander in chief, agencies established to maintain law and order, instead of protecting innocent citizens of this country, dissipate their energy running after members of opposing parties? Do you call that democracy?

“No right-thinking person would advocate letting anyone off the hook who has committed a crime. No one is above the law. Not even you, Mr. President. That is why the Constitution provides for a process of removing the President. That is why the point must also be made that those who contravene the laws of Nigeria be brought to book irrespective of their political, regional, ethnic or religious affiliation. But the sad reality is, under your watch that is not what obtains.”

The Lagos State Government on Friday said there would be partial restriction of movement on Oshodi flyover to enable it advance the ongoing construction of the Oshodi Transport Interchange.

This is with effect from 10:00pm Sunday, July 1st to 5:00am Monday, July 2nd, 2018.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Ade Akinsanya, the Government said construction work at the Oshodi Transport Interchange had entered critical stage and the contractor Messer Planet Projects Limited would be hoisting heavy structural steel trusses for the assembly of the Skywalk Bridge.

Men of LASTMA, FRSC, Police, LAGESC, VIO, etc. would be on ground to manage traffic and provide safety and security support during the 7-hour night operation.

The Skywalk Bridge, the longest free standing pedestrian bridge in Nigeria at 53.4m long and six metres wide, would link Terminal One and Two buildings at the Oshodi Transport Interchange.

The flyover would be completely closed in the direction of Anthony to the Airport, while the motorists (in both directions) would now make use of the second carriageway, that is, the one in the direction from Airport to Oshodi to Anthony.

He said motorists coming from Anthony can either access Town Planning Way through Ikorodu Road or Apapa Oworonshoki Expressway and then turn to Ilupeju Industrial Avenue then link Agege Motor Road via Ilupeju bypass and make a U-turn at Bolade and turn to Apapa Oworonshoki Expressway.

“For motorists coming from Isolo/Airport Road, you can enter the service lane at Charity and turn to Agege Motor Road at Oshodi and then link Ilupeju Industrial Avenue via Ilupeju Bypass and then turn to Town Planning Way to link up Apapa-Oworonshoki Expressway,” the Commissioner said.

Besides, Akinsanya added that in the days and weeks ahead, there would also be closure on some certain section of roads within the axis to vehicular and human traffic, just as he solicited the cooperation and support of all road users plying the corridor to observe all the precaution signs on the road.

“We encourage individuals and groups that may have cause to use the network of roads and bridges passing through, or linking Oshodi and environ, to be alert to disruptions and danger associated with movement of heavy steel and equipment,” he said.

He added that the State Government has also put in place effective traffic management strategies to manage traffic situation during the period of closure.

He said the notice of restriction of the road became expedient to enlighten motorists and other road users to utilize alternative routes to avoid delay as well as obey traffic officers deployed on the road to ease movement.

Akinsanya also thanked road users and motorists for their support, patience and understanding since the commencement of the project, assuring that on completion it would be an iconic facility that would change the face of Lagos forever.

By Isiaka Wakili & Daniel Adugbo


Salaries in states may be affected unless issues that led to the deadlocked meeting between the Federation Account and Allocation Committee (FAAC) and governors last week were resolved, Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun has said.

Addressing State House reporters yesterday after a meeting of the National Economic Council, Adeosun said the costs presented by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation could not be justified.

She said NEC had demanded explanations from the NNPC for unclear costs it made from FAAC. “In my capacity as chairman of FAAC, I briefed governors on the deadlock that we have got currently in the federation account and explained what happened. And there was quite an extensive debate on what to do.

“For the purpose of this briefing, we operate NNPC as a business, we have invested public capital in that business and we have expectations of return and when that return fails lower than our expectations then the owners of this business, which in this case is the federal government and states, need to act.

So, that was what caused the deadlock yesterday (Wednesday) and we really felt the figures the NNPC was proposing for FAAC were unacceptable. We felt that some of the costs couldn’t be justified and so we have decided that rather than approve the accounts, we will go back and do further work.

“So further negotiations and interactions are going on with NNPC, as we speak. However, we did brief both Mr. President and Mr. Vice President on the deadlock and asked for their support and their forbearance in this because the consequence of this is that, salaries might well be delayed in many states as a result of this.

“But we feel that in order to get to the accurate figures that we need, we have asked for forbearance and the governors and the federal government are all in agreement that we need to get to the bottom of those figures.

“In particular, now that the oil price is now $76 per barrel in the spot market which means that bonny light is about $78, we want to be aggressively putting money away into the excess crude account.

So we are very, very conscious that this period, this window of relatively high oil price might not last and we will like to be able to save. If we cannot get into the federation account the sort of revenues we are expecting then we will not be able to save.

So it was a very important point really underscored by all the governors and they really want action taken and they are fully in support of the positions of the Federal Ministry of Finance and the commissioners of finance not to approve those accounts until we get further explanations on some of the cost being implemented.

“Based on oil price, oil quantity you can pretty much calculate what you are expecting to see in the federation account and if the figure is less, then the right question that any stakeholder must ask is why.

“So we have been going back and forth with NNPC to try and understand these figures before we can accept them. Remember that the FAAC figures have to be formally accepted by the federation-account committee and we were simply not comfortable with the quantum of some of the deductions made and therefore we could not approve those figures.

So even as we speak, there is an interface going on between the commissioners forum, ministry of finance, office of the accountant general, CBN and NNPC but we hope to be able to convene FAAC within next few days.”

The minister provided an update on the balances of the federation accounts thus: “Items to note on the excess crude account is that in May we had an additional credit of $80.6 million that accrued into the excess crude account.

“The balances on the excess crude account $1,916,742,289.60, stabilization N18,892,864,216.65, Natural Resources N133,715,427,387.37.”

In another development, the council set up a committee comprising the governors of Kano, Osun, Delta, Anambra, CBN Governor and the Minister of Education, to look into what should be done to address the falling standard of education in the states.


NNPC justifies N147bn June remittance to FAAC

Meanwhile, the NNPC has said that its N147billion June remittance to FAAC was in line with the terms of agreement it had with governors on the matter.

This came as the FAAC meeting in Abuja on Wednesday night ended without the usual sharing allocations for the month.

The NNPC, in a press statement by its spokesman Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, said the agreement it had with the governors was that the corporation would make a monthly remittance of N112billion to FAAC subject to sufficient funds from sales of domestic crude oil allocation for the corresponding month after meeting cash call obligations on JVs, deductions of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)-cost under recovery and pipeline maintenance.

Ughamadu said NNPC was able to surpass the terms of agreement with the governors on the monthly remittance for the month of June by N35billion, having taken a cue from their postures by taking from the sum meant for settling cash call obligations. The corporation regretted the governors’ additional request of N40billion, describing it as unfortunate, given the fact that NNPC is set to exit the cash call phenomenon.

Since February 2018, FAAC meetings have ended in stalemate, with the inability of the NNPC to remit enough revenue always cited as reason.

lalasticlala

By Samuel Ogundipe


On the day the public learnt that Senate President Bukola Saraki owned undeclared offshore assets in tax havens — in violation of Nigeria’s code of conduct law— the top lawmaker dispatched his foreign lawyers to Panama to ‘massage’ company documents at the headquarters of Mossack Fonseca.

On April 4, 2016, PREMIUM TIMES published details of the offshore assets Mr Saraki and his wife, Toyin, concealed in offshore tax heavens as part of the Panama Papers collaborative investigation.

The revelations coincided with the false assets declaration trial of the senator at the Code of Conduct Bureau in Abuja, but the charges were largely about his local assets and some foreign bank accounts because authorities had not uncovered his offshore shell companies.

The Senate President’s lawyers in the United Kingdom dismissed the allegations altogether, saying his offshore firms were legal while his false assets charges were baseless and politically-motivated.

Mr Saraki also claimed the assets belonged to his wife’s family and that he had no personal connection with them.

Yet, few hours after the story was published on April 4, 2016, Mr Saraki’s London-based lawyers touched down in Panama to examine files of his companies at the headquarters of Mossack Fonseca, one of world’s largest offshore providers, according to internal e-mails recently seen by PREMIUM TIMES and its ICIJ partners.

Signature Litigation, an exclusive commercial litigation firm based in London, sent Kate Vtorygina to Panama to tidy up company documents of Sandon Developments Limited, registered by Toyin Saraki.

Mrs Saraki registered Sandon Limited in Seychelles in January 2011, while her husband served as governor of Kwara State. Recently, also, Seychelles authorities have commenced criminal investigation of the couple, with detectives there focusing on the possibilities that Mr Saraki owned all the assets but used his wife as front.

Signature Litigation told Mossack Fonseca in an April 3, 2016 exchange that the Sarakis wanted to “make sure” that company files (i.e. due diligence, corporate documents, agreements, contracts, etc.) were properly integrated into “company files of Mossack Fonseca” in order to be able to properly counter further publications of assets linked to the Sarakis which they thought were imminent at the time.

Their fear was that more damaging documents on the assets might be published, and that the trip to Mossack Fonseca’s headquarters was necessary to determine what other incriminating details were in the files and straighten documents regarding the hidden assets.

It was yet unclear the extent of changes Ms Vtorygina made to the files of assets owned by the Sarakis at Mossack Fonseca, closed down operations earlier this year, ultimately consumed by the Panama Papers leak.

But the development showed the Sarakis set in motion strategies to contain damages done to the family by a scandal that could draw charges for both false assets declaration and tax evasion.

Signature Litigation also tried to access documents of other companies linked to the Sarakis in possession of Mossack Fonseca, but they were denied access because some of them, like Landfield International Limited, had been previously divested.

Mr. Saraki’s office declined comments about the ongoing probe in Seychelles. There was also no reply to an enquiry sent to his office regarding the Panama trip by his lawyers despite month-long requests sent through multiple platforms to his media adviser, Yusuph Olaniyonu.

At home, Mr Saraki has been under investigation over a flurry of criminal cases which ranged from false assets filings to alleged murder.

But authorities have not been able to successfully prosecute him on any of the charges.

The false assets declaration and money laundering allegations raised by the Code of Conduct Bureau and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, respectively, have not been concluded several years later.

While the money laundering and murder charges are still being investigated, as Mr Saraki strongly denied any links to either and urged Nigerians to see them as politically-motivated,the Code of Conduct Tribunal already found the top lawmaker not guilty on all the 18 counts of false assets filings brought against him by the Nigerian government.

The government challenged the ruling at the Court of Appeal, which affirmed the conclusion of the tribunal on all but three counts in a December 12 ruling. But Mr Saraki swiftly appealed the decision to the Supreme Court, which is now scheduled to deliver its judgment on July 6.

‘Always A Step Ahead’

The setbacks suffered by law enforcement agencies in Mr Saraki’s case is not because he was lucky, says anti-corruption campaigner, Lanre Suraj.

“He is always a step ahead of investigators,” Mr Suraj told PREMIUM TIMES by telephone Saturday night. “Go and check his records from his involvement in the defunct Société Générale Bank and his investigation by the Serious Fraud Unit some years back, you will see a pattern.”

Mr Suraj says it is possible that Mr Saraki was able to expunge “highly incriminating documents” from Mossack Fonseca files, and that that would make it even more difficult and time-consuming to nail him.

The activist says the Nigerian security agencies might not necessarily be lazy in handling cases involving the Sarakis, but that they have a lot to do in order for their past efforts to pay off.

“If they want to achieve success from their past labour on Bukola and Toyin Saraki, then they will have to labour more,” Mr Suraj said.

lalasticlala

lalasticlala

Posted By: Blessing Olaifa


The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday halted moves by South African mobile giant MTN to acquire the only surviving Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operator, Visafone.

It said the acquisition cannot be done without a public inquiry to enable stakeholders determine the future of Visafone in the overall interest of the industry.

The regulator’s stance followed a heated debate on the matter by representatives of major telecoms firms in the country who made presentations during the stakeholders meeting at the NCC headquarters in Abuja.

Present at the meeting were MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria Limited, Glo Mobile Nigeria, 9mobile Nigeria Limited and other operators.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, said the NCC as a regulatory body for the industry considered it imperative to hold the public inquiry to give room for active participation and deliberations that would facilitate informed decision on the issue.

He drew the attention of stakeholders to the enabling law which empowers NCC to take decision on the transfer of licence and resources, including the 800MHz Spectrum from Visafone Communications Limited to MTN Nigeria Communications Limited.

Prof. Danbatta said: “The Commission seeks your active participation in the deliberations that would lead to an informed decision consistent with our mandate to create an enabling environment for effective competition in the industry as well as to ensure the provision of qualitative and efficient telecommunications services throughout the country.

“As you may all be aware, the demand for spectrum has increased due to the emergence of disruptive innovations such as mobile broadband, web applications, cloud computing, Internet of Things (IOT) and the proliferation of smart devices among others.

“Consequently, in order to reap the benefits of effective utilisation of spectrum as well as improve operational efficiency and regulatory excellence, the Commission in accordance with its mandate as enshrined in the Nigerian Communications Act NCA 2003 embarked on re-planning of some of its Frequency bands

“Specifically in 2013 the commission re-planned the use of 800Mhz band to accommodate technology development in the telecom industry and new Frequency Assignments were conveyed to the operators according to their frequency holdings in the 800MHz band.

“Visafone is one of such incumbents on the spectrum that got 10MHz FDD Assignments. Subsequent to the re-planning of the band, Visafone wrote to the Commission requesting for transfer of its licence including the 800MHz spectrum to MTN.”

However, during their presentations, the representatives of Airtel and 9mobile opposed the plan to transfer the licence of Visafone to MTN , insisting that MTN already had over 38 per cent of spectrum holding in the industry.

They argued that should the NCC concede to the transfer, the development would not only create a monopoly for MTN, but make competition difficult among industrial players while a lot of telecommunications companies would be permanently disadvantaged.

Laide Raheem, Abeokuta


https://www.sunnewsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/ogun-mother-300x300.jpg

Police in Ogun State have arrested one Amudalat Taiwo for allegedly throwing her 12 day-old-baby into a pit latrine.

Amudalat, 21, was arrested following a complaint lodged at the police station by her landlord, one Oshunshina Olawale.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Ogun State Police Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, Amudalat’s landlord had reported that one of his tenants at 28, Isheri Street, Ilaro, Yewa South local government, went to the toilet on the early morning of 20th of June, where the tenant heard the cry cry of a baby.

On the strength of the complaint, the DPO in charge of Ilaro Divisional Police Headquarters, CSP Opebiyi Sunday, led detectives to the scene where the latrine was broken and the baby ferried out of the pit.

Investigations revealed that the baby was birthed by Taiwo, who was promptly arrested.

“On interrogation, she claimed that she was an orphan and married to one Taiwo Owolabi, who had already married another woman with five children. She stated further that the husband was not taking care of her and the baby.

“And since she has no means of catering for the newly-born baby, she decided to do away with her.

“The said husband had been arrested for failure to provide necessary support while the case has been transferred to Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Labour Unit of State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department on the order of the Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, for further investigation and possible prosecution of the suspects,” the PPRO stated.

Oyeyemi added that the baby has been stabilized and is presently at the Stella Obansanjo Motherless Babies Home, Abeokuta.

President Muhammmadu Buhari on Monday said his critics could not accuse him of stealing.

He said he appealed to the integrity of his ministers who, according to him, are in charge.

The president said this at the Presidential Villa in Abuja while hosting a delegation of the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria.

He said “You cannot accuse me of stealing,” he said, adding, “I have appointed ministers and they are in charge. I appeal to their integrity. When they come here (Federal Executive Council) Chambers, we ensure they follow the due process. If I owned an oil well, I would have gone to jail.”

President Buhari said he had no regrets being a person of honesty and integrity.

He said: “I am satisfied with what I am. I am happy I have kept myself and people close to me from benefiting from government contracts,”

He said he did not award contracts and did not care about who got them so long as they did a good job at a cost that is justifiable to the nation.

“I have been in many places including (Ministry of) Petroleum. I would have gone to jail if I had taken an oil well. For integrity and honesty, I have no regrets. By this, I have contributed to my social safety. I won’t go to jail.”

The ministers and other top officials who allegedly hijacked a scholarship scheme for young Nigerians put in place by Chinese firm, CCECC, have been identified.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how an undergraduate scholarship scheme by the Chinese construction firm, CCECC, for young Nigerians was cornered for ministers and other top public officials.

The top officials who benefitted were identified in a document used by the construction firm, CCECC, to permit selected candidates to participate in the scholarship interview.

Only the persons whose names were on the document were allowed for the interview at the firms’ office in Abuja. Each of the names were typed close to the top officials who nominated them as seen by PREMIUM TIMES. Several other candidates who showed up for the interview without being on the ‘special’ list from the officials were stopped at the gate.


The Officials

This newspaper was able to get a peek at the list of the candidates selected for the interview. The government officials who nominated them were listed beside the candidates’ names.

Some of the government officials who made nominations, as seen on the CCECC list, are:
**Minister of State for Education (HMS Ed.), Anthony Onwuka;

**Minister of Youth and Sports Development (HM Y&SD), Solomon Dalung;

**Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing (HMS PWH), Suleiman Hassan;

**Jigawa State Governor (Gov. Jigawa), Badaru Abubakar;

**Minister of Transportation (HMT), Rotimi Amaechi;

**Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (HM AR&); Audu Ogbeh;

**Deputy Chief of Staff at the Presidential Villa (DCOS Villa), Ade Ipaye;

**Minister of State for Aviation (HMS(Av), Hadi Sirika;

**Minister of State for Trade and Investment (HMS (T&Inv), Aisha Abubakar;

**Minister of Niger Delta Affairs (HM NDA), Usani Usani;

**Minister of Communication Technology (HM CT), Adebayo Shittu; and

**Minister of Budget and National Planning (HM B&NP), Udo Udoma.

When contacted on why their principals made such nominations for scholarships meant for all Nigerians, many of the spokespersons denied knowledge of the nominations while others referred questions to the transport ministry which asked for the nominations.

The spokesperson to Mr Ogbeh, Olukayode Oyeleye, and that of works and housing ministry, Eno Olotu, said they were not aware of the scholarships or the nominations by their principals.

Akpandem James, spokesperson to Mr Udoma, refused to speak on the subject and referred our reporter back to the Ministry of Transportation.

“If it is official, it is official so it is not something that I want to go into, except it is something that has to do with our ministry and it is official and if it is our activity.

“If it is something that is from another ministry, that ministry should be able to give whatever information required regarding what they are doing,” he said.

Ade Ipaye, the Chief of Staff to the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, was not reachable as his number was unavailable.

Bolaji Kareem, the spokesperson for Mr Shittu, said he was also unaware of the situation but would try to verify before he responds. He has since not responded to a text message sent to him and did not return calls.

When contacted, the man who told the ministers to make nominations simply stood his ground on his earlier statement.
PREMIUM TIMES reported how Sabiu Zakari, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, claimed there was no such scholarship for the public.

“The ministry is not receiving any application for such training from the general public,” Mr. Zakari said in that statement. “Therefore the general public is advised to disregard any information being circulated for submission of such applications to the Ministry or any other person.”

This newspaper also revealed how Mr Zakari wrote to some ministers to nominate beneficiaries for the scholarship scheme not available to the “general public.”

When contacted on Friday, Mr Zakari simply said, “I have issued a rebuttal about all those issues and that is the only thing I would say.”

He added that he would speak further on the issue on Monday at his ministry.


CCECC REACTS

Apparently irked by the public criticism of the scholarship scheme, the Chinese firm which gave the scholarship on Friday temporarily suspended the interviews for the special applicants.

The firm, which is enjoying a lot of construction contracts from the federal government including major railway projects, had indicated the scholarship was for undergraduates interested in studying railway engineering in China.

At its office in Abuja, the firm initially put up a notice of suspension of the interview. That notice was later removed, even as officials declined comment.

At about 3.30 p.m., the crowd of young Nigerians in front of the building had reduced to less than 20, perhaps based on the notice that the interview had been suspended.

Officials at the CCECC, however, declined comment when contacted.

Earlier on Thursday when many of the young persons gathered for the interview, those whose names were not on the list were asked to get letters from a minister or permanent secretary of any ministry to participate .


Activists React

The co-founder of BudgiT, a civic rights organisation committed to transparency and accountability, Seun Onigbinde, told PREMIUM TIMES that what transpired was “an act of corruption”.

”What the government is doing is an act of corruption because there is an opportunity to give our best minds and talent to revolutionise our trade industries and we are being offered this capacity by the Chinese.

This process should have been marketed to our technical colleges, university, polytechnics. It should be given to our youth,” he said.

”This issue has to be taken up to the level of the ICPC and the EFCC and whoever is involved in this needs to be prosecuted,” he added.

For Hamzat Lawal of Connected Development (CODE), the action of the public officials “has actually made Nigeria look very bad.”

”It is quite hard and unfortunate that our political elite and people that we have entrusted with the helm of affairs of our country are now shortchanging ordinary Nigerians,” he said.

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE



A 33-year old, Mr. Ismali Oseni has been arrested after he attacked a female socialite, Alhaja Bola Oyeniyi in Lagos.

Oseni allegedly tore the woman’s wears including her lingerie, left her naked in public and escaped with some items for being rejected by her daughter.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Oremeji Street in Ilasamaja area of Lagos, where Oseni’s parents owned a house and Alhaja Oyeniyi’s daughter, Miss Eniola, rented an apartment.

The angry Oseni said it was Alhaja Oyeniyi that instigated Eniola not to accept his love passes despite his efforts to win her and probably marry her.

He was said to have ambushed Alhaja Oyeniyi on the street; he attacked and took away all her clothes and escaped leaving her naked.

It took the intervention of women around who offered clothes to cover her unclothedness.

According to Eniola, she got a job and rented an apartment where she resided.

She said that while she was looking for an accommodation, Oseni had assisted her but she did not know that his intention was to use it as a means of dating her.

When he made such moves, she rejected them and Oseni started making trouble with her.

On the day the incident happened, Alhaja Oyeniyi had visited Eniola and when she was going, Oseni attacked, stripped her naked and escaped.

The matter was reported to the police at Ilasamaja Division.

The police trailed Oseni, later arrested and detained him at the police station.

He was later charged before the Isolo Magistrates court.

According to Alhaja Oyeniyi, she was still in shock over the incident because she did not imagine that such thing will happened to her.

She said that she returned from a trip abroad and headed to Eniola’s house to collect the key to her office.

It was in the process that Oseni attacked, destroyed her watches, glasses, tore her wears and escaped.

She confirmed that from what he said, that it was obvious that he had issues with her daughter who was an adult and she had never interfered in her private matters especially relationships.

When Oseni was brought before Isolo Magistrates court, he pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Oje Uagbale did not oppose his bail but asked the court to give a short adjournment for trial.

Thus, the Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O.A. Teluwo granted Oseni bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.

He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail condition.

The matter was adjourned till 18 July, 2018, when the police were expected to bring the exhibits in court to prove the matter.

lalasticlala

By Gibson Mhaka

A Bulawayo-based cop allegedly engaged in a secret romance with his wife’s younger sister and impregnated her apparently in a bid to spite his “abusive and disrespectful” wife.

Tabani Nyurura had not only betrayed the love and trust his wife Mavis Munedzimwe, a student at Great Zimbabwe University invested in him by having an affair with her younger sister but was also reportedly in the habit of taking girlfriends to their matrimonial home during her absence.

To make matters worse, Nyurura is resolute on marrying Munedzimwe’s younger sister and contemplating showing her (Munedzimwe) a red card.

Nyurura’s illicit sexual affair with his sister-in-law was exposed by his wife at the Bulawayo Civil Court where he was seeking a protection order against her.

“I had been staying with Mavis Munedzimwe as husband and wife but she is now violent towards me. Sometime in December 2016 she hit me with a stone on the head.

“On 24 April this year she came to my workplace and beat me up in front of my bosses and subordinates and tore my uniform in the process. When I went to my village she took my identification particulars, certificates and clothes and went away before she came back on 26 May and beat me up with a cooking stick and stone on the head,” said Nyurura.

He said his wife also threatened to stab him with a kitchen knife.

Munedzimwe, however, disputed the accusations noting that Nyurura was a “serial bed-hopper” who was only after using women.

“He is in the habit of exchanging women and I am his third wife. After using them (other women) he then sought protection orders against them. What he is doing to me now, he did it to his two ex-wives. His bosses are even fed up with his extra-marital issues.

“He is now staying with my younger sister whom he impregnated. I reported the matter to his bosses and he was chased out of the camp.

She added: “He once chained and assaulted me and as a result I suffered a miscarriage. The other time he deserted me and when I followed him where he was staying I found him with another woman. When I tried to beat up that woman he restrained me.

“The other day when I came back from school I found him again with another woman in our matrimonial bedroom and he locked me outside,” she said.

Nyurura then hit back.

“She is lying that I impregnated her younger sister and I no longer love her,” Nyurura tersely responded subsequently courting his wife’s anger.

“He can’t say that he no longer loves me. If he is no longer interested in me he should take me back to my parents and pay a beast since we have a child together”.

In his ruling the presiding magistrate Tinashe Tashaya ordered both parties not to verbally, physically and emotionally abuse each other.

He also ordered Munedzimwe not to visit her husband’s workplace and on the other hand Nyurura not to evict his wife from the house the parties were staying.

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By Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI



Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 general elections in Ebonyi State, Senator Julius Ucha, yesterday berated the outgoing National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun for allegedly causing parallel congresses in the party across the states, by taking sides in the crisis that rocked the party before, during and after the congresses.

Speaking at a press conference in Abakaliki, Ucha accused Oyegun of destroying APC in the process. “John Oyegun is a malignant tumour on APC. I said this because he has lost sense of honour and has allowed pride, prejudice, self knowledge and selfishness to overwhelm him including greed.

But is a swift reaction, Chief Oyegun described Ucha as a cancer in the party who is aggrieved because he could not emerge the leader of the party in Ebonyi State, in his efforts to upstage the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonaya Onu.

Oyegun said: “Ucha is a cancer in the party and he will leave in the next few weeks. He wants to be leader of the party and make vain efforts to upstage Dr. Onu, who was the Chairman of ANPP, one of the legacy parties that fused into APC.”

Explaining his position, Ucha said: “If the only thing he can achieve for the party now is to destroy the institution because he feels he is no longer wanted, because of his mandate is expiring, now he thinks the best thing to do is to destroy the institution through which he has been blessed by God, it is so sad.

“He is a man for the purposes of the just concluded congresses, who created congress committees. In some states, there were three congress committees from the national headquarters. In some there were two congress committees.

You split one congress committee into two, the chairman or secretary will be conducting congress for one group, some other members of the committee conducted congress for another group in one political party. That is an aberration; that is not democracy that also is hypocrisy.

“In a situation where the National Chairman of a political party has promoted two congresses or three congresses in one state and adopted the result of a particular congress without at least trying to harmonise them to ensure that he finds out the truth to know what has happened in the field signifies danger. It shows that the man’s political wisdom has somersaulted, it shows the man is making it impossible for the party to have recognition for purposes of winning election”, he said.

Recall that the party conducted parallel congresses in at least 10 states of federation in the last few months ahead of the party’s National Convention slated for June 23. Complaints emanating from the states were heard by the appeal committees which finally submitted their reports to the National Working Committee.

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