₦airaland Forum

By CHUKA UBA


There has been commotion at Visitation Hospital mortuary in Umuchu Town, Aguata Local Government Area in Anambra State following the rejection of the corpse of one Pa Reuben Okorie who was said to be attacking other corpses and causing havoc at the mortuary.

The mortuary attendants who were said to be tired and afraid of controlling the corpse, summoned the family to take back the money they had deposited and take the corpse away from the mortuary.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that Pa Okorie died recently and his corpse was deposited at the mortuary. However, it was said to have disturbed and attacked other corpses deposited there to the amazement of the attendants.

It was reported that when Pa Okorie’s corpse started causing the trouble, his family members who were shocked at the development were asked to carry the corpse unprepared which they rejected and went away.

It was learnt that they reasoned that if the attendants were unable to control the corpse, then they too will not be able to do so. So they had to return home to engage in some prayers and perform rituals before they will carry it.

People in the community have been wondering what would have been the cause of such a strange thing. Some felt may be the old man was not completely dead or was being kept in the mortuary against his wish while alive and it has created serious concern in the area.

P.M.EXPRESS learnt that the late Pa Okorie was known for his bravery and spiritual powers when he was alive and was dreaded in the community and its environs for decades before he died.

He was said to have led several communal wars and had procured so many charms in those days which he used to execute those wars and won.

According to the residents, after the communal wars the charms he had procured could not be reversed and had started affecting his family to the extent that 13 of his children had died before him.

The residents narrated that his houses were said to have been deserted by the few surviving children for several years because of the strange deaths and happenings in the family.

People in the community were of opinion that it could be the effect of the charms that caused the trouble at the mortuary or he may have warned that he should be not taken to the mortuary when he dies.

However, it was gathered that the family members and members of his kindred had summoned a meeting, where they agreed that certain rituals have been to be performed to stabilize the corpse pending the burial.

P.M.EXPRESS confirmed that the corpse was still kept at the mortuary and Pa Okorie’s burial has been fixed for 8 March, 2018. He was said to have died at the age of 100.

Posted By: Precious Igbonwelundu

https://thenationonlineng.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/couple-891x470.jpg


A couple has been arrested in Lagos for allegedly operating a baby factory.

The couple – Adeola and Binta Adebayo – were arrested on Sunday between 6:10 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. by operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) in Ikeja following a tip off from a journalist.

According to state Police Commissioner, Edgal Imohimi, the suspects usually harboured young pregnant women at their 1, Treasure Palace Close, off Hand of Fair Bus Stop, Ikotun-Igando Road residence.

Imohimi said the suspects usually sold the children after the young women had been delivered of the babies without the mothers’ consent.

The police commissioner said: “They harboured young pregnant girls until they are delivered of their babies after which these babies are taken from them and sold without the consent of the young mothers.

“During the raid, three young women were rescued. They were – Favour Osikwemeh, 19, (six months pregnant), Precious Emmanuel, 27, (seven months pregnant), and Onome Oputi, 25, (nine months pregnant).

“The victims will be handed over to National Agency for the Prohibition in Persons (NAPTIP) for care while the couple will be handed over for possible prosecution.”

Speaking to journalists, Osikweme said a friend of hers, Lepa, introduced her to the place.

She said: “I was not told it is a baby factory. I was staying with my friend called Lepa when she told me that her place is too small and offered to take me where I will be delivered of my child.

“I have been there since December last year. The woman told my mum that I am working with her but we didn’t negotiate about payment for my child.”

Emmanuel said she was worried after getting pregnant for a foreigner and was introduced to the baby factory by her sister.

“My sister took me to the woman after I was impregnated by a foreigner. The woman then promised to settle me as soon as I was delivered of my baby,” she said.

However, the couple denied the allegation, insisting that they were only assisting the women, who in-turn helped them with their business.

Binta, who also gave her name as Nene Okoro, claimed that one of the three women was her daughter-in-law, who has lived with them for over four years.

She said: “We are not running any baby factory. I have never sold any baby. Two of the three women only help me with my business. I sell wholesale drinks and they assist me.

“The other woman is my daughter-in-law, who has been living with us for over four years. If I sold babies, how come I didn’t sell my two grandchildren she had earlier.

“I believe some neigbours we have land dispute with are trying to frame my husband and I. I am from Abia State but my husband is Yoruba. We are innocent.”

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Fresh facts have emerged showing that Mr. Rufai Abubakar, the new Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), was found guilty of sexual misconduct for which he almost lost his job at the United Nations. According to a colleague, who met Mr. Abubakar in 2005 while serving with the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS), Mr. Abubakar’s service records are blighted by various acts misconduct.

In 2012, said the former colleague, a case of sexual exploitation was established against Mr. when he impregnated one Miss Blanche Munah Hyde, a Sierra Leonean and staff of the Political Affairs Department of United Nations African Union Hybrid Operations in Darfur (UNAMID) in Darfur, which AMIS transmuted to after it was taken over by the UN.

The Sierra Leonean was eventually delivered of a baby girl. Mr. Abubakar, said the source, accepted responsibility for the baby as well as made a promise to marry the mother. According to the source, he was on the verge of being sacked from his UN job but was saved by the intervention of Mr. Babagana Kingibe, the then Head of AMIS; and Mr. Zakari Ibrahim.

Mr. Abubakar was said to have been brought by Mr. Kingibe to head the Political Affairs Department. He was said to have been disliked by Nigerian military officers and their civilian counterparts, who served with him on the peacekeeping mission in Darfur.

“Ambassador Babagana Kingibe was the Head of Mission and Ambassador Hassan Gibril of the Gambia was the Deputy Head of Mission. The Field Commander (FC) at that time, Major General Luke Aprezi, is also a Nigerian. Mr. Kingibe came with Mr. Abubakar,” said the source.

Mr. Kingibe revealed the source, maintained a home in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, and worked from a guest house in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital.

Before the scandal with the Sierra Leonean woman, Mr. Abubakar, the source said, had had an affair Achiatou Muhammadu from the Niger Republic, who was Deputy Joint Special Representative (DJSR).

The source disclosed that it was the DJSR, who facilitated his promotion his promotion to D2 (an equivalent of Deputy Director) at the time he was about leaving the employ of the UN.

This was done, explained the source, to ensure that he would be entitled to pensions from the UN. Achiatou was subsequently appointed the JSR of the UN Mission in Cote d'Ivoire about the same time Mr. Abubakar was leaving UNAMID. She, again, facilitated another UN job him as a consultant with the UN in Senegal.

“Consultancy service in the UN system is limited by time. He remained a consultant in Senegal for two years before the job was terminated in August 2015. Consultants in the UN system, like anywhere else, are not entitled to certain benefits, including pension, enjoyed by permanent staff.

However, Mr. Abubakar was already pensionable having worked with UNAMID for more than five years,” said the source.

Mr. Abubakar, the source added, was a P5 officer, the equivalent of an Assistant Director, and got all the benefits that accompany the status of a permanent staff. This led to the belief that he was a staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“He was there until 2013 when he attained the mandatory retirement age of 62. He was a P5 officer all along and at no time did he attain the rank of a D2 officer. Rather, he was granted that at the tail end of his stay in UNAMID, as a parting gift,” disclosed the source.

He explained that given that Mr. Abubakar was indeed a permanent staff of the NIA, he should never have accepted a permanent job with the UN without resigning from NIA. The source said the NIA D-G clearly kept two jobs, as he only resigned from the NIA in 2013, the same year he left UNAMID.

Narrating how Mr. Abubakar got the UN job, the source said it began from the last quarter of 2005, when Mr. Kingibe stopped being Head of AMIS and was replaced by Mrs. Monique Mukaruliza of Rwanda in an acting capacity until 31 December 2007, when the UN took over from AMIS.

Following the take-over, AMIS transmuted to United Nations African Union Hybrid Operations in Darfur (UNAMID).

Mr. Rudulph Adada, a Congolese, took over from Mrs. Mukaruliza as the Joint Special Representative (JSR) of the UN Secretary-General, who was also replaced by Nigeria’s Professor Ibrahim Gambari. Nigeria’s General Martin Luther Agwai (retd.) was appointed Field Commander.

The transmutation from AMIS to UNAMID, said the source, imposed challenges. Aside from troops and police officers from different countries, he said, AMIS civilian staff were not automatically absorbed into the UN system.

“The UN maintains its own policies and processes for staff recruitment. Due to the dearth of civilian staff coupled with the refusal of UN staff in other missions to relocate to Darfur out of fear, a window of opportunity was created for fresh recruitment,” explained the source.

At this time, Mr. Abubakar, who was in shuttling between Addis Ababa and Khartoum, relocated to Darfur and applied and secured a job as Political Affairs Officer on the rank of P4.

Two other Nigerian military officers, Lieutenants Colonels OZ Azinta and Augustine Agundu (now Major-Generals at the Defence Headquarters, who shared the same office with Mr. Abubakar, also applied and secured jobs as Political Affairs Officers on the rank of P4.

Following the completion of the orientation programme at the UN training school in Brindisi, Northern Italy, Azinta and Agundu declined the UN job offer. They both departed Darfur at the end of their tour of duty.

The former colleague maintained that in addition to Mr. Abubakar’s questionable citizenship and failure of promotion examinations, his inappropriate relationships with women make him unsuitable for the Director-Generalship of the NIA.

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Bolatito Adebayo


Sometime last year the wife of the former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Mrs Taiwo Obasanjo filed a suit in an Ikeja High Court, seeking to stop the wedding of her son scheduled for May, she lost the suit.

Mrs. Obasanjo’s objection to the timing of the wedding based on a prophecy, maintained that her son’s wedding should be a quiet event. But despite her objection, the wedding went ahead in her absence. In this interview with Sunday Sun, she spoke on the latest happening in her son’s marriage, why he left his matrimonial home and other sundry issues.


Is it true that your son’s marriage has broken down and you are in the middle of it all?

My son’s marriage didn’t break down and what do you mean that I was in the middle of it all? Well, the last time they were getting married you made it publicly known to everyone that you were not in support the marriage?
I think you are getting some things wrong, if you had gone through my stand on this you will realize that, I never said that I wasn’t in support of the marriage. The only problem I had was the date and all I was after was that the date should be changed.


But the date wasn’t changed, they disobeyed you and you were unhappy?

You see the date change had been going on in the family before I went public. I was in support of the wedding. But do you have the time for me to give you a breakdown of what actually transpired? Before this girl came into the scene, I was told that when he is getting married that there should be no noise.

That was the instruction given to me but when this girl came I told them, let them just do this wedding quietly. Instead, they shouted me down and were asking that how can two big families come together and they won’t have a big wedding. I am the biological mother of the groom, I gave birth to him and I am not holding on to him to be my handbag. If you go through the Bible, instructions were given to mothers about their children.

For instance, Samson’s mother was given instruction about him but Samson defied the instruction and he ended up being killed by Delilah. Do you understand me? I know what I suffered to have this boy. When the wedding proper came I told them not to pick a particular date and that he should only do a big wedding after his 34th birthday.

On my own, I went to the mother of the bride Rose Mary Dacosta because I thought she was a mother, but she refused. They insisted on having the wedding in April. I told the girl too but she was adamant. Unfortunately, people are thinking that I was against the wedding. I wasn’t against my son’s wedding because I love him.


Are you the one hiding your son?

How can I hide him? Everyone has been phoning me and asking for his whereabouts. They want to kill me and this is another means for them. How can I hide a man who is 34 years old? What do I want to do with him? And I can never be his wife.
I am praying for him to be productive and I am praying for him to be fruitful. From the first day of the wedding, the mother of the girl said she wanted to go on honeymoon with my son and his wife, which I have never heard of in my whole life. Whether I am lying my son can testify about that. The mother insisted that she must go on a honeymoon. I wasn’t there, but I heard that later.

My son defied my advice and the advice of the living God because I didn’t go soliciting for prophecy for him. The one about the wedding came on its own. I never went to anybody to kneel down and asked to be prayed for. This message came voluntarily. For spiritual messages you don’t go soliciting, that means there are powerful truths behind it.

Do you think it was the spiritual message you received that was responsible for the breakdown of the marriage?

I don’t know whether the marriage has broken down or not because the young man lives with his father in Abeokuta while I live in Lagos. So, I think you should direct that question to my son’s father and his wife. I am asking them both where my son is? That was why I went to the police to make reports last year.

I saw my son once before the wedding when he came to tell me that, ‘Mummy I am going ahead whether you support me or not’. He defied my orders and that was why I didn’t attend the wedding. Everyone said they were above the almighty God who gave the message and I am nothing because they are the ones controlling things.

Are you saying the marriage has not broken down?

I don’t know whether the marriage has broken down and I said I don’t live with them. The only time I went there was last year after the wedding. Daddy OBJ called me after the wedding, I didn’t even want to pick his call but later I did and he said he wanted to reconcile us all. Then I went and he was asking me why I didn’t come for my son’s wedding. My two children apologized to me and we made peace that time.

I also saw him when I went for a programme, which my Uncle Professor Sunbo Martins had, which was a book launch. That was last year. From that time to this time, I haven’t seen my son. He doesn’t pick my call and how did I know about this? It was even his wife that called because each time he runs from his matrimonial house, his wife will now phone me and start asking about him.

Every time this happens, she calls and this one happened since November last year, till now I don’t know where my son is. That was why I went to the police. People might say whatever they want to say, I don’t care, but I am a mother and I care about my son’s welfare. They say I am interfering but is it interference to ask if your son is okay. I called daddy OBJ and he didn’t pick my call.

Daddy OBJ was picking my call before now and we were speaking. We talk, we chat and I see him but since that matter happened, now I called and he didn’t pick. So, I went to see Daddy Adebutu with my family because it was very surprising to me because from November the woman said she had not seen my son. I even went to Tope Adebutu’s house where she lives with her mother.

Are you saying that she has also moved out of her matrimonial home?

I don’t know oh! When I was asking she was the one that told me that she is in Ikoyi with her mother so I went there to see her.

She told me she has not seen my son since November so I started asking people about this. If I don’t know the whereabouts of my son, should I just fold my arms and watch? Does that make me a responsible mother? I don’t stay close to them.

Moreover, Abeokuta to Lagos is not one-minute drive and since they got married I have never interfered and I don’t go there. So the young man has gone into hiding and this is not the first time this is happening. He has been running away from this girl, he would disappear and then when they settle the matter he will come back home. Now everybody said they are tired because every time they are always quarrelling.

You mentioned earlier that you called daddy Obasanjo but he has not been picking your calls. Does it mean that he held you responsible for the problem in the marriage?

He is the one that should be held responsible for whatever problem now because I heard that this young man has been reporting this matter to his father. This girl has been threatening his life, and many times he will run away from her. This even happened two weeks before the wedding. When daddy OBJ called, I told him, go and look for my son because this game you are playing I don’t understand.

How can a former head of state say that he doesn’t know where my son is? I said please nothing must happen to my son and I am going to cry out to the whole world to hear about it. I didn’t understand why he was phoning me and my son’s wife too called me. Right now they don’t know where my son is and that was why I went to the police. My son has become a fugitive hiding and daddy OBJ is insisting he stays married to this girl. There must be a reason and I don’t know the reason because he doesn’t come to me or visit me and he doesn’t tell me anything. He has never told me he had a problem with this girl and so I became scared when I heard.

Have you asked around from his friends?

I have been asking and nobody knows where he is and I won’t keep quiet. He picked my call one time and after that, he has not picked again. What kind of life is this? Why should my son be intimidated to submit to his wife? Is it not the wife that should submit to her husband? They said the girl has been maltreating my son so much and his father his aware.

He reports this girl and his father is insisting that he stays married to the girl. He has been inflicting a lot of humiliation on the young man. There are occasions when she slapped him. Can you imagine a woman slapping her husband? She disgraces him, pulls his shirt and threatens him. She tells him that she would ruin him and all manner of humiliation. She said she didn’t know that she married a 419, that it was only the name that the Obasanjo’s family have, that they don’t have money.

She is just a carbon copy of her mother. His mother joins in cursing and thretening him which his wife also does to him at home. He has been seriously battered and that is why he is running away from his wife. How can a man be running away from his wife and they are insisting he stays with this jewel of destruction? And daddy OBJ does not deem it fit… All he cares about is that he should stay married to her.

Why do you think he is insisting that they stay together despite their problems?

That is what I don’t know but I think it is because they are both from big families and if the marriage should break up it will become a scandal. But I am afraid for my son because we are in an era now where wives kill their husbands. So my son should stay in an unhappy marriage and whereas he has refused to make up with his first wife? He said he will never make up with her and he said he can never submit to her, that he is the head of the family. So why should he be insisting that my son should submit to his wife?

What steps have you taken to reconcile them?

Thank you for asking me that question. I have visited daddy Adebutu and I even went with my family so that they won’t think it’s his mother that is causing it all. Like I told you earlier, my son doesn’t call me, he doesn’t visit me. The two of them didn’t acknowledge me as a mother. She only does that when her husband runs away from the house and she will talk to me as if I am her maid too.

Asking me questions like, where is he? When last did you see him? So I went to see daddy Adebutu who is a very good man. The problem of this marriage, which they are trying to heap on me is from that girl, her mother Rosemary Dacosta and daddy OBJ. Tope is like a masquerade she will be crying when you are talking to her but she insults everybody in the family, even the Obasanjo’s family, she rubbishes everybody. He told the boy he wants hundred thousand naira as allowance. I told her, this boy doesn’t have money. He works for his father, he is a graduate and he studied International Relations. My son is not idiotic he is just a complete gentleman, very respectful and peaceful.
But this girl is trying to change him. My son is humble and he keeps to himself.

Let’s talk about other issues now. How is your party getting ready for the next elections?

On your question about our political party, we have not registered it because God told me that the solutions to the myriads of problems in our land will not come from a political party or many parties. The Almighty God told me that the solutions to the myriads of problems in our land will come from Him and just one good, selfless leader who we all can jointly support to provide servant leadership of humility, respect for all and that is not tribalistic or nepotic, that will listen to the people and be accessible. That is a national father figure that would unite us all and provide for all. That is my reason for not forging ahead to register the party.

What are your thoughts about Chief Obasanjo’s Coalition for Nigeria Movement?
I am not in support of it at all. The reason is Chief Obasanjo is providing medicine after death for this nation. I will tell you how. President Buhari is a son to Chief Obasanjo and he is 80+ years old on earth and he has spent all his years in public service and God gave him the privilege of getting to the pinnacle thrice as President of Nigeria. He got two terms as civilian president and as military head of state.

Who has Obasanjo mentored? President Buhari wants to contest again in 2019, when 95% of Nigerians are groaning in pain, lack and terrible hardships and we say we want a new person to take over. APC says it must be Buhari at all cost. Ex-president Obasanjo started it all when he said he wanted third term and it was God that aborted his unholy and sacrilegious agenda for our nation. On the coalition he has gone into, it is a serious aberration and a strong indictment of the quality of the leadership he has provided all these years and his fatherly role.

Moses in the Bible mentored Joshua, did you read that Moses fought Joshua, Elijah mentored Elisha, did Elijah raise up coalition against Elisha? King David mentored Solomon, did the old King raise up coalition against Solomon? But Solomon later transgressed, which was a trait he inherited from his late father -King David. Still on this coalition, what ex-president Obasanjo must do first with this coalition is to return Nigeria back to God and to lead us first in a genuine coalition of humility, attitude of repentance and remorse, asking God for forgiveness and pardon and mercy as in Luke 18:10. Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

11. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortionist, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12. I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I possess. 13. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

Chief Obasanjo coalition is challenging “The Almighty God” to move into the mode of open vengeance because he is unrepentant, a false pontiff and he is the author of the pain in our land. However, on President Buhari don’t let us harass him out of office or chase him out of office with ignominy. President Buhari is not a thief, he is not sexually immoral, he is not dishonest and he is not greedy. President Buhari is not evil and has not come to Islamize Nigeria. Don’t let us continue to focus and enlarge the fault of President Buhari. Let us all come together, respectfully and lovingly tell him to be another Nelson Mandela for our nation. Don’t let us continue to abuse and insult him and post damaging articles on him. President Buhari is not a thief, he is not a dishonest, treacherous leader. He is chosen by God to correct the damages done and we all must start building on accountability, honesty and very minimal corruptive attitude and permissiveness.

Don’t let us continue to vilify him. We appointed him with our vote, let him complete his term and with our vote we can bring in another person in 2019. Let me explain a little bit why we must not humiliate President Buhari out of office. In Libya, Gaddafi was humiliated and killed but the country of Libya has not known peace since then. I will advise that, Chief Obasanjo and other powerful men and women in our land – from the North and South – not individually but as a group to respectfully appeal to President Buhari not to force himself on us, God didn’t bring him to fragment Nigeria or encourage killing of the people by fake herdsmen. If he chooses to ignore respectable plea, we have our voters card, then let us all powerfully come together from all over the nation with our voters card and vote him out.

I want to publicly and respectfully warn Chief Olusegun Obasanjo that except he truly demonstrates genuine repentance first with God and the people of our nation, instead of the grandstanding posture of hypocrisy, trying to equalize himself with the Almighty God and showing off his ephemeral contaminated domination of our land. The gathering of his coalition movement is the beginning of the end of an era of a disobedient and unrepentant legend called Chief Obasanjo. The Almighty said this to me, but if he can truly repent, be humble, forgiving all and be remorseful, he and the coalition will still be used greatly for Nigeria.

Posted By: Yusuf Alli,


Several presidential aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are currently assessing how the Olusegun Obasanjo-inspired Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) might bolster their chances.

In this category are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and Alhaji Sule Lamido, The Nation gathered last night.

However, some PDP leaders and governors are angry with the former president for allegedly trying to lure into the CNM party members who are aggrieved against the new leadership of the PDP headed by Prince Uche Secondus.

Multiple sources said the coalition is already plotting against 11 APC states to pave the way for any presidential candidate it might adopt, and may pick a one time National Chairman of the PDP, Colonel Ahmadu Ali, to lead it.

Apart from the likes of former Osun State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and ex-Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke, no politician of note has openly identified with the CNM since it’s unveiling in Abuja on Wednesday.

Obasanjo, during his registration as a member of the coalition in Abeokuta on Thursday, said it was not yet a political party and that he would withdraw once it did.

It was gathered that some politicians who have an eye on the presidency in next year’s election are considering how they might profit from the coalition.

But they are waiting to see how it evolves and what influence it could wield.

Known friends of Obasanjo, including Ahmed Makarfi, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Sule Lamido are treading cautiously in their attitude to the CNM.

Former Senate President, David Mark, is said not to be keen in joining forces with the coalition.

Sources said he might drop his presidential ambition.

A source familiar with the situation said: “I can tell you that some APC governors like Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and PDP leaders, including presidential aspirants like ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Sule Lamido, Ibrahim Shekarau and others are really weighing options before pitching tent with the CNM whose direction is still confusing a year to an election.

“It is only Shekarau who has told Obasanjo that he cannot leave PDP under any circumstance for CNM. Obasanjo had invited Shekarau penultimate Wednesday to his place and the ex-governor spent a night with him.

“By Thursday morning, Shekarau made it clear that he would not be part of CNM no matter the bait.

“He however restated his respect for the ex-President. But he told Obasanjo his readiness to seek the presidential ticket of PDP and pleaded for the support of the statesman.

When contacted last night, a close source to Shekarau said: “Our principal will remain in PDP; he won’t be part of Obasanjo’s coalition at all.”

A trusted strategist of Kwankwaso also said: “In as much as Kwankwaso is in favour of a mass movement, he still prefers shifting base to a stronger party like PDP if President Muhammadu Buhari shows interest in APC presidential race. But Kwankwaso has no problem working with Obasanjo, who is his hero.”

A source in Atiku’s camp said: “Our focus right now is on PDP primaries. If there is need for alignment later with anyone or movement; when we get to the bridge, we will cross it. Don’t forget that APC was also a product of a mass movement and realignment; Atiku will never be opposed to such if it is desirable.”

A source in Makarfi’s group said: “We are expecting the PDP governors and leaders to appreciate the worth of our principal and concede the party’s presidential ticket to him.”

A strategist of Tambuwal said: “While we appreciate Obasanjo as a statesman, it is not yet time for politics or joining any movement.”

A reliable ally of Lamido said: “The ex-Governor of Jigawa State is a party man; he will stick to PDP no matter the outcome of PDP presidential primaries. In 2015, Obasanjo did his best to woo Lamido to APC but he refused. So, I don’t see him joining this movement. “

Findings also revealed why PDP leaders and some APC governors had been cautious.

A top source added: “What is not helping matters with CNM is the hidden agenda of the coalition of Obasanjo.

“Some PDP leaders were told by a few sympathizers of CNM that the ultimate plan is to rely on PDP structure as the main opposition party, woo some APC governors, Senators and members of the House of Representatives, and foster alliance with a few parties to apply for a change of name from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the new merger party. The name will reflect a combination of PDP and others.

“Having torn PDP membership card, some of the leaders cannot understand why Obasanjo will seek to use its coalition to lure its leaders and members. The CNM wants to destroy PDP and build a new one from its rubbles.

“The CNM has a dangerous game-plan which will lead to the hijack of PDP from the governors of the party led by Nyesom Wike and the new generation of leaders.”

A member of NWC said the party’s leadership believes the “CNM will not work”
The source added: “What is painful is that in forming the coalition, Obasanjo has drawn some aggrieved PDP leaders to himself instead of those in the leadership of the party who he refused to contact.

Instead in his letter to President Buhari, he was accusing the party of procuring judgment at the Supreme Court.

“From ex-Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola (who was removed as PDP National Secretary) to ex-Governor Donald Duke, we learnt he has been trying to poach our former National Chairman, Sen. Ahmadu Ali, ex- Deputy President of the Senate, Ibrahim Mantu, ex-Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, a former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, Kashim Ibrahim Imam, Prof. Rufai Alkali, Sen. Barnabas Gemade, Sen. Gadi, Arc. Bunu, Shehu Gabam and others.

“As a party, we are keeping records of what the CNM is up to with our leaders. We believe in reconciliation and we are working towards it. But if some of these leaders prefer CNM, good luck to them.”

Some CNM leaders were shocked that the coalition took off on a shaky note because of last minutes change of mind by some PDP leaders and APC governors who had assured Obasanjo of their support.

The affected subscribers to CNM had a rethink and stayed away from the maiden launch in Abuja because most of them were unsure of how the coalition can guarantee them elective positions in 2019.

Others claimed that it was “premature “to take any gamble with the coalition because 2019 politics is just manifesting.

It was learnt that the initial plan to make the coalition to take off with “frenzy” failed as plan with the absence of the affected leaders who had planned to be at Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre.

It was gathered that the development informed the relaunch of the CNM, under the guise of membership registration by ex-President Obasanjo, on Thursday in Abeokuta.

Sources said that Obasanjo’s long standing ally and former National Chairman of PDP, Sen. Ahmadu Ali, may lead the CNM as chairman in view of his experience in ‘garrison politics’.

Meanwhile, there were fresh indications yesterday that Obasanjo’s coalition is in a secret plot against 11 APC states in order to pave the way for any presidential candidate it might adopt.

The targeted states are Kaduna, Jigawa, Kano, Osun, Katsina, Benue, Kwara, Ogun, Plateau, Imo, and Bauchi.

“The coalition wants to capitalize on some challenges in some of these states to effect change in leadership. The initial test of the coalition’s campaign will be during the forthcoming Osun and Ekiti governorship polls. The permutation is that once it is able to mobilize the masses to dislodge APC and PDP, the coalition would have effectively taken off.

“The template in Osun and Ekiti will now be used for the other nine states. The APC leaders are however aware of the plot and a counter-plot has started, beginning with the responses of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and ex-Governor Adams Oshiomhole to Obasanjo on his letter to Buhari.”

As at press time however, findings confirmed that most foreign missions have opened desks to monitor the potency of CNM and the emerging political scenarios in the country.

A diplomat said: “Your country is undergoing an interesting political time, we are all watching. Our home countries are really interested in what will become of Obasanjo’s project, especially if it will have impact on your country’s politics.

“We want a robust and stable democracy and peace for Nigeria.”

Britain no longer wants to be a safe haven for the money of corrupt politicians , public officials and organised crime , as a new law to clamp down on money laundering goes into effect this week .

Officials estimate that around £ 90 billion ($ 127 billion , 102 billion euros ) of illegal funds are laundered through Britain every year and this includes money stolen from the Nigerian treasury .

Now officials will use new unexplained wealth orders (UWOs ), which came into effect this week , to seize suspicious assets and hold them until they have been properly accounted for, Ben Wallace , Security and Economic Crime Minister told The Times newspaper on Saturday .

Wallace said Russian oligarchs suspected of corruption will be forced to explain their wealth .

Wallace said he wanted the “ full force of the government ” to come down on corrupt politicians and international criminals using Britain as a haven.

“ When we get to you we will come for you , for your assets and we will make the environment that you live in difficult , ” he said .

Speaking of Russian involvement, Wallace highlighted the so - called Laundromat case in which ghost companies — many based in Britain — were used to launder Russian money through Western banks .

“ What we know from the Laundromat expose is that certainly there have been links to the (Russian) state. The government ’ s view is that we know what they are up to and we are not going to let it happen any more , ” Wallace said .

“ Beneath the gloss there is real nastiness , ” he said of international crime lords.

“ We are going to go after these iconic individuals, whether they are known about in their local community or known about internationally. ”

UWOs allow the British authorities to freeze and recover property if individuals are unable to explain how they acquired assets in excess of £ 50, 000 .

Wallace said that a lawmaker from a country where MPs do not receive big salaries , who suddenly buys a luxury townhouse in central London, would have to prove how they paid for it .

“ We will seize that asset , we will dispose of it and we will use the proceeds to fund our law enforcement, ” he said .

“ I have put pressure on the law enforcement agencies to use them ( UWOs) soon . ”

By Hope Abah , Abubakar Auwal, Lami Sadiq, Itodo Daniel Sule & Habibu




This year came with a lot of prospects on the political scene, with many first term governors who believe they have done enough already fixing the machinery for campaigns to get a second term, even as many other politicians are equally unrelenting in their efforts to upstage them.

Recent developments might reshape Ortom’s chances in Benue
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State who is gradually rounding off his first term recently indicated interest to re-contest the governorship election in 2019 after he claimed to have received “divine leading” to do so at the end of a spiritual retreat.

Nobody from Ortom’s All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has yet declared the intention to challenge him at the polls, but several people from the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are believed to be warming up for the coveted seat.

Feelers are rife that Prince Terhemen Tarzoor, the PDP candidate who lost to Ortom in 2015 would make a big comeback to the political scene. Also, Dr. Steve Wande, the proprietor of First Fertility Hospital in Makurdi, is speculated to be rooting for the governorship position under the PDP alongside Tarzoor. The body language of Engr. Felix Atume, a PDP gubernatorial aspirant in 2015 general elections, suggests at the moment that he would still dive into the political terrain.

But a sacked member of the House of Representatives who represented Vandekiya and Konshisha federal constituency and an APC member, Herman Hembe, is rumoured to have started campaign in disguise for seat of power following series of stakeholders’ meetings he had held lately which tilted towards such direction as he continues to gather momentum at his locality.

Political watchers are however of the opinion that the names dropping so far are not likely to pose much threat to the incumbent governor’s ambition except, of course, things change, as they certainly would as election date draws closer.

In the thinking of these political observers, Ortom may survive the storm only when his administration surmounts the challenges of unpaid salaries to workers and surmount the current insecurity in the state.

While many from outside expect that the herders/farmers clashes in Benue might be Ortom’s undoing considering how he is championing the anti-grazing law, political analysts believe that the governor is now a “hero” among his people, with many who disliked him in the past for some reasons now seeing him as the man to beat.

However, the governor, at the wake of fresh killings by gunmen in parts of the state since new year day, announced suspension of political activities pending when peace returns to the state.

Before then, Ortom had on Thursday, November 9, 2017, told stakeholders from the Masev, Iharev, and Nongov Development Association (MINDA) which comprises Gwer, Gwer West, Makurdi and Guma local government areas, that he was ready for re-election.


Subtle challenge in Sokoto

There is an impression in certain quarters that there would be less threat to Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal in case he makes up his mind to re-contest the governorship of Sokoto State, but some analysts believe circumstances might alter cases.

Tambuwal has maintained cordial relationship with the two political gladiators and former governors of the state-Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and Alhaji Dalhatu Bafarawa, both who still hold sway in the state’s political arena.

The two are noted to have remained the determining factors on who becomes what in their respective political parties, the APC and PDP, and since coming on board, Tambuwal has maintained good relationship with both, visiting them at will and paying homage to them at festive periods.

It was said that Bafarawa, despite his long standing misunderstanding with Senator Wamakko, has resolved not to interfere in state affairs, and there are reports that he had cautioned his followers, particularly leaders of the PDP, to avoid criticizing Tambuwal’s government.

Similarly, Bafarawa has been shying away from granting media interviews on Tambuwal, whom he always calls “my son”, and with whom he would never join issues.
In 2015, Tambuwal on the platform of the APC contested against his in-law, Senator Abdallah Wali of the PDP.

Wali had contested two times for the position, once against his current political Godfather, Bafarawa in 2003 and the second against Tambuwal. It is not clear what will happen next year.

The second likely contestant is a two-time commissioner in the state, Faruk Malami Yabo, who was dislodged by a mutual arrangement that catapulted Tambuwal to be the APC flag bearer during the last election after a “gentleman’s” agreement.
To demonstrate that he was privy to the arrangement, Yabo took Tambuwal’s hand and presented him to the delegates despite the entrenched believe at the time that he (Yabo) was the anointed successor of Wamakko.

Yabo is said to be highly interested in contesting the governorship seat next year but it is too early to say under which platform. The success or otherwise of his bid for the candidature of the APC might depend heavily on where the Wamakko factor swings.

Another possible candidate is a veteran politician and one time Commissioner for Industry in the old Sokoto State and a former chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Senator Umaru Dahiru Tambuwal. He had equally aspired to become governor in 2015 under the banner of APC but could not secure the ticket. For now, his posters are seen in Sokoto metropolis with words of praise. One of such posters read: “A patient man will one day secure victory.”


PDP the challenger in Plateau

Popular politicians in Plateau State such as Sen. Jeremiah Useni, Sen. Victor Lar, Eng. Jimmy Cheto and Hon. Kemi Nshe all have one thing in common-they, alongside many others in the PDP, want to tackle Governor Simon Bako Lalong for the number one seat in the state.

Most of those eyeing Lalong’s seat are members of the main opposition party and hail from his southern Senatorial zone, giving an indication that the PDP may likely zone its governorship seat to the zone as a way of accosting Lalong from the home front.

But Lalong is seen by many as one man with a “thick shell” which cannot be easily cracked. Despite his gentle posture which many take for granted, the governor survived as the state’s longest serving speaker in the past and was even the chairman of the Conference of Speakers in Nigeria twice.

However, the likes of Sen. Jeremiah Useni, the oldest among those eyeing Lalong’s job, are trying to prove that the governor’s legendary simplicity and humility which endears him to the masses can be challenged.

Useni’s ambition is becoming more pronounced by the day and insiders say rumours about the senator’s state of health will not deter the army general turned politician.

Useni, now a senator representing the southern senatorial zone, is also braving speculations that his age is a factor as his media aide, Abubakar Ateeku, recently said the senator was “strong and capable”.

However, before he thinks of tackling Lalong, Useni has to device ways of convincing his majority Tarok ethnic group to support him against a much younger Sen. Victor Lar, who vacated the senate seat for him in 2015.

With Lar already making his mark among the youths who see him as vibrant, many say he is better shaped to be used by the PDP to upstage Lalong.

Lar’s ambition to become governor is not new as he had contested the governorship seat in 2007 on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) but lost to a former governor, Jonah Jang. The former senator had traded his senatorial seat to grab the PDP governorship ticket in the build-up to the 2015 general elections but with Jang at the helm of affairs, the ticket eluded him, depicting a classic case of what many call “Two zero.”

Eng. Jimmy Cheto also of Tarok extraction made three failedattempts to become governor. In 2015, Cheto was so angered by Jang’s choice of the late Gyang Pwajok that he supported Lalong’s candidacy.
Unlike Useni, Lar and Cheto, Nicholas Kemi Nshe is not only from Lalong’s local government area but is also of his Goemai tribe. Nshe’s name came up more often than most at the twilight of the PDP primaries in 2015 as many had thought Jang would reconsider anointing Gyang Pwajok from his northern zone for Nshe, his then close ally and chairman of Shendam LGA.

Even with the PDP consistently mocking the governor’s achievements as only completing projects started by them, there are those who have risen to the governor’s defence that he is never one that brags, and has kept to his promise of executing existing projects and ensuring a conducive environment for investors. By that, they say, he has fulfilled his campaign promises.

Most importantly, the peace which Plateau has enjoyed for nearly three years now outshines whatever the PDP had put on ground, an edge which many say would count for the governor.

Masari suppressing threats in Katsina
In Katsina, Governor Aminu Masari’s perceived threats to re-election seem to be coming from the APC splinter group called the APC-Akida comprising people like MT Liman, Sadiq Yaradua, Sada Ilu and Usman Bugaje among others.

While the PDP has people like Garba Faskari, Musa Nashuni, Umar Tata and Muttaka Rabe, Masari feels more threat from within.

But obviously, emerging political developments, especially from the governor’s camp,are suppressing the threat.

Recently, some supporters of two former gubernatorial aspirants that took part in the 2015 elections crossed over to the Masari camp. These include the structure left behind by the late Senator Kanti Bello and Sada Ilu.

Masari was also able to win the hearts of over 250 former councilors who served under the past government. They were publicly received into Masari’s camp at an elaborate ceremony.

Another recent event was the decamping of some prominent PDP personalities like the former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Yau Gwajo Gwajo, his deputy, Bilya Rimi, Ibrahim Ida, Sabiu Mai Jamaa, Abdul Isa and Musa Adamu, among others. These were strong political pillars in the PDP before their departure.

The coming of these men led to the formation of the APC Consultative Forum that has strong support of the party and government. They are now convincing more people to join the APC to support Masari.

At present, Masari has absolute control of the party which in turn has endorsed him as the sole candidate for the 2019 election.


Kogi’s political waters full of uncertainty

Gladiators eyeing the Kogi governorship seat have begun to make underground moves and consultations on how to wrestle power from Governor Yahaya Bello.

Bello is believed to be gunning for another term according to his associates and supporters. Nearly 30 aspirants vied for the APC ticket which was won by the late Prince Abubakar Audu in 2015 but eventually went to Bello. Many of the aspirants are reportedly bracing up for another trial.

Although many of such gladiators are yet to declare their interests publicly, some names of likely contenders who are set to give the incumbent governor a run for his money have started emerging even as more are expected in the weeks ahead.

One of them is Aliyu Aku, a PDP chieftain and current member representing Omala Constituency in the state House of Assembly. Aku who is a second term member, was also a deputy speaker in the 6th assembly before he resigned in the wake of a leadership crisis that rocked the assembly.

He was also a personal assistant to former governor Ibrahim Idris from whom he still enjoys good support. Aku is well respected for his show of courage and integrity while the crisis in the assembly lasted. His decision to stay faithful to his party, the PDP, when other colleagues crossed to the APC for alleged personal gains, seems to have endeared him more to the people.

A former governor, Ibrahim Idris, recently said they would wrestle power from the “non- performing” APC-led government and many are suggesting that he may support Aku.

Another contender is Chief Dr. Joseph Ameh Erico, a security expert. He is said to be one of the front line contenders in the governorship race and has been making wide consultations with critical stakeholders ahead of the election.

Dr. Idris Omede is the current president, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN). He was a Commissioner for Health in the state and a one time National President, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA). He hails from Dekina Local Government Area of the state and is said to be among those that would pose a threat to the governor if he contests.

Senator Alex Kadiri who represented Kogi East Senatorial District in the National Assembly at a time is also said to be warming up to contest the governorship election.

He was among the 28 governorship aspirants that contested the APC ticket in the 2015 election. AVM Saliu Atawodi is another contender who was among those that contested the APC ticket in 2015.

Engr. Emmanuel Omebije who hails from Dekina LGA was a two-term member of the state assembly as well as a deputy speaker of the assemblyis another contender.

Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed Aruwa is one those that has indicated interest to seek the number one seat. The aspirant has put in many years in the banking sector and believes the experience has equipped him to govern the state.

TUNDE THOMAS and CLEMENT ADEYI


The traditional rulers summit which took place in Port-Harcourt last Tuesday was almost marred by an unpleasant confrontation between the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdurasheed Adewale Akanbi ,and the Chief Securiy Officer (CSO) to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.

The tense situation could have snowballed into a bigger crisis but for reason that eventually prevailed.

The incident occurred at the Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt.

It was gathered that the Ooni of Ife ,Oba Ogunwusi had just finished giving a vote of thanks, and was on his way back to his seat when his CSO, Mr. Emmanuel Olawale Kolawole, who led other security aides of the monarch allegedly had a brush with the Oluwo, who appeared to be blocking the Ooni from accessing his seat.

The Oluwo, it was learnt, was by then discussing with the Minister of Interior, Lt Gen. Abdurahman Dambazzau, who shared the high table with the Ooni and the Rivers State gover, Nyesome Wike.

A source in the Oluwo’s court who witnessed the incident alleged that the CSO out of overzealousness, threatened to push the monarch if he did not give way for Ooni to pass.

He was said to have ignored Oba Akanbi’s entreaties to “take it easy” and pushed him out of the way.

A visibly embarrassed Oluwo, who is the Deputy Chairman of the Osun State Traditional Rulers Council had to step aside to pave way for Ooni to get to his seat, the source said.

But the media aide to the Ooni, Comrade Moses Olafare, denied that such scenario ever happened in Port Harcourt.

Olafare lamented that the report was not only shocking and a big surprise but also misleading, adding that there was no iota of truth in it.

Some of the guests at the event, and other eye witnesses accounts reported observing Ooni expressing satisfaction with the conduct of his CSO.

Some dignitaries at the event were however taken aback on what they considered as desecration of the crown wondering loudly how Ooni’s CSO could have the effrontery to push a first class paramount ruler of Oluwo’s status.

The security detail concerned, Kolawole, also denied pushing the Oluwo or manhandling him, although he admitted in a telephone interview that the had an encounter with the monarch in the course of discharging his legitimate duty.

He said he could not have disrespected a revered Oba as a true Yoruba son, but maintained that he had a duty to secure his principal.

According to him, when the Ooni finished his speech and was returning to his seat beside the Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen Abdurahman Dambazzau and the Rivers state governor ,as well as some Emirs ,he quickly moved to receive and sit behind him.

“I didn’t expect the Oluwo to stand there because his seat was not there. So, I only excused and asked him to move away from there. I didn’t push him as alleged’’.

Emmanuel who reiterated that he was only doing his job added; ’’I’m the Ooni’s CSO, and all the other CSOs sat behind their principals.

He also denied that he acted on the instruction or the approval of Ooni Adeyeye, saying that he was not aware of any cold war between the two royal fathers. “Eyan wa ni won now, meaning: He (Oluwo) is our own now. How could I have done that?”
Olafare in a reaction added that there were over 100 journalists and 30 camera men at the event, arguing that if such a thing happened, it would have been reported since last when the event was held.

He wondered why the report was being pushed in the media “to cause confusion.”

He said there has been no running battle between the Ooni and Oluwo, adding that when the Ooni arrived the venue of the occasion, Oluwo was the first among the set of prominent traditional rulers and guests that he (the Ooni) greeted.

He, however, argued that what the Oluwo had misunderstood as a molestation by the Ooni’s CSO was a mere protocol assignment that he (the CSO) had the mandate to perform for his principal.

Olafare said that the CSO politely asked the Oluwo to excuse the Ooni to be able to access his seat.

He said that in fairness to him, the Oluwo obliged immediately and the Ooni was able to access his seat.

“Going to the high table to introduce himself to Dambazzau on the high table while the programme was still on and blocking the Ooni from accessing his seat after delivering his speech and blocking the views of other guests was a breach of protocol on the part of the Oluwo.

In any case, when his CSO politely asked him to excuse the Ooni to get to his seat, he obliged in fairness to him and there was no problem. So, it is surprising that Oluwo is now trying to make a case out of this,” Olafare said.

By Samuel Ogundipe



The Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris has yet to relocate to Benue State, in an apparent affront to President Muhammadu Buhari’s order last month.

In a directive issued on January 9, Mr. Buhari asked Mr. Idris, whom he appointed in June 2016, to move to Benue State to restore order and forestall further attacks on villagers by suspected herdsmen.

The president also emphasised in his January 25 letter to the Senate that he had “instructed the Inspector General of Police to relocate to Benue State” and “redeploy forces to the most sensitive areas.”

The order followed the January 1 killings of over 70 villagers in Logo and Guma Local Government Areas of the state, a development that sparked nationwide outrage and calls for a new approach to the killings linked to farmer-herdsmen crisis across central Nigeria.

The president asked Mr. Idris to focus on the farmers-herders attacks in Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Adamawa and Kaduna States. Each of these states has witnessed repeated attacks in recent weeks.

Mr. Idris initially obeyed the president’s order and arrived Makurdi, the state capital, on January 10, meeting with Governor Samuel Ortom on January 11.

But the Inspector-General spent only three days touring the state, including holding talks with Benue political and religious leaders and visiting camps of the internally displaced persons in Logo Local Government Area.

Subsequently, the IG left the state for Nasarawa, drawing criticism from Benue residents that he was disobeying the president’s order by abandoning Benue, which is the epicentre of the deadly violence.

But Mr. Idris’ stay in Nasarawa was also short-lived, PREMIUM TIMES learnt. The police chief departed the state after about four days and returned to Abuja, where he has remained ever since.


PREMIUM TIMES could not immediately confirm the reason behind the defiance of a presidential order by Mr. Idris, who recently faced a nationwide ridicule for describing the January 1 killing in Benue as “communal clashes.”

PREMIUM TIMES’ calls and text messages to the Inspector-General seeking comments about his refusal to relocate to Benue as directed by the president were neither acknowledged nor returned within the past one week.

Similarly, police spokesperson Jimoh Moshood ignored PREMIUM TIMES’ repeated requests for comments on the matter.

However, the state governor said he understood why it was difficult for the Inspector-General to stay in Benue.

Mr. Ortom said Nigeria’s security challenges are enormous and the Inspector-General is only one man who could not be expected to concentrate in one part of the country.

“But we have the deputy inspector-general in charge of operations on the ground here,” Mr. Ortom told PREMIUM TIMES in a January 24 interview in Makurdi.

Mr. Buhari issued a similar order to the Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai in 2015, asking the military chief to relocate to Borno State, the epicentre of the Boko Haram onslaught.

Mr. Buratai has remained at the theatre of operations since then. He only visits the Army headquarters in Abuja when necessary, for meetings or administrative tasks, but “most of the time, he’s in Maiduguri,” a military chief told PREMIUM TIMES Thursday night, corroborating our independent findings.

But Mike Ejiofor, a security analyst, said there’s no rationale for the Inspector-General to remain in Benue or anywhere else in the crisis-ridden north-central.

“I don’t think it’s reasonable for him to remain there and leave all his administrative work at the headquarters,” said Mr. Ejiofor, a former director at the State Security Service.

Mr. Ejiofor said the DIG Operations that was kept in Benue is enough to coordinate the activities of police in the area, saying the relocation of military chiefs to Borno State had no significant impact on the overall success of military tactics against insurgents.

“I think we should be realistic,” he added.

Several local government areas in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba States are still in crisis, with killings reported every now and then, PREMIUM TIMES found,

Thousands of residents are currently trapped in separate camps run by the government and private organisations in the three states.

More than 660 members of the police special forces are currently manning 10 units in Benue and Nasarawa, Mr. Idris said last month.

PREMIUM TIMES recently found that at least six villages were still being avoided by police special forces in Logo Local Government Area alone.

Security forces appear unable to withstand the firepower of the attackers lurking in the bushes around the villages.

The Federal Government is planning to stop the Nigerian Customs Service from raiding markets to seize imported rice, the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, has said.

The minister spoke to State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), saying that the Federal Government has approved N1.12 billion for the purchase of 50 operational “anti-rice smuggling” vehicles to check the persistent smuggling of the commodity into the country.

“We felt that it is important we don’t want customs going to seize rice in the markets.

Customs should actually act to stop rice coming in at the border posts and customs indicated that they need additional vehicles, additional resources as well as of course other more information-driven strategies to stop it,’’ she stated.

Adeosun said the procurement of the operational vehicles, which would be deployed to the anti-rice smuggling task force, was also meant to stop customs officials from invading markets to seize smuggled rice and harassing traders.

“The second approval was for the purchase of 50 vehicles and they are going to be deployed for an anti-rice smuggling task force that is being put together which customs will be leading,” she revealed.

lalasticlala

Suspected members of the Boko Haram sect struck at an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Dalori, Borno state, on Wednesday.

A witness told TheCable that many IDPs were killed in the attack.

“Soldiers have locked up the place to probably prevent another suicide bomber from gaining access,” the witness said.
“I can’t say the number of those killed but I know they are many.”

Another witness said a soldier lost his life while over 40 IDPs were killed. But the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said only two suicide bombers died in the tragic incident.

“Multiple suicide bomb attacks involving two suicide bombers at Dalori quarters near Dalori IDP camp. One person was inflicted with a mild injury whereas the suicide bombers were killed by the explosion,” it said in a statement.

Dalori is a suburb near Maiduguri. It hosts one of the largest IDP camps, with more than 15,000 people.

The camp is located on the road from Maiduguri to Konduga, Bama and the border between Nigeria and Cameroon, 15 kilometres south-east of Maiduguri.

The camp has been targeted many times by suspected Boko Haram insurgents. The worst of these attacks occurred on January 30, 2016, when at least 86 people were killed and at least 62 injured.

By Bashir Liman


[img]https://images.dailytrust.com.ng/cms/gall_content/2018/1/2018_1$large_B.jpg[/img]

Three young men have been arrested for gangraping a 14-year-old girl in Angwan Rogo in the Jos North local government of Plateau state.

The suspects were identified as Suleiman Usman, 18, Umar Aliyu, 18 and Usman Bala, 20 all of Angwan Rogo in Jos.

They are said to have lured and drugged the teenager before gangraping her on the afternoon of January 23.

A fourth man Kenza, in whose room the men raped the girl, is yet to be arrested.
All arrested men have confessed to the allegation.

By Musa Abdullahi Krish



The Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, is facing sanction from his colleagues over his comments on the last week amendments to the Electoral Act, 2010 done by the House.

Doguwa told Daily Trust on Monday that he never supported the amendments and that they were meant to target President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He also described the amendments as “mischievous” and that they would not stand, calling on Buhari not to assent to the bill when presented to him.

However, it was gathered that his colleagues were angered by his comments, particularly as a ranking member who is also part of the House leadership.

It was learnt that a motion would be raised on the floor of the House today to address the matter, with the likelihood of sanctions to be meted out against the Kano lawmaker.

Although the gravity of the sanctions could not be ascertained, sources said the lawmakers were “very, very angry with him.”

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE


A woman simply known as Joyce who was barren for 17 years has suffered heartbreak after she discovered that her husband, Bobo had secretly got kids from a divorcee, Chiamaka without her knowledge.

The incident happened at Nkpor town in Anambra State where Bobo hailed from, but lived with Joyce in Ejigbo, Lagos.

P.M.EXPRESS scooped that the whole secret came to the open when Chiamaka put pressure on Bobo, that she no longer wanted their affair to remain hidden and desired to take her position as the woman of the house.

It was gathered that Bobo and Joyce got married many years ago and were blessed with materially things as they had several houses both in Lagos and their home town in Nkpor. However, they were unable to bear children after trying medical and spiritual solutions. They were strong members and wedded in the Catholic Church.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that after waiting for several years, Joyce suggested that they should adopt a child that will look after them at their old age but Bobo refused insisting that they had to continue to look up unto God for the fruit of the womb.

As a result, Bobo had issues with members of his family concerning their inability to have child. The family members reportedly invited the couple and suggested that they should abduct kids but Bobo still refused.

Joyce did not know that while all these were going on, Bobo already had two children with the divorcée Chiamaka and had rented an apartment for her in their town.

However, the whole thing got exposed when Chiamaka brought three kids to the family house during the Christmas period in the presence of Joyce. She introduced herself as Bobo’s wife and presented the children to the family.

The family summoned a meeting and concluded that they had no choice than to plead with Joyce to accept Chiamaka and the children.

The bone of contention now is that Chiamaka wants Bobo to take her and the kids to Lagos and demanded that Joyce should return to the village because she had no child.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that Bobo is now in a dilemma and does not know what to do as all the properties they had in Lagos were acquired through the efforts of Joyce.

John Ameh , Abuja


The House of Representatives has opened a public hearing on the rift between the Minister of Finance, Mrs . Kemi Adeosun , and the suspended Director -General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Mr. Mounir Gwarzo .

The hearing is being conducted by the House Committee on Capital Market and Institutions .

It is chaired by a Peoples Democratic Party member from Kogi State, Mr. Tajudeen Yusuf .

Reps and Gwarzo are already seated , but Adeosun sends words that she will join the session later .

lalasticlala

By By Abbas Jimoh 


The Speaker of the House of Representatives,  Yakubu Dogara, has said that Nigeria’s political parties, including the ruling APC, the main opposition PDP and others are weak, unstable, lacking functional party apparatus, and also suffering from low organizational capacity and internal democracy.

He said political parties that refused to embrace reforms to institute internal democracy risk extinction.

Dogara stated this while delivering a keynote address at a retreat on: ‘Dynamics of Managing Political Parties’ organised by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Abuja yesterday.

Represented by the House Minority Whip, Yakubu Umar Barde, he said in an attempt to either capture or hold on to power, some political parties sometimes embellished their manifestos with unrealistic promises which he said amounted to malpractice.

“It is a political malpractice for an elected government to govern without reference to the manifesto that was placed before the voters which essentially formed the basis of their election,” he said.

The speaker stated that for political parties to effectively play central role in democratic representation, they must be managed and operated in such a manner as to establish trust in the electorate. 

He lamented that most political parties in Africa, and Nigeria in particular, were weak, lacking not only stable and functioning party apparatus, but also clear programmatic appeal.

“They also suffer from low organisational capacity and lack of internal democracy. Such weak political parties cannot support democracy, as parties are expected to serve many important functions, including citizen mobilisation, interest aggregation, public policy formulation, leadership recruitment and government organisation,” he said.

Dogara maintained that the apparent weaknesses of political parties in Nigeria underlined the need for reform and professionalisation, saying “by professionalisation, we mean an institutional process by which professionals become more central to the running of our parties.

“Currently, our parties in Nigeria could do with better professional organisation of their operations,” he said.

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE


A 34-year old man, Destiny Obete has landed in trouble after he battered his friend’s lover, Angela Akpan for denying him sex in his house in Lagos.

The incident happened at 30 Adebayo Oyelano Street, Ejigbo , Lagos.

Destiny descended on the lady, beat her up and inflicted injury on her body.

P.M.EXPRESS scooped that Angela had accommodation problem and pleaded with Obete to stay in his house until she was able to get another accommodation. He agreed and she moved into his house.

However, Obete upon discovering that Angela was bringing other men to the house for sex romps, developed interest and wanted to have his own share. It was gathered that one night when they had locked the door and were about to sleep, Obete tried to arouse her feelings so that she will be in the mood.

Angela became annoyed and refused all entreaties by Obete to have his way. That angered Obete who reportedly assaulted her and threw her out of his apartment.

When P.M.EXPRESS contacted Angela, she explained that Obete got angry and assaulted her because she refused him taking the advantage of harbouring her in his house to sleep with her. She said it was not his right because she says with and had no right to assault her and stole her money.

However, Obete denied all the allegations and claimed that Angela did so to punish him. He said that both of them were from Cross River State and he knew her in Lagos through his friend and had agreed to harbour her after she explained her accommodation challenge.

The matter was reported to the police at Ejigbo Division, Obete was arrested and charged before Ejigbo Magistrates court for assault.

He pleaded not guilty.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. K.J. Layeni granted Obete 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 14 February, 2018.

By Daniel Adugbo



Nigerian government owes NNPC some N170.6 billion in outstanding subsidy payments withheld for at least nine years, the corporation said Monday.

The debts come from subsidies government was meant to have paid NNPC from January 2006 to December 2015, said NNPC group managing director Maikanti Baru.

The National Assembly is investigating N5 trillion owed NNPC in subsidy payments from 2006 till last year.

According to a statement from the corporation, the GMD said the figure was arrived at after deduction of N4.950 trillion received as payments from the N5.121 trillion approved subsidy claims of the corporation from January 2006 to December 2015.

Providing details of the accruals, Chief Financial Officer of the corporation, Mr. Isiaka AbdulRazaq, traced the advent of the subsidy regime to October, 2003 when NNPC was directed by government to commence the purchase of domestic crude oil at international market price without a corresponding liberalization of the regulated price of petroleum products.

The statement signed by spokesman of the corporation Ndu Ughamadu explained that under the subsidy regime, NNPC and other suppliers of refined petroleum products were entitled to file subsidy claims to the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).

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Posted By: Yusuf Alli


There is disquiet in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the camp of President Muhammadu Buhari over the disposition of some stalwarts of the party to the fortune of the party ahead of next year’s polls.

Senate President BukolaSaraki; House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara; Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; ex-Governor Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso; ex-Governor Aliyu Wammako; ex-Governor Danjuma Goje; ex-Governor Ahmed Sani Yerima and some APC governors are among such party chieftains.

Some of them dumped the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to be part of the coalition which led to the birth of the APC.

Authoritative party sources said last night that none of the leaders has made any commitment to a possible second term ticket for President Buhari because they are weighing their own options on the way forward.

A few of them have a strong political relationship with ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, who wrote a toxic letter to the President during the week.

Obasanjo,in the letter,asked Buhari to jettison any plan to seek reelection next year and pay attention to his health.

He called for the formation of what he called a Third Force to wrestle power from the APC and stop the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from returning to power.

Prominent politicians across party divide are said to be already lining up to join the “Third Force.”

Investigation by our correspondent indicated that the Presidency is worried by what sources termed the “silence and cold attitude” of these leaders to Buhari’s second term bid.

Although some of the leaders believe it is too early now to start politicking, some APC leaders and Buhari’s strategists are suspicious of such position.

The closeness of some of them to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo has compounded the fears of those in Buhari’s camp.

It was learnt that a few of them, including some APC Senators and members of the House of Representatives, have practically abandoned the party.

It was gathered that a minister recently met one of the leaders on the second term bid of the President but the highly-placed match-maker allegedly said: “It is the President who should tell me, not you.”

According to findings, the development accounted for the series of dinners being organised by the President to interact with these leaders to gauge their mood and indirectly seek their support.

The President has already dined with Senators and members of the House of Representatives.

The last dinner he had was with a group comprising ex-Senate President Ken Nnamani, ex-Governor Orji UzorKalu, ex-National Chairman of PDP, AbubakarKawuBaraje and others.

A top source in Buhari’s camp said: “Most of these top leaders have not been forthcoming on the second term aspiration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Some of these leaders are too silent to trust. Look, the loyalists of Buhari are also not taking things for granted at all.

“Virtually every day, consultations and negotiation are going on with leaders, political groups across the six geopolitical zones.

“While some are weighing options, we are also suspecting that some of them are behind the Coalition for Nigeria (CN) campaign by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo because they don’t want to come out ; they don’t want a direct confrontation with Buhari.

“We are however giving some of them benefit of the doubt because the political climate might be unpredictable in their states and they may have no option than to remain in APC with Buhari.”

But a source, who had attended some dinners with Buhari, said: “I think the President is also watching his steps because he has not come out categorically that he is interested in a second term.

“For instance, at the last dinner with ex-Governor Kalu and others, he only ate with us. In spite of the fact that ex-Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso was at the session, Buhari did not tell us he would seek a second term ticket.

“He gave us so much to eat and did the talking alone. The President’s handlers did not allow him to have any feedback from us.

“Such a dinner would have been a golden opportunity to speak our minds and forge a new rapprochement.

It is not sufficient to say at a dinner that you have not forgotten some party leaders without telling us what you are driving at.

“In fairness, I do not see these leaders as mind readers. The President will now need to do more to consult individually and in group on his re-election ambition.”

A source in Tambuwal camp, who spoke in confidence, said: “You should know better that the governor does not pretend.

“When he was the Speaker of the House of Representatives, it was obvious to all Nigerians that his heart was with the APC. I can tell you that by now, if he has alternative plan, you would have known.

“I think some leaders in the party are suspicious of Tambuwal because he has refused to commit himself to the seven governors spearheading the second term aspiration of the President. Oga has repeatedly told them that the mood of this country is not for politics now. He has always said during politics, we will play politics.

“But some of these governors are in the forefront of second term agitation because their political fate is tied to Buhari because they have not performed in office.”

A source in Saraki’s camp said: “The President of the Senate has cooperated with this government and he is focusing on governance. The truth is that as a politician, he prefers tactical maneuvering to doing the talking. And do not forget that his office is too strategic to be politically flippant.

“I know we are already using an airline (APC) but we don’t know yet if we will stick to the airline or book another flight. One thing is sure; we will get a boarding pass at the end of the day. We are watching the lips of our leader although our dilemma is that it is difficult to read his body language on this type of issue.

“You cannot rule out consultations and weighing of options by Saraki and others.”

A close strategist of Kwankwaso said: “If the President is seeking re-election on the platform of APC, you should not expect that Kwankwaso with presidential aspiration to remain in the same party.

“But if Buhari is not contesting, Kwankwaso will remain in APC. This is a straightforward matter and it is discernible.”

Asked of the next move, the source added: “Once Buhari declares interest in running for second term, Kwankwaso may join a stronger party after weighing options and consulting widely.”

A source in Dogara’s camp said: “I have not really discussed the issue with him. I will find out and get back to you.”

Another source said: “Those leaders from the North are keeping their game plan to their chest because of the consequences of early opposition to Buhari’s second term ambition by some of his blind loyalists who can start hurling missiles at every occasion.

“Some of those in this group include a few Northern governors who are not keen on Buhari project.”

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By Nuruddeen M. Abdallah & Ronald Mutum


Nigeria will not accept the stringent conditions given by the United States on the planned purchase of 12 Tucano fighter jets, Minister of Defence Mansur Dan-Ali has said.

The minister said the security council has approved the purchase of the $494 million 12 A-29 Super Tucano fighter crafts, but “some of the conditions America gave us are stringent. These conditions we will not accept.”

One of the conditions is that the sale will not be made till 2020, the minister said. He said other conditions included that Nigerian technicians would not be trained by US staff, or be part of the maintenance crews.

“They are also thinking of not allowing our technicians to be part of the production inspection,” he said.

“But this is what we normally do in all the defence contracts, we send our personnel to go and understudy, especially when it comes to specialized aircrafts like in Russia, our personnel are permanently based in where the production is being done for this MI35 helicopters,” Dan-Ali told reporters at the State House, Abuja.

The aircraft purchase has been mired in controversy since President Barack Obama’s administration. Under Obama, the aircraft deal had been held off due to concerns about the Nigerian military’s human rights abuses.

The deal was further postponed recently when 170 people died last January after Nigerian Airforce bombed a refugee camp in Rann, Borno state.

Dan-Ali said the federal government was planning to meet with the US ambassador to discuss reducing the conditions.
“Payments will be made when the conditions are reduced,” the defence minister said.

The Nigerian Airforce had earlier scheduled February 20 for the final agreements to be signed and initial payments made.

Concern over cost of planes
Daily Trust has been on the story for weeks over the huge cost of the Tucano planes since the deal was announced.

The Minister of Information Lai Mohammed earlier said in a statement that the 12 aircraft, with weapons and services, would cost $593 million. But the defence minister yesterday gave the cost at $494m, about $100m less the cost announced by the government spokesperson.

A cost analysis by this newspaper has shown that the government-declared cost is almost three times the cost of the planes in the international market.

Findings revealed that a Super Tucano costs more than $10 million each and the price can go up to $15 million apiece depending on the configuration.

Going by Dan-Ali’s cost, Nigeria is purchasing each of the plane at about $41 million.

The propeller-driven plane with reconnaissance, surveillance and attack capabilities, is made by Brazil’s Embraer. A second production line is in Florida, in a partnership between Embraer and privately held Sierra Nevada Corp of Sparks, Nevada.

More than 200 Super Tucanos are operated by 10 nations, according to Embraer. The plane is used for training and security, surveillance, reconnaissance and counter-insurgency missions.

The plane can carry a wide array of armaments, including precision-guided munitions, is equipped with advanced avionics, communications, and sensors and can operate from remote, unpaved airstrips.

It has a maximum speed of 590 km per hour (367 mph) and a flight ceiling of 35,000 feet (6.6 miles).


Experts smell underhand deal

Security experts and defence contractors spoke to our reporters.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a retired senior air force officer conversant with the deal said the high cost was arrived “most likely through intermediaries in which case 95 percent of the deal is backed by corrupt practices which makes it so expensive.”

He said, “everybody involved wants to make extra cash, the manufacturer, the intermediate and the end user.”

The security chief fingered some senior government officials in the deal. He said a senior security official had “wanted to stop the deal but due to the non-assertiveness of that security official, another official went ahead with the deal.”

“I think what the NAF signed with the Defence Attache of US was the approval of the US Government to supply the toys. I called them toys because they are basically training aircrafts and not effective in combat missions,” he said.

Another defence contractor also said the high cost might be the handiwork of intermediaries. He said the cost of the planes is determined by the source of procurement, mode of payments, among others.

“US and EU companies won’t accept any price above their reasonable profit margin. This is because of the stringent oversight by their home government agencies who audit their books,” he said.

But in the case of Nigeria’s purchase, “the high cost must have been borne out by the actions of intermediaries. The money might be paid through offshore accounts in some islands. But the EU and US companies are very careful in accepting anything above their ideal profit margin,” the defence contractor said.


No full cost of jets yet - Airforce

For over two weeks, Daily Trust sought explanations on the list of the added components that forced the cost to be so high.

The information ministry, when contacted, referred our reporter to defence ministry for details of the deal. But the spokesperson of defence minister Colonel Tukur Gusau yesterday said he didn’t have the details of the deal.

“I need time to consult the relevant stakeholders to obtain the details,” Gusau told our reporter by telephone last night.

The spokesperson of the US embassy in Abuja Mr Russell Brooks was also not available for comment yesterday.

But the spokesperson of the Nigerian Air Force Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya said he would reveal details of the full cost at the right time.

He said apart from just the purchase of the aircraft, details of the transaction would include spares for the jets, training of pilots, training of maintenance crew and ammunition.

He said there would need to put an adequate infrastructure in place for the maintenance of the fighter jets.

Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja


The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice , Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) , has said that most of the noise being generated by the reinstatement of the chairman of the defunct Presidential Task Team on Pension Reforms , Abdulrasheed Maina, into the federal civil service is media hype.

He added that it would not in any way dent the reputation of President Muhammadu Buhari and his anti - corruption war .

Malami also said he told President Buhari about his meeting with the wanted Maina, long before the news of Maina’ s reinstatement was made public .

He, however , said he did not inform the President prior to the meeting .

Malami said this in the latest issue of The Interview a magazine published monthly.
Asked if he did not think the reinstatement of Maina would affect the image of President and his anti - corruption war , Malami said , “Where is the corruption element in the reinstatement of Maina, assuming without conceding that Maina was indeed reinstated? Are you insinuating that certain corrupt undertones were prevailing ? What damage is there against the President as far as this scenario is and pension syndicate is concerned ?”
Also asked if he would resign due to the Maina saga , Malami said he would never do so .

The minister added , “It boils down to whether I have indeed acted or I have not . If hundreds of Mainas that believe they had information to offer as far as the protection of the national interest is concerned , I will meet them and I will do so again . ”

Malami said he did not directly ensure the reinstatement of Maina. But when asked why he kept the information secret from the public , he said he decided to do so because of the cynicism of Nigerians.

The AGF said after meeting with Maina in Dubai , he returned home and then briefed the President on the information he received from the fugitive and asked Buhari how they could make use of the information given to them by Maina.

Malami said , “ At the time the meeting was held (with Maina), Mr. President was not aware . But much later , after we returned back home , I took Mr. President into confidence about the information and sought for leave to share it with other agencies with the purpose of blocking leakages.

“ That was the extent to which the President was aware of the information . He came to be aware of the meeting with Maina much later . It was out of the desire to seek for his directives relating to the information in terms of its application for the purpose of blocking leakages associated with the looting of pension funds . ”

The minister also revealed that the National Security Adviser , Maj . Gen . Babagana Monguno (retd . ), was also present at the meeting with Maina in Dubai .

Malami said he also informed the Director General of the Department of State Services , Lawal Daura, and all the officials agreed that the meeting was in order .

Malami said , “ The NSA and I met with him (Maina) at the reception of the Emirate Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi . He came along with his wife . We were not aware that he was in the company of his wife . He later told me that he was apprehensive , so his wife was lurking around and in the case of any eventuality , she could relate what actually happened . So we discussed .

“ The discussion happened to be very meaningful , particularly from the point of national interest . It was a time that Maina intimated us to the fact that there exists a cartel , a syndicate within the pension scheme .

“ The truth of the matter is that what was been paid as pension on a monthly basis was around N 5 bn or so . But the actual figure required for pension settlement per month was within the range of N 1 . 3 bn.

The implication of what he was saying was that around N 3 . 7 bn or so went into personal pockets . ”

The AGF said Maina told him that that there were 66 accounts that were being used to divert pension funds , adding that the pension syndicate had bought a section of the media .

He said on returning to Nigeria , investigations revealed that most of the information provided by Maina was right as it led to the conviction of two individuals and the recovery of looted funds while 12 other cases were pending .

Malami, however, did not reveal the identities of the convicts .

When asked why the Federal Government had refused to release the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria , Sheikh Ibrahim El - Zakzaky , the AGF said the overall interest of the public must be considered before obeying court orders .

He said this was the same reason the embattled former NSA, Col . Sambo Dasuki (retd . ) , was being kept in custody despite several court orders .

The AGF said when El - Zakzaky was eventually charged to court, part of his trial would be held in secret .

Malami added , “Even in court , when the need arises , for certain information not to be made available to the public , an application could be made for a kind of off - camera proceedings . ”

Posted By: Ernest Nwokolo


…Arrest grandmother


https://thenationonlineng.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Boy-chained-891x470.jpg


Ogun State Police Command rescued 12 years old, Segun Azeez, who was locked down with big chain and padlocked for three months by his grandmother, Mrs Yemi Kazeem.

It was learnt that Segun’s mother, Yomi Kazeem (Maiden name), an auxiliary nurse, and who had parted ways with his father, allegedly provided the chain and padlock with which he was tied to a spot at home for over two months.

According to mother and grandmother, the motive is to prevent the boy from fleeing home.

The Police Commissioner, Ahmed Illiyasu, led over a dozen armed policemen and Operatives of the Federal Anti – Robbery Squad (FSARS), to a bland bungalow on Ife – Lagba, Obada town, in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State and set the boy free from the forced incarceration around 4: 48pm on Wednesday.

The grandmother, Mrs Yemi Kazeem, was arrested for further investigation.

Segun who broke down in tears after being rescued, said his ordeal began in his paternal family in Sagamu, where he alleged, someone charmed him and which made him to detest home and kept fleeing from it.

Amid sobs, the boy said he was accustomed to deprivations and hunger which compelled him to stop his education at primary three in Sagamu, adding that when his mother brought him to Obada town from Sagamu, he had thought his sufferings would lessen but unknown to him it was just a continuation in another dimension.

Police Commissioner, Illiyasu, described the ill – treatment Segun as inhuman and heinous, and capable of leading to “ritual killing or child disappearance.”

He said the crime was discovered through technical intelligence by the FSARS who were patrolling flash points and the boy was found “emaciated” because until his rescue, he “starves, urinates and defecates at spot where he was chained.”

The grand mother, Yemi Kazeem, told reporters that the boy was stubborn and elected to chain him down to prevent him from stealing and further fleeing home.

The woman said she suspected that Segun was having spiritual problems and had been fasting and praying so that what troubles him could be evicted.

Also, the boy’s biological mother, Yomi Kazeem, said she was not aware that chaining Segun to a stake was a crime, adding that she bought the chain for the purpose of confining him to save the grandmother the stress of searching for him should he flee home.

By Chinedu Adonu


ENUGU – PROPHET Anthony Nwoko has lambasted Nigerians, especially Igbos wishing to have presidency come 2023, that they lack spiritual sight, because to him, they are having a pipe dream. He also said that Buhari lacked the spiritual power to lead Nigeria and should forget 2019.

Nwoko in what he called 2018 prophesies for Nigeria said also that those calling for restructuring as well as those agitating for a referendum for a sovereign state, are equally blind and did not seek for divine pronouncement on such issues.

“Those who are calling for Igbo presidency in 2023, Restructuring,Referendum are Spiritually Blind,” Nwoko posits in a statement made available to newsmen, pointing out that those that had prophesied about the outcome of the forthcoming 2019 election lacked vision and were not directed by God.

He described men of God like Rev. Fr. Mbaka, Pastor Adeboye and other men of God that prophesied about the 2019 election as fakes.

The prophet said that Nigeria as a nation has offended God and as a result are in bondage until, they like the Israelites return to their maker and make amends.

“Nigeria has disobeyed God. Disobedience is always catastrophic and calamitous. He dealt with pharaoh when he disobeyed him. But did not spare Israel when she disobeyed him in the wilderness. He threw Jonah into the belly of a fish for disobedience; God does not treat disobedience with kid’s gloves. Therefore, Nigeria case of disobedience to him should not be a peculiar case. Nigeria is a wicked Generation,” Nwoko said attributing Nigeria’s economic woes as well as social woes to disobeying God.

“I hereby ask pastor Adeboye to tell Nigerians where the Goliath is coming from. Who is the Goliath and who is the David. The conclusion is that these religious leaders don’t have the mark of the prophet. They are not God’s mouthpiece. All these prophecies from the religious leader have confirmed to me that truth cannot be found in their lips.

The spirit says the law of the truth must be in the mouth of Pastor, Prophet, Reverend Father and the Bishops. Iniquities cannot be found in their lips. Today they have destroyed the nation called Nigeria; they are Antichrist,” Prophet Nwoko lashes at the men of God over their prophesies on the forthcoming polls in 2019.

Nwoko said that Buhari is not the desired Messiah that can salvage Nigeria, saying instead that the Messiah Nigeria needs is already in the South East, precisely, Enugu and that unless he is allowed to handle the affairs in Nigeria, everything will continue to be in shambles.

Hear him: “The heavens have taken a decision that Buhari must go in 2019. He does posses the spiritual leadership which is the Holy Spirit to salvage the nation. He was rejected by the Holy Spirit in 2015 yet APC government managed to smuggle him as the president of Nigeria which the father did not approve in Heaven.

What Nigeria got in reward in Buhari’s Government is Oppressions, Killings, Injustice, Armed robbery, Kidnapping, Rapist in the land, Corruption all over the nations, Marginalization, Tribalism, Assassinations, Students Protest, Hatred, with hate speeches, Religious Crisis, Niger Delta, Bomb explosions, Avengers, Boko Haram, Floods, Herdsmen with AK 47 rifles, Agitation all of the land, Python dance by Nigeria Military in Abia State and Slavery that characterized in APC and PDP administration.

“The APC and PDP have failed the nation, they cannot eat their cake and have it back in 2019. Only Holy God can solve Nigeria Problem not Buhari.

He, Buhari is not the alternative to Nigeria that without him Nigeria cannot prosper. No Northern president from the APC or PDP can save Nigeria as at this moment. Nigeria is spiritually knock down, socially ruined, Intellectually worn out.

She has blindly cut herself from her creator. There is only one noon that covers the world and this moon can be discovered now from the South East, Precisely Enugu State.

“This is the Glory the world has been looking for. Jesus is one million times mightier than Buhari and he is ready to liberate his people from the problem they are passing through. If the Government of Nigeria refuses to welcome this light from the South East as the Anointed Divine King, Isaiah 61, with the authority in Jeremiah 9:1-10, to unite and make peace which is God’s agenda for the entire nation in 2018, then the father in Heaven will have his plan B executed which is, if my son whom, I the Lord have sent for his Glory is not accepted by the Nigeria Government, he the father will have no other option than to install his glory in Igbo Nation which is Biafra.

“Those who are calling for Igbo presidency in 2023, Restructuring, Referendum are Spiritually Blind. The Holy king is in their midst, and people like Rev. Mbaka don’t see the light in Enugu State which is his own state since the year 2010 and goes about praising Buhari in 2015, today he has denied Buhari again, what a man of God?

Nigeria Government cannot stop Boko Haram and Herdsmen because their hands are soiled with iniquities for waging war against the Holy Spirit that was enthroned spiritually and Physically to give salvation to mankind and was rejected because of tribalism in Igbo Land, Enough is Enough in Nigeria any person or Individual or group planning to install Buhari again as president of Nigeria will not see the light of the day,” Nwoko avers.

A 20-Year old job seeking young lady, (name withheld) that was promised one has been raped by the person who promised to give her the job in Lagos.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, 35-year old Babatunde Orekoya has been arrested for having unlawful carnal knowledge of the victim.

The incident happened at Awoyokun Street in Ilupeju area of Lagos where Orekoya resided.

It was gathered that the victim fell into the suspect’s trap when she contacted him, explained her condition and asked him to help get a job for her and Orekoya promised to do so. On the day the incident happened, it was scooped that the suspect had called and informed her that he had gotten a job for her with good salary.

He then asked her to come to his house so that from there he will take her to the place for the routine interview and she will secure the job immediately.

However, the whole thing turned out to be a scam without the victim knowing that the suspect had such ulterior motive against her.

It was gathered that when the victim got to his house, he locked the door from inside, loaded the music system so that the neighbours will not hear her shouting during the act.

According to the victim, “He forcefully tore my pant, over powered me and penetrated before he allowed me to go.” She went home and told her parents what happened.

The matter was reported to the police at Ilupeju Division and the suspect was arrested and detained at the police station.

He was charged before Ogba Magistrates court for the alleged offence.

He pleaded not guilty.

The presiding Magistrate, Mr. T.O. Shomade ordered him to be remanded in prison custody without granting him any bail.

The court adjourned the matter till 12 February, 2018, when the court will rule on his bail condition.

By Daniel Adugbo



The account of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is increasingly over-burdened as the landing cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise called petrol, has risen following the recent surge in global oil price, analysts have said.

 The price of crude oil  hit more than three-year high at the beginning of last week rising to $70 per barrel for the first time since December 2014.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had in December 2017 hinted that Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) price of PMS was $620 per metric tonne, and that at N305 to a dollar, PMS landing cost translated to N171 per litre. At that time, oil price traded below $65 per barrel. 

But analysts estimate that with the recent rise in oil price and based on the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Authority (PPPRA) template, the cost of imported petrol now hovers at between N175-N180/per litre.

 “You will agree with me that today, based on my own estimate, the naira landing cost of petrol in Nigeria is actually somewhere between N175-N180/per litre which means that if the government should fully deregulate the oil sector, there would be higher price for petroleum product,” the Head, Investor Relations at United Bank for Africa (UBA) Mr. Abiola Razaq, said.

 “If you look at the PPPRA template and where crude oil prices are in addition to shipping cost and using the official CBN exchange rate, you would have an idea of what the cost of refined products is,” Razaq also said.

 He said that anytime oil price went up, the naira landing cost of petroleum products also increased.

  “It is a fact that PMS prices will go up and the fact that our refineries are not functioning means we are vulnerable to shocks,” the Head of Energy Research at Ecobank, Mr. Dolapo Oni, said about the impact of a jump in oil price on petroleum products.

 The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the International Institute for Petroleum, Energy Law and Policy (IIPELP), Dr. Timothy Okon, said it was not unusual for PMS prices to escalate when oil prices rise.

 “Of course, 80 per cent of PMS price is crude price. If prices go up product prices must reflect the price of crude,” Dr. Okon a former head of Corporate Planning and Strategy at the NNPC, said.

 Daily Trust reports that at the landing cost of N171 per litre, NNPC recorded under-recovery of N26 on a litre of the commodity. However, with prices hovering between N175-N180, according to industry experts’ prediction, N33 is being spent on every litre of petrol by the corporation to keep the pump price at N145. 

The NNPC while clarifying a statement wrongly attributed to Managing Director of Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Mr. Umar Ajiya at the weekend explained that there was under-recovery in the importation and sale of PMS by NNPC, but the burden is categorized as business losses which the Act establishing NNPC recognizes. 

Mr. Ajiya, according to NNPC, had made it explicitly clear that the losses from the PMS imports by NNPC could not be classified as subsidy since it was not appropriated for by the National Assembly.

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