₦airaland Forum

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says the head of anyone who wants things to continue this way must be examined.

Obasanjo said this on Saturday while inaugurating the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) in Oyo state.

He asked members of the movement to get their permanent voter cards (PVCs) and be ready to rescue the country in 2019.

In what could be seen as an indirect reference to the political situation under Sani Abacha, former military head of state, Obasanjo said: “the God who performed wonders sometime ago, will again perform wonders”.

“If anybody wants this situation to continue, his head must be examined.

Those of you who have been victimized by the situation and want the situation to continue can’t be friends of Nigeria,” he said.

“Everybody must be determined to rescue Nigeria, it may not be easy, however… We have seen in this country, where five political parties endorsed a single person and God was laughing and knew what he would do. If we are leaving everything to God, we must do our best. Get your PVCs and encourage others.”

All the five registered political parties in the country had endorsed Abacha who was planning to transform from a military dictator to a civilian leader before he died.

The late Bola Ige had referred to the political parties as the five fingers of a leprous hand.

Obasanjo asked members of CNM to be prepared to handle threats but assured them that he would not abandon them half-way.

He also made reference to the letter he wrote to President Muhammadu Buhari in January, saying he is capable of withstanding any situation.

Obasanjo had criticised Buhari severely, asking him not to recontest.

“Take note, they will threaten you, but don’t be discouraged. It is only cowards who run away from the war front. Having gone this far, I won’t leave you dry. Get your PVC. I don’t think anybody can threaten me again. Remember I have been to prison for an offence I do not know anything about,” he said.

“I don’t think at my age, I should continue to complain and not find solution. It came in my statement on the 3rd of January that CNM was made out of the reality of the situation in Nigeria, deep thought and reasonable consideration. CNM is to find solution to the situation we have found ourselves.”

Chairman of Nigeria’s Governors’ Forum (NGF), Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara, has said state governors cannot enforce maximum security in their domains because they are not in control of security agencies.

Yari, whose state had witnessed killings by bandits and cattle rustlers, told newsmen in Abuja at the end of an NGF meeting that the governors were working energetically with the federal government to tackle the lingering security challenges across the nation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NGF meeting, the third of its type this year, was convened to address critical issues facing the governors in their states in relation with the Federal Government.

‘We are not in control of either the soldiers or the police or any other security men but what we can do is to sit down with security men in our respective states to support security agencies.

‘’In terms of logistics, we are doing our best and we will continue to support the Federal Government in this regard.

The NGF chairman also told newsmen that the security challenge facing the nation was a global phenomenon which governments all over the world are striving to contain.

‘’The security situation in the country is a global issue and everywhere people are dealing with the security problem.

“The problem of security is what was inherited before the administration of today and before some of our governors emerged as governors and so as governors we are working to put in our best to support the security agencies in our respective states with logistics; that is what we can only do.

‘’This is our first meeting in the new secretariat of the NGF and we receive briefings from the Minister of Trade on the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

” We looked at and deliberated on the best way for Nigeria to benefit from the agreement that was signed.

“We also received briefings from the Metereological Centre with focus on Nigeria as a whole on expected rainfall pattern so that we can make proper planning for our farmers.

‘’We also received briefings on Stamp Duty Revenue from a consortium of consultants and we set up a three-member committee consisting of governors of Ogun, Niger and Akwa Ibom states, to find out how we can benefit from the stamp duty revenue received over the years.

‘At the same time we got briefings from the Traffic Management; we observed that it helps in two areas. One to get revenue generated and two, to help insecurity,
“‘Most of the countries in the world when you have your car, whenever it is stolen, it can be identified easily through that process.

‘We are trying to import that system in Nigeria so that Nigerian people can benefit from it.

‘This is what is done all over the world. When a car is stolen, it can be identified easily and also on the issue of revenue generation.

lalasticlala

Ngozi Uwajare

http://sunnewsonline.com/alleged-cheating-kidnapper-abducts-kills-girlfriend/


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Nine months after the crime, Kpoobari Lebe, 31, suspected in the murder of 25-year-old Jovita Chinyere, was recently arrested by the anti-kidnapping squad of the Rivers State Police Command. Lebe is a member of a killer gang alleged to have kidnapped and killed the victim and disposed her corpse in the waterside area of B-Dere Community in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

According to the Police, the remaining two members of the gang are still at large. The motive for the murder was jealousy borne out of suspicion that the victim, who was one of the men’s girlfriend, was double-timing.

Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Zaki told Saturday Sun the three-member gang was led by Dumbari Biiro, described as a kidnapper, a murderer, and the boyfriend of the deceased. He alleged that investigation indicated that the victim, Jovita Chinyere, received a phone call in Port Harcourt from Biiro on June 17, 2017, shortly before she was kidnapped.

Zaki explained that Biiro and his gang, comprising of Kpoobari Lebe and Monday Ngang, forcibly took the deceased in her red Toyota Corolla car to the forest on that fateful day of June 17.

Biiro, after shooting her, allegedly delegated the duty of dispatching her corpse to Lebe and Ngang who threw the body in a waterlogged area of the community.


Finding the suspects

When Ngozi Anukem, a relative of the victim, went to the State Intelligence Bureau of the River State Police Command to report her missing relation, the only fact she had was about a phone call received by the deceased before she took off for an unknown destination. Operatives of the SIB swung into action and at the end of the day, arrested a suspect, Dumle Piira, from whom they recovered the phone of the missing person. It turned out the phone was sold to her by Dumbari Biiro and Kpoobari Lebe.

Piira, subsequently arraigned before a magistrate court, has since been remanded in a Port Harcourt prison.

The next breakthrough was the arrest of Kpoobari Lebe, on March 1, 2018. The suspect, subsequently, led detectives to the waterside location where the body of the victim was thrown into the river. The recovered corpse has been deposited at the UBTH mortuary in Rivers State.

In the meantime, Jovita’s Red Toyota Corolla Car, now sprayed black, is said to be in possession of her killer boyfriend, Biiro, who is also alleged to have coveted the deceased’s ATM cards and other valuables.


Suspect’s story

From Lebe, the nabbed suspect, came this spine-chilling account of the crime: “We are a three-man gang of kidnappers. We have been involved in over 10 kidnappings and murders in Rivers State. Our leader, Dumbari Biiro, who was befriending Jovita Chinyere (deceased), complained that his girlfriend was having an affair with another guy.

On June 17, 2017, he called her over the phone and kidnapped her in her red Toyota Corolla car in PortHarcourt and brought her to B/Dere community. He met us, myself and Monday Ngana, and Bardrin King, he told us to follow him inside the car.
We both entered the car and we drove into the forest. Biiro ordered Chinyere to come down from the car, but she refused.

Abruptly, Biiro brought out his gun and shot her and she died.

He ordered us to take Chinyere’s corpse and throw her inside the river. He then drove away with her car and other valuable items.”

Lebe, himself a native of Gokana Local Government Area, affirmed that “myself and Biiro sold Chinyere’s phone to Dumle Piira for the sum of N30, 000.”

He has been cooperating with the police since his arrest on March 1. Beside giving a full confession, he took detectives to the crime scene and helped in recovering the corpse of the victim. Following his arrest, his other gang members, Birro, the gang leader, and Monday Ngana, had vanished into thin air.

Ironically, Lebe who attested to having “been involved severally in kidnapping and murder,” insisted: “I didn’t shoot her, I only threw her corpse inside water.”

Commissioner of Police Zaki affirmed that the victim’s family are yet to conduct a burial for their deceased daughter.

“Investigation is still on,” said Zaki. “Police is still hunting for the other two suspects. We enjoin the public to give us useful information.”

Posted By: Osagie Otabor



Youths and supporters of both the All Progressive Congress and the People’s Democratic Party have clashed at the Benin Airport over the motion moved by Senator Matthew Urhoghide seeking the invocation of Section 143 of the Nigeria’s Constitution.

It took the intervention of the State Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo for a free for all not to take place at the airport.

The PDP supporters were at the airport to give a rousing welcome to Senator Urhoghide for moving the motion for the Senate to begin impeachment proceedings against President Muhammadu Buhari.

But the APC supporters who had earlier protested through the street of Benin City disowning Senator Urhoghide were at the airport to express disappointment with the motion.

Tension was rife as more supporters besieged the airport either for the APC or the PDP.

Both sides sang anti-Buhari and anti-PDP songs.

The Police Commissioner had to personally stand between the protesters to prevent a free for all.

A BULAWAYO couples marriage collapsed after the wife cheated with her husbands friend for five years.

Njabulo Moyo decided to quit his 17-year-old marriage to Prisca Gumbo after his friend and former workmate Victor Sibanda started sleeping with Gumbo.

Sibanda, who is married to Precious Moyo, allegedly turned his working space at Luveve Cemetery where he is a security guard into a sex spa for himself and his friends wife.

This relationship angered Moyo (Sibandas wife) who then applied for a protection order against Gumbo.

Western Commonage magistrate Lungile Ncube asked Sibanda on the way forward as he was interested in both his wife and girlfriend.

In his reply, he said that he was still interested in his marriage but also in love with Gumbo.

Your Worship, I am not denying any allegations and I confess I am caught in between. I am still interested in my marriage, he said.

He claimed to have the capacity to look after both women.

I am going to iron issues with my wife. On the other hand I will continue supporting my girlfriend because I love her too, Sibanda added.

The magistrate advised both parties to refrain from violence and try to solve their issue amicably.

B-Metro caught up with Njabulo who said he was disappointed but he was no longer interested in his marriage with Gumbo as Sibanda said he was going to continue supporting her.

I am very disappointed. I took Sibanda as a friend who was more like a brother to me. He is not even ashamed of destroying my marriage.

In court he said that he will continue supporting my wife meaning their love life continues, said the visibly stressed Njabulo.

By Clement James 


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Kerosene explosion has killed a 21-year-old student of Cross River State University of Technology (CRUTEC), less than two weeks after her matriculation in Cross River State.

The deceased, Miss Eke Ukam Ogholo, was killed on Wednesday evening when she attempted to light a lantern after buying kerosene from a filling station, opposite her home at Ikot Nkebre. One of her neighbours, simply identified as Pamela, said an explosion was heard from Eke’s house around 8pm.

Neighbours rushed to the scene and found Eke in a pool of blood. Pamela said: “It was unfortunate because Eke just matriculated at CRUTEC on April 9, which was on a Monday.

We all went to share the moment of joy with her. Today is just April 25, and she’s now dead, about to be buried.”

Another neighbour, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “The incident was the fifth in Ikot Nkebre community. Four people had earlier died, while another victim is in the hospital.

Even the one in the hospital may not survive because of the degree of injuries she sustained. Before, people used to say that we should buy kerosene from filling stations. But now, people are dying from kerosene bought at filling stations.”

Eke was taken to her Biase home for burial yesterday as neighbours, friends and the university community continued to mourn her.

by Dyepkazah Shibayan
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Senators and members of the house of representatives have started collecting signatures for the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari, sources told TheCable on Thursday.

The lawmakers, who are not happy with the decision of the president to approve $469 million for the procurement of 12 Super Tucano aircraft from the US without their backing, had given the impression that the matter was being resolved.

The issue of impeachment first arose at the house of reps on Wednesday. While deliberating on a letter Buhari wrote to the national assembly, saying he had anticipated that the lawmakers would approve the withdrawal, Kingsley Chinda from Rivers state, asked his colleagues to commence impeachment proceedings against Buhari.

The president had said he took the action because the US gave Nigeria a deadline for payment. He also sought to include the procurement of the aircraft in the 2018 budget.

But citing sections 80 and 81 of 1999 constitution, Chinda said the Nigerian law does not recognise anticipatory approval.

“There is nowhere in our law that talked about anticipatory approval. We cannot sit down and allow this to take place. It is an impeachable offence. There is no infraction that is worse than this. Let us not continue to sleep. I propose that we commence the impeachment of Mr President,” he had said.

However, on Thursday, some members of the lower legislative chamber said they had decided that rather than initiate impeachment proceedings against the president, the committee on rules and business should look for a way to resolve the matter .

But a legislative source told TheCable that the lawmakers were only being diplomatic.

“As I speak to you, signatures for the impeachment of Mr President are being collected in both chambers of the national assembly,” the source said.

“The lawmakers are very angry and are ready to nail this act once and for all. Don’t forget that this is not the first time that the president would disregard the legislature in taking key decisions… the matter has been referred to the committees (in both chambers) and they will advise them on the way forward as regards the anticipatory approval. But based on the illegality of Mr President’s action, they have started gathering signatures for his impeachment in both chambers.

“Buhari had since September 2017 to consult with the leadership of the national assembly leadership over this issue but he did not do so.

Last year, a congress delegation met with the leadership of the national assembly based on Trump’s request to sell the aircraft to Nigeria but our president decided to do things his own way.”

The source said while Chinda is among those coordinating the collection of signatures in the lower legislative chamber, some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators are behind it at the senate.

There was a fierce argument between the PDP lawmakers and their All Progressives Congress (APC) colleagues at the senate on Thursday.

Matthew Urhoghide, a PDP senator from Edo state, and Chukwuka Utazi, a PDP lawmaker Enugu state, were among the opposition lawmakers who pushed for the ousting of Buhari, while some of their colleagues on the other side disagreed.

“There are serious consequences for violation of our constitution. I want this senate to resolve that what the president did is procedurally wrong and a violation of our constitution, it must be condemned and of course, the consequences of section 143 of our constitution should be invoked,” Urhoghide had said.

But Abu Ibrahim, an APC senator from Katsina state, disagreed, describing the impeachment plot as a conspiracy from PDP.

Ibrahim defended Buhari, saying the president approved for the withdrawal of the money “based on national interest”.

“This is the first time that money drawn from excess crude account is being brought to the national assembly (for approval). Since they began to operate this account, I have never seen any expenditure that was brought here for approval,” the lawmaker said.

“This is a PDP conspiracy. I will like the PDP to tell us which of their governors have taken the money released from excess crude oil account to the state assembly for approval.

If this is a PDP conspiracy to tarnish the image of Muhammadu Buhari, they will not be able to do it because we are coming out with figures.”

Section 143 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) deals with the removal of the president and vice-president from office. It is a very long process, taking at least three months to complete.

TheCable filed a report on what the section says.

Yusuf Olaniyonu, spokesman of Senate President Bukola Saraki and Turaki Hassan, spokesman of Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of representatives, could not be reached for comments when this report was filed. None of them responded to calls or replied the text messages sent.

lalasticlala

Iheanacho Nwosu, Abuja


There are strong indications that the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, may not offer himself for re-election in the forthcoming national convention next month.

The decision to step aside at the end of his tenure in June, a source said, is to be seen as not opposing President Muhammadu Buhari or taking any action that will further divide the party.

With this development, chances of former governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, succeeding Oyegun are getting clearer.

At a meeting with APC governors on Tuesday, Buhari reportedly endorsed Oshiomhole’s candidature, a move the National Publicity Secretary,
Bolaji Abdullahi, described as a personal opinion of the president.

The chairmanship slot of the party is reserved for the South South, particularly Edo State.

A source close to Oyegun reiterated to Daily Sun that the chairman has resolved to quit at the expiration of his tenure instead of seeking re-election at the convention.

When asked to explain the point when Oyegun felt he should drop out of the chairmanship race, the source replied that he had been in a quandary over the issue, for a long time on account of his age.

“He has not been enthusiastic about remaining as chairman. He does not see the chairmanship contest as a do -or -die affair.”

Although Oyegun is not keen about staying on as chairman, the source said some tendencies in APC, comprising some leaders and governors, mounted intense pressure on him to continue as chairman “because of his mien and managerial ability.”

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello and his Kaduna counterpart , Mallam Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai are known staunch supporters of Oyegun.

However, as a way of placating Oyegun, a Presidency source said an ambassadorial position, or a lesser appointment, may be given to him.

He said the president’s decision to do away with Oyegun and hand the chairmanship baton to Oshiomhole “is to bring vitality to the leadership of the party.”

According to him, the president made up his mind to back Oshiomhole for the job; as far back as December 2017.

The source revealed that Buhari had hinted some people close to him, including Alhaji Mamman Daura, Alhaji Isa Funtua, former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, former Zamfara State governor, Sani Ahmed Yerima and former Abia State governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, about his decision.

The national convention of the party had earlier been fixed for May 14.

The date has since been reviewed after the Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, announced after the APC governors meeting with the National Working Committee, in Abuja, yesterday, that a new date will be announced after Ramadan.

A 68-man convention committee, chaired by Jigawa State Governor, Badaru Abubakar, was inaugurated earlier this week.

by Oluseyi Awojulugbe



Payment of April salary to civil servants may be delayed as the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) has for the second month in a row rejected the revenue figures presented by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

In March, the FAAC meeting had ended in a deadlock because of a shortfall of N37.7 billion in NNPC remittances until Kemi Adeosun, minister of finance, intervened.

Yunusa Mahmoud, chairman, Finance Commissioners Forum, who confirmed the postponement on Wednesday, said the situation had resulted in a meeting of governors and top officials of the NNPC.

“We have some challenges, the figures we have gotten is far below what we expected to be remitted by NNPC. As it is now, there is a meeting between the governors and the top management of NNPC at the state house,” he told journalists.

“I believe this is a very high-level deliberation and something good will come out of it. Before now, you did not hear such news, but because this government is a government of change, some level of transparency is expected.

“When you pick your figures and you submit your figures, the person that is supposed to look at it and deliberate on it will ask questions if need be.”

However, Mahmoud did not describe the situation as insincerity on the part of the NNPC, saying it could be an error.

“I don’t want to use the word insincerity. What happened could be an error. If one party is wrong, the other party is right; if you add it together at the end of the day you make progress,” he said.

“The last FAAC meeting was postponed twice and at the end of the day, we made progress. In the spirit of Easter, we held a meeting, because we were looking at the plight of the workers that were supposed to receive their salaries as and when due, but based on the submission we have now, some states will not pay salaries now.”

While addressing journalists in Washington DC on Sunday, Adeosun had said the government will demand a high level of transparency from state-owned enterprises like the NNPC because the country cannot afford to lose money.

By Iniabasi Umo,



The Akwa Ibom State government has marked the building housing the National Committee of Buhari’s Support Groups secretariat for demolition two days after the office was inaugurated.

It is located along Wellington Bussey where the Government House is also situated.

A source said that by marking the building for demolition, the government would first revoke its Certificate of Occupancy.

It was learnt that the state government had asked the Commissioner of Police and the Director of Department of State Service to stop the inauguration of the NCBSG office but they were said to have told the government that they would provide security during the event.

The state government was said to have taken the decision to demolish the building on the premise that it does not have a Certificate of Occupancy.

When the Chairman of Uyo City Capital Development Chairman, Mr. Enobong Uwah was contacted on phone, he did not pick his call or answer the text message sent to him. He was not also in his office when some journalists visited.

Effort to speak with the state coordinator of the NCBSG, Mr. Ignatius Edet was unsuccessful as he dropped his call after the issue was mentioned to him.

The house of representatives has summoned President Muhammadu Buhari over incessant killings in the country.

The president was summoned during plenary on Wednesday.

The lawmakers asked the president to appear before then to give reasons for the killings and to brief them on the security situation in the country.

No fewer than 8,000 whistle blowers were recorded by the Federal Government in the last one year, the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption ( PACAC ), has said.

Executive Secretary of PACAC, Prof. Bolaji Owasonoye, told our correspondent in New York that the whistle blower’s policy had succeeded resoundingly.

Owasonoye said: “Just a few weeks ago, PACAC, in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Finance, looked at one year of that policy.

“We looked at what has worked, where it has not worked very well, what we can improve and it came there that the policy has been resoundingly successful.

“That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t review where we were, which was what we were doing at that event. Over 8,000 whistles received, some of it have yielded very good results.

“We also looked at the fact that the policy is not directed at pursuing cash recoveries only. But at misgovernance, abuse of power, position, violation of regulations and all that. The policy covers everything”.

The scribe said the policy had been a stop-gap measure, pending the time it gets a legislation.

Owasonoye also explained that a whistle blower might not get up to five per cent of the recovered loot, if the amount is very huge.

He said: “The truth of the matter is that the parameters have never been varied. PACAC prepared the whistle blower’s policy.

“The policy states that a whistle blower who gives a whistle that leads to cash recovery can earn up to five per cent of the amount recovered. Indeed, there’s a scale.

“The higher the amount that is recovered, the lower that you get. But if your whistle leads to the recovery of a lower amount, you can get the maximum of a five per cent.

“So there’s never been problem, just that the public didn’t understand how this policy is supposed to operate. So there’s a scale. So if you blow the whistle and something like a billion naira, you can earn up to the five per cent.

“If it’s above a billion, under five billion, you get may be up to 2.5 per cent or four per cent; it’s graduated. And all over the world, that’s the way it is.

“When your information leads to a very high recovery, the amount goes down. There’s been no dispute about people getting what is due them”.

He said of the 8,000 whistles received, not all led to recoveries or were credible, adding however, government is not offended because when citizens give information, the government has a duty to try and investigate.

“You never can tell when what you’re pursuing will lead to something significant, so you can’t afford to ignore.

“That’s why the whole whistle blower arrangement, all the law enforcement agencies are part of it and investigations can take a little while,” he said.

He said to reassure whistle blower, there would be an agreement signed with the Attorney-General Office, indicating all one is entitled to from the recovery and deciding how the money would be paid.

“And that’s why over one year, nobody’s identity has been blown, which shows you that the mechanism for blowing whistle and receiving whistle and investigating is credible.

According to him, there is no controversy as to the payment to the whistle blower for the recovery of the 43 million dollars cash in Lagos.

“Sometimes when people bring information, they think they are the first and only person to give information whereas law enforcement agencies may actually already have information on that issue and might have been working on it.

“All of these are things that need to be clarified by investigation and that appears to slow down the process. But there’s no controversy as to what people are entitled to.

“The top limit is five per cent. Indeed, the policy itself says that the government may pay an amount lower but no more than five per cent,” he said.
NAN

By Hamza Idris


A former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has explained why he parted ways with President Muhammadu Buhari.

Atiku said this in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service in London, which was monitored by Daily Trust.

The former vice president, who resigned his membership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), returned to his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), now the major opposition party in the country.

“The APC started on a wrong footing after President Buhari assumed office. Also, the way the government is being run; I made my suggestions but it seems they were deemed not important to them,” Atiku said. He also said he was aspiring to be president to be able to right the things he could not during the eight years he served as vice president.

“I want to be the President of Nigeria because I would be able to do things I could not do as vice president,” he said, and added that if elected president, he would start with the country’s economy and that he believed Nigerians would trust him in the fight against corruption, citing how their administration set up the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He also vowed that there was no personality that he would not investigate if he was elected president, just as he dismissed insinuations that he was desperate to become president.

On the allegations that he had been barred from the United States of America, Atiku said he had applied for a US visa but was denied and was given no reason for the denial.

He denied allegations that his house in the US had been auctioned. “I bought the house for my wife and she was the one who sold it,” he added.

On the recent comment of the president concerning Nigerian youths, Atiku said he disagreed with the president. “I don’t see Nigerian youths as lazy,” he said.

Atiku called on the youths to get more involved in politics, promising to give them 40 per cent of his cabinet if elected president.

Ex-BBNaija housemate, Bamike Olawunmi, popularly called BamBam late on Monday launched a skin care product, “Bam beauty oil” to mark her 29th birthday and realized N25 million.

The event took place in Abuja according to what she posted on her instagram page.

BamBam said that she sold the first 5,000 pieces of the product at N5,000 each and grossed home N25 million.

The newsmen reports this happened about 24 hours after the end of the third edition of the 2018 BBNaija TV reality show titled “Double Wahala’’.

She unveiled the product at a party bash hosted for her by Famouspotatoesng in Abuja late on Monday.

Also the family members of Teddy, another housemate in the BBNaija reality show as well as BamBam’s other fans graced the party.

BamBAm was one of the housemates in the just concluded TV reality show in the BBNaija before her eviction from the house.

The newsmen also reports that while Bambam was in the house, she was romantically involved with Teddy A who was her strategic partner.

The pair appeared to have taken their love to another level, as Teddy A, organised a surprise birthday party for her.
NAN

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Posted By: Yusuf Alli


Will the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) grant the request of Senate President Bukola Saraki and some of its former members for a name change before rejoining the party?

The party is wooing Saraki, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, his predecessor, Senator Aliyu Wammako, former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and former Governor Danjuma Goje (Gombe) to return to its fold in order to wrest power from the All Progressives Congress (APC) next year.

They all left PDP in 2014 to form APC, which wrested power from PDP in the 2015 elections.

Although sources said yesterday that the request of the APC chieftains tagged as “game changers” had been “tactically rejected” by the National Executive Committee (NEC), PDP spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan claimed that no decision has been taken on the issue.

Another APC chieftain and former Zamfara State Governor Sani Ahmed Yerima, who was never in PDP, is being wooed by the opposition party.
About three APC governors from the Northwest are also on PDP’s radar.

But none of them, it was learnt, has made any commitment to return to PDP. They were said to be weighing the options.

The name change request is said to be a drawback for the talks.

There are fears that changing PDP’s name may truncate the tenure of the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Prince Uche Secondus.

Some forces in the party also felt that the APC stalwarts should not be dictating to a party they “left in the lurch to lose the 2015 presidential election.”

A top member of (NEC), who spoke in confidence, said: “We have really opened up talks with Saraki and others. It is like we are begging them to return to their roots as part of a larger reconciliation policy in PDP.

”We want Tambuwal, Kwankwaso, Wammako, Goje and others in PDP because we see them as “game changers. We are also targeting ex-Governor Sani Ahmed Yerima of Zamfara State who has always been in the opposition until the APC coalition emerged.

“We have had series of shuttles to them by some of our leaders having discovered that they had been patching in APC. They have been stifled and abandoned in the coalition called APC. We want them to return to their natural habitat.

“The PDP has also initiated talks with three APC governors in the Northwest, which is the political base of President Muhammadu Buhari.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “None of these leaders has given the PDP any commitment because they are the weighing options. Some of them have given sufficient signal that they might quit APC.

“If you look at some states, the associates of these key leaders have started deriding APC. Some of them have even defected from APC to PDP. So, we are positive.”

Another member of NEC said: “As part of the ongoing negotiations, some of those defecting to PDP specifically demanded for a change of name of the party.

“We were wary of the request for change of name in order not to cause crisis in PDP. If we accede to their request, the Uche Secondus-led NWC will technically cease to exist.

“The danger is that these new members might want the NWC restructured in a manner that will give them a stake in the leadership of the party.

“We believe we have conceded enough by granting a waiver to all PDP returnees and new members. We have promised them equity and justice too in all our dealings.

“Another concession is granting these bigwigs the control of PDP machinery in their states in order to determine who to field for the 2019 polls. We, however, added a caveat that they should accommodate those who have been steering the affairs of PDP in the affected states before their return.”

The source however added: “We won’t promise any of these leaders automatic presidential ticket. We are firm on this.”

Ologbondiyan said the party was reaching out to top politicians and leaders but declined to name them.

He said there were demands at the talks including the name change.

Ologbondiyan said the party had not taken any decision on the request.

He said: “Our party is open to discussion with anybody and politicians of various ilk. We are talking to community leaders, religious leaders and youth groups across the nation. A lot of Nigerians are tired of this government and we are reaching out to them.

“We are discussing with everyone on the need for us to lead the coalition for the sack of this incompetent administration in Nigeria and the dysfunctional APC.

“In the course of these discussions, various suggestions have been made; some requests and demands naturally came up. We are not tied to any decision yet.

“But as we speak, the PDP remains open to conversation. No decision yet in respect of changing name. PDP is a structured party and we have various caucuses that any decision will pass through.”

Friday OLOKOR , Jos


The alleged victim of sexual harassment by a lecturer in the Department of Accounting at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile - Ife , Ms. Monica Osagie , has been summoned to appear before the investigative panel probing the incident on Tuesday.

The invitation came barely 24 hours after her lawyer and and Executive Director of Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre , Dr . Abiola Akiyode - Afolabi , claimed that the victim had not been invited by any panel .

But it was not clear why the letter dated April 19 2018 was not immediately released to her .

PUNCH can authoritatively report that Osagie was an MBA regular student of the OAU and was said to have gone into hiding since the sex - for- marks scandal broke out.

The letter inviting Osagie dated April 19 2018 from the Office of the Secretary , Post-Graduate College , was obtained by our correspondent on Saturday in Jos.

The letter with Ref . No: ADP 15/ 16/ H/1424 entitled : “ Re : Investigative panel on alleged harassment of a female student : Detailed audio recording : Request for the presentation of Miss Osagie Monica Oselode ” , was signed by the OAU Deputy Registrar and Post- Graduate College Secretary , Mrs. A . O . Fadeyibi .

The letter reads : “I write at the instance of the Provost , Post-Graduate College to invite you to appear before the investigative panel on alleged harassment of a female student detailed in audio recording at its meeting which will come up at 10 :00am on Tuesday April 24 2018.

“ Please be informed that on arrival , you are required to call the Secretary to the panel to facilitate your appearance before the panel . Thank you . ”

Akiyode - Afolabi had raised the alarm that Osagie , “ resorted to self help ” through audio recording after two lecturers approached by her for intervention disappointed her .

According to her , several efforts made by her in reporting her predicament to two senior lecturers in the Faculty of Administration were unsuccessful as they both refused to intervene, adding that she therefore resorted to to self- help in documenting her evidence.

Akiyode - Afolabi , a former Public Officer of the OAU Students Union Government , therefore called on the school authorities “ not to compromise the reputation of this old and respected university and its responsibility for protecting its students in a bid to covering the unethical and disgraceful behavior of individual lecturers.

By Ismail Mudashir & Musa Abdullahi Krishi


The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had in January this released the timetable for the 2019 general elections, fixing the presidential and other polls into the 109 senatorial districts and 360 federal constituencies of the country for Saturday, February 16, 2019.

As the date approaches, frantic efforts are being made by the lawmakers to secure their party tickets to return to the parliament. Based on the INEC timetable, all party primaries are to be concluded latest by October 7, this year. 

Daily Trust Saturday’s analysis revealed that many of the lawmakers may lose their seats based on a number of reasons. The attrition rate in the federal parliament has been on the rise over the years, increasing from one Assembly to the other.

From the seventh (2011-2015) to the current Assembly, a total of 308 out of the 469 federal lawmakers couldn’t cross the bridge as they lost their bids to return. At the Senate, 79 lost their seats and in the House, 229 suffered the same fate. Only 161 survived the election battle to cross from the last Assembly to the present one.

A review of the National Assembly records showed that from 1999 to date, the 469 seats at both Senate and House of Reps have been occupied by 2,345 persons.  At the Senate, only Senator David Mark (PDP, Benue) retained his seat at the chamber since 1999, a feat that made him ‘the most senior lawmaker’ in Nigeria.

Also, Senator Ahmad Lawan (APC, Yobe) has been at the National Assembly since 1999, but he was first at the House of Reps before he upped his political career to the Senate in 2007. Like David Mark in the Senate, Nicholas Ebomo Mutu (PDP, Delta) is the one face that has been at the Green Chamber since 1999.

Mark, Lawan and Mutu are the three faces that have been at the National Assembly since 1999.

Unlike what is obtainable at the United States Congress where a similar bicameral legislature is being operated. At Congress, lawmakers spend decades. For instance, Senator Chuck Grassley was first elected to the US senate in 1980 and before then he was a member of the US House of Reps. Grassley, a Republican is one of the old faces at the US senate.

Analysts including serving and former lawmakers told Daily Trust Saturday that the attrition rate in 2015 would be child’s play compared to what would happen next year if the signals come to pass. Some of the reasons follow: 

1. Poor performance/bad representation

The key function of the National Assembly as stated in the  Section 4 (1-9) of the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria was to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the Federation or any part thereof. The performance of the lawmakers are determined based on bill sponsorship, oversight, contribution to debate on motions and bills, and other legislative intervention. 

In August last year, a review of bills sponsorship in the Senate showed that 16 senators had no bills to their credit, 26 months after their inauguration. In the House, only about 160 members out of the 360 have sponsored at least a bill, as at last year.

Lamenting on the performance, a ranking Senator from the North said: “It’s unfortunate that we have some of our colleagues that up till this moment are yet to understand what lawmaking is.”

A Rep expressed dismay that  some of his colleagues cannot second a motion let alone contribute to debate. “Such lawmakers are ‘bench-warmers’. Apart from introducing themselves during committee sittings, there is nothing else they know how to do,” he said.

While a some constituents always see their representatives on television or read them on the pages of newspapers contributing to one thing or the other, others don’t get to their theirs at all. This is likely going to count against some lawmakers come 2019.

2. Change in lifestyle

Another factor that would likely negate the return of some of the lawmakers is the sudden change in their lifestyles. Before becoming lawmakers, some legislators could be described as poor. But soon after becoming lawmakers, they become obviously affluent. Many constituents grumble at the sudden appearance of posh cars and choice real estate, owned by their representatives. It is noteworthy that in 2015, Senators and Reps spent billions of naira to buy official cars. 

A lawmaker who does not want to be named, told Daily Trust Saturday that he pities some of his colleagues who suddenly change their lifestyles to that of ‘big men’. “Some of them, after leaving office, just give them six months and see what they’ll become. I think people should learn to think as adults,” he said.

3. Abandoning of constituents

At the beginning of each session, newly-elected lawmakers relocate from their constituencies to Abuja, the seat of power. While some go back to their constituencies, weekly or even occasionally, others don’t until elections loom. This usually makes constituents feel ‘used and dumped’. 

Since the inception of the current 8th Assembly, a number of lawmakers have been attacked in their constituencies for not visiting their constituents. This alone is a pointer to what awaits such lawmakers in the coming elections, should they decide to re-contest.

4. Battle for governorship seats

Already some of the lawmakers at both chambers have indicated interest indirectly to contest for the governorship election of their states. It is believed that in coming days some of them will formally declare their intentions.

The lawmakers have joined the race to succeed their respective governors, in the case of second-termers, while others are going for the jugular to unseat first-term governors. 

There are indications that some lawmakers from both the Senate and the House are warming up to contest for governorship in states like Zamfara, Bauchi, Gombe, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Kogi, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti, Imo, Jigawa, Borno, Yobe, Taraba, among others.

This will mean that such lawmakers will lose the opportunity of returning to the National Assembly, whether they succeed or not. 

5. Rotational system/local politics

Like at the national level where the presidency is rotated between North and South, in most of the 469 constituencies, similar scenarios are playing out. Stakeholders have adopted  rotational system where political offices are rotated among the various local governments or ethnic groups within such areas.

For instance, in Bayelsa East senatorial district, where Senator Ben Murray-Bruce  represents, the seat is rotated among Ogbia, Nembe and Brass, the three local government areas that make up the area.  In the Senatorial District, it’s a one-tenure arrangement. With this arrangement, there is the likelihood that Murray-Bruce’s ‘Common Sense’ contribution may be missing in the next Senate.

6. Clashes with governors

A battle line has been drawn by a number of lawmakers with their state governors, a development that is a serious threat to their return bid. In some cases, the misunderstandings between the lawmakers and the governors have gone beyond reconciliation, as a result of which such legislators face threats of being denied return tickets. 

This kind of scenario obtains in states such as Bauchi, Kano, Zamfara, Niger, Kaduna, Jigawa, Gombe, Katsina, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Imo, Rivers, Delta, among many others.

Others that may defect to contest, are likely to meet brick walls, because of the powers governors wield. 

A senator from the North-West told Daily Trust Saturday that in 2011 when he had issues with his governor, he narrowly returned to the Upper Chamber. He described governors as “evil”. 

“Before the election day, over 100 of my supporters were in jail because we had issues with my governor. I spent everything to return to the parliament. But in 2015, when we were on the same page, he spent hundreds of millions for my election,” he said.

A governor of a Northeast state recently said that while he is in support of the return bid of all the members of the House of Reps from his state, he could not guarantee that for the three senators. 

7. Horns-locking with the Executive

Lawmakers, especially those from the Northern part of the country, that show any dislike for President Muhammadu Buhari in are seen as enemies of the common man. This much could be seen in the way those that go against the president are tagged ‘enemies of progress’ and often attacked by their constituents.

During a recent outing, a lawmakers from the Northeastern part of the country was attacked for opposing Buhari’s position on the plans to change elections sequence in the country.

And many lawmakers are poised to lock horns with the Executive further.

8. Jumbo pay

The perception of the average Nigerian is that lawmakers enjoy huge pay without doing much to earn it. Because of this, the battle to the National Assembly is always a do-or-die affair. Only recently, Senator Shehu Sani from Kaduna State revealed that a senator takes home N13m monthly, which totals N156m annually. Checks showed that a House of Reps member takes about N8m monthly, amounting to N96m each year.

This development often leads to bad blood, causing some constituents to vote against their representatives. 

9. Abuse of constituency projects

Constituency projects are meant to be used by lawmakers to reach out to the various communities in lawmakers’ constituencies, possibly evenly. However, some lawmakers abuse the process by concentrating such projects in certain areas, while other localities do not feel the impact of their representatives.

This usually pitch constituents against their reps, which lead to total rejection during subsequent polls.

10. Misconception of Legislature

About years 20 years into the return to democracy, many Nigerians are yet to understand the role of lawmakers in the scheme of things. Despite being the closest elective office holders to the grassroots, many Nigerians don’t know the duties of their reps. 

Some analysts believe that the confusion is being compounded by the lawmakers in their campaigns. Rather than pledging to enact laws for good governance, the lawmakers campaign to their constituents that they will construct bridges, roads, and schools, among others. The failure to fulfil the pledges is one of the factors that is causing high attrition rate in the legislature.

By Muritala Ayinla 



Lagos State government yesterday raised the alarm over the increasing cases of housewives who now batter their husbands. The Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, who said this while briefing journalists on the score card of his ministry in the last one year, said no fewer than 138 of such cases were reported to the agency in charge of domestic violence.

Kazeem also said that the state Mobile courts arraigned 8,380 offenders for flouting the Road Traffic Law which included parking on walkways and yellow lines, use of BRT corridor, commuters and conductors hanging on the tailboards of moving vehicles, driving against traffic, etc.

The commissioner said that a total number of 1,771 cases were reported during the period under review while violence against men had increased to 38. He said: “Ministry has noted an increase in report of domestic abuse against men.

To date, the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) has received a total number of 138 cases in this regard. Overall, a total number of 1,771 cases were reported during the period under review.”

In the year under review, the commissioner added that the efficiency of the Mobile Court had been further acknowledged through collaboration with the police, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Lagos State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA) and others upon requests by these institutions.

He added: “In comparison with the previous year’s figure of 4,426 offenders who were arraigned before the court, 8,380 offenders were arraigned before the court in the year under review for offences under the Road Traffic Law which include parking on walkway and yellow lines, use of BRT corridor, commuters and conductors hanging on the tailboards of moving vehicles, driving against traffic etc.”

The Attorney General said government received and treated 11,451 cases through the Special Task Force Against Land Grabbers, DSVRT and the Special Offences (Mobile) Court in the last one year.

He said government also received 316 inquiries through the recently unveiled first stateowned DNA and Forensic Centre with 71 active cases currently ongoing bordering on homicide, rape, toxicology, child trafficking, serology, among others.

According to Kazeem, the Anti-Land Grabbers Task Force designed by the present administration to fight the menace of forceful take-over of properties, received 1,300 petitions out of which 855 were concluded and 530 currently at various stages of resolution.

He added: “In the period under review, over 35 arrests of suspected notorious land grabbers were effected while 26 criminal prosecution cases against suspected land grabbers are presently ongoing.”

By Sylvester Ugwuanyi 


The United Christian Leaders Eagle Eyes Forum, UCLEEF, which had presented a copy of the Holy Bible to Buhari ahead of the 2015 presidential election, has declared a 30-day prayer and fasting to stop President Muhammadu Buhari from winning the 2019 election.

DAILY POST recalls that Buhari had last week Monday while announcing his intention to vie for the 2019 presidential election, told the National Executive Council of the All Progressives Congress, APC, that he was responding to the clamour by Nigerians for him to seek a second term in office.

The group of prayer warriors, who expressed readiness to send Buhari into what they described as forceful retirement, called on Nigerians, irrespective of religious, ethnic and political inclinations, to “awake and save our dear nation” as it is the citizenry that has the power, right and choice to make the country great again.

Addressing a news conference in Abuja on Thursday, Chairman of the UCLEEF, Pastor Aminchi Habu said there was every indication that if President Buhari is re-elected in 2019, the country will continue to slide backward, asking Nigerians to expect more failures from the president.

He stated that what the country needs to do to end the high level of social decadence and lack of development in the country is to elect a leader with a vision and the mindset to make the nation great.

Habu said, “The president knows that he has nothing to offer this country. So, he should just maintain his integrity by keeping to his word of doing only one term.

“He failed already, and will surely fail again because nothing will change. It will still be the same group of people. Just because engine oil makes a car run smoothly doesn’t mean it can revive an engine that knocks.

“The president is not a leader anymore but has turned into a ruler. A leader put his people first while a ruler only thinks about himself. Right now, Mr. President is not thinking about the masses but himself only. He just wants to remain in power and not you serve this country, because he cannot.

“We cannot continue like this, and that is why we are urging Nigerians to vote massively against him and retire him forcefully. He has nothing to offer again.

Mr. President is known for blaming others for his failures. He blames the PDP for the economic problems in the country, and now he is blaming late Gaddafi for the insecurity problems in the country,” he stated.

The UCLEEF chairman stated that the 30-day prayers and fasting had commenced by both Christian and Muslim faithfuls for a true leader to emerge out of the many aspirants, stressing: “I indulge each and every citizen of this country to awake and save our dear nation. We all have the power, the right, and the choice to make the right and wise decision so that Nigeria will be great again.

“What Nigeria needs is a leader with vision and a mindset to make this nation great. Nigeria needs a leader, not a ruler.

Someone who is bold enough to see failure and turn it into success, not someone who will see failure and blame others for it.

“That is why we as a Christian forum with some of our Muslim brothers with like mindset have entered into prayers and fasting that before we reach the middle of the year, that is June, a true leader will emerge out of the many aspirants”.

Habu further said, “the APC are claiming that PDP failed and is the cause of all the failure in this present government. Well, how can the government perform effectively when all those that are supposed to help it work better are among those that make the previous government failed? It’s like buying a new car and instead of using a new engine oil you decided to use the condemned one from your old car, you cannot blame the car if it develops a fault.

“And now we hear the president blaming Gaddafi for all the killings happening in the country. Well, it’s not surprising because the president is known for blaming others for his failure. He blames PDP for the economic problems in the country and now he is blaming Gaddafi a dead man for insecurity problems in the country.

“Next he will blame car manufacturers for all the accidents happening on our roads due to how bad the roads are, or even blame Textbooks authors for the failure in our academic system, or blame Kanji dam for the electricity problem.

“Even if those people are from outside the country, it is still the fault of the president as the commander in chief of the armed forces of Nigeria.

He closed those places that are supposed to be open, like the border of Cotonou, and left so many loopholes for infiltration. It is just like a man having a house, you didn’t fence it, and you decided not to close your doors and windows at night without any security.

“You can’t blame anybody if armed robbers enter and create havoc in your house and of cause, no one will pity you because you brought it upon yourself due to your carelessness and negligence.

Since the president doesn’t know how to protect the country, he should not blame anyone for his inability to keep his children safe as the father of the nation.”

lalasticlala

Danisa Masuku

SEX workers operating from Manor Hotel have turned United Pentecostal Church (UPC) premises directly opposite into their annex.

UPC also houses residents, mostly students. Trevor Mpofu, who resides there and is a student at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) said he had found sex workers and their clients in the act inside the church building.

“I caught them several times having sex inside the church and their acts are deplorable and have defiled the church.

Whenever I chase them they come back later at night,” said Mpofu.

Another resident Mandla Moyo has been picking used condoms inside the church.

“When I’m doing the cleaning in the morning I usually pick up used condoms and tissues inside the church,” he said.

Moyo added that the problem was a result of lapse in care for the place.

“There is no way we can put a stop to this unbecoming act in the house of God, after the departure of Sister Hasen who used to monitor this place. The church is no longer locked,” he said.

UPC Superintendent (Overseer) Reverend Clifford Makandise said they no longer own the building because it was taken over by Terracotta — a company that won a tender to construct Egodini Mall since the building is in the vicinity.

“We handed it over to Terracotta authorities, that’s what I can say only,” he said.

An official at Terracotta, Thabani Moyo said they had been made aware of the situation and it would be addressed soon.

Posted By: Tony Akowe,


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The Federal government has appointed a London based Nigerian private investigator, Victor Uwajeh to help the government trace and recover undeclared assets and proceeds of fraud as part of the ongoing fight against corruption in the country.

The appointment of Uwajeh is obtained in a letter signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution matters, Okoi Obono-Obla.

Uwajeh has worked as a consultant to the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Finacial Crimes, Private investigator to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), consultant to the EFCC, Special Assistant to Chairman Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics, Financial Crimes and Anti-Corruption, among others.

The letter dated 22nd March, 2018 said Uwajeh’s application has been considered for engagement as special investigator to his panel.

The letter of engagement reads: “Reference is being made to your letter dated 15th March 2018, “I am pleased to inform you that you application has been considered for engagement as a special investigator to the panel.

“Consequent upon this appointment, you are to trace and where necessary recover undeclared assets and proceeds of fraud for the Federal Government of Nigeria in line with the mandate of the panel. This appointment is subject to terms and conditions as may be expressed in a duly executed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).”

lalasticlala

Posted By: Yusuf Alli,



There is no let up in the plan of the John Odigie-Oyegun-led National Working Committee (NWC) the All Progressive Congress (APC) to elongate its tenure, it was learnt yesterday.

The NWC is working covertly towards extending its tenure despite President Muhammadu Buhari’s advice against it.

The National Executive Committee (NEC) also rejected tenure elongation on April 9 and granted the NWC members waivers to recontest for their posts, if they wished.

The NWC appears to have exposed its tenure elongation bid in a letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), notifying the agency of its plan to “fill vacant offices arising from effusion of time or appointment into government offices, death and other reasons as stipulated in Article 17 of our party’s constitution.”

This is contrary to the NEC decision, said a party official last night. He added that there might be no elections at the ward, local government and state congresses and the national convention.

The April 9 letter signed by APC National Secretary Mai Mala Buni was addressed to INEC National Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

The letter has created another crisis in the NWC. Sources said its content was known only to Oyegun, the national secretary and National Organising Secretary Osita Izunaso who fixed the dates for the elections.

The dates are ward congresses (May 2); local government congresses (May 5), state congresses(May 9) and national convention (May 14).

A source in the NWC said: “This letter was shocking to most of us. Instead of declaring all offices open, the notice is only talking of the need to fill existing vacancies.
The NWC has overruled President Muhammadu Buhari through this notice.

“This is tenure elongation being perpetuated under the table by this team led by Odigie-Oyegun. Since the tenure of all officers at all levels has expired, the decision of our last NEC meeting was election across board.

“What they are plotting is affirmation of the continuation in office of all officers at the ward, local government, state and national levels.

“ It is unfortunate that only the national chairman, the national secretary and the national organising secretary were privy to the letter.”

Another NWC member, said: “This letter coup might have been planned with pro-tenure elongation governors because about a week ago, Governor Jubrilla Bindow of Adamawa State emphatically declared that there will be no election of officers.

“It is sad that the advice of the President on constitutional procedures amounted to nothing. The NWC has perfected the retention of all officers at all levels.

“If Buhari is not nominated by a properly and constitutionally elected NWC, he might lose the 2019 poll on technical ground. The opposition can go to court and nullify his mandate if he wins.”

It was also learnt that a North Central meeting attended by leaders, including Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, decided on affirmation of officers from the ward to the national levels.

lalasticlala

Many ministers did not attend Wednesday’s federal executive council meeting presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently in the United Kingdom for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

At 11:02am when the meeting began, only 18 of the 36 ministers were present at the council chamber of the presidential villa in Abuja.

Some of the ministers at the ongoing meeting are Lai Mohammed (information), Abdulrahman Danbazzau (interior), Chris Ngige (labour), Adamu Adamu (education), Adebayo Shittu (communications), Usani Usani (Niger Delta affairs), Ogbonnaya Onu (science and technology) and Rotimi Amaechi (transportation).

The junior ministers at the meeting are Zainab Ahmed (budget and national planning), Steven Ocheni (labour), Anthony Onwuka (education), and Heneiken Lokpobiri (agriculture).

Others are Omole Daramola (niger Delta affairs), Osagie Ehinare (health) Hadi Sirika (aviation), and Mustapha Baba Shauri (power).

Leke Baiyewu, Abuja


The Senate has stepped down the Electoral Act 2010 Amendment Bill which seeks to reshuffle the sequence of polls in a general election.

The bill, which was considered for second reading, suffered a setback when several lawmakers across party lines who spoke in the debate on it, raised various issues against the amendment.

The lawmakers resolved that the bill be stepped down and referred to the Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission, with a mandate to remove the clauses faulted by President Muhammadu Buhari, for which he withdrew his assent.

The parts not faulted by the President would be sent back to him for assent.

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE


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Police operatives from the Intelligence Response Team, IRT, Ikeja, Lagos have busted the home of a senior female immigration officer, recovered hundreds of international passports and rescued young victims she reportedly kept in servitude for her sexual desires.

The incident happened at 15 Taiwo Street in Abaranje, Ikotun area of Lagos where she resided.

The immigration officer identified as the Deputy Superintendent of Immigration, DSI, Mrs. Ehumibe Moji Dada Omoh claimed to be attached to the Seme border office in Badagry area of Lagos.

Mrs. Omoh an indigene of Auchi in Edo State was alleged to have defrauded many intending travellers to the tune of millions of Naira and frustrated many as a result of fake documents she procured for them.

It was learnt that some of the victims were said to be languishing in various prisons across the world while some were missing and may have died.

P.M.EXPRESS scooped that Mrs. Omoh’s trouble started after he allegedly defrauded one Captain Young Suleman Omokhuale to the tune of N2.5m in 2017 under the false pretence of securing travelling papers for Mr. Omokhuale’s two sons to travel abroad.
He also was said to have defrauded one Mr. Paulinus of about N1.4m, after being introduced to her by the Managing Director of Don CY Hotel and Suites and many others.

However, Mr. Paulinus ended up in prison as a result of the fake documents she procured for him after obtaining the money from him.

On Mr. Omokhuale’s son, Evans, she reportedly seized the 29-year old Evans inside her house at Abaranje for five months without allowing him access to anyone including his parents.

She reportedly informed Mr. Omokhuale that his son had travelled abroad since 2017 and arranged a fake telephone conversation between Evans and his father.

However, the whole scam came to the open when Evans managed to escape from her, regained his senses and informed his father about what happened.

The father then wrote a petition to the police and Mrs. Omoh was eventually arrested and detained at the Police Command with four other suspects in connection with the alleged fraud.

When our correspondent visited her house at Abaranje in Ikotun, the residents confirmed the incident.

The residents also revealed that she had been frustrating and keeping some young men who wanted to travel abroad through her in her house and usually slept with them, which was yet to be confirmed.

When our correspondent visited IRT office in Ikeja, Mrs. Omoh was still detained there with other suspects believed to be rescued victims and one of her children.

Police sources expressed shock over such crime and said she was cooperating with the police in the investigations. The police are still trying to know how she managed to get those international passports, who their owners were and what happened to the owners.

When our correspondent attempted to speak with Mrs. Omoh, the police said it was too early to speak with her because the police were still doing investigations on the matter which they described as sensitive.